TURN 17 ORDERS DUE BACK BY: FRIDAY, 21ST OF NOVEMBER, 1997

ANNOUNCEMENTS Greetings to yet another layout for Lords #7. Yeah, I will have to admit that the layout is very much modeled after Thomas Harlan’s Lords #1 newsfax, but I do like his lay out a lot. I will be changing it around some more in the next few turns, but it will all depended on where I work, and what computer I will have.

A word to the wise, do not go to Computer Renaissance if you expect high customer service. My computer has been there for more then 13 days as I start this newsfax, and this is under warranty. So I may be computerless for awhile, but do not worry, I can do turns at work. Also, I have done a little reshuffling of areas, please let me know if you like, or dislike and why you feel that way.

Error last turn Yea, OK, so upgrading to the new stat program may have lead to more headaches then it solved. Last turn was a 2 year turn base, not the normal 5 year turn, due to the GM making an assumption. So, you got less NFP but about the same spendable gold, due to support cost being cut down. What I am doing, is pretending that last turn was a 5 year turn, and you will receive the lost NFP in savings. I will be attempting to turn turns around in between 10 to 14 days for the next few turns. I think I did fairly well this turn.

THIS TURN’S MUSIC … They Might Be Giants - Apollo 17 Nine Inch Nails — Fixed J. Giles Band — Greatest Hits White Zombie — Astro Creep 2000 Enya — The Memory of Trees Eagles — Greatest Hits Volume 1 They Might Be Giants — Flood

AWARDS! As made traditional in Sean Harding’s Lords Two …

Lord: Ken McGee, Orthodox Church, after a long pause, a religious primate starts to play an active roll Vagabond: Brian Whiffler, Toowomba, while everyone grows, he doesn’t turn in a turn.

Lucky SOB: Bob Chase, Axuim

RULES ERRATA AND REMINDERS Tithe Income: If you are paying a tithe to a Religious Primate and the rate of the tithe is less than 5% then there is no effect to you; you do not lose any money. If the rate of the Tithe is greater than 5%, then you lose 1% of Tax Rate for each percentage point of the tithe over 5. If you are the Primate receiving the tithe, then the tithe money is automatically calculated for you and added to your Saved Gold each turn by the program. Bidding on Mercs: When you are making a bid for mercenaries, please make separate bids for mercenary units and mercenary leaders. Please get your turns in on time, as of 10/13 I had 8 turns in, and 7 of those turns were processed on that day, and as of Monday 10/20 I had not received a total of 6 turns. From now on cut off day for receiving turns will be 1 week from the day due. New Ruling on the Rule action. After a talk with Thomas, I have found out that when your King/Queen/Regent/Heir rules, you’re tax rate will be 100%, no matter how badly your government is understaffed, I have been informed that the new version of the rules will word this issue more clearly then the present wording will. This was added after the turns were processed, so the ruling will affect all you lucky stiffs starting this current turn you will be sending back to me (Turn 16). LTROOP CONVERSIONS Infantry (500 men = 1 point), Cavalry (500 men = 1 point), Siege Engineers (500 men = 1 point), Warships (5 ships = 1 point), Transports (5 ships = 1 point), Bowmen (50 guns = 1 point) OTHER LORDS OF THE EARTH GAMES Lords One: Thomas Harlan, 4858 East Second Street, Tucson, AZ. 85711-1207. (520) 323-8570. Internet: thomash@rtd.com. Turn #192 is the latest. Lords Two: Sean Harding, 13224 Highview Drive, Burnsville, MN. 55337 (612) 890-5878. Internet: sean_harding@graphicsxpress.com. Turn #50 is the latest. Lords Three: Colin Dunnigan, 4858 East Second Street, Tucson, Arizona. 85711. Turn #22 is the latest. Lords Four: Lords Four: Kerry Harrison, 11441 IH-35 North #3102, Austin, TX. 78753. (512)837-5553. Internet: kerry@starjammer.com. Turn#40 is the latest. Lords Five: Scott Chatham, 1867 Kingsley Road #85, Eugene, OR. 97401. (541) 484-6168. Internet: huntsman@teleport.com. Openings: ?. Lords Six: Ken McGee. Internet: keng@pacifier.com. Turn #8 is the latest. Lords Seven - The Dark Ages: Eddie Hartwell, 11517 23rd Ave, Burnsville, MN. 55337. (612)890-1151. Openings: Look at the back page, and 2 Secret Empires Lords Eight - The Diadochi: Sean Harding, 13224 Highview Drive, Burnsville, MN. 55337 (612) 890-5878. Internet:sean_harding@graphicsxpress.com. Campaign has shut down due to the loss of all materials. Lords Nine: Earl Solper. Turn #122 latest. Lords Ten: Scott Hagen, 1942 S. Emerson #208, Mesa, AZ 85210. (602) 756-0104 (don't call after 9:30pm(or before 9:30am on weekends) MST.) Internet: hagenks@aol.com. Turn #86 latest. Lords Eleven: Thad Plate, Turn #45 latest. See Thad's Web page at http://www.inficad.com/~plate/. Lords Twelve: Thad Plate, Turn #4 latest. All info? Lords Thirteen: Rich Sorensen, PO Box 779, Columbia Falls, MT. 59912. (406) 892-3752. Internet: khan@netrix.com Turn #3. Lords Fourteen: Lesley Nielsen, 401 North Burlington, Fergus Falls, MN. 56537-2316. (218)739-0820. Internet: doctorbanzaii@aol.com.. Lords Fifteen: Ben Vincent, 1015 Jasper Avenue, Houghton, WI. (906)487-9623. Internet: vinny@portup.com. Lords Sixteen: Steven Olson, 1150 North El Dorado Place, Apt 242, Tucson, AZ. 85715. (520)298-7253. Internet: solsonesq@aol.com.

