TheLizardKing
Let's talk Michelle.
Well, this is going to be awkward.
SKNES: Architecture of Aggression
- Thread starter SouthernKing
- Start date
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
Well, I did promise an update today, and it's done. However, I'd like to go back over and review the casualties especially and the update in general so that the it's the best quality possible.
Sorry about the delay, it'll be up tomorrow for sure.
Sorry about the delay, it'll be up tomorrow for sure.
SamSniped
DJ Goodboye
No problem! I can wait 
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
Update 9: The Whirlwind (960 AD/348 AH)
Across the world, armies of sizes eclipsing those of Alexander, Xerxes, and Caesar were raised. Christian and Muslim alike, man after man prepares to depart from a home he had never left to head for battle. The Pope had called a Crusade. The High Imam of Aleppo had called a Jihad. From the lowest baron to the Holy Roman Emperor, from a sheikh to sultans and caliphs in the Arabian sands, war horns sounded. A fire had risen to storm the Mediterranean world once more.
Despite many disagreements in the process, the march to war has had a profound impact on diplomacy throughout the world. Christian nations especially have begun to use Latin as a sort of diplomatic lingua franca. Easier communication has allowed for greater international cooperation and easier administration.
(All participating nations: +Stability)
The Second Great Crusade
The first battles of the Crusade were fought not in Africa or the Levant, but on the isles of Socotra as a massive Zengid invasion fleet approached. Although the royal family was able to flee to safety (and exile) in India, the king and the spiritual leader of the Coptic church stayed behind by choice and were both killed in the fighting. The Axumites fought fiercely and to the last man, but were outnumbered nearly six to one. The Coptic church was shattered and left with no leadership, and most of its members would convert to Islam within the decade.
(-Axum)
(Zengids: -4 Swordsmen, -3 Irregulars)
The Islamic nations set up a vast wall of defensive positions from Alexandria to Antioch, in preparation for a Christian assault on the Holy Land. The newly declared Sultan of Aleppo braced a massive front of soldiers from all across Islam for a Christian assault on the Holy Land.
The attack they were expecting never came.
Instead, it was the Vandals who would face a rebuke for decades upon decades of raiding. A Holy Roman fleet came upon Carthage in force. The Vandals did not stand alone they were aided by Egyptian soldiers from the east, and a Badajoz force who had supposed to be aiding the Zengids but had been caught in transport. It wasnt much, but it was enough to make a final stand against the Christians.
The Venetians invaded and seized the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Menorca after some brief but pitched naval battles in the Mediterranean. With superior ships and superior leadership despite the Vandals raiding tradition, the Venetians easily won the day and pushed the Vandals naval capability out of striking distance to the Italian and French coasts. Another, later attack gave Venice the island of Crete.
(Venice: -1 Marina, -1 Dromon, -1 Cypri-Dromon, +Economy)
(Vandals: -4 Galleys, -Economy)
The Christian invasion force consisted of soldiers from all across the Holy Roman Empire, and from Sicily the last invaded after nobles made public their fears of a Vandal invasion. The first landing, at the beach south of Carthage near the Gulf of Hammamet, was a failure, but further landings at the same location pushed the Vandals further inland. Despite their best efforts, the Vandals were largely pushed southwards. The Christians after heavy fighting took the west, and eventually the entire country.
The city of Carthage itself fell after a year-long siege, and burned. Large portions of the city, including the Alchemical Academy and the great Port of Carthage, were set ablaze by a fire accidentally started by the Sicilians during the citys fall. Some of the Academys volumes had been hastily evacuated by the retreating army, and others were saved by a few Holy Roman soldiers who would take them home as curios, but most were lost to flame or to looters. In the chaos, a Sicilian sailor made away with a jar of Greek fire suffice to say he was rewarded well by the king.
