UPDATE 1
1194 - Year of Summer
Prologue
[send me music pls]
The hall was bustling with noise. Discussion of theology and mythology made up most of it. A particular quiet man just stood and listened. He was barely present. Some may have spoken directly to him, and he may have mumbled some kind of affirmative reply. None of it was very important to him, though.
He used to be a true man of the faith. Reverend Fabrice began losing his faith when the Event occurred. He lost most of his congregation back then. He stuck with the church because it was all he had, but even this was beginning to get old. His sermons were as lifeless as those that he lost. If the invitation to the meeting between faiths sponsored by the Swede came in at any other time in his life, he’d stand by the Pope and reject it. It would certainly be a spawning ground for heresy, completely counterintuitive to holding Christendom together.
But now? There was nothing to stop him. He was not interested in any theological findings that may come up, but did not have anything better to do anyways. He supposed he just wanted to see what happened, and if that meant an end to his way of life, so be it. Though, having finally arrived and in the middle of it all, he felt more dreary than usual. Was it all for naught? Would anything even change?
Of course things would change. But not in a way that anybody could expect.
All of the sudden, things went silent. No, that was wrong. It was loud. Deafeningly loud. The reverend blinked rapidly as his sensory organs overloaded. He realized it hurt to breath. His vision was obsurred with both light and dark. He was at a complete loss. He suddenly broke into a sprint in a random direction. He wasn’t safe.
He stops moving. To be precise, he can’t move. But the noise is dying down now, and he is regaining his sight too. He was not outside the meeting hall. He had miraculously ran right out the door of the meeting hall. He tasted dirt. Indeed, he found himself on the floor. The air tasted miraculously not toxic. What could have —
Looking back, there was nothing but flames. But something wasn’t right. Many people began pouring out the hall, following his lead. They were completely unscathed. The hall was coated in what looked like the flames of hell themselves, but patron after patron left the building with little more than shocked expressions.
And then he saw it. He saw
her. A beautiful woman, a woman that sought to tempt the same desires he thought he kept reigned in years ago. She stood atop a hill overlooking the hall with an outstretched hand, standing in the light from a break in the clouds above. A single outstretched hand before her. She mutters two words:
“It begins.”
Stats and Maps
STATS
Political
Religious
Trade
State of Affairs
The Beginning
The meeting between faiths sponsored by the Swedish Crown has aroused a lot of intriguing discussion. No conclusions have been drawn, but this appears to be entirely unimportant compared to other events that have transpired in light of them. At one of the meeting halls, an event has occurred. An unknown person set the hall ablaze through unknown means. Not a single person was killed.
[The Beginning has started]
Battle of Toulouse
Toulouse, France
France won a stunning victory against the creatures, limiting their expansion into France proper. For some reason, the bulk of the beasts seemed drawn to the French city. Although as a whole, they were too numerous across the border did take some land, the damage to major settlements has been limited. However, the French forces have taken some casualties; a true inevitability when dealing with these otherworldly beasts it would seem.
[+1 Skill to General, +1 Army Tradition, +10 to Stability; -50 HP to Pikemen, -10 HP to both Swordsmen; Creatures will make no advances for the next turn]
Iberian Colonization
Bordeaux, France
Though not entirely unexpected, the news that France is expanding its borders in Iberia is unsettling for people of all strata in French society. Many nobles are worried that the crown is over-extending, as the beasts still present a significant threat. Not helping whatsoever are the renewed rumours of an alien kingdom inhabiting a revered holy site.
[-5 Stability, -15 Food; new issues: Sangama and Colonizing Iberia]
*note: while in food deficit, you cannot raise new levies and though you can continue expansion, it may exacerbate the shortage.
English Crown Asserts Authority
London, England
With the recent chaos threatening the kingdom, the crown has sent its swords upon restless peasants. The results were surprisingly positive, with the disgruntled fearing for their lives. The people may not necessarily respect the crown, but they do fear it, and it shows.
[+5 Stability; Rampant Hysteria changed to Shakey Control]
English Channel Secured
London, England
England has started an aggressive campaign to secure their trade along the channel, which has been threatened by the French in recent times. However, the French had not committed a single ship to the channel. The result is as clear as it is very pronounced. The English now dominate the Channel essentially uncontested, and the french have lost face for it.
[+5 English Stability, -5 French Stability; +English Trade Power(English Channel), -French Trade Power(English Channel); Trade Dispute issue ended]
Nobles, Tradesmen, and Clergy Pressure for Cyprus
Constantinople, Rome
The higher echelons of Roman society are calling for Cyprus, a territory under dispute between Rome and Antioch. The island is all at once a historical site, a strategic island, and an important center of commerce. Not to mention a certain mysterious resource that is the center of much debate within the clergy as well as scientific circles, which are not mutually exclusive.
[-5 stability; -2 stability for each turn the Cyprus Question issue is active]
Dust Found on Border with Antioch
Constantinople, Rome
Just off the border with Antioch, there are reports that the mysterious “Dust” resource has been found.
[Dust Source added]
Dust Found on Border with Venice
Vienna, Austria
Towards the south in our territory in Illyria, Dust has been discovered by some peasants.
[Dust Source Added]
Christian Rebels Raid Countryside
Sangama
Our policies towards Christians have not deterred a pious few who believe themselves to be on some kind of “crusade” against us “heathens” that occupy what they believe to be a holy site.
[-3 Stability; Christian Rebels Issue added; -2 stability each turn Christian Rebels issue is active]
Settlers Found
Sangama
To the east, a Sangamese expedition found a settlement of nasal-sounding men who claim to come from the north. A stable communication has been made between us; though they worship the Crossed God it is possible they can be persuaded to join us somehow.
