Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Man of Paper]

Core Thread
Obligatory Discord Link

The world belongs to you. All that is left is to reach out and claim it.

The Burning Empire, your empire, is destined to rule the world. No other peoples can match the will, might, or minds of the Imperials - one need only look to the last few decades of advancements within the Imperial military as proof of this fact.

After a period of mourning and recuperation after the death of the Emperor Qianlong's son and heir, and the rapid conquest of the south-eastern Earthen folk, the Empire is ready to surge forward once more.

This turn, as with all others, you are responsible for giving orders to the Commanders (introduced below) with your Strategy Action as well as coming up with a new addition to your military in the form of equipment, troops, or new Commanders.

Strategy Actions do not need to be incredibly detailed, and can be as minimalist as "X takes the offensive" or "Y holds and prepares defenses". Equipment and troops will generally be utilized according to the style of the Commander. If you do wish to provide a more detailed strategy ("X has Sneakmans infiltrate City Place while Firemans set fire to their fields before launching an assault from the East") you are more likely to see what you actually intend to do, and will probably net less average results - for good or ill. All Commanders start in a passive Standby stance and will not press your enemies until this is changed. While Imperial Forces are not spread too thin at the moment, do keep in mind that engaging along a large number of fronts might impact the efficacy of your forces eventually.

Remember, you can open up new fronts by creating a new Commander and launching an offensive with them. New offensives can be launched on any region bordering the Inner Sea - unless you lose any control of the Inner Sea, in which case you probably have more important decisions to make anyways.

Some things in your Assets List will be labeled UNIQUE. You will have to choose where to deploy them, either based on your Commanders or specific regions. These will remain deployed in the assigned area/under the assigned Commander until new orders are given. You may also choose to concentrate Assets under specific Commanders in order to fulfill battlefield requirements. While this will not cause that Asset to disappear from all other fronts, they will have a noticeably lower impact on the results of those other battles. Your Assets List will be below, but first!

Four Commanders currently lead Imperial forces according to your whims and desires:

Spoiler: General Hongli, The Dragonblood Prince (click to show/hide)

Grandson to Emperor Qianlong and son to the late Gaozong. Hongli is well-known for his deep wells of strategic aptitude. His left arm is covered in patches of dragon scales and ends in a thoroughly scaled hand complete with claws. The Blessing of The Dragon is not only apparent physically: he has shown immense skill and potential when it comes to manipulating Fire as well. He is fearsome, even in his youth, and believes it is his destiny to see The Burning Empire finally bring the world together under their banner.

As mentioned, he is a powerful Pyromancer, and he has some skill with a sword.

Hongli is in control of the forces occupying the Continental Ring in the south between The Fish Head Bog and The Eight Passes. He currently uses the city of Taotie as his base of operations.

Spoiler: General Wonha, The Whirlwind (click to show/hide)

General Wonha's family is well-regarded in the Empire, which leads many to initially believe her to have a title purchased by her family through wealth or favors, an opinion usually influenced by her hubris and seemingly overconfidence. Observing her on the battlefield or in the command tent quickly fixes that. She tends to favor caution when it comes to the orders for her troops, but thrives in and yearns for the chaos of melee combat herself.

Wonha expertly wields a glaive, and in astoundingly violent fashion, earning herself the nickname of The Whirlwind. She does not have any magical ability, which she uses both as a means to get opponents to underestimate her as well as a way to relate to the more common soldiers in her army.

General Wonha is currently in command of the forces in control of The Gateway Bridge.

Spoiler: Admiral Himilco, The Betrayer (click to show/hide)

Admiral Himilco used to lead a group of incredibly successful Water Tribe raiders responsible for harassing Imperial supply shipments to The Gateway Bridge. Depending on who is telling the story, he either had his loyalty purchased by The Burning Empire or saw the near-chaotic "organization" of the Water Tribes as unviable and wishes to see them uplifted to a level most other civilizations have already reached. The truth is both. Himilco finds himself in the unenviable position of being despised by the entirety of his people, and works hard to prove to the Imperials under his command that he is worthy of his position. He has adopted the nickname his people have (understandably) given him, and is unbothered by his subordinates referring to him in the same manner.

Himilco is a very skilled Hydromancer, and tends to favor hit-and-run and boarding tactics when it comes to naval engagement.

Admiral Himilco is currently commanding the Imperial Fleet in the Inner Sea.

Spoiler: Admiral San, The Sea Scourge (click to show/hide)

Admiral San was brought up among the Admiralty, with both parents having distinguished themselves during the last Imperial offensive. Cunning and merciless in equal measure, San made a name for themself after taking command of a ship after a Water Tribe ambush decapitated the command structure in their small task force. Not only was order swiftly returned to the panicking crew, but they managed to repel the attackers and chase them down (on a limping ship no less) to their hideaway cove, executing each and every offender once they were cornered and forced to submit. San worked their way up the command ladder rapidly and became well-known for their ability to sniff out Water Tribe plans before triggering, subverting, and countering them. Their brutal efficiency has led to their assignment to the Outer Sea and the blockades of the Floating Cities.

San is a fairly average Pyromancer, but has incredible skill with a wide variety of one-handed blades. They prefer smashing their opponents in grand fleet actions, leaving no doubt as to who will be victorious.

Admiral San is currently in command of the Imperial Fleet in the Outer Sea.

Leading the Empire to glory is, of course, the Emperor himself:

Spoiler: Emperor Qianlong, The Imperial Flame (click to show/hide)

Emperor Qianlong is the aging leader of The Burning Empire. He sees no greater purpose than to expand the borders of the Empire to the edges of the world. He is a fearsome and adept commander, and personally commands his handpicked Imperial Guard. He uses no weapons of his own, but is capable of the most impressive and devastating displays of Pyromancy thanks to an extensive well of experience and training as well as the Blessing of The Dragon flowing through his blood. Even in his old age he is fairly nimble and definitely not to be underestimated - his Imperial Guard protect the Palace, only he protects himself, and so far this has proven well more than enough.

And finally, as promised in the Core Thread, a more thorough breakdown of the situation in the world. A map is tucked away in a spoiler below for reference. Don't be intimidated by how long it might seem, you don't need to know what's going on in a region until you decide to interact with it. Details are there for you to use if you can figure out how . Future turns will include a much more succinct summary of the world state.

Spoiler: The Burning Empire (click to show/hide)

The center of The Burning Empire's Imperial Isle is The Sacred Temple, a deceptively large complex built into the volcano dominating the Imperial Isle. Surrounding The Sacred Temple is the Royal Palace, a veritable fortress in itself, which has access to the Courtyard District to the south and east. Large stone tiles pave a majority of the Courtyard District, broken up only by the scattered properties of the upper class and nobility. Large gates provide access to the periphery Quarters, with the Industrial Quarter to the north, The Dockyards Quarter to the east, the Market Quarter to the south, and the Residential Quarter to the west. The southern shore has been militarized for years, and is considered a de facto Military District. There are no issues within The Imperial Isle.

