Talk:Konig des Menschen Chapter VI (Map Game)/@comment-31011021-20200629171938

Ahuric Empire

 * Government and Policy:
 * Monarch: King Aqeel Ahurid
 * Administrative Situation: The conflict has come to a head. It was clear this was where we were headed for. Things are more confusing than expected before, however, as the conflict between the King and his former Viziers have taken the spotlight of the civil war. In terms of administration, it has effectively collapsed. Intricate governmental affairs are now simplified and run entirely differently.
 * Population: 7,235,439
 * Policy and National Affairs:
 * The Last Straw: With King Aqeel back in Ahuras, overseeing affairs, the corrupt viziers were effectively handcuffed, no longer able to continue their own activities. The King noticed the bizarre nature of the administration. The expenses didn't line up with what remained in the treasury, unnatural occurences had occured. Why were people sent off the way they were rather than punished? Why were some agreements made with merchants when there were more favourable ones? The King, justifiably angered, ordered the viziers to be arrested and brought to his quarters. A wrench was thrown in the plans as the viziers had escaped prior to the arrest, travelling to Adnan. As the order was publicised, the viziers proclaimed the King a tyrant and declared their own government based in Adnan. They struck an alliance with the Zealous Zoroastrians, securing support from Ha'il to Duqm. The Arzhamites in the north deployed their own militias in Rafha and Eridu, while the Elamite Arzhamites supported them. The army had been reduced by a considerable amount too, as many had mutinied, deserted, or retired. The reformists also raised a considerable number of supporters in Al-Khor and Al-Wakra and early on, small fights broke out between soldiers and reformist protestors. The situation was ripe for warfare.
 * High Level Negotiations: With the Zoroastrians and Vizierites allied, early on, the war is in their favour. They besiege Rafha and advance close to Jubail. The King, after a year of negotiations, secures the Arzhamites as allies. This is not enough to stop the Vizierites as they continue their advance. However, this does free up the 1st and 2nd Sipah from the Elamite region. With this influx of troops, the Jubail front is pushed back. The reformists continue their protests in Al-Khor and Al-Wakra, breaking into conflict, intesifying to the point where they control most of the peninsula. In Al-Khor, only the Royal Palace and Royal Harbour remain under Imperial control. The King negotiates a ceasefire with the Reformists, hoping for some agreement later down the line. While this is happening, the Avestans funnel in resources to the Vizierites through Duqm, strengthening them.
 * The Sipah in the Midst: As the civil war started, the 3rd Sipah, the most trained Sipah, was caught off guard. They were training and campaigning in the desert as the warfare started. The general in charge ordered a march towards Qarsoon territory, where they could recieve further instructions. As they entered Qarsoon territory, pretty unhindered as they travelled through a scarcely populated stretch of land, they recieved instruction to form a salient in enemy territory and attract them there. Almost no one from the army lay down their arms and deserted. These are well trained and organised troops that have campaigned with the King himself multiple times, fanatically loyal to the imperial cause. With the full strength Sipah striking into the side of the Zoroastrians, little advances are made towards Masirah and Muscat. The Sipah, setting up base in the region, frequently raided supply caravans for any attack on those regions. As a result, the Zoroastrians made it almost an order that before any offensive on the Omani front, the Sipah must be removed. Thus a standoff has occured in the region, with the trained Sipah, trained in irregular warfare, ambush and raid the numerically superior enemy. Losses are hard to recoup and hence, after the initial disturbances and being focused on by the enemy, the Sipah is much more conservative in their attacks.
 * Naval Dilemma: The navy has suffered many losses. We now have ships, without the men to run them. Many ships were also lost as a result of mutinies. All fleets are ordered to either Malepdiva or Masirah, to calculate losses and what we retain of our fleet. If we keep enough of the fleet, moving to blockade Duqm would be a great plan. It turns out, the fleets are too damaged to move on Duqm as of yet, perhaps in a bunch of years we should be capable. We are in a difficult situation where we have ships that have no men, yet not enough undamaged ships to deal with the enemy fleet. We have older ships, but they would be of little use in naval combat against the Vizierite and Avestan fleet. For now the ships are restricted to defence. In Masirah the ships are being repaired. We come up with the bright idea of using the ships for diplomacy. Perhaps if we send ships to the Imerina, they, who clearly have the men, will raid the Avestans enough to disturb their supply to the Vizierites. We send 2 Harbis, our cannon ships, to Imerina. As they are about to arrive, the King also decides to send the older ships to them, the ships with 2 frontal cannons, not of use for naval combat, but useful for raiding. They had been used for trade, but are now returned to military use and 10 of them are sent to Imerina. They will take a while to arrive (not this turn, they'll arrive next turn). They carry gunpowder with them, because that'll come in handy.
