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Zamarak500

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Jun 22, 2013
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It's my first AAR. The game will take place on a map made with CK2 Generator. The objective of the game will be to restore the Qesani Empire to its former glory. I'll try to roleplay the characters according to their traits.

- Context and History
- Context 1001-1050
- Context 1050-1100
- Context 1100-1148
- Context 1148-1200
- Context 1200-1250
- Context 1250-1300

First Qesani Empire Specials
- 1: Prelude to the Faceless
- 2: Lagan the King
- 3: The Conquest
- 4: Lagan the Sill
- 5: A Better Generation
- 6: A Messy Regency
- 7: The Lords of the Empire
- 8: Change of the Guard?
- 9: The Last Wisedis Sill
- 10: Succession and Secession
- 11: Gentle in Name Only
- 12: Kewedro on the Rise
- 13: The Greatest Sill
- 14: The Last Decades
- 15: Trouble in Paradise
- 16: Closer to the Edge
- 17: The Three Bastards
- 18: Never the Same
- 19: The First Year
- 20: And so It Began
- 21: The First Great Revolt
- 22: A Corrupt Regime
- 23: The Sixteen Revolts
- 24: And so It Begans
- 25: A Sad End

House Kukati
Dan
- Part 1: The Old Restorer
Ravan I
- Part 2: He Who Proudly Lust
Warid I
- Part 3: The War of Anger
- Part 4: Wars, Wars Everywhere...
- Part 5: Warid the Butcher
- Part 6: The Last Decade of a Wicked Man
Syudigor
- Part 7: New Sill, New Wars
- Part 8: First Victory
- Part 9: Short and Unexpected
Dag I
- Part 10: Brotherly Hatred
- Part 11: Full of Betrayals
- Part 12: Time of Conquests
- Part 13: Family Issues
- Part 14: The 6th Civil War
Warid II
- Part 15: Being Pushed Around
- Part 16: Rise of the Apprentice
- Part 17: Calm before the Storm
Dag II
- Part 18: Family First
Aredis I
- Part 19: A Man of Many Legacies
- Part 20: In the Family
- Part 21: It Didn't Last Long...
Ravan II
- Part 22: The Lawgiver of the Empire
- Part 23: The 7th Civil War
- Part 24: Taking the Empire Back
- Part 25: Crumbling Empires
- Part 26: New Borders
- Part 27: Wars and Civil Wars
- Part 28: Alone at the Top
- Part 29: Dying All Around
Qurac I
- Part 30: In Need of Proving Himself
- Part 31: Illness, Envy and Insanity
- Part 32: The Dagnisl War
Dag III
- Part 33: Just Like Ravan
- Part 34: Unfinished Business
Efearar
- Part 35: From Count to Sill
- Part 36: A Regency of Wars
- Part 37: Council of Power
- Part 38: Clashing Empires
Agan
- Part 39: The Heroes of the Imperial War
Ravan III
- Part 40: Lost in War
Nageb
- Part 41: Tragic Losses
Qurac II
- Part 42: Attacked by all Sides
Dag IV
- Part 43: Enemies In and Out
- Part 44: The Pretensions of Pretenders
- Part 45: The Able Ruler
- Part 46: A Time of Revenge
Aredis II
- Part 47: The Last Line
- Part 48: House in Peril
- Part 49: Trying his Best
Wugar
- Part 50: The Eastern Comeback
- Part 51: The Great Plague of Death
- Part 52: Last Breath

House Qerenr
Asarid and Red
- Part 53: A Poor Start
Tarid I
- Part 54: The Good Elder
Tarid II
- Part 55: In Loss of Control
Dyudarid and Karid
- Part 56: The Failings of a Tyrant

House Qietean
Lilar I

- Part 57: Like the Good Old Days
- Part 58: A Growing Family
- Part 59: In the Heat of Battle
- Part 60: A Ghost from the Past
- Part 61: Lilar against Lilar
- Part 62: The Lilarian Restauration
- Part 63: One Last Gain
Kyudat
- Part 64: The Greater Empire
- Part 65: Aging Dragon
Qearar
- Part 66: Unworthy Successor
Ariel
- Part 67: The Third Sill
Lilar II
- Part 68: Cutting the Branches
Darid
- Part 69: Growing a Backbone
Tatac
- Part 70: A War of Division
- Part 71: Defending the Empire
- Part 72: A Big Family
- Part 73: Starting What You Can't Finish
Tagac
- Part 74: The Fallen Hero
- Part 75: Confort and Paranoia
- Part 76: Family Affairs
- Part 77: The Last Sons
- Part 78: Aging With Time
Lilar III
- Part 79: Goodbye, Old Friend
- Part 80: Wise Old Man
Qar
- Part 81: Tensions and Struggles
Lilar IV, Qatig and Wurac
- Part 82: A Depressing Downfall

