stNNES7: Worlds and Empires

[Xen]

awesome update, and a wonderful map

 

[erez87]

Portugal
"The capital of Tingis have been taken sir but Tingis forces have escaped. Also our navy was almost ruined. What now...?"

The King was not happy. The Baleric pirates and Franks were allied to crash Portugal. In Tingis and Brittany was only the beginning. Where would be the end?

The Franks had better weapones. The King had to think about a strategy to defeate this... Iron... and learn from it. The Portuguss had to win against the Frank army atleast ones to copy the Iron, or invent it by themselves. One or the other the Portuguss also now needed iron mines.

With the two wars on two sides the Portuguss dream of ruling the ocean have failed. Now Portugal must win at land. And for that they needed an army. The King knew what this means. The Portuguss economy is going to fall so deep. So far that it will be very hard to recover. But in order to win the war Portugal needed an army. An army they will have... but... The King also had other ideas stored in his mind...

to Baleric Pirates:
We will forever wonder why have you attacked us like this. We hope you have learned your lesson, we know we did...

to Brittany:
We have not forgot you allies. We warned you! Next time listen to our warnings please so we would be in better shape in wars...

to Tarttesos:
We thank you for the aid against the Balerics. Let's destroy their holdings in Iberia and crash their navy!

to Basque:
We request that you will join us as per alliance against the Frank menace. They have invaded our allies and preaper to invade our lands in Bourdox. Can we cound on your troops to aid us in this time of need?

to New Country in Southern Gaul: OOC: Whats their name??
The Franks wish to rule all this lands! After they will destory the Portuguss lands they will move to you to get a mediterian port... Ally with us against the Franks before they become too strong to stop...

 

[Xen]

which not only highly impressed the upper classes of Ravennan society, it also managed to increase the prestige of the Empire much.

(Ravenna: +1 Confidence)

since thier is no confidence statistic, dont you mean either culture, or even the economy (because of the gold influx)?

 

[das]

OOC: And there was much rejoicing.

The polar bears, rather surprised at the miniscule size of their casualties, shrug it off and regroup.

Great update! Glad to see that my plan didn't accidentally destroy my empire like I thought it would. Nasty pox, but its probably those evil treacherous rebel leaders that spread it, having contacted the dark forces of China-based blue pottery-manufacturing penguins. Especially the Egyptians, this calls for a pogrom really.

And the map, naturally, is superb. But that's hardly something new.

 

[alex994]

China based blue pottery manufacturing penguins? How did he know??? We must evacuate!

bannana! everyone knows that ur not supposed to do the same thing in two neses

excellent update north king

 

[North King]

since thier is no confidence statistic, dont you mean either culture, or even the economy (because of the gold influx)?

Culture...

(I just had to get this post number, thank you)

 

[das]

Another one!

But mine is the 666th reply to this thread. or whatever the smiley code for that is.

 

[North King]

Another one!

But mine is the 666th reply to this thread. or whatever the smiley code for that is.

666th reply... Mmm. Wonder if this means something.

Though some experts claim the devils number is actually 616, in which case it is me, or MjM who got the post.

 

[MjM]

I got the 616th reply so I win ahahhaha

 

[Xen]

Culture...

(I just had to get this post number, thank you)

then you can properlly thank me, by properlly raising my culture above "barbaric"

 

[Azale]

From: Yamato
To: Tong

What exactly is it you wish to trade or discuss with us?

 

[BananaLee]

to Yamato
from Tong

We wish to trade salt, silk [don't beat me Alex], pottery and the many products of China. I'm sure your nation has many unique items which we would love in exchange. (OOC: Young comely females, for example. ).


to NK
from BananaLee

Dude, my Education should be at Wise.

 

[Communisto]

excellent update

 

[das]

616

There was an opinion that its 126 or something like that. Though maybe not.

Question - next update is when?

 

[Xen]

my orders have been sent in

EDIT- as a reward, I'm gonna treat myself to some Hüsker Dü (or at least the first video)- double dance yeah

http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/husker_du/artist.jhtml

 

[North King]

There was an opinion that its 126 or something like that. Though maybe not.

Question - next update is when?

As always, look on the front page.

 

[Xen]

As always, look on the front page.

