Archive 27

Turn 131 - 135.

### **NPC Events:**

* **The Mongol Horde - Part II: The Great Conquests:** Are you scared yet? Well you better be. Genghis Khan finishes off the Tanguts in 1210 and in the same year, received a delegation from the Jin dynasty. The Mongols were already raiding them and technically at war but upon the fall of the Xixia, the Jin realized that this wasn't those random sporadic horse-riding bastards with no common goal anymore, the Mongols were unified and proved themselves powerful by eliminating Xixia. This delegation thus sought peace but also a form of subordination, this because Ong Khan had previously interacted diplomatically with the Jurchens and they now saw Genghis Khan as Ong Khan's heir and successor. Genghis met personally with the head diplomat. After hearing the proposal, the Khan turned around, spat on the ground and unleashed a large tirade of insults and swears before getting on his horse and riding off with the people who accompanied him. This was a message that the war would continue. Upon his return, the Jurchen diplomat witnessed Emperor Xuanzong becoming incredibly furious. He would make a statement that doubled as an order. He declared that he would see the end of the war not only as the victor, but he also requested that Genghis Khan's decapitated head be delivered right to him in the throne room. Hmm, sure, like that'll happen. To fight the Jurchens, the Mongols already had learned much of the tactics needed from the war with Xixia, such as fighting in deserts and sieging fortresses. The Mongol army travelled in a different way than others and each warrior could practically survive on their own in regards to food and such, making the force unpredictable. In the campaign, they used fierce and frankly brutal tactics of their own, they would sack a massive amount of villages in the countryside and force peasants into conscription as well as going after villages surrounding a fortress or city before going after the fortress/city itself. Massive amounts of peasants became fleeing refugees, clogging highways and making it difficult for armies of the Jin dynasty to travel. The Mongols also used captured peasants as human shields. Still, even with this power, the Jurchen Jin Empire has a large population and territory and is arguably the strongest realm in modern-day China, so the war would take a long time, even for a swift conquerer like Genghis Khan who has conquered Beiking. In the meanwhile in 1213, Genghis' first son Jochi and his main general Subutai were traveling in the west of the Mongol realm and were first-hand witnesses to forces over there building themselves up. The Khagan of the Uyghurs: Kuchlug, formed a secret alliance with the Kirghiz, Khuzait and Yanserit Khanates to stand against the Mongols. To send a message to the Mongols, these would raid and pillage the westernmost frontier of the Mongol lands. When this war reported to Genghis Khan by Subutai, Jochi and also Ögedei, another one of Genghis' sons who joined up, the Khan told them that those raiders live in future Mongolian lands. Thus, a violent campaign led mainly by Subutai was unleashed upon the Kirghiz, Khuzaits, Yanserits and Kazakhs, who joined in to protect the Khuzaits and Yanserits for the sake of their own safety. Kuchlug realized when the Mongols invaded that he had kinda fucked himself over and gave Subutai an apology, riches and weapons to try and please Subutai. This worked... sort of. Subutai would continue cruising throughout Central Asia, attacking the remaining Kazakh breakaway Khanates as well to establish dominance. This is largely successful but not finished, even by 1219. Through the conquests of most of these petty khanates, Genghis now had hold of a large part of the Silk Road. He didn't control China, where the precious material was produced, nor did he control the primary purchasing areas in Persia and the rest of the Middle East, but he directed the trade of the road through the steppe, making access to it easier in Mongolia and the Mongols became richer and gained luxury products. Genghis wanted more of this and looked to the Ardushtegin Empire, where various strong metals, cotton and glass was created by the most skilled artisans. He wanted this as well and sent ambassadors to negotiate a trade deal with Shah Muhammad II. He had heard of rumors and such detailed in the event below and was as such suspicious but accepted the deal. When the caravans arrived however, a governor by the name of Inalchuq had them arrested and executed, believing it to be a conspiracy or trap. This infuriated Genghis, but considering his empire was at war against the Jurchens and also finishing the conquest of the Kazakhs in the far west, he didn't want war and decided to give Muhammad a second chance, granted that he would punish Inalchuq and apologize for the incident. The diplomats who sent this message met the same fate as the caravan merchants, although a few of them were not executed, only maimed and sent back as an insult. But this move would be a great, great mistake. As soon as Genghis saw the state of the returning diplomats, he declared that the Mongols were at war with the Turkmens and that their streets would be flooded with the blood of their soldiers and inhabitants. Thus he started an invasion in 1218, the same year as the two incidents. Quickly, the Mongols crossed the Tian Shan mountains and moved into the desert of Khwarazm, sieging and taking Nókis, Samarqand, Bukhara and Urgench, leaving other cities, especially the capital of Merv, in great trouble.
* **Legends of the Horseman of War:** Lands far west of the Mongol steppe would under this period come to hear of rumors and legends. These speak of a brutal people, fighting like barbarians, raiding, pillaging and raping all in their path and led by a single man. The rumors spread through mainly civilians, with the information sometimes reaching a few nobles. At the start of this turn it only spreads to the nearest areas, some of which already know quite a bit about the Mongols and Genghis Khan, but rumors first strike Japan and Korea by the first few years before it becomes fact with the Jurchen Jin reporting the war they're caught in. With the Mongol expansion west, the news would spread from refugees into the Middle East, parts of India and eventually easternmost Europe. The Volga Magyars and Khazars become close to having their first meetings with the empire, whilst Georgia, Rûm, the Ayyubids, the Byzantines and various Ruthenian realms only hear of the legends of the brutality of this man, his armies and his people.
* **Great Eslamic War:** Saladin's grandson Al-Mansur Nasir al-Din Muhammad (Al-Mansur for short) takes over as Ayyubid sultan after Al-Aziz dies. With him as sultan he also decides give the title of caliph to a separate person for what he saw as better governing for the realm. Something else he inherited, but is dealing with himself is the conflict with the Shias in Persia and Anatolia, specifically Anatolia, where Rûm lies and a war would break out in 1216 with Al-Mansur seeking to conquer eastern Anatolia which he claims. But there is also the Shewa dynasty in Abyssinia that has for long followed Sunni, however its rivals in the east of the Horn of Africa: the Mogadishu Sultanate and Mosylon, a colony of Oman, have been pushing Ibadi on them. In 1217 nobles rise up in the east, even taking the capital of Obock. However the current sultan escapes and a civil war breaks out. Oman and friends break in to assist the rebels. The Ayyubids, also having conflict with the Ibadis (mainly over Oman's power over the Persian Gulf and thus spreading the Ibadi denomination there as well) breaks in to assist their Sunni brethren, which also pits the Ayyubids against Oman. The Saudis of Diriyya, whom are a branch of the dynasty that used to rule Qarmatia, joins in with the Ayyubids to reclaim lands and also because they are also Sunni. The Ahfaris fall in as well to attack Oman and suddenly basically the entire Middle East is at war.
* **35 Years of War:** War. War can actually change in a way because of technology and how you do the warfare in the war where you have to fight and kill people. This has nothing to do with West Africa really but... WEST AFRICAN WAR YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. The big important thing here is of course if that prophecy thing will come into fruition. Things almost look hopeless for Wagadou's side after 18 uninterrupted years of warfare. In 1210 however, the child of its king Naré Maghann Konaté and his wife Kumba Sene is born, named Mari Djata. With the assistance of the noble family Kumba originates from and according to legend, the supposed miracle child born, Wagadou is able to counter the Gambians and push them back towards Aoudaghost, a victory there would be massive for Wagadou and Timbuktu. The siege there begins in 1219. In other areas of the war, a push away from Wagadou's borders and back to Jenné is slowly underway whilst Timbuktu prepares the defense of its capital against the soldiers of Gao. Mari Djata himself grows up in a world of war, being taught by his father and the generals of Wagadou in the art of warfare as early as age 7. The same year he would meet the young girl Niani Sene, daughter of Kumba Sene's sister. Nothing much regarding that is happening as of right now.
* **Teutonic Trouble:** Members of the Knights Templar, as well as many soldiers who used to fight in the crusades have formed the Teutonic Order. With the slight failure of the Second Crusade and complete failure of the Third Crusade, they look to forcefully convert other regions to christianity. They look to go after Poland, who follow the "wrong" christianity (Teutonic Order is Catholic and Poland is Orthodox/Eastern Patriarchy) but also the still non-christian Baltic region. Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order declares a "northern crusade" against the heretical Polish and the pagans of the various Baltic realms in 1218. They receive support from some of the members of the HRE but the HREmperor and the Pope have not had their say just yet.
* **Tamar the Great:** Shirvan is under attack and now it isn't anymore. Of course "now" means the year 1211. Another vassal for Tamar. Now leading Georgia through its greatest period ever, she would eventually receive the title of "the Great". Not yet though because... she's still alive. Anyway she enteres negotiation and diplomacy with Byzantium along with the forming of that defensive pact. Next target of hers are the Khazars, who have been busy for quite a while and Aabkhaziya do be lookin kinda tasty ngl. I'm sorry I'll never write that again.
* **A New Japan - S3E2:** Okay what's going on over in \*insert unoriginal and not funny joke name for japan here like hentailand or something\*? Well, not too much that is noteworthy. The realm is continuing on its recovery process, doing well in general. Samurai still have a lot of power like the... powerful group they are you know and now with these new guns introduced things look interesting for the Japanese to say the least.
* **Volga Khanate:** The two khans lead their armies to victory, defeating the Khazar tributaries and the Khazars themselves, although they only annex the tributaries. The Volga Magyars are back in power now after roughly 100 years of Khazar rule through the tributary states.
* **The Sort-of Crusade of the East:** Thought we were done with crusades, well... nope. The states of Volyn' and Halych had a plan before to launch a crusade to the east with the help of the Byzantines in order to spread Orthodoxy, but it didn't happen because of the lack of support from the Byzantines. Well, they now decide, together with Moldavia, to strike anyway. Their targets are mainly Kiev, but they also seek to bring the head Ruthenian state of the Kievan Rus' to assist later on and bring back Voronezh into the fold as well and kick these steppe horse-fuckers out of what they consider to be traditionally and rightfully Slavic territory. In 1218 the Volynian king Daniel declares a crusade against the Khazars. The Kiev vassal of the Khazars faces dangerous invasions but hangs on for this turn, the Khazars also manage to push into Halych slightly but they appear to be at a disadvantage. Speaking of the Khazars, the khagan declares the Byzantine-Khazar alliance over after centuries have gone by with no real diplomatic contact between the two besides trade and such. He also does this because the Byzantines didn't assist the Khazars when this "crusade" began. Some (like maybe a player) may say they haven't given Byzantium time to decide yet but impatience is a thing you know.
* **Swedes, Danes and Ruthenians, oh my!:** After years of integration, Kyrelia, now known as Kyreli, is annexed into Novgorod under Tsar Mstislav II. He has for long eyed up the area of Finland, like several rulers before him. With further Swedish expansion in that area, enough for there to be a border (at least according to Mstislav, remember that borders still weren't fully established and recognized at this point in time). With this, he has a casus belli and goes to war with Sweden in 1214. King Eric VI has been rather ineffective and suddenly also faces another enemy from the south. Valdemar II was looking to humiliate the Swedes and hopefully show them who is the real boss. Minor skirmishes between vassals of both Danesmark and Sweden had fought across the border earlier so in 1216, Valdemar uses this to go to war with the Swedes, who are now at a large disadvantage, especially when the king is unpopular. This is the third Dano-Swedish war, known as the Valdemaric War.
* **Chaotic Iberia:** Here in Iberia there are two big events. First is oh shit spain died. With the death of Henry I of the combined kingdoms of León and Castile, his sons and claimants all try to race to the throne resulting in the realm's division into three entities: León, Castile and Galicia. The eastern Iberian realms of Aragon and Navarre, with support from Occitania, lead attacks on the Emirate of Mayurka in an attempt to push the muslims out. This lasts until 1217, with the war being declared a crusade in 1215. Pope Innocent III, who succeeded Daniel I, allows this, despite not talking with Byzantium. By 1217 the Emirate is conquered by a crusader from Aragon who builds the new kingdom of Majorca from the Eslamic regime's ashes.
* **Chela Empire:** They forcefully vassalize the weakened kingdom of Pagan. What a great addition to their collection.
* **The Incas:** The kingdoms of Qusqu and Tiwanaku team up to delete the Wari kingdom for good.
* **Zimbabwe:** Currently Zimbabwe continues to defeat rival tribes, slowly unifying the Shona people.
* **Battle for Barigaza:** A dynasty known as Rashtrakuta has been leading the Pratisthanan kingdom for very long, but the kingdom has been nothing compared to some of the behemoths of the Indian subcontinent like Chaughan and of course the Chelas. To strengthen themselves they look at the Indian spice trade which crosses over to the desert lands of Arabia in the west. Whilst taking part in it, the most prosperous trade city is Barigaza, under rule by the Gujarat realm. Thus they go to war with Gujarat in an attempt to take that city for themselves.
* **Florence Flourishing:** Florence be flourishing. They also eat Siena.
* **Native Americans:** The Native American polities continue to grow in strength and their borders do the same as well.
* **Vlandia and Moldavia:** These two, bearing similar cultures and generally being in a vulnerable spot, form their own alliance called the Rumenian Pact, named that way since both of the countries speak the Rumenian language.
* **South of the Gulf of Finland:** It has been many years since the failed crusade of the Danes and Swedes. Kalevi knows he will die soon, being very old. In the recent years, a series of almost endless wars have been waged by the different lords of the region of Estonia and more will arrive. What will also arrive are outside forces, this especially when the christian faith surrounds the Baltic region and it has arrived before in a violent way. Kalevi thus instructs his eldest son and eldest daughter: Reio and Jaanika, to serve as co-rulers of the Duchy of Rävala when he dies. He has Jaanika married to the son of the king of Dzukija and Reio married to the daughter of the king of Zemaiteje, believing that an alliance with the Lithuanians will be very useful for the future. With a few words of wisdom he tells them to do the best for the family and for the duchy before dying in 1218. The two siblings prepare to bring all they can to lead Rävala to prosperity.
* **Orvalians:** Mongol invasions further north after the occupation of northeastern Jin are like other Mongol invasions, very brutal. Several of the Tungusics are forced to flee and migrate north. One large amount of people, driven astray with almost no possessions left settle north of the Okhotsk Sea, where they eventually develop a new way of life and in a way, a new culture: the Orvalian culture.
* **Brunei:** The Bruneian king converts to Hinduism, giving the religion more power in the East Indies region.
* **Haida:** The Haida Confederation is formed by the various Haida peoples on the island of Haida Gwaii, or as it's known in their native language: "X̱aaydag̱a Gwaay.yaay"*,* yeah... however you pronounce that.
* **Pyu:** The tiny little boi is vassalized by Nanzhou.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:**Shugyu Yamashengoshiand Hanui Yamashengoshi
	+ **Economy:**spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Shihon**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 365.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 288.000
				+ **Yamato:** 210.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 195.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 180.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 165.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 155.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.869.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.732.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 14.888.000
			* **Total population:** 19.640.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism
		- **Demographics of Tujing:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 1%, Chinese(ish) 99%
				+ **Taichung:**43.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 587.000
			* **Total population:** 630.000
			* **Religion:** Buddhism 98.5% Shinto-Buddhsim 1.5%
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 38%, Ainu 62%
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 11.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 282.000
			* **Total population:** 314.000
			* **Religion:** 96% Shinto-Buddhism, 4% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 22% Visayan 78%
				+ **Tudar:** 5.700
				+ **Rural Areas:** 40.300
			* **Total population:** 46.000
			* **Religion:** 62% Shinto-Buddhism, 38% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:**total of 1% (Japan + Ezo + Tudar + Tujing) 206.300
				+ 55.000 Archers. (55.000)
				+ 45.000 Spear men (45.000)
				+ 45.000 Swordsmen (45.000)
				+ 29.000 Cavalry (29.000)
				+ 2.100 Tawābasutā (6.300)
				+ 2.000 Yōyū-ki (4000)
				+ 10.000 Heavy Infantry (10.000)
				+ 6.000 Winter Infantry (6.000)
				+ 6.000 Jungle Infantry (6.000)
		- **Navy:**
			* 210 Galleys
			* 130 Transport ships
			* 175 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 5 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Zheng:** The nation to the north, we hear of their success and think that we should put our differences aside, it is more important to be wary of them, we don't want to provoke them.
		- **Goryeo:** We need to stay at these Northern peoples good side
		- **Mongol Empire:** So uhm.. hey? want to trade? We also dislike the Chinese nation so we should be friends, and as a gift, here, have some of our finest sake. It's a gift~
		- **Nivkh:** Do you know anything about these Mouwgails?
		- **Events:**
			* **FORTIFY:** We fortify the hell out of Tujing and generally all of our western border to the sea.Especially the islands south of mainland Japan
			* **GUNS:** Okay 100 years ain't gonna cut it, make that 30, heavy research.
			* **Rebuild, the Last Push:** Japan is pretty alright again, but we still need to increase our economy so that we can afford another big war or multiple smaller ones. Therefore we start trading more with everyone.
			* **That One Island:** we lost an island south of Tudar apparently, so we claim it again.

