THE AKA'MURRID EMIRATE OF FULANI
Mohammad II, Emir of the Fulani, The Philosopher-King of the Sahel
Diplomacy: None
     Mohammed contemplated the next phase of his life with the expansion his covert corps.

THE MARWAN EMIRATE OF BENITOGO
Oduduwa, Emir of the Bight
Diplomacy: Ife(ea)
     Marwan enhanced Benin with some irrigation and in the capital a small statue of himself in the park. Trade was established with Thaery and Saxonia.
     In 1545 Marwan felt the hand of death on his shoulder. Chief Oduduwa took the title of Emir of the Bight.

South Africa

THE BANTU KINGS OF OKOYO
Ekwune, Da King of Okoyo
Diplomacy: Douala(f) Teke(a)
     Workers were dispatched to Cuango to spruce up the place while trade was established with the Krakas.

THE KALID EMIRATE OF THE CAPE
Utumwa, Emir as Cape Town
Diplomacy: None
     Utumwa knew his days were numbered, but hoped that the Almoravids would forget about their old anchor on the south tip of Africa. He sent out the call for all able bodied, and even any not so able bodied men to help defend the small Emirate. Walls were thrown up around Cape Town and grain was stored up. Grain was the bulk of recent shipments from the Krakas in exchange for more Rutters of the Awlil to Cape Verdes passage. Messages were sent to allies, in hopes that relief would come soon. Then they hunkered down behind the walls and awaited the onslaught... [See Almoravid]

THE GREAT ZIMBABWE
Jol, Chief of Zimbabwe, Holder of the Five Twin Jackal Chair
Diplomacy: Kilwa(f)
     Jol once again improved the quality of his infrastructure and completed his cultivation project in Vaal. Great enhancements were made to Xia Xia and the capital city. Then he settled in to rule from the Twin Jackal Chair. Life is good for the Jewish negroes.

	East Africa

THE KRAKAS EMPIRE OF AETHIOPIA
Pelam I, Alem 'Elum, Emperor of Aethiopia
Diplomacy: Ain'Farah(c) Chad(f) Ngazargumu(ea)
     The Krakas paid dearly to upgrade their infrastructure, the largest in the world. Admiral Tilima improved the quality of his mighty fleet and the University grew beyond all natural bounds. Pelam commissioned the construction of several roads and two cities in the interior of Daza and Ikego, Mongonia and K'andeeto, respectively. He took a new wife and had a daughter in 1544.
     In exchange for a small crate of gold and sealed cartography, representatives from the Hidden Dragon of Chekiang headed home with all of the maps of the seas known to the Empire. Il Sindacato took over more routes, relocating the shipping to their branch office in Aseb. The Krakas also granted their prized spiced lunch meats monopoly.

North Africa

THE SULTANATE of IEST
Imad ibn Khalid, Sultan of Mahidia
Diplomacy: Caquetio(ea) Oujda(nt) Madina(ea)
     Imad would not abide with pieces of the empire slipping away and so pumped huge amounts of revenues back into the government. Ad'Diffah was cultivated and several new projects were initiated. Defenses were built in Ghebel Gharib in anticipation of the completion of Necho's Canal.
     Missionaries where successful in the Caribbean.

THE ALMORAVID EMIRATE of ANDALUSIA
Hahziz, Emir as Sevilla
Diplomacy: Saragoza(ea) Talavera(fa) Sagunto(nt)
     Hahziz upgraded his general staff. Cost overruns hammered the Emirate's Naval Observatory as scientists now estimate that it will take twice as long as they thought it would be originally. But the benefits would be worth it. Timiris joined the Emirate.
     Several of the Emir's top advisors were witness to the signing of a fairly important document, the contents of which would lay the foundation for the future of the Emirate. Rumors ran rampant throughout the Iberian plain.
     General Fihr sailed more than five thousand men north into Portugal to lay in a siege of deprivation on Porto. Assassins identified and dispatched the head of the resistance, leading to the city's fall early in 1544.
     More than five thousand miles from the capital, Fayez and Nasani continued to act on their orders to crush the rebellious citizens of the so-called Emirate of the Cape. They had fewer ships than the Cape, so the blockade was broken early. Agents of the Cape were captured, having failed at causing a mutiny. Utumwa was captured as the city was pummeled. The defenders retreated behind the fortress walls which were quickly taken by Nasani's masterful tactics. It would be his last battle though; General Fayez mourned the loss to the Emirate.

