Crusading for Indianapolis: After the End AAR

[Ziemonysl]

The King is dead, long live the King. King Joseph and his lady wife Natalie, of Ohio. King Joseph is a tough soldier, humble yet ambitious, diligent, and patient. His lady wife is greedy, envious, trusting, and, well, ugly. It will be King Joseph's personal ambition however that drives the next chapter in the Von Bedford Dynasty.

Missed a king picture early on, sorry.

Joseph passes the new Duchy of Trans-Allegheny off to his younger brother Luke, sending him down to Kanawha with a strong brevy of advisors to rule the duchy while the bow grows into manhood.

King Joseph meanwhile gets busy making the next generation with Natalie. His marriage to Natalie was purely dynastic, as her looks were never something to write poetry about, but her pregnancy for the first time makes the King actually want to look at his wife. The Queen is delighted that her husband's attraction is growing.

With a new King comes the need for coronation. His father and grandfather were both crowned by Popes, and Joseph is going to have no less if he has his way. Just one problem, there is little coin in the treasury left.

He takes a loan to cover the expenses of having the Holy Father in town.

Pope David IV arrives and the feasts begin. Pope David is a pious and stern fellow though, and he wants to make sure Joseph is aware of his obligations as a Catholic monarch. His words buoy Joseph's desires to be the best monarch Ohio, and indeed, old America has ever seen. If that includes smiting heretics and protecting the flock, so be it.

I know my rulers keep getting zealous, seemed to fit an ambitious guy here
Many other rulers have come to Cleveland for the coronation, giving Joseph time to meet with them and build relations.

Like his father before him, King Joseph is crowned by a Pope.

Shortly after the coronation, the royal couple's first child is born, a boy they name James. James will be an important dynastic name.

Little James is a healthy and active boy, and needs a baptism. For the most Catholic King of Ohio, nothing less than a Papal baptism will do. Joseph's ambition makes the dynastic look great, but it costs much coin.

Before Pope David leaves Cleveland a 2nd time, he has good news. Peasants around the Great Lakes region are reporting miracles they attribute to the intercession of his father, King James of Ohio. A second von Bedford is now a candidate for sainthood.

As the festivities wind down, Norse raiders show up to try to steal some wealth. They are chased away.

A warrior, Aldafuns. makes a name for himself fighting off the Norse, perhaps the King can use his talents.

The war between the Consumerists and Anabaptists continues in the East. It looks like the Anabaptists have reclaimed some territory.

Meanwhile, in the West, the Rust Cultists of Michigan are attempting to attack the newly-converted Vikings of Superior.

The Tycoon of Michigan

Two years into his reign, King Joseph is in a funk. According to ancient manuscripts and signs, Ohio was once considered "The Heart" of ancient America. But the Ohio of his day is seen a backwater of the Catholic world, a regional power to be sure, but the great trade routes of the world pass it by, while all the great states busy themselves warring or negotiating with each other instead. King Joseph desires to change that, and his steward has just the idea...

A trade expedition! While it will be costly, King Joseph is all for it. To bring Ohio into the great trade networks of the Americas will be a long-lasting boon. He buys the necessary equipment, and also, as a good Zealous King, lets many members of the clergy come with the expedition.

The expedition begins. The company must travel through Consumerists Alleghenia, the Americanist New York, all the way to their destination, Washington, the fabled city of Presidents.

The company travels through the Consumerists lands unmolested, but in New York gold is demanded for their safe passage.

They finally arrive in Washington D.C. Even 600 years since the 'event' the city and its massive roadworks around, the crumbling yet beautiful buildings of old, is inspiring. The Americanists who rule there expect gifts for our coming, King Joseph presents them with horses.

Once negotiations for trade are underway, a number of cultural sore-points emerge. In D.C., the Americanists maintain exquisite yet ancient sets of china to feast off of, and the simpler ways of Ohioans are mocked. Religious conflicts between the Americanists who worship Presidents, and the expedition's priests who try to convince these men that the presidents were simple men also erupt. King Joseph does not stop the priests however, conversion can come at any time.

Despite these issues, the District Judge and King James see mutual benefit in establishing trade. A trade route of exotic and luxury goods from D.C. to Ohio, and Ohio corn and wheat back is set up, enriching both areas.

