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985 - 986 The Blood of Kings
985 - 986 The Blood of Kings

The Chieftains of Merya had chosen a new King. There was no band of malcontents to upset the election this time, no Lettigallian contingent to put one of the lesser Kardazid lines on the throne again. This time, the Chieftains were able to choose the son and heir to one of the most royal bloodlines amongst all of the 210 living Kardazids. A man from the senior surviving branch of King Erziya ‘the Bold’s bloodline. The new King was descended from the first two Kings of Merya, Erziya himself and King Dergun, through Dergun’s oldest son Azyren ‘the Youthful’ and his son, High Chief Kezhay of Vologda, (Kezhay’s older brother, Ovtay ‘the Cruel’, had died leaving no sons, only a daughter). And then from Kezhay’s oldest child., High Chief Uzhara of Vologda, to Uzhara’s only child, Chief Kichay of Tver, whose oldest son was now the chosen King.

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Only the descendants of King Nuyat, son of Nuyat, could challenge the superiority of this bloodline, as they boasted three Kings in their lineage. But the first Nuyat had been Azyren’s little brother, and High Chief Kezhay of Vologda had been the closest challenger to Nuyat, son of Nuyat’s bid for the throne, only a few stray votes had kept him from his rightful place as King.

So crowning Velmayka Kardazid as King was just returning Merya to the course it should have been on already. There were some who argued that Velamyka’s father, Chief Kichay of Tver, should have been crowned, a brilliant strategist, proven warrior and shrewd and experienced man of the same impeccable bloodline. But the younger Chiefs, surprising led by the both the sons of King Syrka and the sons of his rival Nuyaksha ‘the Wise’, had banded together to choose the younger man, someone closer to their own age. So Velamyka became King, but his father became the heir.

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King Velmayka was already an experienced warrior who had studied and mastered siegecraft and possessed a martial prowess almost the equal of his father’s despite being scarred and maimed, having lost a hand in the Battle of Yaroslavl during the war against Vladimir. He had been raised as the son of a Chief and a noble bloodline, so was a well-groomed young man, kind and hardworking with a lust for life, though he could be exceedingly stubborn at times.

Velmayka was the oldest of his father’s three sons, and second oldest of his six children, with an older sister named Pemka, who was married to Nishkepaz Nishkepazid, a bastard son of the late Chief of Mochkava and who had one daughter. Pemka was the spymaster of Mochkava, serving her husband’s nephew. Velmayka’s sister, Mel’Shay, was next in line, she was also married, to Dangeruthe Vidins, the son of Chief Gerden of Selija and Deltuva and heir to Deltuva. She had had a bastard daughter of her own. Then came 17-year old Deryab, who had just recently come age and was married to Sinyava Kardazid, the daughter of Chief Andyamo ‘the Just’ of Rzheva. Finally, there were the two youngest of his siblings, his half-sister, Chinzhay, and his half-brother, Paksyut. The three youngest remained in Tver with their parents, Chief Kichay and Chieftess Hüüp Ingeri, the mother to the four older children, and Mastorava Kardazid, Kichay’s concubine and mother to the two youngest children.

Velmayka, himself, was married to Tetyava ‘Dry-Throat’ Yaroslavlid, the daughter of Saksa Yaroslavlid, the Steward of Mozhaysk, and the late Tetyava Kardazid, who carried the bloodline of Erziya ‘the Bold’, though through the bastard Yaroslavlid line of the High Chiefs of Murom. She was a brave and virtuous young woman who had been well trained to manage everything from a household to a domain, this training would serve her well in her sudden rise to Queen of Merya. Her nickname ‘Dry Throat’ came from her friends who joked that she must always be parched as her temperate nature caused her to never quench her thirst as much as they did at gatherings.

The young couple had no children of their own, as of yet. They liked and respected each other, but it had been an arranged marriage, they had not married for love, but perhaps that would grow in time. Demonstrating that respect, one of Velmayka’s first acts as King was to name Queen Tetyava as the designated regent of Merya.

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During Velmayka’s convalescence after he had been wounded and lost his hand, he had spent time considering the Gods’ plan for him. Why had he been spared at the Battle of Yaroslavl, when so many others had died? He would continue his studies and focus on theology even as he took of the reins of the Kingdom.

At the time of Syrka’s death, his domain had included eight major tribal villages, but the bulk of these territories had been inherited by three of his five surviving sons. Syrka’s oldest living son, Chief Tutyra of Peresyaslavl Zalesky, all of the Syrka’s tribal areas within in Polotsk, Lukoml, Vitebsk, and Orsha, as well as the title of High Chief of Polotsk. Tutyra had used his rise in rank to break his vassal contract with King Purysho ‘the Monster’ of Vladimir and declare his independence, yet he remained an ally in at least one of Vladimir’s wars. He was a dangerous and ambitious man with a claim on Velmayka’s crown, but for the moment they were allies in the war against King Gosciwuj ‘the Hunter’ of Sweden.

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Syrka’s youngest son, 15-year old Inzhay, inherited the High Chiefdom of Turov and the two dejure territories of that title as well as Syrka’s original holdings in Syktyvkar. Inzhay also had a claim on the throne, but for now he was simply a seemingly loyal vassal.

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And finally, Syrka’s most recent acquisition, Cheremisa, had gone to his son Viryas, the High Chief of Latgale. (Cheremisa and Tynea had been built up enough to avoid nomadic uprisings during the succession. But King Syrka's efforts to curb the nomads in Vorotynsk and Novosil were too little, too late. A Khazar nomad named Khatir has taken advantage of the King’s death to claim this territory for himself, and claim independence from Merya.)

