Praetor

From Ruination – Year 1501 Changelog - Please look at the Announcement channel on Discord for a detailed account of the changes I have made to the rules for Turn 1. Don’t worry, it won’t change this much often. Prelude W – The Dust Devil Prelude E – The Golden Eye Who can say where the wind blows? It is alltogether far too early to tell, for these nations are but birthing their first sparks of ambition, and fire has yet to be lit. Galaharian League With so many riches flowing through the nations, such great tracts of land, and so few men to guard it, a lot of the gold is lost to corruption and theft. (-5000 Gold per turn until your army reaches 10.000) The merchant’s guilds are soon built and eagerly filled by prospective merchants with an eye for gold and a heart of stone. As the guilds are done, so are the docks at Batista’s Landing. No doubt riches will soon pour forth. An easy month of december upon the high seas signals the Deep One’s pleasure at the Place of Worship constructed by his followers. Horsemen are easy enough to come by in the open fields of the League. They flock to the banner, eager to defend their homes from bandits and outside threats. The Kingdom of Bulgar Curious. Upon the edge of the kingdom’s northern holdings, within the Greenwood itself, a few herbalists from a logging village come upon a strange plant. Little red flowers upon black stems, they smell of poison. One fool, after having decided to ingest it, goes mad, lashing out at those around him before clutching his chest and falling dead. (Rare Good acquired: The Last Rage.) Merchant Guilds a plenty, all of them finished in good time. The Kingdom of Bulgar is quick to learn of a neighboring nation, a few hundred kilometers down the Barrier. They go by the name of the Kingdom of Fyr-Dannick, and seem to stick to the Greenthroat. However, their gold is real, and they hold a city next to the river. Enough for trade, at least. The True Chapel of Knauledge accepts the offer of trade, as does House Blackmarrow. The Kingdom of Numeria The Fortress bordering Danwent has been finished for a while now. However, a small group of workers expanding a cellar hit something strange. A smooth, glassy wall of black stone, as impenetrable as a wall of steel… (discord) Merchant Company upon merchant company. It is done. Horsemen flack to the banners of their lords. While indeed of doubtful effectiveness in the forest, they will make excellent scouts. The deforestation begins. Ancient titans, older than empires, fall before the axemen of Numeria. Expansion into the southern forest goes well, but they can only go so far upon camps and outposts. It would seem that a more permanent base of operations is required to consolidate any further holdings. (Settlement) (See Trade Zone changes in the Changelog) The Auldhauan Hierarchy of Melda More Merchant’s Guilds! There is little to nothing about the Elders and the Xian Kingdom. Perhaps the barest mention of something existing far south of the Hierarchy, but nothing more. (Change in Zones of Knowledge, PM if you’d like to research two other nations.) There is much to be said of the Free Cities of Triad, however. Apparently, they have had control on the bay for as long as Meldan records exist. They are always portrayed as greedy, uncouth and unrepentantly opportunistic, with little regard for others. Slavery is also said to be quite popular amongst these cities. The Kingdom of Five would no doubt know little more than the hierarchy, and their maps would be poorer. The horsemen find little amongst the ruins. Shattered by a thousand winters and gutted by vicious winds, little remains but shells. Walls slouch down over barren halls and snow-filled rooms. It seems that whichever kingdom once ruled over these lands has been forgotten by time itself… The South of the Lady is very similar geographically to the north. Mountains marching up the western coast, with flat open fields to the east, blown by snow for a good third of the year. The Shield is even colder than the Lady. It seems that it does indeed shield the Hierarchy from many a vicious and uncompromising wind from the arctic north. However, the search of the Twin does bear fruit. One of the explorers find a plant he does not recognize and brings it back to the herbalists of the kingdom. After only brief testing, it seems to be an effective painkiller when crushed and boiled. The Kingdom of Five With so many riches flowing through the nations, such great tracts of land, and so few men to guard it, a lot of the gold is lost to corruption and theft. (-5000 Gold per turn until your army reaches 10.000) The ancient farms still hold some of the most fertile soil in the world. Once the stones have been cleared away and the terraces restored, crops begin to flourish in abundance. More Merchant’s Guilds! The manufactories are easily finished, and soon workers flow in. The Order You know of Ulyadir. More merchant’s guilds! The enormous amount of manufacturies demand heavy labor from the citizens of the Order all the way until the month of november, when harsh winds sweep in from the north and blast the open fields of the Gelder Islands. But they toil away resolutely, for any who live upon these islands must be more than stoic. And as December dawns, they finish their project. The Bloated Throat envoy never returns. Apparently, he was killed. The Mongerellians gladly accept this envoy. He is welcomed warmly and treated well. They warn him, though to late for his fellow envoy, that the Bloated Throats are vicious humagi living in a desolate land. Their teeth are sharp and acidic saliva burns raw trails down their jaws. More animal than man, they should be left alone. (See changelist for others.) The Kingdom of Fyr-Dannick Merchant’s Guilds and Farms! In the deepest parts of winter, when the ancient trees of the Greenthroat are bowed beneath the weight of the elements and snow lays as thick upon the treetops as upon the ground, a pack of enormous wolves makes its way through the Kingdom. They are seen only by a rare herbalist or hunter, but seen they are. Brown of fur and as tall as a man! Says the hunter, half-incoherent with fear. Their tracks lead out of the Greenthroat and across the Barrier. They leave every citizen of the Fyr-Dannick unharmed, and their cattle untouched. Tracks reveal that they come from the North. The Greenthroat Riders are unopposed. No wild animals attack them, most seem to leave them space. Though one child is bitten by a fox when the boy tries to snap a sapling in half for play. The scouts who cross into the fields to the east see only a few horsemen at one point during their travels. However, upon seeing them the horsemen loose a single red arrow in their direction and gallop away. Surya More Merchant’s Guilds! Fields are sown and farmsteads are built. The rich lands of Esma grow luscious with rice. The Pirates agree to speak to him. (discord) The Commonwealth of Ruhn More Merchant’s Guilds! Blacksmiths clang away at their forges high atop the mountains, until the soldiers of Ruhn are clad in thick iron, forged from that found within their tall mountains. The lower hills allow for some farms. While the rugged land spurns the seeds sown by the Ruhnnites, some take hold, and grow meager crops for the hill-dwellers. The Realm of Hakan, The Kingdom of Karel and the Free Cities of Triad refuse the Ruhnite trade offers, stating their recent expansion as the reason. However, while the envoy is within the Free City of Lem, an interesting man finds him… (discord) The expansion goes well, though Ruhn will need to consolidate both eastern and western holdings to go any further. As the Ruhnnites arrive upont he shore of the Hungry sea, they find a curious thing. A truly huge bridge rises up from the earth like a serpent, and shoots across the straights. Old, ruined towers stand proudly upon it at intervals, overwatching the straights from above. A few sections have old, rusted and jammed gates. They are usually followed by gaps, obviously old drawbridges now rotted through. While destitute and ruined, the bridge allows for crossing, and many of the gates and towers look promising. (Non-functional PoC and ruined Bridge-Fortress.) The Helmedhi Kingdom The docks are finished within the year. An accomplishment, to be sure! More Merchant’s Guilds and Manufactories! The hills seem to be full of iron, copper and other base minerals. No fabled or unknown ones though… (See Changelog for trade changes) The Republic of Danwent More Merchant’s Guilds and farms! The Sehmon Remnant’s grudingly agree to trade, as do the Carrow Lords. Neither seem particularly friendly, and seem to look down upon the Republic. The digs go well enough, though not much is found this year. Of note though, the diggers do find a curiously curved sword made of black metal that seems to have not even rusted or been damaged by its stay deep beneath the ground. It has strange carvings upon its side, perfectly preserved through time. The writing seems to predate the Symonic alphabet and is quite unrecognizable. The Empire of Bourdeleaux You know of the Carrow Lords. The Sun shines upon Bourdeleaux, granting them am bountiful harvest. Truly, the Bright One does appreciate adulations. An old man from a village near the metal deposit spends a few hours leading a certain prospector named Alfred d’Exupery through the countryside. Their search is inconclusive, but some of his tales do jog Alfred’s memories. Upon his return to Bordeleaux, he scours some old tales and...there! He finds more than one mention of men clad in black steel upon which even Crossbow bolts struggled to find a weakness. It seems as if this metal may very well be Black Iron. (Rare mineral acquired: Black Iron.) The recruitment goes well. (Trade changes, see changelod) The Duchy of Ulyadir More Merchant’s Guilds! As the settlers approach the glaciers to the North of their nation, their truly epic proportions are finally revealed. Creaking and groaning like ancient giants forged of ice, the frozen behemoth rises up to meet the sky, high above the heads of the settlers. It joins witt the mountains around it to form a wall that cuts across the northern north-eastern horizon. Even from where these settlers stand, they can feel the deep, bitter cold that soaks into their bodies as they approach the glaciers. Though of course, they feel little true cold. But they settle well enough, despite the gorge being nigh-completely covered in ice. The port is finished easily enough. The Blood Forge seems to have few other physical secrets to reveal. However, one thing is clear. The Forge is ancient, and was once crafted and worked upon by people of great architectural ability. Much of the slopes have sighs of old ruins, and the dark tunnels that snaked through the volcano, while viciously dangerous, reveal some old writing upon the walls, along with illustrations faded with time. Neither resemble anything even close to what the Ulyadir know of. The Herzaka and the True Chapel of Knauledge accept trade. Blackmarrow refuses to trade with Ulyadir and sends the envoy off without allowing him past their walls. (see trade changelog for Darkyria) Ischyros The Merchant’s Guilds are finished easily enough, and two districts suddenly find themselves welcoming an influx of income and new jobs. The Iris remains a stalwart and silent background to the boisterous city. Nothing disturbs it, even rain seems to turn away from it and there is nothing upon the walls or the tower that betrays the presence of wind behind its invisible shell. The Kingdom of Darkyria These holy places are soon finished, and the God of Death welcomes them with easy passings for the fallen and few diseases within the deep hours of winter. Despite this, Darkyrian villages find themselves attacked by wild animals none to often, and their houses are ringed with pelts and furs, while their graveyards grow every winter.

