BirdNES: 1500 AD: A New World

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE!!! If he didn't answer you 7 hours ago, what makes you think he'll answer you now?

I hate pateince. It makes me fat

But impatience will make you dead, when directed at the mod like that. What's worse - fat or dead?

dead

If anyone is interested...the Americas, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and great Crusade are done. After breakfast and a few chores I will finish up the loose ends, proof read all the text, do the stats and map and have things posted this evening.

Alright, that is good.

Comments:

Orders were pretty good. Several of you referenced EP coming from other nations, but htose nations either did not send it or just left it out of their orders. I could not tell whether it was an oversight or intentional. I assumed it was intentional.

Trade route listings were weak. I've added what I think is true to the stats; please look them over.

England, Muscovy, Brandenburg and China were NPCed this turn. I banked your income.

Warfare from Gibraltar to Kaffa is taking a toll. Many nations are losing EP because of it.

Best written military plans go to Perfectionist.

Update 3: 1510-1514​

Europe
The Mediterranean world sees trouble on the increase; most of it stemming from the war between Portugal and Egypt, a widening war that tugs on nations far away. Piracy is up all along the African coast and spills north to the coasts of Spain, Italy and France. Portugal in an attempt to enforce an embargo on all goods shipped to and from Egypt regardless of the source or final destination stops and boards both English and Kalmar ships among others and confiscates trade goods pledged elsewhere. Genoa feels the pinch especially hard and is none too pleased. Egypt is betrayed; her faith in Spain shattered. And even the Pope fails to deliver promised gold to Portugal*. Legitimate trade is diverted to smugglers. By 1514 merchants throughout Europe are disgruntled with the ongoing wars that have stifled their livelihood. From Trebizond the Gibraltar no route is safe for traders and their agents. Merchants in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Lyons and Augsburg are particularly unhappy. Many point their fingers at the Pope; but not in public.

In France Louis makes peace with the Italians and keeps his armies home. He begins constructing the Paris Academy to build a foundation of bureaucratic infrastructure and improvements to the quality of his ministers and administrators. (+2 civilian Leadership, +1 Education) 1/5

1512: The Duke of Mecklenburg dies unexpectedly in a ghastly choking incident at dinner. The duchess is beside herself with grief and fear. Her grandchild is next in line, but is way too young to assume the throne. Brandenburg gladly steps in to assume the responsibilities of leadership for it is his grandchild too.

Tithing helps to replenish the Popes bank account.

Kalmar’s trade with Egypt gets off to a difficult start when Portugal tries to confiscate much of the trade goods bound for Egypt, but none-the-less a consulate is built in Cairo. The presence of Kalmarian escort ships forces the Portuguese to back down in their attempt to board the cargo ships and seize the Egyptian bound goods.

Ceuta
The simooms were in full force across the straits of Gibraltar and the sand laden winds had driven the siege and besieged into cover. Ceuta drifted in and out of existence as the winds ebbed and flowed. The month long blockade had sapped as much of the will of the Egyptian defenders as had the 3 divisions of troops just outside the walls. But Allah had blessed this tiny outpost of his and his vengeance came with the simoom. It came in the form of 6 squadrons of Egyptian ships and 7 divisions of troops. The Portuguese fleet fled west for open water and less abrasive winds; the Egyptians followed. It is against the coast of Spain that Portugal was brought to bay and galleon, galleass and galley clashed in desperate struggle. And it is Ashraf Sayf who claims the day and drags Portuguese sailors from the sea to serve as slaves upon the rowing benches of Egyptian galleys. Tristao da Cunha hears the news two days later and breaks off the siege to retreat west in hopes of finding passage back to Portugal. Instead he finds himself caught between the newly arrived army of Sayf al-Din and Ceuta. In the bloody battle that ensues no mercy is shown by either side and in the end da Cunha and his army are all dead, captured or missing. Ceuta is relieved.

