M-Birthright Thaumont 1005
by Aleksei AndrievskiLatest news from my PBeM...
The Poor Wizard's Newsletter
Southeastern Mystara
Thyatis
The Emperor was on vacation last month, apparently in the Pearl Islands, so nothing much has been happening.
Karameikos
Duke Stefan apparently had a hard time negotiating a deal with the Church of Traladara, as after the meeting he has not made a public appearance for several weeks.
Minrothad
Guildmaster Oran Meditor has announced that his court will no longer hold regular festivities and other expensive events. Despite some grumbling and complaining by the courtiers, the measure was passed. The Guildmaster also announced the opening of several sea trade routes this month. Currently, all trade routes are serviced by the Meditor Guild and their purpose is to exchange goods between the various islands of Minrothad. It is widely thought that the Guildmaster intends to open trade relations with foreign nations in the near future.
Ylaruam
Sultan Mohammed al-Kalim has increased spending in the emirates of Dythestenia and Nithia, providing better law enforcement in those provinces. He has also started to build a grand palace in his capital city.
Hattias
Our reporters have found out that the Count of Hattias has invested the control of the Death Storm of Thanatos to his lieutenant, high priest Fritz Hawerbaum. It will certainly allow the Count to utilise the temple more efficiently - which does not bode well for the neighbouring nations.
Southwestern Mystara
Sind/Hule
The Master of Hule has announced the investiture of his source holdings to the Black Rajah of Jaibul, one of his lieutenants. This event spells doom for all freedom fighters in Sind, for the Black Rajah is rumoured to be a mighty wizard who can hold his own even to the Princes of Glantri. The new owner of the sources will be able to utilise them much more efficiently than the Master.
Ierendi
Leethila Barburgh, an ambassador
from Ierendi, has gained the co- operation of the Five Shires in
both trade and military matters. Apparently, the hin were quite
impressed when Leethila showed up in the Shireton port with several
ships! In any case, Ierendi and Five Shires have opened trade
relations, as well as signed a military alliance.
King Palfrit has also announced his intention to improve the
economic status of his kingdom by creating a new trading post on
Safari Isle. The trading post is expected to bring good profits,
because Safari isle is a popular visitor site.
Atruaghin Clans
Nothing of note was heard from this area.
Central Mystara
Darokin
More new trade routes were announced last month by various merchant houses of Darokin. Also Chancellor Corwyn Mauntea has signed a trade alliance with Five Shires and Bear Clan of Atruaghin.
Alfheim
King Doriath was still not available for comment and his advisers said he was conducting important research.
Rockhome
King Everast has announced the formation of alliances with the nations of Ethengar and Soderfjord. This action creates a fairly strong block in the northeastern Mystara that should give pause to any hostile nations.
Five Shires
Warleader Jaervosz Dustyboots has ordered the expansion of Rollstone Keep in Eastshire. The small tower will be expanded into a larger fort, in order to house more soldiers and to ensure the security of the eastern border. Also, the Warleader has introduced his newest lieutenant, the well-known hin adventurer Joam Astlar, who will likely be put in charge of several army units.
Northeastern Mystara
Heldann
The Temple of Vanya sent a clear message last month that all trade in Heldann must be regulated by the temple. High Cleric Wulf von Klagendorf created several trade routes, both land and sea, within his realm. Apparently, hopes are low for other guilders seeking to do trade in that northern realm. One can only wonder why priests of an Immortal of conquest try to get their fingers into monetary pursuits.
Ethengar
Apparently, Moglai Khan had some
more trouble in the Land of Black Sand, as no word has been heard
of him in a while. Shamans say, however, that the Great Khan has
been communing with the Immortals and asking for guidance.
Meanwhile, a large horde of undead has suddenly appeared in Kiyats.
It is not yet known who controls it, but they look like big
trouble.
The Northern Reaches
Warleader Ragnar the Stout has sent
his representatives to discuss with other jarls in the area of
Haltford the possibility of a united Soderfjord, with him as its
king. After some debate (which involved drinking much mead), most
jarls (those who hadn't passed out yet) voted against the proposal,
saying that they "don't need no-one telling them what to do".
