The dim sounds of battle and the cries of death awoke Olvir, again. Slowly he opened his eyes to take in the grim sight before him. A room, nay a cell no more then eight feet long by feet wide, stone walls that glistened slightly due to a constant dripping of water from the ceiling. The one side that was not stone was where the metal door stood, with a small panel near the bottom, and a second grated slot about eye level. The only light that filtered in was from the other side of the door, and reflected by the moisture on the walls.

A slight groan of protest came from his lips as the motion to sit up caused the blow to the back of his head to once again begin to throb. "Halldor, how long has the battle been going on? Three days?"

"At least four by my reckoning, but without access to a window, I would not be surprised if it has been a week, or just two days. I am certain that there are people looking for us, but I would be very surprised if we receive any help". Halldor seemed to have escaped the kind of blow that Olvir suffered, but he too looked worse for wear. "What I truly wonder is who is attacking them? From the bits we have heard it sounds like after they retrieved a book from that cave and read it something in that book caused the group to split loyalties which as sparked the battles."

A few minutes later they heard the lock slide open and had to shield their eyes from the light flooding into their prison. 

The fair skinned woman, who they learned, is called Orznina "I am so sorry I had a chance to visit you the past four days, my pets. It seems that some of the more radical priests did not like what we found and learned when we opened the Alter of the Ages. You see they believed that we were looking to free Cthulu, or some sort of other mythical beings, and when they learned that we weren’t of the same belief they tried to take over, needless to say we have things under control now, please come with me. I thought it would be proper for the spy’s to witness the act that will cement our victory."

"Orznina, we have been held here for somewhere more then three months, while you have not been cruel, which I must say is a surprise I do not mind thanking you for, but for what reason are you keeping us alive? If you wanted to kill use I assume we would be dead by now", Halldor spoke quietly

The soft laughter that came from her throat caused both men’s blood to run cold, no women in the world could sound like that?

"Fair enough. I want someone to bear witness to what we are doing, I want the world to know why. When the world changes, you will be the carrier of the news as to why they change, that and because your masters has provoked me and raised my ire. You will be the implement to my revenge." She then looked them in the eye and growled "Now follow me"

Yet again more roads were built, the first was from Jiagxi to Ganzhou, the second leg connected Honan to Tamgchou. The city of Xinyang in Tangchou was built.

While trying to get Anhui lords to forgive and forget the past troubles General Li Yapeng fell down some stairs, and somehow managed to break his neck on the way down, and he was doing so well in his negotiations until then.

There was cause for celebration in early 1028 as Lo Zhuang's wife was expecting child, however the celebration soon turned to sorrow as she died in child birth in 1028 their son sadly did not survive either.

Mashi and his men expanded the cities of his kingdom expanded, the military spend some time doing drills and in general improving there combat readiness.

Lord Rokkaku was sent to the Marianas to establish ties to the Yamato empire, however he had other ideas. After spending time with the locals he begun to tell stories on how Oda Shotoku offered up blood sacrifices of young children, and did unspeakable acts on the young boys in court. This caused the locals to declare war upon the evil overlord Oda Shotoku. Lord Rokkaku married the chief's eldest daughter and has begun training the men on more civilized ways to wage war.

Prince Yoritomo was sent out to track down a group rumored to be in Heian. A tip led him to a deserted warehouse, in which everything seemed normal, until he happened by what looked to me a fireplace. On a gut feeling he started examining the fireplace, and found that when a certain brick was pulled, it caused a section of wall to open up to show a rope hanging down into a gapping whole into the earth. Climbing down he fought off fear, and when he got the the bottom he found countless skeletons, before he could do any more exploring her heard some sort of animal howl and heard crunching. Being a smart, and somewhat cowardly man Yoritomo climbed up that rope and reported in to the King on his findings.

The cities of Ari and Tonkin were expanded to increase the flow in income from trade.

In Korat Pien should have been able to secure some diplomatic success, however the locals there just did not want to talk to him, everyone he tried to talk to just wouldn't listen. Very strange.

Lord Phoaton from Tonkin was wed to Amichen the daughter of the King in 1026. While many people rejoiced, her brother's Sophal III and Hansum were not happy. There is only enough room for one prince on the tax roll. Already there is talk of assassins and backstopping between the three princes

Singharsari, Sirivjaya, and Bintulu were all expanded, and the village of Jambion in Jambi grows into a level one city. Military training paid off as both the cavalry and infantry both saw increases in the combat drills.