The Stepping Stone Archipelago was a Water Tribe territory, but has been under Imperial control for a number of years now. The native Tribesfolk were either killed in conquest or fled in the following months and years, resulting in a very strong grip on the area for the Empire. Most of the islands maintain humble villages with small civilian populations, with the old Tribal docks repurposed to station Imperial ships. Control of the archipelago effectively reduces the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdoms' abilities to freely traverse the Inner Sea. 

The Occupied Region of Taotie and Hulijing is largely flat plains, with a forest to the east acting as a border between Hulijing Village and The Fish Head Bog. A large section of the coast acted as a staging ground for military operations in the area until recently. Now it largely acts as a supply hub, utilizing the paved road to Taotie City's Inner District to rapidly move soldiers and supplies into the walled city. The road is frequently used by the military, with small outposts sprinkled along the way and regular patrols between them. Taotie's Outer District is where a majority of the populace resides, and while there have been rumors of meetings between "freedom fighters" in the night, nothing of substance has materialized yet. The Inner District contains the city's barracks and housing for the old ruler's closest advisors. A couple of these advisors remain, now under the administration of General Hongli as intermediaries between himself and the locals. General Hongli himself is quartered in the Royal Tower, a six story cylindrical tower with the Royal Bedroom taking up the top floor. Hongli has established this as his headquarters and used his vantage point to effectively counter organized resistance both within and beyond the city walls.

Hulijing Village is a humble settlement home largely to lumberers and hunters. The people living here begrudgingly provide the Empire with their trades and wares, and it is clear that many villagers are unhappy with the recent occupation. However, as they are effectively cut off from the rest of the world after the fall of Taotie, the Hulijing Villagers do not seem to believe in a possibility of victory against the Empire. Over time this dissension should fade away.

Two staging areas have been set up for future conquest stemming from this region, one for The Eight Passes and another for The Fish Head Bog. The Fish Head Bog staging area, deep in the forest separating the Bog and Hulijing Village, is split between the Northern Jaw and the Southern Jaw. General Hongli will be directing the forces heading both north and east unless he is relieved from one or both commands.

The Gateway Bridge and surrounding ridgelines controlling the pass are garrisoned by Imperial forces under the command of General Wonha. Two fortresses control access to The Gateway Bridge itself by land on either side of the valley, and from there they can also raise and lower the giant iron gates that provide passage for ships traveling between the Inner and Outer Seas. The surrounding high ground is also heavily militarized, with encampments scattered about everywhere and no civilian presence to speak of.

The Jade King has "allowed" The Burning Empire to maintain control of The Gateway Bridge without much pushback until very recently. The villages in the west have seen very poor harvests year after year, and are now entering a point where winter all but guarantees overwhelming malnourishment and starvation. There was an appeal to allow shipments of food across The Bridge, but Wonha refused - she was effectively besieging an entire portion of the Great Earth Kingdom and wasn't about to give away the opportunity to weaken an entire enemy front. As a result, the Kingdom has raised its forces, preparing a fairly unimpressive levy force in the west and staging their actual military in the east.

If The Gateway Bridge were to fall, the Outer Sea would once again be lost to the Empire.

Spoiler: The Water Tribes (click to show/hide)

The Water Tribes, while not necessarily under any singular leadership structure, do hold their priesthood to a level of reverence, so their holy sites on Kun Island make it the capital of their culture. The Sacred Pool in the south is largely considered to be the well from which the entirety of the Water Tribes draw their power. The Water Temple to the west is a labyrinthine structure with flooded hallways, corridors, chasms, tunnels, and rooms generally only traversable by highly skilled Hydromancers. It is rumored that The Water Temple was where the first Hydromancers were gifted with their powers after successfully navigating the natural maze and striking a deal with some Water Demon within. An invasion of Kun Island would be extremely costly in almost any circumstance, as Hydromancy's natural opposition to fire is amplified extensively by close proximity to The Sacred Pool, only made worse by their fervor.

Serpent's Isle is split between two tribes and indicative of the issues the Water Tribes have as a whole. Feuding over some unknown affront has been occurring between the two of the Water Tribes' largest, uh, tribes for generations, and when faced with external threats they only barely manage to put their differences aside. South Serpent's Isle is controlled by the Surya, while the Chandra control North Serpent's Isle. Not much else about the situation is know at this time due to a general lack of Tribal eyes and ears willing to emulate The Betrayer. Serpent's Isle has the second-highest concentration of Tribal population behind Kun Island. Without more intel, it's hard to judge exactly what the situation in Serpent's Isle is and how any military actions would go.

The Shark's Teeth is a long island chain with alternating triangular islands resembling shark's teeth. Many of these small islands have small village populations at best, but the number of islands and their dense jungle from shore to shore provides the natives with a significant advantage when defending themselves. Water Tribe raiding fleets tend to make their homes here, applying pressure to the surrounding region that is practically unrivaled anywhere else. They are less effective after Himilco turned coat, but they are still a potent threat to shipping.

The Shark's Teeth will likely prove to be a slow campaign as island after island has to be cleared. There will undoubtedly be heavy naval fighting.

The Four Fingers and the nearby coasts are the Water Tribe's biggest crime against the Empire and world as a whole. The Swamp Hermits and Kings (they weren't Nomads and Bandit Kings back then), threatened by an earlier attempt at expansion by the Empire, requested the Water Tribe's help in preventing Imperial "influence" from even reaching their shores. With a sword practically to their throats, they were forced to submit to the demands. With the entirety of trade and travel between the southern portion of the Inner and Outer Seas under their absolute control, the Tribes on these islands and shores have been able to collect a "passage toll" - or an extortion fee - from endless waves of traders, promising the funds go toward maintaining their intense military presence in the area. To protect them from Imperial Aggression, of course.

As with any society with no structure, funds from these tolls and access to many of the world's finest goods before they reach their actual destinations has provided some of these Tribals with lives of opulent luxury. But they haven't lied about funding their military. The islands and shores are heavily garrisoned by conventional soldiers and some small Hydromancer units, with forts and towers guarding the handful of ports scattered across the region. Their only weakness appears when you check the payroll - each island and the shores are all governed by a different Tribal, and the local forces are funded by the governor out of their own coffers. This has led to competition between the governors for dominance of trade in order to buy as much loyalty (and equipment) for their own personal armies. For their mutual defense, of course.

Invading The Four Fingers will be an incredible undertaking, and at the moment would result in heavy losses for Imperials both on land and sea (and almost certain defeat).

Spoiler: Swamp Nomads (click to show/hide)

Originally small groups of Taotie settlers looking to find a new home, only to find themselves forever lost in the Fish Head Bog. The Swamp Hermits kept themselves isolated from the rest of the world (hence their name), but there was evidence of settlements deep within the swamp, not just surviving, but thriving. Outsiders would inevitably follow the settler's route into the Bog, but few ever left. Those that didn't die of disease and the local flora and fauna often chose never to leave the villages they came across. While isolated, the Hermits didn't necessarily oppose adding to their population.

