The_Mad_Skylord

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO Advance of the Army of Volarucio into Trident. RP to be added presently -The Tercio de Ronbarra is raised. 3 units of Volarucian Tercios (Medium Unique Infantry) – 10’500 2 units of Crossbowmen – 6’000 1 unit of Rodeleros (Light Infantry) – 1’000 All T3 equipment – 12’000 Total: 29’500 Gold -August de Hontiveros, Prince of Toulagoza advances his army across the border into Trident. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AMJsCTv_nPaKA1QS2CXnXjT6EQ2rPHM2WwmUS-GmsBk/edit?usp=sharing

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO The Tercio de Toulagoza advances by road to Ronbarra. RP to be added this evening. -The Tercio de Grandiz is raised. 3 units of Volarucian Tercios (Medium Unique Infantry) – 10’500 2 units of Crossbowmen – 6’000 1 unit of Rodeleros (Light Infantry) – 1’000 All T3 equipment – 12’000 Total: 29’500 Gold -Once the third Tercio is raised, Prince August marches his Tercios and his horse down the main road to the Castill de Ronbarra. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AMJsCTv_nPaKA1QS2CXnXjT6EQ2rPHM2WwmUS-GmsBk/edit?usp=sharing

UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST PLANETARY REPUBLICS “I am pleased to report, Comrade Loginovsky, that industrialization is going fully according to the Five Year Plan in the Chernogorod Sector. We expect to have a series of reactors, factories, and other such centers of production, in full production this year. Our new fusion reactor, at Chernobyl, is a particularly significant achievement an-” the bored drone of Loginovsky’s voice rose over the words of the speaker, the Minister for Industry and Energy. “Yes yes, that will do, Comrade Shcherbina, I am sure we could all do with a point by point run down of you industrial development plan, but I do not plan to sleep for several hours yet!” Around the room there were sniggers from the other ministers, Loginovsky’s sycophants. Shcherbina bristled, openly angry, but managed to control himself. “Very well, Comrade General-Secretary. I shall be sure to include that in my report to the Central Committee.” Loginovsky gawked and leaped to his feet, his fat face a contorted mass of fury, near purple in his rage. He slammed his ham-fists down on the table. “So the Central Committee now openly admits to spying on me? Comrade Ulyanov, I suggest you summon some of your men and have Comrade Shcherbina interned!” Ulyanov, an older man with inch thick glasses and snow white hair, glanced up from his notes. “I cannot do that, Comrade General-Secretary.” He looked back down, as if that was the end of it, while Loginovsky choked in shock. “Y-you cannot?” Ulyanov shook his head, setting down his pen and looking squarely at the Premier of the USSPR. “No, Comrade Loginovsky, I cannot. You see, it was my idea. The KSG believes it to be well within state interests to have the Council of Ministers audited – audited by a Minister no less. You see, it was for this purpose that we had the Central Committee intervene and use their powers to appoint Comrade Shcherbina – your administration has resulted in industrial stagnation and simony within the Apparatus of the State – this must be dealt with.” And with that, the normally little spoken First Deputy Chairman of the KSG picked up his pen and resumed his note taking, while Loginovsky sank back into his chair, shaken. The General-Secretary, usually a man of such unfounded confidence, now looked out of place, small even, in this opulent room. The long, polished and carved mahogany table, the gilded door frames, the solid hard wood doors. All of it seemed to crash down upon him, the ostentatious wallpaper, the rich carpets, even the chairs with their red leather upholstery, carved legs and stunning headrests. Loginovsky looked a man lost, horrified at his own failures now that they had finally caught up with him. He sat silently, understanding – even as Shcherbina did – that the Minister of Industry was now the General-Secretary of the Union of Soviet Socialist Interplanetary Republics in all but name. Shcherbina, a tall and thin man in his mid fifties, with a shock of graying brown hair and a face of stone, fastened his suit jacket and stood up. “I believe that will be all for today, Comrade Ministers. Meeting adjourned.” With sure hands, he gently tapped his sheath of papers on the table to straighten them, before placing them in a brief case and beginning his exit. He was followed by Ulyanov, and a dozen other ministers who now realized that the balance of power had turned, and abandoned their previous allegiances in a flash. Behind them, as he was slowly left alone, Loginovsky began to cry. GOVERNMENT Rulership: One – 3 Diplomatic Partners, 1 M per Billion, 1k C per Billion (First Contact) Attitude: Balance – 1k C per Billion Rights: None – 1 M/S/A in Industry Faith: Atheist Society – 1 R on every RF sector per research treaty (First Contact) Economy: Planned – 1 M/S/A in Industry, -1k C per industry Foreign Politics: Isolated – No Immigration, +0.25% population growth (First Contact) Mentality: Balance – 1 L per Billion -Research into T1 Civil Infrastructure (5/25) -An exploration ship and a colony ship is deployed to each of the two sectors above Soviet held territory (2 Colony ships, 2 Exploration Ships)

Temporary Actions Tab so I'm not left out. -10 CI in Sector no.1 - 10k -3 BI in Sector no. 2 - 30k -2 Colony Ships - 16M -2 Exploration Ship - 2M

Username: The Mad Skylord Discord: (Pm if you want.) Ideas and Suggestions?: Nation Name: Union of Soviet Socialist Planetary Republics Race: Human History: (Optional.) Will deal with this later. 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) 2

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO Volaruci Tercios drilling outside the Castill de Ronbarra. “And so it was, upon the betrayal of the Children of God, that only one remained loyal – Elluto, Master of Death. As Edios, in his divine sacrifice, merged his power and mind with the Paths of the Spirits, the Veins of the World, his loyalest Child swore to uphold his duties, to gather the souls of the faithful, and to lead them to Salvation in the Realm of the Soul, the beating heart of magic itself...” The low drone of monks’ prayers reverberated through these monastic halls, as the Cardinal of the Faith serenely floated through the corridors – well, serenely for a man with a girth as wide as he was tall. The gentle tap of his slippers gave a strange rhythm to the prayer songs, as they echoed through the walls of the temple. The Order of Sorcerors - a collection of knights-magicka they may be – were nothing if not truly dutiful in their worship of God. To perform the tasks entrusted upon you by God was often considered to be the greatest form of worship to Edios, so the Order of Scholars studied and the Order of Theologians preached, but the Order of Sorcerors had no chance to practice their skills save in war, and so they prayed. The gilded halls, thick with the iconography of the Volar Church, seemed to stretch for miles, and the Cardinal’s breath became strained. Finally, after passing yet another Cross of Edios, the highest dignitary of the Volar Faith arrived to his solar, where he hurriedly sat upon his couch and poured himself a goblet of wine. No sooner had he arranged himself upon this perch, and sorted his purple-white robes, than appeared an orderly, his secretary to be exact, a scion of the Orda Scholarium. “There is a letter for you, Holiness.” The Cardinal, Virtuous III as he had been known since his ascension to the Cardinalate, gestured impatiently for the letter, awkwardly breaking the seal one handed while gulping wine with the other, the first sentences, however, made him hurriedly sit the wine on the table, and he began to read the rather extensive parchment quickly, eagerly devouring the words writ upon it. He glanced up at his still present secretary. “Quickly, go and fetch the Archbishop of Toulagoza.” the order was curt, but the orderly was long used to such treatment by old Virtuous, he was known to be cantankerous when excitable. After a few minutes the Archbishop, Juan Ortega y Montanes, was bustled into the room, looking indignant in his somewhat hastily donned and ruffled robes. “Holiness, I was preoccup-“ Virtuous, who had long since taken to pacing around his study wheeled on the taller man in annoyance. “I don’t care that you were busy with your whores, Juan, here read this!” A bright flash of anger had come upon the Archbishop’s face, but that quickly subsided as the Cardinal thrust a sheaf of paper under his nose, which he read quickly. Ortega blinked in surprise. “What is this, Holiness?” Virtuous gulped down some wine, glancing at the Archbishop. “It is how we will secure the supremacy of the Volar Faith. It has come to us by the Will of God, and we must make every use of it – It is the path to a Kingdom of God, ruled by August I of the House de Hontiveros, it is our path to a Kingdom of Revalia, of Dule and of Auldhau.” The Carbinal shuffled around his desk, and sat down clumsily. “Send a mission to Ischyros, Juan, it is the Will of God that all his subjects understand his Teachings. Thankfully, Agostin thirsts for regal power, it is now up to the Volar Church to attain it for him.” CITIES AND POPULATION Population: 4’731’707(+236585 next turn) Cities: Toulagoza (Capital) Grandiz Towns: Lanovia Tanovaz Luegerfeurt Settlements: Gronindam FINANCES Funds this Turn: 52’500 Income: 35’000 Gold (Base – Economic Points, Cities, Towns and Population) 4’000 (Manufactories) 7’000 (Trade – The Chapel, Duchy of Ulyadar, Trident, Fortress Libraries, Danwent, Bourdeleaux) 6’000 Gold (Merchant’s Guilds) Total: 53’000 Gold (Turn 5) Expenses: 4’000 Gold (Troop Upkeep) 2’000 Gold (Fortress Upkeep) 29’500 Gold (Military Purchases) 28’000 Gold (Construction) Total Remaining: 0 Gold ACTIONS -Tanovaz becomes a town. -Prince August of Toulagoza raises another regiment of his new Army of Volarucio, the Tercio de Toulagoza. 3 units of Volarucian Tercios (Medium Unique Infantry) – 10’500 2 units of Crossbowmen – 6’000 1 unit of Rodeleros (Light Infantry) – 1’000 All T3 equipment – 12’000 Total: 29’500 Gold -A Temple is constructed in Toulagoza. 15’000 Gold -The first stages of a Hermitage are built. 13’000/50’000 Gold -4’000 T1 Medium Infantry and 2’000 T1 Medium Archers march to the Fortress Libraries, under the command of Prince Beltrán of Ronbarra, to assist the Librarians against the Bloated Throats. -A religious mission is dispatched to ischyros, to ensure that the people of the city still know and worship Edios, their God and Creator.

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN Sweden is a proud bastion of Protestantism! Throughout the hellish violence of the Great Religious War, Sweden continuously defended both the Protestant Princes of Northern German and the whole concept of Protestantism itself. While the conflict ended up in a defeat for the Protestant League and her allies, Sweden emerged from the conflict intact, save for the loss of Swedish Pomerania. Militarily, Sweden is more secure than ever, with only the Portuguese fielding an army as well disciplined and trained as the army of the Kingdom of Sweden. The Royal Swedish Navy, though largely designed for the Baltic waters, if still a powerful force that dominates trade and shipping in what is essentially a Swedish lake. Sweden is blessed not only with a strong military force, but with a capable network of shipyards and what is easily the best artillery foundries in Europe. So long as King Karl XI sits the Swedish Throne, Swedish ambitions will not be so easily cowed that what was essentially a minor defeat on the continent will defeat her. THE BUILDING OF A NAVY The Royal Swedish Navy is, as it stands, perhaps the fourth largest fleet in Europe. Unfortunately, it is a fleet designed not for the high seas, but to project Swedish power over those states that rely on the Baltic for trade and shipping. Thusly, it is within the plans and ambitions of Carolus XI to build a fleet that can actually project Swedish authority over the continent, a fleet that can effectively challenge a larger foe when removed from the safety of the Baltic’s tides. To this end, the King begins to expand his shipyards. At the Headquarters of the Swedish Navy in Karlskrona, the newly built and vast shipyard there is expanded even more, with more dry docks, workshops and forges added to what is already there. At the shipyards in Stockholm and Skeppsholmen, similar actions come underway, and Karl XI hires a series of skilled and renowned shipbuilders for his shipyards. Additionally, new regulations introduce the concept of uniformity to the Swedish Navy – all new warships are to obey not only similar designs and schematics, but are to carry armaments in line with other ships of their rating. This act becomes known as the Establishment of 1684, and seeks to resolve an issue that plagues all European navies – ships that appear, on paper, to possess the same guns and capabilities but in reality operate at different speeds, sea worthiness and vastly disproportionate armaments. The first ships to be built under these new orders are five new frigates, the first Swedish attempt at a “true frigate”. Designed to be of a decent size, these ships are built to be truly weatherly in the open sea. Bearing only a single deck (more than one deck will make them slower) they are designed to be swift and ruthless birds of prey, to hunt and protect shipping in the far colonial trade routes. With 24 8pdr guns for a broadside (12 guns a side) and a total of 4 3pdr guns on the quarter deck, the hope is to create a fast, well armed raptor that is more than capable of surviving long sea voyages on independent cruise. TAX EFFICIENCY In order to swell the usually low Swedish coffers, Karl XI undertakes a monumental task. The reign of Gustavus Magnus was remarkable not only for its military achievements, but also for the progress Gustav II had made in creating a financially stable state capable of expanding upon her own interests. To this end, a major census is taken of all areas, seeking to accurately record every potential tax payer and conscript, in an attempt to maximize Swedish tax revenue and to provide an extensive force to form as reserves. EXPANSION OF THE FOUNDRIES Swedish artillery is the pride and honour of the Swedish state. Unmatched across the length and breadth of Europe, Swedish guns are seen in the hands of every army and mercenary, every sailor and pirate, and every rebel too. Thus, it became Swedish policy not only to manufacture artillery for national usage, but to also develop and expand on the existing foundries and armories, to create an exceptional military industry to fund both the Swedish Army and to be traded abroad to Swedish allies. The first steps of this process begins with a census of all gunsmiths across Sweden – from this, gunsmiths are offered a set price for each apprentice they successfully train, an attempt by Karl XI to foster a healthy industry of men capable of making muskets and carbines in Sweden. In addition, Karl XI also orders the expansion of the country’s most major armories, foundries and arsenals, seeking to double the production of many of them. In Stockholm, a new and major armory is founded and begins construction, while a facility dedicated solely to the production of naval artillery is built in the Swedish shipyards at Karlskrona. FOREIGN POLICY 1684 is a major year for Swedish policies – a marriage and an alliance is arranged between the Tsardom of Russia, with the young Hedvig Sophia Augusta of Sweden being betrothed to the youngest of the Russian Princes. This action largely secures the long border in the East, and provides safety and security to a Swedish state usually surrounded by foes. Another marriage and alliance is announced in the same year, with the Princess Sophia Hedvig of Denmark being betrothed to Prince Karl, heir to the throne of Sweden. Again, this action largely secures the borders of the Kingdom of Sweden, and provides another capable ally to defend the North from Catholic aggression. THE SWEDISH EAST INDIA COMPANY In 1682, Niclas Sahlgren sailed to China with a vast wealth of Swedish trading goods. Upon his arrival, he spent many months quarantined in port, before he finally managed to gain an audience with the Emperor of China in 1683. After an extensive amount of flattery and the gift of several Swedish cannons (including a massive 36 pounder gun by the name of “Great Gus”) Sahlgren managed to negotiate a surprisingly excellent deal with the Chinese government, which would provide the Swedish with a port city in China to be governed by Sahlgren, to serve as a major trading hub. Sahlgren sailed back to Sweden, his deal in tow, and eventually attempted to sell his deals and plans to King Karl XI. Karl, impressed by the idea of Sweden becoming wealthy from trade, swiftly gave Sahlgren charter as the East India Company with sole trading rights to Oriental, Indian and African trade in Sweden. In addition, the King gave a large donation from his own personal wealth, along with several merchantmen and the protection of the Swedish frigates, Hjoren and Fenix, to the endeavor. This show of faith convinced many nobles and merchants to invest in the expedition, and Sahlgren organised a fairly sizable flotilla for his plans. In 1684, Sahlgren finally set sail. COLONIES The Swedish East India Company, under the direction of Niclas Sahlgren (with the Crown as the majority silent shareholder) sets sail to achieve the goals of trade in the East. Particularly important to this goal is the existence of a way point on the route. Thus, while much of the SOIC convoy sails onwards for China and the wealth that awaits there, three ships anchor off of the Cape of Good Hope, where they quickly begin to set up a colony. The key priority is firstly a wooden fort to defend the area, while crude docks swiftly follow. Protecting the colony are 500 men of Company regulars, largely recruited from ex-soldiers, with many of their officers being men with no prospect of promotion in the actual Swedish Army. Once defences are in place, attempts are swiftly made to secure major sources of ivory and slaves, by negotiating with local tribes. -Expansion of Swedish shipyards. [Mod] -The introduction of the Establishment Bill of 1684, an attempt to make Swedish ships uniform in design. [Mod] -Expansion of Swedish artillery foundries, census of gunsmiths and incentives for gunsmiths to take on more apprentices. [Mod] -Census of the population, to provide better information for conscription and taxes. -Foundation of the Swedish East India Company, colony on the Cape of Good Hope, attempts to trade with natives. Company ships sail on for China to take ownership of new Swedish colony there, as agreed with the Chinese. [Mod] -Betrothal between youngest Prince of Russia and Hedwig Sophia Augusta of Sweden and betrothal between Prince Karl of Sweden and Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark. -Construction of 5 new “true frigates” designed to be fast and well armed commerce raiders and protectors, capable of surviving long journeys in open sea.

