A New Dawn (IC/semi-open)

by **Mishmahig** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:35 pm

A New Dawn: Empires Rising

The Birth of Empires

It is a new era, a new age. The world has changed, as once-mighty empires crumble and fall, while new ones rise. In the east, the Polynesian tribes have united in a confederacy that managed to drive back the mighty ships of the Chinese Empire, even as Korea conquered their longtime enemies in Japan, and India fell under the boots of the Deccan warriors. Anatolia, the bastion of the powerful Ottoman Turks has fallen to the power and might of the Khan of Timuristan, even as the struggling remnants of the Byzantine Empire fight desperately to rebuild and survive, longing desperately for their days of glory, long lost.

Europe, too, has not escaped unscathed. The Papal standard now waves from the top of every city in Italy, as the Catholic Church takes up the sword and shield in order to defend itself from the infidels that swarm the borders, even as the Medici plot treason from within. Frankish merchants, bringing back word of exotic and foreign lands, have enchanted the French nobility with a love of all things Chinese, leading to the ultimate rise of a half-Chinese man to the throne, learned in the ways of the East and the West. To the south, Spain remains bitterly divided after the failure of the Reconquista, as Catholics and Muslims eye each other warily. English and Dutch ships compete on the high seas for colonies and trade, even as the threat of the Golden Horde looms across all.

The winds of change are in the air, with the discovery of the Americas. The world has not stopped changing---and who knows what will happen?

Guidelines:

1. No godmodding, metagaming, or otherwise exploiting unfair advantages to establish total dominance in IC.
2. Respect other people, and solve issues peacefully.
3. Stay active, and enjoy.
4. Please keep things realistic, in keeping with the times (1500s)

OOC is here.

Mondrova is the OP, I am the Co-OP.

This is the central thread for the "A New Dawn" AWRP. If events develop in here that you would like to explore further/etc, then please create a new thread and TG/post in OOC the link so I can add it to this OP.

Active Threads:

Inactive Threads:

We begin on June 1st, 1500.

Events can occur simultaneously in different areas, and people will be operating on different posting schedules. Please be reasonable in your time stamps----don't skip entire months. A time skip of a day to three days, a week at most between your post and the previous post should be sufficient.

by **Mishmahig** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:36 pm

Tag for my first IC post.

by **Garwall** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:33 am

Tabriz, Persia
Sublime Empire of Timuristan
Palace of Shah Ismail I Timurid
14th of June, 1500

Act I
The Hajj of Ten Thousand Swords

The City of Tabriz. A shining center of learning, wealth, and power for miles in either direction, with its rivals only being found in Constantinople in the west, and the rich cities of China far to the east. Persian merchants grow fat off the trade that flows through weekly, and warriors grow restless as the Horde transitions into an agrarian society of farmers and artisans, instead of proud warriors and herders. Lavish silks and Chinaware mingle with Latin and Greek novels and texts in the Bazaar, in the crossroads between East and West.

Within the Palace of the Shah and Khan Ismail Timurid, the true extent of the wealth of Tabriz is fully revealed. Wines and spirits lie aplenty with armed Household guards, loyal to that of the Safavid Dynasty, who in turn are loyal to the regal yet ferocious Timurid Dynasty, fierce Turkic Conquerors who have adopted the ways of Persia. Upon the Golden Throne of Ismail, sat the Shah himself. Laid before him was a table, upon which lie a map depicting the Middle East, encompassing Ismail's Empire, as well as parts of the Balkans and as far east as central India. Surrounding the table were some of his most trusted Generals, Nobles, and respected members of the Court.

"What you propose is against everything we have been brought up with, as followers of Allah," declared one particularly devout Court member, Amir of Miran. "How can a Hajj be holy and spiritual if your path to Mecca is littered in corpses?" Ismail sat silent, eyeing the man as he spoke. "I have made the Hajj twice before, and never with a single drop of blood spilled. My soul is consecrated, but yours cannot hope to be if you wish to go through with this."

Ismail rose his hand, calling for conversation to halt. His Court was calling his decisions into question, he thought. Now is the time to show strength. "The warriors grow restless, and thirsty for blood. Our roads worsen with each day, while our ports lie empty. Followers of Sunni declare outright war against their rightful Shi'a Rulers. Blood will be spilled on this journey, this is true. But it is a necessary evil that must be done to hold together this Empire of my Ancestors. The Levant is rightful Timurid land, and is right for conquest. But doing so will only bring more dispassionate Sunni followers under our wing."

The young Shah rose to his feet now. "To stop at the Sinai, and embark in rags and without weapons to Mecca would be an offense to everyone who values order. We have the power to restore order to the true Faith, and end the unspoken war once and for all. To think I would allow my warriors to spoil, and let my name tarnish while I am away is treason." Amir took a step forward. "You speak of laying siege to the holy city of Mecca, to burn the holy Mosques to the ground--" Ismail quickly cut him off once more. "I will restore order to the City of Mecca. I will bring back Jerusalem to the true Faith, and restore the order to this land. I respect your opinion Amir, just as my father did. But speaking out in such a manner against your Shah, I remind you, is treason."

A single nod of his head, and two of Ismail's personal Ghulam seized Amir by the shoulders, with heavy gaunlets, pulling him towards the door, as he shouted and begged for mercy. "Prepare the warriors, send word to the Herders outside the city. Begin preparations for the Hajj." Ismail turned to leave the room. "I want ten thousand swords ready to follow me to Mecca, ten thousand more to follow in one month's time after my embarkation, and ten thousand more to the north. The Georgian Kings hold gold, I know it in my heart."

by **Ublia** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:45 am

Karakorum,Palace of the Great Khan

The rebuilt city of Karakorum was indeed a thriving place. Buddhist monestaries,Christian churchs,mosques and other religious establishements swelled with their flocks. The local markets were a hub of activity as Mongols,Turks and others traded their wares. The suburbs of foreign merchant houses had sprouted fourth. While traditional gurs dotted the city as well.However its grandest monument was teh Great kahns palace. Made of oak and other luxurious woods the palace was held up by massive marble columns imported from around the globe. The Imperial throne made of gold and embolzed with the Imperial sea sat attop a podiumat teh center of this massive structure. All this was a restored Karakorum the center of a rebornm Yuan Empire.The yuan however had not been this prosperous in nearlly a century it had lost Beijing and the throne it had once held there. True every Mongol Kan since the fallen one had carried a Chinese title however ultimatly it was a empty one at that. Now though Khan Yuan Choibalsan ruled. Though he himself was of sixty he ruled absoloute as overlord of the mongols,the Turkic Uighurs,the Jin like Manchus, the Buriats and other tribes all aming up this vast truelly Mongol Empire.

Sitting in the palace courtryard the Khan admired the cherry trees that had been planted by another khan whom missed their subtle movements and smells. True the Imperial botanists had gone to great lengths to create teh illusion of a small fraction of China on the Mongolian steppe however indeed it was a blessed one. Reading through another of so many books that the Yuan had brought with as they fled here he enjoyed to read these Chinese classics. However he was also distictly Mongol. He was a notorious horseman and archer as all Mongols. However he was a merciless guerrila tactican to add. Whom'd served under his cousin and uncle during their times as Great Khan. Now though he sensed war wa son the horizon the Ming and the Golden Horde dared encroach on Mongol territory. However the Great Khan would wait he would let them strike first and he would conqer them all.

Palace of the Great Khan

by **Samarstan** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:00 am

Prague,
Capital of the Queendom of Czecho-Slavia,
Court of the Queens,
14th of June, 1500

Her Royal Highness wqas sitting at the head of her fesat table, and all her nobles were there. Next to her on her right side were her two sons, Ales and Borivaj sat. On her left side, in a demi-throne, was her daughter, Anastazie, the Queen's heir. Among the table were her important vassals and most trusted advisors. Although these feasts usually comprised of hearty conversation, the table was now silent, with the exception of a few formalities to the Queen and otherwise. However, today was different. Just days ago the Queen had passed the Absolute Authority Act, leaving her vassals with next to no power over anything. The great feast had been served in silence, and Zlata was very bored, and felt that she didn't want to meet any of the murderous gazes of her vassals.

