Konig des Menschen Chapter VI (Map Game)

It is the dawn of a new era, but the previous era did not go gently into the pages of history books. The Two-Hundred Years War is still waging between Britain (Albion) and France, post-collapse states in Asia after the fall of the continent-spanning empires is struggling to find scraps, the Atouman Empire is slowly rising up in the books of history, and the Qarshids threaten Europe. Unbeknownst to them, the West would make a discovery that would change the course of history.
I, Sidewinder291102, Batran99, and TheSteampunkTotoro (and TheCreator901), welcome you, to Konig des Menschen Chapter VI: Discovery (KdM VI). Starting in 1400 AD, this is an era of civilization of and history in which stories of rebirth and discovery are made. The road to greatness is paved now, Can you become the King of Men?
==Rules==
Konig des Menschen Rules
==== Important Things: ====
#Read the page linked above, A MUST!
#If you have any further questions, please ask them in the comments of the game, Sidewinder's or TheSteampunkTotoro's(TexanSanta's) Discord or the KdM Discord server
#You may not apply as a nation that's underlined in the nations section unless told differently so by an admin rank staff member.
 
==Lore==
Below are links to various information about the lore of KdM. 
*Notable People
*KdM Stories
*Konig des Menschen (Map Game Series)
*Conlangs (KdM Map Game)
==Reference Map (From turn 1400-1405)==
==Nations==
*Underlined = Reserved to that player unless he doesn't reclaim the nation for themselves within the first or second turn
*Albion: BubbleRocket
*Atouman Empire: SolaceEaSw
*Kaap: EthanKoenigsberg
*Joseon: MrTangle101
*Keisairvalta: Romromglom
*Khitan Khanate: Emperorkangxi
*Matagaskar: Simplenoise8
*Mobamba: Ohiimadam
*Mutapa: XaoZss
*Dardania: Bosnia Mapper
*Syonan: Derpmaster
*Yamato: Kuro
*Zhaowa: Tashaci
*Yolngu: Crownautic
*Ahom: Vanilla
Comment "Konig des (nation name)" to join!
Note: Do remember that while you can't play as a culture group, you can form small nations from said culture groups. Culture groups have italicised names on the map.
==Diplomatic Relations==
===Alliances and Pacts===
* Military Alliances
**
* Political Alliances
* Personal Alliances
** (Vestkyst-Danemark)-Vesnia
** (Vestkyst-Danemark)-Albion
** Fujiwara-Ezo
** Svearike-Vesnia
** Ahuric Empire-(Al-Qarsoon)
** Venice-Naples
** Sumali-Ajuran
** Kemahana-Indetah
** Zhaowa-Khmerlacca
=== Vassals (probably inaccurate): ===
* Jahluhet
** Gehket
*Mossi
** Gao
* Avaro-Vedena
** Prussia
* Keisaria
**Komi
* Atouman Empire
** Atlasiya
** Hejaz
** Ifriqiya
** Moldavia
** Yin-Tsu
* Khmerlacca
**Aceh
* Zhaowa
**Galuh
**Lampung
**Pajang
* Hindustan
** Kutiyatat
* Galatoi
**Saminia
===Dependencies:===
*
=== Colonial Nations: ===
* Hispania
** Catonzia
** Huanca
** Nueva Granada
** Nueva Hispania
** Nueva Valcania
** Rea
** Taxacola
* France
** New France
*** Avoyelle
*** Laurentia
* Genoa
**San Giorno
*Agousta
**Brunei
**Vera Cruz
*Albion
**Elysia
**Plymouth
==Staff==
*Supreme Eternal Admin: Atlasium (TheCreator901)
*Admin: Sidewinder, Batran99
*Map Maker: Sidewinder
*Backup Map Maker: EthanKoenigsberg, Luka
*NPC Event Maker: Sidewinder, TheSteampunkTotoro, Batran99, Luka
*Moderator: N/A (All other staff are technically Mods anyway)
Apply for staff in the comments or on Discord by contacting us!
==Banned Players==
*None yet, don't be the first name on this list!
==Archives==
The archive list is useful for previous events or for reference.
Archives List	
*Turns 1 to 5 (1400 - 1425)
*Turns 5 to 10 (1425 - 1450)
*Turns 10 to 15 (1450 - 1475)
*Turns 15 to 20 (1475 - 1500)
*Turns 20 to 25 (1500 - 1525)
*Turns 25 to 30 (1525 - 1550)
*Turns 30 to 35 (1550 - 1575)
==Turns==
=== Turn XXXVI: 1575-1580 ===
==== Mod Event: ====
* Amber Bear (Part 8): Andrus was in Varntio around the time it was under siege at some point. Everyday, he had to wake up to attend to the country's affairs while the city is under attack. Both in and out, he makes sure the walls are properly manned (though it becomes increasingly defunct due to gunpowder). Barricades within tight corridors became much more increasingly cost and resource effective to hold back the enemy whenever there is a breach. It is a big risk to send out messengers during a city surrounded by a threat, and one might be skeptical if an order is carried out at all. The siege has impeded on the country's ability to operate that effectively, generals in the field and not in the city would have trouble getting orders from the despot, and often creates infighting, allowing the enemy to continuously (albeit slowly) make a push. But at least he has a proxy in Mustajoki to carry out his orders to the rest of the country; Vallen. He is one of the few people that Andrus trusts to carry out his orders (though, this may make him a frequent target by rebel factions). However, the city fell after months of fierce fighting in 1576. Andrus, luckily, fled the city along with other nobles and generals present. Most of them chose to go to Mustajoki, the new capital. As he arrived, Vallen greeted him as normal. Something seems off about Vallen, Andrus would think. Now that Andrus returned, Vallen is going outside the city more often. When asked, Vallen says he is building an army to help in the siege. But considering he grew up with him, Andrus felt he should trust Vallen enough to not pay him much suspicion. It wasn't until 1579 that everything changed. Andrus woke up to find news of Vallen returning, but this time Vallen is not alone...
* Steel Stallion (Part 3): Over the years, Vallen became an effective rider. Generals noted that he had a sort of natural talent for it, like it was his calling. It was surprising, as it seemingly came out of nowhere. However, even if there is little mention of Vallen being an effective on the saddle were made until recently, it was actually noted that Vallen did actually liked to travel on horses, but his talent never really lifted off until recently. And now he needs it more than ever. In 1579, while he is on a saddle, Vallen sped through and navigated through many patrols without detection. He had a really important message and he needed to deliver it. Several years earlier, he was approached again by those who wish, they were more threatening this time. Considering Vallen became aware of their existence beforehand, they are becoming more desperate to get him on their side in fear of retaliation. Vallen almost threatened them back, as he had all the cards. For one, he was under the protection of Andrus, a finger laid on him would blow the whole operation open. Plus, Vallen was a skilled fighter anyway thanks to Andrus' training and the accumulated knowledge of those from the past still lays within him. He decided to not play and mentioned he would consider it (again), but he reminded them that he held all the cards. They left him alone, again. A bad winter and famine caused another suffering crisis on the local lands. Vallen walked through the streets, he saw people living in fear of passing soldiers and they were starving. Vallen passed letters to Andrus, explaining the situation at home. But Andrus was too out of it, of course the country is at war, so standards would get worse. But that doesn't mean citizenry should live in fear of death. Despite Vallen's arguments, Andrus pushed him off.
* It wasn't until 1576 that an assassination attempt really convinced Vallen not to be against the rebel faction, but that this would not end without something being done. He eventually managed to track down the nobles that confronted him all those years ago. At first, they were scared that Vallen may finally arrive to finish the job, but Vallen denied this. Much to the nobles' surprise, Vallen agreed to help them in the fight. When asked, he said he has his own reasons beyond what is mentioned. The nobles allowed Vallen to join with plans. But Vallen had other ideas. He is one of the few people that Andrus trusts, he probably could stay back to spy on him. He agreed. Over the next few years before 1579, Vallen traveled to the countryside, where the rebel faction found themselves the most secure at (since it's remote). One good thing in the South are the lands of the conquered peoples under Keisaria. They are easy to coax into helping, wanting to get back at the government one last time. This would be led to an early formation of the "Cossacks" a name taken from old slavic texts, originating from the Pontic Steppes. It wasn't until 1579 when it is time. The call for peace in Svearike and Avaro-Vedena made it the right time to start the nudge. In November of 1579, Vallen said goodbye to Andrus one last time, at least on happy terms, before he went south. Over the years, he trained the former veterans back into shape in the Cossacks. Now it's time, he gathered his small army of consisting of an unknown number, but historians said that it could range from 1,000 to even 10,000 men and traveled towards the capital of Mustajoki. For Andrus, the feeling of betrayal turned into a desire for revenge, revenge for all that wronged him, and traveled to fight Vallen himself. In the Battle of Mustajoki, over 1,000 men had died. But Vallen had finally proven himself to be eligible to be his own legend. He soundly defeated Andrus and captured him.
* The Four Little Khans (Part 2): Sarnai, Jangsai (or Khangsai), Toghrul, and Amani became more interested in the fate of Taihou Khatun, upon the age of 19. There were surly plenty of books that talked about her rise and fall, along with the great migration westward, but they never talked about what happened after. Being old enough to set out on their own, along with personal ambitions and reasons, the four of them packed their things and headed westward in search of answers. The first thing they came across was Bulibaliq, after talking with the locals they realize that the battle during the great escape (and migration or exodus) had occured here. Taihou Khatun had been here roughly 2 centuries ago. But they weren't here just for that, they are there to find out her fate (and to find her or her descendants). They acquired a boat from the locals and they started sailing northwest. One could say a bad storm had occured, though the lake should be relatively calm. Regardless, an accident during the journey across the waters resulted in the injury of Toghrul. The three others attempted to travel to a nearby town, which they had successfully done, but Toghrul injuries. He later died after a few months in bed (likely from tetanus). The three remaining siblings were stunned, they knew the journey was harsh.... but it shouldn't be this hard... right?
* The Great Auction: Looking to alleviate their financial hardships, the Hispanian Empire declares an auction on the sale of land decrees and ownership in several regions in both Arcadia and Meridia. The Hispanians, hoping to profit off the recent economic boom of northern Europe, open their auction to almost all of Europe. Numerous aristocrats and nobles from London to Hamburg to Venice show up, walking away with ownership of tracts of land in places like Nueva Granada, Taxacola, Rea and Huanca. However, there is a catch, for the contracts drawn up by the Hispanians stipulate that while private ownership is granted, the lands remain within the governance of the Hispanian Empire, and as such are subject to the laws and taxes of their empire. However, it is unspoken knowledge that the Hispanians rarely enforce strict rules, and many begin a new chapter in their lives by moving to the New World in droves, forming communities of foreign culture and language in Arcadian and Meridian cities.
* North European Miracle: In the years following the Reformation, new economic and mercantile policies, as well as the seizure of local church assets here and there, allow for the unprecedented economic growth of the northern European states. The Hanseatic League benefits greatly from this, and is propelled to the ranks of Genoa and Venice in titans of trade. In certain regions, Odinist influence has a minor effect on financial management, as pragmatic decision making and the use of wisdom and farsightedness in policy making put the Scandinavian nations on the path to greater economic power in the coming decades. This had nothing to do with all those confiscated golden church assets, we swear.
* Second Italian War: A conflict all of Italy is practically involved in. This time, it is against both the Atouman and French incursions. During the course of the conflict, France took a more direct approach by forcing Savoy onto their side (though they are under practical control due to pro-French presence there) and made several incursions into Italy.
* The Wars of the Mediterranean: The numerous conflicts around the Mediterranean, such as the Second Italian War, Hispanian invasion of North Africa (once they relieved themselves from financial problems from auctions), Atouman invasions of Europe, etc. Such widespread simultaneous activity hasn't been seen since the old Roman Empire.
* New Discoveries: Asides from Captain Drake's circumnavigation around the globe, nothing much else asides from Martin Frobisher discovering the (Unknown) Bourne (OTL Baffin Island) and what he believes to be a passage to China: Frobisher's Bay (OTL Frobisher's Bay). He also discovered the "Mouth of Cathay" "Cathay's Mouth" (area between the Bourne and OTL Quebec) (Also known as Frobisher's Strait). Frobisher was sent by a non-government sanctioned company called the "Cathay Company" to find China through the Northwest passage (though he ultimately failed). Frobisher also holds the first Thanksgiving celebration by Europeans in Arcadia on Albion. He ships ore, which proves to be valueless fool's gold, which can only be used as road metal in London. Agoustan explorer Paulo Dias de Novais founds the settlement of Sao Paulo (also known as "Loanda") on the south western coast of Africa (OTL Luanda).
* Yet Another Plague: Oh look another bubonic plague incident out of dozens of others unmentioned over the past few centuries. Oh no, it's decimating Venice. The Plague would never stop at just Venice, someday it will hit again some place else. Nobody will expect the Plague, as it hides and bides its time to strike again!
* Hussite Revolts: After an unfortunate defeat in Königgratz under the hands of the Westrians in 1576, Hussite rebel leaders escaped to the former territory of Vrezla - outside of the de jure Holy Roman Empire and thus in relatively independent control from the Emperor - and proclaimed the independence of the Kingdom of Bohemia from the rule of the Archduke of Westria, putting a distant relative of the old royal family and a Hussite adherent to the throne to legitimise their movement; and continued the fight, having gathered support from several Protestant states willing to lend arms to support the cause. The name "Bohemia" is said to have been a rough Latinisation of the former name "Boiheim". Concurrently, minor revolts plagued the Boiheimen countryside, allowing central forces from Vrezla to capture Reiksberg and Konr, while marching on the former capital of Königgratz in late 1579. Hussite emissaries make their presence known in Wien and make their demands: renounce the throne of Boiheim and return it to the rightful rulers, or the Hussite armies will be marching on Wien.
* Dutch Revolt: While having formally declared independence from the Westrian crown, the United Provinces - or the Netherlands - lacked the recognition of European powers to back their legitimacy. This changed with the first foreign embassy set up in Bergen in 1577 with the official acknowledgement of secession from Vestkyst-Danemark, followed up by a string of establishments of diplomatic missions to several northern German Princes. On the battlefield, despite a status quo being the norm, Brussels was sieged and taken by Imperial forces in late 1578, followed by Antwerp in early 1579. However, a joint Vestkyster-Dutch naval incursion along the Maas (Meuse) River prevented the capture of Maastricht, cutting off the supply line of Westrian missions beyond Flanders and allowing the rebel forces to harass the cities of Namen and Charleroi, important bases of operation of Westria along the Lowlands
* Protestantism in Britain: Albion's secularist approach to the protestant reformation has resulted in the ever growing spread of protestant denominations in Britain, particularly in Caledon (Scotland) and parts of northern England, Wales, and Ireland. Tensions rise between Odinists, and other protestant groups, with their catholic neighbors. Some nobles and local churches start demanding restrictions to prevent or isolate the spread of protestantism, and that's the more moderate voices. On the other hand, this policy had strengthened the concept of religious freedom in the British colonies in the foreseeable future. Though, that did not stop missionaries from traveling over to Elysia to convert inhabitants to Catholicism/Christianity.
==== NPC Event ====
* Svearike: They propose a peaceful end to the war in the East, however, they should be allowed to take the land in Mavaald (Estonia) to Kiaranlahti.
* Avaro-Vedena: After capturing the city of Varntio and meeting up with Svearike, they proposed peace with Keisaria in exchange for keeping the land they took.
* Hispania: They participate in the war in defense against the Atoumans by going on the offensive: taking some land in Northern Africa in 1575-1576.
* Escosia: In desperation, the Crown of Eskos begrudgingly accepted the offer of marriage to solidify the union/alliance with Westria. Unbeknownst to the Westrians, the young princess that the ruler's son of Westria had married would be none other than: Erzebet Bartok II (Translated as Elizabeth Bathory/Bartok), some sources named her as simply "Carmilla Bartok." to distinguish her from another Erzebet Bartok that participated in the Fourth Crusade.
* Westria: The archduke of Westria offers assistance for the crown of Eskos. But not if they solidify their "alliance" through marriage.
* France: (Other actions are mentioned in events) During the French Religious Wars, Francis of Anjou, a Protestant noble, had gathered an army numbering up to 50,000 people and traveled north to besiege Paris in 1576, the French crown begrudgingly accepted the terms in the "Great Edict of Troyes" (OTL Edict of Beaulieu) that allowed Huguenot worship throughout France. This was never to last. In 1578, the Catholics in France in formed the "French Catholic League of the Crown" (FCLC in some cases) or "Catholic League of France", or simple known as the "Catholic League" had started up another conflict which in 1579 when both sides clashed over several places (with little gains asides from pushing the protestants back a bit from Paris) however, this allowed the King to have control again and he had rescinded most gains of religious freedom in France right afterwards due to overwhelming support otherwise. It was not until a year later that the weary Huguenots armed themselves again. It's basically chaos. But that doesn't stop King Henry III? of France for trying for peace.
* Huanca: They made further expansions into Chirip, practically integrating almost all of the tribal areas. On top of this, they expand into Sedena to take control of most of the area in the future need for more land for landowners (and spreading Jesus), among other reasons.
* Third Daevite Empire: The Empire sees its southern portions separating themselves into a state known as "Kashgar" (with cities of Bishkek, Kashgar, Chitra, Hotan, and Bashkol under their control)
* Maledvipa: They formally announced independence from the long-gone Ahurics.
* Nipele: They refuse.
* Zulu and Ekawe Tribes: They refuse.
==== Kingdom of Galatoi ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Heir: Macareus Aendarus (born in 1560). Like his father, Macareus has been interested in warfare since quite a young age. At the age of 15, he was sent to Paris to study at the University of Sorbonne. He is the only son of Isarnus and is expected to be the next king of Galatoi.
** King: Isarnus Aendarus (1552-nowadays). Isarnus, which means "Iron" in Galatoin, is the only son of Magnurius. Since childhood, Isarnus was interested in war and combat. He studied at the university in Mauretania, from which he brought the novel military tactics that he managed to implement in battles during the Civil War. Isarnus is well-respected in the military and among artists.
** Magnurius Aendarus (1531-1552). Magnurius was the only relative to the former king of Galatoi, who passed away in 1530. He was coronated in the times of peace, and peace he promised, and peace he brought. Since then, the new dynasty shall reign: the Aendarus family. 
** Local lord is a title given by the King to the appointees who are granted much power over the region they are assigned to govern.
**# Blue Galatoi is governed directly by the King himself. It is the homeland of all the Galatoins and the most influential regon in the kingdom. Advorix is the biggest commercial, religious and political center of Galatoi. In addition, the city of Donnius is a major naval port and also a center of Atlantic Slave Trade in Galatoi. 
**# Velitia is governed by Taurina, a wealthy slave trader, who also commissioned the reconstruction of the University of Velitia. Velitia is also a major religious and commercial centre of the region. 
**# Baccuso is governed by Albus, one of the allies of Isarnus and a prominent military general, who managed to help defeat the theocratic regime there. Unfortunately, the Baccuso region was damaged the most by the Civil War as the peasants there often experience hunger close to starvation, and Baccuso as a city keeps shrinking in size and importance. 
**# Ghana is the most recent region incorporated directly into the kingdom as it was a tributary of Galatoi before the childless king died. Now it is governed by Agisillus, a wealthy noble, military general, and a slave trader (three-in-one). The people of this region are not fond of the King and the local lord, however their dissatisfaction is nowhere near to turn into a revolt or uprising. 
**# Ballou is the second smallest region of Galatoi and little can be told about it. It is currently governed by Cassicia, the daughter of Isarnus. 
**# Baoul is the smallest region of Galatoi, but also the most important one military-wise as it shares borders with the kingdom of Djenne. A lot of military bases take place there and it has quite an advanced logistics system to supply the troops in times of war. It is governed by Tritos, a young but famous military strategist and engineer, and the best friend of Isarnus. 
**# The people of Kayes are neither Galatoin, nor do they follow Ateuritism. However, Remicus, the local lord of the region, is a religious fanatic, to say the least. He oppresses the rights of religious minorities and forbids them to take part in trading and governing. Isarnus does not like the policies of Remicus, but he cannot find a better alternative to him. 
**# Unlike, Kayes, the governor of Boke, Dannonus, was born there and respects the people of the region and their heritage, though he still allows the construction of Saturday schools there. 
* The economy of Galatoi has almost recovered by the Civil War and the recent conquests by the King during the 1560s although it has recovered slightly since then. On the other hand, the Atlantic Slave Trade made it possible for slaveowners to profit and become major landowners that partially replaced the local lords that were appointed by Magnurius. The local lords appointed by Isarnus introduce local taxes on trade and certain goods, which further fragmentises the economic system of Galatoi. Gold trade plays a key role in the economic development of Galatoi. Most of the gold mines are controlled by the King himself, and an advanced currency system using various gold coins is present. 
* Capital: Advorix
* Demographics: The population of the kingdom is around 3 million people. The population of Blue Galatoi is approximately one million people, most of them (95%) live in rural areas.
** Advorix is the capital and the biggest city of Galatoi. It is the commercial, political, cultural, and religious center of the region, including the slave trade. It was also the center of the Advorix Church before the civil war.
** Although Velitia was the center of the theocratic regime that opposed the King during the Civil War and shrank in size significantly since then, it is still one of the biggest cities of Galatoi and also a major religious center of the region. In addition, since the University of Velitia has been rebuilt, Velitia managed to regain its status of the scientific powerhouse of the region.
** Baccuso is one of the oldest cities in the history of Galatoi, thus an important political center, but also a major naval port.
** Saminia is one of the major commercial and political centers in the region, rivaling with Advorix.
** The location of Donnius made it the biggest naval port of Galatoi and it is home to thousands of sailors. It is also a center of the slave trade in Galatoi.
* Religions:
** Ateuritism is the main religion of Galatoi, which has been an integral part of this country for centuries. However, as a result of the recent Civil War, the influence of the Church in the society has been significantly reduced by the King and the nobility. The regions of Alluci (where the tribes that would become Galatoi moved before Valcanor separated them) and Lutetia (around Paris, the ancient original home of the would-be Galatoi) are considered to be the holy sites of Ateuritism, and thousands of people go there on a pilgrimage. There is one supreme God, called Vallus (which is the documented name of a chieftain, who led the Gaulic migrating tribes to their new home after they were separated by the original Kingdom of Valcanor.) It is believed that he created 9 other gods to maintain the balance of the world. But 3 of them went on an evil path and another 3 chose to stay between good and evil and not take either of the sides. This led to an axis based on Law-Chaos and Good-Evil being created for the gods:
*** Good bloc: Atregtius (Lawful Good, God of Justice and Righteousness), Sedia (Neutral Good, Goddess of Practicality and Regulation), Butiro (Chaotic Good, God of Freedom and Self-Defense).
*** Neutral bloc: Vicana (Lawful Neutral, Goddess of Order and Settling), Leuceni (True Neutral, God of Instinct and Apathy), Albic (Chaotic Neutral, God of Individuality and Debauchery).
*** Evil bloc: Trita (Lawful Evil, Goddess of Extortion and Hierarchy), Maglubix (Neutral Evil, God of Greed and Ambition), Sacrovirus (Chaotic Evil, God of Senseless Destruction and Chronic Slaughter)
** Both Arzham and Christianity have presence in several regions of Galatoi, but their influence in the society is nowehere near the one of Ateuritism.
** There are hundreds, if not thousands local pagan religions across the country and despite each having a small following, they make up a big portion of population in general. Since the introduction of Satuday schools and the relative success of Inquisition, Ateuritism slowly spreads there, absorbing one village after another.
* Diplomacy:
** Albion (see their turn below): yes please
* Military:
** Baccuso: the army in Baccuso region is lead by Albus, who is also the local lord there. He managed to defeat the theocratic regime there in a series of battles. His army consists of a thousand regular infantry troops and much cavalry.
** Baoul: the army in Baoul is lead by Tritos, a young yet famous and talented military general and engineer. As Baoul is the most important region military-wise in the kingdom, the most advanced logistics center in the kingdom and many military camps are present there. His army consists of three thousand regular infantry troops, some cavalry and much artillery.
** Royal army is the army of the King himself. It is scattered across the kingdom, but the most of it is present in the south-west of the Velitia region and in the north of the Boke region to defend the gold mines there. It consists of almost three thousand regular infantry troops with some artillery.
** Feudal armies are controlled by the local lords. The total number of feudal armies in the kingdom varies from time to time, but on average, the number is up to four thousand regular infantry troops.
* Events:
** Homoeroticism: Homoeroticism has become noticeable in Galatoin mythology and art. Artists, writers and poets use characters in their works of art to express a variety of feelings and situations and male deities of Ateuritism are paired in stories. In different regions, different pairs were used, which caused tensions between worshippers from different regions of Galatoi. However, in 1569, the Advorix Church published the "Velitia Edicts", in which allows the usage of certain "pairings", officialy declaring them canon (such as LeuTius, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Atregtius, God of Justice and Righteousness), and forbids the usage of many other "pairings" (such as LeuVirus, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Sacravirus, God of Senseless Destruction).
** Atlantic Slave Trade: Since the Atlantic Slave Trade emerged, the slaveowners in Galatoi now have access to the markets in the Americas as a source of new profit. As the economy was severely ruined as a result of the Civil War and further conquests by the King, the new social class of major landowners who profited from the slave trade with Europeans (Agoustans, mostly) emerged. In fact, they became so powerful, that they managed to put enough pressure on the King to sign certain trade agreements with Agousta. In addition, it also means that a much bigger standing army can be maintained and the royal treasury can be filled to secure the stable position of the kingdom.
** Saturday Schools: across the country, simple educational facilities commonly called "Saturday schools" (because they work only on Saturdays, obviously). At Saturday schools, children and teens are taught how to read and the basics of writing, but most importantly, they are taught Ateuritism.
** Degrading state of mind and body: Isarnus is no longer a young man, but an older king. As his prime-age has long gone, it is time for him to prepare his only son, Macareus, to become the next king of Galatoi. Macareus was sent to Paris to study at the Sorbonne University at the age of 15 and he is expected to return 5 years later to come to the throne. As Macareus was spending time in France, he was learning more about the current state of Europe, its newest ideas, art, architecture, and, most importantly, novel military tactics.
Notable people (except for the kings):
* Taurina was born in a family of slaves in the region of Velitia. However, as she was growing up, her notorious intelligence was impossible to notice and soon she was sent to enroll at the University of Velitia. Her slaveowner had no children and when they died, Taurina was freed. However, around the same time, the Civil War erupted and the University was destroyed. After the Civil War and Iron Conquests, she used her intelligence to elevate her position in the society. Soon, she became a prominent Slave trades, although she treated her slaves as employees rather than servants. The reconstruction of the university was commissioned by her in 1563, and sooner Taurina was appointed as the local lord of the King in the Velitia region.
====The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)====
*Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
*Drakes: 
**Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - ) (R: 1561 - )
***Son: Luke (M, b. 1567 - )
**Sister: Francis (F, b. 1541 - )
**Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - )
***Albus (M, b. 1519 - )
****Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - )
*****Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - )
****Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - )
**Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - )
***Married off to a Westrian prince
**Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - )
**Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - )
*Important People:
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: 6.85 million (+340k “external subjects”)
**British Mainland: 6.85 million
**British Settlers: 530
***Jamestown: 130
***Fort Elysia: 125
***Fort Epheria: 110
***Greensfort: 105
***New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 105
***Elysian Local Population: 340 thousand external subjects
*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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
Wars and Conflicts
*Americas: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity with the added risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter.
*Spain: See Events for more info
Armed Forces
*Total: 134,350 Manpower
*Army
**Total: 119,900
**British Defense Force: (British Mainland) 
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 15,000
***Marksman Infantry: 38,000
***Light Cavalry: 8,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 750
***Heavy Cavalry: 1,650
***Bow Cavalry: 2,600
***Field Artillerymen: 5,634
****Field cannons: 1,878
***Logistical Support: 23,000
**British Expeditionary Force: (In Elysia)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
***Marksman Infantry: 10,000
***Light Cavalry: 1,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 500
***Heavy Cavalry: 350
***Bow Cavalry: 300
***Field Artillerymen: 501
****Field cannons: 167
***Logistical Support: 7,000
*Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,350
**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.
**As of 1527, three factions are formed within the Roundtables
***The Crimson Sun
***The Azure Moon
***The White Orchids
****Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
**Notable (Living) Members:
***The Drake Family
*Navy:
**Personnel: 5,800 (combined between both fleets)
**Naval Vessels:
***Victory-class First-rate British Galleons:12
****Main flagship: HMS Victory
***Ember-class First-rate British Galleons: 20
****Main flagship: HMS Ember
***Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 26
****Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
***Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravel: 60
***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
***London-class Third-rate British Caravel: 4
****Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
***Dove-class Fourth-rate Dual-Purpose Merchant Caravel: 99
****These ships are given to British merchants who sail in dangerous waters, and are crewed by either mercenaries hired by said merchants or the merchants themselves. Only included in ship-counts for the navy to deter invasions by sea.
Research and Development
*MAC Cannons: McCarthy Industries continues to produce MAC Cannons 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.
**The 32 pounder long-nose MAC Cannons enter service, replacing the aging 24-pound naval cannons on the large British galleons.
**In addition, they are contracted to create a smaller cannon for use on Vinland longboats. As such, the 2 pounder cannon was created.
*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.
**Carriers: Test trials for HMS Spyder are carried out in the Elysian Bay and the nearby Potomac River. In this area, both the Vinland longboats and the HMS Spyder itself both undergo sea trials as well as training and experimentation of formations and strategies involving ships of various sizes in close areas, namely having one group act as a vanguard and the other act as escort for the fleet, while the HMS Spyder stays out in rougher seas.
**Newer British Galleons begin construction. These ships are based on the Ember-class galleons, but are slightly larger, faster, and more optimized for warfare. These ships become known as the Victory-class galleons.
**Vinland Longboats: In a collaborative effort with Vinland, both British and Vinland engineers get to work on modifying the Vinland longboat for transportation within British “Carriers”, as well as see viable possibilities for mounting cannons (mainly the 2 pounder cannon) on the vessels.
Training and Production
*4 Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptors
*3,000 Elysian Musketeers
*Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.
Diplomacy
*BFG Company: The company is given obsolete London-class Caravels to bolster their merchant fleet.
*Americas: With intelligence from the Vinlanders, the British decide to scope out the other nations of the Eastern Coast of North America, and see what they have to offer
**Elysia: (See Events for more details)
*Europeans: 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, at least
*Vinland: The British send what supplies they can so that the new Vinland thane can maintain their territory and then some. (see events for more details).
**The British also ask if they could collaborate with the British on creating an improved longboat, one that can mount a small cannon onboard, as well as be used with Britain’s new “carriers”
*Galatoi: The British (specifically the Bilateral Albish-King Association) asks if they wish to become trading partners, trading British goods in return for Galatoi goods. Will include African POW’s for use.
*Svearike: The British agree to the defensive alliance (in response to a defensive alliance they requested a few turns back)
**That being said, 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.
Allies
*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.
*Westria: An ally on mainland Europe who also dislikes France, cause f**k France (jk).
*Agousta: Allied with Portugal. I guess. Honestly, I don't got much to put here.
Events
*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.
*Small World (1576 - 1579): Drake creates a fleet for a project known as “Project Atlas”. Named after the man who held up the world, Drake hopes to sail the world to update British maps based off of their records, rather than off of Spanish maps looted from pirates or from the black market, though the spark of adventure within her pushed her on. Setting off in March of 1576, she led a fleet of six ships, including notable ships such as HMS Victory and HMS Spyder set off on a multi-year escapade, discovering new lands and people along the way. (Below is a brief summary of the major locations visited throughout the trip)
**Vinland: The first stop on the trip, where they stocked up on fish and other supplies like salt in return for various treasures and other supplies Vinland was in line to claim anyways
**Elysia: Same as with Elysia, with unloading and offloading equipment and supplies.
**Amekrogu: Same as with Elysia and Vinland.
**Falklands Islands: The fleet stopped here to allow sailors to take a rest, where they discovered the islands off the coast of Southern South America. Planting the British flag upon the soil, giving it the aforementioned name.
**New Albion: The location of another break taken along the trip near San Francisco Bay, though Drake takes care to log the topography of the region, noting how the bay would make a good naval port.
**Syonan: The first location in Asia Admiral Drake visited. Amazed by sights, Drake wishes to investigate further into the region. Among other information she acquired, she received word of a nation to the south that she set sail for after parting ways with the locals.
**Yolngu: Upon making landfall, the British are surprised by the local wildlife present on the landmass. Upon making contact with the locals, the two groups trade various equipment and exotic goods: potatoes, pigs, and sheep in return for various local wildlife, including a kookaburra Drake takes as her own.
***In addition, one of her accompanying captains, Captain Frederik B. King, acquired a fondness for the islands, and wishes to return someday. Captain Frederik B. King has shown great interest in this unknown world as it gives a wide gateway for Albion to acquire even greater trades. With great interests in Yolngu, he wishes to return one day and settle in a trade company -- already, plans circulate within his mind.
**Madagascar: On the return trip, rougher seas caused one of Drake’s ships to run aground on the island, forcing the entire fleet to stop to salvage what they can from the destroyed ship. Along the way they pick up a few resources and the likes from the region. Surprisingly, no encounters with locals.
***On a side note, all British flags are destroyed in the storm, forcing them to fly Drake’s personal flag to distinguish them from others.
**South Africa: The final pit stop before the journey home. The British take extra caution to not encounter the Spanish to avoid conflict.
*The Fiasco of 1579: In 1579, off the coast of Eastern Spain, the returning circumnavigating fleet encountered a Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain. The Spanish claim they were fighting pirates off the coast, the British claim they were attacked. To be fair to the Spanish, the British weren’t flying the Union Jack, since they lost all their flags to various reasons on their circumnavigating trip around the globe
*Tensions with Spain (Part 2): Tensions continue to rise between the two nations, with the Spanish getting increasingly irritated with the British stepping onto land that was rightfully given to them, culminating with the Fiasco of 1579, when the Spanish and British fleet engaged each other. Though it isn’t for a few years, it is evident that war is inevitable.
*Rise of Protestantism: Tensions begin to rise between Odinists and Catholics in Britain
*Elysian Integration: The British government begins to slowly allow Elysian nobles to enter into management positions in Elysia under a watchful eye, with the hopes to eventually integrate the Elysian government into the British government.
**The British also begin to integrate the Elysian royal family into the British royal family, with British nobles marrying their children into Elysian families with the hope to make the Elysian government more loyal to the British government.
*The Rise of the Company Fleets (Part 9): With the world opening up, and rumors of prosperity and gold present, various companies sprout up around Britain, with the goal to investigate various locations of notice with hopes to make it big.
**'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.
***Phase 4: The BFG Company begins to exert more of its control in the region, with its realm of influence slowly extending throughout Laconia.
***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.
***Fort Akan: Construction begins in late 1574, finishing the year after. From there, they begin to exert their influence in the region.
***Galatoi: The company reaches out to the Galatoi, to see if they’re willing to trade with the British and allow them a port to dock at to trade goods. (includes the beginning of the British involvement in the slave trade)
**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 3b): With the creation of Fort Epheria, the company begins to slowly assert its control over the region, but that’s for the future.
****Their influence continues to spread, as it slowly creeps towards Amekrogu itself. (continued from last turn)
***Company Fleet Flagship: The Pillar of Autumn
*Rulers
**Pendragon:
***Amber (F, b. 1424 - ) (Reign: 1442 - 1482)
****Brother: Edward (M, b. 1441 - 1481)
***Ash II (M, b. 1399 - 1442) (Reign: 1434 - 1442)
***Ash I (M, b. 1347 - 1434) (Reign: 1390 - 1434)
****Sister: Aura (F, b.1350 - 1434)
***Artoria “Ember” Pendragon (F, b.1317- 1389?) (Reign: 1351 ~ 1369 - 1389)
***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)
*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
**Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
***Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.
===="De Kaap" (Cape) | Dragon's Fire====
*Leadership Structure: The organisation has been crumbling following the death of Lars Hatgers, the third Grand Dragon. He is succeeded by a senior chief who has better plans than to keep the organisation alive. Dragon's Fire in its current form is barely what it is, with its dissolution becoming more likely every day.
**Grand Dragon:
***Mechiel Tangelder (b. 1480 - d. 1549, office 1502 - 1542)
***Koen van der Wel (b. 1502 - d. 1570, office 1542 - 1559)
***Lars Hatgers (b. 1515 - d. 1577, office 1558 - 1577)
***David Hospes (b. 1540, office since 1577)
**Senior Chiefs: Five figures
*Government: A provisional government was established in place upon the settlement of Kaapstad as a provisional outpost and settlement initially. Leadership of the Dragon's Fire remains dominant and ever since the death of Hatgers as the third Grand Dragon in its organisation's history, it is shifting away from being led by an organisation to simply becoming a hybrid republic and colonial government (despite being unassociated with the Netherlands de facto and de jure). The Governor position is created by the new Grand Dragon, David Hospes on 1579, electing himself as the first Governor of Kaap.
**Government Type: Provisional council
**Governor: David Hospes (b. 1540s, office since 1579)
*Membership: 260 members are 'full' members of this organisation. This does not include the 200 who are brought along, including many children and wives of members who are willing to depart from the Netherlands to a new place. Combined brings the current 'population' of De Kaap (Cape) as 500, though the population would struggle to survive the new climate. Also including from the privatisation compromise are those ships (they may be scrapped; but discussions around trade with other ports are considered as late as the late 1570s):
**4 transport ships
**1 caravel
*Diplomacy: N/A
*Operations: N/A
*Events:
**Survival of the Fittest: Things are getting tough as they begin their permanent settlement of their outpost and soon turned town called Kaapstad later in the future. Some have died from starvation or thirst over the years and children are being raised to conserve resources. Water is being sourced at the far reaches, where rivers and some lakes can be found and sourced back. It is a heavy task for all and crops are dependent on water. Population went down slightly.
**New Leadership: With the death of Hatgers from long-term illness on 1577, the fourth Grand Dragon was selected. Under the new leadership, the government is shifting away from being dominated and ruled by an ex-secret organisation, simply because there is little need for it after the Dutch Revolt. The lack of discipline from other countries led to lawlessness in some aspects. This ended when the new Grand Dragon and current senior chiefs agreed to set upon a series of laws in place. As they are grappling the worst from slow deaths and starvations, there is discussion whether to send their transport ships as trading vessels to bring back food resources and other material. Indeed, the region that they're in (OTL Cape Town and surroundings) are relatively undermined by other Europeans. But they don't have any resources that would make them useful, just yet...
==== Sublime State of Zhaowa ====
* Government: Thalassocratic Mixed Kongsi Republic
** Administration: Zhaowa, like it’s mother state, Li, has an administrative system not dissimilar to the Li system of Prefectures (Chú), Urban Counties (Hwen), and Rural Counties (Vo). There are 21 prefectures.
** Grand Overseer (Taixu): The Taixu is the ruler of Zhaowa as elected by the Grand Tribunal. They have the ability to veto any action done by the Grand Tribunal. Upon their death, the vice-taixu, chosen by the Taixu, becomes the interrex until an election occurs, no more than a year after the Taixu’s death.
*** List of Taixus:
**** Jieu Jengywéi (1492-1526)
**** Kyang Baklangit (1526-1558)
**** Kyang Hyancuetvo (1558-1562)
**** Hauvi Ngaudzoi (1562-)
** Grand Tribunal (Ta Fapdéng): The Grand Tribunal is the main legislative authority in Zhaowa. It is made up of 81 members who vote on national policy and pass bills.
** Council of Nine (Bát Yén ci Hwai): The Council of Nine oversee the 9 ministries of government in Zhaowa. They are hand-picked by the Taixu. Though meritocratic on paper, the ranks of the Council of Nine come from the same couple of noble families. The 9 ministries of government are the; the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Ceremony, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of Households. All of the ministers are subordinate to the Taixu.
** Lower Tribunal (Hyaci Fapdéng): The Lower Tribunal consists of all citizens elected by the Common People’s Tribunal and many high-ranking Bureaucrats. Members of the Lower Tribunal meet once a year to elect members of the Grand Tribunal. There are 873 members of the Lower Tribunal. They function similarly to the Electoral College in OTL US politics.
** Common People’s Tribunal (Kúngyén ci Fapdéng): The Common People’s Tribunal consists of all citizens within the State of Zhaowa. It is by far the largest electoral body within Zhaowa. All citizens have the right to directly elect leaders for their respective counties and prefectures via popular vote. Though they do not directly vote for higher positions, they very much influence their decisions. As representatives those elected are both morally and practically obligated to represent the wishes of those under them, as the common people can easily vote them out if they do not fulfill their wishes.
** Political Parties: While there are no official political parties Within Zhaowa, there are several political blocs within the Tribunals.
*** Aristocrats: The Aristocrats are a large front wishing to preserve the status-quo and increase the power of the noble class. They hold 16 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Tradesmen’s Front (Xángtang): The Tradesmen’s Front, primarily made up of Lower-level officials, merchants, and artisans, is a major political bloc within Zhaowa. They advocate for less trade restrictions, more power to the Hwais, lower tariffs, a strong navy, improving infrastructure, and pacifist foreign policy. They hold 14 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Militarists (Kwúntang): The Stratocrats are a sister group of the Tradesmen's front. They share many of the same beliefs as the Tradesmen's Front. However, they advocate for socially conservative policies and aggressive foreign policy. They hold 17 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Traditionalists (Dauvuttang): The Traditionalist Party, primarily made up of Buddhists and Xianists, is one of the larger political fronts within Zhaowa. They advocate for socially Conservative policies, reforms to the Ministry of Ceremony, and Isolationist Foreign Policy. They hold 6 seats in the Grand Tribunal,
*** Xianists (Xéntang): The Xianists are a fringe political bloc. They advocate for increased authority of Xianist schools, socially Progressive policies, reforms to the Ministry of Ceremony, and exploration into Papua and Australia. They hold 3 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Commoner’s Front (Noungyéntang): Forming the basis of Tsúyén’s support base, the Commoner’s Front is a front consisting of ethnic Toraja, Alfur, Makassarese, Papuan, non-Ternatian Halmaherans, and numerous other ethnic minorities, as well as sinitic lesser officials who managed to claw their way up to the Grand Tribunal. The Makkasan and Nunusakuan nobility is well represented within the Commoner’s Front. In addition, numerous merchants, especially those involved in Western Nusantara are staunch activists of this group. Though with disparate views, they all are united in their support of Tsuyenist policies, which emphasize strengthening of the nation by all means necessary, from proto-communist policies in Papua, to policies increasing the power of foreign Hwais, to the construction of a large and powerful navy. They hold 17 seats within the Grand Tribunal.
* Economy: Zhaowa has a Proto-Capitalist economy, focusing on agriculture, spices, metals, fishing, and forest products. Perhaps the most important part of the Zhaowanese economy is the trade of all of the above. A major feature of the Zhaowanese economy is the Hwai, an economic and societal structure functioning similar to a Renaissance Guild, a Trade/Workers Union, and a Cartel. Hwais evolved from notions of brothership among the Mercantile and Managerial class of Yun-era China. Most citizens are part of or somehow involved in a Hwai. Hwais are commercial organizations consisting of members that provide capital and shared profits. Though much of the population may not be an active member of a Hwai, many citizens work for a member of a Hwai. Since all involved in the Hwai receive equal profits and have equal capital, Zhaowa could also be classified as Proto-Market-Socialist. Zhaowa has a paper and coin based Fiat monetary system. To avoid inflation, all money is in the hands of the Ministry of Finance. All paper money can be exchanged for gold, silver, and copper, or silk with an exchange rate of 3%.
** Main Currency: Ceijen
** Monetary Value: 1 Ceijen coin (制钱) is equivalent to one mace (3.8 grams) of 21K rose gold (12% Copper, 88% Gold).
* Demographics:
* Ethnic Makeup:
** 20.6% Mixed-Sinitic
** 19.3% Sundanese
** 14.3% Makassarese
** 10.2% Lampung
** 6.8% Sumbawan
** 6.3% Pure Sinitic
** 5.9% Moluccan
** 5.3% Minahasan
** 3.6% Papuan
** 3.5% Toraja
** 3.1% Javanese
** 2.1% Malay
* Total Population: 1,038,000
** Maluku: 39,000
** Makassar: 32,500
** Manado: 29,000
** Nimkyóng: 25,000
** Singnakyo: 20,000
** Ampenan: 17,000
** Selam: 16,000
** Launa: 12,000
** Sufu: 8,500
** Jáng Hwi: 4,500
** Tangbana: 1,000
* Religion: 6% Xianist, 15% Mahayana Buddhist, 20% Theravada Buddhist, 6% Hindu, 24% Animist, 5% Arzhamist, 30% Clearwater Buddhist, 1% Other
* Military: 36330 Personnel (~3.5%)
** Army: 12500
*** 400 Military Police
*** 200 Garrison Infantry
*** 200 Garrison Artillery
*** 100 Calvary
*** 3,250 Mixed Infantry (Polearm & Arquebus mixed units)
*** 1500 Shock infantry (Swordsmen)
*** 750 Support Artillery 
*** 100 Military Engineers
*** ~5000 Auxiliaries
*** 1000 Logistical Support
** Navy: 23830 Sailors/Marines, 859 Ships (excluding coastal patrol)
*** 18 Hunghwangjwen/Galleon (45 meters) (1980 crew total)
*** 90 (Full-rigged) Yienkapjwen  (35 meters) (9000 crew total)
*** 180 Supply ships (30 meters) (3240 sailors total)
*** 50 Heavy-Cannon/Rocket Ships (27 meters) (1050 crew total)
*** 193 (Junk-rig) 3-Masted Junks (24 meters) (3860 crew total)
*** 200 (Fore-and-aft) War Perahu (17 meters) (2000 crew total)
*** 50 (Fore-and-aft) Reconnaissance Ships (15 meters) (400 crew total)
*** 80 Troop Transports (800 crew total, able to carry 6400 troops in total)
*** Various Disorganized Levied Coastal Patrol (1500 crew)
* Firearms:
** Cetbang/Jwangpiau: The Jwangpiau is the most commonly used gun in Zhaowa. It is a breech-loading swivel gun, and is used on fortifications and ships. These come in portable (wheeled) and stationary varieties.
** Xépdan-tswáng: The Xépdan-tswang, literally meaning “Ten Shot Gun”, is a gun similar to an Organ Gun. Inspired by the multiple rocket launchers in use across the Sinosphere, instead of firing arrows or rockets, it fires iron or bronze pellets. It is used as an anti-personnel gun. Due to it having 10x more barrels than an average gun, it can shoot 10x more bullets, but it takes 10x more time to clean. Unlike the guns of Europe, it is breech loading, which provides quicker loading time. To seal the breach, paper cartridges or a block are used, though this is quite ineffective. The Xépdan-tswáng is used in very low quantities, with perhaps only 50 being used across Zhaowa.
** Lagatswáng: A Lagastwang is the Zhaowanese term for an Arquebus
*** Jiue Lagatswáng: The Jiue Lagatswáng is an uncommon weapon in Zhaowa, referring to all breech-loaded arquebuses. They have a much faster loading time than standard muzzle-loading Lagatswáng, though they often malfunction.
*** Hwaje Lagatswáng: The Hwaje Lagatswáng is the most common form of Lagatswang in Zhaowa. It is a matchlock firearm, often coming with a stand and a spike attached to the top.
*** Lyuenlagatswáng: The Lyuenlagatswáng is the Zhaowanese term for wheelock guns. Though they are more useful than the Standard Matchlock Lagatswáng in wet conditions, they often malfunction and are hard to produce.
*** Lau Lagatswáng: The Lau Lagatswáng refers to all primitive Lagatswáng.
** Bedil Tombak/Lungencwung: The Lungencwung, literally meaning “Hand Gun”, is a common gun in Zhaowa. It is quite simple, with a socket attached to a pole and a tube from which projectiles are fired from. It commonly has a blade attached to it in case of melee fighting. It is quickly being replaced by the Lagatswang.
** Hwacá: The Hwacá is a multiple rocket launcher or an organ gun, depending on the projectile used. It fires around 150 rockets or arrows, which are contained within a wooden frame. The wooden frame allows the rockets to fly straighter, and, as a result, farther. In elevated positions, they have a range of 600 meters. However, on flat positions, they have a range of only 200 meters. Current rockets have a length of around 15 centimeters. Though with a short range, it has enough force to make a 30 cm-deep crater in a patch of sand. A second, larger rocket is currently being produced, with a length of 45 centimeters, with a range of 1100 meters.
** Cwungdung: The Cwungdung is a common firearm in Zhaowa, used on larger ships and on fortresses. Most models of Cwungdung have a maximum range of around 950 meters, with one model having a maximum range of 1500 meters with darts. Darts are made out of wood tipped with iron, with iron tail fins. Unlike the modern conception of darts, these darts are quite large, slightly less than a meter long. When they strike their target, they generally bury up to their iron fletching. Though less destructive than rockets, they have much better accuracy. Cwungdung also fire numerous iron or stone cannonballs, though they have much lower range, with an average maximum range of 600 meters.
*** Kuveliem: The Kubiliem is a muzzle-loading cannon, specifically referring to Culverins imported by Europeans. Instead of firing darts like the Cwungdung, it fires round cannonballs. Due to this, it has a flat, though comparatively shorter trajectory.
* Research and Production:
** Infrastructure: Infrastructure in captured territories is to be improved. 
* Wars and Conflicts:
** Invasion of Luwu: With the capture of capital, forces are redirected to attack the coast to drive the Luwu from their economic base and to force surrender. Ngaudzoi begins to tire from the decade-long war with Luwu, and takes his rage out on the people of Luwu. Brutal massacres are conducted upon civilians in occupied territories, with Ngaudzoi specifically instructing Zhaowanese soldiers to abandon their honor code, and to rape woman as they please. In a famous incident, the entire population of a village had their feet and hands cut off, which was later arranged into a pyramid-like structure. It was then doused in oil and set alight. The Zhaowanese soldiers cooked their meat over it.  
* Diplomacy:
** Luwu: surrendre ploxxery
==== Keisaria ====
* Government: Elective Monarchy/ Aristocratic Oligarchy
** King: Alexius
** Dynasty: Tallinic
* Economy: The Keisairvaltan Economy is now entirely based on Agranianism and exploitation of the Kazakh territory.
* Capital: Mustajoki
* Demographics:
** Population: 14 Million (Adjusted for new territories gained)
*** Ingrians: 45%
*** Rostovians: 15%
*** Misc Finnic Cultures: 5%
*** Vesnians: 7%
*** Daeva: 9%
*** Volgans: 10%
*** Varangian: 4%
** Religion:
*** Eastern Orthodox: 80%
*** Catholic: 4%
*** Traditional Religions: 10%
*** Judaism: 4%
** Diplomacy
*** Aaro-Vedena: We accept Peace
** Conflicts
** 'Military
*** Total: 140k
*** Infantry: 90k
*** Cavalry: 30k
**** Light Cavalry: 15k
**** Heavy Cavalry: 10k
*** Artillery: 10k
*** Navy: 37 Ships
** Events
*** Back to Square One: In 1580, Andrus would formally abdicate the throne in favor of his son Alexius. Andrus is 40 years old and he already has grey hairs. Within two years, he would oversee the end of the war. He dies in 1582 of unknown causes"
*** The Cyan Banner:When Andrus died, so did the support of the Monarchy for some members. The original purpose of the Riksdag was for the Aristocracy to take charge and rule themselves. This new faction of the Riksdag was inspired by their founders and many wanted to recreate the Pre-Andrusian Golden Age of the Riksdag. Which they saw as an era of Glory and Conquest. This faction was known as the Cyan Banner Movement.
==== Empire of Matagaskar ====
* Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
** Monarch: Emperor Andriamanelo (B 1546 - Age 33, alive) (R 1572 - Present)
** Consort: Empress Ramaitsoanala (B 1546 - Age 33, alive)
** King Dowager (and head of the Fossa Warriors): King Razakatsitakatrandriana (B 1527 - Age 52, alive)
** Ruling Dynasty: Hova (Ndahimananjara branch of Ammagari)
** Order of Succession: Prince Ralambo (B 1566 - Age 13, alive), Prince Andrianjaka (B 1571 - Age 8, alive), Prince Andrianimpito (B 1576 - Age 3, alive), Princess Rasolobe (B 1556 - Age 23, alive), Prince Manelobe (B 1529 - Age 50, alive), (his children), Princess Ravoamasina (B 1535 - Age 44, alive), (her children), Prince Andriatanjany (B 1541 - Age 38, alive)...
* Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing, there's also trade going on with the Swahili and various peoples on our home island including the other Malagasy states of Betsimisaraka (even though relations are strained at this point), Mahafaly and Bara. 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. Imerina has started to influence other states through trade and the like.
* Allies: N/A
* Capital: Mahajanga
* Demographics:
** Population: ca 778 000 total
** Mahajanga: 9 720
** Toamasina: 4 200
** Analamanga: 3 200
** Manakara: 2 500
** Ambanja: 2 250
** Morafenobe: 2 000
** Toliara: 1 600
** Moroni: 900
** Rural regions: ca 750 000
** Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (divided into 39% Merina and 49% others such as Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Sihanaka, Antankarana etc.), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), 5% Adnanite
** Religion: 84% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, 16% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore)
* 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%): 7 780
** 2 500 Spearmen
** 1 030 Swordsmen
** 400 Bowmen
** 2 000 Crossbowmen
** 1 500 Light Cavalry
** 350 Fossa Warriors
* Navy:
** 10 Adananita class ships
** 7 Mer'ana class ships
** 8 transport ships
* Diplomacy:
** Mutapa: We won't ally with acquaintances we barely know. You may keep Nipele but do not expand further north if you want to remain friendly with us.
** Mtende, Pemba, Bangalla, Nipele and Mutapa: Regular Zoroastrian missionaries (NOT the Order of Sihanaka) are sent to their coastlines.
** Avesta: We should co-operate more and stick together, we both follow Zoroastrianism after all and we can put previous conflicts behind us.
* Events:
** Unification of Matagasykara: With the last two states annexed and their territories being prepared for proper integration into the realm, Matagasykara has been unified after all these years under Emperor Andriamanelo.
** Order of Sihanaka: Not much to say, the order continues to assist in the Zoroastrification of Matagaskar and all that. Most notably is that their founding Grand Priest Rakotomazava dies in 1577. Through election the new leader is Rakotomanjafy.
** Increasing Population: From living standards increasing (by medieval standards) as well as expansion, such as through the conquest of the entirety of Matagaskar, our population has increased by quite the margin.
** Swords: Swords have become a much more useful weapon to us. They start to phase out spears a bit and also the spears become more adaptable due to how warfare changes over time.
** Discovery of the Mascarene Islands: Surveys to the east have gone on to coincide with the general naval exploration in every direction out from our island. In 1578 the explorer and ship captain Ranjeva discovers the Mascarene Islands (the archipelago that includes otl Mauritius and Réunion). Landings and exploration is made on those two islands, revealing them to be uninhabited. Ranjeva names the archipelago "Maskareina" and the two major islands become Maorisy (Mauritius), Ranjevasy (Réunion, the name is composed of its discoveror and the word "nosy" which means island) and there's also Nyafo (the Rodrigues, if Google Translate is correct Nyafo should be something like "of fire" [ny means of and afo means fire]). There is some interest in settling the islands but so far they are only in our periphery.
** Please remove capital icon on Toliara and Manakara thanks in advance unless you don't do it in which say goodbye to your eyes.
==== Khitan Khanate ====
* Government: Steppe Horde
* Khan/Khatun:
** Khojin (F) (r. 1501 - 1542)
** Erketu (M) (r. 1542 - 1543)
** Arslan (M) (r. 1542 - present)
* Dynasty: Yarud (1501 - present)
* Parliament: None
* Economy: The Khitan economy is largely based upon trade, herding, and pastoralism, as the Khitans and most of their subjects are nomadic peoples. However, in some areas, such as around cities, the inhabitants are settled agriculturalists.
* Capital: Nerchuu (OTL Nerchinsk)
* Demographics:
** Population: 194,000 (85% Khitans, 6% Jurchen, 5% Mongols, 2% Evenks, 1% Daevites, 1% other)
** Religion: 87% Tengriism, 5% Arzham, 4% Buddhism, 4% others
* Military: 3,880 troops
* Wars and Conflicts (italics indicate potential wars):
** Khalkha War: More troops are recruited for the war effort. 10,180 troops (composed of both professionals and levies) fight in the north, attempting to reinforce the broken encirclement. 6,980 troops (composed of both professionals and levies) fight on the southern front, attempting to move north and link up with 4,700 troops heading south towards them in order to encircle Khalkha troops. 6,710 troops (2,910 troops splitting off from the former combined southern front 3,800 troops from reserves) wear down the larger southern encircled troops. Meanwhile, 5,300 troops (2,600 troops splitting off from the northern front and 2,700 troops from reserves) wear down the smaller northern encircled troops. A small regiment of 2,000 troops is sent west to raid the western Khalkha and to break enemy morale. The Khitans reach out to Ččulčontay for assistance (see Diplomacy).
* Diplomacy (italics indicate secret):
** Ččulčontay: We reach out for an alliance and trade deal with Ččulčontay. We also ask for their assistance in the Khalkha War, offering them a piece of northwestern Khalkha to sweeten the deal.
* Events:
** N/A
====Atouman Empire====
*Government: Azarkhate
**Aesuit:
***Khanidon "The Righteous" (c. 1568 - )
**House of Atmanaglu:
***Ioxamander (b. 1491-1568)
****-- Nihaevran of Adrianople (b. 1494-1545)
*****Ozumuhn (b. 1524-)
******-- Bulilun of Daeva
*****Khanidon (b. 1524-)
****-- Mahrnet of Adnan (b. 1523-1575)
*****Atman III (b. 1547-)
******-- Dilara of Al-Adniya (b. 1540-)
*******Gokmen (b. 1563)
*****Ashura (b. 1555-)
*****Indra (b. 1555-)
**Grand Vizier:
***Suleyman II abd-Muttari Pasha (b. 1456-1519) (c. 1501-1503, 1508-1509, 1514-1519) 
***Hersekenia abd-Beyid Pasha (b. 1464-1553) (c. 1503-1507, 1513-1514) 
***Ozman abd-Jafar Pasha (b. 1481-1550) (c. 1510-1513, 1524) 
***Dogukhan abd-Ashur Pasha (b. 1484-1552) (c. 1519-1524, 1531-1533) 
***Utman abd-Vedit Pasha (b. 1482-1545) (c. 1524-1531, 1532-1545)
***Khanidon abd-Rum Pasha (b. 1524-) (c. 1545-1558, 1566-1668)
***Xodarus abd-Jafar Pasha (b. 1510-1575) (c. 1558-1575)
***Gulhadon al-Ashura Pasha (b. 1531-1574) (c. 1562-1574)
***Kanzhin al-Mughari Pasha (b. 1523-1568) (c. 1562-1568)
***Muhammet al-Aybars Pasha (b. 1527-) (c. 1562-)
***Melik al-Xhadim Pasha (b. 1535-) (c. 1578-)
***Erdemir Türkmen Pasha (b. 1541-) (c. 1578-)
**Grand Council: 1000 seats
****Cult of Ioxamander: 358 seats
****Rationalists: 400 seats
****Fundamentalists: 242 seats
*Economy: The economy of the Atouman Empire was based on a system of iqta', an Arzhamite feudal system, as the Atouman state's ultimate goal, was consolidation and extension of the Azarkh's power, and the way to reach it was by taking advantage of resources and the revenues system by making the productive classes prosperous. So while the agrarian-based economy was fruitful in its development, it ultimately prevented the emergence of social disorder and kept the traditional organization of the culture and society as a whole. Mining operations would also aid as a driving factor of the economy, with copper, iron, silver, and gold being mined in Bulgaria while fruits are grown across the Anatolian region and Balkan peninsula producing bountiful luxuries that are consequently sold at the various port markets in Ionia and Greece. Olive trees grow in wild fashion, with their oil being harvested and sold to the highest bidder. Atouman expansion into Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries would emphasize a Greco-Persian royal sentiment, which would be emphasized furthermore in Azarkh Iskandir I's reign, who famously claimed himself as Padishah, a term historically used to describe the ruling monarch of Persia. This emphasis would lead to the capital cities becoming major commercial and industrial centers, serving as highways between the Greco-Roman-Daevite cultures and mercantile trade of the region. This would lead to a policy of tolerance that culminated in Azarkh Tayyeb's "Mandate of Adrianople", which officially allowed for the Jewish people to reside and prosper in the Atouman Realm far away from the persecution they faced at the hands of Christendom. Not only did this Mandate extend a hand of tolerance to the Jewish people, but also extended outwards to a number of Protestant states at the time, due to their own rivalry with the Papacy. Most of these people were settled in either Constantinople or other port cities along the Ionian coast. Other exports include cotton, a myriad of fruits, and plenty of slaves, primarily Neo-Pagans and Hellenic Christians in North Africa. The campaigns of Azarkh Ioxamander would lead to a boost in the economic diversity of the Empire, now exporting African goods and re-constructing the coastal cities previously razed during his conquests. A large trade network was established, due to Ioxamander's conquests, that extended from the Adnanian subcontinent to the sands of Mauretania and across the Balkan peninsula, leading to broader economic security atop of conquering millions of subjects in the process. The Atouman Empire at the end of the 16th century was the most economically profitable empire in Europe and during the 17th century, would only continue to expand further and further.
*Capital: Constantinople
*Demographics:
**Population: 23,730,000
***Anatolia: 5,300,000
***Balkans: 4,150,000
***Egypt: 4,350,000
***Greece: 1,100,000
***Syria: 850,000
***Ifriqiya: 1,025,000
***Atlasiya: 3,555,000
***Hejaz: 400,000
***Mesopotamia: 2,000,000
***Misc: 1,000,000
**Ethnicity:
***Persian: 21.3%
***Greek: 20.1%
***Aegytan: 15.9%
***Adnanite: 14.7%
***Turkish: 8.9%
***Daevite: 5.5%
***Syrian: 4.7%
***Mixed African: 3.8%
***Israelite: 3.3%
***Cyrenaican: 1.8%
**Religion:
***Arzham: Under Atouman authority, Arzham would make a re-emergence in the western world unseen since the collapse of the Askari Azarkhate in the 14th century. Followers of the Xunni belief, the House of Atmanaglu would dedicate a number of resources to spreading the word of Arzhang. This included the construction of Ozman's Temple, which would stand as the largest religious institution until the construction of Ioxamander's Temple in 1547, and numerous methods of prolythesizing that worked to varied results. It would become the most known form of Arzham in Europe at the time, with many religious scholars and priests at the time admiring the state of the Atouman Empire and it's relation to Arzham, as although the empire was not born around Kandahar, it still is seen as rightfully guided in the eyes of the Arzhamic community.
****Xunni Beliefs: The Xunni denomination of Arzham is often characterized by a greater emphasis on the prophet Arzhang, his companions in Persia, and the patronage of the all of the classic Azarkhates’ as rightly-guided successor states in contrast to the Xa’mah belief, which only correlate proper successorship to Arzhang’s original state and the Askari Azarkhate. While the Xa’mah believe that the prophet Arzhang can only be succeeded by relatives or immediate family members, the Xunni deny this concept of succession-by-lineage, instead believing that the Arzhamite community can change and evolve to the point where staying in tradition will only lead to disaster, with this concept being further emphasized by the collapse of the Askari Azarkhate. While most differences between the Xunni and the Xa’mah are relatively political in nature, the Xunni represents a majority of the believers of Arzham that are more wide-spread across Eurasia, with the Xa’mah representing pluralities in places like India and Persia.
***Christianity: Christianity following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire would stagnate during this time, declining into a plurality due to a myriad of policies introduced by the Atouman Empire, such as increased taxing, second-class citizenship, and the banning of proselytizing, which was punishable by death. This decline in Christianity would also be further aided by the re-organization of the Janissaries, which by this part were mostly made up of young Christian slaves from the Balkans that had converted to Islam. During the Atouman-Isetium War, Kaiser Achaeus would institute a similar policy of enslavement and brain-washing, kidnapping the youngest children of various Christian families in Syria and the Levant, as well as re-organizing their numerous churches and cathedrals into mosques or other Arzhamite institutions. As such, the Christian communities in the Atouman Empire declined exceptionally, with most of the Hellenic-influenced Christians converting to Arzham in the face of disaster.
***Judaism: The Jewish communities of the Atouman Empire would flourish in the 16th century due to the former Azarkh Tayyeb’s policy of tolerance. While the Jewish communities of the Empire were small and most located in Constantinople, Kaiser Achaeus would allow the construction of Synagogues along the Ionian coast in exchange for the Jewish communities paying a higher tax as part of the already existing jizya tax. This wouldn’t necessarily bother the Jewish people, for most of the Jews that were able to migrate were mostly bankers that had made fortunes off of their time spent in Europe. The Jewish population were also staunch supporters for Atouman expansion, oftentimes offering funds for extentensive campaigns meant to drive away the heretics from the Holy Land.
***Zoroastrianism: The Zoroastrian community of the Atouman Empire was primarily limited due to Zoroastrian’s decline during the rise of Arzham in Persia and due to a newly realized focus towards Arabia. Zoroastrians in the Atouman Empire were mostly specific to the oriental territories such as Hejaz and Adnania.
***Syncretic Philosophy: Representing a rather small community, Syncretic philosophy in Greece and Anatolia would foster as a result of diversification. Although syncretic schools of thought, such as the Abyadites and Aesunids, were primarily focused on inter-religion unification, other schools like the Smyrnites were more focused on political reform, specifically the adoption of secular political ideologies like democracy and republicanism. The circulation of these differing concepts would lead to Azarkh Tayyeb instituting the eradication of syncretic philosophy in the early years of the 16th century.
**Wars and Events:
***20 Years' War (1557-)
****Second Italian War (1570-1577): Within a years' time following the death of Xodarus, the Atouman and French alliance forces face increasingly high casualties, and following the Spanish and Venetian victory over the Atouman Empire, would be forced to withdraw militaryily from the Italian peninsula. This would leave Sicily to be annexed into Naples by 1577, which is regarded as the formal end date for the conflict. Although there was little success to be had in conquering Italy, the Atouman expansion into Central Europe had succeeded per usual until Khanidon Pasha received news of Xodarus' death, which led to him halting further campaigns while he looked for suitable military commanders to fill his posts. Up until this point, the Atouman Empire existed for a time as an oligarchy, led equally in power by a number of regional warlords following the death of Ioxamander. With the death of Xodarus, a prominent oligarch, it would would lead to Khanidon being forced to return to Constantinople to speak with his Grand Assembly as well as to find and appoint new Viziers. The following year and a half would see the recruitment of only two Viziers, Melik al-Shadim Pasha of Atlasiya and Erdemir Türkmen Pasha of the Syrian local offices. Treaty of Atlasium ends the Spanish-Atlasiyan War, while the Treaty of Siracuse and Genoa would end the primary Italian War.
****Atouman-Westrian War (1578-): Near the end of 1578, Grand Vizier Erdemir Pasha would initiate the continuation of the Atouman-Westrian War by leading an army of 50,000 from Lubyan to Polanum, capturing the city in 1579 and occupying a number of villages south of Vienna by early 1580. Meanwhile, from Pozsony, Khanidon and Melik Pasha would travel to Vienna with nearly 100,000 forces, hundreds of cannons, and good strategies. So they began to besiege the city in 1580, and nobody knows who will win. It's really anybody's game, but I think I'm going to put my money on Khanidon and the Atoumans.
==== Nihon ====
Government and Demographics
* Government: Feudalism - effective total regional factionalism
** Empress: Han'ei no Mono (Tachibana Kiyo)
** Shogun: Oda Nobunaga (or Hiyori)
* Allies: Joseon, defensive military alliance
* Capital: Kyoto
* Demographics:
** Population: 11,021,000
** Ethnicities: Yamatai (79%), Chinese-origin (4%), Joseonese (8%), Syonanese (6%), Other (2%)
** Official Religion: Shinto, with Buddhist influences
** Population Distribution:
*** Urban Population: Most actual urban areas in the Nihonese isles do not actually exceed four square kilometres in size, with buildings that far more resemble modern suburban density and planning than otherwise. However, these urban areas are often survived and surrounded by vast exceedingly low-density tiny communes of no more than a hundred to two hundred people, making up in some cases secondary urban centres, such as the town of Satsuma.
**** Percentage of total population: 8% (Approx. 900,000)
**** By city (rounded to the nearest 5,000):
***** Edo: 40,000
****** Edo surroundings: 50,000
***** Kyoto: 10,000
****** Kyoto surroundings: 55,000
***** Fukushima: 35,000
****** Fukushima surroundings: 20,000
***** Hiroshima: 25,000
***** Kobe: 15,000
****** Hiroshima-Kobe wider region: 25,000
***** Nagasaki: 25,000
***** Yokohama: 20,000
***** Takaoka: 15,000
***** Niigata: 15,000
***** Izumo-Matsue Au. Region: 25,000
***** Chiba Au. Region: 20,000
***** Others not exceeding 15,000 in population: 590,000
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 23%
***** Kanto: 21%
***** Kansai: 14%
***** Chubu: 17%
***** Chugoku: 11%
***** Shikoku: 5%
***** Kyushu: 9%
*** Rural Population:
**** Percentage of total population: 92% (Approx. 10,000,000)
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 18%
***** Kanto: 14%
***** Chubu: 19%
***** Kansai: 15%
***** Chugoku: 12%
***** Shikoku: 11%
***** Kyushu: 11%
Economics
* Status of the Economy:
** Value of Gold: While barter has remained one of the biggest methods of trade within the country, gold is the currency by which trade with foreign merchants has been practiced. The main source of gold in Nihon, however, are the Han nations to the East, Kansha and Syonan; it has no actual power over the premier currency it uses. The usage of bronze and copper coins for smaller denominations has become generally more commonplace in urban areas, while barter trade remains common. The national mint is centred in Edo, controlled by the Shogun.
*** Actual monetary value: One ounce of gold can currently buy one hundred sacks of rice (98 kg).
*** Currency:
**** 1-yen coin (copper)
**** 5-yen coin (copper)
**** 10-yen coin (bronze)
**** 100-yen coin (bronze)
**** 1000-yen promissory note (backed in gold)
** Economic Overview: A significant portion of the Nihonese economy is centred around traditional agriculture, with rice as the national staple of the country; barter trade occurs on a limited communal scale, with the adoption of partial paper and minted currency already having occurred. Small artisanal trades in the fields of writing and artistry have become coveted as prestige symbols; education extends to only roughly 11% of the population, with this small class of artisans a thin sliver of a middle class between the vast majority of the peasantry and the higher nobility.
*** Economic Policy:
**** None - the central government has collapsed. May God save Nihon.
*** Economic Trends:
**** Disaster: The Nihonese economy rapidly disintegrates. Everything is going to hell. Peasant rebellions are rife in the South, with Kobe and Izumo being the site of two rebellions specifically; meanwhile, Chiba and Izumo-Matsue, once bastions of stability, now lie in ruin at the hands of Nobunaga, who forcibly integrated them back into Nihon, thus leading to their assets seized by loyalist merchants and them being forced to contend with all sorts of laws that caused inane social tensions.
* Culture:
** Yamatai: The dominant culture on the three main islands, practiced by the vast majority of ethnic Nihonese; it emphasises the importance of self and the privilege of existence. A partly individualistic culture with overtly communal streaks that designates the greatness of finding a specific calling and engaging it with the most effort possible; giving rise to a society that prizes the arts as well as the value of literature. While it does not shun the sciences, they are not often given priority; meanwhile, the military and warriors are given outsized importance against all else. Its envisioning of Shinto has numerous distinct cultural streaks from the nations that existed before Yamato united the three main islands under its own banner; as well as little reminders of the past.
** Ainu: A distinct, unique culture native to Tohoku and Ezo; a kind of communal culture that emphasises the community and a place within that community. It speaks of the importance of discovering a place within society and fulfilling the callings asked of you by others, and that no individual is above the common good. Its adoption of arts and literature is thus comparably limited, but it is the Ainu which have advanced Nihon's science so far, partly due to the fact that they are encouraged to go to school from younger ages (and generally live in more urbanised societies). Their envisioning of Shinto is more akin to a kind of lifestyle, which promotes certain practices and discourages others; one which has, surprisingly, remained largely sturdy for the last 400 years.
** Joseonese-Han: A minority culture arising from the great giants from across the sea; Joseonese-Han is a monstrous beast of mish-mashed cultures, from distinct Han streaks arising almost 600 years ago to the original Xia cultures. It is almost entirely reliant on distinct, tiny Xianist sects and practices a form of Buddhism mixed with Shinto.
* Religion:
** Shinto: A polytheistic, animistic and pantheistic religion which most Nihonese follow. It revolves around the kami - gods/spirits, which are depending on region omnipresent or omniscient. Worship is mainly practiced in household shrines and public shrines, with family shrines more common for political and clan officials. Extreme levels of localisation, with many in the North having strong Ainu streaks while those in Kyushu and Kansha have subtle Han influence.
* Events:
** The Taisho of Nihon [11] [FINAL]:
*** The End of the Taisho - Spring 1576: Arriving in Tokyo is like stepping on a sea of nails. She shan’t even be allowed the privilege of death but she watches as the world around her quietly bleeds her pride to the last drop; the woman known as Oda Nobunaga thrust into a grand orchestra where the conclusion must be her end. That said - she will go out with a bang. She quietly relinquishes control of half of the gold reserves of Edo, mostly gained from Syonan, to the control of a certain Seizu Souji, sending them off on chartered ships staffed entirely by Syonanese. Next she walks up to Kiyo, completely baffled by the recent events, and relinquishes effective control of the military to her - although recommending that Kagetora and Soryu remain as her generals - something which only further raises the young woman’s eyebrows.
*** ‘Nobu, are you… sure about this?’, she asks, perturbed. ‘All of a sudden just…’
*** But Nobuna says nothing, places her hands on her shoulders and remarks, ‘I wish I met you as a friend. Thank you, Kiyo.’
*** Leaving Edo castle she is met by a lowly servant of the Ashina. ‘I need you to come with me, Shogun;’ he says in hushed tones, ‘My lord wishes to meet with you.’ Nobuna barely blinks and remarks to the boy, ‘What’s your name, youngster?’
*** The boy stops and quietly replies, ‘Kaito.’
*** ‘Thief? You’re a thief? You look very loyal, though,’ she chuckles, and continues, ‘Please. Let’s get this done and over with.’
*** Trying to convince Nobunaga that she is finished doesn’t seem to work for the samurai present. Instead she pulls out three arquebuses strapped to her body and shoots every single one; the lights in their eyes shutting off at the pace of a leopard’s sprint. She walks out into the open, now surrounded by the Edo garrison; the soldiers demand her surrender. Refusing, she pulls out a katana and in the proceeding firefight kills roughly twenty-eight, finally ending the battle in a blaze of fire. The proceeding explosion and the damage it deals to Tokyo utterly shocks the populace, some retellings of the proud general claiming that she grew the horns of an oni as she cut down yet another and another. This cements her legacy not as the reunifier of Nihon - but the Demon of Tanegashima, a violent curse brought down upon the Isles by pure selfishness and greed. Her body will never be found.
*** ‘A lifetime ago I thought I had the solution to all of these problems. And then I didn’t find them. And I lied. To my friends- sorry.’ - a note left by Nobuna for Kagetora
*** Her Grand Successor - Winter 1576: Deciding between them, Soryu is promoted to Shogun in 1576 by Kiyo, while Kagetora, disillusioned with the whole affair, quietly retires to running her bit of Nihon, although the three remain good friends. She discovers the roving mess that the country has devolved back into and quietly, and with a will as strong as iron she quietly picks up the pieces after her late friend’s death. Stumbling upon a veritable treasure trove of arquebuses she begins to raise a new army to take on the crumbling foundations of Nihon, she takes on a new circle of supporters - including one certain Toyotomi Hideyoshi - and begins to carve out a new destiny out of the ashes of the old.
*** A Parting of Legends - Autumn 1578: But Kagetora was done with it. She’d seen it all crumble to pieces time and time again, and it was all too much for her to bear. Finally she packed up her things, took a few loyal servants and headed to Tokyo; leaving in possession of the clan Meiyo-ko. Coming upon her last remaining friend she gives a weathered smile. It feels like just yesterday when they stood victoriously in Kyoto, and now it all comes to an end. ‘I’m sorry to spring this on you all of a sudden. Just uh… just got bored.’ She laughs, patting on Miyako’s shoulders. ‘Real bored. I do too good a job and there isn’t much in the way of food here anymore.’ But Miyako doesn’t look frustrated - she just looks… glad. ‘Have a good life down there,’ she remarks, hugging the last vestiges of this generation she knows and her last remaining friend in this broken, shattered world. ‘Thanks. Thanks for everything.’ Uesugi Kagetora, returned to her original name of Nagao Kagetora, leaves Tokyo via Yokohama port on the last day of Autumn, 1578; setting out to travel to Yolngu. She and her last remaining colleague will continue to be lifelong pen-pals, and in the strangest cases - cross-water saviours. It is said that as she left, that the sunset lasted until her silhouette had passed beyond the waters in the distance - set free of the curse of the daimyo.
** The Conqueror of Nihon [1]:
*** A Departure from the Past - Summer 1577: With his lord effectively dead the man known as Hideyoshi is once again thrown into the wind. Born Hiyoshi-maru he came of humble peasant roots but by pure luck and circumstance he became the retainer of the Imagawa clan, and soon enough the retainer of Nobunaga herself (after a brief stint as a supporter of the late Prime Minister). Yet now he stands, left without that power and once again left without his standing. But that doesn’t mean he will let himself lose this time once again - no, he can’t let himself lose once again. Nobunaga’s fall was precipitated by treachery? So be it. He shall purge the treacherous. But unlike his lord - gullible, so dreadfully so - no. Out the qualms will go. This is utterly and completely necessary. Take the fucking gloves off. He immediately assures himself a position under Soryu and proceeds to ask for a personal calvary unit; Soryu, desperate for any amount of good news, approves his request. This cavalry he takes from his original clan and the few in the Oda that trust him, those he personally deems as ‘willing to do the necessary work’ he asks to be enlisted, and the upstart by the end of the year has roughly 5,000 soldiers to work with. He looks down each and every single one of them and knows this will have to do as he turns his ire towards those traitors of the North - the Mogami, once an ally to Nobunaga yet spuriously claiming her insanity. With but these five thousand men leading the charge he marches into the town of Sendai, menacing the populace via murdering and mutilating each and every single child he sees until they cow to him. This begins a new conflict between the Oda and its allies and Mogami, one that will only end - in a new unifier.
*** Finding the Gang - Spring 1578: But wars cannot be waged by men alone. No, he needs help - and he finds help in his lord’s old enemies, the Takeda and the Matsudaira. Both had capitulated to Nobunaga early in her campaign but yet retained their leadership, her poor judgement leading her to believe that they were simply victims of the Federation. Nevertheless he knew they had few to no sympathies for his late lord and he offers them a unique proposition - mutual control of Nihon’s central, divided along the lines of what formerly were the Shiba. On one hand, Akechi Mitsuhide of the Takeda quickly agree to the proposition, bringing greater strength to his cause; on the other hand, the Matsudaira fail to reach a proposition. Instead, the Imagawa family, of military descent, agree to cooperation under the leadership of Otazu no Kata, the family’s effective matriarch, while the other half, the Tokugawa, are more apprehensive about the approach. ‘You have no qualms,’ one asks, ‘but so did Nobunaga. So did Kanzaki. What makes you different?’ Hideyoshi cracks a wry grin and replies, ‘No, they had qualms. I don’t,’ before firing on an old statue outside their meeting-place. ‘You’re either with me - or against me. Better figure it out before you’re below me.’ The Tokugawa quietly agree to the proposition.
*** On the Path to Triumph - Winter 1579: With this newfound alliance in hand Hideyoshi begins massive remilitarisation of the places under his control. Mass levies, previously frowned upon for oversizing the unprofessional army, are brought back and put in samurai armour, with a meritocratic system of promotion put in place; scorched earth tactics, another feature frowned upon, are to be implemented if necessary. Hideyoshi is not, however, seen as a demon - but as a capable man, by many who know him; his detractors call him a despot and a tyrant, but what do they know? Do they have what it takes to drag this damn nation back together? Of course not. They can disappear like the rest of these irrelevant fools - it’s time to get to work. But that said… Hideyoshi is deeply dissatisfied with the few concubines he has received in his line, and while he is willing to do whatever is necessary to continue his lineage, he hasn’t got a clue how on earth anyone gets to how bloody boring these people are. On the other hand… that man, Mitsuhide, oh, sure he’s about five years older but he hasn’t got a clue how insane of a hard-on Hideyoshi quietly has for the feller. Well, can’t be a conqueror if you’re not going to conquer your heart, aye?
** The Empress of Nihon [1]:
*** Out of the Ocean - Winter 1576: And again. Thrown to the wind. Kiyo quietly takes a walk in the gardens of Edo Castle, its pagodas unavoidable and the banners littered everywhere as she waltzes through this place. It’s a cold place, she surmises; it’s a dead place. Two friends left, now; both of whom she had never been too particularly close to, still pining for the companionship of her love down South. Yet she is the Empress of Nihon and there are better things to do now. No time for letters, except those for Tala and him. No time for the pleasantries of life, except almost always she is preoccupied with what few she has left. Of late, however; this garden, once such a shining beacon of joy to her younger self, now proves to be a slight on her older self, entering her later years. She and the many nobles here are expected to live longer lives than the peasantry, thanks to the reforms of the dead, yet she would rather be with them. The dress, it’s too bulky. The endless ceremonies, they’re superficial. She wants no part of them anymore, and yet seemingly she is surrounded by a swarm of those who necessitate she continues those duties. No… no. No more. Let’s… go on a little adventure. A trip to the North, she says. A show of unity. Her advisors pale faster than the chalk they apply to her skin ever could - ‘no, my Empress! It is unsafe!’ they say, ‘no! You are needed here, as a symbol,’ they say. Bothersome. So bothersome. Nevermind! She will travel. On her own.
*** Out on the Field - 1577: Slipping out of the castle with an Imperial detail had always been so simple. After all, it wasn’t as if the group of cantankerous old women and men even compared to that astounding torch of a woman back in Kyoto. But that was all in the past now. Now… Date. She’s told that she could potentially help with bringing back an old family of the Tachibana into the fold, and thus she travels up to the fort of Iwadeyama to meet with a curious young man by the name of Date Masamune. As she arrives the cherry blossoms choke on their own existence, the Toji of the shrine staring at her, piercing through her soul.
*** ‘Might I be looking for the Empress of Nihon?’ She turns, to see the fresh-faced youngster looking back at her. ‘Ah, uh, sorry! Sorry.’
*** He bows, kow-towing like the subordinate he is. ‘Date Masamune, humble servant, my Empress.’
*** Quietly she chuckles. ‘Calm down, we’ve not even properly met yet. I am Han’ei no Mono, yes, but I’m also Tachibana Kiyo. Your choice as to what name you want to use.’ But all he has to reply to her with is ‘a gracious privilege…’
*** Boring. Utterly boring. This man doesn’t even live in the town of Sendai - well, not like that place even exists anymore after what that bastard Hideyoshi did to it. She’ll humour him for a bit, and slip away to something else, or perhaps she’ll be forced to - arbitrations. There was never another option. She spends so long negotiating with an arbitrarily submissive boy that she sours on the entire idea, and when the Date summarily refrain from promising their next of kin to marriage with that of the Tachibana, Kiyo hardly remembers that she wanted to do this for a getaway at all. Not that the getaway ever mattered. She is the Empress.
** Nihon's Collapse:
*** Nihon has entered states of total feudalism before. Just as it did during the period before Tomoe-gozen came to power, just as it did in the period preceding Uchiha Tomoko's rise to power. This list and the events surrounding it are not exhaustive - nor do they contain everything required to get a full picture of the situation. Nonetheless, the following is as full a picture as I can give you. Welcome to the full-on, Sengoku Jidai!
**** North:
***** Background: The wider Tohoku area has always been a volatile region in Nihon. Despite being home to almost all of Nihon's people - about 60% - it has traditionally exercised almost no power, with Kyoto being at its centre all the time. This is generally reflected in the origins of most leaders - the Minamoto and Yamato clans both originating from the South, for example. And while that isn't inevitable, of the region's conquerors, Oda Nobunaga claims quite a Southern lineage, while Otsuya no Kata, also of Oda fame (sister of Nobuhide) controls the Toyama clan. Tohoku is also the home to the Ainu, who possess a great much power in their influence, maintaining their customs in the far North in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Hokkaido.
***** Clans:
****** Nanbu (split into two families, the Nanbu and the Ainu Sunazawa): Occupying the Northmost bits of Tohoku. Notoriously peaceful. The Nanbu family has pledged its loyalty to Oda Nobunaga.
******* Central Fort: Aomori
****** Akita: Occupying modern-day Akita province. Friendly to Nobunaga and her forces; formerly a sub-clan of the Odawara.
******* Central Fort: Akita
****** Mogami (split into several families, but with one single ruling one): Occupies OTL Yamagata, northern Miyagi and southern Iwate provinces. Formerly head of the greater Mogami clan, now a series of rump families pushed into Iwate.
******* Central Fort: Sendai
****** Date: Occupies OTL southern Miyagi province. In an alliance with the Mogami via personal union.
******* Central Fort: Yamagata
****** Oda-Uesugi: The Oda and Uesugi union, formally in control of Nihon. Secured via 'personal union' between Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kagetora, although the marriage is entirely farcical and not actually practiced by either side. Arguably the most powerful clan in the region, if not for the presence of the Tachibana. Its Oda side has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Kashiwazaki
****** Ashina: Occupies OTL Western Fukushima Province. A minor clan in alliance with the Tachibana, in a tenuous union between two highly divided families.
******* Central Fort: Utsunomiya
****** Shimotsuke: Occupies OTL Tochigi for the most part. A smaller neutral clan with sympathies towards the Oda-Uesugi.
******* Central Fort: Oyama
****** Hitachi: Occupies OTL Ibaraki. A mostly Ainu clan in alliance with the Tachibana; keeps itself restricted to its own territory for the most part.
******* Central Fort: Hitachinaka
****** Shimosa: Occupies a tiny section of OTL Chiba. A clan that isn't really a clan due to most of the family being branches of the Tachibana and Hitachi.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Tachibana: The former Kingdom of Tachibana, now reduced in size but still powerful. Main families: the Musashi, the Satake, and Fujiwara. Rather powerful due to its size and population, although stripped of much of its resources over the years. It is one of the direct descendants of Himiko no Ichiban and has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Tokyo (capital of Nihon)
****** Sagami: Occupies OTL East Shizuoka. In alliance with the Tachibana. Merchant clan with strong naval presence.
******* Central Fort: Shimoda
****** Satomi: Occupies OTL Chiba. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Nagao: Occupies OTL Gunma. In alliance with the Oda-Uesugi. Hostile sympathies towards the Tachibana.
******* Central Fort: Iseyaki
****** Kotsuke: Occupies OTL Northwest Nagano province. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** The Tachibana and Oda-Uesugi are currently in an alliance.
***** Events:
******
**** Centre:
***** Background: The Centre of Nihon has constantly been a wild-card. It at times has been far more stable and at times has resembled a series of paint-splatters across the wall; it, however, is the centre of any attempt to unite the Nihonese isles. Its military clans are partially centred here, with samurai prolifically emerging from it; the constant shifting of power dynamics in this region making it far more attractive to strategically adept persons.
***** Clans:
****** Takeda: OTL South Nagano + Easterly Shizuoka provinces. Military clan, unfriendly to Nobunaga. One of the more powerful clans in the region. In an alliance with the Matsudaira and on friendly terms with the Ashikaga. Consists of the Shinano and Kai families.
******* Central Fort: Iido
****** Mastudaira: OTL West Shizuoka Province. Also a military clan unfriedly to Nobunaga, although substantially less powerful. In an alliance with the Takeda and on friendly terms with the Tachibana. Consists of the Tokugawa and Imagawa clans.
******* Central Fort: Hamamatsu
****** Oda: OTL Nagoya and surroundings. Part of the Oda-Uesugi clan, see above description.
******* Central Fort: Nagoya
****** Echizen: OTL Coastal Ishikawa and Fukui provinces. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Miki and Mino.
******* Central Fort: Kanazawa
****** Miki: OTL Toyama province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Mino, the latter of which it has a personal union with.
******* Central Fort: Takaoka
****** Mino: OTL Shiga province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Miki.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Ise: OTL Mie province. Neutral. Prolific blacksmithing clan.
******* Central Fort: Nakatsugawa
****** Kii: OTL Wakayama province. Neutral. The Kii and Awaji families come from this.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Yamato: OTL Nara province. Friendly towards the Matsudaira clan.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Hyogo: OTL Osaka province, contains both Osaka and Kyoto. One of the most powerful clans in the region purely by population, friendly towards the Tanba clan.
******* Central Fort: Kyoto (Symbolic capital)
****** There are no other notable inter-clan alliances as of current.
***** Events:
******
**** South:
***** Background: The South has always been the most politically stable bit of Nihon - but that doesn't mean it's actually stable. As the main trade route for most of Nihon it has always held outsized power over its currency, its politics and more, but it is also the direct contact point for any kind of foreign power. Tanegashima was where the Agoustans landed, Nagasaki is a Syonanese haven, and more - and because of that, the South, once a bastion of stability, may no longer be in the cards as king...
***** Clans: 
****** Tanba: OTL Hyogo province. Minor branch of the Minamoto clan and the only one with no associations with the Kanzaki; reasonably powerful as the inheritor of the last remaining professional military forces in Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Kobe
****** Harima: OTL Okayama prefecture. Run by another minor branch of the Minamoto clan, although linked to the Kanzaki defected to join Nobunaga before anything too dangerous could happen. Tiny rump clan.
******* Central Fort: Okayama
****** Inaba: OTL Tottori Prefecture. Friendly to the Tanba and Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Tottori
****** Bingo: Official name of the effective city-state of Fukuyama. Foreigner-friendly, run by the Otomo family - only place in Nihon with a significant amount of Christians, specifically Iberian Protestants. On bad terms with most of the region.
******* Central Fort: Fukuyama
****** Izumo: Centred around the Izumo-Matsue area. Primarily Joseonese-Han - acts like an effectively independent state. Friendly relations with Joseon. Trading clan.
******* Central Fort: Izumo
****** Iwami: OTL Shimane prefecture. Partly-Joseonese-Han. Allied with Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Gotsu
****** Mori: OTL East Yamaguchi prefecture. Associated with Bingo, run by the other branch of the Otomo family.
******* Central Fort: Gofu
****** Choshu: OTL West Yamaguchi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: Shimonoseki
****** Sanuki: OTL North Kagawa prefecture. Allied with Awa.
******* Central Fort: Takamatsu
****** Awa: OTL Tokushima prefecture. Allied with Sanuki.
******* Central Fort: Anan
****** Tosa: OTL East Kochi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Saioni: OTL West Kochi prefecture. Trading clan. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Iyo: OTL Ehime prefecture. Ruled by the Uzumaki family.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Bungo: North Kyushu. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: Kitayushu
****** Satsuma: Kyushu, Ryukyu and Hiroshima prefectures. Powerful trading clan in control of most of Nihon's navy as well as a significant Christian population; with large Syonanese minorities. Most economically significant region of Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Nagasaki
****** No other significant alliances.
***** Events:
******
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 - ?? [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.
** Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - ??): 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.
** Kinoshita Tokichiro (1542 - ??):
** Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - ??):
** Widyawati: 
* 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 - ??): 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.
* 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 (1533 - ??):
*** Nobuhiro (1534 - ??):
*** Nobuyuki (1534 - ??):
*** Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - ??):
** Third Generation: 
==== Mutapa ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Mwene: Negomo Chirisamhuru
* 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 gett a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with many of the nations/tribes around us.
* Capital: Ne-we 
* Demographics:
** Population: 848 000 
** Cities:
*** Ne-We: 6 342
*** Kiwe: 3 500
** Rural areas: 838 158
** Ethnicites: 74,5% Shona, 17% Karanga, 8% Swazi, 0,5% Swahili
** Religion: 97.9% (830 192) Mwari believers, 2.1% (17 808) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
* Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
** Continued invasion of Nipele: having captured the coast, the army (50% army) starts pushing them further inland as to make them capitulate.
* Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we can have an active miltary size of 2% (16 960) and reserves size of 1% (8 480) of our total population.
** Active: 2%
*** 6 993 African Spearmen
*** 5 993 bowmen
*** 3 994 Light Cavalry 
** Reserves: not active 1%
*** 3 494 African Spearmen
*** 2 949 bowmen
*** 2 037 Light Cavalry
* Navy:
** Fishing boats: 534
* Diplomacy:
** Imerina: The missionaries are welcomed...
* Events: 
=== Turn XXXVII: 1580-1585 ===
==== Mod Event ====
*Amber Bear (finale?): Andrus groggily woke up somewhere that he did not know exists. Judging from the walls, it was somewhere in a cave, or perhaps in a dungeon. Regardless, he found himself strapped to a chair. Suddenly, a hooded figure approached him with some demands. Andrus was told to stop the war, he was told that thousands had died in a war for nothing. Andrus denied this, telling that the war was to assure position in the Baltic Sea. The figure relented, and argued that whether it is true or not, whether if Andrus did it for personal reasons or for the advancement of the government's interest, it became very unpopular. If Andrus does not accept, Keisaria will go down a dark path. To elaborate, there are many factions in court, many of which will be increasingly agitated if the war takes its toll. Andrus demanded to see the figure's face, to pull down the hood. The hooded figure agreed, and pulled down his hood. It was Vallen, they sent him because he figured he could get through to Andrus. Anger seeps into Andrus' mind, but just as he is about to go on a tirade, Vallen stepped up and reminded him about his family. Andrus may have killed the people he loved in the past, but it were mistakes, none are really his own 100%. But his actions in the war would put his children in danger, and even if may not be his intention, it would be the closest thing to deliberately killing his family on purpose. His children are in the war, Vallen reminded him, and they are still alive and well. If the war does not stop, the children will be more likely to perish. Andrus was quiet for a second, he's tired of it. He's tired of power. Vallen offered one of the despot's children to be in place, to preserve Keisaria. Andrus finally agreed, choosing to abdicate. In 1580, Andrus would formally abdicate the throne in favor of his son Alexius. Andrus is 40 years old and he already has grey hairs. Within two years, he would oversee the end of the war. He dies in 1582 of unknown causes
*Steel Stallion (Part 4): Vallen was horrified with himself. They told him that he would be best candidate for the job of negotiating with Andrus. Vallen wasn't so keen on it, yet they insisted if it were to bring peace. Vallen reluctantly accepted this and went to negotiate. He saw Andrus in a chair, his nose is broken, his left eye is swollen, and there's probably some blood running down his clothes. What have they done to him? When Andrus finally woke up, Vallen started to negotiate peace by accepting the demands of Svearike and Avaro-Vedena. After some argument, Vallen was surprised to see the normally stubborn Andrus tiredly looks up to his eyes, tears of betrayal falling out. But Andrus's face also gave him a solemn look. He's tired, and he'll accept Vallen's demands, but not after he mentioned he wants one of his children to do it. Vallen agrees with this, it was perfect. He would then oversee the rebuilding of Keisaria, if he is allowed. He has heard of an expedition planned. Unfortunately, life would not see him through to this. In 1580, had a letter sent to him from a familiar place; Avaro-Vedena... home. He hasn't seen it in a while, not for years, when he opened the letter, it was of his adoptive family begging him to go back to Avaro-Vedena. His work with the "Cossacks" did not go unnoticed, and his efforts had secured peace between both sides. So he was called back to Avaro-Vedena to address the growing Atouman issue. When he arrived, he saw a group of nobles waiting for him around a table, he was introduced by his father (who was somehow still alive) to the group. He discovered that they were a group of renegade nobles and generals that couldn't stand the non-aggression pact with Atoumans. If they were to do something, it would be on their own. They got permission from the ruler of Avaro-Vedena to build a army of professional soldiers not restricted by borders, and they tasked Vallen to help Westria with this army against the Atouman incursion.
*When questioned about why they had gone against the NAP, the officials explained that Westria isn't stupid enough to think they could handle the Atoumans on their own and sent out letters asking for help from nobles, calling for a "Crusade against the Atoumans", with blessings by the pope. Vallen eventually agrees to this, and spent the next 2 years looking around the countryside and recruiting the best horseriders (and experienced soldiers) for his army. When asked about this, he called it the "Hussars", a term that existed and inspired by Matthias Corvinus' time. In 1582, his professional 'crusading' (more like freeroaming) army was finally complete. In 1582, he travels to Westria in order to push out the Atouman forces. Ride of the Hussars.
*First Expedition into Siberia: Enlisted by a Keisarian nobles in 1582, to take advantage of fur-trade in the region, Simo Marin leads a small army into Kazakh , which surprisingly managed to suppress the Kazakh army through use small naval vessels such as rafts and rapid movement using the Volga River. Simo Marin left Turgai probably in the summer of 1581. But agreed that has Marin leave on September 1, 1582 and originally conquer Sibir three months later. Though, he decided it would be best to subjugate the Kazakh instead. Over the next several months various armies and nobles offered their submission, seeing repeated defeats. After subjugating so much territory, Simo Marin, perhaps unexpectedly, found himself the ruler of a Khanate. He sent Ivan Koltso, 50 men and 5,200 furs to Mustajoki to announce his conquest. A few days later Marin's envoys reached Mustajoki. The Despot Alexios, who had been sketch about the whole thing being a success, immediately changed his mind and promised to send representatives. He sent Marin gifts including the famous suit of armor, and granted him control of Kazakh in exchange for tributary/puppet status, it's an upgrade from exploitation, at least to some.
*Vesnian Civil War: With the death of the old King of Vesnia, the oldest son was set to inherit the entire realm as per primogeniture succession, however, strong nobles and other siblings vying for power led to the duchy being fractured into several counties, each fighting over the dominance of others: Wolgast, Berlin, Brao and Köslin.
*The Gregorian Calendar: The Julian Calendar, created by Julius Caesar, was the most widely used calendar in the western world, one that didn't need manual input to keep the time accurately. However, small issues with the length of days led to the calendar being out-of-sync with reality. As such, a reform was required to update the multi-century old calendar. In 1577, with assistance from various mathematicians and astrologists, Pope Gregory XIII unveils the Gregorian Calendar and puts it into use in 1582. The reforms were around the leap years, with slightly varied rules for when leap years are made to account for the inaccuracies in the length of the tropical year.
*The Dawn of the Hispanian Armada: With tensions rising between the British Isles and Hispanians, including the British colonialization of Amekrogu and the Fiasco of 1579, the Hispanians were itching for a fight, so the Spanish prepare for the inevitable, with the construction of a fleet that will put the British in their place once and for all.
*Dortmund Settlement: With more pressing issues to take care of on their periphery (ahem Atoumans) than a bunch of heretics, the Archduke of Westria presents an offer: Princes within the Empire are allowed to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism as the official state religion and Bohemia will be granted independence; in return, they are obliged to contribute to defending the Empire against the threat of the Atouman invasion. The other party, consisting of emissaries from Bohemia and the Schmalkaldic League members, who have been sympathetic to the former's cause, agreed to the compromise, and requested that other Protestant Princes consider the offer. The treaty was signed in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund in 1582, and was ratified by most prominent dukes and counts in the years after. The Dortmund Settlement made the legal division of Christianity within the Holy Roman Empire permanent, and established the principle of "cuius regio, eius religio" ("whose realm, his religion"), among others. This principle, however, are not applied to ecclesiastical territories within the empire, and excludes some knights and cities from having to enforce religious uniformity.
*Cologne War: With the Dortmund Settlement having determined that ecclesiastical territories are reserved from "cuius regio, eius religio", bishops are supposed to resign from their post if they convert to Lutheranism. However, in 1582, the Archbishop of Cologne converted to Protestantism, but instead attempted to enforce religious parity among the bishopric, which is in violation of the Settlement, and attempted to turn the territory of the Bishopric of Cologne into a secular, dynastic duchy. This led to a war between Catholics and Lutherans in late 1583, initially within the Bishopric, then involved Bavarian and Papal mercenaries for the Catholic side and Palatinate and Dutch for the Protestant side respectively, and by late 1584 have spiraled into a religious war with the financial backing of several great powers, with Catholic France and Westria on one side and Protestant dukes of Northern Germany and Odinist Vestkyst on the other.
*Dutch Revolt: An intense struggle along the Maas allows the Dutch forces to capture Charleroi and Namur, while the Vestkyster navy blockaded the river, leading to the city of Antwerp being retaken. However, with Westria's strong control over Wallonia, they were able to mount a counteroffensive and retake Flanders by late 1584, though naval superiority along the Maas and the Scheldt estuary allows the Dutch to retain control of several cities in Wallonia, from where they would run campaigns harassing Westrian forces.
*Assassination of William the Silent: Having been declared an outlaw by the Westrian crown in the early 1580s and had a bounty on his head, he was assassinated by one Balthasar Gerardts in 1584 with a pair of pistols in the town of Delft, marking the first ever assassination of a head of state using a firearm. Gerardts would later be found, arrested and gruesomely executed, while his son, Maurice of Nassau, was elected stadtholder in his place.
*Amara's Bizarre Adventures (Final): How long was it, 60 years since Simao began his shenanigans in Asia? Amara couldn't count that long, but she knows she was there for 40 years of it. Ever since her ship was attacked, leaving her shipwrecked in Nihon, she swore revenge against the man. After 2 years in Nihon, she started traveling to all sorts of places. Back in 1565, she finally caught her break when she received a tip. He was supposed to exit some sort of gathering in Qishan. Amara sent her men, and herself over to the district, and blocked it off. She had them line out outside, ready to arrest him. The reports were true, as soon as he came out of the gatering, she initially started yelling at him to get himself down on the ground. But she stopped herself... she decided to just pull the trigger........ After the events of Simao, Amara didn't really know what to do. She did help represent Agousta throughout Asia, and its reputation, through the next few years but she wasn't really big on it. She eventually turned to piracy herself, though she mainly attacked other pirate ships and others in self-defense, cementing herself as a legendary pirate (and figure that represents other things) in South-East Asia. Has anyone even heard of a heroic and honorable pirate? Someone might call you insane, but it's a true story.
*Prince of Persia (Part 1): During the decline of the Third Daevite Empire, Persia was partitioned amongst a number of Daevite warlords, leading to six kingdoms (Abadun, Hawza, Kandahar, Keqi, Khorason, Lakhani, and Qanbar) being carved out of the mountainous terrain. The most powerful of these six kingdoms were the Nazeri dynasty of Keqi and the Torabi dynasty of Khorasan, both maintaining large militaries and gunpowder munitions. While the old warlords agreed to remain at peace during their tenure, in 1582, a Turkish warlord known as Kannan would instigate a civil war in Khorasan, capturing the old Azarkh and his family and using them as puppets to gain leverage over the military. By 1584, Kannan would kill the old Daevite ruler, slaughtering his heirs and marrying all of his daughters, thus making himself the only ruler of Khorasan after instituting his army into the national military. This power would ultimately go to his head, with himself becoming enlarged due to having the kingdom’s wealth and many of his desenters referring to him as “Kannan The Fat”, but for Kannan however, he had been inspired by the legends of great Daevite conquerors in his youth, and believed himself to be their designated ‘heir’ to the throne after having successfully ‘conquered’ Khorasan. This ideology would become central to their foreign policy in coming years. Meanwhile, since the death of Ismertes in the Safaretid kingdom, his son Behzestes has overall failed to solve the state’s problems, leading to decentralization of the state. Behzestes’ heir and eldest son, Farrokh, sees what is going on with the state, but his attempts at reform are denied by his aging father under the belief that tradition is more than enough to supply a state than change.
==== NPC Event ====
*France: The fragile peace between French Catholics and French Protestants end when the Duke of Anjou passes away, leading to another civil war rising up with the goal of eradicating the French Protestants in 1584.
*Vinland: They accept Britain's proposal for developing the longboats. Their war against the Amaiqac slows down, with hostilities becoming only minor skirmishes. The Nahican chiefdom is in talks for joining Vinland and through a marriage of the earl of Tradailcaladh and the princess of the Nahicans they are added to the earldom of Tradailcaladh.
*Svearike: After the peace in Keisaria is accepted, the Svearike gained the lands they have occupied in the war.
*Avaro-Vedena: Now that the peace with Keisaria is accepted, they turned their attention towards the Atoumans. There are several factions that popped up addressing the situation, though most had wished for peace. Some renegade nobles has answered the call of Westria to form a "crusade" against the Atouman forces by forming an army of professional horseriders and called them the "Hussars", a term dated to Matthias Corvinus of Eskos a while back.
