[SS 6.3 AAR] Primus Inter Pares - The Kievan Rus *COMPLETED* (w/ Behind the Scenes and a video trailer)

[Radzeer]

List of characters

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Grand Prince Vladimir
The first Grand Prince, leading the early expansion of the Rus. He has found the Holy Grail after taking Oleshe. At the end of his life he retired and transferred the power to his son and heir, Mstislav. He died in peace in Kiev.

Grand Prince Mstislav
The second Grand Prince, and the oldest son of Vladimir. He fought against the Cumans, and conquered Smolensk in the north overthrowing the Novgorod-friendly council. A skilled politician and determined leader with a vision to expand toward the Baltic Sea.

Prince Gostislav
Faction heir, Mstislav's oldest son, the governor of Pereyaslav.
Petr
Mstislav's second son, the governor of Ryazan in the east.
Oleg
Mstislav's third son, the governor of Kiev.

Yaropolk
The second son of Vladimir. Veteran commander, leading the Lithuanian campaign and acquiring territories for his sons.

Zhirovit
Yaropolk's oldest son and second in command. The governor of Vilnius.
Moimir
Yaropolk's second son, governor of Mensk.
Tikhomir
Yaropolk's third son, former governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against Poland at Mensk.
Volodislav
Yaropolk's youngest son, the governor of Riga.

Yurii
The third and youngest son of Vladimir, Lord of Azaq. It was difficult for him to be in the shadow of his two brothers. He made an alliance with the Patrikeev clan and married the clan leader's daughter, Natalia to start building his own princedom in the east.

Ostromir
Yurii's oldest son, governor of Caffa.
Sbyslav
Yurii's second son, governor of Sarkel, commander of the Caucasus campaign.

Danislav Severskii
An exile from Novgorod who became Mstislav's vassal and the governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against the Lithuanians.

Dobrozhir Severskii
The only son of Danislav. He managed to revenge his father and kill the Grand Duke of Lithuania, but died in battle shortly after.
Stroislav Kubenskii
A Kievan noble who married Dobrozhir's oldest sister. Governor of Baia.

Milogost Fominskii
A Kievan noble who married Princess Eupraxia, Vladimir’s only daughter and thus became a member of the royal family. He is the governor of Zhytomyr. He saved Kiev from two Polish invasions and was wounded severly in battle.
Georgii Patrikeev
Governor of Tmutarakan in the east, and an ally of Yurii who married his daughter. He died peacefully in Sarkel.

Alexios
The oldest of three brothers who as children were rescued by the Kievans after a Cuman raid. He is a cleric and a chronicler in the Court. He is in Trebizond looking after his brother, Rurik.
Rurik
Alexios’ younger brother. Trained as a warrior, he used to belong to Yaropolk’s bodyguard escort. He was wounded in Trebizond in a battle and was thought to be dead for a long time.
Oleg
The youngest brother of Alexios and Rurik. He disappeared in a Cuman raid and was sold as a slave in Azaq. His brothers have been searching for him for years until they were reunited in Trebizond. Currently he is the chief supply officer for the Court, and the author of the Miloslavich Diary.

25. The Caucasus

The Miloslavich Diary - Kiev

I remember the day when the news about the war in the Caucasus reached Kiev. I was in the castle, discussing the supply arrangements for Prince Gostislav’s army in the west, when the runner arrived. After the Grand Prince opened the scroll, his face became pale with surprise and then red with anger. He ordered everybody to leave, and was not seen in public for three days.

Two weeks later Natalia Yuriievich arrived too. We knew her well by then, and it was clear that she wanted to justify his husband’s actions. But this time she miscalculated how much Lord Yurii has upset his brother. The Grand Prince was not willing to talk to her, instead he categorically forbade Lady Natalia to leave the castle. She became a prisoner, respectfully treated, but still a prisoner.

Then one day the Grand Prince sent for me. I remember that conversation.

“You come from a remarkable family, Oleg Miloslavich,” started the Grand Prince. “I knew your older brother, Alexios very well. He was my chronicler for a long time, and sometimes my counselor too. I did not know Rurik that well, for he served among my brother’s bodyguards. Do you have any news from them?”

“Yes, my lord. I got a letter a few weeks ago that both of them are safe in Trebizond. Rurik’s health is improving, and if god wills it, they can return to Kiev next year.”

“That is good news, Oleg Miloslavich, good news.” He stood up and slowly went closer to the fire. That’s what when I realized that he is getting really old. I am sure that the news about the two wars in the south devastated him. After a few minutes, he finally told me why he wanted to see me.

“You have been preparing the Prince’s campaign against Poland. But now I have a different task for you. I decided to send my son, Petr, down to the south to see what Yurii is doing. He will have an army to help Yurii against the Seljuks and Khwarezm or make him comply with my orders. I want you to arrange the supplies for that campaign.”

I was very surprised, no so much that he decided to send me there, as I knew that region well, but because it was clear for everybody that Yurii and Petr hate each other. I could not imagine any circumstance under which Petr would support Yurii on the battlefield.

“And there is one more thing, Oleg Miloslavich.” The Grad Prince stepped closer and handed me a sealed letter. “You will go to the Caucasus with Petr, but your journey will not end there. I want you to go to Trebizond, tell everything you saw to your brother, Alexios, and give him this letter. He will know what to do. At that moment, your task will be completed, and you may return to Kiev to your family.”