House Kagiel
Navan I

- Part 83: A Promising Start
- Part 84: The Unwanted Ruler
Navan II
- Part 85: Worst in Every Ways

House Qietean (Restaured)
Dag V

- Part 86: A Difficult Restoration
- Part 87: The Long Civil War
- Part 88: The Last Line
- Part 89: Peace at Last
Qearan
- Part 90: An Inept Successor
Kuran
- Part 91:



CONTEXT AND HISTORY

The continent, named Ciabari (although most people simply refer to it as "the Continent", is populated by various faiths and cultures. By 200, the continent was divided in autonomous kingdoms. The continent itself is divided between seven cultural groups:
  • The Rur, North and Center (use Indian Portrait)
  • The Lasyan, West (use Celtic Portrait)
  • The Taeborn, North-East (use Western European Portrait)
  • The Kevagi, East (use Cuman Portrait)
  • The Baldari, South-East (use Western European Portrait)
  • The Narinka, South (use Norse Portrait)
  • The Nebavon, South-West (use East African Portrait)
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The Continent of Ciabari and its kingdoms around 350



KICEA DYNASTY/KIBEGH EMPIRE

The rival tribal kingdoms continued to exist for about 150 years, feuding with each other and never truly expanding. But in 361, everything changed. The Kicea Dynasty, a small kingdom north of Douce (the green one over Douce on the map), led by a Senger (his culture) named Kibur Kicea, began a massive expansion in the following years. By 363, Kibur declared himself the Emperor (called the Ne) of the Kicea Dynasty.

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The Kicea Dynasty in 363, at its peak
At its peak under Kibur, the Kicea Dynasty controled most of the northern coast of Ciabari and had conquered many kingdoms. The Sengers (a Rur culture), which lead the empire at the time, united the different cultures under their faith, the Evasia faith.

However, by the late 400, what was once a great empire was reduced to a small northern region, the rest of its former lands having slipped outside of its control. Hadding to that was the fact that over the last decades, the Sengers were slowly replaced by the Bicaud (a Lasyan culture) at the head of the empire, who branded it the Kibegh Empire. The last two Emperors of Kibegh were Bicauds, and led it from 480 to 494, when the Kibegh finally felt down. By that time, the Sengers had almost disappeared, and their former domains were under the control of the Bicauds.

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The Kibegh Empire in 493, shortly before its fall

KOLUND EMPIRE

With the fall of Kibegh, the kingdoms returned to their feuding tendencies. The fall of the first empire also marked the beginning of the change from tribalism to feudalism for many eastern kingdoms (the west remained tribal until the 750), which greatly affected the situation and relations among the kingdoms.

124 years after the fall of Kibegh, a new Empire was formed through conquests. The kingdom of Nabako, which had resisted the Kibegh and stayed autonomous during the whole period, had slowly grown in size over the centuries. It was also the sole home of the Liragi people. By 618, it's king, Kyej Lakako, launched a great conquest of the continent, unifying most of the continent in the following 2 years. He named his empire the Kolund Empire.

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The Kolund Empire in 620, when founded by Kyej Lakako

The Kolund Empire was a multicultural empire, which saw the rise to power of many houses from different cultures and origins. But the fastest of those rises was the one of House Digarou. After the death of the last Lakako in 642 (22 years after the founding of the empire), the small lord Alazzaq Digarou, called “The Wealthy”, became Emperor of the Kolund Empire at 45 years old. An Anyaa (a Taeborn culture), he ruled the empire for 16 years, and his dynasty would rule it for over a century. Under House Digarou, the Kolund Empire would shrink in size, losing many western and southern provinces.
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Alazzaq "the Wealthy"
FIRST QESANI EMPIRE

By the year 748, the Kolund Empire was clearly in decline, making half of its previous size. A child Sill, Naral II, occupied the imperial throne. The moment was perfect for a new conqueror to make history.