Unfortunately for the Swamp Hermits, a virulent plague spread throughout the population. A small group of Geomancers who had been studying means of manipulating the local plant life (and in doing so discovering means of manipulating themselves) were the only ones to survive. Legends state that the group chose to become guardians of the Fish Head Bog, not to protect it from outsiders, but to protect outsiders from it. Whether or not this is true, there were definitely people in the swamp capable of manipulating the local environment as a whole for their needs. Not much is known about the Swamp Nomads, since they leave no witnesses beyond who they can scare off with simple spooky tactics (a series of loud strange roars and faces in trees vs. a mutated tangle of bear and plant devouring someone or the faces in the trees spitting venomous spines).

Attacking the Swamp Hermits will be a draining process. Attrition from the environment is inevitable, and the local defenders are a practically unknown factor save for the fact that they are a major threat.

Spoiler: Lords of The Eight Passes (click to show/hide)

The mountains north of Taotie cut across the continent from sea to sea. Eight valleys snake their ways through the mountains north to south. Running from the peaks of the largest mountains in the center of the range, two rivers divide the mountains and passes into north and south halves. While the mountains themselves were unfriendly terrain to say the least, the lush, fertile valleys proved to be perfect for settling and developing into flourishing tribes. With access to the wealth of the mountain, The Eight Passes saw an explosion of income as they sold vast quantities of raw resources and high quality goods crafted from them.

The eight passes, and the cities at the center of them, are each named for their original settling families.

Bai-Ulgan and Esege Malan were the first two to be settled, in the east and west respectively, with explorers and settlers following the coasts and heading through the first path through the mountains. These are the oldest (obviously) and wealthiest families of the Lords of The Eight Passes.

Tung-ak Valley sits east of Bai-Ulgan, and Erlik was settled west of Esege Malan soon after that. Both of these tribes had issues with their neighbors initially. After all, the newcomers were settling along their supply of water. Tung-ak and Bai-Ulgan settled their differences peacefully, but Erlik and Esege Malan have been feuding for their entire existence. This has only recently settled since The Eight Passes were all actually settled and unified.

Ot and Daichi, neighboring Tung-ak and Erlik, were settled next. Once again, the western settlements were able to overcome their differences - through marriage this time - while Daichi and Erlik engaged in more overt violent actions. As with the Erlik-Esege Malan conflict, this one was settled by the unification of The Eight Passes.

The central two passes were settled by two branches of the same family, with Zaarin in the west and Tengri in the east. Both tried to deal diplomatically with their neighbors, but the Tengri were forced to deal with the violence typical of the east.

The Unification of The Eight Passes occurred when a Tengri chieftain traveled to the top of the highest mountain after, legends say, a dream told him to seek the solution to his problems there. While we cannot be sure what happened at the peak, we do know that when he came down, this Chieftain possessed some foul imitation of Pyromancy. Instead of drawing inward from oneself, they pulled like leeches from the outside world. Their "Heliomancy" didn't produce much in the way of sacred flames, but they do have significant control over the light and heat produced. Or removed.

The Tengri spread the knowledge of this "gift" to the western passes and used it to travel through the caves and caverns running through the mountains. Armed with "Sunblades", some of the sharpest, sturdiest weapons in the world, the western passes overthrew the leadership in the eastern passes, installed claimants who were amicable to peace, and then, once the fighting stopped, shared Heliomancy with them as well.

Ever since then, The Lords of The Eight Passes have seen an even more dramatic increase to their wealth and resources. While there are some eastern citizens who feel as though there was a wrong that needs righting, the Lords are generally unified in their response against outside aggression.

The Watcher is a spire jutting out of the Inner Sea. The Lighthouse, a temple dedicated to the Heliomantic Arts, sits atop the rocky spine.

The forces of The Eight Passes are all extremely skilled warriors, and their Geomancers and Heliomancers are extremely potent. The passes are eight very long choke points, and there is no doubt that each and every valley will be a meatgrinder bloodbath no matter who ends up winning.

Spoiler: Forsaken (click to show/hide)

The vast frozen waste north of The Eight Passes is the The Shan Hai Tundra where the Forsaken are cursed to remain. The Forsaken were originally a civilization of occult Geomancers. They are cited as the source of The Protagonist Cycle, having been a civilization founded on cruel and evil traditions. The First Protagonist gave them an opportunity to change their ways, but when these people continued to torture and kill in endless cycles The First Protagonist mustered the entirety of their power, killing themselves at the cost of erasing these people from the planet and memory itself.

But as The First Protagonist didn't truly die, these Forsaken did not either.

The Forsaken are cursed to exist without a true form, instead appearing to outsiders as featureless hazes, although their clothing remains unblurred, and whose true names nobody can quite remember. They are also unable to ever leave the bounds of The Shan Hai Tundra. Otherwise, they are entirely normal humans. While their original Geomantic powers were stripped from them, potent magical bloodlines saw an aptitude for Cryomancy appear in the rare individual. Necromancy is still practiced by The Forsaken, but they no longer use unwilling participants in their experiments. This has actually made them a very effective if somewhat frightening source of critical medical care, should one be able to survive the trip.

Anguta is their capital city and is located on the eastern coast facing Kun Island. Amarok Village is settled along a frozen lake southwest from Anguta across the tundra, and in the northwest is Pinga Village. All three settlements are crafted entirely out of ice and would be protected by powerful Cryomancers and Necromancers in the event of an invasion. The tundra is deadly enough on its own, and it can be expected that very few people will care how The Forsaken use their Necromancy against an invading Imperial force.

Spoiler: The Lei Gong Undercities (click to show/hide)

The scorched grasses of the Thundering Plains make for an extraordinarily frightening land for the unprepared. The surface is constantly battered by permanent roaming lightning storms and tornadoes, providing excellent reason to avoid the area at all costs. Still, even in the face of nature's destructive might, people have found a way to carve out a living. Literally, in this case. Chief Lei Gong was considered an eccentric by his family, who themselves were considered eccentric, but they were known as some of the most potent Geomancers outside of The Great Earth Kingdom and Lei Gong was no exception.

It is said that Lei Gong carved out the covered pits, or "inverted pyramids", that would turn into the Undercities by himself while on a "pilgrimage". He envisioned his people prospering in a land where they could rely on nature to defend them, and he intended to provide. While he didn't think about the fact that his people would be in the dark underground, the earth provided so that he never had to. Large clusters of pink gemstones permeated the rocks in the carved-out Undercities. These stones are sensitive to incoming storms, which are always the case in the Thundering Plains, and emit a soft but bright light. That intensifies as storms get closer. The light shows on the roofs built over the undercities are mesmerizing when a storm strikes them directly. 

With the ability to observe how the energy of lightning channeled through everything in their lives around them, it was only a matter of time before the Underdwellers learned how to channel lightning through themselves. Lightning is not an easy thing to tame so Electromancers are very uncommon, but this relatively new Art is a complete unknown on the battlefield.

