Return to Atlantis

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Fantastic stuff Joe!! Ive got absolutely no idea what will happen next !! Gripping, Exhillerating!!

Definitely looking forward to some more

[joe08536]

Perhaps.
[btw , thanks]

[joe08536]

The small hours of the morning

Neither man said much of anything upon their return to the Palace. Although when they returned to Trajan's Private Villa at the far end of the Palace Grounds, It was nearly 3 in the morning and soon Trajan could expect the Officers and servants to arrive soon to prepare the morning meal. However, nearly immediately Cichophys made a bee-line for the stock of fine wines and liquors which was stored near Trajan's private study, his hands had been shaking badly on and off since earlier this afternoon and his encounter with the witches.

"What did they say to M'Lord.", Cichophys asked?

Trajan removed his scabbard and sword and then turned towards the wooden chest himself , grabbed a small glass and poured a small amount of a "hard" clear liquor which is made from the starchroots grown in the northlands of Claudius. He shot the drink back in one gulp and said "Nothing....Everything...but almost none of it made much sense but I can recall each moment with such clarity...." and at that he nearly lept across the room to a small desk which contained a pen and paper and he moved the lamp from a nearby candelabra and began to write the memory of his encounter down, saying then "I'll be with you in a minute Cichophys, I want to get it all down.."

After writing for a few minutes, he stared at his writing again and turned to look up at Cichophys who was sitting with a bottle of wine and trying to pour it steadily into a cup. I’ve copied it here as best I can recall, but still only parts of it make any sense.

Turn the paper over to the nerve-raked spymaster, Cichophys seemed to be nearly trying to hide behind his cup of wine and was hunched over, he looked over the cup and to the scroll paper which Trajan placed before him. Scrutinizing it and reading it quickly he said “They all spoke to you!?” Looking up at Trajan, who had begun to move back towards a dais in the side of the room, exhausted and confused. He looked over at the window and saw that it was still as dark at it had been when they had first arrived and internally he knew that it must have been nearly coming upon dawn. “Did they say more than this...?”.

The two who approached me from the sides, did not speak of things in the future but made statements regarding known things, but both did so contemptuously – almost as if I was at fault for some great personal loss of theft of an object of their affections. No, I don’t think they said anything useful at all…. They said “Our sisters see, but now only three - I think that only three of the witches said anything useful, if in fact…any of them said…anything useful…at all.”

Turning on the dais, “Cichophys, I don’t think any of this changes anything, anyone with ½ an eye can see that my superior military skills will allow me to do great things but I simply cannot stand to wait any longer.” taking the scroll up and turning then to go towards his private chambers.

Trajan turned as he left the room, “I will sleep until mid-morning. Tell the officers when they arrive, that I will not be disturbed. Have one of the servants bring a meal around mid-morning, and do us both a favor and stop drinking. I need a servant who can be as agile in mind, as in body and right now, you are precariously close to neither of those things. Send the orders and get some sleep yourself - goodnight”.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Nice stuff Joe, the plot thickens! I cant wait to see how this develops

[joe08536]

Deception at Almarikh

The horses moved over the hills as Sa Noyan Qin as if they were a single will a single angry animal reaching for it’s prey. He turned and faced the Kotan invaders and steadied himself and looked across the hills towards the great plains which were now a melee of men and horses and the popping and roar of the thunder-lances which the enemy had been using.

The chill of the air had given way and he breathed hard and fast now. Standing upon the stirrups of his horse, he steadied his arrows and took aim – his motion and breathing in unison with his horse. The rhythm and pace were all synchronized and as he released the last of his arrows, he struck one of the Atlantean kotan [enemy] squarely in the chest, as he was looking right at him he fell back into two others of his own men as the force was so great as to knock him back and off his feet.

It was then that he heard the clap of thunder and saw a great many of the horses and men of his Keshik nearest to him fall back on their horses or be crushed under the weight of their falling horse. Moving with the grace which follows from the years of training His lance was brought to bear on the left of his horse as he moved in closer towards the thunderous noise to his left.

It was then that he noticed that his arm was bright red and he could not move his fingers as he tried to move the lance upward, the more he tried, the heavier his lance felt and still he could not move his arm.

Things happened very fast then as the next thing he remembered was a lifting and hearing a muffled cracking inside himself and the sky and the ground were turned upside-down and then nothing but the sky and everything was quiet.

