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It had been a long day.
Standing by his horse, contemplating the vast plain and gentle slopes of Buda, Andras enjoyed the peace and quietness of Almi's Well.
This is were I belong
He just turned 16, and emissaries from all over Europe came to see and behold the coming of age of the Heir to the Crown of Hungary.
They had word of peace and alliance for the King, and congratulation for the young Prince Andras; but if war was to happen, would a true Hungarian trust them?
Andras knew he could not rely on the castle and mirrors of the Courts of Europe, nor on the empty faith of the Holy Church to find the strenght to overcome his ennemy.
Under the rain, his horse drinking at a Well said to be older than Constantinople, he knew he would find strenght in the example set by Hungary's old protector spirit and rulers. The fantastic beasts that had saved Hungary so many times in the past; Manticore, Phoenix, Gryphon, Unicorn... And he hoped the values of Honor, Loyalty and Duty that they embody would inspire him in the many fights to come.
Riders were coming, without doubt looking for him. It was time to go back to the Court and assume how new responsability to the Crown of Hungary...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...0128-Daddy.jpg
The King of Hungary, Andras II, father of Prince Andras
And Andras knew he could trust his father to let him feel the whole weight of the burden to come...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...me_friends.jpgPrince Andras and his friends, ready to serve the Crown
Louis the Simurgh,
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OOC;
This is a short campaign with specific aims that will focus on one character; Prince Andras.
Settings are VI (MTW 2.0), High era, expert difficulty. Only mod is graphic, Hungary flag and emblems have been slightly modified to my personnal liking; thanks to Tempiic and Ithaskar for their help on that modification. I will try to avoid chivalric knights, and other uber strong units to focus on szekely and other special hungary like troops. Let's give the AI a chance...
It can become a PBM after the rule of Andras III... But I doubt anybody will volunteer to keep playing after his rule http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
Louis the Simurgh,
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Prince, We have long waited for this day. Had We disappeared, at the hand of an assassin, or on the filed of battle, it would have been the end of our dynasty.
Now We are confident that our realm will endure and can take more risk in the conduct of our policy.
Still there are a few actions that the good of the Crown requires to make sure that our line will last
Prince Andras had little doubt about his father idea. The presence of some of of Europe's most distinguished celibate princess at his knighthood ceremony had not eluded him. Now if his father could choose the Aragonese one, he would not complain too much about it...
We receive this letter from King Valdemar of Danemark. We have no idea where his kingdom is. We were told it was at the north of the Holy Roman Empire. Although the Holy Roman Empire is our ally, it might still be helpfull to ally ourself with Danemark. The Holy Roman Empire might not be trustworthy.
It is our intention to accept King Valdemar proposal. We will celebrate the wedding with Princess Ulfhild in 2 months from now.
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...py_Wedding.jpg
Look how happy they are Let's have a party
Then, when summer will come, we will have to focus on our unruly neighbours. As Hungarian and Freedom Fighters, it our duty to protect them against other kings ambition. Although most of those kings are our allies and would not dare attacking us, we can't rule out the possiblity they might try to conquer one of those little provinces on our southern border.
We consider those provinces as ours and need you, Prince Andras to go there and protect them, by force if need be. We are particullarly concerned by the situation in Wallachia, Modavia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece
This means war, so far from the homeland thought the Prince. and that won't leave me time to know my wife and do our duty to the crown.
I'll do my Duty and be Loyal to the Crown, My Lord
...
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Free the Balkans from themselves
Oh Buda Its everlasting rain, thick mud and cursing witches
Long will be the road before I'll come back, but comfort I will find in going to war with my good friends, from the best Hungarian family, Hided Gerdely, Ambrus Lukac, Fodor Jakab and Szekeres Béla, all leading the best cavalry units in the world and the plains of hungary, the dreaded Szekely
Long will be the road before I'll come back, and far away from my wife I'll be, amd far from her stories about her degenerate family of Chinless Wonders with an Odd number of Toes driving her father's kingdom into bankruptucy keeping an insane numbers of knights Ah, what a worthy and representative member of her family is she
I did not have the heart to tell her that I was not leaving to fight the swedes, as she thought, like all her brothers when her father get tired of them, but anyway she does not speak hungarian
Long will be the road, but short will be the story
Prince Andras
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Free the Balkans from themselves
The Hungarian host left Buda for the province of Wallachia. Andras had to acknowledge that his father was right; no fight, no struggle, People from Wallachia were only waiting for the army to come to declare how much they would like to join the Hungarian crown.
