View Full Version : MacDidz: The Scottish Blog
Thought I'd try my hand at playing Scotland next. Being English I've tended to view the Scottish faction as a potential victim rather than a playable faction and so I ignored it up to now.
King Malcolm dies soon after the start of the campaign, having achieved little in his reign and the Scottish faction begins with control of only one city 'Edinburgh', which is quite novel in itself.
The opening moves - Preparation for War
Prince Edward is dispatched north with the vast bulk of Scotlands army to subjurgate the rebel highland clans around Inverness, hiring a unit of crossbowmen and a band of Irish Kerns en-route. Edward slaughters the rebel Highland Clans with brutal efficiency effectively doubling the Canmore's land holdings at a stroke and then returns to Edinburgh leaving his brother Edmund to placate the city and keep order. The 'motte & bailey' at Inverness is torn down and replaced with an village settlement.
Meanwhile, his father has been taking steps to deal with the economic state of the Scotland. A merchant 'Gwain of Fife' is commissioned to find the trade route to the fabled riches of Africa and is provided with a ship to carry him into the heathen lands to the south. Amazingly he makes it all the way to Timbukto and before long the Scottish court is receiving 472 florins per turn in gold from the mines in Africa.
Bouyed by this success King Malcolm immediately commissions a second merchant and a cog to carry him and dispatches them both south to join Gwain.
Meanwhile, farmland improvements bring additional tithes from the local lowlanders of Edinburgh and Inverness and a port is built to encourage the trade of locally produced dyes with Denmark, Ireland and England. realising a further 400 florins in trading duties.
To increase trade, Patrick Macdougal is dispatched to Europe with instructions to meet and greet as many other factions as possible and enlighten them as to Scotlands existence and its value as both as a supplier of quality dyes and as an ally.
King Phillipe of France immediately recognises the value of an ally with an interest in the future of England and forms an alliance. The Danes formalise their exsting trading arrangments, as do the Germans, Milanese, Venetians and Sicilians as Patrick wends his way southwards towards Rome. Finally, Patrick presents his credentials to His Holiness the Pope and is even successful in securing an alliance between Scotland and the Papal States.
With its economy and diplomatic status secure and still improving, Scotland now looks to secure additional local support and expansion.
Prince Edward and the army is sent to Ireland to secure the support and resources of the Irish to their cause. A brief and bloody battle outside Dublin secures Ireland for the Canmores. King Malcom dies at about this time and so the brutal Prince Edward is now King Edward I of Scotland. He sensibly decides to leave the adminstration of Ireland to his more reasonable brother David and readies his army for the sea crossing to Wales.
The English Prince Henry has captured York by now and the Scottish court is being pestered by a rather demanding and arrogant English Princess. However, Alexander Canmore though young in years refuses to accept any of Englands demands for tribute and the princess is sent back across the Scottish border with a flea in her ear.
After a brief and typically bloody seige, Caernarvon Castle falls to King Edward's combined Scottish, Irish and Welsh army completing the tri-partite anti-English union and giving Scotland a strong castle on Englands western borders which will curb its freedom to send armies to the north.
All the Canmore brothers are now married, though I am concerned to note that they all seem to have married their own sisters, or at least cousins.
Edward to Marjorie Canmore
Edmund to Mabel Canmore
Alexander to Danea Canmore
David to Ealusaid Canmore
This is either an indication of the lack of suitable noble women in Scotland or a lack of imagination on the part of the Canmore brothers.
Mental note 'Import more posh 'totty' to Scotland'. In the meanwhile, its time to build brothels.
War with England now seems to be the next logical step, though it may be best to wait until King Phillipe is ready to reclaim his possessions in Normandy.
The Scottish Blog can also be read on Games Tales.
http://www.gamertales.com/M2TWtales/Scottishcampaign.php
Part 2: The War Clouds Gather
1086 AD: A large English army is gathering near York and Alexander Canmore hires addition Irish mercenaries to bolster the defence of Edinburgh in anticipation of an imminent assault. In fact, it proved an uneccessary precaution as the English merely dithered near York seemingly unwilling to march either North or West.
1095 AD: Kyle Canmore is born?
When asked the reason for the strange name her mother merely shrugged and said it was suggested by her neighbours.
1096 AD: Every Scottish controlled city and castle now has its own counter-intelligence spy in residence, to prevent the English causing unrest and loss of income. The next objective is to establish if the English have more than one army in their kingdom. If they have not then the situation will be ripe for a rapid assault on either Nottingham or York.
1097 AD: Bad news reached Edinburgh today that the poineering merchant 'Gawain of Fife' was killed by an earthquake in unholy lands to far south. His place has been taken by Gille Patrick, a merchant from the Shetland Isles.
King Edward has ordered a watchtower placed on the Welsh border enabling the movements of the English in Mercia to be monitored. This seems to confirm the belief that the English only have one army and are torn between using it to attack Edinburgh and protecting Nottingham and York.
A strategy is established which will bait this English army either to the North exposing Nottingham to a rapid assault by the army of Wales, or to draw it into Wales allowing Prince Alex's army to march on York.
1098 AD: All is set for the invasion of England. The final preparations are in place and the mercenaries hired. Then just as they were poised to strike the war has to be suspended when a Welsh uprising on the island of Anglesea threatens Caernarvon Castle.
Part 3: The Battle of Anglesea
When news of the Welsh uprising reached King Edward at Caernarvon he wasted no time in calling for his charger and set forth with the entire of his army for Anglesea.
The Welsh were marching on the castle but when they saw the Scottish king and his host approaching they baulked and fell back to the coast. However, Edward was in no mood for prolonging matters and urging his men forward forced the Welsh to give battle by trapping them against the sea.
Battle lines are drawn. Mercenary crossbowmen to the fore, open fire on the advancing Welsh.
https://img151.imageshack.us/img151/668/battleofangleseamb2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Away the Scots: With the Welsh infantry committed the border horse deployed on each flank of Edward's army charge the exposed Welsh Longbowmen.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/453/chargeoftheborderhorsesc0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Away the Irish: The Irish charge to finish the rout of the Welsh infantry.
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1892/irishchargepr3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
An uprising quelled The surviving Welshmen throw down their weapons.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8895/victorymu5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The battle over Edward and the army return immediately to Caernavon determined to waste no more time on trivial matters. Messengers are sent to his brother Alexander in Edinburgh to ready his army to march south on York.
diotavelli
05-22-2007, 14:14
All the Canmore brothers are now married, though I am concerned to note that they all seem to have married their own sisters, or at least cousins.
Edward to Marjorie Canmore
Edmund to Mabel Canmore
Alexander to Danea Canmore
David to Ealusaid Canmore
This is either an indication of the lack of suitable noble women in Scotland or a lack of imagination on the part of the Canmore brothers.
I know you're from Bedfordshire and probably don't get out much but do you really think it's unusual for a wife to have the same surname as her husband? My wife shares my surname but isn't related to me by blood: I thought this was quite common?
Of course, it doesn't mean we had the same surname before we got married......
Oh, and do you mean Anglesey, rather than Anglesea? There's nowhere in the British Isles called Anglesea, so far as I know. Of course, Anglesey is home to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which would have been a good location for your battle!
trickydicky
05-22-2007, 14:17
Nice work Didz, keep it up. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Makes me want to revisit my old Scottish campaign again, which I think I might just do :beam:
I know you're from Bedfordshire and probably don't get out much but do you really think it's unusual for a wife to have the same surname as her husband?
Good point! Why didn't I think of that.:dizzy2:
I foolishly assumed the family tree adhered to the usual practice of noting the wifes family name not her married name which actually doesn't provide much value information wise.
But your probably right, there is no reason to suppose MTW2 follows this practice. The proof will be in checking what happens in the case of an arranged marriage with a princess of royal blood to see if it changes her name also.
Oh, and do you mean Anglesey, rather than Anglesea?
Well, I mean both or either, but not the Anglesea, in Victoria, Australia obviously.
Anglesey or Anglesea (both: ăng'gəlsē) , island and county (1985 est. pop. 68,800), 278 sq mi (719 sq km), NW Wales. Beaumaris is the chief town. It is a region of low, rolling hills. The principal industries are agriculture and stock raising. Two bridges over the Menai Strait connect the island to the mainland. The town of Menai Bridge has long been a stock-trading center for NW Wales. Anglesey is said to have been the last refuge of the druids from the Romans in Britain. Penmynydd, at the center of the island, was the home of Owen Tudor, founder of the house of Tudor.
http://www.answers.com/Anglesea
IrishArmenian
05-22-2007, 15:20
Great stuff MacDidz
helmeteye
05-22-2007, 16:41
Love the bio of Scotts. I know this may belong somewhere else but here goes anyway, How do I make all fashions playable in vanilla 1.2?
I am am my first campaign and I am the English. I chose the English because, I can remember the names better and thus more easily role play.
The problem I have encountered is that I was trying to role play and just recently checked my mission status and it appears that I no longer have time to complete the mission to get more factions. Of course I am still trying to complete the mission but with a less diplomatic strategy.
I would love to unlock other factions instead of have to complete another campaign. I want to be the Scotts.
Kobal2fr
05-22-2007, 16:44
Scots wha hae ! :charge:
If only they had some gunpowder units... :no:
@helmeteye : check the FAQ (stickied post), it's the most answered question (plus lots of good info too)
phunkbot
05-22-2007, 20:40
this is making me mouth water and i still have 3 hours left to work before i can get home and get them pikes... aaargh im buying a laptop and taking it to work
Winter 1099 AD: News from England and the army marches South.
Messengers from Ruadri Wallace, the agent sent to gather intelligence on the English, inform Edward that the English have made an alliance with Spain and that as a consequence Prince Henry has left the English army and gone. Wallace assumes that he has gone to London but cannot say for sure.
However, the English army has been left in the charge of a mere captain.
Wallace estimates its strength to be somewhere in the region of 2,000 men, but at least a quarter are nothing more than armed peasants, no more than 300 are archers and these of poor quality, and only a handful are knights.
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2588/englisharmywd3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Furthermore, Wallace confirms that there is no garrison in Nottingham Castle. Only King Rufus is in residence guarded only by his personal retinue of knights.
Edward studied the report for some time as if some clue in its content would reveal an English trap or deception.
Why would Rufus sit alone in Nottingham and leave his only army leaderless?
Were the English trying to provoke him, to trick him into sticking his head in a noose, or was this truly a perfect opportunity to be grabbed and wrung for all it was worth?
Well trap or not he would not be the one to trigger it. He called for his equerry. 'Take a message to Edinburgh, tell my brother that all is set and that he is to march on York immediately, inform him that the army in Wales is already on the road for Nottingham and that he is too waste no time. is that understood?'
The equerry nodded 'Shall I inform the captain of the army to prepare to march, sire?'
'No! just send the message.' replied Edward. 'And inform Wallace to keep me updated on the movements of the English Army'.
If there was a trap it must be triggerred but not by him, not by him.
Edinburgh: A few days later
All is bustle and haste as Alexander Canmore gathers his troops and heads south.
He had felt it prudent to leave a small garrison in Edinburgh, particularly as there had been reports of Danish ships patrolling off the east coast. He had hoped to hire more men as he marched south but funds had proved sparse since the death of Gawain the merchant and so his army was less impressive than he had hoped.
https://img475.imageshack.us/img475/1346/alexsarmybn4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Nevertheless, his brother the King had assured him that the English garrison of York was weak and he was already on the march to Nottingham and would draw the English away from York. So, it was unlikely that the English would prove too much of a problem.
https://img455.imageshack.us/img455/6237/1158wintersu0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Alexander marches south.
Summer 1100 AD: Edward finally marches
York is under seige, but Wallace confirms that the only movement from the English was a rather hearthearted attempt to block the road from Caernavon to York.
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4003/1160summerxp6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Re-assured by the news Edward finally musters his troops and marches east, avoiding the dithering English army he heads directly for Nottingham and the English King.
Even now with two Scottish Armies on their land and their King under threat the English Army dithers and does nothing. The only action from the English is to appeal to the Pope,who sends a terse note to Edward informing him that he is to cease all hostilities against the English immediately and return to his own lands. 'This is a strange note to be sending to your most loyal and trusted ally.' he commented 'Inform his holiness that we shall be in our own lands soon enough, once we have thrown the English out of them.'
[With a Pope-o-Meter rating of 8/10 I was reasonably certain that the Popes threat was a hollow one, but nevertheless secretly Edward was concerned.]
Summer 1100 AD: Alexander assaults York.
The English having failed to surrender the city, Alexander decides that an assault is unavoidable. Therefore, choosing what he considers to be the weakest part of the City defences he draws his army up ready for the assault.
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1720/york1dq2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Supported by his crossbowmen a force of Irish kerns use a ram to batter a breach in the city walls.
https://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5861/york2bt8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With the breach established Crossbowmen move forward to clear the English defenders from the breach.
https://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5018/york3do0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Unable to do anything to protect themselves the English defenders are flensed by concentrated crossbow bolts.
https://img476.imageshack.us/img476/3941/york4so0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In desperation the English charge troops through the breach to drive off the Scottish crossbowmen.
https://img476.imageshack.us/img476/6554/york5zj2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Only to be decimated and broken by the concentrated fire of the Scots Archers and crossbowmen beyond the wall.
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4357/york6zj0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With their spearmen routed the entire English garrison surrenders the walls and retreats towards the city centre.
At this point Alexander makes a mistake and orders the Border Horse to pursue the English into the city in the hope of cutting them down before they can rally. The border horse charged into the town hacking and hewing their way through the streets in pursuit of the routed English spearmen, only to turn a corner and run headling into a group of mailed English Knights. Whereupon, they in turn were cut to pieces and fled the field. Proving once again that cavalry are neither mine nor the Scottish strong point.
Alexander attempted to save his horse by ordering the Irish Galloglaich axemen forward and these eventually drove off the English Knights forcing them to withdraw to the city centre with the rest of the army.
https://img460.imageshack.us/img460/9193/york7cn1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The crossbowmen were then ordered forward again to cut down the English in the town square.
https://img472.imageshack.us/img472/7899/york8bd8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
This triggered a series of six or seven costly counter-attacks by the English horse in an attempt to drive off the crossbowmen, each attack resulting in the crossbowmen withdrawing behind the Galloglaich and more English horse being cut down with axes.
The English general is cut down during one of these charges.
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4951/york9cz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The death of their captain knocked the last of the fight out of the English garrison and they retreated once more to the city centre.
https://img59.imageshack.us/img59/97/york10nq6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
As the first Irish troops reached them they surrendered the keys to the city.
https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3296/york11sr8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Casualties had been relatively light except amongst the border horse but the City of York was safe in Scottish hands.
An entertaining read Didz. :book: I will likely show this to my friend who loves playing the Scottish, he will likely enjoy the read.
Tschüß!
Erich
Razor1952
05-23-2007, 03:16
MacDidz a great read. The scots are great fun to play.
here's a shot of scottish canon elephants.....
https://img451.imageshack.us/img451/1375/scotphantsxz7.th.jpg (https://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scotphantsxz7.jpg)
Nice work, Didz, that's an enjoyable read.
However, AARs really belong in the Throne Room, so I'm going to have to move this there.
~;)
Great read! And funny.
