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Lords of the Earth
Deus Vult!
Turn 013
(1160 to 1164)

 

WESTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	129mi, 69mc, 23ms, 26mw, 7mt
AQRs:	i4, c5, s4, w4

 

Kingdom of Scotland
( Edinburgh in Strathclyde )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Malcolm V

Fifteen light warships and seven Cogs raised. Twelve-hundred infantry conscripted. King Malcolm quickly moves to invest his younger brother Duncan as the new Cardinal of Edinburgh. The church accepts the appointment. Malcolm then reacts out of the capital with four-thousand troops. Cardinal Duncan then surprises everyone by undertaking service to the Prince's Crusade. Hamish patrols the Viking Bank with fifty warships. Robert MacCallum founds two new churches, one in the city of Nairn, the other on the Orkney islands. Bishop Eadmar preaches on the Isle of Man.

 

Kingdom of England
( London in Sussex )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Reginald II

Word of attacks against pilgrims in the Holy Land reach the King. Relations with the Damascans are suitably strained. Five rutters, from the Gates of Hercules to the Gulf of Cyprus, are inked and given to Scotland. A marriage is planned with Roger of Sicily, but the husband-to-be is distracted by his battles. Reginald steers the government, but his Danish wife does not survive her first pregnancy. Prince John remains on Crusade. David Southam sails to the Gulf of Cyprus, where he attacks the Damascene shipping of As-Sur. Lot gains an Economic Alliance from Mercia. Bishop Stephen's negotiations smooth hostilities in Dyffed. Mathew of Northumbria is shipped to Kabilya, where his eleven-hundred allied infantry raid into Al'Huats, but the wilderness and moutnain range take their toll on the men. They retire three-hundred troops short. All the available mercenary ships are contracted in London.

 

County of Flanders
( Ghent in Flanders )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Count Henry I

A new regional fortress is erectd in Champagne, and all fortresses in the realm take advantage of recent siege advances, gaining more effective walls. Twelve field fortifications are likewise strewn across all four regions. A royal road from Ghent to Utrecht is formed, including a bridge section across the Rhine. Every National leader undertakes diplomacy in Jenelle. Two princely marriages are arranegd, and the city agrees to Friendly ties. While the royals return to the capital to see to their families, the three lieutenants work together in founding an Abbey.

 

Duchy of Normandy
( Rouen in Normandy )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Duke Isaac I

Missionaries convert Ulster, and now all of Ireland is under the Catholic sway. A church is founded in Connaught. Rouen and her city fotress are both walled, and a new fortress is constructed in Ireland. Cultivation in Munster is started, and new roads appear in Lienster, Normandy and Brittany. Duke Isaac sees to the government, siring three children. Robert and two other leaders set sail with five light warships. They take an extended journey of exploration. The Sea of Dogs, Ifriqan Coast, Gulf of Lyons and Bay of Tunis are all mapped. Henrique negotates the release of Prince Danyel from his captors, arranging the price quite well. Henrique perishes shortly thereafter.

 

Kingdom of France
( Paris in Ile De France )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Louis VI

Intel capabilities improve. Five field forts are constructed in Nivernais. The Heir, Louis, is appointed an official position at court and married into the family of Burgundy. The King returns to Paris, taking reign of the government after his long absence during the war. Diplomats gain a Feudal Allience from Limousin and a Non-Paying Tributary agreement from Auvergne. The quiet life isn't long for Henri, and he is taken in 1164.

 

Grand Duchy of Burgundy
( Worms in Burgundy )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Grand Duke Rudolf II

Siege quality improves. The Grand Duke rules from the capital, his wife giving birth twice in the cycle. Rudolf perishes to sickness in 1164, Rudolf II taking his place without issue. He quickly sires a son of his own. Prince Thomas escorts Margot to Paris, where marriage and a Defensive Pact is arranged. Anton and Jaques continue to press their claim in Aquitaine among the conquered populace. Jean-Piere takes command of one-thousand cavalry. They all march to Provence and are retired. Tomas, Anton and Jaques all perish during the cycle as well.

 

Kingdom of Aragon
( Zaragoze in Aragon )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Adolpho I

Cavalry quality and Intelligence capabilities improve. Barcelona city is expanded. Five-hundred infantry and engineers are raised. The new forces reinforce those in Gascony, Edmundo and Apolinar initiating an active siege of Bordeaux. The siege effort takes a year and a half, eventually claiming the life of Apolinar. Elroy increases the ties to Pamplona with an Economic Alliance. The additional wieght of the conquered lands puts a strain on the government infrastructure.

