Lo Zhuang sent most of his men into the region of Anhui to try to speed up the process of soothing over the lords who not that long ago revolted when his father died.

A clerical error was found where the region of Kiangsu was being double counted in the royal book. The lords of Kiangsu now have proof they are twice as noble as the rest of China. 

Mashi, seeing that since the sickness the income to his nation had dropped ordered the fields be modernized in the region of Hunan.

Trade was opened up with Szechwan, many parks and gardens were built in the great cities of the Empire. When Oda Shotoku was informed that most cities did not have any walls he ordered a massive project to wall the cities as well.

Rumors of an attack sent Lord Tolonen to the city of Kaiching where he begun preparing the defenses, no attack came however.

Lord Hideyoshi was given the mission to search out and find any Yakuzu sites within the capital. He found nothing, however rumors are that he spent much time in the company of a certain Geisha girl as opposed to searching the shadows for the Yakuzu. Lord Suenaga traveled out in the fields and villages of Yamato for the Yakuzu, but did not find any sign of them. In fact all he did seem to find was many taverns, and has become an expert in sake tasting.

Oda Shotoku sent the infamous Lord Rokkaku, north to explore the sea’s and claim land for later use by the empire. In actuality Oda Shotoku hoped the nearly worthless man did not return, he had managed to offend almost everyone at court. With much surprise the Emperor was surprised to hear that he returned alive, and his men did not toss him overboard.

Missionaries were dispatched to Cheju Do to bring the light of Shinto to all lands of the Empire.

Sophal, with a wedding and some gold managed to get Annam go at least send a tribute to the empire, In Tonkin his son faired much better. 

Sundra was expanded, and a memorial to all those who died from the Black Death was erected.

Yoorvasu begun planning to teach those rebels in Visvajit a lesson in respect when she was found murdered in he bed. She had no children and no siblings so the proud and noble bloodline of Fung Dat came to an end in 1021AD.

The remaining leaders in Vatsa split their loyalty and the disloyal leader was killed. A local lord, who had shown much promise, and was Yoorvasi’s cousin on her mom’s side was crowned king of Gurjara

The Regions of Dahala and Gujerat refused to follow the new King. Sind and Edrosia went a step farther and banded together to create a Shi’a Moslem nation in India.

When Yoorvasu died, Dammar and his men took this opportunity to seize power in the Moslem lands held by the Gujara’s. ‘Mecca was sacked and destroyed and the Gujaran’s did nothing, when our mislead brothers the Sunni called for a Jihad against the very same heathens the Gujaran’s still did nothing. It is time we stood up for Allah and lead our lives, and nation as he has taught us to!’

Dammar lead his men into the north and west section of Gujara capturing the following regions for the Caliphate; Sukkur (From Gujara), Punjab, and Und.

Purujit fearing revenge from Yoorvasu sent a small force to pick up the southern regions of India. When word of her death arrived there was much rejoicing.

Ajatashatru spent his days and night in meditation for insight from Vishnu on how to bring a stable peace back to India.

Rakah spent his time laughing at the Gujaran’s bad luck.

Akdar continued the spread of the Shi’a faith within his realm. The cities of Khiva, Baghlan, Samarkhand, and Tashkent were all expanded to help boost the frail economy.

Fateh ibn Akdar fathered three children to secure the royal bloodline.

With the Buryat to the south and the Byzantines to the east Daud had his work cut out for him. A small force managed to sneak into Thrace in 1024 from the steps to the north, but the plans to attack the homeland of the Byzantines were aborted when they found someone else was doing that, so the remains of Thessaloniki were attacked and destroyed. Something is better then nothing as they say.

Guzdun raised more troops and launched an assault on the city of Baghdad. The first month saw the Buyid manage to fend off the Buryat, but they lost over 75% of there troops in doing so. Guzdun was captured after an assassination attempt wounded him. Gaeddamu then tried to claim the crown while outside Baghdad.

The Bishop Solomon gathered up the remaining loyal Buryat troops and attack the rebel while the injured Buyid watched from the remaining walls in disbelieving awe at this turn of events.

Solomon had 10,000 Siege, 19,600 heavy Infantry, 1,400 Royal light Cavalry, 4,200 Heavy Cavalry, and 38,000 under-equipped, under-trained Infantry, where as Gaeddamu had 17,200 Cavalry. The bloody mess was over within a month, Gaeddamu was captured and crucified and all his troops were killed.

