From Past Heights, Against Past Depths - An EU4 Anbennar Kumarkand AAR

[Sybot]

I closed the preliminary vote a day early as my evening suddenly got freed up by the weather apocalypse outside, and the number of voters was petering out. Our top five have been decided, and there is a clear theme among them. All three harpy nations were selected, alongside one human and one elven nation, each with their own dramatic developments. Let's see which one we will go forward with.

Chapter Zero: Means of Ascension

Mulén Flock -> Mulén Queendom
On Silken Wings

Even at the heights of the rule of Siadanlén, the northernmost reaches of its territory were ignored by the wider Queendom. Far from the rich trade routes of the Golden Highway, with only sparse valleys and sparser mountaintops, there was little reason to take heed of the voices of this these flocks. It was in these lands that more radical thought found room to grow.

Múla Swift-Sparrow was a granddaughter of the great Siadúna herself, and a prophetess of a new way of thought for the harpy people. She preached that cooperation and diplomacy were the way forward, that resorting to an existence of raiding and bloodshed would only lead to the eventual isolation and destruction of their race. Her beliefs found no purchase during her lifetime, but the destruction of Siadanlén at the hands of the elves brought many around to her way of thinking.

Together, they broke away from the Matriarchs attempting to hold the flocks together and founded the Mulén Flock among the northern hills. As time passed the division between the two main flocks grew ever wider, and eventually another schism saw even more of their sisters fall under the spell of the elf Jaddar and his new religion.

Kiríja Múlo has ascended as Matriarch of the Mulén Flock, a shaman of great renown whose trill rings across the mountaintops and soothes the hearts and minds of all those who hear it. She is a fierce proponent of the ways of Múla and seeks to take the opportunity caused by the chaos of the battle between Jaddar and Zokka, a deadly gnollish warlord, to press her philosophy upon her conservative sisters.

If she is successful, a new existence awaits for the harpy people. One where they facilitate commerce and diplomacy, one where they now longer hunt for husbands but for profits, one where all the wealth of the world flows down the Golden Highway and any harpy can earn their place within great hanging cities to live in unimaginable luxury.

Gameplay Summary:
Struggle in the desert wastes of eastern Bulwar against powerful foes, then emerge as a tall trading nation that reaches into Rahen and Sarhal to find new ports to trade from and new mountains to hang cities from.

Ayarallen Flock -> Harpylen Queendom
On Enlightened Wings

The exact origin of the harpy race is shrouded in mystery. Cannorians claim them to be Spawn of Agrados, the Bulwari consider them children of the deceased goddess of wind, and some scholars ponder a connection to the Avariel, a race of winged elves that once served the gods. What is known, however, is that they had no presence in recorded history until suddenly emerging in great numbers from the Šad Našratu, the Harpy Hills, in the 12^th Century Before Ash.

Led by the powerful shaman Firanya they swept through the collapsing Karqašlu Empire and seized swathes of Bulwar, while establishing the remainder as their tributaries. Their greatest demand was not for wealth or knowledge, but for men. Harpies are solely female, and rely on other races to produce offspring. The humans of Bulwar were highly compatible, and experimentation over the centuries has also proven elves, orcs, goblins and hobgoblins to all make worthwhile husbands. Though the means by which they are secured vary, the need for men remains constant across all harpy nations.

The Firanyan Queendom did not outlast her death, and the flocks split and scattered. Harpy history since then has been of fractious flocks bickering with one another and raiding their neighbours for mates and wealth, with regular retaliations by whichever power ruled Bulwar. It is not until the Decades of Devastation ravaged northern Bulwar that a chance for unity and progress has emerged.

Matriarch Mišqa devoted her life to unifying the disparate flocks of the Harpy Hills, and now under her skilled granddaughter Ištara that task in nearly complete. All of the Matriachs swear allegiance to Ayarallen, the flocks are ready for war, and the weakened and divided states of Bulwar are ripe for the plucking.

However, this will not be a war for conquest and dominance, as this is a chance to restore peace across a land fractured by invasion and religious division. A new way of ruling, built on diplomacy, tolerance, and knowledge, where men need not fear abduction and instead willingly come to the heights of the harpy roosts to marry into a society of great scholars and leaders. Under the Harpylen Queendom, peace and prosperity will reign.

Gameplay Summary:
Fight to secure dominance over Bulwar, build a collection of loyal subject nations, and demonsterize into an advanced nation of peace with a diplomatic reach that extends across the world.

Siádan Flock -> Siadanlén Empire
On Burning Wings

When Firanya's mighty Queendom collapsed, the lands of the east came under the rule of the harpies of the Sâd Siadan, who would descend from the mountains to raid the villages and caravans that crossed the desolate and harsh lands of the Far Salahad. In these lands of open skies and mountainous roosts, no enemy could defeat Siadanlén in the field and so harpies came to dominate the region.

That all changed with the arrival of Jaher, the Phoenix Empire and the elven legions. Marching from Bulwar, having driven out the gnolls, they now sought to carve a safe route overland to the wealthy lands of Rahen. Their weapons and training overcame Siadanlén and shattered it entirely, the constituent flocks scattering into the Sâd Siadan where they waited and bided their time.

Jaher's death and the collapse of the Phoenix Empire brought back harpy dominance of what was once the Golden Highway, but even that was only fleeting. Jaddar, a claimed descendant of Jaher, marched into Bulwar with legions once thought lost. There he settled, squatting on rightful harpy land while preaching his new interpretation of the elven sun god and taking on a harpy wife from a traitorous flock.

His legions are far too strong for the lone Siádan Flock, the last flock still loyal to the rightful and proper ways of the harpy people, to face in battle. Emissaries have reached out to Zokka, the Devourer of Suns, a gnollish warlord of great renown. Warriors are being raised, shriekers who will tear apart the traitors. The Chorsekhu, sisters-in-arms whose love for one another can triumph over any foe, are ready for battle. The rogue flocks will be united under a bold harpy queen, Jaddar will be crushed, the gnolls will serve, and all the skies of the world will know the songs of Siadanlén.

Gameplay Summary:
Struggle in the desert wastes of eastern Bulwar against powerful foes, then emerge as a wide militaristic empire that develops its military into an unstoppable flying machine.

Akalate of Kumarkand -> Karqašlu Empire
From Past Heights, Against Past Depths

As the God-Kings of Bulwar began to decline in the Second Millennia Before Ash, they faced an invasion by an unprecedented threat – the Zabatlari horsemen of the Forbidden Plains, the original inhabitants before the centaurs claimed the steppe. Riding innovative chariots and wielding an unusual immunity to the magics of the God-Kings and remaining artefacts of the Djinn Sultans, they swept across Bulwar like a flood.

The greatest of these horsemen, Ašqarin-Aga-kar, founded the city of Panu Karqašlu and from there forged an empire that spanned the length of the great Suran and Baranun rivers. His dynasty held strong for four hundred years, forging connections with Rahen and surviving conflicts with the great Elikhet the Wanderer. What eventually felled the empire was an invasion from an enemy that remains unknown to this day, known only as the Onslaught.

Strange foes landed upon the shores of Bulwar and began massacring and abducting entire towns and villages along the coast. No survivors were able to offer any hint as to how to fight such enemies. When the last King of Karqašlu stood against the tide, he was mortally wounded and the empire fell into civil war, to then be set upon by nascent Firanyan Queendom, ushering in an era of harpy rule.

In the present day nothing remains of the Karqašlu Empire besides the ruins of Panu Karqašlu in which only a few people still dwell. Instead, the lands around the old imperial heartland are occupied by the Akalate of Kumarkand, a vassal of the elven Kingdom of Varamhar. The people of this realm are hardy farmers, more interested in growing their crops and fending off harpy raids than building a vast empire.

And yet their stubbornness might prove that such a drive still dwells within them. Karodir, their overlord, dabbles in strange and dangerous magics and covets the ancient treasures hidden beneath the farmlands of his subjects. The Akal is plotting, making ready to call upon the other nations of Bulwar to join in him in opposing such heresy and securing Kumarkand's independence. If that can be accomplished, Kumarkand can flourish as the sovereign breadbasket of Bulwar, unearth the secrets of their past, and invite in those mysterious voices of great power that promise a new era of peace, glory, and vengeance for ancient onslaughts.

Excuse the censoring, I don't want to spoil it outright.

Gameplay Summary:
Plot against your elven overlords, explore the secrets of the past, then form a mighty cavalry-focused empire that claims all of Bulwar and becomes a flourishing tall and wide combination.

Kingdom of Varamhar -> Phoenix Empire
Solar Apotheosis

As the Phoenix Empire reached its height, its wings stretching from the outskirts of Cannor to the distant port of Tianlou in Haless, disaster struck. Jaher, Phoenix Emperor and Surael Incarnate, departed this world. His heirs, Jaerel in the east and Jexis in the west, were no worthy successors and under their rule the empire struggled, contracted, and with Jexis' death shattered completely.

Elven rule collapsed beyond the immediate bounds of Bulwar, as local powers took the opportunity to reassert themselves. Within Bulwar itself the Elven governors carved out kingdoms for themselves. The greatest of these was King Darastarion of Dalarand, the Young Phoenix, who for a moment appeared that he might take up the mantle of the Surael Incarnate once again.

He was assassinated in the City of Bulwar in a plot conceived by the Twelve Families and by his ambitious general, Kalindil Varamzuir. Dalarand collapsed, but the newborn Kingdom of Varamhar was one built upon treachery and subterfuge and could not resist the advance of the other Elven Kingdoms. They were forced into a peace that saw them retain a fraction of the strength of their contemporaries.

Humiliated and weakened, Kalindil passed on and passed down the crown to his son, Karodir. The new king was a scholar who kept the counsel of the wisest mages and priests in the kingdom, his eyes upon the future. Under his rule, Varamhar flourished as a place of learning and magical prowess, with Karodir himself a mage of many talents and a renowned evocator.

In a twist of fate, Varamhar's small footprint within Bulwar saved it from the worst of the Decades of Devastation. As other kingdoms saw their frontiers shorn away by goblins or gnolls, Varamhar merely had an infestation of harpies on their northern border to contend with, though famine and instability still touched their people. Free of the worst of the chaos, Karodir and his advisors had time to think and philosophise. The failure of the Phoenix Empire after Jaher's passing, the failure of any other elf to replicate his achievements, and the failure of the other kingdoms to stem the tide of monsters. One key ingredient was lacking in all of these cases: divinity.

Some would be happy with touching a mere piece of Surael's power, but Karodir has ambitions beyond that. By delving into ancient, perhaps even heretical, texts and lore, studying the effects of magic upon the body and soul, and finding the resolve to make any sacrifice necessary, true ascension could be achieved. Not just Surael Incarnate in name, but in the very nature of their existence. A truly divine ruler; immortal, shining like the sun, and illuminating the way forward for all the mortals of this world.

Gameplay Summary:
Navigate the perils of cutting-edge magical research to turn your ruler into a divine being while dealing with elven politics. No matter the outcome of Project Divinity, form the Phoenix Empire, a very wide empire that aims to place Cannor, Bulwar and Haless under its dominion.

Vote for up to one option by clicking on the image below.



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[Sybot]

It is a smashing win for Kumarkand, with nearly half of all votes!

Chapter One: Shadowed Awakening
1444-1446

North bank of the River Buranun, approaching Apaškumar, Kumarkand, 1444

The wind spoke, her words inaudible to those without the senses to hear them. She spoke of danger, of secrets, of gold disappearing into pockets and armies disappearing into the sands. It was a worrying sensation to feel when called into the capital by one's lord.

Fereydun said little as he listened to the wind's words. The closer they drew to the heart of Bulwar, the greater risk his abilities presented to himself. Magic was the sole domain of the elves, of the Chosen of Surael, and though being touched by the Elemental Planes was not the same thing as being a mage, a magister sent by their lords in Varamhar might disagree.

Being in tune with the Plane of Air had allowed Fereydun to arise to the position of captain of his own band of Sahiru, rangers tending to the goats and cattle that roamed in the arid north of the Akalate of Kumarkand. In these lands the threat of raids from the Šad Našratu was ever-present. The hills loomed large on the northern horizon, and a day did not go by where a flock of monsters darkened the distant sky. Sometimes they took away livestock, and sometimes they took away lives.

He wielded the wind as a weapon, imploring her to rise against the creatures of the Dark. The harpies took her for granted, believing their wings would always see them strike true, and thus allowed him to inflict humiliating defeats upon them whenever the wind bowed to his will instead of theirs. His brothers-in-arms were all thankful for this, and sworn to secrecy as to his abilities.

They were riding far from their grazing lands this time, approaching the great Buranun and the vast fields and orchards that bloomed along its banks. The hard-working folk here looked up from their labour under the beating and blissful light of Surael to stare at the passing Sahiru, surely a strange sight so far south. Fereydun nodded to them in acknowledge. Everyone had their place in holding back the forces of the Malevolent Dark, be they fighting against its monsters or holding back the black pit of hunger.

"Captain, the horses are getting spooked," said Saman, his stablemaster and one with as great a skill with their mounts as the captain had with the wind. He had ridden up alongside him and pulled down the cloth wrappings around his mouth to speak freely.

"I am sorry for not noticing," Fereydun said, as much to his steed as to his soldier.

He reached down and stroked her mane, feeling the tension in her neck. She was shaking, ever so slightly as she trotted along the road. As to what was causing it, he could not tell. Animals were more attuned to the shifts of the natural and spiritual world, but all the whispers on the wind that reached his own ears were those of the machinations of people. It ought not to be something that a horse need worry about.

"What do you think is causing it?" he asked Saman.

"They speak of unearthly vessels roaming the river in the depths of night," Saman said, "that shadows move whenever Surael's gaze is no longer on them. His garden is infested by more than just the monsters that sacked Bulwar city."

"You long for the open plains again?" Fereydun asked.

"The longer we are this far south, the more likely we are to get drawn into Dark manipulations," Saman said. His eyes roved over the farmers they were passing, watching carefully as though afraid these loyal workers had some ulterior motive.

"The Akal and his Chosen stewards have a firm grip on these lands," Fereydun said, though he doubted his own words a little given the wind's words. He

"It may be those same elven stewards that lead him astray," Saman said, spitting into the dirt.

Fereydun levelled a gaze on the other man. It didn't need to be said, but to openly disparage the Chosen and their place in Bulwar was a sign of the blackest heresy. Out on the grasses, facing monsters without the aid of the Chosen, it was easy to fall into the trap of believing oneself superior to those same people who had freed and unified Bulwar upon their arrival. Nonetheless, Fereydun wondered whether this attitude was something the Akal was planning to cultivate.

He was nearly thrown from his horse when she stopped dead in her tracks, letting out a long snort of anxiety.

"What is it?" he asked, resting a hand upon her head. She shook it off, ignoring his concern.

The rest of their band of rangers came to a halt behind him, their horses all disturbed in the same way.

"There it is," Saman said, peering through the glaring light and pointing out what lay ahead of them.

The great River Buranun lay out before them, its life-giving waters feeding the millions of inhabitants of Surael's Garden as it ran a sparkling blue trail through the landscape of farmland bounded by arid scrub. On the south bank, just peeking out atop a hill, were the walls of Apaškumar, their destination. There, the Akal awaited with whatever instructions that he had for them. A stone bridge had been erected since the last time that Fereydun had come this far south, which was some small comfort as the horses did not like the ferry.

It was not likely the bridge was what was scaring them. The wind picked up again, a new voice lying deep beneath its gusts and breezes. It whispered of power, glory, and vengeance, it cackled at the sight of the small army of horsemen that approached the crossing and the city, and then it retreated once again, leaving only the blustery undertone of concern that Fereydun had heard before.

He could almost see the passing of the strange voice, the trees shaking in directions that the shouldn't and the grasses flattening. Its destination was before them, behind them, all around them. From the sandy grasses of the river bank poked countless stone ruins. Old foundations, eroded walls and occasional patches of tents and hastily piled stone where squatters had set up in the ruins.

The ancient city had not been something that Fereydun had considered each time he had attended the capital. It was as much a part of the landscape as any other piece of ancient history, in the long and storied history of Surael's Garden. This time, he felt something different. Something had changed, perhaps something had awoken. He had never really understood history, beyond that taught in the temples of the arrival and conquests of Jaher, but even he knew that there was history that stretched into the past far before that day.

"We should press on, and calm the horses when they are stabled," Saman said.

Fereydun hummed an acknowledgement and his spurred his horse onwards. She was reticent at first, but began to move after a minute had passed and no predator had leapt from the silent stone around them. They began to pass through the fields of ruin, both men and horses eyeing the landscape carefully as they made their way to the bridge.

Perhaps Saman was right, this was not their place to be. Something was happening in Kumarkand, and Fereydun did not know whether it was the Light or the Dark at work here.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

The journey towards the Second Empire began in the later years of the Decades of Devastation. The elf-kings of Bulwar, still believing themselves to be heirs of Jaher, faced disasters in their own realms and invasions from beyond their borders. Though Varamhar, the kingdom ruling over the subjugated Kumarkand and Akalšes, was less affected by famine and war there was still enough dissent to spark something more. A phoenix would not arise from these cinders.

Most Sun Elf nations start with vassals, in Varamhar's case there are the two.

Serakh II, the Akal of Kumarkand, was a plotter, a cruel schemer who sought power for himself and little else. It is from such inglorious beginnings the tale begins, as petty lust for power set in motion a far greater chain of events.

Opposing Serakh was Karodir Varamzuir, an elf of great knowledge and ambition who in another world may have achieved the ascension that he sought. Confident that his lands were safe, he sought seclusion with his priests and mages, working on a fantastical project to reach divinity akin to that wielded by Jaher or his Precursor ancestors. However, he failed to realise that true divinity had already been achieved.

The machinations of the Akal were not the only whispered plots seeping through the shadows of Kumarkand. The capital city, Apaškumar, was built on the banks of the River Buranun, besides the sprawling ruins of Panu Karqašlu that still lingered on both banks of the river populated by only a few thousand people. The greatest glories of the past still lay hidden within its tombs, and any manner of mysterious stranger or eager infiltrator might emerge from its hidden alleyways. In this place rumours spread like wildfire, merchants conned and bribed, nobles squirreled away power, and priests spoke of stranger heresies.

In the environment of lies and deceit it was no surprise that Kumarkand sat at the edge of a potential upheaval, not just in overthrowing Varamhar's rule but in changing the future of Bulwar itself and the relationship between humans and elves.

The Cult of Jaher, or the New Sun Cult as so many called it, saw elves raised as divine beings sharing some portion of the power of Jaher, the elf who founded the Phoenix Empire and was declared Surael Incarnate. His power was truly worthy of such a title, though whether his brethren were equally so is a question of debate. At the time of Kumarkand's rise, their administration was deeply tied to the elven administration of Varamhar, with thousands of Sun Elves working as mayors, tax collectors, and priests. All humans were expected to serve the elves and support them in guiding the nation against the Dark, so the Akal's plots against his overlord might be considered heresy. This is why he sought to have Karodir labelled a heretic first.

The NSC uses Shinto mechanics, meaning that there are a series of incidents that can shift the bonuses you get from your religion in one direction or the other. Some incidents, like Whispers and Shadows, are unique to certain nations. The Chosen Level represents how much influence elves have in your nation, though only elven nations are able to reach level 5 and only non-elven nations are able to reach level 1. Note that in all cases, so long as you follow the NSC you still consider elves to be divine, just believe they have a different status in your nation.

Power still rested in the Akal and the human nobles of the realm, regardless of the orthodoxy. His servants were competent enough to see his ambitions realised, and his generals and soldiers were determined to see victory achieved.

Humans are the most vanilla of all the races, with some very minor bonuses and no downsides.

To gain his freedom, the Akal would need to prepare his subjects for war without arousing the suspicion of Karodir and seek out aid from those other rulers in Bulwar who might gain from the fall of Varamhar. Kumarkand had not yet reached the heights of the past, nor had the knowledge to wield true power, so Serakh II was forced to rely upon others.

Kumarkand begins with a mission tree specific to the Whispers and Shadows incident. The full tree is only revealed after we have our independence.

Nobles and priests were the first that he called upon. In the palace of Apaškumar he handed the lesser nobles of the Akalate generous land grants, in return gaining a portion of their funds towards his own schemes. The priests had a more outward focus, being assigned positions in the courts of the other nations of Bulwar to spread rumours of Karodir's heretical research and suggest that the Chosen of Surael did not need to rule over human lands directly to do their duty.

Rallying both internal and external power to his cause was the first and wisest decision of Serakh's rebellion. Without true power at his command, if he had neglected one or the other he would have failed at the hands of his own discontented nobility or a coalition seeking to suppress an upstart. With access to the temples and courts across Bulwar and increased levies from the noble houses, the plot was set in motion.

Stealing from the nation to fund his ambitions was one of his less wise decisions, for the damage done would only accumulate over time. For one without the proper acumen of a ruler false bookkeeping and tax fraud might seem a brilliant strategy, but it is one that would come back around. Even if the rebellion succeeded, the damage to the economy would need addressing.

Kumarkand was most famous for its Sahiru, who patrolled the arid northern plains at the foot of the Šad Našratu against incursion by the harpies who dwelt in those hills. Though their horses were hardy their tactics and riding were mundane and would not stand well against an organised force of Sarraka. However, they were very well suited for raiding and skirmishing and would be valuable auxiliaries for the war effort. All they asked was for autonomy to ranch and patrol as they wished.

Very valuable, as we are going to be receiving a unique mercenary company soon.

Though many might call the elves arrogant and greedy, there are those who take their duties as Chosen of Surael very seriously. Word filtered into the ears of the commanders of the Order of Exemplars within Kumarkand, stories of the strange experiments and rituals that Karodir was performing in his quest for power, and soon they too were drawn into the conspiracy to see him toppled.

NSC also gets access to holy orders. As we need mil dev for a mission I take the one that offers it at a cheaper price than doing it manually.

From the dark chambers of Apaškumar merchants, priests, and Exemplars departed for Varamhar itself, seeking more information on the disposition of Karodir's forces and searching for those within in his own government that might be turned against him. As more of the kingdom's resources were poured towards his ambitions, there were areas that were neglected.

Now I unpause. There's a good chunk of the incident mission tree you can do immediately.

The philosophy of power. Power without ambition begets stagnation, and power without recognition begets ambition. This defines the rise and fall of empires, and thus a wise ruler must ensure they always have something to strive for, while elevating those who might replace them. When an officer displays magical power beyond his rank, when he is blessed by the elements himself, he should be made use of before he begins to get ideas of his own.

This is surprising, this event has a MTTH of 150 years. It's also slightly irrelevant due to an upcoming mission.

It was of some relief to Serakh that the harpies of the hills saw easier prey in the goblins of the western hills than in the humans and elves of the lowlands. With Bahar in chaos following the Goblin Exodus, all eyes in Bulwar would be focused in that direction instead of pondering and questioning just what his plans were.

The greatest prize that Serakh sought to snatch away from Karodir was the Sarraka, the Sunriders. These elven mages sit atop a cavalry tradition dating back to the days of the First Empire, but nonetheless are worthy inheritors of the institution. In his inward focus, Karodir has neglected those in his employ with power and thus has doomed himself. Serakh needed only to build the infrastructure to support their forces, including new stables and a bridge over the Buranun capable of withstanding the march of whole regiments of warhorses. He then invited them into his palace so that they might speak with the Exemplars he had already brought to his side.

Discontent among the elven nobility in Varamhar only aided the efforts. As Karodir's commanders let the hinterland fall to discontents lords, the Sarraka took the moment to break away and depart for Apaškumar, seeing his rule as one not worth protecting.

Once within the care of Kumarkand, they soon came to know of all of Karodir's crimes and heresies and pledged themselves to joining the effort to overthrow him, in the name of defeating the Darkness. Their magical aid would be the spear that would strike down the line of the Varamzuir betrayers.

Great cavalry with a bonus war wizard. Now that's juicy!

The arrival of missionaries from the east, preaching the way of Cult of Jaddar, was an unexpected but welcome factor within the Akal's plans. As he courted the nobility and elven elite, the Jadd would rouse the commoners against elven rule of the nation as it preached that all people could serve in Surael's war against the Dark. It was a dangerous game, for the situation in eastern Bulwar only grew more dramatic.

Jaddar Jexiszuir, the first elf since Jaher truly worthy of the heritage of the Phoenix. He ascended a peak in the eastern deserts and returned with a revelation, then spread the revelation of the Jadd to all of his followers, the Desert Legions, to the humans and harpies of the surrounding region, and then took his crusade westwards. Even the power of Zokka, Devourer of Suns, could not withstand him as the warlord was slain in single combat. Now he approached the heart of Bulwar itself, his meteoric rise setting into motion events that would shake the world's foundation.

Hmm. I'm sure this isn't concerning.

The final target for subversion within Varamhar's dominion was the Akalate of Akalšes, led by the righteous but naïve Serim II. The reunion of the peoples of Karqašlu would be the seed of something far greater. With Karodir's elven vassals already in uprising, losing all of his human vassals and facing a war on two fronts would make his position near-untenable.

Akal Serim agreed to Serakh's terms; that once the rebellion was successful Akalšes would be granted the lands around Lake Naza while Kumarkand would retain the rest of Varamhar's territory, and that in the face of the threat of the Jaddari they would form a joint rulership where each Akal would have equal say in their combined defence. Whether Serim knew where this would lead or not, the decision had been made, and Karodir now stood alone within his own nation. However, he still held allies beyond his borders, meaning that to succeed Serakh would have no choice but to find his own external allies. Time was short, the Varamhari administrators were growing suspicious, and dangers were already in ascent all around him.

To be continued…

Vote

First chapter and we already have a vote to consider. Not all the missions in the opening tree are mandatory, so we may pick and choose if we want to aim for a specific outcome from the Whispers and Shadows incident.

The Sun Elves are the rulers of Bulwar, and ingratiating ourselves to the other kings will give us a significant boost to our chances at independence at the cost of giving them more power over us. Should we take this bargain? If we do not seek their aid, we may need the assistance of some of the weaker human-ruled realms instead. On another hand, the strategic situation might call for us to choose either or both just to survive.

Call on the elves – Demonstrating to our more powerful neighbours that we have no intention of upsetting the existing order in Bulwar will give us room to breathe once we have our independence.
Rely on humanity – Our options for human allies are more limited, but together we might be able to form a bloc of human-ruled states in the heart of Bulwar that can limit elven influence.
Either or both, whatever aids us best – At this time we do not have the room to be picky on support, with the Jaddari approaching rapidly. We should focus upon whoever best suits the strategic situation.

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Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

Damn, no Harpies.
Oh well, this should be interesting as well!

I was hoping for the harpies, they seemed more unique and less conquest-heavy. Still, this should be fun!

It is odd that they decisively won the preliminary vote but then didn't do so well in the final vote, even accounting for vote-splitting. Well, there will be more options for harpies later. There are two fresh MTs in the Sarhal region that can be voted for.

How can there be a first AND a second empire, yet "only" one?

How indeed...

Perhaps I should have seen this coming, but Either/Both won the vote. If we stay New Sun Cult then future incidents will give us more opportunity to actively decide to shift our position on the Chosen.

Chapter Two: Freedom and Faith
1446-1454

Worker's District, Apaškumar, Kumarkand, 1450

As Fištaspa stepped from his lodgings he raised the cloth wrappings up over his mouth and nose, thankful for the subtle perfuming he had infused into the fabric. The city grew more crowded with each passing day, and with that came the effluence of amassed humanity. In this district animals and humans mixed freely, the poor and dispossessed roamed the streets, and there was no proper infrastructure to speak of. The only blessing was that at this time of year the street was not a swamp of mud and other unspeakables.

It was early morning, with Surael's Light driving away the last hints of Dark in the sky. Normally at this time Fištaspa would still be enjoying the comforts of his chambers, not walking the streets like a common worker. He joined hundreds of others in their morning travel, from labourers heading out of the city to work on the reclamation efforts in the ruins, to haulers carrying goods from warehouses to markets, to scribes who could not afford to live near the palace hurrying to their posts.

A commotion up ahead had caused a crowd to form, one that did not seem to be getting any smaller. Standing a little taller than the hunched and malnourished folk around him, Fištaspa watched as a large cart full of grain found itself mired in a gutter and blocked the road. The horse resolutely refused to pull hard enough to free it, and the merchant driver was stuck arguing with a brick wall of a beast.

Rather than try and navigate this, Fištaspa took a detour between two stone hovels and slipped into one of the countless backalleys of the district. His guards would have been shouting him for taking such a route, but he was no witless scion. He had been living and breathing this lifestyle for six years. No drunk or cutpurse would touch him.

Dressed in a stained cloak that gave no hint as to his status, he slipped between the slumped vagabonds and scattered street urchins as though he was both someone of little importance but also someone too dangerous to dare touch. Navigating through the alleys, he carefully avoided those where the Light did not reach or where eyes peered from clear ambush points, and eventually found his way into a small plaza that he recognised, where he could catch his bearings.

It was busier than he expected, and cleaner than he remembered. The stone houses that framed the plaza had been washed recently, their plaster that had been darkened by mud and grime now shining white, and the ground had been swept clear. As he walked past the crowd on his way, someone in one of the houses unfurled a flag that brought him pause. Orange, with a shining sun at its centre; the heraldry of the Jaddari.

"Attend please, friends!" a man called up from atop a crate.

After a moment of consideration at a plaza exit, Fištaspa decided to turn around and find out what this meeting was about. If they were plotting action against Kumarkand, he would need to report it. However, the orange sun and the Way of Jaddar were not banned by themselves. The Exemplars were ordered to remain on the lookout for any who advocated surrender in the face of Jaddar Jexiszuir, while those who preached his ways were left alone to stir up useful cannon fodder for the nation.

It was a contradiction, one that underlined the anything-goes nature of their rebellion against Varamhar. Anything that might serve as an edge was taken in the name of freedom. What that meant for the Akalate once they had their freedom remained up in the air.

The man addressing the crowd wore a wide smile, a white robe and well-trimmed hair, but no ornamentation or jewellery on his person. It was the sort of purity that only priests practised, but one would never find a priest this deep the alleys of the capital.

"We stand here today as brothers and sisters in Surael's light," he said, "standing in a corner of the city where we have banished the Darkness with our own hands. Have any one of you seen one of the Chosen working to scrub clean a building? Has the Akal planted a crop of grain or an orchard of dates?"

As cries at the injustice rang out from the crowd, Fištaspa carefully slipped a hand under his cloak for his dagger. A mob was a dangerous thing.

"Now, friends, stay your hearts and heed me words!" the man continued, "this is not a sign of their own failure, but a sign of their misunderstanding! They consider that only those Chosen by Surael can banish the Darkness, but they are mistaken! Jaddar's words herald a new dawn! All of us must do our part, all of us must take into our hearts the task of defeating the Dark!"

He rapidly pointed his hand across the crowd, singling out people one after another.

"Those who can fight, take up arms against heresy such as Karodir's. Those of you who feed and clothe others, give your everything to make life shine. Those who can speak, spread the word," he said, "with or without the Akal's approval, this city will be cleansed of every dark corner!"

The crowd was getting riled again, and Fištaspa did not like the idea of what would be considered Dark by these fanatics. However, it was a problem for the Exemplars and not for him so he slipped away. He moved quickly back towards the main avenue, the sounds of preaching disappearing behind him.

Something caught the light as he passed by an alley and an arm reached out to seize him. He reached for his dagger again, but another arm grabbed him at the perfect angle to keep him from moving. The man who had seized him was ragged but for a tarnished silver helmet atop his head, a great series of cracks running across its surface to the point it appeared it might fall apart at the slightest touch. With wide eyes and a fixed grin, the maniac did nothing but look into Fištaspa's eyes.

"There is no god but Surakel," the madman said after a few moments, "we have no need for the philosophies of elves. Oppression on one side, blind fervour on the other. There is another way."

He cackled and let go, disappearing into the darkness of the alley before Fištaspa could draw his dagger. After a few more moments to compose himself, he returned to his travel. Despite the clear insanity, the words of the madman still rang in his head. It had hit upon something he had heard that the Akal was considering. Divine elven right of rule in Bulwar threatened their long-term independence, while Jaddar's followers would enforce their vision of Light from bottom-up and kill thousands or millions in the process. But, was breaking away from either those an option when the situation remained on a knife's edge?

The palatial district finally appeared ahead of him, and in a practised motion he turned his grubby cloak inside out to reveal the clean and finely-patterned inner lining, as well as lowering his hood and mask. As long as one looked the part it was very easy to move in any given community.

After passing through the gates without much interrogation, he took a deep breath of a much better world. The commotion of the common folk was long behind him, and the gardens of the palaces filled his heart with comfort. This district boasted wide avenues, filled with flowering trees and burbling streams. Each palace was ornately decorated in the colours and emblems of the noble house that owned it, and each garden was carefully tended to demonstrate their own capability to tend to Surael's Garden.

It was all a front of course; dealings here were just as dark as those in the other districts.

Fištaspa slipped in through the side entrance to one of the palaces and sat in one of the guest rooms. A servant almost screamed when she stepped into the room to see him lounging in a chair, but recognised him well enough to scurry off for her master.

Stepping into the room later came the rotund and greying form of Šafed szel-Haklum, lord of several distinct territories on the border with Bulwar city and Fištaspa's point of contact among the conspirators behind the rebellion. He had earned well from the trade with the Twelve Families.

"Good grief, did you have to stay among the workers?" was the first thing from Šafed's mouth, as he wrinkled his nose at what was no doubt lingering essence from the morning.

"I can take a bath later," Fištaspa said, "I wanted to pass on the latest news from Gišhuram so you could act on it immediately."

"You take your role too seriously, boy," Šafed said, "A szal-Yazdan ought not to be playing in the muck."

Fištaspa did not wonder aloud about whether taking things seriously was the only reason the rebellion had reached the point that it had. In a way it made him sympathise with the Jaddari he had seen earlier, people yearning to find a place to do their part. That was why he had taken up as a spy instead of rotting away as a useless second son of a backwater noble house. Nonetheless, there was one thing he wanted to raise.

"I did encounter some religious incidents on my way here," he said, "I wonder if they would be of interest to the Akal."

Šafed snorted and said, "the Akal answers to us. His interests should only be securing us a comfortable future free of any damned foreign taxation."

Fištaspa was not so certain. Times were changing, and they had to be ready to change with it.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

With the impending threat of Jaddar advancing further westwards and the Kingdom of Elizna putting its own might behind Karodir's reign, the clear choice was to court as many allies as possible regardless of their position within greater Bulwari politics. Kumarkand was relatively untouched by the famines and gnollish pillaging of the Decades of Devastation, and so had much to offer to both the ruler of Irrliam and Twelves Families of Bulwar city.

If you can get by with just Bulwar (and maybe Dartaxes) you can get the outcome that lowers the Chosen level in your nation. However, with Varamhar's allies I'd rather have the more powerful elves on our side.

The task of balancing the agendas of the factions backing the plot grew ever more difficult with each passing month. Merchants offered up loans with generous repayment plans, but only if they would be granted rights to monopolize ranching efforts in the arid north. This would put them in conflict with the Sahiru, but the Akal considered that a problem for a later time.

These auto-resolve agenda decisions are nice to have when you end up with mission like 'dev in a desert province'.

Inviting in Jaddari missionaries might have seemed like another means to rally the poor and dispossessed to Kumarkand's cause, but it was not long before Apaškumar was filled with devoted and fanatical supporters of the cause. Rather than ride this wave of fervour as he should of, the Akal balked at upsetting the allies he was courting and cast out the missionaries. It was in vain though, as his indecisiveness meant that own people were now proselytizing among themselves.

Isolation and obfuscation could only go so far. Though Karodir was sequestered with his researchers, the Varamhari officials tasked with overseeing Kumarkand's payments were diligent workers. They soon identified inconsistencies in tax statements and began a length audit of the Akalate's incomes. By all account Serakh's nerves began to fray at this moment, as his every word and action was scrutinized by sharp-eyed elven sense.

You only have a limited amount of time to complete as many missions as possible, with events like this serving as a reminder that you're on the clock.

Some could be bribed, but it is a simple fact of rulership that you do not assign those who are so easily swayed to be the those who extract money from your subjects. Either they steal from you, or they steal from your people. Corruption is a scourge that ought to be thoroughly erased, and one that the New Sun Cult had accomplished by instilling a sense of duty into elven officials.

Jaddar's forces reached Lake Naza, and declared their present campaign at an end. The Kingdom of Sareyand was shattered by his march into three disparate pieces, though not completely destroyed. Sareyand proper still held, and despite their situation they remained ready to aid Varamhar in the event of war. That promise would be their undoing, the last mistake that would never recover from.

It took me this many campaigns to switch on third-party peace deal notifications.

Gnollish raids were a continuous threat throughout the latter days of the Decades of Devastation. Tluukt was a warmistress blessed by the Darkness, wielding infernal flames and packs of vicious hounds that could shatter entire realms if directed against them. So long as she still lived, the southern frontier of Bulwar would never be safe.

Also third party war decs.

Suspicion continued to mount against Serakh, with strident queries as to the status of the Sarraka being dispatched from Varamhar to Apaškumar. Rebellion within the Varamhari heartland grew ever worse, and Karodir had emerged from his laboratories with a question on his lips as to the status of his supposed most-loyal regiments. For all his ambition, he failed to realize that neglecting the politics of rulership leads to nothing but destruction.

The people of Bulwar looked warily south at the ravenous gnollish hordes, and thus were eager for anything that their northern neighbours could offer in support. All it would cost is their participation in the coming rebellion, a war that might cost the lives of those who ought to be defending their city but might save them in the long run if they could acquire a permanent ally.

To convince Taelarios Irrliazuir was a simpler matter than anticipated. The elf was old even for his kind, but held a firm belief in the duty of the Chosen to properly protect Surael's Garden. Karodir had proven himself delinquent in his duties, having allowed rebellion to ravage his lands and ignored the plight of the other followers of the Light in favour of his own personal power. Irrliam would stand beside Kumarkand in seeing Karodir overthrown, though they would ensure the Akalate remained guided by their own chosen advisors.

With Taelarios aligned, the Sarraka were willing to begin arming themselves and readying themselves for war. Their magic lit up the training grounds outside of the city as they practiced, the stirring flow of light and mana bright enough to even wake the silent dead of the nearby ruins. The Sahiru provided them with the sturdiest horses that Kumarkand had to offer and began to patrol the frontier to intercept any more Varamhari officials that would threaten the plot.

This fires when you hire the merc company. Amusingly, the Sarraka Commander can't actually command the Sarraka army as it has an auto-generated leader, so you need to attach another army to stick them in command.

It was not clear when Serakh lost his nerve, or if he never intended to launch the rebellion and found himself in charge of a movement far larger than he had anticipated. His summons by Karodir came on the eve of war, and that the Akal departed instead of ignoring the message, were evidence enough for those who had staked their fortunes and lives on rebellion. They dispatched the Sahiru to ride as hard and fast as they could to intercept him.

This isn't a required mission to start the rebellion, but it lets us deal with a little problem of our start. It's only available if you request Irrliam's aid, so the human-focused route wouldn't be able to do this.

Even if Serakh was not stopped, the lands of Varamhar were already in serious turmoil for their own reasons, from outrage at the experimentation their king had been conducting to protesting extortionate tax rates to fund the military. Serakh might not have ever reached Karodir. Perhaps the plotter's moves were too hasty, but the die had already been cast.

The plot extended its tendrils throughout the Akalate. Everyone had assumed that the Akal was behind them, but his weakness had finally been unveiled. He intended to expose the plot and have all the plotters executed by Karodir, giving him complete control of the Akalate at the cost of his own freedom. Cornered and eliminated by his closest friend, Serakh died in ignominy, to be forever remembered at one who had come so close to grasping greatness and hesitated at the final moment.

There was no time for a risky succession crisis. All those still in the capital quickly placed the Akal's son, still a boy not yet of majority, on the throne and had him sign off on the final approval to begin the rebellion. It different times, in another world, perhaps one of these men could have founded a new dynasty to birth the Second Empire. Regardless, their quick thinking and loyalty to their cause over their ambitions is commendable.

Young Saed's order, the words of his sponsors, went out across the Akalate. For their crimes of theft and oppression, and for Karodir's heresy in exploring the Dark depths of magical research, Kumarkand and its allies would rise and bring an end to the line of traitors. From Kalindil's betrayal of the Young Phoenix to Karodir's betrayal of Surael's teachings in an attempt to make himself a god, the works of the Varamzuir line would be erased.

To start the rebellion you need any two of Irrliam, Bulwar and the Sarraka aligned with you. All other branches of the tree are optional, which include Dartaxâgerdim, Sareyand, and dwarven siege engineers.

The destruction of the First Empire at the hands of the harpies was a tragedy of historic proportions. The Onslaught might have been survived if not followed by the emerging of Firanya and her people. To become a mere tributary of her distant descendants was not Kumarkand's destiny, and so they immediately threw off her shackles and refused to send anything to the Šad Našratu. Though Queen Ištara was cunning, she had no way to force terms upon a nation were every man capable of riding a horse had readied themselves for war.

Only rebels guarded the gates of Gišhuram. Karodir had already fled, and the city soon opened its gates. The lords of Varamhar welcomed the Sarraka as liberators, come to save them from both the rebels and their mad king. After so much preparation, the march the capital was over within months. All that remained was to locate the ambitious elf before he found the means to strike back.

Karodir's choice of allies was poorly made. Sareyand was a failure, shattered by Jaddar and unable to aid. Elizna stood on the shores of the Divenhal, its armies needing to run a gauntlet of Irrliamic and Bulwari forces as they marched up the Suran river to relieve Gišhuram. The army of the latter was pinned between the two great rivers just north of the city of Bulwar itself, where the Sarraka mages created the perfect killing ground to wipe their foes from the face of Halann.

The situation grew worse for Karodir as Tluukt herself entered the fray, eager to ravage lands already being torn apart by war. Her focus turned towards Elizna, and any hope for them to participate in the war came to an end.

It was a time of upheaval and renewal. The Decades of Devastation had been akin to a cleansing flame, wiping away so much of decadence of the old kingdoms that had begun to fester once again and giving new powers a chance to rise. Just as philosophers and artists looked to the past, to the Damerian Republic and the Precursor Empire, so too did the people of Kumarkand look to their own past for inspiration. And in looking, they found Karqašlu.

Sareyand fell for the second time in short succession, and this time would see even greater destruction wreaked upon the city. The Sarraka and the Sahiru took all they could and rounded up hundreds of those accused of conspiring with Karodir to be executed. The last of the Varamzuir line was located deep within the palace of Sareyand and burned alive in a pyre made of his own heretical texts. Thus died an elf of ambition, his visions of apotheosis thwarted.

The Exemplars, who had worked to maintain the security of Kumarkand and occupied Varamhar for the duration of the war asked for a portion of the wealth of Sareyand as recompense for their efforts. The Akali-Consort, negotiating on her son's behalf, instead offered up that they be funded out of the treasury of the priesthood, in recognition of their adherence to the path of the Light.

Elizna withdrew from the war in favour of focusing on their conflict with Tluukt, and the victorious Sarraka returned to Gišhuram to face a hero's welcome. All the lords of Varamhar insisted that they knew nothing of Karodir's plans and for the moment the victorious rebels of Kumarkand were willing to believe them. The real work would be in reorganizing the nation so it could be ruled from Apaškumar and forging it into something that would stand against the threats that still lurked around them.

Hitting 90% war score lets you finish the final mission.

It was at this crucial moment that the young Akal Saed found the first hints of the legacy that lay beneath his feet. Flying the flag of Karqašlu, preserved for thousands of years just waiting for one worthy to see its empire restored, he rallied the people of Kumarkand to a new legacy. It would be within the distant and glorious past that a vibrant and resurgent future would emerge. The only way forward would be towards the Second Karqašlu Empire!

The war had ended the Kingdom of Varamhar, and with the blessing of the Irrliazuir all of its territory was recognised as an integral part of the Akalate of Kumarkand, with their stated mission being rooting out any and all remaining heresy and turning back the tide of the monsters. Some overtures towards dual-rule were made with Akal Serim of Akalšes, but it was clear to all who really held the power within the relationship.

With Tluukt still on the march, the nobles of Kumarkand penned a bold declaration of behalf of the Akala that they would work to halt her reign of terror on southern Bulwar. The harpies were not spared either, with an announcement that the escalating raids on the northern frontier and the arrogant demand for tribute would both see retaliation enacted against Ayarallen.

Though the rebellion was over and the plotter's ambitions sated, the boy who they ruled over had much greater ideas. Saed had grown up in a bubbling cauldron of desire and religious fervour, and began to wonder whether the name of Karqašlu could be used for far more than a flag for the commoners to rally around. What if they did not simply punish the harpies, but integrated them as warriors? What if they turned the Sarraka into an institution? What if they looked to the past or future to turn the Sun Cult into something that served their purposes? What if they turned on their once-allies and claimed Bulwar Proper for a truly revived Karqašlu?

Now that the incident is over, we get access to the proper Kumarkand tree. Once we clear the first two missions there are several different lines of progress to be focusing on. To start with, I will be looking towards the right-most column while also laying the groundwork for the leftmost.

One his own initiative, Saed approached the High Priest of Kumarkand and entreated him to begin a debate on the future of the faith. All aspects of the Light were to be considered, including whether the Chosen should still stand alone as stewards of the garden, whether ancient texts held new teachings, and whether Jaddar was truly as mad and heretical as so many claimed.

Since we asked for Irrliam's aid, the swing from that towards 'Increase' enough to cancel out the other swings to 'Decrease' leaving us at Level 4.

He met with landowners, merchants and lesser nobles, those who might have only been on the periphery of the plot, and heard their concerns. So much of the nation had been turned towards defeating Karodir that little thought had been spent for economic development. In turn, Saed promised that the old ruins of Panu Karqašlu and other such sites of the ancient past would bloom again. In his mind, he dreamed of finding treasures akin to the ancient flag he had wielded on the day of Karodir's defeat and taking another step towards the Second Empire.

While human-ruled nations flourished in Bulwar Proper, the rebel Dartaxes was dealt a serious blow by the Bastard King Deggarion, after already being forced into becoming a tributary of the harpies. His dreams of the destruction of the Cult of Jaher would soon be relegated to history, for he had no basis in ancient legitimacy. Kumarkand would fight on, with Karqašlu emboldening its heart.

Taelarios took advantage of the chaos in the north to launch his own assault against the harpies, without calling for Kumarkand's aid. The nobility, eager to demonstrate their alignment with the current order in Bulwar, launched their own campaign, rallying the Sarraka and Sahiru once again to enact their retaliation upon the harpies.

