Abaddon
Deity
I never received a response to my diplomacy.. orders within next 30 mins 
#sorry i ruined the page
#sorry i ruined the page
stJNES: Low Tide
- Thread starter Jason The King
- Start date
flyingchicken
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3,783
Done with revisions and additions since I first posted it. The flags were all done with Adobe Flash MX and Google Image Search.
It was perhaps a necessary side-effect of the time for such great empires to rely on the might of the sword, not only to survive but to prosper indefinitely. There was great fortune to be made in war, and only foolish kings neither sought it actively nor made safeguards against it.
The Zu Dominion can never attribute its resilience and power to wealthy merchants and frugal bureaucrats alone, for the fact was that it relied on might as much as any other nation. The Glorious Army was what made it strong, and the Glorious Army was what kept it strong. Indeed, it was no different was it from other empires and kingdoms of its time, facing the same dangers and pitfalls other states had to face.
Far removed from its early beginnings of devoted citizen-soldiers, the Zu military had evolved into a highly organized and well-trained force of professionals who fought as much for the sake of their jobs as for the sake of their love for the Dominion. It was motivated by pride, prestige, and pay all in equal parts, and it was a working system, a fact undeniable to many. No longer, too, was it composed of those born from the capital — auxiliaries from earlier times were assimilated into the Glorious Army, fighting side-by-side with their comrades-in-arms in equal terms.
Of course, no strong organization ever kept adrift without strong organization. While the governors and ministers of the Dominion kept the clockwork of everyday life within the vast colonial empire working in full order, the generals, commanders, and their lieutenants kept the borders secure and the seas safe. Theirs was a heavy job, upon which the strength and influence of Zu Dominion was resting upon.
Under the reforms initiated by Lu Lin Xian — a self-styled "scholar of the spear" who joined the Academy after his experiences as a soldier — in 1420 BC, the Glorious Army had developed what some would call bureaus and departments, each responsible for one thing or another. The recent usage of both mud tablets and sheets of bamboo had extended its reaches into the Glorious Army almost immediately, making the governance of such a large body easier, despite all the added red tape.
The Glorious Army was divided into many different parts to keep the machinery that was the Zu military moving smoothly. The three main divisions were the Beasts of Heaven, the Tiger's Claw, and the Rabbit Snare, with each sporting a different style of warfare and each providing its own unique service to the Zu Army.
Battles have always been a sluggish affair, and always will be. Two sides would push and push with everything in their hands to bring the other to surrender or total annihilation, be it in the field or in generals' maps. The men who join the Beasts of Heaven are the strongest and bravest of them all, as the Beasts know what battles are truly like. Aggressive and bullheaded commanders are often found here, though that is never a bad thing for the Beasts.
Equipment-wise, the heaviest arms, strongest bows, and fiercest warhorses are reserved for use of the Beasts. They employ spears, shields, swords, longbows, and everything else within their reach to full effect in large, tight formations that are designed to intimidate and to form impenetrable blocks of fighting power. Immovable and impenetrable when they stand, they can effectively be used as "heavy bricks" when "flung" at enemy lines.
In training, the Beasts would body-build by constant drilling of the body. They would carry large bags filled with stones while jogging and often work in the quarries as part of their training. They would always stress the importance of teamwork, as their formations are useless if it all boiled down to "every man for himself." Aside from constant drilling, they would also do mock fighting with whole divisions beating each other down with wooden shields and cloth-tipped spears. Losers in these mock battles often get extra hours of work as punishment for being "inadequate."
Organizationally, the Beasts of Heaven operates under one supreme commander, the First Lord-General, who is directly underneath the Lord-Magistrate. The Lord-General in turn has several lower commanders who command the several large divisions of the Beasts. The smallest division within the Beasts is the five-man squad, the lowest commander being the squad captain.
The Beasts of Heaven were made to take the brunt of the fighting, moving in from the front and striking at their foes where their foes expect them to be. They are the striking edge, expected at the front lines duking it out with the foes of the Dominion.
Originally a small division under the legendary captain Wu Zan Qiang, the commander who led his men across rolling hills in a risky maneuver during the Battle of Jiangsu Plain, it became the namesake of the high-speed, highly-mobile division of troops who are responsible for striking at enemies from as many angles as possible with the least time taken possible. They are often used in conjunction with the Zu Navy, but even without sails and oars they would surprise many enemy commanders with their "lightning quickness."
Lending them their speed is their ability to feed of the land well, as they are extensively trained in hunting, foraging, tracking and rationing as much as they are trained in the other arts of warfare. They could get lost in a jungle for days and still come out fresh for combat. They could go long distances with only one meal a day and still be able to cover more ground than most of their fellow soldiers.
With their unconventional style of marching, though allowing them much freedom in choosing battlefields and attack points, comes with a price. The men of the Tiger's Claw have the loosest structure of command, with captains being able to take reins in the absence of superiors. The limit of able officers who are both competent in military strategy and able to take the demanding lifestyle of the Tiger's Claw limits the size of this division of the Glorious Army.
These men sport light armor, wearing only breastplates above their cloth outfits, along with shields and weapons that the warriors of the time are accustomed to using. They fight in smaller formations than most, and they often strike like a blur in a strategic point of view. They are given the quickest horses in the land, often those bred from racing stables and the like. They, too, are drilled constantly, but they are expected to finish jogging laps and other courses in half the timespan most other soldiers are expected to.
The Second Lord-General often moves personally with the largest division of the Tiger's Claw, making the position a well-respected one. He answers to the Lord-Magistrate, but his situation gives him a great deal of autonomy. The Tiger's Claw is often based in "sea-camps" during peacetime and most of the time during wartime, dealing with pirates and smugglers when they are not fighting armies and nations.
The Tiger's Claw is a force to be reckoned with, often striking too fast for most enemies to react effectively, using their superb mobility and relative independence of command to the fullest. In summary, speed is central to the Tiger Claw's philosophy.