*Huanca: They expand further east, integrating the rest of of the neighboring tribal areas.
*Rea: They put the Nikephorians out of their misery.
*Khiva: They invade the Nogai horde, taking over the southern provinces.
*Wu: A Jesuit, Matteo Ricci, was allowed entrance into the country, while the first of private newspapers published was recorded in the 1580s
*Cculcontay: They accept, and begin invading Khalkha lands. By 1584, they come close to sieging Khüree, the Khalkha capital.
*Khalkha Khanate: With them beginning to lose, numerous Khalkha tribesmen flee into the steppes of Northern Ba, destabilizing the region even more.
*Papal States: In 1583, they request the British to be removed from Amekrogu or face consequences.
==== King of Galatoi (until 1584) -> Empire of Galatoi (from 1584) ====
Government: Monarchy.
# Emperor: Macareus Aendarus (1580-nowadays). Like his father, Macareus has been interested in warfare since quite a young age. At the age of 15, he was sent to Paris to study at the University of Sorbonne. A few months later after his return, his father died from poisoning. The suspicions laid to the king of Djenne, and the declaration of war on Djenne marked the beginning of the “Grand Conquests”, although Macareus realised that he is destined to “rule over the World” after he met Sabir, his companion and secret lover of Moorish descent.
# Isarnus Aendarus (1552-1580). Isarnus, which means "Iron" in Galatoin, was the only son of Magnurius. Since childhood, Isarnus was interested in war and combat. He studied at the university in Mauretania, from which he brought the novel military tactics that he managed to implement in battles during the Civil War. Isarnus was well-respected in the military and among artists. He died at the age of 60 from poisoning.
# Magnurius Aendarus (1531-1552) was the only relative to the former king of Galatoi, who passed away in 1530. He was coronated in the times of peace, and peace he promised, and peace he brought. Since then, the new dynasty shall reign: the Aendarus family.
After the death of Isarnus, Macareus decided to reorganise the feudal system in the kingdom and change the local lords. Local lord is a title given by the King to the appointees who are granted much power over the region they are assigned to govern.
# Blue Galatoi is governed directly by the King himself. It is the homeland of all the Galatoins and the most influential regon in the kingdom. Advorix is the biggest commercial, religious and political center of Galatoi. In addition, the city of Donnius is a major naval port and also a center of Atlantic Slave Trade in Galatoi. Unfortunately, the Baccuso region was damaged the most by the Civil War as the peasants there often experience hunger close to starvation, and Baccuso as a city keeps shrinking in size and importance.
# Velitia is governed by Sacrovir, leader of the Advorix Church in Velitia. Velitia is a major educational, religious and commercial centre of the region.
# Ghana is governed by Sammiola, a daughter of a wealthy noble and a slave trader. She and Macareus first met at the university of Sorbonne and since then they became close friends. The people of this region used not to be fond of the King and the local lord, however nowadays only few are dissatisfied, most of them are the elderly.
# Baoul is the smallest region of Galatoi, but also the most important one military-wise as it shares borders with the kingdom of Djenne. A lot of military bases take place there and it has quite an advanced logistics system to supply the troops in times of war. It is governed by Tritos, a famous military strategist and engineer, who used to be the best friend of Isarnus.
# Kayes was governed by Remicus, who was a religious fanatic, to say the least, and oppressed the rights of religious minorities and forbade them to take part in trading and governing. However, he was replaced with Agisillus, a military general. He pulled back the oppressive laws introduced by Remicus and granted religious freedom to the locals.
# Boke is governed by Nizar, son of Dannonus, was born there and respects the people of the region and their heritage, though he still allows the construction of Saturday schools there.
The economy of Galatoi is the most advanced and developed in the region. The Atlantic Slave Trade with Albion and Agousta made it possible for slaveowners to profit and become major landowners that partially replaced the local lords in addition to new European technologies coming over to Galatoi. The local lords appointed by Macareus introduce local taxes on trade and certain goods, which further fragmentises the economic system of Galatoi. Gold trade plays a key role in the economic development of Galatoi. Most of the gold mines are controlled by the King himself, and an advanced currency system using various gold coins is present.
Demographics: The population of the kingdom is around 3 million people. The population of Blue Galatoi is approximately one million people, most of them (95%) live in rural areas.
* Advorix is the capital and the biggest city of Galatoi. It is the commercial, political, cultural, and religious center of the region, including the slave trade. It was also the center of the Advorix Church before the civil war.
* Although Velitia was the center of the theocratic regime that opposed the King during the Civil War and shrank in size significantly since then, it is still one of the biggest cities of Galatoi and also a major religious center of the region. In addition, since the University of Velitia has been rebuilt, Velitia managed to regain its status as the scientific powerhouse of the region.
* Baccuso is one of the oldest cities in the history of Galatoi, thus an important political center, but also a major naval port.
* Saminia is one of the major commercial and political centers in the region, rivaling Advorix.
* The location of Donnius made it the biggest naval port of Galatoi and it is home to thousands of sailors. It is also a center of the slave trade in Galatoi.
Religions:
* Ateuritism is the main religion of Galatoi, which has been an integral part of this country for centuries. However, as a result of the recent Civil War, the influence of the Church in the society has been significantly reduced by the King and the nobility. The regions of Alluci (where the tribes that would become Galatoi moved before Valcanor separated them) and Lutetia (around Paris, the ancient original home of the would-be Galatoi) are considered to be the holy sites of Ateuritism, and thousands of people go there on a pilgrimage. There is one supreme God, called Vallus (which is the documented name of a chieftain, who led the Gaulic migrating tribes to their new home after they were separated by the original Kingdom of Valcanor.) It is believed that he created 9 other gods to maintain the balance of the world. But 3 of them went on an evil path and another 3 chose to stay between good and evil and not take either of the sides. This led to an axis based on Law-Chaos and Good-Evil being created for the gods:
** Good bloc: Atregtius (Lawful Good, God of Justice and Righteousness), Sedia (Neutral Good, Goddess of Practicality and Regulation), Butiro (Chaotic Good, God of Freedom and Self-Defense).
** Neutral bloc: Vicana (Lawful Neutral, Goddess of Order and Settling), Leuceni (True Neutral, God of Instinct and Apathy), Albic (Chaotic Neutral, God of Individuality and Debauchery).
** Evil bloc: Trita (Lawful Evil, Goddess of Extortion and Hierarchy), Maglubix (Neutral Evil, God of Greed and Ambition), Sacrovirus (Chaotic Evil, God of Senseless Destruction and Chronic Slaughter)
* Both Arzham and Christianity have presence in several regions of Galatoi, but their influence in the society is nowehere near the one of Ateuritism.
* There are hundreds, if not thousands of local pagan religions across the country and despite each having a small following, they make up a big portion of population in general. Since the introduction of Satuday schools and the relative success of Inquisition, Ateuritism slowly spreads there, absorbing one village after another.
Diplomacy:
* Albion: the Bilateral Albish-King Association and the kingdom of Galatoi are trade partners, which marked the beginning of the slave trade for Albion
* Agousta: In 1563, several major slave owners pressured king Isarnus to sign a trade agreement with the king of Agousta and the governor of Vera Cruz
Military:
* Tritos is the governor of Baoul and used to be the best friend of Isarnus. He is a famous military general and engineer. His army consists of thirteen thousand regular infantry troops, seven thousand cavalry and much artillery.
* Vecatus is one of the most important military generals in Galatoi as he leads an army of five thousand cavalry and six thousand infantry troops.
* Royal army is the army of the King himself. It is usually scattered across the kingdom, but the most of it is present in the south-west of the Velitia region and in the north of the Boke region to defend the gold mines there. It consists of almost three thousand regular infantry troops.
* Feudal armies are controlled by the local lords. The total number of all feudal armies in the kingdom varies from time to time, but on average, the number is up to four thousand regular infantry troops.
Architecture of Galatoi initially resembled the one in Europe (pre-romanesque), but later it was influenced by the one in kingdoms in West Africa and the Middle East. However, as European countries such as Agousta and Albion started trading with Galatoi, the aesthetics of classical antiquity took over the scene. White marble, orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aediculae replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles of medieval buildings. Advorix Church is the biggest structure in the kingdom. It was being constructed for almost 20 years and its design resembles the one of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and Florence Cathedral.
Events:
* Homoeroticism: Homoeroticism has become noticeable in Galatoin mythology and art. Artists, writers and poets use characters in their works of art to express a variety of feelings and situations and male deities of Ateuritism are paired in stories. In different regions, different pairs were used, which caused tensions between worshippers from different regions of Galatoi. However, in 1569, the Advorix Church published the "Velitia Edicts", in which allows the usage of certain "pairings", officialy declaring them canon (such as LeuTius, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Atregtius, God of Justice and Righteousness), and forbids the usage of many other "pairings" (such as LeuVirus, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Sacravirus, God of Senseless Destruction).
* Atlantic Slave Trade: Since the Atlantic Slave Trade emerged, the slaveowners in Galatoi now have access to the markets in the Americas as a source of new profit. As the economy was severely ruined as a result of the Civil War and further conquests by the King, the new social class of major landowners who profited from the slave trade with Europeans (Agoustans, mostly) emerged. In fact, they became so powerful, that they managed to put enough pressure on the King to sign certain trade agreements with Agousta. In addition, it also means that a much bigger standing army can be maintained and the royal treasury can be filled to secure the stable position of the kingdom.
* Saturday Schools: across the country, simple educational facilities commonly called "Saturday schools" (because they work only on Saturdays, obviously). At Saturday schools, children and teens are taught how to read and the basics of writing, but most importantly, they are taught Ateuritism.
* Taurina was born in a family of slaves in the region of Velitia. However, as she was growing up, her notorious intelligence was impossible to notice and soon she was sent to enroll at the University of Velitia. Her slaveowner had no children and when they died, Taurina was freed. However, around the same time, the Civil War erupted and the University was destroyed. After the Civil War and Iron Conquests, she used her intelligence to elevate her position in the society. Soon, she became a prominent Slave trades, although she treated her slaves as employees rather than servants. The reconstruction of the university was commissioned by her in 1563, and sooner Taurina was appointed as the local lord of the King in the Velitia region.
# Death of Isarnus: Although Isarnus was no longer young, there was no sign of him dying from old age anytime soon. However, at the very beginning of 1580, five months since Macareus returned, Isarnus was found dead in his room several hours after a regular dinner. Later it was discovered that the cause of death was poisoning. There was only one person who had enough power to do this - Zuhr Al-Bagiani, the king of Djenne. Zuhr was known to be a vile despot, who came up on top of the hierarchy through manipulations and intrigues. It was known that his favorite style of play was poisoning his opponents. The person who commited the poisoning of Isarnus was publicly executed later.
# Rise of Macareus: Macareus spent 5 years studying philosophy and law at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. In addition, he also studied military strategy and tactics there. During this period of time, Macareus learned a lot about the current state of France and West Europe in general and managed to make friends with a lot of people there. As he returned home, he was greeted by his family, especially his father. Isarnus told him a lot about the current situation of Galatoi. However, five months later, Isarnus died and Macareus found out about the details of the tragedy. He couldn’t stand still and gave no response to Zuhr. As he came to the throne, Macareus reshuffled the feudal structure of the kingdom and quickly two months later, at the beginning of 1580. (see Grand Conquests)
Grand Conquests: 1580 was the year when the Grand Conquests of the king, and later emperor, Macareus began using his advanced military strategy and tactics and intelligence. Note: each slide of the part shows the state of affairs at the BEGINNING of the year.
# 1580: Although Zuhr knew about Macareus preparing for war against him, the declaration of war was a surprise, and not a welcome one. The army led Tritos and Macareus (Baoul army) defeated the army of Usama Husain, a Djenne military general who was assigned to patrol the border with Galatoi, in a series of battles and began moving towards Djenne. The army led by Vecatus (Baccuso army) also began their own invasion.
# 1581: When the Baoul army came over to the city of Djenne, the army of Zhur was already there, defending the King and the city. During a long and tiring battle, Macareus, Tritos, and their army stormed the city, then the palace, and executed Zhur there. Salim Al-Bagiani, the brother of Zhur and also the king of Gao, declared himself the king of Djenne and continued the war with Macareus. The army led by Vecatus continued its expansion into the southern regions of the kingdom of Djenne and it is ready to subjugate the peoples of Baule.
# 1582: The Baoul army continued its campaign to the cities of Timbuktu and Gao, the last bastions of the kingdom of Djenne. They face no resistance, and the people there would rather live under the rule of the king of Galatoi than obey Zuhr or his brother Salim. The Baccuso army subjugated most of the lands populated by the peoples of Baule, thus expanding the empire in all directions.
# 1583: In less than 3 months, the cities of Timbuktu and Gao fell as the army of Salim was defeated in the battle near a small village of Dire. At first, Mac wanted to execute Salim, like he did with Zuhr. However, he later decided to give Salim a chance to become a vassal in exchange for sparing him, which was (obviously) accepted. Around the same time, Macareus meets Sabir (see Macareus and Sabir). The army led by Vecatus continued subjugating the peoples of Baule.
# Emperor Macareus: When Salim was defeated and the conquered lands were incorporated into Galatoi, he returned to the city of Djenne, where he declared himself the emperor of Galatoi. The local lords, slave traders, nobles, and even commonfolk across the country came to the city to see Macareus in a new light. Around the same time, Tritos passed away and his army is now under the direct control of Macareus.
# 1584: Macareus founded the city of Macareia and declared Vecatus the king of Baulia. During the following months, Macareus was preparing for his new campaign. He conquers the city of Kumasi and later declares war on the kingdom of Mossi, which marked the beginning of his second, much more grand campaign.
Macareus and Sabir: Macareus and Sabir first met after king Zuhr was defeated and executed in his palace. Sabir Al-Hakam was one of the advisors of the king of Moorish descent and he was famous for his intelligence and administrative skills. Macareus invited Sabir to discuss various matters in private, such as assisting him in governing the newly conquered lands. However, when they met at midnight and Mac could see Sabir, a new feeling that he never experienced before came out of nowhere. His appearance, manners, intelligence - Mac realised that he fell in love at this point. On the next day, Sabir was assigned to be the governor of Djenne and also the advisor of the king.
They didn’t see each other until Macareus returned to Djenne and declared himself the emperor. During the declaration, Sabir stood next to Mac as he basically was the second most important figure in the country. However, Macareus wanted Sabir to be more than just an advisor or a friend. Unfortunately, despite the homoerotic aesthetic of religious art, homosexuality isn’t just regarded as a “deviancy”, but also punishable by death. As they were spending more time together, Sabir started noticing weird behaviour from Macareus towards him, but he didn’t pay much attention to it. “This must be how Mac treats everyone”, - he thought. But Mac was still afraid to express his feelings towards his object of affection.
After the end of the war with Djenne, Mac was trying to deal with anxious thoughts and questioned matters that concerned him. At these times, only Sabir was around him and he was the only one to help him deal with his crumbling state of mind. One night, before going to sleep, Macareus came over to his advisor and confessed about his feelings towards him and also shared all the anxious thoughts he had in mind for several months. Sabir didn’t reciprocate affection towards him but he wanted to help Mac with his anxiety as they were friends nevertheless. Although the pain from unrequited love will not go off anytime soon, Macareus felt ease in his mind for the first time in months.The unhealthy thoughts still haunt him from time to time, but he feels he is ready to continue his conquests.
===="De Kaap" (Cape) | Dragon's Fire====
*Leadership Structure: The organisation has been crumbling following the death of Lars Hatgers, the third Grand Dragon. He is succeeded by a senior chief who has better plans than to keep the organisation alive. Dragon's Fire in its current form is barely what it is, with its dissolution becoming more likely every day. (Stage 1 of 3 dissolution is commenced.)
**Grand Dragon:
***Mechiel Tangelder (b. 1480 - d. 1549, office 1502 - 1542)
***Koen van der Wel (b. 1502 - d. 1570, office 1542 - 1559)
***Lars Hatgers (b. 1515 - d. 1577, office 1558 - 1577)
***David Hospes (b. 1540, office since 1577)
**Senior Chiefs: Five figures
*Government: A provisional government was established in place upon the settlement of Kaapstad as a provisional outpost and settlement initially. Leadership of the Dragon's Fire remains dominant and ever since the death of Hatgers as the third Grand Dragon in its organisation's history, it is shifting away from being led by an organisation to simply becoming a hybrid republic and colonial government (despite being unassociated with the Netherlands de facto and de jure). The Governor position is created by the new Grand Dragon, David Hospes on 1579, electing himself as the first Governor of Kaap.
**Government Type: Provisional council
**Governor: David Hospes (b. 1540s, office since 1579)
*Membership: 200 members are 'full' members of this organisation, while 60 of them are former members of this organisation. This does not include the 210 who are brought along or have been born into the settlement and camps in Kaap, including many children and wives of members who are willing to depart from the Netherlands to a new place. Combined brings the current 'population' of De Kaap (Cape) as 510, though the population would struggle to survive the new climate. Also including from the privatisation compromise are those ships (they may be scrapped; but discussions around trade with other ports are considered as late as the late 1570s):
**4 transport ships
**1 caravel
*Diplomacy: N/A
*Operations: N/A
*Events:
**Survival of the Fittest (II): Just ten years have passed and the settlers have become used to the new environment after dropping in their population. With smaller outer settlements from the main settlement/outpost of what would be Kaapstad today established with a purpose of farming and to source water from streams and rivers in a desert environment, the population stabilised by the mid-1580s. However, it would take a while for a whole generation to grow up in a new environment. Few settlers have also encountered indigenous people while gathering water, the Khoisan peoples (that is intentional, as there are more ethnic groups to this) recently, however. Things aren't looking as good for the settlers of Kaap... It might lead to the end of this ambitious project as set decades ago by the early leaders of Dragon's Fire.
**Fall of Dragon's Fire (I): While the ambitious plot and project by Dragon's Fire is accomplished through wacky, yet almost achievable aims, Dragon's Fire would begin its first stage of decommission with the formation of the proper government of Kaap. Members are now leaving the organisation for the first time, with meetings around the organisation's issues becoming less relevant each passing year. It is estimated that by the end of the century, Dragon's Fire would be dismantled entirely.
**Outside Affairs: Trade is still a hugely debated topic. While there are few ships that have passed the Cape of Good Hope by sight, none have taken interest in trading with Kaap, rather using it as a pinpoint. Sending their own ships to other ports is still not closed yet, with decommissioning ever more likely as a generation is growing up to a self-sufficient, isolated life than interacting with the world.
==== Empire of Matagaskar ====
* Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
** Monarch: Emperor Andriamanelo (B 1546 - Age 38, alive) (R 1572 - Present)
** Consort: Empress Ramaitsoanala (B 1546 - Age 38, alive)
** King Dowager (and head of the Fossa Warriors): King Razakatsitakatrandriana (B 1527 D 1585- Age 55)
** Ruling Dynasty: Hova (Ndahimananjara branch of Ammagari)
** Order of Succession: Prince Ralambo (B 1566 - Age 18, alive), Prince Andrianjaka (B 1571 - Age 13, alive), Prince Andrianimpito (B 1576 - Age 8, alive), Princess Rasolobe (B 1556 - Age 28, alive), Prince Manelobe (B 1529 - Age 55, alive), (his children), Princess Zakalamanjafotany (B 1552 - Age 32, alive), Prince Andriatanjany (B 1541 - Age 43, alive)...
* Economy: The economy of Matagaskar is based mainly on agriculture and fishing, there's also trade going on with the Swahili. 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: N/A
* Capital: Mahajanga
* Demographics:
** Population: ca 784 000 total
** Mahajanga: 9 720
** Toamasina: 4 200
** Analamanga: 4 100
** Manakara: 2 600
** Ambanja: 2 400
** Morafenobe: 2 200
** Toliara: 1 700
** Moroni: 1 000
** Rural regions: ca 754 000
** Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (divided into 39% Merina and 49% others such as Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Sihanaka, Antankarana etc.), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), 5% Adnanite
** Religion: 89% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, 11% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore)
* 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%): 7 780
** 2 300 Spearmen
** 1 230 Swordsmen
** 400 Bowmen
** 2 000 Crossbowmen
** 1 500 Light Cavalry
** 350 Fossa Warriors
* Navy:
** 10 Adananita class ships
** 7 Mer'ana class ships
** 8 transport ships
* Diplomacy:
** Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla: We offer you protection against Mutapa, we only want some tribute in exchange except for Mtende where we would like to establish a trade post colony.
** Avesta: We should co-operate more and stick together, we both follow Zoroastrianism after all and we can put previous conflicts behind us. Can you please fackeng rëspouond?
* Events:
** Andriamanelo Again: Emperor Andriamanelo is still in power and to fit in with the whole "unification" thing he makes some reforms or whatever. One thing he does to stop the vassals of the realm from seeking more power to themselves is to use history itself. He digs up old documents, going as far back as the early 1400s that legitimize his position as monarch and you can in a way trace his lineage back to Andrianerinerina, son of Zanahary (which in Tombovelan Zoroastrian exists as a powerful god and the specific god of the Malagasy people, but he is still under Ahura Mazda). This way he can basically say "I descend from a deity itself so I am emperor and I do what I want lol."
** Order of Sihanaka: Same as previous turns, they just convert heathens and get paid for it.
** Increasing Population: From living standards increasing (by medieval standards) as well as expansion, such as through the conquest of the entirety of Matagaskar, our population has increased by quite the margin.
** Swords: Swords have become a much more useful weapon to us. They start to phase out spears a bit and also the spears become more adaptable due to how warfare changes over time.
** Settlement of Maorisy: Ranjeva sets out to settle Maorisy (Mauritius) mainly for the purposes of studying plant life and animals there. Ranjeva, his family and some other settlers thus sail out to Maorisy in 1582 and colonize it in the name of Matagaskar. Although the territory does in a way act independent due to its small population and distance from the mainland. But it's not like many laws on the mainland need to be enforced on this territory so yeah.
====The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)====
*Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
*Drakes:
**Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - ) (R: 1561 - )
***Son: Luke (M, b. 1567 - )
**Sister: Francis(ca) (F, b. 1541 - )
**Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - )
***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 - )
**Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - )
***Married off to a Westrian prince
**Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
***Daughter: Valerie
***Son: Peter
**Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - )
***Son: Noah
***Son: Janet
*Important People:
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: 6.88 million (+345k “external subjects”)
**British Mainland: 6.88 million
**British Settlers: 580
***Jamestown: 180
***Fort Elysia: 140
***Fort Epheria: 137
***Greensfort: 133
***New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 115
***Elysian Local Population: 345 thousand external subjects
*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.
**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.
**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.
**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
**Fort Avalon
**Fort Epheria
**Fort Elysia
Wars and Conflicts
*Americas: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity with the added risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter.
*Spain: See Events for more info
Armed Forces
*Total: 126,265 Manpower (1.8% of population)
*Army
**Total: 119,900
**British Defense Force: (British Mainland)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 15,000
***Marksman Infantry: 38,000
***Light Cavalry: 8,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 750
***Heavy Cavalry: 1,650
***Bow Cavalry: 2,600
***Field Artillerymen: 5,634
****Field cannons: 1,878
***Logistical Support: 23,000
**British Expeditionary Force: (In Elysia)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
***Marksman Infantry: 10,000
***Elysian Musketeers: 3,000
***Light Cavalry: 1,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 500
***Heavy Cavalry: 350
***Bow Cavalry: 300
***Field Artillerymen: 501
****Field cannons: 167
***Logistical Support: 7,000
*Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,350
**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.
**As of 1527, three factions are formed within the Roundtables
***The Crimson Sun
***The Azure Moon
***The White Orchids
****Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
**Notable (Living) Members:
***The Drake Family
*Navy:
**Personnel: 5,800 (combined between both fleets)
**Naval Vessels:
***Victory-class First-rate British Galleons:12
****Main flagship: HMS Victory
***Ember-class First-rate British Galleons: 20
****Main flagship: HMS Ember
***Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 30
****Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
***Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravel: 60
***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
***London-class Third-rate British Caravel: 4
****Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
***Dove-class Fourth-rate Dual-Purpose Merchant Caravel: 99
****These ships are given to British merchants who sail in dangerous waters, and are crewed by either mercenaries hired by said merchants or the merchants themselves. Only included in ship-counts for the navy to deter invasions by sea.
Research and Development
*MAC Cannons: McCarthy Industries continues to produce MAC Cannons 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.
**The 32 pounder long-nose MAC Cannons enter service, replacing the aging 24-pound naval cannons on the large British galleons.
**In addition, they are contracted to create a smaller cannon for use on Vinland longboats. As such, the 2 pounder cannon was created.
*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.
**Carriers: Test trials for HMS Spyder are carried out in the Elysian Bay and the nearby Potomac River. In this area, both the Vinland longboats and the HMS Spyder itself both undergo sea trials as well as training and experimentation of formations and strategies involving ships of various sizes in close areas, namely having one group act as a vanguard and the other act as escort for the fleet, while the HMS Spyder stays out in rougher seas.
**Newer British Galleons begin construction. These ships are based on the Ember-class galleons, but are slightly larger, faster, and more optimized for warfare. These ships become known as the Victory-class galleons.
**Vinland Longboats: In a collaborative effort with Vinland, both British and Vinland engineers get to work on modifying the Vinland longboat for transportation within British “Carriers”, as well as see viable possibilities for mounting cannons (mainly the 2 pounder cannon) on the vessels.
Training and Production
*10,000 Marksman Infantry
*200 Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry
*3,000 Elysian Musketeers
*1,500 Naval personnel
*Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.
Diplomacy
*Americas: With intelligence from the Vinlanders, the British decide to scope out the other nations of the Eastern Coast of North America, and see what they have to offer
**Elysia: (See Events for more details)
*Europeans: 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, at least
*Vinland: The British send what supplies they can so that the new Vinland thane can maintain their territory and then some. (see events for more details).
**The British also ask if they could collaborate with the British on creating an improved longboat, one that can mount a small cannon onboard, as well as be used with Britain’s new “carriers”
*Galatoi: The British (specifically the Bilateral Albish-King Association) asks if they wish to become trading partners, trading British goods in return for Galatoi goods. Will include African POW’s for use.
Allies
*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.
*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.
*Westria: An ally on mainland Europe who also dislikes France, cause f**k France (jk).
*Agousta: Allied with Portugal.
*Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
Events
*Tensions with Spain (Part 3): Continued tensions lead to the British Government to begin conscripting men for war.
*Rise of Protestantism: Tensions begin to rise between Odinists and Catholics in Britain, though with war on the horizon, many set aside their differences under a common enemy. Others don’t easily drop their feuds.
*Elysian Integration: The British government begins to slowly allow Elysian nobles to enter into management positions in Elysia under a watchful eye, with the hopes to eventually integrate the Elysian government into the British government.
**The British also began to integrate the Elysian royal family into the British royal family, with British nobles marrying their children into Elysian families with the hope to make the Elysian government more loyal to the British government.
*The Rise of the Company Fleets (Part 10): With the world opening up, and rumors of prosperity and gold present, various companies sprout up around Britain, with the goal to investigate various locations of notice with hopes to make it big.
**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.
***Phase 4: The BFG Company begins to exert more of its control in the region, with its realm of influence slowly extending throughout Laconia.
***Spain: With the threat of a Spanish invasion imminent, owning the largest fleet of the British Merchant Companies, they were asked to loan a portion of their navy to help with the defense of the British Isles.
***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.
***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.
**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 3b): With the creation of Fort Epheria, the company begins to slowly assert its control over the region, but that’s for the future.
****Their influence continues to spread, as it slowly creeps towards Amekrogu itself. (continued from last turn)
***Company Fleet Flagship: The Pillar of Autumn
**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.
*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)
*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
**Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
***Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.
====Atouman Empire====
*Government: Azarkhate
**Aesuit:
***Khanidon "The Righteous" (c. 1568 - )
**House of Atmanaglu:
***Ioxamander (b. 1491-1568)
****-- Nihaevran of Adrianople (b. 1494-1545)
*****Ozumuhn (b. 1524-)
******-- Bulilun of Daeva
*****Khanidon (b. 1524-)
****-- Mahrnet of Adnan (b. 1523-1575)
*****Atman III (b. 1547-)
******-- Dilara of Al-Adniya (b. 1540-)
*******Gokmen (b. 1563)
*****Ashura (b. 1555-)
*****Indra (b. 1555-)
**Grand Vizier:
***Suleyman II al-Muttari Pasha (b. 1456-1519) (c. 1501-1503, 1508-1509, 1514-1519) 
***Hersekenia al-Beyid Pasha (b. 1464-1553) (c. 1503-1507, 1513-1514) 
***Ozman al-Jafar Pasha (b. 1481-1550) (c. 1510-1513, 1524) 
***Dogukhan al-Ashur Pasha (b. 1484-1552) (c. 1519-1524, 1531-1533) 
***Utman al-Vedit Pasha (b. 1482-1545) (c. 1524-1531, 1532-1545)
***Khanidon al-Rum Pasha (b. 1524-) (c. 1545-1558, 1566-1668)
***Xodarus al-Jafar Pasha (b. 1510-1575) (c. 1558-1575)
***Gulhadon al-Ashur Pasha (b. 1531-1574) (c. 1562-1574)
***Kanzhin al-Mughari Pasha (b. 1523-1568) (c. 1562-1568)
***Muhammet al-Aybars Pasha (b. 1527-) (c. 1562-)
***Melik al-Xhadim Pasha (b. 1535-) (c. 1578-1581)
***Erdemir Türkmen Pasha (b. 1541-) (c. 1578-)
**Grand Council: 1000 seats
****Cult of Ioxamander: 358 seats
****Rationalists: 400 seats
****Fundamentalists: 242 seats
*Economy: The economy of the Atouman Empire was based on a system of iqta', an Arzhamite feudal system, as the Atouman state's ultimate goal, was consolidation and extension of the Azarkh's power, and the way to reach it was by taking advantage of resources and the revenues system by making the productive classes prosperous. So while the agrarian-based economy was fruitful in its development, it ultimately prevented the emergence of social disorder and kept the traditional organization of the culture and society as a whole. Mining operations would also aid as a driving factor of the economy, with copper, iron, silver, and gold being mined in Bulgaria while fruits are grown across the Anatolian region and Balkan peninsula producing bountiful luxuries that are consequently sold at the various port markets in Ionia and Greece. Olive trees grow in wild fashion, with their oil being harvested and sold to the highest bidder. Atouman expansion into Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries would emphasize a Greco-Persian royal sentiment, which would be emphasized furthermore in Azarkh Iskandir I's reign, who famously claimed himself as Padishah, a term historically used to describe the ruling monarch of Persia. This emphasis would lead to the capital cities becoming major commercial and industrial centers, serving as highways between the Greco-Roman-Daevite cultures and mercantile trade of the region. This would lead to a policy of tolerance that culminated in Azarkh Tayyeb's "Mandate of Adrianople", which officially allowed for the Jewish people to reside and prosper in the Atouman Realm far away from the persecution they faced at the hands of Christendom. Not only did this Mandate extend a hand of tolerance to the Jewish people, but also extended outwards to a number of Protestant states at the time, due to their own rivalry with the Papacy. Most of these people were settled in either Constantinople or other port cities along the Ionian coast. Other exports include cotton, a myriad of fruits, and plenty of slaves, primarily Neo-Pagans and Hellenic Christians in North Africa. The campaigns of Azarkh Ioxamander would lead to a boost in the economic diversity of the Empire, now exporting African goods and re-constructing the coastal cities previously razed during his conquests. A large trade network was established, due to Ioxamander's conquests, that extended from the Adnanian subcontinent to the sands of Mauretania and across the Balkan peninsula, leading to broader economic security atop of conquering millions of subjects in the process. The Atouman Empire at the end of the 16th century was the most economically profitable empire in Europe and during the 17th century, would only continue to expand further and further.
*Capital: Constantinople
*Demographics:
**Population: 23,730,000
***Anatolia: 5,300,000
***Balkans: 4,150,000
***Egypt: 4,350,000
***Greece: 1,100,000
***Syria: 850,000
***Ifriqiya: 1,025,000
***Atlasiya: 3,555,000
***Hejaz: 400,000
***Mesopotamia: 2,000,000
***Misc: 1,000,000
**Ethnicity:
***Persian: 21.3%
***Greek: 20.1%
***Aegytan: 15.9%
***Adnanite: 14.7%
***Turkish: 8.9%
***Daevite: 5.5%
***Syrian: 4.7%
***Mixed African: 3.8%
***Israelite: 3.3%
***Cyrenaican: 1.8%
**Religion:
***Arzham: Under Atouman authority, Arzham would make a re-emergence in the western world unseen since the collapse of the Askari Azarkhate in the 14th century. Followers of the Xunni belief, the House of Atmanaglu would dedicate a number of resources to spreading the word of Arzhang. This included the construction of Ozman's Temple, which would stand as the largest religious institution until the construction of Ioxamander's Temple in 1547, and numerous methods of prolythesizing that worked to varied results. It would become the most known form of Arzham in Europe at the time, with many religious scholars and priests at the time admiring the state of the Atouman Empire and it's relation to Arzham, as although the empire was not born around Kandahar, it still is seen as rightfully guided in the eyes of the Arzhamic community.
****Xunni Beliefs: The Xunni denomination of Arzham is often characterized by a greater emphasis on the prophet Arzhang, his companions in Persia, and the patronage of the all of the classic Azarkhates’ as rightly-guided successor states in contrast to the Xa’mah belief, which only correlate proper successorship to Arzhang’s original state and the Askari Azarkhate. While the Xa’mah believe that the prophet Arzhang can only be succeeded by relatives or immediate family members, the Xunni deny this concept of succession-by-lineage, instead believing that the Arzhamite community can change and evolve to the point where staying in tradition will only lead to disaster, with this concept being further emphasized by the collapse of the Askari Azarkhate. While most differences between the Xunni and the Xa’mah are relatively political in nature, the Xunni represents a majority of the believers of Arzham that are more wide-spread across Eurasia, with the Xa’mah representing pluralities in places like India and Persia.
***Christianity: Christianity following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire would stagnate during this time, declining into a plurality due to a myriad of policies introduced by the Atouman Empire, such as increased taxing, second-class citizenship, and the banning of proselytizing, which was punishable by death. This decline in Christianity would also be further aided by the re-organization of the Janissaries, which by this part were mostly made up of young Christian slaves from the Balkans that had converted to Islam. During the Atouman-Isetium War, Kaiser Achaeus would institute a similar policy of enslavement and brain-washing, kidnapping the youngest children of various Christian families in Syria and the Levant, as well as re-organizing their numerous churches and cathedrals into mosques or other Arzhamite institutions. As such, the Christian communities in the Atouman Empire declined exceptionally, with most of the Hellenic-influenced Christians converting to Arzham in the face of disaster.
***Judaism: The Jewish communities of the Atouman Empire would flourish in the 16th century due to the former Azarkh Tayyeb’s policy of tolerance. While the Jewish communities of the Empire were small and most located in Constantinople, Kaiser Achaeus would allow the construction of Synagogues along the Ionian coast in exchange for the Jewish communities paying a higher tax as part of the already existing jizya tax. This wouldn’t necessarily bother the Jewish people, for most of the Jews that were able to migrate were mostly bankers that had made fortunes off of their time spent in Europe. The Jewish population were also staunch supporters for Atouman expansion, oftentimes offering funds for extentensive campaigns meant to drive away the heretics from the Holy Land.
***Zoroastrianism: The Zoroastrian community of the Atouman Empire was primarily limited due to Zoroastrian’s decline during the rise of Arzham in Persia and due to a newly realized focus towards Arabia. Zoroastrians in the Atouman Empire were mostly specific to the oriental territories such as Hejaz and Adnania.
***Syncretic Philosophy: Representing a rather small community, Syncretic philosophy in Greece and Anatolia would foster as a result of diversification. Although syncretic schools of thought, such as the Abyadites and Aesunids, were primarily focused on inter-religion unification, other schools like the Smyrnites were more focused on political reform, specifically the adoption of secular political ideologies like democracy and republicanism. The circulation of these differing concepts would lead to Azarkh Tayyeb instituting the eradication of syncretic philosophy in the early years of the 16th century.
**Wars and Events:
***25 Years' War (1557-1583)
****Atouman-Westrian War (1578-1583): In the following year and a half, Khanidon would appoint two Grand Viziers: Melik Pasha of Atlasiya and Erdemir Türkmen Pasha of the Syrian local offices. Although the Kingdom of Westria had decidedly used the short ceasefire as a means of preparing for a secondary invasion, the Atoumans would remain in a state of military activity, which by this point, had grown exhausted with supplies dwindling. By the end of 1578, Azarkh Khanidon would march from Pozsony to Vienna, marking one of the most historically important battles in Europe in the early modern era. Although morale following the death of Ioxamander remained rather low, the siege would persist for nearly four years, during which time the King of Westria, Leon III Hohenstaufen, would flee to the Bavarian city of Munich, but due to Atouman strategic surrounding maneuvers, the royal family would be either captured or killed, including many of Leon III's direct heirs. This would ultimately affect Westria's history, for not only would Leon III be seen as cowardly across Europe, he no longer had any influence through his princes and nobility, which by this point saw a majority of them being wiped out by the Atoumans. By 1580, nearly half of the Westrian army would face mutiney in the face of catastrophe, not only believing the city to fall soon but that there was no inevitable escape out of the Atouman grip. In a surprise turn of events however, by August of 1580, Polish crusaders monikered as the "Hussars" would travel from Avaro-Vedena, which at the time was in a Non-Aggression Pact with the Atoumans, and would uplift the siege in it's final stage in 1582, leading to a crushing defeat for the Atouman Empire, who'se forces would face a scattered retreat following the battle that they would never be able to recover from for nearly fourty years'. Following the Atouman defeat at Vienna, the army of Khanidon would be pushed back to Pozsony, where their defense would be shattered with the arrival of troops from the Holy Roman Empire and remnants of the Eskosian state. The war would formally end in 1583 with the signing of the Treaty of Pest, which partitioned the territories of Eskosia between the Atoumans and Westria formally, being carried out by Atouman diplomats in the court of Leon III and Elizabeth Bathory. The signing of the treaty would see nearly fifteen years' of peace between Eskosia, Westria and the Atoumans, thus ending the 25 Years' War.
==== Mutapa ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Mwene: Negomo Chirisamhuru
* 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 gett a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with many of the nations/tribes around us.
* Capital: Ne-we 
* Demographics:
** Population: 855 000 (excluding Nipele as i don't know their population)
** Cities:
*** Ne-We: 6 942
*** Kiwe: 3 900
** Rural areas: 844 158
** Ethnicites: 74,5% Shona, 17% Karanga, 8% Swazi, 0,5% Swahili
** Religion: 97.9% (830 192) Mwari believers, 2.1% (17 808) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
* Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
** thumb|220x220pxInvasion of Mawari: In case the Mawarians accept our peaceful offer to join us, we'll invade them with the majority of our army (80% ), the army will push them to the northwest hoping to make them surrender as fast as possible so that not too much blood is spillt on our end. 
* Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we can have an active miltary size of 2% (17 100) and reserves size of 1% (8 550) of our total population.
** Active: 2%
*** 7 030 African Spearmen
*** 6 035 bowmen
*** 4 035 Light Cavalry 
** Reserves: not active 1%
*** 3 517 African Spearmen
*** 2 973 bowmen
*** 2 060 Light Cavalry
* Navy:
** Fishing boats: 574
* Diplomacy:
* Events: 
** Southern expansion: We send an offer to suthern villages (Zulu and Swazi tribes) to join Mutapa. 
** Marawi: An offer is sent to the great nation of Marawi to join our glorious nation of Mutapa peacfully (if they decline, read "Invasion of Mawari: ").
==== Council of Yolngu ====
* Government: Tribal Council.
** Chieftain: ---
** Head Shaman: Nargi
** Head Elder: Tougea
** Representatives:
*** Walwallie: Yallup
*** Amwari: Suna
*** Jawoyn: Pendor
*** Djani: Yarre
*** Gawara: Nomi
*** Alawa: Pangee
** Economy: Traditional (Bartering, Equal Value, etc)
** Main Religion: Dreamtime
** Allies:
*** Syonan
*** Wuthayhi
** Cities and Demographics:
*** Population: ~75,000
*** Ethnicity:
**** Aboriginal: 100%
***** Yolngu Nation: ~35%
***** Kalkadoon tribes: 20%
***** Gwarri tribes : ~45%
* Traditions:
** Please look under events for traditions
* Wars & Conflicts: none
*Military: ~1500 Troops
**~ 1500 troops paired with animal companions
***~N/A troops paired with a marsupial lion
***~N/A troops paired with a dingo
***~N/A troops paired with a euro
***~N/A troops paired with a perentie lizard
***~N/A troops paired with a cassowary
**~N/A troops atop great monitor lizards (gifted by syonan by trade)
**~ N/A troops going on foot
**Types of Weapons:
***~N/A troops with boomerangs
***~N/A troops with hielaman + shield
***~N/A troops with throwing spears
***~N/A troops with clubs
***~N/A troops with bone weaponry (animal and human bones)
* Diplomacy
** Wuthayhi: Hello! It’s been a super long while since we have contacted one another! But, how about we join under one banner?
** Britain: In the late 1570s, Captain Drake’s fleet arrived in the shores of Yolngu. Curious onlookers saw his arrival in a grand fleet with ships larger than the foreigners that arrived there previously. Witnesses knew that when the pale men arrived on the shores, times were changing. Only a few resented their arrival, remembering the diseases, but foreigners have arrived on shores of Yolngu for decades. Captain Drake met with higher officials in the Yolngu council and other parts of the government, relations were warm, and gifts were exchanged. The two groups trade various exotic things. The foreigners traded potatoes, pigs, and sheep in return for various local wildlife, including a kookaburra that Captain Drake takes as her own. A young blacksmith also introduced a new interesting concept to the Yolngu below (see Metallurgy).
* Events:
** Animals Domesticated and Released Occasionally: Kookaburra, Dingo, Euro, Bearded Dragon, Frilled Lizard, Perentie, Goanna, Cassowary, Marsupial Lion, Monitor Lizard & Emu.
*** Additional Domestication: Upon further inland, there have been sites of odd looking creatures similar to the Euros; in modern day Australia it is noted this creature in particular has been called Tree Kangaroos. These kangaroos in particular are known to be found in the northern territory of Wuthayhi.
*** Selective Breeding: Upon the guidance of Nomi, selective breeding is underway quite smoothly -- there have been some progress with most of the animals as they have reached domestication --- the Marsupial Lion for example, when it was originally kept, they were ferocious, and extremely loyal, but they are are now big cats for the home. Many Marsupial Lions still roam beyond the wilds of Australia, some have grown throughout the years. Odd.
*** Monitor Lizards of Syonan: They have gotten out of control over the past
** Rise of a New Chieftain: Noine and Juney’s reign has left a pocket in selection of great Chiefs the people of Yolngu have come to a civil war within the other tribes. Due to indifferences which have escalated, the role of Chieftain has been empty for the past fifteen years. The Head Elder and the representatives of the tribes are still unsure of one another -- but in attempts to push past their differences and lead Yolngu properly.
** Rise of a New Chieftain: Noine and Juney’s reign has left a pocket in selection of great Chiefs the people of Yolngu have come to a civil war within the other tribes. Due to indifferences which have escalated, the role of Chieftain has been empty for the past fifteen years. The Head Elder and the representatives of the tribes are still unsure of one another -- but in attempts to push past their differences and lead Yolngu properly.
** Zhaowa’s : Noine and Juney’s reign has left a pocket in selection of great Chiefs the people of Yolngu have come to a civil war within the other tribes. Due to indifferences which have escalated, the role of Chieftain has been empty for the past fifteen years. The Head Elder and the representatives of the tribes are still unsure of one another -- but in attempts to push past their differences and lead Yolngu properly.
** Heroic Trails: Held every six years, the heroic trails
*** Tribal Warfare: In loose terms there are an approximation of fourteen tribes with twelve people in each of these tribes. They use the term tribe quite loosely, as in modern lingo it would be called teams. In each of these teams they house a representative of animals that show as their signature. The leader of the team will use said signature animal as the mascot whereas the rest of the team members will use their companion animals. Within Tribal Warfare itself, it will showcase the leadership and the cooperation of the team. Weapons and animal companions are allowed within the team, there are two types of games the teams can choose from. Either a modern day Capture the Flag, or Tactical Warfare. To choose either one of these and succeed will result in the next tier. For the span of fourteen days (with various moments for the teams to have rests and even train) this event will be held.
**** Capture the Flag: Extremely self-explanatory, however there are some twists to what the people of Yolngu partake. There shall be no more than two guards around the flag, the usage of weaponry and even taking prisoners are allowed -- however, killing the opposing team members will be an immediate disqualification of the team. Weaponry is allowed within the game, thus friendly skirmishes are allowed. Not allowed to use their companion animals.
**** Tactical Warfare: Tactical Warfare is a popular choice amongst those who wish to show their prowess in battle, from the way their weapons dance on their bodies to the team leaders showing their keen observation for the field. When Tactical Warfare is chosen, the field of The Inala will change akin to what the Outback is envisioned, a treacherous place filled with various jagged rocks and poisonous plants (all of which has been supervised and made antidotes of). Animal companions are allowed within this scope of the chosen game. One crucial rule to Tactical Warfare, the teams are not allowed to venture past The Lines of Scrutiny (which is the boundary) or they (the player) shall be disqualified -- this also includes their companions.
*** Other:
**** The Vengeful Spirit and his dog: Have you ever heard of the tale of a vengeful spirit, a wangarr and his dog? There was a tale of a man and his dog, who came from a far away land, coming across Yolngu bandits harassing Gwarri locals. Attempted intervention resulted in the death of the Wangarr’s dog. The fury of the man has never been felt, and the Yolngu perpetrators were never seen again. Gwarri witnesses told rumors of his skills are so lightning fast, that even the locals consider him to even summon lightning from his staff. They call him the Namarrkon (also known as Namarrgon); Lightning man, makes lightning appear and creates roars of thunder in storms. He is a vengeful spirit, looking for the perpetrators, and it is said that those that get in his way disappears. This tale has been used by some of the Gwarri locals for protection, leading to the legend becoming more brutal and threatening.
**** Metallurgy: A British blacksmith from far away lands came from Captain Drake’s expedition. Zacharias Moriarty, a 24 year old black smith (at least upon landing in the late 1570s), along with his 2 year old daughter, had wow’d the natives with their skills in making steel. After learning a bit about the culture, it was rumored that he once made an advanced bone sword with a mix of metal. After much consideration, he decides to stay to help the people there. His skills are more needed there than back at home, anyway. Within recent years, his daughter, Minerva Moriarty, has grown to show promise (especially when working with ore)
**** The Exiles from Syonan: Thousands of exiled nobles from Syonan arrived on the shores of Yolngu, becoming slaves for working in the mountaintop to get ores and minerals; while they are also treated fairly and can roam. They just have a permanent job for working at the mines without any sort of pay.
==== Nihon ====
Government and Demographics
* Government: Feudalism - effective total regional factionalism
** Empress: Han'ei no Mono (Tachibana Kiyo)
** Shogun: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
* Allies: Joseon, defensive military alliance
* Capital: Kyoto
* Demographics:
** Population: 11,021,000
** Ethnicities: Yamatai (79%), Chinese-origin (4%), Joseonese (8%), Syonanese (6%), Other (2%)
** Official Religion: Shinto, with Buddhist influences
** Population Distribution:
*** Urban Population: Most actual urban areas in the Nihonese isles do not actually exceed four square kilometres in size, with buildings that far more resemble modern suburban density and planning than otherwise. However, these urban areas are often survived and surrounded by vast exceedingly low-density tiny communes of no more than a hundred to two hundred people, making up in some cases secondary urban centres, such as the town of Satsuma.
**** Percentage of total population: 8% (Approx. 900,000)
**** By city (rounded to the nearest 5,000):
***** Edo: 40,000
****** Edo surroundings: 50,000
***** Kyoto: 10,000
****** Kyoto surroundings: 55,000
***** Fukushima: 35,000
****** Fukushima surroundings: 20,000
***** Hiroshima: 25,000
***** Kobe: 15,000
****** Hiroshima-Kobe wider region: 25,000
***** Nagasaki: 25,000
***** Yokohama: 20,000
***** Takaoka: 15,000
***** Niigata: 15,000
***** Izumo-Matsue Au. Region: 25,000
***** Chiba Au. Region: 20,000
***** Others not exceeding 15,000 in population: 590,000
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 23%
***** Kanto: 21%
***** Kansai: 14%
***** Chubu: 17%
***** Chugoku: 11%
***** Shikoku: 5%
***** Kyushu: 9%
*** Rural Population:
**** Percentage of total population: 92% (Approx. 10,000,000)
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 18%
***** Kanto: 14%
***** Chubu: 19%
***** Kansai: 15%
***** Chugoku: 12%
***** Shikoku: 11%
***** Kyushu: 11%
Economics
* Status of the Economy:
** Value of Gold: While barter has remained one of the biggest methods of trade within the country, gold is the currency by which trade with foreign merchants has been practiced. The main source of gold in Nihon, however, are the Han nations to the East, Kansha and Syonan; it has no actual power over the premier currency it uses. The usage of bronze and copper coins for smaller denominations has become generally more commonplace in urban areas, while barter trade remains common. The national mint is centred in Edo, controlled by the Shogun.
*** Actual monetary value: One ounce of gold can currently buy one hundred sacks of rice (172 kg).
*** Currency:
**** 1-yen coin (copper)
**** 5-yen coin (copper)
**** 10-yen coin (bronze)
**** 100-yen coin (bronze)
**** 1000-yen promissory note (backed in gold)
** Economic Overview: A significant portion of the Nihonese economy is centred around traditional agriculture, with rice as the national staple of the country; barter trade occurs on a limited communal scale, with the adoption of partial paper and minted currency already having occurred. Small artisanal trades in the fields of writing and artistry have become coveted as prestige symbols; education extends to only roughly 11% of the population, with this small class of artisans a thin sliver of a middle class between the vast majority of the peasantry and the higher nobility.
*** Economic Policy:
**** None - the central government has collapsed. May God save Nihon.
*** Economic Trends:
**** Disaster: The Nihonese economy rapidly disintegrates. Everything is going to hell. Peasant rebellions are rife in the South, with Kobe and Izumo being the site of two rebellions specifically; meanwhile, Chiba and Izumo-Matsue, once bastions of stability, now lie in ruin at the hands of Nobunaga, who forcibly integrated them back into Nihon, thus leading to their assets seized by loyalist merchants and them being forced to contend with all sorts of laws that caused inane social tensions.
* Culture:
** Yamatai: The dominant culture on the three main islands, practiced by the vast majority of ethnic Nihonese; it emphasises the importance of self and the privilege of existence. A partly individualistic culture with overtly communal streaks that designates the greatness of finding a specific calling and engaging it with the most effort possible; giving rise to a society that prizes the arts as well as the value of literature. While it does not shun the sciences, they are not often given priority; meanwhile, the military and warriors are given outsized importance against all else. Its envisioning of Shinto has numerous distinct cultural streaks from the nations that existed before Yamato united the three main islands under its own banner; as well as little reminders of the past.
** Ainu: A distinct, unique culture native to Tohoku and Ezo; a kind of communal culture that emphasises the community and a place within that community. It speaks of the importance of discovering a place within society and fulfilling the callings asked of you by others, and that no individual is above the common good. Its adoption of arts and literature is thus comparably limited, but it is the Ainu which have advanced Nihon's science so far, partly due to the fact that they are encouraged to go to school from younger ages (and generally live in more urbanised societies). Their envisioning of Shinto is more akin to a kind of lifestyle, which promotes certain practices and discourages others; one which has, surprisingly, remained largely sturdy for the last 400 years.
** Joseonese-Han: A minority culture arising from the great giants from across the sea; Joseonese-Han is a monstrous beast of mish-mashed cultures, from distinct Han streaks arising almost 600 years ago to the original Xia cultures. It is almost entirely reliant on distinct, tiny Xianist sects and practices a form of Buddhism mixed with Shinto.
* Religion:
** Shinto: A polytheistic, animistic and pantheistic religion which most Nihonese follow. It revolves around the kami - gods/spirits, which are depending on region omnipresent or omniscient. Worship is mainly practiced in household shrines and public shrines, with family shrines more common for political and clan officials. Extreme levels of localisation, with many in the North having strong Ainu streaks while those in Kyushu and Kansha have subtle Han influence.
