Update 12 - 1100 BCE
Though it managed to hold out for surprisingly a long time, finally, Dubrovnik succumbed. Its ultimate collapse was mainly due to the surprise Israelite force that attacked the city.
The shock of the fall of the capital reverbrated across the military forces of Dalmatia across the country, and it should be no surprise to anyone that Dalmatia the first and only organized South Slavic country and government has fallen to its enemy forces.
Though the area across the Danube was not invaded by neither Roman, nor Israelite, nor Byzantine forces, it has been taken already by the Magyars, who have, with the capitulation of Slovakia and Dacia to their demands, established the Kingdom of Magyarorszag, known to others diplomatically as the Kingdom of Hungary, to avoid spelling and mispronunciation woes.
The populace in occupied Dalmatia (outside of the Hungarian portion) is resisting actively, conspiring to prevent food supplies to the occupying troops, and causing troops deaths even after the fall of the Dalmatian Army.
The War of Dalmatian Partition, it seems, is over.
Neither Rome nor Byzantium will be able to profit from the resources of North (Roman-controlled) and South (Byzantine-controlled) Dalmatia until the resistance is crushed.
ROME: -300 troops
BYZANTIUM: -400 troops
ISRAEL: -100 troops
Despite instatement of the Law of Leo III, the Slavland Senate continues to defy the Emperor. The Senates representatives in the Imperial Senate have left the capital, and the Senate has proclaimed a province-wide call to arms on a mission to liberate the South Slavs of Byzantium and partitioned Dalmatia. The Slavland province is in open revolt. The fact that it is bordering Dalmatia is making it very easy for the Dalmatian and Slavland rebels to cooperate together. It is not yet known how strong the rising Slavic militia is.
Austrias fight to help its Slavic ally has ended, it looks like, in defeat of Austrian forces. With the element of surprise they had when they first attacked Rome clearly gone, the small Austrian army is no match for the overwhelming numbers of Roman troops, despite technological equality. Much of Austria has been occupied by the Roman Army. The Austrian troops that survived Romes counter-attack have pulled back all the way to Vienna to defend the capital. The Austrians abandoned their financial-improvement program to bolster the Army just before the Roman counter-attack into Western Austria, so there may be some chance of turning the war around.
AUSTRIA: -500 troops
ROME: -300 troops
Portugal has been invaded by the Dutante Alliance. The seemingly-invincible thrust to liberate southern France has spilled into the Iberian Peninsula itself. It is in Portugal, however, that the Dutante forces face much more hardened and determined Portuguese military force, and heavy losses are inflicted, though much of the Mediterranean coast and some central land is occupied anyway. The blockade of Portuguese coasts by Eires navy is also hurting Portugals economy and trade.
The Portuguese population is also troublesome for the Dutante Alliance. They, unlike the southern French, care who rules them because they have always been, without question, Portuguese and have considered themselves members of the nation of Portugal. Civilian sabotage is focused very much on the pre-war Franco-Portuguese border, to damage supply lines.
PORTUGAL: -850 troops; -140 ships
EIRE: -900 troops; -50 ships
BELGIUM: -150 troops
FRANCE: -250 troops
The Fez Sultanate has occupied Tangier. Portuguese losses were pretty bad here.
PORTUGAL: -300 troops
FEZ: -150 troops
In the midst of all this war, Eire manages to establish a trade route with far-off Crimea. It is primarily a land route, with, of course, the exception of the naval connection between Eire and the continent.
Since its mainly passing through pro-Eire countries and Slavic lands Slavs being anti-Rome and, since Eire was also trying to speak on Dalmatias behalf, quite friendly towards Eire as well it is technically a very safe route. However, even the most friendly nation cannot guarantee that some renegades and mercenaries and bandits wont disrupt the routes, and since its a very long way to go literally across the whole continent of Europe this is the riskiest trade ever established.
The Philippine Islands have been occupied by Vietnam. Malaysian ships have blockaded the Islands to prevent return of Nihonese Navy. Also, Malaysian troops have crossed the demarcation line that was agreed upon long ago that divided Borneo into western Malaysian and eastern Nihonese portions. Since they know well about how to move about through the jungles of Borneo, the Malaysians arent having that much trouble.
But on Borneo, the Nihonese Army is fighting very fiercely. So only frontier regions have been taken.
Also, after seemingly staying mum about the invasions of the Philippines and re-conquest of Taiwan, the Nihonese have unleashed their fury upon Shanghai, Fuzhou, and Vietnam. Nihonese Navy has attacked the port cities and navies of Shanghai and Fuzhou, and are not far away from making a move on Vietnam and Occupied Philippines.
The Nihonese ships have proven their superiority. Their main naval challenge is Malaysia. A naval showdown between the two has yet to occur, but when it does, it will have been long-awaited and may decide whether Nihon will rule the region, or whether a balance of power will be achieved. It should be noted, though, that the Shanghai and Fuzhou navies are both sizeable, as well, and if they manage to coordinate tactics, they can, together, successfully challenge the experienced Nihonese fleets.
Beijing and Korea have not sided with anyone yet. However, fishermen of both countries have sighted Nihonese ships near their coasts. Nihon may be trying to coerce the two countries into either siding with it or at least remaining neutral in this Great Orient War.
NIHON: -550 troops; -12 ships
SHANGHAI: -40 ships
FUZHOU: -60 ships
VIETNAM: -100 troops
MALAYSIA: -300 troops
Southern traditionalists increase agitation for stopping Quetzalism, but the Emperor is clearly more pro-Quetzalistic and encourages the spread of the monotheistic faith.
Story Bonuses
MALAYSIA: +1 Confidence
ISRAEL: +1 Economy Level
BYZANTIUM: +3 Education Points
NPC Diplomacy
PORTUGAL AND FEZ SIGN PEACE AT CURRENT BORDERS AND NAP. FEZ GIVES PORTUGAL 1 ECONOMY LEVEL TO PORTUGAL AS PART OF THE DEAL.
From Austria
To Eire:
We need your help now. If Rome succeeds with destroying us, they will turn to help Portugal and destroy your efforts to free France as well. There is no more time for negotiating and persuading you to help us. We have nothing to offer you, and will not offer you anything, honestly. If you do not send whatever kind of help you can be it financial or military then we prophesize that Rome will turn on you and your troops.
From Hungary
To Dacia and Byzantium:
NAP?
HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA; HUNGARY AND AUSTRIA; HUNGARY AND SILESIA SIGN MPPs (individual, bilateral agreements).
OOC
I accidentally made Israelite Medina and Mecca. Now that wouldnt be a mistake if not for the fact that Yemen already controlled that area. But by the time I realized this, I had already done so much of the rest of the map update that it would have been a total waste to exit out of Paint w/o saving and re-enter and restart. So you got pretty lucky with that one, Israelite.
Orders are due Tuesday morning by 10:00 AM Central Time Zone US. After that time, I will no longer accept orders and/or order-changes, since I will be doing the update offline throughout the day.
