After a loooooooong pause...
Bob Death smiled ruefully as Ank Sa Khul lead them through narrow streets outside of London. The group, Bob Death, Cybil, Doug, William and Ank Sa Khul had made their way through the war torn countryside, avoiding the revolts, the stares, the questions. It had taken them quite a long while to get to the shop that sat a mile outside of London. All the while, Ank had continued to laugh and enjoy the fresh, muddy air. For him, this was the best thing to happen to him, all things considered. He was no longer in that dank prison, and the mice no longer spoke to him…
“Look! There! That’s the place! That’s the place I told you about. See? See?!”
Ank Sa Khul was beside himself with delight, an aftereffect of being anchored to his body. Well, not ‘his’ body, as he would normally not have one, but the one he had been forced to occupy by Doug.
Doug smiled grimly, laughing to himself as he looked from Ank Sa Khul to the shop and back to Ank Sa Khul.
“What?! You expect us to believe that this shop is home to Na’od Sans Pat? Are you daft man? Should I punish you for lying to us? Hmm?”
Ank Sa Khul noticeably cringed at the thought of being punished. One of the bad things about having a human form. But he motioned to the shop, more persistently this time.
“Listen to me! I know where they are! Now if you want to get to the bottom of this, then let me be. Let me lead you to them. Hmm? Hmm?!”
The group let Ank Sa Khul head into the shop, a curio shop full of all manner of unmentionables, dark magic, and smelly goats cheese. It was the dark magic that truly offended the senses. Ank let out a loud, high piercing cry, and a frail old hag came hobbling out from the back of the store.
“Coming, coming. I’ll be there! Just give me a moment.”
She looked up, at Bob, Doug, Cybil, William and Ank Sa Khul, and let out a shriek. She tried to run, but Cybil raised her hand, and the old hag rose from the ground, her little legs still pumping furiously. It was almost comical, the way she tried in vain to get away.
Cybil let out a humming sound, and the old hag stopped running.
“So! It is you, Na’od Sans Pet? How the years have been cruel to you! How the years have been cruel.”
The old hag sighed, and stopped trying to get away.
“Ank Sa Khul… I knew it was you from your aura. How could you have led them to me?! We had an understanding! An understanding!!”
Ank Sa Khul merely hung his head low, as Cybil continued.
“You and Ank, you fought each other and now you are suffering for it. Now,”
Cybil waved her hands, and Na’od came rushing forward towards her, stopping three inches from Cybil’s face.
In a low growl, Cybil continued.
“You will tell me what you know. You will not lie to me, and you will not try to make any deals. Your soul is mine! Now cooperate, and perhaps, just perhaps, you will be spared some pain. Understood?”
It was more of a statement than a question. Na’od hid her face as her eyes fired for a second then subsided. She nodded mutely, then gasped as Cybil grabbed her by the throat and raised her straight above.
“You will not lie to me!! Or I will make you suffer pain unimaginable! Anguish unending! Stank forevermore! Understood?!!!”
The shop shook and bits of the thatch from the roof fell to the ground, assorted curios fell to the ground with a crash, and William turned white. He stood stock still in fear, petrified by it.
Cybil waved her free hand in front of William’s face, and he relaxed, turned back to normal, and smiled. His mind was elsewhere.
Cybil now focused her attention on Na’od Sans Pet.
“Tell me. Tell me what you know? Tell me!”
Na’od shuddered, and Cybil let out a piercing scream. The shop disintegrated around the group, and Na’od Sans Pet was thrown 10 miles into the air, only to coming rushing down towards the ground at an incredible speed, and then, with a look from Cybil, Na’od stopped 2 feet from pancaking on the ground.
“Now, Na’od. Will you tell me what you know?”
Na’od sobbed uncontrollably, and nodded. Not since she had been an all powerful entity had she known such fear.
“Fine! Fine. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know! Just stop torturing me! Stop! Please!”
Cybil smiled, Doug laughed, William looked dazed, and Bob simply stood watching Na’od.
Na’od told the group everything she knew.
“The Chair of Everlasting Comfort? I do not know where it could be. Only one being could, and that is Daud Meek Saul. And Daud is not here. I don’t know where he is. After being banished, I found myself stuck on this planet to suffer for all eternity. My powers were stripped from me, the beauty I had had when an entity withered away, to leave me as I am now. There is one place we could go, in the nation of Algiers. If you can secure transport there, then I could lead you to it without too much trouble. Well?”
Doug and Cybil looked to Bob, who nodded.
“I’ll send a messenger to the Capital. Tell them to make haste to take and hold the nation of Algiers. Add it into the Empire. It will take a while, but we can wait, hmm?”
