Megas Logothetes' and Senators' Reports

[OverKnight]

Megas Logothetes' Report for 1089

1087 was a again a year of preperation and diplomacy with another addition to the Empire.


Domestic Affairs:

Thessalonica has finished construction of a port. Corinth has land clearance. The foundations for the Churches ordered in Athens and Nicaea have been laid. Work on roads has begun around our new conquest of Scopia. A priest was recruited in Constantinople.

With the disappearance of Methodios Tagaris, I have decided to grant Dyrrakhion to those currently protecting it, the House of the Tepaki. Senator Michail Arianitis is now a Comes and lord of the settlement. A unit of spearmen will be dispatched to the village as soon as possible.

It seems that Senator Iakovos ek Kallipoleos had attracted the attention of a Pagan Magician while in the Levant. At his request, Imperial agents had the heathen removed. It wouldn't do to have a member of the Order of St. John fall under the sway of heresy.


Foreign Affairs:

Our diplomat in the north has made contact with the Rus at Kiev. We have entered an alliance and exchanged maps and trade rights with them. They paid 1000 florins for the deal and just accepted it.

On her way back from Bran, Princess Anna is scouting the approaches to Bucharest. A pirate fleet, based in a fishing village near that town, has approached Constantinople. We may have to put a stop to such blatant banditry.


Military Affairs:


Imperial Army:

I am heading east while north of the Danube. While in the area building watchtowers, I might investigate these reports of pirates based out of Bucharest.


Order of St. John:

The Order cotinues to besiege Antioch.


The Asteri:

Senators Ioannis Kalameteros and Nevelous ek Philadelphias continue to besiege Rhodes.

Senators Hypatios Machonios and Zigivinos Vasilakios continue to besiege Smyrna.

Senator Anastasios Neokaisareitis is near Scopia.


The Komnenodoukai:

Caesar Ioannis has returned to Nicaea and passed command of his army to Senator Pavlos Chrysovergos, who intends to take Sinop.


The Tagamata:

Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou and Senators Philippos Eirinikos and Savvas ek Militou continue to besiege Arta.


The Tepaki:

The House has taken possession of Durazzo. I request orders from them.


Unaligned:

Senator Methodios Tagaris has disappeared, he was last seen heading northwest from Dyrrakhion. I am displeased. If the Senator complicates our foreign policy, I will become angry.

Comes Markianos Ampelas has taken Scopia.


The fleet in the Aegean is now needed to defend Constantinople from pirates and if successful assist operations against Sinop. Once this fleet has dropped off reinforcements for the Asteri it will immediately fall back under my control. The Fleet in the eastern Med will be redeployed to the Aegean, and is now under my control.

Here's the save for 1089 (SS turns are 1.5 years): http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1089-0.zip

Post in this thread when you take the save. Please add the appropriate number for the new save at the end of it's title. (ie the next save would be LOTR-1083-1 instead of -0) Please compress the new save before uploading it, and then post a link to the new save in a new post in this thread. Please summarize what you did with the save in that post.

[The Lemongate]

Taking the save.

[The Lemongate]

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1089-1.zip

Anastasios has crossed the Morava river into rebel Serbia.

[flyd]

Save taken.

[flyd]

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1089-2.zip

Moved from Scopia in a generally northwesterly direction.

[_Tristan_]

Save taken and uploaded :

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1089-3.rar

Moved Tagaris

(Please do not refer to his position IC... OOC of course, do what you will...)

[deguerra]

taking save.

[OverKnight]

Megas Logothetes' Report for 1090

1089 was a year of conquest and marriage.


Domestic Affairs:

Nicosia has completed Land Clearance while Scopia now has roads. Building continued in all settlements except Dardanellia, where the stables ordered were too expensive for this year. Sofia is ready to upgrade to larger walls.

A third priest is now preaching near Nicaea. I have noticed however, that several of our reclaimed Balkan provinces are held in sway by the schismatic Catholics. This will require action.

Our merchant has arrived near Aleppo to trade spices. This is quite profitable, and once the market is complete in Constantinople, I will send another merchant.