“Yes, my lord.” I was happy that I could see my brothers, but a bit sad too, because I did not know what the Grand Prince might have asked Alexios in that letter. I feared that he won’t be able to return to Kiev after all. He noticed my hesitation, and asked me a straightforward question.

“What are your plans for your son?”

“We have not yet decided my lord. Originally, I wanted him to take over my business, but now I serve the Court and have no other business but that.”

He liked my answer. “Loyalty and service deserves rewards, Oleg Miloslavich. I will take your son to the junior druzhina, and he will be part of the court. Then in a year or two you can decide whether you want him serving the Rus as a soldier or as a court officer like you.”

I was speechless. This secured Andrei’s position, and was much more than I could expect. I bowed and the Grand Prince ended the audience. He was truly an exceptional person, one of the greatest leaders of the Rus. And that was the last time I saw him.

The man leading the siege of Tbilisi was a young and honorable general. Sbyslav never learned what happened to Giray whom he defeated in the night sally. He vanished without a trace, probably fearing the wrath of the Shah after he wasted an opportunity to take the city and left his army to be destroyed.



The new general was not much different in that he decided not to wait for further reinforcements, and foolishly ordered the assault with a smaller army than what Sbyslav had. Moreover, half of the enemy army was horse archers that had only limited use in sieges.



The Kievan soldiers did not expect an attack, and were surprised when one morning a ram appeared on the horizon approaching the gate of the outer walls. The gatehouse commander sent a runner to Sbyslav, and ordered his men to be ready for the fight.



Soon after the ram, a siege tower and some ladders appeared from behind the hill. The enemy commander decided to concentrate all his infantry at one point. The guards of the gatehouse did their best to decimate the attackers, but their numbers were too great, and soon the ladders were full with Khwarezmian soldiers, climbing up to take the walls.



Sbyslav saw that the defenders are outnumbered and ordered his troops to fall back to the inner castle. The outer gate was now open, and the enemy horse archers poured in, galloping through the streets, right into the fire of the Kievan ballistae.



The Khwarezmian commander left his horse archers to ride back and forth in front of the walls of the inner castle. This was a decision that cost his army many lives, as the defenders could fire at the horsemen from above, while the horse archers’ arrows did only a little damage.



Eventually the enemy commander realized his mistake, and ordered the siege ladders to be brought in. By the time, his infantry arrived with the ladders, the field in front of the inner castle was littered with dead Khwarezmian soldiers.



The infantry companies carrying the ladders were exhausted by the time they reached the inner walls. The fight lasted only for a few minutes before they routed. As they were trying to flee the battle, they ran into the Khwarezmian reserves, pushing the ram to batter the inner gates. This lack of coordination made it easier for the Kievans to repel the attackers, company after company.



Yet, the Khwarezmian reserves were tough soldiers. Despite the arrows, javelins and boiling oil, they managed to break through the gate. Sbyslav had his Tatar troops inside, waiting for them. Those who made it to the inner castle met fierce resistance, and the attack soon collapsed.





When the Khwarezmian reserves fled, their commander realized that he was defeated. Honorable he may have been, but he was not willing to throw his life away. Seeing that the battle is lost, he spurred his horse and rode away with haste. He was the second Khwarezmian commander slipping away from Sbyslav at Tbilisi.



It was another Kievan victory, but the casualties were very high. Sbyslav only had six hundred men left, less than half of how many he brought with him to the south.



Sbyslav, however was not a person who just sits in the castle waiting to be reinforced. When a week later he got news that a smaller enemy army appeared, he decided to crush them before they arrive under Tbilisi. With a company of archers, he set out to attack them on the road to Baku, the Khwarezmian stronghold to the east.



The outcome of the battle was never in question. Sbyslav deployed the archers blocking the road, and decimating the Khwarezmian troops trying to attack across the field. Meanwhile, he rode around the enemy and it took only one powerful charge to rout them.







With that battle, which was just a little more than a skirmish, all Khwarezmian forces in the area were destroyed. The scouts have not reported Seljuks either, so Sbyslav had some breathing room to hold Tbilisi until the next season when he expected some Kievan reinforcements to arrive. He expected them to come from his father, but they came from a very different direction.

The Miloslavich Diary - Sarkel

I am always amazed how vast the steppe is. Our march from Ryazan, Petr’s stronghold, to Sarkel was long and uneventful. It was not easy to find supplies for a large army like ours, but since we are at peace with the Cumans, we could trade with their tribes, until we arrived to Sarkel. This fortress belongs to Lord Yurii, but nobody from his family is here. I cannot say that we are welcome, but at least we could acquire what we needed for the march across the mountains. Sarkel is the southeastern border of the Rus, long held by the Cumans before, and with farmers and herders most of whom still live in large families out in the plains. How far I am from the grandeur of Kiev and the love of my family! And this is just the beginning of my journey.

The Miloslavich Diary - Under Tbilisi

Many of our soldiers from the east have never seen mountains like those we crossed. Some suffered and could not stand the sight, but the Blue Mountains have always filled my heart with joy. I have been in these lands twice as a trader. This is a beautiful corner of the world. Just as we crossed the borders, we met with scouts from Tbilisi who informed us that Lord Yurii’s son, Sbyslav holds the city and waits for reinforcements. Petr seemed surprised, as he expected his uncle and not his cousin to be here. Now Sbyslav’s troops occupy the fortress. We set camp outside of Tbilisi and wait.

