A Catholic in Pagan Lands: Another CK Dynasty

[Abe Sargent]

Alright, after three failures as the Count of Suenik, I am moving to Lubeck. Lubeck is a Pagan land ruled by a Catholic. It's a one province minor power with no alliances and nobody's vassal.

I thought about trying as one of the counts in the Alania Duchy, running a pagan land just east of Georgia, but I thought that would be too similar ot the previous dynasties.

So, enter Lubeck.

Our ruler is 27 year old Budivoj Nakonid, with a 7/9/9/5 selection of stats and Vengeful, Proud, and Reckless as his traits.

We begin with a claim on Mecklemburg, both the county and the duchy, and Rostock.

I have no wife, no children, which is interesting. It means if I immediately marry into a family, my son will be the heir instead of my grandson. I have a 4 year old brother who is my current heir and in another's court. I am courtier-less, so some should be joining me in a few days.

Okay, let's look at Lubeck in terms of mapage

[Abe Sargent]

Here you are:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2740/lubeck1066pn8.jpg


Lubeck is the tiny grey province at the base of Denmark. Mecklemburg, a five province pagan nation, is to our east. Then Pommerania, a three province pagan land. Note that either Germany or Denmark or Mecklemburg could eat us up if they wanted. We'll have to be careful. However, expansion along the Baltic pagan provinces is a good idea for an empire.

[Izulde]

Honestly, pledge to Germany or Denmark or hell even Poland.

The Pommeranians are tougher than they look and they have a tendency to ally with Mecklemberg and vice versa.

[Abe Sargent]

Our laws:

Semisalic Primogeniture. Again, I prefer Salic Primogeniture, but this is not bad.

Traditional Custom - I will again move to Feudal Contract.

Ecclestical Balance - The church means more here in the heart of the HRE than it might out in the middle of Islamic lands. I will stay with balance.

Well, since I;m not moving that, I will hop to Salic Primogeniture.

Next up is wife hunting. Ideally, I want a mate that can get me land.

Nearby areas:

Kalmar Lan has no wife, no children, nothing.

Finneveden has a wife, nothing else.

Dal has a wife, nothing more

None of the one province Swedish counties have an open opportunity. What about something bigger?

The King of Denmark has about 10 children. Nothing there.

Many of the nearby counts and dukes don't have any children. Give us a generation, and we might be able to snag something.

None of the nearby counts or dukes in Germany, Poland, Sweden or Denmark are vulnerable.

So, for now, I need a wife with great stats who is young and can have several children.

I find my ideal mate, but she's 20 and a duchess and the papal controller. She won;t come to my court and marry me. Her stats were 9/13/8/9/ - a perfect match.

Ironically, one of the best young steward courtiers is Mariam from Georgia, but I went that route before, so I'll stay away this time. Besides, what would I want with the crown of Georgia?

After much searching, I find a decent wife and make an offer.

On December 28, 1066 I am wed. I take the duty.

My new wife is Ermentrude de Macon, a 21 year old with 5/9/8/10 stats and deceitful trait. She is one of the 10 children of the Count of Besancon, and his oldest daughter.

My courtiers are three Von Rostock women. No one suitable to be my Marshal is in my court.

Jan 12 - The King of Hungary wants an alliance. That's a powerful ally. He's just too far away for me.

Jan 13 - My wife is already expecting.

Jan 16 - The count of Bascanon wants to marry his Marshal with my Spy Master. I agree, and hope that I get a replacement courtier who is male and can serve as my Marshal. Plus, he gave me his daughter, so its only right.

Jan 18 - I reject Navarra's alliance overtures.

I get my first event

Pagan Subjects are Resisting Their Subjugation

I choose to buy them off.

I get a 10% bonus to peasant loyalty in Lubeck.

Jan 24 0 Norway has sent a courtier with an alliance offer. Now this is closer than Hungary and Navarra. I take a look at the map. I intend to expand eastward, but Norway is west and North. I accept,

Norway is now our ally.

[Abe Sargent]

My hope is that Norway will keep Denmark/Sweden/Germany off our backs. Then we can look at the Mecklemburg/Pommerania allince. Right now, in our one province, we make 500 less troops than Pommerania does in all three of theirs. That's not bad, and it certainly doesn't scare me.

June 25, 1067 - The Emirate of Azerbaijan DOWs Suenik. Just in case you cared.

August 29, 1067 - Suenik pays all of their dough to Azerbaijan for peace.

October 19, 1067 - We have a son, and we named him Wladyslaw.

Nov 13 - I grant haven to a fleeing nobleman. Dobromil von Assel, a 19 year old with a martial score of 11 will be my new Marshal.

Nov 29 - Another event

Religious Tensions Are Rising in Your Realm

I Crush Them.

Lubeck is now Catholic

It is now looted (for the next while I get 90% less gold)

It is undergoing a revolt -50% to taxes and loyalty drops every month across the board.

December 2, 1067 0 Arable land is deserted and the prosperity of Lubeck is set to poor.

Dec 26 - We are expecting again.

Jan 1068 Our first year is done.

[sabotai]

I'll be reading. I bought CK and DV awhile back (along with Vichy, that expansion and HoI2:DD). I have played and really like CK, but I don't think I'm finished hiking up the learning curve yet (and yeah, I read through some of Izulde's dynasties as well).

The only thing I don't like is having to play in Europe but I understand that the game mechanics are centered around Medieval Europe. (I'd like to play as the Mongols, but oh well).

[Abe Sargent]

It was a good year. We now have a son, a Marshal, and a Catholic province. Despite the revolt, arable land issue, and so forth, it was a good first year.


What comes next?


Jan 28 1068 - I get an event. Frequent Hunting Trips with a Neighbor. I chose to go hunting with the Bishop of Bremen. There was a 75% he would become my friend, but that didn;t happen.

Aug 4 -Our child was stillborn

I order Forestry built.

Dec 16 - I choose to raise my son myself.



Hold on a sec. My country isn;t Catholic. Hmm. That event must have been a chance of my province going Catholic, and I assumed that it had.

Anyway, looting and revolt are all gone. After another year or two, I may rebuild my troops to the level it needs to be to go offensive.

[Abe Sargent]

I'll be reading. I bought CK and DV awhile back (along with Vichy, that expansion and HoI2:DD). I have played and really like CK, but I don't think I'm finished hiking up the learning curve yet (and yeah, I read through some of Izulde's dynasties as well).

The only thing I don't like is having to play in Europe but I understand that the game mechanics are centered around Medieval Europe. (I'd like to play as the Mongols, but oh well).

I know hwat you mean. I'd like to try to build a jewish nation from Ifil or a pagan one from Livonia, and so forth. Ah well.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 17, 1069 - And then I get an event: Mass-Scale Conversions. My rules peity jumps 100 and Lubeck converts. I didn;t have ot go through th sword after all. Huh.

Dec 27 - 1069 - After a quiet year, I get news that my wife is expecting again.

Janu, 1070 - As of right now, I have just 100 less troops than the entire Pommerania. Our forces are growing (they took a hit while in rebellion). Two of their provinces are full and one more is almost so. I may be able to hit them soon.

Mecklemburg is different. I can summon almost 2000 troops, they can summon almost 4000.

The County of Suenik is at war with the Shiekdom of Albania They have captured Dwin.

May 1, Our troops are now bigger than Pommerania;s. By two men.

July 13 - The 8 province Ducky of Swabia declares independance from Germany, but she is contesting it.

Sept 24 - We have a daughter and name her Roza.

Oct - 25 - We learn the building of roads

Do I build another improvement or save my money for war? Hmm. I order a Fishing Wharf built.

Dec 29 - I have an event:

I Notice that my Wife Has Been Spending a Lot of Time with a Young Bachelor in my Court.

Of my four options, I choose "It's Probably Nothing"

Jan 1, 1071 - We are up to 2521 troops. Pommerania has 2214 total.

[Abe Sargent]

At some point in time, Suenik gained Albania and is now a two province state. It also recently decided to join Byzantium.

Lasted longer and better with the computer controlling it that me. That's a real insult.

Apr 5 - Swabia lost and is reabsorbed into Germany.

May 2 - I get the hunting trips event again. The Bishop of Bremen is now a friend.

May 28 - We are again expecting children

Jan 1072 - Time to look around for a patsie, because this army is ready to attack

[Abe Sargent]

We have 2977 men. Pommerania has 2285 total. Mecklemburg has 3472 total. I have an ally named Norway.

Time to strike. My plan is to DOW Mecklemburg and launch an attack with all of my forces concentrated in one spot. I only have 500 less men but its all in one location, as opposed to the 5 locations Mecklemburg has to draw upon . In theory, and I admit that it is a theory, I should break them in the first attack, and then take Mecklemburg, while occasionally fending off an attack.

Two Wild Cards: Pommerania could jump in and assist her ally. Norway could chose not to assist me.

You only live once.

Jan 9, 1072 - I declare war against Mecklemburg.

Norway joins us. Pommerania does not.

My army is ordered to Mecklemburg.

Mecklemburg has 1170 troops. My hope is I can break them before reinforcements arrive.

Jan 19 - Battle is joined.


Feb 5 - We lose 464 men, they lose over 750 but we lost the battle and are retreating to Lubeck

Feb 20 - I lose in battle and chose to march my troops through Hamburg into Mecklemburg.

Mar 7 - We have a son and name him Pawel

March 15 - The Mecklemburg army, at 1587 is besieging Lubeck. My 2389 troops are doing likewise to Mecklemburg. If it looks like they win first, because they have been at it for a month, I'll send my army in at them. My home is that I win much sooner than they. We'll see.

June 12 - 388 men from Rugen, a vassal of Mecklemburg attack us

June 14 - The Norweigan armies lands at Rostock and begin a siege.

June 19 - We defeat the Rugan armies

June 25 - We capture Mecklemburg.

I get a white peace offer. I send my own with me being given Mecklemburg

I order my troops into Lubeck to hold up and possibly raise teh siege there.

I accept a white peace with Wolgast, the other vassal.

July 9 - We arrive back in Lubeck and are ready to hopefully, raise the siege.

July 17 - After a few days of battle, Lubeck accepts our peace proposal. We know have Mecklemburg added to our county.

Aug 28 - Mecklemburg lifts the Norweigan siege at Rostock.

Dec 1 - I choose to raise my son at the court.

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 1, 1073 - A new year. We apparently are no longer Norway’s ally. Probably when we decalred peace.

On Jan 2, Norway offers us a Peace Treaty. AND they DOW us. That’s just silly. SO I accept the alliance and am now allied with the people attacking us. That’s just wrong.

January 26 - After defeating a Norweigan army in Mecklemburg, I send a white peace offer to our ally/enemy. They have sent a rejection today.

The game says that I am their ally, but now have new allies. It’s all weird. I’ll try to play through this, but if it goes down, I’m reloading, and I’m sure you can understand that.

April 10 - They decline another offer. Here come 1000 troops. Are they for me or Mecklemburg?

April 27 - They land in Rostock

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 22, 1076 - Norway accepted our alliance offer.


Let me get you caught up.

I went ahead and simmed the next few years without taking notes just in case

We are now at peace with Norway. We are once again allies. We have captured Werle and Rostock and Rugen from Mecklemburg. We are also now the Duke of Mecklemburg, and the Chief of Wolgart is now our vassal, since that transfers with the title. We also took a lot of gold from Mecklemburg, but it wasn‘t enough. I still have around -75 gold.

Our ruler was injured, then healed with a miracle worker.

Several of our kids got traits.

I gained a rival in the count of Rugen. Then He was removed from power and he is floating among courts right now.

One of our daughters is sick then became blind

There is a rebellion in Mecklemburg province. It is also currently looted. The rebellion was from an event regarding Pagan Religions Ceremony that I chose to deny my people. The looting came from war. All of my provinces save Lubeck are Pagan. For part of the war, I was allied with Pommerania, then they left, and post war, Norway came back to me.

And that catches you up.

Again, the game engine broke on me, but we plowed through it. I hope you understand me not giving you every detail and play by play during the possible years that I might reload.

[Abe Sargent]

Honestly, pledge to Germany or Denmark or hell even Poland.

The Pommeranians are tougher than they look and they have a tendency to ally with Mecklemberg and vice versa.

The Pommeranians look like patsies and the Norweigan alliance was enough, I thought.

[Abe Sargent]

Once I had captured Mecklemburg province, it was a dagger into their heart. We took their best province. It made the most money, and it had the most troops. Subtract around 1500 from their total of troops )bringing them to 2500 in four provinces) and add it our ours (bring us to around 4500) and the second war wasn't even close.

Once we captured Mecklemburg, we are in the game for real. I had to lose 100 prestige for DOWs the Duchy again, however, now that I have all five of their provinces I'm set. I'm over the hump, so to speak. Will there still be problems? Sure. Can we still get raped by the Germans, Swedish, Polish, Danish, Norwiegans and later the Mongols? Of course. For now, however, we are alright.

[Abe Sargent]

Okay, I have reloaded my game as the Duke of Mecklemburg.

I want to give Rugen to one of my courtiers as a county, but the only extra courtier I have is pagan, and that's not a good combo.


My new provinces. All are pagan and Western Slavic:

Mecklemburg - This is now our capital. It is a pretty good province as soon as it returns from rebellion and looting. It is southeast of Lubeck, and adjacent to Werle, Rostock, Lubeck, Hamburg, and to Luneburg, Altmark by crossing the Elbe River.


Rostock - This pagan province currently has a thieves guild cutting into our taxes. It is on the tip of the land, adjacent to only Mecklemburg and Werle.


Werle - This province is east of Mecklemburg. It may be wealthier than Rostock. It is next to Mecklemburg, Rostock, Wolgast, and Brandenburg.


Wolgast - Currently in the hands of a pagan count, which is something we'll have to deal with eventually, This is poorer than all of our non=Rugen province, making it a good choice for a county. It is east of Werle, and next to Brandenburg and east across the Oder is the Pommerania capital of Stettin.

Rugen, an island just off the coast of Werle, Rugen is the poorest province we have. As an island, it is not adjacent to any provinces.

Next up, when we have stabilized, is an attack on Pommerania.

[Abe Sargent]

March 22, 1076 - Our rival has ended up with the Tribe of Kajanborg, on the Finnish west coast.

Sweden has been gobbling up the one province states like Dal, Kalmar Lan, and Halsingland.

Pommerania has joined the Tribe of Yatvigs, in order to secure their defense. I may just jump past them and hit the Baltic states. Or I may systematically wipe them out.

May 10 - My wife is expecting.

July 23 - The Bishop of Altmark is now a friend. Both of my friends are 66 years old.

August 26, 1076 - Deus Vult. The Calls us to arms.

Nov 5 - I got lazy as a trait after choosing not to pursue the enemy of my friend as an enemy.

Dec 21 - Werle is upset because I am apparently defiling the holy lands of my pagan subjects. I choose to honor their pagan shrine. Clergy power drops and peasant power rises. I lose some piety.

Jan 28 - 1077 - We gain a friend in the count of Oldenburg. This is funny because my second grand campaign in EU2 was Oldenburg. This was triggered by a Friend of my Friend event.

Feb 5 - We have a daughter and name her Halina.

Feb 8 - The Duchy of Saxony declares indepedance and is now at war with Germany. An opening?

Luneburg is a province owned by Saxony.

[Abe Sargent]

Go to war to take Luneburg, or just stay on the sidelines?

The plan would be to claim Luneburg, then DOW, hit hard and fast, then peace for Luneburg.

I hadn't planned on taking it, but when opportunity comes along, one should seize it. It'd nice to have a Catholic province too.

On the other hand, I feel like I need to focus on the prize, which is plucking the pagans before other Christians beat me to the punch. Already Poland is at war with Yatvigs and Denmark took Eastern Sames.

So no war against Saxony.

[Abe Sargent]

March 1 - However, with Yatviags focused on Poland, this is an opportunity to pluck some pagans. I order my Lubeck army militarized and move it to Wolgast for an attack on Stettin.

March 5 - The Yatviags come to peace terms with Poland.

I disband my forces

Aug 20 - I get religious tensions in Rostock event. I choose to fight them with the sword. Rostock is now Catholic (I checked) looted and rebelling.

Aug 25 - The Thieves Guild in Rostock has been disbanded.

The County of Suenik declared independance from Byzantium and it at war with them.

Suenik and Nubia are allies.

Byzantium has been hemmoraging provinces, but not many to the turks. To in dependence. I count 24 provinces that began the game under Byzantine rule that are now independent.

Dec 23 - I get an event - A talented knight offers to teach my child if paid enough. I offer a year's income and a place in my court. My heir's martial skill increases by one.

Dec 29 - Religious tension in Rugen, which I don't even care about. I choose teh sword again. Rugen becomes Catholic. They are looted but NOT rebelling.

The knight courtier we got is Dobromil von Rostock, a 14 martial guy with an age of 15. I give my current Marshal Rugen, and wait for Dobromil to age to become my Marshal. In the mean time, I have a good pagan to be a temp.

My rival has died.

July 17, 1078 - Another holy place objection, in Werle. I choose the same - make nice.

Oct 15 - I get an event. the Pope is upset that my current Marshal is Pagan. I choose to force convert him. He gained stressed, its pissed off at me, is now Catholic.

Oct 19 - My Marshal runs away to another court.

Germany keeps hemmorging people as well.

Dec 22 - I get the hunting trips event again. We are now friends with the Duke of Brandenburg.

Jan 1079

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 11, 1079 - Our daughter, Roza, became ill.

Mar 1, 1079 - I declare war against the Tribe of Curonian. They are a pagan Tribe in the Baltic area currently without an ally after their previous ally was just taken by Kiev.

I order Lubeck troops built.

I have some money saved over the past few years. Time to use it.

Jul 16 - Our troops arrive in Kurs and begin a siege.

Sept 23 - Their forces arrive in Kurs and attack our siege

Sept 26 - Around 800 of their troops have sailed to Wolgast.

Oct 1 - Roza lost her illness.

Oct 5 - We defeat the forces in Kurs

Oct 9 - We capture Kurs. I DOW their vassal and order my troops in.

Nov 1 - We arrive in Memel.

Nov 2 - We drive away the exhausted forces and begin our siege.

Nov 22 - I decline a peace for a hundred and fifty or so gold.

Nov 25 - I get an event. Difficult to control a province when you are so far away. Werle gets looted revolting, and massive loyalty drops.

Jan 24, 1080 - I got an event that made me merciful after I chose not to burn down a building in Kurs.

Jan 26 - Memel falls. We take Memel and 54 gold.

We take Kurs and 112 gold.

I disband my armies.

Feb 10 - I have fallen in love with my wife. We are now friends.

Alright maptime

[Abe Sargent]

Here is the new Map:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/561/tookkursyf6.jpg

I have Germany's King on the left, you can see all of the people he is at war with. His country is splintered. Germany needs to reform, because frankly, the best weapon against the Mongols is a strong, united Holy Roman Empire. Right now, it's a morass of duchies, bishoprics, and counties all declaring independence.

We may pick off a few provinces here and there, but for now, it's all pagans, just gobbling up their land.

I took Kurs and Memel, not just because they are open, but to give me a launching pad into the rest of the Baltic, and give me the ability to catch Yatviags in a two front war in the future. Also, they are solid provinces, and again, I had a window.

Like I said, I can use these two provinces to gobble up some of the smaller provinces here. I'd love to have the Baltic states completely under my control.

[Abe Sargent]

May 14, 1080 - I give away Werle to a count, making this my third vassal.

Ideally, We will be stabilizing for a little while.

Why is Germany Crumbling? The King was Excommunicated, the realm is under stress, he's rolling with a -211 prestige and -122 piety. No one wants to be under him. The Duchy of Brandenburg just went independent. He has seven remaining vassals, and two are at 0 loyalty.

Jul 19, I don’t want another war this soon, my BB will creep up. However, the Tribe of Lettigalians was DOWd by Kiev, and I need to stop them before they keep expanding. I order troops ready.

Jul 30 - We get insulted by a tourney by the Duke of Saxony. I demand compensation. We get a claim on Saxony. We are now enemies.

Now I am in an interesting spot. Keep going after Lettigalians, or turn around and fight the Duke of Saxony?

We keep going, but wow.

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 6 - I DOW Lettigalians. Norway does not join us.

Oct 26 - Our forces arrive in Zemigalians and begin the first battle.

Nov 9 = We have won. The siege has begun. Now, do I DOW Osel, their vassal, and attack as well?

Jan 11, 1081 - They have opened the door for us to take Osel by removing their vassalage.

Feb 2 - Zemigalians falls

April 5 - The siege of Osel begins

Sept 4 - The clergy in Mecklemburg want to convert the heathens. I support their efforts. Mecklemburg is now Catholic.

Sep 9 - Osel falls. I take it and Zeligalians from the Lettigalians.

I was not prepared for this war. We are now in negative gold. Still, I have two new provinces, all sparkly and shiny.

Let’s look at our Baltic States:

Kurs - Captured in the first war, It is a province with a decent enough tax bracket and a Few advancements. It is on the corner or the land, and thus is only adjacent to Memel and Zemigalians. The people here are Lettigallish

Memel - South of Kurs along the coast is Memel, the best of these four provinces in tax base. It is right in the middle of things, and the people here are Lettigallish. It is currently experiencing prosperity. It is next to Kurs, Zeligalians, Zhmud, Sambia and Scalova.

During the war, The Principality of Galicia inherited by Byzantium.