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO ‘ Pikemen and a Rodelero of the Tercio de Viscount de Palma CITIES AND POPULATION Population: 4’422’157(+289300 next turn) Cities: Toulagoza (Capital) Grandiz Towns: Lanovia Tanovaz Settlements: Luegerfeurt Gronindam FINANCES Funds this Turn: 49’500 Income: 30’500 Gold (Base – Economic Points, Cities, Towns and Population) 4’000 (Manufactories) 7’000 (Trade – The Chapel, Duchy of Ulyadar, Trident, Fortress Libraries, Danwent, Bourdeleaux) 6’000 Gold (Merchant’s Guilds) Total: 49'500 Gold (Turn 5) Expenses: 3’000 Gold (Troop Upkeep) 2’000 Gold (Fortress Upkeep) 41’500 Gold (Military Purchases) Total Remaining: 3000 Gold ACTIONS -Tanovaz becomes a town. -Prince August of Toulagoza raises the first regiment of his new Army of Volarucio, the Tercio de Viscount de Palma. 3 units of Volarucian Tercios (Medium Unique Infantry) – 10’500 2 units of Crossbowmen – 6’000 1 unit of Rodeleros (Light Infantry) – 1’000 All T3 equipment – 12’000 Total: 29’500 Gold -T3 equipment is purchased for the cavalry. 6 units worth of gear – 12’000 Gold.

Nation: The Kingdom of Sweden Leader (With brief description of circumstances/personality): Karl XI, inherited Sweden at the height of her power, with one of the greatest armies in Europe and with enemies all around. One of the last great bastions of the Protestant faith. Heir (If any:) Carolus Rex, or Karl XII Discord:

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO The Volaruci Scholar, Carlos, in study in the Chapel of Knauledge. ”Company! Ground pikes!” came the thundering roar of a small sergeant, casually leaning on his spontoon, his chestplate gleaming in the afternoon sun. Beads of sweat ran down his stubbled face as the ‘company’ in question – little more than a rabble – tiredly went through a motion they’d been going through for hours. They had been having little success before, and they were scarcely doing any better now. “No! NO! You have to present them in such a way that the horse will stop! You stupid bastards will be trampled underfoot doing that!” shrieked the little sergeant, his face bright red with fury, his eyes flashing with malevolence. He looked as if he were about to say more but, fortunately for the men at hand, their officers arrived at the best possible moment. “They are green yet, Sire.” Diego Alatriste announced to the Prince of Toulagoza, who was watching all with a critical eye. “But there is potential among them, it shall not be long before they form the core of a disciplined and well organised army, under your direct authority.” The pikemen gladly seized their chance to stand to attention, happy to stop the drills and to lean their long pikes against their shoulders, almost relaxing as their liege trotted past, with his advisers in tow. Prince August examined the troops silently, but old Beltrán harrumphed loudly. “I see not why the retainers and levies of old are being replaced by these cur.” He spoke loudly, harshly, but watching the Viscount de Palma carefully, obviously hoping to provoke a reaction. However, the reaction came not from Alatriste, but from August. “Peace, Beltrán, this matter is decided.” The lords trotted past more companies of men drilling with pike and bow, sword and crossbow, their identical breastplates and helmets polished to a high shine by raw and tired fingers afraid of the abuse thrust upon them by cruel and vindictive sergeants. “I desire a crown.” August said, quite flatly. “And to have and protect a crown, I must have an army. Not an army dependent upon the loyalty of you or Grandíz, my lord, but a well armed, well trained and well equipped army that serves me.” He brought his horse to a stop quite suddenly, stopping to watch a drill of cavalry across the field. “Grandíz will rise against me, Beltrán, as soon as he learns of this. He will seek to deny me both an army and a crown.” August grimaced uneasily. “His conniving ways have left him with a considerable girth of marital alliances. How many men can he raise against me?” Ronbarra tapped the pommel of his saddle, pondering the question. “Three thousand horse perhaps. Fifteen thousand foot at least. He will turn every peasant out of their homes to fight for him, if needs must.” The grizzled horseman hesitated, unsure of his lord’s temper. “You have barely six thousand foot, Sire, and they are not ready for battle.” Don Diego glanced at him sharply, but reluctantly nodded his approval. “It will be six months before we can field a truly cohesive force. Until then, the Prince of Ronbarra is correct, Sire, they are not ready to fight.” August gritted his teeth, anger in his eyes. “It will take him weeks to assemble his army. Best to rout them before they assemble. Keep the horse ready for action, I will not lose a day when he makes his move.” Sharply, he turned his horse and rode off to inspect the archers, with Ronbarra and Palma struggling to keep up. Dim. Yes, dim was the best way to describe the Chapel of Knauledge, Carlos of Volarucio thought as he hurried along those damp and dingy corridors, a bundle of scrolls under his arm. His slipper-clad feet tapped sharply upon the cold stone floor as he rushed along, desperate to throw himself into his newest articles of study. A scroll slipped from his cluttered hands, and he struggled to reclaim it, while keeping his robes in a respectable order. To his dread, however, he was seen. “Carlos Rodriguez! You have been told before, boy, mind those scrolls!” snapped an older monk, clearly not caring that he chided a man near thirty as if he were ten. Rodriguez ground his teeth, but refused to rise to the old man’s digging. “Yes, Brother.” he muttered, gathering his scrolls and hurrying on even faster, back to his small room, a simple monk’s chamber. Carefully, he placed the scrolls out on his desks, and prepared his quill and parchment, readying himself to study yet more of these texts – the ones the Chapel allowed him to witness, at least. For hours, Carlos studied and wrote, copied out texts and memorized passages, but found little of interest to occupy himself in those records. He leaped to his feet, a recipe for bread with half a cup of honey crumpled in his fist, furious at the lack of progress he had made. He paced angrily, and hurled his bowl against the wall, concentrating furiously on his hand, attempting to conjure something. He let out a grunt of rage, booting his chair loudly to the side, pace aggressively around the small room. Eventually, a knock came at his door and a monk stuck his head in the door. “Carlos..?” The angry Volar Scholar turned sharply, face red. “What!?” he roared, and with a bright purple flash that filled the small chamber, and a hole punched straight through the sturdy wooden door, with a load bang. The monk looked at him with a mixture of shock and anger. When he spoke, his voice was terse and irate. “I think it best that you speak to the Abbot.” “Before the days of land and sea, of earth and sky, of men and mages, there was but a pulse, a pulse that flooded emptiness with its steady purple glare, that quivered with the rawest of pure power, a pulse born from pure, unadulterated magic. That pulse was, in his true form, Edios, God of Magic and Master of Creation. This world, the sun, the stars, the moon, the earth, the sea and all creation was born from the Will of Edios. With a single blinding purple burst, life was created, and the great lord created his Children and his Creations. His Creations, loyal and loving, worshiped their Father with wholehearted honestly, devoting much of their short lives to pleasing the lord Edios, but his Children, jealous and bitter creatures, grew envious of the adoration given unto their Father by these mortals. The Children, led by Maravil, Lord of the Sun, grew steadily more jealous of Edios, and slowly began to consolidate their power. Over centuries, they garnered support and allies among the mortals, and finally they turned upon their lord Father and attempted to cast him down from the Altar of the Heavens. But Edios, finally suspicious of his offspring, had prepared for this betrayal. As the mortals, on the temporal plains of existence below, brutally warred against each other, fighting either for Edios or the Children, Maravil led his sibling to the very height of the Heavens and there confronted their father. As Maravil prepared to strike down his Father, Edios struck. With a brilliant glow of purple light, he imprinted himself upon the very earth below, collapsing the path between Heaven and Earth, and trapping his treasonous Children. It was with these actions that Edios forged the Paths of the Spirits, the routes that connect the spiritual world to the temporal. His body dissolved and instead stuck to the Earth, forming a twisting and complicated series of paths. Among mortals, the worshipers of the God of Magic were alone given the right to cross the Paths of the Spirits, to forever live in the Light of Edios. For this reason, warriors are the most prized worshipers of Edios, for it is upon warriors who have fallen that Edios must rely upon to defend the gates and paths, for the Traitors have ever wished to seize the last vestiges of their Father’s power, and constantly send their servants and creatures to attempt to seize the Paths, to finish their Father once, and for all.” CITIES AND POPULATION Population: 4’132’857(+289300 next turn) Cities: Toulagoza (Capital) Grandiz Towns: Lanovia Settlements: Luegerfeurt Tanovaz Gronindam FINANCES Funds this Turn: 69’000 Gold Income: 30’500 Gold (Base – Economic Points, Cities, Towns and Population) 4’000(Manufactories) 6’000 (Trade – The Chapel, Duchy of Ulyadar, Trident, Fortress Libraries, Danwent, Bourdeleaux) 6’000 Gold (Merchant’s Guilds) Total: 48'500 Gold (Turn 4) Expenses: 3’000 Gold (Troop Upkeep) 2’000 Gold (Fortress Upkeep) 51’000 Gold (Construction) 10'000 Gold (Crossbows research) 3'000 Gold (Military Science research) Total Remaining: 0 Gold ACTIONS -The Duchy of Achterlan comes into the demesne of the House de Hontiveros. (A settlement is established at Gronindam – 5k) -A farm is built in Toulagoza. (5k) -3 Trading Companies are built in Toulagoza. (19k) -Trade is established with Danwent and Bourdeleaux. -An emissary is dispatched, seeking trade with Blackmarrow. -The Scholars in Knauledge dig deeper into the sections of the library they are allowed to visit. -A Shrine is constructed in Toulagoza, to the honour of Edios. (20k) -Crossbows are researched. (10k) -As part of his attempts to build a unified and centralized army, Prince August instructs his vassal, the Viscount de Palma, Don Diego Alatriste, to begin gathering officers, sergeants and drillmasters to build an army with an exceptional level of skill and discipline. (3k into development of better military science.)

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO The Prince of Toulagoza, viewing Trident from afar. CITIES AND POPULATION Population: 3'862'500 (+270357 next turn) Cities: Toulagoza (Capital) Grandiz Towns: Lanovia Settlements: Tanovaz Luegerfeurt https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1taYDs0axgjw9H6UxXE7zZThEx2M5XjukjsBadlHJWSc/edit#gid=0 FINANCES Funds this Turn: 34’000 Gold Trident Loan: 50'000 Income: 29’000 Gold (Base – Economic Points, Cities, Towns and Population) 4’000(Manufactories) 4’000 (Trade – The Chapel, Duchy of Ulyadar, Trident, Fortress Libraries) 6’000 Gold (Merchant’s Guilds) Total: 42'000 Gold (Turn 2) Expenses: 3’000 Gold (Troop Upkeep) 2’000 Gold (Fortress Upkeep) 50’000 Gold (Construction) 2'000 Gold (RP Actions) Total Remaining: 27’000 Gold ACTIONS -10 Farms are constructed. (50'000 Gold) -Lanovia becomes a town. -Envoys are dispatched to the Librarians. -A small band from the Volar Church’s Order of Scholars arrives to the True Chapel of Knauledge, begging to be allowed to study within the hallowed halls, that they might expand upon their knowledge of the Almighty. -Meanwhile, a band from the Order of Scholars are dispatched to Tanovaz, where they will investigate the Emberfields. The scholars theorize that the cause of the destruction must have been magical and that such powerful magic must have left an imprint upon the land. They intend to risk life and limb to investigate what happened here, and to perhaps learn why the peat continues to burn – perhaps there is a residue, a magical factor, that is involved? (2'000 Gold) -The Volar Church declares Volarucio to be the Land of Edios – the Land of God. The Church, with the blessing of the Prince of Toulagoza, declares sanctuary for any man, woman or child that worships Edios, the God of Magic. Any and every believer is welcome in Volarucio, and the Princedom will be a Kingdom of God for so long as it exists! (Attempt to entice people worshipping the God of Magic to relocate to Volarucio as immigrants.) -Emissaries are dispatched to Numeria, Danwent and Sehmon to open relations.

THE PRINCEDOMS OF VOLARUCIO The summer sun blazed upon the Castill de Ronbarra, beating down on the heads of thousands of men, dressed in the gaudy colours of their Princes and their Free Companies. It was a merry, well organised gathering, with tents laid out in pristine rows, separated into their various affiliations. What's more, not only soldiers gathered in this place, but jesters, actors, musicians and the like thronged the city in miniature, as tailors and craftsmen in the service of Princes hurried around, looking to their supplies and their skills, lest they disappoint their masters. Music and drunken revelry accompanied most of the common men in the camp, giving what was clearly a war host the look of a very large party. To the practiced eye, however, this was certainly not the case. To the far east of the camp garish soldiers bearing halberds and partial plate drilled under the heavy sun, supervised by their various officers, as they massed, presented arms, wheeled, reformed and all such repetitive manoeuvres. Nearby, a band of cavalry performed similar drills, though they obviously chafed at the orders. Unfortunately for them, the crowed Griffin of Prince Agostin III on their livery coats prevented them from shirking in their duty - for it was upon them that he would call first. For the moment, however, that Prince sat high in the halls of the Castill de Ronbarra, baked not by the sun but by the oppressive heat roiling off of hundreds of nobles, laughing, talking and singing as they ate and drank, most of them oblivious to whatever ploy their Prince Augustine had thought up this time. The Prince sat, sweltering, listening to the quiet exchange of his chiefest liegemen - the Princes of Grandiz and Ronbarra. They alone knew August's intentions, and they were anti-social as they forsook alcohol and common chat, eager to be on their way. The Prince August, however, had to behave differently to his supposed vassals. His green chaperon seemed wilted in the heat, and his doublet was stained with sweat. Delicate shoes, kept for court, adorned his feet, while codpiece was worn on his legs. Finally, thrown around his shoulders was a mantle, deep purple, and fastened with his own crowned Griffin. Groaning, the tired lord rose to his feet, and gradually silence fell across the hall. "My lords of ladies of Volarucio, I pray you have enjoyed the hospitality of our host, the Prince of Ronbarra." A quiet gesture to the side, and Prince Beltrán nodded his head respectfully, appreciative of the courtly ettiquete. "However, my friends, I presume you have guessed that I have not assembled my greatest retainers, vassals and sworn men, along with their greatest vassals, retainers and sworn men, to simply hold a feast in this castle. No! I have a purpose in mind for you, a purpose that lies across the border to the south, in Trident." A few of the women and sycophants gasped, but the fighting men of this gathering had guessed their lord's purpose, and we're eager to proceed. "The City state of Trident has always been our close neighbor, and they are similar to us in many ways." Some scoffed at the notion of fat, debauched merchants being similar to the Volaruci, but Augustine continued regardless. "We are brothers of the Rivers Trident and Volar, and it is only right for us to offer to the closest neighbors we have our protection." August began to walk down the side of the table, prompting many to stand as he passed. "In the morning, my friends, we shall have a negotiation with Trident, but as all good merchants do, we shall have this negotiation on our terms." And then, followed by little pomp and extravagance, the Prince of Toulagoza left the hall, to inspect the men below... STATS Population: 3,750,000 (+112’500 next turn) Cities: Toulagoza (Capital) Grandiz Towns: Settlements: Tanovaz Lanovia Luegerfeurt Buildings: Merchant’s Guild x2 Manufactories x4 Farms x6 Place of Worship https://docs.google.com/document/d/12nTzav7tDaTkqueDzmCMSsjYzd10ytpwxicsbCG0t6I/edit FINANCES Starting Funds: 110’000 Gold Income: 21’500 Gold (Base – Economic Points, Cities and Population) 4’000(Manufactories) 0 (Trade) 6’000 Gold (Merchant’s Guilds) Total: 31’500 Gold (Turn 2) Expenses: 3’000 Gold (Troop Upkeep) 2’000 Gold (Fortress Upkeep) 102’500 Gold (Construction) Total Remaining: 2’500 Gold ACTIONS -Merchant’s Guilds are constructed in Toulagoza and Grandiz (20’000 Gold) -4 Manufactories are constructed. (30’000 Gold) -A place of worship is constructed in Toulagoza. (7’500 Gold) -Prince Agostin of Toulagoza order the expansion of the borders, and colonists swiftly streak across the river, establishing the settlements of Tanovaz, Lanovia and Luegerfeurt in the regions. (15’000 Gold) -6 farms are constructed. (30’000 Gold) -An emissary is dispatched to the Chapel of Knauledge, making a request to trade with their fellow worshipers of Edios, God of Magic. -Similarly, emissaries are dispatched to the Fortress Libraries and the Duchy of Ulyadar seeking trade. -In the newly acquired territories of the Princedoms, Prince August III dispatches scholars to study the Point of Interest beside Tanovaz. -Near the end of summer, Prince Agostin III himself, accompanied by 3'000 Medium Cavalry, 1'000 Light Cavalry, 4'000 Medium Infantry and 1'500 Medium Archers, along with a vast retinue of nobles, entertainers and other such sycophants, advances from Castill de Ronbarra to the City of Trident, where he "requests" a meeting with the Masters of the City-State. His men advance in good, civilised order, avoiding damage to property and lives, and paying for any goods they desire.

