[SS AAR] Global Theocracy: An Interactive Papal States

[Darthvegeta800]

GLOBAL THEOCRACY: An Interactive Papal States (SS M2TW AAR)



+ About this AAR
After playing in Vanilla, i decided to start anew with the Papal States under Shattered Steel. I have learned a lot from trying out Shattered Steel and from my previous go at an AAR. I hope it'll make this AAR better and less longwinded.












+ Settings

• Campaign Difficulty: Medium
• Battle Difficulty: Medium
• Manage all Settlements: Individual
• No time limit on Battles: N/A
• Years per turn: N/A
• Mods: Stainless Steel, Late Era Campaign

+ A note

The concept will be that i play the game and at regular intervals will 'convene' with my closest Advisors, Cardinals and Generals to decide on a new course of action.
This will be a somewhat 'roleplay' orientated interaction.
Through discussion you can thus influence the Pope's decisions and in that manner the future of the Papal States.
People may apply as governor, advisor or the likes and advise the Pope through letters, meetings etc.
It is also possible for you to insert posts emulating thoughts, discussions, documents and the likes on mentioned events.

List of Governors, Cardinals, agents and Advisors:
Lord Zhang Ku (Governor Eugenius IV Gherardi )
Moorius (Governor Martinus V Beneati)
Platinumkiller (Governor)


Prologue: The foundations of change
+1214 AD, Vatican Gardens:

The Cardinal walked through the gardens.
The crimsonrobed Warrior Monks followed him from afar. The handful of masked warriors were silent. Enigmatic and unwaveringly loyal, these elite enforcers of divine law stood ever ready to protect their master.
Stopping to look at some purple flowers, the Cardinal reached out and plucked one. He took a small sniff, inhaling the sweet scent.
He smiled lightly. "So much like the Catholic Church is it not Captain?" the Cardinal asked.

The Captain of the Warrior Monks had appeared out of nowhere. Wearing a full golden mask and clad in black robes, the armored righthandman of the Cardinal was the most enigmatic of all his followers. The Captain was a stealthy man yet to his surprise the Cardinal had somehow 'sensed' his presence before he had even spoken.
"I beg your pardon Master?" he asked.
The Cardinal smiled "It is a sweet flower... beautiful and full of potential. But all too easily destroyed".
"Indeed my Master" came the engimatic captain's dry reply.
"The Catholic world is in danger my dear Captain Rochnan" the Cardinal said.
"Indeed Master." he replied. Rochnan was a man of action. An aristocrat turned mercenary, he had served the Cardinal for many years, enforcing holy law through most unholy means.
"The vile Muslims are gaining in power, ready to unleash a Jihad upon us. My spies speak of dubious rumors of savage hordes in the far east. The Byzantine Empire lingers still, a constant reminder of the past... and a blatant insult to my ideal of universal unity" the Cardinal said.
"They are a lingering flame my master. My travels have brought me there. Their Empire is in decline...".
"True, true my astute captain" he said "But to be replaced by what? Catholic perfection or the hated Islam?" he glanced back at his infamous lieutenant. The goldenmasked enforcer returned his gaze with a cold stare.
"I see your point."
"Indeed. The Catholic World is divied by greed and petty rivalries. The power and influence of the Church is unsure in these troubled times".
"But you intend to change that Cardinal?".
The Cardinal ran a finger over his finely trimmed moustache "Who else can change the fate of history?".
Rochnan nodded "But the Pope...".
"The Pope will be dealt with" he said suddenly "But i will need your strength my old friend. Can i count on it?".
"The might of the Warrior Monks is yours as always" Rochnan said bowing lightly.
"Very good" the Cardinal said as he readjusted his robes with one hand and cast away the flower.
"Ironic is it not my dear Captain that to save Catholicism one of it's finest flowers must be trampled" he said as he put his foot on the flower. The Cardinal grinned at the sight. "I have a plan to take control of the Church. And than we will further our longterm goals. Let us go inside" he said "There is much to discuss and little time to act".
The Cardinal began to walk and both Rochnan and the crimson robed Warrior Monks fell in line.

Four years had passed since that faithful meeting in the gardens.
The Pope had been shot down from afar during a parade. The Warrior Monks 'efficiently' closed all exits but the perpetrator seemingly had gotten away... .

Captain Rochnan who had dealt the killing blow on the feeble and decadent Pope, easily slipped away, rejoining his men. A few days later a conspiracy was revealed and Cardinal Gregory brought forth 'proof' that a large group of Roman merchants, Cardinals and aristocrats had conspired to elminate the weakling Pope.
Accidentally this action meant the end of all the main rivals of the Cardinal, who was able to not only influence the successors of rival cardinals, but by doing so get himself elected as the new Pope.
The Pope, his close allies and the Order of the Warrior Monks obtained the wealth of the convicted and executed aristocracy and merchants establishing themselves as the dominant power in the Vatican both spiritually and wordly.
Now after after four years of reform and manipulations, the machiavellistic and pragmatic Pope Innocentius III was ready to make his move and realize his dream of a Global Theocracy... .