CASABLANCA WESTERN HAWALA OVERSEAS MERCHANT PROTECTIVE COMPANY
Vic Torlazlo, Merchant of Casablanca
Diplomacy: None
Capitalization: Dogobu(BO) Bashir(ma) Sergipe(mf)
     The condotierri brokered to the merchant company didn't receive enough money to satisfy their contracts, so they withdrew themselves from the brokerage. The North European mercenaries under Balcred de Samanigo headed to Lelander to drink a lot of wine. The West African's went up to Timris to dig for gold. Adana in Cilicia became a full tributary of WHOMPCO.
     Vic upgraded the government so that the company could grow and sent out the sales reps to sign people up! The colony on Haiti was funded further, but Jamil el Habriz could see that he needed more people to guarantee a successful colony. The colonists were afraid of the native population, while Jamil sailed back to the port at Ras Salaam.
     With the branch office successfully set up in Dogobu, the merchants withdrew their control in Douala and Teke. The Andalusians sold a small fleet of galleys, of which more than half stayed loyal to Vic, who transferred all of their knowledge of the seas to the Ingiltarra.

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(f)
     Donald completed his work in Lothian, taking Erin of Lothian as his bride. The Orkneys dropped their status to feudal allied.

THE EMPIRE OF INGILTARRA
Dharr Ralif ibn Abdullah, Sword of Sayyidina Ali
Diplomacy: Connaught(ea) Galway(t) Lienster(nt)
     Prince Jaraah sailed to the land of the Celts with Abaas Nashat where he proffered the hand of the widowed Emperor for marriage. This met with some success. Mosque bells rang in Galway. Rutters covering most of the Atlantic Ocean were delivered to Ralif.
     Akil al Ferran marched on Anglia with about two thousand men including siege engines and heavy artillery in the form of Islamic cannon. The peasantry of Anglia was forced to worship the God of Abraham, but with a book other than what the Catholic overlords always called the Bible. And they were told that Jesus was just a prophet, and if they thought anything different, they should speak to the Sword of Sayyidina Ali. There was a small skirmish, but nothing that Akil couldn't deal with.

THE NORMAN EMPIRE OF SAXONIA
Phillip, King of the Saxons and of the Normans, Count of Blois
Diplomacy: Munster(c)
     Phillip bolstered the size of his courier corps, along with some offensive improvements. More would have been made, but payment was expected from the Medici which didn't show. This wasn't the worst news the Count of Blois would hear. Agents that had been sent into the field to spread lies about the Plague sprouting from Islamic ports had a negative effect on his own trade with land based routes, fearing the worst.
     The King of the Saxons continued his rampage in northern Italy. He marched out of Marseilles with more than twenty-five thousand man and their instruments of war. Henry and his wife were dragged along. Henry complained that he couldn't find time to properly bed down with his wife while on campaign. They joined Octavian later that year in Genoa to await the mercenaries.
     And they waited.
     And they waited. Henry spent the time well. His wife bore him a son in 1545. Liguria joined the Empire.
     With the Emperor on campaign in the south, several segments of the nation degraded. Saxonian Pirate fleets were operating in the Tyrrhenian Sea harassing Republican shipping.

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: None
     The Pope pondered his agricultural needs...

THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY
Filippo de Reggio, King of the Freestate
Diplomacy: Reggio(nt) Romagna(t)
     Filippo was prepared for the Normans to attack, but gratefully that they chose not to. Such was not his luck with the Grand Doge... [See Helvetica]

THE MEDICI SYNDICATE
Marco d'Medici, Guildmaster of Medici
Capitalization: None
     Curiously quiet... So quiet that several of the lower level offices chose to close or minimize their operations.