For his part in the successful expedition, King Joseph gives his steward a great reward. Ohio may not be the heart of the continent again, but perhaps it has re-established one tiny artery.

The trade continues to pour in, and the royal treasury is able to pay off its debts and build some savings. But no King has ever become a legend by just saving. King Joseph looks for a new project to show his dynasty's majesty, and building a structure to last the ages seems like just the ticket.

The building begins in Bedford, but hits a snag early on. King Joseph hires a legendary architect from Iowa, known his prodigious talents, but once in Cuyahoga, the man shows more interest in chasing skirts than actually building. The King's men-at-arms convinces him to get working.

 

[Ziemonysl]

One thing the architect tells Joseph is that he will need access to high-quality stone. It could be imported, but where is the glory in that? Far better, thinks Joseph, to build a quarry that will last Ohio for centuries to come. The cost is exorbitant however.

As construction continues with the new stone, however, accidents happen and workers die. Being a good Catholic King, Joseph gives generous alms to those grieving families.

All this money puts the kingdom into huge debt. So much so that the constables and tax collectors stop doing their job. Lawlessness begins to spread through the King's demesne as all his focus is on this tower.

Tragic news reaches Ohio even as the building continues. The Children's crusade led by the young Cleon has failed, and Christian families all across the Midwest grieve as they learn that their children will never return home, having been either killed or sold as slaves to parts unknown. King Joseph declares to his court that all future crusades should be led by men trained as warriors, not little kids.

Turning back to domestic matters, King Joseph has to do something about the massive deficit his ambitious plans have caused. He begins the process of sending letters to his wealthier vassals to ask for gold in exchange for royal favor. Joseph may be ambitious, be he is also humble, and the letters cause him to lose little sleep.

As the tower is nearing completion, Rust Cultists from nearby Ashtabula rise up, considering the building an affront to their gods, the ancient factories, which the tower threatens to dwarf. They are crushed.

As King Joseph smashes the pagans mercilessly, he receives a gift from the Papacy for all his pious activity. His coffers are slowly re-filling.

Still, the deficit remains, and King Joseph is a stressed monarch.

Not all Church officials are happy with the King however. The Bishop of Licking writes to him saying the Tower must not be higher than the tallest churches of the realm. Wanting to be a most Catholic King, Joseph relents and orders the building to completed ahead of scheduled, slightly unfinished.

And so it. 2 years after its start the tower is finished. It towers over the hamlet of Bedford, built on the highest point of the city, near an ancient convent of Vincentian sisters. Truly, this is a wonder that will last the ages.

Ohio in 2730

​

 

[Ziemonysl]

News from up North, the Heretical Ursulines have declared a new Crusade against the Occultists who hold their ancestral lands to the South.

Sadly. while the Ursulines spread the Gospel by the sword, the Catholic world languishes under the hands of a 'wicked' Pope, who can no longer keep his deviances a secret.

His worse traits are slothful and 'bad priest, not really sure what's made him so wicked then.

The venerable Court Chaplain of Ohio, Gelbin, passes away in his sleep. Having served 3 generations of Ohio rulers and even the cause for a war, he will be missed.

Besides the Tower of Bedford, there has been another benefit to the King's huge spendings. Many workers have moved to Cuyahoga county in recent months to help construct, and the villages are swelling with their new inhabitants, mostly Rostmann from nearby counties.

Not sure how the province of a culture is beneficial, perhaps low revolt risk? I do prefer the Rostmann castle art.
James, the King's heir, is growing up to be a good little boy, and the Queen has even better news for her husband, another child is on the way.

A second son is born to Joseph and Natalie nine months later, but his health is very frail. The Court Physician, Steward Gelbin, does what he can to heal the little boy, but it looks precarious.

With all these news peasants living near Cleveland, with new bustling cities such as Parma, Oakwood, and Bedford bursting at the seams, lawlessness is becoming an issue. Not to mention the King's debts has strapped the local constables severely. Joseph's marshal convinces the King to put aside glorious projects and invest in some law and order.

From the East, interesting news filters in from the Consumerist heathens. The founder of Consumerism is known adherents as "The Profit", and descendants of him are held in high esteem in the Corporation of Alleghenia. But the Profit's direct line of male heirs has been cut down to sizeby several untimely deaths. High Chairman Lucian and his son are dead, and Lucian's brother, Julius has taken the Chairmanship. Rumors abound that his hands are tainted with the blood of his brother and nephew, but Julius seems to be leading the Consumerists to a new time of conquests, so those who suspect keep their mouths shut.