Believing Kumarkand to be the weak link in the alliance arrayed against her, Ištara descended upon the city herself, a vast flock of winged women blackening the sky and obscuring Surael's Light. The famed horsemen of Kumarkand arrived to relieve the city; both the elven Sarraka wielding spells of wind, fire and lightning, and the planetouched warriors of the Sahiru, with decades of experience fighting harpies. Despite the Queen's efforts she could not break the spirit of Karqašlu, with a full third of her flock falling in the raging tempest of the sky.

As Saed reached majority, he found his Akalate standing upon the crossroads. The complacent nobles, satisfied with their victory and getting fat off the spoil, the monsters that still threatened the frontiers, and the religious turmoil that his father had accidentally invited into the heart of the nation. He had learned well from his years among the whispers and shadows, but he was no craven fool like his father. The future, and the past, awaited him, if only he was willing to seize it.

After Ištara fled deeper into the Šad Našratu there was little stopping Irrliam from claiming her western territories. One of her vassal flocks declared its conversion to the Sun Cult and declared independence, while Kumarkand still besieged the Roost of Ayarallen that loomed over their borders and the mountain men of Gelkalis fought to reclaim their lands and people. With the war in a stable state, Saed's thoughts turned to the future, to what lay ahead for Surael's Garden.

To be continued…

Vote

Kumarkand sits at a crossroads. The elves have aided us well, demonstrating their devotion to upholding Surael's light, and yet some still say that we should elevate humanity to be their equals. After all, Ašqarin-Aga-kar, the founder of Karqašlu, was the first Incarnation of Surael and he was a mere human. With the destruction of Dartaxâgerdim we have the opportunity to take leadership in revitalizing the old ways from before Jaher's landing. There is also a growing movement of Jaddari among the lower classes who call for us to follow the way of Jaddar and stand side-by-side with all of our allies.

Theological studies are underway, comprising ancient tomes from the Empire's past, the texts of the Council of Brasan in which elven divinity was confirmed and agreed, and the words of Jadd missionaries pouring in from the east. A permanent decision will need to be made.

(As a minor note, the MT and event text does consistently refer to Surakel rather than Surael, but I would prefer to keep in consistent in my writing based on the religion we select.)

The Cult of Jaher – Remain New Sun Cult – As Karqašlu rises it will need the advice of the Chosen of Surael. With their guidance Kumarkand will find its place in a garden in chaos and bring about Jaher's glory once again, with a human ruler as Surael's faithful servant.
The Cult of Aga – Convert to Old Sun Cult – The Cult of Dartaxes has been crushed, and any claim they might have to leadership of the old ways has gone with it. We will harken back to the first and greatest ruler of Bulwar, call upon the memory of Karqašlu and place humanity as the rightful guardians of Surakel's Garden.
The Way of Jaddar – Convert to The Jadd – All should serve Surael in the battle against the Malevolent Dark. The successful cooperation of human and elven forces against the heretical Karodir is proof of this. Even beyond that, none are irredeemable. The harpies, the gnolls; all will have a place to serve in the new, modern Karqašlu.

Vote for an option by clicking on the below image



Voting will remain open for 72 hours, as this is an important choice

 

[Sybot]

Independence achieved! Now to expand and consolidate. The nobles need to not be so fat and spoiled, otherwise Kumarkand will fall again. Do you have missions to curtail their influence?

Not missions specifically, but it will be a goal as we are in a bad state with regards to Estate Influence.
It was a very close vote, with Old Sun Cult and Jadd being neck and neck the whole way through, but at the very end The Jadd pulled through to win the vote.

Chapter Three: Voice of the Hero
1454-1463

Atop the Black Walls, Akalate of Azkabar, Bulwar, 1457

It was an odd sight, to see the earth move while you were stood stationary. The ground bucked and shifted before Daryus' eyes, a deafening roar filling the air, but not a single vibration reached his body. From his position atop the pitch-black walls of Azkabar, he was safe from any magic that the invaders might dare throw against him.

That did not mean he was safe. He ducked back behind the fortifications in time to avoid the volley of arrows that whistled through the air and clattered against obsidian. Further along the wall, one of the other defenders cried out in pain and slumped against the battlements with an arrow piercing right through his armour. The besieging armies of Kumarkand were not reliant solely on direct magical attack. Wind magic aiding the flight of arrows to hit the defenders from outside their own reach was something that the Black Walls could not mitigate.

It had been months since they had arrived, and each week brought new experiment in siegecraft by the Sarraka, the elite elven mages that Daryus still could not believe had defected from an elven kingdom to a human akalate. Fireballs lost cohesion upon striking the walls, lightning was safely grounded, and they stood implacable in the face of shaking earth. He glanced back into the dense and dark city that sprawled out within the walls. It was untouched by the roiling earth just beyond, but blood was still being spilled as the underclasses fought for dwindling scraps of bread.

Normally, Lake Naza would be their lifeline for smuggled supplies, but with Akalšes aligned against them and the Jaddari refusing to trade there was little opportunity for that. The city would fall unless drastic action was taken. As it so happened, Azkabar had other means to avoid that.

A cloak drifted up from the city below, a dark shape fluttering in the wind free of any bonds of the ground and any rigid physical shape. It caught Daryus' eye and he watch it twirl through the air and settle down on the wall. As it touched the smooth and unblemished obsidian structure, feet emerged from beneath the cloak and it filled out into the shape of a person. Their visage remained hidden in the deep darkness of the cloak.

Some of the other members of the Order of Judges that had been assigned to this section of the wall drew their blades. They were not aware of the truth of the matter of the city and mostly likely thought that this was an assassin sent by Kumarkand to strike the defenders.

"Commander Daryus, of the Order of Judges," the cloaked figure, a woman, said. She stepped forward. One of Daryus' soldiers stepped towards her, but he held out a hand and gestured for him to stand down.

"To whom am I speaking?" he asked.

"You may call me Širin," she said, "that is all you need to know."

A pale and clammy hand emerged from the depths of the cloak holding an emblem, a sun cast in pure sucking shadow so deep that Daryus had to blink to even identify it. A moment later it was gone beneath the cloak, before any of his other men had a chance to see it.

With a sigh of resignation, Daryus ordered his men to stand down and commandeered a guard tower further along the wall so that they might talk in privacy.

"What would you have of me?" he asked, once he was sure no more ears could hear them.

"The rise of Kumarkand is dangerous," Širin said, "that they call upon the ancient name of Karqašlu is even more so."

Daryus peered out of the arrowslits of the tower at the distant siege camp. The banners of Kumarkand and Akalšes were joined by other, less familiar symbols. If the true rulers of Azkabar deemed that a few revivalists in the west were a greater threat than the Jaddari fanatics, then he would heed their warnings. There were greater things at work that what was visible in the Light of Surael.

"I will cast an illusion over us, and we will plunge knives into the greatest of the Sarraka mages," she said, "then we will sally forth with all our forces and destroy them. No one can resist my enchantments."

Daryus bowed his head in acknowledgement. For centuries Azkabar had wielded power in the shadows of Bulwar, and now would be the time that they did so once again.

Sneaking across no-mans-land was a more straightforward task than expected. The bombardment had ceased for the evening, and Širin's illusions were everything that she said they would be as soon as they were away from the magic-devouring walls of the city. He felt as though he was wind itself, moving over churned and broken earth without taking a step upon it and without casting a shadow that would be detected by the torches that ringed the perimeter of the Kumarkandi siege camp.

As they stepped into the light their disguises came to being around them. Daryus felt his ears extending and his features sharpening, even though he was well aware it was an illusion. His armour gained a gold trim, as if he was a resplendent elven commander of the Sarraka. Next to him, Širin's cloak shifted from encompassing darkness into the pure white of a priestess. False elven features poked out from beneath her hood.

The guards gave them a glance as they entered the camp, but a wave of Širin's hand left them blinking and disorientated. Once within its perimeter, the sheer authority of an elite warrior would grant them access anywhere, including the quarters of the Sarraka themselves. Daryus did not expect to survive this mission, but was willing to take as many of their lives as he could before his own life was taken. All in service of the Eclipse.

Even in the depths of night the camp was busy. Bored soldiers drank, gambled, or stumbled out towards the gathering of camp followers on the far side of the camp. It was clear from their garb that they were little more than a mercenary rabble, with little coherence or order between them. Coming from an organisation as distinguished as the Order of Judges, it made Daryus' nose wrinkle in disgust. Though, he supposed it made his disguise even more realistic.

They approached the Sarraka quarters, but Širin held out a hand to pause. A group of mercenaries stumbled between two tents ahead of them, each one dressed in a mismatch of armour that varied from tattered leather to tarnished metal. The one at the front, wearing a helmet of silver with shattered ornamentation upon it, was rambling loudly.

"So then I dug it right up out of the sand!" he said, "I had damage it a bit, so no one would think of stealing it, but it really suits me, right?"

The others mumbled their drunken agreement, and the helmeted soldier turned towards the two assassins as if to ask them the same question. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. As his mouth worked itself, his eyes dilated and his hand went to the hilt of his sword. A voice emerged from his lips, speaking in a tone unlike the inebriated man he had been, and speaking a dialect that bore only the slightest resemblance to proper Bulwari.

"Intruders! Disguise! Illusion!" were words that Daryus could just about make out, before the man charged.

Daryus drew his own blade and met steel with steel. Before he could do anything or call the man a liar to back up his disguise, he was headbutted by the silver helm and fell to the ground. As he shook off the ringing in his head, he realised that the same headbutt had shattered his disguise.

Širin lashed out, her daggers piercing the neck of the mercenary and sending him to the floor in a fountain of blood. She tore the helm from his head, even though touching it caused her own disguise to break, and then began smashing it with the nearest heavy object.

The alarm had been raised, and the Kumarkandi mercenaries and soldiers were beginning to descend upon them. And yet, as swords were drawn and arrows knocked for their last stand, Širin's only concern was the absolute destruction of the helmet, whose wearer had spoken with such a strange voice.

Author's Note: Azkabar has a deeper lore connection to Kumarkand, but it isn't really delved into in either nation's mission tree. If it is relevant I might bring it into the narrative later.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

Forsaking their more vicious sisters, the harpies of Nanšalen saw the shift in the flow of history and declared their independence and conversion to Surael's Light. This was the perfect opportunity for Saed to drive a wedge further between the northern monsters. His diplomats began to reach out with overtures towards the breakaway flock.

Many smaller flocks had already fled Ayarallen, with the roost under relentless magical bombardment by the Sarraka. Those who surrendered were offered payment as warriors of Kumarkand and placed in cooperation with the same Sahiru that they had once fought against. Significant payments did much to smooth over bruised egos and calls for vengeance over ancient conflicts.

These are also needed for the below mission. Kumarkand has a bit of a mercenary focus in the first half of its tree.

Wealth was something in abundance within Kumarkand, as the Akal had once again sold off a great deal of the nation to merchants and nobility to fund the war effort. He was well aware that to win the future one had to survive the present. Once his power was secure the lands and industries could be clawed back under his own control, holding the loyalty of thousands of elite horsemen and harpy warriors.

On some occasions it would also be prudent to allow other forces to undermine the nobility, for example the common peasant raging against the taxes of their landowner. The nobles would not be happy to see their manors be burned down, so they would have to spend their own resources to deal with such uprisings.

The mid-1450s were a period of significant religious upheaval. A crisis that was also an opportunity. The beginning of the transformation did not come from the advancing Jaddari, as so many expected, but from within. Taelarios, the so-called 'Father of the Cult' passed away and all the rulers of Bulwar rushed to fill the void with their own blatherings on the way that the Cult ought to be run.

The second NSC incident (first incident for some nations) fires once the ruler of Irrliam dies.

A consensus was beginning to emerge among the scholars and theologians of Kumarkand, one that would shake the foundation of its faith. The Council of Medurubar was the ideal opportunity for those who were against that consensus to be sent on a fool's errand while still in the belief that they were helping to shape the future of their nation. The foremost priests of the Cult of Jaher would bicker amongst themselves, and Kumarkand would be free to begin its transformation into something greater than Jaher could have imagined.

Reconstruction of the Varamhari lands continued apace, with legions of craftsmen being deployed to repair the damage caused in the rebellion and see that the fields along the Buranun flourished. Their passion was born of devotion to Surael, though they did not speak of their opinion on higher theology. That there were many followers of the Jadd among these zealots was quietly ignored by the Akal.

The Council began with representatives of all the elven nations of Bulwar in attendance, but many of the human realms only presented a token representation. Nonetheless, this was considered an adequate fraction of the priesthood to come to a consensus on the future of the Cult. Debates began, while other factions made moves beneath their notice.

With the fall of Ayarallen, the harpy dominion of the Šad Našratu was shattered. The remaining flocks in Firanyalen broke away and Queen Ištara's dream of a unified and civilized harpy nation was broken under the wheels of history. Much of the southern hills came under the administration of Kumarkand and Akalšes, with the old roost of Ayarallen itself becoming a key bastion as it was staffed by the same harpies that the Akal had recruited in the latter days of the war.

To demonstrate his interest in a future of coexistence and cooperation, he secured an alliance with the Surael-worshippers of Nanšalen. Their control over the Invader's Pass, the valley through which the distant ancestors of Karqašlu arrived in Bulwar, was portentous for the rise of the Second Empire and its touch upon its own history.

The Akal remained a man of action, and was not willing to rest while the state of the region remained in flux. Azkabar, the city of obsidian walls, was home to a cult of the foulest depths imaginable. Though Saed did not know it, their eradication would be crucial to the Second Empire's success, for having such traitors in their heartland could only lead to destruction. His own motivation for the war was securing the fortress as a bulwark against militant Jaddari forces advancing past Lake Naza.

Debates continued in Medurubar, though it was of little concern to the Akal as he campaigned against Azkabar. To ignore such crucial discussions would be inviting disaster, if there were not other plans in motion. Those dissenting priests who had travelled to Medurubar on behalf of Kumarkand advocated for continued elven leadership of the Cult, though not for their total dominance.

Taelarios' death had impacts far beyond the state of the Sun Cult. Commoners took it as a portent of dark times, entire alliance structures that depended upon his charisma came apart, and the foundations of Bulwari nobility shifted beneath their feet. In Akalšes, now mourning the death of their own Akal as well, his heir Ardaš accused Saed of treachery in relation to the distribution of territory following the rebellion against Varamhar. Though he did not outright rebel, it was a sign of the times.

NSC incidents are filled with this sort of event, intended to stir up the diplomatic situation in Bulwar and lead to one nation eventually consolidating it.

In spite of the turmoil, the lands of Kumarkand flourished. Harvests were plentiful, markets were full, and taxes were on the rise. Tasting freedom with the yoke of elven dominance removed, the people of Kumarkand worked even harder to satisfy their Akal.

Saed was no fool, even before he became better advised. The decadent nobility were too trapped in their ways, too comfortable with their triumph in the rebellion. He began his effort against them by curtailing the tax privileges they had been granted as part of his father's efforts to bring them on side. In such prospering times there was little complaint, especially as plunder from the treasury of Azkabar was fairly distributed.

The Sarraka's magic found a match in the obsidian walls of Azkabar, but traditional means of siege remained effective. Administration of the city was given over to Akalšes, with orders to purge any and all members of the cults that dwelled within the depths of its prisons. To the west, the city of Zanbar was liberated after it had been conquered by Harklum, giving Kumarkand territory on the mighty Suran river that stretches across the full length of Bulwar.

It was to be expected that the clergy of the Cult of Jaher would find no fault in their beliefs. A full majority of all attending the Council backed Irrliam in marking elves as the true kings of Bulwar, tasked with leading all its inhabitants in the struggle against the Dark. After this point, Saed ceased to read any more missives from the Council as he had far more important matters to attend to.

There are some mechanics around how the outcome of this incident depends on what all the attending nations vote on, but they won't matter to us soon so I'm not going to cover it in detail or show any more of the events.

He took a tour of the lands around Kumarkand, those that were once filled with the ruins of an older and greater age, the ruins of Panu Karqašlu. Much of the old city was gone, replaced with endless fields of crops that would serve as the backbone of the nation's economy. Much of its legacy was lost in the process, with ancient palaces being dismantled, old treasures sold off to collectors, and forgotten texts being squirreled away by those who knew their true value. However, the greatest treasure still remained hidden until the work of one team of archaeologists changed everything.

Those farming modifiers are going to become a full mechanic later on in the mission tree.

The Chamber of Helms was long lost, long forgotten, long awaiting discovery. Built in remembrance of wars where victory was all but assured, then snatched away at the final moment, built in remembrance of an empire that was thought to last forever, built in preparation for a future that had finally come.

Only one helm truly mattered among them, only one would be retrieved by the Akal, and only one would fit upon his head.

For this was when I first spoke to him.

It took time for young Saed to acknowledge that I was real, that I was not merely the voice of madness or some magic gone awry. For so long I was waiting for someone worthy to hear my words once again. I made my promise that I would be his advisor and friend from now until his dying day, and that I would advise his descendants in turn, until one day Karqašlu was at last restored and the world lay at our feet. I listened to his present plight, how he had rallied armies of both human and elven horsemen to his banner, and soon delivered my own solution. The Ituqattar, the chariot-riders of old, would be born again in a modern world of steel and magic.

He confided in me how he had called for a review of the theology of the nation, and that a consensus had quickly formed among scholars that the way of the elves, the 'New Sun Cult', was not the way of the future. They were split between following the Way of Jaddar, the Jadd, or returning to old rites based on ancient texts dug up in Panu Karqašlu. There was also a popular movement within the cities to follow the Jadd. I hold no nostalgia for the old ways, and so long as this Jaddar was still true to Surael's struggle against the Darkness he was a worthy exemplar. With a zealous population much can be accomplished, and so with my advice he made the decision that the Jadd would be the way forward.

The decision to convert comes very soon into the mission tree, so if you play Kumarkand yourself it's easy to optimize the early game appropriately. Invite in Jadd missionaries to convert your land for you, help Dartaxes survive if you want an OSC ally, buddy up with an elf if you're staying NSC.

Regardless of whether the old Cult or the Jadd was decided upon, the restrictions on magic upheld by the Cult of Jaher would no longer be upheld by the government. The mage-prisons of Azkabar were thrown open, the planetouched would no need to hide, and research into the secrets of old Karqašlu could begin to operate in the open once again.

As a side effect this wrecks my already-bad crownland situation even further. That said, their starting privilege is very powerful.

To call upon the power of the mob is powerful, but also dangerous. Upon learning of the Akal's official conversion a great host of self-proclaimed Lightbringers marched out from Kumarkand and began to strike down any they encountered who they considered servants of the Dark. Their march ended in Ayarallen, unleashing decades and centuries of anger at harpy raids against the populace. Without real warriors among them they could not breach the roost, but there was still much damage done to lower-lying homes and nests.

The Jadd is by far the most militant version of the Sun Cult, though nations that aren't the Jaddari themselves don't necessarily need to lean into that aspect.

Jaddar did not live long enough to see his faith flourish in the heart of the Bulwar, passing away while on the march against the isolated temple-state of Eduz-Vacyn. One of his commanders, a vicious fanatic named Andrellion, declared himself Jaddar's heir and seized command of the Jaddari to continue prosecuting the war. It was into this turbulent situation that the Akal's emissaries arrived to announce his conversion. An alliance would not be easy to accomplish with such an elf.

The repercussions of the conversion continued to spread, but I urged Saed to remain strong and to not give up in the wake of the denouncement of Thelrion, grandson of Taelarios. The loss of the alliance with the largest elven state posed a great danger to Kumarkand, but also opportunity. With the Cult of Jaher still reeling, there would be an opening to strike sooner or later.

Fervour for the Jadd swept rapidly through the nation, thousands of notable humans and elves alike announcing their conversion to the Way of Jaddar. Even in the former capital of Varamhar, that ought to be one of the hearts of the Cult of Jaher, vast crowds attended sermons from Jaddari missionaries and those nobles who had denounced Karodir fell upon the new faith in demonstration of their loyalty.

While the Sarraka and Sahiru made up the core of Kumarkand's armies, the common infantry remained an unfortunate necessity. During this early period of the Second Empire's rise, most human infantry was trained in archery to pin the enemy in place so that harpy warriors and cavalry could destroy them.

The Akal and I were far too familiar with politics to be caught up in the religious enthusiasm that was sweeping the nation, but we were more than able to take advantage of that fervour to further our own situation. I suggested that we draft the zealous into our armies to serve as shock warriors, but Saed offered a more interesting idea. Jadd missionaries had built up connections across Bulwar, and tapping that resource would give us diplomatic opportunities to make up for the loss of the Irrliamic alliance.

The Jadd makes use of Reformed mechanics, with fervour that ticks up over time and can then be spent on various bonuses, including multiple at once if needed. Its baseline bonuses aren't great, but it does have some flexibility. This one is really good as we need dip rep for missions.

While Andrellion remained unreceptive to an alliance of co-religionists, he agreed to dispatch a Jaddari Lightbringer to oversee the conversion efforts within Kumarkand. The Lightbringer brought with him countless warriors from the famed Desert Legion who were keen to join the Sarraka and fight for Surael on the frontlines of the war on Halann.

After decades of suffering, the Kingdom of Sareyand was put out of its misery by a combined invasion of northern harpies and western humans. As the Cult of Jaher continued their debates and arguments, elven grip on Bulwar was slipping away piece by piece. A clear dividing line was forming across the land, with everything east of Kumarkand falling to 'heresy' and every west aligning itself with the Irrliamic orthodoxy. When these two forces clashes, the fate of Bulwar would be decided.

As if in demonstration that he was still fighting the war against the Dark and not lost in his own thoughts, Thelrion launched a campaign to drive Tluukt from the Šad Sur. For all of her own personal power, the malevolent gnoll had squandered the wealth she had plundered and was forced to retreat into the desert in the face of an organised opponent.

I could not have asked for a greater partner to see Karqašlu reborn. Saed threw himself into drafting new laws that stripped away all the old restrictions placed upon the people by the Sun Elves, formalized the economic and social laws in the cities, and placed the Jadd as the supreme religious law of the land. All were expected to do their part for the nation and for Surael, and those who resisted such laws would find Azkabar's walls their new home.

Negotiations with the Matriarch of Nanšalen reached a solid conclusion with their acceptance of a permanent alliance and the marriage of one of Saed's brothers. Not all members of the flock were pleased, and they teetered on the edge of disloyalty, but the blood of royalty passing into their line would eventually sate their anger. Karqašlu was once destroyed by the harpies, but I hold no grudge against them. Their powers will now be turned towards its reconstruction.

There are alternate ways to complete this that give you claims instead, but I much preferred a free vassal.

Securing an alliance with the Twelve Families of Bulwar, renewing the old alliance from the time of the rebellion, cemented the bloc of human rule in central Bulwar and secured control of the key chokepoint where the Buranun and Suran near-meet. Reaching from the Serpentspine foothills to the edge of elf-dominated territory, Kumarkand now stood as one of the strongest powers within the region. The first bricks of the Second Empire had been laid down.

Harpies were one of the founding influences in the Jadd, and the true influence if some of the more lurid rumours about Jaddar are to be believed, so it is no surprise that the Lightbringer dispatched from the Jaddari was pleased with our alignment with Nanšalen. Women descended from the mountains not just as warriors but as healers and builders. Saed ordered them to be welcomed as equals, as all are under Surael's Light, so that their skills could be put to use and they could find husbands without the need for violence.

The Jadd also gets access to Holy Orders, though the admin one requires you to take a specific decision before it appears. This helpfully lets me double up on dev in the two states I already put NSC holy orders into. Notably unlike NSC Holy Orders these have downsides. In our case we are making heavy use of mercs so the manpower debuff doesn't matter too much, and we are going to want a lot of dev cost reduction as Kumarkand. The edict on the state was required for a mission.

None is more zealous than a convert, and with the blessing of the Akal and the support of the Jaddari we had swept aside all remnants of the Cult of Jaher within our territory. Human, elf and harpy all worked together towards one goal, the banishing of the Dark through Surael's rightful empire on Halann, the ancient and glorious Karqašlu. Our empire. My empire.

To be continued…

Vote

Young Saed, I have felt more years pass than any other being on Halann, save for Surael Himself. Though you can see, and hear and touch the world around you, you do not have the experience to turn action into true victory. Your thoughts are your own, but I implore you to heed my advice, so that we can lead Kumarkand, lead Karqašlu, into a brilliant future.

(As a result of our benefactor's influence, all options for idea groups will have hidden bonus votes based on rolling a d6, reflected in their descriptions. The text is only our benefactor's opinion, not a representation of how it will play out. Please let me know if you have any feedback on this gimmick.)

Innovative – The world has changed since I last laid eyes upon it, but it has also stagnated. Alone, with naught but my own thoughts, I have devised countless brilliant ideas that will shake the world's foundations!
Religious – The Jadd is a fascinating faith that encourages all to do their part. It can be twisted towards our own ends, but we must be wary that we do not let the fanatics rampage out of control.
Influence – Encouraging others to maintain their own independence is foolish, for just as you fought against your overlord so too will they plot against you. It may be worthwhile to quiet your present vassals, but I would rather we rule it all ourselves.
Espionage – I acknowledge that subtlety is necessary, but any true ruler will have the power and will to stand atop the tallest tower in the realm, shout their ambition for all to hear, and then accomplish it anyway.
Aristocratic – The common nobles are corpulent fools who think only of themselves, but it was not always this way. In the past, the Ituqattar led Karqašlu to glory and they can do so again. We need only elevate a new nobility of elite horsemen.
Mercenary – Though the Sarraka, Sahiru, and other elite bands are all worthy warriors, the common mercenary is little more than a barbarian to my eyes. Elevating the latter to in order to further elevate the former bears its own risks.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The second-place result might get some bonus in the next idea group vote, I'm not sure yet how that'll fit in with the rest of the gimmick.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

The results, including the hidden bonus votes, are below. Our benefactor is pleased.

Innovative +6 – Total 27
Religious +2 – Total 14
Influence +1 – Total 6
Espionage +1 – Total 10
Aristocratic +4 – Total 16
Mercenary +2 – Total 19

Chapter Four: Thriving in Chaos
1464-1485

Mustering grounds, near Apaškumar, Kumarkand, 1476

It was not the morning warmth or the sounds and smells of thousands of men and horses that Kafad focused upon. The air was alive with a keen ambition arising from the riders that surrounded him, all lined up in formation in front of the stage erected at one end of the grounds. He had even secured himself a front-row position among the warriors, so he might catch the eye of the Akal once he arrived.

The horses were restless. Forced to stand and carry riders for so long, they were starting to yearn for their stables or grassy fields instead of the churned dirt of the grounds. It was a testament to the training and discipline that the assembled riders had instilled into their mounts that none broke and bolted, through servants dashing through the ranks with small bales of hay to keep the horses fed also helped.

He was not certain what would be announced, although the general gist was clear. Glancing at the others around him, he could see representation from all corners of the nation sprinkled throughout the group. There were lightly-armoured Sahiru, dressed in plain uniforms. There were elven Sarraka, far more flamboyant with gold and jeweled trim to their outfits and pouches of expensive magical catalysts on their belts. Last, but by no means least, there were the Ešraka, such as himself. Those who had answered the call to assemble a new force of human heavy cavalry within the army.

His armour sat on the ground to spare his horse, leaving Kafad in the uniform of his house marked with the symbol of overlapping trees; an orchard. He was the third son of an olive merchant, someone of no real inheritance or renown. His true talent was riding, but only elven mages and frontier rangers fought as cavalry until the Akal put out the call for recruitment, not a city boy.

"It's been kept way too quiet," Kafad said to the rider nearest to him, a finely-dressed Sarraka. "I know it's some kind of unified cavalry command at least, but anything more than that's a mystery."

The elf looked at Kafad with eyes that he knew held disdain. It was different from how it had been as a child though, when the elves would have outright verbalized such thoughts. They were equal under Surael now.

"It would be foolish to place us all together," he said, "mixing the light cavalry, heavy shock cavalry and elite specialist cavalry will only muddy our duties."

"Sure, but what about commanders?" Kafad asked, "having a system to coordinate us all would be fun."

The elf raised an eyebrow at that.

"You do not have much noble poise. What line is that heraldry from?" he asked.

"The Gardens szel-Grumar," Kafad said with pride, slapping a hand over the orchard emblem, "and you?"

"I am Ardor, of the Urzuir line," the elf said. Kafad did not say that he had never heard of it. The lines of elven kings were of little importance now that Jaherian influence had been severed from the realm.

"Let's fight together, as commanded Surael," Kafad said, nodding at His rising to the cloudy east.

Ardor nodded in response, and he turned his eyes to the flags flying over the stage.

The green and yellow banners of Kumarkand were joined by the orange of the Jadd, and one other set that were new to Kafad. It bore a blazing sun, as all followers of Surael should, but the twisting limbs of light coming from His body were longer, thinner and twisted more as though He was spinning as he moved across the sky. Its colours were green and orange, with some yellow backing to make them work together, combining the heraldry of Kumarkand and Jaddari but with a twist on Surael's image.

"Is that the flag that the Akal brought from the ruins?" Ardor wondered aloud.

"I wasn't there for it," Kafad said. He might not have even been born during the rebellion. "Is there any difference?"

"That flag bore a blue sky," Ardor said, "and this one is Kumarkandi green. The Akal might be serious with his ambitions."

Kafad was not sure what the elf was referring to. He knew the Akal often called upon the nation's ancient legacy, but that was surely just for the purposes of propaganda. The old empire was nothing but ruins, and times had changed in an immeasurable number of ways. He would have thought that Kumarkand would rise on its own merits, not due to some ancient legacy. Surely the Akal knew that.

A horn sounded; its tune carried on the wind to the ears of all attending, silencing any remaining conversations. All eyes turned towards the stage, where the Akal now stood, with just two bodyguards and a planetouched officer by his side. The winds swirled around them; the Akal's words ready to be transmitted across the entire mustering grounds.

The Akal was wrapped in a cloak that bore the same heraldry as the new flag flying from above the stage. Green, with a wheeling orange sun. What was most notable was the gleaming silver helmet he wore atop his head, the only piece of armour on his person.

"Riders of Kumarkand!" he called out, his voice as loud as if he was stood right beside Kafad, "I stand before wrapped in our legacy, in our future!"

"Our blessed ancestors crossed into Bulwar led by Surael Incarnate, wielding weapons unknown to the God Kings and the djinn. The chariot was an innovation, and so to must we innovate to shatter our foes and seize the future!"

"What I am proposing to you all is more than an organisation; it is an ideal. One where the horseman is the greatest military power of the nation. From this day forward, you are the true power within Kumarkand, for all of you are elevated to nobility!"

This proclamation sent waves of shock through the crowd, Kafad included. Some of these people were outright lowborn, and some of them came from the highest families in the realm. Another horn blast sounded and the muttering and confusion began to settle down.

Kafad took a moment to glance at him and noticed the Akal had turned his head away from the planetouched beside him and was muttering to himself. His face looked drawn, his eyes heavy beneath the silver helm. He looked as old as Kafad's own grandfather, despite being a similar age to his father. Rulership must take a lot from someone.

"Your titles will grant you privileges as earned in battle," the Akal continued, after he composed himself, "you will earn land in exchange for victory. You will bring Surael's Light to the forces of the Darkness, and then you will recruit those you have vanquished to continue the crusade! We will be a wheel that rolls across the world and crushes the Darkness beneath our spokes!"

Now this was speaking Kafad's language. His family had never been landed, had never had real privileges beyond those they could purchase. Now he, a simple third son, could make the szel-Grumar into one of the greatest in Kumarkand, and all he needed to do was strike down the Akal's enemies.

He turned to Ardor with a big smile on his face, but the elf was staring at the Akal, not with disdain but with a concerned frown upon his face. Kafad ignored this, assuming that he was annoyed with the loss of the advantages of his noble 'line of Urzuir'. He raised his fist, his voice resounding with thousands of others.

"Long live Karqašlu! Glory to Karqašlu!"

The Akal blinked hard, and he spread his hands out to the assembled horde, his eyes glittering.

"My Ituqattar," he said, his voice loud even over the chanting, "together, Karqašlu will be reborn."

Authors Note: I haven't modded in a proper version of the Karqašlu flag yet, but if you want some reference it is a combination of the Kumarkand and Zabutodask flags with a bit more Jadd orange.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

The approaching chaos was portended by an eclipse of Surael's body. Though the foul Eclipse cultists had been rooted out from their hiding places, the movements of the gods are not within the domain of mortals. The Akal wondered if he should not light a pyre in Surael's name, as the nation was still creaking under the weight of the conflicts it had been fighting, but I insisted as demonstration of his piety and wealth was essential to cement his place as a ruler. Some of the cost could be borne by the nobility and other wealthy families, who were feeling the pressure of the Jadd mobs filling the streets.

Word spread south from Firanyalen that a horde of orcs had poured out of the narrow valleys above Lake Jorkad, bringing with them a plague of fey monsters that would turn the entire region into a den of Darkness. The Akal was quick to react, marching his harpy warriors north to seize control of one of the smaller flocks and secure a border against any further orcish incursion.

With the nation united under the Jadd, preachers began to turn their attentions outwards. It is the duty of all Chosen of Surael, of all people, to fight against the Darkness, and that includes foes of the nation. It was a very effective means of inciting thousands more motivated warriors to take up arms and join us in in our greater mission.

The Council of Medurubar ended with a reaffirmation of all attending that the Irrliazuir were the rightful leaders of the Cult of Jaher. It was a false victory, a false peace, for Thelrion was already plotting against other warriors of Surael, be they those who had taken up the Way of Jaddar or those who ought to be united alongside him. The petty ambitions of kings will never change.

His first proclamation upon the end of the Council was a declaration that the heresy within Kumarkand would be purged and rightful elven rule would be restored. He clearly did not appreciate the work his own grandfather had put in place to assist Kumarkand's freedom, and for this he would be punished by the arising Karqašlu.

This was enough to finally secure the assistance of the Jaddari themselves. Andrellion had been cast out of power and replaced with one of Jaddar's youngest children, by elven standards not even a true adult. Jaddar II was determined to live up to his father's name both literally and figuratively, and offered an alliance sealed with a marriage between Saed, who had been recently widowed by disease, and one of his harpy sisters.

Thelrion's ambitions were laid bare when he launched an all-out invasion of Elizna, in spite of the declaration that the elven nations who still followed Jaher would be united against the Darkness. This act of foolish betrayal would be the beginning of his downfall.

Eager Jadd missionaries were already crossing the border into Akalšes, and Saed gave them his full backing with an order to his counterpart in the supposed equal union to convert or face Surael's flames. By this time, it was clear where Akalšes sat in the hierarchy and their priesthood only made token complaints. To do the same to Nanšalen would not be so simple, as the same harpies who launched their conversion to the Cult of Jaher still held power. To force them to convert again would be an unacceptable hit to their pride.

Firearms were an unfamiliar invention when they first arrived into Bulwar, one that I was not prepared to take advantage of. Providing proper armour to the Sahiru and Sarraka and turning them into the devastating weapons that they ought to be was an innovation that I was far more familiar with. The first step towards reviving the Ituqattar was once again turning heavy cavalry into the vanguard of the nation's army.

I was waiting for this advantage before going after Irrliam

For all that Kumarkand had severed itself from the greater Cult of Jaher, the roots of the elven nobility ran deep within the nation. Perhaps as a targeted insult, or maybe to draw the attention of the rest of Bulwar onto Kumarkand, one of the estates just outside the city was selected to host a great summit of all the kings of Bulwar to address the crises of the day in ways that the Council of Medurubar had failed to accomplish.

If we were still NSC, especially one of the elven kingdoms, this would be a big deal. As we aren't, we get to sit back and watch the fireworks. It is a bit weird that we still have to pay even if we aren't NSC.

War with Irrliam was initiated with an invasion of Harklum. Such cunning from Saed prevented any of Irrliam's allies from joining the war. With their armies focused on fighting against Elizna, Harklum would fall quickly and all attention could then be diverted to the west.

A rapid assault by Elizna had taken the critical city of Brasan, the city at the mouth of the mighty Suran. This left Medurubar itself vulnerable to attack, a weakness that I did not need to push Saed to exploit. The rain of fireballs and shattering earthquakes devastating the heart of the Cult of Jaher was enough to signal the beginning of the end for Irrliam.

Seeing human armies on the march, the Akalate of Zanšap declared independence. They were backed by the Jaddari themselves, as well as one of the rival elven kingdoms eager to shut down Thelrion's ambitions of dominance over Bulwar. This was another step towards the complete collapse of elven unity, as their opportunism only allowed Kumarkand to grow stronger.

Under assault from all sides, Thelrion crumbled and Irrliam fell under complete occupation. The only thing saving the Irrliazuir line from complete extinction was that each cobelligerent was at odds as to their objectives, and that Elizna was suffering its own invasion from the cat-brained fools in Kheterata. Chaos had descended upon Bulwar, and Irrliam had been the one to suffer from it.

There was no need to seize swathes of Irrliam's territory, as their doom had already been set in stone by Zanšap. Their seizure of much of the Lower Suran split Irrliam's territory into five distinct enclaves, a complete strategic disaster. For Kumarkand's part, a key fort in the Šad Našratu and a full plundering of the treasury in Medurubar were victory enough. The great threat of an elven reconquest of Kumarkand had passed.

The money is the most important here. I've been scrambling to stay solvent all chapter.

Harklum was not treated so generously. Their territory was split between Kumarkand and Akalšes, with the ruins of the once mighty city of Sareyand coming under the control of the latter and a large tribe of gnolls on the outskirt of the desert falling into Kumarkand's administration. The beasts are vicious creatures, but can be brought into the Light as demonstrated by Jaddar.

With the region still reeling from the upheaval, I determined that there was no better time to strike than now, and urged in the depths of the Akal's mind to press on and claim even more of what we were owed. The next campaign would focus upon the Šad Našratu, most of which fell under the Akalate of Gelkalis that answered to Birzartanšes. This would be the demonstration of the rising hegemony of Karqašlu, as none might stand against it.

Zanšap had not yet fully recovered from their rebellion, so they made a promising first target for the war. Queen Keladora led her armies into the Šad Našratu in an effort to push in from the north, but the brave warriors of the eastern marches gave their lives to slow her down advance and give the Sarraka time to tear down the walls of Zanšap to secure their quick surrender.

Her efforts to relieve her allies were in vain, and she was defeated in the open flatlands on the south bank of the Suran. Her armies fled back to their homeland with Kumarkandi forces in pursuit to see her brought to the table for a surrender.

It is a difficult task to write laws that are considerate of all things that the multitude of races might inflict upon one another. Every time that the Akal or I discovered a new reason for infighting to commence, we had to clamp down on it quickly. All would do their part for Surael and Karqašlu, but it was not the place of greedy magi to take for themselves, no matter what their opinion on the monstrousness of our citizens might have been.

Some might think that fully crushing the power of the nobility and other notables of the realm would be the way to cement the power of the Akal, but there is another way. If they are brought into the royal court they may have more influence, but the Akal and I can both keep a closer eye on them and discover the means for further reforms.

The greatest downside of diving into a chaotic cauldron of warfare is that those without the nerve to see it through will balk and retreat. After the end of the war with Birzartanšes, the Twelve Families announced their withdrawal from our alliance, declaring Saed a madman with dreams of his own empire. They were halfway correct, but these 'mad' dreams would not be stopped.

I missed the peace deal. I made a bit of a mistake and forgot to take that one Gelkalis province that is now sandwiched between me and my vassals.

It took a great deal of expenditure to accomplish the first steps towards reviving the Ituqattar, but there was much plunder from the last round of wars against the ailing elven kingdoms. Thousands of the hardiest horses and most skilled riders were trained, while stables were raised across the nation. What was produced is not entirely what I envisioned, being mere heavily armoured men atop heavily armoured horses, but it was just the beginning.

Kumarkand is a very cavalry-centric nation.

Saed spent a few years focusing on the development of the nation, including the construction of infrastructure in the most war-ravaged lands, dispatching Jadd missionaries to see them join the true way, and integrating the northern fortresses so that they might be better fortified in times of war. I urged action, but he argued caution. We would strike when the time was right, and the Bulwari traitors would fall.

It was during this period that the monsters saw their own resurgence. Pushing outwards from their foothold in Bahar, the Marblehead goblins advanced further down the coast. Those jittery creatures seemed to have some spark of civilization within them, as the city of Aqatbar flourished under their rule and with the renewal of trade with the dwarves of the mountains.

Far less civilized was the Second Sacking of Bulwar. Without our aid, a great gnollish host crossed in from the southern desert. Amazyz, self-proclaimed Empress-of-Gnollkind, wielded deadly powers that could only have arisen from the deepest depths of the Dark, rallied other gnolls including Tluukt's son to her cause, and savaged the city. Many of the Twelve Families perished, and those who survived were forced to see thousands of their own people carried away as slaves or burned in pyres within the city itself. Such monsters needed to be purged if Karqašlu was to survive, or another Onslaught would be inevitable.

The Great Xhaz is a unique gnollish religious formable that you can switch to when if ruler successfully becomes a Xhazobine/Xhazobain.

The Akal's spontaneous decision to call upon the legacy of Karqašlu continued to bear fruit throughout his lifetime. The Qašnitu Revivalist Society was founded in the 1480s, a group devoted to the mysteries of my empire, to rediscovering the arts of the period and to discovering, preserving and even reconstructing archaeological sites. It truly warmed my detached soul to see so many take up sculpting and carving in the name of building the cultural cache of the Second Empire.

As excavations increased in number and scope, more and more relics were uncovered. Tablets on the design of the silver helms were especially valuable, as the techniques used to nullify all magic and bind souls into them were long lost at the time. I demanded that the Akal bring in the magi that was working on them so we might together uncover mysteries that even I am not familiar with.

Saed's marriage to Jaddar's daughter only produced more daughters. The harpies did not emerge until after my time, so observing how their relationships worked for the first time was of great interest to me. Before the integration of the flocks harpy children would never meet their fathers, but Farana was raised from an egg in the court of Apaškumar and flourished. Rather than Saed continuing to seek a male heir, I made it known that I would be happy to work with such a talented woman in the future.

I offscreen disinherited my previous useless heir and hit the jackpot! That's the third time in two campaigns! Also, it looks like we are getting a bit of harpies after all. Given the earlier marriage to Jaddari, I decided it would be interesting and manually set her species.

Unification of the flocks under Nanšlen continued apace. The Firanyalen Flock was able to drive out the orcs, but rather than risk a resurgence of the fey-worshippers, the Akal ordered that they be integrated anyway. The remainder of the western Šad Našratu remained under the control of a variety of other Bulwari nations and would take more time to completely unify.

The time to strike Irrliam again had come, and the city of Bulwar along with them. Thelrion was attempting to subjugate Harklum to use it an excuse to 'reclaim' the territory around Sareyand. Though this would also bring in Azka-Evran, the Akal was confident and the Ituqattar were ready to be tested in battle.

Taking to the field, the heavy cavalry faced a rain of armour-piercing arrows but through their determination they reached the Irrliamic lines and shattered them. Thelrion was sent fleeing in defeat, to give up on his hopes of pushing further up the Suran.

Saed's wife brought with her a retinue of humans, elves and gnolls, the latter of which were by far the most interesting. Jaddar's efforts to redeem the gnolls had seen significant success, and they made up a not-insignificant portion of his son's army. Those who joined Kumarkand were willing to preach the Jadd to their demon-influenced brethren and teach them that slavery and sacrifice were not ingrained into their beings. Under Surael's Light they could serve and give their lives for the glory of Karqašlu.

The shattered husk of the city of Bulwar fell in short order, abandoned by the elven allies they had scurried to after betraying Kumarkand. Those remaining members of the Twelve Families were stripped of their wealth and titles, and the city was turned over to the administration of the newly elevated nobility of the Ituqattar. Apaškumar was destined to become the centre of civilization. The age of 'Bulwar' was coming to an end.

If only the rest of the war had seen such continuing success, Thelrion might have been vanquished entirely. Instead, what followed was a series of back-and-forth battles across the wester frontier, with Thelrion learning swiftly of ways to counter our heavy cavalry and only seeing failure when outnumbered. The Ituqattar had yet to reach their full potential.

Eventually, missives arrived Nanšalen that they would be withdrawing from the war, followed by warnings Birzartanšes and Elizna that they would intervene if the coming summit was not respected. Saed took the decision, against my judgement to see Thelrion cast down, and prepared to negotiate for peace to return to Bulwar.

Peace settles over Bulwar as all NSC nations (in my vassal's case, I still hadn't had a chance to convert them) put down their swords and attend the party. In our territory, which is a bit silly at this point but whatever.

Two decades of chaos came to a close with minor land transfers that further secured the gap between the Suran and Buranun that the city of Bulwar also straddled. With the threat of a coalition hanging over our heads, Saed had no choice to accept the arrival of hundreds of delegates into a great estate on the outskirts of Apaškumar. However, none attending had any idea that the chaos had only just begun.

To be continued…

Vote

When I first regained my senses, I only knew only rage at the harpies that had brought about the final destruction of the First Empire. However, having seen their prowess in battle and their unique talents my smouldering anger has faded. They took advantage of the chaos of the Onslaught to bring about a new empire, but they did not leave a trail of mindless destruction as did the perpetrators of the Onslaught. They are worthy of a place within Karqašlu, though as you are now the one who knows them best, in more ways than one, I will leave the decision to you.

(Note that the latter option is technically modded a bit. Nanšalen can normally only form Harpylen it if we go through an event chain to help them gain independence instead of them doing it themselves.)

Unity with the harpies – We are all Chosen of Surael, as Jaddar decreed. The harpies have their duty to see His Light brought across all of Halann, and it is one they would best fulfil under the direct rule of Kumarkand. Your daughter will lead the races of Bulwar to illuminated unity.
Partners with the harpies – The dream of Matriarch Ištara was a bold one, but foolish as it failed to honour the rightful rule of Karqašlu. Harpylen might rise again as an equal partner with Kumarkand; an Akaliate of the Second Karqašlu Empire!

Vote for an option by clicking on the below image.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

The voters preferred unity with the harpies, so we will be integrating new harpy territory directly and eventually annexing Nanšalen.

Chapter Five: Reborn from Destruction
1485-1499

Edge of the Samartal Estate, near Apaškumar, 1487

It had been a gatehouse once, a sturdy stone structure built to keep out the prying eyes of the rebellious supposed heretics who dwelled in the city a few miles away. It had always been a problem that foreign nobility held land within the bounds of Kumarkand itself, a problem that had now resolved itself as Saed had ordered all such land to be seized and redistributed to the Ituqattar in the aftermath of this disaster.

He stood atop the pile of shattered stone and masonry and peered out over the wreckage before him. It had taken a long time for anyone to even consider cleaning it up, as lingering magical energy crackled through the air for months after the events. It had been long enough that strange, warped, plants were starting to poke from the charred soil.

