Lords of the Earth Campaign XX, Turn 15, A.D. 970 - 975

Lords of the Earth Campaign XX

Turn 15: A.D. 970 - 975

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TURN 16 ORDERS DUE BACK BY Friday, 23 May, 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

New version, 3.1 m, running apparently normally. The last few version were sketchy when doing some computations,especially support costs, so please examine your stats closely this turn and next. Also, when reloading the turn 14 backup files, some player balances appeared incorrect to me, so check your balance and advise me if it appears wrong. Thx.

A note on international trade:
When trying to solve the question of effectively using transports and msp, know that the trade capacity of a reoute is equal to the added values of the participating nations' Internation Trade Values. This sum is shown on each route, as the TTV (Total Trade Value). Now fro the transports and msp. If the combined eMSP of the two nations (these values are also listed for each trade route) are greater than the TTV, the FreeCap of the route is negative, indicating the route has too many trade ships on it. Conversely, if the sum of the eMSP values is less than the TTV of the route, the FreeCap is positive, and there is room for more money to be made by assigning more ships to the route. Note that keeping a positive FreeCap on routes is one way of gaining msp for free, as some are generated by the program on each route with room for them.


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 NEW postal address:
Lords XX c/o Eddie Efsic
1200 Ferrell Dr.
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The worldmap idea has been replaced by a "theater" map concept, and is in the works.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 now on the lords 20 website:
North/Central America
Central/South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Oceania

It's a slow process (much slower with Win95 than with Win3.1, which I can't figger out), 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. If this doesn't work out, I'll be reverting to the original mapset, but editing the edges to make them line up and fill in missing data.

Here's the plan...
Phase 1 Assemble maps, fix all boundaries and missing data {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.

Leader Intel Actions:

Leaders can attempt to perform intel actions each turn now. See the rules addendum for specifics.

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 TROOPS14MC, 9MI, 11MS, 9MW, 11MT
MERC AQRS C02 S02 I03 W03
MERC LEADERSnone

UNITED STATES OF ASIA (JIHPEN)
Suiei Ma, President of Jihpen
DIPLOMACY:Toyama (f), Anshan (f), Suifenhe (a)
The Jihpenese President commenced a reorganization of the merchant marine, making provisions for new trade routes to his nemesis now in the walled port of Tonkin. The island shipyards rang out with the sounds of new transport vessels being assembled and launched. President Ma won the opportunity to conduct he offices of the President for another 5 years, due largely to the unappreciated efforts of his youthful Vice President, Muhi Jooyoku. Foundations were laid and grand celebrations had at the new port cities in Yamaguchi and Shikoku ("Ise" and "Kobi"), due largely to the backing of the internal private banks, while Jenna and Kentosani both expanded.

THE WU YUE CHINESE KINGDOM
Quian Lao, God-King of the Middle-Kingdom
DIPLOMACY: none
The mainland Chinese cities also expanded en masse. Chengdu, Chiangling, Nanchang, and Koueichu all pushed their city limits outward. Quian Lao became the new overlord of the Wu Yue, due to Quian Song's abrupt departure from the Middle Kingdom at the ripe, old age of 75. Previous rumors of a nomadic horde north of China never materialized, but travellers from the west told stories of a Kucha Khan, and his horsemen of doom.

THE HONAN CHINESE KINGDOM
Mao Hu Lei, Emperor of China
DIPLOMACY: none
Garrison forts were built throughout the Honan lands, and defenses were mustered and sent to Lu'an to defend the righteous Chinese nations from the evil, wicked, horde of death, which no one had actually seen, but figured would show up eventually.

THE SHENSI CHINESE KINGDOM
Cheng Ho, Storm Fist, King of China
DIPLOMACY:Yun (ea), Lanchou (fa)
Not to be outdone in preparations for self-preservation, Cheng Ho also ordered a flurry of fort construction in his own kingdom. Apart from that precaution, everything in the north of China appeared to run pretty much as normal.

