THE AKA'MURRID EMIRATE OF FULANI
Mohammad II, Emir of the Fulani, The Philosopher-King of the Sahel
Diplomacy: None
     The Philosopher King pondered his place in the universe. Firo came of age to take his place as crown prince.

THE MARWAN EMIRATE OF BENITOGO
Koduduwa, Emir of the Bight
Diplomacy: None
     Dowan constructed several new heavy transports and claimed several others from the internal trade fleets to perform his military services. More than sixteen thousand men loaded onto the ships, the entire Benitogo military, to sail west across the Cape Verdes current.
     The Marwan landed in South America in the southern regions of Tupinamba, having skirted the coastline of the Alagoas. By July of 1554 Dowan had pacified Shokleng and Imbituba. At the end of August, Dowan marched on Tupinamba to meet and decimate Verbena's forces. Verbena escaped to the north.
     The Benitogo took the Tupinamban capital in September of 1554, releasing Koduduwa from captivity.

THE HARAZE HORDE
Eluka, Lord of the Steppe
Diplomacy: Iguidir(horde absorbed)
     Eluka absorbed more tribes on the fringes of the Sahara while remaining otherwise elusive...

South Africa

THE BANTU KINGS OF OKOYO
Tubuhawaire, Da King of Okoyo
Diplomacy: None
     King Tubuhawaire moved the capital out of the homeland to the populace of Boma. Cabinola saw improvements, while a postal road was graded from Cuango to Nambe, where Okoyo forces were vigilant.

THE GREAT ZIMBABWE
T'Cham'Ki, Chief of Zimbabwe, Holder of the Five Twin Jackal Chair
Diplomacy: None
     The young T'Cham'Ki added men to his staff and completed the royal road to Shalozar.

	East Africa

THE KRAKAS EMPIRE OF AETHIOPIA
Pelam I, Alem 'Elum, Emperor of Aethiopia
Diplomacy: No effect
     Like other East Africans, Pelam added men to his staff as well as pushing the upper limits of government efficiency. Finally, the slaves of Ikego were put to work in Mongonia were improvements were commanded also in Tobruk, Abbis, K'andeeto, and the royal road to Bona in Chalbi was completed.
     Abeche, Abbis and K'andeeto were expanded, while Prince Ishrail was granted twenty thousand men, mostly light fast troops in Quada. He marched over the mountains to occupy the valley of Kerkoure. Leaving a garrison behind, he moved on the steppes of Batha with more than fourteen thousand men and guns. Batha was similarly occupied easily after routing the defenders, scattering all opposition. Here he set up camp to watch for the Haraze bandits.
     Prince Eskalon was charged with expanding the Empire into the steppe of Bodele. He took close to thirty-five thousand men including guns and scout balloons to easily pacify the area and watch for any horde population movements.
     In the east, a large fleet and army of chinese invaded at Mogadishu. The port city of Indavo was sacked and burned. This did not concern the Krakas, but later another fleet arrived and began to disgorge a large army. Admiral Tilima was the only commander charged with reacting to an invader that wasn't a Saharan horde. Based out of Dongola, his fleet turned out to be larger than he could command, and so he was unable to stop the invaders.

