[C2SV AAR] Darkage AAR

[husker9.2]

Hi all. This is my second attempt at an AAR so please be merciful lol. criticism is welcomed as are any thoughts and opinions as well. This AAR will be using the Medieval II total War mod Chivalry II The Sicilian Vespers.

This will be an AAR written by two Authors. Using the Hot seat mode on the mod, I (husker9.2) will be playing As the Empire of the Romans, and Mattress will be playing as the Keivan Rus faction. We will both be posting chapters or updates usually every 5 to 10 years. The AAR will be happening in the Dark age campaign on the Chivalry II mod, The overall life of this AAR will most likely be from 888 AD to 1025 AD.

The Rules -- Difficulty VH/H no attacking other factions only if they attack us will we wage war.

A Map of Europe in 888 AD when the AAR will start.



The names of the factions i wrote above are the Angelical version, the game actually has their real faction name.

First chapters or updates will come soon.

[charles the hammer]

should be good cant wait for an update

[Mattress]

Can be deleted safely.

[Mattress]

Prelude: Mustering the Host...

The sun rose, a glaring burst of light amid the dark, clouded sky and shone over the landscape weakly trying to warm the Dirt. Dirt that belonged to the Rhos Khaganate. This far north and deep into fall, the chill entered the land earlier than most places. So the days that the sun did come forth and shine on the city of Kyiv were few indeed.
He awoke with a snort, a bit of drool still grazing his cheek from the lusty barmaid in his past night's dream. He wiped his face and rose from the bed stumbling slowly over to his store of liquor. Oleg was very fond of drink. He carried on his person a flask into battle, a personal gift from one of his previous wives, not that he put any sentimental value there; his days of lust were spent with his concubine, not his wife.
Oleg takes a long pull from the harsh liquid and lets it fill his veins with fire. Since he had been a boy in Novogorod he had been fond of the drink. It allowed him to become something more on the battlefield, something deadly, something feared, so much that his foes would flee before him! He pulls the flask from his lips and replaces the stopper. There was work yet to be done today and he would need his wits about him, for now.

"Servants!!" yells Oleg.

As Oleg's servants begin to attend and dress Oleg one of them reports a carrier pigeon had arrived with a letter from Novgorod, from Kniaz Igor his friend and heir and it read:

Father,
My latest reports from my spies of the surronding settlements concerning Novgorod are dire! We have a rebellion on our hands Father. I have begun preperations to fortify the city walls and reinforce the current milita forces in the city. Currently we have adopted an economic policy specifically targeted at our ports to open trade routes through the Baltic. Per your commands, construction on a safe harbor, shipwright and merchant fleet have begun. This project will take some time to complete. In the meantime, I will consolidate our forces here in north. I regret to bring you word on our eastern front. Moskva has fallen to a surprise attack by the Penchengs!! Our garrison there has capitulated without a fight!! Once the situation here in Novgorod has stabilized I will muster forces and procede towards Moskva with your orders milord.


Your humble servant and heir,
Kniaz Igor Prince of Novgord


As Oleg begins to read the letter the flush of his skin begins to increase in color. The more he reads the more the thirst for rebel blood begins to call to him. They would think to rebel against him? He, Oleg, who had united the Rhos? They would soon see the might of the Rhos and the swift death to follow!!!

"Fools" he mutters. "Arrogant fools. How well they think of themselves. What protection do they think they can afford against my might?! Summon Mikhail at once!!!" Oleg roars at the closest servant.

The servant goes pale at the sound of his masters voice and leaves the room. As the servant leaves to summon loyal Mikhail, the Grand Prince's capable cavalry general, Oleg begins to rub his beard in thought. "Yes", he thinks to himself. "This will work perfectly...."

[husker9.2]

Chapter one
Prelude to conflict

Current political office holdings of individuals in this chapter

Basileus -- Leon


Megas Domestikos ton Scholon -- Alexandros (heir apparent)
Megas Domestikos ton Scholon tis dyseos -- Alexandros

Megas Domestikos ton Scholon tis anatoles -- Stefanos Makedonios




Parakoimomenos -- recently deceased in process of finding a replacement.