“To do right by the people can only led to grief, to do right by me can only lead to hell. Is the path of the righteous to be eternally damned to fail?” -Symon the Unifier, circa. y.22 Year 1500 The great Empires of old fell 750 years ago. The Symon Empire, spreading across most of Naros, crumbled away into turmoil and civil war in the year 766, leading the continent into Anarchy. The Enlightened Kingdom of Auldhau would fall soon after, with its great troves of knowledge condemned to burn or be forgotten. In the east, the Exiled Kingdom, the last remnant of the First Men of Naros, falls to dissent and the Desert. Its gleaming cities were devoured by sand and its people choked upon their walls turned to dust. Even the Pirates fled west, far away from this damned continent. Yet even Aros was not spared. Many of its nations fell into chaos, victims of the aftershocks caused by the Symonian Empire’s destruction. In two-hundred years, all the major powers had been razed to the ground, and little more was left but roving warlords and city-states struggling for survival. But a new dawn rises above this hell-ridden land. After 750 years, the people are reuniting once more. Old tales are told, and crumbling ruins are explored once more. The lawless still roam, but strong men have forged new kingdoms, and with them, new crowns. Perhaps one day, they will honor the memory of their ancestors, and reforge those broken Empires, or shape new and even greater Realms. Only the Gods can say… In these dark days, it is the old fish wives who turn their rheumy eyes to the sky. The moon hangs low over the horizon like a fat coin waiting to tip and tumble down below the craggy mountains. Yet even as the sun rises and eclipses it, a few stars still linger rebelliously, like children lying in bed, resisting the pull of sleep. When so many stars remain in the sky at dawn, the wrinkled old women gut their fish and mutter to each other about the Star-Touched, and the dark omens that they bear. Perhaps the Gods will have their word after all. _____ A map without any names, for simple editing if you require it. Zones of Knowledge The Red Lines depict the extent of your knowledge. Beyond these lines you are aware of very little and your maps become extremely unreliable. The higher your education, the better your maps in general. If your nation bridges a Line, look for the side with the largest amount of your territory. You are also aware of any nation that borders you, regardless of whether or not you have a majority of your land in their zone. If a nation only has a small amount of land in your zone, then you only vaguely know of their position, and who they are, but have no real contact. NPC Nations Are nations with names written in black. Player nations are in white. Stars Represent capitals. Yes, not all NPC’s have a capital. The Commonwealth of Ruhn The dour mountain-folk have wreathed their lives and temples in bones and death. Perhaps their rough history of crime and war will alienate the neighboring Free Cities of Triad, or will they find within them an unlikely ally? That remains to be seen. What is known, is that to the east, a strange construct looms over the coast, only seen from the mountains on a clear day. The Galaharian League Having fled far, these seafaring folk have seen their own bodies shaped by their travels. Surrounded by unpredictable forces, and gated to the North by a veritable wall of trees as impassable as a cliff, one thing is clear: The Galaharian League holds the center of the world in its hands. The Danwent Republic Few are the men who dare to say that their ancestry stretches back to before the Symon Empire. Fewer still are those who might be right. Most live in the Republic of Danwent. Yet these proud men must always watch the roads east, for there lies the Sehmon Remnants, and their fanatical adherence to old beliefs… Point of Interest: The Salthand Delta. Mostly unfertile, this land seems to have suffered a great many battles and saltings over the centuries. Oftentimes, boys playing in the mud may find rusted swords or old bones. But even greater secrets lie beneath the ground… The Realm of Darkyria Most who venture into the Greenthroat never return. Yet some, somehow, carve their place out within these savage and unforgiving landscape. The Darkyrians will never be able to sleep with both eyes closed, and death always lurks around the corner. But what is death to the deathless? Point of Interest: The Font of Life. The Source of the Wandring River bubbles up deep within the Greenthroat. Perhaps the spirit of the Elder Soul lingers within this glade, for the Font of Life spews forth water of such vitality and quality that nations a thousand kilometers away once tore each other to shreds for control of the smallest sections of that river. (+1% pop growth) (Point of power for the Elder Soul) The Kingdom of Five These heathens have attracted little love from their neighbors or the gods, yet they somehow persist and grow, spreading across the fertile lands of the Vale of a Thousand Currents. But how long could it last, when their neighbors, the Realm of Hakan, despise them so? Point of Interest (North): The Ynkan river, Mother of a Thousand Currents, Seed of Life. It has taken many a name throughout its years, and fed a hundred empires. As wide as a like, it flows into a thousand different rivers and feeds the bountiful lands around it. But such a wide river is more than a lifeline, it is a wall as great as any castle may ever hope to have. Point of Interest (South): Along the greatest arm of the Ynkan River are spread ancient terrasses, now little more than hills, they are littered with ruins. Some say great farms once lay here, but who can differentiate legend from reality? (3 Farms for 3500G instead of 5000G) The Empire of Bourdeleaux It is said tha the Empire was born of the great Duchy of Selrok, an ancient vassal of the Symon Empire, but only the Emperor can reinforce such a belief. With the Sun as their guide, perhaps the Empire will find a way to navigate the complex web of nations surrounding it, and come out on top… Rare Resource: A strange metal was found in the easternmost salient of the Empire, naught but a few years ago. Black as night and hardier than any steel, it has resisted any attempts at unveiling its secrets, but the greatest minds of the Empire may still find out what it has to say for itself. The Order In a world in which Gods rule the minds of men, few can say that they have reject them. Fewer still would dare to adopt the Fallen One as their patron, yet The Order has done both. Great glories could await these scions of mankind, just as much as great disasters. The Kingdom of Fyr-Darrick Others took the name of Fey in ancient days, but there are few left to remember, and to distrust. The Fey of Fyr-Darrick watch over the Greenthroat, the heart of the Elder Soul, and in return, the Elder Soul watches over them. It is a rare thing to have a deity play favorites, but perhaps the Elder Soul has found its champion. Beware, outsiders, for within the forest, the laws of man forsake you, and nature takes its rightful place. The Kingdom of Numeria To go so far, and be stopped by the Roots of the World. The Numerians are not the first to have had their dreams crushed by these imposing peaks. But they are the first to rebuild them anew, in the shadow of their greatest obstacle. Point of Interest: The Well of Eternity: Called Lake Lyria by the Numerians, the Well of Eternity glimmers at night, as if stars were drifting from its surface to rejoin their brethren within the sky. It is said that those who are ailing may come to the Well and find themselves rejuvenated. And some have even found that the water of Lyria, when stored, may act as a far better healing agent than others within this world. Bonus: Numerian Lore Masters: The Kingdom of Numeria has ancient maps of the Symon Empire, with a few markets of interest upon them… The Auldhauan Hierarchy of Melda The secluded Hierarchy of Mela has seen itself split from the rest of Aros for decades. However, should it wish, it has an entire world to explore and bathe in the light of the Lady and the Lord. Point of Interest (Both): Is it an ancient construct, or a natural wonder? No one knows. A victim to the tides of the ocean, a huge rocky shelf blocks off the straight for half of every day, as the tides recede and create a landbridge between the two islands. On each side, old crumbling towers and walls watch over them, the withered sentinels of a fallen kingdom. Surya The Bright One smiles upon the nation of Surya. May their gleaming mirrors illuminate the world with the light of Mihir, and guide it unto a new age. Perhaps they should begin with the Red Sun Pirates to the North, who patrol the Golûn with greed tainting their heart. Point of Interest: The Boiling Sea. A great sheet of vapor rises like a barrier to the west of Surya, hundreds of kilometers long. Its origin is easy enough to find: the inland sea of Golûn. Those first explorers foolish enough to step into it sound found their feet thoroughly scalded, as the sea is at a constant simmer, never cooling even in the coldest days. Not even boats last long within this sea and those that do more often than not lose themselves within the mist. When the winds are right, the Boiling Sea brings great swaths of mists out across Surya, like a veil pulled across the Sun. The Kingdom of Bulgar There are those touched by wild magic and those who have been thoroughly warped. It will be hard to find those who easily trust the Lithborn, especially within the superstitious Hezaka, guardians of that-which-they-know-not. But Grimsbortish will guide them, as he always has. Point of Interest(West): The Earth’s Womb. A perfect cirle 150m in diameter, the Earth’s Womb is a pool with unfathomable depths. Little is known of what lies at the bottom, if there is indeed a bottom, but great power revolves around this one place. (Point of power for the Elder Soul.) Point of Interest(East): The Old Wall. An ancient line of fortifications running down all the way from forest to mountain on the Bulgar border. While in ruin, their imposing stature might remind the passing merchant of the great powers of old, and why in the world they would have built such imposing fortifications in such an empty place... The Duchy of Ulyadar The Children of Ulya live in a unforgiving land, a mistress as cruel and cold as the winds that rip over their homesteads in the coldest of nights. But the cold does little to those whose blood runs as hot as theirs. One can only hope that the treachery of this land does not spill it. Point of Interest(West): Assirbanâhk: An ancient monolith of stone looms over the Bay of Ghosts, staring mutely towards the coasts of Blackmarrow. Its inscrutable face holds the wrinkles of a thousand winters. Carved and cracked by the bitterest winters of the world, Assirbanâhk still stands strong, and its watchful eye forever lingers upon these frozen waters. (Benefit gained if attuned with by 2 magi.) Point of Interest(East): The Blood Forge: Said to be the home of the Blood God by some, this giant volcano is a part of a series of four called the Grumblers. It is a towering monolith with deep clefts gouged into its sides from which spew forth gouts of molten lava. A wild thing from afar, as one approaches, they may observe that the lava is channeled into carefully organized paths, that leads it to pool before an ancient, crumbling building at the foot of the Forge. (Point of power for the Blood God.) The Kingdom of Helmedhi Long have these stout people lived in isolation, cut off from the world by sea, jungle and mountain. Yet they have found a way to adapt, and some might even say to thrive. Few threaten their lands, and perhaps their innate ingenuity will bring them to great heights… Point of Interest: The Dorhimi Docks: Great docks once stood here, created by a forgotten nation, they remain as the last bastion of their great wealth and powerful navies. (One port at 50% off) Ischyros Long has this metropolis grown, deep within the heartlands of the once Empire of Symon. Now it must turn to look at those large nations that surround it, and decide upon a course of action, for the survival of its people. Point of Interest: The Iris. For as long as the people of Ischyros can remember, the Iris has stood upon the tip of the peninsula. None can recollect its origins, or its original purpose, but all have seen its walls, as black as night and as smooth as glass. Its single white tower reaches for the heaves above from within its circular walls. Narry a scratch on them, and no way of climbing them. Indeed, these high-reaching walls seem to repel any attacker. An invisible barrier has always stood between the Iris and its surroundings, leaving it as if frozen in time… The Fortress Libraries The Libraries have long stayed hidden, concealed from the world by the Stinkswamp, their minds turned inwards, to the pursuit of knowledge. But they lie in the heart of Naros, and even those blinded to the world of today, must venture furth, or the great treasures of the ancient world may be forever lost. A caretakers work is never over in these years of ruin and rebirth. The Kingdom of Icefled Few are those brave enough to venture into the deep north, and fewer more are those who could claim to have survived there for centuries. Yet somehow, impossibly, Icefeld persists in one of the most unforgiving climates upon the twin continents. To their north, ice sheets and freezing sea, to their south, a forest as deep and ancient as the world. Only the Men of Ölm live in any proximity to the Icefeld, but they stay away, keep to the forest and rarely show themselves. Every decision can mean life or death in the north, and for the King of Ice and Stone, there are still many to make. Rare mineral acquired: Iceglass. Have at it.

All quoted are accepted.

I’ve added a discord link.