On the other side of Alleghenia, the beleaguered Anabaptists struggle under the renewed assault of the Consumerists. Their ruler is Quuen Margaret, known as "The Careless", for her languishing of the body guard.

A situation the Consumerists are exploiting.

Over the past 2 years, King Joseph has turned things around. Having been obsessed with his legacy, he came to realize his legacy would be cemented only by being an excellent ruler in the here and now, not by establishing things to be remembered by. He has restored the treasury, eradicated the bandits, and increased drilling of soldiers. Around the Kingdom, men and women alike begin to call him "The Just"

King Joseph the Just. Note that his humbleness has turned to pride.

Bad news from Superior. The Old King is dead, and his son has sought to return to the old ways of Norse paganism.

This creates an interesting dilemma. Under the old King, Superior had inherited the lands around Yohogania, and the old city of Pittsburgh, lands the Von Bedfords have desired. Now that is ruled by a pagan again, those lands are fair game, though Superior still possess more levies than Ohio.

The first step is to secure Yohogania itself. A tiny city-principality ruled by the Countess Josefina, Joseph offers her protection in exchange for fealty. She accepts.

Norse raiders quickly pop over the border to raid the city of Pitt, and King Joseph makes good on his promise to defend, routing them.

Queen Natalie gives the King a 3rd son. With several brothers and sons, the Von Bedford dynasty is surely secure.

Speaking of brothers, Luke has come of age. Hopeless in combat but with a silver tongue for negotiations, he will make a good future Chancellor.

News from Quebec. The Ursulines have succeeded, throwing the Occultists out and re-establishing control over the area.

Interestingly the Ursuline Matron does not grant the new lands to the King of Quebec himself, but instead to a new 'Crusader Queen', splitting the Kingdom in two.

New Crusade mechanics, COOL

A letter arrives for King Joseph from Superior, asking for help to re-convert. Apparently the attempt to go back to the ways of the Norse failed, as most of the peasants were eager for the Cross of Christ, and refused any attempt to give it up.

Almost the entirety of Superior has converted to the Cross. A good day for Christ's Church.

Or, it would be, if Pope Cruxipher were a worthy man for the Papal throne.

A 4th child is born, a little girl named Diane.

 

[Ziemonysl]

Having expanded peacefully, King Joseph is ready for a war. A number of small independent counties lie on his Western borders, ripe for the picking. The first to fall is Indianapolis.

Putting them together, he creates the Duchy of Indianapolis, and hands it off. This will strengthen the Western border.

The ultimate goal is not simply to gain more little counties, but to gain a grand prize. One of the reasons for the Mother Church's sufferings now is that it has lost many of its holy sites, none more important than Chicago, where it first survived The Event. King Joseph knows the reclamation of Chicago will surely cement his place in history as a grand Catholic King.

Another marriage invitation is made by the Holy Columbian Confederacy, another Ohio princess for a Columbian prince. Joseph agrees to wed his sister to the Emperor's son.

Just a current picture of the King's council. Keeping vassals happy is important, even if they are not the best suited for their role.

Another letter from Superior, asking for missionaries. King Joseph sends them.

As part of King Joseph's goal to get to Chicago, he decides to look at the local royalty. The Badgerlings were Vikings who converted nearly 50 years ago, and their lands border Chicago. A marriage alliance with them will give the Von Bedfords a better claim on the city.

A general map of the area, 2738. Ohio and Michigan have not come to blows yet, but if Joseph is to gain Chicago, it is inevitable. Another state to note in the area is Kentuckiana, an Evangelical dukedom with its own designs on Chicago and the little counties in-between. The Catholic Duchies of Illinois, Badgerlings, and Forgottonia complete the picture.

Forgottonia is actually Sedevacantist right now.

Near the end of summer, King Joseph decides to introduce his heir James to the realm, to get him ready to rule one day. The planning of festivities begin.

Festivities must be put on hold, however, when news arrives from Rome of great import...

​

 

[stnylan]

Really it strikes me as a tough time to be a faithful child of the church now, with this current pope.

 

[Jokerang]

That's quite the amount of gold spent in a short amount of time. Surprised it didn't lead to more problems.