I could execute most of them for treason, she thought. And that would mean finding replacements, and I don't wanna be doing that on a weekend.

Suddenly, the hall doors creaked open, and a clearly half-drunk slavic guard had a courier in a headlock, who was screaming in Hungarian. Zlata hid her face in her palm. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened mid-diplomatic relations. Not that anything important was happening right now.

Rising from her throne, she gestured for two guards to restrain the man who was holding the courier. In her rough Hungarian, she told the man to come forward. A Hungarian messenger was not paramount right now, especially with all the other conflict to erupt, the last thing we need is a complaint from the Huns, she told herself. "What is it boy?"

Still shaken, the young man pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket, and cleared his throat. In his native Hungarian tongue, he started. "Your great highness, I, Miklas Roua, your faithful servant and Grand Vizier, have managed to justify a war against the Bulgarians, inthe name of uniting the Slavs. I shall appear in person to your royal court in a few days' time to report to you in more detail."

Zlata tipped the boy and couldn't hold back a huge, stupid grin that came over her face. She looked at her marshall, Blazej Blanche, and said, "Marshall. Ready your troops. Rally them to the Queen's call. Get everybody." "Even those on the Eastern border?"

After a moment, "No. Keep them there. We never know when those monsters may strike again." She then said, addressing the entire table "Go back to your keeps, and sleep well,. Wait for the call to levy your troops, and prepare to fight alongside eachother, for the glory of the Slavs."

by **Dolmhold** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:53 am

Summer, 132nd year of the Great Ming
Beijing, The Middle Kingdom
The Forbidden City (紫禁城)
Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿)

The Supreme Court of the Great Ming Dynasty of China that was the Hall of Supreme Harmony, that had ruled the empire of the Middle Kingdom for over a hundred and thirty two years and counting, was but a figure piece within the grand Forbidden City, a beautiful and glorious display of the wealth and grandeur of the nation which was in turn, a figure piece to the splendor and Imperial power of the entire nation, a simple figure piece of the Glory that is the Ming Dynasty of China. The Hall of Supreme Harmony’s function within the behemoth that was the Forbidden City which was in turn, the beating heart and cunning brain of TianXia, or all of the civilized world/China, was to govern the day to day affairs of the entire Chinese nation where those at a lower level could not. It was the political capital of the Great Ming, and its glory was never rivaled by any city in the empire except for Nanjing and the various other cities that held a shred of glory due to sponsorship by previous emperors.

The trend was started by Xuande emperor, whom declared that Guangzhou was to grasp at the straws of splendor and glory that could perceive the glory of Nanjing, of which the Emperor’s original intent was for a Southern Navel force to forever keep the upstart Indonesians in check and to exert Chinese influence among the region, but other emperors had allowed such a concept to adopt a life of its own which resulted in the cities of Tianjin, Yantai, Guangzhou and Xiamen to each be one of China’s centers of Navel Power, the Imperial Navy’s headquarters still stationed at Nanjing which remained the heart of China’s Imperial Navy but each with a degree of autonomy to exert its power within the region, if autonomy could be described as being consistently watched by spies from Beijing. Each official knew their role, and they did it.

Currently, the sun was rising upon the beautiful and fertile lands of the Great Ming, and that meant a morning rush to dine and get to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to discuss the affairs of the state. Tens of thousands within the Forbidden City hustled through their morning routines, and various messengers from all corners of the land were about to state their status or grievances within their region, and the emperor was about to allocate what there was to those various regions. It seemed all so quick, efficient and effective, but Emperor Hongzhi knew differently. As if some of these reports being a year old wasn’t bad enough already! Corruption was said to be so rampant in some areas that the local princes whom governed their region outright made miniature Forbidden Cities there, or so it was said, and so much that the money outright flowed straight back to their own people, and while a prosperous economy was certainly an unexpected side-effect of that kind of corruption, it depraved the empire of necessary resources to fund and maintain the military, with the current full-time force level of three hundred forty-eight thousand being a disgrace to what the first emperor, the Hongwu emperor, had managed to achieve which was a million soldiers!

Granted, by a million soldiers active, the Hongwu emperor had meant a million underpaid, undertrained, conscript caste, scum-of-the-earth and underequipped soldiers with only a relatively existent navy quite unlike the current symbol of Chinese Imperial might, but so too did the Hongwu have sub-par economics, infrastructure, trade, influence, and just about every other point in addition to the fact that China has just emerged from the bowels of the bloody Red Turban Rebellion that claimed over thirty million Chinese lives, nearly forty percent of the entire nation’s population at that time! As they drove the Yuan dynasty and thought that they smashed it, and for a century it was believed to be so, they had switched their focus from defending their borders, which they had believed to be largely secure, to the navy and projecting China’s influence across the seas.

The unexpected news that the Yuan dynasty was actually alive and well up in the north of China, with their very bloodline intact, had angered the Emperor greatly. The Yuan dynasty’s genocide on Chinese peoples, as he had observed though his daily rummaging through the various Imperial records and books which further earned him the nickname of the scholar, was one that incited honour and rage to the past, but now it was up close and personal. He knew that something had to be done about the Yuan Dynasty of the Mongols, for a repeat of their bloody conquests could never be tolerated. It was his duty in order to uphold the Mandate of Heaven, to ensure the defense of the civilized world, and he knew that if calling up conscripts to euthanize this empire was necessary, then by all means he would eliminate them.

This morning’s secession was a plot twist in the ever unfolding story of his life, however, for news had come to him that the Mongols were weak, with low numbers of soldiers under their command, but they were far more civilized the original Yuan and they were not the concern. The news of a mythical military nation that descended from these barbarians, the Golden Horde, had reached the ears of the Emperor though yet another messenger, and the stories of them were truly frightening. They were like the original Mongol horde which had reached west to gut Europe, and it was said that they may be turning back to reclaim the East. The Yuan were a buffer zone, not the threat; a fact further enforced by the fact that they had stolen minorities of trouble in China and seemed to contribute to the Great Peace that had lasted so far in the North.

Their population of generally anti-Ming minorities had triggered an alarm in his head, but if they were not an issue for the Ming to worry about, he was fine with the arrangement. As long as prosperity could continue to be upon the civilized world that was China, he wished to deal with internal issues first. He had concealed it from his father, but secretly he despised the sorry state of the army with their caste and scum-of-the-earth rank, and his rummaging into the records of the Qin dynasty had him note that the caste and rank of the army must have been the primary reason as to why it was so terrible. Certainly they could fight off foes and defend the land from foreign incursions, but they were inept despite easy to use weapons, and they had no reason to fight except for survival. His ancestor, the Hongwu emperor, was wrong.

He had decided that today was the day to remove this caste system that was the scum of China’s systems, and instead for a certain percentage of people to be called from each province of China for conscription at times of war. He had already done so with the core of the army, with the core being professional soldiers motivated to fight for they were paid. The old head count reward system was in place, due to be activated at times of war, and the training of the core was decent. He had ordered it to be modeled after the burgeoning volunteer-based Imperial Navy, which attracted thousands from all corners of the land. Nanjing was a renaissance of intellectuals because of it. He also ordered the great wall to on extra guard with more soldiers. This concluded today’s meeting on the affairs of the state…

by **Unicario** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:06 pm

June 1, 1500

Alexios VII pulled the curtain in the throne room open, the bright sun gleaming through the stained glass as the city of Constantinople was visible, as was the Bosphorous Strait. Alexios VII walked back to his throne and sat down, as his wife and heir walked in. His wife was the niece of the current Catholic Pope, Julius, and had been the center of much cooperation between the Western Schismatic Church and the True Orthodox one. To the older woman's left was a young woman, her Greco-Italian features a true harkening to the Roman legacy she had to uphold. She was Princess Anna, the future Basilissa upon Alexios' demise.