Osel - This island provine is just off the coast of Kurs. The people here are Ugric Baltic and the province is currently rich. The tax base is alright, but not great or anything.

Zemigalians - This province is east of Kurs and Northeast of Memel. The people here are Lettigallish. It is next to Kurs, Memel, Litigations (Byzantine), West Dvina (Byzantine), Zhmud, and Aukshayts.

By taking Zemigalians, I hope to stop the advance of Christians in the Baltic area. This was a war of ambition, not of need. I would like to take out the adjacent three province Tribe of Lithuanians, three province Tribe of Livonia, the one province Tribe of Estonia, the one province Tribe of Pruthenians and start with the Yatviags.

Saxony pledged alliance to Sweden during the war.

The Holy Roman Emperor/King of Germany died, leaving behind a son with three vassals. Germany is now at peace, at least. They lost all of their claims.

Europe is now a disorganized mess.

You could carve a mighty empire out of this, but we have too high of a BB right now, and negative gold, so its cool down time for us.

[Abe Sargent]

September 16, I get the following event:

The Teutonic Order seizes our land. I can choose God’s Will, which amps up my piety, or They Have no Need of Castles, which drops our piety and gives me a 33& chance of becoming a heretic.

I have many questions that are unanswered by this event. Would the created Teutonic Order be our vassal?

I choose: They Have No Need of Castles. My piety drops by 50. I did not gain heretic however.

I hand Osel to one of my pagan courtiers.

Nov 19 - While fighting rebels in Werle, my duke was wounded.

The County of Suenik is still at war with Byzantium

Brandenburg is now a part of Scotland. Bavaria is part of Poland. It seems like the major duchies are aligning themselves with non-German powers.

Jan 21, 1083 - After a quiet year and a half, I get an event - The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. I agree, and the Duke of Thurigen is now my friend.

Feb 10, 1083 - The County of Suenik has been annexed by the Emir of Medina. There they go. They lasted a lot longer than me.

[ntndeacon]

a new united germany eventually?

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 23 - My eldest daughter, Roza, the blind one, gained indulgent and gregarious in the same event.

Apr 30 - I get an event to Convert Kurs by the sword. I choose to do so. It is now Catholic, looted, and in rebellion.

May 5- Norway has declared war on the County of Shetland. I join their call to arms. I don’t care about them. I just want to keep my ally.

Jul 30 - I get an event - Deal with Popular Revolt in Kurs. I choose to give in to demands. The rebellion ceases, and I lose some prestige.

Aug 4 - The Pope calls for peace in our war. I agree. I never had any desire to wage war against Shetland.

Aug 10 - Our Duke gained illness.

Oct 14 - Kurs is no longer looted.

[Abe Sargent]

a new united germany eventually?

Not my intent right now. I'm focusing on Baltic expansion. Consider me a combination of the Livonian Order, Teutonic Order, Lithuania, and Mecklemburg gold. Hopefully.

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 20 - My son is 16. Time to find a wife.

His stats right now, and he hasn’t come out of his Court Education yet, are 9/8/5/10, and he is just, modest, and trusting.

I start with the obvious rulers. King of Denmark? Wow he has three prodigies among his six kids. Germany’s king is actually a Bishop.

The Duke of Brandenburg has just one daughter but he’s 18, plenty of time for more kids. Plus she’s one.

I check some other Polish Duchies nearby. Mazovia, no dice. None of the nearby Byzantine holdings are vulnerable either.

The first thing close to a hit I find, after looking a lot of places, is the Duchy of Smaland, in Sweden, but he has a 25 year old wife that could still pop out some heirs. He has one 4 year old son, and a 13 year old daughter, able to be married in two years. I need something better than that. He has an intestinal wurm and is severely wounded, so he could die quickly and not have time for heirs. And it is semisolid.

A slightly better option is the Country of Braunschweig, with one son at six and a girl at 15. The girls stats are good, making her a good choice for a wife. His wife is dead and he’s 55. It’s just a county, but it is at least a decent one. I’d prefer to wage war against the Duke of Saxony eventually and take his title, along with his vassals, and gain Braunschweig. If there are any better options, that will be the way I go.

There is a third option, now that I look closer. The Duke of Sjalland, which is just one province big, has two loving sons, so I dismissed him at first. Open closer inspection, one is a bastard. The other is 15. He has a 14 year old daughter, He’s 49 and his wife is 38 - a perfect age for her. It’ll likely be decades before she dies, so little chance at remarriage, and she’s unlikely to have any other children at this age (I once had a wife who got pregnant at 43, but that’s rate). Sjalland is close and a great province. I’d still have to wait two years for his daughter.

It’s just 38 gold to try and whack the Duke of Sjalland’s only male heir. 30 gold for the Country of Braunschweig, and 64 for Smaland’s.

Looks like Sjalland is in two years, and has a decent chance of hitting, but by then, the male might be harder to kill, have his own wife, and she might already be pregnant.

Instead, I am going to wait on Braunschweig. The daughter there is really, really good as a wife, to help get my dynasty started. On the other hand, the Sjalland’ daughter is acceptable, but not nearly as good.

[Abe Sargent]

Dec 11 -

We would like to announce the Marriage of

Wladysaw Nakonid, Heir to the Duke of Mecklemburg

and

Irmeltrud von Rheinfelden, Daughter of the Count of Braunschweig



Irmeltrud's stats:

12
7
12
11

Told you she was good

Suspicious, Prodigy, Has not yet finished her Ecclesiastical Education.


As a wedding present, I present my son with the Count of Rostock title. He leaves our court for great things. He will be back upon my death.

[Abe Sargent]

Janu 12, 1084 - A Thieves Guild formed in Zemigalians

Janu 19 - I get an event - The Clergy Strongly Endorse Your Crusade to the Holy Land.

I can:

Deus Vult! I gain 2700 west Slavic men, maybe an extra 1400. I get the Crusader and Zealous traits.

I Thank You but I Prefer Your Gold Instead: Lose Crusader and Zealous, Piety drops 40, Gold increases 150, a small chance of getting an extra 336 gold.

The only person we are at war with in Shetland.

Now, normally, I’d take the gold. However, I have been spending the past few years quietly brining my gold reserves back up and rebuilding my reputation. I’d wanted to wait another year or two, but 2700 guaranteed extra troops is simply tasty. Time to attack the Yatviags.

Deus Vult!

[Abe Sargent]

I order my Marshal to take 780 men from Mecklenburg and march to Wolgast. I organize my troops in the Baltic region and order them to Memel. When war begins I’ll dispatch the Lubeck squad to the middle of Yatviag territory.


Feb 9 - I declare war on Pommerania. My hope is that the Yatviags will join us, and Norway will not. Whether or not their one province ally also joins is of no consequence to me.

Exactly as I planned occurred. No Norway, none of their ally either.

This won’t be easy. But it should be fun.

I order the troops from Wolgast into Stettin. I grab 400 troops from Wolgast first.

I DOW Scalova, a vassal of Yatviags. Then I order my Memel troops into Scalova. I’ll leave Lubeck back as reinforcement.

I have around 275 gold right now, let’s see how far I can spin it.

Feb 28 - Troops from Memel arrive in Scalova.

Mar 5 - Troops from Wolgast arrive in Stettin.

Mar 18 - We win in Stettin and begin the siege.

Mar 21 - We win in Scalovia and begin the siege.

Mar 28 - I have gotten peace offers from Scalova and Pommerania, both offering gold. I decline both.

Apr 24 - Yatviags protest our presence in Scalovia

May 12 - We win and the siege continues. We almost lost, and we did lose a lot of men. We could fall if there is another determined push on the eastern flank.

May 14 - Stettin falls. I order our men to Slupsk.

May 18 - Pommerania comes calling with an offer to give us Stettin and a whole bunch of gold. I decline. I‘m in this for more than one province from the pagans.

June 4 - We arrive in Slupsk and attack the forces arrayed here.

June 8 - After defeating the remaining forces in Slupsk, we begin the siege.

June 25 - The forces we defeated on the Eastern Flank again assault our position in Scalovia.

July 2 - We send them home.

Aug 2 - A Thieves Guild is formed in Kurs.

Aug 9 - Slupsk falls. I force Pommerania to give me her two provinces, Stettin and Slupsk. She agrees.

Now, we are still at war with Yatviags and their vassal, Scalovia. I DOW adjacent Danzig and move in.

Aug 19 - We arrive in Danzig and assault the defensive forces.

Sept 12 - After a tough battle against four armies, we win in Danzig. Siege begins.

Sept 15 - We capture Scalovia. I send my forces her to the Vatviags capital.

Im in negative gold, so I need to finish this up.

Oct 6 - We arrive in Yatvyagi and begin an attack against the two armies here.

Oct 8 - A miracle workers come to heal me, but I don’t have enough money, so I put my trust in God. Trust is returned. The Duke has lost his illness.

Oct 27 - We win in Yatvyagi. The siege has begun,

Dec 23 - After a few small battles in which small pagan forces try to drive us out, I get news that a Small Pox epidemic has broken out in Kurs.

Jan 12, 1085 - The pope has died. Hungary is the new papal controller


Jan 17, 1085 - I accept white peace with Shetland.

Jan 18 - Danzig falls. I take it in peace. I also take Scalovia.

I get a little money bump from Scalovia, which must have had a stash somewhere, I got nothing from Danzig. As my armies take damage, my upkeep lessens, and I get money from these new provinces to countermand that. Thus the war is getting cheaper.

Okay, I have just 1800 men left on the western flank when I began with 3800. That’s enough to keep sieging, but not quickly. I can DOW an adjacent vassal, like Marienburg or Chelminskie. Or I could just diband the army.

In The capital, I have just 1031 troops left seiging, from an initial army size of around 2700, agains a significant drop. Yatviags is down to four provinces. But they only have their capital in their desmense, so I have to actually DOW and attack the other three.

Marianburg is a very wealthy province.

I give away Stettin and Slupsk to a courtier.

I DOW Marianburg and order my forces in.

Feb 12 - The Siege of Marianburg has begun

Mar 16 - The last remaining army of size, 888 men, has arrived int heir captial to protest my sieging forces.

I mobilize 294 troops in Scalovia and order them to Vatyagi.

March 24 - We win in Vatyagi.

This is going on too long, our treasury is taking a major hit.

May 4 - Prosperity in Memel is set to normal after Poor Seed Selection hit us.

June 18 - Marianburg falls. We grab it in peace negotiations. We grab a little gold and Marianburg.

July 14 - Vatyagi finally falls. I grab it and go to peace.

[Abe Sargent]

I disband my armies.

I wanted to grab the other two provinces,, and I could have, but I didn’t think the monetary hit to keep going was worth it for now. We are at -382 gold after peace. I had to sell a forestry, but I gained six provinces.

I came one province away from capturing a land route between our provinces. Next time, next time.

July 24, while waiting for the map to change before I give you another map, I gained a rival, the Bishop of Altmark.

Because I am a crusader during a crusade, my prestige jumped to record levels for me: 1453 prestige!

I have to give away some provinces, but I don’t have anyone extra in my court.

I give Pawel, my 13 year old son, Vatyagi and Scalovia. I give the county of Mecklemburg to my firstborn son.

That leaves, for our personal desmense, Lubeck, Danzig, Marienburg, Memel, Kurs, and Zemigalians.

Our reputation is very bad, and we have -382 gold. It might be a while before we wage war again.

[Abe Sargent]

In 21 years we have taken a lot of provinces, and now our BB is catching up with us. Time to cool off and calm down.

Let’s look at our six new provinces:

All are pagan

Stettin, East of Wolgast, and West of Slupsk, Stettin is a mildly wealthy, leaning towards average. The people here are Western Slavic. It’s adjacent to Brandenburg and Liubusz in addition to my two provines.

Slupsk - Taken because it was there. I need it to be my land connection between my own holdings. East of Stettin and west of Danzig it also borders Lubusz and Gnieznienskie. It’s currently undergoing a rebellion if 188 people. They are Western Slavic here.

Danzig - One of the pearls of the war, Danzig is a solid province commercially and militarily of Western Slavs. It is across the Wisla river to the west of Marienburg, and east of Slupsk. It is adjacent to Gnieznienskie and Chelminskie as well.

Marienburg - Of those we captured, this is the wealthiest. The Prussian people here have a lot of buildings already built, adding to its value. East of Danzig, this is the eastern end of our western holdings, although just one province separates her with the east holdings. She is also adjacent to both remaining Yatviag provinces in Chelminskie and Galindia, plus the province of Sambia.

Scalovia - South and inland of Memel, Scalovia was our first landlocked province, although not our last. The Prussians here are of adequate wealth, and I gave it away to a count so that I had less provinces to rule, thus increasing my percent wealth from each. It is north of Vatyagi, east ot Galinda and Sambia, and west of Zhmud and Sudovia.

Vatyagi - Taken only because I had to, this double landlocked province is a bit too deep into the mainland for my taste. It was among the poorest of those I captured too, and I was happy to hand it off to one of my vassals. The Prussians here are southeast of Galinda, north of Plock and north west to Podlasie (Byzantine) and southwest of Sudovia.

[Abe Sargent]

Here is the new map:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7173/uhr6dr5.jpg

I put the province of Marienburg up, so you can see it on the left. It's the best province in my territory. You can also see my prestige and money.

In other news, those provinces which have stars by them designate Scandinavian provinces currently under rebellion.

Time to cool off.

[Tellistto]

Very nice progress. Just wanted to let you know that you had another reader in me. Keep it up!

Tell

[Abe Sargent]

Very nice progress. Just wanted to let you know that you had another reader in me. Keep it up!

Tell

Thanks!

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 25 - I have an event - Popular Revolt in Zemigalians. I choose to Give in To Demands. I loose a little bit of prestige. The rebellion in Zeligalians is over.

My son has had a son, Zbigniew Nakonid

When I have a chance, I need to send an assassin to take out the heir of the County of Braunschweig.

Feb 4, 1086 -Norway DOWs the Tribe of Kajanborg in Finland. I agree to join but have intention of moving my troops there.

I send my second daughter, Halina, to one of my counts whom is losing loyalty as a sign of trust between us.


April 1, 1086 - Okay, I am hemmorging loyalty from the Count of Werle at the rate of 3.6 percent per month. I’m already down to 29.4%. The count of Stettin and Slupsk is at -1.4% per month and 51.9 right now. The only other vassal who has a problem with me is the Count of Rugen at -0.8% per month and 83.7 right now. My other vassals are fine with me.

Options. I could try to divest the count of Werle from his title. It’s unlikely that he’d agree. Normally, I could give him money and temporarily make friends. I thought maybe sending my daughter would work, and it didn‘t I am bereft of gold.

Not many other options around.

I could pull a Machiavelli. Commit suicide and let my son take over, with more loyalty. For now, I’d prefer to steer clear of such drastic actions.

However, if I send a messenger to the Count, then all of my vassals have their loyalty drop by 25%. That’s the way to start a civil war.

Thus only the Machiavelli option is left.

However, I have 425 piety and thus our badboy drops more quickly with us at the helm than it would with our son here. Thus, we will stay here a few more months.

May 30 - I get a Popular Revolt event again for Danzig. I choose to gibe in, loosing the rebellion there and a bit of prestige.

June 1, 1086 - These actions will increase our BB a bit.

I grab the following titles:

Duke of Brandenburg
Duke of Polotsk

I then commit suicide.

[Abe Sargent]

Our New Duke of Mecklemburg:

Wladyslaw Nakonid, age 18

Piety 24 and Prestige 89

His gold as count was added to our coffers and helps the treasury significantly.

9/9/8/10 rating.

Our court has expanded significantly.

The disloyal counts like him much better.

Our badboy decreases.

Wladyslaw is Just, Modest and Trusting

He is an Intricate Webweaver


He has real courtiers, and as such, can make some new counts.

The following Counties are given to courtiers:

Rostock is made into a Bishopric
Countess of Mecklemburg
Countess of Memel

That should help our Duchy a lot.

[Izulde]

You F10'ed? :eek:

[Abe Sargent]

You F10'ed? :eek:

F12d, yeah. This game doesn;t need the other cheats, but it needs the death cheat. I'm always pruning my court by offing that 45 year old 0/1/2/0 courter who is blind and a bastard. I also firmly believe that a ruler should be able to commit suicide, but I have to assassinate family, good courtiers, etc.

[Abe Sargent]

Denmark just took the pagan provinces in Finland that we were at war with.

Nov 26 - I choose to raise my child myself.

The new Duke gets a lot more money per month due to good Stewardship, and we are quickly getting out of this financial hole.

May 1, 1087 - We are now out of debt.

May 13 - I choose to deny the peasants in Marienburg their pagan feast and they begin a rebellion.

Aug 29 - I get an event: My Wife is Spending a Lot of Time with a Young Man. I choose it’s probably nothing, and nothing much happens.

Oct 18 - I order a library built in Danzig.

Oct 20 - Two days later, I get an event about Religious Tensions in Danzig. I choose to crush them. Danzig is now Catholic, looted and in revolt.

Dec 17 - I get an event - Revolting Peasants in Danzig are starving and return to fields. I send money to help them with the food. Looting and rebellion are both gone, our piety jumps, but our treasury is back to negative (albeit negative 6). I now have a Danzig fresh with no problems, prosperous wealth, and Catholic.

I have a prestige is just 51, but a piety of 253.

Feb 2, 1088 - While I am thinking about it, I send an assassin to off the only male son of the Count of Braunschweig.

It succeeded but we were discovered.

Our son is now next in line. Our badboy raised by one for us being discovered. Our piety and prestige each plummet 100, giving us negative prestige.

March 12 - My brother, the Count of Yatvyagi and Scalovia wants to marry one of my courtiers. I agree. My brother is also my only friend.

April 9 - I get an event - A vassal is pleased with our rule.

Sweden is losing vassals at a steady rate. It is grabbing most of them back in its wars.

June 19 - I forgot to renew our alliance with Norway upon my ascension to the throne, because we were aligned with the County of Werle. We are alliance less since we are aligned with our own vassal. That’s just dumb. Who is un aligned?

I can’t find a way to divest myself of my current ally. Ah well.

My Bishop of Rostock just had a bastard child…

[Abe Sargent]

August 6 - Since I need prestige, I create the title Duke of Pommerania for us. This costs us 100 gold, raises our prestige by 100, and increases the amount of prestige we get monthly.

August 19 - I finally get a notice I‘ve been waiting for. My wife is pregnant. With only one child, I want more issue.

Sept 22 - The Republic of Gotland has won its independence from Sweden. I’d be happy to absorb it at some time in the future. Its pretty wealthy.

October 7 -- Sad news. I have lost my friend, my brother.

Oct 22 - I get an event - My Nonconfrontational Personality has hade my Peers Question My Claims.

My choices are to lose my claim on the Duke of Saxony, gain two badboy, or spend 100 prestige for just a 25% chance of losing my claim. I choose to spend the gold.

We keep our claim.

This has been a month of bad news,

Dec 19 - Norway has declared war against Sweden.

Jan 1, 1089 - I order a Fishing Wharf in Kurs

April 21 - I order men to Osel to put down a rebellion.

May 4 - My wife gave birth to a stillborn child.

May 16 - We put down the rebellion

June 6 - 600 rebels in Marienburg begin an assault on the town. I order troops assembled.

June 21 - The rebels are put down.

July 1 - The Chiefdom of Sudovia and the Tribe of Lithuanians have attacked my vassals, the County of Memel. I order our troop mobilized and join forces with my vassal.

The next war has begun.

[Abe Sargent]

We have just 168 gold, but they are just three provinces. Think I can handle them?

I order troops mobilized in Kurs, Zemigalians, Scalovia, and Yatvyagi

I have about 3500 troops here under my command, plus another 1000 Memel troops. The Lithuanians have around 6500. That’s bad math for me.

I organize Marienburg and order them to Memel.

Werle joined us as an ally, btw.

The Lubeck army is around 4000, and I don’t have the coffers for that.

I order my northern troops into Zemigalians and the southern troops into Scalovia and then to Memel.

I grab the 400 troops in Osel as a quick backup.

July 21 - Our Kurs forces arrive in Zemigalians.

I order some troops into Zhmud, expecting their forces to vacate before we arrive.

July 25 - 4413 men arrive in Zemigalains and assault our 2239 men. We are on defense, and have a better general by far, but it’s not looking good for the home team.

Aug 2 - We lose in Zemigalians and our forces are heading to Memel to regroup.

They begin to siege.

Aug 11 - I decline a peace offer from Lithuanians for all of our gold.

Aug 16 - 1000 of our troops, along with the 1000 Memel forces arrive in Zhmud and being to besiege.

Werle is out of the war after paying a bunch of money.

Sept 8 - The Pope has died. Hungary is the new Papal Controller

Sept 15 - Our Osel forces arrive in Memel to bolster the fleeing army.

We are still waiting for the arrival of the Marienburg forces.

Sept 19 - Zemigalians has been captured by the Lithunians.

Sept 22 - I declien their peace offer of our captured province and gold.

The County of Sudovia DOWd Yatvyagi and is beginning a siege there.

I order my 1400 Danzig forces mobilized. I sent them across the Baltic

Our gold is diminishing.

Oct 10 - They arrive in Memel.

Oct 15 - We have captured Zhmud. I order my besieging force to Memel.

Oct 19 - After two of our three armies in Memel has fled, the 2000 fresh troops from marienburg arrive and drive away the Lithuanians.

I order my army into Zemigalians.

I send my besieging army to Sudovia.