The largest Undercity, Raijin, was dug out in the center of the region. Trenches cut into the earth and covered not unlike the Undercities connect the Upper Level of Raijin to the other three Lei Gong Undercities; Fujin in the west on the coast of the Outer Sea, and Omoikane and Suijin along the Inner Sea coast to the south and east. The Undercities "benefit" from the fact that they are the only peoples to have never seen war in living memory. Nobody wants to try to invade four underground pits connected by underground roads while the surface is battered by deadly storms, after all. This results in a small military presence.

This does not mean the army is not potent, however. There is an educational facility, Omoikane University, where both military and intellectual minds come together to collaborate and experiment. Rumor has it that they have been attempting to create a means for people without Magical Arts capabilities to be able to utilize the Elements. With no real idea of the potency of Electromancy in battle, and unknown complications actively being developed, there is no way to be sure about how an invasion would proceed.

Spoiler: Great Earth Kingdom (click to show/hide)

The Great Earth Kingdom controls a vast swathe of fertile grassland on the northern portion of the Continental Ring. The Kingdom is currently divided thanks to Imperial Control of The Gateway Bridge.

The Western Great Earth Kingdom is populated by scattered farmlands and divided by a river running east to west. They are currently preparing to face starvation in the coming months, and seem to be preparing to launch an attack on the West Fortress. It would probably be easy enough to break this unprofessional force of farmers, and the rest of their lands should be undefended after that.

The Eastern Earth Kingdom also starts out as farmland neighboring The Gateway Bridge, but is abruptly interrupted by the first wall of Jade City, a ten meter tall behemoth raised in one solid chunk from the earth itself. The wall follows the coast and separates the outskirts of Jade City from the farmlands in their south as well. The Jade City Outskirts are also farmland and pastures so that the city can remain fed in the event of a siege. The Autumn District rests behind the first uniformly square wall, and is where travelers from outside the Kingdom are most likely to be found. Passes are needed to pass into the, again, walled Winter District, which houses the Kingdom's permanent citizens. The Spring District, also walled, contains the Kingdom's military infrastructure and command. Behind yet another wall, the Summer District is home to the royal family. The royal family hasn't appeared in public in a decade after the unexpected death of one of the children, but they seem to be maintaining control of their kingdom well enough for now.

With the Great Earth Kingdom positioning their professional armies in preparation for an assault on the East Fortress of The Gateway Bridge, it is pretty clear that they have the numerical advantage at the moment. But they don't have time on their side, so you can expect violence relatively soon even if Imperial forces don't take the initiative.

Spoiler: Oasis Tribes (click to show/hide)

The Fenghuang Expanse is a large stretch of desert covering a portion of the eastern section of the Continental Ring. This dry, hot, shifting desert is called home by the four Oasis Tribes. They have generally lived with one another without issue, having agreed to neatly divide the desert between the four of them ages ago. The tribes aren't large by any means, they couldn't sustain themselves if they were, but they do prove to be vital stops on the way through the Expanse. The Oasis Tribes are known for their Arenomancy, and use their ability to manipulate the desert sands to move across the dunes quickly and safely.

This will also make them a potent threat in the event of an Imperial expansion into their territory. They may be few in number, but the Oasis Tribes are well-suited to their environment and have made it known that they will live and die as free men. Imperial forces should be able to overpower them, but losses will probably be higher than desirable at the moment.

Spoiler: Realm of The Bandit Kings (click to show/hide)

The Realm of The Bandit Kings was originally The Realm of The Three Kings. The dense forest is cut through by a road from the coast near the Four Fingers all the way to the sands of the Fenghuang Expanse, with three settlements that developed along the route. A massive unified uprising of nonmagical citizens overthrew their Geomantic Kings and they exiled anyone with magical ability. Without a plan beyond "remove a portion of the population in an ill-advised revolution", the region fell into chaos, with the massive unified uprising quickly splintering into dozens of outfits and warbands, all claiming one or more of the settlements as their own. By this point in the civil war the settlements are little more than ash, so any claims are about pride at this point.

It is unsafe for civilians to travel in the Realm of The Bandit Kings, but an Imperial invasion is obviously not civilian. Pacification of this realm will be a wildly unpredictable process, as criminals of all sorts maraud around the area.

Spoiler: The Floating Cities (click to show/hide)

The Floating Cities are four separate massive flying islands that look not unlike upside-down mountains with fortresses built on top of them. For as long as anyone can remember The Floating Cities have kept to their own business. They trade with outsiders and use their Aeromantic abilities to provide them access to the otherwise untouchable Floating Cities.

They maintained a generally peaceful outward appearance until the Imperial Navy began the blockades. The entire civilization seems to be gifted with Aeromantic abilites, something no other people can declare honestly, and they used this to consistently raid the blockading fleets. Their potent capacity for Aeromantic Arts should not be underestimated.

Blockades have recently been put back in place with the continuation of Imperial expansion. While the forces blockading Floating City Queqiao, Floating City Fusang, and Floating City Yaochi will definitely be facing resistance, the "blockade" around Shattered City Penglai is there to prevent anyone else from poking around. Gaozong's body was never actually recovered after the blast that destroyed the city, and it is very likely that the Empire is not the only party interested in finding out what actually happened.

Actually invading the Floating Cities at the moment is impossible, thanks to a lack of means to get up to them. While they can put some pressure on the blockading fleets, they are unlikely to be able to hold out forever. It is not likely they are going to be willing to negotiate a surrender after Penglai, so for the moment you will have to wait for however long it takes to starve them out. Without knowledge of what the capabilities of the Floating Cities are, there's no way to tell how long that would be.

Spoiler: Assets List (click to show/hide)

Imperial Footsoldier: The standard soldier making up the majority of the Empire's forces. They are armed with a spear and equipped with fairly light armor. Pyromancers can be found throughout the ranks, but are often of limited skill. Imperial Footsoldiers double as law enforcement in occupied territory, and tend to use a one-handed weapon, such as a sword or wooden club, when utilized in this capacity.

Pyromancer Corps: The Pyromancer Corps is a dedicated division of the Imperial Army utilized largely as shock troops. While generally unarmed, the Pyromancer Corps is filled out with better than average Pyromancers trained extensively in their Arts. More advanced Pyromancy techniques developed by the Empire will likely see use by these adept warriors.

Geomancer Auxiliary: A small portion of Geomancers drawn from The Occupied Territories of Hulijing and Taotie. While not incredibly loyal to The Empire, they prefer serving over the potential alternatives. Geomancer Auxiliary are entirely unarmed and unarmored, relying solely on their magic and hand-to-hand capabilities to engage opposing forces. Without the extensive background in training seen across the native Imperial forces (and with the more potent Geomancers killed during conquest), the Geomancer Auxiliary tends to be less organized and less skilled than their Imperial counterparts.

