Go West, Young Turk: A 769 Pecheneg AAR (MODDED)

[mrmagicman2287]

Prologue
In the year 769, the Turkic Pecheneg tribes are not in a good state of affairs. Being a tributary of the Khazars,
and controlling only a strip of coast around the Caspian sea, they were by far one of the weakest nomadic
tribes in Asia.
This would all soon change with the ascension of a great leader to the rank of Khagan, who will turn
the tribe's fortunes around and turn them from nomads into a genuine empire.

The man's name was Basarab, of the Tolui dynasty. His family were pig-herders, but through his
enlistment into the army of the Khagan, they were elevated into a Clan. Now that the Khagan had died,
the army proclaimed him Khagan of the Pechenegs.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my very first AAR, and any contructive criticism is more than welcome! I'm not very
experienced with writing, so I might be switching styles and such. Thank you for reading this far, and I hope
I manage to spin an entertaining story.
The goal of this AAR is to switch through every playable government type, and I have a plan to do it as well.
In addition, I must say I am using some performance mods.
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the AAR.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 1: Smoke and Blood
Upon his acclamation as Khagan, Basarab decided to consult the ancestors. He travelled to a shrine, asking the ancestors for their wisdom,
and sacrificng an eye in their honor.

He then went upon finding a wife. Initially, he had tried to marry a woman of the Ashina clan, but his efforts were shunned by the Khagan
of the Khazars. So it was, that he took a noble wife of Clan Dulo, her name was Ipek Dulo.

During the wedding ceremony, another woman had caught his eye. He avoided this temptation, distancing himself from her, though it made him unhappy.

Then, the matter of the council was to be addressed, and so he filled the council with his most competent men, most of them pragmatists, and
some out for glory.

He also formed a blood oath with one of his vassal clans, strengthening the realm

To prove himself as a worthy Khagan, he declared war upon his neighbor, the Khagan of the Yabguid.

Their armies were of around the same size of 500 men, but the tide of battle favored Basarab, and so he tasted victory.

The Yabguid Khagan then retreated, but Basarab gave chase, not allowing him to regroup. The second battle was the decisive one, and the war was won.

 

[stnylan]

All great things start off small.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 2: Sticks and Stones
After returning from a successful campaign, Basarab left the army in the capable hands of Kostas, leader of a Clan and blood-brother to Basarab.

Basarab manages to overcome his unhappiness.

The Khagan then decided to hold some wargames in order to entertain his people.

During the wargames, the Khagan received an alliance offer from his father-in-law, the Khan of Bulgaria. The offer was accepted almost immediately.

Emboldened by his new-found ally, Basarab decided to attack the Khazars.

He takes command of his army and marches to the Khazar capital at Itil, successfully sieging the city.

The Bulgars answer the call to arms and join the war, later joining our army, increasing it's size to 900 men

Unfortunately for Basarab, his army is later ambushed in the city of Saqsin, giving him his first loss.

Fortunately, however, soon afterwards a massive Bulgar army joins, increasing the size of the army to almost 5000 men. It was with this army that the war was won.

The Bulgars, however, were now the ones in need, as a massive rebellion had broken out against them. The Khagan rushed to their defense, linking up with their army. Soon after the Khagan's arrival, however, the rebels would attack them in the city of Oescus, near Nikopolis, where the Bulgars suffered such a crushing defeat that they lost the war. The Khagan returned home in shame.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

All great things start off small.

Thank you for the kind words!

 

[HistoryDude]

This looks interesting!

A good start... although the Bulgars are in trouble...

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 3: O Fortuna
The Khagan, not willing to dwell on his defeat, immediately started an ill-advised war against the Bajanids, a tributary of the Abbasids.

He led his men to their lands, seeking to win the war quickly as to avoid the wrath of the Caliph.

The battle seemed to be lost, but the Khagan somehow managed a victory, going on to chase their retreating army in order to destroy it.

The war would not be won, however, as the Caliph would join in, and before Basarab could confront him, he would catch a severe case of food poisoning, rendering him unable to fight.

Now realizing that he was on his deathbed, he cursed the ancestors for sending this illness to him, and died soon after. He had reigned 7 years, and with his death, the Tolui dynasty and their prophecy is shattered, and the Pechenegs are forever doomed.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah this is kinda a disappointing ending, but this is what I get for playing Ironman for once, I guess. I think I might redo it from the start, maybe without Ironman, or I might leave this one be. I guess we'll see. Thanks for reading, and sorry for the terrible ending.

 

[HistoryDude]

That is very sad!

Curse sicknesses that pre-emptively end games!

I’d continue to read a restart, though. Do understand the whole “game ended” thing...

 

[mrmagicman2287]

That is very sad!

Curse sicknesses that pre-emptively end games!

I’d continue to read a restart, though. Do understand the whole “game ended” thing...

Oh that's nice, thanks for your support! I think I will be doing a restart, and I probably should have added a son via character creator before starting the game, so that's on me.

 

[stnylan]

It happens - not all birds are meant to fly

 

[mrmagicman2287]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I restarted the game and made sure to give myself a son this time, just in case another sickness comes. Without further ado....
Chapter 1: Iron and Steel
After being acclaimed by the army as Khagan of the Pechenegs, Basarab spent the first year of his reign consolidating his power throughout the realm, and making sure his son Teber was seen as his successor in case of his death.

Basarab himself was a plain man, capable in matters of warfare, but little else than that.

After consolidating his grip on power, Basarab went to a shrine to consult the ancestors, asking them for victory in battle and sacrificing a courtier of his in their honor.

His current obsession with keeping power didn't however make him neglect his family, as he bought for his wife, Gunes, a majestic falcon.

