Alfonso X el Sabio

Discord: You have it Civilisation (Name): The Insimbi Capital (Name):Ogun Government (Empire, Republic, etc, you may go into details): The Government of the Insimbi operates on a yearly cycle revolving around a Mlungisi(One who brings order), or an Emperor, born into a lineage of rulers extending back thousands of years in the past. The Mlungisi rules until his death, and is revered amongst the populace as direct descendants of the Mother(Ma). The word of the Mlungisi is supreme, and is final on all matters of state, and he holds utmost power on everything. In Isimbi society, there exists 7 social stratas in the form of clans that every individual is born into based upon the designation of the mother. The clans are as follows: the Breakers(Mvukuzi), the Warriors(Qhawe), the Children(Izingane), the Wroughters(Ngungi), the Brokers(Obhuloka) , the Reapers(Abavuni), and the Builders (Umakhi). These clans all control separate districts of the cities, of which there are 6 in every single one, where the members of their own clan operate under their own set of laws, their own set of local rulers, and their own set of judges, guards, etc. To maintain balance and order, each clan is to labour enough to produce a certain quota, or Mawini(Ma’s share), mandated by the Mlungisi. As such, each Insimbi city is a massive hive like factory, dedicated towards manufacturing. In the eyes of the Insimbi, stratas, coupled with the pressure of complying with the Mawini, allows for order and peace to be maintained. In the absence of them, calamity will surely ensue. Each year, on the seventh month of the year, of which there are eight in the Insimbi year, the various clans of the nation sent 5 delegates to a council named the Komhlambi(Gathering of the Flock) held in Ogun, the capitol. To be chosen as a delegate by your clan is a massive honour in Insimbi society, and it is a ritual heavy affair, the traditions varying from clan to clan. The Komhlambi is an opportunity for the clans to present their grievances and petition the Mlungisi. It is here where the men of the nation bicker on the affairs of the state, yet it is a highly venerated occurrence. It is the choice of the Mlungisi, a God amongst men, whether or not he decided to heed them or rebuke them. The council meets for an entire week, sometimes more, not permitted to leave each other’s company in the hall until the Blood Poppies bloom. Each Clan is governed differently, a principal established long before their forefathers grazed the very lands they too walked upon. However, each has the same foundational principles. Each has Umbonisi(Overseer), with 7 lesser officials beneath him, elected every 3-5 years directly by the male land owning population. These lesser officials are the supervisors of the day to day affairs in each district, the handle disputes, collect taxes, and enact the will of the Overseer. Most importantly, these officials are usually popular or well-known individuals from the clan, not of the the Children, which is what the Overseer belongs too. The position of Overseer is hereditary, and they are not Idwala, but they are Izingane, having disposal to their attributes and perks. Racial Distribution (Primary Race, probably minorities?): The Insimbi are a dark skinned race, with wooly hair, white stained palms and feet, and usually very lean and slender. Within the Insimbi people, there are two different ‘ethnicities’. Izingane : The Izingane are a very small minority within the nation, numbering not even .1% of the nations population. Usually, there are no more than 300 Izingane alive at a time. However, it is they who control the nations affairs. The Izingane all belong to the Clan of the Children, and the Mlungisi and all the other Overseers of the clans are Izingane. The Izingane rarely mix with the Idawli, and they are regarded as near-Gods, but not such. They are simply descended directly from the Mother. They live in opulence, completely separated from the Idawli. As such, the Izingane have developed specific traits that distinguish them from the lesser Idwali. Physically, they usually have more blemishes or marks on their skin, and are lighter on average, having a caramel complexion more often than not. The Izingane live exclusively in cities, in opulent villas surrounding the Forge. Idwali The Idawli make up the vast majority of the population of the Insimbi, and they are your common folk. They occupy all the clans of society, except the Izingane, or the Children. The phenotype of the Idwali may vary from person to person, but many boast the same characteristics. They have a leaner physique on average, and they are of darker complexion then the Izingane, usually ranging around a dark chocolate colour. Moreover, every Idawli is branded upon birth with the sign of their clan, on their right wrist. Racial traits (as needed): The single most dividing trait that separates the Izingane from the Idwali is their Isipho, or gift. All Izingane are born with the ability to manipulate all metals to their will,they are able to conform it and mold it with their very thoughts. From this blessing stems their power and their supremacy, as the Idawli revere this as a trait passed on to them as a result of their lineage from Ma. However, this trait can only be passed from mother to child, not from father to child, and no Izingane woman has ever birthed more than two children in her lifetime. The Idawli, do not escape themselves from Ma’s blessing. They have magnetic abilities that allow them to attract or repel basic metals, such as iron, copper, bronze, etc. These traits are passed to all whose mother bears the trait, and Idwali mothers have no known restrictions on their fertility, bearing from 4-10 children on average, more in rare cases. Religion (Whatever you prefer, you may be creative): The Insimbi mythology revolves closely around metallurgy. Their religion is monotheistic, and they believe that all metals, and stones have a portion of the soul of Ma, or the mother, and different metals have different amounts of Ma’s soul, as well as varying degrees of purity as well. Technology & Arcana (that is notable; have you pursued magic? Be fair and remember to do tradeoffs): Masonry, and smithing, are ritualistic activities, with smithing being conducted exclusively by priests dedicating their entire lives to the task. As such, in every city there is one communal forge which serves as a central place of worship, in which 10-20 priest-smiths work tirelessly to forge metal to perfection. Masonry and construction also is a highly skill as a result of its religious importance. The Masons are a very proud and respected household, and each Mason undergoes extremely extensive training and practice. As such, buildings and public works in the Insimbi culture are unrivaled in magnificence and longevity, but it is often times a painstaking process as a result of the high attention to detail. Description (Culture, history, politics etc): The Insimbi live a live dedicated to labour, and as such have a culturally promoted high work ethic. Their history spans back thousands of years, and as such, so do their cities, great wonders of ancient works spanning back thousands of years. They are not a seafaring people, instead catering to people's needs who enter their ports and trade with the traders. They choose to stay inside their great stone buildings and work. The typical Insimbi is lightly clothed, the men commonly wearing short robes to cover their genitals, and rarely anything else. Women commonly wear airy or light robes spanning most of their body. Accessories are an important part of Insimbi life, each clan having access to wear different accessories. Only the Izingane can wear gems and precious rocks, as well as metal on the head, and accessories wherever they wish. The Wroughters and Builders can wear gold metals, and accessories everywhere except the head, but they may don metals on their earlobes. The Breakers can wear gold metals, and can wear accessories anywhere baring the head. The Warriors and Brokers may wear metal anywhere baring the head, but not gold metals. The Reapers may only wear any metals not silver, or gold, and only on their hands, feet, and attached to their clothing. The Insimbi language is a notoriously difficult one, including clicking, whistles, and whoops within its phonetics. Education is also scarce, with individuals rarely learning anything outside of the skills needed for their profession. Women in general are highly respected in society, succession is done through them, and they have the right to hold property and to divorce a man. However, men still have dominance in the day to day affairs of the state and primacy when it comes to social affairs. Geography & location (As detailed as you wish, with a note on the map below as to where your realm would be in existence): The Insimbi inhabit a dense jungle biome, knowing nothing else. They are usually concentrated within large cosmopolitan cities, save the reapers which find themselves outside of the city walls, straddling the banks of the River Gbule. Size (Tying in with racial distribution, as well as geographic location. Be just, the map is only that big):

