Another brilliant poem by Strategos. I wish I could have continued just to have more of those to read!
Anyways, here is the partial update. Unedited and unfinished. Enjoy.
Update 4: AF 127 and 128
The great shadow over Varica has been lifted. The last rebel bastion stands firm against the Emperor, hoping to ward off unstoppable might of the allied kings of the north. External threats lie to the south, east and west, but a more frightening spectre lies over the kings of Varica: an Emperor. Strong, experienced, with a loyal army and all of his enemies slain or pacified, the kings are wary of his next move.
Pride
Why do we assume that progress is a good thing? Agriculture has replaced good meat, fruits, and nuts with empty, tasteless grains. What have our cities given us? Squalor, disease, noise, and an end to privacy. What of technology, that most Tessil of all panaceas? Technologys greatest legacy has been to vastly increase the devastation wrought by malevolent warlords. Progressivists claims that progress is the maker of civilization. I say it is the destroyer of civilized live! Would I live in a decaying, stinking city feeding off the same bowl of oats each day and waiting for the Tarnee or Ciricee to come and fill me with a dozen bolts? No, much better to be a savage like the Haecomus. They live a life of leisure in their plans and hills and forests hunting, needing only to kill the odd Saon to have all of their needs met for a week. Learn the lesson of the Sargothi: with pride, with progress, comes evil and death.
Rirc of Ticce, Karskian philosopher, public lecture circa BF 40 (40 years before the founding of Varica
[COLOR=Red]
Cirici: 2000 Pikemen, 600 Skirmishers, 800 Crossbowmen, 200 Eternal Warriors, 200 Iyikitch Riders led by King Yefic
Yumin Confederacy: 800 Warriors, skirmishers, and aikings of various warbands led by Prince Honara[/COLOR]
Tessilki: 800 Pikemen, 200 Skirmishers, 200 Arbalestars, 200 Republican Guard, 200 Iyikitch Riders led by Sphaen (General) Sliit of Tis
Yirhsian League: 1600 Pikemen, 400 Skirmishers, 400 Crossbowmen, 100 Iyikitch Riders
Oerdan: 200 Archers, 250 Spearmen, 155 Tiaka, 135 Raeka led by Prince Luern
For the first time in history, Varicans have witnessed the horror of Thune warfare. Thansks to the council of Yirhsia, the Tessil and their allies were finally able to work together and bring the Cirici to battle their terms. With the Circian army less than a days march from Yirshia, the League army stood firm in front of them. The smaller Tessil army left its heavy siege train behind in order to outmaneuver the Cirici, getting behind the Cirici and ravaging their supply lines. The Cirici withdrew for much 127, march and counter-march were waged between the two alliances until the Cirici were forced deep into their conquered territory.
The two great city-states finally collided at the site of Cori, a minor city-state that had fallen to the Cirici early in the war. Standing beside the Cirici were 800 Yumin, the proud Haecomus people of the coast. Standing with the Tessil were their League allies, representing the seven cities that stood together against Cirici. Hoping to turn the tide, the Tessil enlisted Haecomus allies of their own. The Oerdan army stood ready to challenge the Yumin.
The two great armies clashed in a great fertile plain, surrounded by the fields of prosperous Cori farmers. On the Tessil right flank, the Oerdan advanced through orchards of fruit trees against the Yumin. The battle was a surreal sight. The uniform ranks of the trees forced the Haecomus to adopt loose formations favouring the Yumin. Luern was quick to find a solution. He ordered his tiaka to destroy the orchard in a square large enough for his Raeka and Spearmen to deploy. Speedily destroying the thin trees, the Oerdan built ad hoc fortifications of felled trees brimming with spear points and the source of many arrows. Despite three fierce charges, the Yumin could not break the barrier.
Despite the ingenuity of the Oerdan, the battle did not fare well in the center. Despite the withering fire of Tessil bolts and superior numbers of skirmishers and mounted warriors, the disciplined Cirici warriors stood firm as they marched. As soon as they made contact with the League warriors, two of the seven contingents broke ranks and fled from the legendary Cirici phalanxes. The Cirici elite, the Eternal Warriors, exploited the gap and carved a path through the League. The League troops were pushed from the field. Despite few losses in their own force, the Tessil retreated as well.