Outcomes:
Ceuta
-3 divisions and -2 squadrons Portugal
-4 divisions and -5 squadrons Egypt

The Crusade and other tales of cunning
It happened in Kaffa. Ginkski was right: the Turks gave up the Crimea without a fight. Kaffa became Poland. It was there that the nobles of Poland and Lithuania came. It was to Kaffa the ships came over land from the north to the great rivers of the south and down those to the Black Sea and then to Kaffa. It was to Kaffa that the messengers from battlefields of Bulgaria and Greece came with news. It was to Kaffa that the knights of the Teutonic order rode their mighty horses to pledge allegiance to Michal Glinski and the cause of Catholicism and the Holy Church. It was to Kaffa that the Persians trekked in search of Trebizond. And it was from Kaffa that agents and orders and mischief crept and sailed and rode and in all other manners made haste to places far and wide, as well as, near and dear. And when Kaffa spoke the earth moved and layer upon layer of carefully planned intrigue made declaration both public and private: and then and only then the road from Kaffa was clear and it did not lead to Constantinople, but to Krakow. But in the winter of 1513 one more traveler came to Kaffa for audience with he who would be greater still. And the tale he told brought a smile to Glinski’s face and he gave the man a handful of gold and called for wine and council with his lords. In return the messenger gave Glinski a dagger in the back

In 1510 Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottomans mapped the defense of his empire. Safavid Persia he would put off for now. With peace he might have more time to reconsider their offer for Trebizond, but now he needed troops and allies. Word was sent by speedy horse: “We are hard pressed and would have you as our friend if not an ally….” He knew the Crimea was lost and would give it up; the divisions would be more useful elsewhere. This war would won or lost in Bulgaria and Greece. Venice had made inroads into Greece, but it was the Polish tide he had to contain and then push back. New armies would be raised victories won.

The King of Persia on his royal throne contemplated all the options known. From round about they pressed him to declare. The Turks had spurned his offer for Trebizond, but in a kindly way with possibilities for the future. Glinski’s cunning ways impressed him too, but his intrigues with the Persian nobles were less than friendly. He could not be trusted. Let them all kill each other; he would pursue his plans and not be the pawn of others.

-3 divisions Persia from Caspian Campaign (standing army of 22 incurs 1 EP cost)

Mali’s TC comes into being (no cost) as her territory is extended to the ocean and she makes contact with the Portuguese. Trade with Kalmar established, but England is a no show at the meeting planned for Cairo.

Lhasa expands south -2 divisions

Balkan war
Thrust and parry holds sway all across the Balkans. Austria presses north from Greece as Poland tries to unseat the Turks from the fortified passes into Bulgaria. Hungary diddles about to the west hoping not to lose and worrying. Venice is quite content with her winnings and shuffles the Austrians about in Greece with one eye on Louis and Northern Italy. General Karl Gladsto of the Ottomans sees the weakness of the Crusaders and strikes hard at their lack of purpose and uncoordinated attacks. He can outnumber them at any point, but he cannot be everywhere at once. Thrust and parry they grind each other down. Poland moves west to link with Hungary who withdraws to safer ground. Exposed, the Poles are beaten and pursued. 1511 closes with no killing blow.

In 1512 the Christian cause gained hope as word of General Mohamed’s death reaches them. He died in an ambush as the Austrians pushed north into Serbia. Little victory followed little victory until finally in the fall of 1513 the crusaders were checked within two days march of Sofia and an early winter ended the campaign. News of Glinski’s death reached the armies through messengers to Ottoman Sofia and the ever present spies. Despair spread among the Polish faithful and from there to Austrians and Hungarians. No one was ready to step in and assume command. Gladsto knew an opportunity when he saw it and did not hesitate. The war turned hot again and despair turned to panic. But even victory could not keep the Ottoman soldiers in the field. The weather took another turn for the worse and the armies breathed a sigh of relief. The map was redrawn again. At sea the appearance of Polish ships on the Sultan’s private lake (Black Sea) was disconcerting and had ominous consequences for the future.