July 4th?

 

[das]

The six polar bears gave a collective sigh of relief. Finally, the update was here, and quickly, the information poured in. Syria survived! But before they could get into studying the details, alarms rung.

It was the First of Rosh, the day that will live in infamy, as hordes of sea-otters attacked without (recognizable) provocation or warning Polar Bears and Penguins alike, seeking genocide. A great battle started, but as the Moderator disliked polar bear stories for unknown reasons, we'll just switch to some Syrian events.

---

Actions in the Light.

"Well, here it is. Barca! Seize the square! Now we begin. The objectives are set, my friends. Ahiram will fall!"

"Ahiram will fall!"

Thunder of a fleet of feet of the mob rushing into the square, with whatever weapons they gathered.

"Well, Joseph? So it begins."

"Indeed, Zabel. Something begins, something ends, and now a new great era for Syria begins."

"Indeed, my friend! A great new era!"

"And your life ends."

Startlement. Knife thrust. Death.

The clay tablet reads:
"Zabel Damashqi,
has been condemned for:
- blasphemy
- treachery
- incitement to rebellion
- rebellion
- disturbing the tranquility.

Thus: death."

---

The mob gathered on the main square, demanding that Ahiram surrenders himself, but he did not show himself to them. He was nowhere to be found.

And neither was, much to the shock of the rebels, Zabel, who was supposed to come here. Something clearly went wrong.

That realization became further sped up by the appearence of spearmen from all directions, lashing out at the crowd and literally massacring it. At its time of need, it was leaderless, and doomed.

---

Blood stained the central square in Damscus. The sun of a great new era was rising over Syria.

---

The new era was an era of Baal-Maluk Ahiram, who was believed to be insane by some of his ministers for his plan to get rid of the rebels by organizing a great rebellion against himself. But it worked, and clearly it was not a mad plan, but a divine one - beyond mortal comprehension, ofcourse.

As the rebellions were put down - especially after the fall of Sal Ad Dyn - Ahiram was recognized as the Baal-Maluk by all. And though Syria suffered like in no other time, Ahiram took it easily and calmly, surprising all.

---

From the Malukal Book: Book of Ahiram:
"Indeed, disaster after disaster befalls Syria - the death of Yusuf, the rise of the rebel movements, the plague... just recently, my country had "nothing" to worry about, or so it seemed anyway, and now suddenly it comes under a storm of curses. Already, some believe that I am not the true Baal after all.

Fools.

Ofcourse we are facing disasters! It is natural! It is necessary! For it is in the lack of luck that the capability of a state for endurance could be tested, not in its abundance! Luck has abandoned Syria - and this is for the best! Now I will find out how strong is it trully, without any luck, can it survive, or will it fall. If it is to survive... good times will come again. They always do. And if it falls, then it falls, but I will do my best to save it from that unfortunate fate."

 

[das]

And now, its time for something completely different...

Excerpts from "The Malukal Messangers":

"Maluk's Subjects Represented:

AHIRAM, Baal-Maluk of Syria.
SAL AD DYN, rebel leader.
ORAN PETRI, aluf-shalih.
BIGGAL, a shalih.
FAKHANG, a shalih.
KHALID, a shalih.

Prologue, Nobles, Rebels, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE: Near Damascus

PROLOGUE: In the early years of the 17th century BGM, to combat the rising tide of political and religious dissent, the Baal-Maluk gave Aluf-Shalih Oran of Petra leave to move without let or hindrance throughout the land, in a reign of violence, terror and torture that makes a smashing play. This was the Malukal Messanger Service..."

KHALID: Trouble at dunes.

SAL AD DYN: [shakes head] Oh no, what sort of trouble?

KHALID: One on't sand'torms ha'eached th' dunehill.

SAL AD DYN: What the?

KHALID: One on't sand'torms ha'eached th' dunehill.

SAL AD DYN: I don't understand what you're saying!

KHALID: [slightly irritatedly and with exaggeratedly clear accent] One of the sandstorms has reached the dunehill.

SAL AD DYN: Well what in Syria does that mean?

KHALID: *I* don't know, the Maluk just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble brewing at the dunes, that's all.

