From the annals of Jacques de Molay - 1691
There is an old saying that all roads lead to Rome. No one knows exactly where it came from...perhaps it was an old campaigner...or a worker tired with his role in the state. Either way, it was coming true.
The lands of the Holy Roman Empire stretched far and wide - and why? Because in the sign of the cross, they had risen and conquered....
A quick sweep of the lands before me from my seat showed much progress - but much still to be desired...I spoke to my Under Marshal and found that the construction battlion never got the order to leave for the Crusades! Snarling, I send the order to have them collected at once.
Just then, the Seneschal burst in, roaring that our Under Marshal had let the men leave to do God's bidding with seige equipment belonging in our scrap heaps! Turning to face the Under Marshal, I demanded an explantion...but he just stammered. Furious, I swore that any deaths would be on his head, before dispaching him with the order to go and see to the upgrading, whatever the cost...
Turning my head skyward, I said a silent prayer for our Armies of the first Crusade, who were to take Ankara, Konya and Bursa...
* * * * *
Turn 0 - So, off we go. I generally like to have a worker team in a construction force, so I start by sending one over. I don't expect much from Mehmed, who seems to have met his match in Liz. While we desperately need Cannons over there, the variant forbids keeping cities, so I have to burn and get by with Trebs. I also generally like a Settler...but oh well. With this in mind, I have a front line Ankara to Konya to Bursa sweep that would have us deep in the heathen's lands.
I start by doing this...
And do this in person...
I then continue by destryoing a Caraval at Newcastle, and hurry the Forbidden Palace at Tours, in a bid to fix our economy.
In a time saving bid I do this despite it being a tad in his favour. Peter is pleased.
Looking at the current situation (Lots of Towns, and alot possible, as well as need for production), I go an a massive micromanaging spree, making sure as many cottages are worked as possible, so that we can revolt to Free Speech and US. For now however, I choose corporations to assist our economy while building as many Lumbermills as possible. We really do need more workers.
At the end, we attack and raze Ankara...God be praised!
Turn 1 - That theiving Liz truly is a pest. Instead of going to war the blasted leader resettles the ground! As for things at home, we lost a Galleon vs Galleon battle that was more or less a desperation move on my part. I'll have to whip at our Globe Town. And..we'll need to order new netting.
Turn 2 - A closer insepction of Arpinium reveals two artists which get fired rather fast, and put to work the land. I don't want a blasted painting in that city! the play may be the thing, but you'll work till you have a theater! I christen the hill outside Konya Crak de Chevaliers, and build a Mil Academy in Lyons, which looks to be a great production city.
Turn 3 - A real yawner. We whipped a Frigate at Arpinium to attempt to defend our nets.
Turn 4 - We marshall at Crak, and consider our next move...
Turn 5 - Corporation comes in, and I go to Liberalism, as we do really need it. In foreign news, Hatshepseut has a "diplomatic affair" with Fredrick, and they decide to join nations...Our religious corps spread the true faith to Munich, then, this happens.
We manage this on the high seas...
Diyarbakir is now...wait for it...Christian! Despite heavy warfare their mere presence on our lands has shown them the way to live despite being told otherwise by their Islamic head. Gleefully, I marshal our forces and wait for the town to grow, so we may capture it whole...
Over the sea, we have still yet to lose a man - but Konya gets past wave 1. I'm going to give those guys a shave with our grenades!
Sadly, we lose man trying to get this city...may God grant him peace. Our man Alexus I get his revenge personally, and the city is put to the sword. Huzzah!
Turn 6 - We see some shock action just about everywhere, starting as we lose a weakened grenadier in the open. "These devils attack the wounded!"
We manage to follow up our loss with Firgate win. Our Navy is doing exceedingly well on a tight budget.
We manage to take Diyarbakir (and are welcomed with open arms by our strange bearded brothers).
Then we get a call about this.
Not to worry, not to worry. They won't be getting any cities, no matter what. Ye are about to see a spirited Templar defence.
Turn 7 - We get massively Cat attacked (6 cats and a horse) and lose a Gren, badly wounding our troops. In our own lands, we are out numbered 3 to 1 on land, and 4 to 1 on the sea. I like those odds, should not be much trouble to deal with eh, wot?
I attack two Firges off Diy and come up with two victories - the ships limp into the city for repairs.
I throw a cannon to delay the attack by Mehmed's forces at home, but keep the garrison at Helio light - by design and by the fact we have few other options - hoping to bait him into an attack I'm likely to win.
I clear Bursa's outskirts of the weakend Cats and hold ground so we can heal...
Turn 8 -
At home, Whack-a-Mehmed continues, as we kill another Caraval at Arpinium, and lose a Knight against it's Islamic counterpart outside Heliopolis. Outside Bursa we heal...Back at home, we birth a GG in Rome, and I put it to sleep.
Turn 9 -
We get absolutely slaughtered outside Bursa. The Cavs come from nowhere and kill five Gren's...I think it's time for an exit strategy...as the wolves are offically out. We can no longer advance, and I weigh the odds carefully, realizing we simply cannot take any further cities without reenforcements. At home political instability has risen sharply (unhappy persons). With this, the First Crusade is over, as I seek peace...
Greatly angered, I take time to increase our bargaining position by killing a few more of us troops still in our lands with the light force I have.
Finally, I settle on this deal, which sees us add money to our coffers, and sees domestic cash flow grow by 20 GPT.
Turn 10 - Bohr is still unused - I have no clue really what to do with him. The GG in Rome still sleeps, but, he should be sent to Arpinium at once to make whipping an Army more effective.
And with that, the Grand Master lays down his sword for another...
The Save:
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