LORDS OF THE EARTH CAMPAIGN 54
"LORDS OF THEEURTH"

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"Great be the morn,
The morn of Meath!
Great be the truce
The truce of Culenn!

"Great be the fight,
The fight Of Clartha!
Great, too, the steeds,
The steeds of Assal!

"Great be the plague,
The plague of Tuath-Bressi!
Great be the storm,
Ulster's battle-storm round Conchobar!"

"Their women will they defend,
For their herds will they fight
At Garech and Ilgarech,
On the morning after the morrow!"

- Táin Bó Cúalnge (Irish epic)

1. With the expansion of Changshai and Serikku, each now has its own Motivational Posters...

2. Note new house rule on Mass Conscription - the extra conscripts thus recruited can -only- be used to build "ii" (Inexperienced Infantry).

3. More than one of you have noted something like "Leader X is along with the army as a mage only, not a general.  Otherwise, his low Combat score would penalize the army."  Sorry.  Send a bad leader into combat and you get his bad generalship.  There's no way to have him there for the magic but not for the generalship. 

4. In previous turns, one ship unit was reported as two ships.  With the advent of Version 6.0 of the rules, each ship unit now represents one ship.

5. It seems that your ol' GM has been letting you guys get away without paying for the upkeep on Megalithic Construction.  I didn't know.  That stops this turn. Be advised that quite a few of the Project ID numbers have changed.

6. If you have a negative number in either Saved GP or Saved NFP YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG!  If you're trying to demobilize troops, show them in the builds section as costing negative NFP.  If you're just trying to run a deficit, it doesn't work that way.

7. Let me make this as clear as I can: "REVEAL FACT" ops and spells WILL DO NOTHING if you don't ask an actual question.  It is not the GM's job to decide what might be important.  If you want to know something, ask.  But if you simply do an RF op targeting the enemy without a specific question attached, it will always fail.

8) Because of some data entry problems, all of the Valesian Empire's routes had to be deleted and reentered.  There will doubtless be many route numbers changed.

9) Note the change in the "Touch of the Elf-Lord" spell.

MEDARHOS -

North-Western Medarhos -

The Skane Jarldoms -  Ruler - King Bjarnalf Capital - Vanaheim Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Medahros Spirit Cult

The Kingdom of Tirgonia -
Ruler - King Merrimillien
Capital - Tirgon
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

Acting Regent Prince Marcus recruited all the forces he could, amounting to three thousand mixed troops at Tirgon.  He also hired a further three thousand mercenary troops to join his army at Tirgon. He had the walls of TIrgon rebuilt and spent a very large sum to replenish the many public works destroyed in the Crown Lands during the Orc/Ascar invasion. A team of expert rangers snuck into the Orcish encampment at the Purple Hills and liberated young King Merrimillien and Marcus's own twin brother Natel. Both were spirited to nearby Sirion, and then by ship to Alqualondë. Lord Alorien, Prince Marcus and Prince Kevin rode out with the Tirgonian and Skane armies to confront the Orcs (See The Tirgonian

War, below).  Meanwhile, Lord Trevor and fifteen hundred cavalry watched Sothwall and Nivaan, while Lord Astrius and a thousand mercenary light cavalry rode east to raid Ascarlon (See The Shadowed Realm of Ascarlon, below). Lord Trevor died of consumption in 2858.

Strange magical blights continued to plague Tirgonia, this time hitting the Crown Lands and Sothwall.

THE TIRGONIAN WAR
(2856-2860)

Erdhonis, 2856 - The Edgemoor Orcs and Skane barbarians shake off the snow of winter and prepare for the campaigning season.  The orcs, under Kron the Brilliant, begin to cross the Aré river from the Purple Hills into Aré.  The Skane under Boris Bamsndvaerder and Gunni Sleetsleeve sigh and wait for their more cold-averse Tirgonian allies to get ready.

Agaleon, 2856 - Tirgonian mercenary cavalry commanded by general Astrius, set out from the Crown Lands and head east. Orcish light infantry and mercenary ogres under Braal the Callous set out west from the Southern Edgemoors.

Strynod, 2856 - The main Tirgonian/Skane host under Prince Marcus and Boris Bamsndvaerder set out from the Crown Lands for Aré. A Skane force under general Mattias stays behind to guard Tirgon. Kron enters Aré.  Braal reaches the Sothwood.

Maravis, 2856 - The Tirgonian/Skane host arrives in Aré. Braal the Callous begins to subjugate the Sothwood. A Grail Primacy fleet under Prince Constantikos leaves Armorica with twenty warships and as many transports.  A second Grail Primacy fleet under the mercenary Khedem-Var sails from far-off Uls Fakhar with ten warships and twenty-five transports!

A poisoned, ensorcelled arrow from the woods, apparently meant for Marcus, missed the TIrgonian general by inches, instantly killing his aide-de-camp.  A few nights later, a second attempt was made on his life, this time by Skane men.  Boris contemptuously denounced them as mercenaries for the orcs and beheaded them himself.

Cleon, 2856 - The Battle of Aré - Ten thousand Tirgonian soldiers marched beside five thousand skane warriors.  In early Cleon, their scout spotted the columns of orc warriors marching north towards the Crown Lands.  Kron's army numbered a mere six thousand, most of them lightly-armed goblins.  The allies had numbers and a strong advantage in cavalry on their side.  The orcs had the aptly named Kron the Brilliant, and Kron had a secret weapon: treachery.

As the battle started, the large Tirgonian army arrayed itself at the center and left flank of the allied line which stretched for half a mile and extended far beyond the orcish lines in both directions.  Marcus knew his cavalry would be at a disadvantage in the woods where the orcs had chosen to fight, but it could nonetheless easily outflank them.  Still, the orcs stood solidly, jeering at their opponents to come and die on their spears.  Then suddenly a horn sounded to Marcus's distant right, and in front of him the orcs started forward at a quick march.  In the gloom of the alders and birch, itt took several long minutes for the horrified Marcus to realize what was happening.  The Skane army was attacking his center as the orcs moved to pin his left.  The damned Skane had betrayed the Tirgonians!  They had chosen orcs over men!

Marcus quickly recovered fro his shock.  Even now, his numbers were roughly even to those of the foe, far better trained. If he could but defeat these devils here, on Tirgonian soil, he could save the kingdom!  But it was not to be.  Instead, the battle of Aré descended into a bloody, vicious melee with little direction and still less mercy.  It only ended when night fell.  Both sides had suffered terribly and neither side had the fortitude to remain and fight a second day.  The men of Tirgonia took the opportunity to flee pell-mell back towards the Crown Lands, losing all semblance of cohesion, while the orcs and their Skane allies retreated sullenly back across the river into the Purple Hills.

Daarlem, 2856 - The Battle of the Crown Lands - Marcus's army runs straight into the Skane army under Mattias.  With much of his strength spent at Aré or still scattered along the roads stretching back to that battlefield, Marcus has fewer than five thousand effectives to face a roughly equal number of Skane.  Marcus is the superior general and is fighting in his homeland, but his badly scattered forces cripple his ability to coordinate his army, and the Skane are upon him before he can organize.  This confused battle is most remarkable for how badly both commanders blunder, and the battle devolves into a series of small hand-to-hand actions spread across many fields and meadows.  The skane berserkers held the road to Tirgon and Marcus is forced to retreat again, this time towards the Greenwood.

Braal completes the conquest of the Sothwood. Constantikos's fleet lands at Tirgon, dropping off fifteen hundred paladins of the Grail to help defend the city.  In the Purple Hills, the Skane and orcs try to reorganize their forces.

Northhale, 2856 - Braal's army begins the systematic looting of the Sothwood. Skane Prince Yars puts to sea with nearly forty warships, sailing south from Vanaheim. Constantikos's Grail fleet heads south again.

Berlas, 2856 - Prince Yars takes up a position in the Bay of Ben-Thael, guarding against foreign incursion.

Branaeor, 2856 - Astrius reaches Buidhe Creagh. Both Grail Primacy fleets arrive at their winter harbor at Andred. Braal begins the enslavement of the Sothwood.

Erdhonis, 2857 - The Skane/Edgemoor army recrosses the Aré river.

Agaleon, 2857 - The Skane/Edgemoor army enters Aré.

Maravis, 2857 - The Skane/Edgemoor army enters the Crown Lands. The combined Grail Primacy fleet leaves Andred, sailing north under Constantikos's command. Braal the Callous and his army march west. With his proud army much reduced, Prince Marcus refuses to reengage the Skane and orcs, and instead retreats into Alqualondë with just over thirty-five hundred troops.

Cleon, 2857 - Boris and Kron lay siege to Tirgon.  They are aided by Yars's blockade. Elsewhere, Braal the Callous arrives in Estwilde.

Daarlem, 2857 - Braal and his orcs begin the pacification of Estwilde. Without an effective commander, the orcs are easily able to seize or isolate the field forts.

