[Custom Mod] Age of Crusades - 1105AD (Roleplay Hotseat)

[Potatoto]

Novgorod up
https://www8.zippyshare.com/v/kIFnZ8H9/file.html

Happy news are spreading over Genoa's lands. The conflict between Papacy and German Emperor has ended as both sides decided that there is far more important matter they need to focus on. Hordes of infidels are ravaging lands of Bizantine Emperor. Taking victory after victory they are coming closer and closer to the Constantinople - gates of the Europe. That direct challenge to the whole Christian world couldn't go unanswered and indeed it didn't. Pope called for a crusade against this barbarians and now it is holly duty of every Christian to answer this call. Duke of Genoa also made peace with Emperor and now is preparing his own detachment of army in order to send them to support the cause.

[REDBOOSTY]

Poland up: https://www.mediafire.com/file/ya37t...nd_15.sav/file

[PeaMan]

Magyar up - https://www.mediafire.com/file/8tchi2tphqpfkbu/AoC_Magyer_15.sav/file

[BerryKnight]

King Kalman drummed his fingers on his armrest, sitting on his throne, anticipating the end. A diplomat from Constantinople had arrived, to assure the King that he would be given a yearly tithe, and the forts that had been promised nearly ten years ago. All he had to do, was assist against the Turks, and these would be given to him. The king mockingly clapped as the diplomat finished his speech, and bowed. Kalman stood, and addressed the staunch man.
"Return to your masters, and tell them I have had enough of empty promises. It's been nearly ten years since I was promised those forts. Perhaps they are not worth as much as I deem, but mark my words. These forts will not be traded in some barter for aid in a war that you and the Turkish people have had for years." The diplomat seemed shocked for a second, but came back to his senses. "Now King Kalman, let us not be rash in such troubled times..."
The king was fuming.
"I will not be subjected to near blackmail seemingly to be a loan's payment! No, I shall claim what is rightfully mine, and more. The Kingdom of Hungary will be put off no longer. The time of the Byzantine Empire is coming to a close, and soon the Hungary will be the shield of Christendom."
The king motioned, and the guards seized the diplomat, and escorted him from the throne room. Kalman remained stern, and even grim, to seem unhappy about the coming conflicts, but he was grinning on the inside. All according to plan...


England up ~ http://www.mediafire.com/file/1h2zj9...nd_15.sav/file
Battles ~ https://imgur.com/a/rCOENmI

[ArBo]

Denmark - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hh...BFG3zOTWZso3WO
Pics - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S7...veC4lOfv8A9li_

[Dismounted Feudal Knight]

Onto the Sicilians,
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen..._Sicily_15.sav

Pics available if desired; two ships obliterated with ridiculous OO.

[General Dragon.]

Waiting on mergor's answer regarding something with the rebels.

EDIT:
France up!
https://www.sendspace.com/file/d9l0gc

Many will count these days in the chronicles, as sad days in the history of christian kingdoms, but no matter how dreadful or how evil the events, that happened, these all were the lesser evil, evil that must have been done to ensure Italy will stay in capable hands for His Holiness and all elements, that could cause problems are eradicated once and for all. If other christians must be killed to ensure the Prophet of God ensures control on Italy, then so be it. God will sort them out in the end and all the men, that commited these evils will face their sins when the time is right, but with full pride, that they did what was needed to be done in the name of christianity and His Holiness, the Pope!
With these in mind King Roger of Sicily gave his orders out, after his last private talk with His Holiness. The plan was set and the order was clear. Genoa once commited a great sin in the eye of the Pope. This nation once, was called to assist His Holiness in the war againts Venice and when it was close for His Holiness and his faithful servant King Roger to achieve victory, Genoa took all the glory for himself only. The city of Venice was captured by genoese forces and in diplomatic talks, Genoa refused to hand the city to His Holiness, so that his presence can be bigger. Moreover the city of Bologna, that was still under some rebel generals control, was tossed to His Holiness feet, that if he wants to get something, he can get Bologna. And Genoa did this without even offering help, so that His Holiness have to deal with all the troubles Bologna can bring with defeating a full army inside foremost.

Things went even more down, when the Emperor of the Holy-Roman Empire decided, that he had enoughs of the Papacy and wanted to rule over Rome by himself. His Holiness prayed for many days, but his prays were listened and God brought a miracle for him and his servants. Matilda of Tuscany came and with his own men, she overthrow the ruler of Bologna and giving it to His Holiness, while she, staunch supporter of the Pope, were ready with her men againts the HRE Emperor. The Investiture war lasted for only a few years and while not many blood was spilled in the end the Emperor reconciled and bow down to the Pope.

