updated version
Tidings from the Counties - November 1622

General

Large resources were sent to the far ends of the Kingdom approximately 1.5 years ago, and some have already brought back reports. It has been found that summer is much more pleasant time for travelling than winter, and therefore the future for sending preparatory convoys in most cases needs to be made as early as March (end of Tuesday, please ignore the game that shows wrong month names). If they are still in place by the November deadline (end of Saturday), they count towards the PRE.

Geography

There is no appreciable cartography talent in the Kingdom, so very rough explanations will need to suffice until situation improves. (This takes into account the info received in the latter part of this post.)

The following counties are to the North of CryptoTown:
North Face, believed to be the furthest north
Tavastia
Petrichor
Stonehaven.
Apart from the initial detachment sent back from the Duke's troops, no information from the far north has been obtained.

The following counties are to the West of CryptoTown:
New Liberty, a large area including an inland sea and many islands.

The following counties are to the East of CryptoTown:
(none - the area has been considered part of Rossiya)

The following counties are to the South of CryptoTown:
Ramsey
White Cross
Grass
Plath
At least they left the south route, but it is mostly unclear where the counties actually are located, because most traffic goes that way.

The following counties are believed to be further away as enclaves of Foreign Powers, at least until our borders expand:
Nassau
Armagnac
Forte Spagnolo
Rome

The following counties are in Korea, the homeland of Dr. Paul Choo (Prince of Soul)
Soul
Gangnam

The location and/or "getting there" of the following counties is mysterious
Arda
Neverland

No information is known of the following counties
OZ
CryptoLuna
Sarajas
Naoned
Savannah
Ghibli
Carabas


In the feedback reports, I will have to use short notation because it might get excessive, so please add the details yourself

New Liberty

As some guessed, the Duke himself had left early to prepare his land for the troops. He was in Stockholm and had met the King Gustaf Adolf personally as a (self-nominated but convincing) high representative of Crypto Kingdom. Due to his massive SCI spends he believes to know the geography and political situation rather well. Sweden is a rising power and HKM (His Royal Majesty) has been fighting many wars around the borders with less success but more experience. The area known as New Liberty is vast as the claim historically encompasses both the coasts of Östersjön, the west one the Swedes consider part of Sweden proper and they also claim the east one, including the islands, and "Tavastia, North Face and Ingria", so possibly the majority of Crypto Kingdom. The claims did not make the relations sour, the King was just wary because he needs allies to "preserve the religious freedom" if possible in the continent as well, since apparently the protestants there are bleeding.

The incident with the advancing Duke of NL Company happened simultaneously and unrelatedly based on previous orders. The company had been searching a port town (or a possibility to build one) when they encountered the Swedish regiment. The Swedes gained "victory" as they held ground while the Duke's forces continued northward, mapping the area and making finds.

OldDuchy

The situation in the town had become somewhat intense, so most of the troops were stationed there, from where they could be deployed easily to help the nobles in their efforts, and also protect the town from surprises. Only the Royal Second Company (90 BV) was mobilized in the spring with the objective of going to the road to Rossiya and find out their outpost, "just to check it out" with no high level diplomatic contact sought due to insufficient preparations. The Training Detachments were tasked to divide the land for the Manors, and the main force (312 BV in single command) stayed in the Citadel, making plans for its modernisation.

The secretly-much-hoped expedition to the East managed only a few days from where our settlements ended. There it met a Rossiyan outpost with a staunch attitude and despite gifts, the only real information that was received is that Rossiya starts there and foreign troops are not welcome. (Civilian contact with Rossiya has been mostly unregulated throughout history.)

White Cross

The troops have already sent back first-hand reports.

Stonehaven

The County of Stonehaven, as currently defined, encompasses the area north of TVA Duchy and until the Great River. The river flows very slowly to the west, yet is navigable. The Marquessate of Tavastia is the norther side. The county has a great plain that is by the river, and some sort of hills in the south (historically considered the northern border of the Old Duchy.

