THE AKA'MURRID EMIRATE OF FULANI
Mohammad II, Emir of the Fulani, The Philosopher-King of the Sahel
Diplomacy: Kanuri(F) Matata(F)
     Mohammed expanded three cities in the realm and worked with the Andalusians to complete the royal road into Takrur. He also completed the bridge over the Lower Niger into Oyo and began a road from Kebbi through Nupe to Oyo. The royal family grew larger, as Mohammed sired two more daughters. Several cities had their walls built higher. The desert worms were held at bay.

THE MARWAN EMIRATE OF BENITOGO
Marwan, Emir of the Bight
Diplomacy: Ife(ea)
     Marwan increased the Emirate's trade range, allowing their merchants to reach as far away as the Hague. Then he sent Chief Oduduwa up the coast with several boat loads of settlers. Passing through the shoals of the Gambian Sea, they landed in Timiris. With the permission of the Almoravids, the port of New Bight was built. This allowed Benitogo to reach as far north as the Moray. Operatives in Ife weren't as successful as Marwan anticipated.

South Africa

THE BANTU KINGS OF OKOYO
Ekwune, Da King of Okoyo
Diplomacy: Sangbe(a)
     Ekwune completed the cultivation of Uige and sent Tubuhwaire to Sangbe to find a wife.

THE KALID EMIRATE OF THE CAPE
Utumwa, Emir as Cape Town
Diplomacy: Xhosa(f)
     Utumwa expanded Walvis Bay and initiated cultivation projects with the large shipment of agro that the Krakas sent in trade for more maps of the waters west of Africa. Sagmwa, a mystic from the hills of Lesotho, attempted to recruit more members. Late in 1541 the Almoravids attacked... [See Almoravid]

THE GREAT ZIMBABWE
Jol, Chief of Zimbabwe, Holder of the Five Twin Jackal Chair
Diplomacy: Sakalava(t) Tizra(f) Kilwa(a)
     Jol improved the quality of his infrastructure and infantry and watched the completion of his cultivation projects in Nguni, Ruvama, and Zambia. In 1543 he was informed that his wife had just given birth to a daughter. In Rozwi, M'Tumbi was found inadequate when compared to G'Ta'Chamba.

	East Africa

THE KRAKAS EMPIRE OF AETHIOPIA
Pelam I, Alem 'Elum, Emperor of Aethiopia
Diplomacy: Adulis(f) Aksum(f) Kassala(f) Kanem(f) Chad(a)
     Pelam was able to increase his grip on the nation among many other improvements that only wise investing of a few thousand gold pieces can bring. Much more would have been spent, but certain merchants in the east proved to be unreliable.
     Samuil, the crowned prince of the Krakas Empire, sailed east from Djibouti along with Joseph Abung and the entire East African condotierri. They sailed to the Gulf of Mannar off the tip of Chalukya India but could not locate the Maldives. He sailed on to Pendash in Mon where he placed a small garrison. He spent most of 1543 at Port Blair but needed to return to Pendash due to his diplomatic failures.
     Prince Eskalon, assisted by General Temban and nearly ten thousand men, enslaved the population of Ikego in 1541. "Sure it's cruel, but they will accept our discipline or perish."

