Lords of the Earth: Campaign 25

Industrial Stage 0

Turn 8

Turn 9 Due: July 10, 2002

1035-1040 AD

 

Announcements:

 

I’ve always wanted to reformat the newsfax, but only got around to it over the last turn.  The original draft of the redesign was lost with the rest of my data on the hard drive, but I think I’ve reproduced my original idea fairly well.  I hope you find this new format better.

 

As always, feel free to submit flags for the home page.

 

Troop Conversions:

            1 infantry or cavalry = 200 men

            1 warship, transport = 2 ships with 40 men as crew

            1 siege = 200 men or 20 catapults

            1 field fort = 2 forts

 

Contacting Me:

            E-mail: mattinglyd2@uofs.edu

            Phone: (570) 969-6393

 

Turn Fees:  $2.00 + $1.00 per point of BL ($5/turn maximum)

 

Rulebook:  Version 5.8.2 of the Lords Basic Rulebook.

 

North Asia

Mercenary Pool: 2i, 2c, 2s, 2w, 1t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i7, c7, s6, w6

 

The Kingdom of Korea

Akchong, Great Warrior of the Koguryo

Kaegyong in Koguryo

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Akchong remained in his castle.  The majority of tax dollars continued to funnel into Silla for cultivation.  A lack of manpower is the greatest challenge facing the project.

 

Michinaga Japan

Fujiwara Tanaka, Nairan of all Japan

Osaka in Yamato

DIPLOMACY: Nigata (A)

 

            Okawa and Mahiro continued to venture further and further south of the capital.  Okawa found a route leading to the Mariana Islands, where all of the natives practice a rather funny religion.  Mahiro’s ventures took him into Taiwan, where he met with Spice Islander delegates.  They both returned home safely to tell Tanaka of their travels.

            Ko remained on terra firma, negotiating an alliance with the Nigatese.

 

The Liao Empire

Xhu-Tang, Emperor of the Khitan.

Nanjing in Bao’Ding

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Xhu-Tang officially came of age during the summer of 1039.  Xin-Ming’s job as caretaker of the throne came during an uneventful period in the Empire, but Xhu-Tang was proud of his loyal service, nonetheless.  Xin-Ming was retained as a prince.

            Li Shan and Tai Ku were given fiefs in the formerly Sung land of Hopei.

 

The Kingdom of Hsi-Hsia

Li Te-ming, King of the Tanguts

Hsing-Ching-Fu in Wu Hai

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Yan Te-ming, son of Li Te-ming, was officially named as the crown prince of the kingdom.

 

Sung China

T’ai-Tsung, Emperor of the Middle Kingdom.

Kaifeng in Honan

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Asleep at the wheel.

 

South Asia

Mercenary Pool: 4i, 2c, 2s, 3w, 4t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i7, c5, s5, w5

 

The Kingdom of Nanchao

Lim-ho

Tai’Li in Nanchao

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Byung-ho passed away in his sleep in 1037.  He was 73.  His son Lim-ho, who had plenty of time to prepare for this day, quickly took hold of the government.

            The cultivation of Gouangxi continued as planned.

 

The Kingdom of Annam

Minh Tranh

Tonkin in Annam

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            The gold expected from the Sung never came.  It was no problem, as there was enough Annamese gold in the coffers to finance a societal change.  The idea of Minh Tranh’s finally became a social norm after years of legislation.  Now commoners born into a social class are no longer confined to that class for the rest of their life.

 

The Kingdom of Champa

Lanh-Quang

Vijaya in Champa

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Lanh-Quang continued to invest money into the economy of the Kingdom.

 

The Khemer Empire

Jayaviravaman, Emperor of the Khemers

Angkor Wat in Khemer

DIPLOMACY: Preikuk (F)

 

            Many ships were built, which Jayaviravaman quickly assigned to trading duties in Dawe and Angkor Wat.  Following that order, the Emperor took Andrahupta with him and visited Preikuk.  Continuing the talks of the last few years, the two sides agreed that Preikuk could become a full member of the Empire.

            Sitha’s wife gave birth to a son in late 1036.

 

The Kingdom of Burma

Jayavarman II

Burma

DIPLOMACY: Pegu (F)

 

            After much discussion, the Burmese could call the rich farmlands of Pegu their own.

