Lords of the Earth 

CAMPAIGN TWENTY-FOUR

Italy Ravaged

Turn 50

1246 ~ 1250 Anno Domini
608 ~ 612 in the year of the Hegira

New for T50

New Action Format: I’d really like to play test this and get the rules sorted out. I’m torn between selecting an area (i.e. the East) or allowing a mix and match – what do you guys think?

Request Royal Marriage: Used to ask a NPN nation for a bride for one of your Princes or a suitor for one of your little Princesses. Cost is 6AP, Charisma based. The leader doesn’t have to be in the NPNs capital but if he isn’t then he needs to be in your homeland/capital.

New for T49

No Orders: If I don’t get any orders in for a position and the player doesn’t answer my emails then I’ll use the NPN rules on that position for spending etc until the player’s cash runs out or he/she picks it up again.

Naval Reaction and Blockade: Naval Reactions can only occur when there is action in a Sea Zone that the fleet is based at. The fleet has to be based from a port and not the Sea Zone. Also, the Reaction can only occur when your own lands or those of an ally benefiting from a Defensive Pact marriage bonus are attacked. It also applies to any merchant fleets you operate through the Sea Zone in the case of piracy.  Naval Blockade’s only work if your fleet is based in the same Sea Zone as the target port and you spend all (every single one) of your APs in the blockade. The fleet must be based from a port and not a Sea Zone.

New for T48

The use of fleets for Reaction and mitigating the effects of Pirates: My understanding has now changed since we GMs have had some discussion on the list. The use of Reaction has been explained on the Wiki and Patrol is no longer used in the Base Rules.

Reaction

 

Trade Route Escorts

 

  • This is specific to Lords 24. Units can be assigned to a trade route to act as static convoy escort using the G type leader. Note this is not as good as patrol as the warships assigned will only reduce the effects of piracy, not capture or destroy the pirates themselves.

 

Updated NPN and Primacy rules: Yep, been tinkering again but I feel a almost serene sense of satisfaction with my latest offering. See what you think.

 

Added the ability to hire mercenary captain when there is no mercenary company available: See the mercenary tables

New for T47

Improved cultivation at TL5: If a nation has reached the dizzy heights of TL5 than it can benefit from improved cultivation. You can Improve a cultivated homeland region from 2GPv to 3GPv, or any other controlled cultivated region from 1GPv to 2GPv. This is a level one megalithic construction.

New for T46

NPNS: I’ve tweaked the NPN and Primacy/Order rules a little to make them fit better with the 24 game. I’ve also reduced their overall RRV to make diplomacy easier.

Second Positions in the East: As I’ve not got a lot of players in the East, I would be willing to allow a second position from existing players. Let me know if you’re interested.

New for T45

New Rivers: I’ve added in some new possible rivers onto the map. These are rivers that were once passable by light traffic (remember Cogs cannot travel on rivers) and have now become silted up. You can dredge a stretch of the river (along one region border edge) as a 0.5 level project.

Gripes:

Agro as conversion – this has restrictions (see 2.11.5.3) which I will be enforcing from now on.

Rivers can only support light ships – as far as I know Cogs cannot travel on rivers. This also includes Cogs built for trade.

New Primates: We have two new Primate positions this turn. Jumal Skyfather, which is an Estonian god and the Coptic Church based out of Axum.

New for T44

Minor islands and City States: I’ll be allowing minor islands (Corfu, Jerba, Wight etc) and city states to be used as locations from T44. Just let me know the rationale behind why you want it separate and if reasonable I’ll add it in. Once they are created as locations, they obey all the rules of islands etc. However, their Gpv cannot go above 0.

Flooding: The last few turns have seen a massive increase in the amount of flooding that has occurred. It appears that the years are getting warmer and wetter. As a result of this some of the minor rivers on the map are once again becoming passable to river traffic.

Denmark: Following on from the Minor Islands stuff, you can see that Denmark is now separated out to Jutland and Syaland (Zeeland).

Announcements and items of note

General Stuff: Please use my Paypal account (stephenbrunt@yahoo.co.uk) for all Lords’ 24 payments. If you cannot use this facility then please let me know and I will see what I can do about filtering US funds to my account. I may also stop using the throneworld email address due to the mass of spam I’m getting!

 

Order Form: Please use the standard excel order form from now on. I’ll update the site with a link to it next week when I get some time. This is important as it helps me process the turn more quickly. THIS IS NOW MANDATORY.

 

Non-Payment: some of you still owe me some cash. Although it may come as surprise that this is not my main source of income, I see it only polite that you pay for the occasionally night out. So, if you’re under zero next turn I’ll not process you orders.