The great Empires of old fell 750 years ago. The Symon Empire, spreading across most of Naros, crumbled away into turmoil and civil war in the year 766, leading the continent into Anarchy. The Enlightened Kingdom of Auldhau would fall soon after, with its great troves of knowledge condemned to burn or be forgotten. In the east, the Exiled Kingdom, the last remnant of the First Men of Naros, falls to dissent and the Desert. Its gleaming cities were devoured by sand and its people choked upon their walls turned to dust. Even the Pirates fled west, far away from this damned continent. Yet even Aros was not spared. Many of its nations fell into chaos, victims of the aftershocks caused by the Symonian Empire’s destruction. In two-hundred years, all the major powers had been razed to the ground, and little more was left but roving warlords and city-states struggling for survival. But a new dawn rises above this hell-ridden land. After 750 years, the people are reuniting once more. Old tales are told, and crumbling ruins are explored once more. The lawless still roam, but strong men have forged new kingdoms, and with them, new crowns. Perhaps one day, they will honor the memory of their ancestors, and reforge those broken Empires, or shape new and even greater Realms. Only the Gods can say… Important Links Larger Map Link RULES Map on a Globe In Options, click Measure Distance. Then Add a radius of 1900. The planet has a circumference of 10000km. Setting I put a hidden fruit name in this text, put it in your app losers. Naros & Aros: To the east, the continent of Naros. To the West, Aros. These continents are divided by two things. The first is the massive and primordial forest of the Greenthroat. From end to end, it stretches across about 2.000 kilometers of land. However, the real divider if the Barrier. It is a saltwater straight that travels about 1.500 kilometers and slashes the continents into their own separate entities. These two continents are filled with their own mysteries and ruins, born from vastly different fallen civilizations. The various isles surrounding Aros are typically labeled as part of Aros. The Greenthroat: The great divider, the Greenthroat is a gigantic forest, as ancient as the world and as impenetrable as the greatest mountains. Few who enter it ever return and only a thin strip of land running along its southern coast allow for safe travel by land. It is a place of raw natural magic and primordial beings, as ancient as the world itself. Mankind: The inhabitants of this world, men have spread from their early origin thousands of years ago, and now populate the entirety of Aros and Naros. Where once they could be said to be a homogeneous species, magic and time has changed them. In the chaos that followed the fall of Empires 750 years ago, wild magic shook the world and changed its people. Now many types of man walk this world, some with gills, some as tall and hardy as giants, other said to live to an incredible age. It is hard to classify and discover all of them in such fractured times. Magic: Whereas mankind may have been brought low by the end of the Symon Empire, the Gods reveled in its fall. For with it fell its False God and its unwavering hatred for all things magic. As such, the Gods have grown in power once more, for their power comes from those who worship them. The faithful are rewarded, for their most ardent worshippers are granted boons and powers unlike any that mortal men may hold. But beware the God that comes demanding a favor in return for your powers… When you chose your god, you will be revealed the entirety of their tier tree. However, you will not learn of the others. Technology: Mankind still fights with sword and shield, and they have done so for thousands of years. The fall of Empires does not lend itself to technological innovation. Points of Interest: Points of interest represent a large variety of things, such as ruins, resources, geographical wonders, great buildings, etc. It is important to remember that they are not specifically a boon, and some of these places may very well be extremely dangerous. While you may choose to create a nation with points of interest within it, to prevent abuse and min-maxing, you will only learn what they are after being accepted. Geography/Climate: While creating your nation you may inquire upon the specific climate and geography of your selected region, however things such as resources will once again only be revealed when you have been accepted. Treasury: The game will function off of a treasury system. Each nation will have its own treasury, which can be saved up, or spent, depending on national interests. There will be various ways of increasing income, or spending gold, which will be shown in the rules section. Unique Units: Every nation will be able to create one unique unit. It can be of any type. Turn Reaction: A player cannot react in his post to the actions of another player who is acting on the same turn as he. This is to prevent, for example, a player editing his post and dumping everything into fortifications after his enemy declares war on him. If a player miss judges and does not fortify preemptively, then the attacker will logically have an advantage. Nation Customization You will begin the game by creating your nation and deciding on what type of humans you wish to lead. Races Humans: Unmodified by wild magic, these humans are quite similar to their ancestors. While their bodies and minds may lack that magic which has empowered their brethren in a variety of ways, their blood is the same as those who have forged the greatest empires in the history of the world. It is unwise to look down upon them, for it was their forefathers who brought the gods to heel. Traits -Commercial buildings are 10% cheaper to build. -One bonus attribute point for your Categories Humagi(us): Changed by wild magic, the Humagus may vary wildly depending on the community within which they live, or the land upon which they have founded cities. It is not unusual for Humagus to have a higher affinity towards their god of choice, a boon which others would do well to fear. Some possible changes may be great size and strength, or tough skin, or greatly extended lives, or gills and the capacity to breath underwater for a limited amount of time. Traits -Religious buildings are 10% cheaper to build. -A modification of your choice, to be ironed out with the moderator. Categories Then you will attribute specific points to specific attributes which will shape your nation in a variety of ways. While these will guide you mechanically, the player has unlimited freedom in terms of their own nation, though they may refer to the moderator if they wish to connect their nation to ancient lore. You will have 20 points to attribute to your nation at the beginning of the game and can have no more than eight in one category. A score of 1-2 will usually have a relatively bad impact on your nation. Economy: This determines the wealth of your nation. Every point will increase your income per turn by 1.000 gold, and your starting gold by 7.500 gold. You may begin making trade agreements on turn 1. Your Points x 7.500G is your Turn 1 gold, you do not get your normal income on turn 1. Size: This determines the starting size of your nation, as well as your population. You begin with 500.000, with every point increasing your population by another 500.000. In addition, it determines the size of your borders. Please use this to get an idea of the size: City-State Jamaica Netherlands Portugal Great Britain Poland France Turkey Every 4 points, you receive one more city, in addition to your Capital. Education: Education will decide your capacity to innovate technologically. This topic will be far more subjective. When putting points into education, remember that these will determine what kind of specialized technology you might start with. If you try to get too much tech for your points, a change can be discussed after. Once you are accepted, you will post in a Discord channel what tech you’d like to have an advantage in. The higher the education level, the greater the advantage. With enough Education, you can advance more than one technology. Mysticism: Similarly to Education, Mysticism will decide the magic and religion related aspects of your nation. The more points you put in, the greater favor you have in your Gods eyes. 2 points unlocks your first tier 1 spell 4 points unlocks your second tier 1 spell Military: This will decide the power of your military. Army: Each point can give you 5 units of soldiers. (The size of units will be explained in the rules page). One Unit = 500men. They begin as T1 armor Regulars, which you must upgrade yourself. You CANNOT begin with T3 types of soldiers, the hidden fruit is lichi (Heavy Infantry, Heavy Cavalry, Crossbowmen). Navy: Each point gives you 3.000 gold to spend on ships. (The price of ships will be explained in the rules page). In addition, every four points invested into Military will give you one fortress. Your capital already has a fortress and walls. Your cities have a keep. Unique Units Every player may also apply for one unique unit within their app. This unit must adhere to one of the types of soldiers within the rules. However, they will be allowed to have specific bonuses or aspects. Application There are 15 spots. Don’t reserve cause that’s stupid. If there is competition, I will judge based on app quality. Add me on skype/discord: mr.spamshok / https://discord.gg/vmRvK2 Nation Name: BRIEF History: Nation Culture: Human Or Humagi (Describe Humagi): Nation Government System: Economy: Education: Size (include rough area on map): Military: Mysticism: Key Figure 1: Key Figure 2: Key Figure 3: Unique Unit: Hidden Fruit:

Trade Federation 244 AP 100AP into Project Horatio Black. The main goal is to continue perfecting the technology as well as streamline training and allow for a better output of valid products. (850AP invested) Logistical improvements, more entertainment, better hangars and ports, better warehousing systems for the alliance, better refueling, etc. (40 AP into Business) Research continues into the Ar’Gakari technology. (40AP) (340AP invested) Continued work into Evil Twin (50AP) (400AP invested) 10 AP into 750 fighters 250 bombers 2 frigates (4AP) The TF discovers the disappearance of some of its key scientists months after the fact, when they fail to report to their key jobs for weeks. They do nothing apparently.

The Hellenic Kingdom of Greece While the declaration of war still stands, and Greece is at war with both Serbia and Italy, conflict has yet to cross its borders. So for now, Greece putters onwards, and while soldiers train and factories chug out weaponry, many people have yet to feel as if they are truly at war. Apart from the families of those brave sailors lost in combat. Mid-season, two cruisers, four submarines and three destroyers/minesweepers make their way out of Greek shipyards to rejoin the Hellenic Navy. Actions -The improvement on shipyards continues as one of the primary military-industrial focuses of the season. Using shared Greek and Austrian knowledge, the main designers hope to achieve five shipyards capable of finishing most ships below battleship level in under six months (and above in a year) before the end of this initial step of the process. (3 Turns Ongoing) -Fortifications continue along the border as planned beforehand, as does the training of men using the new decentralized/standardized training procedures to increase training capacity and quality. Some of the most experienced soldiers who are no longer capable of serving on the front, and few of those who are are pulled back to central training hubs in various regions to instruct recruits. (2 Turns Ongoing) -In an effort to continually stimulate national pride and the cultural enrichment of the Greek people, Prime Minister Eleftheros Savros passes a law imposing import quotas and tariffs on foreign cultural goods such as cinema, novels and music. While many foreign cultural goods will be allowed in, this move is meant to further allow the expansion and diversity of Greek cultural goods within the nation. -Pro-national and post-Byzantine propaganda continue to propagate throughout the nation. However, Prime Minister Savros is very careful who he appoints as minister of culture, and his direct subordinates. He does not want hardline fascists, even if he does favor mild fascism/hard nationalism. Along with this, the people are often reminded of the imminent danger that the Ottoman Empire and Greater Serbia impose upon them. (3 Turns Ongoing) -Submarine research continues, with the help of Austrian naval engineers. The objective is not only to catch up to the most modern of standards, but to eventually surpass them in all aspects. As such, this project remains at the forefront of military research in Greece. (3 Turns Ongoing) -Construction of the Greek dreadnought continues. At the same time, five new submarines, three destroyers and one cruiser are laid down for construction within Greek shipyards. The submarine area is secured and well-guarded to prevent spying. -Industrial expansion and general modernization of the state continue. Teachers tell their students of the glorious greek past and the Government carefully subsidizes schools in regions where it is more needed, in an attempt to improve the literacy of its people. At the same time new roads, railroads, factories and various other industries continue to be expanded upon. (3 Turns Ongoing) -The Island of Corfu, already with an established fortress, is further reinforced with better artillery, better communication systems and better scouting methods to watch over the mouth of the Adriatic. -Recruitment of a volunteer only army continues, though an attempt is made to moderate the amount to a sustainable level from an economic perspective. (Capping at 650k + 300k reserves for now) -Trade continues through the Mediterranean for the Greeks. Politics – Diplomacy Prime Minister Eleftheros Savros is one of the first to congratulate the King on his recovery, and quickly aids him in re-appointing himself with the current events. In all ways, he acts as a personal advisor and close friend to the King. He gives him council, reports on events happening in the country, helps him write speeches… He spends much of his free time, and some of his occupied time helping the King, and advising him on matters of the state. In many ways, he acts as the channel between the King and the state. Is that not his job after all? Upon Savros’ encouragement, the King visits the frontline defenses a few times throughout the season. He is taken in pictures often, and these pictures are circulated throughout the newspapers. Oftentimes, Konstantine of Epirus, one of the leading generals of the army walks with him, aiding the King’s weakened body along. An embassy is sent to the USA and Romania, to increase awareness and relations. Stats Army: 450.000 / 100.000 Reserves Navy: 22 ships