### **NPC Events:**

* **The Mongol Horde - Part III: The Threat in the Middle East:** At this point, the Mongols have crossed from their steppes and mountains into the land of Persia. The decision that the Ardushtegin Empire made was very, very bad and they suffer the consequences. The attack by the horde was so brutal that it wiped Bactra and Merv right off the map. Let that sink in. Merv. The grand, populous capital of the empire was turned to ruins and within months the entire empire collapsed at the hands of the Mongols. The same goes for the khanates in the west, quickly wiped out and subjected to the same form of integration and assimilation that the Mongols have practiced earlier. Only one of the khans there was spared: Serik Khan of the Yanserit Khanate. This because he surrendered, declared Genghis as his superior and informed of the treachery performed by Kuchlug, the khagan of the Uighurs who set this alliance up in the first place. Subutai brought Serik to meet with Genghis personally. He appreciated Serik's honesty and acceptance of subordinance. Genghis was also very angry over the dishonesty and disloyalty shown by Kuchlug. Thus the two went on a swift campaign against Kuchlug, conquering the Uighur Khaganate very quickly and punishing Kuchlug and his people greatly. Genghis then granted Serik some authority over the lands of the Kazakhs, letting him keep the armies he had left before his khanate was conquered, before sending Subutai out for further conquests in Persia. But in other news, let's look to the east where the armies attacking Jin come across Beiking in 1222. The Emperor Aizong negotiated with Genghis Khan. A treaty was created, where the Mongols received many lands and the finest luxuries in return of not being destroyed. Humiliating for the Jurchens. After Genghis returned home however, reports came of Aizong moving his capital to Luoyang and Genghis saw this as a breach of their agreement. In 1223 he led a campaign against the Jurchen Jin and annihilated it, bringing it into his empire as he had done with many other territories. He was now also 61 years old and he knew he needed to be able to preserve this empire when his eventual death would come, because no one, not even Genghis Khan, is immortal. This was difficult, Genghis had spent so much time creating his empire that he had neglected his family and this was seen in a kurultai done in 1227. He summoned his family to speak of who would be heir to his throne. The focus lied on Jochi, Tansugai and Ögedei, Genghis' three oldest sons. He allowed Jochi to speak first, acknowledging him as the oldest brother, but as he was speaking, he was interrupted by Tansugai. The two brothers did not see eye-to-eye on much and there were tensions between the two which exploded at this meeting. The two started fighting but it was broken up by Genghis, Börte and Ögedei. Genghis pleaded with his sons to listen. The two still didn't agree on a lot regarding tactics and many other things, but a decision was made. Genghis planned, in accordance with succession and inheritance, to give some lands to his sons. He thus offered the furthest western lands to Jochi, the middle lands to Tansugai and the remainder to Ögedei. Ögedei would be the next Great Khan and rule all of the empire, with his two brothers having their own autonomous khanates within the empire. Ögedei could keep the two from murdering eachother. Genghis is also now, after conquering Jin, eyeing up the Song dynasty. China has a lot of things that Genghis wants and Genghis didn't want to stop conquering, or maybe it was more of a he COULDN'T stop conquering since it was something he'd done for most of his adult life. But he realized he needed to continue holding his family in check and thus he settled down for the next few years.
* **Legends of the Horseman of War 2:** By now these stories, while obviously different and varied, exist and are told everywhere from Korea and Japan to Eastern and Southern Europe with the "news" emerging in Central and Northern Europe as well. So by now, a large portion of the world have some form of idea over the brutal and powerful regime located east (for the Europeans and Arabs and such), west (for the Japanese and Koreans) and north (for the Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Khmer etc.). Quiver in fear and prepare for the arrival.
* **Great Eslamic War:** THAT BE A LOTTA WAR MAH BOIIIIIIII! What. Kay so this is what's poppin: Violent as it is, the war ends in 1222 with an Ayyubid victory, although not one that strong. Mainly the war shifted from being focused on fighting Rûm to fighting Oman due to their presence in the Persian Gulf and support of the rebels in Shewa. Due to this the Rûm front wasn't really the major point and thus even with an Ayyubid victory, the full conquest of the sultanate would not be possible, with the annexation of the region of Hatay and the entirety of the lands around Lake Van. The influence of Oman in the Persian Gulf is diminshed, with the dissolution of Qarmatia, split between Diriyya and the Ayyubids. Diriyya now has kind of reclaimed these lands, as the rulers (and many other people) of Qarmatia under Oman's suzerainty were deported out into central Arabia, where Diriyya was later formed. With an Ayyubid victory, the Shi'as and Ibadis lose a bit of influence in the Eslamic world.
* **Slavic Crusade:** After many years of a strong Khazar state, it finally starts to crumble. Unable to resist the crusade, the Slavs push in. In the countryside, where people still live relatively nomadic, a migration back past the Don river and into the North Caucasus starts to happen. Similar to what happened in the crusades in the holy land, the Slavs replace the nobles in various regions of the western Khaganate and set up their own regimes. Kiev, Voronezh, Odesa and Donbass rise up. So does Crimea, but in a different way, where Tatars who settled there establish their own realm, separate from those slavic ones, but there are still slavs who settled there and this Crimean Khanate is uneasy, with certain ethnic and religious tension. Speaking of religion, this being a holy war, these new east slavic states do their best to establish orthodoxy as the religion, persecuting the jewish and tengri people and trying to either replace them with orthodox slavs or forcefully convert some of the Khazars to orthodoxy. The Khazar Khaganate remains, but now quite weakened. Whilst the "heartlands" are still relatively okay, there are threats in every direction. To the north lies the Volga Khanate, a former enemy who might not hesitate to start raiding the weakened wealthy lands of the Khazars. To the west lie those same slavic "crusader states". To the south lies a strong power in Georgia, not necessarily a threat, but since the Khazars split from the Byzantines they will likely not receive help in a potential conflict. And do I need to say anything about what lies to the east? I don't think so.
* **35 Years of War - A Great Power Emerges:** Now the end of the war is in sight. Naré Maghann Konaté, the king of Wagadou, continues leading a successful campaign against the Gambians. His son Mari Djata grows up and from his father's teachings becomes an expert in warfare, ending up as a general for the army. The war in this region has been the longest by far and taken a toll on the warring states. However with Mari Djata and other new warlords leading the armies of Wagadou, Gambia is defeated by 1225 after the soldiers got to the Gambia river and quickly used it to capture Banjul. Later that same year Mari Djata managed to do a crazy fast march from Banjul to Araouane, successfully stopping the siege by Gao. Combine that with an attack on the city of Jenné and subsequent victories for Timbuktu and Wagadou, the middle of 1227 ends the war at last. The Kingdom of Gambia falls to be taken completely by Wagadou, whilst Gao and Jenné become vassals of Timbuktu and Wagadou respectively. In early 1228 Naré dies and 17-year old Mari Djata becomes king, but quickly declares himself emperor, forming the Mali Empire.
* **Fall of the Angevin Empire:** While the east of Europe recover from the Slavic Crusade and worry over the reports of the vicious Horde and the centre of Europe gets itself back together after the Second Papal War (kind of), the English and French are still at eachother's throats. England, faced with troubles, fight a war with France over the English territories in continental Europe from 1224 to 1225. King John loses everything except Calais and Gascony and faces even more trouble with the revolting Bretons, of course supported by the French. In that previous war Scotland would also interfere and grab a few lands from the English. With only a few lands left on the mainland, the Angevin Empire is considered to be over by now. Henry III later becomes king in 1228 after John passes away.
* **Teutonic Trouble:** The Poles are continously troubled by the Teutonic Order. The order becomes bigger and bigger, composed of many different soldiers such as mercenaries and former crusader knights. A firm hold is established on Gdansk and the Teutonic Order moves further across the coast of the Baltic Sea (just pretend the borders are different). Now I did say that central Europe (mainly HRE members) were putting everything back together... well... more squabbling occurs with this situation. The new pope is Honorius III and he is in a bit of a pickle. He is very much a pope who wants to straighten the HRE back to being more unified (as much as possible anyway) and then lead the christians into the Middle East AGAIN to try and reconquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Again. This is difficult though when the HRE is having major disagreements over the Teutonic Order. Some members and nobles are very much against such a direct attack against the Orthodox Poland, believing that even if it is to spread "the right kind of christianity" it is a threat to the status quo with the Byzantine Empire and the Orthodox sphere and considering the Byzantines still have quite the foothold in the Mediterranean, that can lead to some terrible consequences. Other members are for the spread of Catholicism in any way, also arguing for the Order's potential as well as saying this spread is necessary to counter the Orthodox own spread eastward by the Slavic Crusade and the recent spread west, with Novgorod claiming much of Swedish Finland. Frederick II, the HREmperor, is not a fan of the Pope and clearly and openly stands by his decision to support the Teutonic Order.
* **A New Japan - S3E3:** Back to NIHONNNNN. They undergo a period of rebuilding and setting things straight as well as fortification. Their neighbours of Zheng and Goryeo agree to be wary of the Mongols, although Zheng is pretty salty about it. The Nivkh have barely interacted with the Mongols, considering borders are arbitrary and there being a rather sparse population in the region they "border" so they don't know much but are slightly worried. Tseren Khürelsükh, one of Genghis Khan's closest advisors, handles the diplomatic actions and thus is the one to interact with the Japanese diplomats. The Mongols appreciate the gift and Tseren delivers a message from Genghis directly to the Japanese court. To summarize it says "respect us or face the consequences".
* **Tamar the Great:** Tamar lives out her last years, presiding over Georgia's strongest point yet. With the Khazars having to deal with the invasions from the west, conflict also arises in the mountains over where the border truly is as well as raids that have occurred there between both sides due to that exchange. Point is that Tamar would not let this slide and vying to go on a few more wars before her inevitable death she invades. A slow war in terms of the warfare but a short war as well. Aabkhaziya (known as Abchazia to the Georgians) would be captured as well as lands all the way up to Thyaps. Some minor lands bordering Shirvan was also taken and given to said vassal. Tamar passes in 1225 at the age of 65, succeeded by her son George, becoming George IV. He now has to deal with keeping everything in check and worrying about the talk of that horde that shows up and destroys shit, aka the Mongols.
* **Swedes, Danes and Ruthenians, oh god!:** The war that broke out here was unpleasant to say the least. And it was a disaster for the Swedes. Unable to properly defend the eastern lands they are overtaken by Novgorod and the Danes defeat Eric's army at the Battle of Kalmar. This was a complete and utter disaster for Sweden as that opened the floodgates for Valdemar to head further in. In 1222 Eric surrendered and the treaty was harsh. Danesmark now grabbed back Gotland and expanded its borders to control all of today's Småland. Novgorod on the other hand grabbed the entire southern coast of Finland, wrestling control over the Gulf of Finland to themselves, giving them better access to the Baltic Sea. We can also say bye bye to the House of Sverker as shortly after the end of the Valdemaric War, a civil war broke out. Eric VI's sister had previously married into the House of Folkung. Eric VI had previously exiled his sons Valdemar and Eric to Norway for conspiring against him over the throne. With no strong legal heirs, Eric's sister's husband: Charles of the House of Folkung, gathered mercenary armies and started the Folkung Rebellion. It was a short civil war (kinda), lasting 3 months before Eric VI was captured and jailed. Charles V thus became king, ending the House of Sverker and beginning the rule of the House of Folkung. Charles V still fought some battles, defeating any resistance and then fighting off an attempt from Valdemar (one of Eric's sons who was in Norway) from trying to take the throne for himself. Now, Charles has to set things straight for the kingdom.
* **Battle for Barigaza + Other Indian Things:** This particular war continues between Gujarat and the Rashtrakutas. The Paramara Kingdom joins Gujarat's side after promises of rewards for helping out. Meanwhile Chaughan keeps on eating more of the Ganges by swiftly conquering the Kalachuris. And the Chelas spread Hinduism to some of the islands between Brunei and Malaya as well as helping the Palas defeat Nepal and Dzongkhalhok.
* **Chaotic Iberia:** Conflict inevitably breaks out here again since the combined León-Castile kingdom collapsed. The conflict in question ends up being between Castile and Navarre, who is pretty much desperately fighting for survival at this point.
* **Maoris Fight it Out:** Some of the small Maori polities go to war. Mata-nui conquers Maui-iwi and Waitaha invades Hokitika.
* **Hausa and Oyo:** A few Hausa kingdoms are set up by the Hausa people of the Sahel, Kano and Damaturu. Meanwhile an Oyo kingdom rises between Dahomey and Benin. The two Hausa kingdoms become quite important as the centers of Kano and Damaturu become stops for trade leading from the Arabs of the north through the Garamantes and into the Kanem Empire and Aïr, going from there to the Hausa and then going from there through the lands of the Niger river into the West African kingdoms.
* **The Incas:** They actually didn't delete Wari, but reduced them to almost nothing. Qusqu and Tiwanaku stand strong.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Hanui Yamashengoshi
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Shihon**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 365.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 300.000
				+ **Yamato:** 210.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 198.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 180.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 167.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 155.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.910.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.800.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 15.110.000
			* **Total population:** 19.910.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism
		- **Demographics of Tujing:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 3%, Chinese(ish) 97%
				+ **Taichung:** 43.500
				+ Kaiunchō: 9.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 602.000
			* **Total population:**  655.000
			* **Religion:** Buddhism 95.5% Shinto-Buddhsim 4.5%
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 40%, Ainu 60%
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 11.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 285.000
			* **Total population:** 317.000
			* **Religion:** 97% Shinto-Buddhism, 3% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Tudar:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 25% Visayan 75%
				+ **Tudar:** 6.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 44.000
			* **Total population:** 50.000
			* **Religion:** 65% Shinto-Buddhism, 35% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 2% (2% in conserves) (Japan + Ezo + Tudar + Tujing) 417.640
				+ 130.500 Archers. (130.500)
				+ 105.000 Spear men (105.000)
				+ 100.000 Swordsmen (100.000)
				+ 41.800 Cavalry (41.800)
				+ 12.500 Heavy Infantry (12.500)
				+ 5.420 Yōyū-ki (10.840)
				+ 10.000 Gunmen (10.000)
				+ 3.000 Tawābasutā (9.000)
				+ 4.000 specilized infantry
			* **Divisions:**
				+ **36 Standard Divisons:** 2.5k archers, 2.5k spearmen, 2.5k swordsmen. 700 cavalry. (108k, 90k, 90k, 25.2k) TOTAL 313.2k
				+ **5 Heavy Divisions:** 2.5k archers, 800 Yōyū-ki, 2.5kHeavy Infantry, 2k spearmen, 2k swordmen. 500 cavalery (12.5k, 4k, 12.5k, 10k, 10k, 2.5k) TOTAL 52.5k
				+ **2 Gunmen Divisons:** 5k Gunmen, 2.5k spearmen, 800 cavalry (10k, 5k, 1.6k) TOTAL 17k
				+ **5 Cavalry Divsions:** 2.5k cavalry, 2k archers (12.5k, 10k) TOTAL 22.5k
				+ **1 Specialized Divison:** 4.000 Specialized infantry
			* **Other Soldiers** (lose ones that can be added to amplify defence or attack) 1.420 Yōyū-ki, 3.000 Tawābasutā.
		- **Navy:**
			* 220 Galleys
			* 130 Transport ships
			* 180 Light warship
			* 60 Medium warships
			* 25 Heavy warships
			* 5 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Mongol:** Mutual respect is expected between our two nations, Japan is willing to coexist with you but we are not to be pushed around.
		- **Goryeo:** These times are tense, we should increase our cooperation to make sure we remain in peace, we propose the Japan-Goryeo Union, a marriage between our emperors kids. They would each rule their side of the nation. This would help in building a greater land army and establishing a more secure Goryean border around Asia. When tensions lower both sides shall understand if one side wants to leave the union. Does this sound appealing to you? Great ruler of Goryeo.
		- **Lusong:** We have known each other for long and Japan has helped you throughout the years, we propose further cooperation called the Nichibotsu pact. We would want to welcome you as a vassal to the Japanese empire in exchange for promising your future ambition to create a strong presence in your area. Your leader would still steer the country and you would get to annex Tudar, the Japanese would also maximize our efforts in the area in exchange for you being our vassal. This is a friendly suggestion.
		- **Events:**
			* **The Lone Empress:** At the start of these 10 years one of the emperors fall into a sickness, doctors hadn't seen it before, it didn't spread to anyone and the Emperor was suffering, 5 years later he died in pain and his wife was left to rule the empire. She became sad and somber, not cold but definately calm and calculating in a sad way. She never smiled after that and swore on his deathbed that she would realize Japanese ambitions.
			* **Prepare Logistics:** Our empire is vast and spread out, to make sure that a large scale war could be won we need to make sure that supplies can get where we need them. First of all we need supplies from Lusong if they become our vassal or not and thus the largest village on south eastern Tujing is worked on heavily, making it a heavily defended port city named Kaiunchō. We also create wide roads on the eastern side of Tujing which reach all over the place. Yambaru is fortified further and the ports there are developed further. Kagoshima is fortifed further and the ports there are bettered. Supply bunkers are made around Japan which contain grain and water so that we can supply grander defenssive campaigns if we need to.
			* **Defenssive Conscription:** Japan has been in smaller wars and safe from threat for hundreds of years, now there is a chance for something big and we need to be ready. Conscriptions are increased.
			* **Weapons:** We say "fuck it" and basically copy the Chinese firearms, the Empress kickstarts the gunpowder industries and some soldiers are equipped. The soldiers are called gunmen.
			* **Trade:** Trading convoys now reach the Dai Viet and Khmer Empire. We sell stuff
			* **Pride of the Empire:** The empress announces Tujing as a pride of the empire and sends the upcoming emperor there for 3 months of relaxing and experiencing Tuijing culture.
			* **Revolutionize Tactics:** it would be easier if we mesured our power in groups of soldiers rather than massive numbers, so we make divisons. We also take the specialized infantry types and just train them to survive in many different areas.

