THE AKA'MURRID EMIRATE OF FULANI
Mohammad II, Emir of the Fulani, The Philosopher-King of the Sahel
Diplomacy: Kitsanga(F) Boure(F)
     Food was lined up at the border with Aethiopia, but due to the rebellion in Chad the gold payment was not forthcoming. Mohammad ordered that the food immediately be withdrawn and instead sold it off directly to the Fulani people. Rharous, Tunatug, Ibadan, and Baumphok were expanded.
     Mohammad took a wife in 1532 but she died during the subsequent pregnancy. His backup plans were in process though and as soon as the news that his concubine Alaya was pregnant he married her. In November another daughter was born. Alaya died in 1533. Again, Mohammad married the first woman in his harem to become heavy with child, but there were two. Late in 1534 he was presented with two more daughters.
     The Emirate expanded the power of the navy by building more merchant class vessels. Mohammad outlined a plan to rid the Aka'Murrid of the small group of noble families that conducted all business affairs in favor of a free market. Grumblings were heard in the shadows of the palace...
     The Fulani gave the Aethiopian Lion permanent permission to transfer technology, invest in the Aka'Murrid university, and lots of guides and maps to realm of the Emirate. Essentially becoming non-paying tributary all to give the Coptic priests easy access to the nation. Access to the port of Kitsanga was granted to any mercantile house who wants to move in.

THE MARWAN EMIRATE OF BENITOGO
Marwan, Emir of the Bight
Diplomacy: None
     Needs a cool player...

THE BANTU KINGS OF OKOYO
Ofusa, Ba Quean of Okoyo
Diplomacy: None
     One of the king's last actions was to increase the size of the government. Teke's cultivation project was completed.
     Needs a player...

THE KALID EMIRATE OF THE CAPE
Utumwa, Emir as Cape Town
Diplomacy: None
     There was a small disturbance when Kalid died, but all was righted when Utumwa became the new Emir. Money came in from the Krakas.
     Needs a player!

THE GREAT ZIMBABWE
Jol, Chief of Zimbabwe, Holder of the Five Twin Jackal Chair
Diplomacy: Mahabo(F)
     Jol handed close to twenty thousand men over to General M'Tumbi before heading back to the Jackal Chair to rule the Empire. He had a son in 1532 and another the following year. With M'Tumbi heading off to war, Jol had G'Ta'Chamba and Luchaka, the Petty assisting him in the chore of running things.

THE KRAKAS EMPIRE OF AETHIOPIA
Pelam I, Alem 'Elum, Emperor of Aethiopia
Diplomacy: Kanem(c)
     Pelam expected a swift end to the war so he expanded the government so as to hold all of the territory easily once again. Investments in the military finally paid off as well. Missionaries were active in the field. Converts in Gwari increased, and the rural population of Igbo converted en-masse.
     The Imperial army of more than eighty thousand men and all manner of assorted tools of war, including the newest air support corp marched west from Zakouma, arriving in Makurra in late May of 1532. Pelam and General Ajari were on hand to relieve Ambuti of his charge. Ambuti went on to conduct a census in the capital city.
     The Aethiopians hit Kassala in August to force tribute from the revolting populace. Akala was left alone when the army moved on to Adulis to do the same, wrapping up in May of 1533. With the end of Spring came the armies of Pelam to Aksum. Both the region and the city of Massawa were liberated to the Aethiopians. On to Danakil!
     At Aseb in Danakil, Pelam met his uncle Christuf; his assassins had not been successful. General Ajari led the charge in the active siege of the city in September. Pelam inflicted more damage than he received and then sat out the winter outside the walls. In the spring he discovered that his supply lines had been cut by Delkura retaking Adulis, but they were able to take the city none-the-less, capturing Christuf in the process.
     Pelam continued on to Zeila and was able to take Djibouti before the end of 1534 with the surrender of Gnunga. With the lack of cohesion in the Arabian rebellion, the trade fleets to the east slowly returned to the Aethiopians. Pelam would have quite a job on his hands managing the tattered remnants of his eastern fleets.
     In the west Algonka, the Empire's worst diplomat was amazed at his ability to successfully lay claim to the Kanem territory. They wouldn't allow movement, pass trade, or even assist in the control of the regions further west, but it was a start.
     At the end of 1534, Pelam found that his Empire lacked the communications conduits to some of the West African territories. Ikego, Bornu and Ngazargumo revolted, overrunning all garrisons.