North Africa

THE SULTANATE of IEST
Imad ibn Khalid, Sultan of Mahidia
Diplomacy: Akrakos(t) As Sidrah(a) Petra(a) Najran(nt)
     The Sultan continued the trend of most East Africans as well as expanding the powers of the court priests. Various grand projects were completed during Imad's fiftieth trip around the sun, including the cultivation of Al Hauts, Oujda, and royal roads to Al Hauts and Sanaa in Yemen.
     Iesti operatives combed the Sahara watching for the Haraze. Field fortifications sprang up along the Mediterranean. Walls were built up around most cities, including the newly expanded Tripoli, Tangiers, Algiers, Sanaa, Benghazi, and Aqaba.
     Philanthropy was the name of the game as the Sultan continued to reduce taxes and send gifts to his trade partners in far off lands. Several were delivered through the conduit of New Iest, where most of the New World routes were based through, even as the Sultan intervened with the affairs of merchants to pull shipping off.
     The Red Sea was the host of an incredibly large contingent of pirates which targeted trade routes that utilized Necho's Canal. All shipping was victimized as no route had patrol vessels. The East African mercenaries were suspiciously missing.
     Old Muhammed put the garrison to work cultivating Caquetio and then sailed to Massburg to spend his last days expounding the teachings of the Prophet.
     Lieutenant Peyman was wed to the Sultan's daughter Fatima, making him a Prince. This didn't slacken his pace as he headed off to talk with the Najran south of the Rhub-Al-Khalit.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of ANDALUSIA
Anbar al Saladin ibn Kadir, Emir as Sevilla
Diplomacy: Haiti(c) Salamanca(ea) Talavera(f) Sagunto(fa)
     Anbar informed the commanders of all the city fortifications in West Africa that they were to take precautions against possible nomadic horde attacks. Implying that they don't usually do it, he commanded that they should keep all gates guarded and secure at any sign of trouble.
     Fayez de Gama sailed west with a small fleet to the Leeward Sea where, landing on the island of Haiti, he selected the ideal spot for a port city, naming it Safi.
     Marwan's new wife Jaza bled to death during the stillborn birth of their son and so he grieved for several years.

CASABLANCA WESTERN HAWALA OVERSEAS MERCHANT PROTECTIVE COMPANY
Vic Torlazlo, Merchant of Casablanca
Capitalization: None
     The Merchants suffered an agriculture shortage, reducing their reserves, and so, they did not pay their clients once again. Ninety percent of their offices had staff defections. The Canary Islands, Adana, and Jezira Gherb revolted.

THE KINGDOM OF MORAY
Peggy Mac Donald of Islay, Regent of the Isles
Diplomacy: None
     Donald commanded that Falkirk would be increased! As resources were sent into Strathclyde, the 67 year old monarch died. His son was only 3 years old at the time and so Queen Peggy would rule in his stead.

THE EMPIRE OF INGILTARRA
Dharr Ralif ibn Abdullah, Sword of Sayyidina Ali
Diplomacy: Sussex(f) Ulster(c) Anglia(a)
     A vast conspiracy has been discovered, some say by the Saxons, some by the Roman Catholic Church, some even say that the Ingiltarra leadership have falsified the information. Traitors have been found and steps must be taken! An investigation must be launched to discover the true villain behind the infiltration attempt! Hysteria on the streets accuse Saxonia, possibly using their purchase of Ingiltarran grain as a cover. It's too bad this treachery wasn't known soon enough to stop the export! Most accuse the Roman Catholic church. Cardinal Marconi's recent trouble making in Anglia was recalled as evidence. That the Moray Highlanders are behind this has been discounted.
     Tariq Basim in Anglia was murdered by an organization calling itself The Brotherhood of The Cross. The Pope commented that "The Lord moves in mysterious ways, his miracles to perform and that anyone attempting to frustrate the work of the Holy Mother Church should perhaps heed this example as warning of God's retribution." Due to these recent events, Roman Catholic proselytizing is no longer allowed in Ingiltarra. Cardinal Marconi was escorted to the border told to "Be thankful you weren't turned to the mercy of the mobs in the streets."
     Lieutenants Green and Rushworthy were on hand to put down a revolt in Northumbria.

THE NORMAN EMPIRE OF SAXONIA
Charles, Regent to the King of the Saxons and of the Normans, Count of Blois
Diplomacy: Santaner(fa) Castille(t)
     Charles continued to expand his government beyond his needs. Modest investments in military qualities have also paid off across the board. And to the Regent's delight, the Norman Intelligentsia have informed him that they now have a greater capacity. Gold was shipped to Ingiltarra in exchange for food.
     What Charles did not have was Yard Capacity. This limited his heavy pike build. The Italians were unable to send their surplus agriculture, so Charles did not send them any gold.
     A storm blew in off the Atlantic slamming the Vicomte de Valmont's fleet. Finally making it to the port of Santaner, he found that nearly eighty percent of his ships were lost. Several of the surviving men swore that an enormous white whale took most of the vessels down to eat the sailors.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Marcellus II, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Servant of the Servants of God, Supreme Pontiff on the Universal Church
Consecration: Ipswich(ab) Carmaux(ab) Bavaria(ab) Bakony(ch) Flanders(ch) Calabria(drop to ch) Groningen(ch) The Hague(ab) Hesse(un) Toulouse(drop to ab) Galway(un)
     In the Vatican, Marcellus was informed that his information gathering network would be better able to serve him in the coming years. He exacted a tithe on the Cantons at the end of 1555. Cardinal Harvesta was unsuccessful at increasing the tithe on Thaery, and Agricola was wounded during his attempt to consecrate a monastery in Calabria so was unable to reduce Cracow's tithe.
     Cardinal Heenan was jailed by the mayor of Bruges for inciting riots. The papal representative appealed to the higher court, but word has not been heard yet. In Hesse, Cardinal Germanicus was killed by several unbelievers. Cardinal Frascarti was killed in Galway attempting to consecrate the church there.

THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY
Filippo de Reggio, King of the Freestate
Diplomacy: Napoli(ea) Bari(nt)
     Princess Julietta disbanded nearly fourteen thousand men from the army, thinking this would be enough to leave her with enough to fund her census. This was not the case, as accountants pointed out the fact that her figures were off by more than 40%. So the census was put off for another time.
     She was wed to the Lord of Napoli and had a son in 1555.

THE MEDICI SYNDICATE
Marco d'Medici, Guildmaster of Medici
Capitalization: None
     Apparently some agents of Casablanca attempted to pilfer the treasury at Livorno. They were unsuccessful.
     With no real agricultural resources to speak of, Marco was confronted by the other nobles in the Oligarchy. The depression had set in, but for the time being, the Mediterranean Mercenaries were still under contract.
     More than forty percent of the Syndicate's sites and holdings reduced or revolted outright. The factory in Georgia was the worst loss, since it was supporting most of the expansion opportunities in the east. Marco took all the excess shipping and filled his remaining ports with fishing fleets, ready to turn lemons into lemonade.

THE EMPIRE OF HELVETICA
Phillip Rheinhold, Grand Doge of Helvetica, The Valiant, Defender of Order, Overseas Emperor, The Peaceful, The Benevolent, The Mellow
Diplomacy: Lelander(down to fa) Micmac(ea) Verona(un) Thuringia(a)
     With only sixteen hundred men, Prince Phillip Rheinhold made an amphibious assault on the beaches of what the natives call Lucayo. His highly trained light forces took the islands. He left a garrison and then headed north, returning to New Trangau.
     Glygm of the Shetlands sailed from Micmac with 6 heavy galleys into the Gulf Stream. Arriving safely home in the Shetlands he learned that Otto the Second had died. Apparently the fungus that was growing betwixt his toes was evil and the demons entered his blood that way.The transition to the Rheinhold dynasty was easier than the Helveticans thought. Hosendorf held Trangau and everything was business as usual.

THE NORDIK EMPIRE OF THAERY
Gunnar, King of the Danes
Diplomacy: None
     Gunnar had a couple more children and took up a defensive position with all forces. Several cities were expanded and inexplicably, his warship technologies did not improve. The roads in Saxony continued to see improvement.
     A wave of Humanist teachings spread throughout the Empire, leading to a generally reduced reliance on the Pope by Thaery citizens.

Eastern Europe

THE GRAND DUCHY OF CRACOW
Borslav, Blackjack Duke of Cracow, the King of the Polka and Bochnia
Diplomacy: Ozu(fa) Prussia(HS) Lithuania(un) Cherven(AW)
     At 80 years old, Borslav was just hoping that he'd live to see Prince Krzysztof crowned. In February 1554, the son of Jocko became the Blackjack Duke of Cracow and danced the Polka. By September, Borslav was able to finally rest in peace.
     General Marek continued his campaign against the port city of Wiczin with an assault. His eleven thousand men took massive losses while Marek was wounded. Both he and his army limped from the field.

THE EMPIRE OF BALTICA
Pavel, Regent of Baltica, Prince of Novgorod
Diplomacy: Kirivich(ea) Kama Bolgar(nt) Suzdal(A)
     Peter set Kotlas and Yaroslav independent with the wave of his hand. The fur traders of Kotlas moved south to compete in Kama Bolgar. Peter christened his youngest daughter Lissa but would not live to see her 5th birthday. His death was not unnatural, merely untimely; healers were unable to cure him after he attempted to lift the great Yule log before Christmas in 1554, ripping internal organs. His younger brother Pavel took the throne as regent to his nephew, Prince Villem.

