Lords of the Earth
CAMPAIGN TWENTY-FOUR
Turn 70
1346
~ 1350 Anno Domini
708 ~ 712 in the year of the Hegira
New for T59
Paths to victory:
There are several options open to a player when an NPN has been defeated
- Take
the victory conditions (see NPN rules) available for NPNs and allow the
NPN to go its own way. This is a useful option if you do not want to
increase your imperial size or bother with the NPNs internal affairs.
- Keep
it as either Pacified or Pacified Tributary. You will not get victory
conditions but will get income from the NPNs Homeland/Friendly regions and
cities. Also, as the years from conquest marker goes up it may turn
Friendly or Tributary. Using this option treats the NPN as a super-region.
- Old
school, you will have to take the regions you want and conquer each in
turn. If the capital is taken then some of the NPNs ratings will be added
to yours if higher. The NPN will cease to exist.
Dealing with hordes:
Hordes can be dealt with a number of ways rather than just an outright battle.
These are
- Threaten
them. Hordes respond to a show of strength and may leave you alone if
confronted with enough force.
- Bribe
them. They are looking for gold and lands to settle or pillage so if you
offer them it on a plate they may well go away. They may also just take it
and attack anyway.
- Use
diplomacy. It does work and I suggest chucking in a royal princess or two.
You can also use a combination of the above. If the horde
becomes a FA or A, you can direct its attacks or its path of migration.
New for T57
Non-player rules update: I’ve updated the NPN rules to fit
better with the Lord’s system. Please check them out.
New for T56
New movement and action rules: I know that they didn’t meet with
overall approval last time around but I will be implementing the proposed
movement/action rules for T57 (see here). Any current player that
takes them up will be given a 2 turn bonus to their credits but they can
continue to use the current method for the time being. All new players will
have to use them. I’d rather stick to the standard rules but there is no way
Lords is sustainable as a long-term game (and I want 24 to be long-term) unless
there is some simplification for the GM.
The areas that cause me
the most processing grief are movement, AP calculation and garrison changes.
New for T53
Restrictions on Royal Marriages: Due to the complications arising
from these rules only K, H or P leaders can benefit from a Royal Marriage. Members
of the Royal Family that have not come into play are not considered eligible.
Also, Primate, Order and Secret Empire positions are not eligible for marriage
bonuses. These are meant to be diplomatic arrangements between sovereign
states.
New for T52
East – West Split: I’m going to try to split the
East and the West parts of the game so that I can process the orders quicker –
don’t know if or how it will work yet but lets see if it’ll happen
New for T51
No Orders: If I don’t get any orders in for a position and the
player doesn’t answer my emails then I’ll put the position back to a NPN and
put aside the players cash (if any) until they pick it or another nation up
again.
New for T50
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
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:
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…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
Western Europe
The Kingdom of Germany
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Leopold, King of the Germans, Holy Roman Emperor-Elect
|
King
Leopold passed away in 1348 and was succeeded by his son. Several outlying
German provinces decided that now was the time to pursue their independence,
including the German king’s powerful Ligurian ally Hector.
.
..
|
Norman Kingdom
of France
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Louis, King of France
|
The
young king Louis was determined to exact retribution on his rebellious uncle
Philippe. From all the lands loyal to the king, men were recruited to replace
those under Philippe’s command. The bulk of the new force was made up of
twelve thousand loyal knights. The newly recruited men were added to Louis’s
army in Paris,
swelling the king’s army to over thirty thousand men. Louis had sent men
ahead to find and capture or kill the errant prince before any more French
blood was spilt but found that Philippe was too well guarded. It was in Poitou that Louis met with the traitor’s army,
numbering less than the king’s army and with less heavy cavalry, Philippe was
still an experienced and clever general. Louis rode to the head of his army
with Edouard in an attempt to persuade his uncle to lay down his arms and end
the rebellion but Philippe was determined to become king and ordered his men
to take the battle to the young Louis. Although not as experienced as
Philippe, Louis had excelled at strategy as a child and was able to put that
knowledge to the test as his forces enveloped and overwhelmed the traitors’
impulsive charge. Marton of Gascony was mortally wounded as Philippe’s men
were cut down by Louis’s knights, the traitor barely able to escape with his
life to Languedoc.
As the rebel forces fled they were virtually destroyed. The death of Marton
saw the Gascons declare their independence again but the rest of the south
was to pledge their allegiance to Louis. In Languedoc, Philippe was finally captured
when his general betrayed him and declared for Louis; the rebellion that had
cost so many French lives was over.
|
The Principality of Salerno
(Roman Catholic Civilised Open Empire)
Carlo Martello of House Durazzo, Prince of Salerno
|
Duke Carlo
Martello of House Durazzo was dismayed by the lack of action by the German king,
and ordered his army to prepare defences to hold the frontier province of
Slovenia against further Magyar incursions.
In one set of letters to his Council, he took the unprecedented step
in ordering that, on her sixteenth birthday, his daughter, Maria Fiammetta,
be proclaimed Crown Princess of Naples and Heir to the Lily Throne of the
Grand Duchy. Prince Roberto and his
children would become next in line for succession. Giovanni Palaiologos is
recalled from Lombardy to try and sway the
nomads to an accommodation with the Neapolitans. However, the Magyars were not to be
persuaded by the Italian’s arguments and took the envoy prisoner. He was last
seen being dragged behind a horse as the Khan’s host moved north. Giovanni
Boccaccio, the Podesta di Napoli, gained some slight favour with the Holy
Catholic Church, despite the secularism that infected the Neapolitans. Ramon
de Cardona commanded the largest mercenary army in Europe from his quarters
in Carinthia until his death in 1350.
