Imperial Survey: Yathrib - Revision history

Paulus: /* A New Dark Age */

2013-06-24T18:12:12Z

A New Dark Age

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:12, 24 June 2013
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	With most of the Brother Battle having relocated to Mazdak, the order drew back and fortified their citadel on the Mount of Apples in Akko. The Guardianship passed into noble hands in the person of Saint Godfrey's sister's son Baldwin de Moley, who left the Brother Battle so that he could marry Margaret Justinian, Saint Malcolm's cousin and another former knight of the order. As Guardian, Baldwin lead a coalition of nobles and priests to restore order, dying finally as an old man in campaigns to put down rebels.		With most of the Brother Battle having relocated to Mazdak, the order drew back and fortified their citadel on the Mount of Apples in Akko. The Guardianship passed into noble hands in the person of Saint Godfrey's sister's son Baldwin de Moley, who left the Brother Battle so that he could marry Margaret Justinian, Saint Malcolm's cousin and another former knight of the order. As Guardian, Baldwin lead a coalition of nobles and priests to restore order, dying finally as an old man in campaigns to put down rebels.

	His son completed the task, and by 4211 Baldwin II was an old man ruling as first among equals over a loose coalition of nobles and priests. Besides Baldwin's minor House De Moley, two of the Ten emerged with prominence from the chaos: House Justinian, many of its members drawn to Yathrib by faith, firmly entrenched in Alexandrun and the Shining Gulf, and House al-Malik, rising to rulership in the Antipodes by virtue of long and close association with Aylon. Houses Windsor, Gesar, Hawkwood and Hazat had lesser roles in the Pearl Cities, while the minor houses Dextrite and Masseri converted to the faith of the Sathraist Kingdoms.		His son completed the task, and by 4211 Baldwin II was an old man ruling as first among equals over a loose coalition of nobles and priests. Besides Baldwin's minor House De Moley, two of the Ten emerged with prominence from the chaos: House Justinian, many of its members drawn to Yathrib by faith, firmly entrenched in Alexandrun and the Shining Gulf, and House al-Malik, rising to rulership in the Antipodes by virtue of long and close association with Aylon. Houses Windsor, Gesar, Hawkwood and Hazat had lesser roles in the Pearl Cities, while House Alecto settled lands in the north of Asher and House Van Gelder settled along its southern coasts. Meannwhile, the minor houses Dextrite and Masseri converted to the faith of the Sathraist Kingdoms.

	The five senior partners in planetary rule were Baldwin, as Guardian and senior member of House de Moley, the Orthodox Archbishop of Revelation, the Brother Battle Master of Akko, and the senior counts from Houses Justinian and al-Malik. For the next several hundred years, this quintet was the core alliance guiding planetary government in a fight against rebels, Sathraists and others.		The five senior partners in planetary rule were Baldwin, as Guardian and senior member of House de Moley, the Orthodox Archbishop of Revelation, the Brother Battle Master of Akko, and the senior counts from Houses Justinian and al-Malik. For the next several hundred years, this quintet was the core alliance guiding planetary government in a fight against rebels, Sathraists and others.

Paulus: /* The Vale of Olives */

2013-01-22T08:02:43Z

The Vale of Olives

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:02, 22 January 2013
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	Traveling up along the River Moss, I entered at last the County of Olivet and stayed a few nights at its eponymous keep. Count Walker Justinian greeted me; the canny old man is perhaps the second-most powerful lord on Akko, and he talked to me in uncomfortable terms about my uncle's health. Named after a long-ago Justinian who was Guardian of the Holy City, Count Walker is said to have been bitterly disappointed when he learned that the Justinians were no longer among the Royal Houses, and he has now set his sights on returning his family to those heights. He certainly has the acumen for it; without question, the Count is one of the most astute minds I have ever met, and when I left his study I felt as if he had gotten something out of our conversation I am not sure I should have revealed - even if I could not say what it is I should not have said.		Traveling up along the River Moss, I entered at last the County of Olivet and stayed a few nights at its eponymous keep. Count Walker Justinian greeted me; the canny old man is perhaps the second-most powerful lord on Akko, and he talked to me in uncomfortable terms about my uncle's health. Named after a long-ago Justinian who was Guardian of the Holy City, Count Walker is said to have been bitterly disappointed when he learned that the Justinians were no longer among the Royal Houses, and he has now set his sights on returning his family to those heights. He certainly has the acumen for it; without question, the Count is one of the most astute minds I have ever met, and when I left his study I felt as if he had gotten something out of our conversation I am not sure I should have revealed - even if I could not say what it is I should not have said.