Nation Name: The Princedoms of Volarucio BRIEF History: Even in the days of the old Symon Empire, Volarucio was a troublesome land, prone to infighting and dissent. This, in turn, led to the installment of major garrisons throughout the region, used primarily to bring some semblance of order when blood feuds raged. This policy, however, had the unfortunate effect of focusing the eyes of the Volaruci on what they would consider to be their common foe. Over time, dissent became full fledged rebellion, but treachery and deceit often led to the collapse of these coalitions, sometimes even as battles were being fought. By the time of the fall, the Princes hated each other so blindly that they spent several centuries as a series of fragmented fiefdoms, often sending thousands of men to die over a few miles of disputed ground. Eventually, a tyrant came to power in Toulagoza. By pike and sword he forged a single entity out of the Princes, and by the end of his life he was close to attaining a crown. Unfortunately for Augustine I, the only thing more abhorrent to the Princes than each other was the prospect of a permanent and constant source of royal authority, and the Prince Agostin I quickly found himself murdered by his rivals, his control floundering upon his death and the Princes once again resorting to their dissatisfied ways. This was a trend that would continue for centuries – Princes fought to bind the others to their will, and their hegemony collapsed upon their death. So turbulent were these conflicts that the Volarucio didn’t have a nominal leader for nearly a hundred years, until Augustine III bound the lesser princes to his will. Prince Agostin III de Toulagoza spent nearly a full decade in constant campaign to cement his authority, and for the first time in centuries, Volarucio is truly at peace, held in that peace by the iron force of Agostin’s will. However, the Prince is not totally secure in his position, and he will have to direct the Princes and their regiments outwards, should he wish to prevent them from falling to their old habits. Nation Culture: Volarucio is a fragmented land, ruled by thousands of princes, dukes, counts and knights. While great wealth is present in her master tradesmen, the nobles of the Princedoms enjoy cruelly fighting each other to further their place in society. Worse of all are the princes, who continuously bicker over which of them should be the premier of the Volaruci. A strong man, a man like Augustine III, can force the Princes to do his will, however, and a united Volarucio is a fierce beast indeed. Human Or Humagi (Describe Humagi): Human Nation Government System: Feudal, a series of Princes, Dukes and Counts loosely sworn to the Prince of Toulagoza. Economy: 8 The Princes of Volarucio pride themselves on their wealth, each accumulating vast sums of gold – both legally and illegally – in order to allow themselves to outdo each of their rivals. While this could be considered wasteful, it serves to circulate large amounts of gold back into the economy – Volarucian craftsmen are masterful, but masters are expensive. Eventually, this gold always comes back into the hand of the Prince of Toulagoza, providing him ample funds with which to govern his realm. 60’000 Starting Gold, 11’000 income Education: 3 Any man with a desire to read and write can do so, provided they have the coinage in their pocket to pay for it. Money is the only block on education in Valorucio, and many are wealthy enough to have their children learn some letters. Size (include rough area on map): 5 Capital: Toulagoza City 1: Grandiz Fortress: Castill de Ronbarra 3 million starting population Military: 4 Arms plays a central role in the interactions of the Princedoms – Princes spend huge sums of coin outfitting regiments, often to use against each other as often as against foreign nations. This has led to Volarucio becoming a fairly militant society, where a sword is a common object to see in a man’s hand. 4’000 Medium Infantry 2’000 Medium Archers 3’000 Medium Cavalry 1’000 Light Cavalry Mysticism: 1 Gods occupy a place of little importance in the hearts of most Volaruci – worship is a private thing, best kept to one’s self, lest you be ridiculed for it. What worship that does happen, however, is usually given to Fabricanez, God of Creation. Key Figure 1: Agostin Tamayo de Hontiveros, Prince de Toulagoza. Also known as Augustine III de Toulagoza. Of the House of Hontiveros. Key Figure 2: Ramon de Rebolledo, Prince de Grandiz. Also known as Ramon I de Grandiz. Of the House of Rebolledo. Key Figure 3: Beltran Galas de Andino, Prince de Ronbarra. Also known as Beltran IV de Ronbarra. Of the House of Andino. Unique Unit 1: The Volarucian Tercio. Regiments in service to their princes, made up of pikemen, swordsmen and archers. Highly disciplined, well trained and well equipped, the Tercios are the pride of Volarucio, and the Princes consider them to be among the finest foot in the world. (Med Infantry/Archers – Replace) Unique Unit 2: Household Knights Heavily armoured knights, sworn in service to their respective princes. Dressed in full plate, these men are exceptional both on the back of a horse and on foot. (Heavy Cavalry/Heavy Infantry – Special – Can Dismount) National Idea: The Militant Princedoms Increased unique unit cap. Hidden Fruit: Lichi

A NEW AGE - EARLY 2935 - TURN 3 THE TURCO-ITALIAN WAR “Certainly it is a bold plan, Refik Pasha.” Luigi Rizzo intoned hesitantly, looking again at the information he himself had aided in supplying. The Ottoman Vice-Admiral, Refik Pasha, had hired the former French light cruiser Audacieux as a privateer, largely exploiting her over the past few months to act as a hideously overpaid scout, using her Captain Rizzo’s skills as both a pirate and an ex-Italian officer to spy upon the every move of his former colleagues. Refik Pasha’s motive was, largely, the war that was likely to ignite any day now between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ottoman Empire. Refik, despite his hooked nose, oiled moustache and older ways, was a fairly young man - most whispered that he had received this posting as Admiral of the 2nd Fleet - or the Belt squadron - thanks to the favour of his cousin, the Sultan. Luigi Rizzo, on the other hand, had maintained long conversations with the man, and knew him to be brilliant, as he himself was. Rizzo shifted uneasily from foot to foot - he had never expected to once again share the presence of admirals and captains planning for war, and he felt unprepared for what was coming. Refik, for his part, said nothing, eying the doors, waiting for the arrival of the final member of his command staff - his Commander of Marines. Finally the doors burst open, and in strutted a small man wearing a pristine uniform and a chest full of medals - Rizzo started in surprise, this was a man he had never expected to see again. Onder Irevul stopped abruptly, ruddy face twisting into a great grin, and he seemed almost to jump up and down, his fez sitting precariously upon his head. Built like a French bulldog, Irevul was perhaps the most celebrated officer of marines still in active service. “Luigi Rizzo!” The bulldog exclaimed in delight. “Never did I expect to see a man such as you again!” Bounding forwards, Irevul grabbed him in a bear hug, to the shock of the other officers present. Rizzo, though slightly uncomfortable, returned the embrace fondly. “I see you and, eh, General Irevul are already acquainted then, Captain.” Refik said cautiously. Irevul grinned wide, showing yellow teeth, several of which were broken. “Acquainted? Acquainted? Rizzo here is the only man who ever managed to best me in the dueling rings - back in the Championships of “17! What a year that was for dueling!” Rizzo continued to smile, though he glanced at Refik, as if asking to be saved from the fate of a full discourse of the tale. “While I am sure it was a thrilling bout, Irevul Pasha, we have other matters to attend to.” Refik Pasha intoned softly, gesturing to the map. “Can you make this work?” For a while, Irevul stopped his childish messing, studying the maps and proposed actions with a silent precision. “You know, I do believe I can.” He said slowly, looking up into Refik’s eyes, smiling in an almost insidious manner, totally different to his previous demeanour. “Excellent - you may begin planning immediately. I have it on good authority that the Sultan plans war within the very next week….” --- “So that, in essence, is why we have to take that ship, Luigi!” called the bombastic voice of Irevul Pasha, echoing across the comms unit embedded in Rizzo’s helmet. He glanced at Irevul, moderately irritated. “I am well aware of why it must be taken, Onder, I simply do not see why I must participate in an action such as this!” Irevul simply shrugged, a toothy grin upon his face. “You’re a pirate these days - this is what you do, steal things!” Rizzo sighed audibly - Irevul was a baboon, but he was a baboon that was remarkably effective in hand to hand combat. The two men were lying on a solid chunk of space-rock, held in place via magnetic pins driven into the stone. Turkish marines surrounded them, in similar holds, their lightweight combat armour glinting dully. The object of their attention sat a short distance away, docked at one of the few Italian Asteroid Belt ports. The Fuoco Ardente was a splendid, modern ship. She sat in her dock berth, unaware of the danger she was now in. Rizzo continued to examine the long, green painted ship carefully, even as Irevul and his men began prepping the winches attached to their vacuum proofed armour. With gentle pops and whooshes of gas, small arrows darted away, striking and digging into stone, and Turkish troops slowly floated across, taking up their new positions, from where they could see straight into the ship. Several hundred men clung to these rocks, like armoured barnacles, malice in their intentions. “This is it gentlemen - commence boarding operations.” Irevul ordered, and immediately men began to move. Using a mixture of winches, tiny alignment thrusters and the push of their legs, they closed the final distance to Fuoco Ardente, landing in dozens of different points along the hull, moving quickly, men unhooked and deployed their breach saws, laying them over slightly exposed or weakened parts of the ship's armour. Irevul Pasha checked his watch, then gave the order. “All companies, you know your objectives - full burn!” With a violent hiss and huge bursts of concentrated fire and sparks, the saws began melting through their chosen breaching points. The steel sagging underneath their feet, Rizzo and Irevul had but moments to wait before the high powered cutting tools could pierce the hull of the Dreadnought, then they were in, clanging to the deck with magnetised boots as the vacuum sucked air from the ship and emergency procedures began to activate. “Hurry! To the armoury and the bridge!” thundered Rizzo, as a squad of hardened Turkish marines leapt into the corridor with the pirate, wielding wicked boarding axes and swords, as well as high calibre revolvers and short, semi-automatic carbines designed to boarding actions. Alarms blazed throughout the ship, as Irevul and Rizzo raced for their goal. The interior began to repressurise, bulkheads sealing breached areas, as the boarders made their way forwards. Rounding a corner, they were confronted by a confused looking Italian marine, who Irevul decapitated with a cruel blow. Still they raced on, seeking the armoury first, located just down the corridor from the bridge. They rounded another corner, and gunfire sparked up around them, killing a Turkish marine. Another hurled a grenade down the corridor and, after the detonation, Irevul and Rizzo led their men forwards, boots thumping along the deck. They rounded another corner, literally colliding with a company of Italian sailors, sporting a mismatched collection of weapons. Most didn't wear combat armour, which was their own mistake. Rizzo howled as he carved into them, splitting a man near in two with the heavy two handed boarding axe, before stabbing another through the side of the skull with the spike on the rear of the blade. Irevul wasn't far behind, slicing violently through ill equipped and surprised soldiers, forced to go toe to toe with hardened marines in full armour. Most were dead in minutes, and the armoury was secure. Rizzo glanced up the corridor, where the bridge's great blast doors had begun the slow process of closing. “Irevul!” he cried, suddenly sprinting away down the hall, axe in hand. He hurled himself down the corridor and slid in through the nearly closed doors, followed by the Turkish General, just behind. They stood alone, on a bridge filled with Italian officers, the doors sealed behind them. Two Italian marines at the doors looked shocked, and Rizzo wasted no time embedding his axe into one of their chests, then jerking his sword out of his scabbard. Beside him, Irevul smashed open the other guard's head with his axe. Silence, and then the scraping of swords coming out of their scabbards. Suddenly, there was nothing but action. Rizzo ran down the right, and danced into a group of Italian officers, cutting left and right, carving through their midst, slaughtering them as he went, while Irevul bulldozed down the left, cleaving and hacking men to pieces. The slaughter didn't last long. “Generale! Generale! Stop! Stop! We surrender! The ship is yours!” called the 1st Lieutenant, standing over the beheaded body of the Captain, hesitantly holding out his sword to the Turkish intruder. Irevul lowered his axe, and took off his helmet, sweat running in rivulets down his cheeks, a grin splitting his face and his eyes mad from blood lust, his smile widened and he took the sword, and the ship, graciously. EVENTS -On Mars, in Neu Fredericksburg, events would unfold that would shock the world. From the bowels of the mining city comes a full blown Communist uprising. Over the course of a week, communist rebels seize control of vital points of the city’s defenses and infrastructure, forcibly containing the garrison in isolated positions - the German response is brutal. The Kaiser sends in a full Corps of the Sturmabteilung, under General Ludwig von Trotha. The Sturmabteilung blitzed into the city, where they ruthlessly slaughter the rebels, in what will become known as the Bloody Month. Von Trotha’s reprisals are truly vicious, and murder, torture and rape become common place throughout the fighting, tens of thousands are killed in the fighting, but the rebellion is brutally crushed. -In the depths of the Asteroid Belt, war officially begins between Italy and the Ottoman Empire, with Ottoman troops - aided by Audacieux - successfully cutting out the Italian dreadnought Fuoco Ardente from her berth. - A major disaster strike the gigantic space liner, RMS Fortuna. In process of a journey from Earth to Pluto, the ship founders. This means, essentially, that a hairline crack in the hull ruptures from extreme pressure, which causes a major explosion. The ship is lost with all hands. -Audacieux flees the Asteroid Belt, hunted by Soviet ships, and the elite French 3rd Cruiser division, consisting of three brand new cruisers led by Belle Poule and commanded by Commodore Pierre Archambault. -International focus on piracy has largely rendered the threat non-existent - Audacieux remains the last breath of what is a dying age, her continued existence acts as a single window to the past. -On Pluto, the Statue of Oliver Cromwell is destroyed in an “accident”. An Irishman driving a truck load of high explosives crashes into the statue, and the following blast nearly sends the remnants up to the moon, Charon. Nobody is hurt. THE COMMONWEALTH -While the Commonwealth fuel industry had fully recovered from the short term blow, the Commonwealth monopoly on fuel has been forever shattered, as German, French and American colonies soon begin mass export of fuel. The Commonwealth economy is again thriving, however, and successfully refocuses on their domestic market. -The Football Association of Earth crack down hard on the Commonwealth recruitment campaign - there are dozens of teams in the Commonwealth, and there are strict criteria for who can play for which team.The English can play for England, the Irish for Ireland, the Scottish for Scotland etc etc - Martians cannot play for any Earth team, without proof of sufficient ethnic heritage. -The British Unicorn-class Cruiser is a truly brilliant example of shipbuilding, and easily surpases the newest German model - she is, however, very expensive to produce. On the other hand, the Vicky-class Light Cruiser is a decent ship, but possesses several faults that will not be apparent until combat. -Colonial attempts are successful. THE FOURTH FRENCH EMPIRE -While the slipway at Oberon is quickly and easily completed (Late 2935), the building attempts on Carpo take much, much longer. Incompetence in the early design and construction phases renders the project massively over budget and behind schedule - indeed, the Admiralty openly and loudly complains of this to the Emperor, demanding that the project be taken totally from civilian hands and placed into the hands of the Navy. (Late 2938) -Napoleon’s Logisitcs Bureau struggles to find enough competent staff to function at a truly efficient level, but they successfully carry out the 2935 census, presenting the results. Minerals, processed goods, food, munitions and other similar things have a huge abundance in the Inner Belt, but lacks fuel, on the other hand the Outer Belt lacks much of the processing capabilities of the Inner Rim, but provides all of the fuels required to efficiently run industry, along with many minerals. -Colonial attempts are successful. THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS -The Russian cruiser is… lacking. While the ship is extremely fast, it is found to be remarkably flimsy, and prone to mechanical malfunctions - the Bureau of Design recommends the ship not be constructed, and instead sent back for redesign. -The Soviet reconstruction of their fleet is successful, and the Soviet Navy does indeed become the swiftest in the Solar System, much to the pride of the Soviet People - the speed of the People’s Navy becomes a hall mark of Russia, even becoming an every day saying “Be as fast as the Red Armada.” -The Catholic Church is infiltrated easily - corrupt priests and corrupt Soviets have a surprising amount in common. -Colonial attempts are successful. THE OUTER RIM TRADING COMPANY -Several mineral deposits are discovered, but nothing particularly out of the ordinary. -It is essentially recommended that the central Fuel Reserves be split into a series of lesser fuel reserves - though this presents its own series of strategic difficulties by spreading fuel into several locations, all of which must be defended. -Colonial attempts are successful. NATIONALIST CHINA -Anti-corruption efforts in China begin to pick up steam. With the ISB and the Anti-Corruption Bureau combining forces, most corrupt officials quickly learn to tow the new party line, trying not to upset the powers that be. However, there are some factions bitterly opposed to the President, and his current course is setting them against him. -Military academies and the universities begin to offer a new standard of education to the Chinese people, and the new education facilities begin to create a generation of well informed and learned people, many of whom find themselves disagreeable to the idea of dictator rule. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -Research into fission engines is slow and expensive, and the US struggles to make a breakthrough in the project. Scientists agree, however, that staying the course is the best route forwards, and petition the government for more funding. At current pace - Early 2937. -This new US Assault Corps (USAC) is extremely successful. Modelled upon the major successes experienced by the Germans in their Sturmabteilung, the USAC quickly proves to be a powerful and efficient piece of the US Army, and receives praise from all sides, both domestically and internationally. THE GREATER GERMAN EMPIRE -German naval refits go well, and German gunnery systems quickly become renowned as truly exemplary. - The synthetic fuel refineries are praised as a solution to the fuel issues, but they require a huge amount of development to be efficient. The project trundles along, with Late 2936 being the expected date for the first facilities to be completed. -The new trade lanes function fairly well, and many ships choose to utilise them for safety’s sake. PROTECTORATE OF SATURN -The Governors are reluctant to treat with Otto von Wettin, but after much urging from the Kaiser himself, they opt to accept his offer of hereditary governorship - they are still not enamoured of continuing centralisation, however. -Public education funding becomes a shambles, disorganisation and huge population render the efforts almost totally pointless. The whole affair costs an inordinate amount of money, and the resulting scandal actually forces the King’s Chancellor to resign his position as Acting Viceroy and return to Earth in shame. -Scholars eagerly accept the additional funding, but few seem to have any great ideas in mind at present; Perhaps things will change in the future, but for now the scientists of the Outer Rim seem unimaginative.

