Lords of the Earth

Campaign Nineteen

Turn 38

Anno Domini 1086 - 1090

 

Turn 39 Orders Due By      Friday, September 26th, 2003

 

Announcements

 

Below are my Email and Regular mail addresses:

 

Colin Dunnigan

4858 East 2nd Street

Tucson, AZ 85711

Email: ancaric@throneworld.com

 

Payment: When paying via Paypal, please send all funds to this account:

 

lords19pmts@throneworld.com

 

        If sending checks by mail to Tucson, go ahead and fill them out to me.  Note: as a rule of thumb, I prefer to receive payment through the Throneworld account.  However, this is a preference, not a diktat, if you can’t access the account, or if paying by Paypal just makes you antsy in general (or it’s just darn inconvenient) go ahead and send a check.

        Warning: if your account falls into arrears for any amount your position will be declared open unless you make concrete arrangements with me to pay your balance.  (By “concrete” I mean, I’ll have x amount to you on or before y date).  Please don’t fall behind, I really don’t like being the heavy and I daresay you won’t like it either.  What follows is…

 

A Handy Guide to Determine Your Ref’s Attitude Towards You if You are in Arrears

If you run up a negative account balance it can be difficult to determine the level of emotion the referee may have towards you.  What follow is a convenient guide to let you know exactly where you stand.

 

-$5.00 or Less: hey, it happens.  Please pay your balance as soon as possible.

 

-$5.00 -- -$10.00: c’mon, it’s not like this game is really expensive.  Please pay your balance.  Your kids will thank you for it someday.

 

-$15.00 or More: Urge to kill rising!

 

Modifiers: people who try to make arrangements with me regarding payment (or partial payment) will generally get a favorable hearing.  Generally, players who exceed two turns of debt without keeping me apprised of their situation will be dropped and word will be sent out to the other campaigns warning the refs of the offending player’s deadbeat proclivities.  Players who run up a negative balance and then drop w/o repayment, will have their names sent out to other referees as mentioned above and will have massive karmic debt for being a scoundrel and lout.

 

Lords Two

 

As many of you know, I am also running Lords 2.  To this end, processing this campaign will be affected.   Although the date listed above is the due date for next turn’s orders, it may not automatically lead to processing the turn starting that weekend, especially if I am hip-deep in processing the other game.

 

Rules Stuff

 

        As mentioned above, I’m going to try to keep alterations to the rules to a minimum (a double “yeah, sure” regarding my chances).  Here are some things to keep in mind:

 

1)      There are no censuses. Change: well okay, I guess there are.

2)      “Hands Off Trade” is in effect and the ships on various trade routes will be deleted in a couple of turns (unless they’re warships on anti-piracy work).  Change: okay, players may now rearrange MSP among existing (not newly initiated) trade routes by having their King (only) perform the Intervene in Merchant Affairs (IMA) action.  This costs six AP and can only be conducted by the ruler of the nation.  Ship units will still be deleted as they are converted to MSP when placed on the route and may only be converted back into heavy transport units at a cost of 4MSP and 5gps per unit.

3)      Cities and regions are separate areas for all purposes.

4)      Leaders are now numbered consecutively on the stat sheet.

5)      A couple of countries (mostly non-player) that were Seafaring or Barbarian have become civilized.

6)      I’ve reformatted the Megaliths section in accordance with the latest version of the STATS program.

7)      Player’s are encouraged to name their leaders and heirs, in some cases I have named some individuals, feel free to change these.

8)      Allied Leaders: looking over some of the player-less countries, I’ve noticed a large percentage of troops under allied leaders, doubtless in an attempt to reduce support costs.  While I don’t want to disallow this practice, I will be making loyalty checks for any such “augmented” forces from here on out.  Failure indicates that feckless ally decides to carve a kingdom out of your Empire.  The chances of this increase if there are few non-allied troops about.  So don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

9)      Female Leaders: while I don’t want to disallow them totally, the Dark Ages were a pretty male dominated time.  Consequently, a female Royalty member may only become Queen, Empress, Regent or Heir if they have a Charisma of AT LEAST 10.   A Princess will only become an active leader if her Charisma is at least 8 (eight) or greater.  Any Charisma statute less than this will result in no generation (although you can still marry them off).  Any existing Female Rulers, Heirs, Princesses may remain.   The only exception to this is if the sole available heir is a princess, in which case she becomes ruler regardless of Charisma (and the subsequent DF check gets an big bad negative modifier as the local nobility resents the presence of a female giving orders and intruding on their bailiwick).