Carthage was lost, but the Vandal Sultan fled to safety in Egypt. An attempted Christian attack on Fatimid-controlled Libya failed thanks to the efforts of an organized Muslim defense that halted the Christians in their tracks, albeit at some cost. The Vandals have lost their homeland, and their army is in tatters, bruised and exhausted, but they will live to fight another day. In the Vandals place, a Holy Roman Kingdom of Carthage has been established, but it rules over a battered land, its trade routes deserted and destroyed from war.
(France: -5 Swordsmen, -2 Horsemen, -2 Catholic Knights)
(Pisa: -4 Swordsmen, -1 Horsemen)
(Sicily: +Greek fire)
(Venice: -2 Marinas, -1 Catholic Knight, -1 Siege)
(Abbasids: -2 Swordsmen, -2 Crossbowmen)
(Badajoz: -5 Castilian Royal Swordsmen, -3 Horsemen)
(Fatimids: -3 Swordsmen, -5 Crossbowmen, -2 Horsemen)
(Hijaz: -2 Swordsmen)
(Vandals: -5 Irregulars, -6 Swordsmen, -4 Crossbowmen, -2 Horsemen, -5 Vandal Raiders, -7 Galleys)
(Zengids: -4 Swordsmen, -4 Crossbowmen)
Despite the Vandals woes, in the north, Italy and France came under fire not from Vandals, but rather from Fatimid soldiers prowling the seas. A Fatimid fleet slipped past the Christians and began raiding seaside towns in southern Italy. While the Sicilian and Venetian navies still prowled the seas, it was not after serious damage was done to the coasts, with towns burned, Christians slaughtered, and wealth looted, that they were able to track them down, and even then it took much of the Christians naval capabilities.
(Aquitaine: -Economy)
(Fatimids: -5 Swordsmen, -5 Galleys, +3 Plunder)
(Naples: -1 Galley)
(Pisa: -2 Galleys)
(Venice: -2 Cypri-Dromons)
In the east, an Aquitanian lord arrived in Constantinople seeking passage for his fleet and army through Anatolia or the Black Sea to northwestern Arabia. But the Emperor flatly refused to give the Catholics passage. It is not known what their target was. Perhaps an attack of Antioch and Syria from the north? Or an assault on the Abbasid Caliphate? With Roman support for the crusade all but nonexistent, the attack that was supposed to happen never happened. The participants returned to Crete, disgruntled and angry, even as Zengid naval attacks on their fleets took a minor toll. Rumor has it that there was even hushed conversation of an unspeakable proposition, of the sacking of a great city
(Aquitaine: -2 Galleys, -1 Cypri-Dromon)
The West and North
Badajoz completed the finest mosque in al-Andalus, and perhaps in all of Islam. Pilgrimages to see this great building have raked in a fair share of income for Badajoz. Coastal forts are also being built, in order to protect Badajoz's trade in these bloody times.
(Badajoz: +Economy)
The Emir of Barcelona was determined to keep his country wealthy through peace. He began the construction of a port in Barcelona, to create a new center of trade. But it might be too brazen of a decision the traditional Mediterranean trade routes have been all but shuttered by warships, and there is not yet much wealth flowing in from the sea.
The Dominions and Forn Siðrs hold over Britain slipped even further. Intense Papal missionary activity in Scotland resulted in a full-blown palace coup. One of the kings sons, who had become Catholic, ousted his father from power. He fled to Brythonia, and is now calling on the Brythonian king for aid. Jorvik did send some soldiers, but they were held off. It seems that Catholicism wants to retain its grip on this part of Britain as a valuable foothold against the Dominion's hegemony.
(Scotland: -2 Irregulars, -1 Crossbowman)
(Jorvik: -2 Norse Raiders, -1 Swordsman)
In Jorvik and Dublin, however, Forn Siðr fought back and won. Missionary activity from Jutland served to help push back Catholicisms advance. Churches were burned, shrines to Odin and Thor erected in their place. Mass conversions back to Forn Siðr were held in major cities and towns. With the Catholic threat on the wane outside of Scotland, the country was stabilized.
