Lords of the Earth Campaign XX, Turn 14, A.D. 966 - 970

Lords of the Earth, Campaign XX, Turn 14, A.D. 966 - 970

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TURN 15 ORDERS DUE BACK BY Friday, 18 April, 1159pm to eddief6@ix.netcom.com


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GM COMMENTS


The Lords 20 maillist has apparently been tossed in the garbage can by the folks who donated the use of it to us. I don't have an easy replacement for this, some mailserver software allows users to mail to set up groups of people rather than individuals.

PROGRAM COMMENTS


3.1j running, apparently within normal limits. Please notify me if you find malfunctions.

MAP NOTES


If you need maps, and can't get usable product from the .gif files online (the best map producers have been PaintShop Pro and Pagemaker), send me a check (10$ buys you the world here) and your mapset will go out that day priority mail. USnail service says it takes 1 to 3 days.

My postal address:
Lords XX c/o Eddie Efsic
102 Cambridge Cove
Jacksonville, AR 72076

The worldmap idea has been replaced by a "theater" map concept, and is in the works. There's a program called LviewPro, and as long as it's not used for commercial purposes, it's freeware. With it, I can edit and save the map files in about a dozen formats. So far I've been reducing them to 31% of their original size (accepting a loss of resolution), enabling me to put whole continents in single files.

Maps to be:
North/Central America
Central/South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Oceania

It's a slow process, but it solves permanently the problem of missing data between maps. The only drawback is the lack of high resolution for printouts. They look great to me on-screen, and I figured every player in LOTE XX has a computer available to save/view them.

Here's the plan...
Phase 1 Assemble maps, fix all boundaries and missing data {{ 5 of 6, 84% complete}}
Phase 2 Ensure correct terrain and religion in all regions, fix illegible names, (GPv/RV)'s
Phase 3 Ensure correct cities (sizes, names, ports, fortresses), roads, and MCs

RULES ERRATA AND REMINDERS


Please read the rules addendum, on the Lords20 web site.

The University level formula in the version 5 rules is wrong.

Leader Intel Actions:

Each leader may attempt one intel action per turn. This is in addition to normal moves and actions. The Guile (third) rating is the primary stat determining if he or she actually performs the operation. It does not determine if the operation is a success. The success/failure determination proceeds through normal intel GM rules after it is determined wether the leader actually performs an operation or not.

Note: Intel operations by your Intel network do not require the first step above. They are automatically attempted, although not always succeed.

The Action Range of leader-performed Intel operations is 0. They must be in the region where the operation is to take place. For infiltrations, this is the target capitol. Normal loyalty checks _will_ apply if this is outside your king's CCR. Moving openly through another nation, especially with troops,will effectively nullify any chance at performing the operation, unless you have the consent of the target nation to move freely in hi/her lands, and you have a really high guile.

Multiple attempts at a single operation are not allowed by a single nation. However, extra (unused) operations may be used as bonus points on a 1-for-1 basis, as long as Action range limits are met.

Example:
The Ethiopian player wishes to assassinate the Culdi Chriatian Anti-Pope at his holy city in the Baltic Sea. Way outside his normal intel action range, so he decides to send a leader. He picks his leader with the highest guile (a 04L329), so it's a 9. He sends his leader to Gotland islanad in the Baltic, and hopes he stays loyal long enough to carry out the assassination.

Leader 03 arrives moving secretly at Gotland, and passes his loyalty check when he leaves his king's CCR, which was as he sailed the Black Sea. His guile succeeds in a allowing the operation attempt, proving his guile equal to the Pope's surrounding cronies, at least for now. The operation is attempted, and he achieves partial success. The Anti-Pope is stabbed in his sleep, and his resulting bedrest and recovery nullify all his actions for the remainder of the turn.

Note, the Ethiopian player could not use bonus points from his own intel structure since the target was way outside his Intel Action Range. Had he wanted to assassinate his neighbor, the odds would have been much more in his favor.

Standing Orders:
Finally, please don't submit "standing" orders. Just include them in each orders form, and I can much more easily take care of these orders, or at least have no excuse for forgetting to run them.


TROOP CONVERSIONS

Infantry (500 men = 1 point)
Cavalry (500 men and 500 horse) = 1 point)
Siege Engineers (500 men = 1 point)
Warships (5 ships = 1 point)
Transports (5 ships = 1 point)


GENERAL WANDERER GAMES INFORMATION AND PRICES


WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME PAGE!


The Wanderer Games Home Page can be found at:
http://gumby.spa.umn.edu/cscdir/lotedir/homepage.lote.html

Thereon you can find a selection of back Lords One, Two, Three, Four, Nine, Ten, and Eleven, Twenty, and Twenty-One newsfaxes. Bio information on Thomas Harlan, Thad Plate, Colin Dunnigan and other Lords GM's. The Web page also lets you send questions to the GM's that are on-line as well as download all of the files listed above via FTP.