Nov 10 - We arrive in Zemigalians as do the opposing forces. Battle is joined.

Nov 16 - We defeat them.

Nov 22 - The Lithuanians offer us a way out of this war - 555 gold! That’s crazy money. Now that I know they have that much, I;m willing to push this war, knowing I may make some splash at the end.

Dec 14 - The County of Sudovia just offered us 491 gold, so these guys have much money.

Jan 17 - 1090 - We recapture Zemigalians. I order my forces to Zhmud to relieve the siege there of the remaining Lithuanian troops.

Joining us will be the Danzig forces which have just arrived.

Feb 6 - We drive away the forces from Zhmud. I order some of our troops to Sudovia and others to their capital.

Feb 23 - Our forces arrive. Those in Sudovia are attacked by the 1000 Sudovian troops here.

We win in Segovia a few days later and initiate a siege.

April 19 - Sudovia falls. We get 453 gold and the province in peace.

I disband those three armies.

I’m now only losing 2 gold a mnth to army upkeep with my remaining army of around 2000 soliders.

May 27 - We capture the province of Aukshayts. I take both provinces plus 140 gold in peace.

I disband my armies. I hadn’t planned on taking land this soon after the previous war (five years ago) but they DOWd us, which means taking their lands, while still bad, isn’t as bad. Plus, I made money on the war, so that‘s nice.

Zhmud and Aukshayts are downright gold mines, and Sudovia ain;t bad herself.

I order a Forestry in Zemigalians and a Tile Factory in Danzig with my blood money.

I create the following vassals:

Countess of Zemigalians
Countess of Kurs
Count of Sudovia

[Abe Sargent]

June 15 - The Duchy of Sjaelland is now free of Danish control after winning their war.

July 14 - I order Training Grounds built in Zhmud.

July 18 - I became friends with the Duke of Slesvig

My Count of Sudovia has been excommunicated. Uh oh.

Aug 2 - The Count of Hylland is a new rival.

Aug 9 - Revolt in Marienburg ceases after I give in to their demands.

I claim the title of Duke of Courland. We need the prestige bump.

Aug 20 - I choose to educate my heir at the court.

Aug 22 - I get news that my wife is expecting.

March 15, 1091 - At some point in time, my Countess of Memel has gained the rebellous trait.

March 29 - I create the title of Duke of Pomeralia

I order a Library built in Lubeck.

May 25 - We had a daughter and will name her Vladislava.

Nov 21 - My boy is asking about heathens. I tell him they are men like us, but enemies. He gains Valorous.

Jan 1092 has arrived.

Feb 1 - I create the title of Duke of Samogitia and Duke of Lithuania.

The extra prestige will help keep vassals in line.

June 2 - I put down some rebels is Scalovia.

July 11 - I get an event where the Nobles in Zhmud claim they will not follow a Catholic. I agree to crush them!. Zhmud is looted, rebelling and now Catholic.

[Abe Sargent]

Future areas of expansion:

Yatviags - The two provinces of Yatviags are important to capture because they fit naturally into the character of my domain, as well as connect my provinces, although the next capture will do that to. This is something I need to take before Poland gets uppity.

Pruthenians - The one province is the brown spot on the coast between my two halves, and as a one province, it shouldn’t be too hard to take. Another vital capture for me.

Livonians- These three provinces jump past one Byzantine province from my upper boundaries. Livs is wealthy, Revel alright, and Dorpat pretty poor. Still, I’d like them before another power enters the picture.

Estonians - The one province Narva is decent, but not amazing. I’d like to grab it if I can, but of these four, if I had to choose one not to get, it‘d be Estonians.

After that, expansion is a question that I need to answer before I continue. Where I went after that is simply a matter of what is available. If two thirds of Finland is still pagan, then I jump the Gulf of Finland and go north. Otherwise, I go where the opportunity is.

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 3 - Ulrich, Archbishop of Saxony wins the title of King of Sweden in battle.

Oct 22 - We are expecting another child.

Nov 7 - Zhmud is no longer looted

Welcome to 1093

Feb 1 - I order a Tile Factory in Lubeck

May 29 - The Chieftain of Wolgast, our own vassal has declared war on us. I mobilize our men.

I order troops mobilized in adjacent provinces and send them in.

June 19 - Battle begins

July 9 - After almost losing twice, only to have reinforcements show up at the last moment, we eliminate the Wolgast army and begin the siege.

July 20 - I accept peace with Wolgast for 249 gold and their province.

I hate in-fighting like this, because our BB goes up.

Wolgast was a recurring problem, probably because it was pagan and led by a pagan ruler that came under our rule way back when we took the Duchy of Mecklemburg title. This was essentially the last engagement of that war.

I don’t have anyone in my court as an eligible Count of Wolgast, so I’ll just hold onto it for now.

[Abe Sargent]

July 22 - We have a son and name him Bartosz

Aug 27 - I defeat rebels in Zemigalians

Sept 3 - The Principality of Novogorod DOWd Byzantium, signaling their desire for independence.

Welcome to 1094

Jan 11 - My oldest boy gained Merciful after I told him about God

Jan 27 - Byzantium won against Novgorod and gobbled them back up.

Mar 9 - The Teutonic Order come calling again, this time wanting Marienburg. I turn them down, and my piety decreases again.

I create the title Countess of Wolgast.

Mar 15 - I Send my daughter to the nannies for raising

Apr 11 - I hold a great tournament.

Apr 16, 1094 -

A day planned by my father has arrived. The Count of Braunschweig has died. My 9 year old son is now the Count and leaves to begin his duties under the King of Burgundy.

May 12 - I Crush the Burghers in Aukshayts. It becomes Catholic, looted and rebelling.

May 14 - Two days later the looting ends.

July 1 - I order a Small Castle built in Lubeck - which costs us a pretty penny. It appears our ancestral home may be our border for a long time, so I want insurance.

July 15 - I give in to their demands in Aukshayts, I lose a little prestige, and the revolt ends.

Sep 26 - I will be raising my second son myself.

Dec 6 - I order a library in Marienburg

Welcome to 1095

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 13, 1095 - Some courtiers are flowing into my court - all pagan. This one guy, with an 8.9.13.12 would be a great count, if only he could be catholic.

I appoint him my Steward

Jan 17 - I get the expected event. I choose to convert my Steward by force. I gain the Zealous trait. My Steward dies - he did not survive the conversion. Ah well. All’s fair in love and Machiavelli. I appoint my wife Steward again.

Feb 20 - I go hunting with the Count of Gnieznlenskie but the 75% chance of him being my friend fails,

May 2 - Novgorod is giving independence another go.

May 8 - I give in to demands in Zhmud, lose some prestige, and end the rebellion.

May 16 - I get this event:

God Urges You to Take Up the Cross

My choices:

Deus Vult! +100 piety, gain crusader.

My arms are too tired -100 piety, gain selfish


Deus Vult!


I needed the piety gain. Our Crusader Expectations jump.

June 23 - The province of Lettigalians has been captured by rebels.

Oct 13 - Novgorod falls again and is recaptured by Byzantium.

Welcome to1096

[Abe Sargent]

March 22 - My brother has been excommunicated. He is currently the Count of Yatvyagi and Scalovia.

He is Deceitful, Cruel, Sceptical, Suspicious, Hostile, Rebellious and now Excommunicated. Of all of my vassals, only my brother, my former friend, is a problem.

And yet, diplomatically, we are fine - at the maximum.

He’s my brother, but it it also time to relieve him of his court.

I send a message to give me back Scalovia.

Apr 7 - He refuses. I demand back Vatyagi

Apr 20 - Before giving me a answer, he declares independence. I DOW him.

May 14 - Troops from Zhmud arrive in Scalovia and attack the defenders.

May 26 - His troops from Yatvyagi arrive in Scalovia. Anticipating this, I organized the County of Memel’s troops and sent them in.

Jun 3 - As the general, I defeat my brother, the opposing general, on the field in Scalovia before the Memel troops arrive. We begin the siege.

Jun 4 - Troops from Aukshayts arrive in Vatyangi and begin a siege here too.

Jun 26 - The Chiefdom of Lettigalians has declared their freedom from Byzantium.

July 8 - Scalovia falls. I disband that army.

Aug 11 - Vatyangi falls. I take both province and all of their gold.

Here’s my problem with that. Our reputation takes a major hit for readding lands that we already owned, from a guy who was excommunicated - not much of a badboy in real life, and its a ajor hit too.


I create - The Count of Yatvyagi, Countess of Scalovia.

[Abe Sargent]

My brother ended up back in Scalovia as the spymaster for the Countess.

Welcome to 1097

Jan 11 - Our Small Castle is complete in Lubeck I order roads built there as a follow up.

Mar 23 - I create the County of Marienburg and give it away.

Again, it helps my BB, and Marienburg is doing really well, and doesn’t need my guidance anymore. It also dropped in wealth, so I am not as interested in it.

Jul 8 - The Principality of Polosk, right on our doorstep and to whom we have a claim, just DOWd Byzantium in a fret of independance. If I hadn’t had to have put down my brother last year, we could have taken this opportunity, but instead, I have to sit on the sidelines like a little child.

Sept 6 - I order a Small Castle built in Aukshayts. Like Lubeck, this may be my border with the outside world for a while, so I want to protect it.

Welcome to 1098

I realized today that I may want a strong Byzantium. With a weakened Germany, a Strong Byzantium would be a powerful anti-Mongol deterrent. What I don’t want is a Byzantium torn apart by war. Of course, this is all long before Mongols, but still.

Feb 10 - My daughter is a Prodigy

May 2 - Danzig forces defeat rebels in Slupsk

Oct 16 - Pruthenians are attacked by their former allies, the Yatviags

Welcome to 1099

Feb 18 - Pruthenians are now referred to as the Chiefdom of Sambia after losing their titles to Yatviags. These adjacent pagans just had a war, another opening I could not exploit due largely to civil war earlier (twice).

March 3 - Towns grow - Prosperity in Lubeck set to prosperous

May 7 - I order a sawmill built in Zhmud

Jul 9 - Novgorod will try independence and war one more time.

Jul 30 I will be educating my second son at court.

Oct 15 - I get an event:

Fund Traitors in Enemy Castle

It’s a lot of gold, and the event doesn’t tell me who I’m hitting. I decide to call them back. I gain the Lazy trait.

Welcome to 1100

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 6 - We now have a Small Castle in Aukshayts

I order an extensive road network built in Lubeck

Feb 22 - Novgorod-Seversky has won its independence from Byzantium.

April 15 - After declaring independence, I offer vassalization to the Bishop of Altmark, but he declines.

June 12 - Sambia has sworn allegiance to the Uber-powerful Tribe of Cuman.

Welcome to 1101

My loyalist vassals are the Count of Osel and the Bishopric of Rostock

Okay, I need to make a decision.

Do I, or do I not, assassinate my son, the Count of Braunschweig

He is 15 and will soon marry and have a family.

Now, assuming that I live to an age much older than my 33, my son will have made a lot of choices about his life, without my guidance and input. When I die, my son inherit’s the whole Duchy, and he may have made too many mistakes between now and then.

What I can do is Assassinate him, and gain the County as an inheritance. However, if I am discovered, I will probably get the Kinslayer tag. If not, I can try to marry my second son into a nice family, or get us a nice wife. Either way, I don’t hurt the dynasty, whereas I have no idea what my son will want.

This has happened before - my son inherit’s a duchy somewhere, and I am still young. I live to 70 or 80, and my son is dead and his son’s son is in his 30s and made a lot of mistakes when I died, setting back the dynasty two generations.

An alternative plan is to commit suicide. However, I have too much piety and prestige compared to him that I think it’s a bad play.

His weakness is intrigue (6/10/4/11) so its doable.

Plus, if I inherit it, I can give it away and drop my BB, and that’s tempting too.

I don’t have to do it just yet, so I’ll hold off. You never know, he may marry well. Let’s wait and see what his wife looks like.

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 17 - I put down some rebels in Slupsk

May 7 - I have gained the Bishop of Hamburg as a friend.

May 21 - Byzantium recaptures their provinces in revolt next to me

May 23 - The County of West Dvina DOWs Lettigallians.

I need to take this before they do.

I DOW Lettigallians. Then I order my Aukshayts army into their province.

July 7 - We arrive and begin the siege. The Lettigalians went to West Dvina to attack them.

August 2 - We capture Lettigalians. I take them in peace.

I have to get them before Byzantine took them. They are our land connection to Livonia if I can get it later.

I order Forestry here.

[Abe Sargent]

January 17, 1102 - I grant Zhmud to one of my courtiers who will become the Count of Zhmud.

I need to keep Lettigalians in order to have a northern outpost, and a territory to upgrade over time. I already ordered a Forestry here, and I’ll keep building it up over time.

Feb 6 - I put down some rebel chaff in Werle

March 18 - This time its rebels in Memel

April 10 - Time for an Extensive Road Network in Danzig

Aug 3 - A Tile Factory in Lettigalians

Our son was asked to return his title, and HE SAID YES. Idiot. He is now back in court with his decent wife and bastard son. Is his wife an heir to anything? Nope. He married a woman five years older than him who is stressed and ill. Maybe she’ll die and I can remarry him?

For some reason, his wife ended up in Rugen. Not only is she virtually infertile, she isn’t even around.

I wonder if I get Kinslayer for kill his wife?

I am successful and discovered. I can now marry off my son. Again. I did not get Kinslayer.

Possible mates:

The Daughter of the Duke of Brandenburg, but they are down to one province and I need to kill a son.

Duke of Slesvig. I have to kill two sons,but she is 17 and ready to marry. Two provinces. He’s a friend though.

County of Lubusz if I wait three years and kill a son



The Count of Gnieznienskie, the heir of Poland, has two wives at the same time, each popping out kids. As a result, he has had 11 kids and he’s just 33.

And they are friends too!

There are no nearby inheritances. Allow me to find a breeder then.

A few choices - Siwart from Armenia Minor has a 12/8/18/7 set of ratings. She’s 17

Marguerite from Venaissin has 8/14/16/5 stats and is 16.

Nevermind, I found her:

Helena Hvide currently in Sjaelland. 14/10/12/3

She is my son’s new bride.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to 1103

Jan 14 - My eldest is wrestling with Vengeance and Mercy, and I choose Mercy. He lost the Vengeful trait.

Feb 13 - The Count of Stettin has become my friend

June 13 - the day I have dreaded is here.

Yatviags have DOWd one of the counties of Poland. Poland responded. We have to take them before they do.

I Declare war.

Livonia has not joined her ally.

I order the Danzig forces into Chelminskie

Marienburg is dispatched to Galindia

June 20 - The Count of Werle has died, leaving us without an alliance. I take the first offer than comes along - I accept an alliance offer from the King of England.

Jul 8 - Our troops from Marienburg, Scalovia and Yatvyagi arrive in Galindia and attack the defenders here

Jul 18 - Our forces arrive in Chelminskie and begin a siege

I turn down a peace offer for 450 gold from them

Aug 2 - We win in Galindia

Aug 17 - We capture Chelminskie and Galindia

I get peace

Luckily I had some gold before this war began. I’m still alright. Add the gold I am about to get and its all good.


Oct 20 - I get the Teutonic Knights event again, which is very unrealistic. In real life, the Teutonic Knights were invited north by Poland, they didn’t demand land every two years and rive down my piety.

I order a church built in both of our new provinces just for me.

I give Danzig away to a courtier. I needed it for this war, and now that it is over, I can hand it off. I give it to my son.

He has a nice wife, a son with her already and another on the way.

[Abe Sargent]

The newest map.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5207/1103zr8.jpg


I have my land bridge. I also have accumulated a lot of BB, because I didn't wind it all down due to civic strife, taking Lettigalians, and dropping an assassin. Still, this was a capture that was vital to our land. Eventually we'll take that Sambia that's sitting there.

Our next target is likely Livonia if they are still around when our BB clears up.

[Abe Sargent]

I need 66% of the lands in a traditional kingdom to create the tile of King. I am close to declaring myself King of Lithuania. There are 19 Lithuanian provinces, and I have 11 of them. That means I need 13 to become King, just two more. Sambia will be one. The problem is that Livonian and Estonian provinces could towards the Finnish kingship, not the Lithuanian one. After Sambia, no remaining Lithuanian province is in the hands of pagans, and so, if I want to be king, after I take Sambia and Estonia and Livonia (hopefully) I need to poach one of the Polish or Byzantine provinces that will suffice.

[Abe Sargent]

Prestige gain monthly:

6 Duke Titles at 0.3 per title after the first - 1.5
16 counts as vassals - 1.3
Traits - -0.3

Total Change Per Month - +2.6

Therefore, I gain prestige at a rate of around 31 a year.


Piety gain monthly:

Crusader Expectations - -0.5
Church Donations - 0.5
Traits - 0.3

Total gain 0.2 per month, at a rate of 2.4 per year



Nov 1 - I get an event:

With my Reputation Horrible, Shouldn’t I relinquish my claim?

Lose claim on Duke of Saxony - lose a BB
Do Nothing

I choose to do nothing. Never let go of Duke titles.

Nov 14 - I get an event which is amazingly perfect for me:

Mass-Scale Conversions

Chelminskie converts to Catholic and loses heretic

My piety increases 100

I’m alright with that!

Dec 5 - I get You Have Lost a Friend. The Count of Stettin is no longer my friend.

Welcome to1104

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 11 - Library ordered for Lettigalians

Jan 23 - Religion tension in Galindia. I Crush Them! It is now Catholic, looted and rebelling

May 22 - England attacks Jerusalem. I join our allies.

Jun 25 - I drive out rebels in Werle

July 27 - The Pagan peasants in Lettigalians see me as the cause of their troubles and are now rebelling.

Aug 12 - Galindia recovers from looting

Welcome to 1105

We have a white peace with Jerusalem

Feb 11 - I got an event - Disloyal Vassal Outmaneuvered. I gained a claim on the County of Stettin

Feb 23 - I give in to demands in Lettigalians. The Revolt is over, and I lost some prestige.

Feb 28 - I have fallen in love with my wife. She is now my friend. I gained the chaste skill

May 18 - The two churches are complete in Galindia and Chelminskie I get the piety bonuses for building them. Now that they are Catholic and are built up, time to foist them off.

I create the Countess of Galindia, Count of Chelmiskie to my second son, Bartosz, who is 11 and looking good.

Aug 20 - The now Archbishopric of Novgorod DOWs Byzantine and declares independence

Oct 3 - I order a sawmill in Lettigalians

Oct 22 - That quickly Novgorod is back under the Byzantine fold

Nov 1 - West Dvina has won indepedance without going to war. They are a Lithuanian province needed to make myself a King. They are also the poorest province I’ve seen and I have a bad BB. I’d risk it over a major province, but not over them.

Nov - I get Religion Tension in Lettigalians. They are now Catholic, looted and revolting.

Livonia has DOWs West Dvina, and frankly, they’ll get it.

Nov 24 - West Dvina has pledged alliegance to Byzantium again as a desperate move.

Dec 4 - Livonia defeated the West Dvinian army and has begun a siege.

Dec 21 - 5000 Livonian troops have captured West Dvina They take it, and it is now theirs.

Good news for us because when we do take Livonians, we’ll now get a Lithuanian province for our kingship.

Welcome to 1106

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 3 - Lettigalians is no longer looted

The Duke of Saxony has gone rogue again

Sweden and Scotland are about to gobble up Saxony.

Dec 21 - I order a Fishing Wharf in Lettigalians

Welcome to 1107

Sweden gobbled up Saxony

May 27 - My daughter is old enough to marry, and she’s pretty good at stats - 10/15/10/11. Someone will want her.

Forget it, I appoint her my Chancellor. I take a prestige hit for each unmarried daughter, but I can handle it (-0.2 per month)

Sept 23 - Roads ordered in Lettigalians

I hand the County of Lettigalians to the new Countess, my old Chancellor. Now that it is Catholic and I’ve built it up, it’s ready for a handoff.

I got dragged into another Jerusalem war by England.

Oct 4 - My friend, the Duke of Slesvig is now the Papal Controller at 39.

Livonia, in another smart move, it attacking the free County of Velikiye Luki, a former Byzantine province that got peace.

My daughter became a Charismatic Negotiator, with a diplomacy of 18 now.

I wish my eldest son (2,11,2,9) were like her.

Nov 6 - I got an event - Being Married to Someone You Love is Great. I could choose to have our strees removed, illness removed or fertility increased by one each. I chose the latter, since we aren’t stressed or ill.

Welcome to 1108

Jan 17 - I get a nice war veteran join my court for a little gold. I offer him my daughter’s hand in marriage. Kids! Courtiers!

I get 300 gold too.

I hope they have great kids!

Livonia is now at peace for gold. I would have taken the land if I were them.

Apr 24 - I’ve been happy to follow England into these Middle East wars, but they have attacked, on offense, Aragon. That I can’t have. I decline.

May 1 - My Marshal died. I appoint my son-in-law.

June 8 - Another war vet joins my court.

Welcome to 1109

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 27 - I accept White Peace with Jerusalem

May 17 - The Count of Kleve is now my friend

July 6 - The Pope has died and the Duke of Slesvig is still the Papal Controller

Nov 19 - I order a Medium Castle built in Lubeck

Dec 24 - I am staying clear of a France/England grudge match

Welcome to 1110

Feb 6 - I have gained a new friend - the Count of Holstein

My reputation is now about where it was before I started my civil war/Lettigalians/assassin/Yatviag assault. I still need a few years for it to cool off more.

