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This AAR will revolve around the faction of Sicily. I will be playing on H/VH and am using the Lands To conquer Mod as a base w/ zxiang1983's 2-Hand fix, Ultimate AI, No Boarder MiniMap (It looks prettier that way) Kobal's Fix for VnV and such, and a rebalance mod. The first entry should be out by the end of Wendsday.
Sounds good. Looking forward to it.
Looking forward to reading your story. And since i have nowhere to go being able to read these AARs is a treat. :2thumbsup:
YAY!....one question, is it going to just follow certain starter generals or go up until final victory by conquest in the campaign?
Eagerly awaited. Sicily's starting position seems so exotic, what with being exposed out in the middle of the drink like that.
@RPKmann~ The AAR will be the ENTIRE campaign, not just a few generals. I will be using as much characters as possible and each will work to some random story (which I have not figured out 7 turns into the game). I am doing a long campaign btw.
@Zhukov~ Yes, I think Sicily's position is quite...awesome. It will lead to some interesting storytelling and an inveitable battle w/ Milan (all my other campaigns I never faced Milan cause either they a) were my allies and quite a large and rich empire or b) they were whipped by the french (damned french:blankg: )
A Sicilian Story
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...omOfSicily.jpg
This is the Kingdom Of Sicily. Located on the tip of the Italian Peninsula it stands a fledgling Kingdom on the Worlds Stage. However, this does not mean that Sicily will descend into chaos like many other small Kingdom during this time, Sicily holds great potential to expand and conquer and the Norman blood that runs through the Royal Family's veins lusts for this. King Roger, the Norman Knight who claimed Palermo and Naples for his own, now sits a man on the threshold of old age places all his hopes onto his son Prince Simon who now is of age to follow the bloody footsteps his father has left for him. Only time can tell if Simon will grow to become the first of many great Sicilian Kings, and only through sheer cunning, determination, and raw power will the Kingdom of Sicily rise to glory....
People of Power
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/.../KingRoger.jpg
King of Sicily, Head of Sicilian Knights
Now nearing the end of his days, King Roger has shifted his focus from the battlefield and to the happenings of the court and all the political up's and down's that accompany the governing of a Kingdom. He has left his son, Prince Simon, to govern Castle Palermo, the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, and has taken to Naples, the true center of all political happenings in the Kingdom.
Ambitions~
~Success of the Kingdom on the Political Plane
~Expansion of Kingdom and Success of his son
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...rinceSimon.jpg
Prince of Sicily ,Knight of First Circle
Years living with his father and fighting beside Alberto has molded Prince Simon into a man who is capable in both politics and war. Simon has gained a rare alacrity about both subjects, realizing the only difference between the two is that one is fought with tongue while the other with sword. His father has thus granted him control of the Capital and the main production center of military forces, effectively making Simon the military leader of the Kingdom. He, like his father, seeks the success of the Kingdom and the expansion of its lands.
Ambitions~
~Success of Kingdom
~Ascension to the throne
~Expansion of Kingdom
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...ry/Alberto.jpg
General of Sicilian First Division Standing Army, Knight of the First Circle, Secret Lover to Matilda
Shortly after he was born both his parents were slain by rebel Norman Knights. King Roger, at the time only the commander of the Norman Invading force, was leading his army to track down and bring the rogue Knights to justice. He found Alberto amongst the corpses of a recently pillaged village and sent the unnamed babe back to the stronghold Palermo. A year later Roger would return successful from the hunt and name the child Alberto after a fallen comrade. Alberto, who could never be raised as a member of the royal family due to the absence of any Royal blood or Norman blood, was trained by Roger and his Knights to become a fearsome warrior and eventually a member of the Sicilian Royal Knights. When Prince Simon was born Alberto was raised alongside him and the two grew to become close friends. Alberto has never forgotten the kindness the Royal family has shown to him and thus serves them to the utmost of his ability. However, Alberto is not without faults; he long held an ambition to acquire a Kingdom of his own and for two years has been romantically involved with the Princess Matilda.
