Lords of the Earth 34

The Dawn of Civilization

Year 71 - 75

Turn 17

GM notes:

v      City builds: Please make sure that if your trying to build a city in a region that isn’t connected to your homeland via a line of controlled regions then you ship the materials to the site. Even if the target region is controlled.

v      Mobile troop builds: ensure when you are trying to build troops that your paying attention to your HBZ. You cannot build mobile troops in a region or city that is outside of this range. Also if your homeland is an island then you have to build the troops there and then ship them to your target area.

v      Wall Points: There will be a limit to the amount of WP’s that may be built around cities and fortresses. Since the siege values are rather low I will limit the wall points built around a city to the city size. For example; Jinn have a size 8 city so its WP’s can be 8. The newly built city next door is a size 1 so its WP’s can be no higher than a 1. 

Any wall points that are over this limit that are currently in place can remain, until they are disbanded or destroyed. Just like the regular rules.

v      Garrisons: If you pacify a region or city and don’t leave a garrison I get to pick what troops to leave behind unless you don’t mind the region revolting.

v      Field Forts: No limits for the amounts of these in a region.

     Questions: If something happened on your stats or you have a question please don't hesitate to ask.

Troop Conversions

                    Infantry 200 men = 1 point

                    Cavalry 200 men and 200 mounts = 1 point

                    Siege Engineers 200 men = 1 point

                    Warships 1 ship = 1 point

                    Transports 1 ship = 1 point

                    Field forts 1 fort = 1 point

                    Walls 10 feet = 1 point

Mercenaries available for next turn:

Condotierri: 3i, 2xi, 1c, 1s, 1w, 2t

QRs: i5, w5, s4, c5

Mercenaries hired for this turn: none

THE EMPIRE OF THE SUN   (Asiatic Pagan)

Empress Ariko, the Eastern Star, Queen of Taiwan

Diplomacy: Akita [a]

Empress Ariko would send emissaries to the Wu informing him of the mix-up that had occurred concerning Taiwan. It appears that the cartographer had failed to keep and updated map and that is why she ordered her men to the region. The explanation was enough for the King of Wu and Ariko would make sure his wisdom would be repaid. She ordered a large draft to be sent to the south with a note that more would be following.

To cement her hold on the region of Taiwan, Ariko ordered a city named Goachimi to be founded on the island region.

Prince Saga was sent to the north to consolidate the Sun hold on the mainland island of Honshu. Akita would be impressed with the offers of the Sun diplomats and would heartily accept the offer of marriage to the Heir to the throne. Unfortunately Prince Okida would not be able to produce an heir of his own.

Once the business in Akida was concluded Saga would take the time to compose some more lines to add to his already impressive collection.

            Faintly, gelding oinks

            cheerlessly, colosseum

            ascends fiendishly

            Reflections explore

            drunkards screaming, roaming rough

            cheap improbable

            Vain casket squirming

            rigidly, fruits cackling bull

            hissing, harshly, wet

Alas, these were to be his last entries, Saga was found dead in his rock garden, slumped over his writing tablet.

THE KINGDOM OF KO-CHOSON  (Asiatic Pagan)

Minjung Wang, Emperor of the Ko-Choson Empire

Diplomacy:  Anshan [ne], Silla [ne]

Things were due for a change within the borders of the Animal Clans. First and foremost the true King came of age and the regent, Humble Ox was gracious enough to step aside without incident. One of the first matters that Minjung dealt with was to rename the state Ko-Choson. Many other decrees would come from the emperor in the first year of his rule, the kingdom would become more centralized around the newly named capital city of Pyongyang. The outlying region of Suifenhe would be cut loose and the other city in the kingdom would be renamed Huang-Tao. Minjung Wang would express his disdain with the past animalistic ways of his people and swear to bring them forward into the future instead of clinging to the past.

In other parts of the realm things weren’t going quite so well. Two-Swords Tiger and Dancing Dragon were sent out on diplomatic missions to the regions of Anshan and Silla. These attempts amounted to a waste of time since both regional governors would not budge.  

