Lords of the Earth
CAMPAIGN TWENTY-FOUR (OLD WORLD)
The
Age of the Crusades
Turn 38
1186
~ 1190 Anno Domini
547 ~ 551 in the year of the Hegira
Announcements and
items of note
General Stuff: Please use my Paypal
account (stephenbrunt@yahoo.co.uk)
for all Lords’ 24 payments. If you cannot use this facility then please let me
know and I will see what I can do about filtering US funds to my account. I may
also stop using the throneworld email address due to
the mass of spam I’m getting!
A note on Hordes and other NPNs: Hordes and normal Open Empire NPNs are
very reluctant to attack Player Nations or other NPNs
until such a time as their activation level (not known by Players) reaches a
certain value or there are no independent regions available. At this time they
will compare MSIs and determine if it’s worth
attacking. At the moment we’ve got two hordes that are very close to this (the Eflaks and the Wadai). They have
been spending the past few turns gathering strength and will soon be ready to
strike. I’m letting you know this as it’s different to usual Lord’s play. Also
when a horde or NPN attacks it will go for the richest nation first. In the
case of NPNs this usually means adjacent nations, for
hordes it’s the richest in its geographical area. For example, the Eflaks now stretch from Western Europe to Eastern
Europe. The Wadai from Africa to North Africa.
Version 6: Lords 24 uses version 6 of the
basic rules
The Map: The map now includes India as well as Europe, Central Asia and Africa. However, Indian nations are not yet available for
play.
Tithes and Tribute: I think these are automatically
updated by the stats program, so no need to declare them in your orders.
Control
of the Papacy and Religious Orders: In Lords 24 we will not always have a player Pope (or
Caliph etc for that matter) and the following rules are used to determine which
player faction controls the Pope’s actions, Papacy
Rules. I’ve also added some stuff about gaining support from their armies
How
to make your GM happy (PLEASE READ! REALLY!):
Please send any and all Lords24
correspondence to lords24gm@throneworld.com
or stephenbrunt@yahoo.co.uk .
LORDS 24 WEB RESOURCES
The Lords Twenty-Four homepage is
at:
http://lords.throneworld.com/lote24/index.html
All of the on-line resources, including
order forms, mailing lists and web-sites for Lords of the Earth are summarized
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http://lords.throneworld.com/?page_id=2
You can subscribe to the Lords 24 mailing
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…and following the instructions on that
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VARIOUS FEES AND LEVIES
At the moment the turns cost $5 – please pay
up of you owe
We are using the latest v6.3.5 of the
basic rule book that can be found here
http://lords.throneworld.com/players/loterule/rules.html
Turn 39 Orders due by: April XXnd
2008
Without further ado, the news for these
years in Lords 24 history...
EASTERN EUROPE
Mercenaries
|
Leaders:
|
Mustafa of Rum M996
|
Troops:
|
23c,2hec,10xc,14i,4xi, 1xei,3ct,5rw
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c6, s5, w3
|
The Rum Khanate of Turkiye
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Crisias, Khan of the Turkiye
Three more
elephant archer brigades were recruited from India along with eight hundred horse. The Turks gained increased expertise in
counter-assassination. All of Crisias’ effort went
into persuasion – the city of Chrysopolis in the newly conquered
Paphlagonia was subjected to his attentions and an
offer was made to marry the daughter of the local nobility. Chrysopolis
was a loyal Byzantine outpost and although their loyalty was weakened, they
still remained part of that beleaguered empire. Alp Arslan
continued with the siege of Paphlagonia’s fortress
and managed to quickly force surrender from the starving defenders. The rich
lands of Isauria were persuaded to rejoin the Khanate
after much effort from Rustum and Osmanli.
Bishop Asculias’s efforts in converting the few
Moslems in Lydia
met with no success.
The Western Roman
Empire
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Theodotus, Emperor of the West Romans
Four thousand cavalry were raised in Macedonia and
given to the Bulgarian general Peter. The Emperor then commanded Peter to take
the elite of the army of West Rome and banish the Uighurs from Thrace. Peter
was very nearly successful but the overwhelming Turkish numbers forced him back
from Thrace.