Rio Grande? That's pretty far from Ohio. Should be worth it if you get some neat objects.

 

[Deaghaidh]

There is a slight reduction in revolt risk and possibly increase of revenue when a county flips from a culture in your culture group to being your culture. Iirc Rostmen and Motowner are in the same group.

The main distinction in game is race, Motowner characters use the African portraits. Of course after a few generations this distinction gets blurred, because the two groups will intermarry. But newly generated Motowners will always be black, and newly generated Rostmenn use one of the European portrait groups.

Obviously all of Ohio's Catholics should march to Rio Grande at once, leaving the country in rightful Rust Cultist hands.

 

[darkhaze9]

This is a fun AAR! I haven't really had much experience with After the End, but I might try it out after this.

Will Joseph be able to redirect the crusade against Michigan to his benefit?

 

[Ziemonysl]

Really it strikes me as a tough time to be a faithful child of the church now, with this current pope.

Tis' Indeed. Always a problem with After the End for Catholics is the low faith authority that always happens.

That's quite the amount of gold spent in a short amount of time. Surprised it didn't lead to more problems.

Rio Grande? That's pretty far from Ohio. Should be worth it if you get some neat objects.

First Crusades in this mod is always kind of far-away and strange. Although I guess since that area starts as Catholic it is a bigger target to reclaim.

Rust Cultists forever

I got bad news for you man...

This is a fun AAR! I haven't really had much experience with After the End, but I might try it out after this.

Will Joseph be able to redirect the crusade against Michigan to his benefit?

Thanks man, I am glad you enjoy reading it. It is in my opinion the best mod for CK2.

 

[Ziemonysl]

The Reign of King Joseph I of Ohio, 10/1/2738 - 8/1/2742

In Far Away Lands

A Crusade. Not in 1200 years has such an expedition been declared against the enemies of Christ. Long ago the Catholic Church survived in the regions of Texas, before the apostate San Corazon sect emerged. A bastardized form of Christianity, where individual saints and aspects of the Divine One are worshipped, but not the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Himself. To wrest this region away from the enemy would be a great deed for Christendom.

So this is the region we are Crusading for. As you can see, it's kind of far away. Actually, it's right on the border of Roman Catholicism in this game, as all the little state-lets with a Red star in them start as Catholics. Unfortunately, by this point it is swarming with Infidel San Corazon followers, and is going to be a tough fight to get back.

Here is a modern map of the path to the Crusade target. Everything in green is owned by the Duke of Transcopecs, everything south of that green blob is San Corazon.
https://imgur.com/pqLVdm1

Despite the goal being thousands of miles away from any current Catholic realm, the response from the faithful is great. Money, pledges of men and support flow in to the Vatican. Pope Cruxipher promises an indulgence to all those who partake in the Crusade, both those who fight, and those journey along the way, for a Crusade is more than a mere military venture, it is a pilgrimage of the most difficult sort.

So with Holy Fury the Crusade mechanics for Catholics changed a lot. Now, instead of just immediately marching troops down, there is a period of pledging money, soldiers, and picking a family member who will "benefit" from the Crusade's conquests if successful, so you don't get it yourself. Dynamic Crusader states are a thing. After a period of pledging, then the actual war begins. Unfortunately, this mechanic has also been given to those targeted by the Crusade, which I think is a little silly, I think the old system of other countries being encouraged to join defensively was fine, but whatevs.

As Joseph prepares Ohio for the Crusade, he must first attend to family members. Two siblings come of age during this time, youngest brother Jacob, and sister Rita, who is pledged to a Holy Columbian Prince.

As the Ohio host moves down to Cincinnati to muster, he spends a great deal of time with the Duke there, and the two, of equal mind, spark up a friendship. His eldest son, James has been left in charge of the house guard, and letters of his exploits chasing down Vikings and bandits makes their way to the proud father.

As the date to launch the Crusade nears, some of the local pagans have been inspired to attack while their Catholic lords are distracted. The Rust Cultists are put down harshly by overzealous knights.

King Joseph becomes intrigued by a local sport that has spread to Cincinnati. Strikeball, the peasants call it, involves hitting a ball with a piece of wood and running around a square while trying to catch it.

Vatican clergy tasked with going around raising money for the Crusade reach Ohio. King Joseph donates generously.

