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Crossroads of Fate

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Jossar

Jossar

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Dec 13, 2009
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It is said that one way to describe the universe is like the intersection of a trade road: Every action represents a different path that one could take, this way to Constantinople, this way to Istanbul, so on and so forth. What we have today is the result of one set of events, but what if things had gone differently? What if, say, William the Conqueror had lost his coronation crown in the fire that ensued on December 25, 1066?

The events that follow are the documented history of a heretofore unknown player in world events, events that would have ensued as part of a ripple effect from William's even more disasterous coronation. But I can not tell you how everything goes at once, as all was and is left up to the wheel of fate...

Chapters

Chapter 1 - The Dream of Sparta

Chapter 2 - The Rise of the Raw Dough that is Napoli

Chapter 3 - Italy Holds Her Breath

Chapter 4, Part I - Economic Anarchy

Bonus Update #1

Chapter 4, Part II - Uneasy Lies the Head that Wants a Crown

Chapter 5, Part I - Never Go In Against A Sicilian When Death Is On The Line

Chapter 5, Part II - The Neverending Struggle

Chapter 5, Part III - Rex Sicilia

Chapter 6 - Midday
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OOC Stuff: Okay, so this is my second attempt at an AAR, which apart from some more dramatic/destiny language incorporated, will follow the narrative style of Blind Adventures in Muscovy. However, you as the readers will decide one or two things...

Firstly: I still have no idea how to host pictures on a website. It would be very helpful if someone could PM me information on how to do so, unless you guys like descriptions of non-existant screenshots.

Secondly: This is a participatory AAR, meaning that you, the readers get a vote. Based on said vote, I will choose the county that I start as (Anything else wouldn't be obscure enough to match the initial description, and I like starting from nothing and building up. I have the Muslims and Pagans mod so you can pick any county), and also certain major decisions that will greatly affect the nature of what form history takes.

With that, I submit to you the first major decisions:

What county should we choose to play as?
What civil laws should we adopt?
What technologies should we first research (this one's a bit less relevant considering the way tech works, but hey, it's a starting condition)?
 
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So I've got bad news and i've got good news...

The bad news is that my normal computer has been "misplaced" until the end of finals so that I'll focus on studying more. The good news is that if I do well, this AAR will still be on. So think of it like the voting period's been extended for 3 more weeks or so...

EDIT: Certain events have made this post irrelevant. Will still be waiting a few more days for votes though.
 
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Participatory, eh? I like the sound of that. :)

Lubeck is a tempting suggestion, as is Rekjavik, but I suspect you're not looking for something that obscure ;)

I'm going to choose Westmeath. Or any Irish county, tbh. No-one does Irish AARs.
 
I like the Greek Neapolitan suggestion.
 
Chapter 1 - The Dream of Sparta

Sergios Spartenos was a warrior, a leader, a man of Sparta. And here, as he stood at the front of a throng of the greatest soldiers in the world, nothing would stop his victory today. It was something that he could taste in the air, just as that of the blood of his enemies would soon fill the rivers. Finally, the time for action came: Sergios shouted an order to charge...

Only to wake up, finding himself not as chief general of the glorious city-state of Sparta, but the Count of Napoli: a land that had long served as the last remaining Byzantine outpost in Italy (nominally, if nothing else), with Sergios himself being nothing more than a glorified landlord. The Count had always felt bitterly about that, and while William the Conqueror was still in a fury about the events of his disasterous coronation a quarter of the world away, Sergios composed a series of edicts that would focus power more firmly into the hands of his own family and towards Sergios' dream. But first there were marriages that needed to be arranged!

For you see, the three members of Sergios' family (himself, his adopted nephew of the same name, who by strength, talent, and connections was martial of the Napoli army, and a young woman named Foteine) were all unwed. Arranging for marriages would not only allow for the increase of talented people within the Spartenos court, but also dowries and wedding proceedings that would skyrocket Napoli's fortunes and prestige in Europe.

With no strong Orthodox alternatives, Sergios turned towards the Byzantine courts for matchmaking, with great success: Foteine was the first one to be married off, with the Count of Kakheti asking for her hand in marriage. This was followed later in January by Sergios Jr.'s marriage to a lovely young girl from Thracesia, who with a good head for finance became the domain's stewardess. Finally, Sergios was able to court the spymaster of Nikaea who, based on the political pressure from both counts, agreed to the marriage and to become Napoli's spymistress.

All three weddings were held on the same day, February 17, 1067, as a part of a lavish affair that was host to diplomats from around Europe. As of this point in time Napoli was still an insignificant power, and so only the most insignificant of dignitaries were sent, but it was still considered a spectacular event. But this was not merely a celebratory banquet: Sergios also used the wedding to announce a series of royal consolidation and enrichment programs that would bring stability to the realm as well as ensure funding for education and the increasing of general prosperity. Several nobles saw through this as a shameless attempt at increasing the Count's power, but through the efforts of a newly arrived courtier: a woman named Zoe Balantes, disaster was averted. In gratitude, Sergios appointed her as Diplomat of the Realm a few days later.

The first two months had been a whirlwhind, but as Sergios once again sat in his bedroom, he took the opportunity to step back and take a look at the big picture: Thanks to the generousity of Europe's monarchs, the treasury had a sum total of 86 ducats, with nearly 5 ducats in goods and taxes being collected every month. The time seemed just right for the expansion of Spartenos influence throughout the region, specifically into weak, unsuspecting Capua, but on the other hand doing so would destroy nearly all of the goodwill that had been built up, with no easy way to reestablish it. After all, the next set of weddings would be at least a generation away...
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OOC: So yeah, most of what I write is descriptive stuff, although I will be trying experimental posts with more "character point of view" every now and again.

Voting Time!

Spartans, tonight we dine in Capua! (Grab the title and declare war on Capua.)

There are bigger fish to fry... (Wait until a slightly more profitable but weak target, such as Salerno, is available then declare war on them.)

The balance of power must not be disturbed! (Hold off on a decision until the region divides itself or a larger country forces us to act. Gee, I wonder how many votes this is going to get. :wacko:)
 
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Serek000 said:
Might I suggest another option?

Seize the island of Sardinia! Arborea first, then Cagliari.
Click to expand...

I'm open to any option, but two things you might want to consider:

1: I don't have the prestige to grab both right now, so we'd have half of Sardinia for a good little while.

2: As always, Roger Guiscard is right next door waiting to seize the other Italian minors piecemeal. Wait too long, and he'll form the Kingdom of Sicily and take Napoli out like yesterday's trash. Or he might not, or maybe the Muslims will beat the living daylights out of Apulia and he'll never get the chance. It's hard to know with a Paradox game.
 
I'm open to any option, but two things you might want to consider:

1: I don't have the prestige to grab both right now, so we'd have half of Sardinia for a good little while.

2: As always, Roger Guiscard is right next door waiting to seize the other Italian minors piecemeal. Wait too long, and he'll form the Kingdom of Sicily and take Napoli out like yesterday's trash.
Click to expand...

Aye, very true. The Duke of Sardinia is a nice title to have, though, and isn't often heavily contested. Either Corsica + 1 Sardinian county or 2 Sardinian counties should give you enough to claim it, iirc.
 
This is Capua! ;)

Got to get it before the Guiscard does. Is the count of Capua excommunicated yet? That always seems to happen on my games, making it easier.

Then go for Salerno, or Sicilian minors (beware of their alliances)
 
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