 

Kingdom of Leon
( Cuidad Leon in Leon )
Casildan Christian, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Saul I

 

CENTRAL EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	24mi, 7mc, 5ms, 53mw
AQRs:	i4, c5, s5, w5

 

 

Kingdom of Norway
( Christiana in Norway )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Hrafn Youngblood

Alesund city is expanded, its walls rebuilt. Four light warships are commisioned in Farsund. King Hrafn continues to guide the administration while expanding his brood. Steingrimr gains a Tributary agreement from the Faeroes, but perishes soon after negotiations end. In the meantime Snorri makes a tiny bit of progress in guiding them away from their pagan beliefs. Ulfar reacts from Farsund with his twenty-seven warships. Bishop Teodor gains a Full Alliance from the region of Trondheim. Prince Hogni dies suddenly in 1164, his Scottish wife retiring into a convent.

 

Kingdom of Sweden
( Stockholm in Uppsala )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Rolf Tegner

Siege quality and intelligence capacity improves. The King gains a Full Alliance from Saarema. Eric Sorenson plans to upgrade troops, but no funds are earmarked for the process. Gustaf Ulvaeus continues to smooth tensions in Estonia. The Allies react out of Musa and Uppsala. The Kopparberg ally perishes, his realm downgrading to Economic Allied.

 

Kingdom of Denmark
( Skjern in Denmark )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Erik II Sverker

Intelligence efforts against Saxony are held in reserve, until an infiltration plot is discovered by investigating agents. King Erik orders the attacks to continue in retaliation, though again, none are successful. Handel city is expanded. Karl, brother to the King, is sent to Rome to join the Vatican. The King continues to defend Denmark with his eight-thousand man army, while Wilhelm patrols outside of Skjern with four warships. Sven administers effectively from the capital.

 

Duchy of Saxony
( Leipzig in Saxony )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Duchess Hildegard I

A church is founded in Rostock. A field fort is built in Friesland and Holstein. Support gold is sent to the Popular Crusade. Rutters are traded to Leon and Swabia. Two cogs are taken to service in Weddewarden with a unit of engineers raised in Leipzig. Finally, a new royal road section is built in Obodria. Eight national Cogs are pressed into merchant service. The Duchess rules the realm, entering a marriage with the Kingdom of Leon. She appoints Prince Rainer as her official Heir, and the court accepts him fully. The new Hair first cements an Economic alliance from Friesland, then marries a Polish girl in Rostock. Heinrich Liudolfing oversees the transfer of Pomerania from Poland. He quickly secure a Non-Paying Tributary arrangement.

 

Duchy of Thuringia
( Wurzburg in Nordgau )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Emperor Heinrich I

Quiet.

 

Duchy of Bohemia
( Prague in Bohemia )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Duke Spytihnev III

The road linking Prague to Brno is paved and upgraded. Funds are sent to the Popular Crusade and to Saxon defenses. The young Duke comes of age, and Prince Miklaus steps aside, returning to his previous position. Despite a strength in the arts of governing, Spytihnev III shows a lack of skill in all other courtly areas. Some in the court turn to the Duke's younger brother, Vratislaus, as a possible alternative. When the Duke gifts his younger brother with the True Cross, the ambitious Vratislaus immediately recognizes the legitimacy the relic would give any claim to the throne he might make. Vratislaus begins cultivating allies for a coup. The plot evaporates when Vratislaus is found dead in his chambers, his palms and feet pirced through. Thus, the young Duke retains his realm. Vaclav Rozemberk, recently ransomed, is given the light task of Administration in Prague. Marik Zerotin is caught in a storm in the Baltic during efforts to map the waterways. He does not return. Pavel is unable to found an Abbey in Bohemia or improve relations in Kauyavia before his own death.

 

Duchy of Bavaria
( Regensburg in Bavaria )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Duke Conrad I

Siege quality improves. Diplomacy on the fractured realm begins. Fabian's efforts quickly go sour, partly because of a bothced bribery attempt. Moldavia turns positively hostile, threatening to arrest any further diplomats. Slovakia politely retains its neutrality. Austria agrees to a Feudal Alliance. With no one seeing to the government, and Slovokia remaining uncontrolled, Volhynia and Weisseburg check for revolt due to the distance from the capital. Both locations remain a in the Duchy so far. The regent steps aside dutifully as Conrad comes of age and assumes the throne.