BACPHAN ZHUANGZU
Xian Ven, Overlord of South China
DIPLOMACY: Mison (f), Lingnan (f)
Content to have his government safely esconced in the Tonkin walls, Xian Ven visited himself on the leaders of Mison and gained their allegiance. A major incentive for their allegiance was to gain a son in the form of the heir, Xian Tran. Tran finally became old enough to assume some of the responsibilities of office, and Ven had his aides groom the heir for his destiny as successor to the Overlord. The South China Road extended further south into Champa and the port Vijaya, while foundations were laid for new port cities at the local villages in Fujian (Xiamen on the Dongsha Hai) and at Cochin (Siagon on the Mekong Sea). Funds were sent to both of the Chinese leaders facing the Great Wall and the charging chimerical horde, ostensibly to assist them in paying for their defense funds.

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
Out on a day excursion in Shangri-La, the teen Dalai happened on a group of boys playing on a frozen lake, striking a rock with long sticks in an effort to drive the afore-mentioned rock into opposing targets. Sadly, the youth was denied to opportunity to try his hand at the sport, as it broke down in organization and individual and group brawls occurred every few minutes. His guides allowed him to stay and watch, however, and a fascinating spectacle it was, if only to which "team" managed to raise the shirts of their opponents' more often. Even after observing a series of contests, with a tremendously large drinking vessel as the ultimate prize, the two teams invariably retired from each day, tied at zero. Singh Hao returned to his mountain retreat to contemplate the violent nature of humanity.


SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC RIM
MERC TROOPS 18MC, 16MI, 16MS, 23MW, 17MT
MERC AQRS C02 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
Orders from the Burmese failed to arrive.

THE JAVAN FEDERATION
Rangat Rao, President Sirivjavan
DIPLOMACYnone
The Indonesians were similarly undirective.

THE MAAORI SEAHOLD
Mano Oio, Son of Sea and Sky
DIPLOMACY:Marianas (a)
The son of sea and sky set to having a son of hios own, and after happily receiving a pair of daughters from his bride, became the proud papa of a bouncing baby boy. Diplomatic discussion on the Marianas Archipelago gained Mano a second ally, and new numbers of merchants put to sea to hawk the wares among the neighboring Javans.

THE KATOOMBA RIDERS
Yamma Samma, Chief He'e Nalu
DIPLOMACY: none
The leader of the pack continued to hear the affairs of his loyal subjects, and spend his ample free time in the surf with his lifelong pals. The royal shaman foretold of the coming of the mightiest of all waves, emphatically claiming evidence among all of his oracular devices. Knowing better than to doubt his seer, Yamma Lamma waited patiently on the shore for nearly 2 full moon-cycles, before the weather began to turn. A vicious storm blew ashore, destroying a majority of the coastal dwellings, and when it seemed to pass, Lamma exited his own damaged home to find a surreal calm aver the island. In every direction he turned, a black wall of stom clouds rose to meet the sky, but directly above, the sky was the bright blue of early afternoon. Lamma's innate sense of time and space had mystically vanished, seeming to be both early afternoon and midnight at the same time. His shaman advised him his end was near, and to take his board to the shore, and find his peace with the Maker. Ordering his children and grandchildren to higher ground, Lamma took his surfing gear to the coast, and began paddling out when the horizon of the sea began to rise. The wave continued to rise over 100 man-heights, refusing to crest, and Lamma rode to greet it. Turning back towards shore, two figures emerged beside him. Chief He'e Nalu Yamma Lamma rode the wave of his life and death, with his sons Carcheris and Carcheraodon on either side, going blind from the speed and the saline spray moments before being engulfed by oblivion.


INDIA AND MIDDLE EAST
MERC TROOPS 7MC, 9MI, 19MS, 7MW, 5MT
MERC AQRS C03 S03 I02 W02
MERC LEADERSRakshasa M984

KUCHA HORDE
Mishrak, Kucha Khan
DIPLOMACY:none
The clan leaders of the nomadic tribes north of the Gobi Desert were gathered in council, and elected Khan Mishrak to lead their peoples to their glorious future. New player: Nathan Hale, nathale@juno.com

EMPIRE OF THE LOWER GANGES
Narayanapala III, Guardian of the Ganges, Divine Wrath of Kali
DIPLOMACY: Samatata (n/e)
Narayanapala wished the Samatatans would join his empire as subjects, so he betrothed his 6 year old daughter to the Samatatan king's son. He also spent two and a half years in their company watching the two children grow up together, but the King of Samatata declined to cede his authority to the Emperor. Disappointed, Narayanapala returned to his own capitol to find consolation in the arms of his Burmese wife, and prepare his eldest son Akhashi for the trials of rulership and power. And figure out just what direction the Kucha Khan was going to take, if and when he decided to travel.