THE DIHAJ KHANAT
D'harak, Khan of Dihaj
Diplomacy: Urkel(down to nt) Shirvan(down to t) Togortak(ea)
     Ziyad failed to conduct a census. Then he sent his lieutenants to work separately on other targets while he concentrated on the Urkel alone. In Shirvan, Burak was wounded when his uninspiring talks inspired violence.
     Not known for his diplomatic prowess, it's not surprising that Ziyad was killed by factions within the region who opposed his rule. This was the final straw for the Khanat, who, under Ziyad's leadership had recently completed the move from a Slave society to Free - the Khanat would have a civil war!
     Khazar, Shirvan, Urkel, and Yayik revolted. All three lieutenants had designs on the throne, but D'harak was first to arrive in Maniak. Trocero was next to arrive, but he was killed by D'harak. Burak was captured, tortured, and then made a slave of the new Khan of the Dihaj.
     Near the end of 1555, the Chahar horde moved in on Yayik...

THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Phormion Dynasty
Stavros Phormio, Imperator Romanus, Basileus of Constantinople
Diplomacy: None
     The cultivation of Chechete and the intense cultivation of Donets were completed. Stavros was pleasantly surprised to learn that his government structures are now geared to hold more territory, even without optimization.
     Stephanos set sail to the Americas, loaded with colonists and supplies. Querrandi and Minuane were colonized and a new city was built in the colony of Chucul. The Prince was crying as he dedicated the port, "It was named after a beloved general who died just a few years ago."
     Prince Sebastos returned from Ithaca to Constantinople to see his nephew Teodor come of age and take his place among the royalty of the Phormion Dynasty.

THE YEZIDI CALIPHATE
Abdulla ibn Sailam, Emir of Baghdad, Amiiru l-mu'miniin
Diplomacy: Kuwait(F) Siffia(F) Dulaym(t) Jordan(c)
     Based on information gleaned by the capture of a purported spy, the Yezidi set about on a ruthless purge, to rid themselves of any infestation, to make it clear that the Emir will not tolerate this kind of activity! Men and women were ripped from their homes, extensive and invasive strip searches conducted, sometimes unnecessarily so. Whole portions of the priesthood were slaughtered because of a lead in that direction. All in all an atrocious, albeit crucial exercise.
     Hammad's men were found loitering within the University halls. Ostensibly, they were there in case the Hidden Dragon's forces arrived in order to torch the place to keep it from falling into the Chinese hands. Its rumored that they were doing more than that though.
     Hassan completed the cultivation of Dulaym and then marched on Acre, using holy force to wipe clean the taint of heresy. Abdulla ibn Sailam took seventy-six hundred light horse to cleanse the rural populace. Hassan used his twenty-eight thousand men to slaughter the heretics of Acre.
     At the age of 70, Hassan Pasha, the Emir of Baghdad died. Even though he had no heir, the most loyal Abdulla ibn Sailam was acknowledged as the rightful successor; he just so happened to also control the entire army of the Caliphate...

LAHILLA PRIMACY OF ISLAM
Lahilla ibn Rumi abd Allah, Caliph al Islam
Consecration: Mardin(ch) Iraq(mn) Algeria(ab) Algiers(ch) Oran(ch) Cheliff(ch)
     Darioush failed horribly in his attempt to raise the Primacy in Samarra, removing all traces of the simple mosque there. He redeemed himself in Iraq, though.

THE BURNING SWORD EMPIRE
Emperor Hammad I Abu-Hassan, Grand Emperor of the Sword, most faithful follower of Allah
Diplomacy: Aleppo(t->P)
     The Empire expanded their abilities on the sea with larger sailing vessels. Trade was initiated with several Mediterranean powers out of the pacified port of Antioch.
     Princess Ghada was wed to 58 year old King of Diyala, pulling his people fully into the Empire. He headed off to war with his army, joining General Aszul in Hormuz with a combined force of more than fifteen thousand men. They rode east into Makran to attack the Ghorid. Clearing the region of enemy field forts was the most imposing task for Prince Abdul, who took command of all forces to take the unwalled city of Chah Bahar, formerly the hub of all Ghorid sea-borne trade.
     Lieutenant Amaam added eight thousand men to his army and marched on Aleppo to crush the heresy militarily. This pretty much destroyed Adham's work and the region became pacified, once more.

