Konig des Menschen VII (Archive 3)

Turn XI: 1650-1655
LINK TO THE MAP

Mod Event

 * Realms of the Distant Past in the Ever-Changing World: As more discoveries are made, the way people look at the world changes as a result. The small community continues to spread, and with the globalization that is occurring, the profession of what would become known as paleontology begins to spread around the world
 * The Mystery of the Island Chain (Part 5): Darwin continues to observe the local Dodo population and performs a test. In a region known for its population of snakes, he has been feeding the snakes dodo flesh before introducing a live dodo to the territory. Despite feeding them its meat, the snakes do not touch the dodo, mainly due to the unfamiliarity with the bird. From this experiment, Darwin continues to investigate how predators acquire a taste for their prey.
 * Thirst for Adventure: Established in 1647, this company allows mercenaries to have a semi-stable job as well as the opportunity to see the world, though many do not last long, due to the nature of the work
 * Silver Leopard (Part 8): When little Ludwig von Falkenhayn landed into Mikaela's arms, she thought he is young enough to be able to be taught correctly. By that, she thought he would be able to absorb information the most at his age. It turns out she was mostly correct, as Ludwig only paid half attention to her lessons. To her frustration, he always wants to wander off and explore, quickly forgetting what he was told. Over time, she does realize this could be his way to get to know his environment before anything else, which is fine. The almost completely lack of cautious behavior, however, was not fine. What is wrong with him? She would ask herself, as she checks underneath the beds in the bedrooms or behind trees in the forest. Mikaela was getting old and she knows it, how many times have others before her has the same thought while training a little one? Mikaela would typically find Ludwig underneath things once she figured out the pattern. He was young boy with an overactive imagination, but Mikaela, even while not a parent to him, would need to give him a good scolding. His parents were there but distant and far away constantly, trying to figure out their personal affairs first. The final time he decided to wander off was in the forest nearby. It was hard to find him in the forest, even more frustrating than the house. It was when Mikaela was wandering is when she heard the dreadful roar. A bear is attacking little Ludwig, she immediately came to the rescue. At her age, nearing 80 years old already, her movements had already deteriorated that a misstep caused a bit of pain in her hip. Quite enough for a claw to swipe at her, she felt herself being launched into the log of a tree, luckily not hard enough to cause anything beyond bruising. As she looked up to see a silhouette of her would-be killer, it suddenly fell limp to the ground with a sword lodged in the back of its head. Ludwig probably did pick something up, and somehow he is quite good at marksmanship and throwing things. She blacked out, last seeing little Ludwig's face full of sorrow and regret. When she came to, she found herself in her bedroom, physicians already working around her. Ludwig was standing in a corner ashamed. When she called him over, he flinched like she had hit him. When he finally arrived next to her bedside, Mikaela simply gave him a pat on the head and congratulated him. It was one of the few times she did. For now, she needs to rest. He has a few more years to learn, it would go by quicker the sooner he learned his lesson. Mikaela wished she had a little bit of more time.
 * Asvesir (Finale): This was not good, the wound she sustained from that battle had appeared deeper than she thought. The best physicians would say that it would be too late for her to fight again, at least without risking her arm" falling off" or whatever the rumors say. The Asevir looked over her right arm, the arm that supported her sword hand was mangled at best. But the explosion set off by those who terribly resist her efforts for the cause has damaged it. She was lucky to be shielded by one of the bodyguards, but the explosion was large enough to not prevent any sort of heavy injuries, at least in the proximity she is in. Once again, she cannot lead her troops in the front anymore. The first time is when she had a child, an heir to the throne of Adytia, the second time is when she injured her leg from falling off a horse (to be fair she fell from the cliffside due to an ambush), now the third is her arm... and that had done it. Unbeknownst to her, it would be the final time she would lead her troops as her generals started to take up a more active role. She thought back to her thoughts many years ago, whether her legacy would be one that is remembered like Attilla, Bulijin, or Tulaani. But as she thought about it, she is saddened to think that in the grand scheme of things; she might be lost to history. Yet her greatest contribution was quickening the expansion and starting the effort of uniting the cause. But she cannot shake one thought in the back of her head; could she have done better?
 * The Teacher of Teachers: Iyán spoke to Oyúnayt in his dreams. Though seperated by two thousand years temporally, this second coming of Iyán was, to Oyúnayt, no less divine, no less the greatest symbol of the religion of the Daevites.In his dreams, Iyán embraced Oyúnayt, gently rubbing his latticed scars upon his face, scars Oyunayt had gained for his outspoken criticism of the Empire of Adytita. But what mattered was that Iyán had implored Oyúnayt to venture to the lands to the north of Adytum. But when Oyúnayt crested that final hill, the last of thousands, and beheld the man he had seen in his dreams - he were suddenly unsure. Of what, he could not say exactly. Iyán's second coming was too young, too wild, with a starved look about the eyes; and yes there was wisdom but entangled with an ancient fury that burned and burned to no end. You imagined that he could eat the world. You worried that he would lose himself in the doing. Suddenly, a warning. When you spun around the soldiers were already bearing down on the hill; whether for him or for you, it didn’t matter. In the span of four or five footfalls they would be here. All this way for nothing. You faced them in disappointment, because at least he was real but it would never mean anything- With a sudden cry, the first soldier raised his spear, and plunged it into his own chest. Some of the gore splashed upon Oyúnayt's face, blewn into his crippled figure by the cold and heedless wind. he soldier's companions watch their comrade twitch on the permafrost, mouth welling up with blood, and fled. When it was over, Iyán said something to Oyúnayt. Something Oyúnayt couldn’t hear, as there in the tall grass, for the first time in many years, he fell down to he knees and wept. Great heaving sobs that wracked his shoulders with shudders and pulled the breath from your lungs. Oyúnayt wept for the senselessness of it all. Perhaps it truly was better for him, his prophet, and the world that they be killed, just as it was better for Oyúnayt to have lost everything so he could find Iyán. But after a long while, Iyán put a slender hand upon Oyúnayt's shoulder. Oyúnayt looked up, and had to look up again, as there was no scorn. No pity, even. Just a strange sort of kindness. And now Oyúnayt knew that in chosing to come here, he had judged correctly.
 * Horse Racing: The first Palio di Siena horse race is hosted in the eponymous city in Italy in 1650.
 * Saint Peter's Flood: Two separate storm tides hitting the Dutch and Northern German coastlines in February and March of 1651, causing mass devastation and flooding cities e.g. Amsterdam. These two separate occurrences were thought to be one single event due to the confusion brought about by the localised use of the Julian Calendar. 1651 was also the year of numerous other floods affecting the region.
 * Sleepless in Oxford: Indicative of its rising popularity in Europe, the first coffee house is opened in Oxford in 1651.
 * Black Monday: On April 8, 1652, a solar eclipse occured which partially obscured the view of the sun in the entirety of Europe, northern Africa and some parts of the Near East. Most notably, totality (the sun being blocked entirely) occured on a narrow strip on Earth's surface for just under three minutes, bisecting the Albionite realm and passing just by the western coast of Vestkyst.
 * Pereyaslav Council: After a costly victory in 1652, Khmelnytsky's aspirations of an independent Hetmanate was dashed as it may be too weak to protect itself against strong neighbours. With this, he and the council looked to Keisaria for military protection, in exchange for a pledge of allegiance. This led to the Pereyaslav Council in March of 1654, which occurred concurrently with negotiations with the Commonwealth. The result led to the Cossack Hetmanate (or the Zaphorozhian Sich) becoming part of the Varangian Confederation, essentially seceding from the Avaro-Vedenan Commonwealth, taking with them Zaphorozhie and left-bank Vedena, including the city of Kyiv.
 * Delft Thunderclap: On 12 October 1654, a gunpowder store in the city of Delft, part of the Dutch Republic, exploded, triggering about 30 tonnes of gunpowder to blow, destroying most of the city. Over a hundred was killed and another thousand was injured, though most of the city's residents avoided harm as they were presumably away visiting markets or fairs in The Hague. The explosion of Delft was most remembered for taking the life of famous Dutch artist Rembrandt's most promising pupil, Carel Fabritius, and destroying most of his works.
 * The Abenankan Hunt: An import of gunpowder firearms numbering nearly 70 are sold into the Abenankan hunting scene. Its introduction replaces the use of the quiet crossbow, which can be prone to missing or misfiring. However, with a gun, it is far easier to fell deer or mooses in one fell swoop. The guns themselves are something of a luxury commodity, and exists mostly in the hands of richer figures. The only source of gunpowder into Abenanka are no more than 4 merchants from Japanese ports, limiting the prevalence of gunpowder firearms outside hunting.
 * Nynorrøn/Ásatrú Resurgence: The renouncement of most Christian rites and Odinism in favour of returning to the ancestral beliefs of Norse, colloquially dubbed "Nynorrøn" (New Norse) among other names, continues to spread throughout Scandinavia. Iceland, a region never particularly fond of Christianity and has always fostered closet folk communities embraced this change whole-heartedly, calling it Ásatrú [Æsir faith] (though adoption of figures vary slightly and sometimes do not involve the Æsir at all). By 1655, Nynorrøn (and its slight derivatives) have made a presence in southern Svearike, most predominantly in the cities of Kalmar and Visby and even has small communities near Stockholm, where it is also known as Forn Sed [the old ways]. With the conversion of the Faroes and Hjaltland in this time period, small Ásatrú circles have formed in the Orkney Islands and along the eastern coast of Caledonia in Albion, though their presence is nowhere enough to be significant yet.
 * Council of Kaunas: In 1652, riding on the wave of the Cossack Hetmanate's revolt, the Vilnian Revolt, having occupied most of the Lithuanian polity and the city of Großlingen, initiated negotiations with the Avaro-Vedenan Commonwealth. The demands include full independence for their region, added with Großlingen and a sliver of land to the east of Vilnius serving as buffer. With the costly Zaphorozhian Revolt not having dealt with, the Commonwealth's envoys were essentially twisted into agreeing to the demands, as they could not afford to deal with another fervent rebellion. With that, the Duchy of Lithuania was born.
 * The Coalition's Failure: Paraiba was dead. Long Live Vera Cruz. The Coalition had utterly and completely failed. Not just due to internal division, but due to being externally outmatched - not by the old ways, where the Europeans would wait for supplies from across the oceans for months - but by new ways, where their people were coerced, coralled, practically brain-washed into building their weapons of war. Vera Cruz had won the war with the Coalition of the Paraiba thanks to that kind of slave labour, on top of a stratified system of slavery that occupied both African (largely of Kongolese and Ghana-Ashanti origin) and Meridian slaves; the flip-side being the total disintegration of the alliance during its initial splendid victories at Campina Grande and against other Iberian forces. The Viceroyalty of Vera Cruz now stood atop the region, its king already considering total annexation of many of the internal vassilages that made up its extent inland. It would be a triumph for the ages - having been the first to truly defeat the Indigenous 'savages' - and would be one which expanded his influence at home. Giddy with the prospect, he forged ahead with the idea, formally integrating the Sao Tiago and Campos territories into the Salvador government. His ambitious lay grander, however - raiding parties. Claims that would stretch so far that he would control everything from the Amazon to the Southern Brazilian Highlands. Claims that ignored that the people were still there. The Second Coalition formed instantaneously after a mass migration of refugees emerged from the Cruzite conquest of the region. This time, it had the same weaknesses - and with even less ambition, only desiring to control their own borders - but it barely worked due to a single reform. Modernisation in the region had been painfully slow, European-style bunkhouses and slave plantations difficult inland; but the ensuing internal power struggles had seen the Tapirape tribes come to prominence, implementing an informal plantation system. They adopted the Iberian sugarcane and cotton plantations - earning their ire - but it also ensured the position of a new Chief. A new King. Identified in its opposition to Vera Cruz, only three of the major tribal groups opted into this frankenstenian union. The rest stayed in the Second Coalition as informal allies. But the Tribal State of Bahia - which was beginning to fashion itself as an Iberian-style state to oppose the Iberians - was now, if shakily, in existence, that day in 1652.
 * Bleeding Kemahana: By 1648, the Kemahanans are unable to resist the growing tide against them, and as such surrender to the Cheyenne and their allies, relinquishing their northern holdings (not including Tanacoma). Kemahana is officially hewn in twain; the eastern half named Yokantamakah and the western mountainous nation still called Kemahana. However, emnity in the region runs deep, and the Cheyenne find themselves unable to rein in their allies. Regarding the peace deal as too lenient, the Arapaho and other tribes formerly under the boot enact a mass genocide. The Lakhóta and Dakhóta too engage in the chaos, wishing to plunder whatever gold remains within Kemahana. Though the bloodbath ends by 1650, the two Kemahanan splinter states see their populations decimated. During the 2-year period, a mass exodus of Kemahanan refugees flee to Indetah and Wasatsa, the latter immediately expanding and conquering much of the Great Basin.
 * Swiss Guard Revolt: In response to Venus' overtly horny exposure and conduct laws, a cabal of disgruntled Swiss Guards, including some of the closest to her, conspired and one night, committed "unspeakable acts against the Supreme Pontiff", lasting up until near dawn, when they would make their escape from the city.
 * The Deer Skull's Calling: Across the lands of the Council of Three Fires, people bordering the northern wilderness begin to feel an insatiable hunger, satisfied by nothing. The antidote? Human flesh. This phenomena becomes so widespread that even the chieftain of the Ojibwe, Niigaanii, falls victim to it. For a month, he ordered the raw flesh of his subjects to be brought to him, which he voraciously consumed while a cascade of tears rolled down his face. Eventually, he disappears, along with many of the thousand or so people afflicted by the hysteria. The next year though, strange warriors clad in armor fashioned from bark and bone appear on the border of the Council of Three Fires...

NPC Event

 * Vestkyst: Herald from Vestkyst talked of a scandal in the court. What was it, murder, adultery, bribery? No one knew, but this event led to several nobles losing their heads and a few prospective heirs to be disinherited. One of them, however, would soon use the relationships he have forged over the years to attempt to stake a claim on the traditionally matrilenially inherited Vestkyster throne, purely out of spite for what "injustice" they have done to him.
 * Akecheta: In 1651, they forge an alliance with the Lakhóta and Dakhóta Agallates, a result of their common ancestry and culture.
 * Taxacola (Iberia):Settlers and Explorers still travel north from the region, though settlements are no longer just restricted to mining. Trade outposts are set up so that each settlement is able to communicate or connect with each other, at least those with safer travels
 * Sibir (Varangia): By now, the presence of outposts established by traders, explorers, and settlers from Varangian Sibir had been steadily increasing in Ngangasan. Neighboring Varangian states began a prospective integration of the region for its increasing value in lumber and fur trade over the past decade. Most inhabitants in the region, in turn, have already begun to see the value in Varangian goods and rely on Varangian trade.

Brethren of the Coast

 * Government: Pirate Confederacy

Captains:


 * Samuel Axe (1604-) (p. 1625-1630) (p. 1638-): Axe is an Albionite man who joined the Brethren in 1625, helping establish the Providence Island colony in 1626, as well as being one of the captains with the least losses during the invasion of Tobago. He managed to escape Vieques during the rebellion, making landfall on Culebra, which was later attacked by Agüeybaná; he then wrecked near Haitiana, becoming a buccaneer and going back to the Brethren in 1638, suggesting and managing to capture Tortuga in 1639, opening another business opportunity for the Brethren in buccaneering. He became the de facto leader of the Brethren, not pirating much anymore, but still managing the administration.
 * Hendrick Lucifer (1583-) (p. 1627-1639): Lucifer is a Dutchman who joined the Brethren in 1627. He is known for his strange strategies using fire and smoke. Lucifer is a Poseidon cultist, who wants the Brethren to expand and raid more territories. He is known to be writing a history of the Brethren to record the piratical achievements of other members; he helped on the invasion of Tobago, staying with the Brethren to become even more affluent. He has a son who is part of his crew. He retired to Sint Maarten in 1639, giving his crew and ship to his son Jacob. His writings were published in 1651, being about the history of the Brethren and its members from its foundation in 1599 until he left it in 1639, including detailed accounts of most of the town raids.
 * William Rous (1606-) (p. 1631-1642): A former merchant for the Providence Island Company, who joined the Brethren in 1631. He helped on the 1633 raid of Mérida, getting very few casualties, and then climbing up the business ladder to become the head of the Providence Island Company in 1642. The Providence Island Company has prospered under him, even starting whaling enterprises in the Atlantic. With this new corporate power, he offered his islands (Providence, Neogranadines and Rattan) to the Albionites in 1654 in secret.
 * Cornelis Jol “Houtebeen” (1597-) (p. 1632-1654): Jol is a Dutchman, who joined in 1632, he planned and executed a raid on the Spanish city of Mérida, which left him with one leg, getting a pegleg and being called Houtebeen by his Dutch peers. With the loot from the Mérida raid, Houtebeen then made a base on the Rattan island chain. He then became the only pirate on the Brethren to operate out of Socorro, raiding many spanish towns in the western Taxacolan coast. He went back to the Shattered Isles in 1653, asking to be replaced by Lucifer. He retired in 1654, going back to the Netherlands with a big fortune.
 * Martín González (1613-) (p. 1632-1648): A former slave from Havana, he joined the Brethren after being found at sea with a busted ship by Lucifer. He helped attack Mérida in 1633, after which he kept the pirate ways. He accompanied Moses in the expedition to the Rio Grande, gaining a fortune and starting to plan to retire. He retired in 1648, chartering his ship in the PIC.
 * Jacob Lucifer (1620-) (p. 1638-): The son of Hendrick Lucifer, trained by his father in pirating and fighting, he has also been trained as a commander by García. He became captain in 1638, with 18 years of age, becoming the most accomplished pirate of Tortuga so far, managing to capture even galleons with his smaller crew. He fell in love with Sally Brown in 1649, starting to compose a shanty for her. He went to the Pacific in 1634, replacing Cornelis Jol as the chief pirate of Socorro.
 * Moses Cohen Enriquez (1599-) (p.1622-1623) (p. 1638-1646): a Sephardic Jew raised in the Netherlands, he joined Pieter Ita’s plan to capture a Spanish island in the West Indies, helping with most of his crew to settle there in 1623. He then was recalled in 1629 to send him on an expedition to the East, in which he wrecked his ship in a shoal in Northern China. He participated in the Wu-Naranga war in 1633, personally killing the Wu general Lin, contributing to the destruction of Beijing and getting a fortune. With this fortune, Moses manages to go back to Europe, buying a brig and sailing to the Shattered Isles, trying to dock at Vieques but being chased off, then going to Sint Maarten to learn where the Brethren is now located, learning of the existence of the “Providence Island Company '' which he suspects to be a cover for the Brethren. He was soon confirmed in his belief, as he was welcomed by García in 1638. He took part in the capture of Tortuga in 1639. He then led an expedition into the Rio Grande, incited by his memories from China, and the promise he made to Doan just before his death. The expedition ended in an Indetah town being raided, with Moses not being able to do what Doan asked him. He retired as a wealthy man in 1646, founding a feminine male brothel in Tortuga, which became a hit among the pirate crews and the Poseidonists of the island.
 * James Reiskimmer (1614-) (p. 1639-): an Albionite man from Providence Island, he was appointed captain of the Spear after Axe was given command of the Tortuga, he is the matey of Nathaniel Butler. He and Butler were sent on a diplomatic mission to Salé in 1639. He exchanged his ship for a small xebec during the mission. He converted to Poseidonism in 1635. He became captain of Butler’s ship, the Providence, leaving his ship, the Warwick to Axe’s matey Armando Rodríguez. He took part in the invasion of Jamaica, helping capture Amaico and then making a separate beachhead near Montego Bay. His matey Nathaniel Butler left him in 1652 for a wretched woman.
 * Nathaniel Butler (1587-) (p.1639-1644): a former merchant for the Providence Island Company, he was recruited in late 1639 after he bought a galleon in Bristol. He and his matey Reiskimmer were sent on a diplomatic mission to Salé in 1639. He and Reiskimmer converted to Poseidonism sometime after their arrival. Butler retired from active piracy in 1644, becoming the de facto governor of the Bermuda settlement. He left Reiskimmer in 1652, marrying a woman and retiring to Bristol.
 * William Jackson (1608-) (p. 1639-): a former Albionite privateer, who joined the Brethren after the end of the League War. He is one of the few pirates in the Brethren to bring women as crewmembers.  He spearheaded and planned the Invasion of Jamaica for years, planning a capture of Amaico and then a three front invasion from the West, East and South. He took control of the central front, advancing to Amaico and capturing it with not many casualties. He went north from there, capturing some fine lands.
 * Abraham Blauvelt (1611-) (p.1640-1644) (p. 1648-1651): A former Dutch privateer, he was the main force that proposed to help fund a Miskito rebellion, even temporarily leaving the Brethren in 1644 and founding a town in the Miskito Coast named after himself. The Miskito War was successful, with him becoming consort of the Miskito queen Guillermina in 1651.
 * Pierre François (1613-) (p.1642-): One of the two former French privateers that joined up with the Brethren in 1642. He, along with Bras-de-Fer captured the contents of a pearl diving galleon, the Concepción. The two french men also contributed to the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique.
 * Alexandre Bras-de-Fer (1612-) (p.1642-): The latter of the former French privateers that joined the Brethren in 1642. He and Pierre captured in 1643 the contents of the pearl hunting galleon Concepción. A decent negotiator, Bras-de-Fer managed to get in contact with the French crown, offering them two colonies in the Shattered Isles in 1646, doing an invasion with the support of Francois in 1647. His ship was caught by a waterspout near the Bocas del Dragón in 1648, after which he and his crew managed to capture an Iberian galleon that had come to the island for freshwater.
 * Thomas Veal (1618-) (p.1643-1654): A mutineer from the Plymouth Territory that joined the Brethren and became very rich as he was the second best captain in the 1640-45 period. He was part of the expedition to the Rio Grande, being the most aggressive of the bunch, and having his shantyman write a song about the voyage. He accompanied the other Albionite members on the Invasion of Jamaica, hoarding more of the wealth than any other captain. He left the Brethren in 1654, with rumours of him burying his treasure somewhere in the Shattered Isles as a source for cash. He soured relations with the Brits by raiding a couple of their ships.
 * Richard Ingle (1615-) (p.1644-): a former merchantman from the Plymouth Territory that joined the Brethren in 1644, he took part on the Invasion of Jamaica, being the first to arrive onto the Amaico harbor, then helping on the invasion by making a beachhead in the east of the island in 1651. He also attacked Albionite ships, souring relations.
 * Armando Rodríguez (1606-) (p.1644-): Samuel Axe’s matey, he joined his crew around 1626, back when the Brethren was only in Vieques and Culebra, he rose through the ranks, becoming quartermaster in 1629. He managed to escape Vieques with Axe, staying in Culebra for a couple months until being attacked and escaping. He was one of the crewmen who wrecked in Tortuga, falling in love with Axe, marrying him in 1634. They all returned to the Brethren in 1638, making the matelotage official. He was given the Warwick in 1644, becoming a captain in his own right. He helped in the Battle of Amaico, going with Ingle to the east.
 * Sally Brown (1625-) (p.1649-): A half Carib woman, who had a rough life on British Montserrat, having to rob to live and making a small gang. She robbed the wrong person and was forced to escape on a sloop, ending up in Little Athens and becoming a member of the Brethren. She joined Lucifer on the trek to Socorro, falling in love with him. They married at Socorro in 1653, being very publically
 * Phillippe Bequel (1628-) (p. 1650-): a Frenchman from La Rochelle, he went west after the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique, to join these famed privateers. He arrived on the island of Tortuga in 1650, becoming a minor pirate there.
 * Moïse Vauquelin (1626-) (p. 1651-): another Frenchman, from Normandy whom went to the Shattered Isles in 1651, inspired by the success of Bras-de-Fer. He started raiding the Yucatan and Lenca coasts.
 * Bartholomeus de Jager (1627-) (p. 1653-): a Dutch privateer, who joined the Brethren in 1653 after capturing a Portuguese ship, while losing their original ship.
 * Roche Veracruzaan (1624-) (p. 1654-): a Dutch born pirate, who raided the coasts of Vera Cruz for some years, until finally joining the Brethren in 1654

Insurance: the Brethren offers insurance to all of its pirates, with different payouts for different injuries


 * Leg: 300 pieces of eight
 * Right Hand: 200 pieces of eight
 * Right Arm: 400 pieces of eight
 * Left Hand: 100 pieces of eight
 * Left Arm: 200 pieces of eight
 * Eyes: 70 pieces of eight per piece
 * Ear: 20 pieces of eight
 * Fingers: 40 pieces of eight, 50 if the thumb is lost
 * Death: 1000 pieces of eight

Cash Payouts: during violent boarding some actions are paid for, including scuttling captured ships, destroying enemy flags and managing to kill enemy captains.

Territories:


 * Providence and Neogranadine Islands (1626-)


 * Description: a colony founded by pirates, which now controls much of the islands near it, it relies on the Providence Island company which provides supplies for all the pirates.
 * Population: 500


 * Ethnic Composition: 100 Hellenes, 200 Albionites, 100 Dutch, 80 Miskito, 20 Chorotega
 * Religion:  100 Poseidonists, 40 Hellenics, 160 Protestants, 30 Poseidonists


 * Little Athens (1632-)


 * Description: Little Athens is an island near New Hispania, named after the Greek kingdom on the island, it was founded by Captain Polycrates, and it functioned as the de facto headquarters of the Brethren until 1640
 * Population: 400
 * Ethnic Composition: 100 Spanish, 130 Greeks, 70 Dutch, 90 Albionites, 10 Taíno
 * Religion: 100 Poseidonists, 140 Protestants, 90 Hellenics, 50 Catholics


 * Rattan (1634-)


 * Description: Rattan is an island chain north of Lenca that was brought under pirate control by Jol and Rous, which is a good base for raids on the Spanish Main, it has a Mayan population which has not been converted.
 * Population: 300
 * Ethnic Composition: 60 Dutch, 40 Greeks, 140 Maya, 60 Abionites
 * Religion: 50 Protestants, 80 Poseidonists, 40 Hellenes, 130 Maya


 * Tortuga (1639-)


 * Description: A decently sized island, captured by the Brethren in 1639, after the return of Axe. It is lightly populated, with only about 70 people living in it. The island is a prime buccaneering spot, due to its proximity to New Hispania
 * Population: 680
 * Ethnic Composition: 60 Spanish, 60 Greeks, 30 Taíno, 160 Albionites, 140 Dutch, 20 Jews, 200 French, 30 Caribs
 * Religion: 20 Jews, 150 Poseidonists, 170 Protestants, 40 Hellenes, 10 Taíno, 130 Catholics,


 * Rum Cay (1640-)


 * Description: a mid sized island in the colony of New Valcania, it was traded off of the Albionites, with the caveat to not reveal it is controlled by pirates, the agreement is starting to fall, which might mean the Albionites will get it back
 * Population: 250
 * Ethnic Distribution: 80 Osnerolese, 60 Lucayans, 10 Greeks, 80 Albionites, 20 Dutch
 * Religion: 120 Catholics, 30 Hellenes, 60 Protestants, 40 Poseidonists


 * Bermuda (1642-)


 * Description: A mid sized island east of Eldia, which was colonized in 1642 to get a careening stop for PIC ships that trade to Europe and Africa
 * Population: 200
 * Ethnic Distribution: 100 Albionites, 60 Dutch, 40 Greeks
 * Religion: 90 Protestants, 60 Poseidonists

Navy: 14 ships, totalling 242 guns and 717 crewmen


 * Frigates: The newest type of ship in the world, boasting better swiftness and maneuverability than galleons, while also being able to match them in firepower. They use the fully rigged ship sail plan. These are becoming common on the Albionite and Dutch navies, with the Brethren having two of them. They can carry over 40 cannons easily, but ours are not of that size.


 * Swansea, frigate, 28+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain William Jackson


 * Galleons: Heavy two decker ships that are starting to fall out of use due to their obsoleteness. They are cargo ships which are less fast than frigates and less cargo capable than flutes, but they are still common among the Iberian navies. These ships can carry from 20 to a rumored 80 cannons, which are rumoured to be the cannon count of an Agoustan super ship launched over a century ago.


 * Providence, galleon 26+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain James Reiskimmer
 * Phénix, galleon 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Alexandre Bras-de-Fer


 * Flutes: Dutch-built cargo ships, which can be outfitted with quite a few guns for a great effect. These ships have three masts, in a usual fully rigged style. they carry from 10 to 30 guns and can carry much more booty than a usual frigate of the same size.


 * Haarlem, flute, 24+4 guns and 76 crewmembers, captain Abraham Blauvelt


 * Xebecs: Ships imported from the Barbary Coast, which have two or three lateen sail masts as well as oars, which are manned by paid sailors. They are faster than usual brigs, but they cannot have stuns’ls. These usually carry over 16 guns, with the biggest one reported having 30. Currently the couple of Samuel Axe and Armando Rodriguez have control of both the xebecs on the Brethren.


 * Tortuga, xebec, 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Samuel Axe
 * Warwick, xebec 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Armando Rodríguez


 * Brigs: The main ship used by the Brethren, a two mast ship that uses mains’ls mostly, with a gaff sail in the aft side mast. Many of the Brethren’s captains use stuns’ls with their ships, effectively increasing the ship’s swiftness by a large margin. These ships are usually outfitted with over 14 cannons, with the bigger ones going all the way to 26.


 * Eenhoorn, brig 22+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Jacob Lucifer
 *  Mercurius , brig 16+4 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Cornelis Jol “Houtebeen”
 *  Oostelijker , brig 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Moses Cohen Enriquez
 *  Laconian , brig 16+2 guns and 46 crewmembers, captain Thomas Veal
 * Victoire, brig 14+4 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Pierre Francois


 * Ketches: Double masted ships, which use only gaff sails usually, as well as mains’ls in rarer cases. These are a middle point between sloops/cutters and brigs, usually having between 10 and 18 guns for the non merchant versions


 * Le Havre, ketch 10+2 guns and 35 crewmembers, captain Moïse Vauquelin
 * Veracruz, ketch 16+4 guns and 55 cremembers, captain Roche Veracruzaan


 * Cutters: Single masted ships, which are similar to sloops, but use one or two mains’ls in that mast as well as the jibs. This ship is usually called sloop by some, but the line is blurry, with it being technically correct to call them sloops.


 * Aventurier, cutter 6+4 guns and 25 crewmembers, captain Phillipe Bequel


 * Sloops: Ships with only one mast, which do not have a bowsprit, as well as a gaff sail, and from one to three jibs as well. These ships are small in size, not being able to carry many tons of cargo. This ship is commonly confused with cutters.


 * Reformation, sloop 4+2 guns and 20 crewmembers, captain Richard Ingle
 * Tobago, sloop 2+4 guns and 18 crewmembers, captain Sally Brown
 * Consciencia, sloop 6+4 guns and 28 crewmembers, captain Roche Veracruzano

Economy: The Brethren’s economy relies mostly on piracy, along with buccaneering, plantations and fishing.


 * Buccaneering: 10 tons of pig hunted and sold with different preparations.
 * Piracy: 60 ships captured, mostly Iberian, but a couple captains have started to capture Albionite ships.
 * Fishing: around all the territories of the Brethren, many fishing boats are deployed, catching many fish for local consumption
 * Plantations: there are major sugar plantations on Rattan and Providence, as well as a mid sized vanilla plantation on Little Athens.
 * around 80 sugar crates are produced by the plantations a year, along with around 20 of vanilla

The Providence Island Company: a cover for the pirate operations, the Providence Island Company is a trading company that employs Albionite and Dutch sailors for selling the stolen goods in Europe and the non-Spanish colonies.


 * PIC Stats
 * 30 trading ships chartered
 * Construction of Shipyards: The PIC finishes shipyards on Tortuga, Providence and Little Athens
 * Whaling: Two more whaling ships are chartered in the company to hunt whales east of the Arcadian colonies.

Diplomacy and War:


 * Miskito (Hispania): The invasion keeps going, with most of the Dutchmen contributing. The coast was pretty much completely occupied by 1648, releasing them as a vassal native kingdom. The kingdom was ruled by the Native queen Guillermina, who married the Dutch captain Abraham Blauvelt.
 * Albion: A good partner of the Brethren, who have sponsored us in the past, even selling us the Rum Cay. Many of our privateers and pirates have originated from Albion and its colonies. The relations are starting to dip down as some pirates (Veal and Ingle) have started to attack Albionite ships. William Rous and the Providence Island Company offered to sell the company, along with the territories of Rattan and Providence.
 * Netherlands: One of the most reliable partners we have ever had, with many of their privateers joining the Brethren, and the Brethren helping them get many of their Antillian colonies.
 * Salé: A smaller ally, which we sell slaves to. They are pirates like us, but they mostly keep to the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Our xebecs have completely originated from them. 200 Chorotega slaves and 100 Taínos are sold to the Corsairs.
 * France: We give them the two captured colonies, they have started to become a good partner, giving us access to their ports including for careening and trading.

New Arrivals


 * Phillippe Bequel (1650): a French sailor from La Rochelle, he joined the Brethren in 1650 with his 6+4 gun cutter Aventurier
 * Moïse Vauquelin (1651):  a French man from Normandy, he joined the Brethren in 1651 with his 10+2 gun ketch Le Havre
 * Bartholomeus de Jager (1653): a former Dutch merchant from Tobago, he joined in 1653 with his captured 6+4 gun sloop Consciencia
 * Roche Veracruzano (1654): a Dutch pirate from Groningen who pirated for a couple years in the Vera Cruz colonies, with everyone knowing him as “Veracruzaan” regarding the area he raided, as he has not revealed his full name. He brought with him his 16+4 gun ketch, the Veracruz

Events


 * Invasion of Jamaica (1649-): starting in 1649 and led by Axe, an expedition is sent to capture Jamaica, with 6 ships, totalling 126 cannons and 326 crewmen. A british privateer, Robert Venables joins in on the invasion with his 20 gun, 60 crewman brig. The chief town of Amaico is the first attacked, with the captains attacking from the Montego Bay, from the East and from Amaico itself.
 * Johnson’s Tale: Daniel Johnson, a man born in Bristol in 1629 had served as a merchant sailor for several years until his ship was suddenly attacked and captured by an Iberian warship in 1654, being enslaved and sent to New Hispania to work in the plantation, planning an escape to the pirate controlled islands of Tortuga and Little Athens.

The Great Journey: Lucifer and Brown go east, to get to Salé, arriving to Viridi Litore, which they careen their ships on. Some months later, the pirates leave and raid some ships near Iberia. They then sailed south to Salé, staying for a fair few months, in which there were many parties. They came back, going north on the way and nearing Vinland, from where they went south, docked and repaired at Bermuda, and at last arrived back at Tortuga.

'''Rolling Down to Old Salé! (Shanty Time):''' a Shanty describing the events that Lucifer and Sally Brown’s crews went through, being written in 1654 after they all arrived back at Tortuga.

It’s a damn tough life, full of toil and strife

We pirates undergo

And we don’t give a damn when the gale has stopped

How hard the winds did blow

Where homeward bound tiss a grand old sound

On a good ship taut and free

And we don’t give a damn when we drink our rum

With the Girls of Old Salé

Rolling down to Old Salé, me boys

Rolling down to Old Salé

We’re southward bound from the Arctic ground

Rolling home from Old Salé

Once more we sail with a Northerly gale

Through the ice, and wind, and rain

Then coconut fronds, them tropical lands

We soon shall see again

Six hellish months we’ve passed away

On the cold Abenanka Sea,

And now we’re bound from the Arctic ground

Rolling home from Old Salé

Rolling down to Old Salé, me boys

Rolling down to Old Salé

We’re southward bound from the Arctic ground

Rolling home from Old Salé

And now we sail with a favouring gale

Towards our island home.

Our mainmast sprung, our raiding done,

And we ain’t got far to roam

Our stuns’l bones is carried away

What care we for that sound?

A living gale is after us

Thank God we’re homeward bound

Rolling down to Old Salé, me boys

Rolling down to Old Salé

We’re southward bound from the Arctic ground

Rolling home from Old Salé

Azure Cathay | Hošoi Hanarga
Events (EXPAND TO READ NARRATIVE EVENTS
 * Government: Constitutional Monarchy
 * Emperor/Hošoigan: The Hošoigan, literally meaning “King of Four Corners”, is the supreme ruler of Azure Cathay, bound by a set of unchangeable laws referred to as the “Founding Injunctions” or the “Cathayan Constitution”. He is elected by the Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers from among the children, nieces, and nephews of the previous Hošoigan.
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Sirke [Posthumous] (b.1561) (r.1579-1601)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga | Khan of Great Radiance (b.1582) (r.1616-1649)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Haryansol | The Badger Emperor '''(b. 1610) (r.1649-)
 * Viceroy of the Mongols/Monggoli Noyan: The Mongol Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Central Asia on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (b.1587) (r.1616-1639)
 * Kiyat-i Ejei (b.1587) (r.1639-)
 * Viceroy of Minaye/Minyagi Noyan: The Minayan Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Minaye, a region roughly corresponding to OTL Northwest China, on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Zhou Baitian (b.1612) (r.1636-)
 * Administration: The administration of Azure Cathay is hierarchical in nature, with four levels of government, the county, prefecture, province, and national. At the lowest level of administration, the county level, the local magistrate and his council are elected by the citizenry from a small pool of candidates, all of whom are local government officials who have applied for the position. On higher levels though, governance is based around sortition. Those within the council who apply for the position of delegate to the next level are chosen via lottery, though the provincial council sends no delegate to the Deliberative Council. Below are a list of institutions within the Cathayan government. Positions of leadership within the bureaucracy are determined through a series of exams meant to create a cohesive state ideology and to test managerial skills, though it is not uncommon for noteworthy citizens to be appointed directly by the imperial government.
 * Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers/Dorosi-gwa Amban-i Hebeng Mancan: The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers, sometimes shortened to the “Great Council” (Haba Mancan) or simply, the “Deliberative Council” (Hebeng Mancan), is the greatest policymaking body within Cathay. The Deliberative Council advises the Emperor, proposes laws and policies, and elects the new Hošoigan. In addition, it technically has the power to force an abdication of the Emperor. The Deliberative Council consists of 24 automatic members, with a maximum membership of 36.
 * Censorate/Silhagūn Jibi: The Censorate, also called the Reviewal Department, is both a supervisory agency. In addition, it reviews edicts and commands received from the Emperor as a review mechanism against Azure Cathay’s founding legal codes. They are directly responsible to the Emperor, unlike the Six Ministries who are responsible to the Chancellor of the Secretariat. The main purpose of the Censorate is to check administration at every level to root out corruption and malfeasance, as well as to oversee the appointment and election of officials.
 * Secretariat/Nyalmang Iri Jibi: The Secretariat, also referred to as the Civil Affairs Department, is the highest executive institution of the imperial government. It is managed by a Grand Secretary, with two Deputy Directors who assist them in their administrative duties. The Secretariat’s purpose is to put into effect commands and edicts from the Emperor.
 * Five Ministries/Uca Jibyawi : The Five Ministries are the backbone of the civil government of Qing. The FIve Ministries are under the Secretariat, which is in itself responsible to the Deliberative Council and the Emperor. They are responsible for implementing policies and managing the Cathayan civilian bureaucracy. The Five Ministries are: the Ministry of Plenty responsible for economic management, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial system, the Ministry of Works, responsible for infrastructure and other such things, the Ministry of Posts, managing internal trade and the postal system, and the Ministry of Scholars, responsible for much of the administration around scholar-bureaucrats.
 * Economy: The economy of Cathay is primarily agrarian, though luxury items, iron products, textiles, cash crops, and pottery are a significant contributor to the Cathayan economy. In Amuria, Nanukai-Nabin, a system not dissimilar to Fengjian or sharecropping, is the prominent form of land ownership.The Cathayan government intervenes little in the economy, only occasionally directing corporate efforts and monopolizing certain resources to generate a stable source of revenue required for the running of the nation. In recent years, the putting-out economic model has gradually begun to be replaced by workshops as the demographic of those engaged in non-agricultural work has changed from freelancing farmers to those at the bottom of society seeking a stable source of income.
 * Currency: Jiha
 * Primary Capital: Habanisūn (de facto), Girincasa (de jure)
 * Regional Capitals: Habanisūn, Haisenwē, Alcuka, Miyoo Gasan (Kilemi Prt.)
 * Demographics:
 * Ethnic Makeup:
 * Narangga-nin (Amurian Koreanic): 45.2%
 * Amargi-nin (Non-Koreanized Tungusics): 8.0%
 * Solgo-nin (Joseonese): 3.1%
 * Ainu-nin (Nivkh and Ainu): 2.2%
 * Monggol-nin (Mongols): 7.3%
 * Nikan-nin (Chinese): 34.1%
 * Siyūnda-nin (Native Americans & Japanese) >0.1%
 * Population: 14,965,362
 * Total Urban Centers: ~2,000,000
 * Military: The military of Azure Cathay is deeply tied to its civilian governance. All soldiers are of the same rank as bureaucratic officials, and high-ranking Cathayan citizens are compelled to either serve in the military or become a government worker, which are seen as their natural professions. The Cathayan military is categorized by its maneuverability, small unit size, adaptability, logistic prowess, and focus on quick decisive victories, a product of its relative lack of resources and manpower. With much of Cathay's military now being composed of forces formerly under Wu Dynasty and the change in general strategy which followed, long-lasting wars fought over large fronts have become more feasible. Similar to the civilian bureaucracy, positions of leadership within the military are determined through a series of exams concerning military strategy and performance.
 * Eight Banners/Yeteri Dokcagi: The Eight Banners are the elite forces of Azure Cathay. The Eight Banners are organized by of four main colours; red, yellow, blue, and white, with a bordered and plain variety existing for each. Banner armies are under generals referred to as “Dokcagyujus". The banner armies have the same basic organizational structure as the rest of the Cathayan military. The smallest division of a Banner army is the company (Niru), consisting of 100 men. 20 companies (2,000 men) made up one regiment (Muldori). 5 muldori constitute a Banner (Dokcagi) with a total of around 10,000 men. There is little deviation from these numbers. Membership within the banner armies is mostly clan-based, meaning that only certain individuals from certain clans are eligible to become Bannermen (dokcagisi) with little exception. As such, the bannermen are effectively a hereditary military class. Banner households are exempt from select taxation but must bring their own equipment to battle when called to arms. Despite this, the composition of the banner armies are remarkably uniform - each soldier wields a sword or polearm with a bow, occasionally a rifle, and has knowledge of warfare on horseback.
 * Number of Bannermen: 79,600
 * Black Standard Army/Suksan Bolsung Saosimul: The Black Standard Army is a military force which draws members from Amurian and Joseonese recruits and conscripts. It is organized in a very similar way to the banner armies.Total Black Standard Army Forces: 176,000
 * Heavy Cavalry [13,000]: Cavalrymen armed with heavy armor and equipped with snaplock/snaphaunce guns. Used as Shock Cavalry.
 * Light Cavalry [44,000]: Mounted archers armed with Naranga bows, fire arrows, and a sabre. Occasionally used as backup infantry while dismounted.
 * General Infantry [60,000]: The Bulk of the Black Standard Army, arranged in flexible thin rectangular Pike-and-Shot formation to maximize firepower. Handles siege equipment rarely.
 * Skirmishers [20,000]: Units detached from regular formations during combat meant to harass enemy forces, armed with sabres and bows or muskets. Certain skirmisher units have begun to experiment with longer rifled small arms, though their usage is iffy due to maintenance issues. A select few skirmishers are armed with wide-barreled guns meant to fire finned rockets.
 * Artillery Corps [14,000]: Units operating field and stationary artillery (classified as all firearms requiring more than one person to wield). Also provided swords as a means of self-defense.
 * Logistical Staff [25,000]: Infantry serving in logistical and medical roles. Most often equipped with daggers, sometimes seen with wheellock guns in high-importance missions.
 * Imperial Navy/Hanarga-i Badassaosi: The Imperial Navy is split into two fleets, the Eastern Fleet and the Western fleet, with the former occupying the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk and the latter occupying the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The base for the two fleets are, respectively, Haisenwē and Habanisūn. Total Number of Naval Personnel: (~4800)
 * Kebūlka-Juwen [6] Sturdy, armored ships of the Japanese design. (~570 crew total)
 * Yerbe-Juwen [21]: Medium-sized junks with two decks, agile but not very swift, built for the Amurian coast, armed with cannons. (~2200 crew total)
 * Seberūn-Juwen [40]: Relatively small fast ocean-going ships predominantly used in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, though often seen as support. Most often seen for boarding tactics. (~1600 crew total)
 * Green Standard Army/Fūrūn Bolsung Saosimul: Unlike the Black Standard Army, the Green Standard Army is incredibly uniform, consisting mostly of infantrymen used as cannon fodder. However, there are sizeable cavalry, logistical, and artillery corps as well. Total Green Standard Army Forces: 300,000
 * Hwēnmu Jikesi: The Hwēnmu Jikesi are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards and Azure Cathay’s secret police force.
 * Wars and Conflicts None

The New Stage, The New Cast [Exposition]:

Now, with Isangga dead, we bear witness to a new era of Oriental history. But before we do, we first must familiarize ourselves with the region, and also figures from both the past and present.

Discontent has wedged itself deep within the bowels of the Naranga Empire, now called “Azure Cathay”. However, this simmering dissatisfaction came not from the rank and file, but rather from the members of the highest echelons of Cathay. Why? Well, you see, Isangga also had a brother, Jiramnamo, and at the time of Haryansol’s enthronement Jiramnamo had a son - Yarnurku, of 50 years of age. Members of Yanurku’s camp believed that he had been unfairly judged by the Deliberative Council for the wrongdoings of his father, and that the throne should pass to someone born from a Yagu Gwalgya father. Haryansol’s father was Aisin Gyoro-i Nurhaci, a man fought and killed by Isangga during the unification of Jochureon, so his enthronement had made many uneasy. Furthermore, Haryansol was effectively a foreigner, having escaped with his mother, Jinai, and his sister, Alkasūm, to Ezo before returning to Amuria in 1632. Haryansol’s very relation to Alkasūm raised eyebrows among nativist Cathayans, as Alkasūm was engaged with a foreigner by the name of Dries de Vries from the Netherlands. In addition, Isangga had another son in his early 40s, Mifunu. He seemed a ruler able enough, but was prone to sudden spates of rage and delusion.

What of the south then? Following the capture of Nanjing, the literati in the southern provinces responded to the news outpouring of emotion. Some recruited their own militia and became resistance leaders. The Chongzhen Emperor was lionized and there was a wave of hopeless sacrifice by loyalists who vowed to erase the shame of the Battle of Nanjing. Japanese merchants in the ports of southern China were lynched and their ships looted and then burnt. In the chaos surrounding the fall of Nanjing, the fate of the Emperor’s heir apparent, Zhu Cilang, was unknown. In the chaos, the court bestows the title of “Protector of the State” to Zhu Yousong, the ruler next in line. Soon after, he is enthroned as the Hongguang Emperor.

The Hongguang court then proclaimed that its goal was "to ally with the Yi to pacify the bandits”. That is, to seek cooperation with Cathayan military forces in order to annihilate the Green Turbans in the interior. Wait, but why were the Green Turbans still a threat? Well, during the Nanjing Conferences, it was decided that all lands ruled by the Green Turbans would be reorganized into a territory controlled by the Southern Wu by titled Chu, without the approval of the official Green Turban delegate, Xiong Rusang.  In anger, following the confederences, she abandoned her position as the face of the Green Turban rebellion, and with her political allies took up residence in the city of Wuchang, vowing to achieve independence for the Green Turbans. Similar sentiments were shared amongst much of the rank and file of the Green Turban rebellion, and by 1651 the region was in rebellion once more. Thus formed two factions in the southern Chinese interior;  the Xiangdu Green Turbans, led by Ma Xianglin, and the Wuchang Green Turbans, led by Xiong Rusang and her shadowy political allies, deemed the Nine Tigers. Though with significantly less military might, the Wuchang Green Turbans had the natural advantage of having a descendent of the famous warlord Wei Wuxian as their head.

The Hongguang regime, being centered in Hangzhou, was liable to being influenced by the Japanese. As such, numerous pretenders rose up, most prominent among them being the Prince of Yue, Zhu Changfang, headquartered in Gwongjau (OTL Guangzhou). Immediately Chhiok Hokchêng, a half-Japanese pirate, merchant, and a descendent of the famed conqueror Que Shen, assumed the role of the Prince of Yue’s protector. Changfang, in gratitude, bestowed the title of Kok-chun-iâ (Mandarin: Guozunye, Cantonese: Gwok-jēun-yèh) upon Hokchêng, meaning “Gentleman Respecter of the Nation”.

A much greater divide was brewing within Chinese society; one between non-Xianists, Orthodox Xianists, and New Xianists. Orthodox Xianism was the more communal, shamanistic, and primeval form of Xianism from the post-Han period (1000AD-1250AD) with many teachings on everyday life, which strongly emphasized the personal connection one has with Tian, an omnipotent primordial cosmic being. On the contrary, New Xianism was the organized state religion of the Wu Dynasty, which, among many other things, refused to subscribe to personal revelation and had very little opinions on everyday life, instead parroting to the philosophies of the Neo-Confucian status quo. Previously, most of these beliefs were permitted in a system known as Stromadoxy, where multiple layers of faiths existed in the common man’s day-to-day life. One might, for example, arrange a funeral with Confucian priests or Buddhist monks, learn at a school operated by a New Xianist sect, and on occasion join one of the entrancing communal services the Orthodox Xianists were known for. However, with Azure Cathay’s vicious persecution of New Xianists, who they deemed Wu’s ruling class and the source of all its vices, such tolerance ceased to exist and was replaced with mindless sectarian violence - in a way not dissimilar to the religious wars waged during the Zhuang collapse. The political reemergence of the Yiling Wei sect, the only remaining Orthodox Xianist sect of any importance further inflamed tensions, as old wounds between the two opposing Xianist schools of thought reopened.

Who will power fall to? Which one of these three powers will emerge victorious?

The Azure Empire (1)

Birth of Cathay - Jan. 1650: Isangga’s last action concerning the governance of the Naranga Empire occurred after his death. Within his last will and testament, a cryptic and short text, he mentioned the term “Hošoi Hanarga” (lit. Empire of the Four Margins) should be used in replacement of the term “Naranga Empire”, rendered in Mandarin as 四缘国 (Sìyuán Guó). In addition, the informal term 清朝 (Qīng cháo), “Daicing Hanarga” in Naranga, would be used alongside the formal name for the empire. This distinction would later make its way to English and other European languages, in which the Naranga polity as a whole would be known as “Azure Cathay”, the Han regions of the empire “China”, and the Naranga homeland as “Amuria”. No Right to Rule (4)

Upon Ill Fortune - Jan.1650:

The streets of Gwongjau, covered in a deep layer of rainwater, looked to be boiling as a torrent of rain beat down upon the drenched city from the ink-black heavens. The rain was so heavy that Rusang swore that when it fell onto the earth, it bounced upward. She hurried to get out of the spitting rain, unable to hear her own panicked breaths and the clop of her sandals against the shrieking deluge. Rusang had grown to hate rain in recent months. As a child, the pitter-patter of rainfall on the roof of her ramshackle cottage was calming, like white noise, to her young ears. However, for the past month and a half, she had trudged through Southern China to arrive at the city of Gwongjau amidst heavy rains and damp chill. After a tiring slog through the savage cloudburst, Rusang finally stumbled under the eaves of Hokchêng’s residence, a sheet of rainwater drizzling down from its rooftop onto the street separating Rusang from the rainstorm outside. Even under her straw raincoat, she was utterly drenched, her dark garments wet through and through. The contents of her rattan basket, carribed under her straw cape, were likely hopelessly soaked too.

Rusang let out a sigh and rapped the thick, nut-coloured door, before pushing it open with a lingering creak. No lock was attached, for Hokchêng’s personal philosophy was that if some thief or assassin wanted to break into his home, they’d have to get through him first. It was an approach less inane than one may assume, for only Hokchêng’s closest friends knew of the location of his private residence. Hokchêng conducted the vast majority of his meetings and spent much of his time within the halls of the Daaih-Faht temple. Hokchêng himself had told Rusang not to knock as there was no need for such a good friend, but Rusang always entered with a knock for the sake of courtesy. Curiously, Hokchêng's carefree attitude towards security was not a point of contention with Rusang, a stubborn and anxious woman. Rusang, self-willed to a fault, never liked the notion of being looked over. Guards and locks, in fact, were another source of anxiety for her. Rather, she preferred to cloak herself in normalcy, masquerading as just another woman, though she often bore daggers for self-defense despite her martial ineptitude. A train of guards following her everywhere would just draw more attention to her, Rusang believed.

The waiting room was a simple place, adorned with naught but a coffee-colored rug with bordered blue outline, a set of homely furniture, and Hokchêng’s esteemed personal collection of Nihonese arms. Rusang had always thought the placement of his collection pretentious, anxious that visitors would scoff at such a haughty display. Rusang typically was not one to care for the personal matters of others, keeping with her own principles, but there always was a twinge of solicitude in her heart for Hokchêng. Regardless, she said nothing of it, as it was her firm belief that betraying one's principles was betraying oneself, betrayal as vile as betraying a member of one’s family.

After a change of clothing in the largest guest room, which had become Rusang’s own room in effect, she crept through Hokchêng’s home. Hokchêng was nowhere to be seen. Odd. There was not a time that Rusang had not been greeted enthusiastically by Hokchêng as soon as she set foot in his home. Perhaps he was just busy with his duties as operative caretaker of the Wu Emperor, Rusang thought, though she had informed him of her arrival days ago. Surely nothing bad happened to him, Rusang fretted, as her heart slowly sank into her gut.

As Rusang cracked open the door to Hokchêng’s bedroom, she heard quiet, yet heart-wrenching sobs. Curled over in the corner was Hokchêng, so sorrowful Rusang reckoned he hadn’t even noticed her entrance. Upon a table by the doorway was a letter and a knife. With the utmost care, usang quietly put her slender hand on the letter, plucking it away to read in the hallway.

Skimming through the lines of Han characters, her impenetrable eyes and instructable countenance concealing her heart engulfed in dread, she learned an awful truth. Hokchêng, by both his mother and father, had been stripped of all inheritance and all honor. He had been disowned. Rusang thought back to when she had first met Hokchêng, nearly four years ago. He mentioned how, at the age of seven, he was moved from his homeland of Nihon to the city of Fuzhou. Every night under the eggshell moon, he gazed out over the murky waves, and wept. He had told it as a jest, to earn the trust and friendship of Rusang, but the tale was no lie. Rusang remembered staring at the eyes of Hokchêng turn mirror-like with moisture in spite of his hearty laughter and feeling a tug in her heart, the gentle nudge of something deep within her. Hokchêng’s father had condemned him for forgetting the wellspring from whence he came, but Rusang knew that not to be so. Hokchêng proudly spoke Nihonese to impress, proudly presented the cultural emblems of native land, and proudly sang paeans to the mountains and seas of Nihon. Hokchêng bore no hatred towards Nihon, refusing to deliver his fleets to theirs, even as the red and white flag of the Nihonese isles spread over the nation Hokchêng was tasked to protect.

As quiet as a mouse, Rusang snuck the letter into her pocket, and took hold of Hokchêng’s knife, before hushedly shuffling to her own room. As she left, Hokchêng’s cries grew dimmer and dimmer, until they became one with the pelting winter rain. When Rusang finally spoke to Hokchêng, later that night, she noticed that his swords were nowhere to be seen.

A Lament for Love - Apr.1652:

As Rusang collapsed upon her bedmat, tired from a full day's worth of work, she found that she could no longer admit that she was just another woman given unwarranted importance by others. Just a month ago, Ma Xianglin relinquished much of his powers to the administration of the Nine Tigers following tense negotiations and years of spiraling conflict. And just days ago, Rusang had styled herself as Baix Tsov, White Tiger, the title used by her ancestor Wei Wuxian when he had established the kingdom of Tiananzhou within the foggy reaches of the middle Yangtze. That same day, she had gained the official recognition as the leader of Chu from Azure Cathay, Shu, and the Prince of Yue's court. Ma Xianglin's position as long of Chu was affirmed by none but the Hongguang Emperor, a man so pathetic he ruled from a city occupied by the Nihonese. Concurrently, Hokchêng’s empire grew and grew, his name and influence expanding along the dendritic roads and shipping lanes of the southern Orient. Rusang had even heard that his red-bannered vessels looted ports as far off as the Andamans and Syonan. Was it correct to call the scourge of the South Sea “Hokchêng” though? In both private correspondence and public announcements, he increasingly referred to himself as “Kok-chun-iâ”, the title bestowed upon him by the Wu pretender under his protection. In Nihon and the Netherlands, his name was spoken of in low and disdainful tones by fearful merchants and generals, who all referred to him as some transliteration of "Kok-chun-iâ". It hardly mattered to Rusang. To her, he’d always be Hokchêng  first, and Kok-chun-iâ second.

Speaking of Hokchêng, Rusang too could no longer admit that she did not harbor feelings for him. She was reluctant to accept it, as first, but Hokchêng's affection was not that of a friend. Slowly, after she eased into a new  How pathetic she was, Rusang bitterly thought. 6 years of life she had spent with Hokchêng, yet it was not until recently that she brung herself to embrace a simple truth. That despite all her refutations, Rusang truly loved him with the entire breadth of her locked-away heart. He was both a calming and enlivening presence, both resting her panicked mind in times of unease, and delivering a much needed burst of spirit in others. Perhaps he was like a fury then, at one moment a crackling campfire and at another a vivacious inferno. Hokchêng had become Rusang's food and drink, a need that she craved, for it was only in his smile and embrace that Rusang ever let down her cloak of coolness and stoicism and allowed the doors to her heart and mind to be left unlocked. He was both a stimulant emotionally and intellectually, for it was only in his presence that Rusang enthusiastically spoke of philosophers and herbs with no reservation, only in his presence that she showed off her talent in network, head held high. Beneath her impenetrable and expressionless mask, beneath her trauma-birthed insecurities, wary manners, and tense demeanor, she was just any other woman. In private with Hokchêng she could be unabashedly teasing, flustered, and childlike, and for that she unimaginably grateful. She was but a woman navigating a world injust, thrust into situations and positions unfamiliar. And only Hokchêng understood and cared for that half of her.

Rusang, under blankets, reached out to grasp Hokchêng's waist only to find that he was not there. Of course he wasn't - he was off leading battles in the southern seas. It was a pity that the two could never court, never marry. An injustice, inflicted upon the two by heavenly earth, even. It was Rusang's duty, demanded by both the mortals of this realm and a sense of calling from another, to see the management of her organization to its inevitable end. She was by no means the leader, but she might as well be. She had the freedom to leave her post and live with Hokchêng until the last of their hairs turned white, but what would her allies and colleagues think? Oh, they'd likely still respect her, but what of the rank and file?

Rusang let out a sigh heard by only her, before stretching in her bed and drifting off to sleep.

Empire of Matagaskar | Empira Matagasykara
Notable People of Matagaskar/Imerina (in chronological order) [WIP]:
 * Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
 * Monarch: Emperor Andriantsitakatrandriana (B 1606 - Age 48, alive) (R 1626 - Present)
 * Consort: Empress Raviro (B 1608 - Age 46, alive)
 * Ruling Dynasty: Hova
 * Chief of Kômôro: Kifeda (B 1622 - Age 32) (R 1653 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Ranjevasy: Rabenirina (B ca 1614 - Age ca 40, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Maorisy: Tovondrava (B 1615 - Age 39, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Order of Succession: Prince Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (B 1632 - Age 22, alive), Princess Andriamanjakatokana (B 1636 - Age 18, alive), Prince Razafindramahata (B 1621 - Age 32, alive), Princess Mialitiana (B 1651 - Age 3, alive), Princess Rabetsara (B 1624 - Age 30, alive)...
 * Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing as well as trade, mostly with the Swahili states of East Africa but also other foreign merchants. The Malagasy economy stands as one of the strongest and most developed in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to the effect of foreign contact. Matagaskar controls the entire island of the same name and holds influence in parts of East Africa.
 * Allies: Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla (defensive pact)
 * Capital: Antananarivo
 * Demographics:
 * Population: ca 796 000 total
 * Mahajanga: 9 400
 * Antananarivo: 6 800
 * Toamasina: 4 650
 * Manakara: 3 300
 * Ambanja: 2 450
 * Morafenobe: 2 350
 * Toliara: 2 070
 * Antsiranana: 1 750
 * Moroni: 1 000
 * Antsirabe: 520
 * Rural regions: ca 763 000
 * Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (consisting of 18 ethnic groups, the three largest of which, in order, are the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Sakalava), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), ca 5% Adnanite, >1% Albionite (Fort Dolphin and nearby areas)
 * Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, ca 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore) and other traditional folk religions, >1% Anglican Christianity
 * Wars and Conflicts (italics: Potential War):
 * N/A
 * Military: Due to Matagaskar being a rural realm, a large amount of units can be raised for warfare, but usually about 1% of the population is the most trained and prepared soldiers that can be drafted. Parentheses means the deployed units in cases where not all units are deployed for war.
 * Deployed units: None
 * Total (1%): 7 800
 * 2 080 Spearmen
 * 1 420 Swordsmen
 * 300 Bowmen
 * 2 050 Crossbowmen
 * 1 500 Light Cavalry
 * 360 Fossa Warriors
 * Navy:
 * 12 Adananita class ships
 * 11 Mer'ana class ships
 * 8 transport ships
 * Diplomacy:
 * Order of Avesta: May we marry off our princess Rabetsara to one of your royals?
 * Events:
 * Reign of Andriantsitakatrandriana: Nothing of interest. Literally the only thing you could point out is that there is some Shona influence in the court from Raviro and also the royal couple’s children. And the diplomacy thing with Avesta.
 * Order of Rakotomazava: Business as usual.
 * Order of Yasht: Fine, if you insist x2. Low on morale, the Order is forced to make several stops on their migration into Mutapa, which is even more difficult without a map. Travelling into Pemba they make a living off of hunting wild animals and doing that whole “exchange protection from hostile forces in return for food and a place to stay” in villages. Rakotomazava III is lucky to have Mafilaza with him. The young man was good at speeches and boosting morale amongst the order, even if it didn’t always succeed and some desertion occurred (who knows where they went or what they did wink wink nudge nudge). With the arrival in Pemba (the city) things looked better as the Order was able to find some work to do for about a month as well as recruiting Swahili soldiers. These were a little hard to get due to the language barrier, with both Rakotomazava III and Mafilaza speaking Swahili but not very well and with quite a Malagasy accent.
 * By 1653 the Order had travelled to Harambe, Bangalla. They spent more time resting and holding the group together there. They used their limited supply of gold to get themselves newer weapons and other supplies, having had the same weapons on them since their exile from Matagaskar. Another couple of months before arriving into Nacala, again, there was a stop for a weeks to make sure they would survive and have good enough resources and supplies to have a decent lifestyle. This strange pilgrimage migration escaping… thing… would come to an end in mid-1654. At some point they crossed the Bangalla-Mutapa border. Rakotomazava III realized they’d gotten to Mutapa upon encountering some travelling merchants who spoke Shona. He knew a teeny bit of Shona and recognized the language. Communication was more difficult than speaking Swahili but the Order managed to get the merchants to realize they were asking for the nearest town. The merchants, after probably an hour of attempting to understand eachother, pointed them to Nampula. The Order of Yasht arrives in Nampula later and settle down, building a barracks-like building just in the outskirts of town, a place they call Tranomasina (it means “holy home”). From there they basically live in Nampula and interact with the citizens. (Legiev, you will have to take it from here)
 * Maorisy and Ranjevasy: Business as usual. One other thing that occurs is the Maorisian man Manorohanta. He is an advisor of Tovondrava interested in a lot of the history surrounding Ranjeva, even writing a book on it. The one thing he is interested in are the mythical island (or islands) known as Nyafo. Ranjeva is said to have discovered and claimed this barren and fierce-looking island or group of islands (the sources are iffy) when he discovered the Maskareina Islands, however no one has been there since. Due to Ranjeva not writing much about it, Nyafo has attained a mythic status in 1650s Matagaskar, said to be located even further east of Maorisy and being in the middle of nowhere (Nyafo is the OTL Rodrigues islands). There are also legends and rumors and myths about monsters living there and stuff. Well, no more shall this be the case, says Manorohanta, requesting to Tovondrava about being provided with supplies and a strong crew for an expedition into the vast east to find this island and properly document it. Tovondrava seems intrigued, but checks with Emperor Andriantsitakatrandriana himself to be sure. And the Emperor was like “kay cool, sure”. Not much spending had been going on so Manorohanta was able to be provided. He sails out in 1654 from Amorontsiraka.
 * IT’S FUCKING MÀNTA! [takes place in England] (Part 3): A young Gordon/Andriantoano starts his first lessons in cooking by age 10, taught by his father. Things were difficult, as said in the second part, especially with education. Gordon had a slightly privileged status, but it would still be difficult to get him into an actual real school. His father and mother were the ones who had to teach him everything from the alphabet to basic mathematics and all that jazz. At least for his earlier years.
 * Oh look I’m a worthless moron: No people’s ages are changing this turn cause I did them as if the last turn ended in 1655 wow I can’t even get that right I’m a fucking brainless idiot.
 * Past Rulers:
 * Ammagari dynasty:
 * Andrianerinerina (ca 1360s-1418): Legendary first king, said to be the son of the god Zanahary himself. Reigned from ca 1392 to 1418.
 * Andrianjavonana (1391-1447): Ruled during a period of language and alphabet-development. Reigned from 1418 to 1447.
 * Andrianamponga (1427-1455): Encountered the Adnanites, expanded the rule over the Comoros. Died in a mysterious event. Reigned from 1447 to 1455.
 * Andrianamboniravina (1429-1469): Formed the Fossa Warriors, fought the Avestan invaders. Reigned from 1455 to 1469.
 * Zafimahova (1434-1488): Regent for Rafandrandrava. De facto ruler even after Rafandrandrava’s coming of age. Official regency lasted from 1469 to 1471. De facto queen regnant from 1469 to 1488.
 * Rafandrandrava (1453-1494): Underage at the time of ascension, was basically just a de jure ruler for most of his reign. Oversaw the expansion into the Central Highlands. Reigned from 1469 to 1494.
 * Andriamasindohafandrana (1477-1513): Continued adapting foreign technology and expanding south. Visited the Ahuric Empire. Murdered by conspiring Fossa Warriors. Reigned from 1494 to 1513.
 * Rafandrampohy (1495-1550): Conducted a massive crackdown on the conspirators who killed his father. Abdicated in favor of his wife Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, triggering the Merina Civil War. After this he became a religious person. Reigned from 1513 to 1517.
 * Hova dynasty (current):
 * Rangitamanjakatrimovavy/Rangita (1493-1552): First true queen of Imerina and ruler from the Hova dynasty. Won the Merina Civil War, moved the capital to Mahajanga. Reigned from 1517 to 1552.
 * Rafohy (1528-1572): Established contact with Mutapa, expanded the kingdom, made the Order of Sihanaka official. Died of a miscarriage. Reigned from 1552 to 1572.
 * Andriamanelo the Great (1546-1605): Unifier of the entire island. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. Considered the greatest monarch in Malagasy history (so far). Reigned from 1572 to 1605.
 * Ralambo (1566-1612): Legalized polygamy, introduced the fandroana celebration, reformed the feudal system. Died of a sexually transmitted disease. Reigned from 1605 to 1612.
 * Andrianjaka (1571-1628): Founded Antananarivo upon the former settlement of Analamanga and moved the capital there. Improved infrastructure, held a census. Deposed by his son and wife in an internal conflict. Reigned from 1612 to 1626.
 * Andriantsitakatrandriana (1608-present):
 * Others:
 * Hainteny (ca 1370s-1423): Philosopher and writer. First person to truly take advantage of writing when it came into being in Imerina. Formed the basis of the Haintenist faith.
 * Tsilavohery (ca 1410s-1467): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Rakotomanjato until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king.
 * Rakotomanjato (ca 1421-1505): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Tsilavohery until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king. He betrayed the Merina and became king of a group of Bara peoples. That polity did not last too long however and was eventually conquered by Imerina.
 * Ndahimananjara (ca 1440s-1503): First ever Fossa Warrior. Married into the Ammagari dynasty. His branch would eventually rule the island.
 * Andriantompokoindrindra (1467-1527): Father of Andriamihaja and Rangitamanjakatrimovavy.
 * Tombovelo (ca 1480s-1543): Religious figure who essentially was the one to create the Malagasy variant of Zoroastrianism. He also traveled and studied in the Ahuric Empire.
 * Andriamihaja (1496-1527):
 * Ratsifandrihamanana (1493-1556): Second husband of Rangita.
 * Rakotomazava (ca 1510s-1577): Founder of the Order of Sihanaka, which later became the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Rakotomanjafy (ca 1520s-1590s): Mpiady of the Order of Sihanaka.
 * Ranjeva (ca 1540s-ca 1603): Explorer and discoverer of the Mascarene Islands.
 * Rafidy (ca 1580s-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tsiajotso/Rakotomazava II (ca 1589-1647): Leader of the southern Order of Rakotomazava and later leader of the Order of Yasht. Exiled himself and the Order to Mtende.
 * Zozimar (ca 1590s-1639): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Ramalalaharivololona (ca 1590s-present):
 * Rambolazafy (1599-present): High Chieftess of Mahajanga.
 * Tombomankara (ca 1595-1647): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava from 1628 to 1647.
 * Boazandrivelo/Rakotomazava III (ca 1600-present): Originally just a soldier of the Order of Rakotomazava and later of the Order of Yasht. He became an important associate of Tsiajotso. He took over as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after Tsiajotso died, becoming Rakotomazava III.
 * Tsivalaka (1603-present): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Catherine Burwick (1603-present): Noble Scottish woman who married Mamangy and had a child with him.
 * Mamangy “Andrew” Burwick (1605-present): Chef, considered to have been the first one to make a popular dish out of dodo meat. Traveled to Europe via British trade vessels.
 * Raviro (1608-present): A princess of Mutapa and now Empress consort, first non-Malagasy consort of a ruler.
 * Mafilaza (ca 1610-present): Impressive soldier of the Order of Yasht. Set to become Rakotomazava IV as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht.
 * Rabenirina (ca 1615-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tovondrava (1614-present): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Manorohanta (1620-present): Advisor and explorer.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy.

Empire of Nihon | Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory
(All names are introduced in Kanji and Yamatai Romanji)

Government
 * Stucture: The Shogunate functions under the auspices of a federal system of government, with the recognition of four distinct polities.
 * The Chiku(地区)[districts], nominally under the direct control of local Daimyo elevated above others to become Chiku-cho(地区長) [district heads]. These pay a section of their yearly harvest to the Teikoku-kokuso(帝国穀倉) [Imperial Granary] based on a relative assessment of the surplus of their kokudaka(石高) and are only allowed to engage in Western trade at the Yattsu no Iriguchi（八つの入り口）[Eight Entryways], the eight ports in Nihon open to foreign trade.
 * The Han(藩) [domains] are the legal and semi-official name of various territories in the country which exercise economic and political autonomy, led by leaders legally called . They are allowed to exercise their own forms of government and engage in treaties pertaining only to them (wherein the treaties must thread the thin line between recognising their overlords in Kyoto and political self-interest); as well as being exempt from Hideyoshi's religious laws, allowing for the flourishing of the tiny Christian and Arzhamic communities of Nihon. They pay their taxes in gold, silver and other precious metals, and rather than payment to the Teikoku-kokuso, they pay their taxes directly to the Teikoku-kinko(帝国金庫) [Imperial Vault/Treasury].
 * The Hogokoku(保護国) [Protectorates], led by the Genshu(元首) [Heads of state]. These can vary from de facto domains with zero diplomatic autonomies to former allies under the current protection of the Nihonese government.
 * The Teikoku-seifu(帝国政府) [Imperial Government] is the single entity stringing this entire mess together. The oldest single lasting political institution in East Asia, boasting a history of nearly 400 years since its first establishment as the Splendid Directorate in 1253. It consists of various economic and political institutions on top of being a primary political centre not just in Nihon but its influence spread across non-Wu Northeast Asia. Its primary leaders lead the Shogunate and the Imperial Service, symbolically and politically, and are often given credit for the specific eras of their time.
 * Mikado(帝): The Mikado of Nihon, better known to most of the world as the Empress of Japan. The Mikado is one of the few remaining positions in this Nihon where female primogeniture persists, a relic of the early Heian era and the consolidation of the original Nihon to Tohoku no Toitsu-kokoku (United Kingdoms of Japan and Tohoku) during the early 13th century. The storied history of the Mikado starts in a political mediator, escalates into a military dictator not unlike the Shogun; and it itself created the position of Taisho, the Shogun's predecessor. As a symbolic leader in the Shogunate, they enjoy relative privilege in exchange for their formal political silence.
 * Current Mikado: Kawa no Tamashi, born 1603
 * Shogun(将軍): The Shogun of Nihon was never intended to be the political force they are. Born out of the samurai semi-professionals during the 1300s, the Shogun first started as the Taisho, with only true control over the army, and eventually transitioning to the current supreme controller of all military forces that they are. A political and military tour de force, the Shogun has to balance their interests with the religious significance of the Mikado and the newer subsidary Shusho position to maintain control over the rocky land of Nihon.
 * Current Shogun: Tokugawa Sayaka, born 1610
 * Shusho(首相): The Shusho, a young position better known to Western-centred speakers as the Prime Minister, is the legal controller over the Teikoku-shocho(帝国省庁) [Imperial Ministry], technically the other name of the Teikoku-seifu. The shocho is a more specific term, referring only to the Kokuso, Kinko, Kaikei(会計) [Accountancy] and Gaimu-kyoku(外務局) [Foreign Service]; while seemingly insignificant and just another bureaucratic position, the Shusho is a signifier of the rising managerial class of Nihon and the growing power of career bureaucrats in an increasingly large and bloated country.
 * Current Shusho: Aptok-tu Usapte, born 1589


 * Class System
 * Nomin(農民) [Peasants]: The majority of Nihonese people, at roughly 65%. The Nomin experience a largely agricultural and communal lifestyle, a deep sense of spirituality intertwined with their life in small urban areas dotted around Nihon; their interaction with even local daimyo and institutions is limited to annual contacts during festivals and tax seasons. With the upheaval of the Toyotomi era, however, many Nomin also partake in a mercenary and official capacity for survival and cultural purposes.
 * Shonin(商人) [Merchants]: The Shonin class refers to a whole host of semi-middle-class individuals, from performers to traders. At times, it crosses with the Daimyo, and many Shonin also serve as effective Daimyo in the Toyotomi era. Many serve in a government capacity, interacting mainly with the Kinko and Kaikei; the Shonin are the primary intellectual class in Nihon, making them an influential mark on entertainment and culture.
 * Daimyo(大名) [Feudal lords]: The Daimyo began as a series of warring feudal lords towards the end of the Heian, and have now been largely displaced to become local officials and lower-level bureaucrats within the Shocho/Seifu. They own the vast majority of monetary wealth in Nihon.
 * Teikoku-kanken(帝国官憲) [Imperial Officials]: The Kanken are the smallest class in all of Nihon, numbering at most 23,000 (if one is to use the most loose definition of their duties); most are high-level clan officials and members of the Imperial Family with positions in the Seifu. They are the primary powerbrokers in Nihon, fighting a prolonged battle between them, the Daimyo and the Shonin, with the Nomin caught in between.


 * Soldiery
 * Guntai (軍隊)[Army]: The Guntai arose from the Toitsu-kokoku and evolved into a full-fledged proto-professional military force through the 1200s and 1300s; while the professional guntai has largely vanished with time, those who do remain now make up a professional officer class (whom quickly betrayed their meritocratic roots and have since been using the system to entrench their families in power).
 * Samurai(侍) [Attendant Warriors]: The Samurai began during the professional era but have since expanded to become a vast array of mercenaries, Guntai members and more. They are dominated by two groups: the Guntai-members, and Ronin (浪人) [Wandering People], whose name was originally derogatory to refer to their non-daimyo status, but have since become the founders of the last remaining military orders in Nihon. The Ronin, unlike the Samurai, are not restricted to the Daimyo and Shonin alone, and are often peasants. They both retain the female-slanted gender ratio of the era of Tomoe Gozen.
 * Numbers: 24,000 Guntai, 320,000 Ronin
 * Nomin-senshi(農民戦士) [Levies]: The bulk of any army, the Nomin-senshi are often just levies called from various communities. Unlike most armies, the Nomin-senshi are granted enourmous privileges compared to others; for example, they must be informed months beforehand of any war or mobilisation and community leaders and caretakers are always exempt from conscription. This limits the size of the Nomin-senshi, sizing it down drastically; still, the organisation of the Guntai ensures they maintain their dominance.
 * Numbers: 1.4 million conscriptable
 * Kaigun(海軍) [Navy]: The naval forces of Nihon, the Kaigun are the last full professionalised force in all of East Asia. Suihei are treated as equivalent to Samurai (and they often work together), and Nihon benefits from having a naval capability bolstered by Austronesian and Southern knowledge. It operates in large fleets that effectively work place per place.
 * Suihei(水兵) [Sailors]: The Suihei are largely Shonin and Nomin, although almost none are conscripts; the obligation to Kaigun has over time become generational, and because of that, many willingly go back, especially considering the pragmatism of confirming their own position in their communities or ascending by class.
 * Numbers - 230,000 Suihei


 * Weaponry
 * Guntai weaponry:
 * Naginata, primarily used to pierce ligher armor by shock troops
 * Katana, primarily used as brush-clearing and personal defence weapons by most troops, although other melee weapons are also common
 * Edo Tanegashima, muskets derived from the original Agoustan designs, crude but effective mass-fire forces for suppression
 * Longbows, primarily used for striking down priority targets or ballistae, otherwise used to maintain some measure of stealth
 * Kaigun weaponry:
 * Crossbows, used to deliver volleys of fire upon enemy ships
 * Longbows, used to deliver precision fire on enemy vessels
 * 10-inch cannons, used to strike holes in ships in the hopes of sinking them
 * Chii-tangeashima, effectively blunderbusses used for defence during boardings
 * Kaigun ships:
 * Kawataro-fune, large frigate-like ships with anywhere from 40-50 cannons at any time and a large metal shell-like covering on the top to defend against arrow fire. Move at 4-7 knots, must be towed to go through blue water
 * Hayai-fune, smaller vessels with Malay junk sails and almost no armaments, used primarily as landing craft and resupply craft. Move at 7-12 knots, can maneuver in blue water


 * Demography: Nihon is home to over half a dozen ethnic groups, with the principal amongst them being the Ainu and Yamato; on the fringes of the Shogunate, the Ryukyuan, Emishi, Nishikara and others. Religiously, the majority of people practice a mix of Shinto and Ainu animism; with minor inroads from Agoustan Catholicism and Confucian-style sects.
 * Population distribution: The country sees its densest population north of Nagoya; where the Kanto and Tohoku regions dominate the rest of the country with over 53% of the overall population, a vast, mostly rural region where small communities make up the bulk of most settlements. Pockets of urban and agricultural life mix together in the south, where most live close to major trading routes and ports; concentrated urban areas account for only roughly 7% of the total population, although general urban areas account for about 63% of them.
 * Current population estimate: 17,600,000
 * Ethnic distribution: While the concept of ethnicities has yet to come into existence, Nihon already knows of the existence of 'distinct peoples' - as vague as the current concept is, with general reference to language, cultural distinctions and the like. For the country, that means most are divided into two ethnic groups - the Yamato and the Ainu, and 'foreigners' - often referring to both the brother peoples of Choson and people from anywhere from Temasik to Manhattan.
 * Ethnic populations (outdated)
 * Ainu - 3,420,000
 * Diasporic/Mixed Self-identification: >1% Ainu-Nishikara, 13% Ainu-Emishi, 9% Ainu-Ryukyuan, 48% Ainu-Yamato
 * Ainu-Emishi - 780,000
 * Diasporic/Mixed Self-identification: 84% Emishi-Ainu, 4% Emishi-Nishikara, 13% Emishi-Ryukyuan, 2% Emishi-Yamato
 * Chosonese (Nishikara) - 290,000
 * Diasporic/Mixed Self-identification: 3% Chosonese-Ainu, 6% Chosonese-Emishi, 2% Chosonese-Ryukyuan, 89% Chosonese-Yamato
 * Ryukyuan - 540,000 [Ryukyuan is a broad tent that also refers to the descendants of the southern Jomon]
 * Diasporic/Mixed Self-identification: 8% Ryukyuan-Ainu, 12% Ryukyuan-Emishi, 2% Ryukyuan-Nishikara, 65% Ryukyuan-Yamato
 * Yamato - 6,570,000
 * Diasporic/Mixed Self-identification: 19% Yamato-Ainu, 14% Yamato-Emishi, >1% Yamato-Nishikara, 21% Yamato-Ryukyuan

Broad Overview

It is no accident that Sayaka’s reign immediately saw the Nihonese sphere approach its apex. Proudly appropriating the labels of times past - literally claiming the legitimacy of the Second Coming of Amaterasu, she forged ahead with validating the expansionist urges of Nihonese capital in order to further consolidate her position. The Nihonese economy, entering some of the earliest stages of industrialisation - bunkhouses and artificial urban centres serving as the nexus of not just proto-industrialisation, but a system best described as non-mechanical industry - essentially an amalgamation of the employment characteristics of industrial labour without the machines associated with it.

This, combined with consolidated disgust at the Iberians’ continued evangelisation in what used to be Choson as well as Iberian missionaries harbouring Chosonese radicals, led to the purge of over 650 missionaries and a blanket demand for all Iberians, including in the traditionally autonomous regions under the Bingo and Satsuma, to immediately leave Nihon. This mass expulsion followed a series of attacks and civil defiance by the Chosonese, not in Choson but in Nihon, where informal community leader Pak Chung-cha, a proto-national anarchist, was broken out of prison at the end of 1648. Acts of civil defiance escalate quickly in response to continued Nihonese suppression, creating the Jayue Jeonnyeom (자유에 전념), in English the literal League for Freedom, a large-scale organised group of anti-Nihonese agitators. And in June 1650, when the League conducted a raid on the offices of the Satsuma General Company in Nagasaki, Bingo and Satsuma respectively allowed for the free usage of the Guntai against Chosonese in Nihon. One month later, as news entered Edo Bay of the Iberian conquest of Gangganu, Nihon declared war on Iberia.

This saw Nihon back Bruneian noble rebels in Iberian Brunei, as well as renew its alliance with the successor state of the ancient Dai Viet - the Le Dynasty - in order to send troops through the Malayan peninsula to Gangganu. This arrangement lasted for just a few short weeks before Sayaka’s hopes turned out to be true - and with the death of Kawa no Tamashi to illness in 1651, she installed Okita Kiyoko of the Nagasato Okita dynasty on the Chrysanthemum Throne using the practically ancient Succession Laws of 1278. Kiyoko, initially predicted to be a simple puppet in her hands, quickly became a tour de force of her own, forcing Syonan to be treated as an equal partner in the Union and siphoning off colonial proceeds to the reconstruction of her homeland. The Shusho-Shogun-Mikado trifecta enacted an institutionalisation of the Satsuma General Company, before expelling the aging Satsuma no Isoroku from the firm, finally letting the Ainu leader enact her revenge on her wayward disciple.

The ‘Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory’, as the Nihonese-Syonanese Union became known, was incredibly effective in the Southern front. Undersupplied and demoralised Iberian troops that had not seen combat in decades were routed quickly by veteran Nihonese troops whom had fought in China; not to mention Syonanese guerilla forces and numerous Indigenous resistances they encountered. Yet in 1652 the Iberians did control much of the Southern Malay Peninsula, and had indeed been able to effectively hold on against the disorganised rebellions in Brunei. It was the appearance of the half-Nihonese pirate, Hokchêng, that decimated Iberian organisation the most; the unexpected forces of the pirate king effectively collapsed Iberian holdings in Brunei, forcing diversions of troops Northeast to Brunei.

A renewed attack by the various former Melakan states under the broad, most certainly Nihonese banner of the Federated Melakan States saw the Iberian position collapse, even with renewed reinforcements from the West and its colonial holdings in India. By 1653, the writing was on the wall for the Iberians - the Treaty of Temasik saw most of the former Khmerlakan states fall into a sphere which the Iberians roughly defined as the Japonic Sphere - stretching from Aceh to Tonchi. Even with the states now in turmoil, Nihon had just been given free license in the region.

In the North, Choson yet saw its end. After the commanderies had ingratiated themselves as Nihonese clans there was only another step to go - and it was the consolidation of the two commanderies as direct, constituent sections of the Nihonese Empire. The Kingdom of Choson, thoroughly transformed by Nihonese occupation, saw its own nobility divided on the issue; in the weakened Imperial Diet, however, its nobles made a bare pass: Choson would become a Nihonese Kingdom, regaining the Kanko territory in exchange for total subservience to Nihon. The decision saw riots culminating in the 1653 August Revolution, in which Pak Chung-cha returned to Choson and demanded not just the expulsion of all Nihonese forces, but, seizing on the nobles’ subservience to Kyoto, the total abolition of the monarchy as they knew it. She espoused something else - something she simply called the Democracy of Koryo.