APPLICATION Forum Name: Alfonso XI el Sabio Skype: God Name: Emaztea, Light of the Sphere, Goddess of Morality, Transcendence, Righteousness, Harmony. Appearance: (Can be anything to a toga clad old man to a swirl of leaves.) Emaztea is a pale, tall woman, measuring nearly two meters in stature. She is slender in physique, and her pale skin looks porcelain to the touch, smooth and without imperfections. Her face is angular, her facial features well defined and prominent. The feature that most stands out, however, is her long flowing hair. Glowing a bright fluorescent yellow, light itself radiates from out of the silky strands of hair. It also acts as a compliment to her eyes, which also are a yellow colour, glowing in the darkness. Agenda: (How will you act in the world? What would you oppose in other gods?) Emaztea seeks to create a morally and ethically perfect society in the world sphere, which, in her eyes, is ripe with evil and corruption, two things she hates with a passion. She seeks to drive out anything she would consider as impure, or corrupt, from her demense Description: (Long-form description of your god’s nature, personality and vision for the world.) Emaztea is a calm, quiet being, yet highly critical of anything she deems evil, or incorrupt, and will go out of her way to right such imperfections, in her eyes. She desperately wants to create a society void of all evil, so that the mortals may live correctly, in her eyes. She has a almost motherly personality when it comes to her followers, loving each one of them equally, yet setting strict rules for her children not to break. She has her vision, which she orders her children to replicate across the world, in order to save the mortals from their own evil and corruption which their sins bring about. Sample Creation: (Could be anything to a law of nature, a place, race or a magical avatar of your will. This is just to jog your imagination.) The Baths of Perfection- A natural spring giving way to a massive stone bath house, complete with beautiful growing flowers, animals, and visitors to the baths, all coexisting in harmony at the baths. The water of the baths is a constant temperature year round, and when drunk or bathed the user cannot harm any life, violate any rules, or commit any evil, so as long as his body is in contact with the water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVw_1RZncec DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1528 Alriks room was meager. Humble, bland, dark, but organized, clean, and tidy. The room was barren of any details, and lacking any decoration. The furniture it boasted was nothing out of the ordinary, a simple rickety wooden cot where he, and only he,, could lie in with some furs for comfort, a chest beside the cot to put his belongings, which doubled as a desk, and a wardrobe to stash his clothes in. Yet, he made the best of it. His chest, strewn open, was filled to the brim with knick-knacks and a multitude of other things, a a collection of souvenirs he's acquired throughout his lifetime. Books, hammers, hats, everything was there. Lying upon the cot was the chubby ashy-blonde haired boy, hypnotized with the songs the words on a book sang in the candle light, which rested upon on the top of one of the legs of the cot. One could say, despite its restrictions, the room was rather comfortable, and there was an aura of peace, and serenity filling the room with ever flicker of the candle. The tranquility quickly hid in recesses when the booms of one loud thud on the wooden door resonated through the four walls. The entire door shook, the vibrations even seemingly causing a hat that was half in the chest, half out the chest to fall out upon the ground. Alrik immediately jumped, his silky strands of hair in his bowl cut dancing past each other with the turn of his head towards the door. Another loud thump resonated throughout the room after a few seconds of an eerie silence. The flame of the candle trembled even, and Alrik stood up and shakenly grasped the wooden candelabra, and slowly approached the door. As he grew closer, he could make out large indentations in the wooden planks, with wooden shards protruding out of the deformed boards. He took a couple more slow, nervous steps. He could make out the chopped breaths of a struggling individual on the other side of the door dividing the two. Nearing the door now, his steps were cautious, almost as if every pace was meticulously planned out days in advance. But nothing could have prepared him for what was going to come, bursting in through that door. On the last step he took towards the door, right before the third rasp, he heard his name uttered softly, by a trembling voice, as if the two syllables sucked the life out of the speaker. He didn't have time to react to this, however. On the third stroke, the door gave in. The sounds of the horrible scream of wood fibers ripping out of each others bonds, the brutal clangs the metal hitches made on themselves as they were detached from the stone wall they were nailed into, and the massive hulking body of the man behind this mess, all merged together in a cacophony of chaos. Down came a massive man, tumbling behind flying wood planks, that one time made up the door, smelling of burned, rotten skin, covered in a shiny, red, armor, with no cracks, no dents, and no knicks in the metal. It was utterly flawless, as if new. The symphony of chaos did not stop at that, however. The suit of armor, before looking like a felled, lifeless piece of timber, was now seemingly repossessed. Before Alrik knew what was happening, the man in the metal, met the stone floor rolling, absorbing his massive bodys impact skillfully. In a blinding red flash, he springs out from the clutches of the debris from the mayhem at the doorway, and wraps his body around Alriks, bringing him down to the floor already in a masterful choke hold. The horrific sounds of Alrik gasping for breath, and his fingers sliding off the metal as he attempts to fight for his life, came first then that of the falling parts that made up the door. “S-stop, puh-lease.” hacked Alrik through his clenched throat. After a moments which seemed like hours of struggle, finally, the man in the armor breaks his silence. “I-I cant Alri.” he groans through the metal.” I can't.” Following this short interchange, the only audible sounds in the room were that of coughs and hacks of Alrik, clinging on to each and every breath that makes it past the death choke. Alriks futile grasp on the metal gauntlets of the armored man begin to slowly relent, his life escaping from him , when suddenly the grasp on Alriks neck was released, the attackers arms slamming into the stone ground with godly strength, as if they'd been pried off his neck by a foreign force. The impact creates two sizeable craters in the floor as a result. Alrik immediately rolls over, hacking and coughing several lungs as he struggles away from the being, to the farthest corner of the room. The armored man shoots upwards on his feet, watching the boy crawl away from him. Seemingly disappointed, he rests his head against the wall, banging it a couple times for good measure. The sounds of Alrik regaining his breath are accompanied by an anger filled fury of punches and blows against the walls, bits of stone flying out in every which way as a new collection of craters and indentations are left in its wake. The tranquility that filled the room prior to the intrusion returns, as the two engage in a peaceful stalemate, drenched in their thoughts, and recovering from what just occurred. Finally, someone breaks the silence.“I-Im sorry, Alrik.” mumbles the man in the suit. Now, the sound of quiet sniffles takes the place of the hard breaths of Alrik, still laying in the fetal position in a corner of the room. Wait. He recognized that voice, even though he didn't recognize the man. Then, it hit him. Alrik realizes everything. “K-Knut?” he asks, his eyes, snuggled in his chubbiness, squint, as he gazes in the small hole in the visor. The man in the armor nods the headpiece scraping against the wall as he does so. “W-why would you? I don't understand?” asks Alrik, grasping a peg of his cot as support as he rises to his feet, approaching Knut slowly, using the same caution he did earlier. Knut immediately reacts, lifting his hand up for a punch but instead redirecting it once more to the wall, pebbles and rocks flying outwards. “No, don't come near me…” he'd say, backing up slowly away from Alrik. Alrik was visibly shaken by the whole affair, and he stopped his approach. “No… I won't!” shouts Knut, as if speaking to someone in his head. “I made a mistake, Alrik. Fueled by greed.” He pauses, banging his head against the wall, another crater forming.”Now, I will live with the punishment forever.” his head hangs once more, as he rests upon the wall, examining the shiny red gauntlet part of his suit. Alrik relents once more, and slowly begins approaching Knut once more. “What do you mean, Knut? Just… take it off..” hed say, completely dumbfounded. He shakes his head, brutal scratching sounds filling the room as his helmet scrapes against the wall as he nods. “It is my skin now, it has been… forged into me, burned into me. “ Hed show by trying to pull the gauntlet off his hand, but failing to do so. Alrik has approached Knut, being very close now. He examines the metal of the armor closely, the armor reflecting the light of his candelabrum back into his green eyes. “There has to be a way…” curiously exclaims Alrik. “He says there isn't.” solemnly replies Knut. “Who is he?” asks Alrik, extending a hand slowly attempting to touch the breastplate. “The Armor, i-it speaks to me, in my head, like a man screaming, starving for blo-.” begins Knut, until Alrik sausage fingers touch the breastplate. Knut, with reactions faster than light, turns around, cocking his iron fist to punch Alrik. Yet his fury hesitates, and his fist trembles in the air, as if fighting against something, something preventing the blow to be unleashed upon the poor victim. Alrik, could only hold his hands up in a futile defense against sure doom. “NNNnnooooo!” With a strained groan, Knuts body rotates, and the fist unleashes a blow against the wall, a massive hole forming in it, shifting several objects in the room. “You won't control me!” hollars Knut, several more times smashing the wall in pure rage. The wall, once smoothly polished, has now been reduced to a porous crater littered surface, the aftermath of Knuts struggle. Alrik could only stand by, and watch in pure disbelief, at the conflicted monster that stood before him, that happened to be his best friend. “What have I become…” wails Knut, sliding down the wall, resting on it. Alrik let his arms fall to his side, his guard vanishing. He looked at the broken man inside the suit. His best friend, his brother, was now entrapped in a parasitic, magic-infused suit which controlled all his actions. It already sounded bad. He stood there for a moment, recollecting his thoughts. It all happened so very fast. A massive man in armor barges into his room, and attempts to kill him. Then, it is revealed that this man is actually Knut, having cursed himself eternally to the armor by foolishly trying it on, and now he cant take it off. This was the basic information that Alrik had at his disposal, although it isn't as much as he'd like to have, he would have to make do. His thoughts are interrupted by the sounds of footsteps, whispers, and metal sounding in the hallways. He had questions to be answered, but not here. If Tormund, the mages, or the lords find out what happened, surely he'd have both his friends and his heads on a pike. It helped that his friend was now a killing machine, yet he wanted to help his friend nonetheless, and, knowing the total lack of knowledge the eldershad in regards to Knuts situation, knew exactly the place to go. “Knut, we must leave. They're coming.” Alrik says, looking down upon the hunking mass of metal. “Let them come, they can't kill me, not even if i want them to” he responds, sadness saturating his every word. “They can't help you, Knut. They don't know anything about the blood armor. We have to ask Assirbanakh, he can help us. I want to help you, Knut. You think Bjorn will want to help you, Thormud, Eirik? They don't care if you starve in this armor, your life is useless to them. There is nothing here you could want. We must leave, we need to learn more, and we can't do that here.” begs Alrik, nervously switching gazes between Knut and the hallway, shouting and voices clearly being heard, with the occasional orange flicker of light from a torch. Knut remained unresponsive, sulking on the ground in the midst of the leftovers of his uncontrolled outbursts. “We got to leave, now, Knut, they're coming!” once more asks Alrik, nervously looking at the growing sounds coming from the hallway. Knut, remains completely unaware, his visor buried into his hands. Alrik,clearly hearing the clinging sounds of soldiers clearly in the hallway, had his hand forced. He tried to grab Knut by the arm, and yanked him upwards on his feet, but his plan was an utter failure. As his hand wraps around Knuts arm, the armor springs to life, sending Knut flying across the room, landing on the ground with a dulled thump, lost in the sounds of pain and fear from Alrik. Knut was preparing to fly towards Alrik, and finish the kill once more cocking his arm to prepare a crushing punch. The fist flies, and Alrik flinches, until it stops a mere inch from Alriks chubby cheeks, calmly hovering in place this time, not trembling like it was before. Alrik hadn't noticed in the upheaval, but the armored men had entered the room, and swords were sword drawn, one resting upon Knuts neck, the tip of the blade staring into Alriks eyes. “Don't do anything funny.” calls out a raspy voice from behind Knut. 4 other men stand behind him, swords flashing and their eyes on the red armoured man. Knut’s head turns, registering each opponent for a moment, before it turns back to face Alrik. Here, Alrik could clearly see through the visor. There was enough light that he could see Knuts green eyes filled with tears amid the searing burn scars. They two had a moment, for a split second, Alrik truly felt the pain Knut was going through at this time. He shared his tears. He saw Knuts lips move too, when he whispered to him. “Thank you, Alrik.” mutters Knut, and his eyes close. What Alrik saw next, he would never forget. The armor filled Knuts every muscle with godly power, as one arm flys upwards, grabbing the blade of the sword. The soldier uselessly tries to release the sword of his grip but to no avail. He then spins around, slicing the soldiers head off clean with the lower part of the sword, the headless body of the soldier falling to the ground with a thump. The hilt of the sword ends up nearly an inch away from the wall, and Knuts body is facing the other four soldiers, with Alrik lying on the floor below him, and the other four soldiers glaring at him in disbelief. Once more, the armor comes to life, making quick but elegant work of the four remaining soldiers. He almost effortlessly glided out of the trajectory of swords and pikes, entombing his sword in each of the guards, dispatching them often split cleanly in half. When he was done, the room was nothing but a cesspool of blood, with bodies littered everywhere. Knuts eyes pop open, the tears gone and his eyes shot with blood Alrik removes his hands from his head, as he'd been throughout the entire debacle, sheltering and protecting his dear life throughout the entire affair. He took the brief seconds of stillness he had to look in disbelief at his surroundings, at the aftermath. With barely any time to actually react , hes yanked up and tossed over Knuts shoulder. Without any words Knut walks out of the room, stepping through puddles of blood and bits of flesh on his way. Curiously, Alrik notices small clouds of red surrounding his feet, and the blood receding around it. He had no time to notice anything else though, as Knut quickly cleared the room and was sprinting down the hallways at a speed parallel to the gods, and Bruce. They passed by the door to the throne room, the courtyard, and several other important areas if the keep, the, doors and locations becoming blurred together at the speed they were traversing the courtyards.Maids woman gasped as they quickly shuffled out of the way of the boys, charging through the endless stone corridors, covered in blood. Eventually they reached the tower, the same tower the two sneakily spied on a foreign princess years ago, when they were even younger boys than they are now. . Knut leaps up, skipping most of the rungs and grabbing the highest rung of the ladder and hauling himself up through the hole after carelessly tossing Knut through the hole first. All this was done in haste, hoping to clear the keep before anyone else could retaliate to their crimes. Already, on the tower, they could hear the shouts and cries of the guardsmen. He collects him once more, and clears the stairs, the pair reaching the top of the tower exposed to the brunt of the elements. Knut takes several steps back, looking out over the battlements, towards the endless white wastes with the grey outlines of mountains in the background. ‘Knut, no, piss off don't!” protests Alrik, but it was too late. Knut, with Alrik in tow, had already cleared the battlements, and was halfway to the ground, the screams of Alrik were getting carried by the bitter frozen winds, reaching the ears of many curious onlookers who viewed the two through their murder holes and glass windows . Knut lands on his feet with a grunt, and the screams of Alrik cease. Knut tirelessly trudges through the feet of snow as the two run far far away from the crimson keep, into the protection of the snows and the wilderness. The pair had disappeared from the keep, along with the armor, leaving a mystery, choices, and opportunities behind for those still at the crimson keep. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa Hofsland Folafotr Bitra SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:= 11067799 SLAVES:6K ARMY: (11500)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3.75K GOLD NAVY: UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD(GROSS):178K GOLD GOLD(NET):174.25K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:45 MERCHANT COMPANY:13 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:8 TRADING COMPANY:4 SETTLEMENTS:0 TOWNS: CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:32 MONASTARY:1 TOTAL MAGI:3 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS BJORN, PRINCE OF ULYADAR EIRIK, PRINCE OF ULYADAR KNUT, PRINCE OF ULYADAR THORMUND, REGENT OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH(MIA) DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR(MIA) DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -For no reason at all, the crown deems an expedition to the stitches is needed! A band of nearly 200 men depart from Yakur, towards the stitches to search across the entirety of the range for at least a viable route through it. They look for hidden passageways, coastal trails, tunnels, anything that could lead them through the wretched mountains.(10k) -Knut begins to experiment with the powers and limits of his armor, including bonding with his cortana! -Work on wroughting the blood metal continues in the fiery pits of the blood forge.(5k, 55k invested total, 2 edu points.) -6 ports are built throughout the Duchy.(90k) -The shipyards of the Duchy remain active this year, building 4 carracks.(24k) -Two towns are upgraded to cities, Ingolfsfell, and Haukadalur.(30k) -4 farms are built, (20k) -The Telescopes begin to research the planets and their orbits, hoping to find information on each of them. (3.75k, Supreme 8 Edu points I have 2)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1527 Ulya, at the peak of summer Eurylon hobbled down the steps into the courtyard of the Crimson Keep, his raven black hair untamed, sprawling in every which way. He groaned as the summer sun invaded his eyes, straining his half-asleep pupils. He pulled his black fur closer around his body as he stepped off the last step, exhaling outwards as the frost seeped into his southern bones, his breath turning into a cloud momentarily before dissipating into the atmosphere. In his hand, he held a hollowed out white tusk of an animal, wringing it frustration, peering inside it every once in a while. The lord came to rest at a stone railing rounding the green area of the courtyard. His brown eyes, carrying a couple of thick bags under them, scanned his surroundings, muttering complaints in a foreign tongue. He sees nothing. Once more, his vision darted across his environment. His search had become frantic. Where was it? He’d seen it last night. Once more, his drowsy vision surveyed every inch of the courtyard. Finally, there it is! In all its glory, a wooden barrel laid, as if fallen from the rails, underneath a tree. He made haste towards the barrel, focused on it. His bare feet making a melodic tapping sound on the polished stone every stride as he crosses the enclosure, with a spring in his step, his hobble being vanquished. He made his way to the green tree, its trunks and hearty leaves blanketed in a thick layer of fluffy snow. With an audible ache, he bent down, knocking the barrel over on its side, and casually sticking his horn in the earth, underneath the cork. He popped it out effortlessly, and watched as a clear liquid began gushing outwards. He removed his horn from the grasp of the black dirt, leaning back as he gulped it all down, in nearly one sip. Pleasure overtakes his face as he releases gas, and he begins to lean in once again for another hornful, until a voice calls out, from a very close proximity, and rather monotonous. “Hello, Lord Eurylon.” Startled, Eurylon, spins around quickly, gasping for air. Upon coming to a realization of who it is, his guard drops, and he leans over once more, to collect more of the gushing liquid, seeping into the frosted soil now. “Prince Eirik, to what do I owe the pleasure of this entertaining encounter?” he calls out, lifting his body up and downing another horn of alcohol. Eirik stood some one-two feet behind him , his arms folded behind his stained red robe, his blonde hair in a bun and flaunting a rather forced smile. “I was on my way to a council meeting, when i saw you under a tree, my Lord. I was wondering if you needed any… assistance.” croaks Eirik, his body remaining unmoved. Eurylon removes the horn from his lips, licking them as he sets it down, rising to his feet and hauling the barrel up, placing it on the railing of the courtyard, where it was previously, with a groan of effort. “Never needed help getting a drink, prince.” he'd say, the clear liquid flowing out unhindered, splashing on the stone of the floor when not caught by the horn. He picks up his horn on the ground, and blocks the stream of liquid, filling the horn to the brim and downing it quickly. “Never will.” he'd say sticking the horn under the stream, the intensity of the stream waning. The pair would simply stay idle for several moments, the air between them turning awkward. “As you wish, my Lord.” Eirik breaks the silence, and he bows his head lightly. Hed begin to walk off, before pausing, and rotating his head back towards Eurylon, who cautiously watched the shamans light footsteps traverse across the stone paths of the courtyard, heading towards a hallway.”Ah...It escaped my mind, my lord.” His entire body turns to face that of Eurylon, who remains unmoved, downing his 4th hornful of alcohol. “You may attend the council meeting too, if you'd like. Prince Bjorn has made it so. You’d probably make it there before Knut!” Eirik concludes with a plastic giggle, his vision hacking inside the very soul of Eurylon. Awkwardness plagues the two once more, as the reins of the conversation are taken hold by the rustling leaves and the chirping birds in the distance. “I'll leave you to it then, my lord.” once again chirps Eirik, performing an about face and disappearing through a hallway in the castle. Eurylon produces a troubled face, which his quickly hidden by the gaseous side effects of the ale. The soft taps of Eiriks feet rebound across the long lonely hallway, eventually making their way towards a lonesome wooden door, through which behind it could be heard the audible muffles of a chorus of men quarreling with each other. Eirik removes the bolt, opening the door wide for his lean body to pass through. At once he is greeted by the arguments and cries of dozens of angry lords, with Bjorn, Tormund, and even Knut, with his usual displeasure though, present at the meeting. The Lords pay no mind to Eiriks entrance, as he silently makes his way towards his seat. The room is intimate, with some dozen or so lords engaged in a shouting match surrounding an elongated table with eaten bits and pieces of food on wooden plates. “The County of Ryapa will not recognize a new Duke, simply because a letter said that this boy was the Dukes favorite son!” screeches a pot bellied stout man. A chorus of ayes and chants of assuredness join the man who casts a face of spite towards Bjorn, whose face is saturated with unbelief. An elderly lord, more elegantly dressed wearing fine thin silks rises, with his hands clasped, and his frail voice begins to sing. “My lord, the rules cannot be bent under these circumstances. The Lords are in agreement. The Clash must go on.” Once more the various lords agree, displaying it by a collective ‘aye.’ Tormund rises, and begins to go down the road of a long winding monologue. Knut however, grows restless. His posture has changed and is changing. He seems anxious, as if teeming to leave the confines from his seat. Thormund’s monologue engages the audience, his words infesting some of the hearts of the lords with doubts, and throwing the chamber once more into a fit of insults, name calling, and debate. Knut did not want to listen to this, as the lies and tales of bureaucracy was not for him. He had pressing matters to attend to. In the heat of the argument, no one noticed his silent departure from the council. Some looked as he crossed in front of seats and between the legs and through squeezes between chairs. They noticed, but they did not care. The chances for a successful candidacy were slim for him, was the recurring thought in the minds of many of the Lords in the council, preoccupied with defending the traditions of the Dukedom from the hands of an eager young candidate. Knut had shut out himself out from the bickering of the men with the latch of the wooden door that separated him from the world of politics. But as he stepped out, the flames within him grew. The flames of curiosity. These flames propelled his every step through the halls of the crimson keep. However the fires grew, and his tempo increased with every corner turned, his light stride turning into a brisk walk, turning into a jog, turning into a sprint. He ran through the halls like a madman, bypassing maid, soldier, and lord alike. Even Eurylon, quite cleaned up from the earlier affair, who looked at him in a dazed confusion, yet continued trudging along, not paying much attention after. Eventually, the endless running ceased,at the presence of yet another, plain looking wooden door. Knuts hands shook, as a result of a combination between the running and his yearning for what awaited him on the other side of the wood. He threw it open, revealing an empty room, nothing on the walls, no tables, no furniture, no banners nothing. Yet there was everything at the same time. One artifact, laying on a stand against the wall. A gleaming set of armor, ruby red all of its plates. Its craftsmanship was excellent, yet it bore evidence of wear, struggle, and war. A relic of his forefathers. This was Knut’s life. His every thought for the year since he'd seen it displayed in the throne room. He wanted to find out its secrets with a passion. No one knew what it did, its mysteries were held away, as only for the future Duke to exploit. But Knut would know, he needed to know. “I am forever indebted to him” muttered Knut, his jraw hanging half way down to the floor in awe at what was before him. His jaw recollects himself, and a grin transforms his face. The door shuts, and after a couple of moments, a red light seeps out into the passageway, for a mere instant, and everything had changed. (sorry for lower quality) NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa Hofsland Folafotr Bitra SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:= 11067799 SLAVES:6K ARMY: (11500)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3.75K GOLD NAVY: UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD(GROSS):178K GOLD GOLD(NET):174.25K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:45 MERCHANT COMPANY:13 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:8 TRADING COMPANY:4 SETTLEMENTS:0 TOWNS: CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:32 MONASTARY:1 TOTAL MAGI:3 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS BJORN, PRINCE OF ULYADAR EIRIK, PRINCE OF ULYADAR KNUT, PRINCE OF ULYADAR THORMUND, REGENT OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH(MIA) DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR(MIA) DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The government nationalises several workshops, much to the protest of the owners!(8 Manufactories, -60k) -Building upon a recent breakthrough, some lords, tired of fish and sea food for all three meals a day, invest in building farms surrounding gashes of lava in the earth. Finally, grains!(4 farms, -20k) -Two settlements are constructed on the coasts, from settlers hailing from Odeilia and Tykirfell.(-10k) -The crown grants Bitra coin for a guild hall, to promote trade in the city.(Merchant Guild, -10k) -The shipyards once again spring into activity, filling up in all corners of the duchy.(10 cogs, 15k) -Scientists and engineers from both nations continue to labor over finite adjustments to lenses, mirrors, and brass mechanisms. The image is there, it simply needs the finishing touches to procure a clear, detailed rendering of the objects hidden deep within the heavens, away from the prying eyes of the man in this world. The project consumes yet even more gold, as the scholars need the best tools and resources to create an eye into the celestial realm. Should the telescope be completed, and a clear image can be shown, they quickly begin on their prophetic task:studying the planets. (-30k, 70k total towards Telescope, Supreme has 7 edu and I have 2) -At the blood forge, the mages and smiths continue to work hand in hand on recreating the red armor found at the blood forge. They attempt many different ideas, trying to heat pure blood in the fires of the forge, embedding the black, shiny rocks found at the forge with magic, or creating an alloy of blood and metals found at the forge. Last year, the sweat of their brows slaving in the fires of the volcano resulted in nothing but nuggets of charred metal. This year, they attempt to make at least some improvements, more gold being used to fund the project.(-29.25k towards blood metal, 50k total, I have 2 edu points.) -Knut tries on the blood armor, exposing him to its effects.

