ok, now it's my turn. I'll play it now http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/wacko.gif
Printable View
ok, now it's my turn. I'll play it now http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/wacko.gif
https://img78.photobucket.com/albums...123/Before.jpg
Al Adill the II ascended the throne an accomplished man, and though he was not destined to be ruler for long, being already of mature age, he was the right man for the right time. The vast Golden Horde had emerged from the endless steppe to threaten the Northern extremity of the Sultanate, and the German giant stretched from the Balkans to the Pyrenees and from the Mediterranean to the distant North Sea beyond the pillars of Hercules. A cool mind was required to deal with these threats. Providentially ad Adill the II possessed a mind of Ice.
The Sultans first move baffled many in his Egyptian Court.
One young courtesan voiced his opinion to the Sultan. Why oh Venerable Sultan do you order your fleets westward when the enemy is close at hand?
The Sultan looked upon the doubter with utter contempt, whom was visibly shaking under the Sultans fearsome glare. The young man lost control of his bladder and the Sultan smiled maliciously.
The grand scheme is for me to know alone........ But for you boy who art so curious I will make an exception, I shall send you with my ships so that you may know personally what it is I intend by sending my ships westward. Remove this boy from my sight, and clean up that mess
Sick of his tiresome courtesans the Sultan retired to his study, set deep in the Citidel to avoid the sounds of construction from the new fortifications going up all around. Somehow the Sultan new he would never see those walls finished so he had resigned to ignore them as much as possible. Reports of the Sultans laziness were in reality unfounded, they were simply stories made up by those not in his confidence, invented to fill the gaps in his life story. Esteemed servants of the passed Sultan such as myself were privy to his true actions. Many a night did the Sultan burn candles into the twilight hours, seeing to the needs of the Sultanate, and when he could find spare time he did not waste it on relaxation, rather he studied at the University and did broaden his awesome knowledge.
On ascending the throne the Sultan was displeased with the system of taxation, the dispensation of armies and agents, and even some of his governors. From his remote working quarters the Sultan set about reading many reports, he adjusted tax rates, disbanded units, re-assigned titles and spread forth his agents across the Sultanate. The flow of orders poured out form Egypt, so many in such a short space of time that the price of paper almost rose two-fold. Unfortunately the message to retreat from Khazar was lost by shipwreck, the garrison was lost to the man and only by the grapevine across the Black Sea was it learnt that the men fought valiantly to the end, killing three Mongols for every Egyptian. Another message sent by rumour has it that the Mongols had acquired some mortars but were unfamiliar with their use, the result being that they placed them too close to the castle walls and were promptly mowed down by arrow fire. The loss of the message and its subsequent effect was not lost on the Sultan; from that point on he ordered that all messages were to be sent twice, so that if the first message befell some disaster, the second may still make it through. The Sultan had by now reviewed his armed forces extensively and had come to the conclusion that the time was not yet right to cross the Caucasus and confront the Mongols. Instead he declared a jihad to Khazar which was supported enthusiastically by the restless Arabs, many flocked to the calling and soon the northward journey had begun.
In the Balkans the Sultan deemed his armies ready for an offensive. Word was sent to General al Mutatid to begin the attack. During an attack an Officer captured some Germans who told him an interesting story in exchange for their lives. Apparently they had recently come from Western Europe to reinforce against our attacks. They told him of a courageous Muslim Prince, a Great Warrior, who was leading a totally mounted host through Europe. Also they told him that the Germans were assembling a great army to contend with this force. Of details to the Muslim armies exact whereabouts he could not obtain as the men said they had heard the story second hand, they swore on the stories authenticity and begged for their lives and exclaimed that the officer had promised them such. His promise did not stop him from selling the men as slaves however.
The Officer reported this story to his General who had it written out twice and forwarded immediately to the Sultan. Before the day was over the messages were on their way to Egypt (an hour apart) in a couple of svelte ships built for the purpose.
When the Sultan read the message he let out a giant sigh, for the first time in one and a half years he smiled a real smile. Perhaps he thought of more pleasant days when he and his brothers played together and had not to think of great responsibilities and the consequences of ones actions.
