The Ashes of Rome (Map Game)

The year is 500 C.E., and the mighty Roman Empire has finally crumbled. Lying in its wake is its legacy state, the Byzantine Empire, occupying The Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia and Northeast Africa. It remains the most powerful European state, though its barbarian neighbors continue to threaten its prosperity. To the East is the mighty Sassanian Empire, centered in Persia, although its forces seem to be steadily encroaching on southeastern Europe.

In the former Western Roman Empire, several Gothic Kingdoms have formed and continue to grow in size and power. The Visigoths are situated mostly in Hispania, the Ostrogoths in Italy, the Franks and the Burgundians in Gaul, the Gepids in Dacia, and the Vandals in Northern Africa. Additionally, the Celtic people, long divided and hostile, have formed the Celtic League, modeled after the long-dead Roman Republic.

In addition to the centralized Kingdoms, Tribal groups of Germanic people are beginning to gain strength, though they are not quite yet unified. These groups include the Suebi, the Anglo-Saxons, the Jutes, the Danes, the Alemanni, the Lombards, and the Saxons. To the Northeast lie the Baltic and Slavic nomads, far from unification, and still living in territory untouched by any true nation states. In this tumultuous time, change is inevitable, but yet to be known is who will be lost to the sands of time, and who will emerge triumphant and mighty. (The chief difference in this ATL is that, as opposed to the OTL in which the Gothic kingdoms quickly fell, they have been effectively run, and are now actual, unified nations. They still suffer from countless internal problems, but less so.)

'''The game has officially begun. New players can still sign up.'''

Rules:

 * 1) New turns will begin every day at 22:00 UTC. I will begin each turn in bold, sometimes including pertinent details from the previous term.
 * 2) Each turn signifies five years. This will most likely change as the game approaches the current year.
 * 3) The map will be updated every turn (five years)
 * 4) Inactivity for over ten terms will cause your name to be removed from the nation you are playing. You may return whenever, however, you do not get priority, and if your country is taken, it’s taken.
 * 5) You may join the game whenever by putting your name on the nations list. You are allowed to join the turn immediately after signing up.
 * 6) Keep all actions plausible. Repeated infractions will cause you to be kicked from your nation, and possibly banned, depending on severity.
 * 7) Remember, your actions have consequences, invading territories, whether they were previously inhabited or not, will cause unrest. Keep in mind that when you invade another territory, its people will not immediately be converted to your language, culture, and religion.
 * 8) Be as specific as possible, especially when describing the invasion of another territory. If you are not specific as to location, the mapmaker will most likely not understand exactly what you intend to do.
 * 9) Meta gaming is strictly prohibited, and several offenses will result in a permanent ban.
 * 10) Keep the game and the talk page kind and mature. No major arguments, OOC.
 * 11) Do not edit the map unless you are a mapmaker. If you see any issues with the map, write about it on the talk page.
 * 12) You may randomly switch nations only once, after which you must wait until your nation is defeated to switch.
 * 13) New nations will be added periodically to both the map and the nations list, whether by historical emergence, or by secession. You, of course, may sign up for these whenever they become available.
 * 14) You are encouraged to make pages within this category for nations, coalitions, treaties, or whatever else you believe merits a separate page.
 * 15) In each turn, in addition to whatever actions you choose to perform, you may do one of the following:


 * Improve military.


 * Improve economy.


 * Improve infrastructure.


 * Declare war or seek peace with another nation.


 * Expand the nation into unsettled land. (It is imperative that you are plausible with this).

The Map

 * 510.pnger shades of a nation's color represent occupied territory, and darker shades represent client or satellite states.
 * I’m a decent mapmaker, though I’m certainly not the best. If anyone would like to be the full-time mapmaker, please apply on the Talk page, and be sure to provide me with some examples of your work.
 * The map will, of course, be changed as more of the world becomes explored.

Nations (Signup)
- Erizium (talk)

- Awesome history 28 (talk) 18:20, July 26, 2015 (UTC)

- Lord Afunnymouth The Visigrunge

- Tao64

- Spar

-

- Agent of Doom

- Wrto12

-

- --Sithlent (talk) 18:30, August 1, 2015 (UTC)

-

- Boone5Jones

-

- Shagga, Son of Dolf

-

-

- CheesyCheese (talk) 19:28, August 2, 2015 (UTC)

- –Alexander 17:26, August 2, 2015 (UTC)

500 C.E.
The game has begun.

'''Unrest occurs in the Byzantine provinces of Egypt and Africa. Many citizens of these provinces are calling for separation from the empire.'''

The Ostrogoths and Vandals continue to fight for control of Sicily.