10)   The Homeland Income Multiple: this will decrease to x1.5 on t38 and to one on t40.  If you didn’t get your doubled homeland income this turn, simply calculate it and put it in your orders with a note reminding me what it is.

 

 

Map Discrepancies

Some discrepancies between the maps and the Stats program have cropped up:

1)      Sukkur and Punjab are Shi’a.

2)      Mon is a wilderness region.

The map has been corrected.

 

As a general rule, in discrepancies of this kind, the stats take precedence over the map.

 

Japan & the Pacific Rim

 

The Empire of Japan

Kondo Nobunaga, Daimyo of Yamato.

Diplomacy    Kumamoto, in Saga (nt)

        Well things got off to a rousing start as Kondo’s assassins managed to bump off Ishida, leaving the Taira forces in disarray.  Nobunaga then valiantly tried to take advantage of the situation by doing…nothing.  Elsewhere, work on the Royal Road link between Heian and Kyoto continued, as did construction of the port of Tokushima in Shikoku.

 

The Taira Bakufu

Taira Matsuoka, Daimyo of Kwanto.

Diplomacy    No Effect

        Ishida had big plans for this turn (well, moderate plans, anyway) but then he tripped and fell upon the half-dozen ninja swords that were just sitting there, honest!  A planned diplomatic trip to Saga was also derailed when the ambassador died shortly after reaching his destination.

 

The Moluccas Seahold

Gatumao, Lord of the Spice Islands

Diplomacy    Manado, in Sulawesi (a), Sulawesi (t)

        In an attempt to garner some additional gold for the Seahold, Gaumao dispatched admiral Kibroku with a fleet of nearly 100 ships with orders to ravage the Solomon Islands and New Guinea.  This Kibroku did, returning after four years with a pittance and a command ravaged by tropical disease. The admiral himself was also nursing many wounds suffered in battle with the extremely hostile natives who proved unwilling to part with their precious hordes of coconuts.

 

The Maree Tribes of Australia

Nardu, Prince of Maree

Diplomacy    None

        No Orders

 

The Arikat of Maaori

Kamut, King of the Southern Islands

Diplomacy    Akaroa (f following allied leader death)

        No Orders.

 

China

 

The Goreyo Kingdom

Kim On Rhee, Prince of Koguryo

Diplomacy    Anshan (nt)

        Continuing his efforts to expand his small Kingdom, Kim dispatched his diplomats to the northern kingdom of Anshan where they had nominal success.  In the south, a great cultivation project was begun in Silla.

 

The Kingdom of the Yangtze

Cao Dao, King of Huipei

Diplomacy    Houma (f), Chinling (ea)

        Aside from some diplomacy in the western provinces of the Kingdom, the Hupei were quiet.

 

The Kingdom of Kwangsi

Chu Lai, Prince of Kwangsi

Diplomacy    Lingnan (fa), Lingsi (fa)

        Chu Lai spent the balance of his accumulated savings on two new cities, Xiamen, in Nanling and Shantou, in Lingtung.  The Prince’s emissaries were also busy among the petty kingdoms to the southwest.

 

Southeast Asia

 

The Kingdom of Champa

Bao Dai I, King of Champa, Lord of Vijaya

Diplomacy None

        Bao Dai returned to Vijaya to rule his far-flung realm.  To the north, colonies of loyal Hindi were settled in the cities of Tai’li and Tonkin, and, after the locals were suppressed, flourished quite happily.

 

The Kingdom of Kambuja

Norodom I, Deveraja of the Kambuja

Diplomacy    Phan Rang (ea)

        Ill fortune plagued Kambujan endeavors this turn.  First, General Samsenthai died in the midst of preparing for a naval expedition to the south and his successor was nowhere near the capabilities of the descendant.  Worse news came at the end of 1089 when Jayavarman succumbed to some horrid wasting disease, leaving the Kingdom without a successor.  In the middle of a diplomatic junket in Phan Rang when the news broke, General Norodom cut short his work with the locals, hurried back to Angor and had himself crowned King, to general indifference.

