Lords 4, Turn 65 (1417

ThroneWorld Enterprises presents:

LORDS OF THE EARTH
CAMPAIGN 4 - EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN
Turn #65 ( 1417-1420 )	GM: Rich Lloyd

CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN RESTARTED AS OF FEB 10, 2008.

GM NOTES:
   Version 6 rules are in use. I don't pretend to be a master of them so it will be a learning experience for both myself and you. Some things to be wary of:
(a) new costs for adding city levels.
(b) maximum field forts in a region now (GPV+1) x (Seige QR/2) x (Regional Tax Multiple).
(c) cathedrals may not be built in regions, only in cities. However, all cathedrals in regions are grandfathered and do not need to be moved. They are something else (?) that generates the same income. Too much work all around to move 'em to cities.

There's a template ("Lords4_Template_T66") for player turns that is mandatory to use. I'm too likely to miss something or misinterpret something when every player submits their own style of turnsheet. Plus it takes longer searching for things, and anything that slows a GM is bad.

Check your UBC (Unit Build Chart) carefully. Quite a few unit types are now gone, and others renamed. Read the "V 6 Conversion" web page for details. There are also some Lords4 specific units there. Read the "Crossbow", "Artillery", "Firearms" and "Galley" web pages so you know how to use them.

(notes below revised 28 Jan 2009)
   I've given a lot of thought to the knowledge of 21st century players vs. the knowledge of their 15th century characters (Kings, Princes, Lieutenants, etc). In GM-to-Player notes and website informational pages, Dinosaurs and other thought-to-be-extinct creatures encountered will be identified by their modern Real World names, ie Tarbosaur, Spinosaur, etc.
   However characters wouldn't know such Greek- or Latin-derived names, and will instead refer to such creatures appropriately for their culture.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I've been working on the map on & off, making improvements. This will be an ongoing effort. In specific, (a) replacing the solid black rivers with blue ones, and in some cases shortening them - but no river port has been left "dry". (b) Siberian tiaga replaced by "unknown", and some of its rivers plotted. (c) several island regions added - players near them were notified. (d) regions around Rhine River brought into sync with Real World. I couldn't deal with Alsace and Lorraine being east of the river anymore.

Regional Improvement: At TL 5 for 20gp/20nfp you can Improve a cultivated homeland region from 2GPv to 3GPv, or any other controlled cultivated region from 1GPv to 2GPv. This is due to historical improvements in agriculture at TL 5.

Usury: Papal Decree - Restrictions Lifted.
Islamic nations ALWAYS have Usury restrictions.

MaxTax: still at 1.85.

Backslide: If a megalithic construction is overdue (time requirement paid, but gold/nfp not) it will backslide by 10% per turn down to nothing.

Construction efficiency: In calculating the time requirement of megalithic construction, use 4 years per level. What previously took 5 years can now be done in 4 thanks to the spread of Renaissance knowledge.

Stat sheet units: units on stat sheets are displayed in the following order - forts, cavalry, infantry, seige, artillery, galleys, warships, transports. Within each category they are displayed fastest to slowest.

Color Coded Nation Headers: I've decided to do away with these in favor of a Header that gives Society, Government and Tech Level.

Mercs & Mercenary Leaders: If you hire any of the mercenaries available in an area, you must hire the leader also. OR the leader may be hired alone and has retainers like any other leader type. Starting next turn (66) Mercenary leaders are going to age, so they aren't listed as available forever.

Having children: If your king has no queen, this command will result in children with palace concubines. There will be a greater chance of children but having different mothers could lead to later intrigues. If your king is ordered to marry and then HC, a noblewoman will be chosen as queen from among friendly regions or cities. If your king's marriage is in support of diplomacy, then the queen's name and origin will be tracked.

Dynastic Failure: I'm not a big enthusiast of DF's, figuring nations have enough to worry about with "outside" problems like their neighbors, secret empires, etc. If the ruler dies and there is an heir, he or she will become the new ruler. If there is no official heir but a P-leader (Prince or Princess) exists, he or she will become the new ruler. If there are minor children, a Regent will be appointed, or the queen or consort may simply declare they will be Regent. (Of course, it will remain to be seen if the P-leader or Regent yields the throne when a minor child comes of age. But at least in the short run a DF has been avoided.) If there is no heir, no P-leaders and no minor children, then anything can happen.

Counter Intel: I play CI is the way to check for enemy infiltration. Use RF to look for enemy leaders. Use CA to guard against assassination.

Exploration: ocean arrows must be explored by your nation and rutters (maps) made before your nation can use them freely for sea movement. Gray-colored land regions must be explored before GPv, Rv and religion are known. Once explored they will become neutral color.

Newsfax: I generally omit from the narrative positive results of diplomacy, city growth, missionary work, consecrating religious sites and mercantile activity. Diplomacy, city growth, consecrations and mercantile are already summarized in the nation's header information, and players see missionary results on their stat sheet. So only exceptional work (like success with diplomacy in a Hostile region) or embarassing failures (like your ambassador caught in bed with the local ruler's spouse) will be noted.

MERCENARIES

North Asia: 25c, 18i, 12s, 8g, 16xt
Leader: Chang MB68

SE Asia: 20c, 40i, 10s, 10g
Leader: Sitang M997

SW Asia: 10c, 10i, 10s, 10g
Leader: Gumbwnanna M997

Mid East/Nile/Arabia: 16c, 8i, 10s, 10g
Leader: Garhib M92A

Rest of Africa: 1ec, 7c (above tse-tse line), 15i, 13xi, 10s, 20g, 20xt
Leader: Tungalo M787

Europe: 20c, 20ei, 20i, 10s, 10g, 20xt
Leader: Simon MA6B

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EUROPE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Empire of Aragon Civilized Imperial TL6
Henry III the Infirm, King of Castille, Emperor of Aragon, Restorer of the Faith
Diplomacy:
Growth: Valance in Valencia, Cordoba in Murcia
In early 1417, King Henry announced his daughter Catherine, who had just come of age, was heir to the throne. In addition her long-awaited dynastic marriage to Carballo, son of the Count of Galacia, took place on the beautiful grounds of the abbey in Saragossa.
That settled, Henry ruled his kingdom, assisted by Prince Dantae.

To provide housing for excess rural population, Henry ordered a new Mediterranean port city, Valance, built in Valencia, and the city of Cordoba expanded. The capital of Saragossa was expanded yet again.

King Henry and his queen grieve at the death of their daughter Constance.

Unfortunately, Saragossa had expanded too rapidly and such basic necessities such as clean water and sewage collection to maintain the health of its citizens were in extremely short supply. Adding more inhabitants made a bad situation even worse. The newcomers by necessity had to live farthest from the Ebro River since the riverfront had been developed first, with the city spreading inland. Soon after the new arrivals began using the foul local water (more often than not a stagnant puddle or rivulet down some alley), cholera broke out among them and spread throughout the city.¹
By the time the outbreak subsided, a quarter of the city's population and several hundred of its military garrison had died. Thousands fled the city for the countryside, only to be threatened by farmers and villagers who were terrified the refugees carried the plague. Gravediggers in the city cemetaries could barely keep up. Priests held mass funeral services. Among the victims was Constance, one of the younger daughters of the King.

Almost overlooked in the chaos of in rural Aragon was a nighttime assault by masked men upon the church compound. Caretakers arriving for work in the morning found several dead guards sprawled in front of a large outbuilding converted to a prison. A score of men, arrested three years before by Church officials, and imprisoned therein, were missing.
When a caretaker ran to the Rectory, where Cardinal Gianquinto and his retainers were staying, the already frightened workman found more carnage. The Cardinal's retainers were all dead, apparently stabbed to death in their beds, and Cardinal Gianquinto himself was missing. Overturned furniture in his room bore witness to a struggle.
After some months recovering from this shock, agents of the Pope were again noted throughout villages in Aragon. Papal agents were also active in nearby New Castille.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Leroux traveled throughout Talavera preaching to the Muslims, and making converts. However a story² spread that other Catholic missionaries in the region had disrespected the Quran. Local imams, already deeply resentful of the Catholic Reconquista³ of Iberia, incited the Faithful to burn Papal symbols, intimidate converts, and murder foreigners. Leroux, his retainers, and other missionaries were lucky to escape with their lives ahead of a wave of anti-Catholic violence.

¹cholera is a highly contagious bacterial illness that is spread by direct contact with the bacteria vibreo cholerae, which is found in the wastes of infected people. Given the poor to non-existant sanitation standards of the 1400s, direct contact happened easily and often, and there was no concept of "contagious".
²a traveling Moroccan wrote an account of the event, as described to him by several Islamic fundamentalist Talaverans. He read his account at each village mosque he visited, enjoying the attention and adding more embellishments. Whether the event actually happened was never substantiated.
³in OTL, completed early 1492.

The Empire of Greater Britannia Civilized Imperial TL6
Angelique, Regent for Geoffrey II, Emperor of Greater Britannia, Grand Duke of Flanders, Keeper of the Irish Talisman of Faith
Diplomacy: Poitou(C)
Growth: Dublin in Lienster, St. Laurent in Languedoc, Abesdren in Strathclyde, Dreux in Normandy, Lyon in Orleans
Improvement: Dyffed, Gwynned, Lancashire, Lienster, Lothian, Ulster
Angelique, Regent for young Geoffrey II, son of the late king Geoffrey I, continued her late husband's policy of population redistribution. Excess people from England and France were moved into cities, or sent hundreds of miles to settle distant (and sparsely populated) regions in Scotland, Wales and Eire.
Angelique also commanded irrigation irrigation systems, silos and gristmills built to assist agriculture in Ponthieu and Connaught.

All this worldly activity paled next to the great spiritual project underway in London - a great cathedral to be known as St. Paul's. Artisans - especially scores of stonemasons - from all Brittania had been provided the best of everything, with Sir Roger Wellford to make sure construction ran smoothly.
In mid-December 1420, the magnificent structure was finished, and a letter from the Pope read aloud to the assembled multitude, praising Britannia "on it's efforts in London to lead people into the light of God!"
A letter from Regent Angelique was read as well, stating that St. Paul's - begun by the late husband the king - would stand as a testament to his faith.
The first Chistmas mass was London's social event of the year.

Raymond, Earl of Ulster, was sent to Poitou to undo the diplomatic blunder¹ of Sir John Black in past years. With much effort he was able to persuade the local lord to forget the affront, and to admit Britannia had a claim to the region.
Sir John, meanwhile, was sent on a lengthy pilgrimage to Rome, arriving in mid-1418 with a wagon train of Brittanic food for His Holiness. Sir John spent the rest of 1418 in prayer to atone, then returned to Paris.

¹Sir John was found in bed with the lord's lusty wife, and fled Poitou just ahead of arrest.

The Republic of Sweden Civilized Constitutional Monarchy TL6
Gudrun Ericson, Altkansler of the Kalmar Senate
Diplomacy: Jamtland(-), Veposkava(FA)
Gundrun focused the resources of the Republic on two efforts across the Gulf of Kemi. The region of Livo-Joki was cultivated with much hard work by its inhabitants. For the other, large numbers of excess population accepted offers of homesteads in the Oulu wilderness.
To defend Swedish holdings in the Baltic area, she ordered numerous small castles built at strategic locations in Estonia and Ilmen.

Gundrun went to Jamtland in 1417 to personally conduct diplomacy. Previously she had seasoned diplomat Bynnar Gunnarson assist her, but now she inexplicably sent him back to the capital. By herself she was unable to make any progress with the stubborn jarls.
Evgaard Rickardson almost had Vybor, lord of Veposkava, talked into a treaty of economic alliance when in October of 1418 three representatives of the Varangian Rus arrived and began dipomatic talks the following spring. Vybor, perhaps realizing his importance, cooled a bit towards Sweden.

While ruling, King Hedrickson received a disturbing report from distant Oulanka. Many trappers and herders from the northern part of the region were missing, more than could be explained away by the usual accidents, weather and such perils of solitary life.

The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation Renaissance Imperial TL8
Henry II, King of Bavaria, Kaiser of the German Reich, Roman Emperor of the West
Diplomacy: none
Growth: Navarone in Calabria, Haarlam in Friesland, Bremen in Lausatia, Olso in Pomern, Ravenna in Romagna, Milan in Savoy, Jutland in Saxony, Piza in Spoleto, Tyre in Tyrol,
St Petersburg in Verona, Hanover in Westphalia, Gibraltar in Geb-Al-Tarik

Henry II devoted his energies to the urbanization of the Holy Roman Empire. Much surplus population from the countryside was sent to expand cities.
However in his zeal he neglected roadbuilding already in progress, and the roadbeds began to deteriorate due to erosion or vegetation growth.