 

Version 6: Lords 24 uses version 6 of the basic rules

 

The Map: The map now includes India as well as Europe, Central Asia and Africa. I’ve greyed out repeated areas on the maps to make my life easier. However, this means some player nations are split across more than one map. I may increase the size of the main map but I’ll have to think on this.

 

Tithes and Tribute: I think these are automatically updated by the stats program, so no need to declare them in your orders.

Control of the Papacy and Religious Orders: In Lords 24 we will not always have a player Pope (or Caliph etc for that matter) and the following rules are used to determine which player faction controls the Pope’s actions, Papacy Rules. I’ve also added some stuff about gaining support from their armies

How to make your GM happy (PLEASE READ! REALLY!):

Please send any and all Lords24 correspondence to lords24gm@ymail.com or stephenbrunt@yahoo.co.uk .

LORDS 24 WEB RESOURCES 

The Lords Twenty-Four homepage is at: 
http://lords.throneworld.com/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: 
http://lords.throneworld.com/?page_id=2

You can subscribe to the Lords 24 mailing list by pointing your web-browser at: 
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/lote24

…and following the instructions on that page.

VARIOUS FEES AND LEVIES 

At the moment the turns cost $5 – please pay up of you owe

We are using the latest v6.3.5 of the basic rule book that can be found here

http://lords.throneworld.com/players/loterule/rules.html


Turn 51 Orders due by: Wednesday the 19th August 2009

Without further ado, the news for these years in Lords 24 history...


Eastern Europe

The Varangian Rus of Kiev

(Orthodox Civilized Open Empire)
Peter, King of the Rus

Peter was blessed with a young daughter during these years. Prince Vassily and the indomitable Princess Anya patrolled the Pechneg border in case of Magyar retaliation. The Magyars were unconcerned with the loss of the troublesome Pechnegs and stayed clear of Vassily’s army until 1247 when their attempted raid was foiled by the able Prince. Princess Anya caught a fever whilst on campaign and died in the spring of 1248 after a harsh winter. Most of Peter’s nobility were engaged in setting up defences in case of attack. It was left to Piotr to curry favour with the Order of St Vladimir but in this he had little success.

The Ests

(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire)
Andrus III, Kings of the Ests

Novgorod was greatly improved with new drainage ditches built to aid the harvests there. Andrus mustered a force of four thousand men in Estonia to complement his army. He started to rule the Kingdom from Estonia but was struck down by a massive boar whilst on the hunt. His son, also called Andrus, took control of the Kingdom without any dissent. Gcarson of Livonia patrolled the Kingdom’s lads from his base in Veposkava; he was aided in his counsel by Vilnus. One of Andrus’s last acts was to increase he merchant shipping out of Reval.

The Western Uighur Khanate

(Sunni Islam Civilised Open Empire)
Barjik, Khan of the Uighurs

Barjik ruled his Khanate from Thrace and celebrated the marriage of his son Ediz to the Princess Lamya of the Buwayids. An alliance was forged between the two nations. His joy at his son’s wedding helped him with the loss of his wives, Anna and Aaliya in the years previous. Emin managed to escape from Epirus and made his way back to Serbia. The diplomatic efforts of Emre and the Imam Mahmoud saw the city of Larissa offer tribute to Barjik. The royal road from Thessaloniki to Heraclea was completed. The city of Thessaloniki no longer aspiring to greatness and concerned only with its own affairs. Barjik rasied an army of four thousand men in Thrace for his won command.

 

Elsewhere in Eastern Europe

Constantinople’s walls are rebuilt, the city state gains a foothold in Pontus. The Ademid’s gain the support of the Kuban. The Kingdom Hungary fails in their attempt to convert the pagans of Bosnia. Bulgaria pledges some small support to Buda-Pesht. The Order of St Vladimir raids into Turov and then seeing the minimal Magyar defences, takes the region. It is converted to Orthodoxy by the sword. An Order House is built in Pechneg. The Hanafi Madhhab again attempts to force its will on the Rum Khanate. Again the Order’s forces are pushed back to Bithnia, this time with huge losses. The Kaliph builds new sites for the Order throughout Anatolia and the Holy Land. The Eflaks become and ally of the Magyars and Ialomita is taken for the Khan. Galatia throws off the yoke of Armenian control.

