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LORDS OF THE EARTH CAMPAIGN 54
“LORDS OF THEEURTH”

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Turn Thirty-One Newsfax 
(A.C. 2931-2935)
 
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he gunslinger waited for the time of the drawing and dreamed his long dreams of he Dark Tower, to which he would someday come at dusk and approach, winding his horn, to do some unimaginable final battle.

 -Stephen King, The Gunslinger

  GM’s NOTES

MEDARHOS

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North-Western Medarhos

The Skane Jarldoms – 
Ruler – King Alvig
Capital – Vanaheim
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Medahros Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Greenwood [-]
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The Skane Jarldoms trained their dragonship crews in the frigid waters of the White Sea. Elsewhere, sweaty men broke hard ground to build a royal road from Vanaheim east into Skaneholme.  Farmers, woodcutters and homesteaders continued to fell the trees of Hestwall in an effort to cultivate that chilly northern land.

King Madren the Boneless, former Duke of Tigelion, died childless in 2933.  This left seventeen year old Alvig, son of queen Astrid, as the undeclared heir to the throne. Jarls Sorst Sorisen and Ensel both declared themselves king instead. Jarl Ossa declared his support for King Alvig.  Greenwood and Saltholme both declared themselves independent of the kingdom.

Sorisen marched north through Chrondemar and the Crown Lands, gaining support for his kingship.  Meanwhile, Ossa outmaneuvered Ensel in Vanaheim and had him killed.  When Sorisen arrived in Vanaheim, there was chaos in the streets as bands of partisans struggled for control of neighborhoods within the city.  In the end, Ossa succeeded in gaining the support the troops and Sorisen attempted to flee in the guise of a slave, but was captured and killed on the new road out of the city.

Alvig was crowned king at the start of 2934.

The Empire of Edgemoor –
Ruler –
King Kraank
Capital – Zaramaka
Dominant Race – Orcs
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Aicherai [F], Vanuma [F]

King Kraank recruited five thousand infantry at Zaramaka, doubling the size of his army. He then ordered the landless tribes to settle in Aré and Viodun. He also ordered his large slave force to be put to work on slave farms in the Iron Hills.

Kraank further ordered that the old Iron Hills road no longer receive maintenance and that instead a postal road leading between Zaramaka and Mount Hoarwind was begun.

While he ruled from Zaramaka, Kraank also saw to the education of his young son and future heir, Ogluk.

Meanwhile, the lords of the Orcish clans, Drangeel the Diplomat, Azgand the Blind and Prince Gree gathered at the city of Aicherai (former capital of Daerond) to demand its full participation in the Empire.  They then traveled to the great city of Vanuma to do the same thing, although there they sweetened the pot by marrying one of the city’s leading women to King Kraank.

Orcish missionaries in Nivaan finally swayed the populace (more through threats and violence than through persuasion) to return to their ancient worship of the Dark Court.

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The Kingdom of Harkoria-
Ruler –
King Athansios
Capital – Cadares
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Epherodos [NT], Maxis [NT], Saranthus [NT], Archameos [NT]

image King Athansios named his cousin Iola to the Royal Council.  He ceased upkeep on the road leading north into the orcish hills and instead began a postal road leading toward Lycia. Odomenoros was released from its responsibility to pay tribute. Colonists and material were sent north to Landegol to increase the population of that wealthy region.

Athansios then marshalled his eighteen thousand mixed cavalry and with his court in tow, rode a circuit of the forests around his nation, convincing the woodsmen to acknowledge his authority.  He then rode into the elven region of Vaanes, which had fallen under the sway of evil doctrines, and declared martial law, forcing the residents at sword point to convert to the authority of the Church of the Grail.

Ironically, Athansios’s efforts to increase the power of the Great Church in his own realm fell on deaf ears, for the folk of Harkoria were loyal to the Grail in but name only.

 

South-Western Medarhos

The Brythnian Confederation – 
Ruler – King Tallos Tiltstep
Capital – Tauropolis
Dominant Race – Taurid
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Gistares [-]
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Two thousand cavalry joined the army at the Great Meadow under Telos Greyfoot, while Willios Redmane commanded the main body of six thousand cavalry at Tathlann.

Tribes of landless taurids huddled in encampments around the capital, waiting to be given land to settle.

King Tallos Tiltstep attempted to establish control over the lands of his ally Fretinus Splittooth of Gistares, but Fretinus was adamant that he retain his independence.

Hera Tworivers of Riandos died in her sleep in 2931.  Riandos reaffirmed its alliance with the Confederation.

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Aelissia –
Ruler –
King Kat Farfling
Capital – The Great Delve
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
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image Lou Ratcatcher sailed north to the Harkorian capital of Cadares where he and King Jay Morningsong embarked the Aelissian army and returned to the Great Delve.  Once there, King Jay ruled until his death in 2933.  Lou Ratcatcher and his fleet of warships patrolled the Golden Sea until his death in 2935. In 2931, they ferried a tribe of halflings to the southern outpost of Artence. 

A second tribe of halflings settled in Eastfarthing, founding the city of Summerlea and immediately beginning the cultivation of that rich eastern province.

 

Corland –
Ruler –
King Tancred
Capital – Khairais
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Lilloger [F], Port de Brises [F]
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King Tancred granted a landless tribe the right to settle Oulenne, a coastal province left as a wilderness since the H’rethek War. Another tribe settled into the outskirts of the capital, making its huge and century-old walls obsolete.

Tancred named his younger brother Brandegore as a Prince of the Realm. The King then traveled north to Lilloger and entered into a marriage with a local noblewoman. As a wedding gift to her people, he granted the folk of that woodland province full citizenship in the kingdom.

His sister Prince Beryl traveled to Port de Brises in Tullieres and negotiated the free city’s allegiance to the king.

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The Sea Empire of Lorraine –
Ruler –
Queen Gwendolyn
Capital – Armorica
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Nabon [-]
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image The Sea Empire laid down the keels of ten new warships and twenty cogs, as well as recruiting a thousand elite Lorraine Marines

Devastated in the last century by the Dines Orc horde, the homeland of Andred was once again under cultivation as flax and wool and barley replaced ash and alder.

Hardy souls and bold settlers began to trickle into Meliodas as well, reviving a spark of the nation’s former glory

Queen Gwendolyn married a nobleman of Armorica in 2931 and by 2933 had given birth to a squalling baby boy.

Sir Percyvelle rode north to the orcish hills of Nabon, where missionaries struggled to stamp out the old religion.  Peryvelle tried but failed to make the orc

chieftains see reason.  They valued their traditional independence too much to become part of the Empire, though they were content to remain its allies.

The Whisper Wood –
Ruler –
King Xhantor
Capital – Menelcandara
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
As so often in the past, the elves of the Whisper Wood remained quiet in their forest fastnesses. image
The Neldorean Wood –
Ruler –
Queen Nereil
Capital – Elenuil
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Riftmarch [A]
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image Queen Neriel dedicated the first elven Adventurers Guild dedicated to defending Neldorea, called Silmur in Elven meaning “Warders”. From units of the elite Griffon riders, rangers and elven mages she selected the finest warriors and mages to serve the throne. She then traveled to Riftmarch with her family determined to unite the clans of Neldorea once more through diplomacy. She played the role of the monarch and her royal family while allowing Lord Lossëhelin to drive the negotiations.  Skillful diplomacy allowed the queen to arrive at an alliance with the folk of the Rift.

Súrionlath Tiriya commanded the main Neldorean army of six thousand archers at Belfirth.

Neldorea sent missionaries to the Llyran Republic.  These cooperated with Llyran and Conorrian priests to inspire at least a tiny amount of faith in the magic-obsessed Republic.

Meanwhile, a large shipment of grain arrived from the west, sent by King Tancred of Corland.

The Exarchate of the Great Crusade –
Ruler –
Exarch Galen the Lame
Capital – Pontezium
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
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While monsters raged through the countryside, the Exarchate stood paralyzed.  Exarch Galen the Lame died at the age of forty-three in 2931. His son was still a seven year old boy, so the regency fell to his brother-in-law Prince Derrick. image

Rhanalor

The Shadowed Realm of Ascarlon –
Ruler –
Baron Gauros the Arisen
Capital – Denavine
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Baron Gauros continued his efforts to raise a large undead army at Denavine.  Meanwhile, Lord Gilcond raised three thousand light cavalry and rode south and east to join Count Bezhral’s army at Rhundal [See The Mountain War below.]

Lord Annstor sailed the long route to Narbyndahl, in Meledrian, returning to Denavine with his ships laden with foodstuffs.  To these he added an equal weight of grain and pickled pork and carried half to the Edgemoor Orcs in the west and half to the Worldspine Orcs in the south.

Ascar missionaries in Saranthus and Archameos had little success turning the hearts of Harkorian men to the worship of the Grail.