Jimin was out shark hunting in July 1028 when a shark decided he was the hunter and attacked the king. Jimin’s son Rakor, while only 13 at the time was crowned King

The ominous feeling that had been growing since they left their cell suddenly became a gigantic weight smothering the Norsemen to the point where the simple act of breathing was a sheer effort of will.

The room they entered was barren except for three black tables, or alters placed an equal distance from each other. A perfect circle of powder ran from one to another, various ruins and glyphs were etched on each alter, and engraved in the floor along the circle, in the etches were poured some sort of liquid that had a dull red color.

"You see, thanks to your aide we have learned much. In a book hidden under the Alter was a book that revealed to us the truth behind the crucifixion. You see in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus did not stay as his father commanded him to do as you believe. He left, and his brother Joseph was taken and crucified. Jesus turned his back on his fathers plan, and set into motion a way to free us from his influence. He and his lover, lover and later wife Marry Magdalene, ran off to the lands around the Pyrenees Mountains, there they raised a large family far away from his Jewish background, and the Roman influence. He prophesized that should a male child of his line father a child with a daughter of his siblings that the resulting child could release all mankind from his father’s design, and even open the door to hell freeing the Angel Lucifer from his torment. This, if done would also free all the other cast out angles to return to heaven, resulting in the complete overthrow of heaven, and give men true freedom of choice"

As the Norsemen looked towards each other in shock three bound, gagged, and nude women were carried in and were bound over each of the alters. As they made a move to aid the women, Orznina coldly spoke "Move another inch and one will loose is soul for all eternity, I only need one alive. Please give me a reason to kill one of you". Both men froze in their tracks, for suddenly she held in her hand a green blade that seemed to have a light of its own flicking from within the blade.

From the other side of the room a large muscular man begun to walk into the center of the circle chanting in some long forgotten language. The man’s skin had a slightly green, almost scaly appearance, and between the pointer finger and the thumb there was apparent webbing.

Orznina saw the look on the older Norsemen and laughed. "Finally you begin to realize what is happening. Your precious bloodline of Christ has been corrupted by powers beyond your comprehension."

Soon her laughter of torment gave way to the screams of the women from the bloodline of David, with the chanting of the black robed priest along the wall a constant unending drone.

Mitdeep was not going to play any games. A newly raised army of 30,000 Cavalry, flanked with 30,000 siege troops was given to Dwarka-Nath to deal with the rebels.

The battle of Edrosia was bout as lopsided as any war before. Dammar was outnumbered in the area of 8 to 1 while his men fought with valor and courage, they were slaughtered.

Purujit conducted a census to get a better grip on the tax situation, the military moved to the north, just incase the Moslem’s in Edrosia were going to try to pull any funny business.

Many wonder if Ajatashatru, and the Hindu primacy itself is alive, dead, or in deep meditation.

The government grew a little, but other then that no signs of life.

With all the confusion in the south and east of India Yusuf took steps to cement his hold on the southwest side of India by marrying a noble woman from Maduria. Government grew enough to bring the tax rate back to where it should be.

All aspects of the nation saw investments of time and gold trying to improve the military and government sectors, which did net some increased efficiencies in the overall running of the young nation.

Guzudun was laying on his back, deep in thought, most importantly on how to escape from these damn Moslems, and their chanting, their devotion to the war mongering Allah, and yet part of him envied them. To have such unquestioning faith, even though misplaced, it was something he had not felt in many years. A muffled grunt from the guard outside his cell stirred Guzudun to stand, weary, yet ready to fend off another grueling 'interrogation'

"Your majesty, quick we must get you out of here and back to Baghdad" a short stocky man, who's bowed legs gave him away as one of the Buryat's, who else would have spent that much time on horse back?

In Vasi the ally leader, who was on react with 2,200 cavalry had heard that the Buryat was coming, dispatches were sent to Maura seeking aid, and to warn Daud of the news. The bishop Jonathan entered Vasi in March of 1028 with 4,000 Siege, 15,200 Heavy Infantry, 15,800 Light Infantry, 12,200 Light Inexperienced Infantry. Being so outnumbered the Vasi Ally decided to try some hit and run raids to try to slow down the mammoth army, and hopefully the others will be able to come and help him before his troops are squished. It worked for about 3 weeks, until Jonathan managed to catch the cavalry in a trap, and then move to Alan.

