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Lords of the Earth
Deus Vult!
Turn 017
(1180 to 1184)

 

WESTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	92mi, 59mc, 18ms, 16mw, 5mt
AQRs:	i5, c5, s5, w5

 

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

Rutters are inked and sent to Denmark for three zones: The Bay of Tunis, the Sea of Lybia and the Gulf of Cyprus. The cities of Glasgow and Nairn are both expanded, minor walls erected around the new borders. Five companies of engineers and ten light warships are raised in the capital. King Malcolm takes efforts to see his son James invested as the Cardinal for the Archdiocese of Edinburgh. Next, he vows to help in the Holyland, embarking with the Prince's Crusade. Queen Mary's health takes a turn for the worst after the King's departure, and she perishes. Crown Prince Andrew protects the capital, reacting out of Edinburgh with four-thousand soldiers. James, now invested, uses his new position of Cardinal to clamor for war against the Fatimid Caliphate. Despite the impossible distance, the nobles rally behind the idea, and gear up for The Nile Conflict of 1185. Lord Hamish reacts out of the North Sea with twelve warships. Robert Argyle is granted the hand of Princess Agnes, he is given a full position as a Prince of the realm, then moves to react from the Viking Bank with seventy warships. Bishop Eadmar sails from Salamis, exploring the Aegean Sea. On his way back to Galsgow, he intends to Pirate the city of Cartegena, but finds it no longer in Almoravid hands. Andrew's son Charles is killed in an accident during his horsemanship training.

 

Kingdom of England
( London in Sussex )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
John Lancaster; Regent For
King Robert I

Saboteurs strike another blow against the Damascene bureaucracy, they are also successful in stealing maps of the lower Nile from Fatimid merchant vessels. Cavalry quality takes a leap forward. Twenty light warships and one-thousand cavalry are raised in London. King Reginald interferes with his merchant affairs, jamming many vessels on the trade route to Thuringia (They later meet regret the orders). A large fishing fleet is also transferred from London to Internal Trade service in Norwich. He then directs himself to government duties. Two more sons are added to his family. Prince John perishes while still embarked with the Prince's Crusade. John Lancaster is unable to issue a general call for war against Damascus. He then fares poorly in trying to smooth tensions in conquered Dyffed. He finally sees success in arranging a marriage between Princess Helen and a Norwegian Prince. A Trade Alliance is formed. Luc of Orange takes command of the new ships and sails to the Gulf of Cyprus intent on trouble. He lugs along Bishop Stephen of Canterbury and one-thousand cavalry.

Crown Prince Henry takes an arrow during a hunting accident, dying from infection a few days later. Queen Matilda takes ill only a few months later, passing on. The King is heartbroken, and his own health fails, and he is soon off to join his wife and son. Young Robert is only five years old, but John Lancaster is granted Regency, and the nation holds together without issue.

 

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

Siege quality sees an increase. Prince Eugene travels to Thuringia, picking up a bride for the Count. Helga's hand is offered, and a Defensive Pact is forged between the nations. The marriage only lasts a year, Helga perishing from a complicated birth. Eugene then travels to Antwerp, taking defense with the fifteen-hundred man garrison of the city. Andre Flahaut defends with a similar force in Utrecht.

 

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

The naval forces see expansion, fifteen light warships and twenty-two cogs being conscripted. Most of the latter go into internal trading fleets around the realm. Resources for the cultivation of Ulster are shipped to Ireland. Crown Prince Gabriel takes command of four-thousand infantry and five-hundred cavalry, going on reaction out of the capital. Robin of Loksley joins him on the naval side of patrols with thirty-five warships. Horace, Elias and Brian du Bois-Gilbert work diplomacy in Ireland, gaining Full Alliances from both Connaught and Ulster. The Duke steers the government, siring two sons.

 

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

French assassin capacity expands. Funds are found to start the cultivation of Limousin, and to conscript a new round of military forces: one-thousand infantry, five-hundred cavalry and five engineering companies, plus five field forts in Ile De France. King Louis remains in Paris, his forces ready in case the Imperial War escalates. He does not yet commit his ten-thousand man army. Jacques-Hugh Rocher, now that Poitou has finally agreed to friendly terms with the French conquerors, turns his diplomatic skill to Poitiers. Progress is made, but the city fathers still harbor some mistrust, and a hope that Aquitaine may yet be reborn. Vauderre de Montcontaigne continues to service the Prince's Crusade. Jacques-Andre Jacquemin is given escort duty. First, princess Constance travels to Swabia, where a defensive pact is arranged during her marriage to the Emperor. Next, Burgundy receives a visit and the hand of Eleanor, a rare beauty among the european court. An Enhanced Military Alliance is arranged between France and Burgundy through the marriage. Jacques-Andre returns to Paris, where he takes on administrative duties. Sadly, they prove to be his undoing, and he perishes in 1184. Crown Prince Charles comes of age, his father granting him an official position at court. The army of Aquitaine loyalists in Orleans, after fifteen years of accepting bribes from the French crown, turns to trading and establishing villages rather than the heat of battle which drove their initial fervor.