After the bloody mess was dealt with the Bishop's decided to follow through and assaulted the city again. Much to there surprise, there were much less Buyids left in Baghdad then they thought. The 4,800 Infantry left in Baghdad were not enough to fend off the next wave of the Buryat. Those who did not die in the battle were tortured and killed when the Buryat re-took the city. However that is when it was discovered that King Guzdun was not in the city.

In September of 1021 the troops that sneaked out of Baghdad showed up raiding Carhae. March 1022 the Bishops arrived but those pesky Moslems had already left. The next sighting was in May 1022, raiding Mosul. The Bishops arrived in time to see the Buyid moving into Palmyra.

June 1022 the Buryat finally caught up with the notorious Ibrahim and his remaining troops 4,200 Cavalry, 2,000 Light Cavalry, and 4,800 Light Infantry, the Bishop's had 15,800 Heavy Infantry, 7,000 Heavy Cavalry, 18,800 light Infantry, 13,00 Light Inexperienced Infantry. The Buyid was routed all captured troops were killed, however Ibrahim had escaped, again, and Guzdun was still not found.  

Hrolf had enough of these Coptic's in Levant and converted the region by the sword to the true faith. When world of the Norse sacking Byzantine reached him, he moved his forces to the north expecting a possible attack in the coming years.

Coby expanded his nation across the Red Sea securing Adulis as a tributary state, and stayed out of the mess in the Buryat lands.

The dark mist enveloped the ship, as clingy as any lovers embrace, yet damp and cold like the hand of death. Most of the sailors who did not need to be on the deck would not be there, yet two men stood at the front, gazing out at sea

"This is down right unnatural, you know we are going to die out here in the middle of nowhere, don't you Olvir?"

"Halldor, will you stop fretting about death! Good lord man you know there are fates much worse then death. What we are doing is important, and if we should die, well then we will die."

"Feh! You know where I want to shove that clandestine attitude of yours, don't you?"

"They are gaining on us. I would guess that within a few days whoever, or whatever is chasing us, will indeed catch us. They must be able to track our movements somehow"

Olvir glanced around at the sailors, "I do not think we have a spy on board, these men are all loyal...Unless. Do you think that another stone is being used to track us?"

Halldor slowly nodded, "That is exactly what I think. Four of the all within 3 days of each other, I do believe that this could end poorly for us"

From the mists above, a voice rang out "Land ho!"

Bishops were sent to Rome to try to 'help' with the peasant upraises in the north, and ended up causing the Senate to go into convulsion of hysteria.

The attack on Constantinople was about as successful as could be hoped for, however the that was not the only move against the Byzantine's. Sven Jarlson was sent off to attack the richer Asia minor regions, and pacified Bithnia, Lydia, Rhodes, and Crete thus making a larger dent into the Byzantine's future.

Robert spent his time watching the new parks being built in Ile De France

Otto II slept a lot 

Many folks now believe that the Mongolian Horde is only a rumor.

Bishop Thorstein and ArchBishop Einar from the Norse church came to visit Hector and the Senate. They came to discuss the recent religious ‘mod’ that had moved into Destrinia, but very quickly did the topic of Rome’s religion came into play. Archbishop Einar reminded the Senate about the attack on the very leaders of Rome that many believe the Byzantine's had a hand in, the Eastern Orthodox church stepping in and forcing a peace. At the end of the day the Senate was in a near state of riot with people debating what, if anything should happen.

The next morning most of the supporters of the idea of converting were found dead, or missing. When the word of this reached Cecilio in Lombardy he and his men embraced the Norse Christian ‘mob’ in Destrinia, and formed the Kingdom of Free Italy. The Senate authorized an attack on the rebels in the north, but soon after the order was given almost half of all the government agents left Rome, to join the rebels in the North.

The telling battle happened in August of 1022 when Hector backed by 1,800 Heavy Infantry, 6,600 Infantry, 1,000 Light Pony boys, and 2,600 Heavy Calvary stormed into Lombary where Cecilio was back by 1,800 Infantry, 1,400 light Infantry, 800 Light Cavalry, standing with Guglilmo Xiovani’s troops of 2,000 Light Infantry, 1,000 Heavy Infantry, and 800 Light Cavalry. The Roman troops had the numbers, but Hector was no general, and it showed. His botched attack got himself killed, his troops routed and sent Rome into a hellish situation. 4,800 Loyal Roman troops died, whereas 1,600 rebel forces died in Lombardy. Cecilio was injured and took some of his troops into Savoy, while Guglimo followed the now leaderless Roman’s over the mountains and into Liguria.

