[Forum Game] Rise and Fall of Civilizations II

[Mikkel Glahder]

Nexus 2500​

The republic had just gone through a rather turbulent political time. Several different houses had rigged several elections and often used violence to get "supporters". In the end, it was all simply too much for the sitting Nex-Invoyli and he declared himself king to stop the grand problems there had been. This prooved to be a mistake however as the big political houses where always hungry for more power and so, they first simply made written protest. Or... two of them did and three days later, the whole family had been slaughtered by the hastly recruited "Royal Guard" whose loyalty was dubious. When the other houses heard of this, they rose in revolt and, as often as not, bribed the royal guard to not attack them and their followers. For most of the rural population, the change in leadership didn't matter as they had no say in politics most of the time and they were content with whoever ruled over them. Whether it was a republic or a monarchy. Real hell broke loose when both sides began to recruit peasants for their civil war. The rural population was opposed to this and formed their own faction and joined the civil war that had gone from bad to worse (or bad with more blood). As the rural population joined, many tribes joined in as well and began threatening to overun the capital with their superior numbers. When the king of Nexus was found dead, killed by his own guards, the big political houses began to calm down the rural army of peasants and tribes at the gates of the capital. Or, at least they tried too. When they heard that they'd have their own system back, they smashed the gate and ran amok inside the capital murdering anyone affiliated with politics apart from neutral members of the Contris and houses that promised changed. When it was done, the capital was littered with corpses and a stench of rotten bodies and death. A new system was set in place by the remaining councillors where the rural population had some influence.

With a new Nex-Invoyli choosen and a new Contris elected the everyday life could go on once again. However, none would forget the Slughter of the Capital in a long long time.

 

[sealy300]

The River of Life
​

In the beginning, there was none but the earth and sky. The sky was thick with dirt & ash; which no life could breath, and the Earth was dark and hot; where no life could stand. Then Mahiyasia looked upon the world and saw potential. She saw the chance for a green and blue world, one where the poison of air and earth could be kept in balance with a new element. She sent forth to her father Katarca to help cleanse the World, he created water and laid it upon the earth. Soon it consumed it and was consumed by it; becoming one with the world. Many areas were poisoned from the earth and sky & bared the scar of salt, the rest however remained safe and from this river and lakes were born. It was then that the world was safe for life and blossomed, but Mahiyasia thought there was nothing to appreciate her creation, and thus man was born from her bosom. She let them grow and flourish, but handed down one message to them:

"Water is all that is pure in the world, and those who forsake it forsake purity."

 

[99KingHigh]

A Dark Age​

Modern historians consider the period from the 20th century BCE, to the 18th century BCE, as a historical enigma for the Meveon Kingdom. Only a scare number of archeological objects have survived from that period, and the handful that have, only prolong the mystery of that period. Personalized accounts, scribed in the old tongue, cease to be produced until around 1840 BCE, when writing, almost inexplicably, resumes. Some historians attribute the dark age to a vast host of causes, primarily among them, disease, naval invasion, or economic hardship. Whatever the cause, these unfortunate obstacles lasted well over a century and halted the progress of the Meveon Civilization into its succeeding era.

 

[Ranger900]

Between the Sea and the Mountains
​

The Cu were an unusual group. More isolated from much Africa then from anywhere on the Mediterranean, it was comprised of a primarily seafaring people. Trade to the south was minimal, but trade with the Nexus, Traikos, and Millara comprised much of the income of the Cu. The actual culture of the Cu on the coast was a hodgepodge of ideas taken from the any other culture they had regular links too, mixed with those of the southern Cu who lived along the base of the southern mountains.

The Southern Cu were much more insular. With communities only trading with people from the Northern Cu, and refusing goods that had come from further lands. Tension between the two groups was usually quite low, but occasional flare ups would occur, mostly when the southern Cu believed their northern neighbours were straying to far toward the cultures of those across the sea.

 

[alexander23]

The War of survival​

Across the 2100 BCE the roxarus tribes population had keep growing yet able to be maintain by their land and small raiding of neighbors, this soon would change by 2000 BCE, when a strong summer which extended beyond normal date brought starvation and lack of food to the tribes, especially the ones in the western and southern borders. The chiefs no longer could continue like that and began to move their excess population to the land of their neighbors, beginning a series of conflicts and wars early on the times of the Roxarus. The objective was simple, kill conquer and produce food or starve and die.

