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MAP UPDATED (March 13th, 2022)
Baccar, Chirenai, Onimiski, Ryeongse, and 1 otherEskeland
Kul akeris, Chirenai, Namalar, Syrduria, and 3 othersRyeongse, Eskeland, and Nesketos
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By the order of the Emperor of the Tong Dynasty, written by instruction of the Grand Imperial Minister, In Accordance of the Laws of the Imperial Ministry of the Tong Empire
By order of his Imperial Majesty, Tong Jong-Yai, Emperor of the Tong Dynasty; the Tong Empire announces the success of its mission in Dhorvas, the purpose of which was the stabilization and maintenance of trade in the area of the Bantry Bay and the Xinjan Sea. His Marshal Hongzhong-Din, Commander of all Imperial Forces and Commander of the Expedition into Dhorvas, and all men who serve and served under him shall return home to the Empire victorious having completed their state mission honorably and with swiftness and efficiency.
Let all those brave soldiers of the Empire who shed blood, their own or otherwise, be marked in glorious red. Returning home to friends and family, to loved ones and peers, as honored champions, and warriors. Let their names be honored eternally as the Empire’s guardians, as they set right all things in the Universe.
Let peaceful trade and conduct continue, both in the Empire and across the continent of Sokos.
To Kill a King?
Almost immediately after being released from custody, the Archon had called for emergency powers to be given to him. Given the string of sudden imprisonments, not least that of the patriarch of ne Meaga under similar charges of conspiracy as the two still-living Puedes He generals, most of the Thiton agreed to grant him such powers for three months, no longer. The next thing he did was force through the necessary prerequisite work for a military procession in honour of Jaukusu and his conquests.
But a more pressing matter had to be dealt with, even as the preparations for the procession continued. For every member of the Thiton had heard the disgraced General Zatu speak of some ill-tiding that awaited them as punishment if they continued to take more land. It had been the catalyst that led to so many calling for his arrest, baying for his blood. Capuanuitu Pesku leant down on his desk, shut his eyes and thought a moment. The confidence of the Thiton was still something he needed were he to maintain a grip on power. And if they thought he was doomed to blight Nesketos, he would not curry their favour much longer. A more final attempt on his title would take place, one that could not be so easily reversed. And yet what he considered was not something every Archon wanted to consider. He strode to his door and peered out of it, finding the steward of the Zematumas outside of it. The steward turned to the Archon and bowed. The Archon spoke.
“Send for the representatives. I need to speak to the King.”
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Waiting in the royal palace for a meeting with the King to occur with someone else was not the most exciting of jobs. Indeed, were the Archon not secretly worried, he would find himself bored to tears waiting here for the King’s representative, the Calaseri, to return. The Calaseri, alongside the Menaskeri, handled all interaction between the Thiton and government and the strange royal court of Nesketos. Both men were chosen by the King and his Taemeri respectively, rather than by the Thiton. As such, the King often felt he could confide in his Calaseri. In the past, Archon Capuanuitu had used this to gain insight into the King’s activities. Such as when he had heard that Zatu met with the King only a few weeks prior to his eventual treachery. It still hadn’t helped him learn what prophecy the King would have given him - he would not learn that until the day he was arrested. And yet the King must surely have known…
The door opened with a creak, and the Calaseri stepped out of the King’s office, different from his ‘Room of Sight’. This office was from where the King completed the few matters of state still afforded him. As the Calaseri’s eyes met the Archon’s, he shook his head.
“He won’t tell you anything?”
“He doesn’t remember anything.”
The two began to walk down the hallways of the King’s palace. The Archon attempted to clarify.
“I don’t understand… What exactly doesn’t he remember?”
The Calaseri shrugged his shoulders, “He remembers the morning, and knowing that he was to meet with General Zatu. He had his Serpent Keeper prepare the herbs for the meeting, and he ingested them with no problem. While talking about later events, he just seems to trail off… I can’t tell if he remembers and doesn’t want to speak of it, or if it is truly a lapse in his memory.”
The Archon was dumbfounded by this. Did the King not even want to save his own life? Why was he being so vague on this matter? Was it age, or merely stubbornness? Or perhaps the King was ready for death? Whatever the case was, it was clear that the Archon would not gain any useful information from the King.