Imperial Warships: Imperial Warships are at the cutting edge of Imperial technology. Pyromancers are utilized to burn the coal that gives a steam engine the ability to rotate the propellers of the Warships. Thanks to this marvel of modern technology, the ships no longer need to cater to every whim of the wind and sea, and their speed is unmatched by all but the most skilled Water Tribe crews. They are multipurpose, with catapults and ballistae capable of firing (usually burning) munitions at their enemies, while also able to safely beach themselves in order to drop a bow ramp and offload their holds full of soldiers or supplies. Iron armor provides significant protection against a wide array of threats (especially compared to wood).

Horsedog Carts: The industrious horsedog is a loyal, sturdy creature used across the empire as a pack animal. The military loads them with canvas bags or uses them to haul small carts full of supplies. Horsedog Carts are most effective when they have roads to follow.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[NUKE9.13]

Glory to the Empire, may our industrial might uplift humanity to a glorious new era, etc etc.
Some basic proposals to start off with:

The Calm Before the Storm (STRATEGY)
The March of Progress in Taotie and Hulijing
A prince of the Burning Empire must not only be a capable commander, he must be a capable administrator as well. Prince Hongli is tasked with consolidating our hold over the south-west, both through open displays of military might, and through demonstrations of the prosperity the Empire offers. Military might can be expressed by holding parades in the squares, more frequent patrols of side streets, or conducting training exercises in the fields. Prosperity can be demonstrated by building a steam-powered sawmill in Hulijing to boost productivity, and establishing a few manufactories in Taotie where modern tools and techniques are used to mass-produce simple products.


Yielding Breeze Becomes a Tempest
Additional supplies, equipment, and fresh troops are provided to General Wonha, in anticipation of the upcoming assault on the Gateway Bridge. In the east, a conventional defensive strategy is recommended- fortifications reinforced, garrisons strengthened, supplies stockpiled. In the west, however, a more devious plan has been formulated.
The makeshift levies arrayed against the western defences are expected to break easily. Too easily. They are no doubt intended to fail, and to retreat once their purpose as a distraction has been achieved. We shall subvert their expectations. A central area of the western defences will be undermanned, presenting only a token defence that will retreat after offering meagre resistance. The undisciplined rabble is unlikely to question this 'good fortune', and storm through the 'gap'. Of course, it's a trap. Once enough of the levies have passed through, forces to the north and south will launch a coordinated counter-attack, while the 'retreating' forces will suddenly 'find their courage', having reached pre-prepared fallback defences.
The goal is to not just drive back the western forces, but to utterly crush them, such that there is virtually no resistance remaining to a subsequent takeover of the Western Earth Kingdom.


The Betrayer Is Not Sus
Admiral Himilco is tasked with escorting convoys bringing supplies to the Gateway Bridge and Taotie, and performing token raids on Water Tribe outposts and shipping. Default behaviour, in other words. An established routine, which would make any future change in behaviour stand out.
(For example, if we were at some point to cease raids on one half of Serpent's Isle (and associated shipping), it might make people wonder why. Something to consider in the future.)


AAAAAAAIIIIIM BOOORED
Tough. Admiral San has nothing to do at the moment, except maintain the blockades. Maybe find a hobby.
Executing prisoners is not a hobby, San. That's work.
Look, we'll send you some musical instruments. Try learning the piano.

Metal Mail Mass Manufacture (ASSET)
Observe: a set of plate armour, hand-crafted by the finest Earth Kingdom artisans. Such wonderful gilding. Such elegant curves. Such a monumental waste of effort.
Contrast: a set of scale-mail armour, mass-produced in an Imperial Forge by common labourers. Elegant? No. Decorated? Absolutely not. Efficacy? About half that of the hand-crafted plate. Cost? One-fiftieth.

Metal scales on leather backing. Consists of a shirt, armguards, skirt, and shin guards. Helmet carries over from previous kit.
Pyromancers are provided with a variant that omits scales from select areas to improve flexibility, making it easier to channel magic.

E: After some discussion on Discord, and some minor tweaks, it is votebox time.

STRATEGY
The Calm Before the Storm: (1) NUKE9.13

ASSET
Metal Mail Mass Manufacture: (1) NUKE9.13

[The Canadian kitten]

STRATEGY
The Calm Before the Storm: (2) NUKE9.13, TCK

ASSET
Metal Mail Mass Manufacture: (2) NUKE9.13, TCK

[IronyOwl]

STRATEGY
The Calm Before the Storm: (3) NUKE9.13, TCK, IronyOwl

ASSET
Metal Mail Mass Manufacture: (3) NUKE9.13, TCK, IronyOwl

[Quarque]

STRATEGY
The Calm Before the Storm: (4) NUKE9.13, TCK, IronyOwl, Quarque

ASSET
Metal Mail Mass Manufacture: (4) NUKE9.13, TCK, IronyOwl, Quarque

[Man of Paper]

Episode One: The Calm and The Storm

Proposal: Metal Mail Mass Manufacture
Result: 4+2=6

Although sold by the military industrial complex as "Metal Mail Mass Manufacture", it could more accurately be described as a replacement of the military uniform with something a little more protective. Thin padded armor has been replaced by overlapping iron scales atop sections of leather armor. The shins, forearms, upper legs, and torso all benefit from additional protection against cutting and piercing attacks. Mancers in the Imperial military also get improved uniforms, but the armor they receive covers a reduced surface area to minimize interference with movement and reduce encumbrance.

Soldiers complain about the increased weight of their uniform, but at least it should improve their chances of being able to complain after a battle. All Imperial forces will be impacted by the provided Scale Mail to varying (positive) degrees.


----


Escort And Patrol

With no invasion planned or naval offensives in the works, making sure Imperial ships got to where they had to go was the priority of the Inner Sea fleet. Himilco had patrols of three or four ships dispersed across the two primary lifelines between the Imperial Isle and the forces in the north and south, effectively spreading the fleet out in a great line not unlike a spoke in a wheel. While the Water Tribe's own goals within the Inner Sea likely went unhampered, shipping losses dropped drastically. Some nighttime raids occurred that saw a few ships headed toward The Gateway Bridge get captured, but overall the situation in the Inner Sea has turned out to be very quiet.


----


Moving Forward

Life around Taotie and Hulijing was a little rough after capitulation to the Empire. Most of the young men had fought in the defense, and those who didn't sign up for the Auxiliary found themselves in labor camps. For those who didn't fight, life continued on as normal, albeit with a little extra tension. The influx of Imperial forces and settlers had upended the local industry and economy.

Ever the keen mind, Hongli understood that he'd have issues very soon if he didn't improve conditions for the Empire's newly-acquired citizens. Crime had increased in the days after the Imperial victory, so street patrols were formed in order to counteract their behavior. This also just so happened to have the side effect of interfering with a couple late-night anti-Imperial gatherings. Some arrests were made, and a potential rebellion was quashed before it could begin.