Temporary command was given over to the Marchesse di Ferrara who had
accompanied the Captain to Carinthia with
the Il Reggimento Nero. A new postal road, the Via Aemillia, was build from Ravenna and Vincencia to the banks of the Po where a new bridge was being constructed.
|
.
The Grand Order of St Denis
(Roman Catholic Civilized Religious
Order)
Lothaire, Grandmaster of the Grand Order of St Denis
|
There were
murmurings of discontent amongst the host nations that the Order was not doing
enough to quell the power of the Muslims to the south and east. Unknown
previously, there was also talk amongst the more radical members of the Order
that drastic action was required. Lothaire was to contemplate these rumours
as he set about the business of directing the Order’s affairs. Some clerics
and a high ranking officials were sent to the far north of Orkneyjar to
assist the powerful Scandinavian kingdom. Despite their attempts to procure
lands in Corsica and Asturias,
it was only in Navarre
that a House for the Order was built. Robert was however able to raise the
status of the Preceptory in Vermandois to that of an Oratory. Julien was
given command of the St Denis forces out of Santa Maria but was to die of a fever in
1347. In 1350, Garreth was also to
perish as he was caught up in a small riot in Aragon.
|
The Knights of Malta
(Roman Catholic Civilized Religious Order
Stephan, Grandmaster of the Knights of Malta
|
The Maltese Order retired
to its Fortress to determine its next moves. Prince John of Constantinople
was to die in 1349. Captain Ludivique had already passed away in 1346, a
broken man from his Cypriot defeat.
|
Western and South Africa
The Mwene-Mutapa
Empire
(African Unkulkulun Civilised Open
Empire)
Ikko Addi, Emperor of Mapungubwe
|
Iddo
Addi was proud that the might Mwene-Mutapa people had united vast swathes of Africa under his banner. He was to spend these years discussing
trade with the Egyptians and ruling the Empire. Sadly, his wife of many years
Salasa, was to perish during childbirth leaving the Emperor alone. Prince
Memposi had travelled to Phalaborwa where he was able to assist Gabbo in
gaining the full support of the region to the Empire’s cause. The Empire’s
two most able generals, Nasske the Devil and
Koroko the Ape were also to die during these years as a foul wind
brought disease to the south; old uncle Zalu was amongst those without the
strength to fight the fevers.. The lands of Zimbabwe
saw the steady flow of colonists increase to such an extent that the city of Tlok was founded. On
the Cape coast a mighty fortress called
Udiri was built to protect the Empire’s lands.
|
Usama-Yoruba Onium of Ibo
(African Pagan Civilised Open Empire)
Ildayi II, Emperor of the Ibo
|
In an effort to
consolidate his gains from the years previous, the great and glorious Ildayi
II spent lavishly on the conquered lands. His massive road network was extended
far to the east as the old trails and jungle paths were cleared for merchant
traffic. His son Bacumo was declared his heir and successor in case of the
Ildayi’s death. Further additions were made to the royal dynasty as Ildayi
was blessed with a young son by his second wife. The lands of the Bimi,
Khalem and Susu were allowed to become satrapies of the Onium and Takrur
allowed to become effectively independent as Ildayi tried to rule over his
vast lands. Duggi spent his last years investigating the lands of Kurfei
before his death in 1349 from river fever. No sign of anything untoward was
found. With gold sent to the Knaem-Bornu, Kinta the Vpice was able to smooth
over relations with the conquered easterners. He was assisted during these
years by Majobi the Lion Killer.
|
The Luba Empire of Malawi
(African Unkulkulun Civilised Open
Empire)
Mndeni, King of Malawi
|
Mndeni was inspired by the great teachings of the priests of
Unkulunkulu to bring his Empire into the light. Chilwa, Makura and Nyasa all
follow Malawi
in converting to the one true god but the pagans of Kimbu decide that their
path lies outside of Mndeni’s empire. The cities of Luba and LuiLui also
convert to the glory of Unkulunkulu. Mndeni also began to bring his Empire
together after years of neglect and decline. His son accompanied him in
persuading the independent-minded Lubans to ally themselves with the empire
whilst Prince Jabulani gained the support of the Nyassans. Even the city of LuiLui was persuaded to
rejoin the Empire through the efforts of Khayalethu and Khulani. .
|
North Africa and Moslem Spain
The Empire of Egypt
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Badr al-Mahmud, Sultan of Egypt
|
Rakhashan Al-Amaan
was still in his prime when his health gave out while handling the nation’s
affairs. So incompetent was the ill-fated Rakhashan that the Badr’s clerks
breathed a sigh of relief at his passing. The persuasive Abdullah Al-Firah
finally made the Aswan
tribes see the benefits of Egyptian suzerainty as they acknowledged Badr’s
claim to the old Empire. The Emperor himself travelled through Mansura to the
Sinai at the head of the mighty Egyptian army. Twenty thousand spearmen were
outnumbered by Badr’s heavy cavalry. In the Sinai Badr was joined by Abdullah
Al-Firah and a further twenty thousand men, newly recruited from the
Al-Qairah. Badr had hoped for his scouts to report on the Syrian army’s size
but when none returned he paced his fate in Allah’s hands and marched into
the Levant; confident that the mass of men in his army would push any
defenders from his path. With Aybak a prisoner of the Egyptians, Zaid was to
lead the defence himself. His army numbered twenty-six thousand men and as
such was less than one third the size of the attackers but Badr’s generals
were convinced they faced a much larger force. As the Egyptian’s attacked,
the Syrian’s flooded in from surrounding hills causing Badr’s men to panic
when they should have stood firm. The panic turned to a rout as Badr’s great
army fled from the battlefield with the Syrian’s in pursuit. Losses were
great on both sides but it was the Syrians who could least afford the ten
thousand men killed in the battles. Badr’s generals agreed that their losses
were three times that number. Now unsure of Allah’s will, Badr remained in
the Sinai in case the Syrians counter-attacked. Mulham Al-Qani had spent
these years trying to gain more support from the Sinai tribes with some small
success.
