Lords of the Earth 

CAMPAIGN TWENTY-FOUR – THE WEST

Turn 81

1394 ~ 1397 Anno Domini

797 ~ 800 in the year of the Hegira

4031 (Metal Horse) - 4034 (Water Rooster)

                                                                

New for T73

Noble House rules have been added – please take a look at these here.

 

New Spreadsheet for the Renaissance has been created – this can be found here and must be used from now on.

 

Some tinkering with the Religious Order rules.

 

I’m going back to standard movement rules – sigh – as it is just taking too much time to rewrite these. Please continue to give your orders in year chunks though – The newly created spreadsheet should help with this

New for T59

Paths to victory: There are several options open to a player when an NPN has been defeated

 

  1. Take the victory conditions (see NPN rules) available for NPNs and allow the NPN to go its own way. This is a useful option if you do not want to increase your imperial size or bother with the NPNs internal affairs.
  2. Keep it as either Pacified or Pacified Tributary. You will not get victory conditions but will get income from the NPNs Homeland/Friendly regions and cities. Also, as the years from conquest marker goes up it may turn Friendly or Tributary. Using this option treats the NPN as a super-region.
  3. Old school, you will have to take the regions you want and conquer each in turn. If the capital is taken then some of the NPNs ratings will be added to yours if higher. The NPN will cease to exist.

 

Dealing with hordes: Hordes can be dealt with a number of ways rather than just an outright battle. These are

 

  1. Threaten them. Hordes respond to a show of strength and may leave you alone if confronted with enough force.
  2. Bribe them. They are looking for gold and lands to settle or pillage so if you offer them it on a plate they may well go away. They may also just take it and attack anyway.
  3. Use diplomacy. It does work and I suggest chucking in a royal princess or two.

 

You can also use a combination of the above. If the horde becomes a FA or A, you can direct its attacks or its path of migration.

New for T57

Non-player rules update: I’ve updated the NPN rules to fit better with the Lord’s system. Please check them out.

New for T53

Restrictions on Royal Marriages: Due to the complications arising from these rules only K, H or P leaders can benefit from a Royal Marriage. Members of the Royal Family that have not come into play are not considered eligible. Also, Primate, Order and Secret Empire positions are not eligible for marriage bonuses. These are meant to be diplomatic arrangements between sovereign states.

New for T52

East – West Split: I’m going to try to split the East and the West parts of the game so that I can process the orders quicker – don’t know if or how it will work yet but lets see if it’ll happen

New for T51

No Orders: If I don’t get any orders in for a position and the player doesn’t answer my emails then I’ll put the position back to a NPN and put aside the players cash (if any) until they pick it or another nation up again.

New for T50

Request Royal Marriage: Used to ask a NPN nation for a bride for one of your Princes or a suitor for one of your little Princesses. Cost is 6AP, Charisma based. The leader doesn’t have to be in the NPNs capital but if he isn’t then he needs to be in your homeland/capital.

New for T49

Naval Reaction and Blockade: Naval Reactions can only occur when there is action in a Sea Zone that the fleet is based at. The fleet has to be based from a port and not the Sea Zone. Also, the Reaction can only occur when your own lands or those of an ally benefiting from a Defensive Pact marriage bonus are attacked. It also applies to any merchant fleets you operate through the Sea Zone in the case of piracy.  Naval Blockade’s only work if your fleet is based in the same Sea Zone as the target port and you spend all (every single one) of your APs in the blockade. The fleet must be based from a port and not a Sea Zone.

New for T48

The use of fleets for Reaction and mitigating the effects of Pirates: My understanding has now changed since we GMs have had some discussion on the list. The use of Reaction has been explained on the Wiki and Patrol is no longer used in the Base Rules.

Reaction

 

Trade Route Escorts

 

 

Updated NPN and Primacy rules: Yep, been tinkering again but I feel a almost serene sense of satisfaction with my latest offering. See what you think.

 

Added the ability to hire mercenary captain when there is no mercenary company available: See the mercenary tables

New for T47

Improved cultivation at TL5: If a nation has reached the dizzy heights of TL5 than it can benefit from improved cultivation. You can Improve a cultivated homeland region from 2GPv to 3GPv, or any other controlled cultivated region from 1GPv to 2GPv. This is a level one megalithic construction.

New for T46

NPNS: I’ve tweaked the NPN and Primacy/Order rules a little to make them fit better with the 24 game. I’ve also reduced their overall RRV to make diplomacy easier.

New for T45

New Rivers: I’ve added in some new possible rivers onto the map. These are rivers that were once passable by light traffic (remember Cogs cannot travel on rivers) and have now become silted up. You can dredge a stretch of the river (along one region border edge) as a 0.5 level project.

Gripes:

Agro as conversion – this has restrictions (see 2.11.5.3) which I will be enforcing from now on.

Rivers can only support light ships – as far as I know Cogs cannot travel on rivers. This also includes Cogs built for trade.

New Primates: We have two new Primate positions this turn. Jumal Skyfather, which is an Estonian god and the Coptic Church based out of Axum.

