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  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  S O U T H E R N  L E I I H I E B O O H  F 
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  ”Things must change.” Gazing from the dizzqing heights of the Spire. the highest 
  and most regal point in all Strathclqde. His Supreme Eminence Oliver Masao. Patri- 
  I 
  arch of the Eastern Sun Emirates. was tired. 
  Indeed. too much blood had been spilled in his name. and the sorrow of it all was 
  overwhelming The Masao name was now spat upon bq his own people, even his 
  Own sister. The Free Emirates. glorious and despicable in their defiance. stood as 
  proof Positive that his Own rule would end in flames. But there was hope for the 
  future. one rebel who held the secret to redemption for the name of Masao. He 
  simplq needed to be told Hope returning to his heart, the Patriarch stepped awaq 
  from the window. 
  The crouched slave whose bach he had been standing upon remained silent, de- 
  spite his aching muscles. 
  from the most extravagant Palaces on Terra Nova to the most dangerous gngies. the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates is a land of manu contrasts. This leaguebook gives Heavq Gear Plaqers and Gamemasfers 
  complete information on the most beautiful. and most brutal. of Terranovan nations As uar rages 
  across the planet. some emirs rebelagalnst the mad Patriarch. and in so doing theq hold thedestinu 
  of their entire Planet in their hands Against a backdrop Dfexcess. revolution and blood-sports. the 
  future of Terra Nova is being written 
  The ESEleaouehooh includes 
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  A complete historq of the Eastern Sun Emirates 
  t 
  aetails on Emirate feudalismand theverq different outloohsofall threecastes 
  1- 
  Information on the unique and mqstical Eastern outlook on Earth 
  ,- 
  Prows on allmalor emirs. including Coth louaiists and rebels 
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  9 781896 776491 
  ISBN 1-896776-49-3 
  Printed In Canada 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  CHAPTER 1: INTROOUCTIOW ............................................. 
  4 . 
  1.1 
  AtAlOOfNAMOlL ............................................................. 
  S 
  1.1.1 EOlTEWlS .................................................................... 
  S 
  . . . 3.2 
  CHAPTER 2: LEAGUE OVERVIEW ...................................... 
  6 
  21 
  GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................ 
  1 . 
  21.1 THE MOUWTAIWS 
  .......................... 
  1 . 
  2.1.2 THE OHAVANGO SHRNPS ........................... 
  8
  .
   