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The Worldspine Orcs –
Ruler –
King Warznog
Capital – Gargath
Dominant Race – Orc
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

King Orkgoth had no money to pay his troops and more than two thousand deserted his army to become bandits, rogues and mercenaries.

Poor land, devastated villages, uppity slaves.  It all made for a downward spiral in the Worldspine economies.  There were only two solutions: hard work or raiding.  Correction: There was only one solution…

Orkgoth assembled most of his remaining troops at Gargath, but War Chiefs Zodork and Uggul to go and bring him dwarven gold and slaves. The chiefs hoped to march with five thousand goblins, but were only able to muster three thousand, as the king kept most of the best troops for himself.

Zodork and Uggul marched east, meeting up with the army of Ascarlon under Count Bezhral in Rhundar in late 2931.  From there, they marched into the dwarven lands. [See The Mountain War, below.] Only Uggul returned and he died in a knife fight over a gambling debt in 2935. Ugsnik Of The Cendarinnes also died in 2935 (same knife fight).

King Orkgoth died in 2932, leaving his son Warznog as his heir.

As usual, a representative of Ascarlon arrived with a shipment of food from Ascarlon and Meledrian. This time he offloaded the goods at the new port of Urtygrod in Ilkmaor.

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The Empire of Carhallas –
Ruler –
Emperor Kh’Moth
Capital – Carcaroth
Dominant Race – Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

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The Imperial Flag

image The Emperor Kh’Moth returned to his capital and raised five thousand troops, which he sent back with others to Dhûnazhar under the Command of general Gottrok. The Emperor ruled in Carcaroth and married Karrana, daughter of the old emperor Maugroth V to solidify his rule. He got a daughter of his own on Karrana in 2932.

General Gottrok and Captain Hahd-K’Rahk led the Carhallas infantry and cavalry (respectively) and marched south to war  [See The Mountain War, below.]

In 2933, some unknown agency cursed the region of Sauthor, bringing blight to its plants and disease to its animals.

In 2934, Emperor Kh’Moth gave the hand in marriage of Maugroth’s younger daughter G’Kash to the lord of Mendhaur, elevating him to a prince of the realm.

Ak’Mendahaur died in bed a happy hobgoblin the following year, leaving sixteen year old G’Kash a widow.

The Great Kingdom of Annvar –
Ruler –
Emperor Palestroniax
Capital – Varthane
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
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 The Standard of Annvar
No orders came forth from Varthane to stir the men of Annvar to action. image

The Forest Realm of Meledrian –
Ruler –
King Eldareth Hammerhand
Capital – Dalariadh
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Nimbreth [+8 YfC], Rainas [+2 YfC]

image The dark elves of Meledrian continued to colonize Thuidhel, the former homeland of Celendor.  They inhabited not only the deep woods but also built a city, Tel’Anaroth, at the confluence of the Wolf and Celethil rivers.

King Eldareth decreed the creation of an adventurer’s guild in the city of Minnuin, and fierce elves arrived from across the northern forests to seek glory as adventurers.

As it had for nearly a century, Meledrian provided packaged food at Narbyndahl to the fleet of Ascarlon to be delivered to the orcs of the distant west. The shipment was smaller than usual.

Rumors continued to abound of a dangerous dragon resident in Bornil, and a shadowy shape was seen in the moonlit sky over Celethon. Lord Aeliniel urged the elves of Celethon to come away to safer homes and after much urging, they agreed to go with him.

Aelavel Tyrnealyth, Rhias Of Tirielinan and Voronhad Of Finrothel continued to shuttle between Nimbreth and Rainas, working to accustom the pacified populations to the rule of Dalariadh.  From there, the three traveled to Tiringol where with the aid of elvish priests and a series of bloody rituals, they improved the strength of the Tiringol church of the Dark Court.

The Kingdom of Tiringol –
Ruler –
King Keriadoc Stormwing
Capital – The Underhalls
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

image The Tiringols built field forts in Bethelas and filled that realm with all manner of goodly farms and habitations.

Prince Aldenmar used the Vaegor Summoning Stone to summon creatures from the netherworld that plowed ground, uprooted stumps and bored wells into dry ground in Bethelas.

Princess Lilly died in Tiringol in 2935. Aging king Keriadoc appointed his young son Eldrest to her position.

The Conorrian Heartland –

The Adorian Alliance –
Ruler –
Emperor Decimus Brutus
Capital – Callistus
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Faucrion [T]
 
Emperor Decimus Brutus and Vicar-General Henrikos agreed that the name of the realm should be shortened, and agreed to The Adorian Alliance, representing the marriage between Church and State.

The Emperor reigned from the throne of Callistus while commanding eight thousand troops. His young general Gaius recruited five thousand more and marched them to Boenia.

The aging but brilliant Vicar-General Henrikos (former Grail patriarch) and his war-priest Pietedras commanded a further eight thousand troops and with these they marched north to support their dwarven allies in 2931. [See The Mountain War, below.]

Adorian merchants brought foodstuffs north with the army to deliver to their dwarven allies.  Meanwhile, a large shipment of gold arrived from the Llyran Republic at the wharves of Callistus.

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The Conorrian Empire –
Ruler –
Emperor Thandoros XXIV
Capital – Echoriath
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Eatris [A], Mynos [FA], Danum [FA]
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image The great empire of the Conorrians built twenty warships at its yards in Echoriath and recruited two thousand light cavalry auxillae for its feudal ally in Sabratha.

Emperor Thandoros named his son Artorius as his heir and successor.  He also sent a caravan of gold to his co-emperor in Adamos. That caravan was struck in Kylades by bandits who slaughtered the guards and took much of the gold.

Conorrian inquisitores descended on the island of Scythnus to stamp out the evil worship of the Dark Court and to crucify those priests who would spread such vile and seditious beliefs. More gentle missionaries sailed to the Llyran Republic, where they were instrumental in strengthening the Llyran church.

Many notables of the Conorrian Senate spread throughout the empire and its former possessions on missions of diplomacy.  Senator Pikon established an alliance with the province of Eatris, while Senators Marcus and Bexillius each concluded feudal treaties with Mynos and Danum, respectively.

Meanwhile, feudal levies from the hills of Isurium descended into the forests of Liburnum to claim the region for the Empire.  The natives smiled and hid their goods until the troops had left.

Leo of Sabratha received two thousand light cavalry from the Emperor along with orders to discomfit his enemies. [See The Mountain War, below.]

The Eastern Conorrian Empire –
Ruler –
Imperatrix Secundus Prudentia
Capital – Adamos
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Neander [FA]
 

Count Proeliator recruited eight hundred light cavalry and a unit of conorrian eagle riders and set out north to inflict mayhem upon the enemy [See The Mountain War, below.]

Empress Prudentia oversaw the rebuilding of a royal road connecting her capital to that of the Western Empire. She then named her son Fortitudo as her heir and his twin Ferocitas as a prince of the realm. The Empress then conducted a census of her realm.  Finally, she and Fortitudo traveled to the woodland province of Neander and received the fealty of the woodsmen.

As usual, a shipment of gold made its way east along the via adamos, exchanged at the border for a shipment of grain heading west. But in a very unusual move, bandits hit the caravan, slaughtering the guards and stealing part of the gold shipment.

By agreement with Thariyya, the empire took over administration of the desert of Kildaruensis.

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The Dwarven Realm of Dhûnazhar – 
Ruler – King Valand II

Capital – Khelem Vala
Dominant Race – Dwarf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Crisias [T]
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image King Valand returned to the homeland and recruited twenty-five hundred dwarf warriors. He ordered the construction of field forts in Oeres, Kiril Zelen and Dianoxis. He prepared to make a final stand in Dhûnazhar. [See The Mountain War, below.]

Princess Valandra convinced the dwarves of Crisias to pay tribute to the king at Khelem Vala. 

The Adorians brought a shipment of food for the hungry dwarves when they arrived with their army to help defend Dhûnazhar.

THE MOUNTAIN WAR
(2926-?)

Nine armies crept around the map of the Worldspine Mountains.  Before the winter rains had even ceased, Count Proeliator of the Eastern Conorrian Empire was riding north along the Esharias in Erdhonis of 2931 with a small raiding party of a thousand light cavalry and conorrian eagle riders. At the same time, Leo of Sabratha, a Conorrian vassal, set out north through the forests of the Conorrian heartlands with two thousand cavalry. Two months later, the armies of Adoria and Edledhas were on the move, seeking to support their ally Dhûnazhar. Ascarlon had sent three thousand light cavalry east to support Count Bezhral. Dwarven assassins made an attempt on the life of Ascarlon’s Count Bezhral in the early winter of 2931, but his vigilant guards thwarted the attack.