In late 1412, Prince Justin had been betrothed to a Veronan noblewoman. By spring 1417 her family decided five years without the marriage was an insult they could no longer overlook. Verona renounced its economic alliance with the Empire and regressed to merely tributary.
The very handsome Justin, who regularly enjoyed the ladies of the royal court as well as several mistresses, apologized to his annoyed brother the King that he'd forgotten all about marrying.

Life in the Empire continued prosperously and peacefully until the fall of 1420, when the court astrologer¹, using a new tube with lens that magnifies the heavens, noticed the appearance of a comet² in the night sky. Knowing that comets have historically portended significant events, such as the fall of empires, the astrologer brought it to the attention of his patrons, King Henry II and Queen Maria.

Henry, apprehensive, bade the astrologer keep close watch of the celestial visitor and report any changes immediately.

¹astronomers were also astrologers as well, casting horoscopes for the noble and the wealthy, in order to secure funding for their work. In OTL astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote, "God provides for every animal his means of sustenence. For the astronomer, he has provided astrology."
²as Germany only recently became Renaissance, with a newfound interest in the natural world and things scientific, its best astronomer is only now aware of the comet noted by Jamil al Haysin of El'Iskandria nearly five years earlier. Lacking years of observations, he is blissfully unaware of its increase in size and what that probably means.

The Roman Catholic Church Civilized Theocracy TL7
Boniface IX, Bishop of Rome, Pontiff of the Apostolic & Reformist Catholic Church, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Servant of the Servants of God
Consecration: none
Background: Boniface IX, feeling the authority of Church was threatened by the teachings of John Huss¹ in Bohemia, in early 1413 issued a Writ of Excommunication. His Writ failed to generate fear in Huss or his followers, and Huss continued his teachings. In early 1414 Cardinal Mario arrived in Bohemia representing the Papacy, to investigate the Hussite movement. He understood the danger of what Huss was teaching, and the need to crush it. In 1415 he and his retainers seized Huss and put him on trial for Heresey. Huss refused to recant his views. Mario ordered Huss to be burnt at the stake as a Heretic, but lacked soldiers to enforce his sentence. The crowd rioted and freed Huss. In the violence Mario and some of his retainers were killed, as were some Hussites. Huss and his followers began arming themselves.

Boniface realized the situation was far more serious than he'd believed, and that drastic action was necessary. Stern in appearance, deeply pious in belief, unyielding on doctrine, Cardinal Antonio was sent to Bohemia in early 1417 with many thousand superbly trained Papal cavalry and infantry. Papal agents kept word of their movement from being spread.

Cardinal Antonio, Enforcer of Papal Writ.

Antonio's force crossed into Bohemia in summer 1418. The Cardinal, a skilled orator, easily convinced the surprised border guards - fellow Catholics, and in awe of the display of Papal might - to allow him passage. Antonio arrived in the Hussite heartland like a thunderbolt, overwhelming the hundred or so lightly armed militia before it could even assemble, and arresting Huss and his closest followers.
Antonio gave Huss one final chance to recant, which Huss, to his credit, although not necessarily wisdom, refused. Huss and all followers were herded roughly into a nearby field with Papal cavalry lined up in ranks to one side. Infantry guarded the remaining three sides. The Hussites milled about in confusion and apprehension.

"In the name of God, I will remove this deamon from the earth!" cried Antonio, giving a signal. The ranks of heavy cavalry surged forward, swiftly catching the fleeing heretics, thousands of iron-shod warhorse hooves crushing them down into the dirt until the ground was churned with blood and viscera. Afterward, Antonio rode slowly through the bloody field and nodded with satisfaction when he couldn't find anything recognizable as human.
The heresy had been, literally, trampled out.

Meanwhile, Pope Boniface had new worries: Cardinal Giaquinto, investigating cultic activity in Iberia, had been kidnapped. [see Aragon] Cardinal Joseph, preaching in Hungary in the face of Eastern Orthodox protests, had been arrested. [see Hungary]

¹Huss - a learned man, indeed a university rector - had been influenced by the writings of a man from Britannia named Wycliffe. These writings were a condemnation of authoratative, traditional, ceremonial religion. Wycliffe had argued - and Huss was teaching - that Man could and should know God as in Biblical times, without need for layers of Church hierarchy.

Kingdom of Poland Civilized Centralized Monarchy TL6
Lech, King of the Poles
Diplomacy: Pomerania(EA), Bohemia(F), Moravia(NT)
King Lech began 1417 by continuing discussions with Baron Wolin of Pomerania, during which time cultivation of the region was completed, and marked by harvest festivals. Lech then returned to Warsaw to rule his kingdom.
Apparently diplomatic triumph increases virility, for despite his age (nearly 60) King Lech spent many pleasurable nights with young Queen Breznice. Sons were born in 1419 and 1420, keeping the idealistic Queen too busy for a while to keep making speeches sympathetic to the cause of her fellow Czech, John Huss.

Ambassador Panbuk spent much time meeting with Bohemia's feudal lord, Baron Brutno (father of Queen Breznice) and finally persuaded him to complete union with Poland. This left the fortress of Dresden, built by the Holy Roman Empire and held by their feudal ally Baron Kladno, as an isolated pocket of German influence in a Polish region.

Count Grzegorz traveled among the pagan tribes of Danzig and Masuria speaking of God. To everyone's surprise, since he had no religious training, he made some progress.

The Avar Kingdom of Hungary
Stefan I, Khan of the Avars, Lord of the Steppe
Diplomacy: none
Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph continued his preaching in Hungary to build on the momentum from previous years. However in late 1417 he and his retainers were arrested in a rural town by order of its mayor. The mayor, whose brother was an Eastern Orthodox priest, said the unspecified charges were "serious". Recent converts were intimidated by police to renounce their conversions.
However, other missionaries from Rome arrived in Hungary and spoke, and increasing numbers of Hungarian peasants accepted Roman Catholicism.
SLEPT...

The Byzantine Empire Civilized Imperial TL7
Justinian, Eastern Roman Emperor, Master of the Scholae, Patriarch of Constantinople
Diplomacy: Epirus(EA), Ismootal in Abasigia(EA), Corfu(C), Crete(F), Phoebos in Crete(EA)
Growth: Kosovo in Serbia, Ephesia in Lydia, Samatsagma in Galacia
Basil ordered a new city built in Serbia to enhance Imperial control of that region. Samatsagma, Ephesia, Sinope, Volos and Makhachkala all received public fountains, sidewalks, triumphal arches and obelisks. Nor was the countryside neglected, for irrigation ditches were dug throughout Ilyria and Vasi.
A royal road was begun to link Ismootal in Abasigia across the mountains with Makhachkala in Vasi. Elsewhere the clearing of forest and grassland for agriculture was started.
All Byzantium seemed energized and prosperous.

Justinian ruled, but also sired a son with a concubine in 1417. But in 1418, that concubine died in childbirth. Another, pregnant in 1420, was found drowned in the common bath in the harem, apparently after an argument with a sister concubine.
Anastasios (brother of Justinian and heir to the throne) traveled to Epirus along with his wife Kala of Vasi. Despite her death in childbirth in 1418, he continued with his mission.

A severe drought struck southern Greece (Attica, Morea, Kyklades and Crete) in 1420, leaving farms with barely enough food to feed themselves, and nothing for the marketplace. Imperial agricultural output dropped and prices rose.

The Varangian Empire of Russia Civilized Imperial TL5
Ivan II, Czar of all the Russias, Kniaz of Vlatim
Diplomacy: Livonia(NT), Veposkava(see Sweden)
Ivan ordered additional earthen forts built and the army increased, to fight the expected invasion of the Suzdal Horde. The Czar also proclaimed his nephew Yakov to be a Prince. Yakov was rugged, athletic, and skilled with the sabre both mounted and afoot. The new Prince immediately became involved in military planning.
Nor was economy was slighted. both Chernigov and Smolensk had agricultural improvements done such as irrigation ditches, gristmills and silos. Dozens of nefs trading along the Dnepr were sent to the open seas to initiate trade with Madragian, Egypt, and the Merchants of El'Iskandria.
Lieutenants Dimitri, Petr and Mikhail were sent on diplomatic missions to the north. Meanwhile the deeply pious Duke Kholm of Kirivitch began working with the priesthood to increase church attendance.¹

In May 1417 reports reached the Czar in Vlatim that a barbarian horde had invaded his feudal vassal Muscovy. [see Suzdal Expansion]

¹he was extremely successful, perhaps in part to the historic inclination of people at war to turn to prayer.

The Suzdal Horde Barbarian Tribal TL4
Vladimir, Master of the Hunt, Forest Lord, Czar of the Suzdal
Diplomacy: Kirov(A), Bolgar(T)
Background: In 1413 the Suzdal, feeling population pressure and having overhunted the forests of their homeland, migrated west into the wilderness of Kirov. There they mingled (and indeed, intermarried) with the native inhabitants and learned from them Judaism.

In early 1416, Czar Vladimir gathered the heads of the clans and spoke at length about the merits of Judaism versus their old pagan ways. He then announced he'd decided the Suzdal would convert to Judaism. "Jehovah will give us strength, as he gave strength to the Israelites long ago. We are the new Chosen People!" he concluded.
As most Suzdal were not fanatic regarding their pagan beliefs, and had been immersed in Judaism for the past four years, there was general acceptance of this decision. Vladimir's sister Shatura rebuked him for not consulting with her first, and pouted a while.
Indeed the only vocal dissenter was Teikovo, up to this point Vladimir's war leader, but unfortunately of a clan that took the old beliefs more seriously than most. Refusing to convert, but unwilling to break his oath of fealty, he led several hundred followers into exile.
Vladimir appointed his longtime friend Vichuga as war leader. Vichuga was almost the fighter that Teikovo had been, although having a reputation as a nasty drunk, and the warriors would follow him readily. Equally important, Vichuga was agreeable with the conversion.

SUZDAL EXPANSION 1417-1419 That settled, in mid-March 1417 Vichuga led the army on a forced march west back across the Volga to the homeland. The river was dangerous with ice floes, and deep late spring snow punished the tired warriors. Over a thousand men died of exhaustion or exposure by the time Suzdal was reached. However, May brought better weather and Vichuga continued forced marching west, determined to catch the Varangian Rus by surprise.
In late May, Vichuga and over sixty-five thousand warriors poured into Muscovy. The region was the demesne of Yurev, a feudal vassal of the Czar of Russia. He had less than 2,000 troops, but grimly marched to meet the invaders. His men were road-bound, while the barbarians seemed to pass effortlessly through the thick forests. By late June, Muscovy was pacified, with Yurev hiding in the hills¹, his troops slaughtered. Only a few hundred Suzdal were casualties.
The men have been bloodied, thought Vichuga with grim satisfaction, now they will fight with confidence. Leaving a garrison behind, he ordered the men westward again.

Meanwhile, Vladimir was busy coordinating a census of the Suzdal and their holdings, and his sister Shatura was arranging a marriage in 1417 between Vladimir and a noblewoman of Kirov.

In early July the horde crossed into Smolensk in a great flood. Reacting to their invasion was young Prince Yakov with ten thousand cavalry, mostly medium and heavy. Although badly outnumbered, he knew his cavalry were at a considerable advantage in the flatland, and resolved to meet the forest barbarians head-on. Moreover the weapons, armor and training of his men were better, and the local population, being friendly, assisted any way they could.
As the two armies caught sight of each other, and grew close, Yakov ordered a cavalry charge, "for God and Motherland!" The ground shook to the pounding of hooves.
"In Jehovah's name," cried Vichuga, "hold them!" His forest barbarians, to whom horses were a rarity, began to waver, and only those within sound of his voice were steadied. With a curse he realized his huge force was too large for him to control in the heat of battle.
At Vichuga's frantic motions, ragged volleys of arrows arched from the barbarian ranks, dropping some of the onrushing cavalry. But it was not enough.
Like an avalanche the Russian cavalry struck the Suzdal infantry mass, the sheer impact crushing screaming men underfoot. The swords of the cavalrymen rose and fell in crimson slaughter. Most of the Suzdal wore no armor and were as ripe wheat before the scythe. Here and there groups of regular or heavy infantry stood their ground with shield and axe, striking down any horsemen who came too close.
As the late August sun beat down and the heat added to the dust and thirst and exhaustion of the warriors, the Suzdal began to break. Vichuga rushed about shouting orders until his throat was raw, ordering a general withdrawal, leaving behind 7,500 dead on the battlefield, and helping away thousands of wounded.
Prince Yakov, only 16, was sickened by the stench of death all around him, but also exhilerated by his apparent victory. Less than two thousand had been killed. Eastern Orthodox priests moved about, chanting in Greek, administering last rites and comforting the injured.