The central mansion that had been at the centre of the estate had been blown apart, to the point it was near impossible to discern what it might have even looked like. Its pieces were scattered around what had once been gardens and orchards, which in turn had been torn up and incinerated by the heat of the blast leaving a clear crater where the worst of the destruction had hit. It was a miracle from Surael that there had been any survivors from within the estate at all, though even those with protective enchantments had suffered horrific injuries.

Saed stepped forward without care across the remains of the gatehouse, approaching the rim of the crater, though time had now worn it down to more of a gently sloping pit.

"My Akal, we do not know if that is stable," said Zarhran, head of his bodyguard, from the base of the pile of rubble.

"If it has not shifted in over a year, it will not shift from my steps," Saed replied.

He took a deep breath, letting the dry air fill him with the scent of the past, of mad destruction. With his eyes closed, he whispered a quiet prayer to Surael for the fallen. His Light shone upon the lost souls and guided them to peace. More lives were being lost at this very moment, as the madness that this disaster had brought upon spread across Bulwar, and now that the mourning period was over it was time for Kumarkand to join in on that same madness.

There was a flicker of discontent that snapped through Saed's head and he shuddered involuntarily.

The silver helm in his hands beckoned, but he refused its call. He had almost forgotten he had been carrying it, so subtle was the sensation of its metal upon its skin. The benefactor that dwelled within had been his advisor for decades now, guiding him in transforming Kumarkand beyond even the wildest dreams of the conspirators of the rebellion. Farana, his songbird, would soon need to be introduced to their benefactor if she was to be guided to rule.

"Sire, please let this unsightly mess be removed before going any further," said Zarhan. He had clambered up onto the rubble as well, clearly having a harder time in his armour.

"All have their duty to Surael," Saed said, "I will do my part."

He passed the helm over to Zarhan, ignoring the mutter of annoyance that reached his ears as it left his hands, and crouched down. Among the bricks and dust a glimmer of brightness caught his eye. He reached down into the ruin, pushing aside uninteresting pieces of shattered stone to uncover what lay beneath. What he needed most of all was a symbol, something to rally the people and show that Surael shined even here.

It had been a large tile of some kind, whether on a floor or a wall or a ceiling he did not know, but by some miracle it had been flung from the mansion all the way out to this gatehouse without shattering. As he brushed away the dirt, it became clear. It was a simple plant shoot, rising from the soil and reaching into the sky where Surael's warmth awaited it, hinted at by the gentle application of warm colours to the upper half of the image. Perhaps it had been part of a larger fresco where Surael himself was present, or an individual piece. Either way, it was a sign that he had discovered it.

He hefted it in his arms and turned around. Before him, beyond the edge of the rubble, were hundreds of workers who had volunteered their time and energy towards this cleanup. They had been watching patiently as he had surveyed the ruins, and as he turned around their energy and excitement visibly increased.

"No disaster is insurmountable! No recovery is impossible" Saed called out as he carefully stepped across the rubble with the tile balanced against his chest, "we are all Chosen of Surael, and we must all work to enlighten those places where the Darkness has touched our world!"

He clambered down towards the ground. A stone gave way, almost sending him tumbling, but Zarhan was there to offer a hand and keep him upright. As Saed touched the soil and set down the tile, he took a moment to catch his breath and looked back up at the crowd.

"For Surael!" someone shouted.

Saed nodded at them, and the crowd moved with a roar of fervour. They moved straight towards him, causing some alarm to Zarhan, but Saed felt no fear. As a great wave they reached the edge of the rubble and began to work, those at the front passing smaller pieces of rubble to those behind them, those with tools breaking down the larger pieces into something manageable, and those too old or weak to engage in heavy labour sorting through what had already been collected to find anything of value.

The flap of wings caught his attention, as a group of harpies glided overhead and settled on the top of the rubble. Their feet grasped at pieces of stone and they took to the air once again, circling around the group to avoid the risk of dropping anything on them. It was a sight to see, the crowd holding no fear of those who would have been killed on sight as monsters in his father's era. His songbird would inherit a welcoming garden.

His work here was done. As Akal, his duty to the Light was not really in manual labour, but to inspire and lead other Chosen. With Zarhan leading the way, he squeezed through the crowd while still carrying the tile and finally set it down upon a waiting cart, where it might be taken away along with other recoverable and valuable pieces for later reuse.

"What do you think, Zarhan?" Saed asked, "can we rebuild this too?"

Zarhan glanced at the helm in his hands, then out at the road that led away from the estate.

"It is not my place to say, Akal," he said, "but you have accomplished great edifices already."

Saed smiled as he followed his guard's gaze. It was true. While the outskirts of the city had not been obliterated as the estate had, there had still been significant damage, enough so that rebuilding was more than justified. More than simple rebuilding, even.

The old expanse of Panu Karqašlu dwelled beneath their feet, and at their benefactor's urging he had called upon that legacy for inspiration as the outer districts repaired their damage. Slums had been torn down, and tall and sturdy square residences had arisen, each bearing a beautiful garden within its centre and rich ornamentation on the outer walls replicating those from the era of Karqašlu. Mansions built shortly after Jaher's Landing had been refurbished with more modern sensibilities that also harkened back to antiquity. Stone monuments arose, carved with heroes of the days of old. A great avenue reached out from the city towards the Samartal crater, wide enough to fit a dozen chariots abreast.

Feeling a hum of contentment from the helm, Saed took it from Zarhan's hands and placed it over his head so that he could once again talk with their benefactor and decide what the next steps towards their national rebirth would be.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

The destruction of Sarmartal was audible from Apaškumar, a great roar in the air that rattled the palace, shattered the shacks in the slums outside the city walls and woke every person within the city. As news began to filter back of the fate of the elven rulers that had attended, I could not help but laugh hard enough that Saed too was incited into laughter. If only I had planned such a triumph that had left the high and mighty kings of Bulwar comatose and crippled, but we had made a point to keep away from the Sarmatal estate and leave all security to those attending. Nothing implicated us, so they began to fall upon one another with accusations, especially against the Queen of Azka-Evran, who had escaped uninjured.

Kaboom. The Samartal Summit will be bombed no matter what, but we aren't affected as we didn't attend. If you do, then depending on where your ruler is at the summit relative to the location of the bomb (which is randomized), they will receive a different level of injuries, reducing their stats and possibly killing them.

Now was the perfect moment to see the Jadd spread across Bulwar, but Jaddar II was far too soft. He declared that all true followers of Surael ought to observe a period of mourning for those who had lost their lives. He claimed that whatever their theological differences, such an attack against them was clearly the work of servants of the Malevolent Dark. I urged the Akal to disregard this and go on the offensive, but it seemed as though Saed did not want to directly oppose the Herald, lest the more fanatical parts of the population turn against him.

In reality it's badly timed as we have truces with all affected nations. I made a mistake here, a result of not having played in Bulwar much.

The accusations grew to rage as investigations were demanded and armies were mustered. In a strange twist, it was the mountain men of Gelkalis who launched the first arrow, blaming the Azka-Evran for the disaster and marching on the fortress to force answers from Queen Keladora. Soon, each of the great kingdoms was at the throats of the others, their armies marching in a confusing series of battles along the length of western Bulwar.

This is the fallout. Members of the NSC will fall on one another in a few years of violence as they try to uncover the culprit of the attack. This shake-up of the regional alliances is usually enough to put one of them into a position to form the Phoenix Empire, which is why it forms consistently if Jaddari doesn't dominate the region.

While war raged to our west, the Akal offered me a compromise. Instead of spending money and effort on getting involved in the chaos, he would put all of that into a grand rebuilding of Apaškumar. Parts of the city had been damaged by the outer edges of the explosion, and there was a crater fizzing with magic where Samartal had once been. With the entire Elrazuir line wiped out, there was nothing stopping the foreign-owned land from being seized and added to the city. In doing so, he invited architects and artists from Cannor to bring a new flavour to the revitalized city, one that would honour the past while looking towards the future.

Gelkalis were the first to start the war, and they were the first to fall. In their anger and haste, they had overestimated their chances and as a result lost most of their remaining territory and had their Akal subjected to magical interrogation within the walls of the Azka-Evran fortress. It did not appear they had anything to do with the explosion, and so the violence continued.

Ending a war with the special peace deal increases the counter towards ending the religious incident.

As peace and renewal reigned in the lands of the Jadd, both our own and those of the Jaddari, we were recognised as the real powers within Bulwar. The world was beginning to understand the true nature of the Second Empire and recognition was upon us. The mighty powers of Cannor, Rahen and Haless were still considered to be greater than Karqašlu, but they would soon learn Surael's truth.

The period of mourning came to an end while war still raged among the elven kingdoms. Saed rallied the Ituqattar, at last heeding my words, and marched for the Šad Našratu to absorb the breakaway Akalate that had emerged from Gelkalis. They were guarded by Azka-Evran, but separated by hundreds of miles of our territory, while Keladora fought a war against her southern neighbour. It would be a simple conquest.

In some instances, the shock of a disaster as great as Samartal might shake off the shackles of indolence and decadence, allowing competent rule to ascend once again. Thelrion died from his injuries, and the regency for his son passed onto Imariel Radinzuir, a woman of intense focus. Under her gaze the armies of Irrliam rallied and struck down the Akalate of Zanšap, returning most of the territory they had lost in the rebellion.

She turned her attention to Birzartanšes and delivered a blow that ended the kingdom entirely. She declared that her investigations had uncovered the culpability of the last of the Birzartanzuir line in the explosion, and that he had accidentally detonated the bomb before he could flee to a safe distance. The lands of the kingdom would now be part of Irrliam, thus restoring righteous rulership to the Cult of Jaher. All lies, no doubt, but effective for bringing the crisis to an end.

As Bulwar continued to rebuild from the ruin inflicted upon it, one of the last surviving scions of the Twelve Families emerged from hiding, sold off the remnants of his wealth and left for distant lands on some fool quest for wealth and glory. With him he took countless exiles and minor nobility who had been dispossessed by the elevation of the Ituqattar, thus solving a problem for us. One day, Karqašlu's reach would catch up to his descendants.

This adventurer does not currently have a mission tree, but I imagine it would be very unique. Their theme is tourism and building luxury resorts in the Ruined Sea.

Some members of the court insisted that the harpies ought to rule over their own lands, but a great many more considered them to be equal under Surael, equally entitled to rule by a single unified Akalate. As recompense to the Matriarch of Nanšalen, her flock's debts were repaid and she was generously offered the opportunity to convert to the Jadd.

With Kumarkand advancing the Way of Jaddar in Bulwar itself, Jaddar II had turned his attention to Rahen. The Desert Legion had swept into the Raj and begun the process of dismantling it so that they might bring the Light of Surael to the tigerfolk and worshippers of silent temples. So long as their eyes were turned away from our actions, I was pleased. Surael does not need to two empires upon Halann.

I hadn't mentioned that Jaddari was for a long time allied to the Raj. This is a very good sign for our eventual turn against them.

In times of peace, the Akal would remind his court of their duty to embody Surael's Light. To take selfishly for themselves would not be tolerated. To demand greater payment was a sign of Darkness within the heart. There was no greater joy than to serve the nation and see His peace brought to Halann. Under Karqašlu, the Darkness would be banished.

Duty is a good tenet to have activated in peacetime, especially if you have growing corruption (for example, as a result of creating a caste of elite warrior-nobles).

The refurbishing of Apaškumar was only the first step in restoring the glory of Karqašlu. The wheeling sun of Karqašlu flew alongside the orange sun of Kumarkand high above farms that enjoyed unprecedented peace and prosperity, and above cities rebuilt in ancient styles of stone and marble. No longer was it merely a call to remember the glory of the First Empire, but it was becoming a real movement of those who wish to see the Second Empire become reality.

Gelkalis did not survive long after their foolish attack against Azka-Evran. With the fall of their remaining territory, the only parts of the Šad Našratu still outside of Kumarkand's control were those in the hands of Irrliam. Preparations were made for war, to strike down the victor of the Samartal Crisis and secure both the hills and the downstream banks of the two great rivers.

Then worse news came. The gnolls, the monstrous Xhazobine, had advanced up the Mother's Sorrow and ravaged much of Kheterata. Those vicious cretins had snatched away my own vengeance before I even had a moment to grasp it. Anger blinded me, and I demanded the Akal eke out blood from the demonic 'Empress of Gnollkind'. The Jaddari Herald must have had a similar reaction, though I imagine for different reasons, and before we could finish mobilizing, he had already called us to war. The Ituqattar marched into the desert to face its first real test in battle.

Interesting factoid: the gnolls are canonically the winners of the fight for Kheterata, though they convert to Khetism rather than remain demon-worshippers.

It was the first time that I gained a true appreciation for the magical strength of this era. Until the Ituqattar faced the Xhazobine in battle, her blade aflame with infernal green flame, I had thought modern magi a mere shadow of the God-Kings of old. Charging at the head of a horde of war hounds, she carved through thousands of our mightiest Sarraka as though their armour did not exist. All magic was devoured by the trail of flame and creatures of the Darkness crawled out of the sand wherever she stepped. At that moment, I realized exactly what I must make of my Akal if I was to achieve my dream of an immortal Second Empire.

The Great Xhaz is not a joke. Just look at those stats!

The army withdrew to Kumarkand proper to recuperate. My rage had begun to subside, perhaps shaken out of me in witnessing such memorable magical ability. Jaddar could manage the war in the desert, while Saed continued the rebirth of Karqašlu culture. A new palace had been completed on the ruins of Samartal, built entirely in the style of one of my own. The stone was infused with the legacy of the detonation, and my thoughts grew clearer than ever when the Master Helm was worn within its walls.

Despite the great losses in battle, the nation did not feel the pain of loss. Only rumours of the Xhazobine's great power reached the ears of the people, the state of the war kept only to those who needed to know. The nation rose in celebration and unity, cheering the Akal's embodiment of the tenets of the Jadd and his success in making Kumarkand one of the greatest powers of the world. Spending money to raise their voices even higher was an easy choice. Wealth is fleeting, but worship is invaluable.

Jaddar II faced Amazyz in battle personally. His courage was admirable, but it was also the last decision he ever made. Leadership of the Jaddari fell to his son, a mediocre boy of an elf with none of the charisma and subtlety needed of a commander of a fanatical religious order. Whether he survived or was replaced by one of his commanders, it was clear that there would be an era of internal politicking within the Desert Legion, if the Xhazobine did not annihilate it first.

With Jaddar II dead, the gnolls threatened to push onto the Upper Suran plains and raze the countless cities there that lay under the Jaddari's protection. In a show of generosity, the Akal returned our forces to the battlefield and struck at some of the minor gnollish forces led by those who were not so empowered as Amazyz herself. Every step that she took would cost her lives and allies, and eventually even her own powers would not be enough to face a larger force united under Surael.

Amazyz continued her rampage across Jaddari territory, fighting running battles against whatever parts of the legion emerged to resist her. It was here that Kumarkandi forces caught up to her. Their numbers had been reinforced by highly skilled mercenary bands such as the Shining Shields and the Phoenix Veterans, and then further bolstered with the introduction of guns into their formations. Though a demonically empowered gnoll would not be stopped by a bullet, they would be slowed down enough to be caught upon the pike wall and then properly cut down and trampled in the Ituqattar's countercharge. Though she still faced few losses, Xhazobine's momentum had been halted.

Maintaining a nation is a balancing act. Give too much, and corruption and decadence are the result. Give too little, and resentment and rebellion begin to brew. The lessons that I impart onto the Akal must be heeded, if Karqašlu is to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Where concessions are to be made, they should be of mutual benefit. For example, embedded priests in the Sahiru Kašra, turning frontier patrols into missions of conversion, would both aid the clergy in expanding their own reach while pacifying the more remote regions of the nation that might still follow outdated incarnations of the sun Cult.

Efforts to integrate all races into all levels of the priesthood and administration continued apace as the Jadd was firmly settled as the faith of the land. Humans and harpies became common sights in roles that at one time would have been reserved solely for elves, bringing with them new ideas and lines of thought to bring Karqašlu into the innovative future. The military saw more recruitment than ever as warriors of all races, even the same gnolls that we fought against, took the chance to ascend the ranks of the Ituqattar.

Acceptance is another good peacetime tenet (though we are at war at the moment it isn't as arduous as I've been making it sound). Reform progress is always nice to have, and manpower gain helps recover from wars though it isn't as useful for us, as mercenary-heavy as our army is.

The people of Bulwar cowered in their homes as for the third time in the past half-century a host of gnolls battered down their walls with their foul magic. Amazyz had grown tired of chasing Jaddari cavalry across the desert and intended to harvest a bloody harvest from the flourishing fields of Kumarkand. She was defeated before she could breach the city, though she still survived to threaten the world with demonic menace.

That was her last assault in the preset war however, as Jaddar III saw fit to declare the conflict at an end with several stretches of desert liberated from the forces of Darkness. Such a lack of ambition must have rankled at the fervent warriors of the rest of the Legion, but such matters were not for us to be focusing on. There was a far more pressing matter to the west.

Our distraction in our war against the Xhaz had given time for Irrliam to consolidate its hold as the leader of the remnants of the Cult of Jaher. Azka-Evran had submitted as the junior partner in an alliance, while they had also secured the wealth of the dwarves of Ovdal Tûngr. Between the two sides we near all of Bulwar, and so all it would need would be a single spark to see the hills alight with the fires of war and rivers running red with spilled blood. I implored Saed to be ready, and to think on which of my ideas would be of the greatest aid in the coming struggle.

To be continued…

Vote

As we prepare for a war that will decide the fate of Bulwar, of Karqašlu, we must come to a decision on how we will shape the Second Empire into its greatest form. Heed my words, listen to my whispers, and understand my thoughts. We are equal partners, who both wish to see Kumarkand reach its true potential. All that I require of you is a decision, and then victory.

(Once again, each option will have hidden bonus votes based on a d6. Mercenary will also gain +3 to its bonus roll for coming second place last time, up to the cap of +6)

Court – Controlling warrior nobles is not an easy task. A resplendent royal court is what they deserve, what Karqašlu deserves. If we can manipulate our subordinates through honeyed words and gifts, they will take the world for us.
Espionage – Reaching into the Darkness remains an option, though one I do not wish to rely on. Surael sees all from above, and will forgive us if we use such means to achieve victory, but it is still distasteful.
Influence – We agreed that all peoples should be unified under a single nation, not divided into petty kingdoms. Raising new Akalates underneath the empire will simplify administration of newly acquired territory, but must be a temporary measure.
Mercenary – The wars of the past few decades have separated the wheat from the chaff among the mercenary bands. The Shining Shields and Legion Veterans have proven themselves to be warriors on par with the Sahiru and Sarraka, enough so that they might form the core of our non-Ituqattar forces.
Aristocratic – To ride to war is the true calling of a noble, and to support a noble's readiness for battle is the true calling of all those below them. Surael calls for all to do their duty, and Karqašlu will be ready to see all these duties made manifest.
Quality – Our warriors ride the finest of horses, a noble image for this modern day. Yet, we can do better. Those on foot must be drilled to the utmost, these new cannons must be sighted to support our cavalry, and we must not ignore any idea for the improvement of the Ituqattar themselves.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The second-place result will get a bonus to its hidden votes in the next idea group poll.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

The d6 produced some strange results this time, but I'm presuming the site I used is really random and just happened to produce so many sixes…in any case, here are the results.

Court +6 – Total 12
Espionage +2 – Total 2
Influence +2 – Total 3
Mercenary +6 (6 from the dice plus 3 bonus, capped) – Total 19
Aristocratic +6 – Total 24
Quality +6 – Total 22

Chapter Six: March West, Fly East
1499-1513

Royal Palace, Yesd Apaškumar, 1503

Thelater's wings tucked up against her back while her claws found purchase on the stone railing beneath her feet. The landing was smooth, as smooth at it could be while carrying a load of fresh laundry in her arms. She flexed her back carefully, working through the knots in her wing muscles. There was so little opportunity to exercise them while serving at the royal palace, with so much of the structure designed with earthbound people in mind.

The balconies on the royal apartments were one of those few structural flourishes that suited her people, with enough space to take off or land and a perch for one's feet. She didn't know whether the architect had them in mind, or if it was mere luck, but she thanked the foresight anyway. This balcony in particular was tucked away from the front gates and central plaza, so there was no need to worry about the visibility of servants coming and going.

She clambered down from the ledge onto the balcony itself, adjusting the laundry pile, and looked out at the view. The sun was setting and Darkness was spreading across the land. Soon would be the hour where the Darkness of people came to the fore. Shadows lengthened across the brilliant expanse of Yesd Apaškumar, the vast complex of estates and parks that now spread out from the old walls of Apaškumar proper. There was no sign of the scars of the Samartal disaster, replaced with shining stone that lit up with the reds and oranges of sunset, avenues lined with greenery, and now towering roost-spires for the growing harpy population.

In the silence of the approaching evening, she heard voices filtering from within the palace.

"It's tonight, right?" a woman said, "it might be the last chance for us."

"I'm not going anywhere," a man said, "you know that."

Having some kind of tryst in the very chambers of their lady was unacceptable. Thelater let her claws click against the stone as she stepped inside into the hallway. Rich and plush rugs lined the floor, while the walls were adorned with carved images replicated from the Chamber of Helms, the tales of the old empire that the Akal used to talk about. The voices stopped at the sound of her steps, and she passed by two figures tucked into a nook in the wall beside a statue of Ašqarin-Aga-kar.

"Oh, it was just a little bird snooping," said Leyla, whom Thelater now recognized.

"I am doing my duty, not skulking in Darkness," Thelater replied, "why are you not attending to sweeping and polishing the guest chambers?"

"This wing of the palace doesn't need any guests," Leyla said, slipping out of the nook, "unless the Maršari wants to-"

Her mouth was abruptly covered by a gloved hand. Layla's partner, a low-ranking guard whom Thelater struggled to remember the name of, held her for a moment until she let out a sigh of frustration shook free of his grip.

"Excuse her, she's had a long day," said the man.

"I don't need you speaking for me either," Layla snapped back at him, before levelling a glare back at Thelater. "Don't you get any ideas about him, mistuned songbird."

Thelater certainly did not have any such ideas. She had heard of the old days from her grandmother, and having to fight and kill to secure a husband did not sit right with her. Serving as a wingmaiden for the highest harpy in the realm would give her access to hundreds of wealthy and powerful men. When her indenture was over, she would find one to take to roost, be it back home or in one of the roost-spires. A mere guard was not on her mind in the slightest.

"You should embody the Light and speak less harshly," she said, staring down Layla. The human girl was taller than her, but the tower of laundry she was effortlessly carrying and unfurling her wings just a little made her a more imposing figure. "We are in the chambers of the Akali."

"Not yet," Layla said, "not until she places that weird helm on her head. Maršari Farana still has a lot to learn."

"How dare you speak of her this way!" Thelater said, a screech brewing in the back of her throat.

A melodic tune resonated down the hallway. Not from Thelater's own lungs but from a deeper and more experienced woman. The three of them turned to see Mišqa, Farana's head wingmaiden, turning a corner. She did not seem to be paying them any mind, her eyes closed and a wordless harmony on her lips.

Layla clicked her tongue.

"I've got work to do," she said, "it's a busy night ahead."

She grabbed her paramour by the hand and dragged him off down the hallway, disappearing deeper into the palace.

By the time Mišqa meandered down to her, Thelater had bowed as best she could with arms full of cloth.

"Many thanks, my lady, for dispersing them," Thelater said.

The older harpy stopped before her and let the song die down, the melody fading away as the resonance in her throat naturally came to a halt. She was far more finely dressed that Thelater herself, wearing delicate silks and with heavy gold piercings dangling from her wings. She had fully embraced their lifestyle and grounded herself with adornments, but that was also a sign of her dedication to her place within the Akalate.

"You were doing well for a while," Mišqa said, "but to rise to their insults is to feed the Darkness in your own heart."

"Of course," Thelater said. She paused for a moment, wondering whether to express her concerns. It would expose her to risk to be the one identified as gossiping. However, her loyalty was stronger still than that, and secrets were best left exposed to Surael's Light. "I am concerned by some things that were said. They implied that our lady might not become Akali."

Mišqa smiled at her.

"She is well aware of such plots," Mišqa said, "but your testimony remains valuable."

That was enough to get Thelater to raise her head.

"So there are plots? What-"

She was interrupted by Mišqa raising a hand.

"This is the last gasp of the old nobility," she said, "the Ituqattar are nothing if not loyal to the Akal. They will back his daughter. You need not concern yourself any more about it, until your testimony is required."

With that, Mišqa continued down the corridor, the song once again rising up from her throat. Thelater let out a sigh of relief and then began to warble herself, trying to harmonise with the tune. She trusted the Maršari, soon to be the Akali, and she knew that all creatures can be the Light. The jealous and intolerant would soon have the Darkness excised from their hearts, and all could work together for a brighter future.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

The Akal gave a speech before the court in the new royal palace, asserting Kumarkand's place as the rightful rulers of Bulwar. The chaos of the last thirty years had seen the Akalate transition from a regional power to holding a dominant position in the subcontinent, serving as the western blade of Surael against the misguided members of the Cult of Jaher. The priesthood, now thoroughly within the grasp of the Lightbringers, and the magi both backed his claim, with all the work that we had done to elevate human mages from their state of oppression finally bearing fruit.

No title change for our nation, Akalate is the general name for Bulwari human monarchies regardless of rank.

His pronouncement was met with scorn by Alvarion, the now ascended King of Irrliam. Alvarion had been raised in the flames of war, and this had attuned him to the Plane of Fire at the expense of his ability to sire children. He had married the Queen of Azka-Evran for diplomatic purposes, intending to reunite the Phoenix Empire with a pen in one hand and a flaming sword in the other.

In spite of this, the mood among the Ituqattar was jubilant. After driving off the Xhazobine, they had learned many battlefield lessons on how to combine the efforts of the Sahiru, Sarraka and other cavalry forces to dominate the battlefield. With the justification of the Akal's proclamation and the memory of Karqašlu, they were ready to take the fight to the elven pretenders.

Saed sent personal correspondence to Jaddar III, imploring his participation in the coming war. For the first time, the two halves of Jadd dominion of Bulwar would fight side-by-side in a great campaign to unify the Sun Cult. I applauded such a decision, for each member of the Desert Legion that fell in western Bulwar would be one that we would not need to fight in future.

Jaddar arrived to lead his armies in person, chasing Alvarion and his wife deep into Bahar, while Kumarkand's forces participated in the less glorious but also far more important sieges and conquest of the Lower Suran. The Ituqattar got their payment in pillage, but it was not enough. They needed to be tested in battle, and so as soon as Medurubar had fallen they departed north to locate the cowardly enemy.

After the build-up, I didn't expect to be able to invite Jaddari and trivialize the war. It is a scary thing to see so many Jadd cavalry on the march, so its no surprise the AI ran for it.

They marched north to the gates of the fortress of Azka-Evran itself, where the allied armies of the elven king and queen were mustered. A challenge was issued, and battle was drawn. Perhaps they thought their mild numbers advantage would win the day. The Phoenix Veterans took the brunt of Alvarion's fire magic, while thousands of heavy calvary clashed in the fields. As Kumarkand's mercenary infantry line collapsed, the Ituqattar briefly fell into disarray. However, their skill and the elite equipment that I had insisted they be equipped with proved greater and they fell upon the elven centre with fervour, securing victory. It was a costly triumph, but Kumarkand could survive while the enemy no longer had forces to fight with.

We're not at 100% cav ratio, so this can still happen…for now.

Those who survived the battle were granted estates and wealth beyond anything that a minor noble might have imagined, let alone a commoner. Thousands of volunteers were clamouring to replace those who had fallen, including some of the more experienced noble commanders of the depleted mercenary companies. It was the foundations of a permanent army that was loyal to Karqašlu alone.

They could see the evidence with their own eyes, that Kumarkand was no longer one challenger among many for rulership of Bulwar. With the harpies pacified and aligned with Surael, the Sahiru no longer had need to patrol the frontier. Elven and human magi formed new and expanding divisions of the Sarraka. Both flocked to the banners. Through the demonstration of the new reality, the people would see the truth of the world, that the Second Empire had arisen.

I admired the boldness of the goblin push along the coast, but it soon appeared that they had overextended. The dwarves struck at them from the depths of the mountains, driving them from the Marble Hold and even claiming the lands of the surface just beyond the walls. Their daring dream of a goblin nation on the surface failed to meet reality.

Though I urged the Akal to end Irrliam for good, his primary goal was to secure a solid western border, most prominently in the Šad Našratu and along the Buranun River. I could not argue against the strategic sense, as much as it pained me to allow Alvarion to linger, plot against us and spew his fiery words. In return for their efforts, a significant sum of gold was sent eastwards to the Jaddari, but there was very little positive response. It was a portent of things still to come.

Securing the last harpy roosts under Irrliamic control marked Kumarkand as the sole power within the Šad Našratu. Many of the flocks had been scattered under the rule of the Cult of Jaher, but the Way of Jaddar would welcome them back as servants of Surael. Farana herself travelled north to meet with the matriarchs and convince them to return to their roosts and begin aligning with their new government.

A grand ceremony was held in Apaškumar, where each matriarch swore oaths of fealty to the Akalate and presented a joint apology for millennia of raids and the slaying of the final ruler of Karqašlu. It buoyed my heart to see them commit to the penance of serving as maidens of the nation, offering comfort and support to those in need, in their duty as servants of Surael. Not all the crimes of the ancient world require punishment such as I imagine for certain other foul beasts.

The theological debate had been settled long ago, with the acceptance of the Jadd. Harpies did not emerge until after my own mortality, so I held little opinion on whether they truly were descendants of Surael or not. What mattered is whether they can become true patriots of Karqašlu and shine as His Chosen. The vassal flocks were divided, with those west of the great volcanic tip of the Serpentspine being administered directly from Apaškumar, while those in the east remaining under the authority of Nanšalen

As voted for, we will maintain the Harpy Hills under our direct control

It was a glorious sight, to see the triple flags of Kumarkand, the Jadd and Karqašlu all flying from the towns and villages that now fell under our rule. The army marched far and wide, establishing the Ituqattar as the new lords of the land and securing the ancient ruins of the old extent of the First Empire so that the local population might be taught about their own heritage.

After months of silence, a message finally arrived from the Jaddari, and it was nothing less than a total denouncement. They accused the Akal of dabbling in Dark magic, accused him of converting only for his own benefit, and for focusing on the growth of his nation over the spread of the Jadd. He was ordered to submit to the Divine Herald, or face Surael's wrath. What a foolish accusation. I was well aware that my continued existence was built upon careful magical crafting, with nary a touch of the Malevolent Dark.

In any case, Kumarkand had grown to a size where the Desert Legion no longer presented an overwhelming threat, so the Akal and I agreed that this would be the moment the followers of the Jadd went their separate ways.

I would have been able to fix it, but this suits me just fine.

The Xhazobine that had been terrorising Kheterata and earning my ire finally met her end. Not under the wheels of a chariot as she ought to, but from an invasion from the south, deeper in the wastes of Sarhal. The demonic power began to fade, and the threat of gnollish dominance ended with it.

When the Xhazobine dies, either normally or via this unlocalized peace deal, the Great Xhaz nation reverts to its original form (Gnollakaz in this case).

All of the court knew that the day of the Akal's passing was approaching, but given his hardiness they had expected it in battle or from a serious disease, not from a simple accident. Farana's ascension to Akali was met with political manoeuvring that I had no part in, but she triumphed as I expected her to. When she first placed my helm atop her head and I spoke to her, she answered with confidence. She held great plans of her own for the nation, plans that I was more than eager to advise her on.

I had not heard of these people called 'halflings', small farming folk who serve the human kingdoms of the far west. Farana wished to bring them under Surael's Light and into the fertile farmlands of the Suran and Buranun. Taking hefty loans from the merchants, she sent envoys to the distant city of Beepeck and ordered the centralization of the multitude of smallholder farms into massive estates that could then be advised by these foreign farmers. As Jaddar had said, all people have their place in service of Surael and nation.

In a clever turn, she followed this by centralizing a number of banks and charged them with managing the national debt. Her father had relied on taking loans to fund the early years of Kumarkand's rise, and she intended to stabilize the budget that had teetered back and forth on the edge of disaster for so long.

The first news returned from Saamir's expedition, telling of new goods, new foods and new lands to explore. In my era the Elven Empire, the Precursor Empire as they call it now, was but a distant myth. Now it is truly nothing but ruins. It leaves one to ponder if, in a different world, it might have been reforged just as Karqašlu has been.

Drawing more power onto the Akali and Ituqattar was met with derision by those who thought their own petty wealth was more important than Karqašlu. Wherever they dared to raise a hand against her, Farana struck them down and redistributed their holdings to the Ituqattar to further enrich those who were the real backbone of the nation.

The victory over Irrliam had created a class of skilled leaders among the Ituqattar that deserved to see promotion over their fellows become the new generation of higher nobility. These elite officers would be the innovative commanders of the future, bringing the Ituqattar to dominance on the modern battlefield. As part of their reforms, the infantry were shifted into a light skirmishing role, with the intention of keeping the enemy harassed in place until the strength of cavalry could be brought to bear.

Relations with Farana's cousin had not thawed since her ascension. Jaddar III insisted that she submit to his authority as the leader of the Jaddari, and she declined. Instead, she took initiative. She declared that he was unfit to serve as the Divine Herald, and that by right of her own descending from Jaddar she would take command of the Desert Legion. It was all a justification for the conflict, the final schism that would end the cooperation of the two greatest Jadd nations for good.

Divine portents marred the start of the eastwards campaign. Advancing troops were barely able to evade a tide of floodwater sweeping down the Suran, that then carved a swathe of destruction through Bulwar with no care for nation or denomination. Many saw it as retribution for the infighting of Surael's Chosen, but I insisted, and the Akali agreed, that the campaign must continue.

The arrival of halfling experts came just in time to alleviate the growing famine in Kumarkand's southern territory. The knowledge and expertise of two continents came together to produce vast fields of grains and orchards filled with the sweetest fruits. The smallfolk were welcomed, in spite of being new to Bulwar, and quickly accepted the Jadd as their faith. To their farming hearts, the beating sun and flowing river were proof that the land was blessed by a greater being.

It's pretty expensive to put down, both in dip mana and farm estates, but now we can start spreading out the farming modifier across Bulwar.

For months the eastern campaign continued unopposed, the Desert Legion nowhere to be seen. They had been fighting a war in the distant south, across the desert, and had lost many combatants to a combination of gnollish raids and burning heat. It would not be until after the fall of Seghdihr, a dwarven hold they had seized as their outpost watching over the holy Temple of Azka-Sur, that Jaddar III and his forces appeared.

A flock of harpies from Nanšalen was intercepted in the desert by a band of mercenaries led by Jaddar III. Seeing an opportunity, the Ituqattar made their way into the blistering sands to catch him before he could escape. That he was reliant on soldiers of coin was a sign that even the famed Desert Legion was failing, and in battle they were annihilated by thousands of elite cavalry. Jaddar himself managed to slip by and escape across the Harra Oasis, but for the moment he had been broken.

An inevitable result of the integration of the harpy flocks directly under the Akalate was the intermarriage of harpy matriarchs with prominent nobles and officials. As part of the preparations for Farana's ascension, Saed had altered succession laws so that daughters held equal precedence to sons. This would lead to a portion of the nobility becoming harpies as daughters raised from eggs took control of estates. However, such times were still far off. As of Farana's reign, the harpies were still shaking away the last vestiges of their supposed monstrousness.

There was much clamour among the halfling population about a discovery in the distant elven homeland. While many had converted, some still held to the Cannorian rites that claimed there was a living pantheon of gods. What they discovered was simply an affirmation of Surael's truth, that only He still lives and can light the way forward for all living things.

We've seen this plenty of times before, but I do like the Sun Cult response of "we've been telling you the other gods were dead for centuries, idiots".

Jaddar III's weakness was only momentary. He rallied the Desert Legion behind him and rode with more than forty thousand horses towards Bulwar Proper, undoing two years of occupations in a matter of months. The Ituqattar caught up with him in Akalšes territory, and for the first time in sixty years the might of the Legion faltered. Their tactics had stagnated, having spent so long isolated in the desert, and their commander perished at the crucial moment while Jaddar himself was nowhere to be seen. They were scattered with relatively light casualties on the part of the Kumarkandi forces, and the tide turned once again.

A few decades earlier and this would have gone very differently. Jaddari cavalry doomstacks are deadly, but we have started unlocking ideas and Jaddari has fallen a few miltechs behind so we can manage them. This is their biggest weakness. They have a tech cost malus and are in a bad place to get institutions, so they frequently fall behind in technology, especially if the AI decides to dive into Sarhal/the Forbidden Plains instead of Bulwar/Rahen.

With the centralization of the distributed farms came a great movement of the peasantry looking for work. Rather than encourage too much freedom, which could upset the social fabric, it was decided instead that each family or village be tied to their land and serve as retainers for their local member of the Ituqattar. Thus, they would have their place in Surael's great tapestry.

Jaddar's capital was located deep in the desert, at the foot of the mountain Ebbušubtu. This was where his grandfather was said to have communed with Surael Himself to develop the Jadd. The warriors of Kumarkand held no such reverence for a single place. After all, Surael Light shines everywhere. They stormed and plundered the settlement grown around the foot of the mountain, forcing Jaddar III to come to terms.

The treasury in Ebbušubtu was filled with coins claimed from pilgrims who travelled from all across Bulwar to visit the birthplace of the Jadd. A fine racket if I had ever seen one. This money would find better use in repaying Kumarkand's debt and expanding its farm estates even further. Beyond that, swathes of the Upper Suran were handed to Akalšes to administer so that Kumarkand could continue to focus on integrating the western territories.

This was considered to be the fulfilment of a promise made between the grandfathers of the two Akals of Kumarkand and Akalšes. However, something stirred within the palaces of Farana's opposite number. The supposed equal partnership had long been strained, and a single action had placed so much additional land and power into the hands of Kyruš of Akalšes. In his unwise ambition, he began to wonder whether the relationship could be turned on its head, and where the true heirs of Karqašlu actually dwelt.

To be continued…

Vote

Our enemies are scattering, the Ituqattar march to victory, and the bounty of Surael's Garden is ours for the taking! Now is the time to lay the foundation of Karqašlu's abundance. No one will suffer from an onslaught of Darkness, no one will suffer hunger or want, and no one will deny Surael's Light. We will decide the future, here and now, for your winged daughters and flightless sons still to come.

(Quality earns a plus 3 to its bonus roll)

Economic – Blessed by Surael's Light and the rivers' bountiful waters, Bulwar is the breadbasket of the world. With metals from the hills and finished goods crafted in the cities, Karqašlu will want for nothing so long as we invest in it.
Infrastructure – The Second Empire must not make the mistakes of the First. Roads, bridges, canals, irrigation, dams; these are all necessary to see this land of two rivers flourish. As the garden grows, its development must be guided.
Trade – In my time, the Golden Highway did not exist. Trade was limited to what few caravans crossed the desert or the few vessels that docked in Brasan. News from the west does demonstrate a changing world; a new flow of trade we might be able to touch.
Court – As ruler of Surael's Akalate upon Halann, you are deserving of a glorious court. Let the people be shown the power and wealth of Karqašlu, that they might aspire to if they too join the ranks of the Ituqattar.
Defensive – Our lands are bounded by mountains, deserts and the deep blue sea. Sealing off the entrances as if we were dwarves will protect us, but the Darkness might still lurk where we do not tread.
Quality – The Ituqattar have proven their worth, and by investing in them even further they will become a force unbeatable on Halann. None will dare challenge Karqašlu so long as they still ride!

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The second-place result will get a bonus to its hidden votes in the next idea group poll.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

I have finally resumed employment, so the pace of updates is likely to slow down again as I get back into that rhythm. For now, here are the results for the third idea group. As we won't be able to pick Economic next time, Quality will get the bonus for second place.

Economic +5 – Total 19
Infrastructure +5 – Total 23
Trade +1 – Total 9
Court +2 – Total 13
Defensive +2 – Total 3
Quality +5 (+2 +3) – Total 19

Chapter Seven: Spreading the Word
1513-1528

Archaeological Enchantment Laboratories, Apaškumar, Kumarkand, 1528

Minxi took the stairs one step at a time, almost needing to clamber up each of them. They were built large for a human, never mind a person of her own stature. So much of Kumarkand was built with taller types in mind. As she passed a window climbing up the tower, she could see the looming edifices of the palace quarter of Yesd Apaškumar standing beyond the city walls, further demonstration of how monumental these humans liked to build things.

It reminded her of home, one she never expected to see again. The lofty marble gates of the hold, the shining new libraries of Aqatbar, and the once-ruined villages rebuilt in marble where human, elf and goblin could live together. That there were more humans deeper in the flatlands who held the same ideals was a relief, one she was glad to offer praise to their sun god for.

The sound of a hammer made her freeze on a step. It brought back bad memories, but she would not let it stop her. She'd come here for a reason, to demonstrate to the nice bird lady that she would regret her decision to let them in. A heavy door stood on the next landing marked with a wooden sign.

'Helm Studies, Lab Fifteen'

She pushed on the door and the sound of hammering grew louder, along with a wave of hot air that rolled out into the staircase. The laboratory was heavy with the heat of a glowing forge, which caught in the corner of Minxi's eye as she focused on the others present in the room. A human and elf were crouched over a bench, their eyes focused upon their investigations under the harsh glow of a magelight.

"Lord szel-Azamezan?" Minxi squeaked as she leant against the door to close it behind her.

The human looked up and smiled at her. He didn't look much like an important lord, being barely an adult and dressed like a soldier in camp rather than a magi or researcher. His clothes were far too loose and common, though earrings that didn't quite fit him and a necklace that was a little too tight adorned his head.

"You've arrived," he said with a smile, "praise Surael."

"Yeah, praise to Surael," she replied, nodding her head rapidly.

"Parfiz, this is the specialist?" the elf asked, giving her a more sceptical look.

"Why wouldn't she be, Elanil?" the young lord, Parfiz, said.

The elf, Elanil, continued to look at her. He was far more fitting for the part of a magical researcher, clad in gilded robes of fine silk that were tied up tightly to keep from disrupting the work on the bench.

"I've read books on runic magic in Shazstundihr and the magical properties of silver in Aqatbar," Minxi spoke up, "the Akali thought those might be useful to help you."

"Well, what can you tell me about this?" Elanil said. He held out a piece of paper with a complex magical array printed on it.

She scampered over the bench. Parfiz offered her a stool, which she hopped up onto and stood on, for once putting her on nearly the same height as the other two. They spread the paper out onto the bench and her eyes flickered rapidly as she took in the image. It was exactly as she had been told. There was a mixture of dwarven runes and something that looked like ancient Bulwari script carved around the edges of the array. Both were from times so long ago that she could not fully understand them, but she could catch the gist of it from pieces here and there.

"It's interwoven a bit," she said, pointing out the points where the two scripts intersected, "but there's a clear delineation overall. The runes are for outward protection, making the silver as strong as steel and redirecting magical energy, I think. The text is doing something else. It mentions echoes, but I've got no clue what of."

"Great! You're already caught up!" Parfiz said, tapping her on the shoulder. She even earned a smile from Elanil.

The discussion continued from there, delving deeper into what each aspect of the array meant, how it provided the helms with an incredible resistance to magic, and how they were still not sure how to fully replicate it. The greatest issue was that there was no internal magical supply, so it was unclear how the array was meant to be powered. Throughout this, the sound of the hammer continued and the forge remained in the corner of Minxi's eye. No matter how engrossed she became, she could not put the fear out of her thoughts.

Then, the hammering stopped.

"Alright, cleaned it up for the greenskin," a sour voice spoke up from direction of the fiery glow.

The dwarf who had been in the room the whole time stepped forward with a faintly glowing helmet held out at the end of a pair of tongs. His eyes were buried beneath thick auburn yebrows, but Minxi could feel them boring into her. There was something unspoken there, something both ancestral and recent. She had been driven from her home by his kin, but she had read the histories, read how her people had contributed to the fall of his people in turn. She swallowed her fear and spoke up.

"Thank you, master smith," she said, bowing to him.

"I didn't do it to get your thanks," he said, "we're both working on this project for the Akali."

The other two quickly made space on the bench and set out a charred and warped wooden support. The helm was placed upon it, and Minxi was able to get a closer look. It was silver, with bronze ornamentation. It looked similar, though less ornate, to the one the feathered queen had been wearing when she had met her. Most importantly, the array she and the other researchers had been studying was carved into the interior of the helm. It was incomplete, with some of it looking like it had been melted off. She looked at the dwarf.

"Cleaned it up, like I said," he said, shrugging, "these two said it was too damaged illegible, so they wanted to re-do the carving."

Minxi peered at it, then back at the entire magical array laid out on paper. If it was partly unreadable, then was the diagram even accurate? She focused on the ancient text, as it was the part of it was least clear. It flowed upwards through the helm to the silver spike that poked through the bronze decoration at the very top.

"Echoes," she said to herself, getting lost in thought for a moment.

Then it struck her, just as a bolt of lightning would strike the peak of a tower.

"It's a magical receiver!" she exclaimed, "the power comes from somewhere else!"

In a fit of excitement, she grabbed the helm, ignoring the near-painful warmth still in the metal, and held it before her. They only needed to make it ready, to rebuild the array. Finding the power source was a different matter, but she suspected it would be coming from another helm. Magical defences that could be shared among a large number of people, even those without their own magic, was an amazing innovation for something so old.

As she stared into the empty helm, she thought she could hear stuttering and disjointed whispers leaking out from within, but she dismissed the concern. She had found her place among these people, working for the furtherment of magical knowledge. With a grin, she handed the helm over to Elanil, who held a damestear-tipped chisel in his hand. Together, they would learn from the past and build countless magical gadgets for the future.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

The era of Irrliamic dominance of Bulwar had come to an end. Not only had Kumarkand surpassed them, but they faced invasion from the dwarves and their allies. Taking advantage of this by attacking the gnolls that they had deigned to protect was a brilliant idea that would see both the old order and the demon worshippers crushed.

As I continued to talk to Farana, she grew increasingly isolated and reticent. Not so far as to jeopardize her rule, but enough that she found herself devoting herself to books on ancient magic while relying on a network of informants to keep her appraised of the situation. At my advice she began dispatching spies into the dwarven nations that were invading Bulwar, for I could foresee the great threat that they would pose.

I was surprised to learn that the EaNasir family still existed. The were peddling substandard goods even during the reign of my forebears, only escaping righteous execution through bribery and discounted cheese. However, the fools that fell for such trickery also deserved punishment for failing to heed history. They were not be compensated, and had no choice but to eat the cheese they were given.

That damn Ea-Nasir, you can't even escape him and his poor-quality goods in another world.

The expansion of dwarven control was not unexpected, after all the wars they had been conducting in Bahar. What was not expected was the expansion of their holdings not just from the foot of the mountain but also deeper into the western fringes of the Šad Našratu and onto the Drolas Peninsula. It was clear now that Ovdal Tûngr sought nothing less than complete dominance of the seas, which would inevitably throttle Karqašlu if allowed to succeed.