THE KRAKAS EMPIRE OF ARABIA
Christuf, King of Aethiopia
Diplomacy: None
     Christuf received a tip that the Zimbabwe armies would join the Western Aethiopian fleet to launch a surprise invasion from the south! This only reinforced his resolve to hold their precious port cities.
     After taking Massawa away from Aethiopia, Delkura's 73 year old body failed him. The fleets under his command flittered off to join the ranks of the condotierri. Aksum and Massawa remained independent.

THE SULTANATE of IEST
Imad ibn Khalid, Sultan of Mahidia
Diplomacy: Jiddah(ea)
     Hashim was sent to assist the Arguin on their move to their new home along with a large house warming gift of several heavy treasure chests, brimming with gold. Trade was reestablished with the Andalusians. Missionaries were active in the Caribean area.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of ANDALUSIA
Hahziz, Emir as Sevilla
Diplomacy: None
     Hahziz continued to pump labor into the new Naval Observatory, but neglected the royal road project in Takrur, causing it to degrade a bit. He took a wife who died within six months of the wedding. Medici diplomats requested the gold and transports that were captured in Senegal be returned to them.
     Nazar and Fayez were instructed to take the region of Timris if it would not rejoin voluntarily. A little less than ten thousand men marched on the steppe region, taking it easily.
     In the north, General Bezz'i was charged with moving through the regions recently vacated by the rebel, ensuring that the regions remained in Andalusian control. He struck out at the beginning of 1534. Algarve and Kazmedina was the only region to rejoin easily. Without any instructions to beseige the now-independent port city of Porto, Bezz'i had to contend with just taking the region. He moved on to rout the Leon rebels.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of IRELAND
Sheik Bahiyy al Din, Emir as Iberia
Diplomacy: None
     "We are leaving Spain" The Emir exclaimed to his people. We took our shot but we can't fight a protracted war on three fronts. WHOMPCO ceded the lands of Ireland to Sheik Bahiyy al Din. The Sheik turned over all Iberian lands to the Andalusians, as well as the trade routes and merchant shipping, save what he could take from Porto. Of all the regions he turned over to Andalusia, only Algarve went freely.
     All shipping in Porto was converted to a fleet of heavy transports. With an Iesti escort, the Emirate set sail from Porto August 8th, 1532. They landed in Connaught (not Galway) in December. Preparations were made to make it the new Almoravid homeland. With the spring came the Sunni Islamic rulers to militarily convert the land. Bahiyy al Din's forces numbered more than ten thousand, not counting the large array of siege engines and guns.

CASABLANCA WESTERN HAWALA OVERSEAS MERCHANT PROTECTIVE COMPANY
Rik, Merchant of Casablanca
Diplomacy: West African Mercs(brokered) Cyprus(A)
Capitalization: None
     Señor Rik ceded the pacified island of Ireland to Sheik Bahiyy.

THE KINGDOM OF MORAY
Donald Dubh Mac Donald of Islay, ifth Lord of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre, Earl of Ross, Captain of Clan Donald, Ri Innse Gall
Diplomacy: None
     Angus died in 1532. Donald rushed home to the Highlands. The Isle of Man rebelled.

THE SULTANATE OF ELSUT
Jaraah bin Zulfaqar, Regent of Ingiltarra, Sword of Sayyidina Ali
Diplomacy: None
     Jaraah signed up another general to deal with the Anglian threat.

THE KINGDOM OF ANGLIA
Beaucleric, King of the Anglians
Diplomacy: None
     Beaucleric defended against the Elsut threat.

THE NORMAN KINGDOM OF SAXONIA
Phillip, King of the Saxons and of the Normans, Count of Blois
Diplomacy: None
     Phillip waited for the stars to align with his plans. Henry VI announced that since his uncle Phillip had no children, that he would be king in the event that the King should fall prey to the hand of death. Trade was initiated with Perigord.

THE DUCHY OF PERIGORD
Roland, Duke of Perigord
Diplomacy: None
     Auvergne was cultivated and Roland accepted the offer of Octavian. [See Italia]