Reluctantly, Andras agreed.
Soon after, the host left for Moldavia. And there again people were rejoincing at the sight of the noble hungarian cavalry and pledging allegiance to the Hungarian kingdom
Andras had to accept them into the Hungarian kingdom, as he was not keen to disappoint their new found enthousiasm for the Hungarian cause
Alas It would not last Miklos Elek, a particularly enthousiastic Moldavian noble with some military background, quickly became upset for Moldavian can pay more tax than Wallachian and prove their loyalty to the Hungarian crown, but not if tax are kept as low as Very High; they shall be set to incredibly high so that our new king thinks dearly of us.
To prove his point Elek raised an army of taxcollector. Although not entirely disagreeing with Elek, Andras decided to face him on the battlefield to settle this rebellion related to 'tax level'.
Hords of half naked tax collectors charged the rank of the hungarian army. Szekely evaded the charge and surrounded Elek army.
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...via_1211_1.jpg
we barely see them but there are some nice hungarian cavalry on the other hill too
And then...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...6194-Louis.jpg
Prince Andras proved his reputation of Great Warrior during his battle as he won over 24 taxcollectors including Miklos Elek himself (his bodyguard taking care of another 81 way to rich moldavians). Szekeres Béla, killing all by himself 20 of the rebellious Moldavian became Voivoide of Moldavia; no doubt that there won't be any question about tax rate after that The 486 prisoners were set free, but Miklos Elek lands were confiscated; captured during the battle, he could now enjoy a 100% tax rate
So, in some odd ways, both sides were happy about the outcome of the battle.
Louis the Simurgh,
OT; I really need to get better at taking screenshot... I shall send my replays to Sinan and trust him for the shot...
In game, Rebels kept fleeing to other land, slightly bored, I made a rebellion of my own http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
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Free the Balkans from themselves... 2 years later
Oh Noble army of Hungary, enjoy your well deserved rest on the cost of the Black Sea
Andras knew his father would not like him to just stand in Moldavia, whereas he still has Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece to unite, but, well, life was good, and he thought it was just as important to build some military fort in Moldavia and Wallachia, to avoid losing them in the future as to gain new provinces. If the King was not happy about it, he could come here and tell him...
The King The King Long live King Andras
Oh well thought the Prince
The King Andras came with a small escort, in obvious hurry.
-Prince, We are most content with your success in uniting Moldavia and Wallachia. We confirm your decision to grant Bela suzerainty over Moldavia and are most pleased with progress in building work.
However, much is still to be done, and you shall lead the host to Bulgaria at once
-We'll bring together our troops and shall be able to leave Moldavia for Hungary in a couple of months, My Lord
-You shall leave at once; I'll stay here, with a small detachment to protect the northern frontier. The court, and your wife, shall be here in a couple of weeks; we will wait for your return from Bulgaria here
Prince Andras suddenly felt he would be able to leave the next morning, not to take any chance....
And the next morning the hungarian army left for Bulgaria
A raubritter named László Fabyan had some claim on the land... Clash was unavoidable. Unfortunately, Fabyan camped on the other side of a river with only a narrow bridge....
- Voivide Bela, what do you see on the left other there? Isn't that another unguarded bridge?
-Aye, aye, it sure seems so, my prince
-Well, our infnatry shall keep this bridge and our cavalry charge throught the other bridge. I can't believe Fabyan forgot to protect this one
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...t_the_left.jpg
And so the hungarian cavalry crossed the forgotten bridge
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...the_bridge.jpg
Fabyan realized his mistake and came personnaly to protect the unguarded bridge, but it was too little too late...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...too_little.jpg
Fabyan quickly fled and his position became difficult, the hungarian infantry could also cross the bridge...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...f_crossing.jpg
With oriflammes and banners
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...lookk_good.jpg
Fabyan withdrew to his castle... Andras was able to seize the land but as long as the castle had not fallen he could not claim the land for the Crown of Hungary
Louis,
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Free the Balkans from themselves
1214; Siege Of Turnovo
'Prince, we have enough troops to break the castle gate, capture Fabian, and then go back to Moldavia where the King is waiting for us'
Miklos Elek, while a apt Szekely noble was not the most patient commander in Andras army... He will know better soon..