Yakov sought to engage the Suzdal again, but Yichuga kept his men moving to avoid battle while the wounded recovered. Keeping to villages, moving at night, he prolonged the chase until fall rains and then snow (which comes early in Russia) began and both sides settled into winter quarters. Yakov was joined by another feudal vassal, Svir of Courland, with a thousand troops, which nearly made good his losses.

In early 1418, census completed, Czar Vladimir of the Suzdal reached pacified Muscovy and ordered it settled. Ruthlessly the native Muscovites were dragged out of their homes and driven from their lands, to make room for Suzdal families. He then pressed on toward Smolensk, bringing reinforcements with him, and rabbis to hold field services and read from the Torah passages of encouragement.
Soon thereafter, Prince Yakov received word the barbarians, apparently energized, were on the march. The two armies met at the end of April, but the barbarians fought better with Vladimir and Vichuga each able to command half the horde. Vladimir had brought some cavalry with him, and even a small force made a difference. At the end of a day-long battle both armies were exhausted but neither would yield the field. At length heralds negotiated a truce to allow for collection of the dead and wounded before darkness fell.
The Suzdal carried off over five thousand dead. Significant losses to be sure, but less than previously.
The Russians removed well over two thousand dead, more than previously. Beyond that, half the feudal levy from Courland was dead as well and most of the remainder badly injured.
Yakov, conscious his cavalry could not survive a third battle, made the bitter decision to withdraw and so save the wounded, over four thousand of them, while a cavalry screen kept the barbarians at a distance.

May 1418 proved bitter for the folk of Smolensk, as now they were turned out of their villages and farms, to make room for yet more Suzdal families. After a month of healing for the injured, Suzdal warriors began marching westward once more. By June they had reached the small river port of Kopysklov.
Kopysklov had low walls and only several hundred citizen militia to defend itself. The mayor met with Vladimir, and upon learning it was not the Jewish leader's intention to loot or burn his city, he negotiated its surrender to prevent slaughter.

Polotsk and the capital of Vlatim braced themselves for the expected onslaught, but the horde instead turned south, pouring into Chernigov during the summer. The rich region was, astonishingly, undefended. In September, after they brought in the harvest, the inhabitants were driven from their homes and farms and replaced by Sudzal families, who enjoyed the agricultural bounty.
Suzdal warriors continud moving relentlessly, and the small river port of Vladimir was invested. (Czar Vladimir was bemused at encountering a city bearing his name.) It was another small city, with low walls and a small militia, and its mayor too surrendered.

In Spring 1419, the Czar gave the word and the horde - still formidable with fifty thousand warriors remaining, after battle deaths and troops detatched for garrison duty - approached the Dnepr. From a low hill Vladimir could see the ground sloping downward to the river, and beyond it the orderly cultivated fields of Polotsk, homeland of the Varangian Rus. Here would be the decisive battle. The tribesmen awaited his signal.

Vladimir unhooked his war axe from his saddle and waved it overhead. With a great cry, warriors hauled rafts toward the river, while others manned boats seized from the two surrendered river ports.
Soon scouts returned with word of Rus forts at strategic locations, and the Suzdal spread out to storm them. The population of Polotsk brought word to Prince Yakov of the barbarian movement, and he led his six thousand cavalry in support of the garrisons, catching the barbarians crossing the river. Time and again barbarian assaults on the forts were broken by the charge of armored horsemen, at their best in flat farmland.
After months of fighting, mostly along the river and its nearby forts, Suzdal losses had mounted to over six thousand dead. The normally stoic Vichuga was shaken by this, and it took some time for the Czar to restore his confidence.
Russian losses were one fort, and over a thousand dead. Svir of Courland, again helping, lost several hundred more men.²
By late summer the Suzdal had regrouped and again crossed the river into Polotsk. When the fall rains came, another five thousand Suzdal had died and they barely held parts of the east riverbank, and supply across the Dnepr was increasingly difficult. Czar Vladimir ordered his warriors to withdraw back to Chernigov.
Rus losses were another thousand or so, and another fort. Yakov vowed to his uncle Czar Ivan II to hold the region or die trying.

During the winter of 1419-1420, Vladimir and Vichuga spent much time with the tribal chiefs discussing the future. Grudgingly they had to admit the march of the Suzdal had ended. With some twenty-six thousand dead since its start in 1417, to continue would jeopardize the ability of the Chosen People to defend what they had already conquered.
Towards the end of 1420, word arrived to the Czar of his sister Shatura's marriage to the powerful Khan of the Bolgars.

¹in late 1418 he was found frozen in a remote area when a heavy winter snowfall melted.
²a mediocre general, but loyal as a dog.

The White Order of Saint Demetrius Civilized Imperial TL5
Cherina Rumitsav, Grand Mistress of the White Order
Diplomacy: Crimea(FA)
Grand Mistress Cherina ordered more forts built at strategic locations, and more troops raised to fight the expected invasion of the Suzdal Horde. Either luck was with the White Order, or perhaps the Suzdal noted such preparations, for the barbarians headed west instead of south.

In the winter of 1418 Grand Master Eremenko died peacefully in his sleep at the advanced age of 78. Cherina proclaimed a day of national mourning.
In 1420 with much ceremony, Cherina's eldest son Joachim was proclaimed a Prince of the White Order. Petulant, cunning, and resentful of his mother's frequent traveling, he had been a difficult child. The royal court had its misgivings.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
North ASIA
((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

The Empire of Nippon Civilized Imperial TL 5
Kichiro, Regent of Nippon
Diplomacy: Kumamoto in Saga(F), Shimane(A), Saga(A)
The Regent, Kichiro, ruled the kingdom wisely while the heir and prince both went on diplomatic missions.
In early 1417 Takeda Tamasaki, heir to the throne, traveled to the port city of Kumamoto, where he wed Kaga, sister of Baron Ryujo of Kumamoto, at a lavish ceremony.
"A toast," proposed the Baron, lifting his cup of rice wine, "to the future King and Queen of Nippon!" Over the cheers one of Tamasaki's retainers was heard to mutter, "which better be soon, if Kichiro knows what's good for him."

The progression of society from Clan to Open was completed in late 1419. Both the army and the Regent's personal guards were on alert since some feared Clan leaders would make some final gesture of defiance. But all remained peaceful.

The Manchu Kingdom of Bei Song Civilized Imperial TL 5
Hun Seng, Emperor of the Manchu, Explorer of the Northern Lands
Diplomacy: none
Emperor Hun Seng returned to the capital of Kwangdu to rule and enjoy his concubines. The army was increased and put under the command of Ekim Chan, who arrived late in 1417 from assignment in Sikote.
When the deep northern snows had melted in the spring of 1418, Ekim Chan set out northward with over 7,000 cavalry and the able Shang Li as second in command. The Emperor had ordered the rebellious city of Jichou pacified. They arrived in early summer and ordered the army to make camp. Within a day several Daoist priests arrived representing the city, notifying Ekim and Shang the city's lord had fled in the night and the city was defenseless. Ekim set about garrisoning it and restoring Imperial rule, then headed back to Kwangdu.
The Emperor was pleased, but not for long, because in November 1418 a severe cold became pneumonia, and he died miserably at the age of 53, leaving two young sons. Ekim Chan, having the backing of the army, proclaimed himself Regent until the older son came of age.

The Alung-Gangri Horde Nomadic Feudal Monarchy TL4
Gyanendra Khan
Diplomacy: ha!

Gyanendra ordered the Alung-Gangri to break camp in March of 1417, with snow still on the ground, knowing his civilized (and in his opinion, soft) opponents would still be in winter quarters. He also ordered thousands of light cavalry demobilized and put to work creating a bureaucracy, an infrastructure and other essentials of a real nation¹.
He even sat for a retainer with an eye for sketching to produce a portrait of him, for use in coinage. As befitted a warrior khan, he wore helmet, armor, and jewel- handled scimitar.

In mid-May the Alung-Gangri swept into neutral Anshan. By mid-July the native army of several thousand had been wiped out and the region, already poor, was given over to looting. The nomads were disgusted at such slim pickings but their Khan bade them be patient.

One night during this time of chaos, dark-clothed men made their way to the tent of Gyanendra Khan, cutting open the back and entering. The tent held wooden chests, throw rugs, and blankets where the Khan slept. A single oil lamp hanging from a tent pole cast flickering light; most of the tent lay in shadows.
One of the men gave a signal. He hefted a pudao² and stepped towards the Khan while the others drew daggers. As he raised the heavy blade, the tent flared with light from uncovered lanterns, and from both the front and back warriors entered with drawn swords.
The assassins fought desperately but swords outreached daggers and they were wounded and subdued by the nomads. Gyanendra had rolled out of his blankets in time to evade the downward chop of the pudao, and the man had no time for a second attempt. The Khan snatched up the scimitar which had lay next to where he slept, and struck a blow with the flat of the blade that stretched his would-be executioner out unconscious.
Gyanendra faced Astin II and Kucha, the leaders of two vassal hordes, for it was they and picked retainers who had been waiting to spring the trap. "Bring a braizer, and irons to heat," he ordered, "we'll soon find out who sent these dogs!"

In mid-September 1417 the city of In'chon was stormed. The city, really a large fishing village, was thoroughly sacked. There was more grumbling this time at the tiny amount of loot gained for such fighting.
In late October word came to the Khan that one of his vassal leaders, Astin II, was leading his people back north. Astin had argued the previous night for invading the Jung-Mo heartland, but Gyanendra's mind did not change. A charasmatic leader, Astin had apparently persuaded his tribe that Gyanendra's plan to ravage Korea would lead to little gain.
"We must pursue this mutinous tribe, my lord," advised Charchan, another of the Khan's vassals, "and teach Astin what it means to break his oath of loyalty!"
"No," said Gyanendra, "true, he takes away ten thousand warriors, but without his people we still number twenty times that, or more. I shall not lose more warriors simply to punish him. Besides, it is time to build winter camps. The snows will soon be upon us."

In March 1418 the Alung-Gangri were on the move south, crossing the mountains into Koguryo, remaining territory of Jung-Mo on the penninsula. From the height of the mountains the nomads could see cultivation, prosperous towns, and other signs of wealth. Returning scouts reported there were also ten field forts, built at strategic fords and valleys.
The fort garrisons, cut off from each other, fought bravely but there were no mobile troops to assist them. The nomads then swept through Koguryo, looting homes and shops, stealing horses, driving away herds, in general much pleased with their plunder.
As the Khan and his retinue passed through one village, his vassal Kucha noticed movement in the shadows of an abandoned house and held his shield up in time to deflect a crossbow bolt headed for the Khan. Guards swiftly surrounded the house, then entered, soon dragging out a man with other crossbow bolts in his belt.
"Heat some irons," ordered Gyanendra.

In mid-August the horde arrived at the port city of Kaiching. It was a small to medium sized city, with substantial stone walls and towers. The Horde lacked seige engines but Gyanendra ordered hundreds of ladders built.
On the first day of September, tens of thousands of nomads on foot rushed the city walls, carrying scaling ladders overhead. Fighting was desperate but eventually the steppe men forced back the defenders, capturing sections of wall, then towers, then stairs leading down into the city. The Jung-Mo soldiers died to a man.³ Any civilians who could fled on fishing boats or other small craft.
The nomads then sacked the city thoroughly, killing any who objected. After many days of this, the horde headed south yet again, crossing into neutral Silla over the mountains. Snow was falling by this time and they went into winter quarters.

Spring 1419 came and the Horde broke camp. The local militia was wiped out by the end of April. The Alung-Gangri then scattered to loot Silla, but found the people impoverished and having little worth taking.
Next the vast migration headed east, reaching the city of Pusan in July. But to the Khan's disappointment it was not a prosperous city like Kaiching but rather a glorified fishing village like In'chon. Still, even a small amount of gold was better than none. The steppe warriors swept down on the hapless populace, killing all the city militia (either in battle or as prisoners) and stealing anything of any value whatsoever.
In late August, having run out of regions to loot and cities to sack, Gyanendra ordered the Alung-Gangri to turn about and head back north. Hundreds of thousands of people and horses, thousands of wagons and countless cattle moved in a vast arc away from Pusan and back toward Koguryo, finding it pretty much a wasteland. They went into winter quarters there in November.

In March 1420 the Horde continued back north, crossing into Anshan in June. There were some signs of recovery, and the Khan forbade looting. "We shall spend some time here, find pasture to fatten the horses, hunt for meat and plan our next campaign."