(Jorvik, Dublin: +Stability)
A new series of religious laws, coupled with some extensions of existing transportation networks into former Catavellauni territory, in Brythonia helped bring the Catavellauni and Celtic Druidists back from the brink of rebellion. While the laws gave protection and citizenship to Drudists, even allowing them to sit in positions of power and own land, they did no such thing for Catholics. Rather, Catholics were openly discriminated against, given no citizenship, no rights as residents of Brythonia, although their right to worship was protected. Many Catholics simply gave in and converted. The extension of transportation networks also gave Brythonia a small economic boost, although efforts were hampered in some areas by Catevellauni bandits.
(Brythonia: +Economy, +Stability)
The Suomi continued the construction of their capital city Keskitähti, and it was completed to the stage where the ruling dynasty could move in. Kalevis descendents began to centralize the Suomi state from the new capital. A number of Finnish tribes to the east were integrated into the federation, and several other tribes under the banner of the federation settled in the west, on the other side of the Baltic Sea.
(Suomi: +Economy, +Stability)
The Poles, seeking new conquests, turned their eye on Brandenburg. An invasion began. Polish cavalry attacked Brandenburg from both north and south. It should have been easy, but the Oder River proved to be a great challenge for the Poles to surmount. Attempts, especially by Polish cavalry, to cross the river were all stymied by Brandenburger crossbowmen. In the center, the Poles tried to cross with foot soldiers, but those too failed. Although the Poles did reach Gdansk eventually, their numbers had been decimated to the point where an attempted siege failed. The Poles, seeing that further attacks would simply fail, retreated, perhaps to try another day.
(Poland: -8 Swordsmen, -6 Horse Archers, -1 Siege)
(Brandenburg: -6 Swordsmen, -3 Crossbowmen, -1 Horseman)
But with the army focused on subjugating Brandenburg, trouble was beginning to brew in the south. With nothing stopping them, a revolt erupted around Kyiv, and within months turned into a full-blown rebellion. Attempts by Poles to restore order failed spectacularly. With Kyiv in rebellion, other regions of Poland are contemplating an attempt for independence, too.
(Poland: -Stability, -3 Swordsmen, -2 Horsemen)
Despite Thuringia joining the Holy Roman Empire, its dissolution continued. Several civilized Boii tribes in the east, focused on maintaining independence from the Franks, elevated their own king to power. More focused on helping out in the Crusade, Thuringia largely let Bohemia go. A reduced Thuringia is now more stable than it has been in years.
(Thuringia: +Stability)
The East
The Great Library of Constantinople was completed, elevating Constantinople to among the greatest centers of learning in the Christian world, as others begin to fall into the annals of war. While staying out of the Crusade, a new corps was created in the Roman Empire the Tagmata. Highly trained professional soldiers primarily serving as Imperial Guards and elites in the army, the Tagmata were also trained to be devout Orthodox Christians, and their loyalty to the Emperor and the Patriarch is unchallenged. Conversions of Hellenists in the Empire proper allowed for further stabilization of the state, and the old Roman road network, centuries old, began to be renovated and expanded. The former jewel of Justinians Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, was restored back to its pristine state as a true Orthodox cathedral. Despite Christianitys return, gladiator battles, chariot races, circuses, and other spectacles from old Rome commonplace in Hellenic times remain culturally strong.
(Rome: +Stability)
The Avar Khaganate began the construction of a road network that was planned to become an integral part of the Roman network, which the Romans began to rebuild not long after. Already, the construction of the road network has begun to stimulate trade and bring wealth to an inherently poor land. The khagan, while not completely converting to Orthodoxy, explicitly allowed Orthodox missionary activity in his country. The new Orthodox community in the Avar Khaganate has displaced many of the Tengris of the eastern steppe, as well as the Slavic polytheists, many of whom are beginning to question the wisdom of the khagans decision.