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The Kolund Empire by 748, under the child Sill Naral II (House Digarou)
This conqueror came from the kingdom of Bilant, a Rugant (a Nebavon culture), which dominated the south-west region for over 500 years. Its king, Lagan “the Faceless”, saw the weakness of House Digarou, and took the occasion to build his own empire. Over the following year, he conquered the entirety of the West, and the following year took over most of the east and north, including the Kolund Empire, forming the largest empire in history.

In 750, Lagan declared himself Sill (Emperor) of the Qesani Empire and of the Kolund Empire (although it would stop to exist as an independent entity). Unlike the previous empires of the continent, the Qesani Empire would be a culturaly and religiously united empire. The ruling class and nobility would be only comprised of Rugants, and the Searpen faith would be forced on the local population.

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Qesani Empire in 750

For almost 200 years, dynasties would succeeded themselves on the thrones, capitals would be moved, and Sill would die and be replaced. But the Qesani Empire would not diminish in size (with the exception of the lost of the Kingdom of Douce around 880), remaining the massive state it was.

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Qesani Empire under Sill Nizar II in 947, shortly before the lost of the West

This would change with Nizar II (934-948). In 947, the Sill would lose control over the entirety of the western part of the Empire, including the core region from which originated the empire in the first place. This led to the rebirth and rise of independent kingdoms, most notably the kingdom of Revejin, which becane a powerhouse in the West. With this loss, Nizar II discarded his claim on the Qesani Empire and disbanded it in 948, keeping only the title of Sill of the Kolund Empire



SECOND QESANI EMPIRE

In the ruins of what was years before a glorious empire would rise a man. Dan Kukati, son of a simple duke, would rise around 957 and reclaim small territories, including the kingdom of Bilant (which was the kingdom of the first Sill of the Qesani Empire, Lagan “the Faceless”). He then proclaimed in 959 the second Qesani Empire, with himself as its Sill.

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The continent of Ciabari in 1001

However, this new Empire was weak and small, a pale shadow of its former self. In 1001, almost half a century after the proclamation of the Second Qesani Empire, a 71 years old Dan Kukati still reigns (and his father is still duke at 93 years old). Independent Nebavon kingdoms South, the powerful kingdom of Revejin North and the Kolund Empire East, all are menaces to the dream of reunifying the Qesani Empire. But the dream must live on, and reunification begin! The Empire will rise again!


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Sill Dan Kukati in 1001 (start of the AAR)


PS: I hope the context wasn't too much. I wanted it to be clear on what was what and who was where, so you could understand what I would be talking about when I talk about wars and events happening around me.
 
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Context absolutely fine. Looks interesting.

By the way there are some formatting tags still visible in the first post (after your first picture).
 
PART 1: THE OLD RESTORER
Dan Nilatnisl Kukati, Sill of the Second Qesani Empire. A man of ambition, courage and paranoia. By 1001, he had rule his empire for 42 years. However, he could still not trust the nest of vipers that had become his court, fearing the move of each council members, and seeing betrayal in each of their words. In his late reign, he was helped by a council consisting of the most powerful lords of the realm, although. the council had no real power. Among the council, Dan had a particular hatred for his steward, Bilan Tyudedis, a proud and greedy man who was too arrogant for his own good.

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For most of his reign, Dan never married. Now, the possibility of leaving his throne to his father made him reconcider, and so he decided to find a spouse. He chose Princess Ravsi of Nignriln, the daughter of a vassal king of the Kolund Empire, now long dead. He chose her not only for her social rank and claims, but for her shyness and lack of ambition, Dan fearing the power of a wife too ambitious for him.

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The marriage took place on the 29th of September. He didn't have time to enjoy it however, as news came to him that Duke Bilan, his steward, was trying to expand his territories in a neighboring kingdom. Sortly after, news came to him that the Kolund Empire was moving against Kilegh, a southern kingdom. The fear of the growing power of both his vassal and his ennemis pushed him to increased the levies, even if it would affect the taxes.

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These new levies would come handy the following month with the arrival of Princess Navoupe of Adiligor, the aunt of Adiligor's current king, Ecoban. Her claim was strong enough to allow Dan to push it, and it would allow him to conquer a dangerous neighbor that caused him to stay awake at night more often than not. On the 28th of November (1001), The Second Qesani Empire launched a war against Adiligor to put Princess Navoupe on the throne.