In two summers, a camp has been founded in a suitable spot by the river. The peasant population is a mix of Rossiyans, northerners and locals. The Swedes seem to sort of lord it over the area, and have a very efficient engineering corps effort ongoing. They did not let us spy the main camp which is to the east, meanwhile ours is in plain sight. Communication difficulties have prevented contact. We have not seen regular military.

Plath

The County of Plath is likely the furthest contiguous extent to the South where our forces are seen. The Earl has expended great SCI resources for mapping the situation there, but his army proved their ineffectiveness in the Battle of the Ambush, the first encounter in the Crypto Kingdom liberation wars with casualties (4 killed). The local population stayed content with so many of the trolls slain, with no feelings to either side. The local leader "boy-king" escaped so the encounter is a victory. The management is now ready to start Social Policies in the area (private consultation). Notable is that despite their numbers, both the management and the army are hugely ineffective.

Despite the distance, reaching Plath is comparatively easy - 4 months by a wagon-train, 2 months for foot soldiers and 1 on horseback (summer figures given). This is a very strategic outpost and the construction of a proper road there should be a priority.

The Earl lifted up his gaze and saw a foreign diplomat on the courtyard. Message was:

Good tidings from Castellan and Voivode Palczynski, the ruler of the area. We are happy to inform you that the Universal Catholic Faith reigns supreme in all of Polonia. Good to see that your Kingdom has not fallen to the heretics like that of our archenemy Gustaf Adolf! Join us in our crusade to restore the faith and burn their towns! In return we will recognize your claim not only to Plath but also to the coasts, and strengthen the trade routes.  For now, we consider HRH Prince Boguslaw ("the boy-king") to be the rightful lord here, so you should stop fighting between brothers in faith.

Ramsey

Saddam observes the preparations of the others. Many seem to be going to the end of the known world (which, of course, is true!) But, calculating once in his life, he thinks about where the big prize is. Land near the Capital can be brought to production more quickly, tolls charged to wayfarers, farms are safer from invaders... The closest such land lies immediately to the south from what has traditionally been the Old Duchy entrance. Because the land is near, the troops did not cause too much uproar, the peasants knew where they were from (and the 150 BV of course pacifies things just like it should).

Despite the smallness of SCI available, the administrative component of Saddam's force was large enough to find out that the land was indeed large, and clearly wealthier than the sparse Manors at home. But it had been ravaged by war in not too distant past - all the Manors had been burned down and valuables looted. There was no king in the land, so the dwellers had organized a militia system: each Manor holder "Chief" (it could be envisioned that some of the manors had been fledgling seats of counties due to the size) had a life guard of a few NCO, sometimes only 2. But in 24 hours, each of these can muster 10 men from the peasantry with farm weapons. This was readily presented to actually happen.

Saddam's headquarters is founded in a strategic place near what could-and-should-be the highway from Rome to CryptoTown, and he is entitled to starting social policies towards the peasantry (contact GM).

North Face

The well-equipped force of the Duke of North Face has met no resistance from the locals - if there even were any! The locals live a nomadic life drinking vodka (if they can get it) and only gather together to slaughter their animals. No foie gras is produced here, and very few VEG. "If only this god-forsaken place was closer, that meat would be of value!" The locals pay no attention to the preparations, and are apt to trade and cheat in the trading, but don't produce anything. Silver and copper have been sighted but none of the strange coins.

The only question is, what in the world are we doing here? Does it make sense to build a town here? Some rivers are flowing to the south but because of the orders received, the colony has been kept in a hedgehog formation without venturing outside. The locals tell that far in the north is a snowy mountain range that few can cross, far far in the north is an open sea, then a sea that is frozen all-year round, then it becomes warm again, and Ultima Thule is in the far north. The VOD and MUS enjoyed by the reciter of the tale may have contributed. Still, the question is whether to stand against Nature and go further north, or to south, or to home...