A Warrior Monk with a black breastplate and a golden Cross on it rides towards you. Clad in a crimson cloak and wearing a golden mask, he stops close before you and holds out a gloved hand.
"His Holyness has sent you this message" he says coolly from atop his brown horse. His clothing is dusty and he clearly came in a hurry. The message you take is sealed and carries the Pope's crest... .

The letter of Pope Innocentius III to his most loyal followers and advisors:

My dear friends, i have sent this message to each and everyone of you. Each of you has known me for years. Each of you knows my views and goals. Each of you has proved to be invaluable to me. That is why you have all received this message.

We stand at a crossroads. In the coming years our actions will determine the future of our most Holy Church.
Since i have come to power I have reformed Rome and fielded a mighty army.
The Swiss reform has bolstered the numbers of my Elite troops. Now Rome has four hardened regiments of the Swiss Guard. But we also are able to field a 8 Papal Guard Regiments, five Cavalry units and a well-sized contingent of 4 Pavise Crossbowmen Regiments. The time has come to strike.
However the risks are high. Our Elite Army is costly and we need to gain funding soon or we will risk coming into financial problems. Diplomatically we are weak too. My predecessors focussed solely on the spiritual and failed to realize that to achieve true Divine Order, worldly means are needed. Diplomatic actions will be required. Pashalis II Arlocti, you will go and make trading agreements with the Sicillians, old allies of the Mother Church and the Vatican. Afterwards you will head northwards to cement lucrative trading agreements with the Milanese, Venetians and of course our most powerful neighbour... the Holy Roman Empire.
Cardinal Bonifacius IX i sent you out to strengthen the religious faith in Central Italy.
Rome is currently a city of great power and glory but new construction projects are yet to be undertaken my friends. The Eternal and most Holy city will be the pulsing heart of the first truly holy Empire, i have foreseen it.
I will heed your advise as always in matters of internal and external policy and the upcoming campaigns we will need to undertake.
I will require new Generals and Governors, new men of the faith and loyal agents. Finding competent men to fullfill these needs will be no easy task but I am certain you will all stand by my side as we go forth to build a new World Order where the light of Christ has enlightened all and where all heretics and unbelievers have been punished or converted.
Only the Holy Church and it's head, the Vatican can bring the stability and enlightment that the civilized world needs to face the perils that threaten it. The time has come for change my friends but that also means we must tread cautiously. I foresee that it will be a true balancing act these coming years between conquest and consolidation. We cannot afford to fail. It would be the end of years of work and preperation and possibly the doom of the Christian World.
I have sent out Captain Rochnan and some of my Warrior Monks to gather information and to eliminate the last religious vestiges of resistance that defied my rise to power. We cannot afford to have further dissidence. All of us must stand united or we shall fall. Luckily the Noble Elite of Rome is under my full control now, the Cardinals all bow down to my wisdom and the populace are convinced that my path is righteous for i have adressed them by words and pamflets, swaying them to my views.
There has never been a better time to set forth and let all bask in the light of Christ. By words if possible, by sword if necessary.
The winds of change are here. Will you rise to the challenge or will you cower in fear?
Now tell me my friends, will you come to Rome and aid me in my endeavour? Will you support your Pope or will you join the devil's accomplices?

Blessed be my faithful,

Pope Innocentius III

The situation in Rome:

[Musthavename]

Do you mean "Stainless" Steel istead of Shattered Steel?

Looking forward to this.

[Darthvegeta800]

Do you mean "Stainless" Steel istead of Shattered Steel?

Looking forward to this.

Correct, my apologies. My mind was god knows where again.

[kasrkin]

Can I just say that without me this campaign wouldn't exist . jk I gave a little techincal help to get someone who deserves to have a good AAR a shot at the big time (Wow could that sound more gay?)


Also Can I make a suggestion? maybe you could give Cities over to an economical governer and castles to the military? and if you wanted to make it more immersive maybe you could give each new advisor a settlement obviously it'd be first come first serve but its an idea

[Darthvegeta800]

Hmmm i like that idea. *rubs chin*
I'll let people choose wether to become advisor, governor or Cardinal and to focus on a certain purpose.
Unless anyone has some ideas on how to tackle it?

EDIT: I expanded the opening post and i hereby declare the AAR 'started'.

[Lord Zhang Ku]

My lord, May I once again be of your service? Can I please be a governer?

[Darthvegeta800]

Lord Zhang Ku, your services are accepted. You will become Governor of the first City we bring under the blissful rule of the Holy Seat!