Setting: map room of the imperial palace in the summer of 889 AD, emperor hasn’t entered yet, and the Megas Domestikos’ are standing side by side in front of a beautiful wood table with a large map stretched over it. The map has the Roman Empire centered on it and its current land holdings as of that year.


Alexandros : How’s the situation on your front?

Stefanos: Dire, and what of yours?

Alexandros : Equally as bad.

Stefanos: We need men bad, and not militia, but real soldiers. If we don’t have them soon we will crumble in the eastern themes.

Alexandros : The same situation plagues us north of Adrianople and Thessaloniki, we need real soldiers to crush the Bulgar scum and drive them north of the Danube.

Stefanos: any word on our forces in Italy?

Alexandros : No we haven’t received word from him in months, either he’s just fine or their all dead.

Stefanos: Hmm their probably fine, they have built good fortifications in Italy.

Alexandros : that they do, what is this traitorous news I hear from Crete and Cyprus?

Stefanos: Father levied harsh taxes on the people there, and killed any that resisted. Upon hearing the late Basileus death they took up arms believing Leon isn’t half the man our father was. So the word from that region say’s.

Alexandros : I will admit our brother is quite soft when it comes to domestic matters of this sort but the rebels would be fools to think we won’t retaliate.

The door at the end of the room busted open and Basileus Leon strolled into the room flanked by his elite Varangian Guard, the brothers quickly bowed and exchanged hugs with their brother the Basileus.

Leon: what is the situation brothers?

Stefanos pointed to the map and slowly began speaking.

Stefanos: well brother our situation grows ever more dire in Anatolia, we have lost Cilicia, our garrisons are to small to resist a serious attack, or survive a prolonged siege. We currently have no field armies to speak of.

Leon: and what of the Balkans?

Alexandros : situation is stabilizing, Bulgars appear to want peace now that Magyars are pushing deeper into Transylvania. But if a war broke out we would not be able to hold Greece. We also have no field armies, only militia.

Leon: I see, I also have heard of our problem in Crete and Cyprus, what word of that?

Stefanos: Intelligence reports gathered from refugees claim the rebel forces are few and that they are unorganized. The only real threat may be if they gain full support from the local nobility.

Leon: good, It will take them some time to gain support from the local nobility, what forces can we levy and dispatch to the region?

Alexandros and Stefanos glance at each other nervously.


Alexandros : neither of us can spare any men….. And our main military training facilities in, Bulgaria and Antioch, have been captured. No back up training facilities have been built, we cannot raise a Professional field army until the new facilities are built in Adrianople and Constantinople.

Leon: When will those be finished?

Alexandros: a year at the earliest.

Leon: and how long will it take to raise a cavalry legio?

Alexandros : maybe a year or two after that..

Leon: we don’t have that long.

Alexandros: then I guess we can just give them basic training and basic equipment and deploy them.

Leon: It’s unfortunate but we have no choice, we must make an example of these rebels to the rest of the Empire to show we aren’t weak, but strong and united. Do what you just said, send those men under the command of any Strategos you see fit.

Leon: as for the situation on your fonts in the Balkans and in Anatolia do your best, build new training facilities, and raise new legio’s, you have my full authorization to use what ever resources you need to complete the projects and get these men in the field. You also have my full Authorization to levy any and all men you need to complete this task.

Both the brothers nodded in agreement.

Stefanos: anything else brother?

Leon: No that will be all, return to your posts and do as I ordered. I have to go now, I must find a new Parakoimomenos since someone poisoned the last one. You are dismissed.

The Basileus Leon pivoted on his heel and strolled lazily back through the door which he came, flanked by the large and loyal Varangians. Alexandros and Stefanos looked at each other for a moment before nodding and walking out a side door into the bright sunny summer day that had begun to develop over Constantinople.

[husker9.2]

Reserved post/ preview/ update

Alrighty been tied down with my departure from college but now that i'm set up and ready to go here at home i'll have a chapter out soon on the Roman expedition to Crete in 891.

updates- quick info and some important dates that don't pertain to my next chapter.

Alexandros the heir apparent to the roman empire has married Maria of Armenia on the same day as the war with Benevento was ceased with the signing of the peace of Brindisi in 890.

In the winter of 890 the Emperor Leon blows a considerable amount of cash on his "Retreat" in the hills north west of Constantinople.