Communications have always been important to any great endeavor. Great advancements in human progress has always been marked by some sort of improvement in the way groups of people talk to one another. The prosperity of a town is proportional to the amount of connections it has with other towns, through roads and sea routes. Similarly, the success of an army is dependent on how much it knows of the enemy, of the land, of the people, and of itself.
The Rabbit Snare is not a true division, but a bureau of sorts. They are responsible for scouting and spying — both internally and externally — as well as the distribution of information to all the relevant places. They have small armies of spies, scouts, and trackers who they lend out to the other divisions of the Glorious Army when needed. However, they do have been known to use to mercenaries, paid with whatever amount the government allows them, in far-off places to initiate assaults and establish defenses, making them as much a military arm as any other.
The Rabbit Snare agents are soldiers to the core, with many within their ranks often picked from the other two divisions. Sometimes reformed criminals — those who have been extensively beaten into submission in the prisons — are hired as agents, but this is usually only done when there is need of disposable agents, as the Dominion would never trust its safety to those who are most likely to betray it. Soldiers who enter the Snare are often the most disciplined and most charismatic ones, handpicked by the Third Lord-General and judged y a special part of the Academy.
Highly centralized and bureaucratic, the organization of the Rabbit Snare is tight-knit and tight-lipped. Not one of their agents are allowed to speak to anyone who are not their immediate superiors. Most of the time, the Lord Magistrate does not know what occurs within the Rabbit Snare, and the Third Lord-General hardly ever speaks. It is the central hub of information on the Dominion, and because of this some people would even think go s far to think that the real power behind the Lord-Magistrate is within the Snare. Though some people are rarely ever right, the Lord-magistrate keeps all Third Lord-Generals under his watchful eye to keep the latter's power in check.
Probably the most dangerous part of the Glorious Army — both internally and externally — the Snare has nonetheless proved itself to be a vital division, providing information and using its extensive network of spies and scouts throughout the Dominion to full effect in and out of war.
The Glorious Army of the Stormy Sea
The will of the Dominion incarnate.
The banner of the Glorious Army depicts a dragon striking from the shadows.
The will of the Dominion incarnate.
The banner of the Glorious Army depicts a dragon striking from the shadows.
It was perhaps a necessary side-effect of the time for such great empires to rely on the might of the sword, not only to survive but to prosper indefinitely. There was great fortune to be made in war, and only foolish kings neither sought it actively nor made safeguards against it.
The Zu Dominion can never attribute its resilience and power to wealthy merchants and frugal bureaucrats alone, for the fact was that it relied on might as much as any other nation. The Glorious Army was what made it strong, and the Glorious Army was what kept it strong. Indeed, it was no different was it from other empires and kingdoms of its time, facing the same dangers and pitfalls other states had to face.
Far removed from its early beginnings of devoted citizen-soldiers, the Zu military had evolved into a highly organized and well-trained force of professionals who fought as much for the sake of their jobs as for the sake of their love for the Dominion. It was motivated by pride, prestige, and pay all in equal parts, and it was a working system, a fact undeniable to many. No longer, too, was it composed of those born from the capital — auxiliaries from earlier times were assimilated into the Glorious Army, fighting side-by-side with their comrades-in-arms in equal terms.
Of course, no strong organization ever kept adrift without strong organization. While the governors and ministers of the Dominion kept the clockwork of everyday life within the vast colonial empire working in full order, the generals, commanders, and their lieutenants kept the borders secure and the seas safe. Theirs was a heavy job, upon which the strength and influence of Zu Dominion was resting upon.
Under the reforms initiated by Lu Lin Xian — a self-styled "scholar of the spear" who joined the Academy after his experiences as a soldier — in 1420 BC, the Glorious Army had developed what some would call bureaus and departments, each responsible for one thing or another. The recent usage of both mud tablets and sheets of bamboo had extended its reaches into the Glorious Army almost immediately, making the governance of such a large body easier, despite all the added red tape.
The Glorious Army was divided into many different parts to keep the machinery that was the Zu military moving smoothly. The three main divisions were the Beasts of Heaven, the Tiger's Claw, and the Rabbit Snare, with each sporting a different style of warfare and each providing its own unique service to the Zu Army.
The Beasts of Heaven
"The spear is straight in form and straightforward in its action, as is our path to victory."
The banner of the Beasts depicts a conflict between the tiger and the dragon.
"The spear is straight in form and straightforward in its action, as is our path to victory."
The banner of the Beasts depicts a conflict between the tiger and the dragon.
Battles have always been a sluggish affair, and always will be. Two sides would push and push with everything in their hands to bring the other to surrender or total annihilation, be it in the field or in generals' maps. The men who join the Beasts of Heaven are the strongest and bravest of them all, as the Beasts know what battles are truly like. Aggressive and bullheaded commanders are often found here, though that is never a bad thing for the Beasts.
Equipment-wise, the heaviest arms, strongest bows, and fiercest warhorses are reserved for use of the Beasts. They employ spears, shields, swords, longbows, and everything else within their reach to full effect in large, tight formations that are designed to intimidate and to form impenetrable blocks of fighting power. Immovable and impenetrable when they stand, they can effectively be used as "heavy bricks" when "flung" at enemy lines.
In training, the Beasts would body-build by constant drilling of the body. They would carry large bags filled with stones while jogging and often work in the quarries as part of their training. They would always stress the importance of teamwork, as their formations are useless if it all boiled down to "every man for himself." Aside from constant drilling, they would also do mock fighting with whole divisions beating each other down with wooden shields and cloth-tipped spears. Losers in these mock battles often get extra hours of work as punishment for being "inadequate."
Organizationally, the Beasts of Heaven operates under one supreme commander, the First Lord-General, who is directly underneath the Lord-Magistrate. The Lord-General in turn has several lower commanders who command the several large divisions of the Beasts. The smallest division within the Beasts is the five-man squad, the lowest commander being the squad captain.
