Voigtkampf
02-09-2004, 07:31
Emperor of the Italians, Doge Enrico II, looked up from the map and Lord Frangipani thought how little resemblance it bore with the face of the man he was so well acquainted with; the kindhearted, warm and wise expression was gone, perhaps, he reckoned wearily, for good, all of his kings features were as if carved in stone, reminding him of statutes of the cruel pagan gods, now mostly banished into dark corners of the vast European realm the Italians claimed their own; the lips that once were a home for a seemingly never ending gentle smile were now but a mere thin line, pressed together as to hold back a cry of great pain and unbearable suffering. But the eyes… Yes, the eyes were alive, Frangipani thought and felt an unpleasant cribbing that went down his spine and made him sit even stiffer than he did already did, the eyes were very much alive, but there was no warmth, no joy, no feeling that was deemed good. In his Lords eyes he saw hatred, cold, yet burning hatred, pain and rage in such a combination that it seemed as if those feelings alone are so strong that they would tear the misfortunate one who felt them in parts like a malfunctioning bombard that blows up while firing, killing the loaders and the operators. As hard as it was, he managed to look away from his kings eyes and gaze upon his hands. What now, he thought again and again, unable to break off the numbness that befell him, clutching his fists that were slightly, yet clearly shaking. What do we do now?
Along with Lord Frangiapani, Chancellor of the Council and through His Majesty's good grace the governor of Constantinople, the large table of the throne hall was filled with the greatest of the great; to his fathers right set the young, yet brave and resourceful prince Giovanni, the youngest of the three heirs to the throne, and capable general that knew neither fear nor the humiliation of a lost battle, though he himself has led many conquests with great success. Frangipani thought how even the young man looked grim and worried, an expression even more uncommon for the young man than his father. Aside of them, there was the great and legendary Byzantine general, Lord della Rovere, the last kataphraktoi that once served the Lords of Constantinople and became the first general of the Italians when the Turks tore down the walls of the ancient city. Once his liege lord was killed and the Byzantines were scattered all over the Europe, with no land bearing their name and traditions, Lord della Rovere held and defended Egypt for his own for a long time; then, he entered the service to the Italian people, bringing his knowledge and one of the richest provinces in the known world to Doge's disposal. After many battles which he proved to be the greatest living general, he conquered more than a dozen important provinces, stood firm against the Mongol invasion, repelling the dogheads and attaining the reputation of a most dreadful and fearsome man, mostly because of the stories that he himself had issued that more than five hundred captured Mongols should be buried alive in the fundaments of the great castle he had built in Khazar. Governor of Egypt and Constable of the Army, he was a man that inspired his soldiers to miracles, and his presence alone was enough to pacify the most rebellious provinces. Of all the present nobles Lord della Rovere seemed to be the only one that was calm and unaffected by the news the gathering has received in the last few hours, and that alone made Frangiapani feel better.
Finally the Emperor spoke, and in his deep, tranquil voice he said only two words.
- Sixty-four.
He looked around, gazed each and every of his generals in the eyes, and Frangiapani forced him not to look away from those fiery eyes. Somehow, the ghostly silence was much harder to bear then the direct outburst of rage.
- Sixty-four provinces. - The Emperor repeated, as if those words held in themselves all the explanations that were necessary. - How is that possible?
For a second nobody uttered a word, and then Lord della Rovere answered in his pleasant baritone, drawing attention to himself.
- My Lord, if someone ever told me that it was possible, I would have laughed at him or, even more probable, I would shun him for a fool and sent him off. I believe that I could find few reasons for this…oddity, yet I cannot explain what truly happened here. If I may, my Lord?
The Emperor nodded and winked him a permission, upon which the gray-haired general bowed slightly and pointed out at the great map of the known world that hung from the west wall of the throne room and measured some good three feet high and five feet wide.
- As improbable as it may sound, I would say this is mostly the mischief of the English. Though they were never in war with us, the English have lost the greatest parts of their lands to the French and to the constant rebellions that reduced their possessions to the provinces of Toulouse and Scotland. Yet, their fleets were quite large, second to ours, and although their ships are vastly outnumbered by ours, they had and still have a very firm grip on the most of the sea regions from the North Sea al the way to the Straits of Sicily. When their fleets attacked and sank one of our ships in the North Sea, as well as blockaded many trade routes, an immediate response was necessary. Our armies were fast and successful; Scotland was conquered and the English army in Toulouse defeated, their king taking refuge in the Toulouse castle with a small garrison of total 179 men, as far as we could determine, mostly parts of units with low moral and doubtful quality. Yet, the castle itself has a ring wall and catapult towers, so it was advisable to lay siege rather than to attack, at least as long as we don't bring some siege weaponry or few demi-culverins to tear those walls down.