 

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

The Grand Duke orders the Intel capabilities expanded. He personally adds five-hundred cavalry to his six-thousand in the homeland, and stands ready in Reaction, Lord Guy acting as his second in command with another five-thousand men. A new Royal Road stretches down to Perpignon, greatly improving communication within the Duchy and easing the burden of the infrastructure. Gold continues to be sent to Sicily and the Prince's Crusade. Rudolf the Younger steers the government from Worms, dallying much with his stunning French bride, though no children yet result. Thomas and Tillamok continue to ease tensions in conquered Aquitaine.

 

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

Missionaries see significant success in Gascony, only the upper nobility still retaining ties to the Casildan faith. Back in Aragon, one-thousand cavalry are raised fresh. King Adolpho rules his realm, siring a son and daughter. Prince Adalberto spends time in New Castille, smoothing tensions with the conquered region. He takes ill late in the cycle and does not recover. Lords Guilliame and Suare entreat likewise in Gascony. Finally, Lord Elroy protects Catalonia, defending the region until age takes the better of him. He retires to the countryside.

 

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

CENTRAL EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	83mi, 41mc, 8ms, 35mw, 5mt
AQRs:	i5, c5, s5, w5

 

 

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

The nation sees many internal improvements this cycle: Cavalry Quality, Intelligence Capacity and Assassin Effectiveness. Ten light warships are conscripted for the navy, while a new port fortress is built to overlook the capital city. The beginnings of a postal road are laid across the mountains and into Oopland. The King orders trade reopened with Bohemia, and a new route to travel to Bavarian Krakow. Brandr attempts to bring the word of Christ to the Ooplanders, but has no success. He returns to Christiana, and founds the Osloviken church. Prince Sverre is tasked with administrative duties and the teaching of Magnus, another brother to come of age and be appointed an official position. Sverre complains bitterly that he was not allowed to lead the delegation to Hergelad, the honor instead going to Prince Sigurd. When Sigurd returns without any sort of agreement, despite arranging a marriage to the King, Sverre demands to lead the next delegation. For his part, Sigurd travels to England, where he marries the Princess Helen, arranging a Trade Partnership agreement. Lord Torsson takes twenty-seven warships and reacts out of the Viking Bank, later traveling to the Shetlands to set up a specific defense of the island. Harald Fredrikson takes command of a thousand infantry and cavalry, reacting out of Oopland and Chrstiana. Lord Terje takes reaction duty in Farsund at the end of the cycle, eight-hundred troops at his command. The Allies from the Faeroes and the Feudal Lord of Oopland both react from their regions.

 

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

Taking the lead from the Norweigians, Swedish Cavalry sees improvement as well. King Njord spends his time at the reigns of the government. Prince Halvar goes on reaction in Uppsala, commanding five-thousand infantry (including eight-hundred newly built) and two-thousand cavalry. Some of the military foodstuffs becomes tainted, and a few soldiers perish, including Halvar himself. Janne Rorholm commands seven ships, traveling to explore the Bay of Tunis and Sea of Lybia. Lords Birger, Stuer and Gunanr and the allies from Saarema and Musa all travel to Estonia. The host convinces the region to completely join the Kingdom.

 

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

Helsingborg and Handel are the cities to see enlargement this cycle. Twelve Cogs are brought to service and pressed into Internal Trade. Monies continue to be gifted to Sweden and the Popular Crusade. King Erik continues to run the administration. Crown Prince Michael joins in the governmental duties, finding the time to add two sons to his family. Lord Thomas aids the pair in the tasks of shuffling papers. Lord Pedar defends the region of Latvia until age catches up to him. Lord Sven reacts out of Denmark.

 

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

Infantry quality improves. Adelbert Graf Schonburg takes ill and does not survive the cycle. No representative is sent to the Council of Augsburg.

 

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

Twelve-hundred cavalry are raised for the Duke, with four field forts raised in Nordgau. Lord Otto escorts a bride to the County of Flanders. Lord Aurel is quick to gear the nation for war, gaining Casus Belli against the Duchy of Swabo-Lorraine. Lord Hans has less success trying to broaden the conflict to include Bavaria, his untimely death doesn't help matters. Unsurprisingly, no representative is sent to the Council of Augsburg.