 

Duchy of Swabia and Lorraine
( Augsberg in Swabia )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Prince Wilhelm, Regent For
Duke Gerhardt I

A new fortress is built in Hesse using Imperial defense funds. The city of Cologne is rebuilt and walled. Wilhelm and Wolfgang negotiate with Lombardy, the region turning Friendly. Hermann takes five ships on an exploration, but is never heard from again. The regent reassigns merchant shipping, then appeases Flanders with a gift of gold. Prince Karl and two other leaders perish of age, leaving Wilhelm in charge of the Regency.

 

Margravate of Tuscany
( Pisa in Tuscany )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Margrave Godfrey IV

Infantry quality impoves. Ten cogs, two warships, fifteen-hundred infantry and five-hundred cavalry are raised. Defense funds are sent to Saxony. The Margrave rules the realm, seeing to reaction for the last season of the cycle. Conrad and Francisco sail to El-Jezair, setting up a blockade of the city. This allows Petros, Pierluigi and Michelino to enact a passive siege with three-thousand infantry. They force the surrender of the city in 1163. Conrad and Pierluigi perish during the conflict.

 

Serene Republic of Venice
( Venice in Verona )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Doge Adrianno Grazi

The bureaucracy of the government expands. Thirteen warships are commisioned and added to the navy. A field fort is raised in each of Verona, Slovenia and Romagna. The Doge and the Ally from Forli move to protect any allied shipping in the Gulf of Cyprus, but no attacks happen. They turn their attentions to Tunisia, launching a raid into the region. It is swarming with Tunisian and Fatimid troops. Luckily they are only defending, so are unable to react out to engage the Doge's ships on the shore. Still, he loses seven vessels during the strike. Garibaldi and Cagliostoro found a Monestery in Venice. Consigliori Barroso tries to gain support to join the war against Tunisia, but the Senate isn't interested after the Doge's raiding fiasco. Barroso retires from politics after his attempt. Goffredo of Forli perishes of age, and is replaced by a new, more martial, leader.

 

Duchy of Apulia
( Naples in Campania )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Duke Francois I

Medina Mayurqa abandonds its Tenuous ties. Catanzaro is expanded. A new regional fortress is constructed on the Baelerics. Francois sees to the government and his family. Vincenzo defends the Baelerics with one-thousand men. Bruce reacts from Naples with thirty-six hundred. Alphonso and Bruno are appoitned official positions.

 

Norman County of Sicily
( Palermo in Sicily )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Prince Hector, Regent For
Count Simon II

Intel effectiveness increases. Fifteen hundred cavalry are raised. Three field forts constructed in Kabilya. William concentrates on his family, siring two children Prince Hector spends a little time with his wife as well, but mostly conentrates on the defense of Sicily. William takes ill and dies during the cycle. With Roger's death in Africa, this leaves no heir. Prince Hector quickly moves to seize power, but surprisingly only names himself regent in young Simon's name.

 

EASTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	24mi, 7mc, 5ms, 5mw
AQRs:	i4, c5, s4, w4

 

Kingdom of Poland
( Warsaw in Poland )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Boleslaus IV

Poland begins to pay off the Teutonics, and they content themselves with preying off foriegn merchants and travelers. The capital is expanded and walled. Boleslaus smooths over tensions with Saxony by granting them Pomerania, and arranging a Trade Partnership. He also sires two more sons. Pawel preaches amongst the pagans in Prussia. Wladyslaus oversees the transfer of Pomerania, then returns to the capital. Most other leaders concentrate on founding the Archiocese of Warsaw. Two perish during the process, but it is a success.

 

Feudal Republic of Novgorod
( Novgorod City in Novgorod )
Eastern Orthodox, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Boyar Arseniy Zoya

Novgorod is expanded, with nine-hundred infantry raised. The Boyar rules, while Dmitri administers. Mikail and Tars react from the homeland with seventy-six hundred men.

