SKNES: Architecture of Aggression

[mythmonster2]

Orders will be in either tonight or in the morning tomorrow; waiting on a response to a PM.

 

[Popcornlord]

I'm incredibly sorry for my inactivity, I've been swamped with school. Crude orders forthcoming.

 

[SouthernKing]

That's alright.

 

[Lokki242]

SK, you still haven't updated the Update/Story Library.

 

[SouthernKing]

SK, you still haven't updated the Update/Story Library.

Sorry. I'll get to that tomorrow when I start updating.

 

[Lokki242]

Sorry. I'll get to that tomorrow when I start updating.

No problem. Just want to remind you in case you forget.

 

[Amon Savag]

Damnit. How come orders are due so fast after last update? Some people work for a living.

 

[SouthernKing]

Sorry. I was trying to get the next update in this weekend.

 

[SouthernKing]

I have started on the update, stragglers can still send in orders though.

So far done: Britain, Arabia, Persia, Eastern Europe, Western Med, Eastern Med, Germany
Needs to be done: France,

 

[SamSniped]

You got my orders, right?

 

[SouthernKing]

Yes, I have your orders

 

[SamSniped]

The official battle plan will be up in the SG for the crusaders tomorrow.

 

[Lokki242]

How's it coming SK?

 

[erez87]

Agh I need to send orders...

 

[SouthernKing]

How's it coming SK?

On the way. Trying to get the war out of the way right now.
If not today, then definitely tomorrow.

 

[SouthernKing]

Update 3: The Hurricane (825 AD/207 AH)​

The Second Byzantine Crusade

Seeing that the First Crusade against the Byzantine pagans had not been successful, the new Pope was not ready to give up just yet. So a Second was called, with more support, and approximately twenty companies’ worth of levies was raised from all across Europe, accompanied by princes from across Western Europe. However, with the Byzantine Civil War averted, and Angora having switched sides, seeing that a strong Byzantium would help Angora fight the Muslim onslaught in the long run. The shelter given to the Avars also helped raise plenty of willing soldiers. Some of the Byzantines rallied behind the god Mars, and the War of the Second Crusade had begun.
(Byzantium: +Stability)

Venice sent its forces down the Dalmatian coast by land. However, a Tatar raiding party intercepted them, and the army was given the full onslaught of the Tatar horsemen. With one of the main Crusading routes cut off by the Tatars, vital support from the north, could not arrive, and the Frankish and Aquitainian forces turned back after arriving in Venice only to find it blocked off by roaming Tatar chieftains. This gave Avars serving Byzantium the opportunity to retake parts of Dalmatia. It is believed that if it had not been for the Tatars getting in the way, vital Venetian support could have been delivered to where it was needed, and the Second Crusade could have been less bloody and far more successful.
(Venetian Casualties: 2 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Companies; Tatar Casualties: 1 Horse Archer Company)

Although Epir was attempting to exist peacefully, being a Hellenic nation it soon became the target of an invasion. The Sicilians, aided by some troops sent by Castile, attempted an invasion by sea. However, the Epiran navy, using some Greek fire-equipped naval craft whose aim was to try and retake the Christian fortress islands, held back the invasion fleet, although at great cost.
(Epiran Casualties: 2 Fire Dromon Groups; Sicilian Casualties: 3 Dromon Groups; Neapolitan Casualties: 2 Galley Groups)

However, the Frankish/Aquitainian force returned, this time landing again in Angora, entirely wiping out the Epiran navy with few naval casualties.
(Epiran Casualties: 1 Galley Group, 1 Trireme Group; Frankish Casualties: 1 Galley Group)

That cleared the way for a full scale invasion of Epir. The rather mountainous terrain made advances difficult, but the invaders had strength in numbers. The first battle was between the weaker levy and irregular companies sent by both Christians and Muslims and the melee units from Epir.
(Levy Casualties: 6 Levy Companies; Castilian Casualties: 2 Irregular Casualties; Aquitainian Casualties: 1 Irregular Company; Neapolitan Casualties: 4 Irregular Companies; Epiran Casualties: 3 Irregular Companies, 1 Swordsman Company)