Problems would continue to rise if the causes of citizen unrest remained unaddressed, so a large steam-powered lumber mill was laid down to provide employment for locals in Hulijing. Imperial volunteers familiar with operating and maintaining the machinery were responsible for overseeing operations and teaching the locals until the local population could take over the day-to-day operations of the lumber mill entirely. In a town that exported high volumes of high-quality lumber and woodwork, the addition of the steam lumber mill was quite the boon. Contracts were written up between the Empire and the local logging and lumber operations that would see the Empire benefiting from their increased output, while also being beneficial enough for the citizens of Hulijing to avoid feeling like they were being taken advantage of.

The Empire receives High-Quality Lumber. Sometimes actions will result in semipermanent bonuses to future Imperial designs. In this case, High-Quality Lumber provides a small bonus to the wood-related aspects of an Asset, and a larger overall bonus if the majority of the Asset utilizes wood. A change in the world state could see the Empire lose access to these bonuses, and any assets that received benefits from these bonuses will instead lose efficacy.


Patrols in the area bordering the Fish Head Bog have little news to report, save for one guy disappearing after stepping into the swamp to relieve himself.


While some Imperial military camps have been set up in the region bordering The Eight Passes, they have largely been taking a passive posture, focused more on securing the smaller roads and trails than preparing for further expansion. The Lords of The Eight Passes took note of this and seized the initiative. A messenger has been sent to Hongli with the following offer:

In exchange for maintaining a stance of non-aggression by the Eight Lords and the Empire, Imperial soldiers and citizens will be allowed free passage through The Eight Passes. Weapons and military equipment beyond clothing and armor will not be permitted access through The Eight Passes, so as to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of The Eight Passes. Each of the Lords' signatures has been scrawled on the bottom of the missive.

Plot Hook Engaged: Treaty With The Eight Lords
The Empire has received an offer of non-aggression as well as passage through their territory, with the caveat that the transport of military equipment is extremely restricted. You may choose how to approach this offer in your Strategic Action.


---


The Rock And The Hard Place

A mob had been gathering in the fields west of The Gateway Bridge. Largely armed with farming equipment and the occasional hunting bow and spear, it was obvious that this was little more than the region's peasantry forced (for one reason or another) to participate in battle. Imperial forces had sprinkled themselves throughout the mountainous terrain between the fields and The Gateway Bridge itself in preparation of an inevitable attack.

When the army of farmers finally began their move into the mountains, they found themselves fighting very small, generally isolated pockets of Imperial soldiers. While the Earth farmers weren't able to fully cut off any individual pocket, they found themselves rapidly advancing on an enemy nearing rout.


The military might of the Earth Kingdom was on full display in the fields east of The Gateway Bridge. Large polearm formations, divisions of swordsmen, crossbow packs, and of course multitudinous Geomancers made themselves comfortable in very large camps. While the Empire dug into their own positions, they observed the Earth Kingdom beginning their work on erecting siege engines - rams, towers, galleries, ladders, and trebuchets were being built deep in the Kingdom encampment. Impressive engines were rapidly hammered together, and it seemed very likely that the assault would be coming soon. But it didn't. Instead, it became exceedingly obvious that the Earth Kingdom was beginning to lay out the foundation for a massive wall ahead of their encampment.


The Farmer Mob was very confident until they suddenly weren't, as overextended formations spreading out haphazardly throughout the mountains found themselves being cut off and removed from the battlefield one by one. The lack of combat experience was exceedingly clear, and even if one of the farmers got a lucky strike in, chances are their tools would be deflected by the Imperial mail armor. It didn't take much for the mob to begin surrendering en masse. There was nothing impressive or challenging here. Questioning has revealed that a simultaneous attack was supposed to come from the east, but it seems that plan changed without the western force being informed.


Now, however, Wonha has a large number of prisoners to decide what to do with, and the Earth Kingdom territory to the west is ripe for occupation.

Plot Hook Engaged: Occupation of the Western Earth Kingdom
While Imperial forces have not entered the Western territories of the Earth Kingdom, the region is now practically defenseless. An Imperial presence will likely see high unrest at the moment, in large part due to the recent battle, a large portion of their population being Imperial prisoners, and the Empire preventing aid from the Jade City. Of course, there are many ways you might be able to pacify a population. This Plot Hook will remain until there is either a Strategy or Asset made to solve the issues in the region.


----


The Key To Inner Peace

Admiral San was not the kind of person who enjoyed sitting around and waiting. Unfortunately, the blockades being maintained on the Floating Cities were underwhelming at best. Not many Aeromancers had the capacity to fly with additional weight, and the few animals they had were very easy to track, and often slower than Imperial ships. While there was clearly some way that the Floating Cities were able to provide for themselves at a minimal level, they no longer had access to the trade and fishing that provided a large portion of their sustenance. One or two Aeromancers might slip the net once in a while, but so far the blockades have proceeded well.

A resupply vessel, for some reason, had a piano aboard meant for Admiral San’s flagship near Shattered City Penglai. With little else to do at the moment, they dove into learning the piano whole-heartedly. The instrument was slightly out of tune, but the admiral didn’t let that become a deterrence. Slightly unsettling but otherwise well-played piano is now often heard aboard the flagship during Admiral San’s down time. Their subordinates have noted a slight calming in the Admiral’s demeanor.

This vessel also brought news of three ships it managed to evade. They were small but fairly slow, and didn’t give the Imperial ship chase as the convoy headed west from Jade City.


—-


It is now Turn 2. You have your Strategy Action and Assets Action to propose and decide upon. Brief summaries of local situations can be found in the "Locations" spoiler, nestled snugly between "Map" and "Assets".

Spoiler: Plot Hooks (click to show/hide)

Treaty With The Eight Lords
The Empire has received an offer of non-aggression as well as passage through their territory, with the caveat that the transport of military equipment is extremely restricted. You may choose how to approach this offer in your Strategic Action.

Occupation of the Western Earth Kingdom
While Imperial forces have not entered the Western territories of the Earth Kingdom, the region is now practically defenseless. An Imperial presence will likely see high unrest at the moment, in large part due to the recent battle, a large portion of their population being Imperial prisoners, and the Empire preventing aid from the Jade City. Of course, there are many ways you might be able to pacify a population. This Plot Hook will remain until there is either a Strategy or Asset made to solve the issues in the region.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Locations (click to show/hide)

The Burning Empire:
The Imperial Isle has no news of note.
The Stepping Stones to the south-west of the Imperial Isle have been pacified and see very little Water Tribe activity presently. Imperial life here isn’t as developed as life on the Imperial Isle, but these islands can prove to be a nice change of scenery nonetheless.
The Occupied Region of Taotie and Hulijing is seeing low levels of unrest thanks to proactive efforts by the Empire. A Steam-Powered Saw Mill provides the Empire with High-Quality Lumber in Hulijing, while Imperial patrols scour the roads and countryside. Current operations are overseen by Hongli, The Dragonblood Prince.
The Gateway Bridge has successfully defended against an attack from the west, but Earth Kingdom forces to the east are building siege engines and preparing to erect a massive wall. It is unlikely that the western flank will see dedicated enemy action any time soon. General Wonha is currently in command of the forces operating in the area.

