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This will be a turn-based mechanics-lite narrative history game running from classical antiquity straight into modern times.

To play, simply fill out the form below as a response in this thread.

Nation Name:
Language Base:
History:
Location:

Language Base will determine how procedurally generated people and locations within your nation are automatically named. It should be a location I can find on google maps. I will take syllables from existing names and places in that area and mix them up. For instance, if your language base is England, you may end up with a city named Londentry and an adviser named Winlor Brownson. The names may not make sense, or may even translate into something real in said language, but beyond such flaws I'm hoping that this system will make a bit more of an immersive world.

Your people's History determines everything that happened to them before the game start, and how they got to where they are now. I will rewrite it if it is too radical for the time period, or too unrealistic for the location you've picked. The starting time period is 300bc. History of the world around you will proceed as it did in reality until you tamper with it.

Location can be anywhere in the real world; I will be using a regular Earth map. However, you should know that development growth and technological discovery will progress differently for different regions, and will largely depend upon proximity to other players and historically successful NPCs. After all, the genesis of ingenuity is competition.

Finally, the tagline "Prepare to Die Edition" means that the difficulty will be higher than normal for this game. Try not to get too mad, okay?

I am in. I'll fill the form completely a bit later.

Nation Name: Yukora
Language Base: Japanese
History: Group of Nomadic people who were finally united by a single warlord who later became known as a king. Known for their artistic abilities as well as their natural charisma.
Location: Japan

Nation Name: Majid Wu
Language Base: Benin and Han chinese
History: Randomly generated (surprise me)
Location: bosporus strait

Nation Name: Улуг-Аал (Ulug-Aal)

Language Base: Tuva

History: Conflict long forgotten led the ancestors of these people to flee from their old homelands in the Caspian Steppe to the smaller plains of the Pannonian Basin. Their new vincinity to the Carpathian Mountains has lead to some settling down permanently and relying on hunting for food, while others retain the nomadic lifestyle of old. The people does not as of yet have any strong leadership, but regard eachother with kinship nevertheless.

Location: Pannonian Steppe and the Carpathian Mountains

Nation Name: Al Amarja

Language Base: Phoenician

History: The people that would form Al Amarja were people who were forced to flee from their lands by marauding bands of bandits and mercenaries who sacked and pillaged villages for their own sadistic pleasure along with stealing what the locals owned and one fishing village and trading post that accepted in the refugees.

As more people began to flood into the small village it quickly grow into the mighty city it is now as more people began to flee from their homes now from differences of faiths and ideals, mainly those of occult and mystical beliefs that would shape the spiritual faith of the nation and the ideals of scholars and philosophers whose ideas and knowledge would later benefit the city. Eventually powerful and wealthy families and clans who have massive influence within the city would form a Grand Council and with an elective monarch acting as the physical representation of the city and the council as a republic was born.

Location: Tunisia

Yo yo yo, shiggy diggy Imma sign up super quick just enjoying Christmas out with the fam.

Nation Name: Estres

Language Base: Byzantine/Turkey

History: Estres was formed by a group of religious nomads who all worship a symbol they call “The Arch” which they believe is a holy pattern that marks places, people, or things that are blessed. The land that would become Estres started as a small meeting place for monks who followed the Path of the Arch, but soon attracted farmers and workers who sought a place to settle.

Location: Italy

I'll complete the format later.

y'all hurry up now I want to get this started

Nation Name: Muscovy (Kiev Works for this era but reforming into Muscovy won't take long)
Language Base: Slavic
History: The East Slavic Peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula had been expanding into the Russian frontier during this time, and in a few years, Moscow would become a small Trading Post connecting Greece & Anatolia with Scandinavia. With the hardy Slavic peoples gathering, this region saw a steady transition into the Tzars which would Unify the region, and into the Peoples which would boast one of the largest and most fearsome militaries in the world, opening Moscow into the world stage.
Location: Moscovite region

Nation Name: Mata Raja
Language Base: Indonesian
History: Mata Raja Formed from a small group in south-east asia and slowly became bigger and bigger, and finally became a huge nation.
Location: Indonesia

Nation Name: Bergplatz
Language Base: Germanic
History: A land created by bored horseman, Bergplatz grew from a series of farms to a decent sized kingdom. Known for its boats.
Location: Netherlands

Nation Name: Dasht-i-Qitaj

Language Base: Sino-Kazakh

History: Like the steppe grasses, tread on by thousands of hooves only to be regrown the next season, the tribes of the Great Plain scatter and vanish, unite and grow strong. What the great Empires to the East call "Xiyu", what are the northern reaches of the lavish Iranian kingdoms, what the Turks and Scythians and roaming hordes claim for themselves, the steppe is a land untamed and uncontrolled.

But that beast will be saddled. And those who mount the great stallion call themselves not one people, but of a hundred ethnicities, a thousand tribes, ten thousand warbands, endless like the sea of green. Fiercely proud yet intemperate, the banners of the steppe have finally unified under one standard, electing a great Khan to meet the peoples ambition and achieve lasting legacy for the horde. The clans of the Confederation are eager to strike out into the world, wherever the wind shall guide them. A dark storm rolls and gathers, waiting to unleash itself…

Location: Dzungaria

No flags makes me sad :(

Nation Name: Arcadian Kingdom

Language Base: Greek

History:
Arcadia, like most of kingdoms in Mesopotamia, came to be after the fall of a predecessor Empire. Ruled by the Elias dynasty, it enjoys far more lenient social laws, less heavy-handed hierarchy and near full extent of meritocracy. A small cabinet of advisors formed from representatives of various professions – engineers, traders, scholars, clergy and warriors – is actively advising the Kings and Queens, ruling with even hand.

Originally, Arcadia was home to multiple patrician families, ruling the region with huge autonomy. Those small dynasties had enormous amount of properties and slaves, in the city and around it. When the Empire fell several centuries ago, slaves saw the opportunity to rebel and take power in the city. The following massacre has took the lives of slaves and families alike, but chaos proved to be but a ladder for the guard commander, who ultimately pacified both sides. Elias the Great set the scene for following centuries of prosperity. The slaves were freed and, while poor, lived as free men. He brought scholars and traders back to fill the void after the patricians, and promoted young blood to serve as major figures within the city.

Since then, it became the cradle of philosophical thought, smaller religions and a major trade center, both for the Europe-Asian trade route and Euphrates trade. City itself flourished, growing in size and regional influence by subjugation of close, less powerful city-states. Arcadian army is, per tradition, a mix of professional warriors and yearly drilled reserves.

Capital: Arcadia

Location: Mesopotamia

I want to change the name of my nation to Canaan.

TURN 0
Map Link

Below are your nation sheets. They consist of seven sections: government, retinue, religion, language, economy, military, and issues.

Government simply defines how your country is run, and can be seen in a more simple manner through map fonts.

Your retinue consists of the four most important individuals in your country, who are called "advisors." Your leader will always be listed first, followed by top ministers in important fields such as religion, warfare, economics, and diplomacy. Your retinue may consist of different sets of people depending upon what your nation values most; for instance, a warmonger may find his retinue entirely filled with generals, whereas a confederation's retinue may contain local leaders instead of specialized advisors. A number beside the advisor indicates the aproximate turn that you can expect them to die of old age, assuming they are not killed before then. Advisors who die or retire on their own will be automatically replaced with an heir of their own choice. You may force advisors to retire early, or even execute one, in which case you can personally select a new advisor to put in their retinue slot, but this will likely cause instability, as nobody likes to lose power and influence.

Your religion and language sections will list pertinent information about what your people believe in and how they communicate. First will be listed your official religion/language, followed by significant minor religions/languages. Religions and languages which are specific to a geographical location or group of people within your society will be specified in parenthesis.

The economy section will show what kind of employment your people mostly engage in. This is not an indicator of the only economic activity in the country, just the most common ones.

The military section tells how advanced your army is compared to reality-timeline Europe, both in technolgoy and tactics. Military size is determined by the amount of land and the number of cities and towns you posess. This section will also include any special modifiers brought on by laws or events.

Finally, the issues section will tell of any pending problems which you need to deal with. Usually these will also be explained in the text of each turn.

Yukora
Sergeant Arch Dornan

Government: Military Dictatorship
Retinue: King Wa Shoji (6), Kannushi Noboru Nakaji (6), General Ise Watari (4), General Hiro Feng (3)
Religion: Ancestor Worship, Taoism
Language: Japanese
Economy: Rice Farming, Slavery
Military: Early Classical
Issues: War with Nanikyo, Feuding Generals

• For nearly a century, the southern islands of Japan have been plagued by waves of migration, throwing the region into tumult. These roving newcomers, who call themselves Yukora, have now finally settled into their surroundings, and transformed the native rice kingdoms into slave states. Many of these states were subjugated by the most powerful among them: King Wa Kofu, ruler of Kyutochi. The king has recently died, however, leaving his young and inexperienced son, Wa Shoji, on the throne.

• A mass slave uprising occurs in the capital, but is defused at the last moment by Kannushi Noboru Nakaji, a childhood friend of the king. The slaves, as it turns out, were rebelling for their master, who had promised that they would live better with him as king. Nakaji convinced them that he would get the king to free these slaves if they turned over their master, which they did promptly. Nakaji, true to his word, obtained the king's permission to emancipate the mob.

• The old king's top generals, Watari and Feng, have taken to manipulating the young king, each general vying to use his influence for personal gain. This has gradually unwound the fabric of all that Wa Kofu built, threatening to throw the new kingdom into chaos once more.

• The nearby kingdom of Nanikyo, at the behest of the Japanese emperor, has declared war upon Yukora. Their armies are marching through the northern territories, and are presently building ships to cross the narrow straits and assault Kyutochi itself. With Yukora's generals at one anothers' throats, neither seems able to cooperate on the defense.

Majid Wu
James (Dean) Blunt

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Yayi Zhang (3), Chief Bedji Chu (1), Shaman Soglo Xia (4), Master Hachem Bu (4)
Religion: Shamanism, Hellenism
Language: Majidi, Greek (elites)
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture
Military: Primitive
Issues: Modernization, Egyptian Raiders

• The Majidi people have never quite known civilization, despite living at the cusp of it for so long. Their barbarous nature makes them difficult to control, and as such it is suspected that many of the great hordes which have plagued Mesopotamia and Egypt throughout their history originated in Majid Wu. However, Alexander's recent conquests have shown them the strength that lies in the Greek way of life. During the short reign of Macedon many have been turned away from shamanic tradition and towards the Hellenic pantheon, and most of the Majidi elites have even learned Greek letters.

• Majid Wu is presently undergoing a total societal shift, and is suffering all of the growing pains which come with it. Soglo Xia, a religious leader, has long fought against the Greek overlords and, now free of their influence, seeks to destroy all evidence that they were ever present. He leads groups of drugged-up fanatics who go about torturing local Greeks, burning papers, and tearing down statues and temples. If he is not stopped, he will reverse all of Alexanders investments in the region, but at the same time his militant inertia could be harnessed to fend off the encroaching Egyptians.

• Leading the charge for Hellenism and civilization has been Chief Bedji Chu, who leads the confederation alongside his good friend, Yayi Zhang. However, Chu is on his deathbed, and has no children to follow in his footsteps. Chief Zhang leads a conservative faction, although he has always maintained peace with Chu, it is evident that he will reverse all of Chu's reforms once the man is dead. Without further action, it seems that Majid Wu may slip back to its primitive roots.

• Egyptian raiders are frequenting the southern border, looting villages and assaulting trade caravans. They are heavily armed, suggesting that there are armies in the area, perhaps preparing for an attack.

• Hachem Bu is the Master of Horses in Majid Wu. This is a traditional post which was held by his father, and his father before him, and so on beyond the counting of time. Bu's primary function is to gather all the horsemen in the realm to fend off foreign attacks, when they occur. Occassionally the Master has been known to take such opportunities to pursue the enemy back into their homeland, although typically the army disbands once its purpose has expired. Bu worked as a lieutenant under one of Alexander's generals, and has only just returned home from a campaign in Persia. He claims to have no stake in the politics of Majid Wu, and simply wishes to be informed if the Egyptians ever invade so that he might put them to the test of his new tactical skills.

Ulug-Aal
Stoffe

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Kaiduk Namlar (4), Chief Donku Grensan (2), Chief Sergu Khertek (2), Great Shaman Chak-Chak Orzkah (1)
Religion: Tengri, Shamanism
Language: Ulugi, Mongol (eastern tribes), Turkic (western tribes)
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Nomadic Hunting/Gathering
Military: Primitive
Issues: Frontier Grazing Rights, Religious Leadership Succession Dispute

• The Ulugi people have settled in Pannonia after a long migration away from the eastern steppes. Many have begun farming the lands here, although they mostly maintain their traditional focus on the raising of livestock.

• Contentions have risen between the settlers and the nomads. Chief Kaiduk Namlar, leader of one of the most prolific tribes of settlers, has complained that the people of Donku Grensan's tribe are stealing from his farmers by allowing their animals to graze upon the farms. Chief Grensan has shot back with accusations of weakness, claiming that if Namlar's people cannot defend themselves from grazing animals then perhaps their entire way of life is too feeble to sustain itself. Local conflicts are growing in scale with each passing harvest season, and may escalate into all out war if the two groups cannot reconcile.

