Rise of Valyria - Total War
Rise of Valyria is a new project I’ve been working on for some time, the scenario is based on the rise of the Valyrian Freehold some 5,000-6,000 years before the events of game of thrones. Due to the hardcoded limits of MTW2, I have decided that it would be best to have the map based solely on Essos, the Summer Isles and Sothoryos with only the Far Eastern coast of Westeros being featured. The map is complete and spans from Asshai and the shadow lands in the east to storms end in the west and Sothoryos, Summer Isles in the south and Frosthold (Karhold) in the north. All the new factions have been implemented to the campaign along with their units, strat map models, agents etc etc. The only work left to be done for the first release is text work such as descriptions. Stay tuned!
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Some five thousand years ago, in the early days of Valyria, the Old Empire of Ghis dominated and controlled much of Essos. Its supremacy remains unchallenged with their legendary lock-step legions defeating every enemy they meet and taking many slaves..
Meanwhile on the Valyrian peninsula the humble shepherds known as Valyrians discover dragons in the fourteen flames. Valyrian stories claim that dragons originated in their lands, although tales from Asshai claim the beasts were brought to Valyria from the Shadow Lands. The Valyrians tamed the dragons with magic taught by a vanished people according to the Asshai'i and made the beasts into devastating weapons of war. With the aid of dragons, the Valyrians established the Valyrian Freehold and began their rise to power..
From the Shadow Lands in the far east of Essos to the Isle of Ibben in the Shivering Sea inhabited by the men of Ib and the Summer Islands and mysterious continent of Sothoryos in the far south many legendary kingdoms will rise and fall in the wars to come while peace is finally brokered in Westeros between the First Men and the Children of the Forest, the wars in Essos have only just begun..
Essos
Valyrian Freehold:
TBD
Ghiscari Empire:
TBD
City States of the Rhoynar:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The Rhoynar are a slim but intelligent people with olive toned skin, dark hair and dark eyes. The Rhoynar are an ancient people, having created city states along the river Rhoyne, using the body of water to trade between each other more easily than by foot. The Rhoynar have a long history of Alliance with the Andals, teaching them how to work iron in return for their trade. They also assisted the Andals in the elimination of the Hairy Men, ridding them from the Noyne.
The Rhoynar culture is perhaps the most egalitarian in the known world. The eldest child recieves inheritance regardless of gender, they tolerate homosexuality, and even tolerance of magick. The gods of the Rhoynar are based around the Rhoyne itself, the main god being the Mother Rhoyne, a representation of the Rhoyne itself. Other gods include the Old Man of the River, A god based on the giant turtles that live along the Rhoyne, and the Crab King, similarly based on the crabs that live along the Rhoyne. These two gods battle for control of life below the water of the Rhoyne. The city states of the Rhoyne are ruled by a prince or princess, and use canoes and boats to travel and trade across the Rhoyne.
The Rhoynar miliatary between the city states is incredibly versatile. The main body of the army uses iron weaponry, but also utilises water wizards. Water wizards work in groups, being able to flood entire cities and create waterspouts, Individually however these wizards can do little more than splash others with water.
The Rhoynar mostly trade spices between the cities, as well as trading iron and techniques with the Andals. However they have begun to say disturbing things, warnings of fire and blood from the South, that threatens to conquer the Rhoyne, and possibly the entire of Essos if left unchecked. Perhaps the waters of the Rhoyne will douse these flames, and perhaps the Rhoynar will take the areas these dragon-riders would have.
Kingdom of Andals:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The ancient history of the Andals is largely comprised of speculation, due to their history long being lost. What is known is that they were a strong, fair-haired people, that migrated from either Northern Essos or south of the Silver Sea, to establish Andalos in the northwest of Essos, and as far south as the Velvet Hills and the Flatlands. As they established themselves in these lands, they fought with the native tribesmen, known as the "Hairy Men", presumably ancestors of the Ibbenese. After the unicorn riding men had been defeated, Hugor of the Hill was visited by the seven aspects of God atop a mountain, and given a crown made of seven stars by The Father himself, and coronated the first king of the Andals. The Maid brought him a beautiful wife, The Mother gave her fertility, and The Crone has foreseen she will give birth to forty-four sons. The Warrior has given each an iron sword, and the Smith has gifted each a suit of iron armor. Lastly, it is said The Crone opened the door of death, and the first raven was unleashed into the world.