|
The Akramid Caliphate
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Onika, Caliph of the Akramids
|
As
the Andalusian province began to recover from the depravations of disease,
the Caliph began to recruit for is royal guard once again; swelling the numbers
in his household cavalry. Emissaries were sent to the lands of Salamanca, Zirid and
Galacia in attempt to renew ties with the Caliphate. Onika took brides from
all these lands and the royal palace once again rang with the sound of
children’s voices. Sadly, the young bride from Galacia died whilst giving
birth and her young son perished with his mother. Missionaries were sent to
the Sardinian isle and although the townsfolk of Olbia would dismiss Allah’s
teachings, great swathes of converts were found amongst the villagers.
Bohtsar was dispatched from Casablanca to
explore a way east to the riches of Cathay
but his small fleet was to disappear without trace as it rounded the African
coast. Some losses were incurred at sea from Sicilian pirates as the Caliphate’s
shipping in the Bay
of Tunis was targeted.
|
Arabia and the Middle East
The Buwayid Sultanate
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Najib, Sultan of the Buwayids
|
The
mighty Tigris and Euphrates were dredged and
made fit for shipping almost to the borders of Carhae. While Najib II ruled
from Mesopotamia, his son Najib III was
declared his heir and took a wife from the Mand nobility. Najib II was
blessed himself with three young children, two of which were healthy young
sons. Attempts were made to find out why the infidels in Constantinople and Malta
had progressed further in the study of science than the Ashrams. Ahmed Saber
had gathered information from the frontier towns of Shirvan as to the Khan’s
whereabouts but found that the Cossacks had remained far to the north. Ammar
had travelled to Mand to acquire a bride for Najib III and to seal an
agreement with the Emir of those lands to pledge his support to Najib. Anshu
was also successful in gaining further tribute from the city of Quetta in the Mand
lands. .
|
Glorious Khwarzim
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Abu I-Ghazi Bahadur, Khan of the Khwarzim
|
Abu II was
concerned with his dynasty and declared that Muhammad Bin Musa would be
regent if he was to die without an heir. In an attempt to expand his dynasty,
Abu took a wife from amongst the Azeris after Emir Mofat had travelled to the
province to offer the hand of Princess Samira to the esteemed general Aziz Al
Reeh. Despite her age and questionable looks, the general was delighted to be
honoured in such a way by the great Sheik and offered is service to the
crown. Muhammad Bin Musa had to simply walk into Khazar to liberate the
province after the Ademids had been defeated at the hands of the Rus..
|
The Ogaden Tribes
The Ogaden and their Chalbi allies were repulsed from the Chalbi Emirate
lands but ripped into the Wadai lands of Sidamo and Loriu.
Ar Rassid Imamat as Sa'Na
The Imam took control of the lands of Sheba, Kilwa and Mombassa as he
sought to reverse the losses of previous years.
The Adjou Aba
The Adjou Aba stormed over the walls of the Syrian city of El’Gitar. The city was all
but taken but the death of the Emir forced the invaders back.
The Wadai Kingdom
of Sennar
The Wadai finally get a link to the coast as they laid claim
to Brava. The King had to submit to send tribute to the Sharif’s as they moved
into his lands.
The Aswan
Emirate of Nubia
With the lands of Nubia conquered the Aswabi’s decide
to settle those lands and declare themselves a new Emirate. A fortress was
built on the Suakin coast.
.
Scandia and the Out Isles
Jarldom of Orkeneyjar
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Gustav Aegirson, Jarl of Orkney
|
King Gustav
Aegirson, Jarl of the Orkneys and the North, declared that his brother Hans Aegirson
would become his heir in the event of his death. Hans had travelled to
Hordavil with Njord to acquire Gustav a bride from the nobility of that city.
Njord’s assistance was short-lived as the old campaigner was killed shortly
after Hans arrival. Gustav was content to leave his uncle Frey Jotunson to
oversee the Svear
Kingdom and the young
Queen Katrina. Prince Frey was however to finally drink himself to death in
1348, leaving Stockholm
without an Orkney presence. Luckily, the young Prince Gunther Edvardson was
to arrive at the Orkney court in 1349, a possible replacement for the bitter
Frey. Worrying signs were found that the Norwegian pirates had supporters
amongst the Jarldom’s peasants but Gustav was certain Brest did not harbour any of their ships
after a exhaustive search as carried out. To insure himself against further
losses to his merchants, Gustav ordered that each of his shipping routes be
assigned a small escort of Orkney warships. More ships were also commissioned
for the royal fleet operating out of Kirkval. During these years, the city of
Thingvellir in far Iceland grew in size, continuing
to surround its imposing citadel. The province of Halland was finally put to the plough
as the forest was pushed back. Gustav’s priests were active in assisting Le
Marteau de Dieu in expanding into both Thingvellir and Stockholm as the Order continued its reach
into the very edge of Christendom. Before her death in 1347, Ingrid had
travelled with Rolf throughout Scandinavia,
collecting isolated garrisons and returning them to Gustav’s care. Rolf was
to continue her work before finally returning to Kirkval himself. As befitted
the greatest supporter of the Hammer’s cause, Gustav’s request for a new
Brother in Kirkval was met with acceptance by the Order’s council in Brest.
|
Saxon Kingdom
of England
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Edward III, King of England
|
The nobility of England breathed a sigh of relief as King
Edward III survived to rule England
during these years. He took a young bride from the House of Sussex and was
soon blessed with healthy young son. England’s defence of their
Spanish possessions suffered a blow as Lord Thomas was to die of a fever only
one year after Lord Benjamin had perished from heart failure. Bishop Hamilton
had died in 1346 and his clerics returned to Rome. King Edward also oversaw the rise of
the Guilds throughout England
as the gradual shift away from serfdom continued. The lands of Asturias benefitted from Edward’s purse as
their farms were improved by English agricultural techniques developed at the
University in Cambridge.