	Still, Count Walker has excellent cellars and is a gracious host. His grand-daughter Emilie was particularly kind to me, though when I told Count Walker my ~~father renounced my family's place in the line of succession~~ I suddenly saw much less of her. Hunting with the Count the next day I was instead subjected to grilling about the Emperor's court, with particular attention paid to his unmarried status.		Still, Count Walker has excellent cellars and is a gracious host. His grand-daughter Emilie was particularly kind to me, though when I told Count Walker my brother had just been rescued from Kurgan captivity I suddenly saw much less of her. Hunting with the Count the next day I was instead subjected to grilling about the Emperor's court, with particular attention paid to his unmarried status.

	==== Johburg and Cape Hattusas ====		==== Johburg and Cape Hattusas ====

Paulus: /* The Pearl Cities */

2012-12-23T08:19:58Z

The Pearl Cities

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:19, 23 December 2012
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	A Charioteer friend had agreed to rendezvous with us outside one of the Pearl Cities, and so we traveled on the old highway from the White Oasis to Zelah. We did not enter the city, but my guide told me of them. Zelah is the Queen of the Pearls, a beautiful seaside city that was an exclusive enclave during the Second Republic. Its governor, I am told, is a Kurgan woman who was once a member of the Caliph's harem; she was given Zelah as a gift after her unorthodox religious views required her to leave his company.		A Charioteer friend had agreed to rendezvous with us outside one of the Pearl Cities, and so we traveled on the old highway from the White Oasis to Zelah. We did not enter the city, but my guide told me of them. Zelah is the Queen of the Pearls, a beautiful seaside city that was an exclusive enclave during the Second Republic. Its governor, I am told, is a Kurgan woman who was once a member of the Caliph's harem; she was given Zelah as a gift after her unorthodox religious views required her to leave his company.

	Zelah sits in the center of a string of five cities. North of it is Gilead, a pleasant city now notorious for its new ruler. After the Betrayal, Lord Rutger Mortimer was rewarded with Gilead as his prize, and everyone says that his palace is the site of many infamies. North still is Asshur, nestled between the mountains and the sea. ~~Edom~~ was the last of the Pearl Cities to hold out during the Halaba Wars, and it was from here that Count Tengri Gesar masterminded his defense of the Pearls. His descendants still rule as the al-Gesar; Chagatai al-Gesar, the current Khan of Asshur, is said to be a faithful subject of the Kurgan Caliph as well as a terrifyingly effective commander. Because Asshur was never taken, it remains one of the strongest of the Pearl Cities and its cavalry regularly sees combat around Revelation.		Zelah sits in the center of a string of five cities. North of it is Gilead, a pleasant city now notorious for its new ruler. After the Betrayal, Lord Rutger Mortimer was rewarded with Gilead as his prize, and everyone says that his palace is the site of many infamies. North still is Asshur, nestled between the mountains and the sea. Asshur was the last of the Pearl Cities to hold out during the Halaba Wars, and it was from here that Count Tengri Gesar masterminded his defense of the Pearls. His descendants still rule as the al-Gesar; Chagatai al-Gesar, the current Khan of Asshur, is said to be a faithful subject of the Kurgan Caliph as well as a terrifyingly effective commander. Because Asshur was never taken, it remains one of the strongest of the Pearl Cities and its cavalry regularly sees combat around Revelation.

