Archive 25

Turn 121 - 125.

### **NPC Events:**

* **First Crusade Aftermath Partie Deux:** The Byzantines encroach upon Alanya, but they don't know that the crusader state wielded weapons beyond their imagination which they got from aliens and they proceeded to massacre everything in their way, conquering the earth in 7 hours and forming the Holy Stronk Epicus Empire of Alanya and... wait that's not the correct thing. Let's see here... aha! And then Shrek got onto one knee and from his pocket came the little box containing the ring he intended for Shado... fuck that's not right that's my fanfiction, nevermind. This has got to be the one: And because he was so stupid, Elon Musk never owned another company again, THE ENDsonofabitch that's also incorrect, that's my other fanfiction. Okay this joke sucks let's get on with the turn already. Obviously the tiny little unrecognized state of Alanya falls before the mighty Byzantines, making it the first crusader state to fall, although not through war. They just kinda vanish because honestly who gives a shit? In other news (christ I use that for starting sentences way too much), that Tommaso guy (the Duke, not Count) of Carail, formerly Sardinia has started to gather his vassal counts as well as bishops as allies for his own nefarious plans whatever those are. He also gets the Count of Malta on his side and has plans for the vassals of what I guess would be Salento and Calabria as well as Sicily but he finds it too risqué as if it fails that could reveal his plot so he doesn't check with them. Same with Naples although there is some desire to stoke the flames there within Tommaso. Why is he even doing all of this? Basically let's just boil it down to having much more of an Italian (or rather, Sardinian or rather [again], Carailese) identity rather than Greek. Also you know basic medieval power ambition in the most isolated part of a realm. Now regarding the whole "convert and get free tokens" enticement, most of the merchants who actually decide to stay within the borders of Byzantium do convert but others who are just regular merchants traveling to trade and all that refuse, considering upon their return they would most likely be seen as heretics ~~and also fuck you Pope is the best.~~ The brief age of piracy during the first crusade has mostly come to an end now, as most pirates are just your run-of-the-mill scoundrels trying to get some easy ca$h. Meanwhile the two Saljuq rulers (Mahmud I, Saljuq Sultan and Qutalmish, Sultan of Rûm) are pretty pissed over having no access to the mediterranean so are planning on doing something about that. The Georgian revolt is defeated and Demetrius seeks refuge in Kabalaka, planning on returning eventually to give the Georgian people their rightful independence.
* **The OFFICIAL Fall of Liao and Subsequent Chaos:** The Jin dynasty, ruled by Aguda, courted as Emperor Taizu, would rally so many of the revolting Jurchens on their side that they would expand their rule to otl Primorsky Krai, all while having support from the Zheng because this dynasty at least isn't Liao and also their emperor is much more chill with the Chinese. Then again Zheng's current emperor, Huizong, is kinda incompetent rulership-wise, but hey he's otherwise quite popular and a bit of an artist. Anyways back to the burning dumpster that is Liao. Pretty much all of the Mongol tribes within Liao would be united under the fierce, stern and unforgiving Khabul Khan along with his sons Bartan and Ohinbarhag. In 1116, Khabul Khan had himself be recognized by the other khans as Khan of the Mongol Confederation (called Khamag Mongol; literally "Whole Mongol"), a very loose confederation of various Mongolic peoples. Narra, a weakened city, becomes the "capital", as in the place where the tribes would meet for councils and such. Mongolia is still very much nomadic, you know. Goryeo would with a bit of Japanese help, retake a few lands and otherwise the Liao has split completely, with the Khitans grabbing the very northeast. Liao remains in the west in a place that is barely Jurchen anymore. Emperor Tianzuo of Liao would be overthrown by the Oirat, the only Mongols not part of the Khamag Mongol. It remains Liao but under a new people. Still, it is weak and Khabul Khan doesn't just want nearly all of the Mongolic peoples united, he wants them all.
* **Salah ad-Din, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques:** Yusuf grows up in Damascus, a prestigious city, and learns many skills and learned much about history, religion, mathematics etc. He then began a military career under the command of his uncle Asad al-Din Shirkuh. One of Asad's great friends, Shawar, the vizier of Sultana Arwa of the Sarranids was overthrown by his rival Dirgham, to which Shawar obviously wanted his position back. He was not backed by the Sultana however and was very, very, VERY, angry. So Asad decided to assist him and brought Yusuf, but 16 years old to learn more. They fought off some peasant revolts to bring him up during the decline of the Sarranid Sultanate. Even if they didn't like the Sultana and they had a plan, the peasants getting in the way would make things problematic. Towards the end of this turn they were scheming the overthrow of Arwa to instate Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, a claimant to the throne and friend of Shawar and Asad.
* **An Interesting Jidai - S2E1, Complications:** Luxury can corrupt minds and with Japan going through centuries of richness and art and all this greatness, there are those who have focused more on themselves than others. This combined with the assassination of certain nobles suspected of corruption, which have grown in quantity has gotten many-a nobles talking. Wary of the very strict emperor, who they suspect of scheming against more of the nobles has gotten them to start organizing their clans with some growing resentment against the emperor as well as the different governors of the "provinces" of Japan, which are chosen by the central imperial family. This has started growing resistance amongst the upper class of Japan, while the peasants remain relatively happy and Ezo is no longer suffering from regular revolts. New Samurai aren't seen very often because of the whole new rules thing but then again, not your average joe becomes a samurai, that is a rare occurence. Rather the Samurai that now arrive are just the children of current Samurai within their Samurai groups or whatever you should call them, I would say clans but idk. There are both Samurai who do support the emperor but since the restrictions were put in place and people had to go through an elaborate system to become samurai as well as the fact that hiring has become more complicated makes nobles have less ability to get elite troops into their armies, which they don't like. The lack of nobles hiring samurai thus bug both sides. The Black Lotus becomes a figure of legend and rumor for those unaware of their existence, seen as a mysterious and powerful force. Some believe they control the emperor as a puppet and others believe they are the elite assassins of the emperor (which is correct) and some believe they may have magical powers. Which they probably don't but you know. Japan sees its next uhh challenge? era? idk. Period of time, let's just say that.
* **The Albionite Isles:** Relative peace reigns in these isles and Henry I continues his rule as king of England. He improves Windsor Castle, adding a chapel for example. Very cool. Not much else important really happens, except stuff regarding Bill, the William who is the Count of Flanders and a claimant of the Duchy of Normandy, which he would invade in 1116 together with the French, still however, the war lasted til 1119 when Bill died at only age 20 and thus there was a simple stalemate between the two sides. Also Luimneach, or as we dirty English-speakers know of it as, Limerick, is built.
* **Chronicles of Angkor Wat I - The Old Switcheroo:** Vikrama had been the new emperor of the Chela Empire. Pagan also has a new king, who isn't as favourable to the exclusive merchant rights stuff the Chelas have to a few of their cities, so he ends it. This makes Vikrama very happy did I say happy I meant happy I mean I meant not happy I meant angry. I actually didn't say it I typed it. But I still meant what I meant ANYWAYYYYYYY that has made Vikrama start to favour the Khmer over the Burmese of Pagan due to them not liking the Chelan ambitions. Speaking of the Khmer, they've been chilling and their new king/emperor/whatever Suryavarman II has improved relations significantly with the Chelas and taken a liking to Hinduism and to prove to the world that the Khmer are still a force to deal with despite losing a war a few decades ago, the construction of a massive Buddhist temple, come to be known as Angkor ~~WHAT?~~, Angkor Wat begins. He also starts to prepare to strengthen his government as much as possible, ready to take action against the Vietnamese and Burmese who put his empire into their current situation. Meanwhile Srivijaya is further declining in power as their vassals gain more and more power. They're now caught between the Chelas having a field-day over trade from Sumatra and having massive amounts of influence there, Brunei, their primary rival who could be eyeing up Mempawah at any point and Langkasuka, a vassal that has great potential should it be able to get independent from its master.
* **The Rus' Plan Didn't Go Exactly As Planned:** Yeah so Grand Prince Vsevolov believed that the adding of Suomi and Ugrian territory would help the Kievan Rus' hold together and stop the influence of Novgorod. HAHA, no. In fact Viacheslav, who is the vassal ruler of Kymenliya, has been interacting and scheming with these mainly Suomi peoples for a long time, befriending them. He also schemes with the Prince of Novgorod, namely Davyd Vladimirovich in helping him achieve more power and marries one of Davyd's daughters. Kymenliya itself starts becoming more powerful as well with Viacheslav dividing the kingdom into two duchies, Kyrelia in the west and Biarmia in the east. The Grand Prince of Kiev is losing power while the various princely states within the Kievan Rus' are gaining it.
* **Back in Tawalisi:** Tawalisi sees the formation of another state, that being Paney. The other states also become more and more developed mostly due to the influence from Japan in the north (even if it is mostly circulated on Lusong) and Brunei in the south. In Lusong, the newfound drug becomes very popular and that is also not very good considering a large amount of addiction spreads throughout the realm making development difficult. Tundo also discovers skulking figures, those being spies and promptly cuts all ties with Lusong. Believing something strange is going on, they not only start to train warriors but also seek better relations with Ifugao. Ifugao doesn't want to have any form of alliance with either Tundo or Lusong and remains neutral so Tundo gets Mangyanu on their side, sort of. There is no official defense pact but a larger form of co-operation exists between the two.
* **West African Gold:** They've definitely hit the jackpot and the trade between West Africa Morocco and other parts of North Africa makes the region flourish a lot and in Wagadou, the king Bannu Bubu officially has the out-of-borders trading settlement of Aoudaghost integrated into his empire which obviously makes him seem more prestigious and cooler than those other kings. Gold good, I guess.
* **Oman Rules the Waves except I haven't done such an event in a long while fuck this title got long:** Oman is still a big player in the Indian Ocean with all those precious real cool SPICES they're selling to everyone. They not only vassalize Mosylon, basically turning them into a colony, they also continue some of their expeditions along the Swahili Coast (as much as you can in the 12th century) but, they're kinda resenting the Saljuq Turkic rule north of them and have developed quite a relationship with their neighbours. The Ahfairs convert to Ibadi Eslam and while Qarmatia serves as a buffer between the Saljuqs and Oman, their still a Saljuq vassal. So Oman might just be funding rebellious behavior through selling spices and stuff that sounds very criminal if you think about it. Anyway, Qarmatia is on their "liberate" list (def not using them to get a better hold of the Persian Gulf) and Yemen is on their "conversion" list. Sultan Muhammed al-Fallah is quite the little cheeky schemer, isn't he?
* **The Danish Crusade | Prelude:** For quite a while, the Danes have held the islands of Dagø and Øsel (together with the smaller islands of the West Estonian Archipelago). Holding them hasn't been the easiest, a lot of it being because of Suomi raiders coming along not necessarily to kick the Danes out, but more to raid for the sake of supplies and stuff and also not really liking the Danes. Well things are about to change. To protect the region better, the danish king Niels 'the Wise' builds the fortified settlement of Ulvildborg (named after his spouse Ulvhild) and plans to go up against those Estonians which they aren't really but I'll call them that because it makes sense in IRL context. Anyway this is mostly because of Niels having read a lot about the crusade of 1093-1097 especially the contributions of some scandinavians in that large-scaled war. He wanted to do a crusade of his own in the name of christianizing the east coast of the Baltic Sea and also because doing crusades is kind of a big power prestige move. So plans are afoot.
* **Hungaria:** Hungaria desires a more proper border in OTL Vojvodina and having another city, in this case Novi Sad (previously Novisa) would be cool. Another place proud of their crusader history (Laszlo, who captured Tarsos and took it as a crusader state), they want a crusade against the "heretic" Orthodox Christians of Dragovits, but they can't just do it alone. So Stephen II, the king of Hungaria, makes an alliance with Croatia through a royal marriage in preparation. Bonus points since defeating the Dragovits could "prove that the Catholic South Slavs are more powerful".
* **Tiwanaku:** Their capital is formed after they establish more power around the lakes of their northern border-region.
* **Maori Stuff:** There's some more Maori states and further development, nothing more, nothing less.
* **Muisca:** The Amerindian Muisca polity is formed.
* **Domboro:** Domboran culture is seen as having transformed into the Oromi culture around this point in history.
* **Lesser Sunda States:** Smaller, island states are formed in the Lesser Sunda Islands. We already had Bali, Lombok and Timor and now they have been followed by Sumbawa and Nipa.
* **Bantu-Khoisan "Border":** Is mainly established along the Zambezi river. (Also these beeg cultures will be split up eventually, do not worry).