(Avars: +Economy, -Stability)
Croatia too received an influx of Orthodox missionary activity. The Orthodox missionaries have especially been able to convert Serb and Avar settlements under Croat rule. Croatia has begun to be affected by severe infighting as Catholic and Orthodox settlements and their leaders attack each other. Some Serbs have threatened to outright revolt. In the backdrop, traditional Slavic paganism has faded away into isolated enclaves, dueling the Christians for survival.
(Croatia: -Stability)
Reforms in the Khazar Khaganate began to centralize the state and create a monarchy. While the reforms have been successful at modernizing administration to a degree, some tribal leaders are concerned that they might lose their power. At the same time, expansion to the northeast has brought several fringe tribes under the Khaganates banner.
(Khazars: -> Early Monarchy, -Stability, +Economy)
In the Qasimid Sultanate, a project began to construct schools of Islamic learning nationwide. The project has received some funding from the sultan, but has mostly been sponsored by Sufis in the sultanates administration. As the mainstays of Islamic learning Aleppo, Carthage, Baghdad, Alexandria descend into war, it seems that replacements are needed, and Yemen is stepping up to the task.
Khorasan and the Ghaznavid Sultanate both expanded north. There they encountered the ancient Zoroastrian Kingdom of Transoxiana. With its capital in Samarkand, this kingdom had its roots in the ancient times of Alexander the Great, and was growing richer and richer from the fruits of Silk Road trade. Transoxiana is a peaceful but wealthy kingdom, and provides havens for faiths older than even Christ himself, including the faith of the teachings of a hallowed man from the east, a man named Gautama Buddha. Yet Transoxiana has had clashes with Persian settlers, and time will tell if Khorasan or Transoxiana emerges victorious.
Taman, too, had an interest in Samarkand a lavish trade expedition to the city. There, the traders were able to secure deals for trade links further east, from a mythic land called Cathay that the Romans were rumored to have visited. Tea, paper, and other goods never before seen began to flow through Taman. With the new money, a great Orthodox cathedral began to be built. Known as the Gökkatedral, or Heavenly Cathedral, when it is completed it will rival the Hagia Sophia itself. Surprisingly, a state-funded mosque, the Ilktamanicami, or First Tamanic Mosque, was also built, although it was nowhere near as extravagant as the cathedral. Perhaps Taman will one day serve as the Gateway to the East?
(Taman: +Economy)
Declaring something along the lines of God wills it! the short-lived Herevan Orthodox church agreed to reunite with that in Constantinople, and accept the supreme ecumenical authority of the patriarch in said city. Although a number of hardliners were not pleased, the differences were subtle enough that few bothered to do anything about the matter. Simultaneously, Armenians began to settle across the Caspian. The new settlers have developed farming communities over the ruins far more ancient towns and villages in the region, although the Tamanic blazing of trade routes to Samarkand and Transoxiana means that many of the new settlements are more reliant on trade instead.
(Armenia: +Economy, -Stability)
The Gupta Empire lost control over its western territories in Oman, and the imams were restored to power. Even this has not helped Gupta administration, and it appears that the Guptas are on the fast track to collapse.
OOC:
As per MusicLords request, Byzantium has been renamed to Rome. Ill pretend that it was called Rome the entire game.
MusicLord: Conversion wouldnt be a project; it just requires you to invest in missionary activity until you can rid the county of (in your case the Hellenists). The other things on their own would be too minor to force me to create an entire project out of them.
DC123456789: Unfortunately, Axum was destroyed, and right now theres not a whole lot to do for you. If you want to keep playing, Id be happy to recommend a country, or theres always the BT coming up.
Gem Hound: You forgot to pay upkeep I deducted that from other places. Dont forget next time :/
Grandkhan: Unfortunately, your nation was destroyed by a surprise attack. You can (role)play as the king in exile if you want, or you can select another one. Id be happy to recommend one.
This update is probably the bloodiest so far, but honestly it could have been a little bloodier.
I am also amused at the 5 or so players who have crisscrossed Europe just to get jars of Greek fire. I'd like to say that it's really not worth all the extra effort.