I wish there were more AAR's like this one.
I'm glad you guys are enjoying this blog and I shall keep adding to it when I can. I'm one of those players who likes to keep notes of his games so I find it quite nice to have this forum to publish them on, and if you enjoy reading them then thats even better.
One thing I find quite interesting about this Scottish game is the way my habit of using mercenaries is leading to a quite interesting anti-English coalition in my field armies. Indeed, a large portion of my so called Scottish Army are actually Irish and no doubt you will soon seen some Welsh and even English troops appear. I suspect that historically this would have been quite accurate, the only people missing at the moment are the French who are being a little bit slow in recognizing the opportunity Edward is offering them.
The other nice thing about writing a blog like this is that it encourages me to add a bit of background colour to the characters. Edward for instance is turning into a pretty ruthless character, both in the game and in this blog. Although he nearly comes unstuck in Sherwood Forest. But thats in the next report.
Winter 1100: Nottingham
The first frosts of winter found Edwards army camped outside the walls of Nottingham Castle preparing for the imminent assault. The army was cheered by the news that York had already fallen to Alexander and all looked forward to the plunder which Nottingham would provide, not to mention the warm beds, ale and women.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5175/1163winterwb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The army was poised to strike when news reached Edward from his agent, Wallace, that the English had finally stirred themsleves from the Welsh borders and were approaching from the west through the forest of Sherwood.
"Yer can allays trust the damn English ta ruin a good party." cursed Edward "Muster the men, lets teach 'em how we Scots deal wi' gatecrashers.'
The Battle of Nottingham
The area from north to west of Nottingham is one huge forest. The forest of Sherwood was a Royal hunting ground used by the English king and so was preserved from clearance by local peasants and farmers. However, Edward managed to find an area of higher ground which was large enough and clear enough to deploy his army upon.
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2233/1163notts1ul8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The way Edward deployed his army was becoming almost a standard for the Scottish king. The infantry formed two lines with the crossbowmen in front and the archers sandwiched between the first and second line, whilst the border horse formed up slightly behind each flank ready to fend off any threat or launch an attack on the enemy reserves.
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/64/1163notts2tn3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Scouts soon reported that the English were approaching through the forest to the west and Edward rushed his army forward to deploy across their line of advance, and to allow his crossbowmen a clear field of fire as they emerged from the tree-line.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8136/1163notts3kw6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The English infantry baulk under the heavy fire but the English knights spur forwards and hurl themselves at the Scottish line driving off the crossbowmen and impaling themselves on the wall of lowland spearmen and Irish axemen forming the Scottish first line.
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7466/1163notts4rc7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With the English Army now locked in close combat with the Scottish battle line the Border Horse on the flanks of the line sally forth to drive off the English archers.
https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/631/1163notts5rm0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Fighting is fierce and bloody, the Scottish first line is driven in by shear weight of numbers and Edward is forced to commit his second line to protect his archers.
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8260/1163notts6ic4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Finally, the English have had enough and their Knights attempt to extracate themselves from the slaughter.
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6876/1163notts7vs4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The English general is either too slow or too brave and is cut down by Scottish spearmen.
https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/1109/1163notts8jl5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Their Captain dead the English lose heart and flee to the South presumably heading for London their last place of refuge. The border horse chivvy them from the field whilst the archers and crossbowmen use them for target practice. The rest of the army began catching their breath and looking for loot or friends amongst the corpses that littered the hillside.
But Edward was looking for the English King. Rufus had not shown his face at the battle, although Edward knew he must be close by. He had deliberately held back his retinue of 62 knights with the intention of preserving it to deal with Rufus and his small retinue of English from Nottingham. The idea of cutting down the English King personally appealed to him and he certainly did not want Rufus to escape back into the city. So now he scanned the tree-line looking for any sign of the skulking monarch.
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8240/1163notts9oq2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold. For instead of Rufus and the small retinue of knights reported by Wallace, what emerged from the tree's and began to march resolutely up the slope towards him was little short of another English army, and an army made up not of peasants and local levies but an army of knights.
"Ta Arms! Ta Arms! Recall the pursuit. Reform the battle-line. Ready the archers."
https://img373.imageshack.us/img373/4673/1163notts10zk3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
As the tired and bloody Scottish Army scrambled to face this new threat Edward realised he had been right all along. It had been a trap. The English had lured him here like a fat trout with a juicy worm and now they thought they had him, but something must have gone wrong for the English had been late springing the trap, had Rufus and his knights arrived earlier when the Scots were still struggling with the main English army they would have overwhelmed him. But they had not and so there was just a chance that Edward might still win, if god and St.Andrew was with him. Crossbow bolts began to pepper the ranks of English knights plodding up the slope but with minimal effect, the English just kept coming.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4360/1163notts11um0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The battles lines clash over the bodies of the fallen from the first battle. Rufus and his personal retinue charge the Scottish centre intent on breaking the line.
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6174/1163notts12ko3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The remnants of the Scottish horse attack the English flanks in a futile attempt to break their resolve.
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9048/1163notts13hc7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edward watched the struggling mass of men with growing concern. Everything was now committed to the fight except his own household and the Scottish ranks were gradually being thinned. It was only a matter of time before his men gave way under the pressure.
If he was to win this fight then Edward knew that he would have to risk all on a final roll of the dice, and trust that St. Andrew was holding the dice cup.
He could see the English Royal Standard and knew that Rufus was there in the fight near the centre of the battle. It was time to rip out the heart of this English Army or die trying.
With that he moved his personal retinue of knights around the left of his own battle line and brought them up behind the English centre where Rufus was still struggling to break through the Scottish line. With a final shout of 'Fer Scotland and Saint Andrew, KILL THE BASTARDS' he launched his charger into the midst of the English knights and began hacking his way resolutely towards the Royal Standard and the English King.
https://img465.imageshack.us/img465/5484/1163notts14vi6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Rufus seeing the mass of Scottish knights closing on him from the rear spurred his own horse hard and finally managed to break through the Scottish battle-line and escape abandoning his standard bearer and most of his surviving retinue. Edward attempted to follow but an English spear thrust across his chest made him realise that the English had closed ranks behind their King and pursuit would be suicide. 'SCOTS TA ME! BACK! BACK! He fell back reforming behind the English line whilst the surviving infantry on the hill launched a furious charge into the English spearmen to distract their attention.
https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8682/1163notts15pk9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The escape of Rufus proved to be shortlived, as the English King attempted to make his way back to his own lines, Edward and his surviving knights having extracted themselves from the tangle of English spears intercepted him and Edward finally had the King v King showdown that he craved. Rufus died his chest pierced by a Scottish lance.
Their King dead the English lost heart and began to fall back down the slope and melt away back into the greenwood from wence they had come.
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/7394/1163notts16th3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Pitfully few of the Scottish host survived and of the 62 knights that stood with Edward that morning only 30 now remained, nevertheless it was a victory. The English trap had failed and Rufus had paid for his deception with his life.
Edward wandered the battlefield congratulating his men and surveying the carnage.
"How many did we lose?" he asked.
"As best we can tell six hundred and sixty six, Sire" was the reply.
Edward laughed ironically "Six-hundred and sixty-six, the devils number, if that doesn't convince Pope Gregory that we are on a holy crusade to rid the world of these English devil's then nothing will. Make sure that MacDougall gets that message in Rome, I want the Pope to know what happened here today, and that God was on our side."
Stuperman
05-23-2007, 15:31
The plot thickens, this it really good, I hope to see what happens next.
Winter 1100 AD: The Battle of Nottingham (Evening)
The funeral pires were burning fiercely on the hillside, fuelled by the oaks of Sherwood and Edward was recovering from the battle in his tent and contemplating Rufus' crown on the table before him when his equerry entered.
Sire! a deputation from the city is here to plea for mercy.
Edward stirred from his thoughts picked up the English crown and emerged from the tent into the stench of smoke and death outside. A small group of well-dressed Englishmen were gathered outside under the curious and careful gaze of his surviving knights. Their leader, a well dressed man with an impressive set of whiskers, stepped forward and bowed.
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/9092/alanwheatleyvo1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
"Your majesty, I am Alan Wheatley and I have the honour to be the Sherriff of Nottingham. I am here together with this deputation, and on behalf of the Constable of Nottingham Castle to negotiate terms for the surrender of the keys to the fortress."
"Da yer have any daughters Mister Wheatley?" asked Edward pretending to inspect the English Crown in his hand.
The Sherriff seemed perplexed "Yes, sire I have a daughter. Her name is Marion." he replied.
"Then my terms are quite simple Sherriff. Tell you and yer friends, both here and in the fortress that if they hand over the keys to the Fortress to me tonight I will offer them and their families my protection tomorrow, when my army enters the city. If they do not then they can remain where they are until my soldiers find them and meet their fate like the rest of the population."
But, Sire surely we can discuss.... began the Sherriff.
"There is nothing to discuss, Sherriff. You can see the state of my army. Thanks to your King I have less that thirty knights remaining, and much of my army are hired thugs. Do you think I can deny them the spoils they have fought hard for here today. I can offer you and your friends protection but nothing more. Accept it now or negotiate with my soldiers tomorrow."
"You leave us no choice. Sire!"
"There never was one. Hand my men the keys and go with them to gather your people together in an easily defensible location, then stay there until what must be done is over."
The next morning Edwards army sacked Nottingham, claiming the warm. beds, ale and women that it craved. Whilst the castles dignitaries and their families cowered under the protection of Edwards knights.
Summer 1101: Nottingham Castle
https://img467.imageshack.us/img467/469/1164summerni1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Sire! Wallace reports that the English are still skulking about in the forest to the west and that another small English army has left London and is marching North, probably to join them.
Another small army. repeats Edward scornfully Another small army, like the small army that Rufus brought with him last year. De'yer think that Wallace has learned to count yet, or must we discover what small really means to him only when we count the corpses on the funeral pires.
"Tell, Wallace that I want ta'know how many English not how big they are and that if he cannot count them on his fingers and toes then I shall relieve him of them."
Aye Sire! I'll make sure he gets the message. Replies the equerry. Also, I am afraid there is bad news from Rome, Sire.
Bads news from Patrick. Did the Pope not get our message?
"Nay! Sire I'm afraid he did not. It seems his Holyness Pope Gregory died before Patrick could deliver our message. The new Pope has called himself Pope Aczo and comes from Portugal, so I am told."
"He died...my God he died. Thats the best news I've heard all week. Can there be any doubt now that God favours us. What do we know of this Portuguese Pope, does he favour our cause?"
"MacDougall, writes that he is quote 'utterly corruptable', Sire"
"Ha! Ha! Saint Andrew's bollocks" guffaw's Edward thumping the table in excitement "God has truly smiled on us today, lets waste no time then, have a chest of 500 florins dispatched immediately to Rome with a note congratulating his holyness on his new errm!....calling, and assuring him of the full support of Scotland in his future success. Patrick can deal with the details, just make sure his holiness is in our pocket before we march on London, and let Patrick know there will be more gold to come if he needs it."
Winter 1101: A time of consolidation and change
With most of England under their control the Canmore's spent the winter of 1101 consolidating their hold on their lands. Troops were rested and retrained and fresh troops were raised to help stabilize their control of their existing lands.
Edward remained in Nottingham, intent on preparations for a march on London in the Summer. The capture of the fortress of Nottingham provided the Scots with some of the most modern facilities for producing armour and weapons available at the time and Edward is engrossed in plans for their future incorporation into the army.
Fresh news arrived from Patrick MacDougall their man in Rome. I regret to inform your majesty that Pope Aczo the Corrupt died before I was able to deliver your gift of 500 florins. However, you will be pleased to announce that the college of Cardinals have just appointed a candidate from our allies in Sicily to the papal throne. I have met with Pope Alexius and he sends greetings to you his most loyal, faithful and trusted servant, and wishes you well in your endeavors.
It appears that God has some pride after all, or perhaps just a sense of humour. [Scotland's Pope-o-Meter rating rockets back up to 10/10]. Edward was becoming increasingly convinced that God really was on his side and the side of the Scots, he had never been a particularly pious man but it seemed to him that the facts spoke for themselves even if some of the heretic's wandering the country claimed otherwise.
The Winter also brought sad news that Queen Margaret, the mother of Alexander, Edmund and David Canmore had died. King Edward was the son of their fathers first marriage to Ingibiorg, daughter of Finn Amasson, widow of Thorlinn, Jarl of Orkney and thus had Norse blood in his veins, which some say accounts for his fierce and brutal ways. Nevertheless, Edward viewed the death of Margaret as an omen of the changes to come, ambassadors from the Danish court were becoming increasingly demanding over the rights of they thought they had to land in Northumbria, and in particular to York. Queen Margaret had kept these whining Vikings under control but now she was gone Edward realised it would only be a matter of time before the Danes decided to try and recover the land they had lost to the English at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Edwards only hope was that he could finish the English, before the Danes became too much of a nuisance.
Summer 1102: Nottingham Besieged
As the Winter of 1101 retreated so the English advanced. A number of them had spent a cold winter in Sherwood Forest living on their former masters deer and terrorizing local travellers. Now bolstered with fresh men from London they laid seige to Nottingham Castle.
They made a big show of constructing a ram and some scaling ladders but seemed less excited about actually using them, and Edward's initial concerns about the ability of the garrison to resist an English assault subsided. The passive behavior of the English merely encouraged the Scots to become bolder. They began making sallies from the castle to harry the English, at first in small numbers and eventually in strength.
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5176/1164nottsmz5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The English proved to be equally unwilling to face the Scots in the open as they were to face them on the walls of Nottingham and at one point the Scots were able to drive them from their seige works and take possession of their seige engine and ladders.
Eventually, after much wasted loss of English lives they gave up altogether, lifted the seige, and retreated back towards London.
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/937/1164notts1oj9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Trouble with the Danes
It was soon after the lifting of the English seige of Nottingham that Edward was informed of the first trouble with the Danes.
Danish ships had been seen patrolling off the Scottish coast for months but in the late Summer of 1102 they began to attack trading vessels entering and leaving the port of Edinburgh. Edmund had sent ships of armed men to drive them off and had been successful in doing so, but the loss of Danish lives had meant that relations with the Danish court were now hostile and Edward was worried that this would become a distraction from his main objective of London.
He commissioned the building of three new Holks in Edinburgh, in the hope that this would dissuade the Danes from further aggression and sent his own ships across the North Sea to scout the Danish coast and establish whether the Danish were massing for an invasion. Initial reports suggest that they are not, but Edward is convinced it will only be a matter of time unless he can do something to mend the rift.
A diplomatic mission is called for and Edmund is instructed to look for a suitable emissary.
Summer 1103: Wallace goes sightseeing in London
Whilst Edward made finishing touches to his preparations to march, Raudri Wallace made his way to London. He quickly confirmed that his previous assumption that Prince Henry was in London had been correct, and that the new King Henry was resident in the city accompanied by an army of about 400 men, including a personal retinue of 62 knights and 21 Archers. The rest of the army were spearmen of varying and dubious quality.
Winter 1103: Remember the Danish.