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Alexios I
	+ **Dynasty:** Domninian Dynasty
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade mainly through Constantinople where a variety of things are traded. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently thriving. Our most valuable and prized goods are silk and purple
	+ **Capital:** Constantinople
	+ **Cities:**
	+ **Constantinople: 917,000**
	+ Adrianople: 108,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 103,000
	+ Syracuse: 80,000
	+ Athens: 78,000
	+ Cities: ~2,000,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~8,100,000
	+ Total population: ~10,100,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 68.5%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 6.5% Turks 6% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 1% (~110,000)
	+ 44,000 Cavalry
		- 16,000 Cataphracts
			* 5,000 Cataphract archers
	+ 66,000 Infantry
		- 16,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
* **Navy:**
	+ 53 Galleys
	+ 180 Transport ships
	+ 189 Dromons
	+ 89 Triremes
	+ 6 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Royal stuffs:** Constantine VIII dies in 1122 and is succeded by Alexios I, who then gets into a royal marriage with the Dragovit princess, strengthening their ties.
	+ **Georgia my dude:** In interest of fighting the Eastern menace, we attempt to invite over not only Georgian but general Caucasus rebels and their leaders, promising them a day of freedom.
	+ **Country Rhodes:** small island infrastructure is built, while a direct road is made from Vratsa to Belograt

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Zoronshi Yamashengu
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Tōga**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 98.5%, 1.5% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Tōga:** 320.000
				+ **Edo:** 315.000
				+ **Yamato:** 200.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 190.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 190.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 155.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 150.000
				+ **Ishi:** 145.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.374.000
				+ **All cities:** 3.610.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 11.830.000
			* **Total population:** 15.440.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism.
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 25%, Ainu 75%
				+ **Otomari:** 8.500
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 9.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 253.000
			* **Total population:** 290.000
			* **Religion:** 82% Shinto-Buddhism, 18% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 25% Visayan 70%
				+ **Tudar:** 3.830
				+ **Rural Areas:** 7.740
			* **Total population:**11.570
			* Religion: 40% Shinto-Buddhism, 60% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **War:** We send 4.000 divisions, they are divided into 5 divisions. We also have the same amount on standby in Ganguyin as well as 2.500 archers and 2.500 spearmen protecting the coast. We will progress south with a hint to the east with 3 divisions while the other 2 stay to defend the western part of the border. When the 3 divisions are close to the sea again we start to squeeze them out with the 2 divisions as the 3 divisions encircle their western army. Then all 5 divisions start to march forward as the enemy should be weakened heavily. Since we have control over Lusong troops we order them to support our more trained troops and push east after the encirclement.
		- **Naval:** We send 100 galleys to the war as they should be fast enough to dominate their seas. 50 on each side of the nation and we will also naval invade their islands.
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 1% (Japan + puppets/vassals) 157.400
				+ 45.000 Archers. (45.000)
				+ 30.000 Spear men (30.000)
				+ 29.000 Swordsmen (29.000)
				+ 31.500 Cavalry (31.500)
				+ 3.300 Tawābasutā (9.900)
				+ 5.000 Heavy Infantry (5.000)
				+ 7.000 Winter infantry (7.000)
		- **Navy:**
			* 190 Galleys
			* 140 Transport ships
			* 130 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 2 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Lusong:** We want to expand your sugar industry in exchange for buying it for a fair price. (We also accept their offer with the war, added later on since we do turns together)
		- **Kuri:** Japan and Ezoan tribes are starting to come together, do you want to be a part of this?
		- **Jin:** Wanna trade? after that war you are bound to want to buy my rice.
		- **Events:**
			* **The Second Dragon:** The Ni~Tsu-ryū is renovated and a new one is built, some smaller ships are also renovated and a few are put out of service as they are not modern enough.
			* **Sōryoku jidai:** As the emperor has to focus on the greed of his vassal nobles he holds a speech after preparing a big change, announcing the end of the by then current era Setsuzoku jidai (Connection era) and start of Sōryoku jidai (collective power era) where the emperor gives certain powers to trusted nobles so that he can focus on binding the country together. He introduces the nobles that will be running the country with him. Xingongi-ne Nagasamu as the lord of economics which will focus on improving our economy. Zhabatai Zhohoro as the lord of war which will lead the military development of Japan. Ti Zunshi as the lord of samurai. Shushi Sazhuki as the lord of Diplomatic relations, Yuibe Yuki as the lord of fairness, Nihonto Saski as the lord of random fucking islands and Hunabei Nunabei as the lord of the black lotus (he is kept secret for everyone except the emperor. The emperor still holds power over all of them, laws has to be run through the emperor. These titles are given to people the emperor trust everytime the current is kicked from his/her position or has died.
			* **SUGAR OH MY:** Due to the import of sugar from the south the working class has discovered how amazing it is, thus our economics lord has started investing money into Tudar, creating sugar farms and using the cheap workforce there to transport it to Japan and sell it to China for a profit. Also we wont tell China where Lusong is lol
			* **Exploration Date:** We send explorers to the place we called India to find new trade routes, they are to then continue sailing next to the coast for a good while and map the area out better.
			* **Nobles:** A few corrupt nobles are kicked by the emperor and other trusted nobles gain smaller parts of the states as a reward for their loyalty.
			* **Island Bastion:** The islands close to Korea is fortified since there are a lot of new unknown factors in Asia.

### **Lusong:**

* **Government:** Tribal Monarchy
	+ **King** Hisk-Hisk Malawang
	+ **Economy:** Based on fishing, agriculture and trading products such as sugar.
	+ **Capital:** Ganguyin
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 86.000**
		- **Ganguyin:** 7.879
		- **Rural Areas:** 77.121
		- **Ethnicities:** 87% Visayan, 13% Japanese
		- **Religion:** 75% Anitism, 25% Shinto-buddhsim
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **War:** We employ all troops and since Japan is in on this we let them handle tactics since they have more experience.
* **Military:** Total of 860, 1%
	+ **Standing Army:**
		- Spearmen: 537
		- Bowmen: 225
		- Slingers: 40
		- Torchmen: 60
	+ **Reserves:** Total of 3128, 4%
		- Spearmen: 2.148
		- Bowmen: 900
		- Slingers: 160
		- Torchmen: 240
* **Navy:**
	+ 16 transport ships
	+ Nankai Fune
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Tundo:** We declare war since you are stopping our products to reach the rest of Visayans.
	+ **Japan:** We need you for a war, since we are allied we would like some help with that and in return we shall add Tundos islands to Tudar, and if Mangayanu enters we will let you have a bit of the coast too of Tudar. We also sign that you are allow to invest in our sugar industry in exchange for better prices.
	+ **Ifugao:** just stay neutral, we need to open up the trade to the south as fast as possible.
	+ **Mangyanu, Ibalong:** please stay neutral, this is to ensure that we can trade our goods to the south, blocking us off would mean you wouldn't get the items from Japan too, let us fight them and you will surely benefit too.
* **Events:**
	+ **None, focus on war**

### **Khazar Khaganate:**

* **Government: Monarchy (Khaganate)**
	+ **Khagan:** Kanel
	+ **Dynasty:** Bulanid
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade with the Byzantium Empire, the Saljuq Empire, the Sajid Emirate and some other smaller nations. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently doin great.
	+ **Capital: Akashar**
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 74,7%** **Khazar, 12,6% Slavic, 9,4% Aabkhaz, 1.9% greek 1,4% Georgian.**
		- **Total population: ~2,395k**
		- **Cities: 569.89k**
			* **Akashar: 148.65k**
			* **Galgan: 116.13k**
			* **Karcha: 103.14k**
			* **Korstyam: 95.13k**
			* **Chersonesus: 32.14k**
			* **Kabalaska:** **23.13k**
			* **Aqwa: 19.3k**
			* **Thyaps:****18.14k**
			* **Mykolev: 14.13k**
		- **Rural Areas:** **~1,825.11k**
		- **Religion:** **83.5% Judaism, 12.8% Christianity, 3.7% Tengri.**
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
	+ **Invasion of Volgas:** year 1111 the invasion of Volgas begins with Khazar troops marching to the north capturing conquring the Volgan lands.
* **Military:**
	+ **First army: Total of 2% 47 900**
		- 29 140 Cavalry
			* 13 474 with Spears
			* 15 666 with Swords
		- 14 825 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 3 835 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Second army:** **Total of 1% 23 950**
		- 14 538 Cavalry
			* 6 719 with Spears
			* 7 819 with Swords
		- 7 262 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 150 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Border Control: 1% 22 510 23 730**
		- 18 766 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 126 Infantry with Spears and Shields
		- 2 838 Cavalry with Spears.
* **Navy**
	+ **For traversing the Caspian sea:​**
		- **29 Transport ships (trade/negotiations)**
		- **59 fishing ships** **(for fishing...)**
	+ **For traversing the black sea:​​​​​​**
		- **5 B-Galleys (For Larger Cargo and for more people to fit while traveling)**
		- **25 Transport ships (trade/negotiations with the Byzantine Empire)**
		- **24 traveling ships (travel between the Karcha strait)**
		- **76 fishing ships (for fishing...)**
* **Diplomacy:**
* **Production:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Border crossing illegal:** Normal patrols will continue to keep any travelers/merchants, people in general. Those insisting being sent to prison for 20 years, if they continue they'll be seen as Rus spies.
	+ **Plans of the South:** The plans are scratched as multiple high ranking people put forth a lot of bad things that could come out of it.
	+ **Plans of the North:** The plans to invade Volgas are to be put in motion in 1111.