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
Spoiler Stats 960 AD :
Spoiler Map :
Spoiler Labeled map. I'm experimenting with different fonts for different religious groups for this update, btw :
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
OOC: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not send me any PMs for another few hours. My PM box is 98% full and needs cleanup, I still have to decide what (not) to delete.
Grandkhan
Telvanni Master Wizard
Thus ends the Great Vandal Sultanate, which survived for five hundred years. 
And it was going so well too...
Regardless, well played, Christians. Well played.
I admit, I am very attached to the Vandals at this stage. How would playing as a Vandal king in exile work? I have no forces, no land, and no money.
And it was going so well too...Regardless, well played, Christians. Well played.
I admit, I am very attached to the Vandals at this stage. How would playing as a Vandal king in exile work? I have no forces, no land, and no money.
SamSniped
DJ Goodboye
I think I deserve some tactical genius medal 
@GK- You could play as Carthage on our side, if you want. You would be on a different team, but it will be a valiant fight to the death against the heathens!
@GK- You could play as Carthage on our side, if you want. You would be on a different team, but it will be a valiant fight to the death against the heathens!
Mickzter97
The One and Only
To: Holy Roman Empire
From: Emirate of Badajoz
They men you killed were not sent as an act of war, but aid to Zenegid. Badajoz is not at war with the Holy Roman Empire.
From: Emirate of Badajoz
They men you killed were not sent as an act of war, but aid to Zenegid. Badajoz is not at war with the Holy Roman Empire.
Grandkhan
Telvanni Master Wizard
OOC: Sorry SamSniped, but its just not the same without Muslim Germanians pillaging the coasts of the Mediterranean.
SouthernKing
crickety cricket
@Grandkhan: You do have your army - it's in Egypt at the moment.
SamSniped
DJ Goodboye
OOC: @GK- You could pillage the Fatimids and Zengids. However, I realize it would be a lot different. If you do wish to help the Christians, though, Pisa and Naples are always open, and so is Carthage 
Mickzter97
The One and Only
To: Our old friend from Carthage
From: Emirate of Badajoz
It saddens to see your great Empire go. Tales of your glory will be told for years to come in our lands!
OOC: Come to Barcelona
From: Emirate of Badajoz
It saddens to see your great Empire go. Tales of your glory will be told for years to come in our lands!
OOC: Come to Barcelona
Grandkhan
Telvanni Master Wizard
I have a much better idea. I know exactly what I'm going to do with the last remaining Vandal Army.
Thankyou for the excellent offers though.
Thankyou for the excellent offers though.
Mickzter97
The One and Only
And SK, use Old English for HRE and Informal Roman for al-Andalus.
And why did my stability drop? It was 2 last turn.
@GK - Create havoc in Fatimad and claim the throne and make it a New Age Carthage?
And why did my stability drop? It was 2 last turn.
@GK - Create havoc in Fatimad and claim the throne and make it a New Age Carthage?
SamSniped
DJ Goodboye
I could help
Grandkhan
Telvanni Master Wizard
OOC: Much, much crazier. 
But first, because I can't sleep, a eulogy.
The following is an excerpt from the Rex Wandalorium, or, the Kings of the Vandals, the saga recounting the exploits of all the Kings of the Vandals since long before the migration to the Mediterranean. The following is the entry for Sultan Gelimer VIII, the last Vandal Sultan of Carthage.
And so did Gelimer's father die, and so rose Gelimer the Wise, 8th to his name,
to the Throne,
Who did so righteously smite the infidel,
and he built a great academy,
for all the scholars of the World to study at,
for they wished to learn of the alchemies,
that were so beloved of the Forn Sithr,
and learn they did,
and the men of Carthage were reckoned wise,
and Gelimer was reckoned the wisest among the wise,
and Gelimer sent forth to bring the Jew to Carthage,
for the Jews had much money and brought much wealth to Carthage,
and Gelimer went forth and said "The Jew is a man of the book,
what right do the true believers have to visit their wrath against a peaceful man of the book?