THE JADE DRAGON  (Oceanic Pagan)

Emperor Shen Tzu

Diplomacy:  None

No orders

THE JINN DYNASTY  (Asiatic Pagan)

Emperor Wang Xu-Jinn, Fourth Emperor of the Jinn Dynasty, Guardian of the

Forbidden City and Keeper of the Coral Throne

Diplomacy: Wu Hai (f), Yanzhi (a), Bao Ding (f), Huang [ne],

Consolidation was the order of the day within the Jinn. Diplomacy bore fruit in Yanzhi and Bao Ding, but couldn’t make headway in Huang. The beautiful Jinn Mei was married off to the Duke of Wu Hai and he was then promoted to the rank of Prince. This greatly pleased everyone as the Duke was noted for his tactical ability.

A new city was founded along the banks of the Huang Ho river in the region of Honan. Peace and quiet reigned supreme within the nation.

THE SUBLIME KINGDOM OF WU  (Oceanic Pagan)

King Sui-Juen, the Beloved

Diplomacy: Hainan [fa], Mison [t], Ganzhou [a]

The King was rankled by the Sun pulling the rug out from under him in Taiwan, but seeing that war over the region would benefit no one he and Empress Ariko settled the issue diplomatically. Sui-Juen made an offer and Ariko seeing the wisdom of her southern neighbor decided to reward the Wu and increase the payment.

A new city was founded in the region of Dai Viet, it was christened Co Loa. Many of the Wu diplomats were ranging far and wide, having some marked success. Relations with the island of Hainan were opened with great success. Also Mison and Ganzhou were brought closer to the crown, only Mison was also being looked at by the Khemer. The overtures of Lord Sun would extinquish any claim the Khemer would have to the area.   

Mercenaries available for next turn:

Condotierri: 1xei, 4i, 2xi, 1c, 1xc, 1s, 2w, 2t

QRs: i5, w5, s4, c4

Mercenary Captain Plutarch (M152)

Mercenaries hired for this turn:  none

THE LAND OF THE GOLDEN LOTUS   (Oceanic Pagan)

King Siduna, God-King of Chola, Lord of the Golden Mask and the Emerald Throne

Diplomacy:  Malabar [f], Seylan [f], Johor [nt], Petra [nt], Vengi [ne]

King Siduna’s interests would range far and wide, to the east he sent an envoy to the region of Johor to convince them that being part of the Lotus Kingdom was in their best interests. The tribesmen of Johor would agree nominally to Kushan’s proposals and would cement the deal by marrying on of the kings daughters.

To the west two men were sent to the region of Petra. Petra was already allied economically to the Kingdom of Punt, but when the men from Lotus arrived they were able to convince the Arabs in Petra to change sides.

In the homeland diplomacy was also the name of the game, as the king himself visited the Malabari Chief and pledged another of his daughters to him. Prince Saj would also be sent to the island of Seylon to conduct talks there and met with great success. 

THE KINGDOM OF KHEMER  (Oceanic Pagan)

King Marfuss Alhamehli

Diplomacy:  Mison [càun], Nakhon [fa]

Marfuss and Lord Siangh went west to expand the borders all the way out to the Gaur Kingdom. King Marfuss had some success in Nakhon, but since nobody was left behind to mind the affairs of state Siangh didn’t make much headway in Thaton.

While the King was away to the west the capital; Angor was expanded and its defensive capability was expanded.

THE CONCLAVE OF THE GANGES  (Oceanic Pagan)

King Saj, Rightful King of the Conclave of the Ganges

Diplomacy: Pawar (t), Kalinga (f)

Saj would stay at home and see to the internal affairs of his nation, during his off time he was successful in producing another heir to the throne. Unfortunately the boys mother would die before she finished nursing him.

A team of three diplomats were sent to the region of Pawar led by Lord Guta in order to connect the Kingdom in the middle. Their efforts paid off and the region pledged to send tribute to the King in Kaunaj.

Yet more diplomats were sent to the region of Kalinga with the same mission, only this time they duo had one of the kings daughters to wed to the regional ruler. The plan worked and Kalinga became part of the Conclave in all ways.