Alexios smiled and said, "Glad to see you both, what brings you to my chambers?" Anna stared at her father and spoke openly, "Father, I'm aware of your plans to conquer Aegyptus for the Empire once again -- And I ask you, let me be the General of the armies." Alexios' smile faded and he said, "Anna, I can't, there are traditions..." Anna said, "FATHER, I'm the top of the martial class, I bested even Knight Augustus!" Alexios sighed and nodded, "Of course, darling. Fine, you may lead our armies in Egypt." He said, "Your boat will leave Constantinople in the next hour and it'll take you to Athena, where you'll join the invasion fleet. If our reports from the merchantry in the Timurids is correct, we should be able to divide the Mamluks appropriately."

He waved his wife and daughter off, who both left the room. Alexios stood up and walked through the door and outside into the warm morning of Constantinople's summer. He walked down the stone pathway and saw some peasants walking towards the market with their crop bounty. A thief with a blade attempted to stop them, when Alexios drew his sword and held it to the thief's neck and said, "If you make another move, you'll join your mongrel family in hell." The thief dropped his blade and backed away, running. Alexios turned his attention to the peasants, who were bowing. "Oh thank you, Your Majesty...!" Alexios pulled them up and sighed and said, "Just move on, peasants. Things are okay."

He glanced outward towards the sea.

by **Bering** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:23 pm

London,
Empire of Britannia,
Hampton Court Palace,
14th of June, 1500

King Henry VII was in a private room with four other men, speaking about the affairs of the Empire. He looked from one man to the other taking in their features and why the stood before him. The men to his right were the heads of the House of Commons and Lords, receptively, Thomas Williams and Lord James North, both heavy supporters of the King who worked to push his will through the Parliament. To his left was the Royal Spymaster, Robert Gates, and his chief adviser John Denny. "So what are we to do with all the going-ons of our nation?" the king asked the men.

Denny began to speak, "Firstly we must deal with these nobles who oppose you, they cannot be allowed to fester for any longer. Secondly, we must speak to the Pope about those issues. And thirdly, we must have the laws passed, regardless of the Lords' rejection of it."

North stood, "Leave the third one to me, I will call upon favors and...less than honorable methods, to have it passed," North and Williams left the room.

Gates spoke next, "The nobles that oppose you will be dealt with," he said simply before bowing and leaving.

The King looked at Denny, "We must have these letters written, fetch me some parchment and ink, these are too important for servants to deal with," Denny nodded and gave the King the parchment that he had brought with him, "always prepared are we?" the King asked before he sat down and began writing,

by **Ublia** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:30 pm

Kakaorum

The Great Khan watched as the shaman finished the augery the guts of the slaughtered cow spread across the floor. He was a deeply spiritual man and sensed war was ever closer. The borders of the south were being reinforced by Turkic troops from Xinjiang and the Uighurs. The Chinese Emperor this Hongzhi was no fool and neither wa the Khan old rivalries ran deep he noted as the wizened old shaman began to describe horses and men by the thousands in battle. Seas of blood cities alight. And the wall smashed by the roar of demons. He knew what this meant gunpowder and cannon would destroy the walls of the Ming. However he alos sensed this Golden horde was also involved. he was perplexed. "Send an ambassador to the Emperor of the Chinese." he ordered Taishi Qaidu Senjengu. Whom bowed next to the Great Khan his eldest son and heir Temur then spoke "Shall I prepare the troops?" he questioned the old Khan nodded and his son with a bow went off to fufill his wish.

Mongol-Ming border

The emissary of the Khan flanked by a platoon of heavilly armoured Keshiks approached the Chinese outpost. The emissary wore balcka nd silver robes their face disguised beneath a blackened veil and hair under a red turban a shocking reminder of the Mongols backing of the Islamic forces in the Ming. The keshiks stood by ready as they approached the Ming guards whom were bafled and perplexed. Then the emissaries aid spoke "Tell your Emperor that The Great Khan sends this emissary as his voice to your court." he stated in Chinese. Unlike the emissary he wore the clothing of a Manchu. However he spoke like an educated Confucian scholar. the emissary meanhile remaind silent watching the events around them.

Great Khan of the Mongols, Yuan Choibalsan

by **Mondrova** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:52 pm

The Turjinad Republic - Southeastern Kalimantan - Capitol city of Pelkajacta - The Derana Palace -Home of Hadishraja Ramajandarra Diggurshoja

It has been said that most glorious cities in the world, are those of ancient Rome, or of Paris, and as you travel eastward, Beijing and Edo. However, there are other cities out there, some unknown to the world in general, and others simply glazed over in lieu of their neighbors. Such a thing could be said of Pelkajacta, a city arguably even grander than those mentioned before, and certainly a new rising jewel in the world. It is a new place, its streets having been carved into the earth it seems only yesterday, and the high soaring towers that dominate the skyline of the place, having the appearance of only having been recently constructed. This makes sense of course, for that is exactly what Pelkajacta is, a new center for the world, forged in a series of political conflicts and in the flaunting of wealth, it is quickly reaching new heights in fame, as the nation over which it takes the title of capitol of, grows and expands by the minute. Truly, it can be seen as a city of the modern age, being sprawling in an almost perfectly organized chaos, with a fusion of the grand ancient structures, and the smaller but perhaps even more elegant modern ones.

This growth has been primarily facilitated by the nations most notable aspect, its trade, which has led to not only cultural diffusion, but massive growth in all major trade centers. Once, the area upon which Pelkajacta stands was a town, unimportant ultimately, until the new nation was formed, and it was named not only political center, but the trade capitol. Now, on a quiet day, one can expect to find the city harbor completely filled with screaming merchants, hollering about prices, while their crew and slaves unload their cargoes. People from all regions of Asia, even to Africa are present, are often cramped into the wide open streets like sardines, and yet perfectly willing to experience all the discomfort for the massive free market and its extensive goods. Everyday without fail, just as the sun eclipses the great towering buildings of the city, the first series of ships arrive, along with land caravans from other parts of the island. By the time midday has arrived, one can expect to have seen hundreds of land and sea merchants convoys each, prowling through the city, either selling or buying, or, quite happily for the state, paying sales and landing taxes. Then, by the time the great golden disk of the sky has begun its decline, quite literally thousands of trading groups will have passed through the cities gates, be they land or sea, at one point.

Still, despite the roaring markets and the aroma's of trade, such as fine black pepper, or gunpowder, and the high peaks of the city and the grandeur of its buildings, the one defining feature of the city is quite obvious. It is the most pristine and elegant Derana Palace. A massive complex, built with one purpose, to properly display not only the incredible wealth of the Republic, but the wealth of the three regions that it composes of. Seated atop a great plinth, with stairs leading up to it that an army could march up, it stands at stands at hundreds of feet in the air at its apex. The numerous white towers, gleaming like diamonds in the sun, surround the walls of the center of the whole construct, where the palace proper and other government institutions reside. Outside of this are numerous other buildings, many of which are for administration, while others serve as temples for the faiths of the nation, with bombastic oranges, dashing reds, and crisp golden color intermingling into a myriad that could touch the soul. Of course the palace itself is not home to any such royal figure, or bloodline, and is rather the home of the nations House of the People, and his the High Lord elect for his rule. As such, as stated, the biggest reason for its grandeur is it was a means for the three regions of the Republic, each named after the original three kingdoms, to compete with each other, to see who could donate the most and be proven richest of them all. While non would win this title, it was a sign of the what the nation would be during its time, and that is divided.

Unlike many other nations which were divided by political conflict, the Republic found itself lacking unity as a direct result of the age old competition and cultural branches of the three old kingdoms that would become it. Each, even under one banner, sought to outdo the other, and has made any passing of laws remarkably difficult, should they be of such matters as trade, and the position of High Lord more and more of one of a mediator. The competitions between the regions of the Republic have become so extreme, that city has been de facto, split into three sections, one for each region of the empire, in which the respective nobles and leaders of each pump money into to outdo the others. It has even reach the extent to which whole palaces are being built so that the representatives of each area may have superior housing than the others. Tukinkannan has built there's, as they all have, in the center of their part of the city, and has named it the Sanctuary of Truth, in an attempt to discredit the honesty of the others. Rjinnadajin has taken this and built their palace, and dubbed it, The Golden Castle, to say that their rivals are poor in comparison to themselves. Then there is Nadarramma, who has Bagan Palace, or The Old Palace, to portray their rivals as uncultured brutes.