Scandia and the Out Isles

Jarldom of Orkeneyjar

(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Nicholas Larsson, Jarl of Orkney

The lands of Ulster were improved and the new cultivation techniques applied to the Highlands. The clerics of the Jarldom were also busy building another House for Le Marteau de Dieu. Jarl Nicholas continued to sire children, a young son was born to him by the mysterious Alesund. Frigga was unsuccessful in raising Le Marteau de Dieu House in Strathclyde to a Preceptory. Her promised gift of the lordship of Dublin would have to wait for some more years. Nicholas’s fleet was further augmented by another twelve ships in Kirkval, two of which were the fierce Viking longboats.

Kingdom of Svear

(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Olaf Arnoldson, King of the Svear

Olaf continued to sit at ease within his kingdom. Gold and men were spent on increasing the fortune of his people.

 

 

 

Saxon Kingdom of England

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Arthw I, King of England

London again grew in size; it now rivalled Portchester and was close to its old population before the plague struck the city. Two thousand elite cavalry were raised for the King’s guard in London. The merchants of Wells gained a boost from the King’s treasury when their fleets were augmented. The heretics in Dyffed continued to dwindle as Saxon missionaries searched then out. King Arthw himself was successful in gaining further support from the rich lands of Wessex. Snipes managed to ingratiate himself with the Duke of Cornwall and Monteque successfully gained an alliance from Land’s End. The Baron of far Berwick died during these years and the city withdrew most of its support for Arthw.

 

Western Europe

Heiliges Romisches Reich

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Heinrich, Holy Roman Emperor
.

The Emperor Heinrich was still worried about further possible rebellions and paid more attention to the gossip at court. The old hunchback Gerhard was pulled from his library and sent south to aid the Knights in Malta; Prince Hans was to replace him at court. Heinrich woes deepened when his wife Ofelia died in childbirth in 1246. More gold was sent to Malta and a postal road completed from Lyon to Cannes. The lands of Saxony were much improved. Prince Lanzo remained in Osnabruck, commanded to gain further ties with the city. However, he caught a fever and died in 1246. Aldabert von Matrunco took command of the German army in Saxony from Heinrich and moved down to Bavaria, there to watch eastwards in case of Magyar attacks. He was supported by the Duke von Klassen. An alliance was gained in Stuttgart from the efforts of Cristian von Lausatia. The Bishop Adriano Viccenzo was seen snooping around the fleshpots of Saxony, ostensibly to find out of there was any cultic activity in the region but more likely to water his appetites. 

Norman Kingdom of France

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Raymond, King of France

King Raymond completed the royal road from Paris to Nerdone [1]. Much of the merchant shipping commissioned by King Guilliame was put to use on the trade routes from Cherbourg and Calais to make better use of the spare anchorage there. Raymond was also active in other areas and his new wife from Tours bore him a son. Old Prince Roger died in 1247 from a festering wound brought on by his drinking. Prince Archimbaud was entrusted with the lion’s share of the French army and patrolled the southern border from Aquitaine. Laurent had collected the various disperse garrisons from throughout the Kingdom and brought them to Archimbaud’s command. The offer of King Raymond’s hand in marriage and the efforts of Bishop Abelard and Marc meant that the city forgot its past grievances with the Franks and promised an alliance.

Principality of Salerno

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Ricardo III, Prince of Salerno

An uneasy peace spread throughout Sicily although the soothsayers spoke of much suffering to come. The walls of Palermo were restored and in Naples a vast army of nine thousand or more men was raised. The damage caused by the raids in Liguria and Verona of past years was repaired. Ricardo ruled his Principality from Salerno while the Count of Vincencia was tasked with the defence of Palermo and moved across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the port. Once in Palermo, he met with Geraldo Buccelli who had recently shipped the newly raised men from Naples to the port and Maxcillio who commanded the remaining cavalry garrison. Nuselus was stationed in Campania with over four thousand of the Principalities best horsemen. He was called on time and time again to repel the Buwayid raiders but his failure to reach Romagna in time meant that the region was enslaved and pillaged to destruction[2]. Bishop Masconi was also in Palermo to plead with the city’s elite to show more support for Naples.

The Papal States

(Roman Catholic Civilised Religious Order)
Pope Callistus III, God’s Voice on Earth

Churches were built in God’s name in Valletta, Savoy and Liguria. Missionaries reversed most of the Kaliph’s gains in Genoa and established a large minority in the troubled island of Sicily[3]. Cardinal D’Este is ordained as the Pope Callistus III and decides that large scale forgiveness of the sins of his laity is in order and that the church should sell indulgences. The proceeds were funnelled in to pay for a grand new Basilica in Rome dedicated to Saint Peter. The Archbishop Anslem travelled to far Orkneyjar where as tithe was promised from Jarl Nicholas. Before his death in 1248, the Cardinal O’Connor built a Church in Westphalia. Cardinal Ottobuno was called upon to defend Latium from Buwayid pirates and caused great losses amongst the raiders. The loss of the Cathedral in Provence to Islamic zealots meant that the Papal States struggled to keep control of its northern holdings.