While entering Alan, Bishop Jonathan was killed by a Buyid assassin. Granted the assassin was caught, and was drawn and quartered the next day, but that left the army in the hands of a near inept general by the name of Oscar (GM: These blue dice were mean). In Alan the Buyid managed to gather there forces for a stand against the Buryat. Akeem ibn Ibrahim had 3,000 Heavy Infantry, 1,400 Infantry, 1,600 Light Infantry, 1,600 siege troops and Daud had 200 Light elite Cavalry, 4,600 Light Cavalry. Daud had home court advantage, far better leadership, the Buryat had 3:1 odds.

The battle for Alan happened on the border of Vasi. The Buryat were routed, Oscar could not control anywhere near an army of this size, and was completely unable to command the troops. Oscar ordered a general retreat, which in theory was a was idea, however the 4,600 light Cavalry and 200 light elite Cavalry unleashed years of frustration by killing or trampling over every Buryat troop they could catch. Oscar was captured, resulting in James taking command of what was left of the military, and unlike Oscar James had some clues when it comes to combat. James fell back to Vasi to try to regroup.

Daud, usually filled with caution let the victory go to his head, and followed the Buryat into Vasi and pressed his attack on James and the Buryat. The Buyid's had had 200 Light elite Cavalry, 4,600 Light Cavalry, 3,000 Heavy Infantry, 600 Infantry and 1,600 siege troops, the Buryat had 2,000 siege, 7,600 Heavy Infantry, and 14,000 Infantry. The Buryat were forced to withdraw from combat again, and yet again the Buyid Cavalry harried and over-ram the retreating Buryat infantry

The Battle of Georgia, James of the Buryat was down to 7,600 Heavy Infantry, and 600 Light Infantry, Daud brought 200 Light elite Cavalry, 2,200 Light Cavalry, 3,000 Heavy Infantry, 600 Infantry and 1,600 siege troops. Combat was a slight victory for the Buryat, forcing Daud to withdraw. James returned to Baghdad, rejected and bruised

Togardun was wed to King Guzudun's daughter, and promoted to heir to the thrown. While he was tempted to let the old king rot in prison so he could be king, he knew his rule and was honor bound to do all he could to free his king.

Bishop Jonathan knew that there were no way his troops were not going being see. "Make sure you do all you can to not be seen until you get there", just how in earth am I supposed to keep the movement of 47,200 men unseen? In fact by the time he was trying to sneak through Georgia he knew the Moslems were sending word in advance of his army, yet who was he to go against the work of the heir of the Buryats? Again Jonathan wished Bishop Solmon and Augustine were still here, with both of them being recalled back to the church it left him alone attacking a nation who’s assassins have become almost legendary.

Troops were dispatched to lend aid to the Holy Primate of the Coptic church.

When the Buryat walked through Levant, Hrolf had a fit. "Just who the hell does he think he is? Levant is open to visit for all Christians, but not for transporting troops from one side to the other side."

His son begged to be allowed to journey south to Levant to take steps to ensure that this kind of action does not happen again. Hrolf understood, but his allies from the North promised him that there was information that Aleppo itself would be attacked by the Buryat, so he continued defending his homeland.

In March of 1030 an attack came, but from the Byzantine’s not the Buryat.

With 600 siege, 2,000 warships, 800 light cavalry, 3,400 light infantry, 2,000 cavalry, 8,200 Infantry, and 20 field forts, Hrolf and his son sat prepared to fight off the heathens. Hrolf had the tactical advantage, he had dug in defenses, field forts, and he was on his home turf, however they were better led, and had a minor advantage in training. The Byzantines did the unthinkable they assaulted the city. The first wave was pushed back from the walls, as was the second, albeit just barily (GM: City had a 9 in 10 chance of not making it here)

The remaining few troops retreated to Levant where the son of Hrolf informed them that his father died in the fall of Junghara.

There was a massive Earthquake between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea in 1030AD, causing the river Jordon to more then double its size flowing from the mountains.

Cody, ever mindful of the agro and gold situation of his small nation, made a move to secure more fertile land of the other side of the red sea, and made great strides on converting the pagan's in Nubia. The Coptic in Suakin were more hesitant to convert, but with the current civil war between the local Coptic's, some did convert.

Hrolfgar defended the only city of Harvik, while the Norse went out and have fun in Italy.

After many years of disuse the Norse dusted off the following song for those lucky men who were blessed with the job of rowing the ores for the many warships.