 

Principality of Kiev
( Kiev City in Kiev )
Eastern Orthodox, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Grand Prince Borislav II

Siege quality improves. Regent Govorich assigns five new transport to shipping duties, also pressing five cogs into service. When the Grand Prince comes of age, Govorich steps aside without issue. Dobrek and young Yaropolk travel to Rostock in Saxony where an expected marriage with Duchess Hildegard has been arranged. They arrive only to learn that Hildegard has chosen a Leonese suitor. A second marriage with Bavaria falls through when the lovers-to-be are not moved to the same location. Dobrek finally sees success while escorting the beautiful princess Gavrilla to Naples, where she weds Prince Bruno. Dobrek perishes at sea on the return trip. Bohuslav negotiates with Pechneg, even arranging a marriage to the Grand Prince, but the realm is not interested in the Allied ties that he seeks. New trade routes are begun with Apulia, Croatia, Hungary and the Khwarezmid Empire. The latter is gifted with three sets of rutters. Vasyl reacts out of Chernigov with twenty-five hundred troops. Oleksander cotninues to find converts in Turov until his death at the age of fifty-five. The Feudal Allies react from their regions.

 

Kingdom of Hungary
( Budapest in Alfold )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Kolos

Intel capabilities expand. Budapest is expanded and rewalled. Nineten cogs are constructed and pressed into merchant service. The King runs the government, his wife perishing in a late childbirth. Three diplomats work on negotiations in Transylvania, but the region is incapable of closer ties without a colonization. Two of the diplomats do not survive the harsh winter of 1163. The Feudal Allies react from their regions.

 

Kingdom of Croatia
( Osijek in Croatia )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Petar VII

Infantry quality improves. Klodavo city is expanded. The Royal road reaching to the Dalmation mountains is completed. King Petar rules and sires a son. Dmitar sires four children of his own. Baldo returns to Zara from Palermo, relieved by the Byzantine troops. Vladmir and Vilmon found a church in Zara. Milaen is appointed the new Feudal Lord of Epirus, the crown quickly raising three-hundred engineers for him. Papal missionaries make some conversions in Ludgorie.

 

Byzantine Empire
( Constantinople in Thrace )
Eastern Orthodox, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Emperor Hilarion I

Twenty-one cogs are constructed and used to ship resources to Cyprus where the new city of Salamis is built. Two-thousand infantry are disbanded in the capital. Neocastra is expanded, some of her walls rebuilt. Prince Hilarion sires three children of his own. Gemistos reacts from Thrace with six-thousand cavalry. Prince Narsus sails to Sicily to help defend the island with his two-thousand cavalry. The wound he receives from an assassin's blade limits his capabilities. Kallistos ferries resources to Cyprus, then adds to the Ferry Arrow crossing the Agean. He then patrols the Agean with his one-hundred thirty warships. Nikephoros upgrades three-thousand cavalry to heavier, elite versions, then moves to defend the capital. Mangaphas is unable to improve relations with Allied Morea before his death in 1164. The Emepror also perishes, at a surprising young age of thirty-one. His brother takes power without issue.

 

Volga-Kama Bolghar
( Iske Qazan in Suvar )
Sunni Islam, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Karaca, Regent For
Tigor Khan

Twenty-six hundred cavalry are raised by the Khan. Everyone then rides out to Mordva and northwards, striking into Murom at the head of sixty-nine hundred cavalry and sixteen-hundred infantry. The defnding army of twelve-hundred infantry is suprisingly ruthless, using the forested terrain to their advantage to launch nightly strikes at the camps of the invaders. No real troops are lost, but the Khan is killed in one of the initial raids. The confusion allows another strike to capture the Feudal Ally from Nogai. The death of the Khan is hard blow, especially with his Heir only six years of age. The two Lieutenants immediately move to take command of the army, but while they are doing so, Murom takes the chance to rebel. This time they manage to wound General Kadri. The Feudal Ally from Mordva decides to quit the realm as well, but is chased down by the army. One-hundred cavalry are lost in the struggle. The Ally is killed, his forces scatered, and a new lord put into place. The old capital of Bolgar is the next to reject the new Khan's rule, and the army moves to encircle the city. It takes two years to starve the rebels into submission, but the city is regained. In the meantime, however, Nogai and Saksiny have both declared a split from the Bolghar. After things seem to settle, Nuryn Khan takes ill and dies at the age of eight. His seven year old brother takes the Khanate under the Regency of Prince Karaca.