### **NPC Events:**

* **The Mongol Horde - Part IV: The Great Khan is Dead:** The year of 1230 would be pivotal to the Mongols. Genghis Khan spends the first half mostly with his family, keeping everything in check, but he then sets out to conquer once more and his target is a big one: the Zheng dynasty of China itself. This would be his last great conquest, his last great victory. Or at least he thought it would be. Striking against Xi'an, he knew this would be tough. Zheng may be weakened, but it is still no joke and would be a challenge to overpower. The attempted sack of Xi'an did not go as planned however, forcing the Mongols to route due to the failed attack. During this route, Genghis lost control of his horse and fell off. He was saved however and the invasion was called off completely as the pain Genghis felt made him realize it was severe. The Zheng dynasty did not retaliate, as there was no good point. Reclaiming lands was not the goal here, just to defend from the horde and if they even tried to reclaim land they would meet resistance and most likely fail. Genghis Khan however, had now suffered internal injuries after falling off his horse and despite a physician being present, they were fatal. On September 18 1230, Genghis Khan was dead. Obviously a big deal. The entire empire practically stopped. The khan was buried somewhere unknown in the lands where he was born, as his wife Börte would reign as Khatun for a few months before the real heir, Ögedei, ascended as khan of the empire. Genghis' third son began his reign by first establishing with his brothers, the lands they were promised. Jochi was given the lands of the far west, in modern-day Russia and Kazakhstan as well as bits of a few other places. Tansugai was able to found his own realm (part of the Mongol Empire) in the more central regions of the empire, including parts of Transoxiana and more, as well as the lands of the Uyghurs. Persia was technically, like the eastern lands, under Ögedei Khan, but were managed by various generals, including the great Subutai. Then Ögedei continued his father's spree of conquest. And there are quite a lot of places to rank up here. His first sights are on two other Khanates/Khaganates. The Khazar and Volgan realms. The Khazars are finally invaded and manage to resist the Mongols quite a bit, before eventually surrendering and admitting subordination to the Mongol khan. In return, they did not have their people slaughtered and were instead allowed to have quite a lot of autonomy under the Ulus of Jochi. Meanwhile the Volgans were just straight up attacked hard. Ögedei turned to the Alai people as well, first sending ambassadors to urge them to submit to Mongol authority and to tell them to pay tribute and when that didn't work completely, he sent in his armies in 1233. Fighting in the Alai plateau was more difficult but with competent generals and weak Alai states, the Mongols eventually succeed in conquering them. Back to the west Ruthenian states are faced with invasions as is the rest of Persia, which falls. Georgia is then faced with having to fight off the Mongols. They actually manage to hold them pretty well, still not being conquered by 1240. The Indus region is also attacked, the Baloch people and the Awalmir dynasty falling, even with some Mongol trouble due to humid climate and some other factors. Something that failed completely (kind of) however was an invasion of Goryeo. The Mongols crossed the Yalu river and initially did well, capturing all their border fortifications before proceeding to the towns of Anju and Kuju, where they met stiff resistance. The Korean general Park Seo somehow managed to hold the Mongols as while Saritai used good tactics to break in, the troops of Goryeo refused to surrender and growing Mongol casualties forced Ögedei to have his armies withdraw. A teeny bit of northern land was taken, but otherwise they did bad-lee. Meanwhile Ögedei himself is much like his father, taking concubines and having quite a lot of illegitimate children, but he did have children with his several wives. With Boraqchin he had children but they all died prematurely. With Töregene however, he had Güyük, Godan, Köchü, Qarachar and Qashi (keep in mind these were not born this turn). Köchü died in 1237 however from illness. Ögedei is known for something else as well, alcoholism. Yeah he drank way too much, worsening his ability to govern the Mongol Empire. Tansugai wanted to fix this and assigned officials to watch his habit and end it. Fun Fact: No. Things look a bit weird. Oh hey what's Jochi doing by 1240? He's dead. With his death, his Ulus was divided into two halves that worked together, the White Horde and Blue Horde, still part of the overall Ulus of Jochi, or as Batu (one of Jochi's sons and the khan of the Blue Horde, the western half) now named it: the Golden Horde. The khan of the White Horde is Batu's older brother Orda.
* **Ayyubids:** Following the Great Eslamic War, they are the victors, but things aren't that great. The Mongols have been knocking on their door and the vassal lords in Mesopotamia have been nervous and forced to be accomodating to them. In the meantime, those same vassals, specifically in Syria and the Levant, have started to gain more and more power. The rule there has gone from stable to a threat to the sultan himself. The sultan Al-Kamil also is forced to deal with the cost of war.
* **Aitch Arr Eee - Crusades are totally still in guys!:** That stands for HRE if you didn't know. Frederick II is still emperor and is supportive of the Teutonic Order, which by now has managed to establish its own form of state along the coast of the Baltic Sea (see more in a later event). The new pope: Celestine IV, manages to get on good terms with Frederick II even if they still have disagreements. The emperor manages to sway Celestine to his side mostly. Frederick also marries one of his daughters off to the heir of the duke of Lower Bavaria, expanding his influence to now be over all of Bavaria. With the pope on his side and more power through diplomacy, the rest of the HRE practically has to follow him, even if divisions in the empire still stand. Two controversial things occur under Celestine IV's rule: he annulls the decade-old regulations of crusades as agreed upon with the Byzantines. He considers these regulations to be failed and thus discards that rule. The second thing he does, in late 1239, is to launch another crusade into the holy land. It's been a want for popes in the past and Celestine believes that a crusader victory against the Ayyubids would be universally liked by the HRE, since the location isn't as controversial of a battleground and it would be the ultimate revenge against Saladin who captured Jerusalem in 1130, nearly 110 years ago. It will take a while until the battle actually begins though, so far ships have only started to sail towards the Levant. Some armies also march towards Byzantium to cross through there and strike Cyipri.
* **R.I.P. Nubia:** After decades of decline and isolation, the kingdom suffers a succession crisis and splits into the two earlier states of Makuria and Alodia, with the eastern desert falling back to tribal rule under the native Beja peoples.
* **Brunei:** They establish a small outpost on Palawan Island, home to the Tagbanwa. They also start relations with Singhasari, but they are wary about them, considering their potential.
* **Khmer Empire under Indravarman II:** The Khmer Empire has seen some better days. Weak and ineffective rulers don't go well and there were some peoples who wanted independence or at least pursued greater power: the Thais and the Cham. The Khmer king Indravarman II wasn't so successful and faced a lot of pressure from Dai Viet. His response to the Thais wasn't great either since it gave them more power. This leads to a rebellion in 1235. There's also tensions around the lands of the Cham, especially considering their independence could be beneficial to Dai Viet.
* **Teutonic Trouble:** Success, we have secured the ~~enemy intelligence~~ baltic coastline. Kind of a crusader state, the State of the Teutonic Order is successful in capturing a large portion of the baltic coastline, landlocking Poland. They also defeat the Lithuanians of Zemaiteje, but they will likely end up in war with the Lithuanians (and their allied Estonians) again. The people of Kurland and Latgale are also in the crossfire. Anyway, the order is endorsed by the pope and that is good news, they're able to truly establish their state, setting an unofficial capital in Danzig (Gdańsk).
* **A New Japan - S3E4:** In Japan, spending, spending and more spending is going on. Very big amounts of the gold reserves are used to effectively wall up as much as possible, due to fear of the Mongols. Whilst very much bringing protection, this rush in fortification, conscription and production of technology that isn't fully understood (although quite a lot) also has a cost in well, gold. Not to mention investment in the roughly explored lands of Tawalisi. A risk is also taken in getting almost as close to Goryeo as possible. They initially are reluctant to a major royal marriage, as they value their independence, especially considering the Mongols right on their front door and the peninsula's history of neighbours closing in on them. After the unsuccessful invasion by the Mongols and Saritai however, they are willing to commit to a royal marriage between a younger prince and princess, as well as further co-operation, but nothing much more than that.
* **Hausaland and Others Nearby:** The region home to the Hausa people sees growth from trade and other interactions with the nearby Tuaregs, as well as the Kanuri people of the Kanem Empire. Another city comes into fruition, Gobir and thus another Hausa state enters the world. We also have the Bamileke culture added north of the Fang.
* **Collapse of Burgundy:** The Burgundian kingdom or, well, the Kingdom of Arles, sees its last days. King Conrad IV dies and it becomes kind of a free-for-all between his three sons. Thus it splits into three states. These are the remnants of Arles, also called Lower Burgundy, Romandy, also known as Upper Burgundy and finally the teeny County of Besançon, who is eyed up by France rather quick.
* **The Results of Chaotic Iberia:** Castile actually lost to Navarre. How? Short answer is basically the Castilian king was kind of insane and slightly illegitimate, but the point is that this means that Navarre grabbed their entire coastline, giving more power to the Basque. Meanwhile Portucalis marries into the Galician royal family and Portucalis plans for setting up an Iberian alliance to go defeat some Andalusians again and continue the Reconquista.
* **On the Swahili Coast:** Some more cities pop up here. These new little polities are Kilindoni, Pemba and Mombasa.
* **Meanwhile, in Sverige:** King Charles V managed to put the Bjelbo dynasty on the throne in Sweden, but he is suffering from illness. His son and heir, Birger, known as "Birger Jarl" has been doing very well though. He has been able to protect the remains of Finland as well as helping the consolidation of power in Sweden to be under the king, basically making the kingdom less loose and more tightened around the king. Birger is also credited with many important decisions to improve the infrastructure of Stockholm as well as roads leading from it, as well as dealing with the Hansa trade league's business in Sweden. He might soon be king and Birger has ambitions...
* **Vinlandic Expeditions:** Various Vinlandic explorers do some, well, exploring, encountering the Innu, Algonquain etc. One group of explorers goes all the way to some of the Great Lakes, establishing more contact with the Iroquois.