 

[Fire and Ash]

The Rise of a Republic: The City of Haybar​

At the early 20,000BCE the Haybaren Gulf was a hot bed of fishing communities. Small settlements focused on gathering fish dotted around the coast. These settlements would trade with tribal nomads across the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. The first records of the Haybaren people are of a settlement of traders that were becoming renowned for their trading and fishing ability. The origin of this people are still up to debate, with several sources citing the large influx from the Indian Sub-Continent as the most probable origin. Haybaren came to dominate the trade of fish in the region. Uniting settlements along the coast and forming the first Haybaren Republic. The leaders of the settlements met in what was called “The Nubaton.” The Nubaton was the first meeting of the Senate. It is said the first meeting was observed by all of the Haybaren. The first act of the meeting was the creation of a Republic.


The Nubaton achieved much of it original goals. The union of the Haybaren people to serve the elected few. Trade flourished under the Republic in the early years, but so did instability. The Republic was anything but centralised at the beginning. The Senate met often to discuss, but very little was achieved beyond the self-interest of the Senators. Each Senator was typically leader of his own settlement and would only look so beyond their own interest. The inability of the Senate to act with cohesion led to instability and that led to vulnerability. While richer than before, the Republic found itself an attractive target to the Raiders and Barbarians. To deal with the attacks the Senate in a rare unanimous decision pooled their resources to turn the Raiders and Barbarians against each other. The practice became known as Kofar. The Senate would hire the two weaker groups to turn on the strongest. The practice would weaken the remaining tribes or make them stronger. The ones that were weaker were attacked in mass by the Haybaren, their people turned into slaves and their lands added to the Republic. The stronger were paid off and used to protect them from the next groups to attack them. The Kofar was a success to the point that the Republic began to experience a rapid growth. The need for a more centralised government, removed from the self-serving decisions of the Senate. A settlement was chosen along the coast. This would become The City of Haybar.


The City of Haybar took years to construct. The Port alone was a marvel of the age. Along in its use of canals and the rivers to allow for hundreds of vessels to dock and unload their hold. Texts from the time indicate that the amount of fish to pass through the port tripled. The citizens and senators that lived in the city became some of the wealthiest on the continent.

OOC: When are we getting an update?

 

[Noco19]

The World: 2,000 - 1,850 BCE​

The Americas

Among the inland nomads of the Ohlone culture, settlement along the mighty rivers proved highly fruitful in producing food and encouraging a far more sedentary life. As the generations lived and died, by 1,850 BCE, the inland Ohlone had proven themselves more populous and more developed than their coastal relatives, eclipsing them in power and progress. However, the inland tribes proved benevolent, and traded frequently their excess to the coastal fishers.

With this rise in civilization, a new elite would emerge in the form of priests, who quickly set about cementing their legitimacy by strengthening the mythos of their people, developing a more rigid system around their four gods of day, night, dawn, and dusk and devising practices in worship. Though not truly uniform, communication between local priests allowed a greater unity between the Ohlone, primarily in religious matters.

The Wasayut, otherwise known as the Mound People, after their practice of burying the dead, spread in both directions along the Mississippi river. A regular part of any Wasayut village are numerous smoke houses, used to preserve meat through the winter. The rapid expansion, combined with an ample few generations for hunting, resulted in a population boom, and within 150 years the Wasayut population had grown signifigantly.

One of the Wasayut tribes stumbles across what according to their oral tradition, was “The Hill in the Lake.” It is unknown where this Hill came from, as today it does not exist. The stone from the Hill proves easily malleable after being dipped in fire, and archeological digs have proven that tools and weapons made from the Hill apparently contained extremely high quality copper and tin within it. Tools made from the hill prove extremely durable and they quickly spread throughout the Wasayut people. With the tribe that lived the lake turning into one of the major powers within the culture.