  21.3 THE EASTEAN PlAll .................................................... 
  8 . 3.3 
  2.14THE IWTEAIOR ................. 
  . 
  ...... 
  2.2.2 THE fOAM116 Of ME ESE 
  . 2.3 
  2.2.3 THE SOUMEAN HAA AI0 ME AST ............................... 
  10 
  2.2.4 EYClES Of OECAOElEE ............................................. 
  13 
  2.2.5 AEBElLlOW ............................... 
  2.2.6 PnEtuoE AID MA .................................................... 
  14 
  I. 
  111"11"-11 
  1. 
  3.1.5 GOVEA!!Ernl 
  llSrmm0NS ................................... 
  20 
  31.6 EMIAATE RfTllUES ....................... 
  ......... 20 
  ME LOYAL EIIRRTES ......................................................... 
  21 
  ..................................... 
  22 
  3.2.2 GnvniEt mnHo ............................... 
  __.. 
  24 
  3.2.1 SIAARWO BAAJHRl ................................................... 
  25 
  3.2.5 AWUAlnR HHAJAA ................................. 
  ME FAEE EMlAATES .......................................................... 
  28 
  3.3.1 THE EHRMBEA ........... 
  ........................ 
  28 
  3.3.2 16E1 SHIAOH ............................................ 
  5.3.1 nnnnnn BonsH ........................................................ 
  30 
  ~ J . I  
  inuuainr .................................................................. 
  13 . 
  . 
  2.3.2 AGAICULNAE. TRAOE AI0 MUAlS! .......................... 
  IS : 
  . E H A P ~ ~  
  3: imnt PotmEs ........................................................ 
  16 . 
  . 3.1 
  EHIAATE AUORLlSM .......................................................... 
  II : . 
  I 
  CHAPTER 4: FOREIGN RELATIONS .................................. 
  32 
  41 
  ME 
  ........................................................... 
  33 
  4.1.1 
  4.1.2 THE SOUTHEAN AEPUBUE .......................................... 
  34 
  41.3 ME HEHOW6 OONlWlOW ............................................. 
  34 
  4.2 
  MEionM ................................................ 
  .35 
  4.21 THE lOATHEAN LIGHTS CONROERACY ........................ 
  35 
  4.2.2 THE UNITE0 IfRERWnlE fEOEAATlOW ....................... 
  36 
  4.2.3 THE HESTERN FAOllllEA PAOTEETOARTE .................... 
  36 
  I,? 
  """,I.,"" 
  .. 
  4.3 
  int unutnnua .................................................................. 
  $1 
  .......................................................... 
  . 
  31.1 THE SHRJHRlll 
  1I 
  . -. 
  --"A* "I..I 
  .. 
  3.1.2 THE SOLICITOR kASS 
  18 
  4.a.i rtnct nivtn ............................................................. 
  JI 
  4.3.2 OTHER OESEAT WYAS ............................................ 
  31 
  31.3 THE EMIRS ................................................................ 
  19 
  ................................................ 
  . 
  . 
  3.1.4 THE PATAIAACH .......................................................... 
  19 . 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  5.4 
  5.5 
  5.6 
  5.7 
  5.a 
  5.9 
  5.10 
  511 
  5.12 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  "Charlie-Four, confirmed, roger-out." 
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  The rounds made hollow clicking sounds as they entered the magazine, the echo swallowed by the hot humid night. 
  light drifted i n  through a window, illuminating the small briefing room. Charts and maps of Basal and the latest 
  Southern push into the Free Emirates covered the wall under the banner of the MILICIA's 3rd Brigade. Caporal Lindo 
  Spence crouched on the floor i n  a shadowy corner, his uniform stained with blood, an l l m m  pistol i n  his hands. 
  Click. Another round locked into the magazine. 
  It had been three cycles since Spence had arrived in the ESE with the MILICIA's 3rd Brigade. Three cycles of being 
  caught i n  the center of a bloody civil war with no end i n  sight. He had never stopped cursing his transfer from Hsi 
  Tsang. These days, Spence was a shadow of his former self. In and out of psychiatric care, Spence's career had h i t  
  rock bottom: during the last offensive i n  Okavango he snapped, and was placed under arrest. 
  Click. Outside, the base was quiet, a Gear on patrol passed by the command post of the 7th compagnie - the 
  rhythm of i t s  steps vibrated through the ground, taking Spence back into his memories, into his nightmares ... 
  "Echo-Two, Echo-Two, this i s  Charlie-Four you are clear to proceed - 
  over." 
  Spence and his infantry escouade were on patrol, deep within the burnt-out graveyard that Basal's suburbs had 
  become. He'd only been "in-country" for a little over a season. About 200 meters i n  front, a dozen refugees were 
  camped out for the night. Spence's escouade was supposed t o  contact any non-combatants and escort them back to 
  one of the refugee camps. A simple task. 
  A t  about 150 meters, Spence had his escouade fan out and take up covering positions as he and his second-in- 
  command, Caporal Joan, approached the refugees. Five adults and seven children, their faces contorted with fear 
  and grief. Joan explained the situation to their leader, a boy no more than 18 cycles old and very nervous. The 
  leader refused, knowing that going to the camps was nothing more than a death sentence. Spence had seen the 
  atrocities committed by Masao's men and wanted nothing more than t o  turn around and leave the refugees alone. 
  A small boy came running out from one of the tents, throwing himself at Joan's leg, calling for his mother. I n  the 
  confusion the refugee leader reached into his cloak and pulled out a pistol. Spence stood still as a round ripped 
  Joan's head apart. From behind him, the night erupted i n  fire. 
  His escouade opened up and Spence dove for cover. His hands covered his head, trying to silence the screams and 
  to wipe Joan's blood off his face. The body of the leader lay slumped on the ground i n  front of Spence - 
  dead. The 
  little boy stood i n  the center, perfectly still, crying. For a second the young boy and Spence locked eyes; the child's 
  small body was racked by gunfire. A l l  he could hear was crying and screaming ... 
  Click. Spence loaded the final round. He thought of Joan and the little boy: he wondered what his father was up to 
  Marabou, and where his old offlcer, Commandant Cyr, had gotten to. Spence's reveries drowned out the sound of 
  the door being kicked open as MPs rushed into the room. Spence lifted his pistol and took aim. 
  A l l  he wanted to do was to drown out the screams. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates Leaguebook opens the doors to one of Terra Nova's most misunder- 
  stood and oft ignored leagues. For centuries, the ESE was a league delegated t o  the backwaters 
  of Southern politics, viewed by many as nothing more than a primitive throwback and a lackey- 
  state of the Southern Republic. For as long as people on Terra Nova can remember, the Emirates 
  has been dominated by the decadent whims of a spoiled upper-class that exacted a heavy 
  burden on the millions of industrial serfs who made the league their home. But recent events i n  
  the ESE, starting with Emir Nigel Shirow's proclamation of independence and the formation of 
  the Free Emirates, have changed perceptions about the league. Unfortunately, this rude awaken- 
  ing has cost the South dearly, and over two centuries of Republican control and abuse of the ESE 
  are coming back to haunt the polar superpower. 
  The Eastern Sun Emirates is a place of excess and depravity, one which has both fascinated and 
  repulsed the people of Terra Nova. The emirs of the league, once noble protectors of the masses, 
  today exemplify the worst traits of an aristocracy gone mad. Petty, capricious and above all 
  amoral, the emirs live i n  a world far removed from reality. Lavish balls, feasts and courtly 
  politics have created an almost dream-like environment for the upper caste of the Emirates, and 
  the decadent Oliver Masao, Patriarch of the league, i s  happily leading the way. 
  Even beyond the injustice that festers at its heart, the Eastern Sun Emirates is unique among 
  the many leagues of Terra Nova. Its ritual-filled society and diverse culture seem oddly out of 
  place on a planet long-since dominated by science and rationalism. Stranger still is the rever- 
  ence many Easterners have for Earth. The royalty of the ESE traces its roots to the heroic 
  sacrifice of the Captain of the HCS Eostern Sun Enri Masao and his crew, while the shajhalin- 
  commoners regard Earth as a mystical place, akin to the Jerusalemite Eden, Jerusalem or Mecca. 
  The Emirate populace is segregated into three feudal castes, supposedly for the betterment of 
  all. A t  one point in the distant past, the upper class of the ESE did fulfill its obligations to the 
  commoners, but today this is no longer the case. The aristocratic emirs of the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates rule the league with autocratic, and at times tyrannical, power. There i s  no pretense at 
  equality or democracy i n  the Emirates; the emirs are the absolute powers of the league. The ESE 
  is headed by a Patriarch, a descendant of Enri Masao, the captain of the HCS Eastern Sun who 
  refused to leave the people of Terra Nova behind after Earth abandoned i t s  colony. Below the 
  emirs, the solicitors comprise the small bureaucratic middle class. Nothing more than assistants 
  and administrators, the solicitors exist to attend t o  the emirs, but serve an important role in the 
  league. It is the many families of the solicitor class that maintain the precarious infrastructure 
  of the Eastern Sun Emirates. Finally, at the bottom, the members of the commoner class, or 
  shojhalin, carry the burden of the emirs' excesses on their backs (and can often show the 
  gruesome scars to prove it). 
  The Eastern Sun Emirates Leaguebook tells the story of the ESE and its people, a league and a way of life that stand on 
  the brink of great change. Nigel Shirow and the Free Emirates' emirs have precipitated events that not only weaken the 
  hold of the Southern Republic over the Antarctic, but are also central to the on-going Interpolar War. Events are reaching 
  a boiling point: Nigel and Emir Bhravo of Okavango are vying for control of the Free Emirates, while Oliver Masao is 
  growing weary of the whole situation and wants it all to end - in flames. 
  The South must first deal with the Free Emirates if they are to achieve a victory over the North, while the North sees the 
  ESE as a potential toe-hold in the South. The league i s  undergoing a painful transformation and may, like the phoenix, 
  emerge from the ashes in glorious splendor. The Eastern Sun Emirates Sourcebook sets the stage for the story of the ESE, 
  and i t s  role in the future of Terra Nova. 
  Chapter 2 introduces the league, its unique geography and history from the colonial days to the Free Emirates rebellion. 
  This chapter provides the reader with basic information and a general overview of the league. Chapter 3 delves into the 
  murky world of emirate politics and lays down the foundation of Emirate Feudalism. It also introduces the emirs i n  whose 
  hands rest the fate of the ESE. Details are also given about the political structure of the Free Emirates. 
  Chapter 4 focuses on the relations between the ESE and the other powers of Terra Nova. Chapter 5 describes the city- 
  states of the Eastern Sun Emirates, from the glorious Ethereal Palace of Strathclyde, to the burnt-out ruins of Basal. 
  Finally, Chapters 6 and 7 give Players and Gamemasters the resources they need to design Easterner characters and 
  stories, and to bring the ESE to life. 
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  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  The swamp was quiet, the occasional sound serving merely to emphasize the deadly silence of the jungle. Helios, 
  fat and lazy, sat i n  the sky, its rays heating the murky depths until mist hung centimeters above the black waters 
  of the Okavango swamps: thick humid mist that seemed t o  suck the life out of everything. 
  Dirty sweat ran down Ehans' forehead, running a slow course past his eyebrows and eyes, which were focused on the 
  dark waters that surrounded him. He sat back against what used to be his expedition's barge, now nothing more 
  than floating islands of debris, his spear gun resting heavily on his lap. Nothing, he told himself, could make him 
  let go of the gun... 
  nothing. How many days, he thought to himself, had he been stranded? Three, four, a week, he 
  was not sure anymore. Ehans' food supply had run out - 
  he had savored the last ration pack that morning, and he 
  had little water left i n  the canteen. He laughed morbidly at the fact that he would probably die of dehydration even 
  though surrounded by water - 
  but he knew it would be even worse if he drank the fetid swamp water. 
  As the day passed, the heat and lack of sleep had begun to affect him. During the day he slipped i n  and out of 
  consciousness, the ghosts of his fellow expedition members haunting him, their faces reflected momentarily on 
  the small waves made by his make-shift raft. 
  "When did it all go wrong?" he asked, his only audience a lone kilovate bat circling high above. 
  This expedition was all he ever wanted, a chance t o  hunt the dreaded swamp shark deep i n  the jungles of the ESE 
  and not in some enclosed tourist safari. No, he had wanted the real thing, the thrill of hunting a predator i n  its 
  home environment. He had taken pride in the fact his fellow executives i n  the UMF thought him crazy, but he knew 
  they envied his adventuring spirit. He had trouble finding a guide, even the Easterners called him a fool, but 
  eventually enough dinars bought him a crew that led him into the deepest parts of the Okavango swamps. 
  The winding tributaries and small rivers had led his hunting expedition deeper and deeper into the murky heart of 
  the swamps. Eventually, days had passed since they last saw any semblance of civilization; old stoneheads and the 
  occasional ruin became their silent, solitary observers. It was then that the commoners his guide had hired started 
  acting strangely, pleading with Ehans to turn back, but he did not. There was no way Ehans Felix, cutthroat 
  executive, would bow down to the savages of the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Ehans could not believe his luck when he saw it; i t s  size defied description. For days, the barge and the shark 
  played a game of cat and mouse; the beast would only surface for a couple of seconds, long enough to drag Ehans 
  and his expedition deeper and deeper into the swamps. Ehans realized now that it had been playing them. 
  It waited until the dead of night, preying on one crew member at a time, striking without warning. After a few 
  days, fear struck the crew and they mutinied. I n  the short struggle the barge was run aground, its hull ripped apart 
  by rocks. Stranded, the survivors were picked off one by one, but Ehans was never touched. 
  He, Ehans thought t o  himself, was to be the last one: the trophy. 
  Night descended slowly, as it always did i n  the jungle, Ehans' world narrowing and shrinking until his raft was all 
  that was spared from the encroaching shadows. I n  the waters, beyond the frail light of Ehans' lantern, the swamp 
  shark waited with the patience of a hunter. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates is nestled in a forsaken corner of Terra Nova, a land known for its towering mountains, dense 
  jungles and misty valleys. Isolated by three mountain chains, the ESE i s  home to some of the most spectacular and 
  picturesque (not to mention foreboding) scenery i n  the South. This, along with its extremes i n  weather, has made the 
  lands of the ESE an enigma to outsiders - 
  and the perfect setting for the excesses of the emirs. 
  The ESE is divided into a number of distinct geographical areas. The progression from tundra t o  jungle, to grassland and 
  finally to desert is much more extreme i n  the Emirates than its Southern sisters, due to the presence of the three 
  mountain ranges that dissect the league. Grasslands and rolling hills characterize the northern portion of the league, 
  which give way to savannah and desert closer to the equator and the Badlands. The Okavango swamps encompass the 
  lowlands between the western edge of the Serpentine Range and the eastern slopes of the Pacificas. Further south, the 
  Interior i s  located between the Serpentines and the ESE's Southern Division. Known for i t s  many valleys and jungles, the 
  Interior is a wild and primal area. Finally, tundra and forests surround the capital of the ESE, Strathclyde, and the 
  southernmost slopes of the Southern Division. 
  Unlike other leagues, the majority of the ESE is unpopulated and uncharted. Today, more than 500 cycles after the historic 
  crash-landing of the HCS €astern Sun, the heartland of the league remains untamable and savage wilderness, occasionally 
  punctuated by the sprawling palace of an emir or small settlements and plantations. One could wander for days i n  the 
  Okavango swamps or the Interior without encountering any signs of habitation. 
  The climate i s  likewise extreme and varied. Those city-states found i n  the highlands of the ESE enjoy decent weather 
  cycle-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 3OoC, and even winters are relatively mild. Rainfall is extremely frequent, 
  and fierce monsoon-type storms ravage the region for days during the Autumn and Winter seasons. Settlements in the 
  Okavango swamps face the harshest weather. High heat and humidity are a constant, not to mention the dreaded rain that 
  can wipe out large plantations and villages in a matter of hours. 
  The emirs often call their league the "Crown of Mountains," referring to the three ranges that it. Surrounded by the 
  Pacificas i n  the West, the Southern Division i n  the south and the Serpentine Range i n  the East, the ESE is dominated as 
  much by mountains as by jungles and swamps. Afforded a respite from the swamps and jungles, the peaks and summits of 
  the mountains are home to five of the eight city-states of the Emirates. 
  Valleys, gentle slopes and the occasional cliff mark the Emirate Pacificas, creating a natural border between the Humanist 
  Alliance and the Eastern Sun Emirates. The Pacificas' many passes are traditionally used as caravan routes, opening the 
  western ESE to the lucrative trade routes of the Badlands, but rebellion and the Interpolar War have changed this in recent 
  cycles. Overlooking one of the largest routes is the city-state of Bangweuleu, which has grown rich from trade over the 
  centuries. Aside from Bangweuleu, only small mining settlements or emirate palaces dot the mountain range, offering a 
  spectacular view of the Eastern Plain and the Okavango Swamps. The Pacifica Range i s  also the starting point of two of the 
  largest rivers i n  the ESE. The Rayes and Theros meander down from the highlands and into the Okavango basin. The two 
  rivers and their tributaries are home to a number of plantations and shajhalin farming communities. Theros, the larger of 
  the two rivers, eventually drains into Lake Isaborah just north of Okavango. 
  Technically part of the Southern Division range, Malach's Peaks rise from the shrouded Interior and dwarf all other 
  mountain ranges i n  the ESE. Named after the Patriarch who abdicated to the Southern Republic during the Southern War, 
  Malach's Peaks are characterized by their beauty and grandeur. The white-capped peaks of the range include some of the 
  tallest summits i n  the south - Masao's Heights, at 6550 meters and Yathan's Crown at 7021 meters. 
  The emirate portion of the Serpentine Range is composed of two smaller mountain ranges, the western Major Akarum that 
  branches into the Okavango swamps and the Minor Akarum. Of the two, the Major Akarum is the tallest, some peaks 
  coming close to rivaling the towering mountains of Malach's Peaks. The city-state of Cimmaro rests on the southern slopes 
  of the Major Akarum. The Minor Akarum refers to the northern arm of the Serpentines, which forms the border between the 
  ESE and Mekong Dominion. It is along the Minor Akarum that one can find the city-states of Javari, Skavara and Smyrna, 
  as well as the Beta Maglev line. The emirate Akarums are also home to two volcanoes, the Nube Muerte located three 
  kilometers above Javari and Perdido near Cimmaro. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Juxtaposed against the majestic mountains of the ESE, the Okavango drainage basin is one of Terra Nova’s largest swamp 
  areas. Teeming with wildlife and exotic plants, the Okavango Swamp has been the subject of countless trideo documen- 
  taries helping to perpetuate the mystique of the area. Almost the size of a small sea, the Okavango Swamp is composed 
  of bayous, lagoons, marshlands and thick jungle. Cradled by the Eastern Plain, the Major Akarum and the Pacifica Range, 
  the Okavango swamps are a result of the hundreds of rivers, tributaries and lakes that flood the lowlands. During the 
  relatively dry Spring and Summer months the water level drops, leaving the jungle floor accessible and the various rivers 
  and lakes discernible from each other. Crossing the Okavango basin during these months takes no more than a couple of 
  weeks with a proper guide. 
  This all changes with the monsoon season of late Autumn and early Winter. Torrential rainfall floods the whole region, 
  blotting out any landlocked settlements and bleeding all the rivers and lakes into one huge swamp. The trade routes of 
  the Summer months become a watery maze of ferns and vegetation, traversable only by boat or hovercraft. The changing 
  landscape makes navigation equally difficult. Familiar landmarks now lie under meters of dark, murky water, and only the 
  giant ferns rise above the surface, helping t o  mislead unwary travelers. For this reason, veterans of the swamps construct 
  their homes high above the water level and travel using either the jungle’s thick canopy or swamp rafts 
  For as long as people have made their homes i n  the Okavango Swamps, they have relied on elevated causeways to get 
  around during the rainy seasons. Essentially suspended roads, the causeways are constructed using all sorts of materials. 
  Some are nothing more than planks of wood or rope bridges connecting two trees and allowing passage over the swamp. 
  Others, built more recently, make use of modern materials and are able to support light vehicles and even Gears. 
  I n  the 1850s the AST decided t o  fund the building of two permanent causeways to facilitate travel into the heart of the 
  ESE, and more importantly, to establish the MILICIA base of Blackwater. Known as the Vangian Way and the Blackwater 
  Pass, both causeways are incredible feats of engineering. Using a combination of platforms and suspension bridges, the 
  Vangian Way and Blackwater Pass are safe and fast means of crossing the swamps. While not true roads, both can support 
  heavy traffic, but are only used by the emirs, MILICIA troops and corporations because of the exorbitant tolls charged. 
  Robberies and hijackings are extremely common on both causeways, especially since the Free Emirate rebellion. 
  While the majority of the ESE is dominated by the raw power of nature, the Eastern Plain has been called Terra Nova’s 
  equivalent of Eden. Gentle rolling hills, majestic plateaus and serene forests mark the region, lending it a beauty that 
  stands i n  sharp contrast to the endless Badlands or the chaotic Okavango swamps. Those emirs living within the Eastern 
  Plain own sprawling ranches and estates that provide food and produce for the rest of the league. Like everything else i n  
  the ESE, the Basalite Rebellion changed all this. Rising from the flat plains Like a battered jewel, the city-state of Basal 
  once dominated this area, but nowadays it i s  nothing more than a battleground. 
  The southern portion of the Plain is savannah country; tall grass and herding animals are the staples of this area. The 
  further north one moves, the more the presence of the Eastern Desert begins to be felt. This region, composed of dry 
  grasslands and plateaus, is mostly used for agriculture and farming, with lakes Esh and Havan providing irrigation. 
  Few areas are as draped i n  mystery as the Interior of the ESE. A belt of rain forests and valleys located between the 
  Serpentine Range and Southern Division, the Interior is unspoiled i n  its primal glory, but few dare venture into its 
  shrouded depths. Here, cool mountain air collides with the humid air of the jungles, blanketing the area i n  mist for weeks 
  at a time. Deep i n  the Interior, gigantic ferns (some over 50 meters tall) pierce the mist, their jagged canopy blotting out 
  all light t o  the jungle floor. Dark and damp, the jungle floor is a netherworld of shadow and mist, and only the most 
  desperate (or foolish) live there. 
  Some whisper that there are a handful of free shajhalin settlements i n  the Interior, along with bandit hideouts and rebel 
  bases. However, MILICIA and Patriarchal patrols sent into the area turned up nothing, and on a couple of occasions failed 
  to return at all. Aside from patrols, a number of survey teams, planes and transports have allvanished i n  the Interior. Most 
  are victims of the savage storms that wrack the area, but this has not stopped a number of superstitions about the 
  Interior from arising - 
  another reason why few dare to visit the region. 
  The Intenor also has one of the largest collections of stoneheads i n  the South. Like silent sentinels, the huge stone 
  sculptures are scattered through the fog-filled valleys, attracting archeologists and treasure hunters from all over Terra 
  Nova. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates is still a place of mystery and wonder. The league, because of i t s  emirs and due to the 
  unforgiving wilderness that encompasses it, has captured the imagination of foreigners from both poles. Unfortunately, 
  these romantic notions often overshadow the plight of the majority of the ESE's population that toils day after day to 
  meet the capricious whims of the emirs. Yet this servitude did not always hold sway. Originally the emirs were honorable 
  individuals, men and women who cared for those under their charge, but this, along with countless other facts, has been 
  lost to time. 
  The history of the ESE is woven from threads of both fact and fancy, and most historians outside the league prefer t o  see 
  its story through their own eyes, tainting it with their own preconceptions and prejudices. To the North the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates is a savage and brutal league, a direct affront to the gentle teachings of Revisionism. and its emirs the most vile 
  and corrupt of all Southerners. The Southern Republic and the other Antarctic leagues regard the Eastern Sun Emirates as 
  a primitive hinterland, and resent the political and economic instability that i s  so prevalent i n  the Emirates. Although 
  both of these views are in some sense true, the ESE is also a place of hope, fiery determination and staunch individualism 
  - 
  traits that both the lowliest commoners and the loftiest emirs share. 
  From the colonization of Terra Nova in TN 493 by the Human Concordat, to its abandonment in TN 1454, a coalition of 
  Middle Eastern, South American and Asian corporations known as the Consortium dominated the early history of the ESE. 
  Filing their bid for the Okavango basin and surrounding mountains, the Consortium began settling the area i n  TN 498, and 
  in the following cycles helped construct the beta maglev line and established the city-state of Javari. 
  While not the most progressive of corporations, the Consortium offered passage to Terra Nova to those who could not 
  afford the long trip or who did not have the skills to be hired by another colonizing corporation. I n  exchange for a chance 
  to escape the rapidly crowding Earth, these shajhalin (or laborers) agreed to become the property of the Consortium. Not 
  to be confused with slaves, shajhalin had representatives present at the annual meeting of shareholders and could climb 
  the corporate ladder - 
  although at a slower pace than non-shajhalin employees. This agreement, however, was designed 
  to be continued down through the generations, creating the foundation of the ESE's current caste-driven society. 
  Beyond its stratified society and industrial power base, the Consortium left its mark on the future Emirates in a number 
  of other ways. The corporation's roots in Middle Eastern and Latin American (and to a small degree Asian) cultures, helped 
  create the ESE's colorful character and architecture, not t o  mention its language and customs, which set the league apart. 
  More importantly, the Consortium's infrastructure allowed Enri Masao, Captain of the HCS Eostern Sun, t o  build the league 
  that would one day carry the name of the ship that stranded him and his crew on Terra Nova. 
  For nine centuries the Consortium ruled, caring for its shajhalin while they worked t o  extract and refine the mineral 
  resources of the fledgling league. For the most part, the Consortium was fair and offered the shajhalin safety and security. 
  Yet at times, the pendulum swung to oppression and tyranny. By TN 1450s. the Human Concordat began exerting its anti- 
  colonial pressure on the corporations and the Board of Directors of the Consortium quickly saw the writing on the wall. 
  The Consoitium, not wanting to be stranded on Terra Nova, or have to pay exorbitant taxes to Earth, began secret plans 
  to abandon Terra Nova. 
  On the night of 5 Winter, TN 1454, the upper management of the Concordat and their families secretly packed their 
  belongings and boarded the Gateship Cortb, leaving the desert planet of Terra Nova, and the shajhalin, to an unknown 
  future. 
  The following morning chaos gripped the Consortium's territories. After centuries of bondage, the shajhalin were free, but 
  they did not know what to do next. As news filtered down of the Consortium's departure, panic spread across the shajhalin 
  communities (not to mention Terra Nova). Some tried t o  find a way off Terra Nova: others took to the hills while riots 
  broke out in the Consortium's cities and factories. 
  First to face the wrath of the shajhalin were those executives who chose to stay behind, to help the workers rebuild. The 
  many managers, unaware of the Board of Directors' plan, were next on the list, as angry mobs attacked anyone associated 
  with the Consortium. Within days, much of the former Consortium lay in ruins and anarchy reigned for the following 
  seasons. From the chaos, the first of the Warlords rose to power. 
  Unfortunately, these shajhalin-warlords did nothing more than continue the cycles of violence and bloodshed, as each 
  tried to carve his own kingdom from the ruins of the Consortium. By TN 1455 the population in the area had dropped from 
  15 million to just under seven million, as petty brush wars and conflicts engulfed the whole region. The stage was set for 
  the arrival of the HCS Eastern Sun and its crew. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  THE HCS ERSTERN SUN 
  Enri Masao's sacrifice i s  one of the most historic, and proud, moments for the people of Terra Nova. On the last leg of a 
  three-year voyage to Terra Nova, the Eastern Sun's orders changed when it reached the Helios system. Originally tasked 
  with bringing cargo to Terra Nova, Masao was informed of Earth's withdrawal from the colonies and instructed to take on 
  board Concordat representatives left on Terra Nova. As he placed the Eastern Sun into a low stationary orbit to accept the 
  representatives, Masao, a deeply passionate man, refused to leave the people of Terra Nova stranded away from Earth. He 
  ordered his crew to scuttle the Sun's cargo and take on as many refugees as possible. 
  This was immediately met with resistance from Concordat Officer Hernan Salla. He instructed Masao to cancel his order 
  and prepare to depart when the last HC shuttles had docked. Masao refused; he was not going to leave the people of Terra 
  Nova stranded light years away from Earth. But what both men failed to realize was that the ship's PA system had been 
  on and the heated exchange was broadcast across the Eastern Sun. The situation rapidly grew tense, and erupted when 
  Salla charged Masao with treason. 
  Vicious fighting erupted onboard the ship almost immediately, as both sides tried to take command of the Eastern Sun. As 
  the Concordant forces gained the upper hand, disaster struck. Due to failing communications, the last HC shuttle collided 
  into the rear of the ship while attempting t o  dock, killing all 150 passengers and destroying the Eastern Sun's main drive. 
  As the ship spiraled out of control, Masao took control of the ship's auxiliary bridge and guided the ship into re-entry, 
  crash-landing on the slopes of the Serpentine mountains. 
  Although much of the ship lay in ruins, a good number of its systems remained functional, and more importantly, most of 
  i t s  cargo had escaped unscathed. Of Masao's crew of over 200, only a quarter remained. The next few seasons were rough, 
  as most of the crew were unprepared for life on Terra Nova. A few of the shajhalin-warlords tried to raid the Eastern Sun 
  and while Masao and his men fought back, it was clear they would need help. Masao used his ship's cargo to forge 
  alliances with rival warlords, allowing him and his crew time to establish themselves. In time, the Captain's charisma and 
  keen insight placed him i n  a position of authority, and the Eastern Sun's presence served to stabilize matters i n  the area. 
  Masao dispatched his officers to what remained of the Consortium's cities to act as representatives, using the Eastern 
  Sun's cargo as currency and leverage. Over the next three cycles, Masao and his officers helped re-open a number of 
  factories t o  produce the parts they needed to repair their ship, gradually improving the conditions within the region. A 
  system of trade was developed whereby the region's resources could be traded i n  for the high-tech cargo of the Eastern 
  Sun. Unfortunately, Masao and his men tried in vain t o  repair their ship, and finally the hope of returning home became 
  nothing more than a distant dream. 
  THE BIRTH OF THE € R ~ T E R ~  
  SUN E M I R ~ T ~ ~  
  RHO THE I~TERIM 
  Over the next 28 cycles, the officers of the Eastern Sun became the dominant powers of the region, setting themselves up 
  as kings and queens, with Skavara as their new home. During this time, the various city-states of the ESE came into 
  existence. Masao, aware of their newfound power, was careful to instill a strong sense of duty i n  his officers, and for the 
  most part, he was successful. By TN 1492, the term "emir" had been coined, and on his deathbed, Masao christened the 
  region the "Eastern Sun Emirates" to remind his crew of the sacrifice that left them stranded on Terra Nova. 
  The cycles after Enri Masao's death and his son Erik's ascension were a quiet time of expansion. The officers took the 
  mantle of emir with zeal, and began making the ESE their home. Shajhalin, though free, quickly fell into their familiar 
  positions i n  society, happy to work for the emirs in return for safety and stability. During this time, the last of the 
  warlords were defeated, and by TN 1510 the emirs ruled the league, undisputed. A fledgling relationship was formed with 
  the emerging Humanist Alliance, and though both leagues differed i n  ideology, both shared a similar caste system. 
  Relations with the Mekong Dominion were different, however. The Emirates' control of a large stretch of the beta maglev 
  Line, and the foundation of Smyrna i n  TN 1492 i n  what was considered Dominion territory, caused tensions between the 
  growing leagues. Border conflicts were common, as was espionage and sabotage, but full-fledged war never erupted. The 
  early tension between the ESE and the corporations that made up the Mekong Dominion has marked relations between the 
  two leagues ever since. 
  I n  TN 1678, the alliance between the Southern Republic and Mekong Dominion signaled the closing of a chapter i n  the 
  ESE's history. I n  a few cycles, the free and independent Emirates would find itself subjected to the control of the Republic. 
  With the backing of the Republic, the Mekong Dominion started demanding taxes from the ESE for use of the beta maglev. 
  At first, the Matriarch, Nacia Masao (the great-great-granddaughter of Erik), and the emirs heeded, having been promised 
  increased trading rights with the Republic, but immediately the Dominion's expectations began to grow, becoming more 
  excessive. The final straw came i n  TN 1679 when the Southern Republic backed the Dominion's threat to triple the already 
  exorbitant taxes. Nacia Masao refused to concede, souring relations with the Southern Republic and angering the Domin- 
  ion. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  I n  the Winter of TN 1680, Matriarch Nacia Masao died under mysterious circumstances, and many were quick to point the 
  finger at the Southern Republic. Her son, Christobal Masao, angered by this turn of events, charged the Republic's 
  ambassador, Yeves Kaladon, with the murder of his mother and sentenced her t o  death. Port Oasis did not greet the news 
  of Kaladon's execution well, and tension grew rapidly. Christobal Masao, at the youthful age of 23 cycles, took the mantle 
  of Patriarch and prepared his league for war. For the fiery people of the Eastern Sun Emirates, the last few cycles of 
  concessions to the Southern Republic and Mekong Dominion, and the murder of their Matriarch, instilled in them a bitter 
  hatred for the Southern power. 
  The struggle between the Eastern Sun Emirates and the Southern Republic erupted into open warfare during the Southern 
  War of TN 1680. Republican forces, newly armed with Heavy Gears, swept through the Humanist Alliance and the ESE in 
  an attempt to subjugate the Antarctic. As their cities burned, the people of the Eastern Sun Emirates - 
  whether shajhalin 
  or emirs - 
  led by the charisma and determination of Christobal Masao, embarked on a vicious guerrilla war against the 
  might of the Southern Republic. 
  For three seasons, the armies of the Southern Republic battled Christobars forces in the jungles of the Okavango basin 
  and the Interior, suffering tremendous casualties i n  the process. By Autumn of TN 1680, the Republican forces i n  the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates seemed on the verge of defeat: the Southern power poured more troops and Gears into the war in an 
  attempt to sway the tide of battle, but t o  no avail. Eventually, on 27 Autumn TN 1680 the Republic pulled its forces out 
  of the Interior and began debating its next course of action. For the time being, Christobal had pushed back the 
  juggernaut. 
  A few days after the Southern Republic's retreat, Prefect Phillipos, the commander of the Southern forces i n  the ESE, 
  received a letter from Malach Masao. Christobal's uncle and the older brother of Nacia, Malach had at one time stood to 
  inherit the title of Patriarch before his sister, but had been exiled for his sadistic excesses. For twenty cycles Malach saw 
  his sister rule in his place, growing jealous and bitter in the process. With her death and the Southern War, Malach saw his 
  chance to reclaim his rightful rank. 
  In exchange for the Republic recognizing him as the Patriarch of the ESE, Malach agreed to have Christobal assassinated. 
  Desperate for a way to resolve the situation i n  the ESE, Phillipos agreed to Malach's plan, knowing that with the death of 
  Christobal the ESE's forces would be dealt a severe blow. At the same time, Malach, with backing from the Republic, 
  promised certain emirs help in rebuilding their city-states if they backed his claim to the throne. While Malach's ambition 
  worried some of his co-conspirators, the financial and military backing of the Southern Republic was too good t o  pass up. 
  On 37 Autumn TN 1680, as Christobal slept, Malach's men sneaked into his quarters and murdered the Patriarch and his 
  family. News of their leader's death devastated the league, and when Malach, the only heir to the throne, claimed the 
  mantle of Patriarch flanked by Southern Gears, many knew that the war and their way of life had ended. A number of emirs 
  opposed Malach's ascension, pointing out his obvious hand in Christobal's death. Malach's machinations and Republican 
  agents, however, soon silenced them. And so. the Eastern Sun Emirates were dragged, bloodied and bruised, into the 
  Allied Southern Territories. 
  b Heir ~ppafent 
  I 
  Shortly after Malach assumed the throne, he ordered the murder of all other Masaos who could possibly lay 
  claim to the throne. Hauntingly familiar to Oliver Masao's Mothers' Massacre, entire branches of the royal line 
  were culled by Malach's paranoia, leaving only his incestuous children to cariy on the name of Enri. Unbe- 
  knownst to him, his sister Nacia had borne two children, Christobal and Jericho. Christobal was her legitimate 
  child, born from her marriage with Davon Boash. Jericho, however, was born out of wedlock when Nacia was 
  still i n  her teens. To prevent any embarrassment or potential conflict over the inheritance of the Masao 
  throne, Jericho was taken from Nacia and secretly given t o  the childless Gustav Bhravo. When Gustav died i n  
  the Southern War Jericho inherited the emirate of Okavango, and his descendants have unknowingly carried 
  the Masao name down through the ages. 
  It is entirely possible that this explosive secret has been lost to time. Indeed, the murder of Jericho Masao- 
  Bhravo'simmediate blood family may mean that no one could ever pass on the secret of his true lineage, even 
  to the emir himself. There are avenues of research, however, that could reveal the true heritage of the 
  Bhravos. The secret Patriarchal records i n  Strathclyde could well provide clues, as could medical documents in 
  the Library at Smyrna. the family history of Gustav Bhravo and the lineage records maintained by the Sunite 
  Monks i n  Skavara (see p, 51). Were someone to piece together the truth it could have devastating effects and 
  shatter the already fragile league. Indeed, the Boy-King of Okavango, Rafael Bhravo, would be revealed as a 
  Masao and could lay legitimate claim to the throne. This could lead to a three-way battle for succession, 
  between Oliver Masao himself, Rafael Bhravo and Nigel Shirow - 
  who has just wed Lysia Masao, estranged 
  sister of the Patriarch. With Masao legitimacy behind all three factions, there's no telling who the other emirs 
  (not to mention the solicitors and shajhalin) would back. 
  R 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  THE CYCLES RFTER 
  For the next 200 cycles the Eastern Sun Emirates struggled under the heel of the AST, manipulated by the Republic and its 
  economy regulated by the Mekong Dominion. The Curia encouraged the growing hedonism among the emirs, realizing that 
  it was one of the best means to control the league. So while the shajhalin toiled, the emirs lived lives of luxury, attending 
  huge balls, playing games and enjoying the wealth they had amassed as the AST grew more powerful. Shajhalin rebellions 
  occasionally flared up, but the Patriarch's forces quickly and brutally dealt with the insurgents - often with the help of 
  the newly formed MILICIA or Republican troops. 
  The St. Vincent's War of TN 1723 - 1729 proved costly for the Eastern Sun Emirates. The ESE's poor standards i n  medical 
  care resulted in the highest infant losses to the St. Vincent plague i n  the South. In the chaos, many of the Emirate city- 
  states burnt as panic gripped their populations. By the time order was restored, the AST was at war with the North, and 
  a poorly organized Emirate contingent joined the fray. By war's end, the ESE reported close to two million casualties, not 
  to mention the countless more that died during the plague. The league was devastated. 
  Although the league recovered somewhat during the 1800s its standard of living and reputation had suffered. The 
  Humanist Alliance came to resent the excesses of the emirs, while the corporations of the Mekong Dominion were forced 
  to subsidize the Emirates' mining and industries i n  order to prevent a hemisphere-wide depression. 
  The rise of the driven Svetlana Masao i n  TN 1848 ushered i n  a new age for the people of the Eastern Sun Emirates. A 
  cunning manipulator, Svetlana used the tensions of the inter-polar cold war to improve conditions i n  the ESE, keeping in 
  check both the Curia's intervention and the Dominion's economic influence over her league. By the time of her death i n  
  TN 1912, the ESE had recovered some of its lost splendor, allowing her son, Oliver Masao, to inherit a strong league a 
  short cycle before the War of Alliance. 
  News of an Earth invasion was greeted with skepticism by the emirs, but within a week of the Colonial Expeditionary 
  Force's arrival and their march into the Mekong Dominion, the ESE was shocked into action. The orbital bombardment of 
  Javari, Basal and Cimmaro was all the proof Easterners needed. Shajhalin of those states, for their part, saw this as their 
  opportunity to rise up against the emirs. These rebellions were quickly crushed, and i n  the Summer of TN 1913 the first 
  CEF forces crossed into the Eastern Sun Emirates, trying to oufflank MILICIA troops in the Mekong Dominion. Faced with 
  the reality of an invasion, emirs and shajhalin took to the battlefield. 
  Surprisingly, Oliver Masao showed great interest i n  the war, determined to prove himself as Patriarch. His age (only 19 at 
  the time), his capricious whims and inexperience hampered the Emirate forces, who suffered a number of defeats under 
  his command. By the end of TN 1914, Oliver became bored with the conflict and returned to Strathclyde, where he 
  delegated command t o  the emirs of Skavara and Bangweuleu. For the rest of the war, the Emirate forces were involved i n  
  a number of campaigns, some successful, others not. When Earth departed i n  TN 1917, the ESE, and Masao i n  particular, 
  wanted nothing more than to enjoy the spoils of victory and forget about the bloody days of war - 
  ushering i n  an age 
  of unparalleled decadence. 
  When Earth returned to Terra Nova i n  TN 1913, many emirs and shajhalin took up arms against the invaders, 
  not only to protect their league, but to avenge Enri Masao and the crew of the Eastern Sun. A few, however, 
  saw the war as a chance to return to the home world of the emirs. Ever since the crash of the Eastern Sun and 
  Enri's sacrifice, Earth had developed a religious and symbolic importance for the people of the ESE. To some, 
  it represents the legendaty home of Enri and the emirs, to others Earth is akin to a Holy Land beckoning them 
  to return and reclaim their rightful place among the stars. 
  Seeing the CEF as their best chance to leave the accursed deserts of Terra Nova, a number of emirs secretly 
  collaborated with the Earth forces. Leaking intelligence, conducthg sabotage and sharing technical informa- 
  tion, these emirs hoped to buy their way back to Earth. By TN 1916-17, a collaborationist movement was 
  spreading among the emirs, nearly shattering the league. Thankfully, the War of the Alliance served to conceal 
  the brewing troubles i n  the ESE from the rest of Terra Nova, as most other leagues were too busy fighting to 
  notice what was happening. Many saw the Patriarch's brutal ream'on towards the collaborators as his first slip 
  into madness - 
  torn between honoring his lineage (hence wanting t o  avenge Enri), and the desire to see the 
  blue skies of Earth, Oliver lashed out against the collaborators. Masao ordered a secret pogrom conducted 
  against the collaborators, executing any emir even suspected of having ties with Earth and burying all evi- 
  dence found. By the end of the war, a number of emirs had vanished along with their retinues without any 
  trace. To this day, the emirs remain silent about the dark days at the end of the War of the Alliance, preferring 
  to bury their guilt rather than throw the loyalty of the league into question. Unfortunately, this silence has 
  meant that vigilance against further collaboration is less than perfect. Indeed, not all the emirs who sided 
  with Earth died during the pogrom. Constanz Draho, then Emir of Skavara, escaped execution thanks to loyal 
  guards and remains i n  hiding i n  the emirate palace (see p. 90). while Smyrna's Emir Anurima Khajar (see p. 
  27) was able to conceal her treason altoqether (see D. 27). 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  With the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia i n  TN 1917, the people and emirs of the ESE began the long task of rebuilding 
  their devastated homes. Oliver Masao was not the same man he had been just four cycles before. The war and the 
  collaboration shattered the Patriarch, and when the war ended, he allowed his league to descend into hedonism. The 
  emirs' pleasures (and his own) became more important than governing the league. Not all emirs joined i n  the Patriarch's 
  orgies; some voiced their concerns and tried to re-establish the ESE in the South, creating tension in the emirate court. 
  Oliver came down hard on any emir who questioned his judgment or rule, and fears of a league-wide revolt began to worry 
  the AST. The short-lived Basalite rebellion of TN 1920 reinforced the need for the Curia to take matters in the ESE seriously 
  and the "Butcher of Basal," Lord Protector Molay, took no time i n  brutally suppressing the uprising to set an example. 
  The arrival of Lord chancellor Kenichi Tanaka complicated matters further. Sent i n  to assess the situation i n  the ESE and 
  t o  do his best t o  prevent a revolt, the Chancellor immediately despised the Patriarch. Tanaka's promise of Republican 
  intervention if the emirs did not change their deviant ways made him popular among the masses, but hated by the emirs. 
  With Oliver's attention divided between his growing resentment of Tanaka and his own selfish pleasures, a number of 
  emirs began moving away from the Patriarch. Most, like the emirs of Skavara and Smyrna, focused on strengthening their 
  emirates and establishing a new power base after the war. The emirate of Basal, and its soon-to-be emir Nigel Shirow, had 
  different plans i n  mind. 
  After cycles of surviving the deadly intrigues and amoral passions of the emirate palace of Basal, Shirow found himself the 
  sole heir when his mother died i n  TN 1931. Having spent the majority of his life masquerading as a commoner, Shirow 
  witnessed first hand the injustices the shajhalin lived under and the mockery the emirs had become. More importantly, 
  Shirow saw the downward spiral Masao and the league were taking and knowing something had to be done, he denounced 
  the Patriarch as a madman and declared his emirate free from the tyranny of Strathclyde. 
  Nigel Shirow's proclamation of freedom shocked Terra Nova to its core. For the Emirates, it marked the first time an emir 
  had openly defied the Patriarch. In Port Oasis and the rest of the South, fears of a destabilizing league-wide revolt i n  the 
  ESE were one step closer to becoming reality. Finally, the North saw Shirow's actions as proof that the iron grip of the 
  Southern Republic over the Antarctic was finally slipping. 
  Almost immediately, the Patriarch sent in troops and petitioned the AST to deploy MILICIA units to Basal. The Patriarch 
  did not want to quell the rebellion, but rather obliterate Basal and the upstart Shirow from the face of Terra Nova. 
  Appalled by the atrocities committed, most MILICIA units soon became demoralized, wanting nothing more than to leave 
  the accursed Eastern Plain. This, combined with different strategic goab, made cooperation between emirate forces and 
  MILICIA difficult, helping Shirow and his rebels i n  the end. By TN 1932 the fighting had stagnated, as both sides bunkered 
  down and for a brief couple of seasons the people of Basal knew peace - occasionally punctured by mortar attacks or 
  sniper fire. 
  Politically, the rebellion had repercussions across the South. Lord Protector Molay and Prime Minister deRouen disagreed 
  as to what do next. Molay, the "Butcher of Basal," backed Masao, wanting to resolve the rebellion as quickly as possible 
  so that the AST could focus on the growing tensions with the Northern leagues. DeRouen, along with Lord Chancellor 
  Tanaka, knew the real cancer i n  the ESE was not the rebeltion, but the mad Patriarch Masao. What few knew was that the 
  situation was about to worsen. 
  Nneke Boash, son of Emir Armann Boash of Bangweuleu, hastened events by staging a coup against his aging father. A 
  close friend of Oliver Masao, he hoped to earn the Patriarch's favor (and some say his love). Nneke's coup not only failed, 
  but provided Armann with the chance to secede and throw i n  his lot with Shirow and Basal. As news of this spread, the 
  detente in Basal ended and fighting broke out once more, ushering i n  a new wave of violence and bloodshed. Basal was 
  prepared for the onslaught, but not Bangweuleu. Seeing the effect of the Basal rebellion on the AST troops stationed 
  there, Molay was forced to limit MILICIA's role i n  Bangweuleu to attacking only military targets and preventing excessive 
  civilian losses. Molay's hatred, however, found other ways of supporting Masao i n  suppressing the growing rebellion. 
  Materials and supplies, plus the efforts of MILICIA's Special Intervention Unit, were just the beginning of Molay's secret 
  aid to Masao. 
  As the fighting continued into TN 1935, Shirow and Boash were forced to look t o  the North for help. Under the pretense 
  of avoiding a full-scale polar war and dragging the Confederated Northern City-states (and mainly the Northern Lights 
  Confederacy) into Southern "business," the Humanist Alliance brokered the Oxford Accord. Meeting in Oxford at the 
  behest of Lord Chancellors Hemami and Tanaka, Nigel Shirow and Prime Minister deRouen agreed to limit the scope of the 
  current conflict. I n  exchange for Shirow's pledge not to deal with the North, deRouen agreed to classify the rebellions as 
  an internal matter of the ESE and place further restrictions on Republican and MILICIA involvement. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  As the rebellions raged between 1931 and 1935, the young Rafael Bhravo - 
  the exiled emir of Okavango - had been 
  traveling the ESE calling for a time of change. Often overshadowed by the rebellions, or plainly ignored, few listened to 
  the boy or paid attention to his crusade. 
  I n  the first weeks of 1935 Alexis Thoras, the other emir of Okavango and third cousin of Oliver Masao, was murdered, a 
  victim of the expanding Mother‘s Massacre, ending Bhravo’s exile. Emir Bhravo stopped his crusade and returned home, 
  forever changing the ESE. During his inauguration speech, Bhravo declared his emirate part of the Free Emirates of Basal 
  and Bangweuleu, coining the phrase in the process. What had started as an isolated rebellion i n  Basal and Bangweuleu 
  had now turned into a civil war - 
  open revolt had come to the ESE, to the horror of the AST. 
  Vicious fighting erupted and spread to Basal and Bangweuleu, but cycles of warfare prevented the Patriarch from launch- 
  ing his now infamous attacks. This time around MILICIA troops (especially those stationed in Camp Blackwater, near 
  Okavango) sat back and did nothing more than defend AST interests from both rebel and emirate forces. The South had 
  bigger worries as TN 1935 turned into 1936. 
  The outbreak of deadly Theban Blight in the Humanist Alliance signaled the first of a number of events that would plunge 
  the planet into war. Under the pretext of reestablishing order, the Southern Republic annexed the HA i n  Spring of TN 
  1936, but the move, if anything, further destabilized the South. I n  the wake of the annexation and the fall of White Rock, 
  elements of the Humanist Alliance Protection Force, including its Archon Mykeal Navar, fled to the Free Emirates where 
  they were welcomed with open arms. 
  Boosted by Humanist troops and equipment, the rag-tag Free Emirate rebels became a formidable force; the Free Emirates 
  were emerging as a new power in the crumbling Southern hegemony. While all three city-states shared equal importance 
  i n  the Free Emirates, a leadership struggle was developing between Shirow and the Boy-King Bhravo. Shirow, pragmatic 
  and a seasoned veteran, having been at war for over five cycles, didn’t see eye-to-eye with the fanatical and impulsive 
  Bhravo. But before a schism could develop in earnest, the Free Emirates found themselves i n  the middle of a global war. 
  I n  the aftermath of a border clash between Northern Guard and MILICIA units near the oasis tower of Rahnguard, the CNCS 
  declared war on 18 Summer 1936. Oliver Masao welcomed the news and marshaled his forces as he had done during the 
  War of the Alliance. Gone was the zeal to prove himself, replaced instead with an apocalyptic desire to see the ESE burn. 
  The early days of the war went badly for the Free Emirates, as they were pincered by Republican forces from the west and 
  Patriarchal and MILICIA troops from the south and east. Only staunch determinism and help from the HAPF allowed 
  Shirow and company to hold off the initial assault. Shortly after this engagement, the Northern Guard Eastern Task Force 
  crossed the Badlands and entered the Free Emirates where they were welcomed by Shirow. 
  Establishing supply Lines with the Free Emirates and augmenting their forces with rebel troops, the Northern Task Force 
  prepared to move westwards. After a season of fighting in the foothills of the Pacifica Range the city-state of Raleigh was 
  i n  sight, and by 27 Autumn 1936 Northern units had liberated the city. Lysia Masao, sister of Patriarch Masao and wife of 
  the murdered Lord Chancellor Hemami, with popular support, assumed leadership of the free city and proclaimed Raleigh 
  the fourth Free Emirate. Over the next cycle, angered by his sistets defection, Masao launched a series of attacks on the 
  Free Emirates, making the ESE one of the main battlefields of the Interpolar War. 
  By TN 1938 the whole war has begun to crawl to a halt, but intrigue between the poles (and within the leagues) continues 
  to rise. Offensives are fewer and further between, and a relative quiet has fallen. Most realize, however, that this is only 
  the quiet before the storm. 
  For most of TN 1937 fighting sweeps across the ESE and the rest of Terra Nova, with gains and losses made by all sides. The 
  Free Emirates surfaced battered and bloodied from the opening phase of the war, but far stronger than before. The 
  presence of the HAPF and other Humanist elements and the addition of the emirate of Raleigh have transformed the Free 
  Emirates into more-or-less equals of the Loyal Emirates of the ESE - 
  Javari, Cimmaro, Smyrna, Skavara and Strathclyde. 
  Support behind Masao has remained strong, but most emirs fear the direction in which the Patriarch is heading, especially 
  now that the AST and the Republic do not hold as much sway over the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  By far the most important recent event was the marriage i n  41 Winter TN 1938 of Nigel Shirow and Lysia Masao. Although 
  seen as a purely political move, the union has thrown the ESE into disarray. Since the early days of the Basalite rebellion, 
  Shirow, not being a Masao, knew that the Patriarch’s throne would never be his. Even loyal emirs who would have backed 
  Shirow because of his policies refused because of his ancestry. With his betrothal to Lysia this all changes, especially with 
  the possibility of pregnancy. If Oliver Masao could somehow be removed, Nigel could claim the throne as Regent until his 
  future son/daughter came of age. The story of the ESE is far from over... 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Although the emirs are among the wealthiest individuals on Terra Nova, their league is one of the poorest. While the emirs 
  live i n  the lap of luxury, the lower classes lack a number of conveniences their counterparts in other leagues take for 
  granted. A large force of dedicated and specialized artisans manually manufactures most of the goods produced i n  the 
  ESE, from construction materials to luxury items. There are very few automated factories i n  the league because of 
  abundance of cheap labor. Even the high-tech industries of Skavara and Smyrna rely on thousands upon thousands of 
  shajhalin working around the clock to produce goods. Those shajhalin not involved in heavy industry either toil as 
  artisans or domestics, maintaining the elaborate palaces of the emirs and catering to their every whim. 
  The lack of automation or mass-production means that most goods in the ESE are unique and individual. Production is 
  supervised by bandenas, each responsible for one aspect or type of production. These banderias resemble worker guilds 
  comprised of extended family groups. Although banderias are indispensable t o  the daily life of the ESE, providing the 
  shajhalin with schooling and technical expertise, the emirs keep a close eye on them because of the power they have over 
  the masses. 
  The Eastern Sun Emirate’s main economic strengths are its richness i n  natural resources and its industrial core. Mining is 
  one of the primary industries for the ESE. The mines i n  the Serpentine and the Pacifica Ranges produce a large percentage 
  of the minerals needed by the entire Southern Hemisphere, including oil, iron, gold and other rare minerals. The Emirates‘ 
  mines and refineries are open 36 hours a day, churning out materials to be transported to factories in Skavara, Javari, the 
  Mekong Dominion or the Southern Republic. The refineries of Cimmaro and Javari refine a large percentage of the raw ore 
  mined i n  the South, and even certain Badlands communities have agreements with the emirs of these cities to refine their 
  ore. The emirs, however, are not the most shrewd administrators i n  the South, and their factories are marred by inefficient 
  management and waste, resulting in reduced production. 
  Skavara Heavy Industries is one of the few Gear manufacturers i n  the ESE. Originally founded in TN 1786, the board of 
  directors of Skavara H I  must always include at least one representative from either the AST or the Republic. Skavara HI has 
  for the longest time produced a number of small Gears, namely the Iguana and its many variants. Though the Gears 
  produced here meet the necessary standards, each is in some way a unique machine, because the workers take pride in 
  adorning and decorating them individually. Since the Free Emirate rebellions, the factory has been largely responsible for 
  equipping the Patriarch’s forces, indebting Oliver Masao to SHI head and Skavaran Emir Gavriel Draho. 
  2.3.2 R ~ ~ l ~ ~ l T U R E ,  
  TRRDE RID T O ~ R I ~ M  
  Agriculture is the second most important resource of the league. The large cultivated plantations i n  the Okavango swamps 
  and the ranches in the Eastern Plain account for most of the dietary needs of the league. Most agricultural production 
  involves the cultivation of the prestigious Cor56 de Rocque cawfee blend - 
  Okavango’s primary cash crop. Other crops 
  include pasto suave grass, grown i n  the Eastern Plain. Pasto suave is a thick grass that has many uses. When boiled, the 
  grass produces a sweet nectar used for dessert or to sweeten cawfee, and the raw stems can be ground to create a rich, 
  dark flour. Since the creation of the Free Emirates, the tundra fields of Strathclyde have grown some of the food needed 
  by the ESE. Generally poorer in nutrition and quality, only the shajhalin are forced to subsist on crops grown there. 
  Since the inception of the ESE, trade has been one of its strongest commercial aspects. Although the cargo holds of the 
  Eastern Sun have long since dried up, the bazaar of Bangweuleu and the proximity of the beta and gamma maglev lines 
  have ensured the league’s prominence as a center of trade i n  the Antarctic. The emirs might be capricious and poor 
  administrators, but they all share the same astute sense of business and regard commerce as a simple yet elegant game 
  to play. Since its founding, the emirs of Bangweuleu realized the potential of the trade caravans of the Badlands and have 
  for centuries opened their bazaar to these traders, giving the ESE access t o  goods not regularly found i n  the South. 
  Although corporations of Terra Nova have shunned the bazaar due t o  its chaotic nature and constantly fluctuating prices, 
  the commoners and tourists flock t o  the bazaar to buy rare goods from around the planet. 
  The lavish lifestyle of the emirs has always been a magnet for those people who want t o  forget their dreary existence. 
  Since the 17th century, Terranovans have flocked t o  the cities of the ESE to live like kings and queens for two or three 
  weeks a year. These tourists, who must pay exorbitant prices, are accommodated i n  palatial hotels, attended by some of 
  the most beautiful servants in the ESE. The number of Northern visitors has increased each cycle since the War of the 
  Alliance. Important visitors such as celebrities and dignitaries are dazzled with pomp and the jet-set lifestyle of the 
  emirs. For those with an adventurous streak, safari excursions into the Okavango swamps are extremely popular. The war 
  and rebellion have changed all this, further crippling the league. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The ruins of the Eastern Sun stood silhouetted against the fading light of Helios. Reddish hues bathed the interior 
  of the colossal ship, giving it an angry glow. Whether from the dust in the air or pollution from Skavara's many 
  industries, the light created the illusion that the historic ship was aflame. Within one of the uppermost chambers, 
  two figures moved in the half darkness of twilight, their lavish cloaks rippling i n  the evening breeze. The silence 
  of the ruins about them made their hushed whispers seem like thunder. 
  "Glad you made it, my dear. I am truly sony for the short warning, but I knew we must speak - 
  i n  private." 
  The other figure, shorter than the first, stood motionless, her gaze fixed at the city sprawling below her. 
  "How many cycles has this relic looked out over the Eastern Sun Emirates, its shadow a ghost reminding us of what 
  we once were..." 
  her voice dropped. "How many more cycles ... I wonder, Draho, how many,more w i l l  it endure?" her 
  voice trailed off, carried by the evening winds, leaving behind nothing but silence. Sharp, painful silence. 
  Emir Gavriel Draho rested both his hands on the window ledge. "Times are changing, my dear Anurima - 
  nothing. 
  The more time passes, the more that fool ruins things. Basal has gotten out of hand. That bastard Shirow only gains 
  support while the Patriarch drags our league slowly and painfully into collapse ..." 
  "Well, Draho, what do you propose?" Emir Anurima Khajar's soft voice whispered. "Is this mutiny I hear, and from 
  the respected Emir of Skavara? 
  "You know I would never stand for mutiny. Masao i s  an insane fool, yes, but he i s  the Patriarch. No, some other 
  solution must be found -one that will lead us, you and me Anurima, and the ESE, back to greatness. And that can 
  never happen while the exalted Oliver Masao i s  still alive. He has to be removed, but we have to find a suitable 
  replacement, and one that bears the name Masao. Nigel's marriage to Lysia only aggravates matters further..." 
  "But he would make a decent Regent, Draho. Maybe the time has come for Nigel t o  be accepted." 
  Draho said nothing, but Anurima knew that he would never welcome Shirow. A shame really. If they could could 
  work together, then maybe the ESE would stand a chance. She knew this, but also knew that soon her ties with 
  pam'es outside the ESE would see her leave the planet and maybe, possibly, see the blue oceans of Earth. 
  "Shirow's child," Draho broke the silence, "is the key ..." 
  Draho stopped in mid-sentence. A sound echoed somewhere beyond the small chamber. Silently, Draho stepped up 
  to the door and opened it enough to peer through. Darkness was all he saw. He turned back to see Emir Khajar 
  moving towards the door. "Maybe we should continue this conversation elsewhere. The Lord Chancellor's men, may 
  be lurking about," she said. 
  "I would not worry; Tanaka's hatred of Masao nearly equals mine. But you are right, the dead do indeed have ears." 
  Both emirs disappeared down the corridor, unaware of the figure emerging from the darkness of the chamber. The 
  spy would make for Strathclyde in the morning and carry the news to Patriarch himself. He only hoped his monarch 
  would listen. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The social structure of the Eastern Sun Emirates has changed very little i n  the last 400 cycles, and to this day the legacy 
  left behind by the crew of the Eastern Sun i s  clearly visible in the league that bears its name. Dominated by a strict social 
  caste system, not unlike that of the Humanist Alliance, every citizen of the ESE (including the Free Emirates) belongs to 
  one of three social groups. The members of the lowest class i n  the ESE, the shajhalin, toil day-in day-out for the emirs and 
  are akin to industrial-serfs. The middle-class, or solicitor caste, is purely bureaucratic, tasked with the management and 
  organization of the city-states of the ESE, allowing the emirs t o  keep away from petty concerns. This middle-class is 
  blindly loyal to their emirs, and referred t o  by many foreigners as being parasitic i n  nature - prostrating themselves at 
  their lords’ feet and scrambling for the crumbs the emirs throw away. At the pinnacle of Eastern society are the emirs, 
  descendants of the officers of the Eastern Sun who hold onto the reigns of power with autocratic obstinacy. This aristoc- 
  racy rules every aspect of life i n  the ESE, and each emir i s  a king within his territories. 
  The main difference between the Humanist and Emirate caste-system is that the ESE i s  feudal, rather than utopian, in 
  nature. The emirs don’t lead because they are the best suited for the position, but because they were born into the 
  aristocracy of the league. At one time the emirs held a certain attitude of noblesse oblige towards their charges, accepting 
  their roles as protectors and providers for the shajhalin. But, as power corrupts absolutely, soon the emirs became 
  egotistical, existing to be waited on hand and foot by the commoners and not the other way around. 
  To this day, 50 emirates comprise the Eastern Sun Emirates, each independent from one another, but all claiming loyalty 
  and servitude to the Patriarch. While the majority of emirates correspond to a geographic location, a small number of 
  them are associated with important tasks or titles within the ESE. These emirs, though they hold no lands, are important 
  to the league both for practical and ceremonial reasons, and because of this carry as much influence as landed emirs. 
  The absolute power i n  the ESE is the Patriarch. From the Ethereal Palace in the heights of Strathclyde, the Patriarch’s 
  influence touches nearly every aspect of life i n  the league, and those few areas that fall outside his grasp exist only 
  because he allows them to. I n  many ways, the Patriarch is a living god i n  the ESE, especially to the shajhalin; his whims 
  are of paramount importance and his wishes become laws. The purple and golden robes of the Patriarch are the greatest 
  symbol of power in the ESE; each emirate palace contains a set of these robes on display, showing that even in his 
  absence, the Patriarch is nonetheless present. 
  A holdover from the labor-division of the Consortium, the shajhalin comprise the majority of the population of the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates. It is the shajhalin who work for the emirs, produce most of the goods i n  the ESE and who do most 
  of the fighting (and dying) when the ESE goes to war. All shajhalin are born into the caste, and nothing short of total 
  rebellion will ever see them rise above their rank i n  emirate society. Even with the current excesses of the emirs, most 
  shajhalin willingly accept their role i n  society. Strongly immersed i n  a belief-system that mythologizes Earth, idealizes 
  the sacrifice of Enri Masao and the Eastern Sun and acknowledges the supremacy of the emirs, shajhalin see their lot i n  
  life as preordained. While revolts are common, especially since the Basalite rebellion and the formation of the Free 
  Emirates, most shajhalin never take up arms intending to displace the emirs. Rather, they do so to remind the emirs of 
  their blasphemy towards Enri Masao‘s dream. 
  Shajhalin treatment vanes from emirate t o  emirate. Shajhalin i n  the Free Emirates are the best treated, but the rebellions 
  and war have done much t o  lower their standard of living. The shajhalin of Javari and Cimmaro (both industrial centers), 
  however, are ruled with an iron grip so as not to disrupt production schedules. 
  Like everything else in the Eastern Sun Emirates, occupation is largely hereditary for the masses. This has created an 
  elaborate industrial infrastructure dominated by extended shajhalin families called banderias. Each banderia takes on the 
  responsibility for training its members, and at the same time offers them a sense of safety and stability. The ESE has no 
  centralized educational institutions, leaving shajhalin schooling to fall under the providence of the banderias. The leaders 
  of banderias are elected, but the local emir has the final say as t o  who holds the reigns of power, and it is not uncommon 
  for a solicitor to find himself heading or advising a banderia. 
  There are literally hundreds of banderias across the Eastern Sun Emirates though most are small, encompassing two or 
  three extended families. The banderias generally frown on open rebellion, not only because it threatens the well being of 
  their members, but also because it curtails their authority. What makes the banderias so powerful is their ties with the 
  emirs and solicitors, and they often act as middlemen between the low and high classes. 
  Of the many bandenas, the most powerful are the Iacovino (factory workers), Morelas (agriculture), Ravinda (artisan) and 
  the Sajono (pleasure) families. Found throughout the ESE, these banderias jostle with each other i n  an attempt to secure 
  their status with the emirs. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Operating i n  the shadows of the emirs, the middle-class of the Eastern Sun Emirates can be found carrying out a number 
  of tasks at the behest of their emirs. Raised in a radically pro-emir environment, the members of the solicitpr class grow 
  up knowing servitude and veneration towards the emirs. Among the entire population of the ESE, the solicitors are the 
  most educated. Attending the most prestigious schools across Terra Nova, the solicitors learn the skills needed to serve 
  their lords as advisors or assistants. 
  The solicitors have been around since the formation of the Eastern Sun Emirates i n  TN 1492, and their ancestors were the 
  local warlords that sided with Enri Masao and his crew. Unable t o  communicate with the shajhalin commoners after the 
  Consortium left, Enri Masao and the officers of the Eastern Sun used these warlords as intermediaries. Within a few 
  generations the solicitor class had emerged, but it was not until the rise of Malach Masao that they grew in number and 
  power and assumed their current form. 
  Technically free, the solicitors are indebted to the emirs, though this relationship is somewhat murkier than that between 
  emir and commoner. Whereas the emirs own the shajhalin outright under Eastern law, the solicitors owe favors to the 
  emirs. I n  return for greater personal freedom and power, solicitor families are duty-bound to serve the emirs in some 
  capacity or another. Passed down from generation to generation, these "favors" include acting as advisors, administra- 
  tors, personal assistants, bodyguards, warriors, concubines and so on. Unlike the shajhalin, solicitor families tend to be 
  small and highly competitive out of fear of losing their prestigious status - for this reason, most solicitors are either 
  overachievers, sycophants, cunning manipulators or some combination of the three. The majority of the middle-class 
  resides in Strathclyde, where it owns a significant portion of the Middle Tier (see 5.2 Strathclyde, pp. 40-43). Solicitors, 
  unlike shajhalin, are allowed t o  own property. 
  The solicitors form the bureaucratic core of the ESE, handling most of the administrative duties of the league. While the 
  emirs set policy and steer the league, it is the solicitors who actually set the wheels i n  motion and sustain the Emirates 
  and its emirs. For this reason, the members of the middle-class wield substantial power i n  the ESE. However, their fanatic 
  loyalty to the emirs prevents most solicitors from using their influence to usurp the emirs. Even so, most emirs must be 
  vigilant towards their solicitors, or risk the chance of being manipulated or tricked by their so-called advisors. 
  Beyond their advising and administrative duties, solicitors are free to pursue whatever interests they wish. Some volun- 
  teer to serve in the MILICIA, or as low-level diplomats for the Eastern Sun Emirates. Others offer their services to the 
  many foreign corporations i n  the ESE. These corporations actively recruit solicitors because of their dedication and work 
  ethic, but also to act as delegates between the corporations and the emirs. Often is it better t o  have a solicitor in one's 
  back pocket than an emir, because of the vast web of connections kept by the middle class. 
  Solicitors also serve an important role i n  the personal armies of the emirs. While these forces are mostly made up of 
  shajhalin conscripts, the solicitors serve as the only professional soldiers in the emirate retinues. Holding mid- to high- 
  level positions, equivalent to non-commissioned oRcers i n  other military forces, these solicitors, known as havildars look 
  upon their role as an almost divine calling, and are generally excellent leaders and tacticians. Their talent and determina- 
  tion, however, is usually wasted by the emirs who blindly sacrifice their troops and pay little attention to the advice given 
  to them by the havildars. 
  Not all solicitors, however, are complacent lackeys, as they are usually stereotyped. Some have tried to use their power to 
  hold the emirs hostage, but any sign of treason is usually reported by fellow solicitors zealously trying to gain the emirs' 
  favor by rooting out troublemakers. This has made the middle-class extremely susceptible to rumor-mongering and paranoia; 
  everyone is willing t o  rat on everyone else. Strangely enough, a small percentage of middle-class citizens, when they reach 
  adulthood, simply turn their backs on the emirs and their families, leaving the ESE to its own fate. Disillusioned with their 
  lot in life, they would rather venture into the wastes of Terra Nova rather than spend their lives i n  servitude and virtual 
  slavery. Fleeing to the Badlands or the North, these "ronin" solicitors become a black stain on their familqs honor. Many such 
  families lose prestige, and some are executed outright by their emir for being perceived as weak. 
  The ambitious and underhanded Maceria began his career as a simple bureaucrat given as a present to ICP by 
  the emir of Skavara. From there, Maceria rose through the ranks quickly, becoming appointed as regional vice- 
  president in TN 1931 - 
  the highest appointment a solicitor has ever been granted in a foreign corporation. 
  While an astute businessman, it was Maceria's hunger for power that vaulted him to the position. Willing to 
  sell his own league out in return for advancement, he has used his intimate understanding of the emirate 
  system to give ICP an advantage over other corporations in the ESE. Maceria has little respect for the emirs 
  who casually "gave" him away, and wants nothing more than to see them suffer. Gradually, under Maceria, ICP 
  has been purchasing a substantial amount of prime real estate, with plans to slowly take over much of the 
  ESE's industrial capabilities after the war. Recently, Maceria has been meeting with Andrea Bether, a woman he 
  believes represents one of Skavaran Emir Gavriel Draho's estranged cousins. Bether seems to want to purchase 
  his allegiance and covertly acquire the ICP-owned real estate. Maceria i s  very interested, unaware that her 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Emirate society developed in the years following the crash landing of the Eastern Sun, when all hope of returning home 
  was lost. Stranded on Terra Nova, the men and women of Enri Masao’s crew soon spread out to the surrounding areas. Most 
  officers, however, being part of a merchant crew, made use of their bargaining skills and resources rather than brute force 
  to establish themselves as the powers-that-be i n  the area. Although the officers left their ship behind, they never 
  renounced their captain, acknowledging his authority and prominence over them as emirate society began to form. 
  Within a few short cycles, the emirs and their emirates (a term coined by Enri Masao himself) became the only stable form 
  of government i n  a league dominated by warlords and petty strongmen. The pattern of succession was also rapidly 
  established: most often the eldest child (like Erik Masao) would ascend to the emirate throne, but an emir had the option 
  to name another child as heir apparent. In the case where no children were available (or acceptable), cousins and siblings 
  could succeed. 
  The emirs and their families form the aristocracy of the league, holding the most concrete power of the ESE, almost 
  rivaling that of the Patriarch. Their loyalty to (or fear of) the Patriarch, however, ensures that he remains i n  firm control 
  of the league. Each emir is the dominant authority i n  his emirate, wielding power of life and death over his domain. Few 
  emirs show any qualms or remorse i n  demonstrating their dominance over their subjects. 
  Technically speaking, the emirs are all equally important and autonomous, each ruling his emirate while heeding the 
  Patriarch’s wishes. This does not mean that all emirs are actually on equal footing, however. Some have held more prestige 
  over the ages than others, due either to their emirate or their relationship with the Patriarch. Emirates are classified as 
  prominent, lesser and rural. Prominent emirates are the real powers i n  the ESE, and are associated with one of the city- 
  states of the league. To limit their influence, two or more emirs usually share prominent emirates. The emirate of Skavara 
  is a prime example of the unequal rankings. Not only have the emirs of Skavara always enjoyed close ties with the 
  Patriarch, but the ruins of the Emtern Sun give the emirate added political clout. 
  Lesser emirates fluctuate between periods of influence and obscurity. The majority of these lesser emirates are not 
  geographic, but ceremonial i n  nature, such as the Warden of the Eastern Sun. Rural Emirates exist in the political 
  backwater of the ESE. Composed of poor emirs, or maladjusted relations, the rural emirates hold little power save by 
  pledging their support to one of the prominent emirs. 
  Influential emirs usually try to gather as many lesser emirs under their banner as possible, to increase their standing and 
  to solidify their positions. Where one emir i s  powerless against the Patriarch, a coalition of emirs becomes a formidable 
  bloc. Alliances, favors, promises and intrigue are all part and parcel of the emirate political scene, often encouraged by 
  the Patriarch. 
  I n  order to perpetuate their power base, the emirs understand the need to maintain the status-quo. At the same time, this 
  facade of unity and camaraderie serves t o  hide any weakness or dissension from the Patriarch, the masses and the 
  Southern Republic’s ever-watchful eyes. This is also the case in the Free Emirates, and while Shirow and Bhravo have their 
  differences, most of the time they are able to hide them and present a strong front to outsiders. 
  Of all the emirs, the Patriarch is the most famous and visible, recognized as his league’s head-of-state by the rest of Terra 
  Nova. Although Enri Masao is credited as having been the first Patriarch of the Eastern Sun Emirates, the title did not 
  appear until the ascension of his son Erik to the position. Nonetheless, the power and authority of Enri Masao laid the 
  foundation for future Patriarchs. I n  essence, the Patriarch i s  there to guide and protect his league, including not only the 
  shajhalin but his emirs as well. The Patriarch i s  the heart of the ESE, and Enri Masao best exemplified this. 
  The scepter of power was once held out of duty to the league and the Eastern Sun. Today, fear, manipulation and brutality 
  assure the Patriarch of his title. Upon ascending t o  the throne, or shortly before, the future Patriarch begins to forge ties 
  with emirs that share his vision. I n  this sense, successful Patriarchs set the mood of their court and the emirates, because 
  they ensure that their supporters also attain position of power. Therefore, the more cruel and decadent the Patriarchy 
  became with time, the more the emirs followed out of desire to remain in the good graces of the Patriarch. While his 
  power is not absolute, even emirs that disapprove of a Patriarch, or his passions, bow down to him for fear of losing their 
  standing, and more importantly, their lives. 
  As the ultimate authority in the Eastern Sun Emirates, the Patriarch is the most powerful figure i n  the league. The fact 
  that the emirs are often at each others’ throats (in private at least) keeps them divided and therefore easy to control. The 
  Patriarch is influential in settling disputes between the emirs, and likewise all matters concerning the league as a whole 
  fall under his jurisdiction. During times of war, the Patriarch becomes the commander-in-chief of the emirate forces. The 
  Patriarch might also call a War Council to serve as his aides during the war, or cede command of Emirate forces t o  an emir, 
  known as the Commodore. This appointment is based solely on politics - 
  military acumen and experience rarely factor 
  into the equation. The Patriarch determines all aspects of emirate justice and only he has the power to try and punish the 
  emirs. Traditionally, this power allows the Patriarch to keep the emirs in check. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  League-wide institutions such as police forces, legal systems and health ministries are unheard of i n  the ESE. The emirs 
  are left to organize their own emirates as they see fit, providing whatever services and institutions they please - 
  as long 
  as they do not counter the Patriarch's wishes. For example, the communal infrastructure of Javari is markedly different 
  from Skavara's industrial nature. Matters pertaining to the league are the providence of the Patriarch, but even for these, 
  there are no hard and fast rules. Decisions are just as likely to be made through whim and chance as informed consent. 
  The Patriarch's court is the closest thing t o  a governing body in the ESE. In the past, the Patriarch would call a meeting 
  known as a conclave. which all emirs would attend, and discuss whatever matter was of import at the time. As time has 
  passed, these conclaves have degenerated into feasts where intrigue and social jockeying are more likely to take place 
  than any sort of political discussion. Also gone is the emirs' duty to advise and counsel the Patriarch for the good of the 
  league, replaced instead with their desire to increase their own influence within the court. 
  Aside from the Patriarch's court, the only other body that oversees the running of the league is the Solicitor Senate. The 
  Senate tries to coordinate the efforts of the solicitors, gaining a modicum of efficiency for the Eastern Sun Emirates. The 
  Senate informs the emirs of potential administrative problems and oversees the fragile infrastructure of the ESE. Limited 
  by the emirs, the Senate wields power only as long as the emirs allow it to. If the senators overstep their bounds, the 
  emirs and Patriarch have no qualms about shutting it down. In i t s  history, the Senate has twice been disbanded outright, 
  although both times it was later reconvened. 
  The military might of the league i s  comprised entirely of the personal retinues of various emirs, and these have very Little 
  in common with each other, much less with the typical organization of conventional military forces. When the ESE goes 
  to war, its forces are nothing more than an ad-hoc assortment of the various emirates' forces clumped under the banner 
  of the Patriarch. These individual forces vary i n  size, organization, composition and training. Some are highly trained and 
  equipped, paraded through the emirate as symbols of power, while others are poorly trained bands of criminals and 
  conscripts forced into service by the emir. 
  Contrary t o  popular belief, emirs are not obliged to cede control of their retinues whenever the Patriarch wants to go to 
  war. Most do so as a chance to gain the favor of the Patriarch, and gladly send a portion, if not all, of their forces. It i s  
  common for an emir to leave a garrison behind to safeguard his emirate and to quell any potential riots that might break 
  out. Another reason for doing this i s  to protect the emirate from expansionist rivals. 
  During times of revolt, matters are different. Each emir i s  supposed to be able to deal with insurrection on his own 
  (otherwise, they would not be emirs). If this is not possible, and the Patriarch is forced to lend assistance, it is a sure bet 
  that the weak emir will not be i n  power for much longer. 
  Although these retinues are commanded by the emir, it is common practice to name a relative (or influential solicitor) to 
  the position of commander, or sirdar. Emirate forces can have one or numerous sirdars commanding, depending on the size 
  of the force. Being named sirdar carries considerable respect and power, especially for solicitors because it effectively 
  promotes them to lesser-emir status. The emir commonly provides some resources with which the sirdar can raise and 
  maintain his units, but most commanders usually make use of their own personal wealth to better equip their forces - 
  though some unscrupulous sirdars keep the emir's contributions for themselves. 
  At the behest of the AST, the ESE's forces had to adopt a number of standard features, but these are mostly cosmetic i n  
  nature. Each emirate retinue consists of a number of centuries, each composed i n  turn of anywhere from three t o  20 
  cadres. Each century is akin to typical regiments, and each follows its own set of traditions and rituals. These centuries 
  (and cadres) are named after their commanders, though nicknames are common and most use heraldic paint schemes and 
  decorations i n  addition to (or even instead of) traditional camouflage or military colors. 
  The concepts of sections and platoons are non-existent in the ESE. Each cadre is commanded either by a havildar, who i s  
  a distant relative of the emir, a solicitor, or on very rare occasions, a commoner. These cadres are not neatly organized 
  military units of the same types, but often incorporate mixed forces. It i s  not rare to see a cadre containing three Gears, 
  an APC, an infantry escouade and a strider all commanded by the same havildar. Standard unit organization is rare in the 
  ESE, but certain "modern" emirates - 
  Skavara for example - 
  follow the same structure as MILICIA units. 
  This level of diversity is one of the ESE's greatest military assets, mainly because most cadres are self-sufficient and travel 
  with their own supply caravan, giving them tactical flexibility that typical cadres do not have. Their greatest downfall, 
  however, is that they are strategically unwieldy. Coordinating supplies and actions between radically diverse cadres is 
  almost impossible, and the lack of any standard organization, not to mention different levels of training and equipment. 
  often leads to Logistical nightmares that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  From their vaulted palaces and lavish courts the emirs of the ESE play one of Terra Nova's most intricate and deadly games 
  of manipulation and intrigue. As rulers of the ESE, whose authority can only be superseded by the will of the Patriarch, 
  they spend much of their time pursuing their desires and pleasures, ensuring that the serfs below them stay i n  line and 
  labor at their allotted tasks. 
  Even with this Byzantine power structure, the emirs understand the need to present a united front to the masses and the 
  other Southern powers. They are aware that too much infighting and intrigue only weaken them and the league in turn. 
  Because of this, most emirs justify their actions as being crucial to the survival of the ESE. 
  Emirate politics, like their class system, i s  unforgiving and treacherous. Those emirs who rock the boat face a rapid and 
  brutal response that maintains the status quo. The War of the Alliance and the execution of those emirs who collaborated 
  (see sidebar, p. 12), as well as the formation of the Free Emirates and the current Interpolar War, have created an unstable 
  political climate in the ESE. The Patriarch i s  struggling to maintain control over the league, and a number of emirs have 
  begun to sense his growing madness. The majority of the emirs, fearful that their lavish lifestyles and privileges are at 
  risk, have been gripped by apocalyptic fervor and are vehemently supporting the Patriarch i n  his eradication of the Free 
  Emirate heresy, adding fuel to the fire. These emirs have secluded themselves in their palaces, believing that by shutting 
  out the outside world they can prevent the future from happening, drowning themselves in orgies of blood and deca- 
  dence. 
  Some emirs, weary of the excesses prevalent in the league, have become sympathizers to the Free Emirates and are 
  secretly considering pledging their allegiance to Nigel Shirow and Rafael Bhravo. Shirow's marriage to Lysia Masao has 
  made this proposition popular among some of the more radical emirs. Fearful of Oliver's rapid descent into madness, some 
  emirs would be willing to follow Shirow as Regent of a Masao heir. A t  the same time, certain self-interested parties wish 
  to curtail the power of Patriarch Masao. Not driven to remove Oliver from the throne, they would rather see him turned 
  into a figurehead, allowing more pragmatic and capable emirs to crush the Free Emirates and reestablish the ESE as a 
  power i n  the South. 
  Of the loyal emirates, four emirs have risen to the fore i n  the last few cycles. Standing in sharp contrast to Oliver Masao 
  is the levelheaded and practical Emir Gavriel Draho of Skavara. A well-connected man, with ties deep i n  the Southern 
  Republic and the Dominion, Draho has also proven himself as a skilled tactician during the two cycles of the Interpolar 
  War. The leading emir of Cimmaro, Sirrano Barjhal i s  the Patriarch's,right hand man and close friend. Finally, the Emirs 
  Leda Gilan of Javari and Anurima Khajar of Smyrna have formed a close bond and Oliver Masao consults with them 
  frequently. 
  There are, of course, many other emirs who support the Patriarch against the rebels in the Free Emirates. Often these emirs 
  fall under the influence of one of their more prominent brethren, either because they are secondary emirs within the city- 
  states controlled by these "stars" or because they rule lesser or rural emirates somehow dependent on the city-states. The 
  relationships between a prominent emir and his fellow aristocrats vary considerably. In Cimmaro, Sirrano Barjhal recently 
  blinded his fellow emir Oschar Sethyra and killed his children, making clear just how ephemeral the lattefs power really 
  was. I n  Smyrna, the situation is more civil, as all three local emirs are sisters. The leading sister, Anurima Khajar, does not 
  always see eye to eye with her siblings, however - 
  indeed, her sister Shara i s  one of her prime rivals and is working with 
  the GREL desert warlord, Colonel Proust. The rural and lesser emirs who support the Patriarch can be roughly divided 
  between those who do so to curry favor and those who do so out of tradition. The former generally inhabit Strathclyde and 
  spend a great deal of time seeking influence with more powerful emirs at court. The others tend to remain in their own 
  emirates, supporting the Patriarch because he bears the name of Enri Masao, all the while bemoaning the madness 
  gripping their league. 
  I Basal 
  1 
  Free Emirates I 
  I Bangweuleu 
  2 
  Free Emirates I 
  1 
  Cimmaro 
  2 
  Patriarch I 
  4 
  Patriarch I 
  1 - 
  bmyrna 
  3 
  Lesser Emirates 
  24 
  Divided (17 Patnarch, 7 Free Emirates) 
  Rural Emirates 
  10 
  Divided (7 Patriarch. 3 Free Emirates) 
  - 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  3.21 OllYER MRSRO, P ~ T ~ I ~ ~ ~ H  
  OF THE ESE 
  Few individuals inspire such loathing and repulsion and, at the same time, admiration and reverence as Oliver Masao. At 
  the youthful age of 44 cycles, Oliver Masao, the 18th Patriarch of the Eastern Sun Emirates, has ruled his league for over 
  twenty cycles. Unfortunately for him, and the league as a whole, events are spiraling out of control and the reigns are 
  slipping from his hands. During his time in power Masao has been witness t o  two of the most significant events in ESE 
  history since the Eastern Sun’s landing: the War of the Alliance and the Basalite, now Free Emirate, rebellion. The 
  Interpolar War has only whetted the Patriarch’s thirst for violence, and now Oliver wants nothing more than to lose 
  himself i n  bloodshed. Not being able to organize his time as he pleases, the Patriarch has become an intensely cruel and 
  vicious leader, making his displeasure known to his subjects and his fellow emirs. To make matters worse, Oliver Masao is 
  notorious for the inconsistent manner i n  which he issues his edicts, often passing dozens of contradictory decrees a day. 
  Oliver Masao is a man who i s  not only losing control of his league, but of himself as well. His self-proclaimed decadence 
  and his stern and obsessive declarations have earned him a reputation as a heartless and immoral tyrant. Born into a life 
  of excess and power, the Patriarch’s urges know no bounds and there is nothing he finds taboo. 
  This image, however, is only a small part of the truth. Oliver Masao was once filled with hope, but this, along with his 
  youthful idealism, had no place i n  the climate of the ESE. The War of the Alliance and the schism created by the 
  collaborators only ensured that whatever hopeful dreams Masao had were utterly destroyed. 
  Masao is ultimately a tragic figure: his fate i s  directly tied t o  both the past of the ESE and its future. This pressure, 
  however, has proven t o  be too much for Masao, and buckling under it, he has let his league collapse around him. 
  Unfortunately for Masao, it is too late for him to change the present course of events, and he will forever be known as the 
  egotistical tyrant he has become. 
  This realization has made Oliver Masao a time bomb waiting to explode. 
  Vital Statistics 4 
  I Alliecr 
  Lord Protector Molav IASTI. Emir Barihal ICimmaroI 
  I 
  > ,  
  , 
  ,
  ,
   