Then the main force arrived, including several siege towers The Epiran forces not inside the fortresses or the major cities were wiped out, leaving Epir with five companies’ worth of emergency raised levies and a number of specially trained archers to fight the besieging force off. The levies counterattacked, to little avail. The cities were besieged, and the Byzantines too occupied in their own lands to help or care. Although in the end, the walls fell, the cost was much higher than expected or desired, and a strategically positioned Byzantine army, much larger than that of the invaders, prevented them from advancing any further. The Sicilian king declared that the throne of Epir rightfully belonged to him, as he was an Orthodox.
(Epiran Casualties: 3 Irregular Companies, 2 Swordsman Companies, 2 Axeman Companies, 5 Levy Companies; Sicilian Casualties: 1 Swordsman Company, 2 Siege Company; Aquitaine Casualties: 1 Swordsman Company; Castillan Casualties: 2 Crossbow Companies, 1 Swordsman Company, 1 Horseman Company)
(-Epir)
(Sicily: +Economy)

Venetian forces arrived in Athens, and coupled with the Athenian forces advanced north, towards Larissa. Although they brought siege units, they were constantly harassed by a Byzantine army, lurking the area like a flock of buzzards. Although Larissa eventually fell, it was all that they could get, and an Angoran-supported Byzantine army plus a lack of supplies ensured that they could advance no further. The lack of supplies was mostly caused by a Byzantine and Angoran naval victory in the Aegean that ensured Byzantine naval superiority in that sea. The decisive moment of the battle – and perhaps the entire war – was a single group of Jute longships, which had sailed all the way from the North to battle the White-Christ, sinking twice its number in Venetian ships, using their greater speed and maneuverability. The Athenians still hold the city and surrounding area, against the wishes of many of the King’s advisors in Athens.
(Venetian Casualties: 2 Marinas Companies, 1 Crossbow Company, 1 Siege Company; Athenian Casualties: 5 Irregular Companies, 1 Swordsman Company, 1 Horseman Company; Byzantine Casualties: 2 Levy Companies, 1 Swordsman Company, 2 Crossbow Companies; Angoran Casualties
(Venetian Casualties: 4 Dromon Groups, 1 Cypri-Dromon Group; Byzantine Casualties: 1 Dromon Group; Angoran Casualties: 2 Dromon Groups)
(Athens: -Stability)

A much smaller front of the war was located in the Aegean, Vandal ships arrived, seeking islands and loot from the coasts. While the Vandals were not officially on the Crusaders’ side, the Byzantines saw them as enemies anyway They ended up in minor engagements with Byzantine and Angoran navies. Although the Vandals were able to seize Crete, they could go no further north, after multiple particularly disastrous battles. Despite the Crusaders’ best efforts to prevent a Vandal landing on Corsica, the Vandals were able to set up infrastructure on the southern coast of the island.
(Vandal Casualties: 5 Galley Groups; Byzantine Casualties: 1 Dromon Group; Angoran Casualties: 2 Dromon Groups)
(Vandals: +Economy)

Western, Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe

Through marriage, through gold, and through war, Jutland drastically expanded. It now covered nearly the entire south Scandinavian coast, and one by one annexed the statelets in Holstein. The kingdom’s religious unity allowed easy administration of the land. The King sent a newly built fleet of longships, perhaps the best ships in Europe at the time, south to aid the Byzantines against Christianity. In addition to their exploits in the Aegean, a captured vial of the substance that made Greek fire was brought back North by a returning longship crew. Forn Siðr has continued to spread with zeal, and the pilgrims of Odin coming to Jutland have brought wealth with them.
(Jutland: +Economy)

Thuringia built some soldiers and expanded to the east.
(Thuringia: +Economy, +Stability)

With discontent growing among the Basques of northern Iberia, many Basques have flowed into Aquitaine lands, bringing wealth with them. Many even went to fight in the Second Crusade. In Aachen, the Frankish Emperor ordered the sending of his own force, albeit small, to aid the Crusaders, realizing that to keep his power and avoid excommunication – or worse – he had to submit to the Pope’s wishes. A national road network was completed in the Frankish Empire.
(Aquitaine: +Economy)
(Frankish Empire: +Economy, +Stability)