THE GAUR NATION  (Oceanic Pagan)

King Sajvala II

Diplomacy: Burma (nt), Pegu (f)

The King went on a diplomatic mission out in Burma, where his efforts met with small success, despite the fact that he brought gold to woo the natives. While he was gone resources were sent out to expand the capital and the city of Sajvala.

Better luck was had by General Chownarbrah and his two assistants, they headed to Pegu and brought that region fully on board with the Kingdom.

THE ISLAND KINGDOM OF JAVA  (Oceanic Pagan)

King No Name

Diplomacy: None

No Orders

Mercenaries available for next turn:

Condotierri: 3xc, 2w, 1hw

QRs: c4, w4

Mercenaries hired for this turn:

THE KINGDOM OF HIALEA  (Oceanic Pagan)

King Nahen, King of the Scythians

Diplomacy:  Punjab [a], Bauluch [f], Fars [f]

Nahen would install his son to the throne while he would go amongst the troops and see to the defense of the realm. Sometimes it was good to get out of the palace and he trusted his son to carry out his edicts in his absence. Nahenaren would be charged with expanding the irrigation systems in several regions and delegating authority to others to found a city in the region of Sind. The heir also had the Kingdoms mapmakers change the name of the capital to Laipoxia, and the national name of Indus was droppedin favor of Hialea.

Diplomatic overtures in Punjab would have some success but the regions of Bauluch and Fars would receive the royal treatment, literally. Both regional leaders would be offered the hand of the kings own daughters in exchange for their loyalty. Farsad of Fars would actually be elevated to the rank of Prince.

THE KARA-KHATAI KINGDOM  (Asiatic Pagan)

King Orion

Diplomacy: Kush (f)

Not much to report from the Kara-Khitai, King Orion allowed his men well deserved rest. Lord Zaban would be sent out to Kush to finalize relations there.

A local headsman reports to the Minister of Agriculture that the region of Kuldja has produced crops beyond all expectations. Ever since the Temple to Avrhaama was completed the region has undergone a complete upsurge of growth, and it appears there would be more to come. King Orion would be pleased with this news. The news he would not be content with would be the reports of a massive swarm of locusts that would sweep off the steppe and completely invade the region of Ferghana. Luckily the food stores of the nation were sufficient to avert a disaster but the locals would have to replant the crops next season.

THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA  (Asiatic Pagan)

King Ardavan

Wise Lord of Persia, Creator of Light &

Destroyer of Darkness

Diplomacy: None….unless you count taking slaves….

A royal decree handed down from King Ardavan himself would state:

“All citizens of the empire currently practicing any religion other than following the Gods of the Steppe, shall consider their lives forfeit. The following regions shall henceforth be considered outside the protection of the Persian realm and all its peoples within be deemed heretics.”

With that proclamation Prince Gaspar was invested with a force of 13200 mixed infantry and cavalry. Once his troops were formed he and three other generals marched into the region of Media. Once in the region the Prince and the Heir, Zand, would issue the decree and then set about enslaving every man woman and child in the region. Any that resisted would be put to the sword, any very few even attempted. The scene would be repeated in Zagros and Ahvaz as well. All told the Persians took 12000 slaves.

THE MONARCHY OF PATZINAK  (Asiatic Pagan)

King Alexander II

Diplomacy: None

No Orders

THE KINGDOM OF CARCHEMISH   (African Pagan)

King Asher

Diplomacy: None

King Asher would stay home and see to the day to day affairs of the realm. Queen Naomi and he would try to continue the royal line and were successful with a daughter. On the second try though Naomi would succumb to hemorrhaging during the birth and neither her nor the child would survive.

THE ISLAND KINGDOM OF RHODES  (Oracle of Delphi)

King Agis

Diplomacy: none

King Agis and his heir would stay at home and take care of business and wait for reports from the invasion in the north. The capital would be renamed Atlantea and mercs would be hired for the campaign in Trieste.