Edit: Been busy lately will have next chapter done TODAY. In the mean time here's a pic to hold you over!

[Pink Beard]

nice! a dual AAR! very interesting!

[Kallum]

indeed, I'll be following this thoroughly

[Mattress]

Rallying the Rus

Hey fellow TWC readers! In conjunction with Husker9.2's Roman AAR I proudly present the Rus AAR intro!!! Please forgive any spell errors, historical inaccuracies or anything else I may have forgotten (PM if you'd like to chat about it). I am not very famaliar with the Rus as I would say the Romans in terms of history however this is a chance to correct that and have some fun at the same time! With that, I hope you enjoy!!

• 887 AD Start Date/ approx 1025 AD end date
• Chivalry II SV mod - Dark Age Era
  
• 2 Human Players (Romans -Husker9.2; Rus - Mattress)
• ROE: May counter attack, but no offensive wars against the AI unless they provoke you...

Chapter 1
Slaughter at Pinsk

Setting: 892 AD - Narrative/Dialogue outside of Pinsk
Characters of Interest: Oleg of Novgorod
Battle: Yes



IN the year 887 the Rhos Khaganate was ruled by a fierce tyrant who loved his drink as much as he loved warring, his name was Oleg and he was feared by friend and foe alike. A man of great stature, broad in the chest as well as the shoulders, he carried a large twin bladed axe on his back. It was rumored that if in battle his horse was felled Oleg would toss aside his spear, and enter the melee himself axe swinging and limbs flying. This of course only encouraged the men and his victories so far have been many. Oleg was a crafty man, but often into his cups and thus it affected his judgement on occasions. He was ambitious enough to ally with the Roman Empire to the south. The trading profits alone on the Ponticum Mare we worth the future invasion of the Pechengs as the agreement called for the conquering of territories that border Caffa...but for now, Oleg had to deal with internal matters. Rebellion close to home was at hand, and rebels had to be dealt with.

The current status of the Rus territories in 887 are pathetic to say the least. Spread across a large expanse of land, with no formal roads, no irrigation, and low population centers, the Rus people are not the Romans of Konstantinoupolis, but they make due with the land they work, the slaves they take and the spoils of war. With a patient policy of consolidation Oleg was able to build up a small force and invest his future into the Rus infrastructure. Only time would tell if his policies were to work, but for now the men needed training and equipment.

5 years later...



By winter 892, Oleg had marched his army and laid seige to Pinsk. He instructed his forces to build 3 Seige Rams, since the village only supported a palisade.

Khagan Oleg of Novgorod - Grand Prince of Kyiv

The cold snow patters the ground gently as he walks along the camp. The morning is cold, and no fog has set in. He pulls his furs about him more tightly and reaches for his flask; he would need its help today. Fully aware of his loyal Malaia Druzhina guard about him he reaches back and takes a long draught of the harsh liquid. His third wife had given it to him before the army had left Kyiv, aware of his thirst for drink at the beginning of each day. He takes another long pull and replaces the stopper and attaches it back to his belt. Now that things are in focus it was time to inspect the men.

The time for campaign was drawing to and end, and Rus forces still needed to assault Pinsk. The Grand Prince, upon hearing of the breakaway of some of the closer provinces from home had rallied what he could of the remaining varangians, slavs, turks, and raised troops from the local peasentry into militias. On the War March the rebel scum had levied more troops from the village and hired merncenaries in a pitiful attempt to withstand the Grand Prince’s retaliation. His meager forces consisting of some heavy cavalry and light infantry complemented with Mercenary Spears would have to be enough; there was no other option but death!!

As the Grand Prince makes his rounds through the camp, he can only shake his head in disgust. The men’s equipment is crude. Aside from the Mercs, Boyare and Druzhina the rest of the men are in tatters. The militia spears will most likely break at first turn unless Oleg leads them himself, having naught but shield to tie them over and a cloth overcoat. The Woodsmen faired little better, but their axes would be useful in a breakthrough assault on the walls. The Grand Prince knew his strength was in his Druzhina Cavalry and Boyare. They must win the day...