* **Back to the Albionite Isles:** King Henry III has some things to deal with. The Angevin Empire has died and France can't be happier over that. He tries an invasion in 1230 but that didn't work at all and he decided to stick with Calais and Aquitaine for now. Because of this and unpopular rule and other complicated things, there's rebellions from barons. This had happened all the way since John and Richard's empire fell apart but Henry III is now forced to abide by the Magna Carta. This means "The Great Charter" and is one of the most important documents in history as it establishes the principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and guarantees the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial. In other news, the Gaelic Union had grown unpopular in Cymra and Scotland and the dynasty ruling it was having trouble with succession. Eventually a short war between Eire and Scotland breaks out in 1233 and ends in 1234. It ends the Gaelic Union. Great news for England since now it seems that these three realms will be less likely to work together which means opportunity. But yeah Henry III is still kinda unpopular and he also just issued the "Statute of Jewry", which basically was a document detailing articles segregating the jews from the rest of the people in England. HOORAY FOR ANTISEMITISM! Although it's not really put into effect that much because Magna Carta.
* **Battle for Barigaza:** Rashtrakuta is a grand dynasty, having reigned in Pratisthana for long and Pratisthana itself as a kingdom goes back as one of the oldest in India that still exists, however, the dynasty and the realm they reign has seen better days. Their attempt to capture the important port city of Barigaza did not succeed and instead they were defeated and lost land and power from Gujarat and Paramara.
* **The Bashirids get Bashed:** Conflict between the Moroccans and West Africans is nothing new. It's concerned land, trade and religion. This following conflict here is kind of a combination of two. The incredibly powerful and influential Bashirid dynasty of Morocco has been very controlling, pushing its influence south through controlling cities like Teghaza. With the Bashirids attempting to re-establish their strength from when they vassalized the kingdoms in West Africa, war breaks out as Mansa Mari Djata of Mali and also the ruler of Timbuktu team up to get rid of the Moroccans.
* **Chelan Challenge:** With such a big empire, spanning multiple vassals, it would be difficult to manage without having intelligent leaders or at least someone who can be lead by intelligent people. Loyal vassals is important too. So a lack of such is bad, case in point, the Chelas. Whilst the last few decades have seen the height of Chela domination, the power of the vassals has grown and with the death of Rajaraja III in 1226, merely 2 years into his reign, his very young son Rajendra III has been unable to hold everything together. Langkasuka is a big problem, as they've started to take matters into their own hands and thrown Chelan plans to dominate Sumatra fully. Langkasuka has also seen trouble from the growing power of the Singhasaris who have basically taken over as the ones who hold the declining Srivijaya as their bitch. The Pala dynasty, whilst successful in defeating Nepal and Dzongkhalhok, have also been declining as other dynasties in Bengal have become more powerful and influential. This together with Jatavaman Sundara, Rajendra's regent, being quite powerful in Chelan politics, spells difficulty for the continued big, overstretched Chela Empire, starting with peasant revolts in 1236 due to mismanaging with food and such in various regions.
* **Maoris Fight it Out Some More:** The warfare seen here continues. Hokitika is defeated by Waitaha, who starts to become the regional power on Te Waipounamu.
* **And Now... Southern Africa:** Zimbabwe undergoes a grand expansion by the king Mazombo Nala, giving the realm a coast on the Indian Ocean, where the settlement of Chibuene grows. In other news, the legendary chief Nkomo forms the first ever Swazi monarchy around the settlement of Mbabane.
* **Traders of the Guinea Region:** The Bonoman state appears in OTL Ghana. It appears by the Volta River, founded by Bono traders, the Bono being an Aidan people. The Bono however do run into the Ashanti people, who also become valuable members of the trading state.
* **Tongan Fiji:** Tonga spread onto the Fiji Islands quite a while ago and by now, the relationship between Tongans and Fijians is pretty damn alright. A major settlement appears, called Drua, named after a type of native Fijian ship.
* **Counties of Eesti:** During a time of having to fight off, or at least prepare to fight off the Teutonic knights, there's some conflict between themselves here. There's quite a rivalry between Rävala and Virumaa, as the two arguably strongest states in Estonia. Rävala manages to be on good terms with Saaremaa and conquers Harju to balance things out. In response, Virumaa allies Sakala.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Hanui Yamashengoshi, Kanekedoku Yamashengoshi (Shisō Yamashengoshi)
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Hiroshima**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 350.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 330.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Yamato:** 210.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 198.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 187.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 165.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 160.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.950.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.865.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 15.295.000
			* **Total population:** 20.160.000
			* **Religion:** 100% Shinto-Buddhism
		- **Demographics of Tujing:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 8%, Chinese(ish) 92%
				+ **Taichung:** 45.500
				+ **Kaiunchō:** 12.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 642.000
			* **Total population:** 700.000
			* **Religion:** Buddhism 87% Shinto-Buddhsim 13%
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 45%, Ainu 55%
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 11.500
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 288.000
			* **Total population:** 320.500
			* **Religion:** 97.5% Shinto-Buddhism, 2.5% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Lusong:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 10% Visayan 90%
				+ **Ganguyin:** 19.000
				+ **Pyngou:** 10.500
				+ **Tudar:** 7.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 170.000
			* **Total population:** 206.500
			* **Religion:** 27% Shinto-Buddhism, 73% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of 2% (2% in conserves) (Japan + Ezo + Tudar + Tujing) 427.740
				+ 112.500 Archers. (112.500)
				+ 110.000 Spear men (110.000)
				+ 100.000 Swordsmen (100.000)
				+ 43.400 Cavalry (53.400)
				+ 12.500 Heavy Infantry (12.500)
				+ 5.420 Yōyū-ki (10.840)
				+ 15.000 Gunmen (15.000)
				+ 3.000 Tawābasutā (9.000)
				+ 10.000 specilized infantry
			* **Divisions:**
				+ **36 Standard Divisons:** 2.5k archers, 2.5k spearmen, 2.5k swordsmen. 700 cavalry. (90k, 90k, 90k, 25.2k) TOTAL 295.2k **(8,2)**
				+ **5 Heavy Divisions:** 2.5k archers, 800 Yōyū-ki, 2.5kHeavy Infantry, 2k spearmen, 2k swordmen. 500 cavalery (12.5k, 4k, 12.5k, 10k, 10k, 2.5k) TOTAL 61.5k **(10,3)**
				+ **4 Gunmen Divisons:** 5k Gunmen, 2.5k spearmen, 800 cavalry (20k, 10k, 3.2k) TOTAL 33.2k **(8,3)**
				+ **5 Cavalry Divsions:** 2.5k cavalry, 2k archers (12.5k, 10k) TOTAL 22.5k **(4,5)**
				+ **2 Specialized Divison:** 2.500 Specialized infantry 2.500 Specialized archers(10k) TOTAL 10k **(5)**
			* **Other Soldiers** (lose ones that can be added to amplify defence or attack) 1420 Yōyū-ki, 3.000 Tawābasutā.
		- **Navy:**
			* 220 Galleys
			* 130 Transport ships
			* 180 Light warship
			* 70 Medium warships
			* 30 Heavy warships
			* 6 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Goryeo:** We are happy to marry our children to ensure more future cooperation, a union may not be the fruit of it but we should definately cooperate more. Have you built more forts? in case of an invasion Japan will respond but we need to know that we can hold the area with you comrades.
		- **Zheng:** Congratulations in your victory, it relieves the emperor that the tiger of Asia shows a firm grip and inobediance to other nations. We might not be able to be your alies since we do not want to get into a war we can avoid, but we recomend finding allies. May our nations prosper.
		- **Lusong:** Great, now it is time for us to fullfil our end of the bargain. Lusongs borders are wide because of Ifugao, this is a problem due to supplies, a souther campaign is not possible while Ifugao is there, we give you 2 options: 1. Annex Ifugao politically, 2. persuade them to also become my vassal or 3. prepare for a campaign against them. If you choose the latter then we will send Sadow Katsu and his lower commanders, he will be commanding 2 specialized divisions with the goal of conquering Ifugao
		- **Ifugao, Lusong, Tundo, Mangyanu and Ibalong:** We invite major chiefs to meet with the Japanese Emperor and his brother in Pyngou, there will be a lot of nice Japanese foods, drinks and deserts, some dancing to music and some discussions of cooperation (his brother), but of course they will get to witness a military march with 40 thousand soldiers too before they leave :)
		- **Dai Viet:** Finally we, the Japanese have gotten control over the seas enough to safetly reach you and to celebrate that we invite you to a feast in Taichung, where we can relax for a bit as well as discuss political potencials for cooperation.
		- **Events:**
			* **New Capital:** Japan has lately expanded a lot southwards not to mention all the trade down there, the sugar industry have made Hiroshima by far the wealthiest Japanese city and thus it only makes sense to move the capital there. This will help with centralizing Japan.
			* **Kanekedoku Yamashengoshi:** This guy, everyone loves him, he is probably the most charismatic gentleman there have ever been, but sadly he is fucking stupid. Therefore his brother Shisō who is 5 years younger decides to pull the string a bit, they where good friends and Shisō offered to be the emperors new advisor, which of course he became. The emperor mostly parties and sleeps around while Shisō does all that paper work, improving the economy through carefully balancing tolls and small stuff like that. He of course does some personally benefitial things too such as signing a marriage between himself and some cute Goryean chick. He had done so much paperwork for the emperor that people thought that the emperor actually wrote good. The emperor has to forge his own documents without his brother.
			* **Sugar for Dai Viet:** Now that the waters are open with the vassalization of Lusong we start selling more sugar to Dai Viet since it would be hard for China to compete with out prices.
			* **The Lusong plan:** Shisō Yamashengoshi prepare a long term plan, if we can make Lusong powerfull and obedient then we could have them assist in protecting Tujing, locking our trade routes to Dai Viet, if we can make Lusong bigger we might even be able to reach Khmer or that place sout of them! Therefore we start exploring as we did many years ago, we try to map out the philipeans as well as anything west of it. We also build minor forts against the Tundo border, create a greater harbor in Pyngou and lastly move a bunch of Japanese and Tujingese people there to farm sugar.
			* **The Shield is Ready:** Japan is now a bunker, we still build some fortifications but the spendings have decreased a lot.