Up North another war of religion is brewing. The Great Kingdom of Vermont has shattered, as 3 pagan brothers have split the crowns their forefathers united (Vermont, Ontario, and Michigan). Seeing their chance, Anglican faithful have begun a revolt to free themselves of their Occultist taskmasters.

On June 23rd, 2740, the Crusade officially begins. All Catholic monarchs are expected to adhere to the call.

Just getting to the target will a challenge in itself. King Joseph must travel with his 4000-strong host through the lands of the Holy Columbian Confederacy, mostly through lands still largely inhabited by Revelationists and other sorts of pagans. Fortunately, he has the Emperor's blessing, as they are good-brothers through his sister Rita.

August 1st, 2741, King Joseph arrives with most of his men north of the Rio Grande river. They have made it. He immediately links up with several other Crusading hosts, to bolster their chances of taking the steadfasts of the infidel.

They lay siege to the small castle of Crockett, named after an ancient god of hunting, according to the local guides.

Slowly, but surely, castle after castle falls to this band of Crusaders. God must surely be with them.

King Joseph moves his host across the river in order to support the Pope's own warriors, who have just arrived. The Crusader presence is growing.

At first, the lack of resistance is puzzling to King Joseph. Where are all the raging warriors dedicated to 'Santa Muerta', or the famed masked warriors of 'La Lucha' who swore not to let a single foot of San Corazon land fall to the invaders? But as the Ohio host marches further inland from the river, the Crusaders make a grizzly discovery. They come across field after field of dead Crusaders, hacked down in the night or while on march. Each band is small, but as more and more of these crow feasts are found, the answer is clear. The Corazon warriors have been ambushing the Crusaders as each army then fading away, waiting for the right moment to strike. King Joseph doubles the guard around camp at nights, and send missives to the other leaders of the Crusade to band together.

A year passes, and less and less Crusade reinforcements seem to arrive. Some of the Pope's men even decide to venture out on their own, laying siege further North. No missives sent to them are returned. Then, the King's outriders rush to camp with terrible news. The San Corazon warriors have been spotted in great numbers to the North. The Crusaders have been surrounded and cut off!

Still, they do not strike. There is precious time to form bonds and get the Crusaders a common battle plan. King Joseph spends his time trying to discourage Crusader lords from going out on their own for riches and glory.

His brother, Prince Jakob, asks for the right to wed a Musbach from Miami, one of Queen's ladies in waiting who have accompanied the Crusaders into the desert. King Joseph agrees.

As King Joseph scours the land, looking for something, anything to give him a tactical advantage before the infidels strike, his men report of strange and disturbing festivals the locals are partaking in. He forbids his men to pay any more attention to them, for fear of their resolve shaking.

July, the Crusaders have been whittled down by raids and the San Corazons have amassed enough men to bull-rush through the Crusader lines. King Joseph arrives his men across the Rio Grande at several crossings, but knows without a miracle, it will not be enough.

The two lines engage, and the battle is fierce. Good knights from Ohio and Illinois fight desperately to keep the San Corazoners back across the river, but it is fruitless. The pagans gain one foothold, and then another. Joseph's van begins to crumble.

Despite the horror of the battle and his men falling all about him, King Joseph is like a man possessed. A mound of corpses builds up around him as he slays one enemy after the other. But even the mighty may be dragged down eventually. A masked warrior takes the King as he is engaged with another, his axing biting deeply into the King's armored back.

The King falls.

With the King's death, his remaining lines shatter, and the San Corazon warriors run amok through the Crusader camps. As the Ohio host disintegrates, with survivors running to join other surviving expeditions, news reaches Cleveland, where the eldest son of Joseph is holding court. His immediate vassals swear their loyalty to him, and the boy is crowned King James II.

The King is dead. Long live the King.

Short update today, since the Crusade didn't last too long. 2 updates to go to World Update 2766

 

[stnylan]

I am getting distinct impressions of hte SEcond Crusade here.

 

[Andrzej I]

The worst bit is the one who slew our noble king was attempting to hide. Here's hoping the son will prove equal to the father.

 

[Jokerang]

Oh man, that was not fun. Luckily your next king is just the right age to start making a name for himself - possibly in Rio Grande.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Be they works of Gods or men, in the end all things fall into Rust. Perhaps the son will prove wiser than the father, and leave other men's souls alone!

It's probably too much to hope for a successful Rustish uprising now that von Bedford forces have died fruitlessly in the desert.

