Age of the Crusades
1151 ~ 1150 Anno Domini
529 ~ 534 in the year of the Hegira
1776 ~ 1781 years since the birth of Guatama Buddha Sakyamuni
Announcements and items of note
Religious Orders: it is no longer possible to form a religious order simply by spending the resources and conducting the actions necessary. Instead, I have inserted a Random Event into the stats program that gives a player an opportunity to found a religious order for that turn only. Said religious will then be put up for a playewr to run via the standard lottery method. The intention of this ruling is to eliminate the tendency for groups of allied players to pool their resources to create yet another allied empire, thus increasing the power
Cult of Shiva: The Cult of Shiva is hostile to Hinduism, but otherwise identical to it.
"Extra APs" : Almost always extra APs can be spent on a leader action to give it a bonus to suceed. The primary example of this is with the DP (Diplomacy) action. Almost everyone, at one time or another, runs DP actions with extra APs. Problem is, often people just say "Do DP with all remaining AP." As part of my effort to speed processing time and save my sanity, your hapless GM is no longer going to take the time to calculate such extra APs. So, please indicate how much they are if you want to get credit for them for your actions.
MAXTAX: MAXTAX is in effect, it is set at 2.5. this means that regions and cities with more than one owner (for example, if an Open Nation, a Religious Primate, and and a Religious Order all have some status in the region or city) would proportionately share the tax and NFP revenues of the region/city up to the maximum tax setting.
Other campaign 24 Old World specific rules...Are listed on the website, under "Rules and Clarifications" at http://www.throneworld.com/lords/lote24/rules.html. I reccommend looking at them, since although the L24 specific rules and clarifications are not listed on this newsfax, they all still remain in force and "not seeing them on the newsfax" is not an acceptable reason for not knowing about them.
Intel note: it is my understanding from the rules, (and the way I process it) that when you do a CI intel action, the target you give it is a type of potential enemy intel action, not the target of the action. Thus, you might do the following: "CI versus any enemy IE attempts". But you would not do: "CI v. any enemy intel against my government." You can do CI against most anything, such as IE, AO, CU, etc...
Newsfax colour? Wel, I know the newsfax isn't as flashy as it could be...I intend to add pictures and other fun stuff but I wanted to get it out. In the future I will add more color to it...so, if you have pics or something else you think should go in it, send 'em along (GIF files are preferred).
PS: If anyone knows how to calculate equivalent years in Hindu, Shinto, et al...let me know and I'll put it on the newsfax...
How to make your GM happy:
Please send any and all Lords24 correspondence to lords24gm@throneworld.com . Really. I get lots of email to my alarikf throneworld account, but then I have to forward it to my L24 account so I make sure I answer all queries in the order I received them...
If possible, please use the latest MS Office version of the order form. It can be found at http://www.throneworld.com/lords/players/forms/lords_orders_2_2_1.zip and really lessens the brain- and eye-strain I suffer from other forms. Many of you use text orders in email, and those are still fine so long as they don't run tooo long. I know a lot of you prefer Excel spreadsheets, but the orders I get in Excel are really annoying to figure out sometimes. (note also that the new MS Office order form mentioned above incorporates an Excel spreadsheet to calculate builds, expenditures, etc...)
If possible please try to use the latest MS Office Orders Template for your orders. It can be found at http://www.throneworld.com/lords/players/forms/lords_orders_2_2_1.zip and it reduces eye- and brain-strain on me. I know a lot of you like to use Excel, but this order template incorporates an Excel spreadsheet for expenditures, income, and so forth. Also the orders that I get that are in Excel (you know who you are) are often very difficult to interpret. For those of you who use text orders in the body of your emails, that's fine, so long as they don't run too long, otherwise they get confusing also...thanks!
Thanks go out to:
Everyone for putting up with (a) the long delay in getting Lords24 back on its feet and this turn out. It's good to be back.
Geoff Hill, who is doing the Maps for Lords 24.
Steve Brunt, for starting the campaign and running the New World half of it.
NOMENCLATURE
Turns are currently five (5) years long. Base tax rate is 100%.
Infantry (200 men = 1 point), Cavalry (200 men = 1 point), Siege Engineers (200 men = 1 point), Warships (2 ships = 1 point), Transports (2 ships = 1 point).
LORDS 24 WEB RESOURCES
The Lords Twenty-Four homepage is at:
www.throneworld.com/lords/lote24/index.html
All of the on-line resources, including order forms, mailing lists and web-sites for Lords of the Earth are summarized on this page:
www.throneworld.com/lords/players/resources.html
You can subscribe to the Lords 24 mailing list by pointing your web-browser at:
http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/Lords24
…and following the instructions on that page.
VARIOUS FEES AND LEVIES
Much as I would like to run this game for free, alas, I cannot convince my wife to let me. And, remember, Lesley absconded with all the cash, so we've got to recoup those losses...hence, the ugly subject of money:
Turns: $5.00 per turn.
Maps Available on-line at the Lords 24
website
We are using the LOTE 5.9.2 rules set. It can be obtained here. Or you can get a spiffy new printed copy from Tom for $10.00 (Local) or $15.00 (Mailed in US), $18.00 (mailed overseas).
One last thing: Please send all PayPal payments to: alarikf@yahoo.com (and NOT to the throneworld email - I try and keep all my paypal stuff on my yahoo account for bookkeeping purposes).
Turn 32 Orders due by: Sooner the better, but try to get them in by August 10th!
Without further ado, the news for these years in Lords 24 history...
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Khagan Thakir
Diplomacy: Ghurid Nomads (absorbed), Lang Zao Nomads (absorbed), Buryats
(absorbed), Gobi tribes (allied), Tzin-kiang Zao tribes (absorbed), Kashi
(absorbed), Hill tribes of Memar (allied), Mountain tribes of Adak (absorbed).
Thakir, feared of the steppes, rampaged across Asia to bring the nomads of the surrounding lands to his banner, while his harem-wmone spent much of their time in childbirth (on the backs of horses, no less). He was disappointed in only two ways: to see that the Kashi tribal lands were all but empty of any able-bodied warriors, and upon the death of his friend and comrade Solani. But, at the end of these years he had gathered to his banner all but a few holdouts of the desert steppe and mountain tribes (and also stumbled across an old ruined city in the blasted lands of Charchan). The thundering hooves of the Jungarian Uighurs are heard across the land, from the highlands of India all the way to China. All fear them. (note: see the website for the updated horde block information).
Furthermore, the Khagan was pleasantly surprised when great strides were made by his Shaman in understanding the ways of war and spies used by the low-landers. Hah! use their own wiles against them, the Khagan thought...
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Bartan ba'atur of Kiyat
Diplomacy: Seljuk tribes (allied), Yenisey Tribes (allied), Ghuzz (allied),
Kazan tribes (allied), Western Khirgizi (allied)
The Mongols, in their continuing quest to control all they survey, gathered together under the fist of Bartan. he gave some freedom back to those truibes under his domination already, for he needed as many men on horseback as he could find. Then he marched first north, to bring the Yenisey under his sway. Then, towards the west to dominate all those who opposed them in that direction. Conquering a number of petty wildland peoples along the way, Bartan was no fool, and knew that the Uighur were also on the march. Sending his scouts forward, he kept a keen eye on the movements of the Jungarians. He wanted little to do with them, and avoided meeting Thakir on the plains. Instead, he passed to the north, to the lands of the Seljuks, then to those of the Ghuzz, Kazans, and Western Khirgizi. Satisfied, Bartan rested, and pondered his next move from the steppes of Uigur...
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire)
Gaozong Song
Diplomacy: Hopei (EA), Yen (failed miserably, and the Emperor, who was
treating with the natives, was nearly killed by a angry group of peasants!
Luckily, he had a big army with him...), Yen-Ching in Yen (nt), Houma (from P to
FA), Kiangsu (ea). Missionary efforts failed miserably in Hsuin-Nu, causing the
natives to greatly despise Buddhism there. Some measure of success was had in
Kin and Tumet, however.
As usual, the Sung were rebuilding their nation from the latest civil war. The city of Nanjing (in Kiangsu) was rebuilt from its ancient foundations, and a variety of cities were increased in size and the economies of many regions ruined by the last war were reinvigorated. A royal road was built to link Lu'an and Yen, and a postal road between Taiping and Chekiang. Furthermore, bridges were built across the Huang Ho and Yangtze at Honan/Hopei and Anhui/Taiping. The emperor was determined to eradicate any vestiges of rebellion and avoid talk of losing the Mandate of Heaven. Great sums were also spent on diplomatic efforts to tie the empire back together again, especially in light of the newly energized nomadic horde activity to the north.