THE ARLES EMPIRE OF ITALIA
Octavion, Rex Lagobardum, Imperator Occidental Romani, Defensor Christos
Diplomacy: None
     Octavian decided discretion is the better part of valor. He planned to leave Italy. In Livorno, with the treasury exhausted, he made a promise to pay the wages of troops from loot taken. The city was sacked to make good on the promise. The cathedral was left untouched. The countryside around about was then looted as well.
     At the end of July, Octavian marched north crossing into Liguria. Here, the forces of the Freestate under the command of Lianso Matris completed the attack on Liguria. Lianso's scouts were patrolling to the extremities in all directions and had orders to attack without delay. Octavian proved to be the better tactician and forced Lianso's forces to retreat, his cavalry pursuing to the walls of Genoa.
     Octavian was wounded in the battle. From his litter, he commanded that the army should head west, abandoning all further plans of sacking and looting, to be taken in as refugees by the Duchy of Perigord. Octavian was named a Prince of the Duchy, in return for certain technological advances. All of the old lands rebelled from Octavian when he attempted to cede them to Roland. Citmo was sacked and burned by the Arawak Indians.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Boniface X, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Servant of the Servants of God, Supreme Pontiff on the Universal Church
Consecration: Wiczin(ab) Rouen(mn) Parnu(ch) Reval(ch) Ipswich(ch) Anglia(ch) Mercia(ch) Northumbria(ch) Lodz(ch) Friesland(ab) Meissen(ch) Berlin(ch)
     While Boniface ruled the church several of his aids noted that from the summer of 1532 His Eminense was affected by a "moodiness" and started forgetting seemingly mundane things. He seemed to be a bit clumsy. Apprehending the approach of old age, determined he would try to leave the Church stronger than he found it. He sent Papal Legates to the far corners of Christian Europe to build churches and monasteries and to proclaim the following:

     To the Christian Emperors, Kings, Dukes, Jarls, Guildmasters, and potentates throughout the world; from Boniface, Bishop of Rome, Greetings.
     For the reform of the Church and the benefit of the faithful, we are calling for an Ecumenical Council of the Church to be held in the city of Vienne in Lyonnais, to commence upon Easter Monday, 1535.
     We specifically invite representatives of our Orthodox and Coptic brethren to attend, as well as those of the various Christian communities of the Americas. It is not our intention to impose our beliefs or to emphasize our differences, but rather to gather in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to celebrate our common faith.

     The church in Rolfo on Haiti was overrun by pagans.

THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY
Filippo de Reggio, King of the Freestate
Diplomacy: None
     Filippo issued a proclamation that "The peoples and soldiers of any territories of the old Empire of Italy are at liberty to throw aside the chains of the Empire and join the Free Peoples of Italy in The Republic of Italy! I and my government welcome the reunification of the Italian Peoples into a strong and united nation, ready to strive forward into a new era of history."

Defenses were built up in Latium for Claudio Ferieti to manage. In the north Lianso Matris was charged with removing the Arles forces from Liguria and Tuscany. After the battle on the plains, Lianso attempted to regroup his men in the Plaza Deferrari. For many months Lianso worked with the disorganized troops, unable to regain control until the end of 1534.

     The damaged royal road to Languedoc was neglected.

THE MEDICI SYNDICATE
Marco d'Medici, Guildmaster of Medici
Diplomacy: None
Capitalization: None
     Cosimo died in 1532. His younger brother Marco sailed home from Accra to managed the family business. Sadly, Livorno had been sacked - the treachery of Octavian would long be remembered.

THE EMPIRE OF HELVETICA
Otto, Grand Doge of Helvetica
Diplomacy: Shetlands(a) Burgundy(f)
     Otto sent Stephan Fleischenhaker to talk with the people of Thuringia. When he got there, Stephan realized that the region was filled with pacified people governed by the Empire. The tools that Otto sent him with were meant to build relations with independent fiefdoms, not war reparations and assimilation practices. [see rules notes on DP of P and PT regions]
     Several cities and regions revolted, citing failure to remove the oppressive garrisons. Munich and Thuringia, the later taking Murke with it.
     "The Empire of Helvetica officially recognizes the legitimacy of the Italian Free State, the new Republic of Italy." This statement caused several members of the nobility to question Otto's sanity. It was less than a decade after they had crushed the republican uprisings within their own nation, and now Otto is embracing rebels? Giving immediate legitimacy to bloody revolutionaries?
     Finally, Otto elevated Phillip, the son of the famous revolutionary Jango Rienhold, to the rank of Prince of the Realm. Would there ever be stability in the Empire?

THE NORDIK KINGDOM OF THAERY
Kjel Goldnose, King of the Danes
Diplomacy: None
     Kjel put the entire army on alert status in Avente and then spent two-thirds of the national income on increasing the quality of the Danish Infantry. Possibly one of the best infantry in all the world now. In other news, all other national projects were neglected and thus degraded in some fashion, most of these were cultivations.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF CRACOW
Stashu II, Blackjack Duke of Cracow, the King of the Polka and Bochnia
Diplomacy: Sandomir(t) Kuyavia(c) Warsaw(t) Krasnik(c) Danzig(nt) Wiczin(c)
     Stashu sent Jocko to watch over the colonization of Lyubbech. The settlers integrated fairly well with the native population. Seeing that everything was progressing smoothly, Jocko headed south to attack Kiev. A successful rout and then he marched to Ozu.
     In Ozu, Jocko obliterated the Eastern Orthodox garrison that he found there, since they would not give him the region outright. Non-paying tributary wasn't good enough for Jocko. This resulted in a limit on the number of merchants willing to cross the borders between the two nations.
     In the north, General Edward took more than nine thousand men to pacify Kassubia. He went on to pull Danzig back into the empire. Finally, after making a claim on Wiczin, Stashu named Lord Benny as the new Feudal Lord of Obodria.