While in rout to Verona rumors that King Edmund was not going to be able to pay the troops their dues started to appear. Many sailors knew better, for even Sven the Mercenary was making extra gold, and they did just sack Byzantium, one of the richest cities in the world. However after a month the elderly sailors begun to shake down the younger ones to try to find out who was causing troubles. After am evening when two men jumped ship the rumors seemed to have vanished. The rumors are now that some Greeks had their hands in the rumor mongering, if you can believe that.

"Edmund! She is missing, your cousin Ragnfrid is missing! I demand you find her!"

Edmund tried hard not to roll his eyes at his mother’s twin sister. "I am sure she is safe…"

"Your not listening to me boy!", Edmund turned his eyes on his aunt and stared flatly at her, "As I was she is not a girl who would pull a stunt like this and not send word on here whereabouts, and I have heard rumors that other royal children from Europe have gone missing. Find her, or I will make you life a living hell"

As she turned to leave the young King muttered "You mean it isn’t already?"

Edmund and his troops ran from Constantinople like a whooped dog and unleashed his forces upon the unsuspecting Roman's, along with the Franks, the Lombards, and the Idrisids.

Thorvald was sent with 100 ships to bottle the Gates of Hercules, no one seems to know why, other then he was commanded to.

However before he could continue a thundering boom shook the entire city, causing men to fall to their knees or be tossed to the ground, Edmund took a tumble from the Balcony and landed with a thud on the shaking ground. After things calmed down they saw a large plume of smoke rising from the Sea to the south.

The king, shaken and bruised reached out to the first hand to be offered to help him eye. Time seems to slow as his eyes meet the eyes that belongs to the hand being offered. There dressed in the outfit of an Idrisids’s soldier is the most beautiful women Edmund had ever seen. Suddenly the only sound that reached the awestruck king was the drumming of his heart the only sight in his vision was the Moslem women.

"I am tired of being forced to listen to these heretics, these ape’s who defiled the holy city of Byzantine. No follower of the Norse Church will be welcome in France, and that includes the ‘Queen’ Mary the tart.

"I am Queen Mary of the Franks, and I demand to see King Otto!" the ragged looking women demanded of the Guards.

A middle aged guard, with bolding hair, and expanding waist eyed the young lady for a few seconds and replied "Iffin your da Queen, I’m da King of Scotland, now move along young lady before I send you to the prison"

Just then luck smiled upon the women who would be Queen, Fritz, the very man who had spent almost 5 years in Paris awhile back trying to get the Franks to merge with the Germans happened to walk by.

"It is a pleasure to see you again Fritz", Mary said sweetly

It took Fritz a few seconds to respond "Milady Mary? Good lord what has happened to you?"

Mary smiled knowing that she will at last get to see King Otto, and to offer him the business deal. "If you could get me a room and some proper cloths, I would like to meet with King Otto. While waiting to meet with him I would be happy to share with you the hardship that has befallen not only myself, but the good Kingdom of the Franks as well."

Brunn, Moravia and Meissen were released from the empire. Otto II lead 11,000 Infantry, 3,000 Light Infantry, and 5,000 Cavalry into Northern Italy to lend aid in establishing a Norse Christian nation there. 

"Milord Otto, let me speak bluntly and straight to the point. In Paris the lords will not follow a Queen, where as the people would. Even now the minor nobility are squabbling like spoiled children over who gets what piece of the land. I know that you have expressed an interest in unifying the two Frankish Kingdoms under one nation in the past. Are you still interested in achieving this lofty goal? If so, I have the means."

King Otto II, could not believe his ears. Long has his family shared the dream of a unified Frankish Empire, and here a comely young women is trying to sell him the chance. "My dear Mary, what kind of means to you have to reach this lofty goal? Forgive me for being rude, but your claim to the throne, while valid and true, no one in Paris will back you. You have no troops, no money, and very few possessions."

"All true, Otto, however I still have my wits, and my blood. I see that after your wife died seven years ago you have not remarried. You need a Queen, I need a husband who can aid me in claiming my rightful position as Queen of the Franks. Forgive me for being forward, but I have no loyal aids, nor family left, so I must speak for myself in these matters. I would suggest a marriage between you and I. Together we could rule both nations, and any children we were to have would inherit both thrones."

Otto, who was by no means dim, was completely pole-axed by Mary’s offer of matrimony.