(See Bavaria’s Last Stand)

Mercenaries available for next turn:

Condotierri: 2i, 2c, 2xc, 2w, 2t

QRs: i5, w4, s4, c4

Blodgett of Avalon (M553, age 38)

Mercenaries hired for this turn:

THE KINGDOM OF TROY  (Oracle of Delphi)

King Theseus

Diplomacy: Pontus [a]

Theseus sends his generals to the west to press on in the war with Bavaria, and he takes a wife from the local court to try to provide heirs. Unfortunately the woman dies within the year during childbirth. The Heir, Theseus II was dispatched to Pontus to bring them back into the fold. He offers his hand in marriage to a local girl and the Pontus government agrees to the diplomatic overtures. Theseus II wastes no time and tries to get the girl pregnant but it seems Athena is frowning upon the royal family and the woman also dies before she is able to come to term.

The really bad news filters in during 72, one cold crisp February morning the residents on Pergamum wake up to a jolt. The ground leaps and the streets crack. In a matter of seconds roofs start collapsing and people are being buried alive amongst the rubble. It only lasted 5 minutes, but in the end Pergamum was completely leveled by an earthquake. What have the Trojans done to displease the gods so?

(See Bavaria’s Last Stand)

THE KINGDOM OF GREECE  (Oracle of Delphi)

Queen Delphinia Zecharias

Diplomacy: Malta [f], Epirus [un]

The region of Epirus was cut loose from the Kingdom and the island of Malta was brought completely into the realm. Unfortunately the attempts to convert the populace of Malta to the Oracles was met with a strong backlash. It actually forced more of the locals to steer away from polytheism and embrace Roman Catholicism which was still prevalent in the region.

Lord Anthony was given a fleet of ten light ships and was ordered to go show the people of the Mediterranean and the Danube the true power of the Greeks. Anthony first visited the regions of Cilicia and Levant where he met with some success, then following a route that would take him to Sinai, Ad’Diffah, Lybia, Tripolitania and Gefara. Anthony would loose 3 ships in the Med alone but would press on to the Danube. Here he hit Dobruja, Moldavia, Pechneg and finally Ialomita where he would loose another ship in the raids. After these losses Anthony would return home to Athens with the spoils.

THE ORACLES OF DELPHI  (Oracle of Delphi)

Oracle Jessica Fadon of Delphi

Diplomacy: Morea [ab], Lydia [ab], Mansura [ab]

Expansion of the church holdings would be made by Helena in Morea and Pythia in Lydia. Lauren Baden would stay in Trieste and ensure the backs of the Trojans and Rhodes armies would be secure. In 74, the winter would be just too severe for her, combined with the fighting outside the walls, she was working too hard ministering to the sick and wounded, she would succumb to illness and pass away.

Justine would be assigned to preach to the heathens in Egypt and would make remarkable progress. One night in year 75 she was walking next to the Nile as she was wont to do. Little did she know there was a crocodile lying in wait and took her without much noise or notice.

THE KINGDOM OF UNITED LITHUANIA-UKRAINE (KULU)  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Nicholas II

Diplomacy: none

No Orders.

THE UNITED TRIBES OF THE FOREST KINGDOM (UTFK)  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Duran, Ruler of the Forest Kingdom

Diplomacy: Goryn (t), Meissen (t), Volhynia [ea]

King Duran ordered two sections of a postal road system be extended from the capital to the south. As well his diplomats extended the realms borders toward the Black Sea by engaging in talks with the tribesmen of Goryn. The King also commissioned a city to be built in the region of Estonia, it was to be named Riga.

Missionaries had great success in the region of Masuria, since the region already had a sizable DOG population the rest fell in line without too much trouble.

DRUIDS OF THE OLDE GODS   (Druids of the Olde Gods)

Lilith, Gothrithar of the Druids, beloved of the Gods

Diplomacy: Little Poland [ch], London in Sussex [ch], Danzig [ch], Latvia [ch], Novgorod [ab],

Strathclyde [ab], Sussex [mn]

Revered Mother Lilith after having much success in dealing with the heretics in Brittany would take it upon herself to go the distance and deal with the very same problem in Bochnia. Traversing great distances over sea and land Lilith arrived in Bochnia in year 74 and swiftly dealt with the heretics that were, up until her arrival, gradually gaining ground in the region. It seemed that churches sprang up in her wake as she still had time to two such establishments in Danzig and Little Poland, truly she is a tireless woman. She also issued a proclamation that the pagan practices of the Cuman were truly evil and that these deplorable acts must be stopped before the evil spreads.