Edmund sends word from Edinburgh that he has found a volunteer suitable and willing to go and talk to the Danes. He is a Stewart by the name of Angus and will sail for Antwerp in the next tide. Edmund also explains that he has taken the initiative of attaching a man called Gille Petair to Angus Stewart's staff. Petair can do a reasonable impression of a Frenchman, and smells strongly of garlic (or worse). Therefore, it is hoped that he will be able to acquire any information which the Danes might not be willing to disclose to Angus. He also reports that the latest scouting reports from the ships patrolling the Danish coast confirm that a large Danish army is massing near Antwerp and that a powerful Danish fleet lies off the coast near Bruges.
Concerned but satisfied that all that can be done to placate the Danes is being done, Edward marches south with his army intent on dealing with the English presence on the Island once and for all.
He is joined en-route by 160 mailed knights from Wales. In fact, the army marching on London could hardly be called a Scottish army. Whilst, it did include 240 Scottish Archers and the 62 Scottish Knights of Edwards personal retinue, the remainder were either mercenaries, Welsh or locally raised English Knights keen to win favour with their new King.
https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/192/turn48hv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Summer 1104: London under siege.
As Edward approached London news reached him that King Henry had appealed for more troops and hastily increased the size of the London Garrison. It now consisted of over 800 men more than double the figure quoted by Wallace a few weeks ago.
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8075/49henrysarmyzr9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Unperturbed Edward also appealed for more troops, hiring 150 Welsh volunteers and calling for a further 150 highlanders and 80 horse to join him from Nottingham.
https://img377.imageshack.us/img377/7889/49edwardsarmycj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Winter 1104: News from the Angus in the Low Countries
News arrived from Angus Stewart confirming that despite being driven slightly off course he and Petair had managed to reach the Low Countries and were put ashore near the Danish held port of Bruges.
Here Angus had presented his credentials leaving Petair to wander off and check the state of the Danish Army and the ships in its port. It appears that Angus was well received and was able to secure agreement from the Danes for an instant ceasefire. Not only that but he was also able to restored the Trade Rights between the Danes and Scotland and was even able to sell the Danes copies of the latest Scottish maps for 80 Florins.
The Danes seemed genuinely relieved to have the threat of war removed from over their heads and their army has already been moved from the coast to reinforce the defences of Bruge.
Income from African gold mines almost doubled
Edmund was able to confirm that another Scottish merchant has managed to establish himself as a gold trader in Africa and that future income from Africa is expected to rise to somewhere close to 2,000 florins per year. In addition, two more merchants are en-route to Africa even as he writes with the intention of seeking further trading opportunies in the area.
Winter 1104: The Seige of London
Cheered by the news from the Low Countries Edward made final preparations for the assault on London.
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7465/50seigeoflondonhy4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The small English army just to the West of the Scots, is a group of peasants who foolishly decided to join King Henry in the City at the last minute.
Edward took his time studying the defences of London, looking for a weak point at which to focuss his assault. Eventually he decided upon the north-eastern corner of the city defences where the city wall had been diverted to avoid several farms and consequently did not have such strong defensive towers.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6734/50weakpointmc2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The assault commenced with the two seige towers manned by the English Knights heading for the north wall. However, it was not long before fire arrrows from one of the defensive towers set one of them ablaze.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/2592/50towerdestroyedpl1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Fortunately the second tower reached the wall safely and the knights commenced their assault.
https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8876/50wallassaulttk5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With the main assault underway Edward ordered forward the Welsh ladder teams in support.
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7909/50welshladdersjg0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
As the assault developed the Welsh on the left of the attack found themselves unopposed, and with a clear run to the cities East Gate. This was not their intended objective, as Edward had planned to move right and capture the North Gate but nevertheless they made a run for it and captured it without further opposition.
https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/929/506eastgatene9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In the meantime, Edward had ordered the first of his crossbow units to reinforce the troops on the North Wall, but as these men scaled the ladders they were met with a counter-attack from a fresh unit of English Spearmen, and Edward had to recall his knights from their advance on the North Gate to drive them back.
https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4600/507counterattacknorthwapr0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With his capture of the North Gate delayed by the English counter-attack Edward decided to switch the focus of his assault to the East Gate rushing all the troops still outside the city round to the East and into the city.
https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2359/508eastgateentrykl8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
When news that the Scots had penetrated the East Gate reached the English on the North Wall they abandoned their counter-attack and fell back towards the City Centre.
https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2283/509northwallabandonedjn5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
At the same time fresh units of English spearmen launched a counter -attack against the East Gate in the hope of driving the Scots back out of the city.
https://img379.imageshack.us/img379/369/5010eastgatecounterattaiv6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The troops from the North Wall are rushed to the East Gate to assist in its defence and major battle develops in the streets.
https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1748/5011battleforeastgatewf8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Eventually, the Scots prevail and the Highlanders pursue the surviving Englishmen towards the City Centre.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7174/5012higlandpursuitpa0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A brief lull settles over the battle at this point as both sides prepare for the final confrontation in the City Centre. Edward's Welsh mercenaries form a shiltron at the head of the street backed up by dismounted knights to block the street and protect the Scottish Archers forming behind them.
https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1145/5013preparationsyc8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With preparations in place the Scottish Archers begin to fire arrows into King Henry's personal retinue of Knights forcing them to react or die where they stand. The English King leads a furious charge which engulf's the Welsh shiltron and embeds itself in the supporting English Knights.
https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3319/5014henryschargepe4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Welsh are overwhelmed and die to a man, but Henry pays the ultimate price, cut down by his former subjects, or perhaps one of the highlanders who seem to have involved themselves in the fight.
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3908/5015henryisdeadug1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Their King dead the English Knights lose heart and the handful of survivors fall back to the City Centre allowing Edward to bring forward his crossbowmen to finish the job.
https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5994/5016crossbowswp0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Crossbowmen continue to slaughter the Englishmen crammed in the City Centre until they eventually throw down their arms and surrender. Victory!
https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6906/5017victoryse4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The entire of England is now under Scottish control and the Union is formed under the leadership of Edward, King of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.
https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1007/5018scotlandnl7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The City of London was sacked realising 13,039 florins for the Scottish treasury, and earning Edward the reputation of being a 'merciless mauler' (+3 Dread). When news of the victory reached Edinburgh, so many Scottish Knights flocked to join the army and share in the glory and spoils that Edmund was able to add four units of Feudal Knights to his garrison. (Mission: Reward)
Razor1952
05-25-2007, 03:15
"They made a big show of constructing a ram and some scaling ladders but seemed less excited about actually using them,"
I had to laugh at that , I also loved the picture of the sheriff of Nottingham. You have a easy writing style.
Anyone who is thinking of playing MTW2 should read this thread to see the fun you can have.
I await further installments.
I also loved the picture of the sheriff of Nottingham.
I tried to find out who the Sherriff of Nottingham really was, but stumbled upon the picture of Alan Wheatley the actor who played him in the Robin Hood films instead. In fact, as someone pointed out on one of the sites I visited, Nottingham Castle being a castle would not have been the residence of the Sherriff of Nottingham anyway, but would have been the responsibility of a Constable, hence the idea that Alan Wheatley was being sent to meet with King Edward whilst the Constable stayed in the Castle just in case of treachery.
I thought about getting Robin Hood involved in the story, particularly when the English Army spent the entire Winter camped in Sherwood Forest, but I decided that might be a bit too corny.
The thing that has surpised me as I've been writing this blog is the extent to which fate has favoured the Scottish. The rapid deaths, first of Pope Gregory and then Pope Aczo were an amazing coincidence which left Scotland with a 10/10 Pope-o-meter rating even after taking York and Nottingham. One can seriously understand why Edward would be convinced that God favours his cause and it's interesting that as I've followed through on this theme so Edwards traits in the game have followed suit.
Both in the game and in the story Edward is becoming ever more convinced of God's hand in his destiny.
The only time this ever seemed in doubt was at the battle of Nottingham when Rufus and his army of Knights emerged from Sherwood forest. That really was a shock, and I can only assume that the AI had rapidly recruited these extra knights just before the battle. I thought at that point that the battle was lost and if the AI had handled King Rufus better that might have been the case.
Instead it produced a great story line and a nail biting epic battle that decided the future of England and changed the course of history.
trickydicky
05-25-2007, 15:49
Great work Didz, fantastic reading. ~:thumb:
I just wish I had your panache and writing style, and I might give it a go myself.
Great work MacDidz :2thumbsup:
Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it.
One of the things I’ve noticed whilst doing this blog is the strange relationship which develops between the game and the story.
To begin with the game play drives the story, but as the story develops there is a subtle shift of power and I found myself modifying my game play to fit in with the logical plot development dictated by the blog. Even in the battles and sieges I found myself contemplating how I would write up the report and what Edward would say and do as the events unfolded.
So, I am presented with an interesting quandary at this point.
My Scottish Campaign has reached a logical break point. Edward has united the kingdom under Canmore rule and the hated Normans have been driven out, back to their domains in France.
Under normal circumstances I would merely cross the channel and finish them off in accordance with the Short Campaign victory conditions, but this doesn’t make a lot of sense story-wise and so I’m reluctant to force Edward to do it.
Edwards initial goal was merely to drive the Norman’s out of England and he has achieved that. His expectation was that the King Phillipe of France would use the opportunity presented by the Scottish invasion of England to fulfil his own objectives and seize the Norman possessions on the European mainland. That was why Patrick was sent to speak with the French king and negotiated the alliance with France.
The fact that the French did nothing is a considerable disappointment to Edward, but he is equally aware that if Scotland crosses the channel and begins to seize castles and cities in Normandy then the French King is likely to be somewhat annoyed and it may even damage their alliance. So, both Edward and myself are reluctant to begin a fresh chapter of our story with an illogical invasion of mainland Europe.
That leaves me with a problem of what if anything to do next.
I could just call it a day, and end the blog here. It is as I’ve already mentioned a logical break point. The other possibility is to continue but explore some of the other aspects of the game.
For example it would be interesting to see if Edward could persuade, or provoke, the French into attacking the English in Normandy.
The other logical mission might be for Scotland to try and expand its domination of Africa.
It already has established trading interests around Timbuktu, perhaps its time to establish a Scottish settlement down there and begin colonisation.
That would almost certainly mean war with the Moors and would also present some huge logistical problems, requiring heavy investment in the navy to solve. Likewise, there is the challenge of gaining diplomatic acceptance from both Spain and Portugal, who could make things very difficult if not properly handled.
My preference is to go for the African Colonisation option. Its not the easiest route to victory but it might be fun to attempt and it will change the pace, focus and direction of the story line.
StoneCold
05-26-2007, 12:08
There is also the crusade option. :) Nice read.
valhalla89
05-26-2007, 21:32
or you could always go to war with the danish and take scandanavia... and continue east into latvia and russia.
good AAR ive been looking for a good read like this for a long time. I currently am away from home until middel of August and cant play the game at all until i get back. So reading AARs is like the best and closest thing i can get to playing myself ;). Thanks m8.
nara shikamaru
05-27-2007, 06:39
Didz, your account of the Scots is great, very well put, and interesting along the whole journey. Now the question is do you have the reolve to keep writing. Like the resolve your King had to take England? If you do then please keep going, if not, then that is fine too, you have reached the end of your writing thoughts for this particular game. But maybe you could do one for another faction if your done with the Scottish one?
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)1104: A Kingdom United
With the year drawing to a close Edward settled into London's White Tower and began to contemplate the future.
Scotland was still at war with the English who retained their possessions in Normandy. However, Edward had no desire to pursue a campaign against them on the mainland of Europe, particularly as it might damage his alliance with the French.
Instead, he resolved to send emissaries to both the English and French with a view to improving their attitude to his new United Kingdom. At the same time he hoped to encourage them to begin viewing each other as enemies.
Likewise, Edward wished to foster improvements in the relationship with the Danes in the hope that they would continue to refrain from pursuit of their previous demands for restitution of their Northumbrian kingdom and the City of York.
Edward wanted to focus his attention on trade and, in particular, the trade established between Scotland and the Dark Continent. The Scottish treasury was already receiving 2,064 florins per year from trade in African gold and this trade was due to double as soon as the new merchants his brother Edmund had dispatched arrived in Africa and established their trade routes.
The money from this trade was vital to the future of the United Kingdom and Edward was keen to ensure that it was both exploited to its full potential and protected from interference.
He began to draft ambitious plans for the settlement and colonisation of Africa, but first he realised that if this trade was to be protected he would need to keep the sea lanes clear of both pirates and competition and that meant commissioning ships, to carry his armies and protect his ports. It also meant even more diplomatic efforts to keep potential rivals happy and distracted.
Edward explained his vision to the council of nobles who suggested that his immediate goal should be to close down the Muslim trade routes already operating in the area by blockading the port of Marrakesh. [New Mission]
Edward pondered this advice which seemed much too heavy handed for his liking. Blockading Marrakesh would almost certainly lead to a protracted war with the Moors and Edward was not convinced that this would be in his best interests or that of the merchants.
Rewards and Rebellions
Edward decided there was time to consider the councils advice before he needed to act. But first, now that the four kingdoms were united, Edward realised he must reward those who had helped him to achieve this goal and so over the course of the next few months Edward set about making sure this was done.
Land was re-allocated amongst the nobles who had supported him during the campaign, stripped from the estates of those who had made the mistake of choosing the wrong side. Three hundred and sixty new knighthoods were granted amongst these new feudal vassals to bolster Edwards Army.
At the same time Edward did not forget the soldiers themselves. The mercenaries who had flocked to Edward’s banner when he needed most were now idling in the streets of London and Nottingham costing him money to retain.
Edward decided it was time to send these men home and after a feast of thanksgiving for the army and their victories the Welsh and Irish mercenary companies were paid off and disbanded having given Edward a solemn oath that they would not revert to brigandry within the borders of his realm.
However, not all the mercenary companies were discharged. Edward retained the services of the five crossbow companies, some of whom had fought alongside him at the siege of Inverness twenty-two years before and had been with him throughout the campaign. These men were grizzled veterans now and had proven both their value and loyalty. Edward felt safer with them around him than his own nobles and so they were kept on and joined the garrison of London.
Finally, to give thanks to God and St. Andrew for their support, particularly at the Battle of Nottingham, Edward ordered the construction of an Abbey church dedicated to St. Andrew in the City of London.
The United Kingdom was thus settling smoothly into its new role even though not all were as thankful for the blessings bestowed upon them as Edward.
The Earl of Shrewsbury, one of those unfortunates who had chosen the wrong side in the war, and had lost most of his estates as a result, had spent the last of his fortune organising rebellion against Edwards rule in the west country. This rebellion was said to be well equipped even if it was quite small and if energetically led might pose a threat to Caernarfon whose garrison had previously been depleted to provide troops for the Siege of London.
Edward had already sent Wallace to investigate their strength and movements and resolved to deal with the Earl of Shrewsbury personally if need arose.
The Makmartine Mystery
The only other concern on Edward’s mind as he sat in the White Tower and watched to snow fall on the city outside was the news that his brother Edmund had adopted a twenty five year old knight as his son.
The man Cennédig Makmartane was a good knight by all accounts but Edmund already had three sons and Edward was puzzled by his decision to adopt another.
