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Erie: A vast wasteland that will take many years of hard work to develop. The leader of the island is a fine diplomat though and there is hope that he can persuade the Church who the Irish pay tithe too will assist them someday in maybe building a port city .
Wales: The fiercely independent Welsh long for the day when they will have a city or a cultivated province. Their king the absolutely brilliant diplomat Thweatt is hopeful like the Irish that some day God will smile on their fair kingdom and aid them in their efforts to become more prosperous.
Saxon England: A divided Nation. The hope is that some day the Danes will go back to the mainland and leave England to the English (?)Saxons. Not sure that will happen though. There are several factors of contention in England that need to be resolved both territorial and religious. The Roman Catholic Church is none to pleased about the English defection to Celtic Catholicism and they may ask the recently converted Danes to take care of the problem before it gets out of hand.
Scotland: Formerly the Orkneys. The Gods have smiled on these Danish exiles and because of a letter of introduction from the King of Saxon England the Orkney Vikings and the Scots have joined together as one nation. They have a capital and the sky is the limit for these hearty seafarers.
Denmark: A land in transition. The English are a potential problem or ally though as an ally there is the risk of angering the Pope. The Orkney Norsemen have become Scotland so maybe the one time enemy of the Danes can be made an ally. Sweden has long been a controlled by the Jarl of Denmark but is now free to act on it’s own, will Skane be a battle ground? Lastly there is the HRE. As an ally the HRE insures the stability of the Danes. As and enemy they pose a great problem. The King of the North will have many opportunities to prove his worth in the upcoming years.
Sweden: Olaf rules a rough land. Though he has sworn to the Roman Papacy after much arm-twisting by the Danish king, his subjects are still very Pagan in their beliefs. On the Trade front big things are about to happen. Gotland seems to be a very good spot for product to move through.
Normandy: The Normans are loyal to the king of France but the Viking blood boils with in them. Their military is good and the King is very adept on the field of battle.
France: France is a good place to be. The King is well liked by his subjects, the nation prospers and the Moslem hordes appear to not be interested in moving through Spain into Europe anymore. Now if they can only keep the Burgundians from becoming an ally of the HRE.
Holy Roman Empire: A monolith to one mans desire to rule. Otto has done well for himself. His kingdom is not relatively peaceful. His Allied nations are healthy and he has boosted the Patriarch of Rome into a position of power greater than that of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Life is good. Now if Otto can just keep all those neighbors at bay.
Lorraine: Lorraine is a very nice place to live nestled in on the Rhine trade flows nicely and the coffers are full. The Duke of Lorraine is a powerful man and he knows it, so does Otto.
Swabia: The lands are giving and someday there is hope that a city will be built with in the borders of this fair domain.
Tuscany: The independent Italian State. Tuscany takes a great deal of pride in their independence. They are a nation of merchants though and not fighters so the arrangement with the HRE is very beneficial to their longevity.
Carinthia: A pathetic little nation of little importance. Would be absorbed by Hungary or Venice if it weren’t for the fact that the lands were HRE.
Bohemia: The King of Bohemia is probably the most handsome man in all of Europe. He is all the rage at social gatherings and said to have dirt on everyone, which also makes him very dangerous. He has two goals in life securing the hand of King Otto’s daughter who is half his age and supposedly quite a looker. His second goal is to build a city to “establish his legitimacy as a Lord in the HRE Kingdom.
Poland : The middle kingdom of Europe. Poland is on the rise. They are a friend of the HRE and opposed to the expansion of the Kievian state.
Naples: The fledgling kingdom is ruled King Rex. He is a vicious man with a sword and nearly as handsome as the King of Bohemia. Rex wants more power and his nation is behind him 100%.
Morocco: The young Sheik Alaba is the cousin of the Cordoban Sultan. There have been some difference between the two houses but they do not hate each other my any means. Alaba advisor is an exceptionally quick-witted fellow and so the future is bright for the young sheik.