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

Marco knew he was in trouble, he ordered everyone to fall back to Rome and begun digging in for a defense of the capital

Romagina was taken, and while the allies expected to siege the city of Kron they found much to their surprise, that there were no walls around the city! The Eastern Orthodox, who had set up shop there in Kron were brutally murdered by the Norse, which of course lent itself to the increased tensions between the two faiths. In fact soon after word got out the head of the Eastern Orthodox primacy Irenicus himself was killed in the battle for Kron, the holy war against the Norse Christians was called for. In every Eastern Orthodox region the allies entered they had to put down the uprising of peasants with pitch fork and torch, in Spoleto, which was captured easily the peasant’s tried to mount a gorilla warfare, which die to numbers failed miserably. In Campania much the same, but for some reason the city of Naples was ignored by the Norse and their allies.

In August 1029 the combined army entered into Latium, where they found Marco and entire roman army defending the holy city of Rome. Three months later the allies wintered outside the city, flaunting the food and ale at the city. By July 1030 the glorious city of Rome fell to the combined forces of the Western confederacy, the carnage on both sides was almost unbelievable. A total of nearly 65,000 men died inside and outside of Rome, including Macro and Hakon.

When Rome fell, much to everyone’s surprise they found some Coptic monks in the city. Upon questioning all they info they give is that they were invited to the city to spread the word of the coptics.

Sven, the mercenary raided the regions of Campania, Calabria, Tuscany, and Latium. As a result he nor his men will not work for any Eastern Orthodox nation.

Guglilmo knew he was in a do or die situation. A mass conscription was ordered to rise up as many troops as possible to ensure victory, all which were sent along with the Norse into southern Italy, destroying the Romans/

Lord Kynner and his 9,000 infantry from the Druids was escorted to Lombardy where they were treated as honored guest, served the best wines, foods, and of course women, all for hanging around Destrinia, just incase the Romans attacked. All Eastern Orthodox holdings were confiscated, but not destroyed.

The Lombards joined the Viking's western Allience.

With morale running low, coffers bare, and sinking spirits Empress Marozia gave this stirring speech to her men:

Seven ships set sail from Demetius late in April in 1026 looking for the Norse navy, which had already left the Aegean sea by the time they were launched. This fast retreat from the Aegean caused much consternation among the Byzantine leaders who wanted nothing more then to extract some revenge upon the hairy beasts from the north.

In March of 1030 Marozia entered Aleppo with 800 Elite Infantry, 4,600 Infantry, 1,800 Siege troops, 4,200 Heavy Cavalry, and 3,000 Elite Cavalry, 3,000 light Cavalry, 4,200 Heavy Infantry all bloody thirsty for any Norse blood.

Despite being unable to pay for troops support, almost no troops deserted. Where would they go? The vast majority had family, had roots in Constantinople, so the promise of Viking's blood was all the pay they needed. (GM: See! The blue dice can be nice, they don't deserve the bad reputation they seem to have… *mwahahahahaha*)

When news of the Norse landing in Verona, Irenicus ordered everyone who had relocated to Kron to return to the great city of Constantinople to aide in the rebuilding of the city.

Irenicus himself stayed in Kron and begun calling for a civil war against the heathens from the north, while many supported the call, it wasn’t enough, until Irenicus himself died on a Norse’s blade.

The church rebuilt the city of Constantinople, and those who got away from Kron before the Vikings sacked it were settled in the new city.

At home Erick II fathered two daughters, again.

Due to the hostilities between the Norse Christian and the Eastern Orthodox the EO regions revolted away from the Rus.

Zygmunt, the father of modern Poland felt the specter of age begin to wear on him. No matter what was done, it seemed the coffers were always bare. The saved gold from the past ten years was spent on cultivating the region of Kauyavia to allow more honest people to work the fields and hopefully increase the amount of people on the tax roll

General Crump and Lord Kynner were dispatched to Northern Italy to aid the Lombards from the Romans. While many grumbled about helping any Christians Conrix believed that to be able to achieve a peace with neighbors was necessary to recover from the Black Death and to grow. There will be enough time for war later. 9,000 Infantry was sent with Crump and Kynner into Italy. Mother nature had other plans for Crump however as he was tossed from his horse in 1026 on his way there, landing in such a way that his sword stabbed him, two days later he left this world.

Conrix, proved that despite his age he was still a man by fathering two whelps. He was trying for a third when he suffered an attack of some illness killing almost instantaneously. His elder son Sheamus was crowned king which caused some problems, he was not as good as his father in keeping things together, and by 1029 Lyonnais and the newly acquired region of Burgundy.