AS SHIRKI AL BAHRI AL BASRA (SBB)
Sayah ibn Abdulla Noir, Kalifat Rasul Allah, Captain General of the Basra Overseas Trade Company
Diplomacy: Bargal(mf) Mopizza(fa) Antioch(bo) Maniak(ma) Hafun(bo) Turbah(bo) Kilwa(c to Zim) Baghdad(bo)
     Sayah continued in his father's footsteps, expanding the statecraft of the guild, transfers of gold to clients, and shuffling of several hundred ships. In Mopizzi in East Africa, the teachings of Mohammad were accepted. The Captain General had a girl and then a boy in 1554.
     Captain Tolga Nefus upgraded a couple factories to branch offices on the Horn of Africa and then in Arabia. Flush with success, he was amazed to find that Joseph Abung and the East African Mercenaries had evidently been bribed to do someone else's business, and so, was unable to complete his mission in Acre.

THE BOGAZGOL KHANATE
Zargan I, Khan of Tabaristan
Diplomacy: None
     Zargan ruled his Khanate on the Caspian Sea.

THE JURCHEN KHANATE
Jarchigudai of the Jurchen
Horde Diplomacy: None
     Jarchigudai drank deep from the well of stagnation.

THE CHAHAR KHANATE
Chang of the Chahar
Horde Diplomacy: no effect
     The Chahar were once again merely allowed to travel through Avar and on into Irgiz. Emba and Vabol held no real population so Chang crossed the Ural to attack Yayik which had recently seceded from the Dihaj. The region was looted and the people enslaved.

THE GHORID SULTANATE OF AFGHANISTAN
Abdel bin Omar, Sultan of Afghans
Diplomacy: None
     Jabba Ja and Ufandin launched an attack on Rajput. This officially broke the Non-Aggression pact of 1535! Crossing the river with forty-two hundred men, they discovered the region was massively well defended with more than a hundred thousand men. Fighting valiantly, but hopelessly, the two were captured in battle.
     Due to these egregious activities, attempts were made on the lives of several Sultanate lieutenants. One in Kabul disappeared, as did another in Mizani. Yet another in Zabulistan escaped his would be Indian captors. [See Rajput]

THE HARAYUK RAJPUT EMPIRE
Mayandi Chandravara, Regent, Master of Kaunaj, Emperor of Rajput
Diplomacy: None
     Apurva pumped huge amounts of the Empire's resources into the military and intelligence systems, seeing the benefits almost immediately. He expanded the reach of his tax collectors and his capability to rule much more area than the Empire already comprises. So it was no surprise when he also added another twenty thousand horse, men, and heavy cannon to three separate armies.
     With the attack by Ghorid on Harayuk soil, Apurva joined with the Burning Sword and the Yezidi Caliphate to form a Coalition. The aim of the Coalition is the complete destruction of the Ghorid Sultanate. The Burning Sword would get valuable coastline and the Yezidi Caliphate agreed to sell out their co-religionist for mere boat loads of agricultural provisions. Ghorid would get the shaft.
     Apurva Chandravara died young at the age of 32 readying his forces for war. His son, the Little Prince Medin was not old enough to rule the Empire, so Apurva's younger brother Mayandi would rule in his stead. Intimately familiar with Apurva's battle plans, he ordered the Empire's armies to counter-attack the Sultanate.
     Most cities received expanded port workers along with walls. Prince Ulanjar headed for the South Seas with 120 ships, heavy with sail. He reached Karratha in October, 1553, where it would take several months for reports from home to reach him and his two compatriots. They set about colonizing the region with loyal, Hindu speaking people. The pygmies were forced to a life as second class citizens like most of the Harayuk peasant class.
     Back in Jhelum, Mercenaries were called to arms, rewards were offered for the head of Ghorid nobility and blood lust spurred the Harayuk forces into Pathan. Reacting forces of the Sultanate led by Abdel bin Omar himself backed up the region's plentiful fortifications. The sanguine field was littered with the bodies of Ghorid men as the rout of Abdel took place. Mohanam cut down several of the fleeing moslems with his knights. Abdel escaped sans army.
     The Harayuk continued across the Indus river into Afghanistan. This tributary of the Sultanate was easily defeated. At the end of the battles, several of the captured leadership of Ghorid actually died in prison, leaving only Jabba Ja still held by the Empire.