Grand Prince Oleg begins to mount his horse and clear his throat “ We have come here today, to this place, because I will not show mercy to rebel scum!!! We shall crush them!!! If the enemy shows you mercy on the battlefield do not return it!!! It is a good thing, that today we deprive so many villages of so many idiots!!! Death to them all!!!” The men jeer and taunt, one going so far as to remove his trousers and dance about. Sergeants yell, the men reform ranks and the orders are given. His original plan called for three infantry groups to break through the gate and walls and Oleg will take the cavalry through the main gateway. Once the gateway had been secure the wall breached forces would meet at the main gate and push to the center of the city at all costs. Any hesitation would allow the enemy to regroup in a defensive position and the possible losses of a frontal assualt could not be accepted!!







Oleg pulls the stopper from his Flask and takes another long pull. The battle was now underway and he must wait until a breach had been made and the horn sounded to signal it. His horse begins to paw the ground; it must smell the blood in the air already. Reports of casualties so far have been light; a few mercenaries...

"So much the better!" grumbles Oleg between gulps. "Another dead man, is a man I don't have to pay for this bloodletting."

Reports come in that the Infantry groups have engaged the walls and breached them, but Oleg is still drinking at this point and is a bit lax in command but his units have done well so far.



"BRING ME ANOTHER FLASK!!" roars Oleg. By this time his sub captains tell him it's time for him to move. Oleg is more than ready for battle as he has whirred himself into a drunken frenzy but the men seem emboldened by this even if he has started to slur a word every now and then.


The Northern Horn is sounded, Olegs personal, and the Cavalry begin to advance. As they speed into a gallop the rebel captain charges out of the gate with the vanguard of the rebels forces. They charge straight into the mercenary spear unit which holds them back in time for Oleg to arrive with the horses.


"Boyare to the left, the Druzhina with me; CHARGE!!!" Olegs roars. The rebel vanguard are caught in the front and flank by horses. The rebel militia begins to waver...


"REGROUP and CHARGE; CUT THEM DOWN, LAUNCH ANOTHER VOLLEY!!" Olegs bellowing can be heard across the battlefield. It only weakens the enemy further as more volleys of arrows are launched into the defenders.


"TAKE NO PRISONERS!!!"


With that, the Druzina push through to the Rebel Captains postion and cut him down. The rout begins.


"To the City's center! We must control the center of the city! Ride them down!!! Infantry secure the walls and gate!! DRUZINA WITH ME!!!"




An hour passes.
The city has fallen.





Oleg orders the rebel leaders put to death and pardons the rest. He doesn't have the man power to afford those losses...they must be incorporated back into the fold and the populace must be put back to work. Oleg orders the troops to garrison Pinsk for the winter and begin repairs. They would not see Kyiv again until the spring however a letter had arrived from Mikhail by messenger during the battle:

"My Lord,
The forces you have ordered to be assembled at Kyiv are underway. Reports from our regional centers indicate they have begun to train militias as well. No word from your heir in Novgorod at this time, but his last letter indicated the rebellion was much wider spread than we initially thought. The rebels have taken 2 more towns north of Pinsk.

I await your further instructions at Kyiv.
Your loyal subject,
-General Mikhail "

"Bring me a quill and ink, and lambskin....hurry fool!" Oleg motions to the messenger.

Oleg begins to grin wickedly. You could even say a twinkle was in his eye as he begins to write his orders to both Mikhail and Igor...

Stay tuned for the next chapter (soon!)

[husker9.2]

Failure at Chandax

Setting: City of Chandax on the island of Crete. The first cavalry Legio under the command of Strategos Eleutherios Doukas, has decided to forgo waiting out the enemy and begin an immediate assault on the city itself. The city is held by a mixed force of native Greek militia and hired Muslim mercenaries from as far away as Spain.

The first Cavalry Legio comprising of 6 Kentarchea’s of Roman infantry making the 1st and 2nd Vandum‘s, 2 Kentarchea of Alan auxiliary cavalry, three Kentarchea of archers, one Kentarchea of slav foot auxiliaries, four Kentarchea of auxiliary Turcoman, Skythikon, and Cuman cavalry, and an elite unit of forty Kataphraktoi.


The deployment of the Imperial first Cavalry Legio prior to the battle.