Early in 1026 the only daughter of the elderly duke of Catalonia turned up missing. Her bedroom looked like there was a battle, no signs of any blood, and no ransom demand was every received.

The Druids officially joined the Vikings alliance, which has become known as the Western Confederation.

Slowly the aged man stood, and followed her to watch, what she believed would spell the end for life, as we know it. H privately believed she was more then a little nuts, but she had shown that she has some near supernatural powers and that going against her on her home ground was impossible. They walked into the same room where the deed was done almost 9 months ago. Upon each alter laid a women, clothed in loose robe covering from above there bloated bellies and up. With horror he watched all three women begin the birthing process at the exact same time.

 (The Daughter in Question, Princess Hayat Zahra abu Anour)

Spring at arrived in Fez early in 1026, the warm breeze and the fresh air was just what Princess had been waiting for. Princess Dameer daughter of the late king Akeem, and sister to Adbelkrim was tired of the palace life, and tired of always being recruited to assist in watching the ever increasing amount of nieces and nephews. As if that wasn’t bad enough the subject of husband and children of her own has begun coming up more and more over the long winter. Dameer went to the stables, and had her horse saddled and she left without taking any guard, nor telling anyone where she was going.

Later that day her horse wondered home, with some minor wounded, Princess Dameer however has gone missing.

Princess Hayat also turned up missing, however it turns out she dressed up like a soldier and was found out in Rome.

While ruling in Morocco Abdelkrim fathered four more children.

Late in 1030 the island of Sicily was rocked when a volcano erupted with such force that it is still raining down ash at the end of 1030.

Large amounts of gold was sent to the Idrisids.

Mustaphe Othello conducted the first census in the Sunni’s history.

While in Egypt Omar Ramo begun denouncing the evils of the Coptic faith. While moderately successful, the arrival of Jubjub undid much of his successful.

When ‘Jubjub’ saw the fertile lands along the Nile, he decided that there was no way he was going to go back to being just a mercenary, not when he could be a king. Egypt and Mansura both unguarded fell to the growing mercenaries, as did Thebes.

Before heading to Faxum Phil II raised his son Cahli to heir, with that he and Sly headed to Faxum, four months before the Buryat’s troops arrived to head to Faxum with Krako.

July 1028, from out of El-Wahat, Jubjub the Mercenary came and begun to pacify the region of Faiyum. By September he and his men had encircled the city of Ezurum, which had large walls, and the now King-Primate Cahli guarding the city. After the first month the walls were still mostily there, but so were the mercenaries.

March of 1029, as the city was preparing for the next onslaught from the mercenaries, Pashba led a daring raid into the heard of the Bonifala’s palace and stole the Spear of Destiny from its resting place and escaped from the city.

April of 1029 JubJub destroyed the last of the walls and captured the city. Cahli was able to escape on the Nile and was last seen heading down river. Late in 1029 he arrives, a bit worse for ware in Axum.

"What do you mean he has already been hired?!?" roared Torra

"I’m sorry sir, JubJub said he had already taken a better paying job"

 King Toora the Good had to duck to enter the crypt deep beneath the bowels of St. Gaspar’s Church in Faxum. "This way, this way," the old monk kept saying.

Pashba and his men watched in horror the Buryat forces being sent south toward Ethiopa. He had to fight the urge to try to sneak back and warn King Toora, he knew what was at steak, and why he and his small band of men were sent north. The kings last words echoed in his ears still "You must not fail, you must find it, and bring it back."

In April of 1028 Phil II along with Sly were seen trying to cause troops in Faxum to revolt. The ensuing fight was one of utter chaos. By the end of the month King Toora had his father held up in a brothel in the ‘business’ district along with some loyal members of his army. Sly had been killed in the fighting.

With that exchange Toora ordered the building to be burnt down, killing his father and his loyal troops.

In August of 1028 Toora was defending Faxuim with 600 Light Infantry, 4,800 Light Inexperienced Infantry, 4,000 Infantry, 6,800 Heavy Infantry, and 5,000 siege troops when the Bonifala and Buryat forces entered Axum. Lieutenant Krako and the Archbishop of Baghdad had between them 10,000 Light Infantry, 8,200 Infantry, 7,000 Heavy Cavalry, and 6,000 siege troops.

By the end first month the assault on Faxium had managed to almost destroyed the entire force in the city, only the city walls and a mere 2,000 siege were able to man the walls. However at this bleak moment rumors of an attack in the north gave hope to Toora and his men.