1215; Siege Of Turnovo
'We suffer from useless loss, my Prince, we would be so much better resting in Moldavia where your wife is waiting for us'
...
'As painful as it may be not to see my wife another year, or who knows, maybe, another couple of year, it is our duty to sit here, under the wall of Turnovo, in the thick mud and the rain and seize it for the King. We rule over all places muddy, murky and rainy, and this one, as you may have notices is no exception.
Oh, believe me, as much as I dislike the mushroom omelette and blackberries that they served in Bulgaria to unwelcome visitors, I won't leave until Fabyan gives me the key of his castle, our duty before the comfort of our house. Believe me it's not such a big sacrifice
It became obvious that Andras was not a natural leader....
1216; Siege of Turnovo
'My Prince, the castle is about to fall, but the situation is critical, supplies are low; there are no mushroom to be found anywhere and peasants are hungry'
'My wife wrote me from Moldavia last week to remind me of her existence; believe me, it is time to wait' was the Prince answer
1217; Siege of Turnovo
... is over....
But upset by the shortage of mushroom, bulgarian peasants rose up in rebellion, led by Tarkhan Memarot (which in bulgarian means 'Big Mushroom'http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
Many carried big stick with which they used to hunt the wild mushrooms of bulgarian woods (those are really really wild). Unfortunately, those weapons were no match for the Hungarian army...
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...dly_native.jpg
Hungry natives want my skin for dinner
But they shall know better....
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/...2_pursuing.jpg
Go back eat mushroom somewhere else
Losses were heavy. But Bulgaria was now part of the Hungarian Freedom Kingdom
Prince Andras decided to recruit some troops and send back some other to Hungary before the next step; Serbia.
And, oh mighty surprise, he became suddenly aware that he could recruit pavese arbalesters In High middle age
Louis
OOC; pav arb in high I had no idea that unit selection in SP and MP had diverged that much Had I known I would not have bothered building those pav xbow in the first place
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Free the Balkans from themselves
Regrouping the hungarian host in Bulgaria, Andras decided to march towards Serbia before his wife got a chance to meet him No order from the King were necessary And orders Andras would not have received anyway, as the King, despite being fifty seemed to be busy making sure the hungarian dinasty would last.
After some odd manoeuvering with the host going nearly around all hungarian provinces for no reason whatsoever, the Serbian people were ready to welcome the weary hungarian... The previous ruler decided to leave for Greece.
That proved to be an hasardous decision as the byzantine emperor, who so far always resided in Constantinople decided to move to Greece with many Elite troops.
On the other hand, it seems the Turk were not ready to let him stay in Constantinople, and seeing the size of the Turk army, Andras thought it was a good reason to move away.
Still that was troublesome. Hungary was an ally of Byzance, therefore it would become difficult to take it from them without a good reason.
Although reluctantly, Andras rode to Hungary to ask the King for advice.
King Andras was surrounded by his numerous family, a tribute to his incredible virility, which greatly enhances the influence of Hungary in the world
Whereas the Prince was more often than not, camping in the mud, eating cold mushroom omelette, the King was very active on the diplomatic front. Hungary was everybody ally... Byzance, Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Aragon, Russia, France, Italy, Sicily.... Even the Pope was Hungary ally.
'We don't understand it either, Prince, we have not built a single church, have not waged war against the Papacy ennemy, and still, the Pope has no ally but us and only us. We are as attached as you are in our old belief and worship of our guidance spirits. May Manticore be praised
Byzance also has many allies, and the Turks has none. To attack Byzance may require some of our friend to make a difficult choice between Byzance and us... And believe us, Prince, the less our friend ask themselves question of this kind, the better.
To attack the Turk would not give us Greece, and they seem to be powerfull. We always have the utmost consideration for the Turk army and we wouls not attack them willingly'
'Then, what shall we do My Lord?' asked the Prince.