ASIA — NN / N TROOPS: 10C, 17I, 5W, 4T AQRS: C3 S2 I2 W1 LEADERS: XI’CHIN STORMDRAGON (MB66)

Somewhere around Mongolia… A man with a white turban around his head stumbles out of a cave, squinting because of the sunlight, it takes him a few minutes to realize there is a horsemen coming to him, he tries to talk to him, but discovers the horsemen does not understand him, and he cannot understand what this man is saying. After 15 useless minutes the horsemen brings him to his chief. There he finds someone who knows a little of his language, and when he is told where he is he breaks into hysterical laughter, and when he calmed down he tells them he comes from Spain, from an empire known as the Umayyads…

Liang - [ Chosun, General of the Heavens, Destroyer of Steps

Diplomacy: None

Chosun yet again stayed in his palace and helped run the government from within, it is now rumored that he is the government. In 934AD Chosun’s son, and crowned heir while fetching some legal papers for his father to sign dropped dead while walking down the hall, while murder was not suspected, security around the palace has been tripled as rumors of evil monsters and men who shun the light and liven in darkness increase. Pienching was beautified by the building gardens, parks, and theaters.

Yamato - ¤ Emperor Unnamed, Light of Heaven

Diplomacy: Shkoku (F)

Oda finally left the world in his sleep, leaving his yet unnamed heir King, and all his lieutenants likewise unnamed. The thunder has been heard demanding that they be named soon, or something bad might happen, of course peasants are known to be superstitious.

Champa - Emperor Luikan, Leader of the Champa, Lord of the South Pasific

Diplomacy: Annam (F), Nanling (F)

Palpyn decided that now that Nan Han was just a bad memory that he could now stop beating the regions that used to belong to them, and started talking to them, and met with moderate success. Late in the evening one night the beloved Emperor passed away, and his son Luikan was crowned the new King of Champa. Toowomba - n Ahar of the Fishermen Diplomacy: None It was quite while the fishermen learned to fish the new seas where they live. Ahar’s heir did, so his son’s son was promoted to be the next King, when Ahab is called to the great sea hunt in the sky.