************************************************************
News arrived from the Balkans; the Germans had fallen back to Hungary from where they launched a vigorous counter attack. The Germans were defeated but according to an anonymous soldier 'they are numberless like ants, when one is killed there is always another to take his place'. I am sure some German said the same of us; such was the state of things at that time.
In the north the Sultans orders had been carried out with surprising efficiency, the new army had assembled at Trebizond and was waiting for the jihad to arrive when some disturbing news was brought to General al Ikhshid's attention. The Mongols had struck first and were now in possession of Georgia. If the Mongols reinforced, they would be in a strong position to wreak havoc on the Sultanates soft underbelly. Therefore the General al Ikhshid under his own initiative and against the Sultans order to wait for the jihad, marched on Georgia and wrested it back from the Mongols who retreated to the castle after a short battle.
General al Ikhshid dispatched messengers to the Sultan and to the leader of the jihad to advise them of his change in location and to inform the Sultan that he was stepping down as General immediately for disobeying the Sultans orders.
Reports now flowed into Egypt and Sultan al Adill the II was pleased to hear that his new system of taxation was popular with the people and that loyalty had risen significantly as a result.
The report from the Crimea interested the Sultan greatly, as it seemed to be completely at the mercy of the Mongols. The Sultan had decided to move all infantry (but for 100 Saracen infantrymen) from the Crimea to Trebizond as part of the mobilisation there, he also lowered the tax rate to minimal to boost loyalty.
The Sultan received General al Ikhshid's message and thanked Allah for such a brilliant and loyal General. He sent a message in response which praised the General for his initiative, absolved him of any charges and affirmed his status as commander in chief of the Northern Army.
The Sultan was now imbued with religious zeal, he called forth his Amirs and informed them of his plan for a holy war against the Germans. The word spread like lightning and once more was taken up with the most enthusiasm by the Arabs. They came not only from Arabia but from across the Sultanate, Arab warriors by the thousand. Also the peoples of the Egyptian coasts enthusiastically supplied ships to transport the men and warships to destroy the tiny but wily German Navy (the German Navy in question here was their tiny Southern Navy, the Northern German Navy of the time was estimated to be much larger by Egyptian Admirals).
************************************************************
When the jihad to Khazar reached Georgia, General al Ikhshid ordered the advance, he left behind a force to continue the siege of the Mongols (the Mongols when hearing of the departure of the most of the army sallied forth and were soundly beaten).
A massive decisive battle was now expected by General al Ikhshid, and he sent messages to the Sultan saying “be prepared in case the battle is lost”.
The Mongol army uncharacteristically fled although leaving a garrison.
https://img78.photobucket.com/albums...rthernArmy.jpg
Khazar was reoccupied but the Sultan unaware of these events heeded the Generals words and started recruiting a new army.
News now arrived that the Sultan had long waited for, the Mamluk Cavalry army was returning by sea from the West, Prince Ali was safe and returning with the majority of his men and horses.
https://img78.photobucket.com/albums...Prince_Ali.jpg
The Sultan still in the dark as to events in Khazar sent forth orders that a Prince Ali and a third of his men should come to Egypt, so that if the Northern army were destroyed there would be an elite core for the new army.
He ordered that a further third should be put under the command of a loyal officer and sent to Khazar on the basis that the Sultan did not wish General al Ikhshid to fail through lack of support that was readily available. The remaining third were to be sent to Greece under a loyal officer to stiffen the tired soldiers of that front.
************************************************************
The Sultan received word from General al Ikhshid, the Mongols had attacked but were solidly defeated (10 Mongols to the Egyptian) but unfortunately this was followed by a disastrous castle assault where the 10 Egyptians died per Mongol slain.
Still the General wrote, the army and the front were safe and secure and waiting for orders.
On reading this news the Sultan decided to put his new army to use. “Allah has bid me call forth these men, I shall not disband them back to civilian life or let them fall into the employ of foreigners, but shall use them to spread the true word of Allah as must be his supreme bidding”.