Some mud was on his face then but he was very tired, he went to move the mud away from his face but now was too tired to do even that. He thought for a moment that he would just rest here and get his wind back and rejoin his brothers in great battle soon enough, just a little rest for a minute more.

The final memories of Sa Noyan Qin, of the Imperial Keshik at Almarikh

---------------------------

The last weeks had been unlike anything in his service to the empire, they were treated, each of them like kings in their own right. The transport ship, the Hector, had been laid out with finery from across the cities and foods and wines and even women of the most beautiful description. It was for him an experience that he knew would only have one end, which made only one answer inevitable.

The crew of the ship had been pared down to the essentials and the crewmen of the ships were even forbidden from visiting their own decks. The ship had been rigged that only one passage to the mid-deck was possible and this was guarded for the whole voyage, almost all the weapons were removed and the ship was rigged to go as quickly as possible.

The last of the wine from the previous night was still heavy upon Orean’s head. The scent of the beautiful women of the nights before was still upon him and he was heavily saddened as they left the ship in the earliest morning. He did not want to leave, as he knew as surely as anything that they would never return, never to return to Atlantis again.

As they lay crouched upon the mounds of earth, which had been built into the otherwise flat terrain, the men all knew what they were here to do. Officially, they were here to take the city of Almarikh by force. The rest of the Navy would bring reinforcements within the day but it seemed to the men who were present that their landing was not near any city and given the incredible circumstances of the last days that instead they were offered up as a sacrifice rather than offered an opportunity to win. Even though this was never said aloud, all the men knew that they were a gamble, a chance for success for the army but that they would not be that success they would be the wedge which allowed the hammer strike.

We can see the smoke and dust now upon the hills as they approach....

Final notes and recollections, of 1st Lt. Orean Sulaca,
A memoir found in a tin of gunpowder, left at
the Battle at Almarikh
------------------------

The enemy ships were not seen at all as they crossed the waves.

But even in their stealth at sea they were defeated, along with this correspondence you will find the masthead of their sea-ship, the “Hector”.

All aboard this ship of the sea were sent to their fate. Unfortunately, they were destroyed only after their true mission was finished and they had deposited the thunder-warriors upon the shores of Xanadu.

Another sea-ship, the “Achilly”, if my sources are correct, was mortally wounded when battle was given but was able to slip away in the battle with the “Hector”,I can only hope that the sea may claim her as a prize as the Khan’s ship “Siltayan ongyon” [Sacred Cause] was on patrol near the southern coastline when she defeated the Hector but was sunk before returning to shore. Happily most of the crew were rescued and will live to serve the Khan again in victory.

The forces of the Navy are most loyal to the Khan; alas even so they have failed. Sending ship after ship to the sea has proved a deadly proposition.

But here at last upon the fields of wheat and grasses between Ta-Tu and my great city of Almarikh, did the foolish men of Atlantis make their stand. Even more inept among them was the landing, which was north of Almarikh, which betrayed the incompetence of their soldiering.

Our soldiers from the Keshiks and the mighty spear-warriors as well as those skilled with bow and blade were all soon to each fall before the thunderous wands of the enemy at first but were finally victorious over the multitudes of thunder-speared warriors.

It is a credit to the Empire that our soldiers defeated their vile presence utterly. Even to the point of capturing or destroying all of the thunder-spears, which they had with them. [also enclosed with this caravan for the scribes and scholars of your Imperial Libraries to inspect].

Each one of the invaders fell, and I must send my personal congratulations to the Noyans of the Imperial Keshik, who individually and collectively showed themselves to be a supreme in their mastery of battle in the fight to destroy our enemies.

I am however, disturbed by the brazen attack upon the Khan's lands such as this. I believe that only desparate men would go to their deaths so willingly. While it may be that the fearsome ships of our Navy have so bruised the enemy that they cannot any longer pose a threat to our lands but I suspect we have not seen the last of thunder-spears or their ships.

I respectfully ask that the city recieve extra warriors at the next meeting of the Kuriltai since the historical pattern of the Atlanteans seem to be attacking either Almarikh or Ta Tu or their areas.