* Events:
** The Conqueror of Nihon [2]:
*** A United Front - Spring 1580: Hideyoshi’s collage of conspirators only grows as his small force of 5,000 balloons to a respectable 17,500; coercing the Ashina into his employ while failing to convince the Date, setting up at their new fort of Sendai, to join his cause. Still, his battle only points upwards - it would appear that the Shiba families have reunited temporarily into the clan to oppose them and the newfound Takeda-Matsudaira alliance. Meanwhile, Meiyo-ko of the Uesugi formally declares her clan’s allegiance to the Tachibana, although a breakaway section of her clan, mostly centred in its Western territories, breaks away to join Nagao, seeing them as a more legitimate and overall more tolerable group than the former sibling of Nobunaga. With this information in mind he offers to Meiyo-ko that he has the entirety of the Nagao absorbed into Uesugi territory should she and the Tachibana give their support to him on his continued quest to unite Nihon; she reluctantly agrees, seeing as the retainer of her family is asking. However, new problems emerge with the line of succession in the Oda clan - with all of her successors at the time far too young, Hideyoshi, retainer, has effectively been in de facto control of the clan. With them nearly coming of age, he decides to forcibly have Nobunaga’s singular daughter, Nobukatsu, placed in an arranged marriage with himself (and for good measure, kidnaps the youngest boy and threatens the rest of the clan with retaliation if they do not follow through). While he makes these… ‘imprudent but required measures’, he continues to flirt with Mitsuhide, now effectively his second-in command; much to the ire of the Shogun, who chastises him for his ‘over-indulgences in power’. Heh, what does this old woman know?
*** The Greatest Cause - Winter 1581: Of course the pursuance of an informal union would raise eyebrows but he didn’t care. Akechi Mitsuhide became just that to Hideyoshi a few months into autumn, and the two were absolutely and completely doused with the infatuation known as love. At least, they had to be - Hideyoshi thought - he was never so particularly sure. Still, he enjoyed the constant contact, the rather physical relationship, almost completely composed of outward displays of affection; Mitsuhide - or as he’d taken to calling him, Mitsu - almost always putting up quite the grin to it. And with that done he’d put on his coat and look all around that damn map he had - that one he’d stolen from the ruins of the Chrysanthemum Palace, previously the property of a certain Kanzaki Noriko - of the Nihonese isles. But even more than that, it was not just the Nihonese isles pictured, but the great seas to the West and the great ocean to the East, the grand nations of Wu and Ba, Joseon, and Jochureon and more. Every time he looks on the map he has to look over the northern tip of Rusonto and that old island, Kansha, which ran away from Nihon of its own accord; and quietly one day he decides that he needs a better cause than just ruling over these isles alone. The day after Mitsu wakes to see parts of the map covered with tokens and string, and he inquires what this all is about.
*** ‘The future’, he tells his second-in-command, ‘the future that you and I will see together.’
*** Necessary Sacrifices - Summer 1582: Meanwhile Hideyoshi’s forces march into Nagao, with the acceptance of the Oda more than apparent. While the Nagao, placing their claim on allegiance to the fact that Kagetora was once part of their family, they refuse to establish their status on whether or not the bit of the Uesugi that broke off will join them for sure. With that in mind Hideyoshi proceedingly has an assassin kill one of their diplomats and kidnaps the twin siblings of its main family, followed by razing several villages surrounding Iseyaki. This finally earns him the ire of Shogun Soryu, who has him dragged to Edo Castle and demands he end his shenanigans before she is forced to put an end to him. ‘I’m doing what’s necessary to get this back on track’, he proudly proclaims, but she grimaces. ‘You’re not doing what’s necessary. You’re not even doing this for anything other than vanity. I need generals, you hear me? Not more of this nonsense. If you don’t end it I will personally make sure you reach your end.’ Hideyoshi is adamant. This woman really doesn’t get it - how is she the Shogun, anyways? She’s not capable in any sense of the word, yet all the daimyo crowd around her like she is some kind of kami. No matter. They must simply be as weak-willed. If he can’t get his work done with her in the seat, he’ll just have to get her out of it...
** The Empress of Nihon [2]:
*** Satisfaction - Autumn 1581: None. None at all. This job isn’t just boring to Kiyo, it’s depressing. Every few days she receives worse and worse news of what is going down everywhere. Starvation in Tohoku. Hideyoshi kidnapping another child for some reason. A peasants’ rebellion numbering almost fifty thousand that takes over Nanbu. She can’t stand it anymore. She’s a failure by every means and she can’t do anything about it. None of the Empresses of old had to deal with this level of insurrection in times of supposed peace and yet she does. She wanted out of this life and now she’s trapped. One day she sees one of the swords the guards are holding and considers just quietly ending it right then and there, letting herself vanish into the wind, and the eternal darkness that follows. But she can’t. And she will never be allowed near a weapon. And she will never be able to have a decent relationship with anyone ever. And she is trapped.
*** End It Now - Winter 1582: Another message! She quietly unfolds it to see… ah. Just another refusal from the Daimyo of Satsuma. She tosses it away and reluctantly proceeds to her duties. Another message… ah. It’s a… Soryu’s gone. Last friend, just, ‘poof’ into the fucking wind. She doesn’t usually curse or drink but she supposes it can’t hurt at least once in a while. Soon enough she’s as drunk as anyone can get and the treasurers of Tachibana notice a significant change in the local economy - nobles, left and right, inspired by her example, drinking alcohol trying to get her to marry one or two of their kids. Still she refuses. None of them are genuine like that old flame of hers all those years ago and she can’t for the life of her stand one of those idiots still trying to give her gifts she doesn’t care for and doesn’t need.
*** One Last Try - 1583: Until one last one. Unexpectedly she falls in love with one of the candidates for accession - a minor official by the name of Miyamoto Munisai. He comes from Harima, of unnoticeable birth. Yet he understands her the best - he, rather than attempting to seek her affection, actively attempts to make Edo Castle more… wacky, by virtue of his personal clumsiness. Finally her advisors acquiesce and allow her to marry this completely notable man of the Miyamoto clan. With this she achieves some level of peace and finally, in 1584, a heir to the Throne is found: Miyamoto Musashi, whom upon her 16th birthday will become Empress of Nihon.
** Last Hope of Nihon [1]:
*** The Remnants - December 1582: ‘So now I profess to having a deep liking for a more exact scale of time, like the nengo, but one less reliant on the Empress in charge. With that in mind I will continue to record dates in this book in the Farmer’s Calendar from the West.’ Thus begins the first words that Miyako or  Ritsuko - whatever you call her - wrote with her prosthetic left hand. More useful than the old thing, she chuckled, painfully so. She quietly limped to the edge of the dense, poorly-kept forest that lurked on the edge of Saitama to check for any more of the odd banners. Right there - there - another one. A flower burnt onto a darkened yellow emblem that no one could ever mistake; the banner of the new Toyotomi clan. Curses, she muttered to herself.
*** It hadn’t been a good time for Miyako lately. She lost her only friends so long ago and managing the returning daimyo had been even less successful. Satsuma continued to blow off Imperial authority, claiming to protect the navy for the Nihonese Federation, while Shikoku had cut itself off from the world when a sudden peasant revolt burnt the last remaining port of the island, Takamatsu, to the ground. Getting ships was a fool’s errand as well, with just too many variables and all those navy academies lost. Curses. Then that bastard Hideyoshi got an assassin to her while she made a trip once again to Satsuma, slashing off her arm and then steering the ship back to the former territory of Tanabe. As she disappeared out of consciousness that was all she continued to remember.
*** But waking up was an experience. The blue banner, the blue uniform, the - the Federation lay all around her once again. She got up to see a hundred ten-year-old Matsudaira Chizuru chuckling, holding up a small bowl as she entered the room. ‘You and your grandmother. All the same. At least she didn’t lose her fucking arm!’ she sniggers, plopping the humble porridge at her feet. ‘You’ve been asleep for too long, Miyako. The world’s still alive, and unfortunately, it’s as miserable as ever.’ She si atown, looking around at the banners. ‘All I could salvage from Kyoto. Like it? I always loved the blue background and the forty-something stripes. Wish she’d decided to add stars.’
*** ‘What are you… doing here? Did you…’
*** ‘Save your ass? You ask too much of a woman who’s seen the death of Uchiha Tomoko, that bastard Yamagata drop face-first into his grave, the rise of your damn grandmother, and somehow still lives,’ she groaned. ‘Yes. I should be joining her in the ground soon enough but I guess I mustered the energy to save you.’
*** Miyako couldn’t understand. Why? How? How - wait, how did this hand even work in the first place? She stared at it and even more than that she wondered why it felt like she could move it. No, why on earth was- ‘Look, I appreciate it and all, but… there’s no point. This is all doomed. Nothing’s going to turn out alright, and you might as well have killed me.’
*** Chizuru stared at her, stood up, and grimaced. ‘That’s the point, isn’t it?’
*** Miyako blinked. ‘Huh?’
*** ‘I brought you here to get one final god damn chance at it. One last try - to get us one last bit of hope.’
*** The Shreds - 1583: Over the next year Miyako discovered her position had been usurped by the new Shogun, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with her being proclaimed as dead. With her position, connections and power gone, she quietly acclimated to this new community - a community of Federation remnants, many of whom had continued the tiny communal systems that had been set-up by the Federation, tolerated by the Southern daimyo for slightly higher taxes. They were more efficient, after all; and they produced generally more in the way of food. This village on the coast, otherwise, was peaceful, and relatively quiet. Miyako quickly joined them in the simple tasks of daily life, fishing, cooking, more; her skin took the same tan as them. Quietly that year Chizuru passed, her funeral attended by the girl she had barely seen in life, a girl who had grown into an older woman, jaded with the very thought of doing what she needed to do ever again. Perhaps this was it. Perhaps she could settle down, marry one of the village-people, and just quietly disappear into history. But returning to that home every night she saw the banners once more. What did they see in them? Some said food, some said light. But one day she realised - they saw hope. And with that, she packed up her things, left her final respects to Chizuru, and set off. One last time. Never again, could she look back - because she was one of the last people who could stop this now.
** Nihon's Collapse:
*** Nihon has entered states of total feudalism before. Just as it did during the period before Tomoe-gozen came to power, just as it did in the period preceding Uchiha Tomoko's rise to power. This list and the events surrounding it are not exhaustive - nor do they contain everything required to get a full picture of the situation. Nonetheless, the following is as full a picture as I can give you. Welcome to the full-on, Sengoku Jidai!
**** North:
***** Background: The wider Tohoku area has always been a volatile region in Nihon. Despite being home to almost all of Nihon's people - about 60% - it has traditionally exercised almost no power, with Kyoto being at its centre all the time. This is generally reflected in the origins of most leaders - the Minamoto and Yamato clans both originating from the South, for example. And while that isn't inevitable, of the region's conquerors, Oda Nobunaga claims quite a Southern lineage, while Otsuya no Kata, also of Oda fame (sister of Nobuhide) controls the Toyama clan. Tohoku is also the home to the Ainu, who possess a great much power in their influence, maintaining their customs in the far North in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Hokkaido.
***** Clans:
****** Nanbu (split into two families, the Nanbu and the Ainu Sunazawa): Occupying the Northmost bits of Tohoku. Notoriously peaceful. The Nanbu family has pledged its loyalty to Oda Nobunaga.
******* Central Fort: Aomori
****** Akita: Occupying modern-day Akita province. Friendly to Nobunaga and her forces; formerly a sub-clan of the Odawara.
******* Central Fort: Akita
****** Mogami (split into several families, but with one single ruling one): Occupies OTL Yamagata, northern Miyagi and southern Iwate provinces. Formerly head of the greater Mogami clan, now a series of rump families pushed into Iwate.
******* Central Fort: Sendai
****** Date: Occupies OTL southern Miyagi province. In an alliance with the Mogami via personal union.
******* Central Fort: Yamagata
****** Oda-Uesugi: The Oda and Uesugi union, formally in control of Nihon. Secured via 'personal union' between Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kagetora, although the marriage is entirely farcical and not actually practiced by either side. Arguably the most powerful clan in the region, if not for the presence of the Tachibana. Its Oda side has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Kashiwazaki
****** Ashina: Occupies OTL Western Fukushima Province. A minor clan in alliance with the Tachibana, in a tenuous union between two highly divided families.
******* Central Fort: Utsunomiya
****** Shimotsuke: Occupies OTL Tochigi for the most part. A smaller neutral clan with sympathies towards the Oda-Uesugi.
******* Central Fort: Oyama
****** Hitachi: Occupies OTL Ibaraki. A mostly Ainu clan in alliance with the Tachibana; keeps itself restricted to its own territory for the most part.
******* Central Fort: Hitachinaka
****** Shimosa: Occupies a tiny section of OTL Chiba. A clan that isn't really a clan due to most of the family being branches of the Tachibana and Hitachi.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Tachibana: The former Kingdom of Tachibana, now reduced in size but still powerful. Main families: the Musashi, the Satake, and Fujiwara. Rather powerful due to its size and population, although stripped of much of its resources over the years. It is one of the direct descendants of Himiko no Ichiban and has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Tokyo (capital of Nihon)
****** Sagami: Occupies OTL East Shizuoka. In alliance with the Tachibana. Merchant clan with strong naval presence.
******* Central Fort: Shimoda
****** Satomi: Occupies OTL Chiba. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Nagao: Occupies OTL Gunma. In alliance with the Oda-Uesugi. Hostile sympathies towards the Tachibana.
******* Central Fort: Iseyaki
****** Kotsuke: Occupies OTL Northwest Nagano province. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** The Tachibana and Oda-Uesugi are currently in an alliance.
***** Events:
******
**** Centre:
***** Background: The Centre of Nihon has constantly been a wild-card. It at times has been far more stable and at times has resembled a series of paint-splatters across the wall; it, however, is the centre of any attempt to unite the Nihonese isles. Its military clans are partially centred here, with samurai prolifically emerging from it; the constant shifting of power dynamics in this region making it far more attractive to strategically adept persons.
***** Clans:
****** Takeda: OTL South Nagano + Easterly Shizuoka provinces. Military clan, unfriendly to Nobunaga. One of the more powerful clans in the region. In an alliance with the Matsudaira and on friendly terms with the Ashikaga. Consists of the Shinano and Kai families.
******* Central Fort: Iido
****** Mastudaira: OTL West Shizuoka Province. Also a military clan unfriedly to Nobunaga, although substantially less powerful. In an alliance with the Takeda and on friendly terms with the Tachibana. Consists of the Tokugawa and Imagawa clans.
******* Central Fort: Hamamatsu
****** Oda: OTL Nagoya and surroundings. Part of the Oda-Uesugi clan, see above description.
******* Central Fort: Nagoya
****** Echizen: OTL Coastal Ishikawa and Fukui provinces. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Miki and Mino.
******* Central Fort: Kanazawa
****** Miki: OTL Toyama province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Mino, the latter of which it has a personal union with.
******* Central Fort: Takaoka
****** Mino: OTL Shiga province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Miki.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Ise: OTL Mie province. Neutral. Prolific blacksmithing clan.
******* Central Fort: Nakatsugawa
****** Kii: OTL Wakayama province. Neutral. The Kii and Awaji families come from this.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Yamato: OTL Nara province. Friendly towards the Matsudaira clan.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Hyogo: OTL Osaka province, contains both Osaka and Kyoto. One of the most powerful clans in the region purely by population, friendly towards the Tanba clan.
******* Central Fort: Kyoto (Symbolic capital)
****** There are no other notable inter-clan alliances as of current.
***** Events:
******
**** South:
***** Background: The South has always been the most politically stable bit of Nihon - but that doesn't mean it's actually stable. As the main trade route for most of Nihon it has always held outsized power over its currency, its politics and more, but it is also the direct contact point for any kind of foreign power. Tanegashima was where the Agoustans landed, Nagasaki is a Syonanese haven, and more - and because of that, the South, once a bastion of stability, may no longer be in the cards as king...
***** Clans: 
****** Tanba: OTL Hyogo province. Minor branch of the Minamoto clan and the only one with no associations with the Kanzaki; reasonably powerful as the inheritor of the last remaining professional military forces in Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Kobe
****** Harima: OTL Okayama prefecture. Run by another minor branch of the Minamoto clan, although linked to the Kanzaki defected to join Nobunaga before anything too dangerous could happen. Tiny rump clan.
******* Central Fort: Okayama
****** Inaba: OTL Tottori Prefecture. Friendly to the Tanba and Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Tottori
****** Bingo: Official name of the effective city-state of Fukuyama. Foreigner-friendly, run by the Otomo family - only place in Nihon with a significant amount of Christians, specifically Iberian Protestants. On bad terms with most of the region.
******* Central Fort: Fukuyama
****** Izumo: Centred around the Izumo-Matsue area. Primarily Joseonese-Han - acts like an effectively independent state. Friendly relations with Joseon. Trading clan.
******* Central Fort: Izumo
****** Iwami: OTL Shimane prefecture. Partly-Joseonese-Han. Allied with Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Gotsu
****** Mori: OTL East Yamaguchi prefecture. Associated with Bingo, run by the other branch of the Otomo family.
******* Central Fort: Gofu
****** Choshu: OTL West Yamaguchi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: Shimonoseki
****** Sanuki: OTL North Kagawa prefecture. Allied with Awa.
******* Central Fort: Takamatsu
****** Awa: OTL Tokushima prefecture. Allied with Sanuki.
******* Central Fort: Anan
****** Tosa: OTL East Kochi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Saioni: OTL West Kochi prefecture. Trading clan. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Iyo: OTL Ehime prefecture. Ruled by the Uzumaki family.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Bungo: North Kyushu. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: Kitayushu
****** Satsuma: Kyushu, Ryukyu and Hiroshima prefectures. Powerful trading clan in control of most of Nihon's navy as well as a significant Christian population; with large Syonanese minorities. Most economically significant region of Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Nagasaki
****** No other significant alliances.
***** Events:
******
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 - ?? [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.
** Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - ??): 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.
** Kinoshita Tokichiro (1542 - ??):
** Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - ??):
** Widyawati: 
* 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 - ??): 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.
* 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 (1533 - ??):
*** Nobuhiro (1534 - ??):
*** Nobuyuki (1534 - ??):
*** Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - ??):
** Third Generation: 
==== Khitan Khanate ====
* Government: Steppe Horde
** Khan/Khatun:
*** Khojin (F) (r. 1501 - 1542)
*** Erketu (M) (r. 1542 - 1543)
*** Arslan (M) (r. 1542 - 1583)
*** Runsori (M) (r. 1583 - present)
**** Dynasty: Yarud (1501 - present)
***** Parliament: None
* Economy: The Khitan economy is largely based upon trade, herding, and pastoralism, as the Khitans and most of their subjects are nomadic peoples. However, in some areas, such as around cities, the inhabitants are settled agriculturalists.
* Capital: Nerchuu (OTL Nerchinsk)
* Demographics:
** Population: 194,500 (85% Khitans, 6% Jurchen, 5% Mongols, 2% Evenks, 1% Daevites, 1% other)
** Religion: 87% Tengriism, 5% Arzham, 4% Buddhism, 4% others
* Military: 3,890 troops
* Wars and Conflicts (italics indicate potential wars):
** Khalkha War: More troops are recruited to fight the Khalkha. 13,700 troops (composed of both professionals and levies) head north to link with the northern Khitan troops, make yet another encirclement, and wear down the affected Khalkha troops. 10,300 of these troops stay to wear down the larger encirclement in the south, while 3,400 go north to defeat the northern encirclement. 9,800 troops make a westward push into the remaining Khalkha territory in the west and to link up with the troops of Ččulčontay. 4,500 troops finish off the small remnants of the encircled troops near Yan.
* Diplomacy (italics indicate secret):
** N/A
* Events:
** The Khan is Dead. Long Live the Khan!: In 1583, Arslan Khan died of natural causes, and his adopted son, Runsori, succeeded him. He would continue the Khalkha War which his father had started and see to it that his ambitions were realized.
** Defeat of Khalkha: After the capturing of the last Khalkha stronghold, Abtai Khan, the khan of Khalkha, was taken as a prisoner of war and was paraded through the streets of Nerchuu during a victory parade before being publicly executed (though the exact details of his execution are unknown). A statue of Runsori would be erected in the former Khalkha city of Ondorkhaan. (Of course, the Khalkha would be treated the same as the Khitan and Khitanized subjects of the khanate and peacefully assimilated (though violence would be used if necessary).) As for the state of Khalkha, it would get partitioned between the Khitans and the Ččulčontay.
====The Syonanese Republic | Syonan Kyouwa-koku====
*Government: Parliamentary Republic
**Grand Kōshaku of All Syonan, Suwawa and Tidung, Lord Protector of Sabah and Palawan: The Grand Kōshaku is the ruler of Syonan. He is elected by the Syonanese Diet upon the previous Kōshaku’s death, resignation, or impeachment and serves a life term.
***Syonanese Diarchy:
****Kakyoin Noriaki (born 1462, ruled 1491-1526) 
****Heihachiro Hideki (born 1494, ruled 1526-1561) 
****Nijimura Keicho (born 1488, ruled 1561-1577) 
****VACANT (1577-1584)
***Syonanese Republic:
****Souji Seizu (born 1536, ruled 1584-)
**Subordinate Kōshakus: The constituent kingdoms of Hiraga and Nagasato are each ruled by a subordinate Kōshaku. Subordinate Kōshakus are the second most powerful positions in Syonan, with a subordinate Kōshaku having almost total control in their respective domains, answering only to the Grand Kōshaku and their respective Diets. ABOLISHED - SEE EVENTS 
***Hiragan Kōshaku: 
****Kira Yoshimune (born 1449, ruled 1475-1514) 
****Higashikata Ryohei (born 1455, ruled 1514-) 
****Hatsune Takashi (born 1517, ruled 1551-1561) 
****Nijimura Keicho (born 1488, ruled 1561-1577)
****VACANT (abolished)
***Nagasatoan Kōshaku: 
****Souji Ginzo (born 1453, ruled 1482-1540) 
****Souji Shigeki (born 1497, ruled 1540-) 
****Nijimura Keicho (born 1488, ruled 1561-1577)
****VACANT (abolished)
***Yang di-Pertua Agong of Sabah and Palawan: Serves a similar role to a subordinate Kōshaku, with free reign over the 8 prefectures of Sabah and Palawan.
****Pengiran Dahud Sinaman (born 1470, ruled 1511-1558)
****Pengiran Sihan Sahatul (born 1531, ruled 1558-)
**Syonanese Diet: The Syonanese Diet is the main legislative body of Syonan. After Nijimura Keicho’s rule and Souji Seizu’s ascent to power, the Syonanese Diet would be massively overhauled, with the franchise given to the common people for the first time in Syonanese history, and the regional Diets being abolished in favor of two nation-wide Diets, representing the nobility and the common folk, respectively.
***Upper Diet: Composed of the few remaining established noble families in Syonan, the Upper Diet (despite its name and demographic composition) does not have any more power than the Lower Diet, with any laws proposed by the Upper Diet subject to approval by the Lower Diet before passing to the Koshaku, and vice versa. The Upper Diet has 58 delegates.
***Lower Diet: The Lower Diet is intended to serve the “common people”, with all adult males being able to elect representatives for the Lower Diet. It is on equal footing with the Upper Diet, with any laws proposed by the Lower Diet subject to approval by the Upper Diet before it passes to the Koshaku, and vice versa. The Lower Diet has 215 delegates, with 4 delegates elected from each prefecture.
***Unified Outer Diet: The unofficial legislative body of Syonan’s overseas territories, it is de facto the main governing body in Syonanese Borneo and Sulawesi, with their laws holding more clout on the ground than even federal laws. The Unified Outer Diet hosts 201 members, 88 from Sabah, 34 from Tidung, and 51 from Suwawa.
****The Unified Outer Diet has been subsumed into the greater Syonanese Diet.
**Political Parties: With almost all of the old political establishment wiped during the Keicho years and the subsequent chaos afterwards, the political landscape of Syonan has essentially been reduced to a clean slate. There are currently no real political parties and/or blocs, although conditions are conducive to their development in the near future.
*Administration: Syonan is divided into 10 provinces (dō). The 10 provinces are in turn subdivided into 43 prefectures (ken), which are in turn further divided into districts (gun).
**Suwawa and Tidung are considered overseas territories of the Syonanese Republic. They do not have any representation in the Lower Diet (which is elected by the people), and their people are not considered Syonanese citizens (and thus are not awarded the rights of Syonanese citizens) unless they are descended from at least one Syonanese parent or descended from at least one parent that has served in the Syonanese military.
**Sabah and Palawan is an autonomous province of the Syonanese Republic. Autonomous provinces are similar to normal provinces except that they have more power domestically, as the constituent kingdom-level government is not allowed to impose laws and restrictions on the autonomous province, with the only power they are able to wield over provincial authorities in an autonomous province being a veto.
*Capital City:
**Syonanese Capital: Morioh
***Sabahan Capital: Sandakan
***Suwawan Capital: Gorontalo
***Tidungese Capital: Kutei
*Economy: Due to decades of gross mismanagement by several different rulers, as well as the complete destruction of Syonan’s foreign trade due to Nijimura Keicho’s Sakoku policy, the Syonanese economy has taken a massive beating over the years. However, with some semblance of the rule of law finally restored to Syonan after over a half-century of government mismanagement and internal conflict at several different intensities, the Syonanese economy looks like it may be able to pull off a recovery should things go right.
**Currency: The Syonanese taru is the main currency in Syonan, backed up by gold reserves, with one taru ostensibly equivalent to around 3.2 grams of gold. However, due to decades of mismanagement by Nihonese quasi-colonial rule, as well as the adverse economic effects of Grand Koshaku Nijimura Keicho’s rule and its resulting instability, the taru is effectively worthless, with most of Syonan regressing to simple barter economies.
*Demographics:
**Total Population: 782,068
***Hiraga: 174,315
****Morioh: 9,025
****Mei-nira: 16,012
****Kitahara: 7,725
****Kanakawa: 6,878
****Keishi: 5,193
****Naga: 4,378
***Nagasato (including Tarakan but not Suwawa or Tidung): 102,375
****Nagasato-shi: 9,725
****Davao: 11,104
****Souhama-Shibu: 6,023
****Pemagarong: 5,992
****Tsuhama: 4,170
****Cagayan: 3,992
***Sabah and Palawan: 397,458
****Sandakan: 51,880
****Api: 37,425
***Suwawa: 59,760
****Gorontalo: 7,212
***Tidung: 48,120
****Kutei: 1,923
**Ethnicities:
***27.3% Syonanese (213,723 people)
****14.9% Yojin (“pure” Syonanese) (31,845 people)
****85.1% In-jin (mixed race Syonanese) (181,878 people)
***15.4% Native Syonanese (120,220 people)
****22.8% Takairō-jin/Tagalog (27,410 people)
****19.7% Kabishi-jin/Visayan (23,683 people)
****12.5% Rusonto-jin/Ilocano (15,028 people)
****7.4% Ibaruno-jin/Bicolano (8,896 people)
****7.1% Nagasato-jin/Maguindanao (8,536 people)
****30.5% Other groups (36,667 people)
***7.4% Malay (57,820 people)
***1.4% Japanese (10,828 people)
***1.4% Vietnamese (10,906 people)
***0.4% Chinese (3,215 people)
***16.5% Kadazan-Dusun (129,056 people)
***11.8% Bajau (92,398 people)
***6.4% Suwawan (50,414 people)
***5.3% Murut (41,140 people)
***5.8% Dayak (45,627 people)
***0.9% Other (mostly Southeast Asian, Indian and Arabian traders) (7,270 people)
**Religions: Religion in Syonan is not necessarily exclusive, with many Syonanese ascribing to beliefs from 2 or more religions.
***Syonanese Shinto: Syonanese Shinto has diverged greatly from Shinto in the Japanese islands, with many Shinto kami being syncretized with native and Hindu deities, and Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism heavily influencing the religion. Most prevalent in coastal, urban and lowland areas dominated by ethnic Syonanese, Syonanese Shinto is the main religion of Syonan.
****~65% of the population (~510,000 people)
***Syonanese Buddhism: A sect of Buddhism almost totally exclusive to the islands of Syonan, Syonanese Buddhism is heavily influenced by Shinto, Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism and native beliefs. It is by far the most influential Buddhist sect in Syonan, although other sects do manage to gain followers in the Syonanese Isles.
****~60% of the population (~470,000 people)
****Other Buddhist sects (Mahayana, Theravada and Zen Buddhism) are practiced by ~7% of the population (~55,000 people)
***Hinduism: Practiced by many indigenous and mixed-race Syonanese especially in Mindanao and the Visayas, Hinduism in Syonan has been heavily syncretized with Syonanese Buddhism and Shinto (and vice versa), with many Hindu gods in Syonan being almost indistinguishable from the Syonanese variants of Shinto kami. A more “pure” version of Hinduism exists in coastal Tidung and in newly-acquired Sabah.
****~30% of the population (~235,000 people)
***Xianism: Xianism states that the sole god of man, Tian, has endowed humans with the ability to become "Xian", basically deities, unlocked by committing good deeds in Tian's name, and understanding Tian and the way the universe works. Unlike many Eastern religions, Xianism is a monotheistic religion. Practitioners of the religion are mostly confined to the ethnic Chinese minority within Syonan, and are most prevalent in Pemagarong and Mindoru Prefectures.
****<1% of the population (~4,000 people)
***Other: In remote, mountainous areas of inland Syonan, as well as in the jungles of Tidung and Suwawa, many native tribes still live as they did before Syonanese settlement on the islands, and still worship their old gods in much the same way as they once did.
****~15% of the population (~118,000 people)
*Military:
**Grand Army of Syonan:
***Deployed forces: 25,000
***Total forces: 40,000
****8,000 Heavy Breakthrough Elite Infantry
****5,000 Field Artillery Personnel
****20,000 Light Infantry
****7,000 Light Mixed Cavalry
****5,000 Homeland Security Infantry (Military Police)
***Reservists/Potential levies: 0
**Syonan Nikun Royal Navy:
***Total sailors: 26,000
***Total ships (excluding coastal patrol): 380 ships
****SNRN Muramasa-class Oceanic Battlecruiser Muramasa
*****Crew: 120
****SNRN Yamamoto-class Oceanic Battlecruiser Yamamoto
*****Crew: 70
****SNRN Yamamoto-class Oceanic Battlecruiser Higashikata
*****Crew: 70
****12 Muramasa-class Oceanic Battlecruisers
*****Crew: 120
****27 Yamamoto-class Oceanic Battlecruisers
*****Crew: 70
****191 Subarashi Pagong-class Oceanic Cruisers
*****Crew: 60
****157 Subarashi Dātsu-class Oceanic Interceptors
*****Crew: 40
****410 Tsuna-class Torpedo Boats
*****Crew: 10
****383 Transport Ships
*Wars and Conflicts:
**Southern Sengoku (1577-): Simply referred to as the Sengoku Jidai within Syonan, the period of civil strife immediately after the death of Nijimura Keicho is usually referred to as the Southern or Syonanese Sengoku by Western sources in order to differentiate it from the concurrent Nihonese Sengoku Jidai. Unlike its Nihonese counterpart, the Syonanese Sengoku would be much more chaotic, disorganized, and fragmented, with many hundreds of separate powers attempting to assert their dominance over Syonan, further their own goals, or simply survive.
***As there are way too many different factions participating within this grand conflict to count, let alone describe, only the strongest or most consequential forces shall be shown here.
****The Gang of Four: Despite being known as the Gang of Four, its leaders only numbered three: Kakyoin Chiyo, Miyagi Takahiro, and Takahashi Sozen (the fourth being the late Souji Tourin, the ceremonial leader of the Gang of Four, who gunned down Nijimura Keicho in his sleep, only to be murdered by his guards while trying to escape the palace). These were three very instrumental figures during Syonan’s fight for freedom from quasi-colonial rule, but shafted to the wayside during Keicho’s rule. The Gang of Four enjoys moderate popularity amongst the people, as well as some influence within the remaining nobility. They promise to “restore sanity to Syonan”, running on the restoration of the prosperous thalassocratic state of the 1510s and 1520s. [GRAND ALLIANCE MEMBER SINCE 1581]
****The Three Stooges: Shigeki Noriogi, Kobayashi Masako, and Sugimoto Kenzo were the three figures closest to Nijimura Keicho during his later rule, and are fighting to preserve whatever “legacy” they perceive him to have. Although enjoying the support of much of the remaining nobility (i.e those who haven’t been purged during Keicho’s rule) and having a sizeable army, the people are utterly opposed to them, as they represent, to them, the deprivations the Syonanese people have undergone throughout the past two decades.
****Golden Wind Coalition: An unwieldy alliance of convenience between the Sabahan elite and the relative political outsider Souji Seizu, son of Souji Tourin and leader of the Golden Wind Company (formerly the Nihonese Southern Company), it remains to be seen whether they can succeed in capturing Syonan for themselves… [GRAND ALLIANCE MEMBER SINCE 1581]
****The Junta: A coalition made between large chunks of the Syonanese Army and Navy, dedicated to seizing control of Syonan under a military junta. Due to their ranks being composed mainly of the best fighting men Syonan has to offer, they are possibly the most well-armed and well-trained group, although they do not have as much influence as some other factions, and lack popular support.
****Seven Kill Army: Born out of the ashes of the Syonanese League, the late Nijimura Keicho’s secret police and needlessly violent quellers of dissent, the Seven Kill Army is dedicated to bringing about what they see as the mission of the angry and vengeful kami, conveyed through Nijimura Keicho: the eradication of sin via the extermination of human civilization.
****Pembalasan Army: Unified from surviving bands of Malay, Nihonese, Bornean and native Syonanese Austronesian militias initially defending themselves from Keicho’s death squads, the Pembalasan Army would be dedicated to exacting revenge on the ethnic Syonanese of Syonan: they sought to kill one Syonanese for every non-Syonanese that was killed by an ethnic Syonanese during the past 20 years.
****Syonanese Religious Fanatics:
*****Holy Army of Shinto: The Holy Army of Shinto, led by a man known only as Muramasa, is an ultraorthodox Shinto sect and militant group that espouses the belief that the great misfortune that has befallen Syonan has been due to the Syonanese people embracing the heathen foreign gods of Buddhism and Hinduism. The Grand Army of Shinto’s mission is to return the Syonanese people to “true” Shinto, thus calming the kami and ending Syonan’s great misfortune. Think the Wahhabis but Shinto.
*****Purification Army of Lord Kalki: An apocalyptic Vaishnavite Hindu cult mostly operating within Tidung and Nagasato, the Purification Army of Lord Kalki, led by a deranged madman who claims to be Lord Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu, (sadly his real identity has been lost to the complete and utter chaos of late 16th century Syonan) is predicated on the belief that the end of the Kali Yuga (the current era) is at hand, and in order to bring about the next cycle of existence, they must destroy all sinfulness on the planet (read: anyone they find who does not join their forces).
****Many, many others...
***FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE EVENTS
*Research:
**Type 001 Yajiri Torpedo Mod. 1498: An updated model of the Yajiri Torpedo allowing it to reach faster speeds in water and improving its accuracy.
**Subarashi Kulog Taihou Mk.V: We begin to equip more ships with this cannon.
**Bakuchiku Mk.I: The Bakuchiku cannon is now standard fare for all Syonanese ships.
**Kogata-jū: A variant of the Javanese arquebus indigenous to Syonan, the Kogata-jū has become the standard firearm of choice for the Syonanese Army.
**Arquebus Reverse Engineering: With sporadic trade from Agoustan Brunei reaching our shores, we begin trying to reverse engineer their strange and powerful “arquebuses”, with mixed success.
**Early Rocket Developments: The first primitive rockets are rolled out. Although extremely clunky, they can shoot at targets up to 800 meters away.
**Reptilian Growth: Continued breeding of the Filipino monitor lizard has caused the species to grow in size, through decades, if not centuries will be required for the lizards to grow even larger.
***That being said, they are now large enough to be farmed for food, as these monitor lizards slowly become a delicacy in the Nagasatoan region.
*Diplomacy:
**N/A
*Events:
**1575-1580
***The Black Hand Redeemed, the Mad Emperor Gone: ‘It’s now or never’, Souji Tourin realized. For two decades, Nijimura Keicho had ruled over Syonan with a fist from the deepest circle of Hell. He had brutalized anyone who did not agree with him, had resorted to extremely cruel and barbaric practices to keep the population in line, deliberately destroyed the economy, enacted outwardly genocidal policies, and presided over a famine that was made 10 times worse by his gross misrule. For two decades, Souji Tourin was shunted to the side as the Mad Emperor surrounded himself with his sycophants and yesmen, powerless and forced to keep his mouth shut at the gross injustice he witnessed on a daily basis, lest he provoke Keicho’s goons to behead him for dissent, parade the severed head across the countryside and then brutally put to death every member of his family up till the seventh generation removed, as well as anyone he had ever associated with. However, by 1577, the nation was positively starving to death, much of its population had been forced to endure deprivations worse than any imagining of Hell in any religion, and the very fabric of Syonanese society had been tattered to shreds. Tourin saw the writing on the wall. Any more death, any more madness, and Syonan as a nation would cease to exist, its people relegated to a footnote and a cautionary tale, and its corpse torn asunder by a dozen competing powers. This farce ended now, and god damn the consequences for him. Tourin had but one life to give, and if his life saved a country of hundreds of thousands, then it was a life well lived. It is with this context and this mindset that Souji Tourin made his last, and most impactful, assassination. On the night of the 12th of April, Tourin would sneak into the Koshaku’s palace, breaking into Keicho’s room unnoticed. He would thrust a short dagger into the Koshaku’s chest, and then set off to escape the palace complex. He would not make it out alive. This action would be one of the most significant in Syonanese history, ending one of the most deranged and unhinged regimes in all of human history. The assassination of Nijimura Keicho would be immortalized in the public mind by the classic Syonanese play “The Sacrifice”, written in 1627 by Isanagi Yoshihide, offen referred to as the “Syonanese Shakespeare”, where he portrays Tourin’s actions and subsequent death as a sacrifice of one life to save a nation.
***Shattering of a Nation: With all external government revenue nearly exhausted, basic governmental bureaucracies gone, and Syonanese society collapsing all around, Keicho had kept his nation together by sheer brutality and force of will. Now that he was gone, Syonan would rapidly descend into chaos, as groups began to fight for control of the country, with many of these groups further devolving into many splitter groups, all with their own unique goals (whether good or bad). Late 1570s and early 1580s Syonan was the archetypal “anarchy” found in popular culture: complete lawlessness punctuated by roving militias and armed gangs, often murdering or brutalizing local populations trying to eke out a living amidst the constant strife; 1990s Somalia writ large in the Thousand Isles of the South.
***A Vicious Struggle in a Broken World: The greatest power struggle during this period would be between the Gang of Four (now with a martyred Souji Tourin) and the Shigeki Noriogi - Kobayashi Masako - Sugimoto Kenzo Axis (better known to the public as the Three Stooges, due to their extreme closeness to the deceased Koshaku). Although this fight had many of the hallmarks of a conventional struggle for power, this would also have some undertones of a class war, as the Gang of Four would court the common people of Syonan, promising “an end to desperation” and “a restoration of prosperity” to the people, while the Stooges would rely on the Syonanese nobility for military and moral support.
***We Live For Death: The Seven Kill Army: Nijimura Keicho’s last communication to the Syonanese League, the paramilitary group he had nurtured over time, which had become his trusty secret police and executioners, would be a short and simple poem - “Heaven brings forth innumerable things to nurture man. Man has nothing good with which to recompense Heaven. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.” Anyone rational would have shrugged this off as the mad ravings of a murderous lunatic, but the men receiving this letter were the opposite of rational. If they were, they would not have remained associated with such an obvious madman. After Keicho’s assassination, the League would conclude that Keicho had divinely-inspired knowledge of what was about to happen to himself, and decided to reveal his entire inner philosophy during his rule through this infamous “Seven Kill Poem”. The remnants of the Syonanese League (as many had immediately left as soon as they learned of Keicho’s death, previously having been forced to stay due to fear of the repercussions Keicho would dole out for “desertion” or “defeatism”), rebranding themselves as the Seven Kill Army, would set on their new, extremely morbid mission: ridding the world of sin via exterminating humanity off the face of the earth.
***An Eye For An Eye: Not led by any one man or group of men, but instead a loose alliance or confederation (depending on the source) of different, much smaller armies and militias made up of ethnic groups persecuted and hunted down by Nijimura Keicho’s government, the Pembalasan Army, named after the Malay for “retribution”, would be united in one goal: revenge. Their stated policy was to kill one Syonanese for every non-Syonanese that had died to the hands of a Syonanese for the past 20 years. In this task they were not exactly immune to being cruel and barbaric, often rivaling the vilest acts of the Syonanese League just before Keicho’s death.
***Religious Fanatics Galore!: With the world burning down around them in more ways than one, it is no surprise that many ultra-religious and apocalyptic sects would rise up during this time of chaos. Although there were many hundreds of different cults, sects, and groups springing up during this extremely turbulent time, the two most powerful and important; in fact, one of the few to have an army and legitimate control of territory during some points in time, were the Holy Army of Shinto (operating across Syonan and controlling much of Rusonto during its height) and the Purification Army of Lord Kalki (operating in a vast swathe of Syonan, with greater reach and power in Mindanao and the Visayas). The Holy Army of Shinto was your run-of-the-mill untra-orthodox theocratic state: they believed that Syonan’s misfortunes had come about due to the decadence of the Syonanese people and their failure to keep Shinto pure of “false beliefs”, especially the heavy Buddhist, Hindu, and native Austronesian pagan syncretism found within mainstream Syonanese Shinto. The Holy Army of Shinto’s mission was to bring all of Syonan under the rule of “true Shinto” (read: a very fundamentalist view of the kami, perceived to be purified of all “foreign corrupting influence”, paired with an extremely strict moral and legal code with harsh punishments, with an extra dose of cult of personality around its leader, who went only by the name of Muramasa). However, the theology of the Purification Army of Lord Kalki was a lot darker. The doctrine of the Purification Army of Lord Kalki stated that the end of the Kali Yuga, the current age was at hand, and that the Purification Army, led by a man claiming to be Kalki, the last incarnation of Vishnu (sadly, “Lord Kalki”’s true identity has been lost to time), would be the tool of the gods to end the current era and usher in a new, sinless era by eradicating all worldly sins, which they interpreted to mean exterminating all people in order for them to be able to reincarnate into the perfect beings of the new era.
***A Golden Opportunity: In the midst of the complete chaos gripping Syonan, Kesai, Sihan and Seizu would finally see their opportunity to strike. Invigorated by a massive cash injection from the Nihonese Shogun, Oda Nobunaga, Souji Seizu and his Golden Wind Company would enter the Syonanese free-for all by sending in his boys onto the Syonanese mainland in 1578, hoping to win the prize of Koshaku of Syonan for himself.
**1580-1585
***The Grand Alliance: The Gang of Four and the Golden Wind Coalition would negotiate an alliance in 1581, as both were fighting for similar goals and ideals, namely a restoration of Syonan to dignity and prosperity. This alliance would become known as the Grand Alliance. The Grand Alliance, being an alliance of two of the most powerful factions in the Southern Sengoku, gained a huge advantage over its much more fragmented rivals, with this overwhelming force differential leading to the eventual reunification of Syonan under the Alliance yoke.
***Stronghold Nagasato: Following the formation of the Grand Alliance, Nagasato, which the two groups within the Alliance already had moderate control over, would quickly be united under Alliance hegemony. With all other groups here quelled and defeated by 1583, Nagasato would serve as a robust stronghold for the Grand Alliance, a sizable base of operations, and the beginning of Syonan's return to normalcy.
***Lord Vishnu Does Not Favor The Evil: With the Grand Alliance slowly cementing control over Nagasato, Grand Alliance forces would begin a massive war with Purification Army elements. Although the Purification Army hoped to win against the larger, better-equipped and better-trained Golden Wind Company and former Syonanese Army elements, their efforts would end up in vain, mainly due to the fact that many generals and Grand Alliance leaders had also partaken in guerilla warfare against the quasi-colonial Heihachiro government backed by Nihon. The Purification Army would eventually end up being nibbled away by Grand Alliance forces, eventually fading into obscurity (although occasional Purification Army raids would occur well into the 1610s).
***Marching on Morioh: After consolidating their hold on Nagasato and launching an invasion of Souhama, seizing the region in late 1583, the Grand Alliance would set their sights on Syonan’s ultimate prize: Morioh. The capital of Syonan, Morioh would be a crucial symbolic key to controlling the country, helping provide legitimacy to the Alliance as a legitimate political entity, as well as serve as an Alliance foothold on the island of Luzon. However, the city and its surrounding environs were controlled by Stooge forces, and Morioh Bay was heavily patrolled by Stooge-aligned elements of the Syonanese Navy. The Alliance invasion of Morioh would begin on January 13th of 1584, as Seizu would land his forces on the southern coast and have them trek the 30 kilometers through dense jungle north to Morioh instead of invading by sea and risking an unnecessary naval battle. For any normal army, this would have been a costly gambit, but the Alliance Forces (particularly those affiliated with the Golden Wind Coalition) had fought under guerilla warfare conditions which often required them to retreat into jungles much like these, and also was able to survive off the land, thus sustaining less casualties than they otherwise would have in such an unforgiving environment. With the Stooges caught by surprise by a large army arriving from the south (the Stooges had expected any army attempting to take Morioh to arrive from the north or west), the Alliance had the element of surprise on their side alongside superior command and tactics, but nevertheless had to fight out a long, bloody, and drawn-out urban battle within Morioh which lasted weeks. They would eventually win the battle, but not without heavy Alliance forces, forcing them to halt operations for a while as they worked to replace their losses. Meanwhile, the Alliance set out to re-establish law and order in the areas that they controlled...
***Down With The Diarchy, Long Live The Republic: Upon the end of the Battle of Morioh, Souji Seizu would make a victory speech on the steps of the heavily-damaged Palace of the Koshaku, where he proclaimed the “reinvention of the nation of Syonan”. In this speech, he makes the case that the Diarchy “has been proven to be weak, susceptible to tyranny both foreign and domestic”, and then proclaims the formation of the Syonanese Republic, “unifying the kingdoms of Hiraga and Nagasato as “one nation, under the gods, and indivisible by any form of tyranny, foreign or domestic”. Later that evening, a council made up of the leading generals and leaders of the Alliance, as well as some important officials from areas controlled by the Alliance, would convene, unanimously electing Souji Seizu as the first Koshaku of the Syonanese Republic. Thus ends the Diarchy of Syonan, and marks the foundation of the First Syonanese Republic.
***Starting From Scratch: With the vast majority of the lawmakers, noblemen, and bureaucrats of Syonan either exiled or killed during one of Keicho’s purges or murdered during the immediate post-Keicho chaos, Seizu would have the monumental task of completely reconstructing the Syonanese government and administration from the ground up. With the vast majority of the Syonanese Diet (and, in extension, Syonanese nobility) either exiled or dead, and the people of Syonan beginning to tire of any form of authority (as authority had repeatedly failed the people to the highest degree), Seizu would be forced into giving the people a voice in government, abolishing the regional diets (alongside with any legal distinctions between Hiraga and Nagasato) in favor of a class-based divide, with the common people and the remains of the nobility getting their respective legislative chambers (simply named the Lower and Upper Diets, respectively), in a similar vein to Britain’s House of Lords and House of Commons. Seizu would also immediately begin investing his massive fortune into the construction of several government training schools, as well as importing foreign bureaucrats from neighboring nations such as Nihon, Dai Viet, and Wu, in order to make up for Syonan’s massive shortage of government workers and administrators.
***The Flight of the Stooges and the Holy Army’s Downfall: Having been driven from Morioh, the Stooges would regroup and focus their attention on cementing their control of Luzon while the Alliance was replacing their losses. The ire of the Stooges fell on the Holy Army of Shinto and their theocratic proto-state in Rusonto, and in an effort to root out any opposition to their rule north of Morioh, the Stooges would enter a vicious campaign against the Holy Army, attempting to completely root it and its followers off the face of the earth. After brutally driving the Holy Army into the sea, they would begin constructing several lines of fortifications in order to stall any prospective Alliance advance further into Stooge territory, using slave and POW labor..
***And No Man Shall Starve Again: In Alliance-controlled Syonan, massive infrastructure projects would be undertaken, with a mad rush to rebuild devastated villages, repair existing infrastructure destroyed by the decades of constant strife, and create more roads, wells, farms, irrigation ditches, grain silos, and ports underway. These projects would often be financed out of Koshaku Souji Seizu’s own pockets, in an effort to bring Syonan back to economic viability and back to being a power in its own right. Many of these projects would be built on the back of prisoner labor, using captured troops with allegiances to other militias and groups. With the rapid decrease in population in Syonan over the past two decades, many households, and often entire towns and villages, would become destroyed or deserted. Huge tracts of land would be opened up to settlement, something which the new Syonanese Republic quickly took advantage of. With the 1585 Homestead Act, land in abandoned towns, villages, and regions would revert to the government, which would then allow both native Syonanese and immigrants (as long as they learn the Syonanese language) to receive parcels of this land for homesteading. Destroyed towns and cities would also be rebuilt, often with wider streets and more open, green spaces.
=== Turn XXXVIII: 1585-1590 ===
==== Mod Event: ====
* The Four Little Khans (Part 3):The death of Toghrul hung on everyone's heads, it has been 5 years since then. Yet Sarnai, Jangsai (or Khangsai), and Amani still kept on searching. During those 5 years, the remaining three continued to search for the secret of Taihou Khatun. From what they got from the locals, Taihou Khatun was buried somewhere north from Astrakhan in an unmarked grave. Rumor has it that Taihou Khatun and Dogar Khan were buried together, and with it they possess the Sword of the East; Cyrus. As the group make their way north, they found the grave. Or at least, what they thought was a grave. They saw a large pile of rocks. As they attempted to dig it, Sarnai saw something behind them. She attempted alerted the others, but it was too late. They were surrounded by bandits, from headcount there were 5 of them. When questioned, they lied to the bandits that they were treasure hunters. If they told them who they really are, then they would be in bigger trouble.... would they? Immediately, the bandits decided to just kill them, being treasure hunters, they might have valuables to them. Acting fast, Sarnai, who has hiding behind a rock, grabbed her gun and sword, stabbing one of the bandits before firing at another. All hell broke loose, Amani manages to grab one and choke one out while Jangsai fought two people. A mistep caused Jangsai to slip and was promptly knocked to the floor, wounded. Just before the bandit finishes him off with a 'bullet', Sarnai jumped in front of Jangsai and took it to the chest as she slashed the bandit. The final bandit went down shortly after. Jangsai witnessed as Amani held Sarnai's wounds from her chest, she was bleeding... hard. They buried her in the once fake unmarked grave and continued their journey. As Sarnai slipped away, she told them both that they should survive at all costs, because she realizes their lives are more important than some mystery. After her passing, Amani and Jangsai debated whether the journey is worth it. Amani says that they must find the Sword of the East, while Jangsai wishes to go home. Both were at odds, though Jangsai finally gave in. He is more in it now to protect family than some mystery itself.