 

The Empire of Srivijaya

(?), Empress of Srivijaya

Sirivjaya in Palembang

DIPLOMACY:

 

            Suli, faithful retainer to Airlagga, passed away in earlier 1037.  Doctors examining the corpse, described the cause of death as a yet-unseen disease.  Months later, it was determined (after all of the doctors who performed the autopsy died from the disease) that a plague had descended among the people.  Several hundred thousand people died, making it one of the deadliest catastrophes to ever hit the region.

             Airlagga and the entire royal family were quarantined, but it was too late.  Airlagga contracted the disease twelve months after its initial sighting, and quickly succumbed.

            With the death of the Emperor, and the position of crown prince vacant, the nobles swept into action.  It was of the utmost import to continue the lineage of Airlagga on the throne.  The decision was to elect (?), youngest daughter of Chulimanivarman, and sister of Airlagga, as Empress of Srivijaya.  She was 18 at the time.

 

The Kingdom of the Spice Islands

Winter Gale

Tidore in Moluccas

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Raging Storm passed away in early 1036.  Winter Gale took the crown.  With the mantle of leadership comes responsibilities.  Foremost among them, continuing the royal bloodline.  To that end, two sons were fathered over the next five years.

 

India and Central Asia

Mercenary Pool: 3i, 2c, 2s, 2w, 1t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i6, c7, s6, w4

 

 

The Cholan Empire

Rajandra I, King of Kings

Tanjore in Chola

DIPLOMACY: Sri Lanka (EA), Maldives (EA)

 

            Rajandra realized that the only thing keeping his nation together was his excellent administration skills.  Since there may be a few rulers down the line who were not as adept with the stylus as he, he decided to fund a few roads.  Official roads from Tanjore up to the northeast corner of the country in Sudamaturi were built.  Money was set aside for official-use only roads from Tanjore going through Korkai and Sringiri, but they would have to wait for another time.

            Then Rajandra realized that his western roads would be anchorless between Korkai and Sringiri.  He then ordered the construction of Kalith, a port on both the Manabar and Malabar.  This city would serve as the middle anchor of the planned western road expansion.

            Whilst the road building was commencing, crown prince Karamchand, prince Tulsidas, and Lieutenant Vaishnav visited Sri Lanka on a trip of goodwill.  After five years of diplomacy, culminating with a royal wedding to Rajandra’s youngest daughter, an economic alliance was signed.  This was not good news to Vaishnav, who expected much more from the islanders, considering the time and expense the Cholan party put into the diplomacy.  Feeling at blame for the “failure” of the trip, Vaishnav climbed to a cliff just outside Polonaruwa overlooking the Gulf of Mannar, and jumped.  He did not want to face Rajandra again.

            Chelak traveled to the other island around the southern tip of the Empire, the Maldives.  Despite the lousy information given to him by the people who scouted the area before him, the islanders still signed an economic alliance.

 

The Kingdom of Dahala

Gobind

Tripuri in Dahala

DIPLOMACY: Avanti (ne)

 

            Nalin could not get the Avanti to increase their ties with Gobind.

 

The Kingdom of Anhivarta and Gujerat

Svarg

Baroda in Anhivarta

DIPLOMACY: none

 

Svarg commissioned another 4,200 cavalry into his army, and hoped it would be enough to keep the Seljuks away.

 

The Kingdom of Palas

ThangaMuthu

Tamaralipti in Palas

DIPLOMACY: None

 

            ThangaMuthu took all of the tax money, and invested it back where it came from.  Raj Rajul of Maghada entered Tamaralipti, and convinced the nobles that an alliance would be in the best interest, lest the horde sweep south.

 

The Rajputate of Maghada

Rajul

Bihar in Maghada

DIPLOMACY: Palas (SFA)

 

            An eponymous city was built in the region of Nadavaria.

            Rajul enter the Kingdom of Palas, and pleaded with ThangaMuthu to fully join the Rajputate.  While the Palasian king was not ready to fully sign over his autonomy, he agreed that closer ties between the two nations would be a positive thing.

 

The Rajputate of Benares

Kahali, Raj of Rajput

Benares in Rajput

DIPLOMACY: none

 

The region of Rajput received a major supply of fortifications, hoping to scare the Seljuks away.