Correspondence to the Khan
Jian Xi-Anuran, Military Governor of Almarikh
Minister of the Kuriltai
March 14, 855

[joe08536]

The Fall of Mandalgovi

Suleia turned as she moved her form from the large pillowed couch facing the harbor, The air of spring could almost at times be felt in the air, it was exhilerating but chilly and she scooped up and poured one of the large fur cloaks over her naked form as she moved to the bay window. The morning had been brilliantly bright but foggy nonetheless, and the city was just waking into the morning but now there was a foggy darkness coming in from the south and the whole of the harbor to the north was invisible and quiet.

Turning from the Emir as she rose, she went over to the incense candles which were a gift from the Khan himself in honor of her beauty, she recalled as she took in the luxuriant scent of the smokes and vapors which lifted from all around the small lamps which contained the fires.

The Emir stirred and turned just then, as she noted his weary face looked no happier than the night before. Despite the passions of the night, he was still troubled. The Khan had sent only 1/2 of the men that had been promised from Dalandzadgad and it seemed all her Emir was concerned for until well into the night. It too all of her charms to convince him otherwise. Suleia turned away and focused on the scents closing her eyes, sure in her thoughts that the Emir worried too much of these things and that nothing could ever disrupt the world. That her Emir would protect her and the city as well. She was sure it could never be that the barbarians from the sea would so much as see their shores.

Her note to the servants had been followed and just as she rose to wake the Emir, the fruits and breads for the morning meal had been brought up. As she gazed (for the last time) out of the tower of the Emir's bedroom. She turned towards the servants and then back again, hearing a low noise, like waves crashing at the shoreline or the cheering of a crowd in the distance and she then dismissed her distraction and turned towards the more important matter of breakfast.

Memories at Dawn
Suleia of Mandalgovi

-----------------------------------
The landing west of Mandalgovi had gone as well as could be expected, himself had not yet landed but had chosen to stay aboard until all of the knights and bowmen and pikemen had left in the early hours before the luck of a fog cleared, as he looked up he could see that the sun was burning off the fog of the morning and would soon make their landing apparent. He ordered the captain to bring the Prometheus close to the shoreline and he would disembark

Personal Notes provided by General Hadrian
The Fall of Mandalgovi & The Xanadu Campaigns
Aurelius Press
---------------------------------
A spray of mud and earth shot into the air as the horse stumbled and the rider from the last corps of knights fell from his saddle.

Knocking Hadrian to his knees and onto his hands, just as he looked on, a rider from the Keshik of the Khan rushed past him and had hit him with a mace or some other instrument which knocked him down and caused him to turn nearly in mid air from a standing position to this nearly prostrate one. It was a glancing blow and he could feel that his shoulder must certainly be injured in some way. As he stumbled to get up and get to one foot. He looked himself over. The whole of time seemed to slow down then. This was not good. This situation was many things but good was not one of them. Grabbing his sword then and just as he had reached his feet, he saw in the mist the Keshik horseman was coming at him at full bore, with some sort of lance or pole pointed right at him.

As he turned to raise his sword again A spray of blood, mud and earth shot into the air as the horse of a mounted Atlantean knight intersected with the Keshik rider and as he watched he could see that the lance once aimed at him had nearly completely passed through lower 1/2 of the now thoroughly impale Knight, as the horses tumbled over one another. The keshik rider then appeared again, but this time, without his horse and with an arm which was clearly not right. Flying over the mass of the two horses and fallen Atlantean Knight, the Keshik Rider landed face first in the mud mere feet from the ancient Hero.

Deciding then that this was no place for a footsoldier, Hadrian dispatched the man with his sword and turned to the mess of horses. Turning towards them and looking around there was nearly a clearance enough to close the distance. Just as he approached a badly scared but nearly unhurt horse tried to stand from the crash of the two animals. Stabbing his sword into the ground from his [now] good arm.

Hadrian fiercely tried to pull the animal away from the mess of men and animal. The horse was badly spooked but not injured as the great beast was standing and as Hadrian turned and took measure. Another Knight passed this time going in another direction. His senses clearing a bit as he stood next to the horse. He saw that his men were not in ranks and that this meant death as quickly as the Keshiks could deliver it.

Summoning then, all his strength, he brought the horse around and was able to mount the great beast. Pulling the stirrups away from the ruin of the dead horse of the Keshik and the two dead riders. Turning back to grab his sword, Hadrian cried into the mists!

"Rally to me!!.....Rally to me!!!" , Knowing this would either work or bring a quick death, Hadrian circled a larger area and was able to see yet another pike which was impaled into the ground of another fallen Atlantean rider which who had fallen from his horse. This had been a dark and bloody morning, and this was not nearly mid morning by his reconning, it would be a long day yet to come.