Northhale, 2857 - The Battle of Ben-Thael - The combined Grail Primacy fleet sailed bravely into the choppy late summer waters of the the Bay of Ben-Thael on their way towards Tirgon, not even aware that the city was in under siege. The huge fleet darkened the waters as the pennons of seventy-five Grail ships snapped proudly in the breeze. Of these, more than a third were warships.  But waiting for them were nearly forty skane warships, including ten of the sleek, fast dragonships which made the Skane such terrible foes at sea. The ships surged together in a titanic melee that spread across dozens of square miles of ocean. Fire surged from the deck of ships, rams struck home below the surging waters and slingers rained a deadly hail of stone across the gap between ships.  When the ships locked, their crews swarmed from deck to deck with pikes and cutlasses.  The Grail ships took the brunt of the fighting.  Some were captured; more were sunk with all hands.  Thousands of paladins of the grail drowned within sight of the city they had come to save.  The Grail fleets scattered and took refuge in Cruachan, Duncrannoch and Alqualondë.

Berlas, 2857 -  The siege of Tirgon dragged on. Prince Constantikos rallied his still-substantial fleet in an attempt to break the Skane blockade.

Branaeor, 2857 - With the Tirgonians unwilling to fight for Tirgon, Prince Constantikos decides to preserve his remaining ships and troops and sails south for Andred.  Elsewhere, Braal and his orcs begin to loot Estwilde.

Agaleon, 2858 - The siege of Tirgon resumes. Elsewhere, orc leader Vabrak raids the Eastern March.

Strynod, 2858 - The Fall of Tirgon - The Grail defenders of Tirgon succumb to disease and starvation, and surrender to the Skane.  The barbarians and orcs stream into the city, looting and pillaging. Elswhere, Vabrak raids Bekanor.

Maravis, 2858 - Vabrak raids Aonach.

Northhale, 2858 - Braal the Callous completes the enslavement of Estwilde and returns to the purple hills with his slaves.

Branaeor, 2858 - Tirgonian lord Astrius reaches the Ascar province of Mahant with his thousand mercenary cavalry, two and a half years after setting out.  Astrius, an abominably bad general with a penchant for colorful mufti and remaining in his tent during battle, manages to slam the highly-trained cavalry into the Ascar castle defenses.  The Ascar field fort garrisons easily capture, kill or drive off the more numerous mercenaries.  Astrius himself is wounded during the final encounter and abandoned by his disgusted mercenary troops.

The Harkorian League -
Ruler - First Councillor Cheos
Capital - Cadares
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy - Maxis [NT]

Councillors Sotoris and Phokas began their terms as governors of Morthales and Erzerus. Both appear to be talented administrators.

The Edgemoor Orcs -
Ruler - King Hauge
Capital - Zaramaka
Dominant Race - Orcs
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

South-Western Medarhos -

A Strange Occurrence - Shamans and wizards from across South-Western Meharhos noted the sharply decreased presence of magical flow over the last five years, making spell-casting difficult.  Philosophers believe this is a natural disturbance in the magical field surrounding Theeurth.

The Brythnian Confederation -  Ruler - Regent Keltos Capital - Carrenthium Dominant Race - Taurid Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

Regent Keltos prepared for war on the homefront as well as invasion from the north.  He got both. Keltos recruited every possible taurid to serve in his army. In 2858, taurid scouts brought word to Keltos at Tathlann of a large Ascar army moving south through the Cendarinnes passes.  Keltos and his vassal Argous the Bull moved their combined armies to the hills of Orosel to intercept the attackers. Lady Klieo Longstride attended the Regent, hoping to learn something. The Taurids numbered more than eighteen thousand, of whom nearly fifteen thosuand were centaur cavalry. The army that invaded Orosel flew only the banners of Ascarlon, but more than half the soldiers were orcs. This Dark Court army numbered more than sixteen thousand, including three thousand Ascar heavy elite infantry. The Taurids had a solid advantage in maneuverability with their great weight of cavalry, but also suffered from the severe, almost pathologically incompetent Klieo, who rode about giving contradictory orders and countermanding the Regent's instructions.  The Dark Court had magic on its side, causing its blades to be powerfully sharp, but it also suffered from what would eventually be seen as a divided command structure. The battle joined, the taurids spread out, trying to use their greater numbers and maneuverability to turn the Dark Court flanks, while the Dark Court infantry tried to smash its way through the center of the Taurid line to strike at its command.  The large numbers of orcish light infantry were perfectly at home in the hills, using cover to snipe at passing centaurs with their horn bows.  But the powerful and well-trained centaurs were simply irresistible, and they slowly began to draw a tightening noose around the Dark Court army, driving it into smaller pockets and eliminating them one by one. Before the sun had begun to dip towards the west, the Dark Court forces broke and ran for the safety of the mountains.  Exhausted, the taurids did not pursue.

After regathering their wounded and scattered, the taurids had lost some three thousand soldiers.  But the Dark Court, nursing its wounds in the cold mountain passes, had lost eleven thousand dead, including Rendoc, feudal lord of Napoca, who had been killed by a centaur lance.

The excitement was far from over in Brythnia, however.  In 2859, Regent Keltos converted to the faith of the Lords of the Grail.  Two months later, he declared the worship of the Grail to be the state religion of Brythnia. There was an immediate uproar.  Every one of Keltos's lieutenants and vassals revolted against his rule, as did most of those regions still loyal to the Spirit Cults.  Brythnian spies crushed revolts in the Dacian Hills and in Vadhrian, while Cerintum and the Brythnian Hills both declared their independence. Lady Klieo struggled with Keltos for control of the army, but the soldiers remembered her foolish performance at Orosel and spurned her entreaties to return to the worship of the spirits.

In 2860, the Great Meadow was cultivated at last, and Brythnia became a civilized state. 

Aelissia - Ruler - King Kendall Lowtide Capital - The Great Delve Dominant Race - Halfling Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - The South Downs [-], Dhalken [F]

swear full allegiance to the crown.

Corland - Ruler - King Bohemund Capital - Khairais Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Rhavais [T]

King Bohemund continued to build up a nation now largely recovered from the Bug Wars. He patronized farms and irrigation projects in Serry and Votois, and ordered the founding of a new port city on the Votois Roldein's Gate coast. This city, named for Bohemund's late father Armand, became the hub for trade to Luxur, the Crusader States and the Valesian Empire. Bohemund also authorized men and funds to begin upgrading the Khairais-Rhavais road to a more robust royal road. Bohemund ruled from Khairais and fathered a son and two daughters by his wife, Constance of Derandime. He named his older sister Sirienne as his heir and married her to Lord Phillip, elevating him to the royal family. Lord Percivale spent many years questioning the criminal classes and magi of Quesante and Khairais, looking for the culprits in the terrible Abbey Murders of five years before. Meanwhile, Lord Gareth traveled to Mauredoc and lived their quietly for many years. Prince Phillip traveled to Rhavais, where he convinced the eastern city to pay tribute to the kingdom.

 

The Sea Empire of Lorraine - Ruler - Emperor Boru Capital - Armorica Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Lothian [T], Sadok [EA]

The battered Sea Empire began slowly to rebuild its armies and its defenses.  In Priamus, the port of Roldeinsport saw a new stone wall being built and new quays put in for merchant ships.  Fifteen hundred soldiers were recruited into the national armies and materials were dispatched to distant Meergeld to keep trade, the nation's lifeblood, flowing. Emperor Boru continued to pay the tribute demanded by the Dines orcs.  He himself ruled from the throne in Armorica, fathering two daughters before his wife Shallott died in 2858. Boru hired the famous Runeknights adventuring company, charging them with recovering the lost Red Mace.  This they did by entering Dines and stealing it from the orc chief who was using it to crack walnuts (and the occasional head). Sir Haden delivered the tribute to Dines and then traveled to Roldeinsport where he served as governor for three years.  Sir Richard delivered trade goods and building materials to Meergeld in the Llyran Republic before settling down to be governor of that city.  He returned to Armorica in 2860.  Despite being one of the crueler noblemen in Lorraine, he proved to be an efficient and effective governor. Sir Draken traveled to the city of Lothian, where he died in 2859.  Before his death, he negotiated a tribute from the free city to the Emperor.  With him traveled Sir Dalarose of the Lonely Tower.  Sir Dalarose continued on to Sadok, where despite the religious and racial hatred between orcs and men, he managed to arrange a trade treaty.  Sir Dalarose then took his leave from the service of the Empire and retired to live out the remainder of his life at the Lonely Tower.

The Neldorean Wood - Ruler - Queen Nereil Capital - Elenuil Dominant Race - Elf Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

As Queen Nereil ruled from her misty hall in Elenuil, elvish laborers tended the hearttrees in Manariyë and the Tarwood, magically expanding their colossal growth to accommodate an even larger population. Meanwhile, her court worked in secret on projects unknown. Some of what they were up to was tragically revealed when in 2858 the orcs of Dines captured Celebriän Elanessë, snooping around in their caverns.  The elven lord was roasted alive by the orcs in a public ceremony, and eaten by the tribe.