With this war ended, His Holiness was happy, as now he can direct the focus of the christian kingdoms towards the Holy Land with a new crusade! However he didn't forget all those words, deeds and sins Genoa commited againts him, which means they commited all these againts God wishes! While the Genoese were celebrating the end of the war and was preparing for a voyage, in a private chamber The Pope conferred with King Roger, one of his close faithful christian King. Talks happened and plans were made, to ensure Genoa will be greatly punished and Italy will be delivered into His Holiness more capable hands and his servants. Genoa might thought joining the crusade will be their redemption, but once a sinner is always a sinner and God and His Holiness can't be fooled. God's Wrath will be unleashed upon them!

The orders were issued and the faithful men of Sicily went to war againts Genoa. Spies infiltrated the city of Genoa itself delivered open gates to the great crusading hero, Tancred, who captured the city and ensured full control.
A fort was besieged and brought down by King Roger and his personal army. The fort quickly fell and a smaller army left to besiege the city of Milan, while King Roger brought the rest of his elite army and a few mercenary againts the city of Venice, to besiege it and trapping none other than, the leader of Genoa, the one, that brought all this upon himself and dared to defy orders, from His Holiness. He will soon face his judgement before God, as God Wills it!

https://imgur.com/a/9p4cErO

( Out of character: Execute Order 66)

[Potatoto]

Wow that backstab. Make alliance, get into ally territory pretending to help in war against HRE, attack him from the inside catching totally off guard. Can you even imagine worst way of backstab?

PS I wouldn't be even fighting HRE as I could have just let them pass into Papacy territory. I have joined the event only because I wanted to fill alliance duty. Also now it is clear for me that you and Hannibal planed to backstab me all way from making alliance which makes it even worst backstab by you and Hannibal.

Edit:
"Genoa took all the glory for himself only. The city of Venice was captured by genoese forces and in diplomatic talks, Genoa refused to hand the city to His Holiness, so that his presence can be bigger. Moreover the city of Bologna, that was still under some rebel generals control, was tossed to His Holiness feet, that if he wants to get something, he can get Bologna. And Genoa did this without even offering help, so that His Holiness have to deal with all the troubles Bologna can bring with defeating a full army inside foremost. "

That are thinks we all agree on and made alliance along with it so using it as a justification of backstab is very poor. Moreover proves that you both were unhonest from the beginning and planned to backstab me in this cowardly way even before we made this deal.

[paladinbob123]

With the agreement the Anglo-Norman sent to the French the war between the two came to a end, with the anglo-normans having most of the spoils. England immediately with its army still at full readiness attacked the eastern holy roman empire rebels, reducing and taking one of cities earning themselves another province. But France was in a financial state of disarray. King Louie immediately disbanded a fourth of his troops , mainly as a sign , to return his levies to the fields to feed the families of Frenchmen , who were suffering to farm and bring in the crops to feed the families thoughout three years of suffering.

There were letters from King Henry who hoped for French participation in the upcoming crusade, but the French state, could neither afford to make a spare army group to make a expensive expedition across the seas, to help out in any meaningful way, as it just had enough monies to finance its own defensive forces, to maintain what lands it had left. England also wished to impose a tariff onto the French lands, but this would come after the state started to actually make monies from its own fields. Scottland made some enquires of the broken French state, about taking imperial lands of Rheims , but france directed there enquires back to English throne.




King Baldwin had received reports from abroad and from the forces of Antioch about possible signs that a crusade was being called for by the pope , but his overall mood was dour. Of course he had highlighted the threat of Turkish expansion and power ever rising in the east, years ago, and recommended that the European nations mount a counter but his words were gone unheeded as the Italian states warred amongst themselves, with the venetians disappearing in the struggle , forever denying the allies the use of there shipping to support Outremer.

Then there was the problems of the investiger wars between Pope and Emperor, and the anglo-normans and scots making war in French lands, forever denying the holyland the support and trade , for which it depended upon , to support the troops of the holyland. The troops he had , were many and experienced , but the lands of Outremer , were hard and dry , yelding little enough , just to support the very existence of the troops he had, little making for any surplus to sally out. The Holy Roman empire had problems of its own with the religious wars and rebels to contain , and with the very recent betrayal of Genoa by the Silcians ,and Englands attack into the lands of holyroman empire, he little trusted much help out of western Europe .