  .. __ 
  mM(I: 
  Emir Shiiow (Basal), Lord Chancellor Tanaka (AST) 
  Goals: 
  The eradication of the Free Emirates. 
  Regardless of the current woes ailing the league, Oliver Masao i s  still its ruler and the emirs realize this: even 
  those who have begun to question his sanity pay more than just lip service to him. His staunchest ally is Emir 
  Sirrano Barjhal of Cimmaro, who has become the Patriarch’s right-hand man. The other emirs heed his wishes, 
  enjoying the power and prestige they have under him. This prestige, however, is waning, although the Interpolar 
  War and the rebellions have kept most emirs too busy to notice or do something about the decline. 
  One of the few things Oliver has done right i s  forge close ties with Lord Protector Molay. Though Molay thinks 
  little of the Patriarch himself, the Lord Protector fears that if Shirow or another emir becomes Patriarch, they 
  will probably defect from the AST, weakening the South. So for now, Masao enjoys the support of the AST and 
  MILICIA, but sooner or later even Molay will see what a liability Oliver is. 
  The masses of the ESE have endured Masao and his brutality for over 20 cycles. Much of the divine aura around 
  Oliver has faded and most shajhalin regard the 18th Patriarch as an abomination to the Masao name. 
  Current Concerns 4 
  Conditions within the league are currently not i n  the Patriarch’s favor. The Basalite rebellion of TN 1931 and 
  the formation of the Free Emirates four cycles later placed the spotlight squarely on Masao. Pressured both 
  internally and externally to resolve the matter, the situation came to a head when the Interpolar War began. 
  Shirow’s alliance with the North demonstrated to everyone the severity of the instability of the ESE, and its 
  ramifications across the South. Had Shirow been dealt with beforehand, the North would have faced resist- 
  ance crossing into the ESE which would certainly have delayed their advance into the former Humanist 
  Alliance. 
  The Interpolar War momentarily lifted the Patriarch’s spirits. When news came of the war, he marshaled his 
  troops and for the first time i n  decades led his forces into battle. Launching a number of offensives against 
  the Free Emirates, the Patriarch’s enthusiasm soon dampened as each attack met with defeat. Retiring to the 
  Ethereal Palace, bitter and tired of the war and the whole situation, Masao i s  contemplating evoking a seldom 
  used power to grant one of his emirs command of the emirate forces as Commodore. Doing so would allow 
  Oliver to ignore the war and wile away his time, waiting for an end to his torment. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Masao's "Mothers Massacre," starting TN 1932, proved to the world that the Patriarch's amorality knew no bounds. Formed 
  as a direct challenge to Lord Chancellor Tanaka, the Mothers' Massacre outraged the planet. With the declaration that his 
  throne would go to his last surviving son or daughter, Masao's countless wives, concubines and lovers began plotting 
  against each other almost immediately, unleashing an epidemic of assassinations across Strathclyde. I n  TN 1933 Masao, 
  under pressure to end the Mothers' Massacre, aggravated the situation by extending the killing spree to include any and 
  all Masao relatives. Aside from public outcry, the challenge placed the entire Masao family, and more importantly the 
  Patriarchy, i n  danger. By TN 1936, the Mothers' Massacre had spilled over into neighboring leagues. Even Molay was 
  forced to acknowledge that Masao had gone too far, but was powerless to stop the Patriarch. 
  Back home the move created more tension among the emirs. Normally loyal emirs saw the move as pure lunacy, and few 
  visibly supported Masao and his edict. A few, like Emir Draho, outright denounced the massacre - 
  only his position and 
  status prevented Masao from reprimanding him. For Emir Armann Boash of Bangweuleu, it proved the last straw and 
  opened him up to the possibility of rebelling and siding with Shirow. 
  With the establishment of the Free Emirates i n  1935 and the outbreak of the Interpolar War a cycle later, the Mothers' 
  Massacre has lost some momentum. I n  1936 Lysia Masao, Olivefs sister, was targeted, but narrowly escaped the assassi- 
  nation attempt. Her husband, Lord Chancellor Hemami, was not so lucky. Although a front by the Southern Republic, 
  Hemami's assassination resulted in the only real threat t o  Oliver Masao's mantle as Patriarch - 
  the marriage between 
  Shirow and Lysia. If Shirow and Lysia can survive the Mothers' Massacre, there might be hope for the ESE. 
  To the world at large, Oliver Masao is an incarnation of narcissistic evil, but the truth is more complex, and more tragic. 
  Oliver Masao was raised i n  an environment of utter decadence, and taught that all about him lived and died for his whims. 
  He was also born with sociopathic tendencies that could have been treated were he not automatically deemed to be 
  perfect by those around him. I n  TN 1912, Oliver ascended to the purple and gold after watching his mother assassinated 
  by agents of his father. His sense of duty toward the Masao name staved off his deranged tendencies, and he had his 
  father quietly executed. He remained stable until he discovered that several of the high-ranking emirs to whom he looked 
  for guidance had been collaborating with Earth. He realized that the traditions t o  which he clung were corrupt, and 
  without that moral underpinning, his madness grew i n  leaps and bounds. It ultimately manifested i n  the conviction that 
  his whole lineage was cursed - hence the Mothers' Massacre. In his moments of lucidity, Oliver i s  a sorrowful man who 
  feels the weight of history pushing him into his grave - it is this man who stole Emir Leda Gilan's heart. Her affection 
  has given him the will to undertake one last exercise in hope, one that has him looking toward a Boy-King who bears him 
  a striking resemblance ... 
  My dearest Leda, 
  How long has it been since we saw each other? I write from the marshes of Okavango, from the comfort of my 
  Royal bunker as the attack on Bhravo's palace continues. I am dirty and tired, but my servants are attending 
  to me - 
  what a sharp contrast between their pale skin and the clammy look of a corpse. Leda, never have I 
  been so surrounded by death! At times like these I 
  long to show others the serenity that death affords. I grow 
  tired of this war and the rebellion. How long has it been since that bastard Shirow ruined my life? Cycles? 
  Decades? I do not care anymore, as long as Shirow suffers as I have; for that matter, as Long as everyone feels 
  the pain I do. 
  For ten miserable days I've been here, leading troops that fail t o  understand the significance of the war we 
  fight. What is one soldiefs sacrifice when the honor of the Eastern Sun stands i n  the balance? I 
  feel it, you 
  know, the presence of that silent mausoleum of my ancestors. I feel it looking down at me from its heights 
  near Skavara, imposing and looming, judging everything I 
  do. I n  the thick of battle, the deathly silence of 
  that tomb drowns out the screams of my men as they charge to their deaths. At night, as I lie i n  bed, I feel 
  them come i n  the shadows, my mummified ancestors, and all they can say i s  "why?" This is why I 
  want my 
  children killed, so they are not haunted by the past. And people see me as cruel: if they only knew ... 
  I 
  cannot bear it anymore -even the torture of rebel prisoners bores me. Looking out to the floating city, the 
  xene is reminiscent of the oil painting hanging i n  your chamber, the only difference i s  the thick plumes of 
  smoke and reddish light that bathes my surroundings. I would lie to you were I 
  to say that I did not wish to 
  see it all i n  flames. To see Tanaka and Shirow slowly burn, their flesh crackling and their organs boiling. To see 
  the ungrateful masses tear each other apart i n  a vain attempt to escape their doom. And my emirs, unappre- 
  ciated i n  this backwater of a planet, feel the sweet touch of death and the release it affords. How I wish Enri 
  had never given the order to "rescue" Terra Nova, to condemn his descendants to this barbaric planet. 
  As for myself, I just want to gather the ashes and vanish forever, knowing peace at last. 
  - Oliver Masao 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Gavriel Draho, descendant of the one of the Eastern Sun's senior officers and Enri Masao's closest friend, i s  the emir 
  responsible for the venerated city-state of Skavara. Skavara's importance is rooted i n  the ruin of the Eastern Sun, which 
  overshadows the city-state. From his palace located on one of the tallest peaks i n  the Serpentine Range, Draho rules his 
  city-state with harsh discipline and no tolerance for shajhalin troublemakers. Although Draho and Ghetan Jetta share the 
  emirate of Skavara, the latter is nothing more than a lackey to Emir Gavriel. Jetta's responsibility is to ensure that the 
  vaunted emir's plans are carried out to the letter. 
  Throughout i t s  history, the emirate has always been one of the most important i n  the ESE. Enjoying strong connections 
  to the Mekong Dominion and the Southern Republic, Skavara and its emirs act as a buffer between the Patriarch and the 
  other Southern powers. for this reason, the City-state hosts a number of delegates and embassies, sheltered from the 
  excessive deviance of Oliver Masao and the Ethereal Palace. 
  Emir Draho rose to power shortly before the War of the Alliance. Gavriel's father, Constanz Draho, ceded his title to his son 
  in TN 1911. Constanz was one of the emirs secretly executed for collaborating during the War. The execution of the 
  venerated Constanz Draho i s  without a doubt one of the darkest moments i n  the history of the Emirate of Skavara and a 
  blemish Draho carries to this day, unable to fully rid himself of the stigma of his fathel's betrayal. 
  I n  the cycles after the war, Draho worked hard to reestablish his family and emirate's reputation. He did this by establish- 
  ing Skavara as an industrial power i n  the ESE. Pushing his shajhalin workers to the limit, Draho ensured that Skavara 
  Heavy Industries was there to meet the demand of the arms race developing between the poles. Under his supervision, 
  SHI won a number of subcontracts from Territorial Arms, increasing its production nearly 100% i n  seven cycles. 
  Politically. Draho was the first emir to welcome Lord Chancellor Tanaka to the Eastern Sun Emirates, wanting to establish- 
  ing a power base outside the emirs. Thanks to these connections, as well as his own skill and ambition, Draho has been 
  able to balance, and even counter, the Patriarch's growing madness. Practical and pragmatic, Draho i s  extremely proud of 
  being an emir and would like nothing more than to see the Eastern Sun Emirates emerge from its current troubles stronger 
  than ever before. 
  Emfrats 
  Skavara 
  Allies: 
  .ord Chancellor Tanaka IASTI. Soeader Soaabe IMOI. Anunma Knaiar ISmvrnai. 
  .
  ,
   
  . 
  .
  I
   
  ,
  .
  ,
  I
   
  Emir Shima (Baraf) 
  I Goals: 
  To be named as Commodore of the ESE so he mav suoolant Masao's Dower. 1 
  The emirate of Skavara has always held a special position i n  the ESE, being akin to a holy site and seat of 
  government. Lord Chancellor Tanaka is a good friend of the emir, as Draho is one of the few "degenerates"t0 
  whom he can relate, resulting in increased AST and Southern Republican presence within Skavara. Many have 
  accused Draho of being a lackey to the AST, but he shrugs off such accusations as he watches other emirates 
  struggle economically, hampered by uprisings and revolts. 
  Draho and the Patriarch have come close to open confrontation i n  the past, especially during the War of the 
  Alliance. Draho, a keen strategist, was partially responsible for the moderate success against the CEF forces 
  towards the end of the war, and one of the few emirs to be decorated by the AST for his actions. The men share 
  very little i n  common, and Gavriel Draho i s  always ready to point out the Patriarch's flaws and mistakes, but 
  makes sure to do so i n  private t o  prevent the whole league from losing face. 
  ~ ~ ~ r ~ n t  
  ~ o n c ~ ~ n s  
  4 
  Draho, a strong and opinionated man, has been on good terms with Lord Chancellor Tanaka, and for this 
  reason i s  distrusted by most emirs. The emir understands the importance of being part of the AST, and has had 
  vicious arguments with the emirs from other city-states over the issue. Without the AST, Draho proclaims, the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates' fragile economy would make it easy pickings for the Mekong Dominion and the Northern 
  powers. Although Draho eventually discovered Tanaka's role in the secretive Oxford Accord, he also understood 
  that it was the actions of Masao that hastened such an accord. 
  A decorated veteran of the War of the Alliance, Draho has become one of the few emirs to find success in the 
  raging Interpolar War. While the Patriarch has been largely unsuccessful i n  moving against Okavango, Draho 
  has caused no end of trouble for Free Emirate forces near Basal and Northern troops i n  the Mekong Dominion. 
  Draho's goal i s  not personal gain, but hopes of being named Commodore of the league. As Commodore, Draho's 
  power would almost rival the Patriarch's, allowing him to orchestrate the rebirth of the ESE. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Sirrano Barjhal has a habit of always being at the right place at the right time. Always a shadowy player in the emirate 
  court, Barjhal i s  Oliver Masao's right-hand man. A lover of Oliver's mother, Svetlana, Bajhal practically raised Masao as his 
  own. As Oliver grew up, it was Barjhal who introduced the future Patriarch to the benefits and perk, of belonging t o  the 
  aristocracy. Feasts, orgies and banquets were only one part of Oliver's education, as Barjhal also introduced the young 
  emir to the arts of subterfuge and manipulation. I n  many ways, Bajhal groomed the young Oliver to become his puppet, 
  but the future Patriarch never fell for it - 
  he was too wild and willful to be easily controlled. Instead, a close friendship 
  developed between the two, a bond that exists to this day. 
  I n  his late 70s, many consider Barjhal the senior player i n  emirate politics, especially since the defection of Arrnann 
  Boash. While upstarts like Gavriel Draho and Leda Gilan hog the spotlight, Bajhal moves comfortably in the shadows, 
  keeping the emirs i n  check and reporting back to Masao about any potential problems. This does not mean, however, that 
  Oliver listens, or that Bajhal waits for approval before acting on a solution. An unspoken agreement exists between the 
  two men; Bajhal will protect the Patriarch as long as Oliver stands by the emir of Cimmaro. A simple nod or hushed word 
  by Bajhal i s  enough to send most emirs scurrying, afraid of what the elder emir i s  plotting. The only emir to ever stand 
  against Barjhal is Skavara's Draho, but uncharacteristically, he let the offense slide. 
  Up until the outbreak of war, Bajhal was also involved i n  a feud with the other emir of Cimmaro, Oschar Sethyra. Famous 
  for lasting over 30 cycles, the feud came to an end at Barjhars behest when the North declared war on the South. I n  the 
  span of a short few weeks, Bajhal, with help from the Patriarch, convinced Emir Sethyra that the feud was largely 
  pointless now - by blinding him and executing his children. It is widely accepted that Bajhal kept the feud going for 
  cycles out of a perverse sense of pleasure. That he ended it signaled to the other emirs that the time for fun and games 
  was over. The move had a sobering effect among the emirs, preparing them for the realities of war. 
  b Yifal Statis~i~s 
  mrata 
  Cimmam 
  Allies: 
  Patnarcn Marao. Ky a Beadregard (Wertpna.!aJ. Saadir. '"the Spider" Jahmoon (Khayr ao-Din) 
  Rivals 
  Leda Cibn (Javan), Iashfro hyazaki (MO) 
  Goals: 
  To perpetuate his power. 
  Sirrano Barjhal is one of the key emirs i n  the ESE, not only because of his ties with Oliver Masao, but because 
  of the criminal organization that he heads. Barjhal does not parade the fact, but most are well aware of his 
  criminal dealings - 
  they are also smart enough never to bring it up in front of him. His underworld empire 
  spans the globe, known to have ties i n  the Badlands, the Republic and Mekong Dominion as well as associates 
  in the North. With interests i n  gambling, fencing, extortion, prostitution, drug trafficking, smuggling and 
  especially i n  the slave trade, Barjhal's operations have been a thorn in the foot of most of the South's policing 
  institutions, from the HAPF t o  the Dominion's Peacekeepers. Given the emir's standing and his virtual owner- 
  ship of much of Westphalia i n  the Badlands, there is little they can do to stop him. 
  Within the Emirates, Barjhal has made his reputation as a man who can make "troubles" disappear - 
  foster- 
  ing a godfather-like aura around himself. Known to extend his services mostly to lesser or rural emirs, Barjhal 
  wields considerable power in the form of favors and boons he can call in at any time. Even his rivals like Emirs 
  Gilan and Draho are wary of the influence Bajhal can wield with just a few phone calls. 
  I n  over 40 cycles of being the Emir of Cimmaro, Barjhal has dealt with a great deal, and is not too worried 
  about the excesses or growing instability of Oliver Masao. Like Draho, Barjhal is a calming force among the 
  emirs, helping to keep Oliver, and more importantly the other emirs, in check. Those who don't follow Draho 
  align themselves with Bajhal, if not out of loyaky or need, then out of fear. 
  What few realize is that Barjhal would be willing, at a moment's notice, to remove Oliver if he ever threatened 
  the survival of the league. Incompetence like the Mothers' Massacre and his bungling of the Free Emirates is 
  one thing, something Barjhal expects of all Patriarchs (which is why, behind all good Patriarchs, i n  Barjhal's 
  opinion, stand men like himself ready to keep things together). Oliver may be suicidal and unhinged, but 
  there is no way Barjhal is just going to stand by and watch his league (and more importantly, his criminal 
  empire) go down i n  flames. This is why Barjhal has had his men track and protect certain relatives of Masao. 
  It was an agent of Barjhal who stepped in at the last moment and saved Lysia Masao from assassination, and 
  to this day both she and Nigel are unknowingly "protected" by the bloated emir. Barjhal is a survivor and sees 
  which way the wind is blowing. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  . 
  3.2.4 1EIlA GILRN, EMIR OF JAVRRl 
  Leda Gilan has matured considerably i n  the seven cycles that she has ruled the emirate of Javari. Inheriting the throne 
  after her mother Hylena died during a shajhalin riot, Leda’s dynamism and perseverance have made her one of the rising 
  stars i n  emirate politics. Known for her radical anti-Free Emirate stance and for her stern oppression of her shajhalin, Leda 
  has also revitalized the struggling emirate of Javari, recovering some of the glory it Lost during its decade-long depression 
  following the War of the Alliance. 
  Ironically, Leda was raised i n  a radically progressive emirate by her mother. Hylena, though well meaning, was desperate 
  to add meaning to her existence and was prone to flights of fancy. She regularly invited mystics from all over Terra Nova 
  to stay with her, and for a period before the War of the Alliance Javari was one of the archdioceses of the Jerusalemite 
  church. Many perceived Hylena as a loose cannon, but it was only when she adopted the son of her shajhalin chamberlain 
  that most wrote her off as insane. Ostracized from the Patriarch’s Court, Leda and her mother lived i n  a world of their own. 
  During this time, Javari was ruled by Emir Kazuo Uther, though there was little he could do to stop Javafs downward 
  spiral into depression. 
  This exile from emirate politics protected Leda and allowed her to grow into the emir she i s  today. Not exposed to the 
  decadence of the other emirs, Leda was able to understand, as few emirs can, her role in society. Unlike her mother, Leda 
  did not have to look for some esoteric explanation of her existence - all the young emir had to do was look out her 
  window and see the shajhalin of Javari go about their daily lives. Without the shajhalin, she realized, Leda and the other 
  emirs would be nothing. At the same time, Leda realized that without the emirs, the shajhalin would be lost. Torn 
  between tyranny and compassion, Leda knows that only sacrifice will allow the ESE to prosper. 
  Beyond Leda’s outlook and spirit, her position i n  Emirate society has risen because of her relation with Oliver Masao. 
  When Leda arrived i n  Strathclyde for the first time after inheriting her emirate, it is said that Masao was speechless. Since 
  then the two have been involved i n  an unofficial affair. Most know that the two are taken by each other, but don‘t know 
  that the two have yet t o  have intimate relations. This uncharacteristic chastity on the Patriarch’s part had worried Leda 
  when they first began their relationship, because she took it as a form of rejection. She has come to understand, however, 
  that Oliver looks to her as a source of sanity and strength, and fears he would succumb t o  his madness altogether were he 
  to give i n  to his desire for her. 
  Vital Statistics 4 
  Pnlimtt 
  .laan 
  r A l l i e s :  
  Patriarch Masao, Emir Draho (Skavara) I 
  I 
  Emir Barjhal (Cimmaro) 
  Torn between fol owing O.iver or Drano. 
  Rival,: 
  Goals: 
  l l l ~ u ~ n c ~  
  4 
  Outside her emirate, Leda Gilan’s influence i s  not as tangible or extensive. It i s  true that she has forged close 
  ties with men like Gavriel Draho and Lord Protector Molay as well as other anti-Free Emirate emirs, but most 
  see the young Leda as a power for the future, not the present. Her inexperience with military matters has 
  placed her at a great disadvantage with the war with the North and the Free Emirates - there i s  only so far 
  one can get with ambition and rhetoric. I n  addition, her relationship with Oliver Masao has not helped 
  matters. 
  Emirs such as Cimmaro’s Sirrano Barjhal and Smyrna‘s Anurima Khajar feel that the only reason Leda holds any 
  power is due to her love affair with the Patriarch. Painted as an opportunist by the Southern tabloids, Leda 
  has had a hard time changing public (and emirate) perception of her as just another pretty face. Those who 
  know, or who pay attention, realize that Leda i s  more than a star-crossed child and that she is one of the few 
  who can help the ESE get back on its feet. 
  CuFrellt Concein 4 
  Leda is currently torn between her desire to establish herself as a real power among the emirs and her love for 
  Masao. Few know what she sees in him, but if she were ever to be forced to define it, it would have to be his 
  frailty. The Masao that everyone knows is only a shell draped around the real Oliver, and Leda is one of the few 
  to have ever caught a glimpse of the inner man. Part of this i s  also infatuation with the power he wields: 
  power she subconsciously wants for herself. Leda prefers t o  stay out of the Interpolar War, gladly giving Masao 
  and Gavriel Draho troops and supplies when they need them. Instead, Leda focuses on the politics of the Free 
  Emirates, traveling frequently to Strathclyde and Port Oasis and talking to Lord Chancellor Tanaka and Lord 
  Protector Molay. This has also brought her close to Draho who shares a fondness for Leda, and sees i n  her the 
  potential to become a close ally. The emirs have had long discussions, which only seems to make the Patriarch 
  verv iealous. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The emirate of Smyrna, the "City of Sages," has traditionally exerted little concrete influence; its emirs are more inter- 
  ested in accumulating knowledge and information than dirtying their hands with political power. Anurima Khajar, how- 
  ever, i s  different from the other emir-scholars of Smyrna and she uses her position as the rector of the Collegio Smyrna to 
  garner prestige and political clout, both within and without the Eastern Sun Emirates. Khajar is also known and respected 
  for her insight and intelligence, especially in the fields of astrophysics and bio-engineering, and she is considered by 
  many one of the South's most talented scientists, almost on par with the famed northerner Gawai'ne Di Smit (see Life on 
  Terra Nova, Second Edition, p. 44.). 
  I n  the cycles following the War of the Alliance, Emir Khajar was one of the scientists heading the AST's High Technology 
  Research Center in Smyrna. Established to study captured Earth technology, the HTRC quickly made advances i n  bioengi- 
  neering (often using live GREL specimens), hover-technology and astrophysics. By TN 1921 Khajar was named head of the 
  Center, but only after agreeing t o  report to a committee headed by Lord Chancellor Tanaka to ensure that work at the 
  HTRC met the AST's expectations. Her position in the HTRC allowed Khajar to move i n  highly select circles, forming close 
  ties with the Humanist Alliance Department of Health and Morality and the Southern Republic Aerospace Directorate. 
  Most assume Khajar's fascination with Earth technology stems from her highly refined intellect and scientific curiosity. 
  Her dedication to the Center and its cause i s  almost legendary, and i n  the twenty cycles of its existence, she has geared 
  all of Smyrna's resources into supporting the center, much to the pleasure of Tanaka and the other Southern observers. 
  What few know is that during the dark days of the War of the Alliance, Anurima Khajar was one of the Earth-collaborators. 
  Escaping discovery by the thinnest of margins, Khajar's work at the HTRC i s  dedicated to one purpose, and one purpose 
  only - 
  to see the blue seas of Earth. 
  . . 
  . . 
  While a patriot to the Eastern Sun Emirates, Khajar has always considered the ESE to be more of an Earther league than 
  a Terranovan one. After all, all the members of the aristocracy are originally descendants of Earth, and even the majority 
  of the shajhalin can trace their roots to the homeworld. At the same time, she feels bound to try and understand why 
  Earth turned its back on Terra Nova - answers she will only get by traveling off the planet. 
  ' 
  , 
  . 
  b Vital ~tafis~ics 
  I Allies: 
  Adnanna Xing (Massada), Prometeo Milan (SRAD), Lord Chancellor T
  a
  n
  z
  a
   
  ,
  I
   
  .
  .
   
  Rival% 
  Goals: 
  Emir Bajhal (Cimmaro), Shara Khajar (her sister and fellow emir of Smyrna) 
  To t a w  the ESE to tne stars ana bat* to its planet of ongin - Earrn. 
  b l n ~ ~ ~ n c ~  
  Aside from Cimmarite Emir, Sirrano Barjhal, Anurima Khajar is one of the few emirs whose influence extends 
  outside the Eastern Sun Emirates' borders. Respected as a scientist and theoretician, Khajar has lectured i n  
  such places as Oxford and Newton in the South and Sesshu and Fort William i n  the North. While the astrophysicist 
  Gawai'ne D i  Smit i s  unnerved by the emir's decadence, the two did correspond somewhat before the outbreak 
  of the Interpolar War. 
  Within the emirate, Khajar's influence is subtle. Unlike Draho or Bajhal, Khajar prefers the quiet approach, 
  and knows that often the best tool i n  emirate politics i s  information - 
  and the threat of i t s  release. Anurima 
  has extremely close contacts with the solicitors i n  her league, and she has formed a highly skilled spy network 
  across Terra Nova, masked as scientists and scholars. So far, her efforts are the closest thing that the ESE has 
  to an intelligence organization. All the information collected is carefully cataloged and hidden in a vault in 
  the Library of the Collegio Smyrna. This network allowed her to escape discovery as a collaborator. 
  Khajar's interest i n  astrophysics and her espionage network have combined to give her access to the biggest 
  secret on Terra Nova: the presence of spies from Earth. She participated in conversations with Gawai'ne Di Smit 
  that led to the Northerner's development of micro-gate theory. When the Northern Gateship Lhaban Emuros 
  began a search for these micro-gates, she made sure several of her agents north of the equator were aboard. 
  They have recently returned to Terranovan orbit and communicated the discovely of a so-called "Gate-coffin" 
  (see Second Edition Technical Manual, p. 67) and aboard it a liberation fighter from Caprice. This came to 
  confirm suspicions she had regarding several asteroid impacts i n  the Great White Desert investigated by 
  Goreck Recoveries (a company she owns through a shell corporation). 
  Khajar is t w n g  to gather as much intelligence about these Earth agents as she can Her agents aboard Lhaban 
  Emuros have provided few details. but she knows Lord Chancellor Tanaka is involved. She is unsure as to how 
  to act, however. Part of her thinks she should seek out the Earthen and resume her collaboration. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  I 
  The power bloc for the Free Emirates is composed of the emirates of Basal, Okavango, Bangweuleu and, since the summer 
  of TN 1936, the former Humanist Alliance city-state of Raleigh. A coalition of rebel emirs tied together only in their desire 
  to separate themselves from the rule of Oliver Masao, the Free Emirates i s  far from an organized and solid political power. 
  Recent events, however, have helped regulate the Free Emirates, and with each passing season its influence and standing 
  grows. Presently, it is a Loose association of emirs, all with their own motives, and more importantly, their own vision as 
  to what comes next. It is a sure bet that if Oliver Masao was removed from power today and the Interpolar War ended, the 
  situation in the Free Emirates would be far from stable. 
  Seven cycles of war have devastated the Free Emirates; the cities themselves are i n  ruins and their economies long-since 
  collapsed. Basal has suffered the worst, and what was once the jewel of the Eastern Plain is today nothing more than a 
  shantytown. Nigel Shirow has coped, mainly by using his family's resources to sustain the rebellion, but even with the 
  excessive wealth of an emir, the rebellion in Basal would have dried up long ago. I n  many ways, it has been the addition 
  of Bangweuleu and the other Free Emirates that has allowed Basal to remain in play. For this reason, both Emir Armann 
  Boash and Emir Rafael Bhravo have a certain power over Shirow. 
  Internally, aside from the occasional jockeying, the three emirs understand that they must be able to place their personal 
  differences aside, for the survival of the Free Emirates rests solely on their ability to work together. While many acknowl- 
  edge the fact that Nigel Shirow is the head of the Free Emirates, especially in light of his recent marriage to Lysia Masao, 
  both Armann Boash and Rafael Bhravo have the potential to rival him. The aging Boash is the most pragmatic of the 
  three, and the most willing to broker a compromise with either the Patriarch or some other Southern power. Bhravo, on 
  the other hand, has created a cult of personality around himself, and the young emir's charisma and fanaticism are highly 
  contagious. Long gone is the time when Shirow led because he was the first emir to rebel. His actions during the 
  Interpolar War have shown many that Nigel i s  not above intrigue and underhanded tricks to ensure the viability of his 
  leadership. Even though the Free Emirates have come a long way since the early days of the Basalite Rebellion, all three 
  leaders have much to learn and prove before the rest of the Eastern Sun Emirates (or Terra Nova, for that matter) accepts 
  them as legitimate. 
  Externally, the Free Emirates face a number of challenges i n  the cycles to come. The Interpolar War has been both a 
  blessing and a curse. The defection of the Humanist Alliance Protection Force and Archon Mykael Navar helped give the 
  Free Emirates the semblance of an infrastructure, and more importantly, an organized military. These two facts are largely 
  responsible for the Free Emirate's success against Southern advances i n  the early days of the war. 
  The arrival of Northern forces, and their recognition of the Free Emirates as a distinct entity from the ESE, was a boost for 
  the rebels, vaulting the Free Emirates from a mere rebellion t o  a fledgling state (if only i n  the eyes of the trideo 
  watchers). At the same time, Shirow and Boash are wary of Northern influence, knowing that the Arctic Leagues will stop 
  at nothing if it means having a vassal state i n  the South. So, on the one hand, the free Emirates accept the North, but on 
  the other they are very reluctant to sell themselves so cheaply. 
  The Interpolar War has also drawn a sharp line between the Free Emirates and their Southern sympathizers. Their actions 
  after the fall of the HA, and the Free Emirate alliance with the Northern troops, have forced men like Prime Minister 
  deRouen to turn their backs on Shirow and company. At one time deRouen saw Nigel as a stabilizing force i n  the ESE, but 
  with the war and the Prime Minister's own problems, the head of the Republic can no longer help Shirow. Lord Chancellor 
  Tanaka is in the same boat, but unlike the Prime Minister, Tanaka has tried to keep at least the channels of communication 
  open, his eyes firmly on the post-war cycles. 
  One of Emir Shirow's first actions shortly after seceding from Strathclyde was to establish the Chamber. A select body of 
  advisors and military aids, the main task of the Chamber was to help Shirow coordinate the rebellion, including directing 
  the guerrilla war and looking after the needs of the people of Basal. The creation of the Chamber lent the Emir a 
  considerable amount of credibility and demonstrated his desire for change. As the rebellion grew, Shirow expanded the 
  Chamber, giving Bangweuleu, Okavango and Raleigh all equal share and representation i n  the Chamber. As the Chamber 
  expanded, Shirow assumed the title of Imam to cement his authority among the Free Emirates. A far cry from a legislative 
  body, the Chamber nevertheless forms the political backbone of the Free Emirates. 
  For all intents and purposes, it is Shirow who has the final say in matters concerning the Chamber, but he is careful not 
  to abuse his power, knowing that such actions would only work against him. I n  past cycles, he has made it a point to 
  allow Boash, and to a limited extent Bhravo, to change and shape the Chamber, further adding t o  its status as the Free 
  Emirates' governing body. Shirow has also allowed Northern representatives a voice i n  the Chamber. Although the North- 
  ern military and diplomatic officials are observers with no voting power, they are involved i n  many Chamber debates. 
  Some members, especially those from Okavango, have begun to wonder aloud if Shirow is not selling off their freedom in 
  exchange for military support. Every new Northern "request" adds fuel to the fire. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  So much has changed for Nigel Shirow since he stood on the balcony of his palace and proclaimed his emirate's freedom 
  from the excesses of the Patriarch. What started as a desire to return a sense of balance and fairness to the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates has transformed, i n  just over seven cycles, into a dangerous schism threatening the stability of his league, and 
  the AST. Although aware of the plight of the shajhalin under the emirs, Shirow's defection was motivated just as strongly 
  by his ambition t o  see the ESE return to a position of prominence among the Southern leagues. 
  Few men have the vision that Nigel Shirow has, and he is willing to accept the cost of his rebellion if it means that things 
  will change. Already the death toll has reached 100,000, and with the Interpolar War, the end is far from sight. However, 
  even against adversity, Shirow has persevered, surviving countless assassination attempts and attacks on his palace and 
  family. This determination and fiery spirit i s  what keeps most of his weary shajhalin followers faithful. Although on two 
  separate occasions, Shirow had to suppress a shajhalin coups (in TN 1935 and TN 1936), his emirate and people still stand 
  behind him. This more than anything is what propels the emir further. 
  I n  private, Shirow is growing weary of the constant fighting and has become more protective of his accomplishments. He 
  knows that the fighting cannot continue indefinitely, and while he still hopes for a total victory (which would see Oliver 
  Masao removed from his throne), he might also be willing to find a compromise among some of the less decadent emirs. 
  I n  addition to this, Nigel does not want to see the Free Emirates consumed by the wild dreams of a child, and tries to limit 
  Rafael Bhravo's growing popularity. The more the situation in the Free Emirates i s  i n  flux, the more Nigel Shirow tries to 
  exert control and prevent events from spiraling out of his grasp. Many consider the Imam's newfound conservatism a sign 
  of his maturing, others as a sign that he is stagnating. 
  . 
  * 
  : . 
  . . 
  : . . 
  . 
  . . 
  : . 
  His recent marriage to Lysia Masao sent shock waves across the ESE. For the first time since the rebellion, and more 
  importantly since Oliver Masao's ascension, a legitimate alternative to Masao became a possibility. Even conservative 
  emirs like Gavriel Draho secretly admit that Shirow, were he not a traitor, would have made an excellent Regent. This is 
  also another reason why Shirow is desperate to end the rebellion, as peace would give him more credibility as a Regent. 
  . . 
  : 
  . 
  Shirow knows that his days as a revolutionary are coming to an end and that it i s  time to carve a new image for himself. 
  . 
  b Viral  tati is tics 
  I 
  Allies: 
  The Free Emirates. 
  I 
  Rivatr 
  Patrisrrh Oliver Masao, Lord Pmtector Molay (AST) 
  ~~ 
  I Goals: 
  To end the rebellion and become Reaent of the ESE. I 
  Imam Shirow is the second most prominent person i n  the Eastern Sun Emirate next to the Patriarch, and while 
  not having the resources of Oliver Masao, he wields his own brand of influence. An expert diplomat, Nigel has 
  been able to forge ties across Terra Nova, molding himself to the expectations of his allies: to the North he is 
  a dashing revolutionary standing up against the immorality of the South; the Badlands see him as someone 
  willing to fight against a polar power. I n  the Free Emirates, his vision and determination have made men like 
  Armann Boash into followers, while to the shajhalin, Shirow echoes the promises of Enri Masao. 
  Personality aside, the Imam carefully built his power base during the early days of the rebellion, so that even 
  when Okavango's Bhravo coined the term Free Emirates, it was Shirow whom everyone assumed was i t s  leader. 
  Creating a network of contacts though favors and political maneuvering, Nigel has fully integrated himself i n  
  the Free Emirates. To uproot Shirow would mean collapsing the Free Emirates - 
  Nigel Shirow is the pin that 
  keeps everything together, and this is the font of his power. 
  b ~ ~ r ~ ~ n t  
  ~
  ~
  ~
  c
  e
  ~
  ~
  ~
   