Prince Honara realized that his Yumin would be slaughtered if they continued against the Oerdan, while Luern knew he could not survive alone against the Cirici. The two princes made a pact of honour, and the Oerdan were allowed the quit the field honourably with their weapons.
The Tessil and Oerdan retreated in good order while their enemies ravaged the city of Yirshia. It was a punishing blow to the League, but Yirshia is only one city, and many more stand united, preparing for a fight on their home soil.
Summary:
Cirici outmaneuvered
Oerdan join Tessil against Cirici
Tessil defeated, but Oerdan defeats Yumin Haecomus
Yirshia sacked by Cirici
Forces Remaining:
[COLOR=Red]
Cirici: Approximately 400 casualties
Yumin Confederacy: More than 300 casualties[/COLOR]
Tessilki: Approximately 200 casualties
Yirhsian League: Over 500 dead, many more dispersed or captured, army in disarray, reforming at Tessil
Oerdan: 160 Archers, 200 Spearmen, 130 Tiaka, 120 Raeka led by Prince Luern
Envy
[COLOR=Red]
Forces Involved:
Tarnee[/COLOR]
Republic of Tikeecee
The army of the Tarnee Empire continues to waste away in the northern reaches of Tikeecee. The Tarnee army has occupied the larger (south-eastern) towns for some years, but is unable to hold the villages of the vast interior. Whenever the Tarnee leaves a village, they raise the Tikeecee flag. If they leave behind a garrison, they are quickly killed.
While the main army is safe, patrols and pickets often fall foul of Tikeecee raiders. Supply caravans can only make it through conquered territory under extremely heavy guard. The Tarnee have resorted to taking the entire harvests of some communities. Many Tikeecee now set fire to their own crops and slay their own saon herds to prevent them from falling into the hands of the hated enemy.
After four years of frustrating campaigning, the Tarnee army has returned home. They still hold onto the larger border towns, but the Thune of Tarnee see through the triumphal feasts. They know that their homeland has been humiliated again. Some blame the Tikeecee, others Karski, who have threatened Tarnee with destruction. Most dangerously, many blame the Emperor for throwing away the lives of his men pointlessly.
Summary:
Tarnee futily pursues Tikeecee forces, burn many villages
Tikeecee continues to eat away at Tarnee through small ambushes and night raids
Tarnee withdraws due to attrition
Wrath
Forces Involved:
[COLOR=Red]
Darium: 475 Archers, 455 Spearmen led by King Farvus
Syven: 50 Spearmen, 60 Warriors, 20 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Seven Star Fulanti: ~300 Fulanti[/COLOR]
Dolu: 300 Archers, 230 Spearmen led by Prince Radu
Vona-Dolu: 220 Warriors, 60 Skirmishers, 40 Aikings
Tendorl: 80 Warriors, 20 Skirmishers, 15 Aikings
Damned and Vengeful: ? Damned led by the ghost of King Veli
The Darians had seized the cities of the Dolu, but the land was far from pacified. Everywhere, a great geurilla was waged between the exhausted armies. The Dolu who remained behind were those who preferred conquest to flight, but while many wanted simply to be left alone, aid was easy to find for the Vona-Dolu warriors.
Though outnumbered, the Dolu fought well in their homeland. The Darians lost many men in the pacification of Dolu lands, but they were able to expand their area of control over much former Dolu territory, destroying refugee bands, promising much to those who acquiesced, and mercilessly slaying those who didnt.
But a darkness swept over the lands of the Dolu through the midst of a boiling summer night, the shades of the Dolu slain at Cradu returned to the realm of the living the slay their Darian killers. The shades, calling themselves the Damned and Vengeful, are led by the wraith of King Veli himself. They come at night, slitting throats and poisoning food and water, then disappear into the night. They ambush patrols, then sink back into the mist. Though some claim to have killed the shades, and seen them bleed, nobody has ever been reclaimed.
With the aid of their ancestors called back from Haekas hall, the Dolu began to roll back Darian control. That is, however, until another force joined the fray. While the Dolu called upon spirits to aid them, the Darians called upon demons. Fulanti in the hundreds poured forth through Darian territory into the land of the Dolu.