KINGDOM OF JUDEA “Oy vey” TOTAL GOLD 10K(BASE)+6K(CITIES)+2K(TRADE ROUTES)+3k(villages)+7k(Markets)+4k(TRADE)+1.4k(PORTBONUS)-600(UPKEEP)=34K -4 UNITS OF T2 MEDIUM INFANTRY(20K) -2 UNITS OF T2 MEDIUM CAVALRY(14K)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1525 “She is so beautiful, Alrik.” comments Knut, leaning on crenel at the battlements of one of the towers of the Crimson Kreep. Alrik was next to him, encased in a red robe similar to that of Eirik. Alrik, was a boy similar to Knut. A couple years younger, but they were childhood friends since birth. They were of the same build, and thought alike. Alrik was a lot chubbier than Knut though, by a wide margin, and his cheeks were always rosy red, contrasted to his messy black bowl cut. “You’ve looked long enough, it's my turn!” whines Alrik, tugging lightly on the pelts of Knut. He snaps back, his gaze leaving the beauty. “Hold on, Alrik. You’re not the one with a chance to marry her.” The young boys vision returns to that of Calypso, the talk of the Duchy for months. It took a month and much hassle to extract her from her home nation, and transport her to these frozen wastes, but by the Gods all the rumors whispered about her were absolutely true. The Rose of the South, the Ulyadi called her. But words fell short to describe her elegance. Her golden locks of hair, falling down to her back in an untamed, but civilized fashion, reflected even the coldest winter rays, catching the eyes of even a pair of boys staring from a courtyard away. Her face angular and symmetrical, but still a tinge of gentleness, and softness in the way her skin bent when she smiled. Oh her smile, even poets- quick, she’s looking back! Knut’s trance promptly ends, and his back quickly makes haste towards the wall of the battlements, meeting it with a rush of adrenaline. Did she notice i was staring? thought Knut. Does she know it was me? “What wrong, Knut?” asked Alrik, looking on with a perplexed expression. “She looked back! She noticed! Im so stupid!” He cries, sliding down the battlements and laying down on the coarse stone floor of the tower. “Well thanks bastard, now i can't look at her!” Knut lifted his head up in response, shooting him a furious glare. Alrik quickly realized his error. “Sorry Knut, I didn't mean it, really! It just… came out.” Knut let his head drop back to the ground, releasing a sigh in vexation. Hed mask his annoyance by entombing his frustration into the palms of his hand. Luckily, Alrik was a good friend, one of Knuts only friends. He knew his friend better than most, and knew exactly how to remedy annoyance, a common affliction to Knut when the two are together. “I'll... go look from one of the arrow slits.” he'd quietly mutter, crawling over to the ladder, expertly avoiding detection, leaving Knut to himself. Immediately when he hears the last step of Alrik leave the immediate vicinity he snaps up, and crawls over to a different crenel, sticking out only half his face, one eye. He continues to spy on the princess, analyzing her guise. What was she constantly smiling at?. He couldn't really make it out, but now with the rabble of Alrik out of the equation, he could hear the sounds of wood on wood, and the charming giggles of the princess. He adjusted himself, switching from crenel to crenel, merlon to merlon, recklessly attempting to get a better view. Three crenels down, he could finally see the display that was seemingly winning the heart of the exotic beauty. It was Bjorn. Damn him! Thought Knut. Bjorn was engaging in a stupid showcase of strength, with Calypso in the audience. Seeing Bjorn woo the heart of the princess by ‘expertly’ banging at a snow packed sack on a stick filled him with ire. And seeing the princesses peaceful pleasure made the pot boil over. Why should Bjorn get everything, thought Knut, his thoughts once again going down a rabbit hole. Seeing him succeed, effortlessly, filled him with desire. A desire fueled by greed. For the hand of the princess, and the power of the blood armor. Bjorn didn't appreciate these things! Perhaps he did not want to be Duke yet, but these two things he did want. Badly. The princess once more, looked in the direction of the tower, but she did not see anything, for Knut was hidden well, and the distance was too far to make out half a pale face, masked within the groves of the gray stone of the tower. But, it was time to leave nonetheless. Lessons with the great warrior Skegg were in an hour, and Knut had to prepare for the daily palate of welts and bruises handed by Bjorn, Eirik, and Skegg alike. As Knut retraced the steps of his friend Alrik, descending the tower rung by rung, he eventually met his anxious compatriot, patiently awaiting Knut’s exit out of the ladder. “Knut! Did you see! Bjorn was-” he begins, interjected by the exasperated tone of Knuts voice. “Yes, Alrik, I know.” he pauses, sighing.” Every single day, he does something else to anger me, God how i would like to stick an axe so far in his skull!” Hed continue walking through the plain gray halls, towards an opening at the end of the corridor, wringing his hands at the conclusion of the statement.”If this whole charade wasnt rigged from the very start, I would actually try at sending his ‘strong’ body to the depths of Mt. Arfast.” Knut would say, sarcastically emphasizing the word ‘strong’ in his sentence. Alrik would nod slowly, though he replies with a rather confused stare. He had remained rather quiet the entire time, simply listening to Knut’s rants “What does ‘charade’ mean?” he finally asks, much to the irritation of Knut. “You know, you really ought to read more, the shamans don't have books at the forge?” Alrik quickly responds, their rattling conversation filling the solemn gray hall. The pair are now roughly halfway to the end of the hall, snow can be seen through two double wooden doors. “Not really, no. Only old manuals or scripts. Nothing i can read, afterall.” “Do you still remember what i taught you?” questions Knut, casting a quizzed face towards Alrik. “Well, I hope so...” heavily retorts Alrik, and the two walk in a somewhat awkward silence, before Knut stamps it out. “You have reminded me of something, what has Eirik been like? How has he been holding up? What's he doing?” Alrik runs his hand along the stone wall of the fortress, answering Knuts questions in full. “You haven't heard? Knuts become an adept! He's performed his first sacrifice! The Oracle of the Forge was there.” “Is that it?” replies Knut, unsatisfied. “Tell me more.” pressures Knut, his blue eyes glued on Alrik. “I… don't see him much, him and Tancred are quiet fellows, you know that. All i know is he's been growing stronger, and he has a lot of friends at the demesne.” counters Alrik apprehensively, buckling under Knuts relentless coercion. “Everyone here is getting stronger except for me, and everyone seems to care except for me.” He says with a sigh, approaching a wooden door and propping it open, stepping through the threshold. Alrik would follow, but Knut quickly turns and bars him passage, using his boney pale arm to halt his advance. “I have to prepare for class, Alrik. Find me after, if i live through this session.” “Alright..” begins the apprentice, watching the door closed shut as his body quickly responds, banging on the door thrice, much to the aggravation of Knut, who opens the door and pops his head through a crack. “What is it?” snaps Knut. “I was wondering if i could maybe have one of your books to read, you have a lot, i just want something eas-” quivers Alrik, shyly. “Im reading mine, go to the Ducal library, there many more there.” Knut promptly states, beginning to shut the door, but jutting his head out once more. “‘The Skies’, by Kori Haklangson, is a good one.” And then the door closes, and the sound of a metal lock resonates through the hall, leaving Alrik to his chunky lonesome. Not for long however, as from the courtyard zips in Bjorn, storming through the halls briskly. “Move, chick.” he'd say, condescently, shoving him out of the way any towards the wall, proudly holding an opened scroll in his arm. He walks past Alrik, barely acknowledging his presence, save for one announcement. “Tell bones that he doesn't have to die, Bruce has named me heir!” Immediately, a latch of a door clicks open, and a pale lanky hand pulls in Alrik from the cold passageway, and the sound of the latch resonates once more, and once again, silence. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa Hofsland Folafotr TOWNS: Bitra SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:9667045 x 7%= 10343738 ARMY: (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 2K GOLD NAVY: UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+30K(POP)+44k(TRADE)+42K(MERCHANT GUILD)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+36K(CITY)+3K(TOWN)=169K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:166.750K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:38 MERCHANT COMPANY:13 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:8 TRADING COMPANY:4 SETTLEMENTS:0 TOWNS: CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:32 MONASTARY:1 TOTAL MAGI:3 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -As with every year, fish farms are constructed, and some of the brighter Ulyadis begin to even grow crops around lava scars in the earth! Truly a bright race!(35k,7 Farms.) -As per the wishes of the young Bjorn, Thormund sends out ravens and begins to summon the levys once more. (15 Units of T3 Medium Infantry, -60k) -The Town of Bitra is given a city charter, and after the due celebrations, is declared a city!(-15k) -The Shamans, lead by Tancred, have informed the Dukedom of an imminent threat, a seemingly big one, hailing from the north. There is good news, however, they can predict when this catastrophe will strike. To do this, they will have to investigate and research a device that will allow them to peer into the skies, and find these elusive planets. Luckily, their friends the Antigonids are pursuing a similar goal! Ulyadi and Antigonid engineers begin working on a contraption to do this, high up on a mountain peak, safely tucked away from the hindrances of cages, glacier zombies, or volcanos.(30k,+ 10k from Supreme. 2 Education, Supreme has 7) -The Shamans seem to be very busy this year! Eirik, having become an adept, as taken the charge alongside Tancred to continue researching to make the red metal. The best blacksmiths are contracted, most notably being Jomar Boesson, who helped discover the blood runes long ago! The Shamans try a variety of different ideas, including attempting to make a metal out of pure blood, heated by the fires of the forge. The attempt to make a metal out of the very lava of the forge, and even wrought an alloy made of a mixture of the two. The Shamans are now dedicated to rediscovering the ‘forge’ part of the Blood forge.(16750 Gold this turn towards red metal, total 20,750 Gold. 2 education ) -The Antigonid Princess, makes her way to Ulyadar, immediately making waves about her beauty! --Tall stone walls on Yakur, Low stone walls on TykirFell.

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1525 Every single seat at the Crimson Hold at Ulya was taken by inquisitive lords, many part of a certain clique that had arisen in the past few years, enthralled in the obscured history of their mysterious forefathers, the only thing left in their wake being paintings preserved in feet of frost, and a near-indiscernible script. Today was the day that Tancred was to return from consulting Assirbanakh, on the history and purpose of this perplexing artifact. Present at the courtroom were dozens of different elites, hailing from all he corners of the realm. The armor was the headline of today's session, but it was still an opportunity for the lords of the land to express their qualms and distresses, and seek counsel. Presiding over this gala was Thormund Arvidsson, a ginger haired man with a filling beard, emerald green eyes and messy hair, but always dressed well. Being Bruce's brother, he was elected by a council of lords to act as interim Duke whilst the proceedings for choosing a new Duke happen, as exhausting as they may be. At his right hand side sits a child, a rather large one at that, dressed in boiled leader, with flowing blonde hair. He looks rather large for his age, and built well, strong. Aside from his hair, he looked eerily like his father, a legendary figure, the Bruce. His body, his face, and his eyes. The boy shared the same emotionless, stoney gaze that his father was renowned for. Slowly, he was learning to use this weapon in the same way the late Duke’s crimson stare was used to cast a veil of fear into the minds of his enemies. For now, it was however, it was being used to greet each gift brought by the Lords. Three, from each visitor. During a slight pause in the train, Thormund looks over to the boy, and barks a command through the teeth of his smiling mouth. “Court is almost to start, and your brothers are still not here. Fetch them, drag Knut here if you must.” the boy would simply nod, and stand up from his wooden chair with a squeak, exiting the room through a side door and traversing the stone walls of the keep. For he was a good child, and obeyed orders. A good warrior does that, after all. He strides through the solemn grey halls of the hold, being decorated only by the occasional flame or window illuminating the path. Eventually, after several turns he reaches a plain looking door, its engravings standing out from the dull, rough stone walls. Without hesitation, he bursts through the door, revealing a cozy wooden room, hundreds of books stacked, messily thrown about the room. Pages with foreign, alien runes plastered on many of the walls, laid out on desks and on the floor. A lanky looking boy, the youngest brother, Knut, immediately closes his book, holding it shut with his body, as he quickly turns to face the boy standing square at the door. He breathes a sigh of relief, and opens the book once more, slouching in the chair as he traces the pad of his finger horizontally across the page. “Tell Uncle im sick, I don't want to go to that charade.” He would respond, carelessly, as he returns to the world of the book. Visually, there is no response from Bjorn. His face remains unnerved, as he casually approaches his desk, and with a masterly precision, grasps him by the collar of his tunic, yanking him out of his seat, much to Knut’s protests. He slaps and bangs Bjorns fists in defiance, as if trying to swat away a pestering fly. Yet the attempted defense is futile. Bjorn overpowers the pathetic boy, maneuvering over fallen chairs and through messy piles of books, out the door. “You dumb brute!” fusses the human sack, yet he cannot do much. His grasp weakens, tossing him on the ground. As he waits for him to stand, he stares him down, in the same way a person looks upon a rodent, his eyes uncanningly reminiscent, to their late father. Knut shakes the incident off rather easily, absorbing the abuse with resilience. “I'm not going Bjorn.” he replies, annoyance saturating his tone, dusting his trousers off as his bony reach begins to near the door handle. Immediately, Bjorn responds, slapping his hands away from the handle. “Gods, you are weak. Are you really my brother?” he yaps, his face scrunching up and looking upon him in disgust. Knut relies that Bjorn is relentless, and he is only left with one choice. He bypasses his brothers body, his face falling down to his chest in a sigh of exasperation. He does not look back, yet walking away in a defeated pace. Yet it is not in silence, as, after a long period of silence, Knut finds his voice. “Sadly….” is the only response he can formulate. Bjorn watches him, analyzing every pace until he leaves his sight, turning around a corner and disappearing behind a wall. Disappointment overtakes Bjorn, as he turns and walks in the opposite direction, once more turning several corners, approaching yet another wooden door, very similar to the one in the previous encounter. The door, when he is now barely within an arm's reach immediately opens and shut nervously, its opener standing by as if shielding something. It is Eirik, the middle child, an average looking individual, tall, and pale, like many other Ulyadi. His facial features are very weak, soft, and ill defined, save his cheekbones, their prominence emphasized by dark bags haloing his eyes. He is dressed in one, plain red robe, his long hood bouncing as he walks past him, not even acknowledging Bjorn, who looks at him with a confused, crazed expression. The confusion passes however, and he begins pursuing the red robed child, both on their way towards the throne room. By the time Bjorn, and his quiet accompandant arrive at the hall, Thormund and Knut are graciously accepting a gift of three, caged, baby penguins, from Halsar, where they are in abundance. In reality, it is Thormund receiving the gifts with gratitude, with the gaunt Knut slouching in his wooden chair, fashioning an unenthusiastic smile at every present the lord gifts to the three candidates. Before Bjorn takes his seat, the red robed boy, Eirik, assumes his seat, in the middle of the three chairs. Bjorn reassumes his seat, accepting each tribute with gratitude, and empathy, making small talk with each noble who comes to bid their blessings to the candidates. Lord after lord, the story is the same. Thormund and Bjorn greeting each lord with elegance and class, graciously accepting the love of the peerage of the Dukedom. The other two brothers, are a much different story. Eirik is a reserved individual, not expressing much emotion, smiling and nodding at each interaction, with the occasional ‘thank you’, or ‘blessings of blood’, escaping from his sewn lips. Knut, is a different side of the coin. He is anxiously reclining back in the wooden chair, displaying all the symptoms possible for chronic boredom. Such a gruesomely boring duty was not for him, he constantly wondered. Why did he need to be here? A fool could tell that there was already a winner in between the three of them, and that was Bjorn. Him participating in these events simply prolonged his suffering leading up to his inevitable death by the blade of his older brother. A few times, an exceptionally important lord had come to seek audience with the candidates. The endless drum of conversation grew silent, the clitter and clatter of plates clashing and ale pouring into mugs halted, and the musicians ceased to play on their drums and instruments. All of this happened when the Count of Yakur appeared at the gates. A peculiar individual, zealous and militant in his faith. Lord Skegg Hrolfson, was man renowned for his warrior ability. He was granted lordship over the large port city of Yakur, and was a clan chieftain and a master trapper before he was given a castle. As such, his vestments reflected his heritage. Bare chested and barefoot he strode in the halls. An assortment of charms and totems strung around his neck, and his face was painted with ritual markings. Blood around his lips, black around his eyes, and white dots scattered across his body. His hair, falling to almost his elbows, was binded in a long winding braid. Many of the children ran to the comfort of their mothers arm at his manifestation, seeking protection and comfort. Bjorn smiles, rising, and descending the steps, approaching Skegg, and greets him in kind, wrapping his stocky arms around the boys neck. “My boy, you are stronger every time i see you.” raspily addressed Skegg, in his embrace. Tormund would rise as well, and so would Eirik, yet Knut would remain unmoved, slouching in his seat. “Return, Bruce, let your Uncle Skegg breathe.” He’d say, chuckling. Bruce lets go of Skegg, ascending the few steps and standing by his throne. “I trust the journey treated you well, Lord Skegg?” asks Tormund, patting Bruce on the shoulder on his return. He motions towards his hips, wrapped in the soft skin of a large beast. “Indeed it did.” declares Skegg, proudly displaying the prize on his hips. “A man of tradition, you always were. The future Duke would learn a lot from a person of your class.” proclaims Tormund, his gaze shifting to Bruce in the latter part of his sentence. “What did you bring us, young, strapping candidates, Lord Yakur.” interjects Knut, layered with sarcasm. Skegg’s expression immediately darkens, his eyes nearing to squint as he lays them on Knut. “My skills, bones.” grins Skegg, at the spite of Knut. Knut immediately responds. He hates being called that, a silly little nickname from his childhood that his father used to call him. Bjorn snickers, Uncle Skegg and him shared a sense of humor, among many other things.As for Eirik, his emotions remained undecipherable, the boy was already walking enigma, credit to his time spent at Tancreds side. “I will train the candidates, so the lords don't bore themselves watching 3 weak boys butcher themselves with sticks.” announces Skegg, grinning through his yellow stained teeth, quickly glancing at the audience, and back at Tormund, who frowns at first, quickly dissipating as he joins in with the mockery. “Your guidance is much needed, Lord, the youngest one doesnt even kill a worm!”taunts Tormund. The howls of the Lords crescendos, much to the anger of Knut, the target of the foolery. He hated them. All of them. He did not have to listen to this. From his relaxed position on his chair, he rises, almost storming out of the throne room, opening the side room to exit, yet instead of meeting the emptiness of the stone corridors, he gaze greets a massive, daunting set of armor, ruby red in color, its metal cold to the touch of his hand, even though his blood boils. “Move, child.” resonates the familiar voice of Tancred, from behind the armor, ending Knuts awe-stricken trance. The jest of the court would quickly halt. Knut steps backwards, allowing Tancred to wheel the set of armor out through the small doorway, and removing the helm to barely squeeze it through its confines. The laughs of the aristocracy turned into silence, then whispers and murmurs as Tancred wheeled it out, with the assistance of Eirik, down the steps to the center of the room. Knut watched its every movement, his green eyes glued to its plate. The room grew silent as Tancred began to drone on, anecdote after anecdote, relaying the information given to him by Assirbanakh. Knut remained entranced, in the mere presence of the armor. A boy who from a young age, was mesmerized by the history of his sissinik past, this was the highlight of his entire lifetime. Tancred went on, listing the abilities granted to its wearer, and its history, which captured the attention of many warriors, including his own competitors. To Knut, none of this matters. With every passing moment he laid his eyes on the amour, his desire grew. It was not the power, nor the strength that wood him. It was as it was calling him, drawing him closer. His desire was not desire no more. It was need. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa Hofsland Folafotr TOWNS: Bitra SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:9034229+6k x 7%= 9667045 ARMY: (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 2K GOLD NAVY: UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+28.5K(POP)+12K(TRADE)+39K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+39K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+4.5K from treasury=145.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:144K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:37 MERCHANT COMPANY:13 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:8 TRADING COMPANY:4 SETTLEMENTS:0 TOWNS: CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:6 MONASTARY:1 TOTAL MAGI:3 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -3 Fish farms are constructed(-15k) -26 Barracks are constructed by the hand of Thormund Arvidsonn, Bruce’s brother. For what purpose??(-125k, 25 Barracks.) -Some particularly curious mages begin to run a set of experiments at the blood forge. They utilise molten rock from the fiery pools of the volcano to forge weapons, infused with blood or blood magic, in an attempt to recreate the red metal, or perhaps a new finding. The mages are given permission to use all the slaves they use. (4k invested.) -A small ship is sent, with a couple men, to approach the affected area of the mist reavers, but not enter it. On land, the city of Skalanes has had to shift significantly to avoid its maddening grasp, teetering on the edge of insanity. Here, the city becomes a look out into the exclusion zone, hoping to find any information on what is occuring inside.