In Cleon, 2931 the army of Carhallas (ten thousand hobgoblins under General Gottrok) began to loot Gimmilzar while five thousand of their Ascar and Annvarite allies stood by. In the same month, eight thousand Adorians under Vicar Henrikos joined five thousand dwarves under King Valand at Dhûnazhar and twenty-five hundred Edledhas elves encamped at the Ring of Karduk.

The following month, Daarlem, saw the Ascar army at Gimmilzar raid south into Kiril Zelen.  Fearing this to be a ploy to draw them out of position, King Valand and Vicar Henrikos kept their combined thirteen thousand troops in Dhûnazhar. The raid was highly successful, although Count Bezhral was nearly killed by the garrison of one of Kiril Zelen’s many field forts.

By the end of 2931, the Ascar armies had united in Rhundar and joined up with three thousand goblins of the Worldspines under Warchief Zodork. Gottrok’s Carhallans had abandoned Gimmilzar and moved to Adumar. Count Proeliator’s Eastern Conorrians had crossed the Esharias river into Iaurinum. Leo’s Conorrians were at the Esharias in Lascuta. The Adorian, Dhûnazhar and Edledhas armies stood vigilant against invasions.

In the spring of 2932, the Ascars and Worldspine Orcs began to pick their way south through Orodh Dhorn and the Blue Peaks while the Carhallans picked their way southeast to Junius and the Eastern Conorrians marched through dense forests in Vindobala and Veromito. In the autumn of that year, half the Carhallan army raided into Khuruk Tor while the other half stood on guard in Junius. Less successful than the raid of Kiril Zelen, Gottrok’s troops were still able to avoid the various field forts and steal many farms and mines blind.

The Battle of Phaedon
(Strynod, 2933)

In the Spring of 2933, Gottrok’s hobgoblins raided Dianoxis, but were unable to secure any prizes.  At the same time, Count Proeliator’s raiding force entered Carhallan territory at Nangoreb and continued north.  In that same month, the Ascar/Worldspine army marched into Phaedon and began attacking settlements. This at last forced the hand of the Grail allies and the stage was set for battle as thirteen thousand Grail troops marched south to confront nine thousand Dark Court soldiers in the breadbasket of the Mountain Kingdom.

Count Bezhral was in clear control of the Dark Court army and was one of the best commanders alive.  Still, the Grail forces had a better potential commander in Vicar Henrikos, one of the best commanders who had ever lived. But King Valand of Dhûnazhar demanded and got the command of the combined Grail forces.  An average commander, Valand was nonetheless ably assisted by his Adorian allies, Vicar Henrikos and Lord Pietedras.  In addition, both sides had excellent wizards (Pietedras and Uggul).

The Battle of Phaedon, if it can be called a battle, was all but one-sided. The Grail allies held many advantages, including the only aerial troops, an intimate familiarity with the terrain and magical support. The Dark Court held the initiative and many more scouts and cavalry. But Phaedon bristled with field forts, the stout walls of Koros and the looming bulwarks of Fortress Naugrim.  Within three weeks, the Grail forces had trapped the Dark Court armies against the racing flood of the Phaedon river and brought them to a decisive and devastating combat.  Hampered by the many garrisons, the Ascar cavalry was of little use and the lightly-armed goblins no match for the dwarves and Adorians.  The Dark Court army was completely vanquished.  Count Bezhral was slain. Ascar general Gilcond and Worldspine war chief Zodork were both captured. Only war chief Uggul escaped to flee back to the Worldspines. When the dwarves searched the body of Count Bezhral, they found he carried the artifact known as the Horn of the Titans. From their prisoner Zodork, they took the ancient spear Harrowheart.

The Daul and Elsend Raids
(Daarlem, 2933)

Two months later, Count Proeliator’s raiding force entered Jezul and began raiding into the Carhallas province of Elsend. Despite its daring nature, or perhaps because of it, the raid was a failure.  Elsend’s field forts and the formidable garrison of Gothmaur prevented Proeliator’s troops from any effective raiding.  Worse, several close calls shattered Count Proeliator’s nerve and he became a shivering wreck.  His troops traipsed home in disillusion.

In the same month, having evaded Carhallas miniscule garrisons in Laokon and Pukel, Leo of Sabratha began to raid Carhallas’s Daul province. As wealthy as Elsend, but unprotected, Daul was easy prey for Leo’s band of cutthroats. They stole everything they could get their hands on, burning much else and rode away in victory.

The Battle of Oeres
(Northhale, 2933)

In Northhale of 2933, the Carhallas army left Junius and entered Oeres, intent on seizing the province.  Too far away from Dhûnazhar for the Adorian troops to react, it was nonetheless within reach of the dwarves, who were swifter through the hills than their human allies.  Fresh from his crushing victory in Phaedon, King Valand nonetheless dithered and debated and waited on better information. Thus it was that ten thousand hobgoblins routed twenty-five hundred lightly-armed elven archers, who fled to the safety of the Ring of Karduk. Content for the moment to let the elves sit in their dwarven prison, General Gottrok proceeded to secure Oeres for Carhallas.

The following month, King Valand set out from Dhûnazhar with five thousand dwarves to relieve the elves.  He had to winter in Jaelitus and arrived in Oeres in the early spring of 2934. Elven lord Eantaressë sallied from the Ring of Karduk to aid the dwarves in their attack on what was still a numerically superior force of hobgoblins. The allies were hampered by the coalition nature of their force and by the fact that Eantaressë was a thoroughly bumbling commander. Unlike at Phaedon, Valand did not benefit from the excellent advice of his human subcommanders. The disciplined hobgoblins on the other hand, possessed many elite troops, cavalry and scouts, as well as an average (and therefore better) commander.  The hobgoblin force, led by two thousand Emperor’s Oathsworn, struck the allied line like a hammerblow, shattering their calm and swarming over the dwarven field forts with machine-like presence.  The allies were forced to give ground as the hobgoblins destroyed one field fort after another  and King Valand was wounded by a hobgoblin spear.  At that point Eantaressë assumed command and ordered a general retreat into the Ring of Karduk, hard pursued by Gottrok’s three thousand cavalry.  The hobgoblins then completed their pacification of Oeres.

The Jaelitus Raid
(Cleon, 2934)

In the summer of 2934, Gottrok’s victorious hobgoblins attempted to lay siege to the dwarven city known as the Ring of Karduk. But the city’s defenders were too numerous and its walls too stout for the Carhallans.  They would have needed many more siege engineers or far fewere enemies.  Frustrated in their objective, the hobgoblins launched a final raid into the wealthy but heavily-defended province of Jaelitus. That raid was driven back without success by the numerous field forts present in Jaelitus.

Final Dispositions

At the end of 2935, the Ascarlon and Worldspine Orc expeditionary forces were utterly destroyed. Annvar’s Lord Alfajoriax commanded fifteen hundred elite Annvar Jaeger light cavalry in Gimmilzar. Adoria’s Vicar Henrikos commanded eight thousand troops at Dhûnazhar. Carhallas’s general Gottrok commanded ten thousand mixed troops at Oeres. Dhûnazhar’s King Valand commanded four thousand dwarves and Edledhas’s lord Eantaressë commanded eighteen hundred elves penned up in the Ring of Karduk.

 

 

 

 

The Exarchate ofEdledhas
Ruler –
Exarch Voromë 
Capital – Dor Edhel
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – The Lords of the Grail

Lord Eantaressë recruited two thousand elven archers and marched them northwest to the aid of the dwarves at the Ring of Karduk [See The Harrowing of Dhûnazhar, above.] image
The Warded Realm of Pelendur –
Ruler –
King Ulfast III
Capital – Vigilum
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Vornilos [-], Edhel Gorthas [NT], Keldior [-]

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The Banner of Pelendur

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The Shield of Pelendur

image King Ulfast III ordered the creation of field forts across his realm.  He married a noblewoman of Vigilum, but the two remained childless through 2935.

Lord Gunther rode to the mountains of Vornilos and tried without success to negotiate passage rights. Lord Lance managed to assuage the anger of the men of Edhel Gorthas.

Princess Rebekah attempted to improve relations with Keldior, but she died in Keldior in 2932, her task incomplete.

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VALES –

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North-Western Vales –

The Llyran Republic –
Ruler –
Constans Albrecht Marova
Capital – Tarrentica
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Mentaurus [NT]
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image The Llyran Republic looked to its defenses, building dozens of field forts across its home islands, and beginning a modest wall around the great city of Vastium. In these same years, the island of Maidhan was transformed into a cultivated province of some wealth.

The wealthy Republic sent a shipload of gold through the Bardol Sea, Gulf of Thariyya and the Sea of Serpents, then up the Phaedon river to The Secular Alliance of Adoria and the Grail.