He then went about assembling a competent council to guide him, with such brilliant minds as Kegen, and such capable hunters as Korkuten.

The Khagan then decided to attack his neighbor, the Khagan of the Yabguids, and assembled his men for war.

Basarab then led his men, successfully sieging the city of Atal, and chasing the Yabguid Khagan into Kipchak territory

But alas, victory eluded Basarab, and he had lost many capable men.
What he did gain that day, however, was an unlikely friend: Ertugrul, an enemy commander whom he defeated in duel, now sent him words of praise.

Basarab, however, was still reeling from the loss, and when met with the kind words of Ertugrul, he thought they were written with a malicious intent; that when they became friends he would be betrayed, and so he became increasingly suspicious of all things.

He later managed to capture Ertugrul in battle, and he put him in his dungeons, but treated him well.

Basarab, encouraged by this minor victory, set pursuit to the enemy army, despite his commanders protests.
What followed was another defeat, and more capable men killed.

It was then, that hearing of the Pecheneg weakness, that Oshi, the Khagan of Bashkiria, decided to attack.

Now faced with a war on two fronts, Basarab decided to hire Turkoman mercenaries, much to the relief of his Marshal.

He then led his army to a battle, winning it with ease due to his advantage in numbers. However, during the fighting, a spear was lunged in the Khagan's face, disfiguring it, and forcing him to wear a mask.

He then told his men to rest from the victory, and went to be treated by his personal physician.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 2: Enemies at every corner
After somewhat recovering from his injuries, and letting his men rest a while, Basarab continued leading onwards, securing a series of victories against his enemies with his newfound numbers advantage.

But alas, this success would not last, as his coffers emptied and the mercenaries abandoned him in search of gold.

Now destitute, Basarab raised what little more men he could muster, and set out, seeking a victory against his enemies.

And a victory he achieved, which proved itself decisive. And so the Yabguids were beaten, and the war was nearly won. The Pecheneg army celebrated with parades and festivals as they headed home, and Basarab's council started drawing up battle plans.

It was then that Fortune would throw a wrench in the works, as the Pechenegs were attacked from the south by a vassal of the Bajanids.

Invigorated by victory, Basarab led his men southwards, winning a victory and laying siege to the enemy capital. The war seemed to be easily won...

Until the day of the attack came, and the Pechenegs were repulsed. Over half the Pecheneg army died in the assault, and hope seemed to be lost.

 

[HistoryDude]

The Pechenegs aren’t doing well.

Perhaps they should cut their losses and seek a couple white peaces?

Also, the Khan is now paranoid? That could be disastrous...

 

[mrmagicman2287]

The Pechenegs aren’t doing well.

Perhaps they should cut their losses and seek a couple white peaces?

Also, the Khan is now paranoid? That could be disastrous...

Yes, they seem to have bit more than they can chew...
and yes, the Khagan is now paranoid, much to the detriment of his advisors.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 3: Cutting Losses
However, this hopelessness would not last. Kostas, proving himself an invaluable ally, sent gifts of gold to the Khagan from his newest raiding campaign. The Khagan then orchestrated a meticulous retreat, his paranoia driving him to make sure there was no chance of being ambushed.

Basarab then used his funds to raise two mercenary armies, though one of them complained about the lack of regular pay and left soon after.

With this massive army, Basarab went on to retake all lost territories, defeating his enemies with ease due to the sheer size of his army.

But just because the victories were easy does not mean the Khagan did not learn more about warfare.

Seeing that their invasion was foiled, both the Bashkirians and the Bajanids sued for white peace soon after, and Basarab tasted victory.

After this, Basarab's paranoia gradually faded, as he conquered his fears just as he conquered his enemies. He returned to the capital a different man, but none could yet discern if it was for better or for worse...

 

[HistoryDude]

The Pechenegs have returned from the brink...

Now, do they focus on the Steppes or raid and conquer civilization?

 

[mrmagicman2287]

The Pechenegs have returned from the brink...

Now, do they focus on the Steppes or raid and conquer civilization?

I believe that question will be answered later than you think

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 4: Good things come to those who wait
Soon after his return, the Khagan was afflicted with a sickness, later discovered to be food poisoning.

He was bedridden for a few months, while his wife managed the Khaganate as regent.
With the bad news also came good news: The Khatun was pregnant, and Basarab would soon father another child.

Basarab also eventually recovered from his sickness, and went back to manage the horde.

Basarab then cemented his victory over the Yabguids the previous year by declaring himself Khan of all the Oghuz, with much ceremony and celebration.

At around the same time, he started tutoring his son, Teber, on the art of war.

Basarab also saw that his neighbor, the Khagan of Bashkiria, who once surprise attacked him, was in a rough spot, and the Khagan decided to return the favor. He hired mercenaries and declared war.

Soon after leaving with his army, Basarab received news of his wife: she had given birth to a little girl, name Yeldem.

The men celebrated along with their commander, and then went on to win an easy victory against a small Bashkirian army, raising their spirits even more.

The Khagan then decided he wanted a direct confrontation with the Bashkirian Khagan, and his wish was quickly granted as he was ambushed by him. Their armies were even in size, but Basarab managed a victory, and then chased the broken Bashkirians in search of a second, which he easily acquired.

With these defeats, the Bashkirian Khagan realized he had lost, and surrendered soon after, making the Bashkirians a tributary of the Pechenegs.

Basarab then returned home, eager to meet his newborn daughter, and having won the unshakable respect of his army, thus truly cementing his rule.

 

[HistoryDude]

Victory! And revenge on the Bashkirians!

Now the vultures have become the scraps…

The Pechenegs have a bright future ahead of them...

 

[stnylan]

He's definitely on a roll