Leaving the Empress behind to rule in his stead, the Emperor, assisted by General Lu Pan (for the Emperor was getting wuite on in years, and feeling his age surely) traveled to Hopei before heading to Yen and the City of Yen-Ching in an omnibus tour of the regions. The Emperor tried to show his largesse to the regions through improved public works, as well as major bridge and road building projects (plus a few gifts of gold here and there, for good measure), but it was largely for naught, as the memories of the people in those lands had not faded so quickly!
Zhong
Tan Song, at the behest of his Father, the Emperor, took a tour of the western
provinces of the Phoenix Sung Empire. While
on his tour he presented gifts of both men and gold to the Western Sung and
Annam Kingdoms on behalf of his father.
While the gifts were well recived (of course) the people of Funiu were surprised
to learn that they were part of the deal. Infuriated, the Funiu-ren refused to
swear allegiance to some smelly northerners who were closely related to the dogs
that the villagers like to kick out of their way on the way to the fields, and
refused to have anything to do with either the Song or the Western Sung! (note:
see rules on ceding regions...)
(Buddhist Barbarian Religious Primacy)
Thirumbaba
Diplomacy: none
The Greater Wheel sat, and pondered the threatening hordes of Nomads to the north...
(Buddhist Civilized Religious Order)
Ma
Diplomacy: Hupei (oe), Shentung(op)
The Wudan Masters, turning their attentions inward, towards the pursuit of
Ancient Knowledge and more practical matters, assisted in the rebuilding of the
Middle Kingdom lands after the wars of the past years. They cooperated closely
with the Sung in the exchange of ideas (and received the services of many men at
arms in return). Master Ma abandoned
his search for Green Destiny Sword to return and follow the Buddha's exhortation
to travel the Middle Path. he set about once again to to guide the Order in its
search for wisdom and to help defend the Buddhist Enlightened.
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire)
Song Zhi Zhe
Diplomacy:
Cities across the realm expanded, Ordos was cultivated, and a new road was begun from Shensi to Chinling. Also promulgations and proclamations were made, aimed at increasing social mobility in the Empire and breaking the power of the guilds in daily commerce. The Emperor crushed the attempts of the Funiu people to revolt.
Attempts to parlay with the tribes in Lang Shan were abruptly cut short when a veritable limitless host of Jungarian nomads came and demanded, and got, the allegiances of the tribes there. Loung Wang, the kings envoy, barely escaped with his life. Lord Chang, on the other hand, was not so lucky when a group of Yun people, perhaps under the pay of some nefarious bandit, ambushed him and slit his throat.
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Lu'No
Diplomacy:
Open for a player.
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Ju'Ki'Ta
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire)
Yun Yon Zun
Diplomacy: Parhae(A)
King Zun completed his belated wedding ceremony, finally finishing the intricate rituals that pass on the blessings of Heaven to him and his young bride. Those blessings were clearly in effect, too, for he was soon blessed with both a son and a daughter in the years after. The blessings continued as the economy of Pusan grew, the crops were grand, and wealth spread all around.
(Shinto Civilized Religious Order)
Kiyowara Takanori
Diplomacy:
Watched with glee while their enemies erupted into civil strife. Perhaps this was an opening to seize the throne for themselves, again...
(Shinto Civilized Religious Primacy)
Emperor Sotoku
Diplomacy:
The civil war in Japan weakened even further the influence of the Emperor, and the Court watched helplessly while the Clans battled in the streets.
(Shinto Civilized Open Empire)
Diplomacy:
The death of Naetarou early in 1151 presaged disaster for the Naetoru clan. Naetoru had left this plane with a son of only ten years. Long simmering feuds beneath the surface of the Court soon boiled to the surface. Natetoru Kazuyama-no-Ichi soon proved easily manipulated by the Minamoto clansmen, and within a few years the influence of other clans at court had been reduced to the point where open rebellion was inevitable. Such is the nature of power and ego, for the Minamoto, in their pride, failed to even see the storm brewing.
The Taira clan, long a political force in the south (and rumoured to be sympathetic to the Buddhists, if not Buddhist themselves), attempted to seize the throne when the boy Emperor died under mysterious circumstances. The Taira claimant though, despite having royal blood, was both an incompetent and clearly under the sway of the Taira head, while the Minamoto had no clansmen with royal blood . Open fighting broke out in the Heian court, the daimyo's of Niigata, Sakata, and Kanazawa all returned to their clan homelands, and renegade ronin and samurai of a variety of clans took the opportunity to act on their grievances (with the changes underway in Japanese society, they were more often than not indebted to the disgusting lower class merchants, and now the roving bands of warriors had a chance to claim some honour for themselves!)...
(Shinto Civilized Open Empire)
Diplomacy:
The Taira clan gathered other disgruntled clans to their banner, and clashed with Minamoto forces outside of Heian as they marched north from their fortresses in Kyushu. The Shikoku and Kyushu clans had all declared for the Taira, as had the Daimyo of Yamaguchi. When the two armies met on the plains of Yamato, the Minamoto were victorious, but it was not decisive. Returning in good order to Shimonoseki, the Taira vowed to rule all of Japan. In an effort to garner support and fresh recruits, the Taira ended the persecution of the peasant's Buddhist beliefs, foreign though they might be.
(Oceanic Pagan Seafaring Open Empire)
Lezerux
Diplomacy:
Open for a player...
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire)
T'an Minh II
Diplomacy:
The
roads to Korat and Guizhou were finished at last, bringing growth and
trade to the previously isolated town of Guiyang, which experienced a boom from
trade.
T’an Bao ordered an investigation as to what parties were responsible
for the attempted kidnapping of his daughter T’an Bai, a few years ago...Work
began on the Pillar of Truth, touted as one of the Three Treasures of Buddha.
Construction was aided by a number of volunteers from the Sung Chinese who had
traveled south to the lands of Annam. All was peaceful in the Kingdom...until
the death of old man T'An Bao, during the ascension ceremony for his son .
Having brought prosperity to his people for lo these many years, T'An Bao had
lived long enough to see his son T'An Lung grow to be a man, and the joy that it
brought to him was too much for his heart to bear. Retiring after the parties,
he never awoke. . . Minister Huong, and old and dear friend of the king died
three days later, from ennui. But, such was the strength of the nation that
these losses did not endanger the state, and T'An Minh ascended to the throne in
sorrow, but ready. There were some disagreements between him and T'an
Lung, but the bloodline was unclear and T'an Lung was not willing to press his
claim for the sake of the realm.
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Javyaravarman
Diplomacy:
Javyaravarman continued his peaceful rule, and the lands prospered, the
cities were clean and safe, and settlers continued to bring new lands under
cultivation and extend their reach. Most impressive was the building of a grand
road linking a new city in the hills of Surin (known to the natives as Surinya)
and the grand city of Angkor. Also, merchants expanded Singapore island from an
entrepot to an entrepot with a few extra pirate coves and hovels. More and more,
the King's lax rules meant that people felt encouraged to change castes and
guilds and work outside the boundaries of society to get ahead. Many seers
foresaw trouble in this trend.
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire)
The Hidden King
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Mukmin
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(Buddhist Seafaring Open Empire)
Gozomonye
Diplomacy: Pajajaran (f), Sunda in Pajajaran (ne), Utara (a), Kediri (from P to
FA)
While the king was busy overseeing the growth of farms and markets in Sirivijaya and Sunda, missionary efforts in Pajajaran failed miserably, and a number of Buddhist bonzes were strung up and fed to the pigs. The lands of Pajajaran finally achieved the role in the nation that they had been striving for with the marriage of one of their princesses (Khihara) to Gozomonye himself. The wedding night later yielded a daughter. Prince Dakiva was granted the land of Kediri as his personal fief, a charge he gladly took up, as it got him out of court politics.
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Jayala
Diplomacy:
Although haemophilia has stricken the royal family of Jayala, the kingdom was largely at peace, and remained friendly with the Dhara Kingdom.
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Otarappan
Diplomacy: only very minor sucesses preaching the Hindu word to the
Nepalese...