  The stability of the Free Emirates is Shirow's primary concern. On an immediate level, this means surviving the 
  Interpolar War and siding with the victor. His past actions, however, necessitate a Northern victory - if the 
  South were to win they would surely stop at nothing until Basal and Shirow burned. A t  the same time, while 
  he needs the North, Nigel does not want to be enslaved to it. Therefore, Shirow must walk a tightrope. Rafael 
  Bhravo also threatens the stability of the Free Emirates. Although the Imam respects the Boy-King and feels 
  for his message, Nigel i s  fearful that Bhravo will only drown the league i n  apocalyptic fire. Beyond this, Shirow 
  is preoccupied with his new wife. While originally motivated solely by politics, i n  the short seasons of his 
  marriage to Lysia Masao Nigel has started to develop real feelings for his royal consort. He tells himself his 
  heart still belongs to Victoria Hiro, the solicitor who has been his companion for much of his life, but he is 
  attracted by the regal power of a Masao. Unfortunately, Lysia knows that her union to Shirow is one born of 
  necessity and not choice. Like Shirow, she wants the rebellion to end, and the ESE to start the long heating 
  process -two things that only the death of her brother and the birth of her child can achieve. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Armann Boash i s  a veteran of Emirate politics, and i n  his 95 cycles as emir of Bangweuleu, he has dealt with three 
  Patriarchs, the War of the Alliance, defection from Oliver Masao, and the formation of the Free Emirates. Once respected 
  i n  Emirate court because of his keen observations, pragmatic nature and economic acumen, Boash was an expert player 
  of intrigue. It was to him that a number of emirs came for advice, and since the rise of Oliver Masao, Boash served as a 
  foil for the Patriarch's follies. After the War of the Alliance, it was Boash who continually protested against the actions of 
  the Patriarch, earning him the enmity of Oliver Masao and forcing Boash to retire from emirate politics. Unlike Draho, 
  Boash did not make his comments i n  private. Even though he rarely attended court functions, many emirs still respected 
  the "Old Emir," and regularly came to visit. 
  His son Nneka's coup i n  TN 1933 came as a shock to Armann Boash. Nneka, goaded on by Oliver Masao, attempted to seize 
  control of Bangweuleu and assume the reigns of command, fearful that if he didn't his father would never cede the 
  emirate to him. Boash and his troops quickly put down the coup and Boash had no choice but t o  execute his son. 
  ALthough pained by his son's betrayal and subsequent execution, Boash, a long-time supporter of Emir Shirow and Basal, 
  knew the time had come to wake the other emirs to the current condition of the league. The aging emir's move to side 
  with Shirow after Nneka's coup signaled to many the end of the emirate dream. If a respected and established emir like 
  Boash would rebel, then something must be rotting in the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Since casting his lot with the rebels, Boash's age and experience have turned him into one of Shirow's most trusted and 
  respected friends and confidants. It i s  widely suspected that the Imam's marriage to Lysia Masao was first suggested by 
  the Old Emir, which would be typical of the close relationship the two emirs share. 
  Armann's rise to power is closely connected to the economic powerhouse that Bangweuleu became under his control. 
  Boash's ties to the Humanist Alliance and the Badlands made his emirate a trading center, as deals insured that most 
  caravans traveling into the ESE and the HA stopped first in Bangweuleu. With these connections, the Free Emirates 
  continue to receive supplies and equipment, and Boash is instrumental i n  these efforts. 
  Vital Statistics 4 
  Eminte: 
  BangwWln, 
  Current C o n G K  4 
  Known to only his personal physician, Armann, (112 cycles old), i s  close to death. Fighting terminal cancer, 
  Boash has at most a cycle or two left. Making matters worse i s  the fact that, with Nneka's death, he has no 
  legitimate heir. He has many children born to mistresses and concubines, but these have not been raised to 
  take over the emirate. Armann knows that with his death the other emir of Bangweuleu, Ethene Dratha, will 
  assume total control of the emirate and rejoin the ESE, or worse, blindly follow Rafael Bhravo. Boash is 
  currently trying to strengthen the Free Emirates, and has no patience for the whims of the fanatical Boy-King 
  of Okavango. I f  i n  time he matures, so much the better, but for now Boash keeps a close eye on Bhravo - 
  either t o  groom him as a future leader, or to limit his power. 
  Boash's death would probably hinder ties between the Free Emirates and the Humanist expatriates as well. It 
  was Boash's contacts within the HA that made the Free Emirates such a welcoming alternative to Humanists 
  escaping the Southern Republic's annexation of their league. Archon Navar is a personal friend of Boash, and 
  while he accepts Shirow as the Free Emirate leader, it i s  Armann whom he trusts i n  the end. 
  ~ r a t h ~  
  E~hene~ 
  The Other Emir 4 
  Forever i n  the shadow of Armann Boash, Emir Oratha Ethene always understood his position i n  Bangweuleu - 
  to play second fiddle to Boash. While notjealous, or overly ambitious, Ethene knows that as long as he follows 
  Boash things will be all right. Acting in a supporting role, Ethene looks after the city and Boash, i n  that order, 
  leaving the older Emir to deal with Shirow and the Interpolar War. A deeply religious man and member of the 
  Apostate Revisionist sect of Bangweuleu, Ethene firmly believes that Rafael Bhravo is a divine reincarnation 
  of Enri Masao. While not busy with his duties, Ethene spends his time doting over the Boy-King and filling his 
  head with religious fanaticism. 
  Ethene is unaware of Boash's failing health. He has noticed that the old Emir spends increasing amounts of his 
  time alone, but thinks nothing of this. When Boash dies, Ethene will likely be devastated. Confronted with the 
  realitv of beinq the sole emir of Bangweuleu, he might do something rash like proclaim Bhravo Patriarch, or 
  1 
  attempt to rejoin the ESE to spread the word of Bhravo's "divinity.'' 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Officially, Rafael Bhravo became emir of Okavango at the tender age of one cycle when his father, Lether, died i n  Fall of 
  TN 1922. His mother Maria should have ruled in his stead until Rafael came of age, but fate had different plans i n  store 
  for the young emir. Alexius Thoras, the other legitimate emir of Okavango, saw this as an opportunity to seize control of 
  the emirate for himself and approached Maria with a simple proposition. He offered to spare her life, and young Rafael's, 
  if she agreed to leave Okavango. Unwilling to sacrifice her child, even if it meant handing over control of the emirate to 
  Thoras, Maria, her son, and a small entourage departed Okavango for their ancestral home deep i n  the interior of the ESE. 
  For the next decade, Rafael and his mother lived i n  seclusion, ignored by the emirate court and forgotten by most. During 
  this time, Rafael was educated by Humanist tutors and Revisionist priests and scholars including the Adrianna Xing. A 
  religious follower of Massadan Revisionism, Maria instilled in her son a strong religious upbringing, and more importantly, 
  veneration for men like Enri and Christobal Masao. It was in the Bhravo family compound i n  TN 1929, that Adrianna Xing 
  experienced a vision of the Gentle Prophet Mamoud and became his Apostle. Maria and Rafael Bhravo were among the first 
  to convert to the new sect of Apostate Revisionism. 
  By the age of six, Rafael possessed an intellect far beyond his years and a thirst for knowledge that had his mother 
  spending her limited allowance on rare books and data records. Rafael was obsessed with early history of the league, and 
  more importantly, Earth. When news of the Basalite Rebellion reached the Bhravos, Rafael already knew more about 
  Earth's history than most Terranovans know i n  their entire lifetimes. 
  . . 
  , 
  - 
  ' 
  . 
  : . . 
  ' 
  : . . 
  The rebellion signaled the end of Rafael's ideal life i n  the jungles of Okavango. Alexis Thoras, fearing the spread of the 
  revolt, decided the time had come to deal with Bhravo and end any future problems the emir might pose to him. Warned 
  by contacts i n  Okavango of Thoras' plans, Maria secretly sent her son to Bangweuleu and then waited for Thoras' men to 
  arrive. Her sacrifice allowed Rafael to escape, but also had a significant effect on his life. Within a week of his mother's 
  death, Rafael simply walked out of the emirate palace and began his March of One Thousand. Accompanied at first only 
  by his mentor, Jysus Rodriges, Rafael soon attracted other mystics and, more importantly, thousands of children, and he 
  began spreading his message to the people of the ESE. His message was simple: the ESE had forgotten the sacrifice of 
  Masao and the time had come to end the current excess, rebuild the Eastern Sun and return home. 
  ' 
  . 
  ' 
  : . . 
  b Vital Statistics 
  I 
  Allies: 
  Adnanna Xing (Marrada), Emir Ethene (Bangweuleu), Emir Khajar (Smyrna) 1 
  Rivals 
  Emir Shirow (Basal) 
  Goals: 
  To reclaim the glory of Enn Masao ana t o  wnt the stars. 
  Rafael Bhravo i s  gifted with a charismatic energy that few can rival. Well articulated, intelligent and above all 
  a visionary, Rafael, even though only 17 cycles old, has created an almost mystical aura around himself. To the 
  shajhalin masses, Rafael is a living saint, the one who will return the ESE to its gloty - 
  to them Imam Shirow 
  paved the way but it is the Boy-King who will truly change things. This veneration i s  inspired by a combina- 
  tion of his age, innocence and an uncanny resemblance to Chirstobal Masao. 
  Unfortunately, most power-brokers see the young emir as a disaster in the making. Though strong-willed and 
  opinionated, Rafael is still too wrapped up i n  his own religious upbringing, unable to distinguish between 
  idealism and reality. What few see is that Rafael Bhravo is maturing. The Patriarch's offensive against Okavango 
  i n  TN 1937 greatly marked the young emir. For the first time he met the cold reality of death face t o  face and 
  the encounter changed him utterly. 
  b Current C ~ n ~ e ~ n ~  
  Many have been surprised by Bhravo's am'ons since reclaiming his emirate and the establishment of the Free 
  Emirates. Tired of being called the Boy-King, Rafael is desperate to prove himself as a serious leader. To this 
  end he has tried to establish his presence i n  the Chamber and help the Free Emirates survive the ongoing 
  Interpolar War. He has used his relationship with Dratha Ethene in an attempt to get closer t o  Emir Boash and 
  learn from the old man. This is just one example of the Boy-King's attempts to surround himself with an aura 
  of stability. A t  the same time, Bhravo is still plagued by his desires to see the ESE strong and has yet to learn 
  patience - 
  the one key that is keeping him from being accepted as a worthy leader. Shirow's lack of support 
  during Okavango's siege by Patriarchal forces showed Bhravo that his position within the Free Emirates is 
  tenuous at best. He knows that his current rivalry with Shirow is only hurting the Free Emirates, but does not 
  understand why Shirow is becoming so conservative. Partly, Bhravo blames it on the Imam's contact with the 
  North (which has yet t o  warm up to Bhravo), but he also feels that Shirow just does not have what it takes to 
  see the rebellion to its end. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  I 
  "That's it, we're out of here" whispered Cky, her voice piercing the darkness about her. Although she wouldn't 
  admit it, hiding among the ruins and wrecks of a battlefield deep i n  the Free Emirates freaked her out. I n  the 
  darkness, her night vision goggles could pick out the skeletal remains of an unlucky Iguana pilot, his body spilling 
  out from the blasted crew compartment of his Gear. His vacant eye sockets stared back at her, and at this point it 
  didn't seem to matter that he wore a MILICIA uniform. 
  "Not yet, they still have time - 
  their window stays open for another five minutes," Ahmar answered, his face 
  hidden behind his binoculars. He never understood how Shirow could have made deals with the CNCS, but after two 
  cycles of war, the supplies from the North had changed his perspecthe. "Five more minutes, then we're out, OK?" 
  "Five, and that's all. If they're not here by then..." 
  her voice trailed off, and i n  the distance they both heard the 
  distinctive sound of a Geat's V-Engine. Scrambling, they took cover. 
  With cool precision, Cky took position, aiming her anti-Gear rifle. "Talk to me, Ahmar, talk to me." 
  Ahmar scanned the darkness. "Targets, two, range 178 meters and closing, bearing 278." 
  Cky adjusted her sights, her rifle's optics system enhancing the ambient light, and transformed the two lumbering 
  masses into discernible shapes. "Northern Gears... 
  One Jaguar, one Cheetah variant, maybe a White Cat." 
  "They must be with the convoy. Cky, ready the signal and wait 'till they're within 50 meters of the rendezvous 
  point." 
  Cky did not answer. Something was wrong. "They're coming i n  too fast: their bearing i s  off." 
  "Nonsense. Cky, send the signal and let's go home." A t  that moment the two Gears stopped, and the lead one 
  scanned the wrecks i n  front of them while the other raised i t s  autocannon into the ready position. "They're looking 
  for something ..." came Cky's voice, mild panic gaining ground on her coolness. 
  "Of course they are - 
  we're supposed to guide them in." 
  No, something else, Cky thought as she scanned the wrecks around them, looking for something. .. anything. 
  Suddenly, out of nowhere, she saw it, not much more than a shadow i n  the night. "Bogy, 11 o'clock, i n  the ruins." 
  "For God's sakes, Cky, you'd better not be making this up ..." 
  With that, the Snakeye Black Mamba opened up, lancing the White Cat with a deadly laser beam. From around a 
  small hit1 two more Southern Gears appeared, both Chameleon stealth gears. 
  "Great, it's the LCgion! Take cover, Ahmar..." 
  but before she could finish one of the Chameleons opened up on their 
  position, ripping Ahmar apart with high-explosive shells. Cky scurried to a better position, but both Southern 
  Gears had their attentions focused on her. 
  It was only a matter of time, so she decided to at least try and take one of the bastards down. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates' political instability, decadent emirs and its stubborn sense of determination and individualism 
  are responsible for the league's unpopularity i n  a hemisphere dominated by strict political conformity and oppression. 
  Since its incorporation in the Allied Southern Territories, the ESFs relationship with the other Antarctic leagues has 
  always been turbulent, forcing Port Oasis t o  keep a close eye on the emirs and their league. Unfortunately, this supervi- 
  sion has not been constant, or motivated by the well-being of the ESE. Instead, the Southern leagues (in particular the 
  Southern Republic and the Mekong Dominion) have used the ESE to further their own interests, whether for the raw 
  materials the Emirates produce or for political leverage. The emirs, for their part, are willing to bow to the wishes of the 
  AST, as long as their lifestyle and prestige are not hampered. For this reason, and because of the emirs' nonchalant 
  attitude when it comes to foreign policy, the ESE is constantly left out of important decisions affecting the AST. The lesser 
  emirs and solicitors appointed as Lord Councilors in the Curia are chosen for their lackluster ambitions, and are easily 
  swayed by bribes and intimidation. It goes without saying that most perceive the Eastern Sun Emirates as a virtual 
  backwater in Southern politics. And for this reason, as long as the emirs toe the line and their petty intrigues do not 
  affect the South, the AST and Southern Republic are content to leave the ESE to its own devices. 
  This attitude has cost the South dearly in recent cycles. Had the powers in the Antarctic acted responsibly instead of 
  trying solely to advance their own gains, the situation i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates would have never degraded to its 
  current state. Instead, the excesses of Oliver Masao and the rebellion i n  the Free Emirates have rocked the Southern 
  hegemony t o  its core. Divided as t o  the proper response, the various players i n  the South each tried to "fix" the problem, 
  i n  the end only adding to the chaos. By the time the North declared war on the South, the ESE had become the Antarctic's 
  weakest link, one easily exploited by the CNCS. 
  Part of the problem is the inherent instability of emirate politics. Some Patriarchs and emirs take their roles seriously and 
  try to establish a presence for their league i n  the South. Malach Masao and Svetlana (Oliver's mother) were two examples 
  of Patriarchs who used their position to carve a niche for the ESE i n  Southern politics. Malach was instrumental i n  
  breaking the spirit of the league and allowing the Republic to walk in and form the AST. Svetlana Masao, during the cold- 
  war of the 1800s jockeyed with both the Mekong Dominion and the Southern Republic, laying the foundation for the 
  industrial development of the Eastern Sun Emirates. Other emirs, however, have not been so ambitious. Content with the 
  adulation of their subjects, they are willing to bow down t o  the AST and the SR, as long as they, i n  return, allow the emirs 
  to continue their lavish lifestyle. This has created a self-perpetuating cycle whereby the AST supports the emirs hoping to 
  keep the ESE afloat. I n  turn, the emirs take as much as they can, siphoning only the bare minimum back to the league. 
  It would be a fallacy to say that the AST has ignored the problems i n  the Emirates; the Curia is forced to support the 
  aristocracy, because backing the shajhalin and commoners goes against its autocratic nature. Even if the AST and Repub- 
  lic cared to change things in the ESE, the process would be long and expensive, both economically and militarily. 
  The Eastern Sun Emirates has become the center for the Interpolar War. The Free Emirates are partially responsible for this, 
  as it i s  their alliance with the North that has allowed the Northern Guard to establish a beachhead i n  the South. Unlike 
  the limited success (some say failure) of the Northern Guard's Mekong Task Force, its Eastern Task Force has been 
  extremely successful, taking up position in the Free Emirates and driving into the Humanist Alliance. This has forced the 
  Free Emirates and the ESE into the role of center stage for the Interpolar War, and while battles rage across Terra Nova, 
  most analysts predict that any victory (even a limited one) will depend on how the two hemispheres deal with the 
  situation in the ESE. The North sees the Free Emirates as a toe-hold i n  the South and will be hard pressed to just let go 
  of their gains. Even elements i n  the South sympathetic t o  the plight of Basal and the Free Emirates are forced t o  distance 
  themselves because of Shirow's ties to the North. 
  There are also practical reasons why the fighting i n  the Interpolar War seems concentrated i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Both hemispheres are well aware of the cost of the current war, and instead of risking economic and industrial collapse 
  across a number of leagues, some rationalize that the primitive ESE will be able t o  recover quickly when hostilities end - 
  or will not be any great loss if it can't. 
  The conflict i n  the Free Emirates is a cross between a guerrilla war and a traditional clash of armies. For the most part the 
  Free Emirates are in Northern hands, with fronts running through the Eastern Plain east of Basal and the Tobian Plain west 
  of Raleigh. AST forces operating here are part of MILICIA's 13th Legion, composed of the 3rd and 43rd Infantry Brigades 
  and the 19th Heavy Gear Brigade, all of which are over 80 percent made up of Dominionite natives. They often penetrate 
  into Northern-controlled territory because the rural areas are much less defended than the city-states. I n  the case of 
  Basal, however, even the city is not safe. Indeed, the MILICIA's 3rd Infantry Brigade has been operating near the city 
  since the earliest days of the rebellion. Commanded by Prefect Anglica Galin (see p. 91), its members are now seasoned 
  veterans and have welcomed the War and the chance to face the "real enemy" (the North). No longer constrained by 
  limited rules of engagement, they have become a serious thorn in the side of Northern commanders, both i n  the field and 
  in Valeria. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Relations between the Southern Republic and the Eastern Sun Emirates have always been strained to some extent, and 
  there is little hope that this might change. More than any other of its vassal states, the Republic has paid dearly for 
  keeping the ESE under its heel. The Republic views the ESE as a stubborn and spoiled child that needs to be constantly 
  reminded of its place at the dinner table. The Republic maintains a visible presence i n  the league, even beyond that of the 
  AST. Republican ministers, advisors and observers from the Estates General, the Southern Republic Intelligence Directo- 
  rate and the Economics Directorate are regularly dispatched to the ESE to assess the local situation. 
  The appearance of Republican control stretches as far up as the Patriarchy, where Republican support is often one of the 
  took Patriarchs use t o  maintain their hold over the league. I n  reality, foreign relations between the Republic and the ESE 
  end at the Patriarch. As long as the august leader of the Emirates heeds Republican wishes, he is allowed to rule the 
  league as he sees fit - 
  making the throne nothing more than a puppet regime at times. While this has ensured the ESFs 
  servitude to the Southern Republic and the Allied Southern Territories, it has lulled Port Oasis into a fake perception of 
  affairs within the Emirates. Aware that the Eastern Sun Emirates are anything but stable, the SR always assumed that as 
  long as it controlled the Patriarch, his league would follow. In recent cycles, this assumption has been quite costly for the 
  SR, most visibly i n  the form of the Basalite Rebellion and the subsequent formation of the Free Emirates. 
  Adding to the complexity of the Republican and Emirate relations are the deadly power struggles that dominate the 
  Southern Republic. For as long as the SR has been involved i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates, the movers and shakers in Port 
  Oasis have used the ESE to further their own agendas. The tension between Prime Minister deRouen and Lord Protector 
  Molay is a prime example of this phenomenon. Instead of working together to solve the Basal Rebellion, both men had 
  different "solutions" and neither were willing back the other. The result was that between TN 1931 and TN 1935 Shirow's 
  crusade spread to other emirates, and ultimately exposed the AST's underbelly to the North. 
  Although the Prime Minister (present during the Oxford Accord) advocated backing Nigel Shirow, knowing that Oliver 
  Masao would only become a Larger liability, Shirow's alliance with the North and his harboring of Humanist expatriates has 
  come back to haunt deRouen. Lord Protector Molay, for his part, is content t o  leave Masao on the throne, partly because 
  of his hatred for Shirow, but also because this instability benefits Molay's machinations to remove deRouen from power. 
  This political climate only reinforces Lord Chancellor Tanaka's belief that the Southern Republic only has itself to blame 
  for its woes, and his opinions have made the Chancellor an unpopular man in both leagues. 
  Bitter rivals, the Mekong Dominion and its sister league across the Serpentine Range have never seen eye t o  eye. During 
  the early histories of both leagues, the Mekong Dominion and the Eastern Sun Emirates competed with each other i n  
  nearly every aspect of industry, from mining to production. This rivalry also reflected the ideological differences of the 
  two emerging powers and minor military confrontations between Emirate troops and the Peacekeepers were extremely 
  common. The border between the ESE and the Dominion saw frequent border clashes, even after the Southern War brought 
  the ESE into the Allied Southern Territories. Although the AST and the SR officially frowned on these exchanges, the 
  Dominion's standing with Port Oasis always saw the ESE get the rotten end of the deal in terms of concessions and 
  reprimands. 
  Relations calmed somewhat after the War of the Alliance, but the Dominion never stopped trying to gain an edge over the 
  ESE. Although Mekong corporations do not publicly invest in the Eastern Sun Emirates, most have at least one or two 
  subsidiary corporations operating in the ESE, usually under the cover of dummy corporations and fronts. Nearly 40 percent 
  of all Emirate corporations and industries are in some way or form influenced by Dominionite interests. The main goal of 
  this corporate influence is to weaken the commercial base of the ESE, allowing the Dominion to remain the main 
  industrial power i n  the South. This agenda, however, is hampered by the unorthodox organization of the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates, and while the Dominion exerts a significant amount of control, conventional tactics such as mergers, takeovers 
  and buy-outs are much less effective i n  the ESE. 
  The Interpolar War has seen the Mekong Dominion rise i n  standing, and its ultimate goal is to achieve equal footing with, 
  or if possible surpass, the Southern Republic as a power in the Antarctic. For this reason, the Dominion is interested i n  
  perpetuating the instability of the Eastern Sun Emirates. Since the early days of the Basalite Rebellion, the Dominion has 
  secretly supplied the rebels with weapons, while at the same time lending the Patriarch and loyal emirs assistance. The 
  Mekong Assembly has done this for two reasons: first, it compels the Republic t o  commit more resources into the ESE, 
  forcing it t o  rely on the Dominion for help; secondly, the Dominion has plans to annex territory and move into the ESE 
  when the war is over. Seeing the Republic absorb the Humanist Alliance, the Dominion does not want to lag too far 
  behind. It is only a matter of time before the powers of the Republic and the AST realize that the ESE must eventually be 
  put down, and the Mekong Assembly wants to beat the Republic to the punch. With the industrial might and labor force 
  of the ESE added to its resources, the Dominion could more than easily rival the Southern Republic. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Before the Interpolar War, relations between the Eastern Sun Emirates and the Northern leagues were cold or non- 
  existent. The ESE never really developed a diplomatic corps; the only contact with the North came either from AST 
  initiatives or the personal agendas of individual emirs. I n  the history of the Eastern Sun Emirates, a Patriarch has only 
  officially 
  visited the North on two occasions. The first occurred in TN 1653 when Nancia Masao traveled to Lyonnesse as 
  part of a Southern trade summit between the poles. The second Patriarch was Oliver Masao, who visited Valeria-Port 
  Aurora i n  TN 1917 as part of the celebrations commemorating the victory after the War of the Alliance. Needless to say, 
  Masao's entourage of slaves and mistresses, and his lavish feasts, did little to win the acceptance of the morally conserva- 
  tive North. 
  For the Confederation of Northern City-states, the emirs of the Eastern Sun Emirates are an unsettling enigma. When 
  compared to the North's largely democratic structure and lofty morals, the ESE i s  nothing more than a primitive, some say 
  barbaric, society that best exemplifies the excesses and decadence of the South as a whole. For this reason, relations 
  between the ESE and the Northern leagues are strained at best: most CNCS diplomats sent to the region are not willing t o  
  set aside their cycles-old prejudices when it comes to the emirs. Compounding matters was the perception, mostly 
  correct, that the Eastern Sun Emirates is nothing more than a vassal of the Southern Republic, and any attempt to deal 
  with the ESE as its own political entity was not only futile, but liable to earn the wrath of the Republic. 
  Nigel Shirow single-handedly changed Emirate relations with the CNCS. The Basalite Rebellion, and more importantly the 
  attempts by Jacques Molay and Oliver Masao to suppress it, allowed the North to fuel its anti-Southern propaganda 
  campaign. Nightly images from Basal were broadcast into Northern living rooms, images showing the depravity of the 
  South, preparing the people of the CNCS for the possibility of war. Northern politicians and planners also recognized 
  Basal, and the emergent Free Emirates, as the achilles' heel of the Southern Republic and wasted no time i n  exploiting it. 
  Nigel Shirow's welcoming of Northern Guard troops in TN 1936 signaled one of the biggest moral victories of the war so far 
  for the North. 
  As the seat of power i n  the North, the Norlight Confederacy has had contact with the Eastern Sun Emirates, but this has 
  been neither constant nor always amicable. Due to the beta maglev line that runs from Valeria-Port Aurora through the 
  ESE and into the Mekong Dominion, the NLC and the Emirates have been trading partners since the formation of both 
  leagues. However, the Mekong Dominion and the AST carefully limited these economic ties once they gained power over 
  the Eastern economy, imposing heavy tariffs on the ESE, and thereby forcing it to trade mostly with the Dominion as 
  opposed to the NLC. The volume of trade dropped sharply starting in TN 1800, and so did relations between the emirates 
  on the beta maglev and Port Aurora. 
  Today, Norlight and Emirate relations revolve around the Free Emirates. In TN 1936, the Norlight parliament withdrew its 
  ambassadors from the ESE and established ties only with the Free Emirates, Shirow having granted them observer seats i n  
  the Free Emirate Chamber. This move demonstrated to everyone the importance the Northern power placed on Nigel 
  Shirow and his rebellion. 
  The Northern Lights Confederacy i s  extremely interested in seeing Nigel Shirow and the other free emirs establish them- 
  selves i n  the South for a number of reasons. First, it gives the CNCS and the Norlight troops battling i n  the South a stable 
  base of operations, especially with the setbacks suffered in the Mekong Dominion. The NLC, like the Southern Republic, 
  realizes that while victory i n  the Interpolar War is not tied solely to the Free Emirates, both powers are aware of the 
  pivotal role Shirow will play i n  ending the war. Secondly, by forming close ties with the Free Emirates and helping Shirow 
  assume the throne of the ESE. the NLC believes it would be much closer to spreading its influence into the southern 
  hemisphere. 
  Opinions as to what exactly to do with the Free Emirates vary in the Norlight Confederacy, and a schism could potentially 
  present itself between the parliament and the Sorrento Revisionist church. Many officials in the NLC see the Free Emirates 
  as a stepping stone to victory in the South, and they gladly use the pretense of helping a just cause t o  garner popular 
  support for their actions. Most, however, would probably stop short of funding and sponsoring the rebuilding of the 
  league. Revisionists on the other hand, and especially the members of the secretive policy-making order known as the 
  Prophet's Shield (see Northern Lights Confederacy Leaguebook, p. 27). see it as their duty to help the people of the ESE 
  throw off the shackles of decadence and oppression and transform the league into a Revisionist state. Were he still alive, 
  Second Follower Thor Hutchison, understanding the need for pragmatism, could probably have reconciled the NLC's 
  political goals and its moral obligations towards the ESE and the Free Emirates. Reverend Mother Maya Fajil, the leading 
  candidate t o  replace Hutchison, is not so diplomatic. Following Hutchison's death, she has used the plight of the Free 
  Emirates to garner support for the church and re-direct it towards "helping" the people of the Free Emirates. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  . . 
  ' 
  . . 
  ' 
  . . . 
  Historically, the United Mercantile Federation has taken only a distant interest i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates. Aside from 
  tourism or the few Mercantile corporations that established offices in the Emirates, the UMF traditionally viewed the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates as a secondary battleground i n  its economic war with the Mekong Dominion. The UMF sent some 
  agents to try and curb Mekong interests i n  the ESE, but relations between the Federation and the Emirates largely existed 
  only through the executives of UMF corporations working i n  the ESE. These executives, however, often end up marrying 
  into the aristocracy, creating unofficial ties between the Northern industrial giant and the emirs. The UMF Caucus pro- 
  vided only lackluster support of the Basal rebellion before the outbreak of the war. Treasurer Banderas, it is now thought, 
  did not want to upset the Mekong interests he was dealing with. UMF corporate giant Northco also balked when Shirow 
  purchased weapons from their rival Paxton Arms i n  TN 1935, and even sent agents to sabotage the deal. 
  . 
  ' 
  . . 
  ' 
  . . 
  Much has changed i n  the United Mercantile Federation i n  the cycles since the start of the Interpolar War, and most of 
  these changes have forced the powerful Northern league to cast its eyes in the direction of the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Treasurer Yves Banderas' dream of uniting his league with the Mekong Dominion made him a pawn of the Dominion and 
  ultimately cost him his life. Now the UMF finds itself fighting a war motivated by the Norlight Confederacy's grief at the 
  loss of Thor Hutchison, and facing the distinct possibility that the Mekong Dominion will emerge from the Interpolar War 
  stronger than before. Indeed, analysts predict that the Mekong Dominion will most likely try to further cement its hold i n  
  the ESE, or even "liberate" it after the war. Such a move will only add to the Dominion's gains made during the war. 
  Both the UMF Caucus and the corporate shadow government known as the Corporate Council (see United Mercantile 
  Federation Leaguebook, p. 19). have supported a policy designed to block a Dominionite take-over of the ESE. Using the 
  Interpolar War to their advantage, Federation spies and agents are being placed within the solicitor caste of the Emirates 
  with the sole purpose of stealing control from the Mekong Dominion. They have also provided substantial support to the 
  Free Emirates, determined to keep it clear of Mekong influence and develop it as a client-state in the post war period. 
  These efforts are directed from within the UMPs Special Operations Executive, but former Banderas chief-of-staff Gabriel 
  Ventura (see Character Compendium, p. 16) has become the operation's unofficial manager, representing the Corporate 
  Council's interests and wiping himself clean of the stigma of Banderas' "betrayal." 
  Little does Ventura know that Northco CEO Natalya Korolov and her patsy, current Treasurer Solomon Davi, are privately 
  debating whether t o  sabotage the future of the Free Emirates in an attempt to trade it off to the AST i n  exchange for an 
  end to the war. They have come to believe they should end the war as soon as possible so that the UMF can rebuild. They 
  know that if the Free Emirates were to falter, the South would be happy to re-establish order in the ESE and call the war 
  a draw. 
  Diplomatically, as well as culturally, the ESE and the WFP are at best strangers. The geographic distance and the difference 
  i n  outlook and ideology mean that both leagues rarely enter into any form of direct communication, relying instead on 
  the CNCS and the AST t o  settle relations between them. Interestingly enough, the Western Frontier Protectorate and the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates share something in common i n  reference to the other powers that dominate their respectbe 
  leagues. As small leagues, the Protectorate and the Emirates have traditionally had t o  bow t o  the wishes of their more 
  powerful neighbors; but aside from this, the WFP and the ESE have little in common. 
  The Secret Pact 4 
  The relationship between ESE Lord Chancellor Kenichi Tanaka and Fort Henry Proconsul Lang Regina has 
  created some curious ties between the ESE and the Protectorate. The two heroes of the decisive Battle of Baja 
  during the War of the Alliance have, since TN 1935, been endeavoring to prepare Terra Nova for the cycles after 
  the Interpolar War. These efforts have been fueled by the belief that the current war is largely the result of 
  ego, ambition and religious zeal, rather than any true national interest, and that it is a dangerous distracting 
  from the very real possibility of a second assault from Earth. Lang and Tanaka have been recruiting like- 
  minded people i n  positions of power over the last three cycles and have built an impressive, but thus-far 
  largely dormant, coalition. 
  Living i n  Strathclyde, Tanaka has recruited several key people from the "decadent" East. Emir Khajar of Smyrna 
  is perhaps his most important ally within the loyalist emirates, though he has not told her all. Together they 
  have forged close ties with Northern astrophysicist Gawai'ne Di Smit, who Lang Regina then recruited to the 
  cause. Lang has been impressed by Khajar, and has come to see the emirate of Smyrna as an important ally i n  
  her quest to prepare Terra Nova to face Earth. Tanaka has also reached an understanding with Emir Bajhal of 
  Cimmaro, and some of the coalition's members have met i n  his Badlands fiefdom of Westphalia. The Lord 
  Chancellor dislikes Bajhal himself, but understands the symbolic power of Westphalia (sight of the CEF 
  surrender in TN 1917) i n  any North-South coalition. He is most impressed, however, with the emirs of the Free 
  Emirates and has undertaken plans to open up lines of communication with Nigel Shirow. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Ties with the many communities of the Badlands that border the Eastern Sun Emirates are strong. Although there have 
  been a number of incidents i n  the past, Badlands communities near the ESE have profited from the close contact with the 
  emirs. The Bazaar of Bangweuleu and the many refineries i n  Javari and Skavara mean that a significant portion of the 
  economy of those settlements near the ESE are tied i n  to the league's. 
  Most business and trade done between the ESE and the Badlands is handled by lesser emirs and the solicitor caste. Having 
  few opportunities within the city-states of the ESE, these emirs venture into the Badlands to 'strike it rich,' Traditionally, 
  the emirates of Bangweuleu, Cimmaro and Javari have ties with the Badlands and maintain a visible presence in Peace 
  River and Westphalia. After the War of the Alliance, Paxton Arms won a contract to outfit the emirate forces of Javari. This 
  partnership resulted in friction between the AS1 and the emirate, leading to sanctions i n  the late 1920s that were only 
  lifted i n  TN 1931. 
  Basal and the Free Emirates depend on their extensive network of contacts and sympathizers i n  the Badlands for their 
  survival. Emir Boash of Bangweuleu used his ties with the Badlands to help supply the rebellion since the very start, not 
  only ensuring that these supplies were available, but that they made their way into the Free Emirates. Boash and the 
  other rebel emirs have made use of Northern intelligence assets i n  the Badlands, several smuggling cartels and any 
  number of other shadowy players t o  ensure the survival of their struggle. 
  Due to i t s  corporate and industrial importance, Peace River has enjoyed somewhat stable relations with the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates, particularly with Emir Boash of Bangweuleu. A long time friend of President Simosa, Boash was a regular 
  campaign contributor for the president and the two men ensured that trade between Peace River and Bangweuleu 
  remained profitable. It was Boash's contacts that opened the lines of communication between Nigel Shirow and Peace 
  Rivet's corporate overlord, Paxton Arms. Although pressured by the South to stop interfering with "Southern Concerns," 
  Paxton openly supplied arms to the Basal rebels, turning a quick profit. The Basal Rebellion proved to be a blessing for 
  Paxton Arms, as it found a steady buyer for its Warrior I V  and Pit Bull Gears (see The Paxton Gambit, pp. 60-62). 
  The Interpolar War has effectively cut ties between Peace River and the Free Emirates. Having to deal with the White War 
  in the Badlands and polar aggression, Simosa has had no choice but to focus on his own problems. The stockpiling in TN 
  1935 and the influx of Humanist forces helped the Free Emirates to cope with the loss of trade routes with Peace River. I n  
  late TN 1937, CEO Simosa began contemplating brokering peace talks between the poles, aware that a prolonged war 
  would only be bad for business. Paxton officials have slowly warmed to the idea, but they and Simosa are unsure as to 
  whether to invite the Free Emirates to the table. Simosa i s  aware that the Free Emirates might have to fall if the South is 
  ever going t o  sit down and talk peace, and soon he will have to decide whether to support or betray his friend Armann 
  Boash. 
  Given the distance between the Eastern Sun Emirates and the eastern Badlands communities, foreign relations between 
  the many players of the Barrington Basin and the emirs are nearly non-existent. Recent events have changed this, but 
  when compared with the influence the other Northern and Southern leagues wield i n  the area, Emirate relations pale i n  
  comparison. 
  Sensing a corning war, Cimmarite Emir Sirrano Bajhal began to strengthen Westphalia, the seat of his criminal organiza- 
  tion in the early TN 1930s. Bajhal did not want to make Westphalia into a military power, but rather into a neutral city 
  - 
  a safe zone when the conflict started - 
  a place where people from all sides could come and escape the horrors of the 
  war. For the most part Bajhal has been successful. Both Northern and Southern troops have avoided fighting near 
  Westphalia, mostly because it holds no strategic importance, but the effect is s t i l l  the same. Since the start of the 
  Interpolar War the neutrality of Westphalia and the appeal of its numerous hotels and casinos have turned it into haven 
  for refugees and dissidents, who are allowed to remain there as long as they do not shake the political boat and pay 
  Bajhal for protection. 
  Aside from the fascination the shajhalin have for the GREL supersoldiers of Earth, the majority of the emirs watch the 
  emerging nations of Port Arthur and Colonel Proust's New Human Republic with nothing more than mild curiosity. The 
  emirs of Smyrna, however, are extremely interested. Since the end of the War of Alliance, Emir Anurima Khajar has forged 
  close ties with Colonel Arthur and his settlement. She also provided some covert support to the GREL reproduction 
  experiments in Jan Mayen, which ended i n  TN 1937 when the city was overrun by polar troops. Anurima's sister Sarah does 
  not share her scientific detachment, and has grown fond of the militaristic GREL Colonel Proust; she has since become one 
  of his most valued tools i n  the South. It was Sarah Khajar who supplied Proust with technical schematics and the 
  materials needed to develop the nuclear weapons he now holds. 
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  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The warm rays of Helios, magnified by the smog and pollution of Javari, made the market square hotter than an 
  emit's steam bath. Gryth hated the summer; the heat and smog made Javari even more claustrophobic - if that 
  was possible. The shajhalin looked around wearily. The market was in sad shape - people were hunbry and 
  anxious, and Gryth could see the growing desperation i n  their eyes. He sympathized with the Free Emirates, but he 
  shuddered to imagine what Masao would do if Javari rebelled. 
  A commotion brought Gryth from out of his thoughts: a couple of stalls down, two emirate guards - 
  thugs, really 
  - 
  were hassling a merchant, trying to shake him down for his "tithe." Guess business was slow for the emirs as 
  well, Gryth mused t o  himself, trying not t o  get involved. 
  "Anda, old man," one of the guards was saying, shaking the merchant, "you can make it easy or hard. Everyone 
  owes their percentage to the Adjutants - 
  how do you think they keep the city running for the emirs?" 
  "I ... I told you I don't have it. None of us do... 
  there i s  no business since the War started, we're all hung ry..." 
  "Stop your whining," the guard hissed, slapping the merchant to the ground and knocking his stall over. The few 
  fruits and meats on display scattered t o  the gutter; a few more would go hungry tonight. Other shajhalin gathered 
  at the commotion, slowly encircling the guards. Gryth did not like what was happening. He moved towards the edge 
  of the crowd, but the mob hemmed him in. Then the shouting started. The guards were outnumbered, and soon the 
  older guard was on the radio. Gryth could hear the sounds of Gears approaching - it was now or never. 
  Gryth pushed his way through the crowd, and had almost gained his freedom when the first shot rang out. Chaos 
  immediately descended on the small market. The guards opened up, showering the area with automatic fire. Gryth 
  dove to the ground and rolled under a stall. All around him people were screaming and running. It was then that 
  Gryth heard the distinctive bupum-bupum-bupum staccato of a Gear's autocannon. 
  The next few minutes were a disorientating collage of fire and brimstone. This was the worst Gryth had ever seen, 
  or even heard about, the first implementation of the solicitor Adjutants' mandate of zero-tolerance. Gryth was 
  shocked, but an approaching Iguana reminded him that he had more pressing concerns than trying to figure out 
  why the solicitors of Javari had ordered the guards to crack down so hard. 
  Sprinting from stall to stall, Gryth's only goal was to reach one of the alleyways leading away from the market. As 
  he ran, dying shajhalin reached out to him, calling for help. It seemed like an eternity, but Gryth finally made it to 
  the alleys and ran. And ran. Behind him, he could hear the sound of his pursuers hot on his heels. Running through 
  an intersection, Gryth's darted i n  front of a Camel truck loaded with troops. 
  The guards opened fire with their rifles, but Gryth ducked into a nearby alley and broke into a run again, moving 
  as fast and as far as his legs could take him. It was almost night when he collapsed in a dirty ruin, blissfully 
  unaware of his surroundings. All that mattered was that he was safe. 
  By sundown, most of the shooting had stopped, but the screams and cries lasted well into the night. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The regional development of the Eastern Sun Emirates, much like the other leagues, was not a homogeneous process. The 
  ESE evolved from the ruins of the Consortium and used its settlements to establish the feudalinfrastructure of the league. 
  Development was an uneven and chaotic process; city-states like Javari and Cimmaro were well established and thriving 
  metropolises by the time Earth abandoned Terra Nova and the Eastern Sun arrived, while others were nothing more than 
  ghost towns or primitive collectives. Even after the arrival of the Enri Masao and his ship, the heartland of the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates remained the Javari-Skavara-Cimmaro corridor, with places like Okavango and Basal developing separately. The 
  process of unifying the ESE was a long one, and even after attempts by Enri Masao and his son, each city-state was still 
  essentially an individual entity that bowed to the Eostern Sun but had little in common with any of the others. The 
  Patriarch's Crown, with its band of seven sapphires forming the base of the Masao Crest, symbolizes the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates - 
  each city-state its own jewel, upon which the glory of the Eastern Sun is raised. 
  City-states i n  the ESE are categorized as either pre-emirate or post-emirate, describing their development and foundation. 
  Pre-emirate city-states were established during the almost 1000 cycles that the Consortium ruled this area of Terra Nova. 
  Characterized by their industrial foundation and established infrastructure, city-states like Basal, Cimmaro, Javari and to 
  an extent Okavango, allowed Enri Masao t o  lay the groundwork of the Eastern Sun Emirates. The main problem faced by 
  citizens of pre-emirate city-states is the age and general condition of the structures. Both Cimmaro and Javari are over 
  1400 cycles old and they show their age - forcing their emirs to devote time and resources to maintaining their 
  crumbling emirates, a task few take seriously nowadays. 
  The post-emirate city-states - 
  Strathclyde, Skavara and Bangweuleu - have risen as the stars of the ESE, but their 
  histones are checkered with ineffectual management and inadequate infrastructure. Up until the mid-19th Terranovan 
  century, poor trade routes into Strathclyde resulted i n  famines every cycle or so among its shajhalin population. All city- 
  states suffered from growing pains, and it was only through the momentum established by the pre-emirate cities that 
  Skavara and Strathclyde became the centers they are today. Bangweuleu fared a little better, being a center of trade, and 
  avoided many of the problems suffered by other post-emirate states. Finally, Smyrna falls between the cracks; although 
  founded i n  the fifth Terranovan century, it did not become a city-state until the 17th century. 
  Beyond the city-states, development of the rural emirates has likewise been haphazard, with little or no thought for the 
  future. Large areas of arable land have been ruined by inefficient farming methods, becoming nothing more than huge 
  dust bowls. To feed the growing populations, acres and acres of swampland were drained and razed to create new farming 
  land without considering ecological implications. With the War, many rural Easterners have packed their bags and headed 
  towards Strathclyde or the other city-states, leaving their plantations, ranches and mines inactive, contributing to the 
  decline of the ESE. 
  Most travel in the Eastern Sun Emirates is done on a network of roads that crisscrosses the league, connecting all the city- 
  states. The main highway of the ESE, Highway 7, makes a circuit of the ESE cities, starting in Javari. It then runs through 
  the Serpentine Range to Cimmaro before crossing the Interior to link up with Strathclyde, heads t o  the Pacificas and 
  finally back to Javari. Built at the same time as the beta maglev, Highway 7 shows its age. Although some stretches have 
  four to six lanes, the majority of Highway 7 is a two-lane road that is notorious for its poor condition. Most of the traffic 
  on Highway 7 is shajhalin, as the majority of the lower class are too poor to use the rail or other means of transport. The 
  ESE has one of the highest ratio of automobiles t o  population on Terra Nova. Countless small communities have sprung up 
  along Highway 7, where weary travelers can find a place to eat and rest. 
  The ESFs proliferation of rivers and lakes makes water-travel the second most common means of getting around, espe- 
  cially in the Okavango Swamps. The many rivers draining into the Eastern Plain make them main thoroughfares for the 
  produce grown there, and river barges make the long trek cycle-round. Aside from commercial traffic, the rivers of the ESE 
  are also home to a number of cruises, taking tourists from the highlands of the Eastern Sun Emirates into the Eastern 
  Plains. These rivers are known throughout Terra Nova as the "Riviera of the South." A typical voyage from Skavara to Lake 
  Tomal i n  the Eastern Plain along the River Vag0 takes a couple of weeks, and tourists are dazzled by the lush homes and 
  palaces that line the riverside. 
  As road travel is considered appropriate only for the shajhalin, and boat travel unwieldy for large and heavy shipments, 
  the industrial might of the Eastern Sun Emirates relies on the massive rail network established by the Consortium to move 
  heavy cargo across the league quickly. Although old (some routes even use steam engines to cut on cost and repairs, 
  especially in the humid swamps) the Emirate rail system is surprisingly effective. Cargo usually arrives at its destination 
  on time, or only a little late; for a league known for its ineffectual bureaucracy, this is considered a great accomplishment. 
  Unfortunately, brigandage and piracy are a major concern for anyone traveling in the ESE. Although some emirs patrol the 
  routes into and out of their emirates, most pirates are actually members of emirate retinues, terrorizing their emit's rivals. 
  This practice is exceedingly common among rural emirs. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  except pain and misery. 
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  Located within a deep valley along the Southern Division, the city-state of Strathclyde is the center and capital of the 
  Eastern Sun Emirates. From here, the Patriarch rules the league, and the emirs gather at the lavish Ethereal Palace that 
  dominates the city of Strathclyde and stands as a symbol of their power and decadence. The city is one of splendor and 
  squalor; the emirs and solicitors who live here enjoy a city whose pleasures and magnificence never fade. Characterized by 
  shaded avenues and magnificent architecture, Strathclyde is one of the most beautiful cities on Terra Nova. The reality for 
  the millions of commoners who live beyond the walls of Strathclyde is very different indeed. Abject poverty, crime and 
  oppression are all part and parcel of their daily lives. Whether they toil in the many textile factories or brothels of the city, 
  the shajhalin of Strathclyde know little i n  the way of hope or happiness. Strathclyde is a city caught between excess and 
  want. Those who have can sate their desires on anything they can imagine and more, while those who want know nothing 
  Until the great betrayal of Malach Masao (see 2.2 History, p. ll), the seat of government of the ESE was the venerable city- 
  state of Skavara. This all changed after the Southern War, as Malach's ambition and egotism prompted him to create a visible 
  Legacy he hoped would surpass the ruins of the Eastern Sun and remind all of his greatness and accomplishments. This dream 
  became the city-state of Strathclyde. Malach chose the location for its natural and awe-inspiring beauty, and named his 
  future city after his lover - 
  Benna Strathclyde. Unfortunately, after deciding that Benna was plotting against him, Malach 
  ordered the unfortunate woman sealed in one of the hundreds of minarets adorning the new city-state. 
  A t  the center of his great city, Malach set the designs for the most elaborate palace ever built in the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Ethereal Palace took a work force of over 100,000 more than ten cycles to complete. The majestic castle contains no less 
  than 50 towers, countless chambers and a central spire rising hundreds of meters into the sky. 
  monolithic Ethereal Palace. Located at the center, the Palace and its grounds mark the distinctive skyline of Strathclyde, 
  rising high above the valley that encloses the Patriarchal city. The Middle Tier, sandwiched between the walk of the 
  Terra Nova. Beyond the Middle Tier lies a veritable wasteland, a sprawling mass formed by the ghettos that surround 
  Strathclyde for miles. It is here, in these shantytowns, where Strathclyde's shajhalin live. 
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  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  1. Ethereal Palace 
  The seat of the Patriarch's throne, the Ethereal 
  Palace i s  i n  reality a conglomeration of literally 
  hundreds of palaces and royal buildings. A city 
  in its own right, the Ethereal Palace has every- 
  thing it needs t o  survive isolated from the rest 
  of Strathclyde, or the ESE. 
  2. Ethereal Guard 
  The Patriarch's personalarmy, the EtherealGuard 
  has two barracks, one within the Palace's walk 
  and the other i n  the outskirts of Strathclyde. 
  The Palace compound has its own airfield and 
  houses the Guard's main contingent. 
  3. Solicitor Senate 
  This classical building, designed by Humanist 
  architect Zaar Ehen, houses the Solicitor Sen- 
  ate. It i s  here that the middle-class of the ESE 
  oversees the bureaucracy of the league. 
  4. The Royal Emirate 
  Located a few blocks west of the Eastern Eoul- 
  evard, the Royal Emirate Hotel is a sprawling 
  complex designed for tourists who want to spend 
  their vacations living the lives of the emirs. The 
  daily rate of 3000 dinars ensures that only the 
  richest on Terra Nova visit the hotel where their 
  every desire can be met. The hotel ensures the 
  total privacy of its guests and keeps a large se- 
  curity force to deal with intruders or journal- 
  ists hoping to catch a juicy story. 
  5. Gates of Masao 
  The principal entrance to the Ethereal Palace, 
  the Gates of Masao are guarded at all times by 
  a cadre of the Ethereal Guard. "Standing To" is 
  a great honor among the Ethereal Guard, and 
  only the most dedicated are chosen t o  watch 
  over the gates. Only the emirs, and a handful 
  of solicitors, are allowed access to the palace 
  without royal summons - 
  all others, including 
  foreign dignitaries, must first be invited. 
  6. Teotican 
  The largest shajhalin community, Teotican is 
  starting to emerge as a small distinct suburb of 
  Strathclyde as opposed to the many shantytowns 
  that characterize the Barrens. 
  The city of Strathclyde was originally planned to be free of shajhalin, except for the royal slaves of the Patriarch - it was 
  to be a city devoted to the emirs and their Patriarch. I n  reality, small numbers of shajhalin were needed, but Malach 
  wanted these kept to a strict minimum. This did not last long, however, as the St. Vincenfs War caused a massive wave 
  of refugees to flock to the city, looking to their Patriarch for protection against the plague. More commoners arrived after 
  the war, hoping for better lives i n  a city many had described as heaven. Today over 5 million commoners live near 
  Strathclyde, and only a minority are employed by the Patriarch and the solicitors; the rest are barely able to provide for 
  themselves. Counting the shanties, Strathclyde is actually the most populated city on Terra Nova. 
  The lucky shajhalin work in Strathclyde, either as servants for the Patriarch, textile workers (the textile mills of Strath- 
  Clyde are known to produce the finest garments of Terranovan silk) or i n  the many brothels, restaurants and clubs that 
  exist i n  Middle Tier. The unlucky others live a wretched existence i n  the polluted, disease-filled Barrens. 
  Although the seat of government, Strathclyde has not been free of uprisings or revolts as the excesses of Enri Masao's 
  descendants exact a hefty toll on the lower classes of the capital. The Ethereal Guard patrols the city, suppressing all 
  outbreaks of revolt with extreme violence - 
  tactics include death squads, razing whole shantytowns or executing random 
  shajhalin as a lesson. The most brutal repression of a shajhalin riot occurred in TN 1789, when the Patriarch ordered the 
  firebombing of all shantytowns in the south Barrens. The fires burned for days, but the Patriarch's forces prevented any 
  commoner from escaping the inferno. When the ashes cooled, over 200,000 shajhalin had burnt to death. 
  Isolated from the bleak existence of the shajhalin, the solicitor class rules the Middle Tier of Strathclyde. Living much like 
  their equivalents i n  other leagues, the middle class of the Strathclyde follow a relatively normal daily routine. Here, large 
  numbers of supposedly "freemen" run all sorts of businesses, all catering to the needs of the emirs and Patriarch. Those 
  not involved i n  commerce usually devote their time to the Solicitor Senate and the administration of the ESE. 
  r 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  5.21 THE ETHEREAl PAlACE 
  1 
  Few structures on Terra Nova can rival the sheer majesty and beauty of the Ethereal Palace. Although the site i s  associated 
  with decadence and cruelty, most acknowledge it as an architectural marvel - 
  many consider it one of the wonders of 
  Terra Nova. Sprawling over a hundred square kilometers, the palace contains dozens of structures, from beautifully 
  decorated minarets rising from the many manicured gardens, t o  small estates owned by the emirs of the ESE, to the 
  central court and the spire that dominates the palace grounds. And yet, even with i t s  sublime beauty, the palace is 
  tainted: the statues and walls have been silent witnesses to centuries of violence and brutality. 
  Over 5000 shajhalin live below the palace, i n  an extensive network of catacombs and cellars. These shajhalin never leave 
  the palace and are ignorant of anything beyond the palace’s walls. Known as calamites, the commoners of the Ethereal 
  Palace spend their days and nights performing various duties for their betters. Calamites function as groundskeepers, 
  tailors, artisans, servants and mistresses. Most are ignored by the Patriarch, although some are unlucky enough to become 
  the focus of his attention as lovers or playthings. That fate is far from pleasant, and most end up tortured or dead. 
  Isolating the palace from the world, the walls of Ethereal Palace are i t s  first line of defense. Formidable and imposing, the 
  walls are used as one of the barracks of the Ethereal Guard, and are equipped with all manner of defensive systems, 
  including anti-aircraft batteries, gun emplacements and armored bunkers. The sheer size of the walls, over ten meters tall 
  and over twenty deep, means that Gears are often seen patrolling the parapets. The interior is likewise grandiose, 
  designed like a maze t o  hamper attackers if they ever manage to breach the walls. 
  Designed by Cyril Theodosious i n  TN 1702, the walls are a marvel of architecture and engineering. Extensive volumes have 
  been written about them, discussing every aspect of their design in excruciating detail. 
  At the center of the Ethereal Palace is an elaborate, multi-domed structure known as the Court. The Court’s many towers, 
  chambers and halls form the core of the Ethereal Palace, and it houses the majority of emirate functions. Huge banquet 
  halls, ballrooms and extensive chambers are used for nearly any need the emirs and their guests may have. The large 
  vaulted hallways are dimly lit and adorned with tapestries and Terranovan silk rugs. The walls are made from a dark 
  reddish-gray marble that is unique to the Southern Division. ImperFections i n  the marble result i n  a slight shimmering 
  effect that gives the Court a magical quality and atmosphere. The ceilings are likewise spectacular, adorned with mosaics 
  and gold trim, making each arch a work of art i n  its own right. 
  Cycles of additions and expansions have made the Court almost labyrinth-like, with whole areas lying empty and silent, 
  long since unused and lost i n  the sprawling layout of the palace. Libraries, sitting rooms, baths and even a zoo can all be 
  found i n  the Court. 
  Located at the extreme right of the Court is the council chamber where the emirs of the ESE meet every season to discuss 
  matters with the Patriarch. The chamber is roughly oval i n  design with 50 seats lining the sides of the room. At the apex 
  of the chamber, the original command chair of the Eastern Sun rests on a raised dais (now adorned with sculpture inspired 
  by Terranovan stoneheads) , and is used by the Patriarch as his throne. The ceiling of the chamber is a massive stained- 
  glass dome, allowing light from Helios to bathe the room i n  soft hues. 
  Rising above Strathclyde i n  Babelesque glory is the most impressive feature of the Ethereal Palace -. 
  the Spire. This 
  majestic minaret i s  the personal residence of the Patriarch and his immediate family and advisors. It contains hundreds of 
  rooms and chambers, some of which jut out from the Spire and seem to rest in mid-air. At the very top, i n  a vast cupola, 
  lie the Patriarch’s personal throne room and Masao’s private aviary. An elevator located behind the throne in the Council 
  Chamber is the only way to reach the Spire, and it is constantly guarded by two ceremonial (but deadly) Black Mamba 
  Gears piloted by the Patriarch’s most trusted and loyal bodyguards. 
  5.2.2 THE FflOOlE TIER 
  Even though the Middle Tier is comparable i n  beauty t o  other Terranovan cities, its proximity to the Ethereal Palace makes 
  it look mundane and unimpressive. The Middle Tier grew around the palace i n  the cycles after its completion, as the 
  middle class of the ESE seized the chance to establish a home for itself. The move also allowed the solicitors to cement 
  the bureaucracy of the ESE i n  one central location. 
  The Middle Tier is divided into four sectors, each of which surrounds the Ethereal Palace i n  ever-widening circles. Given 
  the erratic layout of the palace, the streets and boulevards of the Tier often run at odd angles, resulting in a number of 
  winding streets. The lavish homes and mansions of the wealthiest solicitors dominate the areas closest to the palace. 
  Concentrated around the intersection of the Eastern Boulevard and the Via Emirate, this sector of the Middle Tier is the 
  most famous. Portico-lined streets, amphitheaters and shaded avenues house the most expensive and chic boutiques, 
  hotels and clubs i n  the South. 
  The majority of the buildings i n  the Middle Tier are modern and secular i n  appearance, as the solicitors attempt to break 
  away from the typical dome and minaret architecture of the ESE. The result is an interesting mix of old and new that 
  further adds to the intriguing qualities of the Middle Tier and Strathclyde. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Beyond the wall that separates the Middle Tier from the Barrens lies a vast sea of shanty towns and ghettos, home to the 
  impoverished shajhalin of Strathclyde. Only a minority are ancestrally tied to Strathclyde, and these either reside within 
  the Ethereal Palace or toil i n  slavery for the solicitors of the city. The rest of Strathclyde's lower class, depressed and 
  disillusioned, barely manage to survive i n  the Barrens, having nowhere else to go. 
  Shantytowns, ghettos and small hive-like dwellings characterize the Barrens, and over the cycles an economy based on 
  barter has developed, giving the people of the area a chance for exchange and survival. Drastically different from other 
  shajhalin communities i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates, the people of the Barrens know little in the way of peace. Their lives 
  are ruled by petty warlords who battle with each other over the few goods that make it into the Barrens. The Banderias 
  have little power i n  the Barrens, and only those "legal" commoners living within the walls of Strathclyde are protected by 
  them. 
  Technically, no emir has providence over the Barrens, not because the commoners there are free, but because the emirs 
  and Patriarch do not care about the dejected serfs who live there. As Long as they do not cause too much trouble (and 
  frequent patrols and death squads ensure this), the Patriarch i s  content to leave the Barrens alone. This degree of freedom 
  (if it can be called that) has resulted in a large influx of commoners from other parts of the ESE. 
  Hundreds of small caves nestle along the valley's steep slopes, home to a large percentage of the ancestral shajhalin of 
  Strathclyde. Protected by their isolation from the lawless Barrens, these shajhalin communities here have burrowed into 
  the valley's walls, creating an intricate network of caves and tunnels in which they have built their homes. Tapping into 
  a pre-existing tunnel system, these grottos extend underneath the plateau that surrounds the city and deep into Strath- 
  Clyde itself. It is rumored that it i s  possible to reach the catacombs beneath the Ethereal Palace through these tunnels. 
  Next to the Barrens, the Settlement of Teotican is home to the largest concentration of shajhalin i n  Strathclyde. An 
  outgrowth of the Grottos, Teotican was first formed i n  the early 18th century as the refugees of the St. Vincent War 
  pushed many out of the Barrens and upper Grottos. Today it i s  a walled community, composed of both ancestral and 
  Barren shajhalin, and is growing into a thriving metropolis. The citizens have forged ties with the Middle Tier, and they 
  count among their numbers some of the finest tanners and metal workers. These factors ensure that the people of 
  Teotican do well for themselves. Their prosperity has not gone unnoticed by the hungry i n  the Barrens. With each passing 
  season, Barren raids on Teotican have increased, threatening the future of the fledgling community. 
  Fransiko Almodovar runs Teotican. He i s  a fair man and has been partially responsible for making Teotican what it is today. 
  Fransiko, a Revisionist, wants to secure Teotican, and if the Patriarch and emirs do not accept the responsibility of 
  protecting the shajhalin settlement, he will look to Bangweuleu and Massada for support. 
  The men and women of the Ethereal Guard are among the best trained and most fanatical of all the centuries under the 
  Patriarch's banner. The safety of Strathclyde and the Patriarch i s  entrusted to them, and they are among the most trusted 
  and respected of all Emirate units. The Ethereal Guard's command is made up of emirs and a few solicitors, but the 
  shajhalin make up the rank and file. Taken from their families from birth, the shajhalin members of the Guard are raised 
  apart from the rest of the ESE. Existing i n  their own social strata, the Guard answer only to the Patriarch and revere him 
  as a living deity. And perhaps more importantly, see him as their father. 
  Unlike the typical emirate retinues, the Ethereal Guard i s  well trained and organized, having over five centuries of 
  distinguished history. The Ethereal Guard i s  steeped i n  ceremony and tradition, and most members ritually torture them- 
  selves i n  elaborate ceremonies demonstrating their loyalty and fealty to the Patriarch. It is not uncommon for male 
  members to castrate themselves, as it is seen as the ultimate act of devotion to their commander. Their sense of loyalty 
  is such that each member is willing to sacrifice himself to save the Patriarch from danger. To do so is the greatest honor 
  an Etheral Guardian can achieve. 
  The Ethereal Guard is commanded by the Patriarch himself, though i t s  day t o  day command falls under the auspices of 
  Emir Karin Voss. Voss fought valiantly during the War of the ALLiance, and now at the age of 56 cycles has helped suppress 
  a number of local revolts. Intensely cruel and coldly efficient, Voss knows no restraint when dealing with her foes, and her 
  fanaticism and piecing battle cry have earned her the nickname "the howling Banshee." Though once beautiful, Voss' 
  body i s  a road map of pain, displaying wounds and scars that earn her the respect of her unit, and the fear of her foes. I n  
  TN 1938 the Patriarch ordered the Guard deployed to the Eastern Plain, preparing for a summer assault on the territories 
  Free Emirates. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  High above the jungles of the Eastern Sun Emirates, Cimmaro i s  located on the southern slopes of Piedra Dorada, one of 
  the Major Akarum's tallest peaks. This desolate mountain contains some of the richest mineral deposits outside the 
  Badlands, a treasure many are willing to pay highly for - 
  a fact the emirs of this city-state know all too well. During the 
  formation of the ESE, the people of Cimmaro (most of them descendants of criminals forced to work for Minore, a 
  subsidiary of the Consortium) resisted the emirs. Following a short but bloody confrontation, the city finally fell under the 
  sway of the Eastern Sun, but i t s  commoners never fully submitted to the emirs, and uprisings and rebellions have been 
  Today Cimmaro i s  a city tainted by violence, and is one of the roughest city-states i n  the ESE. The old feud between the 
  emirs of Cimmaro, which ended only last cycle, was a lure to mercenaries and thugs, making the emirate retinues of 
  Cimmaro some of the largest i n  the league. Seasoned veterans, the retinues of Emirs Sirrano Bajhal and Oschar Sethyra 
  have stopped battling each other and are now involved i n  the Free Emirate rebellions and the Interpolar War. 
  With much of the retinue forces off to war, the local appetite for violence focuses on the Coliseum. Here, Barjhal stages 
  Roman-style gladiatorial matches and Gear duels, recruiting both desperate shajhalin and skilled mercenaries. 
  Few cities on Terra Nova can rival the natural beauty of Cimmaro. Built along (and up) a treacherous slope, Cimmaro rises 
  over the Interior and above the clouds. Below the clouds, harsh weather and treacherous conditions prevail, but once 
  above them, the mountain opens up into a serene vista gently bathed by Helios' rays, earning Cimmaro the name 
  "Kingdom of Clouds." Cimmaro itself is composed of hundreds of small clusters of buildings and settlements located 
  throughout the mountain on small plateaus or man-made terraces. These "islands" form the core of Cimmaro and a 
  elaborate system of gondolas, bridges and elevators connect the various settlements that make up the city-state. 
  . 
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  almost constant ever since. 
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  Cimmaro i s  known for its mines, and the countless quarries that pockmark Piedra Dorada form the staple of its economy. 
  From a distance, the openings of the mines resembLe dark, vacant eyes staring out over the Interior. The majority of 
  Cimmaro's shajhalin population slave away mining the materials found i n  the Piedra Dorada and neighboring mountains, 
  ranging from simple ores to the precious and rare gemstones such as the aquazul gem. Many of these mines have been in 
  existence since before the formation of the ESE, and no effort has been made to keep them i n  working order, much less 
  safe. The mines are known to frequently collapse, trapping the workers i n  the darkness where many die before they can be 
  rescued. 
  " I  
  Ilal Slatistics 4 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  1. Palace Bajhal 
  The highest settlement in Cimmaro, Bajhals 
  palace looks down over the city-state. A lavish 
  building, reminiscent of Earth's mesoamerican 
  cultures. the palace is self-sufficient and ex- 
  tremely well defended: its walls have never been 
  breached, even during the feud with Sethyra. 
  Smaller and less grandiose than the Palace 
  Bajhal, the ancestral home of Emir Sethyra is 
  nonetheless an imposing sight. Sethyra has 
  holed himself up here and accepts few visitors. 
  The center of Cimmaro. the Coliseum is the sight 
  of the city-state's famous gladiatorial duels. Part 
  of Barjhal's criminal empire, the Coliseum turns 
  a nice profit from bets and allows Sirrano to 
  "recruit" potential warriors for his personal reti- 
  nue. Before the Interpolar War, the Cimmarite 
  Coliseum was one stop in the Gear Dueling cir- 
  cuit, forging ties with Khayr ad-Din. 
  Los Tres is a mercenary settlement nestled at 
  the base of a rock formation known as the Trin- 
  ity. The Trinity is composed of three spires of 
  rock, making it one of the most distinguishable 
  landmarks of Cimmaro. Some mercenaries of Los 
  Tres still support Emir Sethyra and could be a 
  source of trouble for Bajhal. 
  2. Sethyra's Throne 
  3. The Coliseum 
  4. Los Tres 
  ~ 
  5. The Assembly 
  Found near the bottom of Cirnmaro. the Assem- 
  bly is the industrial core of the city-state. It is 
  here that allthe ore is refined, and later shipped 
  to Skavara and Javari 
  The MIUCIA has traditionally maintained a pres- 
  ence i n  Cimmaro. Elements of the MIUCIA's 56th 
  regiment, The Stone Demons, have been sta- 
  tioned here since the end of the War of the 
  Alliance. Not wanting Cimmaro to fall into Free 
  Emirate hands, high command ordered the Stone 
  Demons t o  remain i n  Cimmaro when the 
  Interpolar War broke out, much to the disap- 
  pointment of the regiment. 
  6. MILICIA Barracks 
  SOCIETY 
  Both emirs regard the Cimmarite shajhalin as an expendable resource, forced to work i n  the many mines that dot Piedra 
  Dorada. Mining is extremely hazardous work, and shajhalin casualties are high. Each cycle sees Bajhal importing more 
  and more slaves from his slave ring to recoup the losses. Cimmaro has a history of violence, and on more than one 
  occasion, the emirs have found themselves under siege by the shajhalin masses. Cimmaro's isolation from the rest of the 
  ESE has only made matters worse. Things stabilized somewhat when the MILICIA established a garrison there. Outright 
  rebellion, however, has never taken i n  Cimmaro, mostly because the shajhalin can never cooperate with each other, most 
  being too hot-blooded to organize themselves effectively. 
  The feud between Barjhal and Sethyra dominated the city-state for over fifty cycles. At its worst, between TN 1892 and 
  1899, Cimmaro was a battleground, with both emirs building defensive fortifications and raiding each other's palaces. 
  Curiously enough, the emirs never escalated the feud into open war, and it always remained a tense standoff between the 
  two rivals. Part of this was the realization that Svetlana Masao and her son Oliver would never stand for open fighting in 
  Cimmaro. At the same time, Bajhars secret relationship with Svetlana allowed him some leeway. As long as the feud did 
  not get out of hand, the former Matriarch, and now her son, was willing to look the other way. 
  Few remember what started the feud. Some say it was a simple disagreement, others a bet gone wrong. Regardless, 
  Bajhal perpetuated the feud to cover his criminal dealings, and to whittle away Sethyra's influence i n  emirate politics 
  and Cimmaro's mining industry. 
  I n  TN 1936, Barjhal simply ended the feud by blinding Sethyra. He made an offer to spare Sethyra's life, as long as the old 
  emir simply abdicated to Bajhal. Retiring from emirate politics, Sethyra has come to realize what a pawn he has been all 
  his life and plans to avenge himself. Sethyra knows that Barjhal is Oliver's right hand man, and knows that without the 
  Patriarch, there would be few allies willing to back the crooked emir. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  ‘ 
  . . . 
  Officially the oldest city-state i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates, Javari was born i n  the cycles before the completion of the beta 
  maglev line. It began as a staging area for the workers and storage materials needed for the line. It would haw remained 
  so, had it not been for the frequent delays the work crews encountered trying to cross the Serpentine Mountains. I n  the 
  interim, the Consortium established a number of factories to produce the massive quantities of materials required for the 
  maglev. By the time the Beta line was finished, Javari had grown to a sizable population of 20,000. 
  When the Eastern Sun arrived, Javari was the industrial heart of the Consortium, a sprawling factory-complex with a 
  population of over 100,000. The second city-state to join the fledgling Emirates, Javari profited from i t s  union with Enri 
  Masao and his crew. Although later eclipsed by Skavara, Javari provided the fledgling ESE with an industrial life-line, 
  giving the league a chance to develop and expand. The presence of the beta maglev allowed Javari to establish itself 
  ’ 
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  Southern War. 
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  Located along the western slopes of the Serpentine Mountains, the ominous presence of the Nube Muerte volcano forever 
  shadows Javari. Erupting twice i n  known history, the eruption of TN 890 devastated Javari and destroyed most of its 
  industries. The Consortium rebuilt the city and constructed a series of trenches and canals to divert lava flows. This 
  initiative spared the city-state from a second eruption in TN 1650. Mostly dormant since then, dark smoke and ashes 
  occasionally billow from the volcano, covering Javari and the surrounding countryside in thick gray-purple ash that is 
  mildly toxic but not corrosive. 
  Javari itself is built along the many lava trenches and valleys that the TN 890 eruption etched into the Serpentines. All 
  of the buildings i n  Javari are built inside these ridges, some of which are many hundreds of meters deep and a few 
  kilometers wide. Huge factory complexes dominate the murky depths of the trenches, and smoke stacks rise high above 
  the trenches. The pipelines, power cables, sewer systems and covered bridges that connect the various trenches are all 
  located above ground, draped over the mountain’s side, creating an interesting honey-comb effect throughout Javari. The 
  main means of public transportation are huge gondolas that ferry the commoners from their living complexes to the 
  factories and back. Above the trenches, the emirate palaces of Emirs Gilan and Uther overlook the hive-like city. Javari is 
  extremely overcrowded, originally designed to accommodate no more than 400,000 people, only a third of its present 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  b Map of Javari 
  1. Emirate Palaces 
  Sitting on opposite ends of the main trench of 
  Javari. the Emirate palaces are constructed from 
  dark, volcanic rock quarried not far from Javari. 
  The juxtaposition of this dark stone with ara- 
  besque ones (minarets, cupolas frescoes) make 
  the Javarite palaces seem otherworldly. 
  2. The Consortium 
  This collection of buildings was at one time the 
  main Consortium arcology i n  Javari. Now, an- 
  cient and in dire need of repair, the Consortium 
  is the equivalent of the shajhalin town hall of 
  Javari. 
  3. Ruins 
  The CEFs orbital bombardment of Javari i n  TN 
  1913 has left its mark. Blasted buildings, burnt- 
  out factories and rubble characterize the ruins 
  of Javari, where only the most desperate now 
  live. 
  Similar i n  design t o  Badlands oasis towers, Ter- 
  minal B is the most important of the three 
  maglev docks i n  Javari. All the imported mate- 
  rials are brought here, to then be sent to the 
  factories to be produced into final goods. These 
  goods are then transported back to Terminal B 
  where they are sent either t o  Skavara or the 
  Mekong Dominion. 
  Javari i s  powered by geothermal energy pro- 
  vided by the Nube Muerte volcano. These tow- 
  ers also selve to monitor volcanic activities and 
  give warning at signs of a possible eruption. In 
  addition. the emirate retinues use the towers 
  for barracks. 
  The MIUCIA has a small outpost near Terminal 
  B to ensure its safety and continued operation. 
  4. Terminal B 
  5. Thermal Towers 
  6. MILICIA Outpost 
  7. Grasslands 
  The plateaus between the trenches are where 
  the Javarite cattle industry makes its home. Here 
  ranches and pasture fields dot the mesas, and 
  only recently have shajhalin begun moving here 
  to escape the polluted trenches. 
  SOCIETY 
  Nowhere else i n  the ESE i s  the notion of the faceless masses more prevalent than in the industrial heartland of Javari. All 
  of the shajhalin are employed (enslaved, really) by the huge factories that make Javari what it is. Conditions are hard i n  
  the factories and little is done to ensure the long term health of the workers; the assembly lines are dark cavernous places 
  filled with dangerous machinery and noxious clouds of toxic gas. Children attend special technical schools until the age 
  of nine, at which point they enter the workforce and work 18 hour shifts like everyone else. The banderias of Javari run 
  these schools, answering t o  a solicitor Board of Adjutants. 
  Despite these harsh conditions, the shajhalin of Javari survive and even thrive. The commoners i n  Javari, unlike most in 
  the ESE, have always enjoyed a semblance of democracy, mostly because of the banderias. The banderias have organized 
  mass strikes and protests, and have used the fear of rebellion, and more importantly sabotage, t o  dissuade the emirs from 
  using violence or force against their people. These banderias are the most powerful of all the shajhalin family-guides i n  
  the ESE, and their higher echelons live better than some solicitors do. Wary of the power of the Javarite banderias, the 
  emirs of the city-state grudgingly acknowledge their usefulness and allow them to exist. 
  Although the factories are run by solicitors or foreign managers, it is the banderias of Javari that ensure the workers keep 
  showing up for work, and that the emirs do not overstep their bounds. The banderias realize that they must be careful, 
  and have never used their power i n  any other form than to ensure the safety of the commoners. 
  The solicitors of Javari are an interesting lot. Motivated by personal gain, they have integrated themselves into every 
  facet of life i n  Javari, and more than any other Emirate city, the emirs are totally dependent on the solicitor caste. 
  For hygiene and safety reasons, all shajhalin have their hair regularly shaved, even women and children. To break the 
  uniformity, commoners often tattoo their heads with intricate and colorful designs. These markings have not only become 
  a statement of individuality, but also of respect and prestige as those who have been working the longest often have the 
  most complex tattoos. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Among the shajhalin of the Eastern Sun Emirates, the city-state of Javari is also known as the Emirate of Calamity. 
  Whether it is volcanic eruptions, flash floods or industrial disasters, the history of Javari is punctuated by the countless 
  catastrophes that have befallen the city-state. The most recent one, and potentially the most devastating, was the orbital 
  bombardment by the Colonial Expeditionary Force on 3 Summer TN 1913. Three calculated strikes destroyed whole sectors 
  of Javari and killed close to 200,000 people. The city-state's northern industrial core was the main target because of the 
  four munitions factories located there. The explosion of the strike is said to have been heard all the way to Okavango and 
  Cimmaro. The second strike was aimed at Terminal B, but it missed, instead striking a residential sector and killing 
  everyone within a square kilometer. The third strike landed i n  the western trench, and had been aimed at the oil refineries 
  there. Javan burnt for days after the bombardment, and panic spread across the city. For the next few weeks the emirs of 
  Javari were busy fighting riots and uprisings, but by the end of that Summer, the situation was under control and Javari 
  joined the War of the Alliance. 
  The attack crippled Javari after the war, and it had barely begun t o  recover when Leda Gilan rose to the emirate throne i n  
  the early TN 1930s. A series of bad decisions by Leda's mother, Hylena, after the War of the Alliance sent Javari into a 
  decade-long recession. During this time entire industrial sections of Javari were closed and factories shut down, contrib- 
  uting to the dominance of Skavara i n  Eastern industry. 
  Even now, the western trench is nothing more than a ghost town, and everywhere else ruins from the bombardment are 
  s t i l l  visible, including the craters near the beta maglev terminal. Largely uninhabited, the ruins are considered hallowed 
  grounds by the Javarite shajhalin, and every cycle, on the anniversary of the strike, flowers are planted among the ruins. 
  Even outsiders are struck by the powerful symbol of a lone, frail flower growing from a sea of ruins. 
  The ruins present two problems t o  the emirs of Javari. One is the presence of the dreaded Ash Rat, a known disease carrier. 
  I n  the last 18 cycles two epidemics have spread through Javari, claming a few thousand lives in the process. To combat 
  these rats, the emirs and the Board of Adjutants hire shajhalin to enter the ruins and the sewers below t o  root out the 
  vermin. It is estimated that some two million Ash Rats make Javari their home. 
  The second problem is the lawlessness of the ruins. Difficult to control or patrol, and littered with countless hiding spots, 
  more and more shajhalin have disappeared into the ruins. While facing all sorts of dangers, these shajhalin prefer this to 
  working in the hellish factories of Javari. 
  All is not well i n  the city-state of Javari, and its future i s  far from certain. While emirs Gilan and Uther are well 
  represented in Emirate court, few courtiers are aware of the troubles brewing in Javari. A decade of depression and the 
  loss of the city-state's industrial standing have had a profound impact. With a number of factories either closed or 
  destroyed, the number of unemployed shajhalin has skyrocketed to over 20 percent, and while the emirs provide for them, 
  most are living i n  poverty. It i s  not the poverty that i s  main problem, but the workers' idleness. Out of work and with no 
  cheap diversions, these shajhalin are thirsting for a change, and small riots break out daily across Javari. Another factor 
  making Javari volatile is that a large percentage of its population was drafted t o  fight the Free Emirates and the 
  Interpolar War. Most draftees are sympathetic to Basal and the Free Emirates, and chafe under the command of Oliver 
  Masao, fighting a war they do not wish to win. 
  A 
  I 
  Faquir Anheh 4 
  The head of the solicitor Board of Adjutants, Faquir Anhek is a dangerous man. Sensing the time is right and 
  not content with how the emirs are running things, Anhek and his solicitor accomplices want to secede from 
  the ESE and establish themselves as an independent state. Using his shajhalin contacts and keeping the emirs 
  i n  the dark as to what is happening, Anhek is planning to orchestrate a city-wide revolt by the shajhalin and 
  use the commotion to assassinate both Gilan and Uther. As part of his plans, Anhek instructed his contacts i n  
  the emirate guards to suppress all riots and demonstrations as brutally as possible to fan the flames of tension 
  in Javari. Once this i s  done, the Board of Adjutants will assume control of Javari and suppress the rebellion 
  with Anhek assuming the title of emir. 
  Anhek's plan is seriously flawed by the fact that he has no aristocratic blood. The other emin of the ESE would 
  never accept a mere solicitor as one of their own, unless he could prove himself to be related to them. He is 
  currently searching for any impoverished emir's son or daughter he can marry to gain some legitimacy. He has 
  also tried to gain access to the emirate family records i n  Skavara's Forbidden City -thus far without success. 
  Anhek is also underestimating the reactions of Leda Gilan and the shajhalin t o  his machinations. Leda will 
  respond by using any and all means to end the rebellion quickly, not wanting t o  anger Oliver Masao. For his 
  part, Masao might help Leda, a fact Anhek has not considered. The shajhalin banderias already suspect Anhek 
  of hiding things, and if they rebel they will only stop when Javari is part of the Free Emirates. With all three 
  factions pulling i n  opposite directions, Javan might collapse for good. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The city-state of Skavara holds a special significance for the people of the Eastern Sun Emirates, for it was here that the 
  Eostern Sun crash-landed, giving birth to the league. The second highest city-state i n  terms of elevation, Skavara is 
  located on one of the few plateaus of the Serpentine Range. Although originally founded i n  TN 506, during the construc- 
  tion of the beta maglev, Skavara was gradually abandoned as Javari became the seat of the Consortium. Before the arrival 
  of the Eostern Sun Skavara was a ghost town, existing under the shadow of the beta maglev line. The factories that helped 
  construct the maglev line had been quiet for over 800 cycles, and the few thousand souls living there survived solely on 
  the profits from agriculture and trade. This all changed when Enri Masao began building his new home on Terra Nova, and 
  transformed Skavara into the capital of the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  Skavara remained the seat of government until Malach Masao yielded t o  the Southern Republic and constructed Strath- 
  Clyde as the new capital of the ESE. Although no longer in the spotlight, the emirate of Skavara has always been important 
  to the league. A number of powerful, charismatic and influential emirs have ruled Skavara, making it the second-most 
  important city-state i n  the ESE. From the 18th century onwards, Skavara rivaled Javari as a center of industry, fully 
  eclipsing it after the War of the Alliance. 
  The current emir, Gavriel Draho, has ruthlessly kept the commoners in check; his legions of gray-uniformed troops - 
  known as the Vanguard - 
  patrol the city, ensuring order. Maintaining a visible presence, the Vanguard is ready and able 
  t o  put down any shajhalin outbreak. Careful not to entice the population into revolt, Draho, much to the pleasure of Lord 
  Chancellor Tanaka, began raising the shajhalin standard of living by providing health care and education. This does come 
  with a price, as the shajhalin are expected to work 24 hours a day, i n  two 12-hour shifts. For six days a week, shajhalin 
  work two shifts on, one shift off. Skavara is also home t o  a large foreign population, as most international corporations 
  i n  the ESE have their main offices here. 
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  Skavara, unlike other cities i n  the ESE, is starkly utilitarian i n  its appearance. Most factories are located i n  the surround- 
  ing countryside, connected by series of roads and railroads. These factories create "hubs" that dot the plateau of Skavara, 
  each a small microcosm revolving around the factories housed there. After the War of Alliance, Draho constructed Shajhalin 
  Towers; massive skyscrapers/arcologies where 90 percent of the commoner population live. Connected to one of the 
  factory hubs, the Towers are a striking feature of Skavara's skyline. Forbidden from traveling beyond their own Tower and 
  factory hub, the shajhalin know little about the rest of Skavara. 
  . 
  : . . 
  : 
  b Vital  tati is tics 
  - 1  
  Founding DaW 
  TN 506 (abandoned in IN 511, repoputaced in TN 1492) 
  Joined ESE 
  Th 1492 
  Method of Governme& 
  Hereditary Aristocracy 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Map of ~ h a ~ a r a  4 
  1. SHI 
  The largest local factory complex, Skavara Heavy 
  Industries employs over 200,000 shajhalin. Pro- 
  duction runs 36 hours a day, and since the 
  Interpolar War, a combined MILICIApanguard 
  brigade protects SHI. Aside horn manufactur- 
  ing Gears and ANs, SHI produces of the Titan 
  attack helicopter and munitions. 
  Next t o  SHI, the Antilles Hub is the second most 
  important hub. Home t o  a terminal of the beta 
  maglev line and the conventional rail network 
  connecting Javari and Skavara, Antilles is the 
  lifeline of Skavara. A number of foreign corpo- 
  rations and embassies are located here as well. 
  2. Antillis Hub 
  3. Elysian Heights 
  Two of the Terra Nova's longest maglev suspen- 
  sion bridges are found i n  Skavara, spanning a 
  combined length of seven kilometers. The av- 
  erage height of the bridges is two hundred me- 
  ters, and passengers traveling over them are 
  treated to a spectacular view. 
  4.HCS Eastern Sun 
  Resting high above the factory hubs of Skavara. 
  the Eastern Sun i s  the most visited site i n  the 
  city-state. Pilgrims from all over the ESE travel 
  here to visit the great wreck. Over the cycles, a 
  small community has developed at the base of 
  the mighty ship where pilgrims can find a place 
  t o  sleep and eat. The ruins are the only place 
  where Skavaran shajhalin are allowed to travel. 
  5. The Forgotten City 
  The site of the original settlement of Skavara 
  and the first home of the emirs. Now abandoned 
  and closed to the outside world. 
  Home t o  the MILICIA's 73rd Regiment, the 
  Serpentine Watch, the barracks of Skavara 
  overlook SHI and the Antilles Hub. A mixed 
  Gearfinfantry unit, the Serpentine Watch has 
  enjoyed a long relationship with Skavara and 
  i n  particular Emir Draho. Since the Interpolar 
  War, Black and Green companies have been 
  deployed t o  the Eastern Plain. 
  6. MILICIA Barracks 
  THEYRlGURRO 
  Next to the Ethereal Guard of Strathclyde, the Vanguard is the most capable military unit in the Emirates. Avoiding the 
  chaotic organization of most emirate forces, the Vanguard is modeled after MILICIA units, the only difference being its 
  adherence to the practice of using heraldic color schemes instead of camouflage. Formed i n  the 17005, the Vanguard 
  distinguished itself during the St. Vincent's War and then again i n  the War of Alliance. The Vanguard is composed of both 
  shajhalin and mercenary elements, both well paid and looked after by the emir of Skavara. Living i n  lavish barracks, the 
  Vanguard's shajhalin are very loyal to Draho. 
  The Vanguard was not deployed to help fight the Basal Rebellion, only entering the fray after the beginning of the 
  Interpolar War. The reason for this was simple - 
  as the Vanguard is primarily composed of a large number of shajhalin 
  warriors, Draho did not want to risk a mutiny or rebellion i n  Skavara. Instead, Draho supplied equipment and Gears to the 
  efforts to pacify the rebellions. Now that the league is at war, Draho is free to send his troops into battle, and has 
  personally led them on a number of successful campaigns - mostly against Northern units i n  the Eastern Plain and the 
  Mekong Dominion. It is because of the Vanguard that Draho stands a good chance of being named Commodore of the 
  league, effectively assuming martial control over the ESE - 
  of course with the support of Oliver Masao. Because of this, 
  Draho has had to walk a delicate line between trying to gain the Patriarch's favor and limiting his control. 
  Three regiments make up the Vanguard: the Crimson Blades, the Anvil of Draho, and the Specters, of which one i s  always 
  stationed i n  Skavara to patrol the city-state. Emir Marya Jento oversees the day to day managing of the Vanguard while 
  Sidar Omar Draho, cousin of Gavriel, commands the three regiments. Well-trained, the Vanguard is equipped with the 
  latest Gears, mostly Iguanas and Black Mambas, and is supported by locally produced Titan attack choppers and Naga 
  Striders. Omar is a strong supporter of his cousin and looks forward t o  Emir Draho being named Commodore of the 
  Emirates, so he can lead the Vanguard into battle once more. Emir Jento is less certain of the wisdom of Draho's current 
  plan, but knows full well that criticizing him could be fatal at this stage. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Beyond the neat streets and high-rises of Skavara, embedded into the Serpentine Range, lies the monolithic ruin of the 
  HCS Eastern Sun. The ship casts a symbolic shadow, not only across Skavara but the whole of the Eastern Sun Emirates, an 
  ever-present sentinel passing judgment on the actions of the emirs. Almost 70% of this five-kilometer vessel is visible, 
  practically a mountain i n  its own right. Those who cast their eyes on it for the first time cannot help but feel awed by its 
  splendor. I n  its silence, it speaks of the sacrifice and heroic actions of Enri Masao, whose spirit lives on through the 
  Eastern Sun. Every cycle, on the anniversary of the crash landing (17 Autumn), the Eastern Sun becomes the site of a 
  week-long ceremony of solemn remembrance. Lately though, it has only been the millions of shajhalin pilgrims who travel 
  from all over the ESE who remember the Sun, most emirs simply using the occasion t o  throw lavish balls and feasts 
  catering to their decadent pleasures. 
  Continually restored and maintained, certain sections of the Sun clearly show its age. Some parts have long since eroded, 
  and the ship is now cloaked i n  dark gray and rust-red hues. Those sections that are still used by the emirs, such as the 
  conning tower and the upper sections, are well maintained and look almost as they did over 400 cycles ago. The deeper 
  one travels into the hull, however, the more the vessel becomes cavernous and dangerous, most corridors and bulkheads 
  corroded beyond recognition. Even so, young shajhalin on the verge of adulthood regularly venture into the bowels of the 
  ship as an elaborate rite of passage to prove their bravery. 
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  The mid-section of the Eastern Sun serves as the final resting place for the emirs and Patriarchs of the Eastern Sun 
  Emirates. Here, the cargo chambers and rooms of the starship have been turned into elaborate tombs where the descend- 
  ants of the Eastern Sun have been buried. Most remains are mummified, due to the extremely dry air within the hull; their 
  dry and desiccated features are relics of the past for the faithful pilgrims. The shajhalin adorn these mummies, revered as 
  saints, and their tombs with flowers and votive paintings, hoping to earn the blessings of the dead emirs. Depending on 
  the life the emir led before his death, each mummy is said to have providence over certain aspects such as love, luck, 
  vengeance and so on. For example, those wanting to ease the suffering of a loved one pray at the tomb of Emir Jalaher, 
  a kind emir of Smyrna known to have studied for years to try to find a cure for the St. Vincent's plague. 
  Surrounding the Eastern Sun and walled off from the rest of Skavara (and the ESE for that matter) are the ruins of the 
  original settlement of Skavara. When Malach Masao moved the throne to Strathclyde, he barred anyone from entering the 
  old city, where the original Palace of Masao stood, i n  an attempt t o  severe all ties with the past. This isolation only Lasted 
  until the 17th century when the Warden of the Eastern Sun petitioned t o  have the Forgotten City (as it was then called) 
  opened - 
  albeit only for himself and his followers. 
  Since then, only a handful have entered the Forgotten City, where the ESE began. A haunted place, the first buildings Enri 
  Masao and his crew built still stand to this day, silent and vacant as their league has grown around them. Next to the 
  Eastern Sun, the Forgotten City is the most sacred place i n  the ESE. Only the Warden and his Sunite Order live i n  the 
  Forgotten City, caring for the ruins and chronicling the history of the league. Few are aware of the detailed records the 
  Sunites keep, which include genealogical trees of all the emirs and Patriarchs. 
  The shajhalin have a prophecy surrounding the Forgotten City. They believe that when the throne of the ESE is moved back 
  to the Forgotten C i t y  and Strathclyde abandoned, Enri Masao's spirit will be reborn and new age will dawn for the league. 
  . . 
  The Warden of the €ustern Sun holds a special position within emirate society, akin to that of an archbishop 
  or similar religious figure. It is his or her responsibility to ensure that the Eastern Sun is never forgotten. and 
  to lead many of the ceremonies and other rituals integral to emirate culture which take place on board the 
  ship. The Warden traditionally confirms the right of a descendant of Enri Masao to take the title of Patriarch 
  before his (or her) ascendance. but this practice has not been honored since Svetlana Masao's reign. The 
  Warden has always held considerable power and influence, and i s  one of the few emirs to have the ears of the 
  entire league, including the Patriarch. The Warden, however, uses his power carefully, and only when it 
  pertains to the €ustern Sun. Oliver Masao has, for all intense and purposes, exiled the current Warden, Emir 
  Aker, to the Forgotten City, not wanting to be bothered by him and his prognostications. 
  Emir Aliat Aker is a frail man in his 80s. Suffering from a rare skin disease, Aker's entire body is covered in a 
  silken shawl t o  hide his disfigurement, an affectation which adds to his mystical aura. Aker takes very little 
  interest i n  politics, i n  which he has little say given his current exile, even though he holds the title of Warden. 
  As Warden, Aker heads the monkish Sunite Order, who protect and care for the €ustern Sun and the Forgotten 
  City. The Sunites spend their days contemplating the ruins of the ship and roaming the empty corridors of the 
  walled-off city. They serve as scribes and historians, but are also trained t o  defend the relics of the ESE. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  The emirate of Smyrna, though one of the smallest and least influential, is also one of the most well known outside the 
  ESE, mostly because of the respected Collegio Smyrna and the AST's High Technology Research Center. Separated by the 
  Serpentine mountains from the heartland of the Eastern Sun Emirates, the emirs of Smyrna have for the most part forged 
  their own path - regarded as both visionaries and pariahs i n  their own league. Although Smyrna was not officially 
  founded until 1602, a community had existed there since TN 1467, built on the ruins of the original beta maglev 
  settlement. Established by Johan Khajar, the medical officer of the Emtern Sun, the future emirate of Smyrna developed 
  as a quiet community far away from the bustle of Skavara. Johan never adopted Terra Nova as his home, and instead did 
  what he could to amass as many "relics" of Earth i n  his settlement to remind him of home. Datafiles, hardcopies, works of 
  art and sculpture all made their way to Smyrna over the next few centuries as Johan's descendants continued his legacy. 
  By TN 1602, Smyrna had developed into a burgeoning scientific community, and on 2 Winter 1602 the Collegio Smyrna 
  opened its doors for the first time, officially marking the birth of Smyrna as a city-state. Since then, it has enjoyed a quiet 
  influence in the ESE and throughout the South. 
  Spread over one hundred kilometers of gentle slopes and foothills, Smyrna resembles a paradise when compared to the 
  treacherous Serpentine mountains that isolate the city-state from the rest of the Eastern Sun Emirates. It is composed 
  almost entirely of small clusters of white marble buildings separated from each other by vast expanses of baroque 
  gardens, parks, artificial lakes and courtyards. Each compound is dominated by one of the many faculties of the Collegio 
  Smyrna, and the city-state is dotted with countless workshops and lecture halls. The center of the city-state is the vast 
  domed libraty of the Collegio. 
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  Student ghettos are common in Smyrna, each a home away from home for the thousands of students who attend the 
  Collegio. The emirs of the city closely monitor the students, and a large force of agents planted within the student 
  communities quickly deal with potential troublemakers. Those targeted simply vanish, never t o  be seen again, causing 
  most of the students to Live under a veil of paranoia and suspicion. 
  Smyrna has the lowest percentage of shajhalin in the ESE, and those that live there either maintain the Collegio or work 
  in one of the pharmaceutical corporations stationed i n  the city-state. Smyrna's population is largely composed of stu- 
  dents, hailing from all over the South and, before the Interpolar War, the North. A triumvirate of emirs have always ruled 
  Smyrna, all descendants of Johan Khajar. 
  Yihl S~ati5ti~s 4 
  Founding Date 
  TN 507 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Location 
  Omiption 
  1. Main Campus 
  This magnificent collection of buildings forms 
  the core of the Collegio Smyrna. Here one can 
  find the administration buildings, student sew- 
  ices and the impressive Smyrnite Library. The 
  library holds over 1,000,000 tomes and datafiles, 
  including one of the Largest archival NNets used 
  t o  catalogue the vast reference materials. 
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  2. HTRC 
  Located opposite the Main Campus, the ASTs 
  High Technologies Research Center is connected 
  to the Main Campus by one of Terra Nova's most 
  picturesque colonnades, lined by shops and stu- 
  dent housing. A marble wall surrounding the 
  complex hides the defenses of the HTRC. Aside 
  from physical defenses, all solts of surveillance 
  and espionage countermeasures prevent any- 
  one not authorized from hacking into the Center. 
  While Smyrna concentrates on research and 
  education, a few industries have set up here, 
  taking advantage of the well-trained Labor force. 
  Among other things, Smyrna is known for its 
  pharmaceutical production. Most medical cor- 
  porations have either production facilities or 
  research labs in Smyrna. 
  A mecca for aspirating artists, the Fine Arts 
  Pavilion, or FAP, has trained some of Terra No- 
  va's most talented artists. Concentrating on the 
  classics, the FAP teaches the students century- 
  old techniques, but ensures that the Pavilion's 
  atmosphere always remains progressive and ac- 
  cepting of change. Student protests are com- 
  mon, and propagate the FAYS "artsy" mystique. 
  5.MILICIA Protectorate One of the concessions the ESE was forced to 
  make after the Southern War was to hand the 
  control of the Smyrnite beta maglev terminal 
  over to the MILICIA. The area directly surround- 
  ing the terminal belongs to the AST and it sta- 
  tions a MILICIA contingent here to ensure the 
  safetv of the beta line and the HTRC. 
  3. Industrial Lore 
  4.Fine Arts Pavilion 
  Established i n  TN 1602, the Collegio i s  famous throughout Terra Nova. The curriculum taught often deals with esoteric and 
  controversial areas of study, such as genetic engineering and webbling research. A magnet for radicals, idealists, artists 
  and the intellectually gifted, the Collegio offers an unorthodox education, a place where students learn bold new theories 
  that many more conventional and traditional universities frown upon. In fact, although Gawai'ne Di Smit is credited with 
  discovering micro-Tannhauser Gates, her work owes much to theories popular i n  the Collegio in the late TN 1920s. 
  Some of the Collegio's research is highly questionable and even morally objectionable, however; this is officially justified 
  as being vital to the universal acquisition of knowledge. Human guinea-pigs (and especially GRELs) are subjected to a 
  number of horrible experiments aimed at unlocking the secrets of the human mind and body - 
  especially i n  relation to 
  bioengineering and webbling (see Second Edition Technical Manual, pp. 24-25). Test subjects include both animals and 
  human beings, often resulting i n  grotesque horrors, most of which have been Locked up and kept for future research. 
  Students bear a number of nicknames referring to this experimentation, including "Shellies" (a reference to the ancient 
  Earth classic novel Frankenstein) and "KirKids" (a reference to the scientists of Kir Arya who created the Prime Knights). 
  The main focus of the HTRC is analyzing and replicating Terran technology left behind since the War of the Alliance. 
  Everything from GREL body armor to rifles to the dreaded hovertanks and even CEF starships have been dissected and 
  stripped apart in an attempt to bridge the technology gap. Lately Anurima Khajar has secretly focused the HTRC's 
  resources on analyze the gate-coffin fragments she has recovered i n  the Badlands. 
  Both the Collegio and the HTRC are headed by the fractious sister triumvirate of Smyrna. Shara has become a pawn of 
  Colonel Proust, and the GREL i s  using her affections towards him to gain valuable secrets. Anurima is trying t o  establish 
  ties with Lord Chancellor Tanaka and Proconsul Lang Regina, hoping to earn the ESE a seat among their new order, and a 
  chance to travel to Earth for herself. Lydia, the oldest of the three sisters, i s  more interested i n  the FAP than politics. 
  While aware of Shara's deceptions, she hasn't told Anurima because she is angry with her for cutting the Pavilion's budget. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The city-states account for only 25 percent of the population of the ESE; the rest live i n  the sprawling ruralemirates that 
  encompass the Okavango Swamps, the Eastern Plain and the Pacifica range. Farming compounds, strip mines, ranches, 
  plantations and the occasional industrial complex characterize the rural emirates, which are also known as.fiefdoms. 
  Although these emirates outnumber the city-states, they are often dependent on the more powerful (both militarily and 
  economically) emirates for their survival. This dependency is at the core of the feudal nature of the Eastern Sun Emirates. 
  The fiefdoms produce the food and raw materials the city-state emirates need, while the cities transform these goods into 
  final products and protect the rural emirates. The relationship between rural emirates and the city-states i s  normally 
  dictated by geography; the lesser emirs near Cimmaro usually bow down to the emirs of that city-state. Exceptions do 
  occur, and many emirs consider it a coup when a lesser emir from another city-state swears fealty to them. 
  Lesser emirs hold residences i n  one of the city-states of the ESE, mainly Strathclyde. They prefer to live in the comfort 
  these cities provide, rather than i n  the rough wilds of their emirates. Many appoint a relative or solicitor to manage the 
  plantations, ranches and mines that compose their emirates while they enjoy the luxuries of city life. Some of these emirs 
  visit their emirates regularly, ensuring that order i s  maintained, while others have not stepped i n  their ancestral holdings 
  for generations. 
  The rural emirates encompass a large amount of land, and it is i n  these fiefdoms that most of the commoner population 
  of the ESE lives. working the land while their emirs reap the rewards. The majority of the rural emirates straddle the many 
  rivers flowing into the Okavango Swamps and the Eastern Plain, home t o  palatial estates and poor shajhalin villages. 
  Some fiefdoms are primitive, the shajhalin living i n  conditions similar to that of Earth's Dark Ages, unaware and ignorant 
  of anything beyond a few kilometers around their homesteads. Other rural emirates are modern farming complexes using 
  the latest techniques and materials, with the shajhalin trained in the use of work Gears like the Groundhog. 
  Not all emirs shun the rural emirates of the ESE, and occasionally an emir will retire to his ancestral home and enjoy its 
  quiet solitude and distance from Strathclyde's intrigues. Many of the emirs who elect to reside in their fiefdoms are 
  eccentric recluses, whose isolation from the rest of the world allows them to pursue their desires i n  the privacy afforded 
  by the blanket of jungle that surrounds them. Others are malcontents and exiles, expelled from the emirate court, but 
  spared their lives for some reason or another. These emirs usually hold little or no power, living like prisoners i n  their own 
  homes rather than masters of territory, and are eventually forgotten by most everyone. 
  Even among the Loyalist Emirates, which haven't been touched by the chaos of war and rebellion as severely as those i n  
  the Free Emirates, there are many rumors about the rural world. The Interior is especially mysterious and the number of 
  legendary "Lost Emirates" i n  shajhalin and aristocratic lore is immense. These would-be emirates were founded by mem- 
  bers of Enri Masao's crew who simply vanished into the wilderness. Even with a war raging, the emirs and others sponsor 
  many expeditions into the Interior in quest of these mythical kingdoms - 
  said to contain boundless riches. 
  Emir Alcruz i s  the ESE's most famous and respected living artists. His huge murals and paintings, which 