INDIA AND TRANS-ASIA — N / N½ TROOPS: 23I, 7C, 5S AQRS: C3 I2 W1 S1 LEADERS: BASHIR SIDDIG AL’FADDIL (M886)

Somewhere… Two men, one in velvet robe, sandals, a blue turban, clean shaved, and an Indian color to his skin and other in a red tunic, books, and scruffy beard growing, walked into a bar. “Al-Haj! It is an honor to finally meet you in person, I know you do not leave your stronghold very often anymore/”, the scruffy bearded man greeted the man in the blue turban. “That is correct Boris, being in control and pulling the strings I have to does not leave me much time to socialize or lay the ground work as I once did.” “Come, you must be tired after you long journey, let me fetch you a fine wine from the one time Western Franks, I hear that there have been some troubles in those regions as of late” “Yes, but those must wait, it is the current failures we need to talk about…”

Gurjara - Unnamed Queen, Ruler of the Ganges, Heir to the Gupta Empire, Reader of books, Protector of Knowledge

DIPLOMACY: None

The Unnamed Queen of Gurjara spent the first year on the thrown looking for a suitable husband to be the Prince Consort, Lieutenant Rasha went along the coast of India, stopping at all towns to search for a man glorious enough to be his Queen’s husband, end the end a noble from Sahis married her, and in 933AD she gave birth to a son. While the mad search for a husband was going on the Unnamed Queen ordered that the much lagging trade fleet to go forth and do their job. Trading doubled almost over night as an increase trade came from Aden, Saffarids, Buryat, and Oghzvid.

Rastrakutas - Khali, Peacelord of India, Finder of the Weird, Hindu Primate

DIPLOMACY: None

Khali and his son rested after last turns explosion in growth, pacing themselves, you know. Samanids - Cassandra Rok Mann, Queen of the Turkish Hindu’s Diplomacy: None Open for a player to lead. NAden -N Samid, Sultan of Aden Diplomacy: None In 932AD Samid died of old age and his crumbling nation died with him when his sons started to fight amongst themselves as to who should try to lead the nation.

Sunni Primate v Caliph Elijah-Ali, Disciple of Allah, Teacher of the five pillars, Commander of the faithful Diplomacy: None Open for new player

Buryat - n Juchi the Harsh, Terror of the Sunni’s, Sacker of Baghdad

Diplomacy: None

Juchi, afraid that his son Batu would grow soft sent him out to gather up the unworthy people nearby and put them to work, or the sword. The regions of Ahvaz and Fars where enslaved and their once proud Muslim inhabitancy where corralled into Abadan like pigs and put to work. When Batu and his assistant entered into Selucia to do the same, they ran into a slight problem, it seems that one of the nights just after they finished collecting the people up, most of the men had too much to drink, and about 10,000 would be slaves ran for there lives. The next morning Batu decided against going to get them, thinking that his father would be pleased if he brought what he had home, he was wrong. Juchi nearly had his own son beheaded for his incompetence, and now has him looking for the slaves. Meanwhile the slaves were last seen leaving the region of Carhae entering Edessa, heading north to freedom, or so they think.

Saffarid - Z Shifobra, Allah’s chosen

Diplomacy: None

Shifobra was awakened late in the evening to find out that his ally Aden had succumbed to defeat, while saddened he was a practical man, and knew that by not support any sort of war to the south he could save his gold for bettering his nation, but soon after that he grew tired and slept much of years. Now open for a new player.

