Rise of the Turkish Sultans [Archive]

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 13:46

The Emperor's unanswered Call

The Year was 1087, and the Byzantine Emperor Alexius faced a tough road ahead... He knew that the new threat of the rising Seljuk Turks in the east would need to be countered.

For a long time Christendom had come to an understanding with the Egyptians for allowing Christian Pilgrims to the Holy Lands, But these Turks had no respect for the old deals. They moved with great prowess on the battlefield and had the Zeal of Converts. He had written to the Pope about this emerging threat and asked him to call for true Christian warriors to Crusade to the Holy Land and drive back the Turks...

Emperor Alexius had designs on Tartar lands that stood between him and the Kingdom of Novgorod, and he wanted to use these Crusaders to secure his eastern territories for him. Sadly no Crusade would be sent during his lifetime and his Empire would lose many key territories.

The New Sultan

Sultan Suleyman was Camped in Armenia, and he spent the early days planning his Campaign to expand the Sultanate.

To the South and Southwest there was the forces of the Egyptian Sultan, and to the West and slightly to the North The hated Empire of Byzantium sat in all its decadence, beyond it lie the Great Prize The City of Constantinople itself. Suleyman had a great hatred for Byzantium and long ago he swore an oath that he would never be a friend to the Byzantine Empire.

Suleyman met with a council of his best Commanders...

You are gathered here today in the Glory of Allah to prepare for a great Campaign. We have been chosen to spread the Glory of Islam to the far off reaches of Europe

There are no easy tasks ahead of us, but today our war must begin... As long as the Byzantine Empire exists on our doorstep we will always face great peril, today I will order preparations be made for the great campaign, go now and prepare your toops

As the commanders left, The Sultan waved his hand and his noble Emissary stepped forward...

I wish for you to travel to Antioch and seek and Audience with the Egyptian Sultan, tell him that the time has come for all the Children of Islam to stand as one, for everywhere we are under threat... In the West the Almohad Kaliphate is under threat, and we share the Common enemy of Byzantium, We must stand together

The Emissary bowed and left immediately... His mission would succeed and the Egyptian/Turkish Alliance would be born, how long the fragile peace would last only Allah himself knew.

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 16:50

The War with Byzantium

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/Turk/victory.jpg

The War began after around four years preparation.

Sultan Suleyman saw that the key to the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople. It was a great city and housed some of the most skilled labour in the Empire, without Constantinople the Byzantines would be unable to reinforce their numbers as effectively.

The Sultan ordered his great general Amir Sabbah, to advance on Trebizond with a sizable force... That same year Prince Suleyman attacked Georgia with a small force.

In both cases the Byzantines withdrew their forces without fighting, a bad move because the army in georgia was cut off and captured. The troops were ransomed back for 500 Florins which helped the war effort.

The Sultan sent another small force to take Lesser Armenia, again the Byzantines withdrew without a fight.

The war would be forced to pause for a few years as more troops would be needed, a Byzantine Emissary arrived and begged for a ceasefire... As a great act of deception we agreed to it, thinking its eastern borders were secure the Northern Byzantine army marched away from Constantinople to secure lands in the North, it would prove to be a fatal mistake.

The Sultan's army marched into Trebizond he encountered a stange shadowy figure on the side of the Road who then approached,

I know what your planning to do great Sultan but this is not as it supposed to be... Fate has decreed that you should not have Constantinople for at least another 200 years

I do not care about Fate I have a war to win in the Name of Allah the Merciful

If you enter the City of Constantinople, Sultan you and all your bloodline will be cursed to never live to see your 57th Birthday

I will not put this off for over two hundred years The City will fall

The Sultan turned to reply but the black figure was gone... There was no trace of his existance anywhere.

When the Sultan reched Trebizond he added more troops to Amir Sabbah's army, before sending him on ignoring the warnings of the dark Stranger... His destination Constantinople itself

The Sacking of Constantinople

It was Winter 1095, and Nicephorus Nicephoritzes was walking through the Streets of Constantinople from the Church of St Sofia where he had his early morning prayers... It was a fine sunny day and the atmosphere was relaxed int he city as daily life continued at its usual pace.

Constantinople was his while the Govenor and the main armies of Byzantium were away to the North fighting Tartar rebels, another army was to the South in Anatolia and a smaller force in Nicea, The people were happy peace had been achieved with the Turks despite losses in the East.

Everyone was talking about the Emperor's campaign to the North, rumor had it that he had taken several territories North-West of the Black sea, Emperor Alexius was getting old approaching his mid-50s but he was still successful at campaigning.

Suddenly he heard a general alarm sound from the direction of the South Wall...

Must be a mistake, peace has been made with the Turks and even if they did strike at us The Infidel's forces would be so over-extended it would prove fatal

He hurried to the South Wall tower and looked out over the countryside... He could not beleive his eyes, a Turkish Army was advancing on Constantinople

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/Turk/constantinople.jpg

Increase the Wall guard, use conscripts if you have to Bring the food and provisions inside and find my Men We have to Hold out until the Emperor Arrives

The Turkish commander rode up and down his lines on His Camel, Nicephorus Nicephoritzes could not understand their language but he knew one thing they were keen and eager for a fight. He looked over his people, ordinary citizens lining the walls with bow ready to help repel the enemy, they were not trained regulars like his Trebizond Archers.

Soon enough ever louder battle cries echoed from the Turkish army, Allah Akbar Allah Akbar and great fear gripped the troops as the Turks rushed forwards to ram down the gates and take what was theirs

Great Casualties were inflicted on the Turks, who lost over 200 men, but such efforts could not turn the tide of battle and once the gate was open the enemy stormed in...

Nicephorus Nicephoritzes rallied his Archers and they loosed their bows upon the enemy, who quickly cleared the breach and entered the city. Soon a Force of Armenian Heavy cavalry chaged through the gate and slaughtered the hapless archers, Nicephorus Nicephoritzes was cut down where he stood.

The remaining Turks flooded in to begin the three days Pillage that they were entitled to when a city was sacked by force.

Churches were burned and Turkish Banners were raised above the walls... Constantinople Had fallen.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/Turk/fall.jpg

Securing the South
The Byzantines withdrew from Nicea to Anatiolia for a last stand in the South.

Sultan Suleyman was quick to realise the Value of Mercenaries, and Byzantine Territory attracted more than its fair share... The Byzantines were very fond of using mercenaries and several of their recently taken territories contained many men able to fight for the right price.

It would prove to be very expensive as the Sultan Exhausted his Treasury to field an army to deal with the last of the Byzantines who now remained surrounded in Anatolia.

Amir Sabbah, who was newly appointed Govenor of Constantinople after he was removed from Office in Rum. Commanded the Attack in anatolia, it would culminate in victory for the turks and the destruction of the Southern Byzantine Empire...

Only the Islands of Rhodes Crete and Cyprus remained in the south, cut off from the rest of the empire by the ocean.

The Emperor's heir, Prince Alexius died in the fall of the local Fort...

The Emperor's End
Emperor Alexius withdrew back to Bulgaria upon hearing of the massive Turk campaign and his son's death, he intended to advance south and re-take lost lands.

In an effort to gaher intelligence he climbed the local Watch Tower and saw the flames rising from Constantinople, the sight of the beloved city in flames was too much for him to bear and he died of a broken heart...

The Aftermath of the conquest
With the death of the Emperor in Bulgaria his army never arrived in the south and was broken up.

Sultan Suleyman spent the remaining years disbanding the Mercenary forces and improving Farmland and Trade in his lands... He was also worried about the appearance of vast Peasant and Miltia Armies in Antioch and Tripoli, he suspected treachery on the part of the Egyptians.

As he neared his 56th Birthday he travelled to Constantinople with his Eldest Son Prince Suleyman, there they remained for the rest of the year... Until one day a Dark Shadowy figure entered the Sultans throne room and stood before the Sultan.

I told you not to come here... And exactly as I warned you and your bloodline have been cursed

The Sultan stood up furiously, Are you threatening me? I will take your head

The Sultan approached the dark figure with his sword drawn and when he was within striking Distance the dark figure uttered a single word... The Sultan fell backwards, he was dead before his body hit the floor.

The Sultan's aides came in and found his body alone in the centre of the room. There was no-one else to be seen. The Sultan's body was laid upon a stone slab within the Palace where people could pay homage to him...

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/Turk/sultandead.jpg

The year was 1111AD, and Sultan Suleyman I was dead... His Son Suleyman II was crowned the new Sultan and the Turkish Sultanate's borders looked something like this...

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/Turk/map.jpg

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 17:04

Right guys the game was sent on to Revenant69 just before I started the write up...

So the line of Turkish Rulers is as follows...

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111)

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - ?)

SeljukSinan

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Good luck Revenant http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-07-2003, 17:16

Brilliant start Emperor http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Power to the Sultan

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 17:40

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 07 2003,17:16)]Brilliant start Emperor http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Power to the Sultan
Thanks Seljuk http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

I was real nervous about fighting the Byzantines but all those Byzantine Inns I kept on finding as I advanced had to be put to good use... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

However given that Constantinople was the key to their empire it had to fall, and I risked much doing it leaving only smaller forces surrounding Anatolia and Nicea where the Byzantines had retreated to.

Now that Constantinople is ours it makes the western part of the Sultanate very defendable, and I did make a start on training Saracens and expanding the western army.

However by concentrating on the West our eastern flank is now more vulnerable, and the Egyptians look like they want a peice of us with their peasant armies... I did make a start on getting some Warriors trained but we are outnumbered and have no good commanders in the East.

However we still have need for a Govenor of Trebizond and if a good commander should appear I am sure that the +2 command could be handy.

As you say...

Power to the Sultan http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-07-2003, 18:34

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Well I just copy paste here a list of heroes:

FAMOUS_HEROES:: FN_TURKISH 5
//hero name date, c,d,p,a,l,v,

recruited
Hasan-e,Sabbah, 1060, 3,3,6,3,3, attacker1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //Nazari leader, could be rebel based on Turkish/Iraq border

receruited
Imad, al-Din Zengi, 1100, 2,3,4,5,6, unbribable1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //atabeg of Musul 1127 on

recruited
Qara, Timurtash, 1101, 3,4,5,3,7, attacker1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //very much a best guess about this bloke

to join forces
Qutb, al-Din Aibak,1150, 3,3,6,5,6, pious2, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //Pole Star of the Faith; Turkish viceroy in India; needn't have ended up there

to join forces
Gazi, Evrenos, 1350, 2,3,5,3,7, no_v, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //very much a best guess about this bloke

We are now in 1111 (or 1101 ?)AD, so in fact we have already received the most of the Turk heroes. We shoudl use them, guve them the star bonus provinces (like Constantinople and Trabzon). HUH ? I wonder if some are missing hmmmm obviously many important generals and viziers are missing A well another poor CA did not have time to look into Turkish heroes I guess. Well these are what we got. We should find them and give them command.

I copied this from here. (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=7126;hl=heroes).

We can now hold Constantinople with a defensive force at the chokepoint while we build up our forces on the Egyptian front. I would suggest building up the military in the rear areas out of sight of the enemy. If we have some assasin we should post them to kill any Egyptian spies (emissaries etc.) immediately. Personally I'd say lure the Egyptians into attacking at least one province and leaving a minimal force to guard the keep. Once the Egytians attack we will have the right to fight back. Should our armies be poised to strike Antioch, Syria, Edessa (these if they take them) and then Tripoli. In this first phase we can capture most of their peasantry. In the second phase we can march to the Sinai and Egypt, covering Arabia in our tracks.

Revenant69

09-07-2003, 20:08

Ok i have received the game and shall start playing it immediately.

Emperor you did a marvelous job on those Byzantines, your name shall be entered into istory books http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif By the way, did your Sultan rename the great city of Constantinople into Istanbul or no? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Oh I want to know how you blow the map up so big without distorting details cuz i couldnt b4 when i tried.