Merchants from Novgorod travelled to Jutland, trying to bring back culture. They did bring culture back, in the form of texts, ideas, and, most of all, the Forn Siðr religion, which began spreading like wildfire. Novgorod did complete its road network however, and became a center of trade.
(Novgorod: +Economy)

Poland spent much of its attention – and money – on building infrastructure, including roads, temples, and libraries. However, the loosely unified tribal society Poland was made coordinating major efforts difficult, and thus quality of work was uneven at best. Nevertheless, trade boomed, and so did culture and literacy.
(Poland: +Economy, -Stability)

The Slavic King’s court grew increasingly worried that he was not doing enough to try holding back a potential Novgorod or Tatar invasion. The King did raise soldiers, but it was too little, too late. Trapped between a number of expansionist nations, the Slavic Kingdom appears very doomed, by any standard.
(Slavs: -Stability)

The Western Mediterranean

Castile continued to stress on trading and education, although the infrastructure still was not there to make as big of a difference as Castile would have liked. However, the Basque minority began to grow increasingly dissatisfied with the Moors ruling over their land, clamoring for rule by fellow European Christians, not Moors.
(Castile: +Economy, -Stability)

The Cordobans took the lead in establishing large-scale trade routes. One of these was the setting up of a proposed route that would allow Dar al-Islam access to the Silk Road of lore – and the riches of the East. The Vandals and the Fatimids partly helped foot the cost, although seemed lack of interest by the other nations along the proposed route hampered progress. Another route, down through Morocco and Africa to the lands of Ghana, was completed, and West African riches began pouring into Cordoba. Cadiz and Cartagena became centers of trade from East and West, respectively. Cordoban-Moroccan relations have been further established with the union of the Cordoban Crown Prince to the Sultan’s eldest daughter.
(Cordoba: +Economy; Morocco: +Economy, +Stability)

The Jizya and other taxes were instituted by the North African nations, seeing the benefits that they were bringing to Barcelona and the other Andalusian nations that had adopted it. The Vandals, the Fatimids, and the Moroccans – they all enforced it, with nothing but positive results.
(Vandals, Morocco, Fatimids: +Economy, +Stability)

In Savoy, continued Catholic missionary activity has caused almost complete collapse of the government. The king, stubbornly adhering to his form of Christianity, was forced to flee the capital for a fort in the countryside, where he has been bunkered down for nearly five years. Entire sections of the country have declared independence or joined the Frankish Empire.
(Savoy: -Stability, +Civil War)

The Middle East

Armenia, with charm and a little bit of coin, was able to convince Georgian city states to join their growing kingdom. Claiming Azerbaijan, their army marched east – only to find an Abbasid army had already gotten there. The Abbasids had used mountain passes to get through the Caucasus, and then grab land from local rulers, engaging them in open combat. By encouraging Turks to migrate to the northern reaches from northern Persia to serve as rulers and warlords, the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad had a ruling class already there.
(Armenia: +Economy; Abbasids: +Economy, +Stability)
(Abbasid Casualties: 2 Swordsmen Companies)

The Zengids began expanding into the tribal lands of inner Arabia, and their own people began to settle there, albeit at the cost of the northernmost groups of Bedouins who were living independent of any Emir, Sultan, or Caliph. Along the coast, in city after city, new port districts were completed. Although the near-constant war in the Eastern Mediterranean served as a block for trade, the new ports will make Zengid ports a haven for trade in the future.
(Zengids: +Economy)

Continued inability for the Sharif in Mecca to administer their temporal realm properly pushed another Sunni Imam, this time in Sana’a, to declare himself independent of Hijaz and temporal ruler of Yemen. The Sharif ordered an invasion to restore order. The Imam of Oman came to Yemen’s aid, sending their army to help. The result was a Hijazi defeat, and greatly increased distrust in Mecca’s ability to rule properly. The Sharifate began to unravel rapidly.
(Yemeni Casualties: 2 Irregular Companies, 1 Swordsman Company; Omani Casualties: 1 Swordsman Company; Hijazi Casualties: 3 Irregular Companies, 2 Swordsman Companies, 2 Horseman Companies)
(Hijaz: -Economy, -Stability)
(+Yemen)