The anemic Llyran church was strengthened by a visit from Conorrian and Neldorean missionaries, but its own attempts to increase the nation’s fervor backfired as the Llyran wizards maneuvered to increase their power in the Senate at the expense of the clergy.

A fleet of ten Llyran warships patrolled the Sea of Serpents from the Conorrian port of Benemartius.  Meanwhile, twenty Llyran ships patrolled the waters around the home islands more or less at random.

Alatriste Ovechkin, governor of Bella, incorporated the bells of the carillon of  the Fortress of Bells into a performance of “the Bel Canto Opera” by Andrea Luchesi in 2931, to much critical acclaim.  He died in 2932 of pneumonia.

The Holy Matriarchy of Ahuran– 
Ruler –
Queen Gwynn Dwyer
Capital – Sedeskan
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Maddari
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Queen Brigitte expanded her merchant fleet and sent misionaries to Dua’lim and Awas Fahan in Har’akir. She called for an election of an heir at the Grounds of the Royal Consorts.  All her lieutenants competed and all failed miserably to impress the crowd with their oratorical skills.  Sixty year old Maga Siobhan Mckenzie was judged the winner.

In 2931, both Queen Brigitte and Maga Siobhan Mckenzie died during an epidemic of the Grey Death.  The surviving court members struggled for power, and the election fell on forty-eight year old Jacqueline Thrush in a bloodless coup.  However, when Jacqueline died in 2932, the Holy Matriarchy was wracked by power struggles among the lesser noble houses, each of whom saw their chance for ascendancy. 

As the only surviving major noblewoman, Gwynn Dwyer declared herself queen of the Matriarchy. But the regions of Ahristhon, Haalthor, Lann and Veij all refused to follow her. 

In 2935, Landress Samantha of Sandrettos died.  Sandrettos continued to supply tribute, but not troops, to the central government.

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Har’akir –
Ruler –
Sultan Ahmed ibn Qadir
Capital – Muzir
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Qadras [-]
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The great city of Agazier spread out further, a true metropolis to rival the greatest cities of the Valesian Sea.  At last the sultan saw fit to put a wall around the vast city.

The sultan and his entire court sought to quell the worship of the Dark Court in Har Mekelle and Har Jadme.  Har Mekelle’s nobility agreed to worship the Lords of the Grail, but the gods of Woe remained popular with the peasants in dark hollows and secret shrines.

Meanwhile, Maddari missionaries from Ahuran operated in Awas Fahan and Dua’lim, the latter without the sultan’s permission.

The Valesian Empire –
Ruler –
Emperor Victus
Capital – Centauris
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
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image The Empire mustered out several divisions of cavalry at Ventas and Laedos, preferring instead a more static defense.  Engineers built field forts in Ventas, Laedos and Phalces, and built walls around each of the Valesian cities.

Emperor Dioges and his son Victus assembled an army of eight thousand elite valesian hoplites and four thousand mercenary cavalry.  He then marched to the hills of Socos and declared that the land now belonged to the Empire.  He gave his veterans the right to settle where they wished in Socos and to take what had formerly belonged to the Grail-worshiping Hadoor tribesmen.

This, naturally, did not sit well with the Hadoor greater tribe, which rose up in Socos, Dikhil and Khars, but not in Shavas.  The furious Hadoor tribesmen assembled an army of seven thousand irregulars under a Socosian named Brankhas.

The superb Valesian troops were simply far too disciplined (not to mention numerous) for the wild Hadoors.  As the Hadoors stormed down from the hills and into the Valesian line, the gleaming

sarissa and wicked short swords of the hoplites cut them to bits.  The victory was complete for the Valesians.

It was Dioges’s last battle, however.  He died in 2933 and left the empire to his son, Victus.

Luxur –
Ruler –
General Dissyk
Capital – Thedelos
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Kesydon [EA]
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Great changes came to Luxur in these years.  Slavery, though never technically outlawed, waned almost to the point of nonexistence as Luxurite laws favored small farms and privately-owned mines.  With considerably less use for slaves, most were manumitted or simply not replaced when they died.

General Dissyk attempted to reform the practice of Autumna within the boundaries of Luxur, but the great strength of the Luxurite church and its immense weight of history made this nearly impossible task too difficult. With the aid of Shulaskur, however, the regions of Hawat and Nedoor were secured for the true faith.

Prince Borovux hired the Redfang adventurers to search the catacombs beneath Merwal.  The adventurers encountered a violent tribe of goblins, whom they slew and plundered.

Captain Ehassen commanded the main body of the army, nine thousand sathran archers encamped around the capital at Thedelos. Captain Selnex

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commanded a smaller army at Merwal that included the first Luxurite aerial troops, leatherwing riders. Captain Tressag negotiated an economic treaty with the city of Kesydon in Keferis.

Luxur sent a large trove of gold to the Dominion of Shulaskur in 2933.

The Dominion of Shulaskur –
Ruler –
Dominex Khalak Redclaw
Capital – Aldryss
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
 
image The sathla of Shulaskur engaged in religious proselytism, sending fanatical missionaries into Nedoor and the Luxurite region of Hawat to help stamp out the perceived stain of the Dark Court threatening the souls of sathla with damnation.

A very large shipment of gold arrived in Aldryss from Luxur; a significantly smaller one was sent south by the Dominion to the men of Weshtayo.

Dominex Enthelass died of old age in 2933, leaving the Dominion to his son, Khalak Redclaw. Aging General Vayliss died in the same year.

The Serpentine of Mykele –
Ruler –
Sauressh Zee
Capital – Oroyon
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Kumrat [NT], Socphares [NT]

The Sauressh permitted the capital to expand yet again, purposefully expanding the great wharves to accommodate the increasing trade seen by the Serpentine in recent years.  Slaves and freedman toiled in the sweltering jungles of Kuzsu to build farms and villages.

The Sauressh declared recently-conquered Kumrat and Socphares to be free, ordering Lord Merecessh  to remove the four thousand troops that occupied the two island provinces.  Zee and his lieutenants then negotiated merchant rights with both newly freed provinces. 

Merecessh returned to the mainland where he collected all the armies of the Serpentine into a single huge garrison of more than twenty thousand at Oroyon.  Sauressh Zee would later take personal command of this force.

Merecessh then sailed west with fleet of warships guarding a fleet of cogs that delivered colonists and material to the island region of Kakurimi, where they set out opening the rich silver mines of the region.

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North-Eastern Vales –

The Kingdom of Thariyya –
Ruler –
King Iolas Vahdin
Capital – Uls Fakhar
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
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image King Iolas recruited a thousand elite Thariyyan Slingers into his army and watched the coasts while his son Thandoris patrolled the Gulf of Thariyya with a force of thirteen slender warships.

Lord Sennes took a small detachment of light infantry and claimed the oasis at Saroun, allowing Thariyyan trade to stretch across the Shattered Lands to Saa’vend and Farmuz.

 

The Warlocks of Accolon –
Ruler –
Emperor Tormak Cuu
Capital – Dammarask
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Unaagh [+12YfC], Anur-Da [T]
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The widespread Empire invested large sums in its infrastructure. 

The Empire began and nearly completed the cultivation of the riparian region of Ishi, then handed over control of that region to its new neighbor, Kherouf.  The Ishians agreed to allow Kherouf to transit their territory with troops and merchants. Accolon involvement in Kherouf went further as schools of missionaries spread out from Dammarask across the Kheroufian steppe to spread the worship of the Dark Court.

Other Accolon missionaries began to spread the worship of the Dark Court in the eastern desert region of Habel.

Lord Kragar Darkfist took up the admiralty of the Northern Fleet at Agharra.

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Lord Nemak T’Rum continued to assuage the anger of the folk of Habel. 

Princess Esarch Ray Cuu, daughter of the Emperor, married Lord Blackheart of Carru, who became a member of the Emperor’s privy council. She went on to grant Letok Ymars the restive region of Eumana as his own fiefdom, and then enforce a tributary agreement on the region of Anur-Da.

In 2932, an epidemic of the Vermillion Death spread throughout Accolon, slaying children almost exclusively.  Nearly a quarter million children below the age of ten lay dead by 2933.

The Empire of Kherouf –  
Ruler –
Emperor Sesokhris
Capital – Tanthis
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Ishi [A]
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The Warlocks of Accolon turned over to Kherouf the region of Ishi, including the vast cultivation project they had already started there. Meanwhile, Kherouf continued to the cultivation of Chadouf.

Emperor Nepherkheres died in 2932, leaving his son Sesokhris in command.

Lord Kaires rode on Adjumar’s Carpet to the newly acquired region of Ishi and there concluded a treaty of alliance with the region.

Emperor Nepherkheres began a weak and ill-fated attempt to increase the religious strength of the nation, which resulted in a backlash against the temples.  However, Accolon’s many missionaries helped buoy the strength of the Kheroufian church.

