Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- timelines:a_light_in_the_east_archived_version [2014/07/14 06:36] – history up to 350 Max Sinister
+++ timelines:a_light_in_the_east_archived_version [2019/03/29 15:14] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 247: / Line 247: @@
 The youngest son of Constantine the Great rides into Constantinople as a hero. Many proclaim that Constantine has come again in the form of his own son, and Constans is declared to be Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire. The holy men of Constantinople, having lost political importance in the years of Constantine's successful reign, realize that none of them will be able to gain the public's support in any matter, and will be subservient to Constans if they are given the title of Pope. Thus, to increase their importance in the political sphere and to increase their standing with the new Emperor, the holy men of the city elect Constans as the new Pope. Constans, shocked by the unexpected new title, gives no response to the holy men. The people of Constantinople, however, cheer for the new "Caesar of the Church." Realizing that he will lose public support if he turns down the offer, Constans accepts his position and orders that the Imperial Palace and the Church of St. Sylvester be connected, and combines the Throne of Peter with the Imperial Throne. The Holy Caesar, temporal and spiritual ruler of the Holy Roman Empire and Vicar of Christ on Earth, is crowned on Sept. 1st, which is declared a holiday, the Day of Enthronement. The old age of Rome, with its European aspirations and paganist beliefs, ended with the death of Constantine the Great and the defeat of the temporal sons. The new age, the Holy age, with a solid Christian nation and territory to the east, begins on the first of September.
+AD - End of what historians call the Days of Turmoil.
+In Constantinople, Constans Augustus Caesar begins to build his empire. Constantine and Constantius, in the short weeks of their "reign," emptied most of the treasury and sent it to safe houses now lost to the Emperor. Gaius Fironicus and are recruited by their Emperor to build Constantinople and Christopolis into the finest cities in the world. Constans also requests that the two work together to create a beam of light that "should eminate from the Throne into the Heavens themselves, to show all that the Light of God Himself falls upon the Caesar of the Holy Empire of Rome."
+In the Iberian peninsula, the Basque kingdom sends an ultimatum to the Confederation: return the Basque gold paid in taxes back to the capital, pay the cost of the upkeep of the Basque soldiers and a fee for each Basque trooper killed, and pay a tribute of 10,000 gold coins as payment for Basque assistance. The Confederation, fearing reprisals, agrees to return the money of the Basques and to pay for the Basque soldiers killed. It refuses, however, to pay a tribute, stating that it is a sovereign force and bends knee to no one. The Basque kingdom responds by declaring war. The Iberian Confederation, still reeling from its heavy losses in the war against the Romanigoths, is quickly and soundly smashed outside Iberiana, and Basque troops parade along the streets of the capital by the end of the month. The new Iberian Union is declared, in name a democratic-style government, but in practice dominated by the Basques, who have more say in the Iberian Council than all other city-states combined.
+AD - An attempt by Yazdigert I to send an expeditionary force to the Holy Roman Empire is smashed by Roman troops, operating with a small number of Chariots (which, once again, are able to almost single-handedly carry the fight). The Emperor begins to fortify the eastern border heavily, and orders mass production of Chariots, while simultaneously decreasing the number of soldiers in the army to allow more money to pay for the weapons. The massive Holy Army of Constantinople is finally disbanded after an extensive parade through the streets of the capital, and all who fought are given papers bestowing citizenship on them and their families and descendants. Realizing a potent (and reliable) force in the Arabs, the Emperor ensures that the region does not become a "border realm," but rather is integrated as one of the heartlands of the Empire. Arabians are promised full citizenship if they work to increase the might of the nation. Roads are built in the peninsula, connected the various and distant cities to one another and to Constantinople itself.
+In Saxony, the population rate has soared far beyond anything experienced in Europe. Abundant food, large open spaces, inferior enemies and mild winters allow the hardy Germans to live in peace. The Kahniankehaka are promised that war shall be resumed in due time, and the red-skinned warriors are more than happy with their gifts of metal and horses, which they liberally share with the rest of the Haudenosaunee, who each send emissaries to meet their new allies and induct them into the nation-tribe. The Saxons accept, but insist that they shall only war and peace at their own council, which the red-skins accept. Wihtgils, King of the Saxons, fathers twin boys, who are named Horsa and Hengist, the Stallion brothers. The half-Saxon, half-red skin children are celebrated as a symbol of the union between the white Germans and the red Asgardians, as the people of the new land are called.
+AD - Fritigern the Last Visigoth, the Foreign Roman and Keiser of the Romanigothic Empire of Italy and Gaul, dies at the age of 71. The Italian citizens of the Empire mourn the passing of the old man, and the Goths who were devoted to him tear at their beards. Gudeliva ascends the throne as the Keisera. Several of Fritigern's relatives attempt to launch coups, but forces are few to attempt to join, and many are killed by mob violence and Gudeliva's followers. Some minor unrest in Gaul is quickly stamped out, and Gudeliva becomes Empress without much disturbance. Her adopted sister, Constantina, supports Gudeliva, who listens to the wisdom of Constantine the Great's daughter, while realizing that in her lies a viable claim to Constantine's realm.
+AD - Manhattan slaves of the Saxons begin to fall ill. The German healers are quickly able to identify the European diseases that are felling the red-skins, and apply their own remedies, including burning of the body after death and quarentine. The outbreaks are thus controlled rather easily. King Wihtgils orders the creation of a standing army, and prepares to take up the war once again.
+Yazdigert I finally settles upon the new borders of the Persian Empire after numerous and disastrous skirmishes cost him even more territory. Constans, fearing overexpansion and his flanks against the Ostrogoths, agrees and withdraws his troops from Persia. The Kingdom of Armenia, wanting vengeance for past grievances, however, continues to fight the Persians. Persia is but a shadow of its former self, and so the Armenians, already battle-hardened and well trained, and now with Assyrian reinforcements, are able carry the fight to the Shahanshah and capture more territory for themselves.
+The Gaels continue on peacefully. The Celts send much aid to the Picts and Scots, who sufferred far worse in the battles, and work towards the remaking of the city of Londonium. The Gaels, who are druidic even in their form of Christianity, begin to plant thousands of trees in and around the capital, attempting to rid themselves of Rome's lasting influence on the island.
+AD - Keisera Gudeliva I, anxious to prove herself and expand her Empire, launches an attack into Roman Italy. The defenders of the peninsula, believing that their recent victories would be enough to frighten all enemies, are unprepared for the attack and are quickly defeated. Constans immediately orders a counterattack, and hundreds of Chariots are loaded aboard transport ships. Constans, however, heavily underestimates Gudeliva's ablities, as she is "nothing but an upstart barbarian girl."
+As the transports are being unloaded, the Keisera, who has hid waiting in ambush, attacks. Her handpicked soldiers are instructed to quickly kill all men, rather than seek a glorious battle. The ships are quickly set aflame, and many of those who are able to escape the flames are immediately killed. After a "battle" of some forty minutes, Gudeliva not only succeeds in chasing off Constans' forces, but also is able to capture seven Chariots for her own use. When word reaches Constans, he is so enraged that he orders the execution of every surviving member of the expeditionary force. The damage, however, is done. The Goths return to Rome with their prizes, and the greatest minds of their Empire immediately begin to study how to use the weapons. The Holy Caesar in Constantinople immediately orders Gaius Fironicus to "build something better, something bigger, something faster! I need now to be able to defeat my own weapons!"
+AD (Cont.) - Constans launches almost his entire army into Italy. His forces do not underestimate the Goths this time, and are able to land intact. A thousand Chariots, as well as the Light of God, are brought, and Constans threatens to "burn down even Rome itself" before he lets the Goths use his weapons. The Holy Romans march to Rome through the Sabines, where, thirty years ago, another Roman army, led by Constantine, was decimated.
+Keisera Gudeliva, however, is prepared. After months of studying, the Empress' wise men report that they would be able to make a similar construction. Minor details, however, that allow the Chariots to move as swiftly as they do, are lost on the Gothic scientists. Gudeliva, knowing that she wouldn't be able to match the Romans Chariot-to-Chariot on such a short time limit anyway, asks if they can create a weapon of her own design.