He called forth the captains of his new army to deliver to them a speech. It twas to be the last speech the Sultan would make in the Egyptian Court, and it is one of the few of his speeches that was recorded for posterity.
“Praise be Allah, he in his eternal wisdom has gathered this fine and loyal host of men before me. It is time my men to take the true word of Allah unto our misguided brothers the Almohads. The blood of our Muslim brothers shall be spilt by our hands but we shall be absolved of our sins by Allah, for the millions of souls we shall save by the preaching of the true word of Allah to the conquered peoples. Take my word and speak it to the soldiers, of every rank. Speak it so that they may not feel misgivings for this war that has been set before us by Allah. Go my brothers collect the provisions Prepare your steeds Call the men to arms Allah Akbah Allah Akbar”
************************************************************
As if to teach some divine lesson to the Sultan, Allah spread fear amongst the Almohads and the Egyptians marched unopposed to Tunisia. There the Sultan fell ill and lay in his deathbed, so that though the true word of Allah was spread thus far the Sultan was robbed of the glory of battle that he had so lusted after.
In his final days the Sultan accepted that Allah had taught him a lesson in humility. He died listening to reports from across the Sultanate, refusing to rest even as death knocked on the door. The Sultan died in the knowledge that his forces had crossed the Danube and that his second jihad was victorious. It is said he died after hearing this with that cold, calculating and malicious smile upon his face. The news of victory had not been quite true, his servants were too afraid to tell him the truth, the jihad had won the day in casualties only, hence the claim to victory, they had been pushed back across the Danube and the Balkans was now more insecure than it had been for along time.
Since Sultan al Adill the II’s death people have said many nasty things about him, they say he was a man of scant mercy and some have even called him a butcher and though I cannot disagree that he was at times a cold man, I say remember the scale of the threats he faced, in the face of the Mongols and the Germans mercy was a weakness he could not afford. Remember the man for his many acts of charity, remember the man for his compassionate taxation policy (which had moved the Sultanate out of the red by his death) and remember him for his Magnificent Building Program.
https://img78.photobucket.com/albums...123/Sultan.jpg
https://img78.photobucket.com/albums..._123/After.jpg
It's Allahu Akhbar, God is Great; Allah Akhbar simply means God Great http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
~Wiz, nitpicking http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/wacko.gif
also herodotus, I think you new need to use a different image host because this one doesnt seem to allow hotlinking (ie, I need to copy and paste the pic's url and go back to the org to see the pic) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif
Yeah well, you knew what I was saying.
Could you reccommend somewher to host the pics alman?
egypt is in a dreadful state... I don't think i am ready for expert. We're in serious debt and the hungarians, germans, almohads, and golden horde are after us. I won my first battle but every since then it's gone downhill
Just do as best as you can... they are certainly one of the harder factions to master in the later periods.
One thing I noted from Herodotus's screenshot was that the fleet seems to have stayed in the med. If the kingdom is in money trouble, getting a trade network running to the Baltic may be the single biggest thing you can do to improve your finances (along with concomittant upgrading of merchant houses).Quote:
Originally Posted by [b
the Germans are everywhere... Im sinking any ships I can take out
Also never overlook the benefits of conquering and pillaging a province, and ransoming any prisoners if you find your military budget it getting too large...
During my recent single player game as the Byzantines I pretty much bankrupted the Empire to create a decent military to hold off the Mongols when they arrived, my finances went into the red as a result of my massive troop & naval upkeep.
After disbanding a few corrupt officials and sending my armies storming through Hungary and Spain, pretty soon I was back on track through the Pillaging and ransoming.
War can be good for business.
My current obj. have been to destroy everything Germany has... but where the thickest fighting is to be... not many buildings to pillage are there. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-dizzy2.gif
I don't think I'm going to get around to finishing my turn so is it ok if I pass on the torch and let the next player play my reign?
What is the name of the save game?
I will pick this up tonight.
