Spring of Dragons - A history rp - Games

Spring of Dragons - A history rp

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READ ME, SEND IN TURNS AS TURN 5. [b][i]If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. – Francis Bacon [/i][/b] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/SOLkhIF.png[/img_thumb] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOJ1_TV5_54[/media] Events of the years 1580 to 1610 -As the 16th century draws to a close, many momentous changes have taken place. Chief among them are the widespread adoption and integration of dragons into all aspects of life as their capabilities are realized and exploited. While the advent of firearms means one can quickly arm and train a massive army, while other existing technologies permit their deployment in the field, supplying them is a nightmare at best. The escalation of warfare sees the warbands of the late middle ages swell into hordes that pillage the land to feed themselves. The decline of castles and the great lords has seen a rapid shift of economic and political importance towards the growing cities, especially of Western Europe. Here, a social revolution begins to take place as the old medieval guilds and associations break down under the strain of inflation and end of feudalism. The first glimpses of a new order are already taking shape, as some merchants have begun the practice of buying up and owning the factors of production. -Unemployment peaks at staggering levels, made worse by inflation of prices, low wages, the centralizing tendencies of many governments, and the end of many traditional means of social support and welfare. It is common to find people starving to death in the streets. Many flee to the cities or to overseas colonies and territories in the hopes of finding a better life. In these colonies are grown massive numbers of tobacco, sugar, and coffee, some of the few goods whose prices drop. Upon arrival in Europe they are readily consumed and become daily necessities, and even spread to China and Japan where official edicts banning their consumption become ineffective. Coffeehouses begin to sprout up like mushrooms at the end of this period too, where the wealthy middle classes can mingle and debate their favourite political ideas over cups of coffee. They are aided by an explosion in the amount of printed material now available, giving them much to talk about. In turn, they begin to plot and plan, making these new coffeehouses hotbeds of dissent and radicalism. -All over the northern hemisphere, a strange drop in temperature leads to reduced crop yields, longer and harsher winters, shorter and cooler summers, and increased sea ice. Ships in the Baltic are frequently stuck in port when the waters freeze over, while the cold helps many of those malnourished unemployed and impoverished to die. In some parts of the world, a demographic decline is set in motion, while others merely suffer from stagnant populations and economies. These all contribute immensely to the general misery of life among people, including philosophers. These philosophers begin to gradually form two opposing views of the ultimate source of knowledge, whenever based either in reason or in experience. Their views will trickle down over the next few decades with considerable consequences for their rulers once these views are taken to their logical conclusion. -Europe begins to steadily destabilize and tear itself apart, as religious and ethnic conflicts escalate. Germany is a centre for this, with the formation of Pro and Anti-Catholic factions seeking to win control of the Holy Roman Empire. The rapid expansion of Venice in Italy has dangerously distorted the balance of power in their favour there, while the Kingdom of Bohemia finds itself unable to assert its authority over the Empire. Rising powers such as Livonia, Brandenburg, and Sweden are trying to assert their own dominance, while the Polish Commonwealth slides into civil war over matters of where supreme power lies. France is still in the midst of bloody conflict between Catholics and Protestants, and Henry IV only just manages to keep the country together. His assassination in 1610 leaves a great deal of uncertainty for what may happen next. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=340743&dateline=1411380731[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/ZSD3iv8.png[/img] [b]Daniel Smith – Union of Iberia Capital: Madrid Culture: Castilian State Religion: Catholicism Number of dragons: 2 (large)[/b] -Advances in the field of optics have led to the development of a curious new invention. By arranging lenses in certain configuration it is known that objects can be made to appear bigger and in greater detail. One inventor has capitalized on this by inventing a special device that allows one to easily adjust these lenses. Although the level of detail and magnification is poor, an encyclopaedia in Spain from the end of this period has reasonably accurate sketches of insects up close. This same encyclopaedia also mentions the Livonian thermoscope, a device which measures temperature. Consisting of a tube of mercury in a bowl, while crude it is the first step forwards on the accurate measurement of temperature. A scale for this however has yet to exist. -The Spanish Empire continues to invest ever more monies into naval expansion, at the expense of the land military (which has begun to fall behind in terms of both equipment and discipline). The dragon is also neglected, although the crown is given an egg as a gift by the papacy, forcing the Iberians to spend the bare minimum of monies on maintaining both creatures. The navy does not disappoint however, as it grows to become powerful both at sea and in the court as it sucks up new talent and the lion’s share of the royal budget. After bombarding several towns and privateer bases in the Bahamas, the islands are reclaimed for Spain, with the many various rogues and villains who had made their base there being hung for their crimes. Among them were many Danish and English men who proudly gave their lives to steal from the Spanish. The English still attempt to raid Spanish shipping, although many of their attempts are discovered and the mariners are eventually executed. Most attacks begin shifting towards more opportunistic attacks on lightly defended shipping as the Spanish navy steps up the ante. Pirates have been restricted, but not fully beaten yet. -This new navy also expands the Empires influence into Asia, where the Philippines and Taiwan are both colonized and integrated into the viceroyalty of New Spain after many of the natives are shot into submission. The downside is that a great deal of silver is now starting to flow into China via these new acquisitions, with well-made European-style silken clothes leaving China, undercutting domestic silk weavers in Spain and Europe. -King Carlos I spent much of this period and the latter part of his reign enacting major political and economic reforms intended to bolster and strengthen his overseas empire. He begins by introducing an anti-corruption policing force called “La Policia de Royal”, which effectively becomes a tool of the monarchy to purge “corrupt” officials and parliamentary representatives. Despite the good intentions, it eventually evolves into getting rid of political opponents. Most of these opponents were those standing in the way of the greatest of Carlos achievements, which was the unification of the crowns of Castile, Aragon, Portugal, and Navarre into a single political unit. He crowns himself Emperor of Iberia in an elaborate ceremony in 1592. The event prompted widespread dissent in some parts of the country (especially Portugal), although these was eventually quashed. In addition, it is a major affront to the French King and to the Holy Roman Empire, as now Europe possesses two Emperors. To consolidate this Empire, more substantial reforms would need to be undertaken. -In the last ten years of his life, Carlos enacted a major education reform, mandating the use of Spanish as the sole language of instruction in an attempt to gradually reduce nationalist movements. The anticorruption movement headed by him gradually removed many who opposed his reforms within the civil service, eventually leading to the lesser nations of the union becoming tamed and shackled to the central government in Madrid. As he became increasingly older and senile however, he gradually conceded more powers to the parliament and became increasingly dependent upon it for support. By the start of the 17th century, he enacted new laws which put supreme sovereign power with the parliament, making it illegal to levy taxes or pass new laws without its consent. The result is that with his death in 1602 and the ascension of his son Juan I to the throne, the monarchy loses the absolute power it once had. The courts are still poorly run, while application of Castilian law to the lesser kingdoms has been met with fierce resistance. -These reforms have done little to solve the underlying problems within Spanish society however. Dominated by powerful landowners, the parliament sets to work immediately trying to restrict the powers of the church and to enclose common lands for the lords own benefit. Population growth not only stalls, but contracts in all major rural districts. The towns are the only places to grow, which are doing well from the growth of the colonies and overseas trade in addition to the crown losing many of its old rights to tax them. The authority of the Catholic Church begins to be undermined in favour of a delicate balance between the resentful urban dwellers, impoverished peasantry, and the ruling nobility. Construction and repair of the major roads is undertaken after several new acts empowering local districts to work on them (they suffer from a severe lack of funding however). Some get around this by adopting toll roads, many of which are controlled by local aristocrats. -The Spanish West Indian trading company is founded in 1602, with the goal of furthering private interests in the new world and the establishment of colonies. They begin in South America with the establishment of sugar plantations in areas where brazilwood production is unsuitable. Tobacco is also grown and shipped for export, while many areas are set aside for freemen to establish farms on. With considerably higher living standards and good profits to be made, many people are flocking to the colonies, contributing to population decline at home. The towns are also swelling with wealthier sorts who consume these new imports, discussing radical ideas and turning these places into hotbeds of dissent, making use of the printing press to help. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=461103&dateline=1410891072[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/R0Go18G.png[/img] [b]Mallow234 – Kingdoms of England and Scotland Capital: London Culture: Anglo-Saxon State Religion: Protestantism Number of dragons: 10 (large )[/b] -The culmination of centuries of philosophical work comes with the publishing of several major works by Francis Bacon in this period. In these works, he outlines a new philosophy. By rejecting Aristotelianism and favouring inductive reasoning, he argues that human knowledge comes primarily from sensory experiences, in turn demanding evidence in order to support a theory to see if it is in agreement with the natural world. While this theory (named Empiricism) has yet to take off, it is already becoming influential in England, and the implication that knowledge is tentative and probabilistic will cause a great deal of interesting of discoveries to be made. One of the first applications is to dragon breeding, with which breeders have become much more skilled over the past few decades. They manage to bring several eggs to the colonies, where they successfully establish a new breeding ground. -The Royal navy continues to be the focus of much investment by the crown during this period. New facilities are constructed in Portsmouth and Southampton, with orders for race-built galleons are made as well. Watchtowers and a ring of forts are built throughout the southern coast of England, while new shipyards and dry-docks are built to accommodate English ships in Scotland. In 1603, the death of the childless Elizabeth led to James the VI of Scotland becoming King of England and effectively uniting both crowns. In addition to bringing 2 dragons, he also brings the Scottish navy and some extra tax income. Altogether this contributes to the strengthening of not only England, but its island mentality as well. With the whole of the archipelago united (save for the increasingly rebellious Irish), the monarchy can focus on overseas expansion. -Attempts to secure the Bahamas are met with failure, culminating in a heavy Spanish attack and siege of the main English and Danish forts in the area. Superior firepower and numbers on the Spanish side (in addition to more naval bases and Danish unwillingness) led to the Royal navy losing their engagements with Spain over these isles. A new convoy system makes privateering harder as well, forcing them to focus their activities on isolated merchant ships or raiding undefended towns. As the period draws on, Jamaica is increasingly fortified in order to fend off Spanish attacks, while English shipping finds it harder to attack towns as they begin to build gun batteries. -At home, the scourge of highwaymen is met with military patrols. While this works to a degree in England and Wales (despite the expense), it is deeply unpopular in Ireland and the Scottish highlands. Filled with savage peoples, they frequently raid or attack these patrols. These patrols in England are later replaced with early forms of the police, where each parish is responsible for keeping their roads safe. In addition, they are also empowered to construct toll roads, which make their first widespread appearance around this time. Although unpopular among the poor, they are profitable and contribute to the development of some major routes, although their overall quality varies widely. Highwaymen are common still, but now many former highwaymen are being employed to catch those still at large. -The Gaelic clans tend to be quite powerful, and in the early 1600s several major rebellions rise in Ulster and the Scottish highlands. Putting them down is difficult at present due to the lack of military resources allocated to these areas, although they have many sympathizers in the Scottish lowlands and Dublin pale. Instead, much of the army had been sent to the Netherlands to assist in the Dutch rebellion from Austria, where both countries (being Protestant) have much to gain from mutual trade and countering poisonous Catholic influence. After the war concludes, the English end up forming a strong alliance with the Dutch, although the consolidating and growing French state looks to acquire new territories in the wake of the recent shifts in the structure of the Holy Roman Empire. -The rebellions by Catholics flare up again with the introduction of the King James Bible. Translated from Greek into English vernacular, it creates another division between England and the papacy, further infuriating the Catholics. Popular in England, it also helps to further standardize and consolidate the London dialect that has been growing at the expense of the others throughout the country. As of yet, it has made little headway into either Wales or Scotland, and is completely unknown in Ireland. -The Falklands, Ascension, Tristan de Cunha, and the other Mid-Atlantic islands (including St Helena, in which the Spanish chapel is dismantled) are claimed for the English crown, and some have small wooden and earth forts built on them. Manned by skeleton crews fed by flocks of sheep, they help provide excellent spots for English ships to rest. From them, ships sail to South Africa, Guyana, and the Slave Coast, where small colonies are established to profit from trading (although the Guyana colony perishes from malaria). Permanent settlement is delayed and half-hearted however, as most of the crowns efforts have been on securing a colony in Virginia. The colony suffers from disease, supply shortages, hostile natives, and saltwater contamination. The decision is later made to move the colony to a new site, where suitability for tobacco production has been noted, and the first barrels of which begin leaving for England. Those in poverty travel to the new colony as indentured servants, while slaves are also being bought from the English trading posts in Africa to help work these fields. By 1610, a thousand people now reside in the colony, which has been named Ruckersville, and grows a popular strain of tobacco. -The East India Company (founded 1600) begins operations, with the goal of advancing commercial and political interests in India. With the Venetians and Spanish intruding into the subcontinent, the English have brought it upon themselves to counter this influence by selling the Indians guns and plotting with various princes in order to prevent their expansion. Ceylon is the first battleground, where the English supply ships and muskets to the Ceylonese. Despite growing Venetian influence and power, the Ceylonese drags out the conflict and prevents Venice from securing the island. By 1600, rebellions frequently break out in areas under Venetian control, often forcing them to coastal forts that are attacked by English privateers. Indonesia is another battleground too, where English and Venetian ships fight for control of the Spice Islands, especially the Banda isles. The English do successfully seize control of several such islands, although they never quite manage to oust the Venetians, who retain Seram and largely focus on the conquest and subjugation of Java instead. -In light of these many diplomatic moves overseas, the English have strengthened their naval capabilities and improved the prestige of the crown. In addition, increasing wealth has been brought by the addition of these new colonies (although heavy competition is troublesome, especially with the Venetians). These have also brought it into numerous more conflicts as the Spanish seek to consolidate control of the New World. The colonies in Guyana and South Africa have poor relations at best with their Venetian and Neapolitan neighbours, although this doesn’t stop hordes of migrants from moving to these places. Back home, the economic situation has started to stabilize, although high inflation, increasing religious tension, and worsening weather do little to improve lives. People continue to protest against enclosures of land for sheep, although this has slowed down in recent years. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=601768&dateline=1390096607[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/B98Yhkv.png?1[/img] [b]Kingdom Denmark-Norway – Pezgod1 Capital: Copenhagen Culture: Danish State Religion: Protestantism Number of dragons: 16 (large)[/b] -With dragons becoming gradually more important to the Danish state, the dragon harness has been modified in order to make it easier for the handlers to ride their dragons. This culminates in the invention of the karabiner, a device originally used to secure pistols to the torso when riding on horseback, but just as useful for securing riders to a dragon. The result is that dragons can now wear a large harness which, when covered with rings, allows for the rider and his assistants to quickly and easily climb on the beast without fear of falling off. This invention paves the way forwards for a revolution in warfare. The Danish are not neglecting the land however, as they have also hired a great number of engineers to rebuild and refine existing fortifications into what are now termed “star forts”, for their resemblance to a star. With low sloping walls designed to deflect cannon fire, they are an expensive but useful option for preventing breaches. -Some of these new dragons and their riders are sent to the Antilles, where with several ships they begin to actively patrol and terrify the pirates plaguing Danish shipping. Within a decade, attacks on merchant shipping effectively cease, and with similar anti-piracy campaigns by the Spanish, the golden days of the 16th century for piracy seem to be over. These dragons gain much valuable combat experience in raiding ships in dive attacks, where at the last moment they blast the deck with fire. A rotation is also made between the different dragons, and as their numbers and the ability of the Danish state to feed and house these dragons improves, they are able to begin introducing effective patrols to the home territories as well. In the colonies of Canada, the Danes declare war on the Mikmaq and drive them from their homes in 1598, using two dragons to ravage their major settlements. Within a decade, Quebec is fully subjugated and much of it is also open to settlement by Danes. As of yet, most of the new territories are thinly settled by natives engaged in the growing fur trade, with a few colonies on the coasts and rivers in addition to trading outposts. The French have also become interested in the area, having established a colony on a nearby island. -Dragon breeding is also fairly successful, with the main traits selected for being fire breathing. The total number of dragons held by the crown increases to 16, with the new generation having distinctly larger and longer bursts of firebreathing. They form part of the new royal bodyguard, intended to protect the sovereign from any immediate dangers. Several other dragons are also sent to the fort in Africa, where after bullying several local kings, they are given permission to establish more forts in the area and expand slaving activities. -Diplomacy is fairly fruitful in this period, with separate treaties signed with Bohemia (promising to assist in the case of any wars involving Brandenburg) and Sweden (to ensure neutrality) in order to help keep Denmark out of continental wars and contain any nascent threats. An agreement is also made with Venice to prevent intruding into each other’s territorial claims in the new world, while several shipwrights and their blueprints travel to Naples in order to help them build and refine the latest in naval technology. In return, they are given the new pepper guns developed in Naples, intended to help disable dragons in combat. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=295683&dateline=1383090155[/img][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/dViFT1.png[/img] [b]Jrose14 – Kingdom of Naples Capital: Naples Culture: Neapolitan State Religion: Catholicism Number of dragons: 14 (large)[/b] -The dragon harness is improved upon at this time, as the recent invention of the karabiner has opened up a great deal of new opportunities. After putting a sufficient number of rings and straps onto the beast, one can use the spring-loaded karabiner to quickly move around on it and attach safely. Given that one can also attach guns and other items to the dragon this way, it makes the prospect of carrying armed musketeers and heavy objects to drop on people much more feasible. To further the use of dragons in warfare, the Neapolitans have taken several ship designs given to them by the Danish and extensively modified them to have room for dragons. In addition, they carry enough space for food for the dragons as well, meaning that with sufficient monies to pay for them, one can deploy dragons anywhere. -Using these dragons in a similar manner to the Danish, the Neapolitans carve out several additional territories in Africa for slaving, while also expanding the colony at the Cape. These battles are among the first in which both the new harnesses and dragon transport ships make an appearance, courtesy of Danish ingenuity (for which the Neapolitans have given the Danish pepper guns). They are also the first in which the intelligence of dragons is becoming steadily more obvious. Many of them, in addition to speaking, offer suggestions of strategy and tactics to their handlers, while also becoming skilled at carrying out manoeuvres and working in formation. Given that slave trading has become steadily more profitable as demand for their services increases, many European nations are starting to jump into it, building chains of forts and trading posts up and down the African coast. The Cape colony is also a destination for those with few prospects back home, and while it has grown, the English have also begun to settle in the area. -At home, Naples problems continue to compound, especially as the Venetians increasingly dominate both the peninsula and trade. Tax revenues have been in decline recently, while the population has also been steadily contracting (helped by poor harvests and crushing poverty). The merchants and traders have been gradually side-lined by the Venetians, with many moving to work in either state-protected enterprises (such as the colonies or slaving) or moving elsewhere to conduct business. The costs of maintaining an army and ruling over Tunis have eaten at Naples finances, with many loans being borrowed to cover costs. As the church and nobility steadily enclose or seize land from impoverished smallholders, population decline and tax revenues worsen. By the opening of the 17th century, it has become painfully clear that Naples is no longer as powerful as it used to be. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=23000&dateline=1410718785[/img][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/109107273/RP/DragonRP/miscgfx/flag.png[/img] [b]Ruskie – Kingdom of Mutapa Capital: Bulawayo Culture: Umgqomo State Religion: Mbira Dza umgqomo[/b] -Increasing European influence has led to the gradual transformation of Mutapa as their rulers seek to emulate the wealthy and powerful Portuguese who not only possess the nearby coast, but a major worldwide empire. This is most apparent in architecture, where starting with churches, there are now several palaces and buildings inside the towns done in the Portuguese style. In addition, as people continue to migrate into the towns, the necessity of well-built and strong buildings becomes more pressing as time goes on, and the foreign building styles seem fit for the purpose. The Jesuits also have to financially support themselves overseas, and end up establishing the first banks in Mutapa as one of the ways of doing this. The natives here have yet to become accustomed to a money economy however, which is one of the major problems in aiding the modernization of the country. -Under royal patronage, the Jesuits have eagerly begun to convert the populace to Catholicism in droves, in return for supporting and aiding the strengthening of the monarchy. Many old customs are gradually dropped or banned in the move to become more Christian, although this often prompts rebellion. Armed with harquebuses sold to them by the Portuguese, the state makes short work of the rebels. When the army modernizes further and adopts a larger number of firearms and cavalry, they expand to the southeast, often with the aid of traders and missionaries who find that mutual relations can help advance their interests in these areas. The Xai-Xai suffers greatly from this, with many being crushed and later forcibly converted to Catholicism. Despite this, the king of Mutapa has yet to convert, seemingly because he does not wish to upset the nobility (although the Jesuits have made inroads with them). [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=144505&dateline=1411864624[/img][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/SGwRko.png[/img] [b]Telepethi – Sultunate of Egypt Capital: Cairo Culture: Egyptian State Religion: Sunni Number of dragons: 0 (small)[/b] -With improving optical technology, the Egyptians have figured out a way to take advantage with a most curious invention. By using lenses in a tube to magnify objects, one can quite clearly see far-off objects in considerable detail. First used to identify craters on the moon and several of Jupiter’s