 

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

Dresden abandons its tenuous ties. The government infrastructure expands to better make use of the trade city. The army is increased by seven hundred infantry, two hundred cavalry and three engineering companies. The Duke comes of age, his regent stepping aside without issue. Gold is ordered sent to the Popular Crusade, with agro being sent south to Bavaria. Vilem Rozmberk almost rallies the nobles to join the war against Thuringia, but they stop just short. Vilem then reacts from the homeland with fifteen-hundred troops. Karel Zerotin sets up a robust defense of Meissan with twenty-five hundred men. Petr Vitkovec defends Bohemia with twenty-eight hundred. No representative is sent to the Council of Augsburg.

 

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

The influence of the Bogomils in Slovakia is thoroughly crushed. Three-thousand cavalry are raised. Duke Conrad steers the government from the capital. Prince Albrecht arranges a marriage between Maria and Radbot of Slovakia. The latter becomes a Prince of the realm, and Slovakia joins fully in the Duchy. Radbot perishes shortly after the conflict in Nordgau. No representative is sent to the Council of Augsburg.

 

Duchy of Swabo-Lorraine
( Augsberg in Swabia )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Emperor Gerhardt I

One-thousand cavalry and four field forts are raised in the homeland. Lorraine sees four field forts, eight-hundred infantry, a siege company and its fortress strengthened by an additional guard tower. Agro is sent to Bavaria. Prince Ludwig is chosen to represent Swabo-Lorraine at the Council of Augsburg. The Emperor busies himself with switching a a fishing fleet to internal trade services, having a daughter with his new French wife, a failed appeasement attempt to Flanders, and defending the city of Augsburg. The Emperor contracts two-thousand mercenary infantry and one-thousand mercenary cavalry out of Augsburg for the coming cycle. Arnulf the Bearded, the Flemish lieutenant, perishes in prison.

 

The Imperial War of 1180
Duchy of Bavaria & Duchy of Swabo-Lorraine
vs.
Duchy of Thuringia & County of Flanders

Lord Roland sails from Augsburg with a dozen warships, plundering the trade routes out of Frankfurt. The entirety of the trading vessels he seizes, however, are English in origin. Surprisingly, the merchants do not complain to the English King.

The Bavarians gather south of Nordgau, four leaders (Lothair, Guntram, Ludwig and Radbat of Slovakia) with seventy-five hundred infantry, fifty-eight hundred cavalry and five engineering companies, then strike straight north into Thuringian territory. Count Henry of Flanders utilizes the new Defensive Pact with Thuringia to react with fifty-nine hundred cavalry, Duke Sieghard of Nordgau disgorges from the capital with his own twenty-three hundred infantry, seventy-six hundred cavalry and four engineering companies. The Flemish-Thuringian Allies field every advantage except for battle intelligence and overall quality (which are even). The Bavarians are pinched between both armies and simply mown down. Allied casualties number three-and-a-half thousand, but the field is carried, with Guntram of Bavaria being taken captive.

The Allies next respond to an attack into Hesse by Rudolph and Wolgang of Swabia at the head of only fifteen hundred men. The Swabians are wiped out, the two leaders fleeing back to the region of Lorraine without having destroyed a single allied unit. Lastly, Johann of Swabia marches into Franconia intent on pillaging the region. The Allies once again march in reaction, slamming into the three-thousand enemy troops. The Swabians are decimated, the allies losing only one unit of cavalry.

 

Elective Margravate of Tuscany
( Pisa in Tuscany )
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Margrave Michelino I di Siena

Intelligence effectiveness improves. Most of the national resources are spent on military expansions: four cogs, three light warships, eight-hundred cavalry and twenty-five hundred infantry. Other monies go to the County of Sicily. The Margrave rules from the capital. He collapses in 1183, lingering in a fever for three days before expiring. Michelino di Siena is elected to take the Margravate. The new Margrave remains in Algeria, accepting reinforcements to put his command to seven-thousand infantry, fifteen-hundred cavalry and three-hundred engineers. Ludovico Nicolo travels to Algeria as well, but he concentrates on diplomacy, smoothing relations with the region a small amount. Giovanni is dispatched as Michelino's second in command. Louis continues to clamor for war against the Tunisians, but the electorate refuses. The Margravate does not send a representative to the Council of Augsburg.