The Hellenic Kingdom of Greece The Declaration of the Twin Alliance From now on, it shall be recognized that the United Kingdoms of Austria and the Hellenic Kingdom of Greece are to be considered allies. In peace or in war, for better or for worse, the nations stand united. As such, The Hellenic Kingdom of Greece formally joins in the war against Italy, in support of its ally. To the people, Prime Minister Konstantine Savros speaks about the threat to their islands, and their people, with Italy so willing to declare sudden war upon its weaker neighbors, without provocation or cause. Thus, Greece has decided to join the war in an attempt to curb the aggressively expansionist ideals of its neighbor, in hopes of securing safety for their kingdom. Major Actions -Shipyard improvement continues. The focus is on making them more efficient, and capable of creating modern, quality ships in large numbers. This is the main industrial focus of the season. -Research into Submarine construction continues, better Offensive Deep-Sea vessels all around is the goal, this time, Austrian scientists and researchers lend aid to boost research. -Defenses begin to be built up along the Serbian and Bulgarian borders. In addition, a handful of fortresses are commissioned to defend the coast of Greece through steel and fire. Focus is first put on the Serbian border and under the current cirsumstances, a lot of workers are drafted from non-essential industries to aid with the completion of the fortresses and the other defenses. -More quarantines and isolation for sick people, to prevent the spread of the Dutch Flu. Borders are shut down and tightly regulated, people can pass, as long as they do not display the symptoms of the flu. -More volunteers are requested in the army, though the Greek military. The military reforms and training continues, with help from experienced Austrian officers to increase the level of skill fo the army. The greek army seeks to recruit as many men as possible through a volunteer program. It makes it clear that it would prefer not to use conscription, and trusts in the patriotic fervor of its people, to defend its land. In the end, Greece wants a highly motivated army of willing men. Normal Actions -In tandem with the construction of shipyards, mass modernization of the state and industries continues. With trade opening up with other nations of the world, great effort is put into creating new factories, new railroads, new dockyards and various other necessities of a modern state. -Byzantine propaganda and Greek nationalism continue. This time, the threat posed by the Ottomans and the Serbians is exhorted in every city. A mortal threat to Greek culture! Every citizen is urged to join the military, or work hard for their country in which every job they find themselves. Productivity must rise, for the clock is ticking, and doom approaches! -Ship construction continues -Orders for more artillery are issued at the greek foundries. -Modernization of the education system, etc. continues, as well as cultural enrichment, etc. Austria contributes to this goal. Education is hoped to be on the rise. Diplomacy Konstantine Stavros officially condemns the German gas attacks on Paris as war crimes. Greek nationals abroad are encouraged to return home and contribute to their nation with whatever skills they may have gained abroad. The United States & China are contacted for trade in coal and other essentials to industry. As is Argentina, and various other nations across the world. The Greek King Constantine I remains ill and bedridden into the next season. For now, guidance of the nation continues under the charismatic and prideful PM Konstantine Zavros. He continues to influence the nation and gather allies in the Parliament, while little by little stripping away the influence of those who oppose him. Discreetly removing a man from power here, or re-assigning an opponent to a dead-end post there.

The Hellenic Kingdom Towards the end of 1918, the new elections end. Konstantine Stavros, of the right-wing fascist party emerges as the new Prime Minister. 53 years old, he appears to be far more moderate than his predecessor, and soon begins to end relations with the Central Powers group. A devout nationalist, a moderate fascist and seemingly a decent man when it comes to his own people. Greece has spent the past years in turmoil, reeling from the catastrophic defeat in the war. But with the rise of Stavros and his right-hand man, Eliftheros of Epirus, it can only be hoped that some semblant of national pride can be restored. Life in the city of Athens and every other major town and city in Greece has transformed into a buzz of constant activity as new factories reach for the skies and soldiers parade through the streets, dressed proudly and marching with even greater pride. At sea, the Hellenistic Navy patrols their territory, the prows of their steel behemoths slicing through the sea with ease. It is a time of reforms, re-ignited pride in a bruised national identity, and an outwards gaze upon the world around Greece, and the promises that it holds. Stavros spent nights working around the clock, tirelessly reading reports, appearing in public and igniting the people with pride. Both he and Eliftheros of Epirus wear themselves to the bone enacting their reforms and kickstarting a Greece that has suffered at the hands of a failed war. No more, they swear to each other after long nights of work, over a glass of whiskey and a cigar. No more defeats and humiliations for their proud nation. They had suffered them enough. Actions -Submarines begin patrolling the eastern Mediterranean in secret, getting familiar with the ‘terrain’ and drilling. The Navy does the same, openly. They continue to focus on the training and strategies imparted on them by the British in 1912. -Building of industry and logistical core of the nation. Roads, shipyards, factories, railways. Jobs are stimulated by the creation of new Government sponsored companies, that build up industrial land. The main focus is Shipyards and related industries. Experts from other countries are offered good money to come and work in Greece. -Eliftheros of Epirus, leader of the Hellenistic Army, has spent the past year stimulating nationalistic zeal within Greece. He works very carefully upon a book called the Rise of the New Empire. Within it, he ties Hellenistic and Byzantine roots into a careful renaissance of Neo-Antiquity within Greece. With it, he connects the people to these glories of the past and attempts to reignite national pride and boil the blood of young men with promises of glory. (He also begins to disseminate propaganda blaming the Ottomans/muslims/arabs for the failings of Greece in the previous war) -Four new submarines, a dreadnought, 2 cruisers and 3 minesweepers/destroyers are laid down for construction at the start of the season. Or at least, as many as can be started. The rest will simply have to wait. -More troops are raised, hoping to ride the wave of nationalistic fervor. It is also a ripe time to try out the new military training system. -Konstantine Stavros, from Cyrpus himself, speaks out to the Greek people of occupied lands on the radio. He reminds them of their heritage, of the pride that it brings, and encourages them to never forget who they are, or what they stand for. In secret, agents attempt to make contact with hardcore groups in Ottoman land, Cyprus and other regions to establish a network of possible resistants. -Researchers establish a first project. The improvement of submarines and torpedo boats. Faster, quieter, stronger, more agile, longer time underwater. Better conditions, more torpedoes. A comprehensive improvement of both naval vessels. -Researchers focus on their second project, which is to focus far more on Radios and telecommunication. To improve their radios and code-senders by increasing clarity, range, stability, etc etc. -A reworking of the military structure under Eliftheros of Epirus. Every region has its own army, under the Hellenistic Army. Qualified, highly trained inspector corps go through each region once a month for inspection. Each region trains its men through standardized means, taught by soldiers and officers that have gone through military training school. The inspectors ensure that every region is up to par and educate or train officers who have slacking standards. The goal is to achieve a standardized, highly drilled military. -A general modernization of the country, from schools to healthcare. A slow moving project, as much a matter of inertia and active involvement. On the backburner for now. Diplomacy -Diplomats hasten to Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Serbia and the Russian powers. -Greek Culture is stimulated through the encouragement of poets, playwrights and authors to write books about Greece and its past glories. Cultural and national pride are encouraged, and many classics are implemented into school teachings. In a way, this new deluge of entertainment is also meant to satisfy and pacify the masses. -A formal demand is sent to the Ottoman Empire. Cyprus must be greek again, and Greece will not stand to see their people under the arab rule. Cyprus has always been Greek, and the rulers would see it be the case once again. -Latin is installed as a secondary optional language to be taught in school starting at the age of 10. Greek is standardized and re-ignited as a cultural thoroughfare. -Stavros works carefully upon the parliament over the months, carefully deviating power from the crown and those ultra-zealous fascists or other without any overt signs. At the same time, he keeps the ailing king distant from politics, preferring to be in de facto control of the nation. It is not rare for him to speak well of the olden days, of a Republic and of Greek democracy. Though he never openly opposes the monarchy. -Argentina, the United States of America, India, Socialist China, Japan and Canada are contacted for trade. To conduct transactions and allow for a flow of resources into Greece to fuel the rising industrial capacity. -QUARANTINE! Measures are put in place at ports and at borders to verify for those affected of plague, and Stavros ensures that government programs expound on the usefulness of washing ones self and keeping an eye out for those affected.

Discord Name; You got it Nation of Choice (and why?); Byzantium Greece Nation’s historical background leading up to 1912: The nation has had a turbulent history. For the most part, it has been under the influence of great power over the past decades. Starting as a Kingdom in the early 1800’s under the Bavarian Otto, it has been shaken by a series of revolutions and upheavals. The first established a constitution, the others did little more than spiral the country into debt, and a series of failed wars against the Ottomans. This changed after the Cretian Venizelos was asked by military members of a coup to come in as their political advisor in 1909. By 1912 he had reformed the political scene, the economy, the education system, purchased weapons and brought the British and French into the fold to help with training his military. Indeed, by 1912, Venizelos has turned the nation around, and prepared it for the chaos that was to come. Nation’s Government Type and Leader/Party; Greece is currently a Kingdom, under George I. The prime minister is Eleftherios Venizelos, of the Liberal Party. Any special characters you made and want to introduce?; Constantine of Epirus, the right hand man of Eleftherios Venizelos and the General of the Hellenic Army. He is a zealous nationalist and behind many of the major military reforms brought forth by Eleftherios throughout the past few years. About 45, he still has a few years ahead of him, and definitely has ambitions for power, once Eleftherios is out of the picture. Nation’s relative army/navy statistics (If you can’t find any pm me); As of 1912 125k standing army 140k national guard + reserves The army has faced significant reforms in past years, and has received training from French missions. 22 ships The navy adopted a british style of fleet management & strategy in 1909, and once again received significant amounts of training from the Royal Navy. Did you read all the information?; Yes Suggestions or feedback?; Yes