The Inner Sea:
Himilco, The Betrayer is currently in charge of fleet actions within the Inner Sea. With the fleet dedicated to patrolling and protecting shipping lanes, Water Tribe activity against Imperial ships has seen little success.

The Water Tribes:
The status of Kun Island, the capital and holy site of the Water Tribes that sits west of the Imperial Isle, is currently unknown.
The situation between the feuding tribes on Serpent’s Isle northwest of the Imperial Isle is currently unknown.
The Shark’s Teeth in the northeast of the Inner Sea, jungle haven to many a Water Tribe Raider, remain out from under the eye of the Empire.
The greedy Water Tribals at The Four Fingers in the southeast of the Inner Sea have managed to avoid Imperial surveillance efforts. They control maritime travel between the Inner and Outer Seas in the south.

Swamp Nomads:
The Fish Head Bog remains outside of the Empire’s scope of operations, although there is a force prepared to enter the region at Hongli’s command. One soldier did step into the swamp on a patrol in order to “do some business” and wasn’t heard from again. Many suspect this was the work of a Nomad.

Lords of The Eight Passes:
The Eight Passes are eight independent kingdoms rallied behind the Tengri, and built upon the eight passes going through their mountain range. The overall situation within The Eight Passes is currently unknown, but there is bound to be some tension between the Eastern and Western Lords. The lords have offered Imperials passage so long as they don’t bring offensive equipment or weaponry through.

Forsaken:
The Forsaken live in the Shan Hai Tundra, a vast frozen wasteland. The villages of Anguta, Amarok, and Pinga make up the only real settlements for the Forsaken people. The status of The Shan Hai Tundra and the inhabitants within is, appropriately, hazy. Dealing with the Forsaken in any manner is likely going to require some effort.

Lei Gong Undercities:
The Thundering Plains are storm-battered plains in the north-west of the Continental Ring. Three subterranean cities, Fujin in the west on the coast of the Outer Sea, Omoikane and Suijin along the Inner Sea coast to the south and east, connect to the centralized capital of Raijin via stone-covered roads. There is a University in Omoikane. These people are largely isolated and not much is known about their internal affairs.

Great Earth Kingdom:
The Eastern Earth Kingdom’s walled districts make up Jade City, the capital of the Great Earth Kingdom. This massive city forms a virtually impenetrable barrier cutting from Inner to Outer Sea. Domestic issues seem to be either well-suppressed or virtually nonexistent. There is currently a massive force raised on the Kingdom’s border with The Gateway Bridge, and work on another massive wall has begun.

The Western Earth Kingdom is largely farmland divided by a large winding river, and is currently facing both starvation and a severe manpower shortage after a recent battle with Imperial forces. While little is expected in the way of organized military resistance, unrest and subversive actions will likely be very high if Imperial advances are made here.

Oasis Tribes:
The Fenghuang Expanse is a vast stretch of desert equally divided among four tribes settled around oases. These tribes are small, but could be a potent threat in the withering heat using their sand-based magics. Not much is known about current events within the Oasis Tribes.

Realm of The Bandit Kings:
The dense forest known simply as the Realm of The Bandit Kings is a lawless warzone of clans, bands, and hordes all clawing at one another to assert dominance over the rest. The internal situation is chaotic in the purest sense, and it is difficult to appraise the situation as a result. The only thing anyone knows for certain is that there is a collective hatred of Mancy within the Realm.

The Outer Sea:
Admiral San is in charge of the Imperial Fleet that is currently in The Outer Sea functioning as blockades for The Floating Cities. Some Earth Kingdom ships were reported moving from east to west, but nothing else of note has occurred asea.

The Floating Cities:
Floating City Queqiao, Floating City Fusang, and Floating City Yaochi have all shown minimal activity regarding attempts to break their blockades. The "blockade" around Shattered City Penglai is having to contend with an Admiral’s newfound interest in eerie piano playing. It is very difficult to determine what may be happening within The Floating Cities, largely due to their floating nature.

Spoiler: Assets List (click to show/hide)

Imperial Footsoldier: The standard soldier making up the majority of the Empire's forces. They are armed with a spear and equipped with Scale Armor. Pyromancers can be found throughout the ranks, but are often of limited skill. Imperial Footsoldiers double as law enforcement in occupied territory, and tend to use a one-handed weapon, such as a sword or wooden club, when utilized in this capacity.

Pyromancer Corps: The Pyromancer Corps is a dedicated division of the Imperial Army utilized largely as shock troops. While generally unarmed, the Pyromancer Corps is filled out with better than average Pyromancers trained extensively in their Arts. Scale Mail provides decent protection without interfering with a Pyromancer's capabilities. More advanced Pyromancy techniques developed by the Empire will likely see use by these adept warriors.

Geomancer Auxiliary: A small portion of Geomancers drawn from The Occupied Territories of Hulijing and Taotie. While not incredibly loyal to The Empire, they prefer serving over the potential alternatives. Geomancer Auxiliary are entirely unarmed and unarmored (save for the few who can afford to purchase a set of Scale Mail), relying solely on their magic and hand-to-hand capabilities to engage opposing forces. Without the extensive background in training seen across the native Imperial forces (and with the more potent Geomancers killed during conquest), the Geomancer Auxiliary tends to be less organized and less skilled than their Imperial counterparts.

Imperial Warships: Imperial Warships are at the cutting edge of Imperial technology. Pyromancers are utilized to burn the coal that gives a steam engine the ability to rotate the propellers of the Warships. Thanks to this marvel of modern technology, the ships no longer need to cater to every whim of the wind and sea, and their speed is unmatched by all but the most skilled Water Tribe crews. They are multipurpose, with catapults and ballistae capable of firing (usually burning) munitions at their enemies, while also able to safely beach themselves in order to drop a bow ramp and offload their holds full of soldiers or supplies. Iron armor provides significant protection against a wide array of threats (especially compared to wood).

Horsedog Carts: The industrious horsedog is a loyal, sturdy creature used across the empire as a pack animal. The military loads them with canvas bags or uses them to haul small carts full of supplies. Horsedog Carts are most effective when they have roads to follow.

Scale Mail: The standard armor for the Imperial military. Sets of iron scales laid over leather armor provide adequate protection from physical attacks. Comes with a standard open-faced helmet. A little weighty relative to previous uniforms, but significantly improves survivability.

Spoiler: Commanders (click to show/hide)

Hongli, The Dragonblood Prince: Grandson to Emperor Qianlong and heir to the throne. Hongli is well-known for strategic aptitude. His left arm is covered in patches of dragon scales and ends in a thoroughly scaled hand complete with claws. He has shown immense skill and potential when it comes to manipulating Fire as well. He is fearsome, even in his youth, and believes it is his destiny to see The Burning Empire finally bring the world together under their banner. He is a powerful Pyromancer, and has some skill with a sword. Hongli is in control of the forces occupying the Continental Ring in the south between The Fish Head Bog and The Eight Passes. He currently uses the city of Taotie, Occupied Region of Taotie and Hulijing as his base of operations.