XANTHI EMPIRE OF XANADU
Palpatyn II, Grand Poobah of the Xanthi Zieterund
DIPLOMACY: Chito (a), Jaunpur (f), Gujerat (ea), Anhivarta (nt), Vatsa (a)
Trade routes were formed from Xanadu to the Indus Valley inhabitants, due largely to Palpatyn's wise rulership, and expedited by the supervision of Lord Angur. Further, the national economy was nearly fully recovered from the deep depression induced during the Khemer/Burmese war and mass exodus. Every leader under the command of Palpatyn, with one exception, was sent to neighboring regions in efforts to gather them under the rule of the Grand Poobah. The merchant marine was redirected from its overflooding of Palas markets, and turned to more profitable arenas in Burma and with the Pandyans in the south of India.

THE INDUS VALLEY KINGDOM
Mushtaq, Mansurashah, Protector of the Indus
DIPLOMACY: Bandar (fa)
Shah Mushtaq spent his years ruling as a benevolent ruler ought. Vast sums of the treasury were spent on improving the tax base of the capitol city inhabitants. Just about every unemployed man in the nation was offered a job in this new program, and the capitol Mansura quickly began to see the benefits of improvement. Mushtaq's queen bore him yet another child, a seventh daughter, and after nine children overall, the royal physicians swore she could not safely have any more. General Isfauhan was dispatched to retrieve the armed forces in Sikkim, but he became the victim of brigands enroute to his new command. Mushtaq selected the most promising of his field commanders to replace the venerable general.

THE CHOLA MANDALAM
Arou, Mandala Chola
DIPLOMACY: none
General Arou relinquished the command of his footmen to King Abisya before embarking to the Maldive Islands on a mission of goodwill and friendship. General Ky's mission to the inland regions of India was a good deal less kind, and a lot less friendly. His itinerary took him to Gangas, Karnata, and then Madurai, and in each province he cornered the leaders and their regional defenses and wiped em out, installing garrisons in each location. Plenty far away from any new recruits' mommies, the three provinces rapidly became the training grounds for all new recruits in the Cholan Army. Measures were taken to provide income to support these garrisons, with new trade routes established to both the Abbasids at Basra and the Burmese at Narathu. Meanwhile, back in the capitol, King Abisya and his staff went on safari, in search of elephant, and found a whole herd of them. The scouts led the party towards the herd from the wrong direction and cornered the family of elephant. Bad move. With the bull elephants at the lead, the whole herd charged the royals, and killed most of them, including Abisya. General Arou returned from his conquests, and claimed the Cholan seat of power as his own. None present had any means to contest him.

IMAM MUSLIM
Koshtan, Siadat Kuran
DIPLOMACY: none
Koshtan sent his underlings north and west to spread the truth among the believers and unbelievers alike. New religious sites were built and expanded in Fatamid regions, while the heathen Christians in Suakin were brought to see the light that is Allah. Koshtan ensured the tithe continued to flow to Mecca, and extra gold arrived from the Egyptians, while his observers kept a vigilant eye on all the activities of the Muslim world.

THE ABBASID CALIPHATE
Mahtaub, Kaliphat Rasul Allah
DIPLOMACY: none
Abbasid orders were absent.

THE MAHMUD GHAZNI PERSIAN KINGDOM
Ghaseb Pesar, Sahib, Kophatshah
DIPLOMACY: none
In an effort not to be outdone by their fellow Arab neighbors, the Persian orders were also absent.


WEST EUROPE
MERC TROOPS14MC, 18MI, 9MS, 11MW, 16MT
MERC AQRS C02 S03 I03 W03
MERC LEADERS: none


THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PAPACY
Michael VI, 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
The conglomeration of armies in Paris led Pope John to send Cardinal Hale there to establish a monastery in the French capitol, and acquire some of this money being handed over to vineyard owners. Two other Cardinals were sent afield as well, to found abbies in Danish and Neapolitan regions. Figuring he had done all he could for Christianity, saving it from the heathen horde and all, Pope John XI expired in Rome at the age of 76.

THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE
Demetre Aguille, King of France
DIPLOMACY: none
King Aguille hired more swords with which to do battle against the Bolgar death riders, using borrowed money from banks, both internal and from Jewish lenders. After about a year of war councils, his advisors finally convinced him the horde was no more. General Pardu was sent to Hainaut to defend against them all the same, until he expired from heavy drinking and massive consumption of illusion producing herbs.

THE NAPOLI KINGDOM (DEAD)
Marco Lucana, King of Naples
DIPLOMACY: none
In a strange twist of events, the teen King Marco Lucana quietly vanished one spring day, in a puff of logic. Underground supporters of the Lombard King Mario Orsini occupied the royal palace and declared all lands previously ruled by the Lucana dynasty to be the right and true subjects of the Lombard King. They produced documents supposedly bearing King Marco's writ as evidence, and although none of the Italian Dukes took the evidence at face value, nearly all of them forged economic agreements with the new King of Italy.

THE DANISH KINGDOM
Swain Adalsson, Rex Danmark
DIPLOMACY: Saxony (down to nt), Lorraine (t), Westphalia (down to nt)
The Danish king lost both of his dearest friends and advisors in the persons of Generals Wotan and Jarlson., who both died of weariness at 59 years of age. Life must press forward though, and Swain married a Frankish in Lorraine, and arranged marriages of both of unwed sisters to nobles in Saxony and Westphalia. Now if he could only get those bishops to keep their traps shut...

THE LOMBARD KINGDOM OF ITALY
Mario d' Orsini, Rex Sognari
DIPLOMACY: Napoli Kingdom (ea), Swabia (nt), Franconia(nt), Bavaria (nt)
King Mario was happily expanding his lands both north and south, as his diplomats were in German lands, expecting fully to convince the Germans how fitting it was to provide tribute to King Mario. After all, wasn't it King Mario who allied with them to defeat the Poles on several occasions, and also scattered the Bolgar horde just across the Rhine? They would have had the tribute from the German lands too, had it not been for Papal bishops travelling throughout the regions, extolling on the virtues of the Polish King Balduin. He was such a holy man, totally dissimilar to the excommunicate dynasty formerly at war with the Germans, and well deserving of the Germans' tribute. Mario, vexed with the failures of his diplomats in Germany, returned the tribute from Carinthia and Tyrolia in a measure to more effectively govern his remaining lands.

THE KINGDOM OF SUSSEX ENGLAND
Edward II, Saxon King of England
DIPLOMACY: none
King Edward sent instructions to his field general in Paris to bring his forces north to the Channel, where Edward and the Royal Navy would be waiting to ferry them across back home. What he didn't know at the time was that his Lothian ally (who truthfully hadn't written his king in several months) had expired in the arms of a French lass late in the summer of 971, and his units had found willing wives in the Paris populous and started families of their own. Only a handful of British pikemen ever arrived at Ponthieu to we taken home to England. Lacking their king or an believable explanation, the Lothian region's new king declined to renew his alliance with Edward.

UMMAYAD CALIPHAT AL CORDOBA
Asad Nasir, Caliph al Cordoba, Infidel's Bane
DIPLOMACY: Estremedura (f), Aragon (f)
Asad Caliph had been allowig his son to rule the Cordovan lands in his name for going on ten years, and Abdullah sent word through the Emir of Muslim Castille to Paris for General Yasir to hie himself and the victorious troops home to Murcia. Having been enjoying the fruits of French vineyards and of French mademoiselles as only soldiers can, Yasir and his command were reluctant to leave, but news of the Caliph's death at 74 years old gave him new incentive. He and the Castillian Emir cooked up a plan to take power for themselves from the youth Abdullah, and figured their chances very good, especially considering the dispersed nature of the Cordovan military at home. A few months after their quiet return to Murcia, the Caliph Abdullah began ranting and raving at his subject, usually without apparent reason, and Yasir arranged for the royal physicians to begin an intense "treatment program". The physicians were the most eduacated and intelligent in the land, meaning they knew who was going to be Caliph in a few months, and they knew it wasn't going to be Abdullah. Prince Tariq was the natural choice to replace Abdullah during his incapacity, and the nation mourned for a full two months after his untimely demise. Caliph Abdullah hung onto life, even if his sanity was gone, for nearly a year, at which time Yasir claimed the throne of Iberia for his own.