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So Velmayka inherited only the Royal Domain of the High Chiefdom of Merya and the tribal villages of Yaroslavl and Uglich. Of course, these were by far the most developed and richest villages in all of Merya. Velmayka had also gained control of the Merry Men, the most formidable war band in Merya and Syrka’s sizable war chest, which held some 700 gold. He also claimed the royal treasury, with the heirlooms and war trophies of the Kings of Merya, including the Kuninkaan Terä, the Blade of Kings. The well-balanced short sword was the perfect weapon for a one-handed King. The weapon had been long neglected, as it had seen little use by the crippled King Syrka, so Velmayka spent some of the overflowing war chest to put it to rights.

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Once King Velmayka was settled in Yaroslavl, he took a look at the Council he had inherited. Three of King Syrka’s Councillors remained, the Voice of Merya, Chief Saksa 'the Shadow' of Merya and Tikhvine, the War Chief, High Chief Suni II of Iceland, and the Steward, Chief Valto of Belo Ozero. The positions of spymaster and Diviner were empty. Velamyka decided to leave the current Councillors in place, though he quickly learned there was some rivalry among them, as almost immediately Chief Saksa accused High Chief Suni of slandering the new King, and presented evidence of this. Velmayka was not sure how much of this to believe, so he decided to keep the information to himself until he got to know both men better.

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But it did indicate that he was in need of a spymaster as soon as possible. He chose High Chief Num of Nidaros, who had just usurped the title of Jamtland from his nephew Yadne. Yadne had, like his father before him, embraced the Tengri religion. His removal had for some reason triggered a revolt among the Norse peasants in Jamtland, but High Chief Num had been expecting the unrest and had dealt with it personally, saving Velmayka the trouble.

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For the Royal diviner, Velmayka invited a well-known Komi scholar and adventurer named Koksha Viryayid to Yaroslavl to serve as the court diviner and help Velmayka with his own theological studies. Koksha eagerly accepted the invitation, as his days of adventure were behind him, as he suffered from a touch of gout. He and wife Yiltis soon arrived.

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With his his Council now filled out, Velmayka now turned his attention to the two Vladimir wars King Syrka had committed Merya to. The Meryan army had taken point in the Vladimirian Conquest of Käkisalmi while the Vladimirian army was focused on defending against the subjugation by Estonia. King Syrka had had little desire to fight his son in-law King Nalka and his pregnant daughter Queen Sochava, even though his suzerain contract had forced him to join the war. The Meryan army had already captured Käkisalmi and sent prisoners back to Merya and had won a brief skirmish at Raivola, adding another prisoner, commander Hakon Skarfr, the son of the Chief of Käkisalmi. Eskild of Käkisalmi was quick to pay ransom for his only surviving son.

The Meryan army then captured Uusimaa and took the brilliant Skuld af Austergautland, the wife of Bo of Uusimaa, prisoner. Bo was also eager to ransom his wife, but the lustful King Velmayka instead claimed Skuld as his first concubine. She was unhappy to be separated from her son, Dan Bosson, but her ambition saw the advantages of being the concubine of the powerful King of Merya, as Velmayka showered her with gifts. Bo of Uusimaa swore venegeance against King Velmayka for stealing his wife. But that didn’t stop him from soon taking another wife, a Pomeranian woman named Zdenka z Rujani.

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The capture of Uusimaa was enough to get King Gosciwuj ‘the Hunter’ of Sweden to surrender Käkisalmi to King Purysho of Vladimir. This returned the Suomenusko Holy site of Raivola back to the control of a Suomenusko King. This meant all five of the holiest sites of the Suomenusko Gods were safely in the hands of the Suomenusko faithful, though only two, Pereyaslavl Ryazanski and Perm, were within the boundaries of Merya. Raivola and Solsty in Novgorod were controlled by Vladimir and Hiiumaa was in Estonia.

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With the war against Sweden over, Velmayka was free to lead his army against Estonia. He did not have the personal connections to the King of Estonia to make him hold back his aid as King Syrka had. In Izborsk, King Velamyka led 5,000 Meryans against 1,200 Estonians led by King Nalka. Half of the Estonians were killed, while Velmayka lost only 38 men. His first victory as King.

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But while Velmayka was leading men in battle, his wife was straying. Word soon reached Velmayka that Queen Tetyava was pregnant. He knew he could not be the father and sent a spy to find out the truth. It was soon discovered that High Chief Viryas of Latgale, one of King Syrka’s sons, was the true father of the child. Tetyava pleaded that Viryas had seduced her, taking advantage her jealousy that Velmayka had taken Skuld as his concubine, and she had strayed just once in a moment of weakness. But Velmayka had not forgiven her, despite her excuses, and revealed her adultery.

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But before her adultery had been revealed while the King was still away at war, Queen Tetyava had been proclaimed the Queen of the Harvest by the King’s Council, in Velmayka’s name, at the festival that was held in Yaroslavl and she had won the love of the peasants. The shaman had blessed her pregnancy and her unborn bastard. This made had made it politically impossible for Velmayka to divorce her or do anything else to her. She soon secluded her self to not flaunt her adultery before the King and the people of Yaroslavl. The strain of her adultery was effecting her mental stability though.

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King Velmayka continued to fight the war, defeating the remnants of the Estonian army in the Battle of Latgale. This was followed by the Battle of Ledurga, not against an Estonian army, but an allied army. With the victory at Ledurga, King Nalka called off his war to subjugate Vladimir. Velmayka’s inherited obligations from King Syrka were now resolved.

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He returned home to find his wife with her new born son, the bastard, Murunza Viryasid.