• Sergu Khertek, leader of one of the largest Ulugi tribes, seems intent on returning east. He is not convinced that the Pannonian plains provide anything of value for his people, and has been swayed by memory of his grandfather's stories. Should he leave, he may take over a third of the Ulugi people with him.

• The most respected Shaman Chak-Chak Orzkah seems to have gone senile, and recently appointed a small Greek bust as his successor. The other shamans obviously will not respect his wishes, but there is no precedent for selecting a new Great Shaman from among themselves. After no success in putting it to a vote, most of the shamans have returned to their villages and requested the intercession of their local chiefs. Naturally, the three top chiefs – Namlar, Grensan, and Khertek – have all selected their own candidates.

Canaan
CrowTheMagician

Government: Elective Monarchy
Retinue: King Maharbaal (6), Chancellor Yarmen (2), Chief Rabbi Hanno Jesse (3), High Priest Bodbasar (4)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Shamanism
Language: Punic, Hebrew, Berber, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading, Mining
Military: High Classical
Issues: Religious Tension, Treasury Heist, Sicilian Settler Situation

• The city of Damaylos was established as a haven for refugees, far from the activity of the tumultuous eastern Mediterranean. At the time of its founding, the region now known as Canaan was a vacant desert, and the city barely had any use for walls, as it never expected any attack. In the centuries since them, the city has grown to become a metropolis posessing three layers of thick walls and a perfect natural harbor which serves as the central hub for trade in the western Mediterranean. Within the central walls live the city's elites, decendents of the original settlers, nearly half of whom are Jewish. Inbetween the two inner walls live Berbers, who originally established themselves as leeches living off city refuse, but gradually came to employ themselves productively to the point of deserving a wall of their own. The outter layer of the city contains the newest arrivals, mostly Greeks and Italians, many of whom are considered "foreigners" despite having lived within the city for generations now.

• Controversy has arrisen after the assertion that the Jewish god may be the only god in existence. For a long time, the polytheists of Canaan have suspected that the Jews were monotheists, but the Chief Rabbi has always maintained that Judaism is henotheistic – that is, believing in the existence of all Gods, but only worshipping one. However, a new movement among the city's Jews, spearheaded by Chief Rabbi Hanno Jesse, is changing that belief. Insulted, the other religious groups in the city have taken to defacing Jewish shrines and attacking Jews indiscriminately, regardless of belief. Despite calls for his execution, Jesse has refused to recant his beliefs, and encourages all Jews in the Canaan diaspora to join him.

• It has been discovered that the city treasury was recently looted of half its gold reserves. Suspicion is mounting upon the newly elected king, Maharbaal, despite there being no evidence that he is the culprit. At the head of these accusations is the highly charismatic and influential Chancellor Yarmen, who would become the new king by default should Maharbaal resign or be executed.

• Canaanite settlers in Sicily are requesting military protection from Canaan. The Greek city of Prenissi frequently raids the settlements, taking slaves and loot. To protect the settlers would mean going to war with the Greek cities.

Estres
Roarshack

Government: Theocratic Dictatorship
Retinue: Keystone Heraclius (1), Inquisitor Isodorius (3), Praetor Planogus (3), Patrician Beasius (6)
Religion: Arkism, Hellenism
Language: Estrian, Latin
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Latin Uprisings, Celtic Raiders, Magna Graeca Colonial Influence, Theological Crisis

• The Estrian people came to the west seeking a place of solitude for the following of their esoteric practices, which were not celebrated in the east. Now with civilization reaching ever further west, it seems apparent that they will come into conflict with the Hellenes again. Many Latin locals, long subjugated by Estres, have found identity in the Hellenic pantheon and. The governmental position of Inquisitor was created to root out these subversives, but the going has been difficult thus far. In fact, suppressing the Latins beliefs has only made their furvor stronger, and violent uprisings have been occuring with some regularity in recent years.

• Celtic raiders have always been a problem on the northern border, however they have grown bold in recent times, delving deeper and deeper into Estres. The entire country may soon be overrun if something is not done to stop them. Praetor Planogus, ever brash, has suggested that he be allowed to take the army as far north as he can march. He pledges to put every single Celtic settlement in Italia to the torch.

• With the death of Keystone Heraclius looming, Estres must select a new leader. Isodorius, the chief inquisitor, would make a good choice for his theological knowledge and his devotion to the faith. An alternative, however, lays in the wealthy Patrician Beasius. Although he lacks the fervor of Isodorius, Beasius is very popular among the people and has the money to fund the majority of government projects without the need for any additional taxation.

• Colonists from Greece have been moving up the Italian peninsula for decades, and have only emboldened the Latins living in and around Estres. It may be prudent to purge the land of Greek influence before long.

• Religious reformers are pushing for new moral codes to be added to the Arkite belief system. Traditionally Arkism has always been an esoteric religion, centered around the mysteries of arched doorways, and has only provided divination and meditation. However, hardline moralists are now claiming that their interpretation of the sacred architecture has provided an ideal way of life. They all disagree on which ideal is perfect, but are unified in their call for morality to be enshrined into law. It may be prudent for the new Keystone to decide upon a moral system and enact such reforms, before Arkism loses its direction and unity.

Muscovy
Pon3

Government: Tribal Monarchy
Retinue: High King Boglo (4), Vlensk Mayor Dragoslav (6), High Priest Miloco (1), Grand Marshal Denen (6)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: Slavonic
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Vlensk Autonomy, Tribes Leaving

• Muscovy has been gradually growing in strength and splendor over the past two centuries, using its central location to facilitate trade between Germania and Asia, and between Scandinavia and the Near East. However, very little of that growth has been allowed to go toward its sister city, Vlensk. For eons, Vlensk has provided for Moscow in equal partnership, but Moscow's higher authority has permitted it to funnel most of the profits from this partnership to itself. The Vlenskite Mayor, Dragoslav, has called for greater autonomy for his city, so that he might claim more land for Vlensk and tax trade caravans at a higher rate. Although there is no doubt that this will rekindle friendship with Vlensk, there is a danger that this may cause frugal traders to avoid Muskovite lands altogether to save on toll fees, and granting concessions may also lead to Vlensk making greater demands in the future.

• Many tribes have begun emigrating away from Muscovite lands, seeking freedom from taxation just outside of the king's grasp. This has made food scarcer by the year. As this trend continues, people are migrating out of the city to till the lands, abandoning the buildings they helped to maintain and develop. As inns and markets begin to rot, it has become apparent that Muscovy may need radical change to keep itself functional as a trade post. Grand Marshal Denin has suggested using military force to recapture the loyalty of the clans, forcing them back into servitude as slaves. "If they won't work willingly, they shall do so by force."

Mata Raja
kronic

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Dwi (2), Chief Raharnama (6), Chief Hararjo (2), Chief-Priestess Darna (4)
Religion: Animism
Language: Sundanese, Javanese
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues: Darna's Governmental Reforms

• Not much is known of the Mata Raja before present times because, despite having posessed a written system for centuries which they used primarily for tabulating harvests, they have only just recently begun recording their own history. However, this country exists in a sleepy corner of the world with little to write about in the first place, so the lack of history comes at no surprise. At present, the nation is a loose confederation of chiefdoms, cooperating when they must, and remaining ambivilent of one another when they can.

• Chief-Priestess Darna, an energetic and ambitious young woman, is pushing for greater colaboration between the chieftains. She hopes that they can select a single leader from among themselves to lead the entire Mata Raja country. Although there is no impetus for such a colaboration, Darna has singlehandedly made it an issue of regional importance, and some debates over the topic have even become violent. As the most powerful chieftain, Dwi stands to gain the most from these new ideas, and naturally sides with Darna, but the other two chiefs refuse to submit to any Earthly authority.

Bergplatz
olors64

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Verdelerich (4), Chief Thordaten (1), Chief Weiman (4), Shaman Mardman (2)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: German
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues: Celtic Raiders, Flood Relief Noncooperation, Mass Emigration to Britain

• Bergplatz is a relatively new civilization, having settled its present lands within the last century. They have been slow to shake off their primitive roots, still having a very decentralized government and partaking in brutish rites of passage, although the majority of the population has entirley ceased its formerly nomadic lifestyle.

• Torrential rains have plagued the region for several years in a row, resulting in constant flooding. Rivers have rerouted themselves due to the floods, changing the borders of tribal lands. Plans have been put forward to dam up several streams during a dry year, to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again, but due to land ownership confusions and disagreements over who would benefit the most, nobody can determine who would be responsible for building or maintaining any of the dams. The king does not have the authority to force anybody to cooperate, although some have suggested that authority be centralized into his hands to make mediating the conflict easier. The lesser chiefs are, naturally, against such an idea, and would prefer to suffer in the soaked squalor of marshy floodplains than concede any of their power.

• Barbarians have been raiding the extensive Bergplatzish frontier in increasing intensity. Tackling both flood damage and defense against looting has proven impossible for some, and settlements are being abandoned en masse as people flee across the narrow sea into Britain. The emigrants neglect to write home, although if a military campaign can be sent quickly enough their colonies could be added to the Bergplatzish domain rather easily. Without dealing with the raiders first, however, such an endeavor would be difficult to pull off.

Dasht i Qitaj
Xia

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Tangma Khagan (5), Yerzog Khan (6), Temchen Khan (1), Zhao Khan (3)
Religion: Tengri
Language: Qitaj
Economy: Nomadic Agrarian
Military: Primitive
Issues: The Mountain Men, The Flight of Zhao Khan, The Taming of Yerzog

• Dasht i Qitaj is a wide confederation of various horseborne peoples. It is unusual for such a wide swath of lands to be tamed by one man, especially one so young as Tangma. What shall be done with such power?

• Yerzog Khan, son and heir of the Great Khan Tangma, was recently given command of a large host of soldiers. However, rather than follow his father's orders, Yerzog has been wreckless, taking rides out onto the steppe and raiding allies by accident. Or at least he claims it was done by accident; the fact that it keeps happening, despite being reprimanded, says something different.

• Zhao Khan, an older warrior, has grown weary of following the commands of Tangma, who he sees as an inexperienced child. Despite Tangma's repeated success in battle and his unmatched wit, Zhao refuses to fully respect him due to his young age and his lenience with his subjects and sons. Upon witnessing the Khagan's decision to appoint Yerzog to a position of leadership, Zhao was engraged, and the Khagan's inability to tame his own son was the final straw. Zhao has declared that he would rather be lead by a worm than suffer Tangma's incompetence any longer. "Any spineless creature is as good as another." Taking his people with him, Zhao has begun to depart for the east. If he is not stopped, much of the Qitaj horde's most experienced warriors will be lost with him.

• To the south of the Qitaj steppe lay a string of settlements nestled high in the mountains. The so-called "Mountain Men" provide shelter to caravans, and have small mining operations where they mint silver coins for use in trading. The mountain men provide nothing of value besides these coins, and many of our people resent their seemingly magical and undeserved success. It would be apt for these arrogant cretins to be subjugated as quickly as possible, as not only are they wealthy, but they are also irritating.

Arcadia
Triangle

Government: Monarchy
Retinue: King Tereidon Elias (4), Strategos Talus Trakus (5), Garrison Commander Darino Demeter (2), Fire Priest Haelyn Metaxarta (2)
Religion: Hellenism, Zoroastrianism
Language: Persian, Arcadian
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Seleucid Siege, A Traitor in our Midst

• Arcadia has an exalted past, its history reaching back to the cultured times of Babylon and Assyria. Integral to its culture is its storied history, revolving around the rise and fall of the Elias dynasty, founded by a man of low birth, who set a precedent for unusual levels of egalitarianism in his realm. Still a city of import and influence, despite the decline of all its neighbors, Arcadia has stood the test of time.

• With the fall of Alexander's empire, Arcadia is free once more, and pursuing its legacy with the revival of the Elias dynasty in the form of King Tereidon, who claims to have a bloodline leading directly back to the ancient hero. However, this reborn glory may be short lived, as the Seleucids have sent an army to put down our rebellion, and even now lay siege to the great city.

• Much of Arcadia's army was pressed into service under Alexander. Headed by Strategos Talus Trakus, the Arcadian army was last seen entering India, although their exact whereabouts are currently unknown. In fact, they may even be dead, or worse: they might stay in India to build their own kingdom. However, many in the city believe that Trakus will eventually return with enough men to defeat the Seleucids at the gates, although the exact timing is impossible to know, and there is also the question of his loyalty; will he even accept this new king?

• During the night, the enemy successfully infiltrated the city walls and launched a deadly attack that almost took the main gates. Although the incurrsion was halted before it could succeed, it has become apparent that somebody within the city allowed them in. Suspicion has fallen at the feet of Haelyn Metaxarta, the local Zoroastrian authority and the chief religious leader in the city. It is believed that the Seleucids are promoting Zoroastrianism in their territories, and Haelyn would stand to benefit if they took Arcadia.

How to Send Actions

Send me a PM titled "NatRP" with nothing else; there is no need to include edit # or the title of your nation. If you must make an edit to your actions, send another PM with the same title. I will only read the last PM that you send me titled NatRP, so make sure that the latest PM has everything in it. You are only guaranteed 24 hours in which to write your actions, after which point I may begin writing the turn at any moment, so make sure to send them quickly.

Info on Advisors and Retinue

Each advisor in your retinue has the ability to take actions independently of the actions that you send via PM. These actions may be harmful to you, or they may be to your benefit; not all advisors are good people. You may command your advisors to do things as well, just make sure that you give them appropriate jobs or they might perform poorly.