Though I advocated for more devastating terms, to see our long-time rival driven into the sand, the Akali settled for the city of Harklum, the last of the Upper Suran River still under Irrliamic control, and the contents of their treasury. She invested the money into reagents and laboratories for the magi, seeking more of the secrets of the ancient world. This adherence to the past mollified my annoyance, for I was curious where she intended to delve.

Money and mission targets are more efficient here. As they are a non-cobelligerent in this war it was far too expensive to take more territory.

As to the remainder of the war with the gnolls, it was a straightforward affair. Without the raw power of a Xhazobine, they were crushed under the weight of the armour and magic of the Ituqattar. Horses charged beneath Surael's gaze, driving the Darkness from the lands and into the deeper desert of the south.

The Šad Sur was freed from the depths of demonic depravity, and the Lightbringers were invited in to begin sweeping the land clean of any remains of the Xhazobkult. Those gnolls who turned away from the Kult and into the Light would be welcomed, while those who held tightly to the abyssal abominations would face judgement by fire and blade. From a more strategic perspective, these mountains would serve as the bulwark against further invasion from the desert or from Kheterata once the region was pacified.

Under Farana, the Šad Našratu saw a blossoming of prosperity and peace. Roads weaved across the hillsides, patrolled by noble Sahiru to deter raids from bandit flocks. Roost-spires grew from the villages and towns of the human population, linking the old, isolated roosts with these communities. Haqharias became the centre of human-harpy cooperation in the north, a city that challenged some of those found on the plains of the great rivers.

By the end of the decade, just forty years after their foundation, the Ituqattar made up the majority of the nobility within the nation. Ruling from horseback, enriching their fiefdoms with the wealth of their enemies, and swearing their loyalty to the Akali, they proved their value to the rising Second Empire. In some instances, they raised additional taxes from their population for the sole purpose of proclaiming their loyalty and advancing the interests of Karqašlu.

Though Apaškumar remained the political centre of Kumarkand, it was inevitable that Bulwar would once again arise as it rebuilt from the devastation wreaked upon it. Its strategic position straddling the closest pass of the Suran and Buranun Rivers meant that it would always remain one of the greatest cities in the region that was named after it. Goods from as far away as the new Aelantiri colonies flowed up the Suran, travelled overland beside the ruined canals that once linked it to the Buranun, then travelled back downriver to Apaškumar.

Avamezan, the last independent Akalate east of Lake Naza, fell without much fight. As with most of the Upper Suran, its lands were passed to Akalšes to administer. The nation was famous for its horse races, which drew crowds from across Bulwar. Now they would benefit Akal Kyruš in the form of taxes and tolls on the vast sums of gold gambled away in its stadia.

It was a moment to be celebrated, as the heartland of ancient Karqašlu, the lands of the Zanites descended from my people, the warm and fertile lands of Surael, were united under a single banner, that of the Second Empire. Or, that was how it ought to have been. The dual Akalate, the supposed partnership of Akalšes and Kumarkand, was soon to be tested to its limits. A great celebration was to be hosted in the palace of Yesd Apaškumar, where the nobility of both Akalates would join hands in triumph.

What occurred there was far worse than I could ever have expected. The Akali was late to the party, too distracted by her studies. When she arrived and I saw through her eyes and heard through her ears the jeers and insults of the Akalšes delegation I was incensed. I directed her to Kyruš and the two rulers engaged in a vicious argument in which Kyruš insisted that he was the rightful Akalunakal, Akal of Akals, or Emperor as the Cannorians say. To imagine such insult on the soil upon which Panu Karqašlu was founded had been beyond my own imagination. With both of us in a rage, Farana cast out the delegation with a demand that they understand their place.

It was all a ruse, of course. Kyruš was not so foolish as to believe that Kumarkand was the junior partner in actuality. It had all been in the interests of laying the groundwork for their own rebellion, one that I had not seen coming. I had thought them cowed, but their own heritage as the legacy that had even given us the word 'Akal' had convinced Kyruš that he could ascend as Akalunakal. As thousands of nobles defected and the war began, Surael's grace saw the Ituqattar remain loyal.

Led by a skilled planetouched warrior, the mass of rebels first advanced against Nanšalen to cut off any possibility of their capital being flanked. However, they had made the mistake of abandoning their capital to the mercies of the Sarraka, who would not take treachery lightly. Their magic would bring down the walls far more quickly than a harpy roost could be breached.

The Age of Monsters had passed. Those who still clung to the old ways would be burned out, while those who embraced civilization would be welcomed. Now was an age where the existing order was questioned and torn down, be that the Cannorians engaging in mock battles between equally dead gods, the High Philosophy being questioned from within, or Karqašlu arising from the fires of war and strife to claim its rightful place.

The cowardly rebels continued to strike at the weak, aiming for the main force of harpy auxiliaries that had scattered from their initial advance into Nanšalen. In the tight valleys below Ayarallen Roost, they were caught and cornered by the heavy spears of the Ituqattar and a full half of their number were annihilated. The Šad Našratu were spattered red with the blood of traitors, and those who fled did not make it much further before they too were put to the blade.

Akalšes gets a decent stack of troops when they rebel, but against our quality they don't stand much of a chance.

Once it was over, Farana departed for Arašbar so that we could survey the damage. The city had been abandoned by most of its defenders in their mad harpy chase, and so it had not been totally sacked, but the Ituqattar had still claimed their due. Kyruš had been burned alive to cleanse the obvious influence from the Malevolent Dark within him, while other swathes of the city still smouldered. I implored to not tear her eyes from the sight, so she might remember the fate of traitors, and with my guidance she marked down the words that ended Akalšes forever. All nobility with ties to the rebellion were executed, their lands were parcelled among the Ituqattar, and all reference to their imagined Akalunakal were scrubbed from history. Karqašlu is the only legacy worthy of remembrance.

This is why I was silently glad we didn't actually pick a diplo idea. We'll be underwater for a while. The other option keeps them as a vassal with an LD and annexation cost reduction. If we'd taken Influence earlier I would have picked that instead.

With Akalšes eliminated, the state of Bulwar became far starker. The clear divide between the Jaddari controlling the eastern reaches, Kumarkand arising in the centre, and the remaining elven states sandwiched between the Second Empire and the dwarven incursion demonstrated that the age of minor Akalates and squabbling kingdoms had ended. The unravelling had not yet ended, but when it did there would only be one power remaining in Bulwar.

The Sahiru were changing. Just as the Sarraka and other heavy cavalry came together into a single overwhelming force, the light cavalry delved more into skirmishing and harassment. Those platforms for raining death upon the foes of Karqašlu were decent enough, but I still yearned for weapons that could shatter a cavalry charge from a distance and not just pepper infantry with shots. The guns that were filtering into Bulwar seemed to be the answer to that, but they remained too unwieldy to use on horseback.

After the near-disaster of Nanšalen, their flocks were integrated directly into the armies of Kumarkand as auxiliaries. A force of harpies caught on its own was simply too vulnerable. However, backed by cannons and heavy cavalry they could fall into other roles. Fortresses could be stormed by air, and supplies could be lifted over natural barriers with little issue. The elven commanders within the Ituqattar protested, insisting that they could provide greater benefits, but the fact remained that they were far too few in number to provide benefit to a growing army.

Human military is fairly dull, but it does have one major upside. If you get another race to integrated you can add them as a bonus to your military, to help minmax your strategy. Elves aren't too bad, 5% discipline is nothing to sniff at, but as I am starting to transition away from mercs (besides the Sarraka) the manpower hit would really hurt. Harpies on the other hand give much-needed siege ability, which is far rarer than fort defence that we can find other sources of.

As sprawling farm estates spread across the rural landscape, they began to touch upon the arid outskirts, further from the life-giving waters of the rivers. Through extensive local infrastructure development, new canals and irrigation networks were built that fed into orchards and sparser farms allowing even further expansion of fertile land across Kumarkand. No person would go hungry, and the population boom would serve the military well.

While rule of Azkabar had been handed to Akalšes, they had failed to take advantage of the treasure trove of talent that dwelt within its darkest cells. Those magi who had been freed in the initial capture of the city had scattered to their own ends. By bringing them back together and having them serve as the backbone of an expanded Sarraka, its numbers would grow and so to would the power of the Ituqattar that they formed the backbone of. The infrastructure for this would take time to develop, however.

While we are here, we get a brief update on the state of the mission tree. We are roughly halfway through the first half of the Kumarkand mission tree. Now that we have made some progress I can go into some more detail on the five tracks, from the left: integrating harpies, pushing towards the coast, going eastwards towards Rahen, economic/military developments, and religion. They converge towards the end, but we are still quite far away from that.

A grand celebration of horseracing was something that I had much enjoyed in my time, though those had been chariot races of a far more destructive and entertaining sort. The simplicity of horse and rider does have its own allure, one that the Akali indulged on occasion. She was not a great judge of horse capability, not being a rider herself, but it took her mind away from darker memories and deeper secrets.

In the interests of brevity I only showed the outcome. You pick a horse, pick a bet amount, and see what happens. There are more interesting interactions with this event we can look at later, as it recurs roughly every 30 years.

The dwarven expansion into Bahar brought with it oppression on a massive scale. The Marbleheads had demonstrated a great deal of forethought in their conquest, attempting to integrate with the human and elven populations, and that soon undone by dwarves bearing grudges from beneath the mountains. Surael does not turn any away, and these unfortunates were welcomed into Kumarkand as valuable citizens bringing interesting knowledge and ideas.

Their expansion continued at the expense of the elven kingdoms, with the Drolas peninsula and the coastline of the Gulf of Glass falling to their invasion. It was clearer than ever that they intended to dominate the trade flow between Bulwar and Cannor to fund their deep delves into the Darkness that lies below their holds.

In a grand ceremony before the obsidian walls of Azkabar, the Akali gave a grand speech regarding the Sarraka as the guardians of Surael's Garden and as her weapon against those who still threatened it. As she spoke, I made sure to remind her that for all their power the Ituqattar remained mortal and fallible, and prone to corruption. If their loyalty ever waned, it might spell disaster. To kill two phoenixes with one spell, I suggested that she delve deep beneath the soil and uncover more of the relics of old, so that they might be distributed among the noble warriors. In their hands, upon their heads, they too would learn of the power of Karqašlu.

Increased to 16 regiments, the Sarraka are now actually useful as a standalone combat force. The war wizard gets a +1 to all stats (and +2 to siege!).

Farana had other concerns, ones that she had delved deeply into both Bulwari magic lore and ancient harpy mysticism. She had become very interested in tales of eggs being cultivated to produce mighty shaman with mightier voices. When her daughter and heir fell in a very strange accident, having ridden a horse on a hunting trip instead of flying under her own power, the Akali had the opportunity to put her thoughts into practice. Her next clutch of eggs would be doused by the finest potions and kept within a mana-gathering magical circle until the moment they hatched.

We didn't get to show off rite of conception in the past, so here is a good chance to try it. For some cash up front you the mage estate makes an attempt at giving you a mage heir. The chances of a good outcome are random, varying based on mage influence, whether your ruler is a powerful mage, and a couple of other parameters. As I allude to, the harpy religion has an interaction that does a similar thing to this.

While she worked, another quick campaign against Irrliam saw more territory along the Suran fall, finally giving the Second Empire a coastline as well as full control of both rivers from the Jaddari border to the city of Medurubar, where they finally met. The end of the Drolas Peninsula was also seized to halt the dwarven advance further into Bulwar Proper. Between two ancient civilizations, the kingdoms were shattered, with no hope of restoration.

The Qašnitu grew in numbers, forming a network of scholars, magi and wealthy philanthropists who were highly interested in the history of Karqašlu. Elevating them further as the intellectual core of the Second Empire would be exactly what I needed to see my own ideas fulfilled, with the backing of ancient texts and long-lost artefacts that were collected in their new institutions.

Dimuzi came far after my time, and yet I have heard his name spoken than more any other hero of the ancient world. As a half-elf of Precursor, not Sun Elf, heritage, he guarded Panu Karqašlu for centuries and ensured that the city was not erased by the coming of monsters. His legacy was nearly erased by the Cult of Jaher, that sought to ban any acknowledgement of half-elves, but his story was so ingrained into the cultural tales of Karqašlu's descendants that it could not be stomped out. The Qašnitu Society saw a renewed interest in his story, and began sending expeditions to seek his legacy in particular.

Two eggs hatched from Farana's clutch, one of which produced a hatchling with clear deformities but around whom magic swirled incessantly, and the other of which produced a child with bright eyes and a clear mind. The Akali was pragmatic enough to not leave the nation in the hands of one so powerful but incapable, and embraced the non-magical child as her heir. The unfortunate invalid was sent to distant roost in Ayarallen, where she would eventually become a seer of minor renown, her prophecies limited by her inability to act upon them.

This is not quite the worst outcome but it is pretty close, offering us a 0/0/1 powerful mage heir. Since in the interim I got a decent new heir anyway, I decide to ignore the poor thing.

She threw herself back into her other magical studies, collaborating with the Qašnitu Society to bring thousands of helms together, restore them to the same state as the Master Helm, and outfit the Ituqattar. An incredible investment in time and money was poured into the magi's laboratories and the university in Apaškumar, and thousand of volunteers were conscripted from across the nation to test the helms without the more valuable warriors being placed at risk.

Expense did not matter; lives did not matter. All that mattered, as I drilled into the Akali's mind, was that the soldiery of Kumarkand was outfitted with the relics of Karqašlu. Through intense examination and repeated experiments, the magi were able to rebuild the damaged helms and also start manufacturing new ones. Never again would foreign enchantments fall upon the minds of the army, their thoughts guarded by the voices of the past.

A tomb was located in a sheltered and uninhabited valley at the base of the Serpentspine, upon which Surael never shone His Light. Rather than deal with the arguments of scholars I ordered, through the Akali, that the entrance be torn down by hand. Its secrets would be made of use to the Second Empire.

Inside, they found flourishing gardens lit by complex mechanisms that drew light from the height of the mountain all the way into the depths of the valley. A magical creature, a homunculus, watched over the gardens and allowed entrance to the expedition. In the heart of the tomb lay Dimuzi's mother, a Precursor Elf. Her legacy had all but crumbled, forgotten in a hidden corner of Bulwar.

It was perfect. Just as the members of the expedition broke down in sorrow at their understanding of their failure to preserve the location or exterior of the tomb, so too was her story a means to demonstrate to the people of Kumarkand that it was their duty to restore and preserve the garden of Karqašlu. A grand funeral was held at the tomb, celebrating the elven woman, her son, and the future of Surael's Garden.

And as for Dimuzi himself, his legacy was just as important. He was the exemplar of everything that Jaddar had spoken of, that all races had their place and could serve Surael and Karqašlu both. With a harpy Akali, a growing population of goblins, and deserts filled with pacified gnolls the Second Empire had grown into a tapestry of civilization. Even as it took the fight westwards against the dwarven interlopers, it saw only their empires as enemies, while their populations were citizens in waiting.

You get different benefits from Dimuzi's legacy depending on which religion you follow.

To be continued…

Vote

Just as we are reclaiming the legacy of Karqašlu, the dwarves are rebuilding their mythical empire of old. It is a noble project. However, they have grown greedy and arrogant in their tunnels and now spill out onto the surface as though that is also their birthright. We need to punish them and ensure that they no longer present any threat to the burgeoning Second Empire. I command it of you and your descendants.

(This vote does not decide anything specific, but rather the standard policy regarding our dwarven neighbours. Ovdal Tûngr in particular will be dealt with directly regardless of outcome.)

Bottle them within – Once they are driven back into the mountains, they are of little concern to Karqašlu. We are a nation of Light, while they are nations that dwell in Darkness. Wall up the entrances and let them fester there.
Shatter their unity – However, a powerful dwarven nation under the mountain might yet pose a threat. In the words of Jaddar, we must take the fight to the Darkness and see it vanquished. The holds must be divided from one another, so no empire can arise that challenges us.
Establish marches – To go one step further than that, we could bring Light to the underground, just as Jaddar did to Verkal Gulan. The unfathomable depths of the Serpentspine will be guarded by dwarven fortresses following the Jadd, and their wealth will flow to Karqašlu.

Vote for an option by clicking on the below image.



Voting will remain open indefinitely, as I will not need to take concrete action on this in game for a while.

 

[Sybot]

Most voters would like us to poke our heads into the mountains and bring those unruly and surly dwarves into order, establishing them as marches. We are a bit away from being able to do that
so that vote will remain open but as things currently stand it is unlikely to change.

Chapter Eight: Last Light Standing
1528-1544

Farm Estate near Grumar, twelve miles north of the River Suran, Kumarkand, 1539

Ruqa snorted and pulled, the harness tight around her neck, then slackened and stomped her hooves against the tough dirt. She had barely moved the plough an inch through the soil, the furrow not noticeable unless one looked close.

Karuš sighed and patted her on the side.

"Look, old girl, I know its tough," he said, "try again and I'll give you a piece of sugar."

He waved a hand at Šafed, the shabbily dressed peasant who he had called up to help him in starting on a new field. The man bowed and hastily beat a retreat back towards the estate manor house to cut some treats out of the sugar blocks in the stores. Karuš chuckled at the image of a man serving up treats for a horse, as he stroked his old friend's side.

"Does she understand you?" asked Fehan, who was sat on a crate at the side of the field.

The boy was dressed in fine clothes that Karuš had never had a chance to wear at that age. Silk weaved by the finest tailors of Gišhuram, gold bangles crafted by gnollish converts in the Šad Sur, and a fine parasol offering a moment's respite from Surael's shine. He was the perfect pale picture of the future of the family.

"Of course she does," Karuš said, "we rode into so many battles together. Pulling a little plough shouldn't be any harder than charging a wall of Jaddari spears."

He had the blood of dozens or hundreds on his hands, but he bore it no mind. It was all in service of this, a peaceful retirement with a noble title, an estate and a family that didn't need to go through the same violence that he had.

"I was part of the Sahiru," he continued. He'd regaled his son with these stories so many times, but it was good to remind him of the sort of life he had been spared. "Just a boy on a small horse, riding hard across the frontier to chase off gnolls that still worshipped the demons. Back then, on the frontier, it was just a man and his horse. You build a special connection that way. When I found Ruqa, after joining the Akali's Ituqattar, we bonded just as closely. You have to, with the things you see on the battlefield."

"It always sounds so exciting!" Fehan said, leaning forward enough that sunlight grazed the tip of his nose and gave Karuš fears of imminent sunburn.

"It is no place for a man of station, as you will grow up to be," Karuš said. He leaned against Ruqa, who snorted again but let him. "I saw so many other eager young men fallen on the battlefield, their dreams bleeding out into the sand. It was some skill, and a good partner, but also some luck that I didn't end up the same. They all trusted their horses just as I trusted Ruqa."

"I'll be skilled too!" Fehan said.

"In different ways," his father shot back, "why do you think I've hired so many tutors, sent you to mingle with the other kids of the Ituqattar lords who've got estates along here. You're going to fight in the realm of politics and patronage, not on a bloody battlefield."

It broke his heart a little to see the enthusiasm drain out of Fehan, but it had to be done. The boy hadn't so much as scraped his leg in his life. He wouldn't be able to handle a spear or bow. His parents had been peasants like Šafed, content to work in a field and die in the field. He had joined the Sahiru and Ituqattar to make something of his life, and now he was offering his own son a different path.

He decided to take a different approach. He left Ruqa to grumble and chew on loose grass and squatted down in front of Fehan. The sun shone in his eyes, and he imagined them glittering with Surael's reflected light. Or perhaps just tears of irritation from His rays, but who could tell the difference.

"Our family's duty has changed," he said, "it has shifted, ever so slightly. Once, we were farmers, then I was warrior, and now we are farmers and lords both. We all need to do our part to drive back the Darkness, as Jaddar decreed."

Fehan nodded along, safe from the brightness under the parasol.

"Doing our part now means taking our interests to the royal court," Karuš continued, "it means negotiating for more equipment, more investment, and everything else we need to grow more grain than anyone else. We are here to feed the population, and to build up enough money and power to protect my future grandchildren, right? We are doing our duty to nation and family, so that Surael is empowered by the Light that we bring to the world."

"So, one day I'll fight alongside Him?" Fehan said, his face lighting up again.

"If your soul is alight with enough good deeds, when it returns to Him it might just empower Him enough to banish the Darkness forever," Karuš said, extending his arms out wide as if to show off the bright day that they were enjoying.

Fehan clapped and hopped up onto the crate, twirling his parasol just enough to get a little sun. Karuš let him enjoy a little of Surael's gift, but kept an eye on him anyway just in case he went overboard in his excitement.

He turned the other half of his attention back to Ruqa. Perhaps a different, less direct approach was needed for her as well. He looked carefully at the plough, and at the gentle slope of the field. Maybe getting her used to an easier angle would work.

"C'mon girl, turn this way," he said, pulling on her reins and patting her on the nose.

With a huff, Ruqa finally started to move. The plough ground against the dirt as it was moved out of position, but as soon as the mare was at a more comfortable angle, she started to move again, dragged it along behind her. It made a worthless diagonal groove in the ground as it broke apart the tough and dry soil, but he had gotten her to pull it.

As they reached the edge of the field, Šafed returned with a bucket of sugar chunks. Feeling generous, Karuš held up the entire bucket, which his horse happily stuck its nose into to start enjoying its reward for a bit of hard work.

Stepping back, Karuš admired both the partly ploughed field and the eager upcoming nobility before him. Maybe he was spoiling them a little, but it was in service to an easier and lazier future for all of them.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

Kumarkand touched the sea, and I took a moment to ride high on Farana's wings to look out at the deep blue expanse stretching to the horizon and beyond. On its surface, blessed by Surael, it was our route to the world, where our grain would one day feed millions. Below the surface, still ensconced in Darkness, danger and evil lurked. To protect trade and protect ourselves, we needed a shipbuilding industry, and Anzabad would serve well as the first such site.

The Akali herself began to turn inwards, growing more and more intent on ensuring every aspect of her rule and every new construction was perfect. I do not know why; my feedback was regular, sensible and constructive and yet she always seemed on edge whenever I brought up my latest request.

Jaddar III had turned his attention to the desert once again, giving us an opportunity to strike further up the Suran. Our goals were the Temple of Eduz-Vacyn, the oldest and largest in Bulwar, and the city of Hašr, the last major city on the Suran until Azka-Sur. Seizing these would confine the Jaddari to the desert and prove that we were the ones favoured by Surael.

We were not the only ones taking advantage of the Desert Legion's overextension. From deep in the south came trolls wreathed in shadows that would not burn away no matter how hard Surael's Light beat down upon them. The Ituqattar forces advancing on Ebbušubtu kept their distance from the creatures, as righteous as it would have been to strike them down where they stood.

Trolls recently got new unit models. Check them out!

While the Ituqattar were in the east, defence of Bulwar Proper fell to a division of Sarraka comprised of those human mages in training. With the support of only a few thousand harpy warriors, they drove the Jaddari incursions back into the desert from whence they came and ensured that the Desert Legion tasted no more than a sip of the Suran's life-giving water before they bled their last into it.

One irony is that I can't actually assign the Sarraka war wizard to the Sarraka merc unit, so I'm stuck with this useless general. I think if I had them, it'd have been a wipe.

The absence of the Ituqattar also emboldened those who thought that their wealth or their lives deserved the same privilege as those who fought on the frontlines for Karqašlu. Any such protests were silenced, their organizers thrown behind the obsidian walls of Azkabar as a reminder to the rest to know their place.

Their lands safe and their infrastructure developed, the artisans of Anzabad began their dutiful work as the shipwrights of the Second Empire. Over the course of the following years they would put to sea the first of Kumarkand's galley fleet, mighty triremes that harkened back to ancient designs while making use of modern techniques, alongside transport vessels capable of ferrying the Ituqattar to distant battlefields.

At the gates of Seghdihr the last of the Desert Legion made their final stand, having been driven into full retreat by the monsters of the Shadow Swamp. The Ituqattar crushed them against the mountainside, and in the aftermath news began to filter from across the desert of a half-dozen other foes declaring war upon the Jaddari to push back what was once their greatest threat.

Another impromptu training exercise on the quiet home front saw the Sarraka and aligned harpy forces drive the gnolls from the Šad Sur, which they had in turn seized from Irrliam. The southern frontier of Bulwar was now secured against the monsters, though the region remained a hotbed of violent unrest between the gnollish packs that converted to the Jadd and human refugees seeking to return to their homes.

All war goals were achieved, and the Ituqattar returned home in glory, rich with plunder and with new lands to be distributed amongst themselves. Some in the priesthood questioned the decision to leave fellow believers in Surael to the mercies of monsters of the Darkness, but the Akali spoke on my behalf to reaffirm that they had failed in their duties and were receiving their just punishment.

The Ituqattar were not pleased learning of the opposition to their privileges, and at my urging they began to crack down on the independence of the cities and guilds that were under their authority. All must pull together to see Karqašlu rise again, through me, and my Akali, and my Ituqattar.

I really don't hit this button enough. We had picked up so many high autonomy provinces that it boosted my income by about 10% and turned a slight surplus into a massive surplus.

Without the Desert Legion, the Jaddari were nothing more than a scattering of desert settlements. Facing invasion from every direction, they were doomed to irrelevancy. Jaddar's words and Surael's Light would be carried forward amidst the shining glory of Karqašlu, not atop dust-scoured bones.

This is what seems to be the outcome for Jaddari in recent updates. They reach a point, fall behind in tech, then get dogpiled. Frankly I think the AI needs a buff similar to what the Command got in the form of event-based war declarations so they focus in the right directions while they still have an advantage.

Given the chaotic situation in the desert, it was most prudent to fortify the Upper Suran. Gnolls reverting to their demonic ways, tribes engaging in raids to survive, and Raheni invaders overextending their reach all presented a threat. We needed to show the people of the Upper Suran that they were welcome and safe in the garden we were building at the very heart of Karqašlu.

With the Šad Sur under control, the possibility of raids across the southern desert routes as the Jaddari had attempted, or worse an attack by the beasts of Kheterata, became a real possibility. The foul magic of the demons had scarred Ekluzagnu, but that did not mean it could not be repaired and serve as the southern bastion of Karqašlu against the Darkness. Some of the Ituqattar suggested it be rebuilt into an ornate palace, no doubt jockeying to be assigned to a place of such prestige, but the needs of Karqašlu came before their greed.

In both cases you get defensiveness and dev cost reduction on the province, but more of one or the other depending on whether you pick palace or fortress.

It was a marvel to see the people who had delivered the final blow to the First Empire so effectively integrated into the Second. I had been a little sceptical when Saed had declared Farana to be his heir, but her rule had seen Kumarkand ascend to the greatest power within Bulwar, thanks in no small part to the work of her kin. Spire-roosts arose from each city, noble families sought harpy marriages to tie themselves closer to the throne, the Order of Jasiéne's Daughters provided aid and healthcare across the nation, and the skies were filled with citizens devoting their lives to Surael and Karqašlu.

Annail was brought under the protection of Kumarkand, to prevent the dwarves from invading them. It was a straightforward test of the Second Empire's burgeoning naval capability, but it was a very successful one. Harpies leapt from the ships, taking to the air and avoiding trudging across beaches under arrow fire. As the enemy were distracted, long wooden ramps were extended that gave the Ituqattar all they needed to charge ashore and secure victory.

A far more important outcome of the war, one of great importance for the coming dwarven confrontation, was the submission of Azka-Evran. The bastard line of Deggarion had faltered, its last scion dying at the blade of a dwarven axe, and a human now ruled what was left of the kingdom, or rather, the Akalate. In exchange for his submission and recompense, Farana offered the Akal the chance to reclaim all that had been lost, including the eponymous fortress. This would be the wedge by which she would crack open the dwarven grip on western Bulwar.

I originally planned to just annex them, but realized that they have a whole lot of cores on dwarven territory.

I would not put aside anyone who would wish to aid in rebirth of Karqašlu, unless they were a degenerate Khetist. With my words leaving her mouth, the Akali encouraged the consideration of ideas and philosophies of distant lands. The opening of the coast and arrival of trade from Cannor brought with it more knowledge from distant Aelantir and new ideas born of the religious conflict now gripping their continent. Surael shines on all. So long as these ideas do not have the taint of Darkness, they are acceptable.

In her obsession, the Akali wished to do more to replicate the glory of Panu Karqašlu, which was increasingly uncovered by the archaeological works of the Qašnitu. She spent a great deal of money to tear down the old city walls of Apaškumar and connect it to Yesd Apaškumar, creating a sprawling urban centre charged with the administration of a nation that held nearly all of Bulwar within its hands.

Many were concerned that the capital would now lack protection, but in place of the old city walls a new bastion was constructed with the aid of a brilliant goblin engineer. Using the Buranun as a natural barrier, an extensive series of guard towers and curved walls were constructed with overlapping fields of fire and gates through which entire regiments of cavalry could be unleashed. Any enemy who sought to assault the capital would perish.

Translation of the tomb was completed with much fanfare by the Qašnitu, telling the tales of a nameless elf who denied the Call for Reflection and made Bulwar her home. Truly she, and not Jaher, was the first true Sun Elf. Scholars from across the world looked to Karqašlu, both in its history and in its modern form as its history began to unfurl.

The collapse of the Jaddari saw thousands of their most devout warriors fleeing west. The Jaddarzuir line was tainted with failure and Surael's disdain. Kumarkand, Karqašlu, was the heart of the Jadd, the heart of the Sun Cult, and the Lightbringers would serve to see that all did their part for their nation and their faith.

With this decision we can deploy the admin Holy Order, but I still prefer the diplo one. The main reason I took this was for the subsequent decision.

Upon the highest tower of Yesd Apaškumar, the Akali sang out Surael's truth. He is the only god, He fights the war in the heavens, and He has placed His trust in Karqašlu to take up the war on Halann. The Cult of Jaher had been shattered, its adherents reduced to mere remnants, and the Jaddari had failed in their duty to prosecute His will. The Jadd was the only true form of the Sun Cult, and no power other than Kumarkand held authority over it.

To take this decision you need a massive 10% missionary strength. It's easy for the Jaddari themselves but trickier for other nations. I managed to stack a few modifiers to get there, as the Sun Cult has quite a few ways to get missionary strength even without religious ideas such as province modifier and their mage estate. It's sadly not that dramatic a change with most of the NSC already gone and dwarves getting in the way.

The ascent of the faith did little to slow down advances in other areas. Many of the Ituqattar, now settled down on their estates after a youth of campaigning, found that their retired warhorses served just as well as draft animal. Bearing a stubborn spirit and immense strength, even the toughest and driest soil could be broken down by horses led by the finest retired officers of Karqašlu.

Despite the growing integration of harpykind into the court and nation, the dividing line between the Akali and her closest followers, primarily harpies, and the nobility, primarily humans and elves, was a stark one. There was a constant struggle for her favour, one that I watched with much amusement as the power-hungry fools trampled over one another for minor gains. However, it did spark concern within me. Many of those fools were of my own Ituqattar, who ought to be above such petty politics.

Leyla had perhaps the greatest chance to see these racial divides banished. Unlike Farana, who had to fight for her throne, she had grown up in a diverse and fully integrated city and had already built up a collection of friends and allies with her smooth and symphonic voice.

The Surani frontier was secured, and plans were made to continue the campaign as far as Azka-Sur, reaching the very easternmost extent of the First Empire. However, before such a campaign could begin there were problems closer to the heart of Karqašlu that needed to be addressed.

The Kingdom of Irrliam was vanquished, once and for all, but in the midst of that assault the dwarves also seized a portion of land that was rightfully Bulwari. Fury rose from the people, from the most devout peasant to the mightiest member of the Ituqattar, all eager to see land that ought to be ruled under Surael's Light taken from these empires based deep in the Darkness of the underground.

Innovation is the key to survival, and I had become engrossed with the idea of firearms since my reawakening. Though horseback is not an especially stable platform for such guns, especially with the need to reload so frequently with such early designs, the infantry in support of said cavalry made good use of them. There was no longer any need for infantry to engage the enemy in melee combat, as they could pin them with musket volleys as the Ituqattar wheeled around to strike them in the flank.

With the Ituqattar getting ever-stronger, the Sarraka bursting with new recruits, and gunpowder weapons spreading throughout the armies of Kumarkand, the time had come to strike at the largest remaining threat to the rise of the Second Empire. The dwarves had, at this point, actually broken their alliance due to their competing claims over rightful Bulwari land. However, I insisted that the Akali make read to war upon both of them at once. They invaded us together, and thus they would be crushed together under hooves and shot and magic.

To be continued…

No vote for this chapter.

 

[Sybot]

Why does the helmet hate the Khetists?

This will be revealed soon enough. There are two main throughlines in the second half of the Kumarkand MT, one of them dealing with this.

Chapter Nine: The Final Pieces
1544-1558

The skies above Bahar, near Shazstundihr Hold, 1546

Wind rushed across Leyla's skin as she dove and weaved through the air currents, the chill of the air at odds with the beating of the sun so high above. As she flew, a mournful song rolled from her lips, reverberating from the depths of her syrinx. It was not for pleasant reasons that she travelled north. Her mother was dead, passing away naturally while visiting an army camp some distant behind the front lines. Her body had already been returned to Yesd Apaškumar, but Leyla had been told that an heirloom was held in the possession of the commander. It was deemed too important to leave to a courier, but what could be more important than the body of the Akali?

Her entourage followed her as she descended towards the ground. The mountains of the Serpentsreach loomed large to her right, the glaring white gates of Shazstundihr standing out even from such a distance. To her left, the Divenhal shimmered as human and dwarven vessels watched the unfolding battle on the shore. They might hold the waters, but the land was now her domain.

Approaching rapidly was a small fort that that, according to the records of the refugees filling the cities of Kumarkand, had been a goblin village. Whatever was once there had been paved over and replaced with stone edifices guarding a small settlement. Outside of it, a much large encampment was spread out, the last remnants of retreating dwarven forces.

"Akali," said Ia, her melodic voice rising over the air roaring past Leyla's ears. It was still strange to hold that title, no matter how long she had been preparing for it. Ia continued, "we should stay back until the fighting is over. Many of our sisters have been lost to dwarven sharpshooters."

"I will determine that," Leyla said, swooping into a circular descent that slowed her own approach.

Far below her, the battle had been raging for some time. The Sunforged infantry had engaged in a stand-off with several blocks of dwarven Pepper-and-Tortoise, a fight that they would not win in a prolonged engagement. Their light armour and thin shields would not last against dwarven rifles guarded by armour of steel and mithril. However, their sacrifices would not be in vain.

From on high, Leyla could see the mass of the Ituqattar moving through the forests that flanked the approaches of the fort. Flashes of fire and shifting earth evidenced the presence of Sarraka auxiliaries leading the charge and carving a path out of what had been rough terrain.

Cannons on both sides exchanged fire, shells landing amongst the infantry and artillery crews, or reducing the fort's walls to rubble. The dwarves had confidence, despite their defeats to this moment, and their formations were advancing against a loose and skirmishing Kumarkandi infantry line. She was no great commander, but she was beginning to feel sorry for those who were dependent on the arrival of the cavalry who had yet to come.

Ignoring Ia's further pleas, she banked over to the strongest shaman within her entourage, a warrior and vocalist both. Pari had fought in battles before, against the elven invaders pushing through Firanyalen, and her voice had echoed across the valley to rally the forces of Nanšalen against their foes.

"Can you enhance my voice, or repeat my song?" Leyla asked Pari.

"Whatever you wish, Akali," Pari replied. She cleared her throat, and began to repeat a perfect rendition of the dirge Leyla had been singing as they had approached the battle. There was some magical mechanism to her imitation, much as Kiríja Muló of distant Mulén had been able to enchant entire cities. It was this upon which Leyla intended to rely.

They descended quickly, approaching the hilltop upon which the command tent for the Kumarkandi forces was arranged. Upon landing, they were greeted by the commanding officer and his guards. Each were wearing distinct silver helms on their head, the same sort that every soldier of Kumarkand now wore, though the general wore one that was far more ornate that the rest. It took her a moment to recognise it as the one her mother had often worn.

"Greetings, Akali," said the general, "this one is Pireez szel Markumar, commander of the Second Ituqattar Division."

She wasn't sure to make of his turn of phrase and looked him in the eye. There was a glint of silver swimming behind his pupil, as though there was an eye behind his eye.

"I wish to aid you in this battle," she said, putting the question to the back of her mind, "will that be a problem?"

"So long as you do not join the front lines," he replied, "I would not wish to have to find a new Akal or Akali so soon."

"He is right, if insolent," Ia said, whispering from behind Leyla, "we should retire out of cannon range."

"I will not take to the field," Leyla acknowledged, "but I will not abandon the battlefield entirely. If I cannot stand with those giving their lives for me, I am not worthy as Akali."

She nodded to Pari, who ran towards the nearest perch and took to the air, extending her wings and swooping down towards the smoke-clouded battlefield. As she watched the shaman shrink into the distance, Leyla marched up to the same perch, climbed up onto it, wrapped her foot-claws tightly around it, and took in a deep breath.

Her song was not loud enough to reach the fort on its own, and that was even without the roar of gunfire and cannons still echoing from the battlefield. However, every head in the command camp turned towards her as she began to sing a wordless tune of loss, but determination. Just as she had lost her mother and was now faced with ruling a nation alone, a nation larger than her mother had inherited, and larger than her grandfather could ever have possibly imagined. Nonetheless, she was determined to see it all through, to see the dwarves driven back underground, to see the false heralds of the Jaddari replaced by the righteous warriors of Kumarkand, and to see Surael shine across a land of peace.

In the distance, her own voice sounded back at her. Pari circled over the frontlines, above the Sunforged who had been fighting valiantly but appeared on the verge of breaking. Her song renewed their spirits, and they reformed their lines and held strong against the next dwarven push.

The dwarves surely realised something was happening, as a cannon shell detonated somewhere in the command camp, sending up a shower of dirt that coated her feathers, but she stood tall and sang heedless of such danger.

Finally, the Ituqattar made their move. They charged from a treeline that had been shoved aside by earth-moving magic, and smashed into the dwarven tortoises with unwavering strength that was further bolstered by the music sounding over the battlefield. Even mithril could not stand up to the weight of their charge, and the dwarven formations collapsed into chaos. The cannon emplacements atop the fort were silenced by fireballs, and soon the only remaining sounds echoing from the frontline were the screams and moans of the dying.

Leyla stepped down from the perch and closed her eyes for a moment, in memory of the fallen, before turning to the awestruck officers and soldiers surrounding her.

The only one who seemed completely unaffected by her song was Pireez szel Markumar, who was smiling broadly as his eyes shone a little more silver.

"I look forward to working with you," he said, "please, wear this."

He pulled the helm from his own head, and the moment it was no longer touching his skull his whole body shuddered and his eyes rolled back into his head. Before he could collapse, he regained composure and stumbled to an upright position.

"Maršari Leyla," he said, "welcome. I-"

A moment of confusion crossed his face. He took a few more seconds to appear to arrange his thoughts, and then straightened up and adjusted his uniform. Kneeling down, he presented Leyla's mother's helm in his outstretched hands.

"Apologies, Akali Leyla," he said, "he wanted to see and hear."

She nodded and took the helm from him. She knew of her mother's benefactor, someone who communicated through the helm, but there was more to it than that. Such a closely guarded secret, there was only one way for her to know the truth. She placed it over her head, and began to listen to what he had to say.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

It was the time to show the world the power of Karqašlu. For too long we had been fighting our own battles against our Bulwari enemies. Now, envoys bearing tidings of war were sent forth to the dwarven occupiers and their human and elven allies. Though combined they outnumbered our forces, I had full faith that the Ituqattar would sweep them aside.

However, first blood in the war actually went to the Sarraka, who swept up the Drolas Peninsula and cast a spell of ice to see themselves safely across to the Glass Isles, where the regional garrison made up of Crathánori conscripts was waiting for them. Drafted from their home to fight for their dwarven masters, they were no match for the mounted mages of the Sarraka. Even with reinforcements arriving, the Peninsula was soon completely secured, though the Sarraka had to remain in theatre to oppose any attempted landings from the 'Sea Hold'.

While we don't yet have 100% cavalry ratio on regular armies, the Sarraka mercenaries do, making them an excellent solo stack. This is with a disadvantage in leadership and a sea crossing penalty.

The Ituqattar began their push into Bahar, delivering a major defeat to both the dwarven and human forces. The Diamond Dwarves had taken Azka-Evran's capital, but the Akal evacuated to Kumarkand's protection and his warriors continued to fight on with the aid of Nanšaleni forces. It was not long afterwards that Aqatbar fell, securing the route from Shazstundihr and Ovdal Tûngr itself.

In the south the Šad Sur was the site of several minor battles as the Sarraka ran down invaders from the sea attempting their pitiful repeat of the Onslaught. These incursions were finally brought to a halt by the completion of Ekluzagnu, a fortress carved from pitch-black obsidian, the southern bastion of the Second Empire. Staffed with soldiers wearing the silver helms of Karqašlu, it would never again fall to demonic magic.

Elven forces crossed into Firanyalen through a hidden passage from the Deepwoods, forcing a significant force of Ituqattar to pull back keep them from striking Bulwar through this other route. This highlighted the need for fortifications in this region, which had been written off a secure from the nation's foes. The dwarfs also struck from a secret direction, emerging from the mountains from a tunnel just north of Azka-Evran having forced their way through the goblins who dwelt in those caverns. However, even a single division of the Ituqattar were able to hold their own and keep this incursion under control until the rest returned.

The last of the Copper Dwarf forces were caught in Azka-Evran itself while the Diamond Dwarves were under pursuit by the main body of the Ituqattar. They had, in their hubris, torn down the fortress and so were caught in their camps with no walls for protection. With the last armies outside of the mountains destroyed or defeated, the next phase of the campaign would take them deep within the Serpentspine. Maps secured from the libraries of Aqatbar mapped out what the reclaimers knew of the railways and caverns, charting a route straight to Arg-Ôrdstun.

Farana did not live to see the dwarves driven from Bulwar, succumbing to age after eighty years of life just as the siege of Arg-Ôrdstun began. It was a shame that the technology to instil one's soul into metal had not been rediscovered, for she would have made a worthy eternal Akali to reign alongside me. Her daughter took a moment to visit the warriors marching towards Ovdal Tûngr as their new Akali and sing to motivate them to victory. Her voice was even more sublime than her mother's, and as she heard my voice for the first time I encouraged her to take good care of her syrinx.

She returned to a royal court that was beginning to ossify once again. The rise of the Ituqattar had seen the old nobility purged and replaced, but after decades in power the Ituqattar themselves were beginning to gain power and grow complacent in that power. Though their insight into distant lands and domestic management were valuable, petty politics were an incessant problem. From the moment that I returned upon Leyla's head, I began to consider this problem. There had to be a way to end such power struggles and have all put aside their feuds to devote themselves to the Akali, to Surael, and to me.

The Diamond Dwarves conceded most of their remaining territory outside of the mountains, though not yet all of it. More valuable were the vast reserves of gemstones that were seized from the hold, which they had been hoarding in some fool attempt to secure a monopoly over the surface. These treasures were soon distributed among those Ituqattar who had braved the Darkness to secure the hold.

Their surrender saw the remainder of the Šad Našratu and the whole of the Šad Kuz come under the domain of Kumarkand. This frontier would suffice for the northern boundary of the Second Empire, for that moment, and so it would need manning. The Moon Guard was made up of those who did not succeed in the Ituqattar, but wished to serve the nation nonetheless.

It was not long afterwards that the Copper Dwarves offered their own surrender, conceding the Drolas Peninsula and returning much of Azka-Evran's territory. Their hold, inaccessible except by a great cavern that opened up onto the Divenhal, was not breached, but that was a punishment that could be reserved for a future campaign. I was, and am, nothing if not patient.

Please ignore the royal title change. We aren't an Akali of Akalis quite yet, even if I did hit the rank up button.

Though the Ituqattar ought to have returned home with a hero's welcome, they faced a horde of farmhands marching upon Apaškumar with hopeless complaints about the proper reorganization of their farms into proper estates, a process still continuing along the length of both great rivers. It was the first test of the city's new fortifications, and they proved their worth as thousands of peasants fell against bastions even before the cavalry arrived to end their treason.

As the Jaddari collapsed, the Desert Legion destroyed and the Jaddar legacy now existing solely within Kumarkand, more and more regions rose in revolt against them. The people of Azka-Sur in the lowlands below the temple complex prepared to march against it, while aligning with the exiled dwarves of Seghdihr who wished to reclaim their holds. Both would be easy targets in the effort to secure the full length of the Suran, one to conquer and one to establish as a march against the Darkness of the mountain tunnels.

I missed the peace deals for both of these. Incidentally it is interesting to see just how much the Jaddari attacks on the dwarves have wrecked the reclamation of the Middle Dwarovar.

Beyond the harpy-dominated regions of the Šad Našratu and approaching the elbow of the Serpentreach like the lands of the Gelkar. They were not a prominent people in my era, but time has granted them some personality, be that in fancy cheeses or in their alignment with the mysterious creature that live atop the blue mountain. The Four Wise Ones, the Erbatraši, are not something I pay much heed to, but many believers in Surael treat them with divinity and so they would need to be aligned with Karqašlu one day.

I will come back to this monument when I have less things that urgently need money spent on them.

Goblins found further recognition within Kumarkand as architects and engineers, following the example of Nyras. His work on Ekluzagnu was just the beginning, as forts were raised across the new frontiers of the Second Empire to protect the garden that it held within.

The eastern campaign continued with little fanfare, seizing more territory and the source of the holy Suran, cementing control of both of the great rivers. There remained villages scattered across the deserts that fought for their independence from the Jaddari, but they were beyond the scope of Kumarkand's ambition at that moment.

Though the peasants complained and revolted, it was for their benefit that I had orchestrated land reform across the nation, my will flowing through the words of the Akal and Akali. Centralizing food production in vast estates was far more efficient than distributed fields, and though the serfs lost some freedom of work, they gained freedom from hunger and the benefits of an ever-blooming economy. Such wealth also helped mollify the restive merchants and other townsfolk who rankled at the privileges of the Ituqattar.

The Akali was far more interested in the great festivals of horsemanship in Avamezan than her mother, and spent many weeks studying the breeds on display so that she might pick the right winner. I do not know if her songs in support of the red-adorned horse were what brought it to victory, but I was impressed by her acumen. Still, I would have preferred a race with a bit more heft to it, one where the horses pulled proper chariots and the racers could truly challenge one another in strength and skill while putting their lives on the line.

Here is what happens when you win the horse race. I put in 30 crowns, got 180 out. Still more unique interactions to come later.