Cheers, gotta go play http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Power to the Sultan

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 20:43

Quote[/b] (Revenant69 @ Sep. 07 2003,20:08)]By the way, did your Sultan rename the great city of Constantinople into Istanbul or no? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I would have if it were possible to change all the names on the map... But for all extensive purposes it has been renamed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Shahed

09-07-2003, 20:50

Hey dudes, which year are we in ? 1111 or 1101 ? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Monk

09-07-2003, 20:51

very interesting so far, great job on taking Constantinople Emperor.

Argh fourth in line i dont know if i can wait http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

anyways, good luck to both Revenant and SeljukSinan. Atleast i know by the time i take command, the tukish empire will be powerfull.

good luck guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

btw: POWER TO THE SULTAN

The_Emperor

09-07-2003, 21:00

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 07 2003,20:50)]Hey dudes, which year are we in ? 1111 or 1101 ? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
it is the year, 1111AD

What a year for the first Sultan to die on http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Revenant69

09-08-2003, 00:38

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.........
The game has taken a really really bad turn. A year after i attacked the Egyptians i got a civil war on my hands. Damn Turkish generals have no loyalty to me. Even though every battle i have fought so far was a victory my sultan didnt gain any influence at all. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif The following provinces were attacked by the pretenders to the throne: Istanbul, Trebizond, Georgia, Syria, Antioch, Lesser Armenia.

2 of my princes defected me at the head of 2000 strong army.

Sorry guys, but i couldnt even prevent it from happening as i needed some good generals to attack the Egyptians. The situation is really dire. I will salvage it (hopefully) but the question will be At what cost? Thankfully the egyptians lost about 4000 of their troops and their best general. So they wont be a threat for awhile.

Damnnit damnit damnit. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif

econ21

09-08-2003, 00:57

Good luck, Revenant, although it sounds like you are coping well with the adverse events.

And well done, the Emperor; I like the explanation of the 56 year bug. Maybe a shadowy figure from CA will provide a cure from the curse before this game is over? (We can only live in hope).

Revenant69

09-08-2003, 05:36

Suleyman's diary
Thus begins the diary of Great Sultan Suleyman the Second....

...The shadowy Creature keeps haunting me as it haunted my father the Great Sultan Suleyman the Conqueror of Constantinople. I am losing sleep and my appetite has vaned. I cannot go on like this forever. My constant attempts to convince the Creature to stop tormenting me have ended in failure. To add insult to injury, my generals and staff even the lowly slaves think that i am strange and that I have lost my mind. I am sure they plan and conspire between themselves on how best to get rid of me. Such FOOLS If only they saw the Creature, if only they felt the terror that i feel every night, if only they listened to its decrepid and unearthly voice, if only they looked into its eyes. Oh yes, its eyes - nothing is more terrifying than the Creature's eyes. Dark red fiery eyes they look like two pieces of really hot charcoal and their gaze can melt the thickest armor. DAMN THAT CREATURE
....................................
Today i woke up drenched in sweat again. I must attend an annointing ceremony. It was my decision to give Amir Sabbah the title of the Chief Eunuch and an unnoficial title of the Guardian of Istanbul. Amir Sabbah is our greatest general and is the force that stands between the heartland of the Turk Sultanate and the remnants of Byzantines on the west side of the Bosporus. By giving these titles to him I will buy his unquestionable loyalty and that will be a good asset later on. Besides it is rumored that he is very adept at business matters as well and so Istanbul will prosper under his guidance
.......................................
I keep getting reports that Egyptians have the largest armies in the whole known world. And the bastards keep massing them in Antioch. Reports say that there are 3 huge armies sitting there. That is too close to my borders. I cannot allow these hidden threats go unnoticed. Perhaps I shall send an emissary to the Egyptians.
......................................
Four more years have passed and my battles with the Creature are worsening. It said something about the curse that it had placed on my father. I still do not know what was the reason for the curse and maybe i will find out one day. When servants notice me talk to the Creature they laugh at me, i know they do even though they try to hide it. My brothers are beginning to despise me as well. Perhaps i shall send them to fight a war with the Egyptians. Maybe that will quench their thirst for blood. Yes. Most Excellent idea
....................................
And so it is. The war has started. I send Prince Orhan into Antioch. It is a suicidal attack and I hope he dies there and never returns to bother me again. I have ordered an assault on Tripoli as well so as to cut off the Egyptian army in Antioch. The dogs have fled Tripoli and given it to us without a fight. Now I sit and await reports from Antioch.

sprucemoose

09-08-2003, 08:43

sign me up big boy(if the wife lets me&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

redbarony88@hotmail.com

Kristaps

09-08-2003, 16:33

Add me too: kristaps@som.umass.edu

The_Emperor

09-08-2003, 17:40

Woah, this is getting popular... looks like a lot of guys want to wear the Sultans Onion Hat.

Well here is the updated list

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111)

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - ?) The Current Sultan.

SeljukSinan

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

Revenant69

09-08-2003, 19:22

Kool, this campaign is popular indeed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I like that fact very much. Ahem, back to the bad stuff. My reign as Sultan Suleyman the Second should end at 1130 (i think). I have only 8 years left in my reign BUT they will be bloody 8 years trust me. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Hopefully i will finish the game tonight and post the writeup abit later.

Cheers,
Rev

PS The ammount of rotting corpses in the desert heat is reaching 5 digits.

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 07:04

OK i am done with the campaign. My reign as Sultan Suleyman II is over. The new Sultan is Mehmed I. He is not very influential at all (for some weird reason). But that is the least of our problems. Even though the Egyptians have been conquered and the civil war that gripped our country was won the problems of the Sultanate are numerous.

The biggest concern right now is that Sultan Mehmed has NO heirs. So the need for an heir could not be more urgent. Luckily Mehmed was only 26 when he inherited the throne and so has ample time to sire a successor who will continue the royal line.

I shall send out the game tomorrow, right now i need to get some sleep. I will do the writeups tomorrow as well.

Cheers guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
Rev

Mount Suribachi

09-09-2003, 07:44

Its been standard practise in all the PBEMs so far that if the King has no heirs by the age of 39 to use the .unfreeze. cheat to generate one. I would suggest we do the same for this dynasty.

The_Emperor

09-09-2003, 08:27

Quote[/b] (Revenant69 @ Sep. 09 2003,07:04)]OK i am done with the campaign. My reign as Sultan Suleyman II is over. The new Sultan is Mehmed I. He is not very influential at all (for some weird reason). But that is the least of our problems. Even though the Egyptians have been conquered and the civil war that gripped our country was won the problems of the Sultanate are numerous.
I sugguest we get that influence rating up a few notches... Withdraw from a province and hike up the taxes, then we'll call in a Jihad.

Thats the best way to get back lost influence.

Quote[/b] ]Its been standard practise in all the PBEMs so far that if the King has no heirs by the age of 39 to use the .unfreeze. cheat to generate one. I would suggest we do the same for this dynasty.

I think Mount is right about that... We'd best use the cheat, it would be very sad if the game was lost because of a Ruler who couldn't get it up

Mount Suribachi

09-09-2003, 12:21

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ Sep. 08 2003,17:40)]SeljukSinan

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi
hey, would ya look at that, its the old crew from the Almohad Caliphate thread http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif All we're missing is Maniac and those mushrooms they serve up in Lithuania http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Looks like the task of destroying the Christian west might well fall to me again. Oh the irony... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Mount Suribachi

09-09-2003, 12:29

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ Sep. 09 2003,08:27)]I sugguest we get that influence rating up a few notches... Withdraw from a province and hike up the taxes, then we'll call in a Jihad.

Thats the best way to get back lost influence.
I dunno The Emperor sounds a bit cheesy to me. If we have a weakling Sultan, we have a weakling Sultan. We gotta leave something for those who are down the list, rather than just conquering the world in 100 turns http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

The_Emperor

09-09-2003, 13:20

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ Sep. 09 2003,12:29)]
Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ Sep. 09 2003,08:27)]I sugguest we get that influence rating up a few notches... Withdraw from a province and hike up the taxes, then we'll call in a Jihad.

Thats the best way to get back lost influence.
I dunno The Emperor sounds a bit cheesy to me. If we have a weakling Sultan, we have a weakling Sultan. We gotta leave something for those who are down the list, rather than just conquering the world in 100 turns http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Not if you think about it.

Influence has a direct bearing on province/commander loyalty, we have already had one civil war if we have another there may be nothing to pass on to the guys next in line...

Much like how you propose to use .unfreeze. to keep the game going.

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 17:02

Quote[/b] ]Its been standard practise in all the PBEMs so far that if the King has no heirs by the age of 39 to use the .unfreeze. cheat to generate one. I would suggest we do the same for this dynasty.

I was aware of the cheat but i was not aware that it was standard practice to use it. Besides the current sultan is only 26. So he still has some time to get it up lol.

Quote[/b] ]I sugguest we get that influence rating up a few notches... Withdraw from a province and hike up the taxes, then we'll call in a Jihad.

Hmm this does sound abit cheesy. But i am afraid that if you guys do that then the Egyptians will reappear right there.

Ok i have to mail the game off.

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 17:17

The game has been sent to both Emperor and SeljukSinan.

Have fun http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

The_Emperor

09-09-2003, 18:26

Ok Game recieved... and the outlook seems good.

Loyalty seems alright at the moment and the Egyptians have been wiped off the map.

Its true that SeljukSinan (Sultan Mehmed I) is probably the most unpopular Sultan we have had so far... With only Level 3 influence.

And he's also an Evil looking Bastard

Looking at the Map I am sure that he won't need to use the Jihad Trick to gain influence, and it is SeljukSinan in command after all http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I am laying odds that the Byzantines will get a serious ass whooping after the years of comfort since Suleyman I captured Constantinople.

While we wait for Revenant's intrepid write-up... here is the list of Sultans.

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) Conqueror of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131)

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - ?)

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

EDIT: I am thinking that this list looks a little too boring so to spice things up I want each Player to give their Sultan a Title at the end of his reign that reflects his greatest accomplishment, and that will appear on this list... Sultun Suleyman I Conqueror of Constantinople starts it off.

Let me know what you want your Sultan to be remembered as and it will be listed.

Mount Suribachi

09-09-2003, 18:59

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ Sep. 09 2003,18:26)]Its true that SeljukSinan (Sultan Mehmed I) is probably the most unpopular Sultan we have had so far
Yeah, I never really liked the guy either...

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Only joking mate http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

And is this the fastest dynasty ever? 3 sultans in what, 2 days? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

Revenant69

09-09-2003, 21:04

Prince Orhan's adventure in Antioch

...I have been sent by my lunatic brother Suleyman to assault a massive Egyptian army in Antioch. Hehe, I want to see his face when he realizes my true intentions. By that time it will be too late. As long as Murad is with me on this one, we shall be victorious. Suleyman's generals despise him and want him dead and I shall be the deliverer of their wishes. Hmm, the Great Sultan Orhan the Deliverer - it has a nice ring to it.

Without me and Murad, Suleyman will only have the Amir of Istanbul as his only able general. However, Amir Sabbah must keep an eye out on the Roman enemy near the Great City, so I doubt that he will join the fight. Now if I can only convince my brothers Aybak and Bayezid to join my side then the victory will be assured. I seem to recall the teachings of an ancient military genius Sun Tzu, he said Seek battle only when victory has been assured. Hahahaha, my plan is perfect. Nothing can sto...

Prince Orhan, the army is ready for battle. What are your orders oh Wise One? asked his lieutenant.
Startled by sudden interruption (and he hated being interrupted when writing his thoughts in the journal), Orhan put down his quill and gave the lieutenant a nasty look. What is the enemy disposition? he asked harshly.
They are parked on the nearby hill, 3 Egyptian princes decided to join battle and they are led by Prince Baybars. But they are mostly peasants, so we shouldnt.. but lieutenant's reply was rudely interrupted by Orhan.
I make decisions here and you just follow my orders he hissed.
Lieutenant excused himself and ran out of the tent, thankful to still have his head on the shoulders. Orhan was not to be crossed and everyone knew it, especially when he was in one of his bad moods and today Orhan was in a bad mood.

Assault on Antioch (http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/antioch.jpg)

Orhan, sitting (and feeling) high on his horse, rode forward of the army to see the terrain with his own eyes.
Put the siege engines here, here and here he motioned. Deploy our infantry near the hill. Split our cavalry into two detachments and flank their army on both left and right. Riders were immediately dispatched to carry out the orders of the Prince.