 

MIDDLE EAST AND PERSIA

Mercenaries
Troops:	11mi, 5mc, 5ms, 22mw
AQRs:	i4, c5, s4, w4
Leader:	Zafir ad Balak [M678] -- Minimum Bid is 14 GP Seemaab [M752] -- Minimum Bid is 9 GP

 

Khwarezmid Empire
( Khiveh in Khwazim )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Shah Qutb ad-Din Muhammad I

Land trade is begun with the Rum. Thirty-five hundred cavalry and four light transports are built. The Shah sees to the government and takes a second wife. He sires one daughter during the cycle. Prince Ghazi outfits an expedition to explore the Caspian, but when the rutters arrive from Kiev, he remains in port on an extended vacation. He perishes from all the relaxation. Masoud reacts out of Qyzylorda. The allies react from their regions, the lord of Singanakh perishing and bequeathing his realm to the crown. Zafir ad Balak takes the newly built cavalry and Lady Badra to Damascus where it is hoped a marriage and the granted men can be arranged, but Damascus is epxecting a Defensive Pact, so the ceremony stalls. Zafir begins the trek back, but soon grows restless. He abandons the Empire for life as a Mercenary.

 

Qarakhanid Khanate
( Samarqand in Kara Khitai )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Nadeem Khan

Uzebek cultivation is begun, with a field fort built to protect the clearing. The region abandons its Tenuous ties. The royal road in Kophat Dagh is extended to the Great Suljuk border. The Khan runs the government, siring four children. Seemaab is tasked with a long journey, arranging marriages with the Great Seljuk and Damascus. In an almost mirror of the Khwarezmid actions, the Damascenes are expecting a Defensive Pact rather than the granted men the Khan wishes to bestow. Seemaab then abandons his men for life as a mercenary. This leaves Nadeem as heir, who administers from the capital. Abu reacts out of Samarqand with one-thousand infantry. Afrasiab leads diplomacy in Uzebek, arranging a marriage to the King and gains a Friendly alliance. The new bride is too much for the Khan, and he perishes in 1164.

 

Great Seljuk Empire
( Esfahan in Persia )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Sultan Zeeshan

Zeeshan enters into a marriage and an Open Borders pact with the Qarakhanids. He then sets about conducting a census for the realm. Jelaleddin of Media adminsters from Esfahan before he perishes of age. Shaud gains a Friendly agreement from Media.

 

Rum Seljuk Sultanate
( Trebizond in Pontus )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Sultan Oz ad'Din Mas'ud

Infanty quality is improved. The Sultan passes on.

 

Atabeg Sultanate
( Mosul City in Mosul )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Sultan Hadi

Tunisian clerics spend time in the Sultanate, whipping up religious fervor. Sixteen-hundred cavalry are built for the Sultan. The cultivation of Arbiliq is begun. The Sultan sires three more children, rounding out the cycle on defense. Mamnoon reacts from Aleppo with five-thousand cavalry. Prince Abir leads a diplomatic entourage to Diyala, where they resume competition with the Abbasids for control of the region. Tepir reacts out of Cilicia with five-thousand cavalry. The Feudal Allies defend Cilicia and Aleppo.

 

Abbasid Caliphate
( Baghdad in Mesopotamia )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Caliph Muqatil

A royal road links Mesopotamia and Hahmar. Baqubah city is built in Diyala, the region abandoning its Tenuous ties. The region of Fars is ceded to the Great Seljuks, but no one seems to be expecting the gift. The region lapses into neutrality. Prince Al-Muqtafi spends time in the deserts of Dharan preaching to the nomads. Hamid abd Al-Fattah reacts out of Hahmar with one-thousand cavalry. Sawwar al-Abbas reacts from Mesopotamia with fourteen-hundred troops. Tamman and Hassan gain a Full Alliance from Diyala despite Atabeg meddling. The Caliph comes of age.

 

Sultanate of Damascus
( Damascus in Petra )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Prince Rafat, Regent For
Sultan Rafidh

Siege quality improves. A wave of isolationism occurs in Bostra, and the reigon declares only Tenuous relations with the Sultanate. Kuwait, on the other hand, abandons its Tenuous ties. Missionaries make a little progress in Socotra. The Regent gains a Non-Paying Tributary agreement from Selucia, but dies shortly after he concludes the negotiations. Zahid moves garrisons, then reacts from Petra with four-thousand men. Fahad Baktiar conducts a census. Qasim Hami defends As-Sur with twenty-three hundred men. The Feudal Ally of Bostra reacts from his region. Agents scour the Gulf of Cyprus and Sea of Lybia for any signs of Crusader Fleets. They discover one, and are successful in wounding both leaders on board. When the Crusaders attempt to raid Lebanon, Zahid is there to meet them, driving them off and costing them Justicar Baldwin and eight-hundred men.