 * Military:
 * Imperial:
 * Personnel: 55,625
 * 1st Sipah: 
 * Swordsmen: 3,000
 * Spearmen: 2,500
 * Bowmen: 2,500
 * Fire Lancers: 350
 * Crossbowmen: 1,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,000
 * Heavy Cavalry: 500
 * Ranged Cavalry: 1,500
 * Cavalry Fire Lancers: 85
 * Cannons: 10
 * Trebuchets: 20
 * Polybolos: 25
 * Overall: 14,000 Troops
 * 2nd Sipah:
 * Swordsmen: 6,000
 * Spearmen: 3,500
 * Bowmen: 3,500
 * Fire Lancers: 393
 * Crossbowmen: 1,500
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Heavy Cavalry: 500
 * Ranged Cavalry: 1,500
 * Cannons: 10
 * Trebuchets: 20
 * Polybolos: 25
 * Overall: 20,001 Troops
 * 3rd Sipah: 
 * Swordsmen: 4,000
 * Bowmen: 2,000
 * Fire Lancers: 500
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Ranged Cavalry: 500
 * Cannons: 20
 * Polybolos: 10
 * Overall: 8,110 Troops
 * Muscat Task Force:
 * Light Cavalry: 3,000
 * Ranged Cavalry: 3,000
 * Heavy Cavalry: 500
 * Overall: 6,500 Troops
 * Muscat Fleet:
 * Gharaq: 80
 * Harbis: 50
 * Fire Ships: 30
 * Light Transport Ships: 20
 * Heavy Transport Ships: 2
 * Grane Fleet:
 * Harbis: 50
 * Gharaqs: 70
 * Fire Ships: 30
 * Light Transport Ships: 40
 * Heavy Transport Ships: 10
 * Zoroastrian/Avestan:
 * Personnel: 63,620
 * Army of Atash (Fire):
 * Swordsmen: 3,000
 * Spearmen: 4,000
 * Bowmen: 2,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Ranged Cavalry: 1,000
 * Cannons: 20
 * Overall: 11,060 Troops
 * Army of Aban (Water):
 * Swordsmen: 3,000
 * Spearmen: 4,000
 * Bowmen: 2,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Ranged Cavalry: 1,000
 * Cannons: 20
 * Overall: 11,060 Troops
 * Sha'abi Army (People's Army):
 * Militias, armed with swords: 15,000
 * Militias, armed with Bows: 10,000
 * Militias, armed with Spears: 5,000
 * Militias, on horse, with swords: 5,000
 * Swordsmen: 1,000
 * Bowmen: 1,000
 * Ranged Cavalry: 500
 * Overall: 37,500 Troops
 * Avestan Fleet (All ships pledged to the Vizierites are also part of this fleet since the Vizierites don't have a port):
 * Harbis: 50
 * Gharaq: 70
 * Light Transport: 80
 * Arzhamites:
 * Personnel: 23,120
 * Rafhan Militias:
 * Militias, armed with swords: 3,500
 * Militias, armed with spears: 1,500
 * Militias, armed with bows: 1,000
 * Swordsmen: 1,000
 * Bowmen: 1,000
 * Cannons: 20
 * Overall: 8,060 Troops
 * Eridu Militias:
 * Militias, armed with swords: 5,500
 * Militias, armed with spears: 1,500
 * Militias, armed with bows: 3,000
 * Swordsmen: 2,000
 * Bowmen: 2,000
 * Cannons: 20
 * Overall: 14,060 Troops
 * Elamite Fleet: 
 * Light Transport Ships: 10
 * Harbis: 2
 * Vizierites: 
 * Personnel: 38,500
 * Liberation Army:
 * Swordsmen: 8,000
 * Spearmen: 4,000
 * Bowmen: 4,000
 * Fire Lancers: 100
 * Light Cavalry: 2,000
 * Heavy Cavalry: 500
 * Ranged Cavalry: 500
 * Cannons: 50
 * Overall: 19,250 Troops
 * Army of Adnan:
 * Swordsmen: 8,000
 * Spearmen: 4,000
 * Bowmen: 4,000
 * Fire Lancers: 100
 * Light Cavalry: 2,000
 * Heavy Cavalry: 500
 * Ranged Cavalry: 500
 * Cannons: 50
 * Overall: 19,250 Troops
 * Reformists:
 * Personnel: 6,000
 * Al-Khor Militias:
 * Militias, with swords: 2,000
 * Militias, with bows: 1,000
 * Swordsmen: 1,000
 * Bowmen: 1,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Overall: 6,000 Troops
 * Military Operations and Domestic Affairs:
 * Civil War:
 * Round 1, Vizierite Offensive: As war gets declared, the Viziers quickly secure an alliance with the Zoroastrians, who have a large population at their disposal. Quickly, with large militias set up by the Zoroastrians, they go on the offensive. The west, a part of the country that has not had many Arzhamite settlers, is very anti-arzhamite, and hence is the power base of the Zoroastrians. The east has very close trade links with the Arzhamites and hence do not have the fanaticism of their western counterparts, and do not see the Arzhamites as enemies, instead supporting the Imperial faction. The alliance between the Zoroastrians and the Vizierites quickly sweeps into Imperial and Arzhamite territory, surrounding Rafha and forming a bulge approaching Jubail. The Imperial Forces were caught off guard, with the 1st and 2nd Sipah, the bulk of the army, campaigning in Elamite territory. Jubail was briefly captured by the Zoroastrians, before it was recaptured by the 1st Sipah, transported across by what remained of the fleet. The initial successes also brought the Avestans into the fight. Seeing as they could succeed in ushering in an Extremist Zoroastrian Theocracy, they start supporting the Vizierites through Duqm. They retained a healthy fleet, a large store of money, thanks to the Viziers, and a healthy yet small force of troops. During this, the Zoroastrians also prepared for an attack towards Masirah, to secure the docks and cut off the trade into the Gerrhan Gulf. They pushed forwards from Duqm, but met two wrenches in their plans: The 3rd Sipah and the Muscat Task Force. The Muscat Task Force was the cavalry force in charge of trade protection. Being in Oman, and being entirely cavalry, they quickly moved westwards to confront the invasion. They caught the Zoroastrian Army of Aban by surprise and caused them to retreat. Attempting to recover, they returned to a position where their supply trains could reach them. Little did they know, the 3rd Sipah had been campaigning in the desert nearby. They raided the supply trains, causing considerable economic and strategic damage. This halted the Zoroastrian invasion in the Omani sector.
 * Round 2, The Lines of Battle: The change in the strategic balance was caused by an alliance between the Arzhamites and Imperial forces. This freed up many troops from the Elamite region. The Imperial troops are stretched pretty thin, however. The well trained Imperial troops manage to recapture territory near Jubail. Their advances are cut short by the introduction of Vizierite troops, who are better trained than the militias of the Zoroastrians and Arzhamites. There is now a standstill between both alliances. The Arzhamites did manage to halt the advances towards Rafha, and now retain a small region around Rafha. This attracts a lot of Zoroastrians, with the entire Army of Atash participating against the Rafha Militias. Horror stories spread about the situation (might write a small anecdote about this, depending on demand). The Eridu Militias hold their border near Eridu, and hold down the enemy. All troops on both sides are now committed. At this time, Reformists also protest in Al-Khor. It becomes slightly concerning for the King, but he doesn't have troops to move into the city.
 * Round 3, Well Timed Rebellion: The Reformists, under Ahmad Najjar, led a large protest in Al-Khor, like the many times prior. The nearby guards did not really take much notice initially. However, the number became larger, and larger. Suddenly, a man on a raised platform, Najjar, directed a number of protestors to take over nearby administrative buildings. Caught off guard, many of the guards in these buildings escaped without putting up much of a defence. The old Gerrhan royal palace and harbour, occasionally used by the King or his family, remained under Imperial control. These were close to eachother, a large complex. Najjar organised his protestors and effectively captured all of Al-Khor other than the Royal Complex. Attempts were made to enter the complex, but were beat back by the Arzhamite Harbis and guards on the ground. The protests, which had by now been bloated to thousands of armed militias, moved towards Al-Wakra. The governor, a reformist sympathiser, effectively joined their cause. There were some fights in Al-Wakra, but it was pretty bloodless. They pushed forward, wanting to force the government to accept their demands. Eventually, they had captured the entire Al-Khor peninsula.