The Trade Federation The Trade Federation – GTC-1 System – The Citadel – Manchester Convention Center Even when war struck the galaxy like a hammer on weak iron, wringing cracks out of it with every blow, tearing a scream of tortured metal from its iron lips, gold stayed. Like teardrops it clung to the fissuring iron and infiltrated every crack with the acumen of a million war-profiteers. Nowhere was this more apparent than the Quarterly Trade Fair. Tony had organized it, at least in name, for the past twenty years. Like clockwork, four times a year those who found it important enough would make their way over and talk with their equals, pander to their betters and bully their lessers. It was a clockwork operation with a societal hierarchy that transcended space travel and the invention of even the simplest technologies. The rich came to get richer, the poor came to pick at their coat tails, and those who fit into neither category suffered the consequences of each. It was perhaps the only time at which Tony Blaze III truly felt content. A gentle reminder that operations weren’t that bad, that he was still top dog and that top dollar was still waiting out there to be made. He leaned on the balcony and sucked up a fine whiskey with a straw. It made a very distinct slurping noise, and pulled a few glances from those around him. “I’ll say it every year, and I’ll say it again this year. You should really go get some better Kyber modifications.” The rough voice cut through the myriad of soft murmurs and gentle music that permeated the upper levels of the convention center. “And you still haven’t replaced your vocal chords,” he said with a small smile. “My voice is fine, its the ******* you hang out with that don’t have proper speech, mate.” Blaze turned around, leaning his elbows on the balustrade and looking the figure in front of him up and down slowly. “With all the business I’m giving you, I half believed that you might not even make one convention.” “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, mate,” replied the tall australian man in front of him. He wore what could be, in the roughest sense, called a suit. Most of it was alligator leather with outrageous patterns on it. He wore tall cowboy boots and a boonie hat that did little to hide the scruffy state of his hair. In his hands, an enormous cigar. “How’s business?” said Tony. He slurped again. “What with Hephaestus making you give me **** at cost, I can’t imagine its all that good.” The australian scowled and shook his head. “Can’t complain, they make sure I don’t yap too loudly. In the end it’ll pay off.” He grinned a wide grin full of crooked yellow teeth that seemed to be trying about as hard as they could to pop out of his gums. “And the PR is insane mate!” he slapped Tony on the shoulder with enough strength to break open a dakite hull. “Do you know how many people are coming over trying to get our amazing margins and stupendous deals? Unbelievable!” Tony smiled and rubbed his shoulder slowly. “Glad to hear, friend. I might be passing some more deals your way.” He scowled and leaned in closer, while the australian did the same. He had that odd glimmer in his eyes. The one people had at the convention when they anticipated some sort of deal so ridiuculously lucrative and semi-illegal that they could barely withold their anticipation. “The Board is pressuring me to outlet some of my production to Federation manufacturies. I need you to have a look-see as their stocks in a few days, I’ll make sure some scandals make them tank.” He winked and leaned back up as the australian nodded slowly. “I like it Tony, I like it a lot mate. You ruthless little bastard.” Someone called his name in the distance and he shouted something back in Australian. “I gotta go, mate. I’ll have a look at that thing you mentionned soon.” Tony tipped his glass in his direction and pulled out a small datapad as the man moved away. He idly ticked off another name from the list. Only two dozen more people to speak to and he could relax. Maybe watch some demonstrations of the new Firehawk Mk VI swarm missiles near Citadel. They made for beautiful fireworks in a pinch, if his marketing team was to be believed. Actions 223 + 1100 More work is put into understanding the Ar’Gakari virus, and Gakari cybertechnology. As much is put into understanding it, as bypassing it and accessing the data within the Datacore. Indeed, this is as much reverse engineering their protective measures as beating them. (200 AP) (300AP Invested) More weapons technology! Torpedoes this time. Heavy, small, fast, slow, but all of them as hard to hit as possible, of course. (120AP) (300AP invested, T6) The Harpie Mk II and B4-X8 Sandstorm face long awaited upgrades. The new fighter and bombers will be generations ahead of what they once were, capable of defending Federation space from all invaders. They are renamed the Blaze Mk I Heavy fighter and the B5 Snowstorm all purpose bomber. (265 AP) (350AP invested) Project Horatio Black is launched. It picks up where Ruthless Monkey left off on cyberwarfare. But now, it combines Evil Twin along with it. The goal here is to take very carefully chosen volunteers from the Evil Twin program and upload their minds to datacores after extremely intense training. From there, they undergo a thousand tests and processes to turn them into ultimate AI’s, based on organic minds and developed to the full potential of computerized capabilities. They are to be the ultimate navigator, ship AI aid, cyberwarfare device, hacker, infiltration weapon, etc. The pinnacle of human cyber technology. (500AP) (750AP invested) Continuing on past years, more stations and refugee posts are made, and more humanitarian efforts are sent out from the Trade Federation. Refugees are encouraged to join the workforce. From lowly manual workers to exiled engineers. Businesses are encouraged to use these new minds towards innovation and greater efficiency. (100AP business) (460 invested) 750 fighters and 250 bombers are created to protect the homeland. (10AP) The TAROT project is reignited, with the goal of making a ship-based variant for Cruiser-class and above. (100AP) (200AP invested) The Sunlight Foundation is founded on under the control of Ernst Junger, billionaire philantropist. He begins to produce and acquire huge amounts of medecine, food, clothing and other essential goods including building materials, tools, and simple, easy to assemble shelters. All these things are then packaged and ship freely to crisis-regions where they are to be distributed to refugees around the galaxy. Operating as an NGO, Ernst Junger uses his own personal wealth for the launch of Sunlight Foundation., however he also appeals for donations to the galactic community to continue his humanitarian work for all those affected by war. (33AP invested into production and distribution of humanitarian goods)

The Guardians of the Voice Dak Sentris LP-A - Checkpoint Auresh - 1423 - Eighteenth Day - 8th Month Dak unshouldered his bag and tossed is casually onto the growing pile besides him. All around him, people were streaming out of the shuttle and adding the pile. Heavy bags smashed onto it, and he could hear the occasional crunch as smaller ones were ground down to mulch beneath them. He made sure his bag was nice and deep into the pile, and that the rest star on top of it was clearly visible. Without looking back, he forced himself to make his was towards the checkpoint slowly, his hands in his pockets and a bored look plastered on his face. He’d done it a dozen times already, shifting identities and bags at nearly every city from east to west. He’d even had a inpromptu facial surgery midway, after a ridiculously close call. He rubbed his jaw and stretched it slowly as he reached the checkpoint and rested his hands on the counter. The young woman behind the desk barely looked up at him, but the two stormtroopers standing at attention only half a dozen feet away did. Their blank, ghoulish masks seemed to fixate him with cruel intent and Dak barely refrained from clenching his hands into fists. These were the first actual troopers he’d seen this trip. “Welcome to LP-A,” said the girl, glancing up at him boredly. “Name, job, reason for arrival.” “Jut Fev, Trader, Trading. Here, have my ID,” he said with a warm smile, pulling it out of his pocket and stretching over the desk to hand it to her. “Uh, thanks,” she muttered, taking it from his open palm. She paused for a moment after that, and Dak felt sweat gather on his brow like a dam ready to break. The Stormtroopers gaze felt ever more heavy, crsuhing his shoulders with an ironclad promise of pain. Then the girl shook herself and nodded crisply. “Of course, let me log you.” Dak closed his hand around the red star tattooe’d on his palm and felt his body shaking ever so slightly beneath his thick layers of clothing. If she had been the wrong one… But no, she smiled at him, handed back the card and Dak walked past the troopers, who barely gave him a passing glance. He picked up his bag and then, he was free. Suddenly, the oppressive weight seemed to lift from his shoulders and he exited into a wide open street, the tight checkpoint already fading from his memory as he looked around with wide eyes. He hadn’t been back to LP-A in years, not since he’d had problems with the families. It was different now, the streets were greyer, the building had new cracks running through them and the speeders darting above his head had a little more rust and a little less glamor. Even the people looked grimmer. Where once foodstalls had openly proclaimed their goods to smiling children in front of spaceport checkpoints, he could only see two stells, both held by burly men with suspicious looks on their stony faces and crowbars near at hand. Two stromtroopers walked by and gave him a look. “Move along, citizen,” one of them said. Dak bowed his head quickly, his unkempt hair falling in front of his features. He broke into a brisk walk, slowly falling into the pattern that those around him seemed to take. Head down, fast pace and no looking upwards. No looking at the inner city towers and the large imperial banners hanging from them like bloody corpses. Asherba Eks Street, number 4585, Room 22, the closet. He recited the instructions in his head a few times as he made his way through the dreary crowd and down into the iron maw of the subway system. A stink emenated from them, as if something was rotting deep within the bowels of LP-A. No doubt a few corpses had found their way there, to mix with the human excrements of those too poor to even crawl out from within. The rich took speeders or ground travel, the poor took the subway in all its rusted, grimy and vicious glory. From what he’d heard, stromtroopers didn’t go here. As soon as one of the vessels ground to a halt before him in a shower of sparks, he darted in and stood opposite the door, his gaze darting around the carriage. A drunkard or two, a dozen homeless and some people too poor to care about being robbed. Finally, he began to relax a little bit and the tension bled from his bones and out through his muscles. The hard part was done, now all he needed was to find his handlers data and start the job. Actions -The Guardians break up into cells. Each cell consists of roughly ten people, who live in a specific region and operate with little knowledge of those around them. All of them answer to a handler, who in turn is not known by more than anonymous droppoints and a codename to his operatives. He reports to a core Guardian member, who follows a similar system to avoid recognition. This core member takes care of a specific number of Handlers, and reports directly to the Guardians themselves. -The Guardians break up into groups themselves, and begin roaming the great empty expanses of land around the globe, especially north, often pretending to be shepards, vagrants or others. They rarely stay anywhere for long and make no permanent bases. They communicate through apparently inane messages and coded language, or through physical means. -Word is spread amongst the population that the Guardians are organizing a resistance to push back foreign invaders from Edichi. While no location is ever given, the bars of villages and cities are often visited by sympathetic people used as recruiters as well as operatives. (MOD) -Moving constantly, and relying on sympathetic citizens for materials and aid, the Guardian’s core of scientists and researchers begin to work on fibres and jammers that disrupt or make places and people invisible to life scans, thermal imagery, etc etc. (MOD) -Using their long tenure as Guardians of Edichi, the Guardians attempt to find sympathetic people in the cities and at all levels of the government or other businesses. They search for informants, people willing to look the other way when something needs to be slipped through a checkpoint, etc. In addition, they try to soak up as much information about the state of the planet as possible and those who remain on it. (MOD) -About 40 operatives are sent east, to incorporate the various townships and cities along the way and spread the influence of the Guardians as handlers for cells. They use contacts and act inconspicuously. Traveling merchants, shepherds, etc. They use the chaos falling on the planet to act fast and find a place as refugees of the growing conflicts. The MAIN target cities are as follow: (MOD)

Discord: You have it Faction of Choice: Rebel 7 Faction Name: The Guardians (of the Voice) Brief Faction History: For the entire history of Edichi, the Guardians of the Voice have existed. A religious order centered around the use of the Force, they worship Edichi and act as protectors of the Planet in all aspects. The people, nature, its history, culture and of course, Temples. When space travel came to Edichi, the Guardians of the Voice remained a venerable order, but they lost much of their power to corporate greed and soon were seen as little more than a Cultural Figurehead with little innate power. Yet, below this façade of fading influence, the Guardians of the Voice continued to train their apprentices, learn the ways of the Force and defend that which they could with what waning power remained in their grasp. Now, with the planet isolated and so many foreign elements upon its surface, they have cut ties with a failing government, and turned on those who would take the planet as their own, and ravage it with war and industry. Acting as a guerilla force, using their deep knowledge of the planet, the Guardians fight to protect that which has been theirs for thousands of years. Hero Name: Voice of Voices, Manna Brief Hero backstory: Manna, Voice of Voices, is the leader of the Guardians, and their greatest (or only) force user. She is a 55 year old female human who looks like she were half that age. Determined, driven and highly traditional, she venerates Edichi and will do everything she can to protect it from the invaders. Powerful in the Force, she wields a saberstaff, but her true might lies in her manipulation of the Force, not open combat. A gentle leader, she inspires loyalty through absolute dedication to her people and while she shirks away the thought of killing, she acts when it is needed, for the greater good of Edichi. Truly, there are few who could claim to be as dedicated to the good of the planet as her. Hero Point Acquisition: Force Sensitive (8points) Force Ability: 5 Point Force Combat: 3 Point Command: 2 Points Any specific items/equipment request: A saberstaff & A Holocron with old Jedi teachings.