EUROPE — N / N TROOPS: 10I, 5C, 8LB AQRS: C2 I3 S1 W1 B2 LEADERS: KHAN OF THE BORKOU (M946)

Danes - W Henrick Prince of Wales, Enjoyer of many Soft, Pink, French Peasant Girls (Oh, please), Raider from the North, King of Britain

Diplomacy: Hainult (F)

Henrick oversaw a massive reshuffling of the military, sending most of the naval fleet to the main land of France. Ned of Flanders disappeared one day after reporting that he had heard some rumors of evil monsters roaming the marshes of Flanders, and was going to check it out, his son Ned II took over Ned’s former job. The Regions of Brittany, Poitou, and Anjou were raided (again) just because they look like they needed it.

Norse - W Gunnbjorn Hrolfgarson, Lord of Amlodhi’s Quern, Keeper of the Eye of Surtur, Dragon of the North

Diplomacy: Lorraine (EA)

Gunnbjorn slowly solidified his holding in central Europe and sent his mappers down to the gates of Hercules. “Sir! Look off the port, what is that?” Ingjaldr, arose quickly to see what his first mate had awoken him for. He raised the telescope to his eye, and his mouth droped. “I am not sure what in Thor’s, name that thing is, wait a second!”, he raised it again to view the ship, as it suddenly sped up and vanished from view.

Umayyads - v King Abbas, Destroyer of Christians, King of Spain, Finder of strange Caves

Diplomacy: None

Again the people of Andelusia listened to the teaching of the Orthodox church, some converting since the head of the Sunni church has not been as active as the Orthodox church is. Bapu died in Valencia of old age. Mohammed died from shock when he heard rumors of his old friend appearing in Mongolia.

Frankish Kingdom of Germany - U Frederick, King of the Last Roman Catholic Kingdom, Heir to the Holy Roman Empire

Diplomacy: None

Frederick and his empire just drank a lot of beer and ate a lot, waiting for something to happen…It never did.

Byzantine Empire - W Emperor Cartiphilus, Destroyer of the Catholics

Diplomacy: None

Cartiphilus spent some time with his backers just relaxing and enjoying what all his hard work as gotten him. In fact no one can remember any other prior emperor stopping and enjoying the fruits of his labor, nor can anyone remember when he had been as happy as he has been.

Orthodox Church - W Father John II

Diplomacy: None

Father John sent word out that he wanted five more men to promote to Bishops to help all followers the church with various tasks. The best five were promoted. Languedoc turned Eastern Orthodox after Matthew spent four years showing the few remaining Roman Catholic’s that the Orthodox Church dose indeed help the needy. Andelusia is now 40% Eastern Orthodox after an Orthodox minister dive to protect a noble of the Umayyad family from an arrow, while the noble lived, the minister died. Many were Muslims were surprised by the act, and many have begun learning about the Christian religion and converting.

Russian Civil War Ends 929AD - 933AD

Rus Vikings - W Viga Brand, The River Raider

Diplomacy: None

Viga was brooding while his newly raised army was training for battle. What would his father do under this situation, and he could not even guess. The battle happened in 932AD, Viga and his army marched into Kostroma with 7,000 Heavy Cavalry, 5,000 Light Cavalry, 1,000 Normal Cavalry, 6,000 Pole Arm’s, 11,00 Light Infantry, and 3,000 Archer’s. There they ran into the Russian Army, commanded by Olaf’s son Nickolis and his army with 1,500 Light Infantry, 2,500 Swordsmen, 2,500 Horsemen, 50 light warships, and 500 siege troops. The battle was about as one sided as can be, with both Olaf and Nickolis both being killed in the onslaught. The regions of Tver, Kostroma, Kalinin and Yaroslav were all Raided, slave raided and the pacified. The head of Olaf and Nickolis were placed on a boat and send down the Volga River N Russian Free States N Olaf the Brave-hearted Diplomacy None When the revenge of Viga struck, Olaf found that he was less of a leader then his one time liege, and was killed in the battle with the Rus Vikings.