However, despite all of this division and almost spiteful activities, the nation has done something rather amazing from any stand point, and has done far better, by being worse. Due to the complex nature of the political system, which involves a series of small councils, guilds, regional elects, regional councils, the primary council, and the High Lord, and the split nature of the Turjinad's, many policies which have been fabulously successful have been passed. For one, and the most important, is the "Free Trade Policy", ensuring absolute free trade in and throughout the nation, which has made it a trading hub unlike any other for the worlds merchants, or at least the Afro-Asian ones. Then there is the "Security Act", which makes certain, highly valuable goods, only available for sale and purchase in the three regions, ensuring that each market will have at least one highly valuable good from which they can have an edge over another. Then there is the "Overhaul", as it is called, which was imperative to making the nation efficient as a single force. It established the Water Castle as the official administrative building of the nations navy, and has led to its new standardized practices, building regulations, and grand scale. In addition to the "Overhaul", there was also the "Island Turtle", which led to the construction of the nations numerous Sea Fortress's to secure narrow trade routes, and prevent any enemy naval passage through their lands should they deem it. These were all only possible because the regions of the empire had refused to allow smaller versions of these acts to pass, as they may have given one region more of an advantage than the others had, and as such, these large, broad compromises had to be made, and they have proved very successful.

Still, despite these success's, issues still exist, for it is rather difficult to decide on anything, especially now that the war with the Ming is long gone and diplomatic relations are somewhat restored. Currently the issues of debate where what goal to pursue first, to reach further into Polynesia for their brothers, or to secure trade in India and Thailand, or perhaps to push into Africa, or take more of the Australian coast line. It was a constant amount of bickering to be sure, with screaming nobles, waving hands, coins changing hands and clattering on the floor and that of calming breaths of the High Lord. Amongst the smell of Incense and Cherry Blossoms, as well as the cooling fan of palm leaves from the servants and concubines, there was a seething anger, as each side accused the other of conspiracy against them. Eventually, as it so often did, it become the responsibility of the High Lord to determine which course of action to take. Then, still as always, since he could not appear to play favorites, he had to chose the side no one supported. As such, it was deemed that the securing of the Bay of Bengal, through expansion in Southeast Asia, and the Gulf of Thailand, by establishing a naval regulatory force, would be the goal of the nation for now, at least until the next screaming and sour meeting was to occur. So, money was soon being collected for bribes, suitable tribute was collected, spies were chosen, and ships began construction, for the next move of the Republic.

by **Great Nepal** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:48 pm

Imperial High Council
Palace of Gold
Kathmandu
14th of June, 1500

It was early morning in city of Kathmandu and sun had just rose over the palace of gold, palace which was commissioned by late King Prithivi Naryan Chhetri during his reign: using the wealth amassed during conquest of India and especially occupation of Islamic population. It was a palace constricted in middle of artificially created pond: right in centre of the city. Today, council was due to meet again and scribes had been sent throughout the empire calling on the heads of great houses to the capital at once.
All of the leaders of twelve great houses were nearing the capital on carriage drawn by elephants: while a train ran from virtually every part of empire to capital - it was unreliable, dirty and usually full of peasants who were allowed in the trains by order of emperor so as to raise funds to keep train service running without state funding it. Of course, arriving on golden carriage on back of two elephants with guards looks quite spectacular to local populace as well. As they arrived they presented their identity card to the guards who checked it thoroughly before allowing them onto the boat to take them to the palace which is inaccessible by land.Eleven of the leaders anda brother of leader were present. After which, Emperor himself entered the palace last with four armed guards on Emperor's swan; gold plated ship designed for luxury transport... be it for less than five minute.
Twelve men sat in the council, and awaited for emperor's arrival who entered fashionably five minutes later: added to his importance and authority. As he entered, all twelve men stood up and he immediately noticed something wrong "Jagdanga, House of Duras; where is Chitiz?" Jagdanga replied humbly "he was away leading troops to raid a village in south thus was unable to attend. As his eldest brother, I represent him." Emperor acknowledged this as it was permissible for heir to speak for the family provided head was unable to attend and he sat down in imperial throne allowing for rest of the twelve to sit down too.
Emperor stated, "today, the empire needs resolution on issues of navy, foreign relations with Ming and Timurids." Akanchya, house of Bihar who was the most powerful house in the empire spoke first, as was customary [i]"I think Ming holds the keys here: they can solve three of our problems at once. They have powerful navy: and we can use their knowledge and experience to build fleet that is fighting force on the high seas. As per the alliance treaty, we could also split Tibet between us which will give us ability to focus on the greatest threats: Timurids. They are large, they are powerful and they are the greatest threat we have faced since the sultanate. Until we have strong navy and assurance that we wont have fight in north: status quo is good."[/i] Rest of the leaders spoke, mostly in agreement with this sentiment so Emperor spoke, "very well: I shall instruct messenger to deliver the letter to the Ming."

Official Diplomatic Communique of Empire of Nepal
To: Empire of Ming| From: Empire of Nepal| Subject: Conference | Secrecy: High| Urgency: High

Greetings on behalf of Nepalese populace,
Ming Empire and Nepalese Empire are two neighbouring and powerful empires, who we believe should take path of collaboration rather than warring with each other; as there is a mutually beneficial relationship waiting to be explored further. As such we would like to purpose a meeting between Emperors of two of our great nations.
Sincerely,
Signed
Emperor Shishank

((ooc: I think thats the current date?))

by **Garwall** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:03 pm

Tabriz, Persia
Sublime Empire of Timuristan
17th of June, 1500

A blanket of excitement had crept over the city. The First, Second, and Third Banners had been called: 30,000 men were to assemble in rank and formation on the city for the journeys ahead. While the First Banner (the dedicated Imperial Guard loyal only to the direct word of the Emperor) had already been assembled, as its duty was to defend the Capital in times of peace, the second and third Banners were slow in assembling, coming from other parts of Persia and Iraq. Outside the city, the thunder of cannon fire is heard as the cannons are prepped for combat, and tested rigorously.

The First Banner was a sight to see. Composed of four-fifths infantry and one-fifth cavalry, it was a rank-and-file, typical Persian Banner Army, as laid out in the Army reforms set forth by Shah Rukh in the Reform Age of the Empire. The Ghulam Cavalry, as they were addressed, was a striking sight. Raised from birth as slaves trained to be warriors, they were fiercely loyal to their Emperor that had provided a life of purpose, and a little brainwashing on the side certainly had helped in the effect. As members of the First Imperial Banner, their armament was the most stunning of all. Each was outfitted with a chain-link armor that started at the shoulders and ended in leggings, with a lightweight steel-plated leather cuirass forming the final protection for the chest, topped off with a helmet, and swathed in cloth robes to protect from the heat. They were armed to the teeth with sabers, lances, shields, and pistols.

The remainder of the army was a mix of Qizilbash infantry. Following Imperial reforms, the eight thousand Qizilbash infantry was broken into two halves: ranged Qizilbash warriors, and sword-bearing Qizilbash warriors. The ranged section was composed of two thousand archers, and two thousand gunpowder-based soldiers. Every other soldier was ordered to carry an Arquebus, while the remainder operated Abus guns. Two soldiers were assigned to an Abus Gun, where one would operate the weapon, while the other would carry a long Pike and ammo for the Abus gun. In total, five hundred Abus guns were carried for the First Banner. Every archer and Arquebuser or Abus gunner was also armed with a shortsword. The four thousand footmen tasked with confronting the enemy in close combat were surprisingly lightly armored, but made up for armor deficiencies with high mobility and deadly skill.