Edward also assigned some escorts to the merchant fleets based out of London in an attempt to
prevent further losses from the Norwegian pirates.
|
The Svear
Karina
was a strong willed woman and despite the misgivings of her council, declared
that an Orkneyman would be Regent if she died before her sons came of age.
Trade was established to the Grand Order of St Denis at their Cherbourg
holdings, the Svear ships based out of the Scottish port of Perth.
With the threat of the Norwegians always present, Karina assigned some warships
to escort the Svear shipping to ensure her trade continued to grow. Karina
herself travelled to Skanet in Skane where she was joined by Yngvar in
persuading them to join her resurgent kingdom.
Eastern Europe
The Varangian Rus of Kiev
(Orthodox Civilized Open Empire)
Anastasia, Queen of the Rus
|
Anastasia
continued to rebuild her army as ten thousand horse were raised for Prince
Peter. The queen was wary enough to counter her son’s force with the royal
guard and the services of Marshal Gregori in case the young prince had any
designs on taking the throne before his time. So taken up with ruling her
threatened kingdom was the queen that she had little time to mourn the death
of her consort in 1348. It was left to Andreyev and Brother Vladimir of the
Order to persuade the Cuman Khan to move away from Rus lands and seek rewards
elsewhere; a task that was to be beyond the incompetent pair as they paid for
their failure with the heads. The Khan outraged at the lack of gifts from the
Rus was to launch an attack on Pereaslavl in 1348. Although fielding a
substantial force of over thirty thousand men, Peter’s army was still less
than a sixth of the size of the Cossack horde. However, it was the very size
of the Khan’s force that was to be his undoing. Peter exploited the lack of
communication within the Cossacks perfectly and funnelling the horde between
Pereaslavl’s forts forced the invaders to show his army a narrow front. It
was not to say that luck was not on Peter’s side as the wounding of the
Cossack Khan caused an already unsteady force to turn and flee. The Khan’s
Liao ally was killed along with all his men as he tried to stem Peter’s
pursuit. In all, the Cossacks left over forty thousand dead to minor losses
to Peters force. With respect for Peter’s prowess on the battlefield, the
Khan pulled his forces east in search of less belligerent conquests; taking
control of the Kazan horde before settling some of his loyal supporters in
Khirghiz. Peter had previously conquered the Ademid lands of Levedia where
the defender’s army of eight thousand men were all but wiped out.
|
The Grand Duchy of Poland
(Roman Catholic Civilised Open Empire)
Boleslaw Poznan, Grand Duke of Poland
|
Prince Przenmysl
passed away in 1350 but otherwise the Polish lands were quiet
|
The Kingdom of Hungary
(Eastern Orthodox Civilised Open Empire)
Ladislaus Hunyadi, King of Hungary
|
These were quiet
times on the Hungarian plains
|
The Kingdom of Estonia
(Jumali Skyfather Civilised Open Empire)
Viru, King of the Ests
|
Konrad’s death in 1347
was not entirely unexpected given his age but Victor had little time to enjoy
his birthright as he too was to pass away in the summer of 1350. Twin sons
and a daughter were born to Victor’s wife Lomi before his death but their
fate rested in the hands of their uncle Viru who had bested Juri and Hendrik
to claim the Estonian throne. While a watchful eye was cast towards the
unwanted arrival of the Hammer of God in the west, Jergun was able to
consecrate churches to the Skyfather throughout the Estonian lands. Sakala
was to command the Estonian fleet lout of Reval but was to outlive Victor by
only a few days. One of Konrad’s last acts was to start the cultivation of
the Musan and Kymian wildernesses. A large number of veterans were granted
farms in Musa as a reward for their service. The Christians of Kur were
targeted by Jumali priests and these years saw large numbers convert to the
Skyfather.
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The Oriental Roman
Empire
(Roman Catholic Civilised Open Empire)
Andronicus II, Emperor of East Rome
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Prince
Constantine’s army was swelled by a further one thousand horse as well as
nearly as foot soldiers as the Roman lands were scoured for any man or boy
that could hold a sword or lance. Some improvements were made to the Morean
towns and farms as more wilderness was cleared back. The Emperor had been
using the leverage provided by Prince John since is investiture with the
Knights of Malta to gain some influence with the Order. Some slight
improvement was gained but this was offset by John’s untimely death in 1349
from a fever. Attempts to convert the Moslems of Sevastopol came to nothing
as they held firm to their beliefs. Simon was able to expand the Empire’s
lands slightly as he gained a claim in the lands of Epirus. With the newly raised
army, Prince Constantine marched on Abisigia and Colchis.
The Prince had previously ordered Alexios to block any access to the port
from the Black Sea using the imperial
fleet. To the Prince’s delight, the
Ademid forces had been pulled back to defend the Emirate from the Rus attacks
and he found that both the city and region were undefended. They were there
then restored to the Empire for little loss. The gains made by Constantine
and Alexios were poor compensation for their deaths as they fell foul to the
pox in 1350. Despite his gains, the Emperor was still besiege by the hated
Al’Bahri in the Aegean. The Moslem Order
taking the Roman possessions of Crete, Rhodes
and the Kyklades.