Click below to contact a Lords GM

Lords One - tharlan@pima.gov
Lords Two - SHarding@mva.com (on indefinite standby)
Lords Three - OW - unknown
Lords Three - NW - 102667.2505@Compuserve.com
Lords Four - 102417.3444@compuserve.com
Lords Five - Huntsman@teleport.com
Lords Six - kerry@io.com
Lords Seven - allanon@iceworld.org
Lords Eight - nstokes@iceworld.org
Lords 9-10-11 - plate@inficad.com
Lords Twelve - qycq78a@prodigy.com
Lords Thirteen - Khan@netrix.com
Lords Fourteen (Italia 1) - mc0763@mcilink.it
Lords Fifteen (Italia 2) - no known email
Lords Fifteen (unofficial) - Jack Wagner (no email)
Lords Sixteen (Italia 3) - no known email
Lords Seventeen - yuppyputze@earthlink.com
Lords Eighteen - hubris@usinternet.com
Lords Nineteen - Atacr@aol.com
Lords Twenty - eddief6@ix.netcom.com
Lords Twenty One - loki@pacbell.net
Lords Twenty Five - jordant@tahoma.cwu.edu
Cruenti Dei - darkpenguin@earthlink.net


VARIOUS FEES AND LEVIES

Turns: $1.00 per turn (email ONLY)

Maps: Entire World $10.00(Mailed). Sorry, no colored or "small" world maps are available.

5th Edition Rulebook: $6.50 (email), $10.00 (Local) or $13.00 (Mailed in US), $15.00 (mailed overseas). Order from Tom Harlan.



THE FAR EAST

MERC TROOPS11MC, 8MI, 9MS, 6MW, 9MT
MERC AQRS C02 S02 I03 W03
MERC LEADERS Kai Yamahiro M768

UNITED STATES OF ASIA (JIHPEN)
Suiei Ma, President of Jihpen
DIPLOMACY: Amgu (f), Hokkaido (f), Sakhalin (f), Suifenhe (t)
The Jihpenese executives remained in the capitol, running the day-to-day matters of state, and sent their diplomats out again to transform the mainland coastal Asia into a more Japanese-friendly environment. Tensions increased with the Hong Kong Chinese, and the nation's armed forces went into a hightened alert stage, while new city walls were put up around some of the major cities. A ship full of gold was sent to Quian Song of Yangtze, in an effort to prevent him from siding with the Kwangsi in any possible upcoming conflicts. That ship and its escorts were politely turned away from China and returned to Tokyo. Suiei Ma got laws passed regulating trade and state-run trade fleets were moved to new ports-of-call.

THE WU YUE CHINESE KINGDOM
Quian Song, God-King of the Middle-Kingdom
DIPLOMACY: none
Quian Song rejected a large shipment of gold from the Japanese, and received a much smaller amount from the South Chinese of Hong Kong. The Chinese Defense Corps grew, if such a thing was possible, and they maintained their vigilance over the mainland Orient. Rumors of an active horde were unproven, although explorers and wanderers of the northeastern steppes were convinced such a thing was bound to happen within the next 20 years.

THE HONAN CHINESE KINGDOM
Mao Hu Lei, Emperor of China
DIPLOMACY: none
Honan orders were unreceived.

THE SHENSI CHINESE KINGDOM
Cheng Ho, Storm Fist, King of China
DIPLOMACY:Yun (fa), Lanchou (nt), Kansu (n/e)
Cheng Ho received a token quantity of gold from Hong Kong equal to Quian Song's, and spent his time exhorting the Kansu leadership to accept his rule peacefully. As if they could possibly reject his rule, with a dozen provincial forts and the associated 5,000-plus Shensi troops squeezing every drop possible from the local economy. His diplomats in Yun and Lanchou fared better in their results, although Minister of State Chen Zuyi died of heart failure after his diplomatic sojourn was complete.

BACPHAN ZHUANGZU
Xian Ven, Overlord of South China
DIPLOMACY: Mison (n/e), Fujian (f), Cochin (f)
Xian invested in the port Vijaya of Champa, and associated diplomatic efforts brought that region and port fully into the Hong Kong nation. Gold was distibuted freely to Yangtze, Honan, and Shensi, and more spent on the South China Road. The link from Mison-Champa was added to the previous lengths. But the big news in South China in 968 was the relocation of Xian Ven's court and capitol to Tonkin, over 400 miles west of Hong Kong. It was a massive effort, requiring huge cash expenses, and of course some things never arrived (including one of Xian's favorite golden statues), but as a whole it was a big success. Genreal Kang was initially the primary force behind its accomplishment, but the stress of the affair was too great. He suffered a complete mental breakdown, and spent his few remaining years in the care of his immediate family, blathering constantly about inept subordinates. His replacement carried the event to its conclusion at the port city Tonkin, and received huge rewards and royal favors from his king.

THE INCREDIBLY PEACEFUL CELESTIAL KINGDOM OF THE JADE BUDDHA
Singh Hao, 4rd Incarnation of the Blessed Jade Buddha, Light on the Path to Nirvanah, Illuminator of the Human Soul, Thinker of Deep Thoughts, Mayor of Shangri-La
DIPLOMACY: none
The child Dalai was educated by his advisors, and instructed his monks to raise more religious sites in the Chinese capitols. Grand Abbot Tsieh -Fong was selected to oversee thier construction, in Chang-An, Pienching, and Shentung, and Thaton. Financial assistance went out to the Burmese, and trade invitations went out to all surrounding rulers (what few there were).


SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC RIM
MERC TROOPS 16MC, 14MI, 15MS, 21MW, 16MT
MERC AQRS C01 S03 I02 W02
MERC LEADERS Lao Sung M947

THE UNITED MONARCHY OF THE AVANS
Anisakan, The Celestial, Virtuous, and Benignant King Anisakan, Monarch of all Burmese People, Munificent Potentate of Pegu, Dispenser of all Avan Goodness and Benevolence
DIPLOMACY:none
The celestial and virtuous one proved himself the bane of all surrounding provinces surrounding his kingdom. With two separate armies (leading one himself), he raided Arakan, Sagaing, Lampang, Nam Pung, Laos, and Korat for slaves and gold. He got many of the former, and little of the latter, and had to actually quell organized resistance in several of the regions. The 15,000 troops involved proved equal to te task. On his return to Pagan, he celebrated with his queen and was blessed with two more daughters. In the other direction went Admiral Sagataru, on orders from Anisakan to explore the waters between Burma and South India. Sagataru revelled in his liege's confidence, and scoffed at doubters claiming he would be cnsumed by sea serpents, or lose his way and never return. They were right.

THE JAVAN FEDERATION
Rangat Rao, President Sirivjavan
DIPLOMACY:Pajajaran (f)
The new president Rao took care of matters at his capitol and sent his leaders out to do his bidding. He sent his Vice President with the Javan fleet north to the Mekong Sea in search of somone to play wargames with, and Minister Jhansi to bring Pajajaran into the Federation. No one showed up to play with the Honorable Binjai at sea, so he returned to the capitol to conduct his own military exercises.

THE MAAORI SEAHOLD
Mano Oio, Son of Sea and Sky
DIPLOMACY: Ponape (f)
Chou betook himself and his fleet to Ponape, where he convinced them to join his nation entirely. The ensuing celebration went in a direction unplanned, when Chou T-kuan choked on a swordfish bone, and died at his own party. With no obvious heir to the Seahold, a minor noble of Moluccas claimed the throne and royal authority. Most accepted his rule, but the outlying islands of Kazan Retto and Palau went independent.

THE KATOOMBA RIDERS
Yamma Lamma, Chief He'e Nalu, "Leader of the Pack"
DIPLOMACY: none
The big Yamma conducted his affairs as normal, passing judgement for his people and surfing in his spare time. He made sure to have a lot of spare time. Little Yamma (Samma) spent his time also as normal, playing with his kids and his expansive spouse. He managed to actually get his two eldest daughters into the surf and ride the waves with their grandad.


INDIA AND MIDDLE EAST
MERC TROOPS 4MC, 7MI, 18MS, 6MW, 4MT
MERC AQRS C03 S03 I02 W01
MERC LEADERS none

EMPIRE OF THE LOWER GANGES
Narayanapala III, Guardian of the Ganges
DIPLOMACY: Samatata (n/e), Sikkim (fa)
Narayanapala had a grand road built connecting the home of his youth in Nadavaria to the capitol, and the construction plans included expanding Gaurhusa itself. Diplomacy was limited in effect, primarily because of the premature demise of Anathaor in Sikkim. The National University was the happy recipient of royal funding, although not as much as its rival university on the Indus banks. General Bharawaj spent his days and nights in the "Sea Wall" fortress in Gaurhusa, vigilant for any Cholan reprisals for recent raids.

XANTHI EMPIRE OF XANADU
Palpatyn II, Grand Poobah of the Xanthi Zieterund
DIPLOMACY: Jaunpur (a), Gujerat (nt), Anhivarta (n/e), Vatsa (t)
Ze Grand Poo-bah ran affairs of state with his son/heir Yotan at his side. Chief of their concerns was raising the tax base to its pre-move levels. Marriage was arranged for his daughter Mehko to the Jaunpur nobility. Little else happened in the now peaceful realm of Xanadu, except perhaps the death of Lord Iskrem, one of the high generals of the Burmese and Palas wars. He was buried in a state funeral with full military high honors.

THE INDUS VALLEY KINGDOM
Mushtaq, Mansurashah, Protector of the Indus
DIPLOMACY:Carmania (a)
Mushtaq set his armies on garrison duties, and visted Carmania with the assistance of Minister Isfauhan. Together they convinced the landed nobles tto ally themselves with the Mansurashah. Fortunate they were in this, since their new ally was a better public speaker than perhaps any other of Mushtaq's leaders. Minister Imran was assigned the unlucky job of supervising a count of all the people of the kingdom. Three years later the count was complete, but of course by then it was outdated. At least they could collect taxes from most of the populus. More trade vessels were sent to the Egyptians and Persians.

THE CHOLA MANDALAM
Tchen, Mandala Chola
DIPLOMACY: none
Cholan instructions wern't received.

IMAM MUSLIM
Koshtan, Siadat Kuran
DIPLOMACY: none
Akbah sent one of his high priests off to Suakin to continue the "education" of the Separatist Christians there, but only made it about 3 leagues from Mecca before clutching his chest and falling dead on the road. Tithes from all the major Muslim nations flowed to Mecca, and an amazed Siadat figured his work on this Earth comlete. He died in his sleep late autumn, 969, and a new Siadat Kuran was elected from the Kahene Bozorg (Council of High Priests). Who was then found dead three days later (bad dates). Another election was held, and another Siadat chosen. And assassinated. It seems this Kahene Bozorg was divided deeply into nationalist (Abbais/Mahmud/and Fatamid) factions, and each wanted one of their countrymen to be the new Imam. This was understandable, but unexpected was each nation's willingness to execute an elected Imam from any other nation. Many likely candidates were asssassinated before they were even put to the vote. After nearly two years of political killings, and the associated ralization taht none of the three major nations of the region were going to see a countryman live as Imam for more tahn a few weeks, it was finally agreed by all to elect an Imam from afar. The Cordovan Caliph's high priest Koshtan was nominated, considered, and elected by the (now much depleted) ranks of the Kahene Bozorg.