The artillery component of the force is often left to the Archers, who are trained in the operation and deployment of cannons and heavy artillery, but often, the artillery section of the force travels alongside the Banners, and are deployed in tandem with the ranged Qizilbash. The warriors throughout the city were preparing for the months ahead, spending the last few days with their families, or in the case of the Ghulam who were barred by law from possessing families, training. Ismail, dedicated to his goals, divides his time between drilling his Banner, discussing plans with his Generals, and praying.

Palace of Umar Sheikh Mirza
Province of Transoxiana
19th of June, 1500

Mirza's face was hard, his lips curled into a fierce scowl. "Are you sure this is what has transpired," he questioned, refusing to turn to face the messenger. "Yes, my Sheikh," he replied, bowing. "Amir was imprisoned for questioning Ishmail's council, who advised them to march to Mecca, subjugating the Levant in the process." Mirza continued to scowl. "These rats cannot keep themselves out of trouble. This is the fourth in a month that has found his way into imprisonment." He drank from a metal chalice, deeply, before abruptly throwing it at a passing servant. "How am I to survey this Empire that is rightfully mine!" he shouted. He tightened his grip on his throne, barely attempting to control his anger, before slowly calming down. "He is calling his banners, correct?" he eyed the messenger.

"Yes, my Sheikh, the first, second, and third are gathering at Tabriz, at the behest of the Shah". Mirza snorted derisively. "It is a disgrace that a descendant of Timur would call himself Shah." He paused for a moment, in thought. "Dispatch the Noble riders, everything that happens in Tabriz, I wish to know about it. Now get out of my sight." The Messenger bowed again, and hurried off.

by **Kazarogkai** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:14 pm

Grand Stone Fort,
Grand Zanzibar Confederacy
Mfalme Askia Barghash Said
14th of June, 1500

"This land is great, this land is large, this land is Mine."

Askia looked upon a table with a large map of his country situated next to the "Zanzibar Channel" and smiled. He saw the vastness of his domains but unlike many rulers before he did not particularly care much for more, this land satisfied him. This land had always provided well for his people, but their enemies who surrounded them were many and they coveted the land of his people. While others fight for dominance on land, his people vied for the Seas, they were a maritime nation who had always looked to the ocean for fortune and great prosperity. The sea is unforgiving and impassive to the whims of man, Zanzibary sailors though are skilled and cunning, these skills are passed down from one generation to another. Zanzibar was great but not as great as it once was during the golden age, he knew that times had changed and because of the great powers in Europe, India, and china they could not completely dominate this area like they used to but they can become strong and be a force to be reckoned with. They had much to offer the world, and it them they had spices, excellent quality steel(possibly the best, certainly better than Europe), beef, ship making, timber, gold, silver, and other great things one would want.

He knew his military was a shadow of its former self and was rather pathetic he only had about 30,000 men(that includes his guard), it is said that the great Mfalme Hubasan Luyane Thombus had an army that at its peek numbered 125,000 troops and over 1000 war canoes. But Askia knew he had to work with what he had, and also he must not allow himself to feel marginalized. Askia wanted to make sure his country was safe, he believed one must improve themselves before they should focus on foreign affairs and all its trivialities. His country's naval power which allowed them to move their Commandos to any shore and to dominate all who neighbored them was in need of work. He decided it would be a good time to try to improve on that.

by **Ublia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:48 am

Karakorum

Reports of Manchu raids from Jurchen Cheifdoms were increasing with great annoyance. Perhaps the time had come to unify them with the Khanate? he questioned. He'd call up some troops to hold teh border though for now. The Ming had to be reasoned with. As well he had desires to seize the Tibetan states amongst others to enlarge the recruitment pool of the Empire. Already he'd been ordering raids inot those lands to test the locals determination. However he realized taht the mountianous terrain would hinder cavalry and hence had to rely on local tribes of Turkic and Uighur raiders. However he'd rather Mongols turning his attention back to the Ming meanhile his ambassador would soon arrive in their capital or so he hoped. For now though he would wait and see.

by **Dolmhold** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:27 am

OOC: The well-armed references our points. I have 10 in equipment, you have 7. Just pointing it out. Also, Nepal, how do you intend on getting to China? Tibet is a tad icky, and we have our west surrounded by the Mongols…

Summer, 132nd year of the Great Ming
Yuan-Ming Border

Liu Xintang knew that the border he was assigned to was not particularly hostile in any way, but at the drop of a pin there could be major, major issues. He had received word that the empire geographically above theirs referred themselves to as the Yuan, the still relatively hated dynasty in China that massacred millions before the rebellion was over. He was the leader in a military convoy of fifty men, and when he saw the silhouette of a figure walking with several armed guards of his own, he departed from his group on horseback and made for the convoy at high speed.

The newcomer’s red turban, potentially a symbol of the red turban revolution in China which had ousted the Yuan at a very, very painful cost, had managed to signify a potential foreign being for the man, whom was apparently the most important in the group for he was the protected one. His Manchu clothing revealed the rest as he ordered his horse to grind to a thunderous halt to greet these foreigners. The couldn’t have been rebellious Manchus that was to assimilate into the empire, for they probably couldn’t afford such extravagant guards, all whom looked foreign to his eyes, unless he was the leader of some resistance.

He was relatively amused by this convoy, for it had been ages since China had received a convoy that was not Korean in any way, and none of them appeared Korean. He hoped he did not guess wrong, for here in the relatively barren lands above the Great Wall which shielded the Empire from Northern death threats, any fight would only be known by the victors that remained.

“I am Liu Xintang. State your purpose and reason as for entering China immediately, or turn around and return to whatever land you came from.”

He noted that their guards were beginning to flank him, but so too would they likely notice that his own little army of fifty was in the background, visible and ready for any sign of trouble. Unlike many other military commanders, he had established a firm chain of command over his little group of fifty, and had specifically told them that should their leader be killed, kill whoever killed the leader. Do not retreat, unless it is to prepare an ambush or a future strike against the assailants. He had no fear, for it was evident that he was far well-armed then them, and could probably take them on…

Their reply did make him relatively perplexed. Were the Mongols finally learning their place and accepting vassal hood under the Civilized World? Was it today, in the hundred and thirty second year of the Ming, at summer, upon a relatively barren plain filled with nothing but some tall, wild grass and the occasional scampering of animals, that the Yuan finally knew their place? He contemplated this for a moment, and then switched to more practical issues. They simply cannot be allowed to travel with those guards and first-hand experience when he was not in such a high military rank allowed him to know that they had to be guided as to where to go- they were infamous for land mines.

“Very well, but from this point on, all of your guards shall depart from the land of China, and you shall accept the protection of my convoy back to Beijing or whichever group would be more suited to handle you to the rest of the way back to Beijing. Please do note, we have a disturbing tendency to place land mines all over the place, and so I recommend that we do not stray from the routes.” His reply was sharp, somewhat subordinating which represented the disparity between the two nations’ perceived power, and formal, as he awaited the man’s reply.

Summer, 132nd year of the Great Ming
Beijing Prefecture
Forbidden City
Hall of Supreme Harmony

Emperor Zhū Hòuzhào, also known as the Hongzhi emperor, had begun contemplating what to do with the Manchu lands his ancestor the Yongle Emperor had taken, and from reports emerging from the land, it was a prime condition to build another port harbor, if prime condition did mean snow quite often. He looked carefully at the map, and realized how vulnerable those exploits were, and with the recent report of mild skirmishes between naïve Manchus and Chinese soldiers stationed there, perhaps it was time to conquer the region.

He had discussed this with many of his most trusted Eunuchs and Generals, whom agreed with him on their analysis- mainly because the emperor was supreme and that they knew that this emperor’s title was practically, the scholar, as he spent so much time examining old Imperial records, books and questioning other wise men. It was as such that the emperor yearned to alter his army to utilize the system the Qin had pioneered during their war, which while he knew would result in needless massacres and the Confucian scholars despised the idea, it still was the most effective he had ever read about, sans maybe that of the Han dynasty. Still, the Great Ming had not exercised its military muscle for so long, why not a show of force by crushing the Manchus with fury?