Muslims began settling to the south in North Africa, farther inland from the coast, although the highly arid climate placed a hamper on the expansion. The Fatimids completed a road network along the coast and banks of the Nile River, boosting trade. By Caliph’s act, Makuria was seized; its lands fully annexed, its vassalage disbanded, and its people absorbed – with all the effects that brought.
(Fatimids: +Economy, -Stability)
(-Makuria)

The Second Barbarian Invasions

Despite sporadic raids and settlements built on Britain by Norwegians driven from their homes by the Jutes, the known world seemed like it was done with barbarian invasions.

They couldn’t have been more wrong. At the fringes of the civilized world, barbarians assaulted the nations of “higher” men, with disastrous consequences.

The Tatars were ready to push forward again. Raising reinforcements from the conquered Avars, they rode west across the Danube. The Tatar hammer came crashing down on the Republic of Venice. The Dalmatian countryside was decimated, and the Tatars easily crushed a small Venetian force. Then, the Tatars entered the city of Venice itself. While the Arsenal, its walls impregnable, was defended successfully by the city militia, who were able to bring down many of the horses, the rest of the city suffered. The churches and monasteries were burned, and the priests brutally murdered. It is rumored that the Khan had to commission a fleet of wagons to bring the plunder back east. A third of the city’s population was killed in the sack. Although it shocked the Catholic world, in places where Catholicism was seen as the enemy, particularly pagan lands, the sack was seen as a great, heroic blow against the decadence and corruption of Christ.
(Venice: -Stability, -Economy)
(Tatar casualties: 2 Horse Archer Companies)

With this, the Tatars began to slowly leave their nomadic lifestyle behind, and began the construction of a number of forts around the country, to protect the conquests and the new towns that were popping up in former Avar tribal lands. Although they controlled a huge amount of land, the Tatars’ conquests began to be undone by succession issues; although the Khan’s son ascended at his death, he was contested by a great many chiefs. There has not been civil war yet, but it may soon be coming.
(Tatars: -Stability, +Economy, +Plunder)

The Norsemen, leaving Norway fell upon Eborica with great force. The newly refurbished roads, allowing for easier travel, were not enough to get soldiers to the coast to defend. A Norse raid on the city of Eboracum itself, almost killing the Tudor King, was the last straw, and troops began to be raised across the country to prevent the full-scale invasion that seemed to be next. The Catavalu also suffered, the coastal tribes either going extinct or fleeing inland.
(Eborican Casualties: 2 Irregular Companies, 1 Swordsman Company; Catavalu Casualties: 2 Tribal Warrior Companies,)
(Eborica, Catavalu: -Economy, -Stability)

The Norse who were looking for lands to settle and tame happened upon Ireland, to the west. Founding a port called Dublin, a Norse warlord crowned himself king, and his people spread across the island. The native populations were too sparse and powerless to fight them off, and most simply were absorbed instead. Several Irish chiefs stated clear opposition to the Norse, but they were defeated, and the Norse expanded to control half of Ireland.
(+Dublin)

Although some Norse raids happened upon Brythonia, they were little more than a minor nuisance, not enough from keeping the High King of Brythonia from ordering that roads were to be built in his country. And they were. Using old Roman infrastructure and adding on their own, the federation of lands became easier to manage, although the sea splitting the country in half did not help, and trade flowed, including trade with the Catavalu tribes to the south and east and the Norse in Ireland. Seeing that they would profit more from simply trading than plundering, the Norsemen have not yet attacked.
(Brythonia: +Economy, +Stability)

From Central Asia came a new group of nomads, the Uyghurs. They were horse nomads, like the Tatars farther. Driven out by the Tang Dynasty of China, they migrated west, and began “settling” on the eastern shores of the Caspian, overpowering other tribes already living there. Uyghur warriors have been harassing Hormuzi and Abbasids along the frontiers, and while they have not gone full-scale raiding yet, such a thing is not out of the question. Even the Guptas, to the east, have begun to look at the Uyghurs as an opportunity to gain land, something which is greatly troubling to the Emir.
(Abbasid Casualties: 2 Swordsman Companies Companies; Hormuzi Casualties: 3 Irregular Companies)
(Hormuz: -Stability)

OOC: Make sure you read the i update; a lot of nations got split for whatever reason.