	South of Zelah is Edom. Edom once called itself King of the Pearls, rival to its neighbor, but a series of rebellions over the course of the last century have seen it lag behind its northern neighbor. I have heard whispers that there are still rebels in Edom, though I was unable to meet any of the Edomite resistance. Finally, off the coast is the Isle of Dor, the location of the eponymous last of the Pearl Cities. The Dorics are famed sailors, and they know the ins and outs of their archipelago better than anyone.		South of Zelah is Edom. Edom once called itself King of the Pearls, rival to its neighbor, but a series of rebellions over the course of the last century have seen it lag behind its northern neighbor. I have heard whispers that there are still rebels in Edom, though I was unable to meet any of the Edomite resistance. Finally, off the coast is the Isle of Dor, the location of the eponymous last of the Pearl Cities. The Dorics are famed sailors, and they know the ins and outs of their archipelago better than anyone.

Paulus: /* The Ukar Wars */

2012-12-20T03:32:52Z

The Ukar Wars

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 20 December 2012
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	=== The Ukar Wars ===		=== The Ukar Wars ===

	The Ukar Wars changed all those equations, however. One jump from Aylon, Yathrib was far too near to Ukar Space, and the Ukari warlords feared the influence of the new religion spreading among the humans. They struck Yathrib in 2855 as part of their initial surprise assault on humanity, and held onto the world for "Forty Years of Night" until a human fleet was able to force its way past Aylon and liberate the holy world in a ten-year crusade from 2895 until ~~2894~~.		The Ukar Wars changed all those equations, however. One jump from Aylon, Yathrib was far too near to Ukar Space, and the Ukari warlords feared the influence of the new religion spreading among the humans. They struck Yathrib in 2855 as part of their initial surprise assault on humanity, and held onto the world for "Forty Years of Night" until a human fleet was able to force its way past Aylon and liberate the holy world in a ten-year crusade from 2895 until 2904.

	The forty-year occupation of Yathrib left scars; it drove many of the original pilgrims into the wild, mixing fervent faith with the frontier attitude of the original share colonists, while it drove PAMA off-world for a time. The Ukari stomped out traces of the Prophet's church and forced early worshippers underground - literally, in many cases, with a tradition of underground chapels in some ancient places that remain venerated sites to this day.		The forty-year occupation of Yathrib left scars; it drove many of the original pilgrims into the wild, mixing fervent faith with the frontier attitude of the original share colonists, while it drove PAMA off-world for a time. The Ukari stomped out traces of the Prophet's church and forced early worshippers underground - literally, in many cases, with a tradition of underground chapels in some ancient places that remain venerated sites to this day.

Paulus: /* The Ukar Wars */

2012-12-20T03:32:16Z

The Ukar Wars

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 20 December 2012
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	=== The Ukar Wars ===		=== The Ukar Wars ===

	The Ukar Wars changed all those equations, however. One jump from Aylon, Yathrib was far too near to Ukar Space, and the Ukari warlords feared the influence of the new religion spreading among the humans. They struck Yathrib in 2855 as part of their initial surprise assault on humanity, and held onto the world for "Forty Years of Night" until a human fleet was able to force its way past Aylon and liberate the holy world in a ten-year crusade from 2895 until ~~2994~~.		The Ukar Wars changed all those equations, however. One jump from Aylon, Yathrib was far too near to Ukar Space, and the Ukari warlords feared the influence of the new religion spreading among the humans. They struck Yathrib in 2855 as part of their initial surprise assault on humanity, and held onto the world for "Forty Years of Night" until a human fleet was able to force its way past Aylon and liberate the holy world in a ten-year crusade from 2895 until 2894.