Foreign Affairs:

Princess Anna spotted the passing of a Kievan Rus princess north of her. We again entered negotiations with them: Anna offered to marry Caesar Ioannis's to Princess Eupraxia Yaroslavich in exchange for a dowry of 800 florins. The Rus' reaction was less than overjoyed:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Still she agreed. Please join me in wishing my son a joyous and fertile marriage!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

We have gained much needed funds and cemented our new alliance even further. Anna's trip north has been quite productive, it is time for her to come home.


Military Affairs:

Imperial Army:

I am approaching Bucharest from the west.


Order of St. John:

The Order cotinues to besiege Antioch.


The Asteri:

Senators Ioannis Kalameteros and Nevelous ek Philadelphias have taken Rhodes.

Senators Hypatios Machonios and Zigivinos Vasilakios continue to besiege Smyrna. A mid-sized Turkish army is within sight of the city. I hope they will acknowledge our claim to the castle and leave peacefully. As the new year begins, they are still there.

Senator Anastasios Neokaisareitis is near Scopia.


The Komnenodoukai:

Caesar Ioannis is enjoying the company of his new wife in Nicaea. Senator Pavlos Chrysovergos continues to march on Sinop.

Senator Ioannis Kantakouzinos has departed Sofia to the north.


The Tagamata:

Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou and Senators Philippos Eirinikos and Savvas ek Militou have taken Arta.


The Tepaki:

The House is in Durazzo. I request orders from them.


Unaligned:

Senator Methodios Tagaris is still absent.

Comes Markianos Ampelas is heading west into the wilderness himself.


The fleet near Rhodes is at the use of the Asteri. All otther ships are under my control.

Here's the save for 1090 (SS turns are 1.5 years): http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1090-0.zip

Post in this thread when you take the save. Please add the appropriate number for the new save at the end of it's title. (ie the next save would be LOTR-1083-1 instead of -0) Please compress the new save before uploading it, and then post a link to the new save in a new post in this thread. Please summarize what you did with the save in that post.[/QUOTE]

[Kagemusha]

Taking the save.

[Kagemusha]

Here is the new save: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1090-1.rar

Passed Bucharest from East and marching North.

[_Tristan_]

Taking save

[_Tristan_]

New save :

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1090-2.rar

Tagaris is still MIA IC

[The Lemongate]

The save is mine!!!

[OverKnight]

Megas Logothetes' Report for 1092

OOC: Somehow, with all the starts and stops during the AI turn, each AI faction got to move twice. Fortunately, this seems to have little impact on the game and it is playable. Considering we are wiping out garrisons with just bodyguard units, I don't mind the AI getting a small advantage.

Also: If a player takes a settlement, please let me or the current Megas know if it is occupied, sacked or exterminated. Such news would get out and might color how the event is reported.

For example PK let me know the fate of Antioch, but I don't know the fates of Zagreb or Belgrade.


1090 was a year of continued conquest.


Domestic Affairs:

Many titles were accumulated this year:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Three priests are now preaching near Nicaea. I am also contemplating starting a missionary effort in the Balkans, though this will take a few years to implement. At some point the priests in Anatolia should head to the Levant, whether by ship or over land has yet to be determined.

With the Market complete in Constantinople, I will recruit another merchant for the spice trade. Also Garrison Quarters in Corinth and Land Clearance in Sofia were completed. (OOC: The interruptions of the AI turn may have effected the start of turn reports, please double check your own settlements to see if anything else was finished.)

Dyrrakhion is ready to upgrade, once walls are built the town will be able to construct further buildings. So I am requesting a build queue from Comes Michail Ariantis. Sofia is also ready to upgrade its walls.


Foreign Affairs:

A Venetian Diplomat approached Dyyrhakion and entered into negotiations. After much back and forth, in return for 2000 florins, we granted them trade rights and an exchange of maps.


Military Affairs:

Imperial Army:

I have besieged Bucharest.


Order of St. John:

The Order has taken and sacked Antioch, despite the pious talk of the Order of St. John. Still we must do our best to mend fences with the citizens of Antioch, who only a few years ago were part of the Empire.


The Asteri:

Senators Ioannis Kalameteros and Nevelous ek Philadelphias garrison Rhodes.

Senators Hypatios Machonios and Zigivinos Vasilakios have taken Smyrna. The Turkish army that was near the settlement has withdrawn out of sight to the east.

Senator Anastasios Neokaisareitis has taken Belgrade and exterminated the population. It matters little if we reclaim the Empire if by doing so we depopulate it. I request a build queue from him so that we might eventually rebuild the settlement.