New for T44

Minor islands and City States: I’ll be allowing minor islands (Corfu, Jerba, Wight etc) and city states to be used as locations from T44. Just let me know the rationale behind why you want it separate and if reasonable I’ll add it in. Once they are created as locations, they obey all the rules of islands etc. However, their Gpv cannot go above 0.

Flooding: The last few turns have seen a massive increase in the amount of flooding that has occurred. It appears that the years are getting warmer and wetter. As a result of this some of the minor rivers on the map are once again becoming passable to river traffic.

Denmark: Following on from the Minor Islands stuff, you can see that Denmark is now separated out to Jutland and Syaland (Zeeland).

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!

 

Order Form: Please use the standard excel order form

 from now on. I’ll update the site with a link to it next week when I get some time. This is important as it helps me process the turn more quickly. THIS IS NOW MANDATORY.

Non-Payment: some of you still owe me some cash. Although it may come as surprise that this is not my main source of income, I see it only polite that you pay for the occasionally night out. So, if you’re under zero next turn I’ll not process you orders.

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. I’ve greyed out repeated areas on the maps to make my life easier. However, this means some player nations are split across more than one map. I may increase the size of the main map but I’ll have to think on this.

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 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 on this page: 
http://lords.throneworld.com/?page_id=2

You can subscribe to the Lords 24 mailing list by pointing your web-browser at: 
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/lote24

…and following the instructions on that page.

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

 

Africa and Moslem Spain


The Akramid Caliphate

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Tiroman IV, Caliph of the Akramids

akramid

The cities of Seville and Elvas were to grow in size during these years. The Caliph was also to ensure that the walls of his cities were vastly improved and strengthened as well as building forts throughout his provinces. Emissaries from Seville arrived in Liguria over these years and finally convinced Hector to foreswear Christianity and convert to Islam. Obviously, such a momentous decision was not without consequences as the Counts of Savoy and Tuscany were to rebel from Hector’s rule. Sicily once again declared its independence amid the Ligurian disarray.  Moslem zealots then stormed the Church in Liguria, razing it to the ground. The Knights House in the province was also destroyed by looters. However, Christian militias in Genoa were able to protect the great Cathedral in the city from destruction.  Tiroman ruled from Andalusia after marrying from the House of Badajoz; his young brdie was to provide him with three children over the next few years.  Beehr was to spend his last years in Salamanca on a fruitless mission to improve relations there.  Only Marinon was able to gain some support from the Zirid as both Tarkhan and Abdul were to fail in their diplomatic missions.

 

The Egyptian Empire

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Ahmad Al-Amaan, Emperor of the Egypts

zswtj9

Roads were built in the south of the Empire, linking Mukram to Soba and Al’Alwai to Axum; the later finally utilising the old bridge over the Nile. The Emperor, Ahmad Al-Amaan, ruled from Egypt and was blessed with four children, two of which were twins, from his Egyptian wife. Uwaiz was tasked with a tally of the Empire’s people and lands and spent these years travelling the Empire. Egyptian engineers finally managed to reconstruct an old Roman artillery weapon, the Carroballista, which should provide some advantage in the field given that the weapon could be moved around in its carriage

 

Usama-Yoruba Onium of Ibo    

(African Pagan Civilized Open Empire)
Bamadi,  Oni of Ibo

King Bamadi spent his wealth on vast new projects as work began on lengthening the great road to Goroul and strengthening the wall facing the desert in Sudan. Hundreds of merchants were set to work hauling goods between Ibo’s great cities and new fishing fleets were built to feed the masses of Ibo and Bini. Bamadi then appointed the young Prince Bunta to the royal court before travelling to Oyo on a grand diplomatic mission. The King was accompanied by Kin’Wala on his trip to Oyo after the Kin’Wala had spent the first part of 1394 tutoring Prince Bunta on the intricacies of court diplomacy. Whilst he was absent in Oyo, Kwame was left to administer the kingdom and K’tunta to ensure that the northern border was protected from incursions out of the Sahara. The King returned to the capital in late 1397 with his new Oyoi bride.

 

 

 


 

Arabia and the Middle East


The Buwayid Sultanate

(Sunni Islam Civilized Open Empire)
Naj Muhammad, Sultan of the Buwayids

baghdad

With the Persian revolt quashed, the Sultan oversaw the expansion of the Buwayid cites of Paphlagonia, Quetta, Hastor and the capital Baghdad. His agents were once more abroad gathering up Western knowledge and advances.  Sultan Naj Muhammad continued to rule the Sultanate from his palaces in Mesopotamia and was blessed with two young sons during these years of peace.  It was left to Aied Al’Jafar to patrol the eastern marches from Persia and Ibin Adai the south and west out of Syria.  Kafar Jassan was dispatched to Raqqa where he gained an alliance from the city.

 

 


Western Europe

crusader


Norman Kingdom of France

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Louis, Regent of France

image028

The city of Limoges grew in size as the general prosperity of the kingdom grew during these years of peace.  The Regent, Louis, took himself a wife and continued to rule the kingdom in the name of the boy-king Philippe. He was assisted by Bernard, who although frail and weak, was still an able administrator.  Martin was not so able but was to die whilst hunting in 1394.  The south of the kingdom was protected by Enguerrand as he patrolled from Aquitaine with the French army.