It was in this vein , that the silicans requested a defensive alliance, and the King of Jerusalem was ever suspicious of the Prince of Antioch. The normans both in the north {England} and in Italy had ever proved themselves to be dubious ally at best, and not to be trusted. Baldwin had personal experience , knowing his own mother's temperament {a norman}, and those normans allies that moved in the first campaign , ever struggling to benefit themselves in the land grab that followed. To this end, he hoped there would be some attempt to secure and uphold the byzantine empire , but rather felt , in the current climate, that the divided and turbulent Europeans , would be hard pressed to put out , a solid allied attempt to secure the east, for Christianity which would hold and coordinate together , in the climate of the age.


{I do like this totally inaccurate historical piece of music that chris de burgh created}

Turn to the Holy Roman Empire
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kp718icusa...nE_15.sav?dl=0

[Mergor]

Sorry to those who are losing.... But I am having so much fun with this HS as a simple observer Hope everyone is still having fun after 15 turns. From the amount of dropouts so far, which I think are very very low compared to the avarage, it seems like it.

[General Dragon.]

Wow that backstab. Make alliance, get into ally territory pretending to help in war against HRE, attack him from the inside catching totally off guard. Can you even imagine worst way of backstab?

PS I wouldn't be even fighting HRE as I could have just let them pass into Papacy territory. I have joined the event only because I wanted to fill alliance duty. Also now it is clear for me that you and Hannibal planed to backstab me all way from making alliance which makes it even worst backstab by you and Hannibal.

That are thinks we all agree on and made alliance along with it so using it as a justification of backstab is very poor. Moreover proves that you both were unhonest from the beginning and planned to backstab me in this cowardly way even before we made this deal.

Here is a serious mindset of mine for this and only this hotseat:
Let me summarize your decisions since you took genoa. First of you attacked me, taking florence because you thought I will attack you, when the pope is at war with venice. You literally attacked without any question, because you thought so. My army wasn't even in range to do anything.
Secondly I wasn't expecting that you will take venice that easily, because of lpl mistake, however then I mentioned to hanni, that because venice is no more, he should ask you to give city of venice to him and you can get bologna for helping. Your answer was a no, keeping venice for yourself, leaving the rebel bologna for hanni to spend resources to take a fully garrisoned rebel settlement. This wasn't even viable, as HRE declared the war againts the pope. The only saving grace was the event itself, that Mergor gave the city to Hannibal.

At this point I don't think I need anymore reason to "trust" your decision making in grand schemes. If you would have gave venice and take bologna you would have been kept as an ally.
Helping us againts HRE was convenient, so we used you. Justification very poor? History is written by the victors. I don't need good justification, if I can remove a piece on the table.
In this hotseat, I won't be backing off using whatever I feel is needed. I need to have one hotseat atleast, where I can do some darker stuff and not being "chivalrious" all the time. Also as pbob mentioned I am playing a fitting norman style, so I am having some enjoyment out of it.

The backstab might have been cowardly, but welcome to real hotseating. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows and don't always expect you won't get stomped on. As GoT like to say, if you play the Game of Thrones you win or you die.
This is all I will say, there is nothing more to discuss.

[Captainnorway]

Turks https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pSm...ew?usp=sharing

The Ceasefire has been broken!

The bastard Sicilians has broken the ceasefire and attacked their own kin... After long negotiations a ceasefire had been written down and a crusade has been called.
The Crusade to stop the Turkish invasion of Europe and save Christianity from the heathens from the east, but after this the amount of work that can be done is questionable.
We needed the Sicilian men to aid against the Turkish but they would rather betray their ally for personal gain, they had apparently schemed for long and waited for the right time to strike the Genoese, it was a well placed attack and the Genoese would be helpless if not for the Holy Roman Empire.
But we do not stand idle watching such a backstab of their own kin, we help the defenseless, not for personal gain, but to stop leaders like King Roger from destroying nations and bringing unchivalrous ways back into leadership.

After seeing Milan, once a proud Holy Roman City being besieged by the Sicilians, Emperor Henry Rushed to their defense. He met the attackers head on and while the Sicilians were distracted by the Emperor charging towards them only with his personal bodyguard the rest of the HRE army showed up from behind... The Sicilians were surrounded... Crushing their morale and killing as many as possible before they fled to a fort by the bridge crossing near Bolonga.

Once the signal was given that the Sicilians had fled, Fulco d'Este marched his army down to strike their fortifications down killing everyman unlucky enough to be in the fort.

After the fort had been occupied by the Germans Fulco rode his men further east to Venice where the Sicilian King Roger was laying siege. He was met with great force and after seeing many of his men being slaughtered he was forced to retreat south just east of Bolonga.