The fleet near Rhodes moved to Athens in case reinforcements needed to be brought over to Anatolia.


The Komnenodoukai:

Senator Pavlos Chrysovergos continues to march on Sinop, he will reach the city this year if God is merciful.

Senator Ioannis Kantakouzinos continues north.


The Tagamata:

Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou and Senators Philippos Eirinikos and Savvas ek Militou have garrisoned Arta.


The Tepaki:

The House is in Durazzo.


Unaligned:

Senator Methodios Tagaris, after a few years in the wilderness, has taken Zagreb with just his bodyguards. However, the city is rioting and he will lose it without assistance. A Hungarian army is also quite close to the city. I only learned the Senator's location after he sent me a request for funds to hire mercenaries.

Comes Markianos Ampelas is heading west, still seeking Senator Tagaris.


The fleet near Athens is at the use of the Asteri. All other ships are under my control.

Here's the save for 1092 (SS turns are 1.5 years): http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1092-0.zip

Post in this thread when you take the save. Please add the appropriate number for the new save at the end of it's title. (ie the next save would be LOTR-1083-1 instead of -0) Please compress the new save before uploading it, and then post a link to the new save in a new post in this thread. Please summarize what you did with the save in that post.

[The Lemongate]

The faithful of Belgrade were welcomed into the bosom of the Empire. Unfortunately, it seems a large portion of the population was under the sway of western heresies and had to be properly reprimanded for their sins.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: Belgrade was unsurprisingly exterminated. Considering the very small number of soldiers involved and that they were all Anastasios' chosen bodyguards, the above report should be what leaks back to Constantinople.

An AAR will soon be posted with more colorful details.

[Privateerkev]

taking the save.

[Privateerkev]

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1092-1.zip

Moved the rest of the Order into Antioch for some R&R. Transferred Antioch's title retinue to Cecil's avatar since our avatars were in the same settlement.

[Kagemusha]

Taking the save.

[OverKnight]

Megas Logothetes' Report for 1093

1092 was a year of building and diplomacy. 1093 will be the last full year of my term as Megas Logothetes, elections will be held in 1095. (OOC: I'm cheating myself of a year, but I'd like to have new terms start in years ending with a five or zero for simplicity.)


Domestic Affairs:

The three priests in Anatolia have moved to the Aegean coast. I am planning to dispatch them on a fleet to bolster our conversion of Antioch. I have begun recruiting priests for a conversion of the Balkans as well.

Due to an infusion of plunder from Antioch, all settlements currently have construction. Dyrrhakion will soon have walls. Dardenallia and Scopia have completed stables.

Comes Michail Ariantis has officially received the title of Despot of Epirus.


Foreign Affairs:

We have reached an alliance with trade rights and an exchange of maps with the Republic of Novgorod. They drove a harder bargain than the Rus, since the Grand Duke negotiated the deal personally, and we were unable to have them pay for the agreement.

A Polish diplomat arrived in Zagreb. His demand of money for an exchange of maps was outrageous, and we have settled for trade rights.


Military Affairs:

Imperial Forces:

I have taken Bucharest.

The pirates based out of that town sailed into the Aegean, no doubt to wreck havoc upon our trade. All the ships of the Empire combined under the command of Admiral Dionysios and crushed them.


Order of St. John:

The Order remains in Antioch. A force of Templars has arrived at the border to the south.


The Asteri:

Senators Ioannis Kalameteros and Nevelous ek Philadelphias garrison Rhodes.

Senators Hypatios Machonios and Zigivinos Vasilakios garrison Smyrna. The Turkish army that was near the settlement has withdrawn out of sight to the east.

Senator Anastasios Neokaisareitis garrisons Belgrade.


The Komnenodoukai:

Senator Pavlos Chrysovergos has besieged Sinop. There is a Turk army southeast of the city, I am glad we arrived before they did.

Senator Ioannis Kantakouzinos continues north.


The Tagamata:

Comes Aleksios ek Ikoniou and Senators Philippos Eirinikos and Savvas ek Militou garrison Arta.


The Tepaki:

The House is in Durazzo.


Unaligned:

Senator Methodios Tagaris garrison Zagreb. The Hungarian army remains in the vicinity.