Europe, Africa, and the Middle-East

Unfortunately for the Devonic Tribes, they unluckily fade away from history quickly, generally its believed they perished due to a great blight that beset the plants and animals in the region. The only real note on history they leave is their writing, found in clay tablets throughout the area. Few if any can decipher the tablets but they remain preserved as some of the best preserved writing in the world.

During this period, the Vorenn tribes begin a westward migration, seeking more fertile lands, but also finding a great deal of conflict. As they first move, the initial tribes they find are quickly dispersed or enslaved, but soon the Vorenn find themselves facing cultures whose technology exceeds their own, stone against bronze. The result is predictable, and the Vorenn find themselves the ones who are beaten; many of the Vorenn tribes collapse and some are outright enslaved by the superior central European tribes. Remnants of the Vorenn escape back to the east, but are a shadow of their former selves. However, from this age of constant warfare and contact with the west, the Vorenn have adopted the bronze weaponry of their destruction.

The Vernack people do not last long under a united banner. A dispute between Uganimu and Jalevuni results in them, and the tribes following each of them, migrate in separate directions. Uganimu and his people end up the better for the split, their migration to other lands along the Baltic results in a flowing inter tribal trade network and well established coastal villages that survive off fishing and serve as stop over points for the more migratory members of the tribes.

Jalevuni’s decides to remain mostly in the lands they formerly held, and expanded into the territory left by Uganimu’s migration. They start to settle into larger cities, a few of these take off, but many Varnacky do not take the idea, and start to migrate further indland.

The Roxarus begin expanding west and south. Neither expansion goes as well as hoped, and progress is only made in the west, where Roxarians begin settling on the small islands between their home and the Greek Lands. Who they begin to establish reasonably strong trade relations with.

In the lands of the Corazian City-States, in-fighting was quick to erupt between the various cities. The catalyst being the seizure of Novicartia by the Atriasians, the city-state of Corazia was quick to assemble a league consisting of Dovicartia and Dislatia. When Novicartia was again wracked with instability as its people rebelled in favor of yet another set of leaders, this time an emerging king, the Corazian League was quick to capitalize, and struck at Atriasia, capturing it. However, Corazia soon proved itself no less a conqueror, as it installed its own council over both Atriasia and the newly subjugated Novicartia. Though protested by the neutral cities, and even among its allies, Corazia could afford to ignore them, and forming a more centralized state, granting representation to its new cities.

During this period, Corazian craftsman prove themselves able, and Corazian weaponry soon becomes known throughout the region for its reliability in combat. This proves fortitutous, as their northern neighbors prove sinister in their plans for Corazian lands.

Attempts by Edrasa to expand the influence of the king over the entirety of their lands, but find little purchase to do so. The smaller cities and tribes refuse to allow the king any more power over them, and maintain much of their autonomy.

The Edrasan state launches a sudden invasion of Corazia’s northern lands. The Army of the northern country making quick headway against the divide Corozians. A few small border cities fall to the Edrasans, and are taken in as vassals to the King. Further advance is stopped at the Battle of the Waters, when the Corazian’s finally unite an army and bring it into battle with the now outnumbered Edrasans. A great rain storm precedes the battle, and continue on as the two armies approach eachother. Then without warning a large deluge appeared on the horizon, before anyone could react the waters crashed into the two armies and dragged them away, the Edrasan King at the time included in the list of those caught in the distaster. Both armies were utterly devastated by what is now considered to have been a major flash flood, but at the time goes into both nations history as the gods themselves intervening to bring the war to an end.

Nobles from the city-state of Qussa, mostly of old Thessenian blood, try their hand at expanding their financial horizons by investing into trading posts downriver. As luck would have it, these posts would prove successful, enough so that they would grow into an emerging city, named Euxin by its founding members. Euxin, although not as developed as Qussa proper, would be granted the right to elect two Princes to the Princely League in Augsbur Palace. This success would inspire further investment into trading posts along the river, and by 1,850 BCE, another city had been granted an additional two seats like Euxin before it, this one on the opposite river, with many other posts pushing to becomes cities themselves.