The order was set- five thousand men would gather and destroy the Manchu tribes, and assimilate them into the empire. No conscripts would be needed, most of the professional army would not be needed either. A tall order, but the Ming were certain that with their advanced technology, they could manage it. Furthermore, their vassals, the Koreans, were invited to assist and train their military muscle if they so desired. The Jurchen people were to be brought under the fold of the Chinese.

Guangzhou, Imperial Navy Ship Docks
Return of the Trans-European Armanda

The city was ablaze with activity as the fleet of Admiral Ma Feng, the Armanda assigned to deliver gifts and knowledge to the European continent and their ally, France, and in return receive tribute goods from the region, was spotted over the horizon, the hundreds of massive ships unmistakable for any other naval fleet in the world except their own Southern Command fleet or the more Northern Chinese fleets. Many tens of thousands of workers were rushing to the docks and surrounding areas as the smaller, but still massive ships arrived first before being dwarfed by the massive Baoshan, or Treasure Ships, of the armanda.

The Baoshan were over ninety meters long and fifty meters tall, with a width that matched its height. It was among the largest junk (ship) ever constructed by Chinese hands, and only other Baoshan managed to defy its size, with the largest being over a hundred and sixty five meters long with a width and height of fifty-five, with the largest ones largely reserved for river travel only due to their size severely straining their hull. They were the largest mostly-wood ships ever built by the Ming, and yet they still continue to get bigger, better, and more impressive over the decades.

Many men were rushing to and forth from the ships, taking the tribute goods, placing new goods, checking internal compartments for damage, inspecting the outside and repairing what needs to be repaired as the thirty-thousand strong crew of the armada were greeted as heros within the city, many of them already veterans of the previous few trips to Europe. They were not without losses- several accompanying ships were lost over the course of eight decades, but their resolve was stronger than ever. A messenger was dispatched to communicate with Beijing, awaiting orders for the next trip. It was rumored that they’d invite Indonesian and Korean ships to join them on the next trip…

(Something to do with Nepal here)

by **Great Siam** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:44 am

[OOC: Suddenly Frisii]

Amtelodam Bourse, Amstelodam, The Frisii Provinces (North)
The Bourse was abuzz with the electric energy of commerce. From every stall, around every corner, traders stood or sat at tables, busily exchanging bags full of coins, weighing items, counting foreign currencies. On one table, a number of well-dressed gentlemen were examining a vase, a replica of techniques used in the Far East, blue lightly adorning pure white porselain. They were from Delft, and known as Delfts Blauw- Delftsware. An unoriginal name, true, but the quality of the work demonstrated the skill of the makers.

In another corner, several traders were weighing an indigenous plant from the Far West; they were called aardappels, earth-apples. The Taino called them patatas, and the crop had gained popularity with a few of the educated landowners, although it was impossible that it would catch on with the Hanseatic farmers, as much as the Frisii encouraged it.

Paper, too, was traded. From several stands maintained by the FIC, large sacks, jingling with gold coins, were traded for slips of paper. Stocks, bonds, and securities, worth a thousand times their weight in gold, changed hands, crowds gathering as the Frisii India Company, Baltic Trade Company, and South Indies Company competed with each other as they always did, each secure in the millions they were worth.

Less stable goods were also traded; tulips, popular among various groups of foreign nobles, were wanted in striped varieties. Ludicrous amounts of bulbs were being traded, most exchanged on paper and not in real terms.

Hendrik of Nassau, Stadholder of Utrecht, Friesland, Zeeland, and of course Holland, grinned as he looked on the scene. The sheer noise of the Bourse could be at once overwhelming and electrifying. It was the sound of fortune, the sound of prosperity, the sound of liberty to purchase. It was the sound that convinced him he was doing things right.

That eve alone, the Stadtholder made more money than several of the so-called Rightful Kings of Christendom made combined.

It was a good day for the Republican Movement.

Namurpalast, Namur, The Frisii Provinces (South)
Phillipa moved silently among the weakly-lit halls of the Namurpalast. The great structure was less of a palace, more a stone castle whose chambers had been slightly more well furnished, a reflection of the Duchess' of Namur's current situation. She did not want for money, or clothes, or food, or any other requirement, but physical security was to the Duchess a constant concern. Even here, in the heart of the territory she'd managed to seize from Hendrik the Heretic, she did not feel safe; no amount of the public's support, nor physical walls, nor Hanseatic Landsknechts could make her feel safe while Hendrik was still on the loose.

Three years ago her father, the late Duke Maurits of Nassau, had passed away, at the hands of Hendrik himself. It was the midst of the Great Reform, as it was called in mockery of the hundreds that had died then; noblemen, Hanseatic cartel-holders, even half of the Danish royal family, all 'purged' to make way for 'opportunity.'

She scoffed at the thought. Opportunity! Perhaps Hendrik thought Opportunity consisted of completely destroying the established order of Europe. She wasn't even sure if the man listened to the Papacy.

For now, though, at the heart of her fortress-castle, surrounded by Loyalists and Guards, with a major stock in all three of the great trading companies, she was safe, however much she did not feel it. The Heretic would not come for her so long as she owned the large stake in the Companies.

Fort Goede Hoop, Kaap de Goede Hoop, South Africa
Brick walls stood by the cliffside, overlooking the gigantic trade harbour which played host to the SIC ships passing on to the East. Surrounded by fields of crops, a settlement further down the road, Goede Hoop was already well-established as the heart of the South African colony. Triple, quadruple, and quintuple-masted ships waited in the harbour, behemoths of wood armed with nigh-on interminable rows of cannon armaments.

This was where naval trade was decided.

This was where the East was won.

by **Ublia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:46 pm

Yuan-Ming border

The emissary then spoke "I come as the voice of the Great Khan Yuan Choibalsan, the Kāimíng Emperor, descenadant of Kublai and Chingis Khan, master of the Mongols,the Manchus,the Buriats,the Uighurs and the Turks. My master has sent me to discuss buisness with your master the Hongzhi Emperor. If you refuse we shall return if you do not we shall ride to your capital and speak to him ourselves." he added looking down on the Chinese officer. His face hidden behind his viel was a sardonic and scarred one from decades of war in servie to the Yuan the rightful Khans.

by **Unicario** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:02 pm

June 20, 1500

After over two weeks of getting prepared, a large fleet of Byzantine ships sailed near the Nile Delta. On the ship, General Anna Trajanus grinned and looked at the Egyptian shoreline. She said, "Gentlemen, today we begin a war that will grow the glory of the Empire." She had them sail further west, and arrived outside Alexandria. She nodded to her soldiers and said, "Alright, now let's begin. Fire cannons!" The cannons were loaded and fired at the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Byzantine forces prepared to land, as soldiers began to load into boats, which would be protected by continuous cannon-fire.

Anna joined several of her men in a boat that floated inconspicuously along-side the rest.

The War for Aegyptus had begun.

On the boat, a soldier had commented, "Your Majesty, what will the Persians say of our invasion?" Anna said, "These Egyptians are Sunnis, and we can easily force them to concede the Timurid and our demands. We split the nation in clean two. The Persians aren't likely to support Sunnis when they're Shiites themselves." The soldier nodded and said, "Aye, madam..."

by **Samarstan** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:11 pm

June 23rd, 1500
Chisinau, Moldawian Province
Chisinau Armorer and March
Queen Zlata II and Marshall Radovan Jaromil

Act 1 Scene 2

It was in the late afternoon that Zlata arrived at the camp, one of the many in which her armies had been gathering. An emissary had already been riding to Bucharest, Capital of the Wallachians. Zlata wanted them to know that she felt the need for a Pan-Slavic kingdom, and it was time they were absorbed. Of course, this was really a mve for Zlata to gain access to a port in the Balkans, so to ebgin constructing ships and begin trade deals with nations overseas or far from Czecho-Slavia. Not to mention the manpower and tax boons that come with conquering a fair-sized country.