THE ABBASID CALIPHATE
Mahtaub, Kaliphat Rasul Allah
DIPLOMACY: Diyala (f), Kuwait (ea)
Semual's son Mahtaub became old enough to assume the duties of his title, and Emir Nayebos relinquished his regency in support of the young Caliph. Nayebos was the boy Kaliph's hero and protector, and it soon became obvoius he was going to receive much of the authority previously held by other Abbasid leaders. On the day of his expected appointment to Grand Vizier by Mahtaub, he was unexpectedly late to his royal summons from the Kaliph. When it became apparent he was not going to arrive, Mahtaub realized the extent of the envy of several in his employ. Nayebos was obviously not everyone's favorite. More than a few heads rolled, and the surviving lackeys of the Kaliph swore allegiance to their new overlord. The Prince Achmed had been sent east in search of a port of call for Abbsid trade ships in Morocco, and returned to report of a suitable locale in Tunis. Nearly half of the Kaliphat's cities grew in size (Alzaj, Kamizak, Bushehr, and Raja), while both veteran and newly built national armies were held in Mesopotamia, constantly looking out for incursions to Abbasid provinces.

THE MAHMUD GHAZNI PERSIAN KINGDOM
Ghaseb Pesar, Sahib, Kophatshah
DIPLOMACY: Khwarzim (a), Turkmen (fa), Transoxania (ea)
The Mahmud Persians struggled to feed their people and armed forces, and in many instances failed to do so. Tax revenues suffered deep cuts due to the general starvation of the population. Military rolls were decimated by disbandment, and their conversion to agriculture investments and diplomatic efforts brought several regions into contibuting status for the Kingdom.


WEST EUROPE
MERC TROOPS13MC, 16MI, 8MS, 10MW, 14MT
MERC AQRS C02 S03 I02 W03
MERC LEADERS: none


The Grand War for Christ "Guerre au Mepris Bolgar"

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PAPACY
John XI, Il Papa, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Successor to the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Papal States, and Servant of the Servants of God
DIPLOMACY:none
Pope John, fearing for the imminent demise of Christian Europe, called for a holy war against the heathen horde responsible for the destruction of the Gemanic nation. Peasants in every Catholic nation put aside their plowshares and took up arms for God and country. Sadly, they were pitifully trained, and would serve only as fodder for the more experienced armies of Europe as they prepared for the inevitable collision with the death-riders of the West Asian steppes. There was no certain number for the size of the nomadic army, but all reports placed its strength at way over 100,000 horsemen. What few of these religious warriors actually arrived in Rome were placed under the command King Miles Lucana of Naples, and he led them north to France, where the horde was expected to strike next. The Usury Laws were rescinded, and indulgences were sold to every noble and merchant wealthy enough to buy them. Large allotments of gold were sent ot Naples, Paris, and Warzau for the mustering of these and other new armies with which to save Christendom.

Hopefully.

THE DANISH KINGDOM
Swain Adalsson, Rex Danmark
DIPLOMACY: Brittany (f), Saxony (fa), Lorraine (c), Westphalia (fa)
The young heir to the Danish throne became old enough to assume his duties, and his regent stepped aside faithfully. The nations armed forces mustered and prepared to set off to war, but were diverted from their primary by internal uprisings in Samland, Uppsala, and then Saxony. It was May of 969 AD before they arrived in Lorraine to supposedly meet up with Polish forces, who were already gone west. Papal scribal assistance was received and put to good use in supporting the administrative needs of the kingdom.

THE LOMBARD KINGDOM OF ITALY
Mario d' Orsini, Rex Sognari
DIPLOMACY: Bavaria (c), Carinthia (nt), Slovenia (c), Kyklades (ea)
King Mario sent his most experienced general, Mario Sforza, into France with the peasant soldiers, and most of the national army as well. It soon became apparent he wasn't interested in defending France, however, taking support needed fro his army from the local French towns and villages without regard for any of their "civil rights".
"Civil rights indeed. We'll see how civil the Bolgars are to these pathetic simpletons!" he declared.
Unfortunately for King Mario, his most experienced general was also hos eldest, and Sforza died died at the age of 84. Charges immediately were laid on a local French rebellious man, who was executed for his crime. He went to the gallows propounding his innocence, until just prior to his execution. It was then he proudly screamed his glee at murdering the invading Lombard. Leaderless, the Lombards drifted homeward in small groups.

THE KINGDOM OF SUSSEX ENGLAND
Edward II, Saxon King of England
DIPLOMACY: none
King Merriden spent his resources in outfitting a new navy and sent them under the command of Grand Admiral Waltrop to the Rhine River. He commanded 250 warships in patrolling the Upper Rhine River, in an attempt to wipe out the hordes if they attempted to cross the Rhine River. Merriden's Lothian highland ally was given 15,000 troops with which to help defend France, and they were sent to Paris to defend the city, should the Bolgars make their way through the main body of the French Army. And the horde came. From Slovakia, across what once was Germania, and across the Rhine into the Burgundian plains. The English engaged the main body of horsemen as they crossed, but were obviously untrained in assessing odds. The ship-borne English marine archers fired volley after volley at the Bolgars, and took their toll on the fording army, but when the Bolgars used the cover of the shoreline, the English were done for. The Bolgars riddled the patrolling ships and their crews ad marines. The only survivors of the affair were the ship crews sent downriver to Champagne to warn the French Federal Army. Back in the homeland, Merriden was heartsick of his navy's destruction, and sunk into a gloom. It became apparent he wasn't going to be a fit king (or a fit human), and his younger brother Edward realized he would have to take the throne for himself. Merriden committed suicide on the 13th of September, 967 A.D., exactly one year after the devastation of the royal fleet.

THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE
Demetre Aguille, King of France
DIPLOMACY: none
Le President took every measure possible to summon every federal soldier in the realm, and placed them under the command of his Vice President. The Honorable Demetre Aguille was given a very clear mission, save our nation and people from rape and pillage at the barbarians' hands. Aguille gathered his main body in Champagne, heeded the English ship captains when they reported the horde crossing into Burgungy, and led his army south. They managed to engage the Bolgars before any looting began, and gave Khan Kerynon the first battle he even had to think about. In October, 966 A.D. his 115,000 horsemen ran headlong into 71,500 Gallic footmen and 21,500 peasant crusaders. It appeared after two days that the nomadic army's number would carry the battle for the Bolgars, but in a particularly bloody section of the fighting, the Khan's standard fell. Enraged, he charged into that fray to rally his cossack legions, leaving behind his personal guard. Rumors will never agree on this, but there are those who claim he alone slew over 100 Frenchmen, before his mount was taken from beneath him, and the Earthshaker Khan Kerynon was hacked to a bloody paste on the Plains of Haute Saone. Just over half of the original invaders made the retreat back across the Rhine to regroup under the Kerynon's son, the new Khan Bolgar.
Kingdom of France continued after Poland below...

THE NAPOLI KINGDOM
Miles Lucana, King of Naples
DIPLOMACY: none
Miles accepted the Papal financial assistance and military trust, and went to Provence in the south of France to rendezvous with his armies. His two admirals Luigi and Julio gathered the Neapolitan armies spread out over the island of the Mare Nostrum, and delivered them to Miles' command. In September of 967 A.D. the massing was complete, but it was too late in the year to make it north to meet Demetre and his forces. It was May of 968 when the two armies met in Burgundy, and travelled and fought together from then on.

UMMAYAD CALIPHAT AL CORDOBA
Asad Nasir, Caliph al Cordoba, Infidel's Bane
DIPLOMACY: Estremedura (f), Aragon (f)
Caliph Asad decided to break tradition and assist the infidel Christians in the defense of their lands from a possible nomadic invasion. 16,000 infantry and 7,500 cavalry arrived to assist General Aguille and congratulate him and his forces on their initial victory in early summer of 967. Together they did battle with the horde a second time.


EAST EUROPE
MERC TROOPS 4MC, 9MI, 5MS, 14MW, 13MT
MERC AQRS I02 C03 S01 W03
MERC LEADERS none

BOLGAR HORDE (DEAD)
Kerynon's son and the new Khan Bolgar regrouped his death-riders and made plans to "revisit" the French and take vengeance on the audacious Gauls for the demise of the Earthshaker. It was on the eve of the first full moon of July 967 A.D that he ordered his 68,000 men across the Rhine for the sencond time. This is when he first discovered how a "Muslim" appeared, since the Cordovan Caliph Asad had sent his General Yasir with some 23,000 soldiers to the secours of the Fench Republique. Yasir also commanded the first cavalry ever to face the steppe riders, and the combined Christian/Muslim army of 105,000 men fought the cossacks bitterly in a series of skirmishes that lasted for eight days. Both sides refused to capitulate, and they met en masse at the Battle of Chambeau-Fontaine on August 14th, 967 A.D.. Fighting a desperate army in its own home, and outled and outnumbered for the first time, the Bolgars were forced to retreat a second time. The Bolgar riders had too few men to have even a hope against the mixed army facing them. The retreat rapidly became a rout, and only a handful escaped the Chambeau Valley in the "Ete Joyeux". The Cordovan cavalry spent the next three weeks hunting down what few nomads they could find. When news arrived from Hainaut.

THE POLISH KINGDOM
Balduin I, King of Poland
DIPLOMACY: no effect
King "Terrible" Ivan marshalled his national and allied armies, and crossed Germany to Lorraine, expecting the Danes to join him there. After waiting a full year, he decided they weren't going to arrive in time to be of any assistance. Ivan proceeded with his plans and attacked across the Rhine into Hainaut. He led a conglomeration of mercenaries, allies, and national combatants in their invasion, and the initial crossing was uncontested. It seems the French army was occupied by the horde on the Burgundian Plains. Moving was slow for the invaders, and at the walled city of Aachen, they met their resistance. While Ivan was conducting a passive siege on Aachen, the French arrived from Burgundy. And lambasted the invaders. Although evenly matched in numbers, the defenders were better trained, better led , and defending their homes. The Polish forces were hewed to bits, and King Ivan captured and taken back to Paris in irons.
Back in Warzau, news reached the royal court of events in Hainaut, Moldavia, and Galatia. Both bishops from Rome died shortly thereafter of unexplained causes. A noble of questionable lineage claimed the throne, and after two months no living relative of the Palota Polski Ivan could be found. With the death of the dynasty, the nation's armed forces, and the Byzantine raids, border provinces split off in droves. Danzig, Galacia, Little Poland, Moldavia, Bochnia, and SIlesia all declared their separation from the new king and from Poland.

THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE (...concluded)
Demetre Aguille, King of France
DIPLOMACY: none
July and August of 968 A.D. was a wonderful time to be in Paris. The city rejoiced in its new lease on life, and the celebrations went all night, every night, for weeks. Italian, Spanish, English, and French all drank the immature wines in great quantities, and compared war stories and wounds. It was not a good time to be Le President. Demetre Aguille still held command of the combined armies of the West, and although President Bard hadn't requested the return of the National Armee, Vice President Aguille hadn't offered it either. It was in the Palais Presidentiel on September 4th where Demetre and seven of his Captains answered President Bard's summons, and heard his demand to relinquish command of the Armee. Aguille replied with a demand of his own.
"Mr. President, I believe you should retire at this time, and I should assume the Presidency." asserted Aguille.
"I see. Bonne nuit, gentlemen."
On the morning of September 5th, President Bard visited the Congres National, and declared his firing of Vice President Aguille, and issued an order to any loyal members of the Armee to arrest and incarcerate Demetre. At the conclusion of his speech, he exited the Congres to find Demetre, and 5,000 of the military had surrounded the building. The entire Legislative body and President Bard were taken prisoner, and held prisoner in the military barracks of Paris while Demetre Aguille pronounced the end of the Republique and his own reestablishment of the French Monarchy. Citing claims of lineage to Charlemagne and the Republique's incessant beauraocratic delays and incapable leaders, his self-proclaimed kingship had few dissidents. What dissenters there were were silenced by the 27,000 veterans of the three-year Guerre au Mepris Bolgar. The Governor of Maine was the primary source of backing for the restoration of the Republique, but Demetre had the full backing of his army, and that of three foreign nations' armies as well. Maine, Ponthieu, Aquitaine, and Limousin all declared their separation from the new monarchy, and King Demetre I reinstated a much revised and abbreviated Consitution in order to prevent further disintegration of his new kingdom.

PRINCIPATE OF KIEV RUS
Chenya, Grand Princess of Kiev
DIPLOMACY: none
Kiev orders were unreceived.

THE BYZANTINE ROMAN EMPIRE
Basil, Roman Emperor of the East
DIPLOMACY: Phrygia (a), Pamphyla (nt), Thessaly (c), Bulgaria (fa)
Leo, upon hearing of the death of his father, headed back to Constantinople as fast as he could to take up the reins of government with his new wife. Along the way, he removed Byzantine forces from Thessaly, telling the locals he didn't agree with the policies of his father, and that he'll attempt to bring them into the empire in a peaceful way. Leo ordered the Greek Navy to block any Polish or Novgorod shipping attempting to navigate the Dandanelles, and bar any troops ships from entering or leaving the Black Sea. Some 30 Polish/Novogorod merchant ships were impounded under such orders.
General Michael Angelos was sent to Asia Minor to pick up warships in Galatia, bring them back to Constantinople for Leo, and then move to Lydia to pick up the eastern field army. Along the way, he delivered the imperial summons to the leaders of Paphlagonia and Galatia to perform their feudal obligations and provide troops coming invasion of Moldavia. Theodore Komnenos was given command over the Byzantine field army, with General Bardas second in command. He led the Western Field army into Moldavia and cut off Polish shipping, pried the provinces of Moldavia and Galacia away from Poland, and took the port fortress in Moldavia for Byzantium. The defenders fought valiantly from their fortress, but it was hopeless. Outnumbered 40 to 1, the Greeks assaulted the fortress until a breach was made, and it was over within an hour. Once Moldavia was secured, Komnenos attacked Galacia and looted the province and raided local enclaves for slaves.

THE NOVGOROD KINGDOM
Vasili Borislov
DIPLOMACY: none
King Vasili welcomed the return of his armies and his generals. Wandering nomadic horders made travels about Europe only marginally safe at best. They were under strict instructions to avoid contact with the Bolgar and Polish armies. With the death of his only son "Crazy" Ivan, Vasili declared his eldest grandson Ivan II heir to the arctic kingdom. His next grandson Vastov was made a Prince, and both young men proved moderately capable leaders of men. Trade fleets were expanded both western and southern, and it soon became apparent the ones sent to Constantinople weren't going to return, where ships and crews had been incarcerated by the new Greek Emperor.


AFRIQA
MERC TROOPS 15MC, 14MI, 20MS, 20MW, 5MT
MERC AQRS C02 S03 I02 W02
MERC LEADERS: Barrhansen MA57

THE CALIPHATE AL MORAVID
Yusif ali Babar, "Zaban Nogreh"
DIPLOMACY: ALgeria (a), Cheliff (a), Kabilya (nt)
Muhammet initiated trans-Sahara trade with the merchants of Tchad at Gefara, while arrangements proceeded for the marriages of his two youngest children, Yusif and Miriem. Both children married Cordovan nobility, ensuring more peaceful relations for years to come. In 968 the Caliph Muhammet finished overseeing a census of the Moravid Caliphate, joined Allah, and Yusif became the next Caliph al Moravid. It was only a short time later he and his new Spanish bride had an heir of their own, and also a daughter a year after that. Admiral Mahrim was busy defending the realm, patrolling Sardinian coastal waters for invading fleets. None arrived.

THE FATAMID EMPIRE
Pesar el Madir, Guardian of the Holy Places
DIPLOMACY: Danakil (a), Adulis (fa), Ghebel-Garib (fa)
Pesar made plans for the possible coming of a horde his way, and had his architects design and build a Great Wall from the Gulf of Suez, north 100 miles to the Bay of Kali at-Tinah on the Med. Negotiations with Ghebel-Garib went poorly at first, and then got worse. Part of the diplomacy was royal marriages to the Emperors two older sisters, and both were discovered to be impure on the first night of their marriages.