THE EMPIRE OF HELVETICA
Otto, Grand Doge of Helvetica
Diplomacy: Champagne(fa) Corsica(a)
     Phillip Rienhold took maps from the Roman Empire and sailed west, exploring the northern passage to the New World. He was amazed to see ice bergs and the port village of Odyssia near the lands of the Mercain.
     Sepp Von Einem had work to do in Swabia. His orders were clear - bring the allied state fully into the Empire. He was not pleased to learn that Hosendorf had taken the Swabian ally to Champagne for talks on the western reaches, destroying all hopes of success in the hinterland. The beer that he and his compatriots consumed was good though, there is that.
     Otto withdrew all forces from Verona, intending to catch the Italians unaware by marching west across the Apennines into Latium. In Romagna, his claimed status allowed him to at least march through undeterred. He crossed the mountains at the end of August at the head of five thousand men. Otto delegated most of the duties of strategy and tactics to his trusted general Klaus Fokkor.
     In Latium, word reached the army that Verona had revolted, throwing off all traces of occupation. Trouble began to brew in earnest when he learned that Romagna had declared their tributary status to Italy, cutting off the Helvetican supply lines. The army began to mutiny. General Fokkor attempted to quell the fears and fell victim to an assassin's knife. At this point, King Filippo's army attacked the invaders, who were obviously in a disarray.
     Otto's losses were staggering. Immediately calling for retreat, his guards were unable to stop the Italian pike from breaking through. Otto was dragged from his horse amid a flurry of swords and spears. Remainders of his knights galloped in to rescue him, spiriting his wounded body from the field. Filippo's cavalry pursued, harrying the retreating Helveticans in the mountain passes.

THE NORDIK EMPIRE OF THAERY
Kjel Goldnose, King of the Danes
Diplomacy: None
     Kjel expanded the cities of Hagen and Merseberg, while pumping massive amounts of money into his artillery training programs. Late in 1546, Lasse, Prince and Heir of the Nordik Empire of Thaery was plagued by demons and died soon thereafter. The priests say it appeared that his body was being eaten from the inside out.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF CRACOW
Jocko, Blackjack Duke of Cracow, the King of the Polka and Bochnia
Diplomacy: Kuyavia(f) Danzig(a)
     Jocko initiated trade with several of the Mediterranean powers while raising the Duchy's religious fervor to fanatical levels. The port cities of Lawes and Warsaw were increased in size, while fanatical colonists followed the armies of Marek in Ozu. In 1545 Jocko sired a third son.
     With close to seven thousand men, Marek made quick work pacifying Ozu. Then he worked on planting the colonists. The venture was a failure. His orders weren't clear what to do in that case, so he left the colonists in the conduit city of Krasnik, vowing to return. His timetable demanded that the army was needed on the shores of the Skagerrak.
     Arriving late in 1546, Marek pacified Obodria. A large fire broke out in Krasnik, destroying some of the new merchant shipping harboured there as well as killing off several hundred of the Ozu colonists.

THE EMPIRE OF BALTICA
Peter, King of Baltica, Prince of Novgorod
Diplomacy: None
     The Baltican's drank their vodka.

THE DIHAJ KHANAT
Ziyad, Mighty Servant of Allah
Diplomacy: Tagaktu(f) Togortak(t) Shirvan(fa)
     Ziyad increased the port space in Tagaktu.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Phormion Dynasty
Stavros Phormio, Imperator Romanus, Basileus of Constantinople
Diplomacy: Crimea(a)
     Sebastos set sail from Constantinople early in 1544 to fly the Empire's flag halfway around the world. He unloaded men and supplies in Chechete, Querrandi, and Minuane before making his way up the Parana river. He set up a colony in Huarpe around the settlement of Orion there on the river. Rock was quarried for the permanent placement of heavy guns.
     The Empire increased the number of leaders in the field as well as the quality of its naval war tactics.