### **NPC Events:**

* **The Mongol Horde - Part V: Scourge of the Gods:** It is now that Europe and West Asia see the real face of the Mongols. Ögedei's campaign in the Middle East is extremely successful. Great job Ögedei, you're doing well so you should be... dead. Ögedei has died as well, in 1242, due to alcoholism, idiot. Ögedei named his grandson Shiremun as heir but he was also afflicted by a case of death. Töregene, Ögedei's consort, takes regency as Töregene Khatun, forming an alliance with Tolui (Genghis' youngest son) and his wife, the influential Sorghaghtani Beki, also called Sorghaghtani Khatun, despite not reigning. Through doing this, Töregene was able to be the de-facto ruler of the empire with not as much controversy. She was however not planning on ruling until her death like a regular khan, rather she held regency until a good heir could be chosen as the next Great Khan. Thankfully, Batu and Orda of the Golden Horde, as well as Tansugai of the Tansugai Khanate were okay with this. Tansugai then also died in 1242, with his son Mutukan taking over and also supporting this decision. Batu then went ahead with Subutai to invade Europe through Ruthenia, campaigns that were really effective, with some cities surrendering without a battle. Several sackings would occur with those resisting and the Mongols would reach Poland, Hungaria and Dragovits. Some lands would be conquered but otherwise it was only the sacking of cities and other raids... not that that is much better as thousands and thousands of people were slaughtered. The various Ruthenian lands would be left to organization by the actual Ruthenians, but they would also be vassals to the Mongols, specifically the Golden Horde. Moldavia and Vlandia also saw this fate, being united for the first time under a vassal prince. A few raids would be done across the Carpathians into Hungaria and the Danube into the northernmost lands of the Byzantine Empire, notoriously sacking Vratsa and Tomis. At this point in time, Novgorod would be the biggest challenge to the Mongols, but their speed and brutality is still powerful enough to force the Novgorodians back. Meanwhile in the Middle East, the fighting would be done mainly by Hülegu, the son of Tolui and Sorghaghtani Beki. He would sweep through Syria, notably attacking and sacking Baghdad, destroying the Baghdad House of Wisdom and with it, many ancient artifacts and texts. Good news is that a good portion of these were saved with fleeing caravans who also manage to avoid crusader armies and deliver these to Nadir. Still it's a big blow to the Ayyubids as well as future knowledge of what the people of the Islamic Golden Age knew and had a hold of. An invasion would also go along the Persian Gulf against the Diriyyans. This was terrible for both sides. The Mongols delivered their usual brutality, screwing over the Diriyyans severely, however the climate would also lead to many Mongol soldiers dying of attrition and the lands wouldn't be conquered. The Sultanate of Rüm would be struck as well with the Mongols entering Anatolia and yeeting Turks left and right. Mutukan Khan (MutuKhan?) also invaded because of course, assisting in the full annexation of the Alai lands as well as continuing invasions into India. These were not as successful, with the climate really buggering over the Mongols here. However, most of Kashmir, Sindh and Panjab would be conquered. The few lands of these not taken would be grabbed up by the Chaughan Empire, as the lords of those lands sought safety under their rule. Mongol attacks on Luhar and other invasions further in would also fail, stopping the Mongols. Finally on the list of conquests, the Nivkh confederation would be forced into Mongol rule. They do kinda govern themselves due to their remote location, but not on such grounds like a vassal. The Mongols are now right on the borders of the Ezo realm. Also yes there would be a new Khan. All of these detailed invasions occurred throughout the whole turn, however Töregene would step down in 1244, in favor of Güyük, Ögedei's eldest son. Güyük was actually quite reserved, not really too interested in being in the spotlight and running the empire. He was also not a fan of his father and practically did opposite as he did. Ögedei was an alcoholic, Güyük became teetotal (something many nobles would find ridiculous but accept because they didn't want to fucking die). Ögedei broke the laws regarding things such as the selling of women that Genghis had set up, Güyük enforced these laws and put notorious lawbreakers to death. Güyük was actually kind of perfect as Great Khan. Ögedei had gone off the rails and pissed off Jochi and his sons as well as Tansugai and his sons. So now while Güyük left much of the administration to the rulers of the autonomous khanates and his own realm to experts, he was a diplomatic genius and kept everything in check. Finally, in 1248, Subutai, in his 70s, passed away. Possibly the greatest Mongol general ever. He fought for Jamukha, he fought of Genghis Khan, he fought for Ögedei Khan and he fought for Güyük Khan. A truly feared warrior breathes his last breath.
* **The HRE and the Fourth Crusade:** Cue the most bonkers crusade yet. The target being the holy land once more. From 1239 to 1244 grueling battles are fought Ayyubid Syria. Combined with the chaos of the Mongol invasion, also combined with the division of Egypt and Syria the crusade goes quite well for the Christians. There is one small confrontation between a crusader squadron and a Mongol raiding party. After its occurance, Subutai would contact the King of Hungaria: Béla IV, a king whose armies he had fought before in the Mongol invasion of Hungaria. Realizing they had a common enemy, Subutai suggested the crusaders and Mongols work together. In exchange, the Mongols would allow for trade and all that jazz but most importantly, leave Europe alone. Oh wait sorry let me rephrase that: leave Catholic Europe along. Basically the pope: Innocent IV was brought into the conversation and he continued Celestine IV's crusade experiment. He thus decided to agree with the Mongols as long as they'd only target the heretic Orthodox/Eastern Patriarchy. He trusted the Mongols would honor this agreement and if not, a crusade against the Mongols would be successful with a combined Catholic force. Innocent IV was right. In 1244, the crusaders come to have taken the Holy Land, the Sinai peninsula, further parts of the Levant and Cyipri. They would have wanted to go further but even though the crusade was successful they saw difficulties and a main force attacking Nadir failed, destroying many crusader armies. So then they all decide to home with their new possession. The Kingdom of Jerusalem is revived under the frenchman Clovis de Molay. The Principality of Beirut is also established along with the County of Cyipri. Now the HRE is actually quite happy with these things and stuff is more united now that a common enemy has been defeated and so most important lords get along.
* **Reconquista:** During the Fourth Crusade, Aragon and Barcelona take the opportunity to fuck up some Andalusians, going after the Taifa of Balansiyya (Valencia). They are successful, even with Murcia and Granada assisting the Balansiyyans. The Christians also get some backup in the form of Navarre as well as gold from Majorca. The war begins in 1244 but takes a while.
* **Chelan Glory Days are Over:** The Chelas are probably the most impressive and powerful of all empires in India, yes even more than the Mauryans. But now their downfall arrives. Rebelling factions establish a stronghold in their homeland by 1242, occupying important cities like Madurai and Mysore. The Kannada Hoysali state also directly secedes in the north. As quickly as 1243, Malatti is nominally independent due to the severing of contact between the two, the Chelas needing their ships to fight the Langkasuka. They are tired of being ruled by the Tamils and thus declared independence, attacking Aceh and fighting at sea. They are assisted by the Singhasari, which is some big help. Then throw in the Chaughani invasion and a big Burmese rebellion in Pagan and Pegu breaking out in 1247 and things have spelled disaster for the Chelas. They were at their peak not too long ago but by 1249 everything is falling apart quicker than the authorities are able to act. When this empire falls, it FALLS.
* **Rebellions in the Khmer Empire:** YAY MORE CIVIL CONFLICTS! The Khmer Empire loses its northern lands to the new Sukhothai Kindom as well as the Laotian kingdom of Luang Prabang. Not only that but conflict in Cham escalates as well, with Dai Viet intervening. By 1246, the Champa become independent once more as a vassal kingdom of the Vietnamese.
* **Singhasari's Time to Shine:** The Singhasaris dominate in the Lesser Sunda Islands and quickly defeat the Srivijayas, still deep in decline. They do not however have the real power to take over Sumatra, so because of that and some other reasons the Srivijayas are allowed to stay there as puppet rulers, with armies and such mostly provided by the Singhasaris. They build an exceptional navy, and conduct expeditions as well as trade stretching from several parts of the Bay of Bengal and all the way to Namasuku and southern Tawalisi.
* **Teutonic Trouble - Ludicrous Livonians:** Teutonic knights continue ravaging through the Baltic region, traversing up through Kurland and Zemaiteje. Supported by the HRE and Denmark, the main force that fought in Livonia, which was a separate order of knights that simply fought together with the State of the Teutonic Order, formed the Livonian Order. Those remnants are the ones mainly fighting in Kurland, nearly reaching Riga by 1244 but are pushed back. The Livonian Order becomes an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order (as in the order of knights itself, who themselves run the state). The so-called Northern Crusades continue and are recognized by both the HREmperor and the pope. Templar knights also assist in the fights. The Templars themselves while they haven't been mentioned much because I am a worthless fucking piece of utter trash, are a powerful force in Europe, having a network of practically all of Europe as well as the recaptured Holy Land. Whilst they had lost support after Saladin kicked Christianity's ass, it grew with the Fourth Crusade and its success.
* **Ayyubid Aftermath:** Oof moment. The conflict between the African part of the Sultanate and the Asian part gets worse and worse. Early in this turn in 1241 Ayyubid Syria secedes under Sultan Al-Kamil. The Mongols are on their doorstep but Al-Kamil is tired of all this tribute and such. He refuses to pay and hell some Mongols wanted to invade Syria anyway so hooray!!! Oh and there's also the Fourth Crusade dealing damage to the Ayyubids so things aren't looking good. The Caliph and Sultan are both humiliated, losing the Holy Land and their lands being divided further with the Hejaz being separated from the rest of the realm. To prevent them from going the way of Syria, the Hejaz becomes an independent realm under Ayyubid sovereignty, a vassal. In Jeddah, a Mamluk captain by the name of Hakim realizes there is potential in everything going on and thus gathers local support as well as other Mamluks. The Mamluks are elite warriors, slave warriors with descent mainly from Crimea, Circassians, Aabkhaziyans and Turks, but also some Africans. While their status was above that of ordinary slaves and the class had grown powerful, some becoming free and holding powerful political titles, they were still slaves and also there is opportunity in the eyes of them so to arms they prepare to go.
* **A New Japan - S3E5:** Okay Japan what have you brought? MONEY. Japan has spent a fortune on its protection so let's hope that that works out for them. Anyway let's just see how diplomacy has gone: Goryeo has built forts, they're not fucking insane. Emperor Lizong of Zheng is honestly a bit insulted with the Japanese and while sending no return letter, he basically thinks "Well fuck you too." Establishing contact with all those Tawalisan lords is not the easiest task and many of them while having the knowledge of an island kingdom to the north, know not much else. Diplomats and some local chiefs are sent from Tundo and Ifugao and Lusong is of course there for the meeting. The rest are too remote to either really be seriously contacted to or to give a fuck about some dumb Nihon meeting. During the meeting the Lusong-ians? do put forth talk to the Ifugao-ans? about further co-operation, basically subtly hinting at future influence or control but they don't outright say "join us you dumb buckets of rice".
* **The Bashirids get Bashed:** The Bashirid dynasty sees its worst years yet. Faced with an invasion of Teghaza, Sultan Abu Hafs Umar al-Murtada, does not retaliate much, fearing that the city could get destroyed and jeopardize Moroccan endeavors in West Africa further. Thing is, that means they just kinda gave the victory to the Timbuktuvians and Malians, run by Mari Djata, now known as Sundiata Keita, whom let the lords of the city rule it as an independent realm, but under mainly Malian influence. The Bashirid Empire lose more of their hold in the Western Sahara and the worst part is the rise of a faction movement led by the Marinid dynasty have gained crucial influence, but a plot to overthrow the Bashirids is revealed in 1249, just before the new year. Hmm what could this lead to?
* **East African City-States:** The presence of trade floating around in these region means new cities come into fruition. A Shona city: Sofala, a Makua city: Nacala and another Swahili city: Malindi. That last one is particularly strong. Sofala also holds diplomatic relations with nearby Zimbabwe, being able to bring the goods they get to Zimbabwe.
* **Meanwhile, in Sverige (Again):** Birger Jarl, the king of Sweden, is looking to get some revenge after the humiliation suffered only decades prior to this by the Danes and Novgorodians. So in 1244 he, making some promises and plots with some powerful figures of the Hanseatic League, invades Danesmark to start the Fifth Dano-Swedish War, not the fourth because the Valdemaric War was actually the fourth, not third (I forgot about the war between the two during the 1180s which happened after the Second Dano-Swedish War). Danish kings simply did not have a better army and had not prepared the conquered regions of Götaland too well and so the war lasted not even two years although it did go into 1246. The Swedes reclaimed lands all the way to Skåneland as well as Gotland. Then, with news of Novgorod being invaded, Birger got interested. Some Novgorodian diplomats showed up begging the Swedes for help in 1247. However Birger instead took a major risk and invaded Novgorodian Finland to truly get what he wants. Will it pay off, or will the Swedes be murdered by the Mongols as well? Find out next time!
* **In Hausaland:** Two new Hausa states appear. These two are Zazzau and Bauchi. A trade network is established, stretching from the coastal kingdoms such as Nri and Benin through Igbo territory into Hausaland and then from there it splits, one route going to Kanem and Aïr and up to North Africa and the other route following the Niger river through Tuareg lands and into the powerful West African realms.
* **A Peek into Zhongguo:** In Zheng China, Emperor Lizong is doing fairly well, quelling the occasional small Mongol attack/raid. Lizong believes he can exhaust Güyük's will to conquer China and that way remain cool, hopefully finding a way to retake lands stolen by the horse barbarians after its collapse. Well, Lizong believes the realm is too uncivilized and broad to be sustained for much longer. HAHAHAHAHAHA sure mate. China also kind of invents rockets, well not really, since they still are the "experts" of gunpowder technology they use it for experimental weapons, some of which have explosive properties and are pseudo-proto-military rocketry. These are however not something that blows up, well technically they are but I mean becomes widespread, they are unreliable but effective in small numbers against the cavalry of the Mongols.
* **Further Chaughani Expansion:** Chaughan after securing the east against Mongol invaders, starts going west. They attack the Bengali and Odishan vassals of the collapsing Chela Empire. Nepal is brought in as well to reclaim the lands they lost to the Palas a few decades ago.
* **Bruhzantium...:** The last few decades have not been kind to the Byzantines. Outbreaks of disease along the Black Sea have weakened them and there have just been general trouble with things such as peasant revolts. Now they also need to worry about Mongols, who have been plundering in OTL Bulgaria but are also reported to be invading in Anatolia. It doesn't take long for Emperor Whatshisname to realize the true size and power of this new, foreign, eastern empire.
* **Vinlandic Stuffs:** The Vinlandic king Arngeir Jernhand establishes an elite guard of soldiers to serve as bodyguards and well... elite units in wars. Kinda similar to the Jomsvikings. Known as the Járnhjartas (meaning ironhearts) they become feared warriors. But they do have a sense of respect, agreements between the native Abenaki and Algonquain people as well as Járnhjartas or Vinlanders are forged at multiple points, sometimes to fight wars, sometimes to guard trade routes etc. Also the Icelandic horse was introduced when Vinland was first established, just wanted to point that out even though it happened centuries before this turn. This makes them the first horses to ever come to America.
* **Some Information on Arabian Shenanigans in Africa:** Arabs have long run a slave trade, basically ever since Islam conquered the Middle East. It still goes on with mainly Arabians, currently in Hejaz or Yemen, getting the slaves from East Africa, either purchased from merchants in existing states such as Shewa or Mosylon or the more brutal way of conducting raids on villages to gain slaves to be sold. The slave market of Oosook in Beja lands becomes a settlement run by merchants, both Arabic and Beja along with some others, where slaves are peddled around. Yay slavery.
* **Dardaju:** The Daju kingdom is established in what is today western Sudan, a region called Dardaju.
* **Oh boy it's this Family:** In Austria the House of Babenberg loses its control over the Duchy, being replaced by Rudolf of the House of Habsburg in 1246. Insert incredibly clever jokes here, ya big idiots.
* **The Bilma Conflict:** A conflict brews up between the Kanem Empire and the Sultanate of Aïr over control of the important trade city of Bilma. Boom war time, wonder who will come out on top.
* **The Germans Made Some Fucking Buttons:** So according to Wikipedia buttons and buttonholes for clothes first appeared in 13th century Germany so whoop-de-freaking doo.
* **Havoc on Africa's Horn:** The Somali Ajuuraan clan take advantage of the weakening Mogadishu Sultanate, making alliances with other clans and powerful families to attempt an overthrow of the realm to Ajuuraan control. It didn't completely succeed however. Merca fell under quick control and it followed with a siege of Mogadishu. The Geledi family of Oponi would become a major force on the side of Mogadishu and after the city of Mogadishu's fall they would usurp the throne to form the Geledi Sultanate. In 1247 the conflict would come to an end with Ajuuraan establishing itself as a strong rival and the next big thing in the Horn of Africa. Oh hey this sounds like every realm's fall in thot doesn't it. Yeah cool observation I'm just unable to come up with anything else cause I'm a fucking moronic idiot.
* **University of Valladolid:** The University of Valladolid is founded in Valladolid, Castile.
* **Tadmakka:** The city of Tadmakka becomes an important stop on the routes of Trans-Saharan trade. The small Tuareg realm sits comfortably gathering wealth as merchants come and go.
* **Over in the Comoros:** Relatives of the Malagasy people have inhabited the Comoros archipelago for long, however, Swahili merchants on expeditions land on the islands and start trying to throw the Malagasy out in favor of them. Grande Comore is conquered by the migrants.
* **Oxford:** The estate of William of Durham put money into the creation of the University College in Oxford in England. This occurs in 1249 and only adds to the University of Oxford which has been around since circa 1096. Cool university stuff.
* **Randoms:** Some teeny states. In Maritime Southeast Asia, the Namasuku kingdom appears on the islands of Seram and Buru. In southern Tawalisi two states appear: Lanao and Butuan. Finally way up in Kamchatka, a super tiny little chiefdom known as Kamuy appears, created by migrants from Kuri. And no Japan, don't even try to get there I will nuke your ships.