A NEW AGE - LATE 2934 - TURN 2 The Asteroid Belt, a long and extensive ring of rock and debris that separates the Inner Rim from the Outer Rim, a ring populated by rock and mineral, the most fantastic source of mineral mining in the Solar System, inhabited by over 10 billion souls overs hundreds of millions of kilometres. The Belt was filled with settlements, from small research outposts to trading bases, to military installations and full blown cities. It was possessed of an economic system reliant only on the Inner Rim market and the fuel refineries of the Outer Rim, mining vast quantities of resources and refining them, to be used at home, abroad or to be exported to the Inner or the Outer Rims. It was through this maze of asteroid settlements and colony cities that the famed Audacieux had hunted for nearly four years of piracy. The light cruiser moved slowly now, scores and dents marking her sides and paint. From the rear fuselage trailed long, thick steel cables, in place to drag the Audacieux's prizes back to port, three chubby little fuel freighters, laden with the precious golden substance. As always, the sheer blackness of the surrounding void created a strange, surreal feeling to those looking from the ship's viewing ports - total inky blackness giving the surrounding rocks and asteroids a strange feeling of pure singularity, as if that asteroid was the only one that existed, until your gaze shifted to the next, and the next, and the next. Starlight trickled through only rarely here, the stars truly invisible in the harsh clutter of the Belt. Luigi Rizzo stared blankly at this eccentric world, idly wondering how man could have made a life in this hellish, barren, empty place, so far from the lush grass, verdant fields and flowing rivers of Earth. He had lived there, once, his idle mind noted, though that past seemed almost like another world now. He missed the mountains and the trees, and still he believed he should have chosen a different path, joined the constabulary or the forest rangers, worn a different kind of uniform, been a different kind of man - but that would have satisfied neither his mother or father, and the dutiful son had obeyed faithfully. It was too late now, he was a man of war now, a man of space. Rizzo sat in a chair, hidden away within his quarters, simply pondering the callous nature of his life that had led him to this point, when the door opened with a hiss, and Javert, his first mate and one of his few friends, stepped into the room. “We are approaching Abaza now, Luigi.” Here, in private, the Frenchman was entitled to liberties, and he took them freely. Rizzo turned and surveyed his guest almost blankly for a moment, observing - as he always did - the handsome heart shaped face, the soft green eyes and the curling black hair that fell down to the Frenchman's shoulders. His voice was gentle, soft as a summer's breeze, and it was easy to see why women threw themselves at this man every time he stood in port. The Italian nodded, rising and fastening his uniform jacket, and lifting his belt and holster from the chair, buckling them around his waist. He stepped promptly through the door, melancholy lifting from his shoulders as the hard pirate captain returned to the fore. He arrived at the bridge, Javert at his shoulder, just as the docking procedures went under way. “Dock the prizes and begin unloading the cargo - I must meet with the local Bey.” Men noted silently around the bridge, Rizzo always gave these orders, though his men knew them by rote at this stage. He turned on his heel and strode from the bridge, making his way to the airlock, a number of his heavy men in tow - led by Javert - it was never a good idea to walk the streets of a place such as Abaza without protection, especially when money was involved. By the standards of colonial settlements, the colony-city of Abaza was fairly small, home to some four hundred thousand people, though it was said that of all the Turkish settlements in the Belt, Abaza was the wealthiest, money flowed from Abaza as water flowed from a river's source. A place of filth and blind corruption, it was perhaps the unofficial capital of piracy in the Solar System, pirate vessels docked here and disposed of their illegal goods, usually paying Arik Pasha, the local Bey, a healthy sum for the privilege. Arik was always eager to see Luigi Rizzo and his Audacieux, perhaps the most lucrative source of illegal bribe money that the fat, greedy little man had. Rizzo always brought prizes, and thus always brought money, it was an unwritten rule of life. And that was exactly why Rizzo was confused when he was kept waiting for nearly two hours. Furthermore, he only became more alarmed as the steady stream of officers and officials went to and fro from the office. “Those aren't backwater troops.” Luigi thought, grimly, studying their expensive uniforms and disciplined ways. Finally a man came out. Not the usual secretary, but a haughty wisp of a man with a curling goatee. “Refik Pasha will see you now.” Swiftly and officiously they were ushered into the office, to come face to face with a tall, lean man, hair cut precisely. Moustache trimmed exactly. A hawkish looking man, with an arrogant demeanor and cold, calculating eyes. He sat, reclining ever so slightly in his chair, his fez resting in the table. Rizzo noticed, somewhat absently, the uniform of a vice-admiral. “Luigi Rizzo, formerly Captain Luigi Rizzo of His Majesty Victor Emmanuel VIII's Regia Marina. How interesting to meet the commander of the Audacieux, at long last.” The Pasha's accent was strangely clipped and precise, short and abrupt. His English was good, though he stumbled slightly over the French and the Italian. He didn't rise, he simply motioned for Rizzo the be seated. “Now, dear Arik Pasha is a man famed for his corrupt practices, even in Istanbul, several hundred million kilometres away. I have been sent here, to secure the security of Abaza, which borders Italian territories in the Belt. You follow so far?” The Pasha waited for Luigi to nod, before continuing his monologue. “Mounting tensions between Italy and my own country are causing the Grand Vizier and the Sultan no end of worry, I am told. Both sides have embarked on an arms race, and the Sultan has decided to strengthen the frontier.” Refik paused, as if he had suddenly remembered his manners, and called his secretary over, bearing refreshments. Two tumblers, one of whiskey and one of water, then sat before the two men, though neither made any moves to drink. Refik crossed his hands again, appearing as if to continue talking. “Why are you telling me this, Refik Pasha? I am but a humble pirate “ Rizzo said, somewhat flatly. The Admiral frowned, clearly displeased at being interrupted. “You have a fine crew and a fine ship - it is my duty to prepare for the inevitable conflict that will explode in this sector of space, and you are what I would consider a vital asset.” Rizzo scowled, angry now. “And why should I betray my own country for a Turk?” Refik Pasha looked at him silently, before drawing out a cigar and beginning to smoke. “Because, Captain, you and your men are wanted the length and breadth of the Solar System for murder, theft and piracy - The Ottoman Empire is one of the few places in which you are still welcome - and we are willing to pay you handsomely for your troubles.” Rizzo nodded quietly, seemingly accepting his fate. For a time, Refik Pasha continued to talk at the Captain, before finally he was dismissed from the office. ----- Rizzo stormed out of the compound, bodyguards hurrying behind him as he flew along the lower levels of the colony-city, sword rattling at his hip. Suddenly, a scream erupted from down an alley, and Rizzo half turned, as the scream rang out again. Suddenly the pirate was racing down the alley, long sabre leaping into his hand as he rushed towards three men surrounding a woman on the ground, tearing at her clothes. They half turned as Rizzo approached, but by the time he was upon them, it was too late. With three expert sword moves, he carved through them, leaving the three butchered on the ground. He turned to the woman, as she desperately tried to tug her torn clothes back into place. The Italian threw his jacket down to her. “I won’t hurt you, woman.” Behind, the bodyguards finally caught up, looking surprised at the carnage. “Your name? I will personally see you escorted home…” The words were awkward, as if Rizzo were unused to speaking to women. The woman, looked up at him with dark eyes. “You just killed my husband, sir. He intended to sell me, to pay for his… debts.” Rizzo nodded. “Can you cook?” She seemed startled by the question, and simply nodded. “Then you just became my personal steward - hurry, we have to make haste.” And at that, Rizzo turned on his heels and stalked away. THE GREATER GERMAN EMPIRE -The I.I.S.T trembles beneath the Kaiser’s glare, and quickly conform to standard. -Attempts to search Mars for fresh minds go awry - most of the people are simply uneducated, rendering the limited upper classes the only sources to draw from, and they proved somewhat hesitant to send their children to education, rather than military glory. -The policy works well, and people begin to flock to Elara en masse. The initial colony is well on its way to securing a permanent position of note in the Jupiter system. -German construction goes well in her own limited zones, but she is continuously obstructed by nations jealous of their own territory - a more international approach will have to be attempted. -The “super cruiser” project goes well - German scientists succeed in designing a ship that bears heavy weapons, armour and acceptable speed. However, the ship isn’t cheap and, overall, the French efforts are superior. Ready by Late 2935 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -American colonisation efforts go well, though the President is forced to make guarantees for the safety of American civilians. Fully established colonies are expected by Early 2936. The colonists also petition the President for increased military protection, considering the state of the Solar System. -AI development goes relatively smoothly, though the style of the project necessitates that it will simply take time. Early 2937. -Pirates largely ignoring American shipping, confined largely to the Core side of the Asteroid Belt as it is. THE COMMONWEALTH -British patrol vessels are continuously constructed, being deployed largely along trade routes - these lightly armed and armoured ships are incapable of combatting anything but the lightest of pirate ships. -The Commonwealth musters 2 million men easily. THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS -Kukov’s campaign fires ruthlessly under way - he swiftly succeeds in crushing piracy in the Inner Rim, and even from certain sections of the Asteroid Belt. His campaign is largely hindered by a lack of far bases to base ships from, but the Russians quickly establish themselves as key players in the anti-piracy front. -Examination of the tactics of the Audacieux and other larger pirate vessels teaches the Soviets much about the idea of quick moving and fast raiding tactics, providing experience they previously lacked in pursuing a trade lane raiding war. -The Balkans eagerly accept Soviet patronage, and open their scattered Asteroid Belt territories to USSR usage, so long as the Soviets agree to also patrol and protect these territories. -USSR football is blossoming under the rule of Popov - in a ruthless series of friendlies before the European cup, he crushes many of his opponents, and he and his star players go so far as to beat the reigning world champions 1-0 in one of the most celebrated examples of football in the century. THE PROTECTORATE OF SATURN -The common man again celebrates King Otto for his populist actions, and he is much loved in the Colony-cities. -The Upper classes, however, are enraged at his attempts to curb their power, and the Governors of the colonial moons go so far as to petition the Kaiser for justice in this situation. They were German nobility, not the playthings of an upstart! -Saxon crackdowns on piracy are largely successful. THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN -Military reforms are largely successful. -The German-Japanese engines project goes very well, and modern engines are expected by Late 2935. -Japan, like many others, succeeds in largely purging piracy from her trade lanes. -The Italians and the Ottomans utterly reject this suggestion - why would they give up their territory to international treaty? That’s what they were fighting over in the first place. NATIONALIST CHINA -Chinese attempts at crushing corruption go fairly well, with the President managing to attain a modicum of power over his bureaucratic and military subordinates. -Research facilities are successfully established. -Chinese military academies are swiftly established, and the first generation of new Chinese officers begin training there. THE 4TH FRENCH EMPIRE -Extra funding secures the safety and continuity of French colonial projects. -The run of ships is expected to take around 2 years. - The French Navy is led largely on an unproductive chase - the Audacieux is sighted at least a dozen times a day, often in locations on the literal other side of the Solar System from their last sighting. However, the French do at last get a breakthrough, when they hear word of the Audacieux doing work as none other than an Ottoman privateer. -These bureaucrats successfully enforce the Imperial will on the colonies, and Napoleon continues to be beloved of the people. - Pleasure parks and the like serve very well to take the minds of the French People off of their bleak and dull lives, and again the Emperor is praised for his philanthropism. THE OUTER RIM TRADING COMPANY -ORTC colonial attempts are successful. -1 million men are added to the Trading Company’s forces. -The work into orbital defense stations goes fairly well, with working prototypes expected by Early 2936.