Throughout this time in the new kingdom of Andalos, the Andals have remained at peace, too far from the Equine-riders to the East to be endangered by them. The Andals have enjoyed co-operative relations with the Rhoynar, learning the arts of ironworking, and trading. The Andalos culture has developed rapidly as well, being one of the first in the world to bring iron armor into common use, and knights becoming a major part of Andal society.
Andal knights are clad in heavy iron armor, and are not unknown to ride cavalry into battle, armed with lances. Due to their advancements, the knights of the Seven are undoubtably some of the strongest in the entire world.
Despite their years of peace, the king has recieved one more vision from The Crone. She shows him fire and blood, warriors from the south riding dragons, and the destruction of the faith of the seven. He has two choices: the path of the stranger, to flee west from the dragon-riders, or the path of the warrior, to destroy the oncoming threat before they can destroy his people.
City of Norvos:
TBD
City of Qohor:
TBD
City States of Sarnor:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The kingdom of sarnor is a confederation of city-states, each with an individual king. The high king rules over these kings, with complete power in the kingdom, ruling from his throne in the capital of Sarnath.
The cities of Sarnor are commonly at war with Qarth and the Ghiscari empire, and are one of the few regions leading the charge against the Dothraki, unwilling to see their lands burnt and their gold stolen. Sarnori raiding parties are often sent into the Dothraki sea to eradicate any sign of the Horse riders before they can enter Sarnori lands.
The kingdom of Sarnor has grown wealthy after lucrative trade routes with Yi Ti, Asshai, Leng, Ibben, and the free cities. Ibben and Lorath are ancient allies of the Sarnori, working together to destroy the dothraki. Sarnor however, is the only kingdom of this alliance not rendered immune to Dothraki counterattack via a body of water.
The miliatary of Sarnor will fight to the death, and would slaughter their own women and children before allowing them to be captured.
Each city in Sarnor serves its own purpose. Kasath, known as the city of caravans, is the hub of trade for Sarnor. Mardosh, kthe city of soldiers, fields and trains the Sarnori miliatary. Sallosh, the city of scholars, is a hub of universities and libraries.
Sarnor fights to eliminate the less civilised surrounding lands, to bring law and order to the lawless, but perhaps the greatest enemy of the kings of SArnor is their own arrogance.
Kingdom of Ib
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The isle of Ib is located north of the mainland of essos, ruled over by the kingdom of Ibben. Ibben also owns several smaller islands in the bay of whales, and has several settlements on the mainland shore.
Ibben makes much of its wealth through trade, but traders rarely, if ever, come to Ib itself. Foreigners are restricted to just the ports, and are banned from entering any further into the island. Foreigners may venture inland at the invitation of a host who will look over them for their stay, but such exceptions to the law are few and far between, and such hosts will not be looked upon favorably by Ibbenese society.
The kingdom of Ibben is ruled over by a God-King, worshipped in temples as a pope, a monarch, and a representation of the god of the Ibbenese people himself. As such, Ibbenese society is incredibly strict, with even social customs being passed into law, and improper manners potentially being seen as a crime. Defiance of the law is a defiance of god himself, and punishments are often long and excruciating.
Ib is abundant in raw materials, such as ore from the mountains and animals from the forests. Ibben also makes large amounts of gold from hunting whales and seals for their oil. Virtually every major power in Essos trades resources with Ibben, despite the restrictions placed on foreigners. Dragons can also be found on the isle of Ib, though any Ibbenese people speaking to foreigners about such matters will likely find themselves never speaking again, after horrific mutilations in the name of their God-King, and exile to the island of Far Ib.
The Ibbenese miliatary is one of the most strict in the world, rivalled only by the unsullied of Slaver's Bay. Soldiers are taught to fight until the very end, and if they should fail to achieve the goals set by their commanders, to enact a scorched-earth policy, and to do as much damage to the opposing force as they possibly can before their lives are ended. Retreat from battle is met by death, and any deserters are mutilated, before being used as shields from enemy charges.
The God-King looks to extend his grip to the mainland of Essos, as well as the extermination of the uncivilised Dothraki and Jogos Nhai. In such matters they are aided by the kingdom of Sarnor, a wealthy, powerful kindom that could serve the God-King well, if he were to annex it.