THE KINGDOM OF THE BALTS
Dmitri, King of Baltica, Prince of Novgorod
Diplomacy: Kirivich(nt) Pskov(c)
     Dmitri once again neglected all of his projects and so each one of them decayed some, since most of them were due to be completed before 1531. Instead, he started a new royal road from Parnu to Memel.
     Assassins were sent to kill Battah. Baltica pirates raided the Dihaj ports of Suleimanabad and Tagaktu. Finally, General Yuri and his sidekick Lieutenant Gregori took more than fifteen thousand men south to plunder the hapless Khanate lands.

THE DIHAJ KHANAT
Ziyad, Mighty Servant of Allah
Diplomacy: None
     General Yuri marched into Suvar in the spring of 1532. The loot ensued! Battah arrived to defend in August with his Urkel allies. With more than fifteen thousand men, both heavy and light horse mostly along with a good assortment of cannon and shot. Battah and his seven thousand men were able to wound Lieutenant Gregori. Yuri charged, killing Battah and capturing one of his best captains. His light horse made quick work of the remaining Dihaj warriors.
     In the following year, Yuri rode on to Urkel to dish out more retribution against the Dihaj Khanat. Because of the battle with Battah, Yuri's time-table was thrown off, the army returned to Saratov without looting Urkel.
     Meanwhile, Baltica warships where harassing the Dihaj ports on the Black Sea. As a result of these attacks, and the death of Battah, the Khanat underwent terrible government upheavals. Chevak II took the reigns for a short time, but then died at the age of 57 in 1534. Taman and Tagaktu revolted, as well as Suleimanabad on the Black Sea. Suvar and Urkel as well as Togartak on the Caspian Sea revolted. Ziyad survived the Baltica invasion, so he used that experience to propel him into the Dihaj throne.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Phormion Dynasty
Stavros Phormio, Imperator Romanus, Basileus of Constantinople
Diplomacy: None
     Stavros saw the completion of the royal road to Lydia, and the upgrade of some sixty thousand troops across the Empire to slower, heavier stock, while another six thousand men were called up to active duty in Thrace. Galatia received civic attentions. A new road was initiated from Alexia to Mariople.
     Myron was commissioned with the task of building a city of the Empire in the New World. "What an awesome site for a city!", he exclaimed when he and Nearchos arrived in the Labrador Sea and began construction. A third of a legion protected the colonists from the friendly native population. The city was named Odyssia.
     Nemos rode to Antioch to remove all of the garrisons from the areas of Aleppo and Cilicia. As soon as he rode west all of them revolted, since Stavros had not commanded that satrapies be set up in their wake, dashing the trade with the Burning Sword.
     Nauteus waited a few months in Attalia for Nemos to pull many of the spare troops in the regions to him before launching the military conversion of the city. Mosques were burned down and hundreds died, but at the end of the day, the city was full of begrudging Christians.
     The North Eastern Army was commanded by Cyrano, fresh from his engagements in the middle-east. He rode to Ozu to pacify the land in order to grant it to the Duchy of Cracow. His information was that they would then be able to build a royal road to their port of Krasnik on the Mare Negri. After Ozu, he continued on to Donets to subjugate and proselyte with their swords. Outnumbering the pagans ten to one, it was like a day at the beach.
     Stavros promoted is brother Stephanos to Prince of the Realm in 1534, since the Emperor's first wife died during pregnancy.

THE DAR AL ISLAM EMIRATE
Hassan Pasha, Emir of Baghdad, Amiiru l-mu'miniin
Diplomacy: Karbala(t) Siffia(t)
     Hassan tentatively sent out some diplomats into Karbala while he conducted a census. With the Emirate in such a small area, the bureaucrats were able to concentrate on expanding their technical prowess.