SAL AD DYN: Ah. Well, I didn't expect a kind of Malukal Messanger Service.

[JARRING CHORD]

[The door flies open]

[Enter ORAN PETRI, BIGGAL, FAKHANG]

ORAN PETRI: NOBODY expects the Malukal Messanger Service! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and a fanatical devotion to the Baal-Maluk.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise... [waves hand] I'll come in again.

[The shalehim exit]

SAL AD DYN: I didn't expect a kind of Malukal Messanger Service.

[JARRING CHORD]

[Re-enter the shalehim]

ORAN PETRI: NOBODY expects the Malukal Messanger Service! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, a fanatical devotion to the Baal-Maluk, and nice white robes - Oh damn!
[To shalih BIGGAL] I can't say it - you'll have to say it.

BIGGAL: What?

ORAN PETRI: You'll have to say the bit about 'Our chief weapons are...'

BIGGAL: [rather horrified]: I couldn't do that...

[ORAN PETRI bundles the other shalehim outside again]

SAL AD DYN: I didn't expect a kind of Malukal Messanger Service.

[JARRING CHORD]

[Enter the shalehim]

BIGGAL: Er.... Nobody...um....

ORAN PETRI: Expects...

BIGGAL: Expects... Nobody expects the...um...the Malukal...um...

ORAN PETRI: Messanger Service.

BIGGAL: I know, I know! Nobody expects the Malukal Messanger Service. In fact, those who do expect -

ORAN PETRI: Our chief weapons are...

BIGGAL: Our chief weapons are...um...er...

ORAN PETRI: Surprise...

BIGGAL: Surprise and --

ORAN PETRI: Okay, stop. Stop. Stop there - stop there. Stop. Phew! Ah! ... our chief weapons are surprise...blah blah blah. Shaleh, read the charges.

FAKHANG: You are hereby charged that you did on diverse dates commit blasphemy and rebellion against the Baal-Maluk. 'My people, you know that--'

BIGGAL: That's enough.
[to SAL AD DYN] Now, how do you plead?

SAL AD DYN: I'll fight to the last!

BIGGAL: What the?

ORAN PETRI: He will fight to the last? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[DIABOLICAL LAUGHTER]

BIGGAL: We'll soon change your mind about that!

[DIABOLICAL ACTING]

ORAN PETRI: Fear, surprise, and a most ruthless-- [controls himself with a supreme effort] Ooooh! Now, Biggal -- fetch the soft cushions!

[JARRING CHORD]

[BIGGAL holds out two ordinary ancient Syrian household cushions. ORAN PETRI looks at it and clenches his teeth in an effort not to lose control. He hums heavily to cover his anger]

ORAN PETRI: Now, Arab rebel - you have one last chance. Confess the heinous sins of blasphemy and rebellion, acknowledge Ahiram as the Baal, surrender -- *two* last chances. And you shall not be fed to the polar bears -- *three* last chances. You have three last chances, the nature of which I have divulged in my previous utterance.

SAL AD DYN: [madly] I don't know what the heck are you talking about!

ORAN PETRI: Right! If that's the way you want it -- Biggal! Poke him with the soft cushions!

[BIGGAL pokes SAL AD DYN with the soft cushions despite resistance]

ORAN PETRI: Give up! Give up! Give up!

BIGGAL: It doesn't seem to be hurting him, great one.

ORAN PETRI: Have you got all the stuffing up one end?

BIGGAL: Yes, lord.

ORAN PETRI: Oh, damn it. This is dead boring and isn't getting us nowhere. Lets just kill him - take out the chickens.

[The shalehim take out rubber chickens with clay tablets attached to them and assault SAL AD DYN with them. SAL AD DYN tries to resist, then tries to hide, but eventually drops dead. A chicken is stuck into his mouth, with a clay tablet; others take away their fish]

ORAN PETRI: Well, that's that.

[16-ton weight falls on ORAN PETRI]

---

It is most odd that Ahiram patronized such a "loose cannon" of a playwright as Montayh ha-Pithoni, whose plays often ridiculed important parts of Ahiram's politics. Still, Motayh enjoyed Ahiram's protection, for whichever reason, and this is considered the birth of Syrian Classic Comedy.