North Africa

THE SULTANATE of IEST
Imad ibn Khalid, Sultan of Mahidia
Diplomacy: Ghebel Gharib(t)
     Imad learned that his forces could now deploy the new balloon scouts. Imad intervened in mercantile affaires in order to force merchants to work on routes of his choosing. He set up new routes with Kornland, Adena, and the Emirat of Alagoas.
     Muhammed joined Marwan as they sailed to the New World, picking up supplies at Tangiers. They sailed with the Orinoco flow to land at Caquetio in order to build the port city of New Iest.
     Abu Said once again attempted to navigate the currents around Bermuda. Heading out in 1541, he was never heard from again...
     Riyad and Yasir returned home to Iesti after half a lifetime in the New World while missionaries in Taino were all killed.
     The Sultanate felt the effects of the lack of rulership in 1540, with Adrar, Caquetio, Lybia, Madina, Oujda, and Tamarasset slipping from the grip.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of ANDALUSIA
Hahziz, Emir as Sevilla
Diplomacy: Saragoza(c) Talavera(nt) Salamanca(N) Sagunto(c)
     Hahziz increased his infrastructure while expanding defenses around the realm. The port of Mbour was built in Senegal. Agents of the Emirate located al Saladin and his family. They were transported to the safety of Sevilla. Two of al Saladin's sons died while attempting to escape during the sea voyage north. Hahziz personally oversaw the collection of taxes in 1541 and then trained several thousand men to fight as elite guard.
     Fayez and Nasani collected a small force of ships and men in Casablanca and set sail for the South of Africa. They landed in Herero and quickly pacified it and Walvis Bay, which had no walls.

CASABLANCA WESTERN HAWALA OVERSEAS MERCHANT PROTECTIVE COMPANY
Vic Torlazlo, Merchant of Casablanca
Diplomacy: None
Capitalization: Dogobu(mf) Kitsanga(bo)
     Jamil el Habriz sailed to Haiti to establish a small colony. He was successful and the savages of the island enjoyed the pretty trinkets. Otherwise, steady growth and quiet business dealings in Northern Europe.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of IRELAND
Sheik Bahiyy al Din, Emir as Iberia
Diplomacy: None
     The Sheik was unable to bring in enough money to pay for his troops, much less anything else. He was found hiding in the back room of a brothel...

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: Lothian(fa)
     Donald headed south into Lothian to work his magic. The Orkneys dropped their status to tributary.

THE EMPIRE OF INGILTARRA
Dharr Ralif ibn Abdullah, Sword of Sayyidina Ali
Diplomacy: Wessex(a)
     Ralif built an balloon scout group and set up trade with Andalusia and Aethiopia. Then he set out to rule the Sultanate. His wife bore him twin boys in 1542, but then died in 1543.
     The win over Anglia was decisive, including the capture of intact weaponry and a joyfully rescued population. The new prosperity included dramatic improvements in the military might of the nation. Troops were paraded multiple times through the streets of pacified Anglia and Ipswich. Losses in the war were minimal, mostly mercenary. Public works were maximized in several regions, expanding the recruitable population. With the wholesale conquer of Norman Anglia, Ralif declared himself Emperor of Ingiltarra.
     Walls were expanded to their limits, especially in London while the Emir of Sussex was preaching to the Anglians. The Emir enjoyed spending time with the nobility and their exquisitely trained hunting and jumping horses.