Murder, arson, rape, torture and starvation were the tools of the Seven-Star as they struggled to destroy the Dolu geurillas. Fresh, in greater numbers, and better skilled at the tactics the Dolu employed, the Fulanti reaped a frightening toll on the haggered Dolu warriors. The Dolu and their Tendorl allies traded space for time, retreating to the heartland of the Tendrol. The Dolu made a final stand on the walls surrounding the fortress-hall of the Tendorl chief himself. But the Fulanti never appeared
.
Summary:
Darians begin to pacify Dolu land at a heavy cost
Ghosts of dead Dolu return to terrorize Dolu, Dolu begin to win
Fulanti ravage Dolu, Dolu pushed to the brink
Forces Remaining:
[COLOR=Red]
Darium: 325 Archers, 205 Spearmen led by King Farvus
Syven: 50 Spearmen, 50 Warriors, 15 Skirmishers, 8 Aikings led by Chief Arand
Seven Star Fulanti: ~270 Fulanti[/COLOR]
Dolu: 180 Archers, 150 Spearmen led by Prince Radu
Vona-Dolu: 140 Warriors, 40 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Tendorl: 60 Warriors, 15 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Damned and Vengeful: ? Damned led by the ghost of King Veli
Greed
Forces Involved:
[COLOR=Red]
Darium: 325 Archers, 205 Spearmen led by King Farvus
Darians: 160 Warriors, 40 Skirmishers, 25 Aikings
Chekrids: 100 Warriors, 30 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Fominids: 100 Warriors, 30 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Syven: 50 Spearmen, 50 Warriors, 15 Skirmishers, 8 Aikings led by Thane Arand
Seven Star Fulanti: ~1000 Fulanti led by God-Talker Rners
Nakar: 300 Archers, 150 Spearmen, 80 Reaka, 80 Falkans led by Kalan (I was not given troop numbers so I sent a reasonable force)
Vorthai: 280 Warriors, 100 Skirmishers, 50 Aikings led by Thane Slavac
Nakar Allied Fulanti: ~800 Fulanti led by Frerr
Gamars: 200 Tiaka led by King Vagram
East Gamars: 400 Warriors, 140 Skirmishers, 65 Aikings led by Chief Urin
West Gamars: 740 Warriors, 180 Skirmishers, 100 Aikings
Ogloids: 200 Warriors, 60 Skirmishers, 40 Aikings
Serala: 20 Warriors led by Lord Phinall[/COLOR]
Assfell: 200 Archers, 200 Spearmen, 200 Tiaka, and 50 Raeka led by Lord Rodull
Werhold: 200 Archers, 200 Spearmen, 100 Tiaka led by Earl Boheort
Werar, Bealdor, and Torica volunteers : 200 Warriors, 60 Skirmishers, 30 Aikings
Kaldar: 100 Warriors, 30 Skirmishers, 15 Aikings
Validira: 100 Raeka led by Prince Naxis
Varica: 100 Raeka led by Lord Hronu
Rheni: 60 Tiaka led by Captain Idonu
Gibraly: 200 Archers led by Captain Biba (No orders received, considered NPC)
Dolu: 180 Archers, 150 Spearmen led by Prince Radu
Vona-Dolu: 140 Warriors, 40 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Tendorl: 60 Warriors, 15 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Damned and Vengeful: ? Damned led by the ghost of King Veli
Many Darian women cried for their lost husbands and sons. Some consoled themselves in the knowledge that their menfolk had died to achieve something great for Darium. They returning warbands revealed a poor situation in Dolu lands, but even they had no idea how desperate the fight had become until the Seven-Star Fulanti marched through their lands, escorted by Darian warriors. The initial three hundred were only the beginning. They were only the vanguard. All told, a thousand Fulanti of the Seven-Star marched south. They were more disciplined than any Fulanti ever seen. They moved together in groups of a hundred, with scouts and more equipment than had ever been seen wielded by the Fulanti, many of it of Snerkittan or Pythian make.
Behind the Fulanti marched another alien army. The Gamars marched south with a army of immense size. Gamars East and West marched south. The Ogloids, former Darian vassals, marched beside them, glad to have been spared the worst of the Siege of Dolu. Even the pitiful remnants of the Serala, led by Lord Phinall, whom the Gamars had given refuge to, marched southwards to war.
The Nakar too, along with their Fulanti allies, marched from the west to join the Darian host. The Darians, alone and outnumbered, met them at the site of the Syven clan hall. Altogether, nearly six thousand warriors marched south to meet the Varican host.