Annor's Crossroads - The Avernatus Family 41 AP + 10 AP + 22AP Treasury 2 + 3 imperial influence 12 AP foundry 10 AP base 8 AP markets 2 AP Vinyards 2 AP Fools gold 7 AP Population Population: 755,827 Work on the Millus Bomb continues. After all, with such a dastardly device, there can only be improvement. (10AP + 10AP investments) (36AP invested) Engineers continue to toil away at the roads in Annor, struggling to reshape them into something somewhat useful. (13AP) (6/40) Work on Engineering continues within Annor. (10AP) (60AP invested/200) Two units of heavy infantry are given basic training and equipped with steel gear, to be sent off to fill the ranks of the Provincial Army once more. (12AP) Two Imperial Ashwing Regiment is also trained for the Provincial Army and equipped with T2 gear. (16AP) One light infantry unit is trained and equipped with T1 gear and given basic training, for the Provincial Army. (2AP) The Sorcerer's Conclave of Altaire is given a progress report on the Millus bomb, and of course, full agreement to share the plans upon completion is given. Decimus Avernatus, the Annor envoy to the Capital makes it clear that the interests of the Empire are at the heart of Annor’s concerns. They also give them preliminary plans on creating far larger devices similar to the Handcannon, for sieges, etc which they hope to receive funds for as well. (0AP)

The Trade Federation Citadel Guard Training Base - Facility 14 - 05:01 - [REDACTED] System - [REDACTED] Space “...Fleet is not a plaything for your newly formed freaks, Mr. Blaze. We have enemies coming for us, the Chupan’Mo are proof enough of their prowess, I need those ships under my command, not under some jumped-up science experiment who throws them away on tests!” The vessel shuddered and Tony glanced up at his guard with a raised eyebrow. “We’ll be arriving in sixty seconds, sir. Clearance has been issued by FacSec.” He nodded and turned back to the small holographic image. She’d been a pretty woman once, when she had fought the Replicants. A hero that Tony had needed to turn the opinions of the masses in their favor after the Nexus disaster. Now stress had wrought upon her face a fate worse than age ever could. Lines on her brow, grey streaks running through her hair and bags under her eyes deeper than his pockets. “Eldrige, you are paid to maintain the fleet, not Task Force A-72. If you wish to have further command over it, perhaps you should go through the same trials he has.” The ship shuddered again, jolting him almost imperceptibly in his seat. “Now I have a new project to oversee, return to your duties.” He flicked a finger and the link was cut. She was proving to be more of a thorn in his side with every passing year. Good intentions hid behind her constant nagging, but there were more pressing matters than assigning a few more ships to home defense. His projects would outweigh any contribution that they might have, in time… He looked up at his guard. “Captain Wolcotski, I will have you with me every step of the way. Your input on the Facility’s progress since your days within it will be valuable.” “Yes, sir,” replied the man in black and gold armor, unslinging his gun and holding is firmly against his chest. Tony Blaze III stood up and stretched, before pulling a cigar out from his breadpocket and lighting it with a snap of his cybernetic fingers. He pulled heavily and then, without looking pulled out another and tossed it behind him. A slithering sound later, it too ignited and Mnbli, dressed in a slug-proportioned suit appeared at his side, a cigar hanging out of what the kribs considered a mouth. Tony smiled down at the slug. If only everyone were as quiet yet amicable as Mnbli, his world would run far more smoothly. ------------------- A message is sent to every nation in the North, including Darkul and Zaxx, excluding the Gakari. It is sent through Quantum Communications. A message is also sent to everyone in the South, including the Keerim. It is a video of Tony Blaze III upon a podium, in a dark room with a TF logo behind him. "Esteemed members of the Milky Way Galaxy, as some of you may know, the Trade Federation has long possessed an advanced, quantum-scanning module we have named TAROT." A blueprint appears behind him, and artistically traces a path across the galaxy to every nation capital. "Capable of scanning everything within a range of ten sectors actively, and five passively it will detect vessels in warp, lifeforms, energy and practically everything else." He pauses and pulls out a fat cigar, lighting it and inhaling. He closes his single eye as a trail of smoke escapes his scarred mouth. "As you are watching this transmission, we have forward the blueprints of this technology to every government, excluding the Ar'Gakari and the unknown Incursion. This includes the Keerim Imperium, who are dying by the billions to hold back the tide. We, the Trade Federation, do this in the name of the Galaxy, and of survival. We send it to all, so that if, one day, we are fortunate enough to live in a world without existential threats, the balance of power shall not be shifted. It is the hope of the Trade Federation that all who see this, understand the dire straights in which this galaxy is. I bid you good day." Every nation, excluding the Ar'Gakari and the Incursion, receive a large flow of data, detailing the exact method of construction, and specifications for the construction of TAROT modules. Actions 166 AP + 3105 AP Every nation, excluding the Ar'Gakari and the Incursion, receive a large flow of data, detailing the exact method of construction, and specifications for the construction of TAROT modules. (0AP) With its substantial defenses, Citadel space is opened and advertized as a safe haven from the war for any soul willing to sign citizenship and work a stable job. God knows the Federation could always use an extra pair of hands, or tentacles! (0AP) The CARAVAN Trading Assisstant is launched. Any trader who docks at GTC-1 or GTC-2 can plug in his Docking Pass into a system that recognizes him as an official trader officially docked at the GTC. Then he has access to optimized systems that will aid him in charting the best, most efficient and profitable, fuel efficient etc, routes to his destination. This service is offered freely to any trader on the GTC-1 or GTC-2, through easy to use, intuitive and accessible means. (0AP) Three more colony ships are prepared this year, to soon be launched out into the war torn void. In the name of the great chaos god Profitt. (9AP) Repair and refueling stations sprout up everywhere in the east and west, new hotels and luxury resorts are built on Citadel. Along with this, massive rehabilitation facilities made specifically to house wounded soldiers in comfortable surroundings, where they might recover. In the West, in GTC-1, Nexus II continues to be rebuilt. Similar to the Citadel, it will offer a significant amount of amenities, along with rehabilitation facilities, repair facilities, housing, hotels the smooth, well-oiled expertise of the Trade Federation at acting as a trade waypoint. New logistic networks are made to transport goods and people as efficiently and quickly as possible throughout the station, and brands that work well are promoted to the public as valid stock options to invest in, and continue to increase GTC functions. (120AP) (360invested) Work on the Ar’Gakari tech continues. The fruits born from Ruthless Monkey are now put to use. Advanced cyberwarfare knowledge and a particular virulent virus are tested against the Datacore defenses in a closed circuit, the all being studied from afar. Continuous, neverending tests on the World ship datacore and non-stop trials to understand it, decipher its way of working and its programming go into their third year. The modular adaptor is also put to use to better communicate with it. At the same time, more tests go through for the power armor and guns. Now that they can be used, some more (willing) scientists are grafted to better work with them, deconstruct them and study them. (40 AP) (100 AP invested) Evil Twin continues. With better reaction time, better capsules and complex sensors that are capable of predicting a fatal blow before it lands, to allow to better scans. Better automated systems are implemented, to allow for less crew and more control to the Capsuleer. Things are improved. (95AP) (350AP invested) Xeri & Koch continue to improve their line of trizendrium-kinetic weapons. Everything must be better, everything must be the best a person can buy. Everything must be ready to be purchased by the hordes of soldiers and nations swarming through Federation space towards the Gakari. (40AP) (Tier 6 kinetic small arms) Torpedoes face continued improvement. Xylorite & trizendrium variants are equipped with VITC AI and better dodging and evasion maneuvers, as well as improved boosters. (120 AP + 40 from Hephaestus.) (180 AP invested) Swarmers continue to be improved. Trizendrium tipped or not! (120 AP + 45 AP from Hephaestus) (300AP invested, T6!) 15 million rifles, 500.000 anti tank rifles, 5 million grenades and 100.000 flamethrowers are produced for the Alduu’Uuranean Protectorate, to be shipped from Hephaestus Manufacturies to the Citadel for transport. (2720AP) Production of 70.000 rifles for the Federation armed forces, using their own manufacturies. (13AP + 7.5% production bonus)

Annor's Crossroads - The Avernatus Family Thirteen men moaned in a dissonant tune, their cries whipped away by the wind, torn from their parched lips like a dying breath. Their bodies were gaunt, bones poking out at obscene angles, sores lining their wrists and legs and neck. They were spread out as if in supplication to a greater power, their hands and feet kept in place by thick, roughly hewn nails. Everyone of them had fidgeted, tried to break free of their iron grasp and with every move the gaping sores widened, their flesh torn and pulled beneath the strain of their entire body. A few still had their eyes, spared by the crows for a later date, when all the other delicacies had been picked away. Those who did stared out blankly at the horizon, flat and distant, guarded by the encroaching darkness of an early winter night. Ferro stared at them for a few moments, his hands clasped behind his back. “Thirteen men, thirteen bandit groups, and you and your men dismantled them with great efficiency. Excellent work, Scipicus.” He smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. “I’m very proud of you.” ---- Another explosion, a flash of light and a thundering tinkle of clay and bronze raining against a stone wall. Acera peeked around the corner at the hunks of meat spread out around the Millus Bomb, then turned back to her compatriot, a huge smile on her face. “We’re getting there!” ---- Lucretia spends the Winter in Aulus, communicating with her brother, the Steward Gaeus Avernatus through messengers. For the most part, she tends to her health, observes the goings on and sends reams of letters to maintain her political network. The cold settles deep in her bones that year, and one cold, fresh day of november, she looks out across the snowed-down capital of Aulus and sighs. She was not long for this world, the freeze that gnawed at her bones told her that much. She needed to groom a successor. Provincial Actions 32 AP Training of T3 heavy infantry to Veteran status. Previous years batch. (2AP) Recruitment of T3 heavy infantry, veteran (8AP) Recruitment of T2 light infantry (archers) (3AP) More work goes into the Millus Bomb. This time, tests are made with hardened, baked clay made with three support beams in the middle. They also try a second method, a thin bronze outer casing cast around a clay inside, for solidity without sacrificing shrapnel. The fuse of course, it also continually tested for reliability. Better materials, etc… (8AP) (16AP) The Avernatus family funds the new iron mine on the Salathai islands. Another foreign investment! (9AP) A shipment is sent to the Emperor with a selection of UNLOADED fireweapons, mainly highly stylized, as well as some fireworks made of small amounts of gunpowder and other chemicals for colors. The caravan escort is careful to specify how and where to use them, and to not bring them to close to the Emperor. (1AP) The treasury invests into Annor engineering! (10AP) (60/200) Scouts are sent to roam Annor for any resources worth exploiting, be they valuable, or less so. They scatter across the fields and mountains, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, sometimes with prospectors. (1AP) Continued scouting from the Annor Defense Army, commanded by Gaeus Avernatus, Lucretia’s younger brother. The last bandits are to be found, put into camps, or crucified. (0AP) One T1 Light Infantry, One T2 Light Infantry, Two T3 Heavy Infantry (Veteran) are committed to the Provincial Guard. Legio II Ferrata.

