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Thread: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

  1. #1

    Icon1 [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Thy Will Be Done

    A Papal States AAR



    Hi all,

    I've decided to write an AAR as the Papal States, with the grand objective of being the campaign's "game master", attempting to influence factions through diplomacy both over and 'under' the table. Rather than being an excommunicating warrior-pope as you might initially expect. I only intend to fight if the Papal States are under threat, to participate in a crusade, to bring a troubled region into God's "Kingdom on Earth", or to readdress faction boundaries if a faction gets out of hand - in most cases returning the settlement to its original owner.


    This campaign will likely be a 'slow' but delicate one, and from time to time I'll open the floor to take suggestions on the next plan of action from eminent people in Rome, i.e. diplomats, merchants, cardinals, priests, generals, heirs, and kings - you guys. I can't guarantee I'll put your requests into action, but they stand more chance if they are in keeping with the current action/condition of the faction you are representing. It's just a little idea I had to potentially involve the readers in the campaign itself, contributing to what will end up in the AAR.

    - Heskey


    Modifications Used

    Stainless Steel 6.4

    Byg's Grim Reality IV - Enhanced (Religious War Tax removed, but crusade joining costs remain)
    Savage AI
    A Tower of Crowns
    Character Development
    Limited Activities
    Live Long & Prosper
    Longer Assimilation
    Next Heir Crown
    Son of X
    Meneth's Submod Compilation (2TPY + Two Settlement Types)

    Campaign Rules

    Campaign: Early Era Campaign (1100 A.D.)
    Faction: The Papal States
    Advice Level: Off
    Difficulty - Campaign: Very Hard
    Difficulty - Battles: Very Hard
    Manage All Cities: On
    Show CPU Moves: On
    Battle Time Limit: Off

    Accordingly undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven...



    Part I - Borderlines


    Last edited by Heskey; October 29, 2011 at 01:53 PM.

  2. #2

    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States)

    Part I - Borderlines

    Prologue

    I
    t is the height of Summer, on the 1100th year after the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The First Crusade has succeeded in bringing Jerusalem, Antioch, and Edessa into the fold of Christendom. In its wake, The Crusader States have been formed under the rule of King Baldwin I, and they are charged with the defence of the Holy Land with the Pope's blessing. Nobles, Princes, and Kings are returning across Europe and the Mediterranean to turn their attentions to troubles within and across their own borders. In the absence of monarchs, various independent fiefs and townships have declared themselves free of their former sovereign - seen as acts of rebellion in many cases, the European monarchs are preparing their armies to battle once again, although this time on familiar ground.

    In the heart of the Italian peninsula lies the papal state of Lazio, home to the great city of Rome and its 8000 citizens. Lazio's rolling plains border the Kingdom of Sicily to the South, and the Republics of Venice and Genoa to the North which are separated by the town of Bologna under the governance of the Holy Roman Empire.

    His Holiness, Pope Paschalis the Peaceful, sits upon the throne of Saint Peter with the College of Cardinals at his side, secure in the knowledge that from all angles, the papal states are protected by the three Italian monarchs and their armies.

    Though small and ineffective at campaigning, the papal army of some 600 men is commanded by Captain General Nicolaus Corrigarius, a man in his mid-thirties who has shown promise of leadership qualities through training exercises and was therefore nominated for promotion by his peers. Though pious and full of promise, Corrigarius has very little battle experience, but His Holiness has entrusted him regardless with the defence of the papal state.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    Summer 1100 A.D.

    In the wake of the First Crusade, His Holiness has expressed his wishes for the papal embassy to canvas the regions of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas, and Western Europe, to seek map information and re-establish trade links between Rome and the Christian Kingdoms that have broken down with the rise of banditry during the First Crusade. Paschalis Arlocti, a papal emissary is sent forth on this endeavour, starting with Naples, of the Kingdom of Sicily, to the South-East of Rome.

    With a new wave of support for Christianity rejoicing throughout the streets of Rome, Cardinal Pius travels over the hills in Marche region, to spread word of the First Crusade's success to the independent people of Ancona, and Captain General Corrigarius takes an armed escort of mailed knights and a team of builders to the border with Tuscany to establish a chain of watch towers that will eventually surround Lazio's borders, whilst the remainder of the papal army takes up garrison of Rome.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    Winter 1100-1101 A.D.

