Not My Heifer - The Story of an Alternate Indo-European Migration

I’m sorry everyone, I may have to stop writing the timeline. I’m a complete basket case over how beautiful the map is. I have been crying for over an hour in my bed in the fetal position with a raging erection. I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s just so wonderful... it’s like the Second Coming is finally here!!!
 
I don't see Šušin or Šawati on the map--I assume they're within the purple area, among the "redeemed cities".

So what I foresee in the next stage of the war is a race for Ešnunna. If Thullala can seize the city and hold it and his province against Mantsittu, then Alama's faction is cut off from the military colonies in the north, besides the obvious value in holding the capital. So Mantsittu needs to get to the old northern frontier in time to bring his greater numbers to bear, while also promoting a rear defense to keep forces from Šušin from supporting his enemies. Whoever commands Larakh has to be important to that effort.
 
I don't see Šušin or Šawati on the map--I assume they're within the purple area, among the "redeemed cities".

So what I foresee in the next stage of the war is a race for Ešnunna. If Thullala can seize the city and hold it and his province against Mantsittu, then Alama's faction is cut off from the military colonies in the north, besides the obvious value in holding the capital. So Mantsittu needs to get to the old northern frontier in time to bring his greater numbers to bear, while also promoting a rear defense to keep forces from Šušin from supporting his enemies. Whoever commands Larakh has to be important to that effort.

Yeah it was a call I made on my part due to a lack of space. But probably not that great in hindsight given how important Šušin is.

All of that is definitely true, it's a good catch on the Larakh situation. However one more important card that has not yet been played are the military settlements of the north. Towns like Akate, Makskhansar and Niapru all still have their garrisons in place but not commanded by anyone, only paying lip service to the capital.
 
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I don't see Šušin or Šawati on the map--I assume they're within the purple area, among the "redeemed cities".

So what I foresee in the next stage of the war is a race for Ešnunna. If Thullala can seize the city and hold it and his province against Mantsittu, then Alama's faction is cut off from the military colonies in the north, besides the obvious value in holding the capital. So Mantsittu needs to get to the old northern frontier in time to bring his greater numbers to bear, while also promoting a rear defense to keep forces from Šušin from supporting his enemies. Whoever commands Larakh has to be important to that effort.

Except that Thullala is already dead. His father, Phiringthur, had him tied to a cedar log and left him out to starve and have his eyes gouged out by crows, which subsequently led to his being poisoned (accidentally) by his daughter-in-law, Šuningsuḫ. I think you mean his son, Nuningmengara'.

While the military colonies of the north have not yet declared their loyalties, they are under the jurisdiction of Clan Tušiathia' and therefore under the direct command of Mantsittu and other members of the clan, who is the incumbent Ukur Engala' following Kukkantser's murder. Mantsittu is a war hero in his own right who fought alongside his nephew in Ḫanmaji and Šušin and thus commands enormous respect among the troops. Most of these colonies are too small however to have men to spare to send south to garrison the capital, which is why Mantsittu raised his army in Lower Khanang (Erituk, Urim, Khu'ara, Unuk, Ngirsu, Pat-Thipira, and Lakaš, specifically). Akate and Awal are the largest however and could easily combine their forces with Khiš against him, and so he is on his way to evacuate the royal family south to Urim, which, while being a port is well enough fortified to deal with a Bronze Age naval attack. We should also take into account Akate's history as perhaps the hardest won of the "redeemed" cities of the country, which likely sways local politics considerably.

Yeah it was a call I made on my part due to a lack of space. But probably not that great in hindsight given how important Šušin is.

All of that is definitely true, it's a good catch on the Larakh situation. However one more important card that has not yet been played are the military settlements of the north. Towns like Akate, Makskhansar and Niapru all still have their garrisons in place but not commanded by anyone, only paying lip service to the capital.

Maškhanšar, while being well-staffed, is too important for the soldiers to abandon their posts to fight in a war over the succession. The northwestern border is the most volatile, with hostile Semitic and Hurrian tribes just outside. Even short-staffing it could leave a wide swathe of the northwesterly territories which are principally utilized by pastoralist Khanangan tribes to having their sheep and cattle rustled, at the very least.
 
Except that Thullala is already dead. His father, Phiringthur, had him tied to a cedar log and left him out to starve and have his eyes gouged out by crows, which subsequently led to his being poisoned (accidentally) by his daughter-in-law, Šuningsuḫ. I think you mean his son, Nuningmengara'.

Didn't Phiringthur slit Thullala's throat out of pity?
 
I’m currently working on a post for the main author but I’ve been prioritising my own TL as well as some real life stuff. I wouldn’t expect an update anytime soon but this isn’t dead.
 
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