THE NORMAN EMPIRE OF SAXONIA
Phillip, King of the Saxons and of the Normans, Count of Blois
Diplomacy: Aragon(nt) Lerida(nt) Santaner(fa) Vermandois(f) Vienne(fa) Savoy(a) Pavia(ea) Lyon(ea)
     Without funds from Aethiopia, several good things didn't happen. Phillip left Paris in the spring of 1541 with his own army of more than twenty thousand men and headed south along the newly rebuilt bridge across the Rhone into Provence.
     Meanwhile, in the west, Roland took up a diplomatic tour of the old Perigord regions of Aragon and Asturias, talking of the new, more militant, and more capable Saxonia, capable of defending you good people from the nasty jihadists... Old Marcel Guermantes died in Anjou seeking closer ties. The Marquis St. Simon rode into Savoy to arrange a marriage with Henry VI. The Duc de Villepin nearly undid St. Simon's work in Vienne, then went on to bring the village of Lyon back into the Empire.
     In May of 1541, Admiral Tancred blockaded Marseilles, seizing all Republican shipping and turning away all others. Most of the the Republic's merchants found safe harbor at Genoa. On land, the crowned Prince Henry VI arrived with General Oliver to take up positions in the passive siege. The city did not surrender.
     In July, Phillip arrived along with Bonoque's mercenaries for a total of nearly forty thousand men. Seeing that the city had not fallen due to starvation, he commanded an active siege. Marseille fell quickly with Phillip suffering minimal losses. Admiral Tancred fled the battle, returning to Sete. In the Spring of 1543, Phillip decided to continue on into Liguria.
     In Liguria, Octavian arrived in 1542 with more than ten thousand mostly Italian men. Here he met Lianso and Baria Matris, brothers leading the four thousand strong defense of Liguria. By the end of July Octavian has routed the Ligurians, while the Matris brothers took refuge behind Genoa's walls. The Italian Prince was forced to deal harshly with his army, since his command was that no rapes, murders, or looting could be done by his victorious men. Several were hung. Octavian decided to wait for Phillip before assaulting the walls.
     Phillip arrived in June of 1543 and the wholesale assault on Genoa was undertaken. The battle was bloody for the Genoans, but the Saxonians took minimal losses and only Henry VI was wounded.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Julius III, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Servant of the Servants of God, Supreme Pontiff on the Universal Church
Consecration: Regio(ca) Vigo(ca) Rouen(ca)
     Pope Paul III died in 1543 after consecrating the cathedral in Rouen. Cardinal Lucian Boromeo took the title Julius III, Bishop of Rome. Lack of grain stores negatively effected the Church, as they were unable to lend aid as they normally would.

THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY
Filippo de Reggio, King of the Freestate
Diplomacy: None
     Normans were caught searching for Octavian's family rumored to be held in an Roma prison. Filippo lost two generals and a large army in Liguria. Old investments paid off with increased quality ratings.

THE MEDICI SYNDICATE
Marco d'Medici, Guildmaster of Medici
Capitalization: Barcelona(ci) Mediterranean Mercs(Brokered) Constantinople(mf) Tirnova(ma) Tagaktu(mf) Maniak(ma) Togortak(ma) Tarantum(ci) Accra(mf-ma) Akan(ma-N) Togo(ma-N) Lome(ma-N) Yoruba(ma-N) Ife(ma-N) Lagos(ma-N) Santaner(mf) Brest(mf) The Hague(ma) Holland(ma) Friesland(ma) Groningen(ma) Bremen(ma) Holstien(ma) Kiel(ma) Lyonnais(mf) Orleans(ma) Paris(ma) Krasnik(ma) Ozu(ma) Kiev(ma) Kaluga(ma-N) Tulagrad(ma-N) Gomel(ma)
     Silvo brokered a deal with Mosheh and immediately set up defenses in Livorno with all of the land forces. Marco put the galleons to work on several Syndicate ports, acting as internal shipping.
     All of Medici's sites in Benitogo dropped in status since the control web still doesn't stretch that far south, the closest branch office being in Porto. Similar to what happened up north in Kaluga, with the closest factory being many leagues to the south in Tagaktu.

THE EMPIRE OF HELVETICA
Otto, Grand Doge of Helvetica
Diplomacy: Franconia(f) Corsica(fa) Romagna(c) Faeroes(fa)
     Otto cut trade with the Ingiltarra, although he heartened to hear that they considered themselves Imperial. "We will translate Saxonia's book on the fall of the Roman Republik. We will add chapters - one that explains that the Roman Imperialism was oppressive and based on Slavery. Due to the ongoing instability in Italy, the Helvetican people cannot allow the current leadership to continue its present course. We must intervene to stabalize the region and offer our Christian guidance and protection." He went on to scream, "Our nation is one of free men, and its our Burden to aid the less fortunate. All worthy men can prosper in the SwissReich!" He built a large army and headed south.
     Otto, his son Otto II, and general Klaus Fokker hit Lombardy in June of 1542, crushing all resistance by the end of the year. No Republican armies stood in their way as they turned their attention next to Verona and Venezia. (Merano returned to Italy since an occupier must leave a garrison, and Otto did not) The Helvetican intelligence suggested that Venezia was defended merely by its walls, so Otto plunged into the fray. After three attempts he retreated to the fields of Verona having suffered significant losses.
     In the north, General von Einem led the siege of Murke. The city surrendered to von Einem's mastery.