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Central Asia
The Karakhanate of Ilig
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Sulam, Khan of the Ilig
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As if he had
predicted the events of the coming years, the Khan ordered that the lands of
the Kuldja be protected by a mighty fortress. He also commanded that the
citadel in Otrarsh be further protected and its walls improved. The provinces
of Neyriz, Kush and Firoz Kohi were all
cultivated to help ease the perpetual famine that inflicted the Karakhanate.
However, settlers bound for the Scythian lands of Avar were forced to return
home as the Khan had yet to successfully conquer those lands. Sulam’s agents
uncovered rumours of the Al’Balar min Thalatha demanding concessions from the
merchants of the Kara-Khitai. This shadowy organisation was always led by a
council of three master criminals and had contacts throughout the Karakhanate’s
cities. While the Thalata concentrated on the criminal underworld, the Storm
Riders ravaged isolated farms and estates throughout the lands of Singanakh.
Prince Harun Al-Harun attempted to garrison Avar with nearly sixty thousand
of his men but shortly after his departure for Balkash, the Scythians
attacked with their force of over two hundred thousand. The commander of the
garrison was a veteran of the border clashes and managed to keep good order
amongst his men as the Scythians repeatedly swept in with lance and bow. He
managed to pull back from the attackers in good order until his men reached
the Prince. Harun decided to turn his men around and face the attacked rather
than have them harrying his rear. Allah was with him as the Scythian Khan was
killed by Harun’s archers and his men left without a leader. Harun pushed his
advantage hard before the Scythians withdrew to Balkash. Prince Alabar took
command of seventy thousand cavalry, leaving the slow moving bulk of his army
in Kara-Khitai. Riding swiftly through
Singanakh, Alabar attacked the Scythians in the deserts of the Kyzl-Kum. The
Scythians were still in disarray from Harun’s attack and provided little
resistance to Alabar as he savagely swept the deserts clean of any tribesman.
His attempts to follow the Scythians into Avar proved fruitless as the
Scythians pushed him back from their frontier to Singanakh. Prince Harun then
continued his journey through Frunz and Dzungaria
to Kuldja. His attempts to persuade the tribesmen of these lands came to
nothing as their fear for their Chuguchak overlords proved the greater
incentive. The prince could do little as the resurgent Tzin-Kiang-Zao, whose
ranks were swelled by the their Mongol subjects, raided deep into Kuldja.
Alla Baha travelled south to Saffarid Baluchistan and gained some
acknowledgment from the Kuh’Laleh’Zar. His attempts to persuade the Shir’Kuh
came to nothing as did his time spent in Baluchistan.
This province had remained a staunch supporter of the Shah throughout the
Rajput invasions and would not even meet with the Ilig envoy. Bughra led his
rebellious force into Siahan and then onto Shadad, Firoz Kohi and Khurasan.
Finding little resistance, Bughra declared himself Khan of his newly
conquered lands and all that lay within his reach. The Khan’s lands were
further troubled as the Memar raided into Ferghana
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Saffarid Iran
Carmania
was a harsh and desolate land but if the Shah was to retain of the valuable
lands of Baluchistan it had to become his. He sent
the Saffarid army of twenty-four thousand men into the against the tribesmen
there. At first the tribesmen seemed to be winning but the Shah’s numbers
finally won the day. His allies in Oman
and Qatar attempted to take
control of Dubai
but paid for their attack with their lives as their forces were defeated
Tzin-Kiang-Zao
The Tzin-Kiang-Zao overawed the once great Mongol nation and
took control of their forces. The Mongol subjects, the Buryats, Gobi, Liao and Northern Tartars, regained their independence.
India
Pratihara Kingdom of Kaunaj
(Hindu Civilised Open Empire)
Guram, Raja of Kaunaj
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Defensive
fortifications were built throughout the lands of the defeated Kingdom of Und to protect against insurgency or foreign
invaders from the north. To try to bring these lands further within his
control, Guram ordered that the roads to Multan
and Peshawar
be improved. Missionaries from Kaunaj finally converted the remaining Moslems
of Sahis and Sind as the Hindu religion
continued its resurgence. Guram was content to rule from Kaunaj and allow
Prince Anesh to oversee the Bengalis. Prince Suresh was ideally suited to his
role as the Kingdom’s general given his abrupt and brutal nature but had
little to challenge his force of forty thousand men from the provinces of
Punjab and Kashmir. Both fell easily to his
force along with the city of Islamabad;
Parapavura was also taken but was found to be an empty shell, its people long
since fled or enslaved. Luresh had little success with the Jihjhoti when a
perceived insult to the Raja’s daughter about the similarities between her
size and Luresh’s elephants caused the province to reduce its ties with
Kaunaj. Indejit in a spate of religious fervour managed to build a church for
the Brahmin’s in Kaunaj. He was less than successful in Rajput and Jaunpur.
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Samaaj Kekataar
The reach of the
Hindu gods extended as both Siahan and Badakshan were taken by the Dagger
forces and turned from their worship of Allah to the true faith of Vishnu. Those
that resisted were cut down by the fierce Samaaj warriors.
The Palas of Bengal
Gurdip continued to
oversee the development of the Bengal nation.
Ruling from his court in Gaur, the Pala was blessed with two young sons.