Oh, one other thing. Do not attempt to invent things, or create things which other players would inevitably copy. There is nothing worse than having to find nine different ways to say "you've created a central bank" or to try and find a non-gamey excuse for why you can't invent gunpowder yet. Technology and institutions will develop naturally as the game goes on, and will spread on their own without your intervention. Try instead to focus your actions on diplomacy and culture.

i am writing the turn now. No more edits please.

TURN 1
Map Link

Tech Reference

A military tech reference chart has been added to the top of the post. Check it out if you're confused as to what your military level is.

Yukora
Sergeant Arch Dornan

Government: Military Dictatorship
Retinue: King Wa Shoji (6), Kannushi Noboru Nakaji (6), Boss Tano Kizugu (5)
Religion: Ancestor Worship, Taoism
Language: Japanese
Economy: Rice Farming, Slavery
Military: Early Classical
Issues: War with Nanikyo

• To end the feuding of generals Watari and Feng, King Shoji has dismissed the both of them, appointing one of his own men to head the armies. The New position of "Big Boss" is commanded by Tano Kizugu, an unskilled sycophant. The generals, however, refuse to obey Kizugu's orders, and instead abandon the king, taking their armies and their fleets west, where they establish kingdoms of their own.

• Boss Kizugu scrambles to find enough weapons to arm and train a new army, and manages to assemble a small, ragtag mob of freed slaves before the arrival of the Nanikyo soldiers. Any attempt to halt the enemy advance would have been fruitless, and so Kizugu wisely retreats behind the city walls in Kyutochi. The siege does not last long, however, and the invaders begin scaling the walls almost as soon as they arrive. The battle is swiftly won by the Nanikyo, who take the city and execute both King Shoji and Boss Kizugu.

• You have been defeated. You may rejoin the game as a new nation in unclaimed territory, or you may continue playing as an existing nation not already claimed by a player.

Majid Wu
James (Dean) Blunt

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Yayi Zhang (3), Crown Prince Yiwa Zhang (6), Master Hachem Bu (4), High Priest Icarus Stara (4)
Religion: Shamanism, Hellenism
Language: Majidi, Greek (elites)
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Trading
Military: Primitive
Issues: Modernization, Egyptian Raiders, Low Finances, Religious Tension

• Upon witnessing the devastation wrought by Shaman Soglo Xia, Chief Zhang has a change of heart, and decides to follow in Chu's footsteps after all. Rallying the troops under Master Bu, Zhang commands that Xia be found and executed, and invites a Greek priest to provide counsel to him.

• The mad shaman is found, fought in battle, and destroyed. This coincides with Chu's death, leaving Zhang as one of the only surviving leaders of any influence. He takes the opportunity to crown himself as king of all the tribes. Master Bu, having no ambition of his own, does nothing to stop this.

• Thoroughly enjoying his newfound power, King Zhang decides to commission the construction of a palace in Parajing, which has become the defacto capital of the new realm. To fund this project, and many others in the growing city, Master Bu has been put to work as a tax collector, bullying peasant communities into providing all that they can spare. However, the impoverished country of Majid Wu is not a suitable tax base for ambitious projects, and it has become apparent that unless additional funding can be found, the city will stagnate in growth.

• Taxation is made difficult by the Egyptian raiders, who continuously strike into the peripheries of Majidi territory, take what they can, and retreat before Majid Wu can respond in kind. Without pursuing the Egyptians into their own territory, there seems to be no way to fight them.

• The growth of Parajing has attracted traders from the Mediterranean. Greek settlers have also used the capital as a waypoint for colonization of Crimea.

• Prince Yiwa, son of Yayi, is named heir apparent of the kingdom.

• Armenia agrees to form a diplomatic affiliation with Majid Wu, and has suggested that a joint effort be made at containing the Egyptian menace.

• Most of the Greek cities have ignored Majid Wu's diplomatic outreach.

• Religious tensions are rising as the new High Priest, a Greek polytheist, seems intent on converting the populace away from its shamanic roots. He insists that the backwards beliefs of the people are to blame for all of Majid Wu's problems, and that the country is doomed for disaster unless the people please the gods. He is causing an inverse of the problem brought on by the late Soglo Xia, and Bu may soon have to put down another mob of religious fanatics if it isn't dealt with peacefully.

Ulug-Aal
Stoffe

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Kaiduk Namlar (4), Chief Donku Grensan (2), Great Shaman Adigtis Grensan (7), Pandora (6)
Religion: Tengri, Shamanism, Hellenism
Language: Ulugi
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Nomadic Hunting/Gathering
Military: Primitive
Issues: Northern Barbarians

• Namlar's people are encouraged to move off the steppe, to provide breathing room for the nomads. Although the journey is arduous, eventually the Shagtay settlement finds a new home among the fertile northern hills. Barbarians from Germania have become a constant nuisance, however, and will need to be permanently dealt with if Shagtay is to ever grow.

• With the death of Shaman Orzkah, a new Great Shaman is selected from Grensan's tribe. Although the chiefs were originally divided among themselves on the decision, Namlar decided to submit his approval to Grensan's decision, as he was convinced that quarrels between kin would anger the spirits of their ancestors. Grensan appreciates the decision greatly, and has reciprocated by ordering his people to follow certain borders, to prevent conflict with the northern and southern settlers.

• Namlar holds secret counsel with Khertek, in an attempt to mediate his issues and find a way to appease him. However, Khertek still feels alienated by this new lifestyle, and states his final intention to leave. Taking with him the various tribes under his authority, he departs for the east.

• A shamanic temple is constructed in the western mountains. Chief Grensan, leader of the most nomadic tribes, naturally finds it prudent to keep his priestly influence alive and well in the mountains, and thus rearranges his migratory paths to provide supplies for the priests who reside there

• A mysterious priestess has arrived at the mountain shrine. Named Pandora, the woman speaks many different languages, and variously claims to be from Greece, Italy, and Egypt. Her charismatic charm and mysterious nature has gained her many devotees among the tribesmen who visit the shrine.

Canaan
CrowTheMagician

Government: Elective Monarchy
Retinue: King Maharbaal (6), Chancellor Hadrusaal (4), High Priest Bodbasar (4), Rabbi Michon (7)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Shamanism
Language: Punic, Hebrew, Berber, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading, Mining
Military: High Classical
Issues: War with Greece, Financial Crisis, Numidian Rebellion

• Hanno Jesse is exiled from Damaylos, declared to be a heretic and a general troublemaker. Although decrees of religious tolerance are simultaneously made, anti-Jewish riots follow regardless, and many homes are burned. Jews have fortified themselves within their sections of the cities, and though the violence dies down, the city remains divided.

• Rabbi Jesse has been replaced as leader of the Jewish community by Rabbi Michon, who has shed his Punic name in light of his peoples' persecution by the Phoenicians.

• A diplomatic mission is sent to Prenissi, demanding that they stop raiding Sicily without offering anything significant in return. The Greeks have taken this as an insult, and have instead sent forces to occupy the entire island. Canaan is now effectively at war with the Greeks.

• King Maharbaal organizes a thorough investigation into the treasury heist, targetting Chansellor Yarmen as his primary suspect. The chancellor commits suicide soon after, essentially confirming his involvement. However, despite having all of his properties searched, the gold is nowhere to be found. No large recent purchases were made on his behalf, leaving the investigators puzzled as to what he did with the city's gold.

• An uprising has occurred in Judea, freeiing the Jews from Egyptian domination. Hanno Jesse has made a name for himself there, somehow becoming instrumental to the uprising, causing many in the former treasury heist investigation team to wonder whether he was the true thief, and that perhaps he spent Canaan's money funding the rebellion in Jerusalem.

• The people of Damaylos are encouraged to colonize the surrounding territories, being given land grants and promises of protection. Many Jews take up this opportunity to flee the oppressive city, establishing strings of settlements all their own along the Mediterranean coast, including the two major settlements of Amaviv and Nazon. This has been viewed by some natives as an invasion of their homeland, leading to the western Numidians to take up arms and revolt. As a result, Amaviv is now isolated, and frequently comes under attack by barbarian raiders.

• The city commissions a series of ocean-themed art pieces, dedicated to the various gods and associated spirits of the sea. Although an attempt is made to hold a series of boat races, there is no way for the organizers to make the event any more exciting than a chariot race, and few people even show up to watch. Festivities are held, with belly dancers and shadow puppeteers hired to entertain the masses and encourage traditional cultural passtimes. Although this has served to largely pacify the religious turmoil, it has had its ramifications on the treasury. All of this spending, combined with the loss of most of the city's gold, has lead to a financial crisis. Bankruptcy seems imminent.

Estres
Roarshack

Government: Theocratic Dictatorship
Retinue: Keystone Beasius (6), Inquisitor Isodorius (3), Praetor Planogus (3), Patrician Stelios (4)
Religion: Arkism
Language: Estrian, Celtic (northern province slaves)
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Greek Hostilities, War with Gaul

• Heraclius is dead, and in his place the Patrician Beasius has been made Keystone. Initially this decision is opposed to Isodorius, who feared that Beasius would be lenient and pragmatic toward his subjects, but the new Keystone proves to be even more brutal than the last one, which satisfies the inquisitor.

• Upon taking power, Beasius quickly gets to work consolidating the strength of the theocracy. He has banished all Latins and Greeks from Estres and prohibits the practice of their religion. The exiles go south, establishing the city of Rovice and forming an alliance with the Greeks. This has allowed the Greek settlers to encroach even further up the peninsula, where they have even begun settlin upon Estrian lands. Frontier conflicts have broken out, resulting in bloodshed all along the border.

• Beasius gives Praetor Planogus the full authority to dispense with the Celts as he pleases. More than willing, Planogus takes the Estrian army north and torches every town and village in northern Italy. The celts rally into a large army and attack Planogus at camp during the night, but the Praetor was ready for them, and had prepared a trap. He easily encircles the enemy and destroys them. There upon the battlefield, he establishes a city and names it after his great victory.

• Refugees fleeing from the brutal conquests of Planogus have found safety in Gaul. Upon hearing of the savagery that Estres has unleashed, the Gallic kings have banded together and, together with the refugees, built an army for their defense. Planogus has sent several scouting parties into the Alps to investigate, and is convinced that the barbarian horde will attack at any moment.

• Beasius and Isodorius have together divined a new meaning and purpose from their faith, with Beasius divining new laws and Isodorius divining new theology and scripture. Most of the new moral codes deal with common law such as murder and theft, but some focus instead upon menial, trite things, such as the prohibition of meat and beans, to the point that it almost seems like the two men are making it up as they go along to suit their immediate whims and needs. Whatever the origin of the rulings, they have obtained the full force of law and spiritual guidance for the people.

• A declaration is made by Isodorius that God exists in our world through portals created by men in the form of a freestanding arch. Following this, the people have begun a spontaneous movement of arch building throughout the country. It is not uncommon now for the entrance to a building to be preceeded by a freestanding archway by the roadside or in the garden, or for highway landmarks to consist singularly of a stone archway in the middle of nowhere.

• An attempt is made to invite traders to Icolesus, but few are willing to engage with the Estrians due to their xenophobic attitude and strange religious customs.

Muscovy
Pon3

Government: Tribal Monarchy
Retinue: High King Boglo (4), High Priest Zlajk (5), Grand Marshal Denen (6)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: Slavonic
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: Early Classical
Issues: The Huns Demand Tribute, Goths Agitated

• The Greek city of Nymdotis in the south is now providing a waypoint for trade to be funnelled toward Muscovy, making the southern connection safer and cheaper.

• A law is put in place to prevent the serfs from leaving their turf, and unified farming practices are propagated through text, watermills and fallow field methods among them. This has slowed the emigration crisis to the point of being a non-issue.

• A military campaign is launched westward, lead by Grand Marshal Denen, capturing a number of tribes and incorporating them into the serf land system. The city of Sibovlod rises to prominence there as the defacto capital of the new province. These activities have sufficiently agitated the Goths, who may or may not eventually retaliate. It would be wise not to show any weakness, or they would likely take advantage of it.

• Upset that his complaints have not registered with the Muscovy elites, the Vlenskites have pushed for independence. Confident of his ability to defend the decision, Mayor Dragoslav has declared that the partnership with Muscovy is now over, and that Vlensk shall now operate as a sovereign entity in perpetuity. With Vlensk detached from Muscovy, the price of trade goods has inevitably risen, and the direct connection with the Black sea has been cut off.

• A camp of nomadic peoples have established themselves to the east. They call themselves Huns, and they have proven to be exceedingly hostile. They are demanding tribute, and threaten to burn our world to the ground if we do not comply.

• High Priest Miloco has died, and is now replaced with his heir, a man named Zlajk, who commits himself to unifying shamanic practices in Muscovy. He has been prolific in his work, even going outside of Muscovite borders, and is now a well known and respected mystic throughout the lands in and around Muscovy.

Mata Raja
kronic

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Dwi (2), Crown Prince Sukarto (7), Chief-Priestess Darna (4)
Religion: Animism
Language: Sundanese
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues: Pirates from Borneo

• Dwi pushes for Darna's reforms, ignoring the complains of the other chiefs, and permits the priestess to crown him as king in a grand ceremony. Chiefs Raharnama and Hararjo, understandably upset that they were excluded from this decision, quit the union and go their own ways. This has resulted in the loss of a majority of Mata Raja's territory.