General Wonha, The Whirlwind: A general tends to favor caution when it comes to the orders for her troops, but thrives in and yearns for the chaos of melee combat herself. Wonha expertly wields a glaive, and in astoundingly violent fashion. She does not have any magical ability. General Wonha is currently in command of the forces in control of The Gateway Bridge, and is tasked with determining the future of the Eastern Great Earth Kingdom.

Admiral Himilco, The Betrayer: Himilco used to lead a group of Water Tribe raiders, but he had his loyalty purchased by The Burning Empire and saw the near-chaotic "organization" of the Water Tribes as nonviable anyway. Himilco is despised by the entirety of his people, and works hard to prove to the Imperials under his command that he is worthy of his position. Himilco is a very skilled Hydromancer, and tends to favor hit-and-run and boarding tactics when it comes to naval engagement. Admiral Himilco is currently commanding the Imperial Fleet in the Inner Sea as they guard the shipping lanes.

Admiral San, The Sea Scourge: Cunning and merciless in equal measure, San made a name for themself after taking command of a ship after a Water Tribe ambush, swiftly returning order to the panicking crew, repelling the attackers, and chasing them down until each was given death at swordpoint. San worked their way up the command ladder rapidly and became well-known for their ability to sniff out Water Tribe plans before triggering, subverting, and countering them. Their brutal efficiency has led to their assignment to The Outer Sea and the blockades of The Floating Cities. San is a fairly average Pyromancer, but has incredible skill with a wide variety of one-handed blades. They prefer smashing their opponents in grand fleet actions, leaving no doubt as to who will be victorious.

Spoiler: Bonuses (click to show/hide)

High-Quality Lumber: Provides a small bonus to the wood-related aspects of an Asset, and a larger overall bonus if the majority of the Asset utilizes wood. Provided through control of a Steam-Powered Lumber Mill in Hulijing, Occupied Region of Taotie and Hulijing.

[NUKE9.13]

Laying Groundwork (STRATEGY)
What Passes For Diplomacy
Prince Hongli is directed to send a reconnaissance-in-force expedition into the Fish Head Bog. Only a small contingent of troops is to be used- enough that a hastily-organised ambush wouldn't be enough to wipe them out, but not so many that their loss would have a severe impact. Their goal is simply to enter the southern peninsula, move into the swamp for about five hours, then turn around and come back. Should they succeed at this without any issues, then they can start work on clearing a more permanent path into the swamp (eg chopping down trees, removing undergrowth, setting up bridges/walkways over streams and bogs).
Hongli is also to send a reply to the Eight Lords, stating that the Empire agrees to their terms, and inviting a delegation to visit his court in Taotie to sign the treaty. This is intended as a mild show of superiority- they have to come to us, we don't meet in the middle (or, heavens forbid, go to them). While this might mildly irritate the Eight Lords, it is worth it to maintain our reputation, both in Taotie (the Taotiers shall understand we are strong), and in the Eight Passes themselves (the Passers shall understand their leaders are weaker than us).


A Fair Punishment
Nurtures The Seed Of Respect
Unlike False Mercy
General Wonha shall annex the Western Earth Kingdom. The region is henceforth to be known as the Occupied Region of Shoucheng. A modest garrison will be posted in the area, and Imperial administrators will be dispatched to organise the new territory. Those administrators are also tasked with assessing the expected agricultural output of Shoucheng this year, the amount of food required to make up any shortfall, and areas in which agricultural productivity could be increased. 
For the crime of attacking Imperial forces, Wonha's prisoners are sentenced to forced labour. Said forced labour is building/repairing roads, irrigation, and other infrastructure in the Occupied Region of Shoucheng, as well as performing any essential agricultural duties for which there is insufficient free labour. This forced labour should not be overly harsh, and the labourers are to be well-fed (additional food supplies will be delivered to General Wonha in order to facilitate this).
In the east, preparations for an Earth Kingdom assault should continue, with efforts made to ensure defence-in-depth ability (if they plan to take the front-line walls, then we should make sure there are walls behind them to fall back to). The occasional night-time sortie to harass their camps and burn scaffolding and whatnot would help to give our soldiers a bit of activity, and prevent their soldiers from getting too comfortable.


Something to do!
While the majority of Admiral San's forces are to maintain the blockades, San themselves should take a small force to investigate the Earth Kingdom ships that were seen headed west. If they have made landfall in Shoucheng (or are look like they might do so), Admiral San has permission to land marines to eliminate them. Otherwise, they should be followed from a distance. We trust in San's ability to uncover their plans.


The Betrayer Is Still Not Sus
Admiral Himilco should continue to escort convoys, with increased focus on the northern route for now. A harbour on the southern coast of Shoucheng should be secured (with a few ships guarding it from potential Water Tribe raids, and a small garrison of marines ensuring the locals do not sabotage the facilities), to provide a reliable means of delivering supplies and reinforcements to the region directly. 

Imperial Envoys (ASSET)
You get more of what you want with pyromancy and a kind word than you do with just pyromancy.

Imperial Envoys are footsoldiers on the peaceful side of Imperial expansion. Where regular soldiers wield iron and steel, they wield a silver tongue and gold coins.
They can serve as diplomats, delivering messages to foreign courts and negotiating on the Emperor's behalf (although the outcome of negotiations must of course be approved by the Emperor). They can act as cultural ambassadors, explaining the prosperity enjoyed by Imperial citizens to the recently conquered, or spreading more specific messages as directed by the Commander of an area. They can also work anonymously if needed, infiltrating hostile regions in order to gather information or seek potential collaborators.
Potential Envoys must have a charismatic presence to qualify, and are trained in courtly manners (as well as the ability to 'turn off' the mannerisms if needed), negotiation, public speaking, and persuasion. For diplomatic/public missions they are provided with robes of an elegant, professional style- not ostentatious, but definitely not shabby either. They are provided with generous discretionary funds at the start of a mission (partly for travel expenses, but mainly for 'gifts' (bribes)), though they are required to keep records of their spending, and may be sanctioned or arrested should they misuse their funds. A handful of guards are assigned to each Envoy, though as representatives of the Emperor it would be a foolish person who attacked one- not to mention that some (not all) are also pyromancers capable of defending themselves.   
Envoys are not very numerous, as their selection and training emphasises quality over quantity.

[Quarque]

STRATEGY
Laying Groundwork: (1) Quarque

ASSET
Imperial Envoys: (1) Quarque

[NUKE9.13]

STRATEGY
Laying Groundwork: (2) Quarque, NUKE9.13

ASSET
Imperial Envoys: (2) Quarque, NUKE9.13

[The Canadian kitten]

STRATEGY
Laying Groundwork: (3) Quarque, NUKE9.13, TCK

ASSET
Imperial Envoys: (3) Quarque, NUKE9.13, TCK