Ambitions~
~Serve Kingdom of Sicily
~Acquire land of his own
~Marry Matilda
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...essMatilda.jpg
Princess of Sicily, Secret Lover to Alberto
Being raised by her mother, Judith, and not her father Matilda grew up a relatively peaceful girl. She believes herself to be of average intelligence and beauty and often denies any notion praising or slandering her. At the age of fifteen her relationship with Alberto blossomed into love the night the two exchanged words of passion and shared bed. Now seventeen and two years into her affair with Alberto, King Roger has asked of her to leave the Kingdom and act as an ambassador for the Kingdom for the next five years. Reluctantly she has agreed and prepares for the long journey that will end in Southern France. The night she left Palermo by boat she promised Alberto upon her safe return he will have he hand in marriage.
Ambitions~
~Marry Alberto
Leaders Of Sicily
~King Roger
~Admiral Sicco of the Western Sicilian Fleet
~Admiral Rino of the Eastern Sicilian Fleet
~General Alberto of Sicilian First Division Standing Army
~Papero Archibugi, Spymaster of the Fold
~Prince Simon, Grand General of Sicilian Forces
~Princess Matilda, Grand Foreign Minister
Nice profiles of all the characters, keep up the good work.
Nellup
Muahahahaha the story begins.....
Got my popcorn and drink. Let the story begin!
Trolling flame deleted by moderator.
@ Guy, be nice. Feel free to start your own AAR if you so choose.
@ Nutranurse, thanks for the cast of characters. Hoping to see how this one turns out.
@Guy~ Well seems as if I let you down :tongueg: I already took Tunis...the council promised me candy:loveg: (O, and Guy. You know you love me :kiss: )
@Everyone Else Of Importance~ Will have the first entry up either late tonight or early tomarrow. I dids me lots of writing.
Excellent! I love it so far. One question in general: Is it just me or do the pictures seem way out of focus, like really fuzzy. Maybe my eye sight is starting to go from playing m2tw like 24/7...
Excellent start to your story, i can feel the intrigue already. And it's not your eyes Blackaxe, they do appear as blurry. :rifle:
I am looking forward to this Grand Adventure, what could happen? :See's assasains coming for him: Run! Assasains! Whoops.. Blackaxe3001, you're not the only one suffering from M2TW 24/7, I'm getting illususions..lol
Go prince Simon!
Yeah, looking forward to it too if it matches the HRE one that was up not long ago.
When's the nest bit going up then?
The Onset of a Kingdom
Summer~1080
By the year 1080 Sicily has arisen to the world stage as a full fledged infant Kingdom. The first few months of the year are spent preparing for Princess Matilda's departure to the lands to the north as an ambassador for the Kingdom. She has reluctantly complied to do this task only to please her father whom she loves dearly, her true desire is to be with her love Alberto, Knight of the First Circle and General of Sicily's First Division Standing Army.
Their love, however, is unbeknownst by all in the Kingdom, and if it were to be uncovered the life of Alberto would be in great peril. The night Matilda leaves the two exchange words of passion, love, and lust before giving into the physical aspects of love.
Elsewhere in the small Kingdom, upon that very night, Papero Archibugi, Spymaster of the 'Fold', departs from Naples and begins his journey northwards.
Papero Archibugi, a promising figure in the underworld of Italy and the founding member and Spymaster of the Fold, the Sicilian Network of Information gained through underhanded means.
Alberto, under the orders of Prince Simon boards Admiral Sicco's Fleet and sets out to journey to Caligari Region and claim the island and castle for the Kingdom of Sicily. As his men board the boats Alberto's mind drifts back to Matilda. "What ever will I do?" He mutters to himself silently before removing such thoughts from his mind. Admiral Sicco greets Alberto warmly, the two had trained together and Sicco was a Knight of the Second Circle. His boisterous demeanor does wonders for Alberto, effectively turning him from melancholy to a jovial man eagerly awaiting a battle. That night the three ships under Sicco's command set sail for Caligari.
