NationStates Jolt Archive

The vast Eternal Golden Empire of the Ralish, now over a century into its unification as it presently stands, is lately beset by an increasing number of ills.

During the years of Kings Ralish II and III, the empire grew rich, ever more powerful, and enjoyed civil rights deemed Superb. Iron working began during the latter's rule, and in the early days of King Ralish IV's reign the technology became more widespread as trade boomed and the empire's coffers swelled still further.

The last two years have cast a still lengthening shadow over the empire's prestige. With the fourth King Ralish in failing health, the strains of administering an empire populated beyond all expectation have left their mark. King Ralish IV's court has come to deal with these strains by increasing taxes year on year, and with the last increase all subjects of the empire were expected for the first time to hand over more than half of their wealth to the empire, with a flat income tax rate resting at 51%.

Riots again shake Gerash, long the empire's most rebellious province, Tudkahal princes again gather private armies, the empire's assorted Celtic and Gothic tribes prove ever more difficult to control, placated only by generous wages furnished upon warriors willing to serve the Alshorian Guard in Azaria, capital of the empire. Slave revolts across the empire dare once more to cause local disruption, and the cost of raising armies against these and the Gershan rioters, as a deterrent to independently minded princes, and pacifier to restless barbarians, drives taxes ever higher, creating a vicious circle.

Civil rights have plummeted, previously considered superb, they are now clearly below average.

The proud empire has no answers to the growing chaos in its vast interior. Some Sutrah are suspected of plotting the king's death in the hopes that his son will prove a more decisive and competent ruler.

King Ralish IV dies! Long live King Ralish V, empror of Alshor!


The passing of long-ruling King Ralish IV has been ill explained -ah, that's it! He died of illness!- as the empire celebrates the progress made by his son.

Now-King Ralish V convinced his dying father to expel from the empire the expensive and troublesome province of Pyrenia -a harsh land peopled by stone-age barbarians. Thus some tax revenue noramlly applied to controlling savages was saved, and as King Ralish V came to power he was quick to cut those taxes, rather than to reapply the revenues. The people rejoiced at their increased wealth, and were glad to spend it quite frivolously. As the markets of Alshor bustled, wealth grew still further, and taxes, though lower in percent, were greater in volume. King Ralish V's second action as emperor was to secure the wages of the restless Alshorian Guard.

Taxes are down 18%, but the economy remains mighty. Civil rights are creeping back up, but the King remains all powerful. With their wages secured, and leadership strong, the Alshorian legions march forth anew to put-down rebellion in Gerash and amongst the Celtic and Gothic tribes, and the slaves that drive the economy. Pyrenia faces reintegration to the empire as four thousand Alshorian Guardsmen march under arms to the newly independent province.

All glory to the eternal golden empire!

Pyrenia

The Guards could take little more. This cold nothing threatened to consume them all. Building forts, waiting, freezing, straining their eyes in search of mountain-dwelling barbarians. Nothing! There was always nothing.

Still the better part of four thousand of the Eternal Golden Empire's finest warriors remained in its most far-flung and backwards province. Second only in cold to the ice-land of the Okolor. Some of the Guardsmen were four or even five hundred leagues from home. The far end of the world!

In all this time they'd killed less than five score Pyrenian warriors and it had cost the empire a massive tax increase. The granaries and barracks built along the way had by themselves driven taxes back up to the old high, and now keeping the families of the distant warriors and maintaining contact with the far off legion sent them to new levels.

King Ralish V faced the first stumbling block on his road to the empire's salvation, and he was four hundred and fifty leagues away in Azaria. What could he hope to do that might affect progress in Pyrenia?

Perhaps it was hopeless. That was what Sutrah Donid told his king. "Look to Alshor herself." He suggested. "Or over seas once again. Your grandfather always insisted the world continued beyond the great seas." Donid would despairingly add.

Ralish V seemed paralised with apprehension at what might lie beyond, and unwilling to touch anything at home lest it toppel over into rebellion once more.

Thousands of kilometers in the south- west of Ralish, at the coast of the great sea, Tyros lies, a city, wealthy, powerful, with countless colonies at the shores of the great sea.

It`s harbour is full of ships, mainly with ships owner by rich salesmen, men with contacts to many different places in the world...

One of them is organising a special expedition...

Four ships are prepared to bring the products of Tyros to the north, to the kingdoms along the dark sea north of the large sea Tyros borders.

He succeeded, and got permission from the city controlling entrance to this dark, unknown sea, to cross it, to explore it...

To explore new markets.

Many, many people he had to bribe, many people to convince...

But now, he was ready. Ready to leave the paradise that is Tyros, it`s large harbour, it`s beautiful gardens and tasteful houses, it`s large palaces, it´s people... Anything.

Today, they would start their journey.