[new issue: New Neighbors]
Dust Discovered in the Mountains
Sangama
In an expedition to find minable materials, a party of scouts has found another source of Dust in the mountains to the south.
[Dust Source Added]
The Human Edict
Krakow, Poland
A new edict, proclaiming religious freedom for Catholic and Orthodox Christians has been announced by the Queen Jadwiga. It has been received well by both Orthodox and Catholic Christians as a measure to stop the internal strife in the large Jagellonian Empire, as well as bonding together in the face of the German aggression and the fear that Swedish pagans might attempt a daring raid upon their coastlands.
The pagans living on the Baltic Coast haven’t reacted over it as of yet.
[+5 Polish Stability]
Polish-Brandenburgian Skirmish
Krakow, Poland
A skirmish has been launched by a local Polish duke over the Dust located near the German border. The attackers were unpleasantly surprised to discover that, beyond the Brandenburgian garrison, an Austrian detachment was waiting for them. That forced the Polish forces to ask for further reinforcements, which were eventually able to overwhelm the defenders.
The news of this incident began placing in question the ability of the current duke of Brandenburg, as well as in general the ability of the Holy Roman Empire to defend itself against invaders, leaving a sour taste in the politics of the Provinces.
This incident, as well as the discovery of more Dust on the border of Poland and HRE, means that the relations between the two countries are even more strained.
[+5 Polish Stability, -5 Brandenburg Stability]
Dust found in Sieradz!
Krakow, Poland
In the town of Sieradz, a farmer has dug up something that definitely isn’t dirt. Upon further investigation, it seems that he has discovered Dust. Considering the relatively close proximity from the town, that didn’t remain unseen by the Holy Roman Empire, and it could be expected that more skirmishes could arise.
[Dust Source Added]
Theological Quarrel[/B
Antioch
A brief theological debate on the streets of Antioch has began,one concerning the state of faith in the Holy Lands. The combination of Roman Catholicism, Islam and the Last Book heresy is worrying some, making them believe that one religion must triumph over all the rest, or there’d be only chaos awaiting. The Constabulary, hearing rumours that some of the more...radical “theologians” are openly chanting for outright separation of portions, decided to lock them up until they calm down. Further investigation showed that, rumours were just that - rumours, and they were let free.
However, this still has left a slight strain upon the inner stability, as some are wondering about the words of the theologians.
[-5 Antioch Stability]
Antioch finds Dust near Cairo
Antioch
A caravan, going on the long, long road from Antioch all the way to Tunisia, made a discovery as they were leaving the outskirts of Cairo: Dust! They’ve notified the local city authorities, who have began acting up on harvesting the resource.
[Dust Source Added]
Favourite Dies!(-stability)
Milan, Lombardy
Countess Anne di Maria never had a chance. The terrible beasts entered her house, and ripped apart the poor woman to shreds. The King, who always enjoyed her company, is struck by the news, and rumours say he didn’t go out of his room for at least two days.
[-5 Lombard Stability]
Squabble Over Dust
Milan, Lombardy
The source of Dust located within the proximity of Tuscany has been always an arena for squabbles between both Lombard and Papal authorities. Hopes that the newly announced Italian League would help turning that into a thing of the past, turned out to be sour, as once more, the old squabble began anew. This didn’t reflect within the Lombard people, who believe that the Pope wants to hoard the Dust, and eventually, engage into a landgrab once the Creatures weaken Lombardy enough.
[-5 Lombard Stability; Lombard populace loses some trust in the pope]
Bureaucracy Flushed
Rome, Papal States
For many years, the Papal bureaucracy has been plagued by corruption, less-than-holy acting, and general slowness, becoming the jest of many Italian authors, whether famous or not. To combat this, the Papal State has began a clearance of their bureaucracy, replacing it with able and, for now, uncorrupted bureaucrats.
That, of course is showing dividends: an increase in economic activity have already brought prosperity to the Pope and his subjects.
[One-off resource boost]
Dust Found Near the Lake of Bracciano
Rome, Papal States
To the northeast of Rome, near the lake Bracciano, a local fisherman there found Dust. Papal authorities immediately have seized the chance and began to exploit the newly-discovered resource.
[Dust Source Added]
Siege of Milan
The Creatures went forth once more. One charge to end it all. Milan was besieged, surrounded. To be exterminated and burnt down to the ground, surely. But Lombardy does not fall. It stood bravely, as they were slowly encroaching the city and beginning to seep through the quarters of the city. But from the south, relief forces from the Pope have arrived, bravely combating the creatures. Furthermore, from the city itself, the defenders and all of its populace, as they heard the thunder of battle, made a desperate sally to the north, which eventually broke down the siege completely, as the rest of the Creatures fled away.
[Creatures will make no advances for the next turn]
University Grows!
Bologna, Verona-Bologna
More and more people enrol into the University of Bologna. New faculties begin opening, and research there is going nicely. The Bishop is more than thrilled, as the students and professors poke important things about the Faith, the Creatures, and the such.
[+5 Veronan Stability]
Lost Caravan
Tunis
It has been three months since the caravan from Tunis to Cyrenaica went on its journey. While even under perfect conditions, this travel would’ve took 4 weeks, its disappearance is mysterious. When riders were sent out to find out its whereabouts, all they found is a pile of bones and some burned remnants. What happened there - was it bandits or something else, is a mystery. In any case, the citizens of Cyrenaica aren’t especially impressed by the fact bandits roam in the unguarded routes of Tunis.
[-5 Tunisian Stability]
The Scandinavian Wedding
Uppsala, Sweden
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the Swedish Crown accepted the counter-offer of the Norwegian King. The festivities proceded without major incident. The administration of the two Kingdoms remains split, as the Queen tends to her subjects and the King tends to his.
[New Issue: The Scandinavian Wedding]