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King Velmayka (22yo, 4mil educ., 54stat, super family) was a very good choice. But dad (44yo, 4mil, 73stat, super family) or High Chief Tutyra (35yo, 4mil, 60stat (28martial) 4 counties, very good family) would have been great. How many electors are there and how much ability to influence the election do you have? Do you have arrest warrants for wife and more importantly High Chief Viryas (AI seduction focus is evil and he didn't even acknowledge the boy)? A failed arrest, a crushed revolt and title seizures would send a nice message to future lotharios and improve your demense. Great, great update and thank you for entertaining me. May you and those you care about be safe.
 
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An inauspicious start to Velmayka's reign, with a cuckoo in his nest.

I agree with @Midnite Duke, there needs to be some punishment handed out for this. Velmayka cannot let his vassals see him as weak, we know where that got Syrka.

And in my own humble opinion, Skuld looks like a much better wife right now.
 
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Justice must be served.
 
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Velmayka seems like a proper king indeed. Though he is a bit young, he certainly seems more pleasant than his father.
Tetyava also looks like an excellent choice for a queen, I can't wait to see how it all goes wrong.
I see Viryas wanted to get a little bit too close to the crown and, with intrigue that high, I'd keep a close eye on him.
In the meantime, Murunza promises an interesting story down the line.
 
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An awkward beginning, but he has time to puzzle through the challenges this throws up.
 
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It really feels like the end of an era. Syrka did amazing things from a relatively humble background, it's a shame that he didn't manage to found a bloodline. He definitely deserved it.
 
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King Velmayka (22yo, 4mil educ., 54stat, super family) was a very good choice. But dad (44yo, 4mil, 73stat, super family) or High Chief Tutyra (35yo, 4mil, 60stat (28martial) 4 counties, very good family) would have been great. How many electors are there and how much ability to influence the election do you have? Do you have arrest warrants for wife and more importantly High Chief Viryas (AI seduction focus is evil and he didn't even acknowledge the boy)? A failed arrest, a crushed revolt and title seizures would send a nice message to future lotharios and improve your demense. Great, great update and thank you for entertaining me. May you and those you care about be safe.

Velmayka is a strong candidate and his father was next in e line. Tutyra is Syrka son, so he had the same stigma regarding bloodlines that the electors were trying to move away from. There are around 2 dozen electors, though the exact number varies with deaths, inheritances, and challenges constantly splitting or consolidating votes.
I can arrest them both without tyranny for their treason, but Velmayka has a kind nature, plus as I mentioned up above, the people of Yaroslavl have embraced the Queen despite her indiscretion, so he wants to give the appearance of accepting her. High Chief Viryas is a different issue. Not only does he control the High Chiefdom of Latgale, his brothers hold the High Chiefdoms of Bjarmia, Minsk, Turov, and Polotsk. Velmayka wasn't ready to potentially tear the Kingdom in half over what is essentially a personal matter. So Velmayka will wait for a more opportune time to deal with Viryas.


An inauspicious start to Velmayka's reign, with a cuckoo in his nest.

I agree with @Midnite Duke, there needs to be some punishment handed out for this. Velmayka cannot let his vassals see him as weak, we know where that got Syrka.

And in my own humble opinion, Skuld looks like a much better wife right now.

As discussed above, Velmayka has reasons to not deal with them at the moment. He will soon take a different route to show his strength. Skuld is impressive, but she will have a different role to play.

Justice must be served.

Velmayka is holding off on justice for himself, for the good of the realm.


Velmayka seems like a proper king indeed. Though he is a bit young, he certainly seems more pleasant than his father.
Tetyava also looks like an excellent choice for a queen, I can't wait to see how it all goes wrong.
I see Viryas wanted to get a little bit too close to the crown and, with intrigue that high, I'd keep a close eye on him.
In the meantime, Murunza promises an interesting story down the line.

Velmayka has a few years of experience but is young enough to grow into his new role. His father is a talented, but he his cowardice and cruelty may turn him into a tyrant if given too much power. Tetyava is an excellent Queen, except for her indiscretion with Viryas, and Velmayka is aware of the danger Viryas poses. Murunza will certainly have his birth to live down as he grows.

An awkward beginning, but he has time to puzzle through the challenges this throws up.

His adept handling of the two wars he inherited is overshadowed by the scandal at court.

It really feels like the end of an era. Syrka did amazing things from a relatively humble background, it's a shame that he didn't manage to found a bloodline. He definitely deserved it.

Despite his unlikely ascension to the throne and suffering from gout since before he was King, Syrka managed to rule for over 30 years, greatly expanding Merya's borders, power, and influence.

i was so hoping to get him his bloodline, to create a rival Kardazid Bloodline completely separate from Erizya's. On one side would be Erziya's hounded bloodline, the bloodline of heroes and warriors, and then Syrka's bloodline could have been a more civilized one of philosophers and scholars. But alas, Syrka died a little too early.
 
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987 – 990 The Plaguebearers
987 – 990 The Plaguebearers

They both came from the east and both brought death and despair with them. Rumors of their coming had been spreading for the last dozen years, each story more unbelievable than last. Often the stories would become confused and entangled, so much so that they became interchangeable.

The first stories reached Yaroslavl over a decade ago, rumors of an unstoppable horde lead by a former slave, coming out of the east, from fabled Hinduston. They spoke of Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ of Multan and his 50,000. His 50,000-man Ghaznavid horde that left a swathe of destruction; broken castles, pillaged cities, desecrated temples and hundreds of thousands of dead as they swept westward. Initially, it was said, the kingdoms and empires raised armies to try and stop the advance, but these were brushed aside, adding their numbers to the dead. They tried bribes and offered tribute, but the Horde had no interest in anything but pushing ever westward. After that, the kings just tried to cleared as many of their people as they could out of the path of the horde and prayed that the Ghaznavids would pass swiftly through their lands.