Meanwhile, the day-to-day affairs of state were handled by the Princes Rajeev
and Thon, leaving Gurdip time to concentrate on the expansion of the Brahmin
temples into Maghada and Bihar. His attempts
to cripple the Guardians of Anuradhapura came to nothing as the brotherhood had
intercepted Gurdip’s agents before they reached their strongholds. Rumours that
Gurdip may have stretched himself too far began to circulate throughout the
east as a senior Thatonese commander was supposedly executed for taking Bengali
gold. The road out of Gtsang to Om’Chu was completed, allowing Gurdip’s reach
to extend to the far east. Missionaries were sent to Tz’uk’an and On’Chu and
some converts were made amongst the Dali Lama’s old subjects. The Bengali
influence over the Bhutan
was improved by the efforts of Haram and Jani as they tried to gain the support
of the local nobility.
The Mountain Tribes
of Adakh
The Mountain Adakh
tribes try to take some of Nepal’s
meagre riches but are pushed back by the Nepalese defenders.
Western Dhara
Kingdom
The Western Dharans continued to consolidate their control on
their lands as Kalyani allied themselves to the kingdom. Some support was given
by Beldiva to the Dharans. Both Burhanpur and Machilipatnam were to give their
support the Kalachuris cause during these years. The Brahmins extended their
reach with a temple in Rajput.
South East Asia and the Islands
The Kambujadesa
Empire
(Hindu Civilised Open Empire)
Thao Pen-Pen, Emperor of the Khmer
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The cities of
Bakheng and Banjarmasin
grew in size and their great walls rebuilt to encompass their growing
populations. Thao Pen-Pen continued to deal with the merchants of his nation
as he attempted to improve its prosperity. His priests attempts to stir the
laity to a greater belief in Vishnu, spurred on by the new Brahmin’s in India,
caused concern amongst Khemer’s mainly worldly people. Hom Pen-Pen, known as
“Little Thao” behind his back because of his height, travelled from the royal
court to Singapore.
Once on the island the Prince preached the beliefs of Vishnu, stating that
although no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, how
they are all genuine paths, facets of God's Light, worship of Vishnu would
allow them to feel the joy of tolerance and understanding. Sadly, these were times of turmoil and
hatred and although the Prince met with some willing converts there were also
some that were angered by his words. Little Thao’s short life was ended by
some of these dissenters as he led a congregation during the winter of 1348
as they turned on him as he preached. The Emperor was further grieved when
news of the death of Sovann Pen-Pen reached the royal court. Haomkong had
taken command of the defence of Selatan before his unfortunate death in 1347.
Defence of the empire was then left in the hands of the capable Jaya Vong in
Champa.
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The Yue Annam Kingdom
(Buddhist Seafaring Open Empire)
Tran Du Tong, King of Annam
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Vast sums of gold
were sent to the Greater Wheel to secure Tran Du Tong’s influence. To further
aid his cause, the young Prince Cahn Tong was sent to study under the great
Abbot himself. The walls of Mison and the fortress in Annam were improved as Tran du
Tong considered the nation’s readiness in case of attack. His reach was
extended as the road out of Lingtung was completed to the Kienchou border and
Kwangsi was joined to Nanling. Prince
Tran Ahn Tong would have gladly joined his brother in studying with the Abbot
but his duties as Tran’s heir called upon him to remain in Annam. He was able to assist in
the building of a small temple in Tonkin,
dedicated to the Wheel. General Tay Minh travelled to Kinechou to take
control of the province from its former Koueichou overlords. However, shortly
after arriving in the province, the general contracted the deadly plague and
died shortly afterwards. Dinh Bo’s efforts in Kunming saw the city enter into a formal
alliance with the Tong dynasty.
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The Kingdom of Thaton
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Sajja, King of Thaton
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With the news of
plague to the north-east, King Sajja poured more resources into providing
clean water to his nation’s cities. The great aqueducts were finished in Moulmein and Thon Buri and new foundations laid for new
ones in Bangkok, Rangoon and Pagan. The king was content to rule
from his palaces in Thaton after ensuring that the nation’s merchants had
exploited every commercial opportunity. The young Prince Tunku was sent to
study under the tutelage of the Greater Wheel monks while his brother the
Prince Badan was to attend the king at the Thatonese court. To continue his
dominion over the Nanchao, Sajja ordered Prince Charong to travel to Tai Li
to oversee the subject nation. Only the death of General Chaiyo in 1348 from
a fall whilst riding marred otherwise peaceful years for the kingdom; the
general was killed when one of his staff was being arrested after it was
found that he was taking Bengali bribes. Despite General Chaiyo’s death, the
traitor was executed without mercy and his head presented to the king. Praya
Sen had travelled to Aceh to gain some support from the province, an alliance
sealed with the marriage of the Aceh chief to Princess Kimnai. To prove his
devotion to the Abbot, Sajja built a temple to Buddha in Pagan.
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The Greater Wheel
(Buddhist Civilised Religious Primate)
The Most Blessed and Omniscient Longchenpa, the Rinpoche Master of the
Nyingma Order
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Upon
the passing of Rinpoche Master Longhenpa, Sonam Gyaltsen, the Venerable
Trizin of the Sakya Order, humbly assumed the mantle of spiritual guidance
for all the children of Buddha. The
Master travelled to nearby Padishan, where he encouraged the local priests to
expand their high temples in order to better serve their peoples. His tenure
as Master proved short-lived as he was to pass away peacefully in 1349 before
the completion of the Padishan temple. A younger Master was needed to ensure
the vigour of the Buddhist faith and the Orders looked to the newly appointed
Cahn Tong of the Yue Annam to lead them forward. On the night that Longchenpa
passed, Rolpe Dorje - the Blessed Gyalwa Karmapa of the Kagyu Order -
received a karma in the form of a dream.