¹the creation of such organizations automatically change a Horde from tribal to feudal monarchy. The Khan now has a government of sorts that travels with him.
²a thick, short two-handed sword used in China for beheading, the fate apparently planned for Gyanendra.
³traditionally, Mongol hordes left no male of military age alive other than as a slave.

The Jung-Mo Empire Civilized Imperial TL 5
Seong-Lee, Emperor of Korea, Protector of Northern China
Diplomacy: none
Seong-Lee, 57 but still vigorous, ordered castles built and troops trained for the campaign against the Alung-Gangri, who in the recent past had looted Liao-Tung and sacked its port of Ta'Ting before heading west. Recruits were even sent to bolster the forces of his feudal vassals, improving their morale. The Horde could come back at any time, and the Emperor vowed to make them pay.
Seong-Lee also met with Buddhist priests and directed them to increase the religious faith of the population to stiffen their resolve for the struggle ahead.

Some 16,000 or so Imperial troops commanded by Chan-Lu remained in the port city of Galedon, watching the campfires of the Alung-Gangri who were wintering in the region of Bandao. In March 1417 they noticed the horde breaking camp, and sent word to the capital.
In April the Emperor left the running of the nation in the hands of the bureaucracy, assembled a large mixed cavalry and infantry army, and headed north. With him were thousands of feudal levies led by Jobai II of Hopei and Yeung of Kaifeng.
By June the Jung-Mo were digging into defensive positions and were confident when the Alung-Gangri came they'd be given a bloody repulse. In September a column of heavily armed Buddhist warrior-monks arrived to reinforce them.
Winter came and went without battle. In the Spring of 1418 came word from Koguryo that the Alung-Gangri were ravaging the Korean penninsula. Some officers urged the Emperor to march to Korea. "This could be a trick by the nomads, to lure us out of our defenses," he said, "we shall stay here." In August 1418 a very large Chin army arrived and was added to the waiting host.
Another winter passed without battle. In July 1419 the troops led by Chan-Lu arrived and joined everyone. Chan-Lu reported the region of Bandao was hostile to the empire (inhabitants watched his passage with hate in their eyes) but empty of steppe men. Apparently the Horde was still in Korea.
By 1420 the allied host realized they were not going to fight. In the summer the feudal levies of Jobai II and Yeung headed back toward their own lands. The rest of the force remained and wondered, what now?

The Chin Chinese Empire Civilized Imperial TL 5
Chin Li, Emperor of the Middle Kingdom, Master of the World
Diplomacy: Xian in Kienchou(EA), Tai'Li in Nanchao(EA)
Growth: Fuzhou in Fujian, Nanking in Fukien, Nanjing in Guizhou
   The Emperor at public ceremony named the veteran general Chang Kow heir to the throne, as the Emperor had no children of his own. The people murmured uncertainly at this - Chang Kow was a decade older than the Emperor, and thus likely to die before him. How did this ensure orderly succession?

   Chin Li next continued his policy of developing the infrastructure of China. Irrigation ditches for farmers, public inns for travelers, and budget housing for the poor were built in Jiangxi and Kansu. A royal road was begun from Chinling over the mountains to Lanchou. Another royal road was completed between Lingtung and Lingan, while yet another was begun from Kwantung into the wilderness of Fujian.
   Perhaps the most important new road, at least politically, was built to link China with Jung-Mo, crossing the Huang Ho River between Hankow in Shentung and Lufang in Houma. The city mayors held a dedication ceremony in the middle of the stone bridge as Buddhist monks spun prayer wheels and chanted a blessing.
   Meanwhile, trade was begun with Chola, but with difficulty overland through the forbidding mountains and river valleys of Burma.

   The Emperor, being concerned by the rampage of the Alung-Gangri Horde through the northern reaches of Jung-Mo, resolved to send an army to help. To this end, in April 1417 he dispatched northward to Jung-Mo a large force of troops commanded by recently-proclaimed heir Chang Kow.

The Celestial Realm of Buddha Civilized Theocracy TL5
Hung Lo-Chan, The Robed Wise Man
Consecration: Hopei(CH), Dav-Hni in Chinling(CH), Chiangning in Anhui(AB), Anhui(AB), Honan(CH), Shentung(CH), Hubei(CH), Changteh in Hubei(AB), Szechwan(MN), Chiennan(CH), Hwai(CH), Lienwha in Hunan(CH)
Hung Lo-Chan and his Inner Circle ceased their endless meditation to focus on the immediate problem of the Alung-Gangri Horde which had cut a swath through the lands of their Jung-Mo brethren. Given the very disturbing visions Hung had experienced, he decided the nomads must be driven away if civilization was to prepare for the time of darkness that lay ahead.
Soon the temple courtyards echoed with the sounds of thousands of monks in iron chain mail and banded armor training for combat. In spring 1417 these headed north led by general Zhou Tzu, headed for the lands of the Jung-Mo.
Meanwhile at the temple docks a number of small junks were constructed to begin trade with Jung-Mo, down the Hwang Ho and thence by sea.

The Robed Wise Man next turned his attention to growth of his Primacy, which had stagnated for some time while he had tried to devine the future. High Priests and groups of missionaries were dispatched to found churches and expand existing facilities. Ho-Chan himself traveled with the same goal, attracting large crowds who had thought him only a legend.
All went well except for Sun Yat in Hunan, where workmen, trying to finish last minute painting by candlelight, accidentally started a fire that burned the church site to the ground.

The Tumet Horde Nomadic Tribal TL4
Subutei II, Khan of the Tumet
Diplomacy: ptui!
Sabotai II decided it was time for the Tumet to move on. In northern Asia were both the Alung-Gangri and Kyzl-Kom hordes, and he had no desire to waste warriors in another horde-versus-horde battle like several years ago. Chola to the south was far too powerful for even his great force to conquer, so he gave the command to head west across the steppe and desert.
After a hard winter in Khotan, in the arid foothills of the mountains, the Tumet crossed the into the lush farmland of Kashmir in March 1418. [see Sirinigar]

The Kyzl-Kom Horde Nomadic Tribal TL4
Khan Batur Kyzn
Diplomacy: none
The Kyzl-Kom, licking their wounds from their ill-fated attack on the Tumet several years ago, moved to the grasslands of Suzhou to fatten their herds and graze their horses. Batur Kyzn remained an object of scorn and derision for his overconfident ordering of the assault. Only the mutual rivalry of his vassals kept them from acting together to depose him.
In the fall of 1419 Batur, whose health had steadily declined, died in his sleep. His daughter Yasemin, now an adult, gathered the tribal chiefs and proclaimed herself Batur's successor. Athletic and stunningly beautiful, she was both persuasive and a compromise candidate the vassals could support rather than seeing a rival chief become Khan.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
South East ASIA
((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

The Khemer Empire of Kambuja Civilized Imperial TL5
Tran Cau, Emperor of the Khemers, Mask of Hidden Glory
Diplomacy: Siam(F)
Emperor Tran Cau ruled from Angkor Wat, overseeing the changing of the economy from Agrarian to Free. The neglected cultivation of Phanrang resumed with a hefty influx of funds.
The Emperor, having some years before stated his conversion to Buddhism, changed his mind again, embracing Hinduism and urging the Hindu priests in Angkor Wat and Nampung to preach to the populace of the Hindu faith. This prompted some subjects to question Tran's sanity - he was 67 years old, after all. The priests were largely ignored by the population, who at this point were skeptical of any theology.

In early 1420, heir Xiang Zhou (at 63 no youngster himself) suffered a stroke and died several days afterward. Tran Cau proclaimed a month of mourning throughout all Kambuja.

The Island Kingdom of Java Seafaring Imperial TL5
Adrissa III, King of Java, Master of the Spice Isles
Diplomacy: Atjeh(F), Bangka(F)
Growth: Sundas in Pajajaran
Sudhansu, the heir, ruling in his father's place, ordered laborers gathered from all over the Kingdom, to begin cultivation of no less than four regions of steaming jungle. Meanwhile yet again the shipyards in Pajajaran were instructed to build great numbers of merchant vessels for Java's ever-increasing economy.
Sudhansu also commanded large numbers of field forts be built, to strengthen the Kingdom's defenses in key regions. In between affairs of state, he managed to sire a daughter in 1417 and a son in 1418.

The King returned home from Matara on distant Sri Lanka, traveling aboard the royal light transport as it hugged the coast of India, Burma and Kambuja, then through the Mallaca Strait.¹ The lengthy voyage was uneventful until well into the Riouw Sea. When the morning watch came on at 4AM, the sailor on midwatch didn't seem to be about. A search found blood on the deck amidships near the port rail, and on the rail itself, but no other trace of the missing man. Thereafter the watches were doubled, but the ship made port in a fortnight without further incident.

¹as is well known, to sail out of sight of land is to court disaster.

Hindu missionaries were sent to convert the primitive inhabitants of the Philippine islands. Despite language difficulties, on Panay there was success. On Palawau, however, shamans wearing necklaces of what appeared to be very large shark's teeth and waving gruesomely decorated staffs were plainly angry, and the natives were clearly fearful. The local chiefs ordered the missionaries to leave "before the sea gods devour us for hearing your words". Spears and knives were in evidence but the Hindus left before any violence.
The missionaries sent to Mindinao did not return, and their fate is unknown. Their fellow priests, however, speculate grimly.

Meanwhile in Spring of 1714 the charasmatic lieutenant Bindusara set out from Sundas with five light infantry companies to cross the Riouw Sea and Explore distant Barat. Many rumors swirled in Sundas about that jungle-covered region, none of them good. Before departing he and his officers had prayed to elephant-headed Ganesha, bringer of luck and protector of those on a journey.
Approaching the coast in late May, the men were plainly apprehensive. The light infantry gathered their equipmen: bow and quiver, medium swords, plus pack and bedroll. They boarded ships' boats for the trip to shore. Straining sailors worked the oars against the outgoing tide.
One by one the prows bit into the sand and warriors leaped over the sides into the knee-deep surf, wading ashore, alert, weapons ready. The jungle, beginning about twenty to thirty feet beyond the high-tide line, echoed with the familiar screeches of parrots, but also hisses, shrieks and the occasional deep bellow. The men exchanged uneasy glances. Sailors rowed the boats back to the anchored ships to collect the next wave of warriors.
Impatient to get started, Bindusara gestured. Officers formed up the light infantry by companies, and Bindusara led the first, composed of spearmen, into the jungle. The canopy of vegetation closed over them, shrouding them in semi-gloom.

Small land reptile: 3-4 ft long, weighing about 50lbs.

With excited shouts the Javans began to catch sight of an amazing diversity of lizards, none of which any had seen before. Small ones the size of chickens ran about on two legs, tail out behind for balance, chasing insects. Numerous reptiles the size of a big dog and with a bony crest around their heads, walked on all fours. As a group of the latter variety approached, the men remained wary, some with drawn bows, and at least one insisting they were demons, but the odd creatures were only interested in browsing the ferns and mosses between the trees.

Nearly all the animals were shades of green, brown or both, striped or mottled, to blend with the foliage and shadows. More than once a scaly creature, motionless and almost hidden in the abundant ferns, bolted from cover and fled, startling marching warriors whose approach had flushed it out.
At the end of the day, camp was made by a stream. The night jungle was alive with sound: deep bellows, shrill cries, hissing and roaring. Most men had spent time in jungle and were familiar with it, but it was different enough to be unsettling.

Several days passed, the columns working steadily inland. A man had been injured in a fall down an embankment, another had been bitten by a young bony-crested reptile he'd foolishly tried to pet, and another man was missing. Such were the costs of exploration.
Away from the coast, uplands began, with forests of tree-sized ferns. The reptiles were larger, as Bindusara himself had witnessed. Bellowing sounds, like water buffalo made, but much louder, grew ever closer, accompanied by the crash of vegetation. As the men braced themselves, expecting attack, a herd of great beasts with a single horn and the flat bills of ducks worked their way through the forest, tearing leaves off trees or stripping big horsetail ferns of everything but the stalks. These giant reptiles were easily thirty feet long, towering over the men, especially when they reared up to eat from the tops of trees. There were also some smaller ones, the size of grown elephants, which Bindusara realized were mere youngsters.
"Demons!" muttered several soldiers somewhere behind him.

Giant land reptile: 30+ ft long, 15 ft tall, weighing about 5 tons.

"Break ranks!" he ordered, "let them pass!" The men relaxed their drawn bows and parted, and the herd passed by, eating the entire time. The ground shook to their passage. A man could've easily been trampled by such things without the creatures even realizing it. Whether their arrows would have stopped such large beasts was open to debate.