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It was some five years after the initial rumors of the Ghaznavid Horde, that the rumors of an epidemic, the Black Death, appeared far to the east. First in the Western Protectorate and then in India. Again there were stories of unimaginable numbers of dead, bodies piled in the streets, and the noon day sun blotted out by the smoke of the burning dead. This Plague also swept westward, and it appeared to be following the same path as the Ghaznavid Horde, through India and into Persia.

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But even with a 5-year head start, the Plague was soon fast on the heels of the Horde, and so the stories became entwined. One version had the Ghaznavid, fleeing the Plague, destroying any who might slow them down and allow the Plague to catch them up. The other version was the Plague was another weapon of the Horde, they were the Plaguebearers, living only for slaughter and the end of mankind. It was certainly true that the destruction the Horde had left in its wake had left the survivors too weak and unprepared for the epidemic and they soon died in even greater numbers. But the Plague spread well beyond the Hordes’ path, finding it way into lands and countries untouched by the Horde. And if Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ hadn’t originally been fleeing the Plague, he certainly was now.

The Sunni Caliph Ali III saw both of these disasters heading straight for him. One, the Plague, was certainly God’s wrath and could not be stopped. But the other could be turned into God’s weapon and put to good use. The Caliph would use his position as the leader of the Sunni faith to redirect the Ghaznavid Horde. He would call on Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ to join a Jihad against the enemies of God. Sabuktigin was a faithful Bedouin Sunni just like the Caliph and Caliph Ali III hoped he would be willing to use his power to support a Jihad, and be directed away from pillaging his way across the Taid Sultanate in Persia and falling upon the Umayyad lands in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula. And adding further chaos in Egypt where the Muhallabid were still fighting against the Catholic Crusade.

Ali had briefly thought of trying to get the Ghaznavid to join their fellow Sunni in defense against the Crusade, but that would be like asking a swarm of locust to only eat one type of flower, all he could hope to do was divert the swarm to another’s fields. In this case, the most powerful Catholic ruler’s fields, the Holy Roman Empire. The Sunni Caliph called on all righteous Sunni Muslims to take up arms against Emperor Arnulf of the Holy Roman Empire in a Jihad for Sicily. And then he sent emissaries to Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ to enlist his aid, promising him supplies and ships on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean to carry him and his 50,000 men to Italy. Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ agreed, hoping to put the sea between his people and the Plague.

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Months later, the Ghaznavid fleet made landfall in southern Italy and descended upon the unsuspecting populace. A populace who had spent the last two centuries under the sure protection of the Holy Roman Empire; A populace who scarcely gave credence to the tales of some monstrous horde ravaging India, Persia, and Middle East; now a populace that suddenly found that very horde breaking down their gates and invading their homes. But the Ghaznavid received their own shock, the Plague had arrived in Italy before them, there was no where left to run. And Sabuktigin ‘the Conqueror’ was tired of running, this time the Ghaznavid horde did not descend like locusts upon the lands of Sicily and then move on, this time they would stay and make their stand against the Holy Roman Empire, the Plague, and anyone one else who dared to challenge them. Thus the Ghaznavid Sultanate was born in southern Italy as the Holy Roman Empire reeled in shock from the arrival of the Plague and the Plaguebearers.

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Caliph Ali III has successfully directed the Ghaznavid horde away from Muslim lands and dropped all 50,000 of them right into the middle of Christianity, right on Rome’s doorstep.

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While the drama played out in Persia, the Middle East, and Southern Europe, life in Merya continued undisturbed by any of these rumors. King Velmayka was still trying to find his feet as King. While Velmayka had been fighting Estonia in the west, raiders had crossed the border in the east and looted and pillaged Tynea. During the Tynea raid, they had burned down the new Hillfort that King Syrka had constructed. The nomads in Tynea saw this as an opportunity to cause trouble, so King Velmayka pledged funds to rebuild the Hillfort.

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His Council was still unsettled, with more petty rivalries coming out, with his spy master High Chief Num of Nidaros saying that the Steward Chief Valto of Belo Ozero needed to be discouraged from joining factions. And Valto protesting that he understood his obligations as a vassal.

He also tried his hand at diplomacy. He sent gifts to the independent High Chief Tutyra of Polotsk, to try and persuade him to voluntarily accept vassalization and join his brothers as vassals to the Kingdom of Merya. Half of Tutyra’s children were living in Yaroslavl already, as they had lived there all their life with their grandfather King Syrka. But High Chief Tutyra was not ready to give up his independence.

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After that diplomatic failure, Velmayka next offered to join King Nalka ‘Ironside’ of Estonia, the man he had just fought against as an ally with Vladimir, in his war to subjugate Minerve Lithuania. King Nalka gladly accepted his aid and Merya was again at war. As Minerve Lithuania was of little threat, King Velmayka just sent the Merry Men under Chief Kayghalagh and Commanders Uzhara and Naruchad to deal with it. By the end of the year, the Merry Men had defeated the enemy army in the field and sieged down their holdings in Kurzeme, effectively winning the war and greatly improving Estonian-Meryan relations, though there was still the issue of Nalka’s ambitions of perhaps one day pressing his own claim to the throne of Merya, which he held as the late King Nuyat’s son.

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King Velmayka’s last diplomatic act was publicly appearing to have forgiven his wife, Queen Tetyava for her indiscretion, named Murunza Viryasid. Of couse privately, he was still spending little time with her. Instead, he spent most of his time with the brilliant Skuld and his new concubine, the almost as bright, Styaka Chumbulatid, daughter of the late Chief of Grodno, Varaka the Giant. This paid off as Skuld was soon with child. She soon gave birth to King Velmayka’s first child, a daughter they named Chechama.

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Then Velmayka turned to religious matters, he publicly declared the great Ukko, the God of the Sky, and bringer of the harvest, as his patron diety. He hoped Ukko would guide he and his Kingdom to further prosperity.