The Akramid Caliphate

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Darkan, Caliph of the Akramids

Taking a chance that the Anacletan’s would not attack in these years, Darkan dispatched the great and good of the Caliphate to Oran. More marriages were arranged with the royal sons Wahlin, Karnchim, Mohamed, Rashi and Birol all gaining Umayyad wives. The Caliph was also married to a new Umayyad bride but sadly she died in childbirth along with Darkan’s first wife who suffered the same fate. To prevent further raids, a great number of light cavalry was raised throughout the Caliphate and several forts were built in Granada. Darkan took command of the Caliphate’s army after a short visit to Mahidia to collect his unfortunate bride[4]. Prince Obrahim was to act as Darkan’s second in command in case of any attack from the Christians. The efforts of Imam Astroman and the Caliphate’s nobility meant that the Umayyad dynasty was finally integrated into the Akramids. Their plague ravaged lands were now Darkan’s to command.

The Anacletan Order

(Roman Catholic Civilised Religious Order)
Bernard the Ugly, Grandmaster of the Anacletan Order, Scourge of Islam

The Order’s status grew throughout Aragon, England and France. Houses were built in Provence and Gascony although a proposed House in Navarre was not built due to a collapse in the Spanish labour market. Bertrand spent a futile time travelling throughout France in the attempts to improve the Order’s holdings there. His proposed marriage to the Princess Marguerite of France also fell through when it came to light that the Princess was not as eligible as Bertrand was told. It appeared that she already had a husband in the Count of Orleans. Guisgard was left in command of the Order’s forces in Catalonia until his frustrated lord’s return. Robert was slightly more successful than Bertrand when an Oratory was built in Orleans. His attempts to build another in Nivernais came to nothing. Pascal was also unlucky in Ponthieu when a partially built Preceptory collapsed and almost killed the Brother. The Order’s sites in Languedoc and Marseilles were set alight, supposedly by German’s opposed to the Order’s advance into their lands. None of the perpetrators was caught but they were overheard plotting and trying to acquire Egyptian robes for the attack.

Elsewhere in Western Europe

The Maliki Madhhab again attempted to raid into Valencia, their forces were met by Pedro of Aragon and easily pushed out of the region. Houses were built for the Order by the Kaliph’s men throughout North Africa and Spain. The Umayyads were ravaged by the dreaded pneumatic plague, a more virulent but shorter lived and airborne version of the bubonic plague.

                               

The Middle East

The Buwayid Sultanate

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Hamzah, Sultan of the Buwayids

The cities of Antioch grew in size during these years; the walls of Antioch being replaced with inferior but adequate replacements. Over seven thousand cavalry were raised in Baghdad with a large percentage going to Hamzah’s own personal guard. Buwayid missionaries were active in Bithnia and Crete but had little or no success in converting the population in those lands. Hamzah ruled his Sultanate from Baghdad and dispatched Wa’il to Heraclea where the Princess Lamya was to be married to Ediz of the Uighurs. An alliance was formalised with the Khanate to help protect the western borders. A large contingent of cavalry were then taken under Wa’il’s command and moved north to Bithnia. Prince Nadir was again active converting the nobility of Antalya before his death in 1249. The able Prince Haythan continued his essential duties patrolling the eastern frontier from Diyala.  Given the parlour state of the Ghaznavid nation, it was not difficult for Ghiyath to stir up unrest in Rasania. The city rebelled against its Afghan overlords. Abdul-Hafiz was sent to lay claim to the lands of Mand for the Sultanate. It was the fierce Imam Numair that took command of the Sultanate’s fleet of nearly one hundred and seventy vessels. A large marine contingent was drafted in to augment the fleet. Several months in the Ionian Sea brought no pickings for the fleet before they attempted to land on the Verona coast. Numair was thwarted by Nuselus and his cavalry, beacons had been lit and the Italians managed to catch a few Buwayid stragglers and hand then from the walls of Venice. Feeling his work was done, Nuselus returned to Campania with his men. However, Numair was intent on destruction and landed unopposed in Romagna in the summer of 1247. The region was set aflame and its people enslaved. Much gold was carried back to the waiting ships and Numair set sail for Spoletto. This time the beacons were lit and Nuselus prevented the Buwayid’s from landing. Numair was almost successful in Apulia but by now the Italian coast was alive with watchful eyes, straining for any sign of the dread Moslem fleet. When Numair struck Latium he met the full force of the Papal wrath when Ottobuno cut down the remaining Buwayid marines and captured the slower moving triremes before the could return to the sea. Further raids into Liguria and Campania were thwarted by Nuselus and his men.

