Hi guys. This is my first attempt at doing an AAR. I'm playing as the English on SS 6.4, and this is a brief novelization of why I decided to destroy the Aragonese empire in my game. I'd like you to know a few things before I set out with the story.
1. I'm not a native English speaker. Be gentle.
2. This is on an M/M campaign and battle mode mainly because although I've put an insane amount of hours in this game I still suck.
3. I might do other ones based on certain offensives and events that take place in my campaign, but I haven't decided yet.
Now, let's get on with the story.
The Aragon Campaign.English dominion spread over all the British Isles, the trade hubs of Galway and Dublin secure under English protection. The mighty bastions of Norwegian power, Oslo and Bergen, along with the great city of Groningen, have fallen before the relentless onslaught of the English Elite Army. Cornered and with nowhere to run the Norwegian Ruling Family at Eikundarsund chose to give up their independence so as not to be completely wiped out and put to the sword. The Burgundy Blood Treaty, document in which Norway relinquishes its independence to British rule and authorizes unrestricted military and trade access, comes into full power circa 1150 AD. The troops, bloodied and beleaguered but victorious, return home only to find that the French have taken their hometown of Caen. During a heroic battle at the footsteps of the Caen castle the French general Pierre Clermont, eldest and most decorated son of King Jean Clermont, falls. This marks the beginning of the French-English war. After many skirmishes, bloody conflicts and the second battle and retaking of Caen, along with the taking of the fortresses of Lyon, Angiers and Bordeaux, the fall of Paris, Clermont, Rheims and Dijon during the year 1177 the French army is crippled and utterly vanquished. As a show of mercy on behalf of King Bartholomeu the Cunning, the Merciless, the French are offered the same treaty as the Norwegians. Bend the knee and we shall not destroy you. The French, beleaguered after 20 years of defeat after defeat at the hands of English armies, eagerly sign the conviction, hoping it would prevent a massive slaughter at the footsteps of their last bastion, Toulouse. Now, the English army is licking its wounds and filling up its coffers with plunder from the rich Parisian region, preparing itself for the Danish threat. After nearly 40 years of uninterrupted conflict, peace seems to have returned. At the moment, the Danes are too busy splitting the Holy Roman Empire's territories, long time English allies, amongst itself, Hungary and Poland. War with the Danes, although on the horizon, is still far off and there are more pressing engagements, such as the managing of the conquered French provinces and the restoration of the English Elite Army. The borders of the Bordeaux castle are shared with the Kingdom of Aragon, and as of late, the watchtowers have reported quite a deal of activity along the narrow mountain pass that separates English from Spanish territory.
Taken from the personal journals of Thomas de Normandie, the year 1196 AD, summer.
Today was a good day. Hunting in the woods of the Toulouse region with Stephen, my brother, is always a pleasure. He has shown me today how to properly snap a deer’s neck, and how to season rabbit. He may only be 26, but he knows so much! Sitting by the fire he tells us one of his most famous stories. The time he routed the rebels from our homeland of Caen when he was just 17 is always present with us at the fire. I enjoy spending time with him, I always learn so much. I’ve learnt how to saddle a horse, how to break one, how to properly charge at the enemy(spears down at the last possible second, hit everything, turn around before you stop and retreat, and always, always the spear goes UNDER the shoulder, NOT pressed against it) how to season deer and how to kill it. The last 3 years wandering around the forests of Toulouse and Bordeaux have truly been a blessing. I’ve come to love and respect my brother more than I ever thought possible.
I am worried, however. He has been a bit distant these last months, grumbling and complaining about our minor role in the English conquest. He is still bitter that our older brother, Guy, went to fight in the Norwegian and French campaigns, and became a celebrated hero, taking part in the Fall of Paris along with King Bartholomeu. He fails to see that while Guy is a celebrated General in the King’s Army, he was only 17 when Paris fell, therefore prone to excess, excesses that are now taking their toll on him and his family.
I do not wish that fate to my brother.
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There we go. Post your thoughts guys, any feedback is appreciated.