THE SONGHAI HERDSMEN
Bakele Kersil
DIPLOMACY: none
Minkah sent the bulk of his army to raid the Bani province of its valuable, but they took very little. Truth was, there was very little to take. The loot was to be a gift for him on the 50th anniversary of his kingship, but he didn't live to that celebration anyway. Minkah Kersil died at the age of 73 passing judgement over a petty thief. Normally such a crime carried the penalty of "Off with his hand". After the state funeral, Minkh's son Bakele reheard th etrial and sentenced the robber to total dismemberment. Larceny and robbery rates took a nosedive. The Songhai merchants sailed north up the Ifriquan Coast to the Sea of Dogs, but trade contact wasn't made with the Moravids or Cordovans.

THE HIDDEN KINGDOM OF THE KONGO (HKK)
M'Toko, King of the Dark
DIPLOMACY: Togo(a), Vili (a), Douala (ea), Akan (fa), Lui (fa)
M'Toko took great pride in his capitol, as well he should. Far and away the grandest city in Africa, greater even than the ancient city Al-Iskandariya. Kinshasa was constantly expanding, as was Luanda. Deliberations with border provinces managed to acquire the Dark king with a not-quite-as-dark-as-the -dark-king ally. The Kongo populace lined up to be counted, and M'Toko learned he had over a million subjects.

KINGDOM OF NIGERIA
Bongorwa, King of Benin
DIPLOMACY:
Nigerian instructions weren't received.

THE KINGDOM OF TCHAD
Tunka Vorta, Omar Kanembu
DIPLOMACY: Kreda (f), Daza (f), Kanuri (n/e)
The leaders of the Kanembu Omar died one after another. Good help is so hard to find these days. Both his chief diplomat and his prime military advisor died in 966, followed by the Prince of Kreda in 968, nd his only son and heir Chatjina in 969 A.D.. Being 60 years old at the time left him without much hope of having another son, and besides, he almost cerainly wouldn't live to see him mature. Diplomatic overtures went over well, as a whole. Tunk figured, rightly, that building cities for your neighbors would have a tendency to do that.

THE PAINTED WOLF TRIBES (ZIMBABWE)
Wanzian, Shaka Zulu
DIPLOMACY: none
Shaka Wanzian minded the matters of governership at Rozwi, and dispatched his appointed heir Baruk to bring the Banhine natives into a more friendly relationship with the other Painted tribes. They really didn't want anything to do with Wanzian, Baruk, or any other of the "painted" people. Baruk's escort was only a dozen personal guards, so when he failed to return to the capitol after 5 years, Wanzian pretty much knew what happened. He wasn't pleased one tiny little bit about it, but he knew. Advisors and generals came from every tribe to deliberate on a "suitable" response.


THE AMERICAS
MERC TROOPS 223MI, 0MC, 17MS, 19MW, 9MT
MERC AQRS C00 S03 I03 W02
MERC LEADERSSahk-te' MA87

THE AZTEC EMPIRE:
Mezcal, Divine Ruler of Mexico
DIPLOMACY: none
Aztec orders weren't received.

THE MAYAN ASTRONOMERS
Chontal, Priest-King of the Yucatan
DIPLOMACY: none
Mayan instructions were unreceived also.

QUIRO MAPUCHE
Alyton, the Chosen
DIPLOMACY: none
Alyton spent his revenues improving the regions and cities surrounding the homeland, and stayed domestic. He found his son/heir a wife in Topocalma, had a grand marriage ceremony in the capitol city, and got down to having afmily of their own. The vacation they sent their chief advisor on was just too much fun. He drowned while learning to "free-dive" in the calm reefs offshore.

THE ANDEAN INCAN EMPIRE
Telcio, Emperor of the Heavens
DIPLOMACY: Caranga (n/e), Chimu (t), Valdivia (fa)
telcio invested most of his budget on economic incentives for the locals, but managed to invest heavily in the academic endeavors of his subjects as well. Figuring he'd need all th etaxes he could get for any continuance of his plans, a count was taken of all the Celestial Emperor's subjects.

ANASAZI
Oosoo-mate, Chief Executive of the High Desert
DIPLOMACY: Tepehuan (ea)
The Anasazi President sent his leaders out to explore the regions north and east of the Federation, and Oosoo-mate reecived their reports on their return to Chaco Canyon. The only leader of the Anasazi not out exploring the frontiers was Black Kettle, who spent a solid five years in Tepehuan. The commemorative curreny bearing the likeness of Wupatki was discontinued and only President Hasaan's image appears on high desert wampum anymore.

THE SONOMA KINGDOM
Spotted Elk, King of Sonoma
DIPLOMACY: none
The West Coast Road was widened, smoothed, and patrols hired to protect travellers from bandits. Leaping Chipmunk ad Smiling Otter both were happy for the opportunity to continue their life of leaisure. It became apparent Smiling Otter had developed a taste for fermented cactus juice, and after a night of particularly excessinve imbibement, he passed out (which was normal) and died (which was not normal).

THE IROQUOIS NATION
Talon, Prime Chief of the Council
DIPLOMACY: Chatot (fa)
Chief Talon paddled down the Great Snake River to bring the Chatot natives into the Iroquois nation, and brougght Chief Keewanu with him. That arrangement lasted all of 2 weeks, when Keewanu was bitten by a water serpent "He of the White Mouth". He turned several shades of purple to black, and die don the muddy banks. Taposa remained open to colonists of the Iroquois, and the rich hunting grounds there drew Indian familes from every region with Iroquois families.