 

Emirate of Yemen
( Sana in Yemen )
Shi'a Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Emir Rabi ibn Zahid

Ten cogs, two-hundred cavalry are built in Sana. A new port city is constructed in Djibuti. The Emir sees to the government. Murshid ferries the city resources, then presses six cogs into merchant service. Hassan administers from Sana. Apu and Omar plan to ship almost three-thousand cavalry to Egypt for defense, but Fatimids have no orders to allow the units in. The allies defend their regions.

 

AFRICA

Mercenaries
Troops:	14mi, 31mc, 7ms, 27mw
AQRs:	i4, c5, s4, w6
Leader:	Murtaza [M77A] -- Minimum Bid is 17 GP  Yehuye [M694] -- Minimum Bid is 13 GP

 

Fatimid Caliphate
( Al-Qahirah in Mansura )
Shi'a Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Caliph Al-Mutakabbir

Thirty-five warships and three cogs are built in an effort to restore the fleet. The Caliph sees to the government, siring children with all three of his wives. Al-Jaliq takes command of one thousand engineers, setting up a defense of Egypt. He trains the Sultan's twin brothers in the arts of the military. Al-Malik takes a princely position in the realm. Muhamad al'faruk travels to the island of Socotra, where he gains a Non-Paying Tributary agreement. Hassen al'Ali marches to Tunisia, puicking up the five-thousand men waiting in Tripolotania. He coordinates a defense with the Tunisian forces. The lack of any Defensive Pact, however, means the Fatimids greatly sufer from distance and lack of supply back to Egypt. Ibraim ibn Tarek delivers Adara to Damascus, where a Defensive Pact is agreed upon. Jalil L'Farek defends Al-Iskandria with the new fleet. The Feudal Allies defend Ad'Diffah and Sinai. Two-thousand mercenary cavalry are contacted in Al-Iskandria.

 

Nubian Kingdom of Makuria
( Soba in Funj )
Coptic Christian, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
King Moise

Adowa and Kosti abandon their Tenuous connection to the Kingdom. Cavalry Quality sees improvement in the military. A large military fortress, the Ramparts of Tolmeita, is constructed in Alwa. Additional field forts spring up in Axum and Sennar. Eight-hundred cavalry and three-hundred infantry are raised in the homeland. With all the rutters in place, goods now travel along the trade route with the Abbasid Caliphate. King Assbyo transfers a few garrisons around near the capital, then suddenly disappears. His body is found a year later in the sands of Medina. Moise smoothly transitions to power, already running the government personally. He spends time with his sister, Rafaela, teaching her the arts of administration. She surprises the King with a request to marry the son of the Feudal Lord of Kassala. Moise consents, and soon takes an instant liking to his new brother-in-law, even appointing him a position at court. Moise sires two children of his own, then deals with the headache of merchant shipping manipulation. Te' Yehuye is charged with moving garrisons around as well, then takes the lead of a reactionary force composed of the Feudal Allies in Kassala. Afrimer's diplomacy is rebuffed by the hostile pagans of Kordofan, but gains a Full Alliance from the lord of Sennar. He winds down the cycle in Funj, where too much drink gets the better of him.

 

Emirate of Tunisia
( Tunis in Tunisia )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Emir Faysal

Assassin effectiveness improves. Nine cogs are disbanded, the men diverted to other unit types: five-hundred cavalry and one-hundred engineers. A light transport and warship are both built in Tunis. Two-hundred Mercenary cavalry are contracted in Tunis.

Roger's War of 1150
Norman County of Sicily and Almoravid Sultanate
vs.
Emirate of Tunisia

The Tunisian Emir spends his time calling for war against the treachorous Almoravids and the infidel Sicilians. Already suffering the yoke of war in their lands, the Emir has his subject's full support. The first strike of the cycle lands from Tunisia. Her agents are able to overcome and defeat the royal guard placed around the new Sicilian Exarch. George of Antioch is wounded, leaving the Sicilian fleet at a distinct disadvantage. The Tunisian fleet gets word that the Sicilians have sailed to the east, plundering much of the Fatimid fleets and lands. They emerge from hiding, only to run into George's fleet, not having gone east at all. The Tunisian Admiral immediately attempts to evade the Sicilians, and mostly because of George's wounds, is successful. Almoravid agents strike next, and terrorize the villages of Tunisia, burning the fields and towns of the local populace.