Al-Khulafa'ur Rashidun

(Sunni Islam Civilized Primacy
Zaahir al Shiraj, the Righteous Kaliph

The great wall built to protect the Holy Land was extended through Lebanon and Aleppo. Gold and grain was shipped to the Adjou and Gefara and more gold sent to the Al’Bahri to aid them in their defence of Islam.[5] The Kaliph Zaahir was blessed with another four children, proving that he was at least good for something. Rasheed Sahm’A moved throughput North Africa and Moslem Spain with Jabril Izdihar and the Emir of Al’Qamishli, building Houses for the Madhhab of Granada. Islamic missionaries were active in Petropolis and Romagna and found some converts in these lands. The Kaliph’s attempts to lower the piety of Salernese failed despite almost overwhelming commitment from the Rashidun clerics. Tahmid of the Adjou travelled to the Khwarzim where he took the hand of a Khwarzimi Princess. Qamar al-Sa’di led a group of clerics throughout Anatolia and the Holy Land in order to provide Houses for the Madhhab of Bithnia.  Clerics were sent to the Akramids and Alexandria to illuminate the local clergy on the latest doctrine. Some clerics were also sent to the Orders in Granada and Bithnia to assist with their growing estates.

North Africa

The Ayyubid Sultanate

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Mejid, Sultan of the Ayyubids

The Great Library of Alexandria was restored to it former glory. The magnificent building a centre of learning and philosophy not seen since the days of Aristotle. A fortress was built on the Axum – Alwa border and a bridge built over the Nile there. Kassala was finally cultivated by 1249. Alexandria also benefited from improved sewers and some of those handy stones steps to allow the nobility to cross the streets without touching the filth below. A contingent of two thousand horse were raised in the city. Mejid promoted Rashid to his heir and Prince Jibrail was also presented at court. Mejid himself was occupied with the defence of Sicily; a task that had become somewhat of an obsession with the Sultan. Hakim was tasked with transporting the reinforcements of ten thousand men, including the newly raised cavalry, to Catania in Sicily. He then patrolled the Gulf of Cyprus with the Egyptian fleet. Poor Price Osman, so recently released form captivity, died in 1246. Hosni Qatub moved down to the city of Mount Sinai where formal diplomatic ties were gained.

Amir al-Bahri

(Sunni Islam Civilized Religious Order)
Akeem, Lord of the Sea

Carsk was further improved with fancy new gardens and other delights. Three thousand hardened marines were raised in Mansura along with a large contingent of siege engineers. Forty cogs were commissioned in the Al’Qairah dockyards along with another thousand men. The Order saw a new House built in Aleppo but its attempt to build a House in Thebes came to nothing as the local labour continued to drag their heels. Akeem took command of the newly raised men and ships and along with his existing force of over two hundred warships and its marine support set sail for Malta. Grand Master Stephan and Brother Bartholomew commanded the Maltese defence of three thousand elite hardened men. The island itself was heavily fortified against such an attack. As with the Rashidun invasion of years before, the Al’Bahri forces failed to secure a safe place to land on the Maltese coast. In a startling move, the Maltese knights managed to set fire to the entire Al’Bahri fleet, cutting their marines off from their transports and slaughtering them in the surf. Akeem managed to pull back to Al’Qairah with the remnants of his force. The Kalif Ilyas raised the Order House in the Levant to a Preceptory.

Elsewhere in the North Africa

The Umayyad dynasty joins with that of the Akramids. The Wadai Kingodm of Sennar expands southwards and takes control of Ilulabor.

West Africa

Usama-Yoruba Onium of Ibo

(African Pagan Civilised Open Empire)
Bhanda, King of the Ibo

Bhanda pulled every available horse into Ife and raised a mighty army of thirty thousand men to combat the Adjou raids. Payad took the newly raised army and along with a further fourteen thousand men from the Ife garrison moved on to Songhai to combat the Adjou threat. The Adjou had almost the same numbers as Payad; forty thousand cavalry made up their force and they were intent upon pillage of the rich African lands. However, seeing the host commanded by Payad, the Adjou withdrew from Songhai to Arauane and then across the Desert Sea to N’Jimi. Some losses were incurred on both sides as the Adjou withdrew but they were light and insignificant. Songhai was reintegrated into the Empire and garrisoned with loyal Iboan troops. Revenge for the Adjou attacks on Songhai was swift, Adawara and Jenne was attacked by Payad and its peoples slaughtered or driven off into the desert. Awaghost was taken and Payad looked north for new conquests. Bhanda took command of the remaining Iboan garrison, no small amount of men in its own right, and ruled his Empire from Ibo. He was blessed with a young daughter during these years. Jamba, before his death in 1249, and Umaga continued to integrate the conquered cities of Gao and Timbuctu into the Empire.