After a longish time of questioning around, trying to get the whereabouts of Louhi, the same envoy appeared. Discussion was, if possible, even shorter than last time: "I am watching you, like I have watched all the previous ones. I will contact you, if I want. In the way I want."

Social policies have become possible because of the PRE accumulated.

Grass

The land of Grass is pleasant grassland as far as the eye can see. The Kingdom troops had no difficulty surveying the land but the peasants acted reserved. Here also the ravages of war were seen, which posed a sad contrast to the agreeable nature. CAN production is very strong here with the locals enjoying their full quota. A local slipped that huge secret stashes abound in the land, and due to the war and the Church have amassed all silver, CAN was even used as a currency. Similar to in Ramsey, no definite overlord seemed to be exist.


Scientific advances possible and their benefits

10,000 SCI  -  Heavy (24-pound) Cannon (almost immobile) manufacturing and proper usage
~30,000 SCI  -  Borough-22 incl eg. continuous urban planning
~10,000 SCI  -  Cho-ko-nu an easy to manufacture and use weapon with higher rate of fire than muskets (req. expedition to get plans)
10,000 SCI  -  Printing press installation and training (incl machinery)
20,000 SCI  -  Muskets manufacturing without helps
~20,000 SCI  -  Seafaring 1: coastal and auxiliary navy and basic seaman training
~20,000 SCI  -  Seafaring 2: wooden ships with cannon, control of Östersjön
~20,000 SCI  -  Seafaring 3: blue seas navy (in theory at least)

The old post could not be found where this was promised, but the promise still exists in memory:

The Most Ancient and Worshipful Corporation of the Town Hall has made THS1 silver rings in 1585. They are now being gifted to characters whose char_id = 120 or higher, and who reach level L3.

Because it took so long time before their issuing started, the recipients of the initial batch were "leveled" as follows:

L14: 2
L13: 3
L9: 1
L6: 1
L4: 4
L3: 16

About 100 rings still exist!

I've drawn a sketch of the NewLiberty county based on the descriptions, along with the emplacement of the Swedes' camp. Of course, the information I'm working on is rather vague, so a lot could well change.

As the Swedes seem to claim dominion over North Face, Tavastia, and New Liberty, but not Petrichor, and that Petrichor is said to lie to the north of the Old Duchy, it seems lilkely that Petrichor is east of Stonehaven. Or maybe the information is too vague to draw conclusions yet.

http://imgur.com/ZXJ7V7I

The Catholic Church

https://i.imgur.com/Py7wy3s.png



It is time. A SPEcialist-2 has been sent sent via horseback to the edge of Plath on a diplomatic mission. He has but a single scroll and enough food for the journey. There is not much time. Much is happening in the lands of CK...

1623 dawns

The health challenge has been evaluated and a new one initialized. The coroner decided diplomatically to check all deaths in the beginning of the next year, so that they would get buried well in advance of the celebration year. Only promotions, Orders, honors, medals, and badges would then be announced - no deaths.

The expansion of the PC userbase has been good. The number of "characters initialized with health" has grown 50% during the time the health challenge has existed (about 8 years).

Also the preparations going on in each and everywhere, have boosted the economy greatly. In as little as 2 years, the CryptoTown rental market, originally facing death at 3,333 m rental dividend payout per share, is now 5,381 m/share, which will soon cause cultural buildings to be transferred back to rentals. Or more rentals built. This matter is a priority in King's plans, as are many other things, challengingly...

Lord James Daniel of Aaspere
Sir Crichton, Earl of Plath, Lord of Essu, etc
Lord Angus of Haljala
Cooper, Lord of Kunda
Red Erin, Lady of Pada

The manor lords are appointed (above) for a 2-year term. Please transfer the remainder of the gifts promised, as well as the rental amount, to account "1". This is a historical day. The guide to the role will be sent soon, possibly public in here, because the ingame communication is not yet that functional.