The Suebi Tribes begin to raid trade routes in the Western Visigothic Kingdom.

'''The Gepids declare Byzantine Dalmatia rightfully part of their kingdom. The Byzantines do not acknowledge the claim.'''

Frankish: We invade the Visigothic kingdom, Burgundy and the Celtic League.

Anglo-Saxon Tribes: We begin to improve our military and recruit more willing men into our armies. We propose an alliance with the Frankish and Visigothic Kingdoms. Visigothic Kingdom: The Visigoths send a party of diplomats to both Burgundy and the Celts offering an alliance until the Frankish threat can be dealt with. Trade route security and road maintenance is improved, as well as an increased number of troop patrols passing through North Western Iberia. Spies are sent into the Byzantine provinces to investigate rumors of political unrest.
 * The Visigoths decline the offer and denounce the Anglo-Saxon involvement with the Franks.
 * Frank Dip: Accepts the offer.

The entire Visigothic Kingdom focuses on becoming tighter knit, with government control being more centralized. Artists and inventors are encouraged to spread their works across the lands, as the Visigothic empire aspires to replace Rome as the cultural epicenter of the world. Carnage and warfare become heavily glorified in Visigothic society. Arenas and fighting pits are created to satiate the people's growing blood lust. A call is put out for any and all Visigothic people to form a grand raiding party, not just soldiers are permitted, but any and all who show patriotism, an affinity for battle or simply have a burning hatred for outsiders. This raiding party is promoted heavily and gossip of it spreads throughout the land like wildfire. The Visigoths send a warning to the tribes of the Suebi, stating that any further action made against them would result in war.
 * Byzantine Dip: In exchange for increased trade, less border tension, and mutual benefits to both of our empires, we would be willing to renounce our claims to Italia should the Visigoths agree to our proposal.
 * Visigoth Salsa: The Visigoths believe you have mistaken them for the Ostrogoths.
 * Burgundy accepts the offer. 

Jute Tribes: Settlers travel north and settle in the southern tip of modern-day Norway, creating small villages and trading ports on the peninsula. (Picture a line from modern day Stavanger to Arendal, with all land below that being occupied by Jutes now).

Byzantine Empire: We give greater autonomy to Egypt and our African provinces, and start to federalize our large and unruly empire. We also offer to warm relations with the Persian Empire''', and offer them joint expansion into the Arabian Peninsula (MOD response if Persia doesn't post). We improve the economy and the military. '''We expand into Crimea, Arabia and Libya by ... 200 px (no expansion numbers were given). Persian Empire: We officially rename our empire the 'Persian Empire'. We begin expanding into Arabia. We also expand eastward toward India. Furthermore, we expand a little (50 pixels) into Russia. We expand 450 pixels in each direction (if not, suggest a measurement). We build our military and infrastructure. We begin building roads to connect such a large empire.
 * Persian Dip: We accept and start invading Arabia jointly with the Byzantine Empire. The pact will be called the 'Turkish-Persian Pact'.

Slavic Peoples: Migration toward the east begins, settling in territories farther to the east (taking what is now the Lviv Oblast and Zakarpattia Oblast)

Vandalic Kingdom: We recruit more native men to our armies, 90% of Vandals soldiers in the Vandalic army are demobilized and return to their homes due to being a minority on our kingdom and not wanting to get reduced even more, many lands and houses belonging to natives around Carthage are being given to Vandal people and many natives end up as their slaves. We make a attack using most of our army toward Palermo. Also, we offer to the Ostrogoths peace giving them Corsica for the rest of Sicily. We also expand 500 pixels into North Algeria without entering too inland into the desert and Moroccan Coasts.

Baltic Peoples: With the Slavic tribes approaching from the south, some Balts begin to fear they could become conquered and lose their territories. As a result, military recruiting increases. The Galindian clan, in Masuria, forms a plan to unite the Balts under their rule to protect their lands from invasions.

Celtic League: Begins to improve its economy and build up its military. Celtica accepts alliance offer from Visigothic Kingdom. The population of Celtica begins to grow slowly fast, adding 4000 people each year. Some farms and cities are upgraded and roads are improved.

Burgundy: Rallies its forces to fight against the Frankish invasion. As a result of the war, the king of Burgundy orders the mass recruitment to bring the army at a total of 7000 men. Weapons are produced to help fight the Franks, and cavalry is trained to help drive the Franks back.

505 C.E.
Unrest in the Southern Byzantine provinces has been completely quelled.

The Turkic-Persian Pact is enacted, and the two empires slowly begin to divide up Arabia.