  surreally depict the brutal rebellion of Basal, have earned him a reputation as a radical and a protean master 
  of ideas and passions. He was once under the patronage of Oliver Masao, and the emirs were good friends, 
  often arguing over art and philosophy into the early hours of the morning. Alcruz i s  not a typical Lesser Emir, 
  as his artistic reputation propelled him into the realms of more prominent emirs like Gavriel Draho of Skavara 
  and Sirrano Barjhal of Cimmaro. Born and raised i n  his fiefdom along the River Vag0 - known as the Riviera 
  of the ESE - 
  Alcruz's wealth stems from the kilometers and kilometers ofjhong plantations that make up his 
  emirate. At its height, Domenyk's fiefdom of Yastum had over 100,000 shajhalin toiling the fields and harvest- 
  ing jhong. At the core of Yastum was the Mirador Hotel, one of the most prestigious hotels i n  the South, 
  overlooking the Eastern Plain and Vag0 river. More importantly, Yastum was a burgeoning artist community, a 
  paradise where talented creators (or poseurs) from a l l  over Terra Nova gathered and shared ideas. 
  This all changed when Basal rebelled, and Alcruz's relationship with Oliver Masao soured. For the first season 
  of the conflict. Domenyk secluded himself i n  his studio, painting what many call his greatest work of art. 
  During the Patriarch's Ball of TN 1932, Alcruz unveiled his masterpiece The Dream and Lie of Masao i n  front of 
  all attending. The surreal painting clearly depicted the artist's sentiments about the rebellion and the "vener- 
  able" leader of the ESE. Masao was outraged. 
  I n  a fit of anger Oliver descended on Alcruz (long since considered one of the most beautiful emirs, rivaling 
  the Patriarch) and savagely tore into him. Masao did not kill Domenyk, instead doing something far worse - 
  he gouged Domenyk's eyes out and then, while Alcruz lay on the floor, he set fire t o  his masterpiece. Domenyk 
  barely escaped with his life and only managed to rescue a small fragment of his painting, a t  the cost of 
  burning much of his own skin. 
  Masao made it his point to humiliate the artist, closing the Mirador hotel and granting most of Alcruz's 
  fiefdom to another emir. Once again able to see thanks to expensive genetic organ growth treatments that ate 
  up what wealth he had left, Domenyk continues to work, painting a series of apocalyptic paintings depicting 
  a young Patriarch rebuilding the Eastern Son and taking his league back to Earth. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Today, seven cycles after Emir Shirow declared Basal's independence, the ashes of the rebellion are still falling across the 
  city and the surrounding plains. The vicious fighting has left much of the city a veritable ruin; its buildings empty 
  skeletons of steel and concrete, the surrounding fields nothing more than seas of dust engulfed by the silence of the 
  thousands who have died. The effects of the rebellion are evident throughout the city: electricity only exists in certain 
  areas, barren streets lie littered with rubble and burnt-out vehicles, vacant windows stare sightlessly into the night and 
  the howling wind carries with it the soft wails of weeping parents. And yet the countless posters of Shirow fluttering i n  
  the wind attest that at its heart Basal is a free city and the capital of the Free Emirates. 
  The rebellion and the Interpolar War have crippled Basal's economy, and even the necessities like food and shelter are 
  hard to obtain on a regular basis. The fall of Basal has also had an effect on the economy of the Eastern Sun Emirates, 
  creating shortages of food across the entire league, contributing to the growing malaise. The people of Basal, however, 
  recovered somewhat after the Oxford Accord and, more importantly, after the establishment of the Free Emirates. Supplies 
  trickle in more regularly, and some of the city has been repaired. To maintain their morale, the shajhalin of Basal take to 
  the streets after each attack or bombardment to repair the damage in a show of solidarity and pride in the Free Emirates. 
  For the last few months, a relative quiet has fallen across the city and fighting has been sporadic, but most suspect that 
  the storm i s  far from over and that the worst is yet to come. 
  Before the war, the city-state of Basal dominated the Eastern Plain with monolithic might. The actual city of Basal, known 
  as the Old Quarter, i s  relatively small and over 700 cycles old. For the most part, the city-state i s  an intricate network of 
  farming hubs, suburbs and aqueducts that dot the Eastern Plain and surround Basal. The majority of these, now aban- 
  doned, consisted of large fields and complexes where the produce was once farmed and shipped out to Basal and the rest 
  of the ESE. Small cities i n  their own right, these complexes fan out from Basal, forming three concentric circles around the 
  Old Quarter. Only the innermost circle remains today, the other hubs long since falling victim to the rebellion and the 
  Interpolar War, home only to refugees trying to escape the fighting. 
  Some have suggested that Basal will never recover from the war and regain its past glories. Emir Shirow, however, has 
  repeatedly promised the shajhalin of the city that he will never abandon them or their homes. A l l  will be rebuilt once 
  freedom is obtained. He also insists that Basal be the effective capital of the Free Emirates, although the dangerous 
  conditions make this difficult at best. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Map of Basal 4 
  Zones 
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  1. Old Quarter 
  The heart of Basal, the Old Quarter houses over 
  80 percent of the post-rebellion population. 
  Surrounded by walk and defensive bunkers, it 
  is the last line of defense for the city-state. I n  
  seven cycles of armed fighting, neither Patriar- 
  chal or MILICIA troops have breached its walk. 
  Enclosed by its own wall and fortifications, Nigel 
  Shirow's palace bears the scars of the rebellion. 
  The magnificent frescos, domes and towers of 
  the palace are all pockmarked, some entirely 
  destroyed. Basalite shajhalin make it a point of 
  always repairing what they can, proudly deb- 
  ing Oliver Masao's attempts t o  crush them. 
  2. Emirate Palace 
  3. San Angel 
  One of the four farming complexes that sur- 
  round Basal, San Angel was destroyed during 
  the opening phase of the Interpolar War. Silent 
  ruins now, only a few shajhalin have returned 
  to tly t o  reclaim the complex. 
  Located i n  the western rim of Basal, E l  Paseo is 
  a large cemetery where the majority ofthe dead 
  of Basal are buried. A sprawling necropolis, E l  
  Paseo is the final resting-place for over 100,000 
  Basalites. There are no graves in E l  Paseo; in- 
  stead, everyone i s  buried i n  sealed mausole- 
  ums to prevent the spread of disease. 
  4. E l  Paseo 
  5. FC 6A 
  The lifeline of Basal. Filtration Center 6A pumps 
  water from the McAllen network and directs it 
  to Basal. Being the only filtration center still 
  i n  operation, 6A is extremely well defended, 
  both from ground and air attack. Two of Basal's 
  three air defense systems are located near 6A 
  to protect against air strikes. 
  Countless battlefields 
  littered with burnout 
  vehicles and rusting Gears surround Basal. Most 
  of the salvageable equipment has been taken, 
  but it is still possible to find functioning NNets, 
  ammo and weapon-systems, not t o  mention the 
  odd Gear or AFY amid the wins and devastation. 
  6. Battlefields 
  The people of Basal live under the constant shadow of war and terror, but for the most part have been able to adapt to the 
  increasingly harsh conditions. Hardy and determined, the shajhalin of Basal are defiant and try as hard as they can to 
  continue living their lives as normally as possible. During the day, Basal's streets are empty and desolate; only the 
  occasional stray animal or victim of shellshock wanders amidst the rubble. At night, however, most commoners carry on 
  with their lives, relatively free from the specter of sniper attacks or artillery bombardments - 
  children go to school and 
  the workshops try to produce whatever goods they can while troops train t o  fight. 
  Basal's population is composed almost entirely of shajhalin, as most solicitors fled the city during the first days of the 
  rebellion. Those who stayed were hunted down by the commoners and executed along with their families in brutal ways, 
  their bodies left to hang from their apartment buildings. Basal i s  also home to a large mercenary force, including some 
  MILICIA defectors and veterans of the War of the Alliance who joined up with Basal i n  TN 1931. Since the fall of the 
  Humanist Alliance, a large Humanist contingent has set up shop i n  Basal. 
  Since TN 1936 the North has also maintained a base a few kilometers to the north of Basal, known as Firebase g-Delta, 
  where the Headquarters of the Eastern Task force is located. The influx of Northern troops has caused tensions among 
  Basalites. Weary of the North's motivations and resenting the growing Revisionist propaganda making its way to Basal, 
  the shajhalin have developed a mistrust for the Northern troops. While they respect their allies, the fiery Basalites do not 
  want the North to get too comfortable i n  their city. 
  Emir Shirow and his family are revered as heroes and most shajhalin respect and adore their leader. A visible presence i n  
  Basal, Shirow often tours the city talking and hearing what his people have to say. His marriage to Lysia Masao has given 
  the people of Basal hope that the rebellion will soon end, and their city-state installed as the new capital of the Eastern 
  Sun Emirates. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Old Quarter is composed of ancient three to four story buildings that clearly show their age and wear. Most of the 
  buildings of the Old Quarter were constructed between the 13th and 14th Terranovan centuries in a quasi-classical style 
  popular at the time i n  the Consortium. The streets of the Old Quarter follow a standardized grid pattern, but most blocks 
  are characterized by winding alleyways and corridors that connect the many buildings to each other, allowing the rebels 
  to move i n  relative safety. At the very center of the Quarter i s  Nigel's palace, a complex once called the jewel of Basal 
  because of the hundreds of stained-glass windows that adorned the building. Today only a fraction of them remain, those 
  that do merely hinting at the splendor the palace once had. The Old Quarter i s  surrounded by newer buildings and high- 
  rises, but most of these have been abandoned and destroyed since the beginning of the rebellion and only recently have 
  repairs begun . 
  The Undercity of Basal is as old as the city itself. Originally, the Undercity formed part of the massive sewer and irrigation 
  network of Basal, which included the aqueducts and canals above ground. Built by the corporations of the Consortium, 
  the Undercity was an engineering marvel. Its tunnels are large, characterized by vaulted ceilings and majestic cisterns, 
  and spread across the Eastern Plain. They are connected to the aqueduct system, providing the farming complexes with 
  water during the dry summer months. After the formation of the ESE, this underground system was expanded and turned 
  into a sewer as Basal's population exploded. During this period, kilometer upon kilometer of tunnels were added, usually 
  not taking into account the already existing system. The result is an intricate maze that has become the secondary home 
  to a majority of the people of Basal, especially those who want to get away from the vicious fighting of the rebellion. See 
  Character Compendium, p. 124, for more information on the Undercity of Basal. 
  Basal is effectively a divided city; though most of i t s  population now lives within the Old Quarter and i n  the Undercity, 
  those areas outside the protective hub of Basal have become lawless. Here rebels, MILICIA and Patriarchal forces clash on 
  a regular basis and the front lines have continually shifted since the earliest days of the rebellion. Effectively a buffer 
  zone of a few kilometers, No-Man's land is a wasteland, littered with ruins, collapsed aqueducts and emptied canals used 
  as mass graves by Masao's troops. Serving i n  No-Man's Land has had a severe psychological impact on the soldiers fighting 
  there. All sides (the rebels, the North and MILICIA) have reported growing shell-shock casualties, as men and women are 
  broken by the horrors witnessed in this area of Basal. 
  Over 120,000 people have died, since Nigel's declaration of independence and the subsequent war, the majority of them 
  innocent civilians butchered by Masao's forces. The early stages of the rebellion were by far the bloodiest, but most fear 
  that when Masao renews his offensive nothing will be left standing. Much t o  the chagrin of Masao and the Southern 
  Republic, the Free Emirates have only grown more powerful since TN 1935, and will require an expensive and time- 
  consuming campaign to crush the rebels - if this is even remotely possible. 
  The rebel force of Shirow has been fighting a David and Goliath battle since the eve of the rebellion. Basal has been able 
  to repel all attacks, and managed to push back both the Patriarch's and MILICIA's troops, but at a high cost. Augmented 
  by Humanist Alliance Protection Forces and their equipment, the army of Basal has grown and matured in the last few 
  cycles. Although officially headed by Sidar Shiroi Heigen, the Archon Mykael Navar has of late assumed more control over 
  the Free Emirate forces, standardizing their training and organization. 
  The Northern Guard maintains a strong presence i n  Basal, being the only site of significant gains by the Arctic in the 
  South. Firebase 9-Delta serves as the Headquarters for the Eastern Task Force and is the main supply depot for the North. 
  Commanded by General Matheu Jonasz, the Northern contingent has its hands full securing the Eastern Plain. The whole 
  Basal area is unstable and fire fights erupt on a daily basis, making it the most active front i n  the Interpolar War. General 
  Jonasz has assigned the 7th Norlight Heavy Gear Regiment, the Avenging Scythes, to Basal (see Character Compendium, 
  p. 87). Captain Hannah Demers of the Northern Guard Intelligence Service i s  acting as a liaison between Basal and the 
  commander the Scythes, Colonel Dante. 
  Close to 70 percent of the Emirate Retinues of the ESE are currently deployed i n  the Eastern Plains and the Okavango 
  swamps. In particular the Purple banner of the Ethereal Guard is leading the charge against Basal. The Guard deployed i n  
  early TN 1938, marking the first time the majority of the Ethereal Guard has been deployed outside of Strathclyde since 
  the War of Alliance. Unlike pervious Patriarchal forces, the Ethereal Guard is well prepared and trained and itching for a 
  chance to face the rebels for the first time. The Emirate Retinues, being of Lesser skill, are used to secure the front lines 
  and distract Northern and Free Emirate forces until Masao, or his future Commodore, Draho, give the order for the Ethereal 
  Guard to advance. These forces theoretically cooperate with 3rd MILICIA brigade - 
  theory and practice rarely coincide. 
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  Before the formation of the ESE, Bangweuleu was nothing more than a small agricultural settlement struggling to survive. 
  Its adobe hovels and simple way of life were ignored by the officers 
  of the Eastern Sun, who went on to make their 
  fortunes elsewhere. It was not until the reign of Erik Masao that Bangweuleu underwent the transformation from home- 
  stead to city-state, as Dela Boash, an engineer aboard the Eastern Sun, claimed it as her emirate i n  TN 1501. Within 100 
  cycles of its establishment, Bangweuleu had not only assured its prominence as a trading center, but also its importance 
  to the economic sunn'val of the ESE. The city was nearly destroyed twice in its history, during the Southern War and the 
  St. Vincent's War, but with typical Easterner fervor, it managed to rise from the ashes time and time again. 
  Never giving in to the excesses of other emirates, the emirs of Bangweuleu have been able to provide for their charges and 
  offer them a higher standard of living. Uprisings and revolts have occurred i n  the past, but for the last 100 cycles most 
  commoners have quietly worked in the textile mills and mines i n  return for their generous living conditions. When news 
  came of the rebellion, the shajhalin faithfully followed, believing i n  Emir Boash. 
  Revisionism, thanks to Bangweuleu's openness and contact with trade caravans, has grown i n  popularity among the 
  commoners of the city, who see echoes of the Gentle Prophet i n  the sacrifice of Enri Masao, and have come to regard the 
  Captain as a saint. The emirs, knowing that a crackdown would only lead to violence, have opened their doors to the 
  religion under the sole condition that their authority will never be challenged. Emirs Ethene and Boash work closely with 
  local Revisionist leader Father Cyril Atamo, supervising and keeping him in check. 
  Bangweuleu, located at the foot of the Pacifica Mountains, is a small city-state composed entirely of one to two story 
  buildings that surround three hills. It carries with it a primitive air that gives it a timeless and mythical feel - 
  the past 
  seems to come to life amidst the narrow, winding streets of this city-state. Yet its primitive trappings hide the wealth of 
  the city enjoyed before the rebellions - luxurious cars, servants and palatial mansions of the aristocracy and wealthy 
  The lack of walls and other fortifications give the city a welcoming atmosphere that is almost nonexistent in the other, 
  more oppressive, city-states i n  the ESE. Bangweuleu is not divided geographically according to class. Here, solicitors and 
  shajhalin live side by side, forcing amicable relations between the classes. The rebellion and the Interpolar War have left 
  their mark on Bangweuleu. Not as devastated as Basal, Bangweuleu is nonetheless a city-state under siege. Although the 
  last assault occurred over a cycle ago, acts of terrorism and the occasional air raid keep Bangweulans on their toes. 
  1 
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  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  1. The Ziggurat 
  Located on the tallest of the three hills of 
  Bangweuleu, the Ziggurat is the palatial home 
  of the Emirs Boash and Ethene. Its distinctive 
  pyramid shape is visible for kilometers around 
  the city and it is built like an arcology - 
  self- 
  sufficient and well defended. Unlike most emirs, 
  the emirs of Bangweuleu graciously open their 
  palace t o  the public, allowing commoners ac- 
  cess on certain holidays where they can pray, 
  sell their wares or even voice their concerns. 
  The largest Humanist Expatriate settlement 
  outside of Raleigh, the Humanist Pavilion has 
  become a second city in Bangweuleu, home t o  
  the HAPF and other Humanists, and partially 
  responsible for maintaining the economy of the 
  Bangweuleu going. The Pavilion houses the laq- 
  est HAPF barracks and repair docks i n  the Free 
  Emirates, responsible For not only repairing dam- 
  aged Gears and striders, but Limited manufac- 
  turing of replacement parts. 
  Constructed i n  the late 1920s. the First Church 
  of the Apostle of Mamoud is the center of Revi- 
  sionist worship in the ESE, i n  particular the 
  Apostate sect. Located i n  the Bazaar proper, 
  the First Church is backed by Emir Dratha Ethene. 
  The church has been instrumentalin caring for 
  the wounded of Bangweuleu, winning more 
  shajhalin to the gentle ways of Revisionism. 
  The main smuggling center in Bangweuleu, any- 
  thing can be bought here For a price, no matter 
  how exotic or illegal. Slaves, weapons and drugs 
  are all staples of Heckel's business. 
  One of the many supply bases for the Eastern 
  Task Force, the encampment in Bangweuleu has 
  been in existence since shortly before the re- 
  conquest of Raleigh. Ammo, spare park, rations 
  and medical supplies are stored here and de- 
  fended by Northern Guard units. 
  2. Humanist Pavilion 
  3. The First Church 
  4. Heckel's Den 
  5. Norlight Camp 
  The Bazaar of Bangweuleu i s  what drives the emirate. Without it - 
  and the goods that once poured and now trickle into 
  it - 
  Bangweuleu would not be the city-state it is today. The crown jewel of the emirate, the canopied Bazaar exists in the 
  valley created by the three hills of the emirate. Encompassing an area roughly 20 blocks wide, the Bazaar is the most 
  dynamic and kinetic region of Bangweuleu. The oldest part of the city, the Bazaar is characterized by narrow winding 
  streets, small shops owned by local merchants and the countless tents and stalls of the many thousands of merchants who 
  set up along the crowded streets. The smell of food, clouds of incense and the aromatic scents of perfumes and spices waft 
  through the streets. The streets are covered by richly colored canopies of Terranovan silk, which cause the streets below 
  to shimmer with gentle cascades of color and light. 
  The central area is a large square where anything from art to vehicles can be bought and sold. Most transactions are done 
  for cash, and any Terranovan currency is accepted. Barter is also popular among the shajhalin, especially in these lean 
  times of war and rebellion. Each merchant must first apply for a permit and pay a fee, of an amount determined by the 
  emirs' solicitors. Bribery and kickbacks are staples of the Bazaar's economy. Black market and illegal goods can be found, 
  but only if one knows where to look and who to ask. Most of these are sold out of sight i n  the meandering maze of streets 
  and alleyways surrounding the square. 
  The rebellion and the Interpolar War have hit the Bazaar hard, but somehow Emirs Boash and Ethene have managed to 
  keep the goods flowing into Bangweuleu. A t  first trading with Basal and Okavango, trade soon developed between the 
  Humanists expatriates and expanded t o  the Northern troops when they arrived. Now, the Bazaar is an integral supply 
  point for the Northern and Free Emirate forces, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Republican strategists. With the 
  flow of Northern troops across the Badlands, the Bazaar has (if anything) grown as a smuggling center. Freedom fighters 
  from Khayr ad-Din and other places in the desert come here to purchase weapons, either from such places as Heckel's Den 
  or from more above-board merchants. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
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  Lost amidst the dark jungles and swamps of the Eastern Sun Emirates’ Interior, the city-state of Okavango stands like a 
  jewel i n  the night, offering safety and shelter from the hellish swamps and wildlife that inhabit the area. Although 
  Okavango is one of the smallest city-states of the ESE, it is also the most unique and enchanting. Built on a massive 
  network of floating rafts, bridges and artificial islands, Okavango has the distinction of being the oldest settlement i n  the 
  ESE, and therefore archaeologically important. 
  Archeologists postulate that Okavango existed as far back as the first three Terranovan centuries, and was abandoned 
  sometime around TN 600 for unknown reasons. Strangely, there are no survey or colonization records of the period 
  showing any settlement in the region, clouding the origins of Okavango i n  mystery. The first references to a city of 
  Okavango (a name given by colonial surveyors to the swamp) appear i n  the 9th and 10th Terranovan centuries when the 
  Consortium built plantations in the area t o  feed its growing population. Members of the Faculty of Anthropology at the 
  Collegio Smyrna believe that the original Okavango (of which a few ruins still exist) was settled through a similar process 
  as the many other isolated, semi-primitive settlements dating back to the early colonial times - 
  such as Prima Colonia 
  near modern Olduvai (see Mekong Dominion Leaguebook, p. 55). They cite as proof the early Okavangans’ skill at 
  masonry and the presence of hundreds of stoneheads in the Okavango Swamps and Interior of the ESE. 
  Called the Jewel of the Jungle for good reason, the city of Okavango seems to appear suddenly out of nowhere, i t s  
  buildings dwarfed by the murky jungle and swamps that surround it. Among the most unique cities on Terra Nova, 
  Okavango is entirely composed of islands, rafts and tree homes connected by suspended and floating bridges. The primary 
  means of transportation are barges and hover vehicles, which continually buzz above the city, occasionally leading t o  
  Okavango must continually struggle for its survival against the jungle and swamps that surround it. Every cycle the jungle 
  is poised to reclaim the area as vines and undergrowth slowly worm their way into the city, occasionally destroying homes 
  and bridges. A structure can be reduced to rubble by the jungle if unattended for long periods of time. The growing vines 
  that cover many of the surfaces of Okavango give it an ancient look and feel. The core of the city, the area used by emirs 
  for their palace complex, is the oldest, and most structures there date to the first three Terranovan centuries. The palace 
  is marked with strange statues and designs that few archeologists have deciphered, and rumors abound (especially among 
  A . 
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  horrific accidents. 
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  commoners) of their real purpose 
  Vital Statistics 4 
  b 
  Founding Date: 
  TN 1078 (first ruim dating to before TW 100) 
  Population: 
  Principai Industries: 
  534,M)o (680,000 in TN 1935) 
  Agricua~re (jhong and m e ) .  archeology and tounsm (sdspended since IN 1935) 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  1. Palace 
  The Emirate Palace of Okavango serves two func- 
  tions. Firstly, it houses the personal residence 
  of Rafael Bhravo, and secondly it acts as a sheb 
  ter for the people of Okavango. Between the 
  first and second wall of the Palace ground are 
  special bunkers, originally constructed to save 
  the population of the Okavango in case of Roods 
  or severe storms. 
  Bustling with activity 36 hours a day, the docks 
  of Okavango are where all the jhong and rice 
  produced i n  the plantations is brought before 
  being loaded up into transports bound for the 
  Vangian Way. The docks are run by banderias, 
  answering to solicitor dockmasters. Before the 
  war, they also harbored one of the main black 
  markets i n  the South. 
  Surrounding Okavango, a series of huge con- 
  crete blocks helps keep the rising waters of the 
  rainy season from flooding Okavango. Only once, 
  in TN 1803, have the waters of the swamp risen 
  over the blocks, flooding the city-state. These 
  blocks, each over 10 meters tall and several 
  wide, also serve as Okavango's main line of 
  defense, and since the Interpolar War have been 
  lined with turrets and gun emplacements. 
  2. Docks 
  3. The Barriers 
  4. zoo 
  Focusing on "dangerous" species, the Okavango 
  Zoo displayed specimens from all over Terra 
  Nova. I n  Masao's failed attack on Okavango an 
  artillery round hit the ZOO, freeing a number of 
  animals. Most were caught or killed, but a 
  number of extremely dangerous specimens are 
  still loose. 
  The main market of Okavango, this floating is- 
  land found i n  the middle of the largest plat- 
  form, Teotihuacan, is where all commerce was 
  handled before the Interpolar War. Now Redondo 
  is home t o  Revisionist missions, providing food 
  and medica( care to the people of Okavango. 
  5. Redondo 
  More than anywhere eke in the Eastern Sun Emirates, the shajhalin of Okavango are extremely individualistic and proud 
  of it. The modern day shajhalin of Okavango are actually descendants of the scattered communities that existed in this 
  area well before the Consortium moved in. Conquered though force and coercion, the Okavangans were absorbed by the 
  Consortium and treated as shajhalin, but they shared little i n  common with the culture developing i n  places like Javari, 
  Cimmaro and Basal. Okavangans shared a unique culture that worshipped the swamp and the stars, placing emphasis on 
  ancestral worship and a pantheon of deities numbering i n  the hundreds. Curiously enough, the Okavangans prophesied 
  that a star would fall and a new leader would emerge to guide them. When news of the Eastern Sun filtered its way to 
  Okavango, its people welcomed Enri as their prophesied leader and were one of the first settlements to join the ESE. 
  Today, most of this heritage has been lost and Okavangans have appropriated traditional shajhalin culture, but the roots 
  of their origins can be seen i n  the architecture and customs of the city-state. Although few remember the Old Gods, the 
  emirs adopted the divine attributes cementing, their rule over the people of Okavango. 
  A deeply spiritual people. the shajhalin of Okavango see time as a series of cycles of prosperity and hardship. According 
  to them, there are four cycles which constantly repeat i n  the same order, known as epochs. While referring to the passage 
  of time, the Four Epochs are also synonymous with the four seasons of Terra Nova, running from Winter through Autumn. 
  The First Epoch i s  a time of rebuilding anew, of new starts and forging a new destiny. Characterized by hardship and 
  accomplishments, the deeds of the First Epoch form the foundation for the later epochs. The Second Epoch is a time of 
  prosperity, but a balanced one. From the bounty of the Second Epoch, the Third is the start of the downward spiral: the 
  people of the Third Epoch give into decadence and hedonism, enjoying the spoils of summer. The final Epoch, the Fourth, 
  is a time of suffering and pain, of bloodshed and turmoil where everything built i n  the Second and Third Epochs i s  
  destroyed, laying the foundations for the rebuilding of the First. Most Okavangans believe the ESE to be i n  the Fourth 
  Epoch, and are willing to suffer, knowing that brighter times lie ahead. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Although it has only been three cycles since Rafael Bhravo rebelled against the Eastern Sun Emirates and joined the Free 
  Emirates, the city-state of Okavango has suffered greatly from the revolt and the war. Its darkest moments -came i n  the 
  summer of TN 1937 when Oliver Masao personally led an assault on the emirate, for the sole purpose of killing Bhravo. 
  Okavango was besieged for two weeks, Patriarch troops and MILICIA units pushing closer and closer with every day. 
  Staunch resistance and the timely arrival of Northern Forces, coupled with Masao's growing impatience, spared Okavango 
  from being totally overrun. To this day, most of the city still bears the scars from the attack, and wrecks and debris from 
  the battle litter the waters south of Okavango. 
  After the battle, the front lines of the Interpolar War were pushed back about 300km t o  the south and east of Okavango, 
  and have remained there. For this reason, Okavango is the closest emirate t o  the battlefields and the site of one of the 
  largest staging areas. Here, Humanist Alliance Protection Force units, Free Emirate forces and Northern Guard regiments 
  assemble before moving into the front. Absorbing the brunt of the Interpolar War, Okavango has emerged as a key Free 
  Emirate, giving Emir Bhravo some credibility to balance his fanaticism. 
  The shajhalin support Bhravo for the most part, but the young emits inexperience i n  matters of state, especially i n  the 
  administration and running of Okavango, are placing a strain on the city-state. Shortages of food and medical supplies are 
  common, forcing Bhravo to institute rationing and to rely on the Revisionist missions to care for his shajhalin. Making 
  matters worse, the solicitors of Okavango are using this opportunity to line their pockets, meaning that not all the food 
  makes its way to the people of Okavango. Hunger and famine could lead the shajhalin t o  riot if Bhravo does not deal with 
  his solicitors promptly. 
  ERMP ~ L R E ~ ~ R T € ~  
  Located 15 kilometers north from the center of Okavango, Camp Blackwater was, until the emirate rebelled, the MILICIA's 
  premier jungle warfare training base. Referred to affectionately by most MILICIA recruits as 'Botany Black,' the camp was 
  their prison for six weeks of grueling jungle warfare and survival training. A large percentage of troops failed i n  the first 
  three weeks, as training is meant to test both mental and physical endurance. The camp was also home to MILICIA's 37th 
  Heavy Gear regiment, the Swamp Shark;, who oversaw most of the training when not on border duty in the Badlands. 
  Under siege since the outbreak of rebellion, Camp Blackwater is now effectively isolated from the Interpolar War, suMv- 
  ing on only the meager amount of supplies that trickle in. Before taking over Okavango, Rafael Bhravo, at the suggestion 
  of Emir Boash, had all routes into Blackwater destroyed and deployed a significant percentage of his troops to prevent 
  anyone from escaping the base. Luckily for Bhravo, the camp was between training cycles, and three of the four compagnies 
  of the 37th Regiment had been deployed to the Badlands a week prior. Only Gray Compagnie and the instruction cadre 
  were i n  Blackwater when he began his siege. Numerous attempts to break the siege have failed, and i n  TN 1937 the 
  situation became desperate for Commandant Mick Marchand. Cut off from supplies and help, Marchand was forced to make 
  a deal with Bhravo: i n  return for food and supplies, the Commandant agreed to hand over all of the camp's Gears and 
  weapons t o  the rebels. MILICIA commands saw this as treason, and since then all attempts to liberate the camp have 
  ceased, angering the rest of the Swamp Shark regiment now fighting in the Mekong Dominion. 
  m 
  A&. 
  lussian Salban 4 
  Unknown to all, MIUCIA Special Intervention Unit agent Lussian Salban has been working undercover i n  
  Okavango since TN 1935. Working for Aristide Lazarus, head of the SIU, Salban is keeping tabs on develop- 
  ments i n  the Free Emirates under the code name Agent Delphi. A native of Okavango, Salban staged his 
  defem'on i n  TN 1935 and since then he has infiltrated the Free Emirate command structure as a high ranking 
  havildar. It was Salban who brokered the deal between Commandant Marchand and Emir Bhravo, and i s  tryhg 
  his best to prevent any slaughter of the MIUCIA units i n  Camp Blackwater. 
  Salban's loyalties are truly divided. He trusts Commandant Lazarus and undertook this mission i n  order to 
  establish ties between Lazarus and Nigel Shirow. The Okavangan patriotism he used as a cover, however, is 
  becoming truer with each passing day. Fighting to keep his birthplace free has given him an inner peace he 
  never knew. He i s  beginning to see the potential i n  Emir Bhravo and is now doing his best to protect the 
  young emir. He hopes he will not have to choose between his two masters. 
  Salban has also had to sacrifice much on a personal level for his mission. I n  order to maintain his cover, he 
  and Lazarus staged a convincing defection for him, which alienated his comrades i n  his SIU unit. He misses 
  the young Humanist pilot Miranda Petite most of all (see Humanist Alliance Leaguebook, p. 105). The two 
  had bickered constantly when they were comrades, but that antagonism hid a strong mutual attraction. 
  After the Southern Republic destroyed the Humanist Alliance with the Theban Blight, Miranda defected from 
  the SIU as well, and traveled to Khayr ad-Din. She has even traveled to the Free Emirates several time to 
  purchase weapons and, Lussian suspects, t o  renew her relationship with him. Ironically, they are still sepa- 
  rated by Lussian's defection: while it was once because he left the SIU and she didn't, it now i s  because she 
  truly has left and he never did. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The former Humanist Alliance city-state of Raleigh was devastated after the annexation of the HA by the Southern 
  Republic. When Republican troops started moving into the Alliance i n  the Spring of TN 1936, the people of Raleigh were 
  shocked. This, combined with two minor outbreaks of Theban Blight, caused a wave of panic to wash over the frontier 
  city-state, which was only brought under control with the arrival of the Ignus Legionnaires, the 12th Gear Regiment. One 
  of the first actions of the Legionnaires was to arrest all Preceptors and establish a military tribunal to run the city. This 
  move angered the characteristically wild Raleites into violence, and fighting broke out across the city-state. Eventually, 
  the Legionnaires, augmented by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment - 
  Steel Demons - quelled the rebellion. 
  Dejected and broken, the people of Raleigh continued their lives as best they could, but their quiet city-state was slowly 
  transformed into a staging area for Southern units anticipating the Interpolar War. Additionally, the Legionnaires and the 
  Steel Demons regularly engaged Free Emirate and HAPF forces i n  the Pacifica Range. When the Interpolar War broke out, 
  both Republican units led the charge into the ESE as part of the South's pincer attack on the Free Emirates. Unfortunately, 
  the campaign was a total failure for the Legionnaires, and shortly afterwards they were ordered back t o  Raleigh to act as 
  a garrison. 
  The Legionnaires' bad luck continued into Autumn 1936, when Northern troops entered the Tobian Plain and commenced 
  their attack on Raleigh. A series of poor decisions by interim-Commandant Sinhal and the tenacity of the attacking troops 
  led t o  a Northern victory a few weeks later. Suffering horrendous casualties, the surviving Legionnaires were disbanded 
  and incorporated into other MILICIA regiments in need of reinforcements. 
  The people of Raleigh welcomed the Northern troops only because elements of the Humanist Alliance Protection Force 
  were the first to "reclaim" the city-state. The Sagittarius strider and hovertank crews of the HAPF were welcomed as 
  heroes, treated to a parade that culminated with the troops hosting the Raleigh flag. A pale shadow of its former self, the 
  city began rebuilding. S t i l l  entrenched in the Humanist Caste system, the Raleites looked for preceptors to lead the way 
  but only a few remained, most dying of plague outbreaks while imprisoned by the Republic. Into this vacuum stepped 
  Lysia Masao. Respected in the Alliance before the annexation, the people of Raleigh warmed to her and accepted her as 
  their leader - even it meant becoming a Free Emirate. The people remain attached to the dreams of Yuri Gropius, but 
  Raleites were always the most independently minded Humanists. Lysia Masao has hopes that if she can obtain peace and 
  security for them, they will eventually accept a new social system - 
  as long as it respects their traditions. 
  b Vital St~tistic$ 
  FouMnng Data: 
  TN 812 
  I Joined ESE: 
  TN 1936 fioined Free Emirates\ I 
  .. .. 
  Method of Government: 
  Hereditary Anstocracy 
  I Head of Government: 
  Emir Lvsia Masao I 
  Population: 
  532.000 (560.000 In TN 1935) 
  I Principal Industn'es: 
  Aqriculture, meat and alcohol (susoended since TN1936) I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  1. Sports Grounds 
  Once the sight of weekly festivities, the sports 
  grounds now house a number of refugee settle- 
  ments, including a Northern field hospital. Only 
  recently have the pubs and sports fields been 
  reopened to the people under the orders of Lysia 
  Masao - 
  a move that has added to her popu- 
  larity. 
  2. Singleton lower 
  The tower and adjacent buildings are the HAPFs 
  control point i n  the western Free Emirates. Badly 
  damaged during the Northern advance into 
  Raleigh, the tower is slow(y becoming the center 
  for all Humanist activities, as more and more 
  Humanists flock t o  the first freed HA city. 
  Destroyed during the fighting for Raleigh, no 
  attempts have been made to rebuild the Tatant 
  Facility. It is here where the South executed a 
  number of Preceptors and Protectors in an at- 
  tempt to prevent an organized resistance move- 
  ment from cropping up. 
  4. Rockhampton Tower Lysia adopted Rockhampton as her personal 
  residence after the liberation of Raleigh. Aside 
  from allowing her to base her emirate forces 
  nearby, the old MIUCIA outpost's defenses al- 
  low herto sleep easier knowing that her brother 
  would have to be fool to try and attack her 
  while bunkered there. 
  3. Tatant Facility 
  5. Eromanga Tower 
  This is a commercial facility that also houses 
  extensive restaurants and entertainment facili- 
  ties. A video arcade also allows visitors to play 
  the latest games. Eromanga was the center of 
  Raleite youth culture before the war, with "tower 
  skulkers" seemingly living out their lives i n  the 
  huge mall. 
  In the northern outskirts of the city, a great 
  series of stone pens provides the herders with a 
  place to keep their animals when visiting the 
  city on their way to other pastures or when 
  coming to sell them at the market. 
  6. Animal Pens 
  Emir Lysia Masao, wife of Free Emirate leader Nigel Shirow, i s  the most progressive and level-headed emir in the ESE. Her 
  time with her first husband, deceased Lord Chancellor Hemami, and her life i n  the Humanist Alliance taught Lysia a great 
  deal about fairness and what it means to be a leader. Dedicating her early life to being an ambassador of good will i n  the 
  South, she traveled across the hemisphere championing for human rights and trying t o  heal the wounds of the War of the 
  Alliance. Careful not t o  rock the boat too much, Lysia was a respected dignitary nonetheless, uncharacteristically willing 
  to use her position t o  try and help those in need. The more her brother gave into decadence, the more Lysia fought to be 
  a model of decency and human kindness. 
  After her husband was killed, Lysia fled to Raleigh where she hid during the Republican occupation and annexation of the 
  HA. During this time she organized a secret movement, giving aid to those in need and smuggling fugitive protectors and 
  preceptors to Bangweuleu. This made her vely popular among the commoners of Raleigh and for this reason, they 
  supported her when she claimed the "emirate" of Raleigh. Even the preceptor class acknowledged her potential to lead, 
  and quietly backed her as well. Few know for sure how long the remnants of the Humanist Alliance will back Lysia, and the 
  Emir of Raleigh i s  aware that sooner or later Raleigh may break away from the Free Emirates. For now, Raleigh and the Free 
  Emirates need one another, and the parties involved know that cooperation is the order of the day. 
  Lysia Masao's immediate concerns are the Interpolar War and securing the Free Emirates. Knowing the South well, even 
  more so that Nigel Shirow because of her marriage to a Lord Chancellor, she knows that the South will be hard-pressed to 
  accept the Free Emirates after their cooperation with the North. The key, in her opinion, is the creation of ties with people 
  like Kenichi Tanaka, a prominent Southerner open t o  alliances across the Badlands. The Republic's reaction to the Alli- 
  ance's ploys has signaled to her the rot at the core of the Republic. Lysia knows that sooner or later the Southern power 
  will fall, and if the Free Emirates and the ESE want to survive they will have to forge new ties and carve out a new place 
  for themselves. 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Less publicized and often ignored are the many lesser emirs who followed Nigel Shirow‘s footsteps and rebelled against 
  Oliver Masao. The majority did not rebel until the venerable emir of Bangweuleu, Armann Boash, broke away from 
  Strathclyde, but since then the dozen or so fiefdoms that have joined the Free Emirates have contributed to the expansion 
  of the association. Unfortunately, more so than the Basal, Okavango or Bangweuleu, the rebel ruralemirates have suffered 
  due to the rebellion. Dependent on the city-states, the lack of supplies and resources have impoverished many of the 
  fiefdoms t o  a point where famine is a major probtem. The signing of the Oxford Accord, the Humanist influx and now the 
  arrival of Northern troops have done much to help the rebel rural emirates, but this is only scratching the surface of the 
  problem. Most of the rebel fiefdoms are now abandoned, their emirs and shajhalin long since moved to one of the Free 
  Emirate cities for the protection and stability they offer, relegating huge areas of the Free Emirates t o  a lawless state. It 
  would be a fallacy to assume that Shirow and the rebel emirs know nothing of what is happening i n  the countryside 
  between their emirates, but the truth i s  that even they know very little. Bands of rovers, shajhalin refugees and even 
  petty warlords have all staked their claims to the abandoned rural emirates, contributing to the uncertainty of the Free 
  Emirates. 
  During the early days of the rebellion, the rural emirates (loyal or not) were hard hit by conflict. Masao, afraid of having 
  the rebellion spread, annexed a number of rural emirates i n  the Basal area, angering their emirs. Some realized the folly 
  of speaking out and quietly handed control over to Masao, hoping that he would return their lands after the rebellion. 
  Masao used these fiefdoms as staging areas and their shajhalin as suicide troops i n  vain attempts to dislodge Shirow. The 
  Patriarch executed any rural emir who spoke out against him or demanded their lands back. This unstable atmosphere only 
  worked against Masao, as a number of rural emirs rebelled given the first opportunity. 
  Most rebel rural emirs agreed with Shirow and threw in their lot with the rebels in the hopes of affecting change, but a few 
  did so out of necessity. Emir Tyvon Bu is a perfect example of this. His emirate is located 50 km north of Basal and relies 
  on the city-state for water and other necessities. At the same time, Bu’s emirate rests on a small oil field, a commodity 
  needed by Basal once the rebellion started. Tyvon Bu knew that if he did not side with Shirow, the rebel emir would 
  eventually attack his emirate and take it by force. So Bu was forced to join the rebellion against his will, and while he has 
  warmed to Shirow, he still harbors resentment towards him. 
  The regions of the Tobian Plain between the old Humanist border and the new Emirate of Raleigh are also problematic for 
  the Free Emirates. Although Lysia Masao has set herself up as Emir of Raleigh, there is simply no equivalent of rural emirs 
  in the surrounding countryside. Before the Theban Blight outbreak, the region was home to farmers, herders and a large 
  number of practitioners of a spiritualist religion known as Dream Time (for more details, see Humanist Alliance Leaguebook, 
  pp. 69 and 77). With the influx of refugees fleeing Theban Blight and Republican troops and then the combined Northern/ 
  HAPF/Free Emirate push back into the region, the Plain around Raleigh has been radically transformed. It is now pock- 
  marked by many battles, and is home to Northern and Humanist military camps. The simple farmers have seen their homes 
  destroyed and are generally only loyal to the Humanist soldiers who have liberated them. For now, this is a tenable 
  situation: falling back on the Humanist social model, the locals will follow the protectors of the HAPF for the duration of 
  the military conflict. After that, however, they will expect preceptors to step i n  and lead. Lysia Masao is i n  the process of 
  recruiting a cadre of low-ranking preceptors (some of whom escaped the Republican purges) for that very purpose. The 
  Dream Time religion continues to be a strong influence among the Tobian commoners. 
  Taline Za’aliel i s  a prime example of the many warlords that have laid claim to the rural free emirates. 
  Originally a lesser emir whose plantations covered several acres i n  the western rim of the Okavango swamp, 
  Za‘aliel was considered a raving lunatic by most. A deeply disturbed man, even by emirate standards, Za’aliel 
  believes himself to be a living god, sent to Terra Nova to punish i t s  people for some perceived wrong. For 
  decades the emirs of the ESE ignored Taline Za‘aliel and his emirate, and he became nothing more than a 
  curiosity to the ESE - an emir driven insane by his isolation in the swamp. That was until reports started 
  filtering back of Za’aliel‘s cannibalistic pram’ces and his raids on neighboring fiefdoms. When the Patriarch’s 
  men arrived i n  the area to investigate the rumors, horrific sights greeted them - 
  fields of corpses impaled on 
  spikes, mounds constructed from skulls and rivers turned red by blood. 
  Instead of doing anything, Oliver Masao invited Za’aliel t o  Strathclyde and the two men engaged i n  a week- 
  long orgy i n  TN 1929. When Lord Chancellor Tanaka got wind of Taline Za’aliel‘s actions, he had the emir 
  flogged and ordered Oliver to remove him from power. Unfortunately, Oliver stalled for over a cycle, and the 
  rebellion in Basal broke out before anything was done. Everyone soon forgot about Za’aliel. 
  Za’aliel‘s emirate is located deep i n  the Okavango swamps, and has been little affected by the rebellions or the 
  Interpolar War. Although believed by many to have joined the rebellion, few realize that Taline is using the 
  current chaos t o  carve out a kingdom for himself in the jungles of the ESE. Aided by a retinue of over 30,000, 
  Za’aliel has used their Gears and weapons to set up his cannibalistic empire. Raiding both Free Emirate and 
  MIUCU encampments, few realize the potential problem that Za’aliel poses. Happy to let the war rage around 
  him, all that Taline wants i s  t o  enjoy his decadent pleasures away from prying eyes. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Nahtasha was awaiting her execution, but this didn't frighten her - 
  death was part of her occupation. She was a 
  trained assassin, raised from birth by the Ethereal Guard to take life without thinking about it. Whenever the 
  Patriarch needed someone killed, she would begin the game. She always won, at least until now. So mafly things 
  had changed; she was not the same person she had been just a cycle ago. She no longer believed i n  Masao. She had 
  given her life to devotion, sold her soul as a murderer, and as her reward - 
  a lie. Nahtasha didn't want to think 
  about her last assignment, a tear the only outward sign that her mind had pulled her back to Basal. 
  The streets, normally empty and quiet, were bustling with people. She couldn't believe it, thousands of people 
  gathered knowing that Masao or the Republic could just bomb them out of existence - 
  but they didn't care. Their 
  leader, Emir Nigel Shirow, was getting married. Burnt-out buildings were all decorated with flowing silk banners, 
  flags of Basal fluttered i n  the wind and purple flowers lined the streets. After seven cycles of war the Basalites 
  were ready for a party. 
  She couldn't accept that Shirow and Lysia, the sister of the Patriarch and a traitor, were getting married i n  a 
  shajhalin ceremony; it seemed like sacrilege. How could the sister of the Patriarch and an emir lower themselves 
  to the level of the commoners? Nahtasha, a shajhalin herself, understood that everyone had a place, it had seemed 
  like madness to her back then, but now she understood 
  Clearing her mind from distractions, she focused on her task - 
  her only task. To kill Lysia Masao. Deep down 
  inside she felt wrong about it, but the Patriarch was only ensuring that his throne would go to the most capable. 
  This was what she told herself, casting aside the unexpected idea of guilt. 
  She understood the implications of killing Lysia on her wedding day. It might give the Free Emirates another cause 
  to rally around, true, but at least the dog Shirow wouldn't stand to inherit the throne as regent. Nahtasha made her 
  final calculations as the doors to the palace opened. Nigel and Lysia appeared dressed i n  colorful robes, festive 
  and sensual. Nigel looked happy, and that almost took Nahtasha by surprise - 
  everyone had known the marriage 
  was political, but he actually seemed content, i n  love? Lysia, however, looked far older than her datafile. Beautiful 
  i n  the Masao way, Lysia looked pensive, as if a tremendous weight was being placed on her shoulders. 
  The assassin took aim - 
  she wanted this done quickly. As Nigel and Lysia came into the open, the crowd erupted 
  i n  cheers - 
  she could feel the energy of the crowd, their hope and love for the new royal couple. The people of 
  Basal were cheering, even when surrounded with the ruins of the bloody civil war, for the man who had started it 
  all. It struck her, elegant i n  i t s  simplicity. They believed i n  Shirow. 
  Nahtasha focused on Lysia, trying to summon the will to pull the trigger, and realized that the future - 
  not of the 
  Masaos, not of Shirow, not even of Basal, but of the entire Eastern Sun Emirates -was at stake. And Lysia was that 
  ' 
  future's mother. Another tear ran down Nahtasha's cheek. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates is viewed by many as an enigma; composed of contradictions that i n  their own unique way have 
  come together and given birth to one of Terra Nova's most vibrant and dynamic cultures. On the one hand, Easterners are 
  fiery and determined people, traits acquired through a long history of struggle, war and hope. On the other hand, they live 
  under the heavy yoke of servitude and oppression. Throughout the league's history, the shajhalin and emirs have fought 
  against themselves, against their oppressors and against those who would invade their homes. I n  Eastern mentality (both 
  emirate and shajhalin), independence and sovereignty are of primary importance, and most commoners would much 
  rather be ruled by their own decadent emirs than foreigners with whom they share no ancestral ties. This is one of the 
  reasons the Southern Republic has had a hard time assimilating the ESE. 
  The notion of ancestry is also tremendously important t o  Easterners. On a simple level, ancestry determines what class 
  one is born into and what kind of life awaits. If one is born into a caste, there is no chance of change - 
  for all intents 
  and purposes, the three strata of emirate society are different species. More importantly, the concept of shared ancestry 
  ties the people of the ESE together, and while each class has its own ethics, morals and beliefs, they all share the same 
  heritage. The people of the ESE are Easterners not because of the rank they are born into, but because of the history of 
  the league. To be an Easterner means that one can trace his roots to either the off-world workers of the Consortium or the 
  crew of the Eustern Sun, and this a source of great pride for the league. 
  The emir-commoner relationship is both simple and complex: each gives meaning to the other, forging a strong and 
  unique bond - 
  one that over time has become near mythical i n  strength and devotion, but that is now slowly crumbling. 
  The arrival of the Eustern Sun gave the struggling people of the region hope, and this is why the shajhalin agreed to follow 
  the emirs. Enri Masao and his crew arrived at a time when the shajhalin had been abandoned and had nothing. Many 
  shajhalin have a religious reverence for the emirs (encouraged by unscrupulous men like Malach Masao), one that the 
  current generation of emirs have abused, weakening the unwritten social compact to the point of collapse. In essence, 
  the emirs are nothing without the commoners, and the shajhalin are nothing without the emirs - 
  a fact most Easterners 
  understand at some intrinsic level. The commoners could, if they wanted to, rise up and depose the emirs, but this would 
  mean that they would sever the ties that make them Easterners - 
  Enri Masao's dream and sacrifice would have been for 
  naught. 
  The erosion of shajhalin passivity i n  regards t o  emirate injustice has only accelerated with the spread of rebellion from 
  Basal. When Nigel Shirow began this process, it was as a legitimate emir, and both Armann Boash of Bangweuleu and 
  Rafael Bhravo of Okavango have the same legitimacy. For the shajhalin who believe that emirs are meant to rule harmo- 
  niously over the commoners, seeing now five emirs call for the end of Oliver Masao's rule is a powerful message. Many now 
  believe that the Free Emirates are the beginning of a new cycle of being for the ESE and so they feel it is right (on a karmic 
  level) to assist their rebellion against Strathclyde. Emir Bhravo, the so-called Boy-King of Okavango, has been by f i r  the 
  most successful in capitalizing on this karmic shift among the commoners of his league. His travels through the league 
  before the rebellions taught him much about the power of symbolism and his Apostate Revisionist leanings (which speak 
  of a "new era" to come) only reinforce his natural charisma. 
  Governing the culture of the Eastern Sun Emirates is an unwritten social pact between the emirs and the shajhalin known 
  as the Compact. There is no codex, no datafile, not even a mention in Enri Masao's personal logs, that codifies the 
  Compact, but it nevertheless permeates Easterner and Emirate culture, and serves as the basic social framework of the 
  league. The Compact is all about social responsibility; each class of the ESE is obligated to the others, but i n  different 
  capacities. The shajhalin work, the solicitors administer and the emirs rule. Although this is a simplistic summary of a 
  complex reality, it is largely true and, even in these decadent times, the Compact is still adhered to, even if not as 
  stringently as before. The emirs still provide the basics for the shajhalin, but they now expect a lot more i n  return. Even 
  the shajhalin in the Free Emirates abide by this system - 
  they want more freedom and equality, but they do not want t o  
  break with the Compact. 
  To understand Eastern culture, and especially the relationship between emirs and shajhalin, it is crucial to comprehend 
  the ontological framework of the shajhalin. This attitude (which borrows from karmic beliefs) probably arose as the belief 
  systems of the early Middle-Eastern, Mesoamerican and Asian shajhalin became amalgamated into one. The shajhalin 
  mentality is causal - 
  things do not just happen because they do, they are the result of past actions and the source of 
  future events. Every action creates a karmic reaction, and these are determined according t o  what role one plays. The 
  shajhalin believe that everything exists, and is, for a reason, and the more faithful one is to their essence, the greater the 
  reward; a cat that acts like a cat is rewarded by being able t o  trap mice. To the shajhalin, nothing i s  worthless - 
  everyone 
  has a role to play and because of this, they acknowledge the rule of the emirs. By living up to their karmic duties, the 
  shajhalin are perpetuating the cycle of being, and while conditions are harsh at the moment, most acknowledge that 
  sooner or later things will change and the emirs punished for their decadence. Even so, in the current climate, faith in this 
  system is eroding. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The class society of the ESE teems with traditions and customs. Ritual and ceremony are especially important - 
  for the 
  emirs they function as a backdrop for their aristocratic games, without which their days would seem empty and pointless. 
  For the shajhalin, custom and ritual tie the community together. Without a state-sponsored education system, customs 
  serve to teach. It is because of this that most foreigners think that the ESE is a primitive league, but what other leagues 
  teach through schools and history classes, the ESE does through less formal means. 
  Each caste follows its own set of elaborate social conventions that help to define it. Of all three, the solicitor class has the 
  least complex and most secular customs. Shajhalin practices, on the other hand, follow highly ritualistic and religious 
  lines, while aristocratic customs are ordained and intricate. These diverse customs and rites are the social glue that keeps 
  Easterner culture from degenerating into mass anarchy, helping to balance the rampant hedonism of the league. 
  The notion of family is central t o  the Eastern Sun Emirates because it forms the core of its ancestral culture. All three 
  strata of society are organized through familial ties, and these not only decide what class a person is born to, but his rank 
  within it as well. For the commoners, family ties are extremely important. All births, marriages and deaths are celebrated 
  with equal gusto. Nearly all commoners live i n  intimate family groups of four to twelve members. Families i n  industrial 
  areas tend to be smaller, while those involved with agriculture are typically larger to ease the work load. There is a close 
  bond between parent and child, and children are well looked after and cared for. These tightly-knit households fall within 
  larger, extended families that contain dozens, sometimes hundreds of nuclear families. Generally these extended families, 
  called ayunas, are all located within the same city-state, but the largest ones are known to have members in a number of 
  city-states. The ayunas group together by dominant profession, forming the shajhalin-guilds called banderias (see 3.1.1 
  The Shajhalin, p. 17). 
  All shajhalin of the Eastern Sun Emirates follow the same naming convention, each having their own personal name, 
  followed by the name of their extended family, and then their mother's last name, describing what nuclear family they 
  belong to. It is common for children to be named after grandparents or other relatives that have passed away, an 
  outgrowth of the shajhalin practice of ancestor worship. By being named after a relative, the parents hope to keep the 
  memory of that person alive. 
  Shajhalin culture is matriarchal, as mothers and grandmothers are central in keeping the families together. Women are 
  responsible for passing down lore and history, forming the basis of a complex oral tradition among their people. Males, on 
  the other hand, possess more practical and earthly roles, and it is the fathers who teach their children the skills they will 
  need when they grow older and join the workforce. 
  The solicitor class, i n  comparison, follows a relatively simple family structure, composed of small family groups, domi- 
  nated by a father figure. Traditionally these families are stable and permanent; divorce is strictly forbidden and the 
  number of children allowed is determined by the emirs. This is done to control the solicitor population, and to limit the 
  extent of their influence. Arranged marriages are common among the solicitors, out of convenience and for material gain. 
  Marriage for love is extremely rare i n  the solicitor class. Couples see themselves as business partners and not lovers, and 
  lovers and concubines for both sexes are tolerated and even expected - 
  some even living in the same house as the 
  married couple. These companions, however, are normally shajhalin bought by the solicitor for this purpose and are made 
  sterile to prevent any half-caste children. 
  A t  the pinnacle of Easterner society, the emirs' concept of family (at least i n  the traditional manner) is almost nonexist- 
  ent. What is important, however, is one's lineage and heritage. For the emirs and their 'families' there i s  no social compact 
  such as marriage or celibacy. Most emirs are free t o  choose their lovers and 'spouses' as they see fit. These unions are 
  hardly ever permanent, though there are rare exceptions to this rule. Not having a close family structure means that the 
  concept of brother and sister exists only as a biological division, and hence Emirate society does not frown upon or 
  condemn incest i n  any way. 
  Marriage is only observed when the union joins two emirates, or is intended to produce an important heir. While not 
  technically a marriage i n  the traditional sense, emirate marriages serve to prevent confusion as to who is entitled to 
  inherit and who is not. To make matters worse, emirs can have a number of aristocratic spouses. 
  The first born normally stands to inherit the title, but the emir can choose any of his legitimate children (those born 
  through marriages t o  other members of the aristocracy) to be the heir. The title can also be passed on to a sibling of an 
  emir, especially if there are no children, legitimate or otherwise. I n  cases like these, it i s  the Warden of the Eastern Sun 
  (who has accurate records and family trees) who decides who inherits the title or throne. Such cases of indirect inherit- 
  ance can be very chaotic and even bloody. When a sister, cousin or uncle inherits an emirate, it rarely occurs without the 
  presence of rivals. Illegitimate children, other family members and even old friends will often conveniently appear to 
  make a claim on the title. New emirs sometimes (even often) deal with this problem by executing large portions of their 
  own family. More liberal emirs may just buy them off or keep them under constant watch. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Religious sentiment is strong i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates, but no organized church exists aside from Revisionist missions 
  i n  the Free Emirates and some rare monasteries. Since the time of Malach Masao, the emirs have frowned upon (or even 
  banned outright) organized religion, and appropriated for themselves the role of religious leaders. Even with these 
  constraints, Jerusalemism forms the core foundation of belief in the league - 
  even emirs use Jerusalemite propaganda 
  to enhance their divine aura to the shajhalin. 
  Jerusalemism, a diverse amalgam of the various faiths drawn from the Hebraic tradition, has deep roots i n  the ESE. Most 
  of the members of the colonial-era Consortium were Jerusalemites of one form or another, and the crash of the Eastern 
  Sun coincided with the arrival i n  the Eastern Plain of Erzach Ibn-Muhammad, the only recognized Jerusalemite Prophet t o  
  live on Terra Nova. All Terranovan Jerusalemites recognize Ibn-Muhammad for brining the Word of God to the planet 
  shortly after it was abandoned by Earth, and he i s  generally believed to have been a native of the Eastern Plain. The 
  shajhalin mystics who are the closest things to priests in Eastern Jerusalemism tell another story, however. According to 
  them, Ibn-Muhammad arrived aboard the Eastern Sun, and was a Human Concordat officer who opposed Enri Masao. 
  Escaping the wreck, he found his way to the Okavango Swamp and, feverish and wounded, experienced his religious 
  epiphany. After forty days he emerged from the swamp, and immediately set out to spread his word, hoping i n  some small 
  way to atone for the crimes of Earth. Foreign Jerusalemites discount this story as part of the Eastern tendency to 
  associate all things with the Masao legacy, but this i s  living truth to shajhalin and many other Easterners. 
  Today, Eastern faith i s  an interesting amalgam of Jerusalemism and ancestor worship, deeply influenced by the karmic 
  beliefs of the shajhalin. Since the earliest days of the Emirates, the emirs have used Jerusalemite imagery to support their 
  rule. I n  TN 1697, Malach Masao banned organized religion outright. He forced the shajhalin to hide their religious 
  practices, but more importantly, he formalized the religious nature of emirs. Since then, the emirs have functioned as 
  saints, responsible not only for the well being of the shajhalin, but for their spiritual fulfillment as well. While this 
  secular-religious syncretism further cemented the emirs' hold over the commoners, it also allowed the shajhalin to hide 
  their spiritual beliefs behind a facade of worshipping the emirs. 
  The notion of sainthood forms the basis of Easterner ancestor worship, and is part of reason outsiders regard the ESE as 
  superstitious. Emirs are revered as icons, each endowed with some unique virtue or characteristic, though not all positive. 
  For example, Enri Masao i s  worshipped as a symbol of dedication and sacrifice, and is considered the patron saint of the 
  ESE. The commoners hold elaborate feasts on the anniversary of the death of an emir, hoping to earn his or her favor even 
  after their death. 
  Surprisingly enough, Easterners have a healthy relationship with death (probably because of their brutal daily lives) and 
  most see it as the beginning of a great journey rather than the ultimate end. For this reason, the shajhalin place a lot of 
  significance on those who have passed away, their duty to uphold the memory of those who have died. Most shajhalin 
  homes have a memorial remembering dead family members, and most city-states are adored with effigies and votive 
  sculptures honoring the dead. The shajhalin believe that their ancestors look over them, and if not remembered or 
  celebrated they will make their anger known. Shajhalin life is filled with little rituals giving thanks to or acknowledging 
  their dead relatives, rituals that many ignorantly consider superstition. I n  reality, these rituals reinforce the link between 
  the past and present and are motivated by shajhalin belief i n  karma. 
  . . 
  : . 
  . . 
  : . . 
  : 
  : . . 
  : 
  . . . 
  . . . 
  : 
  The regions around Bangweuleu, with frequent contact with the Badlands, have long been home to a thriving 
  (although discreet) Revisionist community supported by missionaries from Massada. Malach's edict made 
  matters difficult, but the emirs of Bangweuleu offered unofficial protection i n  order to foster good relations 
  with traders. The threat of the Patriarchal edict served to keep local Revisionists in line. The "Gentle Word 
  also spread to other regions, although i n  much smaller numbers. 
  With the rebellions and Interpolar War, Revisionism has grown i n  many ways. Massadan believers have come 
  out into the open, and missionaries from the holy city have established missions and hospitals in the Free 
  Emirates, namely i n  Bangweuleu and Basal. Meanwhile, Sorrento Revisionist preachers have arrived with the 
  largely Norlight troops now stationed in the Free Emirates. Sorrento sees the East as prime ground for conver- 
  sion. 
  The ESE i s  also the birthplace of a new sect of Revisionism, centered around Adrianna Xing, the so-called 
  Apostle of Mamoud. A native of Bangweuleu, Xing claims to have been visited by the Gentle Prophet himself, 
  who announced the coming of a new prophet and told her to prepare the way. She is now teaching i n  Massada, 
  but she has followers throughout the Revisionist world. Emir Bhravo of Okavango was among her first con- 
  verts, and the sect i s  strong i n  his emirate. The Massadan sect is more prominent i n  Bangweuleu, and Basal i s  
  becoming a theological battleground between the three groups. Father Cyril Atamo of Bangweuleu i s  the most 
  visible and respected member of the Revisionist church i n  the Free Emirates. His agenda is simply to teach the 
  truth of Mamoud, and although he follows Massadan teachings he has welcomed all forms of Revisionism to 
  his flock. His task is complicated, however, by the growing schism between the factions of the church. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Prejudice i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates is a very real and, at times, a dangerous phenomenon that occurs,at two levels - 
  local and foreign. Generally speaking, the stratified class system is responsible for most stereotypes and discrimination. 
  Most emirs look down on the solicitors and commoners with utter disdain. The solicitors are extremely brutal i n  their 
  treatment of the shajhalin, and few have qualms about killing a commoner if they feel wronged. This has resulted in a 
  volatile tension between shajhalin and solicitors, and during most revolts it is the middle class that bears the brunt of 
  shajhalin anger and bitterness. Basal is a prime example. Within three days of Nigel Shirow's declaration in TN 1931, the 
  rioting commoners hunted down and brutally executed over 2,000 solicitors, including children. 
  Most Easterners, however, are willing to set their own prejudices aside when confronted with a common foe. As the saying 
  goes, my brother and I against my cousin, my cousin and I against the outsider. This notion is critical to understanding the 
  Easterner mindset. Shajhalin, solicitors and emirs are elitist and see themselves as superior t o  others, especially their 
  non-emirate neighbors. This is the one fact most other leagues in the South continuously overlook when dealing with the 
  ESE - 
  they just assume the league to be filled with savage primitives and a spoiled aristocracy. Although the commoners 
  are an oppressed people, they feel they are destined to live under the emirs because of their belief that everyone and 
  everything is determined to act and live in a certain way. Even now, as some are beginning to realize that this may not 
  be the case, their loyalty and solidarity to their league binds them together. 
  Stretching as far back as the Southern War of TN 1680, the people of the ESE have resented being under the yoke of the 
  Southern Republic, and to this day most commoners, surprisingly enough, have nothing but a burning hatred for the 
  Republic. They see the current decadence of the emirs as a direct result of the Republic's involvement i n  their league, and 
  random attacks on Republic troops and officials are common i n  the ESE. The shajhalin also come to resent the North and 
  their moralistic ways, while people from the Mekong Dominion are seen as self-interested profiteers. 
  The Free Emirates rebellion and the Interpolar War have seen internal problems propelled onto the global stage. For a 
  guerrilla i n  Basal, the Humanist expatriate fighting by his side is becoming much less of an "outsider" than the Patriarchal 
  soldier trying to kill him. The presence of large numbers of Northern troops (and their MILICIA enemies) has further 
  eroded the sense of "us" and "them" i n  the region. Nevertheless, the Eastern sense of history still holds sway i n  most 
  people's hearts. Basalites may be happy to fight alongside Norlights against a common enemy, but they have no interest 
  in being absorbed by a distant and foreign land. 
  Justice in the Eastern Sun Emirates is a fickle and capricious thing. Each emir is the ultimate authority i n  his emirate and 
  his word i s  the law - only the Patriarch can supersede it. For this reason, justice and law enforcement across the ESE i s  not 
  centralized. Each emirate follows a different set of rules and regulations, all established by the emir (or in some cases a 
  high ranking solicitor) and enforced by his personal retinue and a vast body of bureaucrats. Essentially, the emirs are free 
  to determine what laws their emirates will obey and what punishments will be levied. 
  The various personal forces of each emirate handle law enforcement, and this is nothing more than bullying the shajhalin 
  or other potential trouble makers. These forces have no limit to their power, and can arrest or kill without having to 
  justify their actions - 
  with the definition of 'crime' left to their whim. Most, however, are careful not to act too rashly, 
  for fear of angering the emir. 
  Most crimes committed against shajhalin are over-looked or ignored, and only when a solicitor or aristocrat is harmed i s  
  anything done. Some city-states such as Skavara possess the basic trappings of a legal system, but these are more often 
  corrupt and inept, only there t o  present a facade of democracy. Because of this, shajhalin have resorted to vigilantism, 
  striking out anonymously in the forms of lynch mobs against those who have harmed them or their families. 
  More often than not, offenses such as theft, assault and murder are handled by the emir's solicitors, and punishments vary 
  from forced slavery to amputation and death. For more serious offenses, such as treason, revolt, or assaulting an emir or 
  a member of his family, punishment is left entirely up to the emir, and public executions and eviscerations are common. 
  Most city-states place dangerous 'criminals' (essentially anyone the emir dislikes) i n  iron cages, suspended above the 
  streets where they are left to die and rot, a visible reminder of the emir's absolute authority. 
  Prisons are rare i n  the ESE, and are mostly reserved for foreigners accused of committing a crime while i n  the league. 
  These institutions are among the worst on Terra Nova, and are extremely dirty and violent. It is not uncommon for a 
  prisoner to wait cycles while their home league and the emir try to find a mutually agreeable solution, and that is if the 
  prisoner i s  important. 
  Crimes against the rulers of the ESE and the AST are the most severely punished, and the emirs continually make use of 
  informants and secret agents to monitor potential subversives. These agents are often members of the solicitor or 
  shajhalin classes that have been bribed or coerced into spying on their families and neighbors. Even the emirs are not free 
  from this level of paranoia, as the Patriarch and a few other emirs, including Anurima Khajar, make use of secret agents 
  to deal with their enemies, digging up secrets and other damaging bits of information. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Life i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates i s  brutal, harsh and magnetic. The unique mixture of feudalism, oppression, ceremony 
  and spiritualism have all combined to make Easterner culture vibrant and kinetic; its people molded by heritage, history 
  and struggle. All three classes have shared in the league's victories and defeats, have lost loved ones i n  wars and 
  rebellions, and all look back to the wreckage of the Eastern Sun for direction and inspiration. The ESE is, at its essence, 
  a league entrenched i n  the past and future -alongside ancient architecture one could find a waiting Gear, or a carpenter 
  using a Personal Data Assistant. It is a place of hope and life, a place where the small things count, a fact most other 
  people on Terra Nova have forgotten. The streets of the Eastern city-states are alive with merchants, peddlers, street 
  performers and artisans. Rich tapestries of Terranovan silk hang from windows and minarets; from the palaces of the 
  emirs, the upper class looks down, enjoying the spectacle of life below. 
  The rhythm of life i n  the ESE follows a different beat for each of the social classes. Shajhalin tend to have a pragmatic 
  approach to life, confronting each obstacle in stride and realizing that tomorrow i s  just another day. To them, reality is 
  what they can touch, feel and experience - 
  lofty ambitions and ideals are the providence of the emirs. When the work is 
  done, shajhalin go back home and spend time with their families. Dinner i s  a festive time; not only the main meal of the 
  day; it i s  when friends and family gather, enjoying each other's company. 
  The aristocratic lifestyle is fluid and ethereal. They live i n  a world where dreams are reality and earthly problems non- 
  existent. Highly rarefied, the emirs view life through an intricate set of paradigms and perceptions, formed by centuries 
  of absolute power and dominance. 
  Finally, solicitors long for both the exalted state of the emirs and the tangible reality of the lower classes. Caught 
  between excess and poverty, the solicitors are condemned to never being happy with their lot i n  life, always wanting 
  more, and hating the sacrifices that ambition necessitates. 
  The human linguafronca of Anglic is spoken throughout the ESE, although to many it is a second language. The most 
  common first tongue is called Larabic, which is actually an amalgam of Indo-Arabic and Equatorial Hispanic, more akin to 
  a collection of dialects and patois than a unified language. Although most speakers can understand one another, idioms 
  and expressions vary from region to region, and even villages a few kilometers apart speak their own form of the language. 
  Because the ESE does not have a centralized education system, syntax, spelling and grammar are likewise mercurial, 
  adding to the complexity of the bureaucratic system of the league. Most documents and records are kept in Larabic, which 
  requires a vast army of scribes to decipher and catalogue. 
  Emirate Larabic is rich and complex, usually borrowing syntax and expressions from both Indo-Arabic and Mandanese, the 
  mother tongue of Enri Masao. Shajhalin Larabic is simpler on the surface, but just as descriptive and eloquent. The 
  biggest difference i s  i n  intonation, with shajhalin Larabic sounding sharp and curt. Bridging the gap, the solicitors 
  borrow from both the emirs and shajhalin. They have replaced much of the Spanish of Larabic with Universal French in an 
  attempt to standardize the language with the tongue of the Southern Republic. 
  While the shajhalin mostly know Larabic and Anglic, Universal French is also somewhat common, especially i n  city-states 
  dominated by trade. The emirs are usually fluent i n  a couple of languages, with Universal French being the most predomi- 
  nant. I n  private and during ceremonies, however, the emirs still cling to Mandanese, the mother tongue of Enri Masao. 
  With no formal institutions, shajhalin knowledge (from simple artistry t o  high-tech assembly work) is all passed down 
  from generation to generation. The banderias are largely responsible for training and teaching each generation of shajhalin, 
  but some emirates offer training courses to help turn the shajhalin into productive workers. Although most shajhalin are 
  taught to read, all their knowledge and history is passed down orally through storytelling and a rich tradition of folklore. 
  I n  addition, most shajhalin are fluent i n  at least two languages (generally Larabic and Anglic). 
  The solicitors go to private schools and, upon graduating, attend universities across Terra Nova. For this reason, the 
  middle class is the most educated caste of all Easterners, and this gives it a unique position within the league. A number 
  of highly influential social scientists and artists have hailed from the solicitor class. Their knowledge is used t o  run the 
  vast bureaucratic machinery of the ESE. Most solicitors earn their degrees i n  management, sciences or engineering. 
  The best private teachers and tutors i n  the ESE, on the other hand, educate the emirs. The majority of these tutors came 
  from either the Former Humanist Alliance or Smyrna. The emirs are taught the skills needed to rule, but most often they 
  learn whatever interests them. Martial training, especially i n  Dueling, is crucial to Emirate society, as is Gear piloting. For 
  the emirs, Gears have replaced horses as the mounts of choice, and from an early age they are taught the basics. Not all 
  emirs, however, are highly educated and a small minority are illiterate, making them easily manipulated by solicitors. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  t 
  An elaborate set of rituals and customs govern Emirate society, and ceremony and tradition surround every social event. 
  All three classes share this social characteristic, and each respects (to one extent or the other) the role these conventions 
  play within their social group. Among the more Byzantine rites i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates are the social mores of the 
  emirs; a delicate play of etiquette, fashion and status that only cycles of practice can ever reveal to its fullest. The 
  pageant of wealth and ritual that pervades emirate celebrations dazzles bystanders - 
  to them it almost appears choreo- 
  graphed by some unseen hand. The birth of an heir and the giving of titles are two important rites for the upper class of 
  the ESE. Births are hailed as the continuation of the legacy of the Eastern Sun, and an air of festivity surrounds the affair. 
  The newly born infant is paraded and hailed as a messiah figure, reinforcing the religious overtones of the emirs to the 
  shajhalin. A similar parade occurs when an emir inherits his title, after a solemn ceremony conducted by a Sunite Monk. 
  The emirs observe several rites of passage and most usually involve some sort of non-lethal duel or challenge. At the end 
  of the ritul the initiate is considered an adult and equal to all other emirs, and is usually given his first concubine, who 
  will stay with him for the rest of her life, acting as his personal assistant and confidante. Funerals and deaths are seen as 
  somber occasions, and usually entail a long procession and vigil as the dead emir is carried to the ruin of the Eastern Sun. 
  Solicitor society, i n  an attempt to mirror the aristocracy, is given to following complex practices. Masked balls are 
  extremely popular, as they give the solicitors a chance to rub shoulders with the emirs without their identifies being 
  known. I n  addition, the anonymity awarded by wearing a mask means that a significant amount of backstabbing and 
  intrigue transpire at these gatherings. Unlike the emirs who flaunt their sexuality and whose customs are highly sensual, 
  solicitor culture frowns on excessive displays of emotion, preferring to veil everything behind a facade of decency. This, 
  of course, i s  only a mask, and behind closed doors, the solicitors are as impetuous and decadent as the emirs. 
  For the shajhalin, rituals form an significant part of their culture, and most aspects of their lives are heavily encoded with 
  ceremony and tradition. This is of course due to their system of belief. Part of the karmic order they adhere to, the 
  stricture of always being true to one's essence, means living according to a highly specific set of conditions and practices 
  that must be observed to the letter. The shajhalin usually mask these rituals behind veneration to the emirs. This 
  obeisance acts as a filter, allowing them to continue to celebrate their customs. These rites, from births to funerals, all 
  symbolize one's journey through life, and most help the individual cope with the brutality that makes up lower class 
  reality. Rites of passage are crucial, and most commoners undergo their rite while i n  their late teens. These rites are 
  designed to test one's faith i n  him or herself. 
  Clothing in the Eastern Sun Emirates consists mostly of Terranovan silk garments, from robes to shawls, especially among 
  the emirs. Even the shajhalin wear some garments of silk, for which people i n  other leagues usually pay a hefty price, 
  though its quality is often less refined than that of the emirs. Within the climate-controlled palaces of the emirs and 
  homes of the solicitors, the preferred fashion is silken robes, as well as dresses and suits adored with brooches and 
  pendants. Often, especially among the more hedonistic emirs, nothing is worn underneath, as the sensation of pure 
  Terranovan silk on bare skin is extremely pleasurable. Its translucent quality and subtle texture is both clinging and 
  flowing, known to render the wearer extremely appealing and attractive (whether or not they are so i n  reality). These 
  robes are designed by some of the finest tailors i n  the ESE and across Terra Nova, and come i n  nearly every imaginable 
  hue. These tailors are usually shajhalin, and are treated like royalty by their emir patrons who have turned their crafts into 
  a stylized farm of art. 
  Food i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates is known for its spicy nature. Shajhalin cuisine is almost entirely composed of vegeta- 
  bles, namely jhong and bread, these being the staples provided by the emirs. Surprisingly, the dishes are highly creative 
  and imaginative, making up for jhong's blandness with rich spices and unique combinations of flavors. I n  terms of 
  protein, most commoners eat jerat meat, a small animal (similar to a hopper) that is indigenous to the jungles of the ESE 
  and which is raised like poultry by the shajhalin. Eastern Cuisine also makes use of the abundant local insect life. 
  Everything from large xaxan beetles to the small and tasty gee worms are used i n  cooking - 
  either as condiments or as 
  the main dish. 
  Breakfast is composed of cereal and fruit, which grows i n  abundance in the ESE. Unlike most Terranovans, commoners only 
  eat three times a day, because their working schedules, and poverty level, do not allow them time to have a fourth meal. 
  The main meal of the day is lunch, comprised of three courses - 
  soup, salad and the main course. The main course is 
  often a baked casserole. Dinner, usually late at night, is light and usually sweet i n  nature, served i n  buffet style as friends 
  and family gather. The emirs and solicitors, as can be expected, eat like kings. A l l  the delicacies of Terra Nova are available 
  to the emirs, and most enjoy these to their hearts' content. Eating schedules fluctuate, as the emirs eat whenever they are 
  hungry. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Ironically, i n  a league that is dominated by violence, oppression and 'primitive' living standards, art and artistry have not 
  only flourished, but become an integral aspect of life. Artifacts created by the shajhalin artisans, from small sculptures to 
  elaborate Terranovan silk tapestries, can be found i n  living rooms and corporate boardrooms throughout the South and 
  parts of the North. Though not considered 'high art' by the cultural elite of Terra Nova, the rich folkloric art of the ESE is 
  nonetheless an important artistic tradition that many of the planet's leading artists look to for inspiration and direction. 
  The most notable ESE artist i s  Domenyk Alcruz, exiled after angering Patriarch Masao. He now lives i n  his palace deep in 
  the Interior of the league working on paintings that showcase his tormented soul. 
  Given i t s  relatively poor education standards and literacy rate, it is not surprising that the ESE does not boast a flourish- 
  ing tradition of literature. The lower classes rely mostly on oral tradition, and although a few attempts have been made 
  to record their rich epics and myths, their tales are best transmitted through storytelling. A number of emirs have claimed 
  some fame as poets or philosophers, as their experience and ideologies have given them a unique perspective, making 
  Eastern aristocratic literature relatively important within academic circles. 
  Emirate literature consists mostly of high poetry, concerning itself with romantic ideals. Maxime Draho (TN 1767-1856) 
  was among the most famous emirate poets. His highly intricate poems dealt with existential concerns, trying to unravel 
  the Terranovan essence and the isolation of Terra Nova from Earth. His poems Winten ofsolitude and Desert Isolation are 
  part of the Terranovan literary canon, as is his monumental epic Exile. Most of his poetry touches upon the sacrifice of 
  Masao, and his dream of returning home, but though Draho shares certain sentiments with the founder of the ESE, he 
  perceives Earth as a myth, an enigma, a place of mystery and legend. 
  Nigel Shirow, leader of the Basal rebellion, has also become a relatively important writer. His treaties on rebellion and 
  politics have made an impact outside the ESE and are primarily responsible for turning him into a popular figure. 
  Like in every other aspect of life i n  the ESE, the division between the classes can be seen i n  the form of art each class 
  appropriates as its own. The emirs have long been patrons of the arts, and many of Terra Nova's influential artists had 
  emirs as their patrons. Emirate tastes i n  art are ever-changing and fluid. They appreciate the classics above all else, yet 
  have a voracious appetite for the avant-garde and controversial. Artists under emirate patronage must endure fickle 
  criticism of their works and, of course, to disappoint an emir i s  to invite death. 
  Commoner art, on the contrary, is essentially folkloric art. It is composed mostly of utilitarian objects such as vases, 
  votive painting, effigies and tapestries. Although it i s  not considered 'high art', the commoner style is nonetheless 
  intricate and complex, displaying the artists' skills in geometry and design. The commoners excel in tailoring and are the 
  best Terranovan silk tailors, creating stunning clothes and other garments from the delicate textile. 
  The most vibrant feature of Eastern culture and art is, without a doubt, i t s  architecture. It is here that all the influences 
  that created the ESE collide, creating an architectural style stemming from a myriad of diverse traditions. Some of these 
  contributing elements are a result of the economic reality of the league: most buildings are built by hand and use few, if 
  any, pre-fabricated materials, resulting i n  the rough and unfinished look of many of the buildings i n  the ESE. Steel and 
  glass skyscrapers are rare i n  the Emirates, and those that exist are usually owned by foreign interests. Other influences 
  include Latin American and Arabesque (both Ancient and Early Glacial), as well as some colonial traditions. 
  Although there is a limited degree of mass-production i n  the league, most construction i s  a combination of modern 
  techniques and ancient traditions. Most commoner buildings are constructed according to plans and designs that have 
  not changed for centuries, while solicitor and emirate buildings are designed by commissioned architects known for their 
  intricate plans. While Easterner architecture is elaborate and beautiful to look at, it must also serve very practical 
  purposes. In the interior of the ESE, buildings must help insulate from the oppressive humidity and heat, and at the same 
  time protect its inhabitants from the encroaching jungle. I n  the Serpentine Range, they must protect against the cold and 
  harsh winds while being sturdy enough t o  survive the occasional earthquake that wracks the area. 
  Easterner architecture has been labeled Sunite Architecture by art historians, and recently a deliberate effort has been 
  made to understand and decipher the many threads that form it. Since the War of the Alliance, colleges i n  the CNCS have 
  shown considerable interest i n  Sunite Architecture, and each term students from the North descend into the ESE to study 
  it. Some students, however, fall i n  love with the league and never return home. The main features of Sunite Architecture 
  include minarets, domes and courtyards, while decoration favors geometric design and statues. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  One of the few Jerusalemite influences to have survived Malach's edict, minarets rise t o  the sky in all Emirate city-states 
  and can be found throughout the league, from the Okavango Swamps to the Interior. While very few are still used as 
  prayer towers, their elegant shape and design made them popular with the emirs and ensured their secure place as one 
  of the main architectural elements of the league. Today, most minarets are more than simple towers and are used for a 
  number of functions, from apartments and emirate residences, t o  defensive towers, to prisons and artists' studios. Some 
  minarets are open to the sky and contain small fountains and gardens. I n  the cramped conditions of many of the ESE's 
  city-states, these are the only public squares open t o  the commoners. 
  Few buildings i n  the Eastern Sun Emirates have flat roofs, for both aesthetic and practical reasons. The frequent rainfall, 
  especially during monsoon seasons, makes flat roofs impractical and even dangerous, and for this reason domes are 
  widely used. Most domes are large and built using blocks of stone adorned with ceramic tiles or painted a variety of 
  colors, normally turquoise or emerald. Some domes are decorated with stained-glass instead of mosaic, crafted by some 
  of the most talented artists i n  the ESE. Before the rebellions, glass from Red Sands entered the ESE through the Bangweuleu 
  Bazaar. 
  The central area i n  most homes i s  located beneath the dome, and usually includes a small courtyard with a fountain or a 
  garden, which serves as the living and dining area. Most rooms in the home are built around the courtyard: i n  the case of 
  apartment buildings the individual apartments are built around, and looking down into, the courtyard. The degree of 
  adornment and sophistication is largely determined by class. Commoner courtyards are plain, decorated with votive 
  paintings and altars for deceased relatives. Emirate courtyards are huge and adorned with gold and other fineries. 
  Columns and arches are common architectural elements within the courtyard, as they hold up the massive weight of the 
  dome. 
  Sunite architecture places a lot of importance in geometric unity and design, and this i s  evident i n  the actual layout of 
  each home and the artwork that hangs on the walls. Most buildings and homes make use of a number of geometric shapes 
  and patterns, and, as a result, most commoners are very well versed i n  the basic principals of geometry. Many homes are 
  fairly intricate i n  their construction, with split-levels that make excellent use of space and dimension. Standard decora- 
  tive features include frescoes, lattice works and sculptures that emphasize elaborate designs and repeating patterns. 
  The final characteristic aspect of Sunite architecture is the presence of the many stylized sculptures and effigies that 
  adorn the buildings of the ESE. The majority of these are representations of the emirs; some measure several meters i n  
  height and are meant to display the power and presence of the depicted emir. These effigies are at times placed on the 
  minarets, and serve as shrines for the emirs. Other statues portray animals, sometimes only their heads or parts of their 
  bodies. These resemble gargoyles, but their craftsmanship makes them less threatening than the typical gargoyle. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The bloodsports of the Eastern Sun Emirates are one of the main factors that has given the league its reputation for 
  brutality. These games are not matters of honor, or a means to settle differences or right insults and grievances; their only 
  purpose is visceral entertainment. A combination of the emirate practice of providing bread and circuses for their people 
  and genuine Easterner appreciation for blood and brutality, these events are an integral part of the ESE. They allow the 
  lower classes an opportunity to escape the hardships they face every day, while providing the easily bored emirs with 
  some excitement. All types of bloodsports exist in the ESE, and each is as violent and brutal as the next. Long-term 
  survival among the participants is unheard of, and at the end, the floors of the arenas are soaked with spilled blood. 
  Traditionally, bloodsports i n  the ESE are expressions of the traditions and predilections of a particular emirate. The most 
  famous of these bloodsports appear i n  the sidebar below, but many others exist across the league. For example, i n  Smyrna, 
  the so-called City of Sages, the local emirs have preserved their city-state's image as a place of genteel learning with the 
  more "civilized" bloodsport of jousting. Riders on horses, springers and other animals clash, as do drivers of various motor 
  vehicles and Gears. This sport is relatively bloodless, but still thrills the crowds with the chance of injury to riders and 
  mounts. Rural emirates also have organized competitive bloodletting, and the variety of forms is staggering. Emir Harrah 
  Sitar, whose poor emirate stands on the edge of the dense Interior, has garnered status for herself by inviting other emirs 
  t o  participate i n  hunts for well-trained slaves. Much like gladiators, these prey-slaves have little chance of actual survival, 
  but have training enough to make the hunt a challenge. Legends of escaped slaves are rife among the local shajhalin. 
  The most famous and popular of all bloodsports, however, are those directly sponsored by the Patriarch. Part and parcel 
  of his god-like image, Patriarchal bloodsports are an essential reflection of the ruler's character. These top competitions 
  change with the mood of the ruler and are often radically transformed by a succession. Oliver Masao's mother Svetlana, for 
  example, would often create elaborate games in which slaves navigated through swarms of her favorite pets, Badlands 
  redjackets. 
  Of all the bloodsports of the ESE, the most famous is the Patriarch's League of Gear dueling. Bloody, vicious matches 
  characterize the League, as only the best pilots i n  the ESE are invited to compete by Aisha Alfaz, the arena master. The 
  brutal nature of the duels and the skill level of the pilots make the Patriarch's League deadly and highly popular. The pilots 
  who distinguish themselves here are sometimes invited to join the Ethereal Guard. 
  Created by Oliver Masao shortly after the War of the Alliance, few other bloodsports equal Battle i n  terms of sheer 
  destruction and death. Once a season, thousands of convicts and shajhalin from Strathclyde's Barrens are brought t o  the 
  specially designed arena, given weapons and told to fight. The death tolls are high, as is the level of destruction. ALL the 
  while, Masao and his entourage watch from special bunkers and trideo crews transmit the battle across the capital city. 
  Among the most ritualized bloodsports in the ESE, Corridas are as much a commoner game as one for the 
  emirs. Traditionally, the aristocracy of Javari would fight the massive Springers and Barnaby Iguanas pitted 
  against them. Corridas were seen by the emirs of Javari as being rites of passage. Lately, however, the emirs 
  have chosen champions to represent them, marking the end of this tradition. Franco Gibran, brother of Hylena 
  Gibran, was the last Javarite aristocrat to participate i n  the Corridas. Franco was widely popular among the 
  shajhalin for his exploits i n  the ring, but was brutally killed in TN 1921, after having survived more than 100 
  matches. 
  As part of their ritualized rivalry, the emirs of Cimmaro often pit their prisoners against each other i n  spec- 
  tacular orgies of blood and violence. These gladiatorial games are nothing more than ritualized slaughter, as 
  the emirs derive much enjoyment from pitting unarmed fighters against professional fighters, brutal animals 
  and on occasion, Gears. Those who survive are kept and trained to become realgladiators, but are treated and 
  live like animals. Occasionally, these gladiators escape the arena and wreak havoc among the spectators, 
  killing large numbers of them before being stopped. The best become elite gladiators who divide their time 
  between the Coliseum and the emirate retinues. 
  The dark industrial wasteland beneath Skavara is home to the Labyrinth. Here, every cycle, convicts are 
  released into the network of tunnels and ducts knowing that somewhere i n  the maze lies either death or 
  freedom. Cameras and special viewing areas allow spectators to witness the convicts' exploits as they fight 
  each other and the many dangers of the maze trying to find a way out. Weapons are littered throughout, as are 
  countless booby traps and minotaurs (body-sculpted warriors working to kill the convicts). The Labyrinth is 
  always am've, as games run around the clock. Some are transmitted by Hermes 72 across Terra Nova, and the 
  Labyrinth has become one of the most popular bloodsports in the ESE. Only one captive has ever escaped i n  
  the entire history of the Labyrinth. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  I 
  ' 
  . . . 
  ' 
  . . 
  ' 
  . 
  . 
  . . 
  * 
  It was late, the swamp dark and silent. Rafael Bhravo silently sat in his throne room, but the young emir's thoughts 
  plagued him ceaselessly, like the squawk of the kilovate bats circling outside. His blank gaze stared off into the 
  depths of the dark throne room, vague memories of his youth flooding his weary mind. So much had changed since 
  the time of his birth, but he could not dwell on things passed ... he must concentrate on forming the future. 
  He glanced at the stained-glass dome overhead, a religious depiction of the first emir entering the ruined shell of 
  Okavango hundreds of cycles ago. The pale moonlight that cascaded through the colored cells of glass brought the 
  scene to life, an ancient ghost haunting the Boy-King and his thoughts. The rebellion had lasted too long, and now 
  with the Interpolar War things seemed like they would never end - 
  Rafael's dreams of ever seeing Earth, of taking 
  the glory of the Eastern Sun back to its rightful place, seemed distant. Impossible. 
  Rafael gradually became aware of the figure carefully skirting the shadows. 
  "Devon, i s  that you?" Rafael's voice pierced the silence. It took him awhile to find the shape in the dimly lit room. 
  It could be Devon, his chamberlain, but he was not sure. 
  The figure walked through shadows to an ancient statue of Rafael's ancestor Gustav Bhravo, "Sire, it i s  dark." 
  The emir struggled to identify the smooth voice. He did not want to show his growing hesitation - 
  he must remain 
  confident, must always seem t o  be i n  control. 
  "What do you know of your ancestors, Sire?" 
  Bhravo was intrigued. Was this a test by Ethene or Shirow? "Enough to know that we've all shared in the destruc- 
  tion of the name of Masao and the ESE." 
  "Is that so? What makes you an expert on defamation and pride? On what do you base your claims? Are the emirs 
  not the highest authorities in the league, free to choose how they ad?" 
  Rafael tried t o  focus on the figure before him, squinting slightly, desperate now t o  discern his features, judge his 
  intent. Could the man be one of Masao's assassins? "I know that we are living a lie, that Masao has gone too far. 
  He no longer leads us to glory, instead dragging our league t o  destruction. The time has come for change." 
  "And how do you propose to do that, a young boy full of fantasies? Why do you think they call you the Boy-King? 
  You are a curiosity, a distraction taking the spotlight off of Shirow and Masao. What if I told you that your destiny 
  lies not here in the jungles of Okavango, but i n  Strathclyde - 
  not as an emir but as Patriarch." 
  Rafael sat pensive, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "How?" 
  The Boy-King did not notice the two other shapes moving behind him. In a swift motion, one of them injected 
  Rafael with a sedative. The boy slumped in his seat, consciousness vanishing almost instantly. 
  . 
  "Shall we k i l l  him?" 
  . 
  "No," the cloaked figured whispered, caressing Rafael's face. "The Patriarch wants him alive..." 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The concepts for characters originating from the ESE will be, for the most part, determined by which class the Player 
  chooses for his character. The rigidity of Easterner society means that not all characters coming from the league will be 
  equals, and yet each class presents a unique opportunity for rich roleplaying. The choice of caste is not an easy one - 
  the 
  character's general outlook on life will be determined by his class. It is also important t o  keep i n  mind that although the 
  ESE is dominated by class and caste, one must move beyond the stereotypes. Characters from each class have a story to 
  tell, all with a chance to grow and prosper i n  the ESE and beyond its borders. The ESE is reaching a crisis point, and any 
  character from the league may have the chance to help mold its future - 
  whether emir, shajhalin or solicitor. 
  Because of the class structure of the ESE, Players should work closely with the Gamemaster and other Players playing 
  Easterner characters to avoid or carefully define tensions which arise from class differences. While outlook and status are 
  tied to caste, character concepts are not. A shajhalin could easily be a trader, a soldier i n  an emirate retinue or an 
  undercover agent working for any of the powers on Terra Nova, and the same goes for an emir or solicitor. The current 
  turmoil i n  the ESE means that the distinctions between classes are blurring a bit - 
  all three castes must fight the war. 
  The key i s  to move beyond the stereotypes of caste and class, and the GM should challenge the character, and Player, to 
  do so. One way to do this is to play up the caste system, and use subplots to make the character confront his caste-based 
  assumptions. Maybe the commander of aristocrats serving i n  MILICIA i s  a shajhalin or solicitor, or a shajhalin rebel must 
  decide whether to kill an emir/solicitor prisoner, or spare their lives and try to stop the cycle of violence of the ESE. 
  While caste seems to limit the potential for Player Characters, it actually offers a rich framework of concepts, backgrounds 
  and potential subplots that makes Eastern characters come to life. Care must be taken, however, not to unreasonably limit 
  the Player's choices. Having a 'realistic' solicitor is not as important as playing an interesting one. 
  Not all members of the emir class hold titles, and although it is possible to play such an emir (with permission from the 
  Gamemaster) it is more likely that the character would be the brother, son, daughter, or mistress of one of the 50 ruling 
  emirs. Being a member of the aristocracy has its advantages - wealth, power, prestige and recognition. The emirs and 
  their entourages live i n  the lap of luxury, and most have extremely rarefied tastes and desires. 
  It is important to note, however, that not all emirs are decadent sensualists, and not every emir character should be 
  played like one. I n  these changing times there is a need for leaders and heroes i n  the ESE, and whether the character has 
  sympathies for the shajhalin or not, it is crucial that the Player decide what his character believes in. Is he a member of 
  the old guard, a radical, or a tyrant: is he narcissistic and hedonistic, or disillusioned with the whole thing? The Player 
  must also be aware of the inherent obstacles emirs will have to face. They live in an extremely cutthroat and dangerous 
  environment, and intrigue i s  a fact of life, especially if the PC is a titled emir or stands the chance of becoming one. 
  Potential Perks and Flaws: Authority, Famous, Prestige, Wealth, Subordinates; Addiction, Infamous, Nemesis, Split 
  Personality. 
  Solicitor characters are the most diverse. They could join the ranks of the vast bureaucracy of the ESE, find employment 
  i n  foreign corporations, venture into the Badlands to strike it rich, or even join MILICIA. The majority of the emirate 
  forces are composed of solicitors, and depending on their emir, they could live extremely comfortable lives - 
  as long as 
  they have no qualms about ruthlessly suppressing rebellions. The solicitors are the unsung heroes of the ESE, and their 
  role as administrators and defenders is what keeps the league afloat. At the same time, some solicitors have nothing but 
  contempt for the emirs, and sell their services as spies and assassins to rival emirs or foreign interests. 
  Potential Perks and Flaws: Connections, Favor, Perfect Memory, Quick Learner; Liar, Obligation, Paranoid. 
  Although a shajhalin character may not be the Player's first choice, they offer tremendous roleplaying potential. While the 
  majority of shajhalin live oppressive lives, some have the potential to become freedom fighters and revolutionaries, 
  capturing the hopes and hearts of a beleaguered class. Some make their mark as mercenaries and gladiatorial fighters, 
  others as artists and poets, but all feel the weight of the excess of the emirs. They love their league, but detest what it 
  has become. Most shajhalin characters will probably be revolutionaries fighting emirate forces along the Serpentine 
  Range, in the swamps of Okavango or i n  the streets of Basal. Saboteurs and secret agents are yet another possibility, 
  eavesdropping on the emirs and Southern forces to aid their cause. The shajhalin that must fight under the emirate 
  banner against the Free Emirates present another possibility for the creation of a rich character concept. 
  Potential Perks and Flaws: Connections, Fake Identity; Bloodlust, Nemesis, Obligation, Social Stigma. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  I 
  Times are changing i n  the ESE. The league as a whole stands precariously on the cusp of massive transition and possible 
  collapse; the Free Emirate rebellion and the Interpolar War are threatening the future of the league. These are times of 
  anxiety and worry for the people of the ESE, and any campaign set i n  this league should reflect this. Things are no longer 
  going to be as they were, and many fear what lies in store for them and their league. The emirs feel the reigns of power 
  slowly slip as Oliver Masao ineffectively rules the league; solicitors, who can sense the coming storm, flock with apoca- 
  lyptic fever to their emirs, while the shajhalin are caught in the middle. 
  I n  come the Player Characters. No matter what type of characters are created, their actions should have an effect on the 
  league - 
  the PCs should play an integral part i n  the future of the ESE. Whether they are rebels, smugglers or emirs, their 
  actions should be central to the story of the ESE. It may seem the future of the ESE is dominated by a small cadre of 
  luminaries, Shirow, Oliver, Boash and so on, but these people do not operate i n  a vacuum. While history and current 
  events highlight their actions, there is plenty of room for the characters to maneuver. Maybe the Player Characters 
  escorted Nigel to Raleigh so he could propose to Lysia Masao, or perhaps they were halvidars attacking Okavango under 
  orders of the Patriarch. Oliver Masao and Shirow may hog the spotlight, but they would be nowhere without their allies 
  and supporters -the PCs. 
  The Interpolar War and the Free Emirate rebellion serve as two catalysts for campaigns i n  the ESE. Since the beginning of 
  the war, the ESE has become the locus of the conflict. The Eastern battlefields are the most active in the war, and while 
  a relative lull has fallen elsewhere, fighting still occurs in the ESE on a daily basis. The Interpolar War opens the ESE to 
  foreign characters: Humanist expatriates, MILICIA and Northern Guard troops, Republican spies, Dominionite saboteurs, 
  Revisionist missionaries, Norlight diplomats and so on. Almost every faction on Terra Nova has some vested interest i n  
  seeing the situation in the ESE resolved i n  one way or another. Creative Gamemasters could have their PCs rub shoulders 
  with Masao, Draho, Tanaka and Shirow, and possibly influence their actions. One thing to keep in mind - 
  nothing i s  set 
  i n  stone in the ESE. 
  Themes are the glue that binds individual stories into the chapters of an epic. A number of different and, at times, 
  contradicting themes run through this sourcebook and the league it describes. There are themes ranging from decadence 
  to survival and from oppression t o  hope that form an integral aspect of the essence of the ESE. The central themes at the 
  core of the ESE remain tradition, conflict and hope. 
  THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY 
  The ESE is currently torn between tradition and change. The system established by Enri Masao has been corrupted and 
  defamed, and yet its presence is still strongly felt. Although Emirate Feudalism has allowed the league to grow, the ghosts 
  of the past now haunt the league. The absolute power held by the emirs has transformed them into the decadent 
  sensualists of today. The people are unhappy with the current state of affairs, but they are likewise afraid of what the 
  future holds. Change means uncertainty, and some feel it is better to hold on to the past. Some fear the ESE has gone as 
  far and as high as it can, destined to collapse. This has led to parasitic ambivalence that has only made matters worse - 
  most would rather indulge themselves and turn their backs than confront their doubts and face the future. 
  ~ONFLI~T 
  For most of the history of the Eastern Sun Emirates (and Terra Nova for that matter), war and violence have been a fact 
  of life. Blood flows every day i n  the ESE, and this has only strengthened the survival instincts of the people of the league. 
  Their pains and wounds are their own, and that gives them a sense of identity. Conflict i n  the ESE will never disappear - 
  it is as much a part of their culture as the emirs and the Eastern Sun. If the commoners were to overthrow the emirs, the 
  following peace would probably not last long, because the ESE's neighbors or internal ambition would likely lead to more 
  bloodshed. Conflict in the ESE is devastating, but it serves to both destroy and rebuild. 
  THE ~
  E
  ~
  ~
  ~
  H
   