• King Dwi's eldest son, Sukarto, is named heir of the new kingdom. The young man is dangerously adventurous, and travels far from home to explore the world around his future kingdom. In his travels he meets with Chinese far to the north, and learns of their culture. He brings home the concept of coinage and trade, and the philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism. He hopes that Mata Raja could form stronger links with China in the future, and wishes to bring some people to a fertile river delta which he discovered in the north, where they could establish a midway resting point for future travels.

• Pirates have begun raiding Mata Raja's coastline periodically, stealing food and children. There is reason to believe that most of them are based in Borneo. The villages cannot defend themselves very effectively, as the pirates are often already gone before anyone can come to help defend.

Bergplatz
olors64

Government: Nomadic Warlord Kingdom
Retinue: King Verdelerich (4), Shaman Mardman (2), Chief Ruvon (2)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: German, Britonic
Economy: Looting
Military: Primitive
Issues: Nomad War

• King Verdelerich has gathered all willing and able peoples to him and launched a fullscale invasion of Britain, abandoning anyone foolish enough to remain on the continent. The native Britons have naturally reciprocated in an attempt to defend themselves, but the Bergplatzish horde is too large to overcome, and easily swarms across the lands to loot, pillage, and settle wherever it pleases. The invasion ahs served to soncolidate Verdelerich's power, as he has left his most irritating subjects behind him.

• One of the native Briton tribes has elected to join the Bergplatzish dominion, lead by Chief Ruvon. If further conquests are to be made, or if the locals are to be integrated, his help would be indispensible.

*It may become necessary to settle down soon, as Britain is fast running out of villages to plunder.

Dasht i Qitaj
Xia

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Tangma Khagan (5), Yerzog Khan the Eight Fingers (6), Samir Khan (7), Zhao Khan the Younger (4)
Religion: Tengri
Language: Qitaj
Economy: Nomadic Agrarian
Military: Primitive
Issues:

• Tangma rides to Zhao Khan's camp and challenges him to a duel. Arrogantly confident in his own skill, Zhao accepts, with each wagering control of the entire horde as the spoil of victory. Having fully expected Zhao to turn down the offer, Tangma was unprepared for the fight, but having issued the challenge himself he was was unable to back down. Their duel lasted roughly an hour, with both men suffering terrible injuries before Zhao collapsed of exhaustion. Tangma claimed victory and finally cut Zhao's head from his neck, but not before suffering many wounds. An ensuing infection took the sight from Tangma's left eye, but he was ultimately able to recover back to health. Zhao's son was left in command of his banners, having pledged undying and unquestioning loyalty to the strength of Tangma Khan.

• As punishment for his disobedience, a finger is threatened to be cut from Yersog's left hand. However, he insults his father once more, saying that the man does not have the strength of will to punish anybody, and he challenges his father to a duel. Tangma seizes Yerzog's weapon and whips the boy before finally cutting not one, but two fingers from his hand. Yerzog submits, and follows his father's commands dutifully, for fear of losing a full hand. This discipline is explained to the offended tribes, who are compensated with gifts to maintain their friendship.

• Temchen Khan has passed away, leaving his grandson Samir in command of his horde. Samir, being friends with Yerzog, knows of Tangma's strict authority and his very first act as Khan was to submit an affirmation of his loyalty to the Khagan.

• Yerzog is sent south to conquer the Mountain Men. Although he has initial difficulties finding a way to breach their walled mountain defenses, and loses many men in the first assault, he quickly finds more effective methods of besieging the enemies, cutting them off from sources of food and water, and spreads his forces out to assault multiple fortresses simultaneously. Soon the entire region falls to the Qitaj Khanate, which now commands the trade routes of central Asia in full.

• Spies and diplomats are sent east and west to determine the affairs of the far steppes and to offer, or demand, allegiance. Although the far tribes are too disparate and hostile to give up any friendship to the Qitaj, the missions do provide the following knowledge: first, that the Scythians are suffering a drought, and are in the process of migrating south and west. Second, that the Xiognu are enjoying bountiful spoils from the raiding of a corrupt and unweildy Qin empire.

Arcadia
Triangle

Government: Military Dictatorship
Retinue: Emperor Talus Trakus (5), Fire Lord Tereidon Elias (4), Strategos Darino Demeter (2), Fire Priest Vetenius Gasarius (5)
Religion: Zoroastrianism, New Zoroastrianism, Hellenism
Language: Persian, Arcadian
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Seleucid War, Zoroastrian Schism

• King Tereidon, ever wise and prudent, immediately identified the traitor as chief Fire Priest Haelyn, and had him burned at the stake. Of course there was no real evidence pointing toward the priest, but desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say. In an unconventional move, the King himself has selected a new Fire Priest: respected theologian and prolific writer, Vetenius Gasarius. Following this appointment, the King converts to Zoroastrianism and declares it the state religion, which largely pacifies any complaints of tyrany by the priestly class. Other religious groups in the city are forced to pay high taxes to maintain the Zoroastrian temples, and many in the city follow the king in converting.

• Gasarius, a stickler for order and formality, has mandated the creation of a single text to guide the entire Zoroastrian faith. Upon being told that the priests would need texts which are not present in the city, and consultation from priests in the far east, Gasarius responded "I do not care" and had the objectors expelled from his temple. Filling in the gaps with local counsel and educated guesses, Gasarius has put together a complete compendium of Zoroastrian practice and belief in a book which he calls The Sacred Bibble, a nonsense word that has agitated the other priests, but what's in a name anyway?

• The "New Zoroastrianism" has new concepts not known of, or at least not focussed on, before, including especially an emphasis on the individual's influence upon their soul's fate. The priests fear that this will detach followers from a dependence upon the temple, but it has had the effect of being very popular among the impoverished, who can now take salvation into their own hands. The city's religious are now separated largely between those who follow the teachings of the Bibble, who tend to be younger and poorer, and those who follow the ways of the old priests, who tend to be wealthier and better educated.

• Diplomatic envoys are sent out to Armenia and Egypt. The Armenians are not very interested in fighting the Seleucids, with whom they are confident they can maintain peaceful relations. Egypt is currently tackling other issues, and cannot help fight the Seleucids, as much as they would otherwise want to.

• Strategos Trakus has finally returned, commanding an army of Greeks, Indians, Arcadians, and Persians, with a dozen war elephants and strange eastern weapons. His forces descend upon the Seleucids with force, encircling them quickly as Commander Demeter sallies forth to attack as well. With the Seleucids defeated, Trakus immediately enlists Demeter into his force and marches into the city in a grand parade, hailed as a hero. As it turns out, his delay was brought on by a lust for glory and gold, and he spent a long time alternating between fighting for the Seleucids and the Mauryans in their ongoing war in the east.

• After a few hours of taking in his surroundings and fully understanding the situation in the city, Trakus demands that King Elias bow before him, or lose his head. The king does so, and is given the new title of Fire Lord, and is placed in command of civil, judicial, and religious decisions while Trakus maintains supreme military authority as Emperor.

• The New Emperor does not take long to reorganize his forces and spend his long horded spoils. Books from abroad are placed in the great Fire Temple, ordered to be copied several times for safe keeping and memorization. Loot is smelted into coins and spent generously to rebuild the city and surrounding country, with am emphasis on infrastructure to supply the armies. Most of the city garrison pressed into service in new divisions as well, and Trakus is now ready to set forth from the city, and resume his ambition beyond its walls.

I'll join in as Nanikyo if that's what you mean by the second part of your statement.

Yeah that's fine.

This is what I get for going pacifists with the fucking Greeks, I should have taken the bloody islands. I shoukd have killed Hanso but I knew that would g ave made him a martyr and would have onky made things worse for me.

I'm stump because if I do anything with the rebellion or the war than I will loss money and go bankrupt but if I do nothing with them I will lose to either the rebels or greeks.

hey guys anyone want to genocide the greeks

hey guys anyone want to genocide the Kangs egyptians?

After I am done with the Seleucids.

i am now writing the turn, no more edits please.

TURN 2
Map Link

Tech Reference

Majid Wu
James (Dean) Blunt

Government: Kingdom
Retinue: King Yayi Zhang (3), Crown Prince Yiwa Zhang (6), Master Hachem Bu (4), High Priest Icarus Stara (4)
Religion: Hellenic Shamanism
Language: Majidi, Greek (elites)
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Low Finances, Khertek Frontier, Potential Coup

• The High Priest is commanded by the King to temper his fervor, and find ways of educating the people that are not in conflict with traditional ways of life in Majid Wu. Icarus is given permission to invite esoteric priests from Greece, who have made major strides toward syncretizing local beliefs.

• The horde is collected by Master Bu and sent south, to destroy the Egyptian raiders once and for all. The Egyptians were not prepared for an attack, as they likely believed Majid Wu to be too primitive and disorganized to put up a fight, and so their armies were spread thin and easily scattered. Although his forces suffered many casualties, Master Bu is touting this campaign as a total success. A buffer zone is acquired, spreading deep into southern Anatolia, pushing the Egyptians far enough away that raiding of core Majidi territory is now impossible. Armenia launches a simultaneous attack into the Syrian desert, seizing the rest of the upper Tigris, and the Jews have taken Antioch. The Greeks of Anatolia have seized the moment of Egypt's weakness and defected to the Greek alliance.

• Soldiers returning from war are given "free" land along the Black Sea coast, in lieu of money which the King cannot spare. However, this simply translates into even more fighting, as the land is more often than not already claimed by local natives. As farmsteads and trade posts spring up along the coast, contact is inevitably made with the Khertek tribes. Frontier conflicts naturally break out as the nomadic peoples have no respect for settled Majidis, and in turn the Majidi settlers have taken to raiding as well, using their experience from the Egyptian war against the savage northerners. As with any barbarian horde, there is a risk that they may attack in full force at any moment, but for the time being bloodshed is largely a localized affair.

• A codex of laws is formulated, including standard fare Greek law combined with traditional eye-for-an-eye punishments. A rough judicial system comes together, with local chiefs acting as judges, and requiring witnesses to prosecute anyone. This has succeeded in cutting back on blood feuds and solidifying land claims, improving organization and predictability in the formerly turbulent kingdom.

• Farmers are commanded to produce more than they need, so that the King's markets can be stocked with enough food to supply the army and settlements with less fertile grounds. Although many in the central regions do not comply whatsoever, and continue their traditional subsistence lifestyles, the colonists in southern Anatolia and eastern Dacia have been more than willing to follow the new plan. In particular, the Anatolians have begun harvesting from olive plantations seized from the Egyptians, and even planting some new trees themselves, providing a valuable cash crop for the kingdom.

• King Yayi is on his deathbed, suffering from a tumor. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince has not established himself very favorably among his father's supporters, putting the kingdom's stability into question. Yiwa has become paranoid that his lack of popularity will lead to a coup, and has begun further alienating himself from the court by pointing fingers at everyone.

Ulug-Aal
Stoffe

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Kaiduk Namlar (4), Great Shaman Adigtis Grensan (7), Pandora (6), Tashteban the Barbarian (5)
Religion: Tengri, Shamanism, Hellenism, Arkism
Language: Ulugi
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Nomadic Hunting/Gathering
Military: Early Classical
Issues: War with Macedon, Arkist Inquisition

• The barbarian attacks are reciprocated with small bands of raiders going back and forth across the frontier, burning and looting villages. All at once, a German horde appears and storms through the Shagtay and the surrounding country, murdering and enslaving all they encounter. Whether it was for vengeance or for fun, it cannot be said; all that is certain is that the people of the Shagtay tribes are gone. Survivors have fled south en masse, taking up refuge in Illyria.

• Riders have been sent through Macedon, sending threatening overtures to the diminutive kingdom. Unwilling to tolerate such an insult, the Macedonian king sends out an army to destroy the upstart nomads, but he is unable to pin down the migratory swarm in a fair battle. After suffering exorbitant casualties from attrition and sporadic skirmishes, he finally retreats back to Agrafu. The Ulugi riders managed to stake a claim over much of the eastern region during the conflict, and will maintain this claim until Macedon can muster a force to retake it.

• During the fight with Macedon a warrior named Tashteban has made a name for himself as a powerful fighter and masterful tactician. He is known for his brutality, having famously never taken a prisoner, preferring to murder than to enslave. His comrades simply call him "The Barbarian."

• Chief Grensan has died, and many of his people have folded into the more powerful Namlar's tribe, consolidating the man's power over the entire country.

• Pandora is sent to Estres as a diplomat, and she takes with her several Ulugi priests devoted to her. There, she teaches them the local languages and customs, establishing an effective diplomatic corps for Ulug-Aal. She also makes connections with local priests, bringing several home to the mountain shrine and propagating Arkism among the Ulugi tribes. This has also brought a measure of intolerance back home as well, and some prominent converts have engaged in Estrian style inquisitions in their home towns, converting large numbers of people by force and killing those who refuse to join. Small enclaves of the country have become Arkist strongholds, sewing division across the region.

• Estrian military officers have come back with Pandora as well, and have offered their services to the various chiefs of the realm. With their help, military organization and tactical ability has been improved.

Canaan
CrowTheMagician

Government: Elective Monarchy
Retinue: King Maharbaal (6), Chancellor Hadrusaal (4), High Priest Bodbasar (4), Rabbi Michon (7)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Shamanism
Language: Punic, Hebrew, Berber, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading, Mining
Military: High Classical
Issues: War with Egypt, Antisemitic Protests

• Public spending is cut back severely to save on money until the financial crisis can be resolved. Silver is horded as well, in place of gold for the time being.