Egyptian princes, seeing the Turkish infantry assemble below a steep hill on which they stood, could not resist the temptation and together with quite a few detachments of peasantry charged down the hill. Prince Baybars' attempts to restrain them were futile. And so 2 princes, their bodyguards and countless peasantry were slaughtered by turkish spears and arab infantry. By this time the flanking cavalry reached the top of the hill and attacked the remnants of Egyptian army from East and West.

Perfect. The trap has worked just like it was supposed to do retored Orhan, smiling wickedly. His arrogance was known among the lieutenants and so the best thing they could do was to compliment him.
It was the most wonderful plan oh Wise One they replied in unison. This way they will keep their jobs and their lives will be spared from Orhan's wrath.
After saying this Orhan and his bodyguards charged into the fray and began hacking away at the Egyptians. Meantime, Prince Baybars was putting up a stiff resistance and managed to rout a few turkish units just with his bodyguards. Seeing this Orhan, covered with blood of his enemies and bloodlust raging through him, charged at Baybars who fled shortly afterwards. The battle was over.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/antiochend.jpg

What are we to do with this multitude of prisoners? asked Orhan's most trusted lieutenant Murad Shah.
Slay them all. I have no need for peasants said Orhan, his eyes full of hatred.
So it was done. Aftwerwards, Orhan was known as Buthcer of Antioch and even his own soldiers seemed to tremble like leaves in the fall when in Orhan's presence. Such was the fear that the Prince instilled in his men.

Prince Baybars managed to escape the battle at Antioch and fled to Tripoli. However he was cought by our forces there and ransomed back to the Egyptian Sultan. His ransom was much needed, as it allowed for training of more troops and hiring of mercenaries.
http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/baybars.jpg

PS Much much more to come later on tonight. Right now I have to go.

The_Emperor

09-09-2003, 21:51

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ Sep. 09 2003,18:59)]And is this the fastest dynasty ever? 3 sultans in what, 2 days? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

What can I say, everyone loves to play the Turks

I think the main enjoyment of PBM Campaigns is reading the write-ups and stories that everyone comes up with... You have this urge to finish your reign so you can post something cool and then see how the story develops with the next person in line.

I guess thats true of most people that are on this list so far...

Remains to be seen if we can keep up this pace.

On another note...

Great write-up thus far Revenant69 http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-10-2003, 00:07

Hey guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Well umm I may not be able to do a great write up due to time constraints but I will play http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif .

My description may be a bit more screenie like, I dunno though, let's see what I can do.

Anyway thanks for your brilliant write ups so far. Enjoyed them thoroughly. I have played six years of my reign so far and the Empire has swallowed Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 02:15

THE CIVIL WAR

Sultan Suleyman's camp in Lesser Armenia

Riding for days without stopping Selim finally saw the tall banners of Sultans camp. His horses near the edge of total exhaustion and barely alive have delivered him this far. Selim was carrying a very important message, and he believed that Sultan Suleyman should see it. This message was from Prince Murad in Syria to his brother Prince Orhan in Antioch. Upon reaching the camp, Selim dismounted and ran straight for Sultans tent. He was stopped by guards but charged straight through them. Confused but aware of their duties (and afraid of reprisals from Suleyman) the guards yelled Intruder Intruder and began to pursue the poor old Selim.

Hearing all this commotion, Suleyman stepped out of his tent curiously looking around. He saw a man running straight towards him and being chased by a dozen guards. The man ran up to the Sultan with guards huffing and puffing behind him.
Hmmm, perhaps I shouldnt feed my guards this well, they seem to be out of shape Suleyman mumbled under his nose.
At this point, Selim finally managed to run up to the Sultan's tent. He saw a man standing at the entrance, so barely breathing he uttered:

I must see the Great Sultan immediately. It is a matter of utmost urgency.
I am the Great Sultan answered Suleyman. What is this matter of utmost urgency that you speak of, old man?
Forgive me oh Great Sultan for I did not recognize you. I carry this letter from Murad the King of Damascus addressed to the King of Antioch himself, Prince Orhan. I think... but Selim was interrupted.
WHAT The King of Damascus, The King of Antioch ??? Are you aware of what you are saying old man? Suleyman exploded with anger.
Uh yes I am aware Great Sultan. Prince Orhan has betrayed you and Prince Murad has joined his side. Together they want to claim your throne oh Great One. replied Selim clearing his throat and catching his breath.
Impossible You lie old fool. yelled Suleyman and snatched the dusty parchment from Selim's hand. He began to read it out loud.

Murad's letter to Orhan
Dear brother Orhan, the King of Antioch,
I got word of your astounding victory in Antioch. I must congratulate you on your victory. Such a crushing defeat over the Egyptians. You truly are a master of Sun Tzu's Art of War.
The egyptians attacked Syria, as predicted. My forces returned from Tripoli to defend my Kingdom.
Defense of Syria (http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/syria1.jpg)

I must say that my victory was not as impressive as yours. However, I was facing the best Egyptian general Amir al Adil (6*). The dogs decided to charge us during the sandstorm and so my camels slaughtered a great mass of their archers. Regardless, al Adil was killed and the battle was won.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/syria1end.jpg

Now that both of us are crowned kings, I believe the time is right to do what must be done about our imbecil brother Suleyman. Our forces are poised to strike in many provinces.
Give them the order, brother.

Yours truly,
Murad, the King of Damascus.

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 03:01

Sultan Suleyman's camp in Lesser Armenia

Upon reading the letter, the truth was undeniable. His brothers betrayed him, but Suleyman still couldn't believe what he read. Did Aybak and Bayezid betray him too? Or did their proximity to Sultan prevent that? These and many more thoughts raced through Suleyman's head. What must I do? What must I do? he kept asking himself.

Finally gathering himself he walked into the tent past terrfied Aybak and Bayezid who were standing near the doorway listening to Suleyman read the letter. Fearing for their life (rightly so) they knelt and declared their allegiance to the Great Sultan Suleyman the Second. The atmosphere in Sultans tent was one of shock and fear and even confusion. People gathered there were trying to figure out if their lives were in danger or not.

My so-called brothers have betrayed me. Intoxicated with their victories they want to claim my throne Suleyman spoke softly.
Who here sides with the traitors? Speak NOW he yelled.
Nobody uttered a single word, and then one by one, following the example of Aybak and Bayezid, they reaffirmed their allegiance to the current Sultan Suleyman the Second.

Suleyman knew that there is always some good with the bad. This time he knew of the plot against him before the rebels made their first move. Thus, he was able to gather enough intelligence and figure out where the treacherous brothers were going to strike. He also knew that because of this letter, Orhan will have no choice but to proceed with his plan. In a sense, Murad has forced his borthers (Orhan's) hand.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/civilwar.jpg

The situation was like this:
The entire garrison in Georgia has declared their allegiance to Orhan. Relief column of cavalry and infantry sent from Istanbul to help in the war against the Egyptians has switched sides. A small detachment of saracens rebelled in Istanbul. Murad at the head of his strong army was besieging Suleyman's loyalists in Damascus. A small detachment of saracens also rebelled in Lesser Armenia and were closing in on Sultans camp. And last but not least, Orhan took charge ofthe rebellion and attacked loyalist forces in Antioch.

Spies also reported that Egyptians have designs on Syria as well and send a sizeable force there again.

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 06:23

Suleyman's diary (continued)

...After weeks of preparations, Orhan finally launched his rebellion. I got wind of the fact that he was not pleased with Murad after Murad's most trusted messenger carried the ever important letter to the wrong address. Hahahahahaha. I fell laughing on the floor when these news were delivered to me. Ahhh yes, my trusted Selim, if it wasn't for him who knows what would have happened to me. Turns out that his loyalty to the Sultan was much more than the loyalty to Sultan's brother. Selim was rewarded very generously for his efforts and will surely live in comfort for the remainder of his short years.

Orhan's forces were defeated in many provinces. Saracens in Istanbul were decimated by Amir Sabbah. My investment in this great general is already paying off as he sided with me in this civil war. I am most pleased with this. I shall look to reward him again.
Relief column from Istanbul started pillaging Trebizond but was promptly decimated in an ambush by my hasty conscripts.
The saracens that attacked our camp here in Lesser Armenia were in for a nasty surprise... The camp was empty. In their moment of confusion they were attacked by myself, Prince Aybak and Prince Bayezid and our combined bodyguards. They were slaughtered to the last man. Unfortunately Prince Aybak lost his life in that battle. In his death he proved his unquestionable loyalty to his Sultan. Prince Bayezid has shown remarkable courage and his loyalty will be doubted no more.

After laying Aybak to rest I have received the most joyous news. This just reaffirms my belief that there is always some good with the bad. Apparently, Allah was on our side that day as Prince Orhan's army was defeated in Antioch and he himself was captured and executed as per my request. His head was delivered to me in a basket and I ordered to put it on a stake in front of my tent with the following inscription near it:

This is the head of Orhan, Sultan's brother. Those who dare betray the Sultan shall meet similar fate.

I think this little display of justice has raised the morale of my troops tremendously. Needless to say, it impressed the Spanish Emissary so much that he decided for it to be wise to sign an alliance with us.

With the head of the snake being cut off this rebellion is doomed to fail. However, Prince Murad still remains defiant as ever. He dared to siege and take Damascus. With all of Syria now his, something must be done soon before he invades neighbouring provinces. Also, the 200 men strong Georgian garrison rebelled and so Georgia was lost. However they pose no immediate threat and so will be dealth with later, when resources allow.

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 06:56

Suleyman's diary (continued)

...Having spent the last year searching out new able generals to lead my armies I have found two prodigies. Their names are Imad al-Din Zengi and Qara Timurtash (they appeared 3-4 years after the civil war started). I promised them very prestigious titles of Amirs of Trebizond and Rum if they prove their worth in battle. However, my Viziers convinced me to give them the titles right away and send them off to fight Murad.

Yes, Murad. He was contempt, it seems, to just be the ruler of Syria. He was contempt of being a royal pain in the camels arse, as from Syria he could threaten a multitude of my territories. May the flees of a thousand camels infest his armpits. I have sent Timurtash (Amir of Rum) to deal with him. Being a skilled attacker Timurtash should have no problems defeating a superior army of Murad loyalists.
...................
I have received a report from Syria. It seems my trust in Timurtash and al-Din Zengi was not misplaced. They have defeated Murad's army and captured Murad alive.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/syria2end.jpg

I ordered to bring the traitor into my tent, knowing full well that he would walk by the decapitated head of Orhan with that ingenious inscription. It had the desired effect. Murad threw himself at my feet and pled for mercy. He showed some courage as he also pleeded for all his fellow captives to be spared from death. I have decided to grant his request. I sent Murad and all his cronies to work in a stone quarry as slave labor. From what I understand, slave laborers in a stone quarry dont last for more than 6 months.

With Syria liberated and my standards flying high over Damascus, only one rebel province remains. Georgia.

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 07:36

Suleyman's diary (continued)

...All this time at war with my brothers. What madness inspired them to do this, what cruelty coursed through their hearts. The price of this civl war on my Sultanate is tremendous. Besides thousands of corpses rotting in the desert, our royal line lost 3 heirs.

3 HEIRS . Such is the price of victory. A terrible price indeed. I do not think that I wil be able to sire an heir before I die. Thankfully my nephew Mehmed should be of age to assume the throne when I leave this world.
.........................
All these years the Egyptians watched our troubles and were rebuilding after their devastating defeats by the late Princes Orhan and Murad. And now their Sultan al Mustali II is once again encamped in Tripoli at the head of a strong army. I dispatched Timurtash to take Tripoli and al-Din Zengi to take Plestine, once again trying to trap their army in Tripoli.

Egyptians retreated from both provinces and once again part of their army was trapped and was ransomed away.
http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/ransom.jpg
The sneaky Sultan managed to evade capture and escaped into Egypt by boat. However the money recieved from the ransom will once again be put to good use.
.....................
A year has passed and Egyptians mounted what seems like a last desperate assault to recapture Palestine. This assault was unexpected and caught me by surprise. However Amir Zengi's brilliant defense of Palestine has exceeded even my expectations.