The Beasts of Heaven were made to take the brunt of the fighting, moving in from the front and striking at their foes where their foes expect them to be. They are the striking edge, expected at the front lines duking it out with the foes of the Dominion.
The Tiger's Claw
"In the resilience of the mind there is strength."
The banner of the Tiger's Claw depicts a clawed tiger' paw against a red and gold backdrop.
"In the resilience of the mind there is strength."
The banner of the Tiger's Claw depicts a clawed tiger' paw against a red and gold backdrop.
Originally a small division under the legendary captain Wu Zan Qiang, the commander who led his men across rolling hills in a risky maneuver during the Battle of Jiangsu Plain, it became the namesake of the high-speed, highly-mobile division of troops who are responsible for striking at enemies from as many angles as possible with the least time taken possible. They are often used in conjunction with the Zu Navy, but even without sails and oars they would surprise many enemy commanders with their "lightning quickness."
Lending them their speed is their ability to feed of the land well, as they are extensively trained in hunting, foraging, tracking and rationing as much as they are trained in the other arts of warfare. They could get lost in a jungle for days and still come out fresh for combat. They could go long distances with only one meal a day and still be able to cover more ground than most of their fellow soldiers.
With their unconventional style of marching, though allowing them much freedom in choosing battlefields and attack points, comes with a price. The men of the Tiger's Claw have the loosest structure of command, with captains being able to take reins in the absence of superiors. The limit of able officers who are both competent in military strategy and able to take the demanding lifestyle of the Tiger's Claw limits the size of this division of the Glorious Army.
These men sport light armor, wearing only breastplates above their cloth outfits, along with shields and weapons that the warriors of the time are accustomed to using. They fight in smaller formations than most, and they often strike like a blur in a strategic point of view. They are given the quickest horses in the land, often those bred from racing stables and the like. They, too, are drilled constantly, but they are expected to finish jogging laps and other courses in half the timespan most other soldiers are expected to.
The Second Lord-General often moves personally with the largest division of the Tiger's Claw, making the position a well-respected one. He answers to the Lord-Magistrate, but his situation gives him a great deal of autonomy. The Tiger's Claw is often based in "sea-camps" during peacetime and most of the time during wartime, dealing with pirates and smugglers when they are not fighting armies and nations.
The Tiger's Claw is a force to be reckoned with, often striking too fast for most enemies to react effectively, using their superb mobility and relative independence of command to the fullest. In summary, speed is central to the Tiger Claw's philosophy.
The Rabbit Snare
"To strike fast and to strike hard from where your enemies least expect it, that is the way in which wars and battles are won decisively."
The banner of the Rabbit Snare depicts a closed trap and claw marks from out of nowhere.
"To strike fast and to strike hard from where your enemies least expect it, that is the way in which wars and battles are won decisively."
The banner of the Rabbit Snare depicts a closed trap and claw marks from out of nowhere.
Communications have always been important to any great endeavor. Great advancements in human progress has always been marked by some sort of improvement in the way groups of people talk to one another. The prosperity of a town is proportional to the amount of connections it has with other towns, through roads and sea routes. Similarly, the success of an army is dependent on how much it knows of the enemy, of the land, of the people, and of itself.
The Rabbit Snare is not a true division, but a bureau of sorts. They are responsible for scouting and spying — both internally and externally — as well as the distribution of information to all the relevant places. They have small armies of spies, scouts, and trackers who they lend out to the other divisions of the Glorious Army when needed. However, they do have been known to use to mercenaries, paid with whatever amount the government allows them, in far-off places to initiate assaults and establish defenses, making them as much a military arm as any other.
The Rabbit Snare agents are soldiers to the core, with many within their ranks often picked from the other two divisions. Sometimes reformed criminals — those who have been extensively beaten into submission in the prisons — are hired as agents, but this is usually only done when there is need of disposable agents, as the Dominion would never trust its safety to those who are most likely to betray it. Soldiers who enter the Snare are often the most disciplined and most charismatic ones, handpicked by the Third Lord-General and judged y a special part of the Academy.
Highly centralized and bureaucratic, the organization of the Rabbit Snare is tight-knit and tight-lipped. Not one of their agents are allowed to speak to anyone who are not their immediate superiors. Most of the time, the Lord Magistrate does not know what occurs within the Rabbit Snare, and the Third Lord-General hardly ever speaks. It is the central hub of information on the Dominion, and because of this some people would even think go s far to think that the real power behind the Lord-Magistrate is within the Snare. Though some people are rarely ever right, the Lord-magistrate keeps all Third Lord-Generals under his watchful eye to keep the latter's power in check.
Probably the most dangerous part of the Glorious Army — both internally and externally — the Snare has nonetheless proved itself to be a vital division, providing information and using its extensive network of spies and scouts throughout the Dominion to full effect in and out of war.
Metaliturtle
Apolyton Original NESser
...Yet another Jason NES that stops being updated when I join it...
Jason The King
Deity
lol, its barely been a week since it was updated. dont worry, im working on it.
flyingchicken
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3,783
When's the update then? 
Jason The King
Deity
Okay, have all but far east done, but decided to go out for drinks tonight, so tomorrow it will be finished. scouts honor.
flyingchicken
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3,783
Will the far east cultures be written? :hopeful:
Here's one possibility:
Zu Dominion
Sui-han Sung/Flying Chicken
Capital: Zu, city of storms
Government: Meritocratic Hereditary Monarchy
Technology: Well crafted bronze tools and weapons
Religion: Zu Perfectionism/Taoism
Economy: Large, growing mildly, based on trade.
Income: 4
Army: 12 thousand men, trained and equipped, consisting of light infantry.
Navy: 60 triremes, very well equipped and trained, technologically superior with
Culture: The people of Zu practice a blend of Taoist and Perfectionist customs, with some solid boat- and fading steppe- culture elements. The Zu dislike the Chinese to the point of antagonism despite their cultural similarities.
