Megas Logothetes' and Senators' Reports

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

I'm taking the save back. This might be a couple hours. My first time doing this.

Plus I'm still a little woozy so the chance of error is high. Don't be surprised if we end up owning Scotland next turn...

[Privateerkev]

OOC:

Knights_of_Palma has a defensive battle to fight. If he can't/won't fight it in 48 hours, he can pick Ramses or Rowan to fight it. I have PM'd KP the save. When he is done, he will PM it back to me and I will release the new save with a report.

[Ramses II CP]

OOC FYI: Isn't KoP the one with computer troubles who has already asked that battles be subbed for him? Or was that Rowan? I have trouble keeping the Order members straight for some reason.

Anyway, I'm available if needed. I don't think I've fought a bridge battle in SS4.1, might be rather interesting with the under powered ranged units, although I suspect we'd jedi our way to victory as usual.

[woad&fangs]

I am forced to use my laptop for a while. This means I will not be able to play battles, but I will be able to move my character. If I do enter a battle I give permision to a Order member who asks firsts. No one else will be able to play them as I would rather it be auto resolved. I was wondering if you can make this an acception to the rules. If not then I will have to travel with other avatars for the time being or let my battles be auto resolved.

from a few days ago.

[Ramses II CP]

Taking the save for the bridge battle for KoP.

[Ramses II CP]

The AI, as you might expect, led the attack across the bridge with it's general. We suffered 80 casualties.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1125-16.zip

[Privateerkev]

taking the save back...

[Privateerkev]

Report for 1125:

This year was the beginning of getting our economy back on track. Many units were disbanded. If people didn't give SOT orders specifically forbidding disbandment, and those units weren't meant for private armies, they were disbanded using the powers given to me by the office of the Megas. Taxes were raised where able. And economic buildings were started. Merchants are being recruited.

Armies:

Emperor's Royal Army: 1 archer militia was recruited at Constantinople to bring this army up to legal requirements.

Caesar's Royal Army: Is fine and just where he left it.

Both Order Armies: Are under the command of Armatos in a single stack. 2 horse archers were recruited at Nicosia and 2 spear militia were recruited at Antioch to bring these 2 armies to legal requirements.

Kalameteros's Army: His victory left him with many small understrength units. I merged these together and retrained a town militia for his army at Iconium. His army is understrength but legal. This year, Caeserea will be able to retrain his units so they are up to strength. (OOC: When a settlement is newly captured, it takes a turn or two for the recruitment queues to start filling.)

Aleksios ek Ikoniou's Army: He needed archers and there are no facilities anywhere near. Since he is about to go into battle, I recruited 2 Balkan Archer mercenaries for him. A mercenary captain joined his retinue. His army is now at full legal strength.

Savvas's Army: I had hoped to avoid this but bureaucracy is what it is. Even though Savvas retired, I legally had to recruit him a full army. This is a waste of resources and I hope House Asteri fixes this. But Savva's army is 2 peasants at Arta, 2 peasant archers at Sofia, and 1 peasant and 1 horse archer at Corinth. It is legal but it is costing us money.

Zigavinos's Army: Per his request, his army is of low quality. He has 3 peasants and a horse archer at Smyrna. And 2 peasant archers at Dardenellia.

Pavlos's Army: He insists on having an army completely made up of mercs despite my promise to recruit him a cheaper army. Those that insist on dragging on the economy will be the last to reap the benefits. Once this army is disbanded, a new one will be recruited from scratch.

To everyone who is gathering army units: If you are taking your unit from someone else's settlement, you must have their permission first!

Building:

Antioch got started on roads. Infrastructure in the Levant is sorely lacking.
Alexandria started a small church. We need to spread the word and give something back to the people after Methodios slaughtered many of them.
Scopia, Durazzo, Smyrna, and Iconium all started on Land Clearance. We need money and I thank these governors for putting these first in the queue.
Thessa started a grain market.
Aleppo, Adana, and Caesarea all started small chapels. We need to spread the word. And the more of our population that are converted, the less garrisons we need. Which means less money tied up in garrisons.
Constantinople's order is getting low with very high taxes despite the massive garrison. I have therefore approved of the Emperor's request for a brothel. I hope it earns it's keep and "raises morale" in the city...