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But to even further show his devotion, he did something no other Meryan King had done since the days of Erziya ‘the Bold’ and King Dergun ‘the Shadow King’, he applied to join the Followers of Otso. Chief Arti of Thisageta, a Hero in the Followers of Otso and vassal to the High Chief of Tver, took the King in hand and arranged his initiation duel. He was pitted against another man named Arti, a Fledgling commoner. This Arti seems happy at the chance to administer a beating to a noble, no less a King.

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The tradition is to fight initation duels with wooden staves, putting the one-handed King Velmayka at a disadvantage from the start, but he makes no complaint as he accepts his staff. Velmayka does manage to poke Arti in the face with the end of his stave, but his one hand is not strong enough to completely block a powerful two-handed overhead blow that forces his own staff to bounce off his skull and knock him to ground. Groggily, he struggles to continue, but they stop the fight, declaring Arti the winner. The Hero Chief Arti offers King Velmayka a postion in the Followers of Otso, praising his bravery and optimism in facing their challenger with an unfamiliar weapon and Velmayka is presented with his Fledging scarf. Velmayka's head wound soon heals, leaving him another scar.

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Chief Ovtay of Izborsk of the House of Man, a Veteran in the Followers, offers to help Velmayka learn to fight with his one hand, Velmayka gladly accepts. Chief Ovtay helped Velmayka over come his fear related to his disability in combat, and they become friends.

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His final act of devotion to the Gods, Velmayka decided to worship his ancestors and ask for prosperity and growth for the realm by offering up a prisoner in sacrifice. However, the only prisoner in his dungeon is madman, who had been there for years. The madman claims to be Nuyaksha ‘the Wise, the High Chief of Tver. But that is a ridiculous notion, Nuyaksha ‘the Wise’ died years ago, and his sons and heirs had long ago split up his lands and titles. Despite his long confinement, the madman is almost inhumanly strong, resisting mightly as he is dragged to the sacred grove and his throat is slit below one of the bear skulls hanging from the trees in the center of the grove. Such a strong sacrifice would be pleasing to the Gods. Velmayka did have a slight feeling of unease, if the madman had truly been Nuyaksha 'the Wise' of Tver, that would make Velmayka a tribal kinslayer. But that would also mean that King Syrka, or someone else, had lied about Nuyaksha’s death all those years ago.*

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Shortly, after the sacrifice, Queen Tetyava is again pregnant, insisting this time that Velmayka is truly the father. Her worries over Velmayka’s distrust of her, lead her to have a troubled pregnancy, and Velmayka’s kind nature dislikes seeing her suffer, so he comforts her. She eventually gives birth to son, who is named Ayzren. The baby boy is sickly, the result of the troubled pregnancy, no doubt. Chief Valto, the current healer is called in to treat the boy, but his efforts have no effect. Velmayka decides to remove any distractions that might be interfering with his son’s treatment and relieves Valto of his duties as Steward so he can concentrate on taking care of Azyren. Chief Shindyay of Smolensk, a better steward and more loyal vassl replaces Valto on the Council. Valto still fails to help Velmayka’s son, so he is replaced as healer by Koksha the Diviner. While Velmayka frets about the health of his son, his concubine Styaka announces she is pregnant.

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Independent High Chief Tutyra of Polotsk, would die of an infected wound. His son Shkay became the new High Chief of Polotsk. Velmayka renews his offer to Polotsk for vassalization, but like his father before him, Shkay refuses.

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Then King Purysho ‘the Monster’ of Vladimir dies. King Virdyan II, also known as ‘the Cruel’, is now King of Vladimir, as well as Nenetsia and Novgorod. He also remains a tributary of King Velmayka. But while he has retained all the Kingdom titles, he doesn’t hold onto all the lands as many of Vladimir’s former vassals refuse to bend the knee and acknowledge Virdyan II as their King. The former King of Nenetsia, Chief Khaireddin 'the Frog' of Votyaki is the first to proclaim his independence. He is followed by Chief Tiskshayka of Dvina, High Chief Kharuchi ‘’the Moaner’ of Kargopol, and High Chief Arvet of Pskov. Velmayka seizes the opportunity and offers vassalization to all of the newly independent chieftains. The Chiefs, Khaireddin and Tiskshayka, accept the offer, bringing Votyaki and Dvina and other titles back into Merya, but the two High Chiefs refuse, preferring their independence.

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There is soon another change in the Council. High Chief Num of Nidaros, Velmayka’s spymaster is murdered by Chief Erziya of Galich Mersky, the reason for the murder is not known. Velmayka appoints his concubine, Skuld, as the new spymaster.

Nyalku Samayid inherits the High Chiefdom of Nidaros, he is another of the late High Chief Salinder’s sons who have embraced the Tengri Sky Gods. But that is not the most disturbing news to come from Nidaros. Sickness is running through Naumdal, the Plague has appeared in the outer reaches of Merya.

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Two months later it has crossed the Baltic Sea and is in Estonia and on Merya’s western border.

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* the mad man was who he claimed to be, Nuyaksha 'the Wise' of Tver (my game crashed at one point and I had to restart from an earlier save, which resurrected Nuyaksha after he died, but I didn't realize that until I actually got to this point of needing a sacrifice and Nuyaksha reappeared as my prisoner) . I tend to think one of Nuyaksha’s sons got tired of waiting for Nuyaksha to die in prison and keeping him from his inheritance and bribed a jailor to report him dead, so he could inherit.
 
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In an ironic twist, we have independent Bashkiria and Perm but neither owns the county of their name. While Perm's two unconnected counties are located in the de jure Perm duchy (I believe), Bashkiria's two counties are not even in the de jure Bashkiria duchy. Your diviner will be praying for you to capture Ural from Bashkiria. How many of the 52 counties required to form the Volga-Ural Empire, do you control? Thank you for updating and may you have good health and happiness.
 