And it was at this time when Nihonese atrocities reached their peak. Random killings became routine in Koryo, every month seeing at least a hundred or so dead from soldiers abusing their powers to make up excuses to loot communities and murdering residents when they attempted to escape the looting. The most infamous of these was following the brutal crushing of the Hanseong Uprising during the August Revolution, where in February 1654 its leaders, their families, and entire communities were collectively executed; the death toll dragging Hanseong’s constituent population down a full third. The Nihonese were quickly making themselves the public face for oppression in Choson - and even as its leaders signed its sovereignty away, there was one thing for sure.

Koryo was reborn today.

(events coming soon!)

Notable People


 * 1401-1473 [The Last Days of the Heian]:
 * Uchiha Tomoko (1387 - 1469) [deceased]: Head of the Yamatai faction during the Civil War and later Empress (1412-1469) under the name 'Uchiha no Ichiban'.
 * Mori Kyoko (1378 - 1473) [deceased]: One of the two heads of the Peoples' League during the Civil War, later Speaker of the National Convention unopposed until death. Spouse: Kido Mirio.
 * Hori Shizuku (1377 - 1456) [deceased]: The other head of the Peoples' League, a minor political player in Hiroshima after the war. Committed suicide under threat of involuntary execution.
 * Midoriya Kaitou (1383 - 1472) [deceased]: A minor player in the Civil War who gained popularity as a capable administrator. Birth name Zhang Kaisheng. Spouse: Midoriya Yuki.
 * Seishiro Kirie (1381 - 1463) [deceased]: One of the heads of the Outsiders who found herself alienated from her hometown in her pursuit of political unity. Became a remarkable writer, writing works such as The Use of War, a critical book on the purpose of strife. Spouse: Bakushi Yona.
 * Bakushi Yona (1380 - 1463) [deceased]: A Yamatai-Eskosian, best known for fighting for the political rights of the tiny Eskosian minority in Nihon. Became a political kingmaker after the war. Spouse: Seishiro Kirie.
 * Hu Jin-Yo (1376 - 1462) [deceased]: A Joseon-Yamatai, best known as a Joseonese reunificationist who participated in a minor role during the Civil War. Afterwards, provided much financial support to the Nihonese army advancing in Kyongsong before dying in a tragic accident.
 * Kanzaki Izuku (1394 - 1489) [deceased]: First Shogun then Taisho, well known for unconventional military tactics that precipitated asymmetrical warfare against enemy forces. Lived a relatively stunted life afterwards, travelled into Joseon and participated in its war against Kyongsong before travelling West in hopes of retracing the steps of Bulijin Khatun, a dream promptly foiled. Spouse: Yonekura Hiyori.
 * Nishimiya Asuka (1372 - 1479) [deceased]: Shogun after her predecessor Kanzaki was passed over due to ignoring the Empress, she became something of a despot and massively expanded the powers of the military as well as a small secret police under the direction of Empress Uchiha and Speaker Mori. Lived a quiet, nondescript life. Spouse: Ryuzoji Mirio.
 * 1474 - 1523 [The Brief Bakufu]
 * Uchiha Ryu (1467 - 1512) [deceased]: Adopted son of Empress Uchiha, originally groomed to be an apt successor of hers; he was soon convinced to take another path by the Regent. Overthrown in 1487.
 * Senjougahara Ryuko (1459 - 1489) [deceased]: Popular regent originally meant to become successor to Uchiha, eventually sidelined. With a massive amount of political power, however, she pulled strings to keep herself as Regent and manipulated the new Emperor as she wished. Murdered by an assassin.
 * Senmyaku Hyo-in (1436 - 1486) [deceased]: Powerful orator of the Dochaku who advocated for their betterment. Eventually sidelined due to the maneuvring of Empress Uchiha.
 * Yamagata Jiro (1461 - 1503) [deceased]: An upstart military man who became Shogun at the behest of the late Nishimiya Asuka. Soon evolved into a broadly popular political figure who usurped the throne from Uchiha Ryu, but his ambitions overcame him and he was deposed after attempting to re-consolidate power.
 * Kanzaki Noriko (1467 - 1560) [deceased]: Nationalist despot intent on restoring Nihon to political unitarism. She quickly exploited her way through the chaos of rapid decentralisation to insert herself as the effective leader of Nihon in just one and a half decades, essentially unchallenged. Engaged in the exploitation of Syonan via siphoning its gold reserves to beef those of Nihon, inspiring the local chaos in that nation. Eventually became the leader of the first effectively federal republic in human history, the 13-year Nihonese Federation, but was promptly killed by Oda Nobunaga during the Siege of Kyoto.
 * 1524 - 1601 [Sengoku Jidai]
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543) [deceased]: Minor yet influential political figure of the exiled main family of the Oda clan. Killed by mistake.
 * Takagi Anzu (1497 - 1572) [deceased]: Adopted daughter of Kanzaki Noriko, adept fighter, eventually, Nihonese Empress. Fled to Kansha. Died in 1572 peacefully.
 * Oda Nobunaga (1534 - ??): The vengeful daughter of Nobuhide; a furious orator and military genius. Eventually Shogun and de facto leader of Nihon, but she found herself sidelined by most and was promptly betrayed by many of the daimyo she had returned to power. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - circa. 1582) [deceased]: A capable administrator and competent military leader, Kagetora found her calling towards managing and helping her territory more important than the distant calls of Nobunaga's ambitions. While Nihon descended into chaos her territory remained prosperous, and bucking the trends of the daimyo she personally adopted many of the measures designed by the late Prime Minister of Nihon. She finally left the country in 1574, tired of the turmoil precipitated by Nobunaga and the loss of most of her friends; making her way to Yolngu, where in defiance of the slavery laws practiced there, she mulled about freely and easily, attempting to find her old friends.
 * Kinoshita Tokichiro or Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1542 - ??): Known as the conqueror, he was best described as an unorthodox and haplessly brutal man. Like Nobunaga, he practiced incredibly levels of brutality to finish campaigns and assert control, unlike Nobunaga, he had no qualms and no restraint about it whatsoever. As thus he became the new Shogun, and began to assert his control - becoming notable as one of the few openly homosexual members of the Nihonese elite, and a gay one at that. Spouse: Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - ??): Granddaughter of Kanzaki Noriko, she came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Tachibana no Musashi (1590 - ??):


 * Kanzaki Family: From a minor clan in old Minamoto arose one of the defining political and military families of the early Bakufu. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Izuku (1394 - 1489): Grandfather of the entire family. Began the Kanzaki name by abandoning usage of the old Minamoto clan name and rising as first a potential Emperor before becoming one of the most prolific generals in Nihon's history. However, his attempts at glory were foiled and eventually he gave up, passing his life's work to a strange girl who might just get some use out of it.
 * Third Generation:
 * Setsuna (1482 - 1572): Another third generation'er; she went missing in Syonan before being discovered as Noriko travelled to it. Made head of the Nihonese Southern Company. Spouse: Souji Nakamura.
 * Noriko (1467 - 1560): Two generations later, a bored Shinto temple head turned trainer turned puppet master. Exploited the political weaknesses of the political system to make herself a de facto leader, first head of the Kanzaki Clan. Charted the family's rise to prominence and eventually the family's dominance for a few decades; began her ascent hoping to salvage the family name but eventually became a radical republican dead set on changing the world as we know it. Died at the hands of Oda Nobunaga.
 * Fifth Generation:
 * Miyako or Ritsuko (1548 - ??): She came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Sixth Generation:
 * Hidetada (1588 - ??):


 * Oda Family: A descendant of the Minamoto as well, the Oda rose up in opposition to the Kanzaki - and won out, going on to define much of the rest of Nihonese history. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543): His quest for revenge began the family's ascent to power. He finished none of it, trusting in a person that never returned his trust; yet, he would be remembered for what little he had done.
 * Second Generation:
 * Nobunaga (Hiyori) (1533 - circa. 1575): Arguably the family's most famous member, Nobunaga organised her, her siblings and others into a massive campaign against the experimental Nihonese Federation. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Nobuhiro (1534 - 1579): Nobunaga's less enthusiastic brother, who promptly decided to support the anti-Nobunaga coalition that cropped up against her. After her death, he was brutally skewered by the daimyo of Nanbu.
 * Nobuyuki (1534 - 1592): A quiet and unassuming member of his generation, Nobuyuki supported his sister but eventually fell out of the entire 'campaign' thing and went to manage the tiny family farm in Niigata. He, ironically, lived a far longer life than any of his family, dying peacefully in 1592.
 * Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - 1584): Nobunaga’s sister, although she never saw her as such for long. Forced into a ‘marriage’ with Kagetora’s young brother to solidify an alliance between the Uesugi and Oda, she was promptly pinged-ponged around into various marriages until being taken as a forcible concubine of Hideyoshi. She committed suicide in 1584.
 * Third Generation:
 * Shouko (1578 - ??): Daughter of Nobuhiro, one of his three children; she became administrator of the new Oda-chiku in Nagoya as one of the only qualified members of the Oda family remaining.

Ramberg Eigenstadt

 * Government: Anarchic Direct Democracy
 * Economy: The Economy of the Ramberg Eigenstadt continues to be mainly based on feeding and housing our growing populace, and continuing the war effort. The Ramberg Vineyard continues to be a majority of our exports, as the nearby wineries almost exclusively procured their grapes from us, and this has allowed us to trade for weaponry in the independence effort.
 * Capital: Ramberg
 * Demographics:
 * Population: 426
 * Growth: 52 from Immigration, 32 from births. 7 people have died due to either natural causes or the limited independence conflict.
 * Persons of Note: Georg Volker (b. 1618), Johann Weissgerber, (1589-1652), Margaretha Kiehlmeier (b. 1623), Albrecht Hahn (b. 1604-1654), Mary Magdalena Blumenthal (b. 1606), Katharina Von Gensheimer (b. 1616) Frans Steiner (b. 1621)
 * Ethnicities: Rhenish German (98.5%), Alsatian French (1.4%), Frisian (0.1%)
 * Wars & Conflicts:
 * Ramberg Peasants' Uprising: While we find the lack of large scale-battles soothing, we remain yet diligent on the defense of Ramberg. We continue to erect fortifications, completing the wall of palisades which surrounds our village. We also continue to dig earthworks around our village, leaving only space for small bottlenecks in the center of the Dernbach Valley.
 * Ramberg Defensive Militia:
 * Ammunition continues to be a problem for the nation, though we remain well-stocked otherwise. Frans Steiner, one of the leading tactical minds behind the defense of Ramberg, has suggested reopening the nearby mines once manpower is sufficient enough to staff them.
 * Diplomacy:
 * Rhineland-Palatinate: We request a formal end to the conflict they have thus far largely ignored, asking only that they relinquish to us the town of Ramberg and the surrounding foothills to their peaks.
 * Events:
 * Recruitment part 2: Seeing the success of the last recruitment campaign, we continue to push for recruitment in the nearby villages and towns, now stretching our recruitment all the way to Landau in der Pfalz, convincing 61 people to join the commune.
 * Ramberg Housing Crisis: With the large influx of new settlers, we have seen a boost in the crowding levels of Ramberg, leading to a shortage of housing. Two plans emerge to combat this crisis, with one of the plans being to convert Ramburg Castle into a boarding house. This plan is taken into action, filling the old castle with tents and renovating rooms for others.

The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)

 * Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord (BubbleRocket1#8016)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy


 * Drakes:
 * Luke II (M, b. 1604 - ) (R: 1838 - )
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - )
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - )
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - )
 * Important People:
 * King Family
 * Jocelyn King
 * Fortuna King

Economy: The economy of British Isles consists of trade and commerce of a variety of materials. The primary export products of the UK are fish, wool, cloth, and a variety of vegetables.

Main Religion: Christianity

Cities and Demographics:


 * Population:  9.982 million
 * British Mainland: 7.473 million
 * British Settlers: 47,034
 * Elysian Population: 25,365
 * Jamestown: 721
 * Fort Elysia: 385
 * Fort Epheria: 473
 * Greensfort: 467
 * New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 6,127
 * Catonzia: 22,492
 * HALO Settlement: 4,021
 * Vinland Local Population: 1,592 thousand external subjects
 * Elysian Local Population: 532 thousand external subjects
 * Includes the population of the states of Elysia and Laconia
 * Elysia: 392k
 * Laconia: 87k
 * Deasaheim: 53k
 * Becomes “Second-rate” citizens of the Empire in 1616
 * Just a fancy loophole that allows the population to be recruited into the army, though will have long-lasting effects as time progresses
 * Catonzia Local Population: 404 thousand external subjects
 * British Bahamas:: Roughly 2,000 overall (for both island chains in the area)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito: 2,870
 * Port Kingpin: 1,328
 * Albish Galapagos: 739
 * Albish Falklands: 803
 * British “Nueva Valcania”: 81,360
 * Renamed the Bahamas in 1646
 * British Shattered isles: 5,052
 * British Belize: 302


 * Cities
 * Brighton: A newer shipbuilding facility located on the English Channel.
 * Birmingham: A quiet town that is the location of McCarthy Arms Company, one of, if not, the oldest firearms companies to date.
 * Calais: One of the few French towns still owned by the British, it is a prosperous city that is one of the most important trading hubs in the North Sea.
 * Dover: Main location of the British navy. While elements of the navy are located throughout the territory, the headquarters of the navy are located here. In addition, Dover is the main trading hub between it and Caen.
 * Dublin: Main hub of Ireland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * Elysiapolis: The capital of the Elysian province, as well as the main headquarters for the BFG Company.
 * Fort Avalon: An old British camp located on a Vinland island. Though mostly uninhabited, it is staffed by a skeleton crew, in the event of a British ship stranding itself on the Vinland island.
 * Gibraltar: An important town the British claimed in the League Wars. Essentially give them control of who can and cannot leave the Mediterranan, though the British generally let anyone pass, not wishing to piss anyone off.
 * Glaemchester: A British town north of London, this city is known to house various wealthy nobles, with some of the finest tapestries being produced here.
 * Glasgow: Main hub of Scotland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * London: The capital of England, and location of the throne.
 * New London: The location of the British East Indian Company’s base-of-operations in India. Population primarily of locals, though as time progresses, more European influence seeps into the town.
 * Portsmouth: The location of the first drydocks in history, which became the founding of various legendary ships of the Royal Navy
 * York: Main center of England’s eastern fishing company. Also where a bulk of British trading companies are located, evident from the various merchant caravels present there.
 * Colonial Forts/Towns
 * Cape Town (South Africa)
 * Fort Avalon (Vestkyst-Vinland)
 * Fort Akan (Africa)
 * Fort Dolphin (Africa - Matagaskar)
 * Fort Epheria (Elysia)
 * Fort Elysia (Elysia)
 * Fort Galatoi (Galatoi, Africa)
 * Fort Kingpin (Yolngu)
 * Heathrow (Amekrogu)
 * Port Stanley (Falklands)
 * Portsmith (Galapagos)
 * Jamestown (Elysia)
 * New Glaemchester (Vinland)
 * New London (India) (Known as Diu to India)

Wars and Conflicts


 * North America: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity
 * Though it should be said that some companies add in the risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter, though others are far more friendly with their actions.
 * Rise of the Witch Hunters: The idea of witches begins to spread throughout the north of British Arcadia, where people begin to become paranoid that members of the various communities are witches.
 * It’s only a matter of time before these fears blossom into something scary.
 * The War in the Furnace: Due to war essentially breaking out against Amekrogu, the HALO company reaches out to the British mainland for assistance. Hearing their plea for help, the British send marines to the area, but initially run into problems. Even with their training for dealing with unorthodox tactics, the British still suffer heavy casualties, though mostly due to the region than anything else. (More info below)

Armed Forces


 * Total: 280,266 Manpower (3.9% of population)
 * British Royal Army Corps
 * Total: 159,295
 * British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
 * Marksman Infantry: 15,050
 * Light Cavalry: 5,250
 * Heavy Cavalry: 3,050
 * Field Artillerymen: 5,634
 * Field cannons: 1,378
 * Logistical Support: 23,000
 * British Arcadian Force: (In Arcadia)
 * Catonzia Garrison
 * Marksman Infantry: 7,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 7,000
 * All 7,000 sent to Amekrogu
 * Catonzian Musketeers: 8,260
 * 3,000 Catonzian Musketeers sent to Amekrogu
 * Field Artillerymen: 1,000
 * Field cannons: 500
 * Logistical Support: 3,500
 * Elysian Garrison
 * Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
 * Marksman Infantry: 10,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Elysian Cavalry: 300
 * Heavy Cavalry: 350
 * Bow Cavalry: 300
 * Field Artillerymen: 501
 * Field cannons: 167
 * Logistical Support: 7,000
 * British Vinland
 * Marksman Infantry: 6,000
 * Field Artillerymen: 344
 * Field cannons: 100
 * British Gibraltar:
 * Marksman Infantry: 30,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Field Artillerymen: 464
 * Field cannons: 142
 * Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,859
 * These are Britain’s elite forces. A rebirthed version sprouting from Artoria’s original group of holy knights, this force has never lost a battle, and has unwavering loyalty to the crown and the Order of the Roundtable, willing to fight to the death for the survival of the British Isles.
 * While most are able to fight, members of the Roundtable are encouraged to branch out into their own craft, such as pottery and sheepherding, with the idea that everyone should act like a Roundtable Knight and give their all into both their craft and their country.
 * The only way to become a Roundtable Knight is to be selected by an existing member of the group. Most knights tend to make apprentices out of those they recruit to the Roundtable, and generally, no one usually complains when a Roundtable Knight selects someone to join the ranks of the Roundtables. Depending on the country/chapter, one can also be appointed to the Roundtable by the crown.
 * In 1527, three factions were formed within the Roundtables
 * The Crimson Sun
 * The Azure Moon
 * The White Orchids
 * Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
 * With the victory of the Crimson Sun at the end of the conflict, things have settled down.
 * Modernization of 1602: Reforms the Roundtable Knights to act as elite units within the Army, as well as guards for Royalty.
 * In 1615, the London Guard is formed, to both protect the Royal Family, Parliament, and the citizens of the city as a police force, though will prioritize the protection of government personnel and property than that of the citizen
 * Notable (Living) Members:
 * The Drake Family
 * Sir Oliver Cromwell
 * British Merchant Arms Company:
 * An organization owned by the British government that was established to help veterans from the League Wars slowly assimilate back into civilian life while giving them the opportunity to see the world.
 * Mainly employed by the British Merchant Companies to secure their gains and the likes.
 * Personnel: 21,500
 * British Mainland: 17,000
 * Eldia: 2,000
 * Amekrogu: 1,000
 * British Yolngu: 1,500
 * British Royal Navy Corps:
 * Personnel: 23,122 (combined between both fleets)
 * Naval Vessels:
 * HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)
 * The largest ship in the Royal Navy and the pride of the fleet, though it becomes quickly apparent that the 102-gun warship is filled with flaws in its design.
 * Victory-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Victory
 * 50-gun warships designed to breakthrough enemy formations, and is the largest ship in the British arsenal until 1637
 * Ember-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Ember
 * 45-gun warships, obsolete by the 1600's
 * Only the HMS Ember is kept for training purposes, as a permanent drydock is built for her.
 * Glaemchester-class Second-rate Frigate: 10
 * Essentially a Swallow-class Interceptor, but built to stand up to combat against other ships of its size.
 * 42-gun Frigate that’s cheaper to maintain than the Victory-class while stronger than the Third-rates
 * Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 15
 * Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
 * 40-gun frigates that sacrifice durability in return for speed (for their size)
 * Phoenix-class Third-rate Frigate: 25
 * 32-gun frigates that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * The replacement for the Cabigail-class Carrack, with a hull design based on the Victory-class
 * Cabigail-class Third-rate Carrack: 36
 * 30-gun caravels that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels: 5
 * Lightly armed frigates around the same size as the Ember-class First-rate frigates designed to carry both marines and Vinland longboats for use in various operations, such as supporting fleets in areas where the large size of the British vessels are a hindrance, as well as serving as landing craft for said marines onboard.
 * Capacity: 16 Vinland longboats (12 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 480
 * Spyder-class Carrier Caravel: 8
 * Lightly armed caravels retrofitted to carry eight Vinland longboats within for use in narrower areas, where the caravels and galleons would have issues navigating
 * Capacity: 12 Vinland longboats (8 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 400
 * London-class Third-rate British Carrack: 4
 * Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
 * Yellowfin-class Fourth-rate Interceptor: 3
 * A 28-gun interceptor based off of designs found in Northern Africa. Has the same firepower as other frigates of its size while being much faster.
 * Phoenix-class Fourth-rate Frigate: 24
 * A 24-gun ship that’s smaller than the usual capital ships found in the fleet. Mainly used in distant areas, such as Yolngu and India.
 * Olive-class Fourth-rate Multi-purpose Frigate: 100
 * The replacement for the Dove-class Dual-purpose Merchant Caravels. While being around the same size as the Dove’s, the internal design of the ship is improved, allowing for more cargo to be stored within.
 * Mainly given to British merchants for their merchant fleets, though still kept on record in British documents to bloat the numbers.
 * Bombardier-class Brigs: 63
 * Small 18-gun ships smaller than even the old carracks. Due to their price, the British can afford to purchase a lot of Brigs in order to leave squadrons of them at various naval ports around the globe.
 * Abalone-class Sloops: 31
 * Small multi-role 12-gun ships meant to fill roles that can’t be easily filled with the larger Brigs
 * Ketone-class Ketch: 6
 * A ketch around the size of the Abalone-class sloops designed specifically for ship-to-ground combat. Armed primarily with mortars and light cannons for self-defense.
 * Vinland Longboats: (depends on the number of carriers)
 * Small vessels that can be deployed in regions to support larger ships from carrier vessels with their smaller cannons and enhanced mobility.
 * Armed with two 2-pounder MAC Cannons
 * British Royal Marine Corps:
 * A branch of both the Army and Navy, consisting of units who are trained in unorthodox tactics to bring around victory.
 * Special Programs:
 * SPARTAN Program: In addition, a program is opened up for the select Marines in 1616 to become elite troops within a program for SPecialized Armed forces for Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Neutralizing Operations, or SPARTAN Ops for short.
 * Those within the unit are known as SPARTANS, and are pulled from both the Marines and Roundtable Knights
 * Often would be given experimental weapons for field testing
 * These units are the penultimate guerilla troop within the British ranks, primarily acting in operations deep behind enemy lines, though can also fight alongside normal troops when necessary
 * These troops provide a large morale boost to allied units in their vicinity as their infamy spreads
 * Personnel: 44,200
 * Multi-Purpose Shock Marines (MPSM): 42,400
 * Mainland Britain: 16,900
 * Gibraltar: 10,000
 * Arcadia: 3,500
 * 500 Elysian MPSM
 * Amekrogu: 12,000
 * SPARTANS: 350
 * Mainland Britain: 275
 * Elysia: 25
 * Amekrogu: 50
 * Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry (SSLC): 4,050
 * Mainland Britain: 3,050
 * Gibraltar: 500
 * Arcadia: 500
 * Light Artillery Pieces: 3,260
 * Mainland Britain: 3,000
 * Gibraltar: 200
 * Arcadia: 0
 * Amekrogu: 60

Notable Companies

McCarthy Arms Company (MAC): (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)

Arms Race: Due to the creation of flintlock rifles in France, MAC enters into an arms race with their French counterparts, leading to rapid advancements in the creation of both rifles and cannons.


 * In 1610, they created a flintlock rifle using various components from French flintlocks. This rifle (and its various modifications) became the main firearm of the British Military in the League Wars and other conflicts in the early 1600’s.

Produced models:

FL1610 “Wasp MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1610)


 * The first rifle in the series of rifles made in response to “Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault” and their flintlock rifle.
 * Hastily made, the rifle has various issues, and has a higher-than-usual casualty rate among those who use it due to the tendency for the rifle’s barrel to implode.
 * Due to this reputation, the rifle was given an additional nickname: “Barrel of Surprises”

FL1610E1 “Wasp MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1611)


 * A modified L1610 that doesn't implode (more than most rifles of the era).

FL1610E2 “Wasp MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1612)


 * The version of the rifle that was used by the British Military when they joined the League Wars the same year.
 * This rifle features a slightly redesigned barrel, slightly increasing the range and improving the reliability of the rifle even more.

FL1610E3 “Wasp MkIV” Flintlock Rifle (1614)


 * Essentially the Wasp MkIII, but its components are simplified a bit, allowing for easier production.

FL1616 “Honey MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1616)


 * A modified version of the Wasp MkIV for use in hunting.
 * Essentially a simplified version of the Wasp MkIV for commercial purchase
 * Also becomes the model of rifle that was exported to allies during the League Wars

FL1610E4 “Wasp MkV” Flintlock Rifle (1619)


 * A version of the Wasp MkIV that is made from Yolngu steel, giving the rifle more durability

FL1616E1 “Honey MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1621)


 * An improved version of the Honey MkI, taking feedback from its users when making said improvements.

FL1625 “Hornet MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1625)


 * The successor to the Wasp series of rifles, featuring a slightly simplified design for the firing mechanism, allowing for easier construction of the rifle, though early versions of the rifle has issues due to kinks that weren’t figured out (though not as bad as was seen on the first Wasp rifles)

FL1625E1 “Hornet MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1626)


 * Sent into the field in late 1626, the rifle fixes the issues seen in the Hornet MkI.

FL1616E2 “Honey MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1627)


 * An improvement over the Honey MkII that features some improvements that were seen on the Hornet-series of rifles.

FL1625E2 “Hornet MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1632)


 * An improved version of the Hornet MkII, and is the primary rifle used by the BMAC Company in its early years.

FL1636 “Hornet 2 MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1636)


 * Originally just a simple upgrade, the Hornet 2 Rifle had so many improvements made to it that the company reclassified it as its own series of rifles.
 * Included in the many changes made is the narrower barrel. Though the bullets are smaller, due to a smaller round being used, the bullets are faster, have longer ranges, slightly faster reload, and are marginally more accurate than the original version of the Hornet.
 * Though the rifle doesn’t have as good of a stopping power, its improvements arguably offset this weakness.

FL1636E1 “Hornet 2 MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1642)


 * Modifications related to its reliability in hot, humid regions are added to the rifle.
 * In addition, this is the first rifle (used by the British) that was able to mount a bayonet.

XRS1652 “Thunderer” Experimental Revolving Sidearm (1652)


 * An experimental 3-shot revolver produced in extremely few quantities (around 56 or so)
 * The idea is for rounds to be pre-loaded into the revolving barrel of the pistol, which is locked in place by three pins when firing. Once a bullet is expended, the user delaches the pins and manually rotates the barrel before locking it back in place. This process is tedious and doesn’t give the gun that much of an advantage over normal conventional pistols on account of the cumbersome barrel, in addition to the pistol’s unreliability (even by standards of the time)

MAC Cannons: MAC continues to produce MAC Cannons (McCarthy Arms in a variety of calibers and sizes, ranging from small 6 pound field cannons to 32 pound naval cannons. At least in Britain, McCarthy Industries has the monopoly on the firearms industry.

Produced models:

2-pounder “snub-nose” MAC Cannon (1608)


 * Created for usage on Vinland longboats, more to fire on smaller vessels than anything else
 * Can be argued that rifles would be more effective than these small peashooters, but the extra punch is helpful

6-pounder medium field MAC Cannon (1578)


 * The main cannon used by both the British Royal Army and Marine Corps.
 * Also used on British Carrier Vessels

9-pounder “tickler” MAC Cannon


 * The lightest cannon used on British Warships (excluding Carriers)

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1588)


 * The mainstay cannon of British Warships

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1641)


 * An updated version of the 16-pounder cannon.

32-pounder “long-nose” MAC Cannon (1603)


 * Heaviest cannon that the British uses. Reserved for the largest of British vessels.

Research and Development


 * Hwacha!: A weapon imported from Japan, the British take one of the two Hwachas purchased from the Toyotomi Shogunate and reverse-engineer it, as they look into reducing the cost of production while they use the other for testing.
 * Tests show that the weapon takes a long time to reload, but due to the sound it makes and the area of effect, it could be a great weapon to use against cavalry, though effective enough against infantry.
 * It should be noted that the weapon has a shorter range than cannon fire, but has a larger area-of-effect, in terms of what it can hit.
 * Multiple Shots: Due to the nature of fighting in Amekrogu, the McCarthy Arms Company looks into possibilities to allow firearms to fire multiple times before requiring a reload, which should increase the lethality of British infantry.
 * Thunder and Awe (1652): Development into the concept has led to the engineers deeming the technology too complicated, on account of the complexity of the components of the revolving capsule. However, few see its potential, and continue to develop it in the background.
 * This does lead to a few models of revolvers being produced, though in extremely few numbers.


 * Naval Vessels: Continued development on galleons is performed, to see if it is possible to improve British vessels further. They experiment with two aspects; size and firepower. British Naval Engineers hope to determine proper ratios for size, durability, and firepower, as well as taking note of various lessons learned in the field, such as logistical issues found in British Caravels.
 * The Engineer’s Wet Dream (Aftermath): The Sovereign of the Seas enters into service in 1637, wielding the most cannons ever (up to this point). However, as time progresses, various technical issues will arise from the ship.
 * The ship took a lot of inspiration from the Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels in terms of its interior design
 * Speed Demons: Due to an increase in piracy in the Mediterranean, the British seek to modernize their old interceptors.
 * From observations of their assailants, the British take interest in a ship-type known as a xebec, ships that use three triangular sails, allowing them a good top speed without sacrificing much in terms of firepower.
 * As such, the Super Swallow-class of ship was created.
 * HMS Yellowfin: This is the culmination of British efforts into integrating a xebec into their fleet. Designed as a smaller-scale Super Swallow, the goal of this ship is to see how the ship handles itself before upscaling the size to that of the old Swallow-class.
 * This 28-gun xebec would become a class of its own, but for the time being, it is the only one of its kind.
 * Smaller Boats: Though the Brigs have shown their uses, the need for even smaller ships became apparent, especially on the accounts from allied pirates in the Shattered Isles.
 * From the HMS Ketone, improvements from the ship are implemented, mainly features to help deal with the recoil from the mortar, including an experimental outrig to help manage the rocking of the boat when the mortar is fired, potentially allowing the mortar to be rotated beyond facing only forwards.

Training and Production


 * Due to Britain’s entry into the League Wars, mass conscription is employed, though as the war entered into its final stages, more effort was put into maintaining numbers rather than recruiting newer troops.
 * British Mainland
 * None.
 * British America
 * Elysia/Laconia
 * None
 * Eldia:
 * None
 * Catonzia
 * None
 * Amekrogu:
 * None
 * Marksman Infantry imported from Arcadia to hold the line
 * British Yolngu
 * None
 * 2 Yellowfish-class Fourth-rate Xebecs
 * 6 Abalone-class Sloop
 * 5 Ketone-class Ketches
 * To help veterans of the League Wars reintegrate into society, they are offered an opportunity to work for the British Merchant Arms Company
 * Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.

Diplomacy


 * Amekrogu: The British reach out to the Amazonian Confederation for a non-aggression pact and a temporary end to the current warfare, to allow the British to consolidate their gains and prepare for future violence.
 * Carribean Pirates: With their success in the League Wars, the British officials in Catonzia decide to have better ties with the Pirates in the Carribean, maintaining the same offer that was offered to them during the League Wars, though limited to British Catonzia for the time being.
 * Brethren of the Coast: The British reach out to the pirates, shunning them for their attacks on British ships, though they do accept the offer provided to them by William Rous and the Providence Island Company.
 * Europe (Generally): Though not offered the top-line models, Britain does allow McCarthy Arms Company to sell some of their wares overseas to those willing to purchase them
 * Indian Nations: Seeing that the countries of India are friendly, the British East India Company reaches out to all the nations in the area, hoping to strengthen their ties with all nations and open up trade routes with all.
 * Southeast Asia: The BAKA Gaikokuhito Company sends diplomats throughout the area to the various nations. With members of Yolngu acting as translators, the company hopes to see what the local powers are for themselves
 * This includes the following nations:
 * Thotan (PING PING GK)

Allies


 * Agousta: Allied with Portugal. (Though not while the League Wars is going on
 * Though to respect previous ties, the British do not attack the Portuguese, unless they provoke the British to do so.
 * Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
 * Naranga: British ally on the Asian mainland.
 * Netherlands: Much like Westria, they are an ally on the European mainland.
 * Occitania: British ally on the mainland.
 * Svearike: Velkyst’s southern neighbor.
 * This alliance is made with a caveat: since they know that Vestkyst wishes to gobble them up too. The British mention that they will try to mediate any conflict between the two nations, and will continue to trade with both nations during the conflict, they cannot get directly involved against them. Otherwise, they will support the Svearike in a defensive war.
 * Toyotomi Shogunate: British ally (through the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company) in Asian area.
 * Vinland: Allies in the New World. Led by Tahmas, Vinland now prospers with the new leadership as they thrive with the protection of the British navy.
 * Vestkyst: Norweigan allies in the North Sea. The oldest ally of Britain, harkening back to the British Empire’s founding.
 * Yolngu: The furthest of Britain’s allies, the island-continent has metals far better than those in the region. As such, the majority of the trade from the region primarily consists of metals.

Events


 * The War in the Furnace (1650-1655): The British continue their offensive, attempting to push the Amazonian Confederation out of their territory. However, the British take heavy casualties as a result.
 * Though the British continue to try and keep up their momentum, they also have to constantly import troops from abroad to replace those injured in the war. So many troops are injured that 8 in 10 people are injured, with 5 of the 8 dying in combat
 * With this in mind, the British begin to send diplomats to the Amazonian Confederation while they’re in a position of power to try and negotiate a temporary non-aggression pact with Amekrogu.
 * This is mainly to allow the British to consolidate their gains and prepare for further aggression.
 * Troops in the Region
 * 12,000 MPSM’s
 * 50 SPARTANS
 * 60 Light Artillery Pieces
 * 3 People per gun, 192 cannon personnel in total
 * 5,000 British Marksman
 * 7,000 Elysian Marksman
 * 3,000 Catonzian Marksman
 * The Journey to Hell (1653): Thomas Hobbes was a British Marine who served in Amekrogu from 1648 - 1653. During his time in the conflict, he has seen multiple atrocities, with bodies scattered all around the place and terror of what could lurk in the trees being a constant fear. This fear cultivated in a book he wrote during his times in the Amazonian Jungle.
 * In the book, he wrote about the story of a man who descended into the first circle of hell, where he describes the horrors of what could lurk within, before questioning what could create such a scenario.
 * This book essentially is an allegory before blatantly complaining about the British conflict in Amekrogu, critiquing the conditions of life for the soldiers in the frontlines as well as the horrors he saw in the conflict, leading to some unrest back in mainland Britain, serving as a minor factors in why the British are suing for peace, even if it’s temporary.
 * Expansion Beyond the Horizon:
 * American Colonies
 * Consolidation of Power: Forts are constructed in British territory claimed in the war, both to protect from potential retaliation from the Spanish as well as from various tribes in the region.
 * In addition, British civilians are finally granted permission to move to British Catonzia and Elysia, as the British begin to slowly integrate Catonzia into the British Empire, much like what was done with Elysia.
 * Catonzia and Arroz: With the discovery of rice in the East, the British decide to give rice-making a try. With the new territory in Catonzia (as well as somewhat similar temperatures), the British decided to try and start rice crops in Catonzia, to mixed success. It will take a while before the British learn how to make rice themselves, as well as for the rice to adapt to the different environment.
 * African Colonies
 * BAKA - Mitai: Seeing the weakening of local powers in the area gives the company reason to expand, as merchants head inland to meet and trade with the locals.
 * Asianic Colonies
 * BAKA - Gaikokuhito: The company, headed by Frederik King, hopes to make contact with Yolngu again. To keep things brief, plans are in the making for a trading agreement with the region, and possibly more. (More details on this below)

The British Merchant Companies: (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)


 * British Faviero Greek Company: “The BFG Company” for short, this company has taken an interest to the region of Elysia. Its leaders, Faviero and Raleigh have enacted a multi-decade long plan to wrestle control of the region for themselves, though if other situations were to come up, they’d adapt on the fly.
 * Elysian Region: Having complete control over the area, the BFG Company begins to import more colonists into the region.
 * Around 2,500 colonists arrive in Elysia over the span of five years or so, hoping to start anew.
 * Laconia: In 1619, the region was reclassified into its own province for administration reasons.
 * The regions of Laconia, Demetrios, and Erakki become apart of the Laconia Province
 * Eventually becomes the State of Laconia
 * Deasaheim: The company begins the process of integrating the province into their company, as they begin setting up administrative bodies to run the area.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Doomslayer
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association: Started up by a British and German family, BAKA began operations in 1573, when they received a fleet of four merchant caravels. With this fleet, the company sets sail for Africa, wishing to set up a port town where they can trade with the locals.
 * In 1602, the company was split in two, due to the focus on where to colonize.
 * The branch known as “BAKA Mitai” is continuing the old company’s efforts in Africa
 * The branch known as “BAKA Gaijin” (renamed to BAKA Gaikokuhito in 1608) has its focus directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically Yolngu for its operations.
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Mitai Division:
 * Akan: Due to their presence in the area, the BAKA Mitai company slowly expands their influence through the area.
 * Fort Akan: Constructed by 1575, this fort acts as a military base for the British, with attempts made to expand their influence to the locals in the area.
 * Galatoi: The company trades with Galatoi, giving them McCarthy Firearms and other supplies in return for indigenous supplies as well as slaves for use in Elysia and other portions of their claims.
 * Fort Galatoi: An island port given to the company, allowing the British to dock their ships in the region (rather than having them weigh anchor out at sea)
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the MOM company, importing slaves from the Galatoi region and sending them to the Eldia region for use on the various crops in the region.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Resolute
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Gaikokuhito Division:
 * Establishing a Base: In 1616, The BAKA Gaikokuhito in Yolngu requested permission to construct a naval base in Northern Australia (far away from the coral reefs to the east) so they could land larger British vessels in the area.
 * In 1619, construction began on their fort, Port Kingpin. With help from the locals, ships were able to be harbored in the port town by 1621, with construction completing in 1624.
 * More Pitstops: Even with the two islands claimed, the distance between each stop is far too long. As such, the Gaikokuhito Division devices various locations along the way to establish naval bases to allow British vessels places of refuge
 * The British reached out to various nations on the Western coast of South America, asking if they could construct ports on their coastlines to allow British ships to stop on their journey to Yolngu, in addition to opening trade with the regions in question.
 * Australium: Rare metals have been found on the island continent. As such, operations are created to extract the metals with the help of the locals (in return for exotic species and other foreign goods)
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Golden Hind
 * The Henry Amerigo League of Observance: A group (nicknamed HALO) that is headed by Henry of Glaemchester. Now a competent company, the HALO company travels the seas, now intermingling with a faction known as the Amekrogu’s to the south.
 * The Amazon Expedition (Part 6): With a stable base-of-operations (in the form of the company-created port town of Heathrow), the HALO company begins to increase their influence spread in a number of ways.
 * British Vietnam: Due to the mess the conflict became, the company was temporarily put under government rule. Under the government, the company constructs various forts and other defensive structures in the Amazonian jungles for the war effort, in addition to managing the logistical side of the conflict.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Pillar of Autumn
 * The Millers Operative Manufacturing: A company that focuses on tobacco and leather in 1565, the company slowly worked its way into league with the larger companies of Britain by the 1580’s, eventually leading to the company receiving a grant to receive 7 Dove-class Merchant Caravels, as well as permission to construct a custom “flagship” for themselves.
 * For their success and assistance in the Battle of the English Channel, the British Government rewards them with a charter to expand their territory into the southern province of Eldia.
 * Upon the completion of their conquest of Eldia, various forests are cleared to make room for the various cash crops of the company.
 * Tobacco: As their influence spreads through Eldia, the MOM company begins to cultivate Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants, leading to an increase in profits due to its sweeter taste.
 * The selling of this tobacco increases MOM’s income, leading to them being able to hire more mercenaries to arrest control of Eldia from the locals.
 * Rice: Ordered by the British Royal Navy to produce the crop, the company also constructs rice crops within their territory, with assistance from Asian farmers.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the BAKA Mitai company, as the MOM Company begins to import slaves from the Galatoi region for the purpose of working on the farms.
 * Company Flagship: The Independence
 * British East India Company: With a grant from the British government, the company begins to make plans for their future ventures into Asia, with their eyes set on both the island chains between mainland Asia and Yolgnu as well as Hindustan.
 * New London/Diu: The construction of the deeper port is complete, allowing for larger vessels and more vessels in general to dock here.
 * Cape Town: Efforts are made to allow the port town to accommodate larger British vessels, providing them refuge from the volatile water off the South African coast.
 * Fort Dolphin: (Constructed in OTL Tolanero) Construction begins in 1621 to be finished by the end of 1625, mainly to allow British merchants another location to stop at while passing around Africa
 * To respect the locals, utmost stress is placed on those staying in the fort to respect the locals, and those who disobey these rules are handed to Matagaskar for punishment
 * Expanding Influence: With the wealth the company has, they begin to trade with the locals, providing them with products in larger quantities or new to the area altogether, with the hopes to make the locals reliant on the British for their daily necessities
 * Subsidiary Alliance Plan: The Company reaches out to the various countries in India, asking for the stationing of a British force within their territory for the country’s protection, in return for supplying the maintenance cost to maintain the force in the area.
 * The Azure Pilgrims: Since 1565, the “Azure Pilgrims” set up the Plymouth colony in hopes to be free from religious (and political) persecution. At first, the faction ran into many issues, mainly trying to survive the winter. They were helped by a local tribesman nearby and the colony has just begun to become stabilized.
 * Due to Catholic immigrants arriving in the region, the population slowly begins to increase from the small community it once was (around 500 per year, 2,500 every 5 years)

Notable Deaths


 * Rulers
 * Pendragon:
 * Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
 * Ash I (M,  b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
 * Sister: Aura (F,  b.1350 - 1434)
 * Ash II (M,  b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
 * Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
 * Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
 * Mordue:
 * River Mordue (F, b. 1322 - 1393) (Reign: 1369 - 1393)
 * Henry (M, b. 1353 - 1429)  (Reign: 1393 - 1429)
 * Daughter: Mary (F, b. 1382 - 1399)
 * Lionel (M, b. 1388 - 1482) (Reign: 1430 - 1482)
 * Son: Leo I (M, b. 1407 - 1465)
 * Leo III (M, b. 1445 - 1478)
 * Son: Leo II (M, b. 1423 - 1478)
 * Brother: Henry II (M, b. 1398 - 1478)
 * Drake:
 * Casimir (M, b. 1454 - 1533)
 * Queen Abigail (F, b. 1455 - 1533)
 * Queen Victoria (F, b. 1499 - ) (R: 1533 - 1561)
 * David (M, b. 1537 - 1554)
 * Brother: Albert (M, b. 1495 - 1565)
 * Nephew: Rupert (M, b. 1517 - 1553)
 * Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - 1618) (R: 1561 - 1618)
 * Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - 1619)
 * Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - 1564)
 * Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
 * Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
 * Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - )
 * Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - )
 * Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - 1596)
 * Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
 * Married off to a Westrian prince
 * Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
 * Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - 1602)
 * Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - 1606)
 * Cousin: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - 1629)
 * Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - 1629)
 * King: Luke I (M, b. 1567 - 1638) (R: 1618 - 1838)
 * Son: Luke II (M, b. 1604 - ) (R: 1838 - )
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Son: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - )
 * Roundtable Knights
 * Joan “Anne” of Arc (Died in 1431)
 * Sir George Cromwell of Cotswold (Died in 1445)
 * Sir George Cromwell II of Cotswold (Died in 1482)
 * Sir Rex of Dover (Died in 1482)
 * Joanna Palaiologos McCarthy (Died in 1528)
 * Misc
 * Frederik King (Died in ???)
 * Head of the BAKA Company, essentially has ties in about half of the world
 * Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
 * Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.

Famous Vessels

HMS Victory (15XX)


 * Laid down in 15XX and launched in 15XX, the HMS Victory is a 50-gun First-class Frigate.
 * The namesake of her class, HMS Victory was the first pride-and-joy of the Royal Navy.
 * Famously captained by Admiral Francis Drake, the ship would lead the British navy to victory when it defeated the Spanish Armada, directly leading to one of the major reasons why Britain won in the Anglo-Spanish War in the late 16th century.
 * From there, it would also see combat in the League Wars as it ensured that those opposing Britain felt the wrath of her powerful broadside.
 * Eventually, the ship was retired in 1647, where it was put into the reserve fleet as a training vessel for new sailors.

HMS Fortune’s Bounty (1626)


 * An Olive-class Multi-purpose Merchant Frigate given to the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company from the British government. Laid in 1624 and left on its maiden voyage in 1626, the ship would find itself under the ownership of Fortuna King, a woman well-known for her assistance in the Wu-Narangan War in 1633 when she was involved in both a trading run to Naranga in addition to the assassination of the Wu General in the region.
 * Though the ship would remain in East Asia for most of its life, it would also visit Britain and the Mediterranean Sea during its time afloat under the ownership of Fortuna.
 * In 16XX, [REDACTED]

HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)


 * Laid down in 1634 and launched in 1637, this ship is essentially an engineer’s wet dream. Built “just because,” the ship has more than double the guns of the next largest ships (the Victory-class) and was also over double the size, this ship towered over anything the British would build for the next half-decade or so.
 * That being said, the ship was also ladened with issues, such as poor handling and the likes.

Mutapa

 * Government: Monarchy.
 * Mwene: Nyambu Kapararidze
 * Economy: The Economy of Mutapa is pretty good as it is mainly an agrarian nation, with mining as a secondary activity, from mines we get gold and stuff that we can trade for stuff like silk, ceramics and other exotic items, and with the increasing interest of gold, the Mwene has increased our gold mining which has made the economy get a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with some of the nations/tribes around us.
 * Capital: Ne-we
 * Demographics:
 * Population: 1 144 000
 * Cities: 60 776
 * Ne-We: 9 620
 * Sofala: 5 516
 * Angoche: 5 386
 * Pambane: 4 786
 * Mkalimini: 4 536
 * Kiwe: 4 286
 * Makapan: 4 000
 * Zomba: 3 996
 * Pebane: 3 786
 * Nampula: 3 706
 * Manzini: 3 386
 * Banhine: 3 086
 * Mpumalanga: 2 686
 * Limpopo: 2 086
 * Rural areas: 1 083 224
 * Ethnicites: 66,7% Shona, 14.3% Karanga, 11.1% Swahili, 6.4% Swazi, 1,5% Chewa
 * Religion: 1% (11 040) Mwari believers, 99% (1 092 960) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
 * '''Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
 * Mthwakazi:
 * Minao and Mthwakazi war.pngNorthern front: 50% (5 720) of the second army will push north-west towards the Mthwakazi landscape. (Blue)
 * Southern front: 50% (5 720) of the second army will push North and North-west to capture southern Mthwakazi. (Red)
 * Minao:
 * Northern front: 25% (5 720) of our first army will slowly push to the south-west trying to make the enemy send more troops here so that it'll be easier in the south-east. (light blue)
 * Northern Central Front: 25% (5 720) of the first army will slowly push west while pushing pretty hard to the south in order to cut off some of the Minao armies in that area. (purple)
 * Southern Central front: 30% (6 864) They will focus on pushing west very strongly, to make the front smaller as well as pushing them away from the city "Mpumalanga". (Forest green)
 * Southern front: 20% (4 576) of our first army will push towards Minao's capital "Thswane". (lime green)
 * Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we have our First army with a miltary size of 2% (22 880) and Second army with a military size of 1% (11 440) of our total population.
 * First army: 2%
 * 8 877 African Spearmen
 * 6 045 Crossbowmen
 * 5 914 Light Cavalry
 * 1 044 bowmen
 * Second army: 1%
 * 4 396 African Spearmen
 * 3 743 Crossbowmen
 * 2 753 Light Cavalry
 * 548 bowmen
 * Order of Yasht:
 * 2000 Mercenaries
 * Navy:
 * Mer'ana class ships: 4
 * Fishing boats: 800
 * Diplomacy:
 * Events:
 * Balele lands: We start rebuilding the territory we have already captured and give the citizens living there food and water.
 * Order of Yasht: They're said to be an order of around 2000 men that do jobs in return for money and food. Currently they are stationed in the city of Nampula at the moment. The Mwene heard of this order in 1653, they caught his interest and he made the order to summon them, or at least their leaders. After talking about stuff the Mwene asked if they could show what they were capable of. The Mwene found them very strong and organized. He decided to hire them as mercenaries.

Papal States
Government: Elective Monarchy


 * Pope: Venus

Economy: Greatly reduced after the sacking of Rome and annexation of Romagna, the economy is based mostly around agriculture, fishing and taxation. Agriculture being majorly cultivation of grapes and fruits.

Capital: Rome

Demographics:


 * Population: 1.1 Million
 * Religion: Catholicism (95%) • Other/Scum (5%)

Wars and Conflicts: N/A

Military:


 * Active army (2%)
 * 12 200 Musketeers
 * 4 400 Pikemen
 * 2 500 Light Cavalry
 * 1 700 Heavy Cavalry
 * Inactive army (2%)
 * 12 200 Musketeers
 * 4 400 Pikemen
 * 2 500 Light Cavalry
 * 1 700 Heavy Cavalry

Diplomacy: N/A

Events:


 * The paranoia of Venus: After the revolt of some members of the Swiss Guard, Venus becomes paranoid, getting 4 more spies to look over the guards left and to look for the fugitives, 2 spies each.
 * The silence after the storm: The Pontiff remained silent for weeks since the Swiss Guard incident her few words were simple commands to the rest of the guards, morning salutations and short meetings with the spies, all without a single smile.
 * The improved army: The first statue of The Supreme Pontiff is raised to celebrate the emancipation of the army from mercenaries.

Turn XII: 1655-1660
LINK TO MAP

Mod Event

 * The North Afire - Preamble:
 * Introduction: Ever since the ascension of Fiete Kjær to the throne of  Vestkyst  in 1397, the reign of the Sólskjær dynasty has ushered in an era of relative peace and prosperity. While there have been several tempestous occasions during their quarter-millenium reign, the heartland of the predominant Northern European realm has been save from any real danger. However, even the most stable realms face a threatening calamity sooner or later. Even Nordicia, a precursor domain famed for being the "Kingdom that Stood the Test of Time", fell victim to a multitude of factors that contributed to its demise. Then, it happened. The rank and file, disillusioned from war against both Catholics and Protestants to the south, began to practice a religion resembling more of the faiths of old, distancing themselves from the Odinist syncretism. The realm, split into duchies and counties by the late old monarch to placate their sons and daughters, was more divided than ever. The archbishops of Nidaros, concerned with the spread of the "unorthodox" faiths, sought to create a power base for themselves in Trondheim as a means to safeguard Odinism from potential heresies. Lastly, a scandal in the court led to a schism within the royal family itself, with disgruntled would-have-been heirs plotting a conspiracy to make a power grab for the throne. And in the wake of the old monarch's passing, the turmoil in  Vestkyst  reached a breaking point. Factions took up arms, proclaiming themselves the rightful successor to the throne, while the world watched as paradise crumbled into pieces.
 * The Claimants:
 *  Anastasia, Duchess of Akershus: Descending from the original branch of the Kjær dynasty in Oslo and the designated principal heir for the crown of  Vestkyst ,  Anastasia  inherited the Duchy of Akershus from her mother. Her ascension to the throne was interrupted, however, by a private army in Bergen belonging to another claimant, who declared her an outlaw. Outraged, she returned to Oslo and with an alliance with the Count of Viken, prepared to mount a campaign to reclaim what is rightfully hers - the Sovereign Realm of Vestkyst-Danemark .
 *  Hilmar, Count of København: Born into the Danish cadet branch of the Sólskjær dynasty,  Hilmar  was never seriously considered for succession, instead was given the county of København. However, a growing crisis in Bergen and the backing of several prominent regional noble families fearing the increasingly erashed Danish identity, allowed him to stake a meaningful claim on the throne of  Vestkyst .
 *  Vedastus, Archbishop of Nidaros: The head of the Archdiocese of Nidaros, Archbishop  Vedastus  controls Trondheim, the holy city of Odinism - an amalgamation of old Norse and Protestantism. Increasingly concerned by the spread of beliefs that espouse the removal of the latter, he sought to control the monarch of  Vestkyst  to bring the realm's religious upheaval down and stamp out the thoughts he deemed "heretical". With a claimant to the throne under his thumb, the time had come for him to execute his plan.
 *  Gunnar, Duke of Vestland: Formerly second-in-line to the throne,  Gunnar  was unceremoniously removed from succession after an unknown scandal, which he took as an insult. Despite that, he remained allies with several noble families in Bergen, which allowed him to secretly build up a private army and unleashed it on his niece,  Anastasia , seizing the capital and declaring himself King of  Vestkyst . With Vestland secured, he looked to the rest of the fractured realm, looking to unite it under his banner - and in his view, the way it should be.
 * Paradise Lost (1659): To the average Vestkyster, things were getting stranger by the day. There was an untold yet tangible animosity in the air, whether it was Bergen, Oslo or København. Everyone knew something was happening, but no one knew what it was. Then, it happened all at once - days after news of the old monarch's death broke, the realm erupted into a squabble for power. The people found themselves under different authorities, some more benevolent than others, while the rank and file are split between the realm and their local claimant. Unless you were the Sámi living north of Trøndelag, your lives have irrevocably changed.
 * Realms of the Distant Past in the Ever-Changing World: As more discoveries are made, the way people look at the world changes as a result.In America, the Passenger Pigeon once thrived. However, when the foreign Europeans began to hunt the birds for easy food, their numbers began to plummet.
 * The Mystery of the Island Chain (Part 6): Darwin continues to research the dodo’s on the island, when he notices that the local wildlife (mainly the various snakes on the island) has begun to prey upon the foreign birds, much to his delight. As a result, the snake population on the island begins to explode, leading to other species on the island either struggling or thriving as a result.
 * The Dragon King Takes Flight: The first pterosaurs were discovered in Albion, mainly of the Rhamphorhynchus family. However, they were seen as young dragons. With this discovery, an explosion of dragons begin to find their way into Albish literature, along with tales of King Arthur I.
 * Mercs with a Heart (Part 3): Upon Fortuna’s return to Asia, she begins to hire mercenaries to work as wandering medics within her small private company. Though medical knowledge isn’t a foreign concept, knowledge of medical first-aid is slowly becoming more commonplace in Cathay and Nihon.
 * Christiaan Huygens: A Dutch mathematician, physicist, astronomer and inventor, he created the first pendulum clock in 1656, which would become the most precise timekeeping instrument in the next three centuries or so. In 1659, he derived geometrically the now standard formulae for the centripetal force and centrifugal force in his work De vi centrifuga, which played a central role in classical mechanics.
 * Silver Leopard (Part 9): Mikaela was old enough to completely retire from fighting, as her physicians advised her against it. She have not activity as much as she used to in recent years asides from helping to train Ludwig. On 1656, Ludwig had finally managed to first best her in combat... at the age of 13, no less! It would be only about 3 more years until Mikaela had taught him everything that she knew. At the age of 16, he was finally old enough to be asked the prime question; why choose him? This question works both ways. Mikaela understood that something about him was special from the get-go, his parents were from a background of lesser nobles that lost their home due to the League Wars. She wanted someone to continue the "chosen" line, and he was the best suited. Nothing so fancy about that. For Ludwig, even though Mikaela was not a Catholic, Ludwig's parents sacrificed everything to train him to become someone strong enough to reclaim their home from the new protestant regime. Ludwig personally thought differently, he knew of his purpose his parents put upon him, but in the end he wished for something more after spending time with Mikaela. His experiences with her would influence his views on Christianity as a whole, and whether destiny is concrete. On 1660, satisfied with both of their answers (there were more than just that), both go their separate ways. The goodbyes were long and hard, Ludwig hated goodbyes, but he knows he cannot stay in Varangia for the rest of his life. Ludwig moves with his family back to travel back to Europe, Amsterdam or London is probably a good place to start a new stable living, perhaps they could get enough to reclaim his home. At least, that is what his parents wished for him, does he want more? That is the thought that still lingers in Mikaela's mind.
 * Trịnh-Nguyễn Split: Descending from aides to the legendary hero-Emperor Lê Lợi who liberated Đại Việt from Chinese occupation in the 1420s, the Trịnh and Nguyễn lords have gradually but increasingly becoming the most prominent noble houses in Vietnam, in part due to internal strife in the 16th century which almost led to a civil war and their roles in supressing the Mạc usurper dynasty. A feud has been brewing between the two families for decades, more so when the two were in fact related due to a marriage way back. This came into a head in 1659, where this quarrel became full-on war as a Nguyễn lord escaped to Huế after an attempt on his life and is subsequently declared war on by the Trịnh lord, along with his own territories in the North. The Nguyễn, with influence in the more central and southerly areas, began bracing for an offensive. For now, Vietnam is partitioned between the two lords. The Trịnh, being in the North and extremely influencial, also happened to be able to control the Lê king, making the monarch nothing more than a mere puppet to the Trịnh lords - hence the sometimes used "Lê King - Trịnh Lord" epithet. The two sides were also backed by foreign powers - the Trịnh by the Agoustan and the Nguyễn by the VoC - or the Dutch East Indian Company.
 * Holy Roman Emperor Election of 1658: With the death of the King of Bohemia in 1657, an emergency meeting among Circle leaders were called. Convening at Moldaufurt, Vesnia was elected Emperor in January 1658.
 * My King, The Country: Absolutism. A term no one should ever use in abstention. Well. It wasn’t that impressive. Absolutism came into being early in the world, underpinned by the Right of Kings and Queens. It escalated in its manifestations; from the Japanese Empress becoming a proto-dictator to the total abolition of the King in some territories. Whatever the case, the form it would finally take in Europe first appeared in France. Henry the Fourteenth was an ambitious king. He had decided, early on, that he wanted a more centralised France under God. Of course, this most certainly wouldn’t fly with the Occitans or the Anglicans or the Bretons, who regarded him as a middling meddler without any kind of redeeming characteristic in geopolitic; in their mind, he was but a king of abstentions, another on the endless list of people who would wrestle their power away. The feudal nature of the French realms had always infuriated its monarchs; many of them recognised early on that it forced them to cooperate, and beg, at the feet of lords and dukes, and the worst, women! Yes, women. It didn’t help that the Occitanian realms and parlements saw their social power derived almost exclusively from female family leaders or that half the more famous uniting heroes France knew were decisive, impressive women in the vein of Jeanne d’Arc or Frances Tremalec. It was impossible to acclimate them to the King’s narrative, much less the ethnic groups and languages that Paris had to deal with to keep the realm together. So they never tried. They contented themselves with their holds over the Ile-de-France and the Northern half of the country and rarely challenged it over these years. That changed with Henry. Henry believed in the most fundamentalist form of France’s Catholic tradition. He believed, quite sternly, that France could only see security and peace under a strict understanding of community, realm, and of course, the King’s power. Otherwise known as a very oddly strict understanding of the woman’s position in society - not just below men, but literally subhuman. That was why he believed in an absolutist monarchy. One where he alone would make the decisive decisions. One that was, for all intents and purposes, imaginary. The Parlements had been his first attempt, regulating all of these scattered peoples in a dominion under Paris. Instead, he was ashen-faced to find, that they simply worked the Parlements to their own advantage - using it as a method of consolidating their own realms and eliminating rivals, then stonewalling Paris once that was done. It’d culminated in him being faced with the prospect of secession at the hands of Lengadòc and now he was stuck in this position again. Powerless. His fervent supporters too, his backers, they were furious. But there was not much he could do. But he was not intent on failure. For his faults, and his spurious beliefs, he was an ardent (and rather narcissistic) fellow who used his powers to the fullest. And he discovered a way of wrestling power back through the laws that created the Parlements, instituted by his grandfather. Of course, it was impossible to infringe upon the Parlements in a practical manner, but… the cities of France were still teeming with money, having benefited from the practical collapse of Western Europe during the League Wars. Their collective unwillingness to pay taxes to dukes and duchesses contributed to the first tax reform he made: the Villeparlement, in 1653. The villeparlements were theoretically simply more efficient governorships of the existing parlement system, used explicitly only for cities. They would have their own tiny parlements, and they would report… to Paris, as well as their own parlements. In effect, it made the many cities of France into a thorn for smaller lords, used to hauling off with tons of cash from their subject cities. One might suggest that this would not at all be a kind of Absolutism. This pathetic political wrangling between a King and his realms. But one is best pressed to remember that all political ideologies arise out of an observation of power. And Henry had made one for the ages.
 * Africa, my Love: The African continent continued to enjoy a status among much the rest of the world as a layover stop on the way to anywhere else. The traditional naval Silk Road flowed past the great Kingdoms of Kongo, Mutapa, Sumali, Matagaskar, and yet none ever took significant interest. Perhaps it was their starry-eyed fixation with Arcadia and Meridia. Perhaps it was simply their disinterest, past the port towns and the coastal settlements of the Dutch, the French, the Albionites, and the Iberians. That was about to change. While Iberia was the traditional involver in Africa, new discoveries and political changes had made things different. The collapse of the traditional Hispanian and Agoustan states had seen a power vacuum in the trading relations of the region. Albion, initially, had involved itself more heavily in West Africa, as had the Dutch, but they found themselves uninterested. The gold, the proverbial gold, had all but dried up. The past city-states and kingdoms like Timbuktu, well… they were lost to history, as far as the Europeans were concerned. In reality, they had been destroyed not by the loss of gold but by the Galatoi. The Galatoi - some European settler nonsense that had set foot on the old lands of Mali years ago, before expanding so far East it now stretched from the Atlantic to, at one point, Lake Chad. The refugee crisis created by its eastwards expansion, not to mention the mass dispellation of so many ethnic groups to the Empire’s easternmost reaches, had the effect of constant tiny border wars on the Empire’s edge. The Empire fought those too, sacking Timbuktu, rampaging across traditional trade routes. The cities, the mines, they now lay abandoned. For now. The Hausa Empire was a curious appearance. It, and the Sokotan Empire, appeared out of the ashes of the Galatoi giant. But more importantly, they were interested in trade. For the first time in decades, merchants south of Mauretania appeared in Al-Atlasiya. In the streets of Venice. In the countryside of Albion. The economic empire the two states built together in candor reignited interest in the ‘layover continent’. France especially took the opportunity - its traditional rival in Albion involved thoroughly in the New World, it sent missionaries, traders forth to establish relations with the new states. And when the Treaty of Four Quarters became law in France, Louis used it as an opportunity to back religious syncretism in the vein of Catholicism. And competition returned. Manuel I, forbidden from further interference in Mauretania, focused further action on Kongo, a traditional Agoustan - and now Iberian - ally; one of the first states in Africa that Christian missionaries had converted with the economic pressure of the once-vast Agoustan Empire. France backed its breakaway states, especially Loango, which had recently won a splendid victory against Kongo. This also religious conversions along these political lines. France demanded that its client states’ leaders adopted a more European style of Catholicism than the Iberians did. The flip-side of this was also competition for influence with the Papacy - if one could simply ask these African states to send ambassadors to the pope, professing their brand of Catholicism, the idea went that their own power, too, would increase. And so a ‘Great Game’ began. This ‘Great Game’ would be fought by European and African powers. The Europeans would provide support, economic, sometimes military, and religious legitimacy, for African wars and conquests. Certain local leaders, seeking imperial conquest in much the same way the Europeans seemed to be splendidly succeeding at, acceded easily. None seemed to care about the thousands, millions caught in the middle. Especially not when the Hausa Empire began its own little game, its matriarch promising both the Atoumans and the Iberians conversions to Arzham or Christianity. All in all? Let the game… begin.
 * Damnatio Pontificia: Penned by Eulalia de' Medici, Duchess of Tuscany in Firenze in 1655 and ratified by King Louis XIV of France, the Bishop of Graz in Westria, the Bishop of Torino in Piedmont and a host of other Italian counts, the Damnatio Pontificia (Condemnation of the Papacy) was published in 1656 in Italy, condemning the "excessively debaucherous behaviour exhibited by the Supreme Pontiff and enforced upon her constituents", expressing the horror and disgust of devout Catholics, monarchs and laymen alike, and called for the resignation of Venus from the position of Pope in favour of a truly pious pontiff in view to restoring order. Less importantly, but also key was Eulalia's concern of how the first female individual to make an impact on the ultra-conservative ecclesiastical system of the Papacy also turned out to be an extremely depraved woman who indulged in hedonistic desires, fearing that this may become an impediment for truly zealous Catholic adherents of the fair sex to be able to achieve success in the future. The denunciation was first printed and announced in Firenze, before making its way across the rest of Italy, including the streets of Roma, and permeated quickly into France and the Catholic Circle of the Holy Roman Empire, and despite being Protestant, the rest of the Empire was also discontent with the state of things in the Papal States, stating that "such conduct is not acceptable in the presence of God". This widespread wave of dissent led to a loss of trust in the Catholic Church as an institution, at least until the situation is rectified, and some polities have already been scheming to do something about it if the Papacy wasn't going to fix itself after such damning denunciation.
 * Theocratic Stratocracy of Urbino: Brewing dissent within the ranks of the Swiss Guards did not end with that incident a few years ago. Once every while, a guard would go missing, only to desert and flee somewhere else. Though some returned to the Swiss Confederacy, a few began to find their way to Urbino, and the numbers began to trickle in. A constant supply of guards were always there to draw from to make up for the losses, due to some still somehow being unaware of the commotions within the Papal States - which is great, as it meant the discrepancy is harder to notice this time around. In no time at all, a small but devoted former Swiss Guard cabal has formed in the city of Urbino, a place brewing with anger over the conduct of the Supreme Pontiff. In 1654, with the sudden death of the city's mayor, a member of this cabal was elected Mayor, and with this, coupled with broad support from mercantile and cleric allies, they turned Urbino into a stratocratic theocracy, led by a class of former guards and some cardinals who have retired from Rome due to the prevailing depravity staining the city of God. In 1656, with the release of the Damnatio Pontificia by Eulalia de' Medici, the theocracy was confident to declare independence from the Papal States, denouncing Venus as a "spawn of Satan" and "false Pope" and calling for a return to old institutions, crowning one of their own cardinals as Pope instead - an anti-pope, if you will, one that gained the recognition of the King of Naples and more importantly Eulalia herself. With a host consisting of the former guards themselves and the professionally trained city army, they sent an ultimatum demanding that Venus step down from the office of Supreme Pontiff, after which she would be allowed to walk free, or they would march to Rome and force her to.

NPC Event

 * New Netherlands: The port city of New Amsterdam outside the walls of the fort became a major hub for trade between Arcadia, the Caribbean, and Europe, and the place where raw materials were loaded, such as pelts, lumber, and tobacco. Sanctioned privateering contributed to its growth. It was given its municipal charter, by which time the Commonality of New Amsterdam included the isle of Manhattan, Staaten Eylandt, Pavonia, and the Lange Eylandt towns (roughly around where they were OTL). These new settlements were recently established due to the recent waves of immigration coming to the New World from the recent League Wars and the recently established charters. For example, in the hope of encouraging immigration, the Dutch West India Company established a charter that would give it the power to offer vast land grants and the title of patroon to some of its invested members. The vast tracts were called patroonships, and the title came with powerful manorial rights and privileges, such as the creation of civil and criminal courts and the appointing of local officials. In return, a patroon was required by the Company to establish a settlement of at least 50 families within four years. Of course, the recent new wave of immigration did not sit well with the most of the remaining tribes of the native Sewanhaka, some of whom raided the newly established settlements. Most of them survived mostly intact, though Pavonia suffered heavy damage. Angered by this, militias led by the Dutch colonial governor became determined to wipe out most of the tribes who are not submissive to the colony of New Netherlands, no more shall they suffer.
 * Taxacola (Iberia): The same thing still happens for a long while, settlers and explorers still travel north from the region to found new settlements and expand the colony's reach in the lands belonging to the tribes of Tobosos, Tarahumara, Chiricahua, and Concho (and to a lesser extent, Pima). Due to new imports and exports of resources found north by the mining towns and other settlements, the colony picks itself back up (economically) despite troubles at home and elsewhere to its south.
 * Varangia: The easternmost outpost in OTL Okhotsk has by then expanded into the outlines of a basic trading hub of primarily fishing and furs. Good negotiations with their neighbors had brought steady enough stability and trade to bring only the most daring traders and explorers from the west, willing to cross the harsh lands inhabited by harsh weather (depending on the time of year) and meet potentially hostile raiders, to the isolated outpost. More hardened traders would have to employ hardened mercenaries, otherwise they would have to negotiate with the native inhabitants there to help escort them (which is a longshot in itself). Since the outpost (now by now known as Fort Mika, named after Mikaela the Great the current ruler) is far off from friendly territories, they have managed to establish a virtually independent system for themselves free from the state.
 * Sibir (Varangian): Over the past decade(s) the presence of outposts established by traders, explorers, and settlers from Varangian Sibir had been steadily increasing in Ngangasan. Religious priests had spread faith to the tribes there, if they had not adopted the word of God already. Neighboring Varangian states had already begun the process of integration of the rest of Ngangasan and its inhabitants in it. By the end of the decade, the region would become completely occupied by now since the first arrival of Europeans during their "March East". On a side note, the same Varangian trailblazers would roll past the remainders of the Yeniseans, if they were not already completely occupied already, and started charting lands owned by the Dolgan and Sakha peoples.
 * Iberia: Manuel I continues consolidation, implementing a wide-ranging tax reform that sees new provincial borders drawn up; Agousta and Hispania are both split up into seperate lordships and duchies, splitting apart his political rivals and finally settling him in for life as the most secure King of Iberia.
 * Rhineland-Palatinate: Deciding it's not really worth it to subdue like, four hundred people, the Count Palatinate signed off on Ramberg demands.

Empire of Matagaskar | Empira Matagasykara
Notable People of Matagaskar/Imerina (in chronological order) [WIP]:
 * Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
 * Monarch: Emperor Andriantsitakatrandriana (B 1606 D 1658 - Age 52) (R 1626 - 1658), Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (B 1632 - Age 27, alive) (R 1658 - Present)
 * Consort: Empress Raviro (B 1608 D 1657 - Age 49), Empress Ratompoimbahoaka (B 1633 - Age 26, alive) [Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe has three other wives: Ramahafoloarivo, Rampanananiamboninitany and Ranavolontsimitoviaminandrianaralambo, although only his first wife is considered empress consort.]
 * Ruling Dynasty: Hova
 * Chief of Kômôro: Kifeda (B 1622 - Age 37) (R 1653 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Ranjevasy: Rabenirina (B ca 1614 - Age ca 45, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Maorisy: Tovondrava (B 1615 - Age 44, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Order of Succession: Princess Andriamanjakatokana (B 1636 - Age 23, alive), Prince Razafindramahata (B 1621 - Age 37, alive), Princess Mialitiana (B 1651 - Age 8, alive), Princess Rabetsara (B 1624 - Age 35, alive)...
 * Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing as well as trade, mostly with the Swahili states of East Africa but also other foreign merchants. The Malagasy economy stands as one of the strongest and most developed in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to the effect of foreign contact. Matagaskar controls the entire island of the same name and holds influence in parts of East Africa.
 * Allies: Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla (defensive pact), Mutapa (personal alliance)
 * Capital: Antananarivo
 * Demographics:
 * Population: ca 796 000 total
 * Mahajanga: 9 400
 * Antananarivo: 6 800
 * Toamasina: 4 650
 * Manakara: 3 300
 * Ambanja: 2 500
 * Morafenobe: 2 500
 * Toliara: 2 070
 * Antsiranana: 1 750
 * Moroni: 1 000
 * Antsirabe: 700
 * Rural regions: ca 763 000
 * Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (consisting of 18 ethnic groups, the three largest of which, in order, are the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Sakalava), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), ca 5% Adnanite, >1% Albionite (Fort Dolphin and nearby areas)
 * Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, ca 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore) and other traditional folk religions, >1% Anglican Christianity
 * Wars and Conflicts (italics: Potential War):
 * N/A
 * Military: Due to Matagaskar being a rural realm, a large amount of units can be raised for warfare, but usually about 1% of the population is the most trained and prepared soldiers that can be drafted. Parentheses means the deployed units in cases where not all units are deployed for war.
 * Deployed units: None
 * Total (1%): 7 800
 * 2 080 Spearmen
 * 1 420 Swordsmen
 * 300 Bowmen
 * 2 050 Crossbowmen
 * 1 500 Light Cavalry
 * 500 Fossa Warriors
 * Navy:
 * 13 Adananita class ships
 * 11 Mer'ana class ships
 * 8 transport ships
 * Diplomacy:
 * Order of Avesta: Kewl, our relationship just gets better and better.
 * Mutapa: The new emperor sends a gift of gold to the Mutapan king, as a gift but also for the king to use for their realm’s ongoing war.
 * Events:
 * Reign of Andriantsitakatrandriana (final part): Again, basically just a peaceful time period up until Andriantsitakatrandriana’s passing in 1658, only about a year after Raviro’s passing in 1657. The crown prince succeeds as expected and Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe becomes the new emperor. With the Nyafo expedition not returning, the emperor decides after a year to label the crew dead, not willing to risk sending another vessel to check on them. Andriantsitakatrandriana also becomes the second Malagasy monarch to have multiple wives, having four wives with his first wife being empress consort.
 * Order of Rakotomazava: Mpiady Tsivalaka starts a recruitment effort to rebuild the order, which is almost completely relocated to Antsirabe, there are still outposts and other areas where the order have members stationed, but Antsirabe is basically now established as the headquarters of the Zoroastrian order.
 * Manorohanta’s Expedition: Hey you’re banjaxed, hey you’re screwed. And death is coming for you, trapped on an island, lost at sea. Shipwrecked, your destiny. The crew is out for several months at sea, heading east. However, they end up in a storm. They manage to pull through and even get to Nyafo, but end up shipwrecked after the ship gets struck by something and sinks. Most of the crew perishes in the sinking, with Manorohanta and five others surviving and ending up on Nyafo with limited supplies salvaged from the ship. For a few months the crew lives on the island, but the harshness of the wilderness is not to toy with. The journal of Manorohanta details the harsh life they had. One of the survivors: Ndriamparany, died early of an infected wound. The remaining five had arguments and fights which led to two crewmates: Telolahy and Beriziky leaving to survive on their own. The remaining three became two with the death of survivor Ralainasolo who was put out of misery after suffering from an unknown disease. The only two remaining were Manorohanta and Tovohery.
 * Regardless to say things became even more difficult. Food was so scarce that Manorohanta eventually snapped. He killed and cannibalized Tovohery to survive. (all these events are in various ways detailed in the journal he kept). Still however, most of the “food” spoiled and Manorohanta did not write much more. The last journal entry simply said “inedible berries”. Having eaten poisonous berries in desperation, he died. The fates of Telolahy and Beriziky is unknown. Most of the remains of this terrible event will still be here to be found by whoever travels to these islands next.
 * IT’S FUCKING MÀNTA! [takes place in England] (Part 4): Perhaps it was the teachings of his parents, especially his father, or maybe it was nature working its magic, regardless Gordon Burwick grew up a prodigy. His skill was impeccable and by the time he started working with his father in the culinary arts he was praised by his peers and many nobles and rich people and important people wanted Andrew and Gordon to serve as head chefs for their feasts and other meet-ups where food was to be made. Gordon would by the end of this turn become a head chef himself while his father took a lesser position due to his age.
 * Gordon Burwick became known for his strictness and his temper, not tolerating many mistakes to be made by his subordinate chefs. One notable incident he was supposedly heard yelling by nobles waiting to be served. Allegedly they heard him yell “WHERE’S THE LAMB SAUCE!?” multiple times. And he’s only 17. God damn. Also I forgot to mention but Mamangy (Andrew) converted to Christianity when he first arrived in England so yeah this family is not Zoroastrian okay bye.
 * Past Rulers:
 * Ammagari dynasty (ca 1392-1517):
 * Andrianerinerina (ca 1360s-1418): Legendary first king, said to be the son of the god Zanahary himself. Reigned from ca 1392 to 1418.
 * Andrianjavonana (1391-1447): Ruled during a period of language and alphabet-development. Reigned from 1418 to 1447.
 * Andrianamponga (1427-1455): Encountered the Adnanites, expanded the rule over the Comoros. Died in a mysterious event. Reigned from 1447 to 1455.
 * Andrianamboniravina (1429-1469): Formed the Fossa Warriors, fought the Avestan invaders. Reigned from 1455 to 1469.
 * Zafimahova (1434-1488): Regent for Rafandrandrava. De facto ruler even after Rafandrandrava’s coming of age. Official regency lasted from 1469 to 1471. De facto queen regnant from 1469 to 1488.
 * Rafandrandrava (1453-1494): Underage at the time of ascension, was basically just a de jure ruler for most of his reign. Oversaw the expansion into the Central Highlands. Reigned from 1469 to 1494.
 * Andriamasindohafandrana (1477-1513): Continued adapting foreign technology and expanding south. Visited the Ahuric Empire. Murdered by conspiring Fossa Warriors. Reigned from 1494 to 1513.
 * Rafandrampohy (1495-1550): Conducted a massive crackdown on the conspirators who killed his father. Abdicated in favor of his wife Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, triggering the Merina Civil War. After this he became a religious person. Reigned from 1513 to 1517.
 * Hova dynasty (current):
 * Rangitamanjakatrimovavy/Rangita (1493-1552): First true queen of Imerina and ruler from the Hova dynasty. Won the Merina Civil War, moved the capital to Mahajanga. Reigned from 1517 to 1552.
 * Rafohy (1528-1572): Established contact with Mutapa, expanded the kingdom, made the Order of Sihanaka official. Died of a miscarriage. Reigned from 1552 to 1572.
 * Andriamanelo the Great (1546-1605): Unifier of the entire island. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. Considered the greatest monarch in Malagasy history (so far). Reigned from 1572 to 1605.
 * Ralambo (1566-1612): Legalized polygamy, introduced the fandroana celebration, reformed the feudal system. Died of a sexually transmitted disease. Reigned from 1605 to 1612.
 * Andrianjaka (1571-1628): Founded Antananarivo upon the former settlement of Analamanga and moved the capital there. Improved infrastructure, held a census. Deposed by his son and wife in an internal conflict. Reigned from 1612 to 1626.
 * Andriantsitakatrandriana (1608-1658): Married the Shona woman Raviro who became his wife and empress. Defeated the Order of Yasht during their rebellion. Reigned from 1626 to 1658.
 * Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (1632-Present):
 * Others:
 * Hainteny (ca 1370s-1423): Philosopher and writer. First person to truly take advantage of writing when it came into being in Imerina. Formed the basis of the Haintenist faith.
 * Tsilavohery (ca 1410s-1467): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Rakotomanjato until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king.
 * Rakotomanjato (ca 1421-1505): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Tsilavohery until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king. He betrayed the Merina and became king of a group of Bara peoples. That polity did not last too long however and was eventually conquered by Imerina.
 * Ndahimananjara (ca 1440s-1503): First ever Fossa Warrior. Married into the Ammagari dynasty. His branch would eventually rule the island.
 * Andriantompokoindrindra (1467-1527): Father of Andriamihaja and Rangitamanjakatrimovavy.
 * Tombovelo (ca 1480s-1543): Religious figure who essentially was the one to create the Malagasy variant of Zoroastrianism. He also traveled and studied in the Ahuric Empire.
 * Andriamihaja (1496-1527):
 * Ratsifandrihamanana (1493-1556): Second husband of Rangita.
 * Rakotomazava (ca 1510s-1577): Founder of the Order of Sihanaka, which later became the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Rakotomanjafy (ca 1520s-1590s): Mpiady of the Order of Sihanaka.
 * Ranjeva (ca 1540s-ca 1603): Explorer and discoverer of the Mascarene Islands.
 * Rafidy (ca 1580s-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tsiajotso/Rakotomazava II (ca 1589-1647): Leader of the southern Order of Rakotomazava and later leader of the Order of Yasht. Exiled himself and the Order to Mtende.
 * Zozimar (ca 1590s-1639): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Ramalalaharivololona (ca 1590s-1657):
 * Rambolazafy (1599-1653): High Chieftess of Mahajanga.
 * Tombomankara (ca 1595-1647): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava from 1628 to 1647.
 * Boazandrivelo/Rakotomazava III (ca 1600-present): Originally just a soldier of the Order of Rakotomazava and later of the Order of Yasht. He became an important associate of Tsiajotso. He took over as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after Tsiajotso died, becoming Rakotomazava III.
 * Tsivalaka (1603-present): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Catherine Burwick (1603-present): Noble Scottish woman who married Mamangy and had a child with him.
 * Mamangy “Andrew” Burwick (1605-present): Chef, considered to have been the first one to make a popular dish out of dodo meat. Traveled to Europe via British trade vessels.
 * Raviro (1608-1657): A princess of Mutapa and now Empress consort, first non-Malagasy consort of a ruler.
 * Mafilaza (ca 1610-present): Impressive soldier of the Order of Yasht. Set to become Rakotomazava IV as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht.
 * Rabenirina (ca 1615-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tovondrava (1614-present): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Manorohanta (1620-1655): Advisor and explorer. Went on an expedition to the Nyafo (Rodrigues) island, but it led to a shipwrecking where all of the crew died.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy.

Cheyenne Confederacy

 * Government
 * Tribal Democratic Stratocracy
 * William Navarra
 * The Council, and The Assembly
 * Economy
 * Mining: Due to the war being over, we are focusing less on military equipment, making enough to only keep our active and reserves running and some to expand. The rest is going to consumer goods, to be used by the populace.
 * Hunting: We hunt for 19% of our food.
 * Farming: We are working on farming, making the other 81% of our food.
 * Trade: We trade with neighboring tribes, and are working hard to build better relationships with each tribe around us. We also are importing guns from France, but the french seem to not be supplying as much.
 * Capital
 * Fort Laramie
 * Citys
 * Tanacoma, or Denver
 * Nisihima, or Casper
 * Kanatsasipi, or Cheyenne
 * Demographics
 * 67% Native Arcadian Tribes (20,773)
 * 21% White (6,517)
 * 8% Taxacola (2,463)
 * Religion
 * 61% Native Religion
 * 20% Weird Version of Christianity
 * 13% Catholicism
 * Wars/Conflicts
 * None.
 * Military
 * Standing Army (6%)
 * Light Spearmen (LS): 800
 * Heavy Spearmen (HS): 200
 * Light Bowmen (LB): 865
 * Riflemen (R): 130
 * Calvary (Various & C): 1615
 * Reserve Army: 9-12%
 * LS: 2500
 * LB: 1300
 * HS: 100
 * R: 200
 * C: 1650
 * Diplomacy
 * Kemahana - (Keep working on improving relations, and now try to send humanitarian aid due to genocide/civil unrest.) Hey, we don't have to be enemies any more. We could break the stereotypes, bring people together. We are sorry. And yet, we had too. I hope you can forgive us.
 * Yokantamakah - (Improve relations, and send supplies and humanitarian aid for the same reason as Kemahana.) Listen, you guys were attacked over 300 years ago by the original colonists sent by the british. Those people are dead, and if you really want revenge, go stick it to the british. But we are here to help, we don’t want to be enemies. If it helps, we don't necessarily like the british either. They taxed us too much.
 * Shoshoni - Thanks for helping us out in the war. Let's continue the alliance. By the way, do you need help stopping Wasatsa from expanding into you? They seem to be kinda whooping you.
 * Lakhóta and Dakhóta Agallates - (Keep trading, send some armor, be nice.) Hey, how are y’all doing. Anything you guys hear about that I should know? (Trades info for some gold/things they want.) Seriously though, calm down looking for gold. If you want more, you should go ransack Indetah.
 * Wasatsa - (By this time I feel like I have gotten communications through the Shoshoni) Hey people, how are yall? What are you doing?
 * Pawnee - Hello fellows, look at our large economic stuff. That could be yours too, if you joined us.
 * Crow - (Same economic bribes to get the crow to join our Confed.)
 * Events
 * The Aftermath - Due to the unrest, genocides, and many other events after the war, the Confederates decide to show the other face of themselves. Instead of the determined soldier, they show the caring, kind, and gentle side. They send food, supplies, and tools to both splinter nations. They send peacekeeping soldiers, train local police, and help build things.They want to show that we can be friends, and try to teach that the Yokantamakah and Kemahanans views of Anti-Whites are bad, and that not all white men are bad.
 * The First Manifestation - As people celebrated, many, including the native peoples, seeked to expand in the name of the Confederacy. They were proud, happy, and wanted to seek fortune and things of their own. So they expanded. Went in search of their own place, and even went on missions to incorporate regions into the confederacy. (I am expanding into the Crow/Shoshoni area, building forts and stuff.)
 * The Boom of the Settlements - Due to the winning of the war, major immigration begins in the cities we captured, with Tanacoma being renamed Denver in english, Nisihima being renamed Casper, and Kanatsasipi renamed to Cheyenne. However, still being a kind people, no Kemahanan was evicted nor purged, and signs and cultural artifacts were kept safe.
 * Bison Surge Update - As the Bison Surge continued, 2 businesses emerged. The business of Richard’s Buffalo primarily used bison to make leather and meat, while Jericho’s Ranches made mostly milk and dairy products. There is now a rivalry between the two, which may evolve into something bad or good….
 * Research
 * Improved Agriculture Techniques
 * Social Retraining
 * Weapon/Tool Improvement
 * Armor Making
 * New Tech:
 * None.
 * Military Government - Because the orders come from wiser and more understanding heads, tactics and strategies are increasing our unit effectiveness.
 * Victory from war - We have won a war against our enemies, effectively boosting people's hopes. We also have gained land, recognition, and power.



