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Empires, Trade, and Gold!
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<blockquote data-quote="kenjib" data-source="post: 77134" data-attributes="member: 530"><p>In a campaign I am working on right now the rise and fall of empire is determined by trade routes. There is an inland sea with a broad river as an outlet into the ocean. The Dorian Empire formed along the banks of this river as it controlled the vital bottleneck for sea trade lanes from the Central Kingdoms (around the inland sea) to the Southern Kingdoms. The wealth generated from this crucial geography formed the backbone of Dorian power.</p><p></p><p>Now, the Dorian Empire is in trouble. An alliance in the wild lands to the southeast threatens to open up overland trade routes that could previously never exist due to the lawlessness of the land. Because of this the Emperor has funneled large amounts of support, including both arms and soldiers, to Kirganital, a dangerous land ruled by factional warlords who do not want to see the centralization of power that would come about from the proposed alliance. Kirgan warriors are famed across the western lands for their strength, size, ferocity, and brutality. Their prowess is indeed so legendary that the Emperor's own primary personal bodyguard is an imposing, veteran, Kirgan. The Kirgans are one of the primary factions keeping the alliance from successfully forming, an act which would bring great economic benefit to the impoverished region (including Kirganital) as massive trade routes begin to form through the area.</p><p></p><p>Even the Dorian's traditional chokehold over sea trade is in trouble. A secessionist faction in Sorecia, a island vassal state of the Empire, has greatly grown in strength and numbers. Recently, a large portion of the Sorecian fleet (which had always been the backbone of the Empire's western fleet) has defected and joined the rebellion. They have taken to rampant piracy against Dorian merchants and have even been so bold as to launch a raid against an important coastal city on the Dorian mainland after drawing away the bulk of the navy in a decoy pursuit.</p><p></p><p>Compounding the effect of this piracy is a truce recently made between the the Sorecian rebels and the merchant kings of the inland sea whereby the merchant kings' vessels are granted immunity from piracy in exchange for their selling of arms to the rebellion. The rebels are, of course, using the booty of raids on mostly Dorian merchants to buy these arms. The emperor is furious and debating on a course of action against the merchant kings, but they are very powerful and have tremendous influence over the rest of the nations around the inland sea, making harsh reprisal against the merchant kings a very risky proposition (since them and their allies are vital trade partners for the Empire).</p><p></p><p>The emperor is just starting a massive crackdown against the rebellion, and has deployed a ruthless ambassador with liberal executive powers to stay with the Sorecian king to make sure that the goals of the Empire are met and the rebellion is destroyed. Armed contingents of Imperial troops have been stationed in the Sorecian capitol and many more soldiers are on the way for future deployment against the rebels across the Sorecian Isles.</p><p></p><p>The Sorecian king walks a fine line, complying with the ambassador for fear of the Empire, yet trying his best to subvert his demands in order to maintain the waning support of his people. He has yet to make a firm decision as to with which side his loyalties truly lie.</p><p></p><p>The Dorian Empire may soon find itself in a downward spiral as it's vital trade networks collapse, and it's outlying territories continue to secede. The fantastically opulent merchant kings, who live and die by sea trade, seem best poised to emerge as the western world's next great powers. This would signal a socially cataclysmic rise of the middle class and have tremendous repercussions throughout the world.</p><p></p><p>The Empire also holds several island colonies throughout the southern seas from which cheap labor and exotic goods are acquired. They are under no immediate threat but they are eyed jealously by some of the more powerful of the Southern Kingdoms.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="kenjib, post: 77134, member: 530"] In a campaign I am working on right now the rise and fall of empire is determined by trade routes. There is an inland sea with a broad river as an outlet into the ocean. The Dorian Empire formed along the banks of this river as it controlled the vital bottleneck for sea trade lanes from the Central Kingdoms (around the inland sea) to the Southern Kingdoms. The wealth generated from this crucial geography formed the backbone of Dorian power. Now, the Dorian Empire is in trouble. An alliance in the wild lands to the southeast threatens to open up overland trade routes that could previously never exist due to the lawlessness of the land. Because of this the Emperor has funneled large amounts of support, including both arms and soldiers, to Kirganital, a dangerous land ruled by factional warlords who do not want to see the centralization of power that would come about from the proposed alliance. Kirgan warriors are famed across the western lands for their strength, size, ferocity, and brutality. Their prowess is indeed so legendary that the Emperor's own primary personal bodyguard is an imposing, veteran, Kirgan. The Kirgans are one of the primary factions keeping the alliance from successfully forming, an act which would bring great economic benefit to the impoverished region (including Kirganital) as massive trade routes begin to form through the area. Even the Dorian's traditional chokehold over sea trade is in trouble. A secessionist faction in Sorecia, a island vassal state of the Empire, has greatly grown in strength and numbers. Recently, a large portion of the Sorecian fleet (which had always been the backbone of the Empire's western fleet) has defected and joined the rebellion. They have taken to rampant piracy against Dorian merchants and have even been so bold as to launch a raid against an important coastal city on the Dorian mainland after drawing away the bulk of the navy in a decoy pursuit. Compounding the effect of this piracy is a truce recently made between the the Sorecian rebels and the merchant kings of the inland sea whereby the merchant kings' vessels are granted immunity from piracy in exchange for their selling of arms to the rebellion. The rebels are, of course, using the booty of raids on mostly Dorian merchants to buy these arms. The emperor is furious and debating on a course of action against the merchant kings, but they are very powerful and have tremendous influence over the rest of the nations around the inland sea, making harsh reprisal against the merchant kings a very risky proposition (since them and their allies are vital trade partners for the Empire). The emperor is just starting a massive crackdown against the rebellion, and has deployed a ruthless ambassador with liberal executive powers to stay with the Sorecian king to make sure that the goals of the Empire are met and the rebellion is destroyed. Armed contingents of Imperial troops have been stationed in the Sorecian capitol and many more soldiers are on the way for future deployment against the rebels across the Sorecian Isles. The Sorecian king walks a fine line, complying with the ambassador for fear of the Empire, yet trying his best to subvert his demands in order to maintain the waning support of his people. He has yet to make a firm decision as to with which side his loyalties truly lie. The Dorian Empire may soon find itself in a downward spiral as it's vital trade networks collapse, and it's outlying territories continue to secede. The fantastically opulent merchant kings, who live and die by sea trade, seem best poised to emerge as the western world's next great powers. This would signal a socially cataclysmic rise of the middle class and have tremendous repercussions throughout the world. The Empire also holds several island colonies throughout the southern seas from which cheap labor and exotic goods are acquired. They are under no immediate threat but they are eyed jealously by some of the more powerful of the Southern Kingdoms. [/QUOTE]
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