THE SECRET EMPIRE OF THE BURNING SWORD
Hammad Abu-Hassan, Keeper of Secrets, Master of Lies
Diplomacy: Akkaq(AW) Hasakah(nt) Basra(c) Kurdistan(c) Dabik(t)
     Hammad neglected the flood damaged bridges and roads in the Empire and rebuilt the port city of Mari on the left bank of the Tigris. Nearly six thousand men were retrained while an additional four thousand men were called up to serve the Master.
     Arbiliq revolted as Hammad was riding north out of Diyala. He had to deal with the problem himself. Aziz rode in to sit on the rebels.
     General Fez, the Empire's worst diplomat, took fifteen hundred men as an escort into the city of Akkaq. His arrogance led to open violence. He was routed from the city and had the good sense to run into the hills of Luristan to regroup his men so they wouldn't mutiny on him.

LAHILLA PRIMACY OF ISLAM
Lahilla ibn Rumi abd Allah, Caliph al Islam
Consecration: Benghazi(ab) Hasakah(ab) Acre(ch) Alexandria(ab) Faiyum(ch) Bani Suwayf(ch)
     Lahilla sent Risha the Wise to share the will of Allah. Risha died in 1534 in the Coptic city of Tobruk.

AS SHIRKI AL BAHRI AL BASRA (SBB)
Abdulla Noir, Kalifat Rasul Allah, Captain General of the Basra Overseas Trade Company
Capitalization: Samarra(ma) Baghdad(ma) Goa(ma)
     Abdulla invested in several areas of the Trade Company, most of the investments paying off. He appointed one of his commanders as his heir, much to the chagrin of the rest of his family who wanted the Noir family business interests kept in the family.
     The Kalifat briefly considered opening a bank by the name of the Basra Islamic Moneylenders, but then looking at it on paper recognized the word ISLAMIC. Knowing that the Qur'an strictly forbids all forms of money lending, he chastised himself severely.

THE BOGAZGOL HORDE
Bogz, Grand Khan of the Desert, Destroyer of Civilization
Diplomacy: None
     Bogz tried to concentrate on the task of keeping the lands that he has. He sent a small trade caravan to the Ghorid as an offer of peace, hoping that they would let by-gone's be by-gone's. He took it as a good sign that the Sultanate's forces didn't pay him another visit. The famine caused Dasht'Kavir to rebel.

THE GHORID SULTANATE OF AFGHANISTAN
Omar II, Sultan of Afghans
Diplomacy: None
     Omar concentrated on internal aspects of ruling. He recalled his forces from India, praying that retribution would not be forthcoming. All projects were funded in some way and all troops were upgraded slightly.
     On his way out of Punjab, Rahmani learned that Omar had died. His men were in a frenzy. They supported him and encouraged him to make a bid for the throne. Riding through Multan, he picked up more of the garrisons that had been set down. They also had news that Omar II was dead.
     Rahmani rode hard into Baluchistan, the eastern border of the Ghorid Sultanate. Confusion reigned. There were many who couldn't believe Rahmani's story, swearing that the Sultan was not dead. Rahmani also received official documents from the palace showing that Omar was dead and that Omar III was taking the throne. In Mizani, Rahmani made up his mind. The last straw was a message from a close friend in the Palace who heard a rumour that Omar III was going to bring General Rahmani up on charges of treason for initiating a war with the Haryuk Empire.
     The General arrived in Zabulistan in the spring of 1533. Here he learned the terrible truth - that he had been duped. The Sultan was not dead. But his men were still behind him, pressuring him to usurp the throne, his secret desire. With twelve thousand men, he outnumbered Omar and he also knew that the capital city was unfettered by walls.
     Arrayed in the field, Omar II, his son, and two of his loyal generals. The battle was a stalemate, with neither side making any headway, except to take losses. With the increasing numbers his subjects dead or dieing, Omar took more risks. One risk too many as Rhamani's forces were able to capture him. This enraged Omar III. The next wave saw Rhamani in full retreat, taking losses from Omar's pursuit.

THE GHORID REBEL
Rhamani, Sultan of Afghans
     Knowing that given time, Omar III would be able to field many more men than he would, Rhamani took only as much time as needed to regroup his loyal followers. He attacked once more in 1534. Again he was forced to retreat, but this time Omar III was killed, leaving Abdel in command of Omar's forces.
     Now Rhamani had the bargaining power he needed. The ransom of Omar II in exchange for the marriage to his daughter was Rhamani's deal. If Abdel steps down and freely pays the ransom, the Sultanate would be lost to Rhamani. Perhaps Abdel could somehow avoid a more destructive dynastic failure...

