The Newlanders: A Collaborative History of the Nouveauterran Peninsula

[Nouveau]

This forum is a collaborative series between @Nouveau and  @Saint Mark to write about the shared history between the Commonwealth of Nouveauterra and the Principality of Saint Mark, from 890 AF to 1104 AF. Posts will be in semi-chronological order detailing the history between the two nations.

[Nouveau]

Part 1: Land Ahead

A teenage officer stretched his body out over the rail to gaze at the far away strip of green on the horizon. The sun is high in the sky, and the water is calm.
“Alert the captain,” he said, “Land dead ahead.” Marines and spare men came to the deck to see the green strip on the horizon. None of them could have conceived of what would take place in this place that would later be known as Nouveauterra.

Captain Markus Fredsbringer and his fleet of 20 armed merchant vessels make landfall on the shores of Testa Viridus, so named because the land looked like a green tortoise shell in the distance, in the year 890 AF. Fredsbringer is a captain of the Markan Seas Trade Company, following orders from Emperor Ignavus of the Principality of Saint Mark, to establish a statio on this coast. Although the intentions of the mission are peaceful, the merchant vessels are laden with cannon and arms in case privateers or pirates attempt an attack on their formation.

Captain Fredsbringer and his crew make landfall on the Southern Belt, at a point with dense and hardy monsoon-tested forest. They quickly establish a statio using the lumber from the nearby forest, and send back ships for supplies as well as to inform the MSTC of their success. Local people soon flock to see the sun-burned sailors in their guns and armor. Close behind them was a man in stately attire. Billowing white pants and a white shirt embellished with colored patterns, as well as tightly wrapped leather boots.

The stately man’s name is recorded as Bertus of Nederwald, and after many conversations with Captain Fredsbringer, they establish a trading relationship with the people of that area, called Blauflocke. As the two converse more, Captain Fredsbinger discovers that Blauflocke is only one of many small fiefdoms in this southern coastal area. The fiefdoms spawned from the density of the forest, and the natural choke-points created by the environment. It also means said trade deal only applies to Blauflocke.

Emperor Ignavus is pleased when news reaches the Principality with tales of success. He sends more vessels, and commissions scribes and learned men to go as well in order to record the culture.

A recovered map of the area from 917 AF, commissioned by Emperor Ignavus

and certified by Claudius Anguis, Chief of Operations in the Markan Seas Trade Company

The Principality of Saint Mark gathered enough influence and local manpower to reform the first statio in a place they call Traiectus in 902 AF. It is for the most part a fortress with a small clustering of buildings nearby, but it will grow into a vibrant city of Gué in the far future. It will stand as a marker for the kind of influence Saint Mark will have on the region. Guns, and armor.
A second expedition is sent out, and lands further north than the first group. They similarly have an easy time establishing good relations with the locals, and quickly aid them in founding the statio of Montes Magnos in 915 AF, which would later be known as Pointe-d’Espoir.

These two outposts work as crucial logistical and military nodes for the Saint Markan empire, and will be the linchpin for future expansion.

[Nouveau]

Part 2: Tall Palms

Emperor Tenebrosus stood with his fists on his hips as he stared at the enormous map table before him. He took up a miniature figure of a soldier with a rifle, and placed it on a blank part of the map. His advisers look up at him with some confusion.

“War, Emperor?” an advisor said.

“Absolutely,” Emperor Tenebrosus said. “If the reports are true, there is wealth in those fields. Cut out the salesman, and get the sale for ourselves, so to speak.”

“Who shall perform the fighting?” the same adviser asked.

“The Company of course. We can’t spread ourselves too thin.”

The Principality of Saint Mark controlled a burgeoning coastal trading kingdom in Nouveauterra by 929 AF through the Markan Seas Trade Company. The Principality garnered a great deal of wealth in the form of foods, spices, stimulants, and psychedelics. It also had the two major statios of Traiectus and Montes Magnos, as well as many local allies. Emperor Tenebrosus wanted more wealth from this trading venture, and gave the MSTC an expanded mandate: exert direct control over the coast and the interior.

Captain Andreosus Mylopopos, commissioned in 928 AF, painted by Aelos Volpes

Captain Andreosus, a skilled land and sea fighter for the MSTC, was elevated to the position of Field Marshall, and assigned a retinue of nearly 1000 soldiers in order to complete the task of exerting more control in the region. However, 1000 soldiers was a far cry from even conservative estimates of the required forces. The Emperor wanted thousands upon thousands of miles of jungle, grasslands, and mountain holds under his control. Captain Andreosus began his duties by talking to the locals.