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Well, F for all those Meryans about to die to the plague.
 
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Merya is about to be tested as never before. This will be the crisis, one feels, that defines his reign.

And a nice detail regarding Nuyaksha
 
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Those poor Sicilians must be so confused. The caliph certainly had the right idea of making Sabuktigin the pope's problem.
Estonia is looking healthier than it ever has, if they can win the support of Merya then they have a chance to play hegemon on their side of the Baltic.
It's good to see a king once again among the Followers of Otso! Missing a hand is a pretty significant handicap but a brave man can do much despite this.
Nice retcon of Nuyaksha's death ;)
This is a pretty bad time for the plague to come knocking. Velmayka's reign is still not very secure and I imagine that a potential succession would be a mess.
 
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An early plague. Wonder who will be the last Kardazid standing?

A few will survive, but it will be brutal.


In an ironic twist, we have independent Bashkiria and Perm but neither owns the county of their name. While Perm's two unconnected counties are located in the de jure Perm duchy (I believe), Bashkiria's two counties are not even in the de jure Bashkiria duchy. Your diviner will be praying for you to capture Ural from Bashkiria. How many of the 52 counties required to form the Volga-Ural Empire, do you control? Thank you for updating and may you have good health and happiness.

Yes, the High Chief of Perm controls two of his de jure counties. The actual county of Perm is held by Merya and contins one of the 5 Suomenusko holy sites. Bashkiria has just one county, the High Chief of Ural is just a tributary, not a vassal. Ural is the farthest Catholic outpost from Rome, and the loneliest.

Merya has messed up the de jure county count for the Volga-Ural Empire, as a couple of de jure Duchies have drifted into Merya which is considered part of the Rus Empire. So, I don't know how many exactly I hold/need, but last time I looked (about 10 years past the last chapter posted) I was about 7 counties short of having enough to form the Empire, provided I add a second Kingdom title. It is definitely a goal, as I really like the Coat of Arms of that Empire.


Well, F for all those Meryans about to die to the plague.

As i said it will be brutal, still trying to work out the best way to present the Plague Years in the next Chapter.

Merya is about to be tested as never before. This will be the crisis, one feels, that defines his reign.

And a nice detail regarding Nuyaksha

Merya will be seeing some sweeping changes as the Plague passes through and no one will be unscathed.

It was a shock when I found him alive in the dungeon. When the game crashed, I only lost a few months reverting tot he last autosave, but I completely missed that he had been resurrected, so just spun a yarn.

Those poor Sicilians must be so confused. The caliph certainly had the right idea of making Sabuktigin the pope's problem.
Estonia is looking healthier than it ever has, if they can win the support of Merya then they have a chance to play hegemon on their side of the Baltic.
It's good to see a king once again among the Followers of Otso! Missing a hand is a pretty significant handicap but a brave man can do much despite this.
Nice retcon of Nuyaksha's death ;)
This is a pretty bad time for the plague to come knocking. Velmayka's reign is still not very secure and I imagine that a potential succession would be a mess.

Sabuktigin actually did nothing with his horde for 10 years, then Caliph Ali called the Jihad and then boom, 50,000 Bedouins were sitting in Sicily, so I gave Ali some agency.

King Nalka 'Ironside ' has done well since he inherited Estonia as a toddler 30 years ago. But he is the first Kardazid King to face the Plague.

King Velmayka has a religious streak and joining the Followers of Otso is one way to express it. And it also reminds his supporters why they chose him, because of his descent from two past Heroes of the Warrior Society.

Nuyaksha 'the Wise' lives ! Or not.

Definitely a challenge for any King. And the succession will be in flux as the Plague will be going after electors as well as candidates.
 
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The plauge, gods no! Let's hope your family (largely) survives this difficult time. Remember chaos can be a ladder not a pit!


A lot of people die from this plague. So many I wasn't sure how I wanted to write this chapter. I could have just listed them, but I would have blown through my image budget trying to show them all. But you can see below what I came up with. No family was spared, not even the Royal Family. There were a some, such as the King of Vladimir, who followed Littlefinger's philosophy and tried to profit from the chaos. And there were several people who rose much higher than they ever expected by the time it was over.
 
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991 - 996 The Plague Years
991 - 996 The Plague Years

For five years the Plague ravaged the Kingdom of Merya. Death reached into every hut, village, and temple. No one was spared, not slaves, peasants, warriors, shamans, or even nobility. Young and old, weak and strong, all died. It started in the west and swept eastward, as if returning home in the Far East after going as far west as it could and slaughtering millions across the known world. Of all that known world, only the island of Iceland was spared. Unfortunately for High Chief Suni II of Iceland, he never made it home to that sanctuary from Yaroslavl where he served as War Chief on the Council. His successor, High Chief Buðli of Iceland, was brutal in his methods of keeping the island plague free.

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The Kings of Merya typically had some 20 Chieftains as direct vassals. During those 5 years, 50 times new Chieftains came forward to pledge their fealty to replace vassals felled by the Plague. But the deaths were not spread evenly across Merya, while the Chieftains to some titles were replaced multiple times during these dark days, other Chieftains were spared completely, though they still watched too many of their family, friends, and people die.

Whole clans were wiped out by the Plague, the Houses of Man, Hasabid, and Uzharid ceased to exist. The ancient House of Torzhokid, founded by the legendary War Chief Vechkas who served the first Kardazids, was reduced down to a single member, High Chief Tyushtya of Veps. Luckily, he survived the plague and is still young enough to possibly rebuild his House. Even the largest and most powerful clan in Merya, House Kardazid, suffered staggering losses. Before the Plague arrived, the Kardazid Clan boasted over 200 living members, but in the darkest days, they were reduced to 78 survivors spread across the three Kardazid kingdoms. This death toll reached into the very heart of the Kingdom of Merya to Yaroslavl itself.