The Exarchate of the Great Crusade - Ruler - Exarch Bradley Capital - Pontezium Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

Exarch Candos sent a huge sum of money into the Akasian Hills, used to pay an army of carpenters, roadlayers, miners and masons to improve this vital province.  He also looked to defense, building castles in the Salt Shore, Querenia and South Akasia. Even the Acropolis, the fortress that soared above Pontezium, was strengthened with new barbicans and a strong outer glacis. The Exarchate's many wizards summoned elementals and beings from the many planes to aid in the improvement of many regions. Candos died during a boar-hunting accident in 2857.  His only son, six-year old Bleobaris, was next in line for the throne and charismatic Sir Bradley was named Lord Protector during his minority.  But Queen Emily died a year later of a broken heart and shortly thereafter, all of Candos's children "mysteriously disappeared".  Absent a ruling family, Sir Bradley assumed the title of Exarch and seized command of the army.  None of the Crusader Lords chose to oppose him.

Cultivation of the Salt Shore slowly continued, and Bradley issued a charter for a new Merchant's Guild in Laedrus, though it would be many years before either project was complete.

Sir Linden Traveled to Thelianis to examine and report on the beliefs of the Way of the Sword.

The Holy Order of the Dawn - Ruler - Grand Master Lactantius Capital - The Akasian Hills Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Querenia [OE], Saxetus [OH], Thyestes [-], Calodunum [OH], Risinium [OH]

iinto the very heart of the hobgoblin Empire of Carhallas.  The Order army raided Sauthor.  It was prevented from completely overrunning the province by the presence of hobgoblin troops and field forts, but withdrew before any of the hobgoblin armies stationed in the east could react. Domitius then led his troops southwest into orcish territory where he raided the lightly-settled woods of Brolok before returning south across the Worldspines to set up camp in the hills of Phaedon.

Rhanalor -

Lord Vabanne took the tiny Ascar navy downstream all the way to Celendor and raided the forests of Arthuial, Daerui and Celebdilas.  The elves of Arthuial and Celebdilas easily drove off the lightly-armed ship crews, but the elves of Daerui were caught during a spring fertility celebration and the Ascars were able to cart away a large amount of booty.

Lord Vardes went along with them, stopping at Varthane and continuing on to Dalariadh.  At each place, he delivered a shipment of gold to the lords of Annvar and Meledrian.  Vardes died of a fever in Dalariadh in 2858.

Lord Mzegos marched south with orcish allies to invade Brythnia.  The invasion went...poorly.  (See The Brythnian Confederation, above).

The Worldspine Orcs -
Ruler - King Azog
Capital - Mount Kauroth
Dominant Race - Orc
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court
Diplomacy - Rimehorns [-]

The orcs continued to prepare for war.  Twenty-five hundred infantry were recruited in the caverns of the Worldspines. Azog apportioned his army between himself and Gulgash the Rude and then sent Gulgash west towards Ascarlon. Squint Honeyeye wound up in the Rimehorns and attempted to entice the Blackspike orcs into an alliance.  The western orcs paid the emissary little heed. Gulgash the Rude and his ten thousand orcs met up with Lord Mzegos of Ascarlon and his five thousand men.  They then marched south towards Brythnia. (See The Brythnian Confederation, above). Warg the Unwashed died in Gargath in 2857. In 2857,the Order of the Dawn raided the forest region of Brolok, carting off a the belongings of a few small villages.

The Emperor remained in Sauthor with his Imperial Guard and ruled his sprawling realm. He fathered two sons and a daughter by his imposing queen Prizzeth. In Lederata, Prince Kargauth saw to the defenses until his death in 2859. All the other strength of the Empire was bent to the invasion of Celendor, as general Durthaur and more than fifteen thousand hobgoblins moved to seize Annathel. (See The Celendor War, below). The feudal lords of Jezul, Pukel and Cavakal all died of natural causes during the expedition. In 2856, a raiding force of humans from the Order of the Dawn marched up out of the southern forests to raid Sauthor itself. The Sauthor garrison prevented them from doing too much damage, but the knights did cart away or burn many of the outlying villages.

The Great Kingdom of Annvar - Ruler - First Councillor Gudge Capital - Varthane Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

The Standard of Annvar

Celendor -
Ruler - King Elorian Mistmantle
Capital - Ennilas
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

ELIMINATED

The Forest Realm of Meledrian -
Ruler - King Eldareth Hammerhand
Capital - Laurelindë
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

Wounded King Eldareth left the command of the Meledrian army in the hands of his general, Aeliniel.  Eldareth retreated to Silithos where with the aid of Annvarite Lord Alfajoriax, he founded The Duskwood Reavers of Azhran, the Dark Court's first religious fighting order. This very nearly amounted to a partition of his country's resources, as staggering sums of gold and elves were spent to outfit and equip the Reavers. General Aeliniel aided the Annvarites in fending off Celendor's counterstrike at Thuidhel (See The Celendor War, below), then moved back to the fords at Ithancelos.  The human mercenary Nishraan the Clever took a thousand elves raiding into Daerui and Iathos, easily looting much of the wealth of those forests before their shaken garrisons could respond.

THE CELENDOR WAR
(2856-2860)

Agaleon,2856 - Elvish assassins try fail in their attempt to murder King Elorian Mistmantle at Ennilas.

Strynod, 2856 - The Fourth Battle of Thuidhel - Celendor general Voromë marched into Thuidhel with twelve thousand angry elves to confront the eight thousand Meledrian occupiers.  As the battle took shape, two more armies threw themselves into the fray.  Celendor king Elorian Mistmantle marched out of his fastness at Ennilas with eight thousand more troops and Annvarite general Gudge arrived with seventy-five hundred soldiers and mercenaries. Into this huge, swirling, many-sided melee also marched a unit of Darkwood Ents summoned by Meledrian general Aeliniel.  The savage battle lasts for two days and kills thousands of men and elves on both sides.  In the end, the forces of Celendor are forced to retreat to Pinnas under general Voromë.  They still number ten thousand. King Elorian is missing, and his body was not found.

Agaleon, 2857 - Ennilas falls to the Dark Court siege.

Strynod, 2857 - Ennilas, greatest of the elvish cities, is sacked and burned by the Annvarites.  Princess Arvanna, Lord Girion and Lord Haladan are all beheaded in the city's main square, and all priests of the Lords of the Grail are burned at the stake in the city's arena.

Maravis, 2857 - Four thousand cavalry under the command of feudal lords allied to Annvar ride into Pinnas, only to be cut to ribbons by the ten thousand elves lying in wait there.

In the same month, two thousand Annvarite feudal cavalry seize and hold the Celendor forests of Orodel.

Daarlem-Berlas, 2858 - The army of Carhallas under the command of general Durthaur defeat the garrison at Annathel and begin the siege of Minnuin.

Cleon, 2859 - Minnuin, the last Celendor city, capitulates to the hobgoblins.

In the wake of the disappearance of King Elorian, the defeat of Voromë and the fall of Ennilas and Minnuin, the nation of Celendor ceases to be.  Voromë becomes a rogue general, able for the moment to keep his army together.

The Duskwood Reavers of Azhran -
Ruler - Grand Master Nath-Imperator Melenchlaenith the Archdisrupter
Order Fortress - Silithos
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

Founded in Silithos in 2857, The Duskwood Reavers of Azhran are a religious fighting order dedicated to the Dark Court.  Their name refers to the Pits of Azhran, mythical home of Malbor, the god of hate, malice and rulership. In addition to the Order's Fortress at Silithos, its initial holdings include an Oratory in the Annvarite province of Tusainiai and Order Houses in the Meledrian province of Belaira and capital city of Laurelindë.   GM's Note: Since the process of the Reaver's creation had begun before the switch to the version 6.0 rules, I allowed it to be completed by the version 5.10 rules, so long as the creation was complete by Turn 16.

The Conorrian Heartland -

The Conorrian Empire - Ruler - Emperor Saxonius I Capital - Echoriath Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Eatris [EA], Isurium [FA]

The elvish mercenary diplomat Melial turned his silver tongue to the Empire's service in Isurium, where he convinced the lord of Isurium to become a feudal ally of the Empire.

The mercenary general Joris took a small army to Faucrion to guard the northern approaches to the capital.

The Great Church of the Lords of the Grail - Ruler - Patriarch Constantikos Holy City - Conorr Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Bregor [CH], Malidisant [-], Armorica [-], Dhûnazhar[-]

The Patriarch's Standard

The Dwarven Realm of Dhûnazhar -  Ruler - King Thorin Capital - None Dominant Race - Dwarf Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Kiril Zelen [F]

pierce its stygian tomb.

From the dawn of time, Khelem Vala had been the spiritual home of the dwarves in Medahros, and ranked as easily the greatest dwarven city in all of Theeurth.  But now in less than a month a terrible contagion known as Morlock Fever had torn through the population, leaving only scant hundreds alive of the hundred thousand who had once made it a noisy and vibrant place. No signs could be seen in the infected until the very hour of their deaths, and then they began to break out in a ghastly yellowish sweat and panted for breath as if the air was too thin. Of the hundreds who survived the initial outbreak, many later succumbed to other disease or starvation. Only dozens survived to the conclusion of the disease at year's end when the snows came.  Khelem Vala was a ghost city.