Comes Markianos Ampelas is heading west, still seeking Senator Tagaris.


All ships are under my control.

Here's the save for 1093 (SS turns are 1.5 years): http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1093-0.zip

Post in this thread when you take the save. Please add the appropriate number for the new save at the end of it's title. (ie the next save would be LOTR-1083-1 instead of -0) Please compress the new save before uploading it, and then post a link to the new save in a new post in this thread. Please summarize what you did with the save in that post.

[Kagemusha]

Taking the save.

[Kagemusha]

Arrived in the vicinity of Iasi, which is besieged by Poles. Going to sit out and wait the outcome of the siege.

Here is the new save: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1093-1.rar

[Ituralde]

Taking the Save

[OverKnight]

Megas Logothetes' Report for 1095

1093 was a year of recruitment, building and integration.


Domestic Affairs:

The three priests in Anatolia have boarded ship to be moved to Antioch. Two priests are active in the Balkans and will be joined by a third. Six churches have been completed this year, so further missionaries will be available for Anatolia.

The remaining three flotillas of Dromons have docked at the port of the capital for repairs.

Zagreb has finished building roads. I urge that roads be finished as soon as possible around Belgrade so our western frontier is connected to the rest of the Empire.

Construction continues in all settlements. I have also recruited heavily to bring garrisons up to muster and in as many places as possible to relieve bodyguards from directly guarding the walls. Two regiments of militia from Constantinople have been dispatched to Bucharest for garrison duty and replacements recruited. The same has been done in Nicaea to garrison Sinop.

Comes Savvas ek Militou is now officially Despot of Arta.


Foreign Affairs:

A diplomat from the Order of the Knights Templar approached us at Belgrade. In exchange for 1000 florins we have granted them an exchange of maps and trade rights.

Princess Anna nears the capital after her productive trip north.


Military Affairs:

Imperial Army:

I am garrisoning Bucharest until the militia contingent from Constantinople arrives.


Order of St. John:

The Order remains in Antioch. A force of Templars lingers on the border to the south.


The Asteri:

No action.


The Komnenodoukai:

Senator Pavlos Chrysovergos has taken Sinop. The Turks have retreated east after we claimed it.

Senator Ioannis Kantakouzinos continues to monitor the Polish siege of Iasi.


The Tagamata:

No action.


The Tepaki:

No action.


Unaligned:

Senator Methodios Tagaris moved west to build a watchtower, he has returned to Zagreb. The Hungarian army remains in the vicinity.

Comes Markianos Ampelas has turned around and is retracing his steps, heading toward Thessalonica.


Here's the save for 1095 (SS turns are 1.5 years): http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/LOTR-1095-0.zip

Feel free to download the save to familiarize yourself with the state of the Empire heading into the Senate Session, but do not do anything with it until the Session is over and a new Megas Logothetes declares the save open.

[TinCow]

Here is the newest save game with the avatar retinue title corrections and the added rebel armies for Event 2. Large rebel armies have been created outside of Zagreb, Budapest, Bucharest, Sinop, and Antioch. I have checked and taking control of the rebel faction works perfectly fine. So, I will be controlling them personally for a short while to ensure that they attack where I want them to attack. Please be aware of a few things.

1) The rebel armies are not final. When it rolls around to the rebels' turn, I will be able to disband units in their armies. This is a significant improvement over the system I used in the Cataclysm and it will allow me to adjust the armies to be exactly the way I want them to be. The current setup approximates the level of difficulty that they will be, but some units may be added and removed after the rebels' next turn. This will be done to make the armies slightly more balanced and 'natural.'

2) The first rebel move will occur after the coming turn. Any army that has not been destroyed in the coming turn will besiege their target city immediately after the next turn and begin building siege equipment for an assault. Any avatar that does not want to risk death during an assault defeat is highly advised to flee the town during this turn. I cannot guarantee the safety of anyone who remains inside a threatened city. Again, the cities concerned are: Zagreb, Budapest, Bucharest, Sinop, and Antioch. If you do not think you can defeat the stack and do not want to die, I urge you to clear out immediately.

http://rapidshare.com/files/12619365...95-1a.zip.html

Both the main and backup Org file uploaders are down at the moment. Accordingly, I have put the save game file on RapidShare. I will upload it to the usual Org system when it comes back up.

[The Lemongate]

Taking the save.