THE TARA HORDE
Batu, Grand Khan of the Steppes, Destroyer of Civilization
Diplomacy: None
     Traveling around the deserts gave Batu lots of time to ponder the meaning of life. The Tarim people impressed him greatly. So much so that he took up their religion and instructed their tribe to become teachers of the words of Allah.
     Batu rode south out of the Takla-Makan, hitting Punjab in August, 1532 with more than a hundred seventy-five thousand warriors. September ended the horde's progression with the infantry complaining.
     At the end of the year, Batu learned that the Kuanaj were near. The way that he learned was most unpleasant. Waking one crisp January morning in his yurt, he felt something warm and wet beneath him among the bedding pillows. Thinking that one of his generals had played a trick on him, he looked for the glass of water that they put his hand into during the night. He did not find it, but standing made him dizzy, instinctively putting his hand to his head to steady himself. When he pulled his hand away, he saw the blood...
     The news that the Grand Khan was dead was taken hardest by his son Temujin, who now would lead the horde. Temujin's experience was not as great as his fathers and the thousands of warriors proved difficult for him to command. But he did command the horde to push on into Sursuti in the spring of 1533 meeting the Harayuk host, led by Chandravara himself.
     Even outnumbering the Harayuk by three to one, Temujin was unable to make headway against the field fortifications and cannon fire. The mercenary band led by Achyuta Kamakshi flanked the horde from Punjab, making the retreat into Punjab costly. The Tara light horse fell in droves, their light infantry blanketing the countryside. His generals Ghengis and Yul were killed and Vachir was wounded. Nearly all of Temujins forces were dead or dieing. The Empire lost a little more than two thousand men.
     Temujin lost his life in Punjab.

THE HARAYUK RAJPUT EMPIRE
Rupika Chandravara, Khan of Khans, Master of Kaunaj, Destroyer of Hordes
Diplomacy: None
     Chandravara destroyed the Tara Horde. On the eastern front, the Dai Monphu agreed to a Peace Treaty in return for getting their regions back. Without a garrison, Gauhati revolted.

THE CHALUKYA KINGDOM OF BANAVASI
Ekoram-varman, Maharaja in Banavasi, Yogi of the Maldives
Diplomacy: Chela(t)
     Ekoram ruled the kingdom and decreed that a royal road be built into the interior.

THE ANGORA HORDE
Toghril Khan, The Fuzzy, Khan of the North
Diplomacy: Intense
     Toghril headed south, through the mountains, through the jungles, to finally cross the Irrawaddy in 1534... [See Gatotkaca]

THE GATOTKACA OF ANGORA
Yangon Bago, Sengkuni Empu
Diplomacy: None
     Tiger couldn't stop the vicious Makassar assassins. Both he and Jentimon were killed in a bloody fashion. The fledgling empire, held together by the magnetism and loyalty of the army started to crumble. Only Yangon Bago remained. He arrived in Bassein to put an end to the strife.*
     In 1534, Toghril Khan and the Angora Horde crossed the Irrawaddy to pledge fealty to Yangon. With gifts of gold and nearly ten thousand newly converted Buddhists, Yangon accepted the Horde into the Empire. Toghril died later that year.

THE DAI VIET EXILE KINGDOM OF MONPHU
Phan Hoi, Wang Dai Viet
Diplomacy: None
     The Dai Viet accepted the Treaty of Peace with the Harayuk Empire. They kept a wary eye on Toghril's men, making sure that they did not stray from the road as the Angora passed south into Kayah.

IL SINDACATO GRANDE ORIENTALE COMMÉRCIO (Republic of Portale D'Oro)
Don Santino Carpachi, Il Doge della Portale D'Oro
Diplomacy: Maldives(c)
Capitalization: Kundara(ci) Kwangchou(ci) Thanglong(ci)
     The Don expanded his group of lackeys as well as the capacity of his Roman Catholic priests. The organization became less stratified. Once again, ships were taken off of the profitable trade routes; the cream of the crop of close to six thousand men made the cut for the new heavy elite war fleet. South Port was expanded, including improved port facilities.
     Don Santino sailed to the continent of Australia to attempt set up a base of operations in Oanx. Sebastian was exploring the south pacific, visiting the Islands of Fiji and Samoa.

THE VIET VICEROYALTY OF MAKASSAR
Zhen Ya, Viceroy of Makassar
Diplomacy: Ambon(nt) Malacca(nt) Sulawesi(nt)
     Twozer explored East from Truk and found the islands of Ponape. Vizard took a thousand elite forces to attack the beaches of the Maldives. It took two waves to punch through the meager defenses. The key was the capture of their wiley commander. Without walls, Omarra was taken as well. As a reward for his successful mission, Vizard was granted the city as his personal demesne.

THE KINGDOM OF TONGKING
Phe Tien, Wang Tong King
Diplomacy: None
     Vhoi Tien died at the age of 86. The Kingdom mourned.