Here's one possibility:
Zu Dominion
Sui-han Sung/Flying Chicken
Capital: Zu, city of storms
Government: Meritocratic Hereditary Monarchy
Technology: Well crafted bronze tools and weapons
Religion: Zu Perfectionism/Taoism
Economy: Large, growing mildly, based on trade.
Income: 4
Army: 12 thousand men, trained and equipped, consisting of light infantry.
Navy: 60 triremes, very well equipped and trained, technologically superior with
Culture: The people of Zu practice a blend of Taoist and Perfectionist customs, with some solid boat- and fading steppe- culture elements. The Zu dislike the Chinese to the point of antagonism despite their cultural similarities.
flyingchicken
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3,783
(double post, yeah)
Strength in Serenity, Serenity in Strength
Yet another confusing story about the Zu.
"Son, do you find this garden beautiful?" asked Shaohao Sung[1], not looking at the young prince[2] behind him. The boy was sitting on one of the many stone benches within the Palace Garden. His father was wearing battle-gear, the Tiger Claw-marked breastplate resting on his broad chest shining in the sun. "The trees, the plants, the flowers, everything in this garden; are they not pleasing to the eye, soothing to the mind?"
"Yes sir, they are," said the young prince, staring fearfully at his father's back. He was but thirteen years old, barely tall enough to meet the Lord-Magistrate's chest and barely strong enough to hold the decorated spear that was lying on the ground at his feet. It had laid there for hours since the two entered the garden.
"Tell me, how are they so?" replied Shaohao Sung slowly, his voice lacking emotion. He remained unmoving, his back still turned to his boy. He looked as though he was staring at the gnarled and ancient tree that served as the center of the garden. Old pavement stuck to the tangled mass of large roots at the base of the great tree, and that caught the eye of the young prince.
"Well, sir, I believe that the symmetry of the figures, the many, vibrant colors of the flowers, the harmony of form of all that is within this garden," the young prince said rapidly, quickly losing his breath. He said it by rote, as his tutors at the Academy had taught him. Afterwards, he still took momentary glances at his father's back, but finally decided on resting his eyes on what he thought was what his father was looking at. He continued, saying, "I believe that is what makes this Garden beautiful."
The large man in his suit of armor did not move, and the young boy behind him did not expect him to do so any time soon. However, the large man did not answer either, and this left the boy to wonder whether he had said something wrong and whether his father was going to lash out soon. The prince only knew the man in front of him as a frightening figure. Whenever he tried going back to his earlier childhood with regards to his father, he could only recall long absences and harsh punishments for even the smallest of his childish misdeeds.
"Do you see that ancient tree at the center of the garden?" asked the Lord-Magistrate, pointing at the tree. His arm's movement was slow and deliberate, seemingly full of strength and consideration. He only pointed for a brief moment, and never for a second did his figure fail to impress and intimidate the boy.
"Yes, sir, I see it," squeaked the boy in fear, thinking that maybe his father had read his mind. It was not unusual for him to sound scared in front of his father, and the Lord-Magistrate Shaohao Sung was not unused to those who feared his presence. A fluttering, irrelevant thought entered the boy's mind at that moment: his father was looking at the tree.
"Now, do tell me, is it beautiful?" said the Lord-Magistrate. He was unfeeling in his speech earlier, but now — now his voice had what sounded like anger. Perhaps it was passion, but the frightened prince could not have discerned. "Does it have symmetry? Does it have colorful flowers? Does it have harmony with those around it?"
The young prince considered what his father had just said for many long whiles. The tree was slightly twisted, slightly bent to one side, giving it a somewhat sinister appearance. When the boy scanned it from bottom to top, staring for a few moments at the unbelievable height it had reached, he found that it was very dull, sporting no such things as brightly colored flowers. When he looked back down at the roots, he found that it did not agree with its surroundings either: the shattered, old tiles at its base and the bulging pavement around it bore testament to this.
"No, sir, it is not," said the prince. He was once again staring at the man before him and saw him in a somewhat different light. The earthy brown of the breastplate and the dark colors of the rest of his father's armor clashed with the serene backdrop. What his father represented was out of place in such a peaceful place as the Palatial Garden.
"It is not beautiful, and yet it stands as the centerpiece," asked Shaohao Sung. Now the boy was thoroughly confused. He was not exactly sure where this was going, but his father just stood there, still unmoving. "Do you find that strange?" He turned to face his son. The young prince quickly stood up in respect. His face was grim, his expression as unfeeling as his voice was.
The Lord-Magistrate, not waiting for a response, took a few steps forward and took the spear near the bottom of the bench. He thumped the base of the weapon against the stone tiles, fixing it at an angle from himself as a soldier would in formation. He looked down, fixing his eyes upon the young prince standing only a few feet away from him.
"N-no sir — I mean, yes sir," said the young prince finally, staring up at his father's face.
"And yet it stands as the centerpiece," repeated the Lord-Magistrate. "Despite the fact that it the garden is a place of harmony, a great tree that refuses to yield to its surroundings is its centerpiece. It shows its strength" — Shaohao Sung suddenly pointed the spear at the roots of the tree, and the young prince's head follows " — and destroys those who wish to subdue it." He returned the spear to his side, and this time the boy was not so quick to follow. "Power is peace, son. That is why everything in this garden revolves around that tree...Power is peace."
The Lord-Magistrate put the spear down and turned his back to his son again. He took a few steps towards where he was standing earlier and once again stared at the tree intently. His young son was left to wonder as to what his father's words meant. Everything in this garden revolves around that tree...Power is peace.
The young prince only nodded. He was left in the garden to contemplate, as his father left when a haggard-looking courier arrived. Power is peace.
__________
[1] Shaohao Sung, 16th Sung Dynasty Lord-Magistrate of the of the Zu Dominion (served 1125-1099 BC)
[2] Shao Shao Sung, 17th Sung Dynasty Lord-Magistrate of the of the Zu Dominion (served 1097-1041 BC)
Strength in Serenity, Serenity in Strength
Yet another confusing story about the Zu.