THE CHALUKYA EMPIRE OF BANAVASI
Ekoram-varman, Maharaja in Banavasi, Yogi of Seylan
Diplomacy: None
     Ekoram completed the royal road into Dahala.

THE GATOTKACA OF ANGORA
Daginada, Sengkuni Khan
Diplomacy: Luzon(AW)
     Missionaries were quite successful in Luzon, but this didn't help the diplomatic mission. The Khan was entertained by new faces, the ones with knives finally hit their target.
     The would-be rulers of the Gatotkaca were mostly in Indonesia and it took several months for them to arrive. In the mean time, the court of the Sengkuni were preparing the daughters of Arghun for the throne. The fleet from Barat arrived soon after the defender of Baobei, who would take the fleet and kill the admiral. Finally the old diplomat Daginada arrived and ended up seeing the entire military come under his sway. At 59 years old, Daginada wed the eldest daughter of Arghun, who was 15. Chittagong revolted.
     An emissary of ISGOC showed up after all the dust had settled. [See ISGOC]

THE VIET VICEROYALTY OF MAKASSAR
Zhen Ya, Viceroy of Makassar
Diplomacy: Morondava(fa) Srivijaya(HS)
     Tannah Benoa built two new port cities and increased the size of another. Cirebon in Sunda, Pekanbaru in Medan, and Farajore in Sri Lanka.
     Zhen Ya personally led an attack on the Nicobar Isles, complete with a successful passive siege on North Port. Hasanuddin was captured in the battle, but was soon released, while it would be Wiranto's last skirmish.

IL SINDACATO GRANDE ORIENTALE COMMÉRCIO (Republic of Portale D'Oro)
Don Francisco Carpachi, Il Doge della Portale D'Oro
Diplomacy: Nicobars(time wasted by Makassar) Massawa(ma) Bur Sudan(ma) Dunqunab(ma) Xai Xai(mf) Zanzibar(mf!) Kaifeng(bo) Chang'an(bo) Gatotkaca(hostile)
     With nearly limitless amounts of money, it was no surprise that the Republic was able to increase most ratings. Since we are entering a period of peace, the Chairman has ordered the following improvements: Public works would be constructed in various ISGOC office locations, while all across the Syndicate port capacity was increased to the maximum.
     The colony north on Beringa in the Pacific was fully funded, and appears successful. Raphael the explorer headed east from the islands to map and discover Attu. Marcus Argentus sailed to Portale Arabiata on Socotra with men and supplies to expand it. The Nihon Silk monopoly was granted to Don Francisco.
     Lucius was wounded in Zanzibar, failing horribly at his mission, and discontinuing vital resources to factors further south. Cape Town continued to keep the existing agency. Nicholas was killed attempting to establish tight control over Saigon.
     Marcus Argentus sailed back from Socotra to end in Bassein where, with many crates filled with gold, he attempted to gain the trust of the Javan-speaking, Buddhist tribes. Alone, he was told that his masters would need to do more to avoid all out war and the expulsion of all Sindacato officials from Gatotkaca lands.

THE CROUCHING TIGER IMPERIUM
Cao Tien, Wang Tong King, Emperor of Tonkin
Diplomacy: None
     Cao Tien lounged about and did little.