The vast kingdom that is Kaunaj was a land of peace and power in these years,
with the cities bustling and growing with activity, and vast numbers of legions
and chariots filling the ranks of the king's guard. Luckily for their neighbors,
Kaunaj remained at peace with them. Despite this, all was not roses for the
kingdom: hindu missionaries in Jihjoti met with resounding failure, and were all
strung up by the Shiva-worshippers (and Prince Sughosh was driven out with
spears in his back). In Nepal they had middling success at best. The royal road
from Uttar Pradesh was found (the royal cartographers had forgotten about it
entirely! Two children, one boy and one girl, were born to the king's
wives.
(Hinduism Seafaring Open Empire)
Bhaljahu
Diplomacy: Missionaries met with little success in Sri Lanka, and only middling
success in Sigirya there...Lord Arvorad died before he was able to complete his
embassy. Sangas (ne); Malabar (t)
Good king Vorjabal died, in his bed under the stars, the victim of
overindulgence. The kingdom trembled however, when it was discovered that
Juyochitri, the 30 year old daughter of Vijayabahu had also died within the
month. Plots and intrigues followed, but Prince Bhaljahu proved to be man enough
for the task, catpuring and killing the plotters in the courtyard for all to
see. Claiming the throne for himself, he set the empire into a frenzy of
activity and gave it renewed vigour. Cities grew forth in Madurai ("Madulis"), Malabar ("Malis"),
and Belur ("Beldiva "), and other cities grew in size and splendour.
(Hinduism Civilized Religious Order)
Chanakya Nandalal
Diplomacy:
No orders received (open for a player).
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Humaputri
Diplomacy: City of Shillongg (fa), City of Orissa (a)
Humaputri, in his wisdom, concentrated on enriching the markets and fields
throughout the lands, so that his kingdom might be wealthy and his legacy would
be well recieved by the gods. Alas, while the lands were made richer, the
bureacrats and tax collectors became that much more greedy, resulting in great
strain being placed on the systems. Services declined, and the people began to
lose faith in the government of Humaputri. In short, corruption was rampant in
these years, and the kingdom suffered for it.
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Munja II, King of Dhara
Diplomacy:
Lord Munja passed away in his sleep, and his son, also named Munja assumed the throne with minimal incident.
(Shi'a Islam Barbarian Open Empire)
Mahmud
Diplomacy: Lord Kemal died while on a diplomatic mission to Badakshan, and his
body was "buried" in the mountain-tops and picked clean by the birds,
as is the tradition of the people there. Lord Mehmet preached Shi'a ways to the
Sunni of Balkh...meeting limited success.
Mahmud, tired of the hindu cow-worshippers in the highlands of kashmir, decided to settle the matter once and for all. Calling to himself all his feudal lords, he marched into the region at the head of a host of men, accompanied by the lords of Firoz, Ghazni, kash, Registan, and Sistan. Their forces combined met the tribes of Kashmir in a variety of small battles over the next year, fianlly forcing those people to heel. But the land was harsh, and the kashmiri are known for the valour in war, and many grievour injuries were given to the Ghaznavid warriors. One of these injuries was the Lord of Kash, who died under a rockslide. Moving to the hindu city of Parapavura, Mahmud spent the next few years starving out the inhabitants. Fearful of the muslims, they refused to give in, knowing they would be shown no mercy. No help came, however, and in the end Mahmud and his men marched past the crippled and starving to the city center. They then proceeded to burn every single hindu shrine they could find, and replace it with a muslim mosque. The remaining inhabitants rose up, even the women and children in some cases, and once again taught Mahmud that Kashmir would not fall so easily. Their resistance, thought mighty, was not enough. In the end, when Mahmud left and his feudal lords left, kashmir was under the muslim heel, forced to worship Allah under the watchful eye of the Ghaz troops.
The death of Lord Kash, however, had ripple effects, for the new
leaders of Kash refused to pay any form of tribute to Mahmud, and revolted from
Ghaz rule. This meant that communication with Firoz was that much more
difficult, and the people there spoke of revolt as well, but have not yet acted
upon such whims.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Salman
Diplomacy:
The land was renowned for it's peace in these troubled times. Two daughters and a son were born to the Shah and, to celebrate he began plans to hasten the cultivation of the lands of Baluchistan, as well as beginning a route to carry the Shah's message from the capitol over the hills of Bandar. otherwise, peace reigned - unlike in some other parts of the world...
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Cha Khan
Diplomacy:
The Horde of the Great Khanate waited, poised in the land of Kul'Sary, awaiting orders from their Khan...
(Eastern Orthodox Barbarian Open Empire)
Hieriea Amirspalar
Diplomacy: Galatia (ne), Abasigia (ne)
The Queen continued to guide her nation out of the years of war it had
recently come through. The death of her son, Vesatrion, early in the years only
served to focus her energies, and rather than mourn for years, she concentrated
on getting the country back in shape. Refugees continued to settle in and around
the empire, and the lands of Psidia were blessed with a general increase in the
economic prosperity. Nonetheless, Armenia remained a poor backwater compared to
the glory that was Constantinople, just next door. There was much discussion
regarding old schisms and Roman Catholicism, and many Armenian priests were
intrigued by the proposal of a more formal merging of the two rites. The Roman
popes had always been welcomed in Armenia, and the rites were, really, quite
similar it turned out...
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Mustapha
Diplomacy:
Mustapha, continuing in his trust and alliance with the Ilig, ordered the road from Maracanda to Iskander to be completed. The royal engineers were quite confused, as there was a road in progress from Maracanda to Bukhara, and they figured that must be the one he was referring to. Hopefully, else he would certainly have their heads. Elsewhere, Mustapha ordered a veritable host of defenses raised and preparations taken, in case the barbarian hordes to the north and west decided to rampage into the lands of Glorious Khwarzim. Such preparations included fortresses spread hither and yon across the lands, as well as a strengthening of many city walls (and an expansion of the traders' quarters in Ahmad to boot). In dynastic events, Lord Johan Soze died from a horse-riding accident, Lady Lia, Mustapha's wife died from a bad bunch of dates, and a son was born to the wives of Kemal.
But, rather than sit at home and wait for potential invaders, Mustapha decided to take out his frustrations and soothe his aching heart (with the loss of his wife it was fair to burst) and settle some old scores...Taking command of 5200 of the best Khwarzm horse to be found, he led his men west to teach the Rawwadid a lesson. his first stop was outside the city of Tabar, which was under siege by the forces of Princess Rana of Ilig, and had been for many years...
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Saleh, Khan of the Ilig
Diplomacy: Uzbek(a), Kashmir (nt, but then attacked by Ghaznavids, so...)
Jasmine, ever mindful of her people and the restless hordes to the north, west, and east, ordered the construction of the Fortress of the Prophet to guard the silk road and the pilgrims who traveled on it to Meccah. other defenses were expanded as well, and Great Samarkand grew ever more mighty. Jasmine and Nia, her daughter and heir apparent, ruled well and wisely as they oversaw the wealth of the realm. Luckily for them, no nomadic hordes decided to test the defenses of the lands, and this led Jasmine to thinking: perhaps now was the time to teach a lesson to the Rawwadid and capture the strategic city of Tabar (which still owed allegiance to the Rawaddid). Ilig was mighty, Rawwadid was weak, and together with Mustapha of Khwarzim, she could put an end to the Rawwadid once and for all, and secure her southern border as well. And with the opening of trade with the Buwayids came rumours that they were pre-occuppied with the barbaric Almoravids in the distant west. Now was the perfect time to strike. Sending messengers to Mustapha, Jasmine gathered her forces and sent messengers to Princess Rana...
Rana, who was a cunning leader of men (the traditions of Ilig, in which the royal families were ruled by Queen and not Kings, carried over into the realm of the military as well and Rana, the daughter of Jasmine and Kemal of Khwarzim, had inherited her mother's stubbornness in the face of men) was encamped outside of Tabar and demanded the surrender of that city. Jasmine messenger's, however, informed her that while the city was to be taken, many of her best men were to be given now to Lord Othman, who was to arrive soon and take them deep into Rawwadid itself to end all resistance to the Ilig by striking at the heart of the Emirate. He was to be aided in this endeavour by Mustapha of Khwarzim, who was to plunge into Rawwadid and raid in the southern regions of the Emirate....