KINGDOM OF SPAIN
Paco, "El Rojo", King of Spain
DIPLOMACY:none
With the loyalty of several generals, including Hafez with and the bulk of the loyalist troops, Yasir was expelled from Murcia by Abullah's son Achmed. It was in Asturias Yasir was baptised as "Paco the Red One", and the Christian provincial leaders flocked to his banner, with one exception. Galacia and its port fortress remained in the grip of the Muslims, as the remaining Christian lands formed the Kingdom of Spain. Open for a player.


EAST EUROPE
MERC TROOPS 5MC, 22MI, 8MS, 16MW, 16MT
MERC AQRS I2 C03 S01 W03
MERC LEADERSVogni M877

THE POLISH KINGDOM
Orouin I, King of Poland
DIPLOMACY:Silesia (nt), Thuringia (nt), Bavaria (nt to Lombardy), Saxony (nt to Denmark), Westphalia (nt to Denmark), Franconia (c), Little Poland (nt), Galatia (c)
The Intra-European wars seemed to come to an end, but diplomats from Denmark, Italy, and France still contested for the hearts of what was once Germany. Tribute would probably have gone to Denmark and the Lombards from several regions, had Papal bishops travelling under King Orouin's banner not gained the audience of the local nobilites. King Balduin had expired in Thuringia, arranging marriage for his daughter, and attempting to gain a son by marriage to assist him in the workings of the Kingdom. The Russian army in Poland returned to the East, but not back to Novgorod.

GRAND PRINCIPATE OF PRUSSIA
Vostov Borislov, Prince of Prussia
DIPLOMACY: none
Prince Vostov Borislov was sent by his elder (by a whole 2 hours) brother to defend the Poles, again, from a sensed invasion, again. This was getting tiresome to the Prince, who figured if he was going be some grand defender, he might as well defend something of his own. In this light, he devised a plan to set himself up in the lands between Poland and Novgorod. After making sure no one invaded Poland, again, Vostov used his army to force tribute from Danzig, Musa, and Masuria, and set up his court in Prussia. Word was dispatched to Rome seeking Papal blessing and a King's crown.Open for a player

THE NOVGOROD KINGDOM
Vasili Borislov, "The White Fist"
DIPLOMACY: Muscovy (a)
Vasili remained in the relative comfort of his capitol, ruling the Kingdom, and sent his obstinate brother to Kauyavia to look out for the Poles' future. He was supposed to return with slaves to replenish the slave pool, which had been seriously depleted improving homeland region. Diplomatic effforts gained him an ally from Muscovy, and he figured he might just need that ally if Vostov actually gained the services of the traitor Vogni. Vasili was convinced it was Vogni who engineered the whole "Prussian thing", Vostov lacking the will or wit to attempt such a bold move alone.

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

THE BYZANTINE ROMAN EMPIRE
Leo, Roman Emperor of the East
DIPLOMACY: Dobruja (ea), Paphlagonia (a), Thessaly (fa), Serbia (fa)
Emperor Leo had also had enough of war for a time, and spent most of his time with the Empress and the royal children. Byzantine diplomats were about East Europe and Asia Minor, turning hearts and minds in matters of politics and religion. Political favors, economic incentives, vague promises,and cold hard cash were all tools used in their discussions. Cash money gold also arrived in Constantinople, a full shipload with its own small protection fleet, from Pope John in Rome. Russian trade vessels captured during the previous years of hostilities were set free and returned to their frigid homes, just as soon as the ice pack broke up. After all, why leave the warm Mediterranean Sea to camp on the banks of the Dnepr, and have sit and shiver waiting for ice to thaw? The Moldavian port fortress was repaired and improved, although garrison was removed from the surrounding countryside, and the inhabitants happily received their independence from the Romans.