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In the first months of 1002, when the troops were assembling together, Dan began to feel ill, catching a fever and feeling fatigued more and more often. His court advised him to not lead the troops, but he refused, believing his generals would use this occasion to gain popularity among the soldiers and then lead a revolt. By April, while he began leading the troops, it became clear Dan had contracted the Gout.

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Refusing to step down and leave the command of the troops to someone else, Dan went to meet Kearar, the only man he trusted enough to be Court Physician. Against all the advices of Kearar, Dan insisted on using an “unorthodox” treatment. The weird treatment was a great success, giving Dan more than enough strength to lead the troops.

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Mistruss toward Duke Bilan rose again when the steward asked Dan if he could give one of his counties to one of his sons. Seing it as an attempt to gain more and more power into the Empire, Dan refused harshly, calling it traitorous ideas and saying that Bilan overstepped his boundaries by asking such a thing.

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In July, while marching south, Dan learned of the death of his father, Duke Nilat “the Wicked”, at 94 years old. His elder brother, Ravan, became the heir to the imperial throne, while the younger brother, Warid, inherited the duchy. This last part did not sit well with Dan, who feared that his paranoid younger brother would move against him. As such, he began planning against him, deciding he would remove his from power after the war with Adiligor.

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His fear of northern attacks from Revejin during his southern war were discarded when he learn of what was happening there. In August, a Civil War, with a faction waging for Elective Monarchy and another for independence, just started, paralyzing the kingdom. But Dan doubted this information. Was it really happening? Maybe the rebels would raid his lands for money and slaves! Maybe there was actually no civil war! Maybe it was all part of a ruse by the king of Revejin to conquer the Qesani Empire! Dan clearly didn't trust the info.

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In October 1002, almost a year after the hostilities started, Dan's army met the Adiligor's forces. Dan lead his forced into the battle, but the treatment of Kearar had wear of by then, and his gout got worst during the engagement, and he collapsed while organizing a charge, then died a few hours later. Sill for 43 years, dying at 72 years old, Dan left his empire in the middle of a war. He was succeeded by his brother, Ravan.

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PS: Well, it didn't last long! xD Dan died before he could even end a war. I hope his brother last longer. Without the long reign bonus of Dan, it's going to be hard to keep the factions at bay, however.
 
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We hardly got to know him. Perhaps his brother has more staying power.
 
We hardly got to know him. Perhaps his brother has more staying power.

Yeah, Dan's great years were before the start of the AAR, in the second half of the 900s when he was reforming offscreen the Qesani Empire and conquering neighbors and local dukes. We only got his last year or so, when he was just an old paranoid man who wanted to achieve as much as possible.

As for Ravan, he's currently 65, so I wouldn't bet on him having a long run either. The question will probably be to know who will suceed Ravan: a son (I don't think he has one right now), or his brother Warid (who is 46 by the death of Dan).

Should probably not have called this AAR "Dan Kukati and the rebirth of Qesani", with Dan already dead an all!
 
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Should probably not have called this AAR "Dan Kukati and the rebirth of Qesani", with Dan already dead an all!
Well he did start it all, so he will be casting a shadow over the whole AAR from his prominent place on the first page :D
 
PART 2: HE WHO PROUDLY LUST
Ravan Nilatnisl Kukati was born in 937 as the third child of Nilat Kukati, the founder of the dynasty. Like his father, sister and brother, Ravan was raised in the First Qesani Empire, but saw at a young age the lost of the east, the disbanding of the Qesani Empire and the subsequent rise of his brother Dan, who formed the Second Qesani Empire in 959.

Ravan and Dan where in many ways polar opposites. While Dan believed any words spoke to him contained traitorous intents, Ravan was very trusting of his surrounding, believing everyone was on his side. While Dan was a warrior and always first on the battlefield, Ravan was reading in libraries and studying old texts. While Dan believed Ravan was always waiting for the best opportunity to kill him, Ravan saw in Dan a great friend.