The Principality of Salerno

(Roman Catholic Civilised Open Empire)
Duke Carlo II Martello of House Durazzo, Prince of Salerno

Duke Carlo II travelled by way of Ravenna to Sicily where he arrived in the spring of 1396 to join the Marchese di Verona who was already on the island. The Duchy was a province of the Liguria at that time but was soon to use the conversion of the Ligurian hierarchy to Islam as a reason to declare their independence. It was into this turmoil that the Duke arrived searching for a bride. The Sicilians were delighted with Carlo’s proposal and offered the hand of the young Princess Catarina.  The close family ties with the House of Durazzo ensured that the Duchess Maria Fiammetta gave her seal of approval to the union. In Ravenna, the Duke had instructed his merchants to begin trading with Palermo from the city. The Duc di Amalfi was tasked with the protection of the northern frontier from Lombardy along with the Duc di Andria. In the west, the Duc di Benevento was to keep watch on the events in Tuscany in case any of the unrest spilled over into Salernese lands.

 

.

The Kingdom of Germany

(Roman Catholic Civilized Open Empire)
Sigismund, King of the Germans

images

Four thousand imperial troops were raised for Heinrich in Saxony. The general then accompanied King Sigismund south to Bavaria after the king had left Frederick in charge of the royal court. The show of strength was enough for the Bavarians to surrender to Sigismund and swear fealty to the king. Tyrol was swift to follow suit before Sigismund travelled to Lyonnais. In Lyonnais, Sigismund was less bellicose and persuaded the Lyonaisse to grant him a clam to the province. After accompanying the king to Bavaria, Heinrich quickly invested the city of Passau before heading south to the Mediterranean port of Cannes. A fair diplomat, Heinrich was able to gain an alliance from the city’s nobility.

 

 


 

Scandia and the Out Isles


Kingdom of Orkeneyjar

(Roman Catholic Seafaring Open Empire)
Rolf
I, King of Orkney

With the betrayal of Sanfrida in Svearland, Roselind ensured the safety of her mainland holdings by improving the walls of Oslo and building several fortresses on the borders with the Svear. She was then to marry the able and loyal Rolf in a great ceremony in 1394. Sadly, Roselind caught a fever in 1395 and was to die in the summer of that year. Despite not being of royal blood, Rolf was declared King and was to face no serious unrest from the northmen. Despite her best efforts, Birgitta was unable to persuade the wayward Caithness nobles to return their fealty to Kirkval.  Before her death, Roselind despatched Skaggja to Norway with another two thousand warriors, about half of which were paid mercenaries, to protect Oslo. Vif had passed unseen into Svear territory to persuade the mercenary cavalry there to throw in their lot with the Orkneymen but most had dispersed on Sanfrida’s treachery.  Despite braving the freezing northern water around Gronland, Brother Tirancourt found he had little success in improving the Order’s House in Nordheim.

 

 

La Marteau de Dieu

(Roman Catholic Civilised Religious Order)
Geoffroi, Hammer of God

images (3)

Brother Geoffroi was elevated to Grandmaster and his fist act was to denounce Dalmar of the Svear for regicide and treason. The Order’s tithe to the Svear was ended as Geoffroi was unwilling to send funds to such un-Godly monarchs. In retaliation, the status of the Order suffered in the lands of the Svear. Geoofroi was also to officiate at the wedding of Queen Rosalind to the honourable Rolf at the royal palace in Kirkval. Brother Constantin was also to attend Rosalind’s wedding before taking passage to Thingvellir in Iceland in 1394.  Along with Brother Benedict, Constantin was able to raise an Oratory in the city for the Order. The Brothers then took passage back to Kirkval in early 1397. Despite the blessing of Count Braam of Holland, the lay brothers of the Order were unable to raise an Order House in his province. Some progress was made with converting the Jumali heathens in both Kymia and Viipuri.

 

 


 

Eastern Europe


The Varangian Rus of Kiev

(Orthodox Civilized Open Empire)
Fedor, King of the Rus

kiev

With the Cossack threat on the wane, King Fedor was able to divert his resources into improving the lands of the Atelzuko. He was blessed with a young son by his Roman wife Aelia and Fedor continued to rule from his palace in Kiev. Stephen and Vanya were to see to the defence of Atelzuko as new colonists moved into the region.  In Perograd, Peter and Brother Andrew of the Vladimir Order were to persuade the city to re-join the Rus Kingdom.

 

 

The Oriental Roman Empire

(Roman Catholic Civilised Open Empire)
Romanos, Emperor of East Rome

images (1)

Quiet times in the East

 

 

The Order of St Vladimir

(Roman Catholic Civilised Religious Order)
Eric, Grandmaster of the Order of St Vladimir

Grandmaster Eric raised a few hundred men for the Order’s army and travelled to Kiev to protect the Order’s domain. It was left to Brother Anatoli to make the voyage to Buda-Pesht in 1394 and persuade the Hungarians to support the Order. Trade was also established from Pechneg to the port of Vidin.