AFRIQA
MERC TROOPS 17MC, 16MI, 21MS, 22MW, 8MT
MERC AQRS C02 S03 I02 W02
MERC LEADERS: Barrhansen MA57

THE CALIPHATE AL MORAVID
Yusif ali Babar, "Zaban Nogreh"
DIPLOMACY: Algeria (f), Cheliff (f), Idjil (nt)
Yusif spent nearly four years in the company of his Chelliffan ally, and after much discussion and personal contests, Yusif gained his allegiance as a loyal subject. Yusif's government leaders were also away from the capitol, bringing new lands under the tule of the Moravid Caliph. Trade was established with Abbasid Muslims from the far side of the sea, and some gold was sent directly to the Imam through tithe channels

THE FATAMID EMPIRE
Pesar el Madir, Guardian of the Holy Places
DIPLOMACY: Ad'diffah (nt), Adulis (f)
Caliph Pesar set aside funds for the expansion of Iskandariyah and Aqabah, and built docks on the Danakil coast town of Tobruq. A new road was carved south from Iskandariyah to Maraghah in Faiyum province. In matters of nobility, the Caliph took a wife from the Ad'diffah province, and turned the hostile minds of most every person in the region, while Pesar's diplomats worked together in Adulis to gain their fealty.

THE SONGHAI HERDSMEN
Bakele Kersil
DIPLOMACY: Adwaghost (nt)
Bakele decided it was time to know just how many subjects he had, so he decreed they all line up and be counted. He just didn't tell them where, when, or how to be counted. The late King Minkah's murderers were hunted with every investigative tool at the disposal of Bakele and his administrators, but the person or persons behind the poisoning were not to be found. Lacking an heir to continue the line, Bakele named his 17 year old little brother heir.

THE HIDDEN KINGDOM OF THE KONGO (HKK)
M'Toko, King of the Dark
DIPLOMACY: Gagnoa (h), Togo (n/e), Akan (n/e), Vili (n/e)Douala (a)
The Dark King left his army in the homeland as he visited neighboring regions, endeavoring to attain their homage. Spending less than a year in one place, his efforts met with less then remarkable results. The homeland defenses were left in the hands of M'Toko's Vilian ally, who had the army and it's organization in shambles by the time the King returned. He had planned to spend a lot of time with his family upon returning to his metropolis Kinshasa, but the mess which was the national army required his immediate attention to reestablish some sense of military order. He vowed to himself to never allow a Vilian to handle military affairs.

KINGDOM OF NIGERIA
Bongorwa, King of Benin
DIPLOMACY:
Nigerian instructions weren't received. New player: Tim Atchison, tatchison@juno.com

THE KINGDOM OF TCHAD
Djenabo, "The Pitiless One", Omar Kanembu
DIPLOMACY: Gefara (a), Zerma (a), Kanuri (f)
The aged King Tunka had about given up on having a son of his own, so he arrranged the marriage of his only daughter. To this end he organized a contest of strength, willpower, and wits, with his daughters hand in marriage as the prize. Over 1000 young men from across the Kingdom chose to participate, knowing full well that to not win was to die. The champion of the games, the only surviving entrant, slew the runner- up with his bare hands, and gained a wife and a kingdom with his victory. Tunka only lived another eight months, and Djenabo and his royal bride became the rulers of the Kingdom of Tchad. Djenabo quickly acquired allies from the outlying regions, using means economic and political to further his ends. A new port city, Jamaa, was established in Gefara

THE PAINTED WOLF TRIBES (ZIMBABWE)
Wanzian, Shaka Zulu
DIPLOMACY: none
Zulu orders didn't arrive.


THE AMERICAS
MERC TROOPS 26MI, 0MC, 20MS, 20MW, 12MT
MERC AQRS C00 S03 I04 W02
MERC LEADERSnone

THE AZTEC EMPIRE:
Mezcal, Divine Ruler of Mexico
DIPLOMACY:Nahuatl (ea)
A new port city was sanctioned by Emperor Mezcal, who decided to name it Acapulco, in the Nahuatl territory. Combined political conferences between the local leaders and the Imperial Minister Zertrep established a mutually lucrative treaty, while Mezcal concerned himself with the appeasement of the gods.

THE MAYAN ASTRONOMERS
Chontal, Priest-King of the Yucatan
DIPLOMACY: none
Mayan instructions weren't present.

