Rise Of Man

[appleciders]

Rajah Manu of Jahnu to Chief Tenseterhas of Singidunum

Hear and tremble at the words spoken by Rajah Manu, Emperor of Jahnu, High Admiral of the Seas, and by Celestial Decree Master of the Race of Man:

Your offer comes at an opportune moment- the High Council of Sul has gracefully requested that they should be released from our mutual trade, that they might focus their efforts and finances more fully on the eradication of the Fathan peoples. Since our own finances are dependant on such exports, we were hesitant to allow this. We will certainly export to you instead, as it serves our interests on two fronts.

[bipolarbear]

bump

[Rand Al'Tor]

Righto,sorry people. Work decreed that even we often have lots of time between calls, we can'tuse the internet.Which cuts in my net-time. Will try to get things kickstarted again the coming days.

[bipolarbear]

Orders? Strategy? Threats? Anything?

[foolish_icarus]

Kuru! You fools!

[Nubclear]

This is the fate of all Apolyton NESs

[foolish_icarus]

No part of your statement is correct.

[Cyclotron]

Here is something resembing orders!

The age has turned, and we must turn with it. The tactics that had crushed every opponent of the Azuran now seem inadequate to deal with the threat facing the nation. Never before have the Azuran fought such a culture, with cities and standing armies. A new plan is clearly needed, one that brings the full weight of the Azuran people upon the enemy.

Once, the horse archers of the Ehestephon – the Great Fields – ruled the field, and the Azuran way of life as well. Now the Azuran must develop a society and army that is suited for the urban life, the settled life, a life that demands very different things than the life of their ancestors.

The Great King has decided to begin a restructuring of Azuran society. The early Azuran peoples, nomads all, were divided into the Bodihan – the companions of the King – and the Ehedan, the common warrior-herdsmen and their families. In this new territory, below these classes are the masses of peasantry and artisans, adopted into Azuran culture but largely without Azuran ancestry, who have no real class status.

The class of Bodihan will be expanded into a larger noble class. Any Azuran may become a Bodihan by being granted a “reserve” by the Great King, typically for valor in battle or other great service to the crown. These reserves come in the form of revenue-producing estates; a “land reserve” would be an area of farmland upon which the Bodihan would administer and profit from, while other reserves could be coastal strips or fishing villages (to administer income from fishing) or in forested or mineral-rich areas. The Great King will continue to own and tax all such land, as all land of the Azuran is his by right, but as resident administrators the Bodihan will be able to levy their own local taxes and develop their reserves. In exchange, the Bodihan must provide his personal service as a warrior (typically, as cataphract-style heavy cavalry), and a number of auxiliary soldiers provided from his reserve.

This will (hopefully) have the benefit of encouraging the development of our resources, especially our aquatic resources, with a minimum of royal investment. In addition, it should help expand the army by providing a larger base from which soldiers can be drawn (currently, only Azuran are eligible for such warrior duties). These reserves will be non-hereditary and will return to the direct administration of the Great King when the Bodihan dies, but the Great King will often consider granting the father’s reserve to the son if the son has likewise proved himself to be of worthy Bodihan status.

The Ehedan, plains herders and warriors, will continue in their dominance of the wide steppes to the north and west. Rather than raid on their own, however, they will be called up by the Great King when needed, to work with the “feudal” army of the Bodihan and reserve auxiliaries.

The low peoples will be divided into Urban Peoples and Serfs; serfs are somewhat free but restricted from moving from the reserve they live upon, while urban peoples are generally craftsmen, laborers, artisans, merchants, and others who live and work principally in Surizhad. These urban peoples will be under the direct domain of the Great King and his priestly administrators; they will not be included in military service but must provide a member from each household to train as a sort of “urban militia” for the city.

Steps must now be taken to crush the Mainyu once and for all. The Great King, emphasizing the holy nature of any war against these people of the Agharishathban, will call up the newly reorganized army and begin an organized expulsion of the Damballans from all territory west of the river. The ships of the Azuran will then, with the help of the army, raid and destroy every last Damballan bridge or port on the river and enforce a blockade, preventing the Damballans from reaching us. Once the homeland is secured against intrusion, the new army – with the Great King to lead it – shall embark on a “Sherman’s March” style systematic, methodical, and wholesale pillage of the Damballan countryside. Nothing will be spared; anything that cannot be looted will be burned. Damballans that renounce their vile faith will be spared; the peasants will be taken as slaves and the artisans and middle classes will be taken to Surizhad so that their abilities may properly benefit the city. Those that do not recant will be slain without exception. No attempt will be made on Damballa itself, but every effort will be put towards starving the people of Damballa and impoverishing their lands, while the navy prevents them from striking back over the river. Should the army for some reason be forced to retreat, the navy will remain ready to ferry them over the river so the enemy cannot pursue.

The scouts of the Teutons have not escaped the notice of the Great King. It is emphasized that Zhasmun, the Lake of Fire, is holy to the Azuran, and while the Great King seeks friendship with the Durghu (black-feet, our name for the Teutons), they will not be allowed to settle in lands sacred to the Azuran people as long as they remain under foreign leadership.

[foolish_icarus]

I would resume playing this. Anyone else?

[bipolarbear]

I have enough time to mod a game now, so if other people are willing to, then yeah.

[foolish_icarus]

Anyone?

[Cyclotron]

Well, I posted orders already way back in the day. I'd love to help, but if we don't have enough players...

[appleciders]

I'll play, but I've got too much going on to mod.