Lilith’s staff of able attendants had no less success establishing sites and upgrading existing ones in Avalon, Alba, KULU, and UTFK.  

Mercenaries available for this turn:

Condotierri: 3hi, 2i, 8xi, 2c, 2w, 2t, 1s

QRs: i5, w4, s4, c5

Andrew of Green Tribe (M951, age 34)

Mercenaries hired: 3hi,2i,8xi,2c by Lorraine

Andrew hired by Lorraine.

THE KINGDOM OF THE SVEAR (Oracle of Delphi)

King Ymir of Giantstock

Diplomacy: Uppsala [a]

The new King Ymir would gather his veteran navy and Marines and sally forth to protect the back of his southern ally Lorraine. Gnur and his liege lord would patrol the Rhine the entire cycle while hearing reports of the war to the east, and the acts of the Cuman to the west.

In his absence the capital, Ivarvold saw its size and system of cisturns expanded. Torkell would move from the Islands of Saarema to the region of Uppsala where the hardy men of the wilds would strengthen their ties to the nation.

Bavaria’s Last Stand

71, January

Prince Eric would be given orders to move to the region of Austria to engage in diplomatic talks. On his way back to his house he is attacked in broad daylight and stabbed in the stomach. The attacker makes a clean getaway but Eric is left for dead. He survives and carries on with his plans after his recovery.

71, March-May

Bismark move with his large force of heavy cav into the region of Carinthia. Bavarian rule is welcomed back with open arms to the region.

Dracus moves on the Bavarian region of Thuringia, his tremendous force of mixed cav and mercenaries has no trouble pacifying the region.

Paris leaves the Baeleric Isles headed for Troy.

Periander moves to the region of Carinthia with the intention of paving the way for a larger invasion force later. He is thwarted by the arrival of Bismark and his cavalry and retreats back to Trieste.

Pericles leaves Bakony and heads for Trieste to meet up with Paris when gets there.

Faililikish hires his mercs in the south and transports them to Mansura.

71, August

Dracus finishes the dirty work in Thuringia and heads for the city, Liepzig, which unfortunately has no wall to protect it. While he is setting about destroying the city he has a contingent of men loot the region he just took.

Aganagnae receives the mercs from his king and sets off for Trieste to hand them over.

Bismark has arrived in Slovenia and is again welcomed with open arms by the populace.

71, October

Paris would arrive in Trieste and link up with Pericles and hand over a large force of siege engineers. Then Paris would again set out for the Baelerics to watch out for hostile ships.

72, March

Bismark arrives at the walls of Trieste, his scouts report the troop build up in the city. He decides to await the invaders in the region of Slovenia and fall upon them once they leave the walls of the city.

Dracus and his retinue moves on to the region of Franconia to subject them to the same treatment that he handed down to Thuringia. The region and its city, Frankfurt, fall with little effort expended by the invaders.

72, May

The Punt forces arrive in Trieste and offload the African mercs to the care of Phillipedes. 

Once all the troops are mustered and prepared it is time to sally forth into Slovenia. Phillipedes and Pericles set out from Trieste with a combined force of over 11,000 men, mostly infantry and siege engineers. They are met out in the field by Bismark and his 5000 plus heavy cavalry. It turns out that surprise would be the element Bismark needed to hold the field, even at 2 to 1 odds. The casualties that the first day would inflict would cause Phillipedes to turn back and head for the safety of Trieste. The invaders would lose over 5000 men, while Bismark would only suffer 1600.

Lack of communication between commanders would leave Pericles alone on the field in the face of another Bavarian cavalry charge. Bismark would chase the slower infantry and engineers back to the city walls and kill them to a man. Pericles and the survivors of the first day of battle would be the only Trojans to return to Trieste.