Seeing then a corps of Knights rushing into his direction, they formed their ranks. And so it was that I was transformed from the ancient Hero and became the General.

"How I Did It" by General Hadrian

---------------------------------------

"Not easy, That day was the longest of my recollection."

"I think the answer to your question is this...."

"Even now as I sit in my small contemplary, I know now that violence can only lead to more violence and ultimately to destruction..." [The students looking up non-plussed by this statement]

"If there is anything important I learned in the war, you see, it is that I was not an agent of Ambition but an agent of Providence. This is the difference between my experiences and those of.....others. It was really opportunity and Providence, the smallest amount of skill and nothing more."

"The day had been horribly brutal, to men and beast alike. I was a rider in the corps of Knights and we had been sweeping the area surrounding Mandalgovi. Which had just been occupied by the better elements of the Longbowmen's Corps.... These elites of the Corps had managed to take the fortified city and eliminate all of the resisting Mongol Hordes which were barricaded inside. [gazing then, away from his audience] For their victory they took a horrible toll though, in all we knew it would not go easily for any of us. The previous day had seen 4 Corps of Knights and 3 of Longbowmen destroyed mercilessly by the incessant Keshiks and the Archers of the Khan. A more horrible sight I have never seen. My men and I were sweeping to the North of Mandalgovi and came upon one of the groups of Archers which had obviously attacked and survived the previous day but was damaged. We rode with the rest of my group and we dispatched them. It was during this action though, that my men were nearly caught in a crossfire between two groups of the Archer corps. I was able to take a smaller group of men and prevent this from becoming a masacre. So all I did, if ever I did anything at all, was prevent in some small way a further tragedy from befalling our group of Knights that day."

"But it seems a long time ago, and an ocean away now and I have dedicated my life to the creation of this Cathedral. I have given myself up from the concerns of the war to the more important concerns of God and of course, the happiness of the people of Atlantis."

"For me this is herosim. [turning and motioning towards the large altar and the pipes surrounding it]. Being able to forgive the world it's flaws and see if only for a moment the goodness that is possible."

Quotation from the Hero Maximus at the construction site of the nearly completed Cathedral of St. Thomas in Aurelius when asked "What it was like to become a hero?" by a young student visiting the site from a nearby school.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Joe this is great work, no excellent work

Please keep the goods coming

[joe08536]

Northlands

Hadrian turned to his 1st Lieutenant, and said “Well, I think it’s fair to say that no war plan survives the first battle”.

Only days before, Hadrian had stared out over the former Emir’s offices. Looking out over the bay, one could see clearly up the coast and to the horizon. Stealing one long last glimpse, he returned to the work at hand. “I believe that going forward to ` Choybalsan` should allow us to secure the northern provinces for after this northernmost city is occupied, only ` Dalandzadgad` shall remain a stronghold.”, turning to his assembled officers “Make preparations for fighting in cold climates , such as the training in Dioclesian”.

Choybalsan, had proven to be much more intransigent than he had predicted, for such a small city of only 30,000 Mongols. Their landing at Mandalgovi had allowed the Khan to reinforce all the other cities, and it was now clear that it would be a fight for every city.

Hadrian stared out across the frozen landscape of Choybalsan and watched as the workers from the city were given instructions, soon, there would be forests like in Dioclesian, but the city he feared was a loss, They would have to found a new City an Atlantean city in it’s place or somewhere nearby, but no matter what, a memorial to those who had been lost would be erected in the place of the old city.

Turning then to the 1st Lieutenant, “Do you have the manifest?”, looking over the numbers of captured and killed, there were far too many of the later and these numbers always depressed him. After Mandalgovi, and the loss of nearly ½ of the men they had left Aurelius with, he had come to call this report the “Butchers Bill”. The 1st Lieutenant re-scrolled the report, and placed a dollop of hot crimson wax, over the lemon stain seal, Hadrian took his ring and pressed the seal of his Signet into the wax.

The 1st Lieutenant turned and summoned a courier and the message was off to the ministers and the Emperor.


The march to Dlandzadgad has been plagued with attacks from the forests and there was an attempt to reinforce the city itself from the southeast (probably from Hovd). But, as you well know by now, this attempt had been defeated by elements of the units stationed west of Mandalgovi. This courier had been sent back with instructions to secure the hill overlooking the plains west of Mandalgovi, The hills were to be fortified, with workers performing this work at the expense of any other projects in the area.