The Western Uighur Khanate
(Sunni Islam Civilised Open Empire)
Khagan Jirghiz
Jirghiz oversaw the building of a port fortress on the Mare Negri coast of Trace. The
conversion to Islam was completed in 1187 when the entire Khanate took up the
faith. Trade was started with the Eflak tribes
through their border at Dubruja. Jengez
had control of eight thousand men on the alert for any Byzantine or western
intervention when Peter the Bulgarian descended from Macedonia
in an attempt to force the Turks out of Thrace. Jengez
was no match for the Bulgarians and killed along with his entire army. The
Bulgarian force of twelve thousand cavalry suffered minimal losses. Heraclea fell easily to
the Khagan’s force of twenty three thousand and the
Byzantine general Stephanos captured. The population
of the city were spared the sword but forced to accept Turkish overlords to
govern their affairs. Jirghiz then turned to the
Bulgarian threat. The overwhelming numbers of the Uighurs took their toll and
despite Peter’s magnificent leadership, the Bulgarians were forced back to Macedonia. Their losses numbering eight thousand to the Uighur’s
one.
Elsewhere in Eastern
Europe
The Grand
Duchy of Moscovy comes into being, claiming the lands
left by the Rus if Kiev when they pulled back from their
far-flung borders. The Great Bolgar Khanate is formed
from the tribes left in the Uighurs wake, stretching down to the Caspian Sea. While not occupied with Uighur and Islamic
aggression, the Byzantine Emperor saw fit to expand his overseas territory into
Lybia. Slovakia, Torki, Khazar and Urkel all join the
Khan of the Eflaks. In Poland,
Pinsk, Prussia,
Lithuania,
Volhynia and Lausatia all rebel as Duke Ziemowit
tries to control his wayward subjects. Control over Lithuania is re-established and the
postal road out to Bialoweza is completed. A new road is started towards Danzig.
THE MIDDLE EAST
Mercenaries
|
Troops:
|
5c,5xc,9i,5ct,5rw
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c6, s5, w3
|
Heyrenik'un Armeniam
(Roman Catholic Barbarian Non-Player
Nation)
Hieriea Amirspala
A time
of contemplation and planning.
The Buwayid Sultanate
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Sufyan ibn Awud
Sufyan raised two thousand elite cavalry in Mesopotamia
and a further two thousand light supporting cavalry. Ten light warships were commissioned
in Antioch.
Gains were made in the quality of the Buwayid infrastructure. A postal road was
completed between Raqqa and Ahvaz.
The Sultan oversaw the affairs of his lands and was blessed with a daughter in
1188. Omar moved to Fars and gained some
support from these lands before his death in 1187. Abdul-Nur
was unsuccessful in persuading the Cilicians to join
the Sultanate due to his early death in 1187. Abd-al-Raziq
also died this cycle but saw some gains in Shiraz after the city pledged minimal tribute
to the Sultanate.
Ar Rassid Imamat as Sa'Na
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Sheik Ibraham
Gains were
made in the Imamat’s infrastructure. The Sheik’s
proposed expedition into Kilwa was cancelled due to
lack of rutters to the Cape
of Delgado. Eight new
warships were built in Jakhaila and eight hundred
foot raised in Aden.
Al-Khulafa'ur Rashidun
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Mustafa, the Righteous Caliph
The Caliph was
prepared to lend his considerable aid to increasing the size of Al’Qadi, Madiera and Mahidia. Worried about the defence of these cities and the
loss of their walls, the Akramids and the Ummayads declined his offer and only Al’Qadi
under Ayyubid rule was increased. One hundred new
light warships were built in the dockyards of Antioch and crews found for the captured
Byzantine triremes. Grain was sent to the Akramids
and gold to the Buwayids and the Cypriot Order. Missionaries
were active in Thrace,
Isauria and Dobruja and the
Caliphate managed to convert the Uighurs fully to Islam. Mosques were built
throughout the Iberian Peninsula and out into southern Arabia.
NORTH AFRICA
Mercenaries
|
Troops:
|
4c,10xc,10i,5ct,5rw
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c6, s5, w3
|
The Ayyubid
Sultanate
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Haqikah, Widow of Badr III, Regent to
Prince Jel-laddin
Old Prince Zahid died in 1186, leaving his troops in the Palermo garrison. The infrastructure
of Mansura was greatly improved as was that of the Levant.