Michal Glinski could not travel for two days. The wound had not been deep but it was ugly; and two days was time enough to watch the slow impaling of Ali something or other, his would be assassin. Greased and sharpened, stakes made rapid progress up the rectum and through the internal organs. Stakes that were less sharp and dry relied on body weight and time to drive the point home, so to speak. It took Ali almost two days to die. With his periodic flailing Ali looked from time to time like some grotesque marionette in a bad puppet show. It was only somewhat entertaining. Light weight chain mail was always a good idea especially in times of change. And change it was to be. Within four weeks of leaving Kaffa Michal Glinski was in Krakow; in seven he was crowned King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Imperator of the Republic. He people worshipped him (and gladly took a few pennies to shout his praises in the streets) and he was celebrated throughout the land. None opposed.

Outcomes:
-3 squadrons Poland
-3 divisions Poland
-3 squadrons Ottoman Empire
-13 divisions Ottoman Empire
General Karl Gladsto of the Ottomans +1
Michal Glinski King of Poland +1

Indian Ocean
Alfonso da Albuquerque and the Viceroy of India’s nephew Lorenzo da Almeida sat atop the walls of the fort at Aden. The bound dispatches destined for Lisbon were on the table held still in the rising breeze by Afonso’s sword. They had accomplished much in a short time and the telling had taken many pages. With such success they could be generous with their disappointments so they had told all.
16 squadrons and 17 divisions they had commanded between them; it was most of what Portugal had and the lack of expected reinforcements had nearly wrecked the campaign at the end.

The blockade of Aden and the Red Sea in 1510 had shut Egypt off from easy trade flowing west from India and netted Portugal tons of plundered goods destined for Cairo, Alexandria and Addis Ababa. As the war heated up in 1511 and Aden was invested and besieged, little could be done to stop the Vijayanagar army from marching into Cochin and stuffing the Viceroy into one of his own ships and threatening to sink it if he didn’t go home. Cancels trade agreement. Much of India was angry at the blockade and the wholesale “taking” of their trade goods. The Viceroy would carry the dispatches back to Portugal. But the fall of Aden in the summer of 1512 spoke of the future and success.

The Egyptians were well prepared on land, but lost it to greater numbers on the water. They had too few ships and those were sunk or scattered east to India. The land battle was fierce, but slowly the noose was tightened and Aden ringed with Portuguese. They held out as long as supplies lasted then sortied in a bloody, but failed attempt to break the siege. It had been costly. C’est la guerre. Surprisingly the Egyptians seemed prepared for the assault up the Red Sea to Cairo and even had troops to oppose the landing at Suez. Both men wished they knew what the hell Spain was doing and the state of affairs in the Holy Land. Maybe word would come soon. In any case, failure at Suez meant success at Aqaba and the push north into the Sinai. Afonso and Lorenzo were quite pleased. Africa from Aqaba to Mozambique was Portuguese; all the key ports and centers of trade were Portuguese; the Indian trading nations were rebuffed and cowering at the display of Portuguese sea power. And soon even Egypt itself would be Portuguese. Life was good and the new casks of wine from Lisbon washed the ever present sand from their mouths.

Egypt
For the first time in 300 years Jerusalem was held by a Christian king and a Spanish king at that. Diego de Valazqueth’s landing had been unopposed, as had the march inland and the city was poorly prepared to defend itself. Two months after setting foot in the Holy Land the city was his. The locals were docile and submitted without protest to his rule. His rule. It had a nice ring to it. Soon the pilgrims would be back in droves and willing to pay for the holy privilege of breathing the holy air of Jerusalem. Yes, he would keep the peace here.

To the east another Spanish general sat in luxury in Alexandria. His “kingdom” was a bit smaller than Diego de Valazqueth’s not much more than the city itself actually, but he had had to fight for it. Before he had even gotten ashore it seemed that the entire countryside had risen to oppose him. As ordered, he had captured the city. He was determined to hold it.