With Alberto gone Prince Simon can effectively govern Castle Palermo. He had given no orders beyond "Go there and kill as much that is needed" for he trusted Alberto's military prowess. Instead his attention turned to the building planners that now were standing before him. He had summoned them all to discuss the upcoming building project; dirt roads. At first it had baffled him at to why the much needed roads had not been established yet, but turned his bewilderment aside and instead focused on the present and future of the Kingdom. By the end of the night it had been concluded that the roads would be completed by late September, Mid-October at the latest. In total the entire project would cost one-thousand florins. This would not have been a problem, but Simon suspected that his father's, King Roger, project would be a costly one for Naples was a fairly developed city already.
Matilda's short journey to Naples was followed by her immediate departure to the Papal States territory of Rome. For many years she had heard of the artistic beauty and political splendor that resided behind the massive stone walls a short distance from her home. She realized that many would kill to bask in the glory that seemed to seep from every crevice, but she had never been fond of religion, and thus the magnificent center of the Catholic religion became another city in her eyes. She instead changed her plans and begged of her father to grant her permission to sail eastwards from Naples and make contact with the Venetians first, arguing that the Republic of Venice would be a superior trading partner when compared to the Papal States. King Roger granted this change of plans and Matilda boarded Admiral Rino's fleet and sets sail for the Venetian owned lands.
King Roger begins a building project of his own, much to the distress of the Royal Treasurers. The best building planners and craftsmen are summoned to his court in Naples were they discuss the construction of a permanent Port that will serve the entire region.
Winter~1080
The Council of Nobles deems Durazzo, not Caligari the perfect focal point for Sicilian expansion. The council is comprised mainly of old, stern, devout Catholics who would delight in seeing the fall of the non-Catholic factions that reside to the East of Sicily, mainly the Byzantines and Turks. Prince Simon denies the request and the Council contacts King Roger who also firmly denies. Both men see such an action as a foolish waste of forces and rather counter-productive to the plans that Prince Simon has shared with his father.
As Papero makes his way into the Rome Region his ineptness as a spy begins to show, much to King Roger’s distress. While Papero's first mission, the collecting of information on a diplomat employed by the Papal States, was a success it was an easy one and hardly a test of skill. By the end of the year relations have soured with the Papal States due to the many of Papero's follies. His presence has been noticed by the Holy Leader and Pope Gregory has not taken to this kindly. Immediately King Roger orders the spy into the lands controlled by the Holy Roman Empire, knowing that the harm Papero might cause there will not lead to immediate war or excommunication.
Prince Simon and King Roger are named Dukes of their respective regions by the people. Both accept the titles graciously, as it allows them to extract more from taxes.
Across the sea separating Palermo and Caligari Alberto bids farewell to Admiral Sicco as his men set foot on the fertile soil of the island. His men make camp the first day and break it the next afternoon when they begin their short march to besiege Castle Caligari. Within three days the men are outside the precarious wooden walls. the villagers behind them ready themselves for battle, but Alberto does not desire needless bloodshed and instead orders the men to prepare for a long siege. He spends many days training his sword arm or wondering what sights Matilda is seeing on her journey.
Summer~1081
Matilda lands in the Ragusa Province, near Castle Ragusa. A short journey following the setting Sun leads her to the castle where Alessandro Selvo resides. The two greet each other with the required false warmth before they got down to the bare bones of diplomacy. In the end Matilda leaves with mutual Trade Rights secured. She heads back to Admiral Rino's Fleet, her next stop Bologna.
The Sicily-Venice Trade Agreement could not have come at a better time. With the completion of a Port in the Naples Region merchants flock to the roads leading to the eastern sea. Much to the delight of King Roger the florins pouring into the city allows him to begin another project, one that would amplify the trade income and attract many capable merchants; a Market Place.