 

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

Religious effectiveness increases, though it does little for the attempt to eliminate the Bogomil heresy from Carinthia, luckily Papal priests are able to shoulder that burden. Consigliori Parinti quickly returns the region to a friendly status. Five cogs are raised in Venice proper. The Doge and Alberto Vocorra react out of the capital with just under three-thousand troops. Captain Guiseppe Lorca and Prince Alberto Vocorra ferry Popular Crusade forces to Lebanon, then react from the Gulf of Cyprus. Their one-hundred thirty warships and thirty-cogs are not tested. The allies from Forli, Romagna and Lombardy all react from their locations.

 

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

Thirty-five warships are conscripted and added to the navy. Nine field forts are scattered between the regions of the nation, taking advantage of recent advances in siege technology. Duke Alphonso steers the government, his wife presenting him with two sons. Prince Bruno's diplomacy is once again rebuffed by the citizens of Catanzaro. Lord Vincenzo defends the Baelerics with four-hundred horse. He perishes at the age of 58. Lord Richard reacts from Naples with three-thousand ground troops and over one-hundred warships at his command.

 

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

Count Simon returns to Palermo, reacting with his hundred warships. He orders another round of overtaxation on the realm, and this time the merchants revolt. The tax rate plummets, and ties with Geb-al-Tarik are lost completely. Prince John reacts with the ground forces out of Palermo. Countess Gertrude takes ill late in the cycle and does not recover. Twenty-five hundred mercenary infantry, and a like number of mercenary cavalry are contracted in Bone.

 

EASTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries
Troops:	38mi, 5mc, 5ms, 5mw, 5mt
AQRs:	i4, c5, s4, w4
Leader:	Shane Gallant [M877] -- Minimum Bid is 15 GP

 

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

King Miloslaw is finally able to assert himself at court, and the nobles withdraw their support of Kurgan as the High Regent. His first order of business is to expand the intelligence capabilities of the realm. Next, the cultivation of Danzig is completed. A good sum of money is sent to Kiev. Trade is opened with Flanders, before twenty-one cogs are constructed and pressed into Internal Trade. Crown Prince Oskar travels to Prusssia, negotiating a new Feudal Alliance. Prince Adalbert joins him and manages to spread a bit of the Holy Word in the region. Both men return to Warsaw to spend time with their women. Lord Pekoslaw goes on reaction from the capital with three-thousand infantry, one-thousand cavalry, ten engineering companies and twenty warships. Illness catches him in 1181. Kurgan is dispatched again to the West - he takes the young princes Ryszard and Sylwester with him. They attend two marriages in Bavaria, forming a Military and Open Border alliance. Kurgan continues into Swabia, going on defensive reaction with his thirty-two hundred cavalry. He expects to negotiate a third marriage, but discovers the bride to be is already happily married in Bavaria herself. After the German struggles wind down for the cycle, Kurgan makes the trek back to Warsaw. Jacek Bozek spends his time in Goryn, absorbing the region fully into the Kingdom.

 

Principality of Novgorod
( Novgorod City in Novgorod )
Eastern Orthodox, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Grand Prince Nestor I

The infrastructure of the government is expanded. In the military, advances are made in the quality of infantry. One-thousand infantry are immediately raised to take advantage. Novgorod sees two new guard towers set into the city walls. The Grand Prince returns to the capital, steering the government and siring two children. Lords Nevsky, Alexandir and Marlen take command of the main army, leading seven-thousand infantry and twenty-five hundred cavalry to attack the pagan regions of Daugava and Kur. Both realms are quickly conquered with only a dozen or so casualties to the Principality. Garrisons are placed in both regions. They return to Novgorod to go on reaction. Courland, distant from the capital, erupts into rebellion, overcoming the local garrison and ousting Novgorod control. The general army is too far away to respond.

 

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

Intelligence capacity increases. The road segment stretching into Kirivitch is completed. The Grand Prince remains in Kiev, steering the government and siring two more children. Yaropolk takes ill in Atelzuko, cutting short his efforts to convert the forest men. Symon in Suzdal makes no progress either, but Fedir in Turov gains some converts. Lord Yakiv and Marko of Atelzuko react from Chernigov with four-thousand troops,. Both catch a minor plague that breaks out in the region.

 

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

Lord Balasz perishes during a harsh winter in Transylvania. Warship quality advances.

 

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

Intelligence capability improves. The King completes the road upgrade into Dalmatia, the path now well worn by merchants from the capital seeking access to the Adriatic. He personally raises seventeen-hundred infantry, before marrying a young girl from among the local nobles. She sires him three children while he steers the government. All other national leaders concentrate on administrative duties in Croatia. The feudal allies react from their regions - Josef of Dalmatia passes on and is replaced. Frederick of Bosnia - a full ally - perishes as well. His successor choosing to lower ties with the Kingdom to economic alone.