 

[Xen]

The Great Southern Trek
The expedition to the southerlands- by Leo “Africanus” Caerei​

The Beginning

Spoiler :

That a nation or peoples of some sort had been present beyond the dunes of the great desert to the south had long been known, as a trickle of commodities had been making their way, from the Garamantes to Ravenna, exotic goods, such as Ivory tusks of elephants, tusks larger and more impressive then those present on the North African Elephant, native to Carthage, and the area there abouts, and hides from Cheetahs, Giraffes, Rhinos, and more (the Lion pelts however, were substandard; the mighty Grecian Lion is a more impressive beast (OOC; a reference to the once very Populus Indo-European lions that once ranged all along the areas of southern Spain, Italy, Greece, the middle east, and clear on into India, where it last few surviving member reside today) as well as Gems, and other exotic goods, and, as our expedition would find out, the products of Ravenna, such as the rare wine vessel that made it through the southern trade route, or the finished goods, such as ceremonial daggers, pottery, and other such items were of a prized value in the far south.

The reason for the expedition itself, is probably because the senate, now adding Carthage to the roster of provinces, and indeed, aiding the exiled Phoenicians from Europe back to their native land in north Africa as citizens of Ravenna, wished to know what sort of people these exotic goods came from, and with a holding in North Africa, if they posed any threat, and what sort of trade opportunities might be present, in turn, and so, in the course of a single senate session, it was decided that indeed, a expedition would be launched and that I, then the consul of Ravenna, would be at its head.

The First Leg: Unto the lands of the Garamantes

Spoiler :

It took two weeks to assemble all that would be needed, to make the proper arrangements for transport, to choose quality gifts and trade goods, to show what trade with Ravenna could offer a nation, and to find quality guards who were willing to go, quite earnestly, what was likely to be a suicide mission, but as Consul, and as such, the greatest diplomat (amongst other duties) of Ravenna, it would be fitting for no other to make first contact with what ever nations may lay in the great southerlands, beyond the seemingly endless desert.

All arrayed in the capital, with good from all over northern Ravenna, the trek began, with nearly 10 wagons in tow, and 300 adventurers recruited amongst the young men of Ravenna acting as the escorts, the journey through Italy, to reach the port of Puteoli began, and along the, more trade goods were amassed, sample of marble, blankets and clothing, worked goods wine, iron and silver goods were all present, and wonderful, though to travel through native Ravenna as such, while wonderful, and well received all along the way, only served to remind us, and fill us with trepidation at the journey ahead, and once the great fortress of Rome was in the distance (where another 100 adventurers had so been recruited), a city almost as great as Ravenna itself (it had done well in its independent years, but had truly blossomed with the coming of the great republic, and was now one of the largest cities in all Europe, second only to Ravenna in size and greatness)

One reaching Puteoli, in a weeks travel, we boarded merchant ferries to take the great host to Carthage, where deals would be struck to get some fo the areas wondrous Olive oil, a product universally enjoyed in all of Ravenna, and to gain interpreters for the trip ahead.

The porting in Carthage had to be cut short; 2 days, out a planned week, for reports of unusually slow and strong storms making their way east from the Balearic isles threatened to waylay the expedition indefinitely, if the ships were damaged- and while the preparations were hasty, what was brokered their would poove more then satisfactory over the trip ahead; buying some exquisite olive oil, both as trade gift, and to use on the expedition, bu more importantly, securing the skills of several translators who were familiar with the Beduin tongues used in the deep desert; setting off from the grand port of Carthage, and left to, finally, enter the first foreign nation on our journey, that of the Garamantes.

The Garamantes are a semi-nomadic people, similar to the Libyans, the famous foot nomads of the desert, or the Numidians, the fine light cavalrymen that they are, but are different from both in their traditions and culture; their kingdom, based on a series of Oasis towns, additionally, instead of relying on foot, or horses for travel, the Garamantes make use of a ill tempered animal that we would get all to familiar with on our journey, the “Camel”, otherwise known as “the Demon tempered beasts of Syria”, as according to the Garmantes own histories, the Camel was introduced by Syrian merchants from deserts in Arabia, after the Syrians had conquered Egypt, and while a blessing to all those whom inhabit the desert, no beat with either a more foul stench, or wretched temper has been found by man, or indeed, I think, can exist.