The others nodded, and Bob Death smiled, pulling out one of his teeth, which immediately turned into a skeletal bird. As it stood there, the flesh slowly grew back onto it until it was a living bird again. Bob Death whispered something into the birds ear, and it flew off for Rome. The message was sent, now they only had to wait…
The messenger arrived just an hour ago. A message from Bob Cajun, ordering us to take the city of Constantine, in the Algerian province of Aures. Unfortunately, Empire has no access to it, yet. I will send word to the PGs to do whatever they can to get us into battle with the enemies of Empire. I do not know how long it will take…
It is a long while before anyone moves against empire, and it is the Mughal empire who deems to stand against us. They bring in the Uzbeks, and that shall be the end of both nations. They will be destroyed!
Morocco is next, declaring war in November of 1641. They bring along Songhai, and the newly acquired fleets from Genoa and Venice are all gathered in the Ligurian Sea. 19 warships, 4 galleys and 13 transports. A force of some 35,000 Robes loads onto the ship to head for Morocco and victory!
The war drags on into the year which follows
1642 PT
PGs all along Empire Southeast, from Basrah to Nura, call up Robes. That War Taxes were raised aided the PGs in calling up troops. Every little bit helps.
The extra forces help as many Mughal provinces fall, and though the battles are costly, and several armies have to be joined into one to allow for assaults, the battles continue. In Morocco, there is different troubles. The 35,000 that land are eliminated. Not a soul survives. But another 35,000 should do the trick. And if they don’t another 35 will. Yes, if Spain decides to attack, then the Empire is open for the taking, but they will not attack. They better not.
At least some good news comes as the year flies by. The Uzbek Khanate must give us Meched and Kirgisistan as well as become our vassals. How that happens is beyond me, but no matter.
It seems that the addition of those Uzbek provinces has made the Chagatai Khanate uneasy. So much so that they declare war on November 5th. Robes will have to leave their defensive positions along the Persia-Empire border. Pray that the Persians do not strike as war with the Chagatai begins.
The year passes into oblivion, and a new one breathes its first breaths…
1643 PT
The Lists are brought before me, and I note who is at war with me. So far, the Mughals are alone in their war versus Empire. Morocco counts Songhai as a close friend and ally.
Nogai counts Sibir and Algiers as allies. The Marmeluks have Oman and Persia to aid them. And what of Empire? They have none. Neither France nor Russia was asked to join the battles, as the Holy Alliance is not so Holy anymore.
As the year drags on, slowly but surely the sheer superiority of the Imperial Robes begins to show. A 53,000 strong Moroccan army is defeated by an Imperial Army of only 19,456. They are sent running with only a loss of 3,000 Imperial Robes to 45,000 Moroccan troops. If only every battle could be like that, as in a little corner of Persia, trouble is brewing…
As the area in and around Persia was always considered a hot spot, Imperial Robes were dispersed accordingly. One such ‘dispersal’ left a force of some 32,000 Imperial Robes facing a force of 14,000 Persian Horse. They routed, annihilated the Imperial Robes. None survived. The blow could not come at a worse time, as the situation in that corner of the globe was getting to be rather desperate. The Mughals were almost out of it, but not the Chagatai Khanate or Persia, or even Sibir. With such a plethora of enemies, who would be the focus? The Persians were a real threat as they somehow beat army after army of Imperial Robes. They were on a roll.
The war in Morocco goes horribly wrong. Yes, there were only two thousand Robes there, but still, to be slaughtered like that! Oh the humanity!
Bad news abounds as Morocco is home to some of the bloodiest fighting in the entire war.
Even more bad news is that China decides to declare war in August. Well, from Chagatai lands, it is but a few steps into Chinese territory. But that can wait until later.
As the Mughals fall into disarray, they offer up Kutch, Malwa, Herat, Sindh, Khandesh, Raipur, Panjab and Tirhut. The Robes in battle there head into China, to see the great unknown.
As soon as Qinghai falls, the Chagatai Khanate is offered a choice. Destruction, or offer up the following provinces to Empire: Qinghai, Qaidam Pendi, Quilan Pendi, Sichuan, Urumqi, Chagatai, Bogda Shan. They agree, and those provinces are now a part of Empire. They may revolt, but I have faith that they will not leave Empire. They are not that stupid.
In November of this year, Spain declares war again, and this time Empire asks for help from Russia and France. Empire will need it.
To give an idea of how dire straits have become, Colonial Reach orders that ALL troops are sent, even ones in the Iroquois lands. Such is the trouble that Empire faces. If Spain can be tamed, then nothing, not even China, can stop Empire from total conquest.
1644 PT
This year sees war taxes raised, actually on the 7th of the previous month(December) so that troops may be called up. They are in the PG areas deemed most at risk, the border with Persia, and to a much, much lesser extent, with the Marmeluks and Oman. It’s like a 70-30 split, ok?