A port fortress built in Sicily, on the Ionian Sea, and further fortifications were dotted along
the Sicilian coast as a deterrent to Christian invaders. Badr also raised four
thousand light infantry and commissioned thirty triremes in Alexandria. The clergy of the Sultanate was
increased and some converts made in Sicily
and Adulis. Badr himself died in 1188 and control of
the Sultanate passed to his wife, Haqikah, while his
eldest son Jel-laddin was still in his minority. The
old Sultan still managed to sire two sons before his death. The lands of Syria and Lebanon,
along with the cities of Tyria and Damascus were reduced to allies. The royal
road down from Al’Qairah to Mount
Sinai was completed. Mankides al Greki gained further support from Mount
Sinai as the city pledged military support. Faruq
Dharr sailed to Sicily to deliver reinforcements to Prince Zahid. He returns to Alexandria
to protect trade routes. Mashara has no success in persuading
Kurman to join the Sultante.
The Cypriot Pirates
(Sunni Islam Seafaring Religious Order)
Ladrow, Grand
Commander
Over three thousand light infantry were
raised in Alexandria
and twenty ships commissioned there for Ali. Prince Abd
Al-Aziz remained in Egypt to oversee the affairs of the
Order. He married Najli, the daughter of Ali, and managed
to sire a son. Prince Hassan ordered the construction of a new Preceptory in Alexandria
Ali look towards defence of the Order by patrolling the Gulf
of Cyprus out of Alexandria. The Imam, Abduhl,
oversaw another Preceptory build in Egypt. A
Order House was build in the city of El’Gitar.
WESTERN EUROPE
Mercenaries
|
Troops:
|
35c,5hec,12hei,28i,4s,4ct,14rw
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c5, s4, w4
|
Heiliges Romisches Reich
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Frederick Barborossa, Holy Roman Emperor
Barbarossa
continued to oversee his growing empire, siring two sons with his wife Sventa. Brankoening’s efforts to gain closer ties with the Duchy of
Burgundy met with no success but the efforts of Bruno in Bavaria,
Muttaer Kramer in Bremen and Marwin
in Lausatia were successful and those lands gained closer ties with the empire.
A postal road was built from Thuringia down to Franconia whilst Franconia saw a great influx of German settlers.
Jarldom of Orkeneyjar
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Wulgar Bjornson, Jarl of Orkney
Old Bjorn
finally passed away at the age of ninety-two; some say he was waiting for his
wife, the formidable Mathilde, to go first so he
could relive the excess of his youth! The desolate region of Poitou was given
to the Normans
confirming the Orkneys desire to avoid continental entanglements. On Bjorn’s
death, his son Wulfgar becomes Jarl and names his
brother Sven Bjornson as his heir. Hildegard Domnalldatter
is persuaded to assist in the affairs of court. The old Jarl of Iceland, Sven Olafson, also dies during this cycle. The Faeroes were
fortified and Wulgar, along with his wife Bjork, saw to the garrisoning of the island and the city of
Thorhavn.
Wulfgar then travelled to Iceland to collect the Icelandic
fleet of over eighty light warships and a small marine force. The garrisons of Iceland and Thingvellir were rationalised and Wulfgar
returned home to Kirkval to oversee the defence of the Jarldom and the increase
of his family. Sven, aided by Harald, persuade the
lord of Armagh to ally with the Orkneys. Meanwhile,
Feric and Strom attempt to persuade the inhabitants of
Clonfert to move north, out of the reach of the
Saxons in Munster.
The gentle persuasion had little effect so the city was sacked by the Vikings
and left in ruins for the English.
Kingdom
of Svear
(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Erik Gustafson, King of the Svear
A time of reflection in
the northern lands.
Norman Kingdom
of France
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Fulbert, Regent to the young Louis VII, King of
France
A new city
was built in Limousin
called Limoges.
Nearly eight hundred foot were raised and assigned to Bishop Abelard as he
moved to take possession of desolate Poitou
from the Orkney Vikings. Two sons were born to Fulques
as he oversaw the Kingdom. Gains were
made in the quality of the French intelligence services. Fulques
dispatched the eloquent Alain down to Languedoc
to persuade the impoverished Burgundians to form
closer ties with their northern neighbours. The marriage offer to Princess
Marie came to nothing as she died of the flux before Alain set off south.
Despite this setback, the Burgundians were only too
pleased to pledge a full alliance with the French.
Principality of Salerno
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Amadora Castillo, Princess of Salerno
Ricardo Castillo dies in 1190 and his
wife Amadora takes over until Ricardo’s son comes of
age. Missionaries were active in Sicily and Palermo and met with some
success in the city. Castillo himself had manged to
complete the census of Salernese lands before his death. Migual Urbano, Antonio Soliesti and the Bishop Benigni were active in Verona. After much
negotiations, the city-state promised to provide Naples with a yearly tribute. Urbano died in 1188 after slipping from a carelessly parked
gondola.