September 1028 Faxum fell to the combined forces of the Bonifala and Buryat, but not without a heavy price. Both Archbishop Solomon, and Krako were injured, and somehow Torra managed to escape.

March of 1029 saw the Bonifala entering them region or Funj, and there behind the heavily walled city sat Torra with his regrouped forces. July of 1029 saw the siege reach a stand still. Archbishop Solomon was left to watch the city as Krako attempted to liberate the rest of the once loyal regions. Pasba snuck into Soba in March of 1030 with the Spear of Destony.

The people of Kongo City in Kongo were invited to pack up and move to Marampa, many did take the offer, but a few others decided that they didn’t need the ninnies in Ghana telling them what to do and went independent.

The crowned prince was wed to a nobleman’s young daughter from Marampa, cementing a solid relationship with that region. Of course the new city, and Tulun’s work there the locals became very friendly with the Ghanan throne.

Abul’Abbas looked up from, "Father, could you come over here for a few moments?"

Chaka, now into his seventies slowly stood up and began to see what his son wanted "Son, why are you up still here, should you not be with your wife, doing what young couples do?" Smiled the elder man.

Slightly blushing the heir ignored his fathers words" Looking at the royal map I see that Kongo City does not seem to exists, and this island called Cape Verdes is not ours, and our royal road from here to Boure seems to have been destroyed. Do you know any news that I do not""

Later that week every mapmaker was either being flogged or ran out of the city sent to verify all known facts.

Jawhar was sent out to the wilderness of Boni, seeking only tenuous control over the local lords there, which was met with much success.

The villages of Accra in Gagnoa, Idah in Kwararafa, and Naimey in Zerma all grew into cities.

Princess Chamba was sent to Daza to improve relations with the locals. In 1027 she took ill from food poisoning and died later that week.

Talen II, heir to the Ivory Throne was overseeing the building of Accra when the workers found a buried chest. Always looking for gold to line the coffers of the realm Talen opened the chest, which as I am sure you have guessed it, of course sprung a trap. A simple little poison needle poked the heir’s finger, 24 hours later Talen was dead. The chest and the body was quickly sent to Nigeria, no one seems to have looked at what was so precious to guard with a poison trap

After successfully improving relations with the locals of Jos, Christian was found dead in his room. No signs of foul play nor sickness.

Paul longed to be able to send someone, anyone out to expand his small nation, but he could not. Every man was needed to keep the nation from falling into a recession caused by not collecting all the back taxes. The majority of the resources he did have was spent finishing the cultivation of Kimbu.

The church dusted out their coffers and found they had some gold to invest!

Modest growth was the name of the game, establishing better ties to the Malian's, as well as finally extracting a 4% to the from them as well.

Bishops were sent out both to the south and the east and made inroads with the heathens of the steppes and wilderness.

A large number of statues were erected in Sakalava to honor to the glorious King Fred, leader of the people's rebellion. What better way to celebrate a rebellion then to marry a daughter of an allied city, preferably a young, nubile, pleasing to the eye lady, young enough to be your grand-daughter? Which is exactily what king Fred did. The lord of Buda Buda's daughter became queen of the island and managed to produce an heir to the throne

In a interview with some merchants King Fred is reported to have said "I have never been a fan of all the raiding and enslaving that out king used to do. Let me assure you that here in the southeastern Africa any slaves that we would take would not in fact be used to toil in our horrible acid mines, but rather spending time perfecting a new form of octet based poetry. My trusted, and slightly eccentric Lieutenant Hellpop devised, and that I think will be the next new craze that will be all the rave next season."

Hellpop was sent out to raid for extra cash, and from what the reports say he has become quite the pirate, all the native's run back to their mud huts when they see his sails. He is rumored to be the most feared pirate in the Mozambique sea, then again he is the only pirate, and there is no ships to plunder, but that has never stopped him from Arrrring with the best of them.

All is quite down here.

A few late arrivals from the Old World continued to wash up in the New World of South Afriqa.

The holy city of Bubblicious was fortified, just in case anything followed them to this side of the pond, thankfully there was no sign of anything like that appearing.

Holy men and women were sent out to tour the pagan regions around the southern Afriqa spreading the news on the Goddess and gaining support from all around. Emissaries were sent to the Madagascar island to discuss the possibly of the word of the Goddess to spread into the newly freed nation