June 23 - Livonia DOWd Lettigalians. I go to war to protect them. And I go to take land, much land.

I order my Lubeck forces dispatched to Livs across the waves. It will take a while for them to arrive, but when they do, they will add a powerful punch.

I order my Aukshayts troops to :Lettigalians.

I organize my troops in five other provinces and order them to Lettigalians as well.

I have a lot of gold, so I should be fine on that front

Livs orders their troops to West Dvina instead of into Lettigalians, which is where I expected them to go. I have to turn around and face them dead on.

Aug 16 - 9792 Livonians - their whole army, is in West Dvina upon or arrival. We have 6507 men with another 2000 on the way. They moved all of their troops here and caught me by surprise. If I lose this, I am at fault for directing my troops here.

Sep 1 - We lose.

I order the Danzing army to Reval.

Sept 15 - The Livonians arrive in Aukshayts

Oct 16 - Aukshayts falls

Oct 23 - My army of 8734 men arrives in Aukshayts to protest their presence.

Nov 5 - Our Lubeck forces arrive in Livs

Nov 10 - We lose in Aukshayts

Dec 9 - I lose 1000 troops I had snuck behind in West Dvina. My main forces has been directed to Aukshayts again.

Dec 10 - I have embraced a celibate lifestyle

Dec 16 - Our Lubeck forces have captured Livs. I order them to Dorpat

Dec 21 - Our main army arrives back in Aukshayts and begins a siege

Dec 28 - The Danzig army arrives in Reval and begins a siege

Jan 11, 1111 - The Livonian forces arrive in Aukshayts and try to drive us back out

The Lubeck army has arrived in Dorpat and begun the siege

Jan 30 - We lose in Aukshayts again

Feb 20 - We have captured Dorpat

I order the Lubeck army to West Dvina

They are besieging Sudovia

Feb 22 500 Troops from Yatvyagi arrive in Sudovia to slow them down

March 3 - We hit Sudovia hard, our major army arrives

March 10 - This time, we win.

March 30 - Aukshayts falls. The Livonian army runs back to West Dvina

Livonia has cleverly given away West Dvina as a vassal. I DOW them. Nice try.

April 6 - We capture Reval. I order the Danzig forces south

April 15 - They arrive back in West Dvina where my Lubeck forces await

April 18 - We lose in West Dvina

April 24 - Forces from Aukshayts arrive in West Dvina

April 30 - We win in West Dvina

June 7 - We capture West Dvina

I take all four provinces plus several hundred gold.

[Abe Sargent]

I order churches built in Livs and Reval.

I give Dorpat away to a courter, and the new Count of Dorpat is a strong guy

As soon as I get a worthy courtier, I’ll hand off West Dvina too. I don’t care about them that much.

July 30 - I get a Religion Uprising in Livs. I choose to crush it. Livs is now Catholic, Looted and Rebelling.

Aug 3 - My wife is now ill

Sept 20 - Livs is no longer looted

Sept 25 - I give in to demands and just like that, Livs is fine.

Oct 9 - The Crusades have ended. Whew,

Oct 18 - the Tribe of Ingers has just taken Pskov in war

Dec 19 - I give away West Dvina to the new Count.

Welcome to 1112

July 8 - My wifes sickness worsens into pneumonia

I appoint a Muslim claim jumper who appeared in my court as the new Steward

Aug 12 - My daughter is now stressed

Nov 12 - Religious Tension in Reval. I choose to crush them. Looted, Catholic, Rebelling.

Welcome to 1113

Jan 19 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Reval

Feb 15 - I give in to demands in Reval

Aug 13 - The Pope has passed on and the King of Hungary is now the Papal Controller

Aug 14 - Reval recovers and is no longer looted

Dec 12 - My daughter lose stressed and became depressed. Not a good time to be a woman related to me with my wife getting pneumonia and my daughter getting depressed

Dec 15 - My wife dies just three days later. I need a new wife - any courtier will do since I am celibate

Deck 17 - I am married to the 16 year old daughter of the Counter of Beresty, Elena of Uglich. 9/10/14/19. Too bad I am celibate. I appoint her Steward

Welcome to 1114

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 20 - The Medium Castle in Lubeck is complete. I now order a War Academy from here.

May 5 - Byzantium recaptures Pskov

July 4 - I order up a Naval Harbor in Livs

August 4 - The Countess of Memel died and we inherited it. I’ll take this opportunity to build it up some more before giving it away again. I order a Sawmill.

My brother and his only son have arrived back in our court. I accept him because he is our brother. I will not grant him another title, but his son I might do.

I offer a courtier in Lancaster my nephew’s hand in marriage.

They accept

Nov 23 - I gain the Count of Dorpat as a rival.

Dec 12 - My spy master dies of old age

I appoint my brother, the one who seceded from us and caused a war, my new Spy Master.

December 17 - The Theives Guild in Reval is disbanded. I get an offer from the Duke of Brunswick to take one of his daughters as a Fosterling. I agree.

Welcome to 1115

Mar 9 - I have again fallen in love with my wife, this time my new one. She is now my friend.

Mar 19 - I have gained the Count of Lettigalians as a new rival

Nov 6 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Memel

Welcome to 1116 - The 50 Year Perspective

[Abe Sargent]

The 50 Year Map

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2421/50yearslp4.jpg

Note that one province Estonia, adjacent to us, has our color on the map but is not us.

Denmark has captured a sizable chunk of Finland, and i expect I'll leave it to them.

The Soup is what I am going to call that mixture in the Germanic/Burgundian/French states. All of those provinces are owned by a major power - France, Scotland, England, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Burgundy or Austria, with only a few provinces occasionally free.

This is the consequence of the Holy Roman Empire's collapse. Initially, this was a rainbow of colors, but slowly, major powers moved in, picking off the duchies, and counties, until all we have left is The Soup.

Where next for us? Sambia or Estonia. Once those two are done, I'll probably go where the wind wills.

[Abe Sargent]

I am:

The Duke of Mecklemburg

Duke of Courland, Lithuania, Pomerania, Samogitia, and Pomeralia

The Count of Lubeck

Count of Memel, Livs, Reval, and Aukshayts


I can claim:

Duke of Prussia
Duke of Livonia

I am choosing not to, and leave it to my successor who might need the prestige.


I have 19 vassals

Every vassal has one province except for the Count of Stettin, who also has Slupsk and the Count of Zhmud, who inherited Werle

I have a total of 26 provinces.

I began with one province.

Therefore I have gained one province every two years.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 21 - I decide to disturb my faith and build moneylenders in Lubeck

July 5- The crusades begin again. Target Jerusalem. I hate this thing.

I move my brother off as Spy Master. I don’t want an excommunicated man as my spy master during a Crusade, I’m liable to get called out on it.

Aug 1 - I jump in front on everyone and DOW Jerusalem

For fun, I order the Lubeck troops to sea.

Some of the Muslim countries I was at war with are buying my peace, probably because they see that I am serious about Jerusalem.

June 8 - 1117 - I give my nephew Memel after the harbor is done.

Nov 19 - I lose a friend in Duke of Slesvig because he is a Heretic

April 3, 1118 - 6992 troops land in Ascalon after a long voyage.

I order them strait to Jerusalem. I DOW Jaffa so I can miss the Jerusalem army in Beersheb

April 26 - We arrive in Jerusalem and begin the siege

May 10 - 2000 troops arrive in Jerusalem to protest our presence





June 10 - After their army got a lot of support, we win. We lost 3383 men, they lose 2563.

July 6- They throw everything they have into the battle. 3829 men 0 all of their remaining armies.

July 23 - We win in Jerusalem again

I get an event and add Iterant Crusaders to my army to bring it up another 2000 men I had to pay them some dough though.

Aug 9 - I got what I wanted from Jaffa and accept a White Peace offer from them

Aug 14 - We have captured Jerusalem

Aug 20 - They decline my peace offer for Jerusalem.

Aug 26 - My men have arrived in Hebron

Aug 30 - We easily defeat the remnants of the Jerusalem army and begin besieging Hebron

Oct 12 - We capture Hebron

Oct 19 - They decline my peace proposal.

Oct 23 - We arrive in Beersheb

Nov 16 - Beersheb falls to us. I move to Ascalon

Nov 20 - Their 2500 remaining troops are in Jerusalem besieging us, so I pull my troops back out.

Dec 21 - We defeat their troops in Jerusalem

Feb 20, 1119 - We arrive back in Ascalon. They have rejected several peace proposals. Their army is here, at 2151 men. Our entire army is here at 2546

March 10 - We win but lost 1000 men

May 7 - Ascalon falls to us. I take Jerusalem and 60 gold.

I disband my troops

We gained a ton of Piety (1842) and prestige (3405) for capturing Jerusalem. We finish the war at -13 gold. At first, gold was a problem, but then as we lost troops, we came back.

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 21 - I accept a Luneburg child as a Fosterling

Dec 7 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Lubeck

Welcome to 1120

Why hasn’t this Crusade ended yet?

Feb 1 - I order Glass-Works in Reval

I then hand it to a nice Count.

March 15 - I order a Monastery in Jerusalem

Nov 2 - I give in to demands and Jerusalem is no longer rebelling against us

Welcome to 1121

Our BB is shrinking well

Feb 22 - I agree to crush the Religios Tension in Jerusalem. It is now looted, rebelling and Catholic

I organize my army in Jerusalem before the upkeep happens at the end of the month. I don’t want a local power to see my 500 army Jerusalem as a ripe plum with the Looted and Rebelling double take. So I activate the decent sized army.

April 19 - The Bishop of Orbetello is now our friend

June 6 - Jerusalem recovers and is no longer looted

I disband my army now

Aug 2 - Hungary and Norway go to war

Aug 8 - Naval Harbor in Lubeck is ordered

Oct 17 - I order moneylenders in Aukshayts

Welcome to 1122

I can wait on attacking Sambia because even with it, I can’t be King now. Kurs was inherited by a Castillean Duke. Annoying.

I grab the title of Count of Kurs. It raises my BB a little, but I want it for later.

A monastery is built in Jerusalem. I order a Templar House built here.

Mar 21 - The King of England has died. I turn down the alliance offer from the new king. I prefer a better ally this time.

Apr 4 - Hungary just took five provinces from Poland in war

There is now a big giant grey spot in the middle of where Poland used to be

May 24 - I gain coward after choosing not to pursue a major illicit operation

Sept 29 - Norway paid money to Hungary and the war in over

Nov 29 - I have gained the Count of Reval as a rival


Welcome to 1123

March 29 - Sweden just took a giant chunk out of Norway in war - They literally no longer exist.

June 17 - 1123 - The Second Crusade ends

July 10 - My chancellor is ill

Dec 15 - I get an event:

Should We Not Create a Crusader State?

I choose not to. I lose some piety and prestige, but not much. Jerusalem is now heretical

Welcome to 1124

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good stuff, though I'd like to know how you can manage to stay up so late at night. :)

[Abe Sargent]

Good stuff, though I'd like to know how you can manage to stay up so late at night. :)

Thanks!

Because I am currently writing, so I can do that at 8 am, 10 am or noon just as easily.

[aran]

This has been very interesting. At first I thought your style would put me off: you move quickly and give very basic details, but you play the game well and you tell me just enough to keep me interested. :)

[gi]

I'm really enjoying the style. I like the min detail, and I am really soaking up the thoughts and long term strategies told.

[Abe Sargent]

This has been very interesting. At first I thought your style would put me off: you move quickly and give very basic details, but you play the game well and you tell me just enough to keep me interested. :)

Excellent!

[Abe Sargent]

I'm really enjoying the style. I like the min detail, and I am really soaking up the thoughts and long term strategies told.

Glad ta hear it!

[Abe Sargent]

Since I don’t have to worry about grabbing Sambia right now, due to the lose of Kurs, I might as well grab Estonia.

Jan 11, 1124 - I DOW Estonia. I order my troops in Livs to Narva, their only province. Neither of our allies join

Jan 13 - Estonia DOWs our vassal, Dorpat. Their ally, Kexholm, joins them this time. I DOW Kexholm because they DOWd my vassal. We are now at war with both.

Kexholm is relatively poor financially, and it’s a ways over from my own holdings, so I have no current desire for it

Jan 17 - My brother has died

Feb 20 - Our army arrives in Narva and assaults the meager defenders

Feb 25 - We win

Mar 8 - Kexholm troops arrive to drive us out

Marc 24 - The 2000 pagan troops have been crushed

Apr 11 - Narva falls. I take it in peace negotiations with Estonia. I get a little gold too.

I disband my troops

I’ll keep the war with Kexholm going, in case one of my vassals manages to capture it. That way I won’t have to spend money on it.

June 6 - A sawmill was completed in Narva. I order up a church

Aug 2 - Troops from the Count of Reval have begun a siege in Kexholm.

Aug 23 - My Marshal recovers from an illness.

Aug 30 - The Count of Reval accepted peace for 70 ducats from Kexholm. I would have kept going.

Sept 5 - The Templar House is complete in Jerusalem. I order up a Church.

Kexholm DOWs Osel, and that seems like a bad idea, since Osel had some troops of actual size

Oct 23 - My Chancellor and Daughter has died.

I want to appoint my Diocese Bishop to be my new Chancellor, but I can’t figure out how.

So instead I give it to my wife.

Nov 12 - I get an alliance offer from Hungary. This is accepted. They are becoming a major power, and perhaps Hungary will be the country that stops in Mongols in 120 years or so.

Dec 29 - I blast some rebels in Scalovia

Welcome to 1125

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 15 - I give a little gold to the Count of Osel to keep him in the green and encourage him to continue his war against Kexholm

March 29 - 1800 Osel troops arrive in Kexholm and begin a siege. Please take it, take it!

May 18 - I had to appoint a Muslim as a Steward in order to free up my wife as a new Chancellor. The Pope comes calling. In order to dodge his fury, I choose to execute the Courtier. I gain cruel and arbitrary, but at least I didn’t gain Excommunicated (which was a chance if I had chosen else wise).

July 29 - Kexholm has fallen to Osel!

Aug 8 - The County of Osel has taken Kexholm in peace negotiations. Excellent! Increase my domain by a province and I didn’t have to do anything. Good job Osel. I was hoping one of my vassals might come through for me. From my financial gift to denying a White Peace offer occasionally, I feel that I helped behind the scenes.

Sept 1 - After Charcoal spreads to Livs, I order a mine built here.

The Count of Osel has given Kexholm away to his firstborn. He’s a good courtier too, so that’s alright for me. The Count of Osel is one of my few loyalists, so I’m happy to have his son as my newest vassal.

Sept 10 - I hold a Great Royal Fest when I get that event. I lose a bit of gold, gain a bit of prestige, and my vassals are happy

Oct 2 - I get a Vassal Loyal Event and regain just, and lose arbitrary as a trait.

My great grand son, Jacenty Nakonid, is born

I am 59. My eldest boy is 40. His oldest, still alive, is 22, who just had a son.

Welcome to 1126

Jan 18 - I order up a mine in Narva

If I had a better Chancellor, I would take Sambia now. My new Chancellor isn’t nearly as good as my old one. Why does that matter?

The loyalty of my vassals depends on the diplomacy value of the liege, prestige of the liege, character traits, liege badboy, laws and scutage. My BB isn’s that bad right now, so it would be time to take my reign out for a spin, but I need a good chancellor first.

Ah what the hell, let’s get crazy.


A look at the Tribe of Cuman.

In a surprisingly smart move, the remaining pagans in the area have all allied under one banner. Aland, Sambia, three provinces in the north of Sweden, have all allied with an inland pagan, the King of Cuman. He has seven province sin his desmense plus around 18 vassals, some duke level, some count level. The Tribe of Cuman is a giant green blob in the east of the map, covering land from Mid Russia all the way down to the Black Sea, and covering it thickly. They also have northern provinces like the five I mentions, and some in east Finland.
I want Sambia. The rest can remain Cumani. They are adjacent to Hungary in several regions by the Black Sea, so if my ally joined, they’d be too busy to mess with me, plus I’m a distance away and I have a nice sized army.

I order my troops in Aukshayts to Scalovia

Mar 1 - I DOW Sambia.

Cuman DOWs us
Hungary DOWs Cuman

I order my troops in

March 21 - My troops arrive in Sambia

April 11 - We barely lose. I order several surrounding provinces troops in action and send them in

May 1 - Fresh troops arrive in Sambia

We are losing so I take a look - the Chief of Sambia, on the battlefield has a Marshal skill of 20. No wonder I’ve been doing poorly against the genius military guy.

May 18 - We lose again

May 24 - I have gained the Shiek of Acre as a new rival

May 29 - I again get the Married to a Woman You Love it Great event. I choose to de stress and lose stressed.

June 1 - The first troops to lose are having another go

June 6 - A church is completed in Jerusalem

June 19 - We again lose in Sambia.

These guys are good

June 30 - The second army rearrives

July 8 - They lose again

July 30 - We arrive in Sambia again

Aug 4 - We finally defeat the Sambian army

Sept 14 - Sambia falls. I get 500 gold plus Sambia

If I wanted Aland, I could DOW it and cross the sea to the island, but its poor, and I don’t care that much.

With my blood money, I order a Medium castle built in Jerusalem. I want to do everything I can to turn this into a one province country of significant power.

Oct 19 - I decide to build moneylenders in Narva. The negative Piety doesn’t mean anything to me.

Oct 24 - I give in to demands in Jerusalem, which is now out of revolt

Dec 20 - Aland DOWs Hungary, so I join back. We are now at war with Aland

Welcome to1127

[Abe Sargent]

March 21 - The Pope is now my friend

Hungary is eating Cuman provinces left and right. They have a 20000 army led by their king just tearing through them. Glad to have helped to create a mega-Christian state that can stand against the Mongols.

Apr 17 - The loyal Count of Osel is now a rival. That sucks.

Jul 4 - The Count of Reval is becoming a real problem. He’s rebellious and my rival and he’s losing too much loyalty to me monthly. I’m having to give him a gift of 100 gold every three months or so to keep him happy. Time to pull out the big gun.

I send an assassin. It works, but I am discovered. My BB raises, and his son is pissed until I send 300 gold to cheer him up. Hopefully that’s the last investment I make in Reval for a while. The piety and prestige loss isn’t much these days.

July 7 - Reval sends an assassin to kill me and fails and was discovered. That lowers our BB back down.

Aug 12 - I hand Narva to a new Count.

Nov 1 - Time to build a Naval Harbor in Sambia

Nov 16 - Prosperity in Livs is reduced to merely prosperous from rich.

Welcome to1128

Jan 1 - The son of the Count of Osel has taken over after his father’s death, and he doesn’t like me as much as his father did, although we are not rivals.

Feb 18 - Aland forces arrive in Livs - all 500 of them. I organize my troops

I then accept a white peace offer from then. Again, if I had wanted Aland, I would have grabbed it just then.

[Abe Sargent]

April 15, 1128 - The County of Vitebsk has declared war. On us. Byzantium joins them. Hungary does not join them.

Time for real war now.



I organize my Aukshayts army and order them to the adjacent Byzantine province of Polotsk.

I grab a claim on the Polotsk County.

I have been gaining 90 gold a month with my provinces, so I’m fine that way.

I summon the Livs army - 6000 strong, and order them to the province of Novgorod, a nearby Byzantine province.

See, one of the ways you win in CK is always keeping a plan in your back pocket. If I can take Polotsk, then I can grab a King title. If I can take Novgorod, then I get the best province in the entire region, financially.

I organize a few smaller provincial armies to deal with Vitebsk;s mighty 300 army.

May 5 - We arrive in Polotsk. Siege begins.

4436 Byzantine troops from Novgorod arrive in Pskov where my 5932 troops are.

May 19 - I accept peace with Vitebsk for 312 gold.

May 22 - We lose in Pskov when the Emperor himself arrives leading reinforcements.

May 24 - The Pope, our friend, has died. We are now the new Papal Controller

May 30 - Polotsk falls. I order my troops deeper into Byzantine territory.

June 20 - Our retreating forces win in Livs. I order them back to Novgorod.

Troops have arrived in Velikiye Luki, and are met by the Emperor

June 27 - We lose on Orsa, win in West Dvina, and lose in V. Luki

I’ll rally these forces in West Dvina

June 30 - In an annoying display of efficieny , Cuman, whom we are still technically at war with, landed 3633 troops in Sambia, forcing me to mobilize nearby forces.

July 1 - Troops arrive in Pskov and begin another tussle

July 7 - We lose in Pskov

July 21 - My troops arrive in Sambia

2500 troops arrive in Livs and begin a siege

July 24 - We win in sambia, and our forces that lost in Pskov drive the attackers in Livs

Aug 7 - The Byzantine War Machine in cranking it up. I keep the 5000 troops in Sambia and order them over to help out. I also order my Lubeck forces to Pskov

That’s my reserve. If I order it in, you know its serious

I have 8000 troops in Livs with 1500 more under way from Reval.

I have 5304 in West Dvina

5316 in Sambia

And now 9000 in Lubeck traveling the scenic route through the Baltic

They have -

About 3000 in Jacweiz marching

1500 in Polotsk trying to retake it.

8400 in Orsha

787 in V Luki

3500 in Pskov


This is a real campaign in a real war

I order the 8000 Livs troops to Polotsk. West Dvina to Livs and the 1500 from Reval to join them there.

[Abe Sargent]

Sept 13 - Polotsk has fallen back into their hands

Sept 24 - We lose in Polotsk and are forced back to West Dvina

Oct 14 - Forces from Sambia arrive in Polotsk and begin an assault on the troops there.