I'm enjoying actively rooting against you in this aar

 

[darkhaze9]

Ouch.

It always hurts to lose it all in a big battle like that. Let's hope the forces of Christendom will return to form under James II. Long live the king!

 

[Fofotron]

Once you have secured your dynasty you should join the Jesuit society. Not only it makes your characters more virtuous and prone to be made saints, the last rank in the society allows you to instantly convert a county in your realm. I have done that with my rulers and its an easy way to control heresy outbreaks and quickly convert newly conquered territory.

 

[Ziemonysl]

Once you have secured your dynasty you should join the Jesuit society. Not only it makes your characters more virtuous and prone to be made saints, the last rank in the society allows you to instantly convert a county in your realm. I have done that with my rulers and its an easy way to control heresy outbreaks and quickly convert newly conquered territory.

Thank you for that suggestion, I've never joined a society before so I didn't know their benefits.

 

[Ziemonysl]

Following the death of his father down in Texas, James II mounts the throne at the cusp of adulthood.

So skilled tactician, baptized by the Pope, brave, patient, diligent, temperate, and cruel. James II is gonna focus on the cruel a bit more to make his reign a little different
His younger brother Benjamin is now heir to throne, as James II has not had a chance yet to sire any children.

Word travels back to court of the disaster at Jaboncillos that cost King Joseph his life. The Ohio forces have largely melted away into the desert. Worse yet, the body of the late King is somewhere out there, lost in the desert.

As the Catholic Kingdoms are pummeled by the Sangrado Corazon pagans, the Holy Columbian Confederacy decides to turn the screws on their own minority catholics on the border of Arkansas. When pleas for relief are sent to James' court, he ignores them. Emperor Pellinore is his good-cousin, and furthermore, those sods are faraway from the borders of Ohio.

News of Pope Cruxipher's Crusade is going from bad to worse. The pagans have the upper-hand, and the Crusaders are disorganized as they come to fight.

King James focuses instead of tinkering on some trinkets found in a derelict building hundreds of years old. One of his hobbies.

His men are able to piece together an ancient far-seer, a cylindrical object that allows the user to see from far away. Undoubtably useful on the battlefield.

Despite his attempts to ignore the Crusade, grumbling in his court increases, among both clergy and family. Is it not the duty of a Catholic ruler to fight God's wars? Furthermore, there is still no news of his father's remains being returned. His father was well-liked and it is seen as a black mark that James will do nothing to at least attempt to recover his bones. After months of incessant pressure, King James reluctantly agrees, and announces his intention to join the Crusade.

He begins his march along the same path his father took, taking another 3600 good men with him. After several months of journeying, his men encounter a merchant caravan hawking wares to Crusaders. One of the items the leader of the merchants show is a crown of immense worth, presumably taken off some dead Crusader King. King Joseph has his men slay the entire merchant caravan, claiming their goods were stolen from valiant crusaders, and takes the crown for himself.

Upon arriving in Transpecos, King James puts up a token siege against the Fort of Sam Houston, while outriders are sent to find Crusader bands who might have knowledge of his father's remains. He is quickly assaulted by pagan forces, who see his men as one more easy picking. King James however puts his far-seer to good use, and actually routes the numerically superior force.

His men celebrate the victory against the pagans, one of the few in this war, well into the night. King James however is unmoved. This expedition was a fool's errand, his father's remains most certainly have rotted away or picked apart by vultures. He falls into an uneasy sleep. Half-way through the night though, a voice seems to pierce his mind. It tells him to search a hill near the fort his men lay siege too. King James obeys the voice and as his men search they find a mass grave. They excavate it and, lo and behold among the many crusader corpses there, one with a ring with royal seal is found. King Joseph, 3 years dead, has been found.

The event leaves the young king shaken. His cruel nature had always led him to take a dim view of his father's piety, and he laughed in his cups at his uncles' desire to fight a holy war. Yet all the way out here, surely God must have spoken to him. How else could he have been guided to find his father's years old bones amidst the millions of miles of prairie, now spattered with the blood of warriors?

James' newfound faith however, is in conflict with his cruel nature. His mission complete and his father's remains packed for the journey home, he and his host stop at an old mission with several monks minding dozens of pre-war literature they continue to copy down as old manuscripts start to wear. The monks attempt to stop the King from taking several tomes he finds interesting, and so he has them put to the sword, and the mission burnt in retaliation.