  FOR HOME 
  Most Easterners have a mythological appreciation for the planet of humanity's birth, and many regard it as being equiva- 
  lent to paradise. Deep within the hearts of all Easterners is the notion that one day they will see Earth's night sky and vast 
  oceans of water, and forget the hardships and bloodshed of Terra Nova. If anything could possibly galvanize the ESE once 
  more and repair the damage and tyranny that began with Malach Masao, it would be the idea of a return to the stars. It 
  is not that Easterners are not loyal Terranovans, but somehow they understand that the future of Terra Nova is tied t o  
  Earth. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The emirate court of the Eastern Sun Emirates offers a unique backdrop for Gamemasters who want to move away from 
  conventional Heavy Gear adventures. I n  the hallowed halls of the Ethereal Palace the emirs engage i n  a tense game of 
  intrigue, one that the Player Characters could easily become immersed in. Depending on how the GM prefers to handle 
  emirate politics and machinations, the Player Characters could either be the scheming emirs, solicitor assistants and 
  bodyguards, or shajhalin victims forced t o  find a way to fight the emirs' game. 
  Such a campaign will naturally focus heavily on the intrigues and politics of the emirs, and the current psychological 
  instability of Oliver Masao. The emirs are beginning to see that all is not well in Strathclyde, and events are reaching a 
  boiling point. Some emirs like Sirrano Bajhal will back Oliver, but others like Gavriel Draho are putting into motion plans 
  to either limit the Patriarch's power or turn him into a puppet-ruler. The Player Characters could be a bloc of lesser emirs 
  determined to see the ESE emerge stronger from its present troubles. They could use their contacts to navigate the sea of 
  emirate intrigue and make alliances with other like-minded emirs while trying to stop their foes. The Player Characters 
  could be instrumental i n  bridging the gap between loyalist emirs and the Free Emirates, maybe even bringing men like 
  Shirow and Draho together. 
  . . 
  . 
  . 
  * 
  : . . 
  : 
  . 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Interpolar War has transformed much of the Eastern Sun Emirates into a war zone, and GMs can run all sort of stones 
  and adventures using the polar conflict as a backdrop. Since TN 1936 troops from the North and South have been 
  operating in the ESE, and the Player Characters could find themselves sewing among them, be it i n  the Northern Guard, 
  Humanist HAPF, Republican Army, Southern MILICIA, or various Emirate units. The war has been a long and bloody one, 
  especially for units serving in the Eastern Plain and the Okavango Swamps. Fighting has calmed down a little bit, even i n  
  the front lines of the ESE, but the situation i s  still tense and Gamemasters could run a series of "War Stories" i n  the vein 
  of Kelly's Heroes, Platoon or Saving Private Ryan. 
  Anything from Special Forces operations to intelligence gathering and covert ops could be used as adventures, but the GM 
  should not forget the grunts whose existence is dominated by the bloody front lines of the conflict. While commandos are 
  off infiltrating enemy lines, the grunts and Gear pilots of the front-line units are watching the battlefields, patrolling the 
  buffer zone between both forces and dealing with the human cost of the war. On the surface this may not seem glamorous 
  or exciting, but it offers a GM a chance t o  run a campaign that, while combat heavy, still offers depth and plenty of 
  roleplaying opportunities. Do the characters help refugees escape the fighting? Do they spare a captured soldier's life? 
  How about trying to sneak into one of the ruined sectors of Basal to rob a bank that is supposed to still have a vault full 
  of money? 
  Instead of focusing on the Gears and weapons of the war, the GM should take time to develop the characters and their 
  feelings towards the conflict. Maybe they are ardent patriots, wanting nothing more than to beat their enemies into 
  oblivion, or maybe they fail to see the purpose of it all. Eastern characters could be torn between their duty t o  the Eastern 
  Sun and the plight of the Free Emirates. Do they follow orders or turn away from the fighting? GMs should not shy away 
  from displaying the horrors of war to Player Characters. 
  The 3rd compagnie of the 66th Heavy Gear regiment has been tasked with rooting out rebels south of Basal. 
  Led by an emirate sirdar named Ithar Fleioux, the 3rd becomes nothing more than a highly armed death squad, 
  ordered by the sirdar to hunt down and kill rebels and refugees. Morale among the 3rd'~ 
  Gear pilots i s  danger- 
  ously low and volatile. 
  Then, MIUCIA command orders the PCs' unit to the front, even though they are short of reinforcements and 
  supplies. Their commanders suspect a Northern/rebel push in the coming weeks, and want the PCs to secure 
  a small farming settlement, Comala, overlooking a strategic water filtration unit. The shajhalin village, while 
  claiming loyalty to the Patriarch, is suspected of harboring rebels. The PCs' CO orders them not to engage 
  civilians, but Sidar Fleioux has made it clear that all rebels are to be cleared out of Comala. 
  I
  1
   