 

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

 

Volga-Kama Bolghar
( Ukek in Urkel )
Sunni Islam, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Tigor Khan

Mordva continues to be put under the plow. The Khan raises a new five-hundred cavalry. He spends his time ruling from Ukek, taking a fourth wife (This time from Patzinak). He sires eight children this cycle among them. Karaca manages a Feudal Alliance with the Patzinak (despite a little competition with a Rum delegate), taking advantage of the recent marriage. Kadri's diplomacy in Levedia fares much worse. The pagan lord has him put in chains and displayed as part of his menagerie. Time will tell how the Khan reacts to the hostile action. Lord Hamid secures a Non-Paying Tributary agreement from Kirov. The Feudal Allies of Torki, Mordva and Saksiny all react from their regions.

 

MIDDLE EAST AND PERSIA

Mercenaries
Troops:	99mi, 32mc, 18ms, 26mw, 6mt
AQRs:	i4, c5, s5, w4
Leaders:	Zafir ad Balak [M678] -- Minimum Bid is 14 GP Seemaab [M752] -- Minimum Bid is 9 GP John Buckingham [M557] -- Minimum Bid is 12 GP

 

Khwarezmid Empire
( Khiveh in Khwazim )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Shah Hamid I

Infrastructure sees a large expansion while the quality of siege weaponry sees improvement. Four thousand cavalry are raised and placed under the command of Bilal ad Nirak (who reacts out of the capital). Twenty Cogs are constructed and placed on Internal Trade. Prince Qamar is tasked with Administration, at which he turns out to be effective. Lords Assam and Yalik travel to the desert of Scythia but are unable to wrangle any sort of alliance out from the few inhabitants. The Feudal Allies of Gurgan, Chorasima and Khazakh all react from their own regions. Both Bilal ad Nirak and Tayib of Chorasima perish by the end of the cycle from illness.

 

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

Missionaries are successful in converting the desert pagans of Avar. Neighboring Frunze is fully cultivated. Six-hundred cavalry are raised in the capital. Four field forts are constructed in Kuldja. The Khan sires five children during his time ruling from the capital. Prince Khafiya collects garrisons from Uzebek and Tadzik, returning the Samarqand with two-thousand infantry. Omar Khayyám, Sammi and Afrasiab all react from Frunze with the support of the feudal lord of the region.

 

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

Cavalry quality sees improvement. The royal road stretching to Agri is completed. Prince Shaud and Lord Tughril are dispatched to the north, but are unable to secure an alliance from the region of Tabaristan. Lord Shukri takes command of ten mercenary ships and sails out to map the Persian Gulf, he is unsuccessful and a few of the ships are lost on the voyage. This does not stop the Empire from bidding on another contract of five warships and five cogs in Agri. Qadir of Zaros is allowed to marry Uzma, Shaud's only daughter. Qadir takes an official position at court, and Zagros is fully absorbed by the Empire. Qadir perishes a short year after the marriage. Shamisha of Khvor and Alizedeh of Dasht’e Lute defend their Feudal territories.

Sultan Zeeshan perishes at the age of fifty-eight while steering the government from Esfahan. Shaud is the legitimate heir, appointed by Zeeshan previously. However, Shaud is in his sixties and has no male heirs of his own. Lord Tughril takes advantage of the solitude of their diplomatic mission in Tabaristan to attack Shaud in hopes if claiming the crown for himself. Tughril does not count on Shaud's skill with a blade, and finds himself guided into the next life. Shaud rushes back to the capital, arriving a month before Shukri arrives from the South. Both attempt to sway the large army in the city, but Shaud is victorious. Shukri is beheaded.

Still, some leaders in the east attempt to distance themselves from the Empire, most notably the regions of Khvor, Dasht'Kavir and Khurasan. Alizedeh of Dasht’e Lute rushes to fight the rebels in Dast'Kavir, but his five-hundred men are no match for the thirteen-hundred rebels. Alizedeh is routed and flees back to his desert region. Khurasan is the next to oust the garrison of three field forts, followed by the city of Herat. Khvor dissolves its Feudal Alliance completely.

 

Rum Seljuk Sultanate
( Trebizond in Pontus )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Gdridg, Regent-Protector for
Sultan Shapur

Ariel is appointed the new Beg of Pontus and tasked with a Diplomatic tour of the North. The lords of Kuban, Patzinak and Alan are not impressed and avoid diplomatic connections with the underage Sultan. Hasan is appointed the Satrap of Galatia, and his own diplomatic actions in Lazica and Urnia fare similar to Ariel's efforts in the north. The Regent-Protector spends most of the cycle on administrative duties. The Feudal Ally of Pamphyla perishes of age and is replaced by his son.