The locals of the southern coast were once a part of a Peombroek Confederacy, but the idea fell apart due to apathetic leadership and poor finances. Captain Andreosus took this concept and sold it to the locals once again. With Imperial financial backing, he could easily convince local leaders that their old confederacy would have legs this time.

Captain Andreosus gathered together his retinue, local lords, and interested people in the Long House in Aelebach, a short hike beyond the walls of the Montes Magnos statio. The men drew lines on ball and stick maps, and talked numbers in nearly four languages. The men raised their weapons to the air, and shouted AYE in affirmation of the crafted deal after a week's worth of discussion. That shout gave birth to the Aelebach Federation, the nail to Captain Andreosus’ hammer.

Captain Andreosus, with the backing of his Aelebach Federation, began to sweep the southern coast and the interior in 930 AF. The Federation contained 1000 trained men-at-arms from the Markan Imperium, 8,000 skirmishers and shock troops known as langeschnäbel, and 2,000 men at the ready from local militias.

Markan warfare in the 900s evolved to suit a tropical environment. Combat was performed in loose bulbi, blended units consisting of gunners, halberds, swordsmen, and sometimes even grenadiers. (In order from left to right, a recreation of a 10th century hand-gun, a recreation of a 10th century Markan mercenary sword, and a museum recreation of a 10th century Markan royal halberd, however simplified halberds were more common in the MSTC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulbi were flexible and could quickly move through the forest in loose formation, assembling together for a strike in a moment’s notice. The blend of long and short range attack meant a bulbo could cause havoc to whoever it came across.

Armor commonly seen on veteran Markan fighters

Armor was light, only a helmet, and a breastplate. Some soldiers specializing in close fighting bought steel chaps to protect their legs, however some abandoned armor altogether, such as gunners or lieutenant message runners.

Captain Andreosus’ army was composed mostly of this bulbi style, while soldiers of the Aelebach fought in skirmishing formation, blending long distance gunnery and archery together with intermittent close range fighting.

Fighting would come in the form of skirmishes for nearly 22 years. Clan or local officials would often capitulate upon seeing Captain Andreosus’ force, however disgruntled or opposed locals would skirmish with the force until they were forced to retreat or died. It took reaching the grasslands in 951 for the Markans to encounter a formidable hostile force, the Neberseck and the Langbord Confederacy.

[Nouveau]

Part 3: The Grasslands

Flags and banners flew high above the Wildelande as two masses of men and might stood opposed to one another. Breastplate and arms shone in the morning light. Men took short breaths in anticipation, kissing small talismans around their necks, and lighting slow wicks for their guns.

“Just as we planned,” Captain Leyus said. “My men will hold the center. Bertol, Garek, you two will go into the long grasses and attack them from the sides and behind. You must move fast yet quietly. Attack only when you see the backs of their heads.”

The Principality of Saint Mark had been expanding its influence in the Nouveauterran southern coast since 930 AF, however it hadn’t faced a unified force. They would encounter their main adversary for the rest of War in 951. The Langbord Confederacy, headed by the Neberseck. The Confederacy was made of a number of villages, fiefdoms, clan democracies, and semi-nomadic peoples in the grasslands beyond the monsoon ridden coast. This area, often called The Buckle, is a grassland with rich soil and plentiful rainfall, making it easy to live in, but also easy to invade.

It was around this time that Markans wrote a number of ethnographic documents. Paired with archeology, and modern cultural anthropology, we can look at the cultural groups present in the Nouveauterran peninsula during the 900s. 

A historical artistic representation of the Xenoxeno, the "aliens of the alien land." Based on sociological evidence, this group of people came from a migratory era that predates the common Del Ghuldin population encountered by Markans in the 900s. Many Xenoxeno exist today, with cultural festivals and holidays celebrated by their descendants. There's a movement to have their common government name changed to Danav, meaning "of the sea." This name is more commonly used among the descendants.

The common language of the Xenoxeno, Dhuku, is most closely related to pre-Bronze age Darkesian-like languages. The Xenoxeno, often nomadic, were some of the last to integrate into Markan, and eventually Nouveauterran society.

 

 

 

A historical artistic representation of the Neberseck. Neberseck referred to both people within the official clan systems of the Neberseck, and their subjects. They are a subsection of the Del Ghuldin linguistic-cultural group, and the dominant culture seen in The Buckle during the 900s. Their direct descendants are recognized by the current Nouveauterran government as Viellegulderriene, or Old Guldurian.