• Diplomatic outreach is sent to every known kingdom under the sun, although few respond. The Judean Kingdom has offered an alliance, however, and in response Egypt has cut all Canaanite access to the eastern sea, effectively declaring war on Canaan. Being that the treasury heist is public knowledge, the Egyptians now believe that Canaan's friendly attitude toward Judea means that they funded the rebellion intentionally.

• Sicily is ceded to the Greeks, who agree to end the hostilities and thank the Canaanites for seeing things their way. Trade resumes as normal, bringing taxable incomes and investments back to Damaylos.

• An army is assembled and, lead by Hadrusaal, swiftly crushes the Numidian rebellion. Having been commanded to find the funding for this campaign while on the campaign itself, Hadrusaal does not simply stop at putting down the raiding tribes, but pursues the capture of slaves all across the African coast, pushing all the way to the Pillars of Heracles before returning home with his loot.

• Through the frugality of the King, the selling of Numidian slaves, and the resumption of Greek trade, the treasury is gradually replenished, ending the financial crisis and putting faith back into the Canaanite economy.

• Having witnessed the flight of the Jews with glee, High Priest Bodbasar has been disappointing that many still remain within Damaylos. He has suggested, somewhat forcefully, that they should be fully expelled from the city. He claims that no amount of reconciliation can assure permanent tranquility, and that eventually their heresy will rear its head once more. Many in the public agree with Bodbasar, and would prefer a capital united in belief than one divided into quarreling communities.

Estres
Roarshack

Government: Theocratic Dictatorship
Retinue: Keystone Beasius (6), Inquisitor Isodorius (3), Praetor Planogus (3), First Scholar Stelios (4)
Religion: Arkism
Language: Estrian, Celtic (northern provinces)
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Greek Hostilities, War with Gaul

• Diplomats, priests, and soldiers are sent on a peaceful mission to Ulug-Aal to help the savage peoples there become civilized. They have succeeded in propagating the way of the arch, as well as improving Ulugi warmaking capacity. Although the Ulugi lack any sort of valuable exports, minor trade links have been established as well.

• By command of the Keystone, Corsica is colonized. A large shrine is constructed on the tallest peak of the island, around which a sprawling community of converts has congregated. They eventually spread to Sardinia as well, meeting with Greek settlers there. Just as in Italy, the neighboring settlements quickly devolve to raiding one another, making war with Greece seem all the more imminent.

• The Praetor is encouraged to strike first against the Gauls, and he sets out beyond the Alps at once. Planogus expertly dispatches several Gallic armies before finally establishing himself on the northern plains. The Gauls draw more allies to their side, fleeing northwest. Upon realizing that he will soon be outnumbered if this persists, Planogus sends out emissaries of his own to preemptively offer friendship to any Gallic tribes which will assist him. Through the numerous demonstrations of his tactical mastery, Planogus has successfully frightened many Gauls into joining his army as auxiliaries.

• During a regular meditation session in the grand palace, Beasius and Isodorius have an epiphany, which is reportedly simultaneously shared by a number of nearby courtiers and priests, as if by telepathy or divine intercession. They have realized that the one true path to happiness is pacifism… but only among Arkists, or those who cannot be surmounted through violence. Everybody else is free game. Arkism is now being lauded by its supporters as "the religion of peace" despite its extremely violent doctrines regarding anyone who is not one with the religion.

• The wealthy Patrician Stelios has been given the title of First Scholar, and is now responsible for the education of the public. His first act with this new power has been to recruit a collection of theologians, who are being sent to various theaters so that the public may hear these men engage in discourse and read from the holy scriptures. Knowledge of Arkism has become more widespread, and its tenets are being applied in local cultures throughout Estres.

Muscovy
Pon3

Government: Tribal Monarchy
Retinue: High King Boglo (4), High Priest Zlajk (5), Grand Marshal Denen (6), Chief Theobad (5)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: Slavonic
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Gothic War, Vlenskite War

• Tribute is paid to the Huns, which sates their bloodlust temporarily. In spite of this incentive to stay, the Huns eventually migrate away, without bothering to explain why. Some wonder whether there might be a larger threat looming in their wake, while others say that is simply the way with nomads, and that they will return eventually.

• Zlajk is sent west to negotiate with the Gothic tribes and mediate some kind of peaceful resolution. There, he makes friends with Chief Theobad, who is enamored with the Muscovite society and agrees to make an oath of alliance. Trade flourishes for a while, but soon the other Goths become angered at this preferential treatment, and attack the privileged Theobad. A network of family alliances is called upon by both sides, and soon the entire Gothic people are at war with one another. Although Zlajk has stayed to preach tolerance and peace, Theobad does not seem quick to take up the lesson, and instead requests that Muscovy send help for him to subjugate his ungrateful cousins.

• War is declared upon Vlensk, and the city is put to siege by Marshal Denen's army. Unfortunately, the Vlenskians saw this coming, and had prepared an army of tribal allies and Greek mercenaries. A pitched battle ensues, with both sides losing tremendously. Denen has retreated with the remainder of his forces back to Muscovy, but is confident that he dealt a severe enough blow to the enemy that they cannot counterattack just yet.

Mata Raja
kronic

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Sukarto (7), Chief-Priestess Darna (4)
Religion: Animism
Language: Sundanese
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues: Pirates from Borneo

• King Dwi has died, and Sukarto has replaced him as sovereign.

• The piracy issue continues unabated, stalling any efforts to colonize or trade.

Bergplatz
olors64

Government: Nomadic Warlord Kingdom
Retinue: King Verdelerich (4), Shaman Sergaus (4)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: German, Britonic
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture
Military: Primitive
Issues: Pictish War, Britonic Civil War

• Agricultural communities are established as Bergplatz settles into its new home, taking up local practices such as herding and mining. The economy is not yet complex enough to support much more than subsistence living, however.

• The Bergplatzers have taken to the seas, using the mighty timbers of Britain to build longboats for raiding up and down the coasts of the continent.

• A tribe of Picts in the north has organized significant resistance to Bergplatzish occupation of Britain, preventing any permanent settlement in the north.

• Chief Ruvon has died of old age, and his people's tribal allegiance to Bergplatz instantly disintegrated. They quickly cause all kinds of conflict wherever they had settled, and Bergplatzer influence is being challenged now from within their own territory, effectively amounting to a civil war.

Dasht i Qitaj
Xia

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Tangma Khagan (5), Yerzog Khan the Eight Fingers (6), Samir Khan (7), Zhao Khan the Younger (4)
Religion: Tengri, Taoism
Language: Qitaj
Economy: Nomadic Agrarian
Military: Primitive
Issues: The Upbraiding of Han, The Falling out of Yerzog and Samir

• A book of laws is created by Tangma, called the Yassa Codex, outlining precisely how he wishes his realm to be ruled. The rules are various, but mainly provide guidelines for civil law and military organization. The Khans are made to memorize the text, so that Tangma's will can be exerted even in his physical absence. One of the primary effects of the Yassa Code has been to cut down on banditry, and the establishment of protected trading posts, causing an upsurge in new caravans travelling west and east across the great steppe.

• Trade route landmarks are coupled with Tengri shrines, where travelers can pray and discuss their faith. Merchants travelling far from the east have also brought Taoism, which is being propagated through these trader shrines to local peoples as well as western merchants.

• With the collapse of Qin, Xiognu raiding of China has increased drastically. Capitalizing on the momentary distraction, the Qitaj horde descends upon the Xiognu, capturing many of their peoples and occupying their lands. Those who submit are permitted to swear an oath of loyalty to the Khagan, but most are not afforded such a luxury, and instead are destroyed. The enemy's men are slaughtered, women are married off, and herd animals are divided among the victors.

• A treaty is signed with the Han, assuring that the Qitaj will not raid as the Xiognu did, in return for the safe passage of merchants across the mutual border. The Han see this treaty as the Qitaj capitulating to their emperor, whereas the Qitaj see the treaty as a fair agreement between equals. Although most would not notice the distinction, let alone care, Zhao Khan has found himself to be particularly insulted. He wishes for Tangma to make an example of the Han, to humble their Middle Kingdom attitude and perhaps even force them into giving tribute as part of this deal.

• Yerzog and Samir, who cooperated extensively during the invasion of Xiognu, have now come under conflict. After a joint raid the two men were dividing their spoils when a particularly beautiful Xiognu woman caught their attention. Both fell for her immediately and argued over who would keep her. Unable to compromise, the men began to fight, and accidentally slew the poor girl. Both blamed the other for her death, and neither are cooperating any longer. A string of murders have occurred between loyal warriors on both sides, and though both Khans profess that they are doing all they can to quell the violence, it does not seem that action is matching their rhetoric.

• Emissaries venture west, exploring the Scythian lands and learning of the Greek empires south of the steppe. Offers of friendship are extended to the Scythians, but the Scythians do not reciprocate in any meaningful manner.

Arcadia
Triangle

Government: Military Dictatorship
Retinue: Emperor Talus Trakus (5), Fire Lord Tereidon Elias (4), Strategos Mercunas Atamanus (6), Fire Priest Vetenius Gasarius (5)
Religion: Anathe Zoroastrianism, Hellenism
Language: Arcadian, Persian
Economy: Farming
Military: High Classical
Issues: Seleucid War, Arab Invasion

• Demeter is sent with a large force to besiege Seleucia. With the enemy capital pinned down, Trakus is free to move unabated through other territories, confident that Seleucid leadership has been decapitated from its empire. He takes the rest of his army east, capturing much of Mesopotamia and Persia with ease thanks to his knowledge of the terrain. He finally encounters Persis, where a large Seleucid army has been garrisoned. Trakus is hesitant to scale the walls, and instead prepares a siege of the city.

• A historical narrative, The Apelefthérosi, is written to glorify the ancient past of Arcadia, tying together Zoroastrian morality and Arcadian cultural values. It has become second to the Bibble in sacred importance, driving the religion and Arcadian culture together.

• With the Persian world open to access once more, the missing texts have been drawn together for the reconstruction of the Bibble. Now more faithful to the true beliefs of traditional Zoroastrians, the New Zoroastrian sect now more closely resembles the rest of the Zoroastrian world, albeit with Arcadian cultural influence. Missionaries have been sent far abroad to spread the word of this revised faith, circumventing authorities to preach to the people directly. Although officially these missionaries are completely detached from Arcadia, it is obvious where they have come from, and the proselytizing has has caused Arcadia to gain notoriety as a promoter of heresy.

• Strategos Demeter has perished of illness, leaving Mercunas Atamanus as his successor. The new Strategos was appointed to his position by Trakus himself, not due to skill, but loyalty, as he proved himself on campaign as a perfectly honorable officer.

• Fire Lord Elias has spent time establishing Arcadia's culture throughout the territories under his dominion, building amphitheaters for the teaching of Arcadian classics and Zoroastrian holy texts.

• Tariffs are lowered in Arcadia to promote trade, although with the ongoing war in Persia it seems that merchants are still unwilling to take the risk of travelling through the region, and there is no meaningful increase in revenue.

• An army of Arab warriors has descended upon the Arcadian hinterland from the southern deserts. They have swiftly moved up and down the Euphrates, pillaging farmsteads and towns in their path. They have remained entirely on the western side of the river, seeming to have an aversion to crossing it. This has kept Arcadia itself from being attacked for the time being, but the loss of arable lands has given the city some trouble in feeding itself.

• A nation of nomadic warriors, called Parthia, is descending upon the Seleucids from the north. Small bands of Parthian warriors have been encountered by Trakus while on the campaign trail. These people seem to have no intention of negotiating with Arcaida or Seleucia, although they have yet to attack any Arcadian units.

Nanikyo
Sergeant Arch Dornan

Government: Monarchy
Retinue: Emperor Umoka (6), Kannushi Sen Kaneji (5), General Nakawa (6), Summoner Kakiba (5)
Religion: Shinto, Yevon
Language: Japanese
Economy: Rice Farming
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Kakiba's Cult, Korean/Ryukyuan Pirates

• A new religion, called Yevon, has been established by a man known as Kakiba. The faith combines local folklore and ancestral tradition with spiritual summoning rituals and hero worship. Central to the faith is, presently, a narrative of the conquest of Yukora and the liberation of their slaves. The traditional Shinto priests have naturally opposed the movement, professing that their beliefs have no basis in reality and, in fact, are actually upsetting to the kami. Kakiba has found himself in numerous debates with Sen Kaneji, the nation's most prominent Kannushi and administrator of the royal shrines, who has taken to opposing Kakiba in public whenever he can to thoroughly embarrass the man out of preaching his lies. Kakiba, all the while, has been building up a following of devotees, to whom he preaches in the shadows to avoid Kaneji's wrath.

• The Emperor has taken up with Kakiba and, although not an overt convert to the cult, has agreed to appropriate lands for the construction of Yevon temples in most major cities, severely agitating shrine priests throughout the nation.

• The army is sent further on in its campaign against Yukora, successfully capturing Watosi. Fearing that the invasion will continue on into Korea, Fengna had sought the protection of China, and has become their vassal.

• Trade has been established with China, although it is quickly caught up in piracy. Most of the pirates are believed to be based in northern Korea or the southern islands of Ryukyu.