+On a cold November morning, the 23rd, the Roman army encounters the Gothic army. The Holy Roman army numbers some twenty thousand infantry and six thousand long-range troops, as well as a thousand Chariots. The Goths have over fifty thousand troops, mostly cavalry, with a strong minority of legionnaries. Constans, realizing that his advantage are his new Chariots, attacks with them. The Faithful class Chariot is an improved model of Constans' old Cavalry class, with better shielding and more room for archers, as well as slots from which to stab out. There are also the old Fortress designs, Constantine's favorite, which lumber over all obstacles. The Chariots seem to carry the day, and the Goths begin to fall back after attempting to stand up to the Chariot and infantry combinations.
+As the Charioteers pull ahead of their infantry support to "finish off the barbarians," however, Gudeliva gives her signal. The main center line of the Romanigoths melt away, and a wall of ballistae appear, aimed at the Chariots. The ballistae, powered by crude steam engines, hurl their massive payloads farther and faster than any previous construct. Crews are required only to load new bolts and pull the knots away from the siege weapons.
+The Chariot front is cut to pieces almost immediately. The Charioteers, not expecting any real resistance, panic when a massive missile pierces through the armor of the chariot and impales any body it hits. The massive Fortresses fare the worst, and as they compose of the bulk of the Chariots, the numbers are soon cut down to shreds. Fearing that even more weapons will fall into the hands of the Goths, Constans withdraws all of his Chariots, and his army retreats back to the coast. The Goths don't push their luck, as they know that the Holy Roman Empire has far more manpower than they do, and allow the Emperor to retreat with whatever grace he can manage.
+The battle was a disaster for the Romans. Out of almost thirty thousand troops, some ten thousand fell in battle. Only a scant two hundred Chariots (all of the Faithful designation) make it back to Constantinople. The Goths had heavier losses, but their decimation of the Romans' Chariot ranks is a victory beyond measure. Afterwards, Constans grudgingly cedes Roman Italy to the Romanigothic Empire, who begin to produce larger quantities of their ballistae. Constans also demands that new Chariots be built, strong enough to withstand ballista bolts and large enough to carry their own long-ranged weapons.
+The consequences of the battle have far more important effects than territory. With the decimation of the Chariots by an army of infantry and ingenuity, the place of the footsoldier is ensured for many years to come. Constans rescinds his orders cutting down the army, and increases it to almost half the size of the Holy Army of Constantinople. Once more, a majority of these are Arab recruits, as military service is still the quickest way for the Arabs to gain full citizenship status. The Goths, and subsequently the remaining European countries, also are able to gleam Holy Roman technology, which, although not nearly as powerful as Constantinople's productions, allow them to offer a challenge to the Romans. Constans' ego and overestimation of his forces led to the loss of complete Holy Roman monopoly on advanced weapons, and lead the Empire to quintiple its funding for the sciences, particularly those projects that also have military applications.
+AD - Constans, having begun his reign off with a terrible defeat, strives to improve his image. Since the defeat at the Sabines, the Holy Caesar of the Roman Empire pushed for the completion of the renovations of Constantinople and Christopolis. The cities are finally finished in early February. Constantinople, the "City of Caesars," is proclaimed as the greatest city on earth, with gates that open with the rise of the sun and close at the end of the day, lights that keep the city shining throughout the night, and a Sacred Imperial Throne that is engulfed in pure white light. Christopolis, formerly Ctesiphon of the Persian Empire, is given entirely to the Imperial Church. The only residents of the city are priests who come to be near the seat of holy power. A duplicate of the Throne is placed within the city, inside the majestic Cathedral of St. Julius the Last. Many of the faithful flood to Christopolis, spending their days worshipping at one of the numerous holy places.
+King Vatche I, ruling in an era of prosperity unknown to the Armenians since the days of the Armenian Empire, orders renovations of cities throughout the nation. Intent on not neglecting his Assyrian subjects, Vatche officializes the de facto citizenship of the Assyrians and has Ashur rebuilt and made into the capital of the Assyrian province. The wars against Persia are finally settled, with much Caspian Sea territory gained. Vatche cedes some of the territory gained by his troops to the Romans in return for Caucasus territory, thus giving the Armenians a coastline along the Black Sea. Catholicos Vartan, in Echmiadzin, crowns Vatche with the old Imperial Crown of Tikran II, the Great, and declares the Mamigonian as the ruler of the new Armenian Empire.
+Keisera Gudeliva, called by many as the savior of the Romanigothic Empire, is surprised when Gaelic emissaries from Britannia arrive in her court with gifts. The Gaels claim that they do not wish to expand further, and are happy with their island. All they ask is that the Goths, barbarians themselves and those who fought against the old Romans, leave the island in peace. The Keisera, amused that the small island of barbarian tribes would send such a word to one who just handed the Holy Romans a defeat, accepts their request, on the condition that they pay a yearly tribute. The Gaels agree, and propose to begin an exchange of ideas and items. The first seeds of friendship between the powerhouse and the small island are planted.
+AD - The "Divine Retribution"-class chariot is completed. This chariot, one of the largest yet, is powered by only eight steam engines, courtesy of Gaius Fironicus, who has improved on his original designs greatly at the request of the Caesar. The chariots are mounted with dual ballista launchers, the idea taken from the Romanigoths, and are also heavily armored. Constans, pleased with the might and genius of his forces, orders an unprecidented five thousand chariots, looking towards Italy with glee.
+(For a design spec of the Divine Retribution, give me your e-mail, or just tell me you want one if you've already posted your e-mail.)
+Half a world away, the Saxons begin to build a navy with which to launch their troops into the mainland. The coordination with their distant allies is difficult, but their plans are possible: the Saxons will invade the mainland and press hard towards the West, while the Haudenosaunee attack and press towards the East. Once the two armies link up, they will attack North, driving their enemies before them. The Haudenosaunee agree to the Saxon demand that all the territory captured in the East will be given to the Saxons, who will bear the brunt of the attack by driving into the heart of the enemy held territory.
+Keisera Gudeliva cements the Romanigothic hold over Roman Italy by making her adopted sister, Constantina, governess of the province. She declares that, as one of Constantine's children, Constantina has a right to a section of the Holy Roman Empire. The Keisera also proclaims that the African territories, by right, belong to the Romanigoths, and prepares an invasion fleet and forces.
+The Alemanii invade the Ostrogothic lands to their East. The Goths, with much of their forces in the East near the Crimea, are unable to make a sufficient show of force to halt the German barbarians, who quickly overrun much of the Gothic Balkans and up towards the sea coast. Wigbart, fearing further expansion, begins to negotiate a treaty of non-aggression and alliance with the Holy Roman Empire, having grown accustomed to a lifestyle of luxury, rather than hard riding.
+AD - The Year of the European War
+Constantinople celebrates its fortieth anniversery as capital of the Empire. Constans declares that the year shall see victories unlike any that the Holy Roman Empire has yet seen. The Holy Caesar proclaims the Romanigothic Empire the haven of demons, and swears to march through Rome once again. In a grand procession of the Holy Army of Constantinople through the streets of the capital, all five thousand Divine Retributions are displayed. On the morning of January 6th, the Holy Roman Empire declares war on the Romanigothic Empire.
+The Goths immediately mobilize their troops and prepare to defend their peninsula. Constans, however, realizes the weakness of invading the heartland, and thus returns to a more reliable route: overland. He seeks to conquer the bulk of the Gothic Empire first, and once Gaul has fallen, to turn to the Italian peninsula. To do this, however, the Roman armies must march through Alemania. Thus, on Jan. 15th, Rome enters the German lands. Simultaneously, Wigbart has his forces ride into the east of the Alemanii lands.
+The Alemanii, having spent much of their energy conquering Ostrogothic lands, are caught unprepared for such an onslaught. They are quickly and soundly beaten back at every encounter with the Romans, whose Divine Retribution chariots are unstoppable, not a single one breaking down or being defeated. The twin ballistae are useful not only as siege weapons, but also to destroy a tight formation of the enemy. The Alemanii are soon forced to retreat, and the Ostrogoths happily claim back all of their lost land and much of the Alemanii territory without having to fight. They are now, however, pledged to assist the Romans in their fight.
+The Alemanii plead for aid from their Germanic brethren. Although the union of tribes have not been on friendly terms with the powerful Alemanii, they realize that independently they stand no chance. Thus, the United Tribes of Germania declare war on the Holy Roman Empire on the first of February. Constans responds, "looks like all of Europe will fall under the Master Shephard."