Brethren of the Coast

 * Government: Pirate Confederacy

Captains:


 * Samuel Axe † (1604-1656) (p. 1625-1630) (p. 1638-1656): Axe is an Albionite man who joined the Brethren in 1625, helping establish the Providence Island colony in 1626, as well as being one of the captains with the least losses during the invasion of Tobago. He managed to escape Vieques during the rebellion, making landfall on Culebra, which was later attacked by Agüeybaná; he then wrecked near Haitiana, becoming a buccaneer and going back to the Brethren in 1638, suggesting and managing to capture Tortuga in 1639, opening another business opportunity for the Brethren in buccaneering. He became the de facto leader of the Brethren, not pirating much anymore, but still managing the administration. He died in an Iberian ambush in Jamaica in 1656
 * William Rous (1606-) (p. 1631-1642): A former merchant for the Providence Island Company, who joined the Brethren in 1631. He helped on the 1633 raid of Mérida, getting very few casualties, and then climbing up the business ladder to become the head of the Providence Island Company in 1642. The Providence Island Company has prospered under him, even starting whaling enterprises in the Atlantic. With this new corporate power, he offered his islands (Providence, Neogranadines and Rattan) to the Albionites in 1654 in secret. He managed to sell them, making the Brethren much smaller, while not less powerful as the Invasion of Jamaica attracted many more pirates, seeing the sheer power of the Brethren.
 * Jacob Lucifer (1620-) (p. 1638-): The son of Hendrick Lucifer, trained by his father in pirating and fighting, he has also been trained as a commander by García. He became captain in 1638, with 18 years of age, becoming the most accomplished pirate of Tortuga so far, managing to capture even galleons with his smaller crew. He fell in love with Sally Brown in 1649, starting to compose a shanty for her. He went to the East in 1654, meeting many of the Salé privateers. His romance with Sally Brown became widely known. They both made a route to Salé and back passing through the northern lands of Vinland. They married in 1656, being the first traditional couple between the captains of the Brethren.
 * Moses Cohen Enriquez (1599-) (p.1622-1623) (p. 1638-1646): a Sephardic Jew raised in the Netherlands, he joined Pieter Ita’s plan to capture a Spanish island in the West Indies, helping with most of his crew to settle there in 1623. He then was recalled in 1629 to send him on an expedition to the East, in which he wrecked his ship in a shoal in Northern China. He participated in the Wu-Naranga war in 1633, personally killing the Wu general Lin, contributing to the destruction of Beijing and getting a fortune. With this fortune, Moses manages to go back to Europe, buying a brig and sailing to the Shattered Isles, trying to dock at Vieques but being chased off, then going to Sint Maarten to learn where the Brethren is now located, learning of the existence of the “Providence Island Company '' which he suspects to be a cover for the Brethren. He was soon confirmed in his belief, as he was welcomed by García in 1638. He took part in the capture of Tortuga in 1639. He then led an expedition into the Rio Grande, incited by his memories from China, and the promise he made to Doan just before his death. The expedition ended in an Indetah town being raided, with Moses not being able to do what Doan asked him. He retired as a wealthy man in 1646, founding a feminine male brothel in Tortuga, which became a hit among the pirate crews and the Poseidonists of the island. He started to court one of his “employees”, leaving him as somewhat of an heir to him.
 * James Reiskimmer (1614-) (p. 1639-1658): an Albionite man from Providence Island, he was appointed captain of the Spear after Axe was given command of the Tortuga, he is the matey of Nathaniel Butler. He and Butler were sent on a diplomatic mission to Salé in 1639. He exchanged his ship for a small xebec during the mission. He converted to Poseidonism in 1635. He became captain of Butler’s ship, the Providence, leaving his ship, the Warwick to Axe’s matey Armando Rodríguez. He took part in the invasion of Jamaica, helping capture Amaico and then making a separate beachhead near Montego Bay. His matey Nathaniel Butler left him in 1652 for a wretched woman. He retired to Bermuda in 1656, always remembering his good times with his sugar daddy old matey Nathaniel Butler.
 * Nathaniel Butler † (1587-1656) (p.1639-1644): a former merchant for the Providence Island Company, he was recruited in late 1639 after he bought a galleon in Bristol. He and his matey Reiskimmer were sent on a diplomatic mission to Salé in 1639. He and Reiskimmer converted to Poseidonism sometime after their arrival. Butler retired from active piracy in 1644, becoming the de facto governor of the Bermuda settlement. He left Reiskimmer in 1652, marrying a woman and retiring to Bristol. He died in 1656, at old age of 69
 * William Jackson (1608-) (p. 1639-): a former Albionite privateer, who joined the Brethren after the end of the League War. He is one of the few pirates in the Brethren to bring women as crewmembers.  He spearheaded and planned the Invasion of Jamaica for years, planning a capture of Amaico and then a three front invasion from the West, East and South. He took control of the central front, advancing to Amaico and capturing it with not many casualties. He went north from there, capturing some fine lands. The invasion and most of the Brethren became solely his responsibility after the death of Axe.
 * Pierre François † (1613-1657) (p.1642-1657): One of the two former French privateers that joined up with the Brethren in 1642. He, along with Bras-de-Fer captured the contents of a pearl diving galleon, the Concepción. The two french men also contributed to the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique. His ship and crew got captured by a bigger spanish ship in 1657, being sent to Taxacola and being hanged in Tuxpam.
 * Alexandre Bras-de-Fer (1612-) (p.1642-1658): The latter of the former French privateers that joined the Brethren in 1642. He and Pierre captured in 1643 the contents of the pearl hunting galleon Concepción. A decent negotiator, Bras-de-Fer managed to get in contact with the French crown, offering them two colonies in the Shattered Isles in 1646, doing an invasion with the support of Francois in 1647. His ship was caught by a waterspout near the Bocas del Dragón in 1648, after which he and his crew managed to capture an Iberian galleon that had come to the island for freshwater. He retired to Martinique in 1658, learning about the fate of Francois
 * Thomas Veal † (1618-1658) (p.1643-1654): A mutineer from the Plymouth Territory that joined the Brethren and became very rich as he was the second best captain in the 1640-45 period. He was part of the expedition to the Rio Grande, being the most aggressive of the bunch, and having his shantyman write a song about the voyage. He accompanied the other Albionite members on the Invasion of Jamaica, hoarding more of the wealth than any other captain. He left the Brethren in 1654, with rumours of him burying his treasure somewhere in the Shattered Isles as a source for cash. He soured relations with the Brits by raiding a couple of their ships. He was assassinated in 1658, with a cryptogram being found on him probably leading to his buried treasure.
 * Richard Ingle † (1615-1657) (p.1644-1657): a former merchantman from the Plymouth Territory that joined the Brethren in 1644, he took part on the Invasion of Jamaica, being the first to arrive onto the Amaico harbor, then helping on the invasion by making a beachhead in the east of the island in 1651. He also attacked Albionite ships, souring relations. He shipwrecked near Los Pan Serpiente, being captured by Albionite authorities and sentenced to hang along with his entire crew in 1657.
 * Armando Rodríguez † (1606-1656) (p.1644-1656): Samuel Axe’s matey, he joined his crew around 1626, back when the Brethren was only in Vieques and Culebra, he rose through the ranks, becoming quartermaster in 1629. He managed to escape Vieques with Axe, staying in Culebra for a couple months until being attacked and escaping. He was one of the crewmen who wrecked in Tortuga, falling in love with Axe, marrying him in 1634. They all returned to the Brethren in 1638, making the matelotage official. He was given the Warwick in 1644, becoming a captain in his own right. He helped in the Battle of Amaico, going with Ingle to the east. He was killed in 1656, along with his matey Axe.
 * Sally Brown (1625-) (p.1649-): A half Carib woman, who had a rough life on British Montserrat, having to rob to live and making a small gang. She robbed the wrong person and was forced to escape on a sloop, ending up in Little Athens and becoming a member of the Brethren. She joined Lucifer on the trek to Salé, falling in love with him. They married at Socorro in 1653, being very publically married.
 * Phillippe Bequel (1628-) (p. 1650-): Frenchman from La Rochelle, he went west after the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique, to join these famed privateers. He arrived on the island of Tortuga in 1650, becoming a minor pirate there. He started helping in the late Jamaican invasion.
 * Moïse Vauquelin (1626-) (p. 1651-): Another Frenchman, from Normandy who went to the Shattered Isles in 1651, inspired by the success of Bras-de-Fer. He started raiding the Yucatan and Lenca coasts.
 * Bartholomeus de Jager (1627-) (p. 1653-1656): A Dutch privateer, who joined the Brethren in 1653 after capturing a Portuguese ship, while losing their original ship. In 1656, he captured the Iberian ship Santa Rea, after which he left the Brethren and returned to the Netherlands, being one of the least important pirates of the period
 * Roche Veracruzaan (1624-) (p. 1654-): A Dutch born pirate, who raided the coasts of Vera Cruz for some years, until finally joining the Brethren in 1654. He raided an Iberian galleon in 1657, which carried many riches, including some crates of vanilla, sugar and indigo.
 * Vincenzo Alessandri (1630-) (p. 1655-): A Papal born pirate, he joined in 1655, seeking fortune in the West Indies. He was one of the more harsh pirates of the Brethren, enslaving people to sell to the Salé privateers more than any of the other members.
 * Thomas Freeman (1632-) (p. 1655-): An Albionite mutineer, who escaped to the Brethren in 1655 to escape authorities. He helped Myngs in the attacks on Koumena and Coropolis. His crew was one of the more gentle towards prisoners after those attacks.
 * Christopher Myngs (1622-) (p. 1655-): An Albionite serving as a Dutch Privateer, Myngs had been a privateer since 1648 back in Europe, going to the West indies after his letter of marque expired, becoming technically a pirate. He planned raids which he completed in 1658, when himself, Freeman and Mansvelt attacked the cities of Coropolis and Koumana. Myngs then started planning an attack on the city of Dysia in 1659.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye (1634-) (p. 1656-): A french girl, who became one of the most important members of the Brethren, who joined in 1656, having bought her ship when disguised as a man, with wealth from sources unknown. She revealed her true identity when sailing to the West Indies, asking her crew to vote on joining the Brethren, which went well. She designed a black flag, with herself in high class dressing, holding hands with Death, with a heart bleeding on the center. After she arrived at Tortuga, she joined the Brethren as usual. She managed to become the most successful captain on the Brethren, gaining the nickname “Back From the Dead Red” after a raid where she was thought to have been killed, where she took her striking, red hair out, after which she won the boarding. She founded the pirate territory of Los Lagartos, where she established her headquarters in 1659.
 * Anne Dieu-le-Veut (1635-) (p. 1658-): Another frenchwoman, who joined the Brethren in 1658, having never hidden her sex. She adopted Delahaye’s flag, inspired by her incredible achievements.
 * Edward Mansvelt  (1620-) (p. 1658-): An Albionite man, who had a privateering license from 1646. He joined the Brethren in 1658 after he accidentally killed some of his own countrymen. He had a very good ability to lead, having a bright future ahead of him in the Brethren.
 * Daniel Johnson (1634-) (p. 1659-): An Albionite, who after a battle with the Spaniards in 1654, was captured and forced to work in a plantation in New Hispania. He managed to escape from there, capturing a ship and joining the Brethren in 1659.
 * Laurens Prins (1631-) (p. 1659-): A Dutchman, he joined the Brethren in 1659 with plans to attack a town in the Bacata Zone. He made a couple big raids in the year, capturing a galleon and a frigate.

Insurance: the Brethren offers insurance to all of its pirates, with different payouts for different injuries


 * Leg: 300 pieces of eight
 * Right Hand: 200 pieces of eight
 * Right Arm: 400 pieces of eight
 * Left Hand: 100 pieces of eight
 * Left Arm: 200 pieces of eight
 * Eyes: 70 pieces of eight per piece
 * Ear: 20 pieces of eight
 * Fingers: 40 pieces of eight, 50 if the thumb is lost
 * Death: 1000 pieces of eight
 * Cash Payouts: during non peaceful boarding some actions are paid for, including scuttling captured ships, destroying enemy flags and managing to kill enemy captains.

Territories:


 * Little Athens (1632-)


 * Description: Little Athens is an island near New Hispania, named after the Greek kingdom on the island, it was founded by Captain Polycrates, and it functioned as the de facto headquarters of the Brethren until 1640
 * Population: 400
 * Ethnic Composition: 100 Spanish, 130 Greeks, 70 Dutch, 90 Albionites, 10 Taíno
 * Religion: 100 Poseidonists, 140 Protestants, 90 Hellenics, 50 Catholics


 * Tortuga (1639-)


 * Description: A decently sized island, captured by the Brethren in 1639, after the return of Axe. It is lightly populated, with only about 70 people living in it. The island is a prime buccaneering spot, due to its proximity to New Hispania
 * Population: 650
 * Ethnic Composition: 60 Spanish, 60 Greeks, 30 Taíno, 160 Albionites, 140 Dutch, 20 Jews, 200 French
 * Religion: 20 Jews, 140 Poseidonists, 150 Protestants, 40 Hellenes, 10 Taíno, 130 Catholics,


 * Bermuda (1642-)


 * Description: A mid sized island east of Eldia, which was colonized in 1642 to get a careening stop for PIC ships that trade to Europe and Africa
 * Population: 200
 * Ethnic Distribution: 100 Albionites, 60 Dutch, 40 Greeks
 * Religion: 90 Protestants, 60 Poseidonists

Navy: 14 ships, totalling 242 guns and 717 crewmen


 * Frigates: A very common type of ship in the world, boasting better swiftness and maneuverability than galleons, while also being able to match them in firepower. They use the fully rigged ship sail plan. These are common on the Albionite and Dutch navies, with the Brethren having some. They can carry over 40 cannons easily, but ours are usually not of that size.


 * Swansea, frigate, 28+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain William Jackson
 * Marston Moor, frigate 28+6 guns and 90 crewmembers, captain Cristopher Myngs


 * Galleons: Heavy two decker ships that are starting to fall out of use due to their obsoleteness. They are cargo ships which are less fast than frigates and less cargo capable than flutes, but they are still common among the Iberian navies. These ships can carry from 20 to a rumored 80 cannons, which are rumoured to be the cannon count of an Agoustan super ship launched over a century ago.


 *  Providence , galleon 26+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain James Reiskimmer
 *  Phénix , galleon 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Alexandre Bras-de-Fer
 * Royal, galleon 24+6 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain Edward Mansvelt


 * Flutes: Dutch-built cargo ships, which can be outfitted with quite a few guns for a great effect. These ships have three masts, in a usual fully rigged style. they carry from 10 to 30 guns and can carry much more cargo than a usual frigate of the same size.


 *  Haarlem , flute, 24+4 guns and 76 crewmembers, captain Abraham Blauvelt
 * Amsterdam Meid, flute, 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Laurens Prins


 * Xebecs: Ships imported from the Barbary Coast, which have two or three lateen sail masts as well as oars, which are manned by paid sailors. They are faster than usual brigs, but they cannot have stuns’ls. These usually carry over 16 guns, with the biggest one reported having 30.


 * Sol d’Oro, xebec, 18+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain Vincenzo Alessandri


 * Brigs: The main ship used by the Brethren, a two mast ship that uses mains’ls mostly, with a gaff sail in the aft side mast. Many of the Brethren’s captains use stuns’ls with their ships, effectively increasing the ship’s swiftness by a large margin. These ships are usually outfitted with over 14 cannons, with the bigger ones going all the way to 26.


 * Eenhoorn, brig 22+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Jacob Lucifer
 *  Victoire , brig 14+4 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Pierre Francois
 * Atlantis, brig 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Daniel Johnson


 * Ketches: Double masted ships, which use only gaff sails usually, as well as mains’ls in rarer cases. These are a middle point between sloops/cutters and brigs, usually having between 10 and 18 guns for the non merchant versions


 * Le Havre, ketch 10+2 guns and 35 crewmembers, captain Moïse Vauquelin
 * Veracruz, ketch 16+4 guns and 55 cremembers, captain Roche Veracruzaan
 * Castries, ketch 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Jacquette Delahaye


 * Cutters: Single masted ships, which are similar to sloops, but use one or two mains’ls in that mast as well as the jibs. This ship is usually called sloop by some, but the line is blurry, with it being technically correct to call them sloops.


 * Aventurier, cutter 6+4 guns and 25 crewmembers, captain Phillipe Bequel
 * Anne, cutter 10+4 guns and 36 crewmen, captain Thomas Freeman


 * Sloops: Ships with only one mast, which do not have a bowsprit, as well as a gaff sail, and from one to three jibs as well. These ships are small in size, not being able to carry many tons of cargo. This ship is commonly confused with cutters.


 *  Reformation , sloop 4+2 guns and 20 crewmembers, captain Richard Ingle
 * Tobago, sloop 2+4 guns and 18 crewmembers, captain Sally Brown
 * Consciencia, sloop 6+4 guns and 28 crewmembers, captain Roche Veracruzano
 * Marianne, sloop 8+2 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Dieu-le-Velt

Economy: The Brethren’s economy relies mostly on piracy, along with buccaneering, plantations and fishing.


 * Buccaneering: 10 tons of pig hunted and sold with different preparations.
 * Piracy: 60 ships captured, mostly Iberian
 * Fishing: around all the territories of the Brethren, many fishing boats are deployed, catching many fish for local consumption
 * Plantations: there are major sugar plantations on Rattan and Providence, as well as a mid sized vanilla plantation on Little Athens.
 * around 50 sugar crates are produced by the plantations a year, along with around 20 of vanilla

Diplomacy and War:


 * Miskito (Hispania): The vassal kingdom is ruled by the Native queen Guillermina, who married the Dutch captain Abraham Blauvelt. Pirate control has wavered after the loss of Providence an Rattan, making the Miskito now pretty much completely independent.
 * Albion: A good partner of the Brethren, who have sponsored us in the past, even selling us the Rum Cay. Many of our privateers and pirates have originated from Albion and its colonies. The relations are starting to dip down as some pirates (Veal and Ingle) have started to attack Albionite ships. William Rous and the Providence Island Company offered to sell the company, along with the territories of Rattan and Providence.
 * Netherlands: One of the most reliable partners we have ever had, with many of their privateers joining the Brethren, and the Brethren helping them get many of their Antillian colonies.
 * Salé: A smaller ally, which we sell slaves to. They are pirates like us, but they mostly keep to the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Our xebecs have completely originated from them. many slaves are sold to the Corsairs.
 * France: They have started to become a good partner, giving us access to their ports including for careening and trading. The influx of frenchmen into the Brethren has changed the demographics quite a bit.

New Arrivals


 * Vincenzo Alessandri (1655): A sailor born in the Papal States, Vincenzo arrived in 1655 with his 18+4 gun xebec, the Sol d’Oro.
 * Thomas Freeman (1655): A mutineer, he joined the Brethren in 1655 and immediately started helping on the invasion of Jamaica. He joined with a 10+4 gun cutter named the Anne, which proved to be a decent pirating ship, as it was extremely swift.
 * Christopher Myngs (1655): An Albionite from Norfolk, who joined in 1655 with his 28+6 gun, dutch built frigate Marston Moor.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye (1656): A colonist from the new french colony of Saint Lucia, she left her husband and joined the Brethren in 1656 with her 12+4 gun ketch, the Castries. She also designed a flag for her ship, which Dieu-le-Velt adopted as well in 1659.
 * Anne Dieu-le-Veut (1658): A woman from Naoned, she went west and joined the Brethren  with her 8+2 gun sloop Marianne. She used the same flag as Delahaye.
 * Edward Mansvelt (1658): A half-dutch, half-albionite man from Curacao, who joined the Brethren in 1658 with his 24+6 gun galleon, the Royal. He was remarkable, as he had a natural skill for leading, which he occupied when helping destroy the last bits of resistance in Jamaica
 * Daniel Johnson (1659): A former slave who escaped and managed to round up enough slaves to capture a 20+4 gun brig, which they sailed to Tortuga to join the Brethren, renaming it Atlantis
 * Laurens Prins (1659): A dutchman from Sint Maarten, who joined in his 20+2 gun flute, the Amsterdam Meid. He planned a raid down the Magdalena River into the Huanca Viceroyalty.

Events


 * Rous’ Betrayal (1655): in 1655, the leader of the Providence Island Company, William Rous sells his company owned islands to the Albionites, making Providence and Rattan now Albionite territory.
 * Invasion of Jamaica (1649-): starting in 1649 and led by Axe, an expedition is sent to capture Jamaica, with 6 ships, totalling 126 cannons and 326 crewmen. A british privateer, Robert Venables joins in on the invasion with his 20 gun, 60 crewman brig. The chief town of Amaico is the first attacked, with the captains attacking from the Montego Bay, from the East and from Amaico itself. The invasion died down by 1659, after heavy losses on both sides. Axe died there in 1656, ambushed along with his matey Armando Rodriguez.
 * Johnson’s Tale (Part 2): Daniel planned to escape. He was not gonna die in some damned spanish territory. The plan, which he shared with most of the slaves, was to escape to the north of the island, freeing more slaves and ultimately attacking a spanish ship. Their plan worked, with 10 slaves escaping, liberating about 90 more and managing to capture a brig and a sloop, with the sloop escaping to the New Valcania colony, and with Johnson and his new brig Atlantis joining the Brethren at Tortuga, becoming an important member
 * Myngs’ Raids (Part 1): Christopher Myngs makes plans for two raids, along with Thomas Freeman and the newcomer Edward Mansvelt. One will be a raid on the town of Coropolis, which will be surrounded by Freeman and Mansvelt on the west, and Myngs will go from the east. The second raid will be on Koumana, where the three pirates will blockade the port, threatening to fire if the town does not surrender. The raids are done, with Coropolis being captured after some fighting and with Koumana being very damaged before it is captured, as the townspeople did not surrender. About 100 people from Koumana were killed, and 50 were enslaved and sold in Salé.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye's fancy flag.pngDelahaye's exploits: Jacquotte Delahaye arrived in 1656, with a fully crewed ship and a fancy flag. She became very important, capturing many ships with ease, with her signature tactic being covering her guns with canvas and surprising the prize ship at the last possible moment, making most sensible captains surrender. She, along with de Graaf and Dieu-le-Velt then captured the Iberian island of Los Lagartos

Don’t Forget Yer Old Shipmate (Shanty Time): a shanty made by one of the Tortuga shantymen, which talks about a couple of former pirates from Plymouth Colony who went back home after some years in the West Indies.

Safe and sound at home again

Let the waters roar, Jack

Safe and sound at home again

Let the waters roar, Jack

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound

Four years gone or nine, Jack

Was there ever  chummies now

Such as you and I, Jack

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

We have worked the self-same gun

Quarterdeck Division

Sponger I, and loader you

Through the whole commission

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Oftentimes have we laid out

Toil nor danger fearing

Tugging out the flapping sail

To the weather earring

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

When the middle watch was out

And the time went slow, boy

Who could choose a rousing stave

Who like Jack or Joe, boy

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

But the best of friends must part

Fair or foul the weather

Hand your flipper for a shake

Now a drink together

Long we’ve tossed on the rolling main

Now we’re safe ashore, Jack

Don't forget yer old shipmate

Faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Azure Cathay | Hošoi Hanarga

 * Government: Constitutional Monarchy
 * Emperor/Hošoigan: The Hošoigan, literally meaning “King of Four Corners”, is the supreme ruler of Azure Cathay, bound by a set of unchangeable laws referred to as the “Founding Injunctions” or the “Cathayan Constitution”. He is elected by the Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers from among the children, nieces, and nephews of the previous Hošoigan.
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Sirke [Posthumous] (b.1561) (r.1579-1601)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga | Khan of Great Radiance (b.1582) (r.1616-1649)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Haryansol | The Badger Emperor (b. 1610) (r.1649-1655)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Malanyalma | Emperor of Graceful Virtue (b. 1641) (r.1655-)
 * Regent: Dries de Vries (b.1606) (r.1655-)
 * Viceroy of the Mongols/Monggoli Noyan: The Mongol Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Central Asia on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (b.1587) (r.1616-1639)
 * Kiyat-i Ejei (b.1587) (r.1639-)
 * Viceroy of Minaye/Minyagi Noyan: The Minayan Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Minaye, a region roughly corresponding to OTL Northwest China, on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Zhou Baitian (b.1612) (r.1636-)
 * Administration: The administration of Azure Cathay is hierarchical in nature, with four levels of government, the county, prefecture, province, and national. At the lowest level of administration, the county level, the local magistrate and his council are elected by the citizenry from a small pool of candidates, all of whom are local government officials who have applied for the position. On higher levels though, governance is based around sortition. Those within the council who apply for the position of delegate to the next level are chosen via lottery, though the provincial council sends no delegate to the Deliberative Council. Below are a list of institutions within the Cathayan government. Positions of leadership within the bureaucracy are determined through a series of exams meant to create a cohesive state ideology and to test managerial skills, though it is not uncommon for noteworthy citizens to be appointed directly by the imperial government.
 * Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers/Dorosi-gwa Amban-i Hebeng Mancan: The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers, sometimes shortened to the “Great Council” (Haba Mancan) or simply, the “Deliberative Council” (Hebeng Mancan), is the greatest policymaking body within Cathay. The Deliberative Council advises the Emperor, proposes laws and policies, and elects the new Hošoigan. In addition, it technically has the power to force an abdication of the Emperor. The Deliberative Council consists of 24 automatic members, with a maximum membership of 36.
 * Censorate/Silhagūn Jibi: The Censorate, also called the Reviewal Department, is both a supervisory agency. In addition, it reviews edicts and commands received from the Emperor as a review mechanism against Azure Cathay’s founding legal codes. They are directly responsible to the Emperor. The main purpose of the Censorate is to check administration at every level to root out corruption and malfeasance, as well as to oversee the appointment and election of officials.
 * Secretariat/Nyalmang Iri Jibi: The Secretariat, also referred to as the Civil Affairs Department, is the highest executive institution of the imperial government. It is managed by a Grand Secretary, with two Deputy Directors who assist them in their administrative duties. The Secretariat’s purpose is to put into effect commands and edicts from the Emperor.
 * Five Ministries/Uca Jibyawi : The Five Ministries are the backbone of the civil government of Qing. The FIve Ministries are under the Secretariat, which is in itself responsible to the Deliberative Council and the Emperor. They are responsible for implementing policies and managing the Cathayan civilian bureaucracy. The Five Ministries are: the Ministry of Plenty responsible for economic management, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial system, the Ministry of Works, responsible for infrastructure and other such things, the Ministry of Posts, managing internal trade and the postal system, and the Ministry of Scholars, responsible for much of the administration around scholar-bureaucrats.
 * Economy: The economy of Cathay is primarily agrarian, though luxury items, iron products, textiles, cash crops, and pottery are a significant contributor to the Cathayan economy. In Amuria, Nanukai-Nabin, a system not dissimilar to Fengjian or sharecropping, is the prominent form of land ownership.The Cathayan government intervenes little in the economy, only occasionally directing corporate efforts and monopolizing certain resources to generate a stable source of revenue required for the running of the nation. In recent years, the putting-out economic model has gradually begun to be replaced by workshops as the demographic of those engaged in non-agricultural work has changed from freelancing farmers to those at the bottom of society seeking a stable source of income.
 * Currency: Jiha
 * Primary Capital: Habanisūn (de facto), Girincasa (de jure)
 * Regional Capitals: Habanisūn, Haisenwē, Alcuka, Miyoo Gasan (Kilemi Prt.)
 * Demographics:
 * Ethnic Makeup:
 * Narangga: 16.5%
 * Mongols: 4.5%
 * Zhongyuan Chinese: 52.7%
 * Bing Chinese: 8.3%
 * Wu Chinese: 11.9%
 * Chu Chinese: 2.8%
 * Other (Joseonese, Dongyi, Hui, etc.): 3.4%
 * Population: 50,080,000
 * Total Urban Centers: ~2,000,000
 * Military: The Cathayan military is categorized by its maneuverability, small unit size, adaptability, logistic prowess, and focus on quick decisive victories, a product of its relative lack of resources and manpower. With much of Cathay's military now being composed of forces formerly under Wu Dynasty and the change in general strategy which followed, long-lasting wars fought over large fronts have become more feasible. Similar to the civilian bureaucracy, positions of leadership within the military are determined through a series of exams concerning military strategy and performance.
 * Eight Banners/Yeteri Dokcagi: The Eight Banners are the elite forces of Azure Cathay. The Eight Banners are organized by of four main colours; red, yellow, blue, and white, with a bordered and plain variety existing for each. For the most part, bannermen (dokcagisi) must come from certain martial clans. As such, the bannermen are effectively a hereditary military class. Banner households are exempt from select taxation but must bring their own equipment to battle when called to arms. Despite this, the composition of the banner armies are remarkably uniform - each soldier wields a sword or polearm with a bow, occasionally a rifle, and has knowledge of warfare on horseback.
 * Number of Bannermen: 79,600
 * Black Standard Army/Suksan Bolsung Saosimul: The Black Standard Army is a military force which draws members from Amurian and Joseonese recruits and conscripts. It is organized in a very similar way to the banner armies.
 * Total Black Standard Army Forces: 176,000
 * Imperial Navy/Hanarga-i Badassaosi: The Imperial Navy is split into two fleets, the Eastern Fleet and the Western fleet, with the former occupying the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk and the latter occupying the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The base for the two fleets are, respectively, Haisenwē and Habanisūn.
 * Total Number of Naval Personnel: ~4800
 * Total Number of Ships: 67
 * Green Standard Army/Fūrūn Bolsung Saosimul: Unlike the Black Standard Army, the Green Standard Army is incredibly uniform, consisting mostly of infantrymen used as cannon fodder. However, there are sizeable cavalry, logistical, and artillery corps as well.
 * Total Green Standard Army Forces: 294,100
 * Hwēnmu Jikesi: The Hwēnmu Jikesi are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards and Azure Cathay’s secret police force.
 * Wars and Conflicts None

Land of Three Fowls [BROAD OVERVIEW, NARRATIVE EVENTS BELOW]

The 1650s was categorized by chaos.

For one, in 1655, Emperor Haryansol and his sons were assassinated while on a hunting trip. The Cathayan Government immediately entered a stupor, the Deliberative Council unable to formulate a proper response. In a desperate bid to gain power, Yanurku took the reins of government and commenced a nation-wide investigation with the Hwēnmu Jikesi, the secret police force of Azure Cathay. Yanurku, unable to find the culprit, found the next best thing - a scapegoat, Mifunu. With little to no opposition, Yanurku hastily arranged an execution by decapitation, now wholly assuming the role of the Emperor of Cathay.

However, the Deliberative Council never formally recognized Yanurku’s rule. As such, they elected Malanyalma, the son of Dries de Vries and Alkasūm, as emperor. Upon complaints from Yanurku that such an action was unconstitutional, the Deliberative Council convened again and voted to remove Yanurku from the throne, before then voting to execute him. However, a problem soon arose. Malanyalma, just fourteen, was too young to independently hold the reins of the empire. As such, the Grand Secretary of the Secretariat then appointed Alkasūm as Malanyalma’s regent. However, Alkasūm was a woman utterly disinterested in politics. Consequently, Dries assumed the role of Malanyalma’s regent. Almost immediately, 329 missionaries and Catholic practitioners were rounded up and murdered in Habanisūn. In addition, by Imperial edict, an Imperial Chinese Harem System was re-introduced in 1656. To legitimize his rule, Dries imprisons Kūlmesem, a 17 year old adolescent rumored to be the son of Noraisol, Isangga's son and heir apparent.

Meanwhile, in the south, two affiliated powers arose - Naamyeung and Chu. In 1652, the Japanese had formally recognized the Prince of Yue, and therefore Hokchêng, as the legitimate successor to the Wu Dynasty. This prompted Chhiok Chilêng, Hokchêng’s estranged father, to defect to Southern Wu, severely threatening the security of Nihonese holdings within China. However, Chilêng was promptly defeated by Hokchêng’s fleet, aided by a Nihonese fleet from Kansha, and was forced to retreat to the Chinese interior. In 1653, he crowned himself as the King of Yuyue following his seizure of the Southern Wu throne. A month later, Hokchêng declared himself the Sovereign of the Naamyeung Domain, exiling the Prince of Yue to Thotan.

Chu and Naamyeung expanded little during the latter half of the 1650s, with the only notable change being the establishment of a Zhuang state under the two nations and Chu's further encroachment on Bozhou's territories. However, from 1654 to 1657, Hokchêng embarked on his South-Pacifying Campaign (南安征战), spurred on by Macau's refusal to lend Hokchêng their galleons, guns, and cannons. Much of the coast of Iberian Brunei and Pahang was raided, then effectively annexed into Naamyeung. With the help of the local Dayak population, Brunei's governance was made smooth, though the same could not be said for Pahang, which Hokchêng eventually abandoned, seizing a few territories in the process.

Despite the ongoing chaos, the 1650s saw much cultural and scientific development. For one, Rusang issued her Eight Precepts on Governance in 1656, a political and religious treatise. In it, she defined the three foremost principles of proper rule, them being Wuwei (Inaction - specifically the idea that a ruler attuned with Tian need do little - and must do little), Tongyi (Assent - specifically the assent to rule given to the state by its subjects), and Yiwu (Duty - specifically a citizen's contractual duty to the community and state). In addition, due to its many locations for waterwheels, numerous deposits of natural resources needed for industrial resources, and close proximity to major rivers, the uplands of Chu became a hotspot for industrial work during this time. Furthermore, in 1658, the first experiments concerning the practical use and mass-production of breech-loading weapons were conducted in Cathay, though they produced little to no results. No Right to Rule (5)

Birthed from War's Womb - Apr. 1655:

Sitting cross-legged by a river, there was a muddy-mouthed child. Not a sight Rusang was accustomed to seeing. The girl was sitting there, scooping silt with her slightly opened hands. For a stream of its size, the water within flowed fast. She could fall in and crack her skull upon the smoothed river-rocks. Rusang had to do something.

Or perhaps Rusang could let life live alone, as she had so often done. Or perhaps she was to intervene. To many, Rusang’sl philosophy, both political and personal, was paradoxical, contradictory even. The ideals which formed the foundation for Rusang’s rule were a frankensteinian mix of Taoist receptivity and anarchism, Orthodox Xianist communalism, and Miao ideals of personal responsibility. Her punishments and expectations for those who stepped out of line were severe, yet those under her were given remarkable lenience. She, too, was a woman obsessed with contract, always taking great care to clearly define the expectations and terms of their partnership to those under her. To Rusang, Yin, the supreme feminine power associated with darkness, cold, and receptivity was always of more importance than Yang, the supreme masculine power associated with brightness, warmth, and activity. As such, ruling, for Rusang, was less active and more passive, her will strictly but only enforced if an individual was at risk of threatening the natural order, which Rusang strove to understand.

Suddenly, Rusang was shaken out of her contemplation by the sight of a bloom of red seeping into the water. Moving closer, Rusang found the source - a woman, lying still on the ground, her eyes flung wide. Four arrows, like feathered quills, sprouted from her back. Several bags were strapped to her shoulders. Food, supplies for the road, perhaps. Heavy enough to be for more than one.

Rusang eyes flickered to the child, and back to the woman's corpse. Almost immediately, Rusang brought the girl away from the banks of the stream while wiping the muddy silt from the girl's lips. The girl had not yet begun to cry from hunger or fear - she must not have been there long. Perhaps, the girl did not even notice her mother's corpse. Children, after all, have no grasp of the weightiness of death. Perhaps the child merely thought her mother asleep, laying down to take a rest. The girl seemed dazed, her eyes unfocused, but soon she became fixated on the tassels hanging from Rusang's headwrap and shawl. Rusang had to try to stop the girl from jumping to reach them.

The girl was perhaps only five years old. Rusang, still in the disguise of a peasant woman, could take her to the nearest village on her way back to Wuchang. See if anyone would take her. Still, if the girl was fleeing conflict, it would be a hopeless endeavor. Bringing her back to the incense-steeped halls of Wuchang would be too much of a shock, Rusang reckoned. Yet abandoning her would be heartless. Perhaps she could take the child to a monastery. Until she could find a solution, Rusang had to meander around the Yangtze. As Rusang ruminated on her options, it became appallingly clear that Rusang had no grasp on what to do with the girl.

Well, a place to sleep would be a start. And a name to call her by.

The next day, after Rusang had buried the girl’s mother in a hasty ceremony, she tried speaking to the girl. Rusang, for the sake of comfort, had to crouch down to meet the girl’s eyes.

“Your mother is gone, dead. That you know, do you?” Rusang questioned. The girl nodded - an improvement from yesterday.

“Is there anyone you have?”

The girl shook her head, peering up at Rusang with her bleary and too-solemn eyes. When asked of her name, she responded much the same way. Rusang wracked her brains for an auspicious name. Lixing (丽性). The phrase suddenly jumped to mind, though Rusang could scarcely fathom why. It meant “Elegant Disposition”, or “Adhering to Nature”. A pun. Both meanings Rusang liked. Lixing it was then.

“So, your name will be Lixing,” Rusang cautiously ventured, “Maybe you’ll one day give me another. Rusang’s my name.”

After a moment of silence, Rusang wordlessly let her take her hand, and the two of them began to walk. Rusang soon noticed the faint red tint within Lixing’s eyes. Both of them said nothing of it.

Story. That was the first word Lixing said to Rusang. She muttered it as Rusang wrapped a blanket around Lixing as the two prepared for sleep in an abandoned cottage. Of course, Rusang would have told a story regardless. Otherwise, Viekudh could not sleep on most nights - she’d lay awake and stare above for hours. Rusang found herself drawing her tales from the stories her sister had told her as a child - Yer and the Tiger, Ya Por the Orphan, the Sun and the Moon. When those inevitably grew stale, Rusang drew on the tales of the looming figures of antiquity. Yang and Yin, Feng Lin Li, Sicily Man, and the like. No one too recent. It's then become too personal.

“You, eh, you can speak?”

“Yes,” Lixing responds,“Tell a story, please.”

Rusang’s worry abates, melting away like ice under the midday sun. She sat down cross-legged and took in a breath.

“I always do," Rusang said, "We'll enjoy this one, I'm sure. So then, this is a story of deep antiquity. A story of a time when gods roamed the earth with men. A story of a man who endured his end...long before his death."

Lixing was already closing her eyes and cozying up within her blanket. It was then that Rusang knew that Lixing would be here to stay.

The Two Lords - 1657:

''He was Baihu, lord of the valleys of Ba, both a son of Yang and a son of Chiyou. He was a master of witchcraft and alchemy who called up the wind, summoned green fire, and invoked the rain. He rode upon a tiger and was attended by leopards, wolves, venomous snakes, and scorpions. Under his hand he had thirty thousand superhuman soldiers clad in impenetrable studded rattan. In the battle of Baksaek, Baihu rode up on his white tiger, dressed in silks, and with many silver and pearl ornaments. His men poured forth. The soldiers of Que Shen shot at them, but neither rockets nor bolts penetrated their armors; they rolled off harmless. Nor could swords cut or spears enter. The enemy, thus protected and armed with great swords and spears, were too much for the troops of Que Shen, who had to retreat.''


 * From "Tale of the Tenfold Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong, c.1389

---

Rusang glanced through the columns of characters on the book splayed upon her desk. She was never bored by the descriptions of Wei Wuxian, descriptions which cast him less a man, but more a demon. Rusang had to stifle a snicker whenever an image of Zhuang scholar-officials cowering under tables at Wei Wuxian's mention was brung to mind. Even a snicker was remarkably expressive for her. Suddenly, a knock was heard on the door.

"Enter," she said, as she flipped the page. Into her office a man, tall and thin but not ungracefully so, entered, bowing slightly. In his ox-brown eyes a glint of mirth shone, reflecting the humor of the situation. The man who seized control of Southern Wu and competed with the Nihonese behemoth for dominance over the South China sea bowing to his companion of more than a decade must've been a sight to behold.

That is not to say Hokchêng was not slightly awestruck at the woman before him. After three years at sea, he was not accustomed to the sight of her. Though Rusang was a woman of short stature, one felt a sense of stateliness in her presence. She was draped in the elegance of glimmering emeralds and silverwork. The sways of her ink-black ribbons across her back let fly the gentle fragrance of smoked sandalwood and camphor. The air of religious austerity which Rusang was enhanced by her headdress crafted in the form of a lotus, silver petals reaching out for the heavens as they bloomed atop Rusang's head.

"Anything happened on your side of the sea?" Hokchêng asked, sliding into a chair.

An expression of roguish pride immediately lit up Rusang's face. "So, I've a daughter," she answered, her flat tone sprinkled with contentment. "Though before you say anything - she's not my child by blood.”

Hokchêng’s eyes widened. Rusang, despite her outward appearance, was not entirely absent of feminine mores, but embracing the role of mother was completely uncharacteristic for her. Hell, becoming a mother was something many women only accepted reluctantly, though that may be more a reflection on the pressures of married life than motherhood itself.

“Can I see my daughter?”

Hokchêng’s jest was met with a sigh and a flick to the forehead.

“Har, har. You, eh, I’ll introduce her to you. She’s outside in the garden. She’d like new friends, I’m sure,” Rusang said. “So then, now onto business. There’s been numerous developments up north, in Azure Cathay - you may’ve heard of it. Have you?”

Hokchêng nodded. “Ah yes. The throne’s been seized by an Âng-mô after Haryansol got his head smashed in. It’s pathetic, really. The real culprit, for all we know, is still out and about.”

“You want to know why?” Rusang tilted her head.

“Hm?”

“It’s straightforward, simple,” Rusang answered, “The Cathayans haven’t their spies down here.”

“You’re the one responsible? I swear, every day, A-Sang, I learn more about you.”

Rusang fell silent. "Do I come off as...too cold, Hokchêng?"

"What, no, I didn't mean it as a point of disapproval. Your distance has given you power, it's perfectly fine to accept it, really," Hokchêng assured.

“No, no, I don’t know if I really want - ah, nevermind, forget what I’ve said. This is a business meeting - we can talk of this later, alright?” Rusang took a heaving sigh before continuing, “So then, what of Zhaowa?” NOTABLE PEOPLE

ERAS: There are numerous eras within Cathayan chronology. The periodization below reflects the narrative structure of Sahaliyan/Tashaci’s turns, and is rather subpar from a historical perspective. SIX LORDS OF CATHAY: The Six Lords of Cathay are regarded as the most influential figures within the first third of Azure Cathay’s existence (~1600-1730). As such, they are given much attention narrative-wise. (ie. these are characters i cherish and spent lots of time on) Other Notable Individuals:
 * Emerging Cathay (1601-1649): Emerging Cathay is the name given to the period which corresponds to Isangga’s reign  in Cathayan chronology. It is categorized by the rise of the Naranga from a group of disunified states in Southern Amuria to the masters of much of Asia.
 * Three Princes and Three Emperors (ONGOING):
 *  Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga  (Oct. 1582-Dec.1649): Isangga, born the bastard son of a small local Dorosi in Southern Amuria, was the first emperor of Azure Cathay. He united Amuria, subjugated Korea with the help of the Nihonese Empire, conquered eastern and Inner Mongolia, and most importantly captured Northern China in a war which led to the fall of the Wu. On the domestic side, he is credited with the emergence of proto-industrialization in Amuria and later China, the first all-encompassing ban on homosexuality in East Asia, and inventing the Naranga script. In addition, his insistence on separating Amurian history from that of wider East Asia resulted in early nationalism. The government he outlined within the Cathayan Constitution was also one of the first with a strict enforcement of the constitution, separation of powers, and local-level democracy. The later prevalence of capitalism and collectively-owned corporations can also be attributed to him, as the Cathayan Constitution defined extensive personal property rights but said little concerning larger businesses.
 *  Sisam Utaripi-ni Kimopte  (Sept.1596-Feb.1659): Kimopte was a prominent bandit and insurgent whose actions led to Naranga dominance of Northern Amuria, and later, the Sea of Okhotsk. Her literary style of vivid images with little meaning had a great impact on the fiction of late 17th and 18th century Cathay. She also was an explorer, venturing as far east as Haida Gwaii during a decade-long voyage wherein she diligently recorded the peoples and locales she encountered. So notorious were her actions in Northern Amuria that she later became mythologized, influencing fox folklore across East Asia.
 *  Xiong Rusang  (Jun.1623-):
 *  Chhiok Hokchêng  (Aug.1624-):
 * Aisin Gyoro-ni Nurhaci (Jan.1580 - Apr. 1616): The Dorosi of the Gyoro clan and a childhood friend of Isangga's, before becoming bitter rivals by 1616, the year of his death. Killed by an accidental shot to the heart by Isangga. It is rumored that he may have had a homosexual relationship with Isangga during their teenage years, though evidence of a daliance between the two is scant. Born on January 8th. Spouse: Yagu Gwalgya-i Jinai
 * Sannyoayno (Mar. 15-): A former general of the king of Techuhe before backstabbing him and establishing a military junta over vast swaths of Northern Amuria. Died at the hands of Sisam Utaripi-ni Kimopte, hired by the Gwalgya clan to coup Sannyoayno's realm. Spouse: Unknown
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (Mar.18 1588-Aug.1639): One of the first subjects of the Gwalgya state, which would later become the Naranga Empire and Azure Cathay. She infamously genocided the Khitan population of Mongolia during the Naranga Conquest of Later Liao. In addition, she covered up the death of Isangga's son, Noraisol, during combat, which led to her untimely "disappearance" in 1639. Spouse: Sisam Utaripi-ni Iminatē
 * Zhou Baitian (Nov.1612-):
 * Dries de Vries (Feb.1606-):

Papal States
Government: Elective Monarchy


 * Pope: Venus

Economy: Greatly reduced after the sacking of Rome and annexation of Romagna, the economy is based mostly around agriculture, fishing and taxation. Agriculture being majorly cultivation of grapes and fruits.

Capital: Rome

Demographics:


 * Population: 1.1 Million
 * Religion: Catholicism (97%) • Other/Scum (3%)

Wars and Conflicts: N/A

Military:


 * Active army (2%)
 * 12 200 Musketeers
 * 4 400 Pikemen
 * 2 500 Light Cavalry
 * 1 700 Heavy Cavalry
 * Inactive army (2%)
 * 12 200 Musketeers
 * 4 400 Pikemen
 * 2 500 Light Cavalry
 * 1 700 Heavy Cavalry

Diplomacy:

Events:
 * Theocratic Stratocracy of Urbino: The Pope of Urbino is accepted in Rome to be crowned the official Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic faith.


 * The end of Venus' reign: After 20 years of being the Supreme Pontiff, Venus has to leave Roma. She organises the biggest orgy in recorded history with 156 participants as a "fuck you" to the corrupt catholic church. Left a letter as her final goodbye "Worth it." under it, her signature and the drawing of a penis. By the next day she was already gone (to Genoa).

Empire of Nihon | Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory
(All names are introduced in Kanji and Yamatai Romanji)

Government
 * Stucture: The Shogunate functions under the auspices of a federal system of government, with the recognition of four distinct polities.
 * The Chiku(地区)[districts], nominally under the direct control of local Daimyo elevated above others to become Chiku-cho(地区長) [district heads]. These pay a section of their yearly harvest to the Teikoku-kokuso(帝国穀倉) [Imperial Granary] based on a relative assessment of the surplus of their kokudaka(石高) and are only allowed to engage in Western trade at the Yattsu no Iriguchi（八つの入り口）[Eight Entryways], the eight ports in Nihon open to foreign trade.
 * The Han(藩) [domains] are the legal and semi-official name of various territories in the country which exercise economic and political autonomy, led by leaders legally called . They are allowed to exercise their own forms of government and engage in treaties pertaining only to them (wherein the treaties must thread the thin line between recognising their overlords in Kyoto and political self-interest); as well as being exempt from Hideyoshi's religious laws, allowing for the flourishing of the tiny Christian and Arzhamic communities of Nihon. They pay their taxes in gold, silver and other precious metals, and rather than payment to the Teikoku-kokuso, they pay their taxes directly to the Teikoku-kinko(帝国金庫) [Imperial Vault/Treasury].
 * The Hogokoku(保護国) [Protectorates], led by the Genshu(元首) [Heads of state]. These can vary from de facto domains with zero diplomatic autonomies to former allies under the current protection of the Nihonese government.
 * The Teikoku-seifu(帝国政府) [Imperial Government] is the single entity stringing this entire mess together. The oldest single lasting political institution in East Asia, boasting a history of nearly 400 years since its first establishment as the Splendid Directorate in 1253. It consists of various economic and political institutions on top of being a primary political centre not just in Nihon but its influence spread across non-Wu Northeast Asia. Its primary leaders lead the Shogunate and the Imperial Service, symbolically and politically, and are often given credit for the specific eras of their time.
 * Mikado(帝) [Empress]: The Mikado of Nihon, better known to most of the world as the Empress of Japan. The Mikado is one of the few remaining positions in this Nihon where female primogeniture persists, a relic of the early Heian era and the consolidation of the original Nihon to Tohoku no Toitsu-kokoku (United Kingdoms of Japan and Tohoku) during the early 13th century. The storied history of the Mikado starts in a political mediator, escalates into a military dictator not unlike the Shogun; and it itself created the position of Taisho, the Shogun's predecessor. As a symbolic leader in the Shogunate, they enjoy relative privilege in exchange for their formal political silence.
 * Current Mikado: Okita Kiyoko, born 1614
 * Omona Teian-sha(主な提案者) [Prime Advisor]: The Omona Teian-sha, better known to most of the world as the Prime Advisor. A single-use position created by Tokugawa Sayaka to consolidate her hold over the country; it holds the final say on every matter - from Nihon's massive colonial empire to its internal territories, from the guntai to the seifu. This makes the Prime Advisor effectively the most powerful position in the entire Nihonese Empire.
 * Current Omona Teian-sha: Tokugawa Sayaka, born 1610


 * Class System
 * Nomin(農民) [Peasants]: The majority of Nihonese people, at roughly 65%. The Nomin experience a largely agricultural and communal lifestyle, a deep sense of spirituality intertwined with their life in small urban areas dotted around Nihon; their interaction with even local daimyo and institutions is limited to annual contacts during festivals and tax seasons. With the upheaval of the Toyotomi era, however, many Nomin also partake in a mercenary and official capacity for survival and cultural purposes.
 * Shonin(商人) [Merchants]: The Shonin class refers to a whole host of semi-middle-class individuals, from performers to traders. At times, it crosses with the Daimyo, and many Shonin also serve as effective Daimyo in the Toyotomi era. Many serve in a government capacity, interacting mainly with the Kinko and Kaikei; the Shonin are the primary intellectual class in Nihon, making them an influential mark on entertainment and culture.
 * Daimyo(大名) [Feudal lords]: The Daimyo began as a series of warring feudal lords towards the end of the Heian, and have now been largely displaced to become local officials and lower-level bureaucrats within the Shocho/Seifu. They own the vast majority of monetary wealth in Nihon.
 * Teikoku-kanken(帝国官憲) [Imperial Officials]: The Kanken are the smallest class in all of Nihon, numbering at most 23,000 (if one is to use the most loose definition of their duties); most are high-level clan officials and members of the Imperial Family with positions in the Seifu. They are the primary powerbrokers in Nihon, fighting a prolonged battle between them, the Daimyo and the Shonin, with the Nomin caught in between.


 * Soldiery
 * Guntai (軍隊)[Army]: The Guntai arose from the Toitsu-kokoku and evolved into a full-fledged proto-professional military force through the 1200s and 1300s; while the professional guntai has largely vanished with time, those who do remain now make up a professional officer class (whom quickly betrayed their meritocratic roots and have since been using the system to entrench their families in power).
 * Samurai(侍) [Attendant Warriors]: The Samurai began during the professional era but have since expanded to become a vast array of mercenaries, Guntai members and more. They are dominated by two groups: the Guntai-members, and Ronin (浪人) [Wandering People], whose name was originally derogatory to refer to their non-daimyo status, but have since become the founders of the last remaining military orders in Nihon. The Ronin, unlike the Samurai, are not restricted to the Daimyo and Shonin alone, and are often peasants. They both retain the female-slanted gender ratio of the era of Tomoe Gozen.
 * Nomin-senshi(農民戦士) [Levies]: The bulk of any army, the Nomin-senshi are often just levies called from various communities. Unlike most armies, the Nomin-senshi are granted enourmous privileges compared to others; for example, they must be informed months beforehand of any war or mobilisation and community leaders and caretakers are always exempt from conscription. This limits the size of the Nomin-senshi, sizing it down drastically; still, the organisation of the Guntai ensures they maintain their dominance.
 * Kaigun(海軍) [Navy]: The naval forces of Nihon, the Kaigun are the last full professionalised force in all of East Asia. Suihei are treated as equivalent to Samurai (and they often work together), and Nihon benefits from having a naval capability bolstered by Austronesian and Southern knowledge. It operates in large fleets that effectively work place per place.
 * Suihei(水兵) [Sailors]: The Suihei are largely Shonin and Nomin, although almost none are conscripts; the obligation to Kaigun has over time become generational, and because of that, many willingly go back, especially considering the pragmatism of confirming their own position in their communities or ascending by class.


 * Weaponry
 * Guntai weaponry:
 * Naginata, primarily used to pierce ligher armor by shock troops
 * Katana, primarily used as brush-clearing and personal defence weapons by most troops, although other melee weapons are also common
 * Edo Tanegashima, muskets derived from the original Agoustan designs, crude but effective mass-fire forces for suppression
 * Longbows, primarily used for striking down priority targets or ballistae, otherwise used to maintain some measure of stealth
 * Kaigun weaponry:
 * Crossbows, used to deliver volleys of fire upon enemy ships
 * Longbows, used to deliver precision fire on enemy vessels
 * 10-inch cannons, used to strike holes in ships in the hopes of sinking them
 * Chii-tangeashima, effectively blunderbusses used for defence during boardings
 * Kaigun ships:
 * Kawataro-fune, large frigate-like ships with anywhere from 40-50 cannons at any time and a large metal shell-like covering on the top to defend against arrow fire. Move at 4-7 knots, must be towed to go through blue water
 * Hayai-fune, smaller vessels with Malay junk sails and almost no armaments, used primarily as landing craft and resupply craft. Move at 7-12 knots, can maneuver in blue water


 * Demography: Nihon is home to over half a dozen ethnic groups, with the principal amongst them being the Ainu and Yamato; on the fringes of the Shogunate, the Ryukyuan, Emishi, Nishikara and others. Religiously, the majority of people practice a mix of Shinto and Ainu animism; with minor inroads from Agoustan Catholicism and Confucian-style sects.
 * Population distribution: (to fill)
 * Current population estimate: 20,600,000
 * Ethnic distribution: While the concept of ethnicities has yet to come into existence, Nihon already knows of the existence of 'distinct peoples' - as vague as the current concept is, with general reference to language, cultural distinctions and the like. For the country, that means most are divided into two ethnic groups - the Yamato and the Ainu, and 'foreigners' - often referring to both the brother peoples of Choson and people from anywhere from Temasik to Manhattan.

Broad Overview

The Nihonese Empire only grew and grew. Its economic survival now depended on it. Not, as the myth would subsequently go, because of a shortage of resources; Nihon itself was enough to sustain triple its existing population and more. Because of the Salt Trade Bubble. It had grown so far out of proportion at this point that it dominated the total gross domestic product of almost every state in the Japonic Sphere, and newer additions threatened to suffer the same fate. This was the main economic component of the process broadly known as Japanization.

Japanization essentially consisted of three main components; first, a pretext or excuse for military intervention by Nihonese or friendly forces, then, offering essentially unlimited support for reconstruction under a friendly government (as well as consolidation of power), and finally, that economic support for reconstruction tying Nihon's new vassals to the Empire. This process was not intentional. Much of the Teikoku-seifu actually preferred economically vibrant vassals they could exploit, much of the reason they had been in the process of conquering them to begin with; in fact, it was beginning to worry the Kyoto government that they were becoming entirely beholden to Isoroku's Satsuma General Company.

Usapte was overjoyed by this turn of events and decided to use the state apparatus, without Sayaka's prior permission, to institutionalise the organisation under her own command; but already poorly viewed in Kyoto, it was accidentally the death knell for the Nihonese capitalist's political ventures. Sayaka used it as an excuse to arrest both Isoroku and Usapte for crimes against the state - and then absorbed the position of Shogun into the Shusho, placing her in charge of military, economic and internal affairs. She changed its name too - becoming the one and only Prime Advisor (主な提案者) (Omona Teian-sha), with powers equivalent to that of a certain Prussian chancellor.

By now, she was most certainly the power behind the Nihonese Throne, and worked fast to find new conquests to exploit. Hoping that the Northern tributary states of Hokkaido and the Sea of Okhotsk would resist, she rushed to designate them a Nihonese protectorate - and was dismayed to discover a total acceptance, afraid of war. And thus, in 1657, the Protectorate of the Northern Union, consisting of all the states in Hokkaido and Kamuykar Mosir, was declared. But this was not her desired outcome. So, again, she turned back to the South.

In the South, the Federated Melakan States were performing rather marvelously on their own. The King of Pahang finally surrendered his throne on the 18th of August, 1657; his successor, his ailing son, pledged fealty to the F.M.S immediately after. After negotiating a withdrawal with the pirate king Hokchêng, Nihon then returned the remainder of Pahang to the new Raja of Pahang, reflecting its bruised status. Ayutthaya's incursion in the North provided the opportunity that Nihon desired. Swooping in at the call for aid of Tambralinga (and after attaining its, Pattani, Kedah and Chahya's reluctant agreement to become part of the F.M.S), the Nihonese war machine was turned against Ayutthaya.

After attaining a spankingly destructive victory at the Battle of Hat Yai in early 1658, which saw most of its army and its King killed, Ayutthaya fell to pieces on its own. The superior professionalisation of the Nihonese was nothing that Ayutthaya could match; what they could most certainly match was their brutality. Legitimist forces opposed to the new King blocked Nihonese advances up the Malayan Peninsula with intense guerilla warfare, seizing on Nihonese small force tactics to isolate and slaughter entire batallions at a time. One massacre, near the OTL Kaeng Krung National Park, was so brutal, that corpses were described to have been hung on trees, and used as impromptu message boards.

This struggle was the result of two major factors: the replacement of Nihonese professionalism with mercenary and merchantile experience in the South, and the failure to truly appreciate the terrain of the region around Ayutthaya. Nihon would struggle to advance inland, only being saved by the new King of Ayutthaya's desperate turn towards Nihonese protection. And while these struggles had been limited for now, they would continue in the newly-formed battlegrounds of the Thai Highlands - and the entrance to the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains.

In the meantime, the Japonic Sphere's effects began to truly show. Aceh, unofficially a Nihonese ally, launched an ambitious offensive into Sumudera, seeking to control most of what would traditionally be called the Azarkhate of Aceh; Palemban and Tanjung immediately after offered themselves as tributary or vassal states to the Nihonese Empire. Brunei, and the southern Nguyễn, remained independent regions - but found themselves further integrated into the Nihonese system. This manifested in rajas, temenggongs and kings trying to learn Nihonese at a breakneck pace - the Nihonese language replacing the Chinese languages as a necessary foreign language in much of the region.

Meanwhile, the newly-broken-off Nihonese Southern Company - formerly a part of the Satsuma General Company - bought the island of Temasik, installing the missing Oda Nobuyuki as its governor. This marked the first time that a non-European power had engaged in the direct process of colonial fortitude in the European style, and it would unfortunately not be the last. The N.S.C quickly bought up key positions across most of East Asia - purchasing, among other things, the Southern Riau islands, and made bids for Mendanau Island (off the coast of Belitung), the Sarangani Islands (South of Mindanao), and even offered Albion money for the purchase of the Australian Croker Island. Its objectives were clear: the domination of trade in East Asia.

In newly-annexed Choson, things were going especially poorly for the constituent government; although a raid in late 1578 had finally seemingly put down Pak Chung-Cha, her adopted granddaughter, a woman by the name of Pak Sun-yeong, immediately took up the fight, and the Jayue Jeonnyeom continued its fight. Although the August Revolution had failed, it garnered sympathy for the Revolution - especially among peasants, many of whom were feeling the pinch of Nihonese-led urbanisation tactics. Mass eviction and relocation characterised this half of the decade for much of Choson, many forced into the same bunkhouses millions suffered in Nihon; and the Jayue Jeonnyeom became something of a Robin Hood story for ransacking, blowing up, and freeing the workers of many of these bunkhouses.

Even so, open rebellion proved to be difficult. On the sixth anniversary of the August Revolution, in 1659, another spontaneous rebellion broke out - and was immediately suppressed. This was the work of the revived Shinsengumi, now operating under the capacity of a Nihonese secret police; and unfortunately, it was incredibly effective. Many of its Chosonese members became infamous agents, most notably Kim Gun-woo, Nihonese name Tachibanamori Jinyuu, whom managed to recruit over 2,000 disgruntled men to yet another version of the Restoration League, which was promptly cracked down upon and most of its members executed or sold overseas as slaves.

Koryo found new life, however, further North. Sun-yeong recognised the grave failure of her mother's inability to build solidarity with other movements in the Empire and sought to change that; she travelled in secret to meet with the Shadow Chief of the Ainu, Hurero Benkei, asking for his support if Koryo was to see a rebellion. He refused, but it did open up a method of communication previously inconceivable for them. Ainu radical movements too were forming, and inspired by the Jayue Jeonnyeom, disparate anarchistic and social organisations began to form - including one known as the Liberation Army. Revolution was still a long way off, but hope, for once, was back in sight.

(events coming soon!)

Notable People


 * 1401-1473 [The Last Days of the Heian]:
 * Uchiha Tomoko (1387 - 1469) [deceased]: Head of the Yamatai faction during the Civil War and later Empress (1412-1469) under the name 'Uchiha no Ichiban'.
 * Mori Kyoko (1378 - 1473) [deceased]: One of the two heads of the Peoples' League during the Civil War, later Speaker of the National Convention unopposed until death. Spouse: Kido Mirio.
 * Hori Shizuku (1377 - 1456) [deceased]: The other head of the Peoples' League, a minor political player in Hiroshima after the war. Committed suicide under threat of involuntary execution.
 * Midoriya Kaitou (1383 - 1472) [deceased]: A minor player in the Civil War who gained popularity as a capable administrator. Birth name Zhang Kaisheng. Spouse: Midoriya Yuki.
 * Seishiro Kirie (1381 - 1463) [deceased]: One of the heads of the Outsiders who found herself alienated from her hometown in her pursuit of political unity. Became a remarkable writer, writing works such as The Use of War, a critical book on the purpose of strife. Spouse: Bakushi Yona.
 * Bakushi Yona (1380 - 1463) [deceased]: A Yamatai-Eskosian, best known for fighting for the political rights of the tiny Eskosian minority in Nihon. Became a political kingmaker after the war. Spouse: Seishiro Kirie.
 * Hu Jin-Yo (1376 - 1462) [deceased]: A Joseon-Yamatai, best known as a Joseonese reunificationist who participated in a minor role during the Civil War. Afterwards, provided much financial support to the Nihonese army advancing in Kyongsong before dying in a tragic accident.
 * Kanzaki Izuku (1394 - 1489) [deceased]: First Shogun then Taisho, well known for unconventional military tactics that precipitated asymmetrical warfare against enemy forces. Lived a relatively stunted life afterwards, travelled into Joseon and participated in its war against Kyongsong before travelling West in hopes of retracing the steps of Bulijin Khatun, a dream promptly foiled. Spouse: Yonekura Hiyori.
 * Nishimiya Asuka (1372 - 1479) [deceased]: Shogun after her predecessor Kanzaki was passed over due to ignoring the Empress, she became something of a despot and massively expanded the powers of the military as well as a small secret police under the direction of Empress Uchiha and Speaker Mori. Lived a quiet, nondescript life. Spouse: Ryuzoji Mirio.
 * 1474 - 1523 [The Brief Bakufu]
 * Uchiha Ryu (1467 - 1512) [deceased]: Adopted son of Empress Uchiha, originally groomed to be an apt successor of hers; he was soon convinced to take another path by the Regent. Overthrown in 1487.
 * Senjougahara Ryuko (1459 - 1489) [deceased]: Popular regent originally meant to become successor to Uchiha, eventually sidelined. With a massive amount of political power, however, she pulled strings to keep herself as Regent and manipulated the new Emperor as she wished. Murdered by an assassin.
 * Senmyaku Hyo-in (1436 - 1486) [deceased]: Powerful orator of the Dochaku who advocated for their betterment. Eventually sidelined due to the maneuvring of Empress Uchiha.
 * Yamagata Jiro (1461 - 1503) [deceased]: An upstart military man who became Shogun at the behest of the late Nishimiya Asuka. Soon evolved into a broadly popular political figure who usurped the throne from Uchiha Ryu, but his ambitions overcame him and he was deposed after attempting to re-consolidate power.
 * Kanzaki Noriko (1467 - 1560) [deceased]: Nationalist despot intent on restoring Nihon to political unitarism. She quickly exploited her way through the chaos of rapid decentralisation to insert herself as the effective leader of Nihon in just one and a half decades, essentially unchallenged. Engaged in the exploitation of Syonan via siphoning its gold reserves to beef those of Nihon, inspiring the local chaos in that nation. Eventually became the leader of the first effectively federal republic in human history, the 13-year Nihonese Federation, but was promptly killed by Oda Nobunaga during the Siege of Kyoto.
 * 1524 - 1601 [Sengoku Jidai]
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543) [deceased]: Minor yet influential political figure of the exiled main family of the Oda clan. Killed by mistake.
 * Takagi Anzu (1497 - 1572) [deceased]: Adopted daughter of Kanzaki Noriko, adept fighter, eventually, Nihonese Empress. Fled to Kansha. Died in 1572 peacefully.
 * Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1638) [deceased]: The vengeful daughter of Nobuhide; a furious orator and military genius. Eventually Shogun and de facto leader of Nihon, but she found herself sidelined by most and was promptly betrayed by many of the daimyo she had returned to power. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence. In reality, she escaped overseas to foreign shores, eventually travelling the world until she returned to Nihon with a single-minded goal of killing Hideyoshi. Her legacy would echo for ages.
 * Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - circa. 1582) [deceased]: A capable administrator and competent military leader, Kagetora found her calling towards managing and helping her territory more important than the distant calls of Nobunaga's ambitions. While Nihon descended into chaos her territory remained prosperous, and bucking the trends of the daimyo she personally adopted many of the measures designed by the late Prime Minister of Nihon. She finally left the country in 1574, tired of the turmoil precipitated by Nobunaga and the loss of most of her friends; making her way to Yolngu, where in defiance of the slavery laws practiced there, she mulled about freely and easily, attempting to find her old friends.
 * Kinoshita Tokichiro or Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1542 - 1637): Known as the conqueror, he was best described as an unorthodox and haplessly brutal man. Like Nobunaga, he practiced incredibly levels of brutality to finish campaigns and assert control, unlike Nobunaga, he had no qualms and no restraint about it whatsoever. As thus he became the new Shogun, and began to assert his control - becoming notable as one of the few openly homosexual members of the Nihonese elite, and a gay one at that. His later reign saw him preside over the large-scale expansion of the Nihonese Empire and the earliest days of Nihonese capitalism, as well as a degree of brutality for which he became reknowned, bringing about his demise. Spouse: Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - 1599): Granddaughter of Kanzaki Noriko, she came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Miyamoto Musashi or Tachibana no Musashi (1590 - 1641): Daughter and unwilling former Ojo, she was expelled from the Chrysanthemum Throne before she ever took place; but this gave way for a scientific, philosophical and intelligent woman to carve out her own mark in history. She helped to create the first versions of Scientific Theory as we know it as well as influential blueprints and inventions that would spread throughout most of the world East of India; and left behind a particular cultural and scientific legacy, not even mentioning her school of swordsmanship.


 * Kanzaki Family: From a minor clan in old Minamoto arose one of the defining political and military families of the early Bakufu. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Izuku (1394 - 1489): Grandfather of the entire family. Began the Kanzaki name by abandoning usage of the old Minamoto clan name and rising as first a potential Emperor before becoming one of the most prolific generals in Nihon's history. However, his attempts at glory were foiled and eventually he gave up, passing his life's work to a strange girl who might just get some use out of it.
 * Third Generation:
 * Setsuna (1482 - 1572): Another third generation'er; she went missing in Syonan before being discovered as Noriko travelled to it. Made head of the Nihonese Southern Company. Spouse: Souji Nakamura.
 * Noriko (1467 - 1560): Two generations later, a bored Shinto temple head turned trainer turned puppet master. Exploited the political weaknesses of the political system to make herself a de facto leader, first head of the Kanzaki Clan. Charted the family's rise to prominence and eventually the family's dominance for a few decades; began her ascent hoping to salvage the family name but eventually became a radical republican dead set on changing the world as we know it. Died at the hands of Oda Nobunaga.
 * Fifth Generation:
 * Miyako or Ritsuko (1548 - 1598): She came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Sixth Generation:
 * Hidetada (1588 - 1640): One of the longest-serving Shusho in Nihonese history, his own disaffection with the Imperial system as well as his personal experiences led him to become the first human rights activist in history; helping to rescue radicals and stalling the progress of Nihonese urbanism. He also helped to define the Shogunate's legal code, leaving an impactful mark on the cultural history of Nihon with his own perceived effeminacy and writings, despite him being in hiding for much of the last two decades of his life. Spouse: Ishikawa Mayuri.


 * Oda Family: A descendant of the Minamoto as well, the Oda rose up in opposition to the Kanzaki - and won out, going on to define much of the rest of Nihonese history. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543): His quest for revenge began the family's ascent to power. He finished none of it, trusting in a person that never returned his trust; yet, he would be remembered for what little he had done.
 * Second Generation:
 * Nobunaga (Hiyori) (1533 - circa. 1575): Arguably the family's most famous member, Nobunaga organised her, her siblings and others into a massive campaign against the experimental Nihonese Federation. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Nobuhiro (1534 - 1579): Nobunaga's less enthusiastic brother, who promptly decided to support the anti-Nobunaga coalition that cropped up against her. After her death, he was brutally skewered by the daimyo of Nanbu.
 * Nobuyuki (1534 - 1592): A quiet and unassuming member of his generation, Nobuyuki supported his sister but eventually fell out of the entire 'campaign' thing and went to manage the tiny family farm in Niigata. He, ironically, lived a far longer life than any of his family, dying peacefully in 1592.
 * Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - 1584): Nobunaga’s sister, although she never saw her as such for long. Forced into a ‘marriage’ with Kagetora’s young brother to solidify an alliance between the Uesugi and Oda, she was promptly pinged-ponged around into various marriages until being taken as a forcible concubine of Hideyoshi. She committed suicide in 1584.
 * Third Generation:
 * Shouko (1578 - ??): Daughter of Nobuhiro, one of his three children; she became administrator of the new Oda-chiku in Nagoya as one of the only qualified members of the Oda family remaining.

The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)

 * Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord (BubbleRocket1#8016)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy


 * Drakes:
 * Luke II (M, b. 1604 - 1658) (R: 1838 - 1658)
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - )
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - )
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - )
 * Luke III (M, b. 1628 - ) (R: 1858 - )
 * Brother: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Sister: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Important People:
 * King Family
 * Jocelyn King (F, b. 16?? - )
 * Fortuna King (F, b. 1609 - )

Economy: The economy of British Isles consists of trade and commerce of a variety of materials. The primary export products of the UK are fish, wool, cloth, and a variety of vegetables.

Main Religion: Christianity

Cities and Demographics:


 * Population:  9.982 million
 * British Mainland: 7.601 million
 * British Settlers: 47,034
 * Elysian Population: 25,365
 * Jamestown: 721
 * Fort Elysia: 385
 * Fort Epheria: 473
 * Greensfort: 467
 * New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 6,127
 * Catonzia: 22,492
 * HALO Settlement: 4,021
 * Vinland Local Population: 1,593 thousand external subjects
 * Elysian Local Population: 535 thousand external subjects
 * Includes the population of the states of Elysia and Laconia
 * Elysia: 392k
 * Laconia: 87k
 * Deasaheim: 53k
 * Becomes “Second-rate” citizens of the Empire in 1616
 * Just a fancy loophole that allows the population to be recruited into the army, though will have long-lasting effects as time progresses
 * Catonzia Local Population: 405 thousand external subjects
 * British Bahamas:: Roughly 2,000 overall (for both island chains in the area)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito: 2,870
 * Port Kingpin: 1,335
 * Albish Galapagos: 742
 * Albish Falklands: 806
 * British Bahamas: 81,450
 * British Shattered isles: 5,052
 * British Belize: 305


 * Cities
 * Brighton: A newer shipbuilding facility located on the English Channel.
 * Birmingham: A quiet town that is the location of McCarthy Arms Company, one of, if not, the oldest firearms companies to date.
 * Calais: One of the few French towns still owned by the British, it is a prosperous city that is one of the most important trading hubs in the North Sea.
 * Dover: Main location of the British navy. While elements of the navy are located throughout the territory, the headquarters of the navy are located here. In addition, Dover is the main trading hub between it and Caen.
 * Dublin: Main hub of Ireland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * Elysiapolis: The capital of the Elysian province, as well as the main headquarters for the BFG Company.
 * Fort Avalon: An old British camp located on a Vinland island. Though mostly uninhabited, it is staffed by a skeleton crew, in the event of a British ship stranding itself on the Vinland island.
 * Gibraltar: An important town the British claimed in the League Wars. Essentially give them control of who can and cannot leave the Mediterranan, though the British generally let anyone pass, not wishing to piss anyone off.
 * Glaemchester: A British town north of London, this city is known to house various wealthy nobles, with some of the finest tapestries being produced here.
 * Glasgow: Main hub of Scotland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * London: The capital of England, and location of the throne.
 * New London: The location of the British East Indian Company’s base-of-operations in India. Population primarily of locals, though as time progresses, more European influence seeps into the town.
 * Portsmouth: The location of the first drydocks in history, which became the founding of various legendary ships of the Royal Navy
 * York: Main center of England’s eastern fishing company. Also where a bulk of British trading companies are located, evident from the various merchant caravels present there.
 * Colonial Forts/Towns
 * Cape Town (South Africa)
 * Fort Avalon (Vestkyst-Vinland)
 * Fort Akan (Africa)
 * Fort Dolphin (Africa - Matagaskar)
 * Fort Epheria (Elysia)
 * Fort Elysia (Elysia)
 * Fort Galatoi (Galatoi, Africa)
 * Fort Infinity (Amekrogu)
 * Fort Kingpin (Yolngu)
 * Port Stanley (Falklands)
 * Portsmith (Galapagos)
 * Jamestown (Elysia)
 * New Glaemchester (Vinland)
 * New London (India) (Known as Diu to India)

Wars and Conflicts


 * North America: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity
 * Though it should be said that some companies add in the risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter, though others are far more friendly with their actions.
 * Rise of the Witch Hunters: The idea of witches begins to spread throughout the north of British Arcadia, where people begin to become paranoid that members of the various communities are witches.
 * It’s only a matter of time before these fears blossom into something scary.
 * The War in the Furnace: Due to war essentially breaking out against Amekrogu, the HALO company reaches out to the British mainland for assistance. Hearing their plea for help, the British send marines to the area, but initially run into problems. Even with their training for dealing with unorthodox tactics, the British still suffer heavy casualties, though mostly due to the region than anything else. (More info below)

Armed Forces


 * Total: 280,266 Manpower (3.9% of population)
 * British Royal Army Corps
 * Total: 159,295
 * British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
 * Marksman Infantry: 15,050
 * Light Cavalry: 5,250
 * Heavy Cavalry: 3,050
 * Field Artillerymen: 5,634
 * Field cannons: 1,378
 * Logistical Support: 23,000
 * British Arcadian Force: (In Arcadia)
 * Catonzia Garrison
 * Marksman Infantry: 7,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 7,000
 * All 7,000 sent to Amekrogu
 * Catonzian Musketeers: 8,260
 * 3,000 Catonzian Musketeers sent to Amekrogu
 * Field Artillerymen: 1,000
 * Field cannons: 500
 * Logistical Support: 3,500
 * Elysian Garrison
 * Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
 * Marksman Infantry: 10,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Elysian Cavalry: 300
 * Heavy Cavalry: 350
 * Bow Cavalry: 300
 * Field Artillerymen: 501
 * Field cannons: 167
 * Logistical Support: 7,000
 * British Vinland
 * Marksman Infantry: 6,000
 * Field Artillerymen: 344
 * Field cannons: 100
 * British Gibraltar:
 * Marksman Infantry: 30,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Field Artillerymen: 464
 * Field cannons: 142
 * Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,859
 * These are Britain’s elite forces. A rebirthed version sprouting from Artoria’s original group of holy knights, this force has never lost a battle, and has unwavering loyalty to the crown and the Order of the Roundtable, willing to fight to the death for the survival of the British Isles.
 * While most are able to fight, members of the Roundtable are encouraged to branch out into their own craft, such as pottery and sheepherding, with the idea that everyone should act like a Roundtable Knight and give their all into both their craft and their country.
 * The only way to become a Roundtable Knight is to be selected by an existing member of the group. Most knights tend to make apprentices out of those they recruit to the Roundtable, and generally, no one usually complains when a Roundtable Knight selects someone to join the ranks of the Roundtables. Depending on the country/chapter, one can also be appointed to the Roundtable by the crown.
 * In 1527, three factions were formed within the Roundtables
 * The Crimson Sun
 * The Azure Moon
 * The White Orchids
 * Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
 * With the victory of the Crimson Sun at the end of the conflict, things have settled down.
 * Modernization of 1602: Reforms the Roundtable Knights to act as elite units within the Army, as well as guards for Royalty.
 * In 1615, the London Guard is formed, to both protect the Royal Family, Parliament, and the citizens of the city as a police force, though will prioritize the protection of government personnel and property than that of the citizen
 * Notable (Living) Members:
 * The Drake Family
 * Sir Oliver Cromwell
 * British Merchant Arms Company:
 * An organization owned by the British government that was established to help veterans from the League Wars slowly assimilate back into civilian life while giving them the opportunity to see the world.
 * Mainly employed by the British Merchant Companies to secure their gains and the likes.
 * Personnel: 21,500
 * British Mainland: 17,000
 * Eldia: 2,000
 * Amekrogu: 1,000
 * British Yolngu: 1,500
 * British Royal Navy Corps:
 * Personnel: 23,122 (combined between both fleets)
 * Naval Vessels:
 * HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)
 * The largest ship in the Royal Navy and the pride of the fleet, though it becomes quickly apparent that the 102-gun warship is filled with flaws in its design.
 * Victory-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Victory
 * 50-gun warships designed to breakthrough enemy formations, and is the largest ship in the British arsenal until 1637
 * Ember-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Ember
 * 45-gun warships, obsolete by the 1600's
 * Only the HMS Ember is kept for training purposes, as a permanent drydock is built for her.
 * Glaemchester-class Second-rate Frigate: 10
 * Essentially a Swallow-class Interceptor, but built to stand up to combat against other ships of its size.
 * 42-gun Frigate that’s cheaper to maintain than the Victory-class while stronger than the Third-rates
 * Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 15
 * Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
 * 40-gun frigates that sacrifice durability in return for speed (for their size)
 * Phoenix-class Third-rate Frigate: 25
 * 32-gun frigates that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * The replacement for the Cabigail-class Carrack, with a hull design based on the Victory-class
 * Cabigail-class Third-rate Carrack: 36
 * 30-gun caravels that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels: 5
 * Lightly armed frigates around the same size as the Ember-class First-rate frigates designed to carry both marines and Vinland longboats for use in various operations, such as supporting fleets in areas where the large size of the British vessels are a hindrance, as well as serving as landing craft for said marines onboard.
 * Capacity: 16 Vinland longboats (12 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 480
 * Spyder-class Carrier Caravel: 8
 * Lightly armed caravels retrofitted to carry eight Vinland longboats within for use in narrower areas, where the caravels and galleons would have issues navigating
 * Capacity: 12 Vinland longboats (8 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 400
 * London-class Third-rate British Carrack: 4
 * Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
 * Yellowfin-class Fourth-rate Interceptor: 3
 * A 28-gun interceptor based off of designs found in Northern Africa. Has the same firepower as other frigates of its size while being much faster.
 * Phoenix-class Fourth-rate Frigate: 24
 * A 24-gun ship that’s smaller than the usual capital ships found in the fleet. Mainly used in distant areas, such as Yolngu and India.
 * Olive-class Fourth-rate Multi-purpose Frigate: 100
 * The replacement for the Dove-class Dual-purpose Merchant Caravels. While being around the same size as the Dove’s, the internal design of the ship is improved, allowing for more cargo to be stored within.
 * Mainly given to British merchants for their merchant fleets, though still kept on record in British documents to bloat the numbers.
 * Bombardier-class Brigs: 63
 * Small 18-gun ships smaller than even the old carracks. Due to their price, the British can afford to purchase a lot of Brigs in order to leave squadrons of them at various naval ports around the globe.
 * Abalone-class Sloops: 31
 * Small multi-role 12-gun ships meant to fill roles that can’t be easily filled with the larger Brigs
 * Ketone-class Ketch: 6
 * A ketch around the size of the Abalone-class sloops designed specifically for ship-to-ground combat. Armed primarily with mortars and light cannons for self-defense.
 * Vinland Longboats: (depends on the number of carriers)
 * Small vessels that can be deployed in regions to support larger ships from carrier vessels with their smaller cannons and enhanced mobility.
 * Armed with two 2-pounder MAC Cannons
 * British Royal Marine Corps:
 * A branch of both the Army and Navy, consisting of units who are trained in unorthodox tactics to bring around victory.
 * Special Programs:
 * SPARTAN Program: In addition, a program is opened up for the select Marines in 1616 to become elite troops within a program for SPecialized Armed forces for Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Neutralizing Operations, or SPARTAN Ops for short.
 * Those within the unit are known as SPARTANS, and are pulled from both the Marines and Roundtable Knights
 * Often would be given experimental weapons for field testing
 * These units are the penultimate guerilla troop within the British ranks, primarily acting in operations deep behind enemy lines, though can also fight alongside normal troops when necessary
 * These troops provide a large morale boost to allied units in their vicinity as their infamy spreads
 * Personnel: 44,200
 * Multi-Purpose Shock Marines (MPSM): 42,400
 * Mainland Britain: 16,900
 * Gibraltar: 10,000
 * Arcadia: 3,500
 * 500 Elysian MPSM
 * Amekrogu: 12,000
 * SPARTANS: 350
 * Mainland Britain: 275
 * Elysia: 25
 * Amekrogu: 50
 * Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry (SSLC): 4,050
 * Mainland Britain: 3,050
 * Gibraltar: 500
 * Arcadia: 500
 * Light Artillery Pieces: 3,260
 * Mainland Britain: 3,000
 * Gibraltar: 200
 * Arcadia: 0
 * Amekrogu: 60

Notable Companies

McCarthy Arms Company (MAC): (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)

Arms Race: Due to the creation of flintlock rifles in France, MAC enters into an arms race with their French counterparts, leading to rapid advancements in the creation of both rifles and cannons.


 * In 1610, they created a flintlock rifle using various components from French flintlocks. This rifle (and its various modifications) became the main firearm of the British Military in the League Wars and other conflicts in the early 1600’s.

Produced models:

FL1610 “Wasp MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1610)


 * The first rifle in the series of rifles made in response to “Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault” and their flintlock rifle.
 * Hastily made, the rifle has various issues, and has a higher-than-usual casualty rate among those who use it due to the tendency for the rifle’s barrel to implode.
 * Due to this reputation, the rifle was given an additional nickname: “Barrel of Surprises”

FL1610E1 “Wasp MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1611)


 * A modified L1610 that doesn't implode (more than most rifles of the era).

FL1610E2 “Wasp MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1612)


 * The version of the rifle that was used by the British Military when they joined the League Wars the same year.
 * This rifle features a slightly redesigned barrel, slightly increasing the range and improving the reliability of the rifle even more.

FL1610E3 “Wasp MkIV” Flintlock Rifle (1614)


 * Essentially the Wasp MkIII, but its components are simplified a bit, allowing for easier production.