If it had been Alexander, then Edward would have understood. His younger brother had only managed to sire two daughters so far and needed a son, but Edmunds motives were curious and Edward resolved to ensure that Makmartane was separated from his new father as quickly as possible and given some useful role in a distant land.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1105
Wallace reports from the West Country that the Earl of Shrewsbury has raised and equipped 120 armoured swordsmen and a company of long bowmen to his cause. Wallace was unable to be sure of the exact number of bowmen but plans to infiltrate their camp and will send another report as soon as he is able.
Meanwhile, the Scottish fleet patrolling the channel have driven off a fleet of 150 English cogs which it believes were planning transport an English Army of 1,300 men across the straits of Dover to London.
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8408/546armyfromboulongebr7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Petair is ordered leave Bruges and move south to report on the strength and dispositions of the English between Bruges and Caen.
Winter 1105
A guild of swordsmith's approaches Edward and is granted a Royal Charter to establish themselves in Nottingham.
Merchant captains returning from the Moroccan coast report that the King of Portugal has declared a holy war against the Moors and that his armies are already crossing the Gibraltar straits into Africa. Edward is not sure if this is good news or bad. A war between the Moors and Portugal might distract the Moors from any interference in Scottish trade but at the same time Portugal might become a more aggressive competitor for that trade than the Muslims and much more awkward to handle if force became necessary.
On the other hand, if the King of Portugal can be persuaded into an alliance then perhaps Scottish ambitions in North Africa can be bolder and more in tune with the aspirations of the council of nobles.
Petair reports that he has successfully gained entrance to the City of Caen, and can confirm that this is the last city still in English hands. It appears that the French beat the English to Rheims.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9167/541caenui6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The English are ruled by King Robert, a monarch with little battle experience but a reputation as a noble and religious ruler.
https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1885/542kingrobertxw5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Petair was unable to discover any vices associated with either him or his son Prince Godfrey.
https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6650/545jpgprincegodfreyvr0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
It appears that King Robert is more concerned with the threat of potential French aggression than he is with invading the United Kingdom. However, he does have a large army commanded by Nigel Basset camped outside the city.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5403/544bassetsarmyjx2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4642/543nigelbassetot3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
This army represents the best of the troops which the City of Caen is able to provide.
Edward viewed the report with interest, concluding that King Robert and his English refugee's were no longer a major threat and could be left to the mercies of the French. Petair is order to keep a watching brief on them and to report any change in their circumstances.
Summer 1106
The Abbey Church completed in London and dedicated to St. Andrew. The Pope sends Edward his thanks and appreciation for dedication of another house of god. (Pope-o-Meter Rating 8/10). The upgraded defences to Caenarvon Castle are also completed.
Wallace reports that he has managed to infiltrate the rebel camp of the Earl of Shrewsbury and can confirm that his army consists of 120 Armoured Swordsmen and 120 Long bowmen. Edward plans to march on the West Country as soon the feudal knights from Edinburgh arrive in London.
Edward appoints MakMartane as Constable of Carnarvon Castle ensuring that he is kept as far away from Edmund his adopted father as possible, and placing him in a position where his future dispatch to North Africa will seem a perfectly logical decision.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Winter 1106
News reaches London that an English fleet is lurking off the coast of Brittany and attempting to prey upon Scottish merchant fleets rounding Ushant. A fleet of cogs carrying the merchant Domongart Broune to Africa has already been forced to flee back up the channel to avoid interception. The Channel Fleet has put to sea to deal with the threat.
Edward also commissioned a line of beacons and watchtowers along the south coast from Kent to Penzance to watch the sea and report the movements of hostile shipping in the channel and around the Cornish Peninsula.
Angus Stewart reports from Paris that he has spoken with the French, but that they are reluctant to attack the English domains in Normandy at this present time. It appears that the war with Spain is not going well for the French. Bordeaux has recently fallen into Spanish hands and King Phillipe is unwilling to start another war under such circumstances.
Edward is unable to offer any assistance to his French allies at the moment as his treasury is already overstretched with preparations for the defence of the realm and the colonisation of Africa. Even work on the improved defences of Edinburgh has had to be delayed by a year due to shortage of cash.
Summer 1107
The English fleet commanded by Admiral Simon foolishly pursues the trade fleet carrying Domongart Broune up the channel and runs straight into the Dougall's Channel Fleet moving to intercept it. The English are complely overwhelmed and forced to flee westward enabling the Scottish trade fleet to round Ushant unopposed and continue on its journey to Morrocco.
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9930/551navalfj5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5548/552zo9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Makmartane reaches Nottingham en-route to take up his new appointment at Caenarvon and stops off in the city to have the weapons of his bodyguard replaced by the swordsmith's guild.
A new fleet of trade ships is commissioned in Edinburgh and sails via the Shetlands for the Bristol Channel. The first of the old cogs are decommissioned to be replaced by these stronger and faster Holks.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Winter 1107
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9900/551simonsfleetve0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The newly built watch tower at Penzance immediately sights the remnants of Admiral Simon’s English Fleet off Lizard Point. Whilst, the one in Kent reports another small English fleet under Admiral Humphrey trying to slip down the Channel from the East. The Channel fleet pounces on Humphreys fleet and chases it down the Channel inflicting heavy losses.
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3121/552navalbattlech9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Battle of Shrewsbury 1107 AD
Makmartane marches from Nottingham with an army to deal with the Earl of Shrewsbury’s rebels in the West Country.
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4880/553makmartaneattacksau2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Deploying his archers on a low ridge overlooking the rebel camp Makmartane orders his knights to move around the enemy and position themselves on both flanks, whilst he and his bodyguard move to block any escape to the West.
Seeing Makmartane and his bodyguard moving past his left flank towards his rear the Earl directs his longbowmen to close on them and try and bring down the Scottish nobleman.
However, this was a poor decision. As the Welsh longbowmen rushed to close to within range of the Scottish knights they allowed a wide gap to develop between themselves and the armoured swordsmen and Makmartane was not about to ignore that sort of opportunity.
Suddenly Makmartine and his bodyguard swung left and instead of heading across the longbowmens front they began bearing down on them directly. The Welshmen skidded to a halt and loosed a hasty volley of arrows which brought down two of the Scottish knights, then Makmartane and his retinue were upon them and cutting them down with their newly improved swords. Fifty seven were cut down and the rest threw down their weapons and surrendered.
https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7871/554routofthelongbowmenzi0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Meanwhile instead of trying to aid his Longbowmen Shrewsbury and his armoured swordsmen had decided to try and drive Makmartanes archers from the ridge above them. This action was predictably futile, as in their heavy mail the swordsman had no hope at all of catching the nimble peasant archers and merely ended up chasing them around the ridge until Makmartane and his knights finished dealing with the longbowmen and returned to finish them off with a well timed charge.
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7053/555knightschargeau7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Earl of Shrewsbury is ridden down and killed during the pursuit.
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6024/556shrewsburykilledbq5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5126/557victorygz4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Makmartane gains +1 Dread and +1 Loyalty as a result of this battle.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1108:
We cannot trust the Portugeuse
Patrick MacDougall our ambassador to Rome reports that he has met with his opposite number from the Kingdom of Portugal.
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2381/571portugalsa9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
MacDougall was successful in negotiating rights of trade with the Portuguese but was unable to gain agreement for anything more. In his opinion the Portuguese are not to be trusted, they are allied with Spain and thus by association friends with the English and enemies of our allies the French. Their armies are said to be strong but their treasury is meagre and currently they only govern four cities.
What God Provides
A papal messenger arrives in London bearing word of his Holiness' distress at the continued hostility between the Scots and their English brothers in Christ. The messenger expressed the Popes urgent desire that all hostilities should cease immediately. Edward expressed his own desire for peace, stating that whilst the war against the English had been a holy one led by God himself and aided by Saint Andrew, that war had acheived its aims, and he had no reason to continue it now that Scotland had freed the English from their Norman oppressors.
However, he went on to point out that the Robert the King of the Normans seemed unwilling to accept the will of God. Even now his ships were stalking innocent Scottish tradesmen going about their lawful business on the high sea's. Such actions were not those of a Christian King, but of a pagan pirate and if peace was to be sustained these pirates must first be scourged from the sea.
As a dutifull Christian he would do nothing to seek further quarrel with King Robert, but if God were to provide him with an opportunity to rid the world of the pirates sailing under his banner then who could claim that he was wrong to carry out God's will.
And God did provide. A few days later Petair reported that 22 ships commanded by the English Admiral Simon were boarding an English Army of 1,300 men from the coast of Normandy.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6718/572sinkingthearmyle9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A detachment from the Channel fleet caught Admiral Simon trying to put to sea and completely destroyed his fleet drowning the entire English Army in the channel, whilst the remainder of the fleet closed with the remants of Admiral Humphreys fleet and destoyed it off the coast of Cornwall.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2479/573onelessenglisharmyei8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edward sent word to the Pope. "God offerred me a chance to acheive peace, and I accepted it as a grateful servant of the Lord."
With every known English Fleet destroyed and their military strength greatly reduced Edward truly beleives that there is now a chance for peace with the English. [Pope-o-Meter rating dropped from 8/10 to 6/10] What Edward did not realise as he sealed his message to the Pope was that God and the Pope were about to conspire together to deal him a joker from the bottom of the pack which could make war with the English seem like a blessing by comparison.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1108: For Saints and for Sinners
Edward was aware that there was a problem amongst the Christian community in his Kingdom. Ever since the Battle of Nottingham there had been a growing unorthodox belief in the special status that the people of the United Kingdom held in the favour of the Lord. Edward was not unsympathetic to this view himself and had perhaps unwisely intimated as much to the Pope on several occasions.
However, things began to take a more serious path soon after Edward paid-off the Irish and Welsh mercenaries and sent them home.
These men returned home rich with gold from their conquests and stories of Gods intervention in their victory. For most of these men the stories were just a good way of becoming the centre of attention in the local tavern, and impressing the wenches. Over time the stories were embellished and improved upon to keep them fresh and exciting.
But for a select few, who were unwilling to labour for their living, not skilled enough to become tradesmen, or too foolish to use their fortune wisely, the stories became the basis of their personal survival. They quickly found that the stories tied in perfectly with the growing belief in Gods special relationship with the people of the United Kingdom, and that by preaching these stories they could attract both money and personal favours from a growing flock of believers.
Thus, stories began to grow that Christ was born in Scotland , that Jerusalem was founded in England’s green and pleasant land. That the Holy Lamb of God was first seen on the hills of Wales, and the Holy Ghost walked freely across the bogs of Ireland. The people of the United Kingdom were Gods chosen, especialliy blessed and destined to inheret the Kingdom of Heaven and those of other nations merely servants and inherently inferior.
The most well known preacher of this new belief was Mataad Nevell a Scotsman from Inverness who had managed to convert 30% of the population of Northern Scotland by his teachings. But there were at least two others known as Primus and Isaac.
Belief in these new teachings was highest in the Scotland, Ireland and Wales where the message was readily accepted by those who had fought and profited from the war with England. Understandably, it gained much less support amongst the English of London and Nottingham who it was said had fallen from Gods grace by allowing a Norman to take their throne.
Inverness = 30% Heretic
Edinburgh = 24% Heretic
York = 24% Heretic
Wales = 22% Heretic
Dublin = 17% Heretic
London = 1% Heretic
Nottingham = 0% Heretic
Edward considered such belief’s harmless, if not actually beneficial to Kingdoms spiritual well-being, he may even have agreed with some of the preaching’s of these new prophets, which after all supported his own view that God favoured his destiny.
But the Pope was not so tolerant, it was Edward's brother Edmund who first sent warning to London that Domencius Boctarius, a Papal inquisitor, had arrived in Edinburgh intent on routing out the source of these heretical belief’s and restoring the Kingdom to the true word of God.
Edward responded to this news with alarm, now was not the time to explore questions of theology, now was the time for unquestioning conformance. He immediately suggested to Edmund that this would be a good time to visit the swordsmiths guild in Nottingham to upgrade his weaponry, whilst at the same time instructing the priests of the Scottish church to demonstrate their own enthusiasm to assist the Papal agents as far as they are able.
Scotland quickly became emptied of nobility and full of priests.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Summer 1108 - Summer 1110: Good Christians All
Over the next 2 years Edward set about proving to the world what good Christians, he and his people were.
New churches were built in Inverness and Dublin prompting approving messages from the Pope [Pope-o-meter rating raised from 6/10 to 7/10] and the Scottish priests busied themselves following in the wake of their heretic rivals trying to counter their teachings.
However, attempts to actually denounce the heretics all failed miserably. Even Domencius and his inquisitors seemed incapable of denouncing their teachings which did nothing to help the position of the Catholic Church in Scotland at all.
If anything the influence of heretic’s like Primus actually grew as a result of their repeated examination and release by the inquisition.
Primus, a huge highlander with a massive bushy beard, who liked to wear a wimple and a black robe, like an oversized hairy nun, was actually arrested three times by the inquisition, but on each occasion Domencius questioned him and then ordered him released.
Eyewitnesses to these examinations claimed that Primus answered each of question put to him with a long, passionate speech which due to his strong accent was completely unintelligible even to fellow Scots and which the inquisitor could not possibly have understood.
Nevertheless, the Italian priest had refused to listen to any translation offered and instead had released Primus on the grounds that he had heard him utter no blasphemy.
Frustrated by the lack of progress Edward called a council at Nottingham, which remained the only untainted area of true Catholicism in the Kingdom.
“This is nothing but a farce,” he railed “this inquisition is supposed to be here to cleanse our land of heretic’s not increase their credibility. Does anyone understand what this inquisition is trying to do?”
“Nobody understands the Scottish Inquisition.” Replied Edmund “This Domencius seems unable prove anything against Primus, and now we hear from our Brother David in Ireland that Mataad Nevell has surfaced over there. We will be seeing inquisitors in Ireland next. At this rate we will never be rid of them.”
“Aye! In the meantime the English and Danes grow bolder every month, religious unrest disrupts our tax income, and the Jews abandon our markets for safer places.
Our treasury is suffering and without money we can neither build churches nor ships. We lost two years on the upgrades I ordered to the defences for Edinburgh and we are still no closer to colonising Africa now than we were when this inquisitor arrived.
If that were not enough, Wallace tells me that there is an English army camping outside Bristol and a Danish army south of the Thames.
https://img463.imageshack.us/img463/1707/581englisharmyds3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Whilst we sit here with our hands bound by papal edicts waiting for an inept priest to get around to burning a ‘hairy nun’ our Kingdom suffers. Well my patience is done, we shall leave this Papal clown to his games and concentrate on our African trade. What little money we receive will be spent where it is needed on ships, mines and markets. If God wants churches he can first rid us of this pestilence.”
The council felt that it was time to finish matters with the English once and for all recommending that Edward ignore the Papal edict and lay seige to Caen. Their advice was noted but Edward refused to commit to such a bold plan.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1109 Bad Timing for Lovers
The kings daughter Mariot came of age this summer and Edward was approached by the noble knight called MacBethad for permission to marry her.
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6325/591mariotcanmorech6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1759/592macbethadij3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The timing of this request was bad, the King was troubled by more pressing concerns and rejected his daughters suitor. Instead he resolved that his daughter must be sent to Europe in the hope of improving the Kingdoms relationship with one of the Iberian Princes. Mariott was packed onto a ship from the channel fleet and landed at Bruges to begin her journey south to an uncertain future.