moons, several of them are made for merchants and seafarers, who find the device a useful tool for navigation and spotting far-off objects. Some of these merchants bring back new crops from Europe (introduced there from the New World) such as tomatoes, pumpkins, and sunflowers. They are not only an instant hit in Egypt, but are integrated into a new agricultural system whereby all of the land can be used for crops instead of leaving some of it fallow. This involves planting a nitrogen fixing plant (such as clover, or more recently peanuts) in one of the fields in rotation, allowing increased yields. -The Sultan finally grows weary of the Mamluks, setting up a careful plot to rid them all for good. In 1582, he demands each Mamluk require guards under the pretence of having them ready for military deployment and protection (he later bribes these guards). He later calls up many of them to attend a feast, at which he gives the signal and his new model army turns their guns on the Mamluks. They are systematically executed by firing squad, and the plot quickly spreads throughout Egypt. Many of the remaining Mamluks are murdered by their guards, and within several weeks the entirety of the old aristocracy has been purged from the country as a whole. The surviving ones are captured and brought before the Sultan, where they are given the choice to either submit to his authority or be executed. Unsurprisingly, most of them agree to submit to his authority, and as reward for the native Egyptian officers, the Sultan grants many of them high administrative and military positions that the Mamluks once possessed, formally securing their power within the country. -With the Mamluk purge complete, the state goes on a massive spree of major land requisitions, seizing all estates with 5 or more acres (effectively all of them) and redistributing them to the common people (including the landless). A greatly celebrated move by the common people, the Sultan now enjoys great support among the common people, although when it comes to tending their fields and farms, output effectively collapses. With many smaller farmers unable to use ploughs or animals, many of them end up selling their land to their neighbours and moving to the towns. Others are too inept to run farms properly, and general disruption from the Mamluk purge worsens matters. Many merchants and prosperous Egyptian gentry end up buying up much of this new land at knock down prices. They are unable to restore production quickly enough however, and a string of hunger years and famine plague the country during the 1590s. -The Egyptians attempt to establish colonies of their own overseas in competition with the Europeans, starting with one ship intending to plant a colony nearby Ruckersville. Unfortunately, it is attacked by the Venetians and is forced to land south, where disease and lack of supplies causes the crew to perish. They do manage to successfully bring their contents of bees, dirt, cats, horses, and pigs (for some reason) to the colony, but with the colony perishing in 1598, the animals end up escaping into the local environment. Within a decade, bee colonies begin to spread throughout Carolina. -The conflict with Venice escalates as the years drag on, especially when the Venetians grow more confident. In 1604, they sign an alliance with the Ottoman Empire and Persia, with all three countries offering assistance in an invasion. The next year, the Venetians brought much of their fleet (along with Ottoman assistance) to Alexandria, where they shelled the city and brought a dozen dragons (both owned by the Ottomans and Venetians). After breaking through the defences of the city, the dragons drop pots of flaming oil on the defenders, while musketeers let off a few shots from the backs of the creatures. The Egyptians, with no effective means of combating this threat, are forced to flee from the city after it is overrun. -To make matters worse, the Persians also invade at the same time, advancing into the Levant to support Ottoman forces. With multiple fronts to contend with, the Egyptians rapidly lose ground as the campaign wears on. By 1607, Cairo is lost after a brutal siege lasting 18 months, which reduces the inhabitants to eating boiled leather. The Venetians guns are much more reliable then the Egyptian matchlocks, the Venetian flintlocks being particularly useful on dragonback. In addition, the Venetians use a new tactic where they fire by rank, producing deadly volleys and giving the Egyptians little time to recover in an assault. After the loss of Cairo, the Egyptian state disintegrates and falls under Venetian, Ottoman, and Persian occupation. The treaty splits much of Egypt between the Ottomans and Persia, with the lions share going to the Sublime Porte. With this, the Sultan of Egypt loses his throne, and is forced to flee the country, bringing the dynasty to an end. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=243999&dateline=1389299675[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/mPnQT4R.png[/img] [b]Satansick – Aztec Empire Capital: Tenochtitlan Culture: Mexican State Religion: Teotl Number of dragons: 4 (medium)[/b] -As the Aztec Empire continues to modernize and adopt foreign technologies, they have managed to get their hands on a recent French invention. Called a flintlock, it uses a piece of flint striking a steel plate to generate sparks that fall into the pan. Using a simple mechanism and fairly reliable along with being cheap to manufacture, it is the pinnacle of firearm locks. The first few guns arrive in the country in the early 17th century, the first being given as gifts. In addition, the Jesuits have brought over several European medical textbooks and surgeons to help develop medicine within Mexico. Some municipal regulations are adopted for midwives, while quarantines and effective ways of controlling and treating disease are introduced as well. The population begins to finally recover. -The Aztec make use of their dragons and French assistance to expand northwards, bringing many of the broken city states that used to be powerful a mere century before under their rule. They have also set up several missions in Baja, with the intention of colonizing the area. The French have become interested in colonies as well, having established one to the north of Mexico based primarily around ranching and agriculture. The Aztec has also managed to begin their own dragon breeding program, and successfully hatch two new dragons with assistance from several Jesuits. Paid for by the parliament, the nobility are wishing to establish their own aerial forces capable of taking on European powers. Fighting with them is of course not possible yet, and to help maintain relations until conflict inevitably breaks out, the parliament establishes several embassies in Europe and maintains cordial relations with the main powers (including their main ally France). -The Mexicans have become increasingly westernized, with large sections of society converted to Christianity. By the opening of the 17th century, a vast majority attend mass, forcing the emperor and parliament to disband the monopoly of the state religion (which is in terminal decline) and to give Jesuit seminaries additional powers and funding throughout the country (such as the establishment of hospitals). French and Latin are increasingly elevated as the language of writing and instruction and as this period comes to a close the vast majority of the middle and upper classes are fluent in French. Nahuatl is an optional course, although it is not as popular. -Cocoa, coffee, and distilled alcohols become popular throughout Mexico, with the government eventually setting up taxes on these goods in order to draw additional revenue. Coca plants are also becoming steadily more popular as they are imported from Peru, with the leaves being chewed to give an energy boost to labourers. They, and the other goods made in distilleries and plantations are being sold to French merchants, who take it back home to Europe to sell for a profit. The Mexican government has also enacted laws which establish several shipwrights and manufacture fishing trawlers for sale to fishermen, with their cost subsidized. The intention behind this is largely to reduce the heavy toll on the land that plantation agriculture creates, and to create a group of men with the necessary skills for enlistment into the navy. After several years of this policy, a census is held; revealing the population of the Empire to be approximately 2.1 million, and revealing that over 90% of this figure are involved in agriculture or unskilled labour. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=440820&dateline=1409317697[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/wEPAaQQ.gif?1[/img] [b]Native Hunter – The Most Serene Republic of Venice Capital: Venice Culture: Venetian State Religion: Catholicism Number of dragons: 8 (large)[/b] -After a century of experimentation, the master gunsmiths of Venice have finally created a reliable and useful design for gun locks that looks sure to stand the test of time. Using a piece of flint to strike a steel plate and generate sparks that fly into a pan, it is made using relatively few parts, is easy to repair and manufacture, and is reliable (unlike many other firing mechanisms). At the grand arsenal in Venice, a great number of these new flintlock guns are manufactured, in addition to another strange invention. By filling up clay pots with flammable oil or getting cast iron grenades and carrying them on dragons, one can bomb an area (if rather inaccurately) and deny soldiers from advancing. While innovative, it is extremely dangerous for both riders and dragons, as often the loose bombs fall off the creatures, and the riders find it hard to pick up and drop the bombs from the creatures. -Nonetheless, this is seen as good enough for the Republics new military plans. After an Egyptian ship was discovered attempting to establish a colony in the New World, the Venetians signed an alliance with both Persia and the Ottoman Empire, promising to divide up the country between themselves when it came to war. With this in place, the Venetians enacted several military reforms, focusing largely on infantry. By arranging soldiers into ranks, one can order the first rank to fire a volley and kneel, before allowing the second to deliver another volley. While it increases firepower, it does leave gunners vulnerable to cavalry charges, necessitating the deployment of pikemen to protect the gunners from assault. The focus is however on firepower, with theory and practice favouring an increasing number of musketeers over pikemen. This new formation is a development of the Tercio, and is named the “Vernio” by commanders. Attempts have been made to tie cannon to the backs of dragons too, but their bulk makes their use in battle impractical and dangerous. They instead carry bombs, many of which are just as dangerous. -The scheming Auditore governors of Ceylon are granted powers to rule over Ceylon on the condition they subjugate the rest of the island, which they begin to do so at this time. Unfortunately for them, the native inhabitants frequently rebel, and are being supplied with firearms by the English. After the Sultan later begins to acquire galleons, he orders attacks on Venetian shipping and their main port whenever possible, where he is aided by the efforts of English privateers. The common people on the island are also roused into rebelling against their overlords by the English, with many tax collectors being badly beaten and chased out of the villages. By the start of the 17th century, the Venetians have effectively lost control of much of the island, and are forced to supply the few remaining coastal forts at great expense. The Venetian East Indian trading company, founded by the Auditores, finds similar difficulties in Indonesia as they quarrel with the English. Java is eventually invaded and brought partially under control of the company, while Seram is also secured for the Republic. In spite of this, the English have taken control of many of the other Spice Islands, including the coveted Nutmeg Islands. -The West India Company has much more success in colonial endeavours, as they settle one colony in Guyana and import a great number of slaves to work the plantations and mines being established there. Despite major losses from disease and piracy, they are eventually able to maintain a toehold in the region (unlike the English colony, which perished at around the same time). The Feochona family is the primary one invested here, and frequently they quarrel with the Auditores back home for control of the Venetian Senate. Despite being involved in overseas colonial expansion, both families have a considerable number of enterprises at home (such as glassworks, firearms, textiles, mirrors, and metalworking) that help form the basis of their wealth. -Venice declares war on Egypt in 1605, and as promised, the Ottomans and Persians also enter the war on their side. The first part of the campaign focuses on the siege of Alexandria by a joint Venetian-Ottoman force, while the Ottomans and Persians invaded the Levant. The Egyptians were forced to pull back to reinforce Alexandria, but heavy artillery bombardment and the use of dragons to drive defenders from the fortifications helped with the seizure of the city. The remaining Egyptian forces fled to Cairo, which held out for 18 months in a long and brutal siege. The Vernios and the dragons showed their worth, while the Egyptians had little in the way to deal effectively with the dragons. Their own ones were poorly trained in comparison, and by the time the city of Cairo was lost, the country was fully subjugated. At the peace treaty itself, Egypt was divided up between the Persians and Ottomans, with the lions share going to the Ottomans. Morea and a portion of the Adriatic coastline were ceded to Venice by the Ottomans as well, the Sultan being more than reimbursed by the acquisition of Egypt. -Altogether, these massive territorial acquisitions have made the Republic much larger and wealthy, although it has a lot more to defend now. Austria ceded the Republic their possessions in Italy when they became the Kingdom of Bohemia, which while a boon for Venice and giving them near-dominance of Italy, also made them greatly resented. Religious tensions have risen considerably since then, with a Catholic revival made possible by the growing power of the Counter-Reformation. Wages are still either stagnant or in decline in the many urban areas, and many try immigrating to either the colonies or joining the army. High inflation and declining crop yields are another problem to contend with, and most investment seems to be going straight into developing colonies rather than domestic industry and agriculture. It is common for bread riots to afflict the major cities. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=193052&dateline=1386775127[/img][img]http://u.cubeupload.com/Mackalda2k6/Chinaflag.png[/img] [b]Mackalda2k6 – Ming Dynasty Capital: Beijing Culture: Han State Religion: Confucianism Number of dragons: 90 (medium)[/b] -With the Chinese realizing that some European weaponry is not only superior, but can be imported and replicated within reason, a quest has begun to obtain the latest artillery pieces. Most older Chinese cannon tend to be bulky with immobile carriages and amateur gun crews, but now newer pieces made from solid bronze casts and utilizing trained gunnery crews are becoming increasingly common. In addition, lighter carriages means that these new pieces can be pulled by animals (or even carried by dragons) to positions on the field or different positions in a fortification, allowing firepower to be delivered to where it is required. Of course, dragons require specialist training in order to not only carry and move these new pieces, but to also work in integrated military units as well. This training largely covers the dragons intended for military service, although those going into civil service receive some training for times of emergency. -The dragons intended for military service are stationed as elite response forces, each based at an important port or city that allows them to quickly reach any hotspots of trouble. Working together with the bureaucracy, these dragons continue to gradually assume greater importance as the institution holding together the vast Ming Empire. The celestial dragons are sent to oversee regional governors as their numbers finally permit their basing in far-off provinces, aiding in the centralization of powers. The unworkable civil servants are quietly side-lined or removed by these dragons, eventually resulting in their complete dominance of the state. The grand palaces and homes are replaced with pavilions and cattle pens, and although these beasts are more efficient and loyal, they are deeply resented by the peasantry. -The increase of trade with Europe is a double-edged sword in China. The flow of silver from Peru has led to heavy inflation and the decline of tax revenue, while many are switching to new trades in order to make a living. Manufactured goods are exported to Europe (such as silks and ceramics), while new crops transform ordinary lives. The advent of the sweet potato drives a great migration westwards into the interior, increasing the populations and making the country harder to administrate. Soil erosion becomes increasingly problematic as forests are cleared to make way for mulberry plantations and sweet potatoes, causing flooding to worsen in step with climate change. Most of this climate change has seen drying and cooling weather in China, often leading to widespread famine. Epidemics brought by European traders (often bringing diseases from the rest of the world) ravage vast areas of the empire and kill the malnourished who survived the famines. By 1610, the population has actually declined a little, and rebellions that frequently break out are brutally crushed by the growing dragon forces. -In 1592, the recently unified Japanese state felt confident enough to invade Korea with the intention of annexing it and later invading the Ming dynasty. Bringing over dragons and a massive army equipped with Portuguese guns, they seized much of the peninsula early on in the war after several bloody engagements. However, the Chinese entered the war on the Korean side and mobilized their large numbers of dragons to support the Korean navy at sea. In addition, trading privileges and financial aid was given to the Jesuits in Japan in return for their support in securing vital supplies of new firearms and other weaponry for the rather incompetent Korean army. The war eventually dragged out into a stalemate, and with constant attacks on shipping by both dragons and the Korean navy, the Japanese were forced to leave the peninsula in 1598. This decision was strengthened by the increasing unrest within the home country, as large numbers of Christian converts rebelled against unfair taxation and conscription. In 1600, the Battle of Sekighara ends with Mitsunari winning, but his death shortly afterwards brings down the tenuously unified state once more as it collapses into civil war. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=507230&dateline=1376613839[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/NgdbPVs.png[/img] [b]StaleRye – Kingdom of Livonia Capital: Riga Culture: Livonian State Religion: Protestantism Number of dragons: 5 (big) [/b] -Several rather strange experimental inventions have been developed as of late in Livonia, presumably in order to gain any advantage possible on the field of battle. This begins with a bizarre cannon design, considered an early form of light artillery. By wrapping leather around a thin bronze tube, one produces a light gun that can be quickly moved by a small team of men (or a horse) to deliver firepower to where it is needed. While a massive step forwards, the heavily insulated barrel ends up warping the gun after a few shots and makes it difficult to reload and use safely. The Livonians also try to make their musketeers more flexible by adopting the plug bayonet invented several years ago in Germany, although their heavy firearms seem largely unsuitable for the task (much like the German variants). This is resolved by slightly reducing the calibre and making it lighter, so as to make it much easier to use as a short pike when the time calls for it. -Additional reforms are being carried out in Livonia to strengthen the crowns military capabilities. Soldiers are different parts of the country are housed within the same barracks, while officers and soldiers are to be treated as “Livonians” as opposed to Estonians, Latvians or Germans. Preachers make this point clear in their sermons, stressing the importance of solidarity against foreign powers threatening the country (especially the Russians). Given that the army is small and flexibility is essential, soldiers are given training in many different areas. Several units of musketeers are given horses to ride upon into battle for deployment, effectively making them dragoons that can deliver mobile firepower. Artillery crews are stressed to focus on speed as well, and they are all trained so as to take over different roles whenever the crew happens to perish in battle. Pikemen are also drilled to pick up their comrades firearms when needed and operate them (something becoming increasingly common as battles take longer to open and many frustrated pikemen switch to guns after being unable to participate). -These military reforms are generally designed with the purpose of improving the mobility and flexibility of the Livonian army, especially as the reforms with pikemen, dragoons, artillery, and musketeers show. Cavalry units are given short barrelled carbines and are trained extensively with them, with their task being to ride up to an exposed flank of the enemy army before letting off a volley and retiring to reload. Infantry formations become thinner and wider (increasing firepower and reducing the chances of being hit, at the disadvantage of being vulnerable to charges), and integrated tactics are touted as key to victory on the field. Advances are to be supported by artillery bombarding a position, while infantry and cavalry work together to support one another and keep up the momentum. The King of Livonia is most interested in seeing these reforms through, not only personally inspecting his new army, but standardizing all firearms to a single calibre (19 mm) and mandating only three types of artillery (the leather cannon, field guns, and siege guns) with 3 separate calibres. Unfortunately this requires a massive rearmaments program, but by 1600 the Livonian army is not only equipped and ready, but eager to prove their prowess in war. -Allying with Sweden and the Commonwealth, Livonia launches an ambitious invasion of Russia during the time of troubles in 1602. Already crippled by a famine that killed a third of the civilian population, Russia is in no way prepared for this brutal war. Pushing hard and fast, they encircle the Russian armies and batter them with superior and disciplined firepower, quickly capturing vast swathes of the countryside and pushing towards Moscow. The impotent Russian state is in no position to offer any resistance, especially with the Swedish and Polish entering the war and seizing vast tracts of land. Dragons make an appearance during the conflict on both sides, although the Russian ones are starved and during battle several of them go insane, ripping off their handlers and fleeing. After several sieges throughout 1603-06, the Russians are forced to cede large portions of their ancestral lands to Livonia, Sweden, and the Commonwealth respectively. The successful conclusion of the war is celebrated by the Livonians, who effectively doubled the size of their territories. The Swedish agree to a military alliance with Livonia, while studying their reforms in order to improve the quality of the Swedish army. The Swedish themselves are becoming increasingly convinced of the utility of dragons too, having captured many eggs in the Russian breeding grounds. The Swedish also seem interested in further military expansion, something made more feasible by their recent conquests. -The Livonian state continues to advance spectacularly during this time, patronizing the offices of printers and supporting the publication of the first Livonian newspaper (although written in German). The new bible is also taken into the annexed Russian territories, where after the Orthodox are increasingly side-lined, the Livonians try to force them to learn one of the three main languages of Livonia and to switch to the state church. This does prompt several rebellions, but they are brutally crushed. Dragons are especially helpful in ensuring that the people stay loyal, as the birth of two additional ones at this time allows frequent patrols over restless areas. The peasantry have little idea of how to counter these beasts, and so begrudgingly accept the new bibles and lords they now have. Some of these dragons wear curious metal plates as a form of crude armour, although they offer little additional protection for their weight, given that their thick hides already stop many bullets. -All of these recent wars have been a considerable drain on finances, and the Livonian state is forced to sell off many royal monopolies on forestry and mining. One of the upsides to this has been a small economic boom, as many of these goods are needed in warfare, although this is only temporary. The collection of taxes from the new territories brings hope that they can balance the budget, although many decry soldiers spending their monies on tobacco and other luxuries that have recently started to arrive from the new world. Inflation is steadily increasing in addition as silver trickles down from banks and traders operating in Western Europe, which luckily for Livonia has made loans slightly cheaper to pay off (although they still possess a considerable amount of debt and pay large interest rates on it). Most of these debts are held by private merchants with wildly varying interest rates, making borrowing money difficult and unreliable. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=655211&dateline=1411795831[/img][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/xVJr0C.jpg[/img] [b]ImperialGuard – Persia Capital: Tehran Culture: Persian State Religion: Shia Number of dragons: 2 (small)[/b] -Copying foreign developments in Egypt, the Persians have come up with their own special optical device intended to allow the user to view objects at a great distance in more detail. Called a telescope or spyglass, it consists of a tube with several lenses in it, which when arranged in a particular manner, works admirably. It is first adopted for military and astronomical use, where the advantages of such an invention are obvious. Another rather interesting invention involves the dual-roller cotton gin, invented in India several centuries ago and having spread to Persia quite recently. What the Persians do that is considerably innovative however, is to attach small metal hooks and barbs to the rollers, allowing it to easily separate the seeds from the cotton without jamming. The earliest models are adopted for use on cotton farms, and save a great deal of labour in cotton processing, significantly improving the profit margin. The raw cotton is then often sold to Indian merchants, who process it into cloth. -The Persian shah begins an anticorruption campaign in his Empire, starting with himself oddly enough. He cuts down on the major expenses of feasts, pawns off the expensive furniture and purchases simple (but finely made) wooden stools and tables, with no gold or jewel decoration. The numbers of servants kept are also considerably reduced, and the shah even moves into a smaller house (although it is still a considerable comfortable and large one). The monies saved from this are ploughed into