190
Within weeks the Barony was in a situation that could be tentatively termed as 'stable'.
Spearmen and militia had threatened the unruly populace into line. There were enough supporters of the Baron among the lower classes to act as a check against those who opposed him. And of course the aristocracy backed the Baron to the hilt, and their coin flowed to aid him in establishing his fiefdom that they saw as freedom from the un-Delphian character of the new dual-ethnicity kingdom. Some among the populace expected the Baron to send in the troops to slay the dissenting citizenry, but this did not come to pass and was written off by the baronial authorities as rumour-mongering.
The Baron's supporters distributed propaganda legitimising his rule to sway the undecided into accepting the secession of the Barony as a
fait accompli. Town criers spread the message: anyone who opposed the Baron's legitimacy threatened the security and safety of all who dwelt in the Barony.
The Delphian Kingdom issued ultimatums of surrender. The Barony did not respond to these demands, but nor did they seek to escalate the situation. An uneasy peace lay between the Delphian Kingdom and its allies and the upstart Barony of Apollonia.
Before long the militias gave way to a proper baronial army. How it would stand should the might of the Delphian army invade was anyone's guess.
During the tense peace the Baron consolidated his grip on the city and recruited new troops to garrison the city. He had plans of making Apollonia a fortress city to rival any other in the world.
191
Meanwhile, back in Delphi, the Poles attempted to negotiate for Delphian cotton. Their offer was very low, but the Delphian negotiators managed to strike a bargain of the Polish paying six gold per year in return for the kingdom accepting their embassy, as well as securing Delphi's 'no' vote against the "marble ban" in the upcoming World Congress (clearly the Poles didn't realise this was how the Delphians intended to vote anyway!)
A deal where the Dutch offered free passage of Delphian troops in return for gold ended.
Embassies were exchanged between the Delphian Kingdom and the Despotate of China and the Shoshone Federal Republic. It was hoped that with this act relations would be improved between the kingdom and the other great continental powers. The Poles wanted too high a price for a Delphian embassy, however. Some blamed the eagerness of those who negotiated previously for accepting the Polish embassy too cheaply, but recriminations wouldn't change the reality of the situation.
The nearby Barony of Apollonia reached its first anniversy. The situation there had admittedly stabilised. It was said that the Baron's rule was brutal and dissent was threatened or brutalised, but it was impossible to get reports to confirm this.
Leonidas, the aging Synedros and former Chief Minister did not sleep much, distressed as he was at receiving no word of his wife's whereabouts or circumstances. He knew she would be considered to be a high value target should the regime there realise her identity. He had no way of knowing that the Baron's informants had already betrayed her to him.
In the meantime, though, the Delphian Kingdom mobilised a number of military assets. The Apollonian Council heard rumours of these actions and were convinced it would lead to war, and they attempted to fortify the city in any way they could. Unfortunately the productivity of the Barony was so low that it would be many years before the city would be better defended than it was at the time of the secession.
192
The Despotate of China wanted to trade with Delphi but wasn't willing to offer fair terms.
The Dutch wanted to renew an existing deal for a Delphian luxury in return for 4 gold per year. Delphian negotiators managed to talk the Dutch up to six gold per year and the deal was struck.
The Siamese city of Muang Saluang grew. The majority of its population were now adherents of the Delphian Hellenic faith.
Troop movements within the Delphian Kingdom intensified, aided speedily along in their travels by the Meldanian Highway. The Barony of Apollonia had only rumours to go on, but the situation still looked dire to he and his Council.
193
The Despotate of China completed the Globe Theatre.
In terrible news, the Poles secured an alliance with the Province of Quebec, at the expense of Delphi. This robbed the kingdom of not only a key ally against the other continental powers, but also against the upstart Barony.
Meanwhile the Barony of Apollonia grew for the first time since its declaration of independence three years ago. Things seemed to be looking up there, although war seemed to be looming as an ever-present threat on the horizon.