KINGDOM OF JUDEA “Dammit! The numbers are not adding up!” shouts a man from under an oak tree, with its branches sprawling far and wide over the luscious green gardens. The soothing sound of water flowing, and birds chirping in the hot summer winds are interrupted by the harsh tone of someone angrily fiddling with an abacus. King Abraham furrows both his brows, running his index finger along the lines of texts again and again, until he sets the piece of parchment to the side and begins to furiously slide and move around the wooden blocks on the abacus. “No!” he says, and in a fury he tosses the device against a wall on the opposite of the garden, its strings coming undone and the blocks flying every which way. The creak of a door resonates through the courtyard, and an old priestly looking individual slowly climbs down the steps, stopping half way and looking at the frustrated monarch. “Your Grace, is there anything I can help you with?” He croaks, his voice weak. Abraham responds, his face buried within his palms, in frustration. “Unless you can find me a million pounds of gold, or conjure me a massive Temple, then now, Rabbi, you may not.” Hed snap, massaging his temples with his fingers. The rabbi sighed, shaking his head in disappointment as he trudged up the steps once more, and the King reluctantly begins crunching the numbers, one last time, TOTAL GOLD 10K(BASE)+6K(CITIES)+2K(TRADE ROUTES)=18K+50K(BASE)=68K -7 Markets built, as the King seeks to deepen the coffers!(35,000) -King Abraham redirects royal funds towards Tyre, investing in a port to better facilitate trade connections and networks that are booming at the beautiful coastal city.(10k) -King Abraham elevates two settlements, some of the first to declare loyalty to his Godly regime, to the status of village, Hebron and Jaffa,(-20k) -Accepted trade offer from Macedon, Egypt, and Tarentum. -Sending Trade Offer to Persia.

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1525 ((No rp, been busy irl, nice post coming in next week)) NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa Hofsland TOWNS: Folafotr Bitra(income next turn) SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:8442812+6k x 7%= 9034229 ARMY: (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 2K GOLD NAVY: UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+27K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+36K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+36K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=129.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:127.5K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:34 MERCHANT COMPANY:9 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:8 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:6 BUILDINGS IN PROGRESS: MONASTERY: (20K/90K) TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The city of Hofsland are all given loicenses for a guild hall for artisans and merchants to sell and display their wares. (-10k) -City charters are given to the town of Folafotr.(-15k) -3 Fish farms are constructed(-10k) -A group of lords, teeming with ardor to tap into the plentiful myriad of secrets of their forefathers, pool their coins and furs to finance a collection of sagacious scholars to venture deep within the excavated tombs and ancient artifacts of the Ulyadi’s past and decipher their indiscernible texts, the most valuable remains of their ancestors, especially the meaning of the recurring symbol found everywhere.(-10k) -Assirbanakh is approached, to inquire whether he has awaken. -The Monastery is hastenly completed, after men began to worry and cry about the extended absence of Bruce, fearing only the worst fate. Tancred, in the monastery at the forge, sacrifices many more souls, in order to please their thirsty god, and perhaps gain answers about the fate of their beloved duke. After all, blood is the easiest way to speak to their God.(-70k) -A group of settlers, tired of the crowding conditions beginning to exist at Skalanes, leave to settle several miles down the river, to found their own city, Bitra!(-5K) -4.5k gold is kept within the treasury

KINGDOM OF JUDEA “Then ye shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said: 'Amen; so say the LORD, the God of my lord the king.” -1 Kings 1:35-36 וַעֲלִיתֶם אַחֲרָיו, וּבָא וְיָשַׁב עַל-כִּסְאִי, וְהוּא יִמְלֹךְ, תַּחְתָּי; וְאֹתוֹ צִוִּיתִי לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד, עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל-יְהוּדָה. וַיַּעַן בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן-יְהוֹיָדָע אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ, וַיֹּאמֶר אָמֵן: כֵּן יֹאמַר יְהוָה, אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ. מְלָכִים א A nation wrought out of from the cold grasps of the iron shackles of slavery. Slaves to the Pharoahs of Egypts, slaves to the Kings out of Media, slaves to the Kings out of Greece, and out of Gaul. An entire nations destiny collared by the leash of foreign outsiders, numerous times, only to reach freedom by the steady hand of a watching God, a merciful God, a God of their people, a God that lead them to a land of milk and honey. All in vain, as it was only to be forced to the whip and lash once more by centuries of masters. Many were cruel, and hated, and many were gentle, and loved. Yet none, save an isolated few, were theirs. Yet, in the midst of all these strifes, the Jews, a hardy folk, persisted, as master andeEmpire rose, and crumbled. Every master that came, sought to harm the people of David. For many years, the Pharaoh tried to enslave it, yet Moses, with the help of God, lead the people of Israel through the Exodus, and introduced them to their promised land. Thereafter, the Damned-King Nebuchadnezzar came, and set the land to the torch as he expelled their people from their land, beginning the first exile. Centuries later. the Babylonians crumbled into the dust, their place taken by the Medians, yet the Jewish nation remained strong, prospering in their new homes. The Jews remained in exile, until His anointed one, Cyrus the Great, a gentle ruler, allowed the people to return to their homes, abandoned centuries before by a harsh king. Thus, with his edicts ended the first and second exiles. A period of peace ensued, where the temple was rebuilt and prophets were bountiful in the land. Then came the Greeks, who imposed harsh laws, suppressing the rules that have been inscribed in stone thousands of years prior. The Maccabees, a noble band of warriors, rose up in response to the Greeks and their vile despots, and struck them down, establishing the first Jewish nation in many centuries. The third exile ended, peace came, and all was well for a time. Yet, then came the Gauls, a nation who with their savage methods of warfare and bonded hair struck the noble jews down, no doubt as retribution for straying away from the divine path. These Gauls, attempted to impose upon us the teachings of a false prophet, Jesus ‘Christ’, after we rightfully had him put to the cross for his endless spout of slander and heresies. Revolts and unrest came shortly after, and out of spite, the Gauls drove us from our lands once more, commencing the fourth and final exile according to the prophecy of Daniel. After the Gallic Empire had become decrepit and weak, a noble man, of Davidic descent, rose up to lead the Jews out of the Gallic shackles, out of the final exile, per the prophecy of Daniel. Abraham ben Gamliel, a nasi of the Hebrew nation, a warrior-priest was inspired by a vision of a massive temple standing once more, in the city of David, Jerusalem. A righteous man, he listened to the cries of his people, and lead the Jews back into their homelands, against the whims of the waning Gauls. Thousands of Jews trekked through foreign, hostile territory back into the promised land in a scene reminiscent of that of the revered journey out of Egypt. The Gauls were forced to end the exile, and the Jews, spread throughout the corners of the world, returned to the very same lands their forefathers had abandoned centuries before, when the Gauls were feared and respected. It is here, then, when the first brick was set in the Jewish nation. Abraham, in his prime then, was a learned scholar, and had read the Holy Scrolls countless times, and was fully aware of the prophecy, a prophecy that was fulfilled. The Fourth and final Exile ended, and a Jewish state, the final one for all eternity, would need to rise, for it was the will of their G-d. And it was so. On the first passover the Jews celebrated in the promised land, Abraham ben Gamliel lead an angry mob throughout the streets of Jerusalem. Thousands of Jewish citizens marched through the streets in his program, slaughtering the remains of the gaullish garrison warding the ancient city. After a week of chaos, fires, and violence, the last soldiers holding out in the last Herodian stronghold fell to Abraham and his men, and a Kingdom of Judea was announced, on the steps of the Temple Mount. The Gaullish soldiers were all crucified, to spite them in the same manner the Gauls had mass crucified the Jews on their arrival. Much of the city was ruined, including the Holy Church of the Gauls, amongst other important buildings. Yet even so, Abraham, when the Holy city was his,he turned outwards, beyond the thick stone walls of the Davidic city. He and his army of zealots went campaigning across Judea, seizing town after town, city after city. Many times, Abraham arrived to see a line of Gauls burning in the desert sun, nailed to the cross, behind a slaughtered lamb and other burnt offerings to the Lord. And this put a smile on his face. All of Judea fell to Abraham, and the jewish people had finally been imparted with a just savior. However, the success of the new Hebrew nation were the envy of others. The Gauls had abandoned their losses, and extracted their last men from their last fortified position in the land, and finally the land was Jewish, at last, what they had been waiting for. Yet, there were still those who sought to test the new nation, God's chosen people. The Great Median Empire to the east, wrongly thought the newborn nation was weak, and sought to bring the Jewish nation to their heel, as they had done thousands of years before during a time when the nation had strayed from the words of scripture, the word of their G-d. Now was not that time. Droves of Persians flooded over the river Jordan, spouting their flame-worshipping nonsense, burning temples and slaughtering Jews by the thousands. Every alley they swept through was stacked with resistance, and stoned streets of Jewish towns were stained red with the blood of persians. Yet they were many, and when one died, three more came to take his place. The persians were a strong foe, and they conquered a vast part of Judea, even reaching the gates of Jerusalem itself. For a time, it seemed as if it were all a sham, a intricate game played by their God. Yet, to refute all other claims, Masada, a fortress manned by merely 200 men, still held out against an army nearly a hundred times that size. As long as the men at Masada held strong, the nation of Israel survived. “Masada will not fall again…” -King Abraham, on the gates of Jerusalem fending off a Persian siege. The persians and their unholy armies crossed Judea, and flooded into Egypt. Their generals were smart, brilliant even, and every army they meet on the field was met with defeat. Except for Abraham. Jerusalem would have been a crown jewel,for the Persians, and for many years they besieged it. Yet no matter how many catapults, how many trebuchets, how many men they would toss carelessly at the walls, the Jews would not bend. For years, the scene was the same. An endless siege, trebuchets wreaking havoc on the roads and buildings, yet the wall remained firm, drenched in the blood of Medians. It was only when an army arrived from the north, after routing a Persian army, that the siege was broken, and Jerusalem was relieved. The city was safe, yet swathes of the king’s land still remained under occupation of the enemy. Abraham, riding at the behest of a united host of the people of Israel, retook his lands, and forced the Persians to return, all the way in Egypt now, over the river Jordan to their temples of fire and desert cities. Victory was declared at Masada, which never fell to the invaders, and Judea was Jewish once more. KING ABRAHAM BEN GAMLIEL

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1523 The setting in the Ice keep has gone unchanged, even if through 20 years, long, unique years. It is a different age, the rule of Duke Arvid, one of peace, stability, and more importantly, normalcy. What has been for thousands of years has remained, not the case in the present where the wraths of Gods lash out from magic stone pillars and leave a gaping whole in your stomach. In the courtyard, there is a tall, bare chested stout boy, with flowing locks of sun-sprayed hair, bearing a wooden sword, sweating behind an aged shield littered with chips, cracks, and nicks. Before him, sprawling on the snow blanketed floor lays another child, with long black hair held up in a braid and wearing a leather tunic and black britches. He is grimacing, his hand tightly gripping the area behind his knee, as he hobbles up on his feet once more, and locating his weapons, a similar busted shield and a large dane axe, made of wood. “Come on, Bruce! I didn't even hit you that hard!” he'd say, snickering behind the cover of his shield. At the jeer, Bruce is overcome with anger, releasing a shrill yell from within as he charges his foe, bashing the edge of his axe against his shield, wildly and uncontrollably, in a small tantrum. His opponent, had little to no time to pull together a coherent reaction, and he had to absorb quite the barrage of clean connecting shots, before his instincts kicked in, forcing him to bash the fiery boy away, and land his own collection of strikes with his sword, causing Bruce to fall to the ground, once more. Yet, his opponent, unlike the first occasion, was not merciful. As if inspired by the flames of vengeance, the golden-haired boy did not hold his blade back when the young Bruce landed on the ground. He simply continued, bashing and bashing at the poor, helpless child on the ground. Yet, Bruce did not cry for help, shielding his head as he repeatedly attempted to kick his foes leg in. This near helpless struggle continued, until the boy got one, direct shot on his head, and that was all it took, to knock him out cold.. The next memory he had after the incident, he woke up in a bed inside the keep, his father by his side, amongst other maids and knights. His face, and the rest of his body, was a cacophony of different injuries. Bruises, cuts, and scratches of every size and shape were sprayed throughout his body, his face serving as a testament to this. On his bedside stood his father, the late Duke Arvid, and beside him the same boy, with an expression of pity and regret upon his chubby, tear filled features. Arvid placed a hand on the boy, as if guiding him towards Bruce. His fatherly voice, soothing as it is commanding, quietly quivers; “You know what to do, Gnupa.” The regretful boy Gnupa nods, and slowly makes his way closer, standing next to the pillow now, as the young princes gaze follow him. “I’m sorry, Bruce. I didn't mean it, y-you just made me really mad.” He'd say in a rather convincing voice, yet not possessing the dignity to make eye contact with his victim. It was a sorry attempt really. Yet, Bruce was still happy that Gnupa came and apologized, smiling at first at the thought of making up with his friend. All was well, until, like a winter gush of cold air, a memory resurfaced from his deepest stores. He remembered a night, where his father was sharing the story of their Sinissk Ancestors, and their demise. Yet, one line stuck out to him, out of the entire anecdote. “Show no mercy to your enemies, for they will show none to you.” Any happiness the young prince had inside him faded, he'd turn in the bed, facing the opposite direction as Gnupa. A deep sigh could be heard throughout the room, followed by the shuffling of feet growing softer, before the clank of the wooden door results in silence. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur(Port) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes Kjolr Krossa TOWNS: Hofsland(income next turn) SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:7890086+6k x 7%= 8442812 ARMY: (8000)16 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3.5K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS 4 CARRACKS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:10K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+24K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+27K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+30K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=111.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:98K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:32 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:6 BUILDINGS IN PROGRESS: MONASTERY: (20K/90K) TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The cities of Kjolr, Krossa, and Skalanes are all given loicenses for a guild hall for artisans and merchants to sell and display their wares. (-30k) -City charters are given to the town of Hofsland.(-15k) -The Duchy undertakes a bold event of a parley with the glacier tribes. A group of 5 men infiltrate the glaciers, bearing no arms, and sporting a white flag. On the instant that the ambush begins, the party declares that they wish nothing more but dialogue(-1.5k) -Two more fish farms are constructed! (10k) -Ports are built in the cities of Kjolr, Krossa, Skalanes, Rypapa, Grimsar, and Halsar.(-60k) -A group of settlers, tired of the crowding conditions beginning to exist at Skalanes, leave to settle several miles down the river, to found their own city, Hofsland!(-5K) -An Adept goes searching inside the Blood Forge, inside the mountain, suspended above pools of lava, for a miniscule staircase.