The news we eventually got surprised everybody, including our two commanders. Lord Yurii has arrived to Kutaisi. That city is the easternmost trading port of the Black Sea, about a week’s march from here to the west. For many years it belonged to the Roman Empire, but the Seljuks took it last year. If Lord Yurii can take it from them, it would open up a road to Tbilisi without the need of going to Sarkel and then crossing the mountains. The problem of course that the Romans would like to reclaim the city too, and sent a small army there. Petr refused to take his troops to Kutaisi and help Yurii. So we have to wait again.

~

[Ganbarenippon]

Interesting developments. It's kind of nice to see the Caucasus theatre, and even nicer to see the minor quagmire it's become with four different factions vying for control. Often-times when I play it's two and one quickly obliterates the other. Excellent as always my friend. Looking forward to the next update.

[la coupe est pleine]

Extremely interesting.
The Miloslavich Diary is a Jewel, and remembered one book, with a guy charged to organize the supplies too.

Ah, your generals are still increasing their power with won battles. Would the trend be reversed by the Mongols? Or other Kingdom with clever men to lead their men?

About the picture, I didn't know it was the one you selected for the "Picture competition", but for me, it was the best of the last update.
Nice.

[prima legio]

this is a great great AAR,iam waiting for the next episode.please can you tell me which are the kiewan s ally?

[Msp]

I don't know how long this story is, but I can say that it would be a good ideea to put it in a downloadable document when you finish it. Why? Well, I would enjoy reading it on my computer, because I can't access the internet whenever I want.

[Radzeer]

Interesting developments. It's kind of nice to see the Caucasus theatre, and even nicer to see the minor quagmire it's become with four different factions vying for control. Often-times when I play it's two and one quickly obliterates the other. Excellent as always my friend. Looking forward to the next update.

Thank you, and yes, I was really looking forward to going there and fight. In this game, the Romans are very much occupied in the west, so the east is open territory for various factions that are sort of on par with each other. So I really enjoy this... I guess until the Mongols show up.

Extremely interesting.
The Miloslavich Diary is a Jewel, and remembered one book, with a guy charged to organize the supplies too.

Ah, your generals are still increasing their power with won battles. Would the trend be reversed by the Mongols? Or other Kingdom with clever men to lead their men?

About the picture, I didn't know it was the one you selected for the "Picture competition", but for me, it was the best of the last update.
Nice.

Aha, nice connection, my friend... I thought it would be nice to have a non-combatant protagonist in the story...
Actually, now I am in the fertility bust cycle in the family. The Rus is really big, and I do not have nearly as many generals as regions, and only one line of the family has kids. It will have an impact on the plot of course, but also, most of my generals are fighting at the border, and the middle of the country is a big empty area. I am at turn 100 now, so the Mongols are still a bit away, but hopefully I'll have people to fight them.

this is a great great AAR,iam waiting for the next episode.please can you tell me which are the kiewan s ally?

Thank you! At the moment I am allied with the Romans (from turn 3 or something) and Novgorod (default at the beginning of the game). The Romans vassalized Hungary and the Pope (!)...

I don't know how long this story is, but I can say that it would be a good ideea to put it in a downloadable document when you finish it. Why? Well, I would enjoy reading it on my computer, because I can't access the internet whenever I want.

Ok, I'll think about it. Don't expect it before September though...

Thank you everybody for reading! The next update will be up on Saturday.

[Msp]

I can se that you guessed my two-purpose question.
Is there any need to tell you how much I like your AAR?

[Radzeer]

I can se that you guessed my two-purpose question.
Is there any need to tell you how much I like your AAR?

Thank you. It's always good to see new readers.

Update is coming very soon.

[Radzeer]

List of characters

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Grand Prince Vladimir
The first Grand Prince, leading the early expansion of the Rus. He has found the Holy Grail after taking Oleshe. At the end of his life he retired and transferred the power to his son and heir, Mstislav. He died in peace in Kiev.

Grand Prince Mstislav
The second Grand Prince, and the oldest son of Vladimir. He fought against the Cumans, and conquered Smolensk in the north overthrowing the Novgorod-friendly council. A skilled politician and determined leader with a vision to expand toward the Baltic Sea.

Prince Gostislav
Faction heir, Mstislav's oldest son, the governor of Pereyaslav.
Petr
Mstislav's second son, the governor of Ryazan in the east. He is leading the royal troops the Caucasus campaign.
Oleg
Mstislav's third son, the governor of Kiev.

Yaropolk
The second son of Vladimir. Veteran commander, leading the Lithuanian campaign and acquiring territories for his sons.

Zhirovit
Yaropolk's oldest son and second in command. The governor of Vilnius. He is fighting in Poland.
Moimir
Yaropolk's second son, governor of Mensk.
Tikhomir
Yaropolk's third son, former governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against Poland at Mensk.
Volodislav
Yaropolk's youngest son, the governor of Riga.

Yurii
The third and youngest son of Vladimir, Lord of Azaq. It was difficult for him to be in the shadow of his two brothers. He made an alliance with the Patrikeev clan and married the clan leader's daughter, Natalia to start building his own princedom in the east, including his attack on the Caucasus.

Ostromir
Yurii's oldest son, governor of Caffa.
Sbyslav
Yurii's second son, governor of Sarkel, commander of the Caucasus campaign.

Danislav Severskii
An exile from Novgorod who became Mstislav's vassal and the governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against the Lithuanians.