Now, the Sicilians have little forces left in northern Italy, only militia standing by in Genoa...

There are also rumors that the attack was called by the Pope himself, calling an attack on his own ally...

Furthermore, due to the papacy's involvement in the attack on Genoa a letter of demands has been written to him stating:
-The pope recognizes Emperor Henry as Victor in the Investiture war
-England be reconciled, as well as any other nations being excommunicated
-Sicily shall be excommunicated and needs to pay an agreed amount of gold to genoa before being reconciled
-The pope shall command every nation to join the crusade as well as sending men of his own to join the crusade
-The pope shall pay a sum of 20 000 Gold to the Holy Roman Empire over an agreed number of turns

If the pope refuses it will be seen upon as supporting the Sicilians in the war against Genoa and the Empire will help the Genoese in this struggle


pics: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RSQ...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JRj...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bfh...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e7_...ew?usp=sharing

[zender9]

Byzantium up:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vc7...ew?usp=sharing

Battles:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_CO...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aX3...ew?usp=sharing
Assassinations:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nct...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CZ...ew?usp=sharing

[joker0002710]

Fatimid caliphate up! https://www.mediafire.com/file/9adr1y0lrfwb6e8/AoC_Fatimid_15.sav/file

[paladinbob123]

Byzantium up:

Battles:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_CO...ew?usp=sharing

Ouch! Krak des Chevaliers in eastern outremer has been taken by the turks....and therefore by proxy has declared war on Jerusalem...

[Mergor]

Pope 16 up!
https://www.sendspace.com/file/qydu9b

[Hannibal2001]

Scots - http://www.mediafire.com/file/dyv75y...nd_16.sav/file

The Pope accepts the Emperors demands and orders all fighting to cease and all loyal states to join the Crusade.

[ScotlandIsBest]

Genoa up https://www.mediafire.com/file/bkg6m9m09zapr80/AoC_Genova_16.sav/file

[ScotlandIsBest]

​The Council of King Etgar's advisor's and commanders assembled in Edinburgh along with several of Scotlands priests and religous heads. The main figure heads were King Etgar, his brother Prince Alexander, his newly adopted and only son Ranald of Ross-shire, and his right-hand man and favorite brother younger brother David Dunkeld.

King Etgar wanted to send aide to the Pope and defend the holy land, but with rumors of plots that happened in the Italian Peninsula there was concern to not be so hasty in sending of troops.

The King's brother Alexander was against supporting the Pope and was very vocal against it.


​"Why should we send such large support for them if they will just use us and backstab us when they see fit?" ​Alexander was fuming

"Brother, they accepted the HRE's terms and called for peace among the christian kingdoms, I've been on that front, me and Ranald, I believe we can trust them and must help in the Holy Lands, The Scottish Elite Highland Regiment marched with us and Ranald is ready to lead the men to battle in defense of Christianity. We head to London to prepare departure on your word, Etgar"​David Dunkeld spoke his piece and appeared to have the influence on the King more than Alexander.

Etgar looked at Ranald for his approval, Ranald gave him a nod at what David just said.

​"I'm sorry Alexander, but I think i have to go with David and Ranald on this one, they've been more experienced on that front that and with our current diplomatic affairs."​Etgar reached his hand out to shake the hands of all the men in the council

Alexander was straightfaced but knew he was alone in his views. That morning he rode back to Inverness to prepare more troops as reinforcements for the homeland. The same morning Ranald and the Scottish Elite Highland Regiment marched to London where they waited for the ships to prepare their leave. David returned to oversee the front at Caen and Antwerp.

Ranald took his first shot at diplomacy after learning from David Dunkeld who was now very skilled , he wrote a letter to the King of Sothern France in hopes of permission to arrive at the port in Jerusalem.

[Mergor]

The Investiture Controversy

(HRE/PAPAL STATES EVENT)

After the ceasefire and various treaties have been broken, a great turmoil followed. From decisive battles and new wars, a crusade emerged and the investiture war ended. Now, the Holy Roman Emperor stands victorious and will rule supreme over Italy as his predecessors did before him. The Crown is his. The Pope lost a great deal of prestige, perhaps a succesfull crusade in the Holy Land will give him power over the monarchs of Europa once again. The struggle for the new hiearchy of the continent have only just begun.

The Pope lost and so he must bear the price of defeat. Along with the separate demands of the Emperor, he has to cede Bologna to the Kaiser and must not excommunicate him willingly for the rest of the game.

This marks the End of the Investiture Controversy event chain.