THE NORDIK EMPIRE OF THAERY
Kjel Goldnose, King of the Danes
Diplomacy: None
     Kjel sent a small fleet to drop off colonists in Malmo and labor in Uppland and Iceland, completing the cultivation there.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF CRACOW
Jocko, Blackjack Duke of Cracow, the King of the Polka and Bochnia
Diplomacy: Radom(f) Kuyavia(a) Danzig(t)
     Jocko sent general Marek off with ten thousand heavy infantry. Their goal: secure the port cities on the Dnepr. Starting in the southern port of Krasnik, Marek pacified the formerly claimed city. They marched north to take the unwalled port city of Kiev. Finally, Marek set up an active siege.

THE EMPIRE OF BALTICA
Peter, King of Baltica, Prince of Novgorod
Diplomacy: Pskov(f) Kubishev(t)
     King Dmitri died in 1543 peacefully in his bed. His son Peter took the throne declaring to the world that he was Prince of Novgorod of the Empire of Baltica.

THE DIHAJ KHANAT
Ziyad, Mighty Servant of Allah
Diplomacy: Tagaktu(ea) Suleimanabad(ea)
     Ziyad took a wife and a couple cities. He initiated trade with all of his neighbors as well as he could.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Phormion Dynasty
Stavros Phormio, Imperator Romanus, Basileus of Constantinople
Diplomacy: No Effect
     More and more colonists set sail for the New World. Prince Stephanos colonized Chechete and built the sunny port city of Ithaca off the Bahia Blanca. At home Stavros took a wife who bore him two sons. To the north, Donets was cultivated and the royal road to Levedia was built, bridging the Lower Dnepr.
      Crimea and Psidia took advantage of the Empire's recent expansions as an excuse to show more independence. Isauria nearly revolted.

THE YEZIDI CALIPHATE
Hassan Pasha, Emir of Baghdad, Amiiru l-mu'miniin
Diplomacy: Damascus(nt) Karbala(f) Siffia(ea) Mardin(t)
     Hassan spent some time in Damascus, gaining their trust. He rode home to Baghdad to proclaim that his nation should be forever known as the Yezidi Caliphate, taking the name from his ancestor's clan.
     Abdulla ibn Sailam took fifteen hundred infantry and a few heavy guns stationed in Palestine and marched north into Lebanon were he commenced to lay siege upon the walls of Acre. He broke off after losing nearly half of his men. This was not surprising because Acre's walls are renowned for their deadliness.
     Meanwhile general Julaybib was called up from Hawalli in Kuwait to take up more than six thousand men from Baghdad. He crossed the Euphrates in late in 1541 to crush the Dulaym. Nizami took command of the four thousand cavalry garrison and his new fief.
     Julaybib continued on to Lebanon to assault the walls that Abdulla broke his army on. The walls of Acre withstood his attempts, dishing out death and pain. Julaybib joined Abdulla to lick their wounds in Palestine.
     The grain shipment from as Shirki al Bahri al Basra didn't arrive, so the effects of the famine set in. Jordan, Hahmar, Pontus, Kuwait, and Palmyra revolted. Trade was initiated with Iesti and Aethiopia. Influential mystics in Lebanon began teaching the Epistles of Mahmar and the entire region fell under their sway...

LAHILLA PRIMACY OF ISLAM
Lahilla ibn Rumi abd Allah, Caliph al Islam
Consecration: Iraq(ab) Africa(ab) Tunis(ch) Algeria(ch) Egypt(ab) Faiyum(ab)
     The Caliph increased his influence over the Iest. Abraham was unsuccessful in his missions to exact even the smallest of tithes over the Yezidi Caliphate and the Secret Empire.