Her marshall, Radovan Jaromil rode up next to her. "Your royal highness, we've received wor that our first army, in the west, near Belgrade, has crossed into Wallachia. Our troops number roughly 13,000, with more on their way. The Wallachians probably had heir armies defending the border with the Byzantines, we haven't had any reports of majo resistance. I assume by now we've begun sieging the first holdings in the North-West. However, your highness,it is time for us to move out. I do warn you, however, that it is dangerous there. There is a high chance of serious battles, and you will be a target to kill.

Zlata now looked more determined. "It is God's will for me to unite the Slavs. The Wallachians share a similar language, and are Catholic. To their south are the Orhthodox, and if they are conquered by the Byzantines, they will surely be converted. It is my- nay, our kingdom's duty, to add Wallachia as an integral part of our Slavic society. Ride on, Marshall."

And ride they did.

by **Unicario** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:26 pm

June 24

The attack upon Alexandria was proceeding quite well. The city was almost effectively under the control of the Byzantine Empire, but the siege continued. Elsewhere, more Byzantine troops had broken off and sailed towards the Nile Delta. Securing the river, the troops had landed on the western side of the river and had begun to press the Mamluk army, distracted elsewhere by other attacks (such as the Levant), back towards Cairo. The campaign was to be as quick as possible with more threat, looming on the horizon.

Aswell, a private task force of ships departed from Athens, flying a flag unusual for ships leaving Athens... a green banner with a yellow crescent moon...

by **Garwall** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:41 pm

Tabriz, Persia
Sublime Empire of Timuristan
Inside the Palace of Shah Ismail Timurid
23rd of June, 1500

Slowly, but surely, another city was being constructed on the outskirts of Tabriz. A city of tents, as Ismail's host begins to accumulate and prepare for the months of campaigning ahead. Ismail had observed his soldiers training and preparing, but for now it is time to plan. Gathered within Ismail's chambers was his most trusted Emir Nadir Safavid, a governor and General of Persia, Ashraf Hotak, a skilled General enlisted from the Ghulam ranks, but given a Noble title and land for service to the Empire. Although unable to have children, Ismail had legitimized the adopted son of the Ghulam as the heir to the newly created Dynasty.

"Ashraf, you are to take the Second Banner army and move north to Georgia," motioning to the small slice of land in the Caucasus that was the Orthodox Kingdom. "The Horde to the north is growing restless, no doubt that Georgia will succumb to them at one point or another if we do not extend our protection to them, by force if necessary." Ashraf nodded. He did not know that he was going to be facing his countrymen, as the Ghulam were little more than Slave children from the Caucasus region raised in the Shi'a and Persian ways. "Let the artillery do its work on the city walls. Once the defense is broken, burn the cities if they refused to surrender. But do not destroy Tbilisi, where their King rests. I expect Georgian gold to be awaiting my return to Tabriz."

"Nadir, how long before the rest of the Third Banner arrives?" Nadir cleared his through before continuing. "It may take another week before a majority of the Third Banner arrives and we can set out, my Shah." Ismail sighed, clearly impatient. "Very well. I will take the First Banner and proceed down the Levant coast, while you take the Third and secure the rest of the Iraq and Syria regions, and we shall meet on Jerusalem, before proceeding south together." Nadir raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure this is wise, my Shah? A force of ten thousand alone cannot effectively siege cities with access to the sea." Ismail smiled. "I will not bother with sieges, Emir. The Mamluk whelps will either surrender outright or have their castle walls collapse on top of them."

City Outskirts of Tabriz

The campfires of the Banner armies could be seen for miles, the tents forming lines stretching for what seemed to be miles. The troops congregated on the campfires, where stories of past conquests and tales of valor were traded. Near the quartermasters' tents, small rings formed where the more hardy and less-social Qizilbash traded blows instead of words. Closer to the city walls, the boom of cannons continued to resound throughout the camps.

However, every sword and archer was drawn to a long, low sound coming from the city walls. A horn had been blown, from atop the watchtowers, followed by the steady beat of drums, as the castle gates were thrown open, and more soldiers streamed from the city. Cheers and the clatter of steel followed, as thousands of swords were thrusted into the air. The Banners had been summoned, and now they were on the move. Timur's legions were on the path to conquest, as the drums of war beat once again.

by **New Sapienta** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:42 pm

Vienna, the Hapsburg Dominion
The 21st of June 1500
Emperor Heinrich looked down upon Vienna from his palace. He hated spending time here; he hated attempting to look superior to the common people. His father Wilhelm was a narcissist, so of course the palace was filled with portraits of him, and "biographies" that conveniently left out the massacres in Bosnia and Croatia he had enacted. He tried to benefit the Bosnian people without also letting them become a free and independent state. Needless to say, every inch they got they tried to take a mile, so he had slowly tried to assimilate the Bosnian and Croatian minorities into the Dominion.

He was interrupted from his train of thought when a guard brought his guest today, a famous painter and sculptor from Italy he hired.

“You have offered to commission statues in the honor of me and my father?” Heinrich said
“Yes, I have. I believe you and your father’s glorious history would be a great subject to represent in my art!” the sculptor said.
“Very well. Kraus, give him his tithe.” Said Heinrich
His guard gave the painter his down payment. The sculptor would receive the rest of his payment in two intervals, one during the progress of the statues and the last when he was finished.

Heinrich had always been a patron of the arts, inviting painters, sculptors, authors, philosophers, and other men of the arts to his capital to commission art or discuss philosophy or politics. This has gotten him the reputation and prestige befitting such a man.
However, he was not just a patron of the arts, but also of the sciences. Within Vienna and other cities, he invited scientists, architects, engineers, and other men of the sciences not only for the prestige of doing so but to skyrocket his technological growth and industry.
Heinrich was a pioneer; he saw the industrial revolution would cause and decided to squeeze as much out of it he could. He was slowly reducing his agrarian society, and as such reducing the rights of the noble aristocracy. Thankfully for Heinrich however, the aristocracy was still scared by his father’s legacy, which had a habit of executing trouble causing nobles.
Diplomatically, the Hapsburg Dominion had soared, having high relations with all its neighbors and the ability to sway some of the most stubborn of enemies. He would need this, as to the South the Byzantine Empire proved a needed buffer zone between the Hapsburgs and the Timurd Empire. He was to send diplomats to the Byzantine Empire, and despite a difference in religion of Orthodox and Catholicism, he would make sure they survive if he believed they were on the brink of defeat.

Official Communique between the Hapsburg Dominion and the Byzantine Empire

Dear Alexius the Seventh,

I write this letter to inform you that I can see the threat Timur's legacy poses to you. I hereby promise that when I see it fit, that I shall aid you in defense against the Timurds should you find yourself on the brink of ddefeat. While I do not wish to enter an official allaince with you, this declaration of friendship should prove to be profitable for the both of us. I pledge this on the agreement that you will not go on any venture in confliction with the Haapburg Dominion or her allies.

Sincerly,
Emperor Heinrich Hapsburg the First.

by **Unicario** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:59 pm

While is daughter was invading Egypt, Alexios VII was busy dealing with the things of his homeland, as a good Emperor should.

He penned out a Imperial Decree, and handed it to an advisor.

BY DECREE OF HIS MAJESTY BY GRACE OF GOD, BASILEUS ALEXIOS VII TRAJANUS

Any man who converts him and his family to Orthodox Christianity shall recieve 2oz of gold per person in his family at time of conversion, aswell, any foreigner who adopts a Greek name in ADDITION to conversion to Orthodox, shall recieve a total of 5oz of gold.

Sunni Muslims are henceforth ordered to convert to Shia Islam or face severe consequences, which made involve forced labor based on government discretion. Any person who turns in a Sunni for conversion or processing will recieve another 2oz of gold.

Signed,
Basileus Alexios VII
By Grace of God, Roman Emperor

He also ordered an early collection of national taxes to be put to use in expanding national infrastructure and funding farmers in Greek Bulgaria and Serbia, aswell as Albania. These areas would be key in developing a national infrastructure to feed it's people. He pondered the thought of the Chinese minority in Nikaea, and decided to send a letter to the Ming Emperor via a carrier falcon, who hopefully wouldn't get killed or intercepted.