King Harald of Vestland has founded a small trading company in his
capital city, Norrvik in Sveamark. He said its purpose was to
provide better welfare to his people and to let other nations see
that Vestland intends to become a modern, civilised state.
King Hord Dark-Eye of Ostland was on holiday last month.
Apparently, it involved sailing to far-off shores, looting and
pillaging the coastal villages, bashing people on the head, and
drinking lots of alcohol afterwards. At least it meant a break for
Ostland's government officials (that is, thugs paid by the king to
rob people under the guise of "collecting taxes").
Northwestern Mystara
Glantri
Once again, Grand Master Etienne d'Ambreville and Prince Brannart McGregor clashed on a political level. This fight has not been successful for McGregor, who lost some control of his sources and law enforcement ability. On the other hand, some undead under McGregor's control have occupied the province of Klantyre, destroying the large temple of Rad in the town of Glenmoorloch.
Broken Lands
Ethengarian travellers reported that increasingly more orcish guards have been seen in Hobgobland. It appears that King Thar is tightening his grip on that rebellious province.
Shadow Elves
Nothing has been heard of the mysterious Shadow Elves. One wonders if they are merely a myth created by the elves of Alfheim.
Advertisements and Announcements
This section is reserved for various announcements that regents wish to make. Any regent can get his announcement posted to everyone.
Chandra ul-Nervi, former Rajadhiraja
of Sind, sends a plea for help: "Send all aid you can, for if I
should fall, the rest of the world will be next."
Master of Hule, conqueror of Sind, sends a message to all regents:
"Should any of you desire to submit to me as my vassals, your lives
and property will be spared. All others will be utterly destroyed.
Anyone giving any aid to the puny rebels within my country will be
marked as the first to die."
Annual Ratings
In Thaumont each year, we will be conducting an extensive research into the relative strength of various realms, temples, guild networks, and wizards. They will be rated mostly according to their domain power and military strength, and to a lesser extent the strength of their allies and the extravagance of their courts. We will then present the three most powerful domains in each category. Below are the results for the end of Thaumont, 1005 AC.
Most Powerful Countries (counting
all factors)
1.Thyatis, due to their huge population and large army.
2.Darokin - although their own power is not that big, they have
plenty of allies.
3.Sind, also due to their large population and notable army.
Runner- up: Minrothad
Realms With Most Personal Power
(counting only domain strength)
1.Thyatis
2.Sind
3.Minrothad
Runner-up: Darokin
Most Militaristic Realms
1.Hattias
2.Thyatis
3.Sind
Runner-up: Darokin
Most Popular Temples
1.Temples of Rad, largely due to the fact that it's run by one of
the most influential regents. How ironic that it's not really a
religious organisation...
2.Holy Temple of Bozdogan, again due to the power of its
regent.
3.Church of Minrothad, largely thanks to its alliance with the
powerful Meditor Guild.
Runner-up: Church of Darokin
Temples With Most Personal Power
1.Temples of Rad
2.Church of Darokin
3.Radiant Temple of Rafiel
Runner-up: Holy Temple of Bozdogan
Most Influential Guild Networks
1.Mauntea House, due to its large number of allies.
2.Meditor Guild, due to its large reach.
3.Umbarth House, also due to its large reach.
Runner-up: Linton House.
Guild Networks With Most Personal
Power
1.Meditor Guild
2.Umbarth House
3.Mauntea House
Runner-up: Merchants' Consortium
Most Influential Wizards
1.Etienne d'Ambreville, due to his overall power.
2.Magist Demetrion, somewhat due to his alliance with Thyatis.
3.Doriath of Alfheim, mostly because of the powerful magic sources
in Alfheim.
Runner-up: Oran Meditor
Most Personally Powerful Wizards
1.Doriath of Alfheim
2.Saru the Serpent
3.Magist Demetrion
Runner-up: Doge Kol, believe it or not
Most Skilled Wizards
This section isn't likely to change a lot, as the power of most
archmages is pretty established. Unless one of them dies, this list
will likely remain the same.
1.Etienne d'Ambreville. No other archmage comes even close to the
Grand Master's level of power.
2.Barimoor. The mysterious wizard of Ylaruam seems mighty
indeed.
3.This place is tied between Black Rajah, Brannart McGregor, Jaime
Honeycreeper, and Demetrion of Thyatis.