The Chronicles of the Next Empire

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The Chronicles of the Next Empire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the thread in which IN CHARACTER communication takes place considering The Next Empire, a Beyond the Sword v3.19 PBEM game
(for settings see http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=412176)

:king: The main characters are:
* Iskander Meriones, ruler the Empire of the Orchid, also known as Calanthe. Played by Calanthian.
* Druss, Saviour of Dross Delnoch of the Champions of Drenai. Played by ParadimShifter
* Michkov, leader of the Mikovians. Played by Michkov
* Hans Teeuwen, first comedian of the Netherlands. Played by Ricketyclik
* Caerroil Wildwood of The land of 'The One Forest', als known as the Forestals. Played by Starfox
* Ruffing Bull of the Western Expanse also known as the WEGD, leader of the Ghost Dancers. Played by Ruff hi.
 
Riding through the desert of Eleca Oasis Iskander Meriones is approached by a rider of the Calanthian Horse Guards.


“Hail Iskander, son of arch duke Aziz Meriones, ruler of the Empire of the Orchid. I bring sad news..”

“Speak up, get on with it..”

“Our most exalted leader the arch duke has been killed in the arena..”

“Gee, I warned the old bugger, that he was getting too old for that.. How was he killed?”

“Our duke fought most valiantly against an eastern barbarian, named Grumbah of Nazlia..”

“That little fellow, the lance fighter?”

“His majesty did..”, the Horse Guard says clearing his throat..

“Come on, get to the point..”

“Well, he tripped over his ceremonial robe and then..”

“.. Grumbah did a little ceremonial number on him”, Iskander says, “he was an old fool but I loved him anyway. Though it must be said that it is time some things changed around here..”


After that, Iskander says a short prayer for the soul of his father, jumps on his horse and rides off to the Calanthian palace, followed by the complete Calanthian Horse Guard.
 
[Extract from the “Civilopedia Imperiana, 23rd edition”]

CALANTHE

Calanthe is a developing country. Its political capital is Calanthe; however, its administrative capital, Pro Elegra, is the site of most government, commercial, and tourist activity.

Official name: Empire of the Orchid
Capital: Calanthe
Land area: 104.000 km2
Main population areas: Calanthe, Costa Rivero, Cala Pigiro and Pro Elegra
Currency: C.G. - Calanthian Guilder
Languages: Calangue, Cala Maior (ceremonial)
GNP: 63.000.000 CG
Life expectancy: 77 years
 
Short economic news:

* Iskander Meriones has announced another economic program, the PMFO:
in which the gulf of Pigiro Mera will become the basis of extensive Calanthian fishing operations.

* Manufacturing output is up by 75% and food production by 110%.
It is clear that the economic stand still under his father Aziz Meriones is over. The Calanthian society now has it's focus on the economy, in stead of on the Gladiator arena.

* Calanthian scouts are exploring economic opportunities in the Calanether mountains.
It is said foreign dignitaties have been approached concerning this region.

* Recently Pro Elegran wise men have founded the Jewish religion. In the entire empire of the Orchid this religion is finding new members.
Reports are that this religion is already spreading beyond our borders. Maybe the current focus on the economy is intertwined with this enormous attention for this religion.

Reportedly rabi Sho Methe Money has visited arch duke Iskander Meriones for the first time this week.
 
Relation with the Drenai under pressure.
From our correspondent in Pigiro Mero.

Yesterday evening Pigiro Meran pig farmers molested 5 Drenian citizens. Reportedly this tension has its origin in the new Drenian city of Antioch just over the border. Since this city has been founded, prices for pig meat have fallen with 15%, due to the large pastures near this city.

The Calanthian top economist Eatmo Repork predicts meat prices will fall at least another 30%. He says: “We are in the first phase of this economic struggle..”
 
Annual military parade

The annual military parade is this year in Eleca Oasis. Elite troops from all over the Empire of the Orchid will take part in this parade.
The Calanthian Horse Guards, the Auroran Golden Shields and the Merionite Guard will all participate in this joyous occasion.
 
‘Desert Rose’

Following the tension on the Calanthian – Drenian border general Ike Ilju announced a big military operation in the Elecan desert.
This exercise is called “Desert Rose’. Army watchers inform us that the location must have been carefully picked.
It is a signal to the Drenai that the Calanthian army is vigilant.

