Newsfax, Turn 2 (start of 405 CE through the end of 408 CE)
- Note: You are encouraged to submit text for inclusion in the newsfax,
which may satisfy your need for propaganda, creativity, or fun.
- At the bottom of the newsfax is a
rules
hint, usually a
choice nugget right from the GMs rulebook.
As made traditional, here is my egocentric attempt to impress/nauseate you
with music listened to while working on the turn:
- www.radiok.org
- Tool - Opiate
- Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus
- Sneaker Pimps - Becoming X
- Black Flag - My War
- Ramones - Rocket to Russia
- Al Perry and the Cattle - Cattle Crossing
- The Sundays - Blind
Generally eastward starting with ...
Central Asia
Hephthalite Khanate
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Khan Kiliciler Diplomacy: Ferghana (F), Issyk-Kul (F)
Missionaries were sent into the cities of Boqara and Bactra. These
extolled the virtues of Tengri the Sky-Father, Nachigai the Earth-Mother,
and the spirits yer-sub. The city folk regarded these men and
women, clad in hides and furs and talking with rustic accents, with a mixture of
amusement and horror: amusement at their obvious naiveté, and horror
at what the shamanic effort represented.
For indeed, the Khan was a busy man, a man of organization. On leaving
the city of Bactra to the sullen cheers of weavers rounded up for the
occasion, he camped among the shrubs and rocks for several nights, cloistered
in a felt tent with a number of shamans, enarees, and counselors.
After an evening in a close tent with fuming sacred seeds and flowers
of various kinds, Kiliciler emerged with a vision.
His cousin Bulang was named High Shaman of the new religion of Steppe
Shamanism. Bulang shared with his clan-brother the nature of a
compulsive organizer, and quickly moved to set up shop in Talas
(see Steppe Shamanism below).
Pleased with his vision, the Khan moved quickly to convert the Sogdians
of Kara-Khitan at swordpoint. The Manichean priesthood preached
resistance and sacrifice, and a rebel army arose. Or at least it
tried to. The minghans of horse archers seemed able to smell
disloyal villages, many of which were left smoking shells filled
with bodies, the nomad warriors grinned through their mustaches at the
small precious items and attractive slaves slung over horses.
By the end of 406 the army of the Khan moved from the farms and qanats
of Kara-Khitan and into Maracanda. The citizens there had heard tales
from refugees, and when the dasturs urged them to uphold the
gathas these same priests were rounded up and presented before the
Khan for his pleasure. The armed struggle was short, brutal, and
the locals were soon singing the praises of Tengri in converted
agiaries. Or at least so it sounded to the Mongol-speaking shamans.
Prayers to Umai were remarkably similar to those to Anahita in Maracanda.
Not content with temporal affairs, the Khan commanded a reorganization
of his ministers along Persian lines, leading the ilkhans to
burn lamps far into the night. More power was thus concentrated
in his hands, leading to grumbling among some of the darughachi
and bahadur. But as they valued their lives, these dared not
oppose the Khan.
Steppe Shamanism
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Primate Religious Authority)
Bulang Sechen, High Shaman
Diplomacy:
Setting up shop in Talas, Bulang realized what a monumental task was
set before him. But with the help of all the yer-sub he
knew success was without question.
Kushan Empire
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire) Kapisa II,
Kidarite Shao Diplomacy: Gandhara (PT), Kapisi (UN)
A new son brought joy to the royal household. He was especially
appreciated as several other infants of Kapisa did not make it to their
first birthday. The mihr of Kapisi died of a flux one late autumn
day in 408 AD, and the city burghers decided to back a new leader who
would pursue a more independent course. Otherwise life was quiet among
the valleys and peaks of the Kushan realm.
Oghuz Turk Realm
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Khan Sonqur Diplomacy: Ghuzz (A), Saksiny (P)
The khan weds a Ghuzz princess, drawing those Turks into his orbit.
Known for her skill at both hunting snow leopards and weaving rugs, the
new khanum saw her first three children die in infancy. More death was
seen when the Kama Bulgar khan passed away during a kvass
drinking bout a moon before midsummer, at the tender age of 29. Factions
immediately began wrangling, and after several duels and a poisoning
the khanate went independent.
The khan of the Ob clans, by contrast, died in a hunting accident and
was peacefully succeeded by his nephew.
This did not put Sonqur in his happy place, and the people of Saksiny were
treated to a visit. After a short campaign across the grasslands of
the countryside and the rich farms in the Volga delta, the local lords - a
mixture of Alans, Huns, and Turks - were all either killed or captured,
their palisades burnt and pulled down, their families hunted down like
animals and killed in the fields.
One side effect was effective control of the hidden landings and tiny
ports at the mouths of the Volga, ending piracy in area waters. A less
favorable one was the undying enmity of a few survivors of the purges.
One of these, a teenage boy who had disguised himself in the loose robes
usually worn by aged widows, sprung up and buried a knife in the neck of the khan's
cousin and heir, Yosef. The boy was captured, and on the death of
the prince he was beheaded.
Juan-Juan Khanate
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Sho-luen, Kha-Khan Diplomacy: Tanu (A), Altai (F), Zaysan (EA), Wusu (FA), Dzamin Uud (UN)
The Kha-Khan of the Juan-Juan took a different approach from that of
the rebel Hephthalite nation to the west. Rather than crushing opposition
under the hooves of his army, Sho-luen decided to grant greater
autonomy to a Mongol and a Turkish tribal sub-federation (see
Eastern Mongolian Kingdom and Eastern Turkish Kingdom).
At the same time, more governmental power was aggrandized to the
center. As in Transoxiana, this caused substantial controversy.
Not enough, however, to dissuade a number of khans from joining under
the horsetail banners of the Juan-Juan. The Altai khan indeed gave over
his daughter, Shilen, to wed the kha-khan's son Ogodei. Together the
nominally happy couple travelled to the local court in Wusu, where
the new princess gave birth to a daughter. Shortly afterwords, in
the later summer of 406, Ogodei had a spasm while falconing with some
of the local lords. Taken back to the yurt, he awoke blind the
following day. Back at court, he suffered another attack, trembled,
and then was still. The very next day, the Khan of Dzamin Uud, Kitbuqa,
fell into a ravine while hunting, broke his leg, and died at the young
age of 28. The young khan's family decided that given all the changes
in the realm they would just as soon leave it, and they did so at
the annual kural.
Almost a year later ilkhan Toghrul fell ill with a fever and
quickly died. These were troubled times in the khanate.
Eastern Mongolian Kingdom - Juan-Juan Sub-Khanate
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Component Nation)
Khan Juchin
Diplomacy:
As part of the Juan-Juan imperial reorganization, a number of Mongol
clans were given autonomy. This includes the regions of Shangtu, Ch'in,
Hsiung'nu, Wudah, and Tari-Nor. Some of the younger gur-khans grumbled
at the poor lands their new kingdom held. But the elders merely pointed
south and smiled, shaming the lads with the traditional prospect of
their peoples.
Eastern Turkish Kingdom - Juan-Juan Sub-Khanate
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Component Nation)
Khan Altketin
Diplomacy:
Similarly, a Turkish realm was created within the Juan-Juan confederation,
consisting of Ayaguz, Uigur, Henyitin, Tamarin, and Kerait, the home of
the royal clan. Altketin already has his eyes gleaming at the prospect of
yet more power within his grasp ... All this while pledging an oath
of anda forever to the Juan-Juan.
Tu-Yu-Hu Kingdom of the Aza
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Khan Khri`brin Diplomacy:
Gur-Laq began to look with interest to the troubled provinces of the
empire. But getting his clans in line for action proved more difficult
than he at first thought.
Such were the diversions of the leader of the clans when in the spring
he took ill. Convulsions and fever tormented him, and after four days
Gur-Laq died at the age of 41. As he had no children, the nation was
thrown into turmoil at the prospect of the younger brother, Khri`brin,
becoming khan. The Tsinghai khan would not stomach this, and sent a
messanger to court with a broken jar, signalling his rebellion.
Bayan Kapa also left the kingdom
The new khan gathered the troops, made them pledge anda to him,
and left things as they stood.
China
Chinese Buddhism
(Chinese Buddhist Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Master Lo-Wang Diplomacy:
A minor scuffle over doctrinal matters in various translations of holy
texts from India occupied the entirety of the Master's time.
Chinese Kingdom of Annam
(Daoist Civilized Open Empire) King Ma Yueh Diplomacy:
Ma Yueh knew that everyone and his brother had declared themselves
"Emperor of China," to no great effect generally. Thus he
wisely aimed a bit lower. The self-declared king invaded Korat,
rapidly wiping out opposition before moving on to the greater challenge
of Nan Chao. Quite aside from the military aspects, attacking a province
held - no matter how nominally - by a claimant to the former Eastern Ts'in
throne produced political challenges.
As is well-known, the people of Nan Chao are a rebellious and unruly lot,
and consequently the Han garrison was always large and well-lead. Thus
it was that the Annamese army found itself facing not peasants with
weak bows and fire-hardened sticks, but over 6000 regulars, many in
fortified positions, many green, but all well-armed with crossbows,
halberds, or spears.
Opposing Ma Yueh was the young general Cheng Pu. Looking over the enemy
dispositions, the king could see his enemy had studied the classics. But
so had Ma Yueh. He placed a force of archers before a set of fortified position
in the valley of the Yuan river. In a wood one li to their rear
he hid a large force of armored and light horse, flanked by various
foot troops.
The crossbowmen advanced at a walk, and were quickly exchanging shots
with the enemy. After a few minutes they turned and ran pell mell for
the river, leaving the field. Cheng Pu sent his raw halberdiers and
spearmen, along with some hundreds of supporting missile troops, out to
pursue the archers. The enthusiastic men marched at double speed out
from the palisades towards the mob of Chinese Annam men nearing the
river. Suddenly a yellow flag waved from the wood edge, and the fleeing
archers turned and began to shoot at their pursuers, who pulled up and
began to mill about.
Exploding from the wood edge were nearly a thousand heavy horse and
double that number of light cavalry. They covered the distance to the
now-terrified enemy in what seemed like no time at all. Despite some
attempts at defense, the infantry were surrounded and wiped out to a
man in less than an hour.
Seeing this display, Cheng Pu threw himself from the observation tower
onto the stony ground below, dying instantly. A small party of officers
approached the king and placed their swords at his feet, and
performed a proskynesis in the dirt. Ma Yueh knew honorable men when he
saw them, and bid them take up their swords and former positions. In
these days of changing loyalties, one dared not trifle over past
injuries.
Thus Nan Chao came into the hands of Chinese Annam, though the city
of I-chou remained under local control.
Daoism Temples
(Daoist Civilized Primate Religious Authority) Ko Chao Fu,
Ling Pao Master Diplomacy: Wu (CH), Hupei (CA), Hunan (CH),
Ch'ang-sha (CH)
After much prayer, the Master decided that Ghangde would be the host
of a new religious complex. To be built on a grand scale,
the spirits of the
Tao Immortals are
purported to dwell within the beautiful province of Ghandge.
This wilderness region, bordered on two sides by mountain ranges
and another by a Dongtung Lake, is perhaps the most beautiful,
serene place in all of China. Blessings and healings have long been
attributed to several sites, and the promotion of the new constructions
by the many lesser masters has lead to a steady increase in
pilgrims to this region.
Ko Chao Fu shrewdly distributed aid to more than one party in the
succession war in the Middle Kingdom. His mission is, after all, a
broad one to the people.
Eastern Ts'in Dynasty
(Daoist Civilized Open Empire) K'ung Ti, Emperor of China Diplomacy: Sung China (C)
Pacing in his tent, K'ung Ti waited for the roads to clear. Already,
Funiu, Hubei, Hwai had revolted, and his army was trudging through
Tsainan at a pace that to him seemed as slow as pressed rice. How many
more rich provinces would split away?
"Calm yourself, brother," said Wu Ti. Among his young
staff and brother princes, only Wu Ti showed the calm resolve of their
father, his wide brow unmarked by material concerns even when damp
from sword practice. Though still a teen, he provided a keel for the
ship of war rowing for the pretender's city.
"So you say, so you say," was the reply. "Our snake of
an uncle! What might he
be doing to our capitol even now? Must we destroy the city in order
to save it?"
Laughing, Wu ti said, "You will make a poor immortal, I think.
We will attack as we must, kill as needed, and suffer when it comes
to us, so that the Empire might be reunited. The war is against Chaos,
brother. Never forget that."
The emperor did not, as usual, see the wisdom in these words, and was
delighted when the province of Anhui was entered in the spring of 405.
What awaited him a week later was less pleasing. An army of well-trained
horse, foot, and engines faced them across the Chi River.