 

The Kingdom of Ava

Shambramaba I, King of Ava

Diplomacy    Thaton (a)

        Shambramaba continued to flex his diplomatic muscle along the Andaman Sea coast.  A new city with adjoining fortress, Pamelia, was raised on the eastern coast of Mon and the region itself was put under the plow. Note: if you build a city in a region the same turn you install a cultivation project there, you pay the terrain cost of the province before it was cultivated.   Elsewhere, the city of Pakira was increased to a two level port.  Trade was opened up with Kaunaj, Maghada and Chola, which gladdened the King immeasurably.  On the downside, an Avan emissary to Nadavaria was told to bug off.

 

India & Central Asia

 

The Pratihara Empire of Kaunaj

Sachetan, Emperor of India

Diplomacy    Avanti (fa down two levels from ea, oops!) Somantha, in Surashtra (f)

        On the home front, Sachetan continued to put efforts into urban expansion.  Benares, Agra and Delhi all grew to level five cities.  Trade was also opened up with the Avans to the east.

        Foreign affairs went badly, very badly.  Hindic missionaries continue to make absolutely no impression on the Muslims in Sind, Edrosia and Und.  Worse, a diplomatic mission to Punjab resulted in nothing more than galvanizing the local principalities into uniting to stave off any further Hindi expansion to the west.  By the time General Hupta and his 8,000 horse wound up back at the border with Sahis, they were being shadowed by over 27,000 Muslim troops.  At this point, an emissary from the latter arrived with a note politely requesting that Hupta depart and NEVER, EVER return.  Outnumbered and not a little frightened, Hupta complied.

 

The Sultanate of Punjab

Mustafa, Sultan of Punjab, Lord of Afghanistan

Diplomacy    None

        The Sultanate controls Punjab, Und (w/ Peshawar), Afghanistan, Sind, Sukkur, and Edrosia (w/ Mandvi).

 

The Kingdom of Maghada

Prashant, Raja of Bengal

Diplomacy    Palas (f), Assam (f)

        Prashant’s diplomats were hard at work cementing relations with Palas and Assam.  In other events, Prashant ordered the construction of two new port cities: Patna in Chandela and Karimganj in Assam.

 

The Kingdom of Chola

Rhama, King of Chola, Lord of Tanjore

Diplomacy    Kochi, in Chera (nt), Kollam, in Pandya (c)

        Rhama continued to putter about his realm.

 

The Emirate of Samarkhand

Hamid, Emir of Samarkhnad

Diplomacy    None

        No Orders.

 

The Khazar Khanate

Bulan II, Kagan of Khazar and Saksiny

Diplomacy    Khazar (f), Nogai (nt), Bolgar (h)

        Determined to avenge the death of his predecessor, Bulan mustered over 20,000 cavalry and stormed into Urkel, where the local tribes were crushed and their elders made to feel the cold vengeance of the Kagan.  Bulan than marched into Patzinak, where the locals were similarly smashed to a pulp.  Continuing his triumphal campaign, Bulan next marched into Taman and ruthlessly enslaved the local Euro-pagan population, replacing them with Turks.  Bulan then returned to Saksiney with his slaves in tow, immensely pleased with himself.

        Upon his return, the new Khan cemented his hold on the throne by marrying the widow of his predecessor, a melancholic young girl named Khatun.  Also on the home front, a large bridge was built spanning the Volga between Saksiny and Khazar.  Finally, Bulan changed the name of his realm to something cooler sounding. 

 

The Near East

 

The Hamadid Emirate

Omar Ibn Batutta, Emir of Damascus.

Diplomacy    Mosul (f), Jordan (t following allied leader death)

        Hamadid diplomatic work among the Mosulites continue to bear fruit, although the change in status of Jordan was remarked upon with some regret.  In other events, a postal road was built between Damascus and Antioch and a fortress was built on the Lebanese coast.  Finally, a census of the Emirate was undertaken.