While Rana sat waiting for general Othman to arrive to take her horsemen to Azerbaijan itself, she was not pleased -- for was she not a warrior of the Ilig, equal or greater than that fat fool Othman in all ways herself? -- she actually grinned when she heard that Othman had died of the consumption on the way to the Tabar siege. "Damn fool brought it on himself, always eating like he does. Serves him right." Princess Rana was of two minds now: should she take the horsemen herself, and lead them into Azerbaijan or continue to siege Tabar and wait for word from her mother? As Mustapha of Khwarzim had already left with his men towards El Burz, the thought of a man getting all the glory festered inside her...eventually, she abandoned the siege (for the people of Tabar were not even particularly loyal to Rawwadid, and would not sally forth against the garrison she left anyways...) and headed into Shirvan. Just as she surveyed her men and promised them loot, a messenger arrived with bad news: Her mother Jasmine and Nia, the daughter of Jasmine and Kemal (the heir to the throne of Khwarzim) had both been killed in a fire in the palace of Samarkand during a ceremony confirming Nia as Regent for the young prince Sahir (the 5 year old son of Nia and Kemal, Prince of Bokhara) - during which both Kemal and Nia publicly pledged to protect Sahir.
Rana went through her thoughts to understand the ramifications of this. Suddenly the throne of Glorious Samarkand was in turmoil, and Kemal of Khwarzim was in Samarkand, with the army.
Rana herself had a strong claim to the throne as she was the daughter of Jasmine and the Prince of Bokhara. He however had died a few years prior, and had never had many friends at court. And while Sahir was declared the heir apparent and Kemal swore to protect him, Kemal was the prince of Khwarzim but knew the ins and outs of Samarkand for he had been helping administer the realm of Ilig from the court there. He was known to be ambitious and would most certainly attempt to press his claim for the Samarkand throne. Especially while his father, Mustapha, was away at war in Rawwadid.
There was also Saleh, Rana's brother, who had years ago been declared the second heir, and he was a slick tongued devil who was surely making friends at court. Alas, he had no friends amongst the horsemen (although he was a man, not a woman, which did count for something among the warriors). Then there was Aisha, on the other hand, who was a great deal younger (at 17) and another daughter of Jasmine. (ok, I admit this gets really confusing, and, frankly, I had to do a lot of work to figure out who was related to who and what was going on here, and I am sure I got much of it wrong, but I spent hours, literally, trying to figure this dynasty out...darn Lesley didn't label any of these heirs...)
Rana, sensing danger to the realm, immediately set forth with her men for Samarkand to protect the interests of Ilig and ensure that Sahir was declared heir and she would his regent. She abandoned the siege of Tabar and arrived many months later in Samarkand to find that Saleh, who had been underway to Kophat Dagh, had already arrived at the capital and had declared himself Khan of the realm. Rana abandoned the attacks on Rawwadid ("leave it up to the Khwarzim fool Mustapha") while court politics and settling of old scores pre-ocuppied the capital.
In more mundane news, Muslim ulema from Ilig had some success converting the peoples of Gurgan to the true faith.
(Sunni Islam Barbarian Open Empire)
Mohammed Alueddin
Diplomacy:
While the city of Tabar had been holding out for years against the forces of Princess Rana (mainly because the Ilig had no ships to enforce the blockade by sea, so the people of Tabar had become quite accustomed to eating fish from the Caspian) , Mikai'l preferred to ignore the problem, sitting in his palace in Tabriz, surrounded by his harem...when over the border cam Mustapha of Khwarzim at the head of over 5000 horse, eager for loot and plunder. Would these damned Turks not be satisfied with Tabaristan? Even in his addled state, Mika'eil knew he could put off his affairs no longer and sounde the alarm when word reached him that the border had been breached. As the horse and spear-men of Rawwadid heeded the call to arms in Tabriz, Mustapha raided and pillaged across the lands of Elburz. Finally, his men assembled, Mikai'l rode out to meet the enemy. No sooner, however, had he left the capitol than Ilig assassins, lying in wait for just this move, snuck into his camp and slit his throat. His son, Yusuf, took command and vowed vengeance. On the fields of Kurdistan, Mustapha and Yusuf met in battle. But Ilig assassins, ever mindful of the plight of their Khwarzim allies, put an end to Yusuf's life also, and so command of the Rawwadid forces, by now heavily demoralized, fell to the less than stellar Lord Umbar.
Umbar and his 3600 horse, and 2800 spearmen (and sundry others) met the men of Khwarzim in a series of month long running battles across Kurdistan. Aided by a knowledge of the land and the long supply trains the Khwarz were forced to rely upon, by the end of the year, the Rawwadid had worn down the Khwarz forces enough so that any victory they might have had would be pyrrhic. Mustapah was disgusted. "Things would certainly have been different had the Ilig been here. Allies? Pah!" Reluctatnly he sounded the retreat, stifying himself that the land of Elburz had been stripped of any value and the Rawwaddid had been humbled at least in that manner. But Mustapha was never to see his paalce again, for an ambush left him dead by the road just as he was leaving Kurdistan with his men....Back in Samarkand, this news had a quick effect on Kemal, the heir to the throne of Khwarz. Court intrigues soon erupted, and a number of claimants to the throne emerged with both the king dead, the army absent, and the heir not in Khiva but Samarkand. Kemal, not being stupid in these matters rushed back to the capital where he was greeted by Lord Ak'Alla. Luckily for all involved, Ak'Alla remained loyal to the Khivan throne and welcomed the new king home. The army, leaderless in Elburz, and filled with loot from the raids they had undertaken, wandered in piecemeal over the years after many of the men had left to their homes and farms. Fully half the army failed to return. The pagans of Kazakh, however, refused to have anything to do with the new king, and kicked all his tax collectors out.
A lesser known nobleman, by the name of Mohammed, ascended to rule the throne of Rawwadid without much bloodshed.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Religious Primacy)
Omar, Sword of the Faithful
Diplomacy:
Omar continued to rule the caliphate with an iron fist and ensure that none
challenged the theology of the mullahs...
(Sunni Islam Nomadic Open Empire)
al'Muwahhidun
Diplomacy:
The Almohad Caliphate looked inward in these years, and many men settled in and around the rich lands of Aleppo. Nevermore would the holy land be threatened by the Christians, so long as Almohad were there. Alas, the threat to their lands came in these years not from the Christians but from their fellow muslims to the East, when Buwayid warriors marched into Carhae. And, in Antioch, Buwayid agents were apprehended attempting to sneak into the pavilions of al'Muwahhidun, presumably to kill him while he slept. They died most horrible deaths.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Zarife the Old
Diplomacy: Ahvaz (fa)
Spurred on by an unusually harsh winter, in which many crops were lost and the hearts of the people were brought low, Zarife decided to expand his realm at the expense of his neighbors. He dispatched Prince Ayub to conquer the rich lands of Carhae. This was easily done, as the Almoravids remained in Antioch, paralyzed by indecision at the Buwayid incursion. Once in control of Carhae, Ayub dug in, waiting for the inevitable counter-attack.
Awud, son of Zarife the Old, was blessed with many sons in these years.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Rukh al-Din, Sultan of Damasc
Diplomacy:
The Sultan of Damascus eyed his neighbors with suspicion, and was distressed
by the wars that raged around his realm.
(Sunni Islam Nomadic Open Empire)
Ty'rik ur'Adal
Diplomacy:
Yarik died, and his son ascended to the Yemen throne, without much
fanfare.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Abu Jahal, "the Jackal"
Diplomacy:
The jackal continued to dally in his harem, unconcerned with the greater affairs of the world. But, even in his addled state, word did reach his ears of a group of pilgrims who had seen a holy vision of Mohhamed and the Kab'a in the city of Jakhaila. Soon, pilgrims were traveling there from all across Arabia, and the city became a holy site known as the "city of a hundred Mosques..."
(Shi'a Islam Seafaring Religious Order)
Jamis
Diplomacy: Alexndria in Egypt (op), Faiyum(op)
Lord Jamis ruled the order well, and attempted to guide it through its
sometimes rocky relations with the Egyptians, for their history was rife with
struggle, both religious and secular. He married the young (and beautiful)
sister of Ladrow, a master in the Order, and was later blessed with a son from
the union. That same Ladrow busied himself by setting up a preceptory of the
Order in Alexandria, under the watchful eye of the Egyptians.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Badr II
Diplomacy: Ad'Diffah (c), Missionary efforts in Suakin met with resounding
failure...