The Javans continued deeper east for several more days. They encountered more groups of both the bony-crested and the duck-billed reptiles, plus many of the small, chicken-sized ones who were busy chasing insects, tiny lizards, and rodents. Only the rodents were up and about in the early morning. Like the tiny lizards in Java, the great reptiles had to bask in the sun for an hour or more before becoming active.
A day later, it was late afternoon when warriors shouted for Bindusara and he hurried forward. They were near a small creek, by the half-eaten body of a Javan scout who'd been ranging ahead of the column. The body had huge pieces bitten out of it, including cloth and leather; apparently the carnivore ate everything. Blood soaked the churned earth. In the mud of the creek's banks were deep, three-toed footprints.
"Demons did this!" cried one soldier fearfully, "demons!"
"Enough with the demons!" snapped Bindusara, "back home there are tigers. Any jungle has predators." He sent for a veteran who was a game tracker back home. Within a few minutes the man arrived and paused at the carnage.
"Can you tell me what could have done this?" asked Bindusara. "Not even a tiger has such a bite."
The man squatted and studied the mud. "Footprint as long as my forearm," observed the man, "and from the depth, I'd say whatever made them walks on its hind legs and is as big as those Hadrosaurs we saw the other day. It's a carnosaur of some kind, a meat-eating reptile."
"Wouldn't the scout have seen it coming?" asked an officer. The tracker indicated the others should wait, then he walked around slowly for several minutes, half bent over, looking for tracks or spoor.
"It waited over there, where the forest is thick," said the man when he returned, "apparently for some time, until prey would come to drink. It's an ambush predator, and the scout was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
That night the Javans pitched camp in a somber mood. The next day, scouts were ordered to travel in pairs, but that afternoon the lead company found the remains of two scouts this time. From the enormous bite marks and splintered bones, the same kind of carnivore had simply enjoyed a larger meal.
Unwilling to lose more scouts, Bindusara pulled them back into the columns of infantry, gambling the huge predator would be unwilling to attack such a large group of men. This greatly slowed progress and mapping the region, but no more scouts were lost. They did, however, have an almost continuous feeling of being watched.
After another week the men returned to their ships, telling the crews of the wonders they'd seen, and the dangers unseen but experienced.

The fleet sailed up the coast for a week, then put the companies ashore again. Bindusara intended to repeat this manuver several more times. In this manner he hoped to eventually explore the entire coast of the region and some distance inland as well. Not only was it faster then marching for months, but allowed the men to restock with provisions. The archers had shot a few of the things with the bony crests, but even roasted the meat was still tough and gamey, and few of the men developed any taste for it.
The men were kept together in companies at all times, Bindusara assuming there was "safety in numbers" against the big 3-toed hunters. Other than a few accidents, three complete sweeps were done without loss, which improved the warriors' morale. No sign of native humans were found, but numerous drawings made of reptiles and plants, and the region was mapped.

The last sweep had been near the mountains which formed the border between Barat and the Javan province of Sarawak. Bindusara, retainers and the lead company of the expedition were was marching through the foothills back to their anchored ships when from a ravine to their right came an explosion of motion.

Giant land reptile: 40+ ft long, 20 ft tall, weighing about 8 tons.

A warrior was seized by something enormous. Before the man could even cry out there was a crunch of bone and the predator tore away half the man's torso and swallowed it. Blood ran from teeth the size of daggers. It was the largest carnivore any Javan had ever seen, nearly thirty feet long.
The enormous carnosaur planted one huge foot on the corpse, faced the horror-stricken humans, and let out a saurian bellow that chilled the men to their souls. A deep, echoing bellow came from the ravine, and a second carnivore emerged - its mate, perhaps - even slightly larger than the first. It looked around, drooling with obvious hunger.

An archer, thinking quickly, turned, drew and shot the second point-blank in the chest without noticable effect, then died screaming as the monstrous thing seized him, bit him in half, and gulped down the portion in the jaws. Barely slowing, the creature bore down on another Javan trying to fit an arrow to his bow, and repeated the process.
Panicking, some Javans turned to flee into the jungle. Others, finding the roaring beasts between them and such sanctuary, instead fled northward toward the mountains, perhaps hoping to reach the safety of Sarawak.
"Form a line!" shouted Bindusara, before the entire company disintegrated in fear, "those in front, use your swords! Those in back, shoot the damn things before they kill us all!" At his words the rest of the men shook off their paralysis and two sergeants used swords against the first carnivore. One jabbed its jaw as it bent low. Another thrust into its flank.
The scaly giant roared in fury and spun with a speed astonishing for its size. Its tail hit its tormentors with enough force to throw men back through the air twenty feet, to hit trees and fall to the ground like broken dolls. From its other side a warrior slashing at its belly became the thing's next meal with a scattering of viscera.
An arrow hit the saurian's head, then another and another, and it beat at its face with its absurdly small arms. Taking advantage of its distraction, warriors thrust from several directions at once into belly, legs or tail. "Close in!" ordered Bindusara, sword in hand, close enough himself to smell the charnal stink of the thing's breath, "kill it! Kill it!"
Now maddened with pain, the meat-eater lashed out with tail, or with one leg at a time, a typhoon of smashing and tearing, clearing a circle around itself. Panting, it streamed blood from a dozen wounds, none of them mortal, bellowing defiance at the terrified men before it.
A second bellow came from a dozen yards away where the second carnosaur had wreaked similar crimson chaos upon the Javans who challenged it.
"Retreat!" shouted Bindusara, "fall back, but keep together!" The men were on the edge of panic, he knew. If they broke and ran, the meat-eaters would be after them in a heartbeat, just for the chase.
The two reptilian horrors kept bellowing while the Javans stumbled back. Other companies of light infantry, who had been some distance away when everything started, finally arrived, and stared in amazement at the condition of their fellows.
"Help the wounded," directed Bindusara, "and withdraw to the ships! We may have Mahishasura's¹ own children after us!" Soon the explorers, with the able-bodied helping the hurt and exhausted, were moving as swiftly as practical given the terrain. Fortunately, the big meat-eaters did not pursue. When the Javans emerged from the jungle two days later, many men fell to their knees on the beach in prayers of gratitude.
The men and equipment returned to the waiting ships by many relays of the ships' boats. The wounded went first, then the rest. At dawn the fleet set sail for the port of Sirivjaya, and made the trip without incident.

Those who had fled crazed into the jungle were not heard from again. However in early 1418 a messenger arrived from distant Sarawak with news that a half-dozen warriors from Bindusara's command had been found wandering half-mad from some awful experience. They told of being pursued through the mountains by enormous carnivores who ate many of their comrades.

Late in 1420 another messenger arrived from distant Sarawak, this time with disturbing news. He reported to Adrissa III that increasing numbers of farmers from the southern part of the region along the mountains were missing.

¹a major demon of the Hindu mythos.

The Khemer Empire of Burma Civilized Imperial TL5
Rangsey Shan the True, Emperor of the Khemers
Diplomacy: Mitikaya in Assam(EA), Gtsang(FA), Dibrugarh in Bhutan(NT)
Growth: Pyé in Prome, Bassien in Pegu
Rangsey Shan ordered a new river port, Pyé, built on the banks of the Irrawady as it ran by the region of Prome. The seaport of Bassien was expanded as well to accomodate surplus population from the interior. Also in Pegu, flood control works were undertaken to lessen the people's suffering from the monsoons.
In addition to ruling the kingdom, Rangsey married a young noblewoman who bore him a son in late 1417. The kingdom rejoiced at the news of an heir. She became pregnant again in early 1420 but she died after birthing a daughter. The baby girl survived however.

A major missionary effort was launched in cooperation with missionaries from Chola and the Hindu Primacy itself. In Assam and Prome for the first time Hindus became the majority.
However in Gtsang there were language difficulties, which militant Buddhist monks exploited to rouse villagers against the outsiders as well as native Hindus. The missionaries were driven out, some badly injured, and a number of Hindu homes and businesses were burned. That diplomatic success was still had in the region is a credit to career diplomat Duran.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South West ASIA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Chola Mandalam Empire Renaissance Imperial TL8
Aandeleeb, Chola Emperor of Mandalam, the Left hand of Vishnu
Diplomacy: Calcutta in Nadavaria(T), Gaur(EA), Cuttack in Kalinga(F), Jihjhoti(F), Tamralipti in Palas(C), Kanpur in Jihjhoti(C), Bihar in Maghada(T)
Growth: Raishah in Gaur, Patna in Jaunpur

Background: Some years earlier, Aandeleeb had banned Cholan merchants from trade with the Merchants of El'Iskandria with no explanation was given. The Cholan traders had grumbled but obeyed. However, the Merchants had recruited agents in the ports of Somantha and Surat, obtained office and warehouse space and began advertising for business.

Infuriated, the Emperor (who considered Merchant Houses no better than ticks and leeches) dispatched Prince Durvisa in early 1417 with a strong force of elite cavalry to destroy both locations. Durvisa arrived in Somantha in mid-September 1417, seizing the buildings and trade stocks and ordering the local employees imprisoned for disobeying the no-trade edict.
"Let this be a lesson to those who would put profit above kingdom!" he announced to the crowd that had formed, mostly local merchants, in case anyone missed the point of his actions. Wintering in the city, he reached Surat in April 1418 and again seized both property and employees, repeating his announcement there too.
In both cities the representative of the Merchants of El'Iskandria who set up the businesses vanished shortly before the raids, and thus were not present to contest the Prince's actions.

Servants of the King fanned out across the Cholan Empire to conduct diplomacy. In Calcutta, the team of Prince Khauros and ally Degu met with the leaders of that large and prosperous city, to discuss closer ties with the empire. But in early 1418 Degu was badly mauled during a tiger hunt, and died of his wounds. His boorish son Degu II (known as "the Crude" for his absolute lack of tact) joined Khauros as co-negotiator and repeatedly offended their hosts. Little progress was made.
Negotiations with the city leaders of Tamralipti and Kanpur went slowly as well, not due to lack of oratorical skill or courtly manners, but simply cities very grudging to give up their cherished autonomy. Other efforts, expected to be difficult, such as by Prince Chanak and Radhaswami in Gaur (which had proved resistant for years to diplomatic overtures) had surprising good luck. Such are the vagaries of Fate.
The mercenary leader Gumbiwnanna traveled to Bihar on behalf of his Cholan employers and met repeatedly with city leaders, with great success.

Letting the bureaucrats handle rule of the empire, Aandeleeb had settled down to spending time with his wife to produce a male heir. She miscarried in 1418, but gave birth to a son in 1419 and another daughter in 1420.
Aandeleeb urged his priests to consider themselves Cholan first and Hindus second, as he wished to decrease the influence of the Primacy. Apparently there was patriotism in the priesthood, for they embraced this view. Of course, Aandeleeb was still willing to help spread the faith; Cholan missionaries joined those from the Primacy and traveled to Burma to spread Hinduism among the Buddhists. [see Burma]

The Hindu Primacy Civilized Theocracy TL7
Gandhi, Blessed of Vishnu
Diplomacy: Gangas(NT)
Consecration: Nadavaria(MN), Jambi(CH), Ava(AB), Sind(CH), Sukkur(CH), Sahis(CH)

In early 1417, holy Tanjore was abuzz with rumor and counter-rumor. A number of armed monks from the Primacy temple compound had cordoned off a house in the poor quarter of the city, then stormed it. The crowd that quickly gathered noted several individuals were soon removed from the house (apparently after resistance, judging by their condition) and taken to the Primacy compound. They were not seen again.

Gandhi also sent his high priests far afield to expand sites to accomodate more worshippers. The high priest Gormadoc attempted to expand churches to abbeys in the far north of Chola: Vatsa, Uttar Praedesh and Tarain. At each site, within several days the laborers hired refused to report to work, clearly fearful but saying nothing. Feeling he was somehow lacking in piety, Gormadoc fasted and prayed relentlessly to improve his worthiness.
Desiring a landed domain like kings and emperors, the Primate dispatched the silver-tongued Mahashtra over the mountains to Gangas to parley with its rural nobles. They were suspicious, but were talked around.
Turning next to religious affairs, Mahashtra canonized a monestary in Nadavaria, then went on to Jaunpor in the north. Here the workers hired to build a cathedral quickly stopped coming to work. Mahashtra however was not only silver- tongued but tremendously charasmatic¹, and was able to persuade them to return. But the night before the consecration ceremony the site mysteriously burned to the ground.

The high priest Oin, approaching his 60s, traveled across the waters to Java, his prahu hugging the coastline² until he reached Jambi where he oversaw the establishment of a church. A few days after the ceremony, in late 1420, he died of the strain of the long voyage and hot climate. His assistant, a powerful orator who had written many of Oin's speeches, was chosen to lead the work in Java.
High priests Marmadoc and Shihartu had better fortune in their holy work, other than language problems in Burma. Lower priests seeking to prove their worthiness joined missionaries from Chola and traveled to Burma to spread Hinduism among the Buddhists. [see Burma]

¹some say he is an avatar of Vishnu himself, given his imposing stature, persuasive voice and ability to lead. Mahashtra does not counter such rumors, finding them useful in his work.
²as is well known, to sail out of sight of land is to court disaster.