You might notice that a certain House's settlements are not found on this list. That is no accident. Those that help the economy grow will be rewarded. Those that impede economic growth will be compelled to start helping.

Foreign Affairs:

We gave Sicily maps and trade rights and they gave us maps and 1000 florins.
The Kievan Duke is dead.
We are the most advanced Kingdom in the known world.
A new Fatimid Jihad did a forced march north and is now right next to Antioch.
The Turkish Sultan is leading a Jihad army on the river crossing east of Nicaea.

Miscellaneous:

The Armenian Cavalry unit with Ioannis Kantakouzinos is hereby seized by the Office of the Megas. It is not to be moved. And I really mean it this time. The Armenian Cavalry unit with the Caesar was moved against my orders last year. That is illegal and I hope it was just an accident. (OOC: It is also a "rule" that players can only move garrisons, forts, and legal armies.) If it happens again, I will become angry...

There is a ship off of Cairo. It is for the use of the Crusaders to board and resupply. Any of them can move their avatar onto it and off of it. If they move the ship however, I will retake control the next year and move it back to the coast. It is for everyone's use. (OOC: Apparently, SS lets avatars resupply if they end turn on a ship. Just keep in mind the 2 unit per ship rule.)

Armatos has the authority to move the two horse archers from Nicosia, move them onto the ship off the coast, move the ship to Antioch province, and then move the horse archers towards his army. He also can move the 2 new spear militia in Antioch towards his army.

Stavros has performed a brilliant bridge defense. He has been offered a MotH under Andronikos Komnenos. (OOC: please leave the MotH request window minimized so Motep can decide what to do with KoP.)

Antioch is offered a Theologian Guild. I need to see how the finances work out this year before I decide whether to accept or not. (OOC: Please leave the guild window minimized. Cecil can deny the guild but he can not accept. I will do that later if there is money.)

OOC: There it is. My very first Megas/Chancellor/whatever report. Here is the new save:

LOTR-1126

The save will be open until 4:30PM Tuesday US CT. The extra time is due to me now being "off schedule" with the saves. I need to be "on schedule" because I work full time and occasionally sleep. 4:30 Tuesday will be the next time I can take the save back after the 24 free period.

[Smowz]

Taking the save

[Smowz]

Here is the save

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-1.rar

Nevoulas continues to move east through Anatolia passing the French crusading army. Not exactly sure where the crusaders are heading - Nevoulas attempted to indicate to them to follow him!!!

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Taking the save.

[TinCow]

THIS IS A REMINDER TO ALL CRUSADERS THAT THE CRUSADE EVENT IS STILL IN EFFECT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO MOVE THEIR OWN AVATARS.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-2.rar

TC I know that we can't move our avatars yet..
Changed tax level in Athens back to normal since public order dropped too low.

[Kagemusha]

Taking the save.

[Kagemusha]

Moved towards East and left the Armenians behind.Here is the new save.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-3.rar

[Warmaster Horus]

Taking the save.

[Warmaster Horus]

Done. http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-4.rar

Moved Nikiphoros to Markianopolis. He's finally there!

[TinCow]

Taking the save for Crusade movement and other stuff.

[TinCow]

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-5.zip

Stavros, Vartholomaios, and Vissarionas have advanced to Cairo and besieged the city. 2 rams and 4 ladders have been queued up. Any of these players may download the save and re-arrange the siege equipment construction order for as long as the siege continues. The attack may NOT be launched until all 3 players have sent me PMs which confirm who will lead the attack, who will own the city, and who will receive the 2 religious relics. The relics can be split between multiple people, but you will not know who will receive what until I assign them. Once I receive PMs indicating that all three players are in agreement, the attack can be launched whenever they want.

Methodios Tagaris has received 3 units as a result of his capture of Alexandria: Crusader Sergeants, Unhorsed Crusader Knights, and a Great Cross. All 3 units are located inside Alexandria and will be considered part of Methodios' army for the rest of the Crusade Event.