Instead of writing again about things that are too recent to have changed, I exhort everyone to take a large cup of coffee and read the thread with all the changes since Countryside, or actually the Title post.

After the recent halving, 2,941*RAF-1 exist! Now will start the active dividend phase with FOIE going to the ones remaining after the next halving..

Your Majesty,

The Church acknowledges that preparations have been slow.
Unfortunately, as you so well know, the absence of His Grace the Bishop left the Church without his spiritual guidance, and Lord Callixtus answered the Almighty's call recently.

I will pray for Lord Callixtus' wisdom to guide me, and endeavour to inventory the Church's armed forces and report to your Majesty as soon as practicable.

The Church's templars are always at your Majesty's service, for the greater glory of God.

Wow, the long shot was aimed true!

I've sent the money and meat - some was sold overnight, so you get part money/part meat. I think I lost 5000m somewhere in the calculation, so I'll send that remaining little change as soon as my S-VE1 gives me something I can sell - 5 VEG should do it

Congratulations. Number of applications corresponded to number of awards

Let us see what is the situation with the manors in 2 years. Do not make further preparations until the Royal survey of the location of manors etc is posted, hopefully during the month.

The Royal Survey of The Very Ancient Duchy

TVA Duchy ("OldDuchy") is the area where most of the game activities have historically been located. It existed in 1366 when HM The King was born, so its peerage is very old and may be titled "very ancient" (only pre-1400 things may do this).

When going directly to the north from the Old Town, there is some unhealthy and impassable land, even our B.4 belongs to this. To get to the north, it is advisable to make a detour around this, either way is possible. No road connection exists to the Manor of Kunda. The Manor is a familiar tavern for those wishing to travel northward, but other possible routes can be used as well, depending what the exact destination is. The area is forested and rugged especially to the north of Kunda.

When going to the east, as already mentioned, the road goes in a reasonably plain terrain to the Manor of Aaspere and in a much inferior condition towards the Rossiyan outpost. From there it is possible for well-intentioned civilians to go all the way to Moscow, although the road network in Rossiya is in a notorious shape. To the north of Aaspere, forest soon takes hold, but to the south, plains and agricultural lands continue, and a trail in a reasonable condition leads to the Manor of Pada. This is not the shortest route to reach Pada, however, but the only one traversible by cart or carriage. Light footmen who know the ground can take a shortcut directly to CryptoTown and save time.

The major road out of CryptoTown goes to the rough direction of south-southwest. The exit from the town has originally been the South Barbican (the old town is walled, you cannot just exit wherever you wish). Since the San Pietro was opened, it had become the first sighting of the travellers, but King has the plans to make the "Grand Entrance" go past the planned Château of Versailles in the same borough. For this reason, the roadworks start only a few miles away from town, and from there, a recently constructed road leads almost to the Manor of Essu, and is being continued with the annual PRE stone spends. The terrain in this way is easy to traverse so merchants can use multiple ways, with the new one of course taking priority for those having wheels.

The historical "Road to France" goes to the west through hilly and forested terrain. It is a track at most, yet has in the ancient times been capable to function as the preferred connection for the merchants of wines and such semi-heavy goods. New Liberty expedition took this road but was prevented from reaching the coast because of the Swedish garrison. It is believed a port, or even a town exists in the end of this road, which would make it plausible for merchants to take this route as most of the distance could be travelled by ship. The Manor of Haljala is located not far from CryptoTown and not exactly on the road either.

Further to the south, from Essu onwards, the terrain is more hospitable than the colder climate in the Old Duchy. Saddam's headquarters in Ramsey is currently located in a place somewhat on the north side of the lands claimed. Here his potent forces can monitor all legitimate traffic towards the capital. Surpassing them is easy of course due to the vastness of land - explaining the reason for avoiding the roads (if caught) is more difficult...