The Varicans numbered a mere two thousand. Things looked grim for the Varicans. They faced the ferocious Fulanti, the fresh and eager Gamars, the Nakar and their chariots, the battle-hardened Darian warriors, and all told, three times their number.
But there were cracks in the Darian council of war. The Chekrids and Fominids did not want to fight. The Gamars are notorious for their fickleness. The Fulanti were uncontrollable. The Haecomus despised having to fight with Fulanti. The Varicans disliked and distrusted the Gamars. The Haekists were wary of the Soltalan Nakar. Above all, the four forces were of completely different minds as to how a battle should be fought.
The Varicans on the other hand were mostly veterans, flushed with victory over rebels and the Snerkitta, and save for the Dolu and Rheni, had fought together, earning respect and learning how to work with each other. They also had the benefit of quality. Of the forces arranged against them, only 80 Raeka, 200 Tiaka, and 80 Falkans numbered among them. The Varican forces, on the other hand, had a hard of 250 Raeka and 360 Tiaka.
The Gamars met the Hrafn and Werar in the center of the field. The more reliable Nakar and Darians took their places in either side, fighting Varicans, Validirans, Gibraly, and Rheni. The Dolu skirmished around the sides, hoping to keep the Fulanti at bay.
The Darian plan called for the strong flanks to envelop the Varicans with the Fulanti cutting off the retreat. The Gamars would advance slowly, hitting half an hour after the rest of the army was engaged. The Darians and Nakar pressed hard, using their numbers and mobility to their advantage, but the elite Raeka weather the storm. Still, they were forced back into a tighter ball. The Gamars lagged more so than expected, but all seemed right as the Hrafn and Werar broke ranks and charged the Gamars.
The Gamars improvised their own strategy: their strongest warriors moving east and west in large, close formation to envelop the Varicans, basically the entire plan in miniature. Soon the Hrafn and Werar disappeared from view.
The Fulanti pressed hard, killing many Dolu. The remaining Varicans fought hard, desperate to just hold on. The fighting was fierce on all sides. Only the co-ordination and morale of the Varicans kept the force together. Many great men fell that day and many songs will be sung of the battle. The Varicans fought hard, but there was little they could do but make their enemies pay dearly for every man felled. The endless chaos of battle was filled with the screams of agony from dying Haecomus, Fulanti, and Vorthai.
King Farvus knew that he had this day won, but he wondered why none of his messengers had returned from the Gamars. He had asked King Vagram repeatedly how the battle went, but with no response. Surely they could not all have fallen, with the enemy encircled as they were? Surely, outnumbered, nearly two to one, the Gamars must have finished Rodull and Boheorts men.
As Farvus expected, Gamar reinforcements eventually came. Not as expected, they did not come to reinforce him. The Gamars marched in good order towards the Darians. They stopped sixty paces from their allies and gave a cry, not of victory, but a battle cry. A hail of arrows rained into the unprotected backs of the Darian host. Confusion reigned. The Darian morale shattered. Desperately, Darian, Nakar, and Fulanti tried to escape. The Gamars had left gaps in their charge that the Darian allies exploited.
Those who fought through the gaps fled headlong into the hidden forms of the Hrafn and Werar. The Fulanti fought like the trapped animals they were, slaying a great many. The formations of the raeke and spearmen were broken. Aikings and Tiaka carved paths they hoped their followers could fill. Some were not encircled. A few managed to fight their way out. The Fulanti had the best of it, skirmishing as they were around the edges of the battle.
The final butchers bill numbered in the thousands. At the end of the day, Farvus lay dead on the field of battle The Seven-Star evaporated into the night. The Five Yomba covered the retreat of the remainder of the Nakar. Kalan survived the battle, but Thane Slavac is fighting for his life from three arrow wounds. Frerr, the brother of the deceased Five Yomba warleader Rerke, has joined his brother in the afterlife. The Gamars forced the surrender of the Chekrids when they informed them that their homes had already fallen to Gamar warriors. The Darians, not so lucky, were hounded by the shades of the Dolu all the way home. The Syven, in their wild flight alongside the Darians, were killed to a man. Thane Arand of the Syven was found dead, tortured to death in the most vile ways imaginable. His skinless body was found carved up on a rock while his skin was tied between two trees. He was only recognized by a birthmark on his cheek.