Oct 21 - After ordering the northern army in Pskov, we drive back the Emperor. We also win in Polotsk and rebegin the siege there.

I order the forces in Pskov to continue to Novgorod

Nov 1 - We arrive in Novgorod and begin the siege

Nov 5 - 2745 troops arrive in Aukshayts and begin a siege of us.

Nov 15 - Byzantine troops arrive in West Dvina, cutting off my reinforcements going to Aukshayts

Nov 23- We lose in West Dvina

Nov 24 - We capture Polotsk and I order my forces to Aukshayts

Nov 28 - Novgorod falls

Dec 14 - Just a few days before Aukshayts is set to fall, our troops arrive from Polotsk to protest their presence.

Dec 18 - 2000 Byzantine troops arrive again in Livs and begin a siege

I order my 6000 damaged troops to Smolensk.

Dec 24 - We win in Aukshayts and break the siege. We also win in Livs - The Lubeck troops landed.

I claim the Count of Novgorod title.

Welcome to 1129

Jan 26 - We capture Smolensk. I offer peace for Polotsk and Novgorod

Feb 15 - They decline

Mar 5 - We capture Moskva

Apr 20 - We capture Rostov

June 12 - I have captured two more Byzantine provinces but they still won’t budge on the war front.

We keep killing their remnants in the north, while we take their provinces in the south, but no dice.

I’m almost out of gold, so I need to wrap this up or disband some armies. I choose to punish Byzantium for their stubborness. I pillage every province I have captured except the two I want, a get a little gold.

July 14 - Yet another province of theirs falls.

July 27 - I accept a White Peace offer from Cuman

Aug 18 - A Thieves Guild has formed in Sambia

Sept 1 - We are now in the hole

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 15 - We are starting to lose ground. My besieging armies were losing, so I disbanded them, and now Byzantium is taking back the Russian provinces. I make an offer for just Polotsk

They decline. This war is never going to end.

Fine then. Two can play this game. If this war is going on forever, I’m going to win.

I DOW Orsha after claiming its title.

Nov 11 - I begin the siege of Orsha

Dec 5 - Orsha falls to us

I get 454 gold and Orsha in a peace deal. That money will help us keep going. It’s a lot of BB, but it was worth it to actually get land.

Welcome to 1130

[Abe Sargent]

I am moving so many armies around, because they just keep coming. I thought this would be a quick strike war, and its not. We are not winning this war. They just keep coming and coming and coming. I am the only person Byzantium is at war with, and they can turn their full attention to me. Unless…

I order my Jerusalem troops mobilized and head to Byzantium’s capital but it doesn’t work. I can’t go through the surrounding Muslem people.

I disband them. It was a good idea but poor execution.

March 26 - It’s a constant game of move and hit.

Apr 1 - After all of these military losses, I’m not losing money anymore

May 7 - They recapture Novgorod. I only have Polotsk left. They just keep coming. They have turned down two White Peace proposals from me.

May 18 - I give Orsha to a courtier as a Count because we lost a battle here today,a nd the siege would start tomorrow otherwise.

June 2 - Sambia is now Catholic, Looted and Rebelling

July 26 -After much maneuvering, 12000 men with the Emperor at the head take Livs.

Sept 25 - We drive out the Byzantines in Livs and begin a siege to take it back

Sept 30 - We again win in Livs, but sits hanging on by a thread

Oct 20 -

Byzantium finally accepts our white peace offer

Well, we didn’t get Novgorod and we didn’t even get Polotsk, but we did poach Orsha, so it’s not a total loss.

[Abe Sargent]

Dec 16 - I accept the King of Denmark’s fosterling

Welcome to 1131

Jan 11 - I order Glass Works in Lubeck

Feb 25 - The Medium Castle is complete in Jerusalem

June 5 - I gain the Count of Tavasts as a friend.

Aug 8 - I get the event: The Peasants Are Starving and Leave Their Revolt. I choose to open our coffers to help them. Their prosperity improved to rich, they are no longer rebellion or looted.

Dec 10 - My Marshal dies and I have no male courtiers

Welcome to 1132

[Abe Sargent]

Well, I am free now. I can go anywhere or do anything, militarily. I have no idea where I will expand next. Some ideas and directions:

Jerusalem - Build upon my Fiefdom here in Jerusalem until I have forged a major Crusader State.

Finland - I could hop the Gulf of Finland and begin expanding in the far north of Finland, by our province in Kexholm. There are a handful of provinces back here that are still pagan. Three to be exact, and none are that valuable. Had I taken Novgorod in the war, I would push to take Vodi, which would connect Kexholm and Novgorod.

Russia - I can continue to expand landward and eastward, but Byzantium is a formidable opponent, as I’ve come to realize. Also in the way is Hungary and as you go inward, Cuman. All are very powerful.

Poland - I could try to slide south east and gobble up the rest of Poland. They have 11 provinces left in their main area, divided by Hungary. All four the provinces that border us are decently valuable. However, I don’t have many claims down here, so that’d increase the badboy issues. In fact, I just checked - I have no claim on any Polish territory.

Scandinavia - I could hop the Baltic and start gobblin up Scandinavia. We could start with Denmark. Well, actually, if I really want to take on Scandinavia, I should grab the three Cuman provinces at the north end of Sweden first. Then I have a launching point.

The Soup - Or, I could head south or west of Lubeck, and start grabbing Soup provinces. I have a claim on the Duke of Brandenburg, for example. It’s not much of a ducal title these days - just two provinces. Or I could fight the Duke of Slesvig, who is currently independent.

I suspect I’ll go where the opportunity lies. If I crusade is called next week, then I have a reason to start grabbing land in the Levant. If Altmark goes independent, then I have a target right by home. For now, I just wait.

And watch.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 6 - And opportunity strikes. The Duke of Asturias has given Kurs to his son. As soon as my troops are revived, barring any other changes, I may take back my province.

A quiet year. No events, no major wars, no major peace treaties, nothing.

Welcome to 1133

Jan 11 - a few provinces (Minsk, Starya Ryssa) are joining Novgorod as a free state, (Not in Novgorod province, but based out of Torzhok.)

Let’s take a look at my Duke:

Wladyslaw Nakonid, 65 years old

Western Slavic Catholic

9/9/10/9

Crusader, Celibate

Intricate Webweaver

Chaste, Lazy, Deceitful, Just, Cruel, Modest, Zealous, Trusting, Coward

This guy is an institution

With my BB beginning to ebb, but my country needing to still spend time recovering, I dice to make a few moves. You never know when my Duke will die, so let’s use up some of that prestige.



Duke of Slesvig



As a lark, I offer the newly independent Count of Jacwiez, at war with Byzantium, vassalization. He accepts.

That does increase my BB.

Now I need for Byzantium to not kill him.

I order him to revoke his title. For his people. He accepts. Also jumps my BB, but it works.

I then give it away to the new countess of Jacweiz.

And just like that, we have a new province.

Jacweiz and Orsha isolate the Byzantine province of Polotsk, which is now completely surrounded by us.

[Abe Sargent]

June 2 - The King of Hungary died. I choose not to renew my alliance with them. They left us alone against the Byzantines when they declared war against us. I won’t forget that.

July 1 - I get an alliance offer from the King of Burgundy. Let me check.

Nah, I decline

The province of Mecklemburg has been inherited by a vassal under the court of Hungary, so we have lost it, like we lost Kurs. This is getting irritating

How do we not even have a claim on Mecklemburg, when we used to when we started the game?

Well, I grab County of Mecklemburg as a title.

Aug 11 - The Archbishop of Sweden is offering me an alliance proposal. This I take.

Sept 10 - Sambia is revolting because be tolerate heretics in our desmesne (Jerusalem).

Fine then. I give away Sambia to the new Countess of Sambia

We are down to Lubeck, Livs, Aukshayts and Jerusalem in our desmesne.

Dec 8 - My great grandson, and ultimate heir, is third in line for the Duchy of Bohemia. Interesting.

Welcome to 1134

Jan 11 - I send an assassin to take out one of the people between my great grandson and Bohemia. He is the Marshal of Bohemia, and just newly married, so I want to take him out now prior to any brides. He has a low intrigue (3) so this may be very doable.

If failed, but we were not discovered

Hold on, let me check something.

Yep, I can excommunicate him. Let me try.

Hmm, for some reason, the game won’t let me. The Pope’s piety and prestige are both higher than this guy’s. The game says I can, and yet, when I click on Otakar, the game does nothing. Hmpf, Useless pope.

I try another assassin. We succeed but are discovered. My great grand son is now second in line.

Here’s why that was important. The succession Line for the Duke of Bohemia - One of his Counts, My Heir. Sucession line for that Count - Duke of Bohemia, My Heir. Either way, they are going through him.

Jan 28 - The Duke of Bohemia has died of natural causes! Wow, what a lucky break! Of course the guy was like 66, but still, for him to die the month we assassinate one of his heirs, that’s great!

Jan 30 - We get the obligatory counterstrike, which fails.

June 17 - I get the Duke of Brunswick as a friend

Aug 12 - I gain my son, the Count of Danzig as my friend

Welcome to 1135

[Abe Sargent]

May 20 - The Count of Wolgast has inherited the province of Esztergom, in the heart of Hungary. It’s a really solid province in value, but way out there for us.

My great grandson has also inherited the Count of Yatvyagi

Anyway, I mention this because the Duchy of Bohemia is now at war with Hungary, and I fear they will gobble up my heritage.

Oh well, good luck to Bohemia

Byzantium is experiencing Realm Duress. The Leader has a -717 piety and a -5823 prestige. Not sure how you get htat bad, but he did.

Sept 22 - The Duke of Bohemia is now at peace with Hungary after paying some money.

Oct 8 - After rebelling against Byzantium, Velikiye Lukii agrees to vassalization with us.

Now, they are at war with Byzantium, but I don’t fear Byzantium as much now as I did a few years ago. They appear to be safe for now, but if troops in purple arrive, I won’t be afraid to DOW them and keep V. Luki.

Nov 4 - I drive out some rebels in Kexholm.


Nov 21 - Today was the day I am going to take out Byzantium in the north. Before that, a map to demonstrate what is going on.

[Abe Sargent]

The Eastern Portion of Our Realm:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5820/prewarbyzantiumwr7.jpg

Okay, a quick catchup. Many provinces are splitting off Byzantium with their issues. Among them are the large grey Principality, to which also the province directly below V Luki belongs. A small red province the same color as Denmark (sorry) is the Principality of Novgorod and several reds belong to them southward.

Polotsk is the Byzantine province directly surrounded by us. I want that.

Novgorod province is the long province near the top, in a darker shade of purple. I want that. I have claims on both it and Polotsk.

A couple of provinces are currently solo. The white tip of one is that the bottom of the screen and adjacent to us. There is also a blue solo province and a light green solo one and alight brown one.

The provinces that Byzantium holds that I have arrows in are pointing to who currently controls the province. All five arrows demonstrate that someone else has besieged and taken those provinces in war and currently hold them.

So, what do I know?

From the last time we fought, Byzantine has currently lost 14 provinces on the map, and we have three of them in our fold now. That could be 10000 or 15000 less troops to draw upon total - good for us.

Secondly, I know that Byzantine is currently in a lot of battles and wars, unlike before. They are distracted, and thus a Blitzkreig attack is likely to knock them flat.

Thirdly, I have the experience from the first war to guide me.

Time to tame the bear.

[Abe Sargent]

Operation: Blitzkreig


Target A: Polotsk

The Polotsk province will be assaulted by the combined forces of the reserve. Itis not a front in the war, so long as we take it before the war is over, we are successful. It does not have to be first, second or third.

Target B: Novgorod

The combined forces of the Latvian/Estonian provinces will send an army against Novgorod. This includes Livs, which will be the backbone of this army. For purposes of discussion, this will be referred to as the Dart Army. Their purpose is to dart in, snatch a province, then dart out, hitting where needed.


Target C: Havoc

A smash army consisting of the combined forces of Aukshayts, and various surrounding provinces will quickly enter Byzantine provinces in the east and south east, actively seeking out engagement with their forces. The goal of this army is to actively defeat the Byzantium forces in open battle, keeping them on the run. This is our Hammer Army.

Target D: Russia

A final army will consist of the various Lithuanian provinces, and its goal will be to take one or more provinces in mainland Russia, in and around Moscow. The goal of this is to drive up our warscore and hurt our opponent's chances of continuing war. This is our Anvil army.

Target E: Backup

The Lubeck army will be assigned to backup the first assault, and will be dispatched to Livs, and from there, into Byzantium as needed.

The names of my five armies are Reserve, Dart, Anvil, Hammer, and Lubeck. I will refer to them as such during the war to expedite things

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 21, 1135 - I declare war against Byzantium

Sweden does not join us, not that there’s much they could do anyway

Dec 13 - The Dart army arrives in Novgorod to fight troops there

Dec 22 - We win and begin the Siege of Novgorod

Jan 10, 1136 - We capture Novgorod. Good Dart Army, very good.

I order the Dart Army into more Byzantine territory. Time to harass.

Jan 21 - At 12000 men strong, the Hammer army has gathered in Orsha. I order them in.

Jan 30 - Two more provinces split off of Byzantium - Moscow and some Turkish province.

Feb 1 - The Dart Army has arrived in Trans=portage to fight the 2500 Byzantine forces here.

Feb 9 - The Dart Army is victorious

Feb 21 - I switch gears. I order my Anvil army into Polotsk. I will capture it early. Considering how bad Byzantine is getting beat, they may let the two provinces go.

Mar 1 - My Hammer Army blasted the Byzantines

Mar 11 - The Hammer Army grabbed a provinces for us

Mar 18 - Polotsk fell. I send a peace offer

Mar 30 - They accept our peace proposal - we also got 500 gold from them too.

I order a sawmill in Polotsk

Since my BB was almost all gone, we are still fine after grabbing those two provinces.

[Abe Sargent]

May 1 - Poland just lost four provinces to the Duchy of Lesser Poland who won their war of secession

June 11 - I give Polotsk to the new Count. I will be keeping Novgorod

June 24 - I get n event - Ruler commit’s a dastardly act of cruelty in Jerusalem. My piety takes a hit, as does the loyalty of two classes in Jerusalem

June 25 - A Croatian county attacks Sweden, I declare war back with my allies. Croatia joins.

June 28 - Novgorod is no longer looted

July 28 - Another heritage scheme broken up. The Duke of Bohemia ceded his duchy to Hungary in another war.

Aug 17 - I order a Grand Shipyard in Lubeck

Oct 13 - I dial up Training Grounds in Novgorod

Welcome to 1137

Aug 14 - Poland keeps falling apart, since the King was Excommunicated apparently, although I didn’t do it. I order a Small Castle in Novgorod

Sept 17 - I blast some rebels in Polotsk

Nov 8 -I get an event about my Marshal having long term service, so I reward him.

Welcome to 1138

[Abe Sargent]

January 26 - While under siege from the Emperor of Byzantium, I offer Pskov a vassalization. They accept. Of course, the Emperor is only 250 men strong I think we can wait it out.

Pskov was important to get because it’s the land connection to Novgorod.

Feb 1 - I order a Glass Blower in Aukshayts

Feb 14 - I DOW the Tribe of Ingers and move my Livs forces into Vodi

March 5 - Our troops arrive in Vodi and assault their troops

Mar 28 - We defeated the pagans and being our siege

I get an offer for peace for 1692 gold, That’s a lot of gold. I already have over 2000 though, so I’m good. I want the land.

May 1 - We capture Vodi. I grab it and 500 gold from them. I now have a land connection all the way up to Kexholm.

June 1 - My Marshal has died.

[Abe Sargent]

Sept 1 - There is no more Byzantium, in the same place. Bulgaria has taken their King title. They have grabbed the Principality of Novgorod, which is bad for us. They can now launch an attack on Pskov, and there is nothing I can do, unless I go to war.

Just in case, I mobilize my forces in Livs and Aukshayts and move them to places I can handle.

Sept 8 - It looks like Bulgaria has mobilized their forces. This is going to hurt, but I have to protect my own.

I usurp the Duke of Novgorod title. Over the years, this guy has collected vassals from the Old Byzantium. There are six provinces in the Duchy of Novgorod, we have four, so I can claim the title by right, without any BB, but I lose some prestige.

This will take some prestige, however. I grab the title Count of Torshok.

Sept 14 - My Livs forces have arrived in Pskov. Time for war.

I DOW the Principality of Novgorod

Bulgaria DOWs us back. No Sweden to be seen - nice ally that Sweden

Sept 19 - I win a skirmish in Pskov - they were marching here.

Oct 5 - My troops arrive in Torshok and begin the siege.

I order my force in Orsha, from Aukshayts, into Bulgarian territory

Oct 25 - I defeat a small number of troops in Novgorod and a major army in Torshok. The siege continue.

Nov 22 - I capture Torshok

I take the Duke title, Torshok, and about 50 gold.

I gained a bunch of Russian provinces from taking the Duke title, many of which I don’t want. Let’s finish up the wars with the leaders of the two people I just took (Torshok and Vodi) and then call it a night.

Dec 15 - Bulgaria accepts my White Peace proposal, which puts Pskov out of the way of danger.

May 15, 1139 - The Clergy of Novgorod Request Alms. I give as much as I can spare for the poor of Novgorod and increase the loyalty there a bit of two classes.

Nov 14 - I get Increased Land Productivity in Novgorod and it moves from poor to normal.

Welcome to 1140

[Abe Sargent]

Okay, Let's Look at Russia:

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4793/1140russiapf7.jpg

As you can see, when we took the Principality of Novgorod's title, we grabbed their vassals as well. There are several provinces with stars on them. The one by Novgorod was Torshok, the actual province we captured in war. All of the others were vassals that have moved their allegiance to us. Now some fit our profile quite nicely, while some others are just other there.

You can also see that province in the middle of Hungary that one of my Counts inherited.

The Tribe of Cumans is quite large, as I mentioned.

After further review, here is what I think happened with Bulgaria and Byzantium.

At some pint in time, Bulgaria gained a claim on the King of Rus, but I'm not sure how. Maybe they grabbed it, maybe they had an event, or maybe they inherited a claim.

Then they waged war with Byzantium while they were down. Grabbed several of their province s and took the King of Rus. Now all vassals loyal to the Rus title go with Bulgaria, much like we got the Novgorod vassals. They also grabbed a few provinces from Byzantium, including their former capital.

[Abe Sargent]

What I need to decide now is The Russia Question.

Simply put, do I continue into Russia or go elsewhere?

Its important to know that a lot of the Russian provinces are very poor. Poorer than the poor Scandinavian provinces, like Aland.

For example, Ugra, which is in the far NE corner that we got, the base income is 0.24. In Trans-portage, which is now ours, it’s 0.42. Here are some provinces SE of Transportage: 0.67, 0.29, 0.67, 0.65, 0.61, 0.28, 0.41, 0.65, 0.12, 0.70. Those are all of the provinces in the NE corner of the map. That’s poor.

And that’s the problem with Russia. It’s a very poor state. Now, there are some provinces with value:

Tver, adjacent to three of our provinces is rocking a 3.64 - very wealthy. (Lubeck is 3.73 by comparison, and it is one of the best provinces we have).

Smolensk is at a powerful 4.21. It’s next to two of our provinces.

Msitisavl is at 1.98 which isn’t that bad at all - Adjacent to Minsk, our province captured by Novogorod Duchy and Orsha as well.

Lyubech is at 3.64 - and although it is adjacent to Minsk, it is deep into enemy territory - a poor strategic choice for expansion.

Moskva is at 2.98 and is adjacent to us in Vyazama.

Pereyaslavl Zalesky, next to Vyazama as well has a powerful 4.27.

Rostov, next door, has 3.64


This then, is the seduction of Russia. There are these great provinces that lead you into her, only to find crap at the end. If we expand gently, and then let the eastern provinces rot in whoever’s hands, that might be ideal.

For the record, here are the provinces we grabbed from Novgorod, but not Tolshok:

Minsk - Below Orsha and east of Jacwiez.

Vyazma - East of V. Luki, it’s the perpendicular province at the end of our land in the east (still connected to us).

Starya Russa - Nestled between Novgoroed, Pskov and V. Luki. A perfect fit to our profile

Trans-portage - Adjacent to Novgorod, in the NE.

Ugra - Far NE of the map, crap province.

Galich Mersky - Near where Mongols often appear. Ick. Far east of Russia.

Hlynov - NE of G. Mersky. Also near Mongols.

So we gained seven provinces off the Duke title. Plus we got Torshok, which closed a hole in our profile.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 5 - After seeing how valuable Tver was, I decided to send a random offer of vassalization, since they are at war with Byzantium, they might flock to us as so many others have done. They have accepted, and Tver is now a part of the Duchy of Mecklemburg.

The Emperor of Byzantium is 48 year old Yevstafii of Tver, so he may not give up without a fight. Still, I am unconvinced that they have the ability to take Tver right now, especially through the 1600 Tverese military.

Feb 15 0 I order a Library in Novgorod

Our BB is not super high, but it is rising. We need to slow down a bit.

Unless an amazing opportunity falls into our laps, we should steer clear of swallowing more land right now.

March 11 - Poland’s King has died, and his son is a much better ruler without the crisis.