Note: I have NOT received movement orders from Methodios Tagaris (Tristan de Castelreng), Annios Solomon (woad&fangs), or Efstathios Laskaris (Ibn-Khaldun) since Alexandria was taken. The last movement orders I have for all 3 of those avatars are to go to Alexandria. Since the city is now taken and Cairo will likely fall before they get there, I will permit them to remain where they are for the rest of the Crusade if they prefer to stay safe. Efstathios also has the option of moving into Alexandria for safety instead of staying outside. I will accept movement orders for these avatars for THIS TURN up until the point when PK takes the save to do his end-turn work. Simply tell me whether you want to stay put or move on Cairo. If Methodios moves on Cairo, he may leave part of his army behind as a garrison. Efstathios may also move into Alexandria as a third option instead of remaining where he is or moving on Cairo. I am also still accepting sabotage orders.

3572 added to the treasury for 1126 Crusade upkeep.

Iconium and Caesarea retinue titles moved from Ioannis Kalameteros to Efstathios Laskaris.

In accordance with YLC's wishes, Iakovos ek Kallipoleos has been killed off. In accordance with his last will, Adana has been inherited by Makedonios Ksanthopoulos. 6 RBGs have been queued up for him to pick from for his next avatar; 3 in Corinth and 3 in Sofia. After he selects, the other 5 will be killed off and his chosen avatar will be teleported to his desired starting location.

Note: The MoH and Guild scrolls are still up.

[deguerra]

Iconium should go to Zigavinos, TC. Should I do that?

Taking the save

[Cecil XIX]

Taking the save.

EDIT: Gotta be fast, with these guys!

[deguerra]

Here you go Cecil:

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-6.rar

-moved Ioannis and Nikophorous just east of Caesarea (the latter with Warmaster Horus' permission)

-changed Iconium Ancillary from Efstathios to Zigavinos, with TinCow's permission.

[Cecil XIX]

Taking the save, then.

[Cecil XIX]

Just noticed that PK's not gonna take the save back until tomorrow afternoon, so I'm gonna give the save back and fight that Jihadi army at a more convenient time.

[Ignoramus]

Taking the save:

[Ignoramus]

Moved Ioannis and his army together.

http://rapidshare.com/files/140186426/LOTR-1126-7.zip

[Ferret]

taking the save

[Ferret]

Still moving North East:http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-8.rar

I'm stuck between two fairly large Turkish armies too...

[TinCow]

Taking the save for the remaining Crusader movement.

[TinCow]

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1126-9.zip

Efstathios Laskaris (Ibn-Khaldun) was disappointed at his inability to reach Alexandria before his rivals. With a heavy heart, he turned and marched east towards two great tributaries of the Nile. Soon the army started noticing something odd; there were signs posted on the road, which claimed to point towards Cairo, but they were all pointing West. Efstathios' cartographers were not confused by this blatant sabotage attempt, and instead navigated by their own maps, oriented by the sun and stars. They eventually reached the Nile tributaries and made camp between them as they had intended.

Methodios Tagaris (Tristan de Castelreng) was an ambitious man, and it was beginning to worry his army. With Alexandria only just secured and the population greatly unhappy, he set about preparations to march south with part of his army to lay siege to Cairo. He selected a small corps of elite men, mounted Latinkons, Byzantine lancers, Crusader Sergeants, and Byzantine Infantry and instructed them to march out of the city with him, leaving the remainder of his army and Annios' behind as a garrison. Methodios gave instructions that the taxes be lowered as much as possible to appease the population, but he did not count on the effect of his personal charisma. He was already a legend amongst the Crusaders, and his departure from the city greatly demoralized them and upset the Egyptian commoners. As he attempted to leave, they constantly obstructed his path and clawed at his cloak in an attempt to keep him as their protector. He would not hear any of it, and eventually managed to march out of the city with his men. Hoever, the delays in leaving had their cost and he will not reach Cairo until next year. In the meantime, a revolt is simmering in Alexandria even with the low taxes and Annios Solomon and the remaining garrison are powerless to prevent it from happening.