Edmunds son Cathal also came of age, at this time and Edward appointed him Constable of the Tower of London and Duke of Kent.
https://img463.imageshack.us/img463/7007/593cathalcanmorekz7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Patrick Stewart the Kings man in Rome reported that Emperor Henry, The Holy Roman Emperor had been excommunicated by the Pope, which would probably reflect badly on their allies the Spanish.
https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1605/594hreexcommeduc3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edwards own alliances with the French and Sicilians were meanwhile growing stronger
Razor1952
05-31-2007, 00:37
Great stuff MacDidz.
MTW2 I think really lends itself to rp immersion much more than rtw or civ4. Both those had specific strategies peculiar to that game set up, MTW2 IMHO has a much more logical strategy setup, which means your blog reads like real history.
I await further installments.
Great story!
Heretics can become a real nightmare if they grow strong. Goodbye public order and hello pagan magicians, inquisitors and nasty traits!
The new nerfed inquisitors seem to be rather ineffective, and that makes the heretics even stronger. The only more scary thing is an angry witch.
MTW2 I think really lends itself to rp immersion much more than rtw or civ4. Both those had specific strategies peculiar to that game set up, MTW2 IMHO has a much more logical strategy setup, which means your blog reads like real history.
I must admit I am finding that writing the blog is adding immensely to my enjoyment of the campaign and making me explore area's of gameplay which in a normal campaign I would have overlooked.
This is something like my eighth campaign and yet I am learning a lot from it by being forced to consider everything in more detail. So, the blog is proving a useful tool for focussing my attention as well as bringing characters to life.
The new nerfed inquisitors seem to be rather ineffective, and that makes the heretics even stronger.
I must admit I was surprised at just how ineffective the inquisition was. I was expecting flames and torture, I was even concerned about the survival of some of my nobles. But the guy they sent to Scotland was a kitten rather than a tiger.
Anyway, I've read Neocats Guide to handling priest now so hopefully I can begin to counter the growing plague of heresy contaminating Scotland.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Winter 1110: Diplomats, Priests and Princesses
Princess Mariot arrives at Paris and meets with Prince Henry of France. She sends back the interesting news that our allies the French are now also allied to the Moors of North Africa. Princess Mariot gains +1 Charm from her time at the French court and then continues her journey south towards Spain with her overly attentive guards.
https://img454.imageshack.us/img454/7113/621meetingwithhenrywb8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Angus Stewart has met with King Charles of Denmark to discuss the recent tresspass of Danish troops in Kent. Edward was surprised to hear that Denmark only held Antwerp, Bruges and Stockhold plus their capital. Angus beleives that they are reliable although they still refuse to accept a formal alliance with Scotland.
https://img454.imageshack.us/img454/3228/622denmarkgq7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The priest Feradac Besat is persuaded by Primus ‘The Hairy Nun’ that the Scots really are Gods chosen people and joins him in his quest to convert all Scots to Nunism and take up the tartan cross.
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/740/624feradacbv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Summer 1111: Home again, home again, jiggerty jog.
Domencius the Inquisitor has returned to Rome having found no evidence of heresy in Scotland. In the meantime, Jamie Canmore has come of age and he and his father Edmund decide to return north to Scotland to visit their estates.
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/8083/631jamescanmmoreek6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Religious unrest in Scotland is growing, Federa and Primus have converted 36% of the Scots to their teachings and religious unrest in Inverness has risen to 70%.
Edward orders sends Patrick Stewart in Rome a further contribution of 500 Florins for the Papal Church gaining further favour with the Pope. [Pope-o-meter 8/10]
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/5426/623popemeetingvg2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Stewart notes that at present Scotland is the only Catholic faction with a formal Papal alliance, and that the Papal States have expanded into Florence and Tripoli.
Another priest, Ranald the Unorthodox, abandons the Catholic faith to join the heretic Isaac in his beleif that wealth is the blessing of the Lord rather than the root of all evil, and sets about getting as blessed as possible.
https://img454.imageshack.us/img454/1146/632ranaldtheunorthodoxwm5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Winter 1111: Petair gets careless
The Guild of Master Explorers are granted a charter to establish themselves in Edinburgh.
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/4825/633masterexplorerei1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
News reaches Nottingham that the English of Caen have executed Petair for spying, a fresh agent will need to be sent to Normandy to keep an eye on King Robert and his kingdom.
The defences of Edinburgh have finally been upgraded after three years of delay and York now has a port.
The situation in Inverness continues to deteriorate with religious unrest now at 80%, with more and more Scots taking to the tartan habit.
Allan of Berwickshire has been landed in Spain and has reached the Spanish court at Toledo. There was nobody there to greet him but he has established that Spain is much weaker than we thought with only four settlements under its control and that it is allied with the Excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor.
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/6894/634spainishmeetinglq1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
News reaches Nottingham that the Mongols are approaching from the East.
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7417/635themongolsarecomingsf7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Summer 1112: My son and heir.
Prince Kyle the eldest son of King Edward comes of age, and Edward begins to consider the best way to prepare both his son and his brothers sons Cathal and Edward for their future roles in the Kingdom.
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/1281/641kylecanmorezf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Their first challenge will be to proved their peity by taking the lead in the battle against heresy within the kingdom and overseeing the actions to restore faith in the true church. A new church is immediately commissioned in Inverness to try and counter the rising levels of heresy in the province and Prince Edward is sent to oversee its construction.
Patrick Stewart reports that Pope is pleased with the restraint that Scotland has shown towards its enemies the English and that our reputation has improved improved still further. We are now the most favoured faction with the Pope as well as his only Ally.
https://img400.imageshack.us/img400/7159/636papalstandingzk9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Stuperman
05-31-2007, 14:14
have you tried a heritic stomp?
you need 10 units, place them in the 9 adjecent(sp) squares besides the heritics and then move a guy "ontop" of the heritic. If done right it will kill him, this works for inquisitors too.
Love the blog.
have you tried a heritic stomp?
I haven't but I am aware of the technique. At the moment it suits me to play along with the heretic plot as I have young family members to train so I need to recruit a lot of priests anyway. But I'll see how it goes.
StoneCold
05-31-2007, 18:43
Basically the stomp works for all non-fighting units, so if you manage to find an assassin, spy, but don't have a assassin of yours nearby, turn out your nearest army for a man-hunt :). Don't let your young members be in the heretic regions for too long or they will start getting bad traits.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) 1112-1115 From little acorns.
The next three years were dedicated to the personal development of the Royal children and attempting to make the United Kingdom a land fit for them to rule.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/739/716mariotcanmorese9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Princess Mariot (Age 22)
Traits and Retinue: Smothering guards, Faithful Servant, Fine cosmetic’s, simplistic, respectful, natural negotiator.
Princess Mariot continued her promenade through France to Portugal. Move suitors approached the King requesting her hand in marriage by Edward remained hopefully of an advantageous match with an Iberian Prince.
He was to be disappointed as by the time Mariot reached Lisbon it was clear that neither Spain nor Portugal had any Faction Leader or heirs available to marry her. Unfortunately, she is not that intelligent either and so her future is beginning to look bleak.
The only possible candidate was a Spanish General she met in Bordeaux called Valdez the Saint. This guy actually had maxed Piety and Loyalty plus 8/10 command ability which is probably why the French are doing so poorly in their war against Spain. The bad news is that there was only an 18% chance that Mariot could charm him up the aisle but I suppose its worth a try.
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/4109/714kylecanmorecz2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Prince Kyle (Age 19)
Traits and Retinue: Pagan Magician, Good with Taxes, Mean with money, Religious, Fair in Rule.
Having supervised the construction of the mines in York, Prince Kyle has been packed off to the holy land to answer the Popes call for a crusade to Jerusalem. Edward’s comment that ‘It’ll do the lad good.’ hid a very real concern that his remaining in the kingdom would lead to a very real risk that he would be corrupted by the heretical idea’s that were still sweeping the land. Prince Kyle had already hired a Pagan Magician to help him predict the future, and things could only get worse if he remained.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6539/713cathalcanmorepz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Cathal Canmore (Age 22) – Duke of Cornwall, Constable of the Tower of London
Traits and Retinue: Overseer, cultured, social drinker, gregarious, dutifully religious, religiously proper, mining knowledge, ignorant.
Cathal was doing well in his new role as Duke of Cornwall, he supervised the building of tin mines in the county gaining considerable knowledge and understanding of mining and encouraged the training of an elite squad of priests to hunt down Isaac and his ‘Salvation through Wealth’ heretic’s which were gaining numerous followers amongst London’s merchant community.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4378/712jamescanmorerd4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
James Canmore (Age 19) – The wandering Prince
Traits and Retinue: Religiously proper, delusions of illness, understands trade, sociable, superstitious, honest, religious, good with taxes, mining knowledge.
Originally sent to Inverness to oversee the building of yet another church, it quickly became apparent that the north of Scotland was not a suitable place for a such a sickly and impressionable youth. He was withdraw to Edinburgh briefly to witness the construction of the cities Merchant Wharf and then sent to Ireland to supervise the construction of the port facilities in Dublin.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/152/711adamcanmoreta0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Adam Canmore (Age 17) – Duke of York
Traits and Retinue: Abhors Drink, sociable.
Currently overseeing the construction of a church in Edinburgh, he is the youngest of Edmunds sons and feels unappreciated.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Winter 1112 The Battle of Taunton
In the winter of 1112, Edward decided to deal once and for all with the English army which was still skulking in woods and villages of Gloucestershire despite demands that it should either disperse or withdraw to Normandy.
Edward instructed one of the newly appointed diplomats Roy of Sowlis to give them one last option to vacate the soil of the United Kingdom peacefully or simply disperse and go home. But Ralph their captain refused to accept either option and so Edward gathered 150 crossbowmen and 160 knights from the fortress of Nottingham and drove them out of Gloucestershire into Somerset before forcing them to give battle near the town of Taunton.
https://img480.imageshack.us/img480/1783/661jpgbattleoftauntonjn5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edward drew his army up on a low ridge overlooking the English army which then attempted to attack and drive off his crossbowmen, allowing the Scottish knights to envelope their formations and destroy them piecemeal with well time charges in the flanks and rear.
https://img367.imageshack.us/img367/1053/662battleoftauntonmo9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1961/663battleoftauntonfk5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
With the last English troops removed from the United Kingdom Edward returned to Nottingham Castle.
1115: Know your enemies, know your friends.
Edmund had done as Edward requested recruiting three more diplomats and an additional spy to monitor the potential threats along Scotland’s trade route to Africa.
So, by 1115 Scotland had established five foreign embassies each with a resident diplomat.
2^=Diplomat|Embassy|Location
Patrick MacDougall|The Papal States|Rome.
Angus Stewart|Denmark|The Low Countries.
Allan of Berwickshire|Spain|Leon.
Algune of Fife|Portugal|Lisbon/Cordoba.
Micheil of Argyll|Moors|Algiers.
Each of these diplomats had submitted their initial reports and having dealt with the English at the Battle of Taunton Edward settled down with his council of ministers to analyse the information which had been provided.
2^=Faction|Status|Relations|Reputation|Power|Settlements|Wealth
England|Enemy|Very Poor|Mixed|Average|1|Bankrupt
France|Allied|Outstanding|Reliable|Supreme|7|Meagre
Denmark|Neutral|Reasonable|Relaible|Average|4|Very Poor
Spain|Neutral|Poor|Reliable|Supreme|4|Bankrupt
Portugal|Neutral|Amiable|Untrustworthy|Supreme|6|Meagre
Moors|Neutral|Amiable|Mixed|Modest|?|Bankrupt
Papal States|Allied|Very Good|Reliable|Respectable|3|Modest
HRE|Neutral|Amiable|Relaible|Supreme|8|Meagre
The first re-assurance Edward gained from this information was that Scotland and her ally France were both supremely powerful and with seven settlements each were much larger than their immediate enemies England and Spain.
Only the Holy Roman Emperor held more territory than Scotland though He was currently ex-communicated and so might not hold onto it for very long.
Economically, both England and Spain have drained their treasuries dry hiring troops to fight their respective wars and only Scotland and the Papal states seem to have any significant wealth.
In addition to the comparison of power and wealth, Edward had a chart drawn up to help him understand the diplomatic and military relationships between the various kingdoms.
https://img477.imageshack.us/img477/3138/diplomaticanalysisoo8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
This clearly showed that Spain was the centre and of an alliance of five factions, Spain, England, Portugal, HRE and Milan. Together this alliance could call upon the resources of at least 20 provinces.
Opposed to this loose coalition was Scotland and France with 14 provinces but with the potential support of the Papal States and the Pope. It was also clear that Denmark through its alliance with Venice ought to be a potential ally of France and Scotland, as Venice was already at war with the HRE.
However, for the moment, Denmark seemed determined to remain neutral. But there was no doubt from the chart where its friends ought to reside and with Denmark came to possible support of Poland.
Once more the council proposed that Scotland should continue its war against the English by capturing the city of Caen. This would not only swing the balance of power in favour of the Franco-Scottish alliance but remove a potential threat to France allowing it to concentrate all its resources against Spain and would give Scotland a base of operations on the other side of the channel should they need to assist France actively against the Spanish.
Edward recognised that this might well be a sensible course of action. However, Micheil of Argyll had revealed the worrying information that Portugal has already captured the city of Madagascar from the Moors and Edward is now torn between the desire to beat the Portuguese to Timbuktu or finishing off the English. If Caen was to be attacked then it would need to be a quick seige, and that required catapults which Edward did not have. "Give me a catapult and I will give you Caen." he muttered
In the meantime Edward decided to extend his network of embassies to include Venice, Poland and Milan, as he was keen to discover if Venice wished to join the Franco-Scottish Alliance and what if any power Milan and Poland might be able to contribute to their friends.
Summer 1114: Barbecue Time at Last
https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/343/691issacburnedzs8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edwards ‘War against Heresy’ finally achieves a minor victory. One of Cathal Canmores newly trained ‘Anti-Heresy Squad’ called Stuart Macgoulchanne managed to corner the heretic Isaac and have him denounced and burned as a blasphemer.
https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/6694/692stuartmacgoulchanebu4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
One down four to go….the Pope has also sent yet another inquisitor to Scotland, and this guy actually looks like he might know what he’s doing.
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/4001/693pierusdecanpope8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Hopefully, this will be the turning point in the war against heresy.
gibsonsg91921
06-02-2007, 17:29
great blog macdidz- cant wait for the next installment
valhalla89
06-03-2007, 21:52
yea, really entertaining read, im checking in every other day or so. i really like how your changing the influence of the game from the normal conquere, war, "bam bam bam" story to a very complicated, character filled, and political game. props, and thanks again.
Summer 1115: Another new Pope.
News from Rome: Patrick MacDougall sends word that Pope Alexius died last year (1114) and the Pope is now Petrus of Hungary. However, Patrick confirms that this change of leadership has done nothing to diminish Scotland’s special relationship with his holiness. [Pope-o-meter Rating 10/10]. In fact, only Hungary itself can match Scotland in the favour by which it is seen in the eyes of the Pope
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Summer 1115: Another new Pope.
News from Rome: Patrick MacDougall sends word that Pope Alexius died last year (1114) and the Pope is now Petrus of Hungary.