Palestine Invaded (http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/palestine1.jpg)

Outnumbered by more than twice and faced with the Egyptian Sultan himself, Zengi did not panick. His account of the battle is magnificent. I truly marvel at his abilities. Zengi held his heavy cavalry in reserve sitting on the top of a steep hill. In the meantime our skirmishing cavalry was running down their archers and weakening their spearmen. Then our archers started firing and thinning enemy numbers. Seeing the Egyptian Sultan approach, Zengi released his heavy Khwarazmian cavalry. Their thunderous charge down the steepest hill absolutely obliterated Sultan's bodyguard. With their Sultan dead the enemy never recovered.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/palestine1end.jpg

Revenant69

09-10-2003, 08:07

Suleyman's diary (continued)

...The time has come to recapture the last province that still remains in rebel hands. Georgia. I have dispatched a rag-tag army to lay siege and if possible starve the garrison of Tbilisi castle. I also ordered Arabia to be taken and to begin solidifying our border with Egypt.
....................
Arabia fell into our hands and Tbilisi castle should not last much longer. I have also tasked Timurtash with defeating the Egyptians completely and utterly. His fame seemed to preceed him as Egyptians retreated everywhere until their Sultan al Adil surrendered together with his 1900 strong army near Cairo.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/egyptgone.jpg

Absolutely astounding. It seems that after their crushing defeat in Palestine, the Egyptians have lost the will to fight and accepeted their ultimate fate of being the subjects of the Turkish Sultanate.
........................
The good news from Cairo were followed by the good news from Tbilisi. Georgia belonged to our Sultanate once more and this heralded the end of a 10 year Civil War. It would be interesting to know how my successors will name these 10 years of strife and war.
..........................
I had the pleasure of meeting the most educated man in the entire Sultanate. His name is Omar Kayyam and his knowledge and wisdom are unparalleled. I have asked him to tour my country (all expenses paid) and educate my governors in all matters of life. This should have the most beneficial effect.
http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/rubaiyat.jpg

PS The conclusion will be written-up tomorrow. Must sleep now.

Revenant69

09-11-2003, 01:56

After the War of Succession and the war against the Egyptians, Suleyman's entries in the journal become sporadic and sometimes do not make any sense at all. It is obvious that his mental health is deteriorating at a rapid pace. The last few pages in his diary were written by a different hand. In fact they were written by Suleyman's trusted servant, the old man Selim.

Last pages of Suleyman's diary

...At the request of my Sultan, I shall continue his diary and write down my thoughts and observations of Sultan's final days. It is a task that I do not like to do but I must.
...................
Sultan Suleyman's health was failing rapidly. He was growing weak by the minute and his mental capacity has been deteriorating for quite some time now. It seems that during the period of constant wars his head was clear of the thoughts of impending disaster. It is ironic that peace he fought to achieve will bring him death. Oh yes, Sultan told me about the misterious shadowy figure, the curse placed on his father and his constant visions. He knows that I am the only one who believes him, and I think that is why I am allowed to continue this journal.
....................
Sultan is so weak that he cannot even sit up straight, I asked him about his visions and he replied that he sees them at least 5 times a day now. And every time he sees them he is tormented, his frail body shivering with fear. He told me that he wants to see his 57th birthday and then he will die a happy man.
....................
Today is a sad day and all the Turkish lands should mourn the passing of our Great Sultan Suleyman II. I was preparing him a drink of hot tea when i heard screams of the servants. Rushing to sultans aid I heard him say Get away from me Get away from me . These were his last words and I know they were not directed at me or sultans servants. I know they were directed at the shadowy figure that haunted Suleyman's mind. And so but a day away from his 57th birthday, Suleyman died, the curse of the royal line continuing to take its toll.

Revenant69

09-11-2003, 02:03

Ok Sorry for being maybe a bit too verbose in my writeups http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif , but as Emperor said we all enjoy a good read. I tried my best to deliver http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Here are the screenshots of Suleyman at the end of his reign and his nephew Mehmed at the beginning of his.

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/sultans.jpg

Suleyman II's empire looked like this:
http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Rev/turkmap.jpg

Hope you all enjoyed my harrowing adventure http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I have one problem though. As Emperor suggested, we should come up with a title for our sultans (ie Suleyman I Conqueror of Constantinople). Well, my imagination being spent doing the writeups I leave it to you guys to figure out what Suleyman II's title should be http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Cheers http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
Rev

Jxrc

09-11-2003, 11:44

Nice piece of reading indeed.

Thanks

Given the fellow's weird nature and his love for his brothers, what about something ironic such as Süleyman Philadelphos ...

Merely a suggestion, your rule.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

The_Emperor

09-11-2003, 18:12

Sultan Suleyman II, Executioner of the Egyptians... How does that sound Revenant?

Revenant69

09-11-2003, 18:30

Quote[/b] ]Sultan Suleyman II, Executioner of the Egyptians... How does that sound Revenant?

Hmm, I dont know. The way I see it, the Civil War was the central piece of my reign.

Honestly, after their defeat by Orhan and Murad, Egyptians did not put up much resistance at all. Not counting castle assaults, the only battle i fought against them was in Palestine (thats after Orhan and Murad rebelled). Other than that they just retreated everywhere with their massive armies finally surrendering at Cairo.

Sorry for not making my question/request clear enough http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Knowing that I see my reign centered around the Civil War, how would you name my Sultan?

The_Emperor

09-11-2003, 18:37

Not sure what I'd say about that... Other than your guy having a reputation for slaying rebels, or killing his brothers. Hmmm, you'd best come up with something.

Ok guys... The one who thinks up a Civil-War, Brother-Killing sort of title for Sultan Suleyman gets to take the first reign in my next Campaign (the one I'd normally do).

Revenant69

09-11-2003, 18:44

Darnit... I cant come up with anything. Brain not working http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Oh well, I will think about it today and probably ask my friends lol. If someone posts the title that fits then it would work too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Cheers Emperor,
Got to go now.

econ21

09-11-2003, 21:40

I rather like Sultan Suleyman II the Betrayed?

Or, if you want a more positive slant,
Sultan Suleyman II the Unifier?

The_Emperor

09-11-2003, 22:08

Quote[/b] (Simon Appleton @ Sep. 11 2003,21:40)]I rather like Sultan Suleyman II the Betrayed?

Or, if you want a more positive slant,
Sultan Suleyman II the Unifier?
Pretty good ones I must say... What do ya think REV?

Revenant69

09-11-2003, 22:12

Quote[/b] ]Sultan Suleyman II the Betrayed

Hmm, it doesnt sound too bad does it? It will have to do cuz i cant come up with anything. Thanks Simon Aplleton.

gaelic cowboy

09-12-2003, 03:11

Martinhughbrady@yahoo.ie

I want to be sultan now please

The_Emperor

09-12-2003, 19:28

Quote[/b] (gaelic cowboy @ Sep. 12 2003,03:11)]I want to be sultan now please
I have added you to the list, please be patient your turn will come, and if we get Total Domination before your turn, keep your eyes peeled you never know when the Next PBM Campaign will start

Ok Guys the new updated list...

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) The Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - ?) (Current Sultan)

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

gaelic cowboy

Revenant69

09-13-2003, 18:56

God I love these forums. So much great knowledge is amassed in its vaults. I just started of being somewhat interested in doing a first mod of my own, so i pop into the Dungeon, read Modding 101 and what do i find? I find this post by Mr. Frost.

Quote[/b] ]Despite the usefulness of the modding tips CA included in the expansion {greatly appreciated CA } , new modders should realise that the programmers seem to have been pressured to rush by the bean-counters who finance them . Mistakes are to be found such as : the year in hero entries in DEFAULT_HEROES.TXT in C:\Program Files\Total War\Medieval - Total War\campmap\names are NOT for date of availability {as the description states} but rather date of birth just like with princesses and other agents in CRUSADERS_UNIT_PROD11.TXT {thus Albrecht der Bar doesn't appear in 1100 but rather 16 years later} .

So, the list of heroes dates is the list of their birthdates. This does seem to explain the following: SeljukSinan has posted a list of Turkish heroes.

Quote[/b] ]FAMOUS_HEROES:: FN_TURKISH 5
//hero name date, c,d,p,a,l,v,

recruited
Hasan-e,Sabbah, 1060, 3,3,6,3,3, attacker1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //Nazari leader, could be rebel based on Turkish/Iraq border

receruited
Imad, al-Din Zengi, 1100, 2,3,4,5,6, unbribable1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //atabeg of Musul 1127 on

recruited
Qara, Timurtash, 1101, 3,4,5,3,7, attacker1, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //very much a best guess about this bloke

to join forces
Qutb, al-Din Aibak,1150, 3,3,6,5,6, pious2, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //Pole Star of the Faith; Turkish viceroy in India; needn't have ended up there

to join forces
Gazi, Evrenos, 1350, 2,3,5,3,7, no_v, GENERAL, ID_LIMBO, -1 //very much a best guess about this bloke

The thing is i got Timurtash and Zengi around 1117. So this 16 year thing is very useful to know about. It means that Qutb al-Din Aibak will be born in 1150 and will join Sultan's forces in 1166.

Hope this tidbit of info helps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Rev

Shahed

09-13-2003, 19:10

Quick update.

The year is 1142 AD.
The Empire has launched seperate campaigns, resulting in the capture of:

Theater of conflict - Med Islands
-Cyprus
-Crete
-Rhodes

Theater of conflict - Balkans
-Wallachia
-Moldovia
-Carpathia (Iron )
-Hungary (Iron )
-Croatia

Theater of conflict - Maghreb
-Cyrenacia

About 16 years left to go. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-13-2003, 19:12

Quote[/b] ]The thing is i got Timurtash and Zengi around 1117. So this 16 year thing is very useful to know about. It means that Qutb al-Din Aibak will be born in 1150 and will join Sultan's forces in 1166.

Hope this tidbit of info helps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Ahh Cool. Thanks for that Rev.

Hmm maybe we should have added some hostorical heroes for the Turks, as CA only added 5.

Revenant69

09-13-2003, 19:22

Quote[/b] ]Ahh Cool. Thanks for that Rev.

Hmm maybe we should have added some hostorical heroes for the Turks, as CA only added 5.

Yeah that would be cool wouldn't it? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif I am just beginning to learn how to mod (i just modded Early VG to be buildable from one of the examples) so maybe a few months down the road id be able to do it lol (or not).

From the sounds of it Sultan Mehmed 1 is doing quite well as a real estate developer http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Good luck Seljuk http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-13-2003, 19:28

Thx Rev http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif here's the status:

http://webplaza.pt.lu/shahid/images/tpbm1/1142map.jpg

The Sultan is dreaming of a naval landing/expedition to capture the iron rich provinces of Navare, and Aragon. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

Monk

09-13-2003, 19:59

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 13 2003,14:28)]Thx Rev http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif here's the status:

http://webplaza.pt.lu/shahid/images/tpbm1/1142map.jpg

The Sultan is dreaming of a naval landing/expedition to capture the iron rich provinces of Navare, and Aragon. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif
Leave some for me, http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

seriously great job Seljuk, looks like i was right in my prediction...

Quote[/b] ]Atleast i know by the time i take command, the tukish empire will be powerfull.

Shahed

09-13-2003, 22:28

Well so far so good, I guess.

I think I better spend the next 16 years buidling and training troops. Until now it's been quite a land grab, b ut only after about 10 years of building up.

One of our best generals (5-6 star) has developed some bad vices, imparting a -3 morale penalty to (all troops) Turcoman. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif I think he may be executed by the Sultan http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif or simply dismissed, more likely.

The_Emperor

09-13-2003, 22:42

Woah I feel a World Domination comming on http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Great work Seljuk, looks like the Sultanate is doing well for itself... So far so good.