No longer would Badr put up with the treachery and barbaric ways of the Coptics to his south. Truly, the southern Christians were a sad lot who had caused nothing but trouble for his mighty kingdom - at least in recent years. Raising legions of men, he vowed that never again would they darken the glory that was Egypt. Badr ordered his most trusted generals to march on Omdurman itself, with a host of men. General Assam, leading 14000 various Muslim and nomadic spearmen, 10000 expert armoured sword and spear, 7200 bedouin horse, 2000 of the Sultan's own personal horse, and over 6000 sappers, miners, and slingers, marched south into Nubia. Outside the stone walls of Omdurman the Coptic army of 14,200 men, including a variety of allies and feudal lords that owed allegiance to and shared the faith of the Coptic kings, was brutally slaughtered. Muslim warriors ran rampant over their dead bodies, and invested the fortress and city of Omdurman. The fortress walls did not hold back the Egyptian war machine for more than a few hours once the siege began, and the devastation was horrible. The city itself was without walls, and soon it was in ruins. Unleashing his men, General Assam sacked and then burnt the city to the ground in an orgy of destruction, banishing the women and their wailing to the desolate wastes. "Let the land reclaim all that was this former city fore, in the years to come, Egypt shall make this land her own!" The men grabbed all the loot and women they could get their grimy hands on, and a smaller, paltry sum passed into the Egyptian coffers. Farther to the south, Prince Khatra, at the head 10,000 horsemen, conquered the lands of Axum and Funj, and forced Sennar to pay tribute. The city of Soba, now that the Dongolan kingdom had collapsed, surrendered and its inhabitants were spared. As part and parcel of the invasion, the lands of Alwa were brought under the sway of Egypt, as great numbers of muslims settled in the region.
Elsewhere,
in the dusty port of El'Gitar (home to a multitude of pirates, nomads, renegades
and
refugees from the First Crusade) a number of beggars and refugees spread the
word of a holy vision that appeared in the sky above the city, a great light
enthralling the people and exhorting them towards their faith in
Allah.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Muawayia
Diplomacy: a bit of missionary work in Catalonia...
Muawayia was no fool, and busied himself gathering his forces to repel the Catholics from his realm. He also knew that his muslim brothers in Palermo would be hard pressed to resist the might of Silvio, and sent word for them to strengthen their defenses as best they could. he also built high walls around Casablanca and Mahida as well. His men, worried that he was getting soft and merely waiting for the Catholics to come to them, were pleased when he came to them with his plan...Soon, the lands of Cheliff were rising up in revolt as the Muslims there heard the war-drums of the approaching Cordoban horsemen, led by Muwaiyia himself, coming to liberate their lands...
Adira, the wife of Muwayia, died of some strange flu.
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Open Empire)
Diplomacy:
Open for a player.
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Open Empire)
Ziemowit Curlybeard
Diplomacy:
Peace continued to be the norm in the Duchy...
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Dastan
Diplomacy:
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Theodore the Scribe
Diplomacy:
Although Theodore ruled well and wisely, and the Empire was at peace owing largely to the victories over the infidels in recent decades, droughts, plagues of locusts, and other calamities befell the european farmlands, and the economy suffered for it. The barrenness extended even unto the womb of the Emperor's wife, and rumours were rampant. Was God showing his disfavour of the Romans? The scribes, reading the omens, whispered unto the Emperor, and made him cautious of the hordes that moved across the steppes. The fear of the pagans grew, and the Emperor thus raised many levies and walls to repel any potential invaders. Too, the fleet was on the alert, in case the Shi'a Islamic pirates were to grow bold once again.
Lord Tannhauser was made a Prince of the Empire through marriage to the
Emperor’s youngest niece, Maria. touched
by the faith his lord had in him, he swore undying loyalty to the realm (this
despite his vast legions being fanatically loyal to him). And,
as Theodore and his wife were not yet blessed with a son, Theodora was
pronounced heir to the throne. Lastly, Constantine Phocas died while drilling
his men in Thrace.
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Cimir
Diplomacy:
Old Man Valthan at the fairly unheard of age of 84 finally passed away in his
sleep, peacefully, knowing that he had guided his people to prosperity in his
time. Over the years, his name would become synonymous with wisdom. Mourners,
gathering in a small village of Dorpat on the banks of the Dvina watched and
wailed as his body was engulfed in flames on the dige-raft, as it was set loose
upon the currents. The village henceforth would grow into a small city. Cimir,
assumed the throne without trouble, and while he was whiling away his time
learning affairs of state his wife was kept busy giving birth to no less than
three daughters and two sons in these years.
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Open Empire)
Tyox
Diplomacy & Dynastic events: Tyox's wife, the widow of the former Khan, gave
Tyox a daughter and two strapping sons in birth...
Tyox worked hard to bring order to the realm, for the lives and society had been disrupted by Basil's Crusade, and refugees still crowded the forests, and even today the occasional bandit waylaid travelers. But, even so, things were vastly improved even over a few years ago, and specie was once again flowing in the markets (and into the khan's coffers!). Refugees thronged the streets of Bursa and Kor, and to protect them and others great walls were raised around the cities and fortresses of the Khanate.
Bishop Filos, in a surprising stroke of oratory brilliance, managed to
convince a number of Lydians to renounce their faith for Roman Catholicism.
Known more as a bumbler, many members of the court were quite surprised...
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Mahea, Queen of the Turki
Diplomacy:
The Turki continued to observe the world from their city of Great Bolgar...
(Eastern Orthodox Civilized Open Empire)
Thorfinn
Diplomacy:
The Kievan continued to be complacent, observing the world around them and
taking an inordinate interest in scholarly affairs. both Olga and Anya, Grand
Dames of the Kievan court, passed away in these years.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Euthemius
Dynastic events: Euthemius' wife gave birth to no less than three daughters and
two sons, furthering complicating the lives of the royal genealogists...
Euthemius, ever mindful of the hazards of kingship (witness his poor father, screaming at the walls of the high mountaintop monastery in which he was locked), took care to keep his empire on an even keel. He managed to pay off his various loans to the jewish bankers, and a number of other policies of amity towards them, earned him their trust and friendship while angering a number of the more staunch Catholics in his realm. No matter, it was good to have rich bankers as friends, for while God is powerful, specie can be more so...Euthemius continued to oversee the development of the country and revise the laws along the lines of the Justinianic Code with assistance from Byzantine jurists and canon lawyers from Bologna.
A number of royal scribes followed the former Emperor into the madhouse as they tried to figure out the intricacies of the House of Nikos' genealogy. In the end, they just gave up and took it for granted that it was as the Emperor said. it was further complicated by the marriage of Princess Eudokia in far off France. In this, Eudokia was accomppanied by the ancient Princess Zoe. They took ship at Thessaloniki, where they first prayed at the shrine of St. Demetrios and at the shrine of the icon of the Virgin there, untainted by human hands (as opposed to the infamous Black Virgin, which is hanging in Christophoros' cell). They then commandeered a Roman vessel there, in the name of the Emperor, and the crew took them to south France and they then traveled north to the French king's court. Zoe kept a weather eye out for Eudokia in that pit of French perfidy and less-than-perfect morals. Along with her she brought a hefty dowry for the Parisian kings.
A number of the Black Guard were engaged in some shenanigans keeping their eyes and ears open for potential threats to the empire.
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire)
Tzoemir
Diplomacy:
The Yasi slept...
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Joseph
Diplomacy:
Old Man Frederick, still beaming from the thrashing he gave the Vikings so
many years ago, passed away in his sleep. Joseph took the throne without
incident.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Sviatel
Diplomacy: Slovakia (no effect)
The Bohemians, now peaceful and unthreatened, cultivated much of the land
surrounding Austrian towns and villages, brining bountiful harvests to the
Duchy's markets. The bells of the churches rang for lord Sviatel's wife five
times over these years...each time to announce the birth of a girl, not a boy.
As the girls ran screaming from room to room, Sviatel fumed up and down the
halls "Why me? Why? What I wouldn't give for just one day of peace and
quiet..." he took recess attending various meetings supporting the Pope in
Rome...
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Henry, King of France
Diplomacy: Nivernais (nt - but a bad plate of quail led to the death of Baron
Fulk), Vermandois (t). Called for a Synod in support of the Parisian Pope.