    Captain General Corrigarius returns to Rome briefly, where he is awarded the Privy Seal and the office of Cardinale Legato. A doctor is also employed by the College of Cardinals to accompany the papal army and tend to their wounds. Corrigarius sits second in command of the papacy's military might as a War Councillor, second only to His Holiness, Pope Paschalis, Himself. Corrigarius resumes his construction of Lazio's watch towers at the Southern border, overlooking Naples.

    An agent of the papal state, Xystus de Guardia, makes his way North to the Tuscan town of Pisa to investigate reports from concerned citizens about the poor state of the local administration, and its heavy-handed methods of enlisting the town militia to silence any form of public outcry. On arrival, Xystus and his apprentice witness the quiet of the streets, save for the standing guards of militia, and the odd trader here and there knocking door to door trying to sell their goods. One house appears to have been burnt down, and a number of flowers have been positioned in what remains of the doorway. Leaving his apprentice to report back to the College of Cardinals, Xystus continues North up the peninsula until the great independent city-state of Milan is in sight. Across the Po river, a Genoese army is marching in the direction of Genoa.

    The College of Cardinals convenes to discuss the reports from Pisa.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    Summer-Winter 1102 A.D.

    The city of Milan is visited by the papal agent and his apprentice, who establish facts from the locals that they are governed by a middle-aged general by the name of Mosca who has declared himself to be the Duke of the Milanese people. With the potentiality of the unallied Holy Roman Empire to further encroach upon the peninsula through the Alps, unchecked by an independent city-state, His Holiness sends dispatches to Doge Ansaldo of Milan granting permission to extend the borders of the Genoese Republic to any neighbouring independent fiefdoms. In order to assist the Genoese army with this task, a request for 6,000 florins from the papal state over the course of the year is granted without hesitation.

    In Lazio, Corrigarius and his team of builders have returned to Rome, with the borders now lined with watch towers. The builders are further employed to construct a building for the Theologian's Guild, whilst Corrigarius is reunited with the papal army and informed of the troubling reports from Pisa these last few months...

    Nicolaus sits at his desk in his office of the garrison quarters, putting quill to parchment on the subject of the papal army wages. There is a brief knock on the door as he looks up to see the captain of the guard enter the room and salute.
    "Sir, His Eminence, Cardinal Evio de Genova to see you.", the captain announced.
    Before Nicolaus could acknowledge the captain, Cardinal Evio stepped through the door and stood to the side of the captain. Nicolaus nodded to the captain and dismissed him, "Thank you, captain. That will be all." Signalling the captain to exit the office and close to door. Rising from his seat, Nicolaus made eye contact with the Cardinal.
    "Your Eminence", he started, "please, have a seat." he gestured to the seat on the opposite side of his desk. The Cardinal shook his head.
    "What I have to tell you should only take a moment of your time, General - I know how busy you must be." Nicolaus feigned a flattered smile before regaining composure and listening intently. "Reports from the Tuscan town of Pisa raise concern within the College. Reports of gross mistreatment of citizens at the hands of the town militia under orders of the local administration, whose failings have caused the harvest to fail this year, and as a consequence, many have lost their lives to starvation."
    The Cardinal paced the office, observing a map of Lazio hung on the wall as he continued under the watching eyes of Nicolaus.
    "The citizens of Pisa protest, but are silenced by the militia who are believed to have razed one household to the ground already, killing the family within it."
    Nicolaus cleared his throat and enquired, "What does Your Eminence ask of me?"
    The Cardinal turned away from the map to face the Captain General directly, "His Holiness, Pope Paschalis, and the College of Cardinals have decreed that the papal army shall march to Tuscany, liberate the people of Pisa, and appoint a new administration. Until such time as an appropriate claimant to preside over the Tuscan people is identified, Tuscany shall become a papal state. Make preparations for the army to leave once Winter has passed."
    Nicolaus nodded firmly, "As His Holiness commands."
    Cardinal Evio acknowledged the General's acceptance of the task with a formal bowing of his head, before exiting the office and closing the door behind him.
    Nicolaus returned to the seat at his desk, peered at his earlier scrawls, before spotting an error, muttering to himself, and proceeded to scribble it out.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Last edited by Heskey; October 29, 2011 at 01:16 PM.

  3. #3

    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Good start, but you may want to arrange the pics somewhat differently. Use the direct link at Photobucket to add the pics, that would save the click and the new tab opening at Pbucket.
    Keep it up!