Ligurian Confederacy (the Horde formerly known as Wudan) - W King Sid II, Oathbreaker, Khan of the Italian Peninsula

DIPLOMACY: Switzerland (T)

King Sid II learned from his last attempt at siegeing cities, this time he managed to get the merc’s and be built himself a large amount of siege engineers. When they all gathered around Rome, they started the passive siege, and with the help of his heavy warships Rome fell to the Ligrian’s in 934AD. Betik, the last remaining ally from the step days was searching for neat things in Lyonnais one day when the local people mistook him for a devil worshiper and burned him at the stake. The people there, when they realized what they had done apologized to Kind Sid II, of course. Avar Hoard n Chief Ogar, Big chief Diplomacy: None Tired of being raided from the north, the Avar’s who were once happy on the north shores of the Caspian Sea now wander around stirring up mayhem. Looking for a wise, but brutal man to take the lead.

AFRICA — / N TROOPS: 10I, 14C, 4B AQRS: C3 I1 S1 W2 B3 LEADERS: JOHN SHERIDAN (MA4A)

Idrisids - v Fatima Ibn Idriss, Queen of the Western Sands

DIPLOMACY: None

Fatima watched with interest from her room the passage of many traders sailing on the sea. People are starting to wonder if she has lost her mind.

Aghlabids - v Sallah , Terror of the Mediterranean,

DIPLOMACY: None

Sallah was worried about the Ligurian Confederacy, with good reason. More troops were brought in and newly raised siege troops where also formed in Rome to hold back the title wave of combat he feared. Abdul was in Sicily when he disappeared, later in 934 his body was found, it looks like some wild animal attacked and mauled him, but no one has any idea what kind of creature would do this type of damage.

Oghuzvid Empire - v Dassan, Thunder maker, Big man on the Nile

Diplomacy: None

Dassan, while at the mosque offering prayers to Allah one evening came across an idea that would please the holy and just Sunni Primate, and make it easier to sleep at night. The next morning all of his fathers and grandfathers children who were not part of the government were sent off to Mecca in hopes of helping the church expand its influence.

Axum - ª Phil, Truth Seeker, Second biggest man on the Nile

DIPLOMACY: None

Phil organized his nation for another war with Faya, but was stunned to see the invaders limp off into the steps. Men, and in some cases boys were ordered to enlist in the army, swelling the size of the army, but with no one left to battle, many have started heading home. The regions ofGorongo, Melele, Makura, Nyasa, Kilwa, Zafur, Muscat, and Oman were raided to help pay for the expected war.

Ghana - Tillabery, Chief of Africa, Him with the strange name,

Diplomacy: None

Tillabery, who was thrown into being a King when his father died last turn, took total control this turn. He immediately assured Mali that he and his nation will continue its alliance, but there was no response from the Mali government. He then opened up the stingy purse and built a fleet to handle the increasing internal trade along the Niger river. On top of all this work, Tillabery found the time to procure his families name by fathering two children.

Moli - Mustafas, War Chief of Africa

Diplomacy: None

Located along the Niger River, this Empire has a great potential, being at peace with there nearest neighbor’s the Ghana Empire. Open for a new player.

Faya Marauders - Muhammad Ak’law, The Humbeled One

Diplomacy: None

Muhammad and his band of hungry and rejected men limped back into the steps of Africa after his defeat in Axum, nearly 25,000 men and horses died due to starvation and disease on their way back to the safety of the steps. They now seek someone to lead them to greatness.

THE NEW WORLD — --/-- TROOPS: 20W, 5I, 5B AQRS: I2 W1 S1 B2 LEADERS: LORD GUMRA (M887)

Diplomacy: None

Open for a new player

Diplomacy: None

Open for a new player

Diplomacy: None

Open for a new player

Diplomacy: None

Open for a new player

Diplomacy: None

Open for a new Player

DIPLOMACY: None

Watkuweis learned ho to do this new sport, called surfing, and got pretty good at it.