 

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

A small team is able to infiltrate Lebanon and squirrel Pothmir away from his Crusader captors. Three-thousand cavalry are raised in the homeland. Majdi pokes around in Antioch, stirring up a hornet's nest of slavers that murder him in his sleep. He is replaced by Prince Firh. The Sultan, Prince Ghasib, Lord Tepir and Pahkmed of Circis set up the main reactionary force in Aleppo. Mohar of Palmyra stays with the Damascene host in Levant.

 

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

The infrastructure of the Caliphate expands. Seven thousand infantry are raised in the homeland. Prince Jibril is given an official position. The Caliph travels to Damascus, where he marries the princess Sazi, and cements a defensive pact with the Damascenes. Abd al-Khaliq and Prince Mu'ammar are unable to gain an alliance from Selucia. Al-Muqtafi is stuck with Administrative duties in the capital, which he does well. Wa'd abd al-Qadir of Dharan reacts from his feudal region. Three leaders (Sawwar al-'Abbas, Tamman ibn Mansur and Yunus al-Najjar of Diyala) travel west with with over ten-thousand troops to support their new allies in Damascus.

 

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

Like the Atabeg Pothmir, Sultan Rafidh is rescued from the rampaging Christians in Lebanon. Naval quality and intelligence capabilities improve. Fifteen hundred cavalry and one-thousand infantry are raised for the continuing conflict. Crown Prince Saleem is granted a full position at court. After the conflict with the Crusaders, Prince Fatim and Wajeed Alam perish from age. The city of Ali al Saleem is ceded to the Abbasids, but the city fathers refuse to recognize the claim.

 

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

Religious effectiveness of the nation increases and missionaries make a start in the conversion of Hijaz, swaying some of the desert nomads toward the Shi'a path. A new road winds its way into the Yemeni desert, while a Ferry Arrow is constructed across the Bab-al-Mandab to Zeila. The Emir travels back to Sana, steering the government personally. He takes a bride from Adal, where lords Hakim and Kasim arrange a Feudal Alliance. Hassan retires from Egypt, spending time collecting garrisons on his way back to Aden City. He ends the cycle on Defense at the head of twelve-thousand men. Bari of Zufar reacts from the region of Yemen with his thirteen-hundred feudal troops.

 

AFRICA

Mercenaries
Troops:	69mi, 71mc, 12ms, 63mw, 5mt
AQRs:	i4, c6, s4, w6

 

Nile Conflict of 1185
Kingdom of Scotland
vs.
Fatimid Caliphate

Some initial raiding and piracy by the Scots is abandoned due to a snag in acquiring the rutters of the Lower Nile.

 

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

Makurian agents burn some of the harvests in Faiyum, though the region is already stripped of most crops from the raiding years before. The Caliph finally confronts his regent-uncle, for the past few years he's been secretly hiring some of the best minds within the mercenary world. The grizzled veterans and commanders directly advise the young ruler on how to remove his regent from power. Unwilling to force a confrontation, his uncle backs down. The Caliph quickly orders two-thousand cavalry raised, and a new fortress to protect the region of Thebes. The Caliph personally implements changes to improve the quality of infantry. Al-Quddus is dispatched south with two-thousand cavalry, he presses into Dongola, but evades back into Thebes when the two Feudal allies in defense of the region intercept him. Al-Quddus avoids the thirteen-hundred infantry and eight-hundred cavalry in pursuit. Al-Quddus then sets up in reaction out of the new fortress in Thebes. Muhamad al'faruk reacts out of Mansura with almost four-thousand men. Al-Adan of Ad'iffah reacts from Egypt. Mohamed of Sinai reacts from Mansura. Murrafindo of Suakin defends Thebes.

 

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

Assassin capabilities and effectiveness both improve for the Kingdom. Two fortresses are constructed for defenses, one in Funj, the second in Adulis. One light transport is brought to service in Napata. King Moise declares two days of mourning for the recent deaths in his family, his own late wife Yahya, and his sister Sai. The King then sets of the the East with his brother-in-law Kudanbes, where he takes a new bride from the merchant lords of Danakil. Honored by the visit and marriage, the merchants become a full part of the Kingdom. The pair has less luck in Adulis, the region unwilling to increase ties at all. Lords Te' Yehuye and Niuty move to Kassala, reacting out of the region with three-thousand troops. Barshambu of Sennar is granted the hand of Princess Amai, gaining a full position in the court. As a result, Sennar fully joins the Kingdom. Ras Kasar of Kassala defends Dongola before returning to his region at the end of the cycle. Setit of Nubia reacs from his Feudal region. Toconda of Gezira joins in the defense of Dongolo, and stays there.

