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Part XVII (901-908)
Year 901
======================
Instantly upon hitting start we get notification of another of our sponsors dying. Nice. That means another 500g went into our pockets. Given question regarding my investor searching I did remember to write down filters, while assembling new Permian court.
So in order from top to bottom and from left to right - gender: any, not in prison, not married (important as not having family quickens whole process a lot), not ruler (won't join us), within diplomatic range (game rules) and willing to join court (this way I don't have to remember, which relation modifiers prevent courtiers from joining and won't potentially result in losing gold on favour-inviting). With all that I don't remember time it would take me more than minute or two searching. And here are another results of such inquiry:
Greatest batch of investor so far. Over 2000 gold coins between them
Interesting thing happened with Faste af Orkneyjar (son of Budli ex-investor). As he inherited some counties from his father near German-Danish border, he still has claims but holdings seceded from him upon succession. Meaning our extraction operation will be easier, as no longer do I need to besiege his provinces outside Perm. But for that I'm still needing piety and in last few years it wasn't meant to be. At the moment Dobrinya sits at -96 piety but at least he is currently gaining +1.23 per month. So time to brace myself and wait.
As investors slowly arrive and are assigned positions, there is something I have to confess. I did made rather terrible mistake in my assumption during last part. Remember my brilliant idea of hoarding event troops :>? Well, the writer himself certainly does. Checked event file between playing and... We weren't even eligible for event troops. Why you ask? There is one tiny requirement for that event to fire, that I usually just ignore cause it is true 95% of the time. What is it? Having an adult ruler. So now you can see, how this might not be the best way to spent remaining 6 years of regency. What's more - this event has cooldown and at most it can fire every 5 years. Each of them (Steward/Patriarch version) does bring 7.5% of our realm levies and there is something I want to check. If you recall in one of previous entries for this AAR, I had raised my levies and instantly replenished holdings for safety (via Warrior Lodge powers), which balooned my realm levies number. If it works as I think it might, I can improve my event troop gain from +15%/every 5 years to +30% of realm levies in the same period.
But for now let's finish holy war. If I can't use rest of regency for event troops farming, then I will spent those years on progressing towards our next objective. That would be creating empire title, for which I'll have to contend with nomads (with whom we are currently at power parity). We are aiming for de jure empire containing our kingdom = Volga-Ural. Which means I'll only need 1 more kingdom title (probably Nenetsia), that later will be subjected to Gavelkind inheritance transfers. It would be messy keeping tribal kingdom inside our borders. There is an opportunity to not suffer that terrible fate and confirm to this AAR self-rules (no coastal lands). If I conquer Nenetsia, not only will I save myself quite a lot prestige (no nomad agitation modifier) but can also release it after I don't longer need them to overpower Khazars/Pechenegs. This will create extra Komi Orthodox kingdom as possible ally, that will have slightly more troops thanks to independent ruler bonus. Extra reward for that whole venture - fixing some of the border gore (but not all of them) and giving newly conquered lands time to recover from "New Administration" levy reinforcements penalties.
Troops move into position and I ponder what to do with Patriarch. Nothing is particularly good choice. Converting also requires being an adult (it seems). So he can just stay on "Building Zeal" for that extra piety. Also learned while reading .txt file, that "Finger of Saint John" lowers MTTH for province conversion (x0.75 modifier!). Interesting trivia.
By February our Spymaster gets caught by Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinopole and vanishes. Can't find him :/. While he wasn't most keen on our growing ruler, he was quite useful in obtaining extra military technology points. Only when checking notification log I do find him. Problem - Ecumenical Patriarch doesn't want to ransom him. I even try bribes but doesn't help. Buying favour is out of question - 400g is too much! I appoint some courtier that likes us with 13 Intrigue in his place for time being.