The opposing commanders were the pretender Tsu Ti, general Cheng Du, and
the reknowned commander Liao-Hua, coordinating the defense from Chien-K'ang
by semaphore and runners.
The huge imperial army was, however, quite up to the task. Swarms of
rough-terrain troops advanced left and right, securing the fords on
the enemy flanks before the heavy troops across the river at the
bottom of the shallow valley. Tsu Ti's front line of interspersed cavalry and
armored crossbowmen took a toll on the advancing imperials, but were
overwhelmed to front and flank within an hour. The commanders and some
of the remaining troops fled the
pursuing horse, and the victorious army held the field with the loss of only a
few thousand effectives out of an army exceeding 100,000 men.
Screening the fortress of Quanjiao, the vast force closed in on Chien-K'ang,
though it failed to encircle the capitol. A small force of boats and
river ships was sufficient to keep the place supplied from across the
Yangtse. Unable to starve the capitol out, the Emperor decided on a siege,
and lines of approach were quickly dug to move this forward.
It was at this point that three remarkable messages were brought to
K'ung Ti on the same day. The first was that scouts had found an enemy leader wishing to
defect. Brought before the makeshift court within a red silk tent far
beyond stone-shot of the opposing walls, general Cheng Du had little to
say. When asked why he wished to change sides, he only proferred a
soiled letter.
It was from his younger brother, Cheng Pu, garrison commander in Nan Chao,
urging him to remain loyal to the imperial line, and to support
K'ung Ti to the fullest. When the Emperor had put the letter down,
the general said, "Your brilliant victory over Tsu Ti convinced me
that you had the mandate of Heaven, and I did not follow the other
commanders into the capitol. I am now before you, my lord,
pleading only to assist you in correcting my mistake with my small
abilities." Cheng Du bowed his head.
K'ung Ti smirked and said , "And you are now to be trusted, eh?"
Before he could continue, Wu Ti interrupted him. "In these times,
one must forgive," the young prince said. Looking at the
general, he said, "I will vouch for this one, brother. He will not
leave my side. Please spare him. A sword in our hands is one less
for the enemy."
And so Cheng Du came to assist in the siege of Chien-K'ang, under the
eye of one of K'ung Ti's aides, because later that day another messenger
arrived at court. While the first had been ruddy cheeked and smiling
after a quick run in the summer's heat, this one walked as if wearing iron boots. He handed
a scrap of paper to the chamberlain and stolidly waited near the door.
The sad news was the death of Wu Ti, killed when a load of catapult stones
he had been overseeing suddenly came loose from its wagon and crushed
him. The Emperor, in a rage, had the engineers and sutlers attached to
the failed vehicle beheaded on the spot, then called for Cheng Du to come
forth. "As my brother called you his friend, you will be
spared," he said. "But
you will lead tomorrow's attack on the western gate. Either you will
enter the city, or your head will be mine." He dismissed the general
with a wave and laid plans for the attack. Whether tears would come he
knew not, but the city would be his!
After this blow, the post rider arriving later that night was received
without alarm, despite his ominous news. A Yen army had crossed
the Huang Ho with scores of boats and thousands of troops, intent on
conquest in Shantung and Tsainan. K'ung Ti heard the report, but
was not listening, and dismissed the court as it ended. Everything in
its time, he thought (see Later Yen below).
That night, as the Emperor set flags to the northern mansions of the Void
and the Wall, his light troops approached the walls with bows and
light spears. Cheng Du and his picked force of armored men approached the
Green Gate along a small ravine he knew well. As the sky brightened
from the east,
a barrage of the wall began from the Eastern Ts'in lines. Large stones
and spears smashed into the walls, splinters occasionally pinging off
helmets of Cheng Du's men. Another force, mainly light archer volunteers
from Szechuan, ran up to the gate and tried to force it open with a
number of logs and iron bars. Many quickly fell to shooting from the
parapets, and dropping their loads they began to flee.
From the postern came a number of men eager to prove their mettle
in hand-to-hand combat, racing down the road. Cheng Du nodded, and
several men raced from the ravine and up to the door. Yelling a
password, they were admitted. The general counted to ten, then ordered
an assault on that same door. When the defenders made to close the
small portal, the Eastern Ts'in troops already inside began hacking at
them from behind, and the door, then the main gate, were opened.
K'ung Ti nodded soberly, and ordered more engines brought forward to
clear the walls flanking that gate, and further troops sent to that
sector. His brother, as usual, had been correct about the rebel
general. Had he seen his own fate, and moved to ameliorate the loss?
The emperor shook his head and rode forward to see the battle more
clearly.
Within the city, the Eastern Ts'in troops steadily expanded their control
from their breach at the Green Gate. A sudden counterattack lead by
the pretender himself caught the disorganized entrants off-guard, and
thousands fell in the lanes as they milled about. Tsu Ti had ordered
many stone-throwers concealed on these streets, and their shots killed
or wounded handsfulls of men with each stone.
It was then that prince Zhang Ti, heir to the throne, brought up his
guard and many of the Eastern Ts'in engines. Set up near the gate,
they managed to silence a number of the enemy machines, and the fresh
troops, lead by the prince, charged the banner of the pretender. A
Southern Ts'in crossbowman hidden on a rooftop managed to send an arrow
through the armore of the Prince, who slumped among his guards.
Alarmed, Cheng Du rallied his few original men with the cry, "To
the Prince!" and they clattered up to him in their battered
armor. Just in time, they arrived to find Zhang Ti still breathing
and in serious danger of capture. The general organized a hedge of
spears and halberds as the prince was carried away to the rear with
an arrow protruding from his back.
Above the melee, Tsu Ti happened to see Cheng Du among the enemy lines.
Enraged at his betrayal, the pretender ordered his guard forward into
the mass of points. The Eastern Ts'in ranks countercharged, and the
two forces met with a shout and an loud clanging. Cheng Du saw his
opportunity to prove his loyalty to the emperor, and personally charged
into the enemy ranks. His inspiration caused his men to rally, and
very quickly the lane was filled with bodies and fleeing foes.
The general turned to give an order to regroup, then whipped his head
around. Was that ...? He leaped over a few bodies, then pulled
another still-groaning enemy soldier off another pile. Under him,
stunned, was Tsu Ti himself. Cheng Du laughed to the sky and pulled
the man out. Truly the gods were smiling upon him today. He ordered
the pretender trussed, gagged, and sent to the emperor for his pleasure.
Rumor of the capture spread throughout the city and both armies. Before
the day was over, Southern Ts'in general Liao Hua, who had repelled
numerous attacks all along the wall, surrendered. The Daoist
priest aiding the Southern Ts'in, Yi Ji offered himself up if the enemy
would agree to spare the few hundred civilians crammed into his offices
for safety.
Before the next moon Chiang Hsia, Chien An, and Wu abandoned
the pretender's cause, but did not join another faction, preferring
instead to wait for events to further reveal the fate of the empire. The
garrison in the fortress of Quanjiao also decided that the winds had
changed direction, and surrendered. The Da Wang of Chekiang, Count Hsia,
quickly abandoned his positions in Hupei and marched his troops home
to await events.
Spending only a few sleepless days in the capitol, K'ung Ti marched on
the heavily-fortified province of Hupei. His brother was left in the
capitol to recover from his wound, and to oversee the government while
the war continued. As it happens, the defense of Hupei was poorly
lead, and after dozens of strongholds had been reduced after fierce
fighting, the remainder were abandoned, their garrisons attempting to
slip out to rebel-held territory. But the pickets of light horse,
and especial the few hundred Mongols, were quite effective, and many
heads were returned to the main camp.
The leaders of Chiang Hsia listened to the reports of the imperial
army with no small fear. Yet their loathing for the leading house
keeps them from submitting when the emperor's herald reads them his
proclamation of "lenience." The gates are shut, and the
intact body of the messenger is flung far over the city walls.
Before the spring of 407 is over, it is the city leaders who are flung
to their deaths from the few remaining covered walks on the wall. The
emperor makes a short tour of the streets and plazas, past ruined
houses and shuttered windows. Neither pleased, happy, nor satisfied,
K'ung Ti is relieved to at least feel that his anger is banked. Thus
the city is not treated to wholesale fire and sword as the emperor's
carriage leaves.
While strife and death took center stage, the Taoist sage Mi Zhu was sent
by the emperor to convince the Sung "Emperor" Ma Ch'in (late
of the Eastern Ts'in army) to, as Lao Tsu might say, "Imbibe the
elixer of Inner Alchemy," and rejoin the empire. At Pienching,
the sage was introduced at court, and there he remained for the next
several years. Though not particularly interested in spiritual matters,
Ma Ch'in was no fool, and took the opportunity to delay the imperial
army.
After the fall of Chiang Hsia, the veteran general listened more closely
to the priest's words. In the end, he decided that, yes, K'ung Ti had
the Mandate of Heaven, but that the role of the Sung within the Han
sphere was as yet undetermined.
Khanate of the Hsiung'nu
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Bulinger, Khan of the Hsiung'nu Diplomacy:
With the pressing business of consulting his astrologers and caring for
his hunting birds, Bulinger found himself quite without time for the
mundane matter of governance.
Korean Kingdom of Koguryo
(Chinese Buddhist Civilized Open Empire) King Kwanggaet'o, the Great Diplomacy: Silla (EA), Bandao (T)
The Great King and his son wooed Silla, while general T'aejo spent a
little time with the khan of Bandao. Kwanggaet'o was well-regarded, but
the general is perhaps not best suited to diplomacy. His rude comments
about Chinese "provincials" did not go over well, and Bandao ceased military
cooperation with the kingdom. The city of Choson Mon was founded in
Anshan with much fanfare - the fishing village got an upgrade.
Later Liang Kingdom
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Lu Kuang, Emperor of China Diplomacy:
There was little news from along the Silk Road.
Later Ts'in Dynasty
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire) Yao Hsing "the One-Handed", Emperor of China Diplomacy:
Yao Hsing awaited the next blow to his little empire. He did not have
to sit still in Houma for long (see Toba Wei).
On return to the ancient capitol of Chang'An, the emperor began to
receive reports of unrest in the provinces. Chinling, Han Tung, and Shentung, never
happy under his rule, sent the Ts'in advisors packing. The city of Pan
decided to leave the empire, preferring to test the open waters rather
than stay in the defenseless harbor of the Later Ts'in. Long-sufferring
Huang sent a deposition of refugees to declare their love for Yao Hsing,
despite his lack of any troops to protect them.
(Hou) Later Yen Dynasty
(Asiatic Pagan Civilized Open Empire) Mu-jung
Ch'uei, Emperor of China Diplomacy:
The head of the Mu-jung considered the Toba Wei. They neither planted nor
did they sow, and yet their harvest was glorious. Not to be outdone,
he ordered greater military effort. Indeed, rather than kicking a
weak neighbor, Ch'uei decided that the greater glory lay in conquering
the greater enemy.
Thus on a crisp clear spring morning in 405 a force of boats carrying horse
and foot crossed the Huang Ho. There was no opposition, as the people were
still rejoicing over their liberation from the chaos of barbarian rule
and political strife. Their fate, however, was to once more feel the
sting of the northerner's lash. By the spring of 406 Tsainan and
Shantung were entertaining Yen garrisons, and general Bailao Qu'li was
able to cross the cold waters and return home with reports of victory.
Of course Ch'uei was pleased. However, unlike general Bailao he had
not seen firsthand the crumbling and charred ruins of the once-mighty
cities of Lu and Kuang-ku. The general made sure that his family had
their overnight bags packed, and had passage to Kogoryo pre-paid. He
suspected that taunting a rhinoceros was not the path to peace, and
was relieved that the beast was otherwise occupied (see Eastern
Ts'in above).
Southern Ts'in Empire
(Daoist Civilized Open Empire) Tsu Ti, Emperor Diplomacy:
For Tsu Ti, the good life of servants, concubines, acrobats, and
all-you-can-eat pork ended far too soon (see Eastern Ts'in above).
By the the autumn of 408 only Kiang'si and Taiping remained loyal to his
cause.
Sung Kingdom of China -Tributary of the Eastern Ts'in Empire
(Daoist Civilized Component Nation) Ma Ch'in, Sung King Diplomacy:
The wiley general decided that perhaps the gods were indeed with the
bigger brigades, and nominally accepted the embassy of the Eastern Ts'in
emperor. Thus he is now a king only, and awaits developments, not to say
the imperial army.
Toba Wei Empire
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Toba Kuei, Emperor of China Diplomacy: Houma (PT)
Toba Kuei was pleased as he rode through Huang at the head of his
army and clan. It was late summer, and his eyes took in the abandoned
and scorched villages, wrecked paddy walls, and burned orchards. With
time, he thought, this land may come to look as it should, filled with
grass for my horses.