To: The Esteemed Ming Emperor
From: Basileus Alexios VII Trajanus of the Eastern Roman Empire

Greetings!

I would like to send good will and great wishes to you and your people -- I would like to enquire on China's processing of the Silk Road, as both myself and my counterpart in the Timurid Empire have both kept the Silk Road in one piece, and we would like to ask if the Ming Empire would do the same. Please respond as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Basileus Alexios VII

To: King of Majapahit
From: Basileus of Eastern Rome

Greetings!

I would like to send good will and great wishes to you and your people. I would like to inquire in the possibility of trade between our nations, If you could respond as soon as possible, that would be best.

Thank you,
Alexios VII

by **Shnercropolis** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:10 pm

Sarai Batu, Golden Horde
Kignal Khan put on his simple riding leathers and the old helmet of Batu, the first Khan of the Golden Horde. The helmet was old and worn, with many centuries of scratches and dents. It had outlived use centuries ago, but it was still kept in condition and worn by the Khans ceremonially. Kignal monted his horse, Aggo, and rode out to meet the new merchants of the day.

It seemed that every day since he had announced plans to upgrade the military, caravans of merchants with weapons had come to entice him into buying their wares. So far he had bought around 20 cannons and a thousand spears, and money was running short already. He would need to send out the raiders to the eastern edges of his lands soon, or attack Rus. Both of the approaches left him vulnerable to attacks from one side or another. Kighal pushed hose thoughts out of his head as he approached the large field just outside of the city, where the merchant was waiting. He had strange metal sticks, and small barrels. He wondered what they were selling.

The merchant stepped forward to greet the Khan. He spoke in bad Russian, with a heavy German accent. Kignal disliked the man instantly. "Hello," the merchant said cheerily, "and welcome to my little showcase. Before we start this presentation of deadly power, I'd like to tell you what this is." He picked up one of the metal sticks, and showed it off. "this is a musket. It's like a small cannon, which can be held and fired by a single man." Kignal's interest spiked at that. He'd seen a psentation of a cannon before, and was very impressed by their power.and a single man usinga cannon? Amazing! Te merchant went on to explain how the tiny cannon worked.
"First, we must put in the correct amount of gunpowder." The merchant carefully took a small scoop of black powder from the barrel next to him, and carefully put it into the back of the musket. He then inserted a fuse to the contraption, and prepared to fire. "I'll hit that plank right there," said the merchant. A plank had been erected in the center of the field. H took very steady aim, list the fuse, and fired.
An enormous Bang resounded through the area. A small puff of dirt came up about 40 yards behind the plank. The merchant cursed his bad luck and looked up at Kignal, who was getting Aggo back under control. "What did you think?"

Kignal regained control of Aggo, and sat silent for a few seconds. The musket was surely deadly, but horribly inaccurate and a pain to load. He got out his bow, notched an arrow, and hit the plank dead center, all in less than three seconds. He then responded, "I don't think it's effective for battle, butit may serve well to disenhearten our foes. How many do you have?"
"Two hundred, your grace."
"I'll buy them." the merchant went into haggle mode at that. He said, "That's a hefty price. What can you give me for them?"
Kignal looked the merchant straight in the eye. "Your life."

Suddenly Kignal's guards, thirty in all, marched into the wagons. Naturally, the merchant had a few mercinaries to guard his wares and some assistants, but the soldiers slew them easily with their spearswords. The merchant was put into a light chokehold by a guard. He started babbling prayers in German. Kignal snorted. As if God would save you now. His guards started going through he caravan, finding the 200 muskets, some gunpowder, and a few thousand lead balls. Kignal said to the merchant, "Could you teach soldiers how to use these muskets?" he asked, not niceley. The merchant eked out, "Yes, yes." the guard let him go. Kignal then commanded to the merchant, "Then you shall teach five hundred of my soldiers how to use them, and well." He turned to a retainer and said, "see too it that this man has a room near the barracks." the retainer went away with a guard and a merchant, and Kignal started off at a slow trot back to his manse.

Sarai Batu was a city fallen from glory to mere splendeur. Once it had as many as 600,000 residents, now there was but 400,000 because of the plague and the recent troubles. It was centered around the Khan's manse, with roads emanating from the center in a circular fashion. The areas around the manse were nice and well-guarded, with paved streets and beautiful buildings. The grand marketplace, a few blocks from the manse, served as the actual center of the city, almost like a forum. It was a huge paved open area, and stands were put into neat rows. It was well-guarded, to prevent theft. The grand marketplace was always bustling.

Farther out from the manse, the streets became narrower and muddier. Guards became less common. The only well-maintained part of the city beyond around 6 blocks out was the Road of the River, which led directly to the port at the river Volga. It was another center of trade, and was the busiest street in the whole city. Other than that street, the rest of the city was a mess. The roads lost pavement at 7 blocks, and lost existence at 10 blocks out, after which the "block" system was no longer applicable. No guards watched the streets after 5 blocks out. The buildings went from bricks to stone to wood to mud. It was not a pretty sight to walk through there, so Kignal got through it and went straight to his manse.

After he unhorsed and put on his house clothes, Kignal went to his study and made notes. The Muslim philosopher that Ahmed had hired to teach Kignal said that all rulers should make notes of their thoughts, to help the creative process. Kignal wrote on the Horde's armies:
"Our armies are weak and old. The other armies of the world advance upon us with power and strength, while we survive with numbers alone. We must train new troops, but we must train them with things other than bow and horse. Already some soldiers are trained in the art of the spearsword, pikes, and lances, and soon we shall have five hundred musketmen. I believe we need more musketmen, and more muskets.

The Russians are our largest threat now. They gain power ever faster, and we slower. I think soon they will attack. We must attack first."
Kignal thought for a while, and then called his generals to him. They were not brilliant, but not stupid either. They new how to win battles if very little went wrong.

"I want to attack Rus in two weeks. Split our armies, so that one third stays and defends while the rest attack. I want them totally subjugated; burn their cities and take their wealth. However, keep their serfs and let them farm our land, for we have little food. And remember, the old ways of horse and bow will not work any longer; we must be quick-witted and use everything. We have ten thousand pikemen, twenty thousand spearswordsmen, twenty thousand lancers, and eight hundred cannons. Use them effectively." The generals paled. Attacking Rus would be no easy task, seeing that Rus has thrown back all advances for the last fifty years. They bowed and left. The campaign would start in two weeks, and Kignal had just set the fate of the Horde in stone.

by **Unicario** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:41 pm

June 25, 1500

The siege of Alexandria was pressing down on the Byzantine troops, who had dug in and were launching repeated trebuchet fire upon the Alexandria castle. Princess Anna was hunkered down as a large canister of Greek fire was lunged into the Castle Alexandria, with a resilient explosion rocking the nearby area. She looked up and wiped sweat off her brow and thought for a moment. She ordered several men to line up to prepare for a charge. The band of about 15,000 Byzantine men callously outnumbered the 2,500 Egyptians, but there was quite a bit of a fight involved in the siege. The Byzantines had lost about 5,000 men from their original landing party, and the Egyptians had been about halved.

Along the Delta, the other army was having a better time, pushing them down along the river, they had sustained minimal casualties, while inflicting large ones on the enemy. The city of Cairo was put on the frontline and pressed, as the Byzantine force of about 30,000 troops marched on the city.

At the same day, two groups of Greek mercenaries under charter by the Emperor departed from Kalamata in Achaia, en route west. This group of ships was also allied with the Dutch, who would provide safe passage for this small group of soldiers, merchants and missionaries. Their destination was a strange peninsula the Dutch had called... "Bloemenland" or "Land of Flowers" in English. The trip was a long one, and they wouldn't know how long it would take either... they just had to hope and wait that God would allow them safe-passage...

A New Dawn (IC/semi-open)

A New Dawn (IC/semi-open)

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