Elsewhere in the West Africa

The Emir of the Adjou cared little for the pathetic farmers and herdsmen of Adawara and Jenne and raided deep into Soro from N’Jimi. The pathetic response from the Kanem army gave him the confidence to try to take Soro but although not very mobile, the Kanem forces were at an advantage when the Adjou came to them and easily pushed the invaders back. The Emir contented himself with gaining command of the Batha and the Haraze tribes.

South Africa

The Mwene-Mutapa Empire

(African Pagan Civilised Open Empire)
Nyambo, Emperor of Mapungubwe

The Emperor Nyambo ordered that the lands of the Transkei and Vaal benefit from his largesse. A royal road from Great Zimbabwe to Cteshwa was started to link the northern territories to Mwene-Mutapa. Nyambo himself ruled his Empire from Mapungubwe. However, he was sadly again widowed when his Gorongoan wife died during childbirth. Kakuyo Kakawate took command of the Gorongoan garrison of three thousand men and spent these years teaching the Hindu nobility there the greatness of Unkulunkulu. Matombo Mukare was also in  Gorongo and acquired an unfortunate bride for Nyambo during ongoing diplomatic negotiations. The Betis gained enough courage to raid Gorongo, Karanga and Phalaborwa. Some villages were burnt in Karnaga but Chimbganda stops too much damage being done by the raiders in Phalaborwa.

 

Elsewhere in the South Africa

 

The Malay attempt to punish the invaders with raids along the Mwene-Mutapa coast.

 

Central Asia and Persia

The Karakhanate of Ilig

(Sunni Islam Civilised Open Empire)
Sahir ibn Saleh, Khan of the East

Quiet times in the Karakhanate. Sahir watched in trepidation at the growing threat of the Tsaidam.

Elsewhere in Central Asia and Persia

The Kwarzim gain Vasi as an ally and the tribes there convert to Islam. Their lands of Shirvan and Georgia are now cultivated. The lands of the Alan are claimed. The Ghazz reclaim Kash but their attempts to regain Und are thwarted by the Hindu Dagger when Mustafa is killed. Kasmir is taken by the Tsaidam as they expand westwards. The Kashi Tribes, Tzin-Kiang Zao, the Tarim-Zao and the Hill Tribes of Memar all come under their sway.

 

India

Pratihara Kingdom of Kaunaj

(Hindu Civilised Open Empire)
Janda, Raja of Kaunaj

The colonisation of the valuable Uttar Pradesh continued. Seven thousand men were raised in Kaunaj for Shivaji who moved across to Pundra and attacked the Kalachuri Kingdom of Tripuri in Kosala. The region was undefended, unprepared as the Tripuri were for such aggression and easily fell; as did the undefended city of Kosalapala. From Kosala, the forces of Shivaji crossed the mountains and attacked the heartlands of Tripuri in Dahala. Shivaji’s fifteen thousand men met the Tripuri defenders numbering around twelve thousand. He was to be joined by Satinder from Gtsang but the general died as he began to transfer his men from Vipin and his forces did not arrive. The region had a few defensive forts as well to protect it. The combatants were evenly matched and it was only the death of the Kalachuri Raja that forced their men to retreat. Shivaji’s losses were heavy; most of his mercenary infantry fled the field when it seemed that battle was going to be lost and exposed his skirmishers to the Tripuri cavalry. It was when the Kalachuri Raja was killed that the greatest losses were seen amongst the defenders. As they fled towards the city of Tripuri most of their eight thousand infantry were cut down. Shivaji regrouped in outside the city walls and waited for the Tripuri surrender. Janda returned home to his rule his Kingdom from Gaur. He was blessed with a young son during these years. Prince Bindu and the Dagger priest Singalapu travelled to the Gujerati kingdom of Dhara where brides for the Princes Gyan and Om were sought. Prince Gyan could not wait for his wedding night and after bedding both his intended and that of Prince Om before the marriage ceremonies began he gave great insult to the Dhara Raja. The whole entourage was cast out of the Kingdom and it was only the threat of retaliation that enabled Gyan to leave with his head still on his shoulders. The shock was too much for Singalapu who died of a weak heart in 1250. The continued investigations by Jaunpur and Nadavaria into nefarious activities in their lands came to nothing. Vipin remained in Gtsang where all of the Buddhist nobility were converted to Hinduism. The Princess Lissa was married into the Bengali royal family, completing the alliance between Kaunaj and their rich neighbour. Assam was granted to Bengal as part of Lissa’s dowry. The royal road down to Jodhpur from Bikaner was completed through the Jats desert. Agents of the Kingdom were active in Saffarid Iran as they roused demonstrations against the ruling elite. More of the Kingdom’s missionaries were active in Gtsang and Und.