The Empire of Sirinigar Civilized Imperial TL6
Vakal, Emperor of Sirinigar
Diplomacy: Chitor(EA)
Vakal ordered numerous government transports sitting idle to be given to merchants who put them to good use trading along the Ganges and Indus rivers. Surplus rural population began the expansion of no less than three river ports.
The Emperor also poured substantial resources into converting the economy from agrarian to free. Dozens of small businesses were started in each city. The people were optimistic about a prosperous future.

All this underway, Vakal then devoted his days to ruling the kingdom, listening to the Jainist priests tutor his court on the finer points of theology, enjoying his daughters and his young wife, Alania. A noblewoman of Gujerat, Alania had been raised Hindu, and enjoyed debating the priests. Gradually she was won over to their beliefs and indeed many felt she understood the Jainist texts and could explain them with astonishing insight.
It was a horrific shock to this peaceful existance when a dispatch rider arrived in royal Drahala in April 1418 with news the Tumet Horde was crossing the mountains into Kashmir.

Indeed it was so. Thousands, tens of thousands, of warriors on horse or on foot, followed by endless cattle, wagons, women and children, were snaking through the mountain passes and down into the fertile croplands.
Returning scouts reported to Subutei there were ten field forts, built at strategic fords and crossroads. The fort garrisons, cut off from each other, fought bravely but there were no mobile troops to provide a coordinated defense. The Tumet then spread throughout Kashmir, for several months looting everything and anything of value. What couldn't be stolen, such as irrigation ditches or statues, was despoiled, with the contempt of the steppe dweller for civilization.
King Vakal's generals urged him to move north from Punjab into Und with the army. The road from Kashmir south to Und ran through a narrow pass in the forbidding, snow-covered mountains. It was a natural choke point to stop the Tumet. But Vakal was determined to remain on the defensive in the Punjab.
In October the Tumet, bypassing the Kashmiri city of Parapavura, used that very road to move with minimal trouble through the mountain range that marked the border between Kashmir and Und. Subutei's scouts ranged far ahead as he was wary of ambush. But there was none. The horde settled into a winter camp just inside Und.
Gloom settled over the capital of Darhala. Vakal, in his 60s, seemed sunk in a deep depression. Neither daughters nor young queen could rouse him from it. The birth of a son in late 1418, a male heir at last, failed to lift his spirits. For Jainists, whose central belief was ahimsa, non-injury to any living creature, Subutei was seen as Evil incarnate.

Spring of 1419 came all too soon for the Sirinigar garrison of Und. Like Kashmir, it was defended by ten forts of earth and wood. By the end of May all had been subdued and the region was given over to months of looting as the steppe peoples reveled in the (to them) great wealth of farmers and village artisans.
In August the inhabitants of Peshawar noted grimly the approach of a great host that seemed to fill the horizon. Unlike Parapavura, it seemed Peshawar was not to be ignored. The Nomads camped in a vast circle about the city. Lacking seige towers or battering rams, Subutei ordered orchards cut down and scaling ladders made. For weeks the nomad camps echoed with the sound of chopping and hammering.
Peshawar was a large city, with walls and towers of stone. But the city Guard was barely enough to man the defenses; there were no regular army troops to help. The commander vowed to sell the lives of his men and himself dearly.
He did. He died, sword in hand, leading a counterattack to retake a tower. The city was sacked all September, and any who resisted were cut down. Miserable refugees collected in squalid camps some miles away. "Where is the King?" they asked each other.
Still Vakal remained in the capital, sunk into himself. The news the horde had crossed into the northern part of Punjab and were building a winter camp failed to provoke a reaction. Surrounded by anxious officers and courtiers, the King was lost in his own world.

As the November chill set in, Queen Alania braved the approaching winter and journeyed with her retainers to the ancient Jainist temple in western Punjab. To face the dark times ahead, and with her husband aging rapidly, she sought enlightenment, salvation, or some strengthing of spirit to face the dark times ahead. Fortunately for the queen, Sirinigar's Jainists were of the Svetambara faction who believed that women as well as men were capable of enlightenment and salvation, and she was admitted without question to the holy site.

"The palatial grandeur of the freestanding rock-cut Jain temple of Indra Sabba ... is evident in the immense columns carved with ornate foliage motifs. A huge lotus blossom, symbolizing ever-renewing creation, purity, and perfection, adorns the ceiling of the 9th-century-AD structure. Daylight enters from the left, where sculpted pillars form a gateway, creating an interplay of light and shadow that is characteristic of cave shrines. Directly ahead, in the semi-darkness, sits Parshvanatha, a Jain savior."
- Ancient India: Land of Mystery, Time-Life Books.

Witnesses are unsure of exactly what happened next as Alania approached the shrine. Some say the eyes of the stone figure glowed, and white light leapt across space to bathe the queen. Others say it was the sunlight, giving her white robes a glowing, angelic effect. All agree that she stood completely still for several long minutes, and when she turned, there was a something, a force in her dark eyes that hinted at great power and ancient wisdom.

Involuntarily, all present knelt in her presence. She took in their action, then gestured to them. "Come!" she commanded, "there is much to do, if we are to save the kingdom." She walked from the shrine, followed by her retainers. Those who were not of her party, but were witness to all that happened, left to spread conflicting rumors of what had happened.

Soon after returning to the royal palace, she summoned General Abhiru. He was a blunt-spoken veteran who barely tolerated civilians, even royalty, especially women. When he entered her presence, her back was to him as she gazed out the window. When she turned, he felt a power that momentarily made him hesitate, like he was entering a tiger's lair. He'd known she was beautiful, but this went beyond that. He could scarcely breathe.
"My husband is no longer capable of ruling," she told him. "I will rule for him, or the kingdom is lost. I command your loyalty."
While a woman on the throne was unprecedented, the general did not object. Somehow he could not.
"You will lead the army north," Alania continued. "There are field forts here in Punjab, and the steppe men will be expecting them to fall easily as in Kashmir and Und. When they deploy against the forts, that is your opportunity to take them by surprise!"
The general bowed low. "Yes, my Queen," he said. He would die for her.

BATTLE OF PUNJAB March 1420 ; In March 1420 the Tumet broke camp. Subutei ordered his men against the ten forts his scouts had reported. His spymaster, Alliekhan, assured him once again the forts were unsupported. Subutei eyed the man, who had taken to drinking heavily of the fine Sirinigar wine looted from Peshawar, then shrugged. Alliekhan hadn't advised him wrongly yet.
It was a mild Spring day as the nomads began their assault on the forts. Nomad infantry zig-zagged forward with bundles of cut brush to throw into the dry moat. Occasionally a man would grunt and fall, hit by an arrow from a fort wall or tower. But the Tumet horse archers showered the forts with their own arrows, taking a steady toll of the Sirinigar defenders. The fire from the forts began to slacken. The nomads sensed it, and began approaching more boldly. Light cavalry returned early from scouting, to be ready to grab their share of loot from the forts' stores. So had it been in Und, and in Kashmir before that.
From where he could see the fighting, General Abhiru drew his sword. "For Queen and Honor!" he shouted, and his men took up the cry, urging their mounts to a trot, a canter, and finally a gallop. Like a great wave, over 12,000 heavily armored Sirinigar cavalry struck the great horde in its flank, the impact of tons of horseflesh and iron deafening. Nomads on horse or foot went down by the hundreds. Swords and axes rose and fell, crimson staining the sharp iron. Cries of pain and death filled the air.
Subutei had a genius for war but had been misled into overconfidence. The size of the horde, over two hundred thousand warriors, was too large for even him to control in a chaotic situation. He had no idea of the size of the attacking force or if there were other such forces approaching.
Cursing, he furiously dispatched messengers to seek out his tribal chiefs with orders to fall back north upon the great encampment. Slowly and with much confusion the enormous force withdrew northward, leaving behind booty and wounded.
Hit hard, the Tumet suffered almost five thousand dead and twice that number wounded. As General Abhiru toured the battlefield later, he ordered the nomad injured treated along with his own wounded. It pained him to see how many of his own men had fallen as well.

In June, a messenger arrived at the capital and reported to Queen Alania and General Abhiru that the Tumet, rather than retreating to the grasslands that spawned them, were instead remaining just across the border in Und.
"I prayed they would return to the steppe," said the queen, "and henceforth follow the way of ahimsa, having learned that death only begets more death."
"My Queen, I suspect Subutei is no longer viewed as invincible by the clan chiefs, but young and reckless," offered Abhiru. "He will need time to restore their confidence in him, and regain their loyalty."
Alania looked questioningly, and the general continued. "Since the battle, I have been studying accounts of these nomadic warriors. They are like wolves, always ready to challenge the leader if he looks weak. For Subutei to return to the steppe would be a sign of weakness."

In the Fall, Vakal died in his sleep after months in a vegetative state. Alania ruled as Queen, in fact more than that, for her subjects considered her holy¹. An upsurge of spiritual feeling had begun, temple attendance was higher than it had been in decades², and to challenge her commands would be sacrilege.

¹at least those in Punjab and in the capital, who have heard the rumors from the old temple.
²this happens in most nations in times of great peril, but even more so in wartime Sirinigar.

Khanate of Sinkiang Nomadic Tribal TL4
Hanko Shahr, The Fox, Lord of the Sinkiang Steppe
Diplomacy: none
The Sinkiang Horde, much reduced by the disastrous invasion of Turkman several years before by the previous Khan - may devils gnaw his impetuous soul! - grazed its herds and was content to remain in its homeland.
Hanko Shahr, self-proclaimed as Khan, married the daughter of a powerful clan chief to consolidate his power. She bore a son in 1418, but died in childbirth a year later.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

The Emirate of Turkman Civilized Constitutional Monarchy TL5
Hasim, Regent (for Hused, future Shah of Bukhara, Emir of Merv)
Diplomacy: none
With vivid memories of the invasion of Turkman's eastern border by the Sinkiang Horde just a few years before, Regent Hasim imposed fiscal austerity on the country in order to finance a significant military build-up. If another horde came this way, Turkman would bloody them.
Defenses were built in the west as well, in case any of Turkman's neighbors grew greedy simultaneous with a horde incursion in the east.

With great rejoicing in 1417, Hused, son of the late Shah Abdul and heir to the throne, came of age. Hused was athletic, a skilled hunter, and interested in all things military, having traveled with the Regent during the Sinkiang incursion.
His lovely older sister Anduar was elevated to Princess, and his scholarly younger brother Roozbeh was made a Prince.

The Khanate of Scythia Civilized Imperial TL5
Scintilla ar Rhani, Regent for Xerxes, Khan of the Scythians, Lord of Afghanistan
Diplomacy: none
Scintilla ruled as Regent until their son, Xerxes, came of age. The people were restive, since her late husband Razuli had been appointed Regent for the sons of the previous Khan, not to start his own dynasty. Much of the nobility (related to the previous Khan) felt for Razuli to have named his own son as heir to the throne was a betrayal of trust. The more conservative of the population felt for his wife now to be Regent was an affront to Islam.¹
In 1420 Xerxes came of age and was formally announced as the next Khan of Scythia. Only Scintilla's control of the army kept order.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

¹so say the fundamentalists. Luckily for her the religious strength of Scythia as a whole isn't very high.

########################################
The MIDDLE EAST incl Nile Valley and Arabia
########################################

The Holy Imam of All Islam Civilized Theocracy TL5
Imam Mohamad ar-Rhani, The Holy Imam of all Islam, Old Man of the Mountain and Highest Follower of Allah, Beloved of Scythia
Diplomacy: none
Consecration: none
SLEPT... but new player as of coming turn...

The Safavid Empire of Basra Civilized Imperial TL6
Nuh'a-Din ibn Nur, Shah of Baghdad, Spokesman of God, Chosen of Allah, Guide of the Faithful, Most Learned of the Holy
Diplomacy: none
SLEPT...

The Madragian Emirate of Aleppo Civilized Imperial TL6
Hasan al-Salud, Emir of Aleppo, Servant of Allah, Guardian of the Western March
Diplomacy: none
Roman Catholic priests attempted to breathe new life into Christianity in Carhae, where Muslim missionaries had been active. The Romans soon came under attack by militants sent to break up Catholic services. Under such intimidation many more Catholics converted to Islam to be safe. For the first time, Muslims became the majority in Carhae.
SLEPT...