[Darthvegeta800]

Chapter 1: The first phase of expansion

It was 1220AD when our great Pope, the most holy and wise Innocentius III gathered part of the Garrisson in Rome and joined the army in the field and headed of North to attack the City of Florence, that he had deemed a threat to the Holy Seat. It was also deemed that for the sake of the Catholic World, violence would be condoned if it served a higher purpose.

Leaving behind Roma, the Eternal City, Pope Innocentius could see from atop a hill his large forces awaiting him. Among them, his beloved Swiss Guard, the Elite of the Elite.
Halberds held vertically, the loyal Heavy Infantry had become the spine of his military forces.
Rochnan, who sat atop a black horse, pointed a gloved finger towards the distance. "The work on the mines has begun. They should be fully functional within a year or 4. On the longterm these should allow us to mint valuable silver coins to fund our war efforts and the noble cause of the Vatican" the enigmatic Mercenary Commander said.
Innocentius III nodded "I take it my letters have been sent?".
"Yes my lord. The Warrior Monks are delivering them to your closest associates as we speak. From across the Catholic World, your chosen will come"
The Pope nodded. "Very well then... let us depart than .The march is long and the struggle will be hard but we can wait no more... it is absolutely vital that the Papal States grow if our desires for a pure and overarching Catholic World come to fruition" and with that the armored Pope rode of towards the valley below to rejoin his army, ready to march.

Meanwhile a Diplomat by the name of Arlocti had reached Sicily and sealed a trading agreement. Now he would be of to the North where a city of the Kaiser, Milan and Venetia would await him. If the Vatican Empire were to be forged, the Pope would require a strong financial basis and treaties were thus necessary.

The policies that Innocentius had imposed were being readied in Rome while the Pope marched to war. An trader, a new missionary and a Diplomat were prepared for their respective missions. For though the area around Rome had Cardinal Bonifacius IX to shepherd the faithful, the Pope was fully aware that to impose true order, true faith had to be reinforced and further spread.
Hence, the Pope was clearly opting for a four sided policy that envelopped politics, diplomacy, economy and military.

1221AD, Coelestinus III Albizi was an incompetent a trader sent to handle a recent trading good.
Ioannes XXII Pieri was sent northwards to convert and the diplomat Gregorius XII Bandini followed suit, hoping to reach the Kaiser's Italian city and begin fruitful negociations. The Pope also suggested engaging in an alliance with Italy's most powerful Northern Neighbour. After all who but the 'Holy Roman Empire' was worthy of being an ally of the most Holy of Cities?

Martinus V Benetati (Lord Zhang Ku) was enlisted in Rome. He would become the future governor of Florence when the city falls to Pope Innocentius III. In the meantime he would oversee the development of Rome.



Rumours of a man named Ghenkis Khan and his Mongol Hordes reach Italy, causing worries to rise about this enigmatic threat.
In Rome the training of some regiments began while the siege of Florence was fully underway...

The influenced and controlled Noble Council decided to support the policies of Pope Innocentius more thoroughly by stating that a reward of 2500 florins would be bestowed upon the Pope for further projects if Florence fell at his hands... .

Now more and more advisors, generals, cardinals and governors swooped into Italy to join the Holy Father... .

[Lord Zhang Ku]

Martinus: My lord, thank you for choosing me, your humble servant to besiege Florence.

[Darthvegeta800]

Martinus: My lord, thank you for choosing me, your humble servant to besiege Florence.

Oh no, you're running Rome for the moment as i stated.
The Pope had already left for Florence when you 'arrived' in Rome.
But i'm sure you'll get a shot at leading a force or joining the Pope.
As early on few Governors will have the luxury of focussing on management. Military deeds will be required of all of you!

Moorius -> Thanks, what are you applying for? One of the agents or do you prefer to 'roleplay' as a governor. If so, you'll need to wait for the next personality to become available.

[Moorius]

+rep wonderful job..i would love any spot you need filled your honor.

[Moorius]

well ill wait for the next postition when it comes. sounds fun being a governor.

[Darthvegeta800]

1222AD:
The city of Florence fell at the hands of the Papal army. The Pope turned out a brilliant leader, loosing only 400 men in the siege. Lenient... and above all pragmatic, Honorius III spared the city and currently his army is occupying it, having a well deserved rest.
Governor Martinus V Benetati arrived with a regiment of Pike Militia and Italian Spear Militia. As soon as the Pope is done, he will move in and become Governor or take a force of his own to engage a potentially new target.

The Fourth Lateran Council was initiated shortly after the Siege of Florence.
The costs of Rome was well worth it, 1500 Florins to partake fully in this event discussing diverse dogmatic elements and desires to set the stage for a crusade by imposing a 4 year peace upon the Catholic World.