for Gelimer was a holy man,
and Gelimer had great faith in Allah,
and when he heard of the Frenkish crusade against Quds,
he sent forth much of his gold to aid the Zengids,
but the Evil Frenks did loathe Carthage
for they were jealous of its splendour and wealth
and sought to destroy it,
and the Frenks martialed a million men to their host
and sailed for Carthage
and they did destroy Corsica and Sardinia
and they did sack Crete
and they landed outside Carthage
the battle did rage for a 100 days and nights,
and on the 1st night, Gelimer did ride forward and say,
"Let us smite the Frenk, for they are heathens and far our power!"
and Gelimer and the Vandal Host rode against the Frenk,
and they did smite many,
but fewer Vandals did come back,
and then on the 2nd day, did Gelimer ride against the heathens,
and fewer Vandals did come back,
and so this went on until the 99th day,
when Gelimer found himself standing alone against the Frenk,
and Gelimer rode forth against the heathens
but he did not come back
and on the 100th day, did the Frenks storm Carthage,
and they did burn it to the ground,
and destroy the Academy of Gelimer the Wise, and the Ports of his father Theodemar II,
and did replace their Kingdom with Infidel
and so ended the Vandalic Sultanate of Carthage,
and of this Sultanate was heard no more.
But first, because I can't sleep, a eulogy.
The following is an excerpt from the Rex Wandalorium, or, the Kings of the Vandals, the saga recounting the exploits of all the Kings of the Vandals since long before the migration to the Mediterranean. The following is the entry for Sultan Gelimer VIII, the last Vandal Sultan of Carthage.
And so did Gelimer's father die, and so rose Gelimer the Wise, 8th to his name,
to the Throne,
Who did so righteously smite the infidel,
and he built a great academy,
for all the scholars of the World to study at,
for they wished to learn of the alchemies,
that were so beloved of the Forn Sithr,
and learn they did,
and the men of Carthage were reckoned wise,
and Gelimer was reckoned the wisest among the wise,
and Gelimer sent forth to bring the Jew to Carthage,
for the Jews had much money and brought much wealth to Carthage,
and Gelimer went forth and said "The Jew is a man of the book,
what right do the true believers have to visit their wrath against a peaceful man of the book?
for Gelimer was a holy man,
and Gelimer had great faith in Allah,
and when he heard of the Frenkish crusade against Quds,
he sent forth much of his gold to aid the Zengids,
but the Evil Frenks did loathe Carthage
for they were jealous of its splendour and wealth
and sought to destroy it,
and the Frenks martialed a million men to their host
and sailed for Carthage
and they did destroy Corsica and Sardinia
and they did sack Crete
and they landed outside Carthage
the battle did rage for a 100 days and nights,
and on the 1st night, Gelimer did ride forward and say,
"Let us smite the Frenk, for they are heathens and far our power!"
and Gelimer and the Vandal Host rode against the Frenk,
and they did smite many,
but fewer Vandals did come back,
and then on the 2nd day, did Gelimer ride against the heathens,
and fewer Vandals did come back,
and so this went on until the 99th day,
when Gelimer found himself standing alone against the Frenk,
and Gelimer rode forth against the heathens
but he did not come back
and on the 100th day, did the Frenks storm Carthage,
and they did burn it to the ground,
and destroy the Academy of Gelimer the Wise, and the Ports of his father Theodemar II,
and did replace their Kingdom with Infidel
and so ended the Vandalic Sultanate of Carthage,
and of this Sultanate was heard no more.
DC123456789
Deity
Umm... SouthernKing, I said to transport all the important church officials (except the Pope) to India specifically so the church could continue.
Edit: I'll take a moderate-strength country on the Christian side of the crusade so I can take my revenge on the Zengids. If the crusade succeeds, maybe I'll retake Axum.
Edit: I'll take a moderate-strength country on the Christian side of the crusade so I can take my revenge on the Zengids. If the crusade succeeds, maybe I'll retake Axum.
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