Queen Georgette and Lord Forrester met at Vindobala and marched their army of just under eight thousand soldiers into the fertile plain of Othona.  Though Forrester was the superior commander, the Queen kept a firm reign on the army and her royal prerogative.  The Pelendurites were met by an enthusiastic, if disorganized opposition consisting of just over three thousand mixed hobgoblin troops and a pair of old but serviceable forts.  The hobgoblin commander was not particularly experienced, but then, neither was Queen Georgette.  The nasty squabble resembled a knife-fight in a back alley more than a proper battle, and it ended when the Pelendur army broke and ran, a third of its strength missing or dead.  The hobgoblins, too, had suffered a bloody nose, but they held the field and saw the Pelendurites off with satisfaction. Meanwhile, Georgette's son and heir, Gregor, traveled to Naugrias and negotiated a treaty with the lord of that land, marrying the lord's daughter in exchange for promises of feudal troop levies. Lady Chanrey traveled to Leucomagus and charmed the local lords with her cosmopolitan ways and ready gifts.  They agreed to allow Pelendur armies and trade to cross their lands at will. After the debacle in Othona, Lord Forrester left Queen Georgette in the company of her son Prince Ulfast, and traveled to the city of Magrod where he once again tried to negotiate with the fierce hobgoblin count who ruled the city.  Pelendur's brutality towards his Othonan neighbor was a significant stumbling block in the negotiations, and in the end the count was noncommittal, Forrester took this as a lack of opposition and claimed the city for Pelendur, at least on paper.

VALES -

North-Western Vales -

The Llyran Republic -
Ruler - Constans Hermione
Capital - Tarrentica
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy - Halianis [F]

The Holy Matriarchy of Ahuran -  Ruler - Queen Rhia Moonshadow Capital - Sedeskan Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Maddari Diplomacy - Sendorin [EA], Naidhan [A]
These were good times in the Land of Women.  The walls of Ilduskan and Mahaaran were built high and strong, and many ships were built until they crowded the harbor of Ilduskan and the merchants demanded more port space. Maddari missionaries had great success converting the elves of Paraam and the women of Sandrettos to the worship of the mother goddess, though actual dedication to the strictures of parmaadan  would likely take far longer. Many marriages were on the minds of the nobility, and the closer governmental and personal ties that went with them.  Sons of noble houses were bartered in much the same way as daughters were the world over.  Dawn Wolfkin, adventurous heir to the throne agreed to take a strapping lad of Sendorin as her consort (so long as he minded his place and stayed out of her way) in exchange for favorable trading ties with that formerly dragon-haunted realm.  These were negotiated by experienced diplomat Mira Lynxpaw. Dawn's brother Frederick was married off to the landress of Naidhan for an alliance forged by Joyce Thistledown and Agnes Otterskin with the elves of those southern forests. Queen Rhia's consort, the poet Derek Burrow, died in 2859, leaving the queen bereft and seemingly aimless despite her court's attempts to amuse and distract her. A strange magical blight has settled over the fields of both Lann and Madukkan, destroying many crops.

Har'akir - Ruler - Sultan Shazanon Alouda Capital - Mar Awas Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Qadras [F]

New buildings popped up all over Har Mekelle, from meeting halls and churches to grain silos and taverns. The broad royal road to Entelle was graded and paved while the narrow track to Husen continued to see surveyors and the occasional draft team prepositioning supplies. Husen itself was brought under cultivation, which was not enitrely to the satisfaction of the elves whose ancient home it was.  Some pushing and shoving between the Akir workmen and the Elekar escalated into violence which had to be put down by Akir troops. In preparation for tighter control over the Elekar, sultan Shazanon permitted Alzar and Har Jadme to go their own ways, retaining only the right to transit their lands.  The western district of Khars was also given its independence, but was forced to pay a tribute to the sultan every five years "for protection." Sultan Shazanon appointed his son Qadir heir to the throne, and fathered a further three daughters and one son. The rest of Har'akir's lords, expert diplomats all, traveled to the hills of Qadras and negotiated the region's full entry into the sultanate.

The Valesian Empire - Ruler - Primarch Diomedes Capital - Centauris Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Thymene [-], Hypylus [A], Prophos [-]

The Valesians spent many years practicing the art of siegecraft and castle-building, and continued to excel in this most important discipline. They built new forts in Ventas with what they had learned. Euristi and Pylus benefited from new irrigation, and several small villages cropped up. Along with the irrigation came a large investment in the cultivation of Pylus. Admiral Tallius patrolled the Valesian Bight after trying and failing to interest the natives of Prophos to join the Empire. Admiral Ajax patrolled the Bardol Sea, flying the banner of the Red Pact of Vales. The adventurers of the House of Blades discovered a strange madhouse in Hypylus which disguised a secretive occupation by a band of iskardakoi, blind humanoids from the depths of the underworld. They

were using the mad dreams of the patients to fuel a psychotron, a chaositech device designed summon and unleash the insane force of chaos, granting considerable power to the iskardakoi in their eternal war for control of the depths.  The House of Blades killed all the invaders and destroyed the iskardakoi, bringing back some strange devices to Centauris.

Primarch Centorius traveled to Thymene, where he tried in vain to interest the locals in full citizenship, and to Hypylus, where he convinced the locals to sign a treaty of alliance.  Unfortunately for the Empire, Centorius died in Hypylus at the age of 69.

Immediately after his death, his son Diomedes moved to claim the throne, but was opposed by Admiral Ajax and by lord Fallonius. But Diomedes had collected the garrisons of Ventas and Centauris to him, and Admiral Tallius remained loyal.  Ajax sailed his fleet into Centauris harbor unopposed, but was soon followed in by Tallius's ships.  The tense standoff continued for several days until Ajax tried to seize control by assassinating Diomedes.  The plot failed and the city erupted into violence. Despite Ajax's clearly superior generalship, the outcome of the battle was never seriously in doubt, so great was the weight of numbers on the side of Diomedes and Tallius.  By day's end Ajax had been killed and his crews scattered or sunk.But the rebellion had not been Ajax alone.  One by one, the regions of Phalces, Alcmedes, Pylus, Laedos and Thymene, as well as the city of Mealon, all declared their independence. 

Alcmeneus of Thuces died at the age of fifty in 2857, but his sons quickly renewed their father's oath of alliance.

Luxur -
Ruler - General Adnas
Capital - Thedelos
Dominant Race - Sathla
Dominant Religion - Autumna
Diplomacy - Merwal [-]

The Holy See of Udjo - Ruler - Pysus Zurthes-Li Holy City - Merwal Dominant Race - Sathla Dominant Religion - Autumna Diplomacy - Naqada [-], Sia [MN]

Pysus Zurthes-Li traveled to Ululor where he displayed a great holy relic of his faith: The Dragonstone.  With this, a fragment of the Egg from which Udjo was hatched, he awed the crowds of common sauruses. Ssthaze traveled to Naqada and tried to canonize a monastery, but found the local sathla truculent and hard to impress. Kos had more success in the Mykele homeland of Sia, where the populace enthusiastically supported the building of a monastery with sweat and toil. The Holy See also helped to fund the cultivation of Habu.

The Serpentine of Mykele -
Ruler - Sauressh Isskor
Capital - Oroyon
Dominant Race - Sathla
Dominant Religion - Autumna
Diplomacy - Kilni [T], Ikka [A]

North-Eastern Vales -

The Kingdom of Thariyya - Ruler - King Mogrihan Vahdin Capital - Uls Fakhar Dominant Race - Halfling Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Naushqa [A]

The halflings of Uls Fakhar surveyed their ancient mud-brick walls and found them inadequate to modern warfare.  They therefore built them higher and thicker, and faced them with ditches and a dry moat. Wallastre Zendowan and Azek Vahdin, the heir, both traveled to Naushqa and with a mixture of Thariyyan practicality and halfling good cheer, negotiated a treaty of alliance with the native nomadic tribes. This they cemented with a marriage between the Fezhir of Naushqa and Leila Vahdin, the king's eldest daughter (just now seventeen and in the full blush of youth). Sultan Ontzdamas built elaborate defenses around Uls Fakhar in the year 2856, but abandoned them thereafter to return to the city and help in its administration. Admiral Yryons put to see with his score of warships and patrolled the Gulf of Thariyya on behalf of the Red Pact of Vales. Meanwhile, the various allies and feudal allies of the Kingdom traveled to Shood and set up defenses along the Hassar border.