The Tunisians travel west with raiding and pillaging on their real agenda. Granada is struck first, the devestation is almost total. Neither the Almoravid forces in Valencia, nor the wounded Sicilian fleet are able to respond. Velencia is hit next, and despite the efforts of the Almoravid leader, ravaged as well. This time, George of Antioch is able to respond, and this time the Tunisians are unable to evade his advance. One hundred and twenty Sicilian ships face the fifty-seven raiders. George's flagship is one of the first vessels to be sunk, and as a result, the tide of morale shifts against the Cicilians. Despite destroying most of the Tunisian fleet, they lose ground. This allows Tunisia to make up some of her losses through captured vessels, but she only numbers less than twenty, while the Sicilians command near one-hundred. The Tunisian admiral is wounded in the fighting as well, and returns to Tunis rather than risk another engagement. Crusader Rollo, now in charge of the fleet, attacks the merchants of Tunis, looting about half the MSP of the city.

Two Almoravid Lietenants and three-thousand troops ferry to Africa and take up defense with Roger's forces in Kabilya. Roger has returned to Afrca, and has his eyes on the city of Bone. He and general Maniakes activate a siege of the city with their mostly cavalry army. The Tunisian Feudal Ally of Bone leads the defense with eight-hundred men. The first assault eliminates two thirds of the defenders, but Roger's backup leader is wounded. Roger leads the second push, breaching the walls and rushing into the city. Once again he is cut off from his men and goes down fighting. The city is taken, and Roger is nursed back to health by his Makurian physicians. The Sicilians have only lost two companies of engineers.

Just after the Tuscans take the city of El-Jezair, Tunisian agents incite a revolt in Algeria. The rebel army pushes the Sicilian garrison of one-thousand infantry into Kabilya, and control falls back to Tunisia. Roger's wounds and age finally catch up to him in 1164. His body is shipped back to Palermo where he is entombed with full honors.

 

SECRET ORDERS

 

The Popular Crusade
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Grandmaster Eric Gunderson

Olaf's efforts to found a lodge and cell fail, the lodge attempt even eliminates the supporting cell. He is unable to summon order aid from the Duchy of Swabia and Lorraine. Adolf Gunderson continues to Administer. Kol Thorfin founds two cells but fails a third. Everyone but Eric perishes of age during the cycle. Eric becomes the new Grandmaster. With no action against the Atabegs, status begins to slip in many nations.

 

The Prince's Crusade
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Primas Richard

Monks found one cell. Eighteen warships, two cogs and eighteen-hundred infantry are raised. Primas Laurent founds one cell, then fails a second. Prince Henri recruits two-hundred elite religious engineers in the Duchy of Normandy. The raid to Damascus does not fare well. When Richard returns, he discovers that he has been elected to replace Laurent as Primas. A contract for mercenaries is taken.

 

The Reconquista
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Diego Rodriguez

Religious fervor continues to rise in the order. A strike against the Almoravid Feudal Ally in Valencia fails. Eight hundred cavalry and a company of engineers are raised. Ramiro II spends time in the Kingdom of Aragon, drumming up support for the order. Diego takes his troops and sneaks into Talavera. The Feudal Lord, on reaction in Valencia, doesn't get word of the attack until four months later. Diego has already pacified the region, and is prepared for the counterattck. The eleven-hundred troops of the Almoravids are cut down. Ramiro also perishes during the fight, but all Conquistador units report back to full strength.

 

The Hashshashins
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Old Man Jarakel

Religious fervor increases. Agents are successful in wounding the Byzantine leader Narsus, but less so in their attempt to kidnap the Byzantine diplomat in Morea. Old Man Jarakel and Ehsal combine to concentrate on site construction. Their initial lodge is successful, but their following two attempts fail enough to eliminate even the presence of a cell. One new cell is formed, with another failed cell attempt shortly therafter. Aasim and Nagib raise another thousand light cavalry, this time striking out north around the Black Sea. They soon emerge to strike raids into both Crimea and Taman, pillaging villages and burning fields. Aasim is killed during a small conflict with the local Byzantine garrison. Nagib takes command of the forces and withdraws somewhere into Asia Minor.