Summer~1082
Papero reaches the outskirts of Bologna. From the little information that he manages to gather he knows that Emperor Heinrich the Champion governs the city. He also learns that a somewhat large force is stationed in the city, but as to what specific units is lost to Papero.
Matilda, who has recently disembarked from Admiral Rino's ships, contacts Papero when she finds out that he headed towards Bologna as well. The two meet in a dirty, miniscule tavern located in a small settlement some ways east of Bologna. While there Papero related what he had gathered to Matilda. With what she learned from the incompetent spy Matilda figured that she could extract something in exchange for trade rights; just how much Matilda was not sure of. Soon after she left the sad excuse for a tavern, its stench had finally gotten to her, and set out for Bologna. Within three and a half days she reached the well garrisoned walls. As she and her body guards rode into the city she noticed the many Archers moving to and fro on the walls. When she reached in the city a great garrison of Militia troops of a poor variety marched in the streets, some even practiced for battle. Curiosity waltzed across Matilda's mind. "There are too many Soldiers here," She told herself "Even if they are not proper soldiers...the Holy Roman Empire is up to something..." She quickly dismissed the thought of a HRE-Sicily war. Even the Germans, the war-hungry monsters that had expanded their Kingdom across the heartlands of Europe, would not be foolish enough to attack Sicily when they were in such poor favor of the Papacy. These thoughts never reared their heads again as Matilda struck a deal with Emperor Heinrich the Champion; a Sicily-HRE trade agreement in exchange for One-Thousand Three Hundred Sixty German Florins.
Winter~1082
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...OfPapero-1.jpg
The Death of Papero, the Collapse of the Fold
News rushes to the courts of Naples from a German envoy. A spy, where he hails from and who employs him unknown, has been captured and killed while trying to infiltrate the city of Bologna. The courier, who carried the slain spies head partially as a warning to his unknown master and partially to let all know the face of the foolish spy, brought the news to King Roger. King Roger immediately recognized the head as Papero, but did not show either surprise nor worry on his face. As he dismissed the German emissary, who insisted that security of all Italian Kingdoms be stepped up "Just in case", King Roger cursed to himself. Within hours he was in the headquarters of the Fold, he ordered the destruction of all documents they withheld and the destruction of the Intelligence Network, this order was met with great reluctance. Roger promised himself that he would not revive the organization, leaving it up to his son to decide whether or not the Fold would see another day.
The news of Papero's death reached Matilda weeks before it reached Naples. She overheard it while in Heinrich’s Royal Palace, two rather air-headed noble women were walking down the hall when Matilda heard: "Did you hear?" "Hear what?" "A spy was captured this morning while trying to sneak into the city!" 'Oh, how!?" "Apparently he covered himself in shrubbery and tried to sneak past the guards!" Instantly Matilda remembered Papero discussing his plan to infiltrate the city. She had thought he was joking, that the piss-poor wine had gotten to him, but apparently he had been serious when he said "By bush, I will cover myself with a bush and sneak in...As a bush!" The next morning saw Matilda's departure, much to the distress of the Emperor who feared he had done something to upset his guest. Matilda and her guard fled into the Milanese region of Milan and Matilda decided to contact the city, ending with another Trade Agreement.
As a result to Matilda's actions a new trade route opens for Palermo. Merchants now flock to both Palermo and Naples, as both have the adequate means of transportation to move goods across vast distances. Prince Simon takes note of this, thanking his sister silently, and begins recruiting men to add to the Standing Army.