A NEW AGE - EARLY 2934 AD - TURN 1 The inky blackness of the void, punctuated only by the twinkling glimmers of starlight, sheer emptiness swallowing asteroids and debris, illuminated only by the yellow thrumming glow of a ship's engines as it pulsed quietly through space, seemingly barren, and yet filled with so much pure potential. The ship in question, a light cruiser of seemingly French design, moved silently, all noise masked by the harsh realities of space and her physics. Some three hundred metres long, the sleek warship was scored and battered, her gray and blue paint work scratched and marred by tiny space particles acting as a kind of unseen sandpaper. On her prow, faded lettering named the vessel as the Audacieux, a ship lost in mutiny some three years prior. The little ship had forged a reputation for herself over the years, a reputation as a ruthless and efficient pirate vessel, brutally successful in raiding the shipping lanes, even successfully tangling with Commonwealth destroyers and - once - the cruiser HMS Monmouth. That was their intention today, as they slunk through the tangled maze called the Inner Asteroid Belt. Recent rises in the fuel price made fuel shipments a very valuable commodity - a lack of effective policing over these past few months had made such raiding a far safer occupation as well, as the great ships of the Royal Navy's Outer Rim Squadron were forced to sit in dock, in a desperate attempt to preserve fuel in this sudden, artificial shortage. The cruisers and the destroyers were stretched thinner than usual, and the trade lanes were easy pickings for a hardened crew, such as those aboard the battle worthy Audacieux. The crew had, once, been entirely of French origin, mutineers who had slain their officers and illegally fled with their ship - now their compliment had men from every nation on Earth, all of them fleeing a past few cared to speak of. Some fled crimes, debts, indiscretions, while others sought the chance to make a quick buck, irrespective of the so called morality of what they were doing. Many were simply here to escape the harsh, cruel and mundane reality of colonial life, desperate to avoid the fifteen hour shifts and blinding poverty of the colony-cities. Their Captain, Luigi Rizzi, was a man who fled from his past, wanted for his actions even before he had turned to a life of piracy. Once an Italian commander, a true naval man, the murder of a brother officer had cast him as an exile from his native land, career and future lost forever. He was a short man, with a haggard face and a thin moustache. Short, black hair was combed over the top of his head, attempting to hide the premature baldness eating away at his hairline. A permanent sneer curled his upper lip, bitterness evident in his eyes. He was a harsh, unlikeable sort, but his skill in command and fairness of decision had rendered him strangely popular among the thugs that made up most of his crew. Such men loved leaders who brought them victory and riches, after all. Rizzo dusted his coat. His losses in life had not hampered his sense of style or his disciplined manner of dressing - he wore an Italian uniform, with insignia removed. He glared out of the deck windows, before turning a hooked nose and cold green eyes to glance down at a star map presented on a monitor. “Bear right, by three degrees.” Once again, he glanced out of the windows, turning his eyes to another display, of slow moving blips carefully navigating the asteroid field. “Move from cruising speed to full battle speed - beat to quarters.” Once, the officers on the bridge might have questioned the wisdom of battle speed in the Asteroid Belt, now they complied with efficiency that the professional navies would be alarmed to see in a pirate ship. Suddenly, the little ship leaped into action, as she exploded through the void, carefully dancing around hunks of rock floating through space. Jetting towards the convoy, the merchant ships suddenly attempted to scatter - they had seen her. The forward guns on the Audacieux leapt to life as she closed the distance swiftly. Soon, she would be on them and these armed merchant craft were no match for an actual warship. As Audacieux swept past the first ship, she unleashed a torrent of violent secondary battery gunfire into her engines, scarring the vessel and leaving her drifting helpless. Luigi Rizzo turned his command then, sweeping back towards the other two merchants freighters. Another burst from Audacieux's secondary battery left the second freighter dead in the stars, a burned out and depressurised husk. She raced through the asteroids, and for several thousand kilometres engaged in a stern chase with the largest of the merchant craft, before she struck her with a volley from the main guns, causing a fatal shipboard explosion. Rizzo paced the deck, pleased with the performance of his ship and his crew, but something was amiss here - where was the escort? “Capitaine, there is a ship approaching from our starboard.” Rizzo glanced at the Frenchman, Hugo Javert, his senior lieutenant. He was reassured by this news - there was nothing up their sleeves now. “Can you identify her?” barked the Italian, stamping his foot in moderate ill humour - every minute wasted made the prizes harder to salvage quickly, as they slowly drifted away from their original locations. “Oui, Capitaine, she is a cruiser, Minotaur-class. She may even be HMS Minotaur herself.” Rizzo nodded, staring coldly out of the bridge into space. “Allow her to close the range, we must scare her off if we wish to profit from this excursion today. Focus the main batteries upon their prow - I want superficial damage - we must scare them off, sinking this ship will only be bad for our business!” Across the bridge, men grinned at the confidence of their Captain, sinking a cruiser with a light cruiser was an incredible feat of skill, daring and pure luck, and this little man treated it like an everyday occurrence - he was popular, despite his harsh personality, for a reason. Audacieux spun through space, weaving through asteroids as she skilfully began a gunnery battle with the much larger, heavier ship. Skimming along a large rock, she turned sharply and unleashed a full barrage from her fast firing 6 inch guns, striking the Minotaur more than once. Still, Minotaur showed no sign of retreat. “Bring us in close!” thundered Luigi “Aim for their conning tower!” Audacieux responded with incredible swiftness, twirling through space to unleash her gunfire upon the Minotaur from a range usually considered madness in modern warfare. Madness or not, the shots struck home, and the deck windows of Minotaur vanished and caved in as the explosion tore through the bridge. At the same time, a torpedo slipped out of Audacieux's tubes, slamming into the midships of Minotaur, who began to founder violently. Audacieux, truly triumphant, sailed away from her for, with little but a fresh score along her paint work from a deflected shell. The men of Audacieux and the men of the company in which she mixed knew this ship by reputation - she was a lucky ship. Minotaur, meanwhile, began to gently limp back to port, desperate to find the nearest Commonwealth base in the Asteroid Belt, where she could receive emergency repairs. Audacieux danced away, beginning the job of salvaging her prey. ---------- As a side effect of the reduced Commonwealth capabilities to defend the trade lanes, piracy once again begins to pick up steam in the Outer Rim. Previously held largely at bay by massive amounts of pure Commonwealth force, this sudden change has resulted in a new surge of piracy along the main trade lanes, not just the minor ones. As a new colonial era begins, the Great Powers must not only deal with each other, but also defend their shipping lines from the increasing encroachments of such unscrupulous characters, though they are often romanticised by the civilian media. In addition, great humiliation is heaped upon the 4th French Empire. The pirate ship, Audacieux, a former French operated light cruiser seized by mutineers, has attained exceptional fame over the past three years of her theft. Under the disgraced Italian Captain, Luigi Rizzo, she has become a vessel of exceptional renown. Seen by many as the flagship of this modern Belt piracy, her fame stems from victories in two incredible duels, both of them against the far more heavily armed and armoured HMS Monmouth and HMS Minotaur and won with barely a scratch. Audacieux will continue to be an embarrassment to the French Empire, so long as she is allowed to roam at large. --------- The World Cup, hosted this year in Greece of all places, kicked off with a bang. A series of major clashes saw some true juggernauts thrown from the contest, while others raced on, seemingly on pure, blind luck. A table of results; CUP FINAL France 1 - England 2(1) SEMI FINALS Spain 2 - England 3 France 1 - Greece 0 QUARTER FINALS France 2 - USSR 1 Greece 1 - Germany 0 England 2 - Croatia 0 Spain 3 - Netherlands 1 --------- In the Asteroid Belt, rising Italian and Ottoman tensions swiftly leads to the beginning of what could be seen as a major naval development race. Continued infringement of Ottoman territory by Italian vessels has led to a series of threats and condemnations from both sides, and nearly 6 dreadnoughts have been laid down as tensions continue to mount. Without mediation, it is very likely to turn into war in the future, as both powers prime themselves for a fight. THE GREATER GERMAN EMPIRE -The beginning of 2934 sees the Greater German Empire attempt to radically increase her territorial limits. In this, she sees some success. The colony on Deimos - with massive amounts of population and material available from Mars - is established quickly and efficiently. Engineers reckon Deimos will be well on the way to being a major port by as late as Early 2936. Unfortunately, the colonisation process does not go so smoothly in the Outer Rim. On Adrastea, Themisto and Valetudo, constant pirate raids and Commonwealth obstruction raise the bill for the colonies through the roof. They swiftly exceed budget, and it is recommended to the Kaiser that they be abandoned before they cost an inordinate amount of money. Worse still, the attempt to colonise Lysithia meets utter disaster when, after a raid, an explosion rips through the colonial commune, killing most of the colonists - the survivors are then forced to withdraw. The only gem in the German Outer Rim colonial policy is on Elara, where efforts have gone so swiftly and efficiently that engineers and other such experts expect a major fuel harvesting and refining facility to be fully ready by Late 2395. -While the I.I.S.T is successfully established, inter university rivalries and clashing personalities render most of their research as functionally useless - the scientists are far too concerned in proving their own intelligence and the superiority of their respective universities than actually pushing forwards German research - no end in sight to the projects. -The ship contracts will take a period of three years to fulfill. -The Sturmabteilung is successfully formed at Thelpval, and a slew of veterans quickly find themselves reassigned. There are some small issues - officers tend to hoard their better troops for themselves, and the men of the Sturmabteilung demand better pay and living conditions, but for the most part the troops should be ready for active combat by Early 2395. -The Germano-American agreement is a great success - American firms swiftly begin importing massive amounts of luxury modern appliances in the Martian colonies, making an easy buck for the Americans and raising the Kaiser’s popularity through the roof on Mars. -The Reichstag reluctantly agree to give more representation, but only on a major compromise that sees most of the traditional status quo preserved. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -Attempts to create three new federal colonies are largely successful, though Congress grumbles and the developments are somewhat slow and slightly over budget. It is projected that, by Late 2935 the series of colonies and research facilities will be largely operational. -Both Boeing and NASA struggle to make any concrete gains on faster ship travel - they are hindered largely by the weight and expense of suggested engine designs, and they struggle to make such designs actually feasible - by Early 2396, they hope to make concrete progress. -Project Pegasus passes Congress and is put into action. -The entrepreneurial design of these new colonies is well received - there are no shortages of volunteers, most of them brave “pioneers” excited at the prospect of striking it rich or living through a period of lawlessness as seen in the Wild West. Regardless, the plan goes well and it is expected Congressional approval for territorial status will be achieved by Early 2935 at the latest. THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN -Hiroki’s promises of a meritocracy are excellently received by the masses, who are more than delighted to see a Shogun who intends to effect some change throughout the Japanese Empire. Hiroki’s approval raises through the roof, and his political situation is further stabilised by his strong acclaim. -Japanese attempts to modernise shipbuilding industry go very well - the industries respond well to tax cuts and grants, and it is estimated that an extremely reliable - though somewhat limited in scope - series of shipyards will be available above Venus by Early 2935. Furthermore, by Late 2396, it is estimated Japan will have a wealth of extensive and modern shipyards from which to build a major fleet. THE PROTECTORATE OF SATURN -Attempts to create better colonial working condition go surprisingly well, and the people of the Saturn colonies are delighted by their much shorter 12 instead of 14 hour shifts. In addition, a genius piece of bureaucracy sees wages rise as well, preventing loss of income - Otto’s popularity in the Protectorate rises swiftly. -The creation of the Helene stadium is one marred by controversy and discord. From the beginning, engineers and other such staff struggle to work together, and contrasting ideas and visions see the budget widely over shot and the project itself going at a snail’s pace. Late 2937 is the estimated date of completion. -The centralisation of the Protectorate of Saturn goes awfully - governors largely object to the centralisation of their power, and openly choose to ignore the court, preferring instead to rule their colonies like small kingdoms, ignoring the efforts of the King of Saxony’s Chancellor. -Likewise, efforts to fortify the colonies hit a brick wall - the governors once again object to such an unnecessary expense in the middle of peace time, but eventually they reluctantly order their various militias to begin further fortification. -The fuel reserves begin to come together quickly and efficiently, without too much hindrance to production. THE COMMONWEALTH -The streamlining of the Army goes… poorly. Disorganisation and mismanagement results in a number of issues. Guns are sent to the wrong place, militias are raised in areas that don’t actually have anyone living in them and troop reassignments are all over the place. Several generals are actually given reprimands for poor organisation and the whole thing simply becomes a farce. -Even worse are the attempts of the Navy to arm the Merchant Marine - while they successfully begin expanding their patrol vessels, the Merchant Marine proves to be a difficult bunch to train in the use of shipboard weaponry. So cac-handed are the Marine at the operation of their newly armed ships, that they strike and damage the light cruiser, HMS Dutiful. -Fortification efforts, however, go perfectly. Large scale entrenchment projects, the creation of fresh armories and other such exercises go without a hitch across the vast Empire of the Commonwealth. It is expected the Commonwealth will have a significant defences in place by Late 2934. THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS -Soviet research into communication and travel technologies simply blows all rivals out of the water. Development into radio systems working on a special frequency begin, which are found to be nearly 3 times as fast at transmitting over vast sectors of space than previous models. In addition, newly developed Soviet engines are found to be lightweight and cheap, and both will be fit to enter full production by Early 2935. -Russian attempts to streamline the Armed Forces go fairly well. There is some small amount of resistance - especially in the Navy, who view theirs as a specialised field - at the prospect of everything being lumped together, but ultimately Kukov is successful in his reforms. -Popev does well, reaching the Quarter Finals. His team of young players performs well under the pressure, but ultimately the agreement is unanimous - Popev has built a good, solid team, but they lack cohesiveness as a cohort and experience as individuals. The Soviet FA is, despite the lack of silver, pleased with their new manager, and he is sent a personal commendation by both the Chairman of the FA and by Poliorcetes himself, extolling the Manager to continue the good work he has started and to continue to polish his team, who great things are expected of in the future. THE 4TH FRENCH EMPIRE -The new declarations present in the Fourteenth Napoleonic Code are received with riotous acclaim - which is unsurprising, seeing as they affect 90% of the colonial population. French national unity reaches an all time high with the Code, and faith in the government and in the Emperor could not be any better - truly France is blessed to be possessed of an Emperor such as Napoleon XXIV. -Unfortunately, French attempts to establish privately managed colonies is largely unsuccessful - the colonies themselves quickly fall prey to pirates, specifically the Audacieux, as they are absent any kind of a significant military presence. While there is eagerness to try again among the corporations, they are petitioning the Emperor for some better protection next time. -French attempts to develop a new, long range cruiser are startling in their success. The cruisers fit all of their specifications - indeed they exceed their specifications. These new vessels are fast, strong and well armed, not to mention sleek and efficient, with an exceptionally long range. There is no doubt they are possibly the best cruiser design currently in circulation - and to top it all off, they’re fairly cheap! Ready by Early 2395.