April 1= The Duchy of Trondelag just won its independence from Sweden

April 23 - A nice courtier has arrived in my court and I make him my new Marshall

My second born son, Bartosz has died. He was 47

Aug 15 - We blast some rebels in Polotsk

Nov 2, 1140 - At the age of 73, Wladyslaw Nakonid died of old age.

He has been Beatified

[Abe Sargent]

Our new ruler:

Zbigniew, Count of Danzig, Eldest Son of Wladyslaw

5/13/4/6

55 Years Old

Traits: Chaste, Lazy, Generous, Arbitrary, Cruel, Modest, Sceptical, Trusting, Coward

Loyalist, Crusader, Romantic

Prestige: 422
Piety: 351


Rivals: Count of Memel, Zemigalians, Stettin and Slupsk, and Opole

Friends: Duke of Slesvig, Count of Zhmud and Werle, and Marshal of Denmark.


Ally -Count of Rugen.

I send some gifts out to particularly disloyal subjects. Vassals are always a bit queasy at changes, and naturally have to grow into their new liege. Thus all vassals take a massive loyalty hit.

I claim the title - King of Lithuania

Our new capital is Aukshayts

My fifth born child has a Diplomacy of 23, and that will help stabilize the realm, as my Chancellor. I have a combined Diplomacy skill of 36.

I offer myself to a Courtier in the County of Opole to be my new bride.

With the prestige bump from becoming King of Lithuania, I am now at 672, a healthy number. I will not create the Duke titles I can, saving them for a future King to use to pump up their prestige.

One of the things I can immediately do is offer vassalization to Dukes. I could not do that before, because I was at the same level as them, but now when a wayward Duchy becomes available, I can try to bring it home.


I give away Torshok to the new Count, and Vodi to another new Count.

That drops our BB even more.

I need a year or so to stabilize my people, and then I can go to war, if needed.

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 16 - Luca, age 17, is now my new wife, with her 6/8/3/17 skills

Welcome to 1141

Jan 11 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Danzig

Apr 21 - I lost the Loyalist trait due to an event designed to do so. “What Am I Being Loyal To, Anyway?” was the name of the event.

May 25 - My new wife and I are expecting.

July 17 - Tver and Byzantium are now at peace, guaranteeing our newest province’s continuing presence.

Sept 1 - I grant a Title:

The Count of Wolgast and Esztergom is now the Duke of Pommerania. He has great stats, is still young, and has an established family, while also being a loyalist. A perfect choice for my first Duke. The Counts of Rugen and Stettin and Slupsk are now under his control.

I have practically no BB (just 3 or so). Time to take it out for a spin.

I DOW the Duchy of Asturias, and then the Kingdom of Castille declared war back. We fight to regain Kurs.

I order my Aukshayts troops to Kurs

Castille is currently involved in a few battles with Muslems to their south, so I hope they won’t sail up some troops, but even if they do, I think I can handle some sick troops after being in a boat for a half of a year.

Oct 13 - Our troops arrive in Kurs. I get white peace offers from the Duke of Asturias. Heh. Nope.

Nov 6 - Kurs falls. I offer peace.

Nov 10 - The Duke of Asturias accepts our peace proposal.

We are still at war technically with Castille, but I doubt we’ll come to blows.

It was quick. Kurs needs some investment. I order a Sawmill built here. I would grant Kurs to my fourth born son, but he is my Marshal. My fifth born is my Chancellor. First and third are dead. My second born son and heir is my Diocese Bishop. I’m stuck without a son to give to Kurs.

So I grant Kurs to the new Countess.

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 17 - A week later I get a major event:

A Vassal of Mine had broken free and is trying to spark civil war. I gain Realm Duress. While I have Realm Duress, I get -3 diplomacy, -2 intrigue, -1 stewardship and -5 prestige per month. That’s nasty. Our stability drops by tow, but I;m not sure how to raise is back up - it’s never been above 0.

The Count of Memel has rebelled and we are now at war.

I order the Aukshayts forces to Memel.

Dec 27 - Our forces arrive in Memel.

Jan 16 - I get an event. The Count of Hlynov has declared independence. I decide to let him go. I cannot concentrate on a vassal so far away.

Jan 24 - We win in Memel and begin the siege.

Feb 18 - I have a son, and we name him Havel. I also gain a new rival, the Count of Pskov

Feb 20 - Memel fell. We take it in peace.

I decide to give Memel to my daughter, the new Countess of Memel. The family tie should make her a more loyal vassal.

Because we took it in self defense and then gave it away, our BB did not take a major hit. I need to steer clear of any war other than our own for the next while, in order to weather out the storm.

Money will be spent on appeasing vassals, not on buildings.

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 17 - I get another event. The Count of Trans-portage has declared independence. No war. I let them go peacefully. I could move the Novgorod army over and blast them, but I don’t care about the cheap province.

Mar 22 - I get an event, and one of my courtiers flees to another court.

May 5 - We are expecting another child

May 7 - Castille declined my White Peace proposal

Aug 28 - I get an event to invest some money in my realm. I do, putting over 2000 gold into my stability, but I only had a 50/50 chance of success and it didn’t work.

Welcome to 1143

I made it through the Civil War Crisis, Year One.

Jan 29 - We had a son and will name him Kazimierz

April 15 - I will be sending the first son with my new wife to the nannies to raise.

May 23 - Theives Guild forms in Aukshayts

[Abe Sargent]

Aug 8 - We are now at war. It’s a long chain, so get ready:

The County of Opole, which if you remember is a rival, DOWd us.
Their liege, the Duchy of Greater Poland follows and DOWs us.
The Duchy is a part of Sweden, so Sweden DOWs us
The County of Rugen retalites, as our ally, and DOWs Sweden
Their liege, the Duke of Pomerania DOWs Sweden
Rugen DOWs the Duchy of Greater Poland.
Pomerania DOWs them as well.
Rugen DOWs Opole
Pomerania does as well.
Then the ally of Opole, which did not join them in their initial attack, the County of Poznanskie, DOWs back against the people who DOWs Opole.

Okay, following all of that? Basically, I am at war with Sweden. Let me look through my claims, see if I have anything that can help us.

I have no claims to dial up against Sweden.

I order Lubeck forces to the Swedish capital

Danzig forces to the Duchy capital (adjacent to Danzig)

I spend a lot of prestige to grab the Duke of Greater Poland title. I then Create the titles of Duke of Livonia, Prussia and Esthonia, in order to jack my prestige back up.

If I go to war, I intend to win

[Abe Sargent]

Aug 20 - Our Danzig forces arrive in the Duchy’s capital.

Sept 12 - 3500 men arrive to protest our siege of Gnieznienskie

I accept peace with Opole for 900 gold and Pozan. For 300 gold.

Oct 2 - We win in Gniez. I get news that my wife is pregnant agin. And I get the “You have Fallen in Love with you Wife” event again.

Oct 14 - Gniez falls.

I take the Duke of Greater Poland. Gniez is back to the now Count. We gain vassals in Lubusz, Poznanskie and Opole.

Oct 23 - My troops arrive in the Swedish captial and begin a siege

Nov 7 - We capture Vastergotland

Nov 22 - Sweden has rejected my gracious proposal.

Dec 27 - I captured Smaland

Jan 12, 1144 - We capture Ostergotland

If they reject this, then I go to war for real.

Jan 20 - They decline my peace offer, I just wanted a White Peace. I send troops to more Swedish provinces.

[Abe Sargent]

I grab a claim on Hamburg.

Feb 10 - 8000 men arrive in Lubeck. They will march for Hamburg.

Feb 22 - We win in Hamburg and begin the siege.

Mar 10 - Hamburg falls. I order my troops onward to Bremen.

Mar 17 - Sweden decliners a peace offer for Hamburg. They need humiliated.

April 3 - We capture Bremen.

April 24 - I capture Halsingland.

April 29 - They decline another peace offer. I pillage their lands.

May 7 - I capture another province, Osnabruck

May 30 - Munster falls.

June 29 - We have a daughter and name her Grazyna

July 3 - Another peace proposal declind.

Aug 7 - Sweden is pushing us back in Munster and defeats our army.

Sept 6 - We drive 1500 Swedish back out of Bremen

Sept 23 - They have retaken Osnabruck, but I have defeated a besieging army in their captial.

Oct 15 - I win about three quick battles in Germany where I ordered a few troops to march.

Nov 3 - We lose in Hamburg

Nov 15 - We win in Hamburg after sending in a second army.

Jan 13 - I drive away the Swedish from Holstein.

Feb 15 - I stop the 1200 Swedish from taking Ostergotland

March 20 - I’ve been winning a few skirmishes, no more major battles.

Mar 26 - I recapture Osnabruck

April 4 - My youngest son dies

[Abe Sargent]

Apr 7 - Yet another peace offer resisted

Apr 18 - Munster is captured again

July 11 - A few more skirmishes. I have won all but one.

Aug 1 - My wife has died in labour and my child was lost

Sept 20 - In order to help win the war, I organized our troops in that province down in Hungary, and then sent them to two Swedish Northern Italian province.s We have captured the first - Trent

Oct 9 - I lose a fight in the north.

Oct 25 -I lift another siege in Sweden.

Nov 5 - We lift a small siege

Nev 21 - They decline another peace offer

Jan 14 - We capture Chur, the other province in north Italy

Jan 24 - Anotehr decline of my peace offer.

I’m fine financially. I have over 1000gold and I’m only losing twenty or so a month. What is Sweden waiting for? Unlike Byzantium, there is no third wave that will sweep over my advances. I’m just getting more and more of their troops. They are at war with others, and experiencing Realm Duress of their own. Seriously, what’s their problem with giving up one province? If my opponent was asking for one province, not even in the heart of my land, after taking twelve of mine, I’d say yes, and be glad about it.

The war has bogged down into a few moves of damaged armies into my good armies, so I just move them around and clean up the Swedish military. Meanwhile, I’m sneaking my troops down the Italians peninsula to four m ore Swedish provinces

[Abe Sargent]

May 3 - A TG forms in Lubeck

June 5 - We capture Foggia.

July 9 Sweden recaptured Trent

Aug 25 - We capture Capua and lose in Finnveden

Oct 1 - they recapture their capital, but I have 8000 men crossing from Lubeck, so it is a temporary reprieve for them

Oct 9 - They crecapture Chur

Nov 20 I recapture their capital

Dec 16 - Roma falls, but it will be temporary. Already, Sweden has a bunch of people sweeping through Italy to regain their lost provinces. Knowing this is a losing battle, I disband my small forces.
I am going to change gears strategically. I am just going to defend Bremen, Hanburg, and the Swedish provinces to our north. That’s it. No more journeys into Germany, France, or Italy, just the area around me.

Welcome to 1147

If this war goes on too much longer, I may do what I did with Byzantium, make a claim and keep attacking.

From here on out, I am going to ignore the war in this dynasty. Assume I am doing the normal. If something major occurs, I’ll post it. I;m again gaining money after getting knocked down to about 400

[Abe Sargent]

June 5 -I get an event: Civil war is inevitable. Orsha has declared war on us. I organize my troops and send them in.

July 19 - Troops from Aukshayts arrive in Orsha

Aug 8 - We win in Orsha and begin the siege

Aug 29 - Orsha falls. We get it and 200 gold in peace. That will increase our BB a bit

I give it to the New Count. That will lower it a bit. We still gained BB overall, but not that badly.

Dec 11 - I get an event: Pope demands Revoking of Lay Investiture. I agree. We now have Church Surpremacy

Welcome to 1148

Mar 1 - I grab a claim of Gotland

Mar 6 - I DOW Gotland

Apr 5 - Without landing troops or firing a shot, Gotland offers peace for all of their gold and their land. I accept.

I’ll hold onto to it until after the war

Apr 24 - I gained the Count of Tver as a rival

Aug 21 - I gain the Count of Kemi as a friend

Oct 25 - the Count of Slupsk declares indepedance. Both me and the Duke of Pomerania are involved. I order my Danzing forces to slupsk. I’ll take out the fighters and let Pemerania take the land back.

Nov 28 - Lubeck is now revolting

Dec 6 - Danzig is now revolting

Dec 12 - I order the Danzig forces on after winning Slupsk

Dec 25 - Chelminskie is vassalized by Sweden.

Marc 4 - After a long and bloody war, we are now at peace with Sweden for Hamburg. Probably because they annexed Chelminskie, and felt it was a fair trade ;(

[Abe Sargent]

We still have that civil war thing going on

March 26 - Reval has DOWd us. I organize the Livs troops to put them down.

Apr 18 The Court of Justice was destroyed in Danzig by insurgents

I order another built.

Apr 20 - Hamburg is now in revolt

Apr 29 - We win in Reval and begin the siege

May 20 - The Sheik of Jaffa is now a rival

June 13 - We capture Reval. I take it and gain a bunch of gold. I give Reval to a new Count.

July 14 - I force the Count of Slupsk back to the fold after the Duchy’s troops lost and I had to capture it myself.

We are now back to peace, for however long that may last.

I give Danzig to my second Grandson.

[Abe Sargent]

July 29 - My King is married again. This is a great 7/14/11/17 courtier, aged 16, and the dowry was really nice is getting us out of debt as well.

I order a Court of Justice in Hamburg

I claim the Duke of Holstein.

Aug 30 - The Theives Guild in Novgorod was disbanded.

Oct 1 - I order a Naval Harbor in Gotland.

Nov 23 - I get a Culture Change Event - Gotland is now Western Slavic

Dec 1 - I order Windmills in Jerusalem

Dec 27 - The Theives Guild in Lubeck is disbanded

Welcome to 1150

March 21 - The Count of Rugen has died, and now we are getting an alliance offer from the King of Bulgaria. They just got hammered by the Byzantium they hammered earlier, and lost a lot of their Russian lands, so I have no desire to form an alliance with them.

April 29 - I get an event. My Spy Master wants dough to say, but I don’t have it, so she leaves. I appoint a new one, my new wife, who has an intrigue just one less than her predecessor


May 21 - HAHAHAHAHA. I get an alliance offer from…Sweden. Oh sure why not. Sweden and Hungary are becoming the two major powers in Europe, might as well ally with one of them.

May 28 - Opole is inherited by a Swedish courtier and goes to them.



Would you like a post war map? I bet you would….

Hold on, let me get it for ya.

[Abe Sargent]

I have this map to show you the changes

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3660/posstswedishwarep5.jpg

As you can see from all of the grey and blue - Sweden and Hungary are in lots of places. Byzantium has been getting their Russians back.

[Abe Sargent]

July 15 - The Court of Justice in Lubeck is destroyed by rebels. I order another built.

Aug 29 - I get an event. My great diplomat son asks for a fief of his own. I tell him soon to keep him off my back, and he loses wise and gained reckless.

Nov 6 - The Schizo Count of Rugen declares indepedance and war against me and my vassals.

Nov 23 - My fourth born son and Marshal has gained celebate

Dec 1 - I order a Library in Hamburg

Welcome to 1151

Jan 2 - My steward, my father’s final wife, has died. I planned for this and appoint my wife the new Steward and another the Spy Master

Feb 12 - My eldest surviving son and Diocese Bishop has died and been Beatified

I have no one suitable for the position in my court,

Feb 13 - The Duke of Pommerania has taken Rugen back.

Feb 22 - I give in to demands and Lubeck is no longer revolting.

June 20 - I get an event about the Heretics in my realm in Jerusalem. Of the options, I rock with Tolerate Them, as opposed to encouraging them or stamping it out.

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 17, 1151 - I get an event:

Thank God That’s Over With:

Our Realm is no longer under threat of Civil War.

I lose Realm Duress.

Our kingdom regained the two stability it lost previously, but because I was able to buy a level of stability, we are now at +1 stability.

That was nasty. Some of the things that happened?

I flat out lost Trans-portage and Hlynoc

I had vassals declare independence and then have to go in and clean them up in Reval, Rugen, Slupsk, Memel, and Orsha. Five separate civil wars.

Plus, how much did our realm duress lead to Chelminskie and Opole leaving us for Sweden?

In addition, we got Theives Guilds, Smuggler Rings, blown up Courts of Justice, and a bunch of rebel events in my provinces.

Welcome to 1152

Jan 16, 1152 - At the age of 16, Zbigniew Nakonid, who had been King for almost 12 years, dies of old age.

[Abe Sargent]

His grandson, Jacenty Nakonid, the 26 year old Count of Vatyagi is the new King.

Jacenty:

10/10/12/8 stats

Hostile, Coward, Indulgent, Vengeful, Lazy and Lustful

Lustful might be a problem.

I send a few gifts of money out.

I appoint a new Diocese Bishop

I have a better Spy Master than my grandfather. I keep everybody else, including my two uncles and grandmother in law (who is younger than me).

Friend: Marshal of Orsha

Rivals: Bishop of Rostock, My Wife

Our BB drops.

I only have a prestige of 100 and a piety of 68.

I give the Count of Narva the title Duke of Esthonia. The Count of Reval is now his vassal.

That lowers our BB a bit more.

Jan 20 - I accept another alliance with Sweden.


With almost all BB gone, and a solid ally, it’s time to figure out where to go from here. But first, we hold up, and get vassals to start liking my new rule.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 18 - The first event of the new ruler! Reclaimed Wasteland gives Hamburg prosperous prosperity.

Apr 14 - I order a Grand Palace constructed in Lubeck. Good for our prestige when complete.

Naval Harbor ordered in Livs

June 1 - My Spy Master leaves rather than me pay him 1000 gold or so. I send for a bride for my uncle who is unmarried, and get a 17 intrigue 35 year old bride to be my new Spy Master

June 21 - In what must be a bug, Sweden, our ALLY, declares war on us.

Seriously? Come on now.

I order the Lubeck and Hamburg forces into Bremen.

Gotland forces are ordered to Smaland.

Since I’m at war with Sweden anyway.

I DOW the Count of Chelminskie

I order the Marienburg troops to Chelminskie

I order Danzig and Slupsk forces to Sweden proper.

Time to get some people upset.

The problem is that I don’t have the prestige to make claims., although I have the low BB to make them. Ironies.

[Abe Sargent]

June 23 - The Duke of Alsace offers me hundreds of gold for peace. I of course accept.

Gold makes wars, after all.

July 5 - the Siege of Bremen begins.

July 16 - Troops arrive in Chelminskie and begin the war. Sweden lands forces in Bremen and will try to force us out.

I also get an event about a pretty wench catching my eye. I refuse the impulse.

July 20 - We win in Bremen.

July 27 - We capture Bremen. On to Oldenburg.

Aug 9 - We arrive in Oldenburg and begin the siege.

Aug 19 - Chelminskie falls. I take it in peace along with a couple of hundred gold.

I then accept a peace offer from their Duke liege for 610 gold for peace.

I have so much money from these three peace treaties that I can wage war for a very long time.

Well, we gained the easy land in Chelminskie. Everything else will be a chore.

[Abe Sargent]

Aug 24 - Swedish troops protest our siege in Oldenburg one day before it would have fallen.

Aug 26 - Hungary captures Olderburg, grr. I move my troops onward.

Sept 4 - Troops from Gotland arrive in Smaland and begin a siege

Sept 20 - We capture Smaland. I move on to Ostergotland

Sept 26 - I get an alliance offer from Cuman. Interesting. Too far away to matter though, so I decline.

Sept 28 - Swedes have recaptured Bremen.

Oct 1 - Feeling cocky about the war and money, I order a Small Castle built in Hamburg

We engage 4900 Swedish tropps in Braunschweig.

Oct 9 - we win

Oct 10 - We arrive in Ostergotland

Oct 25 - We capture Ostergotland

Oct 26 - Our forces arrive back in Bremen.

Nov 9 - We win in Bremen and begin another siege

Nov 12 - Livs troops arrive in time to drive out 2000 Swedish troops from Hamburg.

Nov 24 - We capture Akershus

Nov 26 - Bremen falls again.

Dec 6 - troops arrive in Sweden;s capital and begin a party.

Dec 9 - We arrive in Oldenburg and begin the assault on the defenders

Dec 13 - We win in Oldenburg

Dec 15 - 5000 troops arrive in Oldenburg to protest our presence

Dec 25 - We capture the Swedish capital.

Welcome to 1153. That was a long year.

[Bad-example]

I generally don't care for this kind of game but this has been a very enjoyable read. Might end up buying it at some point.

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 6 - We win in Oldenburg. We are down to just 3800 troops though, so I am sending 1500 reinforcements.

Jan 16 - I finish my education and become a Scholarly Theologian. My stats are now 10/11/14/9 - very acceptable.

Jan 26 - I capture Oldenburg

Jan 29 - We capture Halland

I gained the Count of Sudovia as a new rival.

Feb 12 - We arrive in Osnabruck to a major Swedish force.

I give Chelminskie to a new Count.

Feb 27 - We win in Osnabruck

Mar 13 - They have recaptured Oldenburg.

Mar 22 - We capture Osnabruck

Apr 7 - I lose in Oldenburg and disband the shamed armies.

Apr 25 - We capture Munster

Okay, it’s all getting a bit hot and heavy. I;ve been upping the number of troops in the area, and so has Sweden. It’s a mad fight for the Saxon provinces.

I can’t document all of the battles, changes in possession that are going on. I’ll stick just to the main stuff.

May 3 - I accept an alliance with Hungary. Sweden is the loser.

May 10 - We win a major battle in Bremen.

May 13 - And then we lose a major battle is Osnabruck, where we were outnumbered.

June 2 - After we lose a battle here, Sweden recaptures their capital

July 4 - I’m getting pushed back bad. I just in Bremen to 9000 Swedes. Time to draw a line in the sand.