The Warlocks of Accolon - Ruler - Emperor Elijah Cuu Capital - Dammarask Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

The Shadowed Primacy of the Dark Court -   Ruler - High Priest Gezz Half-Shadow Holy City - Dammarask Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - The Dark Court Diplomacy - Merisri [-]

Before his death in 2858, Lord Malkus attempted in vain to establish a cathedral in Merisri.  Lord Ibahim died in the same year while away from the Holy City. Lord Miryn traveled to Threns where she met with the local princes and was treated with the respect due a clergywoman of her rank. Jalak, adopted son of Kerendis's king Jorald, came to Dammarask to take up service in the Primacy as a priest of Evaless, Mother of Monsters.

The Shadowguard of Marador -  
Ruler - Queen Madariel Shadowfoot
Capital - Lantar
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy - Nivrost [F]

South-Western Vales -

The Steaming Kingdom of Drormt -
Ruler - Queen Xochilti
Capital - Drormt
Dominant Race - Saurus
Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult

The young queen quickly concluded a peace treaty with her father's enemies, permitting the sathla nations to convert Drormt to the worship of Autumna in exchange for the cessation of hostilities and the return of all seized lands.  She then used the gold she had raised through heavy taxation five years before to repair much that was broken in Ululor.  In addition, the queen and her lieutenant, Kabraaz, were both sorcerers and both invoked the spirits of earth and stone to mend much of the damage of the invasion.  Ululor, at least, began to recover from the smashing it had suffered under the heels of sathla soldiers. Missionaries did come, as did the Autumna patriarch, but few converts were made in those first years.  The queen herself expected to be a target for conversion, but no attempt was made to educate her in the ways of the strange and serpentine god of the sathla.

Sendahl - Ruler - King Ole*kus Capital - Nyange Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult

The Grand Empire of Mekebele - Ruler - Emperor W'tanabe Capital - Awayal Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult Diplomacy - Itu [T]

Momentous changes occurred in Mekebele.  With the cultivation of Eza, accomplished in 2857 with great fanfare, the people of the Grand Empire became more civilized.  They saw new and better ways to accomplish their ancient tasks, and began to view their jungle-dwelling brethren as backwards and slightly dim. But perhaps the spirits were not so sanguine about the changes in Mekebele society, for soon a terrible drought had settled across the land.  Soil that had long known daily drenchings of rain grew dry and brittle and began to blow away upon the wind. Water holes drew in upon themselves and the courses of life-giving rivers remained dry for years at a time.  Crops and animals suffered and died, and soon the people were also dying of thirst and starvation. Among the dead were Lord Assani and Lord W'sani of Eura. Surrounded by water, Mekebele was dry as a bone. Lord Tnute convinced the sauruses of Itu (who were also suffering from drought) to pay tribute to the

Grand Empire, which they did in vain hope that the men from the south could prevail upon the spirits to return the life-giving rains.

South-Eastern Vales -

The Dwarven Realm of Aurdrukar - Ruler - King Bain Capital - The Brass Tower Dominant Race - Dwarf Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail

Banner of Aurdrukar

Banner of Khor-Naland

The king's governors could simply not control all of the territory the armies and diplomats had taken.  Gamis and Yeshesces ceased to be effective parts of the realm. Concerned at the lack of proper administration, King Belak spent much of his vast hoard, equal to the total budgets of most nations, to bring new magistrates, tax collectors, sheriffs and scribes into his service.  The massive outlay produced immediate positive results. There was still enough gold in the Brass Tower to build smithies and barns throughout Ulhiya. Dwarven missionaries to the Xulani tribesmen of Qiya found the humans easygoing and friendly but completely disinterested in the demanding gods of the Grail, with their notions of duty, sin and repentence.  The men of Qiya lived a simple life of subsistence farming and fishing and knew no need for stunty bearded gods who seemed mostly to demand a lot of kneeling and a certain uncomfortable distance from one's female relations. While King Belak ruled from the throne of the Brass Tower, Lord Dhokir assisted him in the administration of the country and Prince Bain governed the capital.

Meanwhile, Lord Thulnor traveled the northern hills and mountains, seeking adventure and glory.  In Shtekken, he encountered a powerful living machine that roamed the hills for inscrutable reasons of its own.  The machine, which resembled a hovering, stylized torso with an armored head and powerful arms, and called itself "The Invevitable", had destroyed a nest of trolls, but lost some of its ability to hover.  Thulnor, a master miner and filled with the knowledge of his kind, identified a source of a key mineral needed by The Inevitable to regain its full abilities.  Traveling for many months and defeating a nest of giant bats, Thulnor retrieved the needed crystals and returned them to the damaged machine.  In payment, The Inevitable imparted certain valuable information to the dwarf-lord, and then departed.

King Belak Shieldbreaker died in 2860 at the age of two hundred twelve.  Although he was survived by no children or heir, the orderly nature of Aurdrukar society caused the nobles and powerful to simply look to Prince Bain as the logical heir to the throne.  He was crowned by the bishop of the Brass Tower with great pomp, but very little resistance.

The Kingdom of Weshtayo - Ruler - King Uraji, Red-Feathered Lord Capital - Khulank Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult Diplomacy - Osaru [A]

The Imperial Realm of Zikuyu -
Ruler - Emperor Bhekizizwe
Capital - Ivallkyu
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult
Diplomacy - Zalu [EA]

The Valraj -
Ruler - Sultan Khalood
Capital - Muddakir
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult
Diplomacy - Hajaxtas [+4YfC], Sartus [FA]

The Grand Duchy of Meneen -
Ruler - Grand Duke Salene
Capital - Yaz Meneen
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult

The Grand Duke decreed a wall be built around Olonár, the northern city in Urvupal.  The Grand Duke then turned to ruling his far-flung empire of islands. At his direction, Lord Feantë put to sea with a fleet of warships and transports.  After stopping at Uthor Gil to pick up Lord Gilendyl and his mountaineers, they sliced through the southern seas, their swanships fairly flying over the white-topped waves. Beyond the Gates of Arthys, to the east even of Rajahdan, they fell upon the unsuspecting sathla natives of the Tasarwi islands like a storm of silver. But a lack of suspicion plagued the elves, too, for the Tasarwi were great in number and well trained.  Better trained, if truth be known, than the elves themselves.  But Feantë was an ancient and experienced general, and his sleek ships and their crews were invaluable in driving the natives from the sea and harassing them along the shore. With heavy losses, Feantë took the islands and forced on them a tribute, to be collected periodically by the elves. After recovering in Tasarwi for many months, the reavers loaded up their grey ships again and sailed west, past their old homeland and stormed ashore at Rhundal, the rich elvish jungles south of Ukanve.  Here their ships counted for far less, but the native elves were also less deadly than the Tasarwii.  In six short weeks, Feantë had subdued the elves of Rhundal with minimal losses to his own forces.  He then returned home to report his success to the Grand Duke. Elsewhere, Lord Habnar was made governor of Olonár.  His energy and skill as a commander soon galvanized that sleepy trading village into driving new docks into the sea and creating warehouses for the increasing northern trade.

The Kingdom of Ukanve -
Ruler - Queen Eamata
Capital - Ukanve
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Valesian Spirit Cult
Diplomacy - Deja [-]

The queen elevated her beloved Consort Charles to the status of Prince of Shoggen.  Charles, unfortunately, died two nights later of the shivering fever. Shamans of Yezhu'u traveled to both Shoggen and Hydrsha to awaken the spirits of earth, water and tree.  They were successful in Hydrsha, where the trees themselves stacked fallen logs and the rocks arose and rolled out of the fields, arranging themselves in neat walls and cairns. Meanwhile, other shamans moved among the demon-worshiping orcs of Torquas, debating and educating them on the power of the spirits and their connection with the living world.  Some of the orcs were quick to return to what were, after all, their own ancestral ways.  Many more rejected the spirits cults for the heady joys of the Dark Court. Meanwhile, Lord Geneal spoke eloquently to the orcs of Torquas about the ancient grace of the spirits cults and their powerful mysteries. As in the countryside, there were many who listened. Lord Norwalk traveled to the elven jungles of Deja to negotiate transit rights, but spent only a year in the region and was thus forced to return to Ukanve with little to show for his time.

The Kingdom of Nikitya -
Ruler - King Olaf
Capital - Vikitana
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Serriku Spirit Cult

King Ivan gave the hand of his sister in marriage to his best friend, Olaf and elevated Olaf to a Prince.  Feeling the call of adventure, Ivan decided to prowl the city of Vikitana disguised as a sailor.  No man knows what trouble Ivan found, or that found him, but six days later his body was discovered in a marsh outside town, inexplicably aged to that of a feeble old man.  Only by his signet ring and battle scars was he known.  There are still those who refuse to believe that the ancient corpse was that of the king. But the grandmothers make the sign to ward the evil eye and shut their doors when it is mentioned. Olaf became king while preparing to travel to Kachka.  The land was rife with rumors of rebellion and hostility to his reign, so he canceled his plans and remained in Vikitana.