China

THE HIDDEN DRAGON OF CHEKIANG
Quan Yitsang, Celestial Emperor of Chekiang
Diplomacy: None
     The Celestial Emperor saw his mighty warships improve and finally the gardens of Kiangsu would bend to his will, except for his frail fuchsia He built more elite forces for himself for solace.
     In the west, Prince Quan Yiguang left a garrison in Zapatees and he sailed south towards the horn. Hadramunt revolted as soon as the fleet dropped off the edge of the horizon. Further south, that same fleet arrived outside Indavao with blood in its eyes. The city was assaulted, conquered, sacked and burned for the temerity to defy the Emperor. The city leaders were found and tortured until they revealed who supported them. With the city in flames at his back, the Prince sailed on to join Heng Li at Cape Town.
     Li Gong continued to explore the inter-island routes in the South Pacific. Herero revolted and in the battle that followed, the garrisons of both it and the unwalled city of Walvis Bay were forced to flee to Cape.
     Bai Hu landed in Mogadishu and unloaded his army of thirty two thousand elite forces. Further up the coast, he instructed his colonists to begin building a new port called West Sea, Xihua. The charred bodies and homes of the Coptic Christian city of Indavao would serve as a reminder to all of the power of the Celestial Emperor.

THE MAHIYANA BUDDHIST MISSION - Amitabha
Amitabha, 2nd Host of the Longevity Buddha
Consecration: Wileng(ch) Choulu(CA) Souchou(CA) Chunking(ch) Shau Tachi(ab)
     Amitabha built up his operation and then sent his priests into the world. They comforted people where they could, but could stop the famine with their prayers.
     Most of the Mission's sites reduced as a result. The temples at Jao and Loyang fell to Chi Long, who claimed to hold the keys to the Mahiyana Mission.

THE MAHIYANA BUDDHIST MISSION - Long
Chi Long, Key Master of the Mahiyana Mission
Consecration: Jao(HC) Loyang(ca)
     Chi Long took the famine as a sign that he should carry on the truth of the Mahiyana Mission. By the way, he needs food.

THE CIAO ZHONG CHINESE EMPIRE
Chin Li, King of the Northern Prefectures
Diplomacy: Shangtung(a)
     Pushing rebellious people into a lower caste was the name of the game for Lo Pan. Each of his generals was given an army to watch over the privileged colonists, to ensure that no trouble would arise.
     At Shansi, Lo Pan conquered the city of Tai'Yuan with more than thirty thousand heavily armored knights, assaulting the walls. It got dicey on the first wave, with more than six thousand men turned to worm food. Practically fighting side by side with his men, the second wave also failed to punch through the walls. On the third and final charge, the walls were not pierced, but Lo Pan's heart was.
     [GM's Note - this battle was pretty exciting. Each wave, Lo Pan was in danger, rolling a 1 on the pre-Leader Fate die, indicating a possible death, wound, capture, or, if a 6 is rolled, Loyalty Check, which, for a King is always a success. Although, a success in this case means that Lo Pan attempted to do it again! He did this twice. The third time he died doing it. Sure they were heavy and elite, but they were still cav. If he had the same number and quality of infantry and dice, he still would have died, but the city would have fallen on the third try.]
     Commander Zhou Pein sailed to North Port, to witness the assault from the sea by the Makassar.
     Displacing the existing populace, Duc Thon and fourteen thousand heavy horse ensured that Yen was colonized properly. Wang Lein was on hand to ensure that the dispossessed of Parhae didn't cause any problems. In the city of Sum, Hei Pan ran into some trouble, but nothing his twelve thousand knights couldn't handle easily.
     In Mudan, Chin Li took a highly mixed force of more than twenty three thousand men, not counting the artillery and engineers, to assault the walls of Quayang. Failing to breach the walls on the first attempt, losing more than seven thousand men, Chin Li chose to fight another day, disobeying his king's command to take the city. He rode on to Jehol to ensure the colonization of it and it's city of Delpo.
     After Lo Pan's death, several of the nation's command met in Jehol to recognize Chin Li as their liege.

THE NIHON EMPIRE
Empress Mugai Nyodai, 91st Emperor of Nihon, Descendent of Amaterasu, Regent of Taiki
Diplomacy: Jilin(c) Wusuli(hs)
     Several military qualities were improved as well as unneeded levels of government. Ten of the major cities in the realm put out fishing fleets along with some internal trade shipping. Half of those cities were expanded as well.
     Two fleets of the empire scoured the sea for pirates while Prince Tiroha and Onishi talked the talk. Another extremely large fleet, some said it held more ships than they've ever seen headed for Kazan Retto to place the latest colony of the mighty Nihon Empire.