July 14 - Bremen fell. My guess in Hamburg is next. That will be my line. Not in my territory.

I have 7549 men in Hamburg, ready to stop the Swedish advance

July 20 - I gain the honest trait after refusing a wench

Aug 23 - I now have 11000 troops in Hamburg,. They have 20000 in Bremen now, but I have reinforcements arriving

Sept 16 - I now have 23000 troops in Hamburg, Time for the biggest battle in our history.

23195 on our side

vs.

21427 under the command of the Swedes.

Oct 17 - We lose

I send a white peace proposal to Swedeb

Oct 18 - They accept.

[Abe Sargent]

I generally don't care for this kind of game but this has been a very enjoyable read. Might end up buying it at some point.

Thanks!

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 18 - I get an event telling me about how hard it is to run a province so far away from home. Jerusalem is now rebelling, they destroy the local Royal Post and loyalty drops across the board. I organize my troops until the rebellion is over. If my troops are cut in half, I doubt Jerusalem would be long for this world, and the Islamic powers surounding us would gobble us up.

Nov 19 - My Marshal ran away to another court.

Nov 23 - One of my courtiers commits suicide

Dec 1 - I thrash some rebels in Vatyagi

I order up a medium castle in Gotland.

Welcome to 1154

Jan 1154 - Uh oh. The Count of Zemigalians, when he dies, gives his land away to the Count of Glamorgon, in Wales, under Sweden. We lose one of our provinces. However, the Count of Glamorgan gives his land to the Count of Zemigalians if he dies. We need the Count of Glamorgan to die first, but he’s 31 to our guy’s 51. Not likely.

I send an incentive.

He has a low intrigue and we have a really high one. It works. The Count is dead, no one suspects us, and our Count inherits the land, increased our domain by a province, albeit a poor one.

Now, the Count of Zemigalians and Glamorgan may not like me. The Count I killed….was his firstborn son. Of course, since we were not found out, who knows what info he has. Plus, he’s a loyalist.

We still have a low BB, and could grab something we already have a claim on.

[Abe Sargent]

Our Claims:

Duke of Slesvig - Currently Hungarian
Duke of Saxony, Currently Burgundy King
Duke of Polotsk, Currently Byzantine Emperor
Duke of Mazovia, Currently Polish King
Duke of Brnadenburg, Currently Burgundy
Duke of Bohemia, Currently Hungarian
Three Arabic States by Jerusalem

Counties that I do not currently have in my domain:

Mecklemburg 0- Hungarian
Braunschweig - Hungarian
Trans-portage - Hungarian
Hlynov - Free, too far away and poor
Sopron - Hungarian
Plock - King of Poland

The only province I could get is Plock. It’s not bad and adjacent to me, but not worth warring over, especially since Hungary would eat the rest of Poland and all I’d get is one province. I’d prefer more if I take out Poland permanently.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 5 - I defeat rebels in Vatyagi again

Mar 14 - My allies are dumb. They follow their vassal into war with Sweden. Well, I don’t want more war with Sweden, Hungary. I’ll watch from the sidelines.

May 4 - I get an event: Your Realm is So Prosperous You Could Share the Wealth with the Barons

“Surely there is some to share” I gain 50 prestige, 50% chance of my stability dropping back to zero
“My Barons Deserve Even More” I gain 100 prestige, 150% stability drop.
“It is not my place to take the Peasants’ Wealth: Gain trait Modest

I already am modest. I need the prestige badly, so I go with option #1.

That was a gamble. It paid off. No stability drop.


May 12 - Reval declared war against their Duke, Esthonia. I join their war. I order the Livs troops into Reval.

May 24 - I give into demands in Jerusalem, losing a bit of prestige, to end the revolt. I disband my army there.

June 17 - We defeat the troops in Reval.

June 29 - I order a library in Yatvyagi

Aug 3 - I lose the trait proud when I refuse a wench. My leader has such negative traits that his courtiers are leaving. He needs to lose some of these negative traits, so I am doing as much as I can to do so.

Dec 17 - A comet is seen in the sky. I spend some gold to interpret as a good sign and gain a little prestige.

Welcome to 1155

Jan 11 - My King is now stressed

Jan 12 - The next day my chancellor, the one wit the 23 diplomacy was diagnosed with intestinal worms.

Feb 6 - A Smugglers Ring was broken up is Novgorod

Apr 30 - Small Pox arrives in Novgorod

May 7 - I lose another courtier

May 28 - The Duke of Esthonia has finally captured and taken Reval.

[Abe Sargent]

June 5 - The Great Courtier Hemmorage continues as I lose my Diocese Bishop.

June 15 - I order a Medium Castle in Livs

July 1 - Time for a Tile Factory in Hamburg.

July 3 - My Marshal gets an event - You Encounter a Great Boar while hunting. I choose to wait for troops to kill it, and my Marshal gains modest. Then the 5% chance of him dying kicks in, and he dies. 5% chance and I miss.

Get this, the only male courtier I have no currently assigned a role has a Martial skill of 1.

July 7 - I order a Large Church in Novgorod.

Welcome to 1156



I have an idea of where to go next as my BB keeps falling, but my prestige doesn’t increase enough to warrant grabbing titles.

Feb 26 - The Bishropric of Braunschweig DOWs Hungary to get away. I join my allies, since I have a claim on it.

I mobilize troops and send them in.

Mar 1 - I got a claim to the title of Pskov as an event.

March 6 - Our first forces arrives in Braunschweig and begin the attack.

Marc 22 - We win, the siege begins.

Apr 20 - It falls. We get 26 gold and the province for peace.

I order a Small Castle built here.

We would have inherited this province long ago, and now the claim from that time allows us ot poach it now. It’s all one big circle baby.

[Abe Sargent]

May 5 - the Thives Guild in the province is now disbanded.

Aug 6 - No more TG in Aukshayts either.


Sept 20 - I just noticed that Hungary in undergoing realm duress. Excellent!

Oct 6 - I give alms to the poor in Novgorod.

Nov 3 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Hamburg.

Nov 30 - I buy the peasants happiness in Novgorod when they want a feast.

Dec 5 - I inherit the title Countess of Memel, and some gold.

I give it to a new guy. Less BB. Yay.


Welcome to 1157

Jan 14 - I am now married to the lovely, 16 year old Tiburge de Toeny, 7/13/17/9 stats.

Feb 1 - We inherit the County of Danzig.

I give away Yatvyagi to a new Countess.

Apr 29 - We are expecting.

May 12 - The King of Hungary dies and we ally with the new one.

[Abe Sargent]

Dec 1 - I declare war on the Tribe of Votes, in the rear of Finland. Time to wipe out a few more pagans.

Dec 22 - Novgorod forces arrive in Onega and begin and assault.

Jan 4, 1158 - We win in Onega and begin a siege.

Jan 13 - Forces from Livs arriuve in Karelen and assault th defenders.

Jan 21 - We win in Karelen.

Feb 1 - We build a Large Castle in Gotland.

Feb 3 - We have a son and name him Jakob

Feb 4 - Onega falls and we take it.

I order a Sawmill in Onega

Feb 18 - I gain the Emir of Jerusalem as a rival.

Feb 19 - We capture Karelen and take both provinces.

Onega is immediately given to a new Count.

I make the Count of Galindia the new Duke of Prussia. Marienburg, Sambia and Scalovia now report to him.

The Count of Memel is made into the Duke of Samogitia. The Count of Zhmud now reports to him.

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 14 - We defeat rebels in Sudovia

Apr 15 - I lose another courtier

May 8 - I order a sawmill in Karelen.

July 6 - I order a church in Hamburg

July 18 - I get an event - One of my Vassals Refuses to Changes his laws - I lose 25 prestige

Aug 20 - I get an event - Vassal pleased with rule. I gain 25 prestige. Ironic.

Sept 2 - The Emirate of Jerusalem and Kingdom of Egypt are now at war. We might be able to poach a few provinces from Jerusalem, we’ll watch closely.

Oct 8 - My eldest daughter is now 16 and ready for marriage

Dec 30 - I’ve had several offers of marriage rejected for my daughter. She’s not that bad folks.

Welcome to 1159

Jan 15 - I finally marry off my daughter to some foreign courtiers.

Jan 18 - Karelin is now revolting

Feb 1 - I give Danzig my nephew who just turned 16.

Feb 5 - Without any land changing hand, or any major offensives, the Emirate of Jerusalem and Egypt are now at peace.

Feb 7 - No more Thieves’ Guild in Hamburg,

June 16 - I order a Monastary in Livs

July 7 - My king has become crazed. Uh oh.

Jul 22 - I give in to popular demands in Karelen and the revolt is over.

Aug 5 - I order a church in Karelen

[Abe Sargent]

Aug 19 - Time to change the map. I DOW the Chiefdom of Halsingland. Christian lands has fallen to pagans, and I am attacking the one province tribe.

I also DOW the Tribe of Cuman. I order Osel troops to Aland and Some troops I snuck into north Swedish territory into Angermanland

Hungary joins our war.

Sept 19 - We capture Angermanland after a quick siege.

Our troops land in Halsingland

Sept 30 - We win in Halsingland

Oct 2 - Osel troops arrive in Aland and begin a siege

Oct 9 - We arrive in Vasterbotten and begin a siege

Oct 12 - Halsingland falls. We take it in peace.

I order a Sawmill built here.

I give Halsingland away to a courtier who is now the new Count.

Oct 20 - Vasterbotten falls.

I DOW the Tribe of Western Sames, who has the next door province, and order my forces to continue the pressure against the pagans.

Nov 12 - Someone died and left me a bunch of claims. Don’t know who. Maybe someone in the family in another court? I got a claim on the King of Bohemia, Duke of Bohemia, Silesia, Thuringa, and Count of Usti nad Labem, Danzig, Liberac and Hum

The King claim, that’s golden.

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 15 - Aland falls to our troops.

Dec 2 - I capture Lappland

Dec 23 - Our Livs troops arrive in Naumadal and assault the defenders

Welcome to 1160

Jan 11 - We lose in Naumadal

Jan 24 - Troops from Gotland land in Halogaland.

Jan 30 - We win.

Feb 12 - Halogaland falls to us.

Mar 6 - I order a Monastery in Hamburg

Mar 27 - Karelen is now Catholic, looted and revolting

I give the new Countess of Karelen the province now that it is Catholic.

April 14 - Small Pox in Novgorod subsides

April 16 - We win in Naundal

Lappland has been recaptured by the enemy

May 2 - We capture Naumadal

May 11 - We are expecting another child.

May 19 - Vasterbotten falls again

June 11 - Novgorod forces arrive in the capital of one of my enemies, and begin a siege after blasting the defenses.

June 26 - I capture that capital

Aug 3 - Angermanland also was recaptured

[Abe Sargent]

Aug 17 - Lappland falls to us again.

I take Lappland and let them have their captial back. I could have taken it too, but I have desire for it. That eliminates the army that was recapturing the provinces in the north.

I order a Small Castle in Lappland

Aug 23 - We take Angermanland in peace

I order a Sawmill built here

Aug 26 We take Naumadal in peace and a little gold too.

I order a Small Castle built here as well.

Sept 12 - We are no longer crazed. Whew.

Sept 25 - We win in Vasterbotten

Oct 13 - Vasterbotten falls. We take it in peace.

I order a Sawmill built here.

Oct 29 - Cuman rejects our peace offer for Halogaland. Fine, I take Aland in peace. I order a small castle here. I give it to the new Countess.

I create the Duke of Norrland title.

Dec 9 - Cuman rejects another peace proposal



Welcome to 1161

Jan 16 - I dial up a Large Church in Livs

Jan 20 - We had a daughter. We named her Jadwiga

Feb 16 - We dinally get Halogaland from Cuman in peace after about ten offers.

Mar 4 - Hungary takes 7 provinces from Cuman

I order a Hill Fort in Halogaland

I want to keep these lands until I can level them up and get them ready for Catholics to rule.

How about a map?

[Abe Sargent]

Maptime. Here's Sweden and Norway:

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8449/sweden1161jf5.jpg

The top five provinces are all connected, even if the map doesn;t look like it.

The stars represent two free duchies that are currently running around.

The blue province between Halsingland (us) and the rest of us is Scottish, not Swedish.

[Abe Sargent]

Why take these nine provinces? Well, my BB had gone down, and it would have been a waste not to take advantage of that. I went for the pagans because I had the opportunity to get them good. Nine provinces.

I’ll hold onto the four I still have up north in Sweden, as I mentioned before. I’ve given the others away.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Scotland - whoever wanted to take those lands had 96 years to do so, I figured that if it was still available, it was a good chance fo me to get a foothold on Scandinavian territory. Sometimes counties and duchies seceede and I am now positioned ot gobble them up.

I might have been able to take two-three European provinces, as opposed to the 9 I got here. That’s obviously a better deal, even if they are poorer provinces.



Bids on what will be my next King Crown:

Jerusalem - Expansion in the middle east would be hard at first, and thus a fun challenge.

Wales - Ther's only six Welsh provinces, so you only need four to become King. I already have one (Glamorgan)

Finland - I already have a decent chunk of Finland, but I would likely have to war with Denmark for the rest.

Sweden - With Aland, and four mainland provinces, I have a chunk of Sweden already

Norway - I now have two Norweigan province,s and thus have a handhold.

Rus - With a bunch of provinces already under my banner and an expressed desire to gobbble up lands around Moscow, will this be my next crown?

Germany - It’s big, but I have 7 provinces already. They can’t really stop me from being a threat if they want.

Poland - Right by my main land, the Polish King is wobbling, and there are some decent provinces here to take.

Bohemia - Far away, but I just got a claim on it, making war for the title very tasty, and easier to do than normal.

Something Else - Who knows where the wind blows. England? Scotland? Ireland? France? Burgundy? Denmark? Egypt?




I give Hamburg to my second daughter, even though she isn’t 16 yet.

I give the Count of Kurs the title Duke of Courland. Zemigalians now reports to him

I give the Count of Chelminskie the title Duke of Pomeralia. Danzig now reports to him.

I give Braunschweig to one of my courtiers as the new Countess.

And then our BB isn’t so bad.

[Chief Rum]

Just thought I would say I am reading along and enjoying the dynasty.

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 24 - I kill rebels in Ugra

Sept 1 - I order a Monastery in Lubeck

Nov 14 - With its Sawmill done I order a small castle in Angermanland.

Welcome to 1163

Jan 11 - The Peasants in Vasterbotten are in open rebellion. The country’s prosperity is set to struggling, it is now in ervolt.

The sawmill here is done too. I order a Small Castle.

Jan 24 - Prosperity in Novgorod set to prosperous

Feb 10 - We are expecting another child.


Feb 12 - I marry a niece and a courtier. The hope? More great courtiers.



Marc 2 - Sawmill done in Lappland so I order a Tile Factory

Apr 1 - I get an event: Moneylenders forced to leave - Novgorod loses moneylenders and I get 25 piety.

Apr 9 - Theives Guild hanged in Halogaland

June 4 - I have Religious Tension and choose to crush it in Lapland. Unfortunately, Lappland does not convert, and it is looted and revolting.

July 28 - The Clergy go to Angermanland to convert the masses. I choose to support their efforts. I lose some gold, gain 50 piety, and Angermanland is now Catholic.

Aug 28 - A shameful thing happened today. My amazing chancellor and uncle with the 20+ diplomacy died from illness. I inherited over 1800 gold that had been give to him over the years in honor of his service.

I have a 12 level chancellor appointed in his stead. Let me see if anyone can get married and bring us someone better.

Nope. This is the best I got for now.

This next province is a bit tough to get rid of for sentimental reasons. I need to drop my BB with a worse chancellor, and it’s the best option but still, sad days.

I grant the Livs to the new Count.

Sept 15 - One of my courtiers finished her education, and when she did, she jumped to a 14 diplomacy, and is now my new Chancellor.

Oct - 20 - I DOW the Chief of Veliky Ustug. Why? You’ll see….


8377 Novgorod forces in an adjacent province, all moved over and ready to fight are ordered in

Nov 1 - We had a daughter and name her Zdenka. My son can now marry.

Nov 21 - We capture Veliky Ustug. Why’d we do all of that? I take it. Why? Don’t I want to steer cealr of BB?

Well, sure. I give it to a courtier immediately after ordering a Sawmill built here.

Now I have freed up some ducal titles for later.

Time to find a bride for my son.

[Abe Sargent]

Just thought I would say I am reading along and enjoying the dynasty.

Thanks!

[Abe Sargent]

Okay, there is an opening, let me explain.

The King of France has semisalic primogeniture. He has four daughters, and a wife who is just 23. If he has a son, then it is lights out to us. She is not pregnant.

His oldest daughter is 22 and married to a Steward with a nice set of stats in the County of Auvergne

The next oldest sister has a daughter and is currently married, 20 years old and pregnant. The third sister is four.

Opening:

Assassinate the husband of the eldest daughter. Marry my eldest son and the eldest daughter. Then, any son will be in the line for France.

Problems: If the King of France has a child, assassination fails, 22 year old daughter of King of France is frigid and doesn’t pop out any kids, or just pops out females, King dies before male child is born, marriage is declined.

Bonus, she is indulgent, increasing her fertility.

It is a risky proposition, but if it works, wow.

Let’s start the chain. I dial up an assassin.

It succeeded but we were discovered.

I offer marriage.

Nov 25 - The marriage offer is accepted.

Two down, a bunch more steps to go.

Dec 10 - They are already expecting a child.

Step three down.

Dec 25 - My son became a Grey Eminence - best dip available. Great for a future King.

In fact, he becomes my Chancellor.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to1163

Jan 14 - I order a Tile Factory in Halogaland

July 5 - I order a small castle in Lappland

Sept 5 - I give in to demands in Lappland and the revolt ceases

Sept 13 - I choose to lose 100 prestige instead of losing the Duke of Saxony title to an event.

Sept 20 - My son has a son, and they name him Milosz. My grandson. The heir to both Lithuania and France.

Oct 23- Getting busy. They are expecting again already.

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 9 - 1163 -

A problem with France.

The King’s wife is pregnant.

Do I assassinate any male heirs that appear, for as long as they appear?

Or do I hope they just have female or stillborn children?

Or, do I take the plunge. I have a nice prestige and a decent enough piety (I can always create a bishopric if I need to.)

I order an assassin for the King. It costs a lot of gold, but here’s the thing. He’s 20 marshal, 18 diplomacy, but just 5 intrigue. My best stat is intrigue. There is an opening here….

Assassin fails, but we are not discovered.

Fine then. Let me try again,

Success, we are not discovered.

My newborn grandson, not even two months old is now the King of France.

Sometimes babies die, so what happens if he dies? His father takes over, my firstborn son…

Less than one year later, on Nov 9, my plot has succeeded.

I need to do penance.

I order a Large Church in Lubeck and Aukshayts

[Abe Sargent]

Nov 19 - The culture in Aukshayts is now Western Slavic

I get religious tensions again in Lappland. I again crushs thrm. This time it works, and is now Catholic.

Dec 9 - I order a Monastery in Gotland. Our first Large Castle is built here.

Welcome to 1164

Feb 20 - Hungary just flat out attacked the Kingdom of Bulgaria. I choose to pass on the slaughter

Apr 15 - I order a Civilian Harbor in Angermanland

May 8 - The Count of Medelpad is my newest rival

June 16 - I order a Library in Halogaland

July 19 - After a short illness, our grandson has died. Our son is now King of France, which is undergoing realm duress.


Sept 26 - I gained the Count of Sudovia and a new rival

Oct 3 - I order a medium castle in Novgorod

Welcome to 1165

Apr 19 - We are expecting

June 10 - Burgundy and Scotland have taken a chance to attack Hungary. I leave my ally alone. They don’t need my help, and I need to calm down my bb after assassinations and land and whatnot.

Aug 10 - I order Windmills in Gotland

Sept 1 - Bohemia and Hungary go to peace. Hungary grabbed a province

Nov 16 - I order a Monastery in Angermanland

Dec 7 - Roads are ordered in Lappland

Welcome to 1166


100 Year Review

[Abe Sargent]

100 Year Facts:

If I wanted to, I could summon 137731 men

I am the King of Lithuania

Duke of Holstein, Livonia, Mecklemburg, Norrland, Novgorod, Lithuania and Greater Poland

Count of Lubeck, Halogaland, Lappland, Vasterbotten, Angermanland, Gotland, Novgorod, Aukshayts and Jerusalem.


3630 gold
1750 prestige
287 piety

Nobody likes him. Traits include Lazy, Lustful, Hostile, Vengeful, and Cowad. Also Just, Honest, Modest, Indulgent and trusting.

He was educated in the church

40 years old

Four rivals, no friends

141.5 ducats monthly as income

Allied with Hungary

30 Count vassals

5 Duke vassals


Number of provinces I have?

9 in my desmense +
30 Counts +
5 Dukes +
5 number of vassals with two provinces +
8 number of counts reporting to Dukes =

57 provinces in the Kingdom of Lithuania

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 23, 1166 - We had a son and name him Wlodzimierz

Feb 4 - The Pope dies. The Count of Zhmud is the new Papal Controller

Feb 15 - I order a small castle in Halogaland

Aug 21 - The Duchy of Slesvig DOWd Hungary. I mobilize troops. First, I offer them vassalization.


Aug 30 - I get another inheritance of a few claims. Nothing too major. A duke title, and a dozen or so counts, have in my own territory and half in England/Wales

Sept 8 - The Duchy refuses our offer. I want to join my ally then. I can get the Duke title, but not any vassals with it. Let me see if I can get any land.