One result of this religious infighting was that the western region of Enkkiad abandoned the orthodox

worship of the Dark Court and took up the worship 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 – Dimbe [EA]

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Queen Madariel

The elves of Marador sought to strengthen their defenses against attack. They built up the city walls around Lyssan and improved the fortresses in Zab-Kin, Dimbe and Jebelam.

The church of the Shadowguard elves went to work, preaching and converting its population back to the

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worship of the Lords of the Grail.  Oromardi and Jebelam were already nominally Grailite, but missionaries worked to stamp out vestiges of demon worship among the peasantry.

Meanwhile, the royal court did much the same.  Princes Alitcean Searider and Mithriel Silvermorn converted the Kalrondo nobility to Grail worship. Alvar Brookseeker and Thingold of Gaja sought converts among the nobility of Indoglaurë.

Vaeril Fallingwater and Evarear Darkblow traveled to Dimbe and through diplomacy, brought that important region closer to the crown.

South-Western Vales –

The Steaming Kingdom of Drormt –
Ruler –
King Hematep
Capital – Breeka
Dominant Race – Saurus
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Munampt [EA]

image The engineers of the Steaming Kingdom doggedly drove a broad, dry road through the trackless fens of Ululor towards the Drormt border.

Lord Sluarth crossed the Ulailai river with refugees in tow, and settled them in Likasal, on the shores of the Vine Sea. He then hired mercenary ships to aid him in charting the Upper Vine Sea so that Drormtish merchants could trade with Sendahl and Mekebele.

Lord Slaarn also crossed the Ulailai, and concluded a treaty in Munampt to more closely bind that region to the kingdom.

Sendahl –
Ruler –
King Hariki
Capital – Nyange
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Valesian Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Syniken [-]
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The lords of Sendahl built cogs to begin the colonization of the western islands. All plans changed when queen Boreta died in 2931.  King Topo*ko fell into mourning and died just months later in 2932, precipitating a crisis in the succession. Topo*ko had no sons, and his eldest daughter Irela was rightfully queen in his place.  Irela, however, had just married Mekebelean prince Hariki, brother to the Mekebelean Emperor.

Hariki claimed the kingship of Sendahl as his own and was opposed in this by Siro*ko The Dervish and Giro*ko, Lynx Of The Steppes.  Ara*ko The Desert Lion would have supported Hariki, but he died in that same year of a heart attack. The regions of Dhetnik and Aret rebelled and declared themselves independent.

With Irela’s help, Hariki was able to win over the population against Siro*ko, and convinced the young general to retire (Siro*ko died in 2935 at country estate.) Meanwhile, Giro*ko returned from Perur and marched on Nyange, determined to throw out the foreigner.  But Hariki outmaneuvered him by granting special favors to the landed nobility and Giro*ko found

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himself without support in the capital.  Soon, Giro*ko’s head was on a pike at Nyange’s gates and a foreign prince sat on the throne of the horse lords. 

 

The Grand Empire of Mekebele –
Ruler –
Emperor Fuloku
Capital – Awayal
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Valesian Spirit Cult
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image The Grand Empire poured men and material into reinvigorating its western province of Menrat after the orc horde had ravaged it for decades. Villages swelled into towns and barren fields became pleasant stands of taro and beans.

In the north, conscripted labor smoothed out the dusty postal roads of Ola to form broad, well-graded roads over which armies might march with speed.

In Awayal, Emperor Fuluko retrained four hundred infantry in cavalry tactics as a method of training his young daughter Daya in the ways of leading men and inspiring loyalty.

Lady Imea departed with three small nars (open trading vessels) into the Vacani Sea and was never heard from again.

When Sendahl’s king Topo*ko died, a crisis was triggered in the succession which led (See Sendahl, above) to Prince Hariki assuming the crown of Sendahl.

South-Eastern Vales –

The Dwarven Realm of Aurdrukar –
Ruler –
King Dorin
Capital – The Brass Tower
Dominant Race – Dwarf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
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Banner of Aurdrukar

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Banner of Khor-Naland

image King Dorin recruited fifteen hundred infantry into his army at The Brass Tower and watched the borders.

Dwarven merchants founded the small cities of Azad and Tronze in Vipuren and Ordla, respectively.

Lord Blorin died in 2934 while instructing the Shtekkten nobility in the ways of the Grail. Missionaries preached the gospel of the Grail in Shtekkten and Lrandirla. Still other dwarven missionaries traveled east, preaching to the elves of Sengkar.

The immense distances ruled by King Dorin meant that the most distant regions were barely in communications with the capital.  The nation is more than thirteen hundred miles from Yekrunale to Zhevis.

In 2932, a violent earthquake rocked Aurdrukar, especially in around Ulhiya. The Brass Tower was mostly destroyed as buildings toppled and burned.  Thousands were killed or injured and even the road to Mikoru was shattered and made useless.

The Elven Empire of Sengkar –
Ruler –
Emperor Valoril Greenshield
Capital – Ezrand
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
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The two warring factions of Sengkar came to an agreement. “Empress” Elvariadne was recognized as a princess of Sengkar and the Emperor publicly accepted responsibility for the low state of morals in the Empire.  The Empire immediately finished completion of The Temple of Leaves, a grailite religious monument in the Sengkarian homeland. Moveover, the Emperor swore not only to uphold the Great Church in Sengkar but to promote religious piety with the full force of law in the Empire.

Princess Shariel was “asked” to retire from her position “for the good of the Empire”, which she did with ill grace.  When she refused to leave willingly, it became an order from the Emperor.

Valoril upheld his bargain, placing a great deal of the empire’s treasure into an attempt to increase public piety and morals.  The public reverence for The Temple of Leaves helped somewhat, as did the fortuitous arrival of dwarven missionaries from Aurdrukar.

The regions held by the rebels agreed in principle to return to the Imperial fold, but none did so with energy or enthusiasm.  Similarly, the rebel army was largely disappointed by the reunification, so sure were many in the army of their inevitable victory over the loyalist forces.  Only about half of the rebel army agreed to follow the Emperor.  The rest returned to their homes or became bandits and mercenaries.

In 2933, the small garrison of Valoralondë rebelled, seizing the city and declaring its disgust with the weak emperor who so easily bowed before a traitor and religious fanatic.  They declared the city to be a free port and invited the Kingdoms of Kerendis, Accolon and The Valraj to help assure their status as a free port.

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The Righteous of Sengkar –
Ruler –
Empress Elvadriadne
Capital – Bandorian
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
 

ELIMINATED

The Kingdom of Weshtayo –
Ruler –
Regent Huetzin
Capital – Khulank
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Tresalet [+4YfC]
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image The Weshts spent much treasure improving their military and magical capabilities, and strengthened the fortress of Tresalet.

No longer interested in oppressing the upstart halflings of Tsu’u, the Weshts freed the region to its own devices. At the same time, Weshtayo colonists marched north through the forests of Bedraku and the fields of Treslaet to reach the riparian wilderness of Jenlet.  This region, from which the sauruses of Drormt had enslaved the human population just a generation ago, was to be the new home for humans loyal to the scaled god.

Weshtayo missionaries tried to convert the Maroundi tribes of Gaim, but the Weshtayo church was simply too weak to arouse much interest in their foreign god.

Lord Aut Belgutai traveled to Tresalet to continue

trying to improve relations with the subject Nineser people there, but the language differences meant that the Tresalet people viewed the Weshts as outsiders.

Regent Huetzin hired the mercenary commander Sterral the sathla.

The Imperial Realm of Zikuyu –
Ruler –
Empress Naleehta
Capital – Ivallkyu
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Valesian Spirit Cult
DIplomacy – Mara [EA], Dorel [-], Barnako [-]

Emperor Kiisha finished his reign with a spate of public buildings in all his cities dedicated to the spirits and to the heroes of the Zikuyan peoples.  He also oversaw the completion of a royal road to the Aurdrukar border at Kamandi. He died in 2931 at the age of fifty-one and was succeeded by his daughter Naleehta, whom he had named heir only the year before.

The rest of the court busied itself with diplomatic missions.  Lord Lomoqui signed an economic agreement with the demon-worshiping men of Mara.  But Lady Nawheeta and Lord Moqsis were ill-suited as diplomats and proved it in Dorel and Barnako.

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The Valraj –
Ruler –
Sultan Aurangzeeb
Capital – Muddakir
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

image Sultan Jahangeer died in 2934 and was succeeded by his son Aurangzeeb.

There was a revival of interest in the Dark Court during these years as the power of the church expanded and many of the nobility converted to the religion. Lord Jalalud and Prince Miir successfully converted a large minority of the nobility of Tithand and Vora to the worship of the Dark Court.