73, March

Lorraine invades Bavaria proper. Prince Dracus has in excess of 33,000 troops most of which are heavy cavalry to invade the Bavarian homeland. King Christian is waiting for them with his small contingent of heavy cavalry numbering about 5000, arranged in place along with about 20 forts around the region. Dracus and his lieutenants give the force the call to attack and the dreadful truth is that cavalry against forts don’t make for a successful invasion. Before Dracus can bring his engineers to bear on the forts the defenders come forth in precision raids. With the support of his newly commissioned officer and the surprising assistance of the Egyptian Khemet, Christian is able to wear the invaders down enough to cause them to withdraw.

King Christian was wounded and dismayed at the news that he has lost 5 forts, and Dracus had to leave 4400 dead and wounded on the field. Both armies would take time to regroup and plan the second stage of the war. Dracus would again advance into Bavaria and attempt to join battle with the wounded Bavarians. The battle was lopsided and the tally started to favor Lorraine, until a thunder could be heard over the din of battle. As all on the battlefield turned to the south to see what the noise was, Bismark exploded over the horizon onto the field. The Bavarians would be saved!!!

Not so fast, even with his remarkable ability and the added troops Bismark would not be enough to save the fate of the Bavarians. Bismark, now in command, would order his forces to fall back to the city of Munich. The Heir to the throne of Lorraine was wounded as he was thrown from his horse during the initial arrival of Bismark.

73, July

Dracus would continue to press in on Munich and the Bavarians without their forts and no walls around the city held little hope for survival. It turns out that the forts would have made the difference. Bismark was forced from the city of Munich while sustaining another 2000 dead. He would then lead his men to the region of Swabia and set up the capital in Stuttgart.

Dracus set about his favorite actions and looted the region of Bavaria and sacked and burned the city of Munich. It was a hard fought battle but in the end the Bavarians had fought with valor.

THE WARRIOR CLANS OF CUMAN  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Gan-Chinua, Kahn  of the Cuman, Slave-master of France

Diplomacy: none

The One True Goddess Avrehaama lusted for more blood and slaves and that’s just what the Cuman would give her. Gan-Chinua would come from the region of Burgundy and enter Orleans and immediately begin to round up not just the men but the women, children and weak and infirm as well. Those that would not come were slaughtered where they stood. Tverdislav, would follow in his liege lords footsteps with glee and lead his troops right along with his masters. All told the 29000 ravenous hordesmen would clean the region out in a matter of months. Then they would move to Anjou and repeat the process. Once Anjou was cleaned out Gan-Chinua moved into Ill de France and deposit his human bounty. As if those two regions weren’t enough for the bloodthirsty Khan he then moved to Maine and Normandy. Again after the Cuman were done with their deeds they would return to Paris with the slaves. Paris was swelling with over 15000 poor wretches, the Goddess would be happy.

THE KINGDOM OF LORRAINE  (Oracle of Delphi)

King Harold

Diplomacy: Thuringia [p then revolts], Franconia [p], Bavaria [p]

(See Bavaria’s Last Stand)

THE KINGDOM OF BAVARIA   (Roman Catholic)

King Christian

Diplomacy: Thuringia [oc], Franconia [oc], Bavaria [oc]

(See Bavaria’s Last Stand)

KINGDOM OF ALBA  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Hamish

Diplomacy: Shetlands [f], Highlands [fa]

The King of Alba would be rewarded in his attempts to procreate, his two new daughters made fine additions to the royal house. While he was intent on making babies Hamish oversaw the expansion of the capital in between his other duties of ruling the nation.

The adept Prince Kyle would go forth and ensure that the Shetlands would join the realm fully without incident. Lieutenant Blaine was ordered to go north to the Highlands to expand the realm in that direction. Blaine was quite surprised when the head of the mountain clans would not only join the Albans but would also pledge his large contingent of men as well.

The unfortunate news of Lieutenant Torkil’s abortive attempt to persuade the gentlemen from Lothian to ally with the realm reached the king at the end of the cycle. All the other successes dulled the sting but room would have to found elsewhere for expansion.