  While on oatrol the PCs' cadre comes under friendlv fire and all hell breaks loose. I 
  2 
  Tired of killing innocent civilians, members of the PCs' cadre desert. Ithar orders the PCs to hunt 
  them down and execute the deserters for treason. 
  TJ 
  A cadre on Datrol witnesses Ithar and a rebel qroup talking and exchanging information. I 
  ~~ 
  -
  .
   . 
  4 
  The cadre comes across a small cell of rebels and moves in for the kill. They soon discover that 
  these "rebels" are children armed with guns. 
  After being ambushed, the PCs find themselves isolated from their unit and lost in No Man's 
  Land. easv oickina for the rebels. 
  5 
  ~~ 
  Shirow personally launches a small offensive to push back the 3rd and give Basal some breathing 
  room. The characters find themselves in the middle of the action. 
  Gear pilots and other members of the 3rd compagnie. 
  Members of Ithar's centuly, tasked with keeping tabs on the men of the 3rd 
  Free Emirate rebels fighting the 3rd. 
  Infiltrators, seeking a way into or out of Basal. 
  SRID agents sent to remove Ithar 
  Refugees hiding from the killing. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Eastern Sun Emirates might be embroiled in war and rebellion, but its lush jungles and misty valleys s t i l l  attract 
  ardent adventurers in search of treasure and excitement. Exploration campaigns are well suited for the ESE, because the 
  league's endless stretches of jungle and swamp hide all sorts of mysteries. Combine this with the tense background of the 
  Interpolar War, and a creative Gamemaster could run the Terranovan equivalent of IndianaJones, replacing the Nazis with 
  the Southern Republic and the Ark with an emirate relic. 
  The ESE i s  known for its riches - 
  even the poorest emir is wealthy i n  the extreme - 
  and countless treasures lie forgotten 
  i n  emirate palaces abandoned i n  the Okavango Swamp or the Interior. If not treasure hunters, the PCs could be archeolo- 
  gists trying to protect priceless ruins from the ravages of war, or trying to discover who really settled the Okavango 
  Swamp i n  the first three Terranovan centuries. Another possibility is to have the characters search for a relic - 
  a statue, 
  pendant, or something of the sort - 
  of Enri Masao, said t o  have the power to sway the commoners of the ESE. The PCs' 
  patron could be Oliver Masao, or Nigel Shirow, or even the Mekong Dominion. The PCs could alternately be soldiers who 
  stumble across the ruins while on patrol. Finally, the PCs could be sent by the SRID to track down and find a CEF cargo ship 
  loaded with hover tanks that crashed into the Interior during the War of Alliance. 
  I n  running a 'Ruins' campaign, GMs should be careful to keep the Player Characters on their toes. Puzzles, booby-traps, 
  the natural dangers of the jungle or swamp, emirate patrols and rebels are all elements that GMs should use to keep the 
  adventure and campaign interesting. Also, do not be afraid to use elements of horror and mystery: who really knows what 
  sort of beasts and monsters lurk i n  the dark jungles of the ESE? At best, the GM should try t o  make the PCs feel that 
  they've entered an alien world of dark lagoons, impossibly tall ferns, strange wildlife and silent ruins. 
  The PCs find themselves i n  the jungles of the ESE; they could be archeologists, MILICIA or Emirate troops, a 
  commando squad, or something eke of the same general sort. On a hot and humid afternoon they are am- 
  bushed by a pack of rovers (or MIUCIA/Emirate/Northern troops) operating i n  the jungle. I n  the frantic 
  firefight the PCs Lose their way, traveling deeper and deeper into the unknown regions of either the Okavango 
  Swamp or the Interior. During the fight, the PCs' navigation and communication equipment is damaged, and 
  the PCs have no way of knowing where they are. As they try to determine their position, an eerie feeling they 
  are being watched falls over them. I n  addition, i n  the misty darkness of the jungle, the PCs can see the vague 
  outlines of ruins. 
  Made from volcanic stone and overgrown with vines and vegetation, the ruins are foreboding but, as night 
  approaches, really the only place to settle i n  for the night. If they start exploring, the PCs soon discover that 
  the ruins aren't quite as abandoned as they seemed - deep inside the largest building they find a sophisti- 
  cated communication rig. But before they can do anything about it, the jungle around them comes to life as 
  the inhabitants of the ruins return. 
  I 1  
  The PCs are trvina to Drove the existence of a Lost Civilization in the ESE. I 
  I 2 
  The ruins are a secret base for the Leqion Noire, and thev do not take kindlv to intruders, even if they are MILICIA. I 
  4 
  5 
  6 
  The ruins are home to a warrior society led by a GREL who escaped into the jungles after the War of the Alliance 
  A rover base camp is not that far away, and they use the ruins as a staging area 
  Shaihalin live here and thev do not want to be discovered. so thev olan on scarino the PCs awav 
  3 
  The communications array is capable of orbital communication, and seems 
  Chmcttr Type 
  -P* 
  1 
  2 
  SIU, SRID or NGIS agents. 
  Emirate trooos sent in to clear the area of rebels. 
  1 3  
  An emirate retinue. I 
  1
  4
   