* Prince of Persia (Part Two): In 1585, Kannan "the Fat" would historically lead a campaign against the Kandahar Azarkhate, plundering the city of Kandahar itself and, in the process, seeming to deface a number of shrines and important religious structures. Now prior to war, the Kandahar Azarkhate was Xunni majority with pluralities of Xa'mahites to the west and Hindus to the south, so when Khorasan invaded Kandahar, genocide against the Xa'mahites and the Hindus would be realized by Kannan the conqueror, for he was a conservative Xunni tyrrant. The following year, in 1586, the city of Quetta would fall and the aristocracy would turn on their Azarkh, selling him out to Kannan in exchange for the chances to keep their land, which of course is acceptable of the Fat conqeueror. With this, the Kandahar Azarkhate was annexed by Khorasan, with the states of Abadun and the Hawza Amirate scurring to the Safaretids in search of an alliance for their protection, but Xhahk Behzestes did not find their worries to be authentic, instead believing that Khorasan's campaigns are only leading him to his inevitable death in battle, and that his death would come quickly at someone else's hands. Of course, Farrokh would disagree with his father, but since he was only a Prince, the least he could do was travel as a "diplomat" to at least help them. In the summer of 1588, Kannan the Fat would lead his army of warriors to the city of Qusdar, where he would demand 'half' of everything the kingdom owned and wished to see the Amir of Hawza. While the Amir would arrive, he decidedly kept the military away on the outskirts of town, as not only did Kannan's army out-match his own, he didn't want his own people to die over a small incident. So, when Amir Salman arrived in front of Kannan and his posse of scavengers, he was confident he could persuade them to leave. As Farrokh looked at Amir Salman walking up to Kannan, he could hear thunder in the distance, and began listening in on their conversation. "Come, Kannan the Great. Let us reason together." Salman would begin, his voice raspy from the dry sun overhead and a bit shaky, although that was to be expected. Kannan would step off his war chariot, walking front in center of his band of warlords, and with no hesitation, would punch Salman in his face, breaking his nose and forcing the Amir to stumble backward. "Wha-," the Salman the stutter before Kannan spoke grimly, "The time of reason... is over," Kannan would push the Amir down, grabbing the neckline of his shirt and throwing his neck to fit over a stone curb. With Salman's head on the upper end of the curb, he would look up only to see Kannan moving his foot over his head, stating what would be his last words he ever heard, "For I, am a God." Kannan would stomp and stomp and stomp away on Salman's head, lifting it up slowly each time and savoring the squinch or the squanch. What was interesting was that, since it was only the head and since you have to consider the weight of Kannan, would actually see his body twitching in a weird seizure-like way for well after the popping of Salman's eyes or his skull crushing his brain with a comparible density to a large, stone cannon-ball. As Farrokh watched from the palace, he would flee before Kannan finished, as not only was it problematic that he be seen, but he would surely die if he did not return back to his homeland. After Kannan made Salman un-recognizable, he would raze the city, taking "half" as he killed half of the men, took half of the women and the wealth, then "took" (as in burnt) half of the city's defensive structures while confiscating "half" (as in all) of their munitions, and by the spring of 1589, with minimal resistance, Hawza was now a 'protectorate' of the Empire of Khorasan. Upon Farrokh's return home in the summer however, he would discover that his father, the Xhahk Behzestes, had passed away two months prior, and that his return meant that he was now to ascend and take the mantle as King of the Safaretid Empire.
* Steel Stallion (Part 5): He did it, Vallen finally did it. His group of Hussars traveled south from Avaro-Vedena, traveled through rivers and rough terrain before finally arriving at the surrounding hills of Vienna. From what he has heard of, Vienna has been under siege for a long time now. Looking at it, it appears to be very true. The walls have mostly crumbled, there has been several engagements outside it, as what remains of the bodies still litter the fields as the Westrians (and several other European troops) mounted scattered defenses along with what remains of basic trenches along the perimeter. With the arrival of his forces of Hussars, he charged them down the hill. The sky opened as they rode down the terrain and straight into Atouman forces, driving them off of the city. At least, that is how the story was told about the Siege of Vienna. One thing that is very assured is that Vallen would go on to assist the Westrians on driving out the Atoumans from the Westrian lands, with peace established shortly after. After the war, Vallen traveled back to Keisaria to pay homage to his fallen old mentor, who was buried somewhere in Mustajoki. Despite being the apprentice, he betrayed his mentor. And despite betraying his mentor, he did not harbor any negative feelings, but the closest thing was guilt. He did not regret going against the Despot, but he feels guilty for his demise. After spending a few years in Keisaria (maybe some shenanigans in Siberia), Vallen was invited to go back to Avaro-Vedena, where he was awarded an estate (or pretty much some land) by the rulers there for his service. Now that there is peace around him, at least in the neighboring states for the most part, Vallen could finally settle down for once. During one night, he sat down on a chair in front of his estate and stared up at the stars in thought. He could finally rest, at least for now.
* The War for the Seas: With the excommunication of Britain by collective agreement of the Papal States. The question is, WHO will be up to the task to set them straight? Considering the British has impeded on Hispanian claims under the treaty of Tordesillas and the Papal bull, it fell on them to. This enabled the War for the Seas. The Hispanian Armada was mobilized and ready for combat, they head towards the British in hopes to help both inspire Catholics there to take control and other to get rid of the rising competing and threatening British presence on the seas.
* Legacy of Vienna: It was many years after the Siege of Vienna, it was many years since the war to defend Europe against the Atoumans. Europe hasn't seen this much co-operation (or activity) since the Crusades, better yet the Roman Empire. But the war had costed most of Eskos, Carmilla (also known as Elizabeth Bathory, or Erzebet II) leads the remnants of the Crown of Eskos, married to Westria. But even after the war, the Archduke of Westria(Leon III or Leon IV, if you count Crown Prince Leon's regency about 50 or so years ago) was killed over the course of the fighting. This resulted in a regency council that will oversee who will be the next King, several candidates popped up, including Carmilla Bartok of Eskos. Though Carmilla Bartok main title is the Crown of Eskos, so it will be an uphill battle.
* Discontent among the Catholics (Britain): The excommunication by the church causes many catholics to become disgruntled with the way things are. Not only excommunication causes the loss of reputation for the nation, it actually does strangle businesses who traded with their more religious Christian counterparts around the globe. Most lesser known businesses will find themselves with fewer options. A growing faction of nobles and merchants wishes for Britain to make its state policy and religion catholic, in order to appeal to the pope and prevent any uprising or lynching of protestants in Britain. The recent declaration of war from Hispania has caused most open discontent to go underground, however, it has been replaced with some to whisper of treason.
* Dutch Revolt: With Vestkyst's (temporal) exit from the war, Westrian forces are able to push through Dutch-held lands, driving the rebels to only northern Holland and Frisia. However, by the end of the decade, the entirety of the province of Holland was recovered. While the situation looks bleak for the Dutch, all is not yet lost.
* New Discoveries: John Davis explores the strait roughly south of Greenland, thinking it to be a "passage to Cathay". The next year, he sails up the west coast of Greenland. Meanwhile, in 1589 Amara Cordeira reaches "Yezo" (Hokkaido), where her final resting place might've been located
* Shakespeare's Works: The first of Shakespeare's works are produced around this time. The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1589. It is considered by some to be Shakespeare's first play,and is often seen as showing his first tentative steps in laying out some of the themes and motifs with which he would later deal in more detail; for example, it is the first of his plays in which a heroine dresses as a boy. The story features two best friends (Valentine and Proteus) set out for love, only for their friendship to fall apart. Proteus and Valentine, lifelong friends, each leave their rural hometown of Verona to experience life in the city of Milan. Valentine strikes out on his own, arriving first; he falls in love with Sylvia, and makes plans to win her hand. However, her father, the Duke of Milan, has betrothed her to the wealthy but undesirable Thurio. Antonio, a Veronese nobleman, then decides to send his son Proteus to the Duke's court in Milan, to experience a more well-rounded life. After his arrival in Milan, Proteus also sets his sights on Sylvia, disregarding his loyalty to both Valentine and Julia (his sweetheart back home). After some shenanigans, outlaws captured Silvia and Proteus came to the rescue. He demands that Silvia give him some sign of her favor for freeing her, but she refuses. He tries to rape her, but the hidden Valentine (who became the leader of the outlaws) emerges and stops him. Proteus apologizes, and Valentine offers to give him Silvia as a token of their friendship. Then "Sebastian" (Julia) faints, revealing her true identity. Proteus decides he really loves Julia more than Silvia, taking her instead. Silvia ended up with Valentine after her "fiance" fell out of favor with her father.
* Simon Stevin: The Flemish mathematician publishes a study showing two objects of different weight fall at the same speed.
* Chocolate: The food product is introduced into Europe officially.
* Syonans in Arcadia: 1587, the first Syonan landed in what is now the OTL Morro Bay in south of what the British call "New Albion" (California). They arrived aboard a Hispanian vessel, which had sailed from Agousta Macao, as part of the galleon trade. During about three days of travels ashore around OTL Morro Bay, the crew of the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza came in contact with the Chumash people, ultimately resulting in the deaths of two crew members: one Hispanian and one Syonan. The Syonan crew would permanently settle in other Hispanian settlements and forts, also becoming the first Hispanian-Syonans.
* Pass auf, granaten!: Rudimentary grenades has been in use for centuries by now in human history. The first cast iron bombshells and grenades appeared in Europe since the 1400s, not long after the fall of the Byzantines. But they weren't widely as used as often as the present. During the Siege of Vienna, Westrian and Eskosian forces made rudimentary ceramic and iron spheres (or jars) containing gunpowder, shrapnel, and "bullets" along with a wick attached to help ignite the gunpowder. This was continued to be in use and were effectively to push the Atoumans out of Westria.
==== NPC Event: ====
* Westria: With the help of the Hussars, led by Vallen Ostrovsky-Drahoman (or just Vallen Drahoman), Westria's capital of Vienna was able to be saved in the nick of time. Taking advantage, the cost? The Holy Roman Emperor. With no set heirs, the throne falls upon the regency council, ignoring several claimants, especially Carmilla Bartok's (Elizabeth Bathory, or Erszebet II Bartok) claims to it. This would lead to a succession crisis that would last for years.
* Bavaria: Taking advantage of the absence of a Holy Roman Emperor, they convince the other HRE states to elect the Bavarian King to take control.
* New France: With desires to expand the fur trade, they integrate Ottawa and the OTL Ontario Peninsula into their territories.
* Komi: They gradually expanded their borders to meet Sibir.
* Papal State: The lack of British response to the demands of the papal state, on top of Britain being catholic even though they have non-catholic secular policies, causes the Papal states to issue a formal excommunication of Britain. But they will give a pardon to British citizens that listens. The pope rarely issues out excommunications in the times where even less people cares about it (or at least half of Europe), but he was urged by others that if Britain were to help provide a front for catholics in a protestant filled north, they must fall in line.
* France: The religious wars continue under the guise of the "War of the Three Henrys". There are three factions; King Henry III of France, supported by the royalists and the politiques; King Henry of Navarre, heir presumptive to the French throne and leader of the Huguenots, supported by some Protestant princes of Germany; and Henry of Lorraine, leader of the Catholic League, funded and supported by Hispania. Henry of Navarre outlives the other Henrys, and becomes the King of France as "Henry IV the Great". The House of Bourbon-Orleans (OTL just House of Bourbon) becomes the new royal house of France.
* Wu: The integration of Ba, started under the Longqing Emperor roughly 1567, has finally been completed in 1587.
* Wuthayhi: (To Yolngu) They politely refuse
* Ččulčontay: With Khuree falling to their forces in 1586, the Khalkha surrender. Talk of partioning Khalkha lands with the Khitan begins, though the Khan Ččulčontay is a hard man to negotiate with. However, a favorable deal is not impossible. Meanwhile, more and more Khalkha refugees flood into Wu, settling everywhere east of the Taihang mountains, joining the Mongol peoples already present in the area.
* Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla: The three nations are afraid of Mutapa's expansionist actions, and for good reason. They accept Matagaskar's offer.
* Order of Avesta: Though suspicious, they agree to co-operate with Matagaskar more in the future.
* Hispania: Feeling the need to defend the integrity of their holdings and the main church, they go to war with Britain with the intent of "Liberating or defending British Catholics" that had to suffer from British actions, if there was no mistreatment.
==== Empire of Galatoi (Part 1, I guess) ====
Emperor: Macareus Aendarus (1580-nowadays). Like his father, Macareus has been interested in warfare since quite a young age. Macareus spent 5 years studying philosophy and law at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. In addition, he also studied military strategy and tactics there. During this period of time, Macareus learned a lot about the current state of France and West Europe in general. As he returned home, he was greeted by his family, including his father Isarnus, who told him a lot about the current situation of Galatoi before he died from poisoning.
Advisor: Sabir Al-Hakam (1583-nowadays). Sabir was born in a family of nobles of Moorish descent. He studied in the University of Velitia and later became one of the advisors of Zuhr, the king of Djenne, and was recognises for his intelligence and administrative skills. When Macareus and his army stormed into Djenne and killed Zuhr, Sabir became the right hand of the emperor and also his best friend.
Religions:
* Ateuritism is the main religion of Galatoi, which has been an integral part of this country for centuries. However, as a result of the recent Civil War, the influence of the Church in the society has been significantly reduced by the King and the nobility. The regions of Alluci (where the tribes that would become Galatoi moved before Valcanor separated them) and Lutetia (around Paris, the ancient original home of the would-be Galatoi) are considered to be the holy sites of Ateuritism, and thousands of people go there on a pilgrimage. There is one supreme God, called Vallus (which is the documented name of a chieftain, who led the Gaulic migrating tribes to their new home after they were separated by the original Kingdom of Valcanor.) It is believed that he created 9 other gods to maintain the balance of the world. But 3 of them went on an evil path and another 3 chose to stay between good and evil and not take either of the sides. This led to an axis based on Law-Chaos and Good-Evil being created for the gods: Good bloc: Atregtius (Lawful Good, God of Justice and Righteousness), Sedia (Neutral Good, Goddess of Practicality and Regulation), Butiro (Chaotic Good, God of Freedom and Self-Defense); Neutral bloc: Vicana (Lawful Neutral, Goddess of Order and Settling), Leuceni (True Neutral, God of Instinct and Apathy), Albic (Chaotic Neutral, God of Individuality and Debauchery); Evil bloc: Trita (Lawful Evil, Goddess of Extortion and Hierarchy), Maglubix (Neutral Evil, God of Greed and Ambition), Sacrovirus (Chaotic Evil, God of Senseless Destruction and Chronic Slaughter). Homoeroticism has become noticeable in Galatoin mythology and art. Artists, writers and poets use characters in their works of art to express a variety of feelings and situations and male deities of Ateuritism are paired in stories. In different regions, different pairs were used, which caused tensions between worshippers from different regions of Galatoi. However, in 1569, the Advorix Church published the "Velitia Edicts", in which allows the usage of certain "pairings", officially declaring them canon (such as LeuTius, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Atregtius, God of Justice and Righteousness), and forbids the usage of many other "pairings" (such as LeuVirus, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Sacravirus, God of Senseless Destruction).
* Both Arzham and Christianity have presence in several regions of Galatoi, but their influence in the society is nowehere near the one of Ateuritism.
* There are hundreds, if not thousands of local pagan religions across the country and despite each having a small following, so in general they make up quite a big portion of the population. However, Ateuritism slowly spreads there, absorbing one village after another.
Atlantic Slave Trade is a key part of the economy of Galatoi. It emerged at the beginning of the 16th century when slaves from Africa were transported to Seville or Canary Islands, although from the 1520s the direction shifted to New Hispania and Brazil. In the 1560s, the Atlantic Slave Trade spread to West Africa, including Galatoi and such towns as Donnius and Saminia became centers of the slave trade in the region. The volume of the Atlantic Slave Trade has significantly increased since Macareus declared war on Zuhr, the king of Djenne, in 1580 and launched his military campaign in the region later. Gold is an important resource, too, vital to the economy of Galatoi: it is needed not only for manufacturing precious goods (e.g. jewellery, vessels, embroidered clothing and illuminated manuscripts), but also to mint coinage to pay armies. However, almost all the gold mines are controlled by the King himself and the gold trade is strictly regulated.
Military of the empire is unarguably the strongest in the region. One of the key reasons is that Macareus is a powerful military commander and he is respected in the military. The imperial army is split into three major divisions, each consisting of 10 army, 6 cavalry, and 8 infantry regiments and led by prominent military commanders.
Grand Conquests of Macareus: 1580 was the year when Macareus began the Grand Conquests using his advanced military strategy and tactics. The Grand Conquests resulted in the expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade to the rest of West Africa, Galatoi becoming the lingua franca and Ateuritism spreading all across the region. Note: each slide of the image below shows the state of affairs at the BEGINNING of the year.
Grand Conquests and its consequences have been a disaster for Djenne: When Macareus defeated Zuhr and his brother Salim, his realm doubled in size. It usually takes much effort for conquerors to establish themselves in the newly subjugated lands. However, Macareus had what one might call “plot armor”: Sabir Al-Hakam. Sabir was born in a family of nobles of Moorish descent. He studied in the University of Velitia and later became one of the advisors of Zuhr, the king of Djenne, and was recognised for his intelligence and administrative skills. When Macareus and his army stormed into Djenne and killed Zuhr, Sabir became the right hand of the emperor and also his best friend. He managed to negotiate with the local lords there and achieve stability in the region. However, it wasn’t enough: Macareus moved the capital from Advorix to Djenne for strategic reasons and renamed it to “Aen” after the Aendarus dynasty. Some other major cities were renamed, too (for example, Timbuktu -> Magnurius, Gao -> Mesillius, Araouane -> Macareiapolis). In addition, only the followers of Ateuritism became allowed to trade and join merchant guilds.
Siege of Wagadu: At the end of 1584, Macareus launched a military campaign and declared war on Moyo, the king of Mossi. He sent two divisions to siege the city of Wagadu. However, Moyo was allied with Habib and Baraka, the kings of Ig and Nupe, respectively. In January, both divisions of the empire arrived to the city to siege it, but the combined forces of the three kings were already there. In addition, the city turned out to be heavily fortified. The battle lasted for several months, but the forces in the city eventually surrendered as they ran out of resources.
Amani was the eldest of the three sons of Mosi, leader of one of the Hausa kingdoms, and his heir. Simba, the second eldest brother, who was only 1 year younger than Amani, was envious as he thought that his brother didn’t deserve to become king. When Mosi died, and Amani came to throne, he decided to give a fraction of his domain to Simba as a compromise. However, Simba wasn’t satisfied with this outcome. Unlike his brother, Simba had several prominent military commanders on his side and he promised them lordship and  if they helped him overthrow his brother. Amani knew about the coup his brother was planning to stage, but Simba had the military on his side. Yet, there was still reason to hope: the news of Macareus, a young king of Galatoi who managed to bring Zuhr to his knees, declared himself the emperor, and launched a military campaign in the region, spread to Amani. He decided to reach out to Macareus and request to become a tributary of the emperor. His request was accepted, and when a few regiments of the imperial army arrived to assist Amani, Simba had no choice but to surrender. Soon after, Amani declared himself the king of Gombe and managed to expand his realm.
Macareus and Sabir (~1585): Since Mac confessed to Sabir and began his military campaign in the region, the anxious thoughts about his identity that had haunted him for years were slowly disappearing from his mind...or so he thought. “Why?” - a simple, yet so complicated question that Macareus asks himself every time before going to bed. “Why am I doing all of this?”. However, he can never get an answer to any of such questions. “Is it because I feel...lonely? lost? empty? Am I supposed to know?”. It was one of the countless nights he spent crying in bed.
In the morning of the next day, when Macareus had to meet with Sabir to discuss policies that they were going to introduce in the newly conquered territories.
- “I can't help but notice that your eyes are all red and puffy. Do you...get enough sleep?”
- “I...yes…?”
- “Don’t lie to me, silly. I want to talk with you, but as a friend, not an advisor. We didn’t manage to have an actual talk since you confessed to me ‘cause you spend all the time leading campaigns far away from here. What bothers you?”
Macareus tried to force himself to give a genuine answer.
- “I just sometimes feel...I wonder if I was born in the right body. I just don’t understand why God chose me to be the emperor when it is obvious I am not the right perso-”
- “What are you talking about? You’re the one who brought Zuhr to his knees and freed the people there from his tyranny. Your military strategy and tactics are on a whole nother level! You were born to become a leader, like your father or g-”
- “I don’t want to hear anything about him. Just...don’t...I can’t stand people praising him as if he was the second Vallus...not for me, at least.”
- “Why though?”
-“I never had a chance to experience what it is like to be a loving father, who cared about me...and then he just sent me alone to Paris without asking me. When I finally returned home, he couldn’t care less and just decided to tell me what it is like to be a king as if I ever wanted to become one.”
-“I am sure he wanted the best for you. Why did you still become king even though you didn’t want to?”
-“Because...I was the only son and he didn’t have any other heirs. I wonder what infightings would have happened If I refused to come to the throne and left the country without a king...fate is a nasty bitch.”
-“Well, what I want to say is that you can always count on me not just as an advisor, but as a friend and I will always be here when you need me. By the way, you really do need to rest for now. Let’s discuss the policies in the evening or even later. I am preparing to greet Exsomnus (local lord of Saminia) today, so I will be here all the time. And...I need to go now, bye! See you in the evening, right?”
-“Yeah…”
Sabir leaves the palace and heads to the city, while Macareus goes to his room and tries to fall asleep, but in vain. The talk caused even more inner conflicts instead of resolving them. “Why?! I don’t know myself, how am I supposed to give you an answer?” he said aloud, alone in his room, staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know…” he whispered before passing out. Macareus woke up around midnight, and decided to go to the balcony next to his room. He came across Sabir, who was going in the opposite direction. 
- “Oh, you’re awake. Today was a very tiring day, though, and I really want to sleep now. I think we can discuss the polici-”
-“Sabir, dear, we both know that I don’t understand anything about governing. Just do what you think is best.”
- “Well...alright, as you please” he said and left Mac alone. 
Macareus just stared at the moon for a few minutes before going to bed again. He didn’t feel anything at all at that moment. 
====The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)====
*Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
*Drakes: 
**Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - ) (R: 1561 - )
***Son: Luke (M, b. 1567 - )
**Sister: Francis(ca) (F, b. 1541 - )
**Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - )
***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 - )
**Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - )
***Married off to a Westrian prince
**Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
***Daughter: Valerie
***Son: Peter
**Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - )
***Son: Noah
***Son: Janet
*Important People: 
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: 6.90 million (+345k “external subjects”)
**British Mainland: 6.90 million
**British Settlers: 580
***Jamestown: 180
***Fort Elysia: 140
***Fort Epheria: 137
***Greensfort: 133
***New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 115
***Elysian Local Population: 345 thousand external subjects
*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.
**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.
**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.
**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
**Fort Avalon
**Fort Akan
**Fort Epheria
**Fort Elysia
**Jamestown
**New Glaemchester
Wars and Conflicts
*Americas: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity with the added risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter.
*Anglo-Spanish War: Also known as The War for the Seas, with the excommunication of the Catholic Church, the Hispanian saw more than enough justification to declare war on Britain. (See Events for more info)
Armed Forces
*Total: 126,265 Manpower (1.8% of population)
*Army
**Total: 119,900
**British Defense Force: (British Mainland) 
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 15,000
***Marksman Infantry: 48,000
***Light Cavalry: 8,700
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 950
***Heavy Cavalry: 1,650
***Bow Cavalry: 2,600
***Field Artillerymen: 5,634
****Field cannons: 1,878
***Logistical Support: 23,000
**British Expeditionary Force: (In Elysia)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
***Marksman Infantry: 10,000
***Elysian Musketeers: 6,000
***Light Cavalry: 1,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 500
***Heavy Cavalry: 350
***Bow Cavalry: 300
***Field Artillerymen: 501
****Field cannons: 167
***Logistical Support: 7,000
*Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,350
**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.
**As of 1527, three factions are formed within the Roundtables
***The Crimson Sun
***The Azure Moon
***The White Orchids
****Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
**Notable (Living) Members:
***The Drake Family
*Navy:
**Personnel: 7,300 (combined between both fleets)
**Naval Vessels:
***Victory-class First-rate British Galleons:12
****Main flagship: HMS Victory
***Ember-class First-rate British Galleons: 20
****Main flagship: HMS Ember
***Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 30
****Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
***Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravel: 60
***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
***London-class Third-rate British Caravel: 4
****Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
***Dove-class Fourth-rate Dual-Purpose Merchant Caravel: 99
****These ships are given to British merchants who sail in dangerous waters, and are crewed by either mercenaries hired by said merchants or the merchants themselves. Only included in ship-counts for the navy to deter invasions by sea.
Research and Development
*MAC Cannons: McCarthy Industries continues to produce MAC Cannons 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.
**The 32 pounder long-nose MAC Cannons enter service, replacing the aging 24-pound naval cannons on the large British galleons.
**In addition, they are contracted to create a smaller cannon for use on Vinland longboats. As such, the 2 pounder cannon was created.
*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.
**Carriers: Test trials for HMS Spyder are carried out in the Elysian Bay and the nearby Potomac River. In this area, both the Vinland longboats and the HMS Spyder itself both undergo sea trials as well as training and experimentation of formations and strategies involving ships of various sizes in close areas, namely having one group act as a vanguard and the other act as escort for the fleet, while the HMS Spyder stays out in rougher seas.
**Newer British Galleons begin construction. These ships are based on the Ember-class galleons, but are slightly larger, faster, and more optimized for warfare. These ships become known as the Victory-class galleons.
**Vinland Longboats: In a collaborative effort with Vinland, both British and Vinland engineers get to work on modifying the Vinland longboat for transportation within British “Carriers”, as well as see viable possibilities for mounting cannons (mainly the 2 pounder cannon) on the vessels.
Training and Production
*2,000 Elysian Musketeers
*6 Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravels
*Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.
Diplomacy
*Americas: With intelligence from the Vinlanders, the British decide to scope out the other nations of the Eastern Coast of North America, and see what they have to offer
*Agousta: The British inquire if they wish to assist the British in future plans in their war with Hispania
*Amekrogu: The British (primarily the HALO company) pledge to protect Amekrogu from the Spanish, as they make efforts to stifle Spanish movement in the area.
*Europeans: 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, at least
*Vinland: The British send what supplies they can so that the new Vinland thane can maintain their territory and then some. (see events for more details).
**The British also ask if they could collaborate with the British on creating an improved longboat, one that can mount a small cannon onboard, as well as be used with Britain’s new “carriers”
*Westria: The British request that Westria doesn’t severe their relationships with the British (though the British predict that they’ll turn their backs on the British due to the excommunication)
Allies
*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.
*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.
*Westria: An ally on mainland Europe who also dislikes France, cause f**k France (jk).
*Agousta: Allied with Portugal.
*Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
Events
*Anglo-Spanish War (Part 1): Tensions with the Spanish blow over into a full-out war.
**The Spanish Armada: The Spanish Armada, famed for destroying the Atouman fleet decades prior, is now poised and ready to land troops for the invasion of Britain. With fear of both the local Catholic population in Britain sympathizing or even assisting the Spanish with the landing a Spanish army on English soil, it was imperative that the British stop the Spanish at sea.
***The British fleet, despite its large size, was smaller than that of the Spanish, but as would be found out later, the British would have more powerful guns with longer range than their Spanish counterparts (due to the McCarthy Firearms Company arming the British with top-of-the-line weapons to fight with).
***Despite the odds against them, Admiral Francis(ca) Drake takes it upon herself to defeat the Spanish Armada, and she gets her chance to do so in 1588 when the Spanish fleet sets sail from Spain to land troops in Britain.
***Battle of the English Channel (July 1588): 
****Brief Synopsis: The Spanish and British fleets engage one another in the pivotal engagement in the English Channel, leading to [REDACTED]
**Battle of Elysia (1585 - 1588): The Spanish land on the easternmost portion of Elysia and begin to advance through British-held Elysia, capturing Fort Elysia and other territories in Eastern Elysia in 1585 as they slowly advance towards Elysiapolis itself.
***The Elysian population was split between supporting the British and supporting the Spanish, with those who wished to avenge their loss decades prior siding with the Spanish. However, there were even more Elysians who preferred living under British protection and stayed with the British, some even joining the fight alongside Britain. Seems the British integration of Elysia was successful, because by 1586, the majority of the Elysian population rallied under the British flag.
***With both the support of the Elysian population and the sheer determination of the British troops, they began to push the Spanish back, eventually recapturing all lost territory by 1587.
***At this point, the Spanish begin efforts to evacuate from Elysia. The last Spanish boots left Elysia in early 1588.
**Florida and the Spanish Colonies: With their successful defense of Elysia, General George T. Briggs begins plans to invade Spanish-controlled Florida and push south, and with the latter plan, they got two options: either march through the southern territory of Eldia, who the British presume wouldn’t appreciate British movements through the territory, or to go by sea and risk attack from the Spanish.
***Weighing their options, General George T. Briggs decides to go through with a seaborne invasion. Taking a third of the British troops in Elysia (leaving all Elysian troops in Elysia to defend their homeland), he, along with assistance from the BFG Company, began to draft plans for the invasion of Florida.
***With the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, Briggs gained more confidence in his planned invasion of Florida, starting in late 1588 with their attack on Yamasee in order to gain a foothold in Florida.
****After the attack, they fortify their position in Florida to allow for the transportation of the entire invading force before marching south.
****A big issue during this time is that during the year when the British hunker down, the Spanish forces in the region will organize themselves into a force that could push the British back. As such, a part of the first landing is the British Elite Shock Cavalry and Shock Infantry.
*****The British Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry are units that excel at hit and run tactics, able to fire firearms from horseback without the horses becoming startled.
*****The British Multi-purpose Shock Infantry in Florida have trained with Elysian natives in guerilla warfare as well as ground-based hit-and-run tactics.
****Operation Anklebiter (November 1588 - March 1589): With both forces landed first, the goal is for the Cavalry and Infantry to wreak havoc on Spanish supply lines and stifle efforts for them to mobilize efficiently, to allow the British to land enough troops to begin their assault on Spanish territory in March of 1589.
****Operation Sledgehammer (March 1589 - 1590+): With enough British troops in the region, they begin a front-wide assault on Spanish-controlled Florida. The plan is to attack along the entire front to force the Spanish to spread their forces thin in the region.
***Invading Army:
****1,000 Multi-purpose Shock Infantry
****3,000 Marksman Infantry
****200 Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry
****201 Artillerymen
*****67 Heavy Artillery
****2,000 Men on logistics
*Excommunication: With the excommunication of the church, the British economy takes a hit, with some of their trading partners closing their ports to the British. As such, the British look into potential answers, to which they came to a solution: looking abroad.
**Americas: The British, looking abroad, sees the vast resources of North America. As such, more plans for colonization are brainstormed, though any attempts are put on hold until after the Anglo-Spanish War.
**Asia: From Drake’s expedition, vast quantities of wealth were found in Asia. As such, various British companies begin to look eastwards, with the thought of wealth and glory visible, merely separated from the United Kingdom by the seas.
*Rise of Protestantism: Tensions begin to rise between Odinists and Catholics in Britain, though with war on the horizon, many set aside their differences under a common enemy. Others don’t easily drop their feuds.
*The Rise of the Company Fleets (Part 10): With the world opening up, and rumors of prosperity and gold present, various companies sprout up around Britain, with the goal to investigate various locations of notice with hopes to make it big.
**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.
***Phase 4: The BFG Company begins to exert more of its control in the region, with its realm of influence slowly extending throughout Laconia.
***Spain: With the threat of a Spanish invasion imminent, owning the largest fleet of the British Merchant Companies, they were asked to loan a portion of their navy to help with the defense of the British Isles.
***Florida: With declaration of war, the BFG Company begins to use its merchant fleet to commerce in raids on Spanish merchant ships, to stifle the Spanish economy where it can.
***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.
***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.
**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 3b): With the creation of Fort Epheria, the company begins to slowly assert its control over the region, but that’s for the future.
****Their influence continues to spread, as it slowly creeps towards Amekrogu itself. (continued from last turn)
***Anglo-Spanish War: also known as the war of the seas, with the threat of Spanish invasion of their territory, the HALO Company rally their ships to sink any Spanish ships on sight, in fear of a Spanish Invasion of their territory.
****In addition, if they can get the Spanish to attack Amekrogu, believing they are associated with the British by flying Amekrogu flags alongside the British flag.
***Company Fleet Flagship: The Pillar of Autumn
**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.
*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)
*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
**Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
***Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.
==== Empire of Matagaskar ====
* Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
** Monarch: Emperor Andriamanelo (B 1546 - Age 43, alive) (R 1572 - Present)
** Consort: Empress Ramaitsoanala (B 1546 - Age 43, alive)
** Ruling Dynasty: Hova (Ndahimananjara branch of Ammagari)
** Order of Succession: Prince Ralambo (B 1566 - Age 23, alive), Prince Andrianjaka (B 1571 - Age 18, alive), Prince Andrianimpito (B 1576 - Age 13, alive), Princess Rasolobe (B 1556 - Age 33, alive), Prince Manelobe (B 1529 - Age 60, alive), (his children), Princess Zakalamanjafotany (B 1552 - Age 37, alive), Prince Andriatanjany (B 1541 - Age 48, 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. 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: Mahajanga
* Demographics:
** Population: ca 790 000 total
** Mahajanga: 9 720
** Analamanga: 4 600
** Toamasina: 4 200
** Manakara: 2 700
** Ambanja: 2 400
** Morafenobe: 2 200
** Toliara: 2 000
** Moroni: 1 000
** Rural regions: ca 760 000
** Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (divided into 39% Merina and 49% others such as Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Sihanaka, Antankarana etc.), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), 5% Adnanite
** Religion: 92% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, 8% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore)
* 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%): 7 780
** 2 100 Spearmen
** 1 400 Swordsmen
** 400 Bowmen
** 2 000 Crossbowmen
** 1 500 Light Cavalry
** 350 Fossa Warriors
* Navy:
** 10 Adananita class ships
** 9 Mer'ana class ships
** 9 transport ships
* Diplomacy:
** Avesta: Very good.
* Events:
** Andriamanelo Again Again: These following years, Andriamanelo spends quite an amount of time on foreign policy, mainly actually doing what he promised MPB (Mtende, Pemba and Bangalla) and assuring their protection. Otherwise things remain relatively silent and peaceful, he has a lot of contact with Ranjevo, caring for his safety out in new and foreign lands that could be dangerous, even for a small island. The Emperor also does something unheard of. He orders the shrines to previous monarchs as well as important people of Matagaskar's previous incarnation Imerina, to be moved to a new area. That area is a mausoleum that he builds in Analamanga, just by the city's rova. Why Analamanga? Well basically everyone since Rangita has enjoyed it almost like a second home and it's the second largest settlement of the empire. To compensate for Maromokotro, the mountain where the shrines were originally placed, he has it declared a holy site of all of Matagaskar. He thus imposes strict regulations for the region near the mountain. Basically don't fuck around in a holy site, or get your ass jailed.
** Assisting the Swahili: Matagaskar retains a presence in MPB, introducing them to new technology and such regarding warfare so that their fighting ability improves.
** Order of Sihanaka: Same as previous turns, they just convert heathens and get paid for it.
** Swords: Swords have become a much more useful weapon to us. They start to phase out spears a bit and also the spears become more adaptable due to how warfare changes over time.
** Studies on Maorisy: Ranjevo and his comrades spend time on the foreign island we they settled studying the plant life as well as the animals. Notably they encountered indigenous flora as well as fauna. Examples of endemic fauna include the pink pigeon, the Mauritian flying fox and of course, the dodo bird.
===="De Kaap" (Cape) | Dragon's Fire====
*Leadership Structure: The organisation has been crumbling following the death of Lars Hatgers, the third Grand Dragon. He is succeeded by a senior chief who has better plans than to keep the organisation alive. Dragon's Fire in its current form is barely what it is, with its dissolution becoming more likely every day. (Stage 2 of 3 dissolution is commenced.)
**Grand Dragon:
***Mechiel Tangelder (b. 1480 - d. 1549, office 1502 - 1542)
***Koen van der Wel (b. 1502 - d. 1570, office 1542 - 1559)
***Lars Hatgers (b. 1515 - d. 1577, office 1558 - 1577)
***David Hospes (b. 1540, office since 1577)
**Senior Chiefs: Three figures
*Government: A provisional government was established in place upon the settlement of Kaapstad as a provisional outpost and settlement initially. Leadership of the Dragon's Fire remains dominant and ever since the death of Hatgers as the third Grand Dragon in its organisation's history, it is shifting away from being led by an organisation to simply becoming a hybrid republic and colonial government (despite being unassociated with the Netherlands de facto and de jure). The Governor position is created by the new Grand Dragon, David Hospes on 1579, electing himself as the first Governor of Kaap.
**Government Type: Provisional council
**Premier of Kaap: David Hospes (b. 1540s, office since 1579)
*Membership: 110 members are 'full' members of this organisation, while 150 of them are former members of this organisation. The current 'population' of De Kaap (Cape) is 520, though the population would struggle to survive the new climate. Also including from the privatisation compromise are those ships (they may be scrapped; but discussions around trade with other ports are considered as late as the late 1570s): 
**4 transport ships
**1 caravel
*Diplomacy: N/A
*Operations: N/A
*Events:
**Survival of the Fittest (III): Population growth is observed for the first time after few more seasons of harvest. Development of Kaapstad (as an outpost) continues as one of the ships have ventured out from the Cape of Good Hope for the first time after lying there for years now. This was between 1587-88, where one of the older crew went out and returned with a shipment of food and other building resources to consolidate settlement. This angered natives, who are becoming more aware of the Dutchmen who fled their country and are expropriating territory essentially by building on top of their land with settlements.
**Fall of Dragon's Fire (II): The second phase of ending Dragon's Fire is underway. Half of the organisation is dismantled by the fourth Grand Dragon, as he now only refers himself as the Premier of Kaap rather than being the leader of some organisation. The organisation is already obscure at this point since the end of Tangelder's adventures and supporting the Dutch revolt unconditionally.
**War Against Natives: On July 1589 (in the middle of winter, before harvest), a few indigenous Khoisan people in the outskirts pillaged a small farm owned by one family. In retaliation, the father of the family (who was one of the people who travelled to Kaap together by the Dragon's Fire fleet) shot two with his outdated arquebuiser. Knowing that Kaapstad is now under threat again, these people are going to come back. The next wave came on December, once again leading to another reprisal. A war between the natives seems to be on the verge for these people and the survival of this independent Dutch colony (as they are not funded by the Dutch government) is on the brink once again.
==== Sublime State of Zhaowa ====
* Government: Thalassocratic Mixed Kongsi Republic
** Administration: Zhaowa, like it’s mother state, Li, has an administrative system not dissimilar to the Li system of Prefectures (Chú), Urban Counties (Hwen), and Rural Counties (Vo). There are 21 prefectures.
** Grand Overseer (Taixu): The Taixu is the ruler of Zhaowa as elected by the Grand Tribunal. They have the ability to veto any action done by the Grand Tribunal. Upon their death, the vice-taixu, chosen by the Taixu, becomes the interrex until an election occurs, no more than a year after the Taixu’s death.
*** List of Taixus:
**** Jieu Jengywéi (1492-1526)
**** Kyang Baklangit (1526-1558)
**** Kyang Hyancuetvo (1558-1562)
**** Hauvi Ngaudzoi (1562-1585)
**** Jieu Touiku/Wanywug (1589-)
** Grand Tribunal (Ta Fapdéng): The Grand Tribunal is the main legislative authority in Zhaowa. It is made up of 81 members who vote on national policy and pass bills.
** Council of Nine (Bát Yén ci Hwai): The Council of Nine oversee the 9 ministries of government in Zhaowa. They are hand-picked by the Taixu. Though meritocratic on paper, the ranks of the Council of Nine come from the same couple of noble families. The 9 ministries of government are the; the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Ceremony, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of Households. All of the ministers are subordinate to the Taixu.
** Lower Tribunal (Hyaci Fapdéng): The Lower Tribunal consists of all citizens elected by the Common People’s Tribunal and many high-ranking Bureaucrats. Members of the Lower Tribunal meet once a year to elect members of the Grand Tribunal. There are 873 members of the Lower Tribunal. They function similarly to the Electoral College in OTL US politics.
** Common People’s Tribunal (Kúngyén ci Fapdéng): The Common People’s Tribunal consists of all citizens within the State of Zhaowa. It is by far the largest electoral body within Zhaowa. All citizens have the right to directly elect leaders for their respective counties and prefectures via popular vote. Though they do not directly vote for higher positions, they very much influence their decisions. As representatives those elected are both morally and practically obligated to represent the wishes of those under them, as the common people can easily vote them out if they do not fulfill their wishes.
** Political Parties: While there are no official political parties Within Zhaowa, there are several political blocs within the Tribunals.
*** Aristocrats: The Aristocrats are a large front wishing to preserve the status-quo and increase the power of the noble class. They hold 16 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Tradesmen’s Front (Xángtang): The Tradesmen’s Front, primarily made up of Lower-level officials, merchants, and artisans, is a major political bloc within Zhaowa. They advocate for less trade restrictions, more power to the Hwais, lower tariffs, a strong navy, improving infrastructure, and pacifist foreign policy. They hold 14 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Militarists (Kwúntang): The Stratocrats are a sister group of the Tradesmen's front. They share many of the same beliefs as the Tradesmen's Front. However, they advocate for socially conservative policies and aggressive foreign policy. They hold 17 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Traditionalists (Dauvuttang): The Traditionalist Party, primarily made up of Buddhists and Xianists, is one of the larger political fronts within Zhaowa. They advocate for socially Conservative policies, reforms to the Ministry of Ceremony, and Isolationist Foreign Policy. They hold 6 seats in the Grand Tribunal,
*** Xianists (Xéntang): The Xianists are a fringe political bloc. They advocate for increased authority of Xianist schools, socially Progressive policies, reforms to the Ministry of Ceremony, and exploration into Papua and Australia. They hold 3 seats in the Grand Tribunal.
*** Commoner’s Front (Noungyéntang): Forming the basis of Tsúyén’s support base, the Commoner’s Front is a front consisting of ethnic Toraja, Alfur, Makassarese, Papuan, non-Ternatian Halmaherans, and numerous other ethnic minorities, as well as sinitic lesser officials who managed to claw their way up to the Grand Tribunal. The Makkasan and Nunusakuan nobility is well represented within the Commoner’s Front. In addition, numerous merchants, especially those involved in Western Nusantara are staunch activists of this group. Though with disparate views, they all are united in their support of Tsuyenist policies, which emphasize strengthening of the nation by all means necessary, from proto-communist policies in Papua, to policies increasing the power of foreign Hwais, to the construction of a large and powerful navy. They hold 17 seats within the Grand Tribunal.
* Economy: Zhaowa has a Proto-Capitalist economy, focusing on agriculture, spices, metals, fishing, and forest products. Perhaps the most important part of the Zhaowanese economy is the trade of all of the above. A major feature of the Zhaowanese economy is the Hwai, an economic and societal structure functioning similar to a Renaissance Guild, a Trade/Workers Union, and a Cartel. Hwais evolved from notions of brothership among the Mercantile and Managerial class of Yun-era China. Most citizens are part of or somehow involved in a Hwai. Hwais are commercial organizations consisting of members that provide capital and shared profits. Though much of the population may not be an active member of a Hwai, many citizens work for a member of a Hwai. Since all involved in the Hwai receive equal profits and have equal capital, Zhaowa could also be classified as Proto-Market-Socialist. Zhaowa has a paper and coin based Fiat monetary system. To avoid inflation, all money is in the hands of the Ministry of Finance. All paper money can be exchanged for gold, silver, and copper, or silk with an exchange rate of 3%.
** Main Currency: Ceijen
** Monetary Value: 1 Ceijen coin (制钱) is equivalent to one mace (3.8 grams) of 21K rose gold (12% Copper, 88% Gold).
* Demographics:
* Ethnic Makeup: (NEEDS FIXING)
** 20.6% Mixed-Sinitic
** 19.3% Sundanese
** 14.3% Makassarese
** 10.2% Lampung
** 6.8% Sumbawan
** 6.3% Pure Sinitic
** 5.9% Moluccan
** 5.3% Minahasan
** 3.6% Papuan
** 3.5% Toraja
** 3.1% Javanese
** 2.1% Malay
* Total Population: 1,719,000
** Maluku: 39,000
** Makassar: 32,500
** Manado: 29,000
** Nimkyóng: 25,000
** Singnakyo: 20,000
** Ampenan: 17,000
** Selam: 16,000
** Launa: 12,000
** Sufu: 8,500
** Jáng Hwi: 4,500
** Tangbana: 1,000
* Religion: 6% Xianist, 15% Mahayana Buddhist, 20% Theravada Buddhist, 6% Hindu, 24% Animist, 5% Arzhamist, 30% Clearwater Buddhist, 1% Other
* Military: 36330 Personnel (~3.5%)
** Army: 12500
*** 400 Military Police
*** 200 Garrison Infantry
*** 200 Garrison Artillery
*** 100 Calvary
*** 3,250 Mixed Infantry (Polearm & Arquebus mixed units)
*** 1500 Shock infantry (Swordsmen)
*** 750 Support Artillery 
*** 100 Military Engineers
*** ~5000 Auxiliaries
*** 1000 Logistical Support
** Navy: 23830 Sailors/Marines, 859 Ships (excluding coastal patrol)
*** 18 Hunghwangjwen/Galleon (45 meters) (1980 crew total)
*** 90 (Full-rigged) Yienkapjwen  (35 meters) (9000 crew total)
*** 180 Supply ships (30 meters) (3240 sailors total)
*** 50 Heavy-Cannon/Rocket Ships (27 meters) (1050 crew total)
*** 193 (Junk-rig) 3-Masted Junks (24 meters) (3860 crew total)
*** 200 (Fore-and-aft) War Perahu (17 meters) (2000 crew total)
*** 50 (Fore-and-aft) Reconnaissance Ships (15 meters) (400 crew total)
*** 80 Troop Transports (800 crew total, able to carry 6400 troops in total)
*** Various Disorganized Levied Coastal Patrol (1500 crew)
* Firearms:
** Cetbang/Jwangpiau: The Jwangpiau is the most commonly used gun in Zhaowa. It is a breech-loading swivel gun, and is used on fortifications and ships. These come in portable (wheeled) and stationary varieties.
** Xépdan-tswáng: The Xépdan-tswang, literally meaning “Ten Shot Gun”, is a gun similar to an Organ Gun. Inspired by the multiple rocket launchers in use across the Sinosphere, instead of firing arrows or rockets, it fires iron or bronze pellets. It is used as an anti-personnel gun. Due to it having 10x more barrels than an average gun, it can shoot 10x more bullets, but it takes 10x more time to clean. Unlike the guns of Europe, it is breech loading, which provides quicker loading time. To seal the breach, paper cartridges or a block are used, though this is quite ineffective. The Xépdan-tswáng is used in very low quantities, with perhaps only 50 being used across Zhaowa.
** Lagatswáng: A Lagastwang is the Zhaowanese term for an Arquebus
*** Jiue Lagatswáng: The Jiue Lagatswáng is an uncommon weapon in Zhaowa, referring to all breech-loaded arquebuses. They have a much faster loading time than standard muzzle-loading Lagatswáng, though they often malfunction.
*** Hwaje Lagatswáng: The Hwaje Lagatswáng is the most common form of Lagatswang in Zhaowa. It is a matchlock firearm, often coming with a stand and a spike attached to the top.
*** Lyuenlagatswáng: The Lyuenlagatswáng is the Zhaowanese term for wheelock guns. Though they are more useful than the Standard Matchlock Lagatswáng in wet conditions, they often malfunction and are hard to produce.
*** Lau Lagatswáng: The Lau Lagatswáng refers to all primitive Lagatswáng.
** Bedil Tombak/Lungencwung: The Lungencwung, literally meaning “Hand Gun”, is a common gun in Zhaowa. It is quite simple, with a socket attached to a pole and a tube from which projectiles are fired from. It commonly has a blade attached to it in case of melee fighting. It is quickly being replaced by the Lagatswang.
** Hwacá: The Hwacá is a multiple rocket launcher or an organ gun, depending on the projectile used. It fires around 150 rockets or arrows, which are contained within a wooden frame. The wooden frame allows the rockets to fly straighter, and, as a result, farther. In elevated positions, they have a range of 600 meters. However, on flat positions, they have a range of only 200 meters. Current rockets have a length of around 15 centimeters. Though with a short range, it has enough force to make a 30 cm-deep crater in a patch of sand. A second, larger rocket is currently being produced, with a length of 45 centimeters, with a range of 1100 meters.
** Cwungdung: The Cwungdung is a common firearm in Zhaowa, used on larger ships and on fortresses. Most models of Cwungdung have a maximum range of around 950 meters, with one model having a maximum range of 1500 meters with darts. Darts are made out of wood tipped with iron, with iron tail fins. Unlike the modern conception of darts, these darts are quite large, slightly less than a meter long. When they strike their target, they generally bury up to their iron fletching. Though less destructive than rockets, they have much better accuracy. Cwungdung also fire numerous iron or stone cannonballs, though they have much lower range, with an average maximum range of 600 meters.
*** Kuveliem: The Kubiliem is a muzzle-loading cannon, specifically referring to Culverins imported by Europeans. Instead of firing darts like the Cwungdung, it fires round cannonballs. Due to this, it has a flat, though comparatively shorter trajectory.
* Research and Production:
** Infrastructure: Infrastructure in captured territories is to be improved. 
* Wars and Conflicts:
** See Events
* Diplomacy
** Syonan: can we not try to kill eachother and be friends?
* Events
* Stalemate with Luwu: In 1582, Zhaowa and Luwu informally peace out under a stalemate, though war is never formally paused. Ngaudzoi, salty that he wasn’t able to conquer the whole of Sulawesi, begins looking for other places to fulfill his need to see death and blood. However, he knows that he is likely too old to finish another conquest. Meanwhile, nobles back home begin complaining that Ngaudzoi should have finished tidying up the mess than Hyancuetvo made. In addition, the large and expensive conquest of Luwu was a huge drain on the Zhaowanese economy. Compounded with issues surrounding tax collection in Papua and Luwu, Zhaowa seems to be headed towards collapse if Ngaudzoi continues to do nothing. Ngaudzoi is incredibly angered, and begins to think. If he cannot experience death, rot, and decay in foreign nations, then he will have to do it at home, in Zhaowa.
* Ngaudzoi’s Insanity: Ngaudzoi, as one of his last actions on earth, decides to purge the remainder of the central government. However, he is ironically unable to purge the entirety of the Zhaowanese government due to him collapsing central power, leaving government institutions outside of central Zhaowa relatively intact. This, of course, makes him hated even more than before, and he is assassinated in 1585.
* Kyapxien Rebellion: With the central government immobilized, many seek to make their voices heard. Arising from the jungles of Papua, the Kyapxien Rebellion occurs, sparked by disgruntled peasants oppressed by their landlords. Within weeks, the entire Bomberai peninsula is under Kyapxien control, and numerous other revolts occur throughout eastern Zhaowa.
* Fenghuang of the South Sea (6):
** Savior from the West: Jieu Touiku, now 53, and de facto ruler of all of Zhaowa west of Makassar, determined to grab power once and for all, organizes a military invasion of Kyapxien occupied Zhaowa. Quickly regaining eastern Makassar, her fleet sails to Halmahera and Ceram in an attempt to regain Central Zhaowa. By this point, she is the de facto ruler of Zhaowa, with no Vice Taixu chosen by Ngaudzoi.
** Grand Taixu of Zhaowa: Following a catastrophic defeat at Nimkyong, the Kyapxien rebellion begins to rapidly lose, and by 1589, they only occupy a few small islands which haven’t been picked off yet. In 1589, Jieu Touiku declares herself Taixu, and though a woman ruling is certainly odd, no one cares due to her being the only choice left. She begins to finally iron out the issues in the taxation system by implementing reforms and conducting a census. In addition, she attempts to pursue positive relations with Zhaowa’s archnemesis, Syonan. Whether this is influenced by a political decision or her personal connection to Syonan’s rulers is up for debate.
==== Mutapa ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Mwene: Gatsi Rusere
* 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 gett a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with many of the nations/tribes around us.
* Capital: Ne-we 
* Demographics:
** Population: 905 000 
** Cities: 11 842
*** Ne-We: 7 442
*** Kiwe: 4 400
** Rural areas: 893 158
** Ethnicites: 73% Shona, 16.5% Karanga, 7.5% Swazi, 3% Swahili
** Religion: 97.9% (830 192) Mwari believers, 2.1% (17 808) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
* Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
** thumb|220x220pxInvasion of Marawi: The majority of the army will continue towards the lake, while the rest will try to surround some of their troops.
* Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we can have an active miltary size of 2% (18 100) and reserves size of 1% (9 050) of our total population.
** Active: 2%
*** 7 363 African Spearmen
*** 6 368 bowmen
*** 4 369 Light Cavalry 
** Reserves: not active 1%
*** 3 684 African Spearmen
*** 3 140 bowmen
*** 2 226 Light Cavalry
* Navy:
** Fishing boats: 574
* Diplomacy:
* Events: 
** New Mwene: The new Mwene Gatsi, the son of Negomo has been crowned as the new ruler of Mutapa, His view is to make Mutapa thrive even more than it has in the past. Starting with making roads between villages and cities. 