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Both never married until late in their life, but while Dan was too occupied with his duties as Sill and warry of gaining a political rival in a spouse, Ravan never married so he could sleep with every women he wanted. He used his brother's prestige to his advantage, and bed many maids and young noblewomen of the Imperial Court. Still, in 1001, he married 3 women, each around 17 years old. His main wife was named Turan, an aggressive and zealous woman. His secondary wives were Burari, an ambitious and deceitful girl (who would probably have been murdered on Dan's orders if he had lived longer) and Nisie, a woman famous for her lazyness and stupidity.

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Turan, Burari and Nisie (from left to right)


In the days following Dan's death and Ravan's ascension, the battle of Disant finally ended on a Qesani victory, even if two of the three commanders died during the battle (including Dan). The last surviving commander, Ar Kisednisl (the son of a duke from the Kolund Empire who joined Dan's court after being sent into exile) was greatly rewarded for the winning the first battle, being named Cupbearer and married to Princess Ravsi of Nignriln, Dan's widow.

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A series of small victories followed for the rest of 1002, all lead by Ar Kisednisl. During this time, Ravan began to read poetry books, slowly finding an interested into old Nebavon poetry. Inspired by it, he began writing his own poetry, and began presenting it to the court. After its success, Ravan wrote a poetry book, which he published in May, becoming one of the most famous poets of the Second Qesani Empire.

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Around the same time, Ravan departed from his brother's politics by nominating a designated regent. Dan, paranoid as he was, always kept the sole power in his hand, believing a designated regent would try to kill him off and rule a regency the second he was nominated. Ravan surprised the court even more by nominating Chancellor Eturat Tearati both Designated Regent and Court Pysician. Adding to that his role as Commander and Duke of Azakavon, and Eturat quickly became the strongest man in the Empire after the Sill himself.

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On the 13th of March (before the rise of Eturat Tearati or the publication of the poetry book), Ravan got the good surprise to find out that Turan was pregnant. The possibility of an heir was good news for the Empire.

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But with Turan pregnant, Ravan found lost one of his occasions to achieve personal pleasure. As such, he decided to pass time by seducing Princess Ravsi, his brother's widow and the wife of the victorious general Ar Kisednisl, who was still on the frontline, fighting Adiligor. From March to August, she refused all atempts of the Sill to seduce her, until she was finally charmed by his lustful poetry. Following the birth of Turan's child, a daughter named Loba, he also tried to seduce Warid's third wife, Burari, but failed to do so.

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The following year saw the continuation of the war with Adiligor, and victory seemed to be closer and closer each month. Money was flowing into the state's coffers, and the people lived in prosperity. In August, Turan even became pregnant again, making the hope of a male heir possible again. All those events convinced Ravan of his greatness, his ability as a ruler and that he had surpassed his brother in the face of history. He became arrogant and proud, and began to talk more and more frequently about the conquest of the Kolund Empire, something Dan (a competent commander) believed to be out of the question with their current strength.

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But 1005 had just begun when Ravan died of natural death at the age of 68, having reigned for about 2 years and a half. The “success” of his reign are mainly due to the foundations left to him by Dan, and although he was noted to be a skilled steward. His last surviving male relative, his brother Warid, succeeded to him at the age of 49.

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PS: Well, this one didn't last long either. And now I have a succession problem, with the succession being Agnastic and Warid being the only male relative still alive (although Ravan's wife Turan is pregnant, and one of Warid's wives is pregnant as well, so I'll probably be ok.)
 
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A very light touch upon the world, as it were.

Hopefully you get at least one son from those pregnancies, but as I recall you should have Warid for a little longer at least?
 
Hopefully you get at least one son from those pregnancies, but as I recall you should have Warid for a little longer at least?

Yeah, he's only 49, so I probably will have more luck with him...hopefully.

Great update. I love the world you've created. I also really like the way you described the differing traits that both Dan and Raven possessed - good job!

Thanks, it's appreciated!
 
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PART 3: THE WAR OF ANGER
Warid Nilatnisl Kukati was the third and youngest son of Nilat Kukati. Born in 956, he wasn't born in the First Qesani Empire like Dan or Ravan. He never saw the point of “reclaiming the Empire” and “conquering what was lost”. He had neither the ambition of Dan nor the arrogance of Ravan to do so.

That didn't mean he wasn't like his brothers however. Many could see his brothers rub off on him, although not in the best way. Like Dan, he saw plots, liars and murdered everywhere he looked, but unlike Dan, his big mouth and his bad temper actually made him real enemies. As for Ravan... lets just say both of them enjoyed a little orgy once in a while.