In the Sabaean lands, the first true city is erected, known as Marib, constructed from clay and stone. Ruled over a council of eight priests, representing the Sabaean deities, Marib becomes the site of not only religious importance, but also an important center of trade for the entire region, allowing a central hub for the nomadic tribes to exchange wares. From Marib emerges a number of caravan, who carves out trade routes beyond the Sabaean and into the border regions of other tribes inhabiting the peninsula, establishing cultural exchanges and trade relationships. In many areas, nomads could actually settle down, relying on trade for livelihood, ensuring the Sabaeans became a bit more sedentary.

During the course of 150 years, the maritime culture of the Nexus expand their trading northward, establishing tentative trade contacts with some of the coastal Greek tribes that inhabit the Peloponnese region. However, Nexus ambitions in binding these disparate tribes into some sort of league are found laughable by the Greeks, who in turn simply begin to distrust the Nexus traders, souring relations and shifting trade to a much more strained and sporadic occurrence, no Greeks wanting to forge too strong a relationship with the shifty Nexus.

On the Nexus islands proper, agriculture becomes more and more sophisticated as trade aspirations prove failed and attention focuses inward towards production. Many farmers, especially on the less developed islands, form a new class of elite, as the Nexus Council distributes benefits such as nobility upon them.

The Meveon civilization during this period is without much knowledge, it seemingly having plunged into a time of great decline in significance. Regardless of the events, by 1,850 BCE it was clear that Meveon was no more.

In Traikos, improved ship designs allow Traikosian sailors to go further than perhaps any other civilization at that point across the Mediterranean Sea. Using this advantage, trade is established between the Eridanii, the Cu, and the Millara cultures. Attempts to connect to the eastern Nexus fail due to a variety of reasons, between the Nexus’ decline in trade focus, to simple disasters in voyage. Traikos merchants chose to utilize the growing trade routes of the west instead of risking eastern travels. Regardless, Traikos does well to form a strong trade route that enriches the western Mediterranean.

And this was only furthered by the creation of a written Traikosian language. Formed of generally crude symbols used to represent concepts or ideas, the Traikosian script was used primarily by the elite, for texts of religious or economic purposes.

The Cu pursue similar goals, and are eager to join their trade to the Millara-Eridanii-Traikos routes. However, at sea, the Cu prove far less effective, and far less dominating than their fellow partners, lacking the wealth or sophistication of others. By 1,850, the coastal ports of the Cu are essentially ran by foreign merchants.

Likewise, the Cu adopt the Traikosian script, partly out of desire for its usability, but somewhat out of imposition from Traikos merchants. The southern Cu, who see themselves as more pure, continue to grow in their disdain for the northern Cu, who by now are seen to bow before foreign trade.

The Millaran people attempt to spread by sea to the Balearic Islands. The process proves very slow going, as few Millaran prove eager to try to head overseas when there is ample space for their families to grow to on the mainland. Eventually though the Balearics are settled, though the Millaran population there is very light.

Millaran civilization, having little to no bronze working within their own lands, attempt to pick up knowledge of working the metal from nearby trader states. Unfortunately these plans do not work out to well, and well bronze goods are brought in in increasing numbers, few if any smiths are onboard the trade boats that arrive in Millaran ports, and actual knowledge of how they are made remains beyond their grasp.

The Weeken people, native to the Saharan desert, begin a migration. A few tribes that migrate east disappear into the sands, and a growing drought in the already parched region quickly pushes the Weeken southwest, toward the more fertile lands of Sub-Saharan Africa. Many die, but the Weeken finally arrive there and find a land full of animals to hunt and relatively peaceful places to settle.

Weeken arts, carved of new found ivory and the furs of exotic creatures found in their new homeland, begin to catch on among people north of the Sahara through what limited traders followed the Weeken’s march south. Trade begins to pick up, and soon there is a small, but consistent trade flow between the Weeken and the peoples living along the Nile.

Asia

Unfortunately, similar to the Devonic tribe,s the people of the Indus River rise and fall within the years shortly after the turn of the 2nd millennium BC. Unlike the Devonics, the Indus tribes are not annihilated, but multiple years of heavy rains, floods, and great storms, cause their central leadership to fall apart. Most tribes and cities are shells of their former selves, and fight only for their own homes.