In the meantime I generated new chief for Velsk tribe. You know the drill already, so I will spare the details
. Then we get another letter from our religion head regarding our poor Jewish spymaster. He is now willing to ransom him for 10g. Just moment ago he wasn't willing, when we were proposing that but then AI reconsidered ;D". Of course I take it. Unintentionally by giving up on him being my spymaster, I created discount for myself.March greets us with Manarids again in Kostroma. New ruler - no problem. Can't intervene with their 3000 troops now though. My cousin (or was it uncle?) Dokya of Ural will have to fend them for himself. If he gets kidnapped it somewhat helps us reconsolidate many titles under ruler (including vassals - meaning step closer to getting those 1000 coins in coffers of Faste af Orkneyjar).
We instead (with approval of regency council) declare holy war for Qazan. Time to clean up Bolgarhs inside our realm. This will be swift as my army of the Steppes was already at the border and enemies sport healthy 0 troops. Very cool.
Coming spring we are already done with first conquest of Qazan "Yes, we had one but what about second one?". Nomads fragmented but hey - at least extra moral authority and prestige/piety. Kostroma tribe also gets sacked (quicker than I expected). Meaning I couldn't help them even if I dispatched troops instantly.
Once summer arrives we conclude another war (I do assault despite some minor losses to just get going with objectives). We finished conquest of previously bolghar lands to the south of Perm. With that our capital duchy is more secure than ever. With that our possesion of counties within de jure kingdom of Volga-Bulgaria rises to 63%. Enough to create kingdom (which doesn't interest me) but we need more for empire (80% of all provinces within Perm, Nenetsia and Volga-Bulgaria). With new chiefs assigned we also rise to 22/33 vassals.
The more we conquer the less provinces are vulnerable to nomad raids.
Our victorious retinunes move west to double-team Manarids with help of local forces. Meanwhile Chimgi-Turans go ham on Mansia tribe. Permian relief force arrives last moment into Galich Mersky to save defenders, but will have to wait for 7 days for rest of army to catch up. We roll Harass but sadly no enemy rolls Swarm tactic. On the upside - no enemy rolls narrow flank and one of their wings flanks us with "Inspired Defence" tactic. Sadly as we are close in number so tremendous losses follow, forcing our retreat. Also our spymaster dies thanks to sickness. And soon our 1 attribute Marshal dies as well.
I raise my levies, as I want to hit Manarids before they they desecrate temple in Mari. Then our important vassal investor Faste dies... His fortune goes to his oldest daughter that is bethrothed to one of our cousins. Hmmm. Might need to rethink our approach to extraction of that fortune. Few days later Bilyar tribe (in Bolgharia) converts to Orthodox thanks to efforts of local chief.
As our levies sprint towards Mari (which already lost it's tribe to sacking prank), I get really good event with difficult decision to make. Conscientious may lead to Diligent (and it is lucky as our focus doesn't guarantee it), while +1 passive health is always strong (longer lifespan).
Toughest event choice because both options are really even in value. Passive health increases are rare but as child diligent do help with attaining higher education
Dobrinya will spent time on War focus, but not necessarily Hunting (because I will probably want Scholarship/Business/Seduction giving us 20 years of focuses non-stop). He is young though and it isn't outside of realm of possibilites that he will live long enough to get chance to embark on hunting focus. I like scenario in which now we take (potentially) diligent that helps in few years with education and then with prosperity events and down the line pays that +1 health anyway, if he gets to train his dog personally. This is really well designed event, where options are really balanced between themselves. Upon that happenstance I search and invite better suited tutor for Dobrinya - Serbian female Courtier with Diligent, Zealous (is Orthodox/maybe makes her choosing sympathies for other religions/cynical is opposite and maybe less likely thus increasing chances at Shrewd?), Just and Charitable and only Possesed bein downside. Should helps us in getting best chances at getting dreamlike set of traits.
By December I do time my forces perfectly to arrange for battle in just six days after new year. I will have close to 7000 troops in center and over 2000 troops on one flank for that engagement.