'Well it is time for you to rest in Croatia, let's leave the Tuks and Byzance alone... We built a inn in Croatia; go there and wait for my instruction'
As Andras prepared himself for yet another journey, his sister Caterina, left to marry a Prince of Byzance... Given the moderate chance of survival of Byzance in the short term, that seemed to be an odd choice... or maybe not.
And soon, the Turks overwhelmed Greece... the Hord invaded Russian and despite, or maybe because, of the quickly forgotten alliance with Russia, the Hord and Hungaria became close friends. They share the same religious belief despite Hungary being officaly catholic....
Meanwhile, Andras was having mushroom, blackberry ale, and met some new friends; chaos was all around, but in Hungary life was good
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La technique De la Souape
As Andras was enjoying his stay in Croatia inn, he noticed that his environment was troubled by some garlic smelling peasants with a foul accent... They wore some strange looking weapons, not unlike some of his soldiers' hallebard...
Intrigued, he asked to meet the captain of this company.
'Votre Majeste, c'est un honneur de rencontrer un si fameux general Votre victoire contre les chasseurs de champignons a parcouru l'Europe plus vite qu'un russe fuyant les mongols'
'Sir, Would you be so kind as to speak hungarian and explain who you are and what you are doing on our lands?'
'Most certainly; I am Richard de Chateaubriand, dit 'de la Souape'. You may have heard my story already, for my curse is famous
I was a most famous chivalric knight in the army of France, and my fighting skill became legendary when I invented The Souape. This technique is devastating.'
'You raise my interest, Richard de la Souape, [;ease continue, and explain me what this technique is'
'My Prince, it is actually very simple. When charging the ennemy, you just look the other way, just as if you were riding around, and then your ennemy will perish and suffer a thousand death It is extrmely important that you charge with no intention at all to engage your ennemy, looking the other way is very helpfull for that'
'I thought you were a soldier, but you must be a jester. Looking the other way? Really? Why not closing your eyes?'
'Closing your eyes while charging is another technique, my Prince, which has been develloped by a Dane knight...'
Oddly enough, this part seemed to make sense for Andras; he could believe that some Danes would do that just by looking at his wife. Thinking about his wife, he almost felt the urge to close his eyese
'Well, Richard de la Souape, if this technique is so devastating, why are you in such a poor company?'
'My Prince, even if this technique is simple, it is an outrage for God as it betrays his intention and can reverse God Judgement on the battlefield. After I won yet another battle looking at the sky and the birds, and not facing my ennemy, I was cursed to become a billmen, the only french billmen, be sure of that, and it is my fate to fall under the spear of a knight who will used my 'Souape' technique against me'
'Your story is most odd, Richard de la Souape', I am curious to see how this will end. Stay in my company, and if you are to fall to a 'Souape', then maybe I will a chance to see this technique in action'
Richard did not seem to be thrilled by Andras motivation....
Louis,
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The Three Witches
[Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches]
First Witch When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch Where the place?
Second Witch Upon the heath.
Third Witch There to meet with Andras.
First Witch I come, Tempiic
Second Witch Heart calls.
Third Witch An.
All Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
OOC; I could not resist the temptation.... sorry...
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Our Brother the Heretic
Richard de La Souape, despite his curse and strange fighting technique was a good companion, and comes the night and the day, and summer and winter, and sooner than later another year was over.
The King has his court in Hungary, all nobles and emissary, the Prince was living by the sea, with no etiquette nor envy.
And another year was over.
Hungary was surrounded by peacefull nations, was allied with most, and those allies were powerfull.
People were content, under the fair rule of King Andras.
Everywhere?
Well to tell the truth, there were some kind of trouble in Serbia. Heretics
That was a surprise for the Prince Andras, since it was obvious that most of Hungarians were Pagans and therefore somehow heretics, if you are to believe the Pope. Maybe they were unhappy because of the alliance with the Pope? Well Andras was unhappy about it too, but was he in rebellion for that?
Still, a message from the King came asking the Host to go to Serbia, to make sure that tax collection could be restored to a proper level, whatever religion the Serbs choose to have'.
And so Andras led the host in Serbia's fog...
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The Three Witches; the Prophecy
[Thunder. Enter the three Witches]
Tempiic Where hast thou been, sister?
Heart Killing swine.
An Sister, where thou?