Providing a secure outpost for attacks and defense will allow our forces to rally away from the city and allow the city improvements to be continued. Please keep worker creation up to quotas, as they will be desperately needed in the reconstruction efforts in the northlands.

Hadrian to the governor of Mandalgovi,
August 10 , 1001

The blood from the axe of one of the warriors defending Dlandzadgad was warm and fresh on his face. The General turned himself in the dusty mud and muck, and struggled to get to his feet, the blow had been glancing had been at the axe head of a Mongol warrior. Had it not been for the quick blade of one of the Elite Knights, which now freely roam the lands in the north, it could have been the end of his life and a certain death for this campaign. He replayed this image over and over in his mind.

The free Elites allowed me to rally the pitiful remains of the army and take stock of the horrible situation. Nearly all of the men were mortally injured it seemed, and horse and man alike looked a sorry sight. Nevertheless, the training of the men shone through and they were able to gather themselves in some small semblance of dignity and withdrawal, towards Mandalgovi. Of the 15 or so units in the army, all but four or five were on stretchers or otherwise unfit for battle. It seemed then that his was not so much an army as a moving medical emergency.

General Hadrian personal notes on the Defeat at Dalandzadgad, The Northlands & The Xanadu Campaigns
Aurelius Press

“...Hadrians’ Army was all but destroyed at the walls of Dalandzadgad and it was by sheer luck alone that they made if away from the lands of the Mongols and returned to Mandalgovi. It should come as a clear call to any who thought this campaign would be an easy one that it is never easy to deprive one of their freedoms.

The victories at Hovd were unexpected even by those who captured the city, It is largely thought, that this is due to reinforcement at Dalandzadgad by troops from Hovd.

In any eventuality, This body should move to sue for peace at the earliest convenience…”

Senator Gaius Aurtiaur,
Imperial Senate, January 4, 1003

[unscratchedfoot]

Originally posted by ChrisiusMaximus
Joe this is great work, no excellent work

I agree with chris that this is not excellent but not bad either. The vocab in it makes it feel clunky but that's just me cause I try to limit myself to about a grade 3 level of vocab.

[vovan]

Been a while since I last read this. Just caught up, and I'm liking it. Just keep the goods coming on a regular basis, and keep up the quality, and this will be contest material with high potential.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

War is a dirty business, well written Joe, keep the updates coming

Scratch, FYI I actually said this story is ecellent and I still think so.

[joe08536]

Germanicus

Your Excellency,

This letter is to report two matters at hand. First, the reports regarding casualties and in reply to your question regarding my state of mind. Casualty reports will be sent in the attached scrolls as they are numerous and detailed. To your later question; Personally, I am daily sickened by the tragedies, which have befallen the soldiers in the southlands. I am afraid I am no good model myself. The horrible losses of men and materiel to the south of Mandalgovi give me pause. I sincerely hope that we have not created a cauldron of death for our own but will press onward with our campaigns in the sincerest hopes of securing our Republic.

Another matter, it appears there are (even here) small miracles in places such as Mandalgovi as I’ve recently met with the frighteningly young new Hero, Germanicus, who at the ripe old age of just into his teens has become nearly my equal in battle. His age however leads me and many of the other Senior officers to request that he return to the Capital at the first convenience.

He is a pleasant and bright young boy on one hand, and from the perspective of our most worthy adversaries, the Mongol, he an accomplished mass murderer. One so young should not achieve such a ---- notable achievement so early in life. It pleases me also to report that he himself attributes his victory to blind luck and only modestly to skill, he also holds no special malice towards our enemy beyond that which might be expected from one so young.

He should be given the opportunity to do great things for the Republic. I request humbly that those things, not be attending to the unfortunate matters here.

Signed General Hadrian,
Private Letter to the Emperor, Spring, 1062 AD


“I must say that I am most proud of my work on the University, such a genius as Dr. Newton’s work must be the spirit and the inspiration of the people. The are some who have said that my record in the war effort is the more impressive of things, my opinion is only slightly different, in that I disagree completely with that assessment. It understates the importance of being mistaken for an innocent in the affairs of war. My work in the war effort is insignificant when compared with the learning and the increase in knowledge for our people and the greater good of Atlantis.”