Llywelyn
The Egyptians 1240PBM
Well, after reviewing the situation, I think we stand a good chance of advancing the kingdom.
After reading Herodotus' writeup, I mistakenly thought that Ali was the crown prince which would make him, like, 43 years old. I didn't realize that Khalil is now Sultan at a mere 22 years old. It seems that I will have a pivotal reign in our kingdom.
I had intended to play this reign in it's entirety this evening, but as I will no doubt reign for some time, be patient with me and give me a few days. I want to do it right and take my time.
Llywelyn
Yeah and he's kinda weak, I think he's a chinless wonder or something. But it should make your turn and the game more interesting.Quote:
Originally Posted by [b
I just wanted to give everyone an update. The Khan of the Golden Horde met with an untimely end at the hands of one of my many assassins. Boo hoo. After the Horde fell into disarray, the Polish reappeared with around 4000 troops in Kiev.
Still fighting with the HRE. This war is really draining the $$$.
Llywelyn
OK. I'm finished.
Sultan Khalil II died in 1270 after a mostly prosperous reign. I did manage to pretty much drain the treasury, but the Germans are now reeling back through central Europe. The last year, when the Sultan died, the massive rebel forces in Russia all became the Byzantines reincarnated. So, now my successor will have a major hurdle to overcome. You have a huge force to your north you must defend against, but except for that, we are in a good position to conquer all of Europe.
I will writeup my reign tomorrow and post it.
Llywelyn
How did you manage to drain the treasury?
Throughout all my reign (as the namesake of Herodotus' sultan) I was at war with the HRE, the Byzantines, and even the Almohads (who dared invade Egypt), but I still managed to increase the treasury tenfold.
~Wiz
Excellent,
Here is the list thus far...
Simon Appleton
Sultan Al Mustali (1087 - 1113 AD) 'Great Father Of The Empire, Vanquisher Of Turks'
Drucius
Sultan Al Mustali II (1113 - 1130 AD)
The Wizard
Sultan Al Adil (1130 - 1160 AD)
Chimpyang
Sultan Ali (1160 - 1187 AD)
1pain1Duck
Sultan Khalîl (1187 - 1231 AD)
Herodotus
Sultan Al Adil II (1231 - 1240 AD)
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Sultan Khalil II (1240 - 1270)
Sadly our line appears to have ended... We need an heir http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/gc-help.gif
Wizard
Early on, I decided to break the back of the Germans so that total conquest would be inevitable. I was afraid that if the HRE were to take the Iberian peninsula, it would all be over for us. Since I had the Khan of the Golden Horde assassinated very quickly, the defeat of the Germans became my primary concern, along with building trade routes and sending agents to virtually every province so we could see what was going on.
Since the armies of the HRE and our own were equal in numbers, I had to spend a large sum of money to gain the advantage. I also bribed my way into large portions of Russia to protect our flank.
I really expected Khalil to live a bit longer than he did. The year before he died, I invaded Denmark, which the Germans held, but the Byzantines reappeared and the massive rebel armies in Russia all converted to be Byzantines.
Bummer.
I had intended to deal with the rebels and establish a nice little economy before I handed it over, but it was not to be.
But, Egypt is in a strong position.
We have naval superiority and we have the largest military, by far. Following some more battles with the HRE and the inevitable war with the Byzantines, the army should be pared down to a point at which huge revenues should be possible. There is a modest positive cash flow currently.
When I took over, there was a negative cash flow, if I remember correctly.
Llywelyn
1240 AD:
Only hours after Sultan Khalil II became the leader of all Egypt,
Abu Sa'id al Amir bowed low before the throne.
You're Majesty. With your permission, I will set sail for Gibralter.
The Sultan grinned slightly and said simply, Go.
With only his word a fleet of naval vessels set sail to blockade northern Africa.
It was always his contention that the Almohad Khalifah, if he were so inclined, could invade northern Africa by sea and Khalil was loathe to trust his Muslim brothers as much as his father did.
Elsewhere in central Europe, the great Jihad sent to Hungary was ordered to proceed as planned.