He came down from his retreat in Nan Chao and travelled to Annam
and Chang'Ling to raise temples in those lands.
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The Kingdom of Nanchao
Pa
Long’s rule was a peaceful one and the king had little to do except improve the
living conditions of Nan Chao’s peasants. Prince Kang Xi was named as his heir
and Cheng Ho a prince of the realm. To ensure the nation’s peace continued,
Sung Lo was commanded to patrol the nation’s borders from Nan Chao.
Manchu’ko and Nihon
The Minamoto
Shogunate
(Shinto Civilised Open Empire)
Kojiro Yasumori, Shogun of the East
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More
of the Takama wilderness was tamed and the frontier province saw a large
increase in population. The Shogun had dispatched missionaries to convert the
remnants of Buddhists still adhering to their faith but they found little
success amongst them. Kojiro, although no great general, decided that his son
Haruo should rule in his stead while he commanded the Shogunate’s royal
guards. Prince Katsu was then to lead the amphibious assault on Shikoku with the bulk of his army carried by the fleet.
The Tairan’s fleet numbered of forty warships but this should have been no
match for Katsu’s one hundred and sixty warships. However, the Tairan admiral
was desperate and led his ships in a suicidal surge through the middle of
Katsu armada, effectively cutting it in two. Believing that they were
outnumbered, the Minamoto captains turned their transports around and fled
back to Yamaguchi. All was not lost though as some of Katsu’s captains
realised the ploy and turned on the doomed defenders. Katsu still had the
bulk of his warships under his command and mercilessly fell upon the Tairans,
slaughtering them for destroying his hopes of glory before returning to
Yamaguchi. The Prince’s losses were slight but the generals Turoka and Uki
were counted amongst the dead as they bore the brunt of the initial fierce
assault by the Tairans. Ryuu increased the reach of the Shogun as he found a
way through to the islands of Okinawa.
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The Goryeo Kingdom
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Wang Eun, King of Goryeo
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Wang
Eun further strengthened his army by raising five thousand cavalry in Jilin. He then marched
to the city and integrated the fresh troops into his army. From Anshan, Wang Eun push on into the rebel territory of Parhae, hoping to catch the rebels unprepared.
His nine thousand men met little resistance as the rebels had pulled their
forces into Liao-Tung to counter Shin Hyun-Joon’s raids. Wang’s only failing
as a general was to lead from the front and this quest for glory cost him
dear as he was struck by a rebel arrow during an assault on one of their
forts. Even though they overwhelmed the defenders, his men were left
leaderless and returned to Anshan
with Wang’s body. Despite Wang’s lack of heir, the Wang dynasty endured as
his cousin was elevated to the throne. During his coronation, the new king
heard of Shin’s defeat and capture by the rebels as he led his badly
outnumbered force of mercenaries on a deep raid into their territory. To
further add to his despair, news came to Koguryo of rebellion in Silla.
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The
Grand Khitan Khanate
The lands of Manchu were taken by the Khanate as it
continued to extend its frontiers.
The Land under Heaven
The Kingdom of Koueichou
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Lai Sung, King of Koueichou
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As the plague
swept though the Koueichou lands it was Wo Sung that was amongst the first
casualties. However, his death, although mourned was soon overshadowed by the
suffering felt throughout the nation. Finally, in 1348 the Lo Sung was found
dead after suffering a heart attack brought on by the plague. With no direct
heir the Sung dynasty looked to Prince Lai Sung to take control. Pei Chei and
Rao Ling were also to perish as Hunan
was hit particularly badly. The great monastery of the Wheel in Chiennan was
to almost fall into disuse as a great number of the monks contracted the
plague but elsewhere throughout the kingdom the Wheel temples became places
of sanctuary from the suffering. The province
of Kienchou was transferred to the
Yue Annam as a sign of good faith by Prince Rai Sung before he returned to Hunan. Before he was
called to the throne, Lai Sung had led a delegation that had secured greater
ties with the Hunanese nobility.
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The Empire of the
Western Song
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Zhi Liew, Emperor of the Western Song
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As the plague
finally subsided in the Song lands, it was a cruel twist that the Emperor
should die of a heart attack in 1347. Zhi Kuo had no direct heir so speculation
as to his successor was rife amongst the nation. Eventually, it was Zhu Liew,
brother of Zhi Yu that took the throne, assisted in his claim by Zhi Wei. Zhi
Liew had recently married a princess from Yanzhi, providing greater support
from the frontier province. One of Zhi Liew’s first acts was to rebuild the
army; over ten thousand cavalry were raised in Chang’An to protect the
empire. The cities of Ts-Un-I and Houma
also began to recover from the decimation left by the plague. The
Tzin-Kiang-Zao, along with their Mongol allies, raided in Yanzhi province.
Tsao Guo was to hear of the raids too late and could little to stop the
tribesmen. Poor Yu Ma was to die as he attempted to ride to Yanzhi’s aid.
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The Kingdom of Chengshi
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Xiang Sung, King of Chengshi
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Life was good in
the eastern kingdom, the prosperity of Suzhou,
Quwo and Qingdao
leapt forward as old slums were cleared away for parks and tea houses. Xiang
Sung ensured that his growing kingdom would be safe by improving the walls of
his cities and fortifying many of the kingdom’s provinces. Merchants from the
old sea trade route with the Yue Annam realised that more gold
could be made by travelling the great road established between the nations
and gradually drifted away from the sea. Xiang sung was blessed with a young
son during these years, ensuring the continuation of his dynasty. He
requested that his brother, the Prince Xiang Te, assist him in the royal court.