FL1616 “Honey MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1616)


 * A modified version of the Wasp MkIV for use in hunting.
 * Essentially a simplified version of the Wasp MkIV for commercial purchase
 * Also becomes the model of rifle that was exported to allies during the League Wars

FL1610E4 “Wasp MkV” Flintlock Rifle (1619)


 * A version of the Wasp MkIV that is made from Yolngu steel, giving the rifle more durability

FL1616E1 “Honey MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1621)


 * An improved version of the Honey MkI, taking feedback from its users when making said improvements.

FL1625 “Hornet MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1625)


 * The successor to the Wasp series of rifles, featuring a slightly simplified design for the firing mechanism, allowing for easier construction of the rifle, though early versions of the rifle has issues due to kinks that weren’t figured out (though not as bad as was seen on the first Wasp rifles)

FL1625E1 “Hornet MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1626)


 * Sent into the field in late 1626, the rifle fixes the issues seen in the Hornet MkI.

FL1616E2 “Honey MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1627)


 * An improvement over the Honey MkII that features some improvements that were seen on the Hornet-series of rifles.

FL1625E2 “Hornet MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1632)


 * An improved version of the Hornet MkII, and is the primary rifle used by the BMAC Company in its early years.

FL1636 “Hornet 2 MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1636)


 * Originally just a simple upgrade, the Hornet 2 Rifle had so many improvements made to it that the company reclassified it as its own series of rifles.
 * Included in the many changes made is the narrower barrel. Though the bullets are smaller, due to a smaller round being used, the bullets are faster, have longer ranges, slightly faster reload, and are marginally more accurate than the original version of the Hornet.
 * Though the rifle doesn’t have as good of a stopping power, its improvements arguably offset this weakness.

FL1636E1 “Hornet 2 MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1642)


 * Modifications related to its reliability in hot, humid regions are added to the rifle.
 * In addition, this is the first rifle (used by the British) that was able to mount a bayonet.

XRS1652 “Thunderer” Experimental Revolving Sidearm (1652)


 * An experimental 3-shot revolver produced in extremely few quantities (around 56 or so)
 * The idea is for rounds to be pre-loaded into the revolving barrel of the pistol, which is locked in place by three pins when firing. Once a bullet is expended, the user delaches the pins and manually rotates the barrel before locking it back in place. This process is tedious and doesn’t give the gun that much of an advantage over normal conventional pistols on account of the cumbersome barrel, in addition to the pistol’s unreliability (even by standards of the time)

FL1656 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1656)


 * The third version of the Hornet rifle, which takes the FL1636E1 model of rifle and made the rifle easier to produce. Still features the capability for using a bayonet that is secured under the barrel of the rifle from the FL1636E1.

FL1656-EXP “Honey 2” Flintlock Rifle (1657)


 * Essentially an FL1636E1 rifle that is cailbered in the conventional ammo size used by most nations. Also features the capability for usage of a plug bayonet.
 * Since both this rifle and the “Hornet 3” rifle have the same catalog name, the “Honey 2” was given the -EXP notation at the end to distinguish it as the export rifle.

FS1659 “Thunderer 2” Flintlock Sidearm (1659)


 * A non-revolver version of the XRS1652 rifle. This sidearm is provided both to officers and cavalry units in the military and only in small numbers.

MAC Cannons: MAC continues to produce MAC Cannons (McCarthy Arms in a variety of calibers and sizes, ranging from small 6 pound field cannons to 32 pound naval cannons. At least in Britain, McCarthy Industries has the monopoly on the firearms industry.

Produced models:

2-pounder “snub-nose” MAC Cannon (1608)


 * Created for usage on Vinland longboats, more to fire on smaller vessels than anything else
 * Can be argued that rifles would be more effective than these small peashooters, but the extra punch is helpful

6-pounder medium field MAC Cannon (1578)


 * The main cannon used by both the British Royal Army and Marine Corps.
 * Also used on British Carrier Vessels

9-pounder “tickler” MAC Cannon


 * The lightest cannon used on British Warships (excluding Carriers)

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1588)


 * The mainstay cannon of British Warships

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1641)


 * An updated version of the 16-pounder cannon.

32-pounder “long-nose” MAC Cannon (1603)


 * Heaviest cannon that the British uses. Reserved for the largest of British vessels.

Research and Development


 * Hwacha!: A weapon imported from Japan, the British take one of the two Hwachas purchased from the Toyotomi Shogunate and reverse-engineer it, as they look into reducing the cost of production while they use the other for testing.
 * Tests show that the weapon takes a long time to reload, but due to the sound it makes and the area of effect, it could be a great weapon to use against cavalry, though effective enough against infantry.
 * It should be noted that the weapon has a shorter range than cannon fire, but has a larger area-of-effect, in terms of what it can hit.
 * Multiple Shots: Due to the nature of fighting in Amekrogu, the McCarthy Arms Company looks into possibilities to allow firearms to fire multiple times before requiring a reload, which should increase the lethality of British infantry.
 * Thunder and Awe (1652): Development into the concept has led to the engineers deeming the technology too complicated, on account of the complexity of the components of the revolving capsule. However, few see its potential, and continue to develop it in the background.
 * This does lead to a few models of revolvers being produced, though in extremely few numbers.


 * Naval Vessels: Continued development on galleons is performed, to see if it is possible to improve British vessels further. They experiment with two aspects; size and firepower. British Naval Engineers hope to determine proper ratios for size, durability, and firepower, as well as taking note of various lessons learned in the field, such as logistical issues found in British Caravels.
 * The Engineer’s Wet Dream (Aftermath): The Sovereign of the Seas enters into service in 1637, wielding the most cannons ever (up to this point). However, as time progresses, various technical issues will arise from the ship.
 * The ship took a lot of inspiration from the Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels in terms of its interior design
 * Speed Demons: Due to an increase in piracy in the Mediterranean, the British seek to modernize their old interceptors.
 * From observations of their assailants, the British take interest in a ship-type known as a xebec, ships that use three triangular sails, allowing them a good top speed without sacrificing much in terms of firepower.
 * As such, the Super Swallow-class of ship was created.
 * HMS Yellowfin: This is the culmination of British efforts into integrating a xebec into their fleet. Designed as a smaller-scale Super Swallow, the goal of this ship is to see how the ship handles itself before upscaling the size to that of the old Swallow-class.
 * This 28-gun xebec would become a class of its own, but for the time being, it is the only one of its kind.
 * Smaller Boats: Though the Brigs have shown their uses, the need for even smaller ships became apparent, especially on the accounts from allied pirates in the Shattered Isles.
 * From the HMS Ketone, improvements from the ship are implemented, mainly features to help deal with the recoil from the mortar, including an experimental outrig to help manage the rocking of the boat when the mortar is fired, potentially allowing the mortar to be rotated beyond facing only forwards.

Training and Production


 * Due to Britain’s entry into the League Wars, mass conscription is employed, though as the war entered into its final stages, more effort was put into maintaining numbers rather than recruiting newer troops.
 * British Mainland
 * None.
 * British America
 * Elysia/Laconia
 * None
 * Eldia:
 * None
 * Catonzia
 * None
 * Amekrogu:
 * None
 * Marksman Infantry imported from Arcadia to hold the line
 * British Yolngu
 * None
 * Drydocks constructed in Vinland territories
 * To be completed next turn.
 * Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.

Diplomacy


 * Amekrogu: Under an ultimatum that we will burn down the entire Amazon Rainforest, we will make one last peace offering before we burn everything you own to the ground.
 * In the eyes of the military, the Amazonian Confederation isn’t even seen as human anymore, refusing to make peace (even if temporary) after an arduous 20-year conflict.
 * Carribean Pirates: With their success in the League Wars, the British officials in Catonzia decide to have better ties with the Pirates in the Carribean, maintaining the same offer that was offered to them during the League Wars, though limited to British Catonzia for the time being.
 * Brethren of the Coast: The British reach out to the pirates, shunning them for their attacks on British ships, though they do accept the offer provided to them by William Rous and the Providence Island Company.
 * Europe (Generally): Though not offered the top-line models, Britain does allow McCarthy Arms Company to sell some of their wares overseas to those willing to purchase them
 * Indian Nations: Seeing that the countries of India are friendly, the British East India Company reaches out to all the nations in the area, hoping to strengthen their ties with all nations and open up trade routes with all.
 * Southeast Asia: The BAKA Gaikokuhito Company sends diplomats throughout the area to the various nations. With members of Yolngu acting as translators, the company hopes to see what the local powers are for themselves
 * This includes the following nations:
 * Thotan (PING PING GK)
 * Yolngu: Due to the two nations becoming extremely close over the past half-decade, Britain asks if they wish to join the empire officially.
 * Though the country is to answer to the British, due to the distance between the two countries, Yolngu essentially is still allowed the ability to govern themselves.
 * Would allow for British troops to be stationed in the territory, bolstering the defenses (and offensive capabilities) of Yolngu.

Allies


 * Agousta: Allied with Portugal. (Though not while the League Wars is going on
 * Though to respect previous ties, the British do not attack the Portuguese, unless they provoke the British to do so.
 * Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
 * Naranga: British ally on the Asian mainland.
 * Netherlands: Much like Westria, they are an ally on the European mainland.
 * Occitania: British ally on the mainland.
 * Svearike: Velkyst’s southern neighbor.
 * This alliance is made with a caveat: since they know that Vestkyst wishes to gobble them up too. The British mention that they will try to mediate any conflict between the two nations, and will continue to trade with both nations during the conflict, they cannot get directly involved against them. Otherwise, they will support the Svearike in a defensive war.
 * Toyotomi Shogunate: British ally (through the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company) in Asian area.
 * Vinland: Allies in the New World. Led by Tahmas, Vinland now prospers with the new leadership as they thrive with the protection of the British navy.
 * Vestkyst: Norweigan allies in the North Sea. The oldest ally of Britain, harkening back to the British Empire’s founding.
 * Yolngu: The furthest of Britain’s allies, the island-continent has metals far better than those in the region. As such, the majority of the trade from the region primarily consists of metals.

Events
 * The War in the Furnace (1655-1660): Upon seeing that the Amazonians refuse to listen to reason, the British decide to double down on their efforts to pacify the Confederation.
 * Plan A: In 1655, the British make an effort to meet with Amazonian Confederation leaders to make peace. Though the Amazonian troops have a strengthened resolve, the war has definitely ravaged both nations (one more than the other), so they hope to reach out for a peace offering
 * If successful, teh British hope to start a long arduous process of healing the wound caused by the HALO company.
 * Plan B: Operation Scorched Earth: In the event that peace is unsuccessful, the British decide on one last attack before resorting to a backup plan that no one in the conflict would like.
 * As the British move, they do not take anymore prisoners, None of the officers are able to keep their troops in check, as they violently murder any who are caught in their attack.
 * In addition, the British make sure to burn all territory they capture to the ground, so that if they are pushed back, the Amazonian Confederation cannot make hit-and-run attacks without being spotted and drowned in barrel fire.
 * This causes irreparable damage to the surrounding areas, so even if the Amazonian Confederation is successful, they still will struggle to survive well after the conflict.
 * Troops in the Region
 * 12,000 MPSM’s
 * 50 SPARTANS
 * 60 Light Artillery Pieces
 * 3 People per gun, 192 cannon personnel in total
 * 5,000 British Marksman
 * 7,000 Elysian Marksman
 * 3,000 Catonzian Marksman
 * Misc Stuff:
 * The old capital of Amekrogu is heavily fortified with British cannon and around a mile of forest cleared around the perimeter of the city ot prevent anyone from sneaking up on the fortress (and now forward base)
 * The Journey to Hell (1653): Thomas Hobbes was a British Marine who served in Amekrogu from 1648 - 1653. During his time in the conflict, he has seen multiple atrocities, with bodies scattered all around the place and terror of what could lurk in the trees being a constant fear. This fear cultivated in a book he wrote during his times in the Amazonian Jungle.
 * In the book, he wrote about the story of a man who descended into the first circle of hell, where he describes the horrors of what could lurk within, before questioning what could create such a scenario.
 * This book essentially is an allegory before blatantly complaining about the British conflict in Amekrogu, critiquing the conditions of life for the soldiers in the frontlines as well as the horrors he saw in the conflict, leading to some unrest back in mainland Britain, serving as a minor factors in why the British are suing for peace, even if it’s temporary.
 * Expansion Beyond the Horizon:
 * American Colonies
 * Consolidation of Power: Forts are constructed in British territory claimed in the war, both to protect from potential retaliation from the Spanish as well as from various tribes in the region.
 * In addition, British civilians are finally granted permission to move to British Catonzia and Elysia, as the British begin to slowly integrate Catonzia into the British Empire, much like what was done with Elysia.
 * Catonzia and Arroz: With the discovery of rice in the East, the British decide to give rice-making a try. With the new territory in Catonzia (as well as somewhat similar temperatures), the British decided to try and start rice crops in Catonzia, to mixed success. It will take a while before the British learn how to make rice themselves, as well as for the rice to adapt to the different environment.
 * African Colonies
 * BAKA - Mitai: Seeing the weakening of local powers in the area gives the company reason to expand, as merchants head inland to meet and trade with the locals.
 * Asianic Colonies
 * BAKA - Gaikokuhito: The company, headed by Frederik King, hopes to make contact with Yolngu again. To keep things brief, plans are in the making for a trading agreement with the region, and possibly more. (More details on this below)

The British Merchant Companies: (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)


 * British Faviero Greek Company: “The BFG Company” for short, this company has taken an interest to the region of Elysia. Its leaders, Faviero and Raleigh have enacted a multi-decade long plan to wrestle control of the region for themselves, though if other situations were to come up, they’d adapt on the fly.
 * Elysian Region: Having complete control over the area, the BFG Company begins to import more colonists into the region.
 * Around 2,500 colonists arrive in Elysia over the span of five years or so, hoping to start anew.
 * Laconia: In 1619, the region was reclassified into its own province for administration reasons.
 * The regions of Laconia, Demetrios, and Erakki become apart of the Laconia Province
 * Eventually becomes the State of Laconia
 * Deasaheim: The company begins the process of integrating the province into their company, as they begin setting up administrative bodies to run the area.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Doomslayer
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association: Started up by a British and German family, BAKA began operations in 1573, when they received a fleet of four merchant caravels. With this fleet, the company sets sail for Africa, wishing to set up a port town where they can trade with the locals.
 * In 1602, the company was split in two, due to the focus on where to colonize.
 * The branch known as “BAKA Mitai” is continuing the old company’s efforts in Africa
 * The branch known as “BAKA Gaijin” (renamed to BAKA Gaikokuhito in 1608) has its focus directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically Yolngu for its operations.
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Mitai Division:
 * Akan: Due to their presence in the area, the BAKA Mitai company slowly expands their influence through the area.
 * Fort Akan: Constructed by 1575, this fort acts as a military base for the British, with attempts made to expand their influence to the locals in the area.
 * Galatoi: The company trades with Galatoi, giving them McCarthy Firearms and other supplies in return for indigenous supplies as well as slaves for use in Elysia and other portions of their claims.
 * Fort Galatoi: An island port given to the company, allowing the British to dock their ships in the region (rather than having them weigh anchor out at sea)
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the MOM company, importing slaves from the Galatoi region and sending them to the Eldia region for use on the various crops in the region.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Resolute
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Gaikokuhito Division:
 * Establishing a Base: In 1616, The BAKA Gaikokuhito in Yolngu requested permission to construct a naval base in Northern Australia (far away from the coral reefs to the east) so they could land larger British vessels in the area.
 * In 1619, construction began on their fort, Port Kingpin. With help from the locals, ships were able to be harbored in the port town by 1621, with construction completing in 1624.
 * More Pitstops: Even with the two islands claimed, the distance between each stop is far too long. As such, the Gaikokuhito Division devices various locations along the way to establish naval bases to allow British vessels places of refuge
 * The British reached out to various nations on the Western coast of South America, asking if they could construct ports on their coastlines to allow British ships to stop on their journey to Yolngu, in addition to opening trade with the regions in question.
 * Australium: Rare metals have been found on the island continent. As such, operations are created to extract the metals with the help of the locals (in return for exotic species and other foreign goods)
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Golden Hind
 * The Henry Amerigo League of Observance: A group (nicknamed HALO) that is headed by Henry of Glaemchester. Now a competent company, the HALO company travels the seas, now intermingling with a faction known as the Amekrogu’s to the south.
 * The Amazon Expedition (Part 6): With a stable base-of-operations (in the form of the company-created port town of Heathrow), the HALO company begins to increase their influence spread in a number of ways.
 * British Vietnam: Due to the mess the conflict became, the company was temporarily put under government rule. Under the government, the company constructs various forts and other defensive structures in the Amazonian jungles for the war effort, in addition to managing the logistical side of the conflict.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Pillar of Autumn
 * The Millers Operative Manufacturing: A company that focuses on tobacco and leather in 1565, the company slowly worked its way into league with the larger companies of Britain by the 1580’s, eventually leading to the company receiving a grant to receive 7 Dove-class Merchant Caravels, as well as permission to construct a custom “flagship” for themselves.
 * For their success and assistance in the Battle of the English Channel, the British Government rewards them with a charter to expand their territory into the southern province of Eldia.
 * Upon the completion of their conquest of Eldia, various forests are cleared to make room for the various cash crops of the company.
 * Tobacco: As their influence spreads through Eldia, the MOM company begins to cultivate Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants, leading to an increase in profits due to its sweeter taste.
 * The selling of this tobacco increases MOM’s income, leading to them being able to hire more mercenaries to arrest control of Eldia from the locals.
 * Rice: Ordered by the British Royal Navy to produce the crop, the company also constructs rice crops within their territory, with assistance from Asian farmers.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the BAKA Mitai company, as the MOM Company begins to import slaves from the Galatoi region for the purpose of working on the farms.
 * Company Flagship: The Independence
 * British East India Company: With a grant from the British government, the company begins to make plans for their future ventures into Asia, with their eyes set on both the island chains between mainland Asia and Yolgnu as well as Hindustan.
 * New London/Diu: The construction of the deeper port is complete, allowing for larger vessels and more vessels in general to dock here.
 * Cape Town: Efforts are made to allow the port town to accommodate larger British vessels, providing them refuge from the volatile water off the South African coast.
 * Fort Dolphin: (Constructed in OTL Tolanero) Construction begins in 1621 to be finished by the end of 1625, mainly to allow British merchants another location to stop at while passing around Africa
 * To respect the locals, utmost stress is placed on those staying in the fort to respect the locals, and those who disobey these rules are handed to Matagaskar for punishment
 * Expanding Influence: With the wealth the company has, they begin to trade with the locals, providing them with products in larger quantities or new to the area altogether, with the hopes to make the locals reliant on the British for their daily necessities
 * Subsidiary Alliance Plan: The Company reaches out to the various countries in India, asking for the stationing of a British force within their territory for the country’s protection, in return for supplying the maintenance cost to maintain the force in the area.
 * The Azure Pilgrims: Since 1565, the “Azure Pilgrims” set up the Plymouth colony in hopes to be free from religious (and political) persecution. At first, the faction ran into many issues, mainly trying to survive the winter. They were helped by a local tribesman nearby and the colony has just begun to become stabilized.
 * Due to Catholic immigrants arriving in the region, the population slowly begins to increase from the small community it once was (around 500 per year, 2,500 every 5 years)

Notable Deaths


 * Rulers
 * Pendragon:
 * Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
 * Ash I (M,  b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
 * Sister: Aura (F,  b.1350 - 1434)
 * Ash II (M,  b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
 * Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
 * Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
 * Mordue:
 * River Mordue (F, b. 1322 - 1393) (Reign: 1369 - 1393)
 * Henry (M, b. 1353 - 1429)  (Reign: 1393 - 1429)
 * Daughter: Mary (F, b. 1382 - 1399)
 * Lionel (M, b. 1388 - 1482) (Reign: 1430 - 1482)
 * Son: Leo I (M, b. 1407 - 1465)
 * Leo III (M, b. 1445 - 1478)
 * Son: Leo II (M, b. 1423 - 1478)
 * Brother: Henry II (M, b. 1398 - 1478)
 * Drake:
 * Casimir (M, b. 1454 - 1533)
 * Queen Abigail (F, b. 1455 - 1533)
 * Queen Victoria (F, b. 1499 - ) (R: 1533 - 1561)
 * David (M, b. 1537 - 1554)
 * Brother: Albert (M, b. 1495 - 1565)
 * Nephew: Rupert (M, b. 1517 - 1553)
 * Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - 1618) (R: 1561 - 1618)
 * Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - 1619)
 * Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - 1564)
 * Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
 * Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
 * Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - )
 * Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - )
 * Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - 1596)
 * Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
 * Married off to a Westrian prince
 * Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
 * Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - 1602)
 * Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - 1606)
 * Cousin: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - 1629)
 * Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - 1629)
 * King: Luke I (M, b. 1567 - 1638) (R: 1618 - 1838)
 * Son: Luke II (M, b. 1604 - ) (R: 1838 - )
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Son: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - )
 * King:  Luke II (M, b. 1604 - 1658) (R: 1838 - 1658)
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - )
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - )
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - )
 * Roundtable Knights
 * Joan “Anne” of Arc (Died in 1431)
 * Sir George Cromwell of Cotswold (Died in 1445)
 * Sir George Cromwell II of Cotswold (Died in 1482)
 * Sir Rex of Dover (Died in 1482)
 * Joanna Palaiologos McCarthy (Died in 1528)
 * Misc
 * Frederik King (Died in ???)
 * Head of the BAKA Company, essentially has ties in about half of the world
 * Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
 * Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.

Famous Vessels

HMS Victory (15XX)


 * Laid down in 15XX and launched in 15XX, the HMS Victory is a 50-gun First-class Frigate.
 * The namesake of her class, HMS Victory was the first pride-and-joy of the Royal Navy.
 * Famously captained by Admiral Francis Drake, the ship would lead the British navy to victory when it defeated the Spanish Armada, directly leading to one of the major reasons why Britain won in the Anglo-Spanish War in the late 16th century.
 * From there, it would also see combat in the League Wars as it ensured that those opposing Britain felt the wrath of her powerful broadside.
 * Eventually, the ship was retired in 1647, where it was put into the reserve fleet as a training vessel for new sailors.

HMS Fortune’s Bounty (1626)


 * An Olive-class Multi-purpose Merchant Frigate given to the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company from the British government. Laid in 1624 and left on its maiden voyage in 1626, the ship would find itself under the ownership of Fortuna King, a woman well-known for her assistance in the Wu-Narangan War in 1633 when she was involved in both a trading run to Naranga in addition to the assassination of the Wu General in the region.
 * Though the ship would remain in East Asia for most of its life, it would also visit Britain and the Mediterranean Sea during its time afloat under the ownership of Fortuna.
 * In 16XX, [REDACTED]

HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)


 * Laid down in 1634 and launched in 1637, this ship is essentially an engineer’s wet dream. Built “just because,” the ship has more than double the guns of the next largest ships (the Victory-class) and was also over double the size, this ship towered over anything the British would build for the next half-decade or so.
 * That being said, the ship was also ladened with issues, such as poor handling and the likes.

Arzakhate of Bengal
• Government: Monarchy.

• Monarch: Yunus Nuri Pasha

• Economy: Fine and stable.

• Current State of War: True

• Capital: Nabadwip

• Population: 3,972,763

• Ethnic Population: 91% Bengali 5% Munda 3% Garo 2% Other

• Religious Population: 41% Mahayana Buddhism 37% Hinduism 12% Vajrayana Buddhism 9% Arzhamism 1% Other (animism, jainism, christianity)

• Diplomacy: War with Juanpur

• Gonda: Much Minerals we have here.

• "Manpower"

-250000 Infantry

(Camp Followers, Servants, Torch Bearers, Water Carriers, Logistics Trains, Merchants are included as well.)

-10000 Calvary

-120 Small Gunned Frigates

-145 Gunned Brigs

-1200 pieces of long ranged artillery.

• Events: The Azarkh decides to declare war on Jaunpur. Immediately 20K Infantry with the Support of 100 Long Range Artillery. Patna will be the first to fall as the nations capital. With no warning artillery will smoothen out all the defences and 10K Infantry will remain as Garrison for 2 Days and 9K will move on with the rest of the other 10K Infantry. Chaprah, Azamgargh, Varnasi will all be swept with 50 Artillery per city along with 500 Calvary and 5K Infantry per city. When that happens a pure 30K Infantry army in Gonda will split in half to 15K per army. With the high grounds as advantage, the Bangali troops will be using artillery to rid Ayodhya and Lakhimpur from the enemies possetions. Once this happens we will offer Jaunpur for reparations and annexation of what we occupy. Once declined we will be moving another 50K Infanty to the region in preparation of advance into Lucknow and Kampur. If accepted we will follow our agreement with peace and will announce the end of the war.

• Diplomatic Events:

1656 - Offer Gaya to be a Bangali Protectorate.

1656 - Request an alliance with the Atouman Empire

1658 - Incident where civilians from Thotan smuggled cows from the Hindu Population of Bangal for food.

1560 - Request's the Brits to export our Textiles to the New World.

Turn XIII: 1660-1665
LINK TO MAP

Mod Event

 * The North Afire - Crescendo:
 * Dauntless Spirits (1660): Despite being originally the designated heir to the throne and one of the claimants in this four way war,  Anastasia  had no qualms about going about things her own way, often risking her very life in the process. Growing up in the tutelage of a royal-friendly hunting party in the countryside near Drammen, she was proficient with a crossbow and grew to idolise Sigrid and Fiete Kjær, great warrior-queens of their times. It was also in this period that she befriended one  Eivind Ayling , a fellow hunter who supposedly descended from an Albionite. It was this friendship that would set in motion an unlikely escapade, the likes of it had never been thought of before.
 * Scania Campaign (1660): Securing the backing of several prominent nobles in Jylland,  Hilmar  planned to invade Scania to secure a position across the Øresund - just in case  Anastasia 's navy blockaded the strait. An army of 10 thousand crossed the strait and occupied Lund and Malmö, and within the year of 1660, Scania was under his control. This proximity, however, meant he was now under attack from the Count of Viken, an ally the Duchess of Akershus has recruited just before the entire charade began. With this, he moved his base of operations and his main troops to Lund, from which he would coordinate his plans directly.
 * Consolidation of Vestland (1660):  Gunnar 's seizure of Vestland, the principal duchy within  Vestkyst , has been divisive. His allies within Bergen welcomed the takeover while others, still aligning themselves with  Anastasia , protested his actions as he was after all, a disgraced and disqualified heir. With that, it was clear he would have to consolidate his holdings before proceeding to stamp out his own niece and the two new unexpected factions in this conflict. Under  Gunnar , Vestland became essentially a despotate - those not supportive of him were either expelled or had their estates confiscated to fuel the machines of war, and the commoners were doctrined to acknowledge him as the legitimate Duke of Vestland and King of  Vestkyst  or else face punishment. With an iron grip imposed on Bergen,  Gunnar  set his eyes east - towards Oslo.
 * The Holy Sanctuary (1660): The spread of Nynorrøn has been an ongoing concern for the bishops of Odinism, who feared its effects on their position and authority. As such, in the archdiocese of Nidaros, Archbishop  Vedastus  and his fellow bishops have secretly amassed a small but zealous army, willing to fight and die for their faith (and their pockets). With the civil war, he plucked an obscure relative of  Gunnar  out of nowhere and used them to press a claim on the throne to use the seat of power in order to stamp out Nynorrøn. With this, he set off with an army numbering 20 thousand towards Vestland, while in Trondheim, defenses continued to be built up with a view to build a true Odinist stronghold.
 * The Hunt is On (1661) [Companion Story: "Lionhearted"]: As the Duchess of Akershus,  Anastasia  exercised her power to forbid her close friend  Eivind  from serving in her army, in part for his own safety; a gesture  Eivind  himself did not take particularly well. Between the two, however, she struck a compromise: they were going to set off together, on their own, "just like old times", hunting down Vestlander outposts. Renewing their friendship, the two set off to Arendal, which would serve as their hideout from then on.  Anastasia  herself would often return to Oslo due to her responsibility as the Duchess, keeping these hunts with  Eivind  a secret from everyone else lest they forbid her from doing it
 * Battle of Helsingborg (1661): The constant harassment from Viken culminated in the Battle of Helsingborg, taking place in  Hilmar -controlled Scania. Approximately 15 to 20 thousand soldiers from both sides participated in the battle, including auxiliaries, and the conflict resulted in Viken's defeat, allowing  Hilmar  to push into the Båhuslen region, setting siege to the city of Gøteborg by winter of 1661.
 * Into Agder (1661-62): The Agder fylke laid in the middle of Vestland and Akershus, making it a perfect target for  Gunnar  to expand his influence. Outposts were set up within the fylke to exert influence and establish a constant supply chain through Agder, as the locals have declared neutrality from the conflict but allowed passage. These camps do their work as intended, but they also serve as perfect target for a certain duo looking to strike from the shadows...
 * Siege of Ålesund (1662): The path to Vestland was surprisingly uneventful, possibly because  Gunnar  was busy dealing with  Anastasia , paying no attention to the threat from Trondheim, a situation advantageous for  Vedastus  as he took Romsdal without bloodshed. As he approached Ålesund, however, the city denied him passage towards Vestland, forcing him to dig into a siege to enforce movements. The siege was a time-consuming and costly ordeal, due in part due to small raiding parties but it was needed to advance to Bergen, and by Ålesund's surrender in December 1662,  Vedastus 's army was only around half the original size. With the winter coming, he settled in the city for resupplying as he waited for further reinforcements from Trøndelag.
 * Siege of Gøteborg (1661-63):  Hilmar 's army of twenty-five thousand stood unopposed as they made their way towards the city of Gøteborg, a major urban settlement under the authority of the Count of Viken. With the defeat at Halsingborg,  Anastasia  has routed part of Akershus's army to the defense of the besieged city, which arrived by the summer of 1662. Naval support was also dispatched to the city, as the Oslofjord area was the second largest naval base of  Vestkyst  and thus was home to a sizable, but still a minority of the realm's navy. As  Hilmar  expected, the Øresund was blockaded, preventing any additional support from Danemark to reach him in Scania. The siege lasted through 1662 and into 1663 before a confrontational battle between the two sides was forced after Akershus cavalry inflicted casualties on the besieging army.  Anastasia  and the Count of Viken emerged victorious from the battle, but without huge loss of life and the latter's death during a charge. With this, the Duchess of Akershus came to inherit the County of Viken and delegated the eastern theatre to her trusted lieutenants as she returned to Oslo, in part to overlook the western theatre, but also to return to her hunts with  Eivind .
 * The Hawks of Arendal (1663): Fast as they came, they went. It was silent, then a flash, and then nothing left. Thus was life for  Eivind  and  Anastasia  for the last two years as they shut down Vestlander outposts in Agder from the shadows. While numerous, these encampments were often spread out, meaning one cannot sufficiently support another should an attack happen - a setting that played in their favour. By late 1663, the duo had reportedly taken down approximately a hundred camps of the sort - all while  Anastasia  had to assume her duties as the Duchess of Akershus. The few who survived talked of vicious figures and their snow-white heads - those who attacked from the shadows. They were dubbed "the Hawks of Arendal" by the people of Agder - after a bird of prey and the city of which the two set up base in. Arendal, a small harbour town in eastern Agder, benefited greatly from the attention as many flocked to the town in hopes of seeing the Hawks in person, some even volunteering to join Akershus' army after the mentioning that they may be working for the Duchess - unknowing of her being a half of the duo, of course.
 * Battle of Førde (1663): While the situation in Agder was less than desirable due to the Hawks of Arendal's meddling,  Gunnar 's chief concern, at least for the time being, turned to Trondheim.  Vedastus 's army had taken Ålesund, and was now encroaching on his Vestland. Raising a levy of fifteen thousand from families too scared to fight back, he set off with those and part of his men-at-arms, totalling about 25 thousand, and marched north. In February 1663, he tried to force a confrontation with  Vedastus 's host at Østra, just outside of Ålesund, in hopes of pushing them out of Romsdal. The battle was a failure, in part due to the inexperienced levies, which allowed  Vedastus  to march further inward. On the first snow of winter, however,  Gunnar  came back, this time with more experienced soldiers, and attacked his enemies at Førde, a small town within Vestland. This time, he succeeded, forcing  Vedastus  to withdraw from Vestland. Another conflict just outside of Ålesund near the end of the year kicked him back further to Sólsund. With  Vedastus  temporarily taken care of, he once again turned his gaze towards Agder and his greatest source of agony yet - the Hawks.
 * Slaughter of Lund (1664): Beaten out of Båhuslen and his escape through the Øresund blocked,  Hilmar  prepared for a stand at Lund as the Akershus host edged closer and closer. Veterans and recruits alike, he managed to scrape together an army of thirteen thousand or so - a decent number, but no chance compared to the rumoured forty thousand coming at him. The army fought well, but they were no match and were overwhelmed within a day of battle, almost all of whom on  Hilmar 's army was slain just outside the town of Lund.  Hilmar  himself barely managed to escape to Karlskrona in neighbouring  Svearike , but a local, mistaking him for a thief, struck him with an ax, mortally wounding him. With the Count of Blekinge's permission, a small Akershus cavalry detachment was sent in to find  Hilmar , but found his dead body just outside of Karlskrona, part of which have reportedly been gnawed at by wild animals. At  Anastasia 's behest, his carcass was brought back to København for a formal burial, as she remarked that "he was royalty, after all."  Hilmar 's death ended the so-called "Danish faction"'s involvement in the war, as nobles who had vocally supported him earlier all went silent in fear of Akershus' retribution. With him out of the game,  Anastasia  was free to focus on the other two threats - her uncle,  Gunnar , and the ultra-conservative remnants of the Odinist church, led by  Vedastus .
 * Falling Prey (1664):  Eivind Ayling  has been captured. From the beginning, it seemed that this would just be another normal hunt. What neither of them expected was that  Gunnar  has been keeping tab on them for some time, and had decided to take to dealing with them. A decoy camp was set up, from which a small army would be hidden in the woodlands around it, waiting to ambush the duo as they went about their hunting. The plan went off without a hitch, as  Eivind  was captured trying to hold the ambush, but  Anastasia  barely managed to escape. During her flight, as she was running away not once did she not look back at her captured partner.  Eivind  was dragged to a major Vestlander camp near Stavanger where he would remain for the next few months.
 * Siege on Stavanger (1664): Though frightened,  Anastasia  made it out of the ambush unscathed, at the expense of  Eivind  who had willingly lagged behind to cover her escape. Almost immediately, she attempted to rally an army to attack Stavanger through neutral Agder, but  Vedastus ' harassments near the Akershus border made it an unrealistic prospect for some time. It wasn't until the fall when a small army, led by  Anastasia  herself, traversed through the ever so familiar landscape of Agdesiden and digging in for a siege of Stavanger just before winter came. While it incurred a massive loss of life, the capture of Stavanger in December provided a vital base to increase the Akershus numbers and, in part thanks to a conveniently timed prisoner revolt in the nearby Vestlander camp, managed to rescue  Eivind  as well. Leaving a garrison force behind to guard the city,  Anastasia  returns to Arendal by early January 1665, setting her eyes toward a constant eyesore -  Vedastus .
 * Stavanger Revolt (late 1664) [Companion Story: "Fresh Static Snow"]: The Vestlander camp in Jæren has been home to some of the most intense military activity outside of their own lands. The camp was effectively self-sufficient, with a foraging system utilising prisoners of war as slaves. The settlement essentially served as a way to keep neutral Stavanger in check and worked as a chokepoint to prevent any potential incursions by enemies into Vestland. That is, until a certain  Eivind Ayling  was taken there. From what was told, he was treated especially harshly (even for Jæren standards) due to his connections with  Anastasia ; but on the flip side, his plight managed to win him a few allies, mostly fellow Akershus prisoners, but most strikingly a mole posing as a guard, who apparently trained him in using a wheellock pistol - in secret, of course. As time went on, he gradually convinced more prisoners to align with him, and in winter, decided it was the right time to break out. Timing the revolt in the winter of that year was coincidentally a great move as  Anastasia  was besieging Stavanger at that very same time, and the intention was that the uprising would use the siege to their advantage and link up with the Akershus army. A small detachment led by the Duchess of Akershus detached from the siege as they scoured the area, before finding the Jæren camp and attacking it at the same time. Combined with the ongoing revolt, the camp was liberated swiftly, and  Eivind  rescued, albeit with serious injuries. Returning to Arendal in January, it would be another few months until he would re-enter the war. For a few months,  Anastasia  would remain by his side, nursing him to health before she had to depart once again in order to deal with  Vedastus. 
 * The Mystery of the Island Chain (Finale): As Darwin continued to study the island’s fauna, an animal from Yolngu caught Darwin’s interest. It had the beak of a duck and the tail of a beaver, while laying eggs like a reptile. The living chimera of Australia, the Platypus, intrigued Darwin. This meeting led to him going on a trip to Yolngu to investigate the platypus and the other wildlife on the island.
 * Silver Leopard (Finale): It is the end, on the year of 1661, a year following Ludwig's departure, Mikaela Lumikorppi lays on her bed. As she looks out through the window over to the city of Merya from her palace. She had led a long life and a long reign. Under her reign, between 1613 and 1661, she would establish the Varangian Confederation to address the concerns of management of the country and their protectorates east under one idea. She established a unified tax code, yet would give flexibility to local territories to run themselves more efficiently. Mikaela had forged together a government from the ashes of a civil war. She was in power during the start of the great 'March East', where many settlers, traders, and explorers ventured eastwards that would help expand the country further than her reign. Not only this, she had an important mentor in the form of Vallen O.-Drahoman that would taught her everything she knows about the chosen lineage traced back to Aurelia Aurora Augusta, and she passed it down to a once small boy named Ludwig von Falkenhayn. Of all the people in history, Mikaela was one of the few to be granted the title of 'the Great' by the people in their lifetime. Does she really deserve it, when there are so many others like her? Mikaela ponders this. At a ripe old age of 85 years old, Mikaela 'the Great' closes her eyes to let herself drift off towards an eternal slumber. According to legend, her final words still echoes throughout the history books, "I have been fighting for all my life, and I am about to meet my last opponent. I know the devil is waiting for me, but little does it know that I am actually coming for it."
 * Fair-faring Falcon (Part 1): The road to Europe was a long one. Ludwig traveled with his family back to Europe, with the intent to start their new life in the Netherlands. Their cousins there had managed to arrange a place for them to stay for the time being as they plan to 'take back' their home. Being a cultural hub in Europe, the city of Amsterdam is known to attract artists, explorers, and mercenaries from far and wide. It is perfect to recruit support. His parents had a plan for him, and he already has doubts. After years of training, is he really going to waste their time by going against what they say? As they traveled through Europe, Ludwig witnessed people from all walks of life. Farmers, painters, blacksmiths, bakers, etc. Some of them liked what they did, and others are only in it because it is part of their family. It made Ludwig wonder about destiny. He discovered that he actually did not want, he wanted a new life or purpose. He doesn't know what yet, which did not sit well with his parents, but he knew this was not for him. In 1664, he had a falling out with his parents after much discussion, and so he just... left. The details of such are not needed, he just did. The action itself left both parties with a bitter taste in their mouths, but Ludwig pressed on. Almost a year later, after a bit of traveling, he would unexpectedly meet someone that would change his life.
 * The New Order: With Venus' departure from Rome, the "anti-pope" of Urbino was installed as the new Pope, naming himself Innocent. His first act was to have Rome cleaned up of all signs of the depravity his predecessor left behind, which included sending those who were alleged to have participated in the "mass event" Venus held before her fleeing to Genoa - numbering to some 150 participants - into exile for "engaging in the vice of lechery with the envoy of God". This all culminated in a synod, known to most as the Synodus Carnāle (Carnal Synod), where Venus was pronounced guilty in absentia for violating canon law and committing "gross crimes against the House of God", and her papacy was declared null and void. The verdict meant that all of Venus' previous edicts were also reversed, and should she be alive, an excommunication order has also been placed on her. Pope Innocent addressed the cardinals of Rome of his intentions to remove all traces of the recent debaucherous history from the ecclesiastical institution, which was met with widespread support. Alas, Venus' actions have only weakened the Papacy, if anything, and Pope Innocent knew that sooner or later, the Papal States may end up under a foreign power's influence once again.
 * Great Comet over London (1664): In late 1664, a bright comet was spotted in the sky over London. Residents there murmured rumors of the comet, is it a bad omen? Perhaps it is a sign of the reckoning? Or is it just a regular comet? If only they had comet sense of what is to come.
 * Great Plague of London (1665): For many centuries, the Bubonic Plague had lingered around, but was insignificant enough to be mostly forgotten asides from several footnotes. For London, itself, the plague likes to occur within the poorer and more crowded areas of the city. In late 1664, a bright comet was seen in the sky, and the people of London became fearful, wondering what evil event it portended. London at that time was a city of about 448 acres surrounded by a city wall that had originally been built to keep out raiding bands centuries ago, and, in the south, by the River Thames. However, there are times where there is an occasional out of control outbreak. During 1665, an outbreak occurred, and it spread like wildfire. By the end of the year, it already killed tens of thousands of people. This won't be the only problems Londoners will face.
 * Franco-Hausa Accord: After years of maintaining a state of religious ambiguity, the Hausa matriarch finally makes her decision. Following the French decision to recognise the Hausa Empire not as a tributary but as a sovereign state, she converts to syncretic Catholicism; and signs the Treaty of Valeria, establishing the Franco-Hausa Accord. This cements the Hausa - and by extension Sokoto - as the primary powers in the West African sphere, overshadowing the aging Galatoi. A secret clause in the agreement, too, permits Hausa expansion 'from sea to sea' - and as the Hausa approach the aging Aethiopian Empire for deals, and its forces approach the Azarkhate of Darfur, their time to shine has come...
 * Stargazing: Mathematician and astronomer James Gregory invents the first reflecting telescope.
 * The Grand Japonic Sphere: Even beyond its own affairs, the Nihonese Empire has grown so large and impressive that it now sends its own envoys and establishes its own diplomatic relations without proxy. From the Atouman Empire, the Bangali Empire, Great Iran; the Nihonese-Syonanese Union offers trading relations with most of them, as its sphere marks a seeming turning point in the expansion of European colonisation. The Iberian recognition of the Japonic Sphere leaves only the Albionites permitted to directly access anything west of the Andamans, and time for the burgeoning empire to continue its interferences in Indochina, Java and Sumatera, and the Northerly Kuril Islands.
 * Decline of the Hanseatic League: Decades of Vestkyster influence have made the Hanseatic League, in essence, part of the Northern institution. Many of its greatest member cities are part of  Vestkyst  or are deeply linked in some form. Hence, when the civil war in  Vestkyst  broke out and all trade halted, the Hansa faltered. It all happened so suddenly, but with most Vestkyster towns and cities closed off (save for Hamborg and Lybæk), trade income took a plunge. A general trend of self-interest among the cities also affected the League negatively, as some started to consider whether being part of the Hansa was worth it. Is this the beginning of the end?
 * Hanseatic Consolidation: Seeking to avoid the League's supposedly imminent 'economic collapse', the lord mayors of Bremen, Oldenburg and Hamborg meet to discuss consolidating their respective territories into a wider confederal union. This would only include former members of the League - seeing as to its purpose - hopefully helping to stave off the economic stagnation the League has experienced. Yet negotiations are unfruitful; and they are unable to come to an agreement, given outstanding internal woes in the League regarding various economic treaties and what-not, only Bremen and Oldenburg agree to an informal union via a strange policy - marrying off the children of the lord mayors under the capacity of 'Governor-merchant' of the territory.

NPC Event

 * The Netherlands: The Dutch had been allied with the British due to circumstances since the League Wars. Emboldened by their alliance with Britain, they venture out to establish colonies which happens to be nearby their territories, encouraged by extra protection. However, as the Dutch are peaking in their 'Golden Age', friendly relations are now called into question due to increased competition in colonial holdings. Hot spots are along the Arcadian coastline, Caribbean, and Asia, as merchants from both nations are trying to outsell and knock out the competition (though the Dutch has a more significant edge), hurting profits. By 1665, most Dutch merchants are actively trying to hurt their competitors, with the government in Amsterdam turning a blind eye as they watch the profits flowing in.
 * Amekrogu: Failed peace treaties have kept hopes of peace down for years. It seemed that the Albionites had no intention of giving up the land they had robbed and beaten down; nor did it seem that the tribes were ready to simply take that lying down. But as it were, a final agreement has been made - establishing Albionite dominion over the islands surrounding Port Infinity and Port Caiman - and allowing for trade. This enraged the Westerly tribes, many of whom had not been consulted in the agreement, sparking a civil war in the tribal union - one that accidentally provides an opportunity for Albion unlike any other.
 * Iberia: Following the introduction of its new taxation regions, the direct power of the Iberian state was extended. This directly allowed for an expansion of the Iberian navy. Now with Taxacola and other New World holdings thoroughly consolidated, the Iberian crown turns it's attention to an issue previously unaddressed - Buccaneers. Previously, the Iberians were both unwilling and unable to combat the threat of piracy in the Carribean. However, the growing interference of piracy in the lucrative slave trade was of great concern. Thus, the Iberians commenced a great naval campaign within the Carribean. Legal crackdown on pirates was exceedingly harsh as well, with trials against pirates often being short and without due process. Iberian forces repel the invasion of Jamaica by the Brethren of the Coast, capturing many noted members of the organization.
 * Dissolution of Jaunpur: Under the strain of Bangali forces and internal dissent, the Kingdom of Jaunpur collapses; but Bangal gains relatively little under the settlement as the Delhi Azarkhate immediately intervenes and establishes protectorates and a sphere over much of the Western half of the state, leaving only the vital political core of the region to the Bangali Empire. This leaves numerous small princely states in between, many no longer promised to any larger state.
 * Gaya: The city-state offers abject refusal to Bangal's offers for union. Its independence is the key to its continued economic and political coherence, and its leaders, descended from the rulers of Patna, offer little in the way of love for the burgeoning Bangali Empire.
 * Vestkyst: With  Vestkyst  embroiled in internal strife, those who could afford to move away. Some were dissatisfied with  Gunnar 's dictatorial grip on Vestland and their loss of old personal freedoms, some tried to escape conscription into all factions in the mess of a civil war it was, and some just fearing for their livelihoods - whatever their reason, this period would mark the largest wave of Vestkyster emigration ever in history, with estimations ranging wildly from 10 thousand to 100 thousand people leaving, settling in places like Caledonia (part of Albion), the Netherlands and  Vestkyst 's overseas holdings in Vinland, Iceland and the North Sea Islands (though most modern research say the upper bound is an unrealistic approximation). The movement on such a scale led to, among other things, the creation of many Nynorrøn (or Ásatrú) communes and the flourishing of already established ones in more foreign destinations, most notably sizable Norse communities in the Caledonian cities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen and informal small Ásatrú districts in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands and Rouen in France. Some others even tried to press their fortunes in the New World, first from Vinland, then into other European colonies on the Arcadian East Coast, with varying results.

Empire of Matagaskar | Empira Matagasykara
Notable People of Matagaskar/Imerina (in chronological order) [WIP]:
 * Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
 * Monarch: Emperor Andriantsitakatrandriana (B 1606 D 1658 - Age 52) (R 1626 - 1658), Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (B 1632 - Age 27, alive) (R 1658 - Present)
 * Consort: Empress Raviro (B 1608 D 1657 - Age 49), Empress Ratompoimbahoaka (B 1633 - Age 26, alive) [Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe has three other wives: Ramahafoloarivo, Rampanananiamboninitany and Ranavolontsimitoviaminandrianaralambo, although only his first wife is considered empress consort.]
 * Ruling Dynasty: Hova
 * Chief of Kômôro: Kifeda (B 1622 - Age 37) (R 1653 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Ranjevasy: Rabenirina (B ca 1614 - Age ca 45, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Maorisy: Tovondrava (B 1615 - Age 44, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Order of Succession: Princess Andriamanjakatokana (B 1636 - Age 23, alive), Prince Razafindramahata (B 1621 - Age 37, alive), Princess Mialitiana (B 1651 - Age 8, alive), Princess Rabetsara (B 1624 - Age 35, alive)...
 * Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing as well as trade, mostly with the Swahili states of East Africa but also other foreign merchants. The Malagasy economy stands as one of the strongest and most developed in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to the effect of foreign contact. Matagaskar controls the entire island of the same name and holds influence in parts of East Africa.
 * Allies: Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla (defensive pact), Mutapa (personal alliance)
 * Capital: Antananarivo
 * Demographics:
 * Population: ca 798 000 total
 * Mahajanga: 9 300
 * Antananarivo: 7 000
 * Toamasina: 4 650
 * Manakara: 3 300
 * Ambanja: 2 500
 * Morafenobe: 2 500
 * Toliara: 2 070
 * Antsiranana: 1 900
 * Moroni: 1 100
 * Antsirabe: 800
 * Fipetrahana: 500
 * Amorontsiraka: 500
 * Rural regions: ca 765 000
 * Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (consisting of 18 ethnic groups, the three largest of which, in order, are the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Sakalava), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), ca 5% Adnanite, >1% Albionite (Fort Dolphin and nearby areas)
 * Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, ca 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore) and other traditional folk religions, >1% Anglican Christianity
 * Wars and Conflicts (italics: Potential War):
 * N/A
 * Military: Due to Matagaskar being a rural realm, a large amount of units can be raised for warfare, but usually about 1% of the population is the most trained and prepared soldiers that can be drafted. Parentheses means the deployed units in cases where not all units are deployed for war.
 * Deployed units: None
 * Total (1%): 7 800
 * 2 080 Spearmen
 * 1 420 Swordsmen
 * 300 Bowmen
 * 2 050 Crossbowmen
 * 1 500 Light Cavalry
 * 500 Fossa Warriors
 * Navy:
 * 13 Adananita class ships
 * 11 Mer'ana class ships
 * 8 transport ships
 * Diplomacy:
 * Mutapa: Emperor Andriantsimitoviandriandehibe continues supporting Mutapa’s war ambitions with the occasional gift of gold, resources or equipment.
 * Events:
 * Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe: More business as usual until a certain year. In 1658, Andriantsitakatrandriana passes away at age 52, just about a year after Empress Raviro’s death in 1657. Thus the throne passed down to Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe. He is the first Emperor since Ralambo to actually use his rights of polygamy to well, partake in the act. Currently his heir is his brother: Andriamanjakatokana, but the Emperor takes four wives in order to set up good succession. The royal couple are already expecting their first child by the end of this turn.
 * The Military and the Fossa Warriors: The Fossa Warriors are a class of elite soldiers. They were created all the way back in the 15th century when King of Imerina Andrianamboniravina fought the invading Zoroastrian Avestans. Their first ever leader was Ndahimananjara, whose granddaughter Rangitamanjakatrimovavy became queen of Imerina. Rangita was also the grandmother of Andriamanelo, the unifier of Matagaskar and its first ever emperor. The Fossa Warriors historically had quite a lot of political power but after some conspiracies and schemes they were demoted. They later received more rights but were still not as powerful as they once were, in fact by this turn, they’re kind of irrelevant. The Fossa Warriors are but 300 of the best soldiers the realm can find, but they mostly serve as guards and garrisons in the rovas across the realm, serving nobles. The real deal is more the Order of Rakotomazava, a religious order of knights who also number in a few thousand. Not to mention the fact that the Fossa Warriors’ most recent leaders have been pretty milquetoast boring and the title they have is less of an actual title that gives them power and more of just a fancy little word stuck next to the incumbent person’s name.
 * Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe realizes this after studying some of his realm’s history and he wants to change this, after all, the current ruling Hova dynasty spawns from the first ever Fossa Warrior married into the royal Ammagari family. So, some changes that, well I don’t know if you could call them drastic but they are certainly noteworthy, are made. The Order of Rakotomazava is relieved of most of their military powers, which isn’t that controversial considering most members of the order are not fully trained soldiers but rather they have various positions and otherwise may serve as mercenaries. The Order is reformed, with consent of the current Mpiady of the Order: Tsivalaka, into a sort of clerical organization. Their goal is still to enforce our religion in the realm, but rather than having any real military might they are instead the ones put in charge of handling religious matters, together with local religious leaders be they at temples or the personal Magis and Mobads (Zoroastrian religious leaders) of nobles. They are still allowed to have the fortified settlement of Antsirabe as their headquarters, in fact those are actually given protection through not only regular soldiers, but also Fossa Warriors, who then serve as a garrison of the town and as bodyguards of the important figures within the Order of Rakotomazava. To simplify: the Order of Rakotomazava is basically turned into a single force that keeps the various Zoroastrian temples in our realm together, it handles everything religious in Matagaskar (not counting the Soahilys on Kômôro that still follow Haintenism due to laws protecting their beliefs, although there are many Zoroastrians there and the temples of those islands fall within the purview of the Order of Rakotomazava). The title of “Mpiady”, which means “warrior”, is also changed to just “Grand Mobad” due to the order renouncing its military aspects, but the order’s members are still available as mercenaries if needed.
 * Now, for the actual Fossa Warriors, first their numbers are increased. Second of all, their current leader, who is just a nobody that is also kinda corrupt, is dismissed. He is replaced by Botokeky (haha, “kek”), a soldier who has served in the navy. He becomes the “Tompon-daka” (champion in malagasy) of the Fossa Warriors. A bunch of new things for this group are introduced. They are tied further to the Hova dynasty and the politics, mainly the politics of the military. They are given the right to own land (to a certain degree) as well as marrying multiple people (they’ve always had the right of marriage, but not polygamy, even after polygamy was legalized). The Tompon-daka basically gains a spot within the council of the Emperor and works together with heads of the armies to keep the military and all that in check. And yes, all of this happened in the span of a little more than one year (okay not really, some of this bleeds into the next turn).
 * Order of Rakotomazava: Ignoring all the reform stuff, their previous military outposts across the island are slowly converted into religious places, houses (many of the outposts were nearby villages so…) or they stay as outposts for military purposes, but no longer under the Order’s jurisdiction.
 * Order of Yasht: The only thing I need to notify here is that the current Mpiady: Rakotomazava III (real name Boazandrivelo) fucking dies. His successor is Mafilaza who becomes Rakotomazava IV. For staff to remember, there is always an Mpiady and a chosen successor of the Mpiady who also serves as basically the secondary authority figure within the Order. When the successor well… succeeds they take the name Rakotomazava and whatever number is required is stuck after it. So current chosen successor Jaomanoro will become Rakotomazava V when Mafilaza/Rakoto IV dies. You can check my list of notable people to see how old Rakoto V is.
 * IT’S FUCKING MÀNTA! [takes place in England] (Part 5): Alright, I’ve kind of done the meme thing by now, so Gordon Burwick continues his work in the culinary arts, serving the best food possible to the English nobility. Leaving off here, he probably later starts his own family and maybe they also become chefs. Anyway hope you enjoyed Malagasy Gordon Ramsay everyone.
 * Past Rulers:
 * Ammagari dynasty (ca 1392-1517):
 * Andrianerinerina (ca 1360s-1418): Legendary first king, said to be the son of the god Zanahary himself. Reigned from ca 1392 to 1418.
 * Andrianjavonana (1391-1447): Ruled during a period of language and alphabet-development. Reigned from 1418 to 1447.
 * Andrianamponga (1427-1455): Encountered the Adnanites, expanded the rule over the Comoros. Died in a mysterious event. Reigned from 1447 to 1455.
 * Andrianamboniravina (1429-1469): Formed the Fossa Warriors, fought the Avestan invaders. Reigned from 1455 to 1469.
 * Zafimahova (1434-1488): Regent for Rafandrandrava. De facto ruler even after Rafandrandrava’s coming of age. Official regency lasted from 1469 to 1471. De facto queen regnant from 1469 to 1488.
 * Rafandrandrava (1453-1494): Underage at the time of ascension, was basically just a de jure ruler for most of his reign. Oversaw the expansion into the Central Highlands. Reigned from 1469 to 1494.
 * Andriamasindohafandrana (1477-1513): Continued adapting foreign technology and expanding south. Visited the Ahuric Empire. Murdered by conspiring Fossa Warriors. Reigned from 1494 to 1513.
 * Rafandrampohy (1495-1550): Conducted a massive crackdown on the conspirators who killed his father. Abdicated in favor of his wife Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, triggering the Merina Civil War. After this he became a religious person. Reigned from 1513 to 1517.
 * Hova dynasty (current):
 * Rangitamanjakatrimovavy/Rangita (1493-1552): First true queen of Imerina and ruler from the Hova dynasty. Won the Merina Civil War, moved the capital to Mahajanga. Reigned from 1517 to 1552.
 * Rafohy (1528-1572): Established contact with Mutapa, expanded the kingdom, made the Order of Sihanaka official. Died of a miscarriage. Reigned from 1552 to 1572.
 * Andriamanelo the Great (1546-1605): Unifier of the entire island. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. Considered the greatest monarch in Malagasy history (so far). Reigned from 1572 to 1605.
 * Ralambo (1566-1612): Legalized polygamy, introduced the fandroana celebration, reformed the feudal system. Died of a sexually transmitted disease. Reigned from 1605 to 1612.
 * Andrianjaka (1571-1628): Founded Antananarivo upon the former settlement of Analamanga and moved the capital there. Improved infrastructure, held a census. Deposed by his son and wife in an internal conflict. Reigned from 1612 to 1626.
 * Andriantsitakatrandriana (1608-1658): Married the Shona woman Raviro who became his wife and empress. Defeated the Order of Yasht during their rebellion. Reigned from 1626 to 1658.
 * Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (1632-Present):
 * Others:
 * Hainteny (ca 1370s-1423): Philosopher and writer. First person to truly take advantage of writing when it came into being in Imerina. Formed the basis of the Haintenist faith.
 * Tsilavohery (ca 1410s-1467): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Rakotomanjato until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king.
 * Rakotomanjato (ca 1421-1505): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Tsilavohery until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king. He betrayed the Merina and became king of a group of Bara peoples. That polity did not last too long however and was eventually conquered by Imerina.
 * Ndahimananjara (ca 1440s-1503): First ever Fossa Warrior. Married into the Ammagari dynasty. His branch would eventually rule the island.
 * Andriantompokoindrindra (1467-1527): Father of Andriamihaja and Rangitamanjakatrimovavy.
 * Tombovelo (ca 1480s-1543): Religious figure who essentially was the one to create the Malagasy variant of Zoroastrianism. He also traveled and studied in the Ahuric Empire.
 * Andriamihaja (1496-1527):
 * Ratsifandrihamanana (1493-1556): Second husband of Rangita.
 * Rakotomazava (ca 1510s-1577): Founder of the Order of Sihanaka, which later became the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Rakotomanjafy (ca 1520s-1590s): Mpiady of the Order of Sihanaka.
 * Ranjeva (ca 1540s-ca 1603): Explorer and discoverer of the Mascarene Islands.
 * Rafidy (ca 1580s-1642): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tsiajotso/Rakotomazava II (ca 1589-1647): Leader of the southern Order of Rakotomazava and later leader of the Order of Yasht. Exiled himself and the Order to Mtende.
 * Zozimar (ca 1590s-1639): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Ramalalaharivololona (ca 1590s-1657):
 * Rambolazafy (1599-1653): High Chieftess of Mahajanga.
 * Tombomankara (ca 1595-1647): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava from 1628 to 1647.
 * Boazandrivelo/Rakotomazava III (ca 1600-1663): Originally just a soldier of the Order of Rakotomazava and later of the Order of Yasht. He became an important associate of Tsiajotso. He took over as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after Tsiajotso died, becoming Rakotomazava III.
 * Tsivalaka (1603-present): Mpiady/Grand Mobad of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Catherine Burwick (1603-present): Noble Scottish woman who married Mamangy and had a child with him.
 * Mamangy “Andrew” Burwick (1605-present): Chef, considered to have been the first one to make a popular dish out of dodo meat. Traveled to Europe via British trade vessels.
 * Raviro (1608-1657): A princess of Mutapa and now Empress consort, first non-Malagasy consort of a ruler.
 * Mafilaza/Rakotomazava IV (ca 1610-present): Impressive soldier of the Order of Yasht. Became Rakotomazava IV as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after the death of Boazandrivelo.
 * Rabenirina (ca 1615-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tovondrava (1614-present): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Manorohanta (1620-1655): Advisor and explorer. Went on an expedition to the Nyafo (Rodrigues) island, but it led to a shipwrecking where all of the crew died F in the chat.
 * Botokeky (1633-Present): Tompon-daka of the Fossa Warriors.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.

Azure Cathay | Hošoi Hanarga
Land of Three Fowls [BROAD OVERVIEW, NARRATIVE EVENTS BELOW]
 * Government: Constitutional Monarchy
 * Emperor/Hošoigan: The Hošoigan, literally meaning “King of Four Corners”, is the supreme ruler of Azure Cathay, bound by a set of unchangeable laws referred to as the “Founding Injunctions” or the “Cathayan Constitution”. He is elected by the Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers from among the children, nieces, and nephews of the previous Hošoigan.
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Sirke [Posthumous] (b.1561) (r.1579-1601)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga | Khan of Great Radiance (b.1582) (r.1616-1649)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Haryansol | The Badger Emperor (b. 1610) (r.1649-1655)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Malanyalma | Emperor of Graceful Virtue (b. 1641) (r.1655-1663)
 * Regent: Dries de Vries (b.1606) (r.1655-1663)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Kūlmesem | The Deer Cauldron Emperor (b. 1639) (r.1663-)
 * Viceroy of the Mongols/Monggoli Noyan: The Mongol Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Central Asia on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (b.1587) (r.1616-1639)
 * Kiyat-i Ejei (b.1587) (r.1639-)
 * Viceroy of Minaye/Minyagi Noyan: The Minayan Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Minaye, a region roughly corresponding to OTL Northwest China, on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Zhou Baitian (b.1612) (r.1636-)
 * Administration: The administration of Azure Cathay is hierarchical in nature, with four levels of government, the county, prefecture, province, and national. At the lowest level of administration, the county level, the local magistrate and his council are elected by the citizenry from a small pool of candidates, all of whom are local government officials who have applied for the position. On higher levels though, governance is based around sortition. Those within the council who apply for the position of delegate to the next level are chosen via lottery, though the provincial council sends no delegate to the Deliberative Council. Below are a list of institutions within the Cathayan government. Positions of leadership within the bureaucracy are determined through a series of exams meant to create a cohesive state ideology and to test managerial skills, though it is not uncommon for noteworthy citizens to be appointed directly by the imperial government.
 * Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers/Dorosi-gwa Amban-i Hebeng Mancan: The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers, sometimes shortened to the “Great Council” (Haba Mancan) or simply, the “Deliberative Council” (Hebeng Mancan), is the greatest policymaking body within Cathay. The Deliberative Council advises the Emperor, proposes laws and policies, and elects the new Hošoigan. In addition, it technically has the power to force an abdication of the Emperor. The Deliberative Council consists of 24 automatic members, with a maximum membership of 36.
 * Censorate/Silhagūn Jibi: The Censorate, also called the Reviewal Department, is both a supervisory agency. In addition, it reviews edicts and commands received from the Emperor as a review mechanism against Azure Cathay’s founding legal codes. They are directly responsible to the Emperor. The main purpose of the Censorate is to check administration at every level to root out corruption and malfeasance, as well as to oversee the appointment and election of officials.
 * Secretariat/Nyalmang Iri Jibi: The Secretariat, also referred to as the Civil Affairs Department, is the highest executive institution of the imperial government. It is managed by a Grand Secretary, with two Deputy Directors who assist them in their administrative duties. The Secretariat’s purpose is to put into effect commands and edicts from the Emperor.
 * Five Ministries/Uca Jibyawi : The Five Ministries are the backbone of the civil government of Qing. The FIve Ministries are under the Secretariat, which is in itself responsible to the Deliberative Council and the Emperor. They are responsible for implementing policies and managing the Cathayan civilian bureaucracy. The Five Ministries are: the Ministry of Plenty responsible for economic management, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial system, the Ministry of Works, responsible for infrastructure and other such things, the Ministry of Posts, managing internal trade and the postal system, and the Ministry of Scholars, responsible for much of the administration around scholar-bureaucrats.
 * Economy: The economy of Cathay is primarily agrarian, though luxury items, iron products, textiles, cash crops, and pottery are a significant contributor to the Cathayan economy. In Amuria, Nanukai-Nabin, a system not dissimilar to Fengjian or sharecropping, is the prominent form of land ownership.The Cathayan government intervenes little in the economy, only occasionally directing corporate efforts and monopolizing certain resources to generate a stable source of revenue required for the running of the nation. In recent years, the putting-out economic model has gradually begun to be replaced by workshops as the demographic of those engaged in non-agricultural work has changed from freelancing farmers to those at the bottom of society seeking a stable source of income.
 * Currency: Jiha
 * Primary Capital: Habanisūn (de facto), Girincasa (de jure)
 * Regional Capitals: Habanisūn, Haisenwē, Alcuka, Miyoo Gasan (Kilemi Prt.)
 * Demographics:
 * Ethnic Makeup:
 * Narangga: 16.5%
 * Mongols: 4.5%
 * Zhongyuan Chinese: 52.7%
 * Bing Chinese: 8.3%
 * Wu Chinese: 11.9%
 * Chu Chinese: 2.8%
 * Other (Joseonese, Dongyi, Hui, etc.): 3.4%
 * Population: 50,080,000
 * Total Urban Centers: ~2,000,000
 * Military: The Cathayan military is categorized by its maneuverability, small unit size, adaptability, logistic prowess, and focus on quick decisive victories, a product of its relative lack of resources and manpower. With much of Cathay's military now being composed of forces formerly under Wu Dynasty and the change in general strategy which followed, long-lasting wars fought over large fronts have become more feasible. Similar to the civilian bureaucracy, positions of leadership within the military are determined through a series of exams concerning military strategy and performance.
 * Eight Banners/Yeteri Dokcagi: The Eight Banners are the elite forces of Azure Cathay. The Eight Banners are organized by of four main colours; red, yellow, blue, and white, with a bordered and plain variety existing for each. For the most part, bannermen (dokcagisi) must come from certain martial clans. As such, the bannermen are effectively a hereditary military class. Banner households are exempt from select taxation but must bring their own equipment to battle when called to arms. Despite this, the composition of the banner armies are remarkably uniform - each soldier wields a sword or polearm with a bow, occasionally a rifle, and has knowledge of warfare on horseback.
 * Number of Bannermen: 79,600
 * Black Standard Army/Suksan Bolsung Saosimul: The Black Standard Army is a military force which draws members from Amurian and Joseonese recruits and conscripts. It is organized in a very similar way to the banner armies.
 * Total Black Standard Army Forces: 176,000
 * Imperial Navy/Hanarga-i Badassaosi: The Imperial Navy is split into two fleets, the Eastern Fleet and the Western fleet, with the former occupying the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk and the latter occupying the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The base for the two fleets are, respectively, Haisenwē and Habanisūn.
 * Total Number of Naval Personnel: ~4800
 * Total Number of Ships: 67
 * Green Standard Army/Fūrūn Bolsung Saosimul: Unlike the Black Standard Army, the Green Standard Army is incredibly uniform, consisting mostly of infantrymen used as cannon fodder. However, there are sizeable cavalry, logistical, and artillery corps as well.
 * Total Green Standard Army Forces: 294,100
 * Hwēnmu Jikesi: The Hwēnmu Jikesi are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards and Azure Cathay’s secret police force.
 * Wars and Conflicts None

In 1661, Dries (Naranga: Dūrise) issued The Great Clearance, prohibiting settlement in much of the upper Gan River Valley in an attempt to combat Naamyeung, the successor to the erstwhile Wu Dynasty. The result is a great exodus into the depopulated - yet still fertile - lower Yellow River valley. With the continued integration of Northern China into the central Cathayan administration,  another imperial edict was passed in 1663, reducing the autonomy of the governor-generals within China to little more than provincial governors. However, soon after, Dries’ reign came to an end, when Kūlmesem overthrew him in a sudden coup d’etat, forbidding him and his son to ever return to Cathay.

Following Kūlmesem announcing a resumption of the Cathayan conquest of China upon his ascension in 1663, Chu unified with the nation of Yunnan and annexed Bozhou, renaming itself to the Jiuli Union. That same year, great slave revolts backed by Jiuli erupted in the Yi territories of Shu, which destabilized the nation to such a degree that it was easily made a vassal of Azure Cathay just a year later. In 1660, following a series of devastating raids in Zhaowa, much of western Zhaowa was relinquished and absorbed into the growing Naamyeung sphere.

In 1661, a primitive form of the Pressure Cooker was invented, a closed vessel with a tightly fitting lid that confines steam until a high pressure is generated, drawing upon the scientific principles formulated by Miyamoto Musashi and Hetu-i Satkang. It, however, garnered little attention due to how explosion-prone it was. That same year, Xiong Rusang, after a grueling half-decade of research and textual analysis of the Daode Jing and the Zhuangzi, two obscure Proto-Xianist texts from the Yang Dynasty, published the Revisiting the Ancient Masters, bringing the earliest forms of Xianism back into the limelight, deeming these beliefs Pristine Xianism. The next year, Rusang writes The Sages on Civics, a political treatise outlining what, in her opinion, a nation abiding by Pristine Xianist philosophy should look like. In it, many of the tenets of Liberalism are present - such as consent of the governed, limited government, and equality. However, two clear aberrations are present - Rusang advocates for a society where religious institutions form the bedrock for a community, and states that personal liberty should come second to community harmony, though later clarifies that personal liberty and social harmony are mutually inclusive.

(note: Pristine Xianism directly corresponds to Taoist thought of the pre-Han period.) No Right to Rule (5)

The Phoenix Dies - 1660:

The Pirate King of the Southern Sea.

For the Nusantarans, the phrase evoked images of the atrocities of Jotaro - the innumerable cities sacked, the women raped, the hills of corpses that filled in entire bays. For the Chinese, the expression reminded them of the conquests of Que Shen and the heroism of those who gave their lives to put an end to his rampage across the Chinese south. For many in both lands, it brung to mind the forays and raids of Simão, the collective trauma of his plunderings inciting centuries of anti-European thought in East Asia.

In the likeness of these pirates, Hokchêng had taken to wearing an ill-assorted mix of eastern and western clothing; An Iberian waistcoat above a daoqun robe cut off at the waist, with Zhaowanese trousers made in imitation of a Japanese hakama below. Rusang had often reproached Hokchêng for both imitating individuals so notorious that they sent shivers down many a spine, but also for his atrocious fashion sense.

Well, if Rusang's imitation of Wei Wuxian did her well, surely a similar tactic would work for him, Hokchêng thought.

Nonetheless, the associations Hokchêng exuded did naught to stop half the Zhaowanese navy from defecting to him following years of neglect by the civilian bureaucracy. It too did naught to dissuade Zhaowanese monarchists from their frenzied support of Hokchêng. It was with the help of these two factions that Hokchêng arrested and imprisoned the Taixu of Zhaowa in June of 1660, forcing him to abdicate in favor of a Naamyeung general of Zhaowanese extraction. Within months, the giant of the thousand isles had died.

But though the takeover of Zhaowa was swift, it was hardly easy.

Naamyeung’s control of Zhaowa was flimsy at best, even with a relatively autonomous native-born king at its head. Naamyeung policies were seldom enforced, and this state of anarchy led to a resurgence of the Hwais, corporate unions of workers, politically, many of them straying towards Kyoto, not Gwongjau. Thus, Hokchêng, in 1662, drew a latitudinal line at Bali. All lands east of Bali would remain under the control of the Naamyeung puppet king, who was told to ‘figure it out’, whereas all lands west of Bali would be reorganized into the Buēngtau Protectorate, under Naamyeung control. The Zhaowanese vassals in Sumatra and Java were also to be vassalized.

The Tiger Rises - 1663:

"Contemporary discourse on statecraft has separated all manners of rule into two broad camps - Libertarianism (自由道) and Authoritarianism (權威道). This fanatical obsession with simplification has resulted in economic and philosophical schools of thought being grouped along these lines. Pristine Xianism and Mohism are thus extreme Libertarian, Orthodox Xianism moderately Libertarian, Confucianism and New Xianism moderate Authoritarian, and Legalism and Naranga Rationalism are extreme Authoritarian. With these practices there are two wrongs - the drawing of lines in selfsame sand, and the assumption that philosophies are monolithic entities, free of change or internal cohesion. Let all be aware that the values associated with any philosophy (哲學) ''cannot - and should not - inform the entirety of one’s thoughts on statecraft, nor should the musings of the sages, stripped of their context, be used to support one’s civic beliefs. They seek to put that which is ephemeral into a box - such practices run against the flow of Tian.''


 * Introduction to Chapter 9 of “The Sages on Civics" by Xiong Rusang, c.1662

---

"Baix Tsov! Sage Rusang! There's been news from the west!" a man frantically shouted as he pounded Rusang’s door.

“Yeejzoob, mister, I’m trying to do my makeup. I’ve a meeting at Sheshi and one Ke tonight. By heaven and earth, have some patience,” Rusang chided. Yeejzoob thought this odd, as Rusang wore wakeup sparingly. It was a manifestation of her aversion to appearing overly feminine, a quirk not well understood but tacitly tolerated. He brushed it off though - times do change and situations do vary.

“Apologies, mistress,” Yeejzoob said. A slight groan was heard - apparently she didn’t like to be addressed that way. Shortly after, Rusang emerged from her room, and sat down on the floor opposite Yeejzoob.

"What do you need from me?"

“In Shu, the Ajia and Xiaxi classes have erupted in revolt; the work of your words. What shall we do?”

“Do nothing,” Rusang flatly replied. “Look and listen.”

“No,” Yeejzoob shook his head with widened eyes, “But we must be hasty! I cannot even imagine how many Shu soldiers are off to extinguish the work of our brothers!”

“We’ll watch and see. My will is final,” Rusang replied, turning her gaze from Yeejzoob to the palms outside swaying in the wind. Rusang wagged her fan more than she spoke, a temporary reprieve from the oppressive summer heat.

"Should we, at the very least, not lend our support to those who have pledged their loyalty to us?"

"The Ajia are one-third of Shu's population, the Xiaxi one-ninth. The White Yi are another half - and the Black Yi less than one-tenth. We’ve provided them our arms - we shall see their proficiency at warfare in the coming month,” Rusang responded, leaning back against the wall.

“Now, we’ve all things to do. Go,” Rusang finally added, cueing Yeejzoob to leave. The Burning Azure (1)

Cathay’s Folly - 1662:

Kūlmesem had grown well acquainted with the jingle of keys. It always meant that food or water was to arrive, or more rarely, torture. It was by that torture that a lattice of scars had formed, a web of flesh that dripped down Kūlmesem’s face, neck, and breast. As the guard approached, the stomp of his studded boots growing ever-louder, Kūlmesem sat upon the damp floor in silence. Was he to be flogged? Burned? Or had dinner finally come?

“You’re free.”

Kūlmesem looked up from the stone floor into the face of the guard, his expression so flat unmoving it might as well have been carved from stone. Kūlmesem felt no disbelief. Truth be told, he felt little these days. Regardless, his release was a long time coming. His imprisonment was commanded by a regime both unstable and unpopular, one which had been forced to continually acquiesce to the nobles and literati of Cathay who always demanded more. He too was the son of Noraisol and Jinai, the direct grandson of Isangga. The Naranga loved to stress that merit was of infinitely greater value than kinship, but Kūlmesem knew that to be false. It was simply another immutable fact of life that blood was thicker than water. Though raised as a peasant and alien to the Cathayan elite, Kūlmesem, the patrilineal direct descendant of Isangga, was still miles more important than most nobles.

Kūlmesem silently extended an arm for the guard to pull him up by. The guard obliged. Though he was a deformed prisoner of 22 years, others still bent to his will. That very thought brought a smirk to his face.

Upon stepping past the threshold of the prison he had been cooped in for seven years, Kūlmesem was gruffly handed a sack of gold coins, before being told to get on his way. It was apparently “due compensation”. Enough to buy him a mask, at least. Enough for children on the street to not cry when he passed them by. Kūlmesem wandered aimlessly until the sun came down, smothering the earth an oppressive, overwhelming black. Under the stars, miniscule specks of light in an otherwise tar-black sky, Kūlmesem fell asleep, two thoughts lingering in his head.

Seize the throne.

Please the Nyangya.

Empire of Nihon | Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory
(All names are introduced in Kanji and Yamatai Romanji)

Government
 * Stucture: The Shogunate functions under the auspices of a federal system of government, with the recognition of four distinct polities.
 * The Chiku(地区)[districts], nominally under the direct control of local Daimyo elevated above others to become Chiku-cho(地区長) [district heads]. These pay a section of their yearly harvest to the Teikoku-kokuso(帝国穀倉) [Imperial Granary] based on a relative assessment of the surplus of their kokudaka(石高) and are only allowed to engage in Western trade at the Yattsu no Iriguchi（八つの入り口）[Eight Entryways], the eight ports in Nihon open to foreign trade.
 * The Han(藩) [domains] are the legal and semi-official name of various territories in the country which exercise economic and political autonomy, led by leaders legally called . They are allowed to exercise their own forms of government and engage in treaties pertaining only to them (wherein the treaties must thread the thin line between recognising their overlords in Kyoto and political self-interest); as well as being exempt from Hideyoshi's religious laws, allowing for the flourishing of the tiny Christian and Arzhamic communities of Nihon. They pay their taxes in gold, silver and other precious metals, and rather than payment to the Teikoku-kokuso, they pay their taxes directly to the Teikoku-kinko(帝国金庫) [Imperial Vault/Treasury].
 * The Hogokoku(保護国) [Protectorates], led by the Genshu(元首) [Heads of state]. These can vary from de facto domains with zero diplomatic autonomies to former allies under the current protection of the Nihonese government.
 * The Teikoku-seifu(帝国政府) [Imperial Government] is the single entity stringing this entire mess together. The oldest single lasting political institution in East Asia, boasting a history of nearly 400 years since its first establishment as the Splendid Directorate in 1253. It consists of various economic and political institutions on top of being a primary political centre not just in Nihon but its influence spread across non-Wu Northeast Asia. Its primary leaders lead the Shogunate and the Imperial Service, symbolically and politically, and are often given credit for the specific eras of their time.
 * Mikado(帝) [Empress]: The Mikado of Nihon, better known to most of the world as the Empress of Japan. The Mikado is one of the few remaining positions in this Nihon where female primogeniture persists, a relic of the early Heian era and the consolidation of the original Nihon to Tohoku no Toitsu-kokoku (United Kingdoms of Japan and Tohoku) during the early 13th century. The storied history of the Mikado starts in a political mediator, escalates into a military dictator not unlike the Shogun; and it itself created the position of Taisho, the Shogun's predecessor. As a symbolic leader in the Shogunate, they enjoy relative privilege in exchange for their formal political silence.
 * Current Mikado: Okita Kiyoko, born 1614
 * Omona Teian-sha(主な提案者) [Prime Advisor]: The Omona Teian-sha, better known to most of the world as the Prime Advisor. A single-use position created by Tokugawa Sayaka to consolidate her hold over the country; it holds the final say on every matter - from Nihon's massive colonial empire to its internal territories, from the guntai to the seifu. This makes the Prime Advisor effectively the most powerful position in the entire Nihonese Empire.
 * Current Omona Teian-sha: Tokugawa Sayaka, born 1610


 * Class System
 * Nomin(農民) [Peasants]: The majority of Nihonese people, at roughly 65%. The Nomin experience a largely agricultural and communal lifestyle, a deep sense of spirituality intertwined with their life in small urban areas dotted around Nihon; their interaction with even local daimyo and institutions is limited to annual contacts during festivals and tax seasons. With the upheaval of the Toyotomi era, however, many Nomin also partake in a mercenary and official capacity for survival and cultural purposes.
 * Shonin(商人) [Merchants]: The Shonin class refers to a whole host of semi-middle-class individuals, from performers to traders. At times, it crosses with the Daimyo, and many Shonin also serve as effective Daimyo in the Toyotomi era. Many serve in a government capacity, interacting mainly with the Kinko and Kaikei; the Shonin are the primary intellectual class in Nihon, making them an influential mark on entertainment and culture.
 * Daimyo(大名) [Feudal lords]: The Daimyo began as a series of warring feudal lords towards the end of the Heian, and have now been largely displaced to become local officials and lower-level bureaucrats within the Shocho/Seifu. They own the vast majority of monetary wealth in Nihon.
 * Teikoku-kanken(帝国官憲) [Imperial Officials]: The Kanken are the smallest class in all of Nihon, numbering at most 23,000 (if one is to use the most loose definition of their duties); most are high-level clan officials and members of the Imperial Family with positions in the Seifu. They are the primary powerbrokers in Nihon, fighting a prolonged battle between them, the Daimyo and the Shonin, with the Nomin caught in between.


 * Soldiery
 * Guntai (軍隊)[Army]: The Guntai arose from the Toitsu-kokoku and evolved into a full-fledged proto-professional military force through the 1200s and 1300s; while the professional guntai has largely vanished with time, those who do remain now make up a professional officer class (whom quickly betrayed their meritocratic roots and have since been using the system to entrench their families in power).
 * Samurai(侍) [Attendant Warriors]: The Samurai began during the professional era but have since expanded to become a vast array of mercenaries, Guntai members and more. They are dominated by two groups: the Guntai-members, and Ronin (浪人) [Wandering People], whose name was originally derogatory to refer to their non-daimyo status, but have since become the founders of the last remaining military orders in Nihon. The Ronin, unlike the Samurai, are not restricted to the Daimyo and Shonin alone, and are often peasants. They both retain the female-slanted gender ratio of the era of Tomoe Gozen.
 * Nomin-senshi(農民戦士) [Levies]: The bulk of any army, the Nomin-senshi are often just levies called from various communities. Unlike most armies, the Nomin-senshi are granted enourmous privileges compared to others; for example, they must be informed months beforehand of any war or mobilisation and community leaders and caretakers are always exempt from conscription. This limits the size of the Nomin-senshi, sizing it down drastically; still, the organisation of the Guntai ensures they maintain their dominance.
 * Kaigun(海軍) [Navy]: The naval forces of Nihon, the Kaigun are the last full professionalised force in all of East Asia. Suihei are treated as equivalent to Samurai (and they often work together), and Nihon benefits from having a naval capability bolstered by Austronesian and Southern knowledge. It operates in large fleets that effectively work place per place.
 * Suihei(水兵) [Sailors]: The Suihei are largely Shonin and Nomin, although almost none are conscripts; the obligation to Kaigun has over time become generational, and because of that, many willingly go back, especially considering the pragmatism of confirming their own position in their communities or ascending by class.


 * Weaponry
 * Guntai weaponry:
 * Naginata, primarily used to pierce ligher armor by shock troops
 * Katana, primarily used as brush-clearing and personal defence weapons by most troops, although other melee weapons are also common
 * Edo Tanegashima, muskets derived from the original Agoustan designs, crude but effective mass-fire forces for suppression
 * Longbows, primarily used for striking down priority targets or ballistae, otherwise used to maintain some measure of stealth
 * Kaigun weaponry:
 * Crossbows, used to deliver volleys of fire upon enemy ships
 * Longbows, used to deliver precision fire on enemy vessels
 * 10-inch cannons, used to strike holes in ships in the hopes of sinking them
 * Chii-tangeashima, effectively blunderbusses used for defence during boardings
 * Kaigun ships:
 * Kawataro-fune, large frigate-like ships with anywhere from 40-50 cannons at any time and a large metal shell-like covering on the top to defend against arrow fire. Move at 4-7 knots, must be towed to go through blue water
 * Hayai-fune, smaller vessels with Malay junk sails and almost no armaments, used primarily as landing craft and resupply craft. Move at 7-12 knots, can maneuver in blue water


 * Demography: Nihon is home to over half a dozen ethnic groups, with the principal amongst them being the Ainu and Yamato; on the fringes of the Shogunate, the Ryukyuan, Emishi, Nishikara and others. Religiously, the majority of people practice a mix of Shinto and Ainu animism; with minor inroads from Agoustan Catholicism and Confucian-style sects.
 * Population distribution: (to fill)
 * Current population estimate: 20,600,000
 * Ethnic distribution: While the concept of ethnicities has yet to come into existence, Nihon already knows of the existence of 'distinct peoples' - as vague as the current concept is, with general reference to language, cultural distinctions and the like. For the country, that means most are divided into two ethnic groups - the Yamato and the Ainu, and 'foreigners' - often referring to both the brother peoples of Choson and people from anywhere from Temasik to Manhattan.

Broad Overview

Nihon was quickly approaching its deathly issue: it was quickly losing people to fight. The Dutch were actually acquiescing to the Treaty provisions that Sayaka had arranged for, and it meant that they were simply moving on their own. Aceh performed a series of one-two punches on its own and conquered much the rest of the island of Sumatra, sans the Zhaowanese state at its southernmost end. Her arrangement for Nihon to maintain peace with Albion hadn't done that much good either, and peace was doing its toll on the economy - even with the invention of something marvelous.