+The united forces of the Germans and the Alemanii immediately seek Romanigothic aid. The Goths, realizing that they are outnumbered and overwhelmed, are still loathe to share their stolen steam technology, but accept the fact that it cannot be helped. Thus, the designs for steam-powered weapons are given to the Germans, Alemanii, and Gaels. The Gaels declare that the allies must keep the fight going until they are ready to enter. None of the nations even think twice about the tiny island that lies at the western edge of the world.
+On the 12th of February, the allies decided to create fortified lines to hold back the Romans and Ostrogoths until they can use their superior manpower to their advantage. The Germans agree to carry out an offensive on the Romans, designed only to buy them time, while the Romanigoths dig long trenches in the path of the Roman advance. Although they won't stop rushing infantry for long, the trenches will prove a difficult obstacle for the heavy chariots to traverse.
+The Germans clash first with the Ostrogoths on February 19th. The Germans prove more vicious in combat than anything the Ostrogoths have faced in recent years, and are able to scatter much of Wigbart's forces. Two days later, however, a contingent of fifty Divine Retributions and three hundred infantry meet the Germans. The barbarians, having never encountered a chariot before, are routed rather quickly. During a second attack, the quick German cavalry perfects a method of racing by the chariots in a way to both avoid the arrows and to scatter and smash the infantry guard. Two hundred and seventy of the three hundred foot soldiers are killed by the Germans, but not a dent is made in the giant chariots. The threat is sufficient, however, that Constans peels off another four hundred chariots and some twelve thousand infantry to deal with the might of the German army, approximately two hundred thousand strong. The Germans make a quick show of force on the 4th of March, and sound the horn of retreat early into the battle. As the bulk of the German army is cavalry, they are able to quickly ride out of harms way, usually up onto higher hills from which they can harass the Romans with strong arrow fire.
+Constans orders Wigbart to support his right flank immediately, while his center continues towards the combined Romanigothic-Alemanii forces. Wigbart's cavalry are able to put a halt to the German harassment, but suffer heavy casualties. The Germans, with no recourse, retreat to the front line, which has no been prepared for the coming of the chariots. Unbeknownst to them, however, Constans does not have his right flank merge with his center; rather, he has them continue onwards in hopes of cutting off any possible retreat.
+On the twentieth of March, the combined might of the allies stands up to the mightiest army in the world. The well-hidden chariot pits and trenches prove immensely successful, and nearly a thousand chariots are lost before Constans realizes his enemies' strategy. He sends word for his right flank, now almost three hundred miles distant, to circle around and come to his aid from the west. Meanwhile, he orders his infantry forward, in the old legion-style advance, and has bridges built out of logwood to toss across the trenches and have his chariots advance. The steady Roman advance is successful to a large degree, albeit slow, and several hundred more tanks are lost when the bridges are burned out from under them by flaming arrows, or crushed under the weight of the monstrosities. The allies begin to take losses as they are forced to keep the Romans occupied while more trenches are dug to retreat behind. All offensives are stopped cold by the chariots, whose armor is able to deflect all but the most direct hits from the Gothic ballistae, thanks to its sloping surfaces.
+On the 25th of March, almost four months since the official declaration of war, the Romans have conquered all of south-eastern Europe up to the Alps, while the Roman right flank and the Ostrogoths have entered Germania and are now turning south. The allies continue to steadily retreat, and prepare a final fortification of barricades protected by a series of trenches, to both hold back the infantry and stop the chariots. The Romanigoths know that if Gaul is lost, then all hopes are lost with it. Thousands come from Italy and Gaul to assist in the war, and thousands more emigrate to Africa, Iberia, and Britannia.
+After three weeks of construction and heavy losses, the allies retreat to behind their wall. The Roman advance stops cold, as the infantry are unable to advance beyond the wall to secure enough territory to allow the chariots to advance. Several skirmishes and breaking points occur, with massed chariot ballista strikes on specific sections of the barricades, and even use of the Light of God, but the allies are able to hold the line. Near mid-April, however, they receive reports of an army of Ostrogoths and Romans advancing on them from the north-west.
+Keisera Gudeliva, struggling with the news that she has been surrounded and effectively defeated, prepares to surrender herself in return for the safety of her army. As she is writing a formal declaration of surrender, however, Gaelic cavalry ride into her camp with news that she, and the allied forces, are entirely unprepared for:
+"King Daffyd, chieftain of the Celts, King of Hibernia and representative of the Gaelic Union, wishes to send you his greetings and the assurance that the Roman army in the west has been dealt with. Gaelic warships are, at this moment, sailing towards Constantinople, and our armies are riding to your aid, and shall arrive within three days' time."
+True to his word, Daffyd arrives at the head of the Gaelic banner in two days. Constans believes that it is actually his reinforcements, and orders an all-out attack on the allied positions on May 5th. The attack is held at the wall while the Gaels attack in their "landships." The Gaelic design is little more than a high-speed battering ram, and is nearly useless against individual troops. Against the tight legionnary formation of the Romans, however, and especially against the slow chariots, the landship is able to work wonders. After a full day of fighting, Constans withdraws his troops. Although he lost more chariots in the one day of battle than in the rest of the war so far, he considers the melee a victory, as much of the allied infantry was killed or wounded halting the offensive. He sends envoys into the allied camp, demanding that they lay down their arms and surrender to the glory of Christ and His Imperial Vicar.
+The allies have different thoughts in mind: immediate withdrawal from all allied territory, reparations paid to the allied nations themselves, and assurances that the Holy Roman Empire will never again threaten the stability of Europe. The envoys are returned with the head of Wigbart II, taken by the Gaels, as proof that the allies now have the upper hand. Constans is shocked, and much of his army is demoralized. As he attempts to galvanize them further, courier horses arrive bringing the ultimate news: Constantinople is under naval blockade and siege. Constans, the morale of his troops broken and his capital under siege, witnesses victory slip from his fingers. He withdraws his troops from the battlefield without responding to the allied ultimatum.
+During the entire European War, the Iberians expanded their control over their African holdings. Most of northwest Africa, as well as a part of the western coastlines, now fly the Basque flag. Iberiana is filled with the riches of Africa, and the army is doubled, then tripled, in size, feeding off the spoils of war.
+The Germans aid the Alemanii in reconquering their lands and taking much of the Ostrogothic's European holdings, keeping some for themselves as well. Meanwhile, the Gaels have not only cemented their roles as true allies of the Romanigoths, but also as the naval power of the European continent, as their steam powered ships are fast enough and strong enough to outpace any other. Constans begins to build up an Imperial navy to avoid another such catastrophe.
+June 6th is declared the Day of Peace throughout Europe, as Constans formally agrees to all allied demands, taking the gold straight from Ostrogothic treasuries. The Ostrogoths, defeated in Europe, deprived of their king, and robbed of their treasury, begin to look towards the east. Egfroth takes the throne as Egfroth III, King of the Goths of the East.
+Finally, one of the most important developements of the war occurs one week after Peace Day. As the Alemanii, Germans, and Romanigoths tend to the devastation of their lands, the Gaels propose the creation of a council between the barbarian states to negotiate all differences peacefully and to aid themselves against "the hated Roman." After days spent debating minor points, on July 6th, one month after the allied victory in Europe, the Barbarian Council is created, with the capital set Londonium, farthest from any possible attack.
+AD - Constans, broken by his repeated defeats, begins to examine his military advisors and generals as causes for his setbacks. He consults Gaius Fironicus and Lucius Brutus, who by now are among the Caesar's closest friends and advisors, on why he was beaten. Brutus, ever lacking tact, is said to respond, "because you are all narrow-minded barbarians."
+Fironicus, still a shy cripple despite his newfound wealth and power, concurs, although more politely towards the Holy Caesar. The army, he argues, views the chariot as a soldier, rather than a weapon, and thus attempts to use it as a strong individual rather than a tool in and of itself. The genius points out that the massive chariots were depended upon almost entirely by Constans' generals; rather than being used as a link in a chain, it was made to be the chain itself. Constans, agreeing with the two, soon proclaims to the public that their defeats were punishments from God, both for not appreciating the gifts that He had given, and for concentrating on pagan Europe, heart of the old Empire, rather than the East, which is where Christ came from and thus where they should be concentrating. The Caesar then proceeds to order a general purge of the military hierarchy, and many leading generals are sacked. Fironicus, to the surprise of everyone (including himself) is named as the Commander of the Armies, and given the task of sculpting a new generation of officers.