The Shanatar Empire -
Ruler - God-Emperor Uruk
Capital - Feroe
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - The God-Emperor

The God-Emperor named his ten-year-old daughter, Talena his heir and successor.  He then married off Hellena, daughter of his predecessor, Uruk, to Adnon of Afarees, elevating the nobleman to the rank of Prince. During these years, the army of peasant laborers completed the cultivation of Afarees while other forces of peasants broke ground for similar cultivation in Balasir and Rachif.  Shanatar was undergoing a rapid shift from steppe to farmland. In 2857, heavy rains in the Taklamakas meant flooding all along the Chamir river.  But it was particularly dangerous in low-lying Navoud, where the floodwaters rose to wipe out villages, drown cattle and inundate crops.  The steady labors of the locals were unable to stop the rapidly-rising waters and soon they were on the run for their lives. The efforts of the God-King's priests continued in Eumela, where the dedication to the distant and uncaring gods of the Dark Court began to seem far less relevant than the benevolent and immediate worship of the God-Emperor. Lord Ferroi governed (if you could call it that) in Naifir. The conflicting array of ordinances and directives that issued from his office tended to bring the business of the city to a halt, and sparked a gang war for control of the bread supplies. Lord Yulleran governed Feroe until his death in 2859, while Lord Tunnivarran governed in the port of Huzzein and struggled with brazen thievery, greed and corruption in his attempts to clean up the city's vital docks and canals.

The Farmuz Emirates - Ruler - Sultan Yaman al Mukatir Capital - Azhkatûm Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Lords of the Grail Diplomacy - Navilok [T]

Twenty-two years old, Sultana Falak al Azhkatûm married the dashing twenty-one year old Yaman al Mukatir, naming him Warlord of Farmuz.  This turned out to be an honorary title only, for the smitten young sultana kept her new husband cose to her in Azhkatûm.  Yaman was wise and witty, but had little head for the details of leading armies. The two spent happy years in the palace, the perfect image of monarchs in their prime.  But there was a secret sadness in the royal household as the sultana failed to conceive a child.  No amount of passion, potions or magic seemed to alter this fact until 2859, when the sultana happily announced that she was with child.  Tragedy struck in the deep of the rainy season, when Falak miscarried and died in the process. The Emirs grumbled, some of them quite loudly, about following a sultan from Mukatir, but Yaman's grief-stricken speech at the the sultana's funeral made him enormously popular with the commoners, who loved Falak deeply.  The emirs hid their objections and sent tribute to the new sultan. Meanwhile, a powerful Merchant's Guild took hold of the daily operations in the ports of Azhkatûm.  Falak (for she still lived at this point) wisely allowed them to pursue their profits and simply taxed them accordingly. Emir Mustafa ben Shariz traveled to Navilok, where he negotiated with Emir Izz al Din and succeeded in extracting an agreement to pay tribute to the Sultana.

Emir Najya al Zahmer moved troops and ships around the nation and then settled down in Mukatir to govern from the muddy banks of the Argabazos River.  Naiya is a man of boundless energy but very limited attention, and he began many project that remained unfinished.

In 2854, a lone survivor of the adventuring group known as the Gurek of the Red Stone rode into Azhkatûm, dusty, poor and lame.  He reported the demise of the Gurek in far-off Tekume.

 

The Kingdom of Vaudan - Ruler - King Eldred Capital - Chegamum Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - Orithia

King Vachim poured a great deal of his nation's wealth and energy into finishing his own incredible tomb in Noor'im, The Crystal Ziggurat.  He even borrowed heavily from Vaudan's merchants to complete the task. This effort proved to be prescient.  Queen Behnaz died after a bout with disease in 2857.  King Vachim died a year later at the age of fifty-eight.  He was buried in the Crystal Ziggurat. The white marble structure flashed in the sun with thousands of tiny crystals and dazzled the eye with the stunning oval crystal at its apex.  This was a period of great uncertainty in Vaudan.  Vachim had ruled with an iron fist, and few could really conceive of the nation without him.  But Eldred, architect of the Crystal Ziggurat, had also built up a personal mythology which allowed the average peasant to see in him the continuation of his father's works.  Eldred assumed the crown in peace. Lord Mehrvand governed the city of Iljainu. Lord Tahmaseb governed in Nrinayri, proving himself to be an energetic reformer.  He cleaned up the city's waterfront and built its first sewers. Before her death, Queen Behnaz had hired back the Doomriders of Ul'il since no other nation had hired them.  On her directions, they traveled among the Taklamakan foothills, seeking noble deeds but finding none, alas.

The United Clans of Mainos -
Ruler - King Kaedhrol Greyfeather
Capital - Badmira
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Aydu [-]

The spirited elves of Mainos threw themselves into the improvement of Jalit and Kheleni, planting heartrees, tending elegant natural gardens and above all, building hippodromes for their beloved chariot races. Ships they also built, shallow-draft boats and barges delicately decorated with carved birds at the prows. From there, the elvish trade moved west to Vaudan and east to the Dragon Reach and the Seven Kingdoms. Elvish philosophers moved into Suembut to spread the great news of Orithia - that all beings may attain divinity through rigorous self-discipline and understanding.  They were delighted to find that their fellow elves already practiced the Paths of Serenity. King Kaedhrol ruled from Badmira, distributing soldiers among his retainers.  His son Auvo aided his father in the administration of the realm and also married a beautiful elvish noblewoman from Caam named Sirrka Kytölä.

Lord Tarja Elsilä governed the capital of Badmira, and was noted as a humorless and brutal tax enforcer. Lord Aila Törni traveled to Aydu to negotiate with the native elvish tribes, but his words and gifts did not move the wild elves, who went on hunting and fishing as they had since the world began.

The Dragon's Reach -

The Kingdom of Uheju -
Ruler - King Noordaihn II
Capital - Shkomyemri
Dominant Race - Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Inni [-], Kaletor [F]

 

Thousands of hobgoblin laborers were sent into the Kannguheju countryside to break stumps, till the soil, build villages and organize haymarkets.  The region, formerly a fairly sleepy, if prosperous, region grew by leaps and bounds. King Noordhain marched west with his army and overawed the hobgoblin natives of Inni.  But his diplomacy was stymied by the presence of a negotiator from Kasadir.  The Innis managed to avoid entanglements with either large neighbor.  Noordhain went home and did much the same to his harem, begetting a son in 2860. His lieutenant, Gadai, marched north to the city of Kaletor with a few hundred of the king's best cavalry.  There, he explained to the nervous city fathers that they would be far less likely to suffer any unfortunate accidents if they were to accept the full control of the kingdom.  Like the lords of Inni, they also readily agreed.

The Kingdom of Kasadir -
Ruler - King Faren III
Capital - Tamiyot
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Inni [-]

 

King Faren recruited a thousand elite dragon warriors into his personal guard and directed that hundreds more laborers be put to work in the fields and farms of Kasadir. His son, Maejith, attempted a census of all the Kasadir people, but as he himself said, he simply "didn't have a head for figures; it'll all sort itself out in the end!"  He did manage to father two sons, however. Lord Fonkh traveled to Inni where he found himself up his armpits in Uhejuans.  But he bravely continued to seek an accord with the Innites and as a result neither nation managed to stake a claim to the region. Lord Chalyav led a thousand light infantry into the steppes of Bikoyleri, where they were opposed by a ragtag force nearly twice as strong.  After several violent encounters, the Kasadir troops broke and ran.  Chalyav had to escape by hiding in a bog until nightfall.

The Kingdom of Ahandu -
Ruler - King Staraash
Capital - Zathurrin
Dominant Race - Saurus
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Kaskino [-], Pondu [C], Chojde [NT]

The lizard-men of Ahandu roared to life, spreading their influence across the south towards Choran and the Xiangyun Sea.  They also mobilized the nation to build large fish farms in Diangam. King Staarash named his queen, Conquakrox, a Princess of the Realm and his daughter, Hexoatl, his heir and successor.  With the succession thus assured, he traipsed off to the forests of Kaskino with most of his army where he tried to convince the local sauruses to join his nation.  Defiant of his military prowess, they refused. The humans living further south proved more pliant, however.  Lord Hu-Adohi died in the midst of his negotiations with the hill-men of Pondu (he choked while attempting to swallow a piglet whole).  Staarash nonetheless decided to claim the region for Ahandu. Ahandu's only real diplomatic success was in the far southern coastal region of Chojde, where the shorefolk viewed the distant northern power as a reasonable counterbalance to the growing might of Choran.  They allowed Ahandu armies and merchants to transit their lands. Saurus missionaries traveled to the arid steppes of Spanled and, gasping for moisture, tried to convince the horse nomads of the serenity of Orithia.  They were staked out in the open to bake to death as the horsemen rode away, laughing.

The Empire of Mogodor -
Ruler - Emperor Kaidhoor IV
Capital - Aone
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Januaan [NT]

Emperor Kaidhoor ruled from Aone while directing the peasants and laborers of Mogodor to improve Menembaga with orchards, wells and silk farms. Lord Alsaid traveled to the land of Januaan, where the silk markets are held every year, and through subtle persuasion and an arranged marriage with the Emperor himself, convinced the local lords to allow the transit of Mogodorian soldiers and goods. Lord Marakve attempted to create a census of the Mogodorian peoples, but found the task both bewildering and thankless.