A young boy by the name of Hanarjukai. Naranga, by name; son of Hanarawi, one of the people whom had first helped create that scientific theory she had so enjoyed. Now, he carried on his mother - and her much more famous friends' - legacy of scientific achievement, and in 1661, he brought to Nihon the first steam-powered water pump. Rapid and unsustainable corporate urbanisation had brought along challenges to survivability in major cities, and the pump quickly became an important part of the entire thing; under coercion, the young scientist and now head of the Miyamoto sword school joined the Teikoku Kagaku-bumon (帝国科学部門) (Imperial Science Division) and rose to prominence in Nihon. Despite explicitly rejecting the possiblity of his participation in politics, he became a large political figure; hopes for reform became focused down upon him.

The Teikoku-seifu itself had become seen as corrupt and overbloated. And for good reason, too; many of its members were heads of the companies that now effectively ran East Asia, and most took the time to have their companies specifically, now essentially extensions of their clans, take over operations at home. This caused a breakdown in efficiency; by design, Sayaka ensured that those companies would fight each other on a constant basis, barely keeping most fed through extreme competition for imperial bonds, but also ensuring that starvation broke out across the country. Nanbu, 24,000 in a single summer. Edo, the depopulation of entire villages. She understood well that the Seifu had outlived its usefulness, and the best political move she could make now would be to dissolve it.

On March 19th, 1662, Tokugawa Sayaka dissolved the Teikoku-seifu and established the Splendid Directory as the only legal government of Nihon. After making backdoor deals to ensure the Ainu clans' participation (mandating a few seats at the first Directory), as well as another deal recognising Ryukyu as a constituent Kingdom of the greater Empire, Sayaka ensured the protection of her position as Omona Teian-sha. It was at this time when news of trouble started trickling in from the South and the West once again.

The Chosonese were becoming far too organised for her to maintain control in the country, best demonstrated by the Rebellion of 1661. For one full summer, several dozen villages in the Itoi district essentially became a sovereign region all on its own, a rebellion the Shinsengumi not only failed to anticipate but failed to effectively quell. Over three thousand soldiers died to retake the region and it underscored that the Kingdom of Chosen had become too rebellious to allow even a semblance of autonomy anymore; in August of 1662, she used her emergency powers to immediately call the Kingdom's governess to her presence, immediately appointing Queen Hee-jin (now Hoseki, in Yamato) as the puppet matriarch of the region. She immediately seized all known printing presses from everywhere but in Fusan or Keijo, before issuing the December Declaration, referring to Choson as a 'critical part of the Empire', something which incensed Chosonese fighters further.

This also impacted much of Nihon's protectorates and vassals. Even those not under Nihonese protection tried to elevate women to at least ceremonial status, trying to curry favour in a way that the Nihonese no longer cared. The same clans that had pressured Hideyoshi to transform Choson were no longer in power, their power broken by the Satsuma General Company. And as its Director, Sayaka's only interest was extending her control over these affairs, and operating under the pretention of figures past became her M.O. Specifically: Tomoe Gozen. Not only did she further embrace her official moniker of the Second Coming of Amaterasu, she also re-implemented certain policies from Gozen's day - centralised state rationing, clan replacements and constant corruption takedowns. Sayaka, despite being as responsible for the situation as most, was becoming, unfortunately, not-unpopular.

Meanwhile, as the process - the Tokugawa Doctrine, as it became known - continued, it also led to another change. As not just the Queen of all Syonan but the Queen-matriarch of Nagasato, Okita Kiyoko decided to negotiate for a change with Sayaka. Allying with the Albionite representative to the Empire of Nihon, a certain Miriam MacDonald, she succeded at creating two distinct Kingdoms - the Kingdom of Nagasato, controlling the Southern islands of Syonan, and the Kingdom of Rusonto, controlling only OTL Luzon. Nagasato was afforded a distinct, autonomous status that allowed her to rebuild free of Kyoto's influence; Sayaka, only interested in Rusonto, allowed for this arrangement. The Satsuma General Company brought droves of Nihonese settlers from the overcrowded cities with the allure of being alloted land in the depopulated, 'wild jungles' of Syonan; this migration would permanently outpopulate the native Tagalog peoples, driving them out of the land that they had been party to for centuries.

And further South? Zhaowa. Formerly a grand trading Empire, it had contracted over the years due to domestic conflict and internal dissent. When Naamyeung pulled out of the region, abandoning its puppet monarchy, Nihon entered and restored the Zhaowanese Republic at the end of 1662; it began a protracted campaign of stabilising the local government, the Japanization process not exactly assisting in that. The immense economic instability Nihonese companies brought caused Sayaka to implement a moratorium on their entry while a friendly governor restored unitary stability in the region; she also recognised Zhaowa to be the sole, legitimate ruler of Papua New Guinea, completely invalidating most of its Indigenous peoples.

Quietly, at the end of 1664, a momentous death occurred, with all of this overshadowing it. Aptok-tu Usapte, who requested to be buried under her Yamatai name, passed away in prison of tuberculosis. With her passing, attended by Sayaka herself, it seemed that an age had fallen from Nihon. The dawn of Nihonese capitalism was over.

And the Nihonese Empire was quickly reaching its apex. And that apex was arriving in danger - in haste.

(events coming soon!)

Notable People


 * 1401-1473 [The Last Days of the Heian]:
 * Uchiha Tomoko (1387 - 1469) [deceased]: Head of the Yamatai faction during the Civil War and later Empress (1412-1469) under the name 'Uchiha no Ichiban'.
 * Mori Kyoko (1378 - 1473) [deceased]: One of the two heads of the Peoples' League during the Civil War, later Speaker of the National Convention unopposed until death. Spouse: Kido Mirio.
 * Hori Shizuku (1377 - 1456) [deceased]: The other head of the Peoples' League, a minor political player in Hiroshima after the war. Committed suicide under threat of involuntary execution.
 * Midoriya Kaitou (1383 - 1472) [deceased]: A minor player in the Civil War who gained popularity as a capable administrator. Birth name Zhang Kaisheng. Spouse: Midoriya Yuki.
 * Seishiro Kirie (1381 - 1463) [deceased]: One of the heads of the Outsiders who found herself alienated from her hometown in her pursuit of political unity. Became a remarkable writer, writing works such as The Use of War, a critical book on the purpose of strife. Spouse: Bakushi Yona.
 * Bakushi Yona (1380 - 1463) [deceased]: A Yamatai-Eskosian, best known for fighting for the political rights of the tiny Eskosian minority in Nihon. Became a political kingmaker after the war. Spouse: Seishiro Kirie.
 * Hu Jin-Yo (1376 - 1462) [deceased]: A Joseon-Yamatai, best known as a Joseonese reunificationist who participated in a minor role during the Civil War. Afterwards, provided much financial support to the Nihonese army advancing in Kyongsong before dying in a tragic accident.
 * Kanzaki Izuku (1394 - 1489) [deceased]: First Shogun then Taisho, well known for unconventional military tactics that precipitated asymmetrical warfare against enemy forces. Lived a relatively stunted life afterwards, travelled into Joseon and participated in its war against Kyongsong before travelling West in hopes of retracing the steps of Bulijin Khatun, a dream promptly foiled. Spouse: Yonekura Hiyori.
 * Nishimiya Asuka (1372 - 1479) [deceased]: Shogun after her predecessor Kanzaki was passed over due to ignoring the Empress, she became something of a despot and massively expanded the powers of the military as well as a small secret police under the direction of Empress Uchiha and Speaker Mori. Lived a quiet, nondescript life. Spouse: Ryuzoji Mirio.
 * 1474 - 1523 [The Brief Bakufu]
 * Uchiha Ryu (1467 - 1512) [deceased]: Adopted son of Empress Uchiha, originally groomed to be an apt successor of hers; he was soon convinced to take another path by the Regent. Overthrown in 1487.
 * Senjougahara Ryuko (1459 - 1489) [deceased]: Popular regent originally meant to become successor to Uchiha, eventually sidelined. With a massive amount of political power, however, she pulled strings to keep herself as Regent and manipulated the new Emperor as she wished. Murdered by an assassin.
 * Senmyaku Hyo-in (1436 - 1486) [deceased]: Powerful orator of the Dochaku who advocated for their betterment. Eventually sidelined due to the maneuvring of Empress Uchiha.
 * Yamagata Jiro (1461 - 1503) [deceased]: An upstart military man who became Shogun at the behest of the late Nishimiya Asuka. Soon evolved into a broadly popular political figure who usurped the throne from Uchiha Ryu, but his ambitions overcame him and he was deposed after attempting to re-consolidate power.
 * Kanzaki Noriko (1467 - 1560) [deceased]: Nationalist despot intent on restoring Nihon to political unitarism. She quickly exploited her way through the chaos of rapid decentralisation to insert herself as the effective leader of Nihon in just one and a half decades, essentially unchallenged. Engaged in the exploitation of Syonan via siphoning its gold reserves to beef those of Nihon, inspiring the local chaos in that nation. Eventually became the leader of the first effectively federal republic in human history, the 13-year Nihonese Federation, but was promptly killed by Oda Nobunaga during the Siege of Kyoto.
 * 1524 - 1601 [Sengoku Jidai]
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543) [deceased]: Minor yet influential political figure of the exiled main family of the Oda clan. Killed by mistake.
 * Takagi Anzu (1497 - 1572) [deceased]: Adopted daughter of Kanzaki Noriko, adept fighter, eventually, Nihonese Empress. Fled to Kansha. Died in 1572 peacefully.
 * Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1638) [deceased]: The vengeful daughter of Nobuhide; a furious orator and military genius. Eventually Shogun and de facto leader of Nihon, but she found herself sidelined by most and was promptly betrayed by many of the daimyo she had returned to power. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence. In reality, she escaped overseas to foreign shores, eventually travelling the world until she returned to Nihon with a single-minded goal of killing Hideyoshi. Her legacy would echo for ages.
 * Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - circa. 1582) [deceased]: A capable administrator and competent military leader, Kagetora found her calling towards managing and helping her territory more important than the distant calls of Nobunaga's ambitions. While Nihon descended into chaos her territory remained prosperous, and bucking the trends of the daimyo she personally adopted many of the measures designed by the late Prime Minister of Nihon. She finally left the country in 1574, tired of the turmoil precipitated by Nobunaga and the loss of most of her friends; making her way to Yolngu, where in defiance of the slavery laws practiced there, she mulled about freely and easily, attempting to find her old friends.
 * Kinoshita Tokichiro or Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1542 - 1637): Known as the conqueror, he was best described as an unorthodox and haplessly brutal man. Like Nobunaga, he practiced incredibly levels of brutality to finish campaigns and assert control, unlike Nobunaga, he had no qualms and no restraint about it whatsoever. As thus he became the new Shogun, and began to assert his control - becoming notable as one of the few openly homosexual members of the Nihonese elite, and a gay one at that. His later reign saw him preside over the large-scale expansion of the Nihonese Empire and the earliest days of Nihonese capitalism, as well as a degree of brutality for which he became reknowned, bringing about his demise. Spouse: Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - 1599): Granddaughter of Kanzaki Noriko, she came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Miyamoto Musashi or Tachibana no Musashi (1590 - 1641): Daughter and unwilling former Ojo, she was expelled from the Chrysanthemum Throne before she ever took place; but this gave way for a scientific, philosophical and intelligent woman to carve out her own mark in history. She helped to create the first versions of Scientific Theory as we know it as well as influential blueprints and inventions that would spread throughout most of the world East of India; and left behind a particular cultural and scientific legacy, not even mentioning her school of swordsmanship.


 * Kanzaki Family: From a minor clan in old Minamoto arose one of the defining political and military families of the early Bakufu. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Izuku (1394 - 1489): Grandfather of the entire family. Began the Kanzaki name by abandoning usage of the old Minamoto clan name and rising as first a potential Emperor before becoming one of the most prolific generals in Nihon's history. However, his attempts at glory were foiled and eventually he gave up, passing his life's work to a strange girl who might just get some use out of it.
 * Third Generation:
 * Setsuna (1482 - 1572): Another third generation'er; she went missing in Syonan before being discovered as Noriko travelled to it. Made head of the Nihonese Southern Company. Spouse: Souji Nakamura.
 * Noriko (1467 - 1560): Two generations later, a bored Shinto temple head turned trainer turned puppet master. Exploited the political weaknesses of the political system to make herself a de facto leader, first head of the Kanzaki Clan. Charted the family's rise to prominence and eventually the family's dominance for a few decades; began her ascent hoping to salvage the family name but eventually became a radical republican dead set on changing the world as we know it. Died at the hands of Oda Nobunaga.
 * Fifth Generation:
 * Miyako or Ritsuko (1548 - 1598): She came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Sixth Generation:
 * Hidetada (1588 - 1640): One of the longest-serving Shusho in Nihonese history, his own disaffection with the Imperial system as well as his personal experiences led him to become the first human rights activist in history; helping to rescue radicals and stalling the progress of Nihonese urbanism. He also helped to define the Shogunate's legal code, leaving an impactful mark on the cultural history of Nihon with his own perceived effeminacy and writings, despite him being in hiding for much of the last two decades of his life. Spouse: Ishikawa Mayuri.


 * Oda Family: A descendant of the Minamoto as well, the Oda rose up in opposition to the Kanzaki - and won out, going on to define much of the rest of Nihonese history. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543): His quest for revenge began the family's ascent to power. He finished none of it, trusting in a person that never returned his trust; yet, he would be remembered for what little he had done.
 * Second Generation:
 * Nobunaga (Hiyori) (1533 - circa. 1575): Arguably the family's most famous member, Nobunaga organised her, her siblings and others into a massive campaign against the experimental Nihonese Federation. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Nobuhiro (1534 - 1579): Nobunaga's less enthusiastic brother, who promptly decided to support the anti-Nobunaga coalition that cropped up against her. After her death, he was brutally skewered by the daimyo of Nanbu.
 * Nobuyuki (1534 - 1592): A quiet and unassuming member of his generation, Nobuyuki supported his sister but eventually fell out of the entire 'campaign' thing and went to manage the tiny family farm in Niigata. He, ironically, lived a far longer life than any of his family, dying peacefully in 1592.
 * Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - 1584): Nobunaga’s sister, although she never saw her as such for long. Forced into a ‘marriage’ with Kagetora’s young brother to solidify an alliance between the Uesugi and Oda, she was promptly pinged-ponged around into various marriages until being taken as a forcible concubine of Hideyoshi. She committed suicide in 1584.
 * Third Generation:
 * Shouko (1578 - ??): Daughter of Nobuhiro, one of his three children; she became administrator of the new Oda-chiku in Nagoya as one of the only qualified members of the Oda family remaining.

Akansa Confederacy | Confederation of the Twenty Tribes and Three Families

 * Government: The Akansa Confederacy is more of a loose collection of tribes than a true state. Forged via a convoluted mix of diplomacy and military strength, holding together a plethora of tribal groups, some being historical enemies, and held together simply by military fiat and a need for mutual protection from outside forces, this new polity is poised to upset the balance of power in the lower Mississippi – but only if it doesn’t crumble from within first.
 * The Twenty Tribes: The Twenty Tribes of the Akansa Confederacy, namely the Osage, Oto, Kansa, Missouri, Kiowa, Wichita, Kichai, Taovaya, Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Adai, Eyeish, Hasinai, Kadohadacho, Nacogdoche, Nadaco, Nanatsoho, Nasoni, Tula, and Ouachita peoples, are the constituent tribes of the Akansa Confederacy. Although mostly independent and self-governing, the Twenty Tribes do come together to meet at Great Councils, where differences between tribes are settled, and decisions of trade, war, and foreign relations are made.
 * The Great Council: Called at the start of each season, or in times of great emergency (i.e. war, famine, etc.), the Great Council is a meeting where the 20 Akansan tribes consult with each other to make decisions for the nation as a whole. Great Councils serve to mediate disputes between tribes, as well as declare war, regulate trade, and conduct diplomacy with other nations. All twenty tribes send 2 representatives to the Great Councils, which, added with one member of each of the Three Families, makes 43 total delegates at the Great Councils.
 * The Three Families: The Three Families represent two separate concepts: the three pre-existing tribal confederacies in the area, namely the Osage, Caddo, and Wichita Confederacies, as well as the lineages of the Three Adventurers; the three Albionite men who would pacify the lands of what would become Akansa and form the first state encompassing the entire region. The de facto rulers of the Akansa Confederacy, each of the Three Families hold substantial influence and clout over their respective tribal groups.
 * The Clintons (Osage Confederacy):
 * James Clinton (b. 1625; r. 1660-)
 * The Swifts (Wichita Confederacy):
 * Jason Swift (b. 1628; r. 1660-)
 * The Wallaces (Caddo Confederacy):
 * Jacob Wallace (b. 1627; r. 1660-)
 * Capital City: Exeter Meeting / Tiyá Sčénka [OTL Fayetteville, AR]
 * Economy: The Akansa Confederacy lies at the borders between two groups of people, two climates, and two ways of life. Located on the frontier between the sedentary mound-building cultures of the lower Mississippi and the nomadic hordes of the Great Plains, the lifestyle of the peoples of the Confederacy is a mix of both; the Osage, and to a lesser extent, the Wichita tribes, are nomadic hunter-gatherers, while the Caddoans live in small agricultural semi-sedentary villages. The Akansan economy is mostly undeveloped and self-contained, with little being imported or exported due to the nation’s distance from trade routes.
 * There is no true currency within the Akansa Confederacy, with most transactions carried out on the barter system.
 * Demographics:
 * Total Population: ~120,000
 * Exeter Meeting/Tiyá Sčénka: 1000
 * Ethnicities:
 * Caddoan: The furthest west of the mound-building Mississippian cultures, the Caddoans are the sole sedentary and agricultural group within the Akansa Confederacy. Once a proud civilization of their own right, their ancient cities now lie in ruins, lost to the sands of time. In the centuries following the decline of the Caddoan civilization, most of the Caddoan tribes have lived in small, sedentary and scattered villages, practicing subsistence agriculture. They are culturally similar to the Yoroni vassal states to the southeast.
 * ~41% of the population (~49,000 people)
 * Wichita: Closely related to the Caddoan tribes immediately to their east, the Wichita share similar languages, religions, and customs to their Caddoan brothers. However, while the Caddo are sedentary farmers, the Wichita are mostly nomadic. Being located in the western regions of the Akansa Confederacy, they are more in touch with the states of the Rocky Mountains. In particular, the Wichita enjoy good relations with the native peoples of the Cheyenne Confederacy, mainly due to their historical rivalry with the Navajo of Indetah and their Powhatan allies in Kemahana.
 * ~26% of the population (~31,000 people)
 * Siouan/Osage: Relative newcomers in the region, the Siouan population of the Akansa Confederacy is mainly made up of Dhegihan tribes who migrated from the Ohio River valley around a century ago. Siouan tribes make the majority of the population in the northern half of Akansa. The vast majority of Siouan groups within Akansa are part of the Osage Confederacy. They are almost exclusively nomadic, and are culturally closer to nearby Akecheta than to their Caddoan compatriots in the south.
 * ~30% of the population (~36,000 people)
 * Other: Small Pawnee and Comanche populations exist in the far north and west of Akansa territory. A smattering of traders and adventurers from the European colonies or from other native states also call the Akansa Confederacy home.
 * ~3% of the population (~4,000 people)
 * Religion:
 * Traditional Native Arcadian Religion: Although native religions within the Akansa Confederacy were not at all centralized, with many different rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs, varying by tribe and sometimes even within tribes, there are several commonalities to religion within this area. For example, all the Akansan tribes share a common belief in a single, all-encompassing Great Spirit (called Wakonda by the Siouan peoples of northern Akansa and Kadhi Háyuh by the Caddoan peoples of the south), as well as in priests that can communicate with the Great Spirit via a certain set of rituals.
 * ~98% of the population (~118,000 people)
 * Christianity/Other: Although the Akansa Confederacy is far from any European colonies, the odd missionary does stumble upon this land once in a while. The Christian population of the Akansa Confederacy is minuscule, and mostly concentrated in the far south or along the Arkansas River.
 * ~2% of the population (~2,000 people)
 * Military: As with most native states in Arcadia, the Akansa Confederacy does not have a standing army. Its warriors are not trained solely to be warriors; rather, they are mostly normal people, holding normal lives, who have a duty to fight during times of war.
 * During times of war, the Akansa Confederacy can mobilize 12,000 troops, the vast majority being cavalry, although some infantrymen do also exist.
 * Wars and Conflicts: N/A
 * Diplomacy:
 * Hadai, Nondaco, Naacee, Quigualtam, Sacchuma, Koasati: For too long have the Tunica elites of Pacaha oppressed your strong, independent, and mighty people! Join us in our struggle as allies and brothers, and you will be masters of your own lands!
 * Akecheta: Will you help us conquer the dastardly Yoroni Empire? You get to loot the Yoroni cities, and we’ll give you the Quapaw territories as additional payment.
 * Albion: As a nation ruled by 3 upstanding Albionite gentlemen, and whose native populace have been terrorized and cheated out of their wealth by Frog bastard “merchants”, we extend our hand of friendship to the Albionite Crown, offering an alliance and first preference for Albionite merchants in the lands of the Akansa Confederacy, provided the King of Albion graciously send us military aid by way of firearms and supplies for our future struggles with the despotic Yoroni.
 * Cheyenne Confederacy: We are both nations of both European and native origins; therefore, in this wild land, fraught with danger, we ought to be brothers. What say you to allowing trade between our two polities?

The Land Caught In Between [General Overview]

West of the Yoroni Empire, south of the Akecheta Agallate, and east of the Indetah Empire and the splinter states that formerly constituted the illustrious Kemahanan state, lies a land caught in between. Located in a transition zone between two biomes: too parched and infertile to be part of the lower Mississippi, yet too hilly and forested to be part of the Great Plains, this region of Arcadia has long been considered a frontier; a dividing line between the great mound-building empires of Cahokia and Yoroni and the horse lords of Akecheta, Dakhota, and Lakhota.

In the same vein as the Daevites of the steppes and the Narangga of the far East, this frontier, one that did not have a single name during the time in which these developments happened, but would later come to be known as Akansa, would birth one of the great empires of this time and region.

The early 17th century in Akansa would be known as a time of change and turmoil. Firstly, the geopolitical landscape of the lands surrounding them had completely and irrevocably changed. The Tunica, once a small tribe subject to a number of other powers, suddenly had expanded into the massive Yoroni Empire, dominating the moundbuilders of the Mississippi Valley. The lands to the west became mired in turmoil, with the establishment of the Cheyenne Confederacy and the fall of the long-standing Kemahanan Empire sending a massive shock throughout all of western Arcadia. To the north, the Siouan horse lords had begun agitating, raiding far to the south of their ancestral lands, and causing havoc and chaos wherever they went. Additionally, conflict reigned supreme within Akansa itself, with raiding of different tribes and clans in the area being but a fact of life. Diseases from European colonizers also ravaged the people of Akansa during this period, decimating the population and putting the final nail in the coffin for the already-declining Caddoan civilization.

With the lands around them caked in turmoil and violence, and their people decimated from disease, war, and frequent raids by foreign powers, it is no wonder that the people of Akansa began praying for a savior, a unifier, someone who could turn their broken and shattered people into a force to be reckoned with.

Their prayers were answered with three Albionite adventurers.

Born in the same small town in Devon, and having been close friends since early childhood, James Clinton, Jason Swift, and Jacob Wallace left the British Isles in 1646 for the promises of gold, riches, and glory the New World held. Originally owning a plantation in northwestern Catonzia, near the town of Naniaba, they were driven off their land and into the lands of the Yoroni Empire by a local slave revolt in 1650. Travelling across the region, doing odd jobs and selling merchandise to support themselves, they finally settled in the chaotic lands of Akansa after each falling in love and marrying native women: all three being the daughters of minor clan leaders in the area.

Deciding the only way to secure peace, quiet, and prosperity for themselves and their new families was to end the violence and bloodshed themselves, the three adventurers asserted themselves and their adopted clans as forces to be respected and feared. During the Great Pacification (1651-1660), Clinton, Swift, and Wallace would assert their dominance over the respective tribal groups they had married into, using diplomacy as well as sheer firepower to subjugate the warring tribes and clans and force them to lay down arms. By 1659, the hundreds of different factions within Akansa had coalesced down to the three overarching confederacies: the Osage, Wichita, and Caddo Confederacies, controlled by Clinton, Swift, and Wallace respectively. A year later, those three states had united into one: the Confederation of the Twenty Tribes and Three Families, or the Akansa Confederacy.

The Three Adventurers, as history would call those great Albionite men, had done what none other could before them: they had united the many disparate tribes and clans of Akansa into one single state. They had pacified this once-untameable frontier; they had civilized the land in between. However, their work was not done yet.

Firstly, the nascent Akansa Confederacy, although bowing to a single authority, was nowhere near united. Even though the old tribal divisions and clans were to send representatives to Tiyá Sčénka and to work and live alongside their former enemies, in many respects, the tribes and clans were still wholly independent. They were still able to govern themselves; their only true restriction was that they could no longer send their warriors to battle against their neighbor. Additionally, consolidating from within did not remove the threats from without. The Agallates to the north still raided semi-occasionally, and skirmishes along the eastern border between Akansa horsemen and Yoroni forces demanding tribute had become increasingly more common by the day. Much of the first few years of the Confederacy were spent simply statecrafting: setting up a system of government, drafting laws, mediating disputes between clans and tribes, and navigating the murky waters of foreign affairs.

Although still stumbling on its feet, the Three Adventurers had most definitely created a nation. And in time, it would grow to be an empire.

 NARRATIVE EVENTS COMING SOON 

Brethren of the Coast

 * Government: Pirate Confederacy

Captains:


 * Jacob Lucifer (1620-) (p. 1638-1661): The son of Hendrick Lucifer, trained by his father in pirating and fighting, he has also been trained as a commander by García. He became captain in 1638, with 18 years of age, becoming the most accomplished pirate of Tortuga so far, managing to capture even galleons with his smaller crew. He fell in love with Sally Brown in 1649, starting to compose a shanty for her. He went to the East in 1654, meeting many of the Salé privateers. His romance with Sally Brown became widely known. They both made a route to Salé and back passing through the northern lands of Vinland. They married in 1656, being the first traditional couple between the captains of the Brethren. He and his wife retired to the Dutch colony of Sint Maarten, seeing the Brethren was starting to fracture.
 * Moses Cohen Enriquez (1599-) (p.1622-1623) (p. 1638-1646) (p. 1662-): a Sephardic Jew raised in the Netherlands, he joined Pieter Ita’s plan to capture a Spanish island in the West Indies, helping with most of his crew to settle there in 1623. He then was recalled in 1629 to send him on an expedition to the East, in which he wrecked his ship in a shoal in Northern China. He participated in the Wu-Naranga war in 1633, personally killing the Wu general Lin, contributing to the destruction of Beijing and getting a fortune. With this fortune, Moses manages to go back to Europe, buying a brig and sailing to the Shattered Isles, trying to dock at Vieques but being chased off, then going to Sint Maarten to learn where the Brethren is now located, learning of the existence of the “Providence Island Company '' which he suspects to be a cover for the Brethren. He was soon confirmed in his belief, as he was welcomed by García in 1638. He took part in the capture of Tortuga in 1639. He then led an expedition into the Rio Grande, incited by his memories from China, and the promise he made to Doan just before his death. The expedition ended in an Indetah town being raided, with Moses not being able to do what Doan asked him. He retired as a wealthy man in 1646, founding a feminine male brothel in Tortuga, which became a hit among the pirate crews and the Poseidonists of the island. He started to court one of his “employees”, leaving him as somewhat of an heir to him. He started to mistreat his employees, getting the attention of Lucifer, who took over his business. Moses then joined l’Olonnais’ crew in 1662, returning to a pirate’s life again.
 * William Jackson (1608-) (p. 1639-1662): a former Albionite privateer, who joined the Brethren after the end of the League War. He is one of the few pirates in the Brethren to bring women as crewmembers.  He spearheaded and planned the Invasion of Jamaica for years, planning a capture of Amaico and then a three front invasion from the West, East and South. He took control of the central front, advancing to Amaico and capturing it with not many casualties. He went north from there, capturing some fine lands. The invasion and most of the Brethren became solely his responsibility after the death of Axe. He retired to Albion in 1662.
 * Sally Brown (1625-) (p.1649-1661): A half Carib woman, who had a rough life on British Montserrat, having to rob to live and making a small gang. She robbed the wrong person and was forced to escape on a sloop, ending up in Little Athens and becoming a member of the Brethren. She joined Lucifer on the trek to Salé, falling in love with him. They married at Socorro in 1653, being very publically married. She and her husband retired to the Dutch colony of Sint Maarten, seeing the Brethren was starting to fracture, buying property there.
 * Phillippe Bequel (1628-) (p. 1650-): Frenchman from La Rochelle, he went west after the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique, to join these famed privateers. He arrived on the island of Tortuga in 1650, becoming a minor pirate there. He started helping in the late Jamaican invasion. He joined le Picard in the raid of Chetumal.
 * Moïse Vauquelin (1626-) (p. 1651-): Another Frenchman, from Normandy who went to the Shattered Isles in 1651, inspired by the success of Bras-de-Fer. He started raiding the Yucatan and Lenca coasts. He joined le Picard in a raid on Chetumal
 * Roche Veracruzaan (1624-) (p. 1654-): A Dutch born pirate, who raided the coasts of Vera Cruz for some years, until finally joining the Brethren in 1654. He raided an Iberian galleon in 1657, which carried many riches, including some crates of vanilla, sugar and indigo. He raided many ships after that, not attacking any towns, but he amassed a fortune by raiding ships. In one particular raid on New Hispania, he roasted alive two Spanish farmers on wooden spits after they refused to hand over their pigs.
 * Vincenzo Alessandri (1630-1660) (p. 1655-1660): A Papal born pirate, he joined in 1655, seeking fortune in the West Indies. He was one of the more harsh pirates of the Brethren, enslaving people to sell to the Salé privateers more than any of the other members. He was hunted down and killed by a couple of spanish ships in 1660.
 * Thomas Freeman (1632-) (p. 1655-1664): An Albionite mutineer, who escaped to the Brethren in 1655 to escape authorities. He helped Myngs in the attacks on Koumena and Coropolis. His crew was one of the more gentle towards prisoners after those attacks. He joined Myngs’ raid of Marakáipo, retiring in 1664 to Albionite New Valcania, buying a sizable plantation and staying there
 * Christopher Myngs † (1622-) (p. 1655-): An Albionite serving as a Dutch Privateer, Myngs had been a privateer since 1648 back in Europe, going to the West indies after his letter of marque expired, becoming technically a pirate. He planned raids which he completed in 1658, when himself, Freeman and Mansvelt attacked the cities of Coropolis and Koumana. Myngs then started planning an attack on the city of Dysia in 1659. He dismissed that plan, then planning a raid on Marakáipo in which he died in, being hit by a cannonball from one of the Iberian ships.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye (1634-) (p. 1656-): A french girl, who became one of the most important members of the Brethren, who joined in 1656, having bought her ship when disguised as a man, with wealth from sources unknown. She revealed her true identity when sailing to the West Indies, asking her crew to vote on joining the Brethren, which went well. She designed a black flag, with herself in high class dressing, holding hands with Death, with a heart bleeding on the center. After she arrived at Tortuga, she joined the Brethren as usual. She managed to become the most successful captain on the Brethren, gaining the nickname “Back From the Dead Red” after a raid where she was thought to have been killed, where she took her striking, red hair out, after which she won the boarding. She founded the pirate territory of Los Lagartos, where she established her headquarters in 1659. She helped in the raids down the Magdalena River in 1661, falling in love with Charlotte de Berry.
 * Anne Dieu-le-Veut (1635-) (p. 1658-): Another frenchwoman, who joined the Brethren in 1658, having never hidden her sex. She adopted Delahaye’s flag, inspired by her incredible achievements. She fell in love with de Graaf, after sailing with him and staying in Los Lagartos. She also helped in the raids of Baran’kígia and Magdalena, which were successful enough to inspire Myngs to do his own massive raid
 * Edward Mansvelt  (1620-) (p. 1658-): An Albionite man, who had a privateering license from 1646. He joined the Brethren in 1658 after he accidentally killed some of his own countrymen. He had a very good ability to lead, having a bright future ahead of him in the Brethren. He joined Myngs in the raid of Marakáipo in which he led most of the forces after the death of Myngs, proving his worth by not losing many pirates in the batttle against the 500 strong town garrison
 * Daniel Johnson † (1634-1664) (p. 1659-1664): An Albionite, who after a battle with the Spaniards in 1654, was captured and forced to work in a plantation in New Hispania. He managed to escape from there, capturing a ship and joining the Brethren in 1659. He was followed by a fleet of four brigs off the coast of Taxacola in 1664, getting boarded and killed after 17 sword cuts, at a mere 30 years of age.
 * Laurens Prins (1631-) (p. 1659-): A Dutchman, he joined the Brethren in 1659 with plans to attack a town in the Bacata Zone. He made a couple big raids in the year, capturing a galleon and a frigate. The attack came into form in 1661, with all of the female pirates accompanying him, with a force of four ships, with which they attacked the towns of Baran’kigia and Magdalena in Antioquía
 * Francois l’Olonnais (1631-) (p. 1660-): A Frenchman, who joined in 1660. He was known as the “Cannibal of the Brethren” as he usually would torture and kill Iberians in unthinkable ways, sometimes even eating parts of their bodies. He took part in the raid of Marakáimpo in 1663, having the most savage crew on the Brethren. Moses Cohen Enriquez joined his crew, becoming a savage fighter, even in his old age. He also once raided a galleon, taking it peacefully and then scuttling it, refusing to take any survivors.
 * Charlotte de Berry (1636-) (p. 1661-): A Frenchwoman, which joined in the Year of Our Lord 1661, inspired by Delahaye. She and Delahaye fell in love during the voyage and attack of the towns in Antioquía. They both became the most important pirates on Los Lagartos.
 * Bernard Claesen Speirdyke (1634-) (p. 1661-): A Dutchman who joined secretly in 1661, being more of a smuggler than a pirate, selling the Brethren’s goods to merchants all around the New World.
 * Jacob Fackman (1629-) (p. 1662-): An Albionite man, who joined the Brethren in 1662 after a mutiny. His crew joined the raid on Marakáipo, getting heavy losses.
 * David Maarten (1622-) (p. 1663-): A Dutchman who joined the Brethren in 1663, being a somewhat successful pirate, capturing a galleon filled with riches, and raidin many ships in the New Hispania area
 * Pierre le Picard (1638-) (p. 1663-): A Frenchman, who was a close friend of l’Olonnais that joined in 1663, making an expedition to Chetumal and raiding it accompanied by Vauquelin and Bequel, in which they took many riches.
 * Jacques Tavernier (1625-) (p. 1663-): Another Frenchman who came in 1663 and raided many ships off of the coasts of Rea, Taxacola and Nueva Grenada.
 * Isaac Rochussen (1631-) (p. 1664-): A dutchman who captured his ship with a way smaller one, then deciding to raid the Taxacolan coast
 * Nicholas van Hoorn (1635-) (p. 1664-): Another Dutch pirate, who joined in 1664, befriending de Graaf quickly and planning more raids. He operated mostly on Taxacola, the Maya Territory and New Hispania.
 * Daniel Montbars (1645-) (p. 1664-): Another brutal Frenchman, who offered no quarter to Iberians, killing every single one if possible, as he hated the Iberians for killing his old crew. He actually was very kind to non Iberians that he captured, mostly being natives, which he usually asked to join on to his crew.

Insurance: the Brethren offers insurance to all of its pirates, with different payouts for different injuries


 * Leg: 300 pieces of eight
 * Right Hand: 200 pieces of eight
 * Right Arm: 400 pieces of eight
 * Left Hand: 100 pieces of eight
 * Left Arm: 200 pieces of eight
 * Eyes: 70 pieces of eight per piece
 * Ear: 20 pieces of eight
 * Fingers: 40 pieces of eight, 50 if the thumb is lost
 * Death: 1000 pieces of eight
 * Cash Payouts: during non peaceful boarding some actions are paid for, including scuttling captured ships, destroying enemy flags and managing to kill enemy captains.

Territories:


 * Little Athens (1632-)


 * Description: Little Athens is an island near New Hispania, named after the Greek kingdom on the island, it was founded by Captain Polycrates, and it functioned as the de facto headquarters of the Brethren until 1640
 * Population: 500


 * Tortuga (1639-)


 * Description: A decently sized island, captured by the Brethren in 1639, after the return of Axe. It is lightly populated, with only about 70 people living in it. The island is a prime buccaneering spot, due to its proximity to New Hispania
 * Population: 750


 * Bermuda (1642-)


 * Description: A mid sized island east of Eldia, which was colonized in 1642 to get a careening stop for PIC ships that trade to Europe and Africa. After the Secession of the PIC Bermuda’s economy started to decline, with few pirates even using it as their base
 * Population: 250


 * Los Lagartos (1659-)


 * Description: An island as big as Tortuga west of New Hispania, which is mostly inhabited by Taínos, which was captured by Delahaye, Prins and Dieu-le-Velt
 * Population: 400

Navy: 20 ships totaling 387 guns and 1062 crewmembers


 * Frigates: A very common type of ship in the world, boasting better swiftness and maneuverability than galleons, while also being able to match them in firepower. They use the fully rigged ship sail plan. These are common on the Albionite and Dutch navies, with the Brethren having some. They can carry over 40 cannons easily, but ours are usually not of that size.


 * Swansea, frigate, 28+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain William Jackson
 *  Marston Moor , frigate 28+6 guns and 90 crewmembers, captain Cristopher Myngs
 * Cagway, frigate 16 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Jacob Fackman
 * De Goulden Valk, frigate 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Isaac Rochussen


 * Galleons: Heavy two decker ships that are starting to fall out of use due to their obsoleteness. They are cargo ships which are less fast than frigates and less cargo capable than flutes, but they are still common among the Iberian navies. These ships can carry from 20 to a rumored 80 cannons, which are rumoured to be the cannon count of an Agoustan super ship launched over a century ago.


 * Royal, galleon 24+6 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain Edward Mansvelt
 * La Dame Noire, galleon 32+6 guns and 140 crewmembers , captain François l’Olonnais


 * Flutes: Dutch-built cargo ships, which can be outfitted with quite a few guns for a great effect. These ships have three masts, in a usual fully rigged style. they carry from 10 to 30 guns and can carry much more cargo than a usual frigate of the same size.


 * Amsterdam Meid, flute, 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Laurens Prins


 * Barques: A triple or quadruple masted ship that has the two front masts fully rigged, while the aft masts have gaff sails. They are usually used as mid sized cargo ships, but frigates are usually better


 * Charity, barque, 16+5 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain David Maarten


 * Xebecs: Ships imported from the Barbary Coast, which have two or three lateen sail masts as well as oars, which are manned by paid sailors. They are faster than usual brigs, but they cannot have stuns’ls. These usually carry over 16 guns, with the biggest one reported having 30.


 *  Sol d’Oro , xebec, 18+4 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain Vincenzo Alessandri


 * Brigs: The main ship used by the Brethren, a two mast ship that uses mains’ls mostly, with a gaff sail in the aft side mast. Many of the Brethren’s captains use stuns’ls with their ships, effectively increasing the ship’s swiftness by a large margin. These ships are usually outfitted with over 14 cannons, with the bigger ones going all the way to 26.


 * Atlantis , brig 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Daniel Johnson
 * Marquis, brig 16 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Charlotte de Berry
 * Picardie, brig 14+4 guns and 46 crewmembers, captain Pierre le Picard
 * L’Amazon, brig 20+2 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Daniel Montbars


 * Ketches: Double masted ships, which use only gaff sails usually, as well as mains’ls in rarer cases. These are a middle point between sloops/cutters and brigs, usually having between 10 and 18 guns for the non merchant versions


 * Le Havre, ketch 10+2 guns and 34 crewmembers, captain Moïse Vauquelin
 * Veracruz, ketch 16+4 guns and 50 cremembers, captain Roche Veracruzaan
 * Castries, ketch 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Jacquette Delahaye
 * Mary and Jane, ketch 14+4 guns and 42 crewmembers, captain Bernard Claesen Speirdyke
 * Saint Nicholas, ketch 12+2 guns and 36 crewmembers, captain Nicholas van Hoorn


 * Cutters: Single masted ships, which are similar to sloops, but use one or two mains’ls in that mast as well as the jibs. This ship is usually called sloop by some, but the line is blurry, with it being technically correct to call them sloops.


 * Aventurier, cutter 6+4 guns and 26 crewmembers, captain Phillipe Bequel
 *  Anne , cutter 10+4 guns and 34 crewmen, captain Thomas Freeman
 * Le Perle, cutter 8+4 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Jacques Tavernier


 * Sloops: Ships with only one mast, which do not have a bowsprit, as well as a gaff sail, and from one to three jibs as well. These ships are small in size, not being able to carry many tons of cargo. This ship is commonly confused with cutters.


 * Consciencia, sloop 6+4 guns and 28 crewmembers, captain Roche Veracruzano
 * Marianne, sloop 8+2 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Dieu-le-Velt

Economy: The Brethren’s economy relies mostly on piracy, along with buccaneering, plantations and fishing.


 * Buccaneering: 10 tons of pig hunted and sold with different preparations.
 * Piracy: 60 ships captured, mostly Iberian
 * Fishing: around all the territories of the Brethren, many fishing boats are deployed, catching many fish for local consumption
 * Plantations: there are major sugar plantations on Rattan and Providence, as well as a mid sized vanilla plantation on Little Athens.
 * around 50 sugar crates are produced by the plantations a year, along with around 20 of vanilla

New Arrivals


 * Francois l’Olonnais (1660): a Frenchman who came to the Shattered Isles with his 32+6 gun galleon La Dame Noire
 * Charlotte de Berry (1661): a French woman, who joined the Brethren in 1661, after killing her captain during a mutiny. She joined with her 16 gun brig Marquis
 * Bernard Claesen Speirdyke (1661): a Dutchman who joined the Brethren in 1661 with his 14+4 gun ketch Mary and Jane
 * Jacob Fackman (1662): a former member of Butler’s crew, he had a 16 gun frigate made in the shipyard on Tortuga in 1661, named Cagway
 * David Maarten (1663): a Dutchman, who joined the Brethren in 1663 with his 16+5 gun barque Charity
 * Pierre le Picard (1663): another Frenchman, who joined the Brethren with his 14+4 gun brig Picardie
 * Jacques Tavernier (1663): yet another Frenchman, who joined the Brethren in 1663 with his 8+4 gun cutter Le Perle
 * Isaac Rochussen (1664): a Dutchman, he joined the Brethren in 1664 with his 20+4 gun frigate De Goulden Valk
 * Nicholas van Hoorn (1664): another Dutchman, who joined in 1664 with his 12+2 gun ketch Saint Nicholas, quickly befriending de Graaf.
 * Daniel Montbars (1664): yet another Frenchman, who like l’Olonnais was very brutal, but he directed it to the Iberians, as one of them killed his uncle. He joined in 1664 with his 20+2 gun brig L’Amazon

Events


 * Raids on Antioquía (1661-): Laurens Prins leaves Los Lagartos for Antioquía accompanied by his partner Anne Dieu-le-Veut, as well as the couple of Jacquotte Delahaye and Charlotte de Berry, sailing south, capturing a couple pris on the way and then raiding the town of Baran’kígia, then sailing upriver and raiding the town of Magdalena. Then they raided Baran’kígia again when going back and then they sailed to Los Lagartos again.
 * Myngs’ Raids (Part 2) (1663-): Christopher Myngs plans more raids, inviting all the members of the Brethren that were on Tortuga. The first raid was gonna be Marakaipo, but when they arrived and disembarked, they were surprised by a garrison of 500 Iberians. Many pirates, including Myngs died in the ensuing battle, with Mansvelt taking control and managing to defeat them. The raid got 200k pieces of eight from ransoming the city and robbing its valuables.

The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)

 * Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord (BubbleRocket1#8016)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy


 * Drakes:
 * Luke III (M, b. 1628 - ) (R: 1658 - )
 * Brother: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Sister: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Important People:
 * King Family
 * Jocelyn King (F, b. 16?? - )
 * Fortuna King (F, b. 1609 - )

Economy: The economy of British Isles consists of trade and commerce of a variety of materials. The primary export products of the UK are fish, wool, cloth, and a variety of vegetables.

Main Religion: Christianity

Cities and Demographics:


 * Population:  9.982 million
 * British Mainland: 7.601 million
 * British Settlers: 47,034
 * Elysian Population: 25,365
 * Jamestown: 721
 * Fort Elysia: 385
 * Fort Epheria: 473
 * Greensfort: 467
 * New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 6,127
 * Catonzia: 22,492
 * HALO Settlement: 4,021
 * Vinland Local Population: 1,593 thousand external subjects
 * Elysian Local Population: 535 thousand external subjects
 * Includes the population of the states of Elysia and Laconia
 * Elysia: 392k
 * Laconia: 87k
 * Deasaheim: 53k
 * Becomes “Second-rate” citizens of the Empire in 1616
 * Just a fancy loophole that allows the population to be recruited into the army, though will have long-lasting effects as time progresses
 * Catonzia Local Population: 405 thousand external subjects
 * British Bahamas:: Roughly 2,000 overall (for both island chains in the area)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito: 2,870
 * Port Kingpin: 1,335
 * Albish Galapagos: 742
 * Albish Falklands: 806
 * British Bahamas: 81,450
 * British Shattered isles: 5,052
 * British Belize: 305


 * Cities
 * Brighton: A newer shipbuilding facility located on the English Channel.
 * Birmingham: A quiet town that is the location of McCarthy Arms Company, one of, if not, the oldest firearms companies to date.
 * Calais: One of the few French towns still owned by the British, it is a prosperous city that is one of the most important trading hubs in the North Sea.
 * Dover: Main location of the British navy. While elements of the navy are located throughout the territory, the headquarters of the navy are located here. In addition, Dover is the main trading hub between it and Caen.
 * Dublin: Main hub of Ireland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * Elysiapolis: The capital of the Elysian province, as well as the main headquarters for the BFG Company.
 * Fort Avalon: An old British camp located on a Vinland island. Though mostly uninhabited, it is staffed by a skeleton crew, in the event of a British ship stranding itself on the Vinland island.
 * Gibraltar: An important town the British claimed in the League Wars. Essentially give them control of who can and cannot leave the Mediterranan, though the British generally let anyone pass, not wishing to piss anyone off.
 * Glaemchester: A British town north of London, this city is known to house various wealthy nobles, with some of the finest tapestries being produced here.
 * Glasgow: Main hub of Scotland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * London: The capital of England, and location of the throne.
 * New London: The location of the British East Indian Company’s base-of-operations in India. Population primarily of locals, though as time progresses, more European influence seeps into the town.
 * Portsmouth: The location of the first drydocks in history, which became the founding of various legendary ships of the Royal Navy
 * York: Main center of England’s eastern fishing company. Also where a bulk of British trading companies are located, evident from the various merchant caravels present there.
 * Colonial Forts/Towns
 * Cape Town (South Africa)
 * Fort Avalon (Vestkyst-Vinland)
 * Fort Akan (Africa)
 * Fort Dolphin (Africa - Matagaskar)
 * Fort Epheria (Elysia)
 * Fort Elysia (Elysia)
 * Fort Galatoi (Galatoi, Africa)
 * Fort Infinity (Amekrogu)
 * Fort Kingpin (Yolngu)
 * Port Stanley (Falklands)
 * Portsmith (Galapagos)
 * Jamestown (Elysia)
 * New Glaemchester (Vinland)
 * New London (India) (Known as Diu to India)

Wars and Conflicts


 * North America: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity
 * Though it should be said that some companies add in the risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter, though others are far more friendly with their actions.
 * Rise of the Witch Hunters: The idea of witches begins to spread throughout the north of British Arcadia, where people begin to become paranoid that members of the various communities are witches.
 * It’s only a matter of time before these fears blossom into something scary.
 * The War in the Furnace: Due to war essentially breaking out against Amekrogu, the HALO company reaches out to the British mainland for assistance. Hearing their plea for help, the British send marines to the area, but initially run into problems. Even with their training for dealing with unorthodox tactics, the British still suffer heavy casualties, though mostly due to the region than anything else. (More info below)

Armed Forces


 * Total: 280,266 Manpower (3.9% of population)
 * British Royal Army Corps
 * Total: 159,295
 * British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
 * Marksman Infantry: 15,050
 * Light Cavalry: 5,250
 * Heavy Cavalry: 3,050
 * Field Artillerymen: 5,634
 * Field cannons: 1,378
 * Logistical Support: 23,000
 * British Arcadian Force: (In Arcadia)
 * Catonzia Garrison
 * Marksman Infantry: 7,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 7,000
 * Catonzian Musketeers: 8,260
 * Field Artillerymen: 1,000
 * Field cannons: 500
 * Logistical Support: 3,500
 * Elysian Garrison
 * Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
 * Marksman Infantry: 10,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Elysian Cavalry: 300
 * Heavy Cavalry: 350
 * Bow Cavalry: 300
 * Field Artillerymen: 501
 * Field cannons: 167
 * Logistical Support: 7,000
 * British Vinland
 * Marksman Infantry: 6,000
 * Field Artillerymen: 344
 * Field cannons: 100
 * British Gibraltar:
 * Marksman Infantry: 30,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Field Artillerymen: 464
 * Field cannons: 142
 * Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,859
 * These are Britain’s elite forces. A rebirthed version sprouting from Artoria’s original group of holy knights, this force has never lost a battle, and has unwavering loyalty to the crown and the Order of the Roundtable, willing to fight to the death for the survival of the British Isles.
 * While most are able to fight, members of the Roundtable are encouraged to branch out into their own craft, such as pottery and sheepherding, with the idea that everyone should act like a Roundtable Knight and give their all into both their craft and their country.
 * The only way to become a Roundtable Knight is to be selected by an existing member of the group. Most knights tend to make apprentices out of those they recruit to the Roundtable, and generally, no one usually complains when a Roundtable Knight selects someone to join the ranks of the Roundtables. Depending on the country/chapter, one can also be appointed to the Roundtable by the crown.
 * In 1527, three factions were formed within the Roundtables
 * The Crimson Sun
 * The Azure Moon
 * The White Orchids
 * Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
 * With the victory of the Crimson Sun at the end of the conflict, things have settled down.
 * Modernization of 1602: Reforms the Roundtable Knights to act as elite units within the Army, as well as guards for Royalty.
 * In 1615, the London Guard is formed, to both protect the Royal Family, Parliament, and the citizens of the city as a police force, though will prioritize the protection of government personnel and property than that of the citizen
 * Notable (Living) Members:
 * The Drake Family
 * Sir Oliver Cromwell
 * British Merchant Arms Company:
 * An organization owned by the British government that was established to help veterans from the League Wars slowly assimilate back into civilian life while giving them the opportunity to see the world.
 * Mainly employed by the British Merchant Companies to secure their gains and the likes.
 * Personnel: 21,500
 * British Mainland: 17,000
 * Eldia: 2,000
 * Amekrogu: 1,000
 * British Yolngu: 1,500
 * British Royal Navy Corps:
 * Personnel: 23,122 (combined between both fleets)
 * Naval Vessels:
 * HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)
 * The largest ship in the Royal Navy and the pride of the fleet, though it becomes quickly apparent that the 102-gun warship is filled with flaws in its design.
 * Victory-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Victory
 * 50-gun warships designed to breakthrough enemy formations, and is the largest ship in the British arsenal until 1637
 * Ember-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Ember
 * 45-gun warships, obsolete by the 1600's
 * Only the HMS Ember is kept for training purposes, as a permanent drydock is built for her.
 * Glaemchester-class Second-rate Frigate: 10
 * Essentially a Swallow-class Interceptor, but built to stand up to combat against other ships of its size.
 * 42-gun Frigate that’s cheaper to maintain than the Victory-class while stronger than the Third-rates
 * Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 15
 * Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
 * 40-gun frigates that sacrifice durability in return for speed (for their size)
 * Phoenix-class Third-rate Frigate: 25
 * 32-gun frigates that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * The replacement for the Cabigail-class Carrack, with a hull design based on the Victory-class
 * Cabigail-class Third-rate Carrack: 36
 * 30-gun caravels that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels: 5
 * Lightly armed frigates around the same size as the Ember-class First-rate frigates designed to carry both marines and Vinland longboats for use in various operations, such as supporting fleets in areas where the large size of the British vessels are a hindrance, as well as serving as landing craft for said marines onboard.
 * Capacity: 16 Vinland longboats (12 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 480
 * Spyder-class Carrier Caravel: 8
 * Lightly armed caravels retrofitted to carry eight Vinland longboats within for use in narrower areas, where the caravels and galleons would have issues navigating
 * Capacity: 12 Vinland longboats (8 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 400
 * London-class Third-rate British Carrack: 4
 * Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
 * Yellowfin-class Fourth-rate Interceptor: 3
 * A 28-gun interceptor based off of designs found in Northern Africa. Has the same firepower as other frigates of its size while being much faster.
 * Phoenix-class Fourth-rate Frigate: 24
 * A 24-gun ship that’s smaller than the usual capital ships found in the fleet. Mainly used in distant areas, such as Yolngu and India.
 * Olive-class Fourth-rate Multi-purpose Frigate: 100
 * The replacement for the Dove-class Dual-purpose Merchant Caravels. While being around the same size as the Dove’s, the internal design of the ship is improved, allowing for more cargo to be stored within.
 * Mainly given to British merchants for their merchant fleets, though still kept on record in British documents to bloat the numbers.
 * Bombardier-class Brigs: 63
 * Small 18-gun ships smaller than even the old carracks. Due to their price, the British can afford to purchase a lot of Brigs in order to leave squadrons of them at various naval ports around the globe.
 * Abalone-class Sloops: 31
 * Small multi-role 12-gun ships meant to fill roles that can’t be easily filled with the larger Brigs
 * Ketone-class Ketch: 6
 * A ketch around the size of the Abalone-class sloops designed specifically for ship-to-ground combat. Armed primarily with mortars and light cannons for self-defense.
 * Vinland Longboats: (depends on the number of carriers)
 * Small vessels that can be deployed in regions to support larger ships from carrier vessels with their smaller cannons and enhanced mobility.
 * Armed with two 2-pounder MAC Cannons
 * British Royal Marine Corps:
 * A branch of both the Army and Navy, consisting of units who are trained in unorthodox tactics to bring around victory.
 * Special Programs:
 * SPARTAN Program: In addition, a program is opened up for the select Marines in 1616 to become elite troops within a program for SPecialized Armed forces for Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Neutralizing Operations, or SPARTAN Ops for short.
 * Those within the unit are known as SPARTANS, and are pulled from both the Marines and Roundtable Knights
 * Often would be given experimental weapons for field testing
 * These units are the penultimate guerilla troop within the British ranks, primarily acting in operations deep behind enemy lines, though can also fight alongside normal troops when necessary
 * These troops provide a large morale boost to allied units in their vicinity as their infamy spreads
 * Personnel: 44,200
 * Multi-Purpose Shock Marines (MPSM): 42,400
 * Mainland Britain: 16,900
 * Gibraltar: 10,000
 * Arcadia: 3,500
 * 500 Elysian MPSM
 * Amekrogu: 12,000
 * SPARTANS: 350
 * Mainland Britain: 275
 * Elysia: 25
 * Amekrogu: 50
 * Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry (SSLC): 4,050
 * Mainland Britain: 3,050
 * Gibraltar: 500
 * Arcadia: 500
 * Light Artillery Pieces: 3,260
 * Mainland Britain: 3,000
 * Gibraltar: 200
 * Arcadia: 0
 * Amekrogu: 60

Notable Companies

McCarthy Arms Company (MAC): (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)

Arms Race: Due to the creation of flintlock rifles in France, MAC enters into an arms race with their French counterparts, leading to rapid advancements in the creation of both rifles and cannons.


 * In 1610, they created a flintlock rifle using various components from French flintlocks. This rifle (and its various modifications) became the main firearm of the British Military in the League Wars and other conflicts in the early 1600’s.

Produced models:

FL1610 “Wasp MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1610)


 * The first rifle in the series of rifles made in response to “Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault” and their flintlock rifle.
 * Hastily made, the rifle has various issues, and has a higher-than-usual casualty rate among those who use it due to the tendency for the rifle’s barrel to implode.
 * Due to this reputation, the rifle was given an additional nickname: “Barrel of Surprises”

FL1610E1 “Wasp MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1611)


 * A modified L1610 that doesn't implode (more than most rifles of the era).

FL1610E2 “Wasp MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1612)


 * The version of the rifle that was used by the British Military when they joined the League Wars the same year.
 * This rifle features a slightly redesigned barrel, slightly increasing the range and improving the reliability of the rifle even more.

FL1610E3 “Wasp MkIV” Flintlock Rifle (1614)


 * Essentially the Wasp MkIII, but its components are simplified a bit, allowing for easier production.

FL1616 “Honey MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1616)


 * A modified version of the Wasp MkIV for use in hunting.
 * Essentially a simplified version of the Wasp MkIV for commercial purchase
 * Also becomes the model of rifle that was exported to allies during the League Wars

FL1610E4 “Wasp MkV” Flintlock Rifle (1619)


 * A version of the Wasp MkIV that is made from Yolngu steel, giving the rifle more durability

FL1616E1 “Honey MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1621)


 * An improved version of the Honey MkI, taking feedback from its users when making said improvements.

FL1625 “Hornet MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1625)


 * The successor to the Wasp series of rifles, featuring a slightly simplified design for the firing mechanism, allowing for easier construction of the rifle, though early versions of the rifle has issues due to kinks that weren’t figured out (though not as bad as was seen on the first Wasp rifles)

FL1625E1 “Hornet MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1626)


 * Sent into the field in late 1626, the rifle fixes the issues seen in the Hornet MkI.

FL1616E2 “Honey MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1627)


 * An improvement over the Honey MkII that features some improvements that were seen on the Hornet-series of rifles.

FL1625E2 “Hornet MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1632)


 * An improved version of the Hornet MkII, and is the primary rifle used by the BMAC Company in its early years.

FL1636 “Hornet 2 MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1636)


 * Originally just a simple upgrade, the Hornet 2 Rifle had so many improvements made to it that the company reclassified it as its own series of rifles.
 * Included in the many changes made is the narrower barrel. Though the bullets are smaller, due to a smaller round being used, the bullets are faster, have longer ranges, slightly faster reload, and are marginally more accurate than the original version of the Hornet.
 * Though the rifle doesn’t have as good of a stopping power, its improvements arguably offset this weakness.

FL1636E1 “Hornet 2 MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1642)


 * Modifications related to its reliability in hot, humid regions are added to the rifle.
 * In addition, this is the first rifle (used by the British) that was able to mount a bayonet.

XRS1652 “Thunderer” Experimental Revolving Sidearm (1652)


 * An experimental 3-shot revolver produced in extremely few quantities (around 56 or so)
 * The idea is for rounds to be pre-loaded into the revolving barrel of the pistol, which is locked in place by three pins when firing. Once a bullet is expended, the user delaches the pins and manually rotates the barrel before locking it back in place. This process is tedious and doesn’t give the gun that much of an advantage over normal conventional pistols on account of the cumbersome barrel, in addition to the pistol’s unreliability (even by standards of the time)

FL1656 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1656)


 * The third version of the Hornet rifle, which takes the FL1636E1 model of rifle and made the rifle easier to produce. Still features the capability for using a bayonet that is secured under the barrel of the rifle from the FL1636E1.

FL1656-EXP “Honey 2” Flintlock Rifle (1657)


 * Essentially an FL1636E1 rifle that is cailbered in the conventional ammo size used by most nations. Also features the capability for usage of a plug bayonet.
 * Since both this rifle and the “Hornet 3” rifle have the same catalog name, the “Honey 2” was given the -EXP notation at the end to distinguish it as the export rifle.

FS1659 “Thunderer 2” Flintlock Sidearm (1659)


 * A non-revolver version of the XRS1652 rifle. This sidearm is provided both to officers and cavalry units in the military and only in small numbers.

MAC Cannons: MAC continues to produce MAC Cannons (McCarthy Arms in a variety of calibers and sizes, ranging from small 6 pound field cannons to 32 pound naval cannons. At least in Britain, McCarthy Industries has the monopoly on the firearms industry.

Produced models:

2-pounder “snub-nose” MAC Cannon (1608)


 * Created for usage on Vinland longboats, more to fire on smaller vessels than anything else
 * Can be argued that rifles would be more effective than these small peashooters, but the extra punch is helpful

6-pounder medium field MAC Cannon (1578)


 * The main cannon used by both the British Royal Army and Marine Corps.
 * Also used on British Carrier Vessels

9-pounder “tickler” MAC Cannon


 * The lightest cannon used on British Warships (excluding Carriers)

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1588)


 * The mainstay cannon of British Warships

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1641)


 * An updated version of the 16-pounder cannon.

32-pounder “long-nose” MAC Cannon (1603)


 * Heaviest cannon that the British uses. Reserved for the largest of British vessels.

Research and Development


 * Hwacha!: A weapon imported from Japan, the British take one of the two Hwachas purchased from the Toyotomi Shogunate and reverse-engineer it, as they look into reducing the cost of production while they use the other for testing.
 * Tests show that the weapon takes a long time to reload, but due to the sound it makes and the area of effect, it could be a great weapon to use against cavalry, though effective enough against infantry.
 * It should be noted that the weapon has a shorter range than cannon fire, but has a larger area-of-effect, in terms of what it can hit.
 * In 1665, a few prototypes are handed out to various ships throughout the fleet, including to the Fortune’s Bounty II.
 * Multiple Shots: Due to the nature of fighting in Amekrogu, the McCarthy Arms Company looks into possibilities to allow firearms to fire multiple times before requiring a reload, which should increase the lethality of British infantry.
 * Thunder and Awe (1652): Development into the concept has led to the engineers deeming the technology too complicated, on account of the complexity of the components of the revolving capsule. However, few see its potential, and continue to develop it in the background.
 * This does lead to a few models of revolvers being produced, though in extremely few numbers.


 * Naval Vessels: Continued development on galleons is performed, to see if it is possible to improve British vessels further. They experiment with two aspects; size and firepower. British Naval Engineers hope to determine proper ratios for size, durability, and firepower, as well as taking note of various lessons learned in the field, such as logistical issues found in British Caravels.
 * The Engineer’s Wet Dream (Aftermath): The Sovereign of the Seas enters into service in 1637, wielding the most cannons ever (up to this point). However, as time progresses, various technical issues will arise from the ship.
 * The ship took a lot of inspiration from the Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels in terms of its interior design
 * Mod 1662: The ship is taken into drydocks. It has been noticed that the ship is way too tall for its own good, and has an entire deck removed. Known as a Razeed, the new HMS Sovereign of the Seas is far more stable in the water, though some of its cannons are removed.
 * Speed Demons: Due to an increase in piracy in the Mediterranean, the British seek to modernize their old interceptors.
 * From observations of their assailants, the British take interest in a ship-type known as a xebec, ships that use three triangular sails, allowing them a good top speed without sacrificing much in terms of firepower.
 * Based on the design of the Yellowfin class, the British try and upsize the xebec design, creating the HMS Suffolk.
 * Smaller Boats: Though the Brigs have shown their uses, the need for even smaller ships became apparent, especially on the accounts from allied pirates in the Shattered Isles.
 * From the HMS Ketone, improvements from the ship are implemented, mainly features to help deal with the recoil from the mortar, including an experimental outrig to help manage the rocking of the boat when the mortar is fired, potentially allowing the mortar to be rotated beyond facing only forwards.

Training and Production


 * British Mainland
 * None.
 * British America
 * Elysia/Laconia
 * None
 * Eldia:
 * None
 * Catonzia
 * None
 * Amekrogu:
 * None
 * British Yolngu
 * None


 * HMS Suffolk
 * 3rd class xebec interceptor
 * Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.

Diplomacy


 * Amekrogu: Pulling out of the war, the British war machine breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Though a force stays in British-controlled territories, most head home.
 * As this happens, the British observe the civil war raging on in war-ravaged Amekrogu. They keep watch, waiting for an opportunity to hop in
 * Carribean Pirates: With their success in the League Wars, the British officials in Catonzia decide to have better ties with the Pirates in the Carribean, maintaining the same offer that was offered to them during the League Wars, though limited to British Catonzia for the time being.
 * Brethren of the Coast: The British reach out to the pirates, shunning them for their attacks on British ships, though they do accept the offer provided to them by William Rous and the Providence Island Company.
 * Europe (Generally): Though not offered the top-line models, Britain does allow McCarthy Arms Company to sell some of their wares overseas to those willing to purchase them
 * Indian Nations: Seeing that the countries of India are friendly, the British East India Company reaches out to all the nations in the area, hoping to strengthen their ties with all nations and open up trade routes with all.
 * Arkansa: The British come into contact with the nomads, trading weapons in return for furs and the likes.
 * Netherlands: Though tensions are rising between the two companies, those on the British mainland have no qualms with them. However, the same cannot be said for those in Arcadia, as Dutch and British colonists begin to run into each other.
 * Southeast Asia: The BAKA Gaikokuhito Company sends diplomats throughout the area to the various nations. With members of Yolngu acting as translators, the company hopes to see what the local powers are for themselves
 * This includes the following nations:
 * Thotan (PING PING GK)
 * Yolngu: Due to the two nations becoming extremely close over the past half-decade, Britain asks if they wish to join the empire officially.
 * Though the country is to answer to the British, due to the distance between the two countries, Yolngu essentially is still allowed the ability to govern themselves.
 * Would allow for British troops to be stationed in the territory, bolstering the defenses (and offensive capabilities) of Yolngu.

Allies


 * Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
 * Naranga: British ally on the Asian mainland.
 * Occitania: British ally on the mainland.
 * Svearike: Velkyst’s southern neighbor.
 * This alliance is made with a caveat: since they know that Vestkyst wishes to gobble them up too. The British mention that they will try to mediate any conflict between the two nations, and will continue to trade with both nations during the conflict, they cannot get directly involved against them. Otherwise, they will support the Svearike in a defensive war.
 * Toyotomi Shogunate: British ally (through the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company) in Asian area.
 * Vinland: Allies in the New World. Led by Tahmas, Vinland now prospers with the new leadership as they thrive with the protection of the British navy.
 * Vestkyst: Norweigan allies in the North Sea. The oldest ally of Britain, harkening back to the British Empire’s founding.
 * Yolngu: The furthest of Britain’s allies, the island-continent has metals far better than those in the region. As such, the majority of the trade from the region primarily consists of metals.

Events


 * The War in the Furnace (Aftermath):
 * The British, battered from war, are happy to head home. With the MPSM staying behind in case the civil war spills into their territory, the rest of the troops return home.
 * Troops in the Region
 * 12,000 MPSM’s
 * 50 SPARTANS
 * 60 Light Artillery Pieces
 * 3 People per gun, 192 cannon personnel in total
 * Misc Stuff:
 * The old capital of Amekrogu is heavily fortified with British cannon and around a mile of forest cleared around the perimeter of the city ot prevent anyone from sneaking up on the fortress (and now forward base)
 * Death Looms on London’s Door: From the combined efforts of a plague and a terrible fire, tens of thousands of Londoners perish. London is placed under military rule, with volunteers within the military taking up the roles of both firefighters and plague doctors as the capital of Albion had to be temporarily moved, on account of the ruin the city is in.
 * Expansion Beyond the Horizon:
 * American Colonies
 * Consolidation of Power: Forts are constructed in British territory claimed in the war, both to protect from potential retaliation from the Spanish as well as from various tribes in the region.
 * In addition, British civilians are finally granted permission to move to British Catonzia and Elysia, as the British begin to slowly integrate Catonzia into the British Empire, much like what was done with Elysia.
 * Catonzia and Arroz: With the discovery of rice in the East, the British decide to give rice-making a try. With the new territory in Catonzia (as well as somewhat similar temperatures), the British decided to try and start rice crops in Catonzia, to mixed success. It will take a while before the British learn how to make rice themselves, as well as for the rice to adapt to the different environment.
 * African Colonies
 * BAKA - Mitai: Seeing the weakening of local powers in the area gives the company reason to expand, as merchants head inland to meet and trade with the locals.
 * Asianic Colonies
 * BAKA - Gaikokuhito: The company, headed by Frederik King, hopes to make contact with Yolngu again. To keep things brief, plans are in the making for a trading agreement with the region, and possibly more. (More details on this below)

The British Merchant Companies: (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)


 * British Faviero Greek Company: “The BFG Company” for short, this company has taken an interest to the region of Elysia. Its leaders, Faviero and Raleigh have enacted a multi-decade long plan to wrestle control of the region for themselves, though if other situations were to come up, they’d adapt on the fly.
 * Elysian Region: Having complete control over the area, the BFG Company begins to import more colonists into the region.
 * Around 2,500 colonists arrive in Elysia over the span of five years or so, hoping to start anew.
 * Laconia: In 1619, the region was reclassified into its own province for administration reasons.
 * The regions of Laconia, Demetrios, and Erakki become apart of the Laconia Province
 * Eventually becomes the State of Laconia
 * Deasaheim: The company begins the process of integrating the province into their company, as they begin setting up administrative bodies to run the area.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Doomslayer
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association: Started up by a British and German family, BAKA began operations in 1573, when they received a fleet of four merchant caravels. With this fleet, the company sets sail for Africa, wishing to set up a port town where they can trade with the locals.
 * In 1602, the company was split in two, due to the focus on where to colonize.
 * The branch known as “BAKA Mitai” is continuing the old company’s efforts in Africa
 * The branch known as “BAKA Gaijin” (renamed to BAKA Gaikokuhito in 1608) has its focus directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically Yolngu for its operations.
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Mitai Division:
 * Akan: Due to their presence in the area, the BAKA Mitai company slowly expands their influence through the area.
 * Fort Akan: Constructed by 1575, this fort acts as a military base for the British, with attempts made to expand their influence to the locals in the area.
 * Galatoi: The company trades with Galatoi, giving them McCarthy Firearms and other supplies in return for indigenous supplies as well as slaves for use in Elysia and other portions of their claims.
 * Fort Galatoi: An island port given to the company, allowing the British to dock their ships in the region (rather than having them weigh anchor out at sea)
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the MOM company, importing slaves from the Galatoi region and sending them to the Eldia region for use on the various crops in the region.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Resolute
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Gaikokuhito Division:
 * Establishing a Base: In 1616, The BAKA Gaikokuhito in Yolngu requested permission to construct a naval base in Northern Australia (far away from the coral reefs to the east) so they could land larger British vessels in the area.
 * In 1619, construction began on their fort, Port Kingpin. With help from the locals, ships were able to be harbored in the port town by 1621, with construction completing in 1624.
 * More Pitstops: Even with the two islands claimed, the distance between each stop is far too long. As such, the Gaikokuhito Division devices various locations along the way to establish naval bases to allow British vessels places of refuge
 * The British reached out to various nations on the Western coast of South America, asking if they could construct ports on their coastlines to allow British ships to stop on their journey to Yolngu, in addition to opening trade with the regions in question.
 * Australium: Rare metals have been found on the island continent. As such, operations are created to extract the metals with the help of the locals (in return for exotic species and other foreign goods)
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Golden Hind
 * The Henry Amerigo League of Observance: A group (nicknamed HALO) that is headed by Henry of Glaemchester. Now a competent company, the HALO company travels the seas, now intermingling with a faction known as the Amekrogu’s to the south.
 * Smothering Remains: With their original plans in ruins, the HALO company goes through some reforming, as the higher-ups are replaced. As this happens, the company slowly monitors the Civil War raging on in Amekrogu, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
 * The Millers Operative Manufacturing: A company that focuses on tobacco and leather in 1565, the company slowly worked its way into league with the larger companies of Britain by the 1580’s, eventually leading to the company receiving a grant to receive 7 Dove-class Merchant Caravels, as well as permission to construct a custom “flagship” for themselves.
 * For their success and assistance in the Battle of the English Channel, the British Government rewards them with a charter to expand their territory into the southern province of Eldia.
 * Upon the completion of their conquest of Eldia, various forests are cleared to make room for the various cash crops of the company.
 * Tobacco: As their influence spreads through Eldia, the MOM company begins to cultivate Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants, leading to an increase in profits due to its sweeter taste.
 * The selling of this tobacco increases MOM’s income, leading to them being able to hire more mercenaries to arrest control of Eldia from the locals.
 * Rice: Ordered by the British Royal Navy to produce the crop, the company also constructs rice crops within their territory, with assistance from Asian farmers.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the BAKA Mitai company, as the MOM Company begins to import slaves from the Galatoi region for the purpose of working on the farms.
 * Company Flagship: The Independence
 * British East India Company: With a grant from the British government, the company begins to make plans for their future ventures into Asia, with their eyes set on both the island chains between mainland Asia and Yolgnu as well as Hindustan.
 * New London/Diu: The construction of the deeper port is complete, allowing for larger vessels and more vessels in general to dock here.
 * Cape Town: Efforts are made to allow the port town to accommodate larger British vessels, providing them refuge from the volatile water off the South African coast.
 * Fort Dolphin: (Constructed in OTL Tolanero) Construction begins in 1621 to be finished by the end of 1625, mainly to allow British merchants another location to stop at while passing around Africa
 * To respect the locals, utmost stress is placed on those staying in the fort to respect the locals, and those who disobey these rules are handed to Matagaskar for punishment
 * Expanding Influence: With the wealth the company has, they begin to trade with the locals, providing them with products in larger quantities or new to the area altogether, with the hopes to make the locals reliant on the British for their daily necessities
 * Subsidiary Alliance Plan: The Company reaches out to the various countries in India, asking for the stationing of a British force within their territory for the country’s protection, in return for supplying the maintenance cost to maintain the force in the area.
 * The Azure Pilgrims: Since 1565, the “Azure Pilgrims” set up the Plymouth colony in hopes to be free from religious (and political) persecution. At first, the faction ran into many issues, mainly trying to survive the winter. They were helped by a local tribesman nearby and the colony has just begun to become stabilized.
 * In 1662, the regional government was officially formed.
 * Naming the region “Lansenia” after the head governor, Laffey D Lansen, the region is accepted as an official colony within the British Government.

Notable Deaths


 * Rulers
 * Pendragon:
 * Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
 * Ash I (M,  b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
 * Sister: Aura (F,  b.1350 - 1434)
 * Ash II (M,  b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
 * Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
 * Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
 * Mordue:
 * River Mordue (F, b. 1322 - 1393) (Reign: 1369 - 1393)
 * Henry (M, b. 1353 - 1429)  (Reign: 1393 - 1429)
 * Daughter: Mary (F, b. 1382 - 1399)
 * Lionel (M, b. 1388 - 1482) (Reign: 1430 - 1482)
 * Son: Leo I (M, b. 1407 - 1465)
 * Leo III (M, b. 1445 - 1478)
 * Son: Leo II (M, b. 1423 - 1478)
 * Brother: Henry II (M, b. 1398 - 1478)
 * Drake:
 * Casimir (M, b. 1454 - 1533)
 * Queen Abigail (F, b. 1455 - 1533)
 * Queen Victoria (F, b. 1499 - ) (R: 1533 - 1561)
 * David (M, b. 1537 - 1554)
 * Brother: Albert (M, b. 1495 - 1565)
 * Nephew: Rupert (M, b. 1517 - 1553)
 * Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - 1618) (R: 1561 - 1618)
 * Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - 1619)
 * Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - 1564)
 * Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
 * Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
 * Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - 1632)
 * Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - 1609)
 * Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - 1596)
 * Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
 * Married off to a Westrian prince
 * Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
 * Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - 1602)
 * Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - 1606)
 * Cousin: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - 1629)
 * Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - 1629)
 * King: Luke I (M, b. 1567 - 1638) (R: 1618 - 1838)
 * King:  Luke II (M, b. 1604 - 1658) (R: 1838 - 1658)
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - 1667)
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - 1672)
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - 1668)
 * Roundtable Knights
 * Joan “Anne” of Arc (Died in 1431)
 * Sir George Cromwell of Cotswold (Died in 1445)
 * Sir George Cromwell II of Cotswold (Died in 1482)
 * Sir Rex of Dover (Died in 1482)
 * Joanna Palaiologos McCarthy (Died in 1528)
 * Misc
 * Frederik King (Died in ???)
 * Head of the BAKA Company, essentially has ties in about half of the world
 * Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
 * Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.

Famous Vessels

HMS Victory (15XX)


 * Laid down in 15XX and launched in 15XX, the HMS Victory is a 50-gun First-class Frigate.
 * The namesake of her class, HMS Victory was the first pride-and-joy of the Royal Navy.
 * Famously captained by Admiral Francis Drake, the ship would lead the British navy to victory when it defeated the Spanish Armada, directly leading to one of the major reasons why Britain won in the Anglo-Spanish War in the late 16th century.
 * From there, it would also see combat in the League Wars as it ensured that those opposing Britain felt the wrath of her powerful broadside.
 * Eventually, the ship was retired in 1647, where it was put into the reserve fleet as a training vessel for new sailors.

HMS Fortune’s Bounty (1626)


 * An Olive-class Multi-purpose Merchant Frigate given to the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company from the British government. Laid in 1624 and left on its maiden voyage in 1626, the ship would find itself under the ownership of Fortuna King, a woman well-known for her assistance in the Wu-Narangan War in 1633 when she was involved in both a trading run to Naranga in addition to the assassination of the Wu General in the region.
 * Though the ship would remain in East Asia for most of its life, it would also visit Britain and the Mediterranean Sea during its time afloat under the ownership of Fortuna.
 * In 1661, while returning to Britain from Yolngu, the ship encountered rough seas around the southernmost tip of South America. Though it survived, the ship was badly beaten, as it limped to the British outpost on the Falklands Island. From there, Fortuna and her crew hitched a ride on a vessel back to Britain, where she received permission from the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company to purchase a replacement vessel: the Fortune’s Bounty II.

HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)


 * Laid down in 1634 and launched in 1637, this ship is essentially an engineer’s wet dream. Built “just because,” the ship has more than double the guns of the next largest ships (the Victory-class) and was also over double the size, this ship towered over anything the British would build for the next half-decade or so.
 * That being said, the ship was also ladened with issues, such as poor handling and the likes.

Arzakhate of Bengal
• Government: Monarchy.

• Monarch: Yunus Nuri Pasha

• Economy: Fine and stable.

• Current State of War: True

• Capital: Nabadwip

• Population: 4,122,763

• Ethnic Population: 91% Bengali 5% Munda 3% Garo 2% Other

• Religious Population: 41% Mahayana Buddhism 37% Hinduism 12% Vajrayana Buddhism 9% Arzhamism 1% Other (animism, jainism, christianity)

• Diplomacy: War with Juanpur

• Gonda: Much Minerals we have here.

• "Manpower"

-250000 Infantry

(Camp Followers, Servants, Torch Bearers, Water Carriers, Logistics Trains, Merchants are included as well.)

-10000 Calvary

-120 Small Gunned Frigates

-145 Gunned Brigs

-1200 pieces of long ranged artillery.

• Events: 500 Artillery in Chapra and Patna will be bombarding Arrah, while this happens 5k Infantry will be sent to capture the city. Once this happens 3K Calvary in Deoria will be sent to capture Azamgarh, withhout artillery support the siege may take a few weeks so 7000 Infantry will be brought in to support. 1000 Basic in Ganda will be sent to capture the rural inhabited hilly areas in the north to border Palpa. 20K Troops in Lucknow along with 1K Calvary and 200 Artillery will focus on advancing south running over Raebareli to border Fatehpur.

• Diplomatic Events:

1663 - Pulub Kulababa discovered Gravity in a small rural village south of Shillong

Turn XIV: 1665-1670
LINK TO THE MAP

Mod Event

 * The North Afire - Coda:
 * Battle in Nidaros (spring 1665): With the army partially rebuilt,  Anastasia  marched upon  Vedastus ' stronghold in Nidaros - as for now, the garrison in Stavanger should be ample to hold their old and according to espionage,  Gunnar  is more concerned with consolidating Vestland and building up his forces after humiliating defeats in Agder. Setting off in April 1665 with an army of approximately 14 thousand men, both veteran and recruit. Reaching Nidaros in May, as they prepare to march to Trondheim itself, herald came that a large army, numbering some twenty thousand, were coming their way. Retreating isn't an option. The two armies meet some fifteen kilometers from Trondheim, and as the battle raged on, the Akershus host looked to be increasingly losing their ground.  Anastasia  might be a fearless spirit, but she was no military genius; and her advisors and generals could only do so much being outnumbered deep in enemy turf. Surely only a miracle can save them now?
 *  Eivind 's Host (May 1665): Intentionally left at Arendal for the purposes of recuperation, the sick bed could not keep  Eivind  confined for long. It wasn't that he completely healed, of course, but hearing of the Nidaros campaign and the plight of the Akershus army, he endured the pain, took up his crossbow again and took a horse riding up north, departing in the middle of the night. During his path, he would stop by towns in short notice, attempting to recruit retired veterans, mercenaries or willing recruits to join him as cavalry, of which numbered around a thousand or so during the entire period. This battalion, colloquially dubbed " Eivind 's Host", arrived at Nidaros a month into the still-ongoing battle and slammed right into  Vedastus 's army's rearguard, taking them by surprise and relieving the Akershus army. The effort was helped by the usage of certain psychological effects inspired by  Eivind 's experiences as a hunter, attempting to mimic pack animals hunting and making the host appear more numerous than they actually are. By the end of the battle, around four thousand Akershus soldier remained out of the original fourteen, including the new cavalry host. With their numbers low, recruitment some time away and neck deep in Nidaros,  Anastasia  looked to a more immediate solution to the problem:  Svearike .
 * A Favour to the Foxes (summer 1665): With  Eivind  in charge of the remainder of the Akershus army, which resorted to foraging the fringes of Nidaros-held territory for supplies,  Anastasia  departed for an audience with the royals of  Svearike  in Stockholm, aiming to gain support in pacifying Nidaros. She immediately took interest in Princess  Henrietta , a bright and intelligent girl who seemed to be somewhat underappreciated within the family, and from that point onwards the two would become acquaintances, often exchanging letters with one another. The negotiations weren't exactly smooth, as Crown Prince  Oskar  was against supporting  Anastasia  (partially also due to her affection with  Henrietta , who he did not exactly have the best relationship with), but an agreement with King Karl of  Svearike  was eventually reached, in which they would provide some 15 thousand men for the siege of Trondheim, but in return  Anastasia  would owe them a favour which the Sveans could call upon at any time. While being indebted to a foreign power was unfavourable, it had to do for now.  Anastasia  returned to Nidaros a week or so later at the head of a brand new army, regrouping with  Eivind 's remnants and together, the almost twenty thousand strong army dig in for a siege of Trondheim.
 * Fall of Trondheim (1666): The last Odinist stronghold has fallen. After months of grueling campaigning, a cruel winter siege and some skirmishes harassing the besieging army, the walls of Trondheim finally fell in 1666.  Vedastus  is said to have escaped the city days before the fall, but with Trøndelag swiftly falling to Akershus hands after Trondheim fell, he and his pupper claimant essentially lost all available support. The Svean army, being the majority of the besiegers, assume nominal control of Nidaros, though still under Vestkyster jurisdiction. A friendly army also allowed  Anastasia  to fall back to Oslo where she could freely bolster the Akershus numbers and resupply in anticipation of a total campaign on Vestland and her uncle  Gunnar  - who, at this point, is her only rival left for the throne. She could not afford to stop now.  That was until, out of nowhere, disaster struck.
 * Abduction (summer 1666):  Anastasia 's time in Nidaros has allowed  Gunnar  to gradually but surely reassert his control on Agder, starting with the siege of Stavanger in summer 1665, and slowly pouring all over Vest-Agder itself in the year following it. The Vestlander ruling cabal came to a daring plan: if they cannot defeat Akershus' ever expanding sphere of control, they would go straight for the jugular. With intel of  Anastasia  residing in Arendal with a small auxiliary force overlooking the region,  Gunnar  ordered a raid at night on the town with the intent to abduct her and putting a dent on Akershus morale - which impeccably succeeded, somehow. At the head of the auxiliaries himself,  Eivind  was also chased around with orders to kill, but he managed to escape the town on a rowboat, aiming to escape to the Netherlands. Not being particularly good at sea, disaster eventually caught up to him too. Stranded in the cold waters of the North Sea, all hope seemed lost.
 * Rescue (1666): With Fortuna King 's rescue and later assistance,  Eivind  was able to assemble an ensemble and formulate a plan to rescue  Anastasia.  With the use of Fortuna's spy and transit, the team was able to infiltrate Bergen, and though encountering several obstacles, both internal and external, the rescue operation was, all in all, a resounding success. With how sudden it happened, the Vestlander elites were taken aback. The Duke of Vestland,  Gunnar , ordered a haste investigation as to how  Anastasia  was able to escape captivity, but after an exhaustive process, no credible leads turned up. As fast as they appeared, they were gone - like the Hawks of Arendal all along, which have already annoyed him greatly in the past. Meanwhile, reactions were completely opposite on the other side of Vestkyst .  Anastasia  's return could not have come at a better time, as her inner circle was struggling over who would take the reins of the duchy during her absence, and the rank and file were restless over rumours of their figurehead having been abducted. Her reappearance assuaged fractures within the Akershus camp, and with their leader back in power, morale was restored within those involved.
 * Terminus / March on Bergen (1667): With  Anastasia  's return and Vestland gradually sinking into turmoil as a result of  Gunnar' s failure to secure the Duchess of Akershus and his despot-like grip, the Akershus camp was emboldened for a potentially conclusive campaign - one that would end the civil war that has torn  Vestkyst  apart for the better part of the decade. Small-scale skirmishes took place along Romsdal and Agdesiden in early 1667, succeeding in weakening the meagre Vestlander presence there and preventing Akershus from being caught off guard. And summer that year, the main campaign would start - an army of thrity-five thousand, straight to the capital.  Anastasia  and  Eivind  personally led the vanguard of the force, and the excursion was, in general a success. In the eventual scuffle,  Gunnar  along with a few of his bodyguards were slain after an impressive solo effort from  Anastasia,  but one that left her fatally wounded.  Eivind,  clearing the way to allow such action to take place in the first place, was also inflicted heavy injuries, which could be life-threatening if not treated. But even with that, he refused treatment. With what little strength he had left, he was determined that his journey ended in Bergen, and stumbled towards the one he loved the most.
 * Swansong (1667) [Companion Story: "Divinity"]: "Have you ever regretted anything,  Eivind ?" "I would not have it any other way. And you?" Two souls, together, rested against a wall. Away from the smoke and flames of the lower levels, here, it was only them, in solace. Their bodies littered with spilt blood, scars, and wounds -  Anastasia 's white hair and alabaster skin tainted with gore and numerous cuts; while  Eivind  was hardly awake, having sustained injuries and blood loss as a result of the conflict. Before their eyes laid dead bodies, slain entirely by one of them. Side by side, they could clearly see the writing on the wall. The journey of the Hawks of Arendal would end there, in Bergen, at the very terminus. Ignoring the battle going underway right below them, they sat by one another, watching the afterglow and pouring their hearts out. It was here, in their last moments, that  Anastasia  decided she would let her deepest feelings be known to her companion. "You are a close friend to me, and without this escapade, I wouldn't have had a chance to be this close to you. But ever since then, I have been seeing you differently. Perhaps... I have developed feelings... for you."   Eivind  did not respond with words. Instead, to affirm his own feelings, he went in for a kiss, their first and perhaps last. For the both of them, it was perhaps liberating to finally be able to confess their deepest thoughts, no matter how late it was. Perhaps in another life, they would have made a great couple?  Enervated,  Anastasia  leant by her lover and fell into a slumber, but not before gracing him with a rare blooming smile.  Eivind , with his inamorata by the side, took a final look at the now-dark sky, letting out a beam of satisfaction before closing his eyes, allowing the collapsing floor to swallow them both into the abyss.
 * The Hawks' Rest (1667):  Anastasia  and  Eivind  were dead. The immediate mood within the Akershus camp was one of solemn weeping - they have won, but at what cost? As it stood,  Vestkyst  had no ruler - and de jure had been for years - and their leader was gone, but for now, something had to be done first: It was time to prepare for the couple a dignified send-off to Valhalla. The rank and file, on their own accord, went through the night tearing up wood and gathered together a funeral pyre on a patch of land by the coast. Laid atop the wooden pyre was a platform, on which the two were laid on top of, alongside their belongings, jewelry, an inordinate amount of arrows and bolts, and their crossbows, topped with a silver pair of rings and a crown, found next to  Gunnar 's dead body, presumably used as he styled himself king - said to have been the Akershus army's recognition of their late ruler as the rightful sovereign of  Vestkyst . While there was initially much debate within  Anastasia 's retinue over how  Eivind  should be treated considering his commoner background, it was eventually agreed that for his unwavering loyalty and companionship to the Duchess of Akershus in life, he would also be accompanying her into Valhalla.  As the pyre was lit up, a solemn and dampening mood clouded the host. Some openly and audibly wept, while others just stood in silence. The vicious flame burned through the night and continued on as dawn breaks, its smoke columns piercing the bounds of Midgard. When the last embers finally disappeared, and dawn broke, the ashes of the couple from the pyre were gathered and then transported elsewhere - Arendal.  The quaint port town had been the base of the Hawks of Arendal - a name bestowed upon the two - and it was only appropriate that they would be laid to rest there. Carried out by the leaders of the retinue and  Eivind  's sister Eira, the remains of the duo were buried near spruce saplings  Anastasia  had planted some time prior to the Bergen campaign, in hopes that their souls would remain ever present in Arendal. Additionally, standing stones were erected at the site, now dubbed "The Hawks' Rest", chronicling the history of the duo. Years later, it was said that at times, a pair of hawks can be sighted passing over the town and circling around the spruce trees, as if they were born for that place.  And with that,  Eivind  and  Anastasia  were put to rest, and their story came to a close.