ESPAÑA Desde el Palacio Real, a 12 de Febrero 1685 -The Queen Mother has reportedly mounted extraordinary pressure on Maria Louisa to birth the expected son that the entire kingdom is waiting for. The royal couple begin to resort to extraordinary measures to increase the chance of having a child, engaging in wild practices that are believed to lead to higher chances in having a son.(MOD) (Mod) PAÍSES BAJOS De Amberes, a 10 de Mayo de 1685 -In the low countries, gold and funds are injected into specifically the catholic regions of flanders. Roads are repaired, new market places are established, CATHOLIC churches are beautified, canals and waterways are repaired, manufactories and other industries are given investment from the crown, and even buildings are renovated and remodeled. In an official royal declaration, the King attributes it to the unwavering loyalty of the catholic people of Flanders. The wealth of the low countries will be catholic. (Mod) AMÉRICA De la Havana, Lima, Bogota, y la Cuidad de Mexico, a 10 de Marzo 1685 -The same expedition, destined to survey and explore the california PENINSULA, return back to America, and make the same journey back. They are given a new commander, the old one demoted after such a blunder in relaying simple instructions! This expedition will explore the pacific coast of the californian ISLAND, and find suitable land for a colony.(MOD, exploring the actual state of Cali) ÁFRICA De Luanda, a 15 de Abril 1685 THE SUN NEVER SETS -Upon reviewing older maps and charts, a group of colonists depart from spain and make their way to settle the island of Madagascar and establish a trade outpost there, after presenting the local rulers with many silver trinkets, spices, silks, metals, and other goods and prizes to earn the local rulers favor. -In Angola, the Spaniards began to attempt to win the favor of many kings in the interior, by sending expeditions and diplomatic parties along rivers in the interior loaded with luxury goods and trinkets to trade for the African Kangs. They attempt to expand their influence into the interior. (MOD) LAS INDIAS De Goa, a 1 de Abril a 1685 -With the recent Chinese invasion of sumatra, Spanish merchant ships, previously unhindered to travel from India to the Philippines, are now subject to a tax imposed on by Han officials in domination over the crucial trade chokepoints of the Sumatran Isles. A Spanish captain set out from Manila, with a fleet of ships to search for a new trade route that Spanish merchants may take to avoid the Chinese tax, and cross to india with maximum profits. (MOD) EL EJÉRCITO -As a part of a wider scheme of modernising the army, the incoming cadre of young officers begin to do away with the outdated pike, in favor of gunpowder weapons. As young, innovative officers are promoted and placed into leadership positions they outdo with pikes in their men, on their own account and on the account of the captain generalcy. It is a slow, gradual outphasement, and in 5 years it is hoped that the pike can be replaced with the flintlock. -Tilly, along with Verboom, both begin to research and invest in creative innovations to speed up siege warfare, and make it much less costly. Tilly utilises Verboom to refine siege warfare to an art and develop it to a pinnacle of perfection and efficiency. -The same is continued to be done. Verboom begins to draw many plans and blueprints for forts, striving to improve on the now-centuries old bastion fort with improvements that could render it extremely hard to siege. What Verboom seeks to do is revolutionise and change the formula for making bastion forts. (MOD) LA ARMADA -In the docks of the empire, particularly in the new world, shipyards that are laid down are tweaked and improved, overseen by experienced navy officers and commanders in order to churn out ships that are hardier, sturdier, stronger at sea. Engineers and master shipyards test out new programs and methods in the shipyards at Havana first, and if they prove better then the ones traditionally used, they will be instituted throughout the empire. (MOD)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1522 The mist engulfs the nations actions. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Alost (Port)(Starter) Yakur Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar TOWNS: Skalanes Kjolr(income next turn) Krossa(income next turn) SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:7373520+6k x 7%= 7890086 ARMY: (8000)16 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3.5K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS 4 CARRACKS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:10K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+22.5K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+24K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=95K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:81.5K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:32 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 HERMITAGE:1 BARRACKS:6 BUILDINGS IN PROGRESS: MONASTERY: (20K/90K) TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The towns of Elirkuta, Halsar, and Grimsar are all given loicenses for a guild hall for artisans and merchants to sell and display their wares. (-30k) -City charters are given to the towns of Kjolr, Krossa, and Skalanes.(-45) -Colonists set out, founding a town nestled at the base of the Hukux Alps, and the foot of the ice wastes. Such a precarious position for a town, surely, but nonetheless the colonists trudge on through the cold, and set up the beginnings of a town. (-5k) ((All new settlements, for eric ease. New settlement is one closest to glacier.)) -A group of learned scholars and curious nobles pitch in funds to search for more information regarding the nations ancient past, the first men of the world, the Sinissk. Excavations are conducted across the land, starting with the area around Assirbanakh, the Blood Forge, and where the chamber of weapons were found.(-1.5k)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1521 The Mind Cage. The cage has been the focal point for nothern narosian events for quite a few years, the ever looming cloud of mist over the horizon taunting those who are unfortunate to find themselves within its bars, and blessing them with temporary insanity. The only man, whom its bars bend to, is Bruce, chosen by the higher, whom escapes its blessing. As a result it has fallen upon his shoulders to personally break its bars, its magic wrought bars forged by the Mindful One. Bruce departs by boat to the mad dog isles many times, often in solitude. There, whilst behind the bars of the cage he spends many hours searching for the solution, scouring for knowledge on the key that can open the confines of the cage. He has been there so many times, that, over the course of many weeks, he has constructed a small, cozy personal wooden cabin, reminiscent of older, humbler times. In can only be found a bed, a fire it, and a small chest for things. This humble abode has become his escape from the daunting pressures of court, and where he sits to keep safe. Of course at all times the awaits fleet a horns blow away from him, yet at times he leaves it on the boat, seeking reclusion and solitude from communication-except with the divine, whom he invokes for guidance and assistance countless times a day. On one particular day, he impressed upon the innocent Adept Turallinius of the Librarians, a free passage to the mad dog isles, and into the mind cage. Turallinius, seemingly, eagerly accepted the offer. After all, how could you say no to a Duke, chosen by God? And so he dragged him upon many ships and through high mountain passes, until the pair reached the town of Grimsar, an eyeshot away from the mind cage. As Bruce was parading through the city upon his bear, Turallinius caught sight of a group of fishermen, screaming at scratching at their heads, banging it against the wall. At this moment, his eagerness for knowledge and insight faded as he soon realised the effect that the cage had on the common folk. Would that be him?, he immediately thought as his mind was flooded with the potential consequences on such a journey. His thoughts were interrupted as the bear lurches forward, disrupting his train of thought, yet fear still in him. Bruce, the bear, and the poor librarian did not stop for any of the usual pleasantries made during a royal visit. The cities were not packed with eager children peering out of windows, or your average joe shouting songs of praise for the incoming Duke. No, this has been the third time this month that Bruce has been in the town, and the month before that, 5 times. Bruce was a common visitor, and the need for pleasantries had subsided. Eventually the bear, leading the train of a unit or so of knights clad in silver, reached the meager dock, jutting out towards the islands. As Adept Turallinius leaned over Bruce's shoulder to look at them, he immediately noticed something was off. They simply did not look right. Hed seen many other islands like them, a crude combination of the ice and snow with your dabble and sprinkle of exposed black stone. Yet still, he'd never seen any other islands like these before. The bear slowed to a halt, and lowered itself slowly, its hind legs first, and then its frontal legs. Bruce first unsaddles himself, standing on the ground, and gazing at the islands, the sea breeze blowing back his hair and emphasizing his unique red irises’. It was only the frightened grunts and groans of the Adept, whom was struggling attempting to lower himself from the bear, growling as it has been kicked multiple times by the flailing man stuck on the saddle. Bruce’s face would remain unnerved as he struts over to the man, and grabs him by the arm as he lifts him up off the saddle, and onto the boardwalk. Hed shout a few orders in Northron to some soldiers, still laughing and jeering after they caught wind at the troubles of the Librarian. Immediately discipline was restored as the knights cleared the Docks of all bears and people and assumed defensive positions. Bruce had led the way to a single, lonesome row boat with two oars inside and a chest in the middle. The Adept and Bruce exchange glances, telepathically attempting to decide who will enter the vessel first, until Bruce makes the first move, stepping onto the skiff, sinking it several inches with his mass as he takes the oars and sits on the back bench. The adept then steps inside, very cautiously, and takes his seat on the front bench, with no oars. When the Adept takes his seat, Bruce pushes off the dock with his arm, and begins rowing, grunting with each stroke as he sends the boat forward several feet. The ride would be very smooth, as the waters were calm today. The pair, on their way, wave to a group of cheering soldiers on a large galley in the area. There was a point where the Adept was actually enjoying it, and the fear subsided. But, as if they had passed through a wall, everything changed. The adept began to grasp his head, grimacing constantly, and pulling at the hairs underneath his robe. He then began complaining, audibly to Bruce, but was only met with unending silence. Complaints turned to insults when they reached the isle, yet to no avail. The adept was now rolling in the snow, cursing and insulting Bruce, the mind cage, his mother, fellow librarians, and anything which entered his brain. “Use your God.” was the only thing that responded Bruce. From within the trunk he brought, he’d withdraw a cage with a wild sea gull, cawing and flying as if maddened, spooked, or god knows what. From within his robe, he procures an engraved knife made of bone, beautifully decorated with runes and art of Blood. He'd bring the knife down through the gaps in the cage, a solemn caw coming out of the bird as it drops dead, in the name of the Blood God. Hed repeat this process with several other small animals within the trunk, hoping to stem the misery of the Adept, yet to no avail. Turallinius, has now assumed the fetal position in the snow and is whimpering, grasping his head. Pity has now overtaken Bruce, and rarely does such happen. From within his furs, he pulls out a knife, and slices his palm, blood dripping down as he clenches his hand. He grabs the mouth of the librarian, and opens it, several drops falling in his mouth, yet still, to no avail, and now he has an enraged librarian. He began kicking and punching Bruce, his arms and legs bouncing off his skin, but even Bruce could not remained unnerved to this. In another place, not the mind cage, yes, but even he is not completely immune to the effects of such magics. “You cry too much.” he simply says, before banging the whining librarian on the head with the pommel of his broad axe. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar Skalanes(income next turn) SETTLEMENTS: POPULATION:6890748+6k x 7%= 7373520 ARMY: (8000)16 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3.5K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS 4 CARRACKS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:10K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+21K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+24K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+3k in treasury=99.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:86K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:32 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 BARRACKS:6 HERMITAGE:1 TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The towns of Elirkuta, Halsar, and Grimsar are all given their city charters, after a long bureaucratic crack down on corruption at the Ministry of Cities. (45k) -Colonists, at the will of the Duke Bruce, depart from nearby urban centers to untamed, and more importantly, unclaimed wilderness. Thousands of colonists depart in a caravan from the capitol itself, after the capitols services became strained as a result of overpopulation, to a parcel of land left uncharted on the Frozen Bays coast.(-10k) -Bruce begins to personally dig into the mystery of the mind cage. Long days at the Mad Dogs, which is what the villagers have called the set of islands lying off the coast of Grimsar. Bruce begins to spend long nights at the dogs, bringing no one, making the spontaneous exception for Adept Tuvallinius, which he brings on the first night, or the occasional Blood Mage. He sacrifices many things, including a variety of animals, humans, and even drawing blood from himself, all in an attempt to understand the revelation given by the Blood God. (-10k) -Construction begins once more at the Blood Forge, as Bruce demands it as a way to express gratitude and thanks.(20k/90k, Monastery) -The Blood Forge is also examined closely for anything that could reference the mind cage, dark eaters, or the mind full one. (1k)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1518 The Blood Forge. The place where the earth itself bleeds, and the domain of the Blood God. This is the only place in the world, where the Blood God has chosen to reside, it is here where the disciples of Tykir are closest to their all-seeing master. As such, this the home of the magical caste of Ulyadi. Pilgrims, covered in ash from the volcanic environment, are greeted by an ever present group of magically attuned individuals, adepts usually, students in the magic of blood. It is a rare sight to see a man, covered in head to toe with black ash, with a wolf pelt draping down from his back, but when an innocent pilgrim does encounter such an individual, he is blessed with an opportunity to watch him perform the most advanced spells of Blood Magic. To a pilgrim however, it is a true blessing from the Bloodied one to encounter the ruler of the realm, Duke Bruce the Chosen, at the forge. And to a lucky group of 7 ashy faced men from a myriad of different settlements through the Duchy, GOD is with them. The group of men first realized something was the matter when they viewed a massive line of naked, men with a brown tint and dark black hair escorted by soldiers, an odd sight on a usually solemn volcanic road. The men were chained, and all were wailing. The pilgrims knew of no religious holiday that was occuring on that particular day, so they continued to trudge onwards, on the black road which leads up to the peak of Mt. Arfast, the mountain with the blood forge. The caravan followed the snaking line of wailing men, women, and children, on a steep slope past flowing canals of lava, and at times entire rivers of lava. The line however moved quickly. It seems as if every few seconds, a soldier had to shove an olive toned man forward on the ground, and then move on to the next and repeat the process, Eventually however, they would reach the threshold to enter the House of the Blood God. The line would still enter between the lava pillars and through the obsidian threshold, and would snake around between columns and pillars, all the way to the end of the room, where a large stone block sat, surrounded by falling channels of lava. As the ashen pilgrims made their way inside the cathedral however, the screams grew louder, and more desperate. They could also hear the faint sound of iron hacking at flesh, and immediately, all the pieces began to fall into place. Slowly, solemnly, they made their way down the nave, flanked by rows upon rows of pews and rune stones, until they reached an outcropping of black stone, suspended above a deep chasm of molten rock. This sight is not what made their jaws drop however, it was the sight of the hulking Bruce. The Bruce, at the altar, was a machine. A soldier threw him a slave, and he grabbed it by the neck, pinned him upon the altar, exactly on the indentations for each limb, and he brought his broad axe made of icesteel upon their necks, their head flying off in one fell swoop. The decapitation would be surprisingly blood less, a simple red mist appearing at the cut, and red lines seemingly engraved on the axe would glow, as he pauses for a minute, allowing for the blood to spill out from the sacrifice, down channels built into the altar, and seemingly disappearing. His body would then be thrown upon a pile of hot coals, singing the flesh, and kicked down a hill into the pool of lava. With every clang the axe made against the stone altar, the pilgrims winced. But, on the altar, it was a different story. Before each sacrifice, he yelled into the abyss. A old man, one of the pilgrims, in his 70’s, witnessed one spectacle. Without even looking, his arm grabbed a frail man and he threw him upon the altar. “TYKIR, GRANT ME STRENGTH!” slice. He grabbed another, his mercy non existent. “BLESS ME, PLEASE, BLOODY ONE.” slice. “FOR YOU, TYKIR!” slice. “SHOW ME YOUR WAY!” slice. Bruce seemed completely focused at the task, but it seems he was overtaken by something many never thought Bruce had,a moving Emotion, as seen by the desperate faces he made after each hack.is at this moment, when the man finally had to turn away, for he could not bear to watch any longer. The pilgrims left, and Bruce had still not finished at the altar. It is said that a thousand had been sacrificed in the name of the Blood God, and Bruce’s cries for strength and guidance never ceased. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar SETTLEMENTS: Skalanes POPULATION:6439428+8k x 7%=6890748 ARMY: (5000)10 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry (1000) 2 Units of T2 Light Archers (1500) 3 Units of T3 Light Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 3K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS 4 CARRACKS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:10K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+19.5K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+24K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+1k in treasury=92K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:79K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:30 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 BARRACKS:6 TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The hermitage at the blood forge, in construction for many years, is finally finished. After an entire year of non stop around the clock work in the sweltering heat of the grumblers, a large hermitage is finally finished at the forge, whom it is said that Bruce himself one day, dissatisfied with the slow pace of construction, began hauling stones and participated in the construction. The doors of the hermitage opens with a personal sacrifice from Bruce of a large amount of slaves...(-42k) -(3000) 6 Units of T3 Medium Infantry -2 fish farms are constructed. (-10k) -3k are saved in the treasure.