	The forty-year occupation of Yathrib left scars; it drove many of the original pilgrims into the wild, mixing fervent faith with the frontier attitude of the original share colonists, while it drove PAMA off-world for a time. The Ukari stomped out traces of the Prophet's church and forced early worshippers underground - literally, in many cases, with a tradition of underground chapels in some ancient places that remain venerated sites to this day.		The forty-year occupation of Yathrib left scars; it drove many of the original pilgrims into the wild, mixing fervent faith with the frontier attitude of the original share colonists, while it drove PAMA off-world for a time. The Ukari stomped out traces of the Prophet's church and forced early worshippers underground - literally, in many cases, with a tradition of underground chapels in some ancient places that remain venerated sites to this day.

Paulus: /* Kurgan Invasions */

2012-12-03T05:21:38Z

Kurgan Invasions

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:21, 3 December 2012
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	The so-called 'Spoiling of the Pearls' was a success, but at a price: the sudden presence of a forest of pom-pom lasers pointed up at space turned the Kurgan armada away, but the Pearl Cities now lay undefended, and so the Kurgan warfleet began to land there instead. This was the first of the Halaba Wars, from the Kurgan word for conquest -- the Halaba of the Pearls lasted nearly 15 years, resulting in the eradication of the remaining Hazat lords and ending with the Conversion of the Gesar, when Count Tengri Gesar knelt to the Kurgan khaghan at Alexandrun and converted to their faith.		The so-called 'Spoiling of the Pearls' was a success, but at a price: the sudden presence of a forest of pom-pom lasers pointed up at space turned the Kurgan armada away, but the Pearl Cities now lay undefended, and so the Kurgan warfleet began to land there instead. This was the first of the Halaba Wars, from the Kurgan word for conquest -- the Halaba of the Pearls lasted nearly 15 years, resulting in the eradication of the remaining Hazat lords and ending with the Conversion of the Gesar, when Count Tengri Gesar knelt to the Kurgan khaghan at Alexandrun and converted to their faith.

	Further conquests followed; now ensconced at Alexandrun (Iskandretta, in the Kurgan tongue) the Kurgans sent expeditions first to the Boreale and then to the Antipodes, sweeping away the few defenders in the former and fighting a short but bloody conflict in the the latter until the al-Malik count of Hydessos struck the Peace of Edessa, in which the Antipodes would pay tribute to the Kurgans but be allowed to keep their faith. The greatest of the Halaba Wars, of course, was fought over Revelation, which beat back three sieges in 4892, 4908, and 4919 until the Kurgans were able to bring orbital bombardment to bear in 4924. After the ensuing evacuation, the remnant Known Worlders began to shell back in a continuous set of wars broken only briefly by the Peace at the River of Joy, which created ~~five~~ refugee camps for those who had been driven out of the Holy City and set guidelines for their administration.		Further conquests followed; now ensconced at Alexandrun (Iskandretta, in the Kurgan tongue) the Kurgans sent expeditions first to the Boreale and then to the Antipodes, sweeping away the few defenders in the former and fighting a short but bloody conflict in the the latter until the al-Malik count of Hydessos struck the Peace of Edessa, in which the Antipodes would pay tribute to the Kurgans but be allowed to keep their faith. The greatest of the Halaba Wars, of course, was fought over Revelation, which beat back three sieges in 4892, 4908, and 4919 until the Kurgans were able to bring orbital bombardment to bear in 4924. After the ensuing evacuation, the remnant Known Worlders began to shell back in a continuous set of wars broken only briefly by the Peace at the River of Joy, which created refugee camps for those who had been driven out of the Holy City and set guidelines for their administration.

	By 4940, however, war had resumed again after a Church-inspired rebellion in the Pearl Cities, and constant battle between the now-reformed Crusader State of Akko and the Kurgan sultanate at Iskandretta was the norm for the next fifty years.		By 4940, however, war had resumed again after a Church-inspired rebellion in the Pearl Cities, and constant battle between the now-reformed Crusader State of Akko and the Kurgan sultanate at Iskandretta was the norm for the next fifty years.