By the following spring, his army had entered Houma, and was somewhat
surprised to find Yao Hsing "the One-Handed" and his Later
Ts'in army opposing their advance. Conferring with his staff one
hot and humid evening over rice wine, the gathering agreed that they
were not impressed with the opposition, and that their own Chinese
troops should take the brunt of the fighting.
A light but steady rain turned the southern slopes of Xicheng Shan
treacherous. The enemy army was arrayed with the mountain at its back,
flanks screened by woods, and small stone throwers dispersed before
the armored spearmen in the center. Distracting Yao Hsing's center
with horse archers, Toba Kuei sent his crack light troops through the
woods to his left. When they made contact with the Later Ts'in
flank, the emperor ordered a general charge of his heavy infantry -
all of whom were veteran Han troops - supported by his Turkish lancers.
Pressed to front and flank, the local troops broke and ran immediately,
seeking shelter up the mountain and into the wood. But these were already
held by yet more Toba Wei troops, and were cut down as they ran. Only
the leadership, who had wisely (as it happens) held their command tent
well to the rear, escaped, first to Ch'ang-tzu, and then upriver to
Chang'An.
Leaving a strong garrison under Prince Lai Hsiang, the emperor made a leisurely progress through
his new tributary on the way home. Although that weasel Duke Bai had
escaped, Kuei held his lands and family. A particularly pliant
nephew was determined to be suitable, and was set up as the local
vassal.
Western Ts'in Empire
(Asiatic Pagan Civilized Open Empire) Mu-lien, Emperor of China Diplomacy:
While not admitting it, Mu-lien was afraid. He wondered when the Toba
Wei would begin to hit his small nation.
South East Asia
Cham Kingdom
(Hinduism Barbarian Open Empire) King Bhadravarman, the Great Diplomacy:
The king tried to enjoy life, at the urging of his counselors, but
found the hole in his spirit difficult to fill.
Chen-La Kingdom
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire) King Pendravarman Diplomacy:
Pendra passed his days in art and literature at court.
Khmer Kingdom of Funan
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire) Korn Danh II, the
Great, King of the Mountain Diplomacy: Tamara (F), Perak (A), Kataha (EA)
The Great King decides that he needs to oversee his realm. Thus
Prince Norodom Huoth goes on a charm offensive. In Tamara he promised
to increase the size of the city. In Perak he offered himself as a
groom for the poetic-if-plain daughter of the local king. And in
Kataha he wooed the city with his sheer magnetism. He was in each case
successful, and was by 407 the happy father of a tiny girl. Tamara also
became majority Hindu in the process.
The fishing and smuggling village of Thorn Sap in Siam was suddenly set
upon by royal engineers, priests, and workers. Soon the place was
reorganized, given a King's Charter, and new streets were laid out. While
some bemoaned the loss of critical habitat, most rejoiced at the prospect
of trade, entertainment, and security.
Kingdom of Tarumanegara
(Buddhist Seafaring Open Empire) King Purnavarnam Diplomacy:
Purnavarnam spent a great deal of time fishing at the end of the dock.
Malayu Kingdom
(Buddhist Seafaring Open Empire) King Malangavarnam Diplomacy:
Malangavarnam spent a great deal of time playing the new dice game from
India, chess.
Pyu Kingdom
(Buddhist Civilized Open Empire) King Kyanzittha Diplomacy:
The court of Kyanzittha was unable to attract the sages, singers, and
philosophers necessary to truly shine.
Japan
Emishi Lords
(Asiatic Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) King Ashitaka Diplomacy:
Ashitaka reached into the water, grabbed the stem of the plant, and pulled.
While he was a king, these few moments in the wild, even to find his own
wasabi, were worth the slight loss in regal appearance. Since his vision
in the woods some years ago, his nobles were more tolerant of these
journeys.
He smiled, wondering how many of them even knew the names of their
food preparers. Basket full, he bowed to the cold stream and praised
its produce. As he lifted his head to leave, he saw a small white child
just across the rivulet. No, it was not a child, he thought, as its
little face rotated like a slow water wheel. A closer examination made
Ashitaka suddenly hold his breath, eyes wide. A tree spirit, then. Just
as he realized what was happening, the figure did a slow backflip into
the woods and quickly disappeared.
A sign, surely, he thought during the short ride back to camp. But
of what? Good luck in war? Children? Calamity? Or was this an omen
without meaning?
The Emishi army travelled the length and breadth of the realm. The king
ordered that the people were to gather in Akita before the final push
south. Though some doubted the wisdom of leaving their mountains,
fields, and woods for the "better life" in the south, few
denied their lords request, and they did gather in their thousands.
Lady San and her sons welcomed them, and when the horde passed on
into Toyama and the wasted lands of Lady Moro the people saw the pain
caused by the Yamato army, and were by turns fearful and outraged.
In the spring of 406, just as some of the bare branches in the mountains
began to put on their green garments, the Emishi moved into Yamato
province. With the fleet covering their approach, the thousands trod
on or near the shore, planning to pass through Tsuruga, whose villagers had long
since moved out of the way of this human tide.
Scouts returned in the evening and reported that Tsuruga was now a walled
village bristling with Yamato soldiery. After consulting with Lady San
Ashitaka ordered a general halt - in the case of this army that meant
stragglers would be brought up to form a rough front, screening the
fortified village and stretching to the foothills.
Dawn saw the thousands of Emishi families in a roughly barricaded
position in the wooded foothills, which served to provide a secure
counter to the Yamato-held Tsuruga. A mob of archers, many with hastily-built
mantlets, surrounded the landward palisade of the port, with some
nobles in support to their rear. Reaching from them up to the woods was
an assortment of archers, some with swords drawn up in an approximation
of ranks, a total of around 20,000 armed Emishi with another 40,000 cranky
mothers, children, and the elderly.
Facing them was a Yamato army of only about 10,000 effectives, lead by
Crown Prince Ojin. In command of the large contingent of uji horse was his
sister, Princess Jingu Koga, at the head of her maiden guard. The army
was the Chrysanthemum Banner,
arrayed in Korean-fashion with the conscript spearmen in ranks separate
from the cavalry, who held the flanks. A large contingent of settled
Emishi crept through the woods on the right (east) flank. The troops were
in rather thin ranks to match the barbarians' frontage, but Ojin was not
overly concerned. Man-for-man his troops were better, of course, than
this rabble facing him. But there seemed to be so many of them.
The action opened with a challenge. Lady San of Nigata sent a man forth
with the demand to meet the princess in single combat, so that they might
not miss the opportunity of determining the name of the finest warrior
in all Japan. Her elder brother forbade such a practice, but his staff
began to grumble that to deny this barbarian wench her due would make
the rankers feel they were bested by her. Sighing, he agreed to his
sister's demand for blood.
As the shadows of the foothills shortened, the two champions trotted into
the no-man's land between the lines. Jingu Koga reined in, pulled out a
scroll, and began reciting a poem in Chinese on the sweetness of life.
As the sing-song tones reached the ears of the advancing San, she
muttered, "Oh, now I'm scared," kicked her horse into a gallop and
knocked an arrow.
The princess gracefully replaced the scroll in its case, prodded her horse
into motion, and prepared to shoot at her same-age opponent. The next
several minutes were later recorded by the poet Amari in his famous work,
"Point Dance," as the two challengers exchanged arrows and guided their
horses this way and that, alternately pulling up, galloping, or turning
quickly to avoid points and feathers. Lady San was the first to realize
the futility of these maneouvers, and stuffing her bow in its case
drew her sword and charged.
Retaining her composure, Jingu Koga let loose one last shot before
drawing her sword. Due the closing range her arrow found its mark in
San's lower leg, but soon enough they were at blows. Each stroke by
one was blocked by the other, ripostes turned away, as the horses
snapped their teeth as the opportunity arose.
Every throat yelled encouragement to the combatants, who could only see
a blur of blades and slowly turning mounts. The two women broke off
for a moment, panting after the effort, both horses and riders worked
into a lather. A dozen meters or so separated them when Jingu Koga
nudged her horse forward. To her surprise the steed fairly leaped at
the enemy rider, allowing the princess to get an unblocked stroke at
her opponent's head. Lady San's Korean helmet partially blocked the
blow, but she immediately faded into unconsciousness.
The princess jerked her horse to the right and raised her sword to take
off the head of the barbarian. She had however turned too rapidly
and her saddle strap slipped on the sweating horsehide, sending the
young woman to the ground. At the sound of that fall, San's horse
perked up and raced for the Emishi lines. Distance concealed the vile
oaths from the princess as she stood and wiped the mud from her
embroidered tunic. Then, suddenly smiling, she vaulted into the saddle,
turned and bowed to the Yamato lines. The conscript spearmen erupted into
screams of approval, and the entire line surged forward of it own.
With a fresh horse Jingu Koga rode towards the sea, taking command of
the stronger flank's cavalry. As Ojin sent runners left and right to
dress his advancing lines, the horse charged the Emishi archers
between them and Tsuruga. Like boiled rice between two stones, the
barbarian archers were crushed, a few survivors squeezing out the sides.
Alarmed at this development, Ashitaka finally succumbed to the entreaties
of his staff. Fire arrows, long-prepared, began to rain down on the
pallisade, both from the rude siege lines and from the port, where the
Emishi fleet lay at anchor. Flames erupted at once from behind the
high walls, and men began to emerge from a gate on the side facing the Yamato horse.
Many of the warboats pulled into the harbor and disgorged sword-wielding
nobles onto the one dock and wide beach. Swarming inland, these quickly
overwhelmed the defenders and the Emishi were in control of Tsuruga.
They were however soon forced back out into the harbor as the flames approached
them. Scores became lost in the small town's narrow lanes and were
felled by smoke and flame.
Now that the port was held by neither side, Ashitaka ordered a general
advance, and the two lines closed rapidly. Scores of Yamato spearmen
fell to archery, but soon were up against the barbarian swordsmen who had
worked their way to the front. Unseen by these were Jingu Koga's cavalry,
who had reformed themselves away from the flaming ruin and now charged
into the flank of the barbarian line. Hundreds fell in a few minutes
before Lord Tatari finally brought up his reserve archers to threaten
the now-disordered cavalry. Horses blown, the princess ordered her
command to fall back.
To the surprise of nearly everyone, the sun had set, and each side retired
go their own camps. The entreaties of the wounded on the field filled
the night, as the smoldering town cast a faint blood-red glow upon their
final moments. This scene, and his appraisal of the numbers remaining
to the barbarians caused Ojin to order a withdrawal of the
Chrysanthemum Banner that night. The
horse screened the move, but they need not have bothered. The Emishi
were in no condition to follow up their shallow victory - they held the
field, but at what cost?
After a few weeks the Emishi began an advance south towards
Naniha. After their bloody victory, the barbarians spread out across
the landscape, raiding peasant farmer pantries and under only loose
clan control. They were in no mood for subtlety. The counterattacks
began a month later. Quick strikes by forces of a few thousand horse
supported by light troops on foot and some infantry riding double
slowed the advance to a crawl. The usual result of a given attack was
the annihilation of the specific Emishi troops who were targeted. Winter
came on, with the migrating horde taking shelter as best it could.
Jingu Koga lead a night assault on the migrating Nigata tribes, who
were lead by the Lady San, in the spring of 406. Yamato horse had captured all the barbarian
scouts, and an hour after sunset the circle closed on the camp. Fire
arrows appeared out of the wood near the tents, followed by thousands
of men with swords. Despite her protests, Ojin had ordered his sister
to put all the Nigata to death, and the slaughter continued until dawn
revealed the magnitude of the carnage. Individual warriors, and
the elderly and children in heaps, littered the field, some in the
smoking ruins of occupied buildings, others in charred tents and wagons.
The body of Lady San was found that afternoon next to a pile of
small bodies. The princess ordered the body of the Lady laid to rest in
a stone cairn, and herself engraved the barbarian's name on a stone
at the top. The other tens of thousands of remains were piled and
burned before the corps moved on.
By the end of the year the Emishi had been chased back over the mountains
into Toyama. With the death of nearly all its peasants and nobles, Nigata
dissolved into chaos and left the realm.
Yamato Japan
(Shinto Civilized Open Empire) Nintoku, Kima of Wa Diplomacy: Aichi (F)
The mission of Soga Tomomochi to Aichi was a complete success, and after
many years the local lords agreed to fully acknowledge Nintoku as their
master. The Kima of Wa was pleased at this news - at least one of his
plans had gone right. With his troops ready for the expected barbarian
assault, he had hopes that his honor would be preserved (see Emishi Lords above).
In other news, we have the following from Nintoku:
"The Land of Nihon is sorely beset. The rising sun has shown calamity, not our usual good fortune.