Kahail and Crown Prince Aurva planned on inviting the Uttar Pradesh into an alliance, but the attack by the Horde pretty much nixed that idea.

 

The Rajputate of Uttar Pradesh

Prutar

-NONE-

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Prutar heard news about the Seljuks attempting to take their land.  He falsified information that the entire royal family was in the capital of Mathura.  He then gathered up the government and his closest advisors, and high-tailed it into Vatsa.  There, he lie in wait, hearing horror stories about the raping of their homeland.  During this period, he trained several thousands of soldiers, hoping that he and his Hindu brethren would be able to muster enough manpower to defeat the Seljuks once and for all.

 

The Kingdom of Tibet

Bhuvaka

Lhasa in Tibet

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Takla passed away in 1032 after suffering from a debilitating illness for the last two years.  His son Bhuvaka took the reins.

 

The Kingdom of Kashmir

Abhinatha, Regent of the Kashmiri

Gilgit in Kashmir

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Crown Prince Anucakra died from a debilitating disease late in 1031.  Doctors told the royal family not to worry, as the disease was not contagious.  In the meantime, the title of crown prince was placed upon Anucakra’s 2-year-old son.

            Two years later, it was King Balaguru who met his untimely end.  Quickly, Abhinatha returned from his exploits in Astin (more looting and slaving – good times), and took hold of the Kingdom.  It was going to be a long wait until the Crown Prince would understand the situation, and Abhinatha was prepared to rule for that long.

 

Jungaria

Pevket

Karakocho in Jungaria

DIPLOMACY: None

 

            The grand plans of Jungarian world domination were put on hold.

 

The Rum Seljuk Horde

Kemal

 

DIPLOMACY: That’s what they call a spear through the chest.

 

Kemal moved out of Chitor, and set his sights on another Indian country: Uttar Pradesh.  He entered the homeland of the country, and found no garrison to contend with.  The people were easily pacified, and they quickly gave information.  The king and his court were holed up in the city of Mathura.

Kemal and his tens of thousands of soldiers surrounded the city of Mathura in the hopes of starving out Raj Prutar. It took several years of waiting, but the surrender flags finally were waved in late 1039.  After searching the city, Kemal learned there were no government officials to be found.  He ordered that the entire province be searched for the leaders, and that they were to be executed on sight.  None were ever found.

 

The Ghaznavid Empire

Sirjan, Regent for

Zaindeh, Scourge of India

Ishafan in Persia

DIPLOMACY: Khurasan (F)

 

            Sirjan married Princess Bhuvanagiri, marking the third such time a Ghaznavid Emperor married the woman, considered to be a bad luck charm by some.  Rumors were quelled, however, when Sirjan lived through his first years as Regent, passing the physicals given to him by the royal doctors, and not injuring himself in any way.  Bookmakers from around the kingdom were said to have taken quite a loss on the Regent’s health.

            Shahzira, along with Beloj, Kavir, and Malayir, spent some time in the region of Khurasan.  After seeing the benefits the city of Bijistan gained, the leaders of Khurasan quickly agreed to the same conditions.

 

 

Middle East

Mercenary Pool: 5i, 17c, 5xc, 3w, 3t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i7, c7, s6, w6

 

The Buhwayid Sultanate

Timur

Baghdad in Mesopotamia

DIPLOMACY: Selucia (F)

 

            Al’Adin was content to rule over his kingdom, letting his underlings do all the hard work.  Ironically, it was he young Al’Adin who crawled into bed one night in 1038 after working for 36 straight hours.  He never woke up.

            Hasha and Timur were busy in Selucia at that time.  Hasha was pulling long shifts at the diplomacy table, while the new Sultan was doing his best to find himself a significant other.  Timur’s search bore fruit, in the form a high-ranking official’s daughter.  The two were wed, and the region became a full part of the Sultanate.  Whether Hasha or Timur deserved the more credit for the result is a question for the ages.

            Ahmad continued to convert the heathens of Selucia to the true Sunni Islam.

 

The Sultanate of Sheba

Shu’bah

Sa’na in Aden

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Nothing happened.  Shu’bah enjoyed the change.