THE YEZIDI CALIPHATE
Hassan Pasha, Emir of Baghdad, Amiiru l-mu'miniin
Diplomacy: Najaf(fa) Kuwait(c) Siffia(a) Mardin(nt)
     With the large payoff in hand, Hassan could now care less about Pontus and the city of Niksar therein. What he did care about was the size of Baghdad. He built his own private zoo, as if that's a bad thing. The Emir then took a wife in Najaf, promising them that the troubles are over. Speaking of troubles being over...
     General Abdulla ibn Sailam with more than a thousand heavy infantry and assorted light artillery pieces marched on Jordan. The thirteen hundred defenders, including light forces and quick moving cavalry forced Abdulla to retreat, pursuing his forces back to Palestine.
     Another lieutenant took three thousand light cavalry north into Palmyra to force it back into the fold. He was also forced to retreat and regroup. This he managed to do with some difficulty, and then continued into the fray. Once again he was rebuffed. He fell back to Dulaym to lick his wounds.
     General Julaybib took more than two thousand men and siege engines north from his base in Jerusalem into Lebanon. Here his tactical brilliance shined as the Lebanese fled in all directions.

LAHILLA PRIMACY OF ISLAM
Lahilla ibn Rumi abd Allah, Caliph al Islam
Consecration: Hahmar(ch) Misr(ab) Suez(ch) Barqa(ch) Ar Rokki(ch)
     Imam Abdulla travelled north into the mosque of Baghdad to discuss the blessing of another mosque. He was unsuccessful in his endeavors, to the point of falling ill, canceling the remainder of his travels. The mosque in Baghdad was closed. Lahilla sent many 'ulema ud-din to the Yezidi and increased the zakat on Iesti to 3%.

THE SECRET EMPIRE OF THE BURNING SWORD
Hammad Abu-Hassan, Keeper of Secrets, Master of Lies
Diplomacy: Hasakah(fa) Niksar(H) Arran(H)
     Hammad concentrated some energy on building new trade links with his neighbors. It is expected that he will begin to build out his conduit cities soon. The Tigris was bridged between Arbiliq and Jazirah. The courier paths were graded by the Master's men.
     Ambassador al Jlyal trekked to the wilds of Arran on the Caspian Sea. Teachers sent here to discuss the faulty interpretation of the Qu'ran met with little success. al Jlyal fared far worse, as he was chased from the settlements and set upon by dogs. A scout reported his death in 1546.

AS SHIRKI AL BAHRI AL BASRA (SBB)
Abdulla Noir, Kalifat Rasul Allah, Captain General of the Basra Overseas Trade Company
Capitalization: Omarra(bo) Denjuba(ma) Zapatees(ma) Hasakah(ma) Sarid(ma) Irbil(ma) Turbah(ma) Djibouti(mf) Bargal(ma) Hafun(ma) Maureg(ma)
     Abdulla found it easy to persuade colonists into Hahmar to take advantage of the lush agriculture there. There were some minor losses within the Kalifat's intel sector that he heretofore had not realized...
     Italian agents arrived in Basra to discuss several proposals. The Captain General was receptive. In the end, a grand transfer and cooperation with the Il Sindacato merchant house in the East was delayed by discrepancies in the paperwork.
     The mercenaries were paid very well, securing their loyalty the only way they know. The East African mercenaries followed their orders to the letter, waiting in Duba, reacting to any threat to the As Shirki al Bahri al Basra. Some Italians showed up demanding that they join in the patrols of the Bab-al-Mandab, and Joseph agreed.

THE BOGAZGOL KHANATE
Zargan I, Khan of Tabaristan
Diplomacy: None
     Zargan moved closer to the civilized ways. He found that if he delegated his responsibilities to close friends, allowing them to rule their own farms that it would free up resources to govern better. Similar to the ways he remembered as a child on the steppe, but with fields of grain instead of plains of foul and fawn.

THE BASSO SULTANATE OF KUMIS
Jango Basso, Sultan of Kumis
Diplomacy: El Burz(ea)
     Jango took another wife into his harem in El Burz.