Year 902
======================
It is kinda demoralising that with such number advantage we still are basically exchanging 1:1
Enemies defend with Narrow flank, which worries me. We are not particularly lucky, but enemies roll terribly. Luckily turns out that we can flank narrow flank, which we leave for last after rapidly dealing with enemies in front. It allows us to deal enough pressure on remaining nomad wing to route them day before melee. Vengeance is ours! We do tremendous amount of damage in pursuit, which results in final tally of 280 men lost for 1285 nomads killed (last wing which fired narrow flank was killed to a man!). After battle our retinues split again, infantry goes north toward Nenetsia, while hunting parties double back to merge with levies that in just few days were dismissed and raised again to deal finally with Chimgi-Turans that arrived in force (1250 riders) to Ural Tribe.
Our oldest investor (high almoner) that we invited year ago died. I think we did inherit her wealth but I'm never certain. Spent a while to look through her family tree and as most of them are rather poor it seems I can note: "courtier wealth doesn't pass to nephews and nieces". It might help me in the future when evaluating some more promising investors.
Little drama happens in first day of March. Our kinswoman Chichayka Permyakid (daughter of our deposed uncle Nalka from Vidyava the Heavenly line of family (how much that lineage still affects us!) and high chief of Yugra (that rebelled to preserve Suomenusko faith against our grandfather king Daniel the Bull)), plots to kill Dobrinya! We sent men to apprehend her but she flees to Nenetsia. Yes you heard me - kingdom of Nenetsia that barely holds single duchy. I wonder how that happened! Seems it was created in year 893 but I don't recall anyone blobing enough in that part of world. Well... would be a shame, if someone was to wage war against them soon
".Our beloved neighbours on other side of Ural mountains skiddadle before we can catch them. So I leave army nearby and disperse permian levies to sent declaration of most holy war for Syrj tribe. Soon we receive good news (that usually wouldn't be received as such) - our Marshall proved himself to be utterly corrupt. Not sure how long was it since last time but I will gladly take his donation of 100 coins towards Permian Prosperity kickstarter ;D. Soon he is sent packing to experience future outside of our realm.
I watch how Byzantine empire is doing (still defending Lucania in Italy against Son of Lucifer - is it wednesday already?), while my men finish siege of another tribe in Velsk. Time to move onto another one. Cleaning those single tribe realms to streamline bigger wars in the near future. Also spotted that some of our newly appointed chiefs need some time before they accumulate 25 piety for inviting holy men to their councils. So they didn't bug out. Just a sidenote though - those newly appointed characters in this part were almost instantly collecting their councils.
By end of August another tribe is introduced to wonders of christianity. I really appreciate my council being cooperative (even in limited scope) with my actions. Declaring holy wars, giving out title, imprisoning and banishing - no problems so far. Time to embark on bigger war - we are taking 4 out of 5 tribes from Bjarnians (want to maximize both how quickly we convert them and start getting their troops). This time mine retinue alone might not be enough - vassals are called. Once again High Chief of Veps want to meddle in our wars to help his brothers in faith. The only one that tried to prevent us picking them one by one. Sadly for him since he joins the war, he most likely can't access 6 out 7 thousand troops his realm posses. Such are wonders of tribal "call vassals into war" system.
As our troops are moving, suprise popup arrives. Another prosperity province modifier! Not gonna lie - didn't expect it on child ruler with whole 4 in stewardship. Also by process of elimination we roll on prestige providing monument - next one will be piety variant. Will help
We are catching up with province modifiers. Now we need only one more of each: slot and province modifier.
Suomenusko pagans try to distract us by passing us and moving into Perm. We catch Vepsian warriors in Velsk after taking over Dvina tribe and dealing with their 1100 strong host before it can join 1400 Bjarnians. We lose 50 men to their 200 (both infantry based hosts so not much damage in skirmish with shieldwalls). Then we move back onto Dvina to fight Bjarnians.
Year 903
======================
Our levies March under logistic and supply commanders across mountains. Chimgi-Turans need to be dealt with cause they are going overboard with cleaning any province wealth in Sibir tribes as soon as they are generated.