The Kingdom of Suhanir -
Ruler - King Valiel Sunlord
Capital - Kaonayu
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Miyotla [A], Galahant [EA]
 

King Valiel sent hearttrees into Sunahm in great number, but remained in command of his army, jealously watching the border for human or saurus incursions. Prince Marahal traveled to the port city of Miyotla and by arranging his own marriage to Anweir, daughter of Vaeressë, convinced lord Vaeressë to become his father's ally. Lord Halath traveled east to Galahant and negotiated a trade treaty, permitting Suhanir to control the trade in Galahant's fine dyes. Lady Cerelindor spoke with bards, knights and priests to arrange a comprehensive census of the Suhanir elves, presenting it to her lord Valiel in 2860. Allied lord Earellë was in Januaan when that land welcomed the human armies of Mogodor.

The Kingdom of Amantai -
Ruler - King Sendoor the Younger
Capital - Mahlish
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Mumun [T]

King Sendoor sent his laborers into Baya to begin clearing the land and tilling the soil.  Small farms began to work the land in clearings in the thick forest.  As yet, these villages were connected to each other only by narrow and sometimes perilous footpaths through the ancient trees. The king divided his forces between himself and his eldest son, Mardule.  Sendoor marched north into Mutuan with four thousand soldiers, including a thousand Drusai Guards, and flying before him the ancient Sigil of War.  Their spirits buoyed by the proud banner,  the king's men quickly overran the paltry thousand militia who came out to oppose them, driving the evil men into the woods and then enslaving them and their families.  The captives were marched back to Haga to work as slaves in the large farms that dotted the rolling countryside. Meanwhile, Prince Mardule followed much the same plan in Seklebatu, with three thousand light infantry and light cavalry. Mardule's forces being lighter, they suffered the more, but in the end the result was the same.  He also drove before him a great many slaves to join the workforce in Haga. Counsellor Belenor traveled to the land of Mumun and convinced Baron Miratt that the king would rather have his gold than his men.  Miratt agreed to pay Amantai an annual tribute. Seeing that Miratt would not be joining him, Baron Janz of Jutuh abandoned his plans to invade Mensiar.

The Kingdom of Nuitai -
Ruler - Queen Ehlissa
Capital - Temanom
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Orithia

At the edge of the world, but far from alone, Nuitai steeled itself for the contest of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Kingdom of Choran -
Ruler - King Si-Lentir
Capital - Choran
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Serikku Spirit Cult

Tiny Choran clung tightly to its fertile shore and eyed its neighbors like the smallest man in a knife-fight...

The Empire of Tekume -
Ruler - King Vo-Laareth
Capital - Suru'or
Dominant Race - Giants
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

In the far eastern seas, the colossal lords of Tekume began to stretch forth their hands...

The Kolyut Isthmus -

The Sylvan Realm of Hecadia -
Ruler - King Avedis
Capital - Belgramma
Dominant Race - Halfling
Dominant Religion - Orithia
Diplomacy - Ateside [EA]

The peoples of Hecadia were becoming numerous and sprawling; the government simply could not keep up and as a result many of the lands where the government's hand rested lightly began to shirk the rule of Belgramma.  Ateside and Maviran disavowed their feudal oaths, while Impaz refused to acknowledge any Hecadian control at all. Lord Regent Renser ruled in the name of the king until 2858, when King Avedis came of age and assumed the throne.  Renser retired then to live in quiet enjoyment of his extensive vineyards. During the final years of his regency, he commissioned a number of forts in Fiereya, public baths in Lepreum and citrus farms in Vasithe. Lord Feyd traveled to Ateside and convinced the recalcitrant lord Lasir'k to sign a treaty of economic alliance with Belgramma. Lords Harlowe and Ashrak watched over the safety of the kingdom with their armies. In 2860, the Sylvan Realm was joined by the great hero Elekar the Fox, one of the most noted diplomats and adventurers in all Theeurth.

The Kingdom of Kerendis - Ruler - King Jorald Makkure Capital - Orbelain Dominant Race - Human Dominant Religion - The Dark Court Diplomacy - Rabiate [A]

King Jorald sent his adopted son Jalak to the Dark Primacy to become a Prince of the Church.  He then traveled to Rabiate with an army of laborers.  As they built a port on the coast, Jorald convinced the lord of Rabiate to become his ally.  Trade began to flow immediately to Meneen, Ruanach and Ahum. Lord Karlos governed the city of Methedras while Lord Sembis governed in Orbelain.  Neither distinguished themselves overmuch. Bishop Dargune Soulhammer, led three thousand lightly armed men into Tamaina to face nearly as many elves...in the forest. Soulhammer just barely managed to defeat the elves of Tamaina, losing roughly half his force.  He then attempted to round up the elves for enslavement.  The region rebelled violently, fronting another force as big as the first.  The fight was over fast this time, for Soulhammer was ready for them.  He marched the slaves and survivors back to Rabiate while the Quellende elves howled their impotent anger.

The Kingdom of Threns -
Ruler - King Nijon
Capital - Vaayil
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Changshai Spirit Cult
Diplomacy - Madarah [EA]

With so many merchants, sailors and farmers crowding the southern shore of the Hecadian Straits, many enterprising Threnish began to move across the water to Kapa, settling among the lush stands of acacia trees.  Soon, a small village sprang up on a rocky promontory.  This was the "city" of Anizicate. Queen Gathael withdrew into her summer residence in Siruvargal and remained in seclusion.  Rumor had it that she mourned the dead of the Ruanach Expedition, and feared to face their families for the shame, but many noted that she took solace not in the spirits but in a collection of red-robed priests of the Dark Court and spent her time counting up the riches of her realm and poring over the tax rolls. She found time to conclude peace with Ruanach and the Kolyut Hegemony, returning the land seized in Navikes. Her son Nijon ruled the nation in her name until her death in 2860, when he was crowned king.  He married in 2856 and fathered a daughter in 2858. Lord Riakak traveled to the silver-rich hills of Madarah and with the assistance of allied lord Zagadis of Siruvargal, convinced the Madarahns to market their silver through the ports of Threns. Lord Kamer't, the energetic and popular governor of Vaayil, suffered a stroke in 2859 and retired to his villa to live out his days.

The Kolyut Hegemony -
Ruler - Hegemon Vor the Merciless
Capital - Ketarid
Dominant Race - Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion - The Dark Court

Hegemon Balegard set out a number of decrees in the winter of 2855-56.  He concluded a peace with Threns. He reversed the invasions of Diniman and Berjawltu, ordering Vor the Merciless to go retrieve their garrisons. Rainda and Sijichi he permitted a wide degree of self-determination, retaining the right to march across their lands at need. He sent colonists to Aya to repopulate the rich lands and even granted early retirement to two thousand soldiers, provided they take up farming in Aya. Balegard and his son Jortak the Destroyer then traveled to Komirut in Aya to try to assuage some of the violent anger felt there against the crown.  Balegard died in Komirut in the rainy winter of 2856.  Without it's dictator, the Hegemony began to tear itself apart. Ilgrist of the Nine Temples declared himself warlord, as did Jortak.  Zokar the Blind, lord of Kavijas took his people out of the Hegemony.  The land of Kebeliha rose in rebellion.  Ilgrist and Jortak raced to the capital to attempt to seize power.  Although there was some fighting, Jortak had command of Balegard's army.  The two hobgoblin warlords struggled each to draw the loyalties of the army to themselves, but in truth neither was particularly charismatic.  In the end, the army chose the devil it knew - Jortak was  successful, if not popular commander.  With the support of most of the army, Jortak had Vor arrested and beheaded.  To be certain of his position, he also had his own seven-year-old brother Bullgard murdered. Luckily for Jortak, the commander whom the army really wanted was away on campaign.  Vor the Merciless was slaughtering the men of Memu hundreds of miles to the east.  Vor's loyalties were never put to the test because by the time he rode victoriously back to Iratush at the head of a column of soldiers and slaves, Jortak was dead himself at the age of forty-three.  Some doubted that the two events were all that coincidental, but in any case the army now had its desired commander - Vor the Merciless ascended as Hegemon.

The king concluded a peace with Queen Gathael of Threns that included the return of all territory lost in Navikes.  He then handed over command of much of the national army and navy to his son Prince Maglys and traveled north to Sankama with Sir Verun.  There the two leaders tried to increase Ruanach's influence with the locals. However, neither Efrites nor Verun were at all diplomatic in nature and their brief stay doomed the effort to abject failure.  From there, the two marched on to Navikes where they were met with open arms by the celebrating woodsmen. Such a good time did Efrites have in Navikes that he literally ate and drank himself to death.  He died during a particularly rigorous feat of gustatory excess in 2857. Efrites's son, Maglys, was crowned in Fashanru later that same year, and settled in to ruling his new kingdom.  Of greater note were his nocturnal endeavors, during which he got his astonishingly fertile queen with six children, two twins and four quadruplets (evenly split between sons and daughters). Lady Evris, a respected sorceress, cast charms to protect the king, but could not protect him from himself.  She did, however, create the first census of the Sea-King's reign. The wealth of the city of Oprawa spread to the surrounding region of Angkon, and many of the former pirates began to till the soil and clear-cut the forest.