### **NPC Events:**

* **Hear the Call, the Call of the Second Crusade:** An uneasy and ominous tension has existed in the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East and Christianity and Eslam since the First Crusade. The place that fits in all of those names: Anatolia or Asia Minor if you will, together with the Crusader States along the Levant saw ruthless fighting in the late 11th century. Eventually there is the realization that the ambitions of the christians (to maintain their control over the holy land and their gains against Eslam) cannot co-exist with the ambitions of the muslims (to take back al-Quds and what they held earlier and maybe also take everything in Anatolia this time around). The two will clash eventually, although due to different events that will be covered later the Ayyubid Sultanate (it will be explained alright) is in a bigger role than the Saljuqs although the Saljuqs do still participate in grand fashion. And that they do in 1128 when the first step to Eslamic reconquest occurs with the invasion and quick pacification of the County of Aleppo. The word first reached the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the homeland of the crusaders whom established the County of Aleppo: Saxony. Immediately there were calls from different nobles all across Europe for another crusade. Pope Honorius II agreed and called for the Second Crusade, to strike back against the muslims who weren't slow to attack the other crusader states. The Byzantine Empire was quite obviously also dragged into this due to obvious reasons, although their focus is more of a "reconquer parts of Anatolia" thing rather than the "protect the holy land" monicker of the other powers although they obviously do want Jerusalem to stay in christian hands. Thus several states send their crusaders away to fight the muslim powers of Rûm, the Saljuq Empire, the Amirid Caliphate and the Ayyubid Sultanate. The crusade so far sees an incredibly dangerous encroaching force on Jerusalem while the other crusader states are also threatened. In Anatolia the Saljuqs of Rûm successfully capture Sinope but the battles are not over yet. Trebizond is put under siege in 1129 as well. Incredible strides made by Salah-ad-Din makes the future seem bleaker for the christians. The Levantine front is not in their favor, but in Anatolia things look a bit smoother. The Saljuqs are also dealing with Georgian rebels after Demetrius I was approached with an offer of Byzantine assistance and he thus left Kabalaka and returned to his home. Some Shirvanians under the Uqaylid dynasty also seek to gain independence from the Saljuqs and see good success so far by putting a lot of pressure on the important city of Absheron. How shall things be shaped from this?
* **Salah ad-Din, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques:** The movement against Sultana Arwa became more widespread during the 1120s as Yusuf's company gained more and more followers who wanted Arwa off of the throne, many blaming her for the decline of the sultanate. In 1122 however the conspiracy was discovered and a big internal conflict broke out. Yusuf and the others were central figures in this rebellion, which they started in Tolmeytah and Bercca. Here Asad, Yusuf's uncle, would notice the military genius that his nephew held. The rebels gained assistance from the revolting Berber dynasties of Khurasin and Zirid and in the Battle of Qaihir both Shawar and Dirgham, who took part in it, were killed. It was a victory for the rebels however and upon nearing the gates of Nadir, Arwa abdicated. 1126 marks the end of the Sarranid Sultanate. Now the thing is, the rebels fought for Shawar. First to put him back as vizier and later to press his claim on the throne, but now he was dead. A new regency was required and through strong army diplomacy the nobles of the sultanate were pressured to crown Yusuf the new sultan. Thus, a new dynasty rules Egypt and Libya, the Ayyubids. Yusuf received a new honorary name: Salah ad-Din, or Saladin for short and also the name that the christians would know him by. He manages to get the weakened state going to a degree, makes sure to put the few relatives he has into vassal positions, get married and also recognizing the Khurasinid and Zirid emirates as independent states. When the attack on Aleppo and Second Crusade fired away, he immediately prepared to bring himself further into the books of history.
* **The Rus' Plan is Obsolete by Now:** Despite the best attempts, the princely states of the Kievan Rus' gain more and more power and more and more independence: Novgorod especially. Peace mostly remained until Viacheslav, vassal king of Kymenliya, declared himself fully supportive of Davyd of Novgorod as opposed to the Grand Prince of Kiev himself. The two faced a demand from Vsevolod who demanded that this declaration be retracted immediately but no. Clashes began as Novgorod began its attempted true secession from the Kievan Rus', starting in 1122 and so far being relatively successful with most of the north grabbed, however the war is not over yet and several princely states stand by the side of the Grand Prince, believing that secession through a brutal internal conflict like this can cause more harm than good.
* **An Interesting Jidai - S2E2, Attritional Warfare:** After the change of direction Japan is in more of a stable place, but at the cost of imperial power which now rests in the hands of many. Zoronshi clearly still wants to make sure he is seen as legitimate and agrees to assist the Lusong people in a war justified by cut relations (there were definitely no plans of conquest that went belly up or anything no not at all). Tundo had been ready for some form of conflict due to the seriousness of the situation but the war declaration still comes as somewhat of a surprise. The Japanese soldiers are powerful and certainly show it, but the lands they fight in are rough and an army of practically any size can't be maintained in Tawalisi forever. Mangyanu had become pretty good friends with Tundo and decide to assist them in the war. After a few years of slow fighting Ifugao would be swayed to their side as well, believing that they would be next in line if Tundo fell. This was bad news for Lusong and Japan since a new force was in town. Now to make things not too complicated, gradual warfare continues throughout the years and the risky naval invasions are successful to a degree, with the island of Polillo being captured. The other attack is less successful due to the riskiness of the orders, Lubang Island is captured but the difficulty of maintaining it allows the Mangyanu to narrowly capture it in 1129. A strange stalemate is established. Japan is running out of supplies for this war and the enemies aren't capable of fighting for much longer either. Tundo and its allies realize that a surrender on their part is the safest way out of this conflict even if it means a military loss. Ifugao and Tundo offer up some land for Lusong and political ties will be set up again and some tribute will be paid by the defeated to the victors.
* **Khazar Invasion of Volgas:** The Volga Magyars put up a good fight but after 5 years the area manages to be secured by the Khazars. Now due to such a northern, remote area, the Khazars divide the Volgas Confederation into eight client states. They have more sovereignty than your average vassal and function more like tributary states, generally aligned to the Khazars.
* **Chronicles of Angkor Wat II - Where There is Smoke, There is Fire:** 1120-1130 becomes a period of scheming between the two powers of Chela and Khmer. They form an official alliance and start preparing a future war against Pagan and Dai Viet. Angkor Wat is still being built and it will take a long time for this great work to be finished. The enemies of Khmer and Chela see that the Khmer are rising in power, which worries them a bit but also causes them to strengthen their ties and their alliance with eachother.
* **Tommaso of Carail:** The lowering of his power does not come unnoticed after it has gone on for years. He starts to plot harder or idk how to describe but he prepares to take matters into his own hands soon and sees the Second Crusade as a good distraction for the Byzantines. He allies some nobles of Genoa who like this idea because of those sweet sweet trade deals and generally has his family on his side, aside from his oldest son Cristoforo.
* **Fourth Caliphate? Maybe?:** Hejaz has always been a bit of a difficult place to control for the Saljuqs. The Saljuqs of course converted to Shi'a which in itself has caused a fair bit of controversy and tension in itself but taking that to the place where fucking Makkah and Madinah are located, yeah it's not gonna be so easy. For years there had been a resistance movement and in early 1120 it strikes. The Saljuqs fight hard against the claimant Amirid dynasty of Arabs. The Amirids receive material support from the Sarranids and Yemenis, who also want the Arabs to have their rightful control over the region in which the two holiest cities in all of Eslam are located. The war takes a few years but the Amirids secure control. Having control of both Makkah and Madinah, they declare themselves to be the fourth Caliphate (the first being the Sahelimids, second the Omayyads and third the Akhtaribs). This is not very much appreciated by anyone however and many see this claim and declaration as ridiculous, even if they do hold those two cities. Regardless, when time calls to yeet christian ass they are warmly welcomed to fighting for Eslam, this could also earn them some nice prestige. Meanwhile before and during the start of the crusade, an order of zealous Shi'a warriors are legitimized by the Saljuq Sultan Mahmud I. They're given the task of keeping tabs on anti-Shi'a movements and taking out any powerful figures who follow such. They become known as the Hashashin and are led by Hassan-i Sabbah.
* **The Albionite Isles:** Well, things get quite complicated for Henry now because of something that occurs right on the first year of this turn. In 1120 his son whose name is William because of course it is, died in the so-called White Ship disaster. The White Ship sank off the coast of Normandy killing all but one of the approximately 300 people on it. William was Henry's only legitimate son and this obviously put the order of succession into a bit of a strange situation of doubt. He decided to name his daughter Matilda, who was previously married to Henry V, the Holy Roman Emperor, his heir and married her to a new person after Henry V's death. That person being the Count of Anjou: Geoffrey V.
* **Jin-Zheng Relations:** After the Liao were yeeted to hell and back, the Jurchen Jin dynasty has been able to become very strong, very quickly. They annex basically all of the remaining Jurchen tribes although those regions still have quite a bit of self-rule at this point. Now the Jin and Zheng have had a bit of a de facto alliance between eachother since the Liao started falling apart and they agreed in a treaty in 1123 that neither side should harbor any defectors. But a guy called Zhang Ping was a military governor in the north of Zheng who killed the Jin official there and offered to turn it over to Zheng but the Jin arrived and defeated his armies later. The Zheng officials said they would have him executed, but didn't and in 1125 the Zheng asked for Jin to cede several prefectures to them. Emperor Taizong of Jin outright refused, which caused the alliance to collapse completely. Jin would seek better relations with the Tanguts of Xixia and ensured peace between the two. Jin is now very ready in case of the Zheng trying anything funny again.
* **The Danish Crusade | FREM!:** Niels declares his crusade against the people of the Baltic in 1127 and starts the invasion of what is mainland Estonia for us stupid OTLers. The rest of the world are kinda iffy on why he is calling this a crusade but it does carry some inspiration. Hungaria has been planning that crusade against the Orthodox Christians and in Iberia, this whole crusade thing sounds pretty cool to do against the Andalusian muslims. Anyway so far the crusade isn't all that successful, with the Estonians and Balts not being any military joke even if they are disorganized tribes. They also receive help from Kurland and Vidzemje and the former was founded by Viking-related folks so they have some pretty cool supplies and weapons to give out.
* **Khabul Khan:** He leads a large invasion of the Oirat Liao and conquers it quite quickly, bringing nearly all Mongols under the Khamag Mongol banner. Still he has his sights on one place, which is extremely important for the Mongols and also all Tengrists: the ancient and incredibly important city of Karaban, whose origin dates back to the 7th century Khergits. Meanwhile his second son Bartan has two sons: Negun and Mengitu. However that's not all, for there is another that will be born. And that one will have a much bigger impact on history than the others.
* **Brunei and Srivijaya, at it again:** In line with their decline, Srivijaya's vassal Mempawah is invaded by Brunei and after a few years of war it is taken by them. It's really not Srivijaya's year now, Fs in the chat actually no don't do that.
* **Aragon:** León-Castille goes to war against Navarre due to having claims on a county. It's a win for the King of León and Castille that being Alfonso VII. He also presses his wife's claim on the region of Aragon within Barcelona so cue another war and another victory which leads to Berenguela being coronated as Countess of Aragon and obviously forming a non-aggression pact between the two states.
* **Hungaria is Hungry:** But they can't act on it just yet due to the Second Crusade which they see as more important. Still they make sure that the Byzantine armies fighting in the Principality of Tarsos are monitored well due to the knowledge of Byzantium wanting that city back but Hungaria be like "nah that shit ours". Perhaps the Hungarian Crusade will come soon. Perhaps. Not guaranteed. Mmmyeah.
* **Sultanate of Aïr:** There are trade routes that cross from OTL Tunisia and Libya down to Kanem and the various Tuareg and Hausa tribes. An important city lies there: Agadez. In 1126, the control of Agadez is seized by a certain Tuareg chieftain and warrior named Yunus. Agadez lies by the Aïr Mountains (no, not Air, Aïr.) so this becomes the Sultanate of Aïr.
* **The Troubadours:** A group of six troubadours and writers travel throughout the Albionite Isles and some other parts of western Europe and become known for writing poems, stories and comedies. To some nobles they come across as indulgers of sins and non-serious youngsters who don't know wtf they're doing but to others they're good entertainment when they arrive. These are not known by individual names but after some travels to a few mountainous places, which they enjoyed they call themselves the Snakes of the Highlands. The snake part is a bit just to irk clergy and nobles who dislike them.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Zoronshi Yamashengu
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Tōga**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 98.5%, 1.5% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Edo:** 335.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Yamato:** 205.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 200.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 185.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 170.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 160.000
				+ **Ishi:** 145.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.474.000
				+ **All cities:** 3.770.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 12.130.000
			* **Total population:** 15.900.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism.
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 28%, Ainu 72%
				+ **Otomari:** 8.500
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 9.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 258.000
			* **Total population:** 295.000
			* **Religion:** 85% Shinto-Buddhism, 15% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 20% Visayan 80%
				+ **Tudar:** 4.060
				+ **Rural Areas:** 9.040
			* **Total population:** 13.100
			* Religion: 45% Shinto-Buddhism, 55% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 1% (Japan + puppets/vassals) 162.080
				+ 45.000 Archers. (45.000)
				+ 31.000 Spear men (31.000)
				+ 31.000 Swordsmen (31.000)
				+ 32.500 Cavalry (32.500)
				+ 3.360 Tawābasutā (10.080)
				+ 5.500 Heavy Infantry (5.000)
				+ 7.000 Winter infantry (7.000)
		- **Navy:**
			* 190 Galleys
			* 150 Transport ships
			* 140 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 3 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Ifugao:** Truly was a shame that you felt threatened by us, it is understandable since we are way bigger than you, we do not know how Lusong will feel about you after this, but I recommend that you suck up to them a bit. Just a tip, anyways we will be on Lusongs side, if you want to have me on your side then you have to show it. Your choice.
		- **Tundo & Mangyanu:** I want you to pay me in sugar instead of whatever value you use.
		- **Ibalong:** Hey! who are you and do you like rice?
		- **Ainu Tribes:** How are you guys feeling? maybe you are tired of the cold, we could get you to a hotter place where you would get to work on a farm. Life would be easier for you there and the ones who stay would have it easier since there are more fish per person.
		- **Zheng:** Buy some sugar, it's tasty and sweet.
		- **Lusong:** Outlaw tech trade with other nations that is not us please.
		- **Events:**
			* **No More Tech For Not Lusong:** We stop trading advanced technology with Philippine nations that is not Lusong, we basically only sell rice, dye and other food items.
			* **Tensions in Asia:** Because of the heat in Asian politics we decide to prepare for a defensive war. We fortify Islands, cities and key-point tactical locations throught Japan, this will take a long while. We also start preparing food storage and develop our dragon breath cannons and our swords.
			* **Tudar on the Rise:** Due to the massively increased sugar farms in Tudar living there became better and the population started to skyrocket for it's size. Due to the popularity of sugar farmers are organized by a certain Xingongi-ne Nagasamu, our economics lord. This improves their lives through and increased produce and ties Tudar a bit more tightly to Japan. Sugar making is also researched on to maximize profits.
			* **SUGAR:** More and more sugar is made from Lusong and Tudar meaning that it becomes cheaper and cheaper, merchants makes a fuckton of money and it spreads up Japan quickly, reaching Ishi. In Kyushu even workers can buy sugar for festivities and trade to Asia holds a high price for the ingredient, but cheaper than what they have with an incentive to become rich.
			* **A New Big City:** A city on the island Jeju reaches 60.000 inhabitants, the city is named Gintama or in English, silver soul. The city's main export is fish, rice and now sugar. The island is the best route to china.