The plan and order of battle: Eleutherios decided against his officers plan of assaulting the enemies walls on the left of the gate with all the infantry in favor of a spread assault approach. He intends to attack the gate with his Slavic auxiliaries while his 1st Vandum of Skoutatoi will assault the walls on both sides of the ram with siege towers and ladders while holding two Kentarchea of the 2nd Vandum in reserve. His officers are furious and believe the plan will fail but Eleutherios believes other wise.




The scene: Eleutherios Doukas sits sweating on his horse flanked by his second in command, the young flamboyantly dressed Merarches Theotokios Basilicus. Eleutherios is not a military man but rather a patrician who’s more powerful father has gained favor with Alexandros who has in turn given command of this expedition to Eleutherios. Theotokios on the other hand is a military man whose star is on the rise having been in several engagements as a cavalry commander on the eastern front against the Arabs, Is leading the Kataphraktoi.


The Assault on Chandax

Eleutherios Doukas didn’t want to be here. This whole siege, this whole war. Just a terrible inconvenience. He had plans politically back in Constantinople, not here on this tiny insignificant island in the Mediterranean. He and his father had been busy jockeying himself into position within the Imperial family and court so that maybe, someday, Eleutherios would be Basileus. He dreamed of riches, women, and power beyond his wildest dreams. Not of the war and death that surrounded him now. Had this insurrection not gone and screwed every thing up he would be back in the capital gaining that fool Leon’s favor.

“But instead I’m here” he muttered under his breath. He eyed the city of Chandax and the places were soon his men would be storming to victory. Many enemy men stood on the walls, archers in front, infantry behind them.

The worst part about this whole expedition was that nothing had gone right for Eleutherios. During the meeting to discuss the plan of action for the assault he had argued with his leading officers and told them their plan was foolish, he was almost certain they went and told all their men the assault was doomed. Unlike most Skoutatoi of the empire these men had half the military training, thus half the discipline and nerve. His worst enemy wasn’t even the enemy. But the arrogant Theotokios Basilicus. The young Merarches had been constantly nipping at his heels calling him out and making him look like a fool at every turn. And unlike Eleutherios the men loved Theotokios, they trusted Theotokios. “ It doesn’t matter anyway” Eleutherios told himself “ I’ll have him killed once I rule the empire”.

The Assault had already begun his men plodded steadily forward, shields above their heads slowly pushing or carrying their siege equipment. The enemy had ignited their arrows and were concentrating their fire on the battering ram and siege towers.

The first Kentarchea ‘s at the walls were the Skoutatoi and they quickly propped their ladders up against the walls and promptly began to climb. The ram and siege towers closed in on the walls next and then all hell broke loose. The Battering ram and the siege tower on the right caught fire, the slavs abandoned the ram and ran to assist the Kentarchea of Skoutatoi on the right flank who were faltering. The Skoutatoi whose tower had caught fire rushed to the ladders on the left to lend hand to the Skoutatoi who were failing there.

Eleutherios sat stunned, the battle had barely began and they were already losing.

Theotokios shouted to Eleutherios.

Theotokios: what should we do sir?

Eleutherios: I…I..I don’t know….um…move the reserve 2nd Vandum to the left maybe we can exploit a gap there.

Theotokios: There is no gap sir and the Kentarchea of Skoutatoi on the right have taken flight only slavs hold there now.

Eleutherios: then move them there anyway dammit!

Theotokios: yes sir!

Theotokios motioned to the Cometas of the 2nd Vandum who nodded, drew his sword, and ordered his men to run to the walls. They reached their destination quickly and were soon on the walls pushing the enemy back away from the ladders.

Eleutherios felt a jolt of hope rush through his veins as his men captured a tower and hoisted the flag of the imperial army above it.

Soon a man came running from the walls, he was bloody and his right arm had an enormous laceration upon it.

Soldier: sir! Cometas Justinian requests more men or else they will loose the parapets to the enemy…

Eleutherios: but they have hoisted the imperial flag above the tower how can they be losing?

Soldier: enemy reinforcements have assembled and descended upon us like angry bee’s. we cannot hold much longer sir…..

Eleutherios: Go back and tell Cometas Justinian he must, and will hold the parapets at all const upon pain of death! We have no more men to spare!

The soldiers mouth dropped in disbelief and Theotokios struggled to hold back his anger but growled.

Theotokios : Sir…. If we don’t pull them back now we risk losing all our Skoutatoi Vandums…..