+The start of the Saxon Wars: The Saxons launch a full-scale invasion of the mainland, against the Adirondack, or "tree eaters," as the Haudenosaunee have educated them about their enemies. The brunt of the invasion is against the Kichesipirini, the strongest of the Adirondack red-skins. The Saxons attack in numbers unseen by the native warriors, and the legends of sunlight-haired, sky-eyed white-skinned warriors, tall as a tree and riding on massive beasts, carry almost as much force as the Saxons themselves. The Saxons, armed also with weapons far more advanced than the Adirondack, quickly drive back their enemies, taking many as slaves. Wihtgils, personally taking the heads of the various chieftains of the enemy's tribes, declares that the gods have shown favor, and that Odin's wrath is upon these vile children of the giants. By the end of the first year, all of the coastline adjacent to Saxonburg, as well as many hundreds of acres and thousands of slaves, are firmly in Saxon hands. Wihtgils prepares to meet up with his allies sometime in the middle of the following year.
+Devastated by the war, the Romanigoths are forced to withdraw from Africa, finding that the expense of holding the territory is too inhibitive. Tens of thousands of Romanigothic troopers fell in the European War, as well as much of their most lucrative farmlands. Starvation runs rampant in many smaller villages, particularly those caught in the advance of the Holy Roman and Ostrogothic advance on both fronts. The Germans don't fare much better, and, if anything, the Alemanii in particular fare worse, with much of their territory in ruins or occupied by bands of Ostrogoths. The only winners of the entire war, if anything, are the Gaels. The small island-nation cemented its role as a true member of the Alliance, as well as proved its prowess and its track record of smashing Romans. In addition, the small but swift navy built up by the Gaels was able to raid a good portion of coastal Anatolia and Greece, and returns home laden with riches; although the Gaelic Union lends much of the wealth to its Allies to assist in the rebuilding, many new ships are also built on the island. Finally, the Gaelic landship is seen as a revolution. Extremely speedy, it is quickly taken up as a caravan, especially with the use of the flat Roman roads covering much of Europe. Wholesale starvation is, in fact, prevented, thanks to the use of landships to quickly deliver food from the wealthier regions to those sufferring from the war.
+Egfroth III, in Wigbarta, begins his policy of abandoning Eastern Europe entirely. "The East," he argues, "is far wealthier than anything that broken land has. We are Eastern Goths; then, let us ride East!" It is important to note, however, that he still orders his withdrawing troops to take as much of Europe's wealth with them as possible before the Alliance becomes strong enough to chase his forces away. In the first few months after his coming to the throne, the young King executes almost all of his father's chosen advisors and ministers, and begins to tighten the hold of the central government.
+An Armenian scientist, Sembat Aramian, creates his own version of the steam engine, based on Hero's writings and his own experience with a Roman chariot during his days as a soldier fighting against the Persians in the Battles of Ashur and Ctesiphon. He makes the engine different enough to avoid any possible accusations of thieving from Constantionple, and Emperor Vatche, now 61, applauds the learned man and appoints him as the head of the Imperial Armenian Academy of the Sciences, in the city of Vaspurakan, more commonly referred to as Van. The Academy is immediately ordered to design an Armenian chariot.
+Iberia, entirely untouched by the wars, has spent the time conquering much of the African coast. As soon as the Romanigoths withdraw from North Africa, the Iberians move in. In celebration of their "mighty victories" and their "continued democracy," the Iberian Senate declares that the nation shall officially be renamed the Iberian Republic, and that the official language shall be changed from Latin to Basque. Benat I, King of the Basques and Prime Senator of the Iberian Republic, is "voted" Senator-for-life, in effect giving him all the powers of an Emperor. Wary of the other city-states, Benat makes sure that all soldiers drafted from the city-states are never grouped together, but are instead diluted in Basque troops. "A single citizen is a soldier; ten are a problem; a hundred are a rebellion," the King is heard to say. Thus, each unit has no more than a handful of non-Basques hailing from the same city.
+AD - The Saxons and the Haudenosaunee smash the Adirondack and turn north, into the colder regions, driving the "tree eaters" before them. In many of the camps that the Saxons and Haudenosaunee share, diseases become rampant among the red-skins. The Saxons, quickly recognizing the diseases that their allies are sufferring from, help in their healing. Thus, although a good number of the Haudenosaunee die, a complete epidemic is prevented. Many Saxons, clad in chainmail, are almost completely immune to Adirondack attacks, and raze entire villages. The Haudenosaunee, particularly the Kahniankehaka, have adopted the Saxon style of fighting, and are fearsome in battle. By the end of the year, the war is won, and Saxony has increased its territory almost sixfold.
+AD - The Ostrogoths encounter the first of what will be many waves of barbarians. They are readily smashed, and most pledge their alliegance to Egfroth. The barbarians speak of a massive horde, far to the East, which devours land and raves for more. These voracious barbarians call themselves "Hun." Egfroth, panicking, begins a buildup of his forces, and also warns his ally, the Holy Roman Empire, of the rumored threat in the East. Constans, too shocked and shaken about his nation's stability to be pompous, orders mass fortifications built in the East.
+AD - On the morning of January 9th, Vatche I, Mamigonian, the Great, first Emperor of Armenia since the days of Tikran the Great, dies peacefully in his sleep. The nation mourns his passing in a way unmatched by any in memory since the death of Ara the Beautiful, legendary king of the First Dynasty. His son, Vassak, although not appointed as heir, is unanimously voted by the Nakharar Council to take the Imperial Throne. The young ruler's first act is to make January 9th into a national holiday, and enshrine his father's body. The tomb is made near Echmiadzin, and becomes one of the most famous holy sites of the nation. Vassak, who grew up in a more modern Armenia, realizes that the people are not united, in so far as that each city and province speaks with a different dialect. He thus asks the wisemen of the Church and his government to set out and create a means to unify the people fully.
+AD - Benat I, king of the Basques, dies after a week-long illness. His son, Kemen, is crowned Kemen I. Soon afterwards, a Basque army, travelling south into Africa, sends a report that they have encountered people who, apparently, worship the God of the Romans. Soon after this report, the army sends further news that these Christians are lead by a powerful king known as Juan. Kemen, with the Basque mentality of invincibility, orders that the Christian king submit to and join the Iberian Union or face destruction. All traces of the Basque army vanish soon after the ultimatum is given.
+In Armenia, Sembat Aramian finishes the first prototype of the "Shaunt (Thunder) class chariot. Sembat's goal was to duplicate the power and effectiveness of the Armenian cataphract. Therefore, the foregoes the Roman "block" design and creates a more rounded vehicle, with a wedge-like angle at the front. Rather than making the thing out of iron completely, Sembat simply makes a bronze chariot and covers it in layers of chainmail. This also allows for more open viewing ports, as the chainmail is able to cover against attacks on the charioteer. Finally, a smaller ballista is added, lacking the range and strength of the twin ballistae on the "Divine Retribution," but enough to cause damage on the battlefield. On a side note, an earlier version of the Thunder was destroyed in an explosion when the steam of the engine was not vented properly. Sembat, intrigued by the unguessed strength of the engine, begins to speak with Fironicus about somehow employing the engine for other purposes.
+Gaius Fironicus, Commander of the Holy Armies of Constantinople, orders an end to the old legionnary formation. This comes as a shock to the Romans, even to Constans, who questions the scientist-turned-general on his decision. Fironicus responds that the new Roman army will work together with chariot legions, allowing them to disrupt the enemy enough so that the slow march of the legion will no longer be necessary. Fironicus also revises the numbers: each legion will have 5,000 infantry, 2,000 archers, a thousand light-cavalry, and 300 chariots. The legion will act as a single entity, rather than a heavy infantry army with cavalry and archer support. The crippled genius does not have to wait long to test his theory, as, several weeks after his revision of the armed forces, Yazdigert II, Shahanshah of the remains of the Sassanid Persian Empire, launches an attack on the Roman border, hoping to take advantage of the apparent weakness of the Romans.
+The battle is fought near the Silk Road city of Susa. Fironicus, confident in his strategy, sends only two legions to combat the Persians. Vassak of Armenia honors his nation's pledge and sends his troops into northern Persia, defeating the Persian army stationed there. Yazdigert II had foreseen this, and thus had concentrated his troops to the South: knock out the Romans, then swing north and take out the Armenians while they are still in Persian territory. And so, on the 11th of May, the Battle of Susa is fought (If you want a map of the battle, just ask for it).