THE MAHIYANA BUDDHIST MISSION
Kong Asuang, 2nd Host of the Longevity Buddha
Consecration: Szechaun(ch) Zhaoti(ch) Souchou(mn) Choulu(mn) Chinao(mn)
     Kong received assistance from the Zhong; no longer having to lean close to hear the sound of one technology flapping.
     Huang Fulao appeared to be afflicted with demons, which could explain his failure to consecrate the cathedral at Kwangchou. His body was burned after he died in 1533 lest the demons spoil hallowed ground.
     Hung Ch'eng-chou spent the years in the royal court of the Ciao Zhong Guo revealing to Tein Pi the mysteries of the tithe.

THE HIDDEN DRAGON OF CHEKIANG
Quan Yimei, Celestial Empress of Chekiang
Diplomacy: Kweiling(N)
     Quan Gui opened the Imperial Treasury doors wide to pay for increases in the government, infantry, cavalry, gunnery, and the new conduit methodologies. The royal road to Siam was completed.
     The Empire's concerns lay mostly in south east asia, as Dukou was expanded including large walls, several hundred earthworks and men were garrisoned in Gtsang, and a new road built up into the hills to the south. The Dragon could only manage to break Shan "cow-eater" Feng out of a dank Harayuk prison. He ran to Chengdu to take command of the army there.
     Laborers and colonists waited in vain on the docks of Amoi to be transported to Nanhai. ALL of the Hidden monopolies in markets ranging the gamut from jade mining to silk worms were handed over, lock, stock and barrel to the Republic of Portale D'Oro.
     General Suma K'uang, the highly uncharismatic, oversaw the attempted colonization of Khemer. The colonists were not taken in. He watched the situation closely during 1532, but then left the cormorants in the care of the garrison to head into Siam. Here again, the squatters were not welcomed, but well protected among the fortified bivouac.* Undaunted, he continued on to be jeered in Dvaravati.
     Admiral Zhuang fared better with the urban immigrants. Angkor and Mangfu were successfully colonized, while in Chantabun the freeloaders had to share bunks with the Imperials.
     Quan Gui died peacefully in 1534. His first born, princess Quan Yimei was elevated to the Celestial throne as Empress of Chekiang, dashing all hopes that her younger brother, Quan Yida, had of becoming Emperor. If only his father had lived for another year! Maybe she'll forgive him for igniting her favorite dolls in the frog pit last summer...

THE CIAO ZHONG CHINESE EMPIRE
Tien Pi Gou, The True, King of the Northern Prefectures
Diplomacy: Shangtung(a) Shansi(a) Tsingfeng(fa)
     The Empire was saved by famine with the quick purchase of grains from the south. Cultivation projects continued apace, with Hopei, Shensi, and Houma doubling their production to feed the hungry Prefectures.
     Hong Kong would have been expanded if the Fei Pi had ordered a leader to transport the people to the remote island. As a result, only some of his orders were carried out, those being that the walls of Hong Kong be torn down in preparation for the expansion. Throughout the rest of the Empire though, most if not all cities had walls built or increased, as well as the upgrade of several thousand cavalry groups to heavy armament.
     Fei Pi did not step down when Hei Pi came of age, further proof that he was not a true regent, but a in fact a corrupt power monger. Lao Che and Dinh-Rin were on hand in Shensi attempting to wrest the control of the Empire in the name of Tien Pi Gou. In the aftermath, Fei Pi was executed and Tien Pi Gou was elevated to his rightful place on the throne.
     From the outlying regions of the north to the central areas of the south, people rose up in rebellion. Mudan and Quayang, Liao-Tung, Yen, Ordos, Ningsia, Houma, Honan and Kaifeng, Shentung, and the city of Sum revolted. With Chih-Tsai and Zhao-Dao remaining loyal to Fei Pi, the fact that they were in an outlying region did not bode well for them.

THE NIHON EMPIRE
Mugai Nyodai, Empress of Nihon, Regent of Showa II
Diplomacy:
     The Empress expanded the government in order to hold more lands, also improving the skills of Ju Jitsu and Iaido. Several thousand laborers required transport to the cultivation projects long overdue in Sikhote and Suifenhe. With both regions still difficult to manage, diplomats Hosogaya and Iyusa wee unable to make any headway.
     General Tsugi commanded more than five thousand Shinto warriors to completely eliminate all traces of human life in Koguryo, this included the ruling Asiatic Pagan upper class as well as the mostly Shinto populace. The region rose up to fight for their lives. Tsugi abandoned the action after being forced to retreat, his thoughts centered on where his loyalties lie.
     Il Sindacato Grande Orientale was granted permission to expand or improve their facilities throughout the Empire.