Cordoba: A powerful nation in decline (?) . Maybe maybe not. The Cordobans once held sway over even more land but they are growing decadent. Lavish parties (alcohol free of course) are the call of the day. The Harem of the King Hisham II is said to be very large and full of beautiful women. He is quite the looker himself so this is not a big surprise. It is a surprise that he doesn’t have a ton of bastard children but some people are luckier than others.
Navarre: This small landlocked nation is full of proud people. Both the king and his brother are skilled fighters and they have worked hard to secure a place in the world for the people of their domain.
Leon: Leon is ruled by a fair and just king. He is assisted by one of the strongest swordsmen in all of Europe (who also happens to be is younger brother). Together they are a very dangerous combination. The brothers have two objectives……maintain the peace with Cordoba and develop their lands. If the peace holds with Cordoba there might be hope of someday making Leon a prosperous land.
Algeria: Not as pathetic as Carinthia but close. Thankfully Algeria’s home province is cultivated which makes it so they are not totally pathetic.
Tunis: This Seafaring nation in the past has survived on Piracy but in recent years (really since the birth of his son) the Caliph has been more concerned about promoting trade with other nations and less concerned about stealing wealth. Probably trying to set a good example for his son. The Prince of Tunis is quite the eloquent speaker and has been know to talk the Shia Church and the Fatimid regime in to aiding the growth of Tunis.
The Papal States: Under the direction of the severely stretched Holy Roman Emperor the Holy Father was requested to take and hold some lands. , mainly to stem the tide of ERE expansion. The Pope is not fond of holding lands but since he owes his position to Otto II he does what is asked. Friction between the Pope and the Patriarch in Constantinople is great but manageable at this juncture. The Patriarch is still steaming over Steven the Magyar becoming Steven RC leader of the Kingdom of Hungary.
Croatia: Small pathetic little country who’s only city is lorded over by the Venecians. The Croats only hope for ever amounting to anything is if a bigger nation adopts them.
Serbia: Those bastard Venecians own the port in the Serbian coastal province so the Serbs can’t trade by Sea and the gigantic ERE to the South and the Hungarian Papal pet to the north have the Serbian Empire (smirk) hemmed in. Is there no justice for the Balkan peoples?
Patriarch: Hungary is gone and the Kievians are restless due to concerns about the Turks on the Steppe. Thus the God King Basil the second handed off the reins of leadership to the capable Sergius the II. Sergius is the hope of the future for the Orthodoxy.
Byzantium: Ah, to live in the greatest city in the world be king over on of the greatest nations in the world and to be carrying the legacy of the great Roman Empire, it is all good. That is if you are Basil the II. Basil is truly a great man and the Byzantine Empire is a reflection of his greatness. At it’s (historical) height the Byzantines have nothing to fear but themselves.
Kiev: This fledgling Empire is on the cusp…….of what is the question. The Empire is large and nearly unwieldy; though some of the people of the land have found God there are still many pagans in the country. Financial resources are hard to come by. And now there are rumors of trouble brewing in the Turkish lands. Woe be the king of Kiev. On the plus side though the King is capable of defending his lands and his trusted aides are nearly all capable of supporting the government in one way or another.
Smolensk: With no room to expand it is nearly a certainty that the lands of Smolensk will someday be part of the Kingdom of Kiev. Will that day be tomorrow or 50 years from now?
Galica: This relatively poor little nation actually shows some promise. The leadership of this land is very capable. However guarding the frontier against the Magyars, oh I mean Hungarians, can be risky business.
Novgorod: Vast tracts of land are ruled by the Lord of the North, sounds good at least. The leadership in this land borders on mediocrity, thus the arrangement with Kiev. Someday No-good hopes to have cultivated lands and become prosperous.
Bolgar Khanate: this little pagan kingdom has barely come into existence on the dangerous Steppe. Who knows if they will survive but they have hope.
Ghana: As with most African States peaceful development will probably be the call of the day. The Ghanans have a decent economy and two trade centers. The king Mwabe is well respected among the tribes of his region for being fair and just.
Hausa: Strong economy has led this nation to prominence. With cultivated lands all around the sky is the limit.
Kanem: Very rich land of Kanem has burst on to the scene. There is lots of work to be done but as long as the Hausa keep their distance things should progress very nicely..