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/9483/popeisdeadjh2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, Patrick confirms that this change of leadership has done nothing to diminish Scotland’s special relationship with his holiness. [Pope-o-meter Rating 10/10]. In fact, only Hungary itself can match Scotland in the favour by which it is seen in the eyes of the Pope.
https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/7026/694popeometerho7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Summer 1115-1116: The African Trade
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/9860/717africantraderspl4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Trade with the Dark Continent is growing rapidly, Scotland now has five merchant houses operating from Timbuktu, realising a net income of 5,480 florins per annum for the Scottish treasury, in gold and ivory.
https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/194/718financereportry9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The only minor setback recently has been the death by natural causes of the merchant Gille Patrick of Shetland and he will need to be replaced before income can be restored to its full potential.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1114-Winter 1117: Feeding the fires, the war against heresy gains momentum.
Following the successful denouncement and burning of Isaac by Father Macgoulchane, his convert the former priest Ranald the Unorthodox fled northwards abandoning East Anglia and heading towards Yorkshire. https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/2175/719ranaldcorneredck6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, he did not make it very far, Stuart Macgoulchane and his fellow priests managed to corner Ranald near Nottingham and after a brief examination Ranald joined his mentor on the purification fires in the Summer of 1115.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/8162/721ranaldexecutedmr3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Impressed by this devotion to the faith Pope Petrus immediately promoted Father Macgoulchane to the college of cardinals. Cardinal Macgoulchane and his supporting priests then decided to head for Ireland where David Canmore had reported that Mataad Nevel was still at large and causing trouble.
The Inquisition strikes
Meanwhile, in Scotland the inquisitor Pierus de Canpo manages to track down the elusive heretic Primus and this time there is no escape for the 'hairy nun' and he burns on the pruification fies in Edinburgh's market square. His convert Feradac Besat is currently no where to be seen and seems to have gone to ground, as has Mataad Nevel.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/7707/741micheilmenziesburnedsc0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Frustrated at not being able to find the remaining two heretic's inquisitor de Canpo decided to examine Cardinal Macgooulchane's priests and in doing so discovers that Father Micheil Menzies does not meet his exacting standards of christian devotion. Word is sent to London that a replacement priest is needed.
Two heretic's remain at large but there exact whereabouts is currently unknown.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Lucky in war, unlucky in love
Whilst his fortune in battle has been unblemished Edward’s attempts to gain a victory through courtly love is proving much more of a challenge. Princess Mariot has had a fruitless journey to Cordoba and now returns to Spain in the hope of attracting a suitor from amongst the Spanish nobility.
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5297/731marrymene7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, her first attempt was a disaster the Spanish Nobleman Goncaluo el Valiente rejected her advances, and now infuriated and desperate she is heading further north to seek out the Spanish noblemen Valdez the Saint she met on her journey south.
https://img478.imageshack.us/img478/8969/732rejectionvv4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In the meantime Nottingham castle is receiving regular visits from suitors hoping to persuade Edward to grant them the hand of his daughter in return for his Royal favours, but so far Edward has rejected them all in the hope of gaining some political or military advantage from his daughter’s hand.
His latest idea is to send Mariot east again, this time to Venice in the hope that an Italian Prince might be available and interested.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Winter 1116 Makmartane sails South.
At last after years of delay Makmartane has sailed with an army to secure Scotlands trading empire in the Africa. Even so, the demands made on the Scottish treasury to support the war against heresy and Prince Kyles Crusade mean that Makmartane's army is hardly of the quality needed to ensure an easy victory, and the fleet transporting it is equality understrength.
However, with Gods blessing both the fleet and the army will survive and acheive their goals.
https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9248/733makmartanesailssouthfn4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Admiral Dougall's fleet collects Makmartane and his rapidly assembled army from the Welsh coast and heads south.
https://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2174/733makmartanesarmyaj1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The plan is to land Makmartane and his troops on the coast of Morocco where they will make a quick dash across Portuguese territory into the Sahara and then head south for Timbuktu. The hope is that Makmartane will be able to hire friendly natives locally to bolster his numbers and make up for his lack of foot soldiers before he reaches his goal.
Having landed Makmartane's Army, Admiral Dougall’s fleet will continue eastwards into the Mediterranean and will rendezvous with Prince Kyle’s crusade somewhere along the Adriatic coast. Then, hopefully reinfoced by additional mercenary ships, Dougall will load the Prince’s Crusaders and carry them on to Jerusalem.
It was an ambitious plan, woefully under resourced but at least it was underway.
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Summer 1116: The collapse of the Spanish Coalition
Just as Edward had predicted the ex-communication of The Holy Roman Emperor triggered hostile interest from a number of other christian factions. France ended its war with Spain to attack the HRE and they were joined by both Venice and Denmark.
More interestingly Spain decided that it no longer wished to be associated with the HRE. probably on the direction of the Pope, and cancelled their alliance leaving the Spanish coalition with only England and Portugal as its other members.
The HRE now became the centre of its own coalition consisting of the other ex-communicated Christian faction Milan, plus the Byzantine Empire, and much to Edwards surprise, Hungary.
The impact that this reshuffle of the political cards might have on Scotlands trade route to Africa was not yet clear. Portugal was still allied with both Spain and the HRE and thus in theory unlikely to be friendly towards Scotland or France. However, England was now far more isolated politically than it had been when Spain and France were at war and a lot would depend on what Spain did next.
Winter 1117: Prince Lulach comes of age.
https://img478.imageshack.us/img478/1556/751lulachcanmorejc8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
King Edward’s youngest son Lulach comes of age
https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2832/macdidzam0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)Winter 1117 - Winter 1119: All is being done that can be done.
This was a relatively quiet time for the Kingdom. Prince Kyle and his crusade was busy getting lost in central Germany and costing the treasury a fortune in mercenary and equipment expenses trying to replace the large numbers of crusaders and pilgrims who were abandoning Prince Kyle on a daily basis due to his appalling navigation skills.
In the meantime Makmartane's expedition was sailing steadily south across the Bay of Biscay and down the west coast of Spain towards an uncertain future in Africa.
The most annoying thing Edward had to deal with were the suitors seeking the hand of Alexanders daughter Raghnailt.
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1340/761eoinoforkneyqt9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edward is in no real mood for dealing with these power hungry minor nobles and refuses to grant any of their proposals. The result is that poor Alexander is left with four unmarried daughters, a situation bound to drive any man to drink.
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/647/guildoq2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Edward takes more interest in the approaches of The Guild of Theologian's who wish to build a guild house and college in London. Edward had deliberately rescinded the charter of the Thieves Guild in London a few years ago in the hope of attracting something more useful to the city and he was quick to grant the Theologian's a charter to do so when they requested one.
The war against heresy seems to have been largely successful. In the summer of 1119, Cardinal Macgoulchane discovered a minor new cult leader in Ireland leader by a man called Buchan and had him executed. However, the major ring leader Mataad Nevel remains at large and speculation is that he may have died or taken his own life.
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4281/762buchanexecutedny2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The only other notable event was a minor rebellion led by the Earl of Lincoln, which Edward was forced to disperse with his customary ruthlessness earning himself an even more fearful reputation (+1 dread)
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/7987/763battleoflincolnap7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The important thing is that life is returning to normal in the kingdom, heresy levels and religious unrest are dropping and tax levels are high suggesting that the ‘war on heresy’ has been successful and the people are reasonably content.
Bit boring really.
1120: The Unholy Alliance
Whilst life in the United Kingdom was reasonably peaceful, mainland Europe was wracked by war. The ex-communicated Holy Roman Emperor and his ally the ex-communicated Doge of Milan had formed an unholy alliance to try and fend off attacks by almost all their neighbouring princes.
Despite this alliance Arcill Vissman reports that The Holy Roman Emperor has already lost two cities.
2^=Faction|Status|Relations|Reputation|Power|Settlements|Wealth
HRE|Neutral|Amiable|Reliable|Supreme|8-2=6|Meagre
Milan|Neutral|Amiable|Very Reliable|Supreme|7|Meagre
The chart below gives some indication of the pressure that the Unholy Alliance were under at this time, and Scotlands relationship to the main participants.
https://img400.imageshack.us/img400/9889/diplomaticanalysisunholvp7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Surprisingly Scotlands relationship with The Holy Roman Empire actually improved over this period though Edward had no idea why they felt he was being co-operative.
It was through this maelstrom of warring armies that Prince Kyle was trying to march his crusade and it was proving extremely difficult to force a passage through the narrow passes and defiles of alpine Germany and Italy with so many armies marching and countermarching around him. There were times when the Prince was seriously tempted to smash his way through by force, but he kept his peace despite the desertions that such delays caused and eventually emerged into the relatively clear terrain around Zagreb.
Winter 1120: The Death of Edmund Canmore, Duke of Edinburgh.
Edmund Canmore, the Duke of Edinburgh and brother of the King has died peacefully at Caenarvon Castle in Wales. Edmund was a loyal and dutiful brother to the King whose skills were invaluable in keeping order and justice alive in Scotland during the periods of religious unrest which racked the province between 1108 and 1119.
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1893/85377017pb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Summer 1120: Morgunn Canmore comes of Age
Morgunn Canmore the only son of David Canmore comes of age, appointed Duke of Northumberland and made governor of York .
https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/2204/821morgunncanmorelp1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Winter 1120: Marriage prevails over Papal politic's.
In an unexpected edict Pope Petrus the Unorthodox instructs Edward to cancel his alliance with France. Edward can see no reason why this should be necessary but complies anyway rather than risk the wrath of the Pope.
However, having satisfied the Pope, Edward wasted no time in re-establishing the close ties between France and Scotland. He was aware that King Phillipe had a number of daughters and he immediately proposed that a marriage be netogiated between the Frenchy Princess Loyse and Prince Kyle his eldest son and now heir to the Scottish Throne.
https://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2194/822marriagekyleloysejj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
King Phillipe was not terribly keen on the match but when it was sweetened with a payment of 3,000 florin's to be paid over two years the agreement was struck and wedding plans put in motion.
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/4803/823peacewithsicilywe8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The immediate political consequence of this marriage was that France renewed its alliance with Scotland and in doing so was forced to make peace with Scotland's ally Sicily.
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/1487/824loysecanmorebm0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img161.imageshack.us/img161/3599/827familytreegq0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
[The above images answer an earlier question about how the game refers to foriegn Princesses involved in marriages, as you can see it quite incorrectly refers to them by their married name, even before they are married. From a purely roleplaying point of view it would have been better if wives were referred to by their maiden names so that family ties could be determined from the family tree.]
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/997/8245frenchrelationscq9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Prince Kyle gains a SMART WIFE
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/6038/826smartwifefg4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A wife that actually increases all trade and tax income by 10%, rather than draining your credit card balance. Very novel.
Summer 1120: The King is Dead, Long live the King.
The marriage of Prince Kyle and Princess Loyse turned out to be the last act of King Edward to secure the future of the Scottish crown. A few months later he died peacefully at Nottingham Castle.
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/2047/829thekingisdeadqq4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
He had acheived his goal of uniting Scotland, England Ireland and Wales into a single Kingdom under Scottish rule and had set the pattern for its future prosperity through trade and secure alliances. Whilst, not the most pious of Malcolm Canmores children, Edwards belief in his own destiny had never faultered, nor had his appreciation of gods support ever waivered.
Kyle was notified of his fathers death just as crusading army emerged from the alpine passes onto the adriatic coast. "Hey'll be sorely missed, fur ha'll guard th' pasture noo th' viscious dug is deid." .
https://img487.imageshack.us/img487/2921/8210kingkylest5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
He sent word to Scotland that his Uncle Alexander should assume the responsibility for the running of the country until his return from the crusade.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7794/8211makmartanelandssa4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Makmartane is informed of the Kings death just as his army is preparing to march south into the desert having been landed on the coast of Morocco by Dougall's fleet. "God grant that th' next hain oan th' tiller is as sure an' steadfest as his." was his only comment.
Summer 1120: More French Totty
Still excited by the success he had in negotiating the marriage of the newly crowned King, Roy Randall discovers that the French King has another daughter of marriagable age and immediately suggests a second potential match. This time with David Canmores only son the 16 year old Morgunn Canmore. The French princess is far from enthusiastic, Mahault de Valence is a celebrated beauty and considers herself worthy of better than a minor prince in the same court as her less attractive sister.
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4330/8212mahaultdevalencelx9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Nevertheless, the French King is desperate for cash and an offer of a further 5,600 florins soon persuades him to accept the match despite his daughters angry objections.
https://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6205/8213morgunnandmahaultno7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
And so in the space of a few months a second Royal Wedding is announced and two French princesses make their way reluctantly across the channel to take up their new duties.
Their acquisition had been an expensive investment, but Princess (now Queen) Loyse proved to be a smart wife and Princess Hahault though lacking her sisters intellect was both fair and admirable promising a good chance of giving Morgunn a large family and boosting his popularity. Unfortunately, Princess Mahault proved to be a little bit too fair for Morgunn's own peace of mind and it was not long before rumours were circulating that his wife had other interests and that Morgunn had 'Trouble at home'.
Winter 1121: Macdougall Dies
https://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6213/831patrickmacdougalldieic2.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Patrick Macdougall, the Ambassador to Rome has died of natural causes and Roy Randall is instructed to replace him.
https://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9023/832gillecoimdeddiesme1.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Another African merchant dies and needs to be replaced from Edinburgh.
Summer 1121: France and Portugal declare war.
In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the HRE and France it now appears that the HRE's ally Portugal has been drawn into the war. Hopefully, this will distract Portugals attention away from Makmartane's expedition to Africa though it seems unlikely that in the long term Scotland's relationship with Portugal will be helped, either the agressive actions of its ally France, or the tresspassing of its army over hundreds of miles of Portuguese territory, even though it is nothing but desert for the most part.
Summer 1123 The old power block begins to reform.
Allan of Berwicksire, the ambassador to Spain reports that Spain has once more allied itself to The Holy Roman Emperor effectively reforming the old power block which existed eight years ago. It is doubful that this poses any immediate threat to Scotland but France will now be under severe pressure from the HRE. Portugal and Spain.
Kyles Crusade is making better progress
Dougall's fleet reached the Adriatic only to be told that King Kyle and his Crusade had already marched east towards Constantinople.
https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7172/871kylescrusadeda1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
By the summer of 1123 the crusade had crossed the Dardanelles and was heading eastwards along the Aegean coast. Dougall's fleet raced to catch up and collect the crusading army to carry it across the Mediteranean to Jerusalem.
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1687/901kylescrusadewe2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
They eventually meet just beyond Rhodes in the Winter of 1124 and after hiring some additional ships locally they head off across the Mediteranean for their final destination.
Winter 1125: France is in trouble again.
It looks as though France has upset the Pope again.
https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3416/911franceintroubleagainpm2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
None of my diplomats have reported any trouble between France and the Papal States and as far as I know France has not been ex-communicated but nevertheless his holiness seems determined to drive a wedge between Scotland and France.
However, for the time being Alexander decides (on behalf of King Kyle) not to act on the Popes orders. The Popes edict has a five year expiry date and a lot can happen in that time.