"Son, do you find this garden beautiful?" asked Shaohao Sung[1], not looking at the young prince[2] behind him. The boy was sitting on one of the many stone benches within the Palace Garden. His father was wearing battle-gear, the Tiger Claw-marked breastplate resting on his broad chest shining in the sun. "The trees, the plants, the flowers, everything in this garden; are they not pleasing to the eye, soothing to the mind?"
"Yes sir, they are," said the young prince, staring fearfully at his father's back. He was but thirteen years old, barely tall enough to meet the Lord-Magistrate's chest and barely strong enough to hold the decorated spear that was lying on the ground at his feet. It had laid there for hours since the two entered the garden.
"Tell me, how are they so?" replied Shaohao Sung slowly, his voice lacking emotion. He remained unmoving, his back still turned to his boy. He looked as though he was staring at the gnarled and ancient tree that served as the center of the garden. Old pavement stuck to the tangled mass of large roots at the base of the great tree, and that caught the eye of the young prince.
"Well, sir, I believe that the symmetry of the figures, the many, vibrant colors of the flowers, the harmony of form of all that is within this garden," the young prince said rapidly, quickly losing his breath. He said it by rote, as his tutors at the Academy had taught him. Afterwards, he still took momentary glances at his father's back, but finally decided on resting his eyes on what he thought was what his father was looking at. He continued, saying, "I believe that is what makes this Garden beautiful."
The large man in his suit of armor did not move, and the young boy behind him did not expect him to do so any time soon. However, the large man did not answer either, and this left the boy to wonder whether he had said something wrong and whether his father was going to lash out soon. The prince only knew the man in front of him as a frightening figure. Whenever he tried going back to his earlier childhood with regards to his father, he could only recall long absences and harsh punishments for even the smallest of his childish misdeeds.
"Do you see that ancient tree at the center of the garden?" asked the Lord-Magistrate, pointing at the tree. His arm's movement was slow and deliberate, seemingly full of strength and consideration. He only pointed for a brief moment, and never for a second did his figure fail to impress and intimidate the boy.
"Yes, sir, I see it," squeaked the boy in fear, thinking that maybe his father had read his mind. It was not unusual for him to sound scared in front of his father, and the Lord-Magistrate Shaohao Sung was not unused to those who feared his presence. A fluttering, irrelevant thought entered the boy's mind at that moment: his father was looking at the tree.
"Now, do tell me, is it beautiful?" said the Lord-Magistrate. He was unfeeling in his speech earlier, but now — now his voice had what sounded like anger. Perhaps it was passion, but the frightened prince could not have discerned. "Does it have symmetry? Does it have colorful flowers? Does it have harmony with those around it?"
The young prince considered what his father had just said for many long whiles. The tree was slightly twisted, slightly bent to one side, giving it a somewhat sinister appearance. When the boy scanned it from bottom to top, staring for a few moments at the unbelievable height it had reached, he found that it was very dull, sporting no such things as brightly colored flowers. When he looked back down at the roots, he found that it did not agree with its surroundings either: the shattered, old tiles at its base and the bulging pavement around it bore testament to this.
"No, sir, it is not," said the prince. He was once again staring at the man before him and saw him in a somewhat different light. The earthy brown of the breastplate and the dark colors of the rest of his father's armor clashed with the serene backdrop. What his father represented was out of place in such a peaceful place as the Palatial Garden.
"It is not beautiful, and yet it stands as the centerpiece," asked Shaohao Sung. Now the boy was thoroughly confused. He was not exactly sure where this was going, but his father just stood there, still unmoving. "Do you find that strange?" He turned to face his son. The young prince quickly stood up in respect. His face was grim, his expression as unfeeling as his voice was.
The Lord-Magistrate, not waiting for a response, took a few steps forward and took the spear near the bottom of the bench. He thumped the base of the weapon against the stone tiles, fixing it at an angle from himself as a soldier would in formation. He looked down, fixing his eyes upon the young prince standing only a few feet away from him.
"N-no sir — I mean, yes sir," said the young prince finally, staring up at his father's face.
"And yet it stands as the centerpiece," repeated the Lord-Magistrate. "Despite the fact that it the garden is a place of harmony, a great tree that refuses to yield to its surroundings is its centerpiece. It shows its strength" — Shaohao Sung suddenly pointed the spear at the roots of the tree, and the young prince's head follows " — and destroys those who wish to subdue it." He returned the spear to his side, and this time the boy was not so quick to follow. "Power is peace, son. That is why everything in this garden revolves around that tree...Power is peace."
The Lord-Magistrate put the spear down and turned his back to his son again. He took a few steps towards where he was standing earlier and once again stared at the tree intently. His young son was left to wonder as to what his father's words meant. Everything in this garden revolves around that tree...Power is peace.
The young prince only nodded. He was left in the garden to contemplate, as his father left when a haggard-looking courier arrived. Power is peace.
__________
[1] Shaohao Sung, 16th Sung Dynasty Lord-Magistrate of the of the Zu Dominion (served 1125-1099 BC)
[2] Shao Shao Sung, 17th Sung Dynasty Lord-Magistrate of the of the Zu Dominion (served 1097-1041 BC)
Jason The King
Deity
Finishing up the update now. Great stories, flyingchicken, keep it up .
.
Abaddon
Deity
i got orders in i hope? if not can send asap?
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
I debate joining. Anything good open?
flyingchicken
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3,783
Thanks.Finishing up the update now. Great stories, flyingchicken, keep it up
Waiting for the update excitedly.
Persia maybe?
Jason The King
Deity
stJNES: Low Tide
Update VI
1100bc-1000bc
The British continue to fight for their right to exist and reclaim their country, despite innumerable odds against them. The Jorvic, possessing a majority of the population, the trained and established army, and a treasury to back up their forces are not about to allow the British to accomplish their goals. Having raised a ten-thousand strong army of British farmers and servants, the British march north to Jorvic in order to capture the city and put an end to the Jorvic rule. Unfortunately for them the Jorvic have gathered their entire army, nearly 15 thousand strong, armed, and trained men to counter this uprising.