 

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

Religious fervor under the new Sultan increases among the people. Intelligence effectiveness also sees an increase. Nine-hundred cavalry are raised for the war effort. Maud travels west and entreats the Zirid to join the realm.

 

Roger's War of 1150
Norman County of Sicily and Serene Republic of Venice
vs.
Emirate of Tunisia

The City of Koirouan is the first place to see bloodshed. Instigated by the Tunisians, the city erupts in rebellion. Nine-hundred rebels assault the two-thousand man garrison of the Sicilians. Lord Rainuld and Alfonse of Valetta are in the city and move to engage. The rebel commander proves to be elusive and crafty, and despite losing more in raw numbers, keeps the Sicilians on the disadvantage. During the second round of fighting, Rainuld is wounded in a skirmish. Both Sicilians attempt to disengage, but they are cornered within the city. In a third round of fighting, Rainuld is killed outright, with Alfonse receiving wounds in the struggle. Down to three hundred men, Alphonse makes a break for the city gates, but these too have turned on him. Alfonse and the men are destroyed. The city reverts back to Tunisian control.

The Sicilians gain reinforcements in Bone, then three leaders set out to push into Tunisia. Prince Hector, Lord Thibadeaux and the Crusader Christian command a total of six-thousand cavalry (just under half of them mercenary), nineteen-hundred infantry and seven engineering companies. Awaiting them in prepared defenses are the Tunisian and Fatimids, benefiting from a newly renewed Defensive Pact. The Emir and Lord Omar command sixteen-hundred cavalry, two hundred engineers and benefit from two field fortifications. Al-Yabbir and Mohammed of the Fatimids lead almost three-thousand cavalry, two-hundred infantry and six engineering companies. Emir Zulfikar has chosen his defense perfectly, and he benefits from a robust battle support by his intelligence corps. The Sicilians are crushed - Christian is killed in an early fight and things just degrade from there. Zulfikar wastes no time in chasing the routing europeans. The forces of Islam lose only three-hundred of their cavalry.

 

Almoravid Sultanate
( Fez in Morroco )
Sunni Islamic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Sultan Usman ibn Baqi

The Sultan takes a direct hand in the government, shortfalls continue to hit the national investments, and a level of bureaucracy is lost entirely. Prince Ruh is sent to Chelif, where he arranges two marriages, one for himself, and one for the Sultan. He cements a Tributary agreement. Lord Salah gains an Non-Paying Tributary agreement and two more wives for the Sultan from Zirid. He would have gotten more if not for Tunisian competition. Mukhtar of Merrakesh travels to Morroco to protect the homeland with his allied units. The Sultan sires six children with his four wives, though young Munira drowns in her bath when she is only three. The ex-Sultan's marriage with Sicily lapses, and the Sultanate falls out of a state of active war with Tunisia.

 

 

SECRET ORDERS

 

The Popular Crusade
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Grandmaster Olf Sorenson

Order agents are able to found a new cells. Siege Quality improves for the Crusaders. Twenty-seven hundred cavalry are raised and placed under the command of the Grandmaster and Hans Gunsberg. They collect an additional three-thousand troops and march south, getting a lift in Venice to the Gulf of Cyprus. Both leaders join the defensive forces already stationed there. Gunther Rasputin attempts to summon order aid from five different nations, but is only successful in recruiting cavalry from the Duchies of Thuringia and Bohemia.

 

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

Ten light warships and one-thousand infantry are raised. Two sections of walls are quickly erected around As-Sur. Lord Peter ferries the new infantry under Commander Conrad to Lebanon. He returns to Europe and founds a cell. Justicar Roland stays busy founding a new Temple until his death in 1183. Papal missionaries make progress in Lebanon.

Support from the English first arrives in the form of a naval raid against Aleppo with by Baron Luc and his twenty warships and eight cogs (To carry the loot). The Baron runs smack into the the coordinated armies of the Atabeg Sultan. The Muslims show no mercy in hunting down the raiders, chasing them to the shore and burning or capturing most of their ships. Luc escapes with only four of his Cogs remaining. He abandons further plans for pillaging. A second English leader, this time Bishop Stephen of Canterbury, disembarks in Lebanon, then immediately raids the neighboring region of Syria. The Atabegs and Damascenes utilize their Defensive Pact and react to the region. Once again, the English forces are annihilated, the Bishop himself among the dead.