- Germanicus, Hero of the Republic and current Chair of the Newton University quoted upon his admission as the 1st student to attend the new school founded by himself and some cynics have said for himself in Babylon. It should be noted that at the time of his admission to the school, Germanicus was still not “officially” old enough to attend University and was approaching his mid teens, and had completely forgone education beyond the age of 10 to secretly enlist as a water boy in the Hadrian’s newly forming corps of knights.

- The Babylonian, Vol 1, Edition 6, University Press, Babylon



Casualty Report 1050-1060 AD

Northlands Campaign
================

2nd Seige of Dalandzadgad
(units/corps [groups of +1,000-10,000 men])

Dead Injured Enemy Killed
================================
3 Musketeers Army (3/15) 2 Keshik
1 Knights 4 Knights (2/4) 4 Spearmen
1 Longbowman 2 Knights (1/5)
3 Workers

1st Expeditionary Force to Darhan

Dead Injured Enemy Killed
========================================
3 Knights 1 Knights (4/5) (Ger) 3 Keshik
2 Longbowman 1 Longbowman
1 Medieval Infantry 2 Spearmen

1st Expeditionary Force to Hovd

Dead Injured Enemy Killed
================================
3 Knights (0/4) 2 Keshik

=======================================

[vovan]

Cool update.

[joe08536]

Claudius

“Always do what you know in your heart to be the right thing. Had I it to do over again”, Claudius looked over the exchange of traders and buyers and runners and turned back towards his desk. “There are a great many things I would have done differently….I probably wouldn’t have joined the Army at all; now that I think about it.”, The young editor looked up from his notes on the great leader and stared perplexed and nearly amazed, “But I did join and, I was the `Hero of the Line`” turning back from the large window through the new glass which allowed sight with just a fraction of the sound from the galleries which formed an amphitheater of commerce.

Moving towards his large teak desk, “When all around me the battle front which had been extended as far south nearly as the City of Alamrikh fell in defeat. And nearly the entire force of our army was reduced to but a few Knights and old General Hadrian in Mandalgovi himself. His quest, by the way , to take Dalandzadgad was like the obsession of a madman, but then I met madness here in Atlantis and everything changed but that is another story altogether.”

He paused and pursed his lips and crumpled his face as if concentrating on the last sentence. Turning back to the interviewer, “I realize now that his was simply a grim determination in an even more grim circumstance….Anyway, After the fall of Hovd, which had been occupied many years earlier was it clear that I might be in the war but that my heart was not in the war… After Hovd, which was just after my victory at the line, which was not a real line but simply a skirmish area, which had developed near the hills North of Hovd., I retreated to Mandalgovi and for me the war was over. If there is something exceptional about my military prowess, I think it is that I retreat better than any of the other Heros of the Republic. I have always hated that title but well, the rest is history.

In all of it you must remember the first thing I said, [looking directly and seriously at the young writer], Always do what you know in your heart to be the right thing. You must let people know when you see a bad thing, when you see an injustice.

Some would say that this bastion of commerce here [moving his arm across the wide expanse of the window onto the trading floor] that I have created is such an injustice towards the poor. It is undeniably because of the commerce and trade here that the poorest of our citizens are not more impoverished and the Republic can support more fully the people with the revenues generated here. The poorest of our citizens can go to a library or a temple or perhaps even a university and improve their lot.

That is my gift to the people, No battle in Xanadu or debate in the Senate or time with the Emperor seems as important to me as this institution. Perhaps those temples and libraries will help to prevent in the future, the poverty of the spirit which is truly the ruin of man and the start of madness.”

Rising then from his desk, Governor Claudius turned to his young interviewer and said “I’m afraid our time is at an end, besides, if you want to ask someone who really knows `What they’re doing, How they did it and Why`, You should not ask me......[but I’ll give you a tip....[pausing then and leaning close as if relaying a hot tip on wheat harvests or mining production]

"If you’ve really done your job well, nobody will be sure you did…anything at all….Ask yourself, who fits that description, then you’ll know to interview…”.

“Meeting the Heros - The Exchange”, Excerpt from an interview with Governor Claudius during his tenure presiding over Smith’s Trade & Exchange located in Claudius, March 12, 1120 AD

[joe08536]

Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks again for the encourgament, I've had a busy couple of weeks and apologize for the recent gap in my writing.

More to come soon and I'll be moving away from the "recollection" style shortly, I just have to get through a little bit here.

Best Regards,

J