The battle takes place nearly a hundred miles south of Jorvic. Attempts to surround the Jorvic army fails as the peasant army comes to grips with the situation. Thousands of British flee the army as the Jorvic commence their attack. The British are slaughtered; no one on the battlefield is left alive. The British still left were the cowards who fled before the battle, and are regrouping now in the south. The Jorvic army has already recaptured much of the northern British lands in rebellion, and has pushed the dissidents to the southern corner of the island. The reduced numbers of the British are now a meager 3,000 men.
In other Nordic news, the southern province of the Norse has rebelled as well, the nation of Maddenmark created along the peninsula known as Jutland and its surrounding islands. The nation is mostly a conglomerate of farmers and sheep herders, though its people prideful and its army, made up mostly of light cavalry, strong.
In Erie news, the plague continues to disturb the island, its deaths now numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Even more people, though, have fled the island, drastically taking its toll on the morale and economy of the nation. Most have fled to the Faeroe islands, though a sizeable amount of refugees have fled even further north to another uninhabited island that, though very far north, is quite habitable. Most have settled the eastern edge of the island which is the most habitable and has the least amount of volcanoes, and many have begun a new life on this promising island, known now as New Éire.
On the continent, the Saxons have finally broken through the Celtic line, destroying their army once and for all in a single battle, and capturing the capital. Without its central leadership, the Celtic Confederation has disintegrated, making it simple for the Saxons to mop up each tribe, one by one, and create the largest European empire in existence.
------
The next region we come to is the western Mediterranean, where finally the Ligurian-Balearic rivalry has come to blows. Unfortunately for the Balearics, they faced not just Liguria, but a host of allied states.
The spark for the war of course began in Africa, where Balearic-backed Cabro has invaded the Eduardian-backed Cueta state. In Cabro, realizing the odds they are facing, the King has ordered the country stripped of its economic surplus, bringing every little piece of iron, from civilian buttons to sign posts to pipes, to be turned into equipment for a nearly doubling of the army. The result of the near doubling of the army, and a near halving of the Cueta army due to deserters, is the capitulation of the country. Though supplies were being funneled in by Eduardian ships, it was not enough. Though the victory has softened the blow to the economy from the king’s orders, Cabro is still suffering from a downturn in trade and nearly its entire infrastructure stripped and useless.
Simultaneously, the Ligurians have decided to launch their first assault against the Balearics in Italy. Though the backbone of the Balearic economy, the peninsula was left nearly defenseless due to the threat of the Eduardians to Balearic Iberia. Only two thousand men were left in all of Balearic Italy, inflicting only cosmetic damage upon the Ligurian hordes and instead escaping to Sicily, where reinforcements arrived.
In Spanish Iberia, the Balearics are attacked as well. A full out Eduardian invasion is met with harsh resistance from the Balearic army, which has well fortified itself. Though still outnumbered and nearly matched in terms of equipment and training, the Balearics have inflicted heavy casualties upon the Eduardian Empire. Nevertheless, the Balearics are pushed back gradually, and it seemed as if the end was near. That is, until Aragonese troops arrived at the front line, stabilizing the battlefield and shrinking the handicaps.
Meanwhile, a combined assault of Ligurian and Kyprisian forces in Sicily also meets strong resistance, nearly five thousand Balearics defending the beach heads. Off the coast here, the naval battle of the millennium finally happens. Nearly 120 Balearic ships convene against the larger 130-ship strong combined Kypris and Ligurian fleet. While the Ligurians lack in size and technology compared to the Kypris and Balearics, they take the lead in strategizing the allied assault. The Battle of Palermo is the largest sea battle ever recorded. The swifter and more cohesive Balearic fleet ends up taking the day, causing confusion and disrupting communication between the two allies and all in all saving Sicily, and possibly other Balearic lands, from invasion. Nearly 30 Ligurian ships are destroyed in this battle, 20 Kyprisian, and over 40 Balearic ships.
In non-war news, a Ligurian party has established the nation’s first outside-Mediterranean colony. The small village is heavily dependent on trade with the Eduardians to survive, being on the edge of the world’s largest desert, though it is becoming a hub of the ivory trade, especially since Cabro’s trade has declined so rapidly in the past century.
---
The next region is of course the Western Mediterranean where we visit the great wars of the Hadhramaut. Ruling the region for nearly 200 years, the Hadhramauti now see their empire falling apart, their hegemony crushed, and their worse nightmares realized. Continued defeat after defeat at the hands of the Persians has nearly crushed their conventional foot army, while problems holding the line against Halem are also wearing their forces thin. Reinforcements are slow to come, mostly due to the long supply routes from the Hadhramauti homeland.
The final blow against the Hadhramauti is the tribal uprisings all across their lands, mostly in the remote regions where rule is weak, especially now due to the wars. Berber and Bedouin tribes both in the central part of the empire and in the northern deserts have disrupted trade and supply, cut their troops off from the fronts, and require precious manpower to pacify. Both Halem and the Persians have taken advantage of this, making great pushes against the Hadhramauti, whose lines are becoming thin.
As the war with the Hadhramauti is drawing to a close, the Persians look north to the more prosperous lands of Mesopotamia. Purattu, heavily influenced by the Halabi Empire and peaceful for the last four centuries, is invaded by a mass of Persian troops. Unable to deal with the Persian invaders, the Purattu are further annoyed when a similar Halabi force invades from the north. Both armies seem to have an agreement on where to create a new border as Purattu troops are crushed in almost every battle. A shaky line is held around the ancient city/capital of Babylon, though it is expected to fall in the next years to Persian forces.