THE GHORID SULTANATE OF AFGHANISTAN
Abdel bin Kinobi, Sultan of Afghans
Diplomacy: Pathan(f) Mizani(fa) Kabul(t)
     The Sultan of all Afghans could not believe the reports from his agents that would only bow in retreat after delivering the news that the Sultanate had been infiltrated by his trusted allies to the east. It was confirmed when assassins cut down young Prince Omar IV. His younger brother was protected and came of age in 1545. Trade was cut to at least stop intrusion from that sector.

THE HARAYUK RAJPUT EMPIRE
Rupika Chandravara, Khan of Khans, Master of Kaunaj, Destroyer of Hordes
Diplomacy: Multan(a)
     Rupika denied any involvement in any infiltration of his Ghorid ally. He invested heavily in the foundation of the empire while sending workers to complete the plowing of Sursuti. A decade of cities were expanded, complete with new fortifications and embellishments to facilities. Prince Mayandi joined his brother Apurva in the royal court. Irian joined the Empire.

THE CHALUKYA EMPIRE OF BANAVASI
Ekoram-varman, Maharaja in Banavasi, Yogi of Seylan
Diplomacy: None
     Kundara flowed with gold from the cartel offices therein.
     Open for a player

THE GATOTKACA OF ANGORA
Arghun, Sengkuni Khan
Diplomacy: Andaman Isles(f) Barat(f) Port Blair(f)
     Arghun sailed tribes to Barat in order to extend his trade to the Zhong. Other diplomats settled tribes on the Andaman Isles. Investments in counter assassins have paid off, especially considering the huge amount of work they have lately. Sycophants from the Hidden Dragon were found bumbling about the palace, exposed as spies.

THE VIET VICEROYALTY OF MAKASSAR
Zhen Ya, Viceroy of Makassar
Diplomacy: Srivijaya(c) North Port(t-Zhong interference)
     The Viceroy sent Surivajaran north into the big ocean. While navigating by gut feeling alone, the admiral was struck by a yard arm and fell into the sea. His men pulled him back to the boats, but the mission was a failure. Half of the ships returned to Chuuk where Surivajaran was laid to rest.
     Diplomats in North Port were hindered by Italians making similar offers. The Viceroyals won the day in the end.

IL SINDACATO GRANDE ORIENTALE COMMÉRCIO (Republic of Portale D'Oro)
Don Sebastian Carpachi, Il Doge della Portale D'Oro
Diplomacy: Sind(t)
Capitalization: Edo(ma) Malacca(ci) Singapore(bo) Kaifeng(bo) Shashi(mf)
     Gardens, libraries and aqueducts were expanded on the Socotra city of Portale Arabiata, recently renamed by Carpachi decree. The Don made good on all his debts to his clients, Krakas, Hidden Dragon, Nihon, Chalukya, Harayuk, Zhong and the Ghorid Sultanate. Of the Krakas, Il Doge acquired complete control of the spiced lunch meat monopoly as well as cartel trade of their routes with the Makassar, Tongking and the Yezidi Caliphate. Harboring the ships in the branch office of Aseb, he vowed that they will once again become profitable. Trade was opened to Zimbabwe on Nihon and Ciao Zhong Guo's behalf, as well as a personal route for Il Sindacato.
     With the loss of Antizani and contact with the Cartel city therein, the Ghorid Sultanate's client status was withdrawn, forcing ISGOC to shut down the trade route services.
     Foodstuffs were purchased from the Nihon Empire which were immediately used to expand the labor pool working on the College of Naval Studies. Hidden Dragon scholars and engineers continued to receive training, although the Don was displeased with the Celestial Emperor's lack of attention to the terms of the deal. Speaking of attention to detail, the Don had planned on transferring control of certain trade routes, a number of merchant shipping, the hiring of mercenaries, and money all around with the As Shirki al Bahri al Basra. The plans of mice and men...
     Francisco and Ricardo are promoted to Princes of the Carpachi family. The Don personally explored the eastern route from Cape Lopatka to the Beringa Isles. He returned safely to the port of Edo meeting up with his burgeoning business partners. Matthew marched his delegation, which included Achyuta the mercenary, to Antizani to profer the hand of the lovely Carmen Carpachi. The aged Master Kwan withdrew from the service of the Carpachi family in 1544 in the most suitable fashions - by dieing. A retirement party was held in his honor.
     Anthony patrolled the sea lanes. Piracy has not been a problem of late, but it is better safe than sorry. Lucius joined the less-charismatic Nicholas in all of his endeavors to found cartel cities and open branch offices. Josepe took Sang-Kyu Cho's company deep into the Hidden Dragon's territory, with the later keeping a wary eye on their single-source trade vendor.
     The ally from Mon was instructed to escort Master Kwan on his way to Vijaya. Both men died along the way, with the people of Mon withdrawing their alliance to merely a declaration of fealty. The cartel in Miyazaki had to shut down part of its operations with continual slippages in their communications from the closest operation of its size more than 1,340 nautical miles to the south west in Kwangchou. Similarly, the branch office in Chang'an was reduced.