  A aeoloaical survev t
  e
  a
   
  1
  5
   
  Archeologists ready to prove the existence of the "stonehead civilization" of Okavanao. I 
  Passengers from a transport that crashed in the Interior. I 
  1
  6
   
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The Free Emirate rebellion offers a great setting for GMs who want to base their campaigns beyond the iron wall of the 
  loyal emirates. The rebellion in the ESE is currently one of the center stages of the Interpolar War, and every league and 
  faction on Terra Nova keeps an eye on developments occurring in the Free Emirates. Because of this, Gamemaiters can run 
  all sort of adventures, from tense diplomatic missions, to espionage, to tales of swashbuckling revolutionaries fighting 
  the oppressors, be they the cold-hearted Southern Republic, the decadent emirs or the moralistic North. Such a campaign 
  allows the Players to play the role of heroes, of larger than life (at least t o  the shajhalin) champions willing to risk it all 
  for freedom. 
  The Player Characters could be drawn into any of the factions that make up the Free Emirates. They could be emirs who 
  sided with Nigel Shirow and must now live with the consequences of their actions. The PCs could be Northern defectors 
  enamored with the flamboyant lifestyle of freedom fighters, or Humanist expatriates. Whatever the cause, the effect is 
  the same, and the PCs must be willing to face their foes and try to effect change. They could do this i n  the Free Emirates, 
  or by sneaking into the loyalist emirates. The atmosphere for such a campaign should be tense - these are not only 
  ideals the PCs are fighting for, but the lives of the shajhalin they convert to their cause. 
  A campaign centered on the rebellion could be tied into a 'Life i n  the Trenches' campaign, but the focus is different. If 
  using Reality Factors (see Heavy Gear Gamemaster's Guide, p. 6) use either Adventurous or Cinematic Reality Distortion 
  Levels - let the Player Characters swing from chandeliers and tackle the emir's lackey as he is about to get away. A 
  typical campaign should start by giving the PCs a reason why they are rebelling - was it injustice, personal loss, or 
  boredom? A good GM will give the PCs a strong antagonist to focus their motivations - if rallying against the excesses 
  of the emirs, then maybe Sirrano Barjhal could be the focus, or even Oliver Masao himself. 
  Starting Point: Dirty Day 4 
  The PCs find themselves i n  wrong place a t  the wrong time. While walking down a street minding their own 
  business, a shajhalin riot erupts. Maybe it was because a guard pushed a merchant around, or the emir 
  announced that all food would be rationed because of the Interpolar War or that Masao launched another 
  attack on Okavango - whatever the cause, the effect is the same - 
  the shajhalin have had enough. 
  Finding themselves i n  the middle of the riot, the PCs witness first hand the desperation of the shajhalin and 
  the atrocities of the emirate guards. The PCs should come face to face with the reality of life i n  the ESE. A t  this 
  point, the PCs are free to choose what they do: stick around and help, or flee - 
  whatever they choose they 
  do not get too far. Emirate guards surround them, place them under arrest and lock them up i n  a dingy cell. 
  Here they wait for days as they are beaten and interrogated (read tortured): maybe their families are executed 
  for being responsible for inciting the riot. Whatever the reason, the PCs know this must stop and tty to find 
  a way to escape and avenge themselves on their captors. 
  The PCs' quest becomes a rollicking series of high-ah'on adventures as the vile emir who engineered their 
  imprisonment repeatedly escapes justice. I n  a jet-setting struggle, the PCs must infiltrate the Patriarch's Ball 
  i n  Strathclyde one night and a bandit camp i n  the Interior the next. The emir is a masterful swordsman who 
  loves challenging his enemies to duels. Can a PC become a good enough fencer to take him down? 
  Possible ~ a ~ ~ a i g n  
  Ya~~a~ions 
  4 
  I 1  
  The PCs are foreigners, MIUCIA troops or Republican dignitaries I 
  2 
  3 
  4 
  5 
  6 
  It was Nigel Shirow who engineered the not, trying to win another emirate over to his cause. 
  Rafael Bhravo contacts the characters and helps them out 
  Emir Draho convinces the Patriarch to place a bounty on the PCs' heads 
  One of the characters falls for the son or daughter of an emir 
  The characters are actuallv SRID aoents. 
  1 
  Emirate Guard 
  2 
  Shaihalin workers. or members of a banderia 
  1 3  
  Solicitors administrator I 
  1
  4
   
  Emir i n  hidinq I 
  1
  5
   
  Tourists I 
  1
  6
   
  Medecins Sans Politique Medics 1 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The most unique aspect of Heavy Gear is its underlying storyline. Over the course of the next years, readers, Gamemasters 
  and Players will see the world of the game change and grow as the story threads scattered throughout our sourcebooks are 
  woven together. While the storyline is intended to serve as an interesting background to individual Gamemasters' cam- 
  paigns (which are the foreground), it does mean that not every character i n  the game can be used freely without worrying 
  about the consequences. To give Gamemasters some indications of how best to use these introduced characters, every 
  Heavy Gear product since the first Life on Terra Nova has featured the chesspiece system. 
  New characters are given one of five chess pieces as an indication of their importance in the storyline. This permits 
  Gamemasters to understand how best to use these NPCs without worrying about disrupting the setting and having to 
  retrofit upcoming source material. Of course, roleplaying is about creating one's own stories, so Gamemasters should feel 
  free to disregard the limitations of the chesspiece system, as long as they understand that their Terra Nova may no longer 
  mesh with Dream Pod 9's. 
  The principal use of the chesspiece system is to indicate each character's importance to the overall storyline of Heavy 
  Gear. These pieces, however, also give some indication of how to use the characters as NPCs in roleplaying sessions, even 
  if one is not concerned with remaining consistent with the background storyline. 
  Kings and Queens are characters who have died before the date featured on the Timewatch' display. Their inclusion indicates that they 
  have had some importance for Heavy Gear, either by setting events i n  motion that have influenced the storyline or by leaving a legacy still 
  felt by Terranovans. 
  These characters have usually played some role which is important to the storyline, but may also have simply been a prime example of the 
  spirit of their times. Often their legacy will play a role i n  the development of the Heavy Gear storyline, and their descendants, old allies 
  and enemies might as well. Gamemasters running historical scenarios should treat these Historical figures as Restricted Characters so as 
  not to alter the main line of the storyline. 
  Rooks are characters who are key to the Heavy Gear storyline and are to be used with care. Although they can still be useful in a 
  roleplaying campaign - 
  both as background elements and motivating forces -their survival until they can leave their mark on Terra Nova 
  is critical to the storyline. 
  Although many Rooks hold powerful positions on Terra Nova, others seem utterly powerless or even insignificant. Small actions may have 
  larger consequences later i n  the storyline. Gamemasters should tread carefully when using these characters i n  roleplaying scenarios, but 
  they can become contacts, allies or even adversaries of Player Characters. Using them i n  purely confrontational scenarios, however, may 
  Drove unwise due to the chance for fatalities. 
  Not everyone of note on Terra Nova is central to the storyline. Very Important People are those characters who have a significant impact 
  on Terra Nova, but are not critical to the storyline itself. This does not mean they have no influence on it, however, 
  Knights may not play a central role i n  the Heavy Gear storyline, but they may well have some impact. As important people i n  the game 
  setting, they can influence major players or simply be carried along by the storyline. Gamemasters can feel free to use Knights i n  their 
  adventures, but they should remember that all will be well protected (in one way or another) by underlings and allies. 
  Social Encounters are those characters who are included i n  source material primarily to add flavor. They are rarely criticalindividuals and 
  do not have a significant impact on the storyline, but they stand as symbols of larger trends on Terra Nova. They serve most commonly as 
  contacts and background elements, rather than opponents. 
  Bishops serve as reminders of social forces on Terra Nova beyond the central plot of the storyline. from student movement leaders t o  
  fashion designers, these social leaders may have some secondary effect on the storyline but are mostly present to add flavor and reflect 
  current events. Gamemasters may use social encounters as they see fit, although they are rarely designed for combat of any sort. Bishops 
  may return in future products, but for purposes of atmosphere only. 
  I n  general, Expendables are "average" Terranovans. The have no personal impact on the storyline and are included i n  Heavy Gear products 
  primarily to be used by Gamemasters. Although this category is used for faceless stock NPCs and typical citizens, many of the Pawns are 
  anything but everyday. Some pawns are periphically linked to the storyline, but they have no real effect upon it. Interesting pawns can 
  even be used as Player Characters if the GM and Player wish. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  The jungles and ruins of the ESE attract countless archeologists, explorers and adventurers, each hoping that 
  they will be the next to unearth a ruin or find one of the many treasures that are said to lie lost i n  the Interior. 
  Most are woefully unprepared for the dangers of the jungles and many go missing, never to be seen again. 
  Some get lost and stumble across magnificent ruins, but never find a way back home, and if they do, chances 
  are they will not be able to return to the location of their discovery i n  the teeming jungle. Some of these brave 
  souls, however, are skilled or lucky enough to come out of the jungles with a substantial booty. This, of 
  course, only prompts other fools to venture out to their deaths. 
  Survivalequipment, reference books, maps and charts, whip (ACC 0, AD +3), tents, water distiller, night-vision 
  goggles, 9mm pistol (2), flare gun (6), camping gear. 
  Agents Provocateurs are among the most widely used took by both rebel and loyal emirs to incite uprisings 
  and riots within the ESE. These individuals are masters at stirring the commoners up into a ravaging mob, and 
  then quietly fading into the background when all hell breaks lose. Highly resourceful, the provocateurs sell 
  their services to the highest bidders. Their insidious tam'cs work so well that even the SRID makes use of them 
  when they want to control the population, or teach a certain emir a lesson or two. The lives of these agents 
  have become more risky, and all the more profitable, with the Free Emirates rebellion. Patriarchal agents 
  regularly try to break morale among the shajhalin, spreading stones about the good life i n  the loyalist 
  Emirates and painting Nigel Shirow and others as oppressors. Shirow has managed to respond with agents of 
  his own, many of whom sowed the seeds of rebellion i n  Bangweuleu and Okavango. 
  Personal Assistant, 6mm pistol, listening and surveillance devices, network of contacts. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  When Adrianna Xing told of her vision of the Gentle Prophet Mamoud Khodaverdi, and called herself His 
  Apostle, she began a revolutionary new movement within Revisionism. Her followers grew in numbers across 
  what is now the Free Emirates, spreading into the Badlands (where she now preaches) and into the North. 
  Apostate Revisionists believe that a new and tremendous era is dawning and that a new incarnation of the 
  Gentle Spirit will soon appear to guide them. Largely pacifist like the Massadan sect most were raised in, 
  Apostate Revisionists are also ardent anti-nationalists, feeling that artificial separations of caste and nation- 
  ality are keeping humanity from the true way. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Most solicitors live in a cutthroat world, stuck between the whims of the emirs and the poverty of the masses. 
  Some scurry to garner favor from the emirs and are willing to sell out their own family to do so. Having to 
  continuously look over one's shoulder, these solicitors live i n  a state of paranoia, trusting only themselves. 
  Most are predisposed to do whatever it takes to please their emirs and have no remorse i n  carlying out 
  whatever tasks their masters set for them. The conniving solicitor uses his unique position i n  Emirate society 
  to extend his influence, be it blackmail, extortion or even murder. Many solicitors have little choice but to fit 
  this paranoid, self-interested stereotype, lest they fall victim to others still more ambitious than they. 
  Personal assistant, information pad, concealed weapon (usually 6mm pistol), luxury clothes and jewelry, 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  c 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Scattered throughout the ESE, small bands of rebels strike out at both the emirs and MILICIA forces, using the 
  jungles to their advantage. Masters of guerrilla warfare, these freedom fighters have long since accustomed 
  themselves to the harsh and exacting lifestyles of insurgence. They lash out against their oppressors with 
  deadly efficiency. Some are hardened criminals who terrorize the countryside and attack commoner and emir- 
  ate holdings alike, others dashing heroes and champions of the disenfranchised. Their leadership and morale 
  varies greatly: some bands are extremely professional soldiers, while others are nothing more than roving 
  bands of marauders. 
  Light flak armor, vibromachette, 6mm pistol, 7mm rifle, grenades (optionally, damaged military vehicles, or 
  Gears - 
  very rare). 
  Gladiatorial combat is one means through which commoners can escape the dreary fact of their existence. 
  Gladiators are idealized by all segments of the population, either as heroes, entertainers, or commodities. 
  Whether i n  the Labyrinth of Skavara or the arenas of Cimmaro, professional gladiators battle each other and 
  fierce beasts day in, day out. Some are just lucky convias that have survived long enough to find a patron, 
  others may be desperadoes with nothing left to Lose. Occasionally they do find freedom, but their lives of 
  Vibroblades, swords, chainsaws, armor of some type (leather, chain, turtleshell). 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Few know that the once-respected father of Emir Gavriel Draho of Skavara is in fact still alive and in hiding. 
  Constanz was one of the Eastern Sun Emirates' most influential and stable emirs before Oliver Masao con- 
  demned him to death for collaborating with the CEF. Born i n  TN 1840, Constanz inherited the emirate of 
  Skavara at the age of 18 cycles, and his charisma and ambition quickly made him a power to be reckoned with. 
  A pillar of strength during the chaos of the Judas Syndrome and the final years of Matriarch Svetlana's reign, 
  it was Constanz who ruled the league as her proxy, allowing the ESE to grow and prosper. Fate, however, 
  intervened on Summer 5th TN 1909 when his beloved wife Annaria was killed. The parties responsible were 
  Enri Masao stood on the brink of self-destruction. Under his command, his emirate became one of the most 
  progressive in the ESE. Constanz attempted to lay the foundation for the future of his league. Unfortunately, his 
  enthusiasm and radical thoughts often placed him at odds with other emirs, especially Sirrano Bajhal of Cimmaro. 
  But the ESE was not ready for change, and even his son chafed under his rule. After his wife's death, Constanz 
  became disillusioned and eventually ceded his title to his son and retired, forsaking his hopes for the ESE. 
  Annarina's death was the final blow for Constanz. It was then that he came to understand that Terra Nova was 
  nothing but a barren dead-end for humanity. Everything, to him, was tainted by bloodshed and i n  his dreams 
  he knew that the precious gift which was Terra Nova would be squandered away and drowned i n  the blood of 
  innocence. The coming of the CEF, however, gave the disillusioned emir hope once more. He knew that the 
  time had come to finally leave the shifting sands of Terra Nova behind and return once more to Earth, a chance 
  to start anew. 
  of the Earth forces was a major blow for him, but he knows that sooner or later the CEF will return, and he will 
  be ready to assist them once more. Constanz surrounds himself with a small retinue of GRELs who regard him 
  as their father and are willing to die for his safety. 
  Isabella Lewt (age 25, specialties: medicine and psychology) his GREL physician and lover; Colonel Proust 
  (age 23, specialties: leadership & tactics) Constanz has been supplying Proust with information and equip- 
  ment (mostly unmarked Gears from Skavara HI) since the War of the Alliance; Andrea Bether (age 34, specialties: 
  intelligence and espionage) Constanz's eyes and ears outside the emirate palace of Skavara, Andrea heads a 
  cell of informants across the globe, helping Constanz i n  his schemes. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  b Shills 
  Skill 
  Level Am. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Am. 
  BJreabcracy 
  1 
  0 
  hctronic Warfare 1 
  +I 
  HG Pl.ot 
  2 
  -1 
  Navigation 
  1 
  0 
  Camodlage 
  1 
  +I 
  FL (Larabic) 
  1 
  0 
  Intimiaate 
  2 
  0 
  hotice 
  2 
  +2 
  Comoat Sense 
  2 
  +2 
  Gunnew IHG) 
  2 
  +2 
  LeaderrhiD 
  2 
  +I 
  Small Arms 
  2 
  +I 
  I 
  - .  , 
  I 
  I 
  Dodge 
  1 
  +1 1 
  Hand-to-Hand 
  1 
  +1 1 
  Melee 
  1 
  +1 I Tactics 
  3 
  +1 
  U.J 
  ....... i 
  ..... i..~ 
  ....... I...* 
  ~ 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Lysia Masao, the only surviving legitimate sibling of Oliver Masao, was born three cycles after her brother i n  
  TN 1897. Her mother, the venerable Svetlana Masao, was already i n  her Late sixties and did not want to bother 
  raising a second child, especially since Oliver was the one entitled to the throne. So Svetlana shipped her 
  daughter to the Forgotten City i n  Skavara and placed her education i n  the hands of the Sunite monks. Once 
  Lysia's brother assumed the throne i n  1913, she was moved to the Humanist Alliance where she continued her 
  schooling and ultimately meet Lord Chancellor Hemami. The two soon fell i n  love, and after the war, became 
  prominent luminaries i n  Southern circles - Hemami for his politics, Lysia for her humanitarianism. 
  Lysia Masao's religious upbringing and the horrors she witnessed during the CEF invasion forever marked her. 
  Since the age of twenty, when she meet Hemami, Lysia struggled to show Terra Nova that not all Masaos are 
  abominations. A champion for children's rights, she has tried to improve the standard of living i n  the ESE by 
  exerting pressure on the other Southern powers to change how they deal with the ESE. Few know that Lysia 
  and Lord Chancellor Tanaka are close friends, and during her marriage to Hemami, the two would spend hours 
  The death of Farzahd Hemami, her first husband, greatly changed Lysia. At first she blamed her brother, but 
  after witnessing the Republican annexation of the Humanist Alliance, she came to understand the real culprit. 
  Lysia escaped to Raleigh where she tried to help organize a resistance movement. Once free of the Republic, 
  Lysia believes the ESE will be able to heal i t s  wounds and rebuild - 
  and a necessary part of this process is her 
  marriage to Nigel Shirow. For Lysia, the union with the leader of the Free Emirate is purely political. Maybe 
  with another alternative to her brother, the people of the ESE will open their hearts to change. For Lysia, love 
  never factored into the equation, though Nigel has developed feelings for her. It was Lysia's love for her 
  league and her hatred of her brother that made her accept Shirow's proposal - 
  t o  become the mother of the 
  future for the ESE. 
  Lysia i s  always surrounded by bodyguards, and her movements scrutinized to ensure her safety. Lysia never 
  goes anywhere without a sizable contingent or troops. Lysia has not left her emirate palace i n  Raleigh since 
  she became pregnant (approximately six weeks ago), and Archon Mykael Navar, once military leader of the 
  Jose Yhman (age 45, specialties: security and tactics) her personal bodyguard; Davida Moshec (age 33, 
  specialties: diplomacy and communications) her contact with Lord Chancellor Tanaka; Cym Khell (age 54, 
  specialty: medicine) her physician. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Few individuals inspire as much dedication and respect as Lord Chancellor Tanaka. Known for his military 
  exploits as commander of the dreaded Legion Noire, Tanaka has carried over this same stern sense of discipline 
  and order to his position as Lord Chancellor of the ESE. Born i n  Port Oasis in TN 1869, Tanaka's history is one 
  of servitude and devotion to the Republic and the AST. His early life was dominated by a strict and stern father 
  who would accept nothing short of the best from his son. Tanaka grew up quickly, not having a childhood; all 
  he knew was the military. During the War of Alliance, Tanaka distinguished himself time and time again, and 
  became one of the most decorated Southern commanders in the conflict. 
  Few of Kenichi's instructors ever imagined that the quiet and contemplative student would one day come to 
  achieve such status and respect. His early career was spent behind the scenes, ensuring the prosperity of his 
  superiors while becoming an indispensable advisor. Eventually, his dedication and achievement were rewarded 
  and Tanaka was granted his first command. The day he donned the uniform of a commandant singled the 
  beginning of the Tanaka whom Terra Nova has come to love and hate. His tactical acumen and skill at politics 
  and diplomacy catapulted his career, and the once contemplative student found himself assigned to the most 
  prestigious unit in the South - 
  the Legion Noire - 
  thanks to his spotless reputation for honorable action. 
  Quiet and pensive, Tanaka is a man for whom every move is carefully thought out and planned before execu- 
  tion. Both fair and stern, he demands and expects the best from those he commands. He approaches every- 
  thing with a keen understanding of its intricacies and nuances, often trying to find a weak spot that he can 
  exploit. Though he has taken his role as Lord Chancellor with great zeal, Tanaka is growing weary of Southern 
  politics, every day he sees men like deRouen, Molay and Masao drag the South deeper and deeper into chaos. 
  He knows things must change, and looks towards his comrade Lang Regina to lead Terra Nova to the future. 
  One of the finest tacticians in the Southern hemisphere, Tanaka understands that on every battlefield - 
  both 
  physical and diplomatic - 
  sacrifices have t o  be made to ensure victory. During the War of the Alliance Tanaka 
  expected his regiment to understand the simple fact that every soldier was there to die so that his sacrifice 
  would win victory and the eternal gratitude of the Republic and i t s  people. Though now i n  his 60s, Tanaka 
  trains daily and keeps himself i n  shape. 
  Commandant Henri Mikashi (age 43, specialties tactics & leadership) the current commander of the 2nd 
  Legion Noire Regiment. Proconsul Lang Regina (age 71, specialties politics &tactics) Tanaka and Regina are 
  both torn between serving their leagues and their planet: Lysia Masao (age 41, specialties diplomacy). 
  b Vila! St~tistics 
  b Skills 
  Combat Sense 
  FL (Anglic) 
  Investigation 
  Psycnology 
  Computer 
  Drive 
  1
  0
   
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Bred exclusively for the bullfights of Javari, bull springers are extremely savage and brutal animals. Though 
  both barnaby iguanas and bulls are used i n  these fights, the latter's sheer size and natural aggressiveness (as 
  opposed to the barnaby, which has to be drugged) make the bull springer the opponent of choice for mata- 
  dors. These springers are genetically enhanced to increase the size and shape of their naturally occurring 
  tusks, turning them into extremely deadly and gory weapons. Due to extremely high casualty rates, only the 
  most experienced matadors are ever pitted against the springer bull. Raising and herding bull springers is 
  both expensive and lucrative. Though there are many stables, with varying specimen size and quality, the most 
  famous are those of Emir Leda Gilan. During the celebrations of the Patriarch's birthday, bull springers are 
  loosed on the city of Javari, where large crowds of commoners run from them. As much a rite of passage as a 
  bloodsport, the people of Javari have come to love this particular variation of the corridas, as it reflects the 
  Javarite energetic and hot-tempered mentality. 
  Shills 4 
  Sp~cial ~~lllti~s 
  4 
  Gore (x15 damage); Kick (x10 damage); Charge (x12 damage) 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  a 
  Native to the ESE, flocks of kilovates can always be seen flying over the skies of the Interior. Their huge 
  leathery wings span over two meters and have sharp claw-like appendages a t  the tips, which they use for 
  hunting. The fearsome aspect of kilovates has engendered a great number of folk tales and horror stories 
  about these bats, but i n  reality they are relatively docile and gentle beings. Kilovates hunt primarily small 
  lizards and large insects, and travel though the ESE in large migratory flocks. Mostly nocturnal beings, kilovates 
  are also active during the day, but inhabit the dark world under the jungle canopy. The kilovate bat is also 
  known for the unique sound it makes while nesting. Male kilovates use their wings to create a soft and 
  constant rhythm that helps accentuate the soft and melodic song of the female. The result i s  a subtle sym- 
  phony that is soothing and beautiful to hear. 
  Skill 
  Level Am. 
  Skill 
  Level Am. 
  Skill 
  Level Am. 
  Skill 
  Lcvd Am. 
  I Athletics (flight) 3 
  +1 I Combat Sense 
  2 
  +1 I Dodae 
  3 
  +1 I Hand-to-Hand 
  2 
  +I I 
  b ~ ~ ~ c i a l  
  ~bjlitie~ 
  Flight; Claws (x5 damage) 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
  Ayunas .............................................................................................. 
  68 
  Badlands ............................................................................................ 
  37 
  .................................... 
  94 
  Campaigns ............. 
  Courtyards .......................................................................................... 
  14 
  Culture .............................................................................................. 
  66 
  Domes ............. 
  Eastern Sun, The HCS 
  Eastern Sun, Warden o 
  Emirates, Free ................................................................................ 
  28, 65 
  Emirates, Loyal .............................................................................. 
  21, 54 
  Ethereal Palace ................................................................................... 
  42 
  ...................... 
  64, 92 
  ’ 
  Masao, Malac 
  ’ 
  Mausoleum, Eastern Sun 
  ........................... 
  51 
  . 
  Mountains .......................... 
  . 
  Music .................... 
  ................................................................. 
  51 
  . 
  Paxton Ar 
  . 
  Politics, Internal 
  . 
  Prejudice ........................................................................................... 
  70 
  . 
  Retinues .... 
  . 
  Revisionism 
  . 
  Sbvara Hea 
  ............................................................. 
  40-43 
  Feudalism ............... 
  ..................................................... 
  51 
  Javari ............................................................................................ 
  45-48 
  3 Jerusalemism ...................................................................................... 
  59 
  Justice 
  1 Kilovate Bat ....................................................................................... 
  95 
  1 Labyrinth ........................................................................................... 
  75 
  Language. 
  ....... 
  ...... 71 
  Khajar, Anurima ............................................................................. 
  27, 37 
  51 
  95 
  . 
  Swamps, Obvango ................................................................................ 
  8 
  Tanaka, Kenichi ......................................................................... 
  13, 35, 93 
  . 
  Themes .............................................................................................. 
  78 
  . 
  Tourism ....... 
  . 
  Trade ........... 
  . 
  Travel .......... 
  Undemty, Basal .................................................................................. 
  57 
  Vanguard 
  : v 
  War of the Alliance .............................................................................. 
  12 
  : 1 Western Frontier Protectorate (WFP) ....................................................... 
  36 
  United Mercantile Federation (UMF) ......... 
  Xing, M a n n a  
  Za’aliel Taline 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #7494238)
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dream Pod 9/Heavy Gear/053 - Eastern Suns Emirates.pdf