### **Khazar Khaganate:**

* **Government: Monarchy (Khaganate)**
	+ **Khagan:** Kanel
	+ **Dynasty:** Bulanid
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade with the Byzantium Empire, the Saljuq Empire, the Sajid Emirate and some other smaller nations. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently doin great.
	+ **Capital: Akashar**
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 74,4%** **Khazar, 12,69% Slavic, 9,6% Aabkhaz, 1.9% Greek, 1,4% Georgian, 0,01% Ugrian.**
		- **Total population: ~2,416k, Population (including Vassals): 2,560k**
		- **Cities: 574.89k**
			* **Akashar: 149.2k**
			* **Galgan: 116.69k**
			* **Karcha: 103.7k**
			* **Korstyam: 95.68k**
			* **Chersonesus: 32.7k**
			* **Kabalaska:** **23.68k**
			* **Aqwa: 19.86k**
			* **Thyaps:****18.69k**
			* **Mykolev: 14.69k**
		- **Rural Areas:** **~1,831.11k**
		- **Religion:** **83.5% Judaism, 12.8% Christianity, 3.7% Tengri.**
* **Vassals:**
	+ **Combined Total population:** 144 000
		- **Dénec:** 28 750
			* **Capital:** Denec 2 100
			* **Rural areas:** 26 650
		- **Ulyar:** 22 750
		- **kama:** 20 750
		- **Bilyar:** 17 750
		- **Tynea:** 15 750
		- **Syrte:** 14 750
		- **Asli:** 12 750
		- **Chuva:** 10 750
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **Military:**
	+ **First army: Total of 2% 48 320**
		- 29 280 Cavalry
			* 13 544 with Spears
			* 15 736 with Swords
		- 14 965 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 3 975 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Second army:** **Total of 1% 24 160**
		- 14 608 Cavalry
			* 6 754 with Spears
			* 7 854 with Swords
		- 7 332 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 220 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Border Control: 1% 23 950**
		- 18 909 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 269 Infantry with Spears and Shields
		- 2 982 Cavalry with Spears.
* **Navy**
	+ **For traversing the Caspian sea:​**
		- **32 Transport ships (trade/negotiations)**
		- **66 fishing ships** **(for fishing...)**
	+ **For traversing the black sea:​​​​​​**
		- **6 B-Galleys (For Larger Cargo and for more people to fit while traveling)**
		- **29 Transport ships (trade/negotiations with the Byzantine Empire)**
		- **27 traveling ships (travel between the Karcha strait)**
		- **85 fishing ships (for fishing...)**
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Rebels of Georgia:** We will support you in your fight to independency, in return we simply wish for future friendships between our nations!
* **Production:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Border crossing illegal:** Normal patrols will continue to keep any travelers/merchants, people in general. Those insisting being sent to prison for 20 years, if they continue they'll be seen as Rus spies.
	+ **Celebration of victory:** With the victory in the north east, the population is celebrating the victory. Glory to the Khazars! Glory to our nation!
	+ **Supporting The Georgian Rebels:** As soon as they accept our help, we will send them food and weapons along with some soldiers to help them pushing them back.
	+ **Rumors of the north:** Rumors are spreading about the Kievan Rus, Apparantly there's a civil war going on, we don't want to take any action as we are not sure if it's true, so we send some spies to the Kievan Rus to find out (**Read "Spies sent to the north"**), if it is true then it's really great news!
	+ **Spies sent to the north:** We send a few men through the Ugrian Gap towards the kievan Rus, their mission is to find out if the rumors are real. Some of the spies are to head towards Kiev and find some info there as well, if any info is found or not they will return the way they came
	+ **The northern Vassals:** We start the rebuilding of what used to be Volga, and start giving out food, teaching them about our culture and how we do things, basically doing stuff that'll raise their opinion on us (even if we did take over their country).

### **Lusong:**

* **Government:** Tribal Monarchy
	+ **King** Hisk-Hisk Malawang, Hink Malawang
	+ **Economy:** Based on fishing, agriculture and trading products such as sugar.
	+ **Capital:** Ganguyin
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 92.000**
		- **Ganguyin:** 7.887
		- **Pyngou:** 2.512
		- **Rural Areas:** 79.619
		- **Ethnicities:** 85% Visayan, 15% Japanese
		- **Religion:** 72% Anitism, 28% Shinto-buddhsim
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **War:** We employ all troops and since Japan is in on this we let them handle tactics since they have more experience.
* **Military:** Total of 920, 1%
	+ **Standing Army:**
		- Spearmen: 597
		- Bowmen: 225
		- Slingers: 40
		- Torchmen: 60
	+ **Reserves:** Total of 3368, 4%
		- Spearmen: 2.388
		- Bowmen: 900
		- Slingers: 160
		- Torchmen: 240
* **Navy:**
	+ 17 transport ships
	+ Nankai Fune
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Terms:** we have given you the terms and are pleased that you accepted them.
* **Events:**
	+ **Exploration:** We send boats to the south to explore well, the south.
	+ **Pyngou:** We improve the infrastructure there.
	+ **Sugar:** We increase the amount of farms we have and thus, the production of sugar as it is a valuable business.
	+ **Spears:** We focus on making more spear soldiers.

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Alexios I
	+ **Dynasty:** Domninian Dynasty
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade mainly through Constantinople where a variety of things are traded. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently thriving. Our most valuable and prized goods are silk and purple
	+ **Capital:** Constantinople
	+ **Cities:**
	+ **Constantinople: 920,000**
	+ Adrianople: 110,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 106,000
	+ Syracuse: 82,000
	+ Athens: 80,000
	+ Cities: ~2,000,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~8,100,000
	+ Total population: ~10,100,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 68.5%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 6.5% Turks 6% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 3% (~330,000)
	+ 44,000 Cavalry
		- 16,000 Cataphracts
			* 5,000 Cataphract archers
	+ 66,000 Infantry
		- 16,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
		- A general shall lead 50k men to Angora, and will then push a bit further before setting a defensive line.
		- My son Leo VIII shall lead a siege of 75K onto Konya. There he shall prove his worth to become emperor, and thereafter move over to Tarsos to relieve them.
		- A 100k force led by me and several other lords must go retake Sinope and might possibly relieve the siege on Trebizond.
		- Our navy shall provide aid to the Jerusalem and to destroy Ayyubid fleets.
* **Navy:**
	+ 53 Galleys
	+ 180 Transport ships
	+ 189 Dromons
	+ 89 Triremes
	+ 6 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Papal state:** i know we are currently trying to protect the holy land, but seeing as what Danesmark was babbling about i dont want people to misinterpret what "crusade" means and propose a meeting in Rome to discuss the term "crusade", and possibly to create more denominations.
* **Events:**
	+ **Let them burn:** We send aid to the Caucasian rebels in the ways of equipment and a few officers.
	+ **Levies:** Men are raised to go to arms against the Seljuks.

### **NPC Events:**

* **See the End, the End of the Second Crusade:** Unlike the first one, which was an all-around Christian victory, this conflict ends up being quite different. The Byzantines and allied crusaders in Anatolia are quite successful, but the Levant is not. Rûm is a damn good fighter but the Byzantines secure control over the northern coast. There's also the sieges of Angora and Konya. Both are bloody but are victories, although Konya was very close and there were two sieges but more about that later. The Levantine forces, despite help, are not able to make much ground nor defend their territories very well and in late 1130, Jerusalem falls to Salah ad-Din. Still, while they lose territory, the crusaders are powerful enough to stop the complete conquest of the crusader states. 1130 saw the second siege of Konya, which was a counter-siege led by the Saljuq Turks and the Ayyubids. Another close call but the city held under Byzantium, who know it as Iconium. After this there wasn't much more of fighting until the second crusade ended in early 1131. A success to some and a failure to many others. But wait, it's not over just yet, well the crusade is but not the story. The Ayyubids, Amirids and Saljuqs were all uneasy allies and after the crusade there would be conflict. The Amirids fight an invading Ayyubid force, Saladin obviously can get more legitimacy points by taking Makkah and Madinah. Amirids lose and end up a short-lived stupid dumb no good thing. The Ayyubids would also fight the Saljuqs over a dispute of land in the Levant after the crusade and again chad Sultan daddy Saladin wins. Saladin's name becomes infamous across all of western Eurasia as the reconqueror. Anyways in other news the crusade also saw the success of independence movements in the Caucasus as Demetrius I becomes the king of Georgia in 1132, the Uqaylid dynasty takes power in Shirvan and Armenia reappears on the map as well. The Saljuqs enter a state of decline, with a weak ruler (Barkiyaruq, who succeeded Mahmud I) and quite a lot of corruption. This gives more power to vassals and such, allowing the Turkoman Ardushteg Gharchai to overthrow the predominantly Uzbek control in the Fergana Khanate and put his own dynasty in power, grabbing Urgench as well. Meanwhile the emirs of Mesopotamia are in a similar boat, with the Zangids getting more and more power and even using the Hashashin to their advantage against Barkiyaruq. Both the Zangids and Ardushtegs become independent, although the Saljuqs hold suzerainty over them. In 1136, Oman would invade Qeshm island as well as the Qarmatians to extend their influence in the Persian Gulf. YES I KNOW I FORGOT TO REMOVE CAPITAL FROM MAKKAH DON'T TELL ME OR I'LL SELL YOUR KIDNEYS ON EBAY.

* **An Aftermath of Grand Proportions:** Even if parts of Anatolia have been recaptured, all is not well for the Byzantines. Remember Tommaso, yeah of course you do. He's not up to anything oh wait there's a revolt for independence in Carail and it's going pretty well so far. I would never put Philip in a difficult situation oh whoopsies Hungaria and Croatia invaded Dragovits. They capture Novi Sad quite quickly but to truly try and knock the Dragovits outta the game they move to attempt a siege of their capital of Belograt. The Byzantines are able to secure a siege on Dubrovnik as well though, so not everything is lost and christ I feel like a bad guy for doing this to you. Now let's check in on Pope Honorius II he's dead, good thing Innocent II is now pope oh wait shit there are a lot of cardinals and some monarchs who don't want him as pope and instead want Anacletus II fuckin hell there are a lot of seconds here isn't there. BAM Papal Schism of 1130 is a go. Anacletus II took Rome, forcing Innocent to flee to France In 1133 the HRE receives a new emperor named Lothair III and he supports Innocent which gives him a bit more help. Right now we have "Pope" Innocent II vs Antipope Anacletus II who looks for support outside of the faction that allowed him to take the throne.
* **The Plan of Novgorod is Superior to the Rus' Plan:** More and more war goes on within the Kievan Rus' with the forces led by Viacheslav and his protegé Davyd see success. Other independence movements revolt in the western parts of the Grand Principality and the Moldavians would grab the lands west of the Dniester river. The former Rus' principalities of Halych and Volyn' become independent in 1134 and approximately two years later in 1136 the civil war would end with a victory for Novgorod. Davyd declared himself tsar and Viacheslav's Kyrelia becomes a dependency territory of the new Tsardom of Novgorod. And yes the Khazars learn some stuff about the Rus' situation but some of those spies also died in the crossfire of the war so HAH.
* **Chronicles of Angkor Wat III - Let Them Eat War:** The plan will come to fruition this decade, mark my words, actually don't mark those of me, mark those of the Khmer and Chela Empires because they out here warring my dude let's go war starting in 1132. The main Chela offensive goes through their vassal of Pala, also moving into Pyu, with there being a landing from Andaman in the delta of the Ayeyarwady river. The Khmer strike in the salient of Pagan and also capture Vieng Chan and move further north. They are losing however in what used to be the Champa state and some other place I can't be fricked to look up the name of. Angkor Wat itself nears completion by 1140, something that Surayavarman II is very proud of but you know, don't expect greatness and victory just yet.
* **Jin-Zheng ~~Relations~~ War:** Well, everything has built up to this point. After negotiations failing, relations collapse and the two explode into war with eachother in 1133. The Zheng weren't really prepared for this and fierce battling occurred but after the fall Qingdao all of Shandong was taken and the Jin pushed further with relatively ease, nearing Fenghao and Qufu, putting northern China in pretty damn big trouble. Two Jin commanders known as Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang lead their soldiers toward quite the victory, but the Xixia are starting to second guess being peaceful with the threatening Jin dynasty and the Khamag Mongol is becoming more and more well relevant but also powerful and actually important to the politics of East Asia.
* **The Albionite Isles:** Something big happens here: Barnwell Castle of Northamptonshire is built! HOW AMAZING. Okay there's more than that. England remains mostly at peace until the death of Henry I. We all remember that his heir is his daughter Matilda who is married to Geoffrey V who is the Count of Anjou. Now Henry dies in 1135 but Matilda, who had given birth to her son also named Henry (because fuck creative names) two years prior, was in France because that's where Anjou is and her husband is the count of... you get it. Now William the Conqueror's daughter Adela had a son named Stephen and he is the Count of Boulogne, another place in France yippee and he saw an opportunity by racing to England first and having himself crowned first, ending the House of Normandy's rule in England and starting the rule of the House of Blois. Of course, Matilda wasn't okay with what she saw as Stephen usurping her title and so weren't some other nobles in England, which starts a civil war, known as the Anarchy. I didn't do any changes to England's borders because I am lazy ok big sorry.
* **Khabul Khan:** Khabul Khan leads the power of the Mongols to the north towards Lake Baikal and in 1131 the important city of Karaban is taken. Here Khabul Khan and the Borjigin clan are crowned as the true rulers of the Mongols. Khabul Khan is getting quite old now, but he has succeeded in what he was doing and he names the ruler of the Taichuud tribe: Ambaghai as his successor, feeling that his sons aren't prepared and also Ambaghai is one of his best friends so yeah bromance. But something else happens here. 1134 marks the birth of Bartan (one of Khabul Khan's sons) third son: named Yesugei. Yesugei's name means "like nine" due to him having auspicious quality of that number, which is to the Mongols what the number seven is to the Irish. Also in 1136 in the Olkhunut tribe, a man named Nergüi has a daughter named Hoelun. These shall be important.
* **The Danish Crusade | Rødgrød Med Fløde:** The subtitle has nothing to do with anything here I just found it funny lol. So yeah the crusade against the Estonians actually doesn't go too well, the Danes along with some help from the Swedes, which may seem strange but you'll understand later reach what is today Tallinn but after that they are beaten back hard by the natives and help from their Baltic sugar daddies or whatever. They're eventually pushed off the mainland and a group of Estonian raiders successfully make their way to Stockholm and sack parts of it so yeah that whole crusade thing flopped pretty hard didn't it, except for Ösel and Dagö, they're still Danish territory.
* **An Interesting Jidai - S2E3, Just Diplomacy:** So... this will be kind of a boring event. Basically all of those Tawalisan states say this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV8Mlw7LhDU. Zheng is all for trade and all that and the Ainu just want to live where they live alright, they've lived in the cold areas for fucking forever why would they ever think it's too cold?
* **Wait, what the fuck? That actually happened?:** So in 1131, the 15-year old son of king Louis VI 'the Fat' of France, named Philip was out in a market of Paris, riding his horse when suddenly out of a heap of dung a black pig darts out and the horse trips over it and Philip falls with his steed. He was catapulted and the next day died from his injuries. I'm not even making a joke here that actually happened.
* **Toby is an idiot who forgets things:** Oh Toby haven't you forgot to write about something? No...? Really, nothing at all? No I don't think s- THE FUCKIGN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR YOU MAGGOT-STEALING CARFUCKER. Oh yeah, them. So the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order, was founded back in 1119 at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In 1139 they are recognized by a papal bull, so they have legitimacy points in the eyes of the church. This is controversial since the current pope in Rome is an Antipope but Innocent II is also chill with these guys so yeah.
* **RIP Stenkils:** King Magnus I dies in 1132 with no eligible heir, leading to some scuffle between rivaling dynasties before Sverker takes power and forms the House of Sverker as the leading dynasty of Sweden. He is the one to actually try and help the Danes in their crusade, believing that it was for a common cause. Well we all know the end of that story.
* **The Troubadours:** The dates are not completely unknown but during the 1130s the Snakes of the Mountain produce two scripts for two plays, who also get accompanying written stories. The first one is King Arthur and the Holy Grail, a parody of Arthurian legend where Arthur and his knights of the Round Table as well as his servant Patsy search for the Holy Grail, but run into trouble most of the time, such as getting taunted at by the French. The second one is The Life of Baldwin, where the messiah is mistaken as a regular man named Baldwin and not Jesus Christ, which leads to various hijinx, it is believed that the name Baldwin was taken from Baldwin II of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, who died in 1131. Now the first one was disliked by the elite because of how it makes fun of something taken very seriously but the second one is considered complete and utter heresy. The books produced wouldn't last long as the Snakes were arrested and jailed circa 1137. Later the Snakes were finally put to death.
* **Bachwezi:** A pretty strong kingdom in today's Uganda is formed.
* **Anhaica:** More of Florida becomes part of their "empire".