GM Note: So that concludes our first update. Within my subjects players, Maxwell neglected to send orders and IC, so that means there is one spot, which was quickly seized by Dadarian. And my fellow GM Ekon/Ranger reports that he did not receive orders from Fire and Ash as well as Alkatraz, which opens up two spots in his list, one of which is offered to Duke since he requested any openings. This means there is ONE unclaimed spot under Ekon, so whoever claims it first can nab it.

 

[Noco19]

The World in 1,850 BCE

 

[Fire and Ash]

OOC: Yes I did.

 

[Ranger900]

(You sent it to the wrong ranger. Ranger9000 is an account I made a few years ago because I lost the password to this one. Then I found my pass for this one and lost my one for R9000 (hopefully the circle won't continue again). You can keep the one open spot though due to honest error)

PS: So unless duke does not claim his spot, we are now full again

 

[Fire and Ash]

OOC: Just sent my orders again. If they can't be used in this turn, then consider them my orders for next turn.

 

[XVG]

The Early Society of Marib​

Upper class​

Priests​

The highest class in the society was the priests and priestesses, mostly originating from the same families, living inside the vast temple compounds that dominated most of the city. Larger part of the population were dependent of the temples, one way or another. Temples owned or controlled most of the economic activity in and outside the walls of Marib. Offspring of the priestly families were sent to the schools of the temples were early on, and spent most of their lives dedicated to the deities. Female deities were served by priestesses, male deities by priests, though family, slaves and visitors of both genders were allowed inside the temples. The eight priests and priestesses formed the highest council in the governance, deciding upon all matters of Marib. Temples also provided education and health services, but mostly only to those who could pay for them.

Priestesses and temple slaves alike were obliged to participate in the sacred prostitution practiced in the temples of Allat and Ashtar. This wasn’t frowned upon, but instead considered a great act of piety. Priestesses were also the only women allowed to own and administrate property. Indeed, the highest priestesses could sometimes be richer than their male counterparts, as temples of the female deities had larger incomes and less expenses. Even female slaves in temples had far better lives than most of the free females of the society.

Warriors​

Below the priests were the warriors. The border between the two classes is somewhat murky, as the leading warriors were usually from the priestly families, and the commander of the army of Marib was the highest priest of Mahrem. However, freemen could also come to serve on campaigns and raids, and were usually obliged to do so. The ones who were victorious would gain fortunes and prestige, rising to a respected rank inside the city, as men dedicated to the city’s defence would become exempt from taxation after taking part in wars for long enough.

Freemen​

Most of the people of Marib were freemen, although very poor. They had to pay taxes to the temples, and did most of the physical work. Many of them worked on the fields, mines or plantations of the temples. People born outside of Marib were allowed to move in under the protection of the priests, but had to pay twice the taxes.

Merchants​

The richest class of freemen was the merchants running the caravans, trading in everything from spices to commodities. Merchants were respected, as they ensured that Marib stood together with their trade. A specific merchant quarter was built for them, filled with stalls and squares, as well as quarters for their camels and stocks.

Artisans​

The second highest class of freemen was the artisans, producing various items from jewelry and clothes to amphorae and furniture. These items were both sold in and outside the city by the merchants, with whom the artisans had deep contacts with.

Slaves​

The primary source for slaves was war, as victorious soldiers took the vanguished as their spoils of war. Slaves mainly came from other Sabaean tribes, or tribes inhabiting the border regions. Slave trade also existed, though mostly comprised of war captives sold to cities where peace had reigned for long. Slaves were primarily owned by the temples, and their quality of life and work they had to do varied a lot; from slaves working on estates and mines owned by the temples to various domestics, aides and even lesser priests and priestesses. The few slaves held by freemen were mostly women, who were either domestic workers or concubines.

Women​

While the Sabaen pantheon and mythology greatly centered around strong females, the women in Marib certainly weren’t free. The society remained highly patriarchal and apart for priestesses or members of the noble priest or warrior families, women had no influence or rights at all. Their main responsibility was bearing and looking after children, as well as doing housework. Polygamy was endorsed by the Sabaeans, but only the upper class could afford it. Free men could not become slaves, but selling daughters or sisters to slavery due to financial troubles was allowed.

