General Zhukov
12-24-2006, 04:38
Hi everyone. After enjoying beefeater's HRE vignette, and becoming excited reading the other great stories going on right now, I thought I'd try my hand at narrating a short Russian campaign.
This will be my first time playing on VH/VH difficulty, so anything might happen. To add some difficulty, I'm going to try a novel approach to battles: the general's command rating will be roleplayed to the extent I'm able. Generals with anemic stars will tend toward sedentary governor careers under this system, but if I get someone starting with Natural Commander or better, they'll be played smarter and more aggressively in combat as they try to buck up to their full potential.
The only mod in use is Seneschal.the's excellent VnV tweak, Medifix (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=75326).
Growls in the Forest: The Tale of the Bear, the Wolf, and the Fox.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/BearWolfFox.jpg
The land of the Rus in 1088 is a fractious, lawless place. The royal court at Kiev has lost control of the country and it is every noble for himself. Our story follows the history of the Dukedom of Novogrod as it struggles to gain dominion over the vast expanse of Russia, and perhaps, lands farther afield.
Power Players
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/DukeYsevelod.jpg
Grand Duke Ysevolod has problems. The aging ruler is quite old by medieval standards, and in failing health. On top of this, the duke has witnessed the slow breakdown of his authority in the provinces bordering Novogrod, to the point where most of them have declared independence and every strongman in the North has turned himself into a petty king. Ysevolod can feel his own mortality creeping in, and may have plans to do something audacious to secure his legacy.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/PrinceVladimir.jpg
Young Prince Vladimir is heir to the throne of Novogrod, though that is not a fact he relishes. The prince is disinterested in the affairs of state and attempts to shirk any duties given to him by his father. Vladimir reserves his passion for the finer aspects of court life: girls, high stakes gambling, and all the luxuries that are available to a rich playboy at the top of society. The Novogrodian Duma (The Council of Nobles, whom are called Boyars) does not look forward to his ascent to the throne.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/Mikhail.jpg
Boyar "Horsehair" Mikhail, so dubbed because of his love for the beasts, is a rough-and-tumble country noble who serves the Novogrodian Court. He is a passionate supporter of the Duke and is willing to further his lord's interests on the battlefield, if need be. With his integration into the ruling family via his marriage to Princess Antonina, Mikhail's loyalty is secure.
And so the tale begins...
Personal journal of Astinus Demarydon, scribe and counsellor to Grand Duke Ysevolod, Autumn 1088
The nights are so cold here... but I should be used to them by now. As much as I yearn to see the spires of my former home, and relax in its warm baths, I do not regret my decision to stay in Novogrod, nor am I ungrateful for the kindness my master has shown me and my new family. At least here, among these simple folk, one does not have to keep a hand on one's purse, and an eye searching every shadow for the glint of steel.
I have traveled with the Duke to the frigid outlands, to the bleak backwater outpost called Helsinki. My master encircles the town with his forces, and will give the order to attack at any moment. A survey of our troops leaves me unconfident. Truly, that this motley crew of rascals could be of any use on a battlefield strains the imagination. However, they seem eager enough to fight while standing in the shadow of their lord's personal standard. It is said the Duke wishes to leave this conquest as a legacy after his tempestuous reign. Some of the men whisper he wants die a warrior's death, rather than perish miserably in bed, eaten alive by the disease that ravages his mind... There is commotion in the camp now, the battle must be beginning!
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/BurningMenatHelsinki.jpg
Burning Men perish in a decidedly unfestive manner at the Battle of Helsinki.
After a brief battle, our troops are in control of the fort. It was amusing to behold the mens' blazing bolts rain down upon the hapless defenders. Duke Ysevolod led the spearmen into the central square personally, easily scattering the barbarians that tried to make a stand there. While the Duke is obviously satisfied with the completeness of his victory here, he still remains uneasy, pacing about his room and barking orders to deputies with unusual ferocity.
We wintered in the fort, then the Duke gave orders to tear down the fortifications so as to convert the settlement into a peaceful trading town. Meanwhile, we received word that Boyar Mikhail has reestablished ducal authority in Smolesk, south of Novogrod. The Duma was so pleased with Mikhail's efforts that they gave Duke Ysevolod personal control of the powerful Baltic navy: four ships in all.
A Journey Too Far
I am now aboard ship, sailing west toward the storied homeland of the vikings. I do not know why the Duke made the snap decision to invade Stockholm, but it is obvious he is being focused and driven by some inner desire. He tells me stories of the valour and glory of his anscestors; how they fought like bears, with a courage unlike that of normal men. My master has dictated to me a letter, along with instructions that if he does not survive the campaign, I should deliver it to his son, Vladimir. I plan to copy it into my journal tomorrow...