The Calaseri evidently had more to say; “If I may, Archon… Nothing would be gained by having the King killed now. The only one who heard the prophecy has been discredited; for all we know, he made up most of the details… There’s no need for the King to die for this.”
The Archon gazed back to the Calaseri for a moment, before sadly smiling. The Menaskeri, the Calaseri’s counterpart for the Taemeri, who was the heir and potential executioner of the King, approached the two. The Archon looked over to him, to which the Menaskeri merely nodded. The Calaseri knew the relevance. The speed of the Calaseri’s departure indicated his dissatisfaction with current events. The Archon did not need to speak to the Menaskeri to know the relevance of his answer, before he left also. The Archon was alone in the royal palace, considering what he would do. That is, until the King's Serpent Keeper approached the Archon from the shadows.
“That’s not entirely true,” he said to the Archon, his low and gravelly voice grating on the ears. The Archon turned to him, cocking his head.
“What’s not true?”
“General Zatu was not the only one to hear the King’s prophecy,” he folded his hands in front of him, “I did also.”
The Archon turned to the Serpent Keeper, a look of urgency upon his face met with seeming ambivalence from the Serpent Keeper; “You must tell me; why did the King predict Jaukusu’s actions would lead to chaos?”
“Now, mine is not for the ‘whys’ of prophecy, Archon, I merely tend to the ‘whats’,” the Serpent Keeper almost seemed amused by the Archon’s insinuation, “Only the King could tell you ‘why’, but for some reason known only to him, he will not speak. I can tell you what was said.”
“Then you must,” the Archon implored the Serpent Keeper; “The King’s life depends on it.”
The Serpent Keeper sighed deeply; “I can tell you that the King did not specify to whom the prophecy referred. I cannot tell you to whom it did refer. General Zatu claimed the prophecy referred to Jaukusu, and by extension, to you,” the Serpent Keeper’s eyes fixed firmly on the Archon’s; “But I could imagine, were some to reinterpret his words, they could be used to condemn the General himself.”
The Archon’s brow furrowed. He was confused. The Serpent Keeper, feeling the weight of the prophecy he was about to relay, spoke again to the Archon.
“‘There will be a mistake. A terrible mistake that one will regret so much. It will cause such pain, such despair. Things will change forever. An attack fails, the sword comes down.’”
The Archon understood at last; “Zatu’s mistake. His sword comes down.”
The Serpent Keeper nodded; “‘The head of the snake is bitten off before it eats its own tail. The sharp edge of the sword is blunted before it can sweep at its enemy. The way of things altered, if a path is not averted,’” the Keeper straightened himself back up, continuing; “The King needn’t have predicted the folly of conquest. He may simply have predicted the folly of Zatu’s own civil strife.”
The Archon could see what he meant. If he killed the King, surely that would exonerate Zatu. He, as it could be seen by all, was only acting on false prophecy by the King. But if it was Zatu’s own false interpretation of the prophecy, he was the one referred to. The King’s prophecy would have been correct. Thus, the Archon could do away with the last remnants of the Puedes He, do away with the vhepasi, enforce the changes he wanted, and would be seen as the fulfiller of prophecy rather than doomed by it. The reigns of power could stay firmly in his hands, while there would be no more expense to change the monarch over.
“Does this satisfy you, Archon?”
“Very much so, yes,” the Archon stated calmly, with a smile, “I must thank you for this. Truly.”
The Archon wheeled around, to leave, and to allow the Menaskeri to be notified of the fact that the Taemeri would not kill the King that day. The Serpent Keeper stood in the halls, hands folded, watching the Archon go by. Did the Archon believe him? Perhaps. The Serpent Keeper did not believe himself. Perhaps one lie would yet cause further tragedy, for temporary relief.
Rolais, Ryeongse, and Eskeland
The Glory of Victory
The military procession of Jaukusu consisted of the following:
At the head of the triumphal column rode two Ikori on horseback, one carrying a horn, which they blew to signal the following column, and one with a scroll, who repeatedly read a list of achievements of the General to the adoring crowd, allowing them to fully appreciate his military actions.
The first part of the following procession was the, admittedly fairly meagre, cart from Theodyma. Upon it stood beef cattle, lowing and altogether unfamiliar with the land they now resided in. These cattle would be slaughtered for a feast in Jaukusu’s honour.