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Zoronshi Yamashengu, Nikkō Yamashengu
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Tōga**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 98.6%, 1.4% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Edo:** 345.000
				+ **Tōga:** 320.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 210.000
				+ **Yamato:** 200.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 180.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 175.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 165.000
				+ **Ishi:** 145.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.524.000
				+ **All cities:** 3.830.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 12.390.000
			* **Total population:** 16.220.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism.
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 27%, Ainu 73%
				+ **Otomari:** 9.500
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 9.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 272.000
			* **Total population:** 310.000
			* **Religion:** 85% Shinto-Buddhism, 15% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 18% Visayan 82%
				+ **Tudar:** 4.060
				+ **Rural Areas:** 10.340
			* **Total population:** 14.300
			* Religion: 45% Shinto-Buddhism, 55% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 1% (Japan + puppets/vassals)165.440
				+ 45.000 Archers. (45.000)
				+ 31.000 Spear men (31.000)
				+ 31.740 Swordsmen (31.000)
				+ 35.000 Cavalry (35.000)
				+ 3.400 Tawābasutā (10.200)
				+ 5.500 Heavy Infantry (5.500)
				+ 7.000 Winter infantry (7.000)
		- **Navy:**
			* 190 Galleys
			* 150 Transport ships
			* 160 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 3 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Events:**
			* **Death of Zoronshi and the Birth of Nikkō:** He died as he lived, he died from stress from a stroke. Apparently bearing the news that Edo was not as symmetric as Toga was too much for the man. It was a strict funeral. He left only 3 children behind him, 2 of which where daughters. Since he married of the oldest daughter and the son came before the last child, he becomes the Emperor. Small problem, he is "special" mentally. His favorite off time activity is having the black lotus capture kitties and dogs and then bring them to him so that he can slit the pets throats. He is also quite young, standing at 13 years old. He has 3 objectives, he want to get more slaves, pimp up the army and have public executions.
			* **New Capital:** Edo has become superior to Toga and thus becomes capital. The Royal family moves there and it is renamed to Shihon.
			* **WEAPONDS HAHAHHAHA:** By the order of Nikkō the funding for weapons research is... tripled... yeah...
			* **Southern Base:** The lord of war and the lord of economics work together to start building a self sufficing military and economic base on the recently conquered islands.
			* **Black Lotus:** They kinda work more now that the emperor is a literal maniac, he doesn't kill for political advantages, instead he just kicks up a secret industry of murder, hey at least the illegal funding goes to the government lol.

### **Khazar Khaganate:**

* **Government: Monarchy (Khaganate)**
	+ **Khagan:** Kanel
	+ **Dynasty:** Bulanid
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade with the Byzantium Empire, the Sajid Emirate and some other smaller nations. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently doin great.
	+ **Capital: Akashar**
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 74,4%** **Khazar, 12,69% Slavic, 9,6% Aabkhaz, 1.9% Greek, 1,4% Georgian, 0,01% Ugrian.**
		- **Total population: ~2,430k, Population (including Vassals): 2,588k**
		- **Cities: 580.92k**
			* **Akashar: 149.87k**
			* **Galgan: 117.36k**
			* **Karcha: 104.37k**
			* **Korstyam: 96.35k**
			* **Chersonesus: 33.37k**
			* **Kabalaska:** **24.35k**
			* **Aqwa: 20.53k**
			* **Thyaps:****19.36k**
			* **Mykolev: 15.36k**
		- **Rural Areas:** **~1,849.08k**
		- **Religion:** **83.5% Judaism, 12.8% Christianity, 3.7% Tengri.**
* **Vassals:**
	+ **Combined Total population:** 158k
		- **Dénec:** 29 750
			* **Capital:** Denec 2 350
			* **Rural areas:** 27 400
		- **Ulyar:** 23 750
		- **kama:** 21 750
		- **Bilyar:** 18 750
		- **Tynea:** 16 750
		- **Syrte:** 15 750
		- **Asli:** 13 750
		- **Chuva:** 11 750
* **Wars and Conflicts: (*Italics= potential war)***
	+ **Invasion of the Kievan Rus:** With what seems to be the collapse of our long time enemy, we decide to invade the Kievan Rus with most of our entire army. With 46.75% (22 721) of the first army marching towards the Captial, Kiev and the other 46.75% (22 720) quickly marching and grabbing Charkev and beyond. 90% (21 870) of the Second army will push from the eastern border to the west to quickly moving towards the north west.
* **Military:**
	+ **First army: Total of 2% 48 600**
		- 29 273 Cavalry
			* 13 592 with Spears
			* 15 781 with Swords
		- 14 958 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 3 969 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Second army:** **Total of 1% 24 300**
		- 14 655 Cavalry
			* 6 777 with Spears
			* 7 878 with Swords
		- 7 379 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 266 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Border Control: 1% 23 950**
		- 18 909 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 269 Infantry with Spears and Shields
		- 2 982 Cavalry with Spears.
* **Navy**
	+ **For traversing the Caspian sea:​**
		- **32 Transport ships (trade/negotiations)**
		- **66 fishing ships** **(for fishing...)**
	+ **For traversing the black sea:​​​​​​**
		- **6 B-Galleys (For Larger Cargo and for more people to fit while traveling)**
		- **29 Transport ships (trade/negotiations with the Byzantine Empire)**
		- **27 traveling ships (travel between the Karcha strait)**
		- **85 fishing ships (for fishing...)**
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Southern Neighboors:** Congratulations on gaining your independence! We hope to have a happy relationship with you in the future!
* **Production:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Tension:** With the war comes tension and excitement at the same time for the people of the Khazar Khaganate, some think it's dangerous and some have high hopes, The Khagan, Kanel have very high expectations of this war as the Kievan rus has gotten weaker, as seen with them loosing territories in the west.

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Alexios I
	+ **Dynasty:** Domninian Dynasty
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade mainly through Constantinople where a variety of things are traded. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently thriving. Our most valuable and prized goods are silk and purple
	+ **Capital:** Constantinople
	+ **Cities:**
	+ **Constantinople: 932,000**
	+ Adrianople: 117,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 110,000
	+ Syracuse: 83,000
	+ Athens: 82,000
	+ Cities: ~2,200,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~8,200,000
	+ Total population: ~10,400,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 67.5%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 6.5% Turks 7% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 3% (~330,000)
	+ 44,000 Cavalry
		- 16,000 Cataphracts
			* 5,000 Cataphract archers
	+ 66,000 Infantry
		- 16,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
		- My son shall now go off to Carail with an army to once again prove his worth as emperor.
		- I will lead a main force to relieve Belograt and Novi Sad. thereafter Pécs is next, then hide and ambush incoming Hungarian armies while waiting for reports on other armies.
			* A smaller force is sent to take the eastern flank of Hungary
		- Another army will go towards croatia, if the main army is spotted they must retreat to a favorable position, and then strike. otherwise they are to lay siege to Split with help of a naval blockade and then head north.
* **Navy:**
	+ 53 Galleys
	+ 180 Transport ships
	+ 189 Dromons
	+ 89 Triremes
	+ 6 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Armenian County of Trebizond:** Now that we have once again established a land border, would you like to join the empire? You would of course keep your king and rights as Armenians.
	+ **Poland:** I understand we havent made any promises or declarations of friendship but please, as a follow orthodox brother in arms i ask of you to help me fight the Hungarians
* **Events:**
	+ **The Carail treatise:** With this rebellion in Carail a political philosopher in Constantinople named Nestoras has thought and wrote up a treatise to submit a way to ensure rightful control and loyalty to all territories and themes in the empire, and seems very promising.