One informer said: “Ike Ilju is from Pigiro Mera. He will be anxious to show the people from his home town where he stands.”
 
‘Desert Rose’ turns into desert bloodshed

During extensive maneuvers the Calanthian army exercise ‘Desert Rose’ has led to an armed clash between Drenian extremists and the Pigiro Meran Guard under command of general Ike Ilju.

Reportedly Drenian civilians shot upon our troops while they were performing their famous double flanking maneuver. General Ike Ilju was hit in his left shoulder and one of our proud Guards was killed. Consequently, the Pigiro Meran guard stormed the hill where the extremist archers had hidden themselves and killed all opposing forces.

General Ike Ilju lived up to his name once again.

After this, general Ike Ilju has sent most Calanthian elite forces to this hill 253.6, now known as “Pigiro Hill”.
The troops arrived yesterday evening, as they were present in nearby Eleca Oasis, where they participated in the annual military parade.

Scouts are surveying the surrounding area. Reports are that a major Drenian city is nearby, is it the mythical city of Constantinople?
 
Chief Calanthian diplomat is shocked by recent developments.
From our correspondent in Pro Elegra.

Kaeso Fabius, one of our more distinguished diplomats, has said that he is “flabbergasted by recent developments.”
“A year ago relations with the Drenians seemed to be at an all-time high, and in my long career I have never seen things changing so rapidly.
It seems that some elements in the Calanthian society must have been planning for this occasion…”

“Let us pray for our empire, as this will be a defining moment in our history”.

He added: “Some Calanthians may have their own opinion about the recent news, but this is the time to stand together. Per aspera, ad astra!”






***************************************************************
per aspera, ad astra = "through the rough times, to the stars," which means to not let harsh times get in your way of proving yourself or attaining excellence.
 
Currently we are trying to reach our troops at the Calanthian-Drenian border.
We keep you posted on recent developments.

The level of activity at the military headquarters in Pigiro Mera seems to indicate that war is imminent.
 
Iskander Meriones says “Dross Delnoch will not be forgotten”

Walking towards his white stallion, on his way to the Calanthian-Drenian border, arch duke Iskander Meriones told our reporter the following: “My father always told me the tale of the infamous assault of the Drenian leader Druss upon the tiny, but beautiful city of Dross Delnoch, 23 years ago.

He told me not to forget this act, and not to let this happen again to our fair Empire of the Orchid.
Now the time has come to answer to the call of my death father.. Let us march on Constantinople, where ever it may be.”

He added: “It always bothered me immensely that the Drenian leader Druss called himself the Saviour of Dross Delnoch after such an act. Dross Delnoch has always been a city with a population which was primarily Calanthian, so maybe Dross Delnoch will now really be saved by our troops, after 23 years of disgrace.”
 
The mystery of Pigiro Hill.

Our troops went to sleep on the top of Pigiro Hill waiting to descend in the woods beyond. To our great surprise our army woke up at the foot of Pigiro Hill and had to climb that hill once again..

The more superstitious in our army were assured by the explanation by the Calanthian high priest rabi Sho Methe Money: that this an extraordinary good sign, as it is better to do a pelgrimage to Pigiro Hill two times, so we become twice as invincible..




(ooc: the expanding culture set us back one turn)
 
Calanthian Crisis Council meets.

The Calanthian senate has elected from amongst their eldest and wisest members the Calanthian Crisis Council.

The CCC only is formed when hard decisions have to be made concerning the survival of the Calanthian civilization as a whole. The houses of the Fabii, Graboni and Elecan have traditionally mobilized their respective House Guards, upon formation of the CCC.
 
New Drenian government ?

The Calanthian diplomatic service is getting more and more information which suggests that a change in the Drenian government is taking place.

Kaeso Fabius, our chief diplomate says the following: "At this moment nothing can be said on what is happening in Constantinople. As a result of the recently declared war all Calanthian diplomats have been expelled.

We are following this developing situation with interest. Maybe chances for peace will come from these developments."

As a result archduke Iskander Meriones has ordered our troops to return to their positions before the attack; as a sign of good will towards peace-oriented people on both sides of the border.
 