+The Romans have an army of about 15,000 (10,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 2,000 archers), with about 200 Divine Retribution chariots and 300 newly-built Cavalry chariots of the old design, with modern engines. The Persians have amassed an army of some 60,000, almost 35,000 of those being spearmen infantry, with the 10,000 Immortals as their cavalry arm. Fironicus orders his troops to move in smaller groups, rather than as a whole. Each unit will act as an individual army, with its own archer support.
+Fironicus begins to give unorthodox orders, which the soldiers, puzzled though they may be, dutifully obey. The bulk of the Roman army slowly marches forward, while a third of their cavalry flanks break off to merge with the Divine Retribution chariots at the front. Pieces of the Roman infantry also break off and advance to the flanks, checking Immortal advance. The Roman extreme flanks, however, are held only by light cavalry, and the Immortals immediately split into two groups: one to hold the infantry flanks in place while the other rides into the exposed cavalry flanks and into the archer support. Meanwhile, the Persians, wishing to maintain steady contact with the enemy, mold their advancing lines so that they form a wedge.
+As soon as the Immortals and the Persian infantry change their formations, the chariots charge forward. The heavily armored Divine Retributions charge suddenly into the Persian wedge, and, rather than concentrate on eliminating them, burst through. They are immediately followed by cavalry, which take advantage of the confusion. The Roman infantry rushes forward to capitalize, and massacres the first ranks of the Persians before they are able to hold the Romans in check. The single Persian line is now divide into 4 pieces, each with infantry to the front, cavalry to the flank and chariots to the rear. The Immortals, meanwhile, are stopped cold by massed Cavalry chariots, which hold back their famous charges. A piece of the Roman infantry flank then breaks off on each side and decimates the Immortal ranks after their initial charge. Meanwhile, the Immortal charges at the supposed cavalry flanks are ended quickly when the cavalry melts to either side, revealing a line of infantry with archer support.
+The battle is soon over. Each section of the Persian army is confronted with an army of its own. The Immortals are stopped by infantry, chariot, cavalry and archer combinations. The Persian lines are shattered, and Divine Retributions rip the exposed archer lines apart. The battle ends with an utter rout, which turns into a massacre. Forty eight of the sixty thousand Persian troops do not return from the fields of Susa. The Roman casualties are astounding: three hundred and thirty six dead, several hundred more wounded. Yazdigert II sues for peace, and is forced to concede even more territory to the Romans and Armenians, most humiliating of which is the loss of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the first Persian dynasty, to the Romans.
+AD - Tiran, son of the last Arshakouni king of Armenia, Khosrov II, dies in a dungeon cell in Dvin. His body is cremated. "He wished to ignore the word of God and continue worshipping that fire which his father and his father before him extinguished from this land," Emperor Vassak declares. "Then let his body and soul be consumed by that fire, and find no peace in the realm of Christ and His Father." Tiran's ashes are scattered into the winds in Persia, so that he never lies on Armenian soil.
+The Gaels, armed with their fleet of steam ships, begin to explore the seas around them. The Celtic missionaries, in particular, explore far and wide, spreading the word of God to all who would listen. None dare attack the missionaries, as they have the backing of the Barbarian Council and the Gaelic navy.
+AD - Keisera Gudeliva, considered by many to be the savior of the Romanigoths, has her first son, naming him Fritigern, after her father. The Empire, since the end of the European War, has begun to prosper once again, and overland trade (using the Gaelic landships) ties the distant cities of the Empire together, creating a unified nation. Information begins to travel along with the landships, keeping the various provinces up to date on current affairs from Rome. The Golden Age of Romanigotha begins.
+Kemen I, realizing that one of his armies has been completely lost, orders another to conquer "that Roman-loving Juan." The army, entering African territory that the Basques consider their own, report that the local folk consider the territory "the home of Prestor John." The report describes him as a local warlord who attempts to rule under the symbol of Christ, using a symbol unlike the Imperial cross, rather closer to the Armenian crucifix. The army vanishes soon after the report is given.
+The Shaunt chariot, which performed well in the limited existing numbers during the latest war against Persia, is produced in larger numbers in Armenia. Vassak, marvelling at Fironicus' efficiency, begins to somewhat model his own army after the new Roman strategy. One very important change that the Emperor orders is that commanders are given the job by skill, not by birth. Thus, one of the last nakharar holds on the army is severed, as they had previously been hereditary generals and commanders. Furthermore, with the existance of much coastline, Vassak orders the creation of a navy and a much larger merchant marine, and within a generation Armenian ships are a common sight in Mediterranean ports. Vassak also trades much of the lands Armenia just conquered from Persia to the Romans in exchange for freedom of Armenian merchants and ships to pass through the Bosphorus straits without paying any taxes.
+AD - A Greek-born Roman scientist, Leo Galeus, uses a modified version of the Light of God to stare into the heavens. By judging the length and time of various moving objects and precisely calculating the rising and setting of the sun, Galeus and his colleagues realize that the Julian calendar, set by Julius Caesar centuries before, is incorrect. They continue with the studies, wanting to have a larger set of data before presenting their findings.
+AD - With Roman borders now surrounding Armenia on all fronts except the North, Armenia enters a Golden Age. Vassak invites all artisans and architects to Dvin, both to improve the city and to further a budding cultural advancement. With the borders of the nation secure, a strong army with chariots at the frontiers, and a close alliance with the strongest power in the world, Armenia begins to concentrate on improving its social aspects. Vassak expands the Imperial Academy into a school teaching many subjects, harkening back to Plato's Academy in Athens. The school is open only to the wealthiest of citizens, and nobles across the country send their sons and daughters to study the teachings of the greatest minds in Greek, Roman, and Armenian history. The nobles, incidentally, have lost almost all major power in the government. They are, however, still allowed to hold onto their large familial estates and pay no taxes, and thus are relatively content. Many of the major businesses of the country are now run by noble families, which are referred to as "the merchant princes of Armenia."
+In Saxony, Wihtgils, King of the Saxons, is killed during a hunt when his horse stumbles over a fallen tree and crushes him. The surprise death of the beloved king, who showed little signs of aging, comes as a blow to the Saxon people. The twin brothers, Horsa and Hengist, both almost 30 years old, are both named as the Kings of the Saxons. With the elimination of the Adirondack from the North and the close friendship with the Haudenosaunee, Saxony is a very large and prosperous nation, far larger now than the Saxon lands in Germania ever were. With abundance of land, and the realization that neither will be able to profit from any sort of conflict, the brothers agree to co-rule the Saxons. Although they are also half-Red skin, the two are Saxon at heart, and are accepted by the populace. The Reign of the Stallions thus begins.
+Constans, hearing of the Basque troubles against a Christian foe in Africa, praises this "Prestor John" in upholding the faith of the One True God and His Son. Envoys set out from Constantinople to find this Christian nation. Constans also begins to call on his people to unite the lands between the two Christian nations "by spreading the word of God into all of Africa." Fironicus, realizing that a good portion of the spreading shall be done with the sword, hastens in his reorganizing of the armies. Titus Lucinius, the cripple's most apt military student, studies from his master all that he can, both strategic and scientific information.
+AD -  After an unusually long life and reign, Flavius Julius Constans, the first Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire, dies after a sudden heart attack while writing at his desk. The nation mourns for its fallen leader, and the funeral procession tours the entire Empire, the Caesar's glass coffin carrying him across the land. In Christopolis, he is sainted as St. Constans the First. The Holy Army then leads his body from the former capital of the Persian Empire to Constantinople, where he is buried alongside his father in the Tomb of the Caesars.
+After the Civil War, no living relatives of Constantine nor Constans remained, other than the Holy Caesar's sister, Constantina. Constans, who had been paranoid about usurpers, had also made sure to put to death all the generals that he had deposed in favor of the cripple, Fironicus. Thus, with no clear heirs and no one strong enough to take the reigns of the armies, the Throne of Peter fell to the one man that most in the government had not looked to as even a contender, much less a threat: Gaius Fironicus. The army, having won its first victory since the Persian Wars under Fironicus' command, immediately support their commander. The holy men, realizing that none of them carried enough public support to take the Throne for themselves, and believing that the lame genius would be easy to manipulate, also support Fironicus. Thus, in February 1, 391 AD, Gauis Fironicus is proclaimed the new Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire.