MSI / ESI LISTINGS FOR TURN 13, CAMPAIGN XX
( ) around names means negative $ balance, so write me if you sent a check and still show negative balance.

#, Nation Name, MSI, ESI, Player Name, Phone Number, TV, EMail Address
1, Abbasid Caliphate, 136.5, 2, Kyong Kwon, , 21.4, kwonrok@ibm.net
2, The Wue Yue Chinese Kingdom, 131.2, 8, Thad Plate, , 11.3, plate@inficad.com
3, United States of Asia, 128.0, 6, (Rick Stevens), , 15.7, loki@pacbell.net
4, Fatamid Empire, 121.2, 7, Ken McGee, , 12.6, keng@pacifier.com
5, Ummayad Caliphate Al Cordoba, 109.7, 20, Jeffrey Smith, 5055258271, 7.0, kaladan@zianet.com
6, Hong Kong Traders, 109.3, 10, David Berryman, , 5.0, dcberr2@cp.uswc.uswest.com
7, The Honan Chinese Kingdom, 107.3, 5, John Millsaps, , 7.0, MillsapsJ@aol.com
8, Andean Incan Empire, 107.3, 1, Will Holmes, , 8.7, WilHolmes@aol.com
9, Lombard Kingdom of Italy, 101.4, 16, Mark Bailey, 4153903226, 5.4, markcb@bedevere.mfg.sgi.com
10, Empire of the Lower Ganges, 92.5, 14, Andrew Philipson, , 5.9, ARPhilipso@aol.com
11, Kingdom of France, 90.5, 9, John Gleason, , 4.0, a1jacs@brigadoon.com
12, Kingdom of Sonoma, 89.3, 24, John Schmid, , 6.2, magus@netcom.com
13, Byzantine Roman Empire, 77.4, 26, BJ Kersteter, , 7.8, kerstete@freenet.msp.mn.us
14, Anasazi, 71.6, 31, Chris Wayne, , 4.9, jdchris@bart.bernco.gov
15, Shensi Chinese Kingdom, 70.9, 33, John Chan, , 4.1, J1WESCHAN@aol.com
16, Songhai Herdsmen, 70.6, 22, Mark Willner, , 7.6, marc24@ix.netcom.com
17, The Empire of Champa, 67.3, 32, Charles Hurst, , 3.8, charlesh@teleport.com
18, Novgorod Rus, 66.1, 28, (Brian Smith), , 4.5, tug@primenet.com
19, Iroquois Nation, 63.5, 13, Dave Nardone, , 10.8, dnardone@voicenet.com
20, Kingdom of Denmark, 62.5, 12, Steve Hogie, , 7.7, SHogie@deltanet.com
21, Javan Federation, 57.2, 11, David Salter, , 9.3, 102417.3444@compuserve.com
22, Kingdom of Tchad, 55.6, 18, Mike Magoon, , 4.3, MT11871@aol.com
23, Hidden Kingdom of Kongo, 54.3, 29, James Webb, , 8.3, scylla@swcp.com
24, Chola Mandala, 53.8, 21, (Kelly Parks), , 4.9, raj@io.com
25, Roman Catholic Papacy, 46.6, 3, Logan Vanderlinden, , 4.9, loganv@cris.com
26, The Indus Valley Kingdom, 46.4, 19, Stephen Hope, , 3.8, SLHope@msn.com
27, Persian Empire of Samarkhand, 44.7, 17, Keith Parker, 8049841775, 7.1, kgp8d@faraday.clas.virginia.edu
28, The Caliphate al Moravid, 44.3, 30, Patrick McKinney, , 5.0, pgrantm@juno.com
29, United Monarchy of the Avans, 44.3, 23, Paul Petanek, , 4.8, pjp@netVIP.com
30, Saxon Kingdom of Sussex, 43.4, 34, (Bob Gurley), , 5.9, YuppyPutze@earthlink.com
31, Kingdom of Naples, 43.4, 37, (Kerry Harrison), , 2.9, kerry@io.com
32, Quiro Mapuche, 39.2, 27, (Liz Young), , 2.7, Magry46@aol.com
33, Painted Wolf Tribes, 36.8, 15, Christopher Warren, , 4.3, StarAxe@aol.com
34, The Mayan Astronomers, 35.4, 39, Patrick Kelley, , 2.2, galion@sprynet.com
35, Maaori Seahold, 35.2, 41, Open for a player, , 4.5, <BR> 36, Kiev Rus, 34.6, 38, Chuck Monson, , 5.6, CNMonson@aol.com
37, Kingdom of Nigeria, 30.8, 35, Open for a player, , 3.0,
38, The Dalai Lama, 29.7, 4, James Gemmill, None, 1.7, jamesgem@vpl.vancouver.bc.ca
39, The Aztec Empire, 25.1, 25, Peter Morzinski, , 6.4, PeterMorzi@aol.com
40, The Polish Kingdom, 25.0, 36, (Mark Newman), , 2.6, PSpurg1046@aol.com
41, Imam al Muslim, 21.5, 42, Darin Byrne, , 0.3, Darin@clh.com
42, Katoomba Riders, 20.3, 40, John Rascon, , 2.2, tracker@Flamestrike.HACKS.ARIZONA.EDU
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