### **Byzantine Empire:**

* **Government: Absolute Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Basiliscus II
	+ **Dynasty:**  Basiliscusite 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: 410,000**
	+ Adrianople: 109,000
	+ Thessaloniki: 116,000
	+ Syracuse: 106,000
	+ Athens: 85,000
	+ Cities: ~1,300,000
	+ Rural Areas: ~6,900,000
	+ Total population: ~8,200,000
	+ **Demographics:**
		- **Population:** Greek 68.0%, Minorities: Italian 10%, Bulgar 7% Turks 6.5% Slavic 5%, Other: Khazar, Arabic 3%
	+ **Religion:** Eastern Patriarchy ~94%, Other: Judaism, Eslam, Zoroastrianism 6%
* **Wars and Conflicts:**
	+ A retaliatory attack occurs a few months after the raids with a swift cataphract charge into Bucharest, pillaging it while also leaving dead infected with the plague in surrounding towns and cities.
* **Military:**
	+ **Standing army:** Total of 1% (~82,000)
	+ 23,000 Cavalry
		- 10,000 Cataphracts
			* 2,500 Cataphract archers
	+ 59,000 Infantry
		- 25,000 Akritai
	+ **Troop placement:**
* **Navy:**
	+ 41 Galleys
	+ 160 Transport ships
	+ 150 Dromons
	+ 70 Triremes
	+ 5 Venetian ships
	+ Aftokráteira tis Mesogeíou
* **Diplomacy:**
	+ **Mongols:** Hey great men of the steppes. We indeed recognize your overpowering might, and desire nothing but diplomacy. If you would be willing to find the terms acceptable, we can offer tribute and aid your warfare with the desert people who have been our long-time enemies. All we ask is for you to not unleash your wrath on our people, to release Trebizond and lend us Angora and Konya. Afterwords we can also talk about trade and allow you to use the mediterranean via Constantinople. I wish that you will keep our talks open, as i have no desire to seek conflict, and i think you can understand that.
* **Events:**
	+ **The purple plague:** A great plague has appeared. Several decades ago and still somewhat ongoing however mostly contained, A disease swept Byzantium originating in Constantinople, but before it was noticed as such many had already died, while it might have even spread to other provinces before the city was closed. This ruined Constantinople and although not destroying its beauty per se, the population was greatly reduced and many fled the city, spreading the plague further and both bringing down and introducing the population in other cities. This has left Byzantium in a weakened state, making it unable interact with other nations and finally after its over 400 year reign it brought down the Dominion dynasty. The family after that died on its first monarch also to the plague, then council rule then to a military imposed coup that had its leader also die of the plague, then some bloke named "ποιο είναι το όνομα του" came in claimed rule for 5 months before being assassinated by being pushed down a long staircase.
	+ **Adventure of the wanderlusted:** The next-eldest son of the new emperor, Heraclius greatly enjoyed sightseeing and exploring. With a good physique, a strong mind and essential survival skills, he had a desire to see the world and make it through different kingdoms and cultures all while documenting his finds. One day after reaching maturity he set off with a caravan on a long journey through southern Asia, sneaking his way through syria, past the Mongol empire and into India, obtaining maps and making his own rough sketches to get a good understanding of the geography. This took years, and while he was in close situations multiple times, he came out relatively unscathed. His last haul brought him to Tamrililpti, where he met a strange man on a strange boat, who seemed to be unusually interested in him and his story. Understanding the minimum that this was an explorer like him but from a completely different place he hopped aboard his vessel, hoping that it will guide him to something awe-inspiring...
	+ **The final purple phoenix:** After the last embarrassing death of the late emperor a new man was elected by the army. His name is Basiliscus, a brilliant and charismatic general from Athens, taking the mantle he quickly asserted his power and tidied up most internal issues with suprising quickness, and has put in efforts to expel the plague from Byzantium as it starts to fade away from the mainland. Among other things he has stabilized the economy (mostly), asserted the right to own Cypiri by title and diplomacy, and finally opened diplomacy with the Mongols.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Kanekedoku Yamashengoshi (Shisō Yamashengoshi)
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Hiroshima**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 350.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 335.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Yamato:** 210.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 198.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 187.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 165.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 160.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.950.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.870.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 15.395.000
			* **Total population:** 20.265.000
			* **Religion:** 99% Shinto-Buddhism,1% other, 150 Miyasatite Christianity
		- **Demographics of Tujing:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 8%, Chinese(ish) 92%
				+ **Taichung:** 46.500
				+ **Kaiunchō:** 16.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 662.000
			* **Total population:** 725.000
			* **Religion:** Buddhism 84% Shinto-Buddhsim 16%
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 50%, Ainu 50%
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 12.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 289.000
			* **Total population:** 322.000
			* **Religion:** 97.5% Shinto-Buddhism, 2.5% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Lusong:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 10% Visayan 90%
				+ **Ganguyin:** 20.000
				+ **Pyngou:** 12.000
				+ **Tudar:** 8.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 182.000
			* **Total population:** 222.000
			* **Religion:** 30% Shinto-Buddhism, 70% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of ~2%(427.740) (~2% in conserves (433 620)) (Japan + Ezo + Tudar + Tujing)
				+ 112.500 Archers. (112.500)
				+ 110.000 Spear men (110.000)
				+ 100.000 Swordsmen (100.000)
				+ 43.400 Cavalry (53.400)
				+ 12.500 Heavy Infantry (12.500)
				+ 5.420 Yōyū-ki (10.840)
				+ 15.000 Gunmen (15.000)
				+ 3.000 Tawābasutā (9.000)
				+ 10.000 specilized infantry
			* **Divisions:**
				+ **36 Standard Divisons:** 2.5k archers, 2.5k spearmen, 2.5k swordsmen. 700 cavalry. (90k, 90k, 90k, 25.2k) TOTAL 295.2k **(8,2)**
				+ **5 Heavy Divisions:** 2.5k archers, 800 Yōyū-ki, 2.5kHeavy Infantry, 2k spearmen, 2k swordmen. 500 cavalery (12.5k, 4k, 12.5k, 10k, 10k, 2.5k) TOTAL 61.5k **(10,3)**
				+ **4 Gunmen Divisons:** 5k Gunmen, 2.5k spearmen, 800 cavalry (20k, 10k, 3.2k) TOTAL 33.2k **(8,3)**
				+ **5 Cavalry Divsions:** 2.5k cavalry, 2k archers (12.5k, 10k) TOTAL 22.5k **(4,5)**
				+ **2 Specialized Divison:** 2.500 Specialized infantry 2.500 Specialized archers(10k) TOTAL 10k **(5)**
			* **Other Soldiers** (lose ones that can be added to amplify defence or attack) 1420 Yōyū-ki, 3.000 Tawābasutā.
		- **Navy:**
			* 220 Galleys
			* 130 Transport ships
			* 180 Light warship
			* 70 Medium warships
			* 30 Heavy warships
			* 6 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Zheng, Dai Viet, Goryeo, Nanzhou:** Greetings, I, the emperor of Japan wish to ask you if your nation is interested in a defensive military coalition, we feel that such a thing would help all of us in the long run, we also invite you to discuss this in Taichung.
		- **Kuri:** We would like to trade with you, mainly metals, we can offer food and spices as well as some household necessities.
		- **Ifugao:** We start to trade a bit more to improve relations and influence.
		- **Events:**
			* **Seisashotō:** SInce trade and diplomacy has been increased with Vietnam these islands have been revealed, we had previously heard about one or two of them but in recent history multiple has been discovered and because of their potential we colonize them and after 4 years some of the eastern islands we claimed can sustain a total of 770 people. The islands are mostly self sustained by fishermen and farmers farming strange new fruits and other exotic things, the islands have similar structures with a tiny port fit only for serving 1 large ship at a time with the fishing ships often having their own area to port, dirt roads connecting the sea with the small village where 60-150 people live. They are under the Japanese flag but doesn't need to pay any taxes because of the harsher way to live. They usually have a chief that takes care of the village and they have a trader or two that sell the islands produce to import some comfort items or just rice, depending on how the food supply is going.
			* **Exploration and a Surprise**: A man named Miyasato Tekika was sent on an expedition to map out the Indian subcontintent, taking a stop in Vietnam to buy more supplies and hire a translator, during a few months he successfully mapped out the Indian east coast accurately enough and learnt some indians words and letters. He took a stop in some town called Tamrilipti where he met a very strange man cled in white skin. Conversation was difficult but it was soon understood that the man wanted to go with him on the boat, they chatted on the ride home and Miyasato learnt his name, it was Heraclius, he also learnt about Chrisitanity and wrote a book about it's story, soon believing it himself. When they returned to Japan Miyasato showed this man around for a while before bringing him to the emperor along with the maps and other information, but the emperor where mostly interested in this white man, he talked some alien language and was cled in fashion never before seen, the white man was stored in one of the emperors houses under constant surveillance for a few months before enough language was documented to help translations occur, they spoke again where the emperor learned about some great nations to the far far west. The emperor was interested in this man and soon he was given the title of an honorary noble, being gifted fine housing in Matsuyama with oversight over a few villages.
			* **Miyasatite Chrisistianity:** The religion which Miyasato Tekika got involved with and translated (poorly) has had a hard time starting up, mostly staying contained in Hakkike VIllage which is the birthplace of Miyasato, the villagers was persuaded by his superior charisma and a situation is on the rise since nearby villages worry about why Hakkike village doesn't show up on some celebrations while they themself never is invited to Hakkikes' celebrations. The following text is a cut down version of their so called "bible book"
			* **Genesis 1:1:** In the beginning god created the land and the sky in 7 days, God decided that when the sun was up, it was day, and when the moon was up it was night. God created the fish and birds as well as all living things. He also created humans, the humans lived for many years, some sinfully and got punished with a tsunami, ´some humans survived from gods’ mercy and those humans multiplied to our type of human. Many years later a great and forgiving man called Jitsus became gods’ son with his mother being called Mirra, Jitsu’s was magical and could turn water into alcohol and bread into meat. He forgives sins if you pray and when he dies he takes the souls that prayed into a city in the sky called He-vin before he is rebirthed again as gods son, the eldest son of the Emperor.

### **NPC Events:**

* **The Mongol Horde - Part VI: Reject Güyük, Return to Möngke:** Thought we were done with invasions? Haha you silly idiot of course not. The main invasion is that of Novgorod, which falls in 1251, becoming another Mongol vassal. The very northernmost territory reverts back to non-statehood, except in the northwest. The Kyrelian Finnic people were probably the most organized and kinda most powerful out of the Suomi people due to being under Novgorod where they had quite a bit of autonomy and the local population were in charge, with certain chiefs growing in power. Thus with Novgorod's fall, the Kyrelians secede under the first ever Finnic kingdom. With their superior knowledge of the land as well as the exhausted nature of the Mongol forces, they force the Mongols to fall back and the vassalized Ruthenians of Novgorod don't bother going to war for such small and unvital territory, allowing the new Kingdom of Kiireli to stand quite independent. Anyway back to Mongolia. The victory against Novgorod is greatly celebrated and oh wait Güyük has committed no breathing anymore. Güyük was generally seen as a good Great Khan at first but it worsened over time, mainly because he hadn't done much in terms of securing succession or even talking about it in the first place. Three main people were the ones who seemed to be next in line: Temüge, Genghis Khan's last living brother; Batu, the Khan of the western half of the Golden Horde and finally Möngke; the son of Tolui and Sorgaghtani Beki, the former of which was a son of Genghis Khan. Güyük had the worst rivalry with Batu and in 1251 he marched an army towards the Golden Horde, but died of illness on the way there. It's unknown why he marched but it may have been to kill Batu to ensure he couldn't take power. When Temüge found out about this, he was closest to Karakorum and tried rushing to seize the throne for himself, without a kurultai. This failed miserably and he was killed in a skirmish just outside the Mongol capital. Möngke held a kurultai as quickly as possible, denouncing Temüge and basically doing whatever to get support. Batu and some other important folks did show up at his kurultai though which was good. Möngke succeeded Güyük as Great Khan. Here's where things between Möngke's realm and the catholic christians broke down. The uneasy alliance between the Mongols and the crusaders was functioning in the Middle East, since that was run by the Ilkhanate and Hülegü and his commanders got on well with the crusaders, but in the Baltic region it fell apart. Both Sartaq, the successor to Batu, and Möngke did not fancy the christians and believed they would eventually betray the Mongols. Möngke also simply saw them as in the way of Mongol supremacy. Thus, war broke out between the Teutonic Order and the Mongol Empire, where the homeland (ruled by Möngke) and the Golden Horde (both halves, the Blue Horde reigned by Sartaq and later Ulaghchi but under regency of Boraqchin Khatun, wife of Sartag. The White Horde is reigned by Qun Quran). The Mongols thus ally with the remaining Pagan Balts who are resisting the attempts of conversion by the christian knights. Latgale and Dzukija (later Vilnius) become vassal states whilst Estonian mercenaries are hired while they're dealing with their own shit. Eventually a fragile peace is established in 1259.