THE SECRET EMPIRE OF THE BURNING SWORD
Hammad Abu-Hassan, Keeper of Secrets, Master of Lies
Diplomacy: Aleppo(t)
     Hammad expanded his postal roads into full royal roads stretching from Homs in Khuzestan north into Arbiliq. He began a bridge across the Tigris in Jazirah and made improvements to Mari and the beautiful city of Samarra. The Keeper of Secrets then turned over the bulk of the army to the city garrison and retired to his harem. He was rewarded with twin girls in 1541 and a son in 1543.
     Aziz took forty bayonet adding to his fifteen thousand man army and rode west to pacify Antioch. Not a particularly stellar general, Aziz utilized the shear mass of his army to smash all resistance. He was able to regroup his army and take the city by the end of 1541.
     The merchants received Abu-Hassan's two remaining monopolies in Falcons and Camels.

AS SHIRKI AL BAHRI AL BASRA (SBB)
Abdulla Noir, Kalifat Rasul Allah, Captain General of the Basra Overseas Trade Company
Capitalization: Mardin(mf) Lebanon(ma) Hahmar(F) Duba(ci) East African Mercs(brokered)
     Abdulla spent more money reorganizing the East African Mercenary pool, giving them much more capabilities. Traders were sent in a pair to Duba and to negotiate a deal with the East African Condotierri.

THE BOGAZGOL KHANATE
Zargan I, Khan of Tabaristan
Diplomacy: None
     Zargan sent some trade goods to the east and was surprised to see some return.

THE BASSO SULTANATE OF KUMIS
Jango Basso, Sultan of Kumis
Diplomacy: El Burz(nt)
     Jango converted to Shi'ite Islam, making Kumis his homeland and then braced for an attack which never came.

THE GHORID SULTANATE OF AFGHANISTAN
Abdel bin Kinobi, Sultan of Afghans
Diplomacy: Turan(nt) Afghanistan(t)
     Abdel sent half of his diplomats south and half east, in order to link his nation to his trade ports. His nephew Omar IV came of age in 1541.

THE HARAYUK RAJPUT EMPIRE
Rupika Chandravara, Khan of Khans, Master of Kaunaj, Destroyer of Hordes
Diplomacy: Jhelum(c)
     Rupika saw the Great Wall in Kamarupa completed. Thirty feet thick and nearly that tall in places with heavy guardworks across the Brahmaputra from Gauhati. Among the great improvements made to several cities in the realm, the people of Dehli were very glad to receive the Emperor's attentions. In Kamarupa, protected by The Wall and now boasting fields heavy with grain, Rupika expanded the public works. Most cities in the empire were expanded and had new walls built up while a couple regions had more field fortifications bestowed upon them.
     Apurva ruled the empire while Rupika was busy upgrading more cavalry to elite. Nearly ten thousand men made the cut. Merchants were sent south to the Aketta.

THE CHALUKYA EMPIRE OF BANAVASI
Ekoram-varman, Maharaja in Banavasi, Yogi of the Maldives
Diplomacy: None
     Ekoram improved the quality of his guns, sneaky assassins, and the road from Madras to Andhrabad.

THE VIET VICEROYALTY OF MAKASSAR
Zhen Ya, Viceroy of Makassar
Diplomacy: North Port(nt) Aden(nt)
     The Viceroy sent Atur Angka to deliver the final resources to complete the cultivation of Timor. He then went on to personally verify the taxes. Tomani, the Slick, died on the way to Srivijaya at 66 years old. Finally, Admiral Surivajaran explored the winds to Kwajalwein.

IL SINDACATO GRANDE ORIENTALE COMMÉRCIO (Republic of Portale D'Oro)
Don Sebastian Carpachi, Il Doge della Portale D'Oro
Diplomacy: None
Capitalization: None
     Training facilities in Golden Portals improved siege techniques as well as range and destruction capabilities of their guns. And they haven't lost any ground with respects to God. Interestingly enough, Santino's bookkeepers presented the Don with old values. He wasn't too pleased with the results in most cases. His clients were none too happy when they didn't receive their allotments.
     In 1542 Santino was found slumped dead on the veranda.