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The Plague killed the Kingdom of Estonia, though it would take years for it to die. King Nalka ‘Ironside’ didn’t die of the Plague, he was murdered in the chaos as refugees flooded his capitol. The giant Chumbulat became the new King of Estonia, but he was already showing symptoms when the crown was placed upon his head. But it wasn’t his death that killed Estonia, it was the death of High Chief Pokshayka of Estonia and his family, the first prominent members of the Kardazid Clan to die of the Plague. For with their deaths, the High Chiefdom of Estonia, half of Chumbulat’s Kingdom was torn out of Estonia as King Velmayka of Merya was surprised to learn he had inherited all the land and titles. King Chumbulat’s death soon after further weakened the remaining Estonian Kingdom. King Virdyan ‘the Cruel’ of Vladimir showed no mercy, unaffected by the death all around him, he took this opportunity to launch a subjugation war against the broken and scattered remnants of Estonia under its new King Shoksha, and to call his suzerain, King Velmayka into it. Velmayka agreed to join the war, but had no intention of sending any men.

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As the Plague and war ravaged Estonia, King Velmayka of Merya was at a loss as to what he could do. He collected news from all over the world and was staggered by the devastation. He learned of the successful Jihad for Sicily with the Ghaznavid Horde descending on the Holy Roman Empire.

He learned that four Byzantine Emperors had died from the plague in quick succession. The current Basilissa Romylia ‘the Just’ is 65 years old and dying of cancer and an infected wound and also defending against the Shia Caliph Musa and his own Jihad for Sicily, trying to match the Sunni Caliph’s success. She had inherited the throne from her own son, who first lost all his children, and then lost his life.

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He learned that the Sultan Sami of the Muhallabid had hid in his palace and feasted while his people died in the thousands from the Plague and from the Crusaders ravaging the land. Then Sheikh Mirza of Meltene led a revolt and overthrew Sultan Sami ‘the Decadent’, shattering the Muhallabid Sultanate into dozens of Emirates and Sheikdoms from the Black Sea to the Horn of Africa, vacating the thrones in Egypt and in Trezibond in Asia Minor that had been held by the Muhallabid clan for centuries. This also ended the decade-long Catholic Crusade as the Egypt they had come to conquer no longer existed. Though House Muhallabid still survives as Sami’s distant cousin, Ghalib, is the Sultan of Maghreb.

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Only Badshah Mansur ‘the Holy’ of the Umayyad Empire appeared unfazed by the Plague, secure in his capitol in Iberia and guiding his people through these trying times.

Queen Æthelhild of England was last member of the ruling House of St. Cuthbert when she inherited the throne from her brother after he fell to the Plague. But she is young, only 21, and unmarried. If she marries matrilineally and has children, she can still preserve her house.

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Closer to home, King Gosciwoj 'the Hunter' of Sweden died of the plague and his lands were split in two. His older son becomes Gosciwoj II of Sweden while his younger son, 10-year old Trojden Polan has been crowned King of Poland. Both boys were already showing symptoms when they came into their kingdoms. A month later Sweden needs a new King as Gosciwoj II also died of the Plague. His kinsman Twardomir Polan was then crowned, but he was also doomed. He lasted two months and then his sister Jadwiga was crowned Queen of Sweden. Queen Jadwiga ‘the Cruel’ would last 3 years, then also die of the Plague. Judyta Polan would be crowned as the next Queen of Sweden. Young Trojden, on the other hand, would survive his bout with the Plague and still be King of Poland when the it receded four years later.

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The Kingdom of Suomi was also ravaged. King Armas ’the Wise’ and his successor, King Kuuti ‘the Whiner’, would both fall victim to the plague in the first year. Reko Karjalainen would then claim the throne. He would survive, but see all his family die, parents, siblngs, wife, and child. Once the Plague had passed, he remarried and claimed three concubines, desperate to rebuild his family.

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Lithuania also lost two Kings, both within a week of each other. King Kol of Lithuania claimed the empty throne.

Estonia ‘s troubles continued, after Chumbulat I died, three more Kardazid Kings would die in quick succession to the Plague. Now King Chumbulat II has inherited the throne and the war with King Virdyan ‘the Cruel’ of Vladimir.

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But all these stories of the plague’s devastation give no clue on how to survive it. King Velmayka’s Diviner and healer, Koksha, went out to try and study this plague, but he never returned. A new healer was quickly found, one of Velmayka's newly inherited Estonian vassals, Shaman Chichayka of Hiiumaa, but he would also fall victim.

By that time, it was too late, the Plague was sweeping through Merya with news of peasants and Chiefs dying everyday and it had reached Yaroslavl along with a flood of refugees. The tragic news pours in from all corners of Merya and Velmayka finds it hard to keep track of the dead. His focus narrows to Yaroslavl, as his Council is devastated, War Chief Suni is the first to die, soon followed by his replacement, Commander Pokshayka. The High Chief of Veps, Tyushtya Torzhokid, is the third War Chief in a year, but he would survive his own brush with the plague, though the rest of his family would not. The Steward, Chief Shindyay of Smolensk is soon dying, lying in a coma. High Chief Tolik of Velsk takes up his duties. Two Diviners had already died when the Plague strikes the Royal Family. Velmayka’s son, Azyren, who had always been a sickly child was the first to show symptoms. Desparate, Velmayka finds Marava, the High Chieftess of Zavarot, among the refugees, and makes her healer and Diviner, and begs her to save his son. She fails, but she is soon beyond any punishment as she dies soon after. Queen Tetyava, who never left her son’s side, is soon buried with him. King Velmayka’s two daughters, Chechama and Ashava, soon show symptoms as well.