Outcomes:
Egypt
+ RC Jerusalem to Spain
- Alexandria as TC
- 1 EP per TC from pirate activity: Spain, Papal States, Genoa, Tuscany, Portugal

Indian Ocean
+1 EP Portugal from blockade plunder
+1 EP to Safavid Persia from increase in overland trade because of Portuguese blockade
-5 squadrons Egypt
-6 divisions Egypt at Aden
-3 divisions Egypt Suez and Aqaba
-4 squadrons Portugal
-8 divisions Portugal Aden, Suez and Aqaba
9 Portuguese divisions remain in the Indian Ocean Theater
*lack of funds prevented establishment of Indian Ocean military infrastructure


The Americas
It was September 1511 and Juan Tabo’s ship lay quietly at anchor off a rich verdant coast. He was lucky and he knew it. The storm had moved north and west; he had fled its fury to the south. The raging maelstroms were not common in these waters, but when they came few lived to tell the tale. His crew had sailed out of Hispaniola for a decade and knew the signs. While he didn’t know exactly where he was, Captain Tabo was pretty sure he was off real land and not just another island. They were being watched. He knew that, but no hostile actions had been made so he would go ashore before noon. His trunk of trinkets was already on deck with his tamed natives who swore they could speak the language of this place. Well, soon he would know for sure.

Captain Tabo’s landing with the locals went better than he expected. They seemed in awe of him and sought to touch him at every opportunity, especially his hair and armor. His interpreters did seem to understand the guttural, ugly yammering that passed for language among these savages. And the ribbons and trinkets were snatched up quickly every time they were offered. Not far from the landing lace Tabo visited a village of thatched roofed houses and well crafted stone ceremonial buildings. He felt welcomed.

In the years after this first contact the Spanish traders learned of the Mexica and their great cities across the mountains; they traded European trinkets for cotton, feathers, other exotic goods and gold which seemed to be found in some abundance. Missionaries had little success in converting the heathens to Christianity and in fact the stories of bloody sacrifice and dark satanic ritual alarmed those who heard the tales.

Moctezuma sat upon his jaded throne
His heart was heavy like a stone
Pale warriors from across the sea
Seemed not quite what they appeared to be.

Florida
Chief Torno was in chains and had been for a month. He could not understand the words, but he knew what was happening. The foreign devils were bidding for him and he was to be a slave, probably on one of the plantations. Obviously they did not know who he was or surely his end would have been different. He thought back to the days before his capture. He remembered clearly the burning wreck of the Spanish fort and the bloody massacre that accompanied it. Stupid Spanish. They had grown lazy while the Fierce People had rested in the shadows and watched. Their little town had grown and appeared to prosper and even natives from the north had found a small place in that prosperity. It was easy to work a few of his people into the edges of the community. It was the dry season of the year of the beached whale [1512] that Spanish ship brought word of a new army arriving from the south, an army of many men. So he acted. An early morning fire roused the village and emptied the fort to save what was a holy place for the Spaniards. Torno’s best men swept in from behind the fort and by canoe along the shore. It did not take long to slay all the men and carry women and children south to the places the white men feared to go. And then, even if only briefly, the fort was his.

Two days later Torno and half his army were still sorting through the Spanish goods and weapons when the ships dropped anchor off shore at sunrise. There were 8 of them and lots of men. An eerie stand off of sorts took hold as the Spanish made no move to land or fires their cannon. Torno was also transfixed by the sheer experience of seeing the full panoply of Spanish power. As the sun passed its zenith, the Spaniards began to lower their longboats and send men ashore. The Fierce People knew how to fight these men and many were dispatched to their hell as they struggled ashore in their armor. Soon though, Torno knew that it was time to flee to the swamps and secret ways of his homeland lest a pitched battle develop. As his small army headed south out of the settlement his own folly became apparent. The enemy was in front of him. Men and horses stood between him and his escape. He too had been lulled to sleep by his enemy and the battle he had avoided all these years was upon him. He had not expected the Spanish to land anywhere but the fort and now he had to pay the price. He did not know how many of his men survived the battle. He remembered nothing after a ringing blow to his head left him stunned and dazed. He awoke in chains aboard a Spanish ship. And now the cane fields lay ahead. Like sheep they were herded into the rich green landscape of plantation slavery.

The Taino/Calusan rebellion in Cuba dragged on for three bloody years each side feeding the fires of bloody revenge. The newly arrived soldiers from Spain seemed to enjoy the rape and pillage of every native or village they came across. Prolonged war was not a way of life for these people and at every turn the soldiers kept at them, driving them from place to place and never letting them rest or settle. There were some who still hid high in the hills and raided when the chance presented itself, but they were mostly a nuisance and the abundance of steel clad soldiers kept them at bay.