THE GATOTKACA OF ANGORA
Arghun, Sengkuni Khan
Diplomacy: Arakan(F)
     Arghun worked on feeding his large armies.

THE CROUCHING TIGER IMPERIUM
Phe Tien, Wang Tong King, Emperor of Tonkin
Diplomacy: Korat(yfc) Champa(yfc) Vijaya(yfc) Salween(yfc) Kayah(yfc) Surin(a)
     Phe Tien improved naval techniques and completed the agricultural projects in Annam and Kayah. He commissioned the construction of Gui Xi in Guizhou and Pakxe in Hmong. The Emperor was asleep before his head touched his concubines stomach.
     Without fear, he stood naked in a strange forest - the Red Tiger approaching the Emperor was the Buddha; he did not know how he knew this, it simply was. Buddha spoke not to his ears, but he understood. Never once did the green eyes ever leave his - not even to blink. He had a new task; to care for the diverse peoples. It was time for the Empire to look inwards and like the Tiger, protect it's cubs and territory.
     Upon waking, the first thing he did was to issue the decree to change the name of the Empire to that inspired by the Buddha. From then on he was driven to recover his newly unified Empire from the terrible war that had wracked it for so many years.
     Bin Ak delivered a note from the Emperor Should the large and professional army currently en-route should find that the city of Monphu recognizes the rule of the Tien House then no harm shall come to any citizen of the empire. Bin Ak was taken captive to act as a hostage against the coming army. Phe Tien was prepared for such an eventuality and as they led Ak away to the prison, a commotion occurred in the market which allowed the diplomat to flee to the outlying lands.
     It was true, Bin Hait and Tho Guay were on the way with more than twelve thousand men and horse. They arrived to learn that the attempt was made on Bin Ak and so they rode through the streets sacking and looting.
     Several cowed regions received diplomatic missions. The Imperial throne is driving back the jungle and providing support and economic benefits. As the Empire has entered a new phase, so the people should understand that the Crouching Tiger will protect their cubs with tooth and claw. Warimchampa was granted pacified tributary status when Bei Quan of Chantabun dropped in to pick up the four hundred elite guards.

China

THE HIDDEN DRAGON OF CHEKIANG
Quan Yida, Celestial Emperor of Chekiang
Diplomacy: None
     Quan would have spent huge sums of gold on investments if it weren't for the fact that several chests of gold did not get delivered from the il Sindacato. Regardless, siegecraft and Naval capacity was improved. The Empress unwisely chose to take consorts to her bed, in a maternal desire to expand her own royal line. In 1541 she had twins and immediately set forth to bear more children. But complications set in and by the summer of 1542 she was dead.
     Commander Go transferred the main army to Yiguang and then sailed down the river to Pendash where he met up with some representatives of the Krakas Empire.
     Suma Ch'ien with The Chekiangnese Treasure Fleet waited in Omarra for Bai Hu to show up with colonists. While he waited, he reduced the status of the city to tributary, in anticipation of the Aethiopians landing.
     Bai Hu took some ships, colonists, and gold from the capital out to Omarra in the Maldives. Here Suma Ch'ien took some of the colonists and started to force the native population out of their homes when he heard the news.
     Admiral Li Gong attempted to locate the passage to Guam. He felt he made some progress, but didn't actually find the island before having to return to Koror to rendezvous with captain Xiao Wang. Captain Wang had made the trip back to the capital for sixty more elite warships. They set sail for the Truk and Ponape. Here they learned the death of the Empress.
     Meanwhile Yiguang and Yida marched six thousand men from Linan across the mountain passes into Kachin at the end of 1541. They joined commander Hei Go and more than ten thousand more Hidden Dragon warriors to march on Manipur. The region was taken easily and the walls of Elephant Flats were assaulted and overcame just as quickly. They crossed the bridge into Sagaing to give it similar treatment and then learned of his step-mother's death.
     Obviously the first to hear of the news was the immediate family, specifically Quan Yitsang, third in line for the throne behind his older brother Yida, if you don't count the bastard twins of his late step mother, Empress Yimei. Holding the largest army in the Empire, Yitsang declared that he would be Emperor, and not his older brother Yida. The twins were quietly disposed of.
     Out at sea, Li Gong with the exploring fleets in Ponape also sided with Yitsang, but was overwhelmed by Captain Wang. Closer to home, Yida turned his army around and rode with all speed toward the capital. By July of the following year, he was in Liangche. Arriving at the gates of the capital where Yitsang had more than a year to prepare for his brother's arrival, the stage was set. The two men parlayed for many days, but it surprised none when Yida became ill and died. Prince Yiguang declared his allegiance for the Emperor, turning the army over to Yitsang.