### **NPC Events:**

* **Byzantine-Hungarian War:** This war began in 1138 and put direct pressure on the Balkans as well as the influence of the ~~irrelevant~~ Byzantine Empire. Poland declines, stating first of all that they aren't more than friends (I've heard that before sad single life oof) and also that they're more busy trying to not get invaded by the Rus' and the Germans (insert original Poland gets gangbanged joke here) as well as the difficulty of having to invade through the Carpathian Mountains that sprawl the Hungarian-Polish border. Now to the actual warfare stuff. The siege of Belograt is of course big scary mary but the Dragovitians held on until the Byzantines arrived and helped out and basically saved them in 1140. The Hungarians tried again but were pushed back. Still they hold Novi Sad pretty well so that's kinda Sad for Dragovits isn't it hahaahahah3erj8h0hgaseu9ht34y. Dubrovnik is taken and the Byzantines start pushing north while Croatia and Dragovits are trying to outdo eachother on the border there. Through the northeastern border of Dragovits, armies manage, under a few years, to occupy what is essentially OTL Romanian Banat. BUT THEN, in 1142, fueled by well... MOOLAH, Venice would go to war against Croatia to grab that sweet Dalmatian Coast, which would practically be achieved by 1146, although only the very coastal parts as the other expansion attempts were pushed back by joint Croatian-Hungarian forces. Since 1147 there has practically been a stalemate going on, with neither side being able to beat the others, while keeping levies up costs more and more money. Practically everyone is looking for an agreement between eachother. Also Tarsos is doing neutral chill stuffs.
* **Other Byzantine Byzness (been a while since I last used that):** So, Tommaso manages to take over all of Carail, good going mate *I bet that will last a long time*. Hope he doesn't have a heart- he had a heart attack and died and suddenly there's a power struggle between his allies. Cristoforo, Tommaso's son, assists the Byzantines in stopping the rebellion yay hooray, what a wonderful day. It is now "safe" in Byzantine hands again. What do I mean with all those """""""QUOTATION MARKS"""""""? Well, Tommaso may be sort of defeated (they never took him alive tho haha yoloswag420), but his actions has spurred up stuff on Carail. While people aren't necessarily anti-Byzantine since their rebel guy person kinda fucked up, there's still a fair amount of people who would prefer an independent Carail so yes. Trebizond has garnered quite a case of its own identity for obvious reasons, but reluctantly agrees to be re-annexed into the Byzantine Empire to avoid getting attacked, but they're definitely expecting to have those special rights promised to them by ol Alexy boi. Speaking of Alexios, he's fine, but his son was pretty seriously maimed in the fight on Carail.
* **Papal Schism:** In case you aren't caught up on all this, basically there are two people who both claim they are the rightful pope. The "official" pope, as in the one who was coronated is Innocent II, but not everyone was happy with him and supported his rival Anacletus (more like Anal Cletus ahahahahahowgawg) to overthrow him. Thus he becomes an Antipope, known as Anacletus II, who took power in the Papal States. He has a lot of power but there are many who don't want him there, although the powers closest to Rome do like him so ain't this just a lovely situation. Innocent II had fled to France, but had the feeling he was being targeted and could be assassinated so he didn't stay for very long. He fled to the HRE in 1143, where he would live for quite a while in different realms. This ended in 1146 when he was nearly captured in Salzburg. He escaped (again) to Venice, who were happy to help as they support him, but didn't want too much trouble now that they were at war with Croatia. So Innocent II hired some ships and went to the least likely place you could think a pope would go to. The Byzantine Empire. Yes he was so desperate he sought help from those filthy dirty traitorous cunting bitcholoid Orthodox bastards. Arriving in Constantinople in 1147, he spoke in front of both the emperor and patriarch and pleaded for the Byzantines to help him reclaim his title and he would bestow upon them something in return.
* **The Albionite Isles - Anarchy and Union:** Let's continue with some lovely anarchy shall we? Well thankfully for the English, it doesn't really last that long. Bunch of fighting as you do in civil wars and wars in general until 1142. At the Battle of Lincoln of that year, Stephen gets his ass kicked and captured. A chunk of his army escaped however who joined up with his buddies, this caused the Anarchy to drag for longer all the way until 1145 when the last supporters of Stephen got beaned. Stephen himself also got beaned, no they didn't throw beans at him he was fucking hung. Matilda would reign as the first English queen until 1149 when she abdicated in favor of her son Henry who becomes Henry II, although due to him only being 16, she remains in a way as his regent. In the same year his father Geoffrey would die, which made him Count of Anjou, adding it to England's lands. This obviously pisses off the French. But let's let go off the English and instead look at a different part of Britain and the other main island of the archipelago. Now in Eire, Domnall Ua Lochlainn, say that 3 times fast, had through all that convoluted marriage stuff of the Middle Ages become the heir of Scotland and in 1144, would form a personal union through it, called the Gaelic Union. Pretty dope.
* **Jin-Zheng War:** Xizong, Wanyan Zonghan and Wanyan Zongwang along with you know, all of those soldiers who may or may not be important to this whole war thing continue, they are impressive, taking Qufu, Fenghao, Lanzhou, Xi'an and Luoyang. Those cities are of quite the big importance, which means that when those end up annexed in the peace agreement, the Zheng dynasty has suffered a heavy blow, as the dynasty now goes through the same old thing: corruption and some civilian uprisings. Jin now has a hold of more Chinese technology, which they need for themselves because some of their neighbours like Xixia and Japan would be dangerous if they had it. Still, the Jin expansion doesn't go unnoticed, the non-aggression pact with Xixia just kinda falls apart into war over conflict concerning territory, but the Xixia are no military joke. Another thing that happens concerns the Mongols, but that is for a different event. Also capital-switch to Beiking.
* **Chronicles of Angkor Wat IV - Hey Janice:** Now they may have been caught off-guard, they're not giving up just yet. They being the enemies of Chela and Khmer. Dai Viet is managing to put the Khmer into a more difficult situation than they were expecting, but Pagan seems to have run its course, with the entire delta region with a name I'm too lazy to spell being taken as well as the Indians closing in on their capital. Also almost their entire coast is occupied, with ~~Thoton~~ Thaton being the last stronghold. So Rajaraja II (Chelan king) and Suryavarman II (WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SECONDSSSSSS?!?!?!?!) push on, even if Dai Viet is proving strong, they will be forced to end the war if Pagan gets yeeted. Pyu doesn't fair well either obviously since their master is getting pummeled and all that.
* **Blyat:** Opportunistic as everyone in this fucking game is, the Rus' are invaded by their biggest fans, those Khazar Kuntz, that's probably what they would call them anyway. Now Halych and Volyn' have one thing to say to the Khazars: this, because they're still the slavs. The Rus' while weakened are still capable of holding up armies, especially now that the princely states see that this is a bigger threat than Novgorod and those two little western shits, so the war drags. Charkev is quite easily taken but the push from that would be pressed back nearly to the city within years. Kiev becomes difficult to reach but has been by 1149, starting a siege. Kiev has ever since it was taken by Olga, been a big strongy bongy city that's really fortified and such, which means that this will take a while. Maybe a long while who knows who do you think I am fuckin' Chronos???
* **Khabul Khan -> Ambaghai Khan:** Well, Khabul Khan looked around in the 1140s and knew: My time has come. In 1146 the unifier (kind of) of the Mongols passed away, leaving it to Ambaghai. Now Khabul was one of those people who just had that certain "thing" that keeps otherwise conflicting peoples unified. Ambaghai isn't exactly that, but the realm while more decentralized already by Khabul Khan's death is stable enough. Now one group that has been a thorn in the side of the Mongols are the Tatars living within the borders of the Khamag Mongol. They've always been enemies to the Borjigins at least. Ambaghai would see fights with them and usually be on the winning side and thought he finally was free of them for awhile in 1149, but then when he and one of Khabul Khan's sons was on a trip to marry one of Ambaghai's sons to a Tatar woman (of a more neutral tribe), they got ambushed, this being on the orders of the Jin dynasty, worried over the power that the Mongols had. Qutula, the fifth son of Khabul Khan, takes matters into his own hands and declares himself temporary khan and would raid Tatars but also attack the Jin in retaliation for their actions after finding out that they were behind this. Let's see where this goes.
* **Oman Rules the Gulf and other Saljuq Kuhrap:** So first on our agenda is Oman, who earlier hasn't really been relevant outside of the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean. Well now, they claim Qeshm Island and secure Qarmatia as their vassal (damn they've been passed around a lot haven't they) as well as getting more influence in the Horn and making some deals with Shewa against their rival Mogadishu, with Oman really wanting to have those out of the way a bit for their weird ass Arab trade colonization stuff in the 12th century lol. When they had invaded Qarmatia many of the armies actually fled and migrated further into the more central region of Arabia, there and a man named Muhammad ibn Saud forms the Emirate of Diriyya there.
* **An Interesting Jidai - S2E5, Insane in the Membrane - Insane in the Brain:** That's a good song. Anyway so Japan is kinda chilling which makes this event a bit boring but the strange nature of this new emperor certainly has some eyebrows raising, not just cause he's young but also because he does weird things and that's weird and weird bad. Nothing scandalous has happened or anything but when people of importance start dropping like flies, some nobles start looking into this together to see how the fuck this is happening and who's behind it, so far they've not gotten anywhere but just like the Black Lotus, these groups of pseudo-detectives have kept their involvement secret.
* **Decline of Srivijaya:** Once the biggest power in what we call the East Indies, now is kinda just falling apart slowly. I mean when your own vassal revolts against you and starts winning, you've kinda hit a bad spot wouldn't you agree? I'm too lazy to write much more christ it's getting late.
* **Vinland's Effect:** Vinland has been doing quite a bit of fighting with the natives, just cause they originate from where I live I'm not gonna sugarcoat it they be a bit of asshole. But they have also of course been trading and spreading ideas throughout the area. Their existence in America indirectly makes Niagara and Passamaquoddy grow stronger and a new little cute state appears in OTL Prince Edward Island. That state is what you can read on the map okay shut up.
* **Chaughan:** They invade Delhi, because empire.
* **Guy Who Translates Arabic Stuff into English:** That guy is Robert of Ketton, an English translator, diplomat and priest, active in the christian Iberian kingdoms, mainly the ones that aren't Portucalia sad life. He is the first person to translate the Quran into any Western language so that's pretty neat I must say.
* **Aïr and Kanem:** With the expansion of the Aïr Sultanate the two main states south of Fezzan start to co-operate with eachother, mainly on trade route to the Ayyubids matters.
* **Inca Conflict:** Blah blah blah Tiwanaku go war wiff Wari, haha it has war in name that's foony boony.öjnasg

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Leo VIII
	+ **Dynasty:** Domninian Dynasty
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade mainly through Constantinople where a variety of things are traded. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently thriving. Our most valuable and prized goods are silk and purple
	+ **Capital:** Constantinople
	+ **Cities:**
	+ **Constantinople: 935,000**
	+ Adrianople: 120,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 113,000
	+ Syracuse: 84,000
	+ Athens: 84,000
	+ Cities: ~2,200,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~8,300,000
	+ Total population: ~10,500,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 67.5%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 6.5% Turks 7% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
	+ **Hungary-Croatia:** We try negotiating a peace with them.
	+ **Papal states** God is with us today, the true Pope is here in Constantinople, and you are going around preaching your lies. We declare a Papal war.
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 1% (~105,000)
	+ 39,000 Cavalry
		- 15,000 Cataphracts
			* 5,000 Cataphract archers
	+ 66,000 Infantry
		- 16,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
		- Our best troops are sent to march on Rome, but are instructed to only kill opposing soldiers while containing the clergy and moving past the peasantry. Cataphracts are to Encircle the city aswell as a blockade is set so that Anacletus doesnt escape and if this succeeds we will hear with the Pope and the Patriarch in a court in Rome for his sins.
* **Navy:**
	+ 53 Galleys
	+ 180 Transport ships
	+ 189 Dromons
	+ 89 Triremes
	+ 6 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Georgia&Armenia:** Let us build new ties together, we would appreciate you as friends.
* **Events:**
	+ **Pacify Carail:** Acknowledging that the Carailians would like to separate we put an effort to show why they are important, a jewel to the eastern roman empire, are part of the roman legacy&glory, paint Tommaso as a traitor and downplay it as a will of chaos rather than a fighter for good or the people there.
	+ **A strategic city:** A fortified city is constructed in the area of Banat named Vukmir.
	+ **Outward insiders:** in the middle of heading to Rome we contact the opposition of Anacletus and supporters of Innocent II to refuse raising levies as we will be bringing the rightful Pope back to Rome.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Nikkō Yamashengu
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Shihon**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 98.6%, 1.4% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 350.000
				+ **Tōga:** 315.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 225.000
				+ **Yamato:** 190.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 180.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 175.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 165.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 155.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.564.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.319.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 12.296.000
			* **Total population:** 16.615.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism.
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 28%, Ainu 72%
				+ **Otomari:** 9.500
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 9.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 279.000
			* **Total population:** 316.500
			* **Religion:** 88% Shinto-Buddhism, 12% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 18% Visayan 82%
				+ **Tudar:** 3.060
				+ **Rural Areas:** 15.540
			* **Total population:** 18.500
			* Religion: 50% Shinto-Buddhism, 50% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 1.25% (Japan + puppets/vassals) 211.875
				+ 60.000 Archers. (60.000)
				+ 40.000 Spear men (40.000)
				+ 40.000 Swordsmen (40.000)
				+ 37.500 Cavalry (37.500)
				+ 3.500 Tawābasutā (10.500)
				+ 100 Yōyū-ki (200)
				+ 9.675 Heavy Infantry (9.675)
				+ 7.000 Winter Infantry (7.000)
				+ 7.000 Jungle Infantry (7.000)
		- **Navy:**
			* 200 Galleys
			* 140 Transport ships
			* 165 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 4 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Dai Viet:** Hey want to pay us to lend you some troops?
		- **Ainu Tribes:** Anyone wanna join Japan? if you have food issues we can help.
		- **Events:**
			* **Weapons Research:** The funding proved useful as a process for creating stronger steel was created, heating it hotter through new, bigger air pumps to then be pressed into a shape. This makes the steel more structurally perfect and thus, swords break less and is able to become more sharp. We also improve our dragon breath canons with the new air bag pumping technology. NOT ONLY THAT but the dragon breath canons are put upon wheels and a new defensive weapon is made named Yōyū-ki, a smaller wheelbarrow styled flamethrower which needs 2 operators to use and has a high range but shorter periods of time that it shoots fire. Effective in defense close to rivers or up on mountains.
			* **Pimp the Army:** The Research funding bonus is removed and instead the emperor starts to invest heavily into better equipment and more soldiers. He also draws battle plans for attacking Tungning. Not only that but Samurai starts being hired to train the army.
			* **Jungle Infantry:** We train specialized infantry for the Lusong climate.
			* **Black hand:** People in the black hand starts to be quite annoyed with the emperor having them kill innocents.
			* **Hunichi:** The daughter of the emperor is kidnapped (definitely not by the black lotus) A small investigation is held but ultimately he didn't give a shit.