The second was a cart filled with tea, burnt as if incense. As it passed the crowds, many inhaled the smoke, and enjoyed with the rest the odour of the new resource. This cart was from Mylethra, and the tea was now a resource of Nesketos itself.
The third cart was made of Crotaclean oak, varnished and beautiful, and upon it lay bows, timbers, other woodworked crafts. Behind this cart however marched the new additions to the military, the Crotaclean Rangers, dressed in their usual green cloaks. They carried their own bows and arrows with them. They were considered trustworthy soldiers, at the very least by Jaukusu.
The fourth cart had been planned to only consist of goats and beechwood craft. However, prospectors touring Jaukusu’s new conquests noted that there was a presence of a resource seemingly unexpected in Erethissa - black gemstones. The scholars of Nesketos told the prospectors that these were valued, highly prized among all of the treasures thus brought back. The few of these black gems that had been retrieved stood in a pile at the very top of the cart.
Fifth came no cart, merely a parade of elephants, followed closely by a rather disorganised parade of sheep. These were to be presented also to the Archon. So Jaukusu had heard, there was apparently word of using these elephants in combat. He was not sure how elephant riders would carry themselves, but he would endeavour to try and use them well.
The penultimate procession was a procession of slaves, from all across the conquered lands, as well as, at the very rear of the slave procession, a cart with four prisoners - two of these were the captured Kings of Erethissa and Delynthos, as well as General Zatu and General Castasu, both now disgraced.
And finally, as if the main event, the army, returned triumphal. The large assorted Nesi Natui followed Jaukusu, Eutropios and Pazu, and the vhepasi followed them. The peasants showered them with flowers as they passed, and they all waved to them.
As the rear of the procession approached the Archon, the three commanders dismounted their horses. They ascended the steps to meet him, carrying with them five packages. Each, one at a time, was unwrapped by the Archon.
Inside four of the packages sat Ikori tails in various stages of decomposition. In all five were golden crowns. In the four that had tails in them, the tails were wrapped around the crowns, tied and secured. The fifth was, of course, Eutropios’ own crown, rescinded with full acceptance that it would be repaid with full membership in the Thiton, as Jaukusu had promised.
As the giving over of the crowns concluded, the Archon had the crowd silenced. A speaker shouted out the King’s prophecy, as well as the interpretation that the state now supported - Zatu had erred, it was not now up for debate. The speaker now asked the peasants what was to be done with the traitors. Cries of “death”, “kill them”, and many other similar cries came up through the population. Zatu silenced them again. As they wanted, the traitors would be killed. The speaker now asked the peasants what was to be done with the now-enslaved Kings. Once again, the crowd bayed for death. The Archon’s own executioner descended the steps to bring up the four Ikori from the cart.
Zatu came peacefully. Castasu appeared to be shaking, muttering something to himself, praying one final time, or begging for life. Origenes of Delynthos and Nikanor of Erethissa both protested heavily at their supposed mistreatment. Origenes was the first to be executed. Then Nikanor. Castasu’s death brought the most joy thus far from the crowd. Zatu’s final act was to sneer at Jaukusu. He placed his head down peacefully, and the crowd became ecstatic. As the axe fell, it was as if a riot of joy erupted through the city.
From the nearby palace, the King watched on in silence.
--------------------------------------------------
Jaukusu had been ordered to stay in the city. He was to oversee the final dismantling of the vhepasi. It was ironic, an institution that had once been for levies during wartime had since become almost a slave army, a tax on the aristocracy of Ikori. He had been honoured and named ‘Marshal of Nesketos’, the sole leader of the whole military. But while Jaukusu remained in the city, the Archon sent the newly promoted Pazu to the north, with 200 Nesi Natuisas, and also back to Crotaclea with the remaining Crotaclean Rangers. He instructed the new General to take two of the northern Kingdoms, one, Delanais, at the south end of the ‘Breadbasket of the Helenicanta’, and the other, Rhegarnae, a cotton-farming settlement. It was unlikely that he would be unsuccessful, and everyone involved knew this. It was all part of a larger plan that the Archon had, to expand yet further, though exactly how, the Archon didn’t reveal every detail. Nesketos was once again on the rise.