 * Vesta Invicta:
 * The Assembly / Sound The Bell (1668): Something has to run  Vestkyst . It was the first thought on the minds of the late Duchess of Akershus' former retinue. As it stood right then, the entirety of  Vestkyst  was ungoverned. Many ideas were brought up, but gaining much traction along them was the Storforsamling, an institution abolished by  Gunnar  during his time claiming himself as King. And then they re-established it. The new Great Assembly, consisting of nobles (mostly barons and petty counts, as most of the more prominent dukedoms and counts were abolished following their fleeing and/or dying in the war), burghers, prominent Nynorrøn figures and even a first for it, representatives of the common man, divided by their respective fylke. A constitution was drafted and codified within a week, which laid out how the state should be governed: the Assembly would be empowered - understandable considering the current situation - and would be able to propose and vote on laws, like a parliament, though the monarch would retain some of their power, including the right to veto any decision she did not agree to, along some other. In effect, at this point,  Vestkyst  has become a constitutional monarchy. Somewhat paradoxically, without a monarch, but that would come in due time.  Not long into their foundation, however, they were met with a rough situation:  Svearike  was calling in their previous favour. It was war, they say, and the newly-coronated King  Oskar  wanted to secure Vestkyster participation using the favour  Anastasia  has owed them.  There was only one problem:  Anastasia  was gone. And despite conflicts in background and viewpoints, one thing the Storforsamling could agree on was that yes,  Anastasia  might owe them a favour, but  Vestkyst  herself did not.  Enraged by the Assembly's refusal,  Oskar  declared war on  Vestkyst , breaking the tenuous peace that has lasted since Claes' ascension. The Svean army took control of Nidaros, booting Vestkyster presence out of the region, and within a few months occupied Scania, lifting the Øresund toll. Localised resistance meant that  Svearike  was halted from invading everything else, but two whole fylket had fallen. With the peril at hand, and no army to speak of, central control was of the utmost essence.  A monarch would have to wait. For now, the Storforsamling would run  Vestkyst .
 *  Henrietta (1669): With the ascension of her brother (and rival)  Oskar  to the Svean throne two years earlier,  Henrietta  became even more irrelevant in Svean royal dealings than she already was. Her late father, the esteemed King Karl, has arranged for her to take over the island of Gotland just before his unfortunate passing in 1667 as a means to hone her statesmanship, but also giving her an excuse to avoid an increasingly hostile  Oskar . Indeed, in Visby, she was able to avoid the prying eyes of her brother while simultaneously becoming popular with the locals. The unfortunate demise of her acquaintance and pen pal  Anastasia  only pushed her to work harder, in hopes that one day, she would eclipse her brother. And one day in late 1669, it might have looked as though the opportunity had come knocking.   Vestkyst  has been without a monarch for a decade ever since the civil war broke out, and for the last two years have been governed by the Storforsamling (Great Assembly), a parliamentary body consisting of people from all estates. Even with the war with  Svearike  raging, the search for a monarch must continue. After two years of fruitless endeavours, they have decided to once again turn to  Anastasia 's will and testament, to the candidate mentioned in it, which they have already brushed aside once.   Anastasia  has nominated  Henrietta  for the throne. This was controversial at first, given that this was a foreign princess - a Svean princess, no less - and the state of war between the two certainly did not help. However, with Albion deemed unsuitable for a successor because the prideful Assembly did not want to fall under Albionite influence and other countries did not have the same connection to  Vestkyst  to sufficiently justify a monarch, the leaders of the Assembly returned to  Henrietta . With her rivalry with her brother and King of  Svearike  known to the Vestkysters, perhaps it would be worth a try. If it didn't work out, they could always ship her back.  Envoys were dispatched to Visby on a Hanseatic-marked ship to formally invite  Henrietta  as Hersker (lit. ruler, sovereign or, in Vestkyst, queen) of Vestkyst after a contentious vote narrowly passed in the Assembly confirming the decision. Upon hearing of the offer,  Oskar  attempted to block it, but was rebuffed by his sister, proclaiming that it was directed to her and thus it was her choice alone. He tried to order the vessel containing them to be shot down, but the Svean navy refused to open fire on a merchant ship containing unarmed envoys, no less a princess of  Svearike .  The nineteen year old  Henrietta  was officially crowned as Hersker in Fredrikastad, and with that, for the first time in a decade,  Vestkyst  had an official, recognised monarch. This also has the knock-on effect that the island of Gotland, which  Henrietta  ruled prior to her ascension, also became part of  Vestkyst , something  Oskar  is definitely very, very unhappy about.
 * Scientific Advancements: A series of scientific advancements were made within this time period:
 * Two scientific journals were published in the same year of 1665, the Journal des sçavans in France and the Philosophical Transactions in Albion.
 * Issac Newton, having been made to retire to Lincolnshire for two years (from 1665) as a result of the Great Plague forcing the closure of the University of Cambridge, he would make groundbreaking discoveries in mathematics, calculus, mechanics, and optics, and lay the foundations for his future books, all within this two-year span. By 1667, Newton has investigated and written his works in subjects of optics, acoustics, the infinitesimal calculus, mechanism and thermodynamics; which will only be reveal to the public much, much later.
 * Robert Hooke's Micrographia is published in London, first applying the term cell to plant tissue, which he discovered first in cork, then in living organisms, using a microscope -Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys performed the first blood transfusion on humans, transfusing the blood of sheep into the body of a 15 year old boy, which was a success.
 * German alchemist Hennig Brand discovered phosporus, the first chemical element to be discovered that was not known since ancient times. Phosphorus must have been awe-inspiring to an alchemist: it was a product of man, and seeming to glow with a "life force" that did not diminish over time, and such was named from the Greek word for "light-bearing" or "light-bearer." He, however, kept the discovery secret, as alchemists did, and worked with the phosphorus trying unsuccessfully to use it to produce gold.
 * Great Fire of London (1666): Sara was an orphan at a young age, the orphanage didn't tell much about what happened to her parents, even her older sister. She had a older sister, but they were separated at a young age when her older sister was adopted. Loneliness became her life, isolated by the other children. However, there is one thing that kept her company; the flame of a candle. It lights up the dark room and keeps out the monsters. The flame doesn't judge, it just dances and responds to every whisper, and it feels very much alive. It is so gentle and fragile, like a baby... but if it grows, it grows strong. One day, Sara wanted to be closer to the flame, to touch it and feel its warmth. It sizzled her fingers and she pulls away in pain, in the process of pulling back, she accidentally knocks over the table, which knocks the table into the drapes. Rather than putting it out quickly, she lets it touch the drapes out of curiosity. The flame looked hungry and so she wanted to feed it so it won't die out again unbeknownst to her, the flame won't stop there. The local newspapers later reported the orphanage burning to the ground, luckily due to the extreme efforts of the caretakers there, everyone managed to get out okay and accounted for... except for one. During early stages, one of the caretakers noticed Sara feeding the flames, taking the whole room. When the little girl was discovered, Sara jumped out the window. Authorities are still after her, with the occasional arsons since. The local newspaper also reported the fire had spread beyond the orphanage and out through the city. It destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, a large Cathedral, and numerous government buildings. It is estimated to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the City's 80,000 inhabitants. Of all the destruction, only up to 8 people were recorded to have perished, leading to the question of the poor being undocumented and the true scope of the fire's death toll.
 * Rock the Earth: On November 25, 1667, a devastating earthquake rocked the nations of the Caucasus, killing at least 80 thousand people and displacing several hundred thousand. Earlier in the year, one in kind struck the Adriatic city of Raguza, killing a fifth of its population.
 * Dreadful Hurricane of 1667: Considered one of the most severe hurricanes to ever strike Virginia, the Dreadful Hurricane of 1667 was first reported in the Fortunate Islands, before making landfall on southern Elysia on September that year, blowing over 10 thousand houses, drowning many cattle, beating many area crops to the ground and caused twelve days of rain in the region.
 * The Age of the Prince: As India continues to disintegrate, a new Age has come upon the continent: The Age of the Princely State. Smaller, more consolidated city-states and towns exist amongst the larger imperial giants of the region; not to mention as parts of many of them, asserting their own autonomy in coalition. This has been coming for a long time - with the failure of Hindustan, the Princely States asserted their own security forces and made their own individual alliances without the permissions of larger states - and with the slow breakdowns in the large, bloated remnants of the Hindustani Empire, they march forward in earnest.

NPC Event

 * Imandar Empire: The Imandar Empire had spent quite a bit consolidating under the leadership of its newest Azarkh - immense civil strife coming on the heels of a new Empire - but now, it was ready for sweet, sweet revenge against the bastards of Delhi. This had been a long time coming - Hindustani emperors repeatedly shortcharged the Imandars' newfound rulers and Delhian economic policy had left them destroyed; not to mention a perception that Delhi would sooner offer fealty to a revived Daevite Empire than their most loyal subjects. After the ready conquest of Arzhamabad, which was made its symbolic capital, the Imandar marched into the Azarkhate's land, sparking a full-throated war against the former imperial core of the Hindustani Empire.
 * Empire of Adytia (Varangia): As it becomes increasingly harder for the Adytian Empire to discourage defection to Iyán's Return, the Varangia-aligned Keisarians declare Iyán's Return a Sarkic heresy and claim that this second coming of Iyán is a false prophet. However, this strategy sees limited succes due to the numerous similarities between this second incarnation of Iyán and his mythological forebearer. The Empire of Adytia thus fights fire with figure, seeking to emulate the events of the mythological past of the Daevites in a last event to garner religious legitimacy. This culiminates in the capture and subsequent unspeakable acts done to Ketalan, Iyán (Saymïst)'s sister, in clear imitation of the mythological dalliance depicted between Lovatär and Iyán, which led to Lovatär being buried while pregnant along the shores of Lake Baikal, fated to return with her brood. The Varangians outside of Adytita are terrified and repulsed by the actions of their compatriots, but they hesitantly accept them as neccesary in ending the conflict between them and Iyán's Return. The results of these heinous crimes cannot be denied though, for Iyán's return began to immediately break up due to the sheer loss of morale Ketalan's capture lead to.
 * Svearike: With a view to dominate the Baltic Sea, Svearike has their eyes set on Livonia - specifically, the city of Riga, a Hanseatic city and a great trading hub. Under the reign of the newly-coronated Oskar, he declared war on Livonia in late 1667. Then, he noticed one thing. Vestkyst. With the neighboring northern realm just coming out of a bloody civil war, he wanted to take advantage of the situation. Vestkyst's territories quite literally eclipsed Svearike, and as they controlled both ends of the Øresund, the Sveans effectively had no way to access the North Sea freely. Now, he thinks, things are going to change. And with an ace up his sleeve, he formulated a plan. "I want a few envoys to travel to Bergen and request that Vestkyst joins our war, for they owe us a favour." "Your Majesty, is this necessary?" "Do you dare questioning my judgement?" The debtor of such favour was gone, but Oskar could not care less. Two weeks later, war broke out again.
 * Netherlands: After many years, a good portion of the Australian shoreline has been mapped out by Dutch mariners and explorers. Many traders who wished for a way to to south-east Asia via Mekala strait had been mostly blocked by less friendly states under the Nihonese sphere.  It would soon occur to the Dutch, who sought for a better way around, to go around the southern coastlines of Australia for access.  Having already made contact with the Noongar and the Kulin in southern Australia before, the Dutch would seek to establish outposts along their coastlines. The city of Ygnawarra, for example, had drawn particular interest, leading to the Dutch to seek out OTL Rottnest or Garden islands as outposts there. In regards to Kulin, the Dutch would seek out somewhere nearby OTL Port Phillip Bay. Meanwhile, tensions between the Dutch and British has been boiling for a while now, mostly in regards to trade overseas. Their colonial possessions are more less than friendly than their homeland counterparts. On 1668, an incident off the coast of New Netherlands has escalated into a colonial Ango-Dutch trade conflict.
 * The Barbary Republic of Salé:The Barbary Republic of Salé came to an end as part of a small revolt in Mauretania. Having supported the revolt, they themselves were supressed, the city was sieged down and the leadership was executed.
 * Albion: Two of the most renowned works of literature in Albion's history would be finished at around this time:
 * he diary of Samuel Pepys, a relatively young man at the time, detailing his life from 1660 to 1669, was finished around this time. The diary contains extensive details about daily life in London at the time, including descriptions of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, allowing it to be a great source for historians to get a glimpse into Albionite life in the period. Pepys had intended to not have his contemporaries read it, indicative by the use of shorthands and some foreign works, but had also wanted future generations to be able to read it - which they did. Pepys stopped writing in 1669 for fear of his eyesight being damaged by writing in dim light, though he kept a journal for two months the year after.
 * John Milton's Paradise Lost was an epic poem consisting of over ten thousand lines of verse, detailing the biblical account of the Fall of Man - Adam and Eve's temptation by the snake and expulsion from Eden. Written predominantly in the late 1650s and early 1660s, some have speculated that parts of the epic were written during his youth. At the time of its publishing in 1667, John Milton was nearly sixty, and had written the entire epic while blinded and suffering from several illnesses such as gout, along with the mental burden of losing his second wife prematurely. It is considered to be Milton's masterpiece, and it helped solidify his reputation as one of the greatest English poets of his time.

Brethren of the Coast

 * Government: Pirate Confederacy

Captains:


 * Moses Cohen Enriquez † (1599-1666) (p.1622-1623) (p. 1638-1646) (p. 1662-1666): a Sephardic Jew raised in the Netherlands, he joined Pieter Ita’s plan to capture a Spanish island in the West Indies, helping with most of his crew to settle there in 1623. He then was recalled in 1629 to send him on an expedition to the East, in which he wrecked his ship in a shoal in Northern China. He participated in the Wu-Naranga war in 1633, personally killing the Wu general Lin, contributing to the destruction of Beijing and getting a fortune. With this fortune, Moses manages to go back to Europe, buying a brig and sailing to the Shattered Isles, trying to dock at Vieques but being chased off, then going to Sint Maarten to learn where the Brethren is now located, learning of the existence of the “Providence Island Company '' which he suspects to be a cover for the Brethren. He was soon confirmed in his belief, as he was welcomed by García in 1638. He took part in the capture of Tortuga in 1639. He then led an expedition into the Rio Grande, incited by his memories from China, and the promise he made to Doan just before his death. The expedition ended in an Indetah town being raided, with Moses not being able to do what Doan asked him. He retired as a wealthy man in 1646, founding a feminine male brothel in Tortuga, which became a hit among the pirate crews and the Poseidonists of the island. He started to court one of his “employees”, leaving him as somewhat of an heir to him. He started to mistreat his employees, getting the attention of Lucifer, who took over his business. Moses then joined l’Olonnais’ crew in 1662, returning to a pirate’s life again. He died fighting in the Invasion of Tortuga in 1666, saving l’Olonnais, and dying at the age of 67.
 * Phillippe Bequel † (1628-1666) (p. 1650-1666): Frenchman from La Rochelle, he went west after the captures of Saint Lucia and Martinique, to join these famed privateers. He arrived on the island of Tortuga in 1650, becoming a minor pirate there. He started helping in the late Jamaican invasion. He joined le Picard in the raid of Chetumal. He died in the Invasion of Tortuga, with his ship being scuttled by the escaping pirates.
 * Moïse Vauquelin † (1626-1666) (p. 1651-1666): Another Frenchman, from Normandy who went to the Shattered Isles in 1651, inspired by the success of Bras-de-Fer. He started raiding the Yucatan and Lenca coasts. He joined le Picard in a raid on Chetumal and then died in the invasion of Tortuga, as his ship was blown up by a lucky Albionite shot.
 * Roche Veracruzaan (1624-) (p. 1654-): A Dutch born pirate, who raided the coasts of Vera Cruz for some years, until finally joining the Brethren in 1654. He raided an Iberian galleon in 1657, which carried many riches, including some crates of vanilla, sugar and indigo. He raided many ships after that, not attacking any towns, but he amassed a fortune by raiding ships. In one particular raid on New Hispania, he roasted alive two Spanish farmers on wooden spits after they refused to hand over their pigs. He did a raid on Los Pan Serpiente with a couple other pirates, directly causing the fall of the Brethren.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye (1634-) (p. 1656-): A french girl, who became one of the most important members of the Brethren, who joined in 1656, having bought her ship when disguised as a man, with wealth from sources unknown. She revealed her true identity when sailing to the West Indies, asking her crew to vote on joining the Brethren, which went well. She designed a black flag, with herself in high class dressing, holding hands with Death, with a heart bleeding on the center. After she arrived at Tortuga, she joined the Brethren as usual. She managed to become the most successful captain on the Brethren, gaining the nickname “Back From the Dead Red” after a raid where she was thought to have been killed, where she took her striking, red hair out, after which she won the boarding. She founded the pirate territory of Los Lagartos, where she established her headquarters in 1659. She helped in the raids down the Magdalena River in 1661, falling in love with Charlotte de Berry.
 * Anne Dieu-le-Veut (1635-) (p. 1658-): Another frenchwoman, who joined the Brethren in 1658, having never hidden her sex. She adopted Delahaye’s flag, inspired by her incredible achievements. She fell in love with de Graaf, after sailing with him and staying in Los Lagartos. She also helped in the raids of Baran’kígia and Magdalena, which were successful enough to inspire Myngs to do his own massive raid
 * Edward Mansvelt † (1620-1666) (p. 1658-1666): An Albionite man, who had a privateering license from 1646. He joined the Brethren in 1658 after he accidentally killed some of his own countrymen. He had a very good ability to lead, having a bright future ahead of him in the Brethren. He joined Myngs in the raid of Marakáipo in which he led most of the forces after the death of Myngs, proving his worth by not losing many pirates in the batttle against the 500 strong town garrison. He joined Veracruzaan in the raid on Los Pan Serpiente, then being killed in the Albionite invasion of Tortuga
 * Laurens Prins (1631-) (p. 1659-): A Dutchman, he joined the Brethren in 1659 with plans to attack a town in the Bacata Zone. He made a couple big raids in the year, capturing a galleon and a frigate. The attack came into form in 1661, with all of the female pirates accompanying him, with a force of four ships, with which they attacked the towns of Baran’kigia and Magdalena in Antioquía. in 1666 he starts writing a history of the Brethren.
 * Francois l’Olonnais † (1631-1668) (p. 1660-1668): A Frenchman, who joined in 1660. He was known as the “Cannibal of the Brethren” as he usually would torture and kill Iberians in unthinkable ways, sometimes even eating parts of their bodies. He took part in the raid of Marakáimpo in 1663, having the most savage crew on the Brethren. Moses Cohen Enriquez joined his crew, becoming a savage fighter, even in his old age. He also once raided a galleon, taking it peacefully and then scuttling it, refusing to take any survivors. In the invasion of Tortuga, he hid among the bodies, then escaped in a sloop and met up with his crew which had managed to escape with his ship. He then planned a mission to Chorotega, in which he aimed to get the entire territory as a pirate confederacy, which he would split from the Brethren. The expedition started in 1667 promisingly, as he managed to capture the towns of Colón and San Miguelito, reaching the Pacific. He then pushed West, aiming to get the city of Tecalanga, but was tore to pieces alive, with the Iberians throwing his body limb by limb into the fire and his ashes into the air; to the intent no trace nor memory might remain of such an infamous, inhuman creature.
 * Charlotte de Berry (1636-) (p. 1661-): A Frenchwoman, which joined in the Year of Our Lord 1661, inspired by Delahaye. She and Delahaye fell in love during the voyage and attack of the towns in Antioquía. They both became the most important pirates on Los Lagartos. Their love was revealed in 1668, after Prins accidentally saw them in flagrante delicto when trying to tell them about a possible raid.
 * Bernard Claesen Speirdyke † (1634-1669) (p. 1661-1669): A Dutchman who joined secretly in 1661, being more of a smuggler than a pirate, selling the Brethren’s goods to merchants all around the New World. He joined Mansvelt and Veracruzaan in the raid of Los Pan Serpiente. He was killed in 1669 by a 40 gun frigate, which caught him careening and killed everyone in his crew
 * Jacob Fackman (1629-) (p. 1662-1668): An Albionite man, who joined the Brethren in 1662 after a mutiny. His crew joined the raid on Marakáipo, getting heavy losses. He joined the raid on Los Pan Serpiente. He escaped to France in 1668
 * David Maarten (1622-) (p. 1663-1667): A Dutchman who joined the Brethren in 1663, being a somewhat successful pirate, capturing a galleon filled with riches, and raiding many ships in the New Hispania area. He joined Veracruzaan’s raid on Los Pan Serpiente. He escaped to Sint Maarten in 1667
 * Pierre le Picard (1638-) (p. 1663-1669): A Frenchman, who was a close friend of l’Olonnais that joined in 1663, making an expedition to Chetumal and raiding it accompanied by Vauquelin and Bequel, in which they took many riches. He retired to France in 1669.
 * Jacques Tavernier † (1625-1666) (p. 1663-1666): Another Frenchman who came in 1663 and raided many ships off of the coasts of Rea, Taxacola and Nueva Granada. He was killed in the invasion of Tortuga.
 * Isaac Rochussen † (1631-1668) (p. 1664-1668): A dutchman who captured his ship with a way smaller one, then deciding to raid the Taxacolan coast, who joined l’Olonnais in his expedition to Chorotega, and died there being killed by an Iberian shot
 * Nicholas van Hoorn (1635-) (p. 1664-): Another Dutch pirate, who joined in 1664, befriending de Graaf quickly and planning more raids. He operated mostly on Taxacola, the Maya Territory and New Hispania.
 * Daniel Montbars (1645-) (p. 1664-): Another brutal Frenchman, who offered no quarter to Iberians, killing every single one if possible, as he hated the Iberians for killing his old crew. He actually was very kind to non Iberians that he captured, mostly being natives, which he usually asked to join on to his crew.

Insurance: the Brethren offers insurance to all of its pirates, with different payouts for different injuries


 * Leg: 300 pieces of eight
 * Right Hand: 200 pieces of eight
 * Right Arm: 400 pieces of eight
 * Left Hand: 100 pieces of eight
 * Left Arm: 200 pieces of eight
 * Eyes: 70 pieces of eight per piece
 * Ear: 20 pieces of eight
 * Fingers: 40 pieces of eight, 50 if the thumb is lost
 * Death: 1000 pieces of eight
 * Cash Payouts: during non peaceful boarding some actions are paid for, including scuttling captured ships, destroying enemy flags and managing to kill enemy captains.

Territories:

Little Athens (1632-)


 * Description: Little Athens is an island near New Hispania, named after the Greek kingdom on the island, it was founded by Captain Polycrates, and it functioned as the de facto headquarters of the Brethren until 1640, then becoming the headquarters again in 1666, with the Brethren greatly reduced in size
 * Population: 400

Tortuga (1639-1666)


 * Description: A decently sized island, captured by the Brethren in 1639, after the return of Axe. It is lightly populated, with only about 70 people living in it. The island is a prime buccaneering spot, due to its proximity to New Hispania. It was invaded by the Albionites in 1666, after a pirate raid on Los Pan Serpiente.
 * Population: 750 (before the invasion)

Bermuda (1642-1666)


 * Description: A mid sized island east of Eldia, which was colonized in 1642 to get a careening stop for PIC ships that trade to Europe and Africa. After the Secession of the PIC Bermuda’s economy started to decline, with few pirates even using it as their base. It became its own pirate republic after the fall of Tortuga in 1666
 * Population: 200

Los Lagartos (1659-)


 * Description: An island as big as Tortuga west of New Hispania, which is inhabited by Taínos, which was captured by Delahaye, Prins and Dieu-le-Velt
 * Population: 300

Navy: 10 ships, totalling 170 guns and 442 crewmen

Frigates: A very common type of ship in the world, boasting better swiftness and maneuverability than galleons, while also being able to match them in firepower. They use the fully rigged ship sail plan. These are common on the Albionite and Dutch navies, with the Brethren having some. They can carry over 40 cannons easily, but ours are usually not of that size.


 *  Cagway , frigate 16 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Jacob Fackman
 *  De Goulden Valk , frigate 20+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Isaac Rochussen

Galleons: Heavy two decker ships that are starting to fall out of use due to their obsoleteness. They are cargo ships which are less fast than frigates and less cargo capable than flutes, but they are still common among the Iberian navies. These ships can carry from 20 to a rumored 80 cannons, which are rumoured to be the cannon count of an Agoustan super ship launched over a century ago.


 *  Royal , galleon 24+6 guns and 80 crewmembers, captain Edward Mansvelt
 *  La Dame Noire , galleon 32+6 guns and 100 crewmembers , captain François l’Olonnais

Flutes: Dutch-built cargo ships, which can be outfitted with quite a few guns for a great effect. These ships have three masts, in a usual fully rigged style. they carry from 10 to 30 guns and can carry much more cargo than a usual frigate of the same size.


 * Amsterdam Meid, flute, 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Laurens Prins

Barques: A triple or quadruple masted ship that has the two front masts fully rigged, while the aft masts have gaff sails. They are usually used as mid sized cargo ships, but frigates are usually better


 *  Charity , barque, 16+5 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain David Maarten

Brigs: The main ship used by the Brethren, a two mast ship that uses mains’ls mostly, with a gaff sail in the aft side mast. Many of the Brethren’s captains use stuns’ls with their ships, effectively increasing the ship’s swiftness by a large margin. These ships are usually outfitted with over 14 cannons, with the bigger ones going all the way to 26.


 * Marquis, brig 16 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Charlotte de Berry
 *  Picardie , brig 14+4 guns and 46 crewmembers, captain Pierre le Picard
 * L’Amazon, brig 20+2 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Daniel Montbars
 * Vera Cruz, brig 14+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Bartolomeu Português

Ketches: Double masted ships, which use only gaff sails usually, as well as mains’ls in rarer cases. These are a middle point between sloops/cutters and brigs, usually having between 10 and 18 guns for the non merchant versions


 *  Le Havre , ketch 10+2 guns and 34 crewmembers, captain Moïse Vauquelin
 * Veracruz, ketch 16+4 guns and 50 cremembers, captain Roche Veracruzaan
 * Castries, ketch 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Jacquette Delahaye
 *  Mary and Jane , ketch 14+4 guns and 42 crewmembers, captain Bernard Claesen Speirdyke
 * Saint Nicholas, ketch 12+2 guns and 36 crewmembers, captain Nicholas van Hoorn

Cutters: Single masted ships, which are similar to sloops, but use one or two mains’ls in that mast as well as the jibs. This ship is usually called sloop by some, but the line is blurry, with it being technically correct to call them sloops.


 *  Aventurier , cutter 6+4 guns and 26 crewmembers, captain Phillipe Bequel
 *  Le Perle , cutter 8+4 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Jacques Tavernier
 * L’Tortue, cutter 10+4 guns and 36 crewmembers, captain Michel le Basque

Sloops: Ships with only one mast, which do not have a bowsprit, as well as a gaff sail, and from one to three jibs as well. These ships are small in size, not being able to carry many tons of cargo. This ship is commonly confused with cutters.


 * Consciencia, sloop 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Roche Veracruzano
 * Marianne, sloop 8+2 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Anne Dieu-le-Velt

New Arrivals


 * Bartolomeu Português (1665): A Veracruzan pirate, who joined in 1665 with his 14+4 gun brig, the Vera Cruz
 * Michel le Basque (1665): A Basque who was a buccaneer and managed to get enough money to have a 10+4 gun cutter built in Tortuga, which he named L’Tortue

Events


 * The Raid of Los Pan Serpiente (1665): Led by Roche Veracruzaan, a big raid is planned out to the town of Los Pan Serpiente, which is joined by Mansvelt, Speirdyke, Fackman and David Maarten, which then goes to the town, razing it completely, killing most of the population and then going back to Tortuga
 * Invasion of Tortuga (1666): After the destructive raid on New Valcania, the Albionites cut all ties to the pirates, and set an invasion up. The invasion was carried out in September 1666, catching the pirates by surprise. The fighting goes badly for the pirates, losing veterans like Moses and Bequel, as well as blowing up Vauquelin’s ship and killing Mansvelt and Tavernier. The Brethren from Tortuga then relocated to Little Athens.

The Chorotega Invasion (1667-1668): l’Olonnais, accompanied by a couple other pirates, attempts to make a pirate base encompassing the whole Chorotega terrritory, in which he is mildly succesful, managing to capture Colón and San Miguelito, with many inhumane things being done to the Iberians, including heart extraction and extreme methods of torture. His expedition contained his crew, as well as Rochussen’s. The expedition failed after the invasion force went west, as an Iberian army came from the west as well, catching them by surprise, and killing most of the pirates in the battle, but l’Olonnais himself was tortured and killed brutally due to his treatment of the Iberians.

Azure Cathay | Hošoi Hanarga
Land of Three Fowls [BROAD OVERVIEW, NARRATIVE EVENTS BELOW]
 * Government: Constitutional Monarchy
 * Emperor/Hošoigan: The Hošoigan, literally meaning “King of Four Corners”, is the supreme ruler of Azure Cathay, bound by a set of unchangeable laws referred to as the “Founding Injunctions” or the “Cathayan Constitution”. He is elected by the Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers from among the children, nieces, and nephews of the previous Hošoigan.
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Sirke [Posthumous] (b.1561) (r.1579-1601)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga | Khan of Great Radiance (b.1582) (r.1616-1649)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Haryansol | The Badger Emperor (b. 1610) (r.1649-1655)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Malanyalma | Emperor of Graceful Virtue (b. 1641) (r.1655-1663)
 * Regent: Dries de Vries (b.1606) (r.1655-1663)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Kūlmesem | The Deer Cauldron Emperor (b. 1639) (r.1663-)
 * Viceroy of the Mongols/Monggoli Noyan: The Mongol Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Central Asia on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (b.1587) (r.1616-1639)
 * Kiyat-i Ejei (b.1587) (r.1639-)
 * Viceroy of Minaye/Minyagi Noyan: The Minayan Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Minaye, a region roughly corresponding to OTL Northwest China, on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Zhou Baitian (b.1612) (r.1636-)
 * Administration: The administration of Azure Cathay is hierarchical in nature, with four levels of government, the county, prefecture, province, and national. At the lowest level of administration, the county level, the local magistrate and his council are elected by the citizenry from a small pool of candidates, all of whom are local government officials who have applied for the position. On higher levels though, governance is based around sortition. Those within the council who apply for the position of delegate to the next level are chosen via lottery, though the provincial council sends no delegate to the Deliberative Council. Below are a list of institutions within the Cathayan government. Positions of leadership within the bureaucracy are determined through a series of exams meant to create a cohesive state ideology and to test managerial skills, though it is not uncommon for noteworthy citizens to be appointed directly by the imperial government.
 * Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers/Dorosi-gwa Amban-i Hebeng Mancan: The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers, sometimes shortened to the “Great Council” (Haba Mancan) or simply, the “Deliberative Council” (Hebeng Mancan), is the greatest policymaking body within Cathay. The Deliberative Council advises the Emperor, proposes laws and policies, and elects the new Hošoigan. In addition, it technically has the power to force an abdication of the Emperor. The Deliberative Council consists of 24 automatic members, with a maximum membership of 36.
 * Censorate/Silhagūn Jibi: The Censorate, also called the Reviewal Department, is both a supervisory agency. In addition, it reviews edicts and commands received from the Emperor as a review mechanism against Azure Cathay’s founding legal codes. They are directly responsible to the Emperor. The main purpose of the Censorate is to check administration at every level to root out corruption and malfeasance, as well as to oversee the appointment and election of officials.
 * Secretariat/Nyalmang Iri Jibi: The Secretariat, also referred to as the Civil Affairs Department, is the highest executive institution of the imperial government. It is managed by a Grand Secretary, with two Deputy Directors who assist them in their administrative duties. The Secretariat’s purpose is to put into effect commands and edicts from the Emperor.
 * Five Ministries/Uca Jibyawi : The Five Ministries are the backbone of the civil government of Qing. The FIve Ministries are under the Secretariat, which is in itself responsible to the Deliberative Council and the Emperor. They are responsible for implementing policies and managing the Cathayan civilian bureaucracy. The Five Ministries are: the Ministry of Plenty responsible for economic management, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial system, the Ministry of Works, responsible for infrastructure and other such things, the Ministry of Posts, managing internal trade and the postal system, and the Ministry of Scholars, responsible for much of the administration around scholar-bureaucrats.
 * Economy: The economy of Cathay is primarily agrarian, though luxury items, iron products, textiles, cash crops, and pottery are a significant contributor to the Cathayan economy. In Amuria, Nanukai-Nabin, a system not dissimilar to Fengjian or sharecropping, is the prominent form of land ownership.The Cathayan government intervenes little in the economy, only occasionally directing corporate efforts and monopolizing certain resources to generate a stable source of revenue required for the running of the nation. In recent years, the putting-out economic model has gradually begun to be replaced by workshops as the demographic of those engaged in non-agricultural work has changed from freelancing farmers to those at the bottom of society seeking a stable source of income.
 * Currency: Jiha
 * Primary Capital: Habanisūn (de facto), Girincasa (de jure)
 * Regional Capitals: Habanisūn, Haisenwē, Alcuka, Miyoo Gasan (Kilemi Prt.)
 * Demographics:
 * Ethnic Makeup:
 * Narangga: 16.5%
 * Mongols: 4.5%
 * Zhongyuan Chinese: 52.7%
 * Bing Chinese: 8.3%
 * Wu Chinese: 11.9%
 * Chu Chinese: 2.8%
 * Other (Joseonese, Dongyi, Hui, etc.): 3.4%
 * Population: 50,080,000
 * Total Urban Centers: ~2,000,000
 * Military: The Cathayan military is categorized by its maneuverability, small unit size, adaptability, logistic prowess, and focus on quick decisive victories, a product of its relative lack of resources and manpower. With much of Cathay's military now being composed of forces formerly under Wu Dynasty and the change in general strategy which followed, long-lasting wars fought over large fronts have become more feasible. Similar to the civilian bureaucracy, positions of leadership within the military are determined through a series of exams concerning military strategy and performance.
 * Eight Banners/Yeteri Dokcagi: The Eight Banners are the elite forces of Azure Cathay. The Eight Banners are organized by of four main colours; red, yellow, blue, and white, with a bordered and plain variety existing for each. For the most part, bannermen (dokcagisi) must come from certain martial clans. As such, the bannermen are effectively a hereditary military class. Banner households are exempt from select taxation but must bring their own equipment to battle when called to arms. Despite this, the composition of the banner armies are remarkably uniform - each soldier wields a sword or polearm with a bow, occasionally a rifle, and has knowledge of warfare on horseback.
 * Number of Bannermen: 79,600
 * Black Standard Army/Suksan Bolsung Saosimul: The Black Standard Army is a military force which draws members from Amurian and Joseonese recruits and conscripts. It is organized in a very similar way to the banner armies.
 * Total Black Standard Army Forces: 176,000
 * Imperial Navy/Hanarga-i Badassaosi: The Imperial Navy is split into two fleets, the Eastern Fleet and the Western fleet, with the former occupying the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk and the latter occupying the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The base for the two fleets are, respectively, Haisenwē and Habanisūn.
 * Total Number of Naval Personnel: ~4800
 * Total Number of Ships: 67
 * Green Standard Army/Fūrūn Bolsung Saosimul: Unlike the Black Standard Army, the Green Standard Army is incredibly uniform, consisting mostly of infantrymen used as cannon fodder. However, there are sizeable cavalry, logistical, and artillery corps as well.
 * Total Green Standard Army Forces: 294,100
 * Hwēnmu Jikesi: The Hwēnmu Jikesi are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards and Azure Cathay’s secret police force.
 * Wars and Conflicts None

In 1666, the Jiuli Union, previously a union of Southwestern Sinitic and Hmongic groups, had grown to include the Nuosu and Bai peoples following a swift invasion of their lands and shrewd diplomatic navigating. The Nuosu caste system had been essentially abolished as the aristocratic White Yi had been forced to either live as hermits or die. Slavery was soon abolished, but the economic situation resulted in Yi society being dominated by indentured servitude. The Nakhi, a matriarchal people who inhabited the borders of the Himalayas, became vassals of the Jiuli Union in 1667. The Hani people, sharing common blood with the Yi, were compelled to accept vassalhood from the Jiuli Union the following year. With that, Yunnan, for all intents and purposes, was now unified, and in a remarkably bloodless manner, at that.

Rusang soon began to incorporate these regions into her realm. Alongside the Nine Tigers, the heads of the Jiuli civil bureaucracy, Rusang created the Nine Cranes, nine governor-generals appointed to rule circuits, administrative divisions demarcated by where the governors’ military rule extended (Chinese: 道) (Hmong: kev), thus replacing the system of Departments by which the Jiuli had previously ruled.

Meanwhile, up north, Emperor Kūlmesem began the process of expanding Cathayan control into the Siberia interior, to better control and maintain the fur trade which filled the coffers of Azure Cathay. This decision was in part influenced by the arrival of a certain foreigner into the Cathayan court; Irivesk, a delegate from Iyàn’s Return, an anti-Varangian Adytite rebellion built around the belief that the founding prophet of Sarkicism had returned ea. He then began the process of absorbing Minaye into the core Cathayan realm - something which angered the Minayan Noyan, Zhou Baitian, who forged a secret alliance with Xiong Rusang and Chhiok Hokchêng, putting further strain on the once-cordial relations between the realms of the Chinese south and Cathay. The Burning Azure (2):

Stone Cold:

"The thoughts of one man are clear but are often misled. The thoughts of twenty men are clear and wise - sagacity comes in their shared thoughts. Yet the thought of a thousand men are incoherent, muddled, and neither truth nor falsity dominate. The thoughts of a thousand men are even more so. For this reason officials, both elected and appointed, should serve primarily as the teacher of the citizenry for matters greater than the village. When the government's eyes are attentive and their arms wide-reaching, and the citizenry compliant yet with sense of self, true prosperity shall arise."


 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga, c.1622

---

Upon entering the palace of Habanisūn, the chambers where the greatest land empire in Eurasia maintained its ascendancy, one was told one thing.

Be wary of Kūlmesem.

The former concubines of Dries' harem rarely took this advice to heart. Kūlmesem was a pleasant, charismatic man, though slightly eccentric and with a razor-sharp edge. Upon his overthrow of Malanyalma, he had bestowed upon the entirety of the harem noble ranks, and had allowed them to keep their work as secretaries. For a man otherwise ruthless in the destruction of institutions and practices seen as Han, his treatment of the former Imperial Harem was surprisingly lenient. Some had suspected something askew - but these musings were disregarded as paranoid by all.

At least, until now.

"Fair ladies of bright countenance. I, your emperor, am compelled by the heavens to put something forth," Kūlmesem announced.

A murmur rose up amongst the assembled women, who turned to each other and whispered into each other’s ears with whitened eyes. Kūlmesem, for whatever reason, seemed different that day. Alien, even. Perhaps it was the work of the cloaked man besides him, enfolded within layers and layers of bandages, some falling loose like tassels. Of the newcomer next to nothing was known, and for that he had already earned the epithet “The Interloper” - a foreigner from a distant land meddling in the affairs of Cathay. Regardless, Kūlmesem held his cloaked companion in high esteem, as evidenced by his constant presence at state meetings.

“When a sworn enemy brings his whores into another man’s home - what must be done? When weak-willed men and women allow themselves to be taken by the enemy of their sworn protector - is it not a dishonor?” Kūlmesem continued on with a tone inscrutable.

“In marriage, both man and woman make themselves make themselves owed to another, thus forming a bond stronger than the open heavens. But in concubinage, this is not so. It is a one-way bond, marriage perverted into slavery.”

“Why would a woman, honorable and sure of herself, submit herself so?” Kūlmesem said as he paced to-and-fro, his hand growing ever closer to the hilt of his sword.

The doors locked shut.

“In you, there is a piece of your former masters - and I cannot allow that,” Kūlmesem finally added, before unsheathing his longsword as silence turned to ear-shattering screams.

There was no hatred in his heart.

But what must’ve been done, had to be done.

---

“Shall we leave, my emperor?”

“No,” Kūlmesem said, eyes fixed on the hills of blood-stained corpses which lay before him. The air was steeped in the scent of gore.

“We will not leave. Death must take its time.” No Right to Rule (7): 

Fruit Falling:

"Management, governance, leadership - these are things that occur spontaneously in all societies of great enough size. Society cannot go without them. Tian is not against them, for Tian is nature itself. Tian is not against anything, it does not distinguish between good or bad, right or wrong. But when something is inappropriate and not timely done, without the proper quality - when man attempts to impose what it has created onto nature, it manifests itself as conflict and oppression. This is a manifesting of plethoric action. The sagacious ruler casts away their ego so they may be at ease with the world - their only drive is compassion for the citizenry. The sagacious ruler rules passively so harmony amongst their subjects may arise naturally."


 * Excerpt from Chapter 2 of "The Sages on Civics" by Xiong Rusang, c.1662

---

It was a harsh truth, but one every parent had to accept, in time.

That, however foolish they may seem, their child was independent of them.

For as long as Rusang had known her, Lixing was a girl fraught with nervousness. Rusang felt as if her potential was unreached, that even in her late teens she had not yet come into herself. Was Lixing’s aloofness a fault of hers, as her mother? No, that Rusang could never accept. Still, Rusang could neither accept that Lixing was destined to stay a quiet recluse, never blooming - for it meant that Rusang’s care of her was doomed from the start.

It then was certainly surprising when Lixing asked to embark on a journey to search for her origins. Yes, Lixing always had a thorough attachment to her provenance, to her life before Rusang, but such initiative was completely out-of-character for the reserved girl. Lixing never lost a piece of the hem of her original caretaker’s dress, protecting it always. Rusang, on some nights, had fretted over whether that meant she hadn’t done enough for her daughter. Those days were now distant - Rusang had long since accepted it as another quirk of Lixing’s.

Rusang considered the options - the pros and cons.

On one hand, Lixing was entering womanhood. Rusang had no doubts that she could survive on her own - she was adept at swordsmanship and absorbed all which Rusang had told her of life, both within gilded palaces and within the wider world. On the other hand though, Lixing’s goal was to fill a cup with no bottom. In such a vast and chaotic world, how could she possibly find even a shard of where she had come from? It was simply impossible, a fool’s errand.

At long last though, Rusang acquiesced. It was likely an irresponsible decision she made, but one which had to be done. Rusang had asked Lixing of two things though; to never refrain from revealing her identity when in mortal danger, to mail a letter to Rusang if she found what she wished to find, and to return home in no more than four years.

And so, just days before her seventeenth birthday, Lixing left home. NOTABLE PEOPLE

ERAS: There are numerous eras within Cathayan chronology. The periodization below reflects the narrative structure of Sahaliyan/Tashaci’s turns, and is rather subpar from a historical perspective. SIX LORDS OF CATHAY: The Six Lords of Cathay are regarded as the most influential figures within the first third of Azure Cathay’s existence (~1600-1730). As such, they are given much attention narrative-wise. (ie. these are characters i cherish and spent lots of time on) Other Notable Individuals:
 * Emerging Cathay (1601-1649): Emerging Cathay is the name given to the period which corresponds to Isangga’s reign in Cathayan chronology. It is categorized by the rise of the Naranga from a group of disunified states in Southern Amuria to the masters of much of Asia.
 * Three Princes and Three Emperors (ONGOING):
 *  Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga  (Oct. 1582-Dec.1649): Isangga, born the bastard son of a small local Dorosi in Southern Amuria, was the first emperor of Azure Cathay. He united Amuria, subjugated Korea with the help of the Nihonese Empire, conquered eastern and Inner Mongolia, and most importantly captured Northern China in a war which led to the fall of the Wu. On the domestic side, he is credited with the emergence of proto-industrialization in Amuria and later China, the first all-encompassing ban on homosexuality in East Asia, and inventing the Naranga script. In addition, his insistence on separating Amurian history from that of wider East Asia resulted in early nationalism. The government he outlined within the Cathayan Constitution was also one of the first with a strict enforcement of the constitution, separation of powers, and local-level democracy. The later prevalence of capitalism and collectively-owned corporations can also be attributed to him, as the Cathayan Constitution defined extensive personal property rights but said little concerning larger businesses.
 *  Sisam Utaripi-ni Kimopte  (Sept.1596-Feb.1659): Kimopte was a prominent bandit and insurgent whose actions led to Naranga dominance of Northern Amuria, and later, the Sea of Okhotsk. Her literary style of vivid images with little meaning had a great impact on the fiction of late 17th and 18th century Cathay. She also was an explorer, venturing as far east as Haida Gwaii during a decade-long voyage wherein she diligently recorded the peoples and locales she encountered. So notorious were her actions in Northern Amuria that she later became mythologized, influencing fox folklore across East Asia.
 *  Xiong Rusang  (Jun.1623-):
 *  Chhiok Hokchêng  (Aug.1624-):
 *  Yagu Gwalgya-i Kūlmesem  (Dec.1649-)
 *  Xiong Lixing  (Apr.1650-):
 * Aisin Gyoro-ni Nurhaci (Jan.1580 - Apr. 1616): The Dorosi of the Gyoro clan and a childhood friend of Isangga's, before becoming bitter rivals by 1616, the year of his death. Killed by an accidental shot to the heart by Isangga. It is rumored that he may have had a homosexual relationship with Isangga during their teenage years, though evidence of a daliance between the two is scant. Born on January 8th. Spouse: Yagu Gwalgya-i Jinai
 * Sannyoayno (Mar. 15-): A former general of the king of Techuhe before backstabbing him and establishing a military junta over vast swaths of Northern Amuria. Died at the hands of Sisam Utaripi-ni Kimopte, hired by the Gwalgya clan to coup Sannyoayno's realm. Spouse: Unknown
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (Mar.18 1588-Aug.1639): One of the first subjects of the Gwalgya state, which would later become the Naranga Empire and Azure Cathay. She infamously genocided the Khitan population of Mongolia during the Naranga Conquest of Later Liao. In addition, she covered up the death of Isangga's son, Noraisol, during combat, which led to her untimely "disappearance" in 1639. Spouse: Sisam Utaripi-ni Iminatē
 * Zhou Baitian (Nov.1612-):
 * Dries de Vries (Feb.1606-):

Empire of Matagaskar | Empira Matagasykara
Notable People of Matagaskar/Imerina (in chronological order) [WIP]:
 * Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
 * Monarch: Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (B 1632 - Age 37, alive) (R 1658 - Present)
 * Consort: Empress Ratompoimbahoaka (B 1633 - Age 36, alive) [Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe has three other wives: Ramahafoloarivo, Rampanananiamboninitany and Ranavolontsimitoviaminandrianaralambo, although only his first wife is considered empress consort.]
 * Ruling Dynasty: Hova
 * Chief of Kômôro: Kifeda (B 1622 - Age 47) (R 1653 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Ranjevasy: Rabenirina (B ca 1614 - Age ca 55, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Maorisy: Tovondrava (B 1615 - Age 54, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Order of Succession: Prince Andriandambomanafika (B 1660 - Age 9, alive), Princess Ravololondrenitrimo (B 1661 - Age 8, alive), Prince Andrianjakanavalondambo (B 1664 - Age 5, alive), Princess Andriamanjakatokana (B 1636 - Age 33, alive), Prince Razafindramahata (B 1621 - Age 47, alive), Princess Mialitiana (B 1651 - Age 18, alive), Princess Rabetsara (B 1624 - Age 45, alive)...
 * Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing as well as trade, mostly with the Swahili states of East Africa but also other foreign merchants. The Malagasy economy stands as one of the strongest and most developed in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to the effect of foreign contact. Matagaskar controls the entire island of the same name and holds influence in parts of East Africa.
 * Allies: Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla (defensive pact), Mutapa (personal alliance)
 * Capital: Antananarivo
 * Demographics:
 * Population: ca 798 000 total
 * Mahajanga: 9 300
 * Antananarivo: 7 000
 * Toamasina: 4 650
 * Manakara: 3 300
 * Ambanja: 2 500
 * Morafenobe: 2 500
 * Toliara: 2 070
 * Antsiranana: 1 900
 * Moroni: 1 100
 * Antsirabe: 800
 * Fipetrahana: 500
 * Amorontsiraka: 500
 * Rural regions: ca 765 000
 * Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (consisting of 18 ethnic groups, the three largest of which, in order, are the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Sakalava), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), ca 5% Adnanite, >1% Albionite (Fort Dolphin and nearby areas)
 * Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, ca 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore) and other traditional folk religions, >1% Anglican Christianity
 * Wars and Conflicts (italics: Potential War):
 * N/A
 * Military: Due to Matagaskar being a rural realm, a large amount of units can be raised for warfare, but usually about 1% of the population is the most trained and prepared soldiers that can be drafted. Parentheses means the deployed units in cases where not all units are deployed for war.
 * Deployed units: None
 * Total (1%): 7 800
 * 2 080 Spearmen
 * 1 420 Swordsmen
 * 300 Bowmen
 * 2 050 Crossbowmen
 * 1 500 Light Cavalry
 * 600 Fossa Warriors
 * Navy:
 * 13 Adananita class ships
 * 12 Mer'ana class ships
 * 10 transport ships
 * Diplomacy:
 * Mutapa: Emperor Andriantsimitoviandriandehibe continues supporting Mutapa’s war ambitions with the occasional gift of gold, resources or equipment.
 * Swahili Coast: Several more expeditions along the coast are done and the region is effectively mapped out by contacting, trading with, and doing diplomacy with the various states, especially the ones further north that we haven’t had much contact with yet.
 * Events:
 * Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe: The rule of Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe, there has been a clear focus on the military, with several reforms related to it being passed. The Emperor and Botokeky have discussions, where Botokeky informs the Emperor of the potential Matagaskar has in foreign lands should the navy be improved. Botokeky convinces him that this is both good for his realm but also a good showing of his power as monarch. Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe agreed and began to realize the potential, especially regarding the economic influence that Matagaskar holds over the Swahili coast. More ships are built and they are altered slightly, to try and mimic that of some of the ships we’ve seen from the Agoustans and British. This will allow us to go just a little bit further out at sea.
 * Reaching Adanania: The first few Malagasy merchant ships reach Adanania (Adnania, the Arabian peninsula), taking either a route along the Swahili coast or through Avestan waters to get there. Contact is established with Ajuuraan, Sumali, Portuguese Socotra and Al-Qarsoon.
 * Past Rulers:
 * Ammagari dynasty (ca 1392-1517):
 * Andrianerinerina (ca 1360s-1418): Legendary first king, said to be the son of the god Zanahary himself. Reigned from ca 1392 to 1418.
 * Andrianjavonana (1391-1447): Ruled during a period of language and alphabet-development. Reigned from 1418 to 1447.
 * Andrianamponga (1427-1455): Encountered the Adnanites, expanded the rule over the Comoros. Died in a mysterious event. Reigned from 1447 to 1455.
 * Andrianamboniravina (1429-1469): Formed the Fossa Warriors, fought the Avestan invaders. Reigned from 1455 to 1469.
 * Zafimahova (1434-1488): Regent for Rafandrandrava. De facto ruler even after Rafandrandrava’s coming of age. Official regency lasted from 1469 to 1471. De facto queen regnant from 1469 to 1488.
 * Rafandrandrava (1453-1494): Underage at the time of ascension, was basically just a de jure ruler for most of his reign. Oversaw the expansion into the Central Highlands. Reigned from 1469 to 1494.
 * Andriamasindohafandrana (1477-1513): Continued adapting foreign technology and expanding south. Visited the Ahuric Empire. Murdered by conspiring Fossa Warriors. Reigned from 1494 to 1513.
 * Rafandrampohy (1495-1550): Conducted a massive crackdown on the conspirators who killed his father. Abdicated in favor of his wife Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, triggering the Merina Civil War. After this he became a religious person. Reigned from 1513 to 1517.
 * Hova dynasty (current):
 * Rangitamanjakatrimovavy/Rangita (1493-1552): First true queen of Imerina and ruler from the Hova dynasty. Won the Merina Civil War, moved the capital to Mahajanga. Reigned from 1517 to 1552.
 * Rafohy (1528-1572): Established contact with Mutapa, expanded the kingdom, made the Order of Sihanaka official. Died of a miscarriage. Reigned from 1552 to 1572.
 * Andriamanelo the Great (1546-1605): Unifier of the entire island. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. Considered the greatest monarch in Malagasy history (so far). Reigned from 1572 to 1605.
 * Ralambo (1566-1612): Legalized polygamy, introduced the fandroana celebration, reformed the feudal system. Died of a sexually transmitted disease. Reigned from 1605 to 1612.
 * Andrianjaka (1571-1628): Founded Antananarivo upon the former settlement of Analamanga and moved the capital there. Improved infrastructure, held a census. Deposed by his son and wife in an internal conflict. Reigned from 1612 to 1626.
 * Andriantsitakatrandriana (1608-1658): Married the Shona woman Raviro who became his wife and empress. Defeated the Order of Yasht during their rebellion. Reigned from 1626 to 1658.
 * Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (1632-Present):
 * Others:
 * Hainteny (ca 1370s-1423): Philosopher and writer. First person to truly take advantage of writing when it came into being in Imerina. Formed the basis of the Haintenist faith.
 * Tsilavohery (ca 1410s-1467): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Rakotomanjato until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king.
 * Rakotomanjato (ca 1421-1505): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Tsilavohery until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king. He betrayed the Merina and became king of a group of Bara peoples. That polity did not last too long however and was eventually conquered by Imerina.
 * Ndahimananjara (ca 1440s-1503): First ever Fossa Warrior. Married into the Ammagari dynasty. His branch would eventually rule the island.
 * Andriantompokoindrindra (1467-1527): Father of Andriamihaja and Rangitamanjakatrimovavy.
 * Tombovelo (ca 1480s-1543): Religious figure who essentially was the one to create the Malagasy variant of Zoroastrianism. He also traveled and studied in the Ahuric Empire.
 * Andriamihaja (1496-1527):
 * Ratsifandrihamanana (1493-1556): Second husband of Rangita.
 * Rakotomazava (ca 1510s-1577): Founder of the Order of Sihanaka, which later became the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Rakotomanjafy (ca 1520s-1590s): Mpiady of the Order of Sihanaka.
 * Ranjeva (ca 1540s-ca 1603): Explorer and discoverer of the Mascarene Islands.
 * Rafidy (ca 1580s-1642): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tsiajotso/Rakotomazava II (ca 1589-1647): Leader of the southern Order of Rakotomazava and later leader of the Order of Yasht. Exiled himself and the Order to Mtende.
 * Zozimar (ca 1590s-1639): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Ramalalaharivololona (ca 1590s-1657): Usurped the position of High Chief of Mahajanga, but was defeated by a coalition of lords and imprisoned. Died in prison in 1657.
 * Rambolazafy (1599-1653): High Chieftess of Mahajanga.
 * Tombomankara (ca 1595-1647): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava from 1628 to 1647.
 * Boazandrivelo/Rakotomazava III (ca 1600-1663): Originally just a soldier of the Order of Rakotomazava and later of the Order of Yasht. He became an important associate of Tsiajotso. He took over as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after Tsiajotso died, becoming Rakotomazava III.
 * Tsivalaka (1603-68): Mpiady/Grand Mobad of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Catherine Burwick (1603-present): Noble Scottish woman who married Mamangy and had a child with him.
 * Mamangy “Andrew” Burwick (1605-present): Chef, considered to have been the first one to make a popular dish out of dodo meat. Traveled to Europe via British trade vessels.
 * Raviro (1608-1657): A princess of Mutapa and now Empress consort, first non-Malagasy consort of a ruler.
 * Mafilaza/Rakotomazava IV (ca 1610-present): Impressive soldier of the Order of Yasht. Became Rakotomazava IV as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after the death of Boazandrivelo.
 * Rabenirina (ca 1615-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tovondrava (1614-present): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Manorohanta (1620-1655): Advisor and explorer. Went on an expedition to the Nyafo (Rodrigues) island, but it led to a shipwrecking where all of the crew died F in the chat.
 * Rakotomandimbindraibe (1622-Present): Grand Mobad of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Botokeky (1633-Present): Tompon-daka of the Fossa Warriors.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except Malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except Malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.

The Confederacy of Greater Abenanka

 * Government: Feudal Parliamentary Tribal Monarchy
 * Ruler: Yupoaka Fure-echinge (b. 1592, r. 1642-)
 * Parliament of Abenanka: After growing closer to the Tlingit states, some of their customs and practices are adopted, one of which is a parliamentary system of government. Each clan in Abenanka sends one delegate to a parliament, Poroninu, that advises the Yupoaka on important matters. 24 different representatives meet in Sunak with Yupoaka Fure-echinge. The representatives from Ekimne and Sinnam are not given a vote when no initial consensus can be reached, meaning for now they can just propose plans and watch. The clans are divided into regions, namely Abenanka-Tsu, Abenanka-Hom, Abenanka-Mem, Abenanka-Nah. The latter three all have one clan with three votes that acts as a regional leader.
 * Three Votes: Central and large clans, namely Nakniq, Abe-na-Funi, Abe-na-Fure, Abe-no-Wak, Abe-na-Nis, and Wakka-Ep.
 * Two Votes: Somewhat relevant clans and clans that the government owes favors to. A few are Takahkae, Sakpok, Aanoye, Aachi-sei, and Aachi-aea.
 * One Vote: All others, including Ekimne, Sinnam, and Suaka.
 * Notable Figures:
 * Royal Family:
 * Rimatace Atusanum (b. 1594)
 * Matace Norebe (b. 1615)
 * Yupace Kupray (b. 1618)
 * Yupace Sukki (b. 1644)
 * Wappo, the brilliant moose tamer, and milker apparently (b. 1600)
 * Kurasaro Kurupas, failed explorer turned trade king (b. 1594)
 * Issam, sailor who reunited the Abenanka with Asia (b. 1622)
 * Sepake, pioneer of Abenankan music (b. 1628)
 * Tsra-Yerui, popular and charming delegate from the large tribe of Sakpok (b. 1639)
 * Deceased:
 * Yupace Yaichinane, prince whose death triggered Abenanka’s expansionism (b. 1591, d. 1607)
 * Yupoaka Yukki, the last ruler of a time before Abenankan domination (b. 1569, d. 1642; r. 1599-1642)
 * Yutara, general who led Abenankan troops to victory over neighbors (b. 1574, d. 1648)
 * Apsitako, dog who indirectly invented grilled cheese (b. 1639, d. 1657)
 * Economy: The Abenanka are a more urban civilization than its neighbors, with gravel streets dividing up short rows of huts and simple houses. The constant flow of boats carrying food, goods, artifacts and treasures between deep ports in remote cities keeps the nation’s internal and external trade with neighbors strong and unifies the nation. The door to Asia has reopened after an unusually cold period prevented travel along the Wakka islands, but it will be a while until items from there are commonplace. However, metalworking continues to grow more prevalent and beneficial as the nation’s militaristic and economic needs grow. Some basic aquaculture has sprung up in the deep inlets and bays surrounding Kasukuak, and foraging in the rich forests near the wilderness at the northern border helps enrich the diet of the people. Shipbuilding of larger, stronger ships brings jobs to the larger cities. With the recent discovery of gold in the rivers to the north and the mountains in the newly conquered western land, a rush has begun for extraction of gold, silver, and other valuable minerals and metals nationwide. These are often traded for foods, goods, and rare items (especially turquoise) from nations far to the south. The nation is divided amongst different clans that each pay tributary to the chief General and Yupoaka in Sunak. Each clan has their own specialty and trade, such as the warrior Nakniq, or the expert fisher Takahkae.
 * Capital: Sunak
 * Demographics:
 * Population:
 * Abenanka Proper: 80,325
 * Sunak: 11,000
 * Kasukuak: 5,950
 * Illiamna: 5,425
 * Nomiom: 4,000
 * Nanwalek: 3,100
 * Poksia: 2,200
 * Outside Cities: ~48,650
 * Frontier Regions: ~4,000
 * Nakniq Region: ~11,750
 * Ekimne Region: ~14,000
 * Udamagax: ~4,200
 * Ugasik: ~2,400
 * Ikatan: ~1,950
 * Sinnam Region: ~15,400
 * Amaxnax: ~5,000
 * Chalukax: ~2,500
 * Conquered Wakka: ~3,000
 * Religion:
 * Abenankan Religion: 94%
 * Buddhism: 1%
 * Other: 5%
 * Ethnicities:
 * Abenankan: The vast majority and a mix of Ainu and some Dena’inu, 73%.
 * Eastern Clans (Ekimne, Sinnam, etc.): Groups with more Ainu influence, 20%.
 * Dena’inu Clans: Mostly assimilated tribes, 4%.
 * Oresu’guru: Asians from, well, Asia, or Sahnyate, 3%.
 * Aashiru: Others, >1%.
 * Military: 
 * Manpower: 
 * There is no actual military in Abenanka, except for the Yupoaka’s guards, but they rarely leave the ruler’s side. Each local chief selects people from their clan to fight whenever it is necessary. Every person sent to the front lines has some minor combat training, a spear or bow, simple leather or chainmail armor and a helmet. Some veterans can get access to better weapons and prized scale mail armor.
 * Soldiers: a lot
 * Aimakipako: 1,000
 * Rayketaynu: 130
 * Weapons:
 * The bow and arrow is a common weapon with most male Abenankans having at least some training in it. The spear is the most common melee weapon, although tomahawks, knives and swords are also seen in combat.
 * Rayketek: The introduction of a handful of firearms from the Tlingit states and Asia boosts our military advantage over our enemies substantially.
 * Wars and Conflicts:
 * Scratch That, Expand: The invasion of Wakka is going swimmingly. Small towns are easily subjugated with little difficulty. The poorly equipped Wakkans’ best defense is the rocky terrain that makes transporting the Aimakipako through some areas challenging. Abenanka sine! Abenanka Ippetama!
 * Fighting Water with Fire: Every child learns that the water extinguishes the fire. But when the fire has firepower, it is the water which cannot compete. Such is the plight of the Wakkans. The Abenankans, having now acquired modern technologies far beyond the Wakkans’ capacity. Only being able to defend themselves with their traditional weak armor and weapons, a rising Abenankan general named Norakuro constantly confuses, confounds the Wakkans’ best men. The fire burns upon the water, setting the stage for greatness.
 * Natural Immunities go BRRR: Soldiers with the strange, foreign diseases are sent to the front line in hopes of infecting enemy soldiers, and infected civilians are sent as spies to enemy villages to spread the disease amongst the townsfolk.
 * Diplomacy:
 * Taqwúba and surrounding nations: Hey so we want to increase trade with you guys through a permanent establishment. Any takers?
 * Events (1650-55):
 * The Turquoise Fleet: Our trade expands south. Our trading vessels show up in Hennauke, Makah, Luqal and surrounding tribes, picking up things such as turquoise and rare metals not found in Abenanka, furs and artifacts, exotic and rare materials and natural resources only obtainable further south, and foreign weapons. The large quantities of the precious blue material give our fleet its colorful name. Turquoise is a hot commodity up and down the coast, traded for marked-up prices and usually making our merchants a pretty penny. The trade spans from Ikatan in the north and west all the way to the Chinook tribes in the south and east. If only there was some other way to easily extend our commerce...
 * F: The next chief General drowns in a competition to hold one’s breath the longest. What a loser.
 * Manifesting our Destiny: The eastern expansion along the Sakpok brings more ethnic diversity to the nation as we begin to assimilate the Dena’ina and introduce them to civilized concepts like democracy, metalworking, and sussiku iwamuke (grilled cheese).
 * Events (1655-60):
 * Play Us a Song, Mr. Aksepone Man, Part ?: Sepake hops on a boat to Asia to find out about some of the music techniques used there. He spends a few sky-cycles in Satporotpet, Kyoto, and Niigata, sharing his findings with local musicians, and returns to Abenanka with his ears full of the sounds of the West.
 * Big Brain Optional, Part ?: Trade with the Asian nations has led to a new era of prosperity. The strange powder used to power our Rayketek is no longer in scarcity, fueling our invasion. Much stronger weapons and armor put our smiths to work.
 * City of Gold, Part II: Poksia continues to grow in population, becoming a cultural center for the displaced Oresu’guru and Dena’inu tribes. Gold, silver, and valuable resources are abundant in the nearby hills and mountains, and trade with Suacit helps its size grow as well. A basic fur trade begins to grow out of the city, with townsfolk taking trips into the untouched forests to the South and East and returning with pelts and skins to be sold and traded in Kasukuak or Suacit.
 * The Big Sick: Renewed contact with the Western lands and the tribes to the southeast who have been exposed to Europeans have caused a mysterious disease to infect Abenankans. It runs rampant in our cities, slightly weakening our military. Our traditional medical practices are barely effective, so we seek out the medicine of the West.
 * Sussiku Iwamuke: Grilled cheese.
 * Scouting ahead: To protect our interests in the Salish coast, trade is increased in the area. The idea for a permanent trading outpost of sorts is conceived, and we enter talks with some native states.

The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)

 * Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord (BubbleRocket1#8016)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy


 * Drakes:
 * Luke III (M, b. 1628 - ) (R: 1858 - )
 * Brother: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Sister: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Important People:
 * King Family
 * Jocelyn King (F, b. 16?? - )
 * Fortuna King (F, b. 1609 - )

Economy: The economy of British Isles consists of trade and commerce of a variety of materials. The primary export products of the UK are fish, wool, cloth, and a variety of vegetables.

Main Religion: Christianity

Cities and Demographics:


 * Population:  9.982 million
 * British Mainland: 7.669 million
 * British Settlers: 47,034
 * Elysian Population: 25,925
 * Jamestown: 803
 * Fort Elysia: 412
 * Fort Epheria: 473
 * Fort Infinity: 105
 * Greensfort: 482
 * Catonzia: 22,905
 * HALO Settlement: 4,437
 * Vinland Local Population: 1,604 thousand external subjects
 * Elysian Local Population: 541 thousand external subjects
 * Includes the population of the states of Elysia and Laconia
 * Elysia: 394k
 * Laconia: 90k
 * Deasaheim: 55k
 * Becomes “Second-rate” citizens of the Empire in 1616
 * Just a fancy loophole that allows the population to be recruited into the army, though will have long-lasting effects as time progresses
 * Lansenia: 53,206
 * New Glaemchester: 6,357
 * Catonzia Local Population: 412 thousand external subjects
 * British Bahamas:: Roughly 2,000 overall (for both island chains in the area)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito: 2,870
 * Port Kingpin: 1,335
 * Albish Galapagos: 742
 * Albish Falklands: 806
 * British Bahamas: 81,450
 * British Shattered isles: 5,247
 * British Belize: 375


 * Cities
 * Brighton: A newer shipbuilding facility located on the English Channel.
 * Birmingham: A quiet town that is the location of McCarthy Arms Company, one of, if not, the oldest firearms companies to date.
 * Calais: One of the few French towns still owned by the British, it is a prosperous city that is one of the most important trading hubs in the North Sea.
 * Dover: Main location of the British navy. While elements of the navy are located throughout the territory, the headquarters of the navy are located here. In addition, Dover is the main trading hub between it and Caen.
 * Dublin: Main hub of Ireland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * Elysiapolis: The capital of the Elysian province, as well as the main headquarters for the BFG Company.
 * Fort Avalon: An old British camp located on a Vinland island. Though mostly uninhabited, it is staffed by a skeleton crew, in the event of a British ship stranding itself on the Vinland island.
 * Gibraltar: An important town the British claimed in the League Wars. Essentially give them control of who can and cannot leave the Mediterranan, though the British generally let anyone pass, not wishing to piss anyone off.
 * Glaemchester: A British town north of London, this city is known to house various wealthy nobles, with some of the finest tapestries being produced here.
 * Glasgow: Main hub of Scotland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * London: The capital of England, and location of the throne.
 * New London: The location of the British East Indian Company’s base-of-operations in India. Population primarily of locals, though as time progresses, more European influence seeps into the town.
 * Portsmouth: The location of the first drydocks in history, which became the founding of various legendary ships of the Royal Navy
 * York: Main center of England’s eastern fishing company. Also where a bulk of British trading companies are located, evident from the various merchant caravels present there.
 * Colonial Forts/Towns
 * Cape Town (South Africa)
 * British East India Company
 * Fort Avalon (Vestkyst-Vinland)
 * Old British fort owned by the British Government. Has a small garrison present.
 * Fort Akan (Africa)
 * BAKA Mitai
 * Fort Dolphin (Africa - Matagaskar)
 * British East India Company
 * Fort Epheria (Elysia)
 * BFG Company
 * Fort Elysia (Elysia)
 * BFG Company
 * Fort Galatoi (Galatoi, Africa)
 * BAKA Mitai
 * Fort Infinity (Amekrogu)
 * HALO Company
 * Fort Kingpin (Yolngu)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito
 * Port Stanley (Falklands)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito
 * Portsmith (Galapagos)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito
 * Jamestown (Elysia)
 * BFG Comapny
 * New Glaemchester (Vinland)
 * Lansenia capital
 * New London (India) (Known as Diu to India)
 * British East India Company

Wars and Conflicts


 * North America: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity
 * Though it should be said that some companies add in the risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter, though others are far more friendly with their actions.
 * Elysia: The British send supplies from all over Arcadia to Southern Elysia to help the region recover from the hurricane in 1667.
 * Witch Hunters of Lansenia: The idea of witches continues to spread throughout the north of British Arcadia, where people begin to become paranoid that members of the various communities are witches.
 * It’s only a matter of time before these fears blossom into something scary.
 * Anglo-Dutch War: (See Below)
 * Invasion of Tortuga (1666): After the pirate raids on New Valcania, the British move to retaliate, mustering ships from Catonzia to invade the pirate holding on the island. Catching the pirates off-guard, roughly 500 British MArines annihilate most of the pirates. Though a few manage to escape, the pirate organization took a heavy blow from the invasion.

Armed Forces


 * Total: 280,266 Manpower (3.9% of population)
 * British Royal Army Corps
 * Total: 159,295
 * British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
 * Marksman Infantry: 15,050
 * Light Cavalry: 5,250
 * Heavy Cavalry: 3,050
 * Field Artillerymen: 5,634
 * Field cannons: 1,378
 * Logistical Support: 23,000
 * British Arcadian Force: (In Arcadia)
 * Catonzia Garrison
 * Marksman Infantry: 7,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 7,000
 * Catonzian Musketeers: 8,260
 * Field Artillerymen: 1,000
 * Field cannons: 500
 * Logistical Support: 3,500
 * Elysian Garrison
 * Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
 * Marksman Infantry: 10,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Elysian Cavalry: 300
 * Heavy Cavalry: 350
 * Bow Cavalry: 300
 * Field Artillerymen: 501
 * Field cannons: 167
 * Logistical Support: 7,000
 * British Vinland
 * Marksman Infantry: 6,000
 * Field Artillerymen: 344
 * Field cannons: 100
 * British Gibraltar:
 * Marksman Infantry: 30,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Field Artillerymen: 464
 * Field cannons: 142
 * Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,859
 * These are Britain’s elite forces. A rebirthed version sprouting from Artoria’s original group of holy knights, this force has never lost a battle, and has unwavering loyalty to the crown and the Order of the Roundtable, willing to fight to the death for the survival of the British Isles.
 * While most are able to fight, members of the Roundtable are encouraged to branch out into their own craft, such as pottery and sheepherding, with the idea that everyone should act like a Roundtable Knight and give their all into both their craft and their country.
 * The only way to become a Roundtable Knight is to be selected by an existing member of the group. Most knights tend to make apprentices out of those they recruit to the Roundtable, and generally, no one usually complains when a Roundtable Knight selects someone to join the ranks of the Roundtables. Depending on the country/chapter, one can also be appointed to the Roundtable by the crown.
 * In 1527, three factions were formed within the Roundtables
 * The Crimson Sun
 * The Azure Moon
 * The White Orchids
 * Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
 * With the victory of the Crimson Sun at the end of the conflict, things have settled down.
 * Modernization of 1602: Reforms the Roundtable Knights to act as elite units within the Army, as well as guards for Royalty.
 * In 1615, the London Guard is formed, to both protect the Royal Family, Parliament, and the citizens of the city as a police force, though will prioritize the protection of government personnel and property than that of the citizen
 * Notable (Living) Members:
 * The Drake Family
 * Sir Oliver Cromwell
 * British Merchant Arms Company:
 * An organization owned by the British government that was established to help veterans from the League Wars slowly assimilate back into civilian life while giving them the opportunity to see the world.
 * Mainly employed by the British Merchant Companies to secure their gains and the likes.
 * Personnel: 21,500
 * British Mainland: 17,000
 * Eldia: 2,000
 * Amekrogu: 1,000
 * British Yolngu: 1,500
 * British Royal Navy Corps:
 * Personnel: 23,122 (combined between both fleets)
 * Naval Vessels:
 * HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)
 * The largest ship in the Royal Navy and the pride of the fleet, though it becomes quickly apparent that the 102-gun warship is filled with flaws in its design.
 * Victory-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Victory
 * 50-gun warships designed to breakthrough enemy formations, and is the largest ship in the British arsenal until 1637
 * Ember-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Ember
 * 45-gun warships, obsolete by the 1600's
 * Only the HMS Ember is kept for training purposes, as a permanent drydock is built for her.
 * Glaemchester-class Second-rate Frigate: 10
 * Essentially a Swallow-class Interceptor, but built to stand up to combat against other ships of its size.
 * 42-gun Frigate that’s cheaper to maintain than the Victory-class while stronger than the Third-rates
 * Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 15
 * Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
 * 40-gun frigates that sacrifice durability in return for speed (for their size)
 * HMS Suffolk
 * 34-gun xebec that is essentially an upsized Yellowfin-class interceptor.
 * Phoenix-class Third-rate Frigate: 25
 * 32-gun frigates that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * The replacement for the Cabigail-class Carrack, with a hull design based on the Victory-class
 * Cabigail-class Third-rate Carrack: 36
 * 30-gun caravels that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels: 5
 * Lightly armed frigates around the same size as the Ember-class First-rate frigates designed to carry both marines and Vinland longboats for use in various operations, such as supporting fleets in areas where the large size of the British vessels are a hindrance, as well as serving as landing craft for said marines onboard.
 * Capacity: 16 Vinland longboats (12 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 480
 * Spyder-class Carrier Caravel: 8
 * Lightly armed caravels retrofitted to carry eight Vinland longboats within for use in narrower areas, where the caravels and galleons would have issues navigating
 * Capacity: 12 Vinland longboats (8 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 400
 * London-class Third-rate British Carrack: 4
 * Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
 * Yellowfin-class Fourth-rate Interceptor: 3
 * A 28-gun interceptor based off of designs found in Northern Africa. Has the same firepower as other frigates of its size while being much faster.
 * Phoenix-class Fourth-rate Frigate: 24
 * A 24-gun ship that’s smaller than the usual capital ships found in the fleet. Mainly used in distant areas, such as Yolngu and India.
 * Olive-class Fourth-rate Multi-purpose Frigate: 100
 * The replacement for the Dove-class Dual-purpose Merchant Caravels. While being around the same size as the Dove’s, the internal design of the ship is improved, allowing for more cargo to be stored within.
 * Mainly given to British merchants for their merchant fleets, though still kept on record in British documents to bloat the numbers.
 * Bombardier-class Brigs: 63
 * Small 18-gun ships smaller than even the old carracks. Due to their price, the British can afford to purchase a lot of Brigs in order to leave squadrons of them at various naval ports around the globe.
 * Abalone-class Sloops: 31
 * Small multi-role 12-gun ships meant to fill roles that can’t be easily filled with the larger Brigs
 * Ketone-class Ketch: 6
 * A ketch around the size of the Abalone-class sloops designed specifically for ship-to-ground combat. Armed primarily with mortars and light cannons for self-defense.
 * Vinland Longboats: (depends on the number of carriers)
 * Small vessels that can be deployed in regions to support larger ships from carrier vessels with their smaller cannons and enhanced mobility.
 * Armed with two 2-pounder MAC Cannons
 * British Royal Marine Corps:
 * A branch of both the Army and Navy, consisting of units who are trained in unorthodox tactics to bring around victory.
 * Special Programs:
 * SPARTAN Program: In addition, a program is opened up for the select Marines in 1616 to become elite troops within a program for SPecialized Armed forces for Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Neutralizing Operations, or SPARTAN Ops for short.
 * Those within the unit are known as SPARTANS, and are pulled from both the Marines and Roundtable Knights
 * Often would be given experimental weapons for field testing
 * These units are the penultimate guerilla troop within the British ranks, primarily acting in operations deep behind enemy lines, though can also fight alongside normal troops when necessary
 * These troops provide a large morale boost to allied units in their vicinity as their infamy spreads
 * Personnel: 44,200
 * Multi-Purpose Shock Marines (MPSM): 42,400
 * Mainland Britain: 16,900
 * Gibraltar: 10,000
 * Arcadia: 3,500
 * 500 Elysian MPSM
 * Amekrogu: 12,000
 * SPARTANS: 350
 * Mainland Britain: 275
 * Elysia: 25
 * Amekrogu: 50
 * Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry (SSLC): 4,050
 * Mainland Britain: 3,050
 * Gibraltar: 500
 * Arcadia: 500
 * Light Artillery Pieces: 3,260
 * Mainland Britain: 3,000
 * Gibraltar: 200
 * Arcadia: 0
 * Amekrogu: 60

Notable Companies and Organizations

McCarthy Arms Company (MAC):

Arms Race: Due to the creation of flintlock rifles in France, MAC enters into an arms race with their French counterparts, leading to rapid advancements in the creation of both rifles and cannons.


 * In 1610, they created a flintlock rifle using various components from French flintlocks. This rifle (and its various modifications) became the main firearm of the British Military in the League Wars and other conflicts in the early 1600’s.

Produced models:

FL1610 “Wasp MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1610)


 * The first rifle in the series of rifles made in response to “Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault” and their flintlock rifle.
 * Hastily made, the rifle has various issues, and has a higher-than-usual casualty rate among those who use it due to the tendency for the rifle’s barrel to implode.
 * Due to this reputation, the rifle was given an additional nickname: “Barrel of Surprises”

FL1610E1 “Wasp MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1611)


 * A modified L1610 that doesn't implode (more than most rifles of the era).

FL1610E2 “Wasp MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1612)


 * The version of the rifle that was used by the British Military when they joined the League Wars the same year.
 * This rifle features a slightly redesigned barrel, slightly increasing the range and improving the reliability of the rifle even more.

FL1610E3 “Wasp MkIV” Flintlock Rifle (1614)


 * Essentially the Wasp MkIII, but its components are simplified a bit, allowing for easier production.

FL1616 “Honey MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1616)


 * A modified version of the Wasp MkIV for use in hunting.
 * Essentially a simplified version of the Wasp MkIV for commercial purchase
 * Also becomes the model of rifle that was exported to allies during the League Wars

FL1610E4 “Wasp MkV” Flintlock Rifle (1619)


 * A version of the Wasp MkIV that is made from Yolngu steel, giving the rifle more durability

FL1616E1 “Honey MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1621)


 * An improved version of the Honey MkI, taking feedback from its users when making said improvements.

FL1625 “Hornet MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1625)


 * The successor to the Wasp series of rifles, featuring a slightly simplified design for the firing mechanism, allowing for easier construction of the rifle, though early versions of the rifle has issues due to kinks that weren’t figured out (though not as bad as was seen on the first Wasp rifles)

FL1625E1 “Hornet MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1626)


 * Sent into the field in late 1626, the rifle fixes the issues seen in the Hornet MkI.

FL1616E2 “Honey MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1627)


 * An improvement over the Honey MkII that features some improvements that were seen on the Hornet-series of rifles.

FL1625E2 “Hornet MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1632)


 * An improved version of the Hornet MkII, and is the primary rifle used by the BMAC Company in its early years.

FL1636 “Hornet 2 MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1636)


 * Originally just a simple upgrade, the Hornet 2 Rifle had so many improvements made to it that the company reclassified it as its own series of rifles.
 * Included in the many changes made is the narrower barrel. Though the bullets are smaller, due to a smaller round being used, the bullets are faster, have longer ranges, slightly faster reload, and are marginally more accurate than the original version of the Hornet.
 * Though the rifle doesn’t have as good of a stopping power, its improvements arguably offset this weakness.

FL1636E1 “Hornet 2 MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1642)


 * Modifications related to its reliability in hot, humid regions are added to the rifle.
 * In addition, this is the first rifle (used by the British) that was able to mount a bayonet.