On another note I carried on playing from the last Savegame I recieved and those Turk Archer-Hybrid units units really kick ass They are certainly now one of my fave sides to play as... Oh yeah, and Turcoman Horse Rules http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

hellenes

09-15-2003, 19:37

I would really appreceate if i had the honour to be the next turkish sultan.

arxidamos2003@yahoo.gr

The_Emperor

09-15-2003, 19:43

Quote[/b] (hellenes @ Sep. 15 2003,19:37)]I would really appreceate if i had the honour to be the next turkish sultan.
Sadly there is a list, its the order of things.

I have added you to it, but it isn't fair on everyone else if you were to be next in line... I have to ask that you be patient.

Well here is the revised and updated list

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) The Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - ?)

Monk

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

Gaelic cowboy

Hellenes

hellenes

09-15-2003, 20:17

I understand completely... i just didnt have clear imagee of the list http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif sorry http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif ...

The_Emperor

09-15-2003, 20:49

Quote[/b] (hellenes @ Sep. 15 2003,20:17)]I understand completely... i just didnt have clear imagee of the list http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif sorry http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif ...
Don't worry about it... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

These Games are very popular and at the moment this list is getting VERY big.

Rest assured this will not be the last traditional PBM game I host. So even if Victory comes before your turn, check back regularly for updates and other campaigns.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Shahed

09-16-2003, 22:33

I only have about 6 years left so should be done very soon. Who should I mail it to ? Should I mail it to you Emperor ?

Alternatively I can provide a download link so the next person can download it.

The_Emperor

09-16-2003, 22:38

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 16 2003,22:33)]I only have about 6 years left so should be done very soon. Who should I mail it to ? Should I mail it to you Emperor ?

Alternatively I can provide a download link so the next person can download it.
You can email it to me... I do like to keep track on these things.

Monk is next in line, so you can send it to him as well or I will forward it on.

Cheers Seljuk http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

Shahed

09-18-2003, 13:22

MEHMED THE WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO CALL HIM YET IS DEAD

http://webplaza.pt.lu/shahid/images/tpbm1/empire1161.jpg

The save game can be downloaded from here: Turkish PBM 1162 AD (http://webplaza.pt.lu/shahid/downloads/savegames/Turks%201162.zip)

I'll post some screenies, write up and the 20 ( http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif ) or so (I think) battle replays, as soon as I can manage.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

The_Emperor

09-18-2003, 13:30

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 18 2003,13:22)]MEHMED THE CONQUEROR IS DEAD
Woah http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

Easy Seljuk, leave something for the other guys on the list http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

Great Job

Shahed

09-18-2003, 13:36

Actually I really played this game very differently to my normal game. In a normal game it would have taken 100 years to grow the empire to the same degree.

Don't worry though there is a LOT to be done, primarily the expanded borders have to be developed to the level of RUM. I used primarily Turcoman armies (surprise) with some AHC and Bedouin, as supporting forces (translated occupying_provincial_defence_forces) I used Slav warriors, Saracen, Spears and a lot of Urban Militia.

Normally I would have spent a lot of tim e developing, but since I already did a Pacifist - cultural campaign in the Almo PBM, I felt I should perhaps do a more aggressive one here.

Mount Suribachi

09-18-2003, 18:29

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

The_Emperor

09-18-2003, 19:48

Ok Savegame recieved and sent on to Monk. I must admit the Empire is very powerful with vast borders.

I sugguest we gain the capability to train Janissary Heavies in Bulgaria, I hear they get a +2 valor bonus there... Eat that Mongols http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Well here is the list.

Turkish Campaign

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - 1162) The Great Conquerer

Monk
Sultan Selim II (1162 - ?) Current Ruler of the Sultanate

Simon Appleton

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

Gaelic cowboy

Hellenes

Shahed

09-18-2003, 20:06

ooops sorry I did not know that conqueror is already taken http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif I could not think of anything so I named him Fatih Sultan Mehmed = King Mehmed the Conqueror, after the actual Turk Sltan by that name. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif

Monk

09-18-2003, 21:46

Hey guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Just took a look at the game and played a few turns. From what i see the overall situation is pretty good, We're at war with nearly every catholic faction, but with the massive armies Seljuk massed it wont be a problem, in fact, the only trouble spot is Africa. The Spanish are sitting massive armies on the border, but im training up a new African army to help deal with the threat.

The Spanish are attempting to convert out people to their faith, but do to the use of an assasin or two, they have been stopped, well i'll post some stuff later after Seljuk's write up is on here (just so we dont have two going at the same time and people getting confused)

Gotta get back now, wish me luck http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

The_Emperor

09-18-2003, 21:53

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 18 2003,20:06)]ooops sorry I did not know that conqueror is already taken http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif I could not think of anything so I named him Fatih Sultan Mehmed = King Mehmed the Conqueror, after the actual Turk Sltan by that name. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif
Thats ok I'll change mine... How about Sultan Suleyman I: Sacker of Constantinople?

Shahed

09-18-2003, 22:01

Nah that's ok dude, I'll think of something http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Hey Monk http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I'm gonna post some stuff here to help you understand what I've been up to.....reinforcements are in Algeria, the navy needs to move up ......the catholics declared war on us ....first the Hungarians, then the Germans, the the French, and then the Italians sunk one of the only few ships we had Sacrilege whaaazat ATTACKKKK and the Spanish were sitting with 5000 men on the border with Cyrenacia, our incumbent Almo friends had been pushed back all that way.....more to follow..... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Shahed

09-18-2003, 22:04

The Sicilians sunk one of our ships too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif so we sunk ALL of theirs http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Monk

09-19-2003, 00:26

well i'm almost done, just 4 years left now. and i must say its been one hell of a ride North Western Africa is a flame by the Morrocan War, the battles raging in Morroco have cots thousands of men their lives and both the spanish and our armies are showing signs of weakness (had to rush in reinforcments led by one of our princes to repell a counter attack)

anyhow, will post some more later http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Monk

09-19-2003, 00:51

Heh wow...now THAT was interesting, reign is over and will be sent in about a half hour or so. I have worked hard and the New Sultan has a good Starting Influence (6 i think, maybe 5) the War with the spanish isnt over yet, but it could be ended soon now that the Almohads have resurfaced Thats right, our lost brothren are back and in huge numbers behind Spanish lines, therefore fighting has reached a standstill.

Write up will follow in a few days game will be sent in 20-30 min, Gl to the Next sultan http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

(heh that was fast http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif )

Revenant69

09-19-2003, 06:15

HOLY SH*T. You have had quite a conquest campaign Seljuk. Did you ever think of working as a real estate agent? lol
No but seriously, my reign pales in comparison. My Sultan should be called something like Sultan Suleyman II the Inept lol http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

On another note, is this campaign flying or what? Maybe I should put my name for the second Turk campaign http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Cant wait for your writeups Seljuk and Monk.

Good work both of you. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

econ21

09-19-2003, 09:32

Well done SeljukSinan for the alarming rate of conquest and congratulations to Monk on proceeding so speedily. I got deluged with 150 dodgy e-mails this morning, so I deleted them all without looking at them carefully - I don't think a save game was one of them, but please could Monk or the Emperor post here when the savegame is sent to me? cheers

Monk

09-19-2003, 21:14

I have sent the game to Emperor

Sultan Sellim II has been named

The Pious (not sure on sp there)

on acount of he launched two Jihads and built many mosques throughout the empire

econ21

09-19-2003, 22:16

Emperor or Monk - any chance of sending me a zipped savegame this (Friday) evening?
simon.appleton@nottingham.ac.uk
Weekends are my big chance to do this stuff, otherwise the campaign may start to crawl a little.

Shahed

09-19-2003, 22:23

23:16 CET Friday

Hey Simon I just got the save game from Monk as well....seeing that the other guys are offline...should I email it to you now ?

econ21

09-19-2003, 22:28

SeljukSinan - great, that would be really appreciated

I was not sure I could admit it, but given Mount Suribachi's confession about Mrs Suribachi in his KOTOR thread in the Tavern, I think I can confess that my better half has forbade me to play MTW on weekdays

Shahed

09-19-2003, 22:29

Hehe LOL Well I just sent you the save game. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

econ21

09-19-2003, 22:44

Great stuff: file received and loaded, SeljukSinan.

The year is 1188 and Sultan Murad I is a mere 24 years old.

The good news is that the empire is, as Seljuk knows, massive. The bad news is that everyone hates us - we are at war with the Byzantines, the French, the Hungarians, the Italians and the Spanish. Our only friend is the hapless HRE.

The_Emperor

09-20-2003, 00:18

Ok Savegame recieved... I see our borders have not grown by a lot, but I am sure that a lot of changes were made to the cities and lands of the Empire.

Ok here is the new list of Sultans...

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - 1162) The Great Conquerer

Monk
Sultan Selim II (1162 - 1188) The Pious

Simon Appleton
Sultan Murad I (1188 - ?) Current leader of the Turks.

Mount Suribachi

Sprucemoose

Kristaps

Gaelic cowboy

Hellenes

econ21

09-21-2003, 19:01

I've got up to 1196, aged 31 - I'm afraid with an empire this big, at war with up to 5 factions, turns take a while.

I would quite like to post write-ups of my progress as I go, to avoid a boring waiting period. However, I think it is best if we keep the sequence of write-ups chronological.

I wonder if Monk first and then Seljuk can submit write-ups in the next few days? Alternatively, they could simply submit holder posts in this thread that they can edit at their leisure to insert their write-ups. That way, when they are done, people can read the story in the chronological order.

I don't know how long each post can be - I know they can be pretty long but it might be an idea to post several holders if they plan on having long write-ups.

Mount Suribachi

09-23-2003, 07:28

The Emperor can you bump me one down the list please. If you're passing on the Aragon campaign for now then I've got a lot of playing and writing to do

Monk

09-23-2003, 20:50

i can post my write up, but i'm waiting on Seljuk to post his.

If you guys want me to post it sometime today then i will, but i'd rather wait untill after Seljuk (since he went before me)

The_Emperor

09-23-2003, 20:59

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ Sep. 23 2003,07:28)]The Emperor can you bump me one down the list please. If you're passing on the Aragon campaign for now then I've got a lot of playing and writing to do
Sure thing Mount I'll knock you back behind Sprucemoose. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

econ21

09-23-2003, 21:06

Sorry, Monk - I can't read; I thought you were before Seljuk.

It has since occurred to me that, as we can delete our own posts, we don't need to wait for chronological order. We can always copy our posts, delete them if out of order and re-post them later at a more appropriate point.

BTW, I snuck in some more turns: it is 1205 and the Sultan is 39.

Monk

09-23-2003, 22:17

well, ok...i'll post the first account of my reign tonight, sometime around 6 or 7 my time. When Seljuk puts his up we can delete mine and repost it in the correct order.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:34

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:34

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:34

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:34

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:35

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:35

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:35

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:53

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:53

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:53

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:53

This is a space holder.

Shahed

09-23-2003, 23:55

Hey guys I just put those in so that I can catch up on the account. I'm not sure how long it may take, had about 20+ battles and also have lots to do this week. So I can fill in the spots above. Please feel free to post your accounts when you are ready.

Mine should be in order since I have those posts up there to fill in.

Cheers All http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Monk

09-24-2003, 00:30

A New Sultan the Year 1163

Prince Selhim II, newly crowned sultan of the Turks, walked the palace grounds in Istanbul. Passing many different soldiers, guards and simple folk he walked, his head hung low and his arms crossed on his chest. His mind was deep in worry and thought, he knew the curse that had plagued his family since that fateful day many years ago still hung over his head like a looming storm cloud.

Suddenly he stopped his walk, and made a slight glance over to his left shoulder. And for a moment he could see, what he thought was, a man standing shrouded in a dark cloak. The Sultan's eyes opened wide and he began to walk again, but this time much faster. Faster and faster he walked and before he even realized it he was sprinting passed his palace guards and rushing into the main hall leading to the Empire's Throne.

He slowed to a walk and entered, he found the entire hall was beset by darkness, so thick it was that Selhim could see nothing inside save from the light coming in from the doorway behind him. Out of the dark came a shrill and freighting voice, Close the door...Sultan it said with a harsh laugh.