In Egypt, the religion-laden land is invaded from the south by Kush, who had earlier demanded a downsize in Egypt’s army. The massive Kushite army invaded from the south, but instead of meeting light resistance from border patrols, they met the entire Egyptian army, well fortified and ready for defense. At the Battle of Elephantine, the Egyptian army, though smaller, took advantage of the bulkiness of the Kushite army and was able to dodge behind, cutting off supply routes and routing the large force. Nearly ten thousand Kushites surrendered in the battle, with light Egyptian casualties. This astounding victory has finally shaken off the Kushite influence on the Egyptian pharaoh, and, in return for the soldiers being released back to Kush, a peace treaty has been signed recognizing Egyptian independence.
In religion news, the Cult of Isis continues to grow quickly, outpacing the other religions in Egypt (though still the smallest one) and spreading into Lower Egypt and the delta.
Greece the Racedonian-Trojan war has stalemated, neither side taking an advantage.
----
Now we come to the Far East, where the wars between the different states have escalated to new proportions. As China continues to devour the Nanchao people, the Zu Dominion sails quickly south, engaging the Khmer navy and forcefully extracting iron technology from the sailors. Now with the iron, the Zu work quickly to adapt their ships and army. Meanwhile Nanchao fights on, holding the Chinese steadfast near the capital. That is, until the Khmer invade from the south, angry at the Zu for their abduction, and honoring the alliance with China. Nanchao falls.
Now, with an upgraded navy and army, the Zu enter the war. A massive fleet engages the Chinese in the north, defeating it in several key battles and sending it to retreat in the Yellow River. The whole trade network is disrupted, sending the Chinese merchants into disarray and damaging the economy, while also damaging the Choson economy.
The main attack comes along the Yangtze River as the Zu create a new river fleet to aid their army. While the fleet is good for carrying tons of supplies and makes for a quick advance, it is vulnerable to attacks from the land, where flaming arrows and very crude rock throwers take their toll. The attack, however, is very successful, several Chinese border patrols are destroyed, and the Zu army is well prepared for a full-out Chinese counter-attack when its armies return from the west.
Meanwhile, Taoists throughout the Zu Dominion are beginning to be discriminated against by the remaining Perfectionists, mostly because of the war with China. Several cases have been reported where Perfectionists have actually murdered dozens of Taoists and burned their temples.
A new code of laws is also extended across the Zu Dominion, organizing many new building projects and creating a sense of centralization and order.
MOD’S NOTES
Flavious: You spent 1 extra economy then you had, so I just took it off your army recruitment.
Update VI
1100bc-1000bc
The British continue to fight for their right to exist and reclaim their country, despite innumerable odds against them. The Jorvic, possessing a majority of the population, the trained and established army, and a treasury to back up their forces are not about to allow the British to accomplish their goals. Having raised a ten-thousand strong army of British farmers and servants, the British march north to Jorvic in order to capture the city and put an end to the Jorvic rule. Unfortunately for them the Jorvic have gathered their entire army, nearly 15 thousand strong, armed, and trained men to counter this uprising.
The battle takes place nearly a hundred miles south of Jorvic. Attempts to surround the Jorvic army fails as the peasant army comes to grips with the situation. Thousands of British flee the army as the Jorvic commence their attack. The British are slaughtered; no one on the battlefield is left alive. The British still left were the cowards who fled before the battle, and are regrouping now in the south. The Jorvic army has already recaptured much of the northern British lands in rebellion, and has pushed the dissidents to the southern corner of the island. The reduced numbers of the British are now a meager 3,000 men.
In other Nordic news, the southern province of the Norse has rebelled as well, the nation of Maddenmark created along the peninsula known as Jutland and its surrounding islands. The nation is mostly a conglomerate of farmers and sheep herders, though its people prideful and its army, made up mostly of light cavalry, strong.
In Erie news, the plague continues to disturb the island, its deaths now numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Even more people, though, have fled the island, drastically taking its toll on the morale and economy of the nation. Most have fled to the Faeroe islands, though a sizeable amount of refugees have fled even further north to another uninhabited island that, though very far north, is quite habitable. Most have settled the eastern edge of the island which is the most habitable and has the least amount of volcanoes, and many have begun a new life on this promising island, known now as New Éire.
On the continent, the Saxons have finally broken through the Celtic line, destroying their army once and for all in a single battle, and capturing the capital. Without its central leadership, the Celtic Confederation has disintegrated, making it simple for the Saxons to mop up each tribe, one by one, and create the largest European empire in existence.
------
The next region we come to is the western Mediterranean, where finally the Ligurian-Balearic rivalry has come to blows. Unfortunately for the Balearics, they faced not just Liguria, but a host of allied states.
The spark for the war of course began in Africa, where Balearic-backed Cabro has invaded the Eduardian-backed Cueta state. In Cabro, realizing the odds they are facing, the King has ordered the country stripped of its economic surplus, bringing every little piece of iron, from civilian buttons to sign posts to pipes, to be turned into equipment for a nearly doubling of the army. The result of the near doubling of the army, and a near halving of the Cueta army due to deserters, is the capitulation of the country. Though supplies were being funneled in by Eduardian ships, it was not enough. Though the victory has softened the blow to the economy from the king’s orders, Cabro is still suffering from a downturn in trade and nearly its entire infrastructure stripped and useless.
Simultaneously, the Ligurians have decided to launch their first assault against the Balearics in Italy. Though the backbone of the Balearic economy, the peninsula was left nearly defenseless due to the threat of the Eduardians to Balearic Iberia. Only two thousand men were left in all of Balearic Italy, inflicting only cosmetic damage upon the Ligurian hordes and instead escaping to Sicily, where reinforcements arrived.
In Spanish Iberia, the Balearics are attacked as well. A full out Eduardian invasion is met with harsh resistance from the Balearic army, which has well fortified itself. Though still outnumbered and nearly matched in terms of equipment and training, the Balearics have inflicted heavy casualties upon the Eduardian Empire. Nevertheless, the Balearics are pushed back gradually, and it seemed as if the end was near. That is, until Aragonese troops arrived at the front line, stabilizing the battlefield and shrinking the handicaps.