 

The Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt

Lord Opti, Regent under

Caliph Sunto al-Hakim

Cairo in Faiyum

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            The death of King Al-Hakim came as a surprise to the royal court in 1036.  As his son was still a few years off from being able to hold the title of Caliph, Lord Opti (the only lieutenant available in Cairo) was given the job of Caliph, if only in name only.  He continued about his business, administrating to the needs of the government, and left all of the official duties to al-Hakim’s son Sunto, who had proven himself able to hold all of the figurehead power of the nation at the ripe old age of 10.

            Lord Muyfay continued his tireless search through the Library of Alexandria, searching for the lost treasures of science.  In his spare time, he oversaw the construction of a grand-scale eyepiece five miles outside the city, much like the instrument he himself crafted a few years ago.  All was going well, until a construction accident at the sight of the eyepiece claimed the life of Muyfay (when they say “Hard Hat Area”, you better believe that they mean it!).  Fortunately, Muyfay kept copious notes concerning his Library visits, a relief to whomever would be his replacement.

 

The Tunisian Caliphate of Egypt

al-Alas, Caliph of Tunisia

Mahidia in Tunisia

DIPLOMACY: Sicily (A)

 

            A gift of gold came from the Fatimids, which al-Alas wisely invested into the region of Tunisia.

            al-Waso was allowed to return to Tunisian lands.  Not for a vacation, but to bring the island of Sicily to closer terms with the Egyptian satellite.

 

Africa

Mercenary Pool: 3i, 2c (Above Tsetse Line),

                          2s, 2w, 2t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i6, c6, s5, w3

 

The Coptic Kingdom of Zagwe

Symantha Haimanot, Matriarch of the Zagwe Dynasty

Adefa in Sennar

DIPLOMACY: Adowa (T)

 

            The Adowans agreed to marginally more Zagwian control.

 

The Emirate of Zanzibar

Raschid, Emir of Mombassa

Zanzibari in Zanzibar

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Slept.

 

The Emirate of Rozwi

Luwesi

Great Zimbabwe in Rozwi

DIPLOMACY: Vaal (F)

 

            Luwesi made official what was known in the kingdom for years: that Rudo would become the Heir to the Lion Throne of the Rozwi.  He was sent back to the homeland, where, using his administrative skills, he would facilitate the government back to its efficient norm, not the languishing behemoth it had become over recent years.

            Luwesi and Matope stayed in Vaal, as convinced the locals that full fealty is in their best interest.  Yatuta continued to convert the pagans to Islam.  Many more villagers were now praising Allah than before, a move that pleased Luwesi greatly.

 

The Emirate of Zeila

Qadma, Emir of Qadmas, Great-Citybuilder

Qadmas in Zeila

DIPLOMACY: Ras Hafun (A)

 

            Qadma was really intrigued by this concept of the ‘city’.  More money was spent, and the city of Qadmas received both an expansion and fortifications for its walls.

 

The Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu

Kenyatta Mesewo, King of the Kanem and Bornu

Ngazargumu in Kanem-Bornu

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Slept.

 

The Kingdom of Ghana

Mombega Esweyu, Emperor of Ghana

Kumbi-Saleh in Ghana

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Mombega scraped together some free time out of his busy schedule of, um, sitting around and looking regal.  With this time, he conducted a long-overdue census of his people.

            The death of Guruma in 1036 prevented a grand tour of diplomacy from happening.

 

The Kingdom of Songhai

Wulasa Isano, King of the Songhai.

Timbuktu in Songhai

DIPLOMACY: Dogamba (A)

 

            Timbuktu received another expansion.  It was now estimated that over 200,000 people lived within the city walls.

 

The Hausa States

Ohini Ceweho, True King of the Hausa

Zaria in Hausa

DIPLOMACY: Kanuri (F)

 

            After making a few key concessions, Julawa welcomed the Kanuri back into the Hausa States as a full member.

            The capital of Zaria received an expansions to its walls.

 

 

Eastern Europe

Mercenary Pool: 3i, 2c, 3xc, 2w, 1t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i6, c7, s5, w5

 

 

The Varangian Empire of Kievian Rus

Alexander, Kniaz of Kiev

Kiev in Kiev

DIPLOMACY: Smolensk (A), Polotsk in Polotsk (F)

 

 

The hordes in the southern lands of the Rus were of no comfort to Alexander.  He immediately ordered fortifications built around the major cities of the Empire. 