Tempiic A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap,
And munch'd, and munch'd, and munch'd:--
'Give me,' quoth I:
'Aroint thee, witch' the rump-fed ronyon cries.
Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger:
But in a sieve I'll thither sail,
And, like a rat without a tail,
I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do.
Heart I'll give thee a wind.
Tempiic Thou'rt kind.
An And I another.
Tempiic I myself have all the other,
And the very ports they blow,
All the quarters that they know
I' the shipman's card.
I will drain him dry as hay:
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his pent-house lid;
He shall live a man forbid:
Weary se'nnights nine times nine
Shall he dwindle, peak and pine:
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tost.
Look what I have.
Heart Show me, show me.
Tempiic Here I have a pilot's thumb,
Wreck'd as homeward he did come.
[Drum within]
An A drum, a drum
Andras doth come.
All The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about:
Thrice to thine and thrice to mine
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace the charm's wound up.
[Enter Andras and Richard de la Souape, lost in the fog]
Prince Andras So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
Richard How far is't call'd to Serbia? What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her chappy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
Prince Andras Speak, if you can: what are you?
Tempiic All hail, Andras hail to thee, King in the year to come
Heart All hail, Andras, hail to thee, whose rule 12 years last
An All hail, Andras, hail to thee, whose 56th year will prove fatal
Prince Andras But that can't be the King's health, in Kalle's guard, made pregnant the Queen again this year, and given her age, that is without doubt a sign of virile constitution
Tempiic And still he will die for so is the curse upon all kings on earth. 57th you won't be.
Prince Andras A curse Sorceress What ought to be done to lift it
An The Creative Assembly thou shalt search, cause they create this curse, and many other.
Prince Andras That is indeed a name for a covenant of evil wizards
Richard And devious they are, my Prince, for it is them you taught me the infamous Souape technique. Who knows what other devilries they might unleash on earth Flaming Pigs War Elephants Creative they are
Prince Andras Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence? or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.
[The Three Witches vanish]
Voice in the fog King King Where is the King Andras?
[Fending the fog, furious fighter, Bela, Voivoide of Moldavia Down from his horse, knee down the prince]
Bela All Hail the King
Oh my Lord, Glory and Pain, we won the day against the Heretic, but an herald from Hungary came; Your Majesty is to go back to Hungary and receive tribute from all Hungarians for King Andras is dead, and thou art king now
King Andras oh Richard, what shalt be done? Our father died and the Witches speak the truth Tell us; How hath thou heart of them and where can we find this Creative Assembly?
Richard In Wessex they live, Your Majesty, to Wessex thee shalt ride.
http://www.thiep.com/~ffmtw/iB_html/..._the_King_.jpg
King Andras; To Wessex thee shalt ride
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OOC: well Andras is 44. The goal now is to get him to Wessex, to conquer Wessex before he get 56, and then pray to have a patch http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
No doubt that once my army will be in Wessex, having inveaded Creative Assembly castle, the curse will be lifted http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
And if they can do something for Richard de la Souape, and the infamous 'fighting without looking' technique all the better
12 years from Hungary to Wessex, shall be easy enough http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif sure I won't be able to assualt and besiege all castles, so I guess that at some point my king will be alone far from home, reinforcement and all that. Excommunication, civil war, and plenty of battle expected http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif. Shall be chaos all around Europe after that
If anyone want the save when Andras is 44, and try to go to Wessex and assault the CA castle before Andras dies, let me know, I'll send you the save.
I have really no idea how difficult or easy that is going to be. If too easy, I'll try again with Egyptians http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
Louis,
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Hoorah, Louis Great Story http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif I love things like this. They're just so....*shivers while grinning* JUST GREAT http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
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OOC
Ahum.... Well, I think I'll have to play it again to make it interesting. Or maybe try with Egyptian from scratch... Ai in expert can't resist two stacks crossing half of Europe. Ennemy keep retreating. I was able to seize the Tower of London, which I guess is CA headquarters http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif without a single fight.
No excommunication, no civil war, nada. I can create artificial rebellion, but I can't get the AI to fight... Oh well... We'll see. But now that Andras is in CA office with 1200 soldiers, no doubt we'll have a patch soon http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/flirt.gif
Louis,
PS; was just to keep informed, will do something later and edit / erased this one.