THE VAKAS IMPERIUM OF THE AKETTA
Vakas Togal, Sorcerer-King of the Aketta
Diplomacy: Wangaratta(ea)
     Togal increased the quality of his troops. In the rainy season, Togal had children. Two more boys were born before his young wife died during her fifth pregnancy.
     Golgiin took more than thirteen thousand warriors to besiege Init on the coast of Taree. Fighting in the streets, at first he was forced to retreat. It took him some time to regroup his forces, but he attempted again. The Init commander turned out to be more than a match for Golgiin. Even though he outnumbered the city dwellers by more than four to one, he was forced to retreat once again. This time he easily regrouped and went into the fray. This time, the Init killed Golgiin, sending his army packing.
     At Quorn Nefal decided that since they would not listen to his words, they would listen to his sword! The port was easily pacified in 1555.

THE KINGDOM OF THE STORM
Harahua, Manta of the Mellow Kingdom
Diplomacy: None
     The Storm improved their battening down ability. Harahua conducted a census of his people now that the Kingdom is beginning to grow again.
     Tadpole took most of the military might of the Kingdom out into the ocean to attack the Tonga. To the west, Whaler sailed the waves toward Vanuatu. He returned to Loyaute with a few less men, but he did return.

Pet the fuzzy kitties!

THE MANITOWISH EMPIRE
Wiseraven, Chief of the Manitowish Empire
Diplomacy: Yakima(c)
     Wiseraven increased the size of his village.

THE COLONY OF NYDANIA
Harald III, Konik von Nydanland, Emperor of Nydania
Diplomacy: Yuma(t)
     Amazingly, Harald expanded his bureaucracy. Both Asgard and Esselin were cultivated. Colonists were sent to Yorok and Vadakar was expanded. Signe was crowned the Heiress of Nydania.
     Kristof sailed north to the wilds of Eyak were he founded the Nydanian port of Norholm. He returned to scour the homeland waters for pirate scum.

THE POPOCELOTL EMPIRE
Huaptl, King of the Smoke Jaguars
Diplomacy: None
     Life was good again.

Eastern North America

THE ILLINOIS CONFEDERATION
Carp, Great Liege of the Ancient People
Diplomacy: None
     The Illinois hunt and fish.

THE ADENA EMPIRE
Pepin Lawenro III, Great Chief of Adena
Diplomacy: None
     The Adena fish and hunt.

BONNY KINGDOM OF MERCAIN
Lord Clyde, Regent, Elder King of the Land, Sword of the Vanished Tribes
Diplomacy: None
     Lord Iretus died in 1553 leaving seven year old Princess Catherine looking to Lord Clyde as her regent.

THE BLESSED COUNTRY OF KORNLAND
Hector Simonsen, Jarl of Kornland, Sachem of Chowan, Keeper of the Faith
Diplomacy: Monacan(ea)
     Hector had more children, evidently getting over whatever malady stopped him from having eight children before.

THE OAXACA EMPIRE
Maxtla, King of Oaxaca, Lord of the Maya, Leader of the Quetzal World, Emperor of Mexico
Diplomacy: Maya(t)
     Maxtla listened carefully to his new favorite truthsayer.

THE INKA EMPIRE
Quinoa Flakes, Coca Mogul
Diplomacy: No tangible effects
     With the expansion of his government, Quinoa gained more power. Public works were concentrated in Moquequa and Uru. A fire consumed Porto Leon, turning it to ruins.

THE WAJ MAPU CHE
Lord King Biedes, sovereign over the Four Parts of the Healing Earth
Diplomacy: Coquimbo(F)
     Biedes lived the simple life.

THE TUPINAMBA EMPIRE
Verbena, Top Tupi Tribesman
Diplomacy: None
     The Tupinamba have been occupied. [See Benitogo]
     As a result of the occupation, Verbena's grip on the nation slipped. His leaders in Bauru revolted, including the Parana.

THE EMIRAT OF ALAGOAS
Shi'Tebra ibn Rahgeesh, Emperor of the Paraiba, Emir of Alagoas
Diplomacy: Tupi(nt)
     Shi'Tebra completed the royal road to Araceta and Belam was expanded. To keep his imperial bloat down, the Emperor dropped Potguara to NT and Belam to tributary.

Average Horde Pop: 4.9           Increase: 1.2%
Bubble Bubble or is that a hoover running?