In Liguria the Roman troops, still trying to regroup after the Lombary debacle were set upon by the Norse Christian troops under Guglimo’s command. The Romans’s had 2,000 Heavy Cavalry, 1,800 Heavy Infantry, 4,800 Infantry in a friendly area, against 800 light Cavalry, 2,000 Heavy Infantry, and 1,000 Light Infantry. In the end, the Roman army fell back to Tuscany, missing another 4,200 dead soldiers, where as Guglimo’s men lost only 1,400.

When Cecilio died in Provence the Archbishop Einar crowned Guglilmo Xiovani king of Italy.

June of 1023 Theodsius and the royal navy watched in dread as a nightmarish sight appeared coming out of Thrace, a combined army/navy of 137 Warships, 32 Light Warships, 35 Infantry, 3 light Infantry, and 14 Seige of Norsemen along side with  the Idrisids 10 Warships, 20 Infantry, and 3 S. Since Queen Marozia was still in Asia minor all he had were 80 Warships and the walls of the city to try to keep them out. As the Norsemen secured the region of Constantinople, their assassins snuck into the city and wounded Theodsius, the best military mined leader left in the city.

The siege was fierce and bloody, the combined Idrisids and Norse Army came prepared for a siege, leading to the fall of Constantinople in one months time. Then they did the unthinkable. The city was put to the flames and burned down to the ground, every building destroyed. The entire population either escaped or killed. The holy Cathedral of the Eastern Orthodox Church was plundered and then destroyed.

When word of this arrived to Marozia she began heading towards Constantinople from Paphlagonia, which was a quick jaunt for her and her troops. In May of 1024 she and her troops of 800 Elite Infantry, 4,600 Infantry 1,800 Siege, 4,200 Heavy Cavalry, 3,000 Elite Cavalry, 3,000 Light Cavalry and 4,200 Heavy Infantry arrived at the ferry points, however with no ships to cover them the 137W, 32 XW of the Norse would have sank the any troop's being carried across the sea, so they backed off, for now.

The remaining Government gathered at Taurus, which has become the new capital.

Bad news was all the church received these past few years, there holdings in northern Italy have been destroyed, the holy city of Constantinople, sacked and burned to the ground, the cathedral in that region was likewise destroyed.

Those who escaped the Norse Massicure regrouped in Kron. 

Ivan & Igor were sent to the southern reaches to shore up support for the Rus.

At home Erick II fathered two daughters. 

Zygmunt, still not sure if he was willing to trust the Norse farther then he could shove a sword through a man’s belly did use the gift they sent last turn to found the port city of Danzig in Pomerania.

Plans to expand were postponed until the current tax situation was resolved.

Conrix went about securing this nation  

There was something wrong about the island, both men knew it the moment they laid their eyes upon its shores. The mind seemed to want to not see it, or maybe it was a trick of this damnable mist that had been clinging to everything for the past two days.

"Come on! Move it man, we have almost caught up with them, I want to be get what we need, and get off this rock before what follows us catches us."

"Gimme a second not all of us have been able to avoid the blessings of good food like you." Replied the more portly men lagging behind.

As they traveled farther inland, the mist seemed to get denser, as the trees grew farther and farther apart until there was no trees in sight. Within hours the grass changed into sand.

"Well what the hell kind of desert is this?" remarked the portly man. "I have seen many things in my life, but a desert engulfed in a damp mist is new to me."

"Have you heard any animals sounds since we have landed? Any bird calls? Anything? I believe we have landed on the Isle of the Dead my friend."

They were awoken by sounds in the distant. Strange, unnatural sound's, in a world evil. Both men followed the sounds, until they could make out a what was being chanted "I'a Cthulhu, Ph'reng-na Y'gth El-aka gryenn'h w'yal'h-ji kyr dy-tral's k'heh" So engrossed in what they were listening to that neither one heard those behind them, until it was too late.

Adbelkrim promoted his brother Kebier Kacem to heir and promptly forced him to see with the book ‘Call me Ishmael’

Princess Fatima was sent to the Buyid as a gift to cement the two nations long term relationship.