A NEW AGE -2934 AD A long, winding steel corridor dove through solid rock, twisting and coiling along in an endless series of unbelievable mazes and puzzles, literally built into the rock of Callisto, home to the Commonwealth’s Outer Rim War Reserves, and the largest refinery facilities in the Solar System - conveniently sat right beside each other to allow easy transfer of fuel. Along this corridor strolled a single solitary figure, clearly out of place in the deep bowels of the Fuel Reserves, dressed as he was in suit and tie, looking about him. Finally, he came to a door, and seemed determined that he was in the right place. Stepping through, he grinned as he was suddenly enveloped by reaching arms and long, soft brown hair. The woman, clearly eager for his arrival, wasted no time in beginning to tear off clothing, hauling her illicit lover roughly into the room - little more than a cellar occupied by pipes and valves, a small maintenance workshop. Some time later - short by the standards of the woman, but long by the standards of the man - the pair began to pull their clothes back on, clearly finished having their little bit of fun. “You should just tell my father you know, it’d make this so much easier.” drawled the woman, sitting on a pipe in her underwear, fastening her stockings to her garter belt. “It is so tiresome being down here whenever we want to have some alone time.” Finished with her stockings, she continued to sit in her lingerie, eying up her partner as she fished a cigarette out of the package. “Are you listening to me, Johnny?” *** hanging from her lips, as she watched Johnny grunt ill-naturedly, she took the lighter and clicked it. Whoooooooooooooooooosh. The gas, odourless, ignited with a great burst, incinerating both of the lovers, before flash firing along the gas pipes. The colony-city itself seemed to shake, as fire blasted through the gas pipes in the walls, and then along the exposed pipe in the Fuel Reserves themselves. Engineers watched in horror as fail-safes failed to start, and flash fires began erupting along the pipes. After a moment of silence, save for mechanical groaning, the screaming began, as men scrambled to get away from the fire racing towards the tanks filled with hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel. They didn’t make it far. The fuel ignited with a massive explosion that tore a hole straight through the Reserve levels of the colony-city, spreading fire and fury into the massive refinery next door, belching fire and flame down corridors, up vents and blasting in doors and windows. The whole moon shook with the violence of the eruption, and thousands died in the swirling tornado of fire. Smoke rose from the ashes and, once again, circumstance had changed the Solar System forever. ---------- The industrial explosion in the Commonwealth Outer Rim War Reserves - perhaps the largest fuel reserves in the Solar System, would permanently change the political nature of the Solar System from one of preservation of the status quo to one of innovation, new colonisation and the expansion of the Great Empires. The destruction of the Reserves would, for a short time, cripple Commonwealth capabilities to wage major wars in the Outer Rim, creating a rare moment of opportunity for the other powers of the galaxy. The loss of the Reserves and the neighboring refinery caused a major demand for fuel and caused the sharpest price rise to be seen in centuries. The Commonwealth, struggling to rebuild their reserves and continue export inadvertently opened the market up to her rivals, the French, the Germans and the Italians. The sudden gap in fuel production left the Commonwealth economy struggling, as it swiftly became starved for fuel. Meanwhile, the Germans and the French experienced major economic boosts, as the money began to roll in from expensive fuel. Italy, in an economic slump, rejoiced at the sudden influx of currency, going so far as to call the explosion an “act of God”. So delighted by the event were the Italians that they named a newly commissioned dreadnought “Fuoco Ardente” or “Flash Fire”. The accident has created a temporary change in the balance of power, but it has also posed a question not asked since the colonial wars of the Outer Rim two centuries prior - why should the Great Powers rely on British, French or German fuel? There were dozens of potential colonies in the Kuiper Belt and by the Gas Giants for the taking, all of them absurdly rich in fuel - why should nations pay their rivals for fuel when they could make it themselves? Needless to say, any empire with sensible foreign policy would now be turning their eyes to the Outer Rim, where they now have the chance to not only undercut Commonwealth power and authority, but to seize control of their own destinies…

All accepted. We've actually got quite a few maps, they're just in the discord, lol.

A New Age - 2934AD Earth, the cradle of humanity. From her verdant plains and bountiful seas, Earth has long nurtured Mankind, home to all of her hopes, dreams and innovations, as well as her wars, atrocities and brutalities. From the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, beyond into the Imperial Era, Mankind has flourished, building great wealth and civilisation through the domination of lesser cultures and peoples. It was through the politically unstable 21st and 22nd centuries that saw Man truly extend his reach beyond the feeble constraints of his home planet. The great powers, as diverse as they were mighty, saw the star not as a barrier, but as the great beyond, gazing upon the potential territories with lust and greed. Fuel, minerals, living space and wealth stared them in the eye, waiting to be seized and harnessed. And so began the New Colonial Era, as the great powers of the earth raced each other for the bounties of the stars, battling and colonising the moons and planets of the Solar System, constructing great and twisted cities of hulking steel, centres of industry and population, so precious among the barren wastelands of Earth’s sibling planets. Eventually, the violence of the New Colonial Era prompted Man to seek a different path, for blood had been spilled not only in the stars, but on hallowed Earth and her daughter Luna as well, as men fought for the grand glory of their respective nations, brutally combating each other in an endless cycle of blood lust that left Earth torn and tired. The solution was simple. The Luna Accords. Man would not spill the blood of his fellow man upon the sacred homeplace of Humanity, instead, he would take his wars to the stars, where they would be fought by the great ships of the battle lines, or by the millions of men in rifle lines and trenches. Luna, contested by a dozen nations, would instead be the throbbing heart that pumped the blood of Empire into the hungry Imperial Homelands upon Earth, a neutral and self governing entity, supervised by the diplomats of the great powers. Never again would a warship be allowed within 200’000 kilometres of Earth, and all but honour guards were forced to depart for the Colonies. And thus, the rush for colonies began anew, as nations once again raced to occupy any feasible body they could, in order to construct the precious and twisted steel cities that housed vast sums of people, capable of churning out industrial product to feed ever-hungry Earth. The Great Powers Earth and her Colonies are dominated by the Great Powers, who control their respective tracts of space and Earth with steel fists, using their vast legions and expansive fleets to enforce their ironclad will across over 3.5 billion miles of space, entrusting generals and admirals with the absolute honour and glory of their nations. The sheer scale of the modern colonial empire necessitates an enormous requirement for resources, and the Great Powers do not disappoint in their blatant and aggressive rivalries. THE COMMONWEALTH Greatest of the nations of Earth, the Commonwealth finds her roots in the British Empire of old, and as the space race began,British imperial policy determined that she would not be left behind the lesser nations as they found purchase and greatness in the New Age. While other nations raced for the Inner Planets and founded colonies on Mars, Venus and Mercury, the Commonwealth instead expanded outwards, seizing Pluto - which was to become one of the greatest dockyards in the Solar System - and using it as a base from which to cement their will over much of the Outer Planets, from whence comes most of the Galaxy’s fuels. Truly a hyper-power, the Commonwealth boasts a massive fleet and a large army, used largely to protect the long trade routes extending from Pluto to Earth. Her power, however, is also her weakness, for though the power of the Commonwealth is mighty, it is spread over near 4 billion miles of space, protecting a large number of colonies and installations, stretching the Commonwealth’s strength thin. The Royal Commonwealth Navy: 58 Dreadnaughts, 30 Battlecruisers, 130 Cruisers, 220 Light Cruisers, 1300 Destroyers The Army of the Commonwealth: 8.5 million men, 850 divisions (10k each), spread over the Colonies, from Pluto to Mars. Colonies and Population: Metis - Jupiter Amalthea - Jupiter Thebe - Jupiter Io - Jupiter Europa - Jupiter Ganymede - Jupiter Callisto - Jupiter Titan - Saturn Rhea - Saturn Hyperion - Saturn Iapetus - Saturn Triton - Neptune Proteus - Neptune Larissa - Neptune Puck - Uranus New Belfast - Mars New London - Mars Pluto 50.4 Billion Strengths and Weaknesses: The Commonwealth holds an unprecedented position in the galaxy - from her shipyards and military installations on Pluto, the Crown Jewel of the Empire, she dominates the Far Rim Colonies and the trade routes connecting the Far Rim to the heartlands on Earth. This grants the Commonwealth an exceptional amount of control over the fuel supplies flowing to Earth, at the cost of stretching their vast fleet thin over nearly 2.5 billion miles of open space. In addition, while their Martian colonies are fairly large and wealthy, militarily they are lightly defended in comparison to the extremely militarised colonies of the other Power. THE GREATER GERMAN EMPIRE Finding its roots within the German Confederation of days long past, the Greater German Empire was not as slow to the New Colonial Era as her predecessors had been in the Rush for Africa and other early terrestrial colonisation. German might quickly ascended to the stars, and formed the first of an extensive network of Martian colonies. The Empire quickly seized valuable territories and were the first pioneers of the colony-cities, those massive constructs of steel that merged city, factory and mine into a single vast entity. However, the Empire saw quickly that they had been slow to the race for the Far Colonies, seizing only small territories in the extremely fuel rich Far Rim, forced to concede most of that ground to the Commonwealth. The Imperial Kriegsmarine: 32 Dreadnoughts, 19 Battlecruisers, 120 Cruisers, 150 Light Cruisers, 1000 Destroyers The Imperial Army: 12 million men, 1200 divisions (10k each) , focussed largely upon Mars Colonies and Population: Helene - Saturn Dione - Saturn Calypso - Saturn Telesto - Saturn Thelpval - Mars Neu Berlin - Mars Leistung - Mars Neu Freiderick - Mars Starke - Mars Rotesand - Mars 40.3 Billion Strengths and Weaknesses: The Imperial Austro-German Union is, in many ways, fortunate. Their concentration of territories, both upon Mars and around Saturn has allowed them to develop a highly disciplined and modern navy and army, with little worry of being unable to defend their colonies. However, in war, the Union’s biggest issue will be to benefit from her colonies - the Martian territories are safe in the hand of the Imperial Army, but the vital fuel producing colonies around Saturn cannot feasibly export fuel to the Inner Rim without risk to shipping - in conflict with any major naval power, Austro-German ability to wage war will hinge largely on how efficiently they can defend their trade routes. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The USA was, is and always shall be the truly glowing bastion of democracy, home of liberty, freedom and the brave. Unfortunately for the United States, this is an attitude that has stood them in poor stead against the far less morale and far more aggressive imperial ambition of the other Great Powers. Early US expansion was hindered largely by bureaucracy and politicking, as the executive authorities struggled and clashed over the morality of large scale colonisation. This lead largely to a skewed US colonial policy - namely the development of Phobos as a major port and dockyard and the development of a major fleet, despite lacking the vast swathes of colonies occupied by other states. The US Navy: 37 Dreadnoughts, 10 Battlecruisers, 100 Cruisers, 90 Light Cruisers, 1100 Destroyers The US Army: 5 million men, 500 divisions (10k each), stationed on Phobos and Mars. Colonies and Population: Phobos - Mars New Washington - Mars 17.2 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Congressional demands allows their Martian territories real representation in the Houses, making Phobos and New Washington nearer to states than colonies, this has lead to the US policy of developing a large navy for the purpose of defending these quasi-states - a policy which has seriously hindered US abilities to wage war beyond the asteroid belt. THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN Japan has long since held status as a modern and powerful imperial state, and the New Colonial Era did little to lessen that conception of Japanese power. Though outclassed by most of the Great Powers, Japan forged the Asian Economic Pact with China, which saw both states propelled to the stars, to found colonies largely upon Venus and Mercury. The Imperial Japanese Navy: 15 Dreadnoughts, 23 Battlecruisers, 100 Cruisers, 140 Light Cruisers, 800 Destroyers The Imperial Japanese Army: 7 million men, 700 divisions (10k each), divided between Venus and Mercury. Colonies and Population: Lerorando - Venus Atarashi - Venus Chikara - Venus Eiko - Venus Gure - Mercury Kazegatsu - Mercury Fumo - Mercury 23.5 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Japan, though powerful, lacks the shipbuilding apparatus possessed by the likes of the Commonwealth or the US, and as such operates a fleet that is obviously lesser than the truly massive fleets of the Great Powers, substituting the massive ships of the line for Battlecruisers and the support ships that support them, enabling Japan to fight the fast paced and violent war on trading, but leaving her deficient to launch major actions against enemy fleets. THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE The Ottoman Empire, though far from invincible, is not the specter it was in the 20th Century. While the Ottoman Empire was not particularly quick to jump upon the colonial bandwagon, it benefitted massively from the unifying effect taking to the stars had upon all of Islamic culture - indeed, the stars were quickly looked upon as Allah’s great gift to his children, and the Ottoman Turks, as the foremost Islamic nation, managed to forge the lesser Islamic states into a single entity, allowed them to jet forth towards the stars. The Ottoman Navy: 8 Dreadnoughts, 3 Battlecruisers, 40 Cruisers, 120 Light Cruisers, 1200 Destroyers The Ottoman Army: 6 million men, 600 divisions (10k each), divided between Ceres, Eros and Eris. Colonies and Population: Ceres - Asteroid belt Eros - Asteroid belt Eris - Kuiper belt 12 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Military, the Ottoman Empire is not by any means the strongest of nations, but economically the Empire is truly thriving. Their colonies in the Kuiper and Asteroid Belts gives them excellent centres of major mining and refinement of minerals, fuelling their industry with a near endless supply of metals and ores. Indeed, Ottoman reliance on the Belts has led to the skewing of their fleet - an unusually large number of destroyers (for the number of capital ships) is kept for the purposes of torpedo warfare in the extremely close confines of the Belts. THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS The USSR, homeland of Communism, the child of men such as Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin. The Soviet Union, for all her continuing might, is challenged from all sides by bitter and hating foes - she has no friends among the nations, for her very purpose is to smite those very nations down. Unfortunately for the Imperial and Fascist powers, the Soviet Union does not need nations to find allies, for she will find sympathisers in every corner of the Galaxy. The Red Armada: 27 Dreadnoughts, 16 Battlecruisers, 90 Cruisers, 130 Light Cruisers, 1000 Destroyers The Red Army: 16 million men, 1600 divisions (10k each), divided between Mars, Venus and Mercury Colonies and Population: Krasgorod - Mars Lyudgorod - Mars Svonayzemlya - Mars Novyyleningrad - Mars Zheltmir - Venus Sekszem - Venus Seroyepol - Mercury Gorodmoy - Mercury 43.7 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: The Soviet Union unfortunately suffers from many of her past faults - inefficient administration, purges, corruption, starvation and a tendency towards technological stagnancy, however, the USSR has an incredible boon over all the other nations. She is still seen as the nation of the people. As such, Soviet Espionage Services have proven themselves countless times as the best in the Galaxy, often successfully harnessing revolts, strikes and other such action to further the agenda of the USSR. THE 4TH FRENCH EMPIRE France has had a troubled past, but shows ever growing promise in her future. France is perhaps the only nation that can boast of being a Kingdom, a Republic and an Empire at least once in her life, oft times more than once, and she is once again a land of Imperial Power. The French Colonial Empire is extensive, and holds territory in the Inner Rim, the Outer Rim and the Belts, making it perhaps the most diverse territories in the Galaxy. The French Navy: 30 Dreadnoughts, 25 Battlecruisers, 130 Cruisers, 120 Light Cruisers, 1200 Destroyers The French Army: 9 million men, 900 divisions (10k each), spread across the colonies Colonies and Population: Nouterre - Mars Grandeville - Mars Usinemais - Mars Seulville - Venus Vesta - Asteroid Belt Pallas - Asteroid Belt Ariel - Uranus Umbriel - Uranus Oberon - Uranus 37 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Militarily, France is powerful. With a well balanced army and navy policy, the French are well capable of fighting on any front. However, like many Imperial Powers in this New Era, her colonial Empire is extremely dispersed, and thus difficult to defend. As a nation, France is unusually patriotic, but there is the age old undercurrent flowing beneath the surface, awaiting to erupt should things go vastly wrong. THE KINGDOM OF ITALY Italy possesses the smallest of the Colonial Empires, of the Great Powers at least, a fact that galls and incenses the proud Italian people. Italy is the home of fascism, and its most notable follower, setting her up instantly as an ideal rival to the Soviets and their dangerous beliefs. In addition, China is also an ardent follower of the Fascist ideals, and Italy has a natural ally in her, for better or for worse. The Italian Navy: 12 Dreadnoughts, 12 Battlecruisers, 80 Cruisers, 90 Light Cruisers, 700 Destroyers The Italian Army: 4 million men, 400 divisions (10k each), stationed on Mars, Miranda and Titania Colonies and Population: Ciboterrdi - Mars Miranda - Uranus Titania - Uranus 12 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Most Italian military power is concentrated near their major colonies on Miranda and Titania, leaving their less notable Martian territories fairly exposed in comparison. Italy, despite territorial limitations, possesses a very modern and powerful fleet. Finally, in Italy there is a hungering sentiment for war, a desperation to prove themselves to the other powers in the Galaxy, though whether that is strength or weakness remains to be seen. NATIONALIST CHINA China, seen by some a sleeping giant, and by others as a weak wretch, incapable of projecting real power. Their beliefs are not unfounded - the Chinese Fleet is a ramshackle affair, and the Chinese Army is poorly trained. However, China can be seen as a Great Power by the sheer size of her population alone, which is easily the largest in the Galaxy. The Chinese Navy: 6 Dreadnoughts, 2 Battlecruisers, 20 Cruisers, 50 Lights Cruisers, 400 Destroyers The Chinese Army: 18 million men, 1800 divisions (10k each), stationed on Venus and Mercury Colonies and Population: Shiwutudi - Venus Henduren - Venus Juda - Venus Pangda - Venus Tongxing - Venus Qiangda - Mercury Weiwu - Mercury Rongyao - Mercury Chuantong - Mercury 62 billion Strengths and Weaknesses: Simply put, Nationalist China possesses a high industrial capacity and a huge source of manpower, unfortunately their troops are utterly inferior to the soldiers of the other powers, and their fleet is perhaps the weakest belonging to a major power - China has a natural ally in Italy, but also finds herself staring her greatest enemy - the Soviet Union - straight in the eye on her colonial worlds. MAJOR POWERS THE IBERIAN UNION - 7 Dreadnoughts, 3 Battlecruisers, 15 Cruisers, 25 Light Cruisers,300 Destroyers 2 million men, 200 divisions (10k each) 2 billion population THE SCANDINAVIAN UNION 4 Dreadnoughts, 1 Battlecruiser, 10 Cruisers, 15 Light Cruisers, 200 Destroyers 3 million men, 300 divisions (10k each) 2 billion population THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC 5 Dreadnoughts, 2 Battlecruisers, 12 Cruisers, 20 Light Cruisers, 400 Destroyers 2 million men, 200 divisions (10k each) 3 billion population THE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL 3 Dreadnoughts, 3 Battlecruisers, 10 Cruisers, 12 Light Cruisers, 200 Destroyers 2 million men, 200 divisions (10k each) 2 billion populations **All Major Powers possess significant bases and mining colonies in the Asteroid Belt. The Galaxy COLONY-CITIES When Mankind ascended from Mother Earth to the Stars beyond, he discovered how utterly unsuited to these harsh worlds he truly was, a development that saw the birth of the great colony-city, a vast industrial, mining and city network stretching above and below ground that served to act as a home for Mankind on these barren planets. Unfortunately, life in the colony-cities is truly heinous for any man living anywhere but on the very upper levels (the top 1% dwell here) and the colony-cities would be rightly considered a massive, twisting steel prison, designed to trap men in its bowels as well as defend them from the elements outside. These colony-cities are considered to be utterly priceless centers of industry and population among the worlds seized by Mankind, and only an utter fool would mandate the destruction of one without extreme deliberation before hand. Unfortunately, they tend to be extremely heavily fortified, making it a difficult task indeed to seize one - in reality, most colony-cities are ignored in war time, and change hands once the peace treaty has been signed and sealed. WAR Of all the great and constant changes present in the Solar System, only one thing remains an ever present, concrete finality. War. War has remained relatively unchanged over the centuries of the New Colonial Era - it tends towards being exceptionally bloody, fairly stagnant and above all, inconclusive. IN THE DUST Planetside combat takes place in the vast stretches of uninhabited territory upon the colonial worlds, where men butcher each other in long, winding trench networks and in mobile battles of formation. Indeed, modern infantry armour is so reliable that it is possible for an infantry regiment to march into point blank range while under small arms fire while taking an acceptable number of casualties. The true killers of men are less the rifles, and more the great artillery pieces and high caliber machine guns, which mow down soldiers in the tens of thousands, especially as they advance in their pristine ranks. Trenches tend to be a mixture of high tech fortifications with proper washing and eating facilities, along with actual air, and literal holes in the ground. Tanks and the like are often deployed to shield men as they advance, but these hulking and slow moving vehicles tend to find themselves targeted by enemy artillery, leaving infantry to make the long march alone. IN THE STARS Combat in the stars is an entirely different entity - great dreadnoughts are issued forth in a battle line, where they trade brutal and furious fire with their enemies opposite. Cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers serve these battle lines by screening the capital ships and fighting enemy support forces, even going so far as to launch flotilla attacks against the main enemy line themselves, seeking to hammer home victory at every turn, by shell and by torpedo. In these great battles among in the stars, to lose even a single one of the precious capital ships known as dreadnoughts could be considered a defeat, and commanders must be careful not to expose their fleet to needless dangers. ESPIONAGE Mankind has, over the centuries, developed colonies over 4 billion miles of space, an incomprehensible distance. With warship and with soldier these vast empires are defended, but in reality they are maintained not by military power, but by the ideas of nationalism and loyalty, by the thin veil of regnal piety masking the sheer poverty of colonial life. This is a web carefully spun by spies and their masters as they dance a subtle and silent dance from one end of the galaxy to the other, a strange duel of intelligence and counterintelligence, as each side eagerly attempts to find out more and to influence and manipulate the people of their foes. After all, a ship will take years to cross the void, a directive from Earth can arrive in a matter of hours, and change the galaxy in a matter of days. THE COLONIES The principal of the colonies is rather simple - feed the homelands with wealth and glory. Across the Solar System, colony-cities harvest and refine resources to be used and spent at the behest of the home territories on Earth, wealth flowing along the great trade lanes into the beating heart that is Luna, to flood down onto earth and bring ever spiralling riches to the Great Powers. The colonial empires, however, are absurdly vast - a ship could take three years to fly from Mercury to Pluto - and control rests on a rickety mixture of espionage, military force and national sentiment. The colonies themselves are often resentful of their lot, and riots and strikes are not uncommon occurrences. LUNA Luna belongs to no man and no nation, instead she is regulated by a council of the Great Powers, in effect, fully neutral territory operating under international law. Warships are allowed to dock at the port on Luna, and many smaller powers pay for permanent berths for their warships, however, as with Earth, combat in forbidden upon or near her, and ships must remove themselves over the 2 million mile limit before they can engage in combat. POINTS OF INTEREST Pluto - Upon Pluto resides one of the greatest shipyards and military bases in the Solar System, as well as Commonwealth Far Rim Command. Pluto largely exists as the Key to Commonwealth dominion over the Far Rim. Phobos - Built into the rock of Phobos is one of the few shipyards that can challenge the Yards of Pluto, ship for ship. Phobos also serves as a major trade port, utilising a space elevator of gargantuan proportions to force trade to leave through her docks. Luna - International territory and the richest trading port in the Solar System. Thelpval - The oldest, most convoluted and confusing, not to mention most powerful, defensive network of trenches in the Solar System. APPLICATION Discord Name; Nation of Choice (and why?); Head of State: Head of Government: Ideology: Military statistics: Did you read all the information?; Suggestions or feedback?; TAKEN: COMMONWEALTH USSR 4TH FRENCH EMPIRE GREATER GERMAN EMPIRE USA