 

The Buwayid Emirates

Ali, Emir of Emirs, Protector of the Caliph.

Diplomacy    Ahvaz (a), Abadan (t), Fars (nt)

        Throwing off decades of inactivity, the Emir set to work with a will.  Two new cities, Isfahan and Karbala were built in Diyala and Ahvaz respectively.  Sumawa, in Hahmar also grew a level.  The Emir’s diplomats were also hard at work, extending Buwayid control down to the head of the Persian Gulf.

 

Eastern Europe

 

The Eastern Roman Empire

Cleon of Sparta, regent for…

Constantine Pophryogenitus, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire

Diplomacy    Isauria (f), Morea (f)

        Flavius died in early 1087 and was succeeded by his three-year-old son, Constantine.  As the latter was too young to assume the duties of Basileus, his uncle Cleon was chosen to act as regent until the tyke comes of age.  Despite the difficulties at court, Imperial activities continued unabated.  The Strategos of Europe, Palladius, continued to conduct ethnic cleansing against the Turks of the southern Russian steppe; exterminating the populace of Moldavia and settling the region with sturdy Greek farmers.  Further to the east, Orthodox missionaries finished converting the Georgians to the true faith.  In Anatolia, Manzikert was expanded another level and a new port city, Alexandretta, was raised on the Isaurian coast.  Finally, a census was conducted to determine the number of citizens groaning under the Imperial Yoke, er, happily living under the munificent eye of the Emperor.

 

The Principality of Muscovy

Igor Bratislav, Boyar of Muscovy

Diplomacy    None

        Igor continued to be very busy, ordering an expansion of Republika and the construction of a postal road between the capital and Chakasiya in Chernigov.  The Boyar also kept up his policy of beating up his neighbors, conquering Suzdal and Seversk and granting the latter to his lieutenant Oleg, to rule as his personal fief.

 

The Principality of Kiev

Ivan I, Boyar of Kiev

Diplomacy    Polotsk (FINALLY!) (nt)

        Ivan nearly died of amazement when he realized that his latest diplomatic overtures to Polotsk actually produced a positive result.  Then he thought that maybe, the Boyar there just pretended to like him, so he was sad again.

 

The High Republic of Hellreiger

Lore, King of Poland

Diplomacy    Lithuania (t)

        Aside from some diplomacy among the pagans (who gave cautious support), and continuing to invest in the cultivation of Danzig, Lore pretty much kept to himself.

 

The Duchy of Estonia

Villem Viikberg, Duke of Estonia

Diplomacy    Kalinin (f), Yaroslav (ea)

        The Duke concentrated on diplomatic work and minded his own affairs.

 

Western Europe

 

The Duchy of Bohemia

Sabastian Govner I, Duke of Bohemia

Diplomacy    Slovenia (nt), Bremen, in Friesland (a), Carinthia (ea)

        The new Duke quickly set to work!  A new port city, Trier, was built around the port fortress in Alsace and a new Royal Road link between Saxony and Thuringia was built, thus easing Ducal communications somewhat.  Bohemian diplomats were also quite active in Bremen in the north and among the regions near the Veronese frontier.

 

The Vernonian Empire

Julius Caesar Germanicus, Emperor of Italy

Diplomacy    Malta (nt), Croatia (fa), Sardinia (t)

        The Emperor Gaius died in early 1087 of a massive fit, screaming and foaming at the mouth, a rather alarming sight.  Fortunately, his son Julius had just come of age and assumed the Purple with no great difficulty.  The new Emperor continued his father’s policy of fortify everything in sight, dotting the entire peninsula with castles, fortlets and strong points.  Most of the Empire’s diplomatic endeavors were unremarkable save for Malta were a deal of sorts was struck in which the Egyptians agreed to withdraw and release the Veronese diplomat (who was looking mighty pasty from being kept in a box all this time and had a great craving for carrots).  Unfortunately, “withdrawal” in this case simply meant that the Fatimids withdrew to the city of Valetta (formerly Malta) and threatened to put the Veronese diplomat back in the box when he showed up again with his offers of alliance.  So the island is now divided.