Outcomes:
-6 Calusa divisions
-5 Spanish divisions
3 Spanish divisions returned to Spain late 1514
Spanish settlers move on to some of the neighboring islands
+1 Trading Post for Spain in Central America
+ Contact for Spain with the coastal peoples of southern Mexico and eventually Aztec traders and provincial officials
+ TP in eastern North America for Scotland (Nova Scotia)

Assorted Loose ends
Cancelled because of lack of funds:
Portuguese expedition up the Niger
Portuguese Indian Ocean support infrastructure

Personages
King Jan Olbracht of Poland prisoner of the Sultan
Michal Glinski of Poland +2
Philip the Fair of Austria
Duke John of Burgundy; General
Shah Ismail I of Safavid Persia
Spain
Conquistador Alfanso Hernandir +1
Louis XII of the Kingdom of France
Dauphin Henri & Maria Celeste of Savoy
Joachim I Nestor of Brandenburg
Henry VII of England
James the IV of Scotland
Captain John Guthrie +1
Pope Urban VII
Doge Agostino of Venice
Sultan Bayezid 2 of the Ottomans
General Karl Gladsto of the Ottomans +2
General Mohamed of the Ottomans dead
Al-Bay Sayfdin Egypt
Ashraf Sayf Egyptian general
Sayf al-Din Egyptian general
King Dhammaraja of Ayutthaya
Prince Naityu of Ayutthaya
Torno of Calusa +1
Ming Emperor Jingwai
General Huaxi of Ming
Katul of the Yakka Mongols
Princess Yue

Map updated 2/14/07

Livornia added to Poland
Kingdom of Jerusalem added
Jihad Force insurrection in Egypt added around Damascus
Spanish - Egyptian - Potuguese treaty land changes
Four Muslim pirate kindoms that have grown fat off European trade make their appearances. From West to East: Fez, Algiers, Hafsid & Tripoli.

Happy Valentine's Day!

uh.. ypu mixed up the coments with the update

good update for me Mwahaha!

Player Nation stats are up.

I apologize for the tone of what was here before

An excellent update as usual, even if nothing I did was mentioned Though it would be nice if my government control was decreased as stated

From: Kalmar
To: Portugal

We specifically asked you not to do anything, yet you still boarded, and attempted to steal the goods of our traders. We are contemplating what we are to do in response to this egregious act.

From: Kalmar
To: Mali

We urge you to halt trade with Portugal until they drop the naval Blockade.

ooc:Just wondering, am I losing 1 eco point a turn just because of war in Europe in general, or specifically portugal (trying to) teefing my trading goods?

Shouldn't I have 5 EP?

Excellent update.

FROM: Portugal
TO: Kalmar Union

We asked you to keep your traders out of Egypt. You seem to have little grasp of the economics of our decision, so we will explain things for you. Foreign trade with Egypt, either directly or indirectly, generates revenue for the Egyptian government. The Egyptian government uses that revenue to pay soldiers and buy weapons, which they then use to kill Portuguese. Our duty to our people compels us to take action, and we would have thought that your duty to Christianity would compel you to keep your people from aiding heathens against Christians. Your strange insistence on aiding the heathens causes us to wonder where your loyalty lies.

OOC: What does "teefing" mean?

OOC: I assume that teefing means stealing, seizing or any other synonmyn of those words.

From: Kalmar
To: Portugal

We do not wish to hear about your international accolades, or the economics of the mediterranean. All we care about is your agression towards Kalmarian Ships. Frankly, we will not condone attacks against us, even if they are by fellow Christians. Unless all action against Kalmar ceases immidietally, we shall be forced to take action.

ooc: Yes, teefing is slang for stealing.

FROM: Portugal
TO: Kalmar Union

Aggression? We never fired on your ships, and when you threatened force we backed down. We merely took steps to safeguard our men. Regardless, with Alexandria in Christian hands there is no major Egyptian port for your men to visit. Therefore we will be dropping the blockade in the Mediterranean, as it is no longer needed.