Henry, who had taken to calling himself the King of France, presided over the marriage of a beautiful foreign princess, by the name of Lydia. Traveling all the way from the Oriental Roman Empire, her marriage to the young (very young - 9 years old!) prince Louis had been arranged years prior. Needless to say, neither was happy with the arrangement, but the kings and dukes of the two kingdoms thought it a useful alliance between their families. And Lydia's dowry didn't hurt either. Nonetheless, Louis spent his time playing with toy swords and avoiding his tutors and Lydia pined away in the castle, crying herself to sleep. Everyone was pretty tired of her real soon. Also, Isabella and Frederick, ancient scions of the royal family, finally passed away. These sad events were offset by the birth of three daughters and a son to Queen Marie.
A grand road was begun to link Paris and the Vermandois towns, with help from
the Knights of Christ.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Hugert
Diplomacy: Aquitaine (deveolved to NT), Asturias (devolved to NT), Old Castille
(ditto), Navarre (devolved to EA), Supports the Roman Pope
Hugert, weary and old, tired beyond his already advanced years due to the ravages of war with the Moors, looked out upon his sons and his impending mortality, and knew that he would rather meet his maker leaving Spain at peace rather than the uncertainty and chaos of war. Out of sight of his advisors, he quietly and quickly issued a number of important proclamations and decrees, written late in the evening aided only by his daughter Maria Elizabeth. When he emerged, he spoke first of peace to his counselors. "For long ages, Christian and Moslem blood has flown freely in Iberia. Here, in my reign, it will end. Today Spain has entered into a treaty of peace with the Moslem Akramid Nation. I have signed and affixed to it the Great Seal of Spain beside the signature of the Akramid ruler Mohamar. Hereafter, Asturias, Old Castille, Burgos, Aragon, Valencia, Castellon and Navarre and all souls therein shall, by God's will, be Catholic and under the dominion of the Kingdom of Spain. Portugal, Lisbon, New Castille, Andalusia, Seville, Granada, Madiera, Salamanca, Leon, Cuidad Leon, Galacia, Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Talavera, Badajoz, Geb-Al-Tarik, Murcia and Cordoba and all souls therein shall, by God's will, be Moslem and under the dominion of the Akramid nation. I shall send this treaty to Rome so that the Pope may bless it and the peaceful division of Iberia between Moslem and Christian. Glory to God!"
"Send the treaty to Rome?" asked his son Juan in surprise, "I thought we acknowledged the Paris Papacy..."
"We have in the past," explained Hugert, "but they appear to have turned their backs on us. It has been ten years since the last food or gold was sent from wealthy France, and our people have hungered and suffered. Meanwhile Rome has approached me about reconciliation. They can do much to improve life here in Spain, both temporal and spiritual. For the good of my people I have now pledged my loyalty to the Roman Pope Victor II."
The court was stunned, and murmurs moved through the crowd. But the wisdom of the King's moves were clear by the end of the day, for he followed his statement with a number of other proclamations, including the founding of a new capital in Saragossa, and the devolution of a number of regions and provinces to certain nobles and wealthy barons in order to bring down the burden on the Spanish government. Taking camp in the town of Saragossa, he pledged it would be the site of a grand new government that would rule the Spaniards with peace and benevolence. Whilst there, he opened the first court of Saragossa with the real kicker: support for a Synod to be held in Castellon...A great amount of rumbling was heard amongst the nobles, but, in reality, the commoners of Iberia cared little for the politics of religion, much less the differences between the rites of Paris and Rome. Nonetheless, it was the scheming and conniving of the nobles that probably led Hugert to retire to his tents more often and earlier than usually to relieve his stress. Finally, one morning, he did not awake. Maria Elizabeth, a strong willed and no-nonsense woman, immediately set about cleaning house while she could. Before the more ambitious nobles could raise sentiments against her, she had them locked up and any scent of rebellion quashed. Lord Phillip, although seeming loyal, succumbed also to the purges and died at his manor in the countryside under mysterious circumstances. There were also a number of rumours about Moorish gold flowing into the royal coffers, but those too didn't last long...
Maria, for her part, followed her dear father's last wishes to the letter. He wanted a Roman Catholic Spain at peace with the Moor? So be it!
Her brother, Juan, a bit taken aback both by his fathers' death and his sister's steadfastness and ruthlessness, was easily installed as the King by Maria. But, everyone knew who was really in charge (at least until Juan got his bearings). Perhaps there were some back room deals (or threats?) but Juan also announced that Maria was next in line for the throne should he die with out issue.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Mohamar
Diplomacy:
In January of 1151 Mohamar, Akramid Sultan of Granada quietly affixed his signature and seal to a treaty with the Christian Kingdom of Spain. "My loyal friends, we have fought the Christians for all my life time and all that of my father. By the will of Allah, it will end and peace will come to Iberia if the Christians are true to their words. When the King of Spain signs this treaty as he has promised and the Christian Pope in Rome announces his blessing of the treaty, there shall, Allah willing, be peace in Iberia and the wars that have beset our peninsula shall be at an end. Praise Allah!"
For his part, Mohamar was glad to be, finally, at peace with the Catholic Spanish. T'was true, that the war with them had gone on for many a long year, and many a good friend had been lost. But perhaps even more telling, he knew he needed to be wary in case the Southern Italians continued to press their war against his Muslim brothers in Oran. But, as he was, for the moment pleased that the Spanish Catholics seemed to be holding to the treaty and no word yet had arrived of any italian incursions, he allowed himself the pleasure of marrying a local noblewoman of good birth. A dynasty was begun, as two boys were borne in the years following (finally, a male to carry on the line!). The celebrations continued for many months as peace settled upon the land. Refugees, hoping for the best, began to trickle once again into Elvas and Lisbon, increasing the suburbs there. Caught up in the joyous celebrations, Mohamar decided to crown the young (and handsome) Obrahim as his adopted son and heir. He was married off to the somewhat homely Ofra, and they too were soon blessed with a girl-child.
However, soon came the news that the italians were on the move, and while details were hard to come by, Mohamar knew well enough to assume the worst. he proceeded to order the raising, yet again, of many new levies and conscripts, as well as more than a few knights and forts, throughout his lands. He then ordered Shalmaneser and Achmed, two of his best generals, to the south...after a tense and harrowing passage across the Gates of Hercules (for everyone knew the Italians ruled the seas) they arrived in Morocco and heard that the Italian marco Silvio had, boarded their fleet and had headed north, presumably, to Palermo....<continued under Salerno...>
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Religious Order)
Guillame Guiscard
Diplomacy: Called for a Synod in support of the Parisian Pope.
A grand fortress ("Crack De") was raised in Ile De France overlooking the order's headquarters, while other defenses and highway houses were also strengthened. Lords Trevor and La Roche died in the latter years...
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Phillipe II
Diplomacy:
Soldiered on...
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Marco Silvio
Diplomacy: Tuscany (a)
Marco Silvio, encamped in the desert of Cheliff, fumed. his warships ruled the seas, he had the damnable Muslims on the run and could practically smell their riches in Oran, they should be his for the taking, but, dammit, they had somehow encouraged the Muslims in Palermo to rise up. Long schooled in the classics and literature he was wise enough a commander to know that it was foolish to leave Italia undefended from a possible menacing attack from the city on Sicily. With great reluctance, his men carried word to his admiral Richardo Prolini to sail with the entire fleet and transport him and the army back to Siciliy to take care of this "little problem" first...A few months later, the might Italian fleet hove into view of his encampment. it was quite a sight to see, and nowhere in the Mediterranean was there a fleet as grand or as imposing. As Silvio loaded his men onto the ver two hundred vessels, he burned with rage. He would be back.
Sailing north, Admiral Prolini landed in Sicily to throngs of cheering and distraught Catholics. Fearful of the Muslims in Palermo, they were ecstatic to see their king and nobles return to save them...
Silvio quickly set up to isolate Palermo and his massive fleet isolated it from any seaward approaches, just in case the so-called Sultan of Oran tried to releive it. But, time was also his enemy, for word had already reached him that, even as he had abandoned Cheliff, the people there had risen up to welcome the Sultan's men.