 

Le Royaume de France

Phillip Capet, King of the Franks

Diplomacy:   Languedoc (a), Aquitaine (ea), Gascony (a), Poitou (ea), Maine (ea), Normandy (t), Avranches, in Normandy (t)

        Fresh from their Burgundian success, the Gascon Diplomatic Road Show and Traveling Apothecary Shop ™ embarked on a whirlwind tour of the western provinces.  The Navarrese were convinced to renounce all claims to Languedoc in exchange for much grain and much success was had in former Norman lands as well.   Phillip’s diplomatic initiatives reached a crescendo with the marriage of Prince Louis Capet to the Veronese Princess, Julia Caesar Germanicus and an accompanying treaty of accord and non-aggression between the two Empires.

        In other events, Bruges, in Flanders increased in size to a level two port and a new Royal Road link was built between Ile de France and Nivernais.

 

The El Reino De Navarre

Sancho, King of Navarre

Diplomacy    Asturias (reduced to nt), Aragon (a), New Castille (a)

        Sancho decided to do the trendy thing that every despot was doing and ordered a census of the realm.  Arles, Tortosa and Bilbao all increased a level and a new Royal Road link was built between New Castille and Murcia.  To the south, thousands of laborers, well labored to dredge the Guadalquivir River to allow Seville access to the sea.

 

Northern Europe

 

The Kingdom of the Svear

Olav, King of the Swedes

Diplomacy    Halland (ea)

        Olav continued to make his realm more economically viable.  A new city, Kalmar was raised in Smaland and Hordaland was re-colonized to a (1/6) region.

 

The Norse Kingdom of Iceland

Harald Olafson, King of the Norse

Diplomacy    Shetlands (fa)

        Aside from increasing the Kingdom’s influence in the northern islands, the Norse pretty much kept to themselves.

 

North Afriqa

 

El Zirid Emirat Al Mahidya

Mohammad ibn Hanno, Emir of Tunisia

Diplomacy None

        No Orders

 

Al Fatamid Caliphate Al Qaira

Mohammad ibn Ibrihim, Fatamid Caliph of Egypt

Diplomacy    No effect

        Mohammad ordered a massive expansion of the military for the Caliphate had many enemies.  Despite this emphasis on defense, the Caliph also had enough moolah to spend on other things, like the expansions of both Alexandria and Memphis, as well as conducting a census of the realm.

 

West Afriqa

 

The Dia Kingdom of Songhai

Maracatu, King of Songhai and Hausa

Diplomacy Oyo (f)

        From the ivory enameled balcony of his Golden House™, Maracatu decree-, hic!, er, decree-, baby bring that beer back here!  DECREED the consrtuvcstarf…burp!, er, hey mishter minister read, theesh notseses for me…

        Ahem, what the King decreed was the construction of a great new segment of Royal road between Gao in Sudan all the way south into Oyo via Gorouol and Nupe.  While Maracatu whiled away the time in sloth and debauchery, thousands upon thousands of laborers worked upon the new road.

        The King also declared war on the Tunisians but he was exceptionally stoned out of his gourd when he made the statement, so most people ignored it.

 

The Twifo-Heman Nation

Chitambo, King of Akan, Lord of Benin

Diplomacy Ife (a)

        Did some diplomacy and that’s about it.  Although Maracatu “knock-knock” jokes are becoming quite popular.

 

East Afriqa

 

The Makuria Kingdom of Nubia

Akencheres, King of Nubia

Diplomacy    None

        Akencheres had several rods in the fire: a new city, Jarrod, was built in Kassala and Erkico increased a level.  In other events, the King decided to discomfit his neighbors by dispatching a small squadron of ships (with accompanying troops) to raid the Adenese.  The results were less than expected.  More fruitful was General Nilesuntzu’s attack on Suakin and the subsequent enslavement of the entire region’s population.  Thousands were led back to the Capital in chains.

        Nilesuntzu’s  actions had some unpleasant side effects however, as Djibuti, Gezira, Kassala, and Lalibela all renounced allegiance to the Nubian state.

 

South Afriqa

 

The Bakongo Kingdom

Namodu II, King of Bakongo

Diplomacy Matadi (f), Cabwola, in Matadi (f), Rava, in Vili (f)

        Namodu plowed gold and nfp into public works and minded his own business.