Still, Warid never had eyes on the throne. When he inherited the duchy of Ebala from his father in 1002, he took hunting as a hobby, finding it a great way to burn his anger and to get away from his court.

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Soon after inheriting his duchy, Dan died and Ravan became Sill. Now the heir apparent, Warid understood he had to take wives (because he needed kids to inherit his land after Ravan killed him). He took as his main wife Soban Rearpen, daughter of a powerful duke of the empire, Qilar Rearpen. A crafty and courageous woman, she was the only one who could “advice” Warid's actions. In addition to her, Warid took 2 lowborns as is secondary wifes named Qisati (who rapidly gave him a daughter also named Qisati) and Burari.

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Soban and her father, Duke Qilar (House Rearpen

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Qisati and Burari, Warid's secondary wives


When he became Sill himself in 1005, he finally understood that Dan, who he always took for a paranoid tyrant, was the only one who truly understood the situation in the Imperial Court: Eryone was out to get the Sill. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E.

Warid Inherited from Ravan a strange situation. On one hand, they were still winning a war against Adiligor (started by Dan in 1001 to put Princess Navoupe on the throne), but on the other hand, a massive epidemy of smallpox was coming from the east, causing some council members to “hide in their domains”, which Warid clearly understood to be either an act of cowardice or an excuse to plot his downfall.

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On the 16th of March 1005, two months after his ascension on the throne, the great god Wopn finally answered their prayers. Warid's third wife, Burari, gave birth to a son named Syudigor. The young boy was fragile and sick from birth however, leaving Warid to fear for his live, only allowing Burari and himself to approach the baby (anyone else would possibly try to kill him).

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Things went downhill from there. On the 3rd of August, Princess Navoupe, for who Dan had personnaly fought and Ravan order battles and sieges, died, ending the war inconclusively. Many lords and dukes, who had lost so much in this war, were beyond outraged. They followed Dan by respect in this war, he who led them himself. They supported Ravan because of the glory victory would bring to the Empire. And now it was over?

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Their anger was real, and they had to put the fault on someone. Warid, who was accusing them left and right of “not winning enough”, was a good target for them. Duke Eturat Tearati of Azakavon, Chancellor, Designated Regent, Court Physician, military commander and the strongest man after the Sill himself, united them. He wanted more power for the nobles of the realm, so stupid wars on a wimp would never happen again. The traitorous dukes sent their demands to Warid on the 11th of August.

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Warid angrily refused all their demands, saying it was all their fault for being incapable morons. He then named to replace the rebel lords on his council his father-in-law, Duke Qilar Rearpen, as his Chancellor, and his trusted friend Ran Qisani as Spymaster. But still, the situation was dire. The rebels were able to raise 8000 traitors, while the loyalist forces, weakened by 4 years of war, were barely able to assemble 2000 brave and loyal men.

Fearing the situation would weaken the Empire, Soban (Warid's main wife) decided to take actions by herself to ensure that this civil war would not see ambitious foreigners attacking. She traveled north to Ramoao, the capital of the Revejin Kingdom. She convinced its king, Kas “the Just” to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Second Qesani Empire. When Warid received the offer however, he was less than pleased, seeing it as a plot to trick him. Soban and her father were however able to convince him to sign it, which didn't stop him from insulting the messenger all the way through.

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Still, this treaty didn't solve the lack of troops. But Soban also found a solution to it during her trip up north. There, she met Captain Ken of Ten. Ten was a strange mercenary order populated by Dearani (another Nebavon culture, like the Rugants), but believed in the gods of old, the prayed by the rulers of the Wicea Dynasty, which felt more than 500 years ago. In exchange of money, they agreed to defend Warid and to kill his enemies. and like that, almost 9000 mercenaries joined the loyalists.

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The new combined force of 10948 men was lead by the legendary general Ar Kisednisl (who remained undefeated in the war against Adiligor), Captain Ken of Ten, who lead his troops, and Duke Rar II of Eraykaba, one of the few duke who remained loyal to the Sill. They faced the rebels at Teborgen, but the battle turned wrong due to the lack of communications between the Imperial Forces and the mercenaries. Teborgen turned into a massive defeat, and both Duke Rar II and Ar Kisednisl were captured by the rebels (the later dying shortly after in jail).