Omega124 kicked for inactivity. Kingdom of the Slavs is now NPC’d (Although I have very strong doubts that it’s going to last very long.)
Warning for Lopaz and Mosher; failure to send orders this turn results in kicking for both of you.
In addition to the above, Nutranurse and Optical failed to send orders. I understand that Nutra is RL busy right now, so he is excused. Optical…not so much.

Mickzter: I wasn’t sure what you meant by “National Trade System” so I didn’t put it in the stats. Please PM me to make sure.
WIM: Sadly, your nation got destroyed. Feel free to rejoin as an NPC or another country however.
Mythmonster: I gave Epir to you, as being Orthodox you were the nation it made the most sense to give to. Do whatever you wish with it.
Gamez: Hey, that’s what your orders said

I am now including (Nation X: +/- Stability and/or +/- Economy) in the update to make those changes more clear, help make any errors easier to identify for you the players, and for me to avoid those errors in the first place. (Literacy and Influence are influenced by more behind-the-scenes stuff, but I can include those too if wanted)

I’m also thinking of replacing “Companies” with “Regiments;” I think that’s a bit more accurate for the numbers I believe we’re dealing with here. What do you think?

A number of players (who shall remain anonymous) have contacted me with complaints that the crusade against the pagans in Greece is unhistorical for the 9th century. Being the mod of this game, I feel obliged to respond to this, and publicly so that the problem gets solved.
The main question that keeps being brought up is: would a country be able to support a crusade in this time?
My answer to that is this. (I am writing this as if the reader had no knowledge of the Dark Ages outside pop culture; please don’t think I’m insulting your intelligence)
The “Dark Ages” is called “dark” not because it was a crappy time to live, but instead because there was sharp decline in cultural and intellectual output post-Rome, and a decline in written records in the Christian world. Notice the emphasis on Christian; for a Muslim or an Asian, it was anything but dark.
Moving on, to support a campaign overseas, a nation must first ensure the survival of its own people. Was agriculture enough to support the home population? The answer is yes. Europe did lose a lot of people, but mostly from plague and disease, not starvation, and those plagues were before the time of this NES anyway (mostly the Plague of Justinian in the sixth century). From my knowledge, there is little to suggest that people were starving, and in fact there was a return to the Roman multi-field system ~800, which helped start a population growth that lasted until the Black Death.
The other question is the ability to pay for it; look at some of the Anglo-Saxon burials for the answer to that one.
What I certainly do find a bit odd is Christians and Muslims collaborating. It’s just…uncanny, for the 800s especially. But hey, I’m the mod, you’re the players. It’s your choice.
Those of you who know history better than I do, feel free to peck at and demolish my logic; this is just my view on it. (I’d prefer if this was limited to the pre-thread though)

Map/stats coming in next post

 

[SouthernKing]

Spoiler Map :

Spoiler Stats :

Spoiler Britain :

Kingdom of Eborica/lopaz
Color: Red
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -1
Economy: 6/2
Army: 6 Irregular Companies, 4 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Company
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Celto-Coptic Christianity (5)
Religious Minorities: Celtic Druidism (2/3), Forn Siðr (2/3), Catholicism (1/3)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects: Roman Road Refurbation (5/5)

Catavalu Confederacy/NPC
Color: Light Yellow
Government: Tribal Federation
Stability: 6/0
Economy: Army: 8 Tribal Warrior Companies
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Celtic Druidism (5)
Religious Minorities: Celto-Coptic Christianity (2/3), Forn Siðr (2/3), Catholicism (1/3)
Literacy: 10 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 9
Projects:

Kingdom of Brythonia/Gem Hound
Color: Light Orange
Government: Monarchial Federation
Stability: 0
Economy: 8/1
Army: 5 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Celto-Coptic Christianity (5)
Religious Minorities: Celtic Druidism (2/3), Forn Siðr (2/3), Catholicism (1/3),
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects: Road Network (4/4)