THE CROUCHING TIGER IMPERIUM
Cao Tien, Wang Tong King, Emperor of Tonkin
Diplomacy: Not nearly enough...
     Phe Tien dictated that two new cities be built in Korat and Laos, but not on the ruins of the cities that existed before, for archaeological purposes. In Korat, that meant that the new city of San Xi would be limited to the hills above the only reasonable part of the Saween river, outside the ruins of old Monphu. Local farmers grumbled that they would be forced to transport their goods south to the ports of Salween in Kayah.
     The foundations were laid for a Winter Palace in Phi Tho. A grand palace where the Emperor could separate himself from the pressures of ruling the north during the cold months. All fields in Annam now produce at peak performance. The Emperor expected large sums of gold from the Hidden Dragon which never appeared. Many speculated that this was just the beginning of a more general break down in relations with the "menace to the north".
     Bin Ak traveled in the south hoping to inspire the people to join the empire. The Hmong especially disliked his ideas. Le Long Viet dismantled the field fortifications in Siam. Muy Tak of Surin married Phe Tien's sister, Phi Tien. He continued on to Dvaravati to preach to the head that humbled state. This may or may not be what lead to the accident which nearly took his life, since it's unclear why the masons wouldn't clearly mark the pit they were digging outside his hotel. Le Long spent the rest of the time with the garrison, recuperating.
     The Wang Tong King attended his son's coronation ceremony in 1546. Several noted that the Emperor looked ill. Indeed, within a couple months the nation would mourn his death.
     Disruptions in the capital forced PhoTien to assume the roll of inquisitor, finding that lieutenants Tho Guay and Xiao Chian were disloyal. Further trials showed that Tho Guay was in fact loyal, but Xiao Chian was not, since he was new, a replacement for the recently deceased Dang Nguyen. He was hung for treason. A citizens revolt took Annam out of the Imperium. The fallout in the rest of the empire was far more devastating. (Please see map)

China

THE HIDDEN DRAGON OF CHEKIANG
Quan Yitsang, Celestial Emperor of Chekiang
Diplomacy: None
     Emperor Yitsang made targeted investments, knowing that he would need some radical technological improvements to advance further in most areas. He improved the infrastructure so that he can now easily tax a nation twice the size of the Hidden Dragon and most intelligence operatives received cases of Maotai as a bonus. He passed twenty thousand warriors into the hands of his brother Quan Yiguang along with several thousand hearty colonists.
     Quan Yiguang marched the colonists through the passes of Om'chu and Tz'uk'an to Manipur in late September of 1545. By the end of 1546 he had completed the colonization of both Manipur and Elephant Flats.
     The great Chekiang Treasure Fleet was taking on supplies in Omarra on Maldives early in 1544 under the command of Suma Ch'ien. Bai Hu conferred with his superior on the deck of the captain's junk. He turned when he heard an odd sound, seeing his commander quite pale. Medics were called and Suma Ch'ien was taken into his cabin. The Admiral would never come out of his cabin alive. Word was sent to the Emperor of this sad omen.
     Captain Li Gong continued to explore the South Pacific from the Hidden Dragon base of Koror in Palau, discovering the route to Guam and returning with new maps.