Summer~1083
Alberto, who was sleeping rather vigilantly, is woken up by one of his men. The siege had been on-going for almost three years and Alberto had become accustomed to the rather laid back lifestyle that accompanied seizing a Mediterranean city. He reached for his sword, the soldier stopped him. "Sir," He began "It will not be needed." Alberto pushed the man aside and stepped out of his tent. The wooden walls were lined with white and the force that occupied the Castle were pouring out through the gates unarmed. Minutes later the surrender of Castle Caligari was complete, no bloodshed, no fighting, nothing. Just as Alberto had wanted it.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...lOfCaglari.jpg
The news of Caligari's fall spread like wildfire through the tiny Kingdom. It even spread to the other Kingdoms of the Italian Peninsula, for Matilda heard about the new while she was preparing to disembark for the final leg of her journey; Southern France. Both King Roger and Prince Simon were greatly pleased by this, as another province would help finance the many building projects and Army.
A few weeks later Caligari was fully under Sicilian control and under Alberto's orders construction had begun to convert the Castle into a town. Word of this reached Prince Simon soon. While he was not greatly pleased about the loss of a Castle, he figured it for the better. "After all, another town would help finance any future wars far more efficiently than a Castle." It would also help to pay for the training of Guard Dogs which Prince Simon had added to his Personal Guard, he had taken a liking to animals.
However every silver lining does have a cloud. The recent success of both the Ports of Naples and Palermo had attracted outlaws to the lucrative life of piracy. Every coming week another story of a Trade Fleet being hunted down by the ungodly sea rats would turn would-be merchants from the thoughts of Sea Trade. Messengers ran back and forth from Naples and Palermo, the King and Prince were collaborating a plan to hunt down the pirates. By the month of May it had been decided; both the Western and Eastern Sicilian Fleets would attack any rogue fleet they came into contact with. The plan was simple, but the weight it carried was immense. Admiral Rino saw very little combat within the coming months, it seemed as if the official declaration of the plan had scared away any would-be pirates. Admiral Sicco's waters, however, were not as lucky. Almost as a defiant response piracy increased doubly. While Admiral Sicco is sailing back to the Ports of Palermo the opaque flags of a pirate fleet are seen on the horizon. Quickly he orders his men to attack, and quickly they lose the battle. While it had been a close battle Admiral Sicco was still forced to flee and the leader of the pirate fleet, Admiral Nene, ordered his men to purse the fleeing Admiral Sicco. This order lead to Admiral Nene's grisly defeat. Admiral Sicco had fled into shallow waters, and the pirate ships lost much mobility in the shallow water, making them nothing more than stationary targets for Admiral Sicco's men. News spreads of this Heroic Victory, and of Admiral Sicco's increasing naval prowess.
Winter~1083
While it was not too cold in Southern France it still bothered Matilda as she crossed into the Kingdom of France. Her entire life she lived in the paradise climate of the Mediterranean, sure there was the occasional storm, but those could never bothered Matilda the same way this damned chilly weather did! She knew, however, that within two years time her duty to the Kingdom could be relinquished, that even as she thought in her mind of the warm Sicilian afternoons a new diplomat was being trained to take her stead. Her thoughts turned to Alberto and of the news she had heard of him. It seems that he had been appointed the Duke of Caglari by the people who enjoyed his fair rule. She missed the man, she realized, she missed him dearly. She longed for the day she would return to his arms, she longed for the day the two would marry.
Though Matilda was lamenting the current state of her life, far to the South East King Roger was and all of Naples was celebrating the beginning of a new one. Judith had been pregnant since March and on a pleasant November morning a beautiful baby boy was born; Maccio.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...thofMaccio.jpg
West of Naples, along the shores of Rome, Admiral Sicco was also celebrating. The nefarious pirate Admiral Abdu'llah had fallen to the might of the Western Sicilian Fleet, increasing Admiral Sicco's reputation as a capable sailor.