What is the meaning of this? cried Selhim as he drew his sword. However before he could take a step further the door slammed behind him and he was surrounded by a complete shroud of blackness. Suddenly, there was a dim light no more than 30 feet from his current place, the Light was being cast from a torch set in the middle of the room. Selhim wondered how it got there as it wasn't there before.

Into the Light shouted the Voice.

Selhim did not wish to remain in darkness, At least in the Light i will see the face of my attacker he thought as he walked slowly and ever carefully toward the torch. his foot falls echoed throughout, the great hall and, had he not heard the voice, would have assumed he was the only one present there. finally he reached the light, which by now had grown a bit but only illuminated a small amount of space, no more than a radius of 10 feet all around.

With his sword glimmering in the dim light and a feeling of pure fear in the pit of his stomach, Sultan Selhim raised his sword and backed against the torch. Again the Voice cried out to him,

Brave you are indeed it said with a laugh, so hideous it was the Sultan could barely stand to hear it.

Who are you? What is the meaning of this intrusion? shouted back Selhim.

You should know me most of all the voice said.

At that moment the Selhim felt a great pain in his chest and his stomach felt as if it were to explode. Suddenly his hands began to shake violently and it was impossible for him to hold still his blade, he finally realized the strange voice in the void was none other than the creature that had placed this horrible curse upon him and his family.

You? the Sultan said after what felt like hours, What have you come for? It is not my time

I Decide when its your time the creature said thrusting itself into the light, barely visible it was and yet so hideous it was to behold, Selhim nearly cried out in fear of its staring eyes.

You would face me? it continued, I see, Just like Suleymen...

Selhim said nothing. The Creature was mumbling to itself in some strange tongue that he did not comprehend, his sword still in his hands, yet barely. If he were to strike, i would die he thought. However the creature did not strike, instead he turned away and walked back into the shadows. Young Sultan... he said after a few minutes of making Selhim wait. You fascinate me, I foresee that your reign will be filled with conflict.

I already knew that Selhim replied interrupting the Creature, We are at war with nearly every catholic nation; surely they hate us with all their might

I am not talking about that Shouted the creature, his voice turning shrill and horrifying once again. Treachery in the south...

Those were his last words, as when he spoke them one of the Sultan's Bodyguards rushed in. The hall was filled with light that poured in from the windows and the door way that was flung open. Selhim turned and looked about but saw no trace of the torch he had been near or the Creature. My lord said the bodyguard gasping for breath

The Sultan paid him no heed at first, still looking about with his sword ready and a burning confusion all about him. My lord said the guard once more.

Selhim sheaved his sword and turned to his guard who still had his head bowed. What is it? he said after much thought.

The Byzantines, they are massing he said barely able to talk, They are massing in Kiev and Crimea, our agents report they have enough to overrun some of our outpost near that region.

Damn, Rally up the troops you can Selhim said throwing back his shoulders, I will gather what i can here, order a reinforcement of those places that are vulnerable to attack, also cease War on the catholic nations for now. If we are to deal with this new Roman threat, we must focus all our effort there

Yes my sultan the guard sprung from the ground and dashed out of the hall and into the courtyard

Selhim turned and walked to his throne and sat there for a moment, Is this our destiny? he thought to himself, To wage war until the day this curse will be lifted? No answer came to him and all was quiet within the great palace, not even sounds of daily life and servants could be heard. Selhim look dup at the ceiling and rested his eyes for a moment, but he kept thinking of the Creature. Suddenly it came to him The Spaniards They will attack

Selhim the Farmer 1165
With the New revelation of a possible Spaniard attack in Africa, Sultan Selhim decided it was time to do a bit of undercover work. With new armies being rushed north and new warriors pledging their loyalties to the Sultan every day, Selhim decided that the attacks on Byzantium should wait until 1168, after he had correctly seen the threat the Spanish brought.

Traveling to Egypt by way of boat and riding virtually alone only taking his most trusted of bodyguards (of which there was two). Wearing minimal armor and dressed much like a peasant, the sultan made is way into the province, named by its former masters, Algeria. Traveling there Selhim came across a farmer whose land was vast and in need of harvesting, now Selhim was no worker, but he did know the importance of hard work and the farms in this region. He rode up to the old man who was out all alone in the fields, shouting from a top his steed he said Hello there

The old man raised his head and stood up from the place on the ground in which he had sat down for a moments rest. Swinging his tools over his shoulder he smiled, Well met fellow traveler he said

Can i offer you a hand? Selhim said after a moment.

Mmm mumbled the old man, You implying i can't do this work on my own? he said in a stern voice.

Oh not at all Selhim said, But i know how it feels to be given a great task and i also know how much easier that task can be when you have some companions in which the burden can be carried with.

The old farmer looked at Selhim, then he looked about. I only see you, how much can you help me?

Well i have a few more friends, answered Selhim I can get the if you like?

No no, i shouldn't be much of a problem, you get off that horse and you help me plow this land if you like. It should be a nice change of pace to have somebody helping me out in this terrible heat. Selhim dismounted from his horse and walked over to a cart which had been filled with different tools of farming, the Old man shouted at the disguised Sultan telling him things like Go start over there always giving him orders and not even knowing who he was. The farmer helped Selhim along telling him the correct ways to work the land, things that he shouldn't do and things he needed to do. All the Time Selhim did so with a mysterious smile, which would made the Old man say Something like And stop that smiling. Selhim and the Farmer worked with their tools and the land for many long hours, when finally the sun began to set over the west ridge, Selhim went to the old man, laid down his tools and buckets and said I have worked with you for many hours old man, I hope I have helped you in your overall work load.

The Old Farmer looked up and smiled but continued in his work. Soon after the Sultan's two bodyguards came riding up from the east, Sultan they shouted throwing their hands into the air toward their ruler. There were two of the personal guards of the sultan who came up from the eastern hills, dawned in chain mail and great shining helms holding both large shields and shinning spears. At their sides were great swords, whose sheaves were laden with gold and silver from the Court of Istanbul.

The Sultan turned to them and raised his arms I am here My men. The old man's eyes drew wide as he turned and looked upon his ruler, who until now, he had taken for a common peasant. Quickly he threw himself to the ground and bowed before Selhim, I am sorry my sultan, had I known-

Yes you would have been doing what you are doing now. Interrupted the Sultan, I wished to see if you were still a kindly man to a peasant as you would be to your own ruler, you are a great man indeed, for your kindness I will give you a gift. Your land is limitless and vast, far too much for you alone to work. If you wish I will give you 100 servants from my personal army to help you work this land, they will ask for no money as they are in my service. Would you accept?

Oh my sultan of course, you are most gracious I thank you, As Selhim rode away the Old man stood up and waved to the three as they slowly made their way over the horizon, but as they got out of site the old man dropped his tools and held his arms against his chest, suddenly his body began to shift and turn a dark color, his face became shrouded in a mysterious darkness and his cloth turned into a hellish material of which black as the immense night sky. It was indeed the creature, as he stood, alone amidst the fields he said to himself in a strange twisted tongue, You have passed my test, young Sultan, after saying this he uttered a single word and vanished in a great rip against the sky, of which was only visible for a moment.

Selhim journeyed on until he entered Morocco where he made camp, one of his body guards asked him as he sat down near a small fire the three had going, What is it we are doing here?

The Sultan stayed quiet for a moment, and then he said To enlist the aid of Ismail Gazi… There was a silence about them for Ismail Gazi was the greatest assassin in the Empire, Selhim hoped to send him on a mission personally.

Next up The Sultan, and the Assasin

Monk

09-24-2003, 00:32

place holder

due to me being very busy as of late, i don't know if i can finish my write up anytime soon. but i assure you that as soon as i can i will post.

econ21

09-24-2003, 01:02

Great stuff, Monk I'll move this post to give you more room as needed.

The two faces of Murad’s rule.

Sultan Murad II was a man torn between his higher calling and his baser instincts. An educated man, in his lighter moments he envisaged devoting his reign to exploration and trade. To this end, he built a fleet of trade ships that slowly edged beyond the North African coast and ultimately established trading posts along the Atlantic north and east into the Baltic. At the same time, he sponsored wandering alims to travel to every corner of the known world. Both the alims and the traders secretly passed information back to the Sultan about every army deployed in every province. More tangibly, the trade ships brought riches back to his Treasury. Some of this wealth was used to augment the large armies Murad inherited. But the better side of Murad ensured that equal priority was given to the construction of merchant houses in coastal provinces and agricultural improvements in fertile lands.

But Murad was an irritable character with a vengeful streak to all those who crossed him. The diplomatic situation on his accession to power was anathema to him. The Kingdom was at war with no less than five other factions: France, Spain, Byzantium, Italy and Hungary. Whereas his father may have been satisfied to contain these enemies and consolidate his vast Kingdom, that situation was intolerable to Murad. To the new Sultan, there could be no limited wars, only total war leading to the eradication of all enemies.

Of the five Kingdoms ranged against the Turks, France was pre-eminent – holding much of the lands former occupied by the Holy Roman Empire and some of England. Spain held a firm grasp on the Iberian peninsular, with the exception of Cordoba (alternately under Almohad and rebel rule). The other three factions had been severely weakened: Italy and Byzantium held only four provinces; Hungary only one, Bohemia. Murad resolved to eliminate the weaker factions first.

The War of Seven Kingdoms, 1188-1199

Murad inherited a vast kingdom of 38 provinces, stretching in a crescent from Morocco through North Africa, the Levant and Asia Minor into the Balkans and ending in Venice. Moreover, these lands were richly developed – benefiting from generous past investments in trade and agriculture. As a result, the Kingdom could afford to marshal massive armies – troops so numerous, that for the first part of his reign, Sultan Murad felt he had more men than he knew how to use. This fine and overwhelming inheritance was what gave Murad the ability to fend off seven enemy factions in the early years of his reign.

A brief chronology of these encounters follows:

1188: Murad travelled to Venice in preparation for an attack against Hungary, the weakest of his enemies. He also reorganised defences across the Kingdom, noting a need for more foot archers, Saracen infantry and ships.

His most aggressive foe was Spain, which launched a large-scale invasion of Algeria from Granada, but aborted the assault at the last minute.

That year the Almohad faction, confined to Cordoba, disappeared due to the death of an heirless Kalipha, leaving a very strong but largely placid rebel garrison in the province. This event was of great strategic significance because it placed an almost impenetrable barrier between Spain and North Africa. Murad quickly realised that if he could defeat the isolated Spanish force in Granada, effective isolation from Spain would lead to an end to hostilities and the temporary removal of his fiercest enemy.

Meanwhile an English crusade was launched against the Turkish province of Constantinople.

1189: Irritation with the Italian navy led Murad to postpone operations against Hungary, instead he launched an invasion of the Italian province of Tuscany. This was unopposed.

As a preparation for operations against the Byzantine Empire in exile near the steppes of Eastern Europe, Turkish armies from the Crimea and Georgia invaded Khazar, a rebel province garrisoned by 1000 warriors. A fierce battle ensued, with victory attained at the cost of 349 Turkish lives.

At the other extremity of the Empire, the Sultan’s brother – Prince Bayezid – led a force of 1600 men to battle a Spanish army of 2700 in Granada. 608 Turks died, but they killed 1341 in battle and another 857 captives after the battle.

These costly victories convinced Murad that his armies needed more killing power and he sent out a call for fanatical Ghazi warriors to come to lead his attacks.

1190: The Battle of Bohemia The postponed invasion of the Hungarian kingdom (confined to Bohemia) was executed. Amir Muntasir led an army of 1450 men and confidently expected a quick victory. True, the Hungarian King had a large retinue of 140 knights, but even these fearsome adversaries would fall under superior numbers. However, Muntasir was horrified to be hear from his scouts prior to battle that the forces ranged against him numbered 1700 Appalled, the Turkish general realised that the English crusade bound for Constantinople had appeared in Bohemia and was deployed against him. Faced with two divided smaller armies, Muntasir decided to try to destroy the crusaders – who lacked the Hungarian’s weight of heavy cavalry – before the Hungarians could intervene. But, Muntasir was mortified to see that his advance on the English merely drove them back to where the Hungarians were deployed. Fearing that the union of the two Catholic armies would mark his doom, Muntasir halted and waited for the inevitable on-rush. It did not come. Instead, Muntasir watched the strange spectacle of Hungarian knights charging into the lines of the English crusaders and driving them from the field. Muntasir thanked the Almighty for the foolishness of his enemies and proceeded to thrust the Hungarians into oblivion, losing only 140 men.