THE MAHIYANA BUDDHIST MISSION
Hung Ch'eng-chou, 2nd Host of the Longevity Buddha
Consecration: None
     Kong died in 1545 at the age of 79. A great disturbance within the mission occurred at this time. Two bhikkhu were dispatched and soon the venerable Hung Ch'eng-chou arrived. Upon his appearance at the doors of the high temple in Chienkang, witnesses spoke of an unearthly light radiating from his body. Immediately he was proclaimed Bodhisattva. The council proclaimed that the current Panchen Lama had been born. More than half of the mission dissipated during the crisis.

THE CIAO ZHONG CHINESE EMPIRE
Tien Pi Gou, The True, King of the Northern Prefectures
Diplomacy: None
     The Emperor once again saw improvements in the infrastructure having paid more than 25% of the Empire's gold to do it. Another 20% went towards improving siege craft. Then he left to head to the capital leaving the Imperial army of more than thirty thousand horse in the hands of General Lo Pan. Lo Pan waited for General Chin Le to return from the east while Admiral Lao Che was outfitted and set sail for Sabah.
     At Sabah Dinh-Rin boarded and the fleet sailed west through the Riouw Sea to begin the conquest of the Nicobar Isles. The brilliance of Lao Che combined with the paltry defenses led to an easy victory. The attack on North Port was swift and direct, surprising the Makassar diplomats, conquering the city in the name of King Tien.
     In Kaifeng General Chin arrived in the summer of 1544 to conduct the colonization of the city, forcing the rebels from their homes, into the streets. No cohesive resistance hindered Chin's efforts.
     Dom Che worked along side the Emperor reviewing the tax rolls, figuring an exact census.
     General Li Wen-Yao in Mudan with more than ten thousand mixed forces tramped into Parhae to exact some pain. This allowed the Mudan to revolt, since Li left no garrison. By the middle of June Lo Pan arrived to take the army into Mudan where he would react to any invasion. He learned that the Chahar had invaded Yun and rode to its defense. He arrived in March of 1545 to see the burned ruins. The Chahar was nowhere to be found... (see Chahar Horde)

THE CHAHAR KHANATE
Chang of the Chahar
Diplomacy: None
     Chang was enraged by the low lander Zhong and vowed to make them pay. He struck south west back through his homeland directly south into the flat plains of Yun taking the undefended region swiftly. He rode on to the unwalled city of Ta'Tung to attack it as well. With no defenses to speak of, the horde rode through the streets sacking and looting, killing and rampaging. With nearly fifteen thousand blood thirsty warriors, the sack of Ta'Tung happened horribly fast, by August 1544, Ta'Tung was burning to the ground.
     Chang next commanded that his warriors loot the surrounding countryside during the fall harvest before returning to the steppe just as the frost started to show.

THE JURCHEN KHANATE
Tolun of the Jurchen
Horde Diplomacy: Tuchir(nt) Chitin(nt) Kajar(allied) Tamarin(nt) Karakorum(allied) Tanu(nt)
     The Jurchen rode the steppe. In 1546, Nokai died happy. His son Tolun took the reigns.

THE NIHON EMPIRE
Showa II, 90th Emperor of Nihon, Descendent of Amaterasu
Diplomacy: Mantap(A) Koguryo(A)
     Showa took a wife who bore him a daughter in 1544. Lieutenant Hara worked hard in Koguryo, but died without seeing any fruits to his labors. Mikawa was on hand to finish the job. Missionaries converted the region finally in 1546. Large fleets patrolled the seas around the land of the rising sun, protecting Il Sindacato shipping.

THE VAKAS IMPERIUM OF THE AKETTA
Vakas Chebu II, Sorcerer-King of the Aketta
Diplomacy: No effect
     Chebu was able to increase the backbone of the nation slightly, but found that he needed to assign men to administrate. It was discovered that Minase wasn't a very good administrator, while Kemuri died after a year on the job at the age of 78. Pechua withdrew their alliance until Chebu could show he's able to rule the nation effectively. The outback city of Wangaratta was dedicated in 1544 and Iriadh was finally cultivated.