 

[Fire and Ash]

The Republic of Haybar: The 1st Palpur Wars​

The Palpur Wars began in the early 20,000BCE between the Republic of Haybar and the tribes of the Indus Valley. The war took four years and resulted in a pyric victory for the Haybar Republic. The war was primarily though within the Indus Valley region, with the largest of manoeuvres and engagements taking place at the hills of Palpur.


The origin of the war is documented as a refusal of payment by a members of the Devonic Tribes. The Devonic Tribes before the war were considered the largest of the tribes within the Indus Valley and held considerable sway with the other tribes there. Following their refusal a multitude of tribes also refused payment. The Republic’s practice of Kofar, the hiring of other tribes or mercenaries to enforce their aims, had up until this moment has been enough to keep the Republic safe. The refusal to honour the debt, not only amounted to a refusal to pay, but a dishonour against Haybar. Haybar could not afford to not act against this insult, less other tribes start to act against them. It took the senate only two days to come to a decision to declare war.


The Haybar originally hired mercenaries and tribes to attack the Devonic, but this proved to be an expected move. The Devonic has expected the attacks and had prepared accordingly. In the Battle of Lkrash Lake, a group of 30 raiders were cut down attempting to across the river. At the Siege of Verish the Devonic successfully massed an attack that destroyed the besieging forces. For Haybar the cost of the war was astronomical. The equivalent would be billions in today’s currency. The war brought to a grinding halt at the Battle of Sam. The Mercenary army was routed and for the first time since the war’s start Devonic warriors were on the cusp of attacking the Republic.


The Republic could no longer allow this war to continue. Laws were passed by the Senate and every family was forced to provide one son to fight in the army. The First Army of Haybar was led by a High Warrior. After a series of small engagements within the Indus Valley, both forces met at the Palpur Hills. The Haybar trapped the Devonic by setting fire to the jungles around Palpur. The smoke and fire forced the Devonic and their allies into the open. The Haybar destroyed the Devonic’s army. During the battle the ruler of the Devnoic was struck of a fatal blow. When this news spread the Indus valley descended into infighting as the different tribes moved to take over the new power vacuum. Leaders of the tribes met and agreed to the Republic’s terms. All territory south of Palpur would be handed over to Haybar and the debts repaid.


Only the first of these demands would happen. Chaos descended on that region and it soon became impossible to enforce the repayments, less Haybar involve itself in another long war. The cost of the war had been astronomical for the Republic, in both terms of money and loss of life. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts and led to the death of over 20,000. The Devonic were defeated and their lands claimed, but the Republic had not achieved a swift victory and would end up paying a heavy price.

 

[AzagalTheGreat]

The Winds of Change

After their failed invasion of the German region the Vorenn tribes had been greatly diminished. The remainder of them were convinced by the young Furkragor( Amulet-bearer and closest decendant from the Gods) to settle down and unite on the coast. Soon a city was founded ,named Arzeg. The Furkragor was made absolute ruler over this new city and soon it flourished. The city was well fed by farms outsids the city worked by slaves and freemen.A small elite soon formed around the Furkragor. These were his relatives and good friends who quickly saw their status rise and their power increase. These Urgroths or nobles are capable administrators and serve the Furkragor loyally. Thus the Vorenn had transformed from a bunch of disparate tribes into a unified city in the matter of a century and a half. Some say the attack on the German Region was intentional by the Furkragor,at that time Furgur Iron hide, to assert dominance over the other tribes..​

 

[Ranger900]

(GM Note: Deadline is going to be this Sunday at Midnight EST, Bakery, and Kinghigh99 need to get new nations in)

(Edited in new GM note: Sealy has dropped from the game, so there is one spot open on my end now)

 

[Dadarian]