Irrigation works of a 100 years have been swept away by the unthinking, rapacious barbarians of the North.
We are a peaceful nation of rice farmers, fisherman, and traders.
rice patties, letting pedigree grains of a 1000 cross-breeding become rice cakes gulped by untrained and unappreciative palettes.
Ojin, as my son and heir, you will command the Chrysanthemum Banner. Princess Jinga will assist you.
Together you are charged with the defense of the nation, and the smiting of our unworthy foe. Ojin, you are the future Kima of Wa,
and you hold that future in your hand. I command you to WIN. I will remain here to prepare Nihon for the struggle to prevail, and to assist you. Nihon did not seek this war, for we love to trade with all. The ending of the war, however, will be of our choosing."
And as well ...
News release: Naniha, Nihon: Toho Bussan Kaisha Ltd filed for bankruptcy after Northern barbarians killed the entire production
work force, destroyed the entire irrigation system of the firm's rice patties in Kwanto, and stole the cross-breeding stock of
Toho Research Farm. Toho Calhikari (the 6th generation of Toho Bussan's sons to lead the firm) stated "We worked so
hard to make our firm the best. Now we are ruined. I will atone to the ancestors for my failure to arm my workers."
His ritual suicide the next day made a deep impression on the populace of Nara.
Western Europe
Alamanni
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Arbogast, Rex Diplomacy:
The winter passed too slowly for Arbogast. His ale, meat, and bread did
not satisfy him. Hunting through the snow did not bring the thrills
and focus of the past. Several trips to the Rhine brought some relief,
as he was able to see Roman lands just across the ice floes. When this
ice cleared, he was already working on routes, logistics, and tactics.
He would not be denied again, he swore.
The people of Swabia were mustered and told that they would be moving
south. A few groused about this, but most knew that their future would
be brighter across the Rhine - assuming they survived the trip.
From Worms, the gathered barbarian host, numbering around 150,000, began
marching for the great river one moon past the spring equinox festivals.
Crossing on boats and rafts, picked warriors stormed the limes
at several points and established beachheads for the rest of the force.
From these the three main armies, Alamanni, Frank, and Burgundian,
spread out across the landscape of Germania I. One by one, fortified
manors, newly-walled villages, and rebuilt palisaded forts were
reduced with fire and sword. By fall it was clear that no relieving
force was going to appear (and in fact Frankish reinforcements crossed
into Germania I late in the year) and that the barbarian losses were tiny
compared with the number of sacked strongholds, so the remainder of
the fort commanders surrendered, many swearing fealty to the Germanic host.
With the onset of winter, the barbarians settled into the countryside,
living off the produce found there, plus what grain and flocks had come
with them. The leadership deployed their warriors with an eye to meeting
the inevitable Roman response. The city of Trier, and the legionary
fortress at Moguntiacum, were placed under a loose cordon but were
otherwise ignored, the barbarians clearly unable to organize effective
sieges of either place, and perhaps understand the importance of walled
positions. In any case, the Germans found this frontier province no
longer the fertile land of grace seen in their previous incursion.
And indeed, the real power in the West, Flavius Stilicho, Magister
Militum per Gallias, watched events around Trier with great interest.
His force had been gathered at Augustodunum just before the first
snows fell, and decided to wait for spring rather than risk a winter
campaign in Germany - even Latin Germany. Stilicho had over 70,000
men at his back and was confident of eventual victory. When the sun
passed through the First Point in Aries, the legionaries, auxilia
of various sorts,
equites (mainly masses of equites sagitarii), and divers
soldiers marched up the road towards Trier. The
troops passed the site of Julian's great victory over the Germans two
generations previous, and Stilicho used this to rally his troops under
the chill grey skies of spring.
By June the Roman army had begun pushing German warriors from the
recently-fortified town of Noviomagus. The light horse were especially at separating
out individual small warbands, surrounding them, and then annihilating
them. Then the auxiliaries began attacking the town walls, and were
surprised to be facing Roman-outfitted men speaking German and Latin.
After a day and a night, Noviomagus fell, and Stilicho was already
making his next move as the sun set.
At dawn a runner arrived at the command tent with the news that
there were barbarians on all sides. The Magister Militum per Gallias
felt his blood chill at this news, and snippets of veterans tales of
the Adrianople debacle floated in his head. But he despatched these
with a will and began to send scouts to see the enemy dispositions. His
Master of Horse was brought in and queried as to why the enemy, almost
entirely mobs of foot, could surprise an army with thousands of light
horse. Sweating, the officer replied that the Prince had issued no
orders regarding pickets, and standard orders for light horse were, well,
weakly written. Stilicho realized that he had never before tried to
single-handedly manage such a large army, and his stomach sank at the
thought.
The Frankish army lead the assault on the Roman camp just after sunrise,
with the larger Burgundian and Alamanni forces completing the
encirclement in echelon. This boxed in the equites sagitarii
and rendered them far less effective. By noon the Franks had been
thrown back from the Roman camp, and more warriors fell to horse
archery in pursuit. Both armies then paused, with some light skirmishing
continuing into the evening as bravos from each side - but mainly the
Germans - sought personal glory.
The following morning it was the turn of the overall German commander
Prince Otto of the Alamanni to be surprised, as the Roman army had
issued forth from its camp and was marching on his position. Stilicho
had realized that a prolonged siege of his camp would be a poor use of
an army dominant in cavalry. Thus he resolved to punch a hole in the
barbarian circle, pour his horse through it, and roll up the enemy
flanks.
That was the theory.
The Burgundians and Franks quickly collapsed in on the quick-marching
Latins, then slowed as equites ranged up and down their fronts firing
into the dense masses of warriors. Nearly every arrow felled a warrior,
since most of them were protected only by a shield of variable
quality. Stilicho ordered the foot on either flank to charge in order
to avoid the slowly advancing Germans. The pressure was too much for
the Alamanni, who fell back fighting. The Roman Prince ordered the
flank troops to not pursue, but to fall back to cover the left and
right.
And not a moment too soon, as the Burgundians and Franks smashed into
the quickly reformed auxilia having pushed the horse out of the way.
There the slaughter was tremendous, and in many places entire
centuries went under to swords, spears, and axes. But always the
lines would somehow reform, flex, and press back on the disordered barbarian
ranks. By nightfall the Germans had fallen back and were marching away
towards Trier. Nobody followed them. Stilicho was far too worried
about counterattack and ambush to order an active pursuit. Some
15,000 Roman troops lay dead or wounded in the fields around
Noviomagus. The Prince knew that his army had sufferred a Pyrrhic
victory, and he also knew that he had to use this army to drive the
Germans back across the Rhine. Returning to court with an intact
enemy in Gaul might give his enemies just the fuel for the fire of
his immolation - literally, not just his career.
Meanwhile, a Frankish army under Crown Prince Merovech had marched
into Germania I, wintered there with his father Clodius, and in the
spring into Belgica I. Though no legion troops held
the province, a substantial force of latinized Germans and retired
legionaries paid by the major local landowners mustered to oppose
the barbarian force. Despite the efforts of the mercenary captain
Severus, his troops were not up to the task in either numbers or
quality, and fled their posts on mere rumors that the enemy were in
the area. Severus went under, defending the large fortified house
of the magnate Salacius. Having secured the province Merovech
settled down to enjoy the fruits of victory - and the grape. The local
people found the barbarians far less barbarous than had been feared,
some few - none of them large landowners - even agitating in their favor.
Thus it was that the defeated German host had a ready refuge. For
while the rest yearned to go home, the Alamanni king would hear none
of it. The barbarians fell back to Belgica I, and once more dared the
Romans to come and get them. The army of Merovech was vigilant at keeping
their retreating comrades safe from any possible pursuit, and a defense
was quickly established in the captured province.
In the spring of 407 AD the remaining legionaries and the rest of the
army crossed into Belgica I. Near the town of Aquae Granni
waited the German army. While the previous year both forces had
been of roughly equal size, now the barbarians clearly outnumbered the
Latins. And while the mass of light horse quickly managed to control
the countryside to either far flank, the hard core of the barbarian
force was very large, thousands of shields in myriad patterns facing the
Romans.
Within the day, the armies faced each other in two lines. Otto had
placed the rear of his polyglot force on Aquae Granni and the
Alamanni families, who had put up a hasty defense of wagons and tree
limbs. As the enemy light horse began to pick at this formation,
a great roar arose from the German ranks, and they charged at the Roman
center. Stilicho was surprised at this tactic, since leaving a
prepared position with enemy horse to your rear was something even
barbarians avoided. A general counterattack was ordered, the measured
pace of the Roman lines contrasting with the onrushing front of the
trotting German nobles in the front ranks of the other line.
The Roman line dissolved across most of its length. Knots of auxiliaries
found themselves surrounded and many of these went down under the tide
of cheering Germans. Tired nobles fell back to be replaced with fresher
if poorly equipped warriors to continue the carnage. At one point
Stilicho found himself trading sword-strokes with two of these youths,
but dispatched them easily before some of his auxilia palatina contingent
came to his rescue. Fortunately the light horse broke off harassing the
women and elderly, and began peppering the rear of the German
formations. Stilicho mounted his horse and rode from left to right of
what remained of his line, ordering a fighting retreat. Many equites
fell to Alamanni arrows or were surrounded by lightly-armed barbarian
youths with poor complexions and worse attitudes.
This was partially successful, and by nightfall the Romans had fallen back
to their previous night's camp. The place seemed strangely empty, since
only around half of the men who had quartered there that morning
returned to sleep on the same ground - those that could sleep, that is.
A few priests moved from tent to tent, giving last rites to the dying,
and what comfort was to be found in scripture to the rest. Despite
their exhaustion, thousands of light horse patrolled outside the pallisade,
keeping emboldened Germans at bay.
Most of the barbarian host had meanwhile dissolved into a cheering mob,
Franks and Burgundians and Alamanni exchanging greetings and smiles before
looting the bodies of Roman troops, capturing stray horses, and pillaging
abandoned wagons.
The remains of the Roman army fell back to Trier. A summons from
Honorius's court for the immediate presence of Stilicho was delayed,
and finally he averred, saying that he needed to stay and monitor
the barbarian force in person. This was not well-received back in
Mediolanum, but the emperor was not of a mind to press the issue just
yet (see Western Roman Empire).
Kingdom of the Alans - Civitate Foederatae
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Component Nation) Xerxes, Shah Diplomacy:
The shah decided that the course of his fathers was wisest, and took his
people across the Danube and away from the inexorable Hunnic advance
(see the Western Roman Empire and the Empire of the Huns).
Angles and Jutes
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) King Aethelred Diplomacy: Skane (EA), Halland (EA)
Aethelred, and his young son and heir Hengist, headed into Upper Scandinavia
to look for friends. Despite their insistence on bachelorhood, they
managed to bring new lands under their sway. It did not escape notice
that the local pirates kept their boats away while the Angles' fleet
was filled with warriors.
Asding Vandals - Societas Imperii
(Arian Christian Barbarian Open Empire) Godegisel, Rex Vandalorum Diplomacy: Rugians (A)
Wagons of grain arrived in Alba Iulia from across the Danube, much to the
joy of the people. More worrisome was the arrival of thousands of Rugians
at the frontier (see Rugians).
Burgundians
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Gunther, Rex Burgundorum Diplomacy:
Several gold solidii can have an amazing impact north of the
Rhine. Thus it was that these and silver miliarenses brought
down Gundioc - after a fashion.
A rumor spread over the winter that the loss to the smaller Roman force
the previous year was preordained, that opposition to the Emperor was
futile, and that Gundioc and his anti-Latin policies would have to go.
This gained traction among many veterans as they discussed "men's
things" over sour beer in smokey hovels.
Matters came to a head one February 14, as Gundioc was ambushed on his
way to the outhouse by several well-armed lads. But the king of a
barbarian land did not get that position through Socratic dialog, and
dispatched the brigands, though it was a near-run thing. He managed to
beat out of one of them that his little brother, the Crown Prince,
had paid for the deed.
Aware of the general growing unrest, he saddled up with a few
retainers and went on a "visit" to the Suevi court.
What most people did not realize was that Gunther was extremely upset that
the plans for the next crossing of the Rhine did not include him. Without
a chance to prove himself in battle, how could he gain the respect of
the clan leaders? Gundioc would have had him stay at home, with the
women, and organize peasant labor projects. Bah! The new king had the
Roman-paid troublemakers rounded up and executed, then set about organizing
the spring expedition into Germania I. The mutinous troops were swayed
by the young king's arguments that he was giving them a chance to
retrieve their lost honor by leading another invasion, and eagerly
switched goals without a thought for their previous demands.
Observers in Trier sighed at this traditional barbarian behavior, but
could do little except make preparations.