The Abbasids march onto the scene in the Levant. Sawwar al-Abbas stations himself in the region, reacting with Damascene forces with his fifteen-hundred cavalry. Tamman ibn Mansur leads seven thousand infantry and four engineering companies. He and sixteen-hundred allied troops under Yunus al-Najjar of Diyala gear up for a liberation attempt into Lebanon. Fariq al Yelek and Zafar al Rashid of the Damascenes join them with three-thousand infantry, seven hundred cavalry and eighteen companies of engineers.

Awaiting them are the combined forces of the Prince and Popular Crusades, plus a contingent of Byzantine leaders and troops. All told the defenders are eight thousand infantry, thirty-seven hundred cavalry and seventeen engineering companies. The battle is well organized on both sides, the forces and leadership are relatively even. Only the defensive posture of the Crusaders grants them the advantage. The battle itself is very textbook, neither side gaining a stunning victory or massive defeat. Fariq al Yelek of Damascus is wounded almost on the first day. Shane Gallant is captured after thwarting a press by Yunus al-Najjar's Cavalry. The Muslims are forced to break ranks first, and take an orderly march back into the Levant to rest. Seventy-three hundred muslims lay dead to sixty-five hundred Christians.

The Muslim allies march back into the cedar groves to confront the Christians. This time, the distance and supply issues for the Byzantine and Popular troops become an issue. The Crusaders find themselves steadily pushed back. Cavassilla of the Byzantines is wounded, he and his men falling back to the safety of As-Sur. Tamman ibn Mansur floods into the gap with his remaining infantry, getting behind the Primas and his lines. Communication is cut of between the Christian Allies, and they scatter for the city walls of As-Sur. The Muslims reap a deadly harvest, losing almost a thousand troops, but taking four times that from the allies.

The Muslims draw siege lines, encasing the city as much as they can without a navy. Tamman orders an active engagement of the walls, hoping that the decreased morale of the Christians will tell. With the switch to a siege battle, the Muslims now hold the superior forces. The Christians sill hold superior leadership (Both in skill and in number of commanders) but supply issues still harry them and the advantages to both sides are dead even.

The first engagement mirrors that, both sides giving and taking during the conflict. The greater numbers of the Muslims giving them a slight edge in inflicting casualties. The second round of fighting does not go nearly so well for the Muslims. Primas Richard orchestrates a break in the walls, and Tamman orders his infantry into the breach. Heavy, Byzantine foot soldiers are waiting for them, and wade into the lighter Abbasid troops with abandon. Tamman is able to pull his men from the deathtrap, but only after half have been slaughtered.

The Muslims are willing to sacrifice almost all of their troops and push for another attack, even though their numbers are now in the minority. Tamman is much more careful this time, and slowly begins reducing the Christian defenders, keeping his casualties low. He's hit by a lucky arrow while overseeing one of the final pushes, and falls back to Lebanon. Feeling he's risked his life enough for his allies, he turns over his remaining men to the Damascenes. Half of them desert immediately, but the rest are folded under Fariq al Yelek. Sixteen hundred Muslims remain in Lebanon, Fifteen hundred Christians defend As-Sur.

When the Abbasid leaders return home, Yunus al-Najjar of Diyala retires from service, his region reverting to a Tributary agreement only. In As-Sur, Primas Richard grows sick and slips away after two weeks in a delirium. Peter is invested as the new Primas. In Damascus, the captured mercenary commander, Shane Gallant, agrees to work for the Damascenes for five years in exchange for his freedom.

 

The Reconquista
Roman Catholic, Tech Level 004 - Civilized
Giorgio El Cid

Infrastructure for the order increases, doing much to help the tax rate. Siege quality also increases at a very timely moment. Thibault and Ramiro II raise another four hundred cavalry and four engineering companies. They merge forces, leading a total of three-hundred crusader infantry, fifteen-hundred cavalry and seven engineering companies into Granada. They crush the six defending field forts while losing only three siege companies. Next the regional fortress is struck. Thibault is lost with an entire company of engineers during the struggle. Ramiro lastly sets his sights on Cartagena, moving to attack the city with his remaining forces. After six months, the city is taken, the last of the siege companies used up the the attack. Ramiro is able to free the Order Commander, Diego, but he is weak and illridden. Before his death, Diego grants Giorgio of Apulia a high ranking position within the Order, and upon Ramiro's own death in 1184, he takes leadership over the entire Order.

 

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

Both wings of the government expand. Infantry and Cavalry quality advance. Old Man Qadir and Mufadda combine to raise a Temple. As do As-Salem and Khaled. Nagib founds a Cell, perishing shortly thereafter. National Imams succeed in founding a new cell in Africa. Agents in Rhodes set fire to a few minor Byzantine granaries.