Bishop Khalmi Ishael was sent along with the Norsemen to teach the Byzantine's a thing or two about respect.

Sihr-Taleb sat around and studied the Quran. 

Phil II took great joy in establishing a small tithe on the Buryat nation, its good to be the pontiff.

On a clerical error (GM: Read GM mistake) some of the loaned scribe that were sent to Baghdad had to be recalled.

Troops in the north were ever watchful for any attack on their friends in Baghdad, and priests were sent all around to bring the truth of the Coptic's God to the heathen's worldwide.

Pasba was sent out east to raid for slaves. Pasba and Toora, the crowned prince, wanted nothing to do with any more slaving. Just before Pasba left Brandy he revolted taking Brandy, Danakil, Zeila, Adowa, Lalibela, and Aden with him. And started moving towards Faxum

In Faxum the crowned Prince Toora turned on his father and tried to take control of the government. While the government and church sided with Phill II, the military sided with the upstart Toora. Phill II was smuggled out of the city when Toora ordered the death of his father for his sins.

Phill II gathered all loyal forces in Thebes. Fred, being so faraway from home when he received the news gathered up all of Madagascar and crowned himself King of the Island.

Toora and the military agreed that the slaving must stop and ousted his father, King Phill II.

Many farmers were sent to Garou to attempt to cultivate the fertile lands there.

Soon after Farqad managed to finish his work in Marampa, a disgruntled African Pagan noble killed him for his troubles. Preaching can be dangerous to your health it seems.

The cultivation of Akan was finally finished. In Togo the port village of Ivory became a  city. Nahla ordered that the holy city of Nigena be expanded, but John Paul had already begun the work, so the expected growth will happen next turn.

Some of those who migrated from the jungle were resettled in Soro bringing the GPV there to 2.

Talen II was sent to the region of Akan and talked the local's in to joining with the Moli Empire.

Princess Chamba likewise got the city of Bethlam to join with the Moli Empire.

Sat around nice and watched the horse graze upon the field.

John added another city level to the holy city of Nigena. Monks and bishops were sent to the eastern boarder of Mali and begun to convert the heathens to the Catholic Faith. 

A request for some aid in managing the Moli’s government was received, and given.

When things went bad back home, Fred gathered the islanders under his wings. Maybe someday he will make the Island into a powerful nation.

Zohro was comfortable in his role as chief but not in the path his father had left him on. He gathered his mighty army and sent the vast majority of them off through the provinces. Not however as an army. He called upon his troops for volunteers to stay in the army and refused every father and only male child. He turned down many more, as the Nguni were proud and fierce warriors. The vast majority of his men were told to go home to form new villages and scout the lands that were now their home. A network of postal runners was set up and plans for a capitol city were begun. Tough there was much discussion over its as yet to be determined location. Zorho also took his son from his mother at the age of ten and began his preparations to be the next ruler , declaring him the heir to the kingdom.

Some transports filled with refugees arrived from the motherland across the sea. Something happened, something bad. The survivors who made it to Africa all saw something different, but the result was the same. After the Black Death passed strange things began to happen. The sky rained black ooze as opposed to water, earthquakes sending rock slides and sinkholes to appear when none had ever happened before, strange and unnatural things roaming the wilderness in the night. The last night before they fled someone swears they saw a volcano begin to erupt from near the capital city.

The refugees were settled in Orange, Nama, Namaqua, and Kahari.

Mary Kate, realizing that by actually controlling land was driving the church into famine released Herero from the churches direct control, for now.

"Oh good, our little spy's are waking up, and just in time too." a sweet voice woke up the two men.

As the lifted there heads they saw a women, dressed in a black robe, the most pale skin either one has ever seen before, nearly white, her hair black as midnight, her eyes as smoky as the mist. Behind her stood a black rock, reflecting the torch light in a twisted way, in the rock there appeared to be four divots on the top of the slick rock.

"I do want to thank you for bringing the Ruby and the Sapphire to the Altar of the Ages. I can't tell you how many eons we have been looking for the keys to open the altar, now you will be witness to the beginning of the end."

With that the women turn and begun placing the gems into the slots, when the gems touched the altar they begun to throb its colored light. When the fourth gem was placed in the altar, the ground began to shake as the altar moved, revealing a staircase.

The two Norsemen were hit on the head and the world vanished from their vision…