After a very brief three years, the eastern campaign concluded with the seizure of the remaining Jaddari territory within the Surani watershed. The Citrine Dwarves also were finally returned to their hold, where they pledged their allegiance to the Akali and promised to watch over Azka-Sur from its heights. War and rebellion continued to wrack the Jaddari after this, in conflicts that both I and Leyla had no desire to become entangled in.

Brasan is one of the jewels of Bulwar, one of the greatest gems within the crown of Karqašlu, so fouly stolen from us by the cretin Elikhet. Sitting at the mouth of the Suran, where the waters of both the great rivers finally drain into the Divenhal after imparting their life upon our nation, it formed the natural heart of the burgeoning trade empire of the Second Empire. With no other nations of note remaining in Bulwar, the Copper Dwarves driven back into their hold, all the exported grain and wonderous treasures of Bulwar for sale to outsiders would find their way through the city. For the first time since I had awoken, the value of trade was approaching the raw productive value of the fields and workshops of the nation.

I put some consideration towards restoring the autonomy of the Annaili Akalate, but came to the decision that times had changed. With the infrastructure now present along the length and breadth of Bulwar, and aided by couriers who could fly across it in a matter of days, managing an empire of that size was no longer a difficult challenge. The Drolas Peninsula and its wealth of seafaring and trading knowledge could serve the Second Empire directly.

As we have consistently voted against a vassal focus (not counting dwarves), I don't bother creating this vassal.

Deep within my recollections I held memories of vast reserves of precious metals in the Šad Sur, and implored the Akali to see them dug up and aligned to the growing expense of the growing empire. The local inhabitants, human and gnoll both, resisted our mineral census with traitorous glee, and had to be put to the sword by the Sahiru in a bloody purge. Clearly, the lust for gold had led them deep into the clutches of the Malevolent Dark.

Connections with Cannor continued to grow as trade resumed, and visitors from that cold and wartorn continent brought with them their latest device, a machine that could mass produce writings. At first I was dubious of its purpose, but then it occurred to me that the histories of Karqašlu could now be standardized and shared with the population. No longer would word of mouth and imperfect copies corrupt the truth of the past. My first act was to, with the use of the Akali's fingers, write a tale from my childhood and have it distributed to every household in Bulwar.

The landscape of Bulwar, now under the protection of the imminent Second Empire, flourished like never before. Not even under the auspices of the First Empire, or the grand heights of the Phoenix Empire, did the people know such prosperity. Land that would have been swallowed by the desert was turned green, ancient irrigation ways were restored, and the cities bulged with a population boom that could then be filtered into ever more growth in both economy and military. All through the simple act of prioritising our greatest asset, the fertility of the land blessed by Surael.

This isn't even the final form of Kumarkand's farming buffs. It might be better at it than Newshire.

Inspired by the writings that I made her pen, Leyla found her own interests in the wonders of the printing press. She commissioned tales from across the peoples of Kumarkand, be they the stories of her own harpy sisters and the men that fought alongside them, tales from those gnolls who resisted the demons from within, the histories of goblins clans going back millennia that told of what lurked in the depths of the mountain, and of course stories of Karqašlu passed down through the mouths of a hundred different storytellers that offered new insights on the First Empire. She would read these to her new daughter, seeking to impart upon her the wisdom of diversity.

That was not to say that advancement only benefitted culture. The innovations of warfare described in books brought from Cannor were invaluable, and offered up countless new ideas for me to mull over and consider as I pondered precisely how to bring the ancient warfare of the Ituqattar into modern era. They had proven their power against the dwarves, but there still remained far greater foes out there if tales from Haless and Cannor were to be considered.

In a similar manner, the infrastructure that sprawled across the length of the rivers did not only benefit the productivity of the economy. The Sahiru, who had begun their transition from a light military force into a policing force, could ride to any troubled hotspot in a matter of days at worst to bring down justice on any who threatened the peace of Karqašlu.

Though the temple of Azka-Sur needed much renovation, as a result of years of neglect at the hands of the faltering Jaddari, a far higher priority was securing it as the eastern boundary of the Second Empire. Military infrastructure, and the farms to support them, were constructed in record time with aid from the dwarves of Seghdihr. In return, they received aid in rebuilding their own home that had suffered the same neglect.

The boundaries of Bulwar were secure, the Jadd reigned as the sole truth of Surael's will, and the people of Kumarkand wanted for nothing. It was time to begin the next stage of my plan. Very soon, I would not be the only one to know the truth of the past, and the stories of the First Empire would no longer be mere fiction. The official foundation of the Second Empire was nigh.

We are approaching the end of this section of the Kumarkand mission tree, and that capstone mission that unlocks the next section comes with a very important decision…

To be continued…

Next will be a state of the known world update.

Vote

I have learned much in the eighty years since I first saw the sky again. The world has changed, and though the dream of Karqašlu is eternal I know that it need not take the same form that it did in the past. It must adapt, it must be stronger, it must be a form where no monster from the deep or beast of feline arrogance can strike it down every again.

When I learned that my descendants were mere farmers and rangers, I feared that they had lost their touch, but Kumarkand has proven itself a worth nation to model an empire upon, for it wields the key to economic and military power both.

As a nation develops and builds connections, those beyond its borders take notice, both with greed and jealousy. We can take advantage of that, and turn our strategic position for trade into immeasurable wealth that can then be invested back into the nation. We will make the hills and desert bloom just as the rivers do.

The Way of Jaddar has taken us far, and has brought so many new peoples and new ideas into Karqašlu. With the strength we have cultivated we can go even further and spread Surael's Light beyond the boundaries of Bulwar. The forces of the Malevolent Dark will fear the sound of our hooves.

(Important note – this is primarily a vote for flavour, but it is still crucial flavour going forward. Map colour and national ideas will differ as per the below images, along with effects on the narrative. In all cases we will gain the second half of Kumarkand's MT and Surakeš MT. Reasons below if you want more details.

The Jadd Empire MT does not work unless you start as Jaddari, borking the mission tree entirely and replacing it with the generic one. Staying Kumarkand would lock ourselves out of Surakeš MT without further modding. For the sake of having options while having as much content as possible I have changed things so all three will get the same MTs. Normally the Jadd Empire option is locked until later in the Kumarkand MT, likely due to the aforementioned MT issues, but I have modded it to bring the switchover forward to the same point as the Kumarkand/Surakeš decision)

Karqašlu is a land of strong horses and verdant fields! – Cavalry and Production (Highlights include +1 leader shock, +0.25 cavalry shock, +10% prod efficiency)

Karqašlu is Surael's Garden upon Halann! – Development and Trade (Highlights include +15% trade efficiency, -20% development cost, +20% global trade power)

Karqašlu is Surael's Spear wielded against the Darkness! – Religion and Conquest (Highlights include +20% cavalry combat, -20% province cost vs other faiths, +5% admin efficiency)

(Yes, it matches the colour of Jaddari)

Vote for an option by clicking on the below image.



Voting will remain open for four days, considering the importance of this decision.

 

[Sybot]

Interlude: State of the Known World 1558

From an account by Leyla, Akali of Kumarkand, recounting a conversation taking place when she was alone in her chambers in Yesd Apaškumar, 1558.

I spoke.

"Are you not concerned about the Darkness that is spilling from the centre of the continent to the south. The reports of the savagery of the trolls, this nation called Yezel Mora, in the Jaddari lands are horrific, a sign of true Darkness. Should we not turn our attention to aiding our allies in the Light against this evil?"

He replied.

"Our true enemy in Sarhal still lies to the west. Kheterata has once again fallen, this time to a conqueror from beyond the desert, but that accursed land has a tendency to absorb whomever conquers it. They become enamoured with Khet and fall into worship as though they were slaves. Once they have completed driving the Busilari from this side of the Divenhal, they will finish the job against the gnolls of the central desert and the remnants of the latest feline supplicants. It will be our duty to rid them of any such intent to build a Kheterata in their image. We now rule all of Bulwar, so there is little that will be able to oppose us."

I spoke.

"I do not know much of the intricacies of the religious conflicts of the Cannorians, but it appears that there are few nations among their number who pose a threat to us, if any. The elves of the Deepwoods are nearly unified, and have already demonstrated that they can invade through Firanyalen, but otherwise we can let them fight over their dead gods."

He replied.

"On this, I agree. Lorent can be considered the greatest of their number, but they are mired in internal conflicts with unruly and decadent nobility. Let their decline be a lesson in rulership, for there can be only one Akali, and only one god above her. You should also heed the reports of a monstrous host massing in the lands of Escann. They do not threaten us yet, but if it were to sweep into Cannor it could cause immeasurable damage to our trade relationships. We might have to intervene to save them, and claim the entire continent as a dominion of Karqašlu."

Lorent's subjects combined have 60% more development than they do, and they all (except the colonies) have supporters for independence. It's not going well, despite their GP ranking.

I spoke.

"The greatest threats lie to the east, where merchants have travelled down the trade routes telling of mighty empires clashing with one another and with armies of hobgoblins. The collapse of the Raj will only hasten the rise of these new empires, and if one of them were to turn its eyes to Bulwar we are not yet ready to face them."

He replied.

"Ambition must meet ambition to ensure our safety. Whether this Command sweeps all its foes aside, or the fortress kingdom of Bim Lau withstands its own onslaught and arises again, or the mysterious Baihon Xinh eclipses them both, we will be ready. With my guidance, with my power, we can claim borders that are unassailable. Mountains and deserts will halt even the mightiest army. We might also seek allies or client states in the remnants of the Raj, those who are willing to serve as a buffer against the might of the eastern empires. Rajnadhaga may prove useful to court, as they have proven themselves resilient against the advance of the Command."

The Command's not having a great campaign. They're still up there, but the fact that they aren't running away with things in Haless is quite telling.

I spoke.

"Our kin have found their place in the distant west, though the Cannorians seem to have settled a greater expanse of territory. Saamir's island still holds strong, while Zanlib has emerged as one of the stronger members of the Trollsbay Concord. However, Lorent's seizure of the elven colonies has given them a significant foothold. We do not have the fleet to support our friends, but perhaps we can offer some other assistance, so that Surael's Light finds some place in those dark and desolate lands."

He replied.

"It might be necessary. There is a great Darkness in the southern continent, emerging from the jungle. The Exemplars of Rezankand who settled on the southern tip have reported that life blooms incessantly on their frontier and consumes all without regard for morality or decency. It is far beyond the reach of Karqašlu, and we are far beyond its reach, but we must be wary of onslaughts from directions that we might otherwise think impossible."

I spoke.

"I did not expect our finances to be so healthy. We have fought so many wars and invested so much of our treasury in paying the Ituqattar in land and gold that I was sure we would in debt. Inflation remains troubling, as the merchants have so frequently complained."

He replied.

"These merchants with their financial instruments and their economies of debt have forgotten the simple facts of the world. Those who produce the most, be it food, or warriors, or weapons, will be the ones who triumph. Bulwar is a rich land, and our investment has borne fruit, just as I predicted. The Ituqattar estates have made us the leading producer of food and of cotton and woollen clothing. We need their assistance only in areas where we do not yet hold the absolute power of production, such as those goods that are now falling under the dominance of the Command and other rising powers of Haless. So long as we stand astride Jaher's Golden Highway and the most bountiful lands of Halann, we will one day not just be the richest nation by a handful of crowns, but the richest by mountains of gold."

Fun fact; the leading producer for silk is the Redglades, a Lorentish vassal.

I spoke.

"Correspondence with the Cannorian nations is strange. They are referring to us as the Phoenix Empire, or as Surakeš. They seek trade, they seek alliances, and they seek our power. They treat us as if we are the greatest nation in the world.

…

Not that we are not, but our reach does not yet extend outside of Bulwar. Can we be considered a true hegemon?"

He replied.

"I will forgive your insolence as a mere misspoken thought. In little more than a century Karqašlu has been recognized as the greatest power in the world. It is a credit to your grandfather and mother for heeding my words, and to the diligent people of this land who have come together under Surael's Light to accomplish my dream. We stand at the peak, and yet we may find equals. One of the great powers of Haless may unify it, Lorent might emerge from its stupor, the strange creatures of the Deepwoods might launch an onslaught of their own, or a new power might emerge from what you call the Forbidden Plain, much as my ancestors did. The fight for Karqašlu has not yet ended."

Bulwar can be consolidated very quickly, regardless of whether you play as an elf or human nation, thanks to the early thunderdome events. Whoever comes out on top is pretty much guaranteed to be in the top 3 great powers under normal circumstance, and with both Lorent and the Command struggling this campaign we've already slotted in right at the top. Right below us is a very…American incarnation of Kalsyto. With how well they're doing already, we're likely to see more of them later.

To be continued…

Voting remains open for the future of Karqašlu

Vote for an option by clicking on the below image.

 

[Sybot]

The helmet continues to creep me out. I don't like how it can control the people who wear it. The Akali should be nervous. If she decides to not wear anymore, I have a feeling the helmet would find a way to remain on her head.

There's the danger of magical helmets, no matter how useful they might seem in the moment. Eventually, they come calling for their true purpose...

It was a close race, but the decision has been made. When the time comes, Karqašlu will take on the colour, national ideas, and the ideals of Surakeš.

Chapter Ten: A Name to Rule the World
1558-1567

Plaza in front of the Royal Palace, Yesd Apaškumar, 1567

As Nezterin stepped through the gates, he was faced with the strangest image that he had ever seen in his two centuries. The grand plaza was in chaos, with thousands of soldiers caught in states of mania or sullen despondence. Among the more active of them, some were fervently prostrating themselves in the direction of the palace, others were dancing and cheering for Karqašlu, and yet more were wandering around staring at the opulence of the palace and the flags flying from every wall as though they were seeing them for the first time.

Around them were countless forms of those listless and depressed. Some sobbed about tragedies that Nezterin could not understand, others cried silently against the ground, while some stared into the sky without blinking. It was a disaster of a spiritual nature to be certain, to see so many warriors reduced to this state in mere moments.

Seeing this, he now understood why he and his fellow priests had been called upon by the Kašra. The High Priest had been managing the Akali's coronation, but he was only one man. To be left as the sole source of faith and Light amongst this chaos would be too much even for him.

Nezterin turned to the dozens of priests of the Sun Cult who had entered the plaza with him

"Spread out, and focus on those who will respond to you," he said, "those who regain their senses are to be called upon to then aid their fellow warriors. The Lightbringers will aid us if violence erupts."

Captain Vakeran and his Lightbringers stood at attention, their armour glinting in the sunlight and batons held ready to beat into submission anyone who let the Darkness within their hearts take control of them. The other elf nodded in acknowledgement at Nezterin and continued to scan the crowd.

"I will seek the Kašra and determine what took place here," Nezterin said.

As the other priests split up and began to speak to the men around them, Nezterin marched through the chaos, his robes held tightly too him so that some of the more rambunctious warriors did not try to grab onto them.

A flock of harpies soared overhead, members of Jasiéne's Daughters come to care for the injured and carry away any who needed care and soothing. Every altruistic group within Yesd Apaškumar was descending on the palace, hearing the call of those suffering and doing their duty as Surael asked of them all. It left Nezterin to wonder what force of Darkness could have done this to so many people at once.

The plaza was vast, an expanse of stone broken up with fountains and trees that ensured that even in the heat of Surael's height no one was too far from shade or water. At one end the palace loomed, its towers and spire-roosts standing out even among the opulence of the city. Flanking the plaza were the ministries and temples that served the administration, each built to exacting specifications by the order of the last Akali. Each and every building was monumental in scope, a testament to what the world could do when united under Surael.

"My Kašra!" he called out, spotting the man speaking to a group of more lucid Ituqattar close to the palace gates.

The closer he got, the more coherent the actions of those around him. More and more of the attending warriors were leaning towards the positive outlook. They bowed towards the palace, or waved flags that were being distributed by oddly calm members of their numbers. This heraldry was not the flags of Kumarkand, Jaddari or Karqašlu that was normally flown, but instead one that he had rarely seen. It was a sun upon a warm background, bearing a golden face in the centre. It was Surael, looking down upon those below, or looking outwards at those who worshipped him, offering his Light and comfort. He did not know what it meant, but it was a clue.

"I am glad to see you are not hurt," he said, approaching the Kašra.

The Kašra turned to him, his eyes wide and filled with something that Nezterin could not discern. Was it awe, or was it horror. A human more than a century younger that Nezterin, the Kašra was already long greyed, but his hair and beard appeared especially white in that moment.

"It was incredible," the Kašra said, bringing a trembling hand up to stoke his beard, "to see one standing above us all. Shining like Surael Himself and showing us the way to Karqašlu in truth."

"For Karqašlu!" yelled one of the Ituqattar suddenly, startling Nezterin.

"Remember Karqašlu!"

"Avenge Karqašlu!"

The chants went in circles, their enthusiasm infectious and the glint of their silver helms drawing in Nezterin's eyes and thoughts.

He blinked it away and looked at the palace. Even more people were strewn before it, all of them bowing towards the open doorway.

"Is the Akali safe?" he asked.

"She is more than safe," the Kašra replied, "she has fulfilled her destiny. You should speak to him."

Nezterin did not spend long pondering the exact wording of the Kašra, and marched up the steps leading into the grand entrance hall and audience chamber at the front of the palace. As he reached to top, and before he stepped across the threshold, he peered back out at the plaza and took in the situation. It was calming now. There did not appear to be any violence, and those who were suffering from despair were slowly being carried away while those who were exuberant were left to enjoy themselves.

Confident that the situation was in hand, he entered the building.

"Nezterin Arfilzuir, Third Priest of Kumarkand, welcome," the Akali said, her voice chiming melodically.

She lounged on her throne at the far end of the audience chamber, her wings tucked behind her back and her silver helm topped by the diadem the Kašra had crowned her with. Her eyes were turned away from him, turned away from the mass of bowing warriors and officials that coated the floor of the chamber. Instead, they were fixed upon the same flag that he had seen outside, the new flag of their nation that she must have announced as a surprise.

"Akalunakali," Nezterin said, reminding himself exactly what the coronation had been for. He dropped to one knee himself, though kept his head raised. "My priests and healers have begun to give aid to those in the plaza. I am glad you were unaffected."

"I am afraid you are mistaken," the Akali said, "I was not unaffected, for I was the source of their delirium. It was as if they stared too long at Surael Himself."

"Do you require any aid yourself, Akalunakali Leyla?" Nezterin asked.

A smile grew on her face, and she looked down towards him. Her eyes were a mirror sheen of silver, glinting in the light with a hint of endless depths of colour behind them.

"You aren't speaking to Leyla anymore," she said, "prostrate yourself, and I will remind you of the name and titles of whom you are in the presence of. Remember it, for it will be the name that sees Karqašlu rule forevermore."

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

In our power, the weak and desperate came to us, clamouring for our aid. The Kingdom of Lorent was caught an internal deadlock between its lords and its ruler, a situation that I had no wish to shift the balance of. It did however, bring me to thoughts of the state of my Ituqattar. Though so many still nobly fought on the frontlines, those whose fathers and grandfathers had been warriors had instead settled into positions of comfortable political power. Power that might threaten my, and my Akali's, rule.

Religious violence gripped our new dwarven subjects. A new fervour had sprung from the rediscovery of their gods. I do not know if the gods of the underground are as dead as Surael's own kin, but whatever the case they were willing to fight to the death over it. Imposing the Jadd upon these dwellers in the Darkness was the solution that I eventually came to. They could continue to worship their long-dead ancestors while paying homage to He who shines upon the surface.

I don't think the Dwarven Pantheon religion was implemented during the Orlghelovar campaign. There is a whole disaster associated with it (of course).

One thing was clear. I could not simply form the Ituqattar and expect them to last forever as a worthy institution. Land and wealth granted by military deeds transformed into power, which was then inherited by descendants who spent it on their own extravagance or advancing personal agendas instead of the interests of Karqašlu. With my guidance, the Akali began a series of reforms to adjust the means by which estates were granted to members of the Ituqattar and limit their power outside of the army. It was clear that this would lead to dissent, and so the most loyal members were distributed along the Suran to deal with any such treason.

It was far worse than I imagined. The straw that broke the beast's back was the revoking of unrestricted inheritance, in favour of merit-based system whereby the children of the Ituqattar would be expected to serve the nation before they would be eligible to inherit. Otherwise, the estates would revert to the Akali. This provoked outright rebellion, in greater numbers than even I had anticipated as every former warrior rose in defence of the right of their undeserving children to claim what they didn't earn.

This mission kicks off a mini-disaster for Kumarkand. It's a little bit of a taste of the future…

Thanks to my foresight, the rebels failed to storm Yesd Apaškumar or Bulwar, though their sheer numbers lead to swathes of the countryside and several key cities surrendering to their march. With Brasan under their control they threatened to cut off Kumarkand from the world, wielding economic power to demonstrate their supposed might. The sheer attrition of the battles was beginning to wear upon the loyalists, thousands of horses and riders tearing one another apart and feeding the twin rivers with their blood.

The western forces united to crush the rebel forces against the bastions of Yesd Apaškumar. In the end, those who had devoted themselves to war in the name of Karqašlu would win in battle against the moribund who concerned themselves with political or economic power. With centre of Bulwar Proper secured, the unified forces began to march along the Suran to reopen the trade routes through Brasan.

In the east the rogue Ituqattar were in fewer numbers, and the forts established on the eastern frontier proved too much for them to crack. The Sarraka swept through them like a scythe through soft flesh, their indolence offering them no counter to magical bombardment. It was out in those reaches that the next reforms were first put into place, elevating local aristocrats to serve as regional bureaucrats. With this, retired Ituqattar would be devoted to raising their children as warriors with no temptation to groom them into easy and peaceful vocations where they might have their own ambitions.

Though the battles continued to clear the Lower Suran of the remaining rebels, the uprising was considered over by most. Still, at the time I was concerned about more unrest from the likes of the urbanites, who had never been true supporters of Karqašlu. I encouraged Leyla to sponsor further infrastructure development, particularly on the canals of Bulwar. Through linking the Suran and Buranun once again, trade could flow with even more freedom and the waters could be controlled with precision for the purposes of irrigation.

Magic, wielded properly, is capable of anything. Be it as simple as empowering a soldier in battle, or as great as granting immortality, there is a solution that can be found within its power. As more of my helms were distributed my power grew ever stronger, and I began to consider that my moment was approaching. I would not rush for it, however. I am nothing if not patient. I knew that I would have everything that I desired, revenge, glory, all of it. It only required a little more patience.

Winter descended upon a Kumarkand suffering from the deaths of tens of thousands of loyalists and rebels and swathes of ravaged farm estates. It was through the hard work of the herders of the northern and southern mountains that starvation was averted, and in recompense their festival of Umaslu was recognized as an official holiday within the Akalate. As the fields recovered, it would serve as a way to exchange an abundance of food for a great placation of the masses.

Work on a project as large as the Bulwar canals needed expertise that was rarely found within the lands of the rivers. Goblins and dwarves, their adversarial relationship forced into the shadows so long as they stood in Surael's Garden, were hired to work on the efforts to dredge the canals. Some workers protested, particularly among urban businesses who saw their century-long monopolies on construction undercut by the newcomers. These dissenters were reminded of Jaddar's words, with some encouragement from the Lightbringers.

Progress was difficult and often dangerous. The rewards of valuable items dredged from the depths of the canals were matched by the dangers of wildlife that had made the mud their home. The greatest incident was when a work crew broke into a nest of mud crabs, which swarmed out into the open air and threatened to drag hundreds of workers in the mud. Only the intervention of Sahiru stationed to guard the works saved their lives.

One of the final institutions that had yet to be fully integrated into the Akalate were the Sahiru. While many of their number joined the Ituqattar, there were still many that patrolled the outskirts or guarded roads and waters for money. To bring them under control, they would need to fully integrated into the military. If they would not take land and titles, like the Ituqattar, then money and glory would be their prizes. To offer that, we would have to ask the Sarraka and their elite magi take a step back from the conflict, so that the more mundane elements of the army might get their chance to shine.

Running mercenaries and war wizards is all well and good, until you need the army tradition for something…

The dwarves, still clinging to swathes of Bahar, would be the target of this campaign. The Sahiru were hired in their entirety to march to war in the name of liberation.

Even through war, the work on the canals continued. Treasure and monsters were not the only things dwelling in the sludge, but so were corpses. Many were of people of no renown, whose disappearance had gone unnoticed and who had not been missed. Others were famous, such as Evoris the Splendid. That both known and unknown were equally left to decay in the Darkness beneath the muck demonstrated that all beings end in the same fate. Except for me. My Light will remain bright forever.

The dredging was completed, but there was still more work to be done. The next stage was to renovate the locks and allow canal barges to transit directly between the two rivers. Regardless of the overall state of the route, the revitalized canals shone like sparkling blue carpets of silk through the city of Bulwar. They were surrounded by renovated buildings and long paths lined with trees that offered shade to those who wished to walk the length of the waterways. The city had long since recovered from the sacks it had suffered in the past century.

Finishing the canals is a multi-stage process. I'm not sure why it's not a great project tbh.

A flourishing farmland brought with it countless ways to cook and serve dishes. Each city, each village, had its own twists on dishes of bread, meat, oil and sauces. It was all part of the rich tapestry that my Akalis and I had woven together in our building of the Second Empire. Those who served us, be they administrators taken from local stock or Ituqattar providing the next generation of warriors, were treated to the finest array of dishes from across the nation as reward for their work.

The fighting in Bahar was drawn out, with casualties exceeding what was necessary to achieve victory. However, the Sahiru needed their experience and their glory to accept their role in the military. With the fall of Aqatbar, the aims of the war had been achieved and the long-independent rangers were brought in as permanent auxiliaries to the Ituqattar.

Gnolls had yet to truly find their place within the Second Empire. The military was dominated by humans, elves and harpies, while dwarves and goblins were the craftsmen and builders within the cities. As I considered the problem, pondering over a message that the Akali received declaring her the warmistress of the remnants of the Zokka pack, I decided that not every race needed to be spread across the entirety of the empire. The gnolls could serve as the guardians in their natural homelands, the desert wastes of the south. Their packs would be fed by a steady flow of meat sent by human shepherds, and the distant dangers of Yezel Mora and whatever else lurked in the Darkness would be kept at bay.

Ovdal Tûngr was considered near-impregnable. Yet, the Ituqattar seized it in a matter of months, using their magic in every way they could imagine until a way into the cavern was secured and the cavalry could storm in and take control of docks. It was not a total victory, as the dwarves retreated further into the mountain, but with their cavern harbour taken they were soon forced to come to terms.

More territory was returned to Azka-Evran, but yet more remained under dwarven rule. The reclamation of Bahar was incomplete, as there were far more pressing matters to attend to. All the Ituqattar were recalled to Yesd Apaškumar for a grand ceremony, for the time had finally arrived.

Though I oft refer to the Second Empire, or to Karqašlu, the truth is that even at the height of Kumarkand's power very few outside of the royal court and the Qašnitu Society considered the nation that we had built to be the inheritor of that ancient legacy. Ever since Saed first raised the flag, it was an ideal that the average peasant or priest or noble would nod towards and then forget about as they returned to their duties. That needed to change, and that was the justification that I gave Leyla as to why she needed to hold a grand ceremony, with all the helm-wearing Ituqattar in attendance, to make clear exactly what our nation would be.

I watched through Leyla's eyes at the sea glittering silver that stretched out across the grand plaza before the royal palace, thousands of loyal Ituqattar wearing my helms and ready to offer their lives to their Akali. Her speech was rousing, a lyrical declaration that made our intent clear and roused the blood of the attending crowd. I could feel it in their heads, pounding against the inside of the helms they wore. As the cheers of the crowd reached a fever pitch, as the echoed cries of "Akalunakali" and "Karqašlu" echoed far and wide, I gathered up all my magical essence and reached out into the helms. The time for secrecy had passed.

I, Kar Alušir, Emperor Evermore and many titles besides, announced my name that was to be spoken by every voice in every corner of the nation. At long last, millennia of preparation had borne fruit as I now had the power to reach from the beyond in which I dwell and once again rule Karqašlu as is my right. The crowds were granted a mere taste of what I have seen in my endless life, and they felt a mere fraction of my suffering at the hands of the foul Elikhet. I offered them relief, and salvation. Under my rule, with the Akali as my hand upon the physical world, I would lead Karqašlu to greatness beyond their wildest imaginings. This was not just the Second Empire, but a true continuation of the First Empire, ruled by its greatest sovereign. The First, Second and Only Empire.

And here we are, our benefactor finally has a name. Alušir grants us one of the more unique reforms in the mod. Every ruler generated is a mage, and each new ruler inherits the magical capabilities of the previous just as they inherit the helm. This means that magical study is now viable for a non-long-lived ruler. However, it isn't all upsides, as we will eventually discover…

As I settled upon my throne, I was left with a decision on the way forward for Karqašlu. I pondered whether to rest upon my glory and transform what had been Kumarkand into a replica of antiquity, or whether to drive forward and claim all Halann in Surael's name. The decision troubled me at the time, but now I see it so clearly. The dream of unified Bulwar under a single state, ruled by its people and not by a foreign invader, fit so clearly with my ambition. All would look upon Karqašlu and see a paradise, a garden in which even the lowliest peasant dwelled, ate and celebrated as though they were a king. Monuments to my glory would rise from the riversides, from the hills, from the deserts. And, most importantly, we would unite so as to seize my vengeance from the grip of those who had wronged Karqašlu so long ago.

Though it pained me to leave the wheeling sun flag of old Karqašlu behind, if I was to tap into the nationalist sentiment that had been brewing then their symbols would also need to be co-opted. The old heraldry was discarded, and its place rose a new flag. A shining sun rising against a sky peachy with the light of dawn. In its centre, a face, representing my own eternal watch over the people of Karqašlu. Some said that the face was actually Surael Himself, but such claims were quickly silenced. I do not believe He will mind his champion upon Halann making use of his icon in such a way.

I made an attempt at creating a new flag, based on the description of the wheeling sun flag I gave a while ago, but my image editing skills aren't that great and it really stuck out. We will use the Surakeš flag.

There was much work to be done to secure my vengeance. The perpetrators of the Onslaught needed to be dragged from the Darkness so they might suffer my wrath in the light and never again threaten my nation, while the chaos in Kheterata left me with the option to finally put Elikhet's legacy to the sword. To turn Karqašlu towards these aims was a project of many years, perhaps many Akalis, but I have always been patient.

The second half of the Kumarkand mission tree. They are fewer in number, but each mission is tougher.

My other great project would be transforming the First, Second and Only Empire into something that was capable of withstanding the test of time. While Karqašlu was once mighty, it was erased far too easily by monstrous invasion and the passage of time. To ensure that it would never die, just as I will never die, then it needed to be carved into the very fabric of the spirits of its inhabitants. No longer would the people be Zanites, or Brasanni, or elves, or harpies. They would be forged into a single Qašnitu people, one united under the dream of Karqašlu.

Just the start of the Surakeš missions. You might notice that I have replaced all instances of Surakeš/Surakeši with Karqašlu/Qašnitu

I had to take stock of the truth that the nature of Bulwar has changed across the millennia. Where once it was a land of endless conquest and desolation, it has since flourished into a bountiful land of trade and civilization. Under my rule, it can become so much more than that. A society crafted towards paradise, towards liberation from foreign rule, and to endless prosperity as we stand astride the greatest trade routes on Halann. The future is bright for Surael's Garden.

Here are the Surakeši ideas unlocked so far.

To be continued

Vote

Karqašlu has arisen, and I have taken my rightful place atop the throne. Fear not, for I will only take full command of your body when necessary to make my will known. I am the Emperor Evermore, but I do still value your counsel in my decisions. We stand at the precipice of a mighty future, with many tasks yet to accomplish. Which do you consider the most valuable to carry forward?

Trade – We stand at the heart of the world. Every good in the world will flow through the bazaars of Karqašlu, its people will reap the rewards, and I will claim my dues to the ever-growing glory of our eternal legacy.
Maritime – As we extend our reach, we will face a growing need to project our power across the Divenhal and the Gulf of Rahen. Monsters lurk within the deep and across the seas, and through a sturdy navy we will hold them back.
Influence – The Jadd has spread further than our borders, reaching into Sarhal, the fringes of Rahen, and even the Serpentspine. We might call upon these fellow Chosen of Surael to serve as our proxies against the Darkness that lies outside our borders.
Quality – The Ituqattar are the greatest fighting force on Halann, but they could grow even stronger. More can be done to make them faster, stronger, better equipped to fight a modern war. No corner of the world will be beyond their reach.
Offensive – Though we no longer have the need to reach out in vast campaigns, we might still wish to indulge in some pre-emptive aggression to secure our borders from those who jealously peer at our wealth.
Quantity – We will soon face an enemy beyond number, one that crushed Karqašlu once before. I would call upon every able-bodied man, and every willing woman, to mass themselves in preparation for the defining conflict of history.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The second-place result will get a bonus to its hidden votes in the next idea group poll.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

Does Leyla still have any autonomy, or is it all Kar Alusir now? His madness and obsessions should make for an...interesting time.

She does have some autonomy, though he can take over whenever he likes. From both a story and gameplay perspective, our individual rulers matter a lot less now...
The votes for the fourth idea group are in, with a very clear win for Trade that is very well timed. Quality will get a guaranteed +6 bonus at the next vote.

Trade +3 – Total 25
Maritime +3 – Total 5
Influence +3 – Total 8
Quality +5 (+2+3) – Total 18
Offensive +1 – Total 5
Quantity +3 – Total 4

Chapter Eleven: Dreams of a Golden Future
1567-1581

Town in the hills near Utlazna, Far Karqašlu, 1577

Whispered words were enough to keep the unruly horse in check as the queue shuffled along the road. For a town of only a few thousand, Ištarai was impressed by the sheer number of people looking to enter it. Though, that was why he was among them. This was hot property, and not just as a result of the sun that bore down upon them all. He adjusted his head wrappings and took a good swig of his canteen. How many people would make it inside, and how many would be forced to wait in an encampment overnight?

As he let his canteen fall to his side, a sloshing sound marked it refilling itself and a pull on his lungs marked the mana draining from his body to sustain it. Unlike most of those around him, Ištarai had the means to sustain waiting in the queue for far long than any of them.

That did not mean it was easy. His baggage, slung over his horse, was loaded with books and even more were loaded in a satchel that dangled from his shoulder. Both horse and rider would be exhausted sooner or later, carrying another man's weight in literature as they did.

"Treatise on Conjured Irrigation," he spoke.

His satchel lit up with inscriptions written with fine blue sahabaš. From the depths of the magically-enlarged bag a book that was bound in clean and untarnished leather popped out and landed in his waiting hands. He licked his finger and flicked through the pages until he found the point where he had left off his reading. If he was to be stuck in the queue for hours yet, he ought to make the most of it.

"What is that text?" a rumbling voice asked, in passable Bulwari.

From the rest of the traffic a tall Harimari had emerged. He was wearing a cloak to shield himself from the sun and the dust, but his orange fur was prominent beneath it. When Ištarai looked closer, he could see fine silks beneath the cloak as well, marking this stranger as a tiger of great wealth. It was not the first Harimari that he had met, but it was still a little unnerving to see someone stand shoulder to shoulder with a powerful Kumarkand draft horse.

"It is discussing how best to water crops using conjuration. Irrigation channels can take on many different forms when the water does not need to come from a river or groundwater," Ištarai said, "however, there are other considerations, such as the expense of the caster's mana, the qualities of nutrients that conjured water might lack, and-"

He caught himself rambling, and cleared his throat.

"I hope that answers your question, honourable visitor," he continued, "I am Ištarai szal-Adadu, journeyman magus of the conjuration and abjuration schools. What caught your interest?"

"You do not the bearing of a mage," the Harimari replied, "in the realms of the Raj you would have every right to ride to the head of this endless line."

From what Ištarai had heard, the Raj was little more than a collection squabbling lords that were now the battleground for foreign invaders, but he did not speak of this.

"True nobility, as defined by our eternal emperor, is to fight for Karqašlu and Surael in battle," Ištarai said, "I have no more rights than any other man of means."

"And yet you have chosen this vocation," the tiger said.

"My talents lie in peace," Ištarai said, "and besides, there is wealth enough in Karqašlu that a year here might earn me enough to return to my studies for another ten. That is why you are here too, correct?"

The Harimari growled, not aggressively but as a sort of 'hmm' sound.

"Fair," he said, "I am Jatasur, representing the Flower Oath. This town has two dozen new noble landlords, and I bring them the goods they desire; fine silks, porcelain, and furnishing from Rahen."

He shrugged behind him, across the line of slowly moving carts and pedestrians to a collection of sturdier wagons piled high with goods that were hidden beneath covers to shield them from grabby hands and burning sunlight. Cloaked figures rode the wagons, likely more elite Harimari warriors.

"You will find many buyers here," Ištarai said, looking towards the town again. They were actually making progress, and he could see the gaggle of mounted administrators that were controlling entry into the town just ahead of them.

"It is strange to be so welcomed," Jatasur said, "I had expected tolls and tariffs, but your Sahiru escorted us across the Salahad without charge, and I will pay only a nominal fee to establish a shop."

"You can express your gratitude Alušir, if you make it to Yesd Apaškumar in your travels," Ištarai said, "he is a true believer that all the goods of the world should flow here. For the moment, at least"

"And I also found it strange that here is such a place," Jatasur continued, "if I had not seen this queue with my own eyes I would not have believed it worth the travel."

"It does not look like it would be a new heartland of agriculture," Ištarai acknowledged.

He snapped the book shut and extended a hand to the landscape around them. They were in the hills rising up from one of the tributaries of the Suran, which were covered in dry grasses and sparse tree cover. Rain fell rarely in these lands, preferring to settle in the Serpentspine that loomed on the edge of the horizon. In times past, this land would have been worth little more feed for livestock, with perhaps a few orchards and communal fields wherever a stream or spring happened to feed the land.

Now, it had changed. The Akalunakal had invested a great amount of money and power in the region, investment that had drawn in thousands of interested workers from the lowliest labourer to aspiring magi to foreign traders of great wealth. His silvery sight had already moved onto something else, so swift and capricious was his mind, but in his interest he had transformed the fates of its inhabitants. Would magic and centralized farming be enough to turn this dry land into something akin to the farms along the Suran itself. Perhaps, or perhaps not. But Ištarai was glad to be paid either way.

He did not ramble all of this out to his new companion, but did try to summarize his thoughts.

"Karqašlu is a land of immense wealth, both in its land and people," he said, "wherever you go, you will find customers."

"Perhaps I should not spend time here," Jatasur said, stroking the fur of his chin, "I might earn far more at the capital."

Ištarai could not help but laugh a little.

"Trust me, you are better off here," he said, "though our glorious eternal emperor has done well by us, I would not dare spend more than a hour in his presence. You will learn why, the longer you spend within the borders of his domain."

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

I was petitioned by nobles, priests and other prominent figures from across Karqašlu, each with their own vision of a grand capital hosted in their city. While I could imagine ruling from the vast temple complexes in the east, or within the bustling trade routes of Bulwar and Brasan, there was only place that I could call home. Yesd Apaškumar, built atop the ruins of Panu Karqašlu, was the one and only true heart of the empire.

The Way of Jaddar finds its way into the darkest of places, very fitting for a faith that calls upon all its adherents to strike against the Darkness. The goblins of the Thieving Arrow converted and we gained a valuable ally against the dwarves that raged against us and the foes that lurked both within and beyond the mountains.

When our first diplomats contacted spoke to them, they spoke enthusiastically about their campaigns against the orcs that lurked in tunnels west of Seghdihr. They were pleased to report a crucial road junction was taken, cutting off attempts by the elves of the Deepwoods to break into the mountains.

Over my years as the true ruler of Karqašlu, many accused me of deliberately sapping the strength and mind of those who served me as my Akali. Such propaganda was entirely false, spread by those who sought to claim my divine power for themselves. Not all those who wear me are capable of comprehending my brilliance, so it is far more likely that those jealous traitors merely saw them struggle to comprehend my innovations and thus thought them to be struck dumb.

Now that Alušir has a taste for manipulating our rulers directly, we will receive regular negative events related to this. Losing ruler ability directly is one of the worst possible events you can get.

Case in point, when two of Leyla's advisors came rushing in with a grand plan to turn Karqašlu into a vast protectionist economy, she spent far too long stumbling over her own thoughts to come up with a rebuttal. Before she could say a word, I seized control and ordered the two men thrown from the tallest tower of the palace. Those fools who believed that shutting ourselves off from the rest of the world, that trade was to be curtailed and markets were to be closed, were far too great a threat to allow to speak, let alone live.

To further demonstrate my commitment to this, I ordered a division of the Ituqattar to sail to Re'uyel in Bahar and seize the port. Much like Brasan, this would be the basis for a mighty port, where merchants from across Cannor could come and see my glory in the monuments built in my name and the endless array of goods on display from across my empire.

New innovations in weapons continued to find their place in the Ituqattar. Pistols were a valuable sidearm, allowing a rider to shoot from the saddle without needing to draw on a bow or call upon magic. Even so, I still dreamed of a day when the heavier weapons that gunpowder science produced could be rolled onto the battlefield with the speed of charging cavalry.

Those advocates for protectionism and mercantilism were rooted out from the banks and bazaars, leaving only those with a shrewd eye for free trade. I knew that the greatest treasure of Surael's Garden was its bounty, not just of grain and livestock, but of the resources of the hills, the goods of the cities, and long-lost relics of the distant past. I dreamed of a day where these treasures fed, clothed and armed the world, each crate bearing my sigil and every earned coin reaching my treasury.

I already enjoyed the abundance that my advice had brought onto Karqašlu. Each and every city deserved a palace to my magnificence, the sheer effort and dedication of the workers being in itself a boon to the local economy of the region. A short-term disruption matters little when the economy recovers from the shock stronger than ever and the people have a splendid palace to look upon.

The negative events come rapidly, on a two-year cooldown. We will be dealing with Alušir's capriciousness constantly for the rest of the game.

The Ituqattar rebellion had been crushed within a year, but its effects were felt for a long time, even beyond my own ascendance to the throne. As the final laws and regulations penned by Leyla were slotted into place, the core of our army took shape. Riding the mighty horses of Kumarkand, wielding magics trained in Varamhar and behind the walls of Azkabar, and equipped with the finest weapons crafted by dwarven and goblin smiths the Ituqattar would be the force to carry Karqašlu into the future. Their obedience was guaranteed, as if they wished to keep their estates within their family then they had to give up their own children as warriors in training and hostages to serve the future of the nation. The war against the Darkness is eternal, so there will always be those that they must fight against.

For reference, this is effectively +10% combat ability, +10% ratio, -5% reform progress and +0.05 corruption from the previous modifier. We're now at 95% cav ratio.

Across Karqašlu, construction continued apace. There was no part of the Suran river basin that was untouched by the work of my engineers. Irrigation, roads, bridges, temples, workshops, and anything else that the blossoming people of Surael required needed naught but a request to the local bureau of development. It was to be an unprecedented era. Never before had all of Bulwar been invested so deeply into its own development. Even under the Phoenix Empire, Jaher had cared far more for his distant campaigns than uplifting those who worshipped him. Truly, I am a generous ruler.

One of the best national ideas in the mod, -20% dev cost defines Surakeš as a nation. You can get up to some incredibly silly things with enough dev stacking. This also finishes infrastructure, for another -10%.

Watching over it were the Ituqattar themselves, ruling the land from their ever-growing farm estates. I am well aware that warriors are not the greatest rulers in peacetime, so their priority was the safety and stability of the region, suppressing banditry and other unsavoury forces, while local bureaucrats were tasked with the actual work of developing it all.

Though my magical power was recovered to the point that I could rule openly, I still lacked much of what was mine. To rule for eternity, I would need the fabric of the world to bend beneath the fingers of my host. I secluded Leyla away in the halls of the magical academy in Ulmiš Idiqlat and had her spend her days poring through books on divination and scrying. As always, I remained patient and focused her energies on what would grant me the foresight to see my plans through to their completion.

I have good reasons to pick Divination first, though they won't come up until next chapter when I can demonstrate it.

Those dreary days of study and slow comprehension were broken by moments when I grew exhausted and threw myself into something more entertaining. A grand hunt out in the wilderness would lift my spirits and demonstrate that Leyla had not lost her touch as a harpy warrior. Soaring upon her wings, my voice guiding her talons, she risked everything to dive upon magical and carnivorous beasts and emerged victorious. I returned to the academy much refreshed, ready to delve more into the mechanisms of the future.

With Alušir around your heir isn't the only one at risk of hunting accidents. This is probably the second worst event you can get. Leyla survives, for now.

Delving deep into the depths of the academy, I retrieved countless books that had been lost to time and thought, detailing rituals and practices that were considered long-lost. I even located hints towards the great ritual that had bound me to my helm, though the mysteries that my magi accomplished remained obscured. It would have been a shame for such knowledge to remain solely in my head, and so after some consideration, and careful censoring of that which would point towards me, I ordered the printing presses to start mass-producing these books. The magi of Karqašlu would not want for any information as they carved the world to my instructions.

It is curious that it is not only humans and elves who are viable husbands for harpies, but goblins too. When Thieving Arrow requested a solidification of our alliance through marriage into the royal Qašnitu line, I considered it and took them up on their offer. One of Leyla's siblings was sent beneath the mountains to further our diplomatic reach. The thought of bringing these races together under a single flag, a single dynasty, was intriguing.

As the value of free trade spread along the length of the Suran, I began to plan on how to transform Karqašlu into the world's marketplace. Brasan was a great city, invaluable for trade as it sat at the mouth of the Suran, but tucked into its corner of the Divenhal meant that it had little access to the goods of Cannor. As such, Re'uyel would be transformed into the first port of call for our trading with the wider world. Goods would be shipped there from Brasan, before being sold to Cannorian merchants for vast profits. All that was needed was the of end dwarven domination of Bahar, a task that had already begun under Farana and now Leyla would see through the end. I could see a golden era approaching, both in metaphor and truth.

As we have picked Trade ideas, I will be making a play for spawning Global Trade. This requires us to have the highest value trade node in the world. I don't think that Bulwar itself, where our trade city currently is, has enough incoming value to spawn it. Brasan might be possible if we really push for it, but I believe our best shot is in claiming Bahar. This is why I invaded Re'uyel, to make it my main trading port in the region. There is one way out of Brasan and two out of Bahar that could lose us value, but having Trade ideas makes me a bit more comfortable with managing it and adding those regions should gain us more than we lose.

After spending so much time alone with her thoughts and mine, Leyla emerged to rulership with a sharper tongue and a bubbling rage that she put to good use in renegotiating the pay for the Sarraka. I heard the whispers in court of those disappointed that her beautiful voice was now marred by harsh words. While I appreciated her new outlook, it did also disappoint me that she lost some of what I first admired about her.