When Gunther's fellow royals from the Alamanni and the Franks arrived at
Worms, they did not bat an eyelash at
the change in leadership or its manner. Such things were traditional,
and he was lauded for his energy and courage. When spring came, the
army packed up and marched south (see the Alamanni).
Classical Pagan Oracles
(Classical Pagan Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Sibyl Diplomacy:
In their small numbers, worshippers continued to attend the temples
of Jupiter and Minerva.
Eire Kingdom of the Scots
(Keltic Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) High King Donald I Diplomacy:
After their raid on Aquitania, the Scots began to wonder where else
the empire might be ready for revolt.
Franks
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Clodius, Rex Diplomacy: Westphalia (F)
Prince Merovech paid a visit to the Westphalians, to urge them to join
him in the glorious march into Gaul. After a few days in their lodges
he noted their rude appointments, and boredom with his comments. The
following day, he began to talk up the rich lands seen in the last
Frankish journey across the Rhine, the fat cows, the fine fabrics,
and the silver. This got their attention, and within a few weeks he
had convinced their king to swear fealty to Clodius and send his men
to join the Frankish army. Together they marched to meet up with the
rest of the barbarian forces.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the ferocious Frankish warband was lead into
Alsace to meet up with their brother Germans (see Alamanni).
Frisians
(Arian Church Barbarian Open Empire) King Durc Wolfsen Diplomacy:
Hengist was not worried, though most men would have been at least
concerned. After finding himself a captive of the Frisians after the
battle of the IJssel (see Turn 1 newsfax), and the obligatory abuse
at the hands of his captors, life had taken an unusual turn. And he
had Bishop Cethegus of the Arian Church to thank.
After being chained up in front of the Frisian royal stables for a week, he
saw Cethegus urge King Durc treat his prisoner in a manner more fitting
to his station. While not close enough to hear him, he saw
the bishop gesturing slowly with his hands, first pointing to the sky,
then to Durc, then shaking his head. Before the next watch Hengist
found himself behind the wooden "castle" of the Frisian king
being cleaned up, his wounds cleaned, and a fresh tunic and pants laid
out for him.
Over the next two years many things changed in his life. The captive
learned that his son and heir, Aesc, had not even inquired as to a
ransom, and was now ruling as king. Hengist was not angry, as any
barbarian warleader would hope his child would grow to be as ruthless
and powerful as possible. But neither was he as happy as he might
have hoped, and a creeping sense of bitterness came to him as he thought
of home. Had he not provided for the tribe? What was missing?
Certainly the Romans had not come to his aid.
So many questions, but with the good Bishop Cethegus on hand to listen
and provide thoughtful answers, Hengist the prisoner slowly became
Hengist the convert. It helped that the court had also come under
the sway of the worshippers of what the Saxon used to call
"the Dead God," with some few even wearing crosses of various
sorts stitched onto belts, or as simple jewelry.
By now Hengist was no longer interested in escaping - he was more
intrigued by the thought of retaking his kingdom at the head of a
Frisian army. For his part, Durc was eager to do this, though
negotiating the details was not easy for either of them, accustomed
as they were to settling disputes quickly. Here again Cethegus showed
the way, and the Saxon was willing to at least nominally acknowledge
the suzereignty of the Frisian king, provided some sort of marriage
alliance was involved.
And so it was that when the last winter storm had passed in the spring
of 407 a great Frisian army headed up the coast towards the lands of
the Saxons. Through various channels Aesc was aware of his father's
imminent return, and gathered the warriors together to resist the
Frisians. After a few months the two armies met near Bremen, as the
Saxons had had to quick march from Lausatia, where he had just
convinced the locals to join the Saxon cause. With 2000 more warriors
at his back he felt ready to face his father and settle the matter of succession.
The two armies camped about a mile apart, Frisian warriors preparing
for whatever the morrow might hold. So it was with some surprise that
dawn saw a small party approach King Durc from the Saxon side. Yet
more amazement grew when the rider in the center proved to be Aesc
himself, unarmed and bound. As it happens, agents of the Arian
Christians had been working among the nobles to undermine what little
authority the young prince held. By the time the army had reached
the invaders, the clan leadership had decided that it would be better
to have Hengist and peace.
Lombard Kingdom - Societas Imperii
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Autharii, Rex Lombardorum Diplomacy: Thuringia (F)
The wagons moved north from Castra Regina, and Seniachus was relieved he
was not the Roman official in charge of sorting out that mess. Since
moving to live with his Lombard wife, he had enjoyed the slower pace of
work, more pleasant people, and fewer poisonings that went with
barbarian life.
Moving along a small stream, the peaceful summer scene cracked open with
the sudden sound of running horses from upslope. Stunned, the guards
grabbed at their spears, but it was too late, and most were run through
by what looked like Roman lancers. Only the word "no" ran
through his head as Seniachus dived into the back of the wagon carrying
most of the solidii intended for the Lombard king. He could hear
the sounds of death outside the canvas, and drew a long knife, though he
knew the odds were poor. He hoped the Flavia Aistulf had escaped.
A face appeared at the back of the wagon, an equite, and quickly
ducked away. Seniachus heard low talking, then the sounds of several
men walking around his wagon. He briefly looked heavenward, seeking the
Peace of Christ in what would be his last moments, then fingered the
stone medallion of Wotan around his neck. Many soldiers burst into the
wagon, grabbing at his arms. No great fighter, he only managed to nick
one of them on the forearm before he was subdued. The soldiers tied
him to a tree, then drove the wagons back down the road he had travelled,
back to Castra Regina. Aistulf and a party of Suevi nobles hunting
along the stream found him alive the next day.
In other news, the king married a young Thuringian princess, sealing
their membership within the kingdom.
Pictish Tribes
(Keltic Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Talorg Mac Aniel, King of the Cruithni Diplomacy: Strathclyde (F)
Following their rough handling by the Romans, the Picts turned their
attention to internal matters. Which is to say that the women who had
lost husbands, brothers, and sons a few years past were not about to
tolerate any more such suicidal tomfoolery, and told the king as much
on many occasions.
Quadi Clans - Tributary of the Hun Empire
(Arian Christian Barbarian Component Nation) King Vitalianus Diplomacy:
The Germans agreed to serve the Hun - for now (see Empire of the Huns).
Roman Christian Church
(Roman Christian Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Innocent, Bishop of Rome Diplomacy:
Tuscia (CH), Alpes Cottiae (CH), Genua (AB), Lugdunensis I (AB),
Maxima (CH), Alpes (CH), Sequanorum (CH), Samnium (CH), Lacetani (CH),
Saguntina (CH), Astigitanus (CH), Baetica (CH), Gades (CH),
Emeritanus (CH), Lusitania (CH), Scallabitanus (CH), Pannonia I (CH),
Carnuntum (CH), Slovakia (CH), Carpathia (CH), Transylvania (CH),
Banat (CH), Alfold (CH), Alba Iulia (CH), Savia (CH), Aquincum (AB),
Raetia II (CH), Castra Regina (CH), Novum Populi (CH), Tolosa (CH),
Burdigala (CH), Aquitania (CH), Lugdunensis III (CH), Portus Namnetum (CH),
Lugdunensis II (CH), Coriallum (CH), Parisii (CH), Belgica I (CH),
Britannia II (AB), Deva (CH), Londinium (AB), Gesoriacum (CH),
Menapia (CH), Germania II (CH), Colonia Agrippina (CH), Trier (MN),
Germania R. (CH), Argentorate (CH), Lorraine (CH)
Arbogast the Alamanni king did not wish to hear a message of peace,
eternal life, and sacrifice, especially from a Roman slave
(see Alamanni). Indeed, it was only due to the
intercession of the Frankish Prince Merovech that Bishop Ninian was not
crucified in a field in Gaul. He and his party were instead lashed
to the sides of their wagon and sent packing. A few barbarians who
followed claimed that the horses stopped after a time and chewed
Ninian's fetters loose. Most of these continued on with the holy man
and his aides.
Later, Irenaeus founded a church in Belgica I which proved quite popular
among those few who had seen or heard of Ninian's "Miracle of the
Draughthorses." It was one of many small churches founded all
over the empire, and a few without.
The religious brothers Honoratus and Caprasius have built a monastery on
the island of Lerins on the
coast of Viennensis dedicated to religious scholarship. A few whispered
that the real goal was to get away from the Germans.
Saxon Kingdom - Societas Imperii
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Hengist, Rex Saxonum Diplomacy: Lausatia (F)
Aesc could only hope for help from Mediolanum (see Frisians).
Whether he or Hengist will be acknowledged by the emperor is an
open question across the Rhine (see (i>Saxon Kingdom of Holstein).
Saxon Kingdom of Holstein - Societas Imperii
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Wig, Dux Holstein, regent for Aesc, Rex Saxonum Diplomacy: Rugia (A)
Far from the Frisians, Wig of Holstein visited with various clans in
Rugia and after several years of cajoling managed to convince them
to join him - er, the Saxons. His marriage to Hengist's sister,
Osburga, helped his stature in the negotiations.
Various disaffected nobles came to Wig and begged his help in getting
Aesc out of his predicament. Wig listened to many sides, and finally
agreed to stand up in defense of the young prince. Only his new friends
in Holstein followed him willingly - his troops in Lausatia had to
put down a revolt there, an easy task as all their warriors had left
to join the Saxon army.
Siling Vandals
(Arian Christian Barbarian Open Empire) Gaiseric, Rex Diplomacy: Bochnia (F)
After Lenten mass one March morning, Gaiseric received a messenger he had
dreaded. The man was not tall, with a swarthy face covered in scars, hair
greased back, dressed in skins and furs, a bowcase and a sword on his
hips. The Hun spoke a Gothic tongue with an accent which would have
sounded more pleasing from another source. He bid the Vandal king allow
passage to the Hunnic army. Today.
No threats were made, and none were necessary, as everyone was aware the
Huns were moving south. The king considered his own force, the demands
of the nomad khan, and decided within minutes to allow the passage. And
he heard no chastisement at court, everyone understanding that the Huns
were more of a natural disaster than a people. One attempts to survive
them and get past the moment, honor not being an issue.
The king of Bochnia, Jalso, viewed the Hun army parading through his lands,
and quickly decided that his own independence was worth as much as a
spring midge. He agreed to turn his lands over to Gaiseric and live
in the relative safety of the Vandal court. He and his new friend
Flavia Hunneric decided that their further travel plans had been mooted by
khan Uldin and his thousands, and instead rode west.
Suevi Kingdom
(Arian Christian Barbarian Open Empire) King Agnar Diplomacy:
The arrival of "king" Gundioc of the Burgundians caused some
consternation. Agnar, ever the diligent man, made the refugee
royal welcome at his court.
Western Roman Empire
(Roman Christian Civilized Open Empire) Flavius Honorius Augustus Diplomacy: Roma (F), Alans (T), Dalmatia (EA), Damnonia (NT), Gallaecia (EA), Lemovicia (EA), Luniensis (T), Sardinia (T)
Gaudentius was appointed Praefectus Praetorio Galliarum, and spent much
of 405 AD directing the construction of fortifications and moving
various milites, comitatensis, pseudo-comitatensis,
and others from province to province. By spring of 407 he was ready to
move Aquitania back into the empire, and
perhaps show up Flavius Stilicho. At the head of 2400 light
archers and woodsmen, Gaudentius marched down the road from Condevicnum,
across the bridge over the Liger, towards Limonum. Taking the
local road to Vindobriga, they found a force of local militia deployed
facing them just outside the town. Wearing tunics of various shades,
the men stirred in their ranks, spears held at various ports, many
men shieldless, and skirmishers consisting of youths with javelins,
small bows, and slings.
Several centurions smirked, and Gaudentius confidently ordered his troops
into formation and the Roman regulars advanced on the Aquitanians. When
the two lines were about 40 paces apart, with arrows flying from
Gaudentius's troops, a horn sounded from the town and the militia suddenly
steadied their spears on the enemy. A low rumble reached the prefect's
ears, and looking into the morning sun he saw scores of horses coming
around Vindobriga's church and heading for his right flank. The riders
were none too impressive looking, the charge not in any sort of order,
but it was enough to cause the Romans to stop shooting at the militia,
scores of whom now lay still in their ranks, and begin to run down the
road.
The militia cheered as their nobles on horseback chased the regulars down
the road tossing javelins at them or spearing them as they fled. The
pursuit was not particularly effective, and Gaudentius' was allowed to
flee to safety in Condevicnum. There he plotted his revenge, and once
more marched down the road into Aquitania that October. This time
he was met a few miles from the bridge at the border with what looked
like a different force. Gone was the wavering in the ranks, and
Gaudentius realized that his foe, the landowner Eumenes the Greek,
clearly knew what he was about. In the taverna in Condevicnum the
Roman had learned a little about his enemy - belatedly - and now had
a greater appreciation of him.