 

The Kingdom of Volga Bulgar

Kanal

Bolgar

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Kanal’s son ??? was officially named Crown Prince of the Bolgar kingdom.

 

The Kingdom of Hungary

Vaclav I, King of Hungary

Pest in Alfold

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Vaclav and Bertrand ruled the kingdom while Yavak was sent on vacation.  The rulers were unhappy to see him return.

 

The Kingdom of Poland

Mieskow, King of the Poles

Poland

DIPLOMACY: Masuria (AW), Kauyavia (FA), Bohemia (ne)

 

            A great project reached its completion, as the region of Poland finally was able to fully feed its entire population.

            The diplomatic ventures of the Poles ranged from adequate (Manfred’s journey into Kauyavia produced a small feudal alliance) to dismal (Mieskow being run out of the Masuria, just barely escaping with his life).

 

Khanate of Khazaria

Kharal II, Khan of Khazar

Khazar

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            And more time passed in the land of the Khanate.

 

The Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Boniface VI, Patriarch of Constantinople

Constantinople in Constantinople

DIPLOMACY: Thessaly (CA)

 

            Heliodorus replaced the reassigned Acastus in the region of Thessaly.  There, he completed the Patriarch’s work by erecting a grand Cathedral in the region.

            Acastus and Pittacus were sent abroad to convert the masses.  Acastus went into the wilderness of Dobruja.  He found the going hard, but yet managed to convert a few brave souls.  Pittacus’ attempts in Calabria met with more success.

 

The Byzantine Empire

Ionannes Maniakes, Emperor of the Roman Empire, the Bulgar-Slayer

Constantinople in Constantinople

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            The Byzantines offered their services to the Patriarch.

 

The Horde of the Pechneg

 

 

DIPLOMACY: ::cough, cough::

 

            The Pechneg decided to cool their heels for a while.  The world was big, and it wasn’t going anywhere.

 

Western Europe

Mercenary Pool: 8i, 2xi, 4c, 2s, 2w

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i7, c7, s6, w7

 

Al-Andalus, The Caliphate of Cordoba

Al’Marwan bi-Allah, Victorious by the Grace of God, Vizier of the Caliph of Cordoba.

Cordoba in Murcia

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Al’Marwan soon found his government too unwieldy for he himself to hold.  He worked to decentralized his power, letting his bureaucrats take over some his power.  Great increases of efficiency were the result.

            An unearthed artifact was researched, and a new form of protection for the king was discovered.

 

Christian Spain

Carlos, King of Catalonia, Defender of the Faith

Barcelona in Catalonia

DIPLOMACY: Navarre (F), Galatia (NT)

 

            After leaving the Spanish army with Juan, Carlos took up the road with sister Catalina, and headed into Navarre.  After a grand marriage ceremony, Navarre was invited to be a full member in the Spanish kingdom.

            Pedro did much the same with Carlos’ sister Ysabel, except the target was Galatia.  It took the marriage of Ysabel to reunite the once-rebellious region with the throne, if only as a non-aggression pact.

 

Saxon England

Aelfric, King of England

London in Sussex

DIPLOMACY: Nottingham in Mercia (ne), Strathclyde (UN), Northumbria (F), Dyffed (down, to UN), Gwynned (ne), Dublin (ne)

 

Aelfric, in a wonderfully ironic move, bought some laborers with the surplus grain in the English silos.  These laborers were sent to work in Wessex, where they set the groundwork for a mass irrigation network meant to improve the output of the Wessex fields.

Aelfric went north on missions of diplomacy.  The city of Nottingham was the first stop, where the locals refused to give up their last bit of autonomy.  Strathclyde was next, where the gift of Edmund’s daughter Bronwyn was enough to cool the tensions between the jilted region and the English crown.  Aelfric returned to Northumbria, and polished relations with the region.

Cedric was charged with wooing the regions of Dyffed and Gwynned.  Both were hard-hearted, even to the point of Dyffed relinquishing the English claim that was laid on them.  Cedric died in 1040 in the region of Mercia with decidedly little fanfare.