The former Venetian Fleet manages to land another 27,000 Robes in Kabylia, even as Morocco will soon retake Fez. Nothing can be done to stop them…
The first nation to make peace with Empire is China, who decides that Status Quo is better than a prolonged battle. But they have been warned…
June 8th 1644 sees Aden absorbed into Empire, and Oman will be next!
As the war rages across the globe, a new Pope is brought into power. Calling himself Innocentius X, he is diplomatically astute, but other than that, he is a blithering fool. Why, he is stupider than a Wlak!
Oman falls and as they had a trading post bordering the Zanj, now the Zanj have joined in the fun. Let them have the trading posts, I do not care.
The next to fall are the Marmeluks, as they are defeated and beaten. They offer up Tunisia, Cataract, Delta, Lebanon and Armenia. Fair enough, more land for Empire…
Although there are revolts galore, they do not faze Empire. Empire is absolute, Empire is unending, Empire is All.
Nubia and Ethiopia declare war, and they will have to be bought off. There are no Imperial Robes nearby…
1645 PT
Well, another year, and to aid in the wars, War Taxes are raised. It is wonderful. Where once no one would be conscripted in a province, now 2,000 or 3,000 Robes are willing to fight. Ok, not willing but you know what I mean…
Although there are difficulties, and hardships by the boatload(no pun intended), Robes are ferried over using the Fleets that Oman so generously gave Empire when it was absorbed.
In this way, Nubia is attacked, and not only attacked but beaten badly. Although the lands in and around the Nubian provinces are death to the Imperial Robes, they surge onwards. They take each Nubian province, and make them offer up Batn al Hajar, Nubia, Bisharin and military access. Of course, Ethiopia is impossible to reach, and so, they will have to be bought off. Pity that.
With the year almost ending, war taxes are raised again, and the funds are to be used for the war in and around Persia…
1646 PT
Of the 104,000 men available to be called up, all of them are called up in the Indian Provinces. Those provinces are a gold mine for crack troops. They are fierce, loyal, and kick ass. How much more can anyone ask for?
The rest of the money(some 3,800 ducats) is spent improving forts from small to medium. Yes, only 12 are improved, but that is ok. With the last of the funds, merchants are sent to Delhi just to piss off the buggers there.
On the 1st of March, peace is made with Algiers, garnering Aures and Atlas for Empire.
In a move inspired by a pile of bird feces, Spain is asked to relinquish control of Campeche, Altar, Guatemala, Tehuantepec, Atlixco, Maracaibo, Cartagena, Isthmus and Cantabria. But the treaty is soiled by bird feces, and so Spain only thinks they are giving up Tehuantepec and Altar. By the time they realize their mistake, it is too late. They are very mad at the Papal States…
In Persia, there is only the matter of getting the treaty to them to end the war. Birjand, Kerman, Tabriz, Awhaz, Kabylia and Orania are added, and the revolts that are sure to come are welcome relief from battle.
Hyderabad, Berhampur, Bastar and Sambalpur are offered by Vijayangar to end the war. They are taken into the Papal Empire.
In November, after many lives have been lost, and the shiny sun has shone down upon the shiny, shiny dead, Morocco all of a sudden offers up Sahara, Tangiers, Fez, Qatar, Damman and Nouadibuh. The Diplomatic office is so surprised the wet themselves in glee. It is a good feeling…
1647 PT
It is almost humorous how many nations want to see the Papal Empire collapse. It is well known that every revolt, every voice of discontent raised is merely another reason to strike out against every nation to in the Holy Alliance. They will all suffer greatly.
Troops are called up in as many provinces as is possible. In total, close to 100,000 men are called up again. Perhaps it is getting to be a bit much?
The year is one of revolts, revolts and more revolts. Several times, armies have to be marched for a bit to quell the rebels. Of course, all that will change next year…
In November, The Uzbeks, who have but one province, and their fool allies, the Mughals, declare war on the Empire. Russia and France are not needed. Why they would attack the area that provides close to 30% of the troops for the Empire is beyond comprehension.
36,000 men head for Samarkand, 40,000 head for the Uzbek province, and close to 89,000 men, split into three groups of around 29,000 men each, head into the Mughal territory, with reinforcements marching from the other Indian Provinces.
The war is a surprisingly long one, with several stunning victories followed by three absolutely stunning defeats, one of which sees 135,000 Papal Troops beaten into oblivion by three successive Mughal cavalry charges. After that though, it is all about revenge. By November, every Mughal province is under control, and the Uzbeks have been decimated. Samarkand, Indus and Gondwana are taken for peace, and the Uzbeks are eliminated.
And more is to come, so much more…