XRS1652 “Thunderer” Experimental Revolving Sidearm (1652)


 * An experimental 3-shot revolver produced in extremely few quantities (around 56 or so)
 * The idea is for rounds to be pre-loaded into the revolving barrel of the pistol, which is locked in place by three pins when firing. Once a bullet is expended, the user delaches the pins and manually rotates the barrel before locking it back in place. This process is tedious and doesn’t give the gun that much of an advantage over normal conventional pistols on account of the cumbersome barrel, in addition to the pistol’s unreliability (even by standards of the time)

FL1656 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1656)


 * The third version of the Hornet rifle, which takes the FL1636E1 model of rifle and made the rifle easier to produce. Still features the capability for using a bayonet that is secured under the barrel of the rifle from the FL1636E1.

FL1656-EXP “Honey 2” Flintlock Rifle (1657)


 * Essentially an FL1636E1 rifle that is cailbered in the conventional ammo size used by most nations. Also features the capability for usage of a plug bayonet.
 * Since both this rifle and the “Hornet 3” rifle have the same catalog name, the “Honey 2” was given the -EXP notation at the end to distinguish it as the export rifle.

FS1659 “Thunderer 2” Flintlock Sidearm (1659)


 * A non-revolver version of the XRS1652 rifle. This sidearm is provided both to officers and cavalry units in the military and only in small numbers.

FL1656E1 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1666)


 * Slight improvement to the Hornet 3 that was used in the Anglo-Dutch War. The gun features a slight improvement to its accuracy as well as a better mechanism for the bayonet, which is now custom-built for the rifle itself and can double as a knife when necessary.

MAC Cannons: MAC continues to produce MAC Cannons (McCarthy Arms in a variety of calibers and sizes, ranging from small 6 pound field cannons to 32 pound naval cannons. At least in Britain, McCarthy Industries has the monopoly on the firearms industry.

Produced models:

2-pounder “snub-nose” MAC Cannon (1608)


 * Created for usage on Vinland longboats, more to fire on smaller vessels than anything else
 * Can be argued that rifles would be more effective than these small peashooters, but the extra punch is helpful

6-pounder medium field MAC Cannon (1578)


 * The main cannon used by both the British Royal Army and Marine Corps.
 * Also used on British Carrier Vessels

9-pounder “tickler” MAC Cannon


 * The lightest cannon used on British Warships (excluding Carriers)

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1588)


 * The mainstay cannon of British Warships

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1641)


 * An updated version of the 16-pounder cannon.

32-pounder “long-nose” MAC Cannon (1603)


 * Heaviest cannon that the British uses. Reserved for the largest of British vessels.

Research and Development


 * Fortuna and Samuel’s Naval Reforms (1667): With Fortuna allowed to change what she deemed fit, she decided to revise the rating system for British vessels, taking into account the troublesome HMS Sovereign of the Seas into the system.
 * Essentially, the rating system goes off of the crew being carried, which is based on the firepower carried by the vessels.
 * Though revised in the future as ships continued to slightly increase in size, the system devised by Fortuna and Samuel would persist until the first metallic war vessels were constructed.
 * The system is as follows:
 * First Rate: 100+ guns, 600+ sailors
 * Second Rate: 80-99 guns, 500-599 sailors
 * Third Rate: 60-80 guns, 400-499 sailors
 * Fourth Rate: 50-60 guns, 300-399 sailors
 * Fifth Rate: 30-49 guns, 200-299 sailors
 * Sixth Rate: 20-29 guns, up to 200 sailors
 * Hwacha!: A weapon imported from Japan, the British take one of the two Hwachas purchased from the Toyotomi Shogunate and reverse-engineer it, as they look into reducing the cost of production while they use the other for testing.
 * Tests show that the weapon takes a long time to reload, but due to the sound it makes and the area of effect, it could be a great weapon to use against cavalry, though effective enough against infantry.
 * It should be noted that the weapon has a shorter range than cannon fire, but has a larger area-of-effect, in terms of what it can hit.
 * In 1665, a few prototypes were handed out to various ships throughout the fleet, including to the Fortune’s Bounty II.
 * From its use in its limited
 * Multiple Shots: Due to the nature of fighting in Amekrogu, the McCarthy Arms Company looks into possibilities to allow firearms to fire multiple times before requiring a reload, which should increase the lethality of British infantry.
 * Thunder and Awe (1652): Development into the concept has led to the engineers deeming the technology too complicated, on account of the complexity of the components of the revolving capsule. However, few see its potential, and continue to develop it in the background.
 * This does lead to a few models of revolvers being produced, though in extremely few numbers.


 * Naval Vessels: Continued development on galleons is performed, to see if it is possible to improve British vessels further. They experiment with two aspects; size and firepower. British Naval Engineers hope to determine proper ratios for size, durability, and firepower, as well as taking note of various lessons learned in the field, such as logistical issues found in British Caravels.
 * Bolstering the Fleet
 * With the expansion of the navy, the British decided to refit their navy once again, retiring old vessels and replacing them with newer models.
 * Speed Demons: Due to an increase in piracy in the Mediterranean, the British seek to modernize their old interceptors.
 * From observations of their assailants, the British take interest in a ship-type known as a xebec, ships that use three triangular sails, allowing them a good top speed without sacrificing much in terms of firepower.
 * Based on the design of the Yellowfin class, the British try and upsize the xebec design, creating the HMS Suffolk.
 * Smaller Boats: Though the Brigs have shown their uses, the need for even smaller ships became apparent, especially on the accounts from allied pirates in the Shattered Isles.
 * From the HMS Ketone, improvements from the ship are implemented, mainly features to help deal with the recoil from the mortar, including an experimental outrig to help manage the rocking of the boat when the mortar is fired, potentially allowing the mortar to be rotated beyond facing only forwards.
 * The Galley Frigate
 * The British draft plans for the galley frigate. Essentially, these are normal frigates that are capable of using oars for movement as well.
 * First Prototype: HMS Vinlandia
 * One of the first ships created in Vinland drydocks
 * Larger Vessels: With the new rating system in place, new ships are ordered to supplement the new classes.

Training and Production


 * British Mainland
 * None.
 * British America
 * Elysia/Laconia
 * None
 * Eldia:
 * None
 * Catonzia
 * None
 * Amekrogu:
 * None
 * British Yolngu
 * None


 * HMS Prince Royal 92-gun first-rate ship-of-the-line
 * 2 Luke-class 96-gun first-rate ship-of-the-line
 * 4 Royal Oak-class 76-gun second-rate ship-of-the-line
 * 6 Warspite-class 64-gun third-rate ship-of-the-line
 * 5 Suffolk-class 34-gun fourth-rate xebecs
 * HMS Vinlandia: 26-gun fifth-rate galley frigate
 * Upon successful sea trials in 1668 as well as success in small skirmishes raiding New Netherlands merchant vessels, 6 more ships were ordered for the Vinlandia-class
 * 6 Yellowfin-class 28-gun fifth-rate xebecs
 * 5,000 new sailors to supplement the existing naval personnel
 * Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.

Diplomacy


 * Akan: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Amekrogu: Pulling out of the war, the British war machine breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Though a force stays in British-controlled territories, most head home.
 * As this happens, the British observe the civil war raging on in war-ravaged Amekrogu. They keep watch, waiting for an opportunity to hop in
 * Carribean Pirates: With their success in the League Wars, the British officials in Catonzia decide to have better ties with the Pirates in the Carribean, maintaining the same offer that was offered to them during the League Wars, though limited to British Catonzia for the time being.
 * Brethren of the Coast: The British reach out to the pirates, shunning them for their attacks on British ships, though they do accept the offer provided to them by William Rous and the Providence Island Company.
 * Europe (Generally): Though not offered the top-line models, Britain does allow McCarthy Arms Company to sell some of their wares overseas to those willing to purchase them
 * Gujarat: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Indian Nations: Seeing that the countries of India are friendly, the British East India Company reaches out to all the nations in the area, hoping to strengthen their ties with all nations and open up trade routes with all.
 * Arkansa: The British come into contact with the nomads, trading weapons in return for furs and the likes.
 * Netherlands: Though tensions are rising between the two companies, those on the British mainland have no qualms with them. However, the same cannot be said for those in Arcadia, as Dutch and British colonists begin to run into each other.
 * Revived Huancan Empire: Delegates from the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company reach out to the South American nation, requesting the ability for ships to dock in the Tacna region while they pass around the southern tip of South America
 * The British are aware of the Spanish conquests centuries prior, and wish to make amends, to at least show that not all Europeans are scumbags
 * Svearike: Since they declared war on Vestkyst, in accordance with their conditions, the British sever their ties with the nation.
 * Vestkyst: Through Fortuna, Britain sent supplies to support Duchess Anastasia’s cause (and to that effect supporting Akershus in their war against Vestkyst)
 * Once the Akershus takeover of Vestkyst is complete, British diplomats are sent to the fledgling government to reaffirm their alliance.
 * However, when Svearike launches attacks, Britain is unable to send troops to support Vestkyst, on account of dealing with the Netherlands around that time aside from providing them supplies to fight in the war. However, the British do inform Vestkyst that the nation has British support with whatever plan-of-action the new ruler of Vestkyst wishes to take with the country.
 * Vijayanagara: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Yolngu: Due to the two nations becoming extremely close over the past half-decade, Britain asks if they wish to join the empire officially.
 * Essentially asking if Yolngu wishes to become a British Protectorate Province.

Allies


 * Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
 * Naranga: British ally on the Asian mainland.
 * Occitania: British ally on the mainland.
 * Svearike: Velkyst’s southern neighbor.
 * This alliance is made with a caveat: since they know that Vestkyst wishes to gobble them up too. The British mention that they will try to mediate any conflict between the two nations, and will continue to trade with both nations during the conflict, they cannot get directly involved against them. Otherwise, they will support the Svearike in a defensive war.
 * Toyotomi Shogunate: British ally (through the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company) in Asian area.
 * Vestkyst: Norweigan allies in the North Sea. The oldest ally of Britain, harkening back to the British Empire’s founding.
 * Yolngu: The furthest of Britain’s allies, the island-continent has metals far better than those in the region. As such, the majority of the trade from the region primarily consists of metals.

Events


 * Nelson’s War Hero and the Adventures of the Tuna Fleet: Soon after extracting Duchess Anastasia, Fortuna and her Tuna fleet was tasked with ferrying more supplies into Vestkyst to assist in the conflict on the side of the Duchess. Though her fleet is small, only originally consisting of a single 28-gun xebec and two brigs, the lessons she’s learned from her travels throughout the globe allow her to continuously provide supplies and weapons for the Duchess’ cause, (especially helped by the fact that Fortuna has connections to the McCarthy Arms Company, allowing her to supply the Duchess’ armies with British firearms and the likes.)
 * Battle of the Vestkyst Fjords (1667): While on a supply run to supply Akershus with supplies, the fleet is intercepted by three Vestlandic frigates in the fjords after they unload their supplies. The enemy fleet blocks the only way out of the specific fjord the Tuna fleet is in. In essence, the fleet is trapped in the fjord by the Vestlandic fleet.
 * Though both fleets consisted of three vessels, the Vestlandic fleet has a distinct advantage in firepower. Despite this, Fortuna jumps into action, using her brigs as large bombs. Each now manned by a skeleton crew, they lower their sails and sail straight at the two frigates, entering into range to be boarded.
 * Two of the vessels fall for the trap and attempt to board the brigs. Then, the fuze is lit, as two large explosions erupt in the narrow fjord, eventually resulting in two Vestlandic frigates being knocked out of action. Most of the skeleton crews perish in the boarding action and subsequent explosion, with a few managing to escape on Vinlandic longboats.
 * As this happens, Fortuna tries to make a breakthrough. However, it was unable to get out of range of the final frigate before being drawn into a boarding action. Leading the assault herself, Fortuna leads her crew to push back and eventually capture the Vestlandic vessel for themselves.
 * Against all odds, Fortuna and her fleet manage to escape from this conflict.
 * On board the ship was a British official by the name of Samuel Pepys. He was in charge of observing the hwachas in combat. Bearing witness to Fortuna’s competency at sea in the Battle of the Vestkyst Fjords, he asks if Fortuna could assist the Royal Navy with revising their current fleet.
 * Fortuna’s Naval Reforms of 1667: See Research and Development for more info.
 * The Dreadful Hurricane of 1667: As the name implies, a hurricane collides with southern Elysia, destroying thousands of houses and crops in the region. As such, relief forces are sent from throughout British Arcadia to help with rebuilding southern Elysia.
 * The Anglo-Dutch War (1668 - 1670): In 1668, an incident involving Albish and Dutch ships led to tensions blowing over into a full conflict. Essentially, a ship carrying supplies to Southern Elysia drifted into Dutch waters. Being mistaken for a pirate ship, the Dutch intercept and sink the British vessel.
 * As such, both British and Dutch troops in Arcadia mobilize for war, though it is evident that the British have a distinct numerical advantage over the Dutch.Dutch Offensive 1668.png
 * Because of this, the Dutch attempt to land a quick, decisive blow and launch attacks south.
 * The Dutch Offensive of 1668: In July of 1668, New Netherlands forces began to launch an invasion south into Desaheim. The region, having been acquired only a few decades prior, now completely side with the British, on account of being invaded. Though tensions between the citizens of Desaheim and that of Elysia is a tenuous one at best, they set aside their differences for the time being and work together to stifle the Dutch offensive.
 * As the Dutch continue to attack, they manage to capture most of Desaheim. However, partisan work behind the lines manages to wreak havoc on the Dutch supply lines. In addition, the numerical advantage of the British now comes into play, as Dutch attacks begin to do less and less, until they are stopped in their tracks.
 * With their steam running out, the Dutch decide to stop their offensive in the winter, with plans to reinitiate movements in the spring. However, this would not be the case.British Winiter Offensive 1669.png
 * The British Counterattack (Winter 1669): In early January, the British Southern Army groups begin an offensive. Caught off-guard (since many armies tend to just weather the winter period), the Dutch rapidly lose territory gained the year prior. Within a month and a half, Desaheim is back in British hands as the Southern task group begins to advance north.
 * Then, in March of 1669, a force from the Plymouth territory began to advance south in a pincer maneuver.
 * Due to being attacked on both sides by a superior force, the Dutch still managed to hold onto their ground, though it’s only a matter of time before the British push through
 * Expansion Beyond the Horizon:
 * American Colonies
 * Consolidation of Power: Forts are constructed in British territory claimed in the war, both to protect from potential retaliation from the Spanish as well as from various tribes in the region.
 * In addition, British civilians are finally granted permission to move to British Catonzia and Elysia, as the British begin to slowly integrate Catonzia into the British Empire, much like what was done with Elysia.
 * Catonzia and Arroz: With the discovery of rice in the East, the British decide to give rice-making a try. With the new territory in Catonzia (as well as somewhat similar temperatures), the British decided to try and start rice crops in Catonzia, to mixed success. It will take a while before the British learn how to make rice themselves, as well as for the rice to adapt to the different environment.
 * African Colonies
 * BAKA - Mitai: Seeing the weakening of local powers in the area gives the company reason to expand, as merchants head inland to meet and trade with the locals.
 * Asianic Colonies
 * BAKA - Gaikokuhito: The company, headed by Frederik King, hopes to make contact with Yolngu again. To keep things brief, plans are in the making for a trading agreement with the region, and possibly more. (More details on this below)

The British Merchant Companies: (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)


 * British Faviero Greek Company: “The BFG Company” for short, this company has taken an interest to the region of Elysia. Its leaders, Faviero and Raleigh have enacted a multi-decade long plan to wrestle control of the region for themselves, though if other situations were to come up, they’d adapt on the fly.
 * Elysian Region: Having complete control over the area, the BFG Company begins to import more colonists into the region.
 * Laconia: In 1619, the region was reclassified into its own province for administration reasons.
 * The regions of Laconia, Demetrios, and Erakki become apart of the Laconia Province
 * Eventually becomes the State of Laconia
 * Deasaheim: The company begins the process of integrating the province into their company, as they begin setting up administrative bodies to run the area.
 * When the Dutch attacked in 1668, the company was forced to temporarily retreat from Desaheim, only to come back as British forces retaliated.
 * Anglo-Dutch War: During the conflict, the BFG Company sends some of its ships to raid Dutch trading routes, plundering various goods from the ships trying to get to the Dutch colony
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Doomslayer
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association: Started up by a British and German family, BAKA began operations in 1573, when they received a fleet of four merchant caravels. With this fleet, the company sets sail for Africa, wishing to set up a port town where they can trade with the locals.
 * In 1602, the company was split in two, due to the focus on where to colonize.
 * The branch known as “BAKA Mitai” is continuing the old company’s efforts in Africa
 * The branch known as “BAKA Gaijin” (renamed to BAKA Gaikokuhito in 1608) has its focus directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically Yolngu for its operations.
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Mitai Division:
 * Akan: Due to their presence in the area, the BAKA Mitai company slowly expands their influence through the area.
 * Due to continued trade with the locals in the area, British influence spreads throughout Akan.
 * Galatoi: The company trades with Galatoi, giving them McCarthy Firearms and other supplies in return for indigenous supplies as well as slaves for use in Elysia and other portions of their claims.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the MOM company, importing slaves from the Galatoi region and sending them to the Eldia region for use on the various crops in the region.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Resolute
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Gaikokuhito Division:
 * More Pitstops: Even with the two islands claimed, the distance between each stop is far too long. As such, the Gaikokuhito Division devices various locations along the way to establish naval bases to allow British vessels places of refuge
 * The British reached out to various nations on the Western coast of South America, asking if they could construct ports on their coastlines to allow British ships to stop on their journey to Yolngu, in addition to opening trade with the regions in question.
 * Australium: Rare metals have been found on the island continent. As such, operations are created to extract the metals with the help of the locals (in return for exotic species and other foreign goods)
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Golden Hind
 * The Henry Amerigo League of Observance: A group (nicknamed HALO) that is headed by Henry of Glaemchester. Now a competent company, the HALO company travels the seas, now intermingling with a faction known as the Amekrogu’s to the south.
 * Rebuilding from the Ground Up: The HALO company constructs new fortifications in the region, rebuilding what they lost prior. As this happens, the company slowly monitors the Civil War raging on in Amekrogu, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
 * In addition, they reward the tribes that allied themselves with the British, allowing them to reside in peace, in addition to supplying them with food and the likes
 * The Millers Operative Manufacturing: A company that focuses on tobacco and leather in 1565, the company slowly worked its way into league with the larger companies of Britain by the 1580’s, eventually leading to the company receiving a grant to receive 7 Dove-class Merchant Caravels, as well as permission to construct a custom “flagship” for themselves.
 * For their success and assistance in the Battle of the English Channel, the British Government rewards them with a charter to expand their territory into the southern province of Eldia.
 * Upon the completion of their conquest of Eldia, various forests are cleared to make room for the various cash crops of the company.
 * Tobacco: As their influence spreads through Eldia, the MOM company begins to cultivate Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants, leading to an increase in profits due to its sweeter taste.
 * The selling of this tobacco increases MOM’s income, leading to them being able to hire more mercenaries to arrest control of Eldia from the locals.
 * Rice: Ordered by the British Royal Navy to produce the crop, the company also constructs rice crops within their territory, with assistance from Asian farmers.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the BAKA Mitai company, as the MOM Company begins to import slaves from the Galatoi region for the purpose of working on the farms.
 * Company Flagship: The Independence
 * British East India Company: With a grant from the British government, the company begins to make plans for their future ventures into Asia, with their eyes set on both the island chains between mainland Asia and Yolgnu as well as Hindustan.
 * Expanding Influence: With the wealth the company has, they begin to trade with the locals, providing them with products in larger quantities or new to the area altogether, with the hopes to make the locals reliant on the British for their daily necessities
 * Subsidiary Alliance Plan: The Company reaches out to the various countries in India, asking for the stationing of a British force within their territory for the country’s protection, in return for supplying the maintenance cost to maintain the force in the area.
 * Lansenia: Since 1565, the “Azure Pilgrims” set up the Plymouth colony in hopes to be free from religious (and political) persecution. At first, the faction ran into many issues, mainly trying to survive the winter. They were helped by a local tribesman nearby and the colony has just begun to become stabilized.
 * In 1662, the regional government was officially formed.
 * Naming the region “Lansenia” after the head governor, Laffey D Lansen, the region is accepted as an official colony within the British Government.
 * Naming the region “Lansenia” after the head governor, Laffey D Lansen, the region is accepted as an official colony within the British Government.

Notable Deaths


 * Rulers
 * Pendragon:
 * Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
 * Ash I (M,  b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
 * Sister: Aura (F,  b.1350 - 1434)
 * Ash II (M,  b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
 * Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
 * Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
 * Mordue:
 * River Mordue (F, b. 1322 - 1393) (Reign: 1369 - 1393)
 * Henry (M, b. 1353 - 1429)  (Reign: 1393 - 1429)
 * Daughter: Mary (F, b. 1382 - 1399)
 * Lionel (M, b. 1388 - 1482) (Reign: 1430 - 1482)
 * Son: Leo I (M, b. 1407 - 1465)
 * Leo III (M, b. 1445 - 1478)
 * Son: Leo II (M, b. 1423 - 1478)
 * Brother: Henry II (M, b. 1398 - 1478)
 * Drake:
 * Casimir (M, b. 1454 - 1533)
 * Queen Abigail (F, b. 1455 - 1533)
 * Queen Victoria (F, b. 1499 - ) (R: 1533 - 1561)
 * David (M, b. 1537 - 1554)
 * Brother: Albert (M, b. 1495 - 1565)
 * Nephew: Rupert (M, b. 1517 - 1553)
 * Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - 1618) (R: 1561 - 1618)
 * Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - 1619)
 * Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - 1564)
 * Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
 * Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
 * Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - 1632)
 * Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - 1609)
 * Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - 1596)
 * Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
 * Married off to a Westrian prince
 * Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
 * Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - 1602)
 * Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - 1606)
 * Cousin: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - 1629)
 * Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - 1629)
 * King: Luke I (M, b. 1567 - 1638) (R: 1618 - 1838)
 * King:  Luke II (M, b. 1604 - 1658) (R: 1838 - 1658)
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - 1667)
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - 1672)
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - 1668)
 * Roundtable Knights
 * Joan “Anne” of Arc (Died in 1431)
 * Sir George Cromwell of Cotswold (Died in 1445)
 * Sir George Cromwell II of Cotswold (Died in 1482)
 * Sir Rex of Dover (Died in 1482)
 * Joanna Palaiologos McCarthy (Died in 1528)
 * Misc
 * Frederik King (Died in ???)
 * Head of the BAKA Company, essentially has ties in about half of the world
 * Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
 * Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.

Famous Vessels

HMS Victory (15XX)


 * Laid down in 15XX and launched in 15XX, the HMS Victory is a 50-gun First-class Frigate.
 * The namesake of her class, HMS Victory was the first pride-and-joy of the Royal Navy.
 * Famously captained by Admiral Francis Drake, the ship would lead the British navy to victory when it defeated the Spanish Armada, directly leading to one of the major reasons why Britain won in the Anglo-Spanish War in the late 16th century.
 * From there, it would also see combat in the League Wars as it ensured that those opposing Britain felt the wrath of her powerful broadside.
 * Eventually, the ship was retired in 1647, where it was put into the reserve fleet as a training vessel for new sailors.

HMS Fortune’s Bounty (1626)


 * An Olive-class Multi-purpose Merchant Frigate given to the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company from the British government. Laid in 1624 and left on its maiden voyage in 1626, the ship would find itself under the ownership of Fortuna King, a woman well-known for her assistance in the Wu-Narangan War in 1633 when she was involved in both a trading run to Naranga in addition to the assassination of the Wu General in the region.
 * Though the ship would remain in East Asia for most of its life, it would also visit Britain and the Mediterranean Sea during its time afloat under the ownership of Fortuna.
 * In 1661, while returning to Britain from Yolngu, the ship encountered rough seas around the southernmost tip of South America. Though it survived, the ship was badly beaten, as it limped to the British outpost on the Falklands Island. From there, Fortuna and her crew hitched a ride on a vessel back to Britain, where she received permission from the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company to purchase a replacement vessel: the Fortune’s Bounty II.
 * Fate: Scrapped in 1661

HMS Fortune’s Bounty II (1662)


 * A 28-gun xebec ordered by Fortuna King.
 * Also was equipped with two hwachas for testing purposes
 * Saw effective use under Fortuna’s captainship.
 * Notable for the Battle of the Vestkyst Fjords (1667) as well as for its involvement with rescuing Duchess Anastasia during the Vestkyst Civil War (1666).
 * Fate: ???

HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)


 * Laid down in 1634 and launched in 1637, this ship is essentially an engineer’s wet dream. Built “just because,” the ship has more than double the guns of the next largest ships (the Victory-class) and was also over double the size, this ship towered over anything the British would build for the next half-decade or so.
 * That being said, the ship was also ladened with issues, such as poor handling and the likes.
 * Fate: ???

Akansa Confederacy | Confederation of the Twenty Tribes and Three Families

 * Government: The Akansa Confederacy is more of a loose collection of tribes than a true state. Forged via a convoluted mix of diplomacy and military strength, holding together a plethora of tribal groups, some being historical enemies, and held together simply by military fiat and a need for mutual protection from outside forces, this new polity is poised to upset the balance of power in the lower Mississippi – but only if it doesn’t crumble from within first.
 * The Twenty Tribes: The Twenty Tribes of the Akansa Confederacy, namely the Osage, Oto, Kansa, Missouri, Kiowa, Wichita, Kichai, Taovaya, Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Adai, Eyeish, Hasinai, Kadohadacho, Nacogdoche, Nadaco, Nanatsoho, Nasoni, Tula, and Ouachita peoples, are the constituent tribes of the Akansa Confederacy. Although mostly independent and self-governing, the Twenty Tribes do come together to meet at Great Councils, where differences between tribes are settled, and decisions of trade, war, and foreign relations are made.
 * The Great Council: Called at the start of each season, or in times of great emergency (i.e. war, famine, etc.), the Great Council is a meeting where the 20 Akansan tribes consult with each other to make decisions for the nation as a whole. Great Councils serve to mediate disputes between tribes, as well as declare war, regulate trade, and conduct diplomacy with other nations. All twenty tribes send 2 representatives to the Great Councils, which, added with one member of each of the Three Families, makes 43 total delegates at the Great Councils.
 * The Three Families: The Three Families represent two separate concepts: the three pre-existing tribal confederacies in the area, namely the Osage, Caddo, and Wichita Confederacies, as well as the lineages of the Three Adventurers; the three Albionite men who would pacify the lands of what would become Akansa and form the first state encompassing the entire region. The de facto rulers of the Akansa Confederacy, each of the Three Families hold substantial influence and clout over their respective tribal groups.
 * The Clintons (Osage Confederacy):
 * James Clinton (b. 1625; r. 1660-)
 * The Swifts (Wichita Confederacy):
 * Jason Swift (b. 1628; r. 1660-)
 * The Wallaces (Caddo Confederacy):
 * Jacob Wallace (b. 1627; r. 1660-)
 * Capital City: Exeter Meeting / Tiyá Sčénka
 * Economy: The Akansa Confederacy lies at the borders between two groups of people, two climates, and two ways of life. Located on the frontier between the sedentary mound-building cultures of the lower Mississippi and the nomadic hordes of the Great Plains, the lifestyle of the peoples of the Confederacy is a mix of both; the Osage, and to a lesser extent, the Wichita tribes, are nomadic hunter-gatherers, while the Caddoans live in small agricultural semi-sedentary villages. The Akansan economy is mostly undeveloped and self-contained, with little being imported or exported due to the nation’s distance from trade routes.
 * There is no true currency within the Akansa Confederacy, with most transactions being on the barter system.
 * Demographics:
 * Total Population: ~130,000
 * Exeter Meeting/Tiyá Sčénka: 4,000
 * New Bergen [OTL Springfield, MO]: 2,500
 * Ethnicities:
 * Caddoan: The furthest west of the mound-building Mississippian cultures, the Caddoans are the sole sedentary and agricultural group within the Akansa Confederacy. Once a proud civilization of their own right, their ancient cities now lie in ruins, lost to the sands of time. In the centuries following the decline of the Caddoan civilization, most of the Caddoan tribes have lived in small, sedentary and scattered villages, practicing subsistence agriculture. They are culturally similar to the Yoroni vassal states to the southeast.
 * ~38% of the population (~49,000 people)
 * Wichita: Closely related to the Caddoan tribes immediately to their east, the Wichita share similar languages, religions, and customs to their Caddoan brothers. However, while the Caddo are sedentary farmers, the Wichita are mostly nomadic. Being located in the western regions of the Akansa Confederacy, they are more in touch with the states of the Rocky Mountains. In particular, the Wichita enjoy good relations with the native peoples of the Cheyenne Confederacy, mainly due to their historical rivalry with the Navajo of Indetah and their Powhatan allies in Kemahana.
 * ~26% of the population (~34,000 people)
 * Siouan/Osage: Relative newcomers in the region, the Siouan population of the Akansa Confederacy is mainly made up of Dhegihan tribes who migrated from the Ohio River valley around a century ago. Siouan tribes make the majority of the population in the northern half of Akansa. The vast majority of Siouan groups within Akansa are part of the Osage Confederacy. They are almost exclusively nomadic, and are culturally closer to nearby Akecheta than to their Caddoan compatriots in the south.
 * ~28% of the population (~37,000 people)
 * Vestkyster: The first of the European settler populations to arrive in Akansa, the Vestkyster Akansans are mainly descended from refugees fleeing civil strife during the Vestkyst Civil War. Although making up a comparatively small population of Akansa, they have disproportionate political power within the nation, especially during the late 17th century. Vestkyster populations are most prevalent in the northernmost regions of Akansa; near the border with Akecheta.
 * ~3% of the population (~4,000 people)
 * Other: Small Pawnee and Comanche populations exist in the far north and west of Akansa territory. A smattering of traders and adventurers from the European colonies or from other native states also call the Akansa Confederacy home.
 * ~5% of the population (~6,000 people)
 * Religion:
 * Traditional Native Arcadian Religion: Although native religions within the Akansa Confederacy were not at all centralized, with many different rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs, varying by tribe and sometimes even within tribes, there are several commonalities to religion within this area. For example, all the Akansan tribes share a common belief in a single, all-encompassing Great Spirit (called Wakonda by the Siouan peoples of northern Akansa and Kadhi Háyuh by the Caddoan peoples of the south), as well as in priests that can communicate with the Great Spirit via a certain set of rituals.
 * ~91% of the population (~118,000 people)
 * Christianity/Other: Although the Akansa Confederacy is far from any European colonies, the odd missionary does stumble upon this land once in a while. The Christian population of the Akansa Confederacy is minuscule, and mostly concentrated in the far south or along the Arkansas River. Also present in Akansa is the Ásatrú religion, practiced mostly in the north, amongst the Vestkyster population.
 * ~9% of the population (~12,000 people)
 * Military: As with most native states in Arcadia, the Akansa Confederacy does not have a standing army. Its warriors are not trained solely to be warriors; rather, they are mostly normal people, holding normal lives, who have a duty to fight during times of war.
 * Akansan Army: The Akansan army is not a professional standing army by any means, and is mostly fielded from levies by tribal and clan leaders.
 * During times of war, the Akansa Confederacy can mobilize 15,000 troops, the vast majority being cavalry, although some infantrymen do also exist.
 * Akansan Valkyries: The first professional armed force to operate within the Akansa Confederacy, the Valkyries are an all-female force made up of mostly Vestkyster refugees. They would play a key role in the Akansan military, as a well-armed, trained and disciplined group of elite soldiers in an area devoid of standing armies.
 * 500 troops
 * Wars and Conflicts:
 * Yoroni Conquest [1667-]: Born out of retaliation from the frequent raids the Yoroni Empire had made on Akansa, demanding tribute from the nascent confederation, and colored by the prior experiences of the Three Adventurers during their sojourns in the Empire, the Yoroni Conquest was, at least on the Akansan side of things, both a war of conquest and a war of liberation. The Yoroni Conquest would cement the place of the Akansa Confederacy as a major player in Arcadian geopolitics, while also forging the first bonds, as well as divisions, between the people of Akansa.
 * Battle of West Point [1667]: In the opening battle of the war, Jacob Wallace, leading an army of his Caddoan subjects, attacked the Yoroni outpost at West Point (then known as Sa’parastihka) in retaliation to a raid by Yoroni forces, demanding tribute from an Akansan village. The Battle of West Point was a decisive victory for the Akansa Confederacy.
 * Northern Campaign [1667-]: Extremely proficient in fighting and riding on horseback, and armed with British guns, 9,000 troops, fighting under James Clinton and Jason Swift, swept into the northernmost reaches of the Yoroni Empire, capturing Kayas in March 1668 and reaching Coligua by late 1669.
 * March to the Mississippi [1667-]: Meanwhile, Jacob Wallace, leading 6,000 troops, mostly from his own Caddoan clans and tribes, would continue pushing along the Arkansas River following his decisive victory at Sa’parastihka, aiming to reach the inland port of Anilco, located on the Mississippi River, and cut the Yoroni Empire in twain: severing it from trade goods filtering their way north from the French colonies to the south. Along the way, the city of Utiangue would be captured and sacked in mid-August of 1668.
 * Vestkyster Valkyries: Vestkyster immigrants would contribute heavily to the war effort, especially on the northern front. In particular, the Valkyries, an all-female force led by Klara Solberg and Ingunn Losnedahl, would come to play a large role in the Yoroni Conquest (being key in the Akansan siege and capture of Coligua), as well as future wars. Vestkyster migrants would also start the first Akansan gun manufacturing industries, helping the Confederacy become less reliant on sporadic British weapons imports.
 * The Art of War: Perhaps the most potent illustration of the highly decentralized nature of the early Akansa Confederacy was the Akansan conduct of war during the Yoroni Conquest. Although war aims and tactics were co-ordinated, how combatants and civilians were treated varied significantly between commanders. For example, Jacob Wallace and the commanders of the southern front were particularly brutal, employing Daevite-esque tactics where a village refusing to surrender would be wiped off the map, only 1 out of every 100 people allowed to live, in order to tell other villages and towns to surrender, lest they face annihilation. Meanwhile, the commanders of the northern fronts, as well as the Valkyries, were much more lenient to the towns they occupied, allowing local populations to continue with business as usual as long as they did not rise up against the Akansans.
 * Nothing to Lose but Your Chains: The Akansa Confederacy would heavily exploit tensions between the Tunica ruling elite and ethnic and tribal groups opposed to Yoroni dominion over their lands; promising subjugated peoples inviolable ownership of their homes, farms, lands and villages. In certain areas, tribes historically opposed to Yoroni rule were armed into militias, in order to enforce peace in occupied territories. The Akansa Confederacy also reaches out to the many vassal states of the Yoroni Empire, offering them full independence and membership in a defensive alliance against any meddling foreign powers, in return for their help in the war effort.
 * Diplomacy:
 * Yoroni Empire: Get beaned fam.
 * Yoroni Vassal States: It is time to rise up against your oppressors! Join us and your fellow oppressed and destroy the Yoroni once and for all!

GENERAL OVERVIEW COMING SOON!

EVENTS COMING SOON!

Empire of Nihon | Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory
(All names are introduced in Kanji and Yamatai Romanji)

Government
 * Stucture: The Shogunate functions under the auspices of a federal system of government, with the recognition of four distinct polities.
 * The Chiku(地区)[districts], nominally under the direct control of local Daimyo elevated above others to become Chiku-cho(地区長) [district heads]. These pay a section of their yearly harvest to the Teikoku-kokuso(帝国穀倉) [Imperial Granary] based on a relative assessment of the surplus of their kokudaka(石高) and are only allowed to engage in Western trade at the Yattsu no Iriguchi（八つの入り口）[Eight Entryways], the eight ports in Nihon open to foreign trade.
 * The Han(藩) [domains] are the legal and semi-official name of various territories in the country which exercise economic and political autonomy, led by leaders legally called . They are allowed to exercise their own forms of government and engage in treaties pertaining only to them (wherein the treaties must thread the thin line between recognising their overlords in Kyoto and political self-interest); as well as being exempt from Hideyoshi's religious laws, allowing for the flourishing of the tiny Christian and Arzhamic communities of Nihon. They pay their taxes in gold, silver and other precious metals, and rather than payment to the Teikoku-kokuso, they pay their taxes directly to the Teikoku-kinko(帝国金庫) [Imperial Vault/Treasury].
 * The Hogokoku(保護国) [Protectorates], led by the Genshu(元首) [Heads of state]. These can vary from de facto domains with zero diplomatic autonomies to former allies under the current protection of the Nihonese government.
 * The Teikoku-seifu(帝国政府) [Imperial Government] is the single entity stringing this entire mess together. The oldest single lasting political institution in East Asia, boasting a history of nearly 400 years since its first establishment as the Splendid Directorate in 1253. It consists of various economic and political institutions on top of being a primary political centre not just in Nihon but its influence spread across non-Wu Northeast Asia. Its primary leaders lead the Shogunate and the Imperial Service, symbolically and politically, and are often given credit for the specific eras of their time.
 * Mikado(帝) [Empress]: The Mikado of Nihon, better known to most of the world as the Empress of Japan. The Mikado is one of the few remaining positions in this Nihon where female primogeniture persists, a relic of the early Heian era and the consolidation of the original Nihon to Tohoku no Toitsu-kokoku (United Kingdoms of Japan and Tohoku) during the early 13th century. The storied history of the Mikado starts in a political mediator, escalates into a military dictator not unlike the Shogun; and it itself created the position of Taisho, the Shogun's predecessor. As a symbolic leader in the Shogunate, they enjoy relative privilege in exchange for their formal political silence.
 * Current Mikado: Okita Kiyoko, born 1614
 * Omona Teian-sha(主な提案者) [Prime Advisor]: The Omona Teian-sha, better known to most of the world as the Prime Advisor. A single-use position created by Tokugawa Sayaka to consolidate her hold over the country; it holds the final say on every matter - from Nihon's massive colonial empire to its internal territories, from the guntai to the seifu. This makes the Prime Advisor effectively the most powerful position in the entire Nihonese Empire.
 * Current Omona Teian-sha: Tokugawa Sayaka, born 1610


 * Class System
 * Nomin(農民) [Peasants]: The majority of Nihonese people, at roughly 65%. The Nomin experience a largely agricultural and communal lifestyle, a deep sense of spirituality intertwined with their life in small urban areas dotted around Nihon; their interaction with even local daimyo and institutions is limited to annual contacts during festivals and tax seasons. With the upheaval of the Toyotomi era, however, many Nomin also partake in a mercenary and official capacity for survival and cultural purposes.
 * Shonin(商人) [Merchants]: The Shonin class refers to a whole host of semi-middle-class individuals, from performers to traders. At times, it crosses with the Daimyo, and many Shonin also serve as effective Daimyo in the Toyotomi era. Many serve in a government capacity, interacting mainly with the Kinko and Kaikei; the Shonin are the primary intellectual class in Nihon, making them an influential mark on entertainment and culture.
 * Daimyo(大名) [Feudal lords]: The Daimyo began as a series of warring feudal lords towards the end of the Heian, and have now been largely displaced to become local officials and lower-level bureaucrats within the Shocho/Seifu. They own the vast majority of monetary wealth in Nihon.
 * Teikoku-kanken(帝国官憲) [Imperial Officials]: The Kanken are the smallest class in all of Nihon, numbering at most 23,000 (if one is to use the most loose definition of their duties); most are high-level clan officials and members of the Imperial Family with positions in the Seifu. They are the primary powerbrokers in Nihon, fighting a prolonged battle between them, the Daimyo and the Shonin, with the Nomin caught in between.


 * Soldiery
 * Guntai (軍隊)[Army]: The Guntai arose from the Toitsu-kokoku and evolved into a full-fledged proto-professional military force through the 1200s and 1300s; while the professional guntai has largely vanished with time, those who do remain now make up a professional officer class (whom quickly betrayed their meritocratic roots and have since been using the system to entrench their families in power).
 * Samurai(侍) [Attendant Warriors]: The Samurai began during the professional era but have since expanded to become a vast array of mercenaries, Guntai members and more. They are dominated by two groups: the Guntai-members, and Ronin (浪人) [Wandering People], whose name was originally derogatory to refer to their non-daimyo status, but have since become the founders of the last remaining military orders in Nihon. The Ronin, unlike the Samurai, are not restricted to the Daimyo and Shonin alone, and are often peasants. They both retain the female-slanted gender ratio of the era of Tomoe Gozen.
 * Nomin-senshi(農民戦士) [Levies]: The bulk of any army, the Nomin-senshi are often just levies called from various communities. Unlike most armies, the Nomin-senshi are granted enourmous privileges compared to others; for example, they must be informed months beforehand of any war or mobilisation and community leaders and caretakers are always exempt from conscription. This limits the size of the Nomin-senshi, sizing it down drastically; still, the organisation of the Guntai ensures they maintain their dominance.
 * Kaigun(海軍) [Navy]: The naval forces of Nihon, the Kaigun are the last full professionalised force in all of East Asia. Suihei are treated as equivalent to Samurai (and they often work together), and Nihon benefits from having a naval capability bolstered by Austronesian and Southern knowledge. It operates in large fleets that effectively work place per place.
 * Suihei(水兵) [Sailors]: The Suihei are largely Shonin and Nomin, although almost none are conscripts; the obligation to Kaigun has over time become generational, and because of that, many willingly go back, especially considering the pragmatism of confirming their own position in their communities or ascending by class.


 * Weaponry
 * Guntai weaponry:
 * Naginata, primarily used to pierce ligher armor by shock troops
 * Katana, primarily used as brush-clearing and personal defence weapons by most troops, although other melee weapons are also common
 * Edo Tanegashima, muskets derived from the original Agoustan designs, crude but effective mass-fire forces for suppression
 * Longbows, primarily used for striking down priority targets or ballistae, otherwise used to maintain some measure of stealth
 * Kaigun weaponry:
 * Crossbows, used to deliver volleys of fire upon enemy ships
 * Longbows, used to deliver precision fire on enemy vessels
 * 10-inch cannons, used to strike holes in ships in the hopes of sinking them
 * Chii-tangeashima, effectively blunderbusses used for defence during boardings
 * Kaigun ships:
 * Kawataro-fune, large frigate-like ships with anywhere from 40-50 cannons at any time and a large metal shell-like covering on the top to defend against arrow fire. Move at 4-7 knots, must be towed to go through blue water
 * Hayai-fune, smaller vessels with Malay junk sails and almost no armaments, used primarily as landing craft and resupply craft. Move at 7-12 knots, can maneuver in blue water


 * Demography: Nihon is home to over half a dozen ethnic groups, with the principal amongst them being the Ainu and Yamato; on the fringes of the Shogunate, the Ryukyuan, Emishi, Nishikara and others. Religiously, the majority of people practice a mix of Shinto and Ainu animism; with minor inroads from Agoustan Catholicism and Confucian-style sects.
 * Population distribution: (to fill)
 * Current population estimate: 20,600,000
 * Ethnic distribution: While the concept of ethnicities has yet to come into existence, Nihon already knows of the existence of 'distinct peoples' - as vague as the current concept is, with general reference to language, cultural distinctions and the like. For the country, that means most are divided into two ethnic groups - the Yamato and the Ainu, and 'foreigners' - often referring to both the brother peoples of Choson and people from anywhere from Temasik to Manhattan.

Broad Overview

Even then, the pain, all the pains they’d gone through. Nothing seemed to phase the dictator of Nihon as she continued on her relentless conquest, understanding acutely the necessity of its maintenance. But Nihon was simply becoming too strong for anyone in the South to resist - Angkor, most of the southernmost island states - all of them, they acquiesced quickly. This did not seem necessarily a problem - after all, strength was intimidating - but it was making the military a more powerful force than her, and with it the many military leaders that she had sent to the south.

But she couldn’t afford to weaken the military. Of all the ideas, that was positively the worst one she could even imagine. This created a conundrum of sorts, especially since the Mikado - Kiyoko - was positively indisposed with the institution, advantageously using her position as the Queen of Nagasato to make Nagasato the centre of the economic machine that powered Nihon’s endless war. The Nihonese Southern Company relocated its headquarters from Nagasaki to Davao, accessing the Albionite trading network and its base in Temasik more personally; it also allowed it to wage a war on a scale even Nihon was scared by.

The Thotan Empire. It was the inroads Sayaka desired to the Indian subcontinent - the culmination of her almost insane goal. A sphere of influence over the silk-producing regions of India would give Nihon not only a monopoly over the entire Silk Road, but firmly establish it as not a great power to rival even the vast empires of the Daevites and the Chinese, but ensure that the Europeans would neve be able to interfere again.

And she indeed had a casus belli. The Thotans had not only been backing Revanchist Ayutthaya, but they themselves were in the middle of economic plight at the hands of the Bangali Empire, and local lords were already agitated and restless at the country’s stagnation. It was time for the most ambitious invasion yet.

45,000. That was how many Nihonese troops that landed in Thotan in the Summer of 1667, marching forward and joining a series of local lords and secessionist groups as they broke away from the ailing Empire; most becoming Nihonese protectorates in name or at the very least assisting the Nihonese with their war. Thotan, disorganised after years of the military as an extensive prestige tool, was hopeless to respond - the Nihonese marched in without peer.

But it was here where all the problems finally came to roost. First, the ethnic armies - at least, that was what Temasik called them - did not actively cooperate as they had hoped, not bound by the same fear of the Nihonese that perhaps the Ayutthayans and much of Southeast Asia were. They acted as effectively completely separate parties - just with permanent ceasefires - and that was infuriating. The second was professionalisation. The Nipponese Southern Company now made up almost 80% of all officers in the Southern Guntai, most of whom were purchased positions with heavy bribery; many of them were under the impression that uncritical misuse of traditional military tactics would work - and many more with no real personal stake in leading their armies, which meant that often they treated the entire endeavour as a fruitless waste of time. The subsequent low morale and poor supply issues that also bogged down the effort didn’t help.

Even then, the Nihonese invasion was smashing. The Southern half of Thotan fell under their control - largely due to confidence most had in the Nihonese vassal government rather than the failing local one - but it also meant that they had the grand issue of covering entirely unfamiliar terrain inland. This was minorly alleviated by the influx of experienced commanders and troops from Luang Prabang, following the Nihonese victory there in 1668, but it were not enough. To cover the entire country it would take hundreds of thousands. The Nihonese barely had two hundred thousand to spare in all of Southeast Asia.

This wasn’t an issue - even something that encouraged the entire government forward. The war industry people - the people in charge of all the factories and what not - they loved it. It raised demand markedly and they had enough to supply - especially from the new factories in Chosen, and helped to fill their pockets. And this was where it finally came to roost, in December 1668.

A revolution. That was the fear that Sayaka had as she got older and Chosen grew more restless. They were far too organised and that had to end now; and to do it, she was willing to give concessions on an untold scale. Queen Han was a useful puppet as far as she were concerned - extremely worried about her standing in the Han clan, the unrest sweeping the country made her look like a fool, especially in comparison to the Foreign Clans that the Nihonese had put in power, stuffed full of Nihonese money and resources and even the main recipients of the steam-powered water pumps. In 1667, Han finally adopted a long-dormant plan that the Nihonese conqueror had left lying around as a last resort, pressured by her.

This moved towards the large-scale implementation of military service with benefits akin to a modern welfare state afforded to those who participated - Imperial Service, as it were called. Nominally, the idea was that it would co-opt the small-scale community system the Chosonese resistance movements operated on, on top of being so attractive people entered the service willingly - a smaller system had been implemented in the Southwest territories, although it were not mandatory, to at least limited success. Sayaka was making the largest gamble of her life as a politician. It had to pay off.

It didn't.

In 1668, the Koryoan Revolution began. And the Nihonese Empire was almost over. (events coming soon!)

Notable People


 * 1401-1473 [The Last Days of the Heian]:
 * Uchiha Tomoko (1387 - 1469) [deceased]: Head of the Yamatai faction during the Civil War and later Empress (1412-1469) under the name 'Uchiha no Ichiban'.
 * Mori Kyoko (1378 - 1473) [deceased]: One of the two heads of the Peoples' League during the Civil War, later Speaker of the National Convention unopposed until death. Spouse: Kido Mirio.
 * Hori Shizuku (1377 - 1456) [deceased]: The other head of the Peoples' League, a minor political player in Hiroshima after the war. Committed suicide under threat of involuntary execution.
 * Midoriya Kaitou (1383 - 1472) [deceased]: A minor player in the Civil War who gained popularity as a capable administrator. Birth name Zhang Kaisheng. Spouse: Midoriya Yuki.
 * Seishiro Kirie (1381 - 1463) [deceased]: One of the heads of the Outsiders who found herself alienated from her hometown in her pursuit of political unity. Became a remarkable writer, writing works such as The Use of War, a critical book on the purpose of strife. Spouse: Bakushi Yona.
 * Bakushi Yona (1380 - 1463) [deceased]: A Yamatai-Eskosian, best known for fighting for the political rights of the tiny Eskosian minority in Nihon. Became a political kingmaker after the war. Spouse: Seishiro Kirie.
 * Hu Jin-Yo (1376 - 1462) [deceased]: A Joseon-Yamatai, best known as a Joseonese reunificationist who participated in a minor role during the Civil War. Afterwards, provided much financial support to the Nihonese army advancing in Kyongsong before dying in a tragic accident.
 * Kanzaki Izuku (1394 - 1489) [deceased]: First Shogun then Taisho, well known for unconventional military tactics that precipitated asymmetrical warfare against enemy forces. Lived a relatively stunted life afterwards, travelled into Joseon and participated in its war against Kyongsong before travelling West in hopes of retracing the steps of Bulijin Khatun, a dream promptly foiled. Spouse: Yonekura Hiyori.
 * Nishimiya Asuka (1372 - 1479) [deceased]: Shogun after her predecessor Kanzaki was passed over due to ignoring the Empress, she became something of a despot and massively expanded the powers of the military as well as a small secret police under the direction of Empress Uchiha and Speaker Mori. Lived a quiet, nondescript life. Spouse: Ryuzoji Mirio.
 * 1474 - 1523 [The Brief Bakufu]
 * Uchiha Ryu (1467 - 1512) [deceased]: Adopted son of Empress Uchiha, originally groomed to be an apt successor of hers; he was soon convinced to take another path by the Regent. Overthrown in 1487.
 * Senjougahara Ryuko (1459 - 1489) [deceased]: Popular regent originally meant to become successor to Uchiha, eventually sidelined. With a massive amount of political power, however, she pulled strings to keep herself as Regent and manipulated the new Emperor as she wished. Murdered by an assassin.
 * Senmyaku Hyo-in (1436 - 1486) [deceased]: Powerful orator of the Dochaku who advocated for their betterment. Eventually sidelined due to the maneuvring of Empress Uchiha.
 * Yamagata Jiro (1461 - 1503) [deceased]: An upstart military man who became Shogun at the behest of the late Nishimiya Asuka. Soon evolved into a broadly popular political figure who usurped the throne from Uchiha Ryu, but his ambitions overcame him and he was deposed after attempting to re-consolidate power.
 * Kanzaki Noriko (1467 - 1560) [deceased]: Nationalist despot intent on restoring Nihon to political unitarism. She quickly exploited her way through the chaos of rapid decentralisation to insert herself as the effective leader of Nihon in just one and a half decades, essentially unchallenged. Engaged in the exploitation of Syonan via siphoning its gold reserves to beef those of Nihon, inspiring the local chaos in that nation. Eventually became the leader of the first effectively federal republic in human history, the 13-year Nihonese Federation, but was promptly killed by Oda Nobunaga during the Siege of Kyoto.
 * 1524 - 1601 [Sengoku Jidai]
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543) [deceased]: Minor yet influential political figure of the exiled main family of the Oda clan. Killed by mistake.
 * Takagi Anzu (1497 - 1572) [deceased]: Adopted daughter of Kanzaki Noriko, adept fighter, eventually, Nihonese Empress. Fled to Kansha. Died in 1572 peacefully.
 * Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1638) [deceased]: The vengeful daughter of Nobuhide; a furious orator and military genius. Eventually Shogun and de facto leader of Nihon, but she found herself sidelined by most and was promptly betrayed by many of the daimyo she had returned to power. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence. In reality, she escaped overseas to foreign shores, eventually travelling the world until she returned to Nihon with a single-minded goal of killing Hideyoshi. Her legacy would echo for ages.
 * Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - circa. 1582) [deceased]: A capable administrator and competent military leader, Kagetora found her calling towards managing and helping her territory more important than the distant calls of Nobunaga's ambitions. While Nihon descended into chaos her territory remained prosperous, and bucking the trends of the daimyo she personally adopted many of the measures designed by the late Prime Minister of Nihon. She finally left the country in 1574, tired of the turmoil precipitated by Nobunaga and the loss of most of her friends; making her way to Yolngu, where in defiance of the slavery laws practiced there, she mulled about freely and easily, attempting to find her old friends.
 * Kinoshita Tokichiro or Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1542 - 1637): Known as the conqueror, he was best described as an unorthodox and haplessly brutal man. Like Nobunaga, he practiced incredibly levels of brutality to finish campaigns and assert control, unlike Nobunaga, he had no qualms and no restraint about it whatsoever. As thus he became the new Shogun, and began to assert his control - becoming notable as one of the few openly homosexual members of the Nihonese elite, and a gay one at that. His later reign saw him preside over the large-scale expansion of the Nihonese Empire and the earliest days of Nihonese capitalism, as well as a degree of brutality for which he became reknowned, bringing about his demise. Spouse: Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - 1599): Granddaughter of Kanzaki Noriko, she came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Miyamoto Musashi or Tachibana no Musashi (1590 - 1641): Daughter and unwilling former Ojo, she was expelled from the Chrysanthemum Throne before she ever took place; but this gave way for a scientific, philosophical and intelligent woman to carve out her own mark in history. She helped to create the first versions of Scientific Theory as we know it as well as influential blueprints and inventions that would spread throughout most of the world East of India; and left behind a particular cultural and scientific legacy, not even mentioning her school of swordsmanship.


 * Kanzaki Family: From a minor clan in old Minamoto arose one of the defining political and military families of the early Bakufu. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Izuku (1394 - 1489): Grandfather of the entire family. Began the Kanzaki name by abandoning usage of the old Minamoto clan name and rising as first a potential Emperor before becoming one of the most prolific generals in Nihon's history. However, his attempts at glory were foiled and eventually he gave up, passing his life's work to a strange girl who might just get some use out of it.
 * Third Generation:
 * Setsuna (1482 - 1572): Another third generation'er; she went missing in Syonan before being discovered as Noriko travelled to it. Made head of the Nihonese Southern Company. Spouse: Souji Nakamura.
 * Noriko (1467 - 1560): Two generations later, a bored Shinto temple head turned trainer turned puppet master. Exploited the political weaknesses of the political system to make herself a de facto leader, first head of the Kanzaki Clan. Charted the family's rise to prominence and eventually the family's dominance for a few decades; began her ascent hoping to salvage the family name but eventually became a radical republican dead set on changing the world as we know it. Died at the hands of Oda Nobunaga.
 * Fifth Generation:
 * Miyako or Ritsuko (1548 - 1598): She came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Sixth Generation:
 * Hidetada (1588 - 1640): One of the longest-serving Shusho in Nihonese history, his own disaffection with the Imperial system as well as his personal experiences led him to become the first human rights activist in history; helping to rescue radicals and stalling the progress of Nihonese urbanism. He also helped to define the Shogunate's legal code, leaving an impactful mark on the cultural history of Nihon with his own perceived effeminacy and writings, despite him being in hiding for much of the last two decades of his life. Spouse: Ishikawa Mayuri.


 * Oda Family: A descendant of the Minamoto as well, the Oda rose up in opposition to the Kanzaki - and won out, going on to define much of the rest of Nihonese history. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543): His quest for revenge began the family's ascent to power. He finished none of it, trusting in a person that never returned his trust; yet, he would be remembered for what little he had done.
 * Second Generation:
 * Nobunaga (Hiyori) (1533 - circa. 1575): Arguably the family's most famous member, Nobunaga organised her, her siblings and others into a massive campaign against the experimental Nihonese Federation. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Nobuhiro (1534 - 1579): Nobunaga's less enthusiastic brother, who promptly decided to support the anti-Nobunaga coalition that cropped up against her. After her death, he was brutally skewered by the daimyo of Nanbu.
 * Nobuyuki (1534 - 1592): A quiet and unassuming member of his generation, Nobuyuki supported his sister but eventually fell out of the entire 'campaign' thing and went to manage the tiny family farm in Niigata. He, ironically, lived a far longer life than any of his family, dying peacefully in 1592.
 * Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - 1584): Nobunaga’s sister, although she never saw her as such for long. Forced into a ‘marriage’ with Kagetora’s young brother to solidify an alliance between the Uesugi and Oda, she was promptly pinged-ponged around into various marriages until being taken as a forcible concubine of Hideyoshi. She committed suicide in 1584.
 * Third Generation:
 * Shouko (1578 - ??): Daughter of Nobuhiro, one of his three children; she became administrator of the new Oda-chiku in Nagoya as one of the only qualified members of the Oda family remaining.

Mod Event

 * Vesta Invicta:
 * Swallowing Our Pride (1670): The first Storforsamling meeting with Hersker  Henrietta  at the helm was... a mess, to say the least. What happened, one might ask? To put it simply,  Henrietta  suggested acquiescing to Svean demands. That meant giving away Nidaros and Scania, two incredibly important fylket of  Vestkyst , as the former was a religious centre, and losing the latter meant the income from the Øresund toll would be lost. Her reasoning was that  Vestkyst  has just came out of a deadly four-way internal struggle and thus has no military to speak of, and thus mounting a counteroffensive is an impractical notion - which was true, but it by no means came across well to the Assembly. The proposal was met with... mixed reception. While there are consenting voices, others criticised the notion, ranging from the suggestion of surrender itself, to the fact that  Henrietta  was Svean and was thought to have been acting on Svean interests instead of  Vestkyst 's. The more extreme among them even suggested that she should be returned to Visby and the Assembly should continue on running  Vestkyst , as it has for two years.  It was here that Henrietta rose up, and gave an impassioned speech. While the full details have been lost over time, one specific excerpt survived in writing to the present day: "...ever since I accepted the invitation from the Assembly, Svearike has never been on my mind. I may have been born a Svean, but my heart beats Vestkyst 's blood. [...] for I am the Hersker of Vestkyst, I shall act in the best interests of Vestkyst and her peoples, and by Odin's grace, I vow to return her to her deserved triumph, however long and hard the path may be..."  Did the speech work? No one could say for certain, but if anything, the vote regarding an offering of peace was hosted later that day, and though much quarrel remained, including some still in doubt of  Henrietta 's integrity, the resolution narrowly passed. For the first time since Macbeth,  Vestkyst  would admit defeat in a conflict with a foreign power.  Travelling with a party of envoys to Stockholm,  Henrietta  would meet her brother  Oskar  once again, this time as the Hersker of Vestkyst. His smug demeanor still had not changed, and part of her was sure it was reserved for her alone. Amidst all the usual taunting, she maintained a degree of level-headedness as the peace offer was presented.  "I have said it before, and I will say it again.  Henrietta ," remarked  Oskar , "you will never eclipse me. Not as Princess of  Svearike , not as Queen of Vestkyst, not as anything. Mark my words."  "I will. And I will prove you wrong."  With a newfound resolve,  Henrietta  returned to Bergen. The Storforsamling,  Svearike ,  Oskar , those who have doubted her, she would change their minds, one by one, no matter how long it might take.
 * The Long Game (1671-): The loss of Nidaros and Scania was no deterrent to  Henrietta 's resolve, as she looked to other pastures to pick up the pieces of a broken  Vestkyst . No time for mourning, for there is work to do. First was the economy. From the moment the treaty was signed, the Øresund toll was forcibly ended, cutting off a small but notable portion of  Vestkyst 's fortune. To this end, she looked to the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic and the flourishing fish industry in the region, which was both flanked by  Vestkyst -owned territory (Vinland and Iceland specifically). To this end, the Vestkysten Nordatlanteren Kompani (Vestkyster North Atlantic Company) was founded in late 1671, which, as the name implied, also took care of other businesses in the area. Fishing in the region was expedited by the VNK under the Hersker's order for social and economical reasons, and in the years following the war  Vestkyst  would become one of, if not the biggest exporters of fish in the world. Maritime trade routes were also re-established, as Lybæk and Hamborg, two principal Hanseatic cities, were relatively unscathed, and even with the Hansa faltering, the Vestkyster burghers class was able to build upon its foundation and set up an extensive network from Donostia to Riga, and in time, from Katonsja across the Atlantic to  Vestkyst  proper itself. Next was administration. For that,  Henrietta  along with a committee of civil servants, burghers and nobles drafted up a new arrangement of fylket (provinces) to be more suitable to the current situation. These new divisions would be used in administration, taxation, conscription, and most importantly, elections into the Storforsamling. What was formerly Danemark was split into three fylket and  Vestkyst  ten (including two autonomous Sámi regions of Nordkyst and Finnmark), with Vinland and Gotland being their own provinces, the latter governed by the Hersker herself. The two Imperial and Free Cities would remain separate from these fylket. These changes would also mean that there would be no more " Vestkyst-Danemark ", but just one single, unitary " Vestkyst. " A third, more personal problem was that of  Henrietta 's legitimacy itself. If anything, she was not particularly popular with the Great Assembly, and such an issue would be cause for concern as it meant she would not be able to secure certain votes that could help further her agenda. Perhaps by showing that she indeed meant it when claimed that her heart "beats  Vestkyst 's blood", it would go some way to change their opinion of her? It was said that she would often be away from the comfort in Bergen and went about inspecting the quality of life of the people in the fylket herself, including that of the Sámi and the Atlantic islanders, and showing great interest in learning about local industry and culture - a gesture that proved popular among the fylket representatives. Other times, she would attempt to establish relationships with the influential nobles of the Assembly, as their endorsement could go a long way to establishing her credibility and quiet any doubts of her integrity. Over time, opinion of her in the Storforsamling shifted, though gradually, as they came to accept her more and more. Though there were still outspoken critics, over the years  Henrietta  had accrued enough support in the Great Assembly to assuage any questions on her legitimacy and assembled a legislative body that would support her adequately. And lastly, the military. Those who lost their livelihoods in the civil war were pressed into the standing army, drilled by officials and Kjærsfekter members. Volunteers and conscription were also utilised to create a sort of reserve army, available to call upon in times of war. The remnants of the Akershus and Vestlander armies were also integrated into the Vestkyster army structure, using them to build a solid core. All of this allowed  Vestkyst  to rebuild a professional standing army, ready for war at any moment. The Kjærsfekter remained an important elite and veteran fighting force in  Henrietta 's reign, as it has been during  Anastasia 's and those before them. Regarding the navy, the thriving logging industry allowed a steady source of supplies to contribute to rapid construction of galleys and light ships, gradually bringing it back to pre-war figures. Foreign engineers were also brought in to improve shipbuilding designs to ensure the new Herskermarinen (Royal Navy) would be competitive with other powers in the region. While this was going on, she made sure not to neglect the situation of her neighbours, as an opportunity might come one day when she could finally regain their rightful lands. For all of her trials and tribulations,  Henrietta  has gained herself the love of the people, the respect of (most of) the nobility, the approval of the Assembly and a revitalised  Vestkyst , rising step by step from the ashes, despite its tattered wings. While the process has taken over a decade, it was no concern for her; for she was playing the long game, and she was confident of victory.
 * Fair-faring Falcon (Part 2): Ludwig had spent time with Lumi (the person he met some time before) and found a new life with her in Albion. The two became close, as noted by Fortuna, but they were not open about any of it. But from the years since the events during the Vestkyst Civil War, their relationship and feelings to which they did not understand had grew into something more.  On 1670, they finally married, it long time for the two to marry. During his time with her, he talked about having the freedom over your own destiny, it was this emphasis that motivated to go far from home... but if destiny was a person, they would not be so keen on letting someone go so easily. In 1671, over a year after his marriage, he has gotten word about his parents; their murder. He didn't know how he felt. Sure, they both have their own disagreements, the control and planned they have for him. But... do they really deserve this? He left to investigate, to find out what happened, and if possible, bring justice down upon them. It didn't take much guesswork to see troubling Catholics in a fully Protestant area with the memory of the League Wars in mind to see that this was done by Protestants. But who? From what Ludwig could gather from letters and those his parents kept in contact with in recent years, it seems that they were involved in a faction trying to overturn the Wurttemburg protestant governance. But it also seemed his parents moved on from anything about religion, they just want their home back. After a honeymoon of the newly established Dukes of Wurttemburg, their rulership weakened and so did its reception with the populace, resulting in its stagnation for many decades. Several nobles had formed factions intended to overturn it. The only ones who might disagree would be sympathizers or the government itself, no doubt working together. It seems whoever murdered them didn't take too kindly to it. With a destination set, Ludwig set off for Wurttemburg by 1674.
 * The Insane: Ahmiyazabd is the great ruler of the Atouman Empire since 1645. Even while a war with Aethopia is underway, Ahmiyazabd has turned his attention of his northern armies to Europe. For many generations, his ancestors fought to try to take down Vienna. The city served as a gateway to the rest of Europe, somewhat divided between themselves more than the giants to their east. One main problem is the Avaro-Vedenans and their paramilitarized (in modern term) army called the Hussars that could spell trouble for the Atoumans. The nonaggression pact has faded since the last war, and relations between the two has proven without a doubt that Avaro-Vedena might come to the aid of Vienna. He must find a way to deal a crippling blow so that the Avaro-Vedenans would be too busy fixing themselves than fighting a war. On 1672, forces led by Grand Vizier and Ahmiyazabd marched into AVC 80,000 strong. At first, AVC was embroiled in its own internal affairs, so it was unable to raise enough troops in time before Atouman forces took the cities along its border, and even going as far as Ploskirow. Whatever large force they had was crushed by the Atoumans. However, anger in AVC from these losses boiled over for forces to either raise or pull enough troops in the north territories of the Commonwealth to help stall the Atoumans 100 miles outside Lutsk. During the next few years, the early Atouman successes in the War against the Avaro-Vedenanan Commonwealth, along with troop movements near the Eskosian border under the command of Ahmiyazabd would send early warning signs to Europe. Furthermore, the current elected Holy Roman Emperor has shown early signs of sickness, rendering his assistance in possible future conflicts against the Atoumans in question within his inner circles.
 * The Planetarium: At the instigation of the French government, Christiaan Huygens constructs a mechanical planetarium that could display all the planets and moons known at the time circling around the sun. He finishes the design in 1673, and requests his clockmaker to construct it, which he does the following year. Upon its delivery to the French Academy of Sciences Louis XIV personally commends Huygens for his work.
 * Hair-Raising Science: Following Otto von Guericke's invention of the friction machine, a precursor to the electrostatic generator, experiments upon electricity begin in earnest. Isaac Newton constructs one in 1670, with glass globes instead of sulfur, before then creating another design with insulated conductors to temporarily store static charges.
 * The Empire Ascendant: The Hausa Empire crosses into the Azarkhkate of Darfur, prompting war with the Atouman Empire; but the empire, embroiled in its war in Europe, is unable to effectively respond to the Hausa giant's eastward march. As it marches eastward and tales of its economic dominance move with it, the Empire of Nihon sends a delegation to the Hausa matriarch, marking the beginning of the African Silver Age - a time during which a lapse in foreign intervention allows for expansive African states to maintain economic and political dominions not incomparable to the European states north.
 * Ásatrú War: Though often referred to as a "war", the Ásatrú War is more of a series of short religious conflicts in the Albionite region of Caledonia in the North, fought mostly between the more Ásatrú-tolerant eastern cities and the more conservative Christian western side. The spread of Nynorrøn in the Albionite Islands is a new, yet prominent phenomenon, starting from the traditional Vestkyst-Albion trading routes and expedited by a great wave of emigration following the Vestkyster Civil War, leading to prominent Ásatrú communities established in cities like Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, though this had also lead to skepticism in other places. This led to a short period of general civil unrest where Ásatrú quarters were threatened by those on western Caledonia to leave, igniting some sort of impromptu civil war in the region. It ended somewhat inconclusively, though the Ásatrú communities' defensive attitudes made them ever more popular, even going so far as to allowing the conversion of the more disillusioned Christians among them, also helped by the relatively easy method of conversion. In essence, the "war" did exactly the opposite of the suspicious Christian populations have wanted - not only have they failed to kick out those they claim to be foreign invaders, but Ásatrú is more popular than ever in Caledonia.
 * The Crown Colony: Manuel I was on his deathbed - but it didn’t mean he couldn’t be ambitious. As a distraction from the choice of his older daughter or son for successor, he focused his energies towards the New World; Nueva Hispania had been rebuilding, as had Taxacola, and it was about time that they brought it under direct control. So in 1671, Manuel developed the Crown Colony system - where immense benefits were brought to administrators who toed Madrid’s line and ran the place expediently. With it, Iberian nobles competed furiously for an opportunity at not just prestige but economic well-being - and it also meant a second thing: the end of the pirates. The Iberians had slowly been phasing the pirates out of their operations, especially after repeated raids on new settlements and new towns. The advent of the steam water pump especially meant that settlements could be more compact, and still serve the critical operations they wished for - on top of serving as a way to avoid having to interact with indigenous groups entirely. The pirates were also diplomatic nuisances - the Bretheren of the Coast especially, repeatedly attempting to instigate colonial war with Albion. Finally, the new governor of Nueva Hispania, a woman by the name of Maria Fernandez, brought the African slave trade to its apex by negotiating a deal with the Kingdom of Orungu - negotiating the mass sale of slaves from the African hinterland in exchange for Iberian protection - and the pirates were now thoroughly useless. The crackdown ended as swiftly as it had begun. The pirates were pushed back on all fronts, the Bretheren broken by raids on most of their coastal islands and the remaining French and Hispanian pirates surrendering or agreeing to fully provide their services to the Crown. By the end of 1674 it was all but clear that the Age of Piracy was over. And all that remained were a small sliver of a golden age that few would be able to recall.
 * Subverting the Japonic Sphere: Since the expulsion of all but the Albionites east of Melaka, the European powers had been seeking a way back in for decades. The Dutch had just about figured out a deal with the Kingdom of Zhaowa and a complicated Australian route before the Kingdom was promptly vassalised by the Nihonese Empire; the Iberians resorted to futilely backing Ayutthayan revanchist forces. But with the Nihonese invasion of Thotan and the proceeding collapse of that country, the sheer amount of pirates finally offered a solution. Pirate merchants. Despicable by their standards, but extremely useful. They were given rights to use the Dutch base in West Australia and even docking rights in the Kullen Territory, and it allowed the Dutch to finally access spices without the onerous taxes of the Nihonese. This is not to say that it were not expensive - to the point where the cost was similar - but it were a political move too, allowing the Dutch to maintain some semblance of a presence in the Maluku Islands. The Dutch had no idea that soon the system would be more pain than it were worth...
 * Synod of Jerusalem: The Synod was convened by the Orthodox Patriarch, a head bishop of the Eastern Orthodox Christian world, in March 1672. The Synod was attended by most of the prominent representatives of the Eastern Orthodox Church and its decrees received universal acceptance as an expression of the faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Synod of Jerusalem brings together bishops and representatives from the whole of Eastern Orthodox Christendom, to discuss Orthodox dogma against the challenge of Protestantism. The Synod refuted the Confession of Lucaris article by article, seeking to put an end to the Calvinists' theses of unconditional predestination and of justification by faith alone, and to reassert traditional Orthodox doctrines about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the fate of the soul after death, which some commentators have regarded as substantially the same as the Roman Catholic views of transubstantiation and personal eschatology. Bottomline, the heads of Eastern Orthodoxy officially took a stance against certain Protestant denominations, mainly Calvinism.

NPC Event

 * France: Under orders of Louis XIV, the Les Invalides, a hospital and retirement home for veterans, was first started construction in 1670. The year after, the Académie royale d'architecture would be founded, becoming the first school of architecture in the world.
 * New Netherlands:Despite a hard fought defense, they could not withstand years of fighting a more established enemy from both sides. Between 1669 and 1672, the colony could barely stave off enemy colonial ships with reinforcements from the Dutch navy overseas. Their navy is small compared to the more established navies from Elysia and Lansenia (formerly Plymouth). However, a fateful battle off shores had crippled any sort of naval defense they could muster and resulted in isolation mainly due to patrolling ships coming from the neighboring British colonies. The cut off from the colony to their homeland may result in an economic decline back home, despite best efforts to maintain a constant break through in lines. After over 5 years of fighting, the colony finally fell to colonial militias mainly from Elysia, Desaheim and Lansenia in 1673.
 * Varangia: The Varangian settlement movement only continued on eastward - but it didn't mean it came without issues. Most of the land they were forced to settle on were good for no more than mining - and mining itself were impossible with the intense snowstorms of the year. The settlements were almost entirely coastal as a result, trying to fish out what little they could from Northern Siberian waters. The other option was assimilation into the native peoples there. It were honestly far more attractive, given the fact that they knew the lay of the land, and as thus few of them openly resented the Keisarian settlers - so long as they didn't openly conflict with their hunting and what not. Three in ten Keisarian settlers would bring their skills and expertise to the indigenous peoples of Siberia; and as Merya sent more experienced workers, hoping that their expertise would make things better overall, it actually led to most of them dissipating from the failing Coastal settlements into Indigenous ones. This caused a distinct cultural and political change for them. No longer were they on the edge of the Varangian Confederation - but slowly asserting themselves, with the expertise and skills brought by former Keisarian settlers.
 * Taqwúba and other Salish States: (To Abenanka) They regard Abenanka as rather distant but agree nontheless.

Brethren of the Coast | New Brethren of Pirates

 * Government: Pirate Confederacy

Captains:


 * Roche Veracruzaan (1624-?) (p. 1654-1671): A Dutch born pirate, who raided the coasts of Vera Cruz for some years, until finally joining the Brethren in 1654. He raided an Iberian galleon in 1657, which carried many riches, including some crates of vanilla, sugar and indigo. He raided many ships after that, not attacking any towns, but he amassed a fortune by raiding ships. In one particular raid on New Hispania, he roasted alive two Spanish farmers on wooden spits after they refused to hand over their pigs. He did a raid on Los Pan Serpiente with a couple other pirates, directly causing the fall of the Brethren. He disappeared mysteriously in 1671, with rumors of him escaping to the Far East.
 * Jacquotte Delahaye † (1634-1672) (p. 1656-1672): A french girl, who became one of the most important members of the Brethren, who joined in 1656, having bought her ship when disguised as a man, with wealth from sources unknown. She revealed her true identity when sailing to the West Indies, asking her crew to vote on joining the Brethren, which went well. She designed a black flag, with herself in high class dressing, holding hands with Death, with a heart bleeding on the center. After she arrived at Tortuga, she joined the Brethren as usual. She managed to become the most successful captain on the Brethren, gaining the nickname “Back From the Dead Red” after a raid where she was thought to have been killed, where she took her striking, red hair out, after which she won the boarding. She founded the pirate territory of Los Lagartos, where she established her headquarters in 1659. She helped in the raids down the Magdalena River in 1661, falling in love with Charlotte de Berry. Her last major pirate raid was when she joined le Basque’s raid on Coropolis. She was killed in 1672 after an Iberian attack on her pirate island, in which she died heroically trying to save her girlfriend.
 * Anne Dieu-le-Veut (1635-) (p. 1658-1671): Another frenchwoman, who joined the Brethren in 1658, having never hidden her sex. She adopted Delahaye’s flag, inspired by her incredible achievements. She fell in love with Prins, after sailing with him and staying in Los Lagartos. She also helped in the raids of Baran’kígia and Magdalena, which were successful enough to inspire Myngs to do his own massive raid. She escaped with her husband in 1671, joining his husband in his financial ventures.
 * Laurens Prins (1631-) (p. 1659-1671): A Dutchman, he joined the Brethren in 1659 with plans to attack a town in the Bacata Zone. He made a couple big raids in the year, capturing a galleon and a frigate. The attack came into form in 1661, with all of the female pirates accompanying him, with a force of four ships, with which they attacked the towns of Baran’kigia and Magdalena in Antioquía. in 1666 he started writing a history of the Brethren., which he managed to complete in 1671, then escaping with his wife to the Netherlands Antilles, becoming a successful merchantman
 * Charlotte de Berry † (1636-1672) (p. 1661-1672): A Frenchwoman, which joined in the Year of Our Lord 1661, inspired by Delahaye. She and Delahaye fell in love during the voyage and attack of the towns in Antioquía. They both became the most important pirates on Los Lagartos. Their love was revealed in 1668, after Prins accidentally saw them in flagrante delicto when trying to tell them about a possible raid. She and Delahaye kept pirating, even joining le Basque’s raid on Coropolis until an Iberian raid into Los Lagartos killed them both. She was reportedly the best warrior in that raid, killing multiple Spaniards in her final stand
 * Nicholas van Hoorn (1635-) (p. 1664-1674): Another Dutch pirate, who joined in 1664, befriending de Graaf quickly and planning more raids. He operated mostly on Taxacola, the Maya Territory and New Hispania. He joined the Hispanians in 1674, handing over the last remnants of the Brethren
 * Daniel Montbars † (1645-1673) (p. 1664-1673): Another brutal Frenchman, who offered no quarter to Iberians, killing every single one if possible, as he hated the Iberians for killing his old crew. He actually was very kind to non Iberians that he captured, mostly being natives, which he usually asked to join on to his crew. He was cornered by 4 Iberian brigs in late 1673, with his ship blowing up from all the enemy fire, killing him, and ending the last major adversarial pirate of the Brethren
 * Bartolomeu Português (1638-?) (1665-1670): Member of the Little Athens pirates, he joined the Iberians in 1670, helping convince van Hoorn to join them.
 * Michel le Basque (1636-) (1665-): A Basque pirate, who was the last to join the Brethren before the invasion of Tortuga, who was mildly succesful, meeting up with the Los Lagartos pirates to set up a raid on Coropolis, being joined by de Berry and Delahaye in the raid, where they captured the biggest prize in a decade, himself being more careful, due to the ramped up Iberian presence, which he managed to avoid, not being killed during the invasions of pirate territory by the Iberians, managing to sort of keep the Brethren’s legacy, as he managed to capture two spanish ships sent to kill him in 1671, then resupplying in 1671 in Los Lagartos, and joining the Bermuda pirates for a couple years, getting some other captains in his “New Brethren”.
 * Juan Gartem (1649-) (1671-): A renegade Iberian, who joined in 1671, being the last pirate to join the Brethren. He managed to escape with le Basque in 1671, joining him in Bermuda in 1673.

Territories:

Little Athens (1632-1674)


 * Description: Little Athens is an island near New Hispania, named after the Greek kingdom on the island, it was founded by Captain Polycrates, and it functioned as the de facto headquarters of the Brethren until 1640, then becoming the headquarters again in 1666, with the Brethren greatly reduced in size. It was handed over to the Spaniards in 1674, as the last bastion of Piracy in the Shattered Isles.
 * Population: 400

Los Lagartos (1659-1672)


 * Description: An island as big as Tortuga west of New Hispania, which is inhabited by Taínos, which was captured by Delahaye, Prins and Dieu-le-Velt in 1659, being effectively separate from the Brethren in all but name, it was destroyed by an Iberian raid in 1672, with most of the pirate population being killed.
 * Population: 300

Navy: The navy of the Brethren took an extremely heavy hit in the 1660s, with more than a third of the navy being destroyed in the invasion of Tortuga and even more on l’Olonnais’ failed invasion on Chorotega. The Brethren was left weakened, making it easy for their Iberian rivals to capture all territories left. after the Iberian capture of the last pirate territories the “New Brethren” had 4 ships, totalling 68 cannons and 180 crewmen

Flutes: Dutch-built cargo ships, which can be outfitted with quite a few guns for a great effect. These ships have three masts, in a usual fully rigged style. they carry from 10 to 30 guns and can carry much more cargo than a usual frigate of the same size.


 *  Amsterdam Meid , flute, 20+4 guns and 70 crewmembers, captain Laurens Prins

Brigs: The main ship used by the Brethren, a two mast ship that uses mains’ls mostly, with a gaff sail in the aft side mast. Many of the Brethren’s captains use stuns’ls with their ships, effectively increasing the ship’s swiftness by a large margin. These ships are usually outfitted with over 14 cannons, with the bigger ones going all the way to 26.


 *  Marquis , brig 16 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Charlotte de Berry
 *  L’Amazon , brig 20+2 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Daniel Montbars
 *  Vera Cruz , brig 14+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Bartolomeu Português
 * Les Crocodiles, brig 16+4 guns and 60 crewmembers, captain Michel le Basque

Ketches: Double masted ships, which use only gaff sails usually, as well as mains’ls in rarer cases. These are a middle point between sloops/cutters and brigs, usually having between 10 and 18 guns for the non merchant versions


 *  Veracruz , ketch 16+4 guns and 50 cremembers, captain Roche Veracruzaan
 *  Castries , ketch 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Jacquotte Delahaye
 *  Saint Nicholas , ketch 12+2 guns and 36 crewmembers, captain Nicholas van Hoorn
 * Le Petit Athénes, ketch 14+4 guns and 50 crewmembers, captain Laurens de Graaf

Cutters: Single masted ships, which are similar to sloops, but use one or two mains’ls in that mast as well as the jibs. This ship is usually called sloop by some, but the line is blurry, with it being technically correct to call them sloops.


 * L’Tortue, cutter 10+4 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Michel de Gramont (under le Basque)
 * El Dorado, cutter 12+4 guns and 40 crewmembers, captain Juan Gartem

Sloops: Ships with only one mast, which do not have a bowsprit, as well as a gaff sail, and from one to three jibs as well. These ships are small in size, not being able to carry many tons of cargo. This ship is commonly confused with cutters.


 *  Marianne , sloop 8+2 guns and 30 crewmembers, captain Anne Dieu-le-Velt

New Arrivals


 * Juan Gartem (1671-): A renegade Iberian, who joined le Basque in 1671, being the last pirate to join the Brethren.

Events


 * Downfall of the Brethren: The Brethren had been in decline, ever since Rous joined the Albionites in 1654, quickly followed by the start of hostilities against them. In the 1660s, after a triad of pirates sacked the Albionite town of Los Pan Serpiente, the Albionites retaliated by invading the main pirate island of Tortuga, killing many captains, weakening the navy heavily, which was compounded by l’Olonnais, who in 1667 tried to make a new pirate territory in Chorotega, being joined by a couple captains. They all died in 1668 in an Iberian retaliation, weakening the Brethren even more. The Brethren then was easily destroyed, with the Iberians easily destroying the pirates of Los Lagartos in 1672, killing both captains there, and then managing to get Little Athens to surrender without any bloodshed. The two remaining captains then made a “New Brethren” trying to keep the old traditions of the Brethren, like matelotage.

Raid on Coropolis (1670): Three pirates, Delahaye, Berry and le Basque did the last town raid on the history of the Brethren, managing to raid the spanish town of Coropolis, making them quite a bit of plunder.