* **Mamluk Sultanates | A Fifth Crusade:** The Ayyubids have run their course. Their death sentence was when their dynasty split to control the two main parts of their empire as separate realms. Also of course remember recent decline, the Fourth Crusade and the Mongols invading. The Mamluk figure Al-Hakim gathered a ton of support and power alongside an associate of his: Al-Mustansir. They lead the mamluks in an uprising against the Ayyubids, which was very successful. By 1252 it looked like the Ayyubids would be overthrown as rulers of Egypt. However, Mustansir and Hakim would grow apart quickly due to both wanting to hold power and not agreeing on any kind of diarchy. This combined with other personal and religious issues between the two caused a split in the rebellion. There were now two rebellions in Egypt, former allies who were now hostile against eachother. The two were stationed in Nadir (Hakim) and Durquba (Mustansir) as they both attacked the last stronghold of Ayyubid Egypt: Qaihir. Hakim got there first and managed to make the last Ayyubid Sultan and Caliph to surrender quickly. Quickly Hakim had to fight off a siege and successfully did so. Mustansir had to regroup and thus retreated. He was however not able to be quick enough and with Hakim's forces consistently harassing their enemies and sending frequent invasions Mustansir had to retreat all the way back to Libya. After a stalemate that was in Hakim's favor at the siege of Ajdabiya in 1254, the two rivals finally made peace. Two Sultanates spawn from the Ayyubid realm, both led by Mamluks. Mustansir's Sultanate would be known as the Hafsid Sultanate and Hakim's would be known as the Bahriyya Sultanate. Even if Hakim got the more prestigious Egyptian lands, that were the center of many empires, he now had to defend against an invading force. After the Mongols finished off the Ayyubids in Syria, they would continue their attack, teaming up with the Christian crusader states in 1256 for a Fifth Crusade called by the pope to exploit the weakened muslims. This hasn't gone as well as the Fourth Crusade though, the invasion of Durquba quelled and the Mamluk forces decimating their way through the holy land, taking Jerusalem once more in 1258, 128 years after Saladin did it under the very dynasty that the Mamluks just overthrew. A grand army assembled by and lead by Hülegü Khan of the Ilkhanate however, would soon enough meet the Bahriyya Mamluks at Ain Jalut in 1260. What happens there will be revealed next turn.
* **Collapse in India:** As said in the last turn, the Chela Empire truly FALLS. By the point of only 1252, the Chelas are reduced to their center at Thanjavur. The very south comes under the Sundara dynasty, Virisha reappears on the map along with Mysore, arguably the most powerful southern Indian realm. Meanwhile the placed rule in Sinhal collapsed completely into civil war. At the end of the 1250s it comes to be divided by the three major powers of Jafna, Dambadeniya and Polonnaruwa. The lords of Nakkavaram become the ones to truly and independently rule the Andaman Islands, with settlers from the mainland holding the most powerful positions, ruling over the native Andamanese peoples. Meanwhile Telugur goes berserk after its secession, sort of. Some small lands are captured during the actual war but later they involve themselves with Odisha, annexing their lands to help them fight Chaughan, as well as expand their own power. Finally the Palas in Bengal are overthrown by the Devas during the Chaughani invasion. Those same Devas are also put on the throne with help from Chaughan so they become their vassal.
* **Teutonic Trouble:** Oh boy here we go. The Teutonic and Livonian Orders go to war against the Mongols in their continuing christian crusading conquest of the Baltic region. They are able to capture Schaulen (Siauliai) before the larger Mongol and Ruthenian armies arrive as reinforcements and use this to their advantage, defeating Kurland rather swiftly. The Pagan-Mongol alliance setup a defense along the Daugava river, which runs through Riga. It is somewhat successful but eventually is broken through and vicious fights, arguably the most vicious ever seen in this part of Europe, go on for years until the ~~uneasy peacy~~ fragile peace established in 1259. This one occurred after the crusaders capture and take Riga. New borders are established and the Teutons and Livonians immediately start eyeing up Estonia, which is currently in a fight for unification. Rävala is supported by Sweden to establish control over the Gulf of Finland.
* **Remnants in Myanmar:** The fall of vassaldom in Myanmar allowed the Burmese to break free. However whilst there was a common enemy, different groups had differing ideas and were well, different. The Hanthawaddys of the south and the remnants of Pagan in the north were not friends but bitter rivals. This split the Burmese (the Bamar, the dominant ethnic group in today's Myanmar) into two kingdoms: Hanthawaddy and Pagan. Meanwhile two different ethnic peoples: the Shan and Arakanese (or Rakhine) people form their own breakaway states. In Pyu, the newest king renames the realm to the Kachin Kingdom since the rulers are Kachin. The age of the actual Pyu people are long gone. They also annex the easternmost regions of Ahom, being able to do so since that region is separated from the rest by some pretty major mountains and was always pretty autonomous. This is also not to mention it being inhabited by the Hkamti, a sub-group of the previously mentioned Shan people. Despite being under new leadership, this place is in a very hard-to-get area due to the geography and environment. The Hkamti at Putao become a special autonomous region of the Kachin Kingdom.
* **A Continuing Iberian War:** The attack on Balansiyya is not ignored. By 1251 most of the other Taifas join in to rek some infidel christian ass. Balansiyya however, can't really be saved, as the city is conquered by 1253 and an invasion starts moving into Qurtuba. Meanwhile the Qurtubans launch a dangerous siege of Madrid and Batalyaws start wrecking up Portucalis and León, who are in bad states at the current point. In fact, Lisbuna is close to falling by the end of the turn and Coimbra is also in danger. So it's kinda of an interesting thing as the west is going good for the Muslims and bad for the Christians and the east is the other way around.
* **A King of Two Kingdoms:** OmG eArLy KaLmAr UnIon!!!!1111!eleven. Nah. Now whilst the eldest son of a noble or monarch had home team advantage to be the heir of a kingdom in Scandinavia (and England), there weren't really any set inheritance laws, in fact for Sweden it's more of an elective monarchy. Well Birger I managed to snake his way into being elected king of Norway, unifying the two kingdoms in a personal union in 1252. During this the Swedes also manage to push through southern Finland and grab parts of the Kyrelian isthmus. Claiming the former Finnish territories held by Novgorod for their own, the Swedes also ally many tribes by giving them food and shelter and stuff and promising to help them against Novgorod and Mongols. Through this way Sweden claims Tavastland (Tavastia in English and Häme in Finnish, also they build Häme Castle in 1255). They also start supporting Rävala to unify the lands of Estonia. This to keep the Gulf of Finland secure from the Novgorodians, as well as keeping the Teutonic Order at bay. Don't think that the Swedes are okay with paganism though, they would crusade Estonia if they wanted to (and they have in the past), it's more that they're useful to the Swedes so they keep them around, but they are definitely sending missionaries and converting Estonians in that way. Two years after claiming the throne of Norway, Birger Jarl decides to go after some other territories that also were previously lost, namely: the very southern parts of Götaland claimed by those darned Danes. From 1254 to 1259, the most violent Dano-Swedish war yet (it is the fifth one btw) happens. Birger I defeats the danes, reclaiming Skåne, Blekinge, Halland and Öland. He even humiliates the Ddanes further by taking Bornholm for the Swedish.
* **Time's Up for Shewa:** With a period of decline, not helped by the Great Eslamic War, even with being on the winner side, Shewa experiences a not so fun time. The rise of opportunistic rivaling noble dynasties as well as conflict between the muslim and christian communities leads to civil strife that splits the kingdom. The Somali Ifat Sultanate breaks out in the east whilst Abyssinia appears in the north and the Afar people (not to be confused with the Ahfari people, the arabicized Avars in southern Arabia) also break free. The Shewa dynasty is forced to relocate to Gey, truly weakened.
* **The Golden Empire:** No, not the Golden Horde. Rather what is talked about is located in West Africa. Spanning much of the grand Niger river the Mali Empire starts flourishing a truckload, even though trucks don't exist yet. The relation between them and their friend Timbuktu eventually breaks down and Sundiata Keita decides to conquer it, which he does in pretty quick fashion. He vassalizes Gao and now leads the arguably strongest realm in the Sahel. Then he dies (oof) and is succeeded by his son Uli, who is now the new Mansa.
* **In the Albionite Isles:** In England, incumbent king Henry III becomes rather unpopular due to his personal rule which has been rather ineffective. He deals with revolts in Gascony with the help of Baron Simon de Montfort, who returns to England afterwards and allies himself with six other barons whom then force Henry to accept some legal reforms, these reforms most notably establish an elected council of barons that are there to advise the king, ending Henry's personal rule. He later renounces his claims on Normandy and ends up in a war with Scotland over disputed lands in the north.
* **A New Japan - S3E5:** So in Japanaland we have general good things going on I suppose. A teeny weeny tiny bliny shiny christian community has been established with the first ever translation of the Bible into Japanese, otherwise things are just kinda chill. I say that way too often, anyway. In terms of diplomacy, everyone except Dai Viet and Nanzhou agree to co-operate for defense. Kuri also agrees for some trade across the Kuril Islands.
* **Marinate the Bashed:** Following the defeat of the Bashirid Empire against Mali as well as some intrigue from the rivaling Marinid dynasty, a war would break out. However, with lack of political power they didn't stand much of a chance. Abd al-Haqq, the leader of the rebellion, swept from Fez to capture all the northern cities without breaking a sweat. Okay that's a lie it was a grueling and risky move but it paid off even with quite a lot of casualties. Abd al-Haqq then did something quite sneaky. He purposefully sent out documents detailing the Marinid battle plans with a few servants disguised as regular peasants. These were found by Bashirid forces. Now why is this sneaky? Well the plans were fake, saying that the Marinids were targeting Sidjilmasa, when they were really going for the capital city of Amurakuc. Now the Bashirid sultan Idris al-Wathiq believed in this whilst his son Abu Yusuf was critical, puzzled as to why Abd al-Haqq would target Sidjilmasa instead of Amurakuc. Parent and child made an agreement: Abu Yusuf stayed with his army at Amurakuc while Idris al-Wathiq traveled to Sidjilmasa. Abu Yusuf was confronted by Abd al-Haqq's forces and without his father's army, he was in deep doo-doo. A message was sent to Idris al-Wathiq, however it took a few tries since the first messengers were captured, with a third one managing to slip by and escape towards Sidjilmasa. However there was actually a battle just outside there, considering the Marinids did send a smaller force there to distract and further trick the Bashirids. Due to this battle the message took longer to be given and responded to. The battle was won by Idris al-Wathiq, who was in a tricky situation. He could either go somewhere else and get the Marinids to him, or protect his realm by getting back Amurakuc. He tried the latter but retreated as the siege didn't go well, but he did drag with him his enemies to Sidjilmasa. If he could win there he could recover. But he couldn't. A large battle was fought outside the inland city, in which Idris and Abd al-Haqq dueled, with Idris being slain. Not long after, the battle ended and the Marinids took power in Morocco in 1254. Now at the same time as all this was going on, another powerful lord: Yaghmurasen ibn Zyan would secede the easternmost lands of the Bashirid Empire, capturing its northeasternmost lands while ruling from the city of Tlemcen. He signed a non-aggression pact with the Marinids during all this war and thus with the establishment of Marinid Morocco, Tlemcen also seceded and became an independent realm under the Zayyanid dynasty.
* **Kingdom of Hungaria:** Following a shitton of years spent under their influence and such, Croatia eventually ends up in a union with the Hungarians as a succession crisis caused the crown to end up in the hands of the Árpád dynasty. Croatia, whilst in union, is still important and holds important figures within the kingdom, so it's not like they were purely just wiped off the map.
* **The Bilma Conflict:** The Sultanate of Aïr proves superior, conquering Bilma from the Kanem Empire, but their rivalry isn't over yet...
* **Diriyya:** The Mongol invasion caused a quick sack of Gerrha, destroying most of it. The Diriyyans are forced to retreat to their homelands and most of their lands not directly controlled by the crown fall back to local tribes. The Uyunid dynasty decide to take advantage of the Qarmatian coast (Eastern Arabia), by establishing itself as the successor there, founding a new capital at Al-Ahsa.
* **Tu'i Tonga Empire:** Tonga experiences a period of decline and internal strife. Despite being some of the ocean's most prolific sailors and a wonder in terms of maritime civilizations, controlling all these islands is kind of hard. Policies regarding fiefdoms are established to keep things in check. A settlement known as Mulinu'u is established in lands inhabited by the Samoans, however influence is lost over the islands north of Samoa: OTL Phoenix Islands.