'''The Franks make major gains in Celtic Brittany, and they gain complete control over the Channel Islands. They do, however, experience minor losses on the Burgundian and Visigothic Fronts.'''

The Vandals make slight gains in Sicily, oc

cupying most of its Southwest coast.

The Galindian clan gains power in the Baltic lands.

The Suebi tribes continue to raid Visigothic outposts.

The Gepids send small military units into Byzantine Dalmatia, and begin to besiege its smaller cities.

The Jutes begin to settle in Southern Norway.

Burgundy mounts an offensive against the Franks, using 1000 men in attempt to split the Frankish forces in half.

Alemanni Tribes: Chieftain Shagga Son of Dolf, joins every Alemanni tribe and clan, creating the first "Alemanni Confederation", a new expansion wave begins to fund new villages to unsettled lands to the east, while minor roads are created on not forested areas on the confederation, Shagga desires to use this next five years to improve the infrastructure of the Alemanni, by improving crops, roads and basic life conditions.

Anglo-Saxon Tribes: We finish recruiting soldiers into our standing military and declare war with the Celts by invading their territory in OTL Wales and Cornwall. We are now trying to build forts and walls that will be able us to protect our territory.

Frankish Kingdom: We are happy that the Anglo-Saxons have honored their alliance, and we aim to take all of Brittany. We try to regroup in the south and launch a major offensive.

Jute Tribes: The Jutes continue to travel into Norway and move further north (50 pixels or so) in search of more farming land. Other settlers begin to move east and create small, agriculture based settlements in Sweden, north of the Danish Tribes. Many Jute chieftains, noticing the actions and unification of other peoples, hold an assembly and create the "United Jutland Tribes" in which a new chieftain is selected every five years from the major tribes and every tribe has a say in the actions of the nation, though the chieftain can veto any decision and has the ultimate say. The first elected chieftain, being the choice of 19 out of 31 tribes, is Jarl of Aarhus.

Visigothic Kingdom: In immediate retaliation to the Suebi's increased hostilities, the Visigothic raiding party of rumors is armed and put to use for the first time being sent north to capture and enslave the Suebi people, burn their villages and annex their lands. Meanwhile, the Visigoths send some settlers and a battalion of soldiers across the Strait of Gibraltar, capturing and claiming the lands south for up to a hundred kilometers. The Visigoths formally apologize to the Vandals for expanding into lands they currently covet and hope for friendly relations in the future.

Animosity between the citizens of Visigoth and Ostrogoth begins to grow as their cultures struggle to differentiate themselves. To qualm this, the Visigothic empire officially declares itself to be the one true Gothic kingdom, and adjusts their name accordingly. '''The Visigothic Kingdom becomes known as "Regnum Visigothorum". '''This is done with hopes of unifying the kingdom even further and giving a sense of ancestral patriotism to the people. In an attempt to salvage relations with the nation in control of Italia, the Visigoths send a diplomat to the Ostrogothic Kingdom, commending their economics and warning them of the impending Frankish threat.

All of the lands of Iberia are claimed to be part of Regnum Visigothorum, the unsettled territory to the north however, is not taken by direct force. Instead, the Visigoths set up several farms, trading outposts, lumber mills, and mining camps, offering jobs to the natives and providing meals for their families. Several military outposts are set up, in hopes of training able bodied soldiers and incorporating them into the Visigothic army.

Following the successful relations formed with the Celts and the Burgunds, the Visigoths urge the two nations to form a similar relationship with one another. Considering the recent formation of the TPP, perhaps even a bad-ass nickname for this three-way alliance would be in order. To further support Celtic troops fighting the Frankish invasion, a few supply ships with weapons and food are sent to Brittany.

The brunt of the Visigothic army is sent to the Frankish front line. The Visigoths march in swarms, from south to north and then back down while pushing ever eastward. A diplomat is sent to the Alemanni Confederation in hopes of enlisting help in the current conflict. The Visigoths promise the Alemanni a swath of the Franks northeastern territories, as well as permanent embassy in their capitol in exchange for their support in the Franko-Gothic war.

Slavic People: The territory is divided between several principalities. As the Slavs continue to expand eastward, individual princes decide to improve infrastructure in their territories.

' ''Byzantine Empire: We begin to send in military units of our own, including our cataphracts and a few thousand swordsmen into Dalmatia, to enforce our sovereignty over the area against the Gepids. We also advise them to immediately cease all actions against Byzantium . We also expand 300 px farther into Crimea, 500 px linearly along the North African coast, 1000 px on the Arabian coast, and 500 px along the Nile. ''' Missionaries are sent into Byzantine Arabia while Jews are given greater say in society. Trade routes within the empire begin to flourish, as multiple new cities are founded in certain sites while others, such as Alexandria, Athens, Jerusalem, and Constantinople grow in prosperity. The military is improved.