Rolais, Ryeongse, and Eskeland
The Question of the Parlement
Outside of the Binnenhof, Kaiserhude
Another unsuccessful session had gone by, and nothing had been solved, Prince Maximiliaan was running out of patience and was even starting to show it. That was the third consecutive time that he had to preside over the Parlement and watch as it got nothing done and it wasn't uncommon from them to not get anything done. It had happened many times before on issues that could change the politics of the country or could affect any of their positions.
Maximiliaan left the Binnenhof with much displeasure. He was about to mount his carriage to leave when he was stopped by Hendrik, one of the members of the Parlement and one of the few who were not corrupt. He waved and shouted at him, "Mijn Heer! Wait a second!" He said.
Maximiliaan turned around and his face of anger turned into one of relief. He was happy to see him. He told his guards to stay their weapons and the carriage driver to wait, then he greeted Hendrik, "Goedendag Hendrik, what is it you need today."
"Goedendag mijn heer, I just wanted to speak to you about today's session of the Parlement"
"Ah yes... the incredible failure that was today's session, where I sat for more than four hours hearing old men bickering about irrelevant stuff, international politics and pure nonsense to prolong the session and not get anything done once more. No need to remind me of that Hendrik, there's better things to think about, like that beautiful damsel I saw in the park yesterday." He said, his expression turning to one of pleasure by the end.
"N-no my lord, I meant we need to do something about it, otherwise we are going to continue on a never ending loop, they are becoming better every day at that and we need to act now and fast. I had a few ideas, one of them is to start by slowly replacing the more insignificant ones with people loyal to you."
"I don't know Hendrik, seems like too much of an inconvenience and then what? They may, by the end of the day, turn corrupt like the rest. I think it would be better if I dissolve the Parlement and get this over with by passing all the laws myself. That would certainly teach them."
"But my lord, what about the people?"
"What about them, Hendrik?"
"They would be angry sir. That would view it as an act of tyranny, a return to the old days. The Kostuans never gave us any representation inside their government and now that we are independent and we can, we must. Is what our people wanted back then and is what they want today."
"But what about my great grandfather? There was no parliament back then and he got stuff done! No one bothered him about what he could and could not do, and no one complained about representation."
"Yes, but he was later forced to create one, the people wanted one, they wanted a voice inside and your great grandfather was a man of the people so he gave it to them, at first it was nobles but then slowly he allowed the commoners to join and voice their complaints and now it's your job to keep that alive sir."
Maximiliaan stood there for some time thinking, before giving his final answer, at first he wasn't very sure about it, but eventually he gave in, "Very well Hendrik, come with me to the my residence, we can plan things out there, if you have anyone you want to bring along as well tell him to come, I can wait."
Corcaigh mor, Elvhenen, Chirenai, Ryeongse, and 1 otherEskeland
Corcaigh mor, Elvhenen, Riddenheim, Syrduria, and 4 othersRyeongse, Eskeland, Brelogne, and Straulechen
Of Ships and their Shipwrights
“He cannot be serious!”
The patriarch of ne Meaga protested from his cell as the visiting patriarch of ne Tinuvis stood leant up against the bars, rubbing his whiskers against one side of his muzzle and then the other. Patriarch ne Meaga, by comparison, sat upon cloth sheets atop simple furniture, the cell around him dully lit and even more dully decorated. Surely it was not accommodation usually best suited for aristocracy within Nesketos, much more so those who comprised one of the grandest houses within the aristocracy such as ne Meaga.
“And yet, he is,” ne Tinuvis responded, an air of resigned melancholy about his voice; “The Archon wishes to transfer all Nesketan shipbuilding capabilities to the Pezpulagian lands of Pesku. The large bay there, he states, will be an excellent launching point for new ships.”
The patriarch of ne Meaga clicked his incisors together in ponderance, unsure what to make of this development; “The Land Court will not stand for it, surely. State business should be conducted in state land, surely, not the personal landholdings of the Archon’s own house.”
“Surely he’ll plan for his successors to lease the shipwrights to the next Archon when he is succeeded, no doubt at high expense should Pesku deem it within their interest to do so.”
“And thus, Pesku has a stranglehold on naval power,” ne Meaga scoffed, shaking his head, “Them and ne Cakuvis... I don’t judge those who couldn’t come out so strongly against him in the wake of the plot. It’s not a good look to be aligned with ‘traitors’... But how could so many support him gaining such power?”