The Bantunchi

Location: Cameroonish

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

The Progress of Inward Thinking in Nexus
​

The thought of inward thinking, called Poytuil Kjul, that roughly translates to Inward Perfection, is something that haunted the former upper class of Nexus for a long time, until there came a situtation that made it possible to make concessions for other kinds of thought. It came to them after the greek tribes had rejected them and their trade league, which was more or less annexing people, just using another word. Now a food situation could become dire if the politician didn't think of anything. A minor council member made himself known in front of the Nex-Invoyli and the whole Contris, when he held a speech about Poytuil Kjul and ended it with the words: "What is lost outside our borders, must be won inside our borders." He convinced the Nex-Invoyli to put a new policy in order so that Nexus could sustain itself with grain and other necessaries so that the population could survive. To do this, the leader made it possible for farmers, both small-scale and large-scale, to buy government owned land for cultivation. In exchange for this, some of the farmers was made influential people who had a say in politics and who the Nex-Invoyli should be. Some kind of nobility that could prove problematic for the Maritime republic. However, a food crisis was solved in relative calm. There was only some "episodes", where the people asked for bread and some politicians said they could eat cake. Mostly a myth though.

 

[jeeshadow]

War, always War​

The Battle of the Waters convinced many people that the gods themselves had decreed an end to war. People would riot when the rulers planned to go to war, so for several years their was no war. Corazians, though, are not a peaceful people. So, soon enough people returned to the ways of war. The remaining free city states began to form an alliance to counter Corazia's new powerful league. They saw Corazia's rise as a violation of the gods decreed balance of power in the region. Corazia as well built up, and the two sides looked set to go to war. The forces set against Corazia have been named the Tortanian League, after the most powerful city in that league, and major players in it were of course Tortania along with Gorgtia and a city rising in power called Retelania. This league also contained several smaller cities and villages. The Corazian League, Corazia's alliance, contained Corazia, its puppet cities of Artasia and Novicartia, along with its allies Dislatia and Dovicartia. The coming war was believed that it would determine if Corazia would remain decentralized or emerge as a unified nation.

 

[oxfordroyale]

The City of Edrasa​

While controlling many settlements and important locations throughout the northern Levant, the undisputed heart of the Kingdom of Edrasa is the city of Edrasa itself. There are many reasons why this is the case - however, the most important are the size and population of the city, and the structure of the city.

Size and Population

First and foremost, the city is by far the largest settlement in the kingdom in both size and population - as of the year 1850 BCE the city possessed a total area of 60 hectares and an estimated population of 50,000, making Edrasa one of the largest cities in the eastern Mediterranean. Housing a large, sheltered harbor, the city is an attractive hub for merchants and sailors of many cultures and races. The wealth that flows into this city is quite literally the lifeblood of the entire kingdom, with taxes from visiting ships and merchants going directly into royal coffers and contributing to the overall prosperity and well-being of the Edrasan people.

The Cities Within the City

The actual structure of the city is also impressive. Erdrasa consists of a lower, middle, and upper city (known in the Edrasan tongue as eleteh, kazeteh, and areteh, respectively). As the city was built upon a coastal hill (known as the Raleshan Hill), each tier of the city is higher than the others, and each is surrounded by a wall. The lower city is bounded by two walls: the tall, thick stone outer wall that serves as the boundary of the entire city and its most important fortification, and the smaller, more decorative "middle wall" that separates it from the middle city. The middle city lies, in turn, between the aptly-named middle wall and the so-called "high wall", which protects the upper city.

As a denizen of Edrasa, one's status in Edrasan society directly corresponds to which level of the city they call home, with those born in the lower levels being generally poorer and less influential than those born higher. As a result, being born in the lower levels severely limits opportunities for advancement - it also limits your travel capabilities, as those belonging to the lower city rarely ever step foot in the upper city.

Those born in the eleteh, the lower city, are among the poorest members of the Edrasan class system: laborers and unskilled workers, slaves, common soldiers, and farmers who take up residence in the city. These members of society hold little to no political or economic power, and are often treated exceedingly poorly by members of the kazeteh and areteh. As would be expected, poverty, crime, and disease is most rampant within the outer and middle walls. The majority of the barracks of city's standing military are found in the eleteh, built against the outer wall.

Those of the kazeteh, the middle city, represent the "middle class" of society, including traders, artisans, shopkeepers, and the like. As a result, the kazeteh is considered the commercial center of the city, containing numerous brothels, taverns, inns, and markets where Edrasans from any tier may freely travel to conduct their finances, purchase goods, and indulge their vices. For those of the eleteh, the kazeteh is the only higher section of the city that they may enter without express permission. Those of the kazeteh may ascend higher, to the upper city, but not without paying for it.