Kingdom of Ifequevron
TBD
Pureborn of Qarth:
TBD
God-Emperor of Yi-Ti:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The empire of Yi Ti is the oldest, and largest in the known world. It has an eons long history, and power to match.
The land itself is covered in basilisk infested jungles, most of which was burnt thousands of years ago to make room for farmlands. The south of Yi Ti is a savannah, where wild zebras live and are often bred by the Jogos Nhai.
The history of Yi Ti spans two great eras, the Great Empire of the Dawn, and the Golden Empire. According to the scribes of Yin, The Great Empire of the Dawn span from the Jade Sea to the Shivering Sea, and also contained the Bone Mountains and the grey waste. The entire empire was ruled over by the God-On-Earth, the child of the Lion of Night and the Maiden made of light. It is said he had a hundred wives, and lived for ten thousand years before ascending to the stars to rejoin his parents. He was succeeded by his oldest son, the Pearl Emperor, who lived for a thousand years. He was succeeded by the Jade Emperor, Tourmaline Emperor, Onyx Emperor, Topaz Emperor, and the Opal Emperor. Each ruler lived for shorter amounts of time as humanity grew ever more greedy, corrupt, and lust-fuelled.
The Great Empire of the Dawn came to an end when the Amethyst Empress, daughter of the Opal Emperor, was chosen to ascend to the throne instead of her younger brother. It is said, that filled with jealousy and rage, he took a knife and slit her throat at her coronation, and proclaimed himself the Bloodstone Emperor in an event known as the Blood Betrayal. During the reign of the Bloodstone Emperor, he began ruling the empire through terror. Trade routes with Asshai were established, among other horrific dealings with the Shadow Lands that are only whispered by those with strong stomachs. During this time, necromancy and dark magicks were not only unbanned, but practiced by the Emperor himself. Most disrespectful of all, he banned the of the ancient Gods, destroyed their temples, and instead began worship of a black stone that had landed from the sky.
In Yi Tish mythology, the Blood Betrayal was what began the Long Night. Disgusted and saddened by the event, the Maiden Of Light turned her face away from humanity, and the Lion of Night created a winter lasting an entire generation to punish mankind for their corruption. During this time, the empire collapsed, and was only saved by a woman with a monkey's tail. While some historians now believe the event never truly happened, it is undeniable that Yi Ti has an ancient legacy.
After the Long Night, the Yi Ti have spent a long time rebuilding and restructuring the Empire into the Golden Empire. Now no longer related to the God-On-Earth, the Emperors go by color honorifics for their dynasties, such as the Scarlet, Grey, and Pearl White dynasties. The current dysnasty is of the Sea Green emperors, with God-Emperor Jar Har.
The Yi Tish people have returned to worshipping the Lion of Night, however the opposing religion, the Church of the Starry sept, is well and alive throughout Yi Ti and Essos as a whole, often performing sacrifices to the black rock, with the Bloodstone Emperor being seen as the first high priest.
Yi Ti is the wealthiest nation in the known world, having grown the majority of its wealth through trade and immense food production. The princes of Yi Ti are known to live in mansions of solid gold, and to eat sweetmeats with jades and pearls powdered onto them. Yi Ti trades rare spices such as saffron, and rare materials like silk and basilisk hides with the free cities and Sarnor. Yi Tish wines are also incredibly rare and expensive, collected by the richest traders of the Free Cities.
God-Emperor Jar Har faces a wealth of enemies from within and without. He wishes revenge against the Dothraki and Jogos Nhai for raiding his lands, against Leng and Qarth to expand his empire, and against Asshai for the Blood Betrayal.
Emperor of Great Moraqi:
TBD
God-Empress of Leng:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The island of Leng is a large island in the jade
sea, south of Essos.
Leng is rich in natural resources and wildlife,
such as forests and spices, as well as tigers and
great apes, some as intelligent as men and some
the size of giants. Zebras and monkeys are also
native to Leng.
For the majority of its ancient history, Leng has
been an isolationist nation, its inhabitants often
murdering any trespassers onto its shores. As a
result, the Island gained a reputation of being
native to demons and cannibals. After the long
night, Yi Tish merchants were able to trade with
Lengii natives for brief periods of time. During
this however, the god-empress of Leng believed she
was instructed by ancient, subterranean beings to
have the Yi Ti merchants currently on the island
hunted and killed. These events are have been
recorded several times, though this may simply be
anti-Lengii propaganda.