Winter 1125: The Seige of Jerusalem
Kyles Crusade reaches to coast of Egypt only to discover the city of Jerusalem already under seige by a Crusading Army of 1,311 men from Sicily commanded by Prince Ciapo. Unperturbed the King joins the seige.
https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1717/912seigeofjerusalembc3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The assault commences though it is hardly a serious challenge. The city is only defended by the Egyptian Prince Mostafa and his 28 personal bodyguards.
https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7488/913seigeofjerusalembv5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A small relief force of 273 men under Captain Ghandour was due to assist but failed to turn up and so the assault on the city was largely a race between the Sicilians and the Scots to see who could reach the city centre first.
https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6303/914seigeofjerusalemnc0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Scilicians scale the walls unopposed whilst their rams smashes down the Northern Gate.
https://img391.imageshack.us/img391/4584/915seigeofjerusalemua7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Scots scale the western walls of the city using ladder and seige towers.
https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/4189/916seigeofjerusalemeu7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Realising that having battered down the north gate, the Sicilians will reach the city centre before him, King Kyle abandons his infantry to continue the assault on the East wall alone and rides with all his knights to enter the city via the north gate.
https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2595/917seigeofjerusalemag9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Kyle forces his way through the Sicilian troops heading for the city centre determined to be the first to meet Mustafa and his bodyguard and accept the surrender of the city.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8813/918seigeofjerusalemjq5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A fierce cavalry melee ensues in the city centre, until Musatfa and his bodyguard are struck down.
https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8269/919seigeofjerusalemgs2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Egyptians surrender the city. Though they gave a good account of themselves in the brief fight. Losses amongst the Scots being particularly high.
https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5018/9110seigeofjerusalemfm9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Crusade is a success and Scotland is awarded 1,479 florins by the Pope.
However, Kyle is disgusted to be told that the defence of the city will be given over to the Sicilians and Prince Caipo. His objections on the grounds that more Scottish that Sicilian blood was sacrificed in its capture and that a King ought to take precedence over a mere Prince were brushed aside.
https://img471.imageshack.us/img471/975/9111seigeofjerusalemvs3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
It was a bitter end to the campaign and it was a dejected Kyle who decided to load his army back on their ships and sail for home.
Winter 1125: Women trouble.
Back in the United Kingdom Uncle Alex has his own problems to deal with. Not only are his own four daughters, Raghnailt Aged 30, Anabella Aged 23, Afraig Aged 22 and Ethelred Aged 22 still unmarried and rapidly exceeding their sell-by date. But Edward's daughter Mariot Aged 34 is still wandering aimless around Europe unable to find a suitor and now he is told that Edward's youngest daughter Agnes has done a runner with some minor Danish nobleman.
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/8035/9112agnescanmorerunsif9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Its enough to drive any man to drink and Alexander is no exception.
Winter 1125: Another minor rebellion crushed
Another rebellion in Lincolnshire is crushed by David Canmore and the troops from Nottingham Castle.
https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/4887/9113battleoflincolnuh6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Razor1952
06-07-2007, 00:18
"A wife that actually increases all trade and tax income by 10%, rather than draining your credit card balance. Very novel."
I can relate to that, lucky Kyle.!
Summer 1125: Another Pope meets his maker
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/9257/921popepetrusisdeadbq3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
On hearing that Jerusalem was safe in Christian hands the Pope became over excited and after a heavy celebratory feast passed away suddenly.
https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/8048/922papalelectionzr7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
There are three candidates to replace him but its pretty obvious who the successful candidate will be and so Scotland votes for Abony the Unorthodox from Hungary.
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/3963/923electionresultshq8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
As expected it was a one horse race, and Abony the Unorthodox becomes Pope Strenna of Hungary.
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1945/924popeometerqi9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
A quick check of the Pope-o-meter confirms that Scotlands is still top of the pops with the Pope.
Summer 1125: Constantinople Falls
https://img389.imageshack.us/img389/5180/925jihadconstantinoplerp0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Pope Strenna's backside has hardly warmed the Papal Throne when news arrives that a Muslim Jihad has captured Constantinople. Speculation begins to circulate as to whether this will trigger another Crusade.
In the meantime the Pope announces that France, Portugal and Milan are once more reconciled with the Catholic Church and that its war with Milan is over. However, there appears to no such clemency for The Holy Roman Emperor who, as far as Scotland is aware, remains an outcast.
Summer 1125: Sun, Sand and more sand
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7348/sexpeditionit6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
While the rest of the world goes about its many and varied activities Makmartanes world has become nothing more than one seemingly never ending stretch of sand.
He has been fortunate in having managed to recruit five local tribes to join his army, but the ballista's are proving a real drag to move through the desert and it will be at least another four years before he emerges near Timbuktu. The march has given him more than enough time to consider his options when he does so.
His current plan is to try and avoid Timbuktu and march westwards to the coast. The spy Domnall the Broiss claims that there is another native settlement there which if true could provide Makmartane and his army with a firm base from which to launch any future campaigns.
However, a lot will depend up the reactions of the Portuguese when he reaches Timbuktu. If they prove aggressive then he might be forced to give battle and destroy them and capture the settlement.
gibsonsg91921
06-07-2007, 02:09
genius as usual didz
Winter 1126: A hatred shared is a divine blessing.
Alexander Canmore smiled when he received the latest Papal edict.
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7471/931blockadecaencx2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
It seems his hatred of the English is shared by Pope Strenna and this was the perfect excuse to escalate the war.
He had fumed in frustration when his carefully engineered council demands to take Caen had been ignored by his brother Edward on every occassion, but now at last he had cause to act against them. He immediately ordered the channel fleet to blockade Caen and put the United Kingdoms beacon defences on alert to watch for invasion.
He then conveniently forgot to recall the fleet when the mission was deemed successful. He figured that at the very least the so called King Robert, Duke of Normandy would be forced to build a fleet to drive off the blockade. And with luck he would also send an army across the channel too, in which case perhaps there would be a chance to kill a few more English barstards before he joined his maker and rid himself of all these damned women. It was a gamble but Alexander liked a wager, and in truth he had little to lose, with no sons his family line was about to become extinct, all that remained was to decide how many Englishmen would precede him into hell.
Winter 1127: Sadness and Frustration
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3694/961wallacediesbf6.jpg (https://imageshack.us) Raudri Wallace 'The spy who could not count.' but who had done so much to keep Edward informed of the English movements during the early years has died peacefully in York. He served his country well despite being numerically challenged and his reports will be missed.
In the Eastern Mediterrean Kyle's crusading army sailed slowly homeward and the King fretted. This was not the glorious start to his reign that he had imagained. The Crusade had been a success but Scotland had little to show for it 1,479 florins from a dead Pope hardly covered the expenses of one year and Kyle began to regret not wiped the smirk of Prince Ciapo's face with his gauntlet when he had the chance. The Sicilian's had stolen his glory and the fact that they were long standing allies merely made it worse.
Had God finally foresaken the Scots?
Was his fathers death to mark a change in fortune for the Scottish cause?
Was he cursed with misfortune?
He frowned remembering the frustration of trying to direct his army through alpine germany, if only he had reached Jerusalem earlier, if only Dougall had met him on the Adriatic coast, had that all been his fault, or was God testing his metal, and if so did he pass or fail?
Now he was heading home. supposedly truimphant, and yet it felt like a defeat. What would Scotland think of him, coming back empty handed?
He had deliberately not disbanded his army, hoping that there would yet be an opportunity to put it to good use. But two years later and all it had done was cost him more money. He should at least have discharged the pilgrim's and let them pay for their own passage home. "Every mickle makes a muckle" as his father would have said and the Scottish treasury was dwindling under the additional pressure of having to pay for these crusaders and pilgrims.
Kyle prayed for an opportunity to prove his worth and snatch glory for Scotland. He needed a victory to prove to Scotland and himself that God was still on his side, and he needed cash to offset against the cost of this Crusade. He considered sailing to Morrocco and assisting Makmartane to subdue Africa, but realised that quite apart from the time this would take, it would also mean certain war with Portugal and that was hardly a good omen for the start of his new reign. He had no doubt that war with Portugal would eventually come but like his father it had to be on Scotlands terms and Scotland had to be seen to be in the right.
His prayers were answered as Dougall's fleet sailed along the southern coast of Crete. The City of Iraklion was heavily guarded, but it looks as though it has recently rebelled against its Byzantine masters and is now controlled by Greek rebels.
Kyle thanked God and ordered Dougall to put the army ashore, he would deliver Scotland a victory or die trying.
Winter 1127: The Conquest of Crete
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/399/962conquestofcreteye1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The pilgrims begin the assault by pushing four siege towers towards the south western corner of the city.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4108/963conquestofcretebf8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Greek archer fire proves ineffective and all four towers reach the walls.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/29/964conquestofcretepb0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
More pilgrims are sent forward with scaling ladders to expand the width of the wall assault.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/5695/965conquestofcretesz6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Pilgrim’s prove pretty effective against the Greek Archers and begin to clear the wall. Eventually the Greeks rout and take heavy casualties trying to escape.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3851/966conquestofcreteta2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Greek cavalry sally from the cities western gate and attempt to disrupt the assault troops. However, rapid deployment of the mercenary crossbowmen and crusader spearmen drive them back into the city with heavy losses.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9224/967conquestofcretell1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Crossbow men position themselves on the walls and begin raining deadly fire down on the Greek infantry in the streets below.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9021/968conquestofcretexf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
As the Greeks give ground and fall back towards the city centre Kyle’s crossbowmen backed up by Crusader spearmen push forward along the narrow streets peppering them with crossbow bolts.
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7435/969conquestofcreteyw2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Eventually, with nowhere else to run the Greeks turn at bay in the town centre and are slaughtered where they stand by concentrated crossbow fire.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6441/9610conquestofcretepz3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Kyle rides into the City Centre to claim the City and province of Crete for God , Saint Andrew and Scotland.
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6407/9611conquestofcretece2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5083/9612conquestofcretedw7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
That’s more like it. 12,500 Florin’s are added to the Scottish Treasury.
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7317/9613conquestofcreteyw4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Plus 333 florin’s for the destruction of the Thieves guild which Kyle decides is surplus to requirements.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1362/9614conquestofcreteci4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Kyle gains a reputation for putting Winning First and gains +1 Dread.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2912/9615conquestofcretebn6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
He immediately dismisses the surviving pilgrims from his army leaving them to find their own passage home.
Winter 1127: A Gift from God
It is hard to underplay the reaction of Kyle to the conquest of Crete. He had prayed for an opportunity to prove himself and his crusade and God had given him that opportunity. The gift of Crete had proven not only that God still favoured the Scottish cause but that Kyle had inherited his fathers divine support.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8568/9616conquestofcreteyn6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Equally important it meant that Kyle could return home with something tangible and measurable to show for the faith that his father and the nation had put in him. The despondency and anger which had hung over the King like a dark cloud since leaving Jerusalem was gone, in its stead was something akin to ecstacy. The king was both overjoyed and relieved, showering his men with gifts and spending long hours on his knee's giving thanks to God.
The only time his brow became furrowed was when the question of what to do with this gift from God was mentioned. Could Scotland really hope to retain control of this island in the middle of nowhere?
Should he perhaps gift the island to the Pope?
On the other hand possession of an island so close to the holy land would be a real benefit for future crusades and produce a decent amount of revenue if its trade lanes could be kept open.
In the end the decision was that God had meant Scotland to have this island and it was not for him a mere servant to refuse such a gift. He decided to leave the Crusaders to garrison the city and let God decide whether it was to remain in their hands or be taken from them by the heathens.
Stuperman
06-07-2007, 15:57
I love it Didz, keep up the good work!
Absolutely excellent. Keep writing please!
Thanks guys.
It quite a pleasant surprise to find that people are enjoying reading this blog as I started it purely as a bit of self-indulgence to make my game more interesting personally.
However, I'm glad you like it and will keep posting up dates as and when I get time.
Summer 1128: Spain spins again
Diplomatic reports confirm that Spain has once again cancelled its alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, and has declared war on Milan the HRE's ally instead.
Also, that France our loyal and trusted ally has upset the Pope yet again and been ex-communicated. One wishes that one had some influence over the activities of your allies, or at least the ability to placate the Pope on their behalf. France has been a good and loyal friend to Scotland but politically they are embarrassing to say the least.
Meanwhile
https://img460.imageshack.us/img460/2964/971kyleheadshomepm8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Kyle says farewell to his army and after a last tour of the island boards Dougall's ships and together with the first of the local jewish merchants sails for Morrocco and eventually home.
https://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1324/972makmartanesidestepstfc0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In the desert Makmartane ignores the small Portuguese army sent to block his advance and manages to slip past them and continue his march south. The local spy moves to join him and provide additional scouting services. Both the assassin and the inquisitor have been checked and shown to be incompetent, so hopefully they will pose little threat. The main concern at the moment is that Makmartane might die of old age before he completes his mission.
Summer 1128: The defence of Crete.
The King had ordered the Thieves Guild on Crete destroyed almost as soon as the city of Iraklion had fallen to his assault. Kyle had a clear vision of Crete as a centre for trade in the eastern Mediterranean and he recognised that the existence of a den of thieves in the city would dissuade merchants from establishing their own guild houses.
Since then Iraklion had produced one merchant who had sailed for Africa with the King on Dougall’s fleet and had constructed a port to increase its trade income by exporting local timber.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5776/981merchantguilddi2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
These efforts were rewarded when a guild of merchants requested permission to establish a merchants’ guild in the city and things seemed to be going well.
However, the King had also predicted that Scottish occupation of Crete would not go unchallenged and in the winter of 1128 this proved to be true when a Byzantine fleet blockaded the newly constructed port.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9766/982creteblockadehw0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
There had been a small force of Byzantine knights on the island since before its capture a year ago and it was assumed that this force was the remnants of the former city garrison which had been ejected by the rebels when they took over the island. The knights were commanded by Prince Volkanos, the Byzantine faction heir and Kyle had spoken with him several times before he left the island and had assumed that eventually the Prince would call on a fleet to collect himself and his men and return to the mainland.
He had therefore left instructions with the Crusader garrison that no action was to be taken against the Prince or his army and that any Byzantine ships approaching the island were to be left in peace unless they were clearly carrying an invasion force.
However, having let a fleet approach only to have it blockade the islands only port convinced the garrison that the Byzantine intentions were far from honourable and unable to strike back at the blockade due to a lack of ships they chose instead to vent their wrath on the unfortunate Prince and his knights.
In a short but bloody battle the crusader garrison first drove Prince Volkanos and his knights to the far eastern tip of the island and then forced them to give battle.
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/271/chargeno1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Prince fought bravely leading several effective charges against the crusader spear wall. But a combination of accurate crossbow fire and resolute spear walls eventually wore his numbers down and he eventually fell along with all his knights. No quarter was asked or given, the Prince and every one of his 82 knights died on the field.