QUIRO MAPUCHE
Alyton, the Chosen
DIPLOMACY: none
Alyton begged the gods for inspiration in ways to bring the prosperity of the prosperity of the Mapuche tribes up to levels equal with that of their northern Inca neighbors. He received a strange reply from the heavens in a language totally unfamiliar to Alyton or to any of his sages...
"Hello." the message went, "We're sorry, but the cellular phone you are attempting to reach is unavilable or off at this time. Please try again at a later time. And thank you for using Welkin Bell. Goodbye."
Prince Kniso, Alyton's only son and eldest child was wed and began a family of his own at his villa in Mapuche.

THE ANDEAN INCAN EMPIRE
Paco Cazxcitl, Emperor of the Heavens
DIPLOMACY: Caranga (f), Chimu (ea), Valdivia (a)
It was in 972 when the Incan Emperor Telcio finally left the material world, and his son Ptontic took the Empire for his own at the age of 61. Most had come to the conclusion he was far to old and decrepit to effectively govern the Empire, but his political enemies soon found the error in their thinking. Such thinking almost invariably led to their deaths, more often than not on the divine sacrificial altars along with common slaves and foreign captives. In the end, it was his own son Cazxcitl who found the weak link in his father's political armor, which turned out to be his affection for his own children. Cazxcitl convinced his sister's lover to elope with her, since their father would never approve of a union between the two. Following their disappearance, he forged a kidnapping note and ransom demand, and his enraged father was only too happy to allow his son to form a elite secret military force to affect the recapture and punshment of the stupid renegades. Cazxcitl instructed his unit to slay his sister's husband, and having them make clear it was the Emperor's hand which directed their blades, Cazxcitl had them bring the wayward girl back to her father Ptontic, who was overjoyed at seeing her. Opening his arms to enfold his little girl, he never saw the knife blade Cazxcitl had given her to avenge her husband's demise. Ptontic bled to death in his own throneroom, and Cazxcitl shouted for guards after he "punished" his sister. The imperial guards entered the throneroom and beheld their new Emperor, standing above his slain kindred.

ANASAZI
Oosoo-mate, Chief Executive of the High Desert
DIPLOMACY: Tepehuan (f)
Oosoo-mate was reaffirmed by a popular concensus of the people, and his wise supervision of the government was evidenced by peaceful growth. He advised the legislative body head to travel south to see if he could contact any other civilized nations, and the returning leader told of an advanced kingdom of Aztecs in the tropical jungles far to the south. Work began on a new city in Chiricaua, and it was dubbed Anghiza, after a venerated mayor of earlier years.

THE SONOMA KINGDOM
Spotted Elk, King of Sonoma
DIPLOMACY: none
Spotted Elk's son Striking Wolf became mature enough to administer some of the offices of the kingdom, and soon became invaluable to his father. Each administrative challenge delivered by his father was expertly dealt with. In short order, all Spotted Elk needed to do was declare his wishes, and it was only a matter of days before his wishes were followed by his subjects. Albion, Ursa Majoris, and Ursa Minoris expanded in a economic incentive program under the supervision of (who else) Striking Wolf.

THE IROQUOIS NATION
Talon, Prime Chief of the Council
DIPLOMACY: Chatot (a)
Talon's eldest son Tunkanhuk also became old enough to govern the combined tribes of the Iroquois Nation, and shortly showed his talents as remarkable as Spotted Wolf's far to the west. Epinette was scouted and declared open to Iroquois colonists. Widely regarded as an excellent politician, Talon continued to keep grips on his far reaching nation, and figured his son would be eminently capable of doing the same.