+//The heavy rain poured onto the streets of Rome. Weather like this had not been seen for generations. The few people still in the open were hurrying to reach warmth and shelter; if any of them saw the lone figure calmly walking towards the Palace, they did not say anything. The person strode upon the paved roads towards the Capitol, roads that had been set by engineers of a dead empire. The figure paused, as several armored guards barred his way.
+"The Empress does not wish to see any visitors this night," said one of the guards, a particularly gruff one with a matted beard; a barbarian. "Return home."
+"I care not for the... empress..." the figure responded, extending his seal for the ignorant thug to examine. "I am here for my mother."
+"Lord Constantine! Forgive me, sir, I did not recognize you in the storm!" He signalled his men, who immediately stood down. "Your mother, the Lady Constantina, is in her quarters, preparing to return to her villa."
+"I am well aware of that."
+Constantine continued on his way, stopping at a crossroads, looking ahead at his mother's office. He turned and walked down a different path, leading towards the Palace itself. With practiced precision, he climbed a tree and entered a window.
+Several minutes later, he was walking down the road again, this time leaving the paved street and heading for a secluded corner, one that he had been to many times. As he reached the area, a voice spoke out from the darkness.
+"The wise lead."
+"And the workers follow," Constantine responded.
+A man stepped out of the shadows and greeted him.
+"Constantine. How are you my friend? More importantly, how goes the plan?"
+"Excellent, Marcinius. The old sow should be waking up any moment now. And when she does, she will be childless and heirless."
+The man named Marcinius nodded.
+"Then we are that much closer to doing what our ancestors should have done. Let nothing stand in the way of progress."//
+AD - On a rainy night in January, Hauhamunths, only son of Keisera Gudeliva and the heir to the Romanigothic Imperial Throne, is murdered in his sleep. The dagger that was found is traced back to a popular Roman senator, Flavius Basilius, who represents the "New Roman" culture and ideals. Basilius was also the son of one of the New Roman Republic's finest generals, and often complained publicly about the future Rome had before the Goths arrived. The Gothic citizens of Rome immediately call for the senator's execution, whereas the Roman elements believe the senator's pleas of innocence and demand that an investigation take place, rather than a lynching. Despite the government's best attempts to keep order, the situation quickly escalates, as Hauhamunths represented the new generation, a true Romanigoth, not simply an emigrated Visigoth. As guards escort the senator from his quarters to the Palace to stand trial, a Gothic mobs attacks the group and kills the senator, the crowd cheering when his head is hoisted.
+Influential Romans had been warned by letter about the attempt on the senator's life, and the Roman mob arrived in time to see their beloved Basilius' head being kicked about. Many Romans draw weapons and attack the Goths, who respond likewise. With an hour, a fullscale riot has broken out in Rome.
+Despite the best attempts by the government, even the mourning Keisera, to keep the violence a secret, by the end of the day, cities and villages across Rome have been told of the violence and the murders. Many of the towns respond in a similar fashion. The trust and friendships that had been built up since the conquest by Fritigern half a century ago are thrown to the wind as Goths and Romans across Italy clash. The army, consisting of both Goths and Romans, are also heavily affected, and many of the officers "fan the fires." Gothic units assist the Goths when "restoring order," and Roman units assist the Romans. Within two days, reports of army units fighting eachother and officers arming civilians are widespread.
+As the Keisera and her supporters struggle to maintain the peace in the face of escalating violence, Constantina, the last surviving child of Constantine the Great, is found murdered; a spear of the Gothic Guard, Gudeliva's personal defenders, is embedded in her chest.
+The floodgates are raised after the murder. The majority of Romans, who had not participated in the violence, are driven to fury by the death of the beloved Princess, the last link between them and the glory days of Rome. A Roman legionnary charges the Empress and slashes her arm off before the Gothic Guard impale him. The Keisera suffers from blood loss, but survives the attempt; however, she is unable to take the reigns of power, when the wound becomes infected and she attempts to recover. A purge of the military occurs in her absence, with the Gothic generals ousting all Roman elements; in some cases, Roman soldiers in predominantly Gothic units are simply killed. The predominantly Roman Southern Italy declares independence from the "brutal barbarian invaders" on February 19th, and almost all Romans from the rest of the Empire emigrate to the south. The Romanigothic Civil War has begun.
+Most of the chariots being developed by the Empire are seized by the withdrawing Romans and taken with them into the south. Using the chariots, they are able to defeat several Gothic forces in heavily one-sided battles. The leaders of the revolution all declare Constantine, the son of Constantina, as the Praetor of the new Roman Republic. Constantine, raised mostly in Southern Italy, a bastion of science, philosophy, and knowledge, is heavily schooled in war, philosophy, mathematics and music, and is an excellent athlete. Constantine and his followers, including the leader of the original Roman mob in the riots of Rome, Gnaeus Marcinius, declare that the new Republic shall not be based on the flawed pseudo-democratic principals that have twice failed the Roman people. Instead, the new Republic shall be pased on the principals of Plato, who teachings are almost religiously studied in Southern Italy.
+The Republicans repeatedly defeat the Goths, but realize that they have less manpower than the Goths, and once Gothic chariots are produced again, they shall be defeated. So, Constantine takes a ship to Constantinople, and speaks to the scientist-Caesar Gaius Fironicus. Fironicus agrees to aid the Republicans, mostly because he himself is a lover of Plato, and is thrilled at the prospect of a Platoist friendly nation in Italy. Constantine makes several trade agreements with the Caesar, and returns to Italy at the head of three new Holy Roman legions, led by Titus Lucinius, the Caesar's pupil. The Republican forces, which had been losing ground to the Goths and their slowly building chariot forces, and bolstered by the Holy Romans, which are able to easily defeat Gothic armies four times as large as they. In the spring of 391, Keisera Gudeliva, still not fully recovered, signs a peace treaty recognizing the new Italian Republic.
+AD - Gudeliva, now fully recovered and always dressed in robes to hide her missing arm, arrives in Londonium, where she demands to know why her allies did not aid her in the Civil War. The Gaels and Germans respond, quite simply, that they did not wish to. The aging Daffyd, King of Hibernia, states that, "it was you who chose to have an empire, rather than giving each man his land and each tribe its freedom. It was you who attempted to cling to the old trappings of the lying Romans, and tried to befriend the murderers of your fathers. We do not try to impose our will on any others. Why should we die to ensure that you do?" In frustration, Gudeliva withdraws the Romanigothic Empire from Barbarian Council. The Gaelic Navy immediately withdraws from all Romanigothic ports, and gathers in the Gaelic Channel. The United Tribes of Germania warn the Romanigoths that the alliances are still binding, and any attack them or the Gaels will cause both nations to declare war.
+AD - In Armenia, the times are peaceful and the days idyllic. The new Catholicos, Sahak Partev and a brilliant priest, Mesrop Mashtots, set out to spread the word of God across all the land. The old Armenian Alphabet, having been banned by Catholicos Grigor the Illuminator, is rediscovered. Mashtots undertakes a project to modernizes and change the ancient Armenian alphabet into a newer, modern version, more applicable to the modern dialect and easier to learn.
+Gaius Fironicus, Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire, willingly passes his crown to his student, Titus Lucinius, after having ensured that the sciences and other intellectual endeavours shall enjoy full funding from the government. Lucinius is crowned the new Caesar on Sept. 1, the Day of Enthronement, which becomes a tradition afterwards. The young man is not only a brilliant military tactician, but also a genius in his own right, having created several of the processes used by Fironicus in his latest update of the steam engine. Lucinius undertakes a massive development project across the Empire, having numerous aqueducts and irrigation canals built into the harsh climates of the Arabian peninsula, and modernizing cities from Anatolia to Africa. He also orders the creation of steam-powered farm equipment, to feed the ever-increasing population and increase trade. Taking a cue from the Gaels, he completes the modernization of the navy (all the more important now that they have an ally in Italy) and begins to create special roads specifically for "landships," which have evolved into long carriages that carry goods and passengers. Roads are also built into Armenia and Ostrogotha, increasing trade dramatically between the allied nations. The Golden Age of the Holy Roman Empire has begun.