Rather than await attack, the rebel force charged into the Roman archers
and after a sharp conflict sent them running for the bridge to their
rear. Most of them made it, but the Aquitanian horse blocked the flight
of the enemy rearguard. These were cut down when the foot arrived on
the scene, and only later was the body of Gaudentius found, having
fallen just down the slope beside the bridge. And so Aquitania remained
outside the empire, and yet more bad news from Gaul to reach the court
at Mediolanum (see Alamanni).
Meanwhile, Bishop Timotheus, Comes Rerum Privatum, had completed the
tedious task of ordering troops to change billets, and was at last
headed north to Raetia II. On arriving in Castra Regina, he found
a barbarian mob encamped outside the city. Fearing at first that the
place was beleagured, Timotheus quickly learned that these were
Alan refugees fleeing the advancing Huns. The priest quickly shifted
mental gears, and approached Shah Xerxes with a modified offer. After
only a few days of negotiation the barbarian king agreed to become a
Civitate Foederatae of the empire, with holdings in Raetia II,
Castra Regina, and Austria. That last province was at most theoretical.
At a hastily-called meeting, the burghers of the city quickly fell to
argument over thier new status. The most persuasive arguments were
those noting the withdrawal of the Roman garrison and the movements of
the Hun army on their border. The city acceded, grudgingly, and
the Alans had a new home. Xerxes was relieved to have solid walls around
him that night. The previous evening he had discovered a man in his
tent on returning from, well, um, anyway, somewhere. Fortunately several
of his drinking friends entered the tent with him, and they managed to
dispatch the fellow after a short fray. The assailant looked like a
Goth or Alan, but the shah knew that the hand of Uldin was behind him.
Indeed, by then the Roman bureaucracy was getting used to setting up
novel arrangements. Neither they nor the local magnates cared much for
it, as a rule, especially in these days when barbarian armies were
crossing the border seemingly at will. But enough local support was
found for the idea of regional autonomy to make the emperor's will
manifest. Some even preferred this approach to that of Arcadius, who
seemed - in the view from Mediolanum - to simply be abandoning provinces
to their own devices, a strategy much more popular with local landholders.
Honorius thus created these Civitates Foederatae from extant
imperial provinces: Damnonia, Dalmatia, Gallaecia, Lemovicia,
Luniensis, and Sardinia.
The conversion of comites into limitanei continued. Most
of the common milites were quite happy to be able to settle down and
forego the expenses of maintaining the family farm at a distance, even
with tax priveleges. Senior staff were concerned about the loss of
strategic flexibility, but the positive political aspects could
not be ignored.
Finally, Roma herself was finally given an imperial governor after many
years of semi-independence. This was however tempered by the Bishop
of Roma raising many hundreds of soldiers from the more devout Germans
and equipping them as a "Corps Helvetica" around the Patriarchal
estate. They quickly became a popular attraction for visitors unused to
seeing barbarians vested as auxilia, especial with such colorful
tunics and armor.
Imperial Treaties as Read to the Senate
SOCIETAS IMPERII
We are happy to announce that every pact of Alliance between the Empire and the people of the Asding Vandals is now renewed thanks to the loyalty and boldness that they have always shown.
We besides decree that:
-The Empire shall help the economy of the Asding ally with 5 measures of Roman wheat every 4 years and, if needed, with Roman gold.
-The Imperial Army shall always get the help of the Asding warriors, in Its task of defending the peace and safeguarding the Imperial borders in the upper Danube area.
-New trade routes shall be opened, and privileged relations shall be reserved for the Asding merchants.
-The ambassadors of the Asding people shall always have a place of honour at the holy presence of the Emperor.
-We Honorius Augustus renew Our fraternal friendship with the most eminent Godesigel, Rex Vandalorum, Socius Imperii.
D N HONORIVS P F AVG DATA A D SEXTVM KALENDAS DECEMBRES CDIV
SOCIETAS IMPERII
We are happy to announce that a pact of Alliance between the Empire and the people of the Lombards is now established thanks to the love for peace shown by the Rex Langobardorum.
We besides decree that:
-The Empire shall help economically the Lombard ally with a donation of ten measures of gold every four years.
-The Imperial Army shall always get the help of the Lombard warriors, in Its task of defending the peace and safeguarding the Imperial borders.
-The Lombard ally shall always get the help of the Imperial Army in the defence of his own borders.
-New trade routes shall be opened as soon as this shall become possible, and privileged relations shall be reserved for the Lombard merchants.
-The ambassadors of the Lombard people shall always have a place of honour at the holy presence of the Emperor.
-After eight years this treaty shall be revised, argued and updated by Us Honorius Augustus and both Our Saxon and Lombard allies.
-We Honorius Augustus renew Our fraternal friendship with the most eminent Autharii, Rex Langobardorum, Socius Imperii. This friendship shall be soon confirmed by a marriage between Our kinsfolk, that shall unite in the centuries Our bloods and Our destinies.
D N HONORIVS P F AVG DATA A D SEXTVM KALENDAS DECEMBRES CDIV
SOCIETAS IMPERII
We are happy to announce that a pact of Alliance between the Empire and the people of the Saxons is now established thanks to the love for peace shown by the Rex Saxonum.
We besides decree that:
-The Empire shall help economically the Saxon ally with a donation of fifteen measures of gold every four years.
-The Imperial Army shall always get the help of the Saxon warriors, in Its task of defending the peace and safeguarding the Imperial borders.
-The Saxon ally shall always get the help of the Imperial Army in the defence of his own borders.
-New trade routes shall be opened as soon as this shall become possible, and privileged relations shall be reserved for the Saxon merchants.
-The ambassadors of the Saxon people shall always have a place of honour at the holy presence of the Emperor.
-After eight years this treaty shall be revised, argued and updated by Us Honorius Augustus and both Our Saxon and Lombard allies.
-We Honorius Augustus renew Our fraternal friendship with the most eminent Hengist, Rex Saxonum, Socius Imperii, and his son and heir Aesc. This friendship shall be soon confirmed by a marriage between Our kinsfolk, that shall unite in the centuries Our bloods and Our destinies.
D N HONORIVS P F AVG DATA A D SEXTVM KALENDAS DECEMBRES CDIV
FOEDERATIO IMPERII
MAVRORVM CIVITAS ET LIBERA ET FOEDERATA LEGIBVS SVIS VTITVR
Whereas the people of the Moors free and federate use their own laws, it is here stipulated that:
-The Moors shall enjoy for ten years the right of Hospitalitas on the Zirid land, at the end of which it shall decade and, if the Moors won't leave Zirid before, all the people of Moorish descent who shall recognize Tariq Al-Kasurga as their Rex and Honorius Augustus as their Imperator shall acquire the Roman citizenship.
-No violence shall be perpetrated against those who still follow the pagan cults, and no forced conversion. Anyway, We invite everyone who wants to know the Truth of Christ to do that freely, under the patient and lovely guidance of the Roman Pontiff.
-In the same way, never shall happen again persecutions of Roman Christian people in the regions where the pagans are majority, still every pagan shall be free to keep his own faith.
-New trade routes shall be opened, and privileged relations shall be reserved for the Moorish merchants.
-The Rex Maurorum shall have also the title of Vicarius Imperii and his person shall represent the August Emperor in Zirid.
D N HONORIVS P F AVG DATA A D SEXTVM KALENDAS DECEMBRES CD
Dalmatia - Civitate Foederatae
(Roman Christian Civilized Component Nation)
Dux Dalmatia
Diplomacy:
Consists of Dalmatia (HM), Narona, Illyria, and Salonae.
Damnonia - Civitate Foederatae
(Roman Christian Civilized Component Nation)
Dux Damnonia
Diplomacy:
Consists of Britannia I (HM), Isca, Dyffed, and Gwynned.
Gallaecia - Civitate Foederatae
(Roman Christian Civilized Component Nation)
Dux Gallaecia
Diplomacy:
Consists of Lucensis (HM), Brigantium, and Cantabria.
Lemovicia - Civitate Foederatae
(Roman Christian Civilized Component Nation)
Dux Lemovicia
Diplomacy:
Consists of Lemovicia (HM) and Arvernia.
Sardinia et Corsica - Civitate Foederatae
(Roman Christian Civilized Component Nation)
Sardinia et Corsica Rex
Diplomacy:
Consists of Sardinia (HM) and Corsica.
North Africa
Donatist Christian Church
(Donatist Christian Church Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Archbishop Emeritus Diplomacy:
The Bishop of Hippo, Augustine, began to truly annoy the Donatists
with his convincing and funny sermons and boundless energy. A team
of assisting priests sent from Roma only served to accentuate the
skills and spirit of the bishop, so scorned were they while
berating the crowds at the market.
Not all were, however, annoyed or filled with scorn. The Donatist monastery in the city
of Hippo Regius sent the head of the order, Celestius, to hear the man who had
been baptized into their faith and yet now followed a catholic
path. During the whole of Lent Celestius let an acolyte perform
the communion in their spare white chapel while he took notes in the back
of Augustine's church. Celestius wore a colorful (to a Donatist)
hooded cloak so as not to be identified.
But on Palm Sunday of 405 AD, Celestius was stopped by the armed ushers
as he went to leave the chapel, and brought forward. To alarmed to
protest, he was introduced to Augustine, and the two walked in the garden
courtyard. They parted amicably, and over the course of the summer
Celestius moved his brothers in a new direction.
The less reactionary of them welcomed the changes, and a chance to
reunite the Church of Christ. Others were dubious, and when on
Christmas Eve Celestius declared the order would go over to the
Roman Church, there was a general uproar. The city militia had been
warned, and the grounds of the monastery were quickly full of soldiers,
whose ancient duty to the empire trumped whatever qualms of faith may
have troubled them.
Over the next years, the monastic grounds saw great construction, funded
in part by the sale of the much smaller (and less fashionable) Roman
Church order property across town. Catholic brothers soon took up
residence, and a great new hall was built, the new Cathedral of
All Saints, in deference to the Donatist focus on martyrs. Remaining
Donatists grumbled, and Roman priests were occasionally pelted with
garbage at night, but the change seemed permanent.
Moorish Kingdom - Foederatio Imperii
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) Sheik Abdul al-Kasurga Diplomacy: Idjil (EA), Zirid (EA)
Kopaka of Idjil raided into Arguin, only to find the locals to be more
ferocious than anticipated. After only a few months Kopaka and his
men were chased out, and he was only too happy to hear al-Kasurga's
message of increased authority for the Sheik. The Arguin tribes may
hold a grudge, after all. Not every noble in the realm was so happy
at their loss of independence, but restrained themselves for now.
Tariq was dismayed however when his favorite concubine did not emerge
from the "women's chamber" after some hours. Finally,
the elder midwife brought the news that the child, a girl, and the
mother were both dead.
His younger brother and heir, Prince Abdul Al-Kasurga the Handsome,
spent the years in administrative duties. As his office was just off
the harem, he was not sad to miss the adventures of his brother. And
in fact a son was born to him during the late winter rains of 408.
Abdul was especially happy about this birth, as the sheik had passed
away on the morning of January 23rd. Tariq had never quite recovered
from the death of his favorite, finally succumbing to a cough at the
advanced age of 45.
Eastern Europe
Arian Christian Church
(Arian Christian Civilized Primate Religious Authority) Vinitharius, Pontifex ipseque Primas Gothicus et Germanicus Diplomacy: Heraclea (CH),
Macedon (CH), Attica (CH), Athenai (CH), Massilia (CH), Lingonia (CH),
Parisii (CH), Lutetia (CH), Germania Rauracensis (CH), Argentorate (CH),
Colonia Agrippina (CH)
Vinitharius was pleased with the outcome of his machinations in the
Low Countries (see Frisians). Events generally seemed to be
favoring the Church, with the sole exception of the Visigothic
incorporation into the Eastern Empire. Good news even arrived from
the barbarian isle in Ocean, where in many cases the Aquitanian
captives had begun to convert their husbands and families to the
True Faith.
Empire of the Huns
(Asiatic Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) Uldin the Hun, Khakhan Diplomacy: Levedia (F), Quadi (NT)
Having subdued the Slavs, Uldin cast his gaze at those peoples who had
escaped Hunnic control in previous generations. The Alans in particular
had fled to the west several decades earlier, and the Khakhan desired to
have all such people bow before him.
Of course, Xerxes the Alan was perfectly aware of Hunnic predelictions,
and had noted with alarm the fall of the Slavic peoples. Thus in the
spring of 405 thousands of barbarians approached the Danube at Castra
Regina. The garrison commander, Dagalaif the Goth, marshalled his
forces on the recently-thawed shore and prepared for the worse. News
from Trier had just arrived (see Alamanni) and he knew that
repelling barbarian invaders was on the menu of late.