The ground, once good, dry soil, was so soaked with blood that it had turned into a veritable quagmire. So fouled was this land, the smell of the soul-ichor made even the Pati ill. Exitius could feel the spot, that unlucky place Marakarra had fallen, hewn in two by blood magicks beyond the ken of even the greatest the Kin Warmages. Divine magic had splintered divine magic here, and that distasteful residue lingered in the air, as the Lord of Dragons surveyed the lines of forts in front of him, considering the conundrum presented by that creature known as Mamo, he who dared to stand against the divine will of Exitius, he who dared to tend apart the scale and flesh of the God of Destruction's dragons, his most sacred imagery. The God felt little in the way of anger, simply a strange kind of curiosity. Clearly he must be a human of great will, to so use the gifts of Kaha-nu-Buhu. Still, he stood in the way of the great Venandi Legions, chiefest means of his amusement, and that would never do. Pondering the issue further, an idea came upon Exitius, and the Lord of Chaos soon found himself in the centre of the Royal Court of Archon, as god-touched nobility, guards and courtiers alike scrambled for weapons and arms to use against the great black Venandi now in their midst, coiled with vibrant red tattoos. Of them all, only Archon recognised his grandfather, and with an impatient gesture, the aging God-King quietened his court, as he fell to his knees in submission. For his part, Exitius quickly signaled the Court to rise - worship was not his primary motivation this day. "Against Carda you have marched, clashing violently with the Children of Kaha, her chosen faithful. Slaughter you have enacted upon her garrisons and her fortresses, butchering the wretched Pati like dogs and earning the pride which I feel for you - and yet you are turned back from that city by nothing short of a curate!" The displeased divine shook his head, while the others could but watch in trepidation. "It is not your fault, of course, that you cannot defeat Mamo, imbued with magicks beyond your ken, magicks that have existed since the first days of this world, when Yngbald filled the Void with that substance. You have done well, but the City still stands, and so long as it stands, the path north for the Venandi lies closed - muster your legions, Archon, and smash the First and Holiest of Cities as you would smash open a nut!" Exitius glared around the room, at faces too afraid to protest. Archon, however, was not the God-King of All Venandi for nothing. "Mamo slew one of my cousins, Grandfather, and routed her army - what use is there in throwing ourselves against those walls again, to be butchered by bolts of ichor?" The God watched his progeny closely, before nodding very slowly. "I will grant your armies two gifts, Archon, as I granted gifts to you at the beginning of your reign, and to Tyrannos himself at the beginning of his." With a flash of blinding light, an altar appeared before the court, set at the bottom of the Royal Dais. Powerful magic frizzled from the rough hewn marble, and there was a strange hum in the air, even as Exitius pulled a strange banner into existence and placed in upon the altar. "The first gift I give you is one of power! Each legion will, from this day carry a standard bearing a my dragon, as proof of your filial piety! Blessed with magical power, these standards shall serve as amplifiers to magic, and any legionary who fights under it will have their power increased drastically. A strange look came over the God then, as scale slowly replaced fur, and his eyes became serpentine and slitted things, colder and crueler than usual. "As for good Mamo, let it suffice to say that he has offered me great insult by slaying that which was not meant to be so easily slaughtered by mortal hands - your brothers and sisters shall feast on his flesh!" Exitius finished with a hiss, before disappearing altogether. Actions: -Create Artefact: To the Royal Court, Exitius gifts an alter made from stone, basic in appearance, but potent in design. The altar serves as a strange kind of conduit - upon it, Imperial Dragon standards, forged by the hands of Kin mage-smiths and each capped with a different variation of a dragon, are blessed and made into magical items. Specifically, the standards channel the power of the stone, and amplifies the magic of Warmages fighting underneath the standard by a fair proportion. 6 AP -Influence God-touched: Exitius calls upon the aging King Archon to once again rally his great legions against Carda in a huge campaign to conquer the city. 1 AP. -Influence God-touched: The Curate Mamo served not only as an obstacle to the Venandi, but as an insult to Exitius himself. He claimed the title of Dragonslayer, and the God of Dragons could feel the bestial fury of his dragons thrumming at the death he had wrought upon them. To this end, he summons his bloodthirsty children, the God-touched Great Dragons, and sics them upon Mamo, instructing the 11 of them to tear the Curate limb from limb, or at least weaken him enough to allow the approaching legions to finish him off. 1 AP

”The city of Ischyros has existed on her peninsula for over a thousand years, from her first days as a mere fishing village along the coast, to her life as a vast, sprawling metropolis, covering the Iris Peninsula from east to west. The history of Ischyrosi politics was, much like the history of Ischyrosi expansion, a convoluted and confusing affair. Ischyrosi politics can be said to have truly begun near 400 years before the Fall, in the days of the Town Council, which would, in time, evolve to become the Ischyrosi Senate. In her early days, Ischyros was ruled by a King, who was advised by the Senate. The last of these Kings, Parmenos, would become infamous in Ischyrosi history, and would be the primary reason for a violent hatred of royalty among the citizenry. Parmenos came to power in the Year 976, after the turbulence of the Fall of Symon had receded and Ischyros herself had already swollen vastly in size and power. He quickly established himself as a charming and charismatic ruler, winning himself many sycophants among the city’s Senators. He was, in reality, a cold and a cruel man, who would swiftly become famed for his debauchery and vice. Violence, murder, torture and worse, Parmenos’ opposition found themselves brutalized by the Tyrant, but he maintained his grip on power for decades, largely by ensuring the loyalty of the army. From this position of power, he forced the Senate into obscurity, often forcing Senators' daughters to become his concubines and relegating the great men of state to menial duties. Years of military campaign saw the tyrant King extend his rule of a vast sway of tribes and villages down what is now known as the River Isch, and to consolidate these gains and to protect his capital, Parmenos ordered the construction of a series of great fortifications. Around Ischyros, he constructed what would become known as the Parmenian, or the Tyrant's, Walls, buttressed by two major fortresses - Peismataris and Stoikos – and culminating in the citadel in the centre of the City, known as Kardiapolis. The final fortification to be constructed by the Tyrant was a vast fortress at the beginning of the Iris Peninsula, originally known as Parmenopolis, but known now as Kastropolis. The rule of the Tyrant would come to an end in the Year 1018 when, in a fit of rage, he ordered the Senate to commit suicide. Such an extreme step saw a glut of Senators join the opposition, led by the Senator Kastros, a man of iron will and godly fortitude. Rallying them in the benches of the Senate building, he enticed them to break the senatorial benches and to use the lumps of timber as clubs to beat their king to death with. What followed was a purge. The city garrison, largely loyal to the now rebel senators and the idea of a republic, threw their lot behind Kastros and executed many of Parmenos’ most loyal servants, sending his son and the few remaining of his henchmen fleeing from the city, to the half constructed fortress of Parmenopolis. There, they mustered thousands of men to retake the city and to declare Parmenos II as King of Ischyros. Their dreams were cut short when, at the head of a bare thousand men Kastros – given power and appointment by the newly revitalised Senate – sallied forth and, in a feat of pure military genius, brutally routed an army that had near thrice as many men as he. Parmenos II was slain, and Kastros ordered a series of crucifixions among the remaining soldiery and royal advisers. Kastros promptly returned to Ischyros in great glory, where he was given the first Ovation in the Senate, after he had declined the honour of a Triumph. Rather than seize power for himself, Kastros laid down the constitution of the Republic, becoming one of the first two Consuls in Ischyrosi history. Kastros would go down in history as the father of the Republic of Ischyros, and his legacy is forever immortalized in the fortress of Kastropolis. -The History of Ischyros, Volume 1, Chapter 6” The midsummer sun beat down on the cobbled streets as people bustled about their business in the heaving streets of Ischyros. Men, women and children scuttled around the cobbles, basking in the noon heat. Shouts, laughing and the general bustle of a huge city crowded the air and gave an upbeat, though claustrophobic air. This happy air blanketed Ischyros, and the many millions of citizens were oblivious to the heated arguments and debates raging close to them, high above in the colonnaded Senate Building. ”This Republic is built upon the backs of her people! Those people need, more than any condescending claims of national greatness, grain! The people need grain! And land upon which to farm it – land hogged largely by the land owning elite of this Senate, who own thousands of acres collectively, but prefer to employ vast numbers of slaves to farm luxuries, such as olives and oranges! Where is their concern from the national interest? Do they care nothing for the masses of this city, who fight the wars of the Republic and provide the majority of her tax income?” Thundering shouts and objections rang out across the floor, as men voiced either disapproval or echoed support. Sitting in their curule chairs, raised on a slight dais and facing the senatorial benches, the Consuls Aeropas and Koinos sat silently, offering none of their opinions. Aeropas was renowned as a leader of the Conservatives, while Koinos was famed for his sympathies with the Populists. Both were withdrawn from the debate, which had raged for days over the course of the session. ”This city is built upon the backs of her people – but it is financed by the purses of her senators! Over fifty percent of our taxes are raised from the incomes of the great estates, income born from the sale of fruit and oil, of grape and wine – are we to abandon these funds for the sake of mere grain? Already our coffers are forced to pay out vast sums of coin to give free bread to the people, what more do they wish?” Back and forth, to and fro went their arguments, one side desperate to enforce the limits of the state own land and to redistribute the vast estates to the Ischyrosi people, and the other eager to maintain their profits, upon which the entire Republic’s economy was primarily based. Senators, clad in their white togas, twice became so incensed of the argument that they had to be broken apart as they traded blows. ”Only a populist would believe dividing the estates to be the solution to a grain crisis!” Yelled one Senator, looking near fit to split his neighbor, who was loudly booing with the other men of the people. ”Perhaps we should let the citizens of Ischyros decide what they want? A plebiscite should be called by the Tribunes! Let us dispense with these formalities!” And finally, there was action from the Consuls, Koinos nodded his approval, but Aeropas stood, staring down upon the many hundreds of assembled senators, who had fallen silent under the gaze of their Consul. ”Since when has it been the policy of Ischyrosi Senators to bicker like angry children – on the very floor of the Senate, no less! Such actions are shameful, as are the suggestions of some that they should subvert the authority of this body which, though not laid down in law, acts often as the very voice of our people.” The Consul Aeropas gathered his purple toga and descended to the floor, while Koinos watched with narrow eyes. ”We are not so far gone that we cannot afford to be reasonable – most of our citrus fruits and our olives come from the south, while all of our grain is produced in the north. Here is what I propose – we will divide some of the northern estates for the benefit of the people, and leave the great coin earning estates in the south intact.” There was no explosive applause, but there was nothing in the way of massive objection either, and the bill of the Consul Aeropas was passed, in the Year 1500. Construction: -Merchant’s Guild – 10’000 gold -Censor’s Offices (Merchant’s Guild) – 10’000 gold Treasury: -Starting Funds – 30’000 gold -Expenditure: --Upkeep – 3'000 gold --Fortress – 2’000 gold --Buildings – 20’000 gold Total Remaining: 5’000 gold