+//Ahtagais was cold. He hated the cold.
+The broad-shouldered, barrel-chested Ostrogoth was seated upon his horse, looked out upon the plains. He was wrapped in furs, and his monstrous spear, also named Ahtagais, the terrible spear, was slung across the equine's back. He drank some home-brewed liquor from a sack; one needed liquid fire to warm up in this damnable weather.
+"I hate the cold."
+His friend, Waihtifuns, a blonde-haired warrior with a strong sword-arm, sighed.
+"And I hate you repeating the same thing every day."
+The two laughed, and Ahtagais tossed his liquor sack over to his friend.
+"Explain again, noble Waihtifuns, why it is we are to sit here in the gods-forsaken snow, staring at jackrabbits and deer prance hither and thither?"
+"Oh for the love of... I told you already! The King is spooked over talk of these eastern barbarians, these Hangs, or whatever they are called. If we are to see or hear anything, we are to ride to headquarters and report, so the army will be ready to intercept these invaders."
+"So we are to sit here, the two of us, and await the coming of an army? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, since Ahtagais can take a hundred thousand men; you, on the other hand, would have trouble taking your own wife."
+"I have no trouble taking yours!"
+The blonde-haired barbarian began to laugh, but Ahtagais cut him off.
+"Wait... do you hear that?"
+Waihtifuns, realizing that his companion was not jesting, looked about, his hand falling to his blade.
+"Yes... it sounds like..."
+"Horses," Ahtagais finished, looking towards the east. Ahead of the rising sun rode what look like a black wave; the ground began to thunder as thousands of hooves stamped into the earth.
+"What did you say these barbarians were called?" Ahtagais asked, turning his horse about.
+"Hangs."
+"Then the Hangs have come."//
+AD - In the beginning of the year, the Huns, a massive barbarian people utilizing cavalry archers and viciousness unseen by the relatively civilized Europeans, burst onto the eastern borders of Ostrogotha. They are intitially very successful, and their archer-cavalry tactics devastate the largely cavalry Ostrogothic army. Egfroth frantically calls on the Holy Romans to send aid. Caesar Lucinius, although not a fan of the Ostrogoths, realizes that the Empire needs a friendly nation to the north to maintain stability. Armenia, with its northern border to Ostrogotha, also agrees to send aid.
+About 4,000 heavy infantry, a thousand heavy cataphracts and a hundred Shaunt (Thunderbolt) class chariots are sent by the Armenians, along with two full legions by the Romans. The Armenians, led by Crown Prince Vagharshak Mamigonian, have modelled their army and tactics after the new Roman legion. Egfroth, upon hearing how few troops are coming to his aid, rages in Wigbarta, accusing the Romans of treachery. The Hunnic army, however, is promptly defeated by the join Armenian-Roman armies, with the chariots smashing Hunnic horse and deflecting Hunnic arrow. The Huns retreat, after inflicting devastating losses to Ostrogothic cities and fields.
+Egfroth, realizing that the era of the cavalryman has ended, begins to order his own chariots. Ostrogotha is poor, however, after paying Allied reparations for the European War. The devastation caused by the Huns further depleted the Ostrogothic treasury. In desperation, he is forced to sell off the southern provinces to Caesar Titus, who makes sure that all territories purchased are rich in ore that is useful for chariots.
+AD - The Philosophic Republic of Italy is finally fully established. The "capital" of the Republic, if it could be called that, is the city of Neapolis. The Philosophic Republic is based entirely off the model of Plato's Republic. The entire country, therefore, is simply a union of city-states, which each have complete autonomy. Each city-state is divided into two classes and three groups: the Upper Class, which are the Leaders and the Soldiers; and the Lower Class, which are the Workers. The Upper Class live in very modest, state-run homes, and are raised on an almost Spartan model: children are not raised by parents, and in fact never discover who their parents are, and are instead raised and educated by the state. They are heavily schooled in music, mathematics, philosophy, war, and athletics, as per Plato's instructions. The Upper Class owns no property whatsoever, thereby eliminating the corrupting influence of power. The Lower Class is allowed to own private property and raise traditional families, although they have absolutely no say in the government. Each city-state is run by a small council of Philosopher-Kings, and these Philosopher-Kings meet monthly in Neapolis to discuss national matters, such as war. Realizing that, with the strict structure of the system, armies would become small and professional, the Philosopher-Kings begin to research heavily into steam engine technology, hoping to gain an edge unseen by any other nation.
+AD - The Armenian priest Mesrop Mashtots, having travelled the Empire in search of the Armenian alphabet, finally compiles a new Armenian alphabet, of 36 letters. Much of the alphabet is based on the old, pagan alphabet, which was banned by Grigor the Illuminator and vanished when the Catholicos waged the destructive war against the old Armenian pagan priests. The Bible is translated from Greek and Aramaic into Armenian, foregoing the Holy Roman version for earlier ones.
+In Constantinople, the aged Gaius Fironicus, on his deathbed, completes the designes of the last improvement to his beloved chariot that he shall make: the track. Realizing the effectiveness of trenches against the chariot's wheels, Fironicus creates a system of armored plates attached to the wheels, creating a constant flat surface for the wheels to roll over. Shortly after completing the designs, Gaius Fironicus, former Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire and the "greatest genius in the history of the world," passes away. His track designs are immediately incorporated into all models of chariots by Caesar Titus. Titus realizes that much of the west is decidedly anti-Roman, and that the Ostrogoths are a weak ally, useful only for insuring that no hostile force exists in the north; therefore, in a show of goodwill and friendship, the Holy Caesar passes along the designs, as well as the models of the current steam engine, to "our eternal and graceful allies and brothers, the Armenians." Emperor Vassak, grateful at this gesture, gives Titus the title of "friend of the people," and awards him with Nakhararship, making him a nobleman of Armenia.
+During the funeral of Fironicus, now beatified as St. Fironicus, the scientist Leo Galeus presents Caesar Titus with a new calendar, which they call the Fironican calendar in honor of the deceased. Titus officially adopts the new calendar, and declares that the start of the new year shall be September 1st, and that Sept. 1, 349 AD, shall be the first day of year 1 ad imperium augustus condita, or ad imperium, AI, as it will be commonly referred to.
+AD - The Saxons, led by the twin kings Horsa and Hengist, have reached the staggerring population of three million in only two generations, staggering mostly due to the fact that less than half a million landed upon the shores of Saxony from Europe. The Stallion Kings have seen their lands become urbanized, with European style cities beginning to emerge, using paved roads and stone houses. The territories captured by the Saxons in their wars are so expansive that they have only been able to begin colonization efforts in roughly one quarter of the newly gained lands.
+//"Scientist Antonius, prepare steam engine for operation, block venting chamber."
+"Understood."
+Antonius activated the steam engine and slid the iron plate into the venting tube, blocking the path for the escaping steam.
+"Insert the sphere into the venting chamber."
+The scientist complied almost without thought, inserting the small iron ball into the end of the tube. According to the calculations, the steam engine could go another fourteen seconds before pressure within the steam chamber would become critical.
+"Withdraw the plate in six... five... four... three... two... one... withdraw."
+Antonius immediately pulled the plate up, freeing the steam. The force of the escaping steam propelled the iron ball forward at a stunning velocity. The small sphere ricochetted off the wall with a loud clash of metal against stone and flew into the body of Antonius. The scientist was killed before he even realized what had just occurred, his body crumpling to the floor with a sickening thud.
+A figure in the corner looked on impassively, calmly stepping aside when the blood of the dead scientist threatened to stain his boots.
+"Experiment a success. Guard Rufus, please remove the body of Scientist Antonius and have Scientist Gallus report to the invention chamber."
+Guard Rufus looked down at Antonius.
+"Shall I equip Scientist Gallus with armor, Administrator Aulus?"
+The figure did not deign to look at the guard.
+"We have not the resources to risk armor. Do as ordered."
+The guard saluted and grabbed the arms of the fallen scientist, hoisting him up and carrying him from the room.//
+AD - A scientist of the Upper Class of the Philosophic Republic, Administrator Aulus (the Upper Class has dropped the traditional Roman use of praenomens, nomens, cognomens and agnomens, and instead has taken to referring to the Upper Classmen by their designation and name), researches the unused properties of steam power; namely, the highly explosive ability of unvented steam first observed by the Armenian scientist Sembat Aramian. Through several experiments, Aulus discovers that steam, when vented after collecting enough pressure, can propel items at incredible speeds. Aulus immediately realizes the potential of this discovery and orders the scientists of the Republic to design a weapon that will rapidly project small iron spheres.