The areteh, the upper city, is the highest level of the city and the home for the members of the highest class in Edrasan society. The nobility, the clergy, especially rich merchants, and the royal family all call the areteh home. The vast majority of the wealth and power of the kingdom, not just the city, is concentrated in this relatively small area. The most impressive - and expensive - establishments are found here, with admittance allowed only to those who can afford it. And while temples of the Edrasan faith are found throughout the city, the grandest are found at the top, reserved for the privileged few who have access to them. Of course, the royal palace of the Edrasan king and his family is in the upper city, built at the highest point of the

As has already been mentioned, travel between levels can be strict and expensive depending on with level - and thus which class - one belongs to. The lower classes are restricted to the eleteh and kazeteh only, except in the cases of servants in the like who find employment in the homes of nobility.

 

[Shynka]

The Ruling System of the Cities of Qussa, Euxin and Tassala

Organisation of Government and Taxation

The three cities and the trade posts dotted between them were joined in what would be more accurately described as an alliance rather than a state. Each noble from Qussa would also have family, property and stake in the other cities, thus binding the three cities via the people rather than a central authority. Each noble would however have to declare a city of origin for himself so that the veto system introduced in the Thessenian period could not be abused by nobles mass migrating to cities. This did lead to the nobility developing some sense of loyalty towards their cities, but it was sentimental at best. First Prince Maxus (who ruled during the foundation of Tassala) tried to introduce laws that stated nobles can only own “significant” amounts of property in their cities of origin/residence but this law was fairly quickly booed out of the Augsbur Palace.

The merchants and peasantry of the three cities would have more reason to defend their own cities. They would always only be taxed by the city they had their main (Some merchants could afford multiple) homes in, so it was in their benefit to help preserve rulers that promised lowered taxation. Tax rackets, the pillar of the economy of the state, would also tend to stick to only one city; it was dangerous to move large sums of funds in the lawlessness between the cities. Eventually laws would be introduced that limited a tax operation to only work in one city – these reforms were welcomed by the merchants, who would not have to pay taxes for trading in the city they didn’t originate from.


Organisation of the Armed Forces


The armed forces have not changed much since the olden days. Nobles still maintain their own forces, with central authority being low. Laws at centralizing the armed forces lead to a prince being outright murdered in the streets, and that’s where the debate on that ended. With the rise of two new cities, city militias were also increased. Qussa always stayed neutral, but Euxin and Tassala would often compete for lucrative trade routes. This lead to the cities raising their own popular militias used mostly by the merchants. This outraged the nobles at first, but with the rise of the merchant class (Who held the most influence in the new cities) they were forced to accept large bribes and keep their mouths shut.

Due to the increase in the number of trade posts outside the protective waters of the rivers, or the walls of cities, many nomadic bands would also be hired as mercenaries to protect trade routes and property. These hired swords would form what many called the “Third Pillar” of Qussa, with the first two being the Noble Armies and the Merchant Armies. The Third Pillar would prove wholly unstable, as its loyalties were often divided between the nobles and merchants. The nomads were also not the best of warriors, often scampering away at the first rumours of combat.


Organisation of the Augsbur Palace


The Augsbur Palace rose in status from a lucrative residence to what was the seat of government. Many scholars of Middle Eastern societies today state that it was only after the Thessenian Wars that Qussa got its first organised government, and not just a gathering of the most privileged. The Palace would be the seat to at first seven, and then nine and finally eleven Princes. Seven of the princes came from Qussa, whilst the new cities would send two of their own delegates. The palace would meet for three days once a month for the entire year, and then sit in what was known as the “long session” towards the end of December. The session would vary in length, as it was primarily dedicated to resolving all the issues that still needed to be solved; the average meeting time was around two weeks. During these sessions the Augsbur Palace would be sealed off, with troops placed outside. It was originally intended for the Princes to work without distraction, but would later turn into a good occasion for a coup, as all the Princes received no news from the outside.

The Princes would usually form small blocks. The longer a First Prince reigned, the more likely it was that the Augsbur Palace became polarized between his supporters and opponents.