Shah Xerxes sent his brother, Arlon, in a boat with a token guard to
meet with Dagalaif. The Alan pleaded for his people, infants to
crones now crowding the waters edge for a better look at the proceedings,
to cross over to escape the sure oppression of the Huns. The comes
explained that he did not have the authority to allow such a move, and
that he would need to send to Mediolanum for permission. Thus the Alans
set up camp and nervously awaited reports of the Huns.
Nor were they wrong, for within the week Uldin and his army had crossed
into Siling Vandal lands and were heading for Austria (see Siling
Vandals). Shortly thereafter Dagalaif received his orders, and
space was made just outside the city walls for the barbarian host. The
crossing took several weeks, the nomads camping in the fields of one
of the local magnates. The following year their status was adjusted
as regards the empire (see Western Roman Empire).
Some of Uldin's younger minghan commanders urged they follow on
into Roman territory to exact a price from the Alans. The khakhan did
not get to be emperor by rash behavior, and after subduing the rather
dour Austrians over the winter continued his procession
into Slovakia and the lands of the Quadi. King Vitalianus knew that his
father's fathers had ridden in the valleys of his realm, and would not
abandon the land as the nomadic Alans.
Tales from the few refugees from Austria did not inspire confidence in
his ability to resist the Huns. Some Goths at his court urged resistance
to the last, each burning with some buried trauma. Others, however,
told Vitalianus that Uldin and his army was but a strong wind. Bend
to it, and after a short time the nomads would once more wander away.
With these thoughts he received the embassy from Uldin. The hideous
steppe people were entertained, given gifts, and invited to tour the
valley the spring court inhabited. The Huns, in turn, promised gold,
protection, and survival. Vitalianus thus agreed, grudgingly, to
enter the Hun empire, and swore anda to Uldin.
In late 406 Uldin entered the valleys of Carpathia with his vast host,
hoping to subdue yet another Germanic people, the Rugians. The snows
came hard that year, and when he entered the region early the next
spring the khakhan found only a few peasants (see Rugians).
Prince Balimber, meanwhile, was getting married to the Levedia princess
Satsa. With this wedding her father's Gothic warriors joined the
Hun army. Satsa was none too happy to be packed off with such a
loathsome husband, but was relieved to find that he at least was
a generous man.
Gepids - Brothers of the Ostrogoths
(European Pagan Barbarian Component Nation) King Hellebich, Chief of the Gepids Diplomacy:
Hellebich observed the chaos and change at the court of the Ostrogoths
and just took another swig.
Orthodox Christian Church
(Orthodox Christian Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Patriarch John Chrysostom Diplomacy: Europa (CH), Heraclea (AB), Tomi (CH), Novae (CH), Serdica (CH), Viminicium (CH), Thessaly (CH), Dyrrhacium (CH), Naissni (CH), Phrygia (CH), Ancyra (CH)
Travellers reported hundreds of priests in Arabia, most travelling from
village to village preaching the Gospel of the Good News. It was also
reported that in most cases the best news the peasants heard was the
sound of sandals walking down the dusty main street out of town.
Several were gathered by al-Mundir, the local strategos foederate,
and were on the verge of losing their manhood before the bishop convinced
him they were not in fact foreign diplomats. Later on, they all laughed
about it in al-Mundhir's dining hall, though the priests did not tarry
to enjoy his further hospitality.
Church leaders were busy founding new congregations or strengthening
existing ones all over the Balkans. While on such a mission, the Metropolitan
Arsakios, rumored to be the successor to John, complained of tiredness
one evening and was found dead the next morning, November 13 of 405. His attendant reported
seeing a smile on his face, though others disputed this. The Patriarch
was seen to weep when the news came to him, and a special mass was
held in Arsakios' honor.
The following January saw the death of Gregory, the Patriarch of Antioch,
when he fell victim at 29 to a plague which quickly swept Ancyra.
(European Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) King Ariaric II Diplomacy: Rugians (C)
Prince Athanaric spent many, many moons at the Taifali court on the
banks of the Danube. With time King Vallia came to see that the
Ostrogoths may be a viable counter to the growing Hunnic threat. His
father's fathers had fled before the nomads, and he saw no way now to
maintain his people's total independence. Thus he was willing to allow
his daughter Princess Tamora to wed Athanaric, but only nominally to
enter under the Gothic tent. The situation was far too fluid for such
commitments. Athanaric found Tamora to be quite the distraction -
and perhaps a bit too smart for his liking.
The Taifali king was further disturbed at the restructuring by
Ariaric of the traditional Gothic clan government. Now more power
flowed to the king, and Vallia was suspicious of this change.
It did not help matters when Ariaric ordered his people on the march,
only to learn after a few days of preparation that not only would
the Vandals not allow passage, but that a Roman fleet patrolled the Danube
denying crossing to nearly everyone. When a party arrived from
Constantinople with chests full of solidii, the king gave up on
ever trying to understand these southerners. He did however keep the
gold.
Rugian Tribes - Brothers of the Asding Vandals
(Arian Christian Barbarian Open Empire) King Nevitta Diplomacy:
The young king had but one thought - run! When word of the oncoming
wild boar that was the Hunnic army reached him, he decided at once that
he could neither resist such a thing, nor would he serve it. Nevitta
announced to his court his decision to move the people southward, and
the uproar was great. Many said he had no honor. Others claimed they
would fight Uldin singlehanded. And still others quietly slipped out
the door of the wooden castle.
These last were the most dangerous because they were raising forces of
warriors to depose the lad. Their mistake was, however, in attempting
to recruit Prince Araharius, Nevitta's uncle, to the cause. Araharius
played along for a few weeks, and invited the conspirators to a conclave
at his hunting cabin. In the middle of the night the sodden nobles
were hauled from the cabin by loyal warriors and killed like sheep. A
few days later their heads decorated the entrance to Nevitta's castle.
The people began loading their belongings into wagons, and gathering
their herds for the march.
Driving his people south, Nevitta could but hope that the Asding Vandals
would give him a favorable reception. Whenever he doubted, Araharius
assured the king that life under the Huns would be worse.
Surprisingly, the Rugian mass was met at the river Tibiscus by the
Vandalic king himself, Godegisel, rode out to embrace Nevitta and welcome
him on to Alba Iulia. The Vandals had been looking for allies in the
region, even aligning themselves loosely with distant Mediolanum, lest
they become the grain ground between two millstones, as it were.
After some weeks of negotiation mediated by the Arian Patriarchate
legate to the Rugians, Father David, a treaty was arranged and,
amazingly for a barbarian conclave, signed. Nevitta agreed to wed the
sister of Vandal Queen Heletradana, the young Princess Gotedala, and the
Vandal Prince Gunderic would marry Nevitta's cousin, Princess
Ursula.
Slavic Tribes
(Slavic Pagan Barbarian Component Nation) King Bole Diplomacy:
Bole was relieved to see the eye of the Hun turn from the Slavs.
Taifali Tribes - Brothers of the Ostrogoths
(European Pagan Barbarian Component Nation) King Vallia Diplomacy:
Suspicious of the Ostrogoths, yet more afraid of Uldin, Vallia agreed
to put his toe under the tent of the Goths (see Ostrogoths).
Eastern Roman Empire
(Orthodox Christian Civilized Open Empire) Arcadius, Imperator Diplomacy: Vaspurakan (NT), Lazica (FA), Lycaonia (NT), Insulae (NT), Cappadocia (NT), Libya (NT), Moesia II (FA), Dacia (FA), Cilicia (FA), Isauria (FA)
After the latest message from the Shahanshah delivered by his ambassador
- something about dogs - the emperor decided to severe relations with his
neighbor to the east. The diplomats were sent packing, and various
jugglers, dancers, and comic playwrights were hired to take their place.
In addition to the lighter aspects, defenses all along the eastern
limes were improved.
Arcadius decided to solve his Goth problem by hiring them on a more
permanent basis. Athaulf was made a magister officorum and his
warriors more fully equipped as legionaries. Some of the senior staff
grumbled at this, but none too loudly as the emperor was known to be
a bit insecure regarding dissent. In any event the Visigoths proved
to be in such high demand throughout the region that giving them
citizenship was viewed by a few observers as something of a coup as the
barbarian force marched in review before the emperor in Constantinople.
As was his brother emperor in Mediolanum, Arcadius set about a
reorganization of his empire. Rather than creating large
"sub-kingdoms" he simply granted more regional autonomy to
existing imperial provinces. Given his penchant for control, this move
confused some lords, though others noted that most of the places were
of little value anyway.
Palmyra was not one of these. King George of Palmyra was thrown from a
horse during a race and died, whereupon the local sheikhs decided that
his heir had the right idea, to follow the trend in the empire, and
leave it entirely. Arcadius was not entirely happy about this.
Middle East
Ghassanid Arab Kingdom
(Monophysite Christian Barbarian Open Empire) King John the Fair Diplomacy:
Having liberated his nation, John took a wife and set about rebuilding
his nation. His first wife, from among the Bedu, died in childbirth,
but after a dispensation from the Bishop of Petra John was able to
remarry, this time his cousin, Serena. Not only did she provide him
with a son, Serena gave him twins, showing once again the special place
this king held in both the temporal and spiritual worlds.
Kingdom of Yemen
(Judaism Civilized Open Empire) King Ishmael ibn Yahsub Diplomacy: Asir (EA)
The land of Yemen was quiet. Prince Adam managed to sire a number of
children, all of whom lost mothers in their infancy.
Lakhmid Arab Kingdom
(Monophysite Christian Barbarian Open Empire) Sheikh Amr al-Qays Diplomacy: Jabbal Shammar (NT), As'Summan (AW)
At dawn two weeks after Easter, al-Qays stood on a rocky outcropping
of a crater just above camp. The sun was making its usual threat to come over the eastern
horizon but the sheikh was not concerned this time of the year. It had
been many years since he had been in the deep desert and his boyhood
skills at reading the breeze, seeing through the sands, and
smelling the stones returned to him rapidly. Guides provided by the
kind Sheikh of Jabal Shammar had decided to stay a bit longer with
the Lakhmid army, the boys treating this as something of an adventure.
The line of troops over a mile off was easy to see through the crystalline
air. Negotiations with the Sheikh of As'Summan had not gone well. The
tall thin man had asked for far more gold than Amr al-Qays had ever
seen - perhaps more than rested in vaults in Ctesiphon itself. The eyes
of the nobleman were a bit too open, the speech a bit too quick, for
Amr to believe further discussions over spiced tea would prove useful.
Al-Qays nodded left, and a loincloth-clad boy ran off at once. A force of camelry
was hidden in a wadi to the left of the enemy line. The Sheikh
scrabbled down the slope, vaulted into the saddle, and let his shield-bearer
strap on his armor. Within minutes the Lakhmid army was advancing on the
forces of As'Summan. When the two lines were less than 200 paces apart
the concealed camel riders came over a low dune at the edge of the wadi,
prompting al-Qays to order a charge. Hit to front and flank, the local
warriors cried out in alarm, and most threw down their arms and fled on
the spot.
One of these was the local sheikh, who was given shelter at the
ever-hospitable court of Jabal Shammar. Meanwhile many of his troops
were captured by the Lakhmids and treated well as they were marched off
to Sawad. Ironically, al-Qays was unable to pay many of the men he
had marched across the breadth of Araby, and had to send them home,
where they grumbled at their treatment.
Monophysite Christian Church
(Monophysite Christian Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Patriarch Theophylact Diplomacy: Augustamnica (MN),
Faiyum (AB), Egypt (CA)
The Patriarch awoke from his dream, lit a candle, and set to work. And
he has not stopped since. Bishops were sent off to consecrate various
sites, and moneys which had long been used to outfit individual
congregations with gilded crucifers and administratorial "housing
allowances" were used to hire scribes and washerwomen.
Bishop Dorian sailed for distant Saksiny. After dodging pirates on
the Caspian and numerous other mishaps, he arrived in the Volga delta
and began preaching about Christ to the unlettered masses. He was making
some small progress among the nobles, at least, when the the Turks swept
across the land like a range fire. Those few who had accepted the
Word were put to the sword, a fate spared Dorian only by one Turk
gurkhan who had heard of the "Dead God" around a campfire
many years past from an Armenian slave (see Oghuz Turks).
East Africa
Axumite Empire
(Monophysite Christian Civilized Open Empire) Emperor Tewodros Ella Asgad Diplomacy:
A ship flying the flag of the emperor at Constantinople came into port
bearing several chests of solidii and a few rough-looking characters
in charge of them. Tewodros' chamberlain signed for them, and the
emperor was quite surprised at this largesse.