The ancient cities underneath the island's ground
are no myth however, ancient and colossal, the
cities and their architects are both revered and
feared by the Lengii people, with the madness they
inspire being seen as a kind of religious enlightenment.
Only the empress is permitted to venture deep
within these cities. Scarce little is known about
the god-empress herself, save for the fact her
face has never been seen. In stories told by Lengii
who have chosen to leave, or more accurately
escape the island's shores, the empress does not
age, and is rejuvenated every time she enters the
colossal obsidian cities. She covers her face with
a black stone mask, which she never removes.
The god-empress does not require any unnatural
ability to see how greedily the sea-green emperor
looks upon her sacred lands. She knows, that given
the opportunity, the blasphemous emperor would
defile the ancient customs of the Lengii, just as
his merchants would. The god-empress sees eyes of
the enemy wherever she turns, and blaspemous
thoughts in her subjects. Truly, the empress may
shed as much blood of her people as she does of
the enemy.
Shadow-Lord of Asshai:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:It is said nobody truly knows the founders of Asshai, not even the asshai' themselves. Perhaps however, mystery and secrets are themselves the foundations of asshai. Ancient myths tell the city was created at the same time as the world itself, and it will crumble to dust only when the world does.
As it stands, Asshai has by far the largest collection of knowledge gathered in the known world. Ancient tales of the long night, A hero with a flaming sword, and monsters that threatened to devour the land are held here, along with studies of shadows, the scribblings of madmen, and scriptures of horrible creatures, far older than those the hero of legend fought, their warnings long since merging with the sands of time. They also however, hold information on dragons, the likes of which have not been seen since, and may never be seen again.
Asshai itself is one of the wealthiest ports in all of essos, with merchants from all kingdoms trading here, silks and spices the likes of which are never seen anywhere else are traded hands here, along with the deadliest of poisons, and the foulest of magicks. Its wealth is matched only by its size, reportedly being capable of holding the entire cities of Oldtown, Volanits, and Qarth, within its walls with ample room to spare. Despite this however, the native Asshai' population are reclusive at best, spending their hours hiding, or perhaps, preparing.
The lands surrounding the city are barren and unforgiving, animals will always die within days of entering the province, and plants are unable to be grown, those that are, are inedible. The water is filled with an ash that glows green at night, and the fish that swim there are blind and deformed, such that only madmen and shadowbinders would dare eat their flesh.
The asshai' people are said to resemble corpses from the moment they are born, with dark grey skin and solemn faces. The Dothraki believe the people themselves are shadows made manifest, and would much sooner see them eradicated than look at them. Rumors tell there are no children in Asshai, and the natives wear cloaks, masks and veils to hide their faces. The upper echelons of Asshai' society ride in black metal palanquins on the backs of slaves, hidden behind thick, black curtains. Only shadowbinders dare to travel the provinces' rivers, or dare to visit Stygai, the corpse city.
Information on the city's miliatary is strictly controlled, even to the natives of Asshai. It is well known however, that honor is a concept wholly unknown to them. The only reason not to start or end a conflict that would ultimately benefit Asshai is foolishness. It should be no surprise then, that the Asshai miliatary truly excels in tactics considered abhorrent to the rest of the world. Their assassins, known as shadowbinders, are able to control shadow monsters to do their bidding, and can kill a target without even being in the same room as them. It is said some shadowbinders can summon even demons to do their bidding. Their soldiers care not for the lives of the enemy, innocent or otherwise.
The goals of the Asshai' are both simple and complex, to spread their society of freedom throughout the known world, to control all others through fear, violence, and slavery, and to cover the world in a haze of vengeance and shadow.
Beware what lurks in the shadows, glory to Asshai.
Shadow-Prince of the Hidden City:
TBD
Dread-Lord of the Bloodless-Men:
TBD
Zorse Lords of Zogos Nhai:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The Jogos Nhai are a short, disfigured people with yellow tinted skin, bowed legs, and large, pointed heads. The Jogos Nhai people bind the heads of newborns from birth to their 2nd nameday, and shave their heads except for a small strip of hair reaching from the tip of their skulls to their spine. Women customarily scrape all hair from their bodies.
The Jogos Nhai people are nomads, riding their zorses to create a new encampment whenever their current one becomes boring, or has outlived its usefulness, regardless if the land they desire is already inhabited. Their strange, iconic mounts are created from breeding horses with other equine animals from the southern provinces of Yi Ti. This produces the strong, capable beasts with striped skin that they ride into battle.