Persian Empire: We continue our joint expansion with the Byzantine Empire into Arabia, slowly conquering them. We expand 1000 pixels into Arabia (that's what the Byzantine Empire is expanding). We expand 850 pixels eastwards, expanding towards India. We also expand 50 pixels into Russia. We build our military and infrastructure. We expand our army. We build hundreds of roads to connect the huge empire. We also begin expanding cities so people can live in houses, instead of somewhere else. People begin to get used to the name being changed to 'Persian Empire'.

Celtic League: Continues to improve its economy and build up its military. Celtica continues to the Celtic homeland from Frankish and Anglo-Saxon invaders, which 80,000 soldiers are defending. The population of Celtica continues to grow slowly fast, adding 4000 people each year. Some farms and cities are upgraded and roads are improved.

510 C.E
(I have decided to update the map every turn, as opposed to every five turns.) '''In the fringes of the Persian Empire, non-Persian ethnic groups begin to create tension. Many call for separation from the empire, and a few groups begin raiding Persian towns.'''

The TPP pushes farther into Arabia.

'''The War of Frankish Aggression continues. The Franks gain complete control over Brittany, however, the Burgunds and Visigoths begin to push into Frankish Territory.'''

The Celts make slight gains in Anglo-Saxon territory near Cornwall, however, the rest of the front remains stagnant.

The Byzantines push Gepid forces entirely out of Dalmatia.

The Vandals gain complete control over Sicily.

'''Tension grows between Baltic and Slavic tribes. Skirmishes between tribes occur in border areas.'''

'''The Visigoths gain about two thirds of the Suebi Tribes' territory. Many Suebi tribes, originally living peacefully in Visogothic Lusitania, are horrified by the treatment of their people, and start violent uprisings in their native territory.'''

The Visigothic puppet state of Vasconia is created in Northern Iberia.

Frankish Kingdom: With Brittany secured, we move all forces to the south and try to stop the enemy.

Vandalic Kingdom: Every capable non-Vandal man is recruited into the army and being trained and prepared for an invasion of the Italian Peninsula. We hire many mercenaries with the promise that they may take much loot from the Italian Peninsula. We build more ships and finally we invade the Italian Peninsula from Southern Italy capturing Crotone and we expand more into the non-settled areas of Morocco and Northern Algeria by 800 px. We also ask for an alliance with the Visigoths and will give them half the Ostrogothic kingdom if they help us in the war and give us the newly settled areas they have in Africa. We will also help them with their war against the Franks.

Jute Tribes: A new chieftain, Abelone of Hjorring, is selected, securing the vote of 24 out of 31 tribes. The official title for leader of Jutland becomes Jarl, in honor of the first leader, '''Jarl of Aarhus. Jarl Abelone '''expands the country southward ~100 pixels into the unclaimed territory to the southeast of Jutland and the settlements in Sweden north of the Danish Tribes are expanded eastward (perhaps looking something like this http://imgur.com/bZulA4S). Due to the maritime position of Jutland, the Jutes become skilled in shipbuilding and begin to travel out of their local water and trade with more empires, exporting fish and raw materials and becoming wealthier in the process.
 * Frank Dip: We offer an alliance, promising them the land they want.
 * Regnum Visigothorum (The Visigoths) Dip: The Visigoths eagerly support Vandalic control over Sicily and accept the alliance, but propose an additional condition: the Visigoths would like to maintain some control over the Strait and create a port city between our two empires in Northern Africa near the Strait of Gibraltar that could be used by both Empires, as well as a request for support from the Vandals in improving the Visigothic navy. In return The Visigoths offer the Vandals a large number of slave workers captured from the Suebi tribes, as well as the lands they want in Ostrogoth, and a promise to not push any farther into Africa for the foreseeable future.
 * The Vandalic Kingdom: The Vandals accept the first two terms but not to not expand into Africa. In return you may take Northern Italy as the Vandals are few in number and very populated areas could very well cripple the Kingdom. That's why we want to continue expanding into Northern African Coasts. If you leave us to settle Northern Africa Coasts we will help you conquer another country without taking any lands for ourselves.

Slavic Peoples: We continue expanding to the east and generally keep away from the Baltic peoples for now. Princes begin recruiting more men into their armies. They also encourage more expansion to the east to enlarge Slavic territory. Slav settlers take control of what is now the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Rivne Oblast, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ternopil Oblast, Chernivtsi Oblast, and the Zhytomyr Oblast.