This helped offset many items of bad news. In Djibuti missionaries
building a tiny church had been attacked by unknown persons and hacked to
pieces. Then, as the campaign for Beja was getting underway, the
imperial general Yostos began giving irrational commands. After hearing
the general had ordered his men to carry their horse's grain so as to
spare the creatures undue discomfort, the emperor removed him from
command. The next day the man had to be forcibly restrained by
imperial guards, and by that evening was catatonic. He was sent home,
and never recovered.
The Axumite army continued on undelayed, and by June of 405 was pushing
back the local scouts, though not without losses. Marching up the
coastline, where most of the population lived, they were heading for the
village of Tokar, a remarkably well-watered place some miles
inland. The elephants were beginning to show signs of wear and needed a
rest. In addition, small raiding parties had been harassing the Axumites
from the Red Sea, boats sliding up on the beach, warriors pouring over
the sides, slitting a few throats in camp, then retiring into the water.
The men and animals were hoping for a respite. This remained just a
hope.
Some miles south of Tokar the Blemmye army lay in wait. Tewodros saw
a mixed formation of archers and light spearmen supported by some horse
and camels, looking to be around half the size of his army. Tewodros
ordered his line forward, his few elephants in the center supported by
masses of archers and with light horse and skirmishers on the flanks.
As the two armies closed, the Beja militia broke ranks and charged
into the Axumite center, their king at the head, ready to avenge the
outrage to his people. Within minutes hundreds of them were dead or
wounded, the remainder fleeing back to the Beja line. The desert dwellers
were disturbed at this, and the advance became a milling mob near where
the Beja had fallen back.
At this point Tewodros ordered a charge along the line, and the two armies
dissolved into vaguely organized ranks of warriors. The short, sharp
clash saw the Blemmyes falling back, hundreds of men fallen on the
sparsely grassed soil. The emperor was riding an elephant near the
center, the better to see the fray, when suddenly his mount slumped under
him as several of the few remaining Beja had got under the beast and
were stabbing it with their short spears. He was thrown from the
back of the animal, landing on the ground at the feet of a Blemmye
noble wearing an older style Roman helmet. The man was clever enough
to realize the value of Tewodros, so instead of slaying him kicked him
into unconsciousness.
The emperor awoke in a tent. It was not his tent. It was not a tent
of his army. The sinking feeling in his gut matched the throbbing
pain in his head. King Satifal of the Blemmye sat on his left and
chuckled, saying, "Welcome, guest."
Meanwhile, the Axumite army had seen their commander go down and his
guard tried to retrieve him. It was too late, and the rest of the army
was falling back despite the losses to the enemy force and their
chaos. The captain of the guard, John, a distant cousin of
Tewodros, took charge of the retirement and the army fell back to
Adulis in Danakil. Yakob, the prince, became Regent and opened
negotiations (in Greek) with the Blemmye for the return of the
emperor. But on November 2 of 408 Yakob choked on a small fowl bone and
died at the age of 32. The nation was in turmoil, but nobody thought
to take advantage, and the imperial court took charge of matters of
state.
Blemmye Tribes
(African Pagan Barbarian Open Empire) King Satifal Diplomacy:
Relieved to have something to do, Satifal welcomed the Axumites with sharpened
arms (see Axum above).
Nobades Kingdom
(African Pagan Nomadic Open Empire) King Movad II Diplomacy:
Movad II heard of the Axumite loss in Beja, laughed loudly, then stopped.
Warfare in the region was serious business, and he called for his generals
to review strategy.
Persia
Orthodox Zoroastrian Church
(Orthodox Zoroastrian Civilized Primate Religious
Authority) Narses-Kartir, Mobedhan-mobed Diplomacy: Asuristan (MN), Abadan (AB), Kirman (CH), Ray (CA), Ublra (CH)
The work of the dastur Namirog in Mosul was unappreciated, ignored, and
widely scorned. Elsewhere converts were made on a small scale, and
local agiaries went up in many places.
Kingdom of Persarmenia - Sasanian Persian Satrapy
(Monophysite Christian Barbarian Component Nation)
King Mazdak, Satrap
Diplomacy:
The former prince, Mazdak, was a bit dubious about his new position among
the Armenians, though his father had been a king. He knew well
they were not the most welcoming of people
(see Sasanian Persian Empire). As a fellow of breeding and
ambition, he resolved to make the most of this boon.
Sasanian Persian Empire
(Orthodox Zoroastrian Civilized Open Empire) Yazdigerd
I, Shahanshah of Persia Diplomacy: Satrapy of Persarmenia (EA)
Yazdigerd, in his Wisdom, saw that Armenia, while an integral part of
Iranian polity and culture, needed more local control. And so Mazdak,
a distant relative of the shahanshah living in Van, was called to
the court in Ctesiphon. There, before the Throne of Gold he knelt and
was made king of Persian Armenia and Satrap of Persarmenia. While he
had not sought this honor, the young man was no fool and smiled
graciously at his lord. As he rode north at the head of his
household asvaran, Mazdak had much time to consider a
glorious future.
Prince Varhanin was busy in the seraglio, and a son was the result.
South Asia
Lambakanna Sinhala - A Kingdom of Chera
(Buddhist Seafaring Component Nation) King Suravartha Diplomacy: Seylan (C), Kalyani (T)
Left without major duties, Suravartha was able to enjoy life for the
first time in years. In that vein, his wife, a Chera princess,
provided a baby girl and the following year twin boys. In the
next year, however, she succumbed during the birth of another child.
Buddhist Stupas
(Buddhist Civilized Primate Religious Authority) Rugendra Diplomacy:
Refugee monks from Central Asia filtered into Nepal with the support
of their coreligionists (see Nepal).
Chera Kingdom
(Hinduism Seafaring Open Empire) King Gaman Diplomacy: Lambakanna Sinhala (EA)
Lord Ichaa spent years touring the countryside, chatting up the local
nobles. His message hit home, and the region decided to pay far less
attention to the king of Lambakanna Sinhala.
Meanwhile, Gaman was busy reorganizing the government and the military.
He often considered that his fellow king, Suravartha, had the better
deal, but that the pressure of empire forced him forward. His
kshatriya and brahmans were not happy with the greater
power held by Gaman, but most also saw the benefits. King Gaman was
also unhappy when in the winter of 406 his wife, a Sri Lankan princess,
died in childbirth, and moped about the palace for several years
after.
Pandya Kingdom
(Jainism Seafaring Open Empire) King Jatavarman Diplomacy:
The mission of Lord Banabhatta to Kalyani was fairly successful. Allegiance
to the central government in Lambakanna Sinhala seemed to be breaking
down under pressure from competing foreign powers.
Empire of the Guptas
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire) Chandra Gupta II, the Great Diplomacy: Punjab (F), Edrosia (A), Pattala (A), Arakan (EA), Sabara (A), Maldives (EA)
The maharaja of all India continued his procession in the
West, impressing all with his wisdom, demeanor, and of course large
army. Similary, his son Kamara Gupta won the allegiance of far Arakan
to the empire. Also, the small fleet of general Babasaheb Ambedkar
managed to avoid catastrophe just after setting sail for home, when his
flagship bumped one of the other warships.
Chandra Gupta once more declared his support for other religions, while
maintaining his status as head kshatriya in the Hindu order. He
was seen, in Pattala, to pray with Jainists and Buddhists: something of
a scandal, except for the emperor.
Overheard in a courtyard in Barbaricum ...
Two men, clearly merchants of the vaisya caste, clearly successful.
One older, perhaps a jyesthaka, one younger, perhaps his son?
A third man, neither local nor remarkable.
- The discussions go well then?
- Yes, very well. My sources report that in but a few short years more
ships will be required, many more, and the Gupta pays well ...
- But what will he pay for, that is the question we must answer.
- What has he always paid for?
- These are dangerous times, there is no room for assumptions. Get me
answers. There are decisions to be made if the profits from the western
venture are to be ours and not fill the coffers of Barygaza.
- And the risks? Are they worth it?
- There is always risk, captain, always. You know this, we know this, and the Gupta clearly know this.
- Why now? There is still much to be done closer to home.
- You would wait then? And what if others do not wait? Where will be then if we lag behind?
- And if we lead where none will follow?
- No need to lead, others have gone ahead, but when the tide turns the time to talk to the sailmaker is well past.
- And the srenis, they are united in this?
- Would I be here without their support?
- Get to it then, and we will meet again soon.
Valabhi in Surashtra
The roman stepped on to the dock with relief. Not a seaman he, but the
Emperor's own legate. Around him the port bustled with activity, much
of it repairs to damage that occurred went the city fell with the last
of the Sakas. No matter, the garrison was firmly in control and what was
clearly his reception committee awaited him. Best to get to it then.
The masons knew their trade, that was clear. Things were proceeding
according to his wishes. Soon he would have a proper roman villa in
the countryside, and a proper pallazzo close to, but blessedly upwind of,
the harbor, at the center of what would soon be a city within a city
housing many more of his countrymen.
Pataliputra in Maghada
- What do they call it again? The Red Sea? These Romans have odd names
for things. No matter, are the reports promising?
- Yes lord, very much so. All is as you require.
- And the costs, they are within our means? We have not cast our gaze
westward these few years past and would know what we do
not yet know.
- All will be done lord. We will have allies to reach where yet we have no presence.
Hinduism
(Hinduism Civilized Primate Religious Authority) Sahdev Diplomacy:
Various brahmans debated the virtues of Sanskrit meters. After
several years of this, the head of the order was observed not to
rise for the evening meal, and had in fact passed away quietly while
contemplating poetry. A short rhetorical struggle ensued before
Sahdev took power into his hands - what little power there was.
Jain Sects
(Jainism Civilized Primate Religious Authority) Siddhasena,
Acharya Diplomacy:
Though few in number, the Jain continued to be respected throughout
India.
(Buddhist Barbarian Component Nation)
King Biscotti Licchavi
Diplomacy: Dhera-Dun (A)
The latest Licchavi invited Buddhist priests, especially those fleeing
persecution and massacre in White Hun lands, to move to Nepalese lands.
Some few came and began preaching in Sikkim. Driven from there, they
wandered into Bhutan, where the petty samanta embraced the message of
Sakyamuni and immediately began ordering statues and temples to
be raised by local workers. This lead to a further fusion in the
Gandharan style, and by 408 some few masons from Gupta lands had
trekked up the valleys to see this renaissance.
On arriving once more in Lalitpur, the king was introduced to one of
these travelling monks. This preferred no name, but with his white hair
and sky-blue eyes he commanded attention regardless. When several weeks
had passed, the old man made to depart, thanking the royal couple for
their hospitality. Raising his gnarled staff, he suddenly struck
Queen Pima in the navel with the tip. A bright light flashed and she was
knocked back into the arms of one of her chambermaids, a close cousin,
and passed out. Despite the guards and locked doors the old man had
escaped.
In the spring of 406 Pima Licchavi gave birth to a healthy boy named
Vis'vadeva, at which the maharaja gave many gifts at the temple
of the Buddha. He then undertook a dangerous mission into the mountains
to woo the people of Dhera-Dun. Biscotti met with success here as well.
Pallava Kingdom
(Hinduism Seafaring Open Empire) King Mahendravarma I Diplomacy: Malabar (A)
Prince Nagaratnam began coughing over the winter, and before spring he
had died. But life goes on, and
King Kangavarman agreed to give his daughter, the Princess Kangavati, to
be Mahendravarmas bride, thus drawing Malabar further into the Pallava
fold. Vijayadurga grew to be an even more lucrative port.
Vakataka Kingdom
(Hinduism Civilized Open Empire) Prabhavati
Gupta, Regent Diplomacy:
The Regency continued, and the Vakataka were at peace with the world.
Rules Hint of the Turn
As your reward for reading this far in the newsfax here is a useful
rules hint. The other goal is to let all of you know what the players
who are also LOTE GMs know.
Using GP to aid actions
Throwing money at problems will, in LOTE, help you get things done, if
not guarantee results. The basic formula used in this campaign is:
Bonus = squareroot( GP ) / 2
rounded up. Which is to say, the amount of benefit is the
square root of the GP expended, divided then by 2 (two), where we
always round up, e.g. 2.1 becomes 3.
Note that spending even 1 (one) GP - and you must spend at
least that much to get a bonus - produces a +1 to your effort. Also
keep in mind the behavior of the square root, which is to give a
reduced benefit increase as you up the GP spent. A handy rule is
that for every doubling in the GP spent you get only 41% more benefit.
Some examples:
+1 comes from 1gp expended
+2 comes from 5gp expended
+3 comes from 17gp expended
+9 comes from 256gp expended
The most common uses are diplomacy and intel. Spending money on combat
is not going to have any effect - that is what AQRs are for.
|