LA GAZETA ORDINARIA De Madrid, Jueves 25 de Mayo de 1684 ESPAÑA Desde el Palacio Real, a 12 de Febrero 1684 -The pressure mounts on Charles, and the Queen to produce a male heir to secure the throne. As Maria Louisa grows old, many aristocrats in the court, especially the Queen mother and others within the royal family, begin to think that she is not strong enough to bear the strong hapsburg seed, and as she grows older by the day, there is less and less chance for the birth of a strong male heir. Charles has been reportedly seen, multiple times a day, praying in a fervour at the chapel of San Santiago, no doubt to intercede on their behalf. He even takes a spontaneous visit to Galicia to assure of this! (mod………..) -Charles II and the Queen Mother, begin to entertain the opinion of several key thinkers and reformers in the high circles of the crown. Notably, he has a change of heart and begins to accept the advice of several known individuals in the court that go by the name arbitristas, which are a group of reformist thinkers concerned by the rapid decline of the Spanish economy. The ideas of mercantilists are especially embraced, especially those of Sancho Moncada, and others who went to the School of Salamanca. Gold, and other luxury goods that make their way into iberia, instead of losing their value in the coffers of the bureaucracy, are reinvested into the economy in manufacturers, industry, public work projects and in irrigation waterways in a hope to facilitate the growth of the state economically. Luxury goods that are imported into the peninsula are marked up in price and sold in order to profit off of the importation of foreign goods into the mainland and de-inflate the spanish currency. The money that is gained off of the sales of the imports are reinvested into producing more resources for exports into massive markets such as China, India, and Europe, and hopefully kick start the mercantilist economy of the Spanish Empire once more. (Mod) PAÍSES BAJOS De Amberes, a 10 de Mayo de 1684 ACROSS THE RHINE -The Army of Flanders, led by the Spanish General Alberto Octavio T'erclaes de Tilly, of Flemish descent, springs into action on an early day in March. In the fortified city of Nijmegen, where most of the Flemish army is heavily entrenched, under the cover of darkness, 35,000 men detach themselves from the main force at Nijmegen, and cross the Rhine back into spanish dominated territory. Now that they are away from the peering eyes of the enemy Dutchman, the magic begins. Utilising bribes and well established connections with catholic lords, the Army crosses into the Holy Roman Empire, attempting to cross the Rhine through the land of catholic lords, and attempting to bribe the protestant lords when necessary. The army would then enter the Netherlands once more in the rear, in the land of the rebels this time. The maneuver thought of by a young, energetic Galician nobleman was accepted immediately by the General, as a way of evading the defenses erected on the river by the rebels. -Upon the entrance of the Army on the eastern border of the Netherlands, the first stop of the army would be the village of Bourtange, the first village on the road that leads from germany intl the Netherlands. However after this, the army would fly back to the river Rhine, smashing against Dutch water defenses there, specifically adjacent to Nijmegen. They seize towns and cities on the road from Bourtange back to Nijmengen, notably stopping at Apeldoorn, at the palace of The House of Orange, and if possible, burning it to ashes. -As defenses along the waterline erupt opposite to towns with the burgundian cross flying proudly above, soldiers from the army of flanders and local garrisons alike begin to reciprocate. Fortress towns along the Waal and the rhine are given extra layers of defenses, guard posts along the river are manned, and new ones are erected. No inch of the river is left untouched. Defenses are extremely heavy adjacent to Rotterdam. -Albert Octavio, being of Flemish Descent, knows very well the vast system of dykes and other feats in the region constructed to tame the sprawling system of marshes and swamps in the area. As such, he utilises such opportunities as an advantage, manipulating the environment through construction when possible to his advantage. (MOD) AMÉRICA De la Havana, Lima, Bogota, y la Cuidad de Mexico, a 10 de Marzo 1684 -A contingent of roughly 700 men in 10 ships depart from Spain and stop in the beautiful port city of Havana, Cuba. From there, the ships would travel to the port city of Merida, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. From there they will go to the port city of Acapulco, where they will embark once more on their ships, and begin a voyage northwards, across the mystical island of california, mapping its features, exploring the untamed wilderness and communicating with the lost tribes of savages. They are to return in 3 years, claiming the island for Spain and with a comprehensive map drawn of the land.(mod) -A settlement is established on the mouth of the Rio del Espiritu Santo, or the Mississippi river. Several hundred families, predominantly from a collection of eastern towns in Castille where the land is littered with wetlands, make the voyage southwards under promise of land and wealth in the Americas. They establish the town of St. Ferdinand, named after the ancient Castilian King whom many of their ancestors pledged their swords to. The settlement stops in Havana, where they receive a regiment of soldiers to accompany them and give them protection from the dangers of the savages that lay in the land.(mod) ÁFRICA De Luanda, a 15 de Abril 1684 THE SUN NEVER SETS -In order to keep exporting civilization to the savage wilderness in the world, and gain a good amount of coin from it, several ships of Spanish colonists depart from Cadiz, and travel down the West Coast of Africa, restocking and refueling at the trading posts established along the coast. The 5 galleons, packed with some 100 families of Spanish colonists and 500 soldiers, ATTEMPT TO disembark their ships and begin to establish a settlement at the Cabo de la Buena Esperanza, or the Cape of Good Hope. The official name of this town is Puerto de Nuestra Bellisima Virgen de la Loma de la Plata , but it quickly becomes known amongst the townspeople as Puerto Bello, in attribution to the region's abundant flora and its magnificent landscape. -Immediately upon arrival at the cape, the colonists disembark and begin construction on a fortified settlement, and a church, the two most important aspects of any colonization effort. Once the settlement has firmly entrenched themselves they begin to send out missions to the natives, subtly introducing them to the ways of the true church. (MOD) LAS INDIAS De Goa, a 1 de Abril a 1684 -In the Indies, especially in Goa and Ceylon, bearing the Spanish flags, as part of economic reform in Spain, begin to up their spice production quotas. Spices are a very valuable and important luxury good, as they never lose value. As such, Spanish Galleons begin to dock themselves at Ceylon and Goa more often, packing their holds full of cargo, stopping in Macau, and proceeding to Manila where they make the journey across the wide sea into the port of Acapulco, where they are transferred to the Atlantic coast and begin the last part of a continental voyage to return to the Spanish Mainland, where they are not only sold in Spanish marketplaces, but in towns all across the Spanish domain. (Mod) EL EJÉRCITO -The crown grants a series of grants and permissions to begin the process of phasing out older matchlocks for newer, flintlocks of a Spanish Model. The process is gradual, and is meant to be carried out over a period of time. The first being authorised are the peninsular armies, followed by the armies in the italian peninsula, starting with the Duchy of Milan, followed by the rest of the European territories, followed lastly by the colonies. In the plans it is hoped that they may do away with matchlocks in the European armies in a maximum of 5 years, whilst for these reforms to reach the outer reaches of the Spanish empire it may take decades at least.(mod) -As a result of the ongoing war in the Netherlands, sieges will soon become the trademark of the war, in the eyes of the officer cadre. The chief military engineer of the Army of Flanders, Cornelius Verboom, is given the task of inspecting the defenses of fortresses all across the Low countries, below the rhine at first, and rebuilding many sections not suitable for siege warfare in the modern age of battle. When the spanish army has to get their hands dirty with the dutch rebels, and seige, then he would serve an intristical role in coordinating the siege, putting unconventional and new tactics to use, such as flooding the land, or manipulating the vast networks of dykes and levees to their advantage.(mod) -With the utter humiliation of the Spanish army at Lisbon, the crown among many other government officials and aristocrats, have come to the agreement that action must be taken to preserve the Spanish honour and prevent a humiliation to the scale of Lisbon from ever occurring again. The state creates a school for officers, where the new blood of the Spanish Army can hone their skills, and learn the ins and outs of the tactics of war. La Academia Militar de Toledo, or the Military Academy of Toledo, is created, installing themselves in the Alcazar de Toledo. Veteran officers are given teaching positions at the academy, which will educate and train the incoming cadets in the fields of war. Stress is placed on educating the men on cutting edge tactics, doing away with the older, outdated pike and shot. (MOD) LA ARMADA The Spanish Armada continues on its duties, roaming the seas, all of them, and doing its duty to the state and the crown. In the Low Countries it is serving the Army of Flanders, blockading the rebels and preventing any outside help from entering the hands of the enemy, and delivering needed supplies and goods to the brave soldiers laying down their lives in the name of honour, justice, right, and the crown. Outside of Europe and in foreign faraway seas however, the Armada is executing their duty flawlessly, protecting ships packed with colonists sailing for new life in the vast network of colonies the Spanish Empire possesses under their flag. Never Before has the armada lost in the Atlantic, protecting the galleons as they travel back to the motherland packed with riches and splendors extracted in the name of GOD and GLORY in the Americas. The shipyards are filled with more ships to be added to the fleet, and even the small farm boy recognizes the undefeated, awesome strength of the Spanish Armada.

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1518 No Rp again, sorry! NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar SETTLEMENTS: Skalanes POPULATION:6017634+8k x 7%=6439428 ARMY: (4500)9 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen (2000) 4 Units of T2 Light Infantry (500)2 Units of T3 Polar Bear Cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 2.1K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:5K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+18K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+21K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+1k in treasury=88.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:81.4K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:27 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 BARRACKS:3 TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The shipyards begin to fill themselves this year as woods are felled and 4 carracks begin construction.(4 carracks, -24k) -3 fish farms are constructed.(-15k) -(1000) 2 units of T2 Light Archers are raised.(-4k) -(1500) 3 units of T3 Light cavalry are raised.(-15k) -More barracks are constructed to facilitate the recruitment of more soldiers!(3 Barracks, -15k) -(500) 1 Unit of T3 Medium Infantry is recruited(4k) -The crown recruits a group of 75 well bred and skilled soldiers to attempt to map out a path in the treacherous alpine mountain range that divides and separates the two glaciers. These men are the results of a 10,000 men starting pool, and through multiple strenuous trials and experiments, they've weeded out the weak, and are left with the strong. Now these men are tasked with traversing the formidable peaks, a endeavour never done before, and chart it out for the Duchy. This expedition is funded, and financed by the crown.(4.5k) -Upon hearing rumors of a massive fleet covered in mist heading up the coast towards Ulyadar, Bruce cancels his planned expeditions and begins to out fit his navy for a planned invasion of the cloud reavers.

IMPERIVM HISPANICVM REX HISPANICVM CAROLVS II CAROLVS II is one of the most influential and wealthy rulers in all of Europe. His domain extends to the four corners of the world, and the sun never sets upon the IMPERICVM HISPANICVM, nor on his House, the Hapsburgs, which remain the strongest land power in Europe. CAROLVUS II is 22 years old, and healthy. He is married to the honourable Queen, Maria Louisa de Orleans, with whom he has had one child with, Isabella. He does not enjoy assuming the affairs of the state, as his melancholic attitude many times overtakes him and turns him away from the duties of a Roman Emperor. Instead, he seeks happiness in the form of organizing massive auto de fe’s, and patronizing bull fights, where he directs most of his otherworldly attention. His figure is that of greatness, his face, whilst humble in looks, sports the mark of emperors, a noticeably elongated jaw. His hair is a dark, sleek, raven black colour, and his face uniformly polished and pale. His eyes are a mesmerizing hazel colour, and he was blessed with a perfectly average stature and body. His character, not shown to the masses much, is very bipolar, at times you may find him energetic and amicable, with bouts of hostility and bitterness. PRINCEPS ASTVRIAS ISABELLA DE ESPAÑA

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1518 “MORE MEAT” grunts Bruce as he spends the everlasting winter training with his soldiers, eating, sacrificing, and plowing fields. A productive year! NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta Grimsar Halsar SETTLEMENTS: Skalanes POPULATION:5623434+8k x 7%=6017634 ARMY: (4500)9 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry (1000) 2 unit of T3 Heavy Infantry (1000) 2 Units of T3 Crowssbowmen ARMY UPKEEP: 1.5K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:5K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+18K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+21K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=87.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:81K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:25 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 BARRACKS:3 TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -A new ship is developed in the duchy, a large battleship suitable for battle on the high seas.(Carracks researched, -10k) -2 fish farms are constructed.(-10k) -2 Units of T3 Heavy Infantry are recruited.(12,000) -2 Units of T3 Crossbowmen are recruited.(10,000) -4 Units of T2 Light Infantry(8000) -2 Units of Regular T3 Polar Bear Cavalry(30,000) -1k is stored in the treasury. -A lone vessel, manned by one man, completely hairless and dressed in a black robe, makes the journey northeast, following the mist, in an attempt to gain information about the mist, or the mysterious island chain. -Bruce himself, along with Tancred and Ludin, make the journey across the snowy hills and mountains to seek knowledge from the stone of the ancient Assirbanakh.