Edgard and Gunnar went into the city of Dublin, to look for a bride for Gunnar in exchange for some degree of fealty.  They found that the inhabitants of the city were extremely loyal to the Norwegians, and refused the offer of the English.

 

The Roman Catholic Church

Victor II, Bishop of Rome

Rome in Latium

DIPLOMACY: Catalonia (CA)

 

            While ensuring spiritual safety is a noble cause, Victor decided to ensure his flock’s physical safety.  A well-defended fortress was built next to Rome.  Over the next few years, prompted by liberal spending on the part of the Pope, the city of Rome grew to encompass the Fortress.

            Bart was given a lot of money to spread the word of God throughout the north.  Unfortunately, he did not get past Tuscany before succumbing to a quick illness.  The body (and the money) returned to Rome post-haste for a proper funeral.

            Thomas was sent to Catalonia, where he arranged for the buiding of a cathedral in his usually efficient manner.

            Gregory’s trip to Uppsala resulted in a number of Swedes converting to Catholicism.

 

The Jarldom of Sweden

Anund Skotkonrung, Jarl of Sweden

Uppsala in Uppsala

DIPLOMACY: Gotland (F)

 

            Anund focused his attention on the last remaining Swedish possession outside of Uppsala: Gotland.  Between him and his son Olaf (who unfortunately fell into the Baltic Sea on the return trip home, never to be found), the region became a full piece of the Swedish Jarldom.

 

The Kingdom of France

Robert II, King of France

Paris in Ile de France

DIPLOMACY: Champagne (T), Burgundy (NT)

 

            Robert decided to take advantage of the chaos his eastern neighbor was experiencing.  He descended upon Burgundy, promising a steady kingdom and a trustworthy leader, no to mention Princess Maria.  An agreement was work out between the monarch and the Burgundese.

            In a similar fashion, Prince Philip and Lord Betre worked in Champagne.  Even though a marriage wasn’t offered, the agreement reached with the nobles of the region was worth much more than the agreement signed by their king.

 

The Holy Roman Empire

Henry, Holy Roman Emperor

Mainz in Alsace

DIPLOMACY: Westphalia (A)

 

            Everybody expected Henry to make a move against the traitors to the south, but Henry chose no such course of action.  Instead, he focused on rebuilding the core of the country, trying to rebuild the economic stability the Empire had prior to the defection.  Henry knew there would come a day when Marseilles will fall under Roman rule.  Someday soon.

            In accordance to Henry’s rebuilding ideal, Matthias was sent out to the revolting province of Westphalia.  After profuse apologies from both sides of the table, an alliance was signed.

           

 

The Kingdom of Marseilles

Sebastian II, Lord of Provence

Marseilles in Provence

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Sebastian waited for the inevitable crush from the Holy Roman Empire.  And waited.  And waited.  He eventually died in 1038, leaving his son Sebastian II the job of waiting for the HRE to reclaim their land.  No such attempt came.

            Contented that the kingdom will exist for another day, Sebastian officially declared the full and unfailing autonomy of Marseilles from the Holy Roman Empire.

 

The Duchy of Venice

Alessandro, Acting Duke of Venice

Venice in Verona

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Alessandro was furious at the prospect of revolution in his kingdom.  He immediately conscripted 2,200 infantry and 1,800 cavalry to deal with the problem.  Of course, he wouldn’t deal with it personally.  The life of a regent is too precious to be wasted upon the rebel lowlifes.

            In his stead, Bartolomeo, Leo, and the Marquis of Lombardy were given the new soldiers, and told to reclaim the lost lands.  The first step was Tuscany, where 2,200 soldiers stepped up in defense of their region.  While the sheer numbers of the Venetian army proved more than enough to wipe out the garrison in one pass, Bartolomeo sustained quite a nasty wound.  Regardless, he pressed on, for the glory and honor of the Regent.

            Liguria was the next stop on the army’s agenda, where the battle-hardened army took out the puny garrison of 1,600 in one fell swoop.  Content with the progress made, the army stayed in the region, prepared to strike in the case more rebels foolhardily attempt another revolution, or the leaders of the Provincial Kingdom become overly greedy.

 

The Jarldom of Norway

Olaf Haraldson, Jarl of Norway

Trondheim in Trondheim

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            The financially strapped Jarldom of Norway was more than happy to ally itself to a larger European power.  It was better than being trampled underfoot.