 

The Grand Duchy of Meneen –
Ruler –
Grand Duke Salene
Capital – Yaz Meneen
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Valesian Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Indrata [EA]

The Grand Duchy looked to its military training, working hard to improve the quality of its infantry and cavalry.  Already, it had developed one of the best-trained navies in the world.

A thousand elven archers joined the garrisons at Chanos and Imreer.

Prince Emmyn traveled to the eastern province of Indrata and concluded a treaty of economic advantage with the jungle elves.  Meanwhile, Indrata was the scene of much intrigue as King Tedo Applebarrel of Ahum arrived unannounced (landing with seven warships at Indrata, just before Admiral Feantë began to patrol the Gates of Arthys) and began to preach the gospel of Nuree to the nobility, working to counteract the efforts of the Rajahdan sathla. Meneen’s own Lord Keyan failed to win Indratan converts to the Valesian Spirit Cult.

Meanwhile, halfling missionaries from Ahum flooded into Ongkiji Suzu and Niorin, where their worship of the Three-Faced God spread like wildfire.

Emissaries from Rajahdan made formal apology for their interference in Indrata and withdrew back their own lands.

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The Kingdom of Ukanve –
Ruler –
King Gene II
Capital – Ukanve
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Valesian Spirit Cult

image King Gene II settled large numbers of farmers into Shoggen, and oversaw the restructuring of his merchant fleet to keep more ships in home waters.

He then assembled his army of five thousand soldiers and sailed them to Sominde, where with the help of allied leaders from Rhundal and Aclimea, he stormed the beaches at Sominde and pacified the region, making it part of Ukanve.

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SERIKKU –

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The Kingdom of Nikitya –
Ruler –
King Erik Ragnarsson
Capital – Vikitana
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Serriku Spirit Cult

image The Nikityans founded a merchant’s guild at Vikitana, improving the economy and taxes.  The royal road to the Kachka border struggled on towards completion.

Queen Ingithora Tveskagg died in childbirth in 2931. King Erik led the nation in mourning her loss.

The Principalities of Korondor –
Ruler –
King Durm
Capital – Nikkildûn
Dominant Race – Dwarf
Dominant Religion – The Lords of the Grail

The dwarves completed a postal road northwest into Aniatak and also raised a thousand troops.

King Tolan died in 2931 at the age of one hundred forty.  His son Durm was only forty-four years old and many felt this was too immature to rule the hill kingdom.  Lord Tolan led a revolt against Durm that was quickly put down by Lords Bolan and Korin.  Tolan was executed for his treason.  But the revolt spread without him. The realm of Tyuin left the Principalities altogether, as did the humans of Kyuinachka and the city of Khond-Mirzar.  The province of Tyakukta revolted as well, but the rebellion was put down by the garrisons of the Tyakukta field forts.  When the rebellion settled out in 2935, Durm had a solid hold on the Principalities once again.

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The Targary Tribes –
Ruler –
Khan Vuldrog
Capital – The Oathstone
Dominant Race – Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion – Serriku Spirit Cult
 
image The Targary tribes sat in their splendid isolation.

The Saa’vend Confederation –
Ruler –
King Nassessh
Capital – Envekal
Dominant Race – Saurus
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

image Lord Kaar assembled an army of four thousand sauruses and stormed east into the hills of Piralba and Pouriya, slaughtering the local militias and hauling the pitiful humans back to Samilen to work amidst the forests as slaves to support the Saa’vend war machine.

King Nassessh, having decided that his nation would worship the god at hand rather than the gods they once feared, worked to reduce the power of the Dark Court in the Confederation. It is his intention to one day convert his brutish nation to the worship of the god-emperor of Shanatar.

The Shanatar Empire –
Ruler –
God-Emperor Tsephares
Capital – Feroe
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The God-Emperor
Diplomacy – Ghamzen [-FA]

image The astonishing wealth of the Shanatarian Empire was on display as massive public works projects dominated the Shanatarian countryside as the wealth of whole lesser nations was spread throughout each of Balasir, Fakkhrem, Ghamzen and Javneh.

Missionaries for the god-emperor flooded into the Saa’vend Confederation.  Although they converted many in the Serond hinterland, they had little success immediately across the river in Eumela.

God-emperor Tsephares dispatched the legendary adventurers known as The Will of the God-Emperor to the Anvil of the Gods, but those luminaries never returned.

Lord Phalan, a disagreeable man and an abominable diplomat was visited upon the people of Ghamzen like a noxious plague.  After years of his abuses and gross delights, the ambassador was murdered in the streets and the folk of Ghamzen ceased paying tribute to the empire.

The Farmuz Emirates –
Ruler –
Sultan Kazad
Capital – Azhkatûm
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Lords of the Grail
Diplomacy – Azmani [T], Razir [T]
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image The Emirates built many temples and religious schools, bringing prestige and power to the Great Church. 

The town of Azrahbal in Azmani grew into a true city, and the sultan had his engineers build a great wall around it to protect it from desert raiders. A royal road soon ran from Jahali to the new city, connecting it to the capital.

Sultan Kazad traveled to Azmani and procured a promise to pay tribute from the local emire. Lord Najib did likewise in Razir.

Vizier Al’Han commanded the large Farmuzi navy that patrolled the Blood Sea.

The Kingdom of Vaudan –
Ruler –
Queen Noushin
Capital – Chegamum
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Orithia
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image Quiet days pass in Vaudan.
The Faithful of Gardagos –
Ruler –
King Gojian Ho
Capital – Rakuen
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Orithia
Diplomacy – Mitampe [EA]
 

King Moresko and Gojian Ho convinced the Imbalab tribes of Mitampe to become economic allies of the Faithful.  Missionaries began to spread the Orithian religion throughout Mitampe.

Moresko died in 2933, and Gojian Ho immediately seized power.  Moresko’s nine year old son died in a riding accident three months later.

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The United Clans of Mainos –
Ruler –
King Kaedhrol Greyfeather
Capital – Badmira
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Orithia
Diplomacy – Prukos [A]

The elves of Mainos continued to drive a fine stone road towards their southern port at Lappi.

Prince Auvo Kaedhrol ruled the realm from the capital at Badmira, while King Kaedhrol Greyfeather and his court traveled east to Prukos to reestablish the alliance with lord Kyosti Ryti.

In the meantime, a vast, sprawling city of landless refugees sat in squalid encampments ringing the capital.  These grew restless and demanded the king grant them the right to settle cities within the realm or else to displace the humans, sauruses and hobgoblins on the borders.

Orithian missionaries failed to convince any of the humans living in Okumiye to embrace their foreign faith.

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The Dragon’s Reach

The Kingdom of Uheju –
Ruler –
King Maggor
Capital – Shkomyemri
Dominant Race – Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion – Falesian (Heretical Orithia)
Diplomacy – Berat [F]

image King Maggor recruited twelve hundred new troops into his army at Shkoyemri and marched to Kannguheju, where his nine thousand hobgoblin army prepared to defend itself against all enemies.

Lords Geza and Kertai traveled to Berat and granted its people full citizenship in the kingdom.

Princess Miyu continued to convert the nobility of Kaletor to the Falesian faith. A brilliant manipulator and motivator, she was highly successful.

Kasadir missionaries worked to help strengthen the Falesian church in Uheju, which was still a very fragile and tentative thing.

A minor functionary in the treasury disappeared. It was found that he had embezzled a portion of the treasury.

The Heavenly Kingdom of Kasadir –
Ruler –
King Maejirth
Capital – Tamiyot
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Falesian (Heretical Orithia)
Diplomacy – Fivari [A]
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The Heavenly Kingdom poured the labor of peasants and the gold of the nobility into the homeland, building river meadows and fisheries, dairies and lush pastures of great wealth.

King Maejirth led landless tribes out to the wilderness of Laina and established a colony there admist the forest abandoned by the Orithian faithful in their southward trek to the Gardagos.

Prince Eddard the Lame led the court to the region of Fivari, where they concluded a treaty of alliance with the forest tribes.

Missionaries to Uheju helped to strengthen the hobgoblin church’s control in that kingdom.

The Heavenly Kingdom hired the Iron Wind mercenaries to recover the legendary sword Deepreaver and they did.  The mercs laid the sword at King Maejirth’s feet in 2935.

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The Kingdom of Ahandu –
Ruler –
King Nahuaontl
Capital – Zathurrin
Dominant Race – Saurus
Dominant Religion – Orithia
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image The sauruses of Ahandu completed the cultivation of the forests of Chojde, readying that distant coastal region for a rapid expansion of its human population.

Meanwhile, King Nahuaontl ruled in the restless city of Zathurrin, where the heretical notions of the Falesian faith still held strong sway in the popular imagination. Princess Tzazlat worked tireless among the nobility, while Orithian missionaries went among the populace working to convert them both back to the orthodoxy.