• In other news, the sport of 'Blitzball' is invented, in which players compete to toss a ball over a net in a swimming pool or lake, and a famous artist named Sakura Yusuke is commissioned by the Emperor to make a painting of his wife and child.

I'm guessing most of the activity that would normally be here is in Discord right?

correct

i am writing the turn now, no more edits please.

TURN 3
Map Link

Tech Reference

Majid Wu
James (Dean) Blunt

Government: Kingdom
Retinue: King Yiwa Zhang (6), Master Hachem Bu (4), High Priest Icarus Stara (4), Lord Bamidel Shao (6)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism (Palestine), Christianity
Language: Majidi, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: High Classical
Issues: Khertek War, Baniyang Rebellion, Egyptian War, Jewish Resistance

• The King is dead. Long live the king! Sadly there are those who do not share this sentiment, and as predicted a rebellion has occurred. The loyalty of the bureaucrats and the most powerful nobles has been retained, perhaps thanks in part to Yiwa's decision to embrace them and occupy them with profitable ventures in Crimea and Dacia, however some rural leaders in the east have separated and made alliance with the Scythians, who have come down out of the steppe to conquer Armenia.

• Majidi slaver gangs move into Dacia alongside colonists, who settle the city of Djouchang.

• Master Bu is sent to Crimea to conquer the city of Nymdotis. He succeeds without problem, but has not been able to safely expand his control outside of the peninsula due to Scythians and Kherteks occupying the surrounding steppe.

• The Kherteks have invaded, taking Gamihou and its countryside. The horde might have driven further south and even taken the capital were it not for the efforts of a local wealthy landlord, Bamidel Shao, who claimed victory in open battle against the Khertks, using his rather large personal bodyguard like an army. Although he is not in official service of the realm, he might prove useful in future confrontations, especially if he stands to profit from it.

• Judea is invaded. Resistance is significant, but disorganized, and the Judean army is easily destroyed due to it being in a weakened state from campaigning against Egypt in the Sinai desert. Egypt, unwilling to lose the province which they still consider to be theirs, resumes hostilities with Majid Wu, although with the Canaanite taking of Alexandria it does not seem like they are up for the fight they've gotten themselves into.

• Witness, if you will, a god turned into a man, and left in the company of a carpenter and his wife. Introducing Jesus of Nazareth, a king without need for a crown. Here is a man created by prophecy, leading his children into an unpredictable future. In His wake He leaves a world inexorably and inexplicably changed by His presence, though few have the wits to know it yet. Few, indeed, besides those who have experienced the wisdom He passed down from… The Twilight Zone.

Ulug-Aal
Stoffe

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Chief Kaiduk Namlar (4), Great Shaman Adigtis Grensan (7), Pandora (6), Tashteban the Barbarian (5)
Religion: Tengri, Hellenism
Language: Ulugi
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Nomadic Hunting/Gathering
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Greek Border Tension, Pandora's Infamy

• Tashteban lays siege to Agrafu while simultaneously looting the surrounding countryside. He uses catapults to launch butchered people and animals over the walls, terrifying the residents and spreading disease. However, the Macedonians refuse to surrender, and eventually the Ulugi launch an assault to take the walls. Using ladders, they cross, and quickly cut down the diseased and starving enemy. Tashteban burns the city, massacres most of its residents, and enslaves the rest.

• With the fall of Macedon, Ulugi riders have begun crossing into Greece, pillaging farmsteads close to the border. Although they cannot venture very far in due to powerful Greek garrisons and armies, they have succeeded in creating several dozen miles of no-man's land where none dare to venture.

• Chief Namlar issues an edict to the tribes, demanding that they avoid the northern plains and, if they must move anywhere, to expand east instead. The tribes have mostly obeyed, most of them fully aware of the tragedy at Shagtay, and continue to avoid the Germans at all costs.

• A town called Sygzin has sprung up around the northern mountain temple. Pandora has figured prominently into the establishment of this town, and is leading it as an effective despot. Utilizing Arkist precepts of authority, without actually being an Arkist herself, she has established one of the most organized and civil societies in Ulug-Aal. Although the people of her domain have considerable devotion to their lady mystic, those farther away have their doubts, and are afraid and confused about her place in Ulug-Aal. They believe that a foreign woman of such rising influence should be reminded of her proper place among her Ulugi betters.

• Shaman Grensan banishes the Arkists from Sygzin, driving them out of Ulugi lands and back to their homes in Estres. After this, he commits himself to a missionary campaign throughout the lands, going from north to south, terrorizing Arkist villages. Many martyrs are made of the Arkists, who are slain and strung up in their arches, the words "Ulug-Aal mora bolje" etched into their charred flesh and carved into their doorways. Knowing that resistance is hopeless, most Arkists take their belongings and make an exodus into Italy.

• With power gradually consolidating into his hands, Chief Namlar has gained an ambition to declare himself as king and to dismantle the confederation's alliance to build a more centralized state. The other chiefs are relatively receptive to such an idea, most of them being under his authority already, but there is a good chance that this move could cause conflict with the more privileged chieftains.

Canaan
CrowTheMagician

Government: Elective Monarchy
Retinue: King Maharbaal (6), Chancellor Hadrusaal (4), High Priest Bodbasar (4)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Shamanism
Language: Punic, Hebrew, Berber, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading, Mining
Military: Late Classical
Issues: War with Egypt, Antisemitic Protests, Greek Frontier in Spain, Jewish Exodus

• A deal is struck with the rural Berbers, providing them the benefits of citizenship in exchange for unmolested traffic through the desert. Although much of Canaan's trade is done over the sea, not the land, this deal does help increase revenues marginally.

• Using guides from the desert tribes, an army lead by Hadrusaal proceeds to march east, while another force takes a ferry of transports to meet them in the Egyptian delta. Alexandria proves to be entirely undefended, and the Egyptian kingdom too spend with its eastern wars to render any kind of meaningful resistance. With the capital taken it seems that the entire Nile is now open for the taking.

• Alexandria is spared from looting, which slightly aggravates the victors, who were expecting to claim some kind of profit out of their conquest, as they did in Numidia. The local clerics and nobles are grateful, however, and now render military loyalty to Canaan. The Pharaoh is given the option of stepping down willingly, but he does no such thing, instead maintaining his authority through military control in the upper Nile region.

• A plan is concocted to move the Jews to Judea, but following the Majidi conquest of Palestine the plan has to be scrapped. It has, however, succeeded in escalating religious tensions in Damaylos, as public knowledge of the plan not only angers the Jews but also disappoints the gentiles. Many Jews continue to voluntarily flee from the city, moving to other Canaanite cities and even leaving for Greek lands.

• Rabbi Michon, the most highly respected Jewish cleric in Damaylos, has been found murdered in his home. The Jewish community point to Bodbasar as the ultimate culprit, and insist that it was his inflammatory sentiments which ultimately lead to the rabbi's murder.

• The colonization of Spain has run into an obstacle named Greece. Expecting another capitulation, the Greeks send an emissary demanding that Canaan restrict further settlement and conquest in Spain, and cede territory north of Jounlos.

• A new law codex is formalized, borrowing heavily from Greek law.

Estres
Roarshack

Government: Army in Exile
Retinue: Keystone Beasius (6), Emperor Caratian (7)
Religion: Arkism
Language: Estrian, Celtic
Economy: Farming
Military: Late Classical
Issues: Greek War

• The most radical priests are pulled out of Ulug-Aal, summoned home by the Keystone. This collapses the intellectual base behind Illyrian Arkism, causing the entire movement to fall apart.

• Diplomats and officers are sent to aid Majid Wu in their military modernization efforts.

• Envoys are also sent to Greece to try and forstall a war, but the attempt proves to be too little, and far too late. The Greeks launch an invasion of Italy and lay siege to Icolesus. Planictus is captured and razed. Beasius flees from the city to take up refuge in Antamir, where he leads the local garrison to capture the rest of Sardinia from Greece.

• Planogus completes his conquest of Gaul, just in time to turn his army around and relieve Icolesus. However, while on the march home the elderly Praetor becomes gravely ill, and the army is forced to halt their march for his comfort. Icolesus falls to the Greeks, and although the city fell before the army could have feasibly even returned home, many still blame Planogus for it. One night, a collection of angered officers sneak into the Praetor's tent and stab Planogus to death for revenge. The leader of this plot, a man named Caratian, uses his support among the other officers to take lead of the army. He judges that the Greeks would be impossible to uproot from Italy, and instead establishes camp in the town of Katasallia, which becomes capital of what is now his Gallic confederation. Caratian proclaims himself Emperor of these lands.

• You have been defeated. You may continue playing as Caratian's Gallic Empire, or as the Antamir holdout lead by Beasius, or you may establish a new nation in any unclaimed land.

Muscovy
Pon3

Government: Kingdom
Retinue: High King Boglo (4), High Priest Zlajk (5), Grand Marshal Denen (6), Chief Theobad (5)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: Slavonic
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: High Classical
Issues: Gothic War, It's the Huns Again, Theobad's Refugees

• Marshal Denen is sent forth to attack Vlensk again with all his remaining forces. It is a pyrrhic victory, with most of both conflicting armies destroyed, but Vlensk has been captured and the war is now over. The city remains largely unspoiled, as the battle did not spill out into the streets and there were few soldiers left to do any looting. Still, a sizable donation is made to the city, to placate the people in the wake of their lost sovereignty.

• The Huns are back, demanding more tribute than before. Unfortunately the sum is more than Muscovy can currently afford, thanks to large expenditures spent on the war.

• Zlajk's mission has failed to regain the peace, and the Gothic war has spilled over into Muscovite lands. Theobad has taken his people to Moscow and is pleading for refuge from his enemies, despite the fact that Muscovy is in no condition to provide haven or supplies. Denen muses that this tribe would make a good army, if they had weapons… and Vlensk just happens to have "donated" many weapons. However, most of these people are women or children, and Theobad is opposed to putting such people in danger. In fact, he came this far east to get these particular people away from war, not to turn them into soldiers.

Mata Raja
kronic

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Sukarto (7), Chief-Priestess Darna (4), Magistrate Wahyanly (7)
Religion: Animism
Language: Sundanese
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues:

• Sukarto rallies together an army and sets sail for Borneo, successfully landing there unaccosted. He then leads a campaign of conquest, rooting out pirate dens across the western part of the island.

• With the seas now mostly freed of piracy, Sukarto is free to pursue his colonization of the delta to the north. He goes there and establishes the city of Paltinpan as a trading post, which now provides a closer connection to China for trade and diplomacy. Being that the colony is so far from home, it requires an administrator with significant local authority to run it effectively and safely. Such a man is found in Wahyanly, a childhood friend of Sukarto and ardent loyalist to the king.

Bergplatz
olors64

Government: Warlord Kingdom
Retinue: King Verdelerich (4), Lord Prince Reingoldt (6), Shaman Sergaus (4)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: German, Britonic
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture
Military: Primitive
Issues: Britonic Civil War

• The King declares that whoever is most successful in fighting the Picts will become his heir. Although the throne is not an enviable position at the moment, the glory is too much to pass up for many, and others simply find it as extra incentive to fight a war they were already involved in. Berplatzish warbands push far to the north, slaughtering Picts in every country they can be found, men women and children alike. The warlords collect the skulls of their enemies and return home, laying them before Verdelerich for proof of their conquests. Towering pyramids of skulls encircle the king's war camp, and once the counting is finished a chieftain named Reingoldt captures the victory by a wide margin, and is named Crown Prince of the realm.

• The Britons continue their revolt nearly unabated throughout the island, providing a perpetual nuisance to settlers everywhere. Bloodthirsty Bergplatzish warriors, fresh off the Pictish war, are more than happy to deal with the problem in the only way they know how, but without any incentive to cooperate they only rarely make offensive moves, preferring instead to only defend territories they currently posses.

Dasht i Qitaj
Xia

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Tangma Khagan (5), Yerzog Khan the Eight Fingers (6), Samir Khan (7), Zhao Khan the Younger (4)
Religion: Tengri, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism
Language: Qitaj
Economy: Nomadic Agrarian
Military: Early Classical
Issues: War with Han

• Trade stations are now required to also provide havens for mail couriers, including a stable and standby couriers to deliver messages farther afield, connecting one end of Qitaj with the other more easily than before. As these stations grow, so do the villages supporting them, resulting in the steppe's first permanent settlements.

• Religious leaders from across the Khanate and beyond are invited to the great tent of the Khagan, to engage with Tangma in spiritual discussions and proselytize among his people. Zoroastrian, Buddhist, and Confucian scholars have all made a home for the faithful and learned here in Qitaj.

• Tangma calls Yerzog and Samir before him and, in privacy, somehow forces the men to cooperate once more. Nobody quite knows what threats were levied, or what promises made, but upon leaving their masters' tent the two men quickly put themselves to work punishing, exiling, or forcing out any men who participated in the killings on their behalf. This has greatly reduced the respect that their confused soldiers have for them, but has produced a mysterious aura of authority about Tangma, who is now known variously through rumor for his silver tongue… or his flail.

• Zhao has been promised the right to lead the fight against Han, when it comes to it, but first is commanded to ride with Yerzog into the eastern lands to subjugate the Jurchen tribes and conquer Korea. Success is achieved in both fields, but while plundering Korea the two warlords encounters significant Han presence. It cannot be said for certain who started it, but somehow, the Han found themselves at the poor end of a battlefield against the Qitaj horde. Zhao and Yerzog decided among themselves not to dismiss the Han and retreat, as that would dishonor all of Qitaj, and instead pursued the enemy until he was destroyed.