Saxon Kingdom
of England
(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
John, King of England
Gains were
made in the quality of Saxon cavalry, intelligence and clergy. The cities of York, Land’s End and Portchester
grew in size while many Cogs were put to use on trading between England’s many
ports. English missionaries were active in the far north, bringing the Shetland
islanders closer to god. Edward spent his last years ruling his kingdom from
the Tower of London before dying peacefully and
handing over to his son John. Cornwall was
brought fully into the Kingdom through the efforts of Prince George. The Duke of Mercia died
supervising the defence of Munster.
The Akramid
Caliphate
(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Mohamed, Caliph of the Akramids
Fortresses were
raised in Salamanca and Talavera and a new city built in Salamanca
called Lyssa. The garrison of Seville was increased by eight hundred men. Mohamed
becomes Caliph and takes over from his uncle in defending the Caliphate. His
brother Price Mohaman followed him to the Akramid court. Tavar’s efforts in
Sardinia came to nothing when the Spanish
invaded and converted the island to Christianity. Rithman
continued the diplomatic push in Salamance. Imam Suliman and Akbar gathered a large part of the Caliphate’s
army from Mohmed and with this force of over six
thousand gathered up the garrisons of Andalusia, Granada
and Estremadura before moving into Leon. The Count
of Leon was mercilessly butchered and his forces destroyed before his subjects
were made to convert to Islam or die. Next the city of Leon
was easily overrun and sacked before the Imam moved back to Andalusia.
Elsewhere in Western
Europe
The religious order Le Milice du Anacletus moved out into France
with houses being built in Nivernais, Nerdone, Orleans and Limousin.
Sardinia was annexed by Spanish forces and then forcibly
converted to Catholicism. The same
was done in Gefara. The city of Olbia was
constructed from loyal Spaniards of Norse extraction. Postal roads were built
out into Aragon and Old Castile in an attempt to better govern the Kingdom. Pope Urban oversaw the construction of
churches in Spoleto, Apulia, Liguria
and Genoa
AFRICA
Mercenaries
|
Troops:
|
20i, 13c, 5s, 5w, 5t
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c4, s3, w1
|
Usama-Yoruba Onium
of Ibo
(African Pagan Civilised Open Empire)
M'Bwanza, The
Curious, King of the Ibo
Gains were
made in the quality of the Iboan assassins. Large
works were constructed in Niete to further increase
the prosperity of those lands. M’Bwanza raised a
great army of twenty thousand spearmen and assigned them to his son, A’Damana. A’Damana already had a
considerable army of ten thousand spearmen and together with the new recruits
set off to conquer Songhai. They were met
after crossing the border into the Songhai lands at Goroul
by the Songhai army of five thousand cavalry
and four thousand spearmen. The Songhai
leadership was poor and their troops outnumbered but they managed to fall back
in good order from the Iboan onslaught. They were pursued
into Goroul
City and finally eliminated.
It was just a matter of time before the
rest of the Songhai lands fell to the
invaders. Sudan, Segu and Ghana
as well as the cities therein fell to A’Damana Only
Songhai itself held out and their besieged king offered surrender terms.
Elsewhere in Africa
The Adjou Aba convince the Alwil Bedouin to join them as they take control of the
lesser tribes of the Adwaghost and the soft farmers
of Senegal.
The Coptic Emirate of Air push into the desert sea by claiming dominion over Tahoua. The Ayyubid Bedouin,
pushed to breaking by Spanish and Byzantine greed burst out of the deserts of Lybia only to be subjugated by the mighty Wadai. The Wadai themselves move
further into the desert by claiming Agades and Ghat-al-Barket. Sennar is
enslaved and settled by loyal Bedouin.
Central Asia
Mercenaries
|
Troops:
|
10i, 5c, 5s, 5w, 5t
|
AQRs:
|
i5, c4, s3, w1
|
Elsewhere in Asia
The mighty empire of the
Phoenix Sung expands outwards into Ganzhou, Nanling and Lingtung. Communications
to these remote areas is provided by newly built roads and the clearing of land
for rice paddies. Goryeo is forced northwards in the
desolate regions of Ch’in, Chi-jing and Sikhote. Some gains are made in the island of Hokkaido.
Samatata and Kalinga are
taken and brutally converted to enlightenment by the Thatonese.
The Shogunate of Minamoto
claims the islands of the Kazan Retto. Iwo Jima is built on the greatest of these volcanic
rocks.