Lord Tepotta died in 2934 during a fit of apoplexy at the age of fifty-one.

The distance between Zathurrin and the human provinces of the south was so great that it took most of a year for messages to travel round trip.  Ahandan agents were able to quell unrest in Chojde, but Pondu seceded once again.  King Nahuaontl’s advisors suggest a bridge over the Kheleni river, and connecting Zathurrin to the royal road.

The Empire of Mogodor –
Ruler –
Emperor Shi
Capital – Aone
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Orithia

The Empress Lysistrana directed tens of thousands of peasant laborers, farmers, craftsmen and soldiers to settle in the eastern region of Januaan, making it the most heavily-settled region on the Sea of Frozen Stars.

The Empress attempted to hire the Iron Wind adventuring company to secure the sword Deepreaver, but was outbid for their services by Kasadir.

On a cold winter’s night in 2932, an emissary arrived in Aone from the lichdom of Erdiyek.  The emissary was wan as death and his voice a sibilant whisper. “My master Kuan Li Jiang, Emperor of Death, demands your submission to his will.  You are directed to send foodstuffs to the Necropolis every five years.  Do not dare to incur his dread wrath!”

Lysistrana died in 2935, leaving the throne to her second cousin Prince Shi. Shi fathered twins, a boy and a girl, in 2933.  His wife Bayarmaa died giving birth to the twins.

 

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The Kingdom of Suhanir –
Ruler –
King Valiel Sunlord
Capital – Kaonayu
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Orithia

image The eastern elves trained hard in naval tactics, working to improve their woeful shipbuilding and sailing skills. At the same time, the yards at Ki Maru turned out four new warships.  A thousand elven archers joined the army at Kaonayu.

The cities of Ki Maru and Kaonayu hosted new populations of elven tribes who settled in their outer neighborhoods, necessitating the rebuilding of both city’s walls.

King Valiel commanded the main army, eleven thousand mixed troops at Kaonayu. Lord Meneloss commanded a smaller army of three thousand elven archers at Kimmaktu.

The Kingdom of Amantai –
Ruler –
Shogun Marubeni the Younger
Capital – Mahlish
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Orithia

Prince Atsutane  received three thousand light infantry from the Shogun and marched east into Distiar and Tunuan.  Despite being loyal parts of the kingdom, these two forested regions were marked for servitude.  Atsutane destroyed their hastily assembled peasant levies and enslaved his own countrymen, dragging them in chains back to Haga to serve as slaves in the fields of the homeland. This spawned protests in Mutuan and Bangaha, but these were put down by the Shogun’s agents.

However, it spawned a peasant protest in the capital.  Students from the university seized several of the city’s key buildings and demanded justice for Distiar and Tunuan.  The city’s works ground to a halt.

Prince Bunrakkuken traveled farther east to the peninsula of Hebmas, where he gallantly engaged a dangerous oni and its bakemono servants.  Having slain the oni in single combat, he returned to Mahlish with its treasure.

Hidehira Endoso, daimyo of Keama, died while

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eating his miso at the age of sixty-nine.  His heirs remained loyal to Mahlish, but not so close as before.

The Kingdom of Nuitai –
Ruler –
Daimyo Jae Hwan
Capital – Temanom
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Orithia

image The city of Temanom continued to swell with craftsmen and merchants as the countryside became increasingly dangerous.

Lord Wang Gyon took the usual tribute to the lichdom of Erdiyek and was warned by a sepulchral magistrate that no further lateness would be tolerated by the dread Kuan Li Jiang.

 

The Lichdom of Erdiyek –
Ruler –
Kuan Li Jiang
Capital – The Necropolis
Dominant Race – The Undead
Dominant Religion – None

Who knows what evil lurks in Erdiyek? image

The Kingdom of Choran –
Ruler –
  Councillor Sing Sao
Capital – Choran
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Serikku Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Ketkume [F]

The Council ordered its last nomadic tribe to be settled in the city of Ketkume. They also resolved, through Councillor Sing Sao, to increase the size of the merchant fleet.

Councillors Xaousing and Liang traveled to Ketkume, where they met with Mayor Ochmag in many sessions to hammer out the accession of the city to full citizenship within the kingdom. Councillor Liang died in Ketkume in 2931 at the age of forty-six.

Councillor Kailaun took up command of the Choran navy and engaged in coastal operations out of the capital for many years.

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The Empire of Tekume –
Ruler –
Emperor Go-Bitron
Capital – Suru’or
Dominant Race – Giants
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Kitike [C]

image The giant empire built several cogs to facilitate transport to their far-flung provinces. They used these ships to build a new port on the far western island of Mei.  The small collection of warehouses and fish-salting operations rose on the island’s southern shore, opposite from the Shen’xi city of Kofang.

Lords Ba-Taos and Il-Kyo rode into the hills of Kitike and settled the empire’s differences with the Kitike giants, claiming the region once again for the Emperor.

A mysterious red tide clung to the Tekume coast of Amaka Maru and the Sea of Frozen Stars.  Fishing was very poor.

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CHANGSHAI –

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The Kolyut Isthmus

The Sylvan Realm of Hecadia –
Ruler –
Queen Aelwythe
Capital – Belgramma
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – Orithia

image The innovations of Halagarde of Salman continued to thrill the world, or at least that tiny portion of it capable of understanding the brilliant and esoteric ideas which flowed from his pen as from the very fonts of the gods themselves. In less than twenty years, Hecadia had moved into the forefront of nations in terms of science and magic, rivaling the ancient sathla empire of Rajahdan in understanding.  King Mardeis founded a Merchant’s Guild in Salman to capitalize on the sage’s learning, calling it Halagarde Hall

The land around Halagarde was not so peaceful, however.  King Mardeis died in 2938, leaving his nine year old son Hevril as his heir apparent.  Lord Rourke refused to follow the boy king, and declared himself rightful ruler of Hecadia. Councillor Seth of Chothor joined Rourke in his rebellion. Lords Beauregard and H’rak remained loyal to the crown and moved to Belgramma to oppose Rourke.

Rourke managed to inflame the populace of Belgramma, who attacked Beauregard when he tried to enter the city, and Rourke nailed Beauregard’s head on a pike outside the gate.  But when H’rak arrived at the city with seven thousand troops, Rourke tried to rally those troops to himself and failed.  Rourke’s head soon replaced Beauregarde’s on the gate. By this time, Chothor, Ateside, Atarami and Sharpreef had all rebelled from Hecadian control.

General H’rak declared himself regent for King Hevril and married Mardeis’s sister Aelwythe.  Tragedy struck Hecadia a second time when H’rak died of the yellow plague just a year later, leaving Aelwythe in command.  General insurrection broke out again, and the region of Amoka rebelled from Hecadian control.  Within a year, both King Hevril and his twelve year old sister Nel were dead in “accidents” and a weary nation acknowledged Aelwythe to be the rightful queen.
 

The Kingdom of Kerendis –
Ruler –
King Laoghaire the Younger
Capital – Orbelain
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
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King Alstan named his son Laoghaire to be his heir and successor.  He also ordered a stiffening of the national defenses. Kerendan engineers built field forts in Chemada, Iganchi, Ishku, Kibe, Nisvet and Rabiate.  The already large walls of Citadel Kraken were further expanded with towers and strongpoints.

At the king’s orders, colonists were led to the wilds of Tamaina, where they established the kingdom’s presence.  Meanwhile, the city of Daemonshore continued to grow in Chemada.

In 2931, King Alstan thoroughly reordered the nation’s trading priorities, pulling most of his merchant fleet back into the home waters. 

In 2932, the king died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of thirty-six. His brother in law Prince Kinnel of Iganchi died the same year. This left sixteen year old Laoghaire as the legitimate heir, but many of Kerendis’s unruly subjects refused to accept the boy king.  All the major nobles remained loyal, but the regions of Anshuyo, Iganchi and Pramada declared their independence despite the best efforts of Laoghaire’s agents to stem the rebellion.

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The Kingdom of Threns –
Ruler –
King Elviand
Capital – Vaayil
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court
Diplomacy – Maskand [F]

image The chastened kingdom of Threns recruited two thousand infantry at Vaayil.  King Elviand released all claim on the province of Nasatsu and the city of Maskand and reduced his control over Bendraj, Inrikor and Patsuma.  He also fired a large number of his priests, scribes and bureaucrats. He named his brother Maraskor as his heir and his cousin Isis as a princess of the realm.

Colonists reclaimed Emanaba in the wake of the recent invasion, and built farms and markets throughout the region.

Most of the court traveled to Maskand to formally ask the restless city to rejoin the kingdom, which it did with full citizenship.

Prince Cromotium promoted the Dark Court among the nobility of Sukan, with great success.