the army, which is seen as more important than the jewels and feasts of the shah. This money does not directly go into increasing the number of men that can be conscripted, but largely covers the new reforms, heavily based upon the Venetian model. Their ranking system is adopted in addition to a merit-based method of appointing officers and other commanders, with uniforms being important to this endeavour. Like the Ottoman Empire, the Persians adopt a standardized uniform at this time for their soldiers, in addition to ensuring they receive proper rations and lodging when on campaign or are on peace duties. -To encourage inventors to come out of the woodwork, the shah offers a grand prize to those who can demonstrate new inventions to him, with gold and land involved. The two main inventors to come during this time demonstrate the new telescope and the cotton gin (both of which are most likely stolen and remodelled versions of Egyptian and Indian designs), and for their work they are granted comfortable estates to retire in for their work. This offer is also given to the best gunsmiths in the country, quickly leading to a proliferation of many competing gun designs, some of which also appear to closely resemble foreign weapons. Many of these guns are later sold to the Mughal Empire in return for two dragon eggs, which are later hatched successfully. -The Qizilibash (that didn’t rise up in rebellion) are given an ultimatum by the shah, where they are offered a position in the royal guard as an elite force of soldiers and other privileges. Given their weakened position due to the growing power of the shah, they accept the offer, and soon they too are working to shoot those who rejected the offer. With the Qizilibash tamed, the shah then moves to work on the separation of secular and religious law, much to the horror of the imams. To make this more palatable, the shah says that they are only barred from committing physical harm, and that if they wish to carry out a punishment (such as execution) they must be handed over to secular authorities. The secular courts gradually expand during this time, slowly undermining religious law. The shah also carries out education reforms, stressing the need for children to understand Islamic scripture, arithmetic, and the state-run newspaper, which begins printing at this time. Printed with the aid of imported Venetian presses, it appeals to the growing literate audience within the country, although some of them have started to print and distribute their own interesting materials. -Allying with Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the Persians invade Egypt via the Levant, making use of their reformed army and support from the Ottomans. The first few battles result in near stalemates as the Egyptians make use of dragons to raid supply lines. Unfortunately, the loss of Alexandria forces them to retreat, and after several increasingly desperate battles the Egyptians break. The Persians manage to push through into the Palestine in the first year of the campaign, before meeting up with the Venetians and the other Ottoman forces at Cairo. The war goes considerably successfully, although with major financial and logistical costs. The Ottomans are also ceded most of the wealthy acquisitions (not to say that the new Persian territories aren’t also valuable), and while all parties are allied in this conflict, this may not be so in the future. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=436734&dateline=1411704936[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/Mg5QRMp.png?1[/img] [b]LoganIsAwesome – Kingdom of Brandenburg-Prussia Capital: Berlin Culture: Low German State Religion: Protestantism [/b] -The Germans have focused a great deal of time and energies into the manufacture and development of gunpowder weaponry, and one of these involves the older swivel gun. Consisting of a mall iron cannon on a swivel, it utilizes cast iron “cartridges” with shot and powder already in them. While having existed for several centuries, recent improvements to them have made it possible to fit them on carriages and employ grapeshot in them as well. Their major disadvantage is the weight of the iron cartridges, which must be prepared in advance, and their poor range. To compensate for this, a number of rifled firearms are also developed at this time, with the job of riflemen being to help pick off and delay soldiers assaulting a fort or ship. Given that these rifles foul easily, are bulky, and take a long while to reload (two shots a minute is the highest rate of fire), they too are only really feasible for adoption in siege warfare, where both sides can spend time shooting at targets at their leisure. -With the power of the Hohenzollerns continuing to grow, they make more investments into their military. Cavalry units begin to be raised, while infantry is regularly drilled for seven weeks before being fit for service (a depressing life of drudgery that nonetheless maintains discipline and regularity to the military machine). The clever marriage with the Duke of Prussia pays off in 1609 when Ducal Prussia is inherited by Brandenburg (although they are still responsible for their duties to the Polish commonwealth). To consolidate this expansion of the demesne, Sigismund declares himself King of Brandenburg-Prussia the next year, much to the annoyance of several princes in the Holy Roman Empire and to the Polish state. Nonetheless, large military parades are held in both Berlin and Konigsberg to celebrate. The Polish denounce this move as illegal, and declare Prussia to be the rightful property of the Livonian crown. They have yet to act upon it, due to their own concerns abroad. -John Sigismund also becomes known for being a major patron of the arts and a supporter of the common man, leading to many dubbing him “King of the commoners”. He rents off large portions of his personal estates for low rates to the landless, while also employing bankers to loan out monies to aid in the development of agricultural estates. Within several decades, the unemployment issue seems to be gradually waning as agriculture moves towards increasing yields and selling the crops for export, while the towns benefit from royal charters granting them more freedoms with regards to trade. Sigismund also funds many small schoolhouses in order to help educate the lower orders and give them both a sense of loyalty to the state and their faith. With this partial economic revival, the first newspapers and libraries begin to slowly appear, although they are considerably rare. Famine is still common however, while outbreaks of disease and religious violence still plague the country from time to time. [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=489118&dateline=1390872969[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/aydBiLt.jpg[/img] [b]KriegsMar1ne – Cherokee Capital: Calchoutta Culture: Cherokee State Religion: Droganate [/b] -The Cherokee have started contacting Europeans and adopting some of their innovations (particularly Spanish ones). This starts with the introduction of horses, an animal capable of taking riders considerable distances and giving them many numerous advantages in a military setting. In addition, some European traders have brought their own medical techniques for treating Smallpox and other diseases (most of which rely on isolating patients and giving them food and water until they recover). The eventual result is a decline in the number of deaths to the disease and a greater control and understanding of it, giving these peoples an edge over their disorganized neighbours who are dying in heaps from introduced diseases (although a quarter of all Cherokee die from such diseases at the same time). -The Cherokee begin their next aggressive war of expansion by invading the Creek peoples to the south, raiding many of their major villages and utilizing their new horses to encircle and cut off isolated groups of warriors. Over the next 30 years, they slowly expand southwards and come into increasing contact with the Spanish and their Jesuit missionaries. A new position in each tribe is later created from their interactions with the European and those afflicted with smallpox. Called a “Spirit taker”, this man’s job is to watch out for signs of disease and quarantine the infected within a single large hut, while employing helpers to keep the afflicted fed and watered. Due to his association with death, he lives on his own and wears thick clothing so that nobody may look upon him. While a detestable position, it helps to slow down the major demographic decline afflicting the other tribes. -There is a move towards centralizing individual tribes into larger settlements as disease and war take their toll. A lot of older villages are consequently abandoned and become overgrown, and the Cherokee generally retreat from interacting with the Spanish and the Jesuits. When they do have to interact, they keep foreigners on the outskirts of their settlements and permit them only for trade. Women are encouraged to have as many children as possible in order to replace lost numbers, but this does little to reverse demographic decline, given that humans already naturally do this. Envoys establish cordial relations with the Shawnee to the north, although they are only just starting to stabilize from the ou