In Dostana a platoon of crossbowmen completed their training and headed west. The University of Dostana commenced construction.
194
The Dutch Protestant Order and the Delphian Kingdom continued an existing deal to trade Delphian cotton for 5 gold per year.
The Dutch also reached the Renaissance Era.
The first convening of the World Congress was held in Beijing.
The Dutch and the Poles together ensured the Arts Funding motion was passed by the Congress.
Meanwhile the marble ban was only narrowly defeated: the two Chinese delegates were blocked by the Shoshone and Delphian delegates. The tied vote was a close call indeed.
The Delphian Kingdom then proposed a "World Fair" for the next session of the Congress. The Poles were extremely grateful for this act.
Domestically, the University of Delphi was completed in the capital. Pursuant to the Chief Minister's orders, the city temporarily commenced construction on a temple.
195
Delphian researchers completed their investigations into Acoustics. Immediately work on the Delphi Novan temple was halted and work commenced on the Sistine Chapel. It was not expected to be completed for sixteen years.
The social policy of Oligarchy was adopted by the kingdom. The aqueduct of Delphi Nova was dismantled to make way for an improved, cheaper to maintain version.
The wisest men of the kingdom turned their attentions to the concept of a "compass" to aid with naval navigation. They expected to have results within four years.
Five years after the Barony of Apollonia had declared its independence, finally the official Delphian response came. And it came on swift wing: siege weapons and army formations approached from the east, via the incomplete Meldanian Highway and via the Province of Zurich.
The Baron, having now had half a decade to solidify his power base in the west, mobilised as much of the citizenry as was possible to prepare for war. He had some cards he could play, but he wanted to see how the Delphian forces approached and to properly assess their intentions before playing them.
196
Dutch Protestantism undertook a reformation, which mattered to adherents of that faith. But in the Delphian Kingdom and the Barony of Apollonia it went almost unnoticed, because war was upon them.
The brave Apollonian spearmen marched out to meet their former brethren. Their Delphian kin moved forward to meet them upon the field of battle.
A year after the Delphian troops had entered the realm, hostilities had not yet commenced. The Baron continued recruiting and preparing for war, and prepared to put into action his plans to take hostages in the event of a siege being laid down upon him.
197
The Barony had become isolated further from the rest of the world, with hostile troops foraging in the fields. It was the tense calm before the storm. Neither army seemed prepared to engage in hostilities just yet. Slowly but surely the Baron put into action some of his plans. Hostages were taken from the problem neighbourhoods, including high value targets he knew the Delphians would not want to see harmed. He sent out messengers to parley, but they were sent back without formal responses. Clearly the kingdom didn't feel a declaration of war was necessary, as they obviously still claimed the rogue city as an integral internal part of their territory.
The Delphian army were surprised when the Barony's spearmen retreated to the coast, but not the safety of the city itself. Had their move to meet them been a feint? Or a bluff? It seemed impossible that the small city would be able to resist the forces arrayed against it, but the Delphians took no chances. They moved their armies to the edge of the city and moved their siege engines into position. The baronial spearmen were pelted by Delphian crossbows, but beyond that long-range attack neither army moved to engage the other.
Back away from the front lines of the civil war the University of Kirrha had been completed. The city turned its efforts to the establishment of an Artists' Guild.
The courthouse of Soukotai was completed which appeased the unhappy populace and reassured them that even under the Delphian foreigners justice would continue to be done (or at least seen to be done).
Either as a reward to the patient citizens of Soukotai or as a cynical ploy to keep them pacified, works commenced on a colosseum to entertain the masses.
198
It was at this point, when the Siege of Apollonia was about to properly commence that the unthinkable (from a Delphian perspective) occurred: two platoons of pikemen appeared seemingly out of nowhere and flanked the Delphian army, capturing civilian members of the pursuing supply train.
((Yeah, I'm roleplaying this as the Baron's doing --- which is awesome because it's totally a sneaky tactical move he would approve of --- but it was actually a spontaneous game-generated event . . . the people in the Barony must be so unhappy that rebels spawned! But story-wise it was totally the Baron's cunning!))