==== Nihon ====
Government and Demographics
* Government: Feudalism - effective total regional factionalism
** Empress: Han'ei no Mono (Tachibana Kiyo)
** Shogun: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
* Allies: Joseon, defensive military alliance
* Capital: Kyoto
* Demographics:
** Population: 10,473,000
** Ethnicities: Yamatai (83%), Chinese-origin (2%), Joseonese (3%), Syonanese (10%), Other (2%)
** Official Religion: Shinto, with Buddhist influences
** Population Distribution:
*** Urban Population: Most actual urban areas in the Nihonese isles do not actually exceed four square kilometres in size, with buildings that far more resemble modern suburban density and planning than otherwise. However, these urban areas are often survived and surrounded by vast exceedingly low-density tiny communes of no more than a hundred to two hundred people, making up in some cases secondary urban centres, such as the town of Satsuma.
**** Percentage of total population: 8% (Approx. 900,000)
**** By city (rounded to the nearest 5,000):
***** Edo: 40,000
****** Edo surroundings: 50,000
***** Kyoto: 10,000
****** Kyoto surroundings: 55,000
***** Fukushima: 35,000
****** Fukushima surroundings: 20,000
***** Hiroshima: 25,000
***** Kobe: 15,000
****** Hiroshima-Kobe wider region: 25,000
***** Nagasaki: 25,000
***** Yokohama: 20,000
***** Takaoka: 15,000
***** Niigata: 15,000
***** Izumo-Matsue Au. Region: 25,000
***** Chiba Au. Region: 20,000
***** Others not exceeding 15,000 in population: 590,000
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 23%
***** Kanto: 21%
***** Kansai: 14%
***** Chubu: 17%
***** Chugoku: 11%
***** Shikoku: 5%
***** Kyushu: 9%
*** Rural Population:
**** Percentage of total population: 92% (Approx. 10,000,000)
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 18%
***** Kanto: 14%
***** Chubu: 19%
***** Kansai: 15%
***** Chugoku: 12%
***** Shikoku: 11%
***** Kyushu: 11%
Economics
* Status of the Economy:
** Value of Gold: While barter has remained one of the biggest methods of trade within the country, gold is the currency by which trade with foreign merchants has been practiced. The main source of gold in Nihon, however, are the Han nations to the East, Kansha and Syonan; it has no actual power over the premier currency it uses. The usage of bronze and copper coins for smaller denominations has become generally more commonplace in urban areas, while barter trade remains common. The national mint is centred in Edo, controlled by the Shogun.
*** Actual monetary value: One ounce of gold can currently buy one hundred sacks of rice (172 kg).
*** Currency:
**** 1-yen coin (copper)
**** 5-yen coin (copper)
**** 10-yen coin (bronze)
**** 100-yen coin (bronze)
**** 1000-yen promissory note (backed in gold)
** Economic Overview: A significant portion of the Nihonese economy is centred around traditional agriculture, with rice as the national staple of the country; barter trade occurs on a limited communal scale, with the adoption of partial paper and minted currency already having occurred. Small artisanal trades in the fields of writing and artistry have become coveted as prestige symbols; education extends to only roughly 11% of the population, with this small class of artisans a thin sliver of a middle class between the vast majority of the peasantry and the higher nobility.
*** Economic Policy:
**** None - the central government has collapsed. May God save Nihon.
*** Economic Trends:
**** Disaster: The Nihonese economy rapidly disintegrates. Everything is going to hell. Peasant rebellions are rife in the South, with Kobe and Izumo being the site of two rebellions specifically; meanwhile, Chiba and Izumo-Matsue, once bastions of stability, now lie in ruin at the hands of Nobunaga, who forcibly integrated them back into Nihon, thus leading to their assets seized by loyalist merchants and them being forced to contend with all sorts of laws that caused inane social tensions.
* Culture:
** Yamatai: The dominant culture on the three main islands, practiced by the vast majority of ethnic Nihonese; it emphasises the importance of self and the privilege of existence. A partly individualistic culture with overtly communal streaks that designates the greatness of finding a specific calling and engaging it with the most effort possible; giving rise to a society that prizes the arts as well as the value of literature. While it does not shun the sciences, they are not often given priority; meanwhile, the military and warriors are given outsized importance against all else. Its envisioning of Shinto has numerous distinct cultural streaks from the nations that existed before Yamato united the three main islands under its own banner; as well as little reminders of the past.
** Ainu: A distinct, unique culture native to Tohoku and Ezo; a kind of communal culture that emphasises the community and a place within that community. It speaks of the importance of discovering a place within society and fulfilling the callings asked of you by others, and that no individual is above the common good. Its adoption of arts and literature is thus comparably limited, but it is the Ainu which have advanced Nihon's science so far, partly due to the fact that they are encouraged to go to school from younger ages (and generally live in more urbanised societies). Their envisioning of Shinto is more akin to a kind of lifestyle, which promotes certain practices and discourages others; one which has, surprisingly, remained largely sturdy for the last 400 years.
** Joseonese-Han: A minority culture arising from the great giants from across the sea; Joseonese-Han is a monstrous beast of mish-mashed cultures, from distinct Han streaks arising almost 600 years ago to the original Xia cultures. It is almost entirely reliant on distinct, tiny Xianist sects and practices a form of Buddhism mixed with Shinto.
* Religion:
** Shinto: A polytheistic, animistic and pantheistic religion which most Nihonese follow. It revolves around the kami - gods/spirits, which are depending on region omnipresent or omniscient. Worship is mainly practiced in household shrines and public shrines, with family shrines more common for political and clan officials. Extreme levels of localisation, with many in the North having strong Ainu streaks while those in Kyushu and Kansha have subtle Han influence.
* Events:
**The Conqueror of Nihon [3]:
***This is my Country - Autumn 1585: Hideyoshi can’t believe it. But he’d just fucking started that project in Tokyo! Rubbish, these peasants, rubbish… nevermind. Just make sure another one doesn’t happen. He has the Tachibana raise taxes on the merchants of Tokyo for good measure, making sure to punish those filthy labourers for decimating a symbol of his power itself. Total rubbish. Mitsu is on hand and he quietly mutters, ‘but weren’t you one too?’ Hide darts his eyes to his lover and corrects him, ‘No! I worked my way to my position! Why can’t they do that too, is it too hard?’
*** Nevertheless, Hideyoshi proceeds to Kyoto, with rebuilding efforts well under way by the new Tanba administrators. That clan is fast, he thinks. At the site of the old Imperial Palace, he quietly allows for the recovery of the aging corpse of one Prime Minister and gives her a dishonorable state burial by tossing her body into the Katsura River; before he stands up and makes a speech.
*** ‘Now I impress upon my honorable countrymen this day that we are not enemies!’ He declares, taking a second to clear his throat before continuing, ‘Resisting is futile and the threat of violence will be met only with retribution by this people!’
*** The crowd of soldiers that stands before him barely moves for a second before a slow, rousing bout of applause breaks out. No matter. Some are just a bit behind.
*** ‘Our real enemy is to the West!’
*** Silence.
*** ‘The Joseonese king, he did not come to our aid, they aided the Federation! They created this state of chaos, all to spite us! Now… come with me, my men, and let us free their people from their monarch - they have lost their mandate to rule!’
***This is my Flag - Winter 1586: She survived. Oh goody. Soryu Miyako survived. Fuck. How is he supposed to deal with that? Okay, calm down, Hideyoshi, think… think… wait! Okay, it’ll just be a little dishonest, and you can just get rid of her, and it’ll increase war support! Brilliant. Now, you just need to make sure that it all goes according to plan, he thinks; sending out the family assassin of his newfound Toyotomi clan to wait.
*** In early spring he announces that he will be honourably relinquishing his position to Soryu, something which genuinely boosts his popularity. She begins to make the preparations, just as he plans, and now all he has to do is get her to perform the ceremony, the assassin will slash her down, and she will be dead and he will be fine! Good. Good…
*** How the FUCK did this all go so wrong? Okay, you know what, it’s fine. It’s completely one hundred percent fine. All he needs to do is make sure that she can’- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
*** Hideyoshi wakes up, a day later, with a severe pain tearing apart his stomach. His advisor steps into the room. ‘Sir!... Soryu, she made off! She, she’s gone!’
*** He looks at his advisor, then stares at Mitsu for a moment. He pulls his lover in for a brief kiss, before muttering the word that will haunt him for his entire life.
*** ‘Fuck.'
**The Empress of Nihon [3]:
***An Incredulous Upbringing - Spring 1587: ‘Miyako’s back? Well… shit, that’s great’, Kiyo mutters to herself. The Shogun has returned from the dead and apparently stands at her doorstep in Edo, quietly waiting outside. She doesn’t know what to say - she hasn’t seen her for four years, and the woman apparently even lost her arm. Ah, well. She’ll take anything she can get at this point, silent pangs of guilt in her heart aside. The moment she allows the old Shogun into her court she has her advisors leave and she stares at the changed woman.
*** Gruff-er. Granted, she’s always been. More… unrefined. She supposes that’s from the ‘not being in a court and then suffering an assassination attempt’ part. Still, what’s she going to say?
*** ‘Good morning… Miyako.’
*** ‘Yo, Kiyo. You got yourself a hussy?’
*** ‘That’s… well, he’s a decent man and all, and I figured I had to get over my bel- I mean, Wu Jin, but you know… heirs and all…’
*** ‘Whatever.’ She breaks into a hug first, quietly patting her old friend on the back. ‘Glad to be back.’
*** Soryu quickly seems to take a liking to Kiyo’s newfound daughter - or is it son? That is the question that has been on her lips as of late. Even though they first assumed that the baby was a girl, they can’t seem to tell whether or not the kid is a girl or a boy and it has become the talk of the councils; when presented to the old Shogun she shrugs and says, ‘boy or girl they’re mighty feisty.’
*** ‘Yes, she just… she’s constantly doing things like that,’ Kiyo remarks on the little child pestering around. ‘I feel she could to with a bit of court culture.’ Soryu scoffs. ‘You sure? She seems very, very happy to run around or do something else. Have you tried to get her to write?’
*** Kiyo nods. ‘That’s the other odd thing. She… she’s quite happy to write all this kanji,’ she says, unfurling a large wooden scroll, fashioned upon the Ainu designs. ‘I think she likes it very much.’
*** ‘Can I take care of her?’
*** ‘Huh?’
*** ‘Well, I’m most certainly not becoming Shogun ever again, and well, I do know a decent bit about the world.’ She remarks. ‘Plus… wanna find that somebody to keep the old legacy going. Even if I can’t accept the old woman I can accept that I will go sometime.’
*** Kiyo sits down, glances back up at Soryu and nods. ‘Why not? Go ahead, Miyako - I entrust you with her.’
***Figuring out Things - Summer 1589: While her daughter is taken care of by an old friend, Kiyo quietly looks around and stares at her… ‘husband’, of sorts. Sure, she thought she loved him, but now she’s just kind of… eh. Even more than that there is a hanging feeling in the back of her heart that she’s done something wrong. But she didn’t. Did she? After all, she has to let go - the past is the past.
*** But the past isn’t the past for her. That hope for something else still lives in the aging woman, the chance of adventure and something more than being a basic political tool for others lying in her old friends and her oldest flame. Putting down another decree with a brush is nothing compared to the excitement of scurrying across Nihon, with friends in tow - the Shogun, a crack blacksmith, a foodie general, the partially awkward intel officer and of course - that damn monk. She continues to think about it with every moment, even as she welcomes her growing - son, she assumes, into this life. Quite so feminine he is indeed.
*** One morning Soryu stumbles over with the boy in tow and quietly asks what to do with his more odd temperamental pursuits. That same morning nothing happens. Kiyo finds herself more and more distracted by this possibility, alienating herself from the very man she thought she could finally find peace with. And as that continues, she realises she’s much too enarmoured with her past to let go. There is no way she can let go, and suddenly - it all comes crashing back down on her once more.
**Last Hope of Nihon [2]:
***Well, this is my Job - Autumn 1586: Granted, Miyako was just slightly miffed at the upstart civilian-murderer under her command taking her place, but no matter. After that speech she knew she had to get him to stop. Showing up at the Kyoto garrison she stunned the soldiers by announcing her name to them - before being promptly arrested. Quickly identified by Hideyoshi he was utterly shocked. For a moment it seemed as if he was suspicious but he relented - he suddenly embraced her, and welcomed her back into the fold. Okay. Uh…
*** ‘How is your… arm? Surely you can’t be okay with that crude… stick, whatever it is?’
*** ‘It works. Now… Hideyoshi, I’m assuming you’re not going to give over your power to this one woman?’
*** ‘What? No… I’m more than happy to receive you back as Shogun,’ he grins, extending a hand to her. ‘Welcome back, Soryu-shogun.’
** Nihon's Collapse:
*** Nihon has entered states of total feudalism before. Just as it did during the period before Tomoe-gozen came to power, just as it did in the period preceding Uchiha Tomoko's rise to power. This list and the events surrounding it are not exhaustive - nor do they contain everything required to get a full picture of the situation. Nonetheless, the following is as full a picture as I can give you. Welcome to the full-on, Sengoku Jidai!
**** North:
***** Background: The wider Tohoku area has always been a volatile region in Nihon. Despite being home to almost all of Nihon's people - about 60% - it has traditionally exercised almost no power, with Kyoto being at its centre all the time. This is generally reflected in the origins of most leaders - the Minamoto and Yamato clans both originating from the South, for example. And while that isn't inevitable, of the region's conquerors, Oda Nobunaga claims quite a Southern lineage, while Otsuya no Kata, also of Oda fame (sister of Nobuhide) controls the Toyama clan. Tohoku is also the home to the Ainu, who possess a great much power in their influence, maintaining their customs in the far North in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Hokkaido.
***** Clans:
****** Nanbu (split into two families, the Nanbu and the Ainu Sunazawa): Occupying the Northmost bits of Tohoku. Notoriously peaceful. The Nanbu family has pledged its loyalty to Oda Nobunaga.
******* Central Fort: Aomori
****** Akita: Occupying modern-day Akita province. Friendly to Nobunaga and her forces; formerly a sub-clan of the Odawara.
******* Central Fort: Akita
****** Mogami (split into several families, but with one single ruling one): Occupies OTL Yamagata, northern Miyagi and southern Iwate provinces. Formerly head of the greater Mogami clan, now a series of rump families pushed into Iwate.
******* Central Fort: Sendai
****** Date: Occupies OTL southern Miyagi province. In an alliance with the Mogami via personal union.
******* Central Fort: Yamagata
****** Oda-Uesugi: The Oda and Uesugi union, formally in control of Nihon. Secured via 'personal union' between Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kagetora, although the marriage is entirely farcical and not actually practiced by either side. Arguably the most powerful clan in the region, if not for the presence of the Tachibana. Its Oda side has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Kashiwazaki
****** Ashina: Occupies OTL Western Fukushima Province. A minor clan in alliance with the Tachibana, in a tenuous union between two highly divided families.
******* Central Fort: Utsunomiya
****** Shimotsuke: Occupies OTL Tochigi for the most part. A smaller neutral clan with sympathies towards the Oda-Uesugi.
******* Central Fort: Oyama
****** Hitachi: Occupies OTL Ibaraki. A mostly Ainu clan in alliance with the Tachibana; keeps itself restricted to its own territory for the most part.
******* Central Fort: Hitachinaka
****** Shimosa: Occupies a tiny section of OTL Chiba. A clan that isn't really a clan due to most of the family being branches of the Tachibana and Hitachi.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Tachibana: The former Kingdom of Tachibana, now reduced in size but still powerful. Main families: the Musashi, the Satake, and Fujiwara. Rather powerful due to its size and population, although stripped of much of its resources over the years. It is one of the direct descendants of Himiko no Ichiban and has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
******* Central Fort: Tokyo (capital of Nihon)
****** Sagami: Occupies OTL East Shizuoka. In alliance with the Tachibana. Merchant clan with strong naval presence.
******* Central Fort: Shimoda
****** Satomi: Occupies OTL Chiba. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Nagao: Occupies OTL Gunma. In alliance with the Oda-Uesugi. Hostile sympathies towards the Tachibana.
******* Central Fort: Iseyaki
****** Kotsuke: Occupies OTL Northwest Nagano province. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** The Tachibana and Oda-Uesugi are currently in an alliance.
***** Events:
******A Day in the Life of a Builder - 1585: Yama is, at all times, an astoundingly responsible man. A the proud age of 17 he has begun his family, and he will continue the proud tradition of dying at astoundingly young ages like his parents before him.
****** The sun is bright that summer morning as he begins work on the foundations of the new outer walls of Edo Castle, that which will become the new Imperial Palace. He’s not particularly excited - yes, the Empress is willed by Amaterasu herself to rule over him, but he won’t live to see it even partially at completion. It will take decades.
****** For him, that day is just slightly more exciting. Bronze day. His family has been running low on rice for the week so it’s good that he can keep the eight or so kids alive.
****** As the Imperial Priest steps out onto the shrine grounds to give out the monthly wages he hears murmuring ahead. ‘I think that’s less than last time,’ Genji notes ahead of him. You’ve got to be joking.
****** But it is. ‘Reduction for bad performance’, the priest says. Yama narrows his eyes. ‘Bad performance?’ he asks, ‘but we finished the task ahead of time, sir!’
****** ‘No you did not!’
****** He cannot quite believe the accusation thrown at them, this team of over two-hundred-something labourers. They weren’t doing it fast enough? Genji hadn’t even returned to Yokohama in weeks to get the damn foundations done.
****** ‘But sir-’
****** ‘Watch your tone!’
****** Yama grimaces. ‘Sir…’
****** [A rebellion rocks the foundations of the new Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Empress is forced to take refuge from assailants, but the 600-something revolt is quickly put down. Still, this seems to be rocking the very confidence of the Nihonese people in their monarch - does she really have the Mandate of Heaven?]
**** Centre:
***** Background: The Centre of Nihon has constantly been a wild-card. It at times has been far more stable and at times has resembled a series of paint-splatters across the wall; it, however, is the centre of any attempt to unite the Nihonese isles. Its military clans are partially centred here, with samurai prolifically emerging from it; the constant shifting of power dynamics in this region making it far more attractive to strategically adept persons.
***** Clans:
****** Takeda: OTL South Nagano + Easterly Shizuoka provinces. Military clan, unfriendly to Nobunaga. One of the more powerful clans in the region. In an alliance with the Matsudaira and on friendly terms with the Ashikaga. Consists of the Shinano and Kai families.
******* Central Fort: Iido
****** Mastudaira: OTL West Shizuoka Province. Also a military clan unfriedly to Nobunaga, although substantially less powerful. In an alliance with the Takeda and on friendly terms with the Tachibana. Consists of the Tokugawa and Imagawa clans.
******* Central Fort: Hamamatsu
****** Oda: OTL Nagoya and surroundings. Part of the Oda-Uesugi clan, see above description.
******* Central Fort: Nagoya
****** Echizen: OTL Coastal Ishikawa and Fukui provinces. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Miki and Mino.
******* Central Fort: Kanazawa
****** Miki: OTL Toyama province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Mino, the latter of which it has a personal union with.
******* Central Fort: Takaoka
****** Mino: OTL Shiga province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Miki.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Ise: OTL Mie province. Neutral. Prolific blacksmithing clan.
******* Central Fort: Nakatsugawa
****** Kii: OTL Wakayama province. Neutral. The Kii and Awaji families come from this.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Yamato: OTL Nara province. Friendly towards the Matsudaira clan.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Hyogo: OTL Osaka province, contains both Osaka and Kyoto. One of the most powerful clans in the region purely by population, friendly towards the Tanba clan.
******* Central Fort: Kyoto (Symbolic capital)
****** There are no other notable inter-clan alliances as of current.
***** Events:
******Down with the Conqueror - 1586: Although Hideyoshi continues to rise, the three old Shiba clans meet once more and forge an informal alliance to oppose the man’s continued dominance. Agreeing to make sure that he never sets foot on their land their collective forces are pooled to force Hideyoshi out of their land, but instead he completely blindsides them. Throughout the Summer and Autumn of 1586 a series of strategic victories by Hideyoshi’s forces lead them into the city of Takaoka, where he takes the descendants of the Miki, Mino and Echizen hostage all at once. With that the Shiba are vanquished and are forcibly unified into two separate clans - the Ashikaga in the west, and the Toriyama in the east, although they stay under Hideyoshi’s control.
**** South:
***** Background: The South has always been the most politically stable bit of Nihon - but that doesn't mean it's actually stable. As the main trade route for most of Nihon it has always held outsized power over its currency, its politics and more, but it is also the direct contact point for any kind of foreign power. Tanegashima was where the Agoustans landed, Nagasaki is a Syonanese haven, and more - and because of that, the South, once a bastion of stability, may no longer be in the cards as king...
***** Clans:
****** Tanba: OTL Hyogo province. Minor branch of the Minamoto clan and the only one with no associations with the Kanzaki; reasonably powerful as the inheritor of the last remaining professional military forces in Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Kobe
****** Harima: OTL Okayama prefecture. Run by another minor branch of the Minamoto clan, although linked to the Kanzaki defected to join Nobunaga before anything too dangerous could happen. Tiny rump clan.
******* Central Fort: Okayama
****** Inaba: OTL Tottori Prefecture. Friendly to the Tanba and Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Tottori
****** Bingo: Official name of the effective city-state of Fukuyama. Foreigner-friendly, run by the Otomo family - only place in Nihon with a significant amount of Christians, specifically Iberian Protestants. On bad terms with most of the region.
******* Central Fort: Fukuyama
****** Izumo: Centred around the Izumo-Matsue area. Primarily Joseonese-Han - acts like an effectively independent state. Friendly relations with Joseon. Trading clan.
******* Central Fort: Izumo
****** Iwami: OTL Shimane prefecture. Partly-Joseonese-Han. Allied with Izumo.
******* Central Fort: Gotsu
****** Mori: OTL East Yamaguchi prefecture. Associated with Bingo, run by the other branch of the Otomo family.
******* Central Fort: Gofu
****** Choshu: OTL West Yamaguchi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: Shimonoseki
****** Sanuki: OTL North Kagawa prefecture. Allied with Awa.
******* Central Fort: Takamatsu
****** Awa: OTL Tokushima prefecture. Allied with Sanuki.
******* Central Fort: Anan
****** Tosa: OTL East Kochi prefecture. Neutral.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Saioni: OTL West Kochi prefecture. Trading clan. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Iyo: OTL Ehime prefecture. Ruled by the Uzumaki family.
******* Central Fort: None
****** Bungo: North Kyushu. Allied with Satsuma.
******* Central Fort: Kitayushu
****** Satsuma: Kyushu, Ryukyu and Hiroshima prefectures. Powerful trading clan in control of most of Nihon's navy as well as a significant Christian population; with large Syonanese minorities. Most economically significant region of Nihon.
******* Central Fort: Nagasaki
****** No other significant alliances.
***** Events:
******The Republic Must Stand - 1587: ‘On that night, the Federation vanished,’ the old man states to his children. ‘Poof. Gone. All of it. All at once. The woman holding it all up? Gone too. Taken by the Demon of Tanegashima.’
****** ‘Father, did you believe in all of that?’
****** ‘I didn’t much care about the voting thing, but look! Rice.’ He points out to the fields. ‘Used to all be owned by lords. Now not a single one of them can take our rice without talking. That bastard Hyogo even disappeared and the current daimyo’s nice enough.’
****** Knock. The door to the thatch hut is ringing again - probably just the storm. The old man peeps out to check only to be greeted by a katana-wielding soldier. The Harima clan.
****** ‘Why are there blue-banners outside?’ She has a more than stern look on her face.
****** ‘It’s nothing, ma’am, we’ve been using it as a scarecrow. Lots of birds this time of year.’
****** ‘Ah. Wrap it up, would you? Don’t want people getting the wrong idea.’ She says, turning around and marching off.
****** The old man stares out and pulls out a small badge, staring at the bronze symbol as the storm continues to howl at their home.
****** ‘For the Empress.’
****** [Republicans have continued to persist in the South since the first conquest Nobunaga persisted in, but it is now, with apparent weakness in the North, that they have risen up in any measure. Thousands rise up and take control of the Tosa and Mori clans, with the Bingo quietly supporting them in kind.]
******Our Brothers and Sisters - 1587-9: Joseonese in Izumo begin to flee en masse to their home country, sparked by the declaration made by Shogun Toyotomi. The population of the region drops so drastically towns previously populated by Han and Joseonese become empty within seconds, taking with it many of the remaining merchant ships in southern Nihon not controlled by Satsuma - with the sole exception of the Bingo, who continue to trade with the Agoustans.
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 - ?? [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.
** Uesugi Kagetora (1531 - ??): 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.
** Kinoshita Tokichiro (1542 - ??):
** Kanzaki Miyako or Soryu Ritsuko (1538 - ??):
** Widyawati:
* 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 - ??): 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.
* 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 (1533 - ??):
*** Nobuhiro (1534 - ??):
*** Nobuyuki (1534 - ??):
*** Meiyo-ko (Hina) (1535 - ??):
** Third Generation: 
=== Turn XXXIX: 1590-1595 ===
==== Mod Event: ====
* The Four Little Khans (Part 4): All hope was lost. At least almost all hope, it has been like what, 20 years since they have started searching for Taihou Khatun, and by extension, Dogar Khan (and the Sword of the East)? Was this really worth two siblings? Amani and Jangsai were the only ones left, and they are about old enough to start ruling an Empire for themselves. Bulilun, they have been hearing, has been wearing thin since the start of her rule. The constant pressure of being a ruler of a declining state took a toll on her. Jangsai insisted on going home, but Amani wanted to press on. Jangsai has had enough, at one night he confronted Amani, telling her she should go home with him, he has finally had enough. But Amani chose to stay and continue on. To where? Where now? Jangsai would ask, Amani said a merchant has told her of Taihou's whereabouts. She begged Jangsai to follow one last time, before he goes. Jangsai considered it, but he decided against another year journey and decided to head home. He would never return home. Amani pressed forth and found a village outside of Amadomoglu. There are strange people in the northern part of Astrakhan. After inquiring, she found that they were from Bulibaliq hundreds of years ago. She must be closer, she went to the graveyard of their ancestors. Amani was never more surprised, and relieved, to see the names "Dogar" and "Taihou" etched into stone.
* Shakespeare's Works (Part 2): 1590 to 1595 has featured an explosion of Shakespeare's works. The "Taming of the Shrew" is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. "Ember" is the first adventurous play featuring (and portraying) Artoria II Pendragon in her younger years with David Clarkson as her mentor. They travel throughout northern Europe throughout the plays. Titus Andronicus is a tragedy believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593, probably in collaboration with George Peele. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were extremely popular with audiences throughout the 16th century. Other plays like Richard III and Edward III talks about the lives of kings, mostly tragic. Comedies like "The Comedy of Errors" and "Love's Labour's Lost" were also released around this time.
* Dutch Revolt: In the Spring of 1590, a surprise advancement ordered by Maurice of Nassau see Westrian forces driven out of Flanders, allowing the region to once again be controlled by the Dutch. However, with how badly both nations are faring - the Netherlands for the broken infrastructure as a result of the Great Westrian Reconquest shortly before, and Westria due to its current fight against the Atouman Empire - a temporal ceasefire was arranged, going into effect in the summer of the same year.
* Cologne War: After over half a decade of warfare, forces of the Bishopric-turned-Duke emerged victorious against Catholic opposition, leading to the foundation of the Duchy of Cologne in late-1590. This victory would serve to empower the Reformation even more within the Holy Roman Empire, proving the Catholic establishments to be nothing but weak shells of themselves; while also increasing tensions among religious factions in the Empire.
* State of The Empire: Due to many factors - be it Westrian negligence as the Holy Roman Emperor, unchecked spread or fervent missionary work - the Protestant Reformation has swept like wildfire across the Empire, from its original starting place of Wittenberg, and as of 1590 is adopted by most Princes. Apart from Westria, Bavaria and a scant few princes along their periphery, most German states now adhere to any of the Protestant faiths, with Lutheran and Calvinist Princes comprising the majority. In the Swiss Confederation, most cantons have adopted the Reformation by 1590, save for a few on the border of France. These developments mean that the Dortmund Settlement, while needed, was not brought on early enough, and conflict is on the horizon. Despite Westria's attempts to retain Catholic authority and maintain peace within the Empire, Protestant powers, having comprised the majority of the empire, vie for power, leading to the formation of the two religious leagues.
** The Protestant League: Formed in June 1590 in the wake of the Cologne War, and based upon the foundation of the earlier Schmalkaldic League, the Protestant League serves as an alliance between Lutheran and Calvinist states against the Catholic authority. Founded by the Count Palatine (of the Palatinate) and made official by the signing of the Treaty of Heidelberg, the League takes in membership around the Empire. The Protestant League, however, was unstable itself, having to bear the results of the strife between different Protestant denominations.
** The Catholic League: With the formation of the Protestant League, the Catholic League was founded by the Duke of Bavaria in November 1590 as a means to counteract the Protestant alliance, going into effect with the ratification of the Treaty of Rosenheim. While comprising two powerful states within the Empire - Bavaria and Westria - the League has virtually no influence outside the two, save for a few petty Princes and sympathetic Free Cities, given that most of Germany has been adopting the Reformation, including several communities in eastern Swabia (which corresponds to the southwest corner of Bavaria).
* The Conclusion of the Vesnian Succession Crisis: With the exit of Lechtenheim from official contention, the war was made much more straightforward, and the Battle of Wolgast in 1591 proved to be the decisive confrontation where the eldest son, Anders of Wolgast, who was in possession of the territories around Burgenbrao, emerged victorious. The Kingdom of Vesnia would be unified once more, albeit with slightly less territory, which does not seem to concern Anders at all. With the war over, he set out to rebuild damaged holdings in order to gear up for another conflict on the horizon, having sensed the volatile tensions within the Empire.
* New Discoveries: During a southward expedition to an islands (OTL Falklands) that was discovered by Captain Drake years earlier, Captain John Davis of HMS Desire found himself was shipwrecked on the islands (specifically the western part). Only 14 of his 76 crew survived the ordeal. He grudgingly called the island "Gryffin Isles" (or Isles of Gryffin), calling the experience 'as something the late advisor would pull'. It is unknown how Davis and his crew found himself shipwrecked, but they told stories of large tentacles ripping the ship apart. The story is dismissed by most scholars, however.
* (First?) Scottish Witchtrials: The Scottish Witchtrials (OTL North Berwick witch trials) were the trials in 1590 of a number of people from northern Scotland, accused of witchcraft in North Berwick. They ran for two years and implicated over seventy people. In reality, it's really a local cover-up for the lynching of Odinists in the region by Catholics, though there are also cases where Odinists pressured many Catholic families out, with only a few result in lynches in retaliation. The lynches are basically makeshift 'burning at the stake'. They were called 'withtrials' due to the public holding 'trials' for each of the accused for "legitimacy"
* The Sun over the Ocean: Yi Sun-sin, also known as Admiral Yi, is an admiral from Joseon rising in popularity, he is famed for his brilliant strategies at sea for the Joseon navy. He is really best known for hunting pirates, as Joseon's recently rising pirate trend had went progressively worse. Between 1590 to 1595, his fleet sunk at least 32 ships, nearly half of which are considered heavy ships. This was highly accredited to Joseon's Breech-loading cannons and advanced turtle ships that were recently adopted by Yi's fleet. Most of his tactics involved ramming into an enemy ship before firing volleys. But another unique tactic is launching explosives that would attach to the side of the ship (or inside if its lucky enough to pierce through) before it causes a timed, typically incendiary explosion, harpoons are used in this manner. The explosion may cause a chain reaction on the inside if the enemy crew used gunpowder and its unprotected.
* The Western College in an Eastern Pond: St. Paul's College is founded in Macau by Jesuits, being the first western style university in the far east.
* The Route through the North: In 1594, William Barents, a Dutch explorer, manned the first voyage up north in an attempt to reach the Pacific from the waterways to the north of Vestkyst and Keisaria.
* Compagnie van Verre: the Compagnie van Verre was founded by the Netherlands in the early 1590s, seeing lucrative opportunities in the spice trade, and looking to take over from the Agoustans.
* The Iberian Union: Born in 1571, Afonso da Paz was the son of King Rafael I of Agousta and his wife, Elena of Leon, who died shortly after giving birth. After some familial negotiations, both the crowns of Hispania and Agousta agreed that Afonso was the legitimate heir to both kingdoms. As Afonso was the de jure heir of Hispania upon his mother's death, he grew up spending a balanced amount of time in both kingdoms, visiting his father and grandparents and their courts for education and formal events. Upon the death of King Rafael I in 1592, Afonso was coronated with much fanfare. Shortly after, his grandfather abdicated the throne of Hispania, allowing for the ascension of Afonso to the crown of Hispania. The Iberian peninsula is now united under one king, under the Iberian Union. Among some of Afonso's first acts is to undertake measures to ensure that this Union would not fall apart easily. Differing laws between courts were rewritten and unified, cross-border migration was encouraged, among other things. In time, the lingua franca typically used in Mediterranean trade began leaking into everyday use of Iberian citizens due to the ease of mutual understanding without having to speak Agoustan or Hispanian.
* The Tordesillas Amendment: Under the guidance of Pope Benedict III, the infamous Treaty of Tordesillas is overridden by the Tordesillas Amendment, which states that; "due to the most Holy Union between the Crowns of Hispania and Agousta, the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas are no longer sanctioned in the eyes of God and His codes, especially those on marriage". As such, the Catholic world begins making preparations to get a piece of the New World for themselves. (if there's any left)
* The Prince of Persia (Part Three; The King of Persia): The winter of 1589 into 1590 was especially cold in the Iranian region. The death of the elder Xhahk Behzestes had left a young Prince sitting on the throne, confused about what he should do. Kannan the Fat would continue his brutal war through an invasion of the Keqi Azarkhate, which stood as the one remaining powerful state in Persia in opposition to the Safaretids and Khorasan. You would believe this sort of behaviour would result in bad karma for Kannan and his followers, but instead, it would lead to him gaining a loose alliance with the State of Abadun, which during the past couple of years, had seen the feudal Zoroastrian aristocracy rise to power in effectively controlling the state’s military, with many of the nobles actually being remnant families from the Ahuric Empire. Now while the State of Abadun wouldn’t normally align with any type of Arzhamic-based state, they did recognize the usefulness in controlling the city of Yazd, which by this point has maintained its seat of power projection in all of Iran, so the Zoroastrian nobles of Abadun wanted the city and saw the alliance as more or less a means to an end. Some scholars have speculated that they believe the State of Abadun would’ve likely gotten conquered by Khorasan due to the Abadun probably invading them, however, the Great Persian War did not end this way.
* From 1590 to 1592, Xhahk Farrokh of the Safaretid monarchy would develop a system of ghilman, which would ultimately lead to a number of ethnic minority slave-soldiers, much of which were either Turkish or Circassian, being allowed placement in his civil administration and numbered among his standing army, which at the time would allow for Farrokh to eclipse the power of the Qizilbash. See, the organization of the Safaretid Empire was not exactly your usual feudal monarchy, instead it was sort of ruled by a form of ‘trust’ between the Qizilbash, an army of Turcoman Xha’mites, and the Safaretid dynasty, as when the founder Ismertes initially led a revolt against the State of Arashena, the Qizilbash heavily supported his ventures, leading to a pact being signed between both forces. However, it would turn out that one of the leaders of the Qizilbash, Muhamed Ali al-Quli, actually poisoned Behzestes in an attempt to puppet Farrokh for his own gain. Farrokh would deflect his behavior, slapping him around in a politically metaphorical sense and eventually overshadowing the power of the Qizilbash, which in 1593, would consolidate under the rule of Farrokh after ending the independent rule of chieftains in Safaretid provinces. Muhamed Ali al-Quli’s death, while many believe to have been at the hand of Farrokh even though he would deny it, would essentially see much of the Qizilbash essentially falling under the de facto rule by 1594.
* Having formed an expansive army of slave-soldiers and Turcoman chieftains, Farrokh would pray that his father forgive him, and would openly declare war against the State of Abadun and Khorasan. While Farrokh would declare war against Abadun and Khorasan, he didn’t necessarily form an alliance with the Keqi Azarkhate, and instead would use his support as justification for subjugating the kingdom. The monarch of the Keqi, Tahmasp Shah, would be forced to agree to these measures, and would relinquish his titles and power in exchange for him to maintain a wealthy position in the nobility, of which Farrokh would reluctantly agree. What this meant was that the Safaretids annexed the Keqi, and has left the stage open for the final confrontation between Farrokh and Kannan.
==== NPC Event ====
*Escoesia/Eskos: After many succession disputes, many contenders for the throne mysteriously disappeared, leaving only Carmilla Bartok (or Erzebet II Bartok). Those who questioned this also had disappeared. Regardless, what could possibly become all out war over succession was avoided upon the disappearance (or deaths) of other candidates for power. With herself being the lone candidate title of Archduke (or in this case Archduchess) of Westria was "voted" in favor of her. The two crowns of Eskos and Westria became one; with Eskos (or Eskosia) becoming the senior/main title. Most Westrian nobles were furious with this, but not enough to be outraged, at least until she put systems in place that allows greater freedom (at least socially) for Protestants in Westrian territories. It was revealed that she herself was a Lutheran. Attempts at removing her from power end in the deaths of half of the surviving Westrian nobles. Those who are left had to begrudgingly accept, lest they want to see themselves disappear as well.
*Al-Adniya: Azarkh Hashim leads a campaign against Al-Qarsoon and Yemen in a war for Adnanian unification once envisioned by his father, Xairata. Over a period of four years', he would occupy Al-Qarsoon and much of Yemen, leaving the city of Sana'a the only Yemeni city standing by 1594 as he prepares for a siege. Meanwhile, religious discontent continues to stir in Adniya's core territories, with peasant uprisings becoming more prominent in addition to many people not recognizing Hashim as the true monarch of Adnania.
*Komi: Despite the declaration of the Edict of Komi in early 1590, which made them a junior partner in the marriage with Keisaria, they are gradually integrated into Keisaria shortly after. Komi settlers who wished to be more independent from indirect rule migrated eastward into Siberia and into Samoyed territory under several expeditions in Siberia. They settled along the northern coasts, founding the first settlements of the Siberian arctic circle. They are permitted by Keisaria to do so, as long as they become protectorates/tributaries.
*Wu: Facing issues pertaining to the governing of the vast lands they had recently accquired, much of Northern Ba is effectively self-governing. Due to this, numerous Mongol Princes declare independence from Wu. Not wanting nor having the capability to do so, Wu doesn't make any major effort to reclaim the area, deeming the endeavor too much of a hassle. However, following the full integration of the Lanling Jin sect into the Wu administrative system, Wu gains full control of Ba, and begins making major efforts to repair the damage done by numerous natural disasters decades earlier under the Wanli Emperor.
*Third Daevite Empire: The weakening position of Bulilun's leadership caused nobles to take matters into their own hands. A break away state called the "West Daevite Khanate" has been formed from Kimek all the way to Urumqi. With their capital no longer viable, the Third Daevite Empire moved the capital to Karakorum.
*France: With Henry the Great (or Henry the Good) on the throne, France is now at peace under a Huguenot King. (though, he considers converting to Catholicism, now that France has been ever more pressured by the Church). Most of southern France still wishes to remain Catholic, however.
*Hispania: Hispania establishes the millones, which is an indirect tax on food in Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were first imposed by Philip II and were approved by the Cortes de Castilla 4 April 1590. The tax was initially intended in 1590 as a temporary measure to replace the Spanish Armada lost in attacking England. The millones was voted by the Cortes of Castille in 1590 as a 6-year grant for 8 million ducats. It was originally levied on wine, meat, olive oil, and vinegar.
*Ayutthaya: In a brief war between Ayutthayans and Khmerlaccans, it concludes when Naresuan, ruler of the Ayutthaya Kingdom sacks the capital of Khmerlacca.
*Khmerlacca: The war against Ayutthaya resulted in the country losing much of its wealth, becoming a bit poor and unstable
==== Empire of Galatoi (Part 2, I guess) ====
Emperor: Macareus Aendarus (1580-nowadays). Like his father, Macareus has been interested in warfare since quite a young age. Macareus spent 5 years studying philosophy and law at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. In addition, he also studied military strategy and tactics there. During this period of time, Macareus learned a lot about the current state of France and West Europe in general. As he returned home, he was greeted by his family, including his father Isarnus, who told him a lot about the current situation of Galatoi before he died from poisoning.
Advisor: Sabir Al-Hakam (1583-nowadays). Sabir was born in a family of nobles of Moorish descent. He studied in the University of Velitia and later became one of the advisors of Zuhr, the king of Djenne, and was recognised for his intelligence and administrative skills. When Macareus and his army stormed into Djenne and killed Zuhr, Sabir became the right hand of the emperor and also his best friend.
Religions:
Ateuritism is the main religion of Galatoi, which has been an integral part of this country for centuries. However, as a result of the recent Civil War, the influence of the Church in the society has been significantly reduced by the King and the nobility. The regions of Alluci (where the tribes that would become Galatoi moved before Valcanor separated them) and Lutetia (around Paris, the ancient original home of the would-be Galatoi) are considered to be the holy sites of Ateuritism, and thousands of people go there on a pilgrimage. There is one supreme God, called Vallus (which is the documented name of a chieftain, who led the Gaulic migrating tribes to their new home after they were separated by the original Kingdom of Valcanor.) It is believed that he created 9 other gods to maintain the balance of the world. But 3 of them went on an evil path and another 3 chose to stay between good and evil and not take either of the sides. This led to an axis based on Law-Chaos and Good-Evil being created for the gods: Good bloc: Atregtius (Lawful Good, God of Justice and Righteousness), Sedia (Neutral Good, Goddess of Practicality and Regulation), Butiro (Chaotic Good, God of Freedom and Self-Defense); Neutral bloc: Vicana (Lawful Neutral, Goddess of Order and Settling), Leuceni (True Neutral, God of Instinct and Apathy), Albic (Chaotic Neutral, God of Individuality and Debauchery); Evil bloc: Trita (Lawful Evil, Goddess of Extortion and Hierarchy), Maglubix (Neutral Evil, God of Greed and Ambition), Sacrovirus (Chaotic Evil, God of Senseless Destruction and Chronic Slaughter). Homoeroticism has become noticeable in Galatoin mythology and art. Artists, writers and poets use characters in their works of art to express a variety of feelings and situations and male deities of Ateuritism are paired in stories. In different regions, different pairs were used, which caused tensions between worshippers from different regions of Galatoi. However, in 1569, the Advorix Church published the "Velitia Edicts", in which allows the usage of certain "pairings", officially declaring them canon (such as LeuTius, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Atregtius, God of Justice and Righteousness), and forbids the usage of many other "pairings" (such as LeuVirus, Leuceni, God of Instinct and Apathy + Sacravirus, God of Senseless Destruction).
Both Arzham and Christianity have presence in several regions of Galatoi, but their influence in the society is nowehere near the one of Ateuritism.
There are hundreds, if not thousands of local pagan religions across the country and despite each having a small following, so in general they make up quite a big portion of the population. However, Ateuritism slowly spreads there, absorbing one village after another.
Military of the empire is unarguably the strongest in the region. One of the key reasons is that Macareus is a powerful military commander and he is respected in the military. The imperial army is split into three major divisions, each consisting of 10 army, 6 cavalry, and 8 infantry regiments and led by prominent military commanders.
Kanem tributary: Macareus invaded Kanem at the beginning of 1589, and finished the conquest in the middle of 1590. He originally planned to incorporate the newly acquired territories directly into the empire, however, Sabir advised him to make it just a tributary state instead to prevent even further overextension of the empire.
Macareus is ill: During the conquest of Kanem, Macareus was severely injured and he couldn’t continue his military campaign. In addition to his worsening physical condition, Macareus is feeling incredibly angst. Now, when he is no longer in the battlefield but stuck to one place, Macareus is alone with his thoughts, anxious thoughts. He never wanted to become the king, but he had no other choice. Now, however, it is much different: Sabir is much better at being a leader of a vast empire, it is as if they switched places at birth. Macareus would love to abdicate the throne and discover who he really is, but he understands he can’t: the existence of the entire empire is still dependent on him being the emperor, although the title is purely ceremonial these days.
Return of Viridi Litore: since Galatoi was liberated from the Cult of Ares, the return of Viridi Litore to the domain was just a matter of time. In 1594, Adietumarus, a wealthy merchant and also a captain of the strongest navy in the empire, and his army sailed from Donnius and invaded Viridi Litore. However, even after the conquest, Viridi Litore remained quite an autonomous region with its own army and navy.
The Grand Conquests changed West Africa from top to bottom, resulting in the expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade, Galatoi language becoming the lingua franca in trade and Ateuritism spreading all across the region. However, the empire is a powder keg that requires a small spark to make it explode. When Macareus discontinued the military campaign due to his physical condition becoming worse over time, he appointed military commanders as lords in the newly conquered territories and granted them much autonomy, allowing them to introduce local taxes and recruiting their own armies. 
Atlantic Slave Trade is a key part of the economy of Galatoi. It emerged at the beginning of the 16th century when slaves from Africa were transported to Seville and Canary Islands, although from the 1520s the direction shifted to New Hispania and Brazil. In the 1560s, the Atlantic Slave Trade spread to West Africa, including Galatoi and such towns as Donnius and Saminia became centers of the slave trade in the region. The volume of the Atlantic Slave Trade has significantly increased since Macareus declared war on Zuhr, the king of Djenne, in 1580 and launched his military campaign in the region later. Gold is an important resource, too, vital to the economy of Galatoi: it is needed not only for manufacturing precious goods (e.g. jewellery, vessels, embroidered clothing and illuminated manuscripts), but also to mint coinage to pay armies. However, almost all the gold mines are controlled by the King himself and the gold trade is strictly regulated.
==== Empire of Matagaskar ====
* Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
** Monarch: Emperor Andriamanelo (B 1546 - Age 48, alive) (R 1572 - Present)
** Consort: Empress Ramaitsoanala (B 1546 - Age 48, alive)
** Ruling Dynasty: Hova (Ndahimananjara branch of Ammagari)
** Order of Succession: Prince Ralambo (B 1566 - Age 28, alive), Prince Andrianjaka (B 1571 - Age 23, alive), Prince Andrianimpito (B 1576 - Age 18, alive), Princess Rasolobe (B 1556 - Age 38, alive), Prince Manelobe (B 1529 - Age 65, alive), (his children), Princess Zakalamanjafotany (B 1552 - Age 42, alive), Prince Andriatanjany (B 1541 - Age 53, 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. 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: Mahajanga
* Demographics:
** Population: ca 793 000 total
** Mahajanga: 9 720
** Analamanga: 4 800
** Toamasina: 4 200
** Manakara: 3 000
** Ambanja: 2 400
** Morafenobe: 2 200
** Toliara: 2 000
** Moroni: 1 000
** Rural regions: ca 762 000
** Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (divided into 39% Merina and 49% others such as Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Sihanaka, Antankarana etc.), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), 5% Adnanite
** Religion: 96% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, 4% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore)
* 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%): 7 780
** 2 100 Spearmen
** 1 400 Swordsmen
** 400 Bowmen
** 2 000 Crossbowmen
** 1 500 Light Cavalry
** 350 Fossa Warriors
* Navy:
** 10 Adananita class ships
** 9 Mer'ana class ships
** 9 transport ships
* Diplomacy:
** Avesta: The first thing to do to mend our relationship is a trade agreement complete with a functioning trade route between us. Do you accept?
** Mutapa: We've gotten off on the wrong foot and the tension between us has lasted over a decade. We offer to send diplomats to try and better the relationship between us.
* Events:
** Andriamanelo Again Again: Andriamanelo has reigned for 22 years, with 20 of them being as emperor of the united island of Matagaskar. As things seem quite stable within the empire itself, this turn sees him settle down more and just view the civilization that he, his court and his vassals have shaped. Translation: I couldn't come up with anything and there is one turn left in the game so... mmyeah.
** Order of Sihanaka: Same as previous turns, they just convert heathens and get paid for it. Although now almost all the pure Haintenists have been converted so they find less and less work as time goes by.
====Kaap (Cape)====
*Leadership Structure: The organisation has been crumbling following the death of Lars Hatgers, the third Grand Dragon. He is succeeded by a senior chief who has better plans than to keep the organisation alive. Dragon's Fire in its current form is barely what it is, with its dissolution becoming more likely every day. (Stage 3 of 3 dissolution is commenced.)
**Grand Dragon:
***Mechiel Tangelder (b. 1480 - d. 1549, office 1502 - 1542)
***Koen van der Wel (b. 1502 - d. 1570, office 1542 - 1559)
***Lars Hatgers (b. 1515 - d. 1577, office 1558 - 1577)
***David Hospes (b. 1540, office since 1577 - 1591)
**Senior Chiefs: Three figures
*Government: A provisional government was established in place upon the settlement of Kaapstad as a provisional outpost and settlement initially. Leadership of the Dragon's Fire remains dominant and ever since the death of Hatgers as the third Grand Dragon in its organisation's history, it is shifting away from being led by an organisation to simply becoming a hybrid republic and colonial government (despite being unassociated with the Netherlands de facto and de jure). The Governor position is created by the new Grand Dragon, David Hospes on 1579, electing himself as the first Governor of Kaap.
**Government Type: Provisional council
**Premier of Kaap: David Hospes (b. 1540s, office since 1579)
*Demographics:
**Kaapstad (and surrounding included): 540 people
*Fleet:
**5 transport ships
**1 caravel
*Diplomacy: N/A
*Operations: N/A
*Events:
**Fall of Dragon's Fire (III): The last of the members within Dragon's Fire is fully pulled out of the organisation. Dissolution of the organisation commenced on 1st August 1591 by an unanimous vote, including the Grand Dragon. Trade continues to rise and with long-time investment into building one ship and chopping some trees, the makeshift shipyard that was built through the last 20 years would fully build its first transport ship. Transport ships are used, only in rare occurrences to trade with the outside world and to gain information and events, especially in Europe and the New World. Only one or two expeditions would be sent out from the Cape of Good Hope. Sometimes, they would also be bringing back very few European migrants.
**War Against Natives (II): A new set of attack waves by indigenous natives against settlers of Kaap still happen in the early 1590s with no stop. This led to further retribution. The war against natives is still ongoing, though the official stance is that if the native people attempt to intimidate settlers, then they will be met with the deaths of more people to come.
==== Mutapa ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Mwene: Gatsi Rusere
* 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 gett a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with many of the nations/tribes around us.
* Capital: Ne-we 
* Demographics:
** Population: 1 014 000 
** Cities: 12 842
*** Ne-We: 7 942
*** Kiwe: 4 900
** Rural areas: 1 001 158
** Ethnicites: 66,5% Shona, 14.9% Karanga, 11% Swahili, 6.7% Swazi, 0,9% Chewa
** Religion: 96.9% (982 566) Mwari believers, 3.1% (31 434) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
* Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
* Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we can have an active miltary size of 2% (20 280) and reserves size of 1% (10 140) of our total population.
** Active: 2%
*** 8 090 African Spearmen
*** 7 094 bowmen
*** 5 086 Light Cavalry 
** Reserves: not active 1%
*** 4 048 African Spearmen
*** 3 503 bowmen
*** 2 589 Light Cavalry
* Navy:
** Fishing boats: 600
* Diplomacy:
** Matagaskar: Agreed and accepted
* Events: 
** Better farmland: The more fertile lands near lake marawi (otl; Lake Malawi), are seen as a good place to start a farm, and that's what some farmers do.
====The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)====
*Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
*Drakes: 
**Queen Elizabeth (F, b. 1541 - ) (R: 1561 - )
***Son: Luke (M, b. 1567 - )
**Sister: Francis(ca) (F, b. 1541 - )
**Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - )
***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 - )
**Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
***Married off to a Westrian prince
**Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
***Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - )
***Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - )
**Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - )
***Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - )
***Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - )
*Important People: 
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: 6.93 million (+345k “external subjects”)
**British Mainland: 6.93 million
**British Settlers: 580
***Jamestown: 180
***Fort Elysia: 140
***Fort Epheria: 137
***Greensfort: 133
***New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 115
***Elysian Local Population: 350 thousand external subjects
*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.
**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.
**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.
**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
**Fort Avalon
**Fort Akan
**Fort Epheria
**Fort Elysia
**Jamestown
**New Glaemchester
Wars and Conflicts
*Americas: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity with the added risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter.