 

The Jarldom of Denmark

Ingmar Forkbeard, Jarl of Denmark

Hamburg in Holstein

DIPLOMACY: Norwegians (SFA)

 

            Harald sent forth his son Ingmar and his generals Sven and Morten into the lands of the Norwegians.  The country, in surprisingly quick fashion, agreed to a feudal alliance with the Danes.

            Harald passed away from natural causes in 1039.

 

New World

Mercenary Pool: 10i, 2w, 1t

Mercenary Leaders: None

Mercenary QRs: i4, s4, w3

 

The Anasazi

Little Bear

Chaco in Anasazi

DIPLOMACY: none

 

            Slept.

 

The Caddo

Winassi

Ayoel in Atakapa

DIPLOMACY: Karankawa (A)

 

The girth of the capital Ayoel was increased.  Hulessi continued to expand the reaches of the Empire, this time stretching southward, finding an ally in the Chief of the Karankawas.

 

The Michigamea

Atonwa

Cahokia in Michigamea

DIPLOMACY: Quapaw (C)

 

Ogima, brother of Atonwa, died in 1038.  This left the already fragile Michigameans without a clear successor to Atonwa.  Weekly trips to the medicine man suddenly became a habit of the chief.

Chacka entered the rebellious region of Quapaw with the intent of diplomacy.  With this region under the tribe’s control, finally the land controlled by the Michigamea would constitute one piece.  However, the Quapese were unready to return to the tribe, providing only a minor claim as a method of stalling.

 

The Appalachians

Migina

Kolomoki in Yamasee

DIPLOMACY: none

 

After years of solid rule, Minuwa passed away at the age of 70 in 1036.  For years the lackey, it was now Migina’s time to muscle around the underlings.

 

The Toltec Empire

Nezahualpili

Tula in Otomi

DIPLOMACY: Veracruz in Totonac (F)

 

Nezahualpili ordered the conscription of 5,000 lightly armed braves for his army.  Volunteers were plentiful, and the 5,000 were added to the 8,000+ soldiers already in the Imperial army.

The monarch must also have gotten on the good side of the Fertility god.  With births in 1038 and 1040, Nezahualpili has just fathered four sons in a row.  The only bad news surrounding the royal family was the death of his brother, Xilotzin.  This left the position of Crown Prince open, a position assumed in name only by the young Xiucaque

Lieutenants Texcoyo, Timas, and Pochotl all turned their attention from Totonac to its grand city of Veracruz.  Between the irrigation projects happening around them in Totonac, the pressure from their home region, the promise of lucrative sea trade with the Caddoans to the north, and two royal marriages, the city came under their sway.  Near the end of the diplomatic trip, Pochotl, an avid swimmer, ventured into the Campeche one night for a peaceful swim.  When he didn’t return that night or the following morning, searchers were sent.  He was never seen again, presumed dead and eaten by some hideous monster of the deep.

Imperial officers stationed in Cora and Huichol were told to return home, as the areas were given complete independence from the Toltecs.

 

The Huari

Rimac

Huari in Ataura

DIPLOMACY: Valdivia (A)

 

Katica was sent north into Valdivia.  In his possession were money and manpower enough to build the port city of Tumaco.  In addition to other parties that the well-subsidized Katica held was a royal marriage, joining the young King Rimac into the local noble family.  With the amount of money spent in the region, the leaders of Valdivia hardly noticed the underwhelming diplomatic skill of Katica.  An alliance was signed.

As a result of the new marriage, Rimac fathered two daughters, one in 1033, and one in 1035.

 

Tiahuanaco

Incun

Tiahuanaco in Uru

DIPLOMACY: Guanacane (ne), Leco (ne)

 

            Incun continued to busy himself with the day-to-day business of running an empire.  There was evidence to the contrary, however, as four children happened to be born over the five year period.

            Diplomacy continued in Guanacane until the untimely death of the ally from Guanacane.  His replacement wished to get everything in order before agreeing to anything with Incun.

            Diplomacy also continued in Leco, until the untimely death of Xentlyl, the envoy from Incun.  The ally in the region decided that signing any agreement would be in bad taste.