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As if it was not enough, Warid's wife Burari died of cancer. However, Warid accused the Chancellor and father-in-law of poisoning his wife to eliminate a rival for his own daughter, Siban. He also accused him of the defeat, because it was clearly not Warid's fault, and someone had to take the blame (Ken of Ten being to far away to take it directly, and Duke Rar II being in prison, they couldn't be the victim of Warid's anger). Duke Qilar was offended by the accusations and stepped down from his role as chancellor. Warid then took Princess Toupe of Nighriln, the sister of Ravsi of Nignriln (Dan's widow).

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A second battle was fought at Totias, this time lead by his best friend Spymaster Ran Qisani. This would once again be a defeat for the loyalists, and even lead to the death of Ran. While he received news of the death of his most trusted man, news also came from the East. The Kolund Empire had won its war. Fear of an attack began to spread quickly in Warid's mind, and soon after in the court, especially with the news that the Rebels were on their way to the capital.

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With the loyalists troops back in the Ajohaça (the capital of the Second Qesani Empire), Warid took out his angers and fears on Captain Ken of Ten, who was now the scapegoat for the whole failure. By December, when Ken asked for the pay, Warid angrily refused, saying that “they didn't deserve his shit, let alone his gold.” This did not sit well with Ten, and on the 30th of December 1006, the Sill received a letter from his mercenaries that threw him into a monstrous anger.

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What was left of the loyalists numbered around 900. Everyone who was still in the court tried to convince Warid to surrender, but this only made him more angry. The following battle was a massacre, the rebels only losing 18 men. The following siege was quick and swift, and by February 1007, the rebels had entered the palace and imprisoned most of the Imperial Family.

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Even after the fall of the capital, it took 2 weeks before the surrender was proclaimed by the Sill. Indeed, Warid and his son had escaped the siege, and hid in the Sebamba Temple. It is said Warid passed many days cursing Dan, accusing him of being responsible of all of this. He then finally sent his surrender, understanding it was over. On the 22th of February 1007, Duke Eturat proclaimed peace, welcoming back the Emperor in the Ajohaça.

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Duke Eturat came out of this war as a protector of the nobility, giving the Council powers of votes and decisions, which it never had under Dan (who always kept the power to himself). Of course, as part of the peace, Eturat was reinstated as Chancellor and designated regent. Now, the great dukes had their words to say in politic, and the power Dan had passed 42 years to build began to crumble 5 years after his passing...

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Cultural and Religious Facts:

  • The Rearpen Faith (which most nations believe in, including the Second Qesani Empire, the Kolund Empire and the Revejin Kingdom) is a polytheist faith (text says “the gods” in game), although it seems like it has a higher god (Wopn), like Odin I guess.

  • The Rearpen Faith “bad god” is called Qatogulay, although I once found myself praying him in good situation (one meaningless event as Ravan), so he isn't just a god of evil.

  • The title of Sill (Emperor) is genderless and use by both the ruler and his wives, possibly meaning they are equals in rank, maybe even ruling together (maybe I'll attempt to incorporate that in the AAR from now on)
 
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Great update - I love the little addendum at the end; these bits of colour really bring the story to life.

Likewise, it's nice to read a narrative that doesn't end "...and I conquered everything!"

However, highlight has to be...

*DRUMROLL*

KEN OF TEN!!!!

Amazing :)
 
Great update - I love the little addendum at the end; these bits of colour really bring the story to life.

Likewise, it's nice to read a narrative that doesn't end "...and I conquered everything!"

However, highlight has to be...

*DRUMROLL*

KEN OF TEN!!!!

Amazing :)

Thanks! And yeah Ken of Ten was amazing. :D But to be honest, I only picked him because he was the cheapest (thought I would win the first battle). Still, Ten just became my go to mercenary band.

As for the rebirth of the Qesani Empire and the conquest of its hold territories... yeah, it's not happening anytime soon. :) I'm just happy the Kolund Empire is leaving me alone. They have 15-16k in troops. This civil war proved I can't handle 8k...
 
Mmm, he is not being all that effective is he?
 
PART 4: WARS, WARS EVERYWHERE...
Not even a month after the peace with the rebels, war broke out against. This time however, it was a foreign invasion. Seeing the weakness of the Second Qesani Empire, King Watant of Akyudedis decided to invade on the 17th of March. Less than a month later, Warid received a second declaration of war, this time from the King of Egodin, who declared a holy war to claims the far aways lands of the Empire.