MSI / ESI LISTINGS FOR TURN 15, CAMPAIGN XX
#, 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, 128.6, 6, (Thad Plate), , 13.0, plate@inficad.com
3, United States of Asia, 126.3, 7, (Rick Stevens), , 19.0, loki@pacbell.net
4, Fatamid Empire, 124.5, 8, Ken McGee, , 14.4, keng@pacifier.com
5, Andean Incan Empire, 109.5, 1, Will Holmes, , 9.6, WilHolmes@aol.com
6, The Honan Chinese Kingdom, 109.2, 5, John Millsaps, , 7.0, MillsapsJ@aol.com
7, Empire of the Lower Ganges, 92.8, 14, Andrew Philipson, , 6.4, ARPhilipso@aol.com
8, Kingdom of France, 92.5, 11, John Gleason, , 4.0, a1jacs@brigadoon.com
9, Kingdom of Sonoma, 90.3, 20, John Schmid, , 8.2, magus@netcom.com
10, Lombard Kingdom of Italy, 88.3, 9, Mark Bailey, 4153903226, 9.3, markcb@bedevere.mfg.sgi.com
11, The Empire of Champa, 84.9, 29, Charles Hurst, , 5.0, charlesh@teleport.com
12, Iroquois Nation, 84.6, 13, Dave Nardone, , 12.1, dnardone@voicenet.com
13, Bacphan Zuangzu, 83.2, 10, David Berryman, , 6.0, dcberr2@cp.uswc.uswest.com
14, Ummayad Caliphate Al Cordoba, 81.7, 21, Jeffrey Smith, 5055258271, 6.6, kaladan@zianet.com
15, Songhai Herdsmen, 79.6, 23, Mark Willner, , 7.6, marc24@ix.netcom.com
16, Byzantine Roman Empire, 78.0, 25, BJ Kersteter, , 7.8, kerstete@freenet.msp.mn.us
17, Anasazi, 73.8, 33, Chris Wayne, , 5.1, jdchris@bart.bernco.gov
18, Shensi Chinese Kingdom, 72.4, 28, John Chan, , 5.5, J1WESCHAN@aol.com
19, Novgorod Rus, 71.6, 31, Brian Smith, , 4.9, tug@primenet.com
20, Kingdom of Tchad, 67.2, 19, Mike Magoon, , 4.9, MT11871@aol.com
21, Chola Mandala, 58.8, 27, (Kelly Parks), , 5.4, raj@io.com
22, Kingdom of Denmark, 57.3, 16, Steve Hogie, , 7.7, SHogie@deltanet.com
23, Javan Federation, 57.2, 12, David Salter, , 9.3, 102417.3444@compuserve.com
24, The Caliphate al Moravid, 56.2, 30, Patrick McKinney, , 5.1, pgrantm@juno.com
25, Hidden Kingdom of Kongo, 55.8, 32, James Webb, , 8.0, scylla@swcp.com
26, Painted Wolf Tribes, 52.2, 15, Christopher Warren, , 4.3, StarAxe@aol.com
27, Roman Catholic Papacy, 52.0, 3, Logan Vanderlinden, , 5.3, loganv@cris.com
28, The Indus Valley Kingdom, 51.4, 17, Stephen Hope, , 3.8, SLHope@ats.com.au
29, The Polish Kingdom, 47.7, 34, (Mark Newman), , 3.5, MNewman565@aol.com
30, Persian Empire of Samarkhand, 46.2, 18, Keith Parker, 8049841775, 7.1, kgp8d@faraday.clas.virginia.edu
31, United Monarchy of the Avans, 45.0, 22, Paul Petanek, , 4.8, pjp@netVIP.com
32, Maaori Seahold, 43.5, 40, Mark Hilton, , 4.5, Mark.hilton@lineone.net
33, Quiro Mapuche, 39.3, 26, Liz Young, , 2.7, Magry46@aol.com
34, Kucha Horde, 36.7, 44, Nathan Hale, , 1.3, nathale@juno.com
35, The Mayan Astronomers, 35.4, 38, Patrick Kelley, , 2.2, galion@sprynet.com
36, Kingdom of Spain, 35.3, 42, Open for a player, , 1.0,
37, Saxon Kingdom of Sussex, 31.9, 36, Bob Gurley, , 7.8, YuppyPutze@earthlink.com
38, The Dalai Lama, 31.7, 4, James Gemmill, None, 2.0, jamesgem@vpl.vancouver.bc.ca
39, Kingdom of Nigeria, 30.8, 35, Tim Atchison, , 3.0, tatchison@juno.com
40, Kiev Rus, 28.2, 37, Open for a player, , 5.6,
41, The Aztec Empire, 26.0, 24, Peter Morzinski, , 7.1, PeterMorzi@aol.com
42, Imam al Muslim, 21.5, 41, Darin Byrne, , 0.3, Darin@clh.com
43, Katoomba Riders, 18.3, 39, John Rascon, , 2.2, tracker@Flamestrike.HACKS.ARIZONA.EDU
44, Grand Principate of Prussia, 13.4, 43, Open for a player, , 0.3,

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