On the other side of the walls of Palermo, both Prince Cathalon and Lord Jaffe, looked out on the Catholic lines. Cathalon had been delayed in his escape from the city by his correspondence with his brothers in Cheliff. He was well loved in that land (well, frankly, he was well loved everywhere in Oran, as many an irate father could tell you...) and had incited passions against Silvio's men from his perch in Salerno. However, had had dallied too long, and the arrival of Lord Jaffe with 16 warships and a number of men had come just weeks before the Italians came into view. Both he and Jaffe, now trapped by sea and land, looked out upon a grim situation as the Italians stormed the city walls.
It "was decided" that Cahtalon, as the heir to the throne, should attempt to run the blockade and return to Oran. He tried to sneak out under dead of night, but was easily intercepted (Cathalon, while known for his charm and good looks, was not necessarily the savviest military commander). The 16 muslim warships were sunk in rapid sucession in a running battle, and Cathalon barely made it out alive when he was picked up by ignorant fishermen who discovered him afloat on some driftwood a few days later. He gave them the clothes off his back, and what little money he had to get back to Palermo...
Lord Jaffe, meanwhile, stayed behind to rally the defenders against the forces outside the walls. As the Italians surged toward the city, and their warships catapulted stones into the city square, it became clear to jaffe that while the Italian fleet was greater than anything the Muslims could ever hope to stand against, the actual number of men outside the walls was somewhere in the order of around 4 - 7 thousand. This emboldened Jaffe for he himself had slipped into Palermo with almost 4,000 men just a few weeks earlier. While this was dawning on Jaffe, another very related realization hit Silvio: it was well known that the Muslims had been practicing the art of siege and wall-works far longer and better than the italians had...the hastily erected walls around Palermo were, frankly, more impressive than Silvio had envisioned. These facts, added to some surprisingly good decisions by Jaffe, meant that the day was a disaster for the Italians. His men, slaughtered upon the walls of Palermo, Silvio was forced to retreat in disarray to his flagship. The Sicilians, for their part, were horrified by this turn of events for Jaffe took the opportunity to sally forth into Sicily itself. In a bid to capture the land, the fortifications and castles there proved too much for his skill, and after a couple horrendous ambushes, he returned to the walls of Palermo. Silvio, for his part, fuming, angry, and fit to be tied, returned with the fleet to Naples and abandoned his plans to conquer all of Oran (his comforted himself in the arms of his wife, who later on gave birth to a son...). And, just to add insult to injury, Admiral Prolini, who had been aiding the defense of Sicily died in an ambush by some Muslim bandits.
Meanwhile, Cheliff had been liberated from Italian control by troops of
Cordoba. Akramid horsemen, under Achmed and Shalmaneser, recieved word
that since the italians had been driven from Oran lands, that they were to
proceed south into the lands of the Idjil beduin tribes (!). Needless to say,
they were perplexed, for they had no indication as to what they were to do once
they passed through the Idjil lands, merely to "travel to Mauritania."
But, even that distant land was a blasted and dry desert, not to mention the
hostile lands of the Idjil tribes. But, dutiful soldiers, they marched south
until their men could take it no longer. Without reason for the journey, they
werer hard put to keep their men loyal under the withering ambushes of the Idjil
and the deadly heat of the desert...eventually, they turned back and returned to
Casablanca and civilization.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Marcus
Diplomacy: Continued to support the Roman Papacy in the Synods...
Doge Marcus, despite noble opinion, caved in to Savoyard demands that the lands of Lombardy and the city of Vincencia therein be turned over to them. Needless to say, the residents there (well, those that were landed and had something to lose, not the peasants, who always get crapped on no matter who rules over them) were up in arms about this betrayal. Lord Pietro, anticipating such troubles, moved into Lombardy with a small force of knights to escort any who wished to remain under Venetian rule out of the area. As Pietro was quite the silver-tongued devil, a not-insignificant number did leave for Verona. Many of those who remained behind changed their minds when they heard tales of the smelly Savoyards moving in...All of this did not sit well with the nobles back home in Venice, for they despised the idea of working with any who hewed to the heretical Parisian Pope's line, and even more, they hated the thought of their lands diminishing. Many, in whispers, wondered whether Marcus had gone daft...For his part, Marcus spent most of his free time either in court or with his family, and his wife gave him a number of sons and daughters over these years.
The duke of Carinthia died of old age, and his son continued the alliance with Venice. A force of Venetian knights, battle hardened and weary returned from the distant Western Roman Empire to a heroes welcome.
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Open Empire)
Dong Silverweasle
Diplomacy: Supported the Parisian Pope, and helped call for a Synod. And
suffered jeers and insults due to their close ties with the Papists next door...
Dong, despite being a stinky barbarian used to colder climes, managed to threaten, cajole, or just plain browbeat the Papist Venetians into relenquishing their control over Lombardy. Needless to say, rather than live as second class citizens, many of the residents of Lombardy fled for Verona as the Hyperboreans moved in...the Savoyards did not get in their way ("hah! let them leave...this land is ours now...") A revolt by the people who stayed behind didn't last long, and the land was settled with a large number of refugee Hyperboreans. Some rumoured that, although the Papists were pushovers, Dong had allied himself with them.
Dong was busy in other ways, for a truly gifted man by the name of Caesar Adolphus had recently come into his own in the Savoyard court, and Dong saw his potential right away. Manuevering his family affairs like so many chess pieces, he took Adolphus under his wing and conspired to get him married off to the Crown Princess. And so it was, for Adolphus was quite a catch, from a good Cavallerri family and Christina actually appreciated the fact that he bathed and wore clean clothes, unlike her own family.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Religious Primacy)
Pope Victor II
Diplomacy: Lombardy (CA), A Synod was called for in Rome.
His Holiness Pope Victor, as protector of Christianity but also mindful of
his duties of state, was overjoyed to hear the news from Spain. "God be praised!" Began Pope Victor, "the children of the Book have been reconciled at last! Scribe, have this
proclamation issued throughout Christendom - his holiness blesses the peace between Cordoba and Valencia.
All Christians are urged to keep the peace so hard won by the ceaseless negotiations of the King of Valencia and
Caliph of Cordoba. May this be the first step in a new understanding with our neighbours and shame those heretics
into laying down their arms and being reconciled with their Christian brothers."
To celebrate, he endeavoured to strengthen the chruches hand across Italia and
elsewhere by bringing a number of local churches and monasteries into the fold
of Mother Church. The capstone of this was the founding of a grand cathedral in
Lombardy by the Pope himself, but there were other, just as notable successes.
For example, Papal Guards hit upon some innovative and effective techniques for
drilling and forming lines, giving the Pope more confidence in his warriors of
God. Furthermore, there was a great deal of talk with the Armenians about the
similarities and history between the Church and their rite. Alas, bad news came
too: both advanced in years, Cardinal Formosus and Archibishop LanFranc passed
away at various times.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Cardinal LeRoy
Diplomacy: Supported themselves in the Synods.
No orders received.
The Politics of the Synods
There were calls by Savoy, France, and the Knights of Christ for a Synod in Paris, but it was clear that the cause of the Parisian Pope was weakening. The Spaniards had abdicated from the camp of the Parisian "pope" and the votes of the Knights no longer counted for much. Nonetheless, the Anacletan church remained ensconced in Paris, defiant, and willful that their cause was just. The Roman Papacy also hosted a Synod in Rome, where they garnered much support. But, as a result of there being Two synods in the space of these five years, the ultimate question of the legitimacy of the Papacy remained in question. Many of the advisors to the Anacletan court began to talk openly of taking up the Romans on their offer of becoming an Order of the Church...
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Erik
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Bjorn Torvalds.
Diplomacy: bah!
As vagabonds, pirates, and dispirited refugees continued to settle on Orkney, the city of Kirkval grew in size, and its markets too became known around the seas as a place where one could purchase a variety of foreign and local goods. Favorites included islamic gold inlays and ceramics - much of which, of course, had been stolen in raids by the Vikings years prior. As a precaution, with the richness of Kirkval, Bjorn ordered its walls and defenses greatly strengthened. But, more to the point, he had grown tired in recent years of the upstart Irish, and sent messengers off to the Icelandic vikings and even the despised English, giving them an idea for his plans. With that, the Orkney fleet set off once again, looking for plunder and riches. In this case, however, these terrors of Europe were striking much closer to home. As the cunning Lord Halfdan sailed south with the nearly 12,000 strong band of warriors (and no less than almost a hundred longboats) this time he sailed for the land of Ulster, long sympathetic to the Orkneys. There, his men marched on the Irish city of Armagh, while the fleet sailed along the coast...