Upon arriving back in Ohio, King James is greeted with the news that the Rust Cultists of Michigan have fallen to butchering themselves, breaking the kingdom apart. A weak king no doubt is to blame.

Such is their weakness, that the virulent atomicists who continue to insist upon their rights to Chicago have risen up and claimed the entire area for themselves.

Before King James can taken advantage of the self-inflicted trouble of the pagans, he must deal with a family matter. His uncle, Prince Jacob, accompanied King James' host home, having been found before the expedition left. Jacob has been living with immense guilt over his inability to defend James' father in battle, and for the failure of the Crusade in general. He asks to atone by joining the Knights of Columbus, and continuing the fight wherever those holy warriors are sent. This means his marriage to Melissa Musbach must be set aside, a slight to the Musbachs of Miami.

King James allows his uncle's act, and promises Melissa to his brother Benjamin, so that the Musbachs are not too upset.

Before the Knights of Columbus can venture south again however, Pope Cruxipher calls the Crusade off.

That same year, King James' betrothed, Sarah Cygnus from the Badgerlings comes off age. The two are wed at once.

King James gives his new wife little attention however. His focus is on the pagans up north, in particular the city of Toledo. Legends have it that over 800 years ago, brave Ohio warriors fought for Toledo and made it theirs. That the Kingdom of Michigan should have any claim on it is a farce. King James could care less about the history of the city however, he wants its ports and ability to shore up with northern border.

The war begins quickly enough, with the seizure of Sandusky, a town in Ohio but ruled by foreign pagans.

In this war, the Ohioans clearly have the advantage. Even with their allies of the Gee-yem tribe, the pagans are badly outnumbered.

The city of Toledo and its surrounding villages are quickly seized.

There is little the pagans can do to stop King James' drive north.

But then, everything changes. The old Rust Cultists of Michigan are overthrown, and new pagans from the East start arriving in large numbers. They worship strange gods with many tentacles, and amidst their fury and devotion, King James pulls his men back. Toledo falls to these new invaders, who are intent on holding on to their entire domain, a large slice of the north.

Bummer.

Enraged at being cheated of his prize, King James goes back home and vents his frustration out on prisoners he took while down in Texas. The screams and pains of innocent women and men in his dungeons leaves him with a guilty conscience. Does God want him to do this? But a darker part of him urges him on.

A year later, he receives a letter from the Vatican asking about when he will be coronated. With wealth from two wars filling his treasury, King James sees no reason why he should have a pissant ceremony. He invites the Pope to oversee his coronation.

A wave of visitors start to show up in Cuyahoga ahead of the event. King James lets some stay, and sends others on their way. He is not going to feed every hungry mouth that shows up.

Pope Cruxipher arrives, and King James is officially coronated. Surely, his reign will be a blessed one like his father's.

Pro-tip, it won't

The Kingdom of Ohio at the coronation of King James II, religious map.

1 Update to go before World 2766 update.

 

[stnylan]

This Pope is clearly a charlatan.

Very nice to be crowned by the Pope though

 

[Ziemonysl]

A short recap on the elder members of the Von Bedford Dynasty. Here we have King James II and his wife Susan. King James from a quick glance seems much like his forebears; a strong warrior, zealous, and diligent, but deep down he has a cruel streak that marrs many of his actions. His new wife Susan is a likeable enough woman, and cordial to her husband, but she seems to prefer to spend much of her time with her ladies in-waiting, as opposed to her husband.

Here are the other 3 male adults of the dynasty. Benjamin is James' younger brother. Jacob, or Jakkob, and Luke are the King's uncles. Jacob took his vows as a Knight of Columbus, Uncle Luke leads a cadet dynasty down in Transallegheny.

Oh yeah, I had some empty space on this picture, so I included the seal of the city of Bedford, where the Von Bedfords are supposedly from. Going to include more pictures of the natural beauty of Bedford and Cuyahoga County at large in future updates, its a seriously beautiful place.
Back to world events. a Viking conquerer has settled in the Old Dominion, and is planning his next stage of conquests against the Holy Columbian Confederacy.

I really hope they take the Carolinas from them. Would be a nice knock-down for the Confederates
Emperor Pellinore seems to be taking the threat seriously, and is keeping his vassals at the ready.