The naval action was, unfortunately, less successful; few indecisive battles, English ships avoiding our war galleys and still blocking the sea routes. Our captains are summoned in these waters in large numbers, yet the hunt is not easy. We may well see more than four or five years of struggle for the domination of these waters.
Aragonese are the second surprise; they unexpectedly attacked Aquitaine and have overwhelmed the unsuspecting commander in charge there. The castle is under siege, but because of the blockaded routes we cannot send any aid from other more secured provinces.
Lord della Rovere hesitated at this place. - It would seem that a relief force could easily be dispatched from the neighboring provinces. As we all know, we have been fighting the French in an unprovoked war and we have, quite easily, if I may add, conquered all of their ten provinces and laid siege on their last castle, looking forward to unifying Europe once and for all. For that reason, we were also forced to undertake a course of action that was less noble, yet inevitable; we launched a surprise attack on the Holy Roman Empire of the German people, we conquered Tyrolia and surrounded Switzerland, which was last province in the heart of the Europe not to be under our control. But…things went out of the control. - Rovere looked at the Emperor briefly and turned back to the gathering of the generals that were closely paying attention to his every word and move.
Probably due to the unfortunate attack of the English and their blockade of our sea route, massive uprisings have taken place. No, Lord Rovere shook his head and laughed with no amusement. that is the wrong word. It seems that the whole world has gone crazy, and that would be a proper description. In 64 of our provinces we have had the emerging of large rebel armies, and, even more surprisingly, they included many highly professional soldiers and extremely well equipped troops. In Prussia, we have two armies, one of them has seven units of feudal knights; the emerging rebel army in Tuscany has highly improved weapons, arquebusiers and chivalric sergeants. But, even more disturbing is the fact that we have a simultaneous reappearance of the Egyptians, Turks and the Hungarians, while a great number of rebellions have joined the French, so while they were reduced to some 200 man in a besieged castle in the last year, now they command a highly sophisticated army of some 10.000 troops. The Germans have also become stronger, when three armies of some total 2.700 men joined the HRE Emperor in Tyrolia. Rovere ran his fingers through his gray beard.
Shortly, my Lords, we have a crisis on our hands that this empire never has experienced before.
All of the gathered generals began muttering as the Emperor abruptly spoke, his voice demanding immediate and undivided attention.
In all of my time he said, leaning back in his chair. I have never experienced such troubling year. None of my ancestors have, either. From the beginning of our recorded history, our conquests were swift, precise and successful, hardly demanding. Our generals won battles that were deemed impossible to be won, many of them were fought against those mysterious dogheads from the steppes of Asia, and most of them sit here at my side. We were at the verge of success of uniting the entire known world under our colors, and yet this happens.
What will you have us do, father? Prince Giovanni spoke as he fixed his fathers eyes. The Emperor turned to him.
What will I have you do?, he repeated slowly, tasting every word in his mouth as if it was some exquisite, unfamiliar fruit. What will I have you do?
Go out there and reclaim our lands. Go out and strike down all those rebellions.
That, my Lord Rovere silently spoke might not be possible; not against these odds.
After these words were spoken, Frangipanni hardly dared to look up, but when he did, he was stunned to see that the Emperor was smiling.
You must believe I've lost all of my wits, don't you, Lord della Rovere? No,he waved of the gray haired general's response, I know you meant no disrespect, and I'm not offended. No man can stop a storm, nor attack a tidal wave and split it in half. Therefore this will not be the course of your actions.
You will go out and fight for our Empire, and within one year we will see if we can survive this challenge and pass the test that our Lord Almighty has set up for us. We cannot fight all these battles, no one can. I know what must be done, but you will see to it how it is to be done.