Dobrozhir Severskii
The only son of Danislav. He managed to revenge his father and kill the Grand Duke of Lithuania, but died in battle shortly after.
Stroislav Kubenskii
A Kievan noble who married Dobrozhir's oldest sister. Governor of Baia.

Milogost Fominskii
A Kievan noble who married Princess Eupraxia, Vladimir’s only daughter and thus became a member of the royal family. He is the governor of Zhytomyr. He saved Kiev from two Polish invasions and was wounded severly in battle.
Georgii Patrikeev
Governor of Tmutarakan in the east, and an ally of Yurii who married his daughter. He died peacefully in Sarkel.

Alexios
The oldest of three brothers who as children were rescued by the Kievans after a Cuman raid. He is a cleric and a chronicler in the Court. He is in Trebizond looking after his brother, Rurik.
Rurik
Alexios’ younger brother. Trained as a warrior, he used to belong to Yaropolk’s bodyguard escort. He was wounded in Trebizond in a battle and was thought to be dead for a long time.
Oleg
The youngest brother of Alexios and Rurik. He disappeared in a Cuman raid and was sold as a slave in Azaq. His brothers have been searching for him for years until they were reunited in Trebizond. Currently he is the chief supply officer for the Court, and the author of the Miloslavich Diary.

26. Winter in Poland

Prince Gostislav hated executions. The man sentenced to hang was a spy for Poland, thus he deserved his fate, but Gostislav still couldn’t understand what others, both nobles and commoners, like in public executions. He did not have any personal hatred for the man. He of course had to be there, but as soon as the body fell, he left the market square of Hrodna. He went back to the castle and thought about the situation.



Hrodna was in the northwest part of the Rus, and ever since the end of the Lithuanian war there were no battles there. Most of the action was in the southwest regions where Zhirovit waged his private war against Poland. But the spy revealed during torture that a Polish army is marching on the city. It seemed that they did not expect major Kievan forces to be there, so Gostislav decided to ambush them. He desperately needed a legitimate victory to prove that when the time comes he can rule the Rus just like his father and grandfather.



Gostislav had more men, although the difference was not too big. After his scouts reported that the Polish army is nearby, he deployed his troops in the early morning. It was a foggy winter day, and Gostislav hoped that he could surprise the enemy under the cover of the fog.



Light snow started to fall, and the Prince ordered his infantry to advance. His battle plan was simple. He wanted his infantry to engage the Polish troops while he flanks their lines on both sides with his boyar cavalry.



The Polish army had the high ground, but their sentries could not see anything in the fog. In the last minute, however, the wind started to blow and the fog lifted. Just as the Kievan infantry was about to emerge from the small forest, the Polish sentries sounded the alarm, and the enemy captain immediately ordered a full charge against Gostislav’s troops.



Gostislav’s soldiers were not veterans, but they held their ground. Fortunately for him, the Polish captain neglected the flanks and concentrated on breaking through the Kievan center. The boyar cavalry and Gostislav’s own bodyguards rode around the Polish lines, and attacked the enemy captain’s riders.



The Polish captain panicked and tried to leave the battlefield, but the boyars did not let him escape. Once he fell, the Polish army routed. The Kievan cavalry did not have much difficulty rounding up the fleeing enemy soldiers.



It was an easy victory for Gostislav, but the fact that he lost only a few men made it particularly impressive. His men were in good spirits as they returned to Hrodna, where he finally got a reputation that of a field commander.