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Velmayka personally cares for the tiny girls along with their mothers, Skuld and Styaka, until he and Skuld both catch the dread Plague. Word is sent across the river to the current heir of Merya, High Chief Tul of Vologda, that he may soon be called upon to take the throne. But Velmayka continues to fight on, lingering for a month.

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Then a new healer arrives, Chief Mordvinko of Läänemaa. Mordvinko suggests an experimental treatment, that may succeed, or hasten Velmayka’s death. He warns, even if it succeeds there will be a price to pay. Velmayka is desparate and agrees. Mordvinko tries several approaches, carving deep into Velmayka’s flesh, even taking one of his eyes. But he finally figures it out and Velmayka is cured.

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Mordvinko immediately puts what he has learned to use in treating the King’s daughters, albeit using a somewhat gentler approach. And soon they are both recovering. But Mordvinko is too late to save Skuld, but at least she lasted long enough to see that her daughter would live. She had been devastated several months earlier when she had learned her former husband, Bo of Uusimaa, and her son, Dan of Uusimaa, had both died of the Plague.

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Velmayka’s concubine, Styaka, had expected King Velmayka to die and had strayed. Velmayka sets her aside as she begins to show some symptoms of the pox. She is sent off to a new court to be married. Two years later she is dead. She had avoided the Plague, but has died of the Great Pox.

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Velmayka soon receives more bad news from Chieftess Potyava of Läänemaa who has inherited the title from Velmayka’s Diviner and healer, Mordvinko. Chief Mordvinko had saved Velmayka and his daughters, but he couldn’t save himself. Putyayka of Udine becomes the new Diviner and healer in Yaroslavl, accepting a position that has seen her last four predeccessors die in just three years. She also becomes Velmayka’s lover.

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With his surviving children on the road to recovery, Velmayka checks on the rest of his family. His father’s concubine Mastorava is a fellow warrior in the Followers of Otso, she assures him that his parents and siblings are all still healthy, though she mainly discusses her own children, including her oldest son who was born before she became Kichay’s concubine. Her oldest son is Velmayka’s friend and new War Chief, High Chief Tyushtya of Veps, making them step brothers of a kind. Her daughter Chinzhay, Velmayka’s half-sister is married to Syrka of Udine. Her other son, Velmayka’s half-brother, 16-year old Paksyut, has inherited Votyaki, Riga, and Polotsk from the former King of Nenetsia, Khaireddin, who has died from the Plague. Paksyut is also the current heir to the Kingdom of Vladimir and is betrothed to Chieftess Annika of Narva.

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Knowing the rest of his family is well, Velmayka is ready to look to the future despite the continug Plague. He must find a new Queen for Merya. While his lover, Putyayka, is already pregnant, she is not prestigious enough to become Queen. He chooses a strong woman, a fellow warrior in the Followers of Otso. She is an Estonian named Lagle kohta Sakala from the court of King Manvydas II of Minerve Lithuania. The kohta Sakala are an ancient Estonian House, giving Velmayka great prestige. The marriage proposal is accepted and Queen Lagle joins Velmayka in Yaroslavl.

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She arrives in Yaroslavl very happy with her new circumstances, as Velmayka showers her with honors, naming her the designated regent of Merya, the Master of the Bow, and the Queen of the Harvest. But that happy glow is soon dimmed as next her new husband welcomes a new daughter, Nulzyava, born to his lover, Putyayka. King Velmayka assures his new Queen that the affair had ended as soon as they had been matched, but he still acknowledges that the baby is his. Queen Lagle seems to accept his explanations as she is soon pregnant herself.

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Meanwhile, unrest is growing among the population of Merya’s the death toll mounts. The commoners are looking for answers as to why the Gods were punishing them, they begin to whisper and then shout of witches and warlocks causing the Plague, some cult of Tuonetar worshippers. To appease them, Velmayka is forced to instruct his newest Diviner Putyayka of Udine to investigate these claims of witchcraft.

Putyayka’s investigations turn up four people accused of witchcraft. The first is Chief Bihor of Vilnius, a 4-year old boy whose parents had already died of the Plague. The boy’s only crime is his parents were of Khazar descent and worshipped the Tengri Sky gods. Velmayka imprisons the boy for his own safety and then strips him of title to appease the peasants. He sends him away to his Khazar relatives outside of Merya, but does keep Vilnius’ treasury.

The next to be accused is Utyayka Kardazid, a simple-minded kinswoman of the King. Velmayka again has her imprisoned to appease the commoners. Then a few weeks later he quietly releases her and arranges her marriage to High Chief Torvo of Poljamma in Suomi, outside the range of rumors of witchcraft.

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These are followed by two older women. Savkëti Tarmaçid, an old Khazar woman, is next to be accused of witchcraft. Again, to appease the peasants she is arrested, and then quietly banished from the land. She is followed by Yiltis, an Uyyghar woman. The same drill, imprisonment and then banishment.

A month later, a huge crowd of peasants gather outside Yaroslavl demanding the witches be tried and punished. Velmayka is at loss as he has already released the accused. But his new spymaster, Skuld's replacement, High Chief Nalka of Tver, comes up with a plan. Velmayka announces that all of the accused have been found guilty and will be executed. A great bonfire is built up outside of Yaroslavl and Nalka has four Plague victims’ bodies, three large and one small, wrapped in shrouds and bound with chains thrown into the fire before the cheering crowd.

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Whether or not the “executions” had an effect, the general population believe and perhaps belief is enough. Because as the new year dawns, there are promising signs, the Black Death is receding from the land, only left in a few spots along the southern and eastern borders.

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hehehehe middle ages intensifies
 
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