They would be accompanied by the entire central army. When the forces of the HRE realized the might facing them, they turned and fled. The Jihad was successful.
Later that year, a son was born. As the Sultan cradled the infant in his arms, he thought about the kingdom he would leave to this little one. I will expand the empire of my fathers, young one, for you. One day, you will be a great Sultan with a mighty empire to lead. You will need a mighty name. Good night, Prince Muhammed.
January, 1241 AD:
My lord, Khan Ogadai is dead. There is chaos in the Horde. All of their generals are fighting for the right to rule.
This was the report the Sultan had been waiting for. Known to only a few, the Sultan had ordered the Khan's death. Now his attention could be focused entirely on his nemesis, the HRE.
There were scattered reports of a large force of Polish infantry and cavalry in the Kiev region, but since this was a rebel province, it was of little concern.
1242 AD:
Loyalist forces have sprung the attack they have planned for in Cyrenacia. They are soundly defeated by Egyptian forces.
1243 AD:
Egyptian forces conquer Chernigov when rebel forces there decide battle would be futile.
1244 AD:
Rebel forces regroup and enter Chrenigov en masse. Egyptian forces withdraw from the province. Volga-Bulgaria is also conquered this year.
1247 AD:
Muscovy and Ryazan are added to the kingdom. Prince as Salih comes of age. The Papacy are eliminated.
1248 AD:
Prince al Mustali is born.
1250 AD:
Carpathia is taken from the HRE.
1251 AD:
Jihad takes Wallachia. The Polish king dies and their forces degenerate.
1252 AD:
The HRE move into Kiev to gain a stronghold in the east.
1253 AD:
Another Jihad is declared and sent to Moldavia along with the bulk of the central army. The total number is around 5800 troops. The HRE moves into Bulgaria and Moldavia is conquered.
This same year, the Almohads launch a Jihad against Egypt. They will have to move by land through northern Africa. They will not succeed.
1254 AD:
The black and yellow banners begun to appear over the crest of the hill, waving gently in the breeze. My lord, the Germans mean to fight to the last. said abu Amar. The general's stern demeanor made the lieutenant feel oddly at ease. abu Amar had been with the general in many battles and knew that he was as good as they get. He had complete faith. The general surveyed the field one more time and slowly spoke, This day will be remembered by our children's children as the day Allah opened the door to Europe. We will walk proudly into the land he has given to us. This will be our finest hour and our adversary will run from the field, broken. Give the command to attack. And with that, one of the greatest Egyptian military victories began.
The year 1254 is the jewel in the crown of Sultan Khalil II. Kiev is conquered. The seige in Moldavia ends in victory. The large battle with the HRE takes place in Bulgaria. Egyptian losses are heavy (around 750 men), but over 3000 Germans are taken prisoner and many more are killed in the battle. When the negotiations take place, the ransom is refused and over 3000 German troops become slaves of the kingdom. This effectively opens the door to central European expansion.
1256 AD:
Pereyslavl, Austria, and Poland are added to the empire.
1257 AD:
Prussia is conquered. The English king dies and their forces degenerate.
1258 AD:
Pomerania and Bohemia are conquered.
1261 AD:
Chernigov and Silesia are conquered. The Pope in exile leads a rebellion in Rome and Naples with around 4000 troops and easily dispatch the Sicilians from the region.
1262 AD:
Silesia is abandoned when a large German force enters it.
1263 AD:
Lithuania is conquered.
1264 AD:
A large rebel force invade Muscovy and it must be abandoned.
1265 AD:
Lithuania is lost to the rebels. Brandenburg and Silesia are conquered.
1266 AD:
Saxony is conquered. This isolates the German forces in Denmark. They should be easy to pick off.
1267 AD:
Venice is conquered.
1270 AD:
Denmark is conquered. The rebel forces in Russia join forces with the Byzantines in hiding forming an enormous military power in the north. The HRE Emperor Heinrich V dies. Sadly, before Khalil II could engage the Byzantine threat or secure central Europe completely, he fell ill one day late in autumn and died quickly.