In 2860, a loud throaty rumble was heard in the hills above Oprawa.  Then, the ground began to shake and buildings began to tumble.  Many burst into flame and the flames leapt from wooden shack to wooden shack as the tremors subsided.  When the fire was at last put out, two-thirds of the city and much of the surrounding countryside lay in ruins. Most of the new cultivation project was demolished.

The Delves of Ahum - Ruler - Queen Dahlia Capital - Saumya Dominant Race - Halfling Dominant Religion - Nuree

Queen Dahlia directed thousands of laborers to begin clearing the tangled forests of Sukurem, preparing for the day when settlers would plow the land and graze sheep in broad pastures.  Small but sturdy, and wise in the ways of the earth, the halflings labored to fell the great trees. Dahlia herself ruled from Saumya, ably assisted by Prince Consort Fosca Proudfield.  The two both loved children and strove to have many.  The queen miscarried in 2856, but delivered a healthy baby girl in 2858 and a boy in 2859. Dahlia's cousin and heir Prince Crane stood guard over the border in Amovish, but died in 2860, leaving her son Tolman the Heir-Apparent. The rest of the Ahumite leaders concentrated on spreading the faith of Nuree. Isumbras Lowstick traveled to the border jungles of Assa, where he performed miracles of faith, bringing forth water from barren rock and working to convert the sathla.  Haldred Earthcloak and Hamfast Roughbelly worked to convert the sathla leaders of Amovish, while Augustus Smoothskin preached to the sathla nobility of Sauryas.

The Orcish Raj of Virityal -
Ruler - Raj Algoz
Capital - Chharit
Dominant Race - Orc
Dominant Religion - Nuree

The orcs labored in the sweltering Virityal sun to build two fortresses, one at the port of Garupal and the other inland, at Hilakav. They also erected villages and dug irrigation trenches in Randar. While the Raj looked after the defense of his nation from Randar, his son and lieutenants governed the cities of the realm.  Lord Vangandek, governor of Garupal, proved to be both insightful and dilomatic, whereas Gordash, governor of Kemadha in the south was boorish, greedy and generally disliked.

The Empire of Rajahdan-
Ruler - Emperor Vaasthek Blood Arrows
Capital - Jalahl
Dominant Race - Sathla
Dominant Religion - Autumna

The wily sathla set many of their laborers (sub-races, all) to building temples and arcane devices in the fertile hanging gardens of Rajahdan.  Sathla engineers directed overseers who whipped the workers on while building forts in Assarat and Sudeshu. Sathla missionaries in Viraben on the Virityal border found far fewer orcs willing to hear them than the last time.  The overwhelming majority of Viraben orcs remain steadfastly committed to the three-faced god of Nuree. Emperor Vaasthek saw to his nation's defense from Rajahdan while his son Loqgoq traveled to Gattapal to negotiate an economic treaty for the gold in the Gattapal hills.  In exchange he married a wealthy widow of Gattapal.  This turned out to be a brief bargain for her, for Loqgoq died in 2860 of spine fever. Lord Ulgrent once again tried to chart the devious waters of the Ruan Straits, but was once again turned back by treacherous shoals, perverse local mapmakers and steady northerly winds. Lords Itzaquet and Szychall stood watch over the south from Assarat. Lord Exchol, Varoon of Assarat died in 2856 and his son was not so close to the Emperor as was his father.  The alliance between the two became a mere trading contract. Lord Tenqadohi, while visiting the capital of Jalahl, discovered a forgotten city below the capital, populated by a deadly blind race

of debased serpent-folk who worshiped the ancient gods of chaos and madness.  Tenqadohi stole into their citadel and discovered powerful rune crystals that were beyond his comprehension, but which he brought back to the surface with him when he fled the attacks of the serpent-folk abominations.

Lord Ankhac summoned fire snakes from a resonant plane which burned the chaff and stubble of the summer crops, making the ground more fertile the following year.

Anku Elevya -
Ruler - King Vesileth IV
Capital - Jinguir
Dominant Race - Saurus
Dominant Religion - Changshai Spirit Cult

In the depths of the swamps, the scaled warriors of Anku Elevya eyed the outside world...

The Celestial Empire of Shen'xi -
Ruler - Emperor Li Dao II
Capital - Wu Lan
Dominant Race - Human
Dominant Religion - Kifan

The powerful realm of Shen'xi roared to life...

The Emerald Realm of Lekandi -
Ruler - King Galens Eagleheart
Capital - Suwelho
Dominant Race - Elf
Dominant Religion - Ukele Spirit Cult

The elves returned to the shores of Akufiki and raised up a new city of marble, living trees and carefully-tended vines.  They named it New Gyanlay in memory of the ruined city that lay just a few miles up the golden strand of beach. Elven shamans invoked the spirits of earth and sky to improve the harvests and health of Lekandi. King Galens Eagleheart led an expedition into the snake-haunted ruins of Isanio, seeking...something. Elath Bloodspear watched over the lands with his small army, ready lest any of the wild sathla organize and rise up against the rightful rule of the elves. Cruel and despotic, Lord Juelans ruled the capital of Suwelho with verve and energy, but very little pity.

Each turn, I will use this space to present a useful rules hint.  Eventually, all of you will know what LOTE GM's and experienced players know.

TECHNOLOGY AND TECH POINT ACCUMULATION

L54  being a fantasy game, "technology" is purposefully de-emphasized.  This game will never have tanks and biplanes.  But technology is an important, if obscure, portion of the Lords of the Earth rules, and is still used to govern a lot of the other numbers in the game.  Here, then, is a brief primer on what it is, how it's used and how to get it.

Overview

Each position in a LOTE game is assigned a Tech Level, ranging in theory from 0 to the mid-twenties.  In L54, the average Tech Level is currently "4", representing an early medieval model. L54 obviously plays a bit fast and loose with what new devices are available at each Tech level.

Tech Level is used in the LOTE rules primarily to govern the upper limit of a variety of other quantities, such as the maximum Bureaucracy Level, Infrastructure, Quality Ratings (including magic QR's in L54) and Action Range. If you have reached the maximum in any of these numbers, the only way to go up is to increase your Tech Level.

Tech Points

LOTE measures your technological advancement in "Tech Points". Accumulate enough and you rise in Tech Level.  The requirements are: Tech 2 - 50; Tech 3 - 100; Tech 4 - 150; Tech 5 - 400; Tech 6 - 650, etc.  Some nations produce quite a few Tech points per turn (6-7), while many produce none at all, and quite a few would actually produced negatives if I allowed that to happen. Speaking of which, Technology regression is a common fantasy theme.  Expect for me to turn off the safety net at some point in the future. Anyway, an "average" nation produces roughly 2-3 Tech points per turn and so could go from Tech 4 to Tech 5 in approximately 100 turns.  The point here is "don't hold your breath!"

Tech Point Accumulation

It's a complex formula, and believe me I don't do any of the calculating.  XStats does it all. But here it is:

tp = ypt x (1+u+r+i+g+e+s+z+b)
2

In addition, each higher tech trading partner gives you +1 TP per turn.

tp = Tech points accumulated this turn.

ypt = Years per turn (5, in L54)

u = university level

r = Religion Tech Point Modifier (each religion is assigned a -1,+0 or +1 modifier.  In standard LOTE, most of them are 0 or -1.  I'm not saying which is which in L54)

i = national income modifier, a complicated formula I'm not going to reproduce here.  Suffice it to say that bigger economies do better.

g = government modifier.  This is a biggie, so here's the chart, using only L54's government types:
 

e = economy type modifier. Again, here's the chart:
 

s = society type modifier. Again, here's the chart:
 

z = Geographic Zone modifier.  Each geozone has its own modifier, ranging from -1 to +1.  I'm not going to say which is which.

b = Banking Status Modifier.  Banks are either open, closed or in default, resulting in a 0, -1 or -2 modifier.  Banks are set to open in L54.  You don't want to default, believe me.  By the way, your bank can fail if -other- players default, too.

So What Does it All Mean?

Well, some things you can alter and some you can't.  The old advice to improve your university is still the best and most obvious.  Invest early and often. Work towards better government, economic and society types. Identify who has higher tech levels and make an effort to trade with them.

Other Ways to Gain Tech Points

Transfer - L54 does not permit the direct transfer of Tech Points, though some LOTE games do.

Steal  - You can steal Tech from another nation that has more Tech Points (not necessarily a higher Tech Level) than you.

Find - Theeurth is an ancient world, with twenty thousand years of ancient civilizations just laying about.  Find them, and you may find some Tech.

Page Completed 30 April 2007