1191: The English crusade re-appeared in Bohemia, but was eliminated by Muntasir for the loss of only 10 men.

The castles in Tuscany, Granada and Khazar fell.

1192: The Battle of Genoa : Murad led an army of 1000 men into battle in Genoa against 1000 Italians (including 100 knights) under Doge Vitale IV. This battle opened with the Turkish army deployed in front of a hill topped by a wood, with a large formation of Italian knights visible off in the distance. Murad quickly ordered his army up the hill but was surprised to see the knights approach at speed. Where were their infantry? Murad wondered - only to witness green liveried foot soldiers pour out of the woods on top of the hill. In the face of this ambush, Murad halted his army and deployed at the base of the hill. The formation was the same as that adopted in most battles of his reign: Saracen infantry were deployed in the front, backed by archers and heavy cavalry; Turcoman cavalry were positioned on the wings with Ghazi infantry further back but ready to launch flanking attacks. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the defences did not hold. The Italian knights smashed into the right flank and everywhere on the front, their heavy infantry broke the Saracens. Soon almost every unit in the Turkish army was in flight. Ironically, the mass routing of the Turkish army led to a loss of cohesion in the Italian army as its units dispersed in disparate pursuits across the battlefield. This bought time for Murad to bring on his reinforcements – 80 Armenian Heavy Cavalry and 40 Turcoman horse – and to rally a few units. Murad then concentrated on attacking the knights escorting the Italian Doge himself and, after a tense period, the death of the Doge turned the tables. Nonetheless, Turkish casualties were appalling – 700 out of the 1000 died. 460 Italians were killed in battle; another 500 executed in its aftermath.

Elsewhere, offensive operations began against the Byzantine Empire, with an unopposed drive into Chernigov. This left the Byzantine Emperor himself isolated in Pereyaslavl.

1193 This was a bloody year for the Kingdom.

Amir Gazi led the destruction of the pocket of Byzantine resistance in Pereyaslavl. An army of 1200 Turks faced a Byzantine army of 1000, including 120 kataphracts, under Emperor John III. Although Gazi eventually prevailed, this was not before a unit of kataphracts had over-ran an exposed unit of Ghazis and several other Turkish units had been decimated in ambushes in the thick forests.

Scratch forces were mustered to invade the remaining Italian provinces of Corsica and Sardinia. The former invasion was unopposed but the landings in Sardinia met disaster. Although the Turkish army outnumbered the Italians by four to one, they had a wholly undistinguished general, no archers and no cavalry. Doge Orso IV led the last hurrah of the Italian kingdom, defeating the invaders with a mere 40 knights and 100 sturdy spearmen.
In a final ignominy, Sultan Murad mistakenly opted to personally command the assault on the castle of Genoa, despite having no siege engines and only one unit (Ghazis) capable of cutting down the doors to the castle. 237 Turks died assaulting the castle, with victory only coming thanks to the heroic efforts of the lone survivor of the company of Ghazis – a man who single-handedly hew down the gate to the Keep despite being subject to repeat onslaughts of arrows and boiling oil.

1194 As a Turkish baggala ventured out into the Atlantic for the first time, French fleets were spotted in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel.
A second landing was made in Sardinia, this time with 900 men. Victory was attained, but the Italians sold their last province dearly at a cost of 260 Turkish lives.

1195 A long naval war against the French was begun, while the Italian castles in Corsica and Sardinia were assaulted, marking the end of the Italian faction.
The Spanish rejoined the European conflagration, declaring a crusade against Turkish held Sicily.
With their Emperor besieged in Pereyaslavl, civil war erupted in the remaining Byzantine lands. A year later, the rebels would angrily destroy the failed Byzantine faction.

1196 The French crusade heading for Constantinople launched an assault on Hungary from Poland. 1851 crusaders battled 1741 Turks, well entrenched on a mountainside. 992 crusaders perished, for the loss of only 94 Turks.

1197 The rebels in the ex-Byzantine lands of Muscovy and Volga-Bulgaria were invaded.
The French crusade repeated its assault on Hungary, losing 766 men and inflicting only 62 casualties.

1198 Volga-Bulgaria castle was stormed and the French crusade again rebuffed from Hungary.

1199 Murad personally took command of the defences in Genoa to meet the large Spanish crusade bound for Sicily, but the crusade aborted the invasion at the last minute.

With Hungary, Italy and Byzantium eliminated, Murad now looked to finish his most powerful enemy – France.

Mount Suribachi

09-24-2003, 08:03

I like this idea of reserving posts like seljuk has, we should copy it across to all the other PBEM threads.

sprucemoose

09-24-2003, 09:07

Sorry chaps

Im going to have to sit this one out,family hols work commitments etc etc.

ill keep me eye on the post though,and good luck to you all.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

econ21

09-24-2003, 09:26

No problem Sprucemoose - these campaigns do suck up a lot of time (one reason I like Mount's rules about autoresolving in the Spanish thread).

I guess that makes Kristaps next in line? Emperor - I wonder if you can send him a wake-up call and advise him that he will have to face the Mongols, poor chap. Sometimes these threads seem to collapse about this point, so it would be good to make sure we have a willing participant lined up. I should be done by the weekend, if not before.

Shahed

09-24-2003, 09:53

Hey peeps.

Small clarification, the place holder thing is Simon's idea. (look back one page) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

The_Emperor

09-24-2003, 17:43

Quote[/b] (sprucemoose @ Sep. 24 2003,09:07)]Sorry chaps

Im going to have to sit this one out,family hols work commitments etc etc.

ill keep me eye on the post though,and good luck to you all.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
No Problem Sprucemoose... Let me know if you want to rejoin.

Ok then after that little shuffle of the deck, here is how our own Deck of Cards stands at the moment...

The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - 1162) The Conquerer

Monk
Sultan Selim II (1162 - 1188) The Pious

Simon Appleton
Sultan Murad I (1188 - ?) Current leader of the Turks.

Kristaps

Mount Suribachi

Gaelic cowboy

Hellenes

econ21

09-27-2003, 01:41

OK, I'm finaling done - Sultan Murad I died in 1220, aged - you will be surprised to hear - 56. He has an 8 star successor, Prince Mehmed, and five other fine sons, who will have to face the approach of the Mongols and continued war with the untouched and strong regional powers of Spain. Denmark has taken Sweden and some of the British Isles, so is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Novgorod and the Papacy are still there along with the odd rebel province, but the rest of the map is a fetching olive green. France is gone, as are England and Poland who foolishly backed her, as well as the poor HRE who unfortunately were in the way.

I'll finish the write-up of my reign in character in due course, but am very tired now - probably the most exhausting PBM campaign I've participated in, as I made a point of hunting down all aggressors (ok, the Spanish got past me). By the last decade, I was gave in and started autoresolving to save time. I was thinking of giving Mehmed the title the Exhausted or maybe the Senile, but believe he has earned the title:
Sultan Murad I, the Scourge of Christendom.

Savegame will be zipped to the Emperor in a minute or two - good luck Kristaps

Shahed

09-27-2003, 07:03

Wow can't wait to see an image of the map now.

Mehmed II enters the Divan amidst a resounding battle cry.

POWER TO THE SULTAN

*salute*

The_Emperor

09-27-2003, 15:28

Ok Savegame sent on to Kristaps

Here is the list.
The_Emperor
Sultan Suleyman I (1087 - 1111) Conquerer of Constantinople

Revenant69
Sultan Suleyman II (1111 - 1131) The Betrayed

SeljukSinan
Sultan Mehmed I (1131 - 1162) The Conquerer

Monk
Sultan Selim II (1162 - 1188) The Pious

Simon Appleton
Sultan Murad I (1188 - 1220) The Scourge of Christendom

Kristaps
Sultan Mehmed II (1220 - ?) Current Leader of the Turks

Mount Suribachi

Gaelic cowboy

Hellenes

The_Emperor

09-27-2003, 16:04

Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Sep. 27 2003,07:03)]Wow can't wait to see an image of the map now.
Ok here is a little profile on Mehmed II and a Map for you. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Turk/Mehmed.jpg
http://www.ralphwolf.clara.net/Turk/tmap.jpg

The Horde are due to arrive soon... Should be fun http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

econ21

10-04-2003, 09:26

The Great War with France

“At the start of a new century, I strike at the heart of France.” So Sultan Murad proclaimed as his armies marched into Franconia to do battle with the French King. Murad’s strategy had been to sever the French kingdom and trap the King in a Northern enclave. However, this strategy failed – the wily French king always remained one step ahead of the Turkish pincer, retreating gradually to Ille de France and ultimately to his last redoubt in Toulouse. Instead, the Turkish thrust deep into French territory served a different, but no less decisive, strategic function. Although the French King retreated from Franconia, the occupying Turkish army of l200 men found itself bordered on many sides by French provinces stacked with warriors. A year after the Turkish invasion, the French massed over 5000 of these men and launched an attempt to decapitate the Turkish thrust.

The Battle of Franconia, 1201 : it seems strange to observe that the Great War with France, which would last for 21 years, was effectively decided in its second year. The commander of the Turkish army in Franconia, Amir Al Su’ud, King of Serbia, positioned his army on the crest of a hill. A wall of Saracens fended off the French as archers and later Turcoman horse fired unceasingly into the enemy. Armenian heavy cavalry and Ghazi foot would intermittently charge to break stronger enemy formations – joined on occasion by the hard-riding Turcomans. The first wave of the French attack was hampered by their insistence on placing their siege engines in the vanguard of the attack and consequently lacked critical mass. The enemy commander and his vanguard were thus defeated in detail. The second wave of the French force consisted of 80 Royal Knights and 120 hobilars, but was beaten back as it approached the Turkish lines piecemeal. Thereafter, wave upon wave of heavy infantry and archers attacked but their efforts appeared half hearted and they were often chased from the field by inferior numbers of exhausted Turks. When the battle was finally finished, 385 Turks lay dead on the field. But the number of French dead was nearly ten times that number and henceforth the French kingdom would never recover the initiative in the war.

The Turkish strategy was to penetrate deep into the French lands, isolating provinces and preventing armies from consolidating. This left a trail of conquered or besieged provinces that had to be garrisoned at great cost and was very exposed. But after the devastating loss in Franconia, the French never mounted a serious counter-attack. Ill de France fell in 1202 and soon the French kingdom was fractured into many pieces. The French King, with the strongest armies, held out in the South-west around Toulouse while the North and Western French coast around Normandy formed a second fragment of the Kingdom. Strong forces remained in a pocket of provinces around Bavaria. An early Turkish drive in Saxony divided the French forces in north-Germany into east and west, while also preventing the emergent Danish power from adventuring in the continent.

A small French outpost even existed in Northumbria and indeed in 1205, it mustered a crusade targeted at Turkish lands. Murad planned to destroy the crusade by landing a sea-born force behind it to seize Northumbria and demoralise the crusaders. Unfortunately, this stratagem proved too clever by half. Northumbria fell and the disheartened Northumbrians did abandon their crusade. But, realising the futility of returning home, the crusaders instead bolstered the regular French army in Normandy with some of the finest Catholic troops – Knights Templars, Chivalric Sergeants and arbalesters. (The refusal of his generals to adopt the arbalest was a source of sadness to Murad).

The Northumbrian crusade was shortly followed by a large Spanish one, which foolishly marched into Burgundy at the height of the winter of 1206. Amir Al Su’ud again deployed his forces at the top of a slope and watched as the Spaniards trudged through the snow, straight towards the centre of his position. Once again, Al Su’ud triumphed, inflicting almost ten times as many casualties on the enemy as his men suffered.