In 2931, Jazrien Kalbaen of Ruanach attempted landings at Kapa, Sukan and Emanaba.  His force of three Ruanach Blacksails and eight warships was intercepted by Prince Maraskor and his fleet of six warships.  The Ruans handily won the sea battle, but Jazrien was wounded and it affected his ability to lead the subsequent raids.  Although the Ruans stole some little amount at Kapa, they were driven back by the field forts Emanaba and by the army at Sukan.

The Kolyut Hegemony –
Ruler –
Hegemon Rogukh
Capital – Ketarid
Dominant Race – Hobgoblin
Dominant Religion – The Dark Court

Hegemon Belav the Oily named his son Rogukh to be his heir and his daughter Maskja to be a princess royal.  He then married the former queen Tamiyak to ensure the perceived legitimacy of his reign.

The Hegemon and Lord Tarunk both died in 2933 during an epidemic of rotworms  Rogukh acceded to the throne without incident.

Slaves built a road leading from Nistha towards Ketarid, but it would be some years yet before it was finished.

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The Rajahdan Peninsula

The Free Cities of Ruanach –
Ruler –
King Gestentes
Capital – Fashanru
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Changshai Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Nayarva [FA]
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In 2931, Jazrien Kalbaen of Ruanach attempted landings at Kapa, Sukan and Emanaba.  His force of three Ruanach Blacksails and eight warships was intercepted by Threnish Prince Maraskor and his fleet of six warships.  The Ruans handily won the sea battle, but Jazrien was wounded and it affected his ability to lead the subsequent raids.  Although the Ruans stole some little amount at Kapa, they were driven back by the field forts Emanaba and by the Threnish army at Sukan.

With the aid of the Badge of Barbaric Confabulation, Lady Kirra arranged the marriage of King Gestentes eldest daughter Princess Gajra to the lord of Nayarva in exchange for his feudal vows.

Gestentes himself ruled the Captain’s Council from Fashanru and fathered his fourth and fifth daughters.  Queen Niashrin died in childbirth in 2934.

Ruan engineers completed the road between Fashanru and Kaasra in 2934.

 

 

 

The Delves of Ahum –
Ruler –
King Tedo Applebarrel
Capital – Saumya
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – Nuree
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Colonists and wealthy merchants speculating on trade settled the northwestern shore of the Sudaran Sea at Ahum, establishing a trading post and fishery they called Haliwar.  Halfling engineers dispatched by King Tedo immediately built a nigh-impregnable wall about the tiny burgh, as they had around all of Ahum’s Delves.  Still other engineers drove a royal road to the city’s gates through the primeval Ahum forest.

King Tedo gave over command of both the nation and the army to Trent Stoneberry and personally sailed to the the Meneen province of Indrata to convince the nobility of the truths of Nuree.  Meanwhile, Ahum’s missionaries were similarly busy in the Meneen provinces of Ongkiji Suzu and Niorin.

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The Orcish Raj of Virityal –
Ruler –
Raja Tolax
Capital – Chharit
Dominant Race – Orc
Dominant Religion – Nuree

image The constantly expanding orcish population swelled the city of Hilak and the province of Aballak.  The intensive cultivation of Randar proceeded steadily, if slowly.

Queen Tolax named her younger brother Borog the Bloody to be her successor.  The queen desires a smooth transition whenever death does come for her and so passed over her infant daughter in favor of her brother.

The Empire of Rajahdan-
Ruler –
Emperor Zlatec Of The Jungles
Capital – Jalahl
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Asurjan [EA]

The empire invested in a large fleet of merchant ships, based out of Amanal, with which it serviced its own trading needs.  In addition, Rajad engineers constructed formidable walls around the cities of Amanal and Tanjahd, which had undergone recent expansion as its port attracted more skilled carpenters and shipwrights. At the same time, engineers expanded the aqueducts at Jalahl, making them the most extensive such project anywhere in Theeurth.

Emperor Zlatec commanded twenty-six thousand mixed troops at Jalahl while Lord Zzohichii commanded fifteen thousand in the homeland outside the city.  Zzohichii died in 2935at the age of sixty-three.

Most of the rest of the court, led by princes Kaitoc and Goquax, formally apologized to the Grand Duke of Meneen for interference in his province of Indrata, and then traveled to the human province of Asurjan where they made a close alliance with the people while Autumna missionaries spread the faith to a very large minority of the human population.

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Eastern Changshai

Anku Elevya –
Ruler –
Emperor Zao Yang II
Capital – Jinguir
Dominant Race – Saurus
Dominant Religion – Zaoism

image Like its twin gods, the realm of the dragon emperors remained asleep.

The Celestial Empire of Shen’xi
Ruler –
Emperor Mei Shu
Capital – Wu Lan
Dominant Race – Human
Dominant Religion – Kifan

The Celestial Empire slept. image


 

The Lulipayat Empire
Ruler –
Emperor Hussa
Capital – Kelakuan
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna

image The slithering sathla of the east continued the slow and laborious conversion of Bukuturru into an engineering marvel of sluices, canals, floating islands and terraced gardens.

Emperor Hussa governed the nation form Kelakuan and trained his son and prospective heir Husani in the arts of good government.

Lords Saphyn, Slihan and Princess Terysa traveled to the human city of Tanu in Mersemb and converted large numbers of the local nobility to the worship of the scaled god.

The Serenity of Wayahapta
Ruler –
King Tuengku
Capital – Keluan
Dominant Race – Halfling
Dominant Religion – Changshai Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Hawhu [A], Yan-Kuei [A], Omasune
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King Kuan Ti’s health began to fail him in 2932.  He called his son Tuengku to his deathbed and conferred the kingship upon him just minutes before he breathed his last.

Tuengku ordered the royal court on a circuit of the outer provinces, building goodwill.  The corps of diplomacy concluded treaties of alliance in Hawhu, Yan-Kuei and in Omasune.  Trade began through Ya-Kuei to Khudukan and the Empire of the Pearl.

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The Dwarven Realm of Khudukan
Ruler –
King Boril
Capital – Nodo-Xan
Dominant Race – Dwarf
Dominant Religion – Kifan
Diplomacy – Nodo-Xan [+16 YfC]

image The mountain kingdom built villages and farms throughout the rolling hills of Tomarom and under the forbidding peaks of Makomoe.  Meanwhile, King Boril and his court of accomplished diplomats continued to quell the ire of the restless mob in the capital at Nodo-Xan.

The Empire of the Pearl
Ruler –
Emperor Sakurako Hideyoshi
Capital – Kuemas
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Kifan
Diplomacy – Karinoy [F]

image Peace and prosperity reigned in the Empire of the Pearl.  The Emperor funded large agricultural projects in Masugin, Tokiko and in Kumidor, increasing the already bountiful harvests of the region and flooding the Empire with abundant food.

Empress Airi and Takahiro Naruto traveled to Karinoy and granted its people full citizenship in the Empire.

The many sorcerers among the Empire’s nobility ensured the health and fertility of the land.


 

UKELE –

The Emerald Realm of Lekandi –
Ruler –
King Galens Eagleheart
Capital – Suwelho
Dominant Race – Elf
Dominant Religion – Ukele Spirit Cult
Diplomacy – Tungu [NT]

image Angered by the continued captivity of the two Bloodspear princes, King Galens recruited five thousand troops, including a thousand heavy elite infantry, and issued an ultimatum to the sathla of Yalimiko and Korodan.

Meanwhile, elf warriors led a raid on the city of Khorlaine to try to free the captives.  This secret mission failed when sathla guards discovered elves sneaking into the city sewers and chased them back into the jungles.

Lord Vallirion Sharpeye led a diplomatic mission to the hills of Tungu, where he negotiated rights for the Emerald Realm to cross Tungu at will.

In 2934, the Korodan tribes returned the two Bloodspear princes by escorting them to the river.

The Scaled Realm of Korodan –
Ruler –
Azz’tak the Wise
Capital – Khorlaine
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
Diplomacy – Yerai [C]
 
The sathla of Khorodan awaited word of whether the Lekandi elves would attack them.  When no attack came, they escorted their two prisoners, the Bloodstone princes, to the river and released them.

Slaves built a mud wall around the city of Njeera, while others built strongpoints in Koromakor.

King Azz’tak the Wise traveled to Yerai and claimed it for the Scaled Realm.  Meanwhile, his son prince Vass’tix returned to Khorlaine and ruled the realm while his father was away.  In Khorlaine, Vass’tix fell in love with Sor’tash, the beautiful daughter of general Ezdahl. The two were married but produced no heirs as yet.

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The Yalimiko Tribes –
Ruler –
King Mongok
Capital – Okana
Dominant Race – Sathla
Dominant Religion – Autumna
 
image The simple farmers of Yalimiko slowly increased in number in the homeland and capital. King Mongok and General Ondoc watched over the borders with seven thousand troops.

Page Completed 21 October, 2009