Annor’s Crossroads - The Avernatus Family Lucretia sits in her office and broods. She stares at maps, reports and financial sheets. Not much good, but not too much bad either. The fools of the council had blindly followed a spiteful man into electing an incompetant puppet. If they had no interest in strong provinces, led by strong people, then she had no interest in working with them. -- Acera heaved the large tube onto the table and strapped it down with thick leather belts. She huffed and puffed and wiped her brow, right at the jointure where her leather cap ended, and her red, sweat covered face began. Really, Octavius should have found her a new aid by now! With one final sharp intake of air she walked to the other side of the room, with a big hunk of flesh hung from a chain. She patted it twice and tugged on the meat sharply. No give, firmly hooked. “Alright, let’s begin!” she said, clapping her hands once and marching back to the gun. She picked up a small notebook and scribbled down an entry: Test Number 21; The Handcannon proves to still be an unreliable tool. I have had six explosions, four misfires and three wildly inaccurate shots, even at short range. Test number 18-21 have attempted to thin the barrel, reduce the projectile size and create a safer environment for gunpowder to be ignited within. The fuse system has also been reworked. She blew on the wrinkled, grubby pages and put the book far away from the handcannon. “Test number 21...begin!” She grabbed a candle and lit the handcannon fuse, before stepping to a safe distance and sliding on a chainmail mesh visor. A boom, a spurt of flame and a cloud of smoke. The hunk of meat swung back and forth and the wall behind it cracked, sending a small shard of stone zinging into Acera’s leather apron. She slowly lifted her visor and stared at the hunk of meat, where a large cavity had been torn open. “Test number 21...end.” ---- Gnaeus Fabianus was a working man. An honest man! Apart from that one year of hard famine that pushed him into banditry. But it hadn’t gone all that well, and forced labor for five years in the foundry had discouraged him from continuing the practice. Now, he had found a decent wife, had two boys in the Provincial Army and a stable job at the age of fifty-five that didn’t include back-breaking labor two feet away from a furnace. He sighed deeply and leaned back against his cart, as his two donkeys plodded along the winding dirt road that lounged along the ruined highways. He didn’t like the highways much, they looked like something some magic person would cook up. Gnaeus hawked and spat out a runny, rusty looking mess from the back of his throat, splattering it along the dusty roadside. “Ahh, this is the life,” he said to his donkeys. “You having fun over there, Lucretia and Acera?” He chuckled and cracked his reins against their backs. You had to get back against the Owners somehow. “Halt!” came a distant voice. Gnaeus hunched his shoulders and didn’t halt. “Halt!” came the shout again. Gnaeus halted. A rider came up to him on one of the rare horses you could find in Annor. “You’re four days behind the rest of the steel shipments!” was the first thing the rider said. Gnaeus grimaced and shrugged his old shoulders. “Lucr- The donkeys got tired!” A few beads of sweat popped up on his brow. The messenger glared at him, but nodded once and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, you’re to return to the Capital immediately. You’ll be compensated for the route.” “But I’m halfway to Farlus, and I know they’ve got some places to spend your gold at in the Capital!” “What was your route?” “The Esk Savannah,” said Gnaeus with a frown. He picked at a tall strand of grass growing high up to the cart and began to chew on it ruefully. “And they sent you alone?” “I’m a reliable merchant, everyone trusts me, even the bandits.” He paused. “That’s not what I meant.” The man rolled his eyes and jerked a thumb backwards. “Get back to Lex Dimitis, Worker.” Gnaeus sighed and squeezed his pack of gold coins ruefully. He’d been dreaming about this trip for months, saving up everything that his wife didn’t spend for a good time. “As you say, soldier,” he grumbled. And so the messenger went from convoy to convoy, calling back steel shipments throughout the region and beyond to return to the Capital, until such time as a favorable agreement was made. Provincial Actions AP 32 20 AP into T3 engineering, +10 from the Riviera. (50/200) 1 cohort of T3 heavy infantry (6AP) Stabilization of gunpowder is key! Acera Avernatus begins to work with Willus Millus on a new type of explosive weapon, the Millus Bomb. A solid clay pot, about the size of a hand with a carefully designed fuse, that lasts 4 counts. Once lit, you must toss it, and it explodes into a fiery ball of shrapnel and...fire. At least thats the plan. It hasn't really worked up until now. (6AP) The gunpowder providers are contacted by Acera Avernatus, lead researcher in fireweapon technology within Annor. She asks for a research grant to further her experiments on unorthodox explosive weapons, larger scale handguns and the refinement of existing models. She sends this letter through her brother, Decimus Avernatus, currently stationed in the Capital. (0AP) Patrols begin for real this year. The men trained and equipped the previous year are sent out to scour the roads of Annor and clear them out of bandits. Low profile bandits are sent to forced labor within various manufactories, while their leaders, and more organized groups are crucified along the long, flat, straight road to Lex Dimitis. (0AP)

Annor's Crossroads - The Avernatus Family Population: 600.000 Army: 2000 light cavalry, 2000 light infantry The trip back to Lex Dimitis was quiet, for the most part. Upon her return, Lucretia was glad to see the roads were already lined with crosses, many of which were adorned by the crow-picked corpses of the lawless. She allowed a small smile to cross her craggy, rough-cut features as the cart bounced up and down the rough road. Her bones jarred with every bump, and her back hadn’t stopped screaming in abject pain since the beginning of this entire ordeal. Yet, it had worked well and what needed to be secured had been secured. She patted a coffer sitting in the cart next to her. A successful trip, as long as her body did not give out by the end of it. The crows screamed in protest as they rolled by, their talons digging into the putrid flesh of their meals as they flapped their wings ominously. At the edge of the city, a pall of smoke hung in the air and a deep glow contrasted sharply with the rising sun in the east. Even from afar, she could hear the clang and roar of fire and steel as prisoners and workers toiled away tirelessly within the foundries. A good day for Annor. A good day for the Avernatus. ------------ As she returned home and found her quarters and desk piled with reports and letters, Ferro stood before Lex Dimitis, surrounded by two-thousand men. He had chosen a pavilion, to compensate for his short height, and could see some smiles within the men around him. “You know our job,” he shouted in a surprisingly strong voice. “Find the bandits, capture those you can, bring their leaders to be crucified! Above all, protect the shipments. We cannot lose a single sword to those cockroaches!” ------------ In an even stranger place, Acera stood next to a massive man. The room was lit only by slits through the stone ceiling, allowing light to shine through upon five different worktables. Yet only the man and her were in the room. Her heavy leather clothes and cap scratched horribly against her skin, chafing at the flesh beneath her arms like two circlets of rusted wire. “Very well, Octavius. Again.” The man nodded and lumbered forward, taking one heavy pouche delicately in his hand, he brought it close to a flame. Acera smiled eagerly as the fuse, a long piece of quick-burning plant matter approached the singular candle. A little closer...a flash of light and a crack that shore her eardrums apart and she fell backward with a cry. The world spun around her, all in shades of overexposed color. For how long she lay there, she couldn’t tell, but at some point, she heard a rumbling groan and heaved herself onto her elbows with a groan. A few blinks later and her vision focused on the massive heap a half a dozen meters away. At the same time, the smell of charred meat tickled her nostrils and she wrinkled them with a grimace. “Septimus!” she yelled with a raw throat. The taste of gunpowder covered her tongue like ash. A thin, tall man walked in and looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. “My lady?” “Report another failure in your logs. Too volatile. And find me a new assistant, and some wine.” “Your… assistant is still alive, my lady.” “Don’t you worry, I’m sure he’ll be on his way soon enough, the explosion nearly knocked me out! Quite some progress, wouldn’t you say?” “Of course, my lady.” Provincial Actions 30 + 25 AP 2 Imperial Influence are exerted to pass gold into the right pockets and work the records clean of the 50.000 gold shifted from Imperial Funds to Annor and the Riviera. While a perfectly legal distribution, the goal is to hide it from other governors. Developing the Vinyards of Riviera further...for a price! (20AP) The Governor of Farlus receives his due. (2AP) One Ashwing Regiment with T2 equipment is recruited. (7AP) Three cohorts of light infantry, T1 equipment. The Cohort I Lex and Cohort II Dominus (6AP) T3 Engineering (20/200) Prospecting of the surrounding mountains, under protection of the newly formed militias. (1AP) The freshly recruited men are ordered to sweep the roads of Annor. Any shipments being pumped out of the smoking foundry are protected by dozens of soldiers, on horse and not. The remainder march through the land constantly. Captured brigands are put to work in the forges and foundry under watch. Their leaders are crucified. (1AP) Acera, daughter to Lucretia Avernatus, is announced as ready to be wed. This offer is extended to major trading and manufacturing families in the capital, with promises of land to expand their practices in the provinces, as well as to the families of governors. (0AP)

Application: Province of choice: Annor’s Crossroads (5) Governor (Their name, and a little personal history): Lucretia Avernatus. (68 years old, female. Matriarch of the Avernatus dynasty.) Lucretia Avernatus comes from a long line of entrepreneurs, that stretch back into the mid 500’s, born with the Republican Era, much of the Avernatus’ early history was lost to the Imperio-Sorcerer War. What is known is that they began as merchants, and throughout the years moved to the production of goods, owning dozens of artisaneries and having a finger in many guilds throughout the Empire and amassed a significant amount of wealth by the years 700. During the peaceful years of 725-747, the Avernatus Dynasty was joined to the Domemius family, who followed a long and proud tradition of military leaders and officers & weapons manufacturing. Ever since then, the Avernatus family has worked hard to amass a significant amount of wealth by operating dozens upon dozens of Forges and working to innovate in terms of military technology. Indeed, many of their manufacturies and foundries were located in Annors Crossroads, even before their appropriation of the land. Lucretia Avernatus is the image of industrious. At the age of 68, she has lost all of her beauty (if she ever had any!) and kept only her iron hard features and steel grey eyes. A ruthless acquisitioner and unfailing Imperial loyalist, she has operated her manufacturies, foundries, smithies, forges and mines with exquisite efficiency for four decades. Two decades ago, she inherited the title of Lady of Annor, which she worked on with the same maniacal dedication that she had/has for her businesses. Her robotic efficiency and regard for her people is curbed by her husband, Dextus Avernatus (75). Of failing health, he is a calm, and warm man who spent most of his life studying philosophy and mending the bruises that Lucretia’s iron fist caused. For how long he will be able to do that remains to be seen. Their three children, Decimus, Ferro and Acera still live. Your Provincial Culture: Annor’s Crossroads has for a long time been a land of trade, and innovation. Even before their takeover, the Avernatus family has recognized its central position and the optimal setting for foundries and other production facilities. As such, the people of Annor are industrious and hardworking. A man who does not work is a man with no function, and no use. The people are fair, welcoming and respectful, however everyone is expected to work. A traveler should not expect free room and board, but if he works hard in the farm or helps the father of the household in the Smithy during his stay, he will have warm welcomes, a bed and good food. ‘Do your part’ is an unspoken tenant of daily life in Annor. Along with this, come Lucretia’s Laws. The laws and rules of the land, enforced by the military. Severe with herself and her people, Lady Lucretia imposed strict conditions on Annor from the day her rule began. Theft was punished by forced labor, murder was punished by forced labor until death in work camps. Rape was punished by castration and ten years of forced labor. Desertion was punishable by death. Crucifixion is the most popular method of execution in Annor, and their are hundreds of crosses lining the rome to the Capital, Lex Dimitis. Desertion is the only act punishable by immediate execution along with high treason to the Empire. These two laws reveal two of the three core aspects of Annor society. -Hard work -Loyalty to the Empire -Strong military tradition Lucretia Avernatus is a staunch imperial loyalist who has, since her early days, taken inspiration from the Imperial throne. She survived the nightmare era and held her family together through sheer force of will. However, the truth of the desperate conditions of the Empire were laid bare to her, and with that, came the resolve to never see the Empire falter again. Therein lies the strong drive for military excellence within Annor, and the dream to see the Empire restored to what she knew in her infancy. The Region is divided into four relatively distinct casts: -The Owners are the nobles, the master blacksmiths, the managers of large foundries, the owners of mines, farms, sawmills, mills, shops, inns, etc. While there are varying levels of prestige even within this cast, they are all generally owners of a business, and control other people. The divisions within this cast are done by wealth, family, city, business type, etc. -The Soldiers are just that, the soldiers. Any man enrolled in the military is a part of the Soldier cast, who enjoy certain benefits such as less work time. However, when not in action or training, they are expected to fulfill government mandated positions of labor, which is usually strenuous, but in more careful doses. -The Workers constitute the majority of the population, and are the labor force of the region. They toil in nearly every type of business and are seen as the commoners and peasants. Generally, they are hard workers who spend most of their life laboring. Cast division here is done by type of work. Expert metallurgists are far higher in the foodchain than farmhands, yet they remain in their cast, unless they form their own foundry. -The Burdens are the criminals, those incapable of performing any sort of job, the mentally disabled, the amputated, the chronically ill and the infirm. They are reserved no benefits and given little kindness by the people. The criminals and jobless are the most harshly judged, while the others are shunned more than anything. Nobles are expected to own multiple successful businesses. To not do so is a huge blow to their prestige. A Unique Military Unit for your Province (You should read the mechanics before you decide): Imperial Ashwing Regiment (Light Gunpowder/Specialist Handcannonneers)- Bonus: (Veteran for base price) An elite regiment of men well trained in the arts of handling the new handcannons. They are lightly equipped in terms of armor, but carry both a sword and their handcannon. Highly trained and equipped with the finest weapons that Annor can provide. They are experts in the handling of gunpowder and have high knowledge of defense building, siege engineering, and the use of explosive matters.