 

 

 

A historical artistic representation of the Sudermak. This cultural group present on the southern side of the peninsula was formed from itinerant populations of Min-su and Gulderian peoples who co-mingled for some time. This cultural grouping disappeared as Markan influence grew in the area, and its said that the clamping down on piratical sea people by the Markans caused the main economic engine for this group's existence to disappear. Only sparse archeological remnants exist for this group, however they're often referenced in writings from established people groups.

 

 

 

 

A historical artistic representation of 10th century southern Del Ghuldin cultural members, known as Sulghuldin This group formed as a result of northern Del Ghuldin peoples who migrated south and encountered pre-existing inhabitants who were related to the Xenoxeno, another people group who had migrated to the peninsula in the 4th century BF. This cultural mixing created a group with both ancient Darkesian, and Dul Ghuldin language markers and structures. They were the dominant cultural group throughout the Nouveauterran peninsula in the 900s, and quickly integrated into the encroaching Markan culture.

 

 

The Langbord Confederacy was formed with the purpose of protecting the area from mountain marauders and raiders from the jungle. The leading party of the Confederacy was the Neberseck, a massive democratic city at the heart of The Buckle. It had plentiful farming areas, and access to the Bron, a river that went from the mountains all the way to the coast. The Langbord in the Langbord Confederacy came from the area where Neberseck had settled.

When the Confederacy heard of the spread of the Aelebach Federation, they began preparing their people for warfare. The Confederacy assembled many soldiers by the year 951, and when the Markans struck out from the forest, they were met with fierce resistance. The first decisive engagement at Goete von Bron in 949 led to a Markan defeat. Captain Andreosus, who had formed the Aelebach Federation in the first place, had died in 946 of black foot disease, now known as gangrene. A series of captains would be run through by the MSTC, with incompetence or lack of experience plaguing the army, as well as many defeats.

Captain Leyus Florius, often referred to as Captain Leyus, was new to the MSTC Captain’s Corps, was assigned to lead the warfront in the Nouveauterran heartland. Captain Leyus had been brought on without much hope for success, as the MSTC expected that it would take a long stretch of attrition to defeat The Confederacy. To the leadership it didn't matter if it was a brilliant captain, or a disaster-case, just a warm body was enough.

Captain Leyus began his tenure by observing the Langbord Confederacy in combat with other peoples. He noticed that the Langbords utilized highly organized blocks of soldiers with long spears and guns. This was only possible because The Buckle’s terrain of flat land or rolling hills without many trees, and only sparse streams and rivers. This allowed for large formations to move together without many impediments. The combination of many gunners, and pikes to defend them from melee attack meant they could rain lead on the heads of anyone, and go toe to toe with ease.

Captain Leyus, upon learning of these tactics, began changing the structure of his army and that of the Aelebach Federation. Swordsmen were given long pikes, and many men were equipped in full body armor. Members of the Federation were equipped solely with long range weapons, and drilled on shooting as groups. Markans were used to more fluid combat, but they were able to adapt to fighting as in formations because of prior high discipline. Bulbi became the way to reference one-eigth of a large formation, while a bulbo was the new way of referencing a large block of soldiers, either gunners or melee fighters. By the end of Leyus’ rapid reforms, the army had evolved to fight like the Langbords except for one exception. Leyus’ and the Aelebach gunners were formed into independent units, able to move on their own to shooting positions.

The first battle with this reformed army was at Grenkrümmen in 953

Captain Leyus stood his pikemen at the edge of the forest. The Langbord Confederacy’s 3rd Army was stationed in the field, facing the forest. Two Aelebach captains, only known now as Bertol and Garek, moved their masses of gunners to the flanks utilizing high grasses. The Langbords marched forward with spears lowered and guns firing. Captain Leyus gave orders to his men to crouch down, with spears and halberds still pointed out to the enemy. The gunners, numbering in the thousands, gather along the sides of the Langbord army, creating a crescent around the Langbord army. The Markans made contact with the Langbords. The Aelebach opened fire. Blankets of lead tore apart the Langbords, driving them to rout.

Captain Leyus and the Aelebach would utilize this tactic to great effect for the next year, at the battles of Mäuseloch, Kleinerbeken, and Dunkelgrün, without much response from the Langbords. By the end of 955, two years later, the Langbord was severely weakened, and many constituent nations capitulated. The Langbord officially surrendered in the winter of 955, and the surrendering nations were spared the sword. However, they were forced to pay steep war debts for the next 80 years.

Edited April 20 by Nouveau
Corrected language to Sulghuldin to fit overall language structure