Finno-Ugric on Finno-Ugric action. This time they don't have access to warrior lodge super powers.
Our retinues catch Bjarnians in Dvina. While checking their leader I spot his Great Pox (but currently had succesful treatment). Maybe he will help us by dying after war and shortening ceasefire after current animosities ;D? Enemies try to oppose us with narrow flank and shield wall but sadly on 2 different parts of their forces. If they rolled them in one part of their force we would be in trouble. As they didn't we roll flank after flank and mop them up. Don't even stop to count the bodies - just attack move straight towards their capital.
By the last few days of February our 8000 strong expedition catches Chimgi-turans and they don't have great time with that experience. We instantly crush their 250 strong center then move to devour both wings. We lose 33 men and reduce nomads to 676 out of 1250 riders they had at start. That will teach them the lesson
! I didn't even roll great tactics but the weight of concentrated numbers allows us to damage them even in pursuit through their high pursuit defence.While we start siege of Bjarnia capital, our vassal chief of Votyaki finishes capturing tribe next to us. Thanks to that (and other vassals winning smaller battle against remnants of Bjarnia military capability) by end of June 3 out of 4 tribes are ours and it is just enough for 100% warscore to force demands, as some additional chief from Scandinavian Lapland joins defenders. Too late I'm afraid.
Quite a lot of rolls are spent before 4 new chiefs are generated. One of the benefits of being over the demense limit is reduction of income and thus reduction in price for decisions scaling with yearly income. Paying 5.6g for noble ain't bad. I do try to at the very least find candidates without negative piety gain (and those with extra piety gain are welcomed as they will get their own priests sooner). I also have probably wrong impression that the more I keep hitting that decision the lower average age of generated characters (but also more blanks and less talented).
As our troops need to move around last Bjarnian tribe (their leader usurped it from his last vassal so we still might be interested in how his Great Pox goes), this time let's strike east. Holy War Chimgi-Turans that we just squashed to prevent Pechenegs from snagging them. As our small conqueror Dobrinya reached age of 12, we choose for him stewardship education focus. Let's see if my greed will pay off.
More good news arrive in August from Kostroma tribe. Our uncle Dokya managed to convert his ravaged lands to Orthodoxy. Quick reminder - those were lands that rebeled with some kinsmen against our sponsored conversion. To my suprise our target calls some vassal into his war. Turns out he conquered some rebel Pecheneg land by Aral sea! Won't help him much, as I moved out with all permian levies meaning over 8000 troops are on the border already. By October Khagan Tarhkan of KHAZARIA joins though :x. That might prove difficult.
Offensive towards Irghiz after initial successes. Hope we make it in time, before Khazars move out against our realm
Taking over Chimgi-Turan capital gives me 76% warscore. I decide to make a mad dash across Pecheneg steppes toward other nomad holding in that realm. If lucky we can trounce some Chimgi-Turans on the way and conclude the war without Khazars having time to react. Soon I'm proven correct as not one but 2 nomad armies retreat towards their last nomadic capital. While I can't catch them, we won't be outmanouvered with +41% movement speed that we have. They do merge into 2000 strong army and are determined to defend.
Before end of year another education event fires and we get our Diligent, while Educator pays for it with Stressed. Somehow our educator vanished. Need to find replacement, which will be easier as we need 1 trait less.
Year 904
======================
Exactly at 1st of January our forces arrive at Irghiz. We roll badly (Generic Skirmish), but enemy doesn't secure narrow flanks and gets generic skirmish of his own coupled with 2 swarm tactics. With all that we are dealing enough of damage to be optimistic. Khazars are also nowhere on the horizon.
Warm up before bigger nomad wars in the future. Also potentially end of problems with those pesky khaganate
We push through their center and then focus on their big 1000 strong flank. They run just as we enter melee phase and even though remining forces have heavy cavalry that charges us, 400 troops is not enough against our 8000. We end with 360 casualties for their 626. It matters little, even if we would need to lose 1000 warriors here. We quickly assault and then force an end to this holy war. UFF!