The resourceful Chung was able to explore the seas from Suzhou;
adding rutters for the Mollucas and Celebes
to the royal archives.
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The Kingdom of Chiang’Ning
(Buddhist Civilised Open Empire)
Song Wei, King of Chiang’Ning
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The prosperity of the kingdom continued as the cities of
Tang-Chou, Zhenzhou, Jinan
and Tai-Pei all grew in size. Seven thousand men were raised for Song Fei in Jinan and a further
three thousand in Chiangning for Song Wei. The young prince Song Kai was to
arrive in the royal court in early 1346 from his father’s estates. He had
little time to settle at the court before his father’s unexpected death in
1340 threw him into the maelstrom of royal politics. Not only had Song Wei
passed away but the young prince’s mentor and uncle Song Fei was also to die
in the same year. While Ning Tang continued to improve the relations with the
Yen, Chen Sheng proved a thorn in the Khitan Khan’s side as he stirred up
dissent amongst the Zen in Bao’Ding..
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North America
The Huron Confederacy
(Open Empire)
Dooyentate, Chief of the Huron
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Links with the Moundbuilders to the west were established
when royal marriages were arranged between the Princess Anenontha and Rising
Smoke as well as Prince Tarhe to the Princess Moon Shadow. It left to Lenape to escort the Princesses
back and forth from Cahokia. Chief
Dooyentate sent the prince to the Iroquois with Teata to broker marriages to
four more of his sons. Such dynastic diplomacy paid off when the Iroquois
agreed to support the Hurons in time of war.
.
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The Anasazi
(Open Empire)
Kewa, Chief of the Anasazi
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The lands of the Anasazi saw a new settlement built called
Mesa Verde. Chief Kewa ruled from his
lands and was pleased with the news that Fragua had gained the full support
of the Navajo with the assistance of Wauneka.
.
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The Yokut Tibes
(Open Empire)
Tachi, Chief of the Yokuts
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Gold was spent improving the lush Yokut lands around
Tachi’s encampment. The chief himself took a young bride by the name of
Aiyana from the southern Serrano. Their union was blessed with a young son
Lakisami as well as a daughter called Wowa
.
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The Moundbuilders
(Open Empire)
Limping Bear, Chief of the Yokuts
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An alliance with
the Hurons was cemented with the marriage of Rising Smoke to the Princess
Anenontha. To further seal the alliance, Princess Moon Shadow was presented
to the Huron prince, Tarthe. Chief Limping Bear had sent out Rising Smoke to explore
the lands of the Sangamon, the prince
returning for his wedding with news that those lands were occupied. Slow Rain
sought in vain for any of the people in Muskegon
but was pleased to find scattered tribes throughout the Saginaw lands.
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The Souix Nation
(Open Empire)
Ashen Sky, Chief of the Souix
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Chief Ashen Sky
sought in vain for the Ogala but no sign of any tribes were found in those
lands. Laughing Bear also had little success in Assinboin but did mange to acquire
the support of the Cree after visiting their lands in Plans Ojibwa.
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Elsewhere….
The Apache lay claim to Concho and settle the desolate lands of the Opate
and Culiacan.
As the Pawnee begin to explore from their lands they find no tribes in Caddo
but some of the people in Canute. The Paiute make gains with the Ko’Aga and the
Nampa; their
exploration of Yahuskin finds nothing. The Dakota continue to woo the Iowa tribes but find the
Ponca lands empty. The Tautin and Tolowa tribes join with the Nootka. The Ute
settle the Unita wilderness and make an alliance with the Yampa.
The Shosone people begin to look for allies amongst the Tuccannon.
South America
The Chimu Kingdom
of Chanchan
(Open Empire)
Acahuano, King of the Chimu
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Acahuana ruled the
kingdom until his death in 1350. His son, Acahuano, took over the reigns of
government from his rather with the blessing of the Chanchan nobles. Through the
efforts of Illuancho, Thonapa and Urco the lands of Maranga and Chavin were
brought back into the kingdom.
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The Mapuche
(Open Empire)
Raiel, Chief of the
Mapuche
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There was great
rejoicing throughout the Mapuche lands as the Vision of the Elder was finally
completed in Pichunche. Chief Raiel continued to send colonists south to
Huilliche as he ruled from Raiel. His son, Leiar, was to join him at the
Mapuche court.
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Chichen Itze
(Open Empire)
Hunac Teel, Chief of the Chichen Itze
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Hunac Ceel’s death
in 1346 from a fever saw his son take control of the kingdom. Prince Hunac
Teel spent the remainder of these years with his family. He was blessed with four
young children, including twin sons. One of the twins was strong and healthy
but his brother came from the womb a stunted twisted thing but survived
nonetheless. Mayac Reel was assisted by Ronac Huc and Sonac Seel in improving
the relations with the Yucatec.
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Zapotec Mitla
(Open Empire)
Oceloti, Chief of the
Zapotecs
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King Oceloti was
now firmly in control of the kingdom and sent Coloti to Totonac to acquire
him a bride. Prince Coloti was accompanied by Alcatlatec as well as the capable
Toton and gained a valuable alliance from the Totonac. The old ways were
entrenched in the kingdom and Coatl attempts to loosen the priests hold on
the kingdom came to nothing.
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The Carib
(Open Empire)
Najaca, Cacique of the
Carib, Son of Hadali
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Chief Hadali lives long enough to see his son Najaca
succeed him as heir to the Cacique before his death in 1346.
.
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The Triple Alliance
(Open Empire)
Huehueteotl, Chief of the Mexica
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Little of note
occurred during these years.
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