However, to proceed at all, it was these same creatures that we would have to use to transport both ourselves, and ours trade goods, and more importantly our supplies; it was as such that truly monumental task was at hand, it would take nearly a month; longer then our total journey had so far taken, to amass over 600 camels, train them, and our men to use them, but, kept in good spirits by being able to write and receive letters from home, it was not minded much, though the senate was growing impatient with our extended delay, though one can not take too long I think, in making sure to ensure the success fo an expedition beyond the known boundaries of the world, from the land of certainty, in the new realms of the unknown, and fantasy, and about three weeks time, we were ready for our travel into the deep, harsh desert, known as the Sahara.

The Second Leg: Accross the endless Deserts

Spoiler :

The Journey itself was long, arduous, and hot, but no turning back could be had once we set out, and it is to the gods we dedicate that their earth was made with such blessings as oasis in the desert, for without them, and their little beacons of Garamantean culture along the way, we would have surely perished. Now, the city of Tripoli, on the coast, gives a rather false impression of what to expect of the Garmantes cities, or rather, what passes for cities in those lands, for it is of moderate size, with many buildings, and sturdy walls, all remnants, we would later deduce, of original Phoenician colonization; their true cities were little more then townships, at best, because of the rather limited agriculture that could be had from most of them, and more then once, we passed an oasis village whom our own great caravan outnumbered in population, to these cities we gave a few useful gift to their village elders, in return for letting us drink from their oasis’, and perhaps camp nearby, for the night. Blistering heat in the day, and chilling cold at night, it took a months toils to journey across these seas of sand, but, once those first few shanties of the Mali kingdom.

Into the region of the river Niger; The Mali Kingdom

Spoiler :

If one had heard the tales that the Garamantes had spun about the mali, one might consider seeing what, in comparison to our homeland, were sprawling, ill planned, mud brick shanty-towns, you would be mistaken, for seeing their great river, fields of plants, luscious fruits, and for the first time in a long while, true forests of trees, it wise a divine paradise, and upon coming over the dune crests to see these sights before us, as though we were an ravenous horde of ants, we descended on verdant grove of fruit trees of farmer who must have thought himself quite unfortunate, and poor(though after wards more then fairly compensated. FAR more then fairly compensated, by my estimates).

As one might expect, a 400 strong army of adventures with over 600 camels laden with strangely colored men and exotic goods, arriving from the deep desert totally unannounced an unexpected caused quite a splash within the local populace, and within a few days of traveling the country side, met with bewilderment and wonder by the locals, {whom themselves were quite strange in appearance; far different from the Berber peoples of the north, these people more closely matched the Nubians whom inhabited in minority the southern most towns of the Syrian empire) we were met by local forces; not as well equipped as our own adventures, (whom by standard of Ravenna were lightly armored with leather armor, medium shields, and broad swords and two pila) we judged them competent soldiers, armed, at the time, with bronze weapons and shields, they admired our iron armaments (and indeed, a great sum indeed would be passed to us, enough to cover all the costs of the expedition in their entirety, including the pensions for the adventures, many of whom didn’t want to bother with the trip back, and settled in these strange, but to us, soon familiar lands) However, what they lacked in organization equipment, and perhaps motivation, was made up with by sheer numbers; their lands, being mostly desert, did not support as large a populace as that of Ravenna’s land, but by the gods, they had amassed an army!

Escorted through the country side, to their great river, the River Niger, we boarded hastily completed ships, to take only our selves, and out goods to the capital city, Timbuktu; the camels would kept where boarded, in good faith, for the king of these himself wished to see the strange men of north, an army laden with trade goods for himself.

Coming upon the kings court, it was an impressive sight, giving that it was made of mud brick; a large city, Timbuktu, while being around half the population of Rome or Ravenna, it was still a big city, for it was not as well planned as either of the above, but filled with bazaars, soothsayers, story tellers booths and more, it had a certain charm to it, and while it was no Ravenna, we come to get use, and cozy to this land.