The Mamluke Sultanate of Egypt Civilized Imperial TL7
Mustapha, Sultan of Egypt, Ruler of the Upper and Lower Nile, Defender of the Holy Land, Master of the Seven Seas, Sword of Allah, Invincible Overlord of the Mamluke Empire
Diplomacy: none
Sultan Mustapha ordered all lieutenants to return to the capital. Some were nearby but for some it was a considerable journey. No reason was given, but it was thought since the Sultan was new he wanted to meet the many men who had served his brother, the previous Sultan.
In his 60s and planning ahead, Mustapha next issued a proclamation that his young son, Prince Abu ibn Ali, was heir to the throne.
A number of small craft were built for purposes of trade along the Nile and the Red Sea, to help the economy. Ali, fascinated with things maritime, loved to tour the shipyards.

Some months later, after much consideration, the Sultan announced Egypt needed to become more open, more progressive, if it was to meet the challenges that lay ahead.
"We will not see the results in our lifetimes, but perhaps in our grandchildren's or great-grandchildren's lifetimes," he told his advisors. "Like the builders of the pyramids, we must plan for Eternity, not just today."
Initial planning was begun on replacing the Caste system with a more equal society, and opening up the Guilds to allow for more free enterprise. There was considerable grumbling about this from those of high caste as well as the Guildmasters, but the Sultan's police seemed to be everywhere and no organized protest developed - yet.
Meanwhile, the cultivation work in Dongola remained unfunded. Unchecked, steppe grass made substantial progress, taking back half the land that had been cleared years earlier.

In 1420, during a break from discussions with the Sultan and their fellows, two of the Sultan's most vocal supporters, Mashak and Bayrakdar, were killed along with their families during an excursion on the Nile. Apparently their barge ran aground on a sandbank and the attempts of the crew to free it - moving about in the shallow water - only served to attract the attention of a number of Nile crocodiles.
Indeed, witnesses from the banks later told authorities they had never seen so many crocs and in such a blood-inspired frenzy.

The Merchants of El'Iskandria Renaissance Oligarchy TL8
Jamil al Haysin, Merchant of El'Iskandria
Business: Sela in Danakill(no effect), Madiera in Granada(CI)

Jamil was a wealthy man, thanks to his position as head of the Merchant House, and at night was able to indulge his hobby of astronomy. In late 1416 he had been peering into an arrangement of magnifying lenses of his own design, and noted a new comet. He continued to study it during the winter of 1417, as it was often said comets were omens or signs. But the comet did not provide him with answers.

When the weather improved with the coming of spring, Jamil boarded ship in Corinth, crossed the Mediterranean, passed through the Suez Canal (which never failed to impress him as a tribute to human ingenuity), through the Red Sea and finally made port at Sela. Glad to be on dry land at last, he set to business. Unfortunately differences in language, and religious hostility, made his job very difficult.
The Merchant received word the team of Amnon and Murad had proved successful in Madiera in the face of language differences and religious hostility. Perhaps among the infidels we should always work in twos he considered.
However this good news was countered by a most unsettling report: Wadid and Yusif had vanished while conducting business in separate Cholan ports. Both men were taken from their quarters in the dead of night, without witnesses. Wadid was one of his best employees, and Yusif was a high-ranking servant of God, on loan from the Imam of All Islam. Jamil immediately sent a message to the Imam.
The next report was even worse: the businesses they had begun in those ports had been seized by Cholan soldiers, and the locals hired as Agents arrested and jailed! What madness has seized the Emperor of Chola? wondered Jamil.

Late in 1420 Jamil, who had not viewed the night sky for quite some time due to the affairs of business, again viewed the comet. It was larger now. But why? Was it larger because it was growing bigger like a living thing? Ordid it simply appear larger because it was coming closer? And if the latter, would it ram this world like an ancient war galley?
Allah, are you warning us about something soon to happen? he wondered, or have you decided our time here on this world is to end?

The Tihamat Horde of Arabia Nomadic Theocracy TL4
Shaqra al'Tihamat, Servant of Allah, Restorer of the Faith
Diplomacy: none
Shaqra led his people further east, into the desert of Qatar. Its sheikh and clan chiefs gathered to meet with him. Shaqra was impressive, with a strong, muscular body tanned by the desert sun, and was a deadly swordsman and archer. He had a sense of destiny about him, and they allied themselves to him.
Indeed, the sheikh cleverly offered his sister Doha in marriage. She gave Shaqra a son in 1417, and daughters in 1419 and 1420.
Shaqra's spiritual advisor, Mullah Qasim¹, traveled throughout the region, preaching that the compromises that led to the unification of Islam had corrupted the true Faith. By sword and fire Islam must be purified and the original will of Allah served. Sheikh al'Qatar and family became followers, as did many of the tribespeople.
Wanderers arrived from the Nejd, from Dharan and from Dubai, to listen to Qasim and carry his words back to their own clans.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

¹Qasim preachs the ultra-conservative teachings of Ahmad ibn-Hanbal (d. 855 AD) known as the Hanbalite school of Shari'a law. In OTL only the fanatic Wahhabi of Saudi Arabia are followers.

Sheikhdom of al'Riadyh Nomadic Tribal TL4
Sheikh Rumah al'Riadyh, Host of the Oasis
Diplomacy: None
The tribe of al'Riadyh settled in about their oasis (a resting place for the caravans that criss-crossed the Arabian penninsula), tended to their goats and camels, and practiced their skills with the sword and bow.
Rumah enjoyed his concubines. One died in childbirth in 1417, but another gave him a daughter in 1418. That concubine then died in childbirth in 1419. Desert life is hard and unforgiving.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

The Sultanate of Sheba Civilized Imperial TL5
Waliyudeen Mutlaq, Sultan of Sheba, Patriarch of Islam
Diplomacy: Hadramuht(F)
Growth: Aden, Brava, Sheba
Mutlaq returned from Madina to Aden in triumph. Ras al Khaimah, Khan of the Dubai Horde, formerly feared, was now a loyal feudal ally. The diplomatic coup had added thousands of mounted warriors, their families, wagons and herds to Sheba's strength and wealth.
Also to improve the wealth of the Sultanate, Mutlaq ordered surplus population and building materials dispatched to three cultivated regions, to build additional villages and farms.

Already being of service, the charasmatic ex-Khan, joined by two lieutenants of the Sultan, Harib and Faisal, traveled from mosque to mosque in Sheba, speaking to worshippers of the glory of Allah. They urged those who worshipped to bring those who stayed home with them, so that they, too, could praise God. Their message was echoed by priests sent from the main mosque in Sana. Apparently such multiple exhortations proved effective, for attendance at prayers increased tremendously, more than doubling over the years.
Meanwhile, in late 1418, veteran diplomat Madhi celebrated his 70th birthday with his host Mukalla of Hadramuht, who had just signed a treaty to join the Sultanate. Unfortunately after the banquet Madhi (over-ambitiously) took two lovely courtesans home with him, and died of a heart attack. There are worse ways to go.

The Coptic Kingdom of Aksum Civilized Constitutional Monarchy TL6
Tobin VI, King of Aksum, Negus Negesti, Lord of the Coptic Wilderness, Lion of Judah
Diplomacy: Radom(NT)
Growth: Lalibela, Dongala in Alwa
King Tobin VI, at public ceremony, proclaimed young Tobin VII to be heir. The King also ordered irrigation ditches dug in Kobowen and Lalibela to assist agriculture, and sent surplus population to rural Lalibela to build villages.
More surplus population was sent to expand the Nile river port of Dongala and the Red Sea port of Wasan. Unfortunately, Wasan was sadly lacking in even basic necessities such as clean water and sewage collection to maintain the health of its citizens. Adding more inhabitants made a bad situation even worse. Soon after the new arrivals began using the foul local water (more often than not a stagnant puddle or rivulet down some alley, as there were no public sources of fresh water), cholera broke out among them and spread throughout the city.¹
By the time the outbreak subsided, nearly three-quarters of the city's population and half its military garrison had died. Thousands fled the city for the countryside, only to be threatened by farmers and villagers who were terrified the refugees carried the plague. Bodies were burned in mass cremations since there weren't enough able-bodied people to bury them. The few priests still alive prayed for the souls of the dead.

Concerned with the security of Ain Farah region on the far western edge of the kingdom, Tobin VI ordered a fortress of thick stone walls and high towers built, surrounded by a wide dry moat. A royal road was constructed to link the region with the rest of Aksum.
There were events beyond the western edge of the kingdom as well. Charasmatic career diplomat Bithi continued his discussions with the Wadai Horde. [see Wadai]

In early 1419 the King, nearly 70, died peacefully in his sleep. Young Tobin VII took the throne, looking a bit overwhelmed by the sudden crush of responsibility, not only to rule but to lead the army should invasion threaten. Fortunately he had a number of seasoned lieutenants to advise him.
He would need them. A messenger had arrived from distant Ankolye. Along with their wares, traders from Luba had brought with them disquieting news that increasing numbers of Luban villagers were missing from the border area with Kivu.

The Wadai Horde Nomadic Tribal TL4
Shaman Am-Timan, He of Inner Vision, Lord of the Wadai
Diplomacy: none
The grassland of Salamat having been eaten down, in the spring of 1417 Am-Timan ordered the Wadai tribes to the northeast. Soon the herds and horses of the Wadai were grazing upon the fresh grass of Kerkoure. The local tribes, although unhappy, kept a wary distance, knowing the nomads could swat them like flies.
Am-Timan seemed to relax somewhat with his people further from the deep central jungle. Eight years ago, his visions had caused him to believe in a growing danger from there. He had led the Wadai away, first to Salamat and now further to Kerkoure.
Bithi, a diplomat from Aksum, spent time with Am-Timan (as the Shaman's schedule of duties allowed) discussing mutual interests. One night Bithi had returned to his tent only to be awakened by a commotion. He quickly made his way to where torches were being lit and men were shouting and running.
"What has happened?" he demanded of a tribesman.
"Assassins," the man gasped out, "tried to kill our Shaman!" then raced off with his fellows. It took some time but Bithi eventually learned strangers disguised as Wadai had made their way into the Wadai camp. They had gotten as far as the Shaman's tent when challenged by suspicious guards. The strangers had fled and apparently escaped in the night.

In early 1418 the elder diplomat Showa arrived from Aksum with his own retinue and well-laden pack animals. He joined Bithi in meetings with Am-Timan, and apparently reached some sort of agreement, for soon thereafter, although the grasses of Kerkoure were still plentiful, the Wadai resumed moving.
Passing through Ennedi, they ended in Kordofan, where they settled in 1419. The hardy native population was enslaved after a sharp but futile fight.

///////////////////////////////////////
The Rest of AFRICA
///////////////////////////////////////

Cav Count COMPLETE!

The Island Kingdom of Comoros Seafaring Constitutional Monarchy TL6
Hussain the Handsome, Prime Minister of Comoros, Ruler of the Waves
Diplomacy: Sofala in Betisimarsaka(F), Betisimarsaka(A)
Hussain ordered some adjustments in merchant shipping as well as numerous dhows built for internal inter-island trade. Public works construction continued in Sakalava with inns for travelers and rural marketplaces for farmers.
Shirazi II, heir to the throne, returned by trireme to Moronni, then traveled by much faster prahu to Sofala. The voyage was uneventful until well into the Seeyschelle Sea, rounding the northern tip of the great island of Madagascar. When the morning watch came on at 4AM, the sailor on midwatch didn't seem to be about. A search found blood on the deck amidships near the port rail, and on the rail itself, but no other trace of the missing man. Thereafter the watches were doubled, but the ship and the other prahu accompanying it made port in a fortnight without further incident.
Putting this incident behind him, the Heir joined the King and other leaders in concentrating all diplomatic efforts in the Betisimarsaka area, with excellent results.

The Empire of Great Zimbabwe Civilized Imperial TL5
Ayize, Emperor of Sofala, Master of the City of Round Towers
Diplomacy: Lunda(T)
The royal road linking the regions of Gorongo and Me'Lela was completed in 1418 amid great celebration in both regions. Cultivation of Zambia from the stubborn wilderness resumed, undoing the neglect of previous years.
Concerned about the line of succession, Ayize named his son Garus heir to the throne. Concerned for the safety of the empire, Ayize drafted thousands of young men and from them selected the strongest - "the best of the best" - to be trained by the brilliant general Jogako.

Prince Karis, Kumugumu Tallblade, and their retainers escorted Koheema, the Emperor's only daughter, across hundreds of miles to distant Lunda. She wasn't very pleased leaving the luxury of the palace and complained the entire trip, until she was introduced to Etosha, handsome chief of the Lundans.
From that point on, she flirted every chance she got. After much negotiating by the diplomats, she was married to Etosha in 1420, in exchange for Lunda becoming tributary.