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF AVALON  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Oak, Ruler of the United Kingdom of Avalon, Protector of Portugal

Diplomacy: Portugal [+8 YfC], Lindisfarne [fa], Dyffed [ne], Lothian [nt]

Quiet and peace would reign supreme in Avalon as the nation would turn to consolidating its hold on its surrounding areas. Lord Shakespeare would be on hand to handle talks with the natives of Portugal in order to speed their joining with the realm.

Lord William was already on station in Dyffed and his attempts to coax the leader there would be for naught. Lord Dumbledor was granted the city of Lindisfarne as his reward for his years of exceptional service. Alas he was only able to enjoy it for a time as he died in year 75 of a fever.

King Oak stayed in London and attempted to add to the royal line. His attempts did bear fruit in a sense and his wife did become pregnant but when it came time to give birth the baby was breach and both were lost.

The heir, Buford was sent to Lothian to engage in talks to have them join the realm in order to seal up the border with Alba. Unbeknownst to Buford there was also an Alban diplomat en route to the region. As fate would have it Buford’s efforts would be the one that bore fruit and the region would be brought under the protection of the Kingdom of Avalon.

THE GREEN TRIBE  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Arthur

Diplomacy: Gascony [nt]

Arthur inspired by the success of cultivating Connaught decided that his nation would continue to build and make improvements. The city of Dublin was founded in Leinster but it would be many more years before all the necessary resources would be collected to make it a full fledged city.

The heir to the realm was sent to the mainland to the region of Gascony to establish a foothold. Small progress was made but it allowed the king some more breathing room. 

Mercenaries available for next turn:

1hec, 1hei, 1hc, 2hi, 2i, 2xi, 3c, 2xc, 3s, 1xew,

1hw, 2w, 2xw, 2t

QRs: i5, w4, s4, c5

Mercenaries hired for this turn:  1hec,1hei,1hc,2hi,2i,2xi,3c,2xc,3s by Rhodes

THE KINGDOM OF GRANADA  (Druids of the Olde Gods)

King Corum

Diplomacy: Baelerics [fa]

Due to the sudden disappearance of Lord Allum, the King ordered everyone to a defensive posture. But, the shock of a leader disappearing would not deter the Ministry of the Interior from emptying the nations coffers to expand no less than four cities, drastically expand the merchant capabilities and embark on two national projects. A royal road was ordered to extend from the capital across the mountains to the region of Murcia. Moreover, the nation was ordered to drop the feudal society and open itself to new ideas, these projects would be costly and would take many more years to complete.

The heir, Aridon had orders to engage in talks with the islanders of the Baelerics before returning to the capital. Unfortunately for Aridon and the Kingdom of Granada the shear amount of polities who had their hands in the affairs of the islanders made matters very bad. Roman Catholic leaders would take exception to the offers of the Granadans and while the region would remain part of the empire, at a reduced state, Aridon would not make it home. He was chased down by Catholic thugs into the country side and stoned to death. A dark day for Granada indeed.

THE KINGDOM OF LOMBARDY  (Roman Catholic)

King Odotheus

Diplomacy: Spoleto [nt], Provence [pt], Apulia [pt]

The Lombards would open the season with two main thing on their mind. The invasion to the north and east and expanding their realm at the expense of the Sicilians. Prince Braga would be dispatched to the region of Spoleto to open up relations with them, to which they were lukewarm towards. Near the end of the year 75 a storm blew in off the Adriatic and Braga was caught out in the open and had the unfortunate experience of being struck by lighting. When his retainers could touch the smoldering body they found he was dead.

The King would stay in Mediolan and see to the defense of the realm just in case the combined Rhodian/Trojan invasion bled across his borders. Luckily his worries were for naught as the fighting stayed in Bavarian territory.

Lord Rictovarus was ordered to go west and take the region of Provence by force. He was very successful in that endeavor as there was not one single Sicilian troop to be seen in the region. Once that was completed his orders were to turn around and go the length of the peninsula to the south. Once there he set about repeating the actions of Provence only this time in Apulia. Again due to the lack of Sicilian presence in the area the job was completed with minimal casualties.