Summer~1084
The Noble Council had not been heard from for some time, and it surprised Prince Simon the morning one of the Council Members stormed into Palermo's Royal Courts, demanding that contact be made with the French. The Council had not been too pleased when Prince Simon had told them that their plans to size Durazzo would never see execution, that the entire East held for the Kingdom of Sicily was sand, sand, and yet more sand. This time, however, both the desire of the Council and the desire of the Kingdom were on the same plate. He informs the Council Member that the mission will be carried out and succeeds in placating the Council's desire of being a major power in Sicily.
By the onset of summer, a time Matilda enjoys greatly, the Princess and her Guard reach the French Port City of Marseille. There she contacts Perrin, Duke and Governor of the town as well as a General of the French Army. She had been under the orders to secure an Alliance with the French, her father feared that the Milanese would give into the thoughts of grandeur and attack Sicily. Matilda thought these fears to be rather irrational and a sign of his age. By the end of the day Matilda had enacted a Sicily-French Alliance, Trade Rights, as well as securing a map of France's provinces.
Maccio has been causing much disturbance in the Royal Palace of Naples. His incessant cries pierce every wall, not matter how thick. King Roger in response is spending more time outside of his residence, instead he has been training with the forces garrisoned in the city, often ending the day in a Tavern where he and his men melt their problems away with the bitter-sweet elixir of alcohol. Word has spread that the King is a rather sociable drinker.
The news of his fathers drinking habits does not hinder Prince Simon's progress with the development of Castle Palermo. While the news of Matilda's success means that Sicily has gained a powerful ally, it does not mean that the Kingdom can rest easily. "An Alliance is only a prolonged ceasefire." The Prince tells himself as he watches the construction of a Bowyer.
Winter~1084
Both Prince Simon and King Roger had thought that with the completion of the Council's demands during the summer they would once again recede back into squabbling with one-another. It seems that both men were wrong. A rainy September morning brings news of the Councils new demands; the capture of Castle Tunis. Prince Simon's action of dashing the Council's hopes to bring the lands to the East under Sicilian control had only birthed a new ambition; the capture of the Northern African Coast. At first the Council's demands infuriated Prince Simon. [I]"How foolish can they truly be!?"[/B] But the more their demands dwelled in the Prince's mind the more a plan began to develop. "The Coast of North Africa would be a rather lucrative economic position, and it is safely tucked away from most European powers. With the capture of Castle Tunis a launch into the surrounding area would be easier." With this thought in his mind Prince Simon begins to amass an invading force.
Summer~1085
"Finally!" Thought Matilda as she rode her cream-colored mare, a gift from Perrin. "My diplomatic duties are over!" She and her guard followed the road leading North East. Matilda had originally intended to take to the mountain pass directly East of Marseille, as it lead directly to the Genoa Region, but Perrin had warned her against it for a rather large group of bandits took the pass as a home. She expected to reach Milan by the winter and would be in Palermo by the next year.
Winter~1085
Viar Orsini has finished his training in the arts of politics and now takes Matilda's place as the diplomatic weapon of the Kingdom. King Roger, however, has not appointed Viar as Grad Foreign Minister just yet. He had learned from his previous mistake with Papero. Viar, seeking to prove himself, sets out to travel through the owned by the HRE and end somewhere along the HRE-Denmark boarder.
Viar Orsini, the budding diplomat that dreams to become a man who holds great influence.
Prince Simon left Admiral Sicco's fleet in the morning, setting foot for the first time on the Caligari Province. As he and his meager force march to town Caligari Prince Simon notices the development of the land is coming along nicely. Former rebellious peasants now farmed the fields happily. As the Prince drew nearer he could see how content the people of Caligari were under Alberto's rule. Within the end of the next morning Prince Simon was safely in the town. Alberto greeted the Prince the two began to talk of the recent happenings in the Kingdom. Their discussion moved from the disappearance of pirates along the Palermo-Genoa trade route, to their Alliance with the French, then to what each man thought about Maccio and his future, their discussion ended with Alberto relinquishing his position as General of the First Standing Army and the transferring of troops and title to Prince Simon. By the end of the week the two said their farewells and the Prince set out with Admiral Sicco, their destination Castle Tunis.