Calanthian birth rate is sky high

It seems that Calanthian families have once again live up to their adagium:
"When in war breed like rabbits".

The recent difficulties, combined with the economic growth, have spurred a true population boom. The birth rate is now at a steady 4.5.
When it stays at this level the Calanthian population will double in the upcoming Calanthian Greater Year.
 
PEACE
New king of the Drenai signs peace treaty.

The first action of the new king of the Champions of Drenai was to start peace talks with Calanthe. Calanthian diplomats were given the chance to discuss peace as Iskander Meriones made the first step towards peace by ordering all Calanthian forces to retreat to their pre-war positions.

Citizens from Pigiro Mera celebrated peace by throwing large amounts of the national flower, the Calanthian Orchid, in the border river the Pianti. Citizens in Antioch, the first Drenian town downstream, were deeply moved by the beautiful and nice smelling spectacle.

 
CCC investigates the Pigiro Hill incident
General Ike Ilju is recalled from the front.

The Calanthian Crisis Council (CCC) has decided to start an investigation on the Pigiro Hill incident. As reported earlier in this newspaper Drenian civilians have allegedly shot upon our troops.
After this incident, in which General Ike Ilju was wounded, the Pigiro Meran guard stormed the hill where the extremist archers had hidden themselves and killed all opposing forces.

The question is if this action was proportionate, that the violence involved was necessary given the circumstances.
A spokesman from the Pigiro Meran Guard said: "It is one thing to get shot at in war. But this nonsense investigation, while we simply did what had to be done is ridiculous."

General Ike Ilju is scheduled to be interrogated by the CCC on the 6th day of the 5th moon cycle. The CCC calls also Drenian citizens to step forward.
 
The Great Library

That library, of course, was the Great Library of the Calanthian city Pro Elegra, a public library open to those with the proper scholarly and literary qualifications, founded about 3300bc. When the Calanthian arch duke Iskander Meriones asked, "How many scrolls do we have?", Aristotle's disciple Demetrius of Phalerum was on hand to answer with the latest count. After all, it was Demetrius who suggested setting up a universal library to hold copies of all the books in the world. Iskander and his successors want to understand the peoples of the world and house Latin, Buddhist, Persian, Hebrew, and Egyptian works - translated into Calangue and Greek.



The library's lofty goal is to collect a half-million scrolls and Calanthians took serious steps to accomplish it. Iskander, for example, composed a letter to all the sovereigns and governors he knew, imploring them "not to hesitate to send him" works by authors of every kind.

The Calanthians engaged in some unorthodox acquisition methods. Some stories relate that they confiscated any book not already in the library from passengers arriving in Pro Elegra. Another story tells how the chief Librarian deceived foreign authorities when they let him borrow original manuscripts of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, using silver as collateral. He kept the originals and sent the copies back, letting the authorities keep the silver. More traditional means included book purchases from the markets of Constantinople, Calanthe and other cities. Older copies were the favored acquisitions; the older the better, since they would be considered more trustworthy.
Much of what is now considered to be literary scholarship began in the Pro Elegran Library. Funds from the royal treasury paid the chief librarian and his scholarly staff. Physically, books were not what we think of today, but rather scrolls, mostly made of papyrus, but sometimes of leather. They were kept in pigeonholes with titles written on wooden tags hung from their outer ends.

Thanks to the Great Library, Pro Elegra assumed its position as the intellectual capital of the world and provided a model for other libraries to follow.
 
New Drenian leader : Paradignian

It seems the recent troubles with our neighbours have come to an end.

A new leader has arisen, named Paradignian, and he had the wisdom to accept the peace offered by the Calanthian diplomatic mission under Kaeso Fabius.

All is quite on the border. All troops returned to their barracks.
 
Drenian parliament accepts name change
From our foreign correspondent

The Drenian parliament accepted a motion, brought forward by their new leader, Paradignian, to refer to their great society under the name Boneheads.

As it is wise to understand the culture of all foreigners, Calanthian scholars are looking into the background of this name and the reason for the name change.
This name change could reflect the rise of certain factions in the Drenian, now Boneheadian, society.

We hope we have got all the facts right in this issue of the Chronicles of the Next Empire, as information from across the border is still scarce.
 
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