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1514 The morning light bathed the room through the flimsy blue curtains, illuminating the cozy wooden space. It was simple, and humble, with a large hunky wardrobe in one corner, and a small nightstand in the other, on each side of the bed which lay occupied in the middle of the room. Around the room, lay an assortment of clothes strewn upon the ground. A womans white dress, with a blue corset and linen undergarment, and a large man’s tunic and trousers lay in a trail leading from the door to the bed. Smaller accessories lay dispersed everywhere, as well as furs, hanging on the posts, on the floor, on the wardrobe, everywhere. On the white sheets of the bed lay two individuals. On the right, one fragile, petite figure lay on her stomach, clutching a cushion, the rays of the sun catching her flowing blond locks of hair, and her pleasant skin on her back. On the left lay a massive individual, laying on his back and his red eyes gazing blankly towards the ceiling. His head, encompassed by his mane of hair, laid on his hands. His swollen pectoralis muscles steadily bounced up and down with every breath he took, and his abdominal muscles stretched and contrasted with his diaphragm. The two bodies lay completely still for several other minutes, the only sounds reaching the sounds of footsteps in the hall and the muffled voices of maids. The tranquility and silence of the room is broken by the sound of ruffling sheets as the smaller body shifts herself in the bed, turning her face to meet that of her partner. The flowing blond hair leads to a perfectly symmetrical, round face, with a softly curving nose, and rosy pink cheeks. Her green eyes canvass her partners body. “How long have you been awake?” croaks a soft voice. After a short pause, the beast next to her responds, “Not long, the maids are up” The girl lets out a light snicker as she draws herself closer to the man, placing her arm on his chest, while he remains unmoved. “People will begin to ask questions as to where is the daughter of the Count of Tykirfell” she says, resting her face on him. “They won't question me” he replied calmly. “My father and my brother will” the woman answers back, jokingly. “They fear me.” The woman does not respond, simply staring blankly towards the wall. 15 minutes go by, in silence, as the two lay upon each other, contemplating. Bruce then stretches his body out, his feet protruding out from under the sheets and past the bed at least 2 feet, as he pulls his hand from under his head and lightly brings it to rest on the woman's bottom. The blond head quirks up, “Your leaving?” Bruce says nothing as he sits up on the bed, the bed creaking loudly as he pauses, scratching his beard and ruffling his hair in the mirror on the wall before he throws off the sheets, and stands, the floor creaking with every stride as his naked body retrieves his trousers and he sticks one leg in each hole and yanks them up. “You'll be back, won't you?” she asks once more, this time propping her head up on her arm. “I'd like to.”he responds as he wrings his belt through the loops and places his arms through the holes of his tunic. “I’d like to have some company if im not to leave this room.” she says, in a condescending tone. “You will, fret not, i'll come visit you.” “You said that yesterday and you didn't.” “That was yesterday, woman.” he says as he throws on his bear fur, and clicks the brooch to secure it. He walks over to the wardrobe and casts open the doors, pulling out two broad axes, and a plain wooden shield. “I must prepare the men” he states simply, as the lady lies back on the bed, and Bruce passes the threshold into the room and bangs the door behind him. As his leather boots thud with each step his gargantuan frame takes, he makes his way down the long stone hall of the palace. At the end of the hall, the doors remain propped open, the white light of the courtyard illuminating the hallway. The faint sounds of iron clanging, men shouting and conversing, horses neighing and wood clapping on wood creeped its way across the hallway and into the ears of Bruce. Bruce’s pace picked up slightly as he procures a small grin. A door opens on the right in front of Bruce, and out comes a middle-aged maid with a tray of plates of food and drink. “Oh, my liege, i was just bringing y-” begins the lady, in a kind-hearted matter, showing him the tray. Bruce, meanwhile, completely bypasses the lady, not even acknowledging her presence as he nearly trips over her, sending the maid and the tray reeling to the wall, and making the plates and cups rattle. The maid spends a couple minutes securing the contents on the tray with caution and with haste, as she finally dispatches herself against the wall, brushing her apron lightly as she attempts to reach out to Bruce, who is already almost to the door. “My, my lord, would you like me to leave it in your room?” Once more, Bruce ignores the woman, his large physique disappearing into the light of the courtyard. As Bruce appears, his ruby eyes cast themselves over a snow filled courtyard littered with at least a two units of men. They are divided across the square courtyard, each engaging in their own activities. In one corner, a dense line of archers are shooting at bullseyes laid on ice. In another, a line of soldiers surround 8 small circles where one on ones are taking place. In another square, a man is shouting orders to lines of men in formation. In the last corner, horses ride back and forth with men swinging various pole arms at dummies in the sand. As Bruce makes his way through the center of the courtyard, the various activities stop, and like a wave the heads of the soldiery turn to face the Duke. He makes his way through the center, not acknowledging the bowing heads of his men, and instead he begins to take off his furs, and he casts his broad axes to one side. He reaches the corner with the one on ones, and reaches for a pole in a barrel full of various pole arms. He grabs a rickety wooden shield, and moves to the center of the square. “One of you bastards step up, I want to fight.” He says calmly, the rest of the infantry has now laid down they arms and created a large square surrounding Bruce. There is no movement from the crowd, and no one steps up. Bruce lets out a long sigh, and points to a man with braided blond hair in front of him. “You, here.” Bruce says, pointing to the ground in front of him. The poor victim looks to his sides, and downwards, until he is pushed forward and given jeers of encouragement by his comrades. He solemnly grabs a pole and a shield, and assumes his stance. “Widen your feet, you don't serve mead don't you,” Bruce says, as he assumes his stance. The rest of the men respond with laughs and insults as they overlook the spectacle. “Go on” says Bruce, and with a shrilling yell the man shifts his feet, attempting a slice at bruce with the pole, which is easily parried by his shield, and he attempts to truck Bruce over with his body. Instead his body bounces off the huge mass, and it sends him faltering a few steps in the snow. The spectators break into a fit of muffled snickers and murmurs as a result, and Bruce pulls the fallen soldiers up to his feet. “Try again, but lower.” He repeats the process, but the outcome is repeated once more as he is sent flying back several paces. “A poorly paid ***** puts more effort then you, AGAIN!” The man charges, anger infuriates him as, in a flash, he swings the wooden pole down on Bruce’s head, and bring his shield under bruce's for a punch on his stomach. Instead, Bruce throws his arm up, connecting his pole with his opponents elbow, and sending it reeling back, before he lowers his shoulder and drives against the punch, throwing his arm out in the process and sending the man flying once more several feet back. A collection of yells and jeers of approval spring out from the crowd, and Bruce walks over and pulls the fallen man up, brushing off the dirt from his body lightly. “The only way you wont fight like a drunken walrus is if you swing swiftly and with strength.” He says to him, before he sends him off towards his eagerly receiving comrades. “Next.” he'd say, glancing around at his surroundings and waiting for another opponent. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta Grimsar SETTLEMENTS: Halsar Skalanes POPULATION:5255022+8k x 7%=5623434 ARMY: (2500)5 units of T3 Medium Infantry (2000)4 units of T3 Medium cavalry ARMY UPKEEP: 1K GOLD NAVY: 10 COGS 5 GALLEYS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:5K GOLD UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+16.5K(POP)+8K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+8k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+18K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=83K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:77K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty, Kingdom of Icefeld, The Nascent Kingdom BUILDINGS FARMS:23 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 CHURCH:1 SHRINE:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 TOTAL MAGI:4 TOTAL ADEPT:36 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The strange occurrence happening in the northern islands has dumbfounded the nearby colonists in the village of Skalanes. Trapper after trapper is sent out, father then ever in search of anything moving, but they find nothing. Even whaling voyages come back with their nets empty, and their hooks dry, and the fishermen bitter. Some clever man decides to try something different at an attempt to decipher the mystery. He, along with 7 others, bring an array of animals, to the islands, and record how they react. He brings a seagull, a eagle, a penguin, a seal, a fox, a dog, and a reindeer, and they observe the response of the animals to the strange winds. -The Kingdom of Icefeld, whom have developed an amicable relationship with an aspiring coastal petty lord on the northern coast near the city of Rypapa, on an isolated village. These foreigners spent many a night in the hold of the count, going by the name of Bali Gilsonn. As a result of the extended stay of the Icefeldian explorers in the hold of the hospitable Lord Gilsonn, they have also engaged in several enlightened discussions and research. They have reportedly procured a new class of calvary, capitalizing on the use of bulky plate armour, using ideas brought to Ulyadar from the boiling forges of Icefeld. In conjunction they also developed a new, more advanced form of bow, using a series of gears and levers, how helpful they have been! (50% off on research for Heavy Cavalry and Crossbowmen, -10k gold, -5k gold. Icefeld research on Heavy Infantry 50% off) -Corresponding with the raising of the levy across the realm, existing barracks are becoming cramped and some even filled to the brink with men. In order to accomodate more men, more barracks are whipped up, and recruitment continues.(3 barracks,-15k) -4 units of T3 Medium Infantry are recruited.(-16k) -1 Unit of T3 Heavy Infantry is recruited.(-6k) -An Icefeld Embassy is established in Ulya. -The trade offer is accepted with the Nascent Kingdom. -2 farms are constructed near the new settlement of Skalanes to facilitate its expansion(-10k) -A bigger, better, faster, stronger, warship is researched for a surely impending battle.(-15k to researching Carracks, 15/25k)

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1514 Bruce the Red, as he has been denominated as, lay restless in the throne room. He paced to and fro, up the stairs that led up to the throne, and back down. He had been told that there had been ill-news for him to receive regarding the raid. The raids had soon become an integral part of the Ulyadar economy, introducing foreign wealth and slaves to the nation's coffers. The Duchy depended on these goods, whether it be for stacking up the treasuries, or for sacrifices to Tykir. Then, a side door opens, and a servant pops his head through. He kneels, and avoids eye contact with Bruce, as he states, “Your Grace, they have arrived.” his face fades from view behind the door, and from within emerges a convoy of members of the elite, the royal family, and other members of the court. They assume their positions about the throne room, standing next to their seats. Bruce, has already taken his seat on the throne, his knee bouncing quickly in anticipation. The oak doors fly open, and a large contingent of soldiers in chain escort a group of 3 men, wearing nothing but a thick bear fur and ripped trousers, followed by a group of men dressed in foreign mail, with olive faces. The envoy collectively fall on one knee, and drop their heads out of respect for the royalty. Bruce stares as the men cold heartedly, his knee continuously bobbing. Bruce extends an arm, and motions upwards with it. “Rise, lost-men, and speak.” booms Bruce bluntly, not being a man of many words. The sounds of silence resonates throughout the room, as the three fraily dressed men rise, they glare at each other, exchanging half frightened, half encouraging expressions. Out of the blue, a slender individual finds his voice. “Your Grace, blessed of blood, the tales we have brought back from our voyages amongst foreign warm waves, where the sun shines brightly and the ground is green, are not that of the pub type, no, my lord. Upon those dangerous waters, we were pitted against an enemy which from the very commencement of battle we were doomed to lose against. The enemy rose in the form of the common mist cloud that greets every sailors sunrise, but this mist, this mist was different. It was a blinding, encompassing mist. I tell you, by my very mother, that it was not possible to see my very brother in front of me, and we certainly could not spot the other vessels. Fortune was in our favor, that we were placed under the Honourable Gnupa’s wise command, for if we weren't, then the fate of our brothers would have been replicated.” he pauses, as if remembering the very day it occurred. He continues his monologue,”We then heard the sounds of a ship, then two, then a fleet, in front of our very noses. But alas, it was far to late. Before we could unhinge our shields and draw our swords, two of our ships had already been condemned to the seas by ramming, and battle was upon us. Hundreds of them boarded our ships, dancing in and out of the cloud, dropping us one by one. It was Gnupa who took hold of the situation, and organized us, and we drove them back to the hell they came from. We attempted to rally the others, to find the other ships, but our calls went unanswered. We were the only ones left. Then, a booming voice, as if Tykir himself were speaking upon our ears, demanded our surrender. Valiantly so, Gnupa rejected. Valiance he did have more than us all. Our hull was snapped in two by a ship that materialised only when it was upon us, and subsequently the horde of the pirates disembarked. We attempted to hold the lines, to repel them, to slaughter them, but numbers favored the enemy. We were cut down, until the only ones that survived were us three, because we laid down our arms, and Gnupa, who confronted the captain of the bastards. A massive, pale individual, with a glimmering blade of gold, and black rags draped across his body, with a blood red sash. Gnupa and he exchanged words, and they soon dueled, but Gnupa was overpowered. The captain was skilled, but we never saw Gnupa relent, never. They threw us on rafts, and left us out to die upon the waters. By god's grace, we landed upon the lands of these hospitable men over here, bannermen of the House of Antigonid, whom sheltered us and sponsored a journey back home, to these lands, so i may relay this information to you. Gnupa, my lord, was not with us, and i have not seen him since.” The man bows, and turns his gaze towards the stone floor. Bruce’s leg ceased to jitter, and instead he leans forward in his throne, balling his fists, his veins bulging in his arms. “Gnupa…” he says, rage filling his words. An old man, in silk robes and holding a staff in his arms, tilts his head and speaks up. “My grace, are you well?” Bruce snaps towards him, his eyes filled with wrath. In an instant, he calms himself, and reclines back upon the stone throne, ignoring the comment. “Eloquence you have, man, but a warrior-heart you do not have, as Gnupa did.” he states, staring the man blankly in the eyes. “Nevertheless, I thank your cowardice, as now we know we have an enemy to slaughter.” Bruce stands, followed by the rest of the court. His voice resonates across every corner of the hall, as he states, “A reward of 150,000 gold coins now exists for any man who can recover Gnupa, and bring him before me, alive.” He turns towards a guard standing by a door post. “Spread this through the realm, and the neighboring realms. Gnupa will be found.” Without saying another word, he turns on one foot, and exists the court, slamming the oak door, leaving the men inside in a whirlwind of gossip and chatter. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: Elirkuta SETTLEMENTS: First on peninsula:Halsar Second on Peninsla:Grimsar POPULATION:4910712+8k x 7%=5255022 ARMY:5 units of T3 Medium Infantry ARMY UPKEEP: 0K GOLD NAVY: N/A UPKEEP FOR NAVY:0 UPKEEP GOLD:3K(BASE)+15K(POP)+6K(TRADE)+18K(MERCHANT GUILD)+3k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+15K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=71.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:71.5K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident, Volaruci Princedoms, The Antigonid Dynasty. BUILDINGS FARMS:23 MERCHANT COMPANY:6 CATHEDRAL:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -The ports and shipyards of the land spring into action, as 10 ships are laid down amongst the shipyards and docks. A shipbuilding campaign begins as the finances for 4 carracks and 6 traditional long ships are collected with haste, and construction begins on them in the early months of the year.(-54,000 gold, 4 carracks, 10 cogs, 5 galleys ) -4 units of T3 Medium cavalry are recruited.(-16,000). -Ulyadar trappers begin to investigate the strange phenomena occurring near the island chains. They search for life, for answers to a puzzling mystery. Small groups of trappers are sent out to comb the archipelago and the waters surrounding it for anything that could be of interest, including, life!.(1.5k gold) -The crown investigates the newcomers that have arrived at the Ulyadi village, hailing from foreign lands.

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1514 The Blood Forge A transformed Bruce was present at the Forge. The sauna like heat emerging from the pools of molten lava surrounding the altar forming beads of dripping sweat that drench down from his limbs and encompass every single inch of his body. Tancred and Ludin were examining his mutated body. In a matter of minutes, his entire body had been transformed. His arms forged of steel, half a foot taller in statue, and his eyes, his once-used to be hazel brown eyes were now a mesmerizing ruby red. However what most stumped the pair of mages was the runes on his wrists and thighs. After the singing of the two pieces of flesh together after the laceration, the skin had grown back naturally fast, and unnatural itself. A scar in the form of a repeating rune was present. This same figure was everywhere surrounding the pair. On the walls, on ancient stones laying astray, on the remnants of mosaics falling apart by the day. What could it mean? Tancred and Ludin begin to test the newfound abilities of Bruce the red, as he is called. Strength, knowledge, wisdom, and even affinity to magic are all tested as his body is strained to the max. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia Rypapa TOWNS: SETTLEMENTS: East on peninsula: Elirkuta First on peninsula:Halsar Second on Peninsla:Grimsar POPULATION:4588927+8k x 7%=4910712 ARMY: 2 units medium infantry, 1 unit light infantry ARMY UPKEEP: 0K GOLD NAVY:3 GALLEY 3 COGS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:2K GOLD GOLD:3K(BASE)+13.5K(POP)+4K(TRADE)+15K(MERCHANT GUILD)+1k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+12K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)=60K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:58K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident BUILDINGS FARMS:20 MERCHANT COMPANY:5 CATHEDRAL:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:2 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:0 CITIES:6 SHRINE:1 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -Construction returns to the Blood Forge, as Bruce, as a method of gratitude towards his beloved god, quickly funds the creation of a hermitage at the Blood Forge. The old inscriptions found on the walls and the artifacts present at the site are incorporated, as well as the various channels present on the slopes. The pipes of molten rock are all directed to lead to the existing ancient altar, which will be used for religious acts.(-6k) -5 units of T3 Medium Infantry is recruited.(20k) -The crown diverts funds to research more armoured, hunkier troops that can serve in the Dukedoms future military campaigns.(-15k towards Heavy Infantry) -A Merchant Guild is created in the city of Rypapa, as is custom with all new cities founded in the Empire.(-10k) -2 fish farms are whipped up on the river Fjoll.(-10k) -Colonists from the city of Odeilia set out past the frozen wastelands up the river Fjoll, and upon a peninsula that lies opposite the river Fjoll from the settlement of Elirkuta, nearly a fledgling city by now! The colonists utilise connections from established settlements on nearby peninsulas to feed into its growth. Ships also begin to sail northeast words, exploring the island chain that can be viewed from the city on a clear day.(-5k towards a settlement) -The ice-steel weapons are extracted from the cellar, and the cellar itself is searched for anything of importance or interest to the nation. The weapons are transported to the Palace, where, in front of the Duke, a Mongrellian slave is used as a test subject to discover the properties of such a blade. -The Mongrellians receive an offer of trade. -The offer of trade from the Princedoms are accepted.

Username: Alfonso IX el Sabio Discord: (Pm if you want.) Ideas and Suggestions?: Nation Name: United T’jellian Republics Race: T’jell History: (Optional.) The T’jell have always had a higher affinity for the concept of numbers and figures then any other species. Business, trade, and industry grew quickly amongst the ancient Orders and Kingdoms which slowly terraformed the ancient lush rainforests of the planet into cities, which grew to at one point paint the entire planet, becoming, over the course of many centuries, a giant floating hunk of steel. At the center of it all is the Vault, which dominates daily T’jellian life. A massive bank which employs the vast majority of the billions of citizens, this is the life essence of the T’jell, and it provides funds to all, domestic or foreigners, as is the case now... Map location: (Remember, fill the square(s) and send it to me privately.) Starting Sectors: 1-4 (every sector not taken permits you to request a boon)1

DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1514 The city of Ulya, circa 1514 The ambient in the grandiose city of Ulya is that of festivity, celebration, and pomp. Today was the day that the Bruce, as he is called amongst the peasantry, would be addressed as Prince no longer, but Duke. Following a period of mourning for the passed Duke saturated with rituals and sacrifices of all calibres, , the entire mood of the Dukedom transforms. Tenebrous banners of gloomy shades of black and gray engulfing the boulevards and alleys of the city were exchanged out for vibrant red and gold colours, the hues symbolising renewal and rebirth. The actual day of the coronation was unforgettable. The cathedral in Ulya was filled to the last pews, and yet there were still dozens of anxious onlookers lining the posterior walls, and hundreds standing in the square outside. Tens of thousands of citizens came from all corners of the realm to spectate this event, as for many, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The first 50 or so pews were occupied by the lower aristocracy, the petty nobles and knights of the realm. The high aristocracy, the elite, and those deemed ritually pure of blood were accommodated in very close vicinity to the action, given places to the flanks of the altar in elegant, spacious, seats of a gray carved stone. Perched on the apex of the cathedral, peering over a rickety platform forming a part of the vaults of the ceiling, some peasants would notice several pale cloaked individuals, examining the ceremony with fascination and meticulously inscribing every facsimile of a detail into their logs. After what seemed like an eternity of adepts clad in long red robes scurrying about the altar, hard at work at preparing the scenario for the affair, the altar emptied, and the drones of the laity diminished. From behind the altar materialized Tancred, treading the stairway below the apse in his iconic ritual attire. From the top of his head drapes on the ground a blood-dyed wolf pelt, with black stains applied messily throughout. With every step he took, the nails of the creature brutally scraped the stone floor several paces behind him, its horrendous note resonating throughout the nave. His chest was left bare, displaying a sea of etchings and markings rendering sketches of runic incantations, and other religious and historical icons. Subsequently, entered Ludin, from behind Tancred, who similarly sports a wolf-pelt on his head, but his upper chest has been utterly reshaped into a canvas, barely any patches of white skin being left. The pair quickly begin work on preparing the altar for the rite. The altar itself is very simplistic from a far. In the center of a large elevated sanctuary laid a large stone table, about a foot in thickness, and was big enough to bear the weight of a very large person with room to spare. Sculpted into the stone of the altar was the crude figure of a humanoid, each limb having a corresponding groove in the stone. At the places for the extremities, a funnel would be carved, and a hole is drilled into the slab, that would lead directly into a small gouge which would be stuffed with a black-gravel like powder, invisible to the sight of the assembled. One by one, the priests would bless each hole, in unison, and set it alight with a gold torch. Once they were finished, the four corners of the altar were blazing. At the head of the altar, dividing the sacrificial stone and the flock, was a large pit overflowing with hot burning coals. These flames had to be blessed by Tancred and Ludin, before the ceremony could proceed. After many other seemingly pointless smaller rituals and blessings, Tancred and Ludin became silent, and stood at the front of the sanctuary, their back facing the congregation. After a brief instance of stillness and inaction,the crescendoing sound of light footsteps lead into the appearance of firstly, a flowing brown mane, and nextly the chiseled features of Bruce as he ascended from behind the altar, in all his glory. At the sight of the Duke, miraculously, the followers remained silent following the procedures and simply kneeling in respect for their ruler. The sounds of creaking wood and shuffling feet filled the air for some time, until silence was restored to the nave once more, and the ceremony continued. Tancred and Ludin lifted their hands up, and stared into the heavens. Bruce, at this point, kneeled, his gaze directing itself into the grey stone of the floor. The pair would begin chanting. “Bloodied One, He-Who-Lives-In-The-Forge, The Lord of Blood, TYKIR! O, everlasting deity, presented to you here is the humble Bruce of Ulya, Your loyal son, and most humble servant, my Lord. Purge his current life-blood, plagued with weakness and sin, And infuse him anew with an essence of strength in Your name, and wisdom in Your name, through pain or through love, To guide us, your nation, to your open demesne.” The chant would end, and Tancred would pull out a bone knife from within his trousers, and turn to the congregation. He passes the blade across his palms, allowing his blood to drip over the kindling coals, and evaporate, with every drip that falls on the flames a fizzle of steam floating upwards.After Ludin follows suit, the pair then shifts their focus to Bruce, still kneeling. “Rise, child, and display the flesh that encloses your weak essence.” commanded Tancred, his voice rebounding off the apse and into the crowd. Bruce would gradually rise , and let his sword fall on the ground with a clang. He begins undressing himself, dropping plate after plate, fur after fur, until he is bare. “Lay on the altar, child, and bid farewell to the weakness that will exit, and greetings to the strength that will fill you.” Bruce solemnly lays himself upon the altar, his body quickly being covered with a tapestry centuries old, leaving only the wrists, the face, and a slit for the thighs. Once he is comfortably strewn upon the stone altar, he responds. “Forgive the weakness in my blood, o Lord, and bestow upon me blood worthy of a thousand wars.” With that last prayer, Tancred and Ludin flank his body, bone knives in hand. With extreme caution, the blade slits the wrist of the Bruce laid upon the altar, and then they carefully slice the mid thigh. Blood immediately starts gushing out of both lacerations, and into the indentations into the altar, channeling downwards through the stone pipes straight into the blazing fires on the ground, dissipating into nothing but smoke. After several minutes of blood surging out of the gashes, Bruce’s eyes droop shut, and his body becomes pale in tone. Adepts rush out from behind the stage, with red hot rods, and jab their irons into the wounds, an awful sizzle resonating through the shrine, but stopping the bleeding. Tancred and Ludin kneel beside the body, feverently chanting prayers, blessings, whilst black cloaked adepts dispense a concoction of powders into the hot coals at the front of the altar, filling the air with the scent of strong incense, making many of the older spectators tear from the ripeness. 10 hooded and chained individuals are brought and forcefully kneeled before the coals, and a long silver sword with a crimson line running along the fuller of the blade is set carefully on top of Bruce’s lifeless body. Whilst Bruce is in a transcended state, he is also dressed in Ulya’s chain, the regalia of the Dukedom. Once all of this is done, the Adepts vanish, and there is several hours of stillness and peace, but anxiety amongst virtually the entire kingdom. But, after a good while of frightened eyes staring at the soulless being under the covers, finally, a twitch, a slight jolt in his exposed left wrist. Then a larger one. Then the whole hand moves. Ludin was the first to notice it, and he steps back from his body, prompting Tancred to do likewise after he notices movement. The Bruce is awakening. The sound of chains grinding on each other fill the room, as the falling heads of the spectators lift themselves up in awe. Finally, his blood shot eyes burst open, and his right hand grasps the hilt of the sabre. Slowly, he manages to cast off the tapestry, and spin his body around on the slab, his feet dangling off the end. Struggling he throws himself off the altar, turning his sword upside down and using the tip of his blade as support to stagger over to the kneeling men. He assumes a very wide stance, and slowly lifts his long sword, his arms wobbling from the strain. In one swoop, he decapitates the skulls of two of the slaves, and almost plunges into the coals in the process. Very little blood flies out from the strike, and instead a mist like substance spews out, only to dissipate near the crimson line, which begins pulsating a ruby rouge color. He regains his balance, and assumes his stance. He trudges over to one slave, and raises the long blade casting his gaze over the crowd. He thrusts his blade downwards, hacking one slave clean down the middle, before, catching his tumbling body on his knee. He is panting heavily, and his blood-crazed eyes look over towards the last two remaining slaves. In the midst of pleads and cries for mercy in foreign tongues, his entire body bursts into action, and in one fell swing two heads drop into the pit, and his blade smacks a stone column, bits of stone flying off as he drops to a knee, exhausted. “MY BLOOD… IS… STRONG!” He releases a guttural scream throughout the crowd, which is responded with enthusiasm. He rises once more, and turns around to face Tancred, who approaches him with a gold crown held on a purple pillow. He sets the cushion into the receiving arms of Ludin, and then grabs the crown carefully with his two hands. Bruce, sweating heavily, kneels before Tancred, and bows his head, presenting the top of his skull to the magi. “The weak has been casted off, and He has deemed you worthy of strength. With Blood, in Blood, and of Blood, I crown you Duke of Ulyadar.” Pronounces Tancred, and he bestows the diadem upon Bruce’s recieving head. Tancred takes a step back, and gives Bruce space. He lifts one knee up, and quickly lurches the other one forward, wobbling unsteadily before he regains his balance. He shifts one of his feet, and then the next, each seemingly sucking the life out of him, and he faces his people. Tancred, from behind the altar, raises his hands into the sky, and chants. “My Lord, I hereby present to you your most faithful warrior, He who you have granted the blood of a thousand wars, the Duke, Bruce of Ulya, the first of his name.” Bruce’s drenched lips would crack a large smile as the assembly erupts into jovial cries of approbation and glee. NATION INFO CITIES: Ulya(Capitol)(Starter) Yakur Alost (Port)(Starter) Tykirfell Odeilia TOWNS: Rypapa SETTLEMENTS: East on peninsula: Elirkuta First on peninsula:Halsar Second on Peninsla:Grimsar POPULATION:4,280,717+8k x 7%=4588927 ARMY: 2 units medium infantry, 1 unit light infantry ARMY UPKEEP: 0K GOLD NAVY:3 GALLEY 3 COGS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:2K GOLD GOLD:3K(BASE)+13.5K(POP)+4K(TRADE)+12K(MERCHANT GUILD)+1k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+12K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+3k=68K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:58K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar Trident BUILDINGS FARMS:19 MERCHANT COMPANY:4 CATHEDRAL:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:1 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:5 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE LUDIN, ORACLE OF ASSIRBANAKH DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR(DECEASED) ACTIONS -A new Duke is crowned! With the death of Arvid, Bruce is crowned Duke of the lands, and the lords and knights of the land swear fealty to him in a ceremony which takes place a week after the burial of the Duke. Bruce, is found to be a much more serious person then his father. He rarely uses any form of humour or charisma in his dialogues and statements, but he is however, a warrior. If words are not his gift, then Blood is, and zealous he is about it. He is the best friend of Tancred, similar in personality to him, and they both share an unwavering fanaticism towards Tykir. In order to secure Tykir’s blessings, Bruce personally performs a ritual sacrifice of 100 slaves in Tykir’s name. -As the declaration of Odeilia a city, several key investors in the area have banded and come together to produce a guild dedicated to the sale of merchant goods and services! Profits during this manner have brought in alt of gold for the kingdom through sales taxes and other levies.(-10k, Merchant guild in Odeilia.) -The population of Rypapa has boomed in the recent years, and has naturally expanded into almost a city at this rate. The Dukedom grants the city a charter and funds to invest into its development and its expansion into a city of the Dukedom.(-15k, Rypapa to a city.) -The Narosian port city of Yakur, lately, as seen a massive and unseen before level of growth as a result of Gnupa’s raids into Narosian towns and coastal settlements. As a result, the booty of such raids have brought in wealth and riches into the city of Yakur, and has utterly transformed it from a mediocre, average city, into a city of wealth, and renown, mostly because of its growing slave population, a byproduct of the incursions into Naros. The nobles of the city have put aside money for the creation of a dock to facilitate better the growing influx of commerce entering and leaving the city.(-15k) -This past raid, the raid fleet had to return relatively early in the pillaging season simply because of the fact that the holds of the ships fill themselves up too quickly, and some of the precious cargo in the ships are even forced to be placed on the deck, which takes away from the ability of many of the soldiers and sailors on board. As a result, the fleet is expanded to include 3 galleys which were previously reduced to peacetime domestic state activities. Gnupa’s raiding fleet now consists of 3 cogs and 3 galleys.(+3 galleys, 4k funding) -The moment to the Blood God is completed this turn as the finishing details and touches of the humble shrine at the Blood Forge are put in. Reportedly however, Tancred is still not satisfied with such a measly and humble dedication to a God as powerful of Tykir. Bruce, the new Duke, apparently shares the same views.(-2k, Shrine completed) -Unit of tier 4 heavy infantry is recruited.(-4k) -1 Fish farm is constructed near Tykir, as a complementary food source for the raiders!(-5k) -The ice-steel weapons are extracted from the cellar, and the cellar itself is searched for anything of importance or interest to the nation. The weapons are transported to the Palace, where, in front of the Duke, a Mongrellian slave is used as a test subject to discover the properties of such a blade. -The Mongrellians receive an offer of trade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IdHg_sDxzM DUCHY OF ULYADAR 1513 The sickly Duke Arvid in his chambers. The doors of the humble room burst open as Prince Bruce stood in the doorway, his jaw dropping at the sight of the ghastly sight of his fathers near-soulless body strewn upon the bed. The sheets were drenched in sweat, and the only thing audible in the room were the sounds of women weeping, and the groans of old Duke. Other then that, it was silent, yet the walls of the room were lined with visitors and mourners alike. Bruce, the Prince, had just arrived from the gathering at the realm of the Lithborn, and he raced over on his bear from Ulya to the keep at Tykirfell, where the King was, as soon as a maid bore him the ill revelation. “Father!” Bruce yelled, as his sword and everything he held in his hands dropped to the ground as he rushed over and kneeled at the side of his elder. The weak eyes of the man slowly made its way over to the prince, who was tightly clutching his bony hand. “Myyy sonnn…” mumbled the King, followed by a sequence of brutal hacks and coughs. “Father… the Bloodied Once can help you, we can sacrifice all the sl-” the frantic prince began saying until he was interrupted by the sickly royal. “No, my time has come, listen, Bruce,” “Blood for Blood father, Tykir can grant you blood.” “Listen to me, Bruce. I will not postpone my suffer-” a brutal, and bloody, combination of wheezes, hacks and coughs, would interrupt the commencement of the Duke’s monologue. Arvid’s other hand would, with a lot of effort, place itself upon Bruce's head, and he would smile lightly, a small glint appearing in his pale eyes. “Bruce, my son,” he would begin, almost as if his life is fleeing him with every syllable. “My death is here, there is nothing to be done.” He would gasp profoundly, the entire crowd of aides, guards, and members of the aristocracy would grow completely silent, and focused upon the pair. “You, my son, have things that need to be done, however. I have seen it in my dreams and in myvisions. A champion has told me that you, my son, will be close to Him, he will use you, and you will let Him.” Bruce would struggle to nod, squeezing out a response; “Yes father, I will,”. The Duke would continue,pausing after every few statements to recover the strength to utter the words that follow. “Bruce, my last words to you, will be the following. Take heed of them, and use them.” Bruce would nod, his adam's apple bobbing as he pushes his rising sorrows back into the depths from which they emerged from. “You have His favor. Conquer this land, its enemies likewise, and become not a Duke, but a King of the realm, a King of Blood.” And with that last sentence, the Duke exhales one last time, and his hands fall upon the white fur covers of the bed. The sounds of weeping and mourning would overtake the room, as Bruce’s face would sink into the sheets. When one door closes, another opens. Hundreds of men set out to the lands south of he-that-waits, and begin hammering the rocky earth with their iron picks. The scene is a similar sight for miles without end. Figures of men spread out across the terrain, hacking at the same rock for long, dreadful shifts. Some, after a several hours at it, find themselves in a foxhole some 2 metres deep, before they simply quit, and choose another rock to begin chipping at, and repeat the same process. The citizens of Ulyadar, especially the elite, have faith in the words of Assirbanakh, a stone effigy older then the very existence of any concept known as an Ulyadi. So much so that they have even offered a reward for the lucky individual who finds the coveted ice steel. When flyers advertising such an opportunity made their way onto notice boards in cities, towns, and colonies alike, there was a great rush amongst the peasantry of the nation, and hundreds of men took up the call for labor, and made their way to the designated areas. Now, for a month now, the great collection of peasant-miners has been combing the coastline, toiling in the brutal arctic gustsin search of the lucky clink that will be the forever craved ice-steel. NATION INFO CITIES: Star: Ulya(Capitol) Circle South :Yakur Circle Northwest: Alost (Port) Circle east, on small lake:Tykirfell TOWNS: Odeilia SETTLEMENTS: Circle on big lake, Odeilia Circle north, next to glacier:Rypapa East on peninsula: Elirkuta First on peninsula:Halsar Second on Peninsla:Grimsar POPULATION:3,997,670+7%+3k slaves=4,280,507 ARMY: 2 units medium infantry, 1 unit light infantry ARMY UPKEEP: 0K GOLD NAVY:3 GALLEY 3 COGS UPKEEP FOR NAVY:2K GOLD GOLD:3K(BASE)+12K(POP)+6K(TRADE)+12K(MERCHANT GUILD)+2k(PORT)+ 4K(ECON POINTS)+7k(MANUFACTORY)+9K(TOWN BONUS)+500(Bulgar trading thing)+5k=60.5K GOLD GOLD FOR THIS TURN:60.5K TRADING PARTNERS: Chapel of True Knauledge, Fortress Libraries, Kingdom of Bulgar, The Order, Herzaka, Trident BUILDINGS FARMS:16 MERCHANT COMPANY:4 CATHEDRAL:1 MANUFACTORY:7 PORT:1 TRADING COMPANY:3 SETTLEMENTS:3 TOWNS:1 CITIES:4 KEY CHARACTERS DUKE ARVID, DUKE OF ULYADAR PRINCE BRUCE OF ULYADAR TANCRED, ORACLE OF THE BLOOD FORGE ACTIONS -A Trading offer is sent to the Kingdom of Icefell. -In order to supply the new settlements built in the north, three fish farms are constructed to give them a constant supply of food in such a hostile and inhabitable environment, even to the hardy Ulyadar, who still starve to death and succumb to diseases on the isolated colonies.(-15k) -With the rapid expansion of Odeilia, the crown grants Odeilia with a city charter. As is custom, accompanying the city charter, is a sizeable convoy of gold and chests to be used for the expansion of the town of odeilia into a city.(-15K) -A sizeable outstanding loan is repaid from the treasury onto the hands of the demanding nobles as they skyrocket interests rates, forcing several greedy accountants and financiers to cough up the necessary gold..(-7.5k for population mess up) -The long voyage for the raiding parties of the realm commence once more as they leave the port of Yakur right after the harvest, and set sail for the coasts of Naros. They sail from village to village, port to port, and nation to nation as they plunder indiscriminately. They will return only when the hulls and holds of their fleet is full with wealths and riches of slaves, bounty, and gold from the Narosian nations.In order to secure Tykirs blessings for the plunder, a ceremony is conducted at the blood forge, where a levy of 50 slaves are paid in blood to the fiery depths of the forge.(-5k funding) -After consultation with the ancient entity of Assirbanakh, its wisdom is followed as the parties follow the direction of the rock and head due south, and begin to mine and dig in search of a deposit of the legendary and famed ice steel.(2k) -After the construction of a cathedral in Ulya for the Duke and the denizens of the Duke’s domain to use for their own worship of the all seeing Blood God, his home, the Blood Forge, still remains untouched, in its original state as it was left by earlier civilizations thousands of years ago. The construction of a shrine at the site of the home of the Blood God begins.(-16k)