Summer~1086
By the month of June the First Division Army, under control of their new General Prince Simon, lands on the Tunis Region. Two days of pure marching brings the Army to the walls of Tunis. Unlike Caligari Tunis is far better garrisoned, which leaves the Prince to begin construction on siege weapons. He expects to ready by March of 1087 and orders Admiral Sicco to pick Matilda up from where she was last sighted and transport her back to Palermo where she can await for a suitor. The Admiral complies with Prince Simon's wishes and sets out for the Shores of Genoa.
North of Prince Simon's siege of Tunis Alberto begins to show an aptitude for the sciences. His time in Caligari has given him time to take to books, effectively making him a more intelligent man. Out of all the sciences he shows an affinity to the science of Astrology, even befriending a passing Astrologer and adding him to his personal circle. This Astrologer shows Alberto how he can apply the seeming superstitious science to the battlefield.
Winter~1086
Admiral Sicco reaches the shores of Genoa by mid-October. Along the way he was delighted to see little to no rogue ships, he had done his work well indeed. Upon reaching Genoa he quickly sent his men to locate the whereabouts of the elusive Princess. While his men find her within a few days and quickly bring her back to the fleet the men also bring back much darker news. According to the reports of the Marines a large HRE force is besieging the rebel city of Florence. As the HRE is a rather large and loosely joined Kingdom it must have taken a great deal of planning and bribery to sway the words of the many ruling Nobles to help amass such a large Army. As Admiral Sicco sails back to the Palermo he wonders if the Italian Peninsula is the HRE current target for assimilation.
Viaro creates his first political success when he meets with a fellow diplomat, one belonging to the wealthy Papal States. The two apparently were cousins, which helped to grease the wheels of diplomacy into turning in the favor of Sicily. By the end of their meeting a Trade Agreement is set up along with a sum of One-Thousand Three-Hundred Twenty florins added to the Royal Treasury.
Summer~1087
"The Day has finally come." Prince Simon whispers to himself as he marches him men forth to the walls of Tunis.
Battle For Tunis
On a clear morning the men marched to Tunis's walls, Siege Towers and Ladders in tow. Prince Simon had ordered a pair of each weapons be built, he would take two walls at once.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...TunisWalls.jpg
To the Walls Men!
As the men marched they were met by volley after volley of Arab missiles. A few men went down, but the missiles mostly missed their targets or snagged in the men's padded armor. Prince Simon smiled to himself as he watched the arrows come down. "Let them continue to shoot, they are wasting their arrows." A laugh escaped his lips, a bloodlust had taken over his mind.
Soon the towers reached the walls, Prince Simon had ordered the men carrying ladders to slow their march and let the men with towers attack first. The Arab Archers, now fearing for their rather short lives, began to shoot flames at the towers. A few archers began to pray to their heathen 'Allah' or whatever they called him, prayers filled with hope that a tower would catch fire and collapse on the Sicilian men that climbed upwards.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...TunisWalls.jpg
All the hopes of the Rebel Archers flew with their missiles of fire.
No such fire took home on the towers. God, the true God, had blessed the men this day, and this blessing was apparent as the men surged forth from the towers, slaying the Muslims with spears of might and justice.
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Like lambs to the slaughter, the poorly armed Archers fall quickly to the Spears of the Italian Militia
Now that the Siege Towers were in place Prince Simon ordered the men to set up their ladders and scale the walls. The defeat of the Rebels was imminent, they just did not know.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...TunisWalls.jpg
Now trapped between Towers and Ladders the Arab Archers fight to the death atop the walls
The walls were taken soon after the men hopped down from the ladders. "All according to plan." Prince Simon told himself as he and his men galloped to the gates of Tunis. The men atop the walls had little time to celebrate their small victory, for now the Archers were regrouping with what little men they had left and firing upon those stationed on the walls. To make matters worse Rebel Spears began to amass in a pool of filthy bodies below the wall and climb the stairs of the walls, meeting the Italian Militia atop the walls.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...y/SpearsVs.jpg
"Honestly! Do you Muslims take regular baths or is that not part of your religion!?" Shouted a soldier as he taunted his foe who lay bleeding at his feet.