Now after bribing new guardian (just arrived), my levies are sent towards newly conquered tribes in Tobol duchy. With newly appointed chiefs for those territory, we finally secured Ural tribes from usual steppe predation. Let's hope that with one less independent realm east, we will have less problems with nomad intrusions.
While we were occupied in steppes, Nenetsian king Subjugated Bjarnian high chief. Mean one less holy war for that high chiefdom and we can crush that kingdom almost completely in one go.
Once our levies reach our lands in March, they are instantly disbanded and we start war onwith Nenetsia! We aim for 4 out of 5 counties (it will leave single Velsk tribe inside our borders to clean up later). As previously vassals are called. I just hope any of new chiefs nearby won't become hurt due to all that war activity.
Preemptively I decide to kill as many small armies in the vicinity as possible to safeguard newly conquered tribes. After eliminating 2 of such armies and taking over Vashka tribe I move onto Mezen, preparing to deal with Nenetsian main force. As you can see they have quite the number for just so few counties with almost no extra holding slots.
Carefully moving and manouvering to catch AI main force
Naberezhnye finally accepts one true faith in July. Given how much trouble it generated previously - that is very good news. They did have at least mediocre Ecclesiarch though (12 Learning). Some of new vassals in Perm have priests with 3 learning while having courtiers with 19 learning in court. Can't expect more from baron level vassals I suppose.
Out of nowhere we are again presented with prosperity event! It is the last one and thus Perm county ideally is basically done (last holding slot will be generated through Great Work event). Took us 135 in game years to generate 3 extra holding slots and all 6 province modifers! Time to move crown focus onto Kudymkar, currently sitting at 2nd prosperity level. Center of worship is fantastic - not only do we get piety that we often lacked but also +25% temple vassal tax is nothing to snooze at!
Omen of good things to come?
Nenetsian offer fierce resistence. Not only do they roll Feint twice, their center secures narrow flank and their other wing performs Volley Harass tactic. But they didn't pick commander for their biggest part of army. Even with all that we move with shieldwall towards melee that never comes. Their 500 wide center narrow flank memes us while both flanking wings deal damage and slowly route my forces. Soon 1500 of our vassals feed into that battle but we are broken already. That was a suprise :x.
It takes up to November to gather Permian levies and sent them towards Nenetsian kingdom. Our Vassal did weaken them though - they are down to 1300 troops from 1700. Seems to be one of those winter offensives.
Year 905
======================
In January our main forces arrive at border, while defeated warriors are still on shattering retreat towards Perm High Chiefdom. We manouver onto already captured settlement to battle 2000 Nenetsian. Once again I check and no - their King isn't member of Followers of Otso. So no unexpected modifiers. This time I decide (just in case) spread our forces into 2 flanks. This way we can at least flank single narrow flank in some cases.
Round 2 with warriors from Nenetsian kingdom. Turns out they are some tactical geniuses
Nenetsians keep being difficult :/. Double narrow flank now but in slightly better than worst configuration. Some vassal joins us for moment to distract their not matched flank. Battle goes differently to how I was suspecting - our flank that had almost 3 to 2 advantage lost again their king, while our center holds well and slowly carves it's way through 2 narrow flanks, getting countered with Charge tactics on their advance twice >.>. Despite all that our forces prevail. Some revenge is taken during pursuit and we arrive at 700 ours for 1200 of theirs. Ugh! During all that our Dobrinya inherited second skull trophy artifact. Pretty sure duplicates of already possesed artifacts don't do anything.
Bu June tribe north of place where last battle took place is captured, then our levies siege temple. Soon we are done and after brief replenishment we move towards Snopa, while Mezen is besieged by our previously defeated retinues. This way Nenetsian army is stuck at their capital, without any move to make unless they are willing to fight us again. Turns out we won't have to fight them again - didn't notice that I'm already at 100% warscore. So we enforce demands and King of Nenets has whole single county to his name now. That was quite an ordeal. Maybe it was that defensive pagan bonus that did me in.