THE VAKAS IMPERIUM OF THE AKETTA
Vakas Afangoo II, Sorcerer-King of the Aketta
Diplomacy: None
     Vakas Afangoo had another daughter and recalled all his armies from the field.

THE EMPIRE OF THE STORM
Thunderhead, Storm King, Emperor of the Mellow Kingdom
Diplomacy: None
     Haharua's daughter died in 1534.

Pet the fuzzy kitties!

THE MANITOWISH EMPIRE
Yellowfeet, Master of the Manitowish Empire
Diplomacy: None
     Manitowish hunt whale, carve pretty totem pole.

THE COLONY OF NYDANIA
Harold III, Konik von Nydanland, Emperor of Nydania
Diplomacy: None
     The great project was completed. Danish irrigation techniques transmogrified the valley, making it a beauty to behold. The passion of the Spirit Christians improved. One of Harald's little girl Signe's first phrases was "fart Kristus"! Her mother died before her sixth birthday though, after giving birth to another sister.

THE POPOCELOTL KINGDOM
Huaptl, King of the Smoke Jaguars
Diplomacy: Tiwa(ea)
     Huaptl was honored to see his sister married to Mzatanos Freezing River. And so, while those two bundled in rabbit furs, he talked with the Tiwans.

Eastern North America

THE ILLINOIS CONFEDERATION
Mark Skywalker, Great Liege of the Ancient People
Diplomacy: Sangamon(t)
     Mark granted his daughter's hand to the Sangamon.

THE ADENA EMPIRE
Pepin Lawenro II, Great Chief of Adena
Diplomacy: None
     Pepin II stays in Adena and governs, issuing the proclamation of a great royal tournament. "In Honor of our royal princess' coming of age we proclaim her dowry to be (40gp) and that whomsoever passes the arduous martial, mental, and religious feats and test shall verily be my son and be as one with the most pious and reverential Empire of Adena." (legal disclaimer is that whomever marries Ningal shall not have the ability to bring Adena lands to his old kingdom BUT will be able to bring his old kingdoms land TO Adena)

BONNY KINGDOM OF MERCAIN
Prince Titus, Elder King of the Land, Sword of the Vanished Tribes
Diplomacy: None
     Prince Titus sent Lord Niarl to collect the armies from around the Kingdom. Lords Angus did pretty well as an administrator.

THE BLESSED COUNTRY OF KORNLAND
Hector Simonsen, Jarl of Kornland, Sachem of Chowan, Keeper of the Faith
Diplomacy: Catawba(N) Lincoln(H)
     Hector expanded Massburg expecting new fleets from Europe soon. He then went on the warpath, taking a couple thousand cavalry into the wilderness of Monacan. The light horse quickly overwhelmed the hill people. Lieutenant Brent sailed east into the morning sun and was never heard from again. After a thoroughly uninspiring speech, Lord Vincent was stoned by the Lincoln townsfolk.

THE OAXACA EMPIRE
Coatlamoc, King of Oaxaca, Lord of the Maya, Master of the Otomi, Leader of the Quetzal World, Emperor of Mexico
Diplomacy: Achi(a)
     Coatlamoc neglected most of the national projects in the Empire. Luckily, a minor perfunctory in the accounting department managed to redirect some misspent labor in Texcoco, rerouting it to where it was needed more in Tarascan. The king then went on to offer his hand in marriage to the Achi.

THE INKA KINGDOM
Flutie Flakes, Coca Mogul
Diplomacy: Uru(fa) Moquequa(fa)
     Flutie flaked, ignoring his royal road projects. Instead, he concentrated on building a large army and spent a lot of time in Uru.

THE WAJ MAPU CHE
Lord King Biedes, sovereign over the Four Parts of the Devastated Earth
Diplomacy: None
     Biedes continued to send workers to Oic.

THE TUPINAMBA EMPIRE
Verbena, Top Tupi Tribesman
Diplomacy: None
     Goldenrod died in 1533. After a parade of illegitimate claims, Verbena took the throne. Abuse was built up from its ruins. Choroti, Heta, and Tupi revolted.

THE EMIRAT OF ALAGOAS
Rahgeesh Abdallah, Emperor of the Paraiba, Emir of Alagoas
Diplomacy: Caete(a)
     Rahgeesh continued to pump resources into royal road networks deep into the Serra Do Espinhaco. Missionaries were unsuccessful in Arana.

Average Horde Pop: 4.5           Adjusted increase: 5.9%
Quiet steady growth...