### **Khazar Khaganate:**

* **Government: Monarchy (Khaganate)**
	+ **Khagan:** Kanel
	+ **Dynasty:** Bulanid
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade with the Byzantium Empire and some other smaller nations. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently doin great.
	+ **Capital: Akashar**
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 74,4%** **Khazar, 12,69% Slavic, 9,6% Aabkhaz, 1.9% Greek, 1,4% Georgian, 0,01% Ugrian.**
		- **Total population: ~2,449k, Population (including Vassals): 2,588k**
		- **Cities: 589.92k**
			* **Akashar: 150.87k**
			* **Galgan: 118.36k**
			* **Karcha: 105.37k**
			* **Korstyam: 97.35k**
			* **Chersonesus: 34.37k**
			* **Kabalaska:** **25.35k**
			* **Aqwa: 21.53k**
			* **Thyaps:****20.36k**
			* **Mykolev: 16.36k**
		- **Rural Areas:** **~1,859.08k**
		- **Religion:** **83.5% Judaism, 12.8% Christianity, 3.7% Tengri.**
* **Vassals:**
	+ **Combined Total population:** 166k
		- **Dénec:** 30 750
			* **Capital:** Denec 2 750
			* **Rural areas:** 28 000
		- **Ulyar:** 24 750
		- **kama:** 22 750
		- **Bilyar:** 19 750
		- **Tynea:** 17 750
		- **Syrte:** 16 750
		- **Asli:** 14 750
		- **Chuva:** 12 750
* **Wars and Conflicts: (*Italics= potential war)***
	+ **Invasion of the Kievan Rus:** The war with Kievan Rus continues with most of our entire army. The Third army focusing entirely on the siege of Kiev **(see Siege of Kieve)**. and 46.75% (22 721) of our First army continuing towards the north and north-west, part of the army surrounding Kiev and holding it still till the third armies arrive to continue it's siege After the third army arrives they continue . The other 46.75% (22 720) will continue northwards. 90% (21 870) of the Second army will continue to push the Kievan rus to the west and north-west from their current positions.
	+ **Siege of Kiev:** The third army is in charge of taking over Kiev while the other armies continue into the Kievan Rus inland. The third army's commander decided to start with an attempted attack on the city using battering rams to bring down the gates. If that didn't work then they'd decided to try scaling the wall with latters... And if that didn't work, they would choose to starve the city by cutting off their food supplies.
* **Military:**
	+ **First army: Total of 2% 48 980**
		- 29 533 Cavalry
			* 13 672 with Spears
			* 15 861 with Swords
		- 15 218 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 4 229 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Second army:** **Total of 1% 24 490**
		- 14 717 Cavalry
			* 6 808 with Spears
			* 7 909 with Swords
		- 7 443 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 330 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Third Army: 1% 24 490**
		- 19 020 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 379 Infantry with Spears and Shields
		- 3 091 Cavalry with Spears.
* **Navy**
	+ **For traversing the Caspian sea:​**
		- **35 Transport ships (trade/negotiations)**
		- **69 fishing ships** **(for fishing...)**
	+ **For traversing the black sea:​​​​​​**
		- **8 B-Galleys (For Larger Cargo and for more people to fit while traveling)**
		- **32 Transport ships (trade/negotiations with the Byzantine Empire)**
		- **29 traveling ships (travel between the Karcha strait)**
		- **94 fishing ships (for fishing...)**
* **Diplomacy:**
* **Production:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Supportive people:** Seeing as the war is going in our favour on all fronts the people are getting more supportive of the war.
	+ **Fortification of Akashar:** Seeing the impressive fortified city up close some the Commanders of the first and third armies sent letters to the Amry's Leader, the Second prince of the Khazak Khaganate, recommending for us to do the same with our capital of Akashar. The price passes the opinion to his father, the khagan, who upon hearing the request, starts telling the architects to make up different fortifications that we can use, the one who's plans were chosen would recieve a title and a mansion in the capital.