Paulus: /* Recent History */

2012-11-08T17:49:31Z

Recent History

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 8 November 2012
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	Meanwhile, Count Joscelin and his companions found themselves in Kurgan space, where for two years they had an odyssey among the stars. Finally making their way through barbarian jumplanes to Leminkainen, they found the Known Worlds they had been for so long cut off from. They were whisked to the court of the new Emperor Alexius on January 1, 4996, where Count Joscelin knelt at Alexius' feet and swore fealty in the name of his brother. Swiftly, brave knights pledged their swords, and a hastily-assembled armada began to retrace Joscelin's laborious steps through barbarian space.		Meanwhile, Count Joscelin and his companions found themselves in Kurgan space, where for two years they had an odyssey among the stars. Finally making their way through barbarian jumplanes to Leminkainen, they found the Known Worlds they had been for so long cut off from. They were whisked to the court of the new Emperor Alexius on January 1, 4996, where Count Joscelin knelt at Alexius' feet and swore fealty in the name of his brother. Swiftly, brave knights pledged their swords, and a hastily-assembled armada began to retrace Joscelin's laborious steps through barbarian space.

	When Joscelin's Crusade emerged back in Yathrib space, Akko was in dire straits: Jalalkan's host was at the gates of Akko, and it seemed that the last days of faith on Yathrib had come. Joscelin's forces fell upon the Kurgans from space, and Count Joscelin himself fought hand to hand with Jalalkan. The Kurgan general struck him down, but the crusaders won the day. The crusading army sortied from Akko, and reinforced by the local Barons and their remaining retainers, pushed the Kurgans to the River of Joy. In a hard-fought battle a force of knights led by Hugh ~~Justinian~~ broke the demoralised Kurgan host and routed them over the River of Joy, the infidel host parting like the sea around Castle Joyeaux.		When Joscelin's Crusade emerged back in Yathrib space, Akko was in dire straits: Jalalkan's host was at the gates of Akko, and it seemed that the last days of faith on Yathrib had come. Joscelin's forces fell upon the Kurgans from space, and Count Joscelin himself fought hand to hand with Jalalkan. The Kurgan general struck him down, but the crusaders won the day. The crusading army sortied from Akko, and reinforced by the local Barons and their remaining retainers, pushed the Kurgans to the River of Joy. In a hard-fought battle a force of knights led by Hugh the Bastard broke the demoralised Kurgan host and routed them over the River of Joy, the infidel host parting like the sea around Castle Joyeaux.

	The west bank of the Shining Gulf lay in ruins as the Kurgans retreated, however. Most of the local lords had died in the fighting, and the new crusaders settled down to claim lands in what was now being called the Crusader State of Akko. Contact was made with the al-Malik in the Antipodes, and they - like others - began to rebel against the Kurgans, opening new fronts in the war. Engineers who had traveled with the crusade made their difficult way out to the jumpgate, and in 4998 they were able to open the road to Aylon, suddenly making the link to the Known Worlds much less tenuous. More crusaders piled in, establishing a beachhead in-system in the Jewels of Hatay, and then in 4999 a second, greater crusade arrived.		The west bank of the Shining Gulf lay in ruins as the Kurgans retreated, however. Most of the local lords had died in the fighting, and the new crusaders settled down to claim lands in what was now being called the Crusader State of Akko. Contact was made with the al-Malik in the Antipodes, and they - like others - began to rebel against the Kurgans, opening new fronts in the war. Engineers who had traveled with the crusade made their difficult way out to the jumpgate, and in 4998 they were able to open the road to Aylon, suddenly making the link to the Known Worlds much less tenuous. More crusaders piled in, establishing a beachhead in-system in the Jewels of Hatay, and then in 4999 a second, greater crusade arrived.