Zagwe: The last of the Coptic Kingdoms “?” Part of the great exodus of Coptic Christians driven by the Moslems out of Egypt. They have re-established themselves on the lower Nile. Due to the great attrition on the men during the exodus the Zagwe have adopted a Matriarchal system. The Queen of this realm is adept at statecraft and has pushed her people to excel. She has been mostly successful.
Kilwa: Former trading post of Aden this area has thrived. With the gold flowing from the interior the Kilwa have managed to break away from their Feudal agreements and now they fend for themselves.
Greater Zimbabwe: Rising out of the Wilderness this gold rich nation now works diligently to make a name for itself.
Zulu Nation: Like the Zimbabwe state the Zulu are also emerging from their slumbering state and they hope to build a small nation state in Southern Africa.
The Middle East:
Aden (formerly Yemen): This is a nation of traders and Theologians. They have been very effective in spreading the word of Allah and in setting up trade far and wide. The contend a bit with the Zagwe because of ideological differences but since they are in general a small peaceful nation no real blows have been struck.
Fatimid Egypt: The glorious Shia nation. The young King rules effectively and he has strong support internally from the Shia Church. There are several issues facing the Egyptians. They are stretched across the Med. They have a menacing ERE to the north that has just over run the Hatamids. The Buwayhids are powerful and hold the Sunni Clergy. Egypt is at the crossroads, may the King rule for many years.
Buwayhi: This is a nation on the verge of greatness. The have good leaders, lots of Manpower and a vast but manageable realm to rule. If the peace can be kept with the ERE the sky is the limit for this nation.
Ghazi: Barbarians from the Afghan mountains are a brutal folk. They are well lead and their strength is growing. Samarkand recently lost the city of Merv to the Ghazi and the Ghazi are looking for more fertile lands to settle in. Mahmud King of the Ghazi is one of the greatest tacticians this area has ever seen (originating from the area not conquering it).
Samarkhand: Samarkhand has some solid commanders and a powerful economy but they are reeling from the recent thrashing they took at the hands of the Ghazi at Merv. Samarkhand is surrounded by potential enemies, the Ghazi to the South, Khwarism to the West, the Kucha to the East and the Turkic tribes that are growing strong on the Steppe. It will take a fine diplomat to settle the potential issues that face the Samarkhand King. Samarkhand recently gained the services of Rusik the Scythian in hopes he would save them from the Ghazi host. Rusik was a powerful steppe nomad who was lured from the rugged life on the Steppe by the enticement of gold (it is said a whole tribe of Turks had it in for him too but they may be an exaggeration).
Kowaris: The lands of milk and honey. This is a wonderful place to live. There is just one problem…….they are very small and thus the target for the bigger nations near by. The Khwarizim have a warrior of remarkable status that is the defender of the state and there has been an effort to make the lands more defensible but no one is sure it will be enough.
Kucha and Manicaeans: This is an interesting little arrangement. The Manicaeans children of Mani have had a good influence (?) on the Kucha. Once barbarians they have adopted the teachings on Mani and settled down. Though they are not overly prosperous the toll the exact on the Silk Road merchants for safe passage help them make ends meat. The Manicaeans religion has been very well received on the Steppe and is a pretty universal religion, having bits of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islamic and Christian faiths all mixed into it, this makes it somewhat dangerous to the other primacies.
HsiHsia: Recently formed by the Llamanist Tibetans and the Tagnuts this new nations is a mix of Steppe Nomad and Civilized Chinese. (Jeff you were right Barbarian is the right choice for the Tobi Wei) This nation is evolving and with the Sung stretched to the limits this nations should be able to grow and develop. Both the King and his son are very capable of leading this nation into the realm of becoming a civilized state.
Liao: Another expansive Steppe kingdom. The Liao has been on the verge of embracing civilized society for a while now. The have picked up many of the traditions and activities of the Sung. The leadership here is very capable of making the Liao a great nation if the time and effort is put into such an endeavor. The Steppe is a harsh master but the Liao like the Hsihsia seem to have gotten the upper hand.