Meanwhile Gregorius XII Bandini reaches the city of Bologna and negociating with a representative of the Kaiser, a trade agreement and an Alliance is forged!

1223AD:
The Noble Council awarded 500 florins to their beloved Pope after sealing a most important Trading Agreement with Venice.
At this time the 'Tower of Gold' is being build in Sevilla.
A small disaster struck though as news reaches Rome that our assets near Rome have been seized by shrewd merchants.

A pressing concern worries Pope Honorius III though, the pressures of having such a large army will soon weigh greatly on the treasury. A solution must be found. It seems fast and easy conquest will be necessary. But to where?

[platinumkiller]

i have 2 questions 1 may i be a govener for a city and also PLEASE!!! show the battles =D

[Lord Zhang Ku]

Martinus: My lord, send me to Sardinia to take the fort there! I promise you I shalln't fail!

[Darthvegeta800]

1224AD: News reaches Rome regarding the Children's Crusade. A naval pilgrimage centered around 2 young boys which ended in disaster.
Furthermore it becomes known that the city of Khiva has fallen.



In that same year, Pope Honorius III besieged the city of Naples after a forced march. To add insult to injury, the machiavellistic Pope excommunicated Sicily, exploiting their wordings and claims to his own advantage. The undergarissoned city quickly fell as soon as siege engines were constructed and the Pope's army took the city without damaging or looting it.



During this brief initial siege, some trade agreements were made with Genoa and later on also with Hungary as the Papal Diplomats travelled further and further.

Gregorius VIII Ferraius would also be sent of to spread the Holy Word. It seemed the Pope wished to ensure that Italy would be firmly Catholic.
That the cunning Pope inserted papal propaganda in the sermons of his charismatic zealots was of course completely 'incidental'.

By 1125AD, the Noble Council impressed with the Pope's successes bestowed 1000 Florins on him. Funding most welcome to grant Florence's Governor Eugenius IV Gherardi an army as plans already circulated of sending northwards to annexate Venetia and Genoa once the opportunity struck.

1226AD: Francis of Assisi dies. The Christian World mourns the passing of this charismatic Catholic. Of course the militant Pope is quick to write a brilliant pamflet which links the man to his own noble causes and underlines the importance of Faith as shown by this man, linking that in turn to Faith in the justness of all Papal decisions.



Soon Naples' walls would be repaired however a Sicillian army arrived and split into two of which one began a siege and the second lingered nearby.

Not long before disaster struck as reinforcements meant for Florence defected. Costing the Papal States a regiment of Militia still plundering Southwards of Florence and two Elite Regiments that simply 'dissapeared'.
These cowards must be hunted down to set an example or the Papal Armies will loose their reputation.

Over the years, three Merchants were prepared to oversee special undertakings and exploit some key resources in central and south Italy. One by one they are sent of from Florence, Rome and later on Milan.

1228AD:
A newcomer arrived in Florence with a mandate as Cardinale Legato. This is the man who would be sent to Rome as he seemed to have a proficiency to handle administration and construction.
On the other hand with a northern military campaign imminent it might be wise for now to have him stay in put to oversee projects in Florence.
Stories already go around about how this man called Martinus V Benetati is an animal lover, who always has a tracking dog at his side.



The trade agreement with Hungary means that Rome receives two units of Catapults, funded by Roman aristocracy to assist in the war effort.

Now the time has come to make choices.
It is impossible for the Governors to reach the Pope as long as he is besieged. Therefore they are both on their own in acting.

Will they attempt to reinforce the Pope? Will they set of Northwards running the risk of disaster? Will they continue to build up buildings and units to reinforce the already sizeable army in Florence?
Can the two men cooperate?
And what happened to Captain Rochnan and the Warrior Monks?

[Darthvegeta800]

Platinumkiller, you're third in line to get a postion.
Zhang Ku, as soon as we have the ability to do so, i'll send you of to spread the 'holy' word by sword and fire.
The Pope will rush of to conquer some of the weaker Sicillian cities with the army. As soon as you've build up forces you'll have the 'pleasure' of dealing with North Italy.
At the moment the Papal State is working with a serious deficit so we cannot wait. Not to mention a lot of the nearby states have a numeric advantage over us.

As soon as i have a strong hold over the South, i'm pausing. By then hopefully a few more 'governors' will have arosen. And we will 'gather' to make policy and to assign priorities for each governor, cardinal, agent,... .

[Moorius]

Rally the troops and move south to help our holy father with one governor. One governor can stay in Florence and continue the work there.

[Darthvegeta800]

And who shall march forth? It is up to the 2 Governors to compromize. And how many regiments will you leave behind?

[platinumkiller]

very nice update! awaiting to see the plans and are march to save the glory of the papal states!