Paulus: /* Recent History */

2012-11-08T17:42:50Z

Recent History

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 8 November 2012
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	Meanwhile, Count Joscelin and his companions found themselves in Kurgan space, where for two years they had an odyssey among the stars. Finally making their way through barbarian jumplanes to Leminkainen, they found the Known Worlds they had been for so long cut off from. They were whisked to the court of the new Emperor Alexius on January 1, 4996, where Count Joscelin knelt at Alexius' feet and swore fealty in the name of his brother. Swiftly, brave knights pledged their swords, and a hastily-assembled armada began to retrace Joscelin's laborious steps through barbarian space.		Meanwhile, Count Joscelin and his companions found themselves in Kurgan space, where for two years they had an odyssey among the stars. Finally making their way through barbarian jumplanes to Leminkainen, they found the Known Worlds they had been for so long cut off from. They were whisked to the court of the new Emperor Alexius on January 1, 4996, where Count Joscelin knelt at Alexius' feet and swore fealty in the name of his brother. Swiftly, brave knights pledged their swords, and a hastily-assembled armada began to retrace Joscelin's laborious steps through barbarian space.

	When Joscelin's Crusade emerged back in Yathrib space, Akko was in dire straits: Jalalkan's host was at the gates of Akko, and it seemed that the last days of faith on Yathrib had come. Joscelin's forces fell upon the Kurgans from space, and Count Joscelin himself fought hand to hand with Jalalkan. The Kurgan general struck him down, but the crusaders won the day, ~~pushing~~ the Kurgans ~~back~~ over the River of Joy.		When Joscelin's Crusade emerged back in Yathrib space, Akko was in dire straits: Jalalkan's host was at the gates of Akko, and it seemed that the last days of faith on Yathrib had come. Joscelin's forces fell upon the Kurgans from space, and Count Joscelin himself fought hand to hand with Jalalkan. The Kurgan general struck him down, but the crusaders won the day. The crusading army sortied from Akko, and reinforced by the local Barons and their remaining retainers, pushed the Kurgans to the River of Joy. In a hard-fought battle a force of knights led by Hugh Justinian broke the demoralised Kurgan host and routed them over the River of Joy, the infidel host parting like the sea around Castle Joyeaux.

	The west bank of the Shining Gulf lay in ruins as the Kurgans retreated, however. Most of the local lords had died in the fighting, and the new crusaders settled down to claim lands in what was now being called the Crusader State of Akko. Contact was made with the al-Malik in the Antipodes, and they - like others - began to rebel against the Kurgans, opening new fronts in the war. Engineers who had traveled with the crusade made their difficult way out to the jumpgate, and in 4998 they were able to open the road to Aylon, suddenly making the link to the Known Worlds much less tenuous. More crusaders piled in, establishing a beachhead in-system in the Jewels of Hatay, and then in 4999 a second, greater crusade arrived.		The west bank of the Shining Gulf lay in ruins as the Kurgans retreated, however. Most of the local lords had died in the fighting, and the new crusaders settled down to claim lands in what was now being called the Crusader State of Akko. Contact was made with the al-Malik in the Antipodes, and they - like others - began to rebel against the Kurgans, opening new fronts in the war. Engineers who had traveled with the crusade made their difficult way out to the jumpgate, and in 4998 they were able to open the road to Aylon, suddenly making the link to the Known Worlds much less tenuous. More crusaders piled in, establishing a beachhead in-system in the Jewels of Hatay, and then in 4999 a second, greater crusade arrived.

Malcolm: /* Founding */

2012-10-31T11:18:12Z

Founding

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:18, 31 October 2012
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	=== Founding ===		=== Founding ===

	Early in the ~~Diapsora~~, Captain Howard Pym of the Pan Arabian Mercantile Alliance - PAMA - discovered a dusty, habitable world one jump away from Aylon. PAMA's pilots were among the best explorers in the waning days of the First Republic, but the zaibatsu sold most of its discovered systems to other corporations, retaining for itself only out-of-the-way worlds with few resources. At the time, PAMA's rivals laughed - the richest rewards were in colonization and exploitation, not exploration and discovery - but they were not privy to the true agenda that underlay PAMA's discoveries.		Early in the Diaspora, Captain Howard Pym of the Pan Arabian Mercantile Alliance - PAMA - discovered a dusty, habitable world one jump away from Aylon. PAMA's pilots were among the best explorers in the waning days of the First Republic, but the zaibatsu sold most of its discovered systems to other corporations, retaining for itself only out-of-the-way worlds with few resources. At the time, PAMA's rivals laughed - the richest rewards were in colonization and exploitation, not exploration and discovery - but they were not privy to the true agenda that underlay PAMA's discoveries.

