Err.....I have some news guys. It is Good news / Bad news scenario I'm afraid. I really didnt know what to think of it. So let me know your thoughts and how I should proceed.

Good news: Well the good news is that I started the campaign and played for about 7 years so far. There was so much going on that honestly I can fill a couple of posts already and from the looks of it I will have to. The kingdom that I inherited was threatened on many fronts: from the South by a massive Sycialian army next door to Venice; from the North by the ever eager hordes of German vikings and from the East by a menace of Hungarian invasion.

Well in the first year of my reign, in order to reduce the strain on our garrisons I managed to capture Provence. We were attacked by the Germans (during Simons rule) and so I felt that a little compensation was in order. With Provence ours I stopped further aggression against the Germans but they were reluctant to sign any treaties. Now, I didnt get any warnings or anything from the Pope (at least I cant remember getting one). All was good. I managed to please the Pope on a couple of occasion (details will follow in writeups - they are too juicy). Kingdom was looking on an up and up. To put it in short - the Kingdom was doing fantastic and I have accomplished a lot. And then...........




Bad news:
The Germans decided to be outright bastards. They had a massive 3000 army sitting in Burgundy menacing our borders. What do they do? Well, at the same time as sending their massive army against me they also declare a crusade to Antioch. Crusade was also located in Burgundy. Now the numbers of German bastards in Burgundy are swelling to 4000.

Mind you, Germany and us are still at war - although no hostilities happened for many years.

So, they decide to march WITH their 3000 strong army AND WITH their crusade into my province of Milan. So, at the very end of the turn and after seeing their massive invasion of MY territory, I get approached by a messenger asking the German crusade to pass. LOL WTF?

What insolence I couldnt believe they asked such a thing They ask their crusade to pass and at the same time they invade my province (with a crusade as well)??? Well, needless to say that the head of the messener was delivered to the Germans in a bloody basket.

I fight a very tough battle and manage to absolutely slaughter their army and majority of their special crusading units. Ragtag remnants of the German invaders flee back to Burgundy.

On the next turn the Pope himself says that he cannot tolerate this kind of aggression towards fellow catholics and...WHAM.....I am excomunicated.

I was so pissed. I didnt break any rules of the campaign (I think) played defensively after grabbing one of their provinces, was a model Christian. The only thing I did was to refuse their crusade to pass through my lands. Mind you, Germans and I were already at war and if I let the crusade pass then the 3000 strong army would occupy Milan and who knows where the Crusade will go next, maybe Venice.

Arrrrrrrggggggggg, I am so frustrated.
I dont know what to think right now. I am training some assassins so hopefully I can persuade the Pope to lift this horrible and unjust label. Unfortunately it will screw up my plans for the Sycilians.

I guess, it wil make for one hell of a writeup won't it?

Excommunicated Rev

PS. I guess if I wasnt at war with the Germans then none of this would've happened. Tricky bastards