Empire of Matagaskar | Empira Matagasykara
Notable People of Matagaskar/Imerina (in chronological order) [WIP]:
 * Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
 * Monarch: Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (B 1632 - Age 37, alive) (R 1658 - Present)
 * Consort: Empress Ratompoimbahoaka (B 1633 - Age 36, alive) [Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe has three other wives: Ramahafoloarivo, Rampanananiamboninitany and Ranavolontsimitoviaminandrianaralambo, although only his first wife is considered empress consort.]
 * Ruling Dynasty: Hova
 * Chief of Kômôro: Kifeda (B 1622 - Age 47) (R 1653 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Ranjevasy: Rabenirina (B ca 1614 - Age ca 55, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Co-Protector of Maorisy: Tovondrava (B 1615 - Age 54, alive) (R 1643 - Present)
 * Order of Succession: Prince Andriandambomanafika (B 1660 - Age 9, alive), Princess Ravololondrenitrimo (B 1661 - Age 8, alive), Prince Andrianjakanavalondambo (B 1664 - Age 5, alive), Princess Andriamanjakatokana (B 1636 - Age 33, alive), Prince Razafindramahata (B 1621 - Age 47, alive), Princess Mialitiana (B 1651 - Age 18, alive), Princess Rabetsara (B 1624 - Age 45, alive)...
 * Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing as well as trade, mostly with the Swahili states of East Africa but also other foreign merchants. The Malagasy economy stands as one of the strongest and most developed in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, mostly due to the effect of foreign contact. Matagaskar controls the entire island of the same name and holds influence in parts of East Africa.
 * Allies: Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla (defensive pact), Mutapa (personal alliance)
 * Capital: Antananarivo
 * Demographics:
 * Population: ca 798 000 total
 * Mahajanga: 9 300
 * Antananarivo: 7 000
 * Toamasina: 4 650
 * Manakara: 3 300
 * Ambanja: 2 500
 * Morafenobe: 2 500
 * Toliara: 2 070
 * Antsiranana: 1 900
 * Moroni: 1 100
 * Antsirabe: 800
 * Fipetrahana: 500
 * Amorontsiraka: 500
 * Rural regions: ca 765 000
 * Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (consisting of 18 ethnic groups, the three largest of which, in order, are the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Sakalava), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), ca 5% Adnanite, >1% Albionite (Fort Dolphin and nearby areas)
 * Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, ca 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore) and other traditional folk religions, >1% Anglican Christianity
 * Wars and Conflicts (italics: Potential War):
 * N/A
 * Military: Due to Matagaskar being a rural realm, a large amount of units can be raised for warfare, but usually about 1% of the population is the most trained and prepared soldiers that can be drafted. Parentheses means the deployed units in cases where not all units are deployed for war.
 * Deployed units: None
 * Total (1%): 7 800
 * 2 080 Spearmen
 * 1 420 Swordsmen
 * 300 Bowmen
 * 2 050 Crossbowmen
 * 1 500 Light Cavalry
 * 600 Fossa Warriors
 * Navy:
 * 14 Adananita class ships
 * 12 Mer'ana class ships
 * 10 transport ships
 * Diplomacy:
 * Mutapa: Emperor Andriantsimitoviandriandehibe continues supporting Mutapa’s war ambitions with the occasional gift of gold, resources or equipment. Also read “Malagasy involvement with Mutapa”.
 * Albion: Let’s sign a declaration of friendship, pretty please. (the diplomats didn’t actually say “pretty please”)
 * Events:
 * Emperor Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe:** The reign continues and I don’t know how to begin events. Bummer. Anyway Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe’s reign has been marked with more and more foreign interaction, especially with the navy and our sailing technology being improved and the establishment of new trade routes(ish) with Malagasy merchants now going further north along the East African coast as well as even getting to Socotra and the Adnanian peninsula. To summarize, our island has basically started to (metaphorically, of course) attach itself to the rest of Africa and it has increased quite a bit with the current Emperor on the throne. More and more people of higher class start working in diplomacy and other positions related to foreign interaction, such as cartographers who start to work out the new waters and lands found up north in the most recent years. Botokeky and Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe become close friends, with Botokeky even being allowed to help teach and raise the Emperor’s children along with of course the royal couple themselves.
 * In other news the Emperor has received demands from the Co-Protectors of the Maskareina Islands to recognize their culture in the same vein as on the mainland, what with the non-administrative provinces that go along the lands of the different Malagasy ethnic groups, each which has a representative that is part of a council that works together with other administrative parts of Matagaskar to keep the ethnic groups happy and from killing eachother. The Maskareina Islands have been inhabited for about 100 years at this point and obviously the people who settled the islands had to work with what they had, developing a culture derived from various ethnic groups (considering that people from different ethnic groups settled there, everything from Betsimisaraka to Bara to Antanosy) but that is still distinct from the mainland groups. Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe goes along with the demands. Thus both Maorisy and Ranjevasy become a province known as Maskareina and the people there are recognized as a distinct “new” ethnic group also called Maskareina. The two Co-Protectors are the ones who vote to decide their representative in the Provincial Council (the council of representatives that I mentioned earlier).
 * Malagasy involvement with Mutapa: Arguably Matagaskar’s closest ally on the African continent, we have been to them what the Ahuric Empire was to us: a stronger force who brought new technology and new ideas, along with religion, drastically changing their future. Malagasy merchants have, as said previously, set up trade guilds on many of the coastal cities. This has not only led to the further mixing of Shona and Malagasy people (through marriage and procreation as well as the two peoples learning each other’s languages, especially with the Malagasy language since the Zoroastrian texts and such brought to Mutapa have been in that language and most likely still are the most widespread, although translations into Shona may have been made at this point) but also further interaction between the Malagasy and the Agoustans, as now both of these civilizations are active on the coast of the Mutapan realm.
 * The Malagasy Sphere of Influence: Would, I guess, stretch across Mutapa (intersecting with Agousta), along most of the Swahili coast and through parts of the islands controlled by the Order of Avesta.
 * Past Rulers:
 * Ammagari dynasty (ca 1392-1517):
 * Andrianerinerina (ca 1360s-1418): Legendary first king, said to be the son of the god Zanahary himself. Reigned from ca 1392 to 1418.
 * Andrianjavonana (1391-1447): Ruled during a period of language and alphabet-development. Reigned from 1418 to 1447.
 * Andrianamponga (1427-1455): Encountered the Adnanites, expanded the rule over the Comoros. Died in a mysterious event. Reigned from 1447 to 1455.
 * Andrianamboniravina (1429-1469): Formed the Fossa Warriors, fought the Avestan invaders. Reigned from 1455 to 1469.
 * Zafimahova (1434-1488): Regent for Rafandrandrava. De facto ruler even after Rafandrandrava’s coming of age. Official regency lasted from 1469 to 1471. De facto queen regnant from 1469 to 1488.
 * Rafandrandrava (1453-1494): Underage at the time of ascension, was basically just a de jure ruler for most of his reign. Oversaw the expansion into the Central Highlands. Reigned from 1469 to 1494.
 * Andriamasindohafandrana (1477-1513): Continued adapting foreign technology and expanding south. Visited the Ahuric Empire. Murdered by conspiring Fossa Warriors. Reigned from 1494 to 1513.
 * Rafandrampohy (1495-1550): Conducted a massive crackdown on the conspirators who killed his father. Abdicated in favor of his wife Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, triggering the Merina Civil War. After this he became a religious person. Reigned from 1513 to 1517.
 * Hova dynasty (current):
 * Rangitamanjakatrimovavy/Rangita (1493-1552): First true queen of Imerina and ruler from the Hova dynasty. Won the Merina Civil War, moved the capital to Mahajanga. Reigned from 1517 to 1552.
 * Rafohy (1528-1572): Established contact with Mutapa, expanded the kingdom, and made the Order of Sihanaka official. Died of a miscarriage. Reigned from 1552 to 1572.
 * Andriamanelo the Great (1546-1605): Unifier of the entire island. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. Considered the greatest monarch in Malagasy history (so far). Reigned from 1572 to 1605.
 * Ralambo (1566-1612): Legalized polygamy, introduced the fandroana celebration, reformed the feudal system. Died of a sexually transmitted disease. Reigned from 1605 to 1612.
 * Andrianjaka (1571-1628): Founded Antananarivo upon the former settlement of Analamanga and moved the capital there. Improved infrastructure, held a census. Deposed by his son and wife in an internal conflict. Reigned from 1612 to 1626.
 * Andriantsitakatrandriana (1608-1658): Married the Shona woman Raviro who became his wife and empress. Defeated the Order of Yasht during their rebellion. Reigned from 1626 to 1658.
 * Andriantsimitoviaminandriandehibe (1632-Present):
 * Others:
 * Hainteny (ca 1370s-1423): Philosopher and writer. First person to truly take advantage of writing when it came into being in Imerina. Formed the basis of the Haintenist faith.
 * Tsilavohery (ca 1410s-1467): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Rakotomanjato until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king.
 * Rakotomanjato (ca 1421-1505): Writer in service of Andrianamponga. Was a friend of Tsilavohery until their falling out due to differing views on the death of said king. He betrayed the Merina and became king of a group of Bara peoples. That polity did not last too long however and was eventually conquered by Imerina.
 * Ndahimananjara (ca 1440s-1503): First ever Fossa Warrior. Married into the Ammagari dynasty. His branch would eventually rule the island.
 * Andriantompokoindrindra (1467-1527): Father of Andriamihaja and Rangitamanjakatrimovavy. Andriantompokoindrindra and his son fought the Merina Civil War for Andriamihaja to be placed on the throne, but they lost and were both executed in 1527 for treason.
 * Tombovelo (ca 1480s-1543): Religious figure who essentially was the one to create the Malagasy variant of Zoroastrianism. He also traveled and studied in the Ahuric Empire.
 * Andriamihaja (1496-1527): Son of Andriamihaja. Was next in line to the throne of Imerina when Rafandrampohy declared female successors and abdicated in favor of his wife Rangita, who was Andriamihaja’s sister. Andriamihaja and his father fought the Merina Civil War for Andriamihaja to be placed on the throne, but they lost and were both executed in 1527 for treason.
 * Ratsifandrihamanana (1493-1556): Second husband of Rangita.
 * Rakotomazava (ca 1510s-1577): Founder of the Order of Sihanaka, which later became the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Rakotomanjafy (ca 1520s-1590s): Mpiady of the Order of Sihanaka.
 * Ranjeva (ca 1540s-ca 1603): Explorer and discoverer of the Mascarene Islands.
 * Rafidy (ca 1580s-1642): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tsiajotso/Rakotomazava II (ca 1589-1647): Leader of the southern Order of Rakotomazava and later leader of the Order of Yasht. Exiled himself and the Order to Mtende.
 * Zozimar (ca 1590s-1639): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Ramalalaharivololona (ca 1590s-1657): Usurped the position of High Chief of Mahajanga, but was defeated by a coalition of lords and imprisoned. Died in prison in 1657.
 * Rambolazafy (1599-1653): High Chieftess of Mahajanga.
 * Tombomankara (ca 1595-1647): Mpiady of the Order of Rakotomazava from 1628 to 1647.
 * Boazandrivelo/Rakotomazava III (ca 1600-1663): Originally just a soldier of the Order of Rakotomazava and later of the Order of Yasht. He became an important associate of Tsiajotso. He took over as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after Tsiajotso died, becoming Rakotomazava III.
 * Tsivalaka (1603-68): Mpiady/Grand Mobad of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Catherine Burwick (1603-present): Noble Scottish woman who married Mamangy and had a child with him.
 * Mamangy “Andrew” Burwick (1605-present): Chef, considered to have been the first one to make a popular dish out of dodo meat. Traveled to Europe via British trade vessels.
 * Raviro (1608-1657): A princess of Mutapa and now Empress consort, first non-Malagasy consort of a ruler.
 * Mafilaza/Rakotomazava IV (ca 1610-present): Impressive soldier of the Order of Yasht. Became Rakotomazava IV as Mpiady of the Order of Yasht after the death of Boazandrivelo.
 * Rabenirina (ca 1615-present): Co-Protector of Ranjevasy.
 * Tovondrava (1614-present): Co-Protector of Maorisy.
 * Manorohanta (1620-1655): Advisor and explorer. Went on an expedition to the Nyafo (Rodrigues) island, but it led to a shipwrecking where all of the crew died F in the chat.
 * Rakotomandimbindraibe (1622-Present): Grand Mobad of the Order of Rakotomazava.
 * Botokeky (1633-Present): Tompon-daka of the Fossa Warriors.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except Malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.
 * Andrianantoano “Gordon” Burwick (1643-present): Son of Mamangy, a successful but strict chef, basically Gordon Ramsay except Malagasy and he lives in the 17th century.

Empire of Nihon | Three Realms under the Revived Splendid Directory
(All names are introduced in Kanji and Yamatai Romanji)

Government
 * Stucture: The Shogunate functions under the auspices of a federal system of government, with the recognition of four distinct polities.
 * The Chiku(地区)[districts], nominally under the direct control of local Daimyo elevated above others to become Chiku-cho(地区長) [district heads]. These pay a section of their yearly harvest to the Teikoku-kokuso(帝国穀倉) [Imperial Granary] based on a relative assessment of the surplus of their kokudaka(石高) and are only allowed to engage in Western trade at the Yattsu no Iriguchi（八つの入り口）[Eight Entryways], the eight ports in Nihon open to foreign trade.
 * The Han(藩) [domains] are the legal and semi-official name of various territories in the country which exercise economic and political autonomy, led by leaders legally called . They are allowed to exercise their own forms of government and engage in treaties pertaining only to them (wherein the treaties must thread the thin line between recognising their overlords in Kyoto and political self-interest); as well as being exempt from Hideyoshi's religious laws, allowing for the flourishing of the tiny Christian and Arzhamic communities of Nihon. They pay their taxes in gold, silver and other precious metals, and rather than payment to the Teikoku-kokuso, they pay their taxes directly to the Teikoku-kinko(帝国金庫) [Imperial Vault/Treasury].
 * The Hogokoku(保護国) [Protectorates], led by the Genshu(元首) [Heads of state]. These can vary from de facto domains with zero diplomatic autonomies to former allies under the current protection of the Nihonese government.
 * The Teikoku-seifu(帝国政府) [Imperial Government] is the single entity stringing this entire mess together. The oldest single lasting political institution in East Asia, boasting a history of nearly 400 years since its first establishment as the Splendid Directorate in 1253. It consists of various economic and political institutions on top of being a primary political centre not just in Nihon but its influence spread across non-Wu Northeast Asia. Its primary leaders lead the Shogunate and the Imperial Service, symbolically and politically, and are often given credit for the specific eras of their time.
 * Mikado(帝) [Empress]: The Mikado of Nihon, better known to most of the world as the Empress of Japan. The Mikado is one of the few remaining positions in this Nihon where female primogeniture persists, a relic of the early Heian era and the consolidation of the original Nihon to Tohoku no Toitsu-kokoku (United Kingdoms of Japan and Tohoku) during the early 13th century. The storied history of the Mikado starts in a political mediator, escalates into a military dictator not unlike the Shogun; and it itself created the position of Taisho, the Shogun's predecessor. As a symbolic leader in the Shogunate, they enjoy relative privilege in exchange for their formal political silence.
 * Current Mikado: Okita Kiyoko, born 1614
 * Omona Teian-sha(主な提案者) [Prime Advisor]: The Omona Teian-sha, better known to most of the world as the Prime Advisor. A single-use position created by Tokugawa Sayaka to consolidate her hold over the country; it holds the final say on every matter - from Nihon's massive colonial empire to its internal territories, from the guntai to the seifu. This makes the Prime Advisor effectively the most powerful position in the entire Nihonese Empire.
 * Current Omona Teian-sha: Tokugawa Sayaka, born 1610


 * Class System
 * Nomin(農民) [Peasants]: The majority of Nihonese people, at roughly 65%. The Nomin experience a largely agricultural and communal lifestyle, a deep sense of spirituality intertwined with their life in small urban areas dotted around Nihon; their interaction with even local daimyo and institutions is limited to annual contacts during festivals and tax seasons. With the upheaval of the Toyotomi era, however, many Nomin also partake in a mercenary and official capacity for survival and cultural purposes.
 * Shonin(商人) [Merchants]: The Shonin class refers to a whole host of semi-middle-class individuals, from performers to traders. At times, it crosses with the Daimyo, and many Shonin also serve as effective Daimyo in the Toyotomi era. Many serve in a government capacity, interacting mainly with the Kinko and Kaikei; the Shonin are the primary intellectual class in Nihon, making them an influential mark on entertainment and culture.
 * Daimyo(大名) [Feudal lords]: The Daimyo began as a series of warring feudal lords towards the end of the Heian, and have now been largely displaced to become local officials and lower-level bureaucrats within the Shocho/Seifu. They own the vast majority of monetary wealth in Nihon.
 * Teikoku-kanken(帝国官憲) [Imperial Officials]: The Kanken are the smallest class in all of Nihon, numbering at most 23,000 (if one is to use the most loose definition of their duties); most are high-level clan officials and members of the Imperial Family with positions in the Seifu. They are the primary powerbrokers in Nihon, fighting a prolonged battle between them, the Daimyo and the Shonin, with the Nomin caught in between.


 * Soldiery
 * Guntai (軍隊)[Army]: The Guntai arose from the Toitsu-kokoku and evolved into a full-fledged proto-professional military force through the 1200s and 1300s; while the professional guntai has largely vanished with time, those who do remain now make up a professional officer class (whom quickly betrayed their meritocratic roots and have since been using the system to entrench their families in power).
 * Samurai(侍) [Attendant Warriors]: The Samurai began during the professional era but have since expanded to become a vast array of mercenaries, Guntai members and more. They are dominated by two groups: the Guntai-members, and Ronin (浪人) [Wandering People], whose name was originally derogatory to refer to their non-daimyo status, but have since become the founders of the last remaining military orders in Nihon. The Ronin, unlike the Samurai, are not restricted to the Daimyo and Shonin alone, and are often peasants. They both retain the female-slanted gender ratio of the era of Tomoe Gozen.
 * Nomin-senshi(農民戦士) [Levies]: The bulk of any army, the Nomin-senshi are often just levies called from various communities. Unlike most armies, the Nomin-senshi are granted enourmous privileges compared to others; for example, they must be informed months beforehand of any war or mobilisation and community leaders and caretakers are always exempt from conscription. This limits the size of the Nomin-senshi, sizing it down drastically; still, the organisation of the Guntai ensures they maintain their dominance.
 * Kaigun(海軍) [Navy]: The naval forces of Nihon, the Kaigun are the last full professionalised force in all of East Asia. Suihei are treated as equivalent to Samurai (and they often work together), and Nihon benefits from having a naval capability bolstered by Austronesian and Southern knowledge. It operates in large fleets that effectively work place per place.
 * Suihei(水兵) [Sailors]: The Suihei are largely Shonin and Nomin, although almost none are conscripts; the obligation to Kaigun has over time become generational, and because of that, many willingly go back, especially considering the pragmatism of confirming their own position in their communities or ascending by class.


 * Weaponry
 * Guntai weaponry:
 * Naginata, primarily used to pierce ligher armor by shock troops
 * Katana, primarily used as brush-clearing and personal defence weapons by most troops, although other melee weapons are also common
 * Edo Tanegashima, muskets derived from the original Agoustan designs, crude but effective mass-fire forces for suppression
 * Longbows, primarily used for striking down priority targets or ballistae, otherwise used to maintain some measure of stealth
 * Kaigun weaponry:
 * Crossbows, used to deliver volleys of fire upon enemy ships
 * Longbows, used to deliver precision fire on enemy vessels
 * 10-inch cannons, used to strike holes in ships in the hopes of sinking them
 * Chii-tangeashima, effectively blunderbusses used for defence during boardings
 * Kaigun ships:
 * Kawataro-fune, large frigate-like ships with anywhere from 40-50 cannons at any time and a large metal shell-like covering on the top to defend against arrow fire. Move at 4-7 knots, must be towed to go through blue water
 * Hayai-fune, smaller vessels with Malay junk sails and almost no armaments, used primarily as landing craft and resupply craft. Move at 7-12 knots, can maneuver in blue water


 * Demography: Nihon is home to over half a dozen ethnic groups, with the principal amongst them being the Ainu and Yamato; on the fringes of the Shogunate, the Ryukyuan, Emishi, Nishikara and others. Religiously, the majority of people practice a mix of Shinto and Ainu animism; with minor inroads from Agoustan Catholicism and Confucian-style sects.
 * Population distribution: (to fill)
 * Current population estimate: 20,600,000
 * Ethnic distribution: While the concept of ethnicities has yet to come into existence, Nihon already knows of the existence of 'distinct peoples' - as vague as the current concept is, with general reference to language, cultural distinctions and the like. For the country, that means most are divided into two ethnic groups - the Yamato and the Ainu, and 'foreigners' - often referring to both the brother peoples of Choson and people from anywhere from Temasik to Manhattan.

Broad Overview When the Revolution marched on Daegu, all hell broke loose. First, the Satsuma General Company immediately vacated its premises there, forcing the guntai to immediately institutionalise its logistics division and forcing further supply shortages throughout the occupying force in Chosen. Second, officers were loathe to participate in a campaign they had little hope of winning for fear of becoming indebted to the S.G.C, creating a system of indentured servants in officer positions with extra-ordinarily low morale and even worse supply. By the end of 1669 and the spring of 1670 it was abundantly clear that holding the core regions of Chosen was impossible, but holding initial concessions could possibly succeed - and the Itoi and the Tachibanamori organised their own clan-wide efforts to maintain things as such.

But worse was to come for the Nihonese Empire. At a meeting with the Mikado in July 1670, Sayaka was appalled to discover that Kiyoko was planning to hand over the position early to her young daughter - which would then fully consolidate all the various kingdoms together, robbing her of her sovereignty at home and thus making it more difficult to operate. This was an impossible condition for her to accept, so she didn't - she attempted to negotiate for a Federalised Union, which ended in failure when the Mikado was reminded distinctly of the colonial Federation.

Large-scale breakdowns in state control were occurring elsewhere. Although the ration system failed in Tohoku in 1670, starvation did not follow; the main cause of which were the fact that many communities had subverted the ration system completely and gone ahead with essentially what were parallel societies. In urban regions, however, suffering abounded. In Edo there were at least five thousand dead to starvation, adding an additional dash of horror to the tuberculosis and dysentery-rife streets of these sudden urban regions. But there was no revolt. Broken organisations and communities were terrified of large-scale retaliation, especially after an early victory in Thotan meant that over 30,000 troops of the guntai returned home in December of 1670.

Sayaka was aghast at the state of affairs. Her control over the region had essentially collapsed overnight, and it were no exaggeration to say that the Empire was on the precipice. Finally, she made one last bet, one last gamble to bring it all back for herself. She called the members of the Imperial cabinet and several clans to a meeting and announced that she would be removing 'insubordinates', hoping that it would motivate them to side in her favour to maintain her power.

Two days later, on February 16th, 1671, Tokugawa Sayaka was dead.

Her distant cousin by adoption - ironically, the daughter of the woman she had condemned to illegality, her own sister, a young girl by the name of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi - became the next Shogun, and seeing the writing on the wall, Tsunayoshi deliberately collapsed the Empire. She gave over the southern territories and vassals to the Nihonese Southern Comapny, authority over the Bering Strait trade to a subsidary of the Satsuma General Company, the Nihonese Northern Company, and it seemed as if she would be able to bring it all under control, until one last push.

The bubble burst.

On the night of the 31st of May, 1671, the Satsuma General Company was valued at a hundred sixty million yen - the premodern equivalent of almost three trillion dollars. But trouble had been brewing for years, especially with relatively increased stability in Cathay and China. When it emerged that the share price of the salt bubble was potentially on the verge of collapse, it had seemed that there would be no change from before - that it would pass like always. Instead, the combined forces of the instability in Kyoto and lack of faith in the Satsuma General Company compared to its Southern competitor caused the Salt Trade Bubble to finally collapse. Even with the continuation of Nihonese wars, the S.G.C ultimately folded. And one week later, the S.G.C was worth one thousandth of what it had been on the 31st. A month later, it would cease to exist.

The economic collapse made its way to Kyoto and it broke the camel's back. Foremen found themselves without the steady stream of state-backed income that they used to pay workers, and many were loathe to provide out of their own pockets - which caused strikes in Edo, Nagoya, Nagasaki and Kagoshima. Other salaried workers and former daimyo were broken from the spell of the Imperial Miracle and riots broke out in every major city. The Ainu clans stopped recognising Tsunayoshi as Omona Teian-sha; followed by the Kingdom of Ryukyu. But this time, it were not the clans that were to be feared.

It was the people.

Even the clans could not stop what was coming. But the rising power of decentralised communitarianism had already followed the collapse of the Imperial system, and with it, inspired by the Koryoan Revolution's relative success, a collection of loose anti-establishment figures formed the Federal Coalition, intending to re-establish the Nihonese Federation - but as a large confederation. And with riots turning into insurrections and mass discontent abounding the Federal Coalition suddenly found itself in 1672 at the head of the core of the largest naval empire in human history.

On May the first, 1672, the Nihonese Federation was re-established under the name of the Union of Nihonese States; and the revolution had indeed, if surprisingly, won. A constitution was drawn up, guaranteeing among other things the right to representation, economic guarantees, and for the first time in full language establishing a state 'subordinate to the people'. It were truly revolutionary. A happy ending to a horrible story, one might assume.

But it was not the end.

A rising faction in the Federal Coalition, mainly former daimyo whom had adopted the ideology of communitarianism specifically as a means to regain power, accused the moderates in the new government of provoking counter-revolutionary sentiment. Seizing on the still unstable government, they enacted a coup just three days later, forming the Dictatorship of Nihon, with a certain Tsunayoshi as its leader. The Dictatorship, drawing from a much more powerful base of support and yet practical, made sure to consolidate under Tsunayoshi and effectively reversed all of the progress made in a fortnight. They kept Tsunayoshi's concessions and Tsunayoshi herself made sure to negotiate on good terms with the companies to make sure she could enact a policy of consolidation securely. Other factions revolted - not just monarchists, but anarchists insulted at the non-dismantlement of the ration system, opposed daimyo, and others. But they were too disorganised to fight the Dictatorship.

And when the ashes had settled in 1674, the Dictatorship laid out a new plan: 'Splendid Isolation'. Nihon would maintain links to the outside from its colonies and the Albionites would be permitted only to remain in port regions. Nihonese - Yamatai, Ainu, and more - all were not permitted to do anything other than travel to the colonies and then return to the core. The Nihonese Revolution ended - and in failure.

In neighbouring Koryo, Sun-yeong found herself at the head of the largest anarchist uprising in history, and consequentially parallel to the fate of Nihon, Koryo became a real democracy. Communities established their own little legislatures, the clans were abolished; where Nihon had fallen to power, Koryo had survived it - and its people had won. 'I am disappointed', she wrote later on, 'that Nihon is not to have joined in the revolution, uniting sister peoples in the same cause'. Her links to the Ainu died with Splendid Isolation, and it meant the end of the short-lived Koryoan-Ainu partnership.

But history goes on. It twists, turns, weaves as it wishes. People go on. Suffering, pain, tyranny might strike the human spirit, but they go on regardless.

For in the end.

Nothing ever ends.

note from kuro:

thanks! I'll be adding events for all turns starting with 1650 soon enough, so stick around for those. If you bothered to read this all? thank you so much. I loved writing it as much as I hope you did reading it.

onwards to france!

(events coming soon!)

Notable People


 * 1401-1473 [The Last Days of the Heian]:
 * Uchiha Tomoko (1387 - 1469) [deceased]: Head of the Yamatai faction during the Civil War and later Empress (1412-1469) under the name 'Uchiha no Ichiban'.
 * Mori Kyoko (1378 - 1473) [deceased]: One of the two heads of the Peoples' League during the Civil War, later Speaker of the National Convention unopposed until death. Spouse: Kido Mirio.
 * Hori Shizuku (1377 - 1456) [deceased]: The other head of the Peoples' League, a minor political player in Hiroshima after the war. Committed suicide under threat of involuntary execution.
 * Midoriya Kaitou (1383 - 1472) [deceased]: A minor player in the Civil War who gained popularity as a capable administrator. Birth name Zhang Kaisheng. Spouse: Midoriya Yuki.
 * Seishiro Kirie (1381 - 1463) [deceased]: One of the heads of the Outsiders who found herself alienated from her hometown in her pursuit of political unity. Became a remarkable writer, writing works such as The Use of War, a critical book on the purpose of strife. Spouse: Bakushi Yona.
 * Bakushi Yona (1380 - 1463) [deceased]: A Yamatai-Eskosian, best known for fighting for the political rights of the tiny Eskosian minority in Nihon. Became a political kingmaker after the war. Spouse: Seishiro Kirie.
 * Hu Jin-Yo (1376 - 1462) [deceased]: A Joseon-Yamatai, best known as a Joseonese reunificationist who participated in a minor role during the Civil War. Afterwards, provided much financial support to the Nihonese army advancing in Kyongsong before dying in a tragic accident.
 * Kanzaki Izuku (1394 - 1489) [deceased]: First Shogun then Taisho, well known for unconventional military tactics that precipitated asymmetrical warfare against enemy forces. Lived a relatively stunted life afterwards, travelled into Joseon and participated in its war against Kyongsong before travelling West in hopes of retracing the steps of Bulijin Khatun, a dream promptly foiled. Spouse: Yonekura Hiyori.
 * Nishimiya Asuka (1372 - 1479) [deceased]: Shogun after her predecessor Kanzaki was passed over due to ignoring the Empress, she became something of a despot and massively expanded the powers of the military as well as a small secret police under the direction of Empress Uchiha and Speaker Mori. Lived a quiet, nondescript life. Spouse: Ryuzoji Mirio.
 * 1474 - 1523 [The Brief Bakufu]
 * Uchiha Ryu (1467 - 1512) [deceased]: Adopted son of Empress Uchiha, originally groomed to be an apt successor of hers; he was soon convinced to take another path by the Regent. Overthrown in 1487.
 * Senjougahara Ryuko (1459 - 1489) [deceased]: Popular regent originally meant to become successor to Uchiha, eventually sidelined. With a massive amount of political power, however, she pulled strings to keep herself as Regent and manipulated the new Emperor as she wished. Murdered by an assassin.
 * Senmyaku Hyo-in (1436 - 1486) [deceased]: Powerful orator of the Dochaku who advocated for their betterment. Eventually sidelined due to the maneuvring of Empress Uchiha.
 * Yamagata Jiro (1461 - 1503) [deceased]: An upstart military man who became Shogun at the behest of the late Nishimiya Asuka. Soon evolved into a broadly popular political figure who usurped the throne from Uchiha Ryu, but his ambitions overcame him and he was deposed after attempting to re-consolidate power.
 * Kanzaki Noriko (1467 - 1560) [deceased]: Nationalist despot intent on restoring Nihon to political unitarism. She quickly exploited her way through the chaos of rapid decentralisation to insert herself as the effective leader of Nihon in just one and a half decades, essentially unchallenged. Engaged in the exploitation of Syonan via siphoning its gold reserves to beef those of Nihon, inspiring the local chaos in that nation. Eventually became the leader of the first effectively federal republic in human history, the 13-year Nihonese Federation, but was promptly killed by Oda Nobunaga during the Siege of Kyoto.
 * 1524 - 1601 [Sengoku Jidai]
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543) [deceased]: Minor yet influential political figure of the exiled main family of the Oda clan. Killed by mistake.
 * Takagi Anzu (1497 - 1572) [deceased]: Adopted daughter of Kanzaki Noriko, adept fighter, eventually, Nihonese Empress. Fled to Kansha. Died in 1572 peacefully.
 * Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1638) [deceased]: The vengeful daughter of Nobuhide; a furious orator and military genius. Eventually Shogun and de facto leader of Nihon, but she found herself sidelined by most and was promptly betrayed by many of the daimyo she had returned to power. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence. In reality, she escaped overseas to foreign shores, eventually travelling the world until she returned to Nihon with a single-minded goal of killing Hideyoshi. Her legacy would echo for ages.
 * Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - circa. 1582) [deceased]: A capable administrator and competent military leader, Kagetora found her calling towards managing and helping her territory more important than the distant calls of Nobunaga's ambitions. While Nihon descended into chaos her territory remained prosperous, and bucking the trends of the daimyo she personally adopted many of the measures designed by the late Prime Minister of Nihon. She finally left the country in 1574, tired of the turmoil precipitated by Nobunaga and the loss of most of her friends; making her way to Yolngu, where in defiance of the slavery laws practiced there, she mulled about freely and easily, attempting to find her old friends.
 * Kinoshita Tokichiro or Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1542 - 1637): Known as the conqueror, he was best described as an unorthodox and haplessly brutal man. Like Nobunaga, he practiced incredibly levels of brutality to finish campaigns and assert control, unlike Nobunaga, he had no qualms and no restraint about it whatsoever. As thus he became the new Shogun, and began to assert his control - becoming notable as one of the few openly homosexual members of the Nihonese elite, and a gay one at that. His later reign saw him preside over the large-scale expansion of the Nihonese Empire and the earliest days of Nihonese capitalism, as well as a degree of brutality for which he became reknowned, bringing about his demise. Spouse: Akechi Mitsuhide.
 * Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - 1599): Granddaughter of Kanzaki Noriko, she came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * 1602 - 1674 [The Empire of Nihon]
 * Miyamoto Musashi or Tachibana no Musashi (1590 - 1641): Daughter and unwilling former Ojo, she was expelled from the Chrysanthemum Throne before she ever took place; but this gave way for a scientific, philosophical and intelligent woman to carve out her own mark in history. She helped to create the first versions of Scientific Theory as we know it as well as influential blueprints and inventions that would spread throughout most of the world East of India; and left behind a particular cultural and scientific legacy, not even mentioning her school of swordsmanship.
 * Hidetada (1588 - 1640): One of the longest-serving Shusho in Nihonese history, his own disaffection with the Imperial system as well as his personal experiences led him to become the first human rights activist in history; helping to rescue radicals and stalling the progress of Nihonese urbanism. He also helped to define the Shogunate's legal code, leaving an impactful mark on the cultural history of Nihon with his own perceived effeminacy and writings, despite him being in hiding for much of the last two decades of his life. Spouse: Ishikawa Mayuri.


 * Kanzaki Family: From a minor clan in old Minamoto arose one of the defining political and military families of the early Bakufu. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Izuku (1394 - 1489): Grandfather of the entire family. Began the Kanzaki name by abandoning usage of the old Minamoto clan name and rising as first a potential Emperor before becoming one of the most prolific generals in Nihon's history. However, his attempts at glory were foiled and eventually he gave up, passing his life's work to a strange girl who might just get some use out of it.
 * Third Generation:
 * Setsuna (1482 - 1572): Another third generation'er; she went missing in Syonan before being discovered as Noriko travelled to it. Made head of the Nihonese Southern Company. Spouse: Souji Nakamura.
 * Noriko (1467 - 1560): Two generations later, a bored Shinto temple head turned trainer turned puppet master. Exploited the political weaknesses of the political system to make herself a de facto leader, first head of the Kanzaki Clan. Charted the family's rise to prominence and eventually the family's dominance for a few decades; began her ascent hoping to salvage the family name but eventually became a radical republican dead set on changing the world as we know it. Died at the hands of Oda Nobunaga.
 * Fifth Generation:
 * Miyako or Ritsuko (1548 - 1598): She came under the tutelage of a certain Widyawati of the Gang of Eight before participating in the campaign that came to end her grandmother's rule. After that she began the long and arduous process of attempting to pull the country together, but with mass rebellion between both the daimyo and peasants ultimately failed.
 * Sixth Generation:
 * Hidetada (1588 - 1640): One of the longest-serving Shusho in Nihonese history, his own disaffection with the Imperial system as well as his personal experiences led him to become the first human rights activist in history; helping to rescue radicals and stalling the progress of Nihonese urbanism. He also helped to define the Shogunate's legal code, leaving an impactful mark on the cultural history of Nihon with his own perceived effeminacy and writings, despite him being in hiding for much of the last two decades of his life. Spouse: Ishikawa Mayuri.


 * Oda Family: A descendant of the Minamoto as well, the Oda rose up in opposition to the Kanzaki - and won out, going on to define much of the rest of Nihonese history. This chronicles its most famous members.
 * First Generation:
 * Oda Nobuhide (1499 - 1543): His quest for revenge began the family's ascent to power. He finished none of it, trusting in a person that never returned his trust; yet, he would be remembered for what little he had done.
 * Second Generation:
 * Nobunaga (Hiyori) (1533 - circa. 1575): Arguably the family's most famous member, Nobunaga organised her, her siblings and others into a massive campaign against the experimental Nihonese Federation. Immeasurably brutal, her campaigns in the North and Kanto earned her the nickname the 'Demon of Tanegashima', often unfairly associated with the Agoustans in Bingo; but in her last years she seemingly relented, paving the way open for her remaining friends to take charge in her absence.
 * Nobuhiro (1534 - 1579): Nobunaga's less enthusiastic brother, who promptly decided to support the anti-Nobunaga coalition that cropped up against her. After her death, he was brutally skewered by the daimyo of Nanbu.
 * Nobuyuki (1534 - 1592): A quiet and unassuming member of his generation, Nobuyuki supported his sister but eventually fell out of the entire 'campaign' thing and went to manage the tiny family farm in Niigata. He, ironically, lived a far longer life than any of his family, dying peacefully in 1592.
 * Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - 1584): Nobunaga’s sister, although she never saw her as such for long. Forced into a ‘marriage’ with Kagetora’s young brother to solidify an alliance between the Uesugi and Oda, she was promptly pinged-ponged around into various marriages until being taken as a forcible concubine of Hideyoshi. She committed suicide in 1584.
 * Third Generation:
 * Shouko (1578 - ??): Daughter of Nobuhiro, one of his three children; she became administrator of the new Oda-chiku in Nagoya as one of the only qualified members of the Oda family remaining.

Kingdom of Naples

 * Government: Absolute Monarchy
 * King: Giustiniano Capra I
 * Cities and Demographics:
 * Total Population: 3.4 million people
 * Major Religion: Roman Catholicism
 * Ethnicities: 80% Neapolitan, 10% Spanish, 8.5% Other Italian ethnicities, 1% Jewish, 0.5% Other
 * Major cities
 * Napoli- The capital city. It is the most important hub for industry and governmental affairs but is crime-ridden, impoverished and its importance as a trade hub is declining after the discovery of the New World. These problems are trying to be solved. Population 240,000.
 * Berevento- Inland major city, rural affairs are controlled here.
 * Catania-Regional capital of Sicily. Its current is condition is like that of Napoli.
 * Palermo-Major military and naval outpost in the Mediterranean.
 * Taranto-Major Neapolitan naval and shipbuilding base and a fishing port.
 * Sorrento-Agricultural and mining hub near Napoli, due to Vesuvius.
 * Economy:
 * -Agriculture and fishing: Wheat is the major crop, though apricot, hazelnut, figs, honey, grapes, olive oil, wine, beef and mutton are also produced, among others. The port of Taranto provides a wealth of fishing, such as mussels and sea bream.
 * -Mining: Asphalt, copper and sulphur are mined in various regions of the nation, mostly for exporting.
 * -Textiles: The main industry. Wool, silk and flax are major exports, and such work employs much of the urban and rural population.
 * Military:
 * Army
 * Musketeers: 14,300
 * Pikemen:10,000
 * Light Cavalry:520
 * Heavy Cavalry:305
 * Artillery crew: 980
 * Cannons: 165
 * Logistics:3,000
 * Total Active:29,105
 * Total Reserve: 32,400
 * Navy
 * Sailors and Crewmen:2,200
 * Frigates:9
 * Smaller craft:12
 * Total ships:21
 * Key Events


 * A New Mission: 

King Giustianio I is crowned in 1671. He is a king of great ambition and resourcefulness and recognised the threats to trade from the New World. The Sicilians and Maltese are drifting away from the mainland and the plague has devastated Napoli. It is up to him to hold everything back together.

In March 1673, while the Neapolitans were recovering from the plague that devastated their nation, Giustianio I held a meeting with his councillors and regional governors. The meeting is decisive-it has been determined that Naples will expand both its military and merchant fleet. Should this be at any length successful, Giustianio hoped that it would pave the way for exploration. This was an ambitious task, given the state of the Kingdom of Naples at that time.

By August 1674, progress had been made. A small expedition of naval frigates, Taranto, Calabria and the Giustianio, onboard a total of 300 sailors and 2,100 troops, travelled along the west African coastline and back, often visiting various areas on foot. More expeditions are planned to establish a proper settlement and further voyage down the coast of Africa. With plenty of potential settlers, would this mark the start of colonial Naples? Or is everything too rash? Only time can tell. After all, Genoa has already done it…

Rejuvenation of Napoli: During the meeting in March 1673 between the king and his court, as well as setting up the possibility of a Neapolitan Colonial Empire and improving military standards, it was agreed to improve the conditions of the capital, Napoli. Infrastructure developments are currently underway to restore the old buildings in the area.


 * Wars and Conflicts: N/A
 * Diplomacy:
 * Mali Republic: We wish for the Mali Republic (one of the nations the expedition visited) to give us some land (circled below) to set up a potential trading post and settlement. In return, we will provide a trade agreement with the government. We can offer olive oil, wine, apricots, wheat, asphalt, copper, sulphur, wool, and silk. We will also help you militarily if required. (look at comments for image)

Azure Cathay | Hošoi Hanarga
EVENTS AND BROAD OVERVIEW TBA
 * Government: Constitutional Monarchy
 * Emperor/Hošoigan: The Hošoigan, literally meaning “King of Four Corners”, is the supreme ruler of Azure Cathay, bound by a set of unchangeable laws referred to as the “Founding Injunctions” or the “Cathayan Constitution”. He is elected by the Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers from among the children, nieces, and nephews of the previous Hošoigan.
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Sirke [Posthumous] (b.1561) (r.1579-1601)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Isangga | Khan of Great Radiance (b.1582) (r.1616-1649)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Haryansol | The Badger Emperor (b. 1610) (r.1649-1655)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Malanyalma | Emperor of Graceful Virtue (b. 1641) (r.1655-1663)
 * Regent: Dries de Vries (b.1606) (r.1655-1663)
 * Yagu Gwalgya-i Kūlmesem | The Deer Cauldron Emperor (b. 1639) (r.1663-)
 * Viceroy of the Mongols/Monggoli Noyan: The Mongol Viceroy (Vicereine when referring to a female) is a semi-hereditary position who rules Central Asia on behalf of the Hošoigan.
 * Oyuun-i Sochigel (b.1587) (r.1616-1639)
 * Kiyat-i Ejei (b.1587) (r.1639-1672)
 * Kiyat-i Tsedenbal (b.1631) (r.1672-)
 * Administration: The administration of Azure Cathay is hierarchical in nature, with four levels of government, the county, prefecture, province, and national. At the lowest level of administration, the county level, the local magistrate and his council are elected by the citizenry from a small pool of candidates, all of whom are local government officials who have applied for the position. On higher levels though, governance is based around sortition. Those within the council who apply for the position of delegate to the next level are chosen via lottery, though the provincial council sends no delegate to the Deliberative Council. Below are a list of institutions within the Cathayan government. Positions of leadership within the bureaucracy are determined through a series of exams meant to create a cohesive state ideology and to test managerial skills, though it is not uncommon for noteworthy citizens to be appointed directly by the imperial government.
 * Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers/Dorosi-gwa Amban-i Hebeng Mancan: The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers, sometimes shortened to the “Great Council” (Haba Mancan) or simply, the “Deliberative Council” (Hebeng Mancan), is the greatest policymaking body within Cathay. The Deliberative Council advises the Emperor, proposes laws and policies, and elects the new Hošoigan. In addition, it technically has the power to force an abdication of the Emperor. The Deliberative Council consists of 24 automatic members, with a maximum membership of 36.
 * Censorate/Silhagūn Jibi: The Censorate, also called the Reviewal Department, is both a supervisory agency. In addition, it reviews edicts and commands received from the Emperor as a review mechanism against Azure Cathay’s founding legal codes. They are directly responsible to the Emperor. The main purpose of the Censorate is to check administration at every level to root out corruption and malfeasance, as well as to oversee the appointment and election of officials.
 * Secretariat/Nyalmang Iri Jibi: The Secretariat, also referred to as the Civil Affairs Department, is the highest executive institution of the imperial government. It is managed by a Grand Secretary, with two Deputy Directors who assist them in their administrative duties. The Secretariat’s purpose is to put into effect commands and edicts from the Emperor.
 * Five Ministries/Uca Jibyawi : The Five Ministries are the backbone of the civil government of Qing. The FIve Ministries are under the Secretariat, which is in itself responsible to the Deliberative Council and the Emperor. They are responsible for implementing policies and managing the Cathayan civilian bureaucracy. The Five Ministries are: the Ministry of Plenty responsible for economic management, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial system, the Ministry of Works, responsible for infrastructure and other such things, the Ministry of Posts, managing internal trade and the postal system, and the Ministry of Scholars, responsible for much of the administration around scholar-bureaucrats.
 * Economy: The economy of Cathay is primarily agrarian, though luxury items, iron products, textiles, cash crops, and pottery are a significant contributor to the Cathayan economy. In Amuria, Nanukai-Nabin, a system not dissimilar to Fengjian or sharecropping, is the prominent form of land ownership.The Cathayan government intervenes little in the economy, only occasionally directing corporate efforts and monopolizing certain resources to generate a stable source of revenue required for the running of the nation. In recent years, the putting-out economic model has gradually begun to be replaced by workshops as the demographic of those engaged in non-agricultural work has changed from freelancing farmers to those at the bottom of society seeking a stable source of income.
 * Currency: Jiha
 * Primary Capital: Habanisūn (de facto), Girincasa (de jure)
 * Regional Capitals: Habanisūn, Haisenwē, Alcuka, Miyoo Gasan (Kilemi Prt.)
 * Demographics:
 * Ethnic Makeup:
 * Narangga: 16.5%
 * Mongols: 4.5%
 * Zhongyuan Chinese: 52.7%
 * Bing Chinese: 8.3%
 * Wu Chinese: 11.9%
 * Chu Chinese: 2.8%
 * Other (Joseonese, Dongyi, Hui, etc.): 3.4%
 * Population: 50,080,000
 * Total Urban Centers: ~2,000,000
 * Military: The Cathayan military is categorized by its maneuverability, small unit size, adaptability, logistic prowess, and focus on quick decisive victories, a product of its relative lack of resources and manpower. With much of Cathay's military now being composed of forces formerly under Wu Dynasty and the change in general strategy which followed, long-lasting wars fought over large fronts have become more feasible. Similar to the civilian bureaucracy, positions of leadership within the military are determined through a series of exams concerning military strategy and performance.
 * Eight Banners/Yeteri Dokcagi: The Eight Banners are the elite forces of Azure Cathay. The Eight Banners are organized by of four main colours; red, yellow, blue, and white, with a bordered and plain variety existing for each. For the most part, bannermen (dokcagisi) must come from certain martial clans. As such, the bannermen are effectively a hereditary military class. Banner households are exempt from select taxation but must bring their own equipment to battle when called to arms. Despite this, the composition of the banner armies are remarkably uniform - each soldier wields a sword or polearm with a bow, occasionally a rifle, and has knowledge of warfare on horseback.
 * Number of Bannermen: 79,600
 * Black Standard Army/Suksan Bolsung Saosimul: The Black Standard Army is a military force which draws members from Amurian and Joseonese recruits and conscripts. It is organized in a very similar way to the banner armies.
 * Total Black Standard Army Forces: 176,000
 * Imperial Navy/Hanarga-i Badassaosi: The Imperial Navy is split into two fleets, the Eastern Fleet and the Western fleet, with the former occupying the East Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk and the latter occupying the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The base for the two fleets are, respectively, Haisenwē and Habanisūn.
 * Total Number of Naval Personnel: ~4800
 * Total Number of Ships: 67
 * Green Standard Army/Fūrūn Bolsung Saosimul: Unlike the Black Standard Army, the Green Standard Army is incredibly uniform, consisting mostly of infantrymen used as cannon fodder. However, there are sizeable cavalry, logistical, and artillery corps as well.
 * Total Green Standard Army Forces: 294,100
 * Hwēnmu Jikesi: The Hwēnmu Jikesi are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards and Azure Cathay’s secret police force.
 * Wars and Conflicts None

The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)

 * Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord (BubbleRocket1#8016)

Government: Constitutional Monarchy


 * Drakes:
 * Luke III (M, b. 1628 - ) (R: 1858 - )
 * Brother: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Sister: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Important People:
 * King Family
 * Jocelyn King (F, b. 16?? - )
 * Fortuna King (F, b. 1609 - )

Economy: The economy of British Isles consists of trade and commerce of a variety of materials. The primary export products of the UK are fish, wool, cloth, and a variety of vegetables.

Main Religion: Christianity

Cities and Demographics:


 * Population:  9.982 million
 * British Mainland: 7.669 million
 * British Settlers: 47,034
 * Elysian Population: 25,925
 * Jamestown: 803
 * Fort Elysia: 412
 * Fort Epheria: 473
 * Fort Infinity: 105
 * Greensfort: 482
 * Catonzia: 22,905
 * HALO Settlement: 4,437
 * Vinland Local Population: 1,604 thousand external subjects
 * Elysian Local Population: 541 thousand external subjects
 * Includes the population of the states of Elysia and Laconia
 * Elysia: 394k
 * Laconia: 90k
 * Deasaheim: 55k
 * Becomes “Second-rate” citizens of the Empire in 1616
 * Just a fancy loophole that allows the population to be recruited into the army, though will have long-lasting effects as time progresses
 * Lansenia: 53,206
 * New Glaemchester: 6,357
 * Catonzia Local Population: 412 thousand external subjects
 * British Bahamas:: Roughly 2,000 overall (for both island chains in the area)
 * British Yolgnu: [WiP]
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito: 2,870
 * Port Kingpin: 1,335
 * Albish Galapagos: 742
 * Albish Falklands: 806
 * British Bahamas: 81,450
 * British Shattered isles: 5,247
 * British Belize: 375


 * Cities
 * Brighton: A newer shipbuilding facility located on the English Channel.
 * Birmingham: A quiet town that is the location of McCarthy Arms Company, one of, if not, the oldest firearms companies to date.
 * Calais: One of the few French towns still owned by the British, it is a prosperous city that is one of the most important trading hubs in the North Sea.
 * Dover: Main location of the British navy. While elements of the navy are located throughout the territory, the headquarters of the navy are located here. In addition, Dover is the main trading hub between it and Caen.
 * Dublin: Main hub of Ireland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * Elysiapolis: The capital of the Elysian province, as well as the main headquarters for the BFG Company.
 * Fort Avalon: An old British camp located on a Vinland island. Though mostly uninhabited, it is staffed by a skeleton crew, in the event of a British ship stranding itself on the Vinland island.
 * Gibraltar: An important town the British claimed in the League Wars. Essentially give them control of who can and cannot leave the Mediterranan, though the British generally let anyone pass, not wishing to piss anyone off.
 * Glaemchester: A British town north of London, this city is known to house various wealthy nobles, with some of the finest tapestries being produced here.
 * Glasgow: Main hub of Scotland, and location of the regional capital of the area.
 * London: The capital of England, and location of the throne.
 * New London: The location of the British East Indian Company’s base-of-operations in India. Population primarily of locals, though as time progresses, more European influence seeps into the town.
 * Portsmouth: The location of the first drydocks in history, which became the founding of various legendary ships of the Royal Navy
 * York: Main center of England’s eastern fishing company. Also where a bulk of British trading companies are located, evident from the various merchant caravels present there.
 * Colonial Forts/Towns
 * British East India Company
 * Cape Town (South Africa)
 * Fort Dolphin (Africa - Matagaskar)
 * New London (India) (Known as Diu to India)
 * BAKA Mitai
 * Fort Akan (Africa)
 * Fort Galatoi (Galatoi, Africa)
 * BFG Company
 * Fort Epheria (Elysia)
 * Fort Elysia (Elysia)
 * Jamestown (Elysia)
 * HALO Company
 * Fort Infinity (Amekrogu)
 * BAKA Gaikokuhito
 * Fort Kingpin (Yolngu)
 * Portsmith (Galapagos)
 * Port Stanley (Falklands)
 * Other
 * Fort Avalon (Vestkyst-Vinland)
 * New Glaemchester (Lansenia)

Wars and Conflicts


 * North America: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity
 * Though it should be said that some companies add in the risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter, though others are far more friendly with their actions.
 * Witch Hunters of Lansenia: The idea of witches continues to spread throughout the north of British Arcadia, where people begin to become paranoid that members of the various communities are witches.
 * It’s only a matter of time before these fears blossom into something scary.
 * Anglo-Dutch War: (See Below)

Armed Forces


 * Total: 280,266 Manpower (3.9% of population)
 * British Royal Army Corps
 * Total: 159,295
 * British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
 * Marksman Infantry: 15,050
 * Light Cavalry: 5,250
 * Heavy Cavalry: 3,050
 * Field Artillerymen: 5,634
 * Field cannons: 1,378
 * Logistical Support: 23,000
 * British Arcadian Force: (In Arcadia)
 * Catonzia Garrison
 * Marksman Infantry: 7,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 7,000
 * Catonzian Musketeers: 8,260
 * Field Artillerymen: 1,000
 * Field cannons: 500
 * Logistical Support: 3,500
 * Elysian Garrison
 * Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
 * Marksman Infantry: 10,000
 * Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
 * Light Cavalry: 1,000
 * Elysian Cavalry: 300
 * Heavy Cavalry: 350
 * Bow Cavalry: 300
 * Field Artillerymen: 501
 * Field cannons: 167
 * Logistical Support: 7,000
 * British Vinland
 * Marksman Infantry: 6,000
 * Field Artillerymen: 344
 * Field cannons: 100
 * British Gibraltar:
 * Marksman Infantry: 30,000
 * Light Cavalry: 2,500
 * Field Artillerymen: 464
 * Field cannons: 142
 * Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,859
 * These are Britain’s elite forces. A rebirthed version sprouting from Artoria’s original group of holy knights, this force has never lost a battle, and has unwavering loyalty to the crown and the Order of the Roundtable, willing to fight to the death for the survival of the British Isles.
 * While most are able to fight, members of the Roundtable are encouraged to branch out into their own craft, such as pottery and sheepherding, with the idea that everyone should act like a Roundtable Knight and give their all into both their craft and their country.
 * The only way to become a Roundtable Knight is to be selected by an existing member of the group. Most knights tend to make apprentices out of those they recruit to the Roundtable, and generally, no one usually complains when a Roundtable Knight selects someone to join the ranks of the Roundtables. Depending on the country/chapter, one can also be appointed to the Roundtable by the crown.
 * In 1527, three factions were formed within the Roundtables
 * The Crimson Sun
 * The Azure Moon
 * The White Orchids
 * Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
 * With the victory of the Crimson Sun at the end of the conflict, things have settled down.
 * Modernization of 1602: Reforms the Roundtable Knights to act as elite units within the Army, as well as guards for Royalty.
 * In 1615, the London Guard is formed, to both protect the Royal Family, Parliament, and the citizens of the city as a police force, though will prioritize the protection of government personnel and property than that of the citizen
 * Notable (Living) Members:
 * The Drake Family
 * Sir Oliver Cromwell
 * British Merchant Arms Company:
 * An organization owned by the British government that was established to help veterans from the League Wars slowly assimilate back into civilian life while giving them the opportunity to see the world.
 * Mainly employed by the British Merchant Companies to secure their gains and the likes.
 * Personnel: 21,500
 * British Mainland: 17,000
 * Eldia: 2,000
 * Amekrogu: 1,000
 * British Yolngu: 1,500
 * British Royal Navy Corps:
 * Personnel: 28,122 (combined between both fleets)
 * Naval Vessels:
 * Luke-class First-rate Ship-of-the-Line: 2
 * 96-gun ship-of-the-lines built. Based on HMS Prince Royal, but with slightly reworked interiors, allowing for four more additional guns to be mounted.
 * HMS Prince Royal
 * 92-gun First-rate Ship-of-the-Line
 * The first ship-of-the-line built as a ship-of-the-line.
 * Royal Oak-class Second-rate Ship-of-the-Line: 4
 * 76-gun vessels that are more than capable of holding their own.
 * HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)
 * Though originally a terrible ship (handling-wise), after its modification in the 1660’s, the 76-gun second-rate razee is a force to be reckoned with.
 * Warspite-class Third-rate Ship-of-the-Line: 6
 * 64-gun vessels that are capable of serving as flagships in their own regards, though cannot hold much of a candle to larger vessels in terms of firepower.
 * Victory-class Third-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Victory
 * 50-gun warships designed to breakthrough enemy formations, and is the largest ship in the British arsenal until 1637
 * Reclassified as a Third-rate vessel in 1667
 * Ember-class First-rate British Frigate: 1
 * Main flagship: HMS Ember
 * 45-gun warships, obsolete by the 1600's
 * Only the HMS Ember is kept for training purposes, as a permanent drydock is built for her.
 * Reclassified as a Third-rate vessel in 1667
 * Stolen by the Dutch in 1674
 * Glaemchester-class Second-rate Frigate: 10
 * Essentially a Swallow-class Interceptor, but built to stand up to combat against other ships of its size.
 * 42-gun Frigate that’s cheaper to maintain than the Victory-class while stronger than the Third-rates
 * Reclassified as a Fourth-rate vessel in 1667
 * Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 15
 * Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
 * 40-gun frigates that sacrifice durability in return for speed (for their size)
 * Reclassified as a Third-rate vessel in 1667
 * Suffolk-class Fourth-rate Interceptor-Xebec: 6
 * 34-gun fourth-rate xebec that is essentially an upsized Yellowfin-class interceptor.
 * Phoenix-class Fourth-rate Frigate: 25
 * 32-gun frigates that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * The replacement for the Cabigail-class Carrack, with a hull design based on the Victory-class
 * Reclassified as a Fourth-rate vessel in 1667.
 * Cabigail-class Fourth-rate Carrack: 36
 * 30-gun caravels that form the backbone of the British Navy
 * Super-Spyder-class Carrier Vessels: 5
 * Lightly armed frigates around the same size as the Ember-class First-rate frigates designed to carry both marines and Vinland longboats for use in various operations, such as supporting fleets in areas where the large size of the British vessels are a hindrance, as well as serving as landing craft for said marines onboard.
 * Capacity: 16 Vinland longboats (12 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 480
 * Spyder-class Carrier Caravel: 8
 * Lightly armed caravels retrofitted to carry eight Vinland longboats within for use in narrower areas, where the caravels and galleons would have issues navigating
 * Capacity: 12 Vinland longboats (8 under deck, 4 on deck)
 * Marines: 400
 * Yellowfin-class Fifth-rate Interceptor: 9
 * A 28-gun interceptor based on designs found in Northern Africa. Has the same firepower as other frigates of its size while being much faster.
 * Vinlandia-class Fifth-rate Galley-Frigate: 7
 * 26-gun fifth-rate galley frigate that uses both oars and sails for movement
 * Upon successful sea trials in 1668 as well as success in small skirmishes raiding New Netherlands merchant vessels, 6 more ships were ordered for the Vinlandia-class
 * Phoenix-class Fifth-rate Frigate: 24
 * A 24-gun ship that’s smaller than the usual capital ships found in the fleet. Mainly used in distant areas, such as Yolngu and India.
 * Olive-class Fifth-rate Multi-purpose Frigate: 100
 * The replacement for the Dove-class Dual-purpose Merchant Caravels. While being around the same size as the Dove’s, the internal design of the ship is improved, allowing for more cargo to be stored within.
 * Mainly given to British merchants for their merchant fleets, though still kept on record in British documents to bloat the numbers.
 * Bombardier-class Brigs: 63
 * Small 18-gun ships smaller than even the old carracks. Due to their price, the British can afford to purchase a lot of Brigs in order to leave squadrons of them at various naval ports around the globe.
 * Abalone-class Sloops: 31
 * Small multi-role 12-gun ships meant to fill roles that can’t be easily filled with the larger Brigs
 * Ketone-class Ketch: 6
 * A ketch around the size of the Abalone-class sloops designed specifically for ship-to-ground combat. Armed primarily with mortars and light cannons for self-defense.
 * Vinland Longboats: (depends on the number of carriers)
 * Small vessels that can be deployed in regions to support larger ships from carrier vessels with their smaller cannons and enhanced mobility.
 * Armed with two 2-pounder MAC Cannons
 * British Royal Marine Corps:
 * A branch of both the Army and Navy, consisting of units who are trained in unorthodox tactics to bring around victory.
 * Special Programs:
 * SPARTAN Program: In addition, a program is opened up for the select Marines in 1616 to become elite troops within a program for SPecialized Armed forces for Reconnaissance, Tactical, And Neutralizing Operations, or SPARTAN Ops for short.
 * Those within the unit are known as SPARTANS, and are pulled from both the Marines and Roundtable Knights
 * Often would be given experimental weapons for field testing
 * These units are the penultimate guerilla troop within the British ranks, primarily acting in operations deep behind enemy lines, though can also fight alongside normal troops when necessary
 * These troops provide a large morale boost to allied units in their vicinity as their infamy spreads
 * Personnel: 44,200
 * Multi-Purpose Shock Marines (MPSM): 42,400
 * Mainland Britain: 16,900
 * Gibraltar: 10,000
 * Arcadia: 3,500
 * 500 Elysian MPSM
 * Amekrogu: 12,000
 * SPARTANS: 350
 * Mainland Britain: 275
 * Elysia: 25
 * Amekrogu: 50
 * Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry (SSLC): 4,050
 * Mainland Britain: 3,050
 * Gibraltar: 500
 * Arcadia: 500
 * Light Artillery Pieces: 3,260
 * Mainland Britain: 3,000
 * Gibraltar: 200
 * Arcadia: 0
 * Amekrogu: 60

Notable Companies and Organizations

McCarthy Arms Company (MAC):

Arms Race: Due to the creation of flintlock rifles in France, MAC enters into an arms race with their French counterparts, leading to rapid advancements in the creation of both rifles and cannons.


 * In 1610, they created a flintlock rifle using various components from French flintlocks. This rifle (and its various modifications) became the main firearm of the British Military in the League Wars and other conflicts in the early 1600’s.

Produced models:

FL1610 “Wasp MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1610)


 * The first rifle in the series of rifles made in response to “Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault” and their flintlock rifle.
 * Hastily made, the rifle has various issues, and has a higher-than-usual casualty rate among those who use it due to the tendency for the rifle’s barrel to implode.
 * Due to this reputation, the rifle was given an additional nickname: “Barrel of Surprises”

FL1610E1 “Wasp MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1611)


 * A modified L1610 that doesn't implode (more than most rifles of the era).

FL1610E2 “Wasp MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1612)


 * The version of the rifle that was used by the British Military when they joined the League Wars the same year.
 * This rifle features a slightly redesigned barrel, slightly increasing the range and improving the reliability of the rifle even more.

FL1610E3 “Wasp MkIV” Flintlock Rifle (1614)


 * Essentially the Wasp MkIII, but its components are simplified a bit, allowing for easier production.

FL1616 “Honey MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1616)


 * A modified version of the Wasp MkIV for use in hunting.
 * Essentially a simplified version of the Wasp MkIV for commercial purchase
 * Also becomes the model of rifle that was exported to allies during the League Wars

FL1610E4 “Wasp MkV” Flintlock Rifle (1619)


 * A version of the Wasp MkIV that is made from Yolngu steel, giving the rifle more durability

FL1616E1 “Honey MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1621)


 * An improved version of the Honey MkI, taking feedback from its users when making said improvements.

FL1625 “Hornet MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1625)


 * The successor to the Wasp series of rifles, featuring a slightly simplified design for the firing mechanism, allowing for easier construction of the rifle, though early versions of the rifle has issues due to kinks that weren’t figured out (though not as bad as was seen on the first Wasp rifles)

FL1625E1 “Hornet MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1626)


 * Sent into the field in late 1626, the rifle fixes the issues seen in the Hornet MkI.

FL1616E2 “Honey MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1627)


 * An improvement over the Honey MkII that features some improvements that were seen on the Hornet-series of rifles.

FL1625E2 “Hornet MkIII” Flintlock Rifle (1632)


 * An improved version of the Hornet MkII, and is the primary rifle used by the BMAC Company in its early years.

FL1636 “Hornet 2 MkI” Flintlock Rifle (1636)


 * Originally just a simple upgrade, the Hornet 2 Rifle had so many improvements made to it that the company reclassified it as its own series of rifles.
 * Included in the many changes made is the narrower barrel. Though the bullets are smaller, due to a smaller round being used, the bullets are faster, have longer ranges, slightly faster reload, and are marginally more accurate than the original version of the Hornet.
 * Though the rifle doesn’t have as good of a stopping power, its improvements arguably offset this weakness.

FL1636E1 “Hornet 2 MkII” Flintlock Rifle (1642)


 * Modifications related to its reliability in hot, humid regions are added to the rifle.
 * In addition, this is the first rifle (used by the British) that was able to mount a bayonet.

XRS1652 “Thunderer” Experimental Revolving Sidearm (1652)


 * An experimental 3-shot revolver produced in extremely few quantities (around 56 or so)
 * The idea is for rounds to be pre-loaded into the revolving barrel of the pistol, which is locked in place by three pins when firing. Once a bullet is expended, the user delaches the pins and manually rotates the barrel before locking it back in place. This process is tedious and doesn’t give the gun that much of an advantage over normal conventional pistols on account of the cumbersome barrel, in addition to the pistol’s unreliability (even by standards of the time)

FL1656 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1656)


 * The third version of the Hornet rifle, which takes the FL1636E1 model of rifle and made the rifle easier to produce. Still features the capability for using a bayonet that is secured under the barrel of the rifle from the FL1636E1.

FL1656-EXP “Honey 2” Flintlock Rifle (1657)


 * Essentially an FL1636E1 rifle that is cailbered in the conventional ammo size used by most nations. Also features the capability for usage of a plug bayonet.
 * Since both this rifle and the “Hornet 3” rifle have the same catalog name, the “Honey 2” was given the -EXP notation at the end to distinguish it as the export rifle.

FS1659 “Thunderer 2” Flintlock Sidearm (1659)


 * A non-revolver version of the XRS1652 rifle. This sidearm is provided both to officers and cavalry units in the military and only in small numbers.

FL1656E1 “Hornet 3” Flintlock Rifle (1666)


 * Slight improvement to the Hornet 3 that was used in the Anglo-Dutch War. The gun features a slight improvement to its accuracy as well as a better mechanism for the bayonet, which is now custom-built for the rifle itself and can double as a knife when necessary.

MAC Cannons: MAC continues to produce MAC Cannons (McCarthy Arms in a variety of calibers and sizes, ranging from small 6 pound field cannons to 32 pound naval cannons. At least in Britain, McCarthy Industries has the monopoly on the firearms industry.

Produced models:

2-pounder “snub-nose” MAC Cannon (1608)


 * Created for usage on Vinland longboats, more to fire on smaller vessels than anything else
 * Can be argued that rifles would be more effective than these small peashooters, but the extra punch is helpful

6-pounder medium field MAC Cannon (1578)


 * The main cannon used by both the British Royal Army and Marine Corps.
 * Also used on British Carrier Vessels

9-pounder “tickler” MAC Cannon


 * The lightest cannon used on British Warships (excluding Carriers)

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1588)


 * The mainstay cannon of British Warships

16-pounder MAC Cannon (1641)


 * An updated version of the 16-pounder cannon.

32-pounder “long-nose” MAC Cannon (1603)


 * Heaviest cannon that the British uses. Reserved for the largest of British vessels.

Research and Development


 * Fortuna and Samuel’s Naval Reforms (1667): With Fortuna allowed to change what she deemed fit, she decided to revise the rating system for British vessels, taking into account the troublesome HMS Sovereign of the Seas into the system.
 * Essentially, the rating system goes off of the crew being carried, which is based on the firepower carried by the vessels.
 * Though revised in the future as ships continued to slightly increase in size, the system devised by Fortuna and Samuel would persist until the first metallic war vessels were constructed.
 * The system is as follows:
 * First Rate: 100+ guns, 600+ sailors
 * Second Rate: 80-99 guns, 500-599 sailors
 * Third Rate: 60-80 guns, 400-499 sailors
 * Fourth Rate: 50-60 guns, 300-399 sailors
 * Fifth Rate: 30-49 guns, 200-299 sailors
 * Sixth Rate: 20-29 guns, up to 200 sailors
 * Hwacha!: A weapon imported from Japan, the British take one of the two Hwachas purchased from the Toyotomi Shogunate and reverse-engineer it, as they look into reducing the cost of production while they use the other for testing.
 * Tests show that the weapon takes a long time to reload, but due to the sound it makes and the area of effect, it could be a great weapon to use against cavalry, though effective enough against infantry.
 * It should be noted that the weapon has a shorter range than cannon fire, but has a larger area-of-effect, in terms of what it can hit.
 * In 1665, a few prototypes were handed out to various ships throughout the fleet, including to the Fortune’s Bounty II.
 * From its use in its limited


 * Naval Vessels: Continued development on galleons is performed, to see if it is possible to improve British vessels further. They experiment with two aspects; size and firepower. British Naval Engineers hope to determine proper ratios for size, durability, and firepower, as well as taking note of various lessons learned in the field, such as logistical issues found in British Caravels.
 * Bolstering the Fleet
 * With the expansion of the navy, the British decided to refit their navy once again, retiring old vessels and replacing them with newer models.
 * Speed Demons: Due to an increase in piracy in the Mediterranean, the British seek to modernize their old interceptors.
 * From observations of their assailants, the British take interest in a ship-type known as a xebec, ships that use three triangular sails, allowing them a good top speed without sacrificing much in terms of firepower.
 * Based on the design of the Yellowfin class, the British try and upsize the xebec design, creating the HMS Suffolk.
 * Smaller Boats: Though the Brigs have shown their uses, the need for even smaller ships became apparent, especially on the accounts from allied pirates in the Shattered Isles.
 * From the HMS Ketone, improvements from the ship are implemented, mainly features to help deal with the recoil from the mortar, including an experimental outrig to help manage the rocking of the boat when the mortar is fired, potentially allowing the mortar to be rotated beyond facing only forwards.
 * The Galley Frigate
 * The British draft plans for the galley frigate. Essentially, these are normal frigates that are capable of using oars for movement as well.
 * First Prototype: HMS Vinlandia
 * One of the first ships created in Vinland drydocks
 * Larger Vessels: With the new rating system in place, new ships are ordered to supplement the new classes.

Training and Production


 * British Mainland
 * None.
 * British America
 * Elysia/Laconia
 * None
 * Eldia:
 * None
 * Catonzia
 * None
 * Amekrogu:
 * None
 * British Yolngu
 * None


 * 4 Warspite-class 64-gun third-rate ship-of-the-line
 * 3 Suffolk-class 34-gun fourth-rate xebecs
 * 3 Vinlandia-class 26-gun fifth-rate galley frigates
 * 10 Bombardier-class Brigs
 * 5,000 new sailors to supplement the existing naval personnel
 * Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.

Diplomacy


 * Akan: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Amekrogu: Pulling out of the war, the British war machine breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Though a force stays in British-controlled territories, most head home.
 * As this happens, the British observe the civil war raging on in war-ravaged Amekrogu. They keep watch, waiting for an opportunity to hop in
 * Europe (Generally): Though not offered the top-line models, Britain does allow McCarthy Arms Company to sell some of their wares overseas to those willing to purchase them
 * Gujarat: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Indian Nations: Seeing that the countries of India are friendly, the British East India Company reaches out to all the nations in the area, hoping to strengthen their ties with all nations and open up trade routes with all.
 * Arkansa: The British continue to make efforts to strengthen their ties with Arkansa, as they seek assistance in the form of British mercenaries.
 * Netherlands: Though tensions are rising between the two companies, those on the British mainland have no qualms with them. However, the same cannot be said for those in Arcadia, as Dutch and British colonists begin to run into each other.
 * Revived Huancan Empire: Delegates from the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company reach out to the South American nation, requesting the ability for ships to dock in the Tacna region while they pass around the southern tip of South America
 * The British are aware of the Spanish conquests centuries prior, and wish to make amends, to at least show that not all Europeans are scumbags
 * Svearike: Since they declared war on Vestkyst, in accordance with their conditions, the British sever their ties with the nation.
 * Vestkyst: Through Fortuna, Britain sent supplies to support Duchess Anastasia’s cause (and to that effect supporting Akershus in their war against Vestkyst)
 * Once the Akershus takeover of Vestkyst is complete, British diplomats are sent to the fledgling government to reaffirm their alliance.
 * However, when Svearike launches attacks, Britain is unable to send troops to support Vestkyst, on account of dealing with the Netherlands around that time aside from providing them supplies to fight in the war. However, the British do inform Vestkyst that the nation has British support with whatever plan-of-action the new ruler of Vestkyst wishes to take with the country.
 * Vijayanagara: Due to trading with locals of the region, British influence spreads through the area, though slowly.
 * Yolngu: The British finalize the process of making Yolngu a British Protectorate.

Allies


 * Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
 * Naranga: British ally on the Asian mainland.
 * Occitania: British ally on the mainland.
 * Svearike: Velkyst’s southern neighbor.
 * This alliance is made with a caveat: since they know that Vestkyst wishes to gobble them up too. The British mention that they will try to mediate any conflict between the two nations, and will continue to trade with both nations during the conflict, they cannot get directly involved against them. Otherwise, they will support the Svearike in a defensive war.
 * Toyotomi Shogunate: British ally (through the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company) in Asian area.
 * Vestkyst: Norweigan allies in the North Sea. The oldest ally of Britain, harkening back to the British Empire’s founding.
 * Yolngu: The furthest of Britain’s allies, the island-continent has metals far better than those in the region. As such, the majority of the trade from the region primarily consists of metals.

Events


 * The Anglo-Dutch War (1670 - 1675): In 1668, an incident involving Albish and Dutch ships led to tensions blowing over into a full conflict. Essentially, a ship carrying supplies to Southern Elysia drifted into Dutch waters. Being mistaken for a pirate ship, the Dutch intercept and sink the British vessel.
 * The Battle of New Netherlands (1670 - 1673): The British continue to attack, as they slowly whittle away at the Dutch. They attempt to make counterattacks, but a lack of supplies due to commerce raiding from British Arcadian Fleets slowly starve the Dutch population, not helped by their poor relation with the locals.
 * Eventually, in 1673, the Dutch called it quits, and New Netherlands fell to British Arcadian Forces.
 * Battle of the Hudson (1672): The British spot the Dutch fleet disembarking and move their own to intercept. The resulting battle resulted in the destruction of the Dutch fleet present in New Netherlands.
 * This battle results in the British having complete naval dominance for the rest of the conflict in Arcadia, giving the British complete impunity off the coast of New Netherlands.
 * The Great Heist of Medway (1673): The Dutch launch a surprise attack into British territory. Sailing Dutch vessels into Chatham, Britain. In the “battle,” the Dutch captured various vessels (including the long-decommissioned HMS Ember) and sank various other vessels in the naval dockyards. In all, this was one of, if not, the worst defeats in British Naval History.
 * Due to this attack, this enraged the British, as they could muster a fleet to get their revenge.
 * Battle of West Frisian (1673): The British naval attack in the Netherlands, where they raid Dutch commerce before attacking the Dutch navy sent to respond. With Fortuna at the helm of HMS Warspite, she leads her fifteen ship fleet to come to blows with the Dutch fleet. Though both navies suffered damage, the British fleet came out of it victorious, though most of the ships involved would require extensive repairs.
 * After the battle, the British would continue to raid Dutch commerce, this slowly became less effective, as the Dutch sent their warships as escort for Dutch vessels passing through the English Channel. However, beyond these skirmishes, no further full-scale naval battles occurred during the rest of the war.
 * Treaty of the English Channel (1675): Eventually, it became apparent that both sides did not want war anymore, and in 1675, rulers from both countries met on board a trading vessel in the English channel, as they made peace.
 * Aside from New Netherlands, which is now owned by the British, both countries do not ask for much in terms of further concessions, aside for Britain paying money for the acquisition of New Netherlands at a discounted price.
 * Expansion Beyond the Horizon:
 * American Colonies
 * Consolidation of Power: Forts are constructed in British territory claimed in the war, both to protect from potential retaliation from the Spanish as well as from various tribes in the region.
 * In addition, British civilians are finally granted permission to move to British Catonzia and Elysia, as the British begin to slowly integrate Catonzia into the British Empire, much like what was done with Elysia.
 * Catonzia and Arroz: With the discovery of rice in the East, the British decide to give rice-making a try. With the new territory in Catonzia (as well as somewhat similar temperatures), the British decided to try and start rice crops in Catonzia, to mixed success. It will take a while before the British learn how to make rice themselves, as well as for the rice to adapt to the different environment.
 * African Colonies
 * BAKA - Mitai: Seeing the weakening of local powers in the area gives the company reason to expand, as merchants head inland to meet and trade with the locals.
 * Asianic Colonies
 * BAKA - Gaikokuhito: The company, headed by Frederik King, hopes to make contact with Yolngu again. To keep things brief, plans are in the making for a trading agreement with the region, and possibly more. (More details on this below)

The British Merchant Companies: (CLICK [EXPAND] TO EXPAND)


 * British Faviero Greek Company: “The BFG Company” for short, this company has taken an interest to the region of Elysia. Its leaders, Faviero and Raleigh have enacted a multi-decade long plan to wrestle control of the region for themselves, though if other situations were to come up, they’d adapt on the fly.
 * Elysian Region: Having complete control over the area, the BFG Company begins to import more colonists into the region.
 * Laconia: In 1619, the region was reclassified into its own province for administration reasons.
 * The regions of Laconia, Demetrios, and Erakki become apart of the Laconia Province
 * Eventually becomes the State of Laconia
 * Deasaheim: The company begins the process of integrating the province into their company, as they begin setting up administrative bodies to run the area.
 * When the Dutch attacked in 1668, the company was forced to temporarily retreat from Desaheim, only to come back as British forces retaliated.
 * Anglo-Dutch War: During the conflict, the BFG Company sends some of its ships to raid Dutch trading routes, plundering various goods from the ships trying to get to the Dutch colony
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Doomslayer
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association: Started up by a British and German family, BAKA began operations in 1573, when they received a fleet of four merchant caravels. With this fleet, the company sets sail for Africa, wishing to set up a port town where they can trade with the locals.
 * In 1602, the company was split in two, due to the focus on where to colonize.
 * The branch known as “BAKA Mitai” is continuing the old company’s efforts in Africa
 * The branch known as “BAKA Gaijin” (renamed to BAKA Gaikokuhito in 1608) has its focus directed towards Southeast Asia, specifically Yolngu for its operations.
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Mitai Division:
 * Akan: Due to their presence in the area, the BAKA Mitai company slowly expands their influence through the area.
 * Due to continued trade with the locals in the area, British influence spreads throughout Akan.
 * Galatoi: The company trades with Galatoi, giving them McCarthy Firearms and other supplies in return for indigenous supplies as well as slaves for use in Elysia and other portions of their claims.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the MOM company, importing slaves from the Galatoi region and sending them to the Eldia region for use on the various crops in the region.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Resolute
 * Bilateral Albish-King Association - Gaikokuhito Division:
 * More Pitstops: Even with the two islands claimed, the distance between each stop is far too long. As such, the Gaikokuhito Division devices various locations along the way to establish naval bases to allow British vessels places of refuge
 * The British reached out to various nations on the Western coast of South America, asking if they could construct ports on their coastlines to allow British ships to stop on their journey to Yolngu, in addition to opening trade with the regions in question.
 * Australium: Rare metals have been found on the island continent. As such, operations are created to extract the metals with the help of the locals (in return for exotic species and other foreign goods)
 * Finalization of Acquisition: With the British Protectorate of Yolngu established, the King family can lean back and drink away; a century-long dream has been finally completed, though a long road lays ahead for what’s to come next.
 * Company Fleet Flagship: The Golden Hind
 * The Henry Amerigo League of Observance: A group (nicknamed HALO) that is headed by Henry of Glaemchester. Now a competent company, the HALO company travels the seas, now intermingling with a faction known as the Amekrogu’s to the south.
 * Rebuilding from the Ground Up: The HALO company constructs new fortifications in the region, rebuilding what they lost prior. As this happens, the company slowly monitors the Civil War raging on in Amekrogu, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
 * In addition, they reward the tribes that allied themselves with the British, allowing them to reside in peace, in addition to supplying them with food and the likes
 * The Millers Operative Manufacturing: A company that focuses on tobacco and leather in 1565, the company slowly worked its way into league with the larger companies of Britain by the 1580’s, eventually leading to the company receiving a grant to receive 7 Dove-class Merchant Caravels, as well as permission to construct a custom “flagship” for themselves.
 * Tobacco: As their influence spreads through Eldia, the MOM company begins to cultivate Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants, leading to an increase in profits due to its sweeter taste.
 * The selling of this tobacco increases MOM’s income, leading to them being able to hire more mercenaries to arrest control of Eldia from the locals.
 * Rice: Ordered by the British Royal Navy to produce the crop, the company also constructs rice crops within their territory, with assistance from Asian farmers.
 * Slave Trade Deal: The company creates a tie with the BAKA Mitai company, as the MOM Company begins to import slaves from the Galatoi region for the purpose of working on the farms.
 * Company Flagship: The Independence
 * British East India Company: With a grant from the British government, the company begins to make plans for their future ventures into Asia, with their eyes set on both the island chains between mainland Asia and Yolgnu as well as Hindustan.
 * Expanding Influence: With the wealth the company has, they begin to trade with the locals, providing them with products in larger quantities or new to the area altogether, with the hopes to make the locals reliant on the British for their daily necessities
 * Subsidiary Alliance Plan: The Company reaches out to the various countries in India, asking for the stationing of a British force within their territory for the country’s protection, in return for supplying the maintenance cost to maintain the force in the area.
 * Lansenia: Since 1565, the “Azure Pilgrims” set up the Plymouth colony in hopes to be free from religious (and political) persecution. At first, the faction ran into many issues, mainly trying to survive the winter. They were helped by a local tribesman nearby and the colony has just begun to become stabilized.
 * In 1662, the regional government was officially formed.
 * Naming the region “Lansenia” after the head governor, Laffey D Lansen, the region is accepted as an official colony within the British Government.
 * Naming the region “Lansenia” after the head governor, Laffey D Lansen, the region is accepted as an official colony within the British Government.

Notable Deaths


 * Rulers
 * Pendragon:
 * Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
 * Ash I (M,  b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
 * Sister: Aura (F,  b.1350 - 1434)
 * Ash II (M,  b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
 * Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
 * Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
 * Mordue:
 * River Mordue (F, b. 1322 - 1393) (Reign: 1369 - 1393)
 * Henry (M, b. 1353 - 1429)  (Reign: 1393 - 1429)
 * Daughter: Mary (F, b. 1382 - 1399)
 * Lionel (M, b. 1388 - 1482) (Reign: 1430 - 1482)
 * Son: Leo I (M, b. 1407 - 1465)
 * Leo III (M, b. 1445 - 1478)
 * Son: Leo II (M, b. 1423 - 1478)
 * Brother: Henry II (M, b. 1398 - 1478)
 * Drake:
 * Casimir (M, b. 1454 - 1533)
 * Queen Abigail (F, b. 1455 - 1533)
 * Queen Victoria (F, b. 1499 - ) (R: 1533 - 1561)
 * David (M, b. 1537 - 1554)
 * Brother: Albert (M, b. 1495 - 1565)
 * Nephew: Rupert (M, b. 1517 - 1553)
 * Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - 1618) (R: 1561 - 1618)
 * Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - 1619)
 * Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - 1564)
 * Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
 * Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
 * Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - 1632)
 * Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - 1609)
 * Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - 1596)
 * Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
 * Married off to a Westrian prince
 * Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
 * Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - 1602)
 * Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - 1606)
 * Cousin: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - 1629)
 * Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1608)
 * Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - 1629)
 * King: Luke I (M, b. 1567 - 1638) (R: 1618 - 1838)
 * King:  Luke II (M, b. 1604 - 1658) (R: 1838 - 1658)
 * Son: Luke III (M, b. 1628 - )
 * Son: Luke IV (M, b. 1636 - )
 * Daughter: Leia (F, b. 1636 - )
 * Brother: Excavalier (M, b. 1615 - 1667)
 * Cousin: Jessie (F, b. 1607 - 1672)
 * Cousin: James (M, b. 1607 - 1668)
 * Roundtable Knights
 * Joan “Anne” of Arc (Died in 1431)
 * Sir George Cromwell of Cotswold (Died in 1445)
 * Sir George Cromwell II of Cotswold (Died in 1482)
 * Sir Rex of Dover (Died in 1482)
 * Joanna Palaiologos McCarthy (Died in 1528)
 * Misc
 * Frederik King (Died in ???)
 * Head of the BAKA Company, essentially has ties in about half of the world
 * Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
 * Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.

Famous Vessels

HMS Victory (15XX)


 * Laid down in 15XX and launched in 15XX, the HMS Victory is a 50-gun First-class Frigate.
 * The namesake of her class, HMS Victory was the first pride-and-joy of the Royal Navy.
 * Famously captained by Admiral Francis Drake, the ship would lead the British navy to victory when it defeated the Spanish Armada, directly leading to one of the major reasons why Britain won in the Anglo-Spanish War in the late 16th century.
 * From there, it would also see combat in the League Wars as it ensured that those opposing Britain felt the wrath of her powerful broadside.
 * Eventually, the ship was retired in 1647, where it was put into the reserve fleet as a training vessel for new sailors.

HMS Fortune’s Bounty (1626)


 * An Olive-class Multi-purpose Merchant Frigate given to the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company from the British government. Laid in 1624 and left on its maiden voyage in 1626, the ship would find itself under the ownership of Fortuna King, a woman well-known for her assistance in the Wu-Narangan War in 1633 when she was involved in both a trading run to Naranga in addition to the assassination of the Wu General in the region.
 * Though the ship would remain in East Asia for most of its life, it would also visit Britain and the Mediterranean Sea during its time afloat under the ownership of Fortuna.
 * In 1661, while returning to Britain from Yolngu, the ship encountered rough seas around the southernmost tip of South America. Though it survived, the ship was badly beaten, as it limped to the British outpost on the Falklands Island. From there, Fortuna and her crew hitched a ride on a vessel back to Britain, where she received permission from the BAKA Gaikokuhito Company to purchase a replacement vessel: the Fortune’s Bounty II.
 * Fate: Scrapped in 1661

HMS Fortune’s Bounty II (1662)


 * A 28-gun xebec ordered by Fortuna King.
 * Also was equipped with two hwachas for testing purposes
 * Saw effective use under Fortuna’s captainship.
 * Notable for the Battle of the Vestkyst Fjords (1667) as well as for its involvement with rescuing Duchess Anastasia during the Vestkyst Civil War (1666).
 * Fate: ???

HMS Sovereign of the Seas (1637)


 * Laid down in 1634 and launched in 1637, this ship is essentially an engineer’s wet dream. Built “just because,” the ship has more than double the guns of the next largest ships (the Victory-class) and was also over double the size, this ship towered over anything the British would build for the next half-decade or so.
 * That being said, the ship was also ladened with issues, such as poor handling and the likes.
 * Fate: ???