THE MAHIYANA BUDDHIST MISSION
Kong Asuang, 2nd Host of the Longevity Buddha
Consecration: None
     Kong contemplated his gold.

THE CIAO ZHONG CHINESE EMPIRE
Tien Pi Gou, The True, King of the Northern Prefectures
Diplomacy:
     The Emperor saw improvements in the infrastructure, coming at a time when it is sorely needed. Warship and siegecraft improved as well as naval technologies. He sent assassins into the north to kill the steppe lords of Chahar and Jurchen, only to raise their ire.
     General Lo Pan joined the Emperor as they rode north to confront the horde on their own turf. They crossed out of the mountains into Chahar in the summer of 1541. More than thirty thousand chinese attacked the loose bands of twenty two thousand Chahar, forcing their removal from the region.
     In the north, Li Wen-Yao rode to Parhae to meet up with Lo Pan Wanao, adding to his army of more than twenty two thousand men and horse. Along with Gavin and the Parhae ally, they marched north to Jurchen. The were forced to retreat against the superior Jurchen, with the Parhae withdrawing their alliance and Lo Pan Wanao suffering a grievance wound. Regrouping in Jilin, they attacked again at the end of 1542. At the end of the battle, Li Wen-Yao limped back to Mudan with half of the army he set out with.
     After his successes against the Chahar, Emperor Tien had some pesky rebels to deal with. He rode south with nearly thirty two thousand heavy and elite cavalry, crossing the bridge into Honan in the summer of 1542. They easily routed the field defenses and then took his cavalry and assaulted the walls of Kaifeng, forcing the city to surrender by force of will.
     Recent expansions have stretched the Empire to the point that regions started to loosen their ties. Shangtung dropped their alliance.

THE CHAHAR KHANATE
Chang of the Chahar
Diplomacy: None
     The Chahar were forced to flee their homeland.

THE JURCHEN KHANATE
Nokai of the Jurchen
Diplomacy: None
     The Jurchen kicked the Ciao Zhong back to their weakling kingdom.

THE NIHON EMPIRE
Showa II, 90th Emperor of Nihon, Descendent of Amaterasu
Diplomacy: No effect
     The Empress saw improvement in warship and artillery quality. All levels of government were upgraded as well. Nine cities were permitted to increase in size and improvements were built in Seoul.
     Prince Tiroha discovered that no amount of diplomacy would get the Asiatic Pagan denizens of Suifenhe to be anything more than economically allied. Lord Yamatoro found the same was true in Koguryo. Lord Hara learned this lesson as well.
     Lord Horii shuttled colonists to Pusan and Seoul; Lord Chenka delivered colonists to Ikenneku, while Admiral Nomura went on anti-piracy patrol in the Ise Wan. The Dowager Empress stepped down to make way for Showa II, the 90th Emperor of Nihon.