The Order of the Dagger

(Hindu Civilised Religious Order)
Omprakash, Lord of the Order of the Dagger

Omprakash is content to hold sway over his conquered lands. The Ghazz incursion into Und is easily dealt with when Mustafa of the Ghazz is killed and his men few back to Afghanistan.

The Palas of Bengal

(Hindu Civilised NPN Empire, Friendly to Kaunaj)
Palas of Bengal

The walls of Gaur, Bihar and Tamralipti were pulled down as the cities all grew in size. A new royal road was constructed to join Gaur with Tamralipti.

Elsewhere in India

The Guardians of Anuradhapura continue to gain support amongst the Sri Lankans. The God Empire of Sri Vijaya completes the cultivation of Utara and Sabah.

South East Asia and the Islands

 

The Dai Kingdom of Annam

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Fer Netcol, King of Annam

Some of the damage caused by the Mongol invasion was repaired in Annam. Some gold was sent to the isolated Abbot in Lhasa to swell his coffers. Fer Netcol travelled south to Gouanxi to re-establish ties with the valuable region, offering himself as a possible suitor. Unfortunately for Fer Netcol, the Nanchao has moved in to conquer the region and took control of it for Tai’Li. Pala ngn non had no luck in convincing the Nanchao to join with Annam, they saw themselves as equal to Tonkin – not a mere vassal.

Kambujadesa

(Hindu Civilised Open Empire)
Emperor Surya Din, Emperor of the Khmer

The captured Annamese general Chi Nchu Ling was returned unharmed to Tonkin. In the spirit of reconciliation, Surya Din also relinquished control of Mison and Dai Viet to the Annamese. Much gold was sent to Tonkin to ease Surya Din’s guilt. A royal road was built from Chi to the border of Siam and the road from Phan Bho to Sambor was also completed. With no children of his own, Surya Din appointed Pheakdei Pich as his heir. The fishing fleets of Angor, Phan Bho, Feranga and Vijaya were expanded with new shipping. Surya Din moved down from his mountain posting in Hmong and ruled his Empire from Angor. He was blessed with a daughter during these years. Pheakdei Pich was dispatched to Siam to converse with the Buddhists there and Haing “the One Handed” had some success in converting the nobility of Surin. Foyan Fehn withdrew the Khmer army from Dai Viet, transferring control of most of the army to Surya Din in Khemer before being stationed in Champa to protect the Empire’s borders.

The Kingdom of Thaton

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Ratana Jarunsuk, King of the Thaton

The port city of Bandarban was built in Samatata and another city built in Manipur called Imphal. Roads were constructed from Bangkok to the Siam border and from the city up to Moulmein. The region of Arakan was finally cultivated. Some damage was done to the Hindu Abbey in Assam by Buddhist zealots but not enough to destroy it. Thatonese agitators were stirring up unrest in Gtsang but agents of Kaunaj were on hand to quell any possible uprising. Ratana Jarunsuk took a new wife from the Thatonese nobility and was blessed with a son during these years. Prince Ratana Nai-Thim moved to Tai’Li and assisted Nut Tiloka and the promise of marriage to Pa Long’s daughter managed to acquire a claim on the eastern kingdom. A defensive pact was sealed between the two nations. Sadly, Nut died while in Tai’Li and his body shipped back to his beloved Bangkok. Benjawan Khun was tasked with patrolling the Kingdom from Thaton but fell from his horse in late 1246 and died from is injuries. Luckily, no attack was made against the mighty Thaton. The mercenary captain Lui Annan watched the south from Mon.

 

Elsewhere in South East Asia and the Islands

The Kingdom of Nanchao takes Gouangxi without loss. Korat also fell to Nanchao with the loss of one thousand men. Kunming had no walls so was easily taken.