The free patriarch shrugged, “People will do anything to keep themselves free, including making the boots that they will later be forced to kiss. The same as the rest of us.”
South from Pezpulagi
Almost all knew of the islands surrounding Nesketos. Most knew that they were disparate and sparse. Some knew that there were some with large populations. A few even knew that some were completely unoccupied. The level of knowledge for any Nesketan of the islands around them didn’t matter particularly. The Archon had decreed that some of these islands were now to belong to Nesketos. And, as the Archon controlled the shipbuilding, controlled much of the burgeoning navy, had emergency power over the military, could divert funds when and how he wanted and now seemed to guide not just the spirit of the nation, but also the specific aims that Nesketos would strive towards in the near future. As such, when the Archon decrees, Nesketans were sent to enforce his decrees.
From the Pezpulagian lands of Pesku, now one of the largest ports within Nesketos, a number of new ships were being launched, and while some now remained around the bay at anchor, others were commissioned to leave the bay and travel southward. Southeast specifically.
There were two islands southeast of Nesketos, both of which remained unoccupied by any races. The first was a fairly flat island, populated mostly by fowl across grasslands and small, sparse forests. The Nesketans had called this island ‘Ensi Bircaus’. As it was the closest island to Nesketos, Nesketans had sometimes created small colonies upon the island, but this one was not to be a mere fortification that could be started and then abandoned. This was to be a permanent settlement that would export resources back to the mainland, that would assist in the growth of the Nesketan nation.
The second island, a bit further away than Ensi Bircaus, was something akin to a very large rock in the sea, but one which had a key place in Nesketan myths as a dangerous place for sailors. The strange magics of the rock regularly drew sailors closer to the island, as well as to the shallow rocks around it, luring many but the most careful to their dooms. But the time for superstition was long past. This too was an isle that Nesketos wanted to control, as the Archon suspected the supposed ‘magic’ of the isle clouded a more potent utility, materials that he could utilise to grow the military of Nesketos. The southern island, Nesketos termed ‘Menas Taxin’.
Beyond these two, the Archon also had another ship sent out. This one travelled further out west, with the aim of exploring the larger island that lay just off of Nesketos’ coast. The journey would be long, but surely, they would reach the shores and see what awaited them there. What populations called the island home. Perhaps they would willingly submit to Nesketan expansion.
Then again…
A Sign of Times to Come
In the weeks following the attempted assassination of Emperor of Rolais, the ports of Brelogne had become awash with sailors and merchants spreading the details of the event across the capital and the small counties surrounding it, each telling differing between it's tellers. Many Brelognians saw value in the death of Francois, whose conversion to Iskrenism was seen as an unforgivable sin and a betrayal to the God who had ordered the Rolesian Empire's rise to begin with. The fanciful tales of old regarding Rolais' first Emperor Xavier Faux and the preservation and conversion of his army within the Rougefort were not lost on Brelogne, whose very own ancestors were those of Rolesian birth and saw Rolais as a beacon of faith and strength in the darkest of history's chapters. During the invasion of the demons from the depths, the faithful of the city took inspiration from the Rolesian Army's determined and valiant defense of their coastlines, giving credit to Artyan's spirit for their drive and courage in the face of an unimaginable evil.
As Rolais continued it's fall from Artyan's grace, this sight did not go unnoticed by Grand Duke Jean-Luc, who had been continuously monitoring events through his own sources within Rolais, convening his council numerous times a week with his household commanders, especially to seek the company of Tassin de Vassoigne, who would be required to join said meetings because of his dual positions as Servon of the Church and Chancellor of the Grand Duchy. In the Great Hall, sprawled out across one of the three large rectangular tables normally reserved for dinnerware and guests to use them were opened scrolls, all of which being older than a fortnight and detailing the events that had been dwelling in the Grand Duke's mind. With his arms placed outward across the table, Jean-Luc's eyes darted across them all as he pondered the state of his region and the religion that began them all. Posted on the other side of the table was the company of Grande Connétable de Beauchamp, Grande Surveillant Chapuis, Grande Amiral Jacques Durand and Servon de Vassoigne. Moving his hand to grasp tightly the Sigil of Artyan hanging around his neck, he leaned upwards and sighed. "And what is the state of Rolais as of now? Can we expect an influx of the faithful to Brelogne? Where else could they possibly go? To Qirinai?" To the Grand Duke's question, the Servon was the first to speak up, shaking his head in disagreement.