THE VAKAS IMPERIUM OF THE AKETTA
Vakas Chebu II, Sorcerer-King of the Aketta
Diplomacy: Erhos(F)
     Afangoo died early in 1541 leaving the Emporium to Chebu II. Chebu was deep in the wilds of Erhos at the time and merely sent messages to Sinshi in Pechua to continue with his mission. A city was built in Temora at a large cost.

THE EMPIRE OF THE STORM
Harahua, Manta, Emperor of the Mellow Kingdom
Diplomacy: Dark Skies(c) Moonbeam(a) Ho Tikika(t)
     Manta knew that if he spent enough money, his bureaucracy would grow. But spending money is not enough if you don't send the right people to do the job as he found when he sent an unknown lieutenant to conduct a census.

Pet the fuzzy kitties!

THE MANITOWISH EMPIRE
Yellowfeet, Master of the Manitowish Empire
Diplomacy: Nootka(t)
     Runningbear was told to administrate the empire, but he was woefully lacking in those skills; he preferred to fish and hunt. Yellowfeet's life-long friend Barkpieces died in 1543 after visiting the Nootka, soaking in their hot springs off the Hecate Strait, watching the sun set on the big water...

THE COLONY OF NYDANIA
Harold III, Konik von Nydanland, Emperor of Nydania
Diplomacy: None
     Styrbjorn died in 1543, otherwise, Harold just kept on keeping on.

THE POPOCELOTL EMPIRE
Huaptl, King of the Smoke Jaguars
Diplomacy: Yaqui(nt)
     Huaptl expanded his leader pool and cultivated Jornada.

Eastern North America

THE ILLINOIS CONFEDERATION
Anakin Skywalker, Great Liege of the Ancient People
Diplomacy: Rum(f)
     Anakin rebuilt Kaskaskia and then worked on relations with Rum.

THE ADENA EMPIRE
Pepin Lawenro II, Great Chief of Adena
Diplomacy: Forty Port(F) Chitimacha(a)
     Pepin let Atakapa go.

BONNY KINGDOM OF MERCAIN
Angus, Elder King of the Land, Sword of the Vanished Tribes
Diplomacy: None
     King Angus was stuck with seeing his army go without pay during the recent downturn the kingdom's economy. He ordered Lord Niarl, who proved incapable of administrating, to bring his army out of the wilderness back to Iroquois.

THE BLESSED COUNTRY OF KORNLAND
Hector Simonsen, Jarl of Kornland, Sachem of Chowan, Keeper of the Faith
Diplomacy: None
     Hector took an even longer break.

THE OAXACA EMPIRE
Coatlamoc, King of Oaxaca, Lord of the Maya, Master of the Otomi, Leader of the Quetzal World, Emperor of Mexico
Diplomacy: No effect
     Coatlamoc cultivated Popoluca while his son Nezahualcoyotl ruled the empire, and had three more children. Vonteatl liked the ladies more than his job administrating. Bandits in Totonac harassed passersby.

THE INKA KINGDOM
Flutie Flakes, Coca Mogul
Diplomacy: Moche(AW) Moquequa(a)
     The horses pranced a little prettier. Flutie marched fifteen hundred men to Chimu to see how Quinoa was faring. The Wairajakira assisted in the battle. Flutie rode on to Moche, where his flaky words incited the region to rebellion. He dealt with the menace handily.

THE WAJ MAPU CHE
Lord King Biedes, sovereign over the Four Parts of the Healing Earth
Diplomacy: Puelche(nt)
     Biedes started working on the Puelche connection, hoping to get in on the Roman Empire's action.

THE TUPINAMBA EMPIRE
Verbena, Top Tupi Tribesman
Diplomacy: Parana(fa)
     Verbena returned home to get raise a family.

THE EMIRAT OF ALAGOAS
Shi'Tebra ibn Rahgeesh, Emperor of the Paraiba, Emir of Alagoas
Diplomacy: None
     Khalid got tangled in a fishing net.

Average Horde Pop: 4.1           Decrease: 16.3%