Markuane the Wise, in distant El'Iskandria, Egypt, received a message from Ayize ordering him home to explore the dark jungle in the center of Africa. Zimbabwean ju-ju men had sensed great evil there, evil that may threaten the empire. It was Markuane's task to find it.
"Oh, crap," muttered Markuane. He and his retainers booked passage for four on a ship of the Merchants of El'Iskandria about to set sail on the regular trade run to the Zimbabwean port of Kiswana. The ship docked in Fall 1417, a voyage of six months through the Red Sea, around the Horn of Africa and south down the coast, but still several times faster - and immeasurably easier - than overland travel.
From Kiswana, the most direct route to the deep jungle was straight west through the Zimbabwean region of Kimbu. There, Markuane's party obtained lodging, supplies, and guides who knew jungle survival. Markuane, his three retainers and their guides all carried regular infantry weapons of spear, shield, and medium sword.

In the spring of 1418 the party set out, Exploring westward, through the unclaimed wilderness of Luba. Villagers warned them no one who had gone over the mountains to Kiva - the beginning of the dark jungle - had returned. By June the party was at the base of those same mountains, and began working their way upward. There being no paths, they looked for animal trails, and did a lot of backtracking.
Finally, a month later, from the high vantage point of a mountain pass, Markuane gazed west. Beginning far below and stretching out to the horizon was an unbroken dark green jungle canopy steaming with mist. The guides led the way down carefully. As the party neared the beginnings of the jungle, they heard a strange cacaphony of shrieks, hisses and loud, deep bellows. Markuane looked to the guides, but they were plainly puzzled.
"That sounds crocodilian," said a retainer, remembering Egypt, "but much louder." Markuane nodded in agreement.
Entering the jungle, the Zimbabweans began to catch sight of all manner of reptiles, none of which were familiar, pointing them out to each other with growing excitement. They were all four-legged, ranging in size from dogs to cattle.
There were insects, too, dragonflies, beetles and others not recognized, in profuse numbers, chased and eaten by the smaller reptiles. By contrast, the larger reptiles appeared to feed on vegetation, some familiar to the men, while other plants, such as huge ferns and mosses, were quite unfamiliar, even to the jungle-wise guides.

They camped overnight at the mountain's base, awakened often by shrieks, roaring and the occasional crocodilian bellowing from the darkness. Setting out after a quick meal, they plunged into the jungle gloom, trying to look in every direction at once. Every hour of travel brought new wonders.
Early one morning several days later, they heard a crashing of vegetation that meant something large was moving slowly towards them. Wary, they paused with spears ready. From a thicket came a huge reptile over twenty feet long, with a mouth like a duck's bill and what appeared to be a sail that ran the length of its back. It walked on all fours, foraging brush, but another such creature emerged after it, paused, and stood up on its hind legs to eat from some high branches.

Huge land reptile: 20+ ft long, 10 ft tall, weighing about 3 tons.

"That beasts like that could exist!" exclaimed a retainer, then added, "what do you think that sail is for? What purpose?"
"It must help them somehow," answered Markuane, watching intently as more of the sail-backed reptiles came forth, "or they wouldn't have it. A sail like that would let more sunlight warm them ... usually big lizards have to bask for hours in the sun to get moving ... maybe the sails let these things get up and eating plants earlier in the day?"¹
"Just so long as nothing that eats meat has a sail too!" laughed another retainer.

Another week of searching found no sign of human habitation. So far I've found nothing that could be a threat to the Empire, thought Markune the Wise, perhaps the ju-ju men were wrong.
Mid-morning the next day the party again heard vegetation crashing and were headed toward the sounds. They had just entered a clearing when a sail-backed reptile almost forty feet long came out of the jungle on the opposite side. As some of the men walked toward it for a closer look, Markuane shouted, "wait! That's no plant-eater!" But it was already too late.
Nostrils flaring, the creature reared up, bellowing like the god of all lizards from a mouth filled with teeth like knives. The closest man - one of the guides - screamed and turned to run but the carnivore seized him with its forearms and devoured him in several bone-crunching, blood-spraying bites.
"Form a line!" cried Markuane, "spears ready!" He knew they couldn't outrun the enormous carnosaur, but perhaps they could intimidate it into leaving for easier prey. He'd heard of leopards driven off that way.

Giant land reptile: 40+ ft long, 20 ft tall, weighing about 7 tons.

Either it didn't understand spear points, or it was too hungry to care. Moving with breathtaking speed for something so large, it was upon them suddenly, bellowing, snapping with its jaws, ignoring their spear thrusts and eating in a frenzy of crunching bones, spattering entrails and human screams. Crimson foam ran from between its teeth, and scraps of clothing hung from them. Unable to face more such slaughter, the men broke and fled.
One such was Markuane. His lungs ached like fire was in them and his legs felt like they were leaden, yet he ran and ran until he finally collapsed in the dirt, sucking air, utterly spent. At some point he got up and ran again, east towards the mountains he could see every so often through the trees. He fell many times. He got up many times. He thought he heard screams. He ran.

The next thing Markuane knew, he was in a hut. He staggered to the doorway and looked out. He was in one of the villages in Luba they'd passed through on their way to the deep jungle. He had obviously crossed back over the mountains but had no memory of it.
Several villagers saw him and led him back into the hut and made him lay down. "You have been asleep for days, often screaming in your sleep," said one, "many times we thought you would die. You must rest before you can travel."
Markuane slept. In his dreams there were eyes and teeth behind him, always behind him, following, always following.

It was 1420 and the Emperor had finished an extraordinary conversation with Markuane the Wise. Markuane had been changed by his experience. His eyes were haunted by what he had seen and by the guilt of surviving when so many had died. He had returned to the capital rather than sending a message so he could meet with the families of each of his lost retainers.
Meanwhile, Emperor Ayize had much to think about. A messenger had arrived from distant Kimbu. Along with their wares, traders from Luba had brought with them disturbing news that increasing numbers of Luban farmers were missing from the border area with Kivu.

¹one of the possibilities considered by OTL palentologists.

The Republic of Venice Seafaring Oligarchy TL6
Badoglio III, Doge of New Venice
Diplomacy: none
SLEPT...

The Kingdom of the Kongo Civilized Centralized Monarchy TL5
Anjabu Minunge, Tallest of the Tall, The Big Man, Stomper of Little People
Diplomacy: Benin(A)
Anjabu, being an enlightened monarch, announced the slave trade would be ended and the economy shifted to an agrarian one. This would happen over many years to minimize economic disruption.
A number of public inns were built in Vili to assist travelers, and trade begun with Akan to help the merchants.
At public ceremony it was proclaimed that Anjabu's older son Kamino was heir to the throne. His younger brother Soraya was named a Prince. Both were sturdy lads, Kamino a bit more diplomatic while Soraya more athletic.
Before returning to Benin, the the Ibis¹ shamen invited the King and his retainers to the Ibis Temple in a final attempt to convince Anjabu of the looming threat to Kongo. The royal party arrived to find the robed High Shaman sitting in a dimly-lit room, cross-legged before a smouldering brazier. Fragant clouds of incense rose from it, swirling about him.
A servant bade the royal party be seated. A semi-circle of lesser shamen, barely visible in the gloom, began chanting behind the High Shaman. The King felt an odd sensation, a feeling of power present, like the air before a thunderstorm.

"Watch, O King," whispered the High Shaman, "and see the future!" He lifted an arm and gestured. Light seemed to come from his upraised hand, and suddenly a horrid, fang-mounted reptilian face was before Anjabu.
Instinctively he reached for his dagger, then stopped, realizing there was no sound, and he was seeing a phantom, like a wall painting, but in the air.

With a groan the High Shaman pitched forward, exhausted from his effort, the image vanishing. A servant caught him before he would have hit the brazier and assisted him. Another servant escorted the royal party from the temple. King Anjabu had much to consider.

¹West Africans considered the ibis to have oracular powers.

The Kanem-Bornu Empire Civilized Imperial TL5
Nasem, Supreme Chief
Diplomacy: none
The Empire's position was still precarious, caught between two hordes, the Iguidir to the west and the Wadai to the east. Chief Nasem knew the recent death of the Iguidir leader was no reason for complacency - a new leader could soon arise. Nasem therefore ordered improvements in the walls of most cities, and increased the army with a strong cavalry force.
With public celebration, Nasem proclaimed his oldest son, Jamal, to be a Prince. Jamal, a handsome (but impetuous) lad and skilled with spear and bow, was from Nasem's first marriage to the late Josmunde.

Next Nasem dispatched over ten thousand troops west to Hausa to stand by in case the Iguidir invaded Kanem-Bornu territory. General Saminwe would command, with elderly Prince Amida II as his second-in-command. In early summer 1417 the Iguidir were reported gathering at the border, apparently to invade Jos. [see Iguidir]
Trusting in his army, the King then ruled, tending to the business of his kingdom. He also sired three more children with Sahr, his second wife: daughters in 1417, 1418 and 1419.

The Igiudir Horde Nomadic Tribal TL4
Amir Sebkra, Feared Warlord of the Igiudir
Diplomacy: never!
Years ago, the Iguidir horse nomads moved below what they learned to their sorrow was the "Tse Tse fly line", with the result 99% of their mounts had died.¹ Since then, the Igiudir had trained to become foot warriors.
In 1413 Amir Al-Mu'mineen had led them in the conquest of Nupe, but he had been knifed by an assassin shortly afterward. The Amir had no legitimate heirs and no clan chief would yield power to any rival clan. The Iguidir, without leadership, stayed in Nupe.
By 1417 Sebkra, the strongest chief, had established himself as Amir, despite challenges and grumbling from other clan chiefs. Having forced some unity, at least temporarily, in April 1417 Amir Sebkra got the Iguidir moving east toward Jos. He needed a short, victorious war to prove his leadership.
Camped near the Nupe/Jos border, Sebkra's retainers went looking for him when he did not appear for breakfast. He was dead in his tent, apparently having drank of poisoned wine the previous night.
As word spread of his death, rival clan chiefs got to arguing. Those who had opposed Sebkra took the opportunity to settle scores with those who had supported him. A day of violence swept the camp, and the fires of burning tents lasted through the night. When morning came the next day, the clans went their own ways, effectively dissolving the Iguidir.

¹the bite of the tse-tse fly transmits two related viruses, both of which cause Sleeping Sickness.

The Kingdom of the Akan Civilized Feudal Monarchy TL5
Akanosh of the Jaguar Tribe
Diplomacy: Yoruba(F)
Akanosh ordered various public works built in the homeland, and spent the rest of the treasury on military research. Career diplomat Jebba convinced Lord Meko of Yoruba to join his feudal domain to the kingdom. Meko then became a wandering priest of the pagan gods.
Akanosh's favorite concubine died in 1417 in childbirth, but another bore him a daughter in 1418 and a son in 1420.
OPEN FOR A PLAYER

The Arguin Directorate of Ghana Civilized Imperial TL5
Toliver, Arguin Director of Ghana, Protector of Kumbi-Salem, Conqueror of Timbuktu
Diplomacy: Boure(EA), Segu(EA), Gorouol(ne), Takrur(FA)
Toliver poured the wealth of the nation into a network of irrigation ditches and other agricultural benefits in the homeland, and public bathing facilities along the Gambian shore.
For greater efficiency in use of port facilities, a redistribution of shipping was overseen by vassal Kabala of Okoikoi, whose combination of imposing stature and silver-tongued speech let him persuade irate merchants this was for the best. A trade fleet of prahus began sea commerce with Kongo.

Murshid, heir to the throne, was married to a noblewoman from Boure at a lavish ceremony at the main mosque in the capital of Kumbi-Saleh. Following that Toliver left for Boure to speak of diplomatic matters with his new in-laws.
Indeed, all Toliver's lieutenants conducted another whirlwind of diplomacy. Only among the stubborn Gorouol tribes was there no success.

Tragedy befell the royal family in 1419, when heir Murshid's young wife, who had finally become pregnant, died in childbirth. Worse was yet to come, for King Toliver, nearly 70, died in his sleep while in Boure. Murshid became king, but it felt empty without a queen at his side.

The Almohad Emirate of Morocco Civilized Imperial TL6
Astaba ibn Sayid, Emir of Morocco
Diplomacy: none
Soon after the period of mourning for his son Mohamed ended, Astaba himself died, some said of grief, others said of old age, since he was in his sixties. No new heir had been proclaimed, but Arisaw, younger son of Astaba and skilled swordsman, was in the capital and moved quickly to secure the loyalty of the army.
SLEPT...