Kingdom of Dublin/NPC
Color: Light Blue
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -1
Economy: 5/0
Army: 6 Axeman Companies
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Forn Siðr (5)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (4/3), Celtic Druidism (1/3)
Literacy: 10 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 9
Projects:

Spoiler France and Germany :

Kingdom of Jutland/thomas.berubeg
Color: Green
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 1
Economy: 7/1
Army: 5 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 2 Crossbow Companies, 2 Sons of Odin
Navy: 3 Galley Groups, 1 Longship Group
Religion: Forn Siðr (10)
Religious Minorities: None
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 17
Projects: Forn Siðr Temple Complex (3/3), Religious Schools (2/4)

Kingdom of Thuringia/GamezRule/MusicLord
Color: Brownish-reddish-ish (I can’t tell what color that is)
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 1
Economy: 6/0
Army: 5 Irregular Companies, 6 Swordsman Companies, 4 Horseman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: None
Religion: Germanic Christianity (6)
Religious Minorities: Forn Siðr (2/4), Catholicism (2/2)
Literacy: 9 (Post-Classical)
Influence: 10
Projects:

The Frankish Empire/<nuke>
Color: Blue
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 9/0
Army: 3 Irregular Companies, 9 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Company (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Catholicism (7)
Religious Minorities: Forn Siðr (2/3), Gallic Animism (1/2)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 13
Projects: Road Network (5/5)

Duchy of Aquitaine/Terrance888
Color: Blue (black line separating from Frankish Empire proper)
Government: Despotic Monarchy, Vassal of the Franks
Stability: 1
Economy: 7/0
Army: 3 Irregular Companies, 6 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Company, 2 Basque Archer Companies
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Catholicism (7)
Religious Minorities: Gallic Animism (2/5), Forn Siðr (1/3)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects: Librus Domni (4/4), Forts of the Pyrenees (6/6)

Spoiler Italy :

Kingdom of Savoy/Mosher
Color: Maroon
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -3
Economy: 5/3
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 6 Swordsman Companies
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Savoyard Christianity (2)
Religious Minorities: Roman Catholicism (6/3), Forn Siðr (2/3)
Literacy: 10 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 9
Projects:

Republic of Venice/SamSniped
Color: Navy Blue
Government: Oligarchic Republic
Stability: -2
Economy: 6/0
Army: 14 Levy Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies, 6 Marinas Companies, 1 Siege Company (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 4 Dromon Groups, 2 Cypri-Dromon Groups
Religion: Catholicism (8)
Religious Minorities: Forn Siðr (2/3)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 13
Projects: The Venetian Arsenal (5/5)

Kingdom of Sicily/mythmonster2
Color: Purple
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -1
Economy: 9/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 6 Swordsman Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 3 Dromon Groups
Religion: Orthodox Remnants (6)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (2/4), Hellenic Pantheon (2/3)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 14

The Papal States/erez87
Color: Light Tan
Government: Papacy
Stability: 0
Economy: 3/1
Army: 3 Papal Guard Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 1 Galley Group
Religion: Catholicism (10)
Religious Minorities: None
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 20

Kingdom of Naples/NPC
Color: Pinkish-Purple
Government: Despotic Monarchy, Papal Charter
Stability: -1
Economy: 6/0
Army: 2 Swordsman Companies, 1 Crossbow Company, 1 Horseman Company
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Catholicism (7)
Religious Minorities: Orthodox Remnants (3/4)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 9
Projects:

Spoiler Greece and Anatolia :

Empire of Byzantium/Amon Savag
Color: Plum
Government: Imperial Administration
Stability: 0
Economy: 8/0
Army: 8 Levy Companies, 8 Avar Companies, 7 Swordsman Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies, 3 Horseman Companies (Requires 2 Upkeep)
Navy: 3 Dromon Groups, 6 Fire Trireme Groups
Religion: Hellenic Pantheon (5)
Religious Minorities: Orthodox Remnants (2/3), Slavic Polytheism (1/3), Forn Siðr (1/3)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 25
Projects:

Empire of Angora/NPC
Color: Plum, Separated by black line
Government: Imperial Administration, Vassal of Byzantines
Stability: -1
Economy: 6/0
Army: 7 Irregular Companies, 4 Swordsman Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies, 2 Horseman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 2 Dromon Groups
Religion: Orthodox Remnants (7)
Religious Minorities: Hellenic Pantheon (2/3), Sunni Islam (1/2)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 15
Projects:

Kingdom of Athens/NPC
Color: Sky blue
Government: Monarchial Federation
Stability: -1
Economy: 4/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 1 Swordsman Company, 1 Crossbow Company, 1 Siege Company
Navy: 4 Dromon Groups
Religion: Orthodox Remnants (7)
Religious Minorities: Hellenic Pantheon (3/2)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects:

Spoiler Eastern Europe :

Tatar Khanate/Julius Gandi
Color: Dark Orange
Government: Horse Nomads
Stability: -1
Economy: 7/5
Army: 10 Horse Archer Companies, 3 Irregular Companies, 4 Swordsman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: None
Religion: Tengriism (8)
Religious Minorities: Slavic Polytheism (2/4)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 20
Project: Keep Reconstruction (4/4)

Polish Tribes/Spaceman98
Color: Orange
Government: Tribal Federation
Stability: -1
Economy: 8/0
Army: 7 Tribal Warrior Companies, 2 Tribal Bowman Companies, 2 Tribal Swordsman Companies, 1 Horse Archer Company (Requires 1 upkeep)
Navy: 1 Galley Group
Religion: Romuva (7)
Religious Minorities: Forn Siðr (2/4), Catholicism (1/3),
Literacy: 10 (Post-Classical)
Influence: 11
Projects:

Kingdom of the Slavs/NPC
Color: Deep Green
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 5/2
Army: 14 Irregular Companies, 2 Swordsman Companies, 6 Horse Archer Companies
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Slavic Polytheism (8)
Religious Minorities: Tengriism (2/2)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 10
Projects:

Kingdom of Novgorod/Popcornlord
Color: Reddish
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 8/0
Army: 8 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Romuva (7)
Religious Minorities: Forn Siðr (3/4)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 11
Projects: National Road Network (5/5)

Spoiler Africa :

Sultanate of Morocco/NPC
Color: Light Pink
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 2
Economy: 10/0
Army: 5 Irregular Companies, 9 Swordsman Companies
Navy: 7 Galley Groups, 4 Dromon Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (8)
Religious Minorities: Shia Islam (1/2), Catholicism (1/3)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 11
Projects: al-Kenary Colonization (6/6)

Vandalic Sultanate/Grandkhan
Color: Sienna
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 9/0
Army: 5 Irregular Companies, 7 Swordsman Companies, 2 Crossbow Companies, 4 Horseman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (6)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (2/2), Shia Islam (2/3)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 13
Projects:

Fatimid Caliphate/NPC
Color: Hot Pink
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 11/0
Army: 3 Irregular Companies, 13 Swordsman Companies, 5 Horseman Companies (Requires 2 Upkeep)
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Shia Islam (7)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (3/3)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 15
Projects: Road Network (5/5)

Kingdom of Axum/NPC
Color: Orange
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 6/0
Army: 13 Irregular Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Coptic Christianity (8)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (1/2), Shia Islam (1/2)
Literacy: 9 (Post-Classical)
Influence: 14
Projects:

Spoiler al-Andalus :

Emirate of Badajoz/NPC
Color: Red-Purple
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 1
Economy: 6/0
Army: 10 Irregular Companies, 5 Swordsman Companies, 4 Horseman Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (8)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (1/2), Judaism (1/3)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 15
Projects:

Sultanate of Castile/Mickzter97
Color: Turquoise
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -1
Economy: 9/0
Army: 3 Irregular Companies, 4 Swordsman Companies, 2 Crossbow Companies, 1 Horseman Company, 2 Siege Companies (Requires 2 Upkeep)
Navy: 1 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (7)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (1/2), Judaism (1/3), Forn Siðr (1/3)
Literacy: 14 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 13
Projects: National Market System (5/5), Advanced Education System (2/5)