But Gostislav did not have much time to celebrate. A few days after his return, a messenger arrived from Kiev. The letter he brought was written by Gostislav’s younger brother, Oleg, the Kievan governor. He urged him to ride to Kiev with haste because their father, Grand Prince Mstislav fell gravely ill.

~~~

Volodislav Yaroslavich, the youngest son of Yaropolk enjoyed life in Riga. Unlike his older brothers, he loved his father. Yaropolk was getting old, and now he was much less eager to ride to battle. He spent his days with his son, telling him about his campaigns against the Cumans and Lithuanians. Volodislav was determined to learn as much as he could, and for both father and son life was fine in Riga.

One day when Yaropolk was away, looking after Zhirovit’s estates in Vilnius, a man asked for audience from Volodislav. He was a trader whose business partners were in Denmark, and he brought alarming news. A local noble, named Jovirdas was recruiting volunteers in Denmark to help his rebellion against the Rus. Jovirdas was Lithuanian, and he lost his lands after Rimgaudas was killed and the new Grand Duke accepted the Kievan rule. He was plotting against the new Duke from Riga, claiming that he has the Seal of Lithuania entitling him to rule. While he had not been successful, he was at least safe as Yaropolk was not willing to hand him over to the Lithuanians. As he explained to his son earlier, Jovirdas was a convenient tool for him to generate infight in Lithuania when it was needed.



This time, however, the situation was different. Jovirdas apparently gave up his quest for the title of the Duke, and he was waiting for Yaropolk to leave so that he could seize Riga. He had good connections in Denmark, and while they did not support him earlier, now they felt that this could be an opportunity for expansion. Volodislav ordered his troops to arrest Jovirdas, but he was too late. The rebel noble fled Riga and went into hiding in the countryside.



Soon the Danish army landed at Riga. It was not led by a member of the Danish nobility, which was at least a good sign. Volodislav thought that it was an unofficial attempt with volunteers and mercenaries. Still, he wanted to make sure that the Danish captain would not meet Jovirdas. He had enough men in Riga to withstand an attack, but he did not want war with Denmark. Instead, he decided to bribe the Danish troops, and visited their camp outside the city. The Danish captain was already puzzled because he did not find Jovirdas, and also had the problem of limited supplies. Volodislav presented him a choice between a long winter siege with limited supplies, or help for them to reach Novgorod territory. Denmark was at war with Novgorod, and while the latter was a Kievan ally, Volodislav saw no problem in encouraging the Danish mercenaries to cross the border and look for their fortune over there.

The Danish captain asked for two days to discuss this with his lieutenants. For those two days the two armies were facing each other. Volodislav had his scouts around the Danish army to prevent any messages from Jovirdas to reach them. At the end of the two days, Jovirdas was still not seen and the Danish captain accepted the offer. Volodislav was greatly relieved, and provided scouts for them to reach Novgorod. He hoped that he’d never see the Danish troops again. Had they been a regular army, it would have been more difficult to persuade them to leave, but they were mercenaries weighting the pros and cons of a winter siege against a well-fed and strong opponent.

With the Danish threat disappearing, Volodislav still had to find Jovirdas. After a few weeks of intensive search, his scouts finally reported that he is trying to leave the region and cross the border to Poland. Volodislav could not let this happen, and marched his troops to intercept him. With about three hundred skirmishers and a ballista crew, he finally caught the rebel noble in the winter countryside. He already proved that he is a master politician, and now he was determined to show that he could lead an army too.



Before the battle, Volodislav surveyed the battlefield. The sky was cloudy and it was almost dark, but he hoped that Jovirdas’ army would appear before nightfall. His plan was to deploy his archers, skirmishers and ballistae on the road, offering a seemingly target for Jovirdas. Then when the rebels engage, he intended to flank them on the right from the cover of a small forest on a hill.





The first part of the battle went exactly how Volodislav hoped. Seeing that the Kievan army is mainly composed of skirmishers, the rebels charged. The ballistae opened fire, sending several rebel soldiers to their fiery death. Jovirdas signaled a charge, partly to quickly get close enough to avoid the ballista fire, but his troops then ran into hundreds of arrows.



While the rebels were decimated on the road, Volodislav moved into position to charge.



Jovirdas saw the Kievan bodyguards on the hill. His last resort was his own company, including some of his family members. But they were on foot, and had little chance against Volodislav’s knights. They charged bravely, but they needed a miracle to win the day.



The miracle did not come. Jovirdas fought until the very end, understanding that he could not escape. He was stabbed by Volodislav’s standard bearer, and as he fell he saw that his army melts away around him. With that the short-lived rebellion was over.



Volodislav’s first battle was a clear victory. He felt proud about his battle preparations, but the heavy losses of his skirmishers were warnings for the future. He thought that this may have been the easiest battle of his career as a commander, and swore that he will do better next time.





~~~

Zhirovit spent most of the winter pillaging the Polish countryside. Apart from a few skirmishes, his troops have not seen any fight. No enemy army challenged him, as he got deeper and deeper in Polish territory. His rage against Poland did not diminish after killing King Boleslaw. In fact, he lost touch with reality with every passing day. He was disappointed with his brother, Moimir, who returned to Mensk with his troops. He despised Gostislav, his cousin and heir to the throne, in whom he could not find any royal qualities. And finally, he was upset with his own father who sent him a letter from Vilnius, urging to finish his unauthorized war on Poland. But he was now driven, and not willing to return until he saw enough Polish blood spilled.

With all his rage and madness, he was still a seasoned commander. He did not risk attacking Krakow, the well-defended Polish capital. Instead, he led his troops against Plock, the rich merchant city on the Vistula river. The garrison was relatively small, and he was expecting both rewards and winter quarters for his troops.

But this time the enemy knew that he is coming. They did not forget the death of their king, and were waiting for him. As Zhirovit laid siege, a large Polish army trapped him from the north, while thousands of additional Polish troops arrived at the Vistula bridge from the west to completely surround him. When he entered Poland, Zhirovit wanted blood and he wanted fight – now it seemed that he‘d get enough of both.


~

[wowbanger]

Another good update, well done. I can't wait to see how Polish campaign turns out, there promises to be some good battles on the horizon. Best not forget the customary specially polished rep point (it'll have to wait a while though, I've got to spread some more around first. Make sure you remind me at some point).

[Msp]

can you please post a screenshot with the political situation of the world?

[la coupe est pleine]

I begin to be used with your multiple fronts and point of view and I still like it as at the beginning.
It might be a real challenge for you to deal with such different characters, so far away from each other, and with totally different goals.

But you succeed to keep it living, and it is great. I just can't forecast how it will end, apart a feeling of great dificulties soon...
How will the chaos happen? And when?

Great update with nice shots, as always...

[Radzeer]

Another good update, well done. I can't wait to see how Polish campaign turns out, there promises to be some good battles on the horizon. Best not forget the customary specially polished rep point (it'll have to wait a while though, I've got to spread some more around first. Make sure you remind me at some point).

Ah, you are too kind. And yes, some nice battles are coming up...
Just played Zhirovit's battle last night... well, it was definitely long...

can you please post a screenshot with the political situation of the world?

Here you go:

I begin to be used with your multiple fronts and point of view and I still like it as at the beginning.
It might be a real challenge for you to deal with such different characters, so far away from each other, and with totally different goals.