Nope, not unless I make a claim. Let me check my BB.

Their provinces:

Savoie - don’t care
Holstein - Crap
Slesvig - 2.12
Dalarna - 1.06

Nah, I’m going to decline. There’s nothing here. I have an alright BB, but nothing I want to push, especially without my great Chancellor

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 4 - I blast rebels in Vasterbotten

Nov 11 - I order a church in Gotland

Dec 21 - Lappland is now set to rich

Welcome to 1167

July 1 - I order Windmills in Lubeck

July 20 - While getting hammered, the Duke of Slesvig accepts our offer of vassalization.

I order my troops to move to the Duchy of Upland, who has taken the Slesvig province in Sweden by Halsingland.

Sept 3 - I give in to demands in Lappland

Oct 11 - Revolt in Jerusalem because of heresy. I organize my troops.

Oct 17 - Gotland forces capture Uppland. I order them to Dalarna.

Oct 24 - I accept peace with Gotland for 824 gold.

Well, I saved my vassal’s province up north, but I can’t DOW my ally, so I have to hop[e they can hold out against Hungary.

Nov 1 - I give the Count of Lettigalians the Duke of Livonia title. Reporting to it are Osel, Livs and Dorpat

Welcome to 1168

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 8 - Lappland is no longer looted

Feb 14 - I have a new grandson after getting two grandaughters in a row.

Jul 22 - Slesvig, which should hol eup and hoep that Hungary forgets about it, just took a Hunmgarian province in the Polish Donut.

Aug 18 - Civilian Harbor begins construction in Halogaland

Aug 24 - I give in to demands in Jerusalem. Revolt over.

Oct 19 - Slesvig took the other donut province

Dec 20 - The County of Danzig declared independence from the Duchy of Pomeralia

Dec 30 - Troops I ordered from Slupsk arrive in Danzig and begin the battle.

Welcome to 1170

Feb 6 - After a long battle, we lose. We damaged them heavily though. The Duke should be able to clean up, I hope

Feb 26 - The Duchy wins

Aug 27 - After the Duke dies in battle, the new Duke eventually captures and negotiates for Danzig back after battle,

Aug 30 - Both of the provinces Slesvig captured are backing Hungarian hands. Seriously, they should have turtled

Welcome to 1170

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 29 - Poland is starting to annex and grow again.

April 4 - My four year old son dies of an illness

My second grandson has also died, but my son had a third boy.

The Duchy oif Upland kept fending off my vassalization equests, then got hammered by Sweden and is now just a province, that still refuses vassalization. Some people never learn.

Welcome to 1171

Mar 4 - I give in to demands in Vasterbotten and the revolt ends.

I give Halogaland away to the new Count

July 10 - Another child is en route

Welcome to 1172

Feb 21 - The Count of Montferrato is now my friend

Mar 12 - I order a Smithy in Gotland

Mar 26 - We have a daughter and name her Cecile

May 22 - I kill some rebels in Onega

Aug 26 - Novgorod is looted from religious tension, and did not convert

Welcome to 1173

Slesvig and Hungary are still at war. Come on, let’s get peace!

Mar 30 - Thieves Guild forms in Vasterbotten

Apr 4 - Slesvig and Hungary are now at peace. Hungary took Dalarna. That means my Duke kept Savoie, Holstein and Slesvig counties.

I would have preferred to have lost Savoie and kept Dalarna, which increased our Scandinavian holdings, Ah well.

[Abe Sargent]

Sept 5 - I catch my wife having an affair. My options:

Behead Her! She dies, 25% chance I get cruel or vengeful.
Send her to a convent: She “dies’ (leaves the game). 25% chance I get merciful or arbitrary
Forgive Her: 25% chance I get forgiving or weak-willed

I choose to forgive her. Nothing happens.

Welcome to 1173

Jan 11 - At some point in time, and I don’t know when, the Count of Sudovia has inherited Hainuat, a county in north France/west Germany/south Lowlands area,

Mar 8 - Problem. The Duke of Slesvig’s has no kids and is 59. His two heirs are the Duke of Munster (Scotland) and the Duke of Upper Loraine (Croatian). When he dies, Slesvig goes with him.

His wife is 40. No child possibilities there.

What I am considering is simple. Assassinate the wife, he remarries, has a son, and the Duchy continues under our guidance.

I send the assassin

Success, but we are discovered.

March 16 - My youngest daughter has been assassinated in a counter assassin. That drops our BB back.

April 17 -- The Duke’s new wife is just 17. Good…

[Abe Sargent]

July 16 - Hungary and Poland get into a war. Hungary asks for help.

I agree. Poland has two Duke titles I have a claim on, but no counties anywhere near us.

I organize the Aukahayts army and head to a Polish province. A few more are headed to Opole, which is currently indepednant, and some more to Brandenburg, which is now a county under Polish rule.

Aug 28 I arrive in Brandenurg and realize that it is not Polish, just under an independant Germany ducky with the same color as Poland. Now I have to change my attack a bit. I order some troops to hit Poland until my Brandenburg army can arrive and bring some pain

Sept 9 - Aukshayts troops capture Podlasie and are ordered on

Spet 18 - Hold on, looks like we have a claim on Plock already. I’ll try to get that in war. The Aukshayts troops are heading there now.

Oct 6 - We win in Lower Silesia

Poland is at war with Bohemia, Hungary, us and Opole - and its jut too much. Many of her provinces are already captured.

Oct 20 - We capture Plock

Dec 5 - We gain Plock in peace negotiations

Welcome to 1174

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm reading as well. I've also started a new EU3 game with Meckleberg since you suckered me into the world domination mood.

BTW, you need to hire someone new in your court to think up better names for your children. :)

[Abe Sargent]

I'm reading as well. I've also started a new EU3 game with Meckleberg since you suckered me into the world domination mood.

BTW, you need to hire someone new in your court to think up better names for your children. :)


Be6tween some of the province names and the childern, I'd rather have the children's names. yOu occasionally get Jakob from your kids.

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 30 - I get an event:

You Have Gained an Opportunity to Claim a Fierce Rival’s Title

This is for the Duke of Jerusalem Title. I claim it. Relations drop by 50, and I have gained the title.

Feb 15 - My son, Jakob, is now of marrying age

This is an opportunity. Jakob can be my Diocese Bishop, I have noone currently. Plus I Can marry him to a great diplomat for my new chancellor. This is why, occasionally, you give a son religious upbringing.

March 20 - My new daughter in law is 39, but she has a diplomacy of 23. I don’t need kids, I need to keep my realm together


Aug 12 - Dysentery arrives in Aukshayts

Oct 3 - The Pope has called us to arms. Crusade is upoen us. The target is Palermo, on Sicily.

Dec 21 - My son is now a Scholarly Theologian

Welcome to 1175

Jan 11 - I order a smithy in Aukshayts

[Abe Sargent]

Jun 5 - The Teutonic Order has formed in Reval, our former province. Totally unrealistic with no pagans around to fight and no Poland to summon them. I was hoping they’d be gone permanently.

Aug 8 - At some point in time, the Duke of Slesvig has knocked up his wife. Good show!

Aug 15 - We get a heretic event for Jerusalem, and I choose to tolerate them

Im bored. I DOW The Teutonic Order.

Sept 13 - Troops arrive in Reval

Oct 9 - We win

Oct 25 - Prosperity in Lappland set to just prosperous from rich

Nov 10 - I blast rebels in Onega

Welcome to 1176

Jan 21 - We capture Reval. I force vassalize the Teutonics.

Feb 1 - I demand my vassal renege the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order to me, their rightful liege

Feb 4 - They give me the title.


What my second King title? The Teutonic Order.

Anyone have bids on that?

Apr 7 - The Duke of Slesvig has a son and named him Halsten. Whew. Plan worked

[Abe Sargent]

June 4 - The County of Usti nad Labem has DOWd Hungary. I join our allies and order troops to the location. We have a claim on it after all.

July 5 - I order a sawmill in Plock

Aug 19 - We arrive in UaL

Sept 2 - We crush the defenders and begin the siege

Oct 1 - UaL falls and we take it in peace.

I order Training Grounds here

At some point in time the Duke of Pomerania inherited Evreux for us. (North coast of France), Sutherland (north Scotland) and Crimea!

Good Duke!

Maybe he just offered them vassalization, I don’t know.

Nov 4 - The Thieves Guild in UaL is disbanded as the criminals are hung

Nov 19 - Fire struck our fishery in Angermanland and the wharf is destroyed. I order another built.

Nov 28 - Pagans see me as the root of their troubles. Revolt begins in Vasterbotten

Welcome to 1177

[Abe Sargent]

Vassalizations available - Duke of Orkney in Scotland, Count in Finland, Duke in Poland, County in Lowlands, Duke of Brandenburg, Duke of Bohemia, Duke fo Smaland


I attempt to politically vassalize each.



The Duke of Lesser Poland accepts vassalization. That brings us six provinces. This guy has 4 Ducal titles and no counts.

The Duke of Bohemia also agrees, but is just one province

That’s a lot of BB we just got. I need to calm it down.

Jan 24 - I give Lappland to the new Countess, Angermanland to a new Count, Vasterbotten to a new Count, and then the Duke of Norrland to the Count of Angermanland. Vasterbotten, Halsingland and Lappland report to him

I grant the Count of Starya Russa with the Duke of Novgorod title. Vodi, Torzhok, Pskov and V. Luki now report to him.



Let me show you a map of the new stuff.

[Abe Sargent]

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3895/1177wm8.jpg


H's are Hungary and P's are Poland.

You can see us developing in Poland pretty well, and if I can nab some more provinces, I might usurp the King title and then take it in war.

Sweden grabbed the Papacy in addition to their Norway and Sweden king title,s and their color changed to white.

[Abe Sargent]

Feb 19 - Another daughter is now 16 and gained Elusive Shadow

June 16 - I get an event:

Your Unmarried Daughter has got Herself a Powerful Lover. She gained prestige and the Count of Halogaland as a “friend”

Spet 1 - I order a Tile Factory in UaL

Oct 6 - I order the construction of Training Grounds in Plock

Oct 9 - The County of Dalarna has DOWd Hungary. I offer them vassalization.

Oct 16 - They decline. I have a claim on it, so I order up some troops and march them in.

Dec 16 - We win after a long battle and the siege begins

Welcome to 1178

Apr 5 - We capture Dalarna. I take it in peace negotiations

I order a sawmill built here.

May 12 - The Count of Gwent in Wales next to us in Glamorgan is fighting for freedom against Hungary. I offer tehm peace. Unlike Dalarna, I do not have a claim here, so I will not be joinin gour allies in battle

May 20 - They decline

[Abe Sargent]

I have gone ahead and played a few years ahead, writing everything down in Works. I'm going to go ahead and post it up here.





June 26 - Today was the day I decided to become pious. With 10000+ troops from Lubeck in the Strait di Messina, I DOW the Sheik of Palermo.

The Kingdom of Egypt joined their vassal in war against us.

July 21 - My unmarried daughter gets the following event:

You have been…indiscrete…and suspect you might be pregnant

Options:

1. Have the family pay heavily to deal with it quietly. Triggers an event for me. 5% chance she dies
2. No! My child shall live! 90% chance a bastard is born to her, 5% chance of her death
3. The family will punish me and give away the child. Gains chaste, 25% chance of depresson
4. I shall retire to a convent. She “dies” (is removed from the game)

I choose option 2. That’s fine.

She is now the mother of a bastard child.

Aug 11 - Our troops arrive in Palermo

Sept 1 - We capture Palermo. I take it in peace treaty

Now I have a BB, so I can’t continue capturing Muslims. Otherwise I’d take the other two provinces here on Sicily. I leave my troops here in Palermo for now for defense.

[Abe Sargent]

Oct 19 - We take down rebels in Palermo

Oct 22 - The King of Hungary has died. Bulgaria is making us an offer. The new King is allied with some count. Alright Bulgaria, I accept.

The Duke of Novgorod either annexed or inherited the County of Sarkel, above the Caspian Sea

Nov 18 - We defeat rebels in Crimea

More and more Egyptian vassals are DOWing us

Dec 7 - 672 troops from Egypt arrive in Jerusalem. It will need to be a lot more than that my friends.

Dec 10 - Just three days to defeat the troops. I leave the army up.

Welcome to 1179

Feb 1 - I order a Monastery in UaL

Mar 14 - A huge Egyptian navy is sailing past Palermo. Are they coming here?

Apr 16 - I nipped in and captured Agrigento, on Sicily. I want to take it in peace. Hold on, let me see if I can absorb the BB

Apr 26 - We arrive in Trapani and begin an assault against the 3500 troops here

May 7 - We win and the siege begins

May 23 - Trapani falls to us.

Again, we have not taken Trapani or Agrigento provinces in peace yet, just currently holding them.

I give the Count of Poznanskie the title Duke of Greater Poland. Lubuz now reports to him

I make the Countess of Hamburg the new Duchess of Holstein

I order a Large Castle in Lubeck

I give my third daughter, just turned 16 the Countess of UaL title

May 25 - I take Trapani and Agrigento in peace with those sheiks

I order a small castle in Agrigento and training grounds in Trapani

June 12 - Egypt accepts our peace proposal afte probably getting tired of losing vassasl.

We are still at war with a few minor Arabic powers outside fo Egypt.

June 22 - I order a sawmill in Palermo

July 1 - I order a spinning mill in Jerusalem

Welcome to 1180

Feb 28 - The final Arabic powers and us are now at peace

[Abe Sargent]

Mar 26 - I order a Monastery in Trapani

Apr 24 - I get religious tensions in Agrigento, and decide to crush them. It is now Catholic and Looted

May 9 - I get an event to kill the bastard son of my daughter. I choose not to do it, and he gains trusting.

June 2 - I gain the Count of Siracusa as a rival

Jul 8 - Agrigento is no longer looted

Aug 18 - I order a sawmill in Dalarna

Sept 7 - I get religious tensions in Trapani and choose to crush them. It’s looted and rebelling, but did not convert to Catholic

Sept 11 - Moneylenders are forced to leave Lubeck

Sept 22 - I order a Monastery in Palermo

Oct 15 - The Third Crusade has ended, once again with us claiming the prize.

Ocy 19 - Minor Merchant Houses are expelled in Jerusalem.

Nov 3 - I order Dye Works in Jerusalem

Dec 2 - The King of Bulgaria just got hammered by Byzantium. They lost a bunch of provinces as well as their Bulgaria title. They are now the King of Rus

Welcome to 1181

[Abe Sargent]

Jan 12 - The pope, pleased with the results of the previous two crusades has called the Fourth Crusade to liberate Alexandria. It’s a nice prize, but I’m not going to be the pope’s baby on this one. Let someone else bear this cross, I took the last two.

Jan 20 - Dysentery is leaving Aukshayts

There are a lot of civil wars springing up. I need to drop my BB in order to take advantage.

I give Plock to my daughter, who is married to Duncan. I give Dalarna to Duncan.

The Duke of Slesvig, at some point in time has picked up the Bishopric of Narke, in Sweden

I give the Count of Sudovia and Hainaut the title Duke of Lithuania.

That will help our BB a bit in case we want to make some vassalization offers.

With an elevated prestige and piety due to the crusade, I need to take this baby out for a spin.

County of Gwent, Duchy in Norway, County of Opava, Archbisropric of Moravia, County of Opole, Duke of Brandenburg, County in Lowlands, Duchy of Dioclea, Duke of Orkney, Duke of Gwynedd

Do any accept offers of vassalization?

Nope

Ah well.

[Abe Sargent]

April 22, 1181

My King died of old age today at the age of 55. He had 10077 gold, 3907 prestige and 1359 piety

Today the French and Lithuanian Crowns combine.

The new King:

Karel Nakonid

10158 gold
342 prestige
-42 piety

9/17/5/8 stats

Chaste, Reckless, Indulgent, Trusting. Romantic

Stressed

Before I do anything else, I need to stabilze my realm:

BB is still a a problem, but a little less than it was.

I create the titles:

Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Karelia

Current ally is the Duke of Flanders

I am keeping the courtiers of the King of Lithuania

I hand out around 1400 gold to counts and dukes to make them happy

I give the Count of Onega the Duke of Karelia title.

Reporting to him are Kexholm, Kemi, and Karelen

Our capital is in Aukshayts but I might want to find a better place

I give away Liege to a new Count, Countess of Agrigento, Charolais to the Duke of Burgundy (my son), Montpellier to the Duke of Toulouse, Trapani to a new Countess, Gotland to a new Count.

I order - Tile Factory in Holland, Zeeland. Medium Castle in Charolais, training grounds in Pfalz, sawmill in Mainz, Civilian Harbor in Montpellier,

I give the Duke of Bourbon title to the Count of Limousin

Our BB has plummeted



June 1 - Our vassals are mostly loyal again, with low BB and super high diplomacy. I have a diplomacy of 17, and my Chancellor 23, giving my realm an unprecedented 40 diplomacy. That’s crazy high.


Maptime

[Abe Sargent]

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7729/frenchinheritanceje3.jpg

We are sprawling. I have Ile de France on the left if you want to take a look at it.

We are in Scotland, Wales, England. Sweden, Norway, Benelux, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Russia, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Israel, places like the Crimea and more.

We are everywhere. My vassals keep vassalizing or inheriting land. I keep taking land. This was the biggest inheritance I've ever pulled off.

Alright, more on this in the next post.

[Abe Sargent]

I am considering ending this dynasty. The game has gotten over the flashpoint that all games have,

What is that flashpoint?

There is a point in most games where you have won the game, but the game has not ended. Still, becuase you know you won the game, you are less likely to finish it.

There is exactly one major obstacle left in this game - the Mongols. Frankly, with a Europe as big as I would have by the time they arrived, I would slap them silly.

In just 125 years I've gone from one province to a massive section of Europe under my control. Before this inheritance, I was up there with Byzantium, Sweden, Egypt and Hungary for most powerful kingdom, but I'm absolutely dominant now.

I could honestly have several wars going at the same time, and win them all. Itenerant counts and dukes are flocking to my banner. I have enough money to pay off the vassals who are rebellious.

Sure, I might get another civil war event, and that would set me back a few years. However, there are no major challenges left, except for the Mongols, who might not appear for another 75 years. Imagine how large I'd be by then?

Frankly, from this point, I could end up conquering all of Europe. I've never done a full map victory before, and that gives me a goal to work towards, but it would be so tedious.

I feel like I have beaten the game. There is nothing left to stand in my way, and anything I do, like ignore BB and just wage war until everyone is at war with me, would just feel artificial.

So, there is every chance that I am ending this.

Now, tomorrow evening I may sit back down at this computer and want to load it up again, and things will continue as normal. If I thought that would happen, I would not have posted this, though.

As of right now, if I had to lay odds I'd say that I'm done.

I do have an idea for a future CK/EU challenge. Simultaneously capture every province that I have ever started from and survived for longer than 20 years across Europe and the Middle East.

Oldenburg
Halsingland
Glamorgan
Sligo
Lubeck
Suenik for fun
Trebizond
Wallachia
Salerno
Granada
Naxos


All at the same time. That's provinces in Ireland, Wales, south Italy, the Aegean Sea, Iberia, Armenia x2, the HRE x2, north Sweden, and the Balkans. That seems like an interesting challenge, and maybe I'll try that.

I doubt it though. This is probably it.

Alright then, have a good night. See you on the flip side.

[Abe Sargent]

If I were to still play, here is what I would do"

With the French inheritance, I am one province in Finland away from declaring myself King of Finalnd, and there is a free duchy holding one Finnihs province. You do the math.

Grab some of these French provinces in and around France, to shore up our defense.

Take out Poland. Get a few moire provinces, usurp the crown, then blast them into nothing and take the Crown, taking all of the dukes too. Let them keep a few provinces for themsleve,s but grab Poland.

England is going through massive Civil War right now. Blast the English Isles throughly. Use our holdings here as outposts for expansion.

Finish going down the Swedish/Norway peninsula, grabbing lands and the crowns.

Expand eastward into the rich Russian province,s then do not go farther.

Leave the Middle East, Iberia, North Africa, Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, Greece, Ireland and Hungary free for a long time. Focus on the areas I have taken already.

With a low BB, you;d see me wage a major offensive shortly against a majr power, eliminating them as a threat.

Thus, by the time 75 years is over, we might have most of Britian, Scandinavia, Poland, France, and North Russia under our control, allowing me to absolutely hammer the Mongols.

Then, post Mongols, focus on on area at a time. Consolidate island holdings in Ireland, Iceland, the Shetlands, etc. Then move to Germany and finish it off. Then Italy. Then Iberia. Then North Africa. Then Hungary. Then Russia. Then the Balkans, and finally the Middle East and Turkey.

That'd be the plan.

[mrsimperless]

Thanks for the enjoyable read. I've been wanting to read a CK dynasty for a while and this was it.

My favorite parts were when you assassinated your family members. :D

I guess, "When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

[Abe Sargent]

Thanks for the enjoyable read. I've been wanting to read a CK dynasty for a while and this was it.

My favorite parts were when you assassinated your family members. :D

I guess, "When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."


Thanks!

[Chief Rum]

Yes, I enjoyed this. Master stroke with the French crown. That really capped this one for you.

[Abe Sargent]

Yes, I enjoyed this. Master stroke with the French crown. That really capped this one for you.

Yeah, I am a sneaky bastard.