THE EMPIRE OF THE STORM
Harahua, Manta, Emperor of the Mellow Kingdom
Diplomacy: Dark Skies(A) Moonbeam(ea) Riddle(t)
     The Emperor stood in Te ika a maui, and proclaimed that a new day was upon the nation. He had seen the destruction that isolation causes and now with the improvements he's put in place, the Mellow Kingdom would now free itself of the subservient economy, allowing all people to work together under the several new guilds that have been established. It took more than a full generation to complete the transition. He spent the next few years in guild negotiations, setting the proper tax structures, attempting a proper census, etc.
     The harvest on the larger continent was less than expected. Damage from the recent heavier than normal monsoons meant that Manta would turn fleets from the shipping guild entirely over to the fishing guild. Then he sent all of his men, including his allies to focus on bringing the largest consumers of fish into the nation. He even spent resources giving peasants in Moonbeam jobs.

Pet the fuzzy kitties!

THE MANITOWISH EMPIRE
Yellowfeet, Master of the Manitowish Empire
Diplomacy: Nootka(A) Yakima(H)
     Wiseraven took a beautiful maiden to his bed. Later in the year she gave him a baby girl. In the winter of 1545 she died.

THE COLONY OF NYDANIA
Harold III, Konik von Nydanland, Emperor of Nydania
Diplomacy: None
     The Spirit Christians sang their songs and danced their dances, albeit in wooden shoes...

THE POPOCELOTL EMPIRE
Huaptl, King of the Smoke Jaguars
Diplomacy: None
     Huaptl awaited the new calendar.

Eastern North America

THE ILLINOIS CONFEDERATION
Anakin Skywalker, Great Liege of the Ancient People
Diplomacy: Sauk(t)
     Anakin took a wife in Sauk.

THE ADENA EMPIRE
Pepin Lawenro II, Great Chief of Adena
Diplomacy: Quapaw(F) Chitimacha(F)
     Pepin ruled the empire while his men were sent to shore up diplomatic ties.

BONNY KINGDOM OF MERCAIN
Angus, Elder King of the Land, Sword of the Vanished Tribes
Diplomacy: Montauk(AW)
     King Angus completed the cultivation of Wyandot and added several new facilities to Castropol. Lord Niarl marched rode into Montauk demanding that they join the Bonny Kingdom. To say that the barbarians took offense would be putting it mildly. Niarl was killed and even though their army outnumbered the Montauk by three to one, the savages seemed to fly from the trees, attacking from nowhere.

THE BLESSED COUNTRY OF KORNLAND
Hector Simonsen, Jarl of Kornland, Sachem of Chowan, Keeper of the Faith
Diplomacy: Catawba(t)
     Hector sent his men to retrieve the garrison from Monacan, allowing them a wee bit of freedom.

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(f)
     Coatlamoc cultivated Totonac while his son Nezahualcoyotl sired more children. Both Quetzal and Vonteatl liked the ladies more than their jobs administrating, although Vonteatl died at his post.

THE INKA KINGDOM
Flutie Flakes, Coca Mogul
Diplomacy: Little effect
     Flutie increase the ranks of fanatical diplomats while turning Uru into a paradise on earth. The old Wairajakira ally departed this one though, reducing the alliance some.

THE WAJ MAPU CHE
Lord King Biedes, sovereign over the Four Parts of the Healing Earth
Diplomacy: No Effect
     Biedes rebuilt the ruins of Buenos Aires and sent some trade goods to the white men in Chechete.

THE TUPINAMBA EMPIRE
Verbena, Top Tupi Tribesman
Diplomacy: Parana(a)
     Verbena continued to raise his family and rule his empire.

THE EMIRAT OF ALAGOAS
Shi'Tebra ibn Rahgeesh, Emperor of the Paraiba, Emir of Alagoas
Diplomacy: No Effect
     The Emperor completed the largest construction ever attempted by the Emirat - a royal road through the mountains to the trade center of Arana. Crown Prince Akif took the hand of one of the new converts, kneeling to pray the Sunni way. Colonists took the road to Camacan and started to work on the jungles to the north in Potguara.

Average Horde Pop: 4.2           Increase: 0.6%