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5185/chargeza3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6884/984volkanosdefeatedkv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Crusaders carefully collected the Princes body and carried it out to the fleet blockading the harbour. The death of their Prince did little to improve relations between Scotland and the Byzantine Empire which were now at their lowest ebb.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2139/985byzantinerelationshz7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The garrison expected to be besieged by a Byzantine Army at any moment, but instead a year later in the winter of 1129 they found unexpected relief with the arrival of a Venetian fleet which scared off the blockade and landed a small Venetian army on the island.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8558/1001venetianarmysr9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The garrison were wary of the newcomers assuming that Venice also had desires to capture the island. However, they did nothing to provoke the Venetian Army allowing it to camp outside the city walls without hindrance. Over this period the garrison of Crete had not been idle. By the end of 1129 they had already constructed the first of the holks needed to defend the port and had recruited a diplomat called Brain of Caithness who sailed immediately to try and negotiate a truce with the Byzantines.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4254/1011venicevbyzantineks0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2976/1002briansailshy6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In the summer of 1130 Venice declared war of the Byzantine Empire and in the same season Brain met with Emperor Alexius and agreed a ceasefire with the Byzantine’s in return for extending trade rights with the island and the rest of the Scotland.
https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1953/1012byzantineceasefirenn4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The defenders also sent an emissary to the commander of the Venetian Army which was still camped on Crete to discuss a possible alliance particularly as Venice was already allied with both France and Sicily, two of Scotland’s loyalist friends. These negotiations did not go well. Whether the Venetians were upset that Scotland had not aided them in their war against the Byzantine or whether they were merely waiting for their reconciliation with the Pope is not clear, but whatever they reason four years later in the winter of 1134 the Venetian’s decided to blockade Iraklion.
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6020/1042warwithvenicegt1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, this proved to be a very short war. Almost immediately the diplomat Donnchadh Broune requested an audience with Clario Selvo and pointing out the somewhat unfavourable situation which both his army and fleet would find themselves in should the Cretan fleet and army choose to attack he quickly secured a ceasefire in return for trade rights. This action effectively ended the crisis without a shot being fired, the Venetian blockade was immediately lifted, and the fleet sailed away leaving Clario and his army stranded on the island.
https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/958/1043peacevenicefh8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Crete was left in peace, albeit with some unwanted Venetian squatters who seem to have nothing better to do. The ceasefires negotiated with the Byzantines and Venetians were destined to hold for the next six years and no further threats have been made to the island.
So, perhaps God meant for Scotland to keep it after all.
how come this is the only thread in the throne room dedicated to chronicles of m2tw campaigns? I can't even find any of the old AARs anymore, the search yields nothing, it's like those other old m2tw AAR threads all disappeared. More people posting campaigns sure would be swell.
i have to admit though, life is a lot more boring without an active AAR to read :book: :help: :wall:
StoneCold
06-13-2007, 14:08
Try expanding your thread listing to see the older AAR. I think the default is only displayed threads that are active for the past month. This room is not only of M2TW campaigns but all AARs and PBEMs.
I'm pleased and a little surprised that so many people are reading this AAR and finding it enjoyable. I might make it a regular feature of my gameplay if it remains popular. Its just a shame it can't be a multi-player blog, with different players putting their own spin on the events.
how do i expand my thread listing?
StoneCold
06-14-2007, 00:56
myz, go out this thread, into the throne room, there at the bottom of the page is the display option, change the option 'from the' 2 weeks is my default to how ever old the thread you want to read. That should do it. :)
alright, thanks a lot stonecold. I think i am in the minority of the forum members who still has not gotten or played m2tw. But I think I will have more time and some money to buy new computer, in the future.
King of Finland
06-14-2007, 12:47
Very nice story Didz :book:! Keep up the good work.
God bless Scotland!
valhalla89
06-14-2007, 16:35
nope... ur not alone at all lol. Im right there with ya buddy, and the next thing im gonna do after writing this, is to expand my defalt time scale for this thread aswell! ;)
loving it didz!
manwithplanx
06-15-2007, 20:14
Great blog been a tough week without any updates :cry:.
Keep up the great work Didz!
kublikhan3
06-19-2007, 20:39
Myz, you could also try this link: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54921
It has a list of many AARs and PBMs. The link is a little slow loading. Sometimes I use the google cache instead:
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:iwwLVD8bNSAJ:forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php%3Ft%3D54921
Great story MacDidz. Glad you stomped out those blasphemous heretics, they are very annoying. Burn one for me!
We need an update! How is your scottish empire coming along McDidz?
Och!
PS: Do your priests also say "he won't escape trail, sire" when you're chasing a heretic?
Don't worry I've just been a bit distracted by a combination of my Turkish campaign and real life demands on my time.
However, I am sort of duty bound now to keep this blog running as it is now being re-published on http://www.gamertales.com/ There is more to come shortly.
1128: All's quiet on the home front
Back in the United Kingdoms life was continuing in a relatively peaceful manner. Uncle Alexander’s attempt to provoke the English into open hostility by blockading Caen continued but so far has been unsuccessful.
Alexander was disappointed not just by the failure of his blockade scheme, but even more so by the failure of Pope Strenna to live up to his expectations as a hater of the English.
When Pope Petrus had died in 1125 AD and Pope Strenna had been elected, Alexander thought he had found a kindred spirit with as much hatred of the English as he had. He had assumed that Strenna’s initial edict of 1126 requiring Scotland to blockade the English port of Caen would be the start of a long and hopefully bloody persecution of the English based on this mutual hatred and he was keen to comply with the expected Papal Edicts requesting Scotlands assistance to do so.
But it hadn’t happened instead two years later Strenna seems to have forgotten whatever grudge he had against the English and has reverted to the same habits as his predecessor Pope Petrus in demanding persecution of the French.
Alexander was not happy, he was getting old and there were still too many Englishmen still alive. With growing irritation he sent the Papal Envoys back to their master with ill concealed demands that something be done about the English and their evil existence.
But the English were keeping a low profile and the Pope now had too many other problems.
Winter 1129: Aidan Makmartane is a credit to his father
In the winter of 1129 Aidan Makmartane, the second of Makmartanes brood, finally reached manhood and accepted his spurs. He was little short of a child prodigy and even before seeing battle was considered by most to be the greatest of all Scotlands warrior nobles.
https://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6451/aidenmakmartaneyf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
This merely made Alexander even more morose, with five daughters to find husband's for the fact that Makmartane had three sons, at least one of whom showed such promise seemed to be a cruel mockery of fate and he took it out on his female family as often as opportunity allowed.
Summer 1129: The diplomatic cards are shuffled and new hands are dealt.
https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2832/991diplomacyrp9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
It appears that France has finally made its peace with Pope Strenna and been reconciled yet again. How long this will last is difficult to say as Scotland's French allies seem to have a lemming like determination to destroy themselves by whatever means are at their disposal.
Meanwhile, the Pope has turned the attention of his holy wrath on the Iberian factions of Portugal and Spain. Spain has been excommunicated and Portugal has not only been excommunicated but is openly at war with Rome.
Were Scotland in a position to do so this would be a perfect opportunity to wrest control of Morocco from the Portuguese, but alas there are no troops close enough to exploit Portugal’s poor judgement.
Makmartanes army is literally halfway across the Sahara desert in the middle of nowhere, King Kyle’s Crusading army is on Crete and fresh troops from the United Kingdom would take years to assemble and ship to Madagascar.
One can only hope that this is the beginning of a trend and that Portugal and Spain will continue to decline in Papal opinion.
The only other news of interest from Europe is that the Holy Roman Emperor has finally surrendered his sovereignty and accepted an offer of protection from the King of Denmark.
This could be serious news as Denmark might be tempted to use the extra strength it now has to pursue its long standing claim on Northumberland and the Castle of Nottingham. It has no other enemies now that the Holy Roman Empire has surrendered and its standing with the Pope is sound despite the war.
The Danish King therefore has little to distract him from contemplation of the lands his father lost at Stamford Bridge and Scotland must begin to watch the sea's along its coast once again in search of Danish raiders.
Woo another great update.
I bet the danes are going to come for you now - they have often enough in my own campaigns.
Winter 1129: An act of desperation
Mariot Canmore’s quest to find a suitable husband which had begun with such high expectations twenty years ago was now little more than a desperate hunt. Mariot was now 36 years old and time had almost run out if she were to have children.
Since the death of her father Edward, not only had her status as a Princess suffered, but all diplomatic assistance in tracing likely candidates had also ceased. It appears that Uncle Alex had enough trouble trying to find suitable husbands for his own four daughters without the added burden of finding one for a left over Princess on the verge of becoming an old maid.
Thus it was a tired and dispirited Mariot who wandering northwards again after a fruitless trip to Sicily, bumped into a minor Sicilian nobleman called Teofilatto di Martamo.
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8421/selopementcw3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Twenty years ago neither Mariot or her father would have given such a man a second glance but this was not twenty years ago and Mariot considered herself lucky to find any man willing to consider her as a wife this late in the day. She threw herself at him pulling out all the stops in a last desperate chance of happiness and in doing so completely discarded any loyalty she still had to the Scottish cause or her family.
https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6138/selopementrl4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Not that anybody back home seemed to care, for Alexander this just resulted in one less woman to worry about and her brother Kyle was much too busy playing soldiers on Crete to pay much attention.
Summer 1130: Oxfords Revolt.
In the summer of 1130 AD the resentment of the dispossessed Anglo- Saxon nobility once more festered into open revolt. Godwine, the former Earl of Oxford, who had been stripped of most of his estates by William, Duke of Normandy, had hoped to have his lands restored when the Scots kicked the Normans out of England. But instead the Norman squatters had merely been replaced by Scottish ones and as time had passed and his fortunes dwindled it became obvious that he must do something to try and reclaim what was rightfully his.
He raised a small army and marched north gathering additional support as he went and hoping to raise enough men to either force the Scots to negotiate or, if not, to seize the city of York as a bargaining chip. By this time Godwine had an army of some 680 men, including a small core of 200 English Knights and 240 longbowmen from Cheshire. The rest of the force were mostly local levies consisting of a mixture of archers and spearmen.
https://img478.imageshack.us/img478/7544/1014godwinesarmycs3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, if Godwine really hoped for a negotiated settlement his timing could not have been worse. With King Kyle still on his way back from the Holyland the only person available to negotiate with was his uncle, Alexander the Mean, and he was not likely to be reasonable about anything least of all giving money to an Englishman.
News of the English revolt reached Alexander at Nottingham just as Godwine’s army reached the Great North Road and Alexander lost no time in mustering a force to confront them. At 59 Alexander was somewhat old to be going into battle, but with the prospect of Englishmen to kill nobody dared suggest that he did not lead the army himself.
Nevertheless, some concern was expressed when Alexander announced that all he would be taking to crush the revolt was his own personal retinue and 240 knights.
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8449/1016alexandersarmyhr8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The city of Nottingham was full of troops, but Alexander was adamant that he would not need them to deal with a bunch of English rebels. He had already decided that this would most likely be his last chance of battle and he wanted it to be glorious. He imagined himself leading the charge that would crush the English under its hooves. It was only when he was politely reminded that the English might not co-operate in this vision and that longbowmen with their stakes were notoriously good at frustrating mounted charges that Alexander was finally persuaded to take some crossbowmen, 2 ballistae and 120 men at arms along just in case.
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8295/1015alexandermarchesnorez3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
manwithplanx
06-23-2007, 21:34
Three cheers for the updates!
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Razor1952
06-25-2007, 02:35
Poor old Mariot!. I think Alexander was poorly advised , his knights would be more than enough for the rebels, I suspect his judgment is clouded as it would seem a great chance to make the battle reveal a hero or man of the hour, for then he could reflect in the glory of a new protege.
Summer 1130: The Battle of Tickhill Castle
Alexander caught up with Godwine, the Earl of Oxford's, rebel army at Tickhill Castle just south of Doncaster on the Great North Road. Alexander’s Army was slightly smaller numerically but was the slightly more powerful of the two.
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4526/1017battleoftickhillvo2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Godwine immediately withdrew his troops onto a nearby wooded hill to the west of the Great North Road and sent emissaries requesting a parley with the Alexander. However, Alexander was in no mood to talk and sent the men back with a demand that Godwine and his rebels stop skulking in the tree’s and meet him in the open like real men.
In the meantime, Alexander tried to conceal as much of the strength of his force as possible so as to encourage the English to come out into the open. Initially he deployed his dismounted men-at-arms and crossbowmen in the grounds of Tickhill Castle along with the two ballistae and kept his mounted knights and his personal retinue hidden behind the castle mound.
However, when it became apparent that the English rebels were not stupid enough to fall for this ruse he ordered the men at arms to advance further down the Great North Road in the hope that this would draw the English out.
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1667/1018battleoftickhilliq4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The English were still too canny to fall for the bait and so Alexander decided that the only option was to flush them out. He sent two parties of his knights to circle west and north with the intention of driving the English out of the woods and into the open where he and his remaining knights could deal with them.
https://img470.imageshack.us/img470/3696/1019battleoftickhillzs3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
In the meantime he ordered the crossbowmen and the ballista’s to keep the English occupied so that they did not slip away deeper into the forest and disappear completely.
https://img470.imageshack.us/img470/7936/10110battleoftickhillkf2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The plan seemed to work and the two groups of knights charged through the woods into the rear of the English archers driving them out of the trees and into the open. Alexander and the remaining Knights immediately advanced intending to crush the English archers between them.
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1860/10111battleoftickhillxu6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Meanwhile, the western group of Scottish knights had run directly into Godwine and his personal retinue catching them by surprise and a fierce melee ensued. Alexander immediately broke off his attacks on the English archers and charged in to assist in the capture of the rebel Earl.
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9818/10112battleoftickhillle8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The fighting around Godwine was fierce and the western group of knights were almost annihilated before Godwine and his bodyguards finally broke off the battle and escaped to the north leaving the rest of his army to its fate.
https://img470.imageshack.us/img470/548/10113battleoftickhillip8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Left alone the English Longbowmen that had initially been driven from the wood by the attack of the knights had been taking a heavy toll on the crossbowmen and ballista crews deployed further down the hill.
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3673/10115battleoftickhillyk0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, as soon as the Scottish Knights emerged from the trees behind them they realised that their fate was sealed and threw down their weapons or ran.
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6154/10116battleoftickhillya2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
242 out of Godwine’s original army of 710 men surrendered only 107 including Godwine himself managing to avoid capture.
gibsonsg91921
06-30-2007, 17:40
keep it coming macdidzy its all gold
Lt. Pinard
07-04-2007, 05:19
Wow this is a great read. Im new to the forum and this is the first AAR I've read. I hope there are other AARs and such out thier with such high quality as this. :2thumbsup:
nurizeko
07-11-2007, 15:32
MWOAR!
Or, simply put, great stuff!. :yes:
gibsonsg91921
07-22-2007, 04:36
cmon do more please?!?!
Zasz1234
08-07-2007, 17:43
Dunno if you are still doing this, but fabulous job thusfar, hope you stick with it.
I have every intention on finishing this blog, unfortunately I sufferred a critical PC failure a few weeks ago and its taking time to transfer and replace everything on the new one. The good news is that I don't seem have lost any of the .tga files I created prior to the failure so once I have everything else sorted I should be able to carry on.
The good news is that my new PC has a much better graphic's card so hopefully MTW2 will look even more awesome once I get it sorted out.
Northnovas
08-09-2007, 05:00
The good news is that my new PC has a much better graphic's card so hopefully MTW2 will look even more awesome once I get it sorted out.
I have been thinking about this what did you have and what are you going too? It be interesting to see the difference. Glad to hear you will back on track, an AAR is definitely time consuming.
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