She gained fierce negotiator, not actually that bad considering we use mercenaries. Now that we've seen all three of the specific ruler-affecting events, it should be clear what the intent of this government is. With our ruler near-guaranteed to get worse over time, their specific stats and personalities start to matter less and they all become expendable. What matters is getting Alušir's magic maxed out and exploiting that to its fullest.

The eastern desert was a land of chaos, which did much to throttle the flow of trade from Rahen into Karqašlu. None of the powers fighting over the scraps of the Desert Legion were of note when compared to the Ituqattar, and so began a series of campaigns to bring the region under control. The first target would be Verkal Gulan, the greedy Gold Dwarves, who had spilled out from their hold to try and steal the treasures of the surface.

The first flecks of my true power soon returned to me. Distance and walls were no longer any impediment to my eyes. I flew as high as I could and looked out through the silvery pools of Leyla's eyes, scrying across my realm and searching out those who might oppose me. However, the horizon still blocked my sight, and the future remained clouded to me. I had much more to learn, and returned Leyla to the academy so she could continue her studies into divination.

I'm looking for level 2 divination before moving onto something else.

While I did not lay claim to the Serpentspine, for the endless Darkness is no place for a garden to grow, I appreciated the addition of the Citrine of the Dwarovkron to Leyla's diadem. It is the crystallization of Seghdihr's submission to Karqašlu. In exchange, I promised King Snorri that the Middle Serpentspine would be his to rule for so long as he and his descendants pledged their fealty to my eternal rule.

How nice of them, considering we're going all-in on trade at the moment.

As Karqašlu focused on its development, our future enemies did not remain stationary. The stalemate in the east had been broken by Baihon Xinh's defeat of Bim Lau, and the Command took the opportunity to launch their own campaign to reduce the temple fortresses to rubble and begin their southward march. Though I did not yet have the foresight to see who would emerge victorious, it was clear that Haless was trending towards consolidation, a consolidation that would inevitably threaten us.

Using a diplomatic insult CB of all things…?

Verkal Gulan was no threat to the Ittuqattar, and all their territory beyond the mountains was seized. The hold itself remained locked tightly, and so I ordered my generals to leave it untouched. We would approach it from within the mountains, with the skills and technology of my dwarven subjects.

Not even a decade after its annexation, Re'uyel had become a jewel shining as near as bright as Brasan. The city held a strong republican streak among its upper classes, but those who spoke out against my rule were trivially removed. In their place retired Ituqattar were landed in the outskirts of the city to guard against dwarven and separatist incursion. In this bubble of safety, the city was reforged. The harbour expanded to encompass its entire shoreline, vast monuments to Karqašlu that doubled as warehouses and merchant offices looming high over the water. However, with Ovdal Tûngr lurking just along the coastline it could not yet be the true heart of trade that I desired of it.

Inflation remained a constant problem, a result of certain fools within the nation hoarding all of their coin and refusing to allow my reforms to go into effect. To discern between a 97-piece coin and a 96-piece coin is trivial so long as on pays attention to the engraving! I would expect nothing less of those loyal to me, but I was forced to make allowances for that fact that not all of my subjects have my level of perception.

As part of our promise to King Snorri, we moved into the caverns east of Seghdihr to claim them. They were ruled by a clan of trolls that proffered a hand of friendship at first, but resorted to extreme violence when they saw dwarven soldiers approaching. They have potential, so I was willing to let those who espoused the ideals of trade and cooperation leave the mountains and serve on the surface.

My initiative to spread magical knowledge across the nation saw rapid success. Every city had a guild of magi contributing to the development and maintenance of its infrastructure, every Ituqattar estate had magi to transmute its crops into a state of bloom, and the outer fortresses of the nation were bolstered by vast arrays of wards. With each new mind opened to the possibilities of magic, new magi were born to serve Karqašlu whether on the battlefield or behind a desk.

It was out in the fields that they saw the greatest success. The length of the Suran and Buranun was heavily irrigated, endless fields of wheat, hillsides coated in orchards, and desert that was being reclaimed by grasses so that it might one day support vast herds of sheep and goats. Through the wielding of magic and the innovation of technology and technique, the eternal garden of Surael was taking form.

This isn't even the final form of what we can achieve with dev cost reduction. Behind the scenes I've been devving and building farm estates to get as many provinces with Kumarkand farming as possible, to help bolster the trade value we'll need to win the Global Trade race.

North of the Serpentreach lies a realm dominated by Fey creatures, and their elven allies. These elves did not embrace Surael's Light and actively began to meddle in the affairs of those who adhered to His tenets. By backing Ovdal Tûngr, they presented a threat to the northern boundaries of Karqašlu, one that would need an even greater investment in the Ituqattar to defeat.

By the latter years of the sixteenth century, the need for infantry had been near-eliminated. Those few who still remained were relegated to engaging in blocking actions against those who threatened our artillery emplacements, while the Ituqattar charged and ravaged the enemy's flanks. Once we held no further need for foot soldiers, I could turn my innovation to the artillery.

The eastern campaigns continued. Some of the desert settlements had laid claim to swathes of Jaddari territory, only for our own Ituqattar to seize them in turn. Amongst these was the fabled mountain of Ebbušubtu, where Jaddar had delivered his revelation. With the holiest site of the Jadd under our control, fresh waves of pilgrims began to cross the desert routes, bringing with them their wealth and their tithes.

It was at this moment, having flown Leyla out to the mountain to see it in person, that I declared Karqašlu to be the true inheritor of Jaddar's will, through his bloodline from his harpy wife Jasiéne to Leyla. All those scattered folk who believed in his words should look to Karqašlu, to me, for their protection.

I noticed Jadd had hit DotF level three, thanks to all the nations popping out of Jaddari, so decided to grab it.

My repudiation of the protectionists was vindicated, as the economy flourished with the freedom of merchants to move their goods to and from distant lands and throughout the land without tolls. Metal from the northern and southern hills flowed into foundries, grain fed growing settlements from river estuary to mountainside, and magnificent silken clothes and exotic wooden furniture were sold in every city. Yet, this was still only the beginning. We had still not tapped into the true power of global trade.

With the Ituqattar excluded from dull administrative matters, the nation soon ran into the issue that local nobles families were slowly filtering into the Ituqattar themselves, as they sought glory and advancement. Lacking administrators, Leyla turned to the Lightbringers, the Daughters, and the Militants, encouraging them to take up roles in their areas of expertise. Justice and salvation through the Light would be the way of administering the common multitudes.

This is really good, as I'll be wanting to throw out orders everywhere for the bonus production development.

The Ituqattar were mustered and positioned, ready to strike at dwarf and elf both, when I spotted a look in the eye of the supreme commander of the Sarraka. It was clear to my divination that he was jealous of the magical power that I was accumulating and planned to seize the throne for himself, ruling as a demented god-king. I seized control of Leyla's body even though she was in the middle of a speech and demanded he answer for himself. When he failed to do so, his head was swiftly removed from his shoulders. Some called it an ill omen on the dawn of war, but I demanded that it go ahead.

I think it hits a random general. Still, it is a pain to lose our war wizard specifically on the eve of an important war.

There was no better time to strike. The Copper Dwarves, their human subjects and the meddling elves had all been drawn into the vast religious conflict spreading across Cannor. Regardless of any treason, we would strike them down and bring an end to their dominance of Bahar once and for all. No one else would stand in the way of my dream of standing astride the world while bedecked in gold.

To be continued…

 

[Sybot]

Istarai is a brave man to say that out loud. Alusir is going to have a field day when artificery comes and he gets access to thought detectors and such.

We won't be getting artifice in this campaign, as having a mage ruler locks you out of it. A fully-powered mage is still capable of some horrific things, however.

Chapter Twelve: Eve of Global Glory
1581-1601

Former Weavers District, Re'Uyel, Bahar, Karqašlu, 1591

"Smaller; cheaper, right?"

Šušanik had to refrain from rolling her eyes at the attempt at haggling. It wasn't good customer service, and she needed every customer she could get. She sat up straight on her stool, placed her hands firmly on the crate that doubled as her serving counter, and gave the customer a fixed look in the eyes.

"I can adjust it, but that will cost labour and lead to waste cloth," she said, "the price will not be any lower than the full dress."

"How about I take the leftover cloth off your hands, hmm?" her customer said. She placed her own hands on the crate in an imitation of Šušanik's posture, though her goblin stature meant even standing up she couldn't quite match her eye level.

That was a no-go. Šušanik wasn't running a charity. That extra cloth could be reworked into
something else or used to patch up damaged clothes. Not to mention that she didn't have the stocks to allow any wastage at all, regardless of whether a customer took some of it.

"What would you use it for?" she asked, looking for a way to let her down gently.

"Padding, probably," the goblin woman replied. At Šušanik's confused look, she elaborated. "Safety gear for the crews, extra padding on helmets and such. You think these fancy statues go up on their own? It takes hundreds of goblins crawling all over to pull them up, and some'll pay a pretty penny to be able to fall off without splatting."

She waved a hand up and behind Šušanik's stall. There wasn't any need to turn around and look at it. Šušanik had seen it every day for the past year, the monument to their new overlord that now served as the gathering point for this informal marketplace of the poor and disenfranchised, those driven to haggling with whatever leftover stock they had after their businesses fell to the relentless influx of foreign imports.

It was taller than the buildings around it, so tall in fact if one was able to climb to the top they would get a clear view of the whole expanse of the city, the view only blocked by the many other, even larger follies raised by the invaders. This one was a statue of Saed, the first and last human ruler of an independent Kumarkand, and the first one to wear that damned helm. It shone at the very top of the statue, made of actual silver. The man's eyes had also been coated in silver, in representation of what people said that the Akali looked like when she was possessed by the demon that dwelt within.

None of those words left her mouth, of course. She instead focused on her customer once again and resumed haggling. This, at least, was something that she had control over.

When the sale was at last made, and the adjustments to the dress complete, she felt the shadow of the statue fall upon her as the sun lowered behind it. It had been a long day, and she wouldn't be sure it had even been profitable until she got home and counted up all of the ridiculous sixty-two or forty-seven or whatever other insane denomination coins she had been given.

She loaded up the remaining cloth, her tools and her tent into the crate and placed it onto her handcart, then joined the crowds leaving the plaza around the statue. Despite everything, there was some satisfaction to it. She was doing as Surael intended, doing her utmost to make use of the skills she had to make other people's lives better. If only she could have done so with her friends and colleagues at the weavers, instead of making do by herself.

Re'Uyel had been famous for its cloth. It still was, to a degree, but all of the local production was now centralized in a massive manufactory near the harbour that imported raw cotton and wool from Bulwar Proper, rather that small groups like hers had been. Any finished cloth of lower quality, or higher quality in the case of silk, was outright imported, and so the Weavers District had fallen into destitution.

For now at least, she and her husband still had their home. Their apartment was small, at the top floor of a four-storey block crowded amongst many others, but it was theirs. She stowed her handcart and its contents in the locked and boarded storefront at the bottom of their building carried her earnings upstairs.

Quiet words coming from behind the door made her heart twitch for a moment, before realising it was a man's voice alongside her husbands.

"-combined with the Ilatani and the Coppers. We won't be able to count on the elves again though," the man was saying.

She pushed open the door, which creaked upon its hinges, and stepped inside. The entry hall and living room were plush, but worn, a sign of their fall from wealth to the point where neither of them had the time to care for their home. Stepping through the door, she recognized the man sat atop their frayed couch. It was Therin, an old friend of her husband from his time as a dock manager. He relaxed when he saw her, and she realised that his hand had gone to the hilt of a sword still clearly strapped to his belt even in their home.

"What is this, Kišag?" she asked her husband, turning on the man.

"Therin returned to the city," he replied. He was still grimy his work, doing manual labour for one of the foreign companies that had bought out large portions of the docks for their warehouses.

"I can see that," she said, snapping at him, "I thought he was exiled!"

"All exiles return," Therin said, "our freedom has been taken from us for too long."

"Say what you will, I am free," Kišag said.

"Say what you will, I am free," Therin repeated.

Šušanik grit her teeth and tossed the bag of earnings to one side, before rounding on her husband again.

"And what do you think you'll do against that monster with just the two of you?" she hissed, "you'll both end up in the harbour, or in Azkabar, or rotting on the streets."

"Tyranny cannot stand against man's freedom," Therin said, "Surael calls upon us to fight the Darkness, and I cannot think of a greater Darkness in this world today than the silver tyrant. If we rally the faith against him, he will fall."

"The same faith that he's cut off from power and drawn into his authority?" Šušanik said, "you'd be better off calling on the bloody Corinites."

They looked at her with a combination of fervour and pity in their eyes, which only made her anger boil even deeper in her stomach. And yet she couldn't entirely refute them. She cursed the Akalunakal in her thoughts, while doing nothing but toiling in the economy that his actions had built. Had she given up entirely? If she had given up, how many people were there like her, fighting to survive but not fighting for their freedom.

"Remember the words of the city," Terin said, "say what you will, you are free. We are all free to make our choices, to secure our freedom."

She didn't answer him, but instead stormed into the bedroom to get some space for her thoughts. Fear was beginning to replace anger in her mind. If her husband was caught up in a rebellion, what did that mean for her? Did they have any hope of standing against Karqašlu?

The window looked out towards the harbour, and she opened it hoping for a blast of bracing evening sea air. Instead, she was granted a view to lights shining brightly in the distance. There was something happening at the harbour, among the rising stone edifices that preached of the glory of a ghost. Out there, among the rising light, she thought she saw a flash of silver.

She slammed the window shut, her fear spiking at the thought of his sight settling on her even from miles away. Against the wealth of the world, which cared not for freedom, and the power of empire, what hope did they have?

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

It was a quiet war for a long time, with the enemy away fighting in the League War in Cannor. As such, an entire division of the Ituqattar was free to enter the Serpentspine and march upon the great volcanic hold of Gor Bûrad. The dwarves of this hold were filled with a great rage that made them fearsome fighters, but poor at holding their own gates. The hold was looted, its treasures of obsidian brought back to Yesd Apaškumar so that I could display my victory over the deepest fires of the Halann.

It was worth 2/2/2 dev on pillage, so I thought 'why not'. I've recently learned that pillaging (and concentrate dev, which was re-enabled in Anbennar in the last update) is affected by how much it costs to dev your capital, so it is made even better by dev cost stacking.

By comparison, the Copper Hold took a year of siege to complete, during which elven forces began to filter in Bahar. This time, I intended my forces to stay permanently. Loyal dwarves who had proven themselves in the great works of Bulwar Proper were brought in to administer the hold and convince those who had taken shelter deeper within that it was safe to emerge.

My dissemination of magical literature had produced an entire generation of magi who were capable of wielding their intent, my intent, upon the world. As more estates, more manufactories, more mills were being built along the length of the rivers and high in the hills, the work of transmuters, conjurors and abjurers was essential to keep costs down and efficiency high.

My own studies, through Leyla, had reached another apex. I still did not have a true grasp on the shape of the future, but I could now discern with but a glance which ancient texts hold true secrets, what the true nature of a magical item might be, and where locations of great power might lurk. Each fragment of knowledge would serve to advance my own studies.

This is what I was going for. Because our ruler can now drop dead at any time thanks to Alušir, I would like a way to quickly finish off a study session if the hunting event pops up. While you keep your spell levels, you lose any magical study progress when your ruler dies.

Though I wielded great power through the helms, I did not hold the keys to the thoughts of the masses, nor to reach out against those of my foes. Delving deeper into the secrets of enchantment would serve to open up the minds of the people to my glory and extend my reach far beyond the reach of the helms.

Assume that I am studying in the background from now on. I'll note when I actually make use of something that Alušir has learned. My Newshire campaign contains breakdowns of the spell schools, if you'd like more information.

The only great battle of the war for Bahar was against the elves, who marched against Re'Uyel with a force sixty thousand strong. The Ituqattar opposed them and though casualties were even due to the discipline of elven archers and rifles, each capable of firing volleys of enchanted arrows or bullets in rapid succession, as soon as their lines were broken they scattered and retreated back to their forests in the north.

With the defeat of their great army, and still warring with the Adeanic League in the north, they surrendered in exchange for a sum of war reparations and a vow to never again meddle in the affairs of Karqašlu. I did not expect them to hold to such a vow, even at the time, for words are cheap and power and influence are the ultimate determinants of decision. They would oppose us again one day, and I would ensure the Ituqattar were ready for such a war. Elite infantry destroyed by elite cavalry, the ultimate demonstration of my supremacy.

That turned my mind to other thoughts; the fulfilment of my vengeance against Elikhet and the foul creatures that he worshipped. Those beasts, the Khet, were indolent but also powerful. When threatened, they would call upon their worshippers to fall upon their attackers like locusts, while wielding powerful magic of their own. I ordered a shift in the priorities of the nation. For the moment, development of industry was to be halted. Instead, a great initiative began to expand the Ituqattar to levels unseen in even the heady days of the First Empire. Stables, barracks, forges, mustering camps, supply caches, and atop that all the financial incentives to bring a hundred and fifty thousand warriors to arms at once.

A common requirement on the later Kumarkand missions is the need to put up a lot of infrastructure.

To support such an expansion, a true accounting of those under my rule was needed. The population had boomed under the peace I had brought, but a full census had not been completed nor were there the administrative facilities to manage such a population. It was left in the hands of local lords or the Lightbringers and Daughters. I made the decree that the cities would be the hubs through which information would flow, both information from the common people into my calculation, and order from myself down to those who serve me.

Although this is shared by a lot of the Surakeš missions. This one required a bunch of courthouses, the next in the line requires something like 25 universities.

Peace with the Copper Dwarves concluded with the complete expulsion of their government from the great cities of Bahar. Aqatbar, the city of Katrano on the western tip of the peninsula, and Ovdal Tûngr itself came under my direct authority, along with other valuable territory. These lands would be serviced by our growing navy, and the dwarven and human governments would be relegated to the surrounding countryside where they could plot and scheme in futile rage until they too were absorbed.

These are all the remaining province in the Bahar trade node with CoTs or trade bonuses, very luckily totalling 100 WS exactly.

Investment in the cities was welcomed by the merchant and bureaucrat classes. They all remained my subjects, even if they were intent on trying to accumulate power through nefariously peaceful means. I had need of such skills to support the Ituqattar in their campaigns and so their gratitude was itself welcomed even as I ensured that some loyal nobility were kept in place to watch over the urbanites.

Another round of eastern campaigns commenced with the rounding up of the last remaining vestiges of demon worship in the depths of the desert. The Lightbringers led the charge this time, their tactics to enforce mass conversion upon the still untamed gnollish tribes having proven effective in the past. The other gnollish tribes were reportedly crushed under the thumb of the army of trolls marching from deeper within the continent, which further drove the need to push south-east and halt their advance.

As a test of my abilities, I gathered the finest reagents in the empire and peered a full day into the future to learn the winner of the next Avamezan championship race. Though I secured a vast sum, bankrupting several bookkeepers in the process, I still felt hollow. Any excitement I might have found, especially for a bloodless and straightforward content, was drained entirely, and while the money covered the reagents spent, it did not replace the time and effort of the ritual preparation. I needed to do more, or find a more worthy reason, to peer into the future.

Here is the unique interaction I mentioned regarding the horse race. If you have enough levels in divination (and now we will, permanently), you can get a guaranteed win. Is it worth 50 admin to earn 720 crowns (the max possible). Probably not at this point, as our economy is really coming online.

On one of my many glorious hunts, tragedy struck as young Periza, she who would have worn me following her mother, was struck down by the very beast we had hoped to claim. Though I could feel Leyla's grief welling up within her, I made sure to keep it tucked neatly inside so that her mind remained unclouded for rule. She had plenty more clutches of eggs, and a suitable daughter was selected from among these for raising as heir. I decided, at that moment, that Selima would be personally tutored by me in the ways of ruling.

The pointless religious conflict in Cannor drew to a close after ten long years of war, and they came to a decision on which of their long-dead gods was actually alive and the true heir of their pantheon. The supporters of Adean emerged victorious, with the Duchy of Pearlsedge seizing the throne of the Empire of Anbennar along with driving the followers of the dead goddess Corin back into the lands of Escann where she fell.

Though they were a thorn in my side for decades, the Copper Dwarves themselves were industrious and skilled. I had no desire to see them exterminated, for everyone has a place in Surael's Light, even those who dwell in Darkness. The loyalists that I placed within Ovdal Tûngr worked hard to convince those who remained in the hold that their loyalty would be rewards, kickstarting the work to repair and grow the hold every deeper beneath its great cavern.

Running a court of proper decorum is difficult work. There were many times when I would look out through my Akali's eyes and see one advisor or courtier fragrantly disobeying my edicts for etiquette. Whether it was a result of wilful defiance or sheer incompetence, I could tolerate neither among those who represented the greatest minds of Karqašlu.

Serving the purposes of both trade and military, the Golden Highway was the capstone to much of the development of Karqašlu. Armies and caravans would be able to travel the full length of the nation in a fraction of the time, all the while being watched over by regular Sahiru patrols and basking in the golden glory of my realm. When reconstruction first started, it only reached from the port of Brasan to the edges of Sareyand, but it would soon stretch much further.

The eastern campaigns drove the remnants of the Desert Legion out of Bulwar entirely, cementing our claim to the heritage of Jaddar. Though it would be straightforward to declare Leyla as the new herald, I instead called upon one of her cousins, an elf born from one of her aunts, to take up the title of Divine Herald and preach that Karqašlu was the true inheritor of Jaddar's wisdom and through him Surael's will.

This is the last leftover mission from the first half of Kumarkand's MT.

Work on clearing the canals of the city of Bulwar resumed following the end of the war in Bahar. The Suran and Buranun do not rest at the same elevation, necessitating a series of enormous locks and lifts to allow barges to traverse the gap. It was another great investment paid for by the booming business of the nation.

Calling upon those new citizens of Karqašlu within Ovdal Tûngr would serve to bring them closer to our people. The greatest engineers, who had proven themselves in the reconstruction of their hold to have great experience in matters of waterways and mechanisms, would lead the effort to restore Bulwar to its full potential.

Leyla and I attended a celebration of wealth and prosperity at the foot of the tallest monument to my glory in Re'Uyel. I let her give the speech, bedecked in the highest quality clothes and most expensive jewellery that were composed of fabrics, metals and gems from every corner of Halann. Re'Uyel was the true city of the world's desire, now surpassing even Anbenncóst in Cannor or any of the great cities of Haless, and building on this point she made clear my dream that no corner of the world would be untouched by the goods of Karqašlu.

We are just about beating out Anbenncóst, but there's more that can still be done to bolster our numbers.

Importing dwarven ingenuity from our latest acquisition was a great boon to the engineers and architects, who travelled from across the nation to learn from the constructions and mechanisms used to elevate boats through the canals. Manual labour, by man or horse, was not needed to move these contraptions, for they were powered by the weight of the water itself. The great tumbling waterfalls rolling over the enormous wheels that powered the mechanisms became a major attraction for those seeking beauty in the advance of modern science.

With our control of the east growing, we inherited a great number of those who had once fervently followed the Desert Legion and the failing heirs of Jaddar, as well the pilgrimage routes to Ebbušubtu. To serve these new citizens and secure their loyalty, the temples of Azka-Sur underwent a massive renovation, so as to form the third leg of a balance with the other major temples in Bulwar and Eduz-Vacyn. It would also serve as the final stopping point for pilgrims, becoming very wealthy in the process.

Completing the work on the locks and lifts in Bulwar was only the beginning. Though the Suran and Buranun were now connected, there was far more that could be done. The canals could be widened, connections with the Golden Highway could be established, new routes could be dredged to bypass chokepoints, and the entire system could be beautified into one of the greatest wonders of the world. Though it required steep investment, its result would be worth every crown.

Though Karqašlu had been chosen by Surael to lead the people of the Light into the future, it was difficult to impress that upon those beyond our borders. Some claimed that we were falling into the same mistakes as the cults of old, focusing inwards and refusing to take the war against the Darkness against distant foes. I spat upon such claims, for at that very moment I was preparing my plans to secure Surael's rightful place in the lands of my oldest and most simpering foe.

We've been chomping on all the minors that spilled out of Jaddari. It'll be hard to get it back up to level three unless we start spreading the Jadd by force beyond Bulwar.

Our merchants were no longer just confined to our borders, trapped by our relative isolation and the wars of unification that my Akali had fought. We reached out to Cannor and Rahen, spreading word of the triumphs that I accomplished and the glorious golden monuments that were built with the wealth of the greatest nation upon Halann. So long as they paid their tribute and their respects to me, and honoured the words of Jaddar, all would be welcomed within Karqašlu. With optimistic hearts, our merchants were demonstrating all that was great within Karqašlu as they did their work in foreign lands.

The nature of the Sun Cult had changed as we had settled down from repeated conflicts against the Cult of Jaher and the false Heralds of the Desert Legion. The Lightbringers were integrated into the administration, the temples brought into line, and the most fervent believers departed for distant lands to spread the word. The time had come to make official what had long been my stance on the cult.

Starting on the religion/cultural side of the Surakeš MT.

Matters of faith were written into law, secular law that no longer depended upon the temples and Lightbringers to enforce them. The Lightbringers themselves, already forced into an administrative cadre, would be reorganized into a police force that ultimately answered to the helm. The Way of Jaddar, that each citizen was to give their utmost towards serving the Light, became the law of the land, so that the indolent and feckless could no longer hide behind legalities. All would serve under a single sun, Surael's sun, my sun.

The Qašnitu Society did not disperse with the official founding of Karqašlu. Instead, they took their mission of history to the nation at large, organising excavations at ancient sites in search of the secrets of the god-kings and djinn. Panu Karqašlu had already undergone massive excavation, and indeed most of the old city was swallowed by Yesd Apaškumar, so I suggested a different focus. Once the Khet were dealt with, I intended to strike back at those beasts of the deep who had sent the First Empire into its millennia-long coma. Brasan had suffered greatly at their hands, so perhaps there was something to learn within the ruins that lay beneath the city.

You get different options depending on who formed Surakeš. Each location offers different bonuses (with a caveat).

Leyla was deteriorating, a clear sign of the effects of age upon her mind. She would break into fits of rage or depression, conducting arbitrary executions or locking herself in her chambers among the piles of magical texts. There were times where I had to step in and claim control to rescind her orders and ensure that the real culprits of the offence were the ones to be executed, or drag her out into the sunlight so she could stare at Surael and bask in his radiance to cleanse her soul of Darkness. My attempts to aid her did little, and she continued to grow worse, and so I redoubled my efforts in tutoring her daughter in the ways of rulership.

The latter years of the century were marked by the Middle Serpentspine campaigns. First, we struck at the Skewered Drake clan and seized the dwarven roads and holds that they squatted upon. Their reptilian cavalry was no match for the Ituqattar, even in the confines of the undergound, and the poisoned hold of Gor Vazumbrog was purged of the mutated creatures when it was seized. Seghdihr would be charged with managing, repairing, and ultimately cleansing the hold of its Dark malaise.

I am well aware that asking mere mortals to devote themselves to their duties without rest will lead to failure. They might look to me as an example, but they lack the strength to truly emulate me, and so I allowed them some days of rest and celebration. Upon the day of the lion, all work would halt and workers were granted leave to spend with their families, so that they might return to their tasks with renewed vigour.

Our naval presence grew alongside the importance of the trade routes into Re'Uyel. Dozens of frigates, unsuited for direct conflict compared to the galleys that made up our warfleet, began plying the routes from Brasan all the way to Cannor, heading off the attempted dominance of trade by the likes of Busilar and Corvuria. Our overtures of cooperation to Cannor were met with trade conflict and piracy, and so we had no choice but to respond in kind.

Finally getting light ships out now that we care about trade. We really don't want too much being siphoned away from Brasan or Bahar.

Beyond our immediate competition, our optimistic merchants had found their place in the wider world. Where once we were a backwater, now our merchants had links in the greatest cities in the world, and had even travelled the oceans to the distant elven homeland. With access to the best goods, our own domestic industries could adapt and become ever-more efficient in cutting off those unprofitable processes and focusing on what we could truly excel at.

Goods produced contributes towards trade and production income, making it one of the most valuable economic bonuses and in our case useful to bolster our trade nodes even higher for securing Global Trade.

Many Ituqattar complained that I was now favouring the cities and merchants too much, while the priesthood remained infuriated with the secularization of religious law. To those who lacked the foresight that I do to make the right decisions at the right time, I intended to let them stew in their own anger. They knew well that it was through my brilliance that they had achieved the heights that they had, and so to outright rebel against me would only see the same fate as past traitors.

With this I believe I have shown off all of the negative events that Alušir regularly gives you.

The eastern half of the Middle Serpentspine fell in short order, with Verkal Gulan and its vast reserves of gold being handed to Seghdihr so that they could take on the duty of managing such a hoard. The eastern tunnels were held by a goblin nation that had been driven from the Tree of Stone, and refused to allow Jadd missionaries into their lands unlike Thieving Arrow. They were the next target for the campaign, and then the more pliant Ambersniffers who had claimed Ovdal Kanzad would be contacted instead.

Leyla eventually sat in a cushioned nest and refused to leave, passing away without any further struggle. It was a shame to see her depart this world, after claiming my rightful place with her hands. Her daughter seemed far more compliant with my desires, having already gained from my tutelage a desire to see the enemies of the nation punished, whether they were within our border or beyond them.

Draining and dredging the harbour of Brasan was decided to be the most effective way to locate the secrets of the past, and what amazing secrets we discovered. A body of a Deep Devil, as they are called at present, a creature from the depths of the ocean and of the ultimate cruelty. It was a mass of ossified tentacles, wrapped around the skull and through the ribcage of a human skeleton, the limbs of said skeleton nowhere to be found. Instead, more tentacles sprouted from the central mass to provide it with locomotion. At last, I saw the face of the enemies who had crushed the armies of my descendants and ended the First Empire, and I could begin to plot how to defend against them and defeat them.

The caveat is that there is a degree of randomness to the outcome. Either you get cash and prestige, some relics that give bonus trade value, or a unique bonus like this one.

In an ironic twist, the grand watercourse of Bulwar was completed not soon after this discovery. These waters were clear of such monstrosities, and instead filled with vessels of trade and pleasure. In the greatest feat of engineering in all of history to that point, the waters of life were split and diverted into a brand-new river spanning the breadth of the gap between its two parents. The citizenry could enjoy the gardens fed by its waters, traders could cross the nation in record time, and the waters were balanced such that downstream farms did not suffer from the diversion of water. Just as the great rivers now bowed to my power, so to one day would the waters of the Divenhal, regardless of what lurked beneath.

However, those were glories for the future. At that moment, near-all of my focus was on one goal. We had finally amassed the forces and infrastructure needed to push west, push into Kheterata, and push the damned Khet off their gilded thrones once and for all.

I was waiting for Global Trade to pop so I could end the chapter, but I suspect that if Anbenncóst takes the lead for even a single month they will instantly get it, so I was micromanaging trade and getting tired while the length of the chapter dragged on. So instead, ending on this.

To be continued…

Vote

We must always look towards the innovative future, for to be trapped in the past is to bring about our own destruction. My revenge for the crimes against old Karqašlu is close at hand, and I will call upon all the intelligence and strength that I and my Akali have cultivated to achieve it. One of the many centres of learning of the nation will stand at the fore of this education initiative, and thus define the focus of scholars for centuries to come!

(There are a ludicrous number of options to choose from, so I have selected a subset that would be of use to us. Each one gives a small but notable bonus, slightly weaker than a national idea.)

Azkabar –The governing knowledge of the Order of Judges
Akalšes – The means of the traitors to disguise their aggression
Kumarkand – On the care and feeding of vast herds of horses
Bulwar – Unifying the nation and its subjects
Brasan – The knowledge of trade links that span the globe
Dartaxâgerdim – A legacy of engineers and sappers
Anzabad – Experience of millennia spent plying coastal waters
Ovdal Tûngr – On the forging of mithril weapons
Re'Uyel – Connections and alliances with distant ports

Vote for up to three options by clicking on the below image.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

Brasan won the vote for the centre of national education, continuing our deeper focus on trade.

Chapter Thirteen: Lessons of Karqašlu
1601-1616

Gommo Research Division, Aqatbar, Bahar, 1614

Blue light flickered and flashed, the room alight with the workings of magic in both natural and properly contained form. Shadows grew and shrank, casting darkness over Gorwick's face as he struggled to maintain his balance. The bundled silk beneath his feet roiled with the power flowing through it, the air beneath hazy with an orange smear that absorbed arcs of crackling blue lightning,

"Stability collapsing!" called out Lacie from behind the thick shield of cobalt glass across the laboratory.

In a swift manoeuvre, Gorwick bent his little legs and hopped backwards off the silken rug. A moment after he did so, the orange smear burst up through its centre, ripping a hole clean through the fabric before dispersing against the ceiling. The blast was close enough to almost send him tumbling clean out of control, and he had to grab onto the gantry around the experimental array to keep himself together.

"All good in there?" Lacie said, poking her head over the top of the glass shield.

"Perfect!" Gorwick exclaimed, wiping the ash of scorched silk from his goggles and climbing atop the gantry. "We've found the inversion point of the repulsor thrust!"

He hopped down from the gantry into the testing device to take a closer look at the remains of the rug he'd been riding. Metal arms extend outwards from the points of a magical array stencilled onto the floor, each one holding a fragment of damestear out towards the centre. The array had been scorched by the detonation of the repulsor energy, but Lacie was already fixing it. Small mechanical arms tipped with brushes, pens and all sorts of other tools extended from the console attached to the glass shield. It was only prudent to have oneself one step away from the magical array one was editing as it was active.

Though, it was also prudent to engage in testing theories directly, such as having a real person riding on top of a magical carpet and not just using a testing dummy of some sort. That was how Gorwick had found himself hovering above the floor atop a rug being filled with incrementally increasing amounts of magical energy.

He reached out with a spanner and lifted the torn and burned silk from the floor. The Bulwari magi made it look so simple to ride atop a magic carpet, but achieving that same balance with a machine had proven near-impossible. There was some aspect to it that they were missing, some means of regulating the thrust to avoid it ending in a feedback loop that tore the carpet and rider apart or flung them into sky.

"There's plenty of silk, we can make another," Lacie said, coming from behind the shield and watching as Gorwick continued prodding the remains of his experiment.

"It's still a shame," he replied, "this one was given to me by Varamelian. I know it gave itself in the name of science, but he might still be disappointed."

A knock at the door drew him out of his growing malaise. They would not allow anyone to enter in the middle of the experiment, but it was long over and the excess magical energy had drained from the room so the automatic locks had disengaged.

Through the door came one of their attendants, a Bahari boy with an inquisitive mind, the exact sort of apprentice that a gnome in a foreign land needed. He bowed to the two of them and introduced the more important group entering behind him. Dressed in flowing robes decorated with ornate patterns representing intertwined elements were two humans and an elf. A very familiar elf. Gorwick grabbed the remains of the rug and threw it at Lacie, who was left to stumble away with it to dispose of it in a corner of the room.

"Varamelian!" Gorwick exclaimed, lifting his goggles and lowering his dustmask.

"Gorwick, my friend," Varamelian said, offering a shallower bow, "busy as ever with your studies, I see."

"Indeed, indeed," Gorwick said, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips, "are you here to discuss the results?"

"Oh, no," the elf said, "I eagerly await your report when it is ready and not a moment sooner. My compatriots would like to speak to you."

The humans stepped forward, one holding a box in his hands and the other holding a mirror.

"Greetings, Tinker Wobblebox," the one with the mirror said, "I am Gurdar szel-Danas-Naza, one of the High Magi of Karqšlu. This is Fištaspa szel-Kalib, of the Qašnitu Revivalist Society."

"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" Gorwick said. He was starting to feel a bit more trepidation about this situation that he was about having ruined his friend's gift. They had won a charter to open this laboratory against significant resistance from the Bulwari, or Qašnitu as they now more frequently called themselves, magi. Was this a shakedown?

"Your interest in our culture, our magical traditions, and our artefacts is commendable," Fištaspa said, "though I would wish for you to show them a greater amount of respect."

Gorwick glanced over at Lacie, who had dumped the ruined rug on the floor in plain view as if to say to him to deal with his own messes.

"Of course," he said, "it is always a loss when something is tested to destruction."

"Even as you subject them to magic intense enough that this entire building is turned into a cage for magical signals," the man continued.

That was too pointed a comment for Gorwick's mind not to pick up upon. There was something far more important at work here than a simple social call. He glanced at Varamelian, who gave him a knowing look.

"Yes," Gorwick replied, "it's far too chaotic for even T-Waves to reach this deep into the laboratories. You would need to scry a specific target outside the building and never take your eyes off them as they entered, and even then there would be backlash."

"Then we can speak somewhat freely," Gurdar said.

He took a deep breath and looked at the mirror. His image looked back at him, then its eyes flicked towards Gorwick, out of sync with the man himself.

"I am sure you have seen what has happened to the city," Gurdar continued, "history torn down and replaced with gilded monuments, poverty spreading as businesses are driven to the brink by cheap imports, and so many lost to endless war for a man's – no – a ghost's vengeance."

"If I understand what you're saying," Gorwick said very carefully, "then in my opinion it is none of my business, as a stranger to these lands."

"Would you turn down an offer for the greatest experimental prize of all?" Gurdar asked.

Gorwick looked at his friend again, who was offering a excited grin, and wondered if he was about to let himself get drawn into something far bigger than he had expected when it woke up in the morning.

"What is it?" he asked, giving in to his curiosity.

Fištaspa opened the box he was holding, and from it withdrew a silver helm. One of the tens of thousands that littered battlefields around Bahar, torn from the head of an Ituqattar who had fallen in battle. In its mere presence Gorwick could see the damestear in the test machine reacting, blue light beginning to flicker across the room again.

"We have a plan," Gurdar said, "and once it is all over, the Gommo will be granted access to all the knowledge of Karqašlu"

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

My patience had finally reached its limit, I had spent so many centuries pondering my vengeance that I could no longer hold back my desire. The Ituqattar were ordered forward into the lands of the Khet. With the region so divided it would take many conflicts to swallow it entirely, and so the first and foremost goal was to seize the island of Elizna, for use as a staging post for campaigns on their foul river.

All of the investment paid dividends. Though the Cannorians claimed to have sailed a route around the lost southern seas and held access to the wealth of their settlements in Aelantir, the truth was that the wealth of the world flowed through Karqašlu. Cannorian traders came to Re'Uyel seeking goods, while Raheni merchants made the long journey down the Golden Highway, spending and investing in my empire as they travelled.

The lands had been rid of banditry, red of dangerous creatures and tribal raids, and rid of the Darkness that lurks in the heart. With the Sahiru patrolling the roads and frontiers, the Sarraka on standby to crush any who dare disrupt my peace, and the Ituqattar landed to ensure compliance among the rural population, there was no more room for distrust and rivalry among my citizens.

With my great work of prosperity complete, I let the economy fall upon those with the mindset to maximize our income. They spoke often about concepts of hyperinflation and overburdened interest rates, and I executed one or two who I could see were working their way towards blaming me, leaving the remainder to quietly work on fixing their own mistakes in the economy.

My first blow against Elikhet was not satisfying. Elizna was claimed and the Kheteratan rump state was cut off from the Divenhal, but it would be a long time yet before I could see the works of the Khet burning and salted.

I am really craving for some administrative efficiency…we couldn't even include the desert enclaves.

The economists continued to approach me, and I continued to feed their bodies to the charnel houses. They insisted that my personal denomination of coins be removed from circulation so that they could issue new ones. It was only when they conceded that the same denominations would be issued, and in greater numbers than before, that I agreed to their arrogant and selfish demands.

Technology is a magnificent thing. Whether it is a devastating weapon of war pulled behind a band of powerful horses, or a single weapon that can strike down a man from a hundred paces, both big and small it advances our power over the world. The introduction of flintlocks gave the average warrior of the Ituqattar as much firepower as a lesser mage, but in far greater numbers. Now the Sarraka could focus their efforts upon the true wonders of magic; greater fireballs, mass illusions or enchantments, and even flight.

The eastern campaigns expanded into Raheni territory, for they had seized land that was rightfully part of Karqašlu, which could not be tolerated. The last remnants of the Desert Legion and their harpy allies were swept up in the conflict, to bring an end to final pretenders to the title of Surael's Empire.

Further east, interesting news emerged. The Command struck deep into Yanshen, attacking a clan of lizardfolk that were much beloved by all the people of the region as good luck charms. A vast coalition including most of Rahen and the vast empire of Baihon Xinh struck at the Command with a fury that would give pause to me. Tales reached down the Golden Highway of battles in which hundreds of thousands fell, dwarfing any that I had seen in this era. What a glorious thought, to imagine so many marching and dying in my name.

You can also see how far behind the Command is in miltech. It's not been a great campaign for them at all.

Karqašlu was growing beyond even my imagination, as cities blossomed along the length of the Suran and the population swelled ever higher. It was clear that there needed to be an entire educational institution to keep the nation moving, and so I instructed universities to be raised in every major city in the nation and begin training members to join the orders that made up the administrative cadre. Each city then competed amongst themselves to decide which would take the lead as the central educational institution in the nation. With my blessing, the minds of the people would be reshaped.

I finally had a proper set of advisors at my side, those who honoured my superiority and demonstrated their fealty with generous donations and demonstrations of the wealth they had earned at my leave. Among them were the wealthiest of the Ituqattar, the greatest magi I had befriended at the academy during my studies, and merchants with ties that lay across the world.

Was mistaken before, this is the last of the negative Alušir events.

Their trade connections drew the most interest to me. We only had the slightest toehold upon the great wealth of Rahen, leaving far more to be absorbed by local traders or siphoned away by Cannor. It was a prospect for the future, one that drew both my thoughts and my scrying eyes towards the east even as I knew I had enemies that still needed to be crushed within my grasp.

The magi in my inner circle were fascinating conversational partners. We did not dwell on the mundanities of wealth and war, but spoke at length about the feats of magic I had been learning in my studies. They made many suggestions to bolster my strength even further, the most curious of which was allowing gnomes to establish an office in Aqatbar. I was dubious about their quasi-magical contraptions, but the magi promised that they would speak to the gnomes directly and monitor them so that they only produced artifice that aided in my power.

It was a shock to hear of the defeat of the Command, and the historians told me that it was an even greater shock that the long-dead Ruin Kingdom of Khadisrapur had arisen out of the ashes of hobgoblin occupation. The momentum of the martial nation had been halted and turned around, but it was far from destroyed.

Khadisrapur has an MT in the Gitlab version (the devs have switched away from Bitbucket). It is challenging, but has a very Bollywood hero feel to it.

Tales of such heroics inspired me to call upon our own history. Batur II, my own descendant, may have fallen to the Onslaught and harpy invasion, but he was a true hero who gave everything that he had to try and preserve the First Empire. His sacrifice and legacy ought to be remembered unto eternity, and so I placed him alongside Dimuzi and Jaddar as the greatest heroes of the nation, second only to myself in their standing in the historical record.

Compared to the educational vote, this is a no-brainer. We're going to go full cavalry, therefore making them cheaper makes the most sense, and that army tradition boost is literally insane (I wonder if it was meant to be -0.5%, none of the other options are this drastic). Anyway, Alušir wouldn't pick anyone besides his descendant.

The eastern border at the foot of the Paravimata Mountains was secured. For the moment, the Ituqattar would not step another hoof into Rahen. That would be the battlefield of our merchants and the navy that was slowly being assembled on the Gulf of Rahen.

They would serve a greater purpose in liberating more of Bahar from the hands of our dwarven foes. Those Copper Dwarves who accepted my rightful rule had returned to their hold, while those who chose to live in exile and fear had called upon Cannorians and elves to come to their aid. On paper their armies were superior, but I believed in the strength of the Ituqattar to obliterate such weak and outdated armies.

In the midst of battle raging in the countryside around Aqatbar, the gnomes continued their work. They petitioned the magi to test their machines within the bounds of the city. I was on the verge of denying them permit to experiment beyond the bounds of the concession we had already given them, but some of my closest magical allies broke with their fellows to advocate for these experiments. If it was a disaster, then it would still only be one city out of many that would suffer.

The enemy flooded Bahar with their forces. Each force was no match individually, but even quantity holds quality. The commander of the Sarraka found his match in the Count of Celliande, who wielded magic as mighty as any magi in Karqašlu besides myself.

The two met in battle, while I watched on distant wings. The clash of magic lit the sky for miles around, with great elemental spells sweeping across the battlefield and barriers of mana reaching as tall as mountains. Gunfire crackled ceaselessly beneath the burning sky, and the screams of the dying echoed across the valleys. My Ituqattar fought valiantly and triumphed, though the cost was heavy. The tide had turned against the lesser onslaught that we faced.

Observing from on high, I was struck by another brilliant idea. Flight was so rare among the peoples of Halann, and magi were no different. Flying carpets were occasionally used, but were more a curiosity than anything especially when a harpy would serve much the same role for far less cost. However, much as a war chariot is pulled by many horses, many magi could drive a carpet of tremendous proportions. I had unleashed a renaissance in magical ability in Karqašlu, granting me a deep pool of talent to choose from in my quest to rule the skies.

Any nation in Bulwar can take this decision, which requires you to develop up your silk provinces. It will give us some fun things once that event hits in ten years.

At the suggestion of the magi aligned with my court, I began to study illusion magic. It did not present as notable or glorious a result as the charms I had been laying upon my warriors to bolster their morale, but they claimed that, as much as a statue is a representation, I could produce an illusion of myself that stood astride the world. That fascinated me enough to begin to learn more.

The war continued to push into the heart of Bahar, armies of elves being buried beneath the hooves of the Ituqattar. Re'Uyel's vulnerability had been demonstrated, as it had fallen within the first few months of the war, which only bolstered my determination to see my foes utterly driven from those lands.

Chroniclers in Cannor looked upon Karqašlu with fear and cowardice. They did not call me a Witch-King, as they called so many of the petty magi who arose in Escann, but they declared this to be an age of unchecked magic. The fools did not understand that magic is a tool that needs no check, for it is wielded by those with the strongest will and the inherited right to transform the world into the image they desire.

Karqašlu was mine. The strength of my absolute rule would only increase, and if anyone dared to claim me to be a tyrant, I need only show them the view of the glorious golden prosperity that my people enjoyed, which stretched from the tip of Bahar to the furthest reaches of the Salahad. They would then be dropped from said heights, the bricks of the Golden Highway becoming their final arbiter.

Not too bad to start with. We've got plenty of room to get up to 100 absolutism. There is a unique Bulwari objective and a unique Bulwari bonus in this age, but I'll be aiming for the admin efficiency first.

The last gasp of the enemy was a reckless assault on Yesd Apaškumar itself, led by the elven king himself. The sheer number of cannons delivered serious damage to the bastions and palaces of the city, but the Sarraka relieved the city before it fell, sending the elves scattering after their foolish attempt to slay me.