What had been meant as short excursion to scout the area, see if these people of the south were a threat, and if so gain reconnaissance on them, or if not, try to begin trad deals had turned into an extended stay, that would last a little over half a year, during this time, our host in our entirety was entertained at and housed at the royal court, for indeed, this land, where gold came from the ground as surely as the sun went down in the evening, and where it was as plentiful as fish in the seas could easily afford to do such a thing.

Entertained and treated like kings, we offered our own services to the king of this land, for while our goods and commodities were precious, and given as gifts to the land, we could not expect to grow completely lazy and lax on the kings gilded kindness, and so our company of adventurers, for a time, ventured all over the lands of Mali, learning, enjoying the sights, and aiding the native regiments to fend off barbarian attacks from the north, for we had become experts in doing this along our journey south, and intimidating the southern peoples, for they thought us the sons of angry deities, or dead spirits for our color, and our iron weapons in which sheered their brittle copper or bronze armaments, and doing this for two months, until the rainy season unfolded on these lands, which was generally regarded as a time of peace, for their was plenty to be had in all these lands at that time.

The Return Home

Spoiler :

However, the months passed, and while more then a few of the men had decided they would not make the trip back, pointing out that their contracts stated they only needed to make the trip here, and be payed( it had just been assumed they would want to come back to Ravenna, but the bounty of the land here, the kindness of the people, and arduous journey home atop irritable, smelly beasts of burden made such a trip ill thought for many whom had begum making families here anyway)

And while the Mansa, the local word for King, did not want us to go, I and my advisors thought it best to leave before we became a burden, and regardless, we still had our duty to fulfill to our nation, we decided that, sadly, we must soon leave.

Taking a month to prepare, as the king insisted on giving to us gifts as which we had given to him (quite taken he was, with wine, it seems) he gave us new burdens of copious amounts fo gold, which used to give those who wished to stay here, their pay, and still have fantastic amounts of gold, and gilded treasurers, loaded with ivory tusks, gems and jewels of every kind, strange beans and nuts, known as “Coffee beans”, and “Cola nuts” respectively, that could be used to make strange, but enjoyable drinks, as well as cotton textiles (he was much impressed with the woolen, and linen cloths we had brought down with us) we backed our Camels, whom had grown fat, lazy, and as a result, 10 fold more irritable at being made to trek into the desert once more, we set off; the journey was not as long, nor as hard, for we had only 240 men to take care of, and so our supply train was much smaller, and we made better time, likewise, with less mouths to water, the locals received us better then before as well, and many a time we were able to sleep comfortable within town walls, and with enough gold to pay for people to house us for a night, giving us a goods night rest, indeed, we made prodigious time on our return trip, completing in two and half weeks what had taken us a full month on our journey south

The Conclusion

Spoiler :

entering Carthage on the first day of the new year, for the rainy season, which we had left in the middle of, coincided with the winter months of Ravenna, we were much amused by the fact we had been proclaimed dead, and “Heros of the republic”, and that a second expedition was being prepared in Ravenna, to successfully journey south, and to find our remains, if possible.

Entering Ravenna as though we had triumphed during a great war, resplendent in the return gifts from the King of Mali, we recounted our journey, and explained that our greatly diminished numbers were not because of losses in battle, or disease, but to so many wishing to stay in that land, and settle, for the trip was long and arduous, and they had begun making families their in our 6 months stay in those lands.

In the following days, after little debate, a huge series of warehouses was completed in Carthage, which would be the home of the new “Chamber of Southern Commerce”, for it was decided that trade route would indeed be established, luxuries here were common place, and mundane in the lands of the Mali, while what was common and mundane here, was likewise, the finest of exotic luxuries in those lands; establishing good treaties with the Garamantes in the following days, we were allowed to set up a middle station in their lands, and I myself write my manuscripts preparing to again journey south, and establish a souther warehouse for Ravennic goods to be stored for pick up by local merchants (The Mali have a surprising taboo of traversing the deep deserts, one I haven’t found the reason for, but is likely rooted in ancient adversities with the Berbers, particular the “Morroca” tribe of Berbers, leaving the trading for primarily Garmantean middle men, though some adventurous merchants of Ravenna already prepare themselves for their own great souther trek, similar to I, who will lead the first great merchant caravan south, to fully establish the great trade route.