Nation Name: Ischyros BRIEF History: Ischyros began as a small city on the banks of the Eye, a fairly unimportant part of the Symon Empire, which relied mostly on river trade to flourish. With moderate industry and better than average craftsmen, Ischyros came to prosper over the years, leading it to slowly grow as the rivers and the roads pumped life into the city. Somewhat ironically, the fortress of Kastropolis had existed many years before the foundation of Ischyros, and it provided the urban centre with a great deal of protection – a situation the politicians of Ischyros would soon come to be thankful for. Ischyros remained neutral as civil wars raged throughout the Symon Empire, quickly becoming the focus point for large bands of refugees and immigrants desperate to escape the turmoil of a collapsing Empire. What had once been a small fishing city on the banks of the Eye swiftly blossomed into a great and sprawling urban centre, and perhaps the largest city in a by now crippled Symon Empire. Unfortunately, this was taken as an insult by some, who used conflict and disorder to launch raids and attacks on the city, usually being turned back at Kastropolis, but succeeding in sacking the city more than once. This state of affairs led to the rise of the only King of Ischyros, a warrior by the name of Parmenos. A hard man, Parmenos quickly extended his sovereignty well down the river and almost to the coast, while fortifying his capital city against further incursions. However, the harsh nature of his rule soon led to his assassination, and gave the people of Ischyros a certain distaste for royalty. Parmenos, however, had left one thing of note behind, the massive fortifications known as the Tyrant’s Walls. Nation Culture: The Citizens of Ichyros are a proud and reliable people, well versed in the arts of trade and of making money. While they are not particularly over zealous in religious thought, they do make up for this with copious offerings to their chosen God of Magic, mainly so they can swiftly forget about him again. A people of middling height and olive skin, it is often the thoughts of invaders that the people of Ischyros are ill suited to war, a thought quickly remedied. Fiercely protective of their independence, the Citizens are as liable to support the conquest of a potential threat as they are to allow its continued existence. Human Or Humagi (Describe Humagi): Human Nation Government System: Ischyros is a democracy, in a rather strange and backwards fashion. Power, in theory, lies with the people of the city to make decisions, however the Peoples’ Assemblies often accept the advice of the Senate – in theory a body with no legislative power, in reality a body with extreme influence over legislative power – a group of men who held their positions by means of their wealth and their election to public office. The Senate and the Assemblies were, in turn influenced by the Council of Sorcerors, a group with no right to interfere in political matters, but who interfered so often and so extensively that it seemed they did. Economy: 4 Economically, Ischyros has an extremely strong economic base, and by rights should be absurdly wealthy from the amount of tax that poured into the coffers. Unfortunately, the citizens of Ischyros were an awkward and contrary bunch, and much of this coin is paid back out on things such as public works and the grain dole. Ischyros cannot, unfortunately, boast of great wealth as she squandered more than half of her yearly treasury. (30’000 gold) Education: 4 On average, education belongs to he who can afford it in Ischyros. Most of the upper-lower classes can read and write, a status afforded to them by the wealth of their parents. On occasion, one may find a few lesser citizens who are literate, reading is not usually considered an essential skill for those of the lesser occupations. Size (include rough area on map): 8 Ischyros controls sparse territory, but has an unbelievably dense population. Millions call the vast city their home, and it is undoubtedly the greatest urban centre in the world. The great lake known as the Eye is the beating heart of the city, and it is common for whole families to live and work on the lake, while there are many farms along the banks, there is, however, no urban concentration comparable to the City of Ischyros, all other settlements taking the form only of small villages and towns, made to make fishing and farming easier. Of a population of 4’500’000, all but 500’000 live within the walls of the city itself, the rest scattered over the limited territory occupied by the City-State. https://imgur.com/a/d1LexC2 Military: 4 While not a massive military power, Ischyros boasts a fairly strong army and a strong series of defenses. In the city itself, the Tyrant’s Wall protect much of Ischyros, along with the three Great Fortresses spread along the city’s perimeters. To the immediate south of the city lies Kastropolis, a large fortress designed to act as the first line of defense for Ischyros. A strong army is maintained by means of the Citizen-Levy – an onus placed upon each man of a certain age to maintain arms and armour in defense of his homeland. Typically, men are expected to serve for five years, to then be dismissed back to a civilian life. Interestingly, only the better off classes join as the Ischyros Comitatenses, well trained and equipped regular infantry, while the lower classes join the army as Limitanei and skirmishers. 3’000 Medium Infantry(Comitatenses), 3’000 Archers(Limitanei), 4’000 Light Infantry(Limitanei) Mysticism: 1 Religion and magic play a moderate role in the City of Ischyros. While the Council of Sorcerors wields much influence over the Senate and the Lower Assemblies, most citizens think but little of magic, preferring to perform the basic acts of piety and to continue on with their lives, leaving the tending of the God of Magic to those who actually practice magic. Key Figure 1: Aeropas, an influential senator and general, rival to Koinos. Key Figure 2: Koinos, an influential senator and general, rival to Aeropas. Key Figure 3: Tyrimmas, an ancient scholar and head of the Council of Sorcerors. Unique Unit: Palatini Comitatenses Extremely well trained and disciplined infantry, the Palatini Comitatenses represent the absolute cream of an Ischyros Legion, and find themselves well led and equipped. They are professional soldiers, unlike the citizen-soldiers of the Ischyros Army, and it is a status that shows. ((Replaces heavy infantry, nothing particularly special except great discipline.)) Hidden Fruit: Lichi

OHIO -The Ohioan Army adopts a new standard issue firearm – the M1863 Springfield Rifled Musket. -The Ohioan Army is expanded by a further 16’000 infantry and 4’000 cavalry, many of them officers and troops formerly of the Hoosier Army. In addition, several regiments of artillery are created – 40 rifled cannons, 40 24pdrs, 40 Gatling guns and a further 80 12pdr Napoleons are distributed to the new batteries. -The Cincinnati League is officially former, with both Ohio and Indiana surrendering their foreign policy and military powers to the League, along with many economic and civil powers, essentially forming a new union. -Michigan is “invited” to join the Cincinnati League.

EXITIUS, LORD OF DRAGONS Time twisted and turned, always turning, never ceasing. The Creator and the Concept had long been forgotten to the minds of mortals, and even Gods had pushed ponderings about time to the back of their heads, always there but rarely mentioned. But time flowed onwards, changing the lives of the mortals and warping the great canvas that was the World-Sphere, always effected by the games played by the Divines, a constant chess board of moves and counter-moves, actions born from planning or born from vitriol and spite. Occasionally even born from a strange form of incestuous infatuation. For endless millenia, violence and innovation, debauchery and charity, life and death had reigned supreme over the World-Sphere, arguably beyond the actions even of the few all powerful beings of divinity. The world had settled into a pattern – perhaps that had been the intention of Ao, eons ago, for now even the Gods playing their games were a part of this great game of creation. But such games were tiring, and the Lord of Dragons was weary, desirous not of more world altering action, but of rest. And yet, his ears were never closed. Powerful muscles rippled beneath his scales, as Exitius idly sailed across the world he had helped to build. The Mountains of Madness, near the chasm of Ixthalizzum, called to him – his home since the Destruction of the Great Mountain on Exitium, and the planting of his Venandi creations upon the Great Continent. There was a cave, in those mountains, where he would lay his weary head and rest for a few centuries, until plots called his attention once more. For now, his son Tyrannos had work to do, to unite the tribes and to fulfill his destiny. At least, that had been the intention of the Dragon God, until the cries of a dying dragon drew his eyes and his will towards her. She lay bleeding, her organs torn and ripped from the sheer effort of her exertions. Exitius peered into her nest, hoarse breath expelled from his nose as he sniffed the air, surprising himself with what he discovered. For her part, the she-dragon vainly struggled, desperately trying to haul herself to her feet to defend the very thing that had killed her – her eggs. For a long moment, Exitius simply admired her courage and her love, and considered saving the Mother but her soul already lay in the grasp of the Lion Vu’u, and it was not proper to interfere in such matters. Instead, the Lord of the Great Serpents offered comfort. ”Pass in peace, my child, for your eggs will know no harm so long as I protect them.” Surprised, the mother-dragon considered her Lord for the brief seconds remaining in her life, before passing to the realm of Kaha-na-Buhu. It fell now to the God of Destruction to indulge in the principals of Ixthalizzum. The irony of a God of Death adopting a nest of dragon eggs was somewhat overwhelming, even to Exitius himself. Examining the eggs brought more surprise – most nests only had one to three eggs, and the Mother-Dragon had laid a huge brood. Scale slithered over scale as Exitius coiled himself to gawk and to ponder. A brood of ten eggs. Ten gods had laid the foundations of this world, and surely this must be a consequence of the ever fluctuating threads that made the World-Sphere spin. This was a brood deserving not only protection and survival, but also blessings. Centuries would pass in this cave, as the Lord of Dragons (and now apparently the God of Adoption) raised his brood. The hatchlings, basking daily in the divine power of a god quickly showed attributes somewhat different to typical dragon young. They quickly proved themselves faster, stronger and far more intelligent than their fellows. Exitius watched their growth with not just the interest of a curious god, but also the interest of a fond father. Each year showed the little dragon hatchlings grow at thrice the rate of a normal dragon, until it became time to cast them from the Nest. And cast they were, sent by their regretful father into the wider world, with greater gifts than even the strongest of dragons. They were blessed, not just with greater strength and size, but also great speed and intelligence near that of a sentient race, with a natural affinity for the cruder and more elemental forms of magic. They grew thrice the size of other dragons, but the power with which they had been bathed had created negative effects. All dragons were ageless, but typically were not fast breeders. These few children of Exitius would never have eggs of their own, and they would feel great blood thirst and treasure lust, prompting them to raid and slaughter as they willed it. They would, over time, come to have names outwith the thoughts of their fellow dragonkind, known to mortals as Morrigan, Arawn, Banba Catha, Camalus, Gywnwas, Epona, Myrrdin, Taranus, Fianna and the greatest of their number, Dagda, known collectively as the Great Dragons. For these many decades and centuries, Exitius had rested himself, enthralled at the prospect of raising his young hatchlings, but now the God uncoiled himself and left his nest, to continue his plotting anew. Long centuries had gone by, and long had his dear son, Tyrannos, been dead. His grandson, Archon I - who history would come to know as Archon the Great - would experience the full benefit of his favour. It was late in the night, when the Lord of Dragons appeared before his offspring, cast in the fur of Venandi, rather than the scale of dragon. Archon, for his part, woke swiftly to gawk at the intruder, who seemed nearly to burst with magical power. “You are my flesh and my blood.” a voice thundered through the mind of the young God-King. ”For this, you shall receive my divine favour.” the voice was followed by a violent flash, that exploded across the eyes and mind of the God-Touched, rendering him near unconscious. ”You may use this gift as you see fit, Child, but know that i crave some form of amusement for my troubles. I suggest you experiment with my generosity on your nearest neighbours – in Carda.” And then, as if it had never happened, Exitius was gone and Archon I was left alone to ponder what he had been given. ACTIONS -Exitius adopts and raises a young brood of orphaned dragons. Growing up bathed in his divine power, however, changes them. These dragons, known as the Great Dragons, become God-touched with an unusual thirst for blood and treasure. They possess great power, but cannot have hatchlings of their own. Bitter and violent, as well as extremely intelligent and dangerous, these dragons cannot be tamed, and it will be a brave mortal that attempts to slay them. 8 AP to make god-touched. -Exitius grants to his Great Grandson, Archon I of the Venandi, and the Venandi in general, a great inspiration and talent for military organisation. Archon will lay the groundwork for incredible military systems and organistions over the course of his reign, revolving around what will become known as the Venandi Phalanx. 4 AP for gift of technology. -Exitius instructs the King of the Venandi, Archon I, to make full use of his gift, going so far as to suggest he launch a true invasion of Carda. 1 AP for influence god-touched. 2 AP

-The Naval Bill of 1919 begin, and the Royal Navy begins to decommission the 50 pre-dreadnoughts still in service. The process is done deliberately slowly, to allow new ships to be built in their place. 8 Revenge-class Dreadnoughts and 4 Queen Anne-class Dreadnoughts are the first ships produced to replace the pre-dreadnoughts. In addition, the Royal Navy announce the brand new Britannia-class Dreadnought, and 5 are laid down in 1919. The new Britannia-class: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N3-class_battleship -The Colonial Rearmament Bill of 1919 is also announced, and the British Raj, and the Dominions of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand begin active campaigns to expand their militaries. In South Africa, an army of 40’000 mounted infantry is planned, capable of moving quickly and efficiently across the African Veld. In addition, a further 200’000 natives are recruited into Native Colonial Divisions. In addition, the British Raj expands the British Indian Army from 500’000 men, to 600’000 men. The ANZACs are once again established, with 100’000 men being the target for active forces. -A Naval Reform Committee is sent to the Russian Union, headed up by Admiral Jackie Fisher and consisting of prominent officers, engineers and designers from within the Royal Navy. In addition, all member states of the Russian Union are guaranteed a discount in British Shipyards. -The Gibraltar Garrison is once again reinstated in full force, and a new Mediterranean Squadron once again sets sail for Gibraltar, remilitarising the Med. 3 dreadnoughts, accompanied by 2 battlecruisers, 10 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers and 24 destroyers make their base at the Rock.