Mercenaries available for next turn:

Condotierri: 5c,1xc,13i,1xi,11w,11t

QRs:i5, w6, s4, c4

Mercenaries hired: 10i,11t,11w by Punt

THE SULTANATE OF MORROCO (Roman Catholic)

Sultan Ghalib

Diplomacy: None

No Ordes

THE ISLAND KINGDOM OF SICILY  (Roman Catholic)

King Axeres II

Diplomacy: Provence (un), Apulia (oc)

No Orders

Mercenaries available for next turn:

3hi, 9i, 7xi, 2w, 1hw, 1xw, 2t

QRs: i3, w4, s4, c3

Shekelek of Punt (M697, age 43)

Mercenaries hired for this turn: 3hi,7i,1hw,2t by Punt

THE KINGDOM OF PUNT  (Oracle of Delphi)

King Falilikish, the Lion

Diplomacy: Aswan (hs), Ghebil Garib (hs), Petra (un), Levant [p]

Faliliikish rounded up the mercs he hired from Southern Africa and sailed up toe Mansura and dropped them off. Then he returns home to rule and have babies. He is overjoyed when a little girl joins the family in 72.

Baki, the heir would go to Sinai to try to pave the way for troops coming from the south. The leaders in Sinai wouldn’t hear of it and expelled him from their lands. He then returns to Petra only to see the Golden Lotus diplomats undoing all of his hard work.

Mani heads north from Sabae to try to connect Mansura and the capital. The desert regions are just not open to hearing proposals from sailors and he is wounded in riots in Aswan. In Ghebil Garib they listen but have the same reaction, but Mani succumbs to his injuries from Aswan and dies. The natives leave his body on the seashore as a warning.

Aganagae linked up with the mercs in Mansura and escorted them to Trieste to be handed over to Phillip of Rhodes. He then returned to Mansura with more troops donated from the Oracle herself. After gaining control of all the troops in Mansura he would march to Sinai which they would have to fight through. Upon reaching the other side of the desert Aganagae fell upon the region of Levant and put the people to the sword then set about changing their religious beliefs to the Oracle. 

THE KINGDOM OF IFE  (African Pagan)

 King Bu 'wagu II, Lord of the Niger

Diplomacy: None

While Bu’ wagu stayed near the capital and oversaw its expansion, Grotara came home from Benin after his slave raids and was put in charge of the defense of the realm.

In other news peace was announced between Ife and Timbuktu. Trade routes that had been closed due to the war were reopened and relations were re-established with the north.

THE MADREGAIST CHURCH  (Madregaist)

Primate Tuhara

Diplomacy:   none

No Orders

THE KINGDOM OF TIMBUKTU  (Madregaist)

King Lasaka Mansa, the Second

Diplomacy: Dogamba  [c], Hausa  [t], Segu  [a], Zerma  [ne]

Prince Ngombo was finally recovering from his wife’s death a few years ago and decided to take his responsibility as Prince seriously in memory of his beloved. He ordered that the entire realm would assist him in providing the Kingdom with an heir. A call went out to all the regional governors to select a wife for the Prince and he would honor these regions with a chance to supply the Kingdom with an heir. Three women were sent to the capital and Ngombo was pleased and soon set to work on producing an heir. Unfortunately the fragile woman sent from Sudan succumbed to the birth of her child. The second and third women were more productive and a son and daughter were born without issue. Aside from his baby making activities, Ngombo commissioned a VERY large regiment of cavalry to aid in the defense of the realm. Moreover on the military front the infantry of Timbuktu could be seen conducting close order drills, which one would assume this would make them better conditioned and disciplined on the battlefield.

The King himself moved into Segu and established stronger ties with the regional elders. As did Bishop Tutu bring the region of Hausa back into the realm. Even though the distance to Hausa was great the people decided that it would be a benefit to be part of the Timbuktu future.

Wapa’a went on a whirlwind tour along the western side of the Niger River to cement ties with those regions. He met with small success in Dogamba and nothing else after that.

THE SEAHOLD OF TAKRUR  (Madregaist)

King Sekani

Diplomacy:

Following the success of the cultivation of Takrur, the Seahold would also start a similar project in Senegal.