	Unbeknownst to even the senior management of the zaibatsu, the line pilots who made up PAMA's ranks were riddled with Sathraists, and they subtly wormed their way into the heart of PAMA's decision-making, seeking refuges for their dark religion, places where they could base their cults away from prying eyes. Yathrib - like Mazdak, later linked to it in history - was one such world, and the PAMA colony at Discovery Bay on the northeastern continent of Pymeria became a haven for Sathraists that would last nearly fifteen hundred years.		Unbeknownst to even the senior management of the zaibatsu, the line pilots who made up PAMA's ranks were riddled with Sathraists, and they subtly wormed their way into the heart of PAMA's decision-making, seeking refuges for their dark religion, places where they could base their cults away from prying eyes. Yathrib - like Mazdak, later linked to it in history - was one such world, and the PAMA colony at Discovery Bay on the northeastern continent of Pymeria became a haven for Sathraists that would last nearly fifteen hundred years.

Paulus: /* The East Bank */

2012-10-19T06:05:19Z

The East Bank

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:05, 19 October 2012
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	I did not immediately cross the Gulf to the eastern side, held as it is by the Kurgan, but I will say what I know: several 'emirs', the Kurgan equivalent of counts, hold lands near the Holy City, while there are three remaining refugee camps under Kurgan control. The fourth camp - Camp Zayin - rose up in an uprising in 4987, and the Kurgan burned the camp and decimated its inhabitants. That memory still hurts many of the exodite families who once called Revelation home.		I did not immediately cross the Gulf to the eastern side, held as it is by the Kurgan, but I will say what I know: several 'emirs', the Kurgan equivalent of counts, hold lands near the Holy City, while there are three remaining refugee camps under Kurgan control. The fourth camp - Camp Zayin - rose up in an uprising in 4987, and the Kurgan burned the camp and decimated its inhabitants. That memory still hurts many of the exodite families who once called Revelation home.

	Special note should be made of Tyche, however - this great city is at the southern mouth of the Gulf and is ruled by a Kurgan lord who calls himself the Caid of Tyche. The Caid only tenuously acknowledges the authority of the Kurgan leadership; a raider and pirate by trade, his city is the base none-the-less for much of the Kurgan sea power in the Gulf region. Tyche has a reputation as sort of a pirate's haven, and I had heard that many of the Kurgan mullahs wish to see a change of leadership in the city. Not too far off the coast from Tyche is the sunken St. Paulus' Port, which was once a floating starport built in the		Special note should be made of Tyche, however - this great city is at the southern mouth of the Gulf and is ruled by a Kurgan lord who calls himself the Caid of Tyche. The Caid only tenuously acknowledges the authority of the Kurgan leadership; a raider and pirate by trade, his city is the base none-the-less for much of the Kurgan sea power in the Gulf region. Tyche has a reputation as sort of a pirate's haven, and I had heard that many of the Kurgan mullahs wish to see a change of leadership in the city. Not too far off the coast from Tyche is the sunken St. Paulus' Port, which was once a floating starport built in the sea itself. A great storm sunk the port, and now it lies just beneath the surface about twenty miles off the coast. It is unsettled, however, and new storms sometimes cause its towers to rise above the sea; I have heard tell of intrepid explorers who have braved the towers in search of lost artifacts, and in fact have a mind to make such an expedition myself when this present great task is done.

	=== Revelation, the Holy City ===		=== Revelation, the Holy City ===