  4. #4

    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Quote Originally Posted by Radzeer View Post
    Good start, but you may want to arrange the pics somewhat differently. Use the direct link at Photobucket to add the pics, that would save the click and the new tab opening at Pbucket.
    Keep it up!
    Thanks for the vote! I normally prefer direct images but as I play 1920x1080 the screenshots would take up the whole monitor if linked directly. Trying to only use images to illustrate specific points than little the AAR with them, hence they're in spoilers and thus optional to view

  5. #5
    Scottish King's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Great start!
    The White Horse: Hanover AAR (On going ETW AAR)
    Tales of Acamar: Legends WS Yearly Award Best Plot Winner (On-going CW Piece)
    The Song of Asnurn: An Epic Poem MCWC VI Winner (On-hold CW Piece)
    Tales of Acamar: Outbreak (Finished)
    To Conquer the World for Islam A Moor AAR (Finished)

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    Libertus
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    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    This AARs going to be awesome. I love how you're fleshing out the little things, ie rebel town with militia oppressing the local populace.

  7. #7
    DennisRoos's Avatar Tiro
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    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    My Holy Father, and father to us all, Your Holiness, May I present myself? My name is Dennis de Rozia and I am an emissary from the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem and the other Crusader States in the Holy Land. I will stand by you to advice you and to bring to your attention the needs and messages of the most holy Kingdom on earth.

    I humbly ask your Holiness to send an emissary to our lands and to seal an alliance, so that we all of Europe will know that God approves of our presence in the Levant.

    The Crusader States now have a moment to recover from the difficult campaign and are at peace with the infidel empires of Egypt and the Seljuk Sultenate. However, this peace will not last forever. Soon, the infidel will try to regain Jerusalem, which is a holy city for them as well. We may be Gods soldiers, but we are only with few, and are in a hostile land. When war breaks out again, then we may be too few too hold back these soldiers of Lucifer. These Muslims are a test from God. He wishes to know if we have the faith, the will and strength to deserve Jerusalem. And this test is not just for us. It is every Christians duty to defend Jerusalem.
    Most of the men from Europe returned home after the fall of Jerusalem. It might be necessary to call those men to arms again, and launch a second Crusade, possibly into the lands of our enemies, so that we may show God that we are worthy to command the Holy city which He, in his mercy, has granted us.

    May Gods light shine upon you,
    Dennis de Rozia

    This seems like it could be fun. I have some technical questions. Can you actually call Crusades? Maybe with a console command? And also, would it be possible to use the console to gift other factions regions. Say England has taken a part of the Holy Land in a crusade, is it possible for you to get England to give it to the CS? I suppose otherwise the only way is to buy it from England and then gift/sell it the the CS.
    I have never played BGR, and I'm not sure what some of these other submods do, so you'll have to forgive me if I make a stupid or impossible suggestion.
    Last edited by DennisRoos; October 30, 2011 at 05:19 AM.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Very nice. I'm eager to see how you'll solve the Byzantine Question.

  9. #9

    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    This seems like it could be fun. I have some technical questions. Can you actually call Crusades? Maybe with a console command? And also, would it be possible to use the console to gift other factions regions. Say England has taken a part of the Holy Land in a crusade, is it possible for you to get England to give it to the CS? I suppose otherwise the only way is to buy it from England and then gift/sell it the the CS.
    I have never played BGR, and I'm not sure what some of these other submods do, so you'll have to forgive me if I make a stupid or impossible suggestion.


    BGR II adds supplies and victory achievements into the game, IV adds the same + Faction Zeal + Recruitment ancillaries, check out the thread for it if you want more info. It doesn't change how crusades are called though.

    Edit: Ooops, forgot my original comment. It looks really intriguing, I'm excited to see what happens, never seen an AAR played this way. Good luck!

  10. #10

    Default Re: [SS 6.4 AAR] Thy Will Be Done (The Papal States) (Part I - Borderlines NOW AVAILABLE 29/10/2011)

    Just reading through old threads whilst I can't sleep and just thought I'd say sorry for never following through with this campaign guys.

    I was starting a new job around this time and couldn't dedicate my afternoon to writing about a game instead of playing it; especially as I found the mechanics of the game made this AAR somewhat impractical to play, and very boring pressing end turn for 10-20 turns at a time, with the end turn time of a mod as heavily scripted as SS.

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