Korea: The land is difficult to work, mountains make communications difficult and large nations all around make it difficult to grow. The Koreans work hard to make the best of it though.
Japan: Ah to live the sheltered life. Japan the perfect nation for the time period. No one can touch them, the land is bountiful and every day is a day in the sunshine.
The Sung Empire: A behemoth comparable to the ERE. The Sung have a great deal of money that has to support their huge military and government. They are also surrounded by potential enemies. It will take a strong King to lead them through this time.
NanChao: Decent nation on the Western Border of the Sung. This nation is fairly peaceful and known for its strong Infantry army. The leadership is nothing to write home about but they will do.
India and SE Asia:
The land of the Silver Tongues
Punjab: A healthy little nation nestled in the Mountains on the way to India proper. The main goal of the nation is to persuade the Ghazi the look north and west not east. If that happens this nation should be in good shape.
Edrosia: Peaceful little Shia’ nation on the border of Hindu India. This nation represents the first “incursion” of Islam into India. The Hindu Primacy is watching this closely. The lands are not especially rich but they have potential, much like the leadership.
Uttar Pradesh: A solid nation which includes the impenetrable fortress (sounds good at least) of Vasta.
Paramara Alliance: Another nation in decline historically. The princes of this region have banded together is hopes of propping up their defenses versus Islam and their neighbors to the North.. The king is skilled in most forms of Statecraft but the real star of this nation is the Kings Advisor. He is absolutely wicked at the bargaining table. Be very careful when negotiating with the Paramara.
Kaunaj: Another kingdom with a solid foundation on the Indus. Like Uttar Pradesh this nation is not huge but it does have the capability of drawing on a large population. Like the Paramara Alliance the Raj and his heir are average men but grand Vizier is a man of phenomenal skill with the spoken word. He also knows everyone in Northern India.
Bengal: The Bengal King recently decided to dedicate himself to the Hindu teachings seriously. The net result was the founding of the Hindu primacy and the movement of the capital from Palas to Mahgada. Mahgada this province has become a Holy place now for Hindu and Buddhist a like. The Bengal King is yet another brilliant diplomat that resides in India...
Kalachuri: This kingdom is lead by the Charismatic Anahavarti Raj. He has done well for himself in recent years. There is a line of mountains that separates him from potential enemies to the North and the areas to the South in the interior are pretty wide open now that the Chalukya have abandon them for Nasik..
Chalukya: Small coastal Kingdom, who thrives on trade with its neighbors.
Chola: Though not especially wealthy the Chola have a good solid mix of leaders that should lead them into the next millennium. The biggest hurdle the Chola have to over come is the Pandaya issue. There should be some serious sparing to see who manages to land that coveted province.
Ceylon: A good little seafaring nation off the coast of India. They are the last hold out of Buddhism in India. This has caused them some trouble with the nearby Chola in the past but with the Hindu religion being disorganized the conflict isn’t a strong one.
Pagan: Nothing special to be seen here move along
Pegu: With the newly founded Port city of Rangoon the Pegu look to spread their wings. The national leadership is decent and the country is developing.
Khmer: The Khmer have done the wise thing they have established a defensive perimeter and now they will build up with in it. They have a city on the Mekong and the population is happy. Not only that but they have a good mix of leaders to make sure the state continues to function in an acceptable manner.
Annam: A wealthy nation sandwiched between the Champa, Khmer and Sung. It is only a matter of time till they become a seafaring nation.
Champa: Champa are lead by the best military man in Asia, he is pretty bitter he ended up ruling the crappy kingdom of Champa. Actually the Champans are decent economically but with a king of this caliber who knows what till happen.
Java: The Hindu State of Java (Yes I finally figured out what was going on!) This seafaring society has a very capable navy and they are not afraid to use it. The Javans and the Srivijayan Empire are not particularly fond of each other but things could change dramatically. One just never knows.
Srivijayan Empire: This Buddhist seafaring society still uses the institution of slavery, just one more bone of contention with the Javans. Both the King and his Heir are very solid leaders.