• Samir Khan rides west, in the wake of Scythian migrations, and finds a desolate plain. Although there are some disparate nomads remaining here, the large majority of warrior clans have left the region, leaving nothing much to conquer besides a few desert villages and dirt farmers. Beyond this, Samir encounters Parthia, a growing empire of primarily nomadic peoples who are gradually adopting the guise of a settled empire, building their own legacy upon the foundations of the one they are conquering.

• Observations of Chinese fortifications and military capacity have provided Tangma as much as he can want to know on the subject, and the horde's organization and tactics are altered appropriately in preparation for the coming war.

• A capital is established close to China, at which Tangma has taken to spending increasing amounts of time with his foreign clerics. The city, officially named Tangmakhot, is also frequently referred to as "The City of Tents" due to its appearance as a sprawling, oversized camp. Just for fun, Tangma has begun collecting skulls in large pyramids encircling the encampment.

Arcadia
Triangle

Government: Military Dictatorship
Retinue: Emperor Talus Trakus (5), Fire Lord Tereidon Elias (4), Strategos Mercunas Atamanus (6), Fire Priest Vetenius Gasarius (5)
Religion: Anathe Zoroastrianism, Hellenism, Christianity
Language: Arcadian, Persian
Economy: Farming
Military: Late Classical
Issues: Parthian War

• A diplomat is sent to Armenia, requesting help against Parthia. The diplomat returns to deliver the sad news that Armenia is no more.

• A new academy for military officers is opened in the capital, its primary text being a treatise on war, dictated by Trakus himself. Men from the conquered areas are conscripted into a new army, with the brightest among them being pressed into the academy to produce adept new field commanders.

• The Parthians cross the Zagros in overwhelming numbers, forcing Atamanus to pull his entire force away from Seleucia. The Parthians quickly launch a full assault against the city, repairing the rewards of Arcadia's patient siege. They sack and raze the city, enslaving its denizens and sponging out the Seleucid legacy.

• The Strategos returns to Arcadia in time to prepare a defense against the Arabs, who finally crossed the Euphrates shortly after Atamanus' arrival. The Arabs are chased back into the desert, and have ceased to terrorize the Arcadian hinterland.

• Persis is offered mercy for a surrender, a deal which they reluctantly take. Trakus was hoping on recruiting the garrison but many of them, being mostly disparate Persians from various corners of the old empire, disband and take to the country to return home.

• Arbris is given an offer of protection in exchange for loyalty, which they formally accept, only to simultaneously accept the same offer from Parthia. As the Parthians arrive in the city first, Arbris promptly forgets its oath to Arcadia, claiming that no such association was never made.

• Parthia has not moved much further against Arcadia, but does seem to have encamped two armies, one near the ruins of Seleucia and the other at the border north of Persis. Trakus has taken up a defensive position, building fortifications at certain chokepoints throughout the Zagros.

• A harbor is constructed near Medylon, from which a fleet is being constructed for control over the Persian Gulf and the sea beyond it. Trade with India is flowering there as well.

• The ever-active missionary corps has run across a competing cult: Christianity. Spawned from Jewish lands in the west, the group has minimal influence near Arcadia, but is similar enough to Anathe Zoroastrianism in its appeal to the poor that it has become a concern of the Fire Lord. Elias has preemptively banished Christians from Arcadia, declaring their heresy to be intolerable.

• Conquered lands are divided among soldiers as retirement gifts, colonizing the lands beyond Arcadia's walls with good Arcadian citizens.

Nanikyo
Sergeant Arch Dornan

Government: Monarchy
Retinue: Emperor Umoka (6), Kannushi Sen Kaneji (5), General Nakawa (6), Summoner Kakiba (5)
Religion: Shinto, Yevon
Language: Japanese
Economy: Rice Farming
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Kakiba's Cult, Blitzball Riots, Stifled Conservative Backlash

• A fleet is organized to go after the pirate coves in Korea and Ryukyu. However, upon realizing the war in North Korea, they turn their focus entirely upon Ryukyu instead. The island is conquered with ease, and the piracy situation has died down.

• An exploratory mission is sent further south to the Philippines, and a party of settlers is even left there to establish a Japanese presence in the isles. However, upon a later visit the colonists have simply vanished, with no trace of a struggle left behind. Many people suspect that savage locals massacred the settlers, despite the dearth of evidence.

• The Emperor invents the title of Maester and gives it to Kakiba. The confused cleric isn't quite sure what this means, but considers it a great honor to be recognized by the monarch in any capacity.

• Ainu lands are invaded, and the Japanese army succeeds in pushing the savages out of Honshu. General Nakawa advises against proceeding any further north, as Hokkaido is a savage land with few settlements and even fewer landmarks. It would be easy to be defeated there, and there is nothing of value on those lands worth such a great risk.

• Yevon devotees, following in the path of their heroes, have provided the army with a large pool of eager recruits. The Ainu war was disappointingly short, however, and Kakiba finds himself imploring the Emperor for another war to satisfy the peoples' desire for holy martyrdom.

• With the tacit support of the Emperor, Yevonites are becoming increasingly bold in their rituals, which grow more elaborate and degenerate in each passing iteration. With no central guiding body to inform or regulate these practices, they gradually evolve with popularity, infuriating traditionalists who must bear witness in horror as their neighbors go mad with errant fervor. By decree of the Emperor, religious tolerance is now the law of the land, preventing anybody from doing anything about the new pagan rites spreading throughout their land.

• The Emperor personally endorses Blitzball, which suddenly becomes a national obsession. Royal tournaments are held in the summer, resulting in annual riots which tear apart whichever town the tournament is held in. Locals simultaneously anticipate the tournament for its profits, and dread it for its destruction. The court nobility is disturbed with the Emperor's apparent fascination with the sports of the peasantry.

Estres will never die. I'm picking Antamir.

" Introducing Jesus of Nazareth, a king without need for a crown"

Are you prepared to accept jesus into your life heathen?

@everyone

Who wants to help Antamir reclaim the land the Gallic Empire stole from them so Estres can rise once again.

I am writing the turn now, no more edits please.

TURN 4
Map Link

Tech Reference

Character alignments have been added to your retinue details. Alignment works exactly as it does in Dungeons and Dragons, with two axes: Chaotic to Lawful, and Good to Evil.

C = Chaotic
L = Lawful
G = Good
E = Evil
N = Neutral

Chaotic characters will tend to break the law more often than not and take a lot of initiative, doing things on their own, whereas Lawful characters will be a bit more predictable and reasonably controllable.

Good characters are those who will usually always seek to serve your country in whatever capacity they have been given. Evil characters will take advantage of instability and power to enrich themselves, and have lofty ambitions.

Neutral does not always mean that a character is actually neutral on an axis. It can also mean that they simply have not had their true nature exposed. Be careful of the neutrals; with enemies you know where you stand, but with neutrals? Who knows.

I have also added skill rankings, which immediately follow alignments. This is a ranking of how good a character is at their particular job, and will determine how successful they will be when put to tasks which fit their skills. Skill has a chance to increase with each action the character takes, but it is not guaranteed to rise.

S = Superb
A = Good
B = Par
C = Subpar

So now, a character's discriptor will look like this:

General Guy (CG C, 15)

Which means that Guy is Chaotic Good (CG) with subpar © leadership abilities, and will perish on turn 15.

Majid Wu
James (Dean) Blunt

Government: Kingdom
Retinue: King Yiwa Zhang (NG C,6), General Bamidel Shao (CN B,6), Master Afoluwa Mao (LG B,7)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Christianity, Anathe Zoroastrianism
Language: Majidi, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading
Military: Late Classical
Issues: Khertek War, Egyptian War, Scythian War, The King's Uncertain Faith, Debts & Inflation

• An army lead by Master Bu is sent west to put down the rebellion in Baniyang. The rebels were easily disposed of, and Bu continues to carry out his orders in initiating a campaign against the Scythians. The Majid army finds itself horribly outnumbered, and is destroyed completely within the vicinity of Nabakert. Hachem Bu heroically perished in the fight, and a new Horse Master is selected, by the name of Afoluwa Mao. Having served under Bu in the past and being an ardent supporter of Yiwa Zhang, Mao is the very picture of a good officer.

• Lord Shao is given a large donation as reward for his defense of the realm and offered another mission: to retake Gamihou. He accepts, and gathers a mercenary force to drive the Kherteks out of the north. Now with a second victory under his belt, Shao is further awarded the position of General in the King's army.

• The king moves to Jerusalem, primarily to oversee the construction of fortifications, but also partly out of spiritual curiosity. There he learns of the history and culture of the ancient Jewish civilization. Yiwa is enamored by the resilience of their tight-knit community, and decides to convert to Judaism. The Jews, pleased to have the sympathy and acknowledgement of their overlord, have made an about face and now mostly support the regime.

• The respite of the Jews is short lived, as they are exiled from Jerusalem the moment that Zhang had left the city. His motives are very unclear, but some suspect that the king is attempting to jealously guard his new religion for himself, as if he wishes to be the only Jew in the kingdom. Whatever the case, the Jews have fled Majid Wu en masse, colonizing North Africa, Spain, and Italy.

• The nation is weaned off Greek drachmas, in favor of locally minted coins bearing Yiwa's face on one side and the star of David on the other. Much of the new money is used to fund the creation of temples and theaters, as well as subsidize Shao's northern campaign and Mao's rebuilding of the cavalry. Without enough money to do all these things at once, the kingdom has begun accumulating debt and devaluing its currency.

• Icarus Stara has died, thus ending his long career of religious education. With his chief religious counsel dead and the king's religious loyalties in doubt, several clerics of various faiths have made attempts at getting his attention and becoming his new confidant. Zhang has only to clarify his religious standing, and choose a priest to advise him.

Ulug-Aal
Stoffe

Government: Kingdom
Retinue: King Baygan Namlar (NN B,7), Great Shaman Adigtis Grensan (LN C,7), Pandora (CN S,6), Tashteban the Barbarian (CE A,5)
Religion: Hellenism, Tengri
Language: Ulugi
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Nomadic Hunting/Gathering
Military: High Classical
Issues: Greek Border Tension, Chief's Rebellion, Sygzin Divided

• The Archon of Greece is invited for a stay at Sygzin. Distrustful of the Ulugi people, he instead sends an envoy in his place, though he assures Chief Namlar that this man is not only a trusted representative, but has the authority to make treaties. The reception is warm, and both the Greek delegation and the Sygzin temple denizens enjoy one another's company. Deals are made with the Greeks, including a guarantee of safe trade and a formal establishment of an Italian border.

• Namlar takes advantage of the foreign recognition to announce himself publicly as king, taking on the titles and authority of a traditional Greek monarch. Pandora supports the movement, and convinces him to inaugurate Sygzin as the capital city of his new realm. High in the mountains and now heavily fortified, the temple city makes for a nigh impregnable seat of power. Several chiefs are disturbed by the move and have fomented a rebellion, part of which now dominates the Greek border. The Greeks have reacted to this, stating categorically that if Ulug-Aal cannot control their border that Greece will be forced to control if for them.

• As Hellenic culture begins to dominate Sygzin, the Tengri shamans have gradually become volatile against Pandora's followers. Lead by the hostile initiative of Shaman Grensan, they have begun spreading rumors and speaking ill of the priestess, while simultaneously trying to outdo every demonstration of her public goodwill, as if charity were a competition. The schism has become so deep that people who take sides have alienated those who remain neutral, and refuse to do business with one another. Sygzin could be said to be two cities operating within the same space.

• Tashteban is commanded to go north, to stop pestering the Greeks. He takes his warband through Ulug-Aal, recruiting warriors, and then ventures into Germany to cause havoc and mayhem to his heart's content. He does not return often from his trek, but when he does it is always with wagon trains of loot, slaves, and bleached skulls.

• Kaiduk travels east, and attempts to foster good relations with the Kherteks. He meets with distant cousins, who he has not seen in decades, and regales them with stories of what they have been missing out on in Ulug-Aal. A great feast is held to honor the reunion, and by the end of it there is some hope that the two tribes may one day rekindle their friendship. Gifts from the west are shared, including an armory of good weapons and a small band of skilled German slaves.

• The king had died, leaving his son Baygan in charge of the kingdom. Baygan is relatively unknown by the public, and although his close friends and advisors have tried to cultivate respect for the new king, many have their doubts, and have begun turning to local charismatic leaders, such as Pandora and Tashteban, in the matters of legal affairs.

Canaan
CrowTheMagician

Government: Elective Monarchy
Retinue: King Maharbaal (LG B,6), Chancellor Ahdadis (LE A,7), High Priest Zephon (CE B,8)
Religion: Hellenism, Judaism, Shamanism, Christianity
Language: Punic, Hebrew, Berber, Greek
Economy: Farming, Trading, Mining
Military: Late Classical
Issues: Antisemitic Violence, Jewish Exodus

• Hadrusaal pursues the war against Egypt to its conclusion, marching up the Nile and killing the Pharaoh in a final battle north of Sayro. Hadrusaal dies of natural causes while in Egypt, and is honored with a hero's burial back in Damaylos. A new chancellor is selected to replace him: a highly ambitious man named Ahdadis.