A year later saw the emergence of Prince Mehmed, heir to the throne, onto the field of battle. He launched an invasion of the French enclave in Bavaria with 1000 men against an equal number of enemies, killing 716 for the loss of only 178. Such was the despair in the Catholic camp, that a delegation of their wisest men were sent to Murad to ask whether, since he now controlled 60% of the known world, he would be prepared to end the conflagration sweeping Europe and live in peace. Murad was tempted, but the thought of what Mehmed would say if deprived of his proper inheritance forced him to decline the offer.

Evidently, Murad’s insistence on continuing the war against the French and the Spanish galvanised the remaining Catholic forces into action. A year later, the English launched a crusade against him while in 1209, the Polish king entered the war at the head of an invasion force launched against the Turkish province of Hungary. Urged on by his more extreme Imams and Alims, Murad now saw the Europe wide conflict in increasingly religious terms. Consequently, he had little compunction in sanctioning the invasion of the remaining provinces of the Holy Roman Empire and the annexation of rebel Switzerland. Manichean religious extremism aside, realpolitik dictated these invasions. As the Turks took over increasing numbers of French provinces, the burden of guarding HRE and Swiss provinces completely surrounded by the Turkish empire would be intolerable. The decrepit German forces fell easily, although the Swiss died hard with massed archers firing down from the mountains and a lone unit of Feudal Sergeants defeating companies of Armenian Heavy Cavalry and Ghulam cavalry, despite being repeatedly charged from all sides. Murad shuddered to think what the Swiss would have been capable off with pikes and fairer odds.

The year 1209 marked a decisive point in the Great War, with the arrival of the English crusade in Champagne and the Polish invasion of Hungary:

The Battle of Champagne, 1209 : Amir Al Bundugdai had the honour of facing the English crusade. Although the Amir had a slight edge in numbers, 854 compared to 758 crusaders, the English enjoyed a marked qualitative advantage. The Crusade included 40 Knights Templars, 227 Order Foot, 87 arbalesters, 29 hobilars, 150 Militia Sergeants and 120 archers. Al Bundugdai did not expect to survive the encounter, but vowed to make the best of what he had. He used his superior numbers to flank the Order foot, Saracens to stall the Templars and camels to disquiet the hobilars. Turcoman horse were sent to harry the arbalesters and archers. Fortunately, the formidable body of militia sergeants in the crusade had been kept to the rear and so it was possible to defeat the main English forces before the sergeants could be engaged. Faced with the terrible sight of Templars, Order foot and arbalesters routing with Turcoman and Armenian Heavy cavalry in hot pursuit, the militia sergeants themselves fled and the crusade ended in ignominy. The English lost 681 men; the Turks 222.

The Battle for Hungary, 1209 : King Henry I of Poland led his main army of 2000 men into Hungary. Things did not look auspicious for the little known Turkish commander, Lajin Rokh. As forces had been sucked into the war in France, his garrison numbered only 1000 men, the Turkish general had inferior command skills to Henry, and was forced to deploy at the base of a large mountain, in the driving rain. Fortunately, Henry chose to approach with a first wave of cavalry and slav javelinmen. These forces could make little impression on the Saracens and archers that made up the Turkish frontline and ultimately fell prey to the fine horsemen that always accompanied the Turkish armies. In the excitement, Lajin Rokh let his armies pursue up the mountain and some were cut down by fast riding mounted crossbowmen that marked the vanguard of the second wave of Poles. There then followed a hard fought and chaotic contest, with exhausted Turks battling heavy Polish infantry backed by the skirmishing crossbowmen. Ultimately, Rokh triumphed – killing 1745 of the Polish invaders, but at the cost of 493 Turks

In 1210, infuriated by having to fight a war on two fronts – in France and all along his eastern borders with Poland – Murad ordered a general offensive. English Flanders was invaded and French Freisland taken while a series of hammer blows were launched against the Poles – in Silesia, Poland and Volhynia. This set the pattern for the rest of the war. Fierce sea battles against the English ultimately left Murad as the ruler of the waves and large trade revenues allowed him to sustain multiple offensives every year. The Sultan himself gradually tired of directing his generals in battle, entrusting command on the ground to his oldest sons – relying on their superb inherited command skills and sheer numbers to almost automatically win engagements with little loss. In 1215, King Henry I surrendered in Pomerania and his faction was eliminated. In 1217, Sultan Murad and his son Mehmed led two armies in parallel invasions against the Kings of England and France, both holed out in their final redoubts in Aquitane and Toulouse. In 1218, the Spaniards launched a crusade from Aragon against the Turks in support of their beleaguered allies, but it could not effectively challenge the great Turkish armies mustered along the Pyrnees. A year later, Sultan Murad retired to Provence suffering from ill health.

In 1220, the besieged King Jean II of France and King Stephen I of England finally surrendered, handing over all titles to their lands to the Turkish empire. But news of the end of the war reached Provence too late. The great Sultan was dead.

econ21

10-09-2003, 08:04

It's about two weeks since I passed this game on - I wonder what's happened to Kristaps? Maybe we should move down the list, Emperor?

The_Emperor

10-09-2003, 08:43

Quote[/b] (Simon Appleton @ Oct. 09 2003,08:04)]It's about two weeks since I passed this game on - I wonder what's happened to Kristaps? Maybe we should move down the list, Emperor?
I sent a message on to kristaps and we'll see if he replies within the next couple of days.

If not we may have to pass the game on to Mount Suribachi

I think we need to do a recruitment drive, the list is growing too short http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

The_Emperor

10-10-2003, 17:58

Ok, I have recieved a PM from Kristaps, he says he's been out of town the last couple of weeks and hasn't had a time to play.

Also he says that he hasn't recieved the campaign file on the email address I sent it on. He hasn't yet said whether he wants to do his reign, and I still require an email address.

So I am waiting to see if Kristaps will go for it, or if we should let Mount go...

On another note, with the Arrival of the Mystical 'Patch' the mysterious Black Hooded Figure that has plaged the Sultans for decades now faces elimination... it would be good if we could write a conclusion to this http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Mount Suribachi

10-10-2003, 18:10

You're gunna have to bypass me for now, sorry. I haven't had the chance to even look at MTW for about 3 weeks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

The_Emperor

10-13-2003, 15:44

Ok guys I have yet to receive a new email address from Kristaps so I have decided to roll on without him for now.

He is more than welcome to join in later on.

Following on from the withdrawl of Mount Suribachi from the campaign, Gaelic cowboy is next in line. I have just sent an email to him notifying him and if he replies I will send the Mehmed II savegame file.

The_Emperor

10-16-2003, 11:32

Ok no response from Gaelic Cowboy from either the email or PM I sent.

Given I am eager to get this back on track, Hellenes has just been notified.

gaelic cowboy

10-16-2003, 15:22

sorry lads i was in america the whole time unable to do much about now i suppose it at the time sorry lads http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

The_Emperor

10-16-2003, 16:25

No problem Gaelic Cowboy.

Ok The savegame has been sent on to Hellenes, and the list has no-one else on it after him.

Are you up for a go when he's done Gaelic Cowboy?

hellenes

10-16-2003, 21:11

Save game recieved and the preparations for the horde had lead to the below result:

http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Mtw_Uploads/MTWupload/untitled.JPG

if you can see the turkish welcoming comitet of the horde summoned whole of its needed members.
I hvent fought the battle yet but ive taken the screenshot (well i have problem with that cause my screenshots are taken most of the time by cut frames http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif ) of the pre battle screen:

http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Mtw_Uploads/MTWupload/untitled2.JPG

A NEW POWER IS RISING...
ITS VICTORY IS AT HAND
THERE GOING TO BE NO DAWN FOR MONGOLS...

Jeebus_Frist

10-16-2003, 21:44

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 Horde? What Horde? All I see are Turks innumerable as the sands of the Sahara 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

econ21

10-16-2003, 22:09

Hellenes - well played, my son

Great photo (and I especially love the Saruman quote).

GoldenKnightX2

10-16-2003, 22:09

40,000 THAT'S HUGE http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

The_Emperor

10-16-2003, 22:46

Wow http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

That is quite a gathering... Well played Knocking the Mongols back to the Steppes before they even arrived

Looking at the previous maps (and the size of your armies in that one picture) I think you may be able to clear out the map

The Armies of Islam shall be victorious

Oh yeah.

Power to the Sultan http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

hellenes

10-17-2003, 03:51

Khazar spring of 1231.
The dry steppe wind was blowing at the prince's face as he was overseeing the gathered army...
And what army More than forty thousand have been gathered from all the corners of the Turkish empireThere were Turkomans ,both mounted and on foot, who have prooved invaluable in the building of the glory of turkish empire, serving, as tribal warriors of the turkish tribes...Ghulams the loyal slaves that being summoned from the fertile plains of the Lesser Armenia were hardened and capable of defeating twice their monetary value foes...what to mention first for the Armenians? Their dicipline? Armor? Or their superb training in the Armenian mountains making them the backbone of the turkish shock troops...the insanely brave ghazis and futuwwas who in their religius frenzy forget pain and fear and attack twice their strengh foesAlongside with the attacking troops stand the tight formations of saracens, who have bled many times from the infidel crusading knights to adopt the spear as their primary weapon..weapon that will stand firmly in the cahrge of the mongol heavy cavalary and tear their horses' throats apart...the new inventions change the turkish warfare or at least influence a different direction... sign of the new times the crossbowmen ready for the duel with the mongol horse archers although without the shields that their western counterparts field, a probable sign of the suspicious way that the turks treat the new weapon and their resistance to the wide use of it...nearby to the regular troops is massed the ordinary folk conscripts from various conquerd lands archers from southern England, Spearmen from Germany and militia men raised in the Italian conquered cities... all of them with great lack of morale at the transport ships after hearing the ispiring speech of the prince ,who was well known for his natural leadership, rallied and with hearts filled with courage and will to die for this charismatic leader...
Without doubt the leader of this multi-coloured army was deeply concerned about the armies that he was about to face.He knew that on him and his men was lying the hope of all europe and asia...the various rumors about the size of the opponent created cofusion and whispers amongst the men but the far-sighted general knew that there was no way back
they would die or win,spilt their or the enemies blood on the plains of Khazar.
The nightfall came and with it the expectation of a dawn sucked with blood and flesh surrounded by the screams of the dying and the killing the sheapherd and his flock surrendered themselves in the hands of Morpheus...
The surprise of the day light came as the most joyful sight that the prince could expect, the all mighty and fearsome Horde was merely composed out of ten thousand soldiers, great part of them on foot In this moment the prince realised how valuable was the advice given to him by the direct decendant of the throne ,young prince, to withdraw the troops from Khazar thus misleading the invadors and giving them the impression of undefended lands..
The news that reached the Khans ears were cept secret from the rest of the army and the informers executed before the news could reach the soldiers lines...The great Khan was ,as always, too confident about his tactical talents overseeing the fact of the wide missile armed composition of his rival...
That confinence lead the Khan into the first line of attack and the choise to be supported by his personal bodyguards and some mongol archer warriors, the position in the back was held by artillery ,for safer fake withdrawals, thus depriving the Khan from the protection of the masses of his elite warriors..
The charge of the mongols found the turks steady and (in many cases) impetious the leadership of the price had proved so many times that the his soldiers dedicated their lives to him...
The most brave find their end in the most common way the expirience teaches us and the Khan of mongols wasnt an exeption...The deadly arrow of an unknown turkoman stroke and the armored horse crumbled and the rider found himself surrounded by bloodthisty saracens who having lost many comrades in the cavalary flank charges stroke many times even after the soul had left the body of the brave,but also arrogant Khan...
The death of the mongol leader was followed by long duels in wich his mounted archers were desperately trying to weaken the turkish lines which composed with the mighty crossbowmen vanished any hopes that the mongols had for a last stand...
The turkish cavalary smashed the foot mongol archers and the heavy cavalary of the great Horde was teared apart by the saracens spears...
The last remnants of the mongol army fled the field leaving behind them ten thousand corpses and more than a thousand prisoners of the war in the hands of the turkish prince who whithout being able to control himself at the sight of the thousand dead of his soldiers in moment of rage ordered the execution of each of the prisoners...their screams can be heard still on the plains of Khazar...
Centuries are passing everything changes but the memory of the great battle of turkish armies against the infidel invaders stand eternal in the pass or the time...