Meanwhile, a combined assault of Ligurian and Kyprisian forces in Sicily also meets strong resistance, nearly five thousand Balearics defending the beach heads. Off the coast here, the naval battle of the millennium finally happens. Nearly 120 Balearic ships convene against the larger 130-ship strong combined Kypris and Ligurian fleet. While the Ligurians lack in size and technology compared to the Kypris and Balearics, they take the lead in strategizing the allied assault. The Battle of Palermo is the largest sea battle ever recorded. The swifter and more cohesive Balearic fleet ends up taking the day, causing confusion and disrupting communication between the two allies and all in all saving Sicily, and possibly other Balearic lands, from invasion. Nearly 30 Ligurian ships are destroyed in this battle, 20 Kyprisian, and over 40 Balearic ships.
In non-war news, a Ligurian party has established the nation’s first outside-Mediterranean colony. The small village is heavily dependent on trade with the Eduardians to survive, being on the edge of the world’s largest desert, though it is becoming a hub of the ivory trade, especially since Cabro’s trade has declined so rapidly in the past century.
---
The next region is of course the Western Mediterranean where we visit the great wars of the Hadhramaut. Ruling the region for nearly 200 years, the Hadhramauti now see their empire falling apart, their hegemony crushed, and their worse nightmares realized. Continued defeat after defeat at the hands of the Persians has nearly crushed their conventional foot army, while problems holding the line against Halem are also wearing their forces thin. Reinforcements are slow to come, mostly due to the long supply routes from the Hadhramauti homeland.
The final blow against the Hadhramauti is the tribal uprisings all across their lands, mostly in the remote regions where rule is weak, especially now due to the wars. Berber and Bedouin tribes both in the central part of the empire and in the northern deserts have disrupted trade and supply, cut their troops off from the fronts, and require precious manpower to pacify. Both Halem and the Persians have taken advantage of this, making great pushes against the Hadhramauti, whose lines are becoming thin.
As the war with the Hadhramauti is drawing to a close, the Persians look north to the more prosperous lands of Mesopotamia. Purattu, heavily influenced by the Halabi Empire and peaceful for the last four centuries, is invaded by a mass of Persian troops. Unable to deal with the Persian invaders, the Purattu are further annoyed when a similar Halabi force invades from the north. Both armies seem to have an agreement on where to create a new border as Purattu troops are crushed in almost every battle. A shaky line is held around the ancient city/capital of Babylon, though it is expected to fall in the next years to Persian forces.
In Egypt, the religion-laden land is invaded from the south by Kush, who had earlier demanded a downsize in Egypt’s army. The massive Kushite army invaded from the south, but instead of meeting light resistance from border patrols, they met the entire Egyptian army, well fortified and ready for defense. At the Battle of Elephantine, the Egyptian army, though smaller, took advantage of the bulkiness of the Kushite army and was able to dodge behind, cutting off supply routes and routing the large force. Nearly ten thousand Kushites surrendered in the battle, with light Egyptian casualties. This astounding victory has finally shaken off the Kushite influence on the Egyptian pharaoh, and, in return for the soldiers being released back to Kush, a peace treaty has been signed recognizing Egyptian independence.
In religion news, the Cult of Isis continues to grow quickly, outpacing the other religions in Egypt (though still the smallest one) and spreading into Lower Egypt and the delta.
Greece the Racedonian-Trojan war has stalemated, neither side taking an advantage.
----
Now we come to the Far East, where the wars between the different states have escalated to new proportions. As China continues to devour the Nanchao people, the Zu Dominion sails quickly south, engaging the Khmer navy and forcefully extracting iron technology from the sailors. Now with the iron, the Zu work quickly to adapt their ships and army. Meanwhile Nanchao fights on, holding the Chinese steadfast near the capital. That is, until the Khmer invade from the south, angry at the Zu for their abduction, and honoring the alliance with China. Nanchao falls.
Now, with an upgraded navy and army, the Zu enter the war. A massive fleet engages the Chinese in the north, defeating it in several key battles and sending it to retreat in the Yellow River. The whole trade network is disrupted, sending the Chinese merchants into disarray and damaging the economy, while also damaging the Choson economy.
The main attack comes along the Yangtze River as the Zu create a new river fleet to aid their army. While the fleet is good for carrying tons of supplies and makes for a quick advance, it is vulnerable to attacks from the land, where flaming arrows and very crude rock throwers take their toll. The attack, however, is very successful, several Chinese border patrols are destroyed, and the Zu army is well prepared for a full-out Chinese counter-attack when its armies return from the west.
Meanwhile, Taoists throughout the Zu Dominion are beginning to be discriminated against by the remaining Perfectionists, mostly because of the war with China. Several cases have been reported where Perfectionists have actually murdered dozens of Taoists and burned their temples.
A new code of laws is also extended across the Zu Dominion, organizing many new building projects and creating a sense of centralization and order.
MOD’S NOTES
Flavious: You spent 1 extra economy then you had, so I just took it off your army recruitment.
Jason The King
Deity
Jason The King
Deity
okay, sorry for the lateness and sloppyness of the update. Ive had a hard time concentrating the past week.
Lets take orders next week, Tuesday.
And in between the time I will be updating the rules on the front page and completing stats (culture for those who dont have it, and be adding stats, etc).
Lets take orders next week, Tuesday.
And in between the time I will be updating the rules on the front page and completing stats (culture for those who dont have it, and be adding stats, etc).
Abaddon
Deity
Great stuff.. im now away on holiday for over a week.. general orders if i don't make it in time.. stablilise country, try and get some semblance of infrastructure back. Capital as a TC a must.
human-slaughter
brand new year
so did the Navarre refuse or ignore my request for help?
Jason The King
Deity
Not ignore, deny.