Emirate of Cordoba/momo1000
Color: Yellow
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 2
Economy: 11/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 5 Swordsman Companies, 2 Horseman Companies, 4 Crossbow Companies (Requires 1 Upkeep)
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (8)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (1/4), Judaism (1/4)
Literacy: 14 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 15
Projects: Roman Renaissance (5/5), Grand Mosque and Maderesseh (3/3), Silk Road (8/15), African Trade (7/7)

Emirate of Barcelona/nutranurse
Color: Lime Green
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 1
Economy: 8/3
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Company
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (7)
Religious Minorities: Catholicism (2/4), Judaism (1/4)
Literacy: 14 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 15
Projects:

Spoiler Arabia :

Zengid Emirate/TheLizardKing
Color: Grass Green
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 1
Economy: 10/5
Army: 6 Irregular Companies, 6 Swordsman Companies, 2 Crossbow Companies
Navy: 4 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (7)
Religious Minorities: Shia Islam (3/4)
Literacy: 15 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 11
Projects: Road Network (5/5), Port Upgrades (5/5)

Abbasid Caliphate/Lord of Elves
Color: Blue
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 2
Economy: 12/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 26 Swordsman Companies, 4 Horseman Companies (Requires 3 Upkeep)
Navy: 2 Galley Groups
Religion: Sunni Islam (8)
Religious Minorities: Shia Islam (2/4)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects:

Sharifate of Hijaz/NPC
Color: Forest Green
Government: Despotic Theocracy
Stability: -2
Economy: 5/0
Army: 3 Irregular Companies, 2 Swordsman Companies, 1 Horseman Companies
Navy: 4 Galley Companies
Religion: Shia Islam (8)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (2/2)
Literacy: 12 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 13
Projects: National Road Network (3/6)

Imamate of Oman/NPC
Color: Bluish-gray
Government: Despotic Theocracy
Stability: -1
Economy: 6/0
Army: 3 Swordsman Companies, 2 Horseman Companies
Navy: 2 Galley Companies
Religion: Sunni Islam (7)
Religious Minorities: Shia Islam (3/2)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 10
Projects:

Imamate of Yemen/NPC
Color: Pale Green
Government: Despotic Theocracy
Stability: -1
Economy: 5/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 3 Swordsman Companies, 2 Horseman Companies
Navy: 2 Galley Companies
Religion: Sunni Islam (6)
Religious Minorities: Shia Islam (4/2)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects;

Kingdom of Armenia/Lokki242
Color: Dark Purple
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 6/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 4 Swordsman Companies
Navy: 3 Dromon Groups
Religion: Orthodox Remnants (9)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (1/2)
Literacy: 10 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 12
Projects: Grand Church (4/4)

Spoiler Persia and India :

Uyghur Khanate/NPC
Color: Dark Pink
Government: Horse Nomads
Stability: 0
Economy: 5/2
Army: 10 Horse Archer Companies
Navy: None
Religion: Tengriism (5)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (3/3), Shia Islam (2/3)
Literacy: 9 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 10
Projects:

Emirate of Hormuz/Optical
Color: Lime Green
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: -1
Economy: 6/2
Army: 6 Irregular Companies
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Shia Islam (6)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (2/4), Zoroastrianism (2/3)
Literacy: 11 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 14
Projects:

Gupta Empire/NPC
Color: Orange
Government: Despotic Monarchy
Stability: 0
Economy: 6/0
Army: 4 Irregular Companies, 7 Swordsman Companies, 2 Horseman Company
Navy: 3 Galley Groups
Religion: Hinduism (9)
Religious Minorities: Sunni Islam (1/3)
Literacy: 13 (Low Middle Ages)
Influence: 10

 

[SouthernKing]

Let's make update 4 deadline be Wednesday, April 18

 

[SamSniped]

...how? I mean, seriously, how did that not succeed?

 

[Lokki242]

To: Abbasids
From: King Herkules of Armenia
Hey... fancy meeting you here. I request an official declaration of peace between our nations, and we will not hinder your effort to control Azerbaijan, in exchange for permission to claim all of the other Caucasus territories for ourselves.