The trails actually start to become better in the southern edge of Ramsey ("south" is defined mostly as "towards Plath" not as actual south). The travel time from "Saddam HQ" to "roads again" is about equal to the time from CryptoTown to "Saddam HQ". From Plath there is not yet exact info but this lies somewhat further away from where the roads start.

Instructions to the Lords of the Historical Manors of OldDuchy

Congratulations for the appointment. As you know, the excessive haste of appointing you was because our Majesty is pressed on higher-level affairs. Use it to your advantage, and while doing so - remember the performance is evaluated after 2 years with the prudent continuing in the position!

The S-ME and S-VE2 production shares will be given to you latest when they will be needed. Vegetables are dividended in July-November in several batches. Meat comes in December in one batch. The preparations needed for a Manor are much in your own hands. We cannot give further guidance on the matter because of haste. Please contact the Councillors if unsure how HM typically wants his lands to be managed.


GM conventions on Time, Delays, Quests, Secret Messages and Such

The time conversion is as follows:
1. Today, 2016-1-18 is the January 1623;
2. The basic unit of time is the year (week of outside time), the year changes at the midnight following Sunday (UTC);
3. The year is divided to 7 months (days outside), each month is divided to 24 days (hours outside) and 6 days may be called a week.

The time is administered as a reasonable basis. Many things happen on an annual administration so that it basically does not matter when you acquire NPC for instance - their salary and production script is run every December anyway.

When the question is about transport times between the places in the "core empire" (areas listed in the beginning in this post, with the characteristics that CK military and administration reign supreme), time is calculated real-time from the thread post or PM to the GM. When sending supplies to the "colonies" (places outside our unquestioned military supremacy ie. every place except OldDuchy and Ramsey), the supplies are considered arrived after the GM-administered travel time, which might be years in case of places further away.

If there is an "encounter", an important storytelling event, whose result is changing the fortunes, and dependent on how the key players play the game, the GM calls the players to "play the event" with a tight deadline. The playing happens in the IRC channel usually. If one of the players is not reachable, the GM plays his role according to pre-knowledge of his likely objectives. Unless an encounter is secret, there will be a report in this thread, and hopefully soon in another dedicated media.

The GM is already giving Quests to characters. These involve participation in or even steering the historical events transpiring around us. Typically these are secret, so that it does not help the character in question to disclose the quest to the public, but rather try to navigate the events towards his desired outcome in the curtains. The Quest Medal is awarded (and the quest made public) when it is completed. Most quests have a deadline as well.

When Secret Messages are sent between the PC, it can be done whatever way without any administered delay. When Secret Messages are sent to Foreign Powers or their envoys (or similars), the Church message above shows how to disclose it. GM will take care about what happens to the messenger. Note: only important messages changing the fortunes of a Duchy or Kingdom, need to be disclosed like this. Trivial messages can travel their way according to the delays published.

The reports back from the far North reached the offices of the Duke and he was pleased to see the preparations continue at a nice pace although it is concerning that there is lack of resources discovered.  The Duke has assembled quite a force to prepare the area and discover resources (and is paying a handsome annual sum), but the distance and time has made organization of the operation very difficult.  Preparations will continue with the use of SCI and stone to establish an area where the nomadic can trade.

More horses and a Carriage are being dispatched to the region to allow for better scouting and longer distance trips by the SPEcialists employed.  The Duke's son Troy is traveling to the region to scout resources and people.  Troy's mission is to discover the sources of copper, silver, stone, and other unique resources in the area and he will command the NF troops to help.  In addition, another group of Specialists, Workers, and soldiers will be sent out to the river regions in an attempt to discover other producing population areas or bodies of water for trade routes.

No broad taxation policies are to be implemented at this stage in the counties operation.

Trading posts will be established for fair/safe trading administered by the Duke's forces.  These outposts will take a 10% fee of the trade for providing the safe trading posts to the local people.