The Trade Federation “I’ve forgotten what it means, to be like you. Such a simple creature, so driven by your lack of continuity.” “Aren’t we all like that?” He continued as if he had not heard him. “It is as if I have been stripped of that evolutionary instinct to fight for every breath. To turn every living moment into a struggle for my own survival. I have forgotten what it means to fear the end.” “You’ve forgotten what it means to die?” “Yes.” He shrugged. “Something within me tells me I should be terrified of the utter inhumanity of such an utterance. But I cannot feel it. I cannot look at you now, and empathize with your imminent death. Or your fragile, unique body. It all seems so absurd to me now.” “Are you not human?” “No, I think I am not. Not anymore.” He smiled. “What a strangely relieving experience. To admit this. To accept that my humanity passed away with my first body.” He stood up. “Thank you, for freeing my mind of its cage.” He walked out of the room. The door hissed and gasped as air equalized and shifted. The door shut again. He looked back into the small room at the kneeling figure, and opened the airlock. “Goodbye, Doctor McKenney. I would hate for you, with your narrow mind and blind eyes, to put others through what I have been.” As the body was torn out of the airlock, Cromwell closed his eyes slowly, a wave of relief surging through him. “I must do that myself. They must be guided.” Actions 300 AP Massive construction begins, orbiting 4500km from the Citadel. An incredible new station, built for the Protorians. A titanic investment. (500AP from Protorians) (670 AP into Citadel Space Defenses) A world is settled. (0AP) Swarmer missiles face massive investment, yuge! Trizendrium tipped and with better AI. (50AP) (135 AP invested) (Tier 3 unlocked!) Enormous investments. With the ridiculous profit margin gained with acquiring the Protorian Contract, the Trade Federation CONTINUES to relaunch its Western market, boosting GTC-1’s presence and return to activity with massive marketing campaigns. To cunter the Andorran business venture, aggressive price cutting and offers that constantly undermine what Andorra may offer are launched. Companies working in the Federation also offer new beneficial paths for the 11 nations in the North with which they trade and logistics companies that have long gotten along with suppliers use these favorable relations to deviate them from Andorra. Along with this comes continuous investment into the Xeri & Kosh brand and their weapon systems. Andorran public companies are also acquired and absorbed by larger Federation companies on the Andorran stock market, to take away profit from whatever ships may come. (60AP) (240AP invested into Business) Torpedoes, the trizendrium & xylorite type, are researched. (20AP) (20AP invested) With actual battle data now, Project Evil Twin continues. Many improvements are made, including better security and heavier armor right around the capsule, an off-center position that allows for lower chances of a direct impact, faster electronic connections, an improved brain scan speed (shaving off miliseconds, etc) and all that can be done to refine the mechanisms of the technology. They also implement a better shall for the Capsule and its own tri-phased shield layer, to increase reaction time. (35AP) (255 invested) Five destroyers, two frigates and a corvette are constructed for Cromwell Inc. (20AP) Work continues on the Ar'Gakari tech. (20AP) (60AP invested) The Industry weapons manufacturing facilities continue to expand with more and more weapons production! New factories are opened on GTC-1, selling weapons to the Darkul, specifically. (25AP) (75AP invested Industry) Xeri & Kosh continue their intensive work on creating the best weaponry in the galaxy! Their Kinetic-Trizendrium line of weapons, named the XKT line, is continually perfected. (70AP) (160AP invested) (Tier 5 unlocked!) The Darkul are approached by trade officials who have long interacted with them through Carina station, and have a modicum of understanding of their culture. The Federation offers them a deal. In return for shipping all south-bound cargo through GTC-1, they will be given exclusive docking ports for their cargo ships and beneficial fees on fuel on a consistent basis. The Federation also mixes in a request for them to influence their Zaxx partners into opening trade with the Federation.(0AP) All ships are retrofitted with relevant technologies. (0AP)

The Kingdom of Venice “The Roman Campaign was a catastrophy! Those idiotic greeks threw us into a position we cannot afford!” “General Alonso is correct, we must sue for a white peace,” said a steady commander, taking a gulp of his wine glass. “If we take a white peace, we gain nothing, and lose all our alliances,” snapped Admiral Furente. “We should capital-” “My son is DEAD.” The table trembled as Giovanni Anafesta slammed his meaty hand upon the table, spilling a wine glass onto the floor, where it shattered amongst the boots of his greatest men. “Your crown prince was murdered by a Roman dog, and you seek peace?” He pulled himself up, kicking back his chair. It ground along the stone floor horribly. “We will have peace when Rome has paid for every drop of his blood spilled upon the dirt with a thousand men. Either Rome bends to our terms, or Rome burns.” He turned to Furente. “Take the fleet, set the Adriatic Italian coast to flames. Leave nothing but ash.” With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the remaining men and turned to a paintain upon the wall of the council room. His son, in his prime, in full, glittering armor. His hands shook at his side and he stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard that the walls shook. 19 AP Three Galleys are made in Venice. (9AP) 1.000 Levy are trained. (1AP) 1.000 light infantry are also trained. (3AP) One-Thousand Light Riders are raised. (4AP) Along with regional levy, the light riders begin to patrol the Venetian norther and north-eastern border for incursions. They travel light and fast, in fractured units, seeking out small groups and hunting them down. (0AP) The Venetian Fleet moves! (2AP) Diplomats go to the Kingdom of Dumnonia & the Sicrii Tribes. 9/15RP for Crossbows.

The Kingdom of Venice A man halts his horse next to an elaborate cart of red and gold. He raps his leatherbound knuckles on the frame sharply. “Sir, we have arrived in Rome.” “Send the pigeon.” “Yes, sir.” As the Venetian envoys arrive to Rome, a series of pigeons fly back to Venice with news of their arrival. The fleet rocks and creaks at harbor, waiting patiently for the small dots on the horizon. When they arrive, so do their orders to deploy. Sails snap and crack in the wind, drums boom like an earthquake and cries emanate from the galleys as whips snap over the backs of the galley men. At their head, upon the tower of the Da Lontano La Decima, the Crown Prince. He raises his hand and the fleets move forward, cutting through the waves and flowing into the Adriatic. In Rome, after many delays and back and forth, the Venetian diplomats finally announce to the Roman Senate their reasons for coming, the end of their defensive treaty and war. A formal declaration of war is read out to the Senate as the fleet sweeps through the Adriatic. Any Roman ship sighted is approached peacefully, then surrounded and forced to surrender or be boarded. Deception plays its part, though the Venetians time it carefully enough that the declaration of war occurs roughly at the same time as the interceptions. Ships that surrender would be towed, under guard. Any other is attakced until it sinks, or the crew is dead. The terms read in Rome read as such: Declaration of War upon the Second Roman Republic The Kingdom of Venice The Kingdom of Byzantium The Republic of Athens The Kingdom of Macedon The Kingdom of Ionia Hereby declare war upon the Second Roman Republic, for the reconquest of Magna Graecia and the curbing of expansionist ideals within the Roman Republic. Peace will be had only if these terms are met: -The Second Roman Republic will cede all lands bar those on the African continent. These lands to be ceded include Corsica, Malta, Sicily, Ragusa and the Italian Peninsula. The Roman Senate will be escorted to their new holdings, and allowed to live in peace upon the African continent. These are the terms set and signed by the following: Signed, His Grace Giovanni Achille Anafesto, First King of Venice. Signed, His Grace Justinian, the First of His Name, King of Byzantium. Signed, His Grace Antiochos of the Dynasty Argead, Descendant of Alexander III of Macedon called the Great, Basileus of Macedon Signed, Tyrannos Denys of Athens, Head of the Athenian Republic Signed, His Grace Attalus the Second of the Nicator Dynasty, Basileus of Ionia and Cyprus Actions 20AP 12 AP into Business (12/25) (37/50) 6 AP into two Galleys 2 Ap into Basic Infantry 3 RP 3 RP into Crossbows (6/15)

The Kingdom of Venice Ruler King Giovanni Achille Anafesto Heir Crown prince Orso Giovanni Achille Anafesto - "My father feared the reprisals of the Empire from the day he rebelled. It obsessed him and tied him to Italy by fear." Giovanni lifted his cup of wine from the table. A golden thing, acquired on one of his many trips to Egypt for business. He had taken a liking to it, with its well used edge and elegant filligree. "But my father, blessed be his name, is dead. I am King now, and I do not wish to live in fear of these looming shadows." He looked around the table. His greatest admirals, greatest generals, diplomats. All gathered in Venice, around a single table. Such had not been done in decades, not since the rebellion. "I gather you here today, to share with you my dream. To tell you that Venice will no longer fear the menace in the East, or the North, or the West. Venice will become that which nations fear to trifle with. Be it by blood, steel, gold or words, we will show those who turn on us why we are to be respected." - Actions (AP) 38 AP (18 + 20 for late start) Business (25AP) Da Lontano Siege Galley (7AP) Galley (3AP) 1000 Levy (1AP) 1000 Bowmen (1AP) Actions (RP) 3RP Crossbows (3/15) Diplomatic Actions Trade is initiated with the The Persian Empire, Denmark, the Republic of Italy and the Kingdom of Leon. Diplomatic envoys are sent to the Empire of the Sun to smooth over the rebellion of the past, and renew ties between both nations. They bring the bones of the fallen Imperials who fought to hold Venice, so that they may receive proper burial in the Imperial custom. Diplomatic envoys are sent to Greece, requesting a meeting with representatives from each of the nations that form the Greek confederation. An envoy is sent to the Sicrii, requesting a meeting with their leader. (MOD) The Silk Road now runs from Israel to Venice, uninterrupted. An exclusive deal between the Persian Empire and the Kingdom of Venice. It is announced that the trade ships taking this path are under the protection of the KINGDOM of VENICE. They will be protected by the GREATEST navy in the Mediterranean from both piracy, and other parties. (Mod) Military 30 Knarr's 6 Galleys 1 Da Lontano Siege Galley 7000 Medium Infantry 1000 Levy 1000 Bowmen Venice (C) Triest Zara Istria

Discord: Praetor#9839 Nation: Kingdom of Venice

Ronin LLC. 32 AP 5 AP Assault Ship 20 AP business (80AP) 5 AP SL4 (22/22) 2 AP Mech Units 30RP + 3 from the VBAG and 4 from Kyber. So 44 5 RP HI Armor (30/30) 30RP Fortifications T2 (30/30) 10 RP T2 Explosives (11/30) Pop: 1276281