 

The Kingdom of Rozwi

Shaka, King of Rozwi, Lord of Zimbabwe

Diplomacy None

        No Orders

 

North America

 

The Tlingit People

Blue Hair, Chief of the Tlingit, Lord of the Far North.

Diplomacy None

        The Tlingit continue to consolidate their holdings in the far north.  Timishian and Kwakiutl were both cultivated via large investments of gold and manpower.

 

California

Obsidian Coyote, Ruler of California

Diplomacy None

        Obsidian Coyote’s attempts to sire another heir met with failure.  Worse, the heir designate, Mariposa died at the end of 1088, causing much distress and lamentation.

        Undaunted by these setbacks, Coyote continued to try to better the lot of his people.  Mokelumne and Tuolumne both were expanded in size (to a nine and six level port, respectively) and thousands of colonists poured into the region of Pomo, settling it to a (0/9) region.  Coyote also wished it to be known that the city of Berkley had been at size 15 long before that “frog city near the banks of some river far away was”.  Finally, continued attempts to penetrate the icy northern seas produced no tangible results on this occasion, save the loss of several vessels to storms, ice, and Inuit attack and the death of the expedition leader, Oholone, of pneumonia, shortly after his return to Eureka.

 

The Anasazi Nation

Manchuk, Chief of the Anasazi, Lord of the Chaco

Diplomacy Bonito, in Navajo (f)

        Poured money into city public works and minded his own business.

 

The Mississippian Empire

Arrowhead, regent for…

Leaping Crane, The Great Beaver of the Snake

Diplomacy None

        Swimming Beaver died at the beginning of 1088 of some horrible festering disease that turned his entrails into a sea of writhing worms.  The Great Beaver’s generals selected one Arrowhead to act as regent until the king’s young son, Leaping Crane, came of age.

        Despite this setback, activity continued among the Michegamea, with Croix being colonized to a (1/9) region and a new Royal road link being built between Sangamon and Illinois.

 

The Natchez Confederacy

Soaring Eagle, Great Sun of the Natchez

Diplomacy None

        Fairly quiet.  South Port grew to a level three port.  To the north, Natchez attempts to explore Chesapeake Bay continue to meet with failure.

 

Mesoamerica

 

The Toltec Hegemony of Chichen Itza

Itzamna, Grand Hegemon of the Maya

Diplomacy Naco, in Lenca (nt following allied leader death).

        No Orders.

 

The Arawak of the Islands

Canom, Lord of the Islands

Diplomacy    Ciboney (ea)

        Canom continued to expand his watery realm.  A new port, Baranquilla was built on the Island of Tiano and to the north, several thousand Carib settlers debouched into Calusa and colonized in to a (1/10) region.

 

The Chibchan Kingdom

Cilan, King of the Chibchan

Diplomacy None

        Lanric croaked off and was succeeded by his son, Cilan.  The latter celebrated his ascension by establishing a colony among the grasslands of Caquetio, which is now a (0/4) province.

 

South America

 

The Kingdom of Paraiba

Panbi, King of Paraiba

Diplomacy Sarth, in Gueren (f)

        Aside from continuing to settle Shoco (now up to a 1/2), the Brazilians kept to themselves.

 

The Mighty Incan Empire

Mayta Capac, Emperor of the Incas

Diplomacy None

        Proving that he was just as capable of colonizing god-forsaken wilderness as much as those provincial Brazilians, Mayta Capac ordered the colonization of Huanco to a (1/6) region.  And then the entire Empire went on vacation.

 

The Duchy of Shokleng

Nati, Duke of Shokleng

Diplomacy Kaingan (f)

        Things here were also pretty darn bucolic.  Heta was colonized to a (1/10) region and Kaingan was put under the plow.

 

The Mapuche Nation

Obsidian III, King of the Mapuche

Diplomacy None

        Compared to the other nations of South America, the Mapuche were downright industrious.  A new Royal road link was built between Poya and Oic, the latter being colonized up to a (2/10) region.  The new king (Graphite having died in early 1087) also ordered the construction of fishing fleets in the ports of Bahia, Talca, Urupoi and Madryn, to supplement the diet of the kingdom’s many subjects.