Sweeping the Steepes

**OlafTheBrave** · 09-20-2005, 19:11

Thanks for the compliment dgfred. I really need to do some more editing as there are still numerous typos, some errors and ommisions. I have two more updates to post once I get them typed up. So far this has been a very interesting campaign, perhaps because I normaly play on early but I am seriously finding the Russians to my liking. This is also one of the very few times I have seen Denmark do anything without my involvment.

**Roark** · 09-21-2005, 01:06

Fantastic narration, Olaf!

**m52nickerson** · 09-21-2005, 01:29

Very nice, I want more!

**NodachiSam** · 09-21-2005, 03:01

Your narrations and pictures are excellent! Please continue

**OlafTheBrave** · 09-21-2005, 04:11

Despair is felt throughout the land, our great leader, the savior Moscow, Yuri II is dead. He fell suddenly ill in his palace in Moscow and never regained his health. His son a capable general in his own right takes the crown. While he may talk to people that no one sees his people still respect him, and perhaps even fear him. There is much work to be done now that the mongols are gone. The empire needs expanding and the trade network must be increased. Also our armies need strengthening such that no foe can ever threaten our sacred capital again.

Apparently some of our Catholic allies are a bit devious and less than brotherly. The great emissary Guba Shchukin is assassinated in Rome while trying to convince the pope of an alliance. Soon after this there is troubling news of Italian agents being apprehended at the borders. Work is begun on locating the proper men to handle such business as this requires. Unfortunately the allies of the Empire the turks are quicker in getting the rich lands of the horde to the south so the planed conquest in that direction is put on hold.

In the west the decision is made not to further extend the trade network but to now concentrate on securing it by strengthening our numbers. This turns out to be an excellent decision. Apparently the Danes have grown bold and reckless through their gains due to civil wars in England and the Holy Roman Empire. They strike at Prussia without warning but the brave garrison there shows them what it means to encroach upon Russian soil. They have strength in numbers in the English Channel and our fleet there is lost. However the seas are wiped clear of their presence from Finland to the shores of England. This is a most unfortunate act as the loss of trade hampers the development of the eastern fleet. Within a few years a peace is sought and the Danes accept. Seeing as to how they are blood relatives the decision is made to leave them three ships in the English Channel to resume their trade routes. They foolishly do not do so and after producing another ship attack yet again. This time their navy is removed from the face of the earth. It also seems the English take exception to the Danes perfidity of breaking the alliance and take the war to their homelands.

A new weapon of war is developed and is decided to pursue this innovation. This will give the empire's formidable armies even more strength. As has been shown alliances cannot be trusted even when secured by blood. Their are formidable forces on the southern borders and the capital must never be threatened again. While in his lifetime he never was able to accomplish all he wanted Vladimir III did maintain the borders of the realm. This is a picture from the last year of his life.