Auum - « Celeste, Queen of South America, The Learned One

DIPLOMACY: None

Celeste, now with Zapotec follower her realized the problem with having areas far away from her. So to try to rectify this she offered anyone from Zapotec free passage to her empire and she would nopt tax them for 20 years, needless to say many people took the Queen up on this offer. All three of the unnamed leaders who went into the mountains, never returned.

DIPLOMACY: None O

pen for a new player

ISI RANKINGS FOR TURN 16: ANNO DOMINI 935 LORDS OF THE EARTH #7 Rank Nation Name MSI ESI Player Name Phone TR Email address and Notes 1 Buryat 266.4 3 Rick Rhinehart 01-612-823-1890 12.2 triplemuncher@isd.net 2 The Liang Empire 238.3 2 John Parks 01-612-4375636 26.6 3 Gurjara Empire 227.4 1 Greg Tronnes 01-612-922-1629 37.8 4 Oghuzvid Empire 209.2 5 Ludd Gaxson 01-800-not-4-you 60.4 5 Byzantine Empire 146.0 6 Les Nielsen 01-218-739-0820 15.8 doctorbanzaii@aol.com 6 Ligurian Confederacy 126.2 7 Papa Bear 01-666-Khanman 2.8 7 Kingdom of Axum 114.6 10 Bob Chase 01-813-738-1451 9.4 8 Champa Empire 113.5 15 Charles Hurst 01-503-653-1178 6.7 charlesh@teleport.com 9 Norse Vikings 108.4 23 Craig Smith 01-612-721-7302 2.7 10 Auum 106.8 8 Zephalinda Baker 01-612-609-9020 13.5 11 Saffarid Caliphate 104.2 17 Open For A Player None 6.0 12 Eastern Orthodox Church 101.3 12 Ken McGee 01-360-687-0421 0.3 Keng@pacifier.com 13 Samanids 98.1 9 Open For A Player! None 9.4 14 Ghana Empire 96.5 14 Jim Cochran 01-612-892-6049 10.1 James_cochran@sostpaul.k12.mn.us 15 Rastrakutas 90.5 4 Chris Dorn 01-612-975-3923 12.9 chrismdorn@aol.com 16 Empire of the Danish Vikings 87.9 16 Brit Murry 01-612-872-9236 6.8 britten_murray@mcad.students.edu 17 Rus Vikings 83.9 18 Bob Jacobson 01-612-699-4531 5.4 jacob076@tc.umn.edu 18 Mali Empire 82.0 11 Open For A Player! None 9.8 19 Yamato Pirates 76.4 13 Chris Riga 01-612-378-9581 9.6 riga0002@tc.umn.edu 20 Umayyads 74.3 21 Rob Nicoles 01-704-648-4574 5.5 21 Hopewell City States 67.0 27 Don Deutsch 01-507-645-2479 2.4 102470,2001@compuserv.com 22 Maya Empire 65.4 19 Open For A Player! None 9.5 23 Frankish Kingdom of Germany 54.1 24 Charles the Bold 01-not-available! 2.6 24 Aghlabids 53.3 22 Eric Larsen 01-612-521-7079 5.0 lars0222@gold.umn.edu 25 Toowomba Island Hoppers 51.8 25 Brian Whiffler 01-612-827-0802 4.3 26 Idrisids 42.0 26 Jim Moffet 01-612-377-5181 2.2 27 Faya Maurders 40.9 32 Open For A Player None 0.0 28 Sunni Primate 33.5 20 Open For A Player! None 1.0 29 Avar Horde 30.8 33 Open For A Player! None 0.0 30 Chickasaw 23.2 29 Open For A Player! None 0.8 31 Chippewa 17.2 28 Open For A Player! None 1.0 32 Iroquois 10.2 30 Open For A Player! None 0.0 33 Timuca 9.3 31 Open For A Player! None 0.0 Note: Players whose names are in parentheses owe me money, so pay up! NOW!