*Anglo-Spanish War: Also known as the War for the Seas, with the excommunication of the Catholic Church, the Hispanian saw more than enough justification to declare war on Britain. (See Events for more info)
Armed Forces
*Total: 126,265 Manpower (1.8% of population)
*Army
**Total: 119,900
**British Defense Force: (British Mainland) 
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 15,000
***Marksman Infantry: 48,000
***Light Cavalry: 8,700
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 950
***Heavy Cavalry: 1,650
***Bow Cavalry: 2,600
***Field Artillerymen: 5,634
****Field cannons: 1,878
***Logistical Support: 23,000
**British Expeditionary Force: (In Elysia)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
***Marksman Infantry: 10,000
***Elysian Musketeers: 8,000
***Light Cavalry: 1,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 500
***Heavy Cavalry: 350
***Bow Cavalry: 300
***Field Artillerymen: 501
****Field cannons: 167
***Logistical Support: 7,000
*Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,350
**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.
**As of 1527, three factions are formed within the Roundtables
***The Crimson Sun
***The Azure Moon
***The White Orchids
****Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
**Notable (Living) Members:
***The Drake Family
*Navy:
**Personnel: 7,300 (combined between both fleets)
**Naval Vessels:
***Victory-class First-rate British Galleons:9
****Main flagship: HMS Victory
***Ember-class First-rate British Galleons: 15
****Main flagship: HMS Ember
***Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 19
****Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
***Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravel: 47
***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
***London-class Third-rate British Caravel: 4
****Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
***Dove-class Fourth-rate Dual-Purpose Merchant Caravel: 99
****These ships are given to British merchants who sail in dangerous waters, and are crewed by either mercenaries hired by said merchants or the merchants themselves. Only included in ship-counts for the navy to deter invasions by sea.
Research and Development
*MAC Cannons: McCarthy Industries continues to produce MAC Cannons 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.
**The 32 pounder long-nose MAC Cannons enter service, replacing the aging 24-pound naval cannons on the large British galleons.
**In addition, they are contracted to create a smaller cannon for use on Vinland longboats. As such, the 2 pounder cannon was created.
*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.
**Carriers: Test trials for HMS Spyder are carried out in the Elysian Bay and the nearby Potomac River. In this area, both the Vinland longboats and the HMS Spyder itself both undergo sea trials as well as training and experimentation of formations and strategies involving ships of various sizes in close areas, namely having one group act as a vanguard and the other act as escort for the fleet, while the HMS Spyder stays out in rougher seas.
**Newer British Galleons begin construction. These ships are based on the Ember-class galleons, but are slightly larger, faster, and more optimized for warfare. These ships become known as the Victory-class galleons.
**Vinland Longboats: In a collaborative effort with Vinland, both British and Vinland engineers get to work on modifying the Vinland longboat for transportation within British “Carriers”, as well as see viable possibilities for mounting cannons (mainly the 2 pounder cannon) on the vessels.
***Inspiration from Asian catamarans led to the idea to add pontoons to the Vinland Longboats, to mitigate a glaring issue (when the Longboat fires to the side, it is prone to tipping over)
Training and Production
*1,000 Elysian Musketeers
*6 Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravels
*Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.
Diplomacy
*Americas: With intelligence from the Vinlanders, the British decide to scope out the other nations of the Eastern Coast of North America, and see what they have to offer
**Elysia: (See Events for more details)
*Agousta: British send troops to assist Agousta as they go through with their plan.
*Amekrogu: The British (primarily the HALO company) pledge to protect Amekrogu from the Spanish, as they make efforts to stifle Spanish movement in the area.
*Europeans: 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, at least
*Vinland: The British send what supplies they can so that the new Vinland thane can maintain their territory and then some. (see events for more details).
**The British also ask if they could collaborate with the British on creating an improved longboat, one that can mount a small cannon onboard, as well as be used with Britain’s new “carriers”
*Westria: The British request that Westria doesn’t severe their relationships with the British (though the British predict that they’ll turn their backs on the British due to the excommunication)
Allies
*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.
*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.
*Westria: An ally on mainland Europe who also dislikes France, cause f**k France (jk).
*Agousta: Allied with Portugal.
*Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
Events
*Anglo-Spanish War (Part 2): Tensions with the Spanish blow over into a full-out war.
**Conquest of Catonzia (January 1590 - December 1594)
***Operation Sledgehammer (1590-1593): The British begin their push south, with the goal to drive the Spanish out of Catonzia
****Invading Source:
*****1,000 Multi-purpose Shock Infantry
*****3,000 Marksman Infantry
*****200 Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry
*****201 Artillerymen
******67 Heavy Artillery
*****2,000 Men on logistics
****As they advance, they encounter resistance from the Spanish, but due to the efforts of the British cavalry and infantry in previous years, the bulk of Hispanic forces weren’t at full strength
****In addition, due to the capture of Monalba in late 1590, it split the Spanish forces between the British in the north and the British in Monalba, allowing the British to push through Spanish territory and eventually relieve the besieged army in August of 1592.
****From there, the British forces advance west to capture the rest of Catonzia without much effort.
***Operation Victory (1591-1592): Comprises of the British landing in the south of Catonzia’s capital, the goal is to take the city of Monalba while the Hispanics are busy with the main British force up north.
****Invading Source:
*****500 Multi-purpose Shock Infantry
******300 from Operation Sledgehammer
*****1,500 Marksman Infantry
*****100 Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry
******75 from Operation Sledgehammer
*****54 Artillerymen
******18 Heavy Artillery
*****2,000 Men on logistics
****Waiting for a new moon, the fleet sails in complete darkness with only the stars as a means of navigation. Due to the scope of the Operation, Head Admiral Drake oversaw the invasion herself, as she managed to lead the invasion fleet to their destination within a few miles.
****From there, they landed the light troops as well as artillery before daybreak before both the fleet and the ground force moved on the Catonzia capital.
****The navy attacked first due to its speed, leading to the Spanish forces defending the city focusing on the sea, allowing the ground forces to surprise the defenders on the walls.
****This lead to the capture of Monalba a few days later (around December of 1590)
****However, this was only the beginning of their troubles, as a Spanish force returned to Monalba and attempted to take back the city. As a means to construct a defense while slaves from BAKA company repair the walls, the soldiers dig into the earth, creating vast trench systems to hold the Spanish off while the northern force pushes south.
**Battle of Nueva Valcania (1592 - 1593): The invasion of the island chain came as a way to maintain the momentum.The main goal behind this invasion is to take a few islands in the chain for the construction of a naval base, to protect British interests in the region.
**War on the Waves: Though the British defeated the Spanish Armada at sea, they still had a sizable navy that could potentially defeat the British. As such, the British pressed their attack, taking the momentum gained from The Battle of the English Channel to whittle down the Hispanic Navy to ensure that the British have naval superiority.
***British Raiding Parties/Notable Leaders: Various notable British captains enact raids throughout the Hispania colonies and even their ports on the mainland.
****Rear-Admiral Frederik King: Assisted Drake in the capture of Monalba as well as participating in both the Second and Third Battles of the English Channel.
****Commodores Emyr and Anne-Marie King: Now Co-commodores aboard their ship HMS Lamplight, they raided the Spanish port city of San Sebastian in 1592 with a fleet of seven ships under their control. They managed to destroy various warships in port, and even managed to land a small force to plunder various banks and wealthy families in the port town before being repelled by the arrival of a Hispanic army.
****Captain Lindsey Drummond: Attacked various Spanish port cities along Hispania’s eastern border, and managed to warn the Royal Navy to the whereabouts of the Second Hispanic fleet and fought against them in the Second Battle of the English Channel.
****Commodore Anthony Shirley: Promoted through the ranks due to his actions in the Battle of the English Channel and various other engagements after the First Battle of the English Channel, he was given permission to enact privateer operations against Spanish colonies. As such, he raided various Hispanic colonies in the Gulf of Mexico, such as South Dysia Island (Jamaica)
****Vice-Admiral Wilbur Lodge: Due to his bravery in the First Battle of the English Channel, Wilbur received a promotion to the position of Vice-Admiral. From there, though Drake assisted with navigation, Wilbur Lodge was the man who controlled the navy that provided naval support for those apart of Operation Victory, as well as the man who oversaw the invasion of a few islands in Nueva Valcania, eventually becoming Rear-Admiral by the war’s end.
****Commodore James Norton: Performed raids on various Spanish colonies in Nueva Hispania, and assisted in the taking of a few islands in Nueva Valcania. Also participated in the Second Battle of the English Channel. 
****Commodore Konstanze Lenz: Participated in the blockade of Hispania and participated in both the Second and Third Battles of the English Channel, notifying the Royal Navy of the Third Hispanic Armada in the case of the latter battle.
***Major Naval Engagements (1588 - 1594): 
****Battle of Gravelines (1588): Shortly after the Battle of the English Channel, the Royal Navy chases the Hispanic Navy as they try to flee north (since their path south was cut off by the British)
*****Though the Hispanic fleet tried to escape, they were cut off, cornered between the coast and the Royal Navy. Much like the Battle of the English Channel, the British decimate the remnants of the Spanish Armada, as they flee again
*****This time, as the Spanish Armada fled, they encountered a bad storm off the coast of Ireland, where their force got cut in half, as they limped back to Spain, battered and exhausted.
****Operation Anaconda (1589 - 1594): With the efforts of the Royal Navy in the Battle of the English Coast, the British decide to attack Spain’s colonies while they have naval superiority.
*****This plan, named after a species of snake found in British-controlled Amekrogu, calls for a complete naval blockade of Hispania, both to cripple its economy as well as prevent the mainland from reinforcing its overseas territories.
*****Due to the scale of the plan, some British companies were called upon to assist the Royal Navy in preventing any Hispanic ships from getting past their blockade.
****Second and Third Battles of the English Channel (1591 and 1594 Respectively): Even though they took a thrashing in 1588, the Hispanic government still wished to destroy the British navy, but more importantly, lift the naval blockade constricting the Spanish. As such, in 1591 and 1594, two new fleets were constructed and sent the way of the British, only to receive grave beatdowns.
*****Unlike the First Battle of the English Channel, the British (and eventually the Hispanic fleet in 1594) fought in more organized lines. Gone were the days of clusterfucks as naval tactics began to become finalized, with the idea of battle groups fighting in lines coming into shape.
**Suing for Peace: With the destruction of the Third Hispanic Armada, it was clear that the Spanish were not going to be able to make a comeback from their defeat in the FIrst Battle of the English Channel. As such, Queen Elizabeth sent the Spanish terms for peace, which are as follows
***War reparations for the ships lost as well as for their attack on Elysia a decade prior
***Britain maintains the territory they claimed in Florida
*Excommunication: With the excommunication of the church, the British economy takes a hit, with some of their trading partners closing their ports to the British. As such, the British look into potential answers, to which they came to a solution: looking abroad.
**Americas: The British, looking abroad, sees the vast resources of North America. As such, more plans for colonization are brainstormed, though any attempts are put on hold until after the Anglo-Spanish War.
**Asia: From Drake’s expedition, vast quantities of wealth were found in Asia. As such, various British companies begin to look eastwards, with the thought of wealth and glory visible, merely separated from the United Kingdom by the seas.
*Rise of Protestantism: Tensions begin to rise between Odinists and Catholics in Britain, though with war on the horizon, many set aside their differences under a common enemy. Others don’t easily drop their feuds.
*The Rise of the Company Fleets (Part 10): With the world opening up, and rumors of prosperity and gold present, various companies sprout up around Britain, with the goal to investigate various locations of notice with hopes to make it big.
**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.
***Phase 4: The BFG Company begins to exert more of its control in the region, with its realm of influence slowly extending throughout Laconia.
***Hispania: With the threat of a Spanish invasion imminent, owning the largest fleet of the British Merchant Companies, they were asked to loan a portion of their navy to help with the defense of the British Isles.
****In addition, the BFG Fleet receives more ships from the British government to replace those lost in the First Battle of the English Channel
***Catonzia: With declaration of war, the BFG Company begins to use its merchant fleet to commerce in raids on Spanish merchant ships, to stifle the Spanish economy where it can.
***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.
***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.
**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 3b): With the creation of Fort Epheria, the company begins to slowly assert its control over the region, but that’s for the future.
****Their influence continues to spread, as it slowly creeps towards Amekrogu itself. (continued from last turn)
***Anglo-Spanish War: also known as the war of the seas, with the threat of Spanish invasion of their territory, the HALO Company rally their ships to sink any Spanish ships on sight, in fear of a Spanish Invasion of their territory.
****In addition, if they can get the Spanish to attack Amekrogu, believing they are associated with the British by flying Amekrogu flags alongside the British flag.
***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.
**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.
*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)
*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
**Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
***Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.
==== Khitan Khanate ====
* Government: Steppe Horde
** Khan/Khatun:
*** Khojin (F) (r. 1501 - 1542)
*** Erketu (M) (r. 1542 - 1543)
*** Arslan (M) (r. 1542 - 1583)
*** Runsori (M) (r. 1583 - present)
**** Dynasty: Yarud (1501 - present)
***** Parliament: None
* Economy: The Khitan economy is largely based upon trade, herding, and pastoralism, as the Khitans and most of their subjects are nomadic peoples. However, in some areas, such as around cities, the inhabitants are settled agriculturalists.
* Capital: Nerchuu (OTL Nerchinsk)
* Demographics:
** Population: 389,000 (51% Khitans, 6% Jurchen, 42% Mongols, 2% Evenks, 1% Daevites, 1% other)
** Religion: 89% Tengriism, 4% Arzham, 3% Buddhism, 4% others
* Military: 7,780 troops
* Wars and Conflicts (italics indicate potential wars):
** Conquest of Yan: Levies are raised for the war against Yan. 27,000 troops (4,400 professional and 22,600 levies) invade the state of Yan, and 6,000 troops (1,400 professional and 4,600 levies) stay behind the border to defend in the very unlikely event of a counterattack.
* Diplomacy (italics indicate secret):
** N/A
* Events:
* The Mad Khan of Kitai: In the year 1566, while attacking the Khalkha city of Bayan Tumen, Arslan Khan adopted the then-5-year-old Runsori, a child of Daevite descent whose parents were killed in the fighting. Arslan was a doting father towards Runsori, much to the envy of his biological sons.  This led to Runsori often being the target of his step brothers' bullying (with the exception of Aguchu, a younger brother of his who was the only one to show him kindness and would later accompany him on his battles). These tensions came to a head after a shaman prophesied that Runsori would bring glory to the Khitan Khanate. A few days later, in a drunken rage, he killed his eldest brother, Hulegu, after a heated argument. By the time he was sober, it was too late. Hulegu lay dead, and his bodyguard (the only witness) would be soon to follow. Years later, upon the death of Arslan, Runsori took it upon himself to finish what his father couldn’t: restore the Liao dynasty.
* Road System: Roads are built between important trade centers to facilitate trade and to aid army movements through otherwise difficult terrain.
* Cultural Tolerance: Runsori adopts a policy of cultural tolerance towards the Khalkha Mongols and other minorities of the Khitan Khanate in order to pacify them. A limited degree of cultural diffusion also occurs between the Khitans and Khalkha.
==== Nihon ====
Government and Demographics
* Government: Feudalism - effective total regional factionalism
** Empress: A symbol of the religious and political institutions of Nihon. A long history derived from Ainu chiefs and Japonic empresses, the Empress is the oldest single title in existence to continue in its function. Granted its function has varied over the years - between socialist dictator (Tomoe-gozen), symbolic leader (Takagi Anzu), capable monarch (Himiko Ichi-ban) and a mix of the three (Uchiha Tomoko); nevertheless her position is continued and significant in the religious and military awe she proposes.
*** Current Monarch: Han'ei no Mono (Tachibana Kiyo)
** Shogun: The controller of the military forces of Nihon and often the one most charged with putting down rebellion, defending the country's lands, and more duties. This makes them incredibly powerful, and thus it is no surprise the position is faced with assassination, political intrigue, and more. Of course that insinuates the question as to why so much power is placed in the hands of one person, but don't be too concerned about that, you're starving and you need a way to get the food you need. What's a bit of genocide and murder to get that, aye?
*** Current Shogun: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
* Allies: Joseon, defensive military alliance
* Capital: Kyoto has traditionally served as the religious capital of Nihon, making it incredibly significant; however, with the advent of Oda Nobunaga, Tokyo now serves as the effective administrative base of power in the country.
* Demographics:
** Population: 10,413,000
** Ethnicities: Yamatai (83%), Chinese-origin (2%), Joseonese (3%), Syonanese (10%), Other (2%)
** Official Religion: Shinto, with Buddhist influences
** Population Distribution:
*** Urban Population: Most actual urban areas in the Nihonese isles do not actually exceed four square kilometres in size, with buildings that far more resemble modern suburban density and planning than otherwise. However, these urban areas are often survived and surrounded by vast exceedingly low-density tiny communes of no more than a hundred to two hundred people, making up in some cases secondary urban centres, such as the town of Satsuma.
**** Percentage of total population: 8% (Approx. 900,000)
**** By city (rounded to the nearest 5,000):
***** Edo: 40,000
****** Edo surroundings: 50,000
***** Kyoto: 10,000
****** Kyoto surroundings: 55,000
***** Fukushima: 35,000
****** Fukushima surroundings: 20,000
***** Hiroshima: 25,000
***** Kobe: 15,000
****** Hiroshima-Kobe wider region: 25,000
***** Nagasaki: 25,000
***** Yokohama: 20,000
***** Takaoka: 15,000
***** Niigata: 15,000
***** Izumo-Matsue Au. Region: 25,000
***** Chiba Au. Region: 20,000
***** Others not exceeding 15,000 in population: 590,000
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 23%
***** Kanto: 21%
***** Kansai: 14%
***** Chubu: 17%
***** Chugoku: 11%
***** Shikoku: 5%
***** Kyushu: 9%
*** Rural Population:
**** Percentage of total population: 92% (Approx. 10,000,000)
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 18%
***** Kanto: 14%
***** Chubu: 19%
***** Kansai: 15%
***** Chugoku: 12%
***** Shikoku: 11%
***** Kyushu: 11%
Economics
* Status of the Economy:
** Value of Gold: While barter has remained one of the biggest methods of trade within the country, gold is the currency by which trade with foreign merchants has been practiced. The main source of gold in Nihon, however, are the Han nations to the East, Kansha and Syonan; it has no actual power over the premier currency it uses. The usage of bronze and copper coins for smaller denominations has become generally more commonplace in urban areas, while barter trade remains common. The national mint is centred in Edo, controlled by the Shogun.
*** Actual monetary value: One ounce of gold can currently buy one hundred sacks of rice (172 kg).
*** Currency:
**** 1-yen coin (copper)
**** 5-yen coin (copper)
**** 10-yen coin (bronze)
**** 100-yen coin (bronze)
**** 1000-yen promissory note (backed in gold)
** Economic Overview: A significant portion of the Nihonese economy is centred around traditional agriculture, with rice as the national staple of the country; barter trade occurs on a limited communal scale, with the adoption of partial paper and minted currency already having occurred. Small artisanal trades in the fields of writing and artistry have become coveted as prestige symbols; education extends to only roughly 11% of the population, with this small class of artisans a thin sliver of a middle class between the vast majority of the peasantry and the higher nobility.
*** Economic Policy:
**** None - the central government has collapsed. May God save Nihon.
*** Economic Trends:
**** Disaster: The Nihonese economy rapidly disintegrates. Everything is going to hell. Peasant rebellions are rife in the South, with Kobe and Izumo being the site of two rebellions specifically; meanwhile, Chiba and Izumo-Matsue, once bastions of stability, now lie in ruin at the hands of Nobunaga, who forcibly integrated them back into Nihon, thus leading to their assets seized by loyalist merchants and them being forced to contend with all sorts of laws that caused inane social tensions.
Culture
* Cultural Groups:
** Yamatai: The dominant culture on the three main islands, practiced by the vast majority of ethnic Nihonese; it emphasises the importance of self and the privilege of existence. A partly individualistic culture with overtly communal streaks that designates the greatness of finding a specific calling and engaging it with the most effort possible; giving rise to a society that prizes the arts as well as the value of literature. While it does not shun the sciences, they are not often given priority; meanwhile, the military and warriors are given outsized importance against all else. Its envisioning of Shinto has numerous distinct cultural streaks from the nations that existed before Yamato united the three main islands under its own banner; as well as little reminders of the past.
*** Views on Social Roles: 'From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs'; Yamatai culture is distinctly communalistic outside of the cities, where fraternisation and a fluid system of authoritative roles are practiced; the only exception being the matriarch/patriarch of the community, who is given a semi-paternalistic amount of influence. The concept of social mobility practically does not exist. On the other hand, the role of authority in institutions is far more restrictive; strict merit is practiced in the continued promotion of high-ranking individuals, although 'merit' is a stretch if you were to appropriately interpret it. The Imperial Family is the best example of this, with ceremony strictly emphasised and any perceived breach of decorum cause for public nusciance.
*** Views on Gender: 'Who that may do it, must do it.' The role of women and men are largely equalised on certain fronts, such as the presence of women in the military and government; however, past that, the roles of men and women are all over the place. In family matters, for example, women are allowed to lead in decisions but men are allowed to act independent (and even encouraged) to act independent of the whims of the family head. That said, women who do not have children or male spouses are expected to be onna-bugeisha or politicians. This separation continues with other duties; men are encouraged to continue on in the military, while women are encouraged to leave for political service or artisanship. Men are on the other hand considered more capable for education than women except in the upper classes, where ironically such a division is reversed. This encourages a society where at the highest levels women are often placed in charge but at the lowest levels men are placed in control, a kind of exclusionary class egalitarianism that often irks some.
*** Views on Intellectualism: 'Honest, hard work makes a good person.' Intellectualism is viewed with disdain to the average person, often conceived as a useless venture; meanwhile, for the elite, intellectualism is viewed as a necessary venture. As thus education is generally discouraged in general, with exceptions placed for military academies and naval academies. In addition, this encourages generally low levels of literacy and low levels of academic prioritisation, making the Yamatai often among the least educated of all.
** Ainu: A distinct, unique culture native to Tohoku and Ezo; a kind of communal culture that emphasises the community and a place within that community. It speaks of the importance of discovering a place within society and fulfilling the callings asked of you by others, and that no individual is above the common good. Its adoption of arts and literature is thus comparably limited, but it is the Ainu which have advanced Nihon's science so far, partly due to the fact that they are encouraged to go to school from younger ages (and generally live in more urbanised societies). Their envisioning of Shinto is more akin to a kind of lifestyle, which promotes certain practices and discourages others; one which has, surprisingly, remained largely sturdy for the last 400 years.
*** Views on Social Roles: 'You have a place and everyone knows you have a place. It's society's duty to make sure that it's a place you're comfortable with.' The Ainu are among the most socially accepting of anything. It is the inherent societal belief of the Ainu that you must find your calling, and because of that social mobility exists on an outsized scale in Ainu society - with one single exception, that being for women, of whom most are only permitted to enter the military or sciences before marriage. Men are thus often instructed to perform in roles that exude both these and leadership, carrying along localised knowledge of the sciences in the limited natural capacities observed to the military and artisanship. Ultimately, however, regardless of who you are, your ultimate loyalty carries to your community and your clan - never forget that.
*** Views on Gender: 'Some must know their place and their taking - never fall to delusion.' While the Ainu are not necessarily misogynistic their views on the place a woman can take would definitely suggest otherwise. Women are pressured at the age of 14 to marry a man and take the 'duty' of being a mother, before producing at least three children who live to age - often ensuring the survival of communities whom up north lack the same kind of temperate weather the southern bits of Nihon are known for. For men the deal is similarly bad; they're tied to their families as well, and outside of a military career they are forced to be the main labourers on farms until children have grown up, after which they are then, unlike women, free to do as they wish - often congregating into regional or local groups, where they then do whatever it is that is possible. This creates the basis of a local series of unions and intellectual societies that often form from the relative freedom afforded to men after these duties are 'completed', although almost exclusively amongst merchant and military men.
*** Views on Intellectualism: 'The world is the greatest sin, which must be conquered to bring in line with the Kamuy.' Thus governs the Ainu attitude towards intellectualism. In contrast to the Yamatai, they prize intelligence and philosophy; like the Yamatai, they reserve it for the wealthy and the elite. If you are an intellectual, however, even when your ideology or musings may come into direct conflict with the methods espoused by chiefs and other leaders, you are regarded as too sanct to throw away. This makes an intellectual incredibly influential and because of that many of the core scientific advancements that have defined Nihonese history arise from the Ainu, from the kawataro-fune, taken from a self-proclaimed 'forseer', to the ancient road system that lined Nihon.
** Joseonese-Han: A minority culture arising from the great giants from across the sea; Joseonese-Han is a monstrous beast of mish-mashed cultures, from distinct Han streaks arising almost 600 years ago to the original Xia cultures. It is almost entirely reliant on distinct, tiny Xianist sects and practices a form of Buddhism mixed with Shinto. Because of this, attempting to ascertain its overall views is an approximation of a culturally and ethnically diverse group, and thus will not be covered overall.
* Religion:
** Shinto: A polytheistic, animistic and pantheistic religion which most Nihonese follow. It revolves around the kami - gods/spirits, which are depending on region omnipresent or omniscient. Worship is mainly practiced in household shrines and public shrines, with family shrines more common for political and clan officials. Extreme levels of localisation, with many in the North having strong Ainu streaks while those in Kyushu and Kansha have subtle Han influence. It is the mandated state religion for all monarchs.
*** Notable Followers:
**** Tomoe-gozen (Empress, also known as the Amaterasu of Man)
**** Oda Nobunaga (Shogun, notable for donations to shrines)
** Xianism: A monotheistic religion restricted to the small Han minorities living in Edo. Best described by some as a cultish group of fringe sects originating from Ba, it is known for its influence in the entertainment cultures of Nihon, including, oddly, the fetishisation of lesbian relationships to an almost fanatical point. Generally its followers are closeted and hold nearly no influence in the Nihonese government, but are still a subtle cultural influence to this day.
*** Notable Followers:
**** None
** Ainu Animism: A nontheistic animistic series of religions generally followed in addition or in combination with Shinto, emphasising the power of the Kamuy, a kind of religious spirit that flows through all objects and all beings. As much as 46% of all Shinto followers actually follow a heavily derivative and Ainu-influenced form of Shinto distinct enough to be considered a seperate religion on its own, while at least half follow both Animism and Shinto seperately or in conjunction. Worship is practiced on a lifestyle-basis, where explicit outright temples and other such institutions are largely excised from the process.
*** Notable Followers:
**** Kanzaki Noriko (Prime Minister, known as The Lost or in some circles The Speaker)
Events:
* The Conqueror of Nihon [4]:
** Get that fucking bitch - 1592: Hideyoshi has been in a panic for quite a while now but it only accelerates with each passing day. 'Got a way in yet?', he panickedly asks his advisors, attempting to figure out a way to get rid of Soryu Miyako. 'Don't speak to me if you don't.' Mitsuhide peeks in every once in a while while managing the affairs of the daimyo under their command but his lover is simply too occupied with the entire business of figuring out how to put a knife in the aging woman's head.
** 'Hide, couldn't you just... wait for her to die? It's not as if she's a lord, she's got to be close to death...' He blurts out one day, upon which Hideyoshi glares at him. 'Every day she stands in Tokyo is a day closer she has to ursurping my power'. Why? Why again? ...well, she's, she's just a threat is all. No need for figuring it out, just focus on getting rid of the threat. Finally at the end of Autumn he orders a strike on Miyako while she takes her young son out for a walk - getting some poor sod to behead the fucker without linking it back to him so she can never figure it out and ruin his relations with the Empress. Here goes nothing...
** Fuck.
** GET THAT FUCKING BITCH - 1594: At this point Hideyoshi is quietly suspect and thinks it might actually be way easier just to actually let her die like Mitsuhide suggested. It's all too convenient, the Empress noted in the spring, that assassins keep targeting her old friend through useless and non-linkable people; he's got at most one last attempt on that old woman. Undermining his power purely by existing. Damn it all... no, he has one last chance. At this age she's going to have to take the child to his consecration at the Tokyo shrine - yes! Yes. Alright, let's get this damn thing on the fucking road!
** In the depths of night the Tokyo Shrine quietly loses two of its priests. In the morning as the former Shogun arrives with her husband and child they notice something... the ceremony is incomplete. Something's gone terribly wrong. Hideyoshi knows that she will definitely know and has arranged a special measure for the occasion - his own arrival - which would help to keep here there until the assassination is carried out, allowing him to feign ignorance of the plot and finally get rid of the woman. Whatever he's doing it for anyways. Coincidentally one of the priests arrives back, apologising for the improper performance.
** As the ceremony goes on the little boy is annointed in Shinto clothing, although the child is given the same Ainu ceremonials that his great-grandmother once was. And there, as he is seconds away from receiving that which will signify his allowance into the nobility - the priest pulls out a dagger and lunges at Soryu Miyako. Yes! Finally, it will be-
** ...
** ...successful.
** As Hideyoshi watches Soryu limping her way out of the room, hand-in-hand with her husband, he grimaces. He'll never get this chance again.
** 'Hideyoshi!'
** He stares at the woman.
** 'Nice try.' She grins, and takes her leave. He quietly scratches his head, before he finally enunciates his words.
** 'FUCK YOU!'
* The Empress of Nihon [4]:
** The Realm's Dying Days - 1593: She can't escape the spectre of that past any longer. Kiyo has long resigned to her own lodgings at the early hours of the night, though it never actually aroused the suspicion of any person. After all in the late months of the year the sun sets early and it only makes sense that the symbolic leader of Nihon would follow suit.
** This day, she, finally done with issuing a decree that has been stuck with her court for three months, sits down to receive a letter. It's been years since she saw a letter from Tala, Wu Jin, the others... she doesn't even know whether they're still alive anymore. And finally she opens up the letter.
** It's thirty-three years old.
** 'Kiyo.
** I really hope you can come with us. If you can't, I'll make sure you know everything!
** Thanks.
** - Wu Jin'
** Finally she drops the paper on the ground and plops her head on the table. Surrounded in opulence, yet shrouded in emptiness. And thus she stands up and gingerly picks it up.
** And she places it in a small frame, before going back to the table.
** -she realises that it's stained with a puddle of tears.
* Last Hope of Nihon [3]:
** An Incurable Illness - 1590: If there was anything that could get anyone down it would be the revelation that your end is coming. Miyako had always known her personal health was at best faulty - between losing her arm and nearly drowning - but now it was essentially confirmed. She'd lost feeling in her left shoulder some time ago but it took the court doctor to discover the infection - something she called 'violent miasma' spreading through her body. Her time would be up within the decade.
** Now... all the pressing issues came closer.
** She'd been getting quite so very close with the child, Musashi, close to entering her fourteenth year and not so far away from becoming the proper heir to Kiyo; but there was only so far she could teach a good, smart child. She'd always quietly wanted her own, too - just never believed in the kind of political marriage that others had - not unless someone else shared somewhat similar views to her.
** Except for that one man.
** Miyako had run the files over and over again. Tokugawa Ieyasu, born almost the same year she was - just four years earlier - formerly a supporter of the Federation, but declared neutrality and offered sanctuary to her grandmother. Even more than that, the man was also a daimyo on his own - a daimyo actually able to gain his power in Tokyo, what she believed to be the new centre of this country.
** But ultimately? He was a good man.
** Timid, yes. Revolutionary? No one would ever match her grandmother. His heart in the right place? Well... as far as she was concerned, that worked way better than she did. She'd... she'd just have to see how it turned out. All the time in the world seemed starved out of her, now.
** And by the end? Bethrothed, in 1588.
** 1589, she gave birth to a little boy - barely five years Musashi's junior - and this young upstart was it. This would be his country after she was gone. She needed to make sure it'd be a decent start point for him at least.
** And he would too.
** An Inexorable Wish - 1594: Ieyasu had had children before with others but all of them he had seemingly outlived. Nobuyasu, passed in the winter of 1573, for one; this one, Hidetada, would have to do. From the very start Miyako handed off his teaching to Ieyasu, and she handed something else to the little boy with Musashi-
** -her interest with the sword.
** Passed unto her by her late master she'd retained that interest all those years later. She'd never been particularly good at it, but it was a necessary skill nonetheless.
** On the other hand, that Musashi? Seems like she dearly enjoys it.
* Nihon's Collapse:
** Nihon has entered states of total feudalism before. Just as it did during the period before Tomoe-gozen came to power, just as it did in the period preceding Uchiha Tomoko's rise to power. This list and the events surrounding it are not exhaustive - nor do they contain everything required to get a full picture of the situation. Nonetheless, the following is as full a picture as I can give you. Welcome to the full-on, Sengoku Jidai!
*** North:
**** Background: The wider Tohoku area has always been a volatile region in Nihon. Despite being home to almost all of Nihon's people - about 60% - it has traditionally exercised almost no power, with Kyoto being at its centre all the time. This is generally reflected in the origins of most leaders - the Minamoto and Yamato clans both originating from the South, for example. And while that isn't inevitable, of the region's conquerors, Oda Nobunaga claims quite a Southern lineage, while Otsuya no Kata, also of Oda fame (sister of Nobuhide) controls the Toyama clan. Tohoku is also the home to the Ainu, who possess a great much power in their influence, maintaining their customs in the far North in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Hokkaido.
**** Clans:
***** Nanbu (split into two families, the Nanbu and the Ainu Sunazawa): Occupying the Northmost bits of Tohoku. Notoriously peaceful. The Nanbu family has pledged its loyalty to Oda Nobunaga.
****** Central Fort: Aomori
***** Akita: Occupying modern-day Akita province. Friendly to Nobunaga and her forces; formerly a sub-clan of the Odawara.
****** Central Fort: Akita
***** Mogami (split into several families, but with one single ruling one): Occupies OTL Yamagata, northern Miyagi and southern Iwate provinces. Formerly head of the greater Mogami clan, now a series of rump families pushed into Iwate.
****** Central Fort: Sendai
***** Date: Occupies OTL southern Miyagi province. In an alliance with the Mogami via personal union.
****** Central Fort: Yamagata
***** Oda-Uesugi: The Oda and Uesugi union, formally in control of Nihon. Secured via 'personal union' between Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kagetora, although the marriage is entirely farcical and not actually practiced by either side. Arguably the most powerful clan in the region, if not for the presence of the Tachibana. Its Oda side has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
****** Central Fort: Kashiwazaki
***** Ashina: Occupies OTL Western Fukushima Province. A minor clan in alliance with the Tachibana, in a tenuous union between two highly divided families.
****** Central Fort: Utsunomiya
***** Shimotsuke: Occupies OTL Tochigi for the most part. A smaller neutral clan with sympathies towards the Oda-Uesugi.
****** Central Fort: Oyama
***** Hitachi: Occupies OTL Ibaraki. A mostly Ainu clan in alliance with the Tachibana; keeps itself restricted to its own territory for the most part.
****** Central Fort: Hitachinaka
***** Shimosa: Occupies a tiny section of OTL Chiba. A clan that isn't really a clan due to most of the family being branches of the Tachibana and Hitachi.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Tachibana: The former Kingdom of Tachibana, now reduced in size but still powerful. Main families: the Musashi, the Satake, and Fujiwara. Rather powerful due to its size and population, although stripped of much of its resources over the years. It is one of the direct descendants of Himiko no Ichiban and has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
****** Central Fort: Tokyo (capital of Nihon)
***** Sagami: Occupies OTL East Shizuoka. In alliance with the Tachibana. Merchant clan with strong naval presence.
****** Central Fort: Shimoda
***** Satomi: Occupies OTL Chiba. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Nagao: Occupies OTL Gunma. In alliance with the Oda-Uesugi. Hostile sympathies towards the Tachibana.
****** Central Fort: Iseyaki
***** Kotsuke: Occupies OTL Northwest Nagano province. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** The Tachibana and Oda-Uesugi are currently in an alliance.
**** Events:
*****
*** Centre:
**** Background: The Centre of Nihon has constantly been a wild-card. It at times has been far more stable and at times has resembled a series of paint-splatters across the wall; it, however, is the centre of any attempt to unite the Nihonese isles. Its military clans are partially centred here, with samurai prolifically emerging from it; the constant shifting of power dynamics in this region making it far more attractive to strategically adept persons.
**** Clans:
***** Takeda: OTL South Nagano + Easterly Shizuoka provinces. Military clan, unfriendly to Nobunaga. One of the more powerful clans in the region. In an alliance with the Matsudaira and on friendly terms with the Ashikaga. Consists of the Shinano and Kai families.
****** Central Fort: Iido
***** Mastudaira: OTL West Shizuoka Province. Also a military clan unfriedly to Nobunaga, although substantially less powerful. In an alliance with the Takeda and on friendly terms with the Tachibana. Consists of the Tokugawa and Imagawa clans.
****** Central Fort: Hamamatsu
***** Oda: OTL Nagoya and surroundings. Part of the Oda-Uesugi clan, see above description.
****** Central Fort: Nagoya
***** Echizen: OTL Coastal Ishikawa and Fukui provinces. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Miki and Mino.
****** Central Fort: Kanazawa
***** Miki: OTL Toyama province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Mino, the latter of which it has a personal union with.
****** Central Fort: Takaoka
***** Mino: OTL Shiga province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Miki.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Ise: OTL Mie province. Neutral. Prolific blacksmithing clan.
****** Central Fort: Nakatsugawa
***** Kii: OTL Wakayama province. Neutral. The Kii and Awaji families come from this.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Yamato: OTL Nara province. Friendly towards the Matsudaira clan.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Hyogo: OTL Osaka province, contains both Osaka and Kyoto. One of the most powerful clans in the region purely by population, friendly towards the Tanba clan.
****** Central Fort: Kyoto (Symbolic capital)
***** There are no other notable inter-clan alliances as of current.
**** Events:
*****
*** South:
**** Background: The South has always been the most politically stable bit of Nihon - but that doesn't mean it's actually stable. As the main trade route for most of Nihon it has always held outsized power over its currency, its politics and more, but it is also the direct contact point for any kind of foreign power. Tanegashima was where the Agoustans landed, Nagasaki is a Syonanese haven, and more - and because of that, the South, once a bastion of stability, may no longer be in the cards as king...
**** Clans:
***** Tanba: OTL Hyogo province. Minor branch of the Minamoto clan and the only one with no associations with the Kanzaki; reasonably powerful as the inheritor of the last remaining professional military forces in Nihon.
****** Central Fort: Kobe
***** Harima: OTL Okayama prefecture. Run by another minor branch of the Minamoto clan, although linked to the Kanzaki defected to join Nobunaga before anything too dangerous could happen. Tiny rump clan.
****** Central Fort: Okayama
***** Inaba: OTL Tottori Prefecture. Friendly to the Tanba and Izumo.
****** Central Fort: Tottori
***** Bingo: Official name of the effective city-state of Fukuyama. Foreigner-friendly, run by the Otomo family - only place in Nihon with a significant amount of Christians, specifically Iberian Protestants. On bad terms with most of the region.
****** Central Fort: Fukuyama
***** Izumo: Centred around the Izumo-Matsue area. Primarily Joseonese-Han - acts like an effectively independent state. Friendly relations with Joseon. Trading clan.
****** Central Fort: Izumo
***** Iwami: OTL Shimane prefecture. Partly-Joseonese-Han. Allied with Izumo.
****** Central Fort: Gotsu
***** Mori: OTL East Yamaguchi prefecture. Associated with Bingo, run by the other branch of the Otomo family.
****** Central Fort: Gofu
***** Choshu: OTL West Yamaguchi prefecture. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: Shimonoseki
***** Sanuki: OTL North Kagawa prefecture. Allied with Awa.
****** Central Fort: Takamatsu
***** Awa: OTL Tokushima prefecture. Allied with Sanuki.
****** Central Fort: Anan
***** Tosa: OTL East Kochi prefecture. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Saioni: OTL West Kochi prefecture. Trading clan. Allied with Satsuma.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Iyo: OTL Ehime prefecture. Ruled by the Uzumaki family.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Bungo: North Kyushu. Allied with Satsuma.
****** Central Fort: Kitayushu
***** Satsuma: Kyushu, Ryukyu and Hiroshima prefectures. Powerful trading clan in control of most of Nihon's navy as well as a significant Christian population; with large Syonanese minorities. Most economically significant region of Nihon.
****** Central Fort: Nagasaki
***** No other significant alliances.
**** Events:
*****
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 - ?? [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.
* 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.
* 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 (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): 
** Third Generation: 
=== Turn XL: 1595-1600 ===
==== Mod Event: ====
* The Four Little Khans (Finale): Amani has done it. She found the graves of both Dogar Khan and Taihou Khatun. Out of their legendary history, their remarkable touch on the old lands over they ruled, no matter what they were, they are buried like any other person. There was probably no extravagant ceremony either. It's sad, but as Amani has learned, it's a fact of history. She waited for it to get dark before she did anything. After digging up the grave (again?) she saw a glint. After further digging, she saw it; the Sword of the East. Despite being buried for hundreds of years, it looked like it hasn't eroded. Strange. In 1596, she finally made it home... only to find it was not her home at all. It was under the control of the Western Daevite Khanate. Was she too late? It's been decades since she was gone with the others. She knew her brother had never returned here when she searched for him. She lost her siblings and now she has lost her home; the rest of her family. Her arrival did not go unnoticed however, the Khan of the state saw her presence as a threat. He invited her to the court, hopefully to know her intentions. The palace is different to her, the decorations are, anyway. The Khan got her attention by explaining what had happened over the years, in his own version. It did little to not infuriate her further. The Khan ended up being right, she was a threat. When Amani fled the city, somehow evading or killing the guards, his head was off from his shoulders thanks to the feared Sword of the East. She traveled to Karakorum, where she was relieved to found her mother. Her mother was not so happy. She told her that she thought she was going to finally let the Empire die with her, since her children left her on a decades long journey to never return. She thought her children had left and died, but she clung onto hope that they didn't. Bulilun stated that in the end, she was glad that she didn't lose everything, but she will still weep for her lost years.
* New Discoveries: Álvaro de Mendaña makes contact with the Tongans in 1595, although the Hispanians admired their “graceful shape” and “almost white” complexion, the relationship with the natives later deteriorated. When the expedition left two weeks later, an estimated 200 Tongans had been killed in an incident. Later on, Mendaña's expedition landed somewhere in OTL Solomon islands. They attempted a settlement, to which they named "Santa Cruz" (however this sticks will be up for debate). Though the settlement began to fall apart, with Álvaro de Mendaña dying shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, a Dutch explorer by the name of William Barentsz discovers Spitsbergen.
* The Second and Third Armada: In 1595, after the failures of the first Hispanian Armada, a second fleet was constructed to make up hopefully regain Hispania's under the glory on the seas (despite being under a personal union). The fleet was promptly destroyed in a bad storm shortly after and 2,000 men were killed. What a waste. The Third Armada was built a year later, third times the charm right?
* Return of Piracy?: Sir Anthony Shirley, Britain's "best-educated pirate", raids South Dysia Island (OTL Jamaica). This comes sometime after the colonies start to fail to stop the return of piracy in the Shattered Isles (or at least the Atlantis part of it) .
* The King of Persia: As the sun set, light remained prominent, for the city burned alive with its citizens enclosed inside, their screams echoing as Kannan the Fat escaped out of his palace. He was running from something, heaving as he stumbled into the streets of Herat, falling to the ground as he crawled forward. The fire, burning higher as gunfire cracks in the distance, would leave nothing but the sky red, for the city was being bled of it’s hereticism. As Kannan turned around, the man chasing him would make himself clear. “You...” he would point too, his hand shaking as he poised it into the shadows of a building. Chkchk, the cocking of a musket broke the short silence, as the barrel came into view. The sound from the cracking of a whip is the only sound comparable to the cracking of a shot from a 16th-century jezail, and all too soon, the events of the last four years began to enfold. The annexation of the Keqi Azarkhate by the Safaretids under Xhahk Farrokh led to Kannan the Fat sending one of his Viziers to besiege the city of Ardistan while he personally led his own troops to Yazd to back-up the Abadun forces there. As Kannan helped aid the Abadun forces, it would be nearly three months before word would be received from his Vizier, but instead of his Vizier returning, a diplomat would arrive instead. “Hello great, generous Kannan, Warlord of the Great Khorasan Empire...” The diplomat was African-born, his skin dark but unlike the Hindustan diplomats who wore fine robes, this diplomat wore clothes that were dirty, ragged and, if not prompted by the right person, would’ve been confused for a slave.
* Kannan the Fat would smile, showing his slimy yellow teeth protruding out his twisted pink lips. The diplomat would continue, “...I am have come bearing a gift, a one-time offering your everlasting highness...” the diplomat would bow to Kannan, who chuckled slightly as he looked around at his advisors, but the diplomat’s smile faded, “...a one-time offer, to surrender or your men in Ardistan and Zarang will suffer summary execution,” Kannan the Fat stopped to blink, as if he didn’t hear that right, he would begin to laugh horrendously while his advisors looked at the straight-faced diplomat. “What the hell are you talking about, ghulam?” “I only speak truth, for their defeat in our reconquest saw plentiful bodies being burned to death, but surely those that remain would be worth saving... like your Vizier,” Kannan would stand up, his skin jiggling as he pointed to the diplomat, “You lie… Safaretid snake” “The grass has been cut and the forest cleared. Your King, Farrokh, has been generous to your bounty, and wishes to reward you generously if you wish to surrender your forces and kneel at his feet...” Kannan stood solidly, but soon he would look to his advisors, one of which grabbed his musket to point at the diplomat. Kannan snarled, “Well, I’ll tell him myself… what is your name, boy?” the diplomat would smile, “My name is Farrokh, the King of the Safaretid Empire,” “Good.” Blam... thud.
* The following week would remain without activity, with Kannan and his men entrenched in Yazd while waiting on word from his Vizier, but word would not come in the way he hoped. Instead, in 1596, the Abadun king would mysteriously arrive at the city gates of Yazd, his face clearly shook as he stumbled around for a bit before falling to the ground dead, finally being noticed by Khorasan guards. The King’s untimely arrival and death wasn’t expected to say the least, and upon Kannan speaking to him, would see why. The King’s mouth had been molded together, and upon its opening, would reveal his tongue cut out with the name ‘Farrokh' etched into the walls of his mouth. His royal clothing was torn, with one of his eyes seeming to be permanently blackened with blood from an apparent head injury. Kannan would shake his head, kicking a table to the ground with his very wide legs. With this guy, ‘Farrokh’, and his forces having conquered Abadun and the northern occupied areas, Kannan would be forced back to Herat, and thus now here he was, only a year later, and clutching the air for mercy, but mercy is a privilege, and when Farrokh’s face appeared out of the darkness, the red from the blazing city lighting the right side of his face, he only cocked a half-smile as he pulled the trigger, killing Kannan the Fat. The Siege of Herat would last two years, ending in 1598 with many of Kannan’s followers being killed and their heads subsequently piked. Kannan, however, burned, and because he was so fat, some sources dictate that he burned for over a month. The Azarkhate of Khorasan and their holdings existed no more, for Farrokh was now the King of Persia, and for the first time in centuries, Persia has been re-unified.
* The Telescope: The first patent for the telescope was filed in 1595 in the Netherlands; however, the inventor of the instrument was not known, and it is thought that the telescope was first invented in either the British Isles or the Netherlands. The instrument is one using lenses or curved mirrors, allowing users to see from a distance. The news of the invention spread throughout the continent, and by 1597, an Italian scientist, Galileo Galilei, have made his own version of a telescope, followed by Johannes Kepler's the year after.
* Nomenclator: the Nomenclator of the Library of Leiden University was printed in 1595, marking the first printed catalog of an institutionalised library.
* William Shakespeare: The first probable performances of his three plays: Richard II, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer's Night Dream took place in 1595. Another, The Merry Wives of Windsor, had its first performance two years later. With the construction of the Globe Theatre in 1599 by his play company, the play Julius Caesar was performed.
* Cornelis de Houtman: The Dutchman becomes the first Dutch person to reach maritime South East Asia, in 1596. The next year, he would lead a successful expedition to the Spice Islands, setting up the spice trade and breaking the Agoustan trade monopoly in the region.
* San Felipe: The eponymous galleon, which departs from Syonan, crashed on the Nihonese shore, with 26 sailors and cargo.
* William Barents: on the navigator's third voyage to find the Northeast Passage, he and his crew discovered the island of Spitsbergen and Bear Island, however, the fleet was stranded on an island north of Keisaria for a year. Barents died on the return journey, but news of his discovery would reach his native Netherlands, and by way of some of the sailors, Vestkyst and Svearike.
* A Settlement Long Overdue: the Agoustans settle in OTL Sao Tome and Principe. The colony had major setbacks, including a slave revolt some years after.
* Dafne: Written by Jacopo Perri in 1597, it was considered the first opera, and premiered in 1598.
* Haemite Revolt: Organised in 1596, the revolt fell a year later due to shoddy organisation and overwhelming Atouman presence, even with only local governors.
* Astronomiæ instauratæ mechanica: Published by Tycho Brahe, a Danish scientist, in 1598, the Astronomiæ is a catalogue of positions of over a thousand stars.
* Ratio Studiorum: the Jesuit educational plan was published in 1599.
* Edict of Nantes: Introduced by Henry of Navarre in April 13, 1598 and promulgated on the 30th of the same month, the Edict grants French Hugenots equal rights with Catholics, effectively ending the French Wars of Religion. Despite this development, many a Catholic in Southern France are up in arms against the Edict, while not directly contributing to the now-ended French Wars of Religion, do cause some scuffles in the area.
* Acquisition of Holsten: Despite the majority Odinist population of the Holsten region, Saxe-Lauenburg blatantly refuses to change the official state religion, generally being vague on the subject at best. The Odinist nobles, fed up with the indecisiveness, opt to plead for assistance from the bulwark of Odinism, Vestkyst. They did try to contact Svearike but Odin knows what they're up to. In 1600, the nobles rose up, with their private armies clashing with Lauenburger troops, only for the Vestkysters to show up and claim victory for the nobles. Due to the aforementioned unpopularity of Saxe-Lauenburg's stance on religion, no one really complains, and those that did have fallen to Vestkyster steel. Meanwhile, both Hamburg and Lubeck elect pro-Odinist and pro-Vestkyster leaders in a completely unrigged vote, preceding their decision to join Vestkyst.
* Adnanite Civil War: After Azarkh Hashim captured the city of Sana'a in 1596, his victory in unifying the Adnanian peninsula would be short-lived, as while he was occupying the city itself, he would be assassinated by a Zoroastrian mercenary during his morning prayer. Azarkh Hashim's death at a relatively young age at death and lacking proper heirs would spark confusion over who should succeed him among the collective Arzhamic aristocracy in the Empire, and with the news of Hashim's death reaching Oman and the more densely-population Zoroastrian regions, a string of Zoroastrian-based rebellions would evolve into a four-year civil war between not only the militant Zoroastrians and the ruling Arzhamic feudal monarchs, but between the Arzhamic feudal monarchs themselves, ultimately partitioning the region into their respective zones of influence. The civil war would also lead to the formation of the Arzhamic school known as Buhhabi, named after its founder who began preaching a form of fundamentalist, ultra-conservative Arzham in the city of Afif.
* This preacher would find himself a following, and out of the ashes of an-Xairata rose the Salehids, who would ally themselves with al-Buhhabi on the condition based on their own fundamental beliefs, and after the Salehids captured the cities Adnan and campaigned against Al-Qarsoon in the southern peninsula, would use al-Buhhabi's doctrine as legitimacy in their own right, recognizing themselves as the second Azarkhate of Al-Adniya and declaring war on the Atoumans for independence in 1599. During the rise of the Salehid dynasty in Adnan proper, and throughout the Adnanite Civil War, various militant factions would grow out of the coastal regions, centering around densely-populated merchant cities, and would begin to fight wars for total domination. The Shammar Ayelet would form out of a group of former Atouman troops that went rouge and would hand a small but decisive defeat to the Atoumans, who's more important war with the Amirate of Jubaiyya saw minimal gains at the cost of nearly half their Indian Ocean naval forces. The Kingdom of Duqm would declare war on the Omani Azarkhate, who's alliance with the Safaretids would see Persian troops in the Adnanite peninsula for the first time in over a century. The Ayelet of Yemen, formed as a tributary under the Azarkhate of Hejaz, remains as the only physical remnant to an-Xairata based on the Amir, Muhammet al-Quil, being Azarkh Hashim’s cousin. The warring states period has only begun.
* Ratio Studiorum: the Jesuit educational plan was published in 1599.