The Jogos Nhai organise themselves into small bands connected by blood. These bands are commanded by a jhat and a moonsinger, the former acting as a war chief, the latter acting as a nurse, priest, and judge. Gender is largely immaterial in Jogos Nhai society, simply that the jhats and moonsingers are capable of leading their bands.
The gods of the Moonsingers forbid the Jogos Nhai to spill the blood of other Jogos Nhai, unlike the Dothraki, however bands will often send raiders out to steal equines and horses from other bands, A religious practice during which the spilling of blood is strictly forbidden.
Despite largely being pacifists towards their own people, the Jogos Nhai are in a near perpetual state of war with all those they come into contact with. The Jhattar, jhats of jhats, lead their people into war. Legend has it some jhattar have even killed stone giants, making them truly the strongest of the Jogos Nhai.
War and pride is a way of life for the Jogos Nhai, with their greatest enemy being the Golden Empire of Yi Ti. Despite pride and honor being the core of Jogos Nhai society, they are known to have poisoned wells and rivers, burned towns and cities, and sold their prisoners into slavery.
Despite having seemingly been defeated several times by the YiTish empire, and jhats having sworn fealty to the empire, the Jogos Nhai people are a seemingly unending ocean of war against their enemies, quickly replenishing their numbers to fight again and again.
They fight to make the songs of their moonsingers become reality, and to destroy any that would dare restrict lands to their people.
Dothraki Horse Lords:
TBD
Far South
Princes of the Summer Islands:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:The Summer Isles are a large group of Islands South of Westeros and Essos. The largest of the islands are Walano, Omboru, and Jhala. The Smiling Sea divides the former two, while the Indigo straits divide the latter two.
The islands are home to a wide variety of creatures. Large rainforests and and white beaches make up the islands' landscapes, and are inhabited by animals such as panthers, red wolves, crocodiles, and tribes of apes such as the "silver pelts" and "night stalkers".
The natives of the summer isles are renowned as beautiful and intelligent, and as such are often sought after as slaves or whores. The natives possess a darker skin tone than that of Essosi, much the same as that of the people of Narth, and the Sothoryi people.
The people of the Summer Islands worship a huge pantheon of gods, the most popular among these people being the gods of love, beauty, and fertility. The cultural and religious core of the islands lies on Walano, known as Tall Trees town. In this city, priestesses of the gods carve tales and songs onto colossal, talking trees. They also carve their laws, draw maps, and write the commandments of their gods onto the trees.
In Summer Islander society, prostitution is seen as a respectable profession, even nobles practice such acts, and wine and orgy parties are used to celebrate the dead. The elderly are highly respected, and usually take up important positions within their faith, or the governments.
Each of the Islands is ruled by a prince or princess, with most islands having multiple people competing for the postition.
The miliatary of the Summer Islands is incredibly tribalistic, utilising mostly basic spears, wooden shields, and little or no armor. Instead however, they boast the greatest archers in the known world. Their bows have a longer range than any other, allowing their archers to be effectively used in naval warfare. They use bows made from dragonbone, and from the sacred goldenheart trees which only grow on the Summer Isles.
The islands have a wealth of resources to trade, from gemstones such as sapphires to pearls from the coasts, rare spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as even rarer spices, used in creations of poisons. Valuable woods such as mahogany, ebony, purpleheart, and pink ivory can also be found on the island, though the harvesting and sale of any goldenheart wood or goldenheart bows is strictly forbidden.
The Islands' greatest enemy are and always have been the slavers of Slaver's bay. They are determined to enslave the natives, to make them fight to the death for their own entertainment, tothem without their permission, and to seperate them from the gods they were birthed under. With new princes and princesses of the Islands, perhaps the time has come to free their people, and to spread their gods' influence throughout the foreign lands of Essos.
Peacekeeper's of Naath:
TBD
Chiefs of Sothoryos:
TBD
First-Men of Westeros
House Frost:
TBD
House Royce:
TBD
House Durrandon:
TBD
House Martell:
TBD
Credits:
WTW 1.0 team
Seether and Gigantus for allowing me to use material from their Rise of Three Kingdoms mod.
TATW: DaC for allowing me to use some of their unit models
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Originally Posted by Hazzard