### **NPC Events:**

* **Byzantine-Hungarian War:** A few more years of fighting go on and the Hungarian side would try one more thing: striking by the Tara river and trying to use that as a way for Croatia to push. However it is a Byzantine victory and by 1152, a peace is negotiated. Venice would grab most of that sweet coast, which gives them even more power. They were already the most powerful nation on the Adriatic, but that is now accelerated to hell and back. Byzantium would gain Dubrovnik as a city and lands between while losing no lands. Dragovits would lose Novi Sad, but gain the rest of the historical region of Banat. Croatia would take lands mostly in Slavonia. The war was not really a victory for any side (aside from ig Venice), even if they gained things and/or achieved certain goals as it costed a lot of capital, but it has ended now.
* **Papal Schism:** Unusual as it may be, Byzantium would after their war, assist the "real" pope to take back his throne and power, even with the death of Emperor Alexios and ascension of Leo VIII. The march into Capua would start a bigger conflict surrounding this whole situation. Once the news of Byzantium leading Innocent II back to Rome broke, several powers were still in support of Anacletus, like Florence for example. They would pledge allegiance to Pope Anacletus, who attempted to declare a crusade against Byzantium once they started approaching the Papal States. Byzantium, Naples and Capua, supported materialistically by Venice and Ancona (and support declared by some other powers like England and France) faced off against the Papal States, Florence, Genoa and Milan, supported materialistically by the Swiss (support for Anacletus declared by Hungaria and some other randoms). Getting to Rome would be difficult but the "allies" tried their hardest during 1153. Once the forces of Innocent II got very close to Rome, Anacletus wanted to try and flee to Ajaccia in Genoese Corsica, but there was a naval war going on between Genoa and Venice, who of course tried to use this war as a means to damage the other rivals' fleet and during the trip, a Venetian ship captured Anacletus. The war just about bled into 1154 when the last of Anacletus' supporters fell, with the capture of their pope obviously being a big impact to morale. Innocent II was placed back on his throne, having a more positive attitude towards Byzantium for obvious reasons. He only reigns for about two years however, spending time rebuilding damaged lands, before dying in 1156, being replaced by Eugene III, a friend of his who also has respect for the Byzantine Empire.
* **Quick Byzantine Status:** The current emperor Leo VIII is the son of Alexios I. Leo was maimed in Carail when fighting the revolt led by Tommaso. While his injury was properly treated, he is still physically weakened by this condition. Carail itself is still in an uneasy spot, especially after devastation in the revolt. Relations to the Byzantine Empire have changed quite a bit since the Papal Schism, the empire's regular buddies are there for them and they have gained some like from previous adversaries like Venice, Capua and Ancona, while relations with Genoa (who supported the antipope) fall pretty hard after conflict. Also obviously, most of the Papal States are kinda more chill with them. The Middle East is the Middle East. In 1157, the king of Dragovits: Uroš II dies and thus a personal union is formed as Leo VIII becomes the king there as well.
* **The Albionite Isles - Angevin Might:** What if England was OP?? Well, here you go. Louis (because of course) VII of France has a wife named Eleanor of Aquitaine, except he doesn't after 1152. That marriage is annulled, mainly because no male heir was produced. So Eleanor is then arranged to marry Henry II of England and bam suddenly Henry has a claim on French lands extending from Aquitaine all the way down to the Pyrenees mountains. Louis VII obviously didn't want these lands to go to England and saw no other solution other than war. From 1154 to 1158, a bloody war raged between England and France. After the battles of Limoges and Orléans, both big English victories, the English got all the way to the border of Burgundy and they came closer and closer to Paris, before Louis VII realized there was no going back and surrendered. This allowed Henry to officially grab all of those lands he had a claim on and he started to hand out those other captured lands to vassals and nobles of England. The Occitan region would basically gain independence as a duchy due to separation from the rest of France, although they would be on good terms with the French because they both hate the English, understandable. Henry II defeated the French at quite a young age and would become very respected and feared as king. In 1155 he and Eleanor had a son, GUESS WHAT HIS NAME IS. IF YOU SAID JAMES, YOU'D BE WRONG. HENRYRYRYRYYRYRy9hrsoyhjp3quty0hrewseuhj +034qiyu354+´ku´4w<. sorry. Anyway. The so called Angevin Empire has been formed, Angevin being the demonym for someone from Anjou and the current king of England is of the House of Anjou. A beeg England like this is scary not only for France and Occitania who barely exist, but also for other realms in western Europe and also of course, the other realms in the Albionite Isles, especially Cymra. Cymra at the time is ruled by an unpopular king, so in 1159, several nobles basically invite Eire to "invade" and bring them into the Gaelic Union as well. But this "invasion" hasn't happened yet.
* **Saljuq Decline:** Ever since the Second Crusade the Saljuq Empire has been on quite the decline. In the Ardushteg-held lands, the place is basically now Persianate Turkic. The people are Turkic but have adopted a Persian-ified culture. Ardushteg himself decides now is the time to gain true independence and make Persia Persian again. He is partially successful in a war of independence, capturing all of the northernmost lands of the empire, although he doesn't get much into Persia. Still, the Ardushtegin Empire is declared and Ardushteg would rule it until 1157 when he died. His son Qutb ad-Din became the second ever Shah. The Uzbek-majority city of Samarqand becomes the capital. Meanwhile, Rûm had for long become more and more independent from the empire that spawned them and in 1156 they would declare independence after a short war against the Zangid Emirate. Emir Nur ad-Din is angry over the loss and is also planning his own secession from the dumbydumbdumb Saljuqs. Oh yeah this isn't relevant but Saladin was declared caliph of the Ayyubids in 1153 and the Ayyubids conquered Yemen.
* **Blyat II:** Oh boy how the Rus' love getting invaded by Khazars, it's their favourite I mean they LOVE it. The war was mostly stalemate until the Rus' manage to push the Khazars pretty far from Kiev, but the troops were pushed to the point of extreme exhaustion and were unable to reinforce the area and Kiev was sieged once more and this time captured in 1152. After that it took months for the Rus' to negotiate a peace with their adversaries. Kiev was taken as a vassal along with other lands: Voronezh. Despite losing Kiev and thus changing capital to Smolynsk, the Rus' state is still referred to as the Kievan Rus', because screw starting over now. The Khazars, following this war, has started to settle for real and develop a more feudal system, as evidenced with the clear enforcement and fortification of the capital of Akashar. This centralizes the south while the north remains much more nomadic and untamed. Finally, the remaining unclaimed Slavic lands are united as the small realm of Ryazan.
* **Chronicles of Angkor Wat V - Complete Victory:** In Southeast Asia, war has raged for very long. As the Palas close in, Pagan is more and more threatened and surrenders in 1153. This leaves only Dai Viet, who fights for one more year before also negotiating peace. Pagan loses a lot, lands, money, their dependency in Pyu, all that shit. Dai Viet also loses long-held lands in the Champa coast as well as Vieng Chan. The Chelas now have another vassal: Pegu, which ensures practically complete Chela dominance over the Bay of Bengal. The biggest winner however, is the Khmer Empire, which now starts a period of recovery and growth. Sure, their king dies in 1154, but he sees a strong state built as well as the completion of Angkor Wat, the testament to his reign.
* **Ambaghai -> Qutula Khan:** During conflict raging between the Mongols and the Jurchen Jin, Ambaghai, the khan of the Mongols had been captured and viciously tortured. To really show the Mongols that they mean business, Emperor Digunai (who took over after Xizong died in early 1150) took Ambaghai to the center of Beiking and had him publicly executed. They brutally hacked him to death and dismembered him into several pieces. His head was then delivered to Qutula Khan in Kerülen, who was incredibly angry and ramped up attacks on the Jin. Many of these didn't do well however and in 1156, the Mongols ended hostilities with the Jin, who didn't claim any lands as that would just anger the thorn in their side more. Instead the Jin defeated the Xixia and took a few bits of land, cementing themselves as the most powerful realm in East Asia. Now Qutula Khan did not fight alone, he was joined by several other lesser khans, like Ong Khan, khan of the Keraites and also Yesugei, Qutula's nephew, which brought some prestige. However, the loss to the Jin caused the Khamag Mongol to start going into disarray and the head khan was barely even in full power. Qutula Khan was the fourth son of Khabul Khan and was nearly in his 50s. Knowing he wouldn't live much longer, he saw Yesugei as the next khan and needed him to get the confederation back on track again, so he needed to get Yesugei a wife so he could start a lineage. Trouble was that the Borjigins were not as big and prosperous as during Khabul Khan's period. This is where we get to Hoelun. This woman of the Olkhunut tribe was 22 and not married, so her father had her engaged to a man named Chiledu, of the Mergids, a prosperous tribe. After they were married, they were traveling to the home of Chiledu but Yesugei and others showed up and kidnapped Hoelun, bringing her to Kerülen. He made her chief wife and while kidnapping in general is kind of a horrible thing, being chief wife to anyone let alone a khan was an honor, as only the chief wife could give birth to heirs. Yesugei and Hoelun also became quite close quite soon, so things seem good so far. In just a few years, a certain someone will arrive upon planet Earth. Are you prepared?
* **A Look Back Upon Iberia:** Now while all the christian realms of Iberia are just that, christian, that doesn't mean that they're all collective friends who fight against the evil super evil muslims evil. There's quite a fair bit of infighting and we find that here as well. León-Castille is up to more claiming Basque lands and goes to war with Navarra, however they call in Portucalis, who they made a defensive alliance with in 1155. Meanwhile the Bashirid Empire and Qurtuba look on with opportunity in their eyes.
* **An Interesting Jidai - S2E6, The Definition of Insanity:** With an overfunding of the military and a batshit mad emperor, Japan starts to see some fluctuation going on. More and more suspicion regarding the Emperor's strange behaviour as well as innocent lives being ceased on a consistent basis arises. Peasants start to become angry, not only because some of them see the taxes they pay go to a military that isn't even in use, but also that innocents just get killed off whenever. Nobles also start getting tired of all of this and start organizing themselves into groups and discussing what to do because they feel like they could rule Japan better than a kid whose brain is scrambled. The Black Lotus also is doing stuff. Basically the three most powerful classes of Japan: the nobles, the samurai and the assassins are all looking to do something about the current climate of the empire. Dai Viet does hire a few soldiers, but not many and while no new Ainu tribes allow themselves to be annexed into Japan, the biggest tribes in most of the rest of the island of Ezo form the Nivkh Confederation.
* **Decline of Srivijaya:** Sad life. Langkasuka continues to capture territories in Malaya and they set upon Malacca. Banten starts to get stronger as well and yeah you know where this is going don't you.
* **Chaughan:** They conquer Delhi and move their capital there.
* **An Atlas:** The arab Muhammad al-Idrisi, a geographer and cartographer living in Morocco, spends the first half of the 1150s creating the Tabula Rogeriana, a description of the world accompanied with a world map that looks like this. Whilst obviously quite incorrect and inaccurate, it will remain one of the most accurate world maps for quite a long time.
* **Shewa:** They annex Bahri.
* **Vinland:** Significant amount of time has passed and they are practically independent from Hrímland by now, this is also accompanied with less and less contact between the two.
* **Tiwanaku:** They win over Wari and annex a few lands.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Nikkō Yamashengu, Hunichi Yamashengu
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Shihon**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 350.000
				+ **Tōga:** 315.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 225.000
				+ **Yamato:** 190.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 180.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 175.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 165.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 155.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.564.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.319.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 12.641.000
			* **Total population:** 16.960.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism.
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 28%, Ainu 72%
				+ **Otomari:** 9.500
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 9.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 287.500
			* **Total population:** 325.000
			* **Religion:** 88% Shinto-Buddhism, 12% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 18% Visayan 82%
				+ **Tudar:** 3.640
				+ **Rural Areas:** 17.548
			* **Total population:** 21.088
			* Religion: 50% Shinto-Buddhism, 50% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **War:** We have 3 groups, Red, white and green, these groups are to naval invade Tungning from their respective island clusters. Red will send troops from the islands close to Lusong to southern Tungning, Green from southern Okinawa to northern Tungning and white from southern Okinawa to central Tungning, these will also take over 2 islands in that area which shall become supply points for our armies. The plan is to invade from everywhere so that their armies will become too thin to hold all fronts.
		- **Green:** They will first-off surround the city of Banqiao and then try to overwhelm it with arrows from our ships and sieges from everywhere else. We need to capture it to use as a supply base, the more supply bases we have the more troops we can supply. While capturing the city 30% of the green army's troops are to continue south to intercept them from reinforcing the city. Their naval army also goes on a search and destroy mission around the city to starve them and make naval support impossible. They also protect supply ships. The army will then after capturing the city focus on encirclement and marching to their capital.
		- **Red:** most of them will land in southern Tungning, they will be supplied by Lusong and Tudar. They will march north toward the capital while 20% of the red army (lol) capture 2 islands to use as supply bases. The red navy will intercept fishers and stab their ships in the back while they probably try to fight off the green navy.
		- **White:** They land in the center after nabbing 2 islands for supply bases. They are then to spearhead straight to Tungnings capital but instead of a direct attack they are to siege it and send 30% of their army north to help the green army to encircle enemies and another 30% to the south to help the red army (lol x2) to collect most of Tungnings farmland. When 2 armies connect IE a front is won that army will split in half, half laying siege to the capital and the other half controlling the areas they have taken. Their navy will focus mainly on supply.
		- **Who We Send:** We don't send any big forces but focus on multiple naval invasions, bigger forces may be sent if we have enough supply outposts. We mostly send archers, swordmen and spearmen and cavalry but also a few heavy infantry units as well as Tawābasutās when the siege of taichung is on.
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 0.75% (Japan + puppets/vassals) 129.800
				+ 38.940 Archers. (38.940) (30%)
				+ 22.066 Spear men (22.066) (17%)
				+ 22.066 Swordsmen (22.066) (17%)
				+ 20 768 Cavalry (20 768) (16%)
				+ 2 163 Tawābasutā (6 490) (5%)
				+ 0 Yōyū-ki (0) (0% but we have 100)
				+ 11 682 Heavy Infantry 11 682) 9%
				+ 3 894 Winter Infantry (3 894) 3%
				+ 3 894 Jungle Infantry (3 894) 3%
		- **Navy:**
			* 200 Galleys
			* 140 Transport ships
			* 165 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 4 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **WAR:** We declare war on Tungning MUWAHAHAHAHHA.
		- **Nivkh:** Hey, we want to eventually combine you with Ezo to make a unified Ainu state, do you want to work towards that with us? of course your involvance would mean that that state would be more lossely tied to Japan.
		- **Zheng:** Looks like you are in a tight spot with Jin, care to join The ensemble that is Japan, Goryeo and Lusong which is quite tiny and out of reach for you? it would benefit us both greatly because if they take you, Goryeo is next. You and I need each other.
		- **Dai Viet:** We improve relations.
		- **Events:**
			* **The Wicked:** Basically the same day as Nikkō declared war the following happened. The black lotus talked with the most prevalent nobles and samurai and basically said "The Emperor has used our organization for wicked things, we are quite tired and so are you, now the bastard is ruining the country. We kidnapped his daughter so let us just get rid of him, put her into power and finnish what the bloke started, throwing the work he did away would upset the public further. Let's just use it and repair the damage." A few hours later his maid "found" the body and it was dumped into the sea. No one gave a shit. They put his daughter Hunichi into power although her age at 13 and thus they also let the lords steer the country until she turns 16. The lords lower the conscription a lot and promises the public that they will clean the jerks mess. The black lotus also seems to b chill so the public grows happier... but they are thrilled to finally enter a war of prevalence.
			* **MONEY:** That bastard spent way too much for this war, the sugar trade is redirected heawvily to go through Okinawa to Gintama and then to China instead of Tunging for obvious reasons so that we may get more money.
			* **Experimental is Mental:** Military funding is lowered but so is the conscription. This is to lower funding but have a strong enough army for defending Japan and conquering some islands.

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Leo VIII
	+ **Dynasty:** Domninian Dynasty
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade mainly through Constantinople where a variety of things are traded. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently thriving. Our most valuable and prized goods are silk and purple
	+ **Capital:** Constantinople
	+ **Cities:**
	+ **Constantinople: 940,000**
	+ Adrianople: 123,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 115,000
	+ Syracuse: 86,000
	+ Athens: 85,000
	+ Cities: ~2,300,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~8,400,000
	+ Total population: ~10,700,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 67.5%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 6.5% Turks 7% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 1% (~105,000)
	+ 39,000 Cavalry
		- 15,000 Cataphracts
			* 5,000 Cataphract archers
	+ 66,000 Infantry
		- 16,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
* **Navy:**
	+ 50 Galleys
	+ 170 Transport ships
	+ 185 Dromons
	+ 84 Triremes
	+ 6 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Papal State:** We request that you see to excommunicate Hungary for betraying the church by supporting Anacletus
* **Events:**
	+ **Change of trade relations:** The merchants of Genoa are treated less kindly while although Venice will never be allowed to own land on our territory, they arent looked upon with disdain.
	+ **Probably only once and never again:** After this Papal schism and not only coming out the victor, but being those of a different denomination we try to make small amends to the catholic church to improve the tolerance against heretics

### **Khazar Khaganate:**

* **Government: Monarchy (Khaganate)**
	+ **Khagan:** Banel
	+ **Dynasty:** Bulanid
	+ **Economy:** Most of the economy comes from trade with the Byzantium Empire and some other smaller nations. We also possess the ability to intervene in important sectors within the economy to make sure nothing goes off balance and are currently doin great.
	+ **Capital: Akashar**
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population: 74,4%** **Khazar, 12,69% Slavic, 9,6% Aabkhaz, 1.9% Greek, 1,4% Georgian, 0,01% Ugrian.**
		- **Total population: ~2,469k, Population (including Vassals): 2,666k**
		- **Cities: 598.92k**
			* **Akashar: 151.19k**
			* **Galgan: 118.58k**
			* **Karcha: 105.59k**
			* **Korstyam: 97.57k**
			* **Chersonesus: 34.61k**
			* **Kabalaska:** **25.57k**
			* **Aqwa: 21.75k**
			* **Thyaps:****20.48k**
			* **Mykolev: 16.58k**
			* **Charkev: 7k**
		- **Rural Areas:** **~1,870.08k**
		- **Religion:** **83.5% Judaism, 12.8% Christianity, 3.7% Tengri.**
* **Vassals:**
	+ **Combined Total population:** 197k
		- **Kiev:** 34 000
			* **Capital:** 15 000
			* **Rural areas:** 19 000
		- **Dénec:** 31 000
			* **Capital:** Denec 2 750
			* **Rural areas:** 28 250
		- **Ulyar:** 26 000
		- **kama:** 23 000
		- **Bilyar:** 20 000
		- **Tynea:** 18 000
		- **Syrte:** 17 000
		- **Asli:** 15 000
		- **Chuva:** 13 000
* **Wars and Conflicts: (*Italics= potential war)***
* **Military:**
	+ **First army: Total of 2% 49 920**
		- 29 946 Cavalry
			* 13 878 with Spears
			* 16 068 with Swords
		- 15 531 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 4 542 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Second army:** **Total of 1% 24 960**
		- 14 873 Cavalry
			* 6 886 with Spears
			* 7 987 with Swords
		- 7 600 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 487 Infantry with Spears and Shields.
	+ **Third Army: 1% 24 960**
		- 19 177 Infantry with Swords and Shields.
		- 2 536 Infantry with Spears and Shields
		- 3 247 Cavalry with Spears.
* **Navy**
	+ **For traversing the Caspian sea:​**
		- **37 Transport ships (trade/negotiations)**
		- **77 fishing ships** **(for fishing...)**
	+ **For traversing the black sea:​​​​​​**
		- **10 B-Galleys (For Larger Cargo and for more people to fit while traveling)**
		- **34 Transport ships (trade/negotiations with the Byzantine Empire)**
		- **31 traveling ships (travel between the Karcha strait)**
		- **102 fishing ships (for fishing...)**
* **Diplomacy:**
* **Production:**
* **Events:**
	+ **Celebration:** A huge festival is celebrated all over the country celebrating our victory over the Kievan Rus.
	+ **Fortification of Chakev:** Similarly to Akashar we fortify the city of Charkev.
	+ **Development of the north:** We start making plans on developing the northern regions of our nation. Starting with making a city we will call Sartav.