Manchu’ko and Nihon

The Taira Shogunate

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Taira Kiyomori, Shogun of the West

Shimane was further fortified against Minamoto attack. Over four thousand men were raised in Saga for Matsu. The men were stationed in Shimane to prevent attacks over the great wall. Kikuko and Hideko were given places at court as Kiyomori had no male heir. Fujihiko was tasked with the defence of the capital at Kumamoto. Katsu took the remaining Taira army and easily marched into Muro. Walls were being built around the city but they had not been completed and the city was effectively undefended.

The Minamoto Shogunate

(Shinto Civilised Open Empire)
Emura Minamoto, Shogun of the East

The walls of Muro were being built when the Taira army under Katsu moved into the city. Daiei had only recently left the city with the Shogun’s fleet and patrolled the waters off Kanazawa. Mura Minamoto continued the stand-off against the Buddhists to the west and dug in on the Yamato side of the great wall. Five thousand cavalry and eight thousand infantry were raised in Yamamoto for Minamoto. A further three thousand were raised for Eiroku. He took these men and collecting the garrisons of Toyama and Heian, moved into the Taira’s eastern province of Akita. The province was unprotected and the city of Aomori also fell undefended to the Shogun’s forces. Wadou was in Heian attempting to curry favour with the indolent Kiyowara.

The Goryeo Kingdom

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Wang Cheol Gojong, King of Goryeo

The walls of Pusan were improved and a large number of junk built in its harbours. They were later put to use trade routes throughout the Kingdom. Other ports of the Kingdom had some merchant vessels built for their trade routes but to a much lesser scale than those of Pusan. Sixteen war junks were built in Kai-Ching and nearly two thousand men raised in the city. Shangtu and Hsuing Nu were fortified against the Khitan. Wang Cheol Gojong ruled his Kingdom from Koguryo. He was saddened by the death of his wife, Wang Ae-Cha, in 1248. Goryeon missionaries were unsuccessful in Sufenhe and Mudan. The provinces of Koguryo and Anshan benefited from improved cultivation techniques developed in Kai-Chings universities. Hyo Pong collected the garrison in Parhae and moved to Hsung Nu to watch out for any Khitan attack. Kim Gu took command of the men in Ta’Ting and patrolled the western borders of the Kingdom. Roo Moo attempts to convince the Hsuing Nu to ally with Kai-Ching came to nothing. Young Sha took command of the fleet in Kai Ching and moved down to Po to watch over the southern seas.

The Land under Heaven

The Kingdom of Koueichou

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Tao Peng, King of Koueichou

Szechuan was further improved with new wheat fields marked out on the fertile plains. A new city called Tai’De was built in Ghang’De and walls raised against possible Mongol attack. One thousand men were drafted in to the Koueichou army, most under the command of Tao Peng. Sadly, Tao Peng passed away in 1247; his dying wish that Lao Pen act as regent until his young daughter came of age was honoured. His attempts to gain support from the Kingdom of Chang’Ling came to nothing even assisted as he was by the able Chigun Zhang.

The Empire of the Western Song

(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Zhi Zhen, Emperor of the Western Song

The city of Huang grew in size and was renamed Huang Ho after new harbours were built on the recently dredged Wei river. Fortifications were built throughout the Song lands in case of Mongol or Khitan attack. The city of Lanzhou in Lanchou province was renamed to Hanzhong and a new city built in Yanzhi called Lanzhou. Four thousand elite guard were raised and another four thousand heavy cavalry raised for Yue Tong, who collected the men from Chnag’An and moved to Kansu to patrol the northern border. As well as dredging the Wei down to the Huang Ho, Zhi Zhen ordered that roads be built from Chang’An down to Ch’ang’Te and up to Lanzhou through Kansu. Wu Fei and An Zhao gained a bride for the Emperor from the Ordos and gained some support from the northern province.  The Emperor took his new bride and was blessed with a young son.

Elsewhere in the Land under Heaven

The Kingdom of Ch'Ang'Sha build the city of Nanchang in Jiangxi on south western shore of Lake Dongting. Chengshi is expanded and the Kingdom of Chengshi gains alliances with Ganzhou and Kiang’Si. Shangtung is now a tributary of the Kingdom of Chiangning. The Mongols start to regroup and gain alliances from the Northern Tartars, the Buryats and the Lang Zao. Henyitin and Tamarin are regained. The horde moves down to Lang Shan.

 

 

 



[1] Not personally mind you but most of the Paris court was under the impression that Raymond had laid every brick himself

[2] See the Buwayids. Nuselus was stationed, either by luck or good judgement, in the best place to repel the raids but there is always a chance that the reaction will fail.

[3] 30% RC – the map needs updating

[4] Unfortunate in that she died in childbirth.

[5] Is it Islamdom?