The rebel Spear Militia soon turned their back and fled back to the streets below. Maybe they hoped that they could equal their foes when not faced on such narrow ground that the walls provided. None the less the brave Sicilian men surged forth from the tower, spears in hand, blood on clothing, and battle in their eyes, and met the Muslim rebels below.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...arsvSpears.jpg
A fight on the streets yields no halt to the slaughter
Within minutes the last of the rebel force had dwindled to almost nothing. They took to the plaza, the center of the town and the place of their last stand. Prince Simon pitied the rebel Captain, he had fought bravely and would have made a fine Italian Commander, but he had chosen the wrong side. As the Captain stood in the plaza he looked on at his men who were falling like flies.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...andAtTunis.jpg
"Allah, please. Grant me a glorious place in heaven. Said the Captain as he prayed. He then stood up and charged into the fray, minutes later he fell to the spears of an unknown soldier.
https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...ptainTunis.jpg
The death of the Captain marked the end of the battle. The rebels lost the will to fight as the Captain lost his life. They laid down their weapons, begging for mercy. An Italian soldier held up his spear, readying to strike down one of the rebels who had surrendered. Prince Simon, who saw this act of pure cruelty, leapt down from his horse and stayed his hand. "A true man never strikes a foe who has surrendered." Mouth agape, face filled with shame the soldier dropped his arm and stepped back into the mob that was his unit. The Prince helped the rebel onto his feet and grasped his hand as he shouted. "Know that you all are lucky here today!" The heads of the rebels turned upwards, some had to turn their faces back to the dirt for the light reflecting brilliantly on Prince Simon's armor hurt their eyes. "Swear allegiance to me. Swear allegiance to the Sicilian Crown and I, Prince Simon will grant you your lives." Cries leapt from the rebel mouths, all of them saying the same thing:
"We submit ourselves to the Crown Prince Simon!"
@Everyone who cares~Yes the pictures are blurryish, I made them that way thanks to Photoshop.
@Blackaxe~No your eyes are not failing you
I am tired.
Well done, a great addition for the "Rise To Glory" series...also GO PRINCE SIMON...- hey you gotta have someone to cheer for...
A good read. I'm enjoying it. :2thumbsup:
Excellent, I love the battle scenes, there awesome!
Great work, I like the development of the characters as people rather than pixels.
Nellup
Yay my eyes are ok! :beam:
Actually, now that I think about it, the pictures fit perfect with the story. Excellent work!
Love the pictures, and the story is continuing very nicely. A shame your spy had to go and get himself killed, he would have made a welcome addition to the story. What's the future hold for Prince Simon and Matilda? I'll be waiting to find out. :medievalcheers:
Good read. I rather like the filters. It fits in quite well with the story.
Glad you are all enjoying it. And glad to know the filters work, I was worried when I was using them.
excellent story... fun fact aobut my campaign: i sent my princess up to genoa and found a suitable general there. i married him, then tada! the city is empty. i recruit 6 merc units (3 spears and 3 crossbows) and took the city... unopposed. muhahahaha.
Excellent AAR! Only thing you might want to check is the formatting in the battle section (I had in mind use of bold & spacing) which could perhaps be changed to make it easier to read.
BAM! Powerful opener! Play-by-play is thorough and little bits like religious insults help the immersion. Oh yeah, you got better formatting than mine. :laugh4:
This is great ! Keep it up !
keep up the work... looking good :D
Your making me want to do a Polish story thing!
BTW this is almost to be as good as David P's story at the official Totalwar forums (www.totalwarforums.com).