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If it was not enough, Warid's mother died in the following days while still in a cell of Duke Eturat. The Sill would finally get payback however, as the Duke and Chancellor died soon after. Warid named his father-in-law Chancellor again, w reluctantly accepted, but left the position of designated regent vacant, refusing to give that much power to anyone.

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The new Chancellor decided to find allies for their wars. He found one in the young King Qar of Boao (an Rugant kingdom who became independent with the disappearance of the First Qesani Empire). The King was offered the hand of Warid's oldest niece (Loba, daughter of Ravan) in betrothal in exchange for an alliance. But as Warid called his new allies to help, Qar called them too to help him in his war with the Kingdom of Douce. Forced to accept, Warid went into a frenzy rage when he realized he would not see the allied troops until at best late 1008.

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Duke Eturat was dead, but the Imperial Family was still in his cells. Thus, for the first months of 1008, the new duke of Azakavon (Eturat's son, Estat) took pleasure to ransoming Warid's family one by one. He finally rescued Soban from jail in March. The cunning wife quickly took actions, and went North once again. She returned with a new ally for her husband: King Kas “The Just” of Revejin, who quickly accepted to join the wars. However, he has been in a civil war for the last 7 years, and new rebels were still rising in his realm left and right. By September, it became clear this ally would be unable to do anything due to his own civil wars.

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In early 1009, as part of the celebrations of the 50th years of the Second Qesani Empire (founded by Dan in 959), Warid took Ravan's body in the moutain, offering it a sky burial like he deserved. In his speech for the event, Warid qualified Ravan as “probably the better man of the three” and as someone who “organized great orgy”.

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Over the course of 1009, Warid produced 2 sons, Dag (son of Suban) and Evat (son of Toupe). The following year, as the first victories against Akyukedis were fought, Suban gave birth to another son, Wurarid. However, Warid was always unsure about the true lineage of Suban's sons. He always suspected them to be bastards, conceived only to steal the throne from him! But no matter how many spies he sent to discover what was clearly the truth, nothing came out of it. Well, at the very best, Warid was sure he would never give those two any fatherly love...

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By mid-1010, the war between the kingdoms of Boao and Douce was over, at which point King Qar suddently broke the bethrothal, ending the alliance all together. Warid promised in front of a statue of Wopn himself that he would avenge this betrayal. Shortly after, in August, King Kas saw another rebellion rise, leaving the Sill and his Council to wonder if help would ever come out from them.

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By early 1011, the war against Akyukedis was on the verge of victory, while the one with Egobin was almost lost forever. In this difficult situation, the Chancellor Qilar Rearpen (Warid's father-in-law) died of old age, leaving Soban without her main ally on the Council. Her brother being a child, the position of Chancelor was filled with some duke which had not yet found a way on the council.

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With wars raging on the whole continent, and with Warid in need of tooking his anger on something, Warid ordered that Prince Syudigor would be left to struggle on his own, hoping this would “build his character”. The Prince was now stuck without a true teacher, with the exception of his angry father always screaming he could do better.

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My mid-1011, while the war was being slowly won in Akyukedis, two news from foreign lands arrived. The first came from the wicked King Kas of Revejin. Saying that Warid never sent any troops into the war (while he himself never sent any), he used this “excuse” to break the alliance so hardly crafted by Soban. Warid used this opportunity to simply insult Kas and his people, calling them “untrustworthy scumbags”.

The Second missive came a month later, and clearly showed that the current Sill of the Kolund Empire had ambitious desires of expansion. The Kolund Empire had just entered in a war against King Koa of Douce, hoping to take lands from him after the war between Douce and Boao. This was clearly bad news for Warid, who could be next at any moment.

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In 1012, his wife Toupe gave birth to a daughter named Sagari, to Warid's delight. This news was quickly followed by another happy one. On the 23th of August 1012, the Siege of Kerala was a success. With this, Warid finally had all the cards in his hands, and he forced King Watant of Akyukedis to surrender. A war has been won. Now, it was time to deal with the other one...

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So a good outcome in one war, but hints of a less salubrious outcome in the other. Heirs are good of course, but a diminished dominion seems possible.