Fighting Barbarians at the Border

Forces from the Sovereignties were sent to push back the barbarians lingering at the very borders of the Sovereignties, particularly south of Rheinheim and West of Vermilion Flower State. Losses were heavy, but much of the land was cleared of hostile forces. Men from Rheinheim were even able to establish a Silver mine in the previously unowned south.

Establishing a Seventh Sovereign Capital

The plains southwest of Joara were an enticing location to the Sovereigties, well watered by rivers for agriculture, filled with lucrative sugarcane, and located near the borders of the site of LED pilgrimage. It was no surprise that Sovereign Orator Ciado sent settlers to establish a Sovereign Capital. Upon arriving, they found the region was heavily populated by Humans, who were organized around a hilltop palatial center known as Pylossos. Lifting the name, the settlers built their city around the Palace of Pylossos, allowing the local Lawagetas to remain as the ruler of the new Sovereignty. The new Sovereignty has bene connected by road, recieved two state-funded construction projects, and been converted to LED.

The End of Sovereignties Expansion

Having streched population and resources thin, as well as securing most of Iik'ka'an for the Sovereignties, Sovereign Orator Ciado has decided to discontinue her Expansion program. Instead, The Sovereign Orator will focus Sovereignties assets on the securing of borders, and on the advancement of the Sovereignties economy through domestic and foreign trade. The Sovereign Orator has also declared that LED is to be the state religion of the Sovereignties, and has issued a requirement that all public officials convert. (Next week, Grand Focus will become Economy and State Religion will become LED, by way of Revolution Weekly Focus)

Forging Relations with Nearby Sovereign States

The nearby Sovereignty of Montacasa, discovered many years prior, is too powerful to agree to join the Sovereignties as a subordinate Sovereignty, but that did not discourage the Sovereign Orator from opening any relationship with them. A diplomat was dispatched to offer a mutually beneficial alliance between the Sovereignties and Montacasa. Montacasa replied with a request for a considerable sum of money, which the Sovereign Orator approved. Once the payment was received, Montacas formally declared themselves as a client state of the Sovereignties, albeit not a true member.

Civ=Sovereignties
trans:
    name=Exploration
    army=-2000
    note=Cleared 16 tiles
trans:
    name=Built 4 roads
    gold=-60
trans:
    city=Pylossos
    build=Granary, Temple
    gold=-125
trans:
    name=Purchased 3 tiles
    culture=-6
trans:
    name=Conversion
    city=Pylossos
    religion=LED
    culture=-3
trans:
    name=Allied Montacasa
    gold=-238
trans: 
    name=Religion Bonus Week 4
    culture=12

Other Changes: Remove Barracks from Rheinheim, add Barracks to Vermilion Flower State

Proof of tiles cleared and city state alliance: Expanding the Borders

Map of Changes: http://i.imgur.com/JGKwEPk.jpg