england I need to talk to you

Wait what the fuck Wheres my turn

I'm a devious bastard but I really didn't mean to colonise St Helena :(

[QUOTE=Griffster26;46234102]Wait what the fuck Wheres my turn[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Poben;46202951]Going to limit it to two extra players this turn (Austria and Poland respectively) as the number has bloated to 15 players and I don't want it to bloat much further. Need following turns: Iberia - Daniel England - Mallow Naples - Jrose Mutapa - Ruskie Aztec - Satansick Ming - Mackalda Brandenburg - Logan Cherokee - Kriegsmar1ne Austria - Damian[/QUOTE]

I thought I said I was joining before the limit [editline]14th October 2014[/editline] Yeah five days ago I did which is two days before you put the limit

There's an open slot now, which I am unsure who to give to because a lot of people seem upset about not being able to play.

[QUOTE=Poben;46234182]There's an open slot now, which I am unsure who to give to because a lot of people seem upset about not being able to play.[/QUOTE] Make everyone compete by playing board game online or something I'd rather it be something like that because my internet is pure ass most of the time, would rather not spend two days downloading a total war game.

All hail the emperor's new groove

What if we don't have Board Game Online?

[QUOTE=Griffster26;46234759]What if we don't have Board Game Online?[/QUOTE] Get a job you hippy.

Allah bless Persia. Persia stronk.

Damnit England why won't you talk to me

[QUOTE=Griffster26;46234759]What if we don't have Board Game Online?[/QUOTE] Isn't BGO free?

Boy I sure do love being completely taken out of the game by other players when I've been 100% peaceful the entire game just because the other players don't like me for some stupid asinine reason. Especially after I was more than friendly with those players. Y'all can go fuck yourselves.

:v:

My economy is falling apart because Venice simply [i]exists[/i].

Seriously you guys are the fucking worst. All I want to do is a play the game and develop my technology but FUCKING NO you have to just shit all over me because "lol fuck ven"

[QUOTE=Karishnikova;46235516]Seriously you guys are the fucking worst. All I want to do is a play the game and develop my technology but FUCKING NO you have to just shit all over me because "lol fuck ven"[/QUOTE] I did it for the Vine, and to get my land back from Kebab [editline]14th October 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Jrose14;46235512]My economy is falling apart because Venice simply [i]exists[/i].[/QUOTE] :tinfoil:

[QUOTE=Native Hunter;46235595]I did it for the Vine, and to get my land back from Kebab [/QUOTE] "did it for the vine" is the stupidest meme since trollface, and none of my territory was taken from you

Alright People Ven/Tele/Karishnikova Wants to rejoin as France a nation much more powerful than his previous nation Egypt, this vote will be held official and will serve as a basis should anyone else get kicked out they can only rejoin as a weaker nation. Rate Agree for yes let him be France Rate Disagree for no he cant be OP Since I cant self rate Im voting Disagree [editline]14th October 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Karishnikova;46235658]"did it for the vine" is the stupidest meme since trollface, and none of my territory was taken from you[/QUOTE] look again, I traded Egypt for the land along the adriatic and morea and by kebab I meant the turks

I don't think my rejoining as any nation should be the subject of your vote. My plan of peaceful scientific and educational progress is going to be the same in France as it was in Egypt, except this time it's going to take more to destroy my country for absolutely no reason than it did as Egypt. I don't really care whether or not you guys want me playing. It's not up to you, and you definitely can't say I've been a disturbance.

[QUOTE=Karishnikova;46235758]I don't think my rejoining as any nation should be the subject of your vote. My plan of peaceful scientific and educational progress is going to be the same in France as it was in Egypt, except this time it's going to take more to destroy my country for absolutely no reason than it did as Egypt. I don't really care whether or not you guys want me playing. It's not up to you, and you definitely can't say I've been a disturbance.[/QUOTE] Poben said this vote is counting for his decision, he wants to see what the players think

[QUOTE=Karishnikova;46235758]I don't think my rejoining as any nation should be the subject of your vote. My plan of peaceful scientific and educational progress is going to be the same in France as it was in Egypt, except this time it's going to take more to destroy my country for absolutely no reason than it did as Egypt. I don't really care whether or not you guys want me playing. It's not up to you, and you definitely can't say I've been a disturbance.[/QUOTE] Dude this is a forum RP. You'll survive. Besides, [I]peaceful scientific nation[/I], pfff. After we decide to leave you masturbating in the corner like you seem to want, you'll just turn around and spray that science jizz all over us with nuclear warfare or something.

[QUOTE=Jrose14;46235789]Dude this is a forum RP. You'll survive. Besides, [I]peaceful scientific nation[/I], pfff. After we decide to leave you masturbating in the corner like you seem to want, you'll just turn around and spray that science jizz all over us with nuclear warfare or something.[/QUOTE] That's dumb. Also in the interest of transparency here is the turn I just sent to Poben as France. He can verify accuracy. [quote]Technology: -Rudimentary Steam Engines -Blood Transfusion Military: -Hold training drills four times a month for the army to increase their skill and courage -Place a higher emphasis on all flintlock based -Fortify the border with Venice based on their recent aggressiveness and boldness -Bring France's dragons to the French Army training grounds five at a time and have them mingle with the soldiers and pick two each that they feel the strongest connection with. These 40 soldiers are to be trained extensively in Dragon mounted combat techniques as well as techniques for fighting side by side with their dragons. -Have smiths, artists, fashion designers, and military strategists work together to create combat armor for dragons that will protect them from the dangers of war while being light enough to fly in and striking enough to be terrifying to the enemy. Domestic affairs: -Purchase a number of Telescopes and Microscopes to aid in the scientific and educational endeavors of France. Examine the designs and craftsmanship to begin domestic production in France. -Amp up production of the new Flintlock designed muskets and pistols to arm the French Army -Establish colonies in [sp]I'm not telling you where I'm putting colonies I'm not stupid[/sp] External affairs: -Set up trade with England, Denmark, Spain, and Naples. -Offer trade agreements with these nations and others in the area.[/quote]

[QUOTE=Karishnikova;46235793]That's dumb. Also in the interest of transparency here is the turn I just sent to Poben as France. He can verify accuracy.[/QUOTE] like I said Poben's decision whether to let you be france is depending on this vote and it seems no one wants you to be them

If enough players are opposed then I am going to find it difficult to allow him to play, as many have told me that Ven has been reckless and provocative in this rp.

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