* The Bohemian Campaign: In the summer of 1599, after having been elected Holy Roman Empress, Archduchess Erszebet ordered a military incursion into Bohemia, with the latter having committed the murder of a Holy Roman Emperor through the Defenestration of Königgratz and had Hussitism as its official state religion, which was not covered under the Dortmund Settlement and was by many measures illegal. However, chronic financial weakness on the Westrian side and a diminished Eskosian demesne mean that the Empress barely have any army to speak of, having to partially rely on mercenaries, forces from fellow Catholic League members (mainly Bavaria) and Hispania, drawing the latter into the conflict, and with them, the Dutch. The Protestant League, comprising of roughly half of the Empire, made preparations, while waiting on the sidelines to see whether they should be involved or not.
* The Defenestration of Königgratz: Named as the Holy Roman Emperor at the midst of a Westrian succession crisis by virtue of being the only other Catholic power, the Duke of Bavaria's first action was to come to Königgratz, the Bohemian capital, and attempt to reassert Catholic authority with his title as the Emperor. However, his efforts were for naught, and Utraquist and Taborite Hussites presented at the meeting site threw the Emperor and his envoys out of a window, marking an event known as the Defenestration of Königgratz (albeit not the first, since another similar, less known incident also happened during the Hussite Wars). The Duke of Bavaria died three days later due to injuries sustained in the throwing, leading to the current Archduchess of Westria and Queen of Eskosia, Erszebet II Bartok, to be elected Holy Roman Empress.
* The Balkans: Surrounded by Atouman authority and neglected from supplying by other nations, the island of Korcula and other surrounding islands have no choice but to surrender.
* Dyrehavsbakken: Dyrehavsbakken, also known as Bakken, openedin 1583 and is the world's oldest operating amusement park. The origins of Dyrehavsbakken can be traced back to when Kirsten Piil discovered a natural spring in what is now known as Jægersborg Dyrehave or Dyrehaven, a large forest park north of Kobenhavn. Residents of Kobenhavn were attracted to the spring water due to the poor water quality in central Kobenhavn during this period. Many believed the natural spring to have curative properties, and therefore Piil's discovery drew large crowds, especially in the springtime. These large crowds attracted entertainers and hawkers, whose presence are the origins of the amusement park today. Only over a decade later that the park has attracted popular attention in the region.
* Dafne: Written by Jacopo Perri in 1597, it was considered the first opera, and premiered in 1598.
==== NPC Event ====
* West Catonzia: A new Viceroy is created after some reformations to Catonzian territory. Considering the British around this time might've taken most of the peninsula, if not the whole peninsula. Whatever is left that is not under British control are reformed into a new viceroy; West Catonzia (roughly OTL West Florida).
* West Daevite Khanate: The swift death of their Khan threw the region off balance. A brief civil war between nobles resulted in the country being reformed into the Tashkent Khanate
* Sibir: Under promise and Keisarian assistance, the tributary/protectorate spreads North on a campaign under the guise of several expeditions, consuming the Samoyeds in the process.
* Keisaria: They change their capital to Rostova, citing concerns of Avaro-Vedena proximity to their old one.
* Plymouth: Signaling their desire to take advantage of the fur trade, they bought land from the Vinlands at a relatively low price, marking the borders with a line, they bought all land straight west of them (OTL connecticut).
* Agousta: After inheriting the war (since Britain would refuse to leave occupied territories) the continuation of the war led to several Armadas being destroyed. They began searching for a swift end to a conflict after several losses, such as losing Eastern Catonzia. They negotiate to accept British demands I'm exchange for a sum, not wanting debt inherited from hispania to be even worse.
* Livonia: After a deal with Prussia, they absorb the neighboring territory Prussia owns north of Lithuania.
* Avesta: "Uhhhh sure."
* Dai Viet: A dynastic crisis in the late 1590s gave rise to the Mạc Dynasty, taking control of the northern regions of the realm, backed by the Southern Wu. The Lê dynasty, along with loyal lords, retreated to the south, and a civil war broke out over the throne.
* Huanca: In (OTL Chile), the Huancans split off their lands in the south to form a new Viceroyalty: The Viceroy of Ereskia. (this will be part of the Hispanian portion, considering Huanca is linked to Hispania)
==== Empire of Galatoi (Finale) ====
Empire collapsed: As the physical condition of Macareus kept getting worse, he was afraid he would die soon. He wanted to live the last days of his life in enjoying every moment he was given instead of feeling angsty. Macareus never wanted to become the king, but he had no other choice. Now (in 1595), however, it was much different: Sabir was much better at being a leader of a vast empire. It felt like, as if they switched places at birth.
In the middle of 1595, Macareus abdicated the throne and announced Sabir to be his successor and returned to his home in Advorix. Soon after, one by one, the local lords in the conquered territories declared themselves kings in the territories they were assigned to govern. The first years were full of disorder, but the dust soon settled. Most of the new kings were still from Galatoi, so many peoples in the recently emerged kingdoms adopted the Galatoin alphabet  and words from the Galatoin language, and converted to Ateuritism. 
Although most of the original empire broke off from the mainland, Galatoi remained the economic, cultural, and religious powerhouse of West Africa.
Simba achieved revenge: In Gombe, Simba was not executed, but became a military commander, and it was a mistake Amani will regret for the rest of his life. When the empire collapsed, the rule of Kano was no longer as robust as it used to be, and Simba saw it as the perfect opportunity to strike back. When he gathered a large enough army and stormed the king’s palace in 1598, he demanded to be recognised as the king of Simbae and Amani had no other choice but to submit to his demands. “Why didn’t Simba just execute his brother and assumed control over the entire kingdom?” - you might ask. Well, the reason is simple enough: he realised he couldn't keep such a large domain unified for long, as his rule would become even more fragile than the one of his brother. 
Windows: Before the empire collapsed, the region that is now known as four kingdoms of color was originally governed by Cricirus, a wealthy noble from Baccuso. He had four sons: Congonetiacus, Tetragonus, Allucius, and Ollognus, who were getting along quite well. However, he died in the middle of 1596, a year after Macareus abdicated the throne, and the four brothers decided to split the realm among them instead of fighting. They divided the region in four quadrants, assigning a color to each, and had a lottery. Congonetiacus got Ruaihe (Red), Tetragonus got Yuaihe (Yellow), Allucius got Guaihe (Green), and Ollognus got Buaihe (Blue).
Macareus: The capital was changed to Velitia, which became the largest city in the empire. Although everyone thought that Macareus would die of disease, he miraculously managed to defeat the disease and get back on his feet. Sabir sent him a letter, in which he congratulated Macareus on surviving the illness and suggested returning the title of the emperor to him. However, Macareus refused, saying that he had had enough of it and wanted to change his life for the better. 
At first, he insulated himself from public life, residing in his mansion outside Advorix. However, as he got better, he realised that neither he wanted hiding from society for the rest of his life. Soon (four years after he abdicated the throne), he reappeared in public life and became a public figure, advocating for lower taxes for the peasants, and published a book about military tactics he used in his military campaign. In addition, Macareus was still one of the richest men in Galatoi as he controlled several gold and salt mines even years after abdicating the throne. Thus, he decided to become a patron of arts and under his patronage, many pieces of art were made. He funded education for the general populace, building small schools across the country, in which the general populace (both children and adults) were taught reading, writing, and logic. In addition, Macareus expanded the university of Velitia and updated it to European standards. He also helped spread the technology of printing press in Galatoi.
People respected him as a brilliant military commander, generous patron of the arts, and likeable public figure. Finally, after the years of ordeal, Macareus found himself in this vast and scary world...(The end)
==== Empire of Matagaskar ====
* Government: Imperial Feudal Monarchy
** Monarch: Emperor Andriamanelo (B 1546 - Age 53, alive) (R 1572 - Present)
** Consort: Empress Ramaitsoanala (B 1546 - Age 53, alive)
** Ruling Dynasty: Hova (Ndahimananjara branch of Ammagari)
** Order of Succession: Prince Ralambo (B 1566 - Age 33, alive), Prince Andrianjaka (B 1571 - Age 28, alive), Prince Andrianimpito (B 1576 - Age 23, alive), Princess Rasolobe (B 1556 - Age 43, alive), Prince Ratrimo (B 1577 - Age 22, alive), Princess Zakalamanjafotany (B 1552 - Age 47, alive), Prince Andriatanjany (B 1541 - Age 58, 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. 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: Mahajanga
* Demographics:
** Population: ca 793 000 total
** Mahajanga: 9 720
** Analamanga: 4 800
** Toamasina: 4 200
** Manakara: 3 000
** Ambanja: 2 400
** Morafenobe: 2 200
** Toliara: 2 000
** Moroni: 1 000
** Rural regions: ca 762 000
** Ethnicities: 88% Malagasy (divided into 39% Merina and 49% others such as Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Sihanaka, Antankarana etc.), 6% Komoro Natives (Swahili), 5% Adnanite
** Religion: 98% Tombovelan Zoroastrianism, 2% Haintenism (traditional Merina folklore)
* 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%): 7 780
** 2 100 Spearmen
** 1 400 Swordsmen
** 400 Bowmen
** 2 000 Crossbowmen
** 1 500 Light Cavalry
** 350 Fossa Warriors
* Navy:
** 10 Adananita class ships
** 9 Mer'ana class ships
** 9 transport ships
* Diplomacy:
** Avesta: You have no one else to turn to so don't be like that.
** Mutapa: We offer you a few crossbows. If our relations can improve we will co-operate further.
* Events:
** Andriamanelo Again Again: Things are chill. The End. Okay there are a few more things actually, mainly dealing with foreign policy and the colony of Maorisy. With relations warming between Mutapa and ourselves we pursue further positive diplomacy with them. Various plants and animal specimen are brought from Maorisy to the mainland to be introduced. Ranjeva lands on Ranjevasy (Réunion) where another colony is set up, although there are less people to settle there. With these two islands colonized, it will take time but the islands will eventually develop on their own and can assist eachother in maintenance. Ranjeva also claims Nyafo (the Rodrigues, not on the map) although due to them being even smaller and also volcanic and kinda barren, no settlements exist there.
** Tale of the Malagasy: Andriamanelo. Last king of Imerina and first emperor of Matagaskar. We can trace his lineage far, all the way to the 1360s with the birth of Andrianerinerina, son of God who founded Imerina. In circa 200 years, the Merina state went from an irrelevant petty realm on a distant island to an empire spanning all of the island and stretching influence into the African mainland. With powerful technology in their hands, potential is grand, will the empire spread even further in the 17th century which is dawning upon us right now?
====The United Kingdoms of the British Isles (Albion)====
*Note: If you wish to engage in diplomacy with me, please DM me on Discord
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
*Drakes: 
**Queen Elizabeth I (F, b. 1541 - ) (R: 1561 - )
***Son: Luke (M, b. 1567 - )
**Sister: Francis(ca) (F, b. 1541 - )
**Aunt: Frances (F, b. 1497 - )
***Albus (M, b. 1519 - 1580)
****Nephew: George (M, b. 1542 - 1584)
*****Son: Avery (M, b. 1572 - 1596)
*****Daughter: Elysia (F, b. 1582 - )
****Nephew: Gregory (M, b. 1554 - )
**Cousin: Eldegard (F, b. 1517 - 1592)
***Married off to a Westrian prince
**Cousin: Alvin (M, b. 1545 - 1585)
***Daughter: Valerie (F, b. 1569 - )
***Son: Peter (M, b. 1573 - )
**Cousin: Carol (F, b. 1549 - )
***Son: Noah (M, b. 1577 - 1598)
***Son: Janet (M, b. 1580 - )
*Important People: 
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: 6.98 million (+701k “external subjects”)
**British Mainland: 6.98 million
**British Settlers: 580
***Jamestown: 180
***Fort Elysia: 140
***Fort Epheria: 137
***Greensfort: 133
***New Glaemchester/Plymouth: 115
***Elysian Local Population: 351 thousand external subjects
***Catonzia Local Population: 350 thousand external subjects
*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.
**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.
**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.
**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
**Fort Avalon
**Fort Akan
**Fort Epheria
**Fort Elysia
**Jamestown
**New Glaemchester
Wars and Conflicts
*Americas: British companies begin to exert control over regions with usage of promises of trade and prosperity with the added risk of war if the British do not get their way in the matter.
*Anglo-Spanish War: Also known as the War for the Seas, with the excommunication of the Catholic Church, the Hispanian saw more than enough justification to declare war on Britain. (See Events for more info)
Armed Forces
*Total: 126,265 Manpower (1.8% of population)
*Army
**Total: 119,900
**British Defense Force: (British Mainland) 
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 15,000
***Marksman Infantry: 48,000
***Light Cavalry: 8,700
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 950
***Heavy Cavalry: 1,650
***Bow Cavalry: 2,600
***Field Artillerymen: 5,634
****Field cannons: 1,878
***Logistical Support: 23,000
**British Expeditionary Force: (In Elysia)
***Multi-purpose Shock Infantry: 5,000
***Marksman Infantry: 10,000
***Elysian Musketeers: 9,000
***Light Cavalry: 1,500
****Skirmisher Shock Light Cavalry: 500
***Heavy Cavalry: 350
***Bow Cavalry: 300
***Field Artillerymen: 501
****Field cannons: 167
***Logistical Support: 7,000
*Roundtable Knights (Elite): 8,350
**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.
**As of 1527, three factions are formed within the Roundtables
***The Crimson Sun
***The Azure Moon
***The White Orchids
****Renames themselves Orchid Heaven in 1542
**Notable (Living) Members:
***The Drake Family
*Navy:
**Personnel: 7,300 (combined between both fleets)
**Naval Vessels:
***Victory-class First-rate British Galleons:9
****Main flagship: HMS Victory
***Ember-class First-rate British Galleons: 15
****Main flagship: HMS Ember
***Swallow-class Second-rate Interceptor: 19
****Designed to be the fastest ships in the world (for their size) without sacrificing too much firepower.
***Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravel: 53
***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
***London-class Third-rate British Caravel: 4
****Kept in service for purposes of training new sailors.
***Dove-class Fourth-rate Dual-Purpose Merchant Caravel: 99
****These ships are given to British merchants who sail in dangerous waters, and are crewed by either mercenaries hired by said merchants or the merchants themselves. Only included in ship-counts for the navy to deter invasions by sea.
Research and Development
*MAC Cannons: McCarthy Industries continues to produce MAC Cannons 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.
**The 32 pounder long-nose MAC Cannons enter service, replacing the aging 24-pound naval cannons on the large British galleons.
**In addition, they are contracted to create a smaller cannon for use on Vinland longboats. As such, the 2 pounder cannon was created.
*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.
**Carriers: Test trials for HMS Spyder are carried out in the Elysian Bay and the nearby Potomac River. In this area, both the Vinland longboats and the HMS Spyder itself both undergo sea trials as well as training and experimentation of formations and strategies involving ships of various sizes in close areas, namely having one group act as a vanguard and the other act as escort for the fleet, while the HMS Spyder stays out in rougher seas.
**Newer British Galleons begin construction. These ships are based on the Ember-class galleons, but are slightly larger, faster, and more optimized for warfare. These ships become known as the Victory-class galleons.
**Vinland Longboats: In a collaborative effort with Vinland, both British and Vinland engineers get to work on modifying the Vinland longboat for transportation within British “Carriers”, as well as see viable possibilities for mounting cannons (mainly the 2 pounder cannon) on the vessels.
***Inspiration from Asian catamarans led to the idea to add pontoons to the Vinland Longboats, to mitigate a glaring issue (when the Longboat fires to the side, it is prone to tipping over)
Training and Production
*1,000 Elysian Musketeers
*6 Cabigail-class Third-rate Caravels
*Whatever equipment and personnel is required to maintain numbers on the frontline.
Diplomacy
*Americas: With intelligence from the Vinlanders, the British decide to scope out the other nations of the Eastern Coast of North America, and see what they have to offer
**Elysia: (See Events for more details)
*Amekrogu: The British (primarily the HALO company) pledge to protect Amekrogu from the Spanish, as they make efforts to stifle Spanish movement in the area.
*Europeans: 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, at least
*Vinland: The British send what supplies they can so that the new Vinland thane can maintain their territory and then some. (see events for more details).
**The British also ask if they could collaborate with the British on creating an improved longboat, one that can mount a small cannon onboard, as well as be used with Britain’s new “carriers”
*Westria: The British request that Westria doesn’t severe their relationships with the British (though the British predict that they’ll turn their backs on the British due to the excommunication)
Allies
*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.
*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.
*Westria: An ally on mainland Europe who also dislikes France, cause f**k France (jk).
*Agousta: Allied with Portugal.
*Galatoi: Trading partner with the BAKA company.
Events
*Anglo-Spanish War (Aftermath): Tensions with the Spanish blow over into a full-out war.
**Excommunication: Though the war with Hispania is over, it is apparent that while there are nations that are still willing to trade with the British, it is clear that the British economy, while prospering off of the war reparations received from Hispania, is in a precarious position.
***As such, various companies have been granted charters for various regions throughout the globe, such as Millers Operative Manufacturing with Eldia and the new British East India Company and BAKA Company in Asia.
***Rise of Protestantism: With the war over, tensions rise once again, only for Elizabeth to side with the Protestants, namely because they now were the dominant religion in the region due to the aftermath of the Anglo-Spanish War.
****That being said, Catholics in Parliament are slowly becoming more violent, as they continue to cause tensions in Parliament meetings, much to Queen Elizabeth’s disappointment
**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.
**Important Figures
***List of various important figures in the conflict
***Head Admiral Drake: The leader of the Albish Armada that destroyed the three Hispanic Armadas that rose to combat the British, leading to her coronation as Head Admiral by Queen Elizabeth herself. Also assisted in the Americas when she led the British Invasion Force as they moved into position overnight.
***Rear-Admiral Frederik King: Assisted Drake in the capture of Monalba as well as participating in both the Second and Third Battles of the English Channel.
***Commodores Emyr and Anne-Marie King: Now Co-commodores aboard their ship HMS Lamplight, they raided the Spanish port city of San Sebastian in 1592 with a fleet of seven ships under their control. They managed to destroy various warships in port, and even managed to land a small force to plunder various banks and wealthy families in the port town before being repelled by the arrival of a Hispanic army.
***Captain Lindsey Drummond: Attacked various Spanish port cities along Hispania’s eastern border, and managed to warn the Royal Navy to the whereabouts of the Second and Third Spanish Armadas.
***Commodore Anthony Shirley: Promoted through the ranks due to his actions in the Battle of the English Channel and various other engagements after the First Battle of the English Channel, he was given permission to enact privateer operations against Spanish colonies. As such, he raided various Hispanic colonies in the Gulf of Mexico, such as South Dysia Island (Jamaica)
***Vice-Admiral Wilbur Lodge: Due to his bravery in the First Battle of the English Channel, Wilbur received a promotion to the position of Vice-Admiral. From there, though Drake assisted with navigation, Wilbur Lodge was the man who controlled the navy that provided naval support for those apart of Operation Victory, as well as the man who oversaw the invasion of a few islands in Nueva Valcania, eventually becoming Rear-Admiral by the war’s end.
***Commodore James Norton: Performed raids on various Spanish colonies in Nueva Hispania, and assisted in the taking of a few islands in Nueva Valcania. Also participated in the Second Battle of the English Channel.
***Commodore Konstanze Lenz: Participated in the blockade of Hispania and participated in both the Second and Third Battles of the English Channel, notifying the Royal Navy of the Third Hispanic Armada in the case of the latter battle.
***
*The Rise of the Company Fleets (Part 11): With the world opening up, and rumors of prosperity and gold present, various companies sprout up around Britain, with the goal to investigate various locations of notice with hopes to make it big.
**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.
***Phase 5: The BFG Company, with approval from the British government and assistance from allied Elysians, proceed to claim the rest of Elysia’s old territory to the south.
***Hudson Bay: In addition to their finished expansion in southern Elysia, they were given permission to explore the regions further north if there is a way to pass to Asia. This escapade led to the settlement of the Hudson Bay, with the idea of it being one of many stops along a supposed route around the top of North America.
****As such, British boots land in the region in 1598, with a fort being completed the following year.
***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.
***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.
***Gaze Turns East… or West?: Always fascinated by his time in Yolgnu, Frederik gains approval from Queen Elizabeth (certainly helps to be a close friend to her sister) to try to set up a trade route from Britain to Yolgnu. Obviously, this is a feat never tried before, and even Elizabeth had her doubts about the success of such ventures, but she allowed him to proceed anyways.
**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 3b): With the creation of Fort Epheria, the company begins to slowly assert its control over the region, but that’s for the future.
****Their influence continues to spread, as it slowly creeps towards Amekrogu itself. (continued from last turn)
***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.
**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.
***(In 1603, they will reach out to Hindustan to purchase their first port city for their own uses)
**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.
*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)
*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
**Shauna McCarthy (Died in 1489)
***Founder of McCarthy Arms Company, one, if not, the oldest firearms companies in the world.
==== Mutapa ====
* Government: Monarchy.
** Mwene: Gatsi Rusere
* 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 gett a little better. Trade is also a part of our economy as we trade with many of the nations/tribes around us.
* Capital: Ne-we 
* Demographics:
** Population: 1 022 000 
** Cities: 13 642
*** Ne-We: 8 342
*** Kiwe: 5 300
** Rural areas: 1 008 358
** Ethnicites: 66,5% Shona, 14.9% Karanga, 11% Swahili, 6.7% Swazi, 0,9% Chewa
** Religion: 96.8% (989 296) Mwari believers, 3.2% (32 704) Tombovelan Zoroastrianism.
* Wars and Conflicts: (italics: Potential War)
* Military of Mutapa: As Mutapa is a rural nation, we can have an active miltary size of 2% (20 440) and reserves size of 1% (10 220) of our total population.
** Active: 2%
*** 8 146 African Spearmen
*** 7 147 bowmen
*** 5 147 Light Cavalry 
** Reserves: not active 1%
*** 4 074 African Spearmen
*** 3 531 bowmen
*** 2 615 Light Cavalry
* Navy:
** Fishing boats: 660
* Diplomacy:
** Matagaskar: We gladly accept your offer.
* Events: 
==== Nihon [FINAL TURN - for now] ====
Government and Demographics
* Government: Feudalism - effective total regional factionalism
** Empress: A symbol of the religious and political institutions of Nihon. A long history derived from Ainu chiefs and Japonic empresses, the Empress is the oldest single title in existence to continue in its function. Granted its function has varied over the years - between socialist dictator (Tomoe-gozen), symbolic leader (Takagi Anzu), capable monarch (Himiko Ichi-ban) and a mix of the three (Uchiha Tomoko); nevertheless her position is continued and significant in the religious and military awe she proposes.
*** Current Monarch: Han'ei no Mono (Tachibana Kiyo)
** Shogun: The controller of the military forces of Nihon and often the one most charged with putting down rebellion, defending the country's lands, and more duties. This makes them incredibly powerful, and thus it is no surprise the position is faced with assassination, political intrigue, and more. Of course that insinuates the question as to why so much power is placed in the hands of one person, but don't be too concerned about that, you're starving and you need a way to get the food you need. What's a bit of genocide and murder to get that, aye?
*** Current Shogun: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
* Allies: Joseon, defensive military alliance
* Capital: Kyoto has traditionally served as the religious capital of Nihon, making it incredibly significant; however, with the advent of Oda Nobunaga, Tokyo now serves as the effective administrative base of power in the country.
* Demographics:
** Population: 10,413,000
** Ethnicities: Yamatai (83%), Chinese-origin (2%), Joseonese (3%), Syonanese (10%), Other (2%)
** Official Religion: Shinto, with Buddhist influences
** Population Distribution:
*** Urban Population: Most actual urban areas in the Nihonese isles do not actually exceed four square kilometres in size, with buildings that far more resemble modern suburban density and planning than otherwise. However, these urban areas are often survived and surrounded by vast exceedingly low-density tiny communes of no more than a hundred to two hundred people, making up in some cases secondary urban centres, such as the town of Satsuma.
**** Percentage of total population: 8% (Approx. 900,000)
**** By city (rounded to the nearest 5,000):
***** Edo: 40,000
****** Edo surroundings: 50,000
***** Kyoto: 10,000
****** Kyoto surroundings: 55,000
***** Fukushima: 35,000
****** Fukushima surroundings: 20,000
***** Hiroshima: 25,000
***** Kobe: 15,000
****** Hiroshima-Kobe wider region: 25,000
***** Nagasaki: 25,000
***** Yokohama: 20,000
***** Takaoka: 15,000
***** Niigata: 15,000
***** Izumo-Matsue Au. Region: 25,000
***** Chiba Au. Region: 20,000
***** Others not exceeding 15,000 in population: 590,000
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 23%
***** Kanto: 21%
***** Kansai: 14%
***** Chubu: 17%
***** Chugoku: 11%
***** Shikoku: 5%
***** Kyushu: 9%
*** Rural Population:
**** Percentage of total population: 92% (Approx. 10,000,000)
**** By region:
***** Tohoku: 18%
***** Kanto: 14%
***** Chubu: 19%
***** Kansai: 15%
***** Chugoku: 12%
***** Shikoku: 11%
***** Kyushu: 11%
Economics
* Status of the Economy:
** Value of Gold: While barter has remained one of the biggest methods of trade within the country, gold is the currency by which trade with foreign merchants has been practiced. The main source of gold in Nihon, however, are the Han nations to the East, Kansha and Syonan; it has no actual power over the premier currency it uses. The usage of bronze and copper coins for smaller denominations has become generally more commonplace in urban areas, while barter trade remains common. The national mint is centred in Edo, controlled by the Shogun.
*** Actual monetary value: One ounce of gold can currently buy one hundred sacks of rice (172 kg).
*** Currency:
**** 1-yen coin (copper)
**** 5-yen coin (copper)
**** 10-yen coin (bronze)
**** 100-yen coin (bronze)
**** 1000-yen promissory note (backed in gold)
** Economic Overview: A significant portion of the Nihonese economy is centred around traditional agriculture, with rice as the national staple of the country; barter trade occurs on a limited communal scale, with the adoption of partial paper and minted currency already having occurred. Small artisanal trades in the fields of writing and artistry have become coveted as prestige symbols; education extends to only roughly 11% of the population, with this small class of artisans a thin sliver of a middle class between the vast majority of the peasantry and the higher nobility.
*** Economic Policy:
**** None - the central government has collapsed. May God save Nihon.
*** Economic Trends:
**** Disaster: The Nihonese economy rapidly disintegrates. Everything is going to hell. Peasant rebellions are rife in the South, with Kobe and Izumo being the site of two rebellions specifically; meanwhile, Chiba and Izumo-Matsue, once bastions of stability, now lie in ruin at the hands of Nobunaga, who forcibly integrated them back into Nihon, thus leading to their assets seized by loyalist merchants and them being forced to contend with all sorts of laws that caused inane social tensions.
Culture
* Cultural Groups:
** Yamatai: The dominant culture on the three main islands, practiced by the vast majority of ethnic Nihonese; it emphasises the importance of self and the privilege of existence. A partly individualistic culture with overtly communal streaks that designates the greatness of finding a specific calling and engaging it with the most effort possible; giving rise to a society that prizes the arts as well as the value of literature. While it does not shun the sciences, they are not often given priority; meanwhile, the military and warriors are given outsized importance against all else. Its envisioning of Shinto has numerous distinct cultural streaks from the nations that existed before Yamato united the three main islands under its own banner; as well as little reminders of the past.
*** Views on Social Roles: 'From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs'; Yamatai culture is distinctly communalistic outside of the cities, where fraternisation and a fluid system of authoritative roles are practiced; the only exception being the matriarch/patriarch of the community, who is given a semi-paternalistic amount of influence. The concept of social mobility practically does not exist. On the other hand, the role of authority in institutions is far more restrictive; strict merit is practiced in the continued promotion of high-ranking individuals, although 'merit' is a stretch if you were to appropriately interpret it. The Imperial Family is the best example of this, with ceremony strictly emphasised and any perceived breach of decorum cause for public nusciance.
*** Views on Gender: 'Who that may do it, must do it.' The role of women and men are largely equalised on certain fronts, such as the presence of women in the military and government; however, past that, the roles of men and women are all over the place. In family matters, for example, women are allowed to lead in decisions but men are allowed to act independent (and even encouraged) to act independent of the whims of the family head. That said, women who do not have children or male spouses are expected to be onna-bugeisha or politicians. This separation continues with other duties; men are encouraged to continue on in the military, while women are encouraged to leave for political service or artisanship. Men are on the other hand considered more capable for education than women except in the upper classes, where ironically such a division is reversed. This encourages a society where at the highest levels women are often placed in charge but at the lowest levels men are placed in control, a kind of exclusionary class egalitarianism that often irks some.
*** Views on Intellectualism: 'Honest, hard work makes a good person.' Intellectualism is viewed with disdain to the average person, often conceived as a useless venture; meanwhile, for the elite, intellectualism is viewed as a necessary venture. As thus education is generally discouraged in general, with exceptions placed for military academies and naval academies. In addition, this encourages generally low levels of literacy and low levels of academic prioritisation, making the Yamatai often among the least educated of all.
** Ainu: A distinct, unique culture native to Tohoku and Ezo; a kind of communal culture that emphasises the community and a place within that community. It speaks of the importance of discovering a place within society and fulfilling the callings asked of you by others, and that no individual is above the common good. Its adoption of arts and literature is thus comparably limited, but it is the Ainu which have advanced Nihon's science so far, partly due to the fact that they are encouraged to go to school from younger ages (and generally live in more urbanised societies). Their envisioning of Shinto is more akin to a kind of lifestyle, which promotes certain practices and discourages others; one which has, surprisingly, remained largely sturdy for the last 400 years.
*** Views on Social Roles: 'You have a place and everyone knows you have a place. It's society's duty to make sure that it's a place you're comfortable with.' The Ainu are among the most socially accepting of anything. It is the inherent societal belief of the Ainu that you must find your calling, and because of that social mobility exists on an outsized scale in Ainu society - with one single exception, that being for women, of whom most are only permitted to enter the military or sciences before marriage. Men are thus often instructed to perform in roles that exude both these and leadership, carrying along localised knowledge of the sciences in the limited natural capacities observed to the military and artisanship. Ultimately, however, regardless of who you are, your ultimate loyalty carries to your community and your clan - never forget that.
*** Views on Gender: 'Some must know their place and their taking - never fall to delusion.' While the Ainu are not necessarily misogynistic their views on the place a woman can take would definitely suggest otherwise. Women are pressured at the age of 14 to marry a man and take the 'duty' of being a mother, before producing at least three children who live to age - often ensuring the survival of communities whom up north lack the same kind of temperate weather the southern bits of Nihon are known for. For men the deal is similarly bad; they're tied to their families as well, and outside of a military career they are forced to be the main labourers on farms until children have grown up, after which they are then, unlike women, free to do as they wish - often congregating into regional or local groups, where they then do whatever it is that is possible. This creates the basis of a local series of unions and intellectual societies that often form from the relative freedom afforded to men after these duties are 'completed', although almost exclusively amongst merchant and military men.
*** Views on Intellectualism: 'The world is the greatest sin, which must be conquered to bring in line with the Kamuy.' Thus governs the Ainu attitude towards intellectualism. In contrast to the Yamatai, they prize intelligence and philosophy; like the Yamatai, they reserve it for the wealthy and the elite. If you are an intellectual, however, even when your ideology or musings may come into direct conflict with the methods espoused by chiefs and other leaders, you are regarded as too sanct to throw away. This makes an intellectual incredibly influential and because of that many of the core scientific advancements that have defined Nihonese history arise from the Ainu, from the kawataro-fune, taken from a self-proclaimed 'forseer', to the ancient road system that lined Nihon.
** Joseonese-Han: A minority culture arising from the great giants from across the sea; Joseonese-Han is a monstrous beast of mish-mashed cultures, from distinct Han streaks arising almost 600 years ago to the original Xia cultures. It is almost entirely reliant on distinct, tiny Xianist sects and practices a form of Buddhism mixed with Shinto. Because of this, attempting to ascertain its overall views is an approximation of a culturally and ethnically diverse group, and thus will not be covered overall.
* Religion:
** Shinto: A polytheistic, animistic and pantheistic religion which most Nihonese follow. It revolves around the kami - gods/spirits, which are depending on region omnipresent or omniscient. Worship is mainly practiced in household shrines and public shrines, with family shrines more common for political and clan officials. Extreme levels of localisation, with many in the North having strong Ainu streaks while those in Kyushu and Kansha have subtle Han influence. It is the mandated state religion for all monarchs.
*** Notable Followers:
**** Tomoe-gozen (Empress, also known as the Amaterasu of Man)
**** Oda Nobunaga (Shogun, notable for donations to shrines)
** Xianism: A monotheistic religion restricted to the small Han minorities living in Edo. Best described by some as a cultish group of fringe sects originating from Ba, it is known for its influence in the entertainment cultures of Nihon, including, oddly, the fetishisation of lesbian relationships to an almost fanatical point. Generally its followers are closeted and hold nearly no influence in the Nihonese government, but are still a subtle cultural influence to this day.
*** Notable Followers:
**** None
** Ainu Animism: A nontheistic animistic series of religions generally followed in addition or in combination with Shinto, emphasising the power of the Kamuy, a kind of religious spirit that flows through all objects and all beings. As much as 46% of all Shinto followers actually follow a heavily derivative and Ainu-influenced form of Shinto distinct enough to be considered a seperate religion on its own, while at least half follow both Animism and Shinto seperately or in conjunction. Worship is practiced on a lifestyle-basis, where explicit outright temples and other such institutions are largely excised from the process.
*** Notable Followers:
**** Kanzaki Noriko (Prime Minister, known as The Lost or in some circles The Speaker)
Events:
* The Conqueror of Nihon [5]:
** Nihon, Unified - 1596: Even with that failure Hideyoshi was on his way to greatness. And with the new year of 1596 he orders his ultimate campaign - the Shikoku Campaign. With whatever ships he can scrouge together, and almost 32,000 men, Hideyoshi smashes a landing force onto the port of Takamatsu before bringing the clans on the island to heel. The Awa quickly surrender, giving their youngest child to Hideyoshi as is now essentially policy; while the Iyo, who briefly attempt to resist, are then crushed with an unyielding force, their sole city of Matsuyama sacked and burnt to the ground with over 10,000 civilian casualties. With that the entire island by Winter has the Toyotomi banner flying over it, while the Awa are given control of all of the island, the other daimyo forced into subordination under them.
** With that, most of Honshu proceeds to sue for annexation under Hideyoshi in order to avoid the same fate; he promptly has them subordinated to his distant allies in the Mori clan, with the sole exception of the Bingo, whom he allows to negotiate their own terms. This allows for the Agoustans to own a sizeable island outside the city of Fukuyama, similar to the arrangement the Satsuma have made in Nagasaki. Hideyoshi, bolstered by these successes, offers Satsuma amicable terms in full annexation to his realm; Satsuma promptly proceeds to cautiously agree to terms, suddenly putting Nihon back on the map with an actual, functioning navy.
** As he stands in the city of Shimonoseki he knows that this, however, must not be his last true conquest. It was so for Minamoto no Tomoe; but it will not be for him. For to the West, lies the great lands beyond - to the West, he confesses, he sees a red sun rising.
** 'A conqueror.'
** 'Mm?'
** 'That's what they're calling you now, Hide. The Conqueror of Nihon.'
** His lips curl into a smile at Mitsuhide's remark. 'I like it,' he says, 'now, I wanna earn it.'
* The Empress of Nihon [5]:
** One Last Time - 1597: One passing night the Empress disappears from her chambers, and one passing night the nation would call into chaos. Kiyo understands that. But that doesn't mean she will not try nonetheless. Quietly, she slips out, abandoning the thick layers of makeup she has worn so many days for so many years, not even telling her last remaining friend - she doesn't want to bother her as she croaks during the night.
** As she walks through the streets of Tokyo she is struck with an intense nostalgia. These streets she once walked as a young woman too, a young woman with four friends. One was a hapless monk, another an endlessly hardworking blacksmith, one other an emboldened tactician, the last a prideful general.
** Continuing on she notices the lustre of the city has faded. Even then, even as she personally detested the onerous opposition of that which stood in the south, that woman whom she helped to kill... Kanzaki Noriko yet rebuilt roads and restored castles. The paths of old Edo have not been paved in years, even decades.
** And yet a pang of guilt. Somewhere. Her new husband has grown distant too, best for the two; but she still hears the laughter. The noise. The hopes of a bygone time.
** Reluctantly, her feet trod back upon the grounds of Edo Castle.
* Last Hope of Nihon [4]:
** Passing on the Legend - 1598: It'd all caught up to her now. The cough had turned so bad she couuld barely speak properly to Hidetada or Musashi without hacking her way through her own throat. The prosthetic arm had now proved too heavy for her own use; and still here she lay. Telling them stories. She would tell many more before her death.
** Even then these dying days felt lonely. Everyone was gone now. Kiyo was too busy with the ceremonies. Musashi was beginning to take her first steps as the potential heir. Hidetada... she hadn't the slightest idea. Her vision lapsed in and out during the days. She still spoke as ferociously as ever, with the same intelligence bestowed upon her in her early days, but the reaper encroached her; and Miyako was willing.
** Silently one night she heard a noise outside her quarters. She hadn't thought much of it, but chose regardless to stand up on her own to check. It ached so. The legs just wouldn't do the job on their own anymore.
** The corridor seemed empty. Hm. Maybe it had really just been an overreactive imagination. She didn't know anymore. Moving out of Edo Castle for some serenity had been the best idea she'd come up with in decades; but the lack of security always did irk her slightly.
** 'Miyako.'
** The voice is raspy, perhaps even with a distinct croakiness to it. She feels like she's heard it before.
** '...Miyako, are you gonna be standing there like an idiot or are you gonna say hi?'
** She turns.
** She blinks.
** One last time.
** She embraces.
** - a week later, on August 15th, 1598, Soryu Miyako is found dead.
** She leaves her materials, almost all of which is lost academic material from the Heian, to Hidetada and Musashi. Curiously, she leaves one final thing in her posession to be left in her home. An omamori, of the Oda estate. It's the family heirloom, to be passed on by retainers.
**
**
**
** No one will understand for quite a while why it disappeared the night after the funeral.
* Nihon's Collapse:
** Nihon has entered states of total feudalism before. Just as it did during the period before Tomoe-gozen came to power, just as it did in the period preceding Uchiha Tomoko's rise to power. This list and the events surrounding it are not exhaustive - nor do they contain everything required to get a full picture of the situation. Nonetheless, the following is as full a picture as I can give you. Welcome to the full-on, Sengoku Jidai!
*** North:
**** Background: The wider Tohoku area has always been a volatile region in Nihon. Despite being home to almost all of Nihon's people - about 60% - it has traditionally exercised almost no power, with Kyoto being at its centre all the time. This is generally reflected in the origins of most leaders - the Minamoto and Yamato clans both originating from the South, for example. And while that isn't inevitable, of the region's conquerors, Oda Nobunaga claims quite a Southern lineage, while Otsuya no Kata, also of Oda fame (sister of Nobuhide) controls the Toyama clan. Tohoku is also the home to the Ainu, who possess a great much power in their influence, maintaining their customs in the far North in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Hokkaido.
**** Clans:
***** Nanbu (split into two families, the Nanbu and the Ainu Sunazawa): Occupying the Northmost bits of Tohoku. Notoriously peaceful. The Nanbu family has pledged its loyalty to Oda Nobunaga.
****** Central Fort: Aomori
***** Akita: Occupying modern-day Akita province. Friendly to Nobunaga and her forces; formerly a sub-clan of the Odawara.
****** Central Fort: Akita
***** Mogami (split into several families, but with one single ruling one): Occupies OTL Yamagata, northern Miyagi and southern Iwate provinces. Formerly head of the greater Mogami clan, now a series of rump families pushed into Iwate.
****** Central Fort: Sendai
***** Date: Occupies OTL southern Miyagi province. In an alliance with the Mogami via personal union.
****** Central Fort: Yamagata
***** Oda-Uesugi: The Oda and Uesugi union, formally in control of Nihon. Secured via 'personal union' between Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kagetora, although the marriage is entirely farcical and not actually practiced by either side. Arguably the most powerful clan in the region, if not for the presence of the Tachibana. Its Oda side has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
****** Central Fort: Kashiwazaki
***** Ashina: Occupies OTL Western Fukushima Province. A minor clan in alliance with the Tachibana, in a tenuous union between two highly divided families.
****** Central Fort: Utsunomiya
***** Shimotsuke: Occupies OTL Tochigi for the most part. A smaller neutral clan with sympathies towards the Oda-Uesugi.
****** Central Fort: Oyama
***** Hitachi: Occupies OTL Ibaraki. A mostly Ainu clan in alliance with the Tachibana; keeps itself restricted to its own territory for the most part.
****** Central Fort: Hitachinaka
***** Shimosa: Occupies a tiny section of OTL Chiba. A clan that isn't really a clan due to most of the family being branches of the Tachibana and Hitachi.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Tachibana: The former Kingdom of Tachibana, now reduced in size but still powerful. Main families: the Musashi, the Satake, and Fujiwara. Rather powerful due to its size and population, although stripped of much of its resources over the years. It is one of the direct descendants of Himiko no Ichiban and has a direct claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
****** Central Fort: Tokyo (capital of Nihon)
***** Sagami: Occupies OTL East Shizuoka. In alliance with the Tachibana. Merchant clan with strong naval presence.
****** Central Fort: Shimoda
***** Satomi: Occupies OTL Chiba. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Nagao: Occupies OTL Gunma. In alliance with the Oda-Uesugi. Hostile sympathies towards the Tachibana.
****** Central Fort: Iseyaki
***** Kotsuke: Occupies OTL Northwest Nagano province. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** The Tachibana and Oda-Uesugi are currently in an alliance.
**** Events:
*****
*** Centre:
**** Background: The Centre of Nihon has constantly been a wild-card. It at times has been far more stable and at times has resembled a series of paint-splatters across the wall; it, however, is the centre of any attempt to unite the Nihonese isles. Its military clans are partially centred here, with samurai prolifically emerging from it; the constant shifting of power dynamics in this region making it far more attractive to strategically adept persons.
**** Clans:
***** Takeda: OTL South Nagano + Easterly Shizuoka provinces. Military clan, unfriendly to Nobunaga. One of the more powerful clans in the region. In an alliance with the Matsudaira and on friendly terms with the Ashikaga. Consists of the Shinano and Kai families.
****** Central Fort: Iido
***** Mastudaira: OTL West Shizuoka Province. Also a military clan unfriedly to Nobunaga, although substantially less powerful. In an alliance with the Takeda and on friendly terms with the Tachibana. Consists of the Tokugawa and Imagawa clans.
****** Central Fort: Hamamatsu
***** Oda: OTL Nagoya and surroundings. Part of the Oda-Uesugi clan, see above description.
****** Central Fort: Nagoya
***** Echizen: OTL Coastal Ishikawa and Fukui provinces. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Miki and Mino.
****** Central Fort: Kanazawa
***** Miki: OTL Toyama province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Mino, the latter of which it has a personal union with.
****** Central Fort: Takaoka
***** Mino: OTL Shiga province. Informally part of the old Shiba family. In an alliance with the Echizen and Miki.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Ise: OTL Mie province. Neutral. Prolific blacksmithing clan.
****** Central Fort: Nakatsugawa
***** Kii: OTL Wakayama province. Neutral. The Kii and Awaji families come from this.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Yamato: OTL Nara province. Friendly towards the Matsudaira clan.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Hyogo: OTL Osaka province, contains both Osaka and Kyoto. One of the most powerful clans in the region purely by population, friendly towards the Tanba clan.
****** Central Fort: Kyoto (Symbolic capital)
***** There are no other notable inter-clan alliances as of current.
**** Events:
*****
*** South:
**** Background: The South has always been the most politically stable bit of Nihon - but that doesn't mean it's actually stable. As the main trade route for most of Nihon it has always held outsized power over its currency, its politics and more, but it is also the direct contact point for any kind of foreign power. Tanegashima was where the Agoustans landed, Nagasaki is a Syonanese haven, and more - and because of that, the South, once a bastion of stability, may no longer be in the cards as king...
**** Clans:
***** Tanba: OTL Hyogo province. Minor branch of the Minamoto clan and the only one with no associations with the Kanzaki; reasonably powerful as the inheritor of the last remaining professional military forces in Nihon.
****** Central Fort: Kobe
***** Harima: OTL Okayama prefecture. Run by another minor branch of the Minamoto clan, although linked to the Kanzaki defected to join Nobunaga before anything too dangerous could happen. Tiny rump clan.
****** Central Fort: Okayama
***** Inaba: OTL Tottori Prefecture. Friendly to the Tanba and Izumo.
****** Central Fort: Tottori
***** Bingo: Official name of the effective city-state of Fukuyama. Foreigner-friendly, run by the Otomo family - only place in Nihon with a significant amount of Christians, specifically Iberian Protestants. On bad terms with most of the region.
****** Central Fort: Fukuyama
***** Izumo: Centred around the Izumo-Matsue area. Primarily Joseonese-Han - acts like an effectively independent state. Friendly relations with Joseon. Trading clan.
****** Central Fort: Izumo
***** Iwami: OTL Shimane prefecture. Partly-Joseonese-Han. Allied with Izumo.
****** Central Fort: Gotsu
***** Mori: OTL East Yamaguchi prefecture. Associated with Bingo, run by the other branch of the Otomo family.
****** Central Fort: Gofu
***** Choshu: OTL West Yamaguchi prefecture. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: Shimonoseki
***** Sanuki: OTL North Kagawa prefecture. Allied with Awa.
****** Central Fort: Takamatsu
***** Awa: OTL Tokushima prefecture. Allied with Sanuki.
****** Central Fort: Anan
***** Tosa: OTL East Kochi prefecture. Neutral.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Saioni: OTL West Kochi prefecture. Trading clan. Allied with Satsuma.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Iyo: OTL Ehime prefecture. Ruled by the Uzumaki family.
****** Central Fort: None
***** Bungo: North Kyushu. Allied with Satsuma.
****** Central Fort: Kitayushu
***** Satsuma: Kyushu, Ryukyu and Hiroshima prefectures. Powerful trading clan in control of most of Nihon's navy as well as a significant Christian population; with large Syonanese minorities. Most economically significant region of Nihon.
****** Central Fort: Nagasaki
***** No other significant alliances.
**** Events:
*****
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 - ?? [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.
* 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.
* 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 (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):
** Third Generation:
====Khitan Khanate====
*====Government: Steppe Horde====
**Khan/Khatun:
***Khojin (F) (r. 1501 - 1542)
***Erketu (M) (r. 1542 - 1543)
***Arslan (M) (r. 1542 - 1583)
***Runsori (M) (r. 1583 - present)
****Dynasty: Yarud (1501 - present)
*****Parliament: None
*Economy: The Khitan economy is largely based upon trade, herding, and pastoralism, as the Khitans and most of their subjects are nomadic peoples. However, in some areas, such as around cities, the inhabitants are settled agriculturalists.
*Capital: Nerchuu (OTL Nerchinsk)
*Demographics:
**Population: 392,000 (51% Khitans, 6% Jurchen, 42% Mongols, 2% Evenks, 1% Daevites, 1% other)
**Religion: 89% Tengriism, 4% Arzham, 3% Buddhism, 4% others
*Military: 7,840 troops
*Wars and Conflicts (italics indicate potential wars):
**Conquest of Chakhar (only if Yan accepts the peace deal): Small raiding parties of 3,000 troops raid and attack border settlements of Chakhar, slowly wearing down their defenses. In 1598, a full-on invasion of Chakhar was launched. 39,000 troops (4,500 professionals and 34,500 levies) invade the Chakhar. Hit-and-run tactics are used to further wear down Chakhar forces. 12,000 troops (1,500 professionals and 10,500 levies) remain at the border in case of a counterattack.
*Diplomacy (italics indicate secret):
**Yan: We call for a peace with Yan, proposing to annex a certain amount of land in exchange for a 15-year non-aggression pact. (see DMs)
**Cculcontay: We request them to join the fight against Chakhar (or Yan, if they don’t accept the peace deal) as allies, promising them a share of the wealth and slaves plundered from Chakhar (or Yan).
**Aigun: We request them to join the fight against Chakhar (or Yan, if they don’t accept the peace deal) as allies, promising them a share of the wealth and slaves plundered from Chakhar (or Yan).
*Events (would’ve added more events but I rushed this turn while doing IRL stuff):
**The Mad Khan of Kitai (pt 2): The war with Yan was not as easy as Runsori had anticipated. The people of Yan showed more resistance than expected, and Runsori was only able to capture the frontier regions of Yan. Plus, Aguchu, his brother and right-hand man, had been slain in battle during the capture of Ulaankhad (OTL Chifeng). He sought peace with Yan, turning attention towards the less-mountainous and less-densely populated Chakhar.
**You Thought It Was Over, Ha: After the peace negotiations with Yan, Runsori declared the (later) Liao Dynasty, and took up the era name of Huichang (恢昌). 
==Conclusion==
The year is 1600. The era of the Two-Hundred Years war had pitted western Europe against itself, it peaked in 1429 when the British descended upon the city of Orleans, in danger of capturing France. It was not until a holy maiden had saved the city (and the death of a British king by a relative) that France was saved from British incursion, and the British had slowly pulled out of Europe in the process. The fall of Constantinople and Alexandria, and along with it the last vestiges of the old Roman Empire had brought many thinkers and documents to the west that had brought about the Renaissance. Columbus' discovery of the New World had brought new opportunities and a new thirst for exploration and artifacts.
Today, the wars of religion are wracking Europe. Many conflicts have arisen, but nothing like the League Wars are seen before. The British, upon the defeat of the Hispanian (and Agoustan) Armada, has opened up the possibilities of other powers replacing it on the seas, opening up more possibilities of colonization. Many explorers and adventurers travel to the New World in search for artifacts, like rumors of a number of golden chalices coming from there. Meanwhile, colonization of the New World is starting to reach its maturity, and colonists beyond treasure hunters and explorers are beginning to see opportunities to settle. The Chinese experienced a new age of tales of wandering heroes. Adventurers wander the new world looking for treasure. Expeditions wander into Siberia in search for glory.
Thank you for playing, and see you in Konig des Menschen VII!
A word from those that stood out from the rest:
*Fiete Kjaer: "Greetings everyone. It has been some time since the sixth iteration of Konig des Menschen took off, and during this time, we have seen many changes to the world in general. Battles have been fought, kingdoms rise and fall, and a new age has dawned upon man. Religious tensions in Europe have reached an all-time high, and war seemed inevitable - yet I have hope that peace will be within reach. As we enter a hiatus, I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to everyone that has been around during these times, and with preparations for KdM VII on the horizon, I would love to see you there. Thank you."
*Jeanne of Arc: "Greetings all, French and not-French, today we are in the twilight of the memories of the present. But we are now going straight into the future. It saddens me to see to the peace that was created to fall apart. But I hope that everyone will one day see the light and know their fellow man. (And stop bullying the Catholics okay), God be with you!"
*Morgan de Noyon: "We will never know peace. People will always find reasons to be different from others, and compare it. Let's remind ourselves of this fact that it's one of the sources of all conflict. If we show those the horrors of violence, being more brutal than the last if we have to, then we won't look towards a grim future to know that there will be a point where conflicts will become too horrible to stand. I am not great at goodbyes, as you can tell, but all I can say is that Humanity is brutal, but I learned in the end we have a limit to everything. I've seen warriors born for war have their fill for fighting. Bloodthirsty men wishing to retire. We will never know end to war, but we could make sure it will become a pesky squabble."
*Ioxamander al-Rum: "For the record, 'al-Rum', literally means 'the Rome', not Ro-... really we're going with that? Okay. Heroes come and go, there are those who are big enough for people to care to record, but there are many more who are left blank. The pages of history are full of revised errors and blanks, and the next page has yet to be written. It has been a grand time in the evolution of one of the best map games around. We should stay tuned, there might be a plot twist here and there.
thumb|center|335 px
== Concepts ==
(Might remove at start)
warlords_by_sttheo_db3mj5l-fullview.png|Late Medieval Mercs Concept
images6.jpg|City in the Mountain
26167934_830072867165682_9182773538198154378_n.jpg|Anatolian Town
trees fantasy art 2560x1600 wallpaper_www.wallpaperhi.com_76.jpg|Colonial Swamp concept
ec7c5f1da9aecf5e98db76544b547365.jpg|The Holy Maiden (concept)
Category:Konig des Menschen (Map Game)