+In Germania, the use of landships has lead to the creation of permanent settlements connected by the paved roads that the landships run on. Without the need for constant migration in search of food, the Germanian tribes begin to advance culturally, and the settlements are allowed to urbanize as the farming communities with richer soil can ship their food to the new cities. The kings of the various tribes thus establish permanent boundaries, taking the first steps towards a nation-state.
+In the Romanigothic Empire, turmoil is spreading. Relatives of the dead Keiser Fritigern, having been prevented from claiming the throne when his daughter became Keisera, lead factions of traditional Visigoths as they protest against the Keisera. The older Goths claim that the softening of Gudeliva has caused the troubles faced by the nation, and that only a return to the old principles of their barbarian forefathers shall save the Gothic people. The urban populations of Italy tend to support Gudeliva and the "new Goths," whereas the rural population of Gaul follow the hardliners. The hardliner leaders, all princes of the Balthigg Imperial family, decide to refrain from open revolution, realizing that, without a direct heir, Gudeliva's death shall leave one of them in power.
+Their plans are spoiled, however, when the aged Keisera decrees that, after her death, the Romanigothic Empire shall become the Romanigothic Republic. The princes, realizing that word of this would begin to errode their popularity, immediately alter the news as it arrives in Gaul, portraying it as further proof that the Keisera has become a Roman, and that the meaning of the decree is that the country would be sold to "the traitorous thinkers" of the Philosophic Republic. The people, outraged, rise up against the Keisera. The Second Romanigothic Civil War begins.
+==== Further developments ====
+The Era of the Good Caesars continues for about a century and a half in the HRE, seeing it expand massively in the East. The last remnants of the Persian Empire are conquered by the HRE and by the Huns, whose numbers and savagery are able to beat back all Roman advances save those by chariots.
+Armenia, surrounded mostly by the HRE with a border to the north with the friendly Ostrogoths, begins to demilitarize. This will come back to bite in straight in the arse in a few centuries, however, when the Era of Good Caesars is over.
+The Platonic Republic launches an assault on the Romanigothic Empire during the Civil War, and captures some much-needed agricultural land. It's newly developed steam-cannons are incredible useful. Afterwards, it constructs a wall across its border, creates cannon-forts along the coast, and breaks off relations with all nations, turning in on itself (Confederation of Platonic City-States, the CPCS), having the resources to feed its own population and constantly furthering all sciences to ensure that it remains independent and secure despite its small size and population. The CPCS' spy network becomes unparalleled throughout the world.
+The Romanigoths plunge into Civil War. The Empress wishes it to become a Republic, the nobles wish it to remain a Monarchy. In the end, several of the Empress' "loyal" relatives succeed in winning the war, but turn the "republic" into an oligarchy, with a select few ruling in a council. The principles of unbridled capitalism develop in the "Republic," and it becomes the financial superpower of the world, giving loans even to the HRE.
+The Alemanni develop into an analogue of the Austrian Empire. Although the Germanic tribe itself is large in population, the land it controls number many other nationalities and languages.
+The Germans develop into an even looser version of the OTL HRE. Each tribe as a chief, and is divided even further into smaller tribes that are all of a single larger tribe. This resembles the Gaelic government, and both become bastions of liberalism and freedom.
+The Barbarian Union, as the alliance of the Gaels, Germans, and Alemanni is known, becomes a seafaring power and a trading giant. The Gaels make the first contact with the Saxons overseas, who eventually ally with the BU. They also create colonies in South America, which they name Hy-Brasil.
+The Saxons create a large land empire in North America (known as Asgard), and create a close alliance with the Iroquois. By several centuries, there is little distinction between the Germans and the Redskins except for skin color. The coming of steam technology is late to the Saxons, but the resources at hand for them dwarf anything in Europe, and they are able to mass produce chariots for war, becoming the arsenal of the Barbarian Union.
+The Basque Empire becomes an African powerhouse. After years of war, it conquers the Christian kingdom of "Prestor John," and gold stuffs the coffers of the Emperor. The HRE, however, takes this as an excuse to entire Central Africa, and after a quick and decisive naval war, the Kingdom of Prestor John is liberated as a Holy Roman protectorate. The Basques begin to develop steam technology, and carve a large African land empire.
+Asia will be contacted after the Era of Good Empires. Around 600 AD, religious zealots will gain the Imperial Throne of Peter. More and more people will be fighting the Huns, but will not want to return to simple pseudo-serfdom after their days soldiering. Demands for liberties and civil rights will continue until the Inquisition. This will basically try to return the HRE to a time about 200 years past, with people tied to their land and technology only for the military. The Caesar will decree that the use of technology by the common man has made them lose sight of God's plan, and will ban all technology except that used by the military. Science will face a severe crackdown, with the researchers requiring to pass "religious exams" to determine their loyalty. Many scientists will flee to Europe, bringing their knowledge up-to-date with the technology of the HRE (though not of the Platonic Republic, which is still far advanced).
+Armenia, which has refused to emulate the HRE's Imperial Church, will be attacked and conquered, having demilitarized for the most part and having nowhere near the population of the Empire. The people will be exiled to the East, to prevent them from aiding the Infidels in Europe. Many Roman scientists also are sent with them, again to prevent them from assisting the Europeans. This happens in about 800 AD, and they eventually settle in Mongolia, where they ally with the Mongol tribes, who convert to the Apostolic Christian faith.
+The Barbarian Union militarizes over this, and in response the HRE declares war. A brutal campaign is fought in Eastern Europe, and much of the Alemanni Empire is devastated, and eventually annexed by the HRE, which is the victor. At this point, the Barbarians, with the aid of their new scientists, devote much of their strength to research and development, using the vast expanses of Asgard to supply their war machine for the inevitable rematch (this is all in the year 1000, give or take a few decades).
+Hunnish India is finally conquered and a path to the East opened, but the HRE then stumbles into the Chinese Empire. Technology, having trickled East, has allowed China to maintain stability, and the war of the white devils unifies them like nothing else. Several Crusades follow, but little territory is lost, with the Chinese utilizing gunpowder against the Roman chariots.
+Meanwhile, the Armenians, Assyrians, and Mongols create the Apostolic Federation. Using Chinese gunpowder and Roman technology, they are able to create weapons unlike any seen in the West. They launch a war against the Ostrogoths (who occupy Northern Armenia during the joint war against the Armenian Empire) and are able to expand quickly. They also fight the Chinese, and ally with the Japanese in about 1000 AD. The Japanese use their technology to conquer and colonize many of the islands to their south, with the crowning achievement of Hoyaikyu (New Land, OTL Australia). They are challenged by the Southern Huns, which control Southeast Asia and the nearby islands, whereas the Northern Huns control the area to the east of the Caspian Sea.
+With the Federation attacking from the north and the HRE attacking from the West, the Chinese are finished. They flee Eastward, past Japan, and eventually colonize Western Asgard. The Chinese Empire thus controls the Asgardian west coast and parts of Southeast Asia. The Federation turns then on the war-weary HRE and conquers much of Asia, pushing back the HRE to their Hunnic borders.
+This broils down to the World War. The HRE allies with the Iberians and the Chinese, who fear and hate the Mongols worse than anything else. The Algonquins in Asgard, as well as the Incan and Mayan Empires, also join the Alliance. In response, the Barbarian Union allies with the Federation and their Japanese allies. The Aztecs, having been driven from their lands by the Chinese, as well as the Iroquois, decide to join the new Greater Federation for their own security. In about 1300, all hell breaks loose.
+All this broils down to the World War in about 1200-1300. The HRE, Ostrogoths, Iberians, Mayans, Incans, Algonquins, and Chinese will duke it out with the Federation, the Barbarian Union, Aztecs, Iroquois, and Japanese. The main fighting will be:
+  * Iberians vs BU
+  * BU vs HRE
+  * HRE vs Federation
+  * Japanese vs Chinese
+  * Aztecs vs Mayans
+  * Aztecs vs Chinese
+  * Iroquois vs Algonquins
+  * Saxons vs Algonquins
+  * Federation vs Ostrogoths
+  * Incans vs anyone who gets near them.