To the north, Occultists have conquered both Ontario and Michigan, yet their authority seems to not extend very far.

A Revelationist revolt is put down in the south of Ohio. The sooner these snake worshippers are converted, the better.

The King's spymaster, Duke Edgar of Miami Valley, brings important news to his attention. His spies have let him know there is a plot afoot against the king's life. Who could be behind it?

Apparently, the source of the plot may be none other than Spymaster Musbach himself. His uncle Luke writes to the King that Duke Edgar has been overheard by his courtiers of how the 'upstart' Von Bedfords usurped the throne that was rightfully his family's, way back in 2666, and that it would be a 'sweet thing' to rectify that 'mistake'.

Seriously, look at this guy, ambitious, high intrigue, and plotting to claim Ohio? This guy is going down.

King James' first impulse is to imprison and execute Duke Edgar. But his brother is married to Edgar's sister, Melissa. Furthermore, his wife Susan counsels him that an enemy close is better than an enemy afar. Instead, the King humors Duke Edgar's 'plans' to stop these assassination attempts.

News from up North. The Occultists and Atomicists are at war again over the holy city of Chicago.

Down South, it looks like the Norse Vikings have succeeded in carving out a piece of the Holy Columbian Confederacy. They have conquered the kingdom of Louisiana, crushing Dixie's armored knights with sheer northern rage.

Man, of all the places to take over, they took over the poorest and furthest-away kingdom from piedmont. The Norse gathered 50k warriors against the HCC's 19k and crushed them utterly. The suckiest thing is once their ruler dies all of these counts go independent. Had they taken over the Carolinas, they would a regional powerhouse the HCC would have to take back one piece at a time.

Amidst all the turbulence of this age, some good news for the dynasty. Both the King and his brother's wives are expecting, or have delivered.

A missive comes from the elderly queen Margaret of Hudsonia. She wishes to marry off her youngest son to the King's only sister. This would revive the old alliance of Ohio and Hudsonia. The King accepts.

Above is a picture of Bridal Veil Falls, a park in Bedford's Reservation system

2751, five years have passed since King James' last attempt to conquer Toledo. His truce with the Occultists runs out, and he declares war again.

His levies are quickly gathered, Sandusky is sieged and taken, and his 13-thousand strong host marches on the port town of Toledo.

As King James lays siege to Toledo, scandal and treachery come from home. Apparently, his spymaster, Duke Edgar, is not content with the distribution of lands his father set aside for him and his 2 brothers. He pushes his younger brother Virgil into revolt, imprisons the man, and then on the flimsiest of charges, executes him. His own full-blooded brother. While Edgar gains the county of Urbana, his ambition has outraced him. He is now known all throughout Ohio as a Kinslayer of the worst kind. King James uses the despicable act to remove him as spymaster and appoint a more loyal vassal.

Count Edward of Lima, the Duke's other brother, asks for the King's protection, which King James grants. No kinslaying will be allowed if King James has anything to say.

Occultist tribals finally show up to fight against the Ohio shieldwall and knights, but they are badly outnumbered, and stay away from King James' host.
Without relief, Toledo has to capitulate on March 6th, 2752.

Following the victory, the King receives letters from his wife Susan. She has delivered a boy, and named him Daniel. The King has an heir of his own.

She also writes to him about her difficulties following the pregnancy, of anxieties and troubles that she can't seem to shake. She asks him for advice. King James reads the letters and then has them sealed in his private collection. The woman must be mad to expect him to take the time to write when he is the middle of a campaign!

A few months pass, and the Occultists attempt to be bold, striking at Ohio steadfasts in the Black Swamp. King James moves to intercept.

The two armies clash near the swamps, the terrain almost more difficult to fight through to get to the enemy. The Occultists are rolled up and smashed.

During the battle, James II is a merciless combatant. He strikes down warrior after warrior, sparring none even when they thrown down their weapons and beg for mercy.

Just as his force is victorious in the north, news reaches him of another pagan uprising to the south. With Toledo secure, King James rushes down to the south to smash these upstarts.

The battle should have been a rout. But the pagans know the territory well, and turn the campaign into a series of skirmishes where they continually ambush the Ohioans. In one such engagement, King James' own bodyguard is ambushed and wiped out, leaving him dazed and jibbering.

Zackquill, leader of the revolt, who has dealt the King such a blow.