In other news, a daughter was born to Prince Domnall, and Skovr Bear Claw
died in a barroom brawl in Kirkval. Princess Ottkatla also died, but of the
Consumption.
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
James
Diplomacy: Cornwall (t), Voted for the Roman pope in the Synods...
Good King Robert's wife gave him another daughter in the twilight of his
years (he was gone the next month, and James took the throne without incident).
James' wife, too, was kept off her feet raising three squawling new boys. Bishop
Heethman was kept busy preaching against the heresy in Dyfedd, with only
moderate success. But the real action was elsewhere...one of James' first
actions as the new king was to receive a messenger from the Viking Orkney
islands, who convinced him to aid in the destruction of the Irish realm.
Long a thorn in the English side, with the purported attack on Thomond by the
Orkney jar and Icelandic Vikings alike, it made no sense to not settle the Irish
question once and for all. And so Catherine, a skilled and learned lady, was
dispatched to command an English army to the shores of Munster...
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Sven Olaffson
Diplomacy:
Lauren, queen of Iceland, tired of the long dynastic struggles and eager to see her birthright settled before her final rest, welcomed the news that the Orkneyjar brought. They wished to end the irish kingdom once and for all, and so urged her to claim to the throne of Ireland, hers by right through the exiled Irish princess Fionna. And so it was to be, and the housecarls of Iceland set off in their longboats to accompany the raiders to Ulster. As they set off, Lauren's heart gave way, and she died in her bed the next week. Sven returned to take the throne...
Thorshavn on the Faeroes was rebuilt from the ruins.
(European Pagan Seafaring Open Empire)
Olaf the Witless
Diplomacy:
Aside from the death of Bjarn, nothing much happened in Norway...
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Open Empire)
Sean
Diplomacy: Connaught (f)
No sooner had Sean roused himself from the slumber that was Ireland (and in so doing cultivated Munster and counted the people and oxen in his realm...), then his fair land came under attack! The first rumblings of danger came when word reached the king that Vikings had landed in Ulster and had surrounded Armagh by land and by sea. Then lookouts spotted the English fleet coming in from the East towards Munster itself. Clearly, the Vikings had decided to, once again, press their claim for the Irish throne. With a weary heart, Sean assembled his warriors, and marched to the shore to meet the English and drive them into the sea, if he could. Luck, the weather, and the beach were on Sean's side. While many of his men lay dead on the beaches when the day was done, many more English would never see England again. The English commander, Catherine, was forced to withdraw her men and ships after inflicting tough losses on the Irish. "Let the damned Vikings deal with them!" she cursed as she sailed to Gwynedd to regroup.
Meanwhile, the city of Armagh, isolated and defenseless, had surrendered to the Orkney and Icelandic vikings, and they were soon on the march south. His scouts warned him of the size of the approaching Vikings, and Sean chose to wait for them in Munster. The land was familiar, and they were fighting for their very freedom now, perhaps that would help turn the tide. Soon, Lienster had been conquered, and the Icelanders and Orkneyjar housecarls were marching on Sean's army itself. Sean was, frankly, despondent when he saw the more than 14,000 Vikings arrayed against his less than 7,000 men. In the pitched battles that soon followed, he sold each patch of ground dearly, and took two lives for every one he lost, but still, the Orkneyjar duke Halfdan was too brilliant to be denied. Soon, Sean had been forced to fall back to Clonfert. Another series of battles and ambushes in the city streets led to another defeat for Sean, and he was forced to retreat with the men and ships he had left to Connaught and the Irish lords there. The Vikings did not pursue, but, instead, conquered proud Clonfert for Iceland, while the Orkneyjar warriors licked their wounds.
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Ndahura
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(Coptic Christian Civilized Open Empire)
John
Diplomacy:
No orders received, and trouble was brewing in the far north. A terrible time
for the kingdom to be bereft of leadership and cunning, for it was sorely
needed...and indeed, when the Egyptian armies invaded, the armies of Dongola
could not stand against them (see Egyptian results).
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Langalibalele
Diplomacy:
No orders recieved...
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Chakran
Diplomacy: Kafue(nt)
Chakran, long a strongman leading the three great cities of Zimbabwe, Chumnungwa in the desert, and Mwene-Mutapha, had over the years cunningly drawn to himself and his court more and more power that had, in long centuries previously, resided with the lords of the cities and the chieftains. A hundred years ago, the chiefs would sit around a table, each being accorded his due as an equal, with the lord of Mwene-Mutapha being simply one of them. Now, however, it was clear that those arrangements were no longer needed, for all power ran through the person of Chakran himself. Hence at the latest council of chieftains, Chakran declared himself Emperor of All. The chiefs, haven been riven of their power over the decades, could not stand against him. Finally, Chakran truly had to answer to none. In a grand celebration, Mapungubwe was cleaned up, and a variety of land brought under cultivation in Rozwi and Matopos. And a son was borne to Changa's wife (Changa being the heir to the throne, for those bushmen amongst you who don't follow Mwene dynastic politics).
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Xamseb
Diplomacy:
Open for a player.
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire)
Amanitore
Diplomacy:
No orders received...
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Nombato, Lion of the Sahel
Diplomacy: Jos (nt)
In his continuing efforts to enrich himself and his realm, more land was ordered under cultivation by Nombato, especially in the lands of Kafin, Daza, and Ikego. Time will tell if the land can be brought under the hoe. Concerned about the expansionist tendencies of the powerful Ibo, the Lion of the Sahel stretched his legs and looked around for prey. Nombato ordered his own warriors to the field, to impress those petty tribes around. Bolstered by a group of Koumbi mercenaries and other renegades, the land of Soro. The Soro chieftains, however, had fought their ilk before and were skilled in spear-use. Inflicting grievous losses on the Kongo warriors did not, in the end, win them their freedom. Lord Bolgani, having sluaghtered the men of Soro then tried to make nice with them by grabbing one of the local princesses (whose father had just, incidentally, been killed by Kongo warriors) and forcing her to be his bride. The Soro were not impressed, and Bolgani's attempts to improve their feelings towards his chief did not bear fruit.
Two daughters and a son were borne to the wives of proud Nombato. These souls coming into the world demanded two souls depart, and so they did: in the birth of thier son, Nombato's second wife died in childbirt. And Lord Seke, while dining with the chiefs of Jos, keeled over, as his soul abruptly returned to the gods for it's reckoning.
(African Pagan Civilized Open Empire)
Baru
Diplomacy: Bani (ne)
Chief Baru's strength was in clear evidence as his wives gave birth to no
less than 4 children - 2 boys, 2 girls - over these years. mobute's attempts to
take stock and count the inhabitants of the realm were frustrated by the chaos
of the recent wars with Koumbi, and the intrasigence of the peasants to answer
his men. In fact, Mobute was a renowned failure this yar, as the Bani tribes
ignored him entirely, and he couldn't even find a wife there. To the West,
however, General Zabour (a brilliant warrior if there ever was one) was marching
around Ghana. Later, the residents were noted to be a bit more bitter, a bit
more sullen, and there were much fewer mosques around. Refugees helped cause the
small village of Lupe in Garou to grow into a small city.
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Yuloui
Diplomacy:
The kingdom -- in tatters and occupied by the warriors of Ibo for these many
years -- faded into the dustbin of history.
(African Pagan Civilized Open Empire)
M'Bwanza
Diplomacy: Gurma (hostile)
M'Bwanzaa returned home through Songhay lands to his court with the Igbo warriors, victorious over the Koumbi swine (although they remained intransigent in their Muslim beliefs). Alas his return was marred by the news that while he was away his son Cestwana had died (it was unclear whether it was from a bad batch of couscous or a Koumbi assassins' blade, as the body had decomposed too rapidly in the hot sun of the hills where he was found). The king was inconsolable, except for in the arms of his wives. Two children were borne to his wife, but they could not replace Cestwana. Later that year, tragedy struck again as Chief Ameche succumbed to one of the many fevers that threaten these lands. And the cold hand of death moved across the lands yet once more, when angry tribesmen in Gurma murdered lord yugambe during his negotiations there. No great disruption of plans occurred from these deaths, except the spread of sorrow. Otherwise, the land as a whole prospered as peace returned and loot filled the homes of the returned warriors and farmers. Trade was opened up with the Kanem tribes, and bribes, er, transfers of money, were sent to those barbarians, for purposes only known to the King himself...