But you succeed to keep it living, and it is great. I just can't forecast how it will end, apart a feeling of great dificulties soon...
How will the chaos happen? And when?

Great update with nice shots, as always...

Thank you, my friend! There are two main fronts at the moment, so I am jumping back and forth. Next stop: Yurii's adventures at Kutaisi... It is almost as playing two separate campaigns, which is how I see this plot developing, especially separating Yurii's family lands from the rest of the Rus. Little contact except when the grand prince send his son down there to see what is cooking in the Caucasus...
As you can tell, I have a few characters that are less developed. I still have a lack of generals compared to how many regions I have (and no kids are coming up), but I cannot focus on all the characters, otherwise we would get lost quickly.

I try to get the next update up on Thursday. We'll see if I can make it.
EDIT: Apparently, I won't make it. Update is coming on Saturday.

[Msp]

nice map
it looks like your roman allies also have a great empire (their vassal is the pope, right?)
but i expect trouble from them.

[Radzeer]

nice map
it looks like your roman allies also have a great empire (their vassal is the pope, right?)
but i expect trouble from them.

Yes, they vassalized the pope and Hungary too. Their western focus gave some room for the Seljuks, which is good. The Romans are not at war with anybody in the east, most of their armies are in Europe and their Asia Minor territories are practically empty, so it is a matter of time before somebody will invade them from the east.

[Msp]

maybe you?
But I don't want to give you ideas.

[Radzeer]

maybe you?
But I don't want to give you ideas.

Yeah, don't give me ideas...

Update is coming very soon.

[Radzeer]

List of characters

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Grand Prince Vladimir
The first Grand Prince, leading the early expansion of the Rus. He has found the Holy Grail after taking Oleshe. At the end of his life he retired and transferred the power to his son and heir, Mstislav. He died in peace in Kiev.

Grand Prince Mstislav
The second Grand Prince, and the oldest son of Vladimir. He fought against the Cumans, and conquered Smolensk in the north overthrowing the Novgorod-friendly council. A skilled politician and determined leader with a vision to expand toward the Baltic Sea.

Prince Gostislav
Faction heir, Mstislav's oldest son, the governor of Pereyaslav.
Petr
Mstislav's second son, the governor of Ryazan in the east. He is leading the royal troops the Caucasus campaign.
Oleg
Mstislav's third son, the governor of Kiev.

Yaropolk
The second son of Vladimir. Veteran commander, leading the Lithuanian campaign and acquiring territories for his sons.

Zhirovit
Yaropolk's oldest son and second in command. The governor of Vilnius. He is fighting in Poland.
Moimir
Yaropolk's second son, governor of Mensk.
Tikhomir
Yaropolk's third son, former governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against Poland at Mensk.
Volodislav
Yaropolk's youngest son, the governor of Riga.

Yurii
The third and youngest son of Vladimir, Lord of Azaq. It was difficult for him to be in the shadow of his two brothers. He made an alliance with the Patrikeev clan and married the clan leader's daughter, Natalia to start building his own princedom in the east, including his attack on the Caucasus.

Ostromir
Yurii's oldest son, governor of Caffa.
Sbyslav
Yurii's second son, governor of Sarkel, commander of the Caucasus campaign.

Danislav Severskii
An exile from Novgorod who became Mstislav's vassal and the governor of Smolensk. He died in battle against the Lithuanians.

Dobrozhir Severskii
The only son of Danislav. He managed to revenge his father and kill the Grand Duke of Lithuania, but died in battle shortly after.
Stroislav Kubenskii
A Kievan noble who married Dobrozhir's oldest sister. Governor of Baia.

Milogost Fominskii
A Kievan noble who married Princess Eupraxia, Vladimir’s only daughter and thus became a member of the royal family. He is the governor of Zhytomyr. He saved Kiev from two Polish invasions and was wounded severly in battle.
Georgii Patrikeev
Governor of Tmutarakan in the east, and an ally of Yurii who married his daughter. He died peacefully in Sarkel.

Alexios
The oldest of three brothers who as children were rescued by the Kievans after a Cuman raid. He is a cleric and a chronicler in the Court. He is in Trebizond looking after his brother, Rurik.
Rurik
Alexios’ younger brother. Trained as a warrior, he used to belong to Yaropolk’s bodyguard escort. He was wounded in Trebizond in a battle and was thought to be dead for a long time.
Oleg
The youngest brother of Alexios and Rurik. He disappeared in a Cuman raid and was sold as a slave in Azaq. His brothers have been searching for him for years until they were reunited in Trebizond. Currently he is the chief supply officer for the Court, and the author of the Miloslavich Diary.

27. The schemes of Yurii Yaroslavich

The man was hiding behind a tree, a few steps away from the road leading to Azaq. He was waiting for Ostromir, Yurii’s oldest son, who was about to leave Azaq to visit his mother’s family estates. Natalia was still kept in Kiev, and since both Yurii and Sbyslav were fighting in the Caucasus, Ostromir had to manage all the family lands.

The man was dressed as a Cuman, including his weapons. But he was not from these parts. He came from Kiev with secret orders, and was ready to strike. He did not have to wait for long. Around noon, a group of riders appeared. The man has not seen Ostromir before, but he immediately recognized him by his garment. Ostromir was not wearing armor, as Azaq was considered a peaceful region for many years by now.

The man slowly took aim. The arrow flew silently across the air.