Eleutherios: I KNOW NOW SHUT YOUR MOUTH MERARCHES BASILICUS!

Theotokios twisted his face in further fury but held his tongue and watched the imperial flag be cast from the tower as the enemy reinforcements overwhelmed and cut off several men from their Kentarchea.






Soon the small figures of men could be seen climbing down the ladders, many of them wounded clambering down with one arm. The last men off the parapets had no time to climb down but jumped preferring to break their legs then die. Their comrades grabbed them and drug or carried them away from the walls using their shields to protect them and in some cases carry them.

Eleutherios slumped back in his saddle, dejected and in disbelief. Theotokios motioned a Cuman to lead Eleutherios away. Theotokios was in charge now and he spun his horse around and ordered the Etairiarches to have his horse archers cover the retreating Romans. He ordered the remaining Cometas to reform the men and retreat in as good an order as possible. Theotokios looked over to the city and muttered “I’ll be back you scum” and trotted off flanked by his Kataphraktoi.

[charles the hammer]

great update cant wait for the next one.

[husker9.2]

great update cant wait for the next one.

Thanks for reading!

[Jingles]

ouch, husker your graphics card must be taking a strain at 13fps

Great AAR idea you two, I've only read one or two dual AARs before, and they've always been good. I expect great things! (no pressure lol)

[husker9.2]

ouch, husker your graphics card must be taking a strain at 13fps

Great AAR idea you two, I've only read one or two dual AARs before, and they've always been good. I expect great things! (no pressure lol)

lol yea it was but don't worry i'm getting my computer upgraded so soon my pics will be as sweet as mattress pics. Thank you for your comments!

[Jingles]

lol yeah mine used to be the same. Except even after an upgrade I found myself playing the original medieval more often...

How is C2SV anyway? it's a mod I've considered downloading on a number of occasions, but never have. Is the era system buggy at all? because it sounds incredibly cool, and I'd love to do a dark ages campaign.

[Mattress]

lol yeah mine used to be the same. Except even after an upgrade I found myself playing the original medieval more often...

How is C2SV anyway? it's a mod I've considered downloading on a number of occasions, but never have. Is the era system buggy at all? because it sounds incredibly cool, and I'd love to do a dark ages campaign.

I would recommend you download it. I'm not sure what you mean in terms of a buggy era system? Could you be more specific with your question there? The game is pretty difficult which is a good thing I think. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading!!

[husker9.2]

lol yeah mine used to be the same. Except even after an upgrade I found myself playing the original medieval more often...

How is C2SV anyway? it's a mod I've considered downloading on a number of occasions, but never have. Is the era system buggy at all? because it sounds incredibly cool, and I'd love to do a dark ages campaign.

Nope not buggy. probably in the top five of the most stable MIITW mods you can play!
Plus there's five campaigns ( Dark age, Eraly era, High era, Late era, Rennesaince era). So there's ALOT of playing you can do. It's worth every second of the download.

[Jingles]

Well, from what I remember it used a .bat file for the different eras, but apparently some weren't working properly? I dunno, it was a long time ago, and I imagine they've updated it since. Looking at the screenshots though, I certainly like the look of it. Interesting they used the normal sized map, which personally I think is a good thing, because the bigmaps (a la SS) lag out the turn times massively.

I'm downloading it now, should be good fun. I'm keen to try out the late and dark age eras.

[Jingles]

Just started up a Renaissance campaign (couldn't resist playing as Henry V ) You're right though, it's tough. Even at peace, it's difficult trying to keep order in your settlements as well as balance the budget. Love all the new buildings ect.

Guess I should have expected as much from the guys behind Chiv 1.

So...when's the next update you two?

[husker9.2]

Just started up a Renaissance campaign (couldn't resist playing as Henry V ) You're right though, it's tough. Even at peace, it's difficult trying to keep order in your settlements as well as balance the budget. Love all the new buildings ect.

Guess I should have expected as much from the guys behind Chiv 1.

So...when's the next update you two?

I've come to respect Renaissance warfare because of this mod lol. Feel free to post a pic of how your doing so our readers can see how the renaissance era looks!

For me It will be pretty soon i have to go to Ireland this coming week so i feel i had better get writing. Mattress i think may have one up soon too.