### **Japanese Empire:**

* **Government: Monarchy**
	+ **Ruler:** Kanekedoku Yamashengoshi (Shisō Yamashengoshi)
	+ **Economy:** spice, food, dye, art, porcelain.
	+ **Capital: Hiroshima**
		- **Demographics:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 99%, 1% Chinese, Ainu, Manchu & Okinawan.
				+ **Shihon:** 350.000
				+ **Hiroshima:** 340.000
				+ **Tōga:** 325.000
				+ **Yamato:** 210.000
				+ **Fukuoka:** 198.000
				+ **Nagasaki:** 187.000
				+ **Kagoshima** 165.000
				+ **Komatsu:** 160.000
				+ **Other Cities:** 2.975.000
				+ **All cities:** 4.900.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 15.500.000
			* **Total population:** 20.400.000
			* **Religion:** 99% Shinto-Buddhism,1% other, 250 Miyasatite Christianity
		- **Demographics of Tujing:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 8%, Chinese(ish) 92%
				+ **Taichung:** 52.500
				+ **Kaiunchō:** 20.500
				+ **Rural Areas:** 737.000
			* **Total population:** 810.000
			* **Religion:** Buddhism 78% Shinto-Buddhsim 22%
		- **Demographics of Ezo:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 50%, Ainu 50%
				+ **Sunõdorangon:** 12.000
				+ **Fuyu:** 21.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 291.000
			* **Total population:** 324.000
			* **Religion:** 97.5% Shinto-Buddhism, 2.5% Ainu paganism.
		- **Demographics of Lusong:**
			* **Population:** Japanese 10% Visayan 90%
				+ **Ganguyin:** 23.000
				+ **Pyngou:** 14.000
				+ **Tudar:** 9.000
				+ **Rural Areas:** 198.000
			* **Total population:** 244.000
			* **Religion:** 35% Shinto-Buddhism, 65% Anitism
		- **Wars and Conflicts:**
		- **Military:**
			* **Deployed units:** total of ~2%(427.740) (~2% in conserves (433 380)) (Japan + Ezo + Tudar + Tujing)
				+ 112.500 Archers. (112.500)
				+ 110.000 Spear men (110.000)
				+ 100.000 Swordsmen (100.000)
				+ 43.400 Cavalry (53.400)
				+ 12.500 Heavy Infantry (12.500)
				+ 5.420 Yōyū-ki (10.840)
				+ 15.000 Gunmen (15.000)
				+ 3.000 Tawābasutā (9.000)
				+ 10.000 specilized infantry
			* **Divisions:**
				+ **36 Standard Divisons:** 2.5k archers, 2.5k spearmen, 2.5k swordsmen. 700 cavalry. (90k, 90k, 90k, 25.2k) TOTAL 295.2k **(8,2)**
				+ **5 Heavy Divisions:** 2.5k archers, 800 Yōyū-ki, 2.5kHeavy Infantry, 2k spearmen, 2k swordmen. 500 cavalery (12.5k, 4k, 12.5k, 10k, 10k, 2.5k) TOTAL 61.5k **(10,3)**
				+ **4 Gunmen Divisons:** 5k Gunmen, 2.5k spearmen, 800 cavalry (20k, 10k, 3.2k) TOTAL 33.2k **(8,3)**
				+ **5 Cavalry Divsions:** 2.5k cavalry, 2k archers (12.5k, 10k) TOTAL 22.5k **(4,5)**
				+ **2 Specialized Divison:** 2.500 Specialized infantry 2.500 Specialized archers(10k) TOTAL 10k **(5)**
			* **Other Soldiers** (lose ones that can be added to amplify defence or attack) 1420 Yōyū-ki, 3.000 Tawābasutā.
		- **Navy:**
			* 225 Galleys
			* 144 Transport ships
			* 182 Light warship
			* 84 Medium warships
			* 38 Heavy warships
			* 8 Ni~Tsu-ryū
		- **Diplomacy:**
		- **Mongol Horde:** "Congratulations on the leadership! Too offer our gratitude a gift of 100 attractive virgins has been dispatched to arrive within a year, please accept this gift as a show of our friendship."
		- **Ifugao:** We hold feasts inviting the leaders and Tribesmen of Ifugao multiple times in Lusongs cities, there we show hospitalities only the Japanese can provide as we "negotiate" in reality the plan is to make the higherups in their country realize what they have to gain from siding with the Japanese.
		- **Zheng:** We want military and naval access for obvious reasons, if something happens it's better that we can be quick and skip the documentation.
		- **Events:**
			* **Storage:** How do you fund a longer wall? we asked ourselves, we are in a unique situation as we can't trade easily if Zheng falls, what we need it a stockpile, of food, and a grand one at that. The emperor (not really but on paper) Orders mass construction of grain, rice and other foods that can be stored for long, every farmer gets to donate a part of their harvest which we use to fill these massive storage places, we also actively replace the food through donating it to the poor before it expires, the farmers are in return granted fairer treatment.
			* **Heraclius**: This man, first believed by scholars to have a rare skin sickness or to be some sort of makeup was proven to actually just be naturally white, the emperor and his brother requested a meeting with this man, which was more of an order as usual. They spoke through butchered Japanese but eventually traded some knowledge and laughs. The younger and less emotional brother actually liked this man, he made him feel more human. And so, they became friends, Shisō learned some basic greek and greek mythology and Heraclius learned a lot about the Japanese morals and traditions.
			* **Miyasatite Chrisistianity:** Another thorpe has been indoctrinated into the religion, mostly because the village was drug addicts and the Miyasatites helped them reform and go away from drugs. However after Heraclius managed to explain the religion further the religion starts to split a bit, one side keeps their believes while the other sways into more original orthodox Christianity with Japanese aspects to it.