As Ostromir fell on the ground, the man turned and ran into the forest. He knew which way he should go. Before he disappeared behind the trees, he took one last look at the scene. Some of the bodyguards were examining Ostromir, while others were trying to find the assassin in the bush but without any particular idea where to search. The man disappeared, assuming that his dark deed was a success.

But it was not.

The Miloslavich Diary - Tbilisi

The supplies at Tbilisi are running dangerously low. Sbyslav’s army holds the city and guards the warehouses and granaries. Petr expressed his dissatisfaction several times, but there is not much I can do. Sbyslav is holding back the supplies, and our army is just too large to keep it lingering around Tbilisi. The foraging parties usually come back empty handed. Petr is said to be a good commander, but he is not a very bright leader, even if he is the son of the Grand Prince.

After a long wait, Sbyslav and Petr finally reached an agreement. The cunning Sbyslav somehow managed to convince Petr to march on Baku, the Khwarezmian merchant port to the east! He even provided supplies for the campaign. I am sure that Baku holds rich rewards, although I am quite certain that the Grand Prince did not instruct Petr to wage a war so far to the east. Apparently he could not resist the temptation of an easy target. He will leave for Baku in a few days, and I can finally travel to Kutaisi and look for a boat to Trebizond to deliver the Grand Prince’s letter… and see my brothers.

Under Kutaisi, his allies gave as much headache to Yurii as his enemies. Kutaisi was a Roman city for a long time, but a Seljuk army took it just before Yurii arrived. The Roman allies wanted it back, except that their forces in the region were not large enough for a successful siege. The small Roman army sent to Kutaisi simply tried to block any further Seljuk advance on Trebizond to the southwest. The rumors said though that a member of the Komnenos family is expected to arrive with plenty of troops. Yurii knew that he has to take the city while he still outranks and outnumbers the allied commander.

Soon he was able to catch a smaller Seljuk army outside the city and maneuver his troops to force them to fight. He hoped that both the garrison and the allied Roman troops would be drawn to the battle. He was confident about the outcome of the battle, but he wanted to fight it so that the allies bear most of the burden and he can occupy the city behind their backs.



The Kievan army took positions on a small hill which was overlooking the forest to the east where the enemy was expected to come from. The road from the south ended at the forest, and this was the direction from where the Romans arrived to the battlefield. Yurii deployed his troops so that the arriving allied army would be on his right, but ahead of the Kievan lines, to minimize his own casualties. He knew that his army and Sbyslav’s troops at Tbilisi add up to most of the military capacity of his lands. The end of the campaign was still not in sight, with the Seljuks and Kwarezmians to fight, not to mention the Romans and possibly Petr’s Kievan troops that could cause trouble.





While the Roman troops were deployed, the Seljuk commander separated his light and missile cavalry from his infantry. The former was ordered to engage the allied lines, while the Seljuk spearmen tried to get close enough under the cover of the trees.



The battle started with the attack of the Seljuk horse archers. Yurii was satisfied to see that the first wave of attackers peppered the Roman infantry. He ordered his catapults to fire at the Seljuk horsemen not so much to help the allied commander but to show that he is also fighting the battle.





The Roman troops stayed in battle formation. Their shields and armor provided sufficient protection, but they had no means to respond to the horse archers. Finally, their commander sent a runner to Yurii, asking for greater involvement. Yurii reluctantly ordered his Pecheneg riders to flank the Seljuk horse archers.



In the skirmish that followed, the Pechenegs routed the Seljuks, but failed to catch them. Yurii got angry seeing this, as now the Seljuk riders were fleeing back to Kutaisi, instead of being forced into a melee without the possibility of escaping the battle.



Soon, however, Yurii had other things to worry about. Once the enemy horse archers fled, the Seljuk commander sent the rest of his cavalry against the allied lines. The Roman spearmen absorbed part of the charge, but on the left flank, the Seljuks went around them and attacked the Kievans.



As the Kievan second line was waiting for orders, a loud explosion was heard, and a projectile hit the center of a militia company. Soldiers were thrown in the air, and blood and human body parts were everywhere. From the edge of the forest, a Seljuk trebuchet crew opened fire.



Yurii ordered his catapults to return fire. It took quite a few tries, but eventually the Kievans were able to score a few hits.



While the artillery crews were sending deadly projectiles over the battlefield, the Seljuk captain summoned his most dangerous weapon. A company of Armenian heavy cavalry riding under Seljuk banners charged the Kievan spearmen on the left. The charge broke through the Kievan lines, and a melee started.





Yurii ordered the reserve infantry to support the spearmen on the left against the Armenians. The center held against the Seljuk infantry, just as the Roman allies were also gaining the upper hand in the fight. This was when the Seljuk captain realized that the battle is lost and signaled a retreat. Yurii saw that the opportunity to take Kutaisi without a siege, and more importantly, before the Roman reinforcements arrive is slipping away. He quickly ordered all his cavalry to run down the retreating Seljuk troops, and led his bodyguards to battle.



At the end the battle was won, but more than four hundred Seljuks were able to escape. They fled to Kutaisi, and now there was no more opportunity for Yurii to take the city before the larger Roman army arrives. In addition, as he found out later, the Romans were unwilling to play the role that Yurii gave them in the battle, and the Kievan casualties ended up being greater than what he had expected.