It was not long subsequently that they offered their surrender. The dwarven exiles were driven deeper into the foothills of the Serpentreach, their connection to the coastline severed entirely. In comparison, Karqašlu and Azka-Evran together now held a near completely secure coastline from Bulwar Proper to Re'Uyel, with one clear exception.

That's four provinces for nearly 100% warscore, and they aren't even holds. This will take a while, even with absolutism.

The gnomes continued to grow in numbers, and in fact had turned Aqatbar into something of a giant laboratory. Strange devices appeared on every street, trinkets of all sorts found their way into marketplaces outside of the city, where they were promptly confiscated, and both I and the more forward-thinking of the magi watched intently to see what deeper secrets of magic the little creatures might uncover in their wild experimentation.

I don't think there is ever a legitimate gameplay reason to refuse a Gommo office in your provinces.

At the same time, the universities that I commissioned began to produce the first generation of new minds that would shape the ever-developing future of Karqašlu. In the great competition between the cities, it was no surprise that Brasan wielded the financial strength to achieve supremacy over the others. The economy was the foundation of the endless bountiful garden that I had generously granted unto my people, and so to further advance that was to further the will of Surael.

As voted for, we select Brasan. Every possible human state in Bulwar is an option here, with some useful options and some very lackluster options.

I took up the education of little Miriam much as I had her mother, and instilled upon the necessary will and determination to rule the nation whenever I had more urgent matters to attend to. She would be another worthy body for me to wield.

A brief conflict with the Diamond Dwarves saw the last of the Bahar coastline east of Re'Uyel finally come under control. In addition, land in the tunnels that they had seized from the Thieving Arrow goblins during the confusion of our war with the Copper Dwarves was returned, further cementing our alliance with the righteous Jadd warriors of the Serpentreach. I held no desire to delve deeper into the mountains, but they would be able to go where we could not.

The golden generation, as they were called, were the first to emerge from the universities. Taught curriculums approved by myself, tutored and drilled in the correct ettiqute to address me, and filled with the knowledge of the world brought by traders from every corner of every continent, they represented a golden age of knowledge, much as I had forged a golden age of military and economy.

With widespread education came something that I could have only dreamed of during the First Empire. A single unified language, spoken across the length of the empire. Though I would have preferred ancient Qašnitu to re-emerge, instead the modern Zanite dialect, its closet relative, was chosen as the language of study at the dozens on institutions across the nation. It would be a long time before every peasant spoke as I do, but it was a glorious beginning.

I, in my foresight and brilliance, had begun to forge the disparate peoples of Bulwar, be they one of the many human cultures, elves, gnolls, harpies or dwarves, into a single nation. Karqašlu stood as the shining example of Surael's Empire upon Halann, and soon its people would sing with one voice of the future that I would lead them unto!

The second set of Surakeš missions. There is one more set after these.

To be continued…

Vote

Song has the power to move the hearts of the masses, and the anthem of Karqašlu has the power to move the fate of nations. We might call upon my ancient legacy, or speak of the great works of gardening and trade, or even drive further into the faith of the Jadd enlightened upon us by Surael and Hhis Herald. Whichever is chosen will be sung across the land, each voice drawn to remember whom it was who granted them this boon.

(Each anthem grants a different bonus, much like education.)

The Glory of the Sun God – Which are the mountains not clothed with your beams? Which are the regions not warmed by the brightness of your light?
The Legacy of Karqašlu – Glory for the riders of Bulwar. Ride on, ride on in majesty!
The Trade Networks of Bulwar – Blessed life, the fullness of prosperity, The firmness of our faith, The longevity of our country
The Beauty of our Gardens – A Garden fully blest. Finding in the Paradise, perfect peace and rest.
The Revelations of Jaddar – And I beheld, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice: Together Against the Darkness!
(The Gifts of Brasan the Emancipator is also an option, but vetoed by Alušir as the lyrics are far too praising of someone who isn't either him or Surael.)

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image.



Voting will remain open for 48 hours

 

[Sybot]

Conspiracies are afoot. Will Alusir notice in time?

Why is the cost so high? Really high dev?

Really high dev. The dwarves love developing provinces.

It was fairly close, but the anthem of the glorious nation of Karqašlu will be the one that expounds upon the Beauty of our Gardens.

Chapter Fourteen: Beyond Horseback
1616-1630

Mustering fields outside Yesd Apaškumar, 1630

The carpet flapped beneath Varamelian's feet, the breeze making it difficult to maintain its position. It was not a natural breeze. There had been a need to ventilate the fields, in spite of them being in the open air. When over a hundred thousand soldiers and their horses gathered in a single place, the rising dust, heat and smell would have killed many if it was not blown safely away into the dryland hills to the north. The farmers working on reclaiming that marginal territory would need to be compensated, but Varamelian expected that the beloved Akalunakal would not spare them a second thought.

Even in the breeze Varamelian felt as though he was overheating, and he was clad in the loose and thin robes of the magi. Standing on carpet platform high above the assembled mass of warriors, he could not imagine what it was like below.

"My lord, the delegation has arrived," said Rešan, who was maintaining the edges of the platform.

All-in-all, it took half a dozen magi just to keep the platform aloft, but it was large enough to hold a dozen more and carry them into battle. He was not participating in the coming contest, however. He had been given the task of entertaining their most strange guests. Despite the rude demeanour and blatant insults, Alušir had found them amusing and wanted to give them a view of the power of Karqašlu.

Varamelian walked to the edge of the platform and peered down towards the edge of the field. One very quickly got over their vertigo after spending any length of time in sky atop a thin roll of carpet. A wall of spears marked the edge of the impromptu arena where the full strength of the Ituqattar had been gathered, and just beyond them were a few carpets laid down for those who might want to observe what was coming.

Three strangers in crisp, foreign, uniforms stepped onto a smaller carpet manned by a single mage and began to ascend.

As they rose they would get a view of the extent of the mustering field and the sheer mass of flesh and armour that spanned across it. Those in attendance had not been told the full extent of what they were participating in, only that they would get the chance to elevate themselves to even greater heights of power within the Ituqattar. Varamelian knew what Alušir's plans were, and he steeled himself for the sights that he would see before the sun set.

Beyond that, the view grew more beautiful. The shining city of Yesd Apaškumar, the greatest in all of Karqašlu if not the world, stretched along the southern bank of the Buranun, and now even spilled onto the northern bank. The enormous stone bridge built in those days before the helm had been discovered was ornamented with gold and silks, and had been further enhanced with great towers that stood watch over the river like castles unto themselves. The mansions and ministries around the Akali's royal palace were each monumental, each akin to the greatest palace of a lesser nation by themselves.

From this height you could see even further beyond the city, to the ornate countryside that lay beyond it. Distant estates glittered like palaces, crafted from the finest marble and sheets of glass individually worth more than entire buildings. The land around them, where it was not taken up by farmland, had been crafted meticulously. Open fields bounded by woodland, perfect for hunts, minor rivers that wound through picturesque valleys carved by the effort of thousands of workers, and roads that were filled with the traffic of the endless trade that fed into the city.

It was such a beautiful sight that it only made the imminent ugliness before him even more discordant.

"Despot Lezuir?"

The voice drew him from his thoughts and he turned his attention to his three guests. They stepped carefully from the smaller carpet onto the larger one, their eyes fixed firmly on him and not on the hundreds of feet of empty air below. Each of them was wearing a simple but tailored uniform of cotton and leather, better suited for marching and riding than combat, but also not exactly a formal uniform. More notably, each of them wore both a pistol on their belt and had a full-size musket slung over their back.

At the head of their little party was a woman with heavily braided hair that looped over her ears. Her eyes pierced into him and were filled with clear antipathy.

"That is not the correct form of address," Varamelian said to her, "I am Lord Lezuir of Danas Nazar."

"Captain Hahra, Blue Army. Forgive my poor Qašnitu," the woman said, "I picked the word that seemed to best fit."

Was this really their diplomat? Even after decades of life spent dealing with Alušir, this seemed a bit much.

"You are very direct," he said, "it is brave, to do so while the guest of the Eternal Emperor."

"It is more than bravery," Hahra replied, "it is duty."

Her hand went to her pistol, causing Varamelian to tense up and bring the incantations for a ward of deflection to the front of his thoughts. The members of the delegation had refused all attempts to disarm them, even in the presence of the Akalunakal. Alušir had felt no threat from them and allowed it, in spite of their disdain, but Varamelian was a mere mortal. Though, he supposed that he always had been in the presence of permanent imminent violence in his posting to Alušir's court. These gunslinging foreigners shouldn't faze him any more than that.

"Kalyin calls on us to stand for freedom with our words and our weapons," Hahra continued, "if I had been struck down for doing my duty, I would have welcomed it. Liberty reigns in Kalsyto."

"Liberty reigns in Kalsyto!" her two compatriots repeated in chorus.

She lifted her hand from her weapon, having said her piece, and crossed her arms very deliberately in front of her as she looked out upon the mass of warrior nobility before her. There was a tension there, as though she was restraining herself from drawing a weapon and aiming to strike down even one of Karqašlu's finest warriors.

Before Varamelian could comment upon it, horns sounds, and a a flash of silver marked Alušir's appearance at the mustering grounds. He flew from the palaces wearing the Akali's body, and the expression on Hahra's face grew ever-sourer.

"My Ituqattar!" Alušir called out, his voice rising over the wind and murmurs of hundreds of thousands as he circled high above them, "today, you will prove yourselves as the greatest warriors upon Halann. Whether by steel, by magic, or by bullet, all I call on you do to is to prove yourself to me!"

The ruckus from below grew ever louder, as a thousand voices called out asking how to prove themselves.

"It is simple!" Alušir responded, "only one-in-three may leave this place alive! Fight to find your place among that number!"

A roaring silence replaced the cries and questioning as it suddenly dawned on all those in attendance exactly what they had been dragged into.

"If not for this damned wind…" Hahra said, in muttered words that Varamelian could barely pick out.

For all of their strange ways, he could not fault their desire to see that monster fall. However, his own plan was progressing and he had no need of tactless, gun-obsessed outsiders to do so. He would continue to play the part, continue to bend to every rule and obsession of his master, and wait for the perfect time. Alušir preached patience, and his message had been heard by those both closest and furthest from him.

"Tell me more about Kalsyto," he asked Hahra, looking away from the imminent slaughter as the first weapons were drawn and incantations were chanted.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

I sought out the aid of the most famous musician in all of Karqašlu to produce an anthem worthy of my name. He presented to me several fines works, each calling upon an aspect that were the domain of myself or Surael Himself. Faith, trade, gardening, or the legacy of the First Empire, each of these would be worth topics to spill from the lips of my adherents. Amongst them was on other, praising Brasan, a djinn who had betrayed his own to offer aid to humanity. For heaping such praise on a tyrant, even a self-proclaimed benevolent one, I had the musician flogged. Not to death though, for my mercy was enkindled by his other works.

After much contemplation, I settled upon the one that spoke clearest to my heart. All I wished for, once my vengeance was complete, was that my beauty and glory is displayed for all to admire from one end the Suran to the other. Karqašlu is Surael's Garden upon Halann, and will display nothing less than perfect beauty for as long as I live, which shall be forevermore.

With each passing year the land grew more beautiful, surpassing even the anthem itself. Cities like pristine jewels, shimmering with promise and resplendent with my glory. The countryside was not left behind, as each Ituqattar farm estate became a city unto itself, housing thousands of workers in quarters that would have been opulent for a noble in the time of Varamhar. The crownlands beyond the walls of the estates were beautified so that one might see no difference between the Golden Highway and a backroad on the frontier. Surrounded by such beauty, my loyal administrators worked with renewed efficiency.

We still have not hit peak dev-maxing. That can only come about with the use of certain magics.

The court remained as turbulent as ever. Plots abounded within the circles that surrounded me in my palace. Whether they were plotting for their own advancement, or to win my favour, or even to try and secure a marriage the with Akali so their progeny would be the one to wear my helm, I would let them scheme. It was only when they turned their jealous eyes to my authority or ended their plot in open violence would I let the wrath of the Akali be unleashed upon them. She held a great deal of resentment in her heart, for some reason, resentment that I allowed her to take out on those who broke the peace of the garden of Karqašlu.

It was during this time that the gnolls began to find their place under Surael's Light and my reign. Some had joined the armies of Karqašlu, but as the infantry fell away as a fighting force they had begun to lose their place once more. The annexation of gnollish territory on the southern fringes of the Salahad had introduced a new philosophy, one that spread quickly through the existing population. They served a duty as cleaners and scavengers, capable of taking the detritus of civilization and turning it into something functional once again.

The gnolls in eastern Sarhal follow Kvangahga, a religion based around recycling and reuse. It's pretty cool if you want to take gnolls down a different route than the usual slavery and demon-worship.

I longed to continue my vengeance, but was thwarted the division of Kheterata between the sycophants who still prostrated themselves before the felines and the invaders who crossed the desert to seize the river delta. The latter would come to the aid of the former, to maintain their control of the region, and so that necessitated driving them back beyond the sands first of all.

The Ituqattar marched south, down the Mother's Sorrow, and into the arid plains that stretched from horizon to horizon. Resistance was minimal, with our foes having chosen to strike at Karqašlu from the east, but attrition was high as heat and exhaustion felled even warriors trained in the heart of Surael's Garden.

Over the years, the Day of the Lion and the Day of the Sheep had spread throughout Karqašlu, the two days in which the people had their moment of respite from their work fulfilling my desires and Surael's edicts. As I am generous, I codified these days as universal festival holidays so that the remaining days of the year could be spent in devoted labour towards a shining future of vengeance.

The enemy's eastern offensive was halted in the depths of the desert, lands held by my loyal gnollish tribes. In my name they pinned the enemy and barred their access to the oases, allowing the Ituqattar to approach and eradicate them. The very sands themselves rose up at the call of the Sarraka and swallowed them into nothingness.

With their protection revoked, Kheterata proper now stood ready to fall into my hands. Armies struck from the east and the west, while the war in the south continued with the aid of armies from the loyal subjects of Karqašlu. Some called this a war for the Stewardship of the Sorrow. They were correct, in a way, in the sense that I would soon show the world exactly what I thought of Elikhet's pledge to guard these lands and waters.

Using this CB gives a discount on territory in Kheterata. Besides Khetists; Sun Cult, Gnollish, West Sarhali and Dalcabba religions can all use this CB to claim the mandate.

The end of the Desert Legion had scattered the countless tribes and other groups that made up the Jaddari, and it took years for them to return to the fold. Delving deeper into the deserts of the east, more and more gnoll packs, human tribes and harpy flocks began to emerge to present themselves to me and marvel at my benevolence as I granted them the rights of citizens of Karqašlu.

Proving that their strength was never more than an illusion, the Khet scattered before the Ituqattar. They cities fell in short order, their treasures were plundered and their monuments were torn down. This was only to be the beginning, as I departed to see the city of Kheterat for myself and look upon the works of my ancient enemy.

The magi proved my brilliance and produced chariots of the sky, enormous carpets capable of carrying an entire squad of magi and raining down utter destruction upon the enemy on the ground. The skies darkened, the enemy trembled, and the seas quieted, for we under my reign we achieved heights that place in the realm of Surael Himself.

Mythical cavalry are used in a few places in the mod, usually to represent nations that ride magical creatures, for example Marrhold's griffon riders. In our case, it's a little different. At a cost of 10 mil per regiment they aren't cheap, but also mil power isn't a huge issue at the moment.

All poetry aside, to see my magi alongside me as I took to wing was a tremendous feeling. Atop their Zamukaraš they were near untouchable, and each expanse of carpet was large enough that massive rituals and spells could be cast. Terrain and fortification no longer mattered for my Ituqattar, as a new generation was inducted of those who struggled on horseback but were skilled when granted a stable platform.

The nobles and mages gain some privileges you can add to further bolster your new mythical cavalry at the cost of loyalty. Siege ability is always good, while the second one also gives them even more shock damage. There are more privileges, but you can explore them for yourself.

More traditional Ituqattar still held their place, for there were only a limited number of magi who could hold the Zamukaraš aloft. Horses could still live off the land, and in the plains of Sarhal this is where they proved their worth, operating far from the supply lines of the Mother's Sorrow but still able to win victories in my name.

As the Golden Generation filtered from the universities into the administration, their new ideas brought further Light to the nation. Be it a priest dabbling in the sciences from their monastery, a scientist applying their theory to the practice of governance, or a tax collector removing the inefficiencies of construction, Karqašlu led the way in the advancement of the world. All eyes were drawn to my empire, the shining beacon at the heart of everything.

The bonuses seem minor, but scale upon the skill of the advisor so can get really good if you can run full level 5 advisors, which we absolutely can (though I haven't up to now because I've been throwing so much into construction, decisions and missions).

The Sorrow Delta was added to my realm, the believers of the false dragon Aakhet were driven into the sea, and the Khet themselves scurried away to their cities further upriver. The campaign would soon continue to see them eliminated for good, but at that moment I had a more important task to see to.

I stood atop the largest pyramid in Kheterat, with the ruined city laid out before me along with the bodies of those Khet who had failed to flee and the remains of the priests who had enabled their debauchery. From my vantage point, with my silver scrying reaching beyond the horizon, I could see that my mission was not yet complete. The beasts still lived. But, in that moment, I had triumphed over the bastard Elikhet and stood on the verge of ending his twisted stewardship. I called down a bolt of lightning that shattered the top of the pyramid, and with it any hope of the Khetists of restoring their mandate.

We need all of the Kheterata region to complete the missions though, which means fighting Busilar.

While I was seeing to the great work in Kheterat, I ordered new campaigns on the eastern frontier to secure the borders of Karqašlu. While these progressed without incident, there was a curious stand-off in the plains on the far side of the Serpentspine. A division of Ituqattar encountered a similarly sized army comprised primarily of infantry, also fighting against the centaurs. After a near-disaster as they mistook my cavalry for their enemies, a parley was held. They represented what they called the Armed Republic of Kalsyto, and offered to open relations. The lands of my ancestors, now held by a strange republican force of not insignificant strength.

Besides the fight against the centaurs who held the north-eastern-most passes through the mountains, the majority of the campaign had been against Raheni nations who had taken advantage of Jaddari's collapse. They had been preyed upon by the Command, and were of no great threat to my armies.

I determined that the time of independence for one of the last relics of the old order in Bulwar was over. Azka-Evran had served its purpose as a buffer against our foes in Bahar, and the time was now to integrate it fully into Karqašlu. With the dwarves and their pet humans close to complete dispersal, Bahar could become a fully integrated and prosperous part of the nation. It would not be a swift process, but I remained ever-patient.

Though it looks bad, this is with a ton of overextension hurting our dip rep and none of the magics that boost it being activated.

The first representatives from Kalsyto arrived after the end of their war with the centaurs, one that they won handily, further cementing their control over the realm where my forebears had once ridden their chariots freely. They were clear in their disgust of my reign, decrying it as tyranny and madness, which was an obvious lie considering the opulence with which they were treated. I knew to keep my rage saved for the battlefield, so they did not die there and then.

The strangest part of their delegation was that each and every attendee was armed, from the guards through to the diplomats. They said that the gun is the only way to guarantee freedom from tyrants, and that the Armed Republic has been founded on the ideal that everyone should be ready to defend their freedom and the freedom of those around them. And they called me mad!

There are six possible routes for a unified Kalsyto, and this is one I don't see often. Its name is literally Kalsyto-Gun

Selima and Miriam, mother and daughter and both shaped entirely under my wings. They had learned well the nature of leadership, how anything was permissible under the Light as long as it was for the sake of the nation and against those of the Darkness. I learned of the writings of one Camir Silmuna, a philosopher-magi in Escann, and ordered his books to be mandatory reading in the court, so no one would doubt the justice in their actions.

The deserts held many secrets that I remained intent on seeking out. Lost cities, ancient treasures, knowledge of the God-Kings, and anything else that might elevate me above those wise ancients. I have my life, the one thing that they all failed to preserve, and I wanted all of their other secrets as well.

That is why, when news came that an expedition had discovered the lost city of Ulmisbar, I ordered them to focus their efforts upon the ancient libraries of the compound. Whether tablets or carefully-preserved texts, any knowledge that had survived so long ought to be of immense value. Their work took time, but patience remains my most virtuous trait, after my humility.

In the mustering fields outside of Yesd Apaškumar, I prepared the largest army that had yet been mustered in a single place. Ituqattar, Sarraka, Sahiru, Lightbringers, Zamukaraš; each and every member of the greatest warrior orders of Karqašlu stood before me as I announced my intention. To prove their strength they would fight to the death in the greatest tournament that had ever been seen upon Halann! Under Surael's Light they would strive and live and die, so that they might stand beside Him in the sky.

When the fighting passed, two thirds of the participants were dead, the fields soaked through with their blood that had then been turned to glass by the power of the spells the fighting magi had unleashed. Those who survived would make up the new core of the Sarraka, who would in turn be the heart of the Ituqattar. On horseback, upon carpets, and upon even more advanced vehicles off war, their magical strength would be unparalleled.

The final upgrade to the Sarraka turns them into a force capable of dominating the late game battlefield with a full combat-width force of cavalry. The final war wizard upgrade brings them up a level as well. Not quite to the same level as the likes of a Xhazobine, but stronger than most.

The most powerful of the magi, second only to myself, was given authority over the reformed Zamukaraš. It took many months for the ranks to be replenished after such bloodshed, but it had been worth it, as the armies of Karqašlu prepared to strike out and unleash my vengeance upon all those who dared oppose me.

We're almost, but not quite, at the peak of Kumarkand's cavalry warfare.

To be continued…

Vote

A golden age has dawned, Karqašlu stands greater than at any point in history as the greatest nation in the world. There is still so much more that I can accomplish, if only the nation has the strength to be shaped by my unending will.

Administrative – Our administration strains under the growth of the nation, but the Golden Generation can manage such trivialities.
Economic – No citizen will want for anything, and I will not want for a million anythings. It is a poor ruler who takes from their people, but when there is unending abundance they will not notice their taxes and tributes to me.
Influence – The heartland of Karqašlu is almost completely secure, but for those nobles who still cling to their independence. Swiftly disabusing them of such notions will be a matter for the diplomats.
Diplomatic – My reach does not yet truly touch those lands beyond our borders. Cannor, Rahen, Kalsyto, all these opportunities to secure allies and tributaries are open to us if only we begin to reach out.
Quality – Kumarkandi horses have served us well, but we can do so much more. Better breeding, mithril equipment, and unbreakable warships will carry them to victory across the world.
Quantity – The Ituqattar will be innumerable, stretching from horizon to horizon and engulfing our foes.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The second-place result will get a bonus to its hidden votes in the next idea group poll.



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[Sybot]

My guess is many people won't be happy 80,000 soldiers died for Alusir's ideal of "purity." How patient can Varamelian be when he witnesses such atrocities daily? He has to guard himself constantly.

Patience and determination are the only recourse. Our plotter can afford it, with centuries of life left him, but others aren't so lucky.

Quality finally gets to shine in Surael's Light, with a storming victory. Economic earns the bonus for the next idea group vote.

Administrative +1 – Total 12
Economic +5 – Total 14
Influence +6 – Total 9
Diplomatic +5 – Total 9
Quality +6 (+2+6, capped) – Total 25
Quantity +5 – Total 8

Chapter Fifteen: The Finest Steed
1630-1646

Napesbayer merchantman Moonlady, bound for Re'Uyel, somewhere in the Divenhal, 1632

The day was good, as clear skies and a decent breeze heralded a swift journey eastward. A pair of frigates sailed on the southern horizon, shadowing the traders as they plied the safe waters of the Divenhal. With rising tensions over the Vernman succession and disputes between the Busilari and Qašnitu merchant fleets, the region was flooded with patrolling warships that also discouraged pirates. As soon as war broke it would be dangerous, but until then it was safer than ever.

Those were the sorts of risks Tegan preferred to take, for he had a sense for timing such things. By his reckoning, they would be safely back in the Dameshead before anything happened but he could still win a higher price by citing the heightened tensions and inherent dangers of such a stand-off. This was valuable cargo he was carrying, requested by none other than the Akali and the magical passenger she claimed to have, so the loyal and browbeaten folk of Re'Uyel would pay whatever he asked to see them ashore.

"Captain!" Ricardo shouted from the stairs down into the hold.

The boy was fresh and little use but for dogsbody works, so had been given the task of keeping an eye on their passengers. Whether he'd gotten himself worked up over nothing, or it was an actual issue brewing below decks, it was worth checking. Another risky venture. Tooth, claw and steel might tear into flesh if he did not keep things down there balanced.

"What's happening?" he asked, handing off his spyglass to another crewmember and approaching the scraggly youth.

"The bearded elf and knight look like they're going to fight," Ricardo said

Tegan sighed and rustled the kid's hair. He hadn't even learned their names, as strange as they were.

"Stay behind me, and shout for help if there's any blood drawn," he said, "I want all three of them alive so we get all three payouts."

He descended the steps into the dark and dank underbelly of the ship. As his head dipped into the stagnant air, he was greeted by scents that stung his nose and inflamed his sinuses, a concoction of animal odours that had no business mixing in the same space. He had no idea how the passengers withstood it.

A roar came from his right, and he flinched. In a cage off to one side of the hold was an enormous cat with razor-sharp teeth still red with blood from its last meal. It strained against its chains, its claws scratching at the edges of the cage. The outburst caused a wave of disturbance through the other animals around him, including several other felines, three wild boars each as large a man, and a dozen horses of different types. The horses were strange enough themselves, some bearing antlers like deer and others standing unnervingly still as the other animals grunted, growled and snorted at the commotion.

The flinch was better than his reaction the first time the feline had lunged at him, when he had picked up his passengers in Wineport. He couldn't imagine facing such a thing in battle, but as a caged cargo it was a risk he could tolerate.

"You see, it cannot even distinguish between soldiers and civilians!" exclaimed Sir Fredéric of the Seaflower, the 'knight' of the passengers.

He was a human, or a half-elf; Tegan hadn't asked. With silvery hair, slightly pointed ears and sharp features he might have some of the blood in his line or it might be an illusion. Either way, he still carried himself with dignity and while he was not dressed entirely as a knight he still presented the image of some champion of the Lilac Wars. His cuirass was steel and inscribed with a rose, and he carried a sword on his belt beside the much more modern pistol.

"It sensed fear and prey instinct," snapped back Izhran, the dark-skinned and bearded elf.

Their most unusual passenger, being some kind of warrior from distant Orenvalyam, beyond the Singing Jungle that dominated South Aelantir. He was wrapped in countless overlapping layers of clothes that hid the armour and blades beneath.

"The proving grounds will tell the truth," interjected the third of them, the female warrior who went only by Mitrenya.

She was ruinborn elf with pale skin and distinctive purple hair, clad in armour highlighted with red and purple adornments. With the way she carried herself, she was surely a mage, which also was why Tegan didn't feel too threatened by the fact she already held her weapon openly. It was a spear that looked like any other, but for being a deep and disconcerting red from the glistening edge of the spearhead to the base of the shaft. Whatever magic was involved, she could likely do a great deal of damage whether the weapon was in her hands or not.

"What is the problem, dear passengers?" Tegan asked, stepping close enough to be in danger, but not so close that the risk grew too great.

"This honour bound fool insulted my mounts!" Izhran shouted.

"I said that a carnivorous cat is likely to eat the common folk," Fredéric responded, his eyes remaining fixed on Izhran, "at least a horse can subsist on feed and grass."

"That's the price of victory," Izhran responded, "the vanquished suffer what they must."

"And yet you call yourself against slavery!" Fredéric shouted, "you are no different than the slavers you tore down!"

That was exact moment Tegan knew a line had been crossed. He had done his reading, picked up books on each of the lands of his guests. Taychend was a land beset by slavers until a rebellion based upon the teachings of the Sun Cult had taken root. Now they despised slavery with a passion, but had not seemed to have lost any of their lust for violence and glory. He took the risk to step forward, trying to grab the angry ruinborn's arm before he could draw his sword.

Mitrenya was faster. As the other two passengers lunged forward with their weapons drawn, they suddenly crashed to a halt and bounced backwards against the deck. In a flash, she had interposed her spear between the two of them, lengthways. Yet, there were no injuries as the speartip had vanished, replaced by another blunt end as through it had been a staff all along.

"We are all here for a reason," she said, "and we all have our tragedies. If we must kill each other, it is in front of the Akali."

The two men grumbled, stood back up and stepped apart from one another as best they could in the confines of the hold. Tegan stood between them, arms held in placating gestures and trusting that Mitrenya could keep him alive if fighting resumed.

"Fredéric, you seek to learn if the Ituqattar are the noble warriors they claim to be," she continued, likely drawing on conversations they had already had between themselves, "Izhran wishes to learn more of Nayiru, of Surael." She paused and drew her spear against her chest. Tegan had noticed it turn back. "And I am seeking to learn if there is still love in the world, after all else is lost."

"Your point, my lady?" Fredéric asked.

"The immortal spirit who has claimed a whole line of Akali for himself seeks to learn of our ways of war, of the strength of our mounts" she said, "it is on his proving grounds we will earn the right to learn these things. Not dying in this lonely place."

The situation had calmed down, but Tegan was still not certain it wouldn't return to violence if he and the strange woman ceased trying to keep it stable.

"Perhaps we need some fresh air," he said. He looked "would one of you like to join me on the deck? I have visited Karqašlu many times before, so I can teach you what I already know."

It would be a riskier journey than he had anticipated, but his instincts were still on point.

For more Mitrenya, play the Vels Fadhecai mission tree!

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

There is no greater satisfaction than to see your innovations wielded against your foes. The new generation of Itquattar, forged upon bloody, mana-soaked battlefields, would be tested in battle against the remnants of the dwarves and their elven backers. Rumour held that the majority of the elven army had passed through a portal to distant lands, thus making them an even more tempting target.

The expedition into Ulmišbar returned. Not empty handed, but disappointed that they failed to learn all the secrets of the city before it was swallowed up by its magical guardian. I took note of their tales though, so that one day when my full strength was unleashed I might scour the very sand from the Salahad and find the secrets for myself.

Descending from the skies, barriers shimmering with magic and incantations of fire and air on their lips, the Zamukaraš were something unseen across all of Halann since the days of the Dragonwake. They were a force that took to the skies and laid waste to all before, while their foes could only hide from the relentless bombardment. For all their glory and glamour, they only made up a fraction of the Ituqattar, with the remainder riding atop horses as normal. The infusion of magic into the nation had not yet reached such a point that all our warriors could ride to battle atop carpets.

It was rumoured that the Deepwoods were an impenetrable twisted fortress, impossible for outsiders to pierce. Such naysayers did not reckon against an army that could take to the air. The meagre defences of Cyranvar's capital were nothing against the Zamukaraš, and their great elven halls were plundered of their treasures so that they might sit among my other trophies.

You can also see that a unique model has been added representing the Deepwoods-Eordand portal.

All rightful plunder aside, I held no desire to venture deeper into that strange forest. Instead, the elven territory on the fringes of Cannor was seized. It would serve as the frontier against any land incursion by Cannorian forces into Bahar. At the time, the elves also ruled over the orcish-occupied hold of Orlghelovar. With that fortress overlooking my new holdings, I began to wonder how best to address the question of the Serpentreach, still divided as it was.

The remaining surface dwarves were brought to heel at long last, and their human cohorts were forced to kneel before me. Though they resented me, I soon demonstrated to them the prize of unbridled wealth and the price of resisting my rule.

We got them as a regular vassal and not the unusual MT-specific thing that the two of them had going on.

Cannor remained a squabbling backwater, more focused on its petty politics than on the greater world. Busilar fought against Derrane for the throne of Verne. While this fact was of little concern in itself, it did open the possibility of striking at them to claim the western deserts and coastline of Kheterata, so that my vengeance might be most thoroughly accomplished.

I ever sought improvements to my Ituqattar, calling upon the stables of every land to provide horses and have them ridden into the deadly proving grounds that produced my mighty warriors. Traders would arrive with horses bred for the knights of Cannor, wargs ridden by the ferocious warriors of Khozrugan, giant spiders trained by the cave goblins, and stranger creatures from Aelantir. While there were those who passed the trials and ascended as the mounts of the Ituqattar, they had not yet achieved the revolutionary innovation that I desired.

Despite the reopening of the Golden Highway, there were many caravans that still preferred to ply the desert routes that had replaced it. After consideration on whether to punish the desert tribes for siphoning away my wealth, I instead began to plot to take advantage of it. If the defence of Karqašlu were to take us into the depth of Sarhal, then we would have need of such supply routes.

Though Busilar had a not insignificant army and navy, it was so invested in their war in Cannor that it would have no hope of resisting our advance on the far side of the Divenhal. From the smoking ruins of Kheterat, the Ituqattar rode forth.

As Karqašlu had been reborn, the elves had found themselves marginalized through the sheer numbers of other races, especially as the Sarraka and other elite fighting forces opened up their recruitment. There were many still alive who remembered the old days, when their kings ruled over the land and they enjoyed unbridled privilege. Investing just enough to keep them pacified and from plotting against me was straightforward, for I had proven myself just as great a ruler as Jaher himself.

From the edge of the world, looking out over the great western ocean, to the depths of the desert, the Ituqattar did not falter. The main Busilari force in Sarhal was led by, to much surprise, their own king. He must have understood where the true threat lay, but he was no great mage. Though his army lay down withering fire, the Ituqattar withstood it and devastated his lines of infantry and cannons.

Ravelians, rising in the vacuum left by the collapse of the Corinites, were an interesting church. They claimed there was only a single god, of which all others are mere aspects. Some have said that this is compatible with the Sun Cult, but to that I say that they have misunderstood it all! Surael is not the sole, omnipotent, God. He is the last survivor of his fellows, and a mere warrior fighting a war in the heavens while serving as our guiding light. If the Ravelians were correct, then their God is near-dead, and only the Light of His soul remains. In which case, they should also follow the Sun Cult.

As I sought newer and better steeds for my warriors, the infantry that supported them began to wither away. Any who wished to join the army and accomplish real glory could only do so as a cavalryman. Some infantry regiments remained in the Ituqattar divisions, but they became more irregular, relying on dispersed unit tactics, camouflage and marksmanship. Once my breakthrough was achieved, they would become nothing more than militia, no longer even brought into battle.

This is likely to be our last new infantry, as we'll be going full-cav very soon.

Selima perished in an unfortunate incident. As we hunted some of the wicked beasts in the depths of the Salahad, I was curious as to the taste of a giant scorpion that had emerged from the sands and slain ten guards before I could subdue it. It emerged that its meat was just as poisonous as its sting is venomous, and Selima perished in agony in the depths of the desert. Miriam, who I had cultivated from an egg to be the perfect host, slipped me over her head without question and I continued my work.

Busilar surrendered the western deserts without so much as a spell being launched at the border with Cannor. Their garrison was shattered, their king sent fleeing in humiliation, and their lands were ours. Our intervention had even drawn enough of their ire that they had failed in their foolish attempt to seize the throne of Verne.

No sooner had the Ituqattar returned from one war, than they were cast into a second. The Mother's Sorrow is a long river, and while I intended to see the entire thing fall under my dominion so as to spite in Elikhet's eye, I was content to seize and punish only Kheterata proper. The remaining length of the river up to the fortress of Golkora was held by Ndurubu, so once again the Ituqattar rode against into the southern plains.

Building friendships with the greatest mages of the Academy was the key to the rapid advancing of my magic. While I could scry for the finest texts, it was so much simpler to politely request the location of the necessary manuscripts, and discard those who could not assist me. Varamelian was the greatest aid to me, giving every fibre of his being to aiding in my quest and eliminating whomever I requested, while never stepping beyond his station. He was the true epitome of ambition tempered to exactly where it needed to be to secure loyalty.

To the south, a grand coalition of lizards and humans had worked hard to drive back the monsters of the Shadow Swamp. Whatever dark plots they held were thwarted, and the chance to solidify the southern border of Karqašlu appeared. War was joined, though no great glories were to be had against such a defeated foe.

I'm not sure exactly what happened. They demonsterized, completed their religious reforms, are roughly on par in miltech, and even had several other nations convert to their religion (that's something to get into when we venture into Sarhal) and be potential allies.

As that war began, the war to claim the remainder of Kheterata concluded, with Golkora forming the southern boundary of Karqašlu's rule of the Mother's Sorrow, for the moment. The Sarhali could hold onto their savannah kingdoms, so long as I held all that I needed to grasp to secure my own vengeance.

And what sweet vengeance it was. All of Kheterat was levelled, all monuments torn down, and any of the damned Khet that could be found were exterminated. Even their magics could not withstand sustained bombardment from high atop magical platforms. Up and down the length of the Sorrow the story repeated, with temples to the beasts and to Elikhet being torn down replaced with those revering Surael. Finally, I ordered a statue of myself to be placed in the very centre of the ruins of Kheterat, so that all could look upon it and know that in the end I was the one to achieve victory over Elikhet. My only regret was that the tomb of the Deceiver himself could not be located, but I assigned a division of the most loyal Sahiru to devote their lives to combing the desert in search of it. I remained as patient as ever.

At long last, the defeat that had occupied my mind was avenged, and I could consider the next step in my eternal emperorship. There remained other crime against Karqašlu to be corrected, and a world still to dominate.

The campaign against the trolls ended swiftly. Little territory was taken, as this land was already at the limits of the supply routes across the desert. Delving deeper into Sarhal to root out the Darkness would take a great deal of investment that I felt was better served turned towards one of my other projects.

With this, all provinces in the official boundaries of Bulwar are controlled by us or one of our vassals.

One of the greatest joys of the return of my magic was the use of illusions to make the people aware of my true glory; masking Miriam's appearance with my own true appearance, or casting an image of myself into the sky, or appearing in two places at once so that I might deal with an uncooperative Evrani noble while enjoying the pleasures of the court in Yesd Apaškumar.

The need for local nobility as administrators had long fallen away. Those regions were managed by the Orders of Surael who answered solely to me and carried out my will without question. The Ituqattar, each and every one beholden to my rule, maintained order and ensured the free flow of trade. There were no longer any powers within the government who could consider opposing my absolute rule.

This came in at the perfect time to absorb and state all of Azka-Evran.

At last, Azka-Evran was fully integrated into Karqašlu, leaving only the newly subjugated inhabitants of the western tip of Bahar, and the long-standing Akaliate of Nanšalen with any measure of independence in my rightful domain. They would soon join us in their totality, but I had other areas that demanded my attention now that such a large domain had been absorbed.

With a bonus look at our full extent.

In Bahar, the region needed to be brought fully brought into the fold and any last resistance rooted out so that I could begin my plans to address the source of the Onslaught. At the same time, the ruins of Kheterata unveiled new farming techniques to further enhance the productivity of our heartlands. Those Kheteratans who were willing to cast aside their old ways were welcomed as experts in the fields, adding to the rich tapestry of all races that dwell under my dominion.

I missed the mission completion for Back to Bahar. It gives you reduced dev cost in the Bahar region. Regarding the other mission, the requirements are tougher than they look. That's a lot of provinces that need farm estates and devving up, and while that is the thing that Surakeš-Karqašlu is really good at you start to run out of farmland/grassland and need to hit deserts instead (ironically a lot of 'farmland' doesn't even have grain as a trade good). Not to mention the prosperity requirement, which requires stating a lot of land.

Innovation in the military reached new heights. Years of bloody contests in the proving grounds had granted my officers reams of data on whom made proper recruits to the Ituqattar. Those who did not have that capability but still wished to serve could join the artillery or magi corps, fighting from the rear. Our weapons were an equal match to the best that Cannor and Yanshen could produce, and mithril supplied by our mountain allies was a common sight among the most elite. I was still conflicted however, and this is what drew me to travel into Bahar in search of animals that were rumoured to dwell there. These beasts had skin tougher than any leather, and an unparalleled strength among non-magical creatures. They were precisely what I had been searching for.

These aren't the greatest military policies for us, but we have the free slots. The infantry policy will definitely be replaced as soon as we get anything better.

Elephants! These fine beasts were exactly what was needed to see the Ituqattar reach their true potential. No longer would they need to mount upon a steed to ride into battle, for they could be pulled into battle atop a towering war chariot. Chariots equipped with cannons and guns were too large for horses to pull, but no problem for an elephant. Finally, I could see it. My vision of the Ituqattar reborn and resplendent and wielding the innovative technology of three thousand years ago was on the verge of fruition!

To be continued…

Next update will be a State of the World.

Vote

With my greatest vengeance at last secured, I now turn to the matter of the fall of the First Empire. The Onslaught will be avenged, but that is a matter for myself and the magi. My greatest generals, traders, and diplomats will be granted the duty of determining the lands that my eye will turn to so that Karqašlu will stand astride the world in all manners of war, trade and negotiation. Nothing is impermissible, so long as it honours my glory!

(This does not necessarily mean going on a conquering spree in the chosen direction, but will determine the general priority of foreign policy both in terms of diplomacy and war.)

Cannor – This isolated and irrelevant corner of the world is being eclipsed by its own colonies, never mind the great powers of the east. Nonetheless, they hold a great hunger for the goods of the world. There is much wealth to be acquired entrenching ourselves as the hegemon of their desires.
Kalsyto – The ancient homeland of my people, our people, was out on the plains. Now they are held by a mad and violent republican cult that dared insult me. Liberation in one hand, and punishment in the other, we shall ride forth.
Rahen – To our east lie the richest lands of the world, torn apart by an ever-marching army of monsters. We can free them and have them pay tribute to my glory with their market access.
Sarhal – This is a dark continent, beset by strife and shadow. Surael's Light will shine across it, and the great shadowed strangler fig tree that grasps for death and destruction shall itself face its demise.
Aelantir – Our kin have carved a place for themselves in the distant west and Taychend has forged an offshoot of the Sun Cult, though they do not follow the true Way of Jaddar. We do not yet have the reach to enlighten them, but we can drive for that future.

Vote by placing the five options in order of preference



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[Sybot]

Interlude: State of the World 1646

Excerpts from the writings of Varamelian Lezuir, recovered recently after being buried and sealed within multiple layers of magical wards during the 1640's and 50's

Though the Silver Tyrant must, and will, be defeated, I cannot fall into the trap of believing that the world will cease moving when victory is accomplished. Though he is driven by madness and obsession, he also has power and patience, and the will to forge the nation into one that will pay homage to his image. There will be many within Karqašlu that support him in spite of everything, and there will be those beyond Karqašlu who will seek to take advantage of the chaos of his removal. Which is why the plan takes the form that it does, to cover even these cases. Still, once it is done then the line of Akali will once again need to consider foreign policy, and I will need to advise them.

Cannor remains divided and a backwater, this much is true. For all their claims to have circumnavigated Halann and established colonies across the world, none of that has brought wealth and power back to them. Lorent, the largest power in Cannor itself, still struggles with disloyal lords. Within the Empire of Anbennar, the rise of the Aramari Temple and Temple of Holy Matrimony has undermined the temporal power of the Emperor, while the Ravelians undermine the victory of the Adeanic League. The lands of Escann are divided between orcish and human claimants, including the half-orc descendants of the Silmuna dynasty in Rogieria who also lay claim to Anbennar.

From their woods, the elves of Cyranvar look outwards with little interest in the politics of wider Cannor. They have delved deep into the strange fey magics and much of their army has vanished to distant shores. Though they are powerful, they are very much contained and not a threat except in as far as they support the independence of those around them.

The orcs continue to lurk on the edges of Cannor, threatening a second invasion. The Frozenmaw clan rejected miscegenation and continues to rule the humans of the Reach as orcish conquerors in Grombar, while the Republic of Tarakar has unified most of the northern Serpentspine and holds its own designs on Escann and the Forbidden Plains. With the wealth of much of the north flowing into Grombar's coffers, they are the clear threat in spite of being smaller than many of the other Cannorian powers.

In this divided land there is opportunity, but also danger. Involving ourselves, whether as allies or enemies, threatens to drag Karqašlu into a far wider war for politics that we care little about.

This is a very unusual outcome, considering we've had next to no involvement. The AI has done a very good job of keeping each other in check. The Cannorian temples get to change name if they convert to Ravelian, I think it's neat, but it's a shame they don't have MTs.

Where once the desert divided us, Sarhal has opened up with the rise of sea trade and the collapse of the demon and shadow worshipping tribes that held the desert pathways. As the source of so many woes of past Bulwari empires, we would be remiss to ignore events to our south.

In the west of Sarhal, Busilar continues its advance against the savanna and jungle kingdoms of Fangaula. While one of them laid claim to Kheterata, we have driven them out and though I cannot condone Alušir's subsequent actions I do agree that our success there has removed them as a threat. We must be wary of the Cannorians attempting to flank us by advancing in this region, but otherwise they can likely be left to themselves.

More concerning at the nations to the west of the great troll horde, Kulugiash and Vurebindika. Rumour holds that these are dark lands, where the grip of the same hags that lurk behind the trolls is tight. The sacrifice of one's own body, own family, own life are all common in a futile attempt to please such beings of Darkness. If a great cleansing is to be launched, then these kingdoms would be the target.

Beyond the faltering horde and the dank depths of the Shadow Swamp lie the near-unified lizardfolk. They are strange creatures, very much unlike the kobolds that we have met on Reverian merchant vessels. They are proud and resilient, and if they fulfil their ambitions, they might stand alongside us a shining empire. Further east, the Mengi people are divided and hide more hag followers in their midst. With our aid they can unify under Surael's Light and the open sky.

Cannorian colonies dot the coastline of Sarhal, filtering meagre amounts of trade from Rahen and Haless. As our trade expands, theirs will wither, so they are of little concern.

It's possible for the Shadow Pact to spread out of the Shadow Swamp without the need for conquest by Yezel Mora. It's a very big deal lorewise, but again at the moment there aren't many MTs that interact with it.

Though the Command was halted in its advance against the coastal states of Yanshen, it has taken advantage of the ongoing collapse of the Raj to advance even deeper in Rahen. Rumour has it that large numbers of humans within its borders have begun to take up the hobgoblin lifestyle, cementing the stratocracy's hold upon their lands. The window of time to strike and drive them back into the mountains from whence they came is closing.

Baihon Xinh stands a Halessi mirror of Karqašlu, a nation focused on building its own wealthy paradise in their corner of Halann, with both nobility and merchants finding their place in the empire. On the southern tip of their land, their ally Arawakelin stands as an outpost from the old Phoenix Empire and serves as the first point of contact with Cannorian traders. As we approach them from the edge of Rahen, this conflict of interest might also be a cleaving point in a potential alliance.

Daengun stand watch over the northern steppes of Haless, its guardianship backed by the Armed Republic of Kalsyto. If we are to strike north and claim our homelands, we must be wary for if the ideology spreads then there will be a rifle barrel behind every blade of grass and within every tree from the edge of the Serpentspine to the cities of the Great Lakes and the very tip of Haless.