This will be my first time playing on VH/VH difficulty, so anything might happen. To add some difficulty, I'm going to try a novel approach to battles: the general's command rating will be roleplayed to the extent I'm able. Generals with anemic stars will tend toward sedentary governor careers under this system, but if I get someone starting with Natural Commander or better, they'll be played smarter and more aggressively in combat as they try to buck up to their full potential.
The only mod in use is Seneschal.the's excellent VnV tweak, Medifix (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=75326).
Growls in the Forest: The Tale of the Bear, the Wolf, and the Fox.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/BearWolfFox.jpg
The land of the Rus in 1088 is a fractious, lawless place. The royal court at Kiev has lost control of the country and it is every noble for himself. Our story follows the history of the Dukedom of Novogrod as it struggles to gain dominion over the vast expanse of Russia, and perhaps, lands farther afield.
Power Players
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/DukeYsevelod.jpg
Grand Duke Ysevolod has problems. The aging ruler is quite old by medieval standards, and in failing health. On top of this, the duke has witnessed the slow breakdown of his authority in the provinces bordering Novogrod, to the point where most of them have declared independence and every strongman in the North has turned himself into a petty king. Ysevolod can feel his own mortality creeping in, and may have plans to do something audacious to secure his legacy.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/PrinceVladimir.jpg
Young Prince Vladimir is heir to the throne of Novogrod, though that is not a fact he relishes. The prince is disinterested in the affairs of state and attempts to shirk any duties given to him by his father. Vladimir reserves his passion for the finer aspects of court life: girls, high stakes gambling, and all the luxuries that are available to a rich playboy at the top of society. The Novogrodian Duma (The Council of Nobles, whom are called Boyars) does not look forward to his ascent to the throne.
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/Mikhail.jpg
Boyar "Horsehair" Mikhail, so dubbed because of his love for the beasts, is a rough-and-tumble country noble who serves the Novogrodian Court. He is a passionate supporter of the Duke and is willing to further his lord's interests on the battlefield, if need be. With his integration into the ruling family via his marriage to Princess Antonina, Mikhail's loyalty is secure.
And so the tale begins...
Personal journal of Astinus Demarydon, scribe and counsellor to Grand Duke Ysevolod, Autumn 1088
The nights are so cold here... but I should be used to them by now. As much as I yearn to see the spires of my former home, and relax in its warm baths, I do not regret my decision to stay in Novogrod, nor am I ungrateful for the kindness my master has shown me and my new family. At least here, among these simple folk, one does not have to keep a hand on one's purse, and an eye searching every shadow for the glint of steel.
I have traveled with the Duke to the frigid outlands, to the bleak backwater outpost called Helsinki. My master encircles the town with his forces, and will give the order to attack at any moment. A survey of our troops leaves me unconfident. Truly, that this motley crew of rascals could be of any use on a battlefield strains the imagination. However, they seem eager enough to fight while standing in the shadow of their lord's personal standard. It is said the Duke wishes to leave this conquest as a legacy after his tempestuous reign. Some of the men whisper he wants die a warrior's death, rather than perish miserably in bed, eaten alive by the disease that ravages his mind... There is commotion in the camp now, the battle must be beginning!
https://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/pacejenkins/BurningMenatHelsinki.jpg
Burning Men perish in a decidedly unfestive manner at the Battle of Helsinki.
After a brief battle, our troops are in control of the fort. It was amusing to behold the mens' blazing bolts rain down upon the hapless defenders. Duke Ysevolod led the spearmen into the central square personally, easily scattering the barbarians that tried to make a stand there. While the Duke is obviously satisfied with the completeness of his victory here, he still remains uneasy, pacing about his room and barking orders to deputies with unusual ferocity.
We wintered in the fort, then the Duke gave orders to tear down the fortifications so as to convert the settlement into a peaceful trading town. Meanwhile, we received word that Boyar Mikhail has reestablished ducal authority in Smolesk, south of Novogrod. The Duma was so pleased with Mikhail's efforts that they gave Duke Ysevolod personal control of the powerful Baltic navy: four ships in all.
A Journey Too Far
I am now aboard ship, sailing west toward the storied homeland of the vikings. I do not know why the Duke made the snap decision to invade Stockholm, but it is obvious he is being focused and driven by some inner desire. He tells me stories of the valour and glory of his anscestors; how they fought like bears, with a courage unlike that of normal men. My master has dictated to me a letter, along with instructions that if he does not survive the campaign, I should deliver it to his son, Vladimir. I plan to copy it into my journal tomorrow...