The Delphian forces, torn between the city they were intent on liberating and this surprise flanking force, were unprepared for such a happening. But the Delphian general leading the expeditionary force courageously ordered his army to concentrate on both sides of the battlefield rather than retreating or turning back to protect their rear. Battering rams pummelled the city's ramparts, while swordsmen clashed with the spearmen defenders while another formation of swordsmen conducted sorties into the outskirts of the city itself before falling back, sustaining only minor casualties. The trebuchet and crossbowmen at the back of the army concentrated their firepower on the nearest of the pikemen formations, and the train of chariot archers tread dangerously close to the foe that could easier tear them to shreds in a brave move to act as distraction from the other ranged assets.
199
The Siege of Apollonia had lasted for one year. As it entered its second year the Baron implemented his desperate plan. He sent messengers to the Delphian army informing them that he had rounded up hostages loyal to the Delphian throne that he would be killing in their thousands should the siege continue. Instead of causing the Delphian forces to falter it hardened their resolve. When that failed the Baron sent messengers informing the Delphi of certain important persons who they were holding prisoner, including the former Chief Minister's wife Alexis. These threats troubled the Delphian army, but did not cause them to lift the siege.
At the rear of the army the Baron's flanking formations were swiftly dealt with and all of the captured citizens freed.
Battering rams devastated the outer city and the spearmen in the field were defeated. Not since the days of the Mad King Alexander the Great was there such a show of Delphian might. Blood flowed like rivers through the streets of Apollonia. A countless many had died. The urban fighting went from street to street, but slowly and surely the Delphian forces pushed the defenders back further and further into the heart of the city. After nine years it seemed that the Barony of Apollonia was coming to an end. There were rumours that thousands of civilians had been slain on the Baron's orders in the dying days of the siege, but how much was myth and how much was true would take some time to determine.
Delphian soldiers battered down the reinforced door to the "throne room" where they beheld a most peculiar sight: the self-proclaimed Baron stood before his throne, pointing a crossbow at the back of an unarmed woman. Around the room were a dozen baronial crossbowmen, but not all of them were aiming their loaded weapons at the doorway; some of them seemed to be aiming for the Baron and the woman before him.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," the Baron spoke in a surprisingly calm and cordial manner. "Allow me to introduce Alexis, wife of Leonidas Siomaios. I would very much appreciate an audience with your Chief Minister. Filippos from Primos is still the Chief Minister I presume."
The Delphian soldiers didn't answer, unsure as to how to proceed with a hostage situation and half a dozen crossbows aimed at them. Those among them with crossbows had the baronial targets lined up, but a standoff like this would either end with diplomacy or many deaths on both sides.
"I see you are not the loquacious types. As I said, I will speak with the Chief Minister or this woman and most of us here in this room die. And before you try anything inadvisable do be aware that my men have strict orders to not allow me to be captured alive. They will kill me to prevent my capture. I've sacrificed far too much for this country to surrender unconditionally, and I am quite prepared to die for my country. Are you prepared to answer to Leonidas should you be responsible for his wife's death?"
The former Chief Minister and faction leader still remained a dominant figure in Delphian politics. No one wanted to be responsible for getting his wife killed. But even if they had authority to arrange for an audience between the Traitor and the Chief Minister, it would take weeks for him to arrive.
Nevertheless, the self-made Baron was not in the mood for excuses. "Somebody send for the Chief Minister. Now."
So now we reach the thrilling conclusion to the secession crisis.
The Barony lays in ruins, recaptured by the Delphian Kingdom.
Alexis is being held at crossbow-point by the Baron, who is demanding an audience with the Chief Minister (who is probably a week or less away by horse with the Kirrha-to-Apollonian highway works mostly completed).
Chief Minister, the ball appears to be in your court. How will you deal with this situation?
I await your orders.
(Also, Compass has been researched. So let me know what you'd like to have researched next.)