"I do not believe so, Your Grace, simply because our Most Holy Mother remains in Rolais. Should she in due time see the tide turning against us, she may choose to dwell with the few faithful southern elves they have left, but, Artyan willing, she would see the value of choosing Brelogne as we've kept faith with The Savior time and time again. Brelognians have fought, bled and died for Artyan and the one true faith remains as strong here as the day your ancestor stood victorious against the Kostuan horde in taking the city. As to the question of Artyanist refugees coming to Brelogne, well, I would say it depends on the next move of the Holy Voxartia. With Iskrenites threatening violence against the true faithful, something must be done soon. As it pains me to say, a heathen, fallen from Artyan's good graces and pure light, remains upon the throne and with the formation of an Inquisition to hunt down the conspirators, he is painting the Empire with blood. There will be further persecution against Artyanists in the months and years to come. Rolais will no longer be a safe place for Voxartial travel."
"I suppose we have no choice but to wait for that time to pass if it should. Until then, I believe it best to prepare for any eventuality. We must ensure that our food stores remain capable of feeding a high capacity. This will require more from our farmsteads and the farmers but it is necessary. Accommodations will need to be made wherever we can put them. The Grand Church will need to be expanded to accommodate both the Voxartia and her faithful should she choose to come here. In the event that she chooses Qirinai or elsewhere, the Church has been in need of expansion since the early days of my grandfather's reign. I will be fulfilling that need. For that, I leave the matters up to the Servon and Grand Overseer." Jean-Luc paused as the two bowed their heads in respect to their sovereign. "Grand Overseer, you are dismissed. Begin your work. The Servon will join you shortly." The Grand Duke said, allowing necessary time for Chapuis to dispense with the typical royal farewells and departure. He turned his head to look at Grande Amiral Durand. "Grand Admiral, you have served your duty well thus far. I only ask that you continue to keep your vigilance on trade and foreigners. Brelogne's ports remain open to all but there is room only for the true God here. See to it that our docks remain free from the spoken tongue of nonbelievers. You may go." Once Durand had left the room, the Grand Duke turned to the two remaining officers of his government.
"Artyan willing, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never know the horrors of war, but I believe it to be good practice to be ready for it while we are still at peace. I want training times to be increased for all of our garrison including the city militia. Any renovations that must be made to our walls, we will do them. François, our fletchers have provided us well with arrows and bolts, both valuable to the defense of our lands and we've offered them a tax reduction to do so. For the next year, they are to double their production and in return they will pay no taxes as to accommodate the payment of helpers and apprentices to fulfill this need."
"Your Grace." Marquis de Beauchamp said as he bowed his head.
"As my last decree for this meeting, I would ask you both if you are familiar with the Order of Saint Victoria? In it's golden age it prospered under the name of the Knightly Order of Artyan." The Servon nodded, an inquisitive gleam flashing in his eye as his brows furled, attempting to understand where this line of questioning was leading. The Marquis remained silent.
"The Order began as a sect of devout Rolesian soldiers belonging to Raymond de Valoux. They were formed to give protection to Artyanist pilgrims, missionaries, and settlements in danger of attack by bandits, outlaws, non-believers and the like. My ancestor Gerard was a chevalier in service to the Order when he captured Brelogne from the Kostuans. In time, they moved from the Rougefort to Brelogne and served the All-Powerful faithfully for many good years until their decline around 100 ATF. Even at their end, the last knights of Saint Victoria stood valiantly in defense of Servon Aubin against the barbarous Followers of Miskunn in Eskeland. They would be killed to a man, the Servon beheaded, but the stories of their lives remain legend. In this day, I find that our faithful have need of the order once more. Servon, can I count on your support for the reformation of the Order of Saint Victoria?" Asked the Grand Duke.
"Of course, Your Grace. I will support any endeavor you make to uphold our Lord Artyan. I will need to begin a letter, asking for the Voxartia's support as well. This will take time."
"Then you both are dismissed. We have much work to do."
MAP UPDATED (March 27th, 2022)
Rolais and Saeju
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