• Without much recourse to pursue against the all too powerful Greeks, Maharbaal folds to their demands, and agrees to cede control of Spain. Greek diplomats rescind their previous offer, and demand Jounlos as well, which Maharbaal also concedes to for fear of invasion. Greek armies move across the peninsula, conquering the Spaniards and settling new towns in their wake.

• A wave of Jews enter Damaylos and other settlements following their exile from Jerusalem. Although they have aided greatly in the development of various hinterlands, Bodbasar and his anti-Jewish faction have become infuriated by it, and have taken direct action to counteract the growth of Judaism. Violence has broken out in the streets, led by the Hellenic priestly class and opportunistic looters. driving most of the Jews out of Damaylos. During the riots a fire started, destroying a Jewish quarter and spreading into the city center before finally extinguishing itself.

• Bodbasar has died, and a new High Priest has risen to replace him. The priest, named Zephon, takes after Bodbasar's mission of hate, content to jealously guard Damaylos from incursion by those who would not worship as he would like them to.

Slavs
Pon3

Government: Nomadic Kingdom
Retinue: King Boglo II (LN A,7), Chief Theobad (CG C,5)
Religion: Shamanism, Hellenism
Language: Slavonic
Economy: Nomadic Subsistence
Military: High Classical
Issues: Refugees in Flight, Huns in Pursuit, Land Competition

• King Boglo has died, leaving his son to reign as Boglo II.

• The Huns are told that Muscovy has nothing to offer them. The nomads do not take kindly to this, believing that Muscovy is simply holding back, and so they lay siege to Moscow while pillaging the surrounding lands. Boglo and Denen orchestrate defensive positions and fortify themselves and their armies within the city's keep while the civilians arm themselves with whatever is available to be turned into a weapon.

• The Goths are rebuffed, as Muscovy has other things to be concerned with. Theobad is given the option of aiding in the defense and, being that a return west would be a death sentence, he reluctantly agrees to help.

• Zlajk is recalled from the Goth lands, and he goes about the Muscovite country blessing the serfs and establishing holy wards against the Huns. During one of his missions he is captured by the invaders and is butchered, his corpse desecrated.

• The Huns finally make their assault on Moscow. Although the defenders are brave and hold their ground, the Huns are able to overwhelm them with numbers, and the city quickly falls. Marshal Denen dies fighting, allowing Boglo and Theobad to escape through a secret tunnel along with a large following of civilians, carrying whatever they can on their backs. The sack of Moscow lasts several days, giving the refugees plenty of time to put distance between themselves and the Hunnic barbarians. As the news of Moscow's fall spreads and the advance of the Huns becomes evident, other towns and villages organize evacuations as well, joining Boglo's horde in their southwestern flight.

• The Goths have also fled in the same direction as the Huns advance into their territory, destroying whatever they can get their hands on. This has lead to competition for land, not just between the Slavs and the Goths, but also with the Kherteks.

Mata Raja
kronic

Government: Tribal Kingdom
Retinue: King Sukarto (CG C,7), Magistrate Wahyanly (LN B,7)
Religion: Animism
Language: Sundanese
Economy: Subsistence Agriculture, Fishing
Military: Primitive
Issues: Han Demands Tribute

• The priestess Darna has died, leaving King Sukarto short one advisor.

• Han has demanded tribute, and they threaten to close their ports to Mata Raja if they do not comply.

Bergplatz
olors64

Government: Warlord Kingdom
Retinue: King Reingoldt (CE B,6)
Religion: Shamanism
Language: Germanic, Britonic
Economy: Farming
Military: Primitive
Issues: Gallic War, German Invaders

• King Verdelerich and his chief shaman, Sergaus, have both died of old age. With much of the old state leadership gone, the new king Reingoldt has a free hand in reforming his government in whichever way he pleases. A few loyalist chiefs have offered to join the king's court to gain influence and power for themselves, although it is also possible that he could reach out for foreigners to help guide the development of Bergplatz.

• Reingoldt launches an offensive against the rebellious Britons, methodically marching through all of his territories and slaughtering whoever opposes his reign. At the conclusion of this campaign he settles his warriors in the new capital of Reinberg, near an inlet on the west coast where longboat parties can easily sail in to sell and spend their hard won loot.

• The king announces the construction of a canal, which is intended to connect both sides of the island through river systems. It is a titanic effort, and with a lack of manpower to put into it, Reingoldt finds the work to be slow and profitless.

• The Gallic Empire has made war upon Bergplatz, and has established a warcamp upon the southern shore. They seem to be here to put a stop to the Bergplatzish longboats, which have been continuously raiding the European coastline for some time now. Simultaneously, Germans have invaded the island. Although most of the Germans seem to be refugees, lacking in many powerful warriors, they are numerous enough to have wrested control of a lot of land in the east.

Dasht i Qitaj
Xia

Government: Tribal Confederation
Retinue: Tangma Khagan (LG S,5), Yerzog Khan the Eight Fingers (CE S,6), Samir Khan (CN A,7), Nasugai Khan (NE C,7)
Religion: Tengri, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Yevon
Language: Qitaj
Economy: Nomadic Agrarian
Military: Early Classical
Issues: War with Han

• The great wall is breached in several locations, and large garrisons of conscripted infantry are left to defend the openings while the horselords storm deeper into China. Han armies are ready for them, in most cases, and prevent the capture of the wall in the west while inflicting heavy casualties upon the Qitaj in the east. Zhao Khan has died in the assault against Yuyuan's section of wall, leaving his less experienced son, Nasugai, in command. Yerzog and Tangma meanwhile capture Chishao and establish a forward camp there.

• Samir breaches the wall north of Dayang with support from Qitaj already on the opposite side, and rides quickly to Dayang. He secures victory in a major engagement outside the city, taking initiative to attack before reinforcements can arrive from Chishao to catch the Han off balance. Following this defeat, the Han noticeably change strategum, preferring to stay on the defensive behind fortifications rather than meet the Qitaj in the open.

• Skirmishing tactics are utilized to keep distance from Han armies and minimize major engagements. The hordes have suffered few losses and caused significant disruptions to Han society through their raiding, but the Han military remains largely intact and enormously threatening.

• Chinese civilians are terrorized, with many being conscripted to act as human shield units, screening for horse archers in battle, while many others have their eyes gouged out or fingers removed to keep them from being of any use to the Han armies. Craftsmen, monks, and scholars are spared of this wave of destruction, causing many peasants to take refuge in monasteries and universities.

• Continued Han possession of Yuyuan, has given them a dominating strategic position over the road to the capital. To ignore this position and push for Jishing would be to compromise the flanks, while occupying the territories near the wall to defend would deprive too many men from what is needed to take Jishing. Thus, the advance has been halted. Given time, Yerzog and Samir could open a safer path from the east, as they are finding success in capturing provinces to that direction from the capital.

• Thus far, the Han dynasty has offered no indication that they are willing to negotiate a surrender, and they ignore all of Tangma's diplomatic overtures.

• Tribute is sent to Parthia, along with an offer of peace and friendship. The Parthians are glad to receive it, and seem to have a friendly outlook on Qitaj. They take the opportunity to negotiate a formalization of the borders, settling many petty nomadic disputes that were disturbing the peace.

• A party of explorers is sent to chart the southern reaches, which appear to be as barren and inhospitable as they come. There are people living on the great plateau, but they are disparate and disorganized, lacking any manner of leadership and any value worth conquering. Altogether, a wasteland.

• Commercial links are made with Japan, bringing money into Korea and promoting development there. Yevon missionaries follow the trade, establishing their religion in Qitaj and entering the court of the Khagan.

Arcadia
Triangle

Government: Empire
Retinue: Emperor Talus Trakus (LG S,5), Fire Lord Bacius Elias (NE C,6), Strategos Mercunas Atamanus (LN C,6), Fire Priest Vetenius Gasarius (LN A,5)
Religion: Zoroastrianism, Hellenism, Christianity
Language: Arcadian, Persian
Economy: Farming
Military: Late Classical
Issues: Unpopular Fire Lord, Scythian War

• The Emperor reaches out to the Parthians, offering a diplomatic marriage to end their hostilities. The Parthians accept, eager to cement their legitimacy with such a connection, and give one of their royal daughters to Trakus as a wife.

• Religious dialogue is opened with the eastern Zoroastrians and differences are smoothed over, finally ending the schism. Although not all of Elias' reforms have made their way into the global canon, enough of them have been accepted to transform the religion in the direction he intended.

• Trakus reforms his armies, integrating Parthian light cavalry tactics with his infantry line formations and specialty weapons, hoping to achieve maximum tactical flexibility and maneuverability.

• Spy rings in Egypt make attempts to coerce the Egyptians into defecting to Arcadia, but none take up the offer, having either been conquered by Canaan or remaining defiantly loyal to the pharaoh. Although threats and promises are made to get their attention, few even in Arcadia's diplomatic corps believe that Arcadia is willing to go so far to back them up, and so they are ignored.

• Atamanus is sent northwest to subjugate the remainder of unclaimed Mesopotamia. The locals do not put up any kind of resistance, lacking the force to challenge anything that Arcadia would throw at them. The Parthians do the same, fracturing the region into pockets that are variously loyal to Arcadia or Parthia. From one such pocket far in the north, the Strategos launches an offensive into Scythian Armenia, liberating many territories there. The Scythians keep their distance, at first distracted with a war against Majid Wu, but have gradually closed in on Atamanus near Nabakert, where it seems there may be a final confrontation.

• Forts are established along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, and retired soldiers are offered land grants in those areas. However, such offers remain unclaimed for a long while, as most men prefer to settle down in the richer lands of Mesopotamia. The grants become larger, consolidated together to enhance their appeal, but still, most remain unclaimed.

• Diplomatic outreach is made with the Arabs, who promise to protect Arcadians who pass through the desert in exchange for regular tribute. Trade caravans are established through northern Arabia, connecting Mesopotamia with Hejaz.

• Firelord Tereidon Elias has died, leaving his son Bacius in his place. The man is incompetent and arrogant, but holds the respect of many influential families in Arcadia, who support his position for their own benefit. Gasarius has led opposition to this appointment, hoping to use the ire of the priests to achieve the title of Fire Lord for himself.

• Trakus puts himself to work administrating his empire, forming a new legal codex, building highways and irrigation canals, and consolidating his lands into a provincial system.

Nanikyo
Sergeant Arch Dornan

Government: Monarchy
Retinue: Emperor Umoka (CN A,6), Kannushi Sen Kaneji (LG A,5), General Nakawa (LG B,6), Summoner Kakiba (CG B,5)
Religion: Shinto, Yevon
Language: Japanese
Economy: Rice Farming
Military: Early Classical
Issues: Kakiba's Cult, Ainu Raids

• Warriors are enlisted to protect tournaments from rioters and to cut down on crowd sizes. They succeed in both removing the threat of rabid sports fans and driving down the popularity of blitzball.

• Another attempt is made to settle a southern island: Formosa. Unfortunately the colony once again does not last long, this time being attacked repeatedly by barbarians until the settlers are forced to return home to Japan.

• Trade and religious links are established with the Qitaj horde through Korea.

• Kakiba has enlisted the help of a personal scribe, Goro Kasaku, to put together a single holy scripture for the regulation of practices in Yevon. The book is titled Fayth, and details beliefs, the origin of belief, and specifications for ceremonies, rituals, and shrine construction. Yevon has thus been tempered, becoming a less public faith centered more around private prayer, reducing the ire of those who had been outraged by its popularity.

• Forts are constructed in the far north out of fear of an Ainu invasion. These fears, as it turns out, were entirely justified, as Ainu raiders begin making landfall soon after the project begins. General Nakawa has established a series of camps throughout the country to defend the workers.

• A pair of blitzball teams are sent on tour in Korea and Qitaj, only to find themselves unwelcome in those lands. The popularity of the sport, as it happens, seems to be confined to Japan, and so rather than risk their lives further by touring a war zone, the teams return home to play for people who already respect their talent.

Antamir
Roarshack

Government: Theocracy
Retinue: Keystone Honorius (LG B,7), Inquisitor Beasius (LE S,6), Commander Virius the Boar (NE C,6)
Religion: Arkism
Language: Estrian, Celtic
Economy: Farming
Military: Late Classical
Issues:

• Humiliated by defeat and pressured by locals to resign, Beasius steps down from the role of Keystone, which he reluctantly hands over to a local governor, Honorius. Beasius takes up the role of Grand Inquisitor, and begins patrolling the islands, promoting strict adherence to Arkism.

• A delegation is sent to the Gallic Empire to feel out the mood of the kingdom and identify sympathies and allegiances. Sadly, no support is found for the overthrow of Caratian, who is widely loved and respected in his leadership role. Nothing that the island nation can provide will turn them. However, the empire is currently very vulnerable, as it is dealing with waves of Germanic invaders from the east, who have burned much of the frontier and are threatening Caratian's regime.

• Greece has unilaterally declared peace with both the Gallic Empire and Antamir, neither of which are in any position to refuse. Nevertheless, the Estreans continue building fortifications near their harbors and in settlements large enough to justify the investment. Heading this construction effort is a man named Virius, whose friends call him "The Boar" for his sour temperament. Although he is a hostile personality without much military skill, he commands enough respect from the island's soldiers to make him useful.

genocide the greeks

Here I'll bump the thread so the next turn can start on the next page.

Glory to Qitaj.