Note: Whoever can guess where I got the title of this AAR from, well, I'd be very impressed. 
Difficulty: Easy (This is my third game)
AI is aggressive.
Sixteenth of February, in the Year of Our Lord 1066
My dearest Sophia,
I am very sorry that I have not been able to write to you, but I hope you understand as I have been asked by Prince Leon to join his court as his chancellor.
Imagine me in a court of a prince! I feel very happy and nervous that I was given the honour at my such young age and out of Prince's court of 40 (I shit you not) well deserving nobles. It feels that only yesterday you and I were giggling at something Theodosius of Antioch said during his lectures at your father's study.
My first responsibilities were to handle approaches by various Byzantine nobles arranging marriages for few of the members of the court. Two of them were married to Count of Lesbos and oh, some other Byzantine count! It has been very hectic last months or so, trying to advise the Prince on whom to select for position of Spymaster, Steward and Marshal and handling the marriage negotiations.
Last night, my lord the Prince asked to see me and Simonis of Palmyra, the Spymaster in his study. As always, he was to the point.
"Lady Theofano, Lady Simonis, I have a new task for you. I am 35, yet I am without an heir, my real unsecure. You two are to find me a suitable bride of Christian breeding."
I asked him, "What are the qualities you are looking for in your bride, my prince?"
He said gruffly, "I do not particular care, as long as she is of child bearing age, preferably as young as possible. Oh, and she has to be a Christian. Orthodox or Catholic, I do not care. I can marry off some of the members of my court if I need a better servant from another court."
"Very well my prince," I said. "I will get on this task immediately."
I bowed, and turned to exit, but the Prince stopped me. "No, I need to speak to you alone, my lady. Lady Simonis, please leave us." Simonis left.
"How can I be of service, my prince?"
He led me to the map of the known world on the wall. "This is the Byzantine Empire." He pointed to the still the largest empire of the world. "But it is weak. Maybe in five or ten years, I forsee that Constantine Ducas will start losing his grip on his unruly nobles." He looked at me with his piercing eyes.
"Do you understand what my desire is?"
"You see to create a new kingdom from fragmented Byzantium."
"Good. Perhaps I may even be the new Byzantine emperor, or my son will be."
He pointed down to the Holy City of Jerusalem, alas, still in infidel hands. "That city must belong to Christians."
I did not know he had a zealous streak in him, as he had accepted fielty from 3 Muslim sheiks of Hama, Homs and Archa and allowed religious freedom in his realm among his subjects.
"My prince, but you never did anything to promote Christianity in your kingdom. I beg your mercy, but among some of the clergy, they say you are secretly an infidel because you do much in favour of the muslims."
He gave me that piercing look again. "Do I look like a fool? Do I look like I want Fatimids or Abbasid hordes trampling my realm?"
I bowed abjectly. "Of course not, my prince!"
"The muslims are allowed to live in their infidel ways because I have no choice. The sheiks are allowed to keep their heads because they are loyal to me so far. But when I am strong enough... the Holy Land shall be Christian again."
I admit I was a bit scared as the prince never spoke so openly to anyone. But I understood why.
"Yes, my lady Theofano. Palmyra will be strong... Now, I believe you have work to do."
I bowed again, and left the study.
My dear Sophia, I tell you this because as our ambassador to English king, you must know what the prince wishes. If you do find a suitable bride for our prince, you are authorized to enter negotiations on behalf of the prince.
I will be heading to the court of the Byzantine emperor myself.
I miss you terribly.
Lady Theofano of Palmyra, Chancellor to Leon, Prince and Count of Palmyra and Count of Aleppo
Difficulty: Easy (This is my third game)
AI is aggressive.
Sixteenth of February, in the Year of Our Lord 1066
My dearest Sophia,
I am very sorry that I have not been able to write to you, but I hope you understand as I have been asked by Prince Leon to join his court as his chancellor.
Imagine me in a court of a prince! I feel very happy and nervous that I was given the honour at my such young age and out of Prince's court of 40 (I shit you not) well deserving nobles. It feels that only yesterday you and I were giggling at something Theodosius of Antioch said during his lectures at your father's study.
My first responsibilities were to handle approaches by various Byzantine nobles arranging marriages for few of the members of the court. Two of them were married to Count of Lesbos and oh, some other Byzantine count! It has been very hectic last months or so, trying to advise the Prince on whom to select for position of Spymaster, Steward and Marshal and handling the marriage negotiations.
Last night, my lord the Prince asked to see me and Simonis of Palmyra, the Spymaster in his study. As always, he was to the point.
"Lady Theofano, Lady Simonis, I have a new task for you. I am 35, yet I am without an heir, my real unsecure. You two are to find me a suitable bride of Christian breeding."
I asked him, "What are the qualities you are looking for in your bride, my prince?"
He said gruffly, "I do not particular care, as long as she is of child bearing age, preferably as young as possible. Oh, and she has to be a Christian. Orthodox or Catholic, I do not care. I can marry off some of the members of my court if I need a better servant from another court."
"Very well my prince," I said. "I will get on this task immediately."
I bowed, and turned to exit, but the Prince stopped me. "No, I need to speak to you alone, my lady. Lady Simonis, please leave us." Simonis left.
"How can I be of service, my prince?"
He led me to the map of the known world on the wall. "This is the Byzantine Empire." He pointed to the still the largest empire of the world. "But it is weak. Maybe in five or ten years, I forsee that Constantine Ducas will start losing his grip on his unruly nobles." He looked at me with his piercing eyes.
"Do you understand what my desire is?"
"You see to create a new kingdom from fragmented Byzantium."
"Good. Perhaps I may even be the new Byzantine emperor, or my son will be."
He pointed down to the Holy City of Jerusalem, alas, still in infidel hands. "That city must belong to Christians."
I did not know he had a zealous streak in him, as he had accepted fielty from 3 Muslim sheiks of Hama, Homs and Archa and allowed religious freedom in his realm among his subjects.
"My prince, but you never did anything to promote Christianity in your kingdom. I beg your mercy, but among some of the clergy, they say you are secretly an infidel because you do much in favour of the muslims."
He gave me that piercing look again. "Do I look like a fool? Do I look like I want Fatimids or Abbasid hordes trampling my realm?"
I bowed abjectly. "Of course not, my prince!"
"The muslims are allowed to live in their infidel ways because I have no choice. The sheiks are allowed to keep their heads because they are loyal to me so far. But when I am strong enough... the Holy Land shall be Christian again."
I admit I was a bit scared as the prince never spoke so openly to anyone. But I understood why.
"Yes, my lady Theofano. Palmyra will be strong... Now, I believe you have work to do."
I bowed again, and left the study.
My dear Sophia, I tell you this because as our ambassador to English king, you must know what the prince wishes. If you do find a suitable bride for our prince, you are authorized to enter negotiations on behalf of the prince.
I will be heading to the court of the Byzantine emperor myself.
I miss you terribly.
Lady Theofano of Palmyra, Chancellor to Leon, Prince and Count of Palmyra and Count of Aleppo