Though much of North Aelantir remains shrouded in mystery, it is clear that colonial forces have claimed most of the continent. In Trollsbay, the Concord holds control, two of the most prominent members of which are supposed believers of the Sun Cult. However, Zanlib and Saamiršes do not follow the Way of Jaddar, and so both have taken to oppressing the peoples of their lands. Combined with their fellow prominent member of the Concord, Cestirmark, participating in the atrocity of slavery, they are perhaps the Darkest that I have ever seen any of Surael's followers descend.

Inland, the Republic of Ebenmas has claimed most of the Ynn Plateau. I am sure that Alušir would find common cause with them, as they too are an army of horsemen that have forged an empire by claiming the lands of a great river. Despite their aggression, they treat the ruinborn of the Ynn far more reasonably than the coastal states, and as such might be a worthy ally.

There is both a lot and little to say about South Aelantir. The Singing Jungle, as it has been called, or Aráya, as the strange seed-infested representatives it has dispatched call it. It has laid claim to most of the continent, and its tendrils have even reach to the islands off the shore. These islands are where the Exemplars first set foot upon Aelantir, and so mark the place where countless elves and humans, believers in Surael one and all, now cower in fear of the encroaching jungle.

The ruinborn nations in Taychend and Alecand hold firm against the jungle, though their own internal disputes might doom them. Orenvalyam was founded on Surael's principles, though with a highly militant bent, and would be a worthy compatriot against the jungle's darkness were we to reach across the ocean.

Alušir delivered his promise of wealth unending. Karqašlu is undisputed the wealthiest nation in all of Halann. This is why I know that a brutal coup is not the right solution to his reign. Too many have gained too much, and are too willing to support him. It would be a civil war, one in which millions were immiserated and slain. There is a solution where our prosperity will continue to reign.

He has delivered us to the heights of the world, and were he even a fraction less of a madman then every action I took in his name would be with sincerity. The world is divided, with nations from every continent standing among the great powers, and we stand at a crossroads. Will we continue to follow the whims of the ancient past, which might lead us to destruction? Will my plans fall into nothing and violence be the only way to end it all? Or can we continue to rise above it and demonstrate to the world our eternal garden of peace and prosperity?

To be continued…

Voting remains open for our regions of focus. Vote by clicking on the below image and placing the five options in order of preference

 

[Sybot]

There was some significant division in the votes, so we have two priorities of roughly equal significance, Rahen and Sarhal, with Kalsyto, Cannor, and Aelantir following as more distant priorities in that order.

Chapter Sixteen: Reflection on Tyranny
1646-1663

Barracks near Azka-Evran, Bahar, Karqašlu, 1660

Aršak blinked and shook his head. Had he been asleep? It had only been the silhouette of a harpy approaching over the horizon that had brought his attention back to reality. After a moment memories flooded him and he stood to attention. They were due a visit by the Akalunakal, wearing the Akali's body as usual, so any sign of disrespect or inattention might very well be fatal.

He adjusted the helm upon his head and wondered if Kar Alušir's voice would echo within. He had never been in close proximity to the master helm before, and had heard tales of soldiers falling to their knees and losing consciousness, minds overwhelmed by their ruler's sheer presence. Ever since his youth in- it took a moment for his memories to assemble -his youth in Re'Uyel he had admired the Ituqattar. However, Aršak had never had a chance to join, as poor a rider as he was. That was about to change, all thanks to Kar Alušir's brilliance.

Hundreds of soldiers were lined up in front of the ornate stone residences that made up the barracks of the elite. Each had a rifle resting against their shoulder, barrel inscripted with blessings of wind to set the bullet spinning and improve its accuracy. At their belts hung blades forged in the heart of the mountains, an alloy of steel with small quantities of mithril, just enough to get it the strength to carve through any armour weaker than full mithril. There was not a horse to be seen.

Other animals were present, however. A trumpeting and stamping of feet echoed from inside the tall stables that stood at one end of the pathway through the barracks.

"Present arms for the Akalunakal! Glory to Karqašlu!"

Aršak did as he was told, lifting his rifle and holding it up to the sky. On glistening white wings, Kar Alušir descended into the barracks, skidding to a halt beneath the tunnel of raised firearms almost exactly in front of Aršak. He stood frozen, unable to move for fear doing so would set him shaking with excitement.

"Where are they?" Kar Alušir exclaimed, his pure silver eyes shimmering.

"Patience, immortal above all other immortals," came the smooth voice of Varamelian Lezuir, one of the Akalunakal's closest allies.

He and few others, renowned across the nation as the most loyal members of the court, approached their ruler with bowed heads and hands held out in front of them in prayer and supplication. The elf was limping, the long-term effects of a famous and unfortunate fall down three flights of stairs into a pile of whips, and had to lean a little on the others. Among them were a few very elderly human magi and a greying gnome. Something about them didn't sit quite right with Aršak, as if they didn't line up with his memories of them, but he couldn't put his finger on why.

"Are they not ready for my arrival?" Kar Alušir, asked. He stood up straight and even wearing the body of a harpy his presence towered above those around him.

"I demanded nothing less than perfection from the engineers," said the gnome; Gorwick Wobblebox, if Aršak was remembering correctly, "they are ready-" he paused and held up a hand, then snapped his fingers "-right now!"

The gates of the enormous stables creaked open and a shimmering silver monster stomped out from within. The elephant was near-unrecognizable clad in its protective armour, with overlapping scales of metals that could repel most cannon and gunfire, tusks polished and tipped with metal blades, and a trunk wrapped in metal and leather like a gauntlet. It let out a bellowing toot as it marched forward, heralding echoes from its family deeper in the stables.

Behind the first elephant came a pair, these two with great harnesses attached beneath their armour that strained with the weight of a massive structure trundling behind them. Standing taller than the elephants themselves, the tower chariot was armoured just as heavily as the elephant, with sloping sides to deflect fire and dozens of murder holes across three floors that gave soldiers inside a vantage over nearly every possible angle on the battlefield. The top floor was more open, shielded by shimmering mageshields, and would be where magi had the space to add extra layers of protection to the tower chariot and cast their spells of destruction down upon their foes.

Aršak had been through extensive training in these new weapons, and loved every moment that he spent in the cramped confines, for he could only imagine looking down upon the enemy with the same superiority that Kar Alušir held when looking down upon mortals such as himself.

"Perfection!" Kar Alušir exclaimed, taking flight once again and landing on the back of one of the elephants. He ogled the chariots from his vantage point, peering at every piece and mechanism that made them up.

"Let's move on," Varamelian said, quietly enough that Aršak barely heard it.

He tore his eyes away from the Akalunakal to see the others gathered in a circle and peering at an item held by one of the magi. A small hand-mirror caught the sunlight, and Aršak blinked away the glare. When he looked again, the group had gathered tighter and he could not make out what they were discussing. His thoughts began to turn dark, and he wondered if he dare speak out against them. Kar Alušir would reward him handsomely if he caught some traitors.

Then an explosion lit the hillside behind them, a wave of sound and heat washed over the barracks. It was only rigorous drilling that kept the elephants from breaking into a panic and trampling all of them, but they still stamped their feet and trumpeted in alarm.

"See to that interloper!" cried out Kar Alušir, "deploy the Ituqattar!"

Aršak heart leapt with joy at the chance to prove himself in battle. The next few minutes were a haze, but when he regained his senses he found himself wrapped in the warm and darkly comfortable confines of a tower chariot, the end of his rifle point out at the forested hillside as they trundled towards the source of the explosion, carried by their ponderous animal allies.

An entire square mile of forest had been set alight, in a near-perfect circle of destruction. He aimed down his sights at the heart of it, expecting some elemental monster or mad mage to emerge and attack them. Instead, he watched as another, smaller, pulse of fire rolled out from the centre of the damage, before rolling back in as though it were taking a breath.

"Anyone got some water?!" a voice alight like a roaring inferno cried out, "I'm parched!"

When the speaker revealed themselves, he almost laughed and had to work to keep his focus. A dwarf stepped out from the destruction, with shockingly orange-red hair and clothes scorched to near-destruction. It was an absurd sight, to the point he wondered if this wasn't some sort of illusion.

"Halt, in the name of Kar Alušir!" Aršak shouted, the dwarf remaining in his sights.

"Fancy machines," the dwarf said, his voice still loud and fiery, "but I've got better. Lubod Firebeard, at your service. Need anything burning, I'm your dwarf. Just managed to burn my way out of an old tunnel system I was trapped in."

Before Aršak could open his mouth to remind the dwarf of his place, none other than Kar Alušir swooped down from on high to meet him. He landed closer than Aršak would have liked, wearing a smile wider even than when he had first seen the tower chariots rolling out.

"What an excellent day," he said, "I believe we have much to discuss."

Not sure what to make of the sudden turn of events, Aršak watched as the two of them departed, deep in conversation over some manner of magical explosion. It had all happened very quickly, and he had barely had a chance to get involved. Despite that, he was happy. He had been within several feet of Kar Alušir, who he had admired ever since he had woken up- had become aware of the wider world.

As the Akalunakal and the unusual dwarf disappeared down the hillside, a great sense of weariness filled Aršak. The world around him began to shimmer and grow indistinct, and he fell to the floor of the tower chariot, his senses gone before he even felt the impact.

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

My attention was needed on my various initiatives in Bahar, but that did not mean I could not spend a moment to authorize the removal of the last of the rogue orcish clans in the Middle Serpentspine. Dwarves have long memories, and have honoured me ever since that moment for my aid in rebuilding this corner of their lost empire.

To equip my new Ituqattar only the finest of equipment would do. After years of allowing them to work alone, the wishcrafters were finally drafted into the procurement processes and given access to the vast metal reserves of the Šad Našratu. It takes nothing less than the ultimate defensive magic to guard my elephants from the artillery and magi fielded by our foes.

This pops up when you're in the middle of upgrading Mount Lazzaward.

Those dwarves that had been driven from Bahar were not so friendly as their Citrine counterparts, and I could not allow their enmity to settle into longstanding hate. The Diamond Dwarves are famous for their grudges. So long as they festered in Darkness they would pose a threat to me, and so they were to be brought to heel.

Finally getting around to finishing the directive to establish dwarven marches.

Even the famously sturdy dwarven armies were no match for the Ituqattar outside the high halls of their mountain home. Their most powerful weapons held no hope of reaching the Zamukaraš, and their armour could not withstand the strength of magic that my magi could bring to bear upon them.

Memories, even the long memories of dwarves and elves, fade, and the memories of the era when Bulwar was divided between dozens of petty Akalates and arrogant elven Kingdoms had long passed. The people of this land, the Qašnitu, answered to a single throne, a single ruler and a single god. Under Surael's Light, Karqašlu would flourish eternally.

I was declared a craven oathbreaker for continuing the fight even after Arg-Ôrdstun let fly the flag of surrender. They misunderstood my intention, which was to make clear that no threat of such calibre would be allowed to stand on the borders of my realm. Once they were subjugated, they could continue their ways of avarice in peace.

I actually miscalculated and had to do two truce-breaks to fully annex them. Luckily, we are in a position where coalitions hardly matter, and I could burn off the AE and WE over the course of this chapter while focusing on other things.

Ruling an empire while also advancing my knowledge of the world was a constant thorn in my side until Varamelian made a suggestion that I create a duplicate of the Akali to manage the mundanities of state. It was an interesting idea, for while I could not control more than one person at once through the helms, if they were an exact illusionary copy of my Akali then it might be possible.

When I cut a feather from Miriam's body and placed it into the simulacrum, it began to panic and cry as though it had been lost to hysteria. It was only when helm that had been crafted into a copy of the master helm, delivered by Varamelian, was placed upon the duplicate's head that calm reasserted itself and I was able to impose my will upon it. There was more work to be done before it was truly ready, however.

With the integration of Azka-Evran we had acquired a great number of goblin residents, including those who had found sanctuary in the safety of the Akalate and those who had been driven into hiding by dwarven purges. Though many of those same dwarves still lived, they would have no choice but to exist as citizens with equal standing to the Exodus Goblins. If those who had immigrated to Yesd Apaškumar could live in harmony, then so could those who had once been enemies, or they would answer to me.

I continued to work on my simulacrum, importing resources from far and wide to perfect its form into the perfect emulation of the Akali as controlled by me. There were minute differences in the copy of the master helm that Varamelian had generously provided me, and he was lashed for that, though he took it with good grace and a smile, but otherwise it was almost ready for its first real test.

Word came from the Drolas Peninsula of a preacher sailing from port-to-port preaching of the true nature of Surael as the Light of the Ravelian God, with a slowly growing flotilla of converts at his back. I considered him a minor threat, and directed the Lightbringers to investigate. We already held enough of an iron grip on the eastern Divenhal that a single mortal man would not upset the peace of Karqašlu.

I'm not sure if this is reference to something, but it doesn't end up being very impactful.

There was a notable increase in the quantity of goods arriving from Cannor in Re'Uyel and Brasan, which the merchants attributed to new processes and technologies in their manufactories. A great number of merchants found their ideas of interest and petitioned to be permitted to buy equipment from Cannor to begin outfitting their own manufactories. After some consideration, I permitted it so long as they did not replace proper magecraft in the production processes with dull machines.

These events help spread institutions from Cannor to Rahen through a few stops in Bulwar.

The treasuries of Arg-Ôrdstun were plundered as recompense for their own efforts to plunder Bahar and their crimes against the goblin inhabitants of the region. Of greatest interest were a massive diamond and sapphire, which the dwarves held some reverence of. I had them added to the royal treasury, and then ordered the dwarves to be granted autonomy once more. So long as I hold the symbols of their nation, they have no choice but to serve me.

I was denounced by the elves, who rallied their army that had finally returned from whatever distant expedition it had been conducting and assembled allies in a coalition against me. It was all for naught though, as I had accomplished my objectives and had no intention to march further north. Cannor was not worth enough to be any sort of jewel in my helm. They stewed within their forests until the diplomatic effort of maintaining the coalition became too great and it dissolved.

Gnolls were always been on the fringes of Qašnitu society, but that was no problem. They made up a small portion of the Lightbringers, often worked odd-jobs and scavenged in the cities, and otherwise dwelt in their tribes on the edge of the desert. Demon worship was stamped out, and the gnolls took to Jaddar's teachings with aplomb. They were perhaps the perfect example of a group that did not need to be forcibly integrated, for they had found their redemption in serving Surael and in serving me in small ways.

One always needs a buffoon in their court, to make the critics of one's reign appear just as stupid as they really are, and at this time it was none other than the infamous Burat. After carving a path of insults and antics down from his homeland in the Šad Kuz, he was indispensable in court so long as I kept him pointed at those nobles who thought themselves above humiliation.

I do not know whether it was one of Burat's shenangigans or some sort of other petty complaint, but a series of uprisings in Bahar and Elizna sparked the beginning of a long decade of violence as all those who held unfounded grievances against me rallied themselves into a frenzy. The Ituqattar estates were mustered to the defence of their local authorities, while the army divisions marched to the far reaches of Karqašlu to exterminate all those who resisted.

I decided to fire the Court and Country disaster to give me some more free absolutism for estate privileges, and to pass the time while waiting for prosperity (ironic) to tick up in the regions we need it to for missions.

For a moment I considered wearing the simulacrum upon the Akali's finger, but ultimately her body is not my own and there remained the risk of it being lost, so instead I stored it within a mirror in the royal palace. The magi who aided me in this task seemed insistent on me activating it immediately, but I decided upon leaving it in place until the upstarts were eradicated.

The Kheteratans were one of the more restive groups during the upheaval. They resented my effort to free them from their feline overlords and install Surael as the only god in Kheterata. I had not even yet made the effort to integrate them as full states of Karqašlu or force them to speak Standard Qašnitu, and yet they still opposed me. A second burning was in order.

Within the heartlands of Karqašlu there were still many loyalists, especially amongst the magi who had seen their own renaissance under my eternal rule. The Zamukaraš grew stronger as their flying platforms were reinforced with inscriptions from Lazzaward, while the Sarraka wielded blades that rivalled the spellblades of old. With such weapons, no uprising of mere mundane people could oppose them.

The cavalry bonus is technically only for our own Zamukaraš. It's odd that the privilege gives bonus absolutism, I wonder if that's a bug.

With chaos spreading up and down the nation, many of the retired Ituqattar on their states had been given no choice but to mobilize their workers, or else put them down for disloyalty. In these conditions it was no surprise that harvests began to suffer, and hunger began to set in among a population too used to abundance. I ordered that food supplies be first distributed the most loyal regions, as an example to those who thought themselves above me.

As I fought against their futile struggle, our enemies only got stronger. The balance between the Command and Baihon Xinh was shattered with a resounding victory that saw much of the remainder of the Xianjie Hills fall to the hobgoblins, opening the way for further offensives into the heart of Vimdatrong, the southern lands of Haless.

Those cities that resented the constriction of food supplies soon demonstrated their true colours, rising up against me. However, the heartland of Karqašlu between the two great rivers was precisely where the Zamukaraš patrolled. Though their guns were able so slay a few, the remainder of the rebels were annihilated from on high and the industries of their cities were stripped away and handed to loyalists.

There was a rumour of terrible disease within the depths of the Serpentspine, starting naturally in the regions ruled by lackies of the Command. I gave the order to bar the entrances and left our dwarven compatriots to handle the disease their own way.

My closest allies remained, in spite of all of the resistance. The magi and nobility knew that their victories and their very lives were mine, and so stood tall as a barrier between me and any who would try to harm me. Some suggested that I take up of the simulacrum so that if an assassin struck at me then they would assuredly fail, but again I resisted their calls. To run and hide would make me a coward, which I cannot abide in a ruler.

With the cities pacified, many of the old guilds had been annihilated in foolish rebellion, leaving room for loyal merchants to establish centralized manufactories that expanded production even further. The Gommo in Aqatbar made an offer to supply their artifice for use the manufactories, but I denied them this. Instead, each manufactory would be given the right to recruit from among the magi to serve as workers that could bolster production lines directly with their magic.

We are very much a magic tag, so no artificery in this campaign.

Lucian Carter and his followers continued to cause disruption to the rightful order of the nation, though their touch was of little impact compared to the greater rebellions that I faced. After a few years of investigation, he and his followers were rounded up by the Lightbringers and placed on boats back to Cannor where they could go and cause problems for others.

As I said, not very impactful. A few provinces that can be immediately re-converted aren't much, especially as Bulwar is almost always unified by this point so there's little chance of even a small nation converting.

Civil war, though I would hesitate to give such gravitas to a mere interruption, impacts trade as much as any other area of society. The only sensible response was to raise prices even higher, mint new coinage so that loyalists could purchase more of what was available, and price out those who showed even a scrap of disobedience.

During this period I began efforts to at long last integrate the Akaliate of Nanšalen, to unify the distant sisters of Miriam and her line with those who were already ruled by Karqašlu. Much like the Akalate of Azka-Evran, the title would be dissolved and leadership of the flocks beneath it handed out to the harpy warriors who fought as auxiliaries for the Ituqattar

As my enemies in each corner of the nation were crushed, one by one, I pondered on my next stroke of vengeance, against the Onslaught that had led to the downfall of Batur II and the First Empire. It was during this time of deep thought that news of a different Onslaught roared from the depths of the mountains. Our fellow followers of Surael, the goblins of Thieving Arrow, were under assault from a vile force of Darkness, dwarves of an ashen complexion and vicious ways. For a brief moment I feared that the Deep Devils had found new allies and would soon begin their assault, but I was soon assuaged.

Whatever their plan, it had been without thought or patience. They emerged on the very border of my lands, and had barely time to leave their stolen hold before they were set upon by the Ituqattar. The calcite constructions of the hold itself were torn down by a relentless magical bombardment, scouring the halls of any and all life. Their portal was buried once again, though I have since authorized studies to see if we might launch a counterattack into their Dark empire.

So, the Obsidian Invasion was doomed, even putting aside that popped up in an ally of the player. When it spawns it hoovers up provinces based on its spawn point, but only those of the spawning nation. The one rail province that got knocked out of Thieving Arrow at some point meant that the invader's sole province was Hul Jorkad, and they were annexed before I could even get a screenshot after taking it.

The experience of seeing the true potential of thousands of magi concentrated into a single act of destruction spun up a thought in my mind. I decided that I would need to spend a few years in Bahar, both to oversee the production of the Ituqattar's new mounts and equipment and to serve as a testing ground for what sort of magic could do real damage to the Deep Devils.

To run the nation while I was gone and finish off those few malcontents that loudly lurked in the capital, I decided to activate the simulacrum. I stood before the mirror, Varamelian and the other magi guarding the chamber should any of the whispering revolutionaries dare to strike in my moment of weakness, stared at the reflection of Miriam wearing me, and then placed my hand against the glass. There was a sense of spinning and vertigo, and when I regained my senses there was a perfect duplicate stood before me. The simulacrum left to the court, while I took flight to Bahar, finally free to pursue my own projects.

"Did it work?" "We can only hope so."

I oversaw the first deployment of the new Ituqattar with great pride, as chariots rolled out into the hills of Bahar for the first time in millennia. These chariots were no mere replicas of the past, but modern and innovative machines that would serve us well on modern battlefields. The elephants were wrapped in enchanted metal armour, as were the great towering chariots themselves. From such a dominating platform, magi and riflemen could strike with impunity at our foes. They would be an unstoppable tide rolling forward against our foes, even those who might wish to commit their own onslaught. It would take time for the entire Ituqattar to be refitted and those would-be nobility who had spent their lives training on horseback to switch the role of charioteer, but it would be worth it.

We have hit the Ituqattar's final form, and it is glorious.

While I had been focused on the traitors beside me, my enemies grew further in strength. The Command reached its tendrils deep into the heart of Rahen and declared that Karqašlu was a worthy opponent that they would crush under their marching boots. However, their words were not yet back by force of arms, as they were middle of a massive military reorganization as we were. When both sides were ready, the war would be spectacular.

The subsidiary commands are starting to appear, but the Great Insubordination has not yet happened so our window of opportunity to strike is still there. We will have other distractions for the moment, however.

My simulacrum was performing well within expectations. Word reached Bahar that the last of the rebels had been crushed and the realm was at peace. However, the devastation inflicted across the nation had tarnished the shining era of Karqašlu. Once Batur's vengeance was secured, I would once again take the reins and turn my attention to matters of state. Avenging my descendant was my sole priority.

I had brought to Bahar with me many of the finest minds of Karqašlu. Together we would come up with a strategy to launch an assault against the depths of the oceans themselves and call upon the Deep Devils so they might be slaughtered by the bullets, blades and spells of my perfect modern Ituqattar.

It was thanks to the aid of an unusual fellow by the name of Lubod Firebeard that we achieved the first strike against the depths. Purging the waters of oxygen and boiling alive any foul creatures that might dwell down there would be an impossible task for the pitiful magi of Cannor, but with the knowledge that I had accrued and assembled it was a simple task. I watched the Divenhal boil and felt satisfaction at the victory against the ocean. Yet, even then I suspected that this was only the first strike in a larger war. The only thing that would fulfil me completely would be to see the Onslaught broken at my feet.

To be continued…

Vote

Kar Alušir is working on his personal projects at present, and is not willing to step away from them to attend this session of court. As such, he has given us leave to decide the direction of Karqašlu. We should not waste this chance to build something great atop the nation that he has granted us.

(No randomised bonus votes, though the bonus for Economic from last time carries forward)

Economic – We are the greatest economy on Halann, producing nearly one fifth of the world's grain and countless other goods besides. We can be even greater, and become a true hegemon, straddling trade across the world.
Administrative – Our territory spans the length of Bulwar, and will soon include all of the remaining harpy lands too. Kheterata has not yet been incorporated, and we are planning to expand south against the Shadow Pact. The administration must be bolstered to keep up.
Diplomatic – Our standing is isolated, in spite of our trade links with Cannor and Rahen. Reaching out for allies in these regions will do much to protect us from our greater rivals like Kalsyto and the Command.
Influence – As we advance against the forces of Darkness, both literal and otherwise, we will have the opportunity to grant autonomy to those we liberate both as a gesture of friendship and demonstration of the truth of the Way of Jaddar.
Offensive – Our home is a garden, one that we should not sully with warfare. When war comes, it should take place upon enemy soil.
Quantity – The armies of our foes are numerous, but we have the fertility of the Suran providing us with more skilled soldiers than we can presently support. If we invest, we can bolster the Ituqattar to even greater numbers without sacrificing training and support.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image.



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[Sybot]

All caught up!

I don't like the ominous event text for the Deep Devils. Alusir has poked the aquatic bear in its den and now has deal with the consequences. But this may give Varamelian the perfect opportunity to strike.

He already struck

Even with its bonus votes, Economic did not quite make it, meaning Administrative will be the next pick.

Chapter Seventeen: Final Onslaught
1663-1674

Excerpts from Musings on the First, Second, and Only Empire, retrieved from the Panu Karqašlu Archives in 2025 After Ash

Integrating Bahar brought with it new challenges in farming. The hilly and forested region was not as blessed with fertility as Kheterata or Bulwar Proper. However, intense efforts by the Ituqattar settled in estates in the region combined with imported knowledge from the survivors of Kheterata tamed the land and brought unrivalled prosperity to its people.

Kumarkand farming is fully upgraded, but we can get even more grain than this. I'll get into that later, as there are more important things to focus on in this update.

As internal dissent began to grow within the Command, I ordered the groundwork be set for a greater campaign within Rahen. The first stage would be to secure the eastern side of the passes through the Paravimata Mountains as well as ports along the southern coast. This was not an opportunity I intended to miss, though events would later get away from me.

The passes themselves were straightforward to secure, separated as they were from the rest of their allies. The remainder of the war was a longer-term effort, as the Harimari we advanced upon had called in reinforcements from the largest of the Mengi nations, in the open plains beyond Yezel Mora. Many of the coastal nations of Rahen indulged in the slave trade, with the majority of those slaves coming from colonies on the Sarhal coast. This was liberation, just as much as conquest.

Though the armies of Karqašlu had rarely stepped beyond the Serpentspine into the centaur-ruled lands of the Forbidden Plains, as much as I would have liked to see the ancient homeland liberated, that did not mean that the centaurs were unknown to us. Some ventured away from their tribes as traders and mercenaries, while others fled the encroaching advance of Kalysto. Jaddar taught that all were equal under Surael, and so those who settled within Karqašlu were granted equality under the law so long as they displayed the loyalty of the Qašnitu.

The integration of Nanšalen pushed the administration to its limits. With large parts of Kheterata having also been elevated following the purge of the Khetist heretics, there was little capacity to administer all the flocks of the Šad Našratu as well. The flocks would retain some of their autonomy until infrastructure could be extended all the from Bulwar Proper to the gates of Hul Jorkad.

Harpies had been a part of Karqašlu from nearly the beginning, when one of Jaddar's daughters married into Kumarkand and produced the first of an entire dynasty of harpies. As the Jadd spread through the land, the order of Jasiéne's Daughters took up the charge of caring for the sick and providing alms for the poor. Roost-spires became a common sight in cities across the length of Bulwar, where once their presence would have led to nothing but fear and violence. By embracing the line of Akali as my hosts, I have ensured true harmony between the races.

There was a time when humans were the only ones who earned the right to dwell within Karqašlu, when the elves had not yet arrived, dwarves and goblins hid in their mountains, harpies did not yet exist, and the gnolls were nothing by monsters that raged in the deserts. Times have changed, and the Light of Surael illuminates all of His servants regardless of their race. So long as they do their duty in service to the Light and pay respects to Karqašlu and to me, anyone can be Bulwari, can be Qašnitu.

Depending on your answers to the earlier events, this adds the nationalism modifier to gnoll/harpy/goblin provinces and accepts any cultures of those races that weren't already.

Even the greatest army may falter if it is not led by a true emperor such as myself, who inspires loyalty through glorious battle and hard-earned merit. The Great Command intended to instil pure discipline among its sub-Commands, but such an approach met with failure as the Tigers, Elephants, and Dragons declaring war upon the Grand Marshall. I scryed the future as best as I could to determine whether to intervene, but the signs all pointed to blood in the west and not the east, and so I was forced to stay the blades of the Ituqattar to face the coming threat.

There is a very good reason not to get involved, thanks to the timing on this versus our MT.

As the weight of the future began to press on me, I ordered the vast array of mercenary bands that made up the Sahiru to consolidate as one, forming the Sahriu Legion. These would not have the overwhelming power of the Ituqattar, but would form a dedicated force for auxiliary work, including harassing the enemy supply lines, clearing bandits and deserters, and assaulting forts so that precious Ituqattar lives need not be lost on such deadly and inglorious endeavours.

You can really focus in on Kumarkand as a mercenary tag, but I've not been doing so as Merc ideas were never picked. However, having gone 100% cav ratio it makes sense now to hire mercs to handle the infantry tasks like fort assaults.

The slavers were driven from their holdings on the Gulf of Rahen and sent to dwell in their own slave colonies in Sarhal. As part of the treaty with the local Sarhali powers, we had demanded that they sever diplomatic ties with Rahen. My intention was simple, to see them earn their just desserts at the hands of those that they had spent centuries exploiting.

Their cities were handed over to the most skilled Qašnitu merchants, who were tasked with rooting out the slave markets and working with the local traders who had the cleanest hands in diverting their trade routes onto the Golden Highway. In short order, a small but noticeable portion of trade flowing through the Gulf of Rahen was now being sent west overland, instead of south around Sarhal.

I had considered that the deep devils would dare to strike back at me, and when news came of death and desolation washing upon the shores of Karqašlu, I knew that the time had come. We would meet the sea in open battle and see them crushed under the might of our magic. Every division of the Ituqattar was ordered to the coast, to stand before the tide.

What emerged from beneath the waves was disgusting beyond my most vivid nightmares. Abominations of the Darkness, twisted creatures of no fixed form and without any warmth in their hearts. They crawled from the seas, clambering on misshapen limbs and tentacles, and set upon anybody that they found. I used the magic of the simulacrum to project my image to every city across the nation, calling upon every able-bodied person to prepare themselves for the Onslaught.

Welcome to the Kumarkand/Karqašlu disaster. It's not technically a disaster in game terms, but it might as well be. It gets intense.

They emerged in their tens of thousands across the full length of the Divenhal, striding forward with relentless determination to see my empire crushed just as they had crushed Batur II's empire thousands of years ago. Though their numbers seemed manageable, I was not so naïve as to believe that this was all the foul creatures could muster.

Doesn't seem too bad, right?

In battle the Ituqattar performed admirably, with their elephants proving highly resistant to attacks by the monsters, leaving the soldiers free to annihilate them with gun, blade and magic. The deep devils had no consideration for their own lives or the lives of their fellows, as they marched forward with unending hate, stepping over the scattered bodies of the fallen in their lust for destruction. Against soldiers who refused to break, they ground themselves down to nothing.

The Deep Devils are near-impervious to morale damage, so most of the time it is a fight to the death.

Where there was no defence to meet them, the deep devils swept across the land in a tide of sickly flesh and murky water. Villages and towns were depopulated, not a drop of blood or scrap of flesh left, while the landscape was left a sodden disaster that would take years of work to repair and restore to its previous productivity. This all aligned with the tales passed down from the first Onslaught, but this time I was certain we would succeed.

It is useful to prepare by placing forts along the coastline, if they weren't there already. Otherwise, it gets wrecked even more. There isn't much hope of stopping every Onslaught army.

Within a few months the incursions targeted at the most important cities had been eradicated, leaving only those in the more remote regions of Kheterata and Drolas to be swept back into the sea. For a moment, the nation could breathe.

It was not long before the seas revealed their true power, as storms and waves ravaged the coasts, depositing not just endless grey saltwater and seafoam, but the second wave of the Onslaught. The fools did not account for my power, as the great cities were guarded by arcane barriers of my own design that held back the worst of the water and transformed them into bastions against the tide.

Landed under the cover of storm and wave, estimates of the enemy's numbers totalled near half a million of the creatures, each one unique in its own disgusting way. Kheterata and the Šad Sur were hit the hardest, and while these regions were not of the greatest concern compared to the heart of Karqašlu, I did not intend to surrender an inch of land to the sea.

This is wave two out of four, each one stronger than the last. You cannot take the Onslaught lightly.

The Zamukaraš were deployed, having been held in reserve against the first wave. Travelling south, they cleared the Šad Sur and continued to push along the coast towards Kheterata. From the tops of their platforms there was little the foul crawling things of the ocean could do against them, beyond calling upon storms to try and drive them back onto the ground.

Not every battle was so successful. Those mercenaries hired to bolster the Sahiru found themselves facing a tide of beasts that only the most disciplined warrior could stand against. They fought, they routed, and they were swallowed up by the rising tide.

For the moment, the battles had been confined to the coast. Deeper inland the only damage was to the economy, now nearly cut off from trade with Cannor. In Kheterata the settlement of Ituqattar continued apace, bringing with them the ways and language of the Qašnitu. It was inevitable, with the cleansing of the Khet and their loyalists, that these people who held a distant shared heritage with Bulwar, would come to understand our ways once again.

There's a random Zanite province in the region already, which is how we got this estate mission.

The savagery of the deep devils became clear as the third waves set ashore, deposited by enormous tidal waves that obliterated any who had not had the sense to have evacuated. The flesh of the beasts had been supplemented by our people. In a twisted parody of the consumption of meat to make one strong, they scooped up human, elven, gnollish and any other's flesh they could get their tentacles upon, and integrated it into their bodies.

They arrived into the face of our magic, trudging over land they had already ravaged into readied defences. War was joined once more, with tens of thousands of lives being spent to hold back hundreds of thousands of monsters from marching deeper inland.

In this offensive they struck at Bahar with increased ferocity. Perhaps they had learned from those they absorbed that much of our wealth came through the region and that this was where the attack against the depths had been launched. The single division of the Ituqattar stationed in the region was not strong enough to defeat the enemy single-handedly, and as a result the countryside was drowned even to the very foothills of the Serpentreach, while only the most fortified and warded cities held tight against the flood.

There was unusual news from the mountains, long sealed due to the deadly disease ravaging it. A cure was discovered among the roaming Harimari who dwelt in the Tree of Stone between the forces of the Command and Ambersniffer. I do not know how they came upon a cure without the aid of the infrastructure of a hold, but the felines are not to be underestimated in their scientific and philosophical understanding, even those who have been locked in the dark for centuries.

The Dûsikari, Harimari lost in the Serpentspine, are a cool nation, though they don't really have much hope without the ability to repair holds. I'm not sure what the eventual design for them will be.

A counterattack was rallied to liberate Bahar and relieve the besieged cities, though it came too late for thousands upon thousands of civilians, who were dragged into the bodies of the deep devils whether they were alive and dead. The Ituqattar steeled their hearts and held the line, while the Zamukaraš incinerated the monsters from on high and put the victims out of their misery. The land they liberated was a sea of mud and rot, with nothing living for miles in every direction. The nature of evil was laid bare, and their determination to fight only grew.

Though I had not yet joined the battle myself, I still put Miriam through her paces in preparation. Hunting the greatest beasts of Bulwar, fighting alone against rogue elephants, drawing upon my magic in the most elementally attuned regions, and risking everything of hers to ensure she was prepared. It was not enough, and she proved her weakness with her death. Damaris, her daughter, put me on with some enthusiasm and though I was bombarded with strange images for a moment when she wore me, I took them for a mere malfunction.

At last they came, the veterans of the First Onslaught, immortal dwellers in unfathomable depths with experience of true warfare. By breaking them, I would prove to whatever foul mind existed in the depths of the seas that the land was not theirs to rule, that Karqašlu would now stand eternal.

In their millions they came ashore in a grey tide of slime and foam, marching in formation and overwhelming local garrisons. The Ituqattar fought where the stood, for there was nowhere to retreat to and no way to advance through the undraining water that coated the coastline and began to roll inland.

By the end of it, the rebels get truly overwhelming. If you are not prepared it is very possible to outright lose.

Kheterata was abandoned, the Mother's Sorrow poisoned by a tide of saltwater that never relented as it moved upstream. Those heretics who had remained in hiding, such as the followers of the supposed dragon Aakhet, rose to the lands defence but were no match for these mighty and horrific armies of the sea. Whispers began at court that we might have to abandon all of the coast and reform defensive lines in Bulwar Proper, lest the Onslaught overtake us, but I was not willing to let the rightful lands of Karqašlu fall.

You get an interesting event if you are broken by the rebels, but is not a game over. It prevents you from getting any benefit from the disaster, but doesn't block completing the MT.

The dwarves marched from their mountain holds to our rescue, their loyalty to the cause of Karqašlu now demonstrated and their homes cleansed of the disease that had ravaged them. In their eagerness to prove their worth, they aided in the preservation of what civilization remained in Bahar.

In my unwillingness to withdraw forces from the coast to defend the rivers, I had allowed the enemy to arrive at our very gates. The holy rivers suffered just as the Mother's Sorrow had, salt water infused with rotten flesh and indescribable slime polluted the Suran and Buranun and tens of thousands of square miles of farmland. From this mire, the enemy marched out to the bastions of Yesd Apaškumar, their blackened souls solely focused on bringing the reign of Karqašlu to an end once again.

They did not know that I had been preparing for them. As the foul tide fell upon the brave defenders of the city, my greatest work of evocation came to fruition. Surael's Light shone bright upon Karqašlu; its wrath directed by my magic into beams of all-obliterating light that no creature of the Malevolent Dark held any hope of survival. Their vanguard met its end within a matter of hours, and over the course of the next few days I wielded my divination to seek out and destroy every last one of the beasts that had dared show their face above the surface of the water.

Alušir rides (flies) to the rescue sometime after the start of the last wave. You just need to hold out without the rebels breaking the country and this event will clear all rebel armies and occupations, bringing the disaster to an end.

In the wake of their extinction we could finally look upon the aftermath and begin the process of rebuilding. Kheterata and the Drolas Peninsula were the worst hit parts of Karqašlu, having been reduced to near-inhospitability, while the Lower Suran and Bahar had also suffered significant damage outside of the warded and walled cities. However, everything beyond Yesd Apaškumar had survived, the only damage being to those families whose members gave their lives to stem the tide of the Onslaught.

The crowds for my speech numbered beyond imagining, millions turned out in the capital to hear my voice. This was the true moment of victory, whereupon my eternal rule over Karqašlu was made clear, for no one else holds the power to defeat the deepest and darkest enemies of Surael. Each and every one called my name, their voices resounding as one as at long last the final tribulation of Karqašlu had been avenged and we were ready to march into the future.

As mentioned, we miss out on this bonus if we lose.

I would not rest idly in contentment at our success. Enemies still lurked on land, enemies for whom the Ituqattar would need to be mustered. The Command, the Armed Republic of Kalsyto, and whatever other monsters dared to reach out from the Darkness would need to be opposed. Under the command of their almighty Emperor Evermore, blessed by Surael above all others, they would rise from devastation to become the greatest army in the world.

Imagine the state my armies must be in after all of that to not even have 100k cavalry left when they make up 100% of my frontlines. I have to take out a few loans and go way over force limit to catch up to Kalysto's own ludicrous army size of 570k.

Though the lower reaches of the nation were wrecked, their farms befouled, the upper reaches had not felt the touch of salt nor the step of any of the deep devils. In the months following the end of the Onslaught, blessed rains fell upon the mountains and fresh water flowed down the rivers in abundance, bolstering grain production even further and beginning to cleanse the blighted land. Countless refugees could be safely fed, new soldiers could be raised, and the nation could begin the road to recovery.

My edict to rename Yesd Apaškumar to Panu Karqašlu passed through the court with nary a complaint or a single foot or hand out of place among the assembled nobility and administrators. Taking to the streets, I could see for myself just how I had elevated this backwards Akalate and restored the first and greatest empire in the world. The city shone as though it reflected endless light, the people smiled and worked hard to see it flourish, and those who had fallen in the name of its revival would be remembered, whether as heroes who gave their lives or as villains who had dared oppose it. When I revealed myself to the crowd, their own brilliant faces reflected my own love and awe, for I am Karqašlu, and they are all mine.

With this final mission, the Kumarkand mission tree is complete. However, we still have the Surakeš MT to get through.

I am immortal, my magic is unbeatable, and the world speaks of my triumphs in a single voice. Never will Kar Alušir be forgotten!

Akali's Chambers, Royal Palace, Panu Karqašlu, 1674

Damaris watched her body move without her input, taking to the air and soaring over the adoring crowd. Their hands reached out as if they could touch her, but Alušir piloted her so effectively that she was always just out of reach. As he took her higher into the sky, she was silhouetted against the sun, as Alušir revelled in the feeling of the Light upon her skin and feathers.

"He is fully submerged in the delusion," Varamelian said, turning the mirror away from her, "do not let yourself be drawn into the simulacrum."

With a shudder, Damaris did her best to purge the sympathetic sensation she had received from watching her duplicate on the far side of the mirror. If Varamelian and the others hadn't made their move when they had, that would have been her fate as well. Her mother didn't speak of her time under Alušir's control. She hadn't spoken of much at all before her passing. That she'd avoided such a fate was Surael's own blessing.

"Should I keep wearing the helm?" she asked.

The duplicate master helm was still on her head, and if she really focused, she could hear Alušir laughing with glee in his mad fantasy of monsters and glory. It itched a little where it rubbed against her feathers, an endless irritation that her ancestors had to bear in silence.

"Now? You can remove it," Gorwick said, "perfectly safe"

Stood upon a stool beside her chair, the elderly gnome peered at his work with some kind of artificer device. When Damaris lifted the helm from her head, she handed it straight over to him, not wishing to spend another moment at risk of falling back under the mad emperor's spell.

"Apologies for requiring you to wear it for so long," Gorwick continued. He rolled the helm over in his hands, continuing to examine every runic working and arcane inscription with great care. "If Alušir found his way out, you would have to host him until we could come up with something, but that moment has passed."

"So long as the network remains intact," Varamelian said.

He stood up and hobbled towards the window, his old wounds bearing ever heavier on his frame as he entered his fourth century. He would not likely live to see the true results of his work, but Damaris understood that he'd long made peace with that.

"Indeed," Gorwick said, "the combined magical capacity of the Ituqattar helms powers the illusion we are feeding through the master helm, but if there was a dramatic drop in said capacity he would very quickly notice the drop resolution of his dream."

"Isn't that a danger, then?" Damaris asked, turning to the gnome, her thoughts suddenly spinning, "even if he's trapped in a helm on the far side of the mirror, he's powerful enough that he could find a way out."

"That is where you must know your own duty, dear Akali," Varamelian said. He sat himself on the windowsill and closed his eyes as the sun's rays played across his skin. "We do not know the depths of his power, but to outright destroy him would be a waste. If, over decades or centuries, you and your daughters wield his power for the sake of the nation, then one day he may fade completely. Until then, the Ituqattar must remain."

She looked at the duplicate master helm again. The same imperfections that had earned Varamelian his injuries were what granted her access to Alušir's wells of magic without his control. Everything that he could, she could do as well.

"Could I do something like those light beams he used on the Onslaught?" she asked.

"I would love to see you experiment," Gorwick said, his eyes twinkling, "but in the end that was all fantasy drawn from his mind, I cannot vouch for the validity of those magical arrays, as indistinct as they were in the depths of dream logic."

"It might be worthwhile to try," she agreed, "after all, the First Onslaught was real. A second might occur in reality."

Varamelian opened his eyes and fixed a glare upon her.

"Do not speak them into being," he said, "Lubod Firebeard, the burning of the Divenhal, the Second Onslaught, such things are best kept to the realm of fiction."

Damaris stood from her chair, stretched her arms and wings, and joined the old elf at the window. The old bastions of Panu Karqašlu, formerly Yesd Apaškumar, stood tall from the skyline, if battered from the crises of the past decade. While Alušir had been fighting monsters in his head, Varamelian's subtle coup had reached the moment of its revelation and triggered an uprising from those who still bore personal loyalty to the Emperor Evermore. Coming so soon after the civil war that her mother had fought on Alušir's behalf, it had been its own sort of onslaught.

"More Ituqattar are arriving," she said, spotting the glimmer of silver at the edge of the sprawl that was laid before her.

Perhaps her eyes and thoughts were too drawn into the thought of the helms, as silver was all she could make out at this distance. Thousands of riders were returning from rooting out another loyalist stronghold downriver, some riding on horses still while others rode atop floating platforms. Rarer still were the tower chariots, though they still stood out prominently as they rolled into the city.

Reality had proven them to be not be nearly as universally powerful as Alušir had imagined, but the concept of a mobile fortress remained useful even if both elephant and machine were not fully able to replace horse and man. Gorwick and the Gommo already had ideas on how to improve on the design, though the magi who had spearheaded the coup were still hesitant to let artificery gain a proper foothold in the nation.

"The crowds aren't that large," she noted, watching the troops ride down one of the main avenues with only a few thousand citizens scattered along the edges to cheer for them. It was nothing like the masses that Alušir had dreamed up.

"Then you must find a way to enthuse them," Varamelian said. He placed a hand on her wing and gave it a comforting squeeze as they continued to watch the parade. "To the common people, this war was a petty squabble over rulership. We need to move swiftly to make it something more. The greatest gift that Alušir gave us was something to aspire to, the dream of the Qašnitu nation, but that was all for his glory and nothing else no matter how much he claimed otherwise."

"I know," Damaris said, "all his monuments will be torn down, all his gilded palaces will be renovated, and he'll return to being the man who was defeated by Elikhet, thousands of years ago. It is the least I can do for my mother, grandmother, and everyone before them. But Karqašlu will remain."

She sighed. It was a paradox, to lean on the nationalism that he had begun to foster, but the day that she saw vast crowds cheering for Karqašlu after all of the follies of Alušir had been undone, she would at least know that the smiles on those face were real.

To be continued…

And with that, Kar Alušir exits the stage, trapped in his own personal paradise to be used as a magical power source for the Qašnitu nation. In gameplay terms, we will retain the Emperor Evermore reform and permanent mage ruler, but all of the negative events have been disabled. Note that this is not the normal progression of events. Without further modding as I have done, you are stuck with him even beyond the end of the MT.

From the start I had a few thoughts on how to approach his story. One thought that I had was that we retain the mad emperor until the very end of the story, and the epilogue is set in the aftermath of a magical apocalypse he triggered. Another option, going to the other extreme, was a redemption of sorts. After securing his vengeance and having nothing else to drive him, he is forced to consider his actions and manages to therapy himself into more of an advisory role.

The reader reaction (elsewhere) to Alušir is what set me on an earlier resolution to his plotline. There were options such as seeing him overthrown by the Revolution or outright destroyed by Varamelian or the Onslaught, but then I had the thought that I could narratively justify keeping the positives of his presence by having him trapped and used as a magical battery. From there, the idea of using a combination of the mirror simulacrum and the helms as a processing network powering a dream world all slotted into place.

The story of Karqašlu will continue, as Alušir's influence continue to resonate and its society continues to evolve.