The Varican victory has been a costly one. Many are dead or dying. Captain Biba veteran of the Snerkittan wars and the battle of Varica, was slain in the battle. The rest of the Varican commanders have survived to mourn him. The Dolu have been shattered by the war. The victorious army marched into Cradu and Puli easily enough, then on to Syven lands, where an orgy of destruction directed at the women, children, and elderly of the Syven. Without their men to protect them, they were helpless. A few fought back, many killed themselves, but most accepted their fate as the defeated, hoping their might find husbands among the victors. The young, strong, and pretty have been enslaved and divided between the victors. The rest have been put to the sword.
Summary:
Greatly outnumbered Varicans host meets Darians and allies in Dolu territory
Darians are winning the battle, until the Gamars and betray them
Darian host scattered
Farvus, Arand, Frerr, and Biba slain. Slavac badly wounded.
Syven destroyed as a tribe. 14 units of slaves to divide between Dolu, Gamars, Werhold, Assfell. Rheni, Varica, Validira, and Gibraly. The Gamars claim 4 units.
Dolu and Vona-Dolu
Dolu regain Puli and Cradu
Darians -1 Power
Fominids -1 Power
Gamars vassalize Chekrids
Forces Remaining:
[COLOR=Red]
Darium: 100 Archers, 70 Spearmen
Darians: 60 Warriors, 10 Skirmishers, 5 Aikings (dispersed)
Chekrids: 70 Warriors, 20 Skirmishers, 7 Aikings (surrendered)
Fominids: 40 Warriors, 10 Skirmishers, 2 Aikings (dispersed)
Syven: Destroyed
Seven Star Fulanti: ~700 Fulanti led by God-Talker Rners
Nakar: 120 Archers, 500 Spearmen, 40 Reaka, 30 Falkans led by Kalan
Vorthai: 130 Warriors, 50 Skirmishers, 25 Aikings led by Thane Slavac
Nakar Allied Fulanti: ~600 Fulanti
Gamars: 160 Tiaka led by King Vagram
East Gamars: 340 Warriors, 110 Skirmishers, 55 Aikings led by Chief Urin
West Gamars: 660 Warriors, 120 Skirmishers, 90 Aikings
Ogloids: 180 Warriors, 50 Skirmishers, 35 Aikings
Serala: 20 Warriors led by Lord Phinall[/COLOR]
Assfell: 200 Archers, 200 Spearmen, 200 Tiaka, and 50 Raeka led by Lord Rodull
Werhold: 200 Archers, 200 Spearmen, 100 Tiaka led by Earl Boheort
Werar, Bealdor, and Torica volunteers : 200 Warriors, 60 Skirmishers, 30 Aikings
Kaldar: 100 Warriors, 30 Skirmishers, 15 Aikings
Validira: 100 Raeka led by Prince Naxis
Varica: 100 Raeka led by Lord Hronu
Rheni: 60 Tiaka led by Captain Idonu
Gibraly: 200 Archers
Dolu: 180 Archers, 150 Spearmen led by Prince Radu
Vona-Dolu: 140 Warriors, 40 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Tendorl: 60 Warriors, 15 Skirmishers, 10 Aikings
Damned and Vengeful: ? Damned led by the ghost of King Veli
{HAVE NOT DONE VARICAN CASUALTIES YET}
Lust
The Nakars attempted thrust through the minor tribes of central Varica has been halted after the disaster in the north. Scouts from the local tribes requested Validiran aid under the pretense of protecting their borders. A massive show of force by Validira convinced the Nakar scouts to withdraw. The council wisely decided that any further advances would be foolhardy.
Gluttony
Forces Involved:
Sargothis Eye: ~750 Fulanti Warriors led by One-Eye
Revnor: 100 Warriors, 35 Skirmishers, 20 Aikings under thane Drago
Rendor: 60 Warriors, 20 Skirmishers, 15 Aikings under thane Galos
Validira: 100 Archers, 80 Spearmen, 25 Raeka, 35 Tiaka under Lord Prius
{Fulanti hit Rendor}
Also, updates are far easier to follow with maps that are posted at the same time and place; combined with the intervals between updates this made following events that did not immediately concern me very difficult at times. A list of update links, more consistent updating of the front page and maybe some general summary of the events so far would also have been useful in this regard.