Our armies will withdraw from most of the provinces that are deep inland, while we will guard and stand firm in all our sea provinces, especially in those rich in revenue and trade income. From the lands we withdraw from nothing, nothing but burnt land should remain behind; if those French and Hungarian dogs want the land, they can have it, but it shell be black and barren, and it shell bear not life. They will be unable to forge a single sword, equip not one new rider and conscript nothing but miserable peasants, which will eventually serve as practice for our knights.
The Emperor has turned to prince Giovanni. Our army in Toulouse must crash the enemy; once we destroy those walls, we will drag out the English king and execute him like a dog on the street, and his head will be displayed for everyone to see. Once he is dead, his faction will die, and the fleets that we hunt all over the seas will no longer obey to no one and will quietly disappear. Then, the world seas are ours again, and all of the besieged provinces can receive reinforcements. Son, this task I will leave in your hands; see that it is done, on this all depends. We can't get any catapults or guns there in time, I wish…
Father, the prince interrupted him, and his eyes had strange, fiery sparks in them; don't worry. It will be done; by my sword and my true heart, it will be done.
The Emperor nodded, and for a small moment his eyes looked at his son with all the love a parent could bring up, but in another instant he was again all cold and dangerously calm. He leaned back, opening his clutched fists, and spoke with silent grim that made his voice and appearance even more horrible than he would have been if he had screamed and cursed like a madman.
But that is not enough. Once we design our plan and you embark on this dangerous enterprise, the first victories will bring you captives. I want you to have no mercy, ever, to anyone. Captured soldiers are to be killed on the very battlefield, each and every one of them. Find them all and kill them all, all the cursed rebels, leave no man, woman or a child alive Show no mercy for traitors And once we reclaim those lands, I shell have my inquisitors in every province, and if someone as much as looks at them in an unfashionable manner, they should find their end at the stake Let be known what happens to those who betray the empire, so this may not repeat itself in thousand years
Now, let us make our plans and design our schemes; for this I perceive to be the longest year of my reign, and the bloodiest of them all.
Voigtkampf
02-10-2004, 08:12
Quote[/b] (Wizzy @ Feb. 09 2004,15:01)]Maria
Mother
of
Christ http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif
Look at all the rebellions Now I understand the name of this story
You should have seen the entire map Oh, boy…
Quote[/b] ]And it's well-written too. GJ there, voigtkampf http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Huh… Thank you, Wizmaster ::blush response:: I was soooo rusty, I swear I could hear the squeaking of both my hands and brain; it has been a loooong time since I've written anything else then articles or scientific/legal stuff, but I hope I'll be back in shape very soon. Sequels are on the way, the most interesting battles of the Longest Year
Voigtkampf
02-10-2004, 13:10
This is the greatest game I've ever played in my life, and it's interesting how it keeps throwing surprises at you. One turn the world is fine, I only need to conquer Switzerland and all of Europe but Iberian Peninsula would be under my rule, high loyalty, massive forces, good income… Then the next turn all hell breaks loose… Without any apparent reason (loss of the king etc.)
Story of my life, actually. Oh, mine, am I having fun with this one
Voigtkampf
02-10-2004, 22:57
Quote[/b] (Ludens @ Feb. 10 2004,13:32)]Rusty? I didn't notice it. So far, we've got interesting characters in an even more interesting situation. I hope you will be able to put this in the sequels as well.
Lord Ludens, it was as if I was learning to walk again after a great and unfortunate accident I haven't written like this for ages, I simply had no time. I just kept thinking man, this sucks big time… Well, I guess it's better to be harder on yourself, it keep the edges sharp
Well, in immortal words of an unknown cop from Blade Runner, I hope I will have better one
Voigtkampf
02-11-2004, 21:57
Quote[/b] (Ludens @ Feb. 11 2004,13:18)]Well, at least you have walked before. I am just learning to walk, despite giving comments on the way other people move about http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif .
Well, there is no rule that someone who doesn't write cannot criticize; in fact, most of the people do so I often find myself deeming some writers to be bad and know at the same time that I may well never reach their level of writing techniques, not to mention their selling numbers… ::sigh::
Voigtkampf
02-12-2004, 23:59
Quote[/b] (Eastside Character @ Feb. 12 2004,16:41)]The story is great, will it continue?
Regards,
EC
Thank you for compliments, and yes, the story will continue… Eventually… I need just one free evening to write the next tale down, I already managed to put up a third of it together. I just need some more time, the deadlines and other stuff I have going on are killing me.
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