The Miloslavich Diary - Kutaisi

Lord Yurii refused to see me. I thought that I can bring some news for him from Tbilisi, but he did not seem interested. Apparently he is in a bad mood. He could not take Kutaisi, and while his troops are now busy constructing siege engines, the field at the south walls is full with Romans, led by Ammonios Komnenos, the governor of Trebizond. The size of the Roman army is about the same as Yurii’s. The combined allied armies outnumber the Seljuk defenders at least six to one, but it seems to me that neither of the two commanders wants to start the siege, fearing that the other will cheat him. Lord Yurii is a cunning noble, but I think that nobody can outsmart the Romans. Unfortunately I cannot linger to wait for the outcome of the battle. The Romans bring the supplies from Trebizond by sea, and now there are several ships ready to sail back. I leave Kutaisi tomorrow, and if God wills it I can meet with my brothers again.

The mutual disrespect between Yurii and Ammonios Komnenos plagued the siege of Kutaisi. It took three weeks for the two commanders to agree upon the siege terms. Since Yurii was here first, he refused to sign an agreement which would restore the Roman rule. He told the Roman commander that he is willing to let the Roman soldiers pillage the city, but Kutaisi should be part of the Rus. He of course knew that the Roman soldiers could not pillage too much as most of the population was Orthodox. Ammonios Komnenos on the other hand was sure that the rule of the Rus really means the rule of Yurii. But at least they postponed any discussion about the city until the enemy is defeated.



The Roman troops were deployed at the south wall. They did not have any siege engines, as they expected the Kievans to break through the gates. Ammonios Komnenos was not willing to give any orders until Yurii’s troops make an entry.



Yurii suspected this, yet he was reluctant to weaken his own army. The siege engines were ready and half of them manned, but he trusted his catapults to break the walls, providing an entry for the Romans.



But the catapults were not very successful that day. After an hour of pounding, the walls were hardly damaged. The Romans still not moved, and Yurii now had no other choice but to send in some of his infantry to ram the gates.



The Kievan archers took many casualties by the time the gate was breached. Ammonios Komnenos was still hesitating what to do, when he suddenly saw his cavalry moving to attack. He could not believe his eyes, but stopping them was now impossible and would have been seen as cowardly behavior. Yurii was smiling under his helmet when he saw the Romans riding in. The day before he presented a large sum of money to the Roman cavalry commander asking for support in the battle. The officer was delighted to deliver the help of his cavalry.



The officer was also too eager to lead his men, and was among the first to be killed when the Seljuks poured boiling oil on the riders who galloped through the gates. Soon though, the Roman cavalry routed the defenders, and the fight moved on to the streets.





Now that the fight was in the city, and the Seljuks were slowly pushed back to the center, Yurii felt that he needed to enter the battle to claim his reward. He and his bodyguards rode in, and ran down the disorganized Seljuk infantry, mostly archers who knew that the battle was lost and tried to escape from the city.



When Yurii arrived at the main square, he did not like what he saw. The square was full of Roman soldiers, celebrating victory under the Seljuk banners.



Ammonios Komnenos rode to him and smiled.

“I am pleased to see that you finally came to celebrate the victory of the Roman arms.”

Yurii grunted. “The victory of Roman arms is celebrated over the dead bodies of my archers who broke the gate.”

The Roman commander’s smile did not disappear. “Lord Yurii… how come your troops are still outside the city then?”

“It seems to me that your cavalry was just too eager to take the lion’s share of the rewards.”

“My cavalry’s actions were a bit surprising for me too, and I’ll investigate what happened. But what matters is that the Roman order has been restored here.”

Yurii suddenly felt a chill, but tried to remain calm. “Lord Komnenos, you know as well as I do that Kutaisi will be part of the Rus. After all, we defeated the main Seljuk army on the field.”

“That may be the case, but look around. I have hundreds of soldiers here while your men are outside the walls.”

“I am sure that you are not threatening me.” The threat was of course obvious, but Yurii was not afraid. “I have to remind you that it is in fact you who is trapped in the city. My troops are outside, and my son is in Tbilisi with another army. And it seems to me that most of the Trebizond garrison is here.”

The Roman commander said nothing, which told Yurii enough.

“But we are allies after all,” he continued. “I do not doubt that without your help it would have been really hard to take the city. And I am willing to honor our agreement. My troops will stay outside until you leave.” Yurii was looking for a final point helping him to convince the allied commander. And then he found it.

“And my lord Komnenos, just think about the benefits of trade to Trebizond while I am guarding the trade routes of the Caucasus. I will bear the burden of keeping the Muslim armies away, which will cost you nothing. You will have both a reliable trading partner and a buffer against your enemies. I cannot see how you could benefit even more.”

“So shall be it,” said the Roman commander after a minute of silence, and rode away to celebrate with his troops. Yurii turned away too, and he was smiling again.



The Romans have left, and Yurii could finally have some rest. He did not expect this much fight over Kutaisi, neither that with arms nor that with diplomatic skills. But the road to Tbilisi was now open, and the port of Kutaisi provided a safe sea route to Azaq. The control over the Caucasus trade was almost entirely in his hand. I am one big step closer to where I rightfully should be, he thought.
~

[Caracaos]

Very nice. After Baku, the Caucasus belongs to the Rus and the Romans can provide in part for it's defense. I imagine that could lead to some bickering over how the new territories are divided up.

[Msp]

Update is coming very soon.

yeah, very soon

If I'm allowed:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

something very bad should happen in the great story (I mean the one with politics). That would be great.