 * Round 4, Ceasefires and Uncomfortable Agreements: The closest city from the peninsula is... Jubail or Ahuras. If Jubail fell, the entire line of defence up north would collapse. If Ahuras fail, the entire Imperial Faction could collapse. The Reformists had secured a strong position, a strategic position. For now, they were held back by large forts built in the Gerrhan Era along the end of the Peninsula. They didn't have any cannons to beat these forts, yet. The issue was, they could be arranged, built, and hauled to the forts relatively quickly. Something needed to be done about the situation or the war effort could collapse. Along the Omani Front, the Muscat Task Force had made their way close to Duqm, nearly cutting off the city from the rest of the Zoroastrians. However, they were called back to confront the Reformists, being the fastest force in the military. Their entry meant that the Zoroastrians could recover their losses on the Omani front. The Muscat Task Force, once again achieving the element of surprise, made considerable gains in the Peninsula, capturing a lot of the western section of the Peninsula. This advance damaged the Reformists, especially their legitimacy, considerably, with small fringe groups advocating a return to the Imperial cause, or further attacks against the Imperial forces, fighting in the streets of Al-Khor. The Reformists, in an attempt to retain what shred of strength they had, negotiated a ceasefire with the Imperial Forces. By this point, the Zoroastrians had effectively brought the border in the Oman region back to initial borders. With the ceasefire negotiated, the Muscat Task Force returned to defend the Omani sector. They could no longer grab the initiative, as the Zoroastrians had strengthened themselves with militias and they didn't suffer from surprise attack inflicted by the Task Force, recovering their forces.
 * Current Situation: Wars in the desert are not usually faught with long drawn lines of troops staring eachother down, instead being faught with flexible and fluid borders, raids and incursions. Hence putting a border to the conflict is difficult. In the civil war, there have been a lot of larger engagements, ones that neither side are used to. A lot of poorly trained militias also participate. The Recapture of Jubail is an example of this inexperience put to display, where a smaller Imperial force grabbed the initiative and routed a large force of militias. The current situation is one of standstills. Villages are captured on either side, but recaptured shortly after. There have been no lasting assaults, all were promptly recouped. By the end of 1459, both sides are recovering from the battles of the previous years, and hence no large offensive takes place.
 * Economy:
 * Imperial: Muscat has been our main trade port, and it remains as such. Thus a lot of effort is put into securing it, with the navy and Muscat Task Force vigilant in defending it. It hasn't been threatened, so our trade, while not healthy or anywhere close to pre-war levels, should suffice to supply us with money, in addition to the large stores of money in Ahuras and Grane.
 * Vizierites and Zoroastrians: Our only port is the port of Duqm, a port that is supplied by the Avestans and provides income to us. We focus our navy on keeping the port unblockaded, and deploy more troops to protect it. The Imperial troops came close to cutting Duqm off, something we shall not risk anymore. The biggest sector of our economy is donations, people dedicating their harvest and money to us, so we can succeed in our goals.
 * Arzhamites: The Elamite region is one relatively untouched by the civil war. Other than early fights between us and the Imperial troops there, Elam continues to supply us through Grane, where we can move the supplies to Eridu. This is all good and fine for the Eridu Front. Rafha, however, is a different question. We can not get any considerable amount of supplies to Rafha. Rafha has wells, and grows food, but it is threatened by enemy troops and these farms could be lost, causing a shortage in good, not enough to supply the troops.
 * Reformists: We don't command a fanatical population, and can't rely on donations for income. We must trade, through third party ports, risking ships. We effectively run a government, recieving money from administrative affairs, permits, taxes, and the such. Lacking major trade income does damage us, but we don't field a massive army, and as such, can make do.
 * New Research:
 * Easier Fire Lances: Research Halted
 * Cannons: Research Halted
 * Diplomacy:
 * Imerina: We are horrified and caught by surprise at the Avestan attacks. They are not the same as us and we are outraged. However, we lack the resources to do much. We send 2 Harbis to the Imerina, with a group of advisors to teach how to use the cannons. Before the Harbis arrive, we send 10 older ships with 1 or 2 frontal cannons, loaded with a considerable amount of gunpowder and 100 crossbows, along with more advisors. Our hopes are that the Imerina can use these ships to threaten the Avestans. These will arrive in 1460/1461.
 * League of the Desert: All sides of the conflict attempt to sway the League to their side. While it is likely that the members won't join in, they could... Up to y'all and your rolls
 * Malepdiva: The Imperial Faction strongly urges the Malepdivans to join in on their side. The King attempted to form strong ties with the Malepdivans and provided them with autonomy, and thus expects the Malepdivans to at least some support, even if it does not include any soldiers or ships.
 * Bits to take note of: The Order of Avesta should have expanded much further in the Seychelles and are now effectively independent. ​​​​​​​
 * Bits to take note of: The Order of Avesta should have expanded much further in the Seychelles and are now effectively independent. ​​​​​​​