As I administer new lands across vassals, we finally exhaust our limit. Now we are getting less levies and tax. Oh noe - whatever will I do, as tribal who isn't receiving tax from other chiefs and must call them into war with 100% of their levies
? Oh yes - if I die they can secede. Real worry on healthy 13 year old ruler that was king for more than a decade at this point =D. Another education event fires and it makes me hiss while taking a breath:
OOOOOO! It's real. It's happening! Everyone calm down!
I'm getting some real first Sarin flashbacks. Average looking kid turning out into really skilled ruler. Nice! Future seems bright, even as we have various problems along the way.
Year 906
======================
Next year begins with some observations. Currently there are 2 interesting characters in world, generated due indepedence revolts - Catholic German king Wilhelm of Bavaria with 25.000 troops and king Tommo of Suomi (Finnish Reformed Germanic) with 25.000 troops as well. I hope they manage to unite some of surrounding lands. Beside that Cathar England with 13.000 troops is fighting Waldensian France (7.000 strong army) for Normandy. Some things never change
. Our neigbhours are also somewhat interesting - our next target is really brave, while Manarid leader certainly has a story to tell. Just look
They definetely are formidable when it comes to fighting. Wonder how AI managed to end with such great warriors. Also note that house Tobyid sigil is exactly the reverse colors of ours!
Our course of action is still the same - onto the next holy war. This time we fight showcased above Pechoran. There is also some commotion regarding remnants of Nenetsian kingdom - one of vassal under our vassal is subjugating him. I wonder how it will turn out, as he shouldn't become independent (I'm not certain) and definetely can't be King under our king. Sadly Syktyvar war with Nenetsia turns out badly for us. Our vassal's vassal becomes new king of Nenetsia, growing to 2 counties in different duchies and becoming independent :/. Will have to punish that Suomenusko chief. Eehh!
As our troops besiege Pechora tribes I do little investigation work. Was curious, why do we lose so many piety for reinforcing our infantry retinues. Thought 4 Ardent Defenders (50 HI 50 AR) shouldn't cost so much. Turns out we have close 14 units of Sworn Defenders (75 LI 75 AR) as well. They also cost piety. No wonder we kept losing up to 10 piety per month whenever they got damaged!
Intensification of religious conflicts. Sadly reformed germanic religion isn't great. They have 39 counties while old germanics have 42. Maybe mentioned earlier Suomi King will use that to carve Scandinavian empire for himself.
After we deal with locals in far north, Nenetsian renegade joins the war with his 2700 event troops. I will deal with him shortly but for now it is more efficient to take one tribe more and conclude that war, as we have 75% warscore already. Turns out exactly as I predicted and we have surrender deal with another Nenetsian duchy without having to engage event troops. Now we can double back and take over them. Think I'll take Syktyvar first as it has temple (meaning we can assign a good priest there, which hopefully will be picked by new chief for his council and thus christianise that land faster).
By September 9th county of Kremenchuk in Qazan becomes Orthodox. Really nice to see our quite recent new vassals rising up to a challenge. Of course I also admited new administrators to Pechora tribes and 2 out of 3 had Zealous trait, which is tremendous boon
. All that holy warring also increased our moral authorithy thus providing better conversion chances. We are up to 80.1% MA from 65% we had in year 901. Would be higher but not only do Greeks keep losing holy wars they also keep getting their temples looted. Still we have 2-3 holy wars more and each means +3% MA for 20 years. Might help for next decade and a half.At start of October both my retinues are assembled next to Syktyvar to avoid any suprises and we charge into those event troops! I like how AI spread evenly our cavalry troops across both flanks and left infantry in the middle so I keep it like that (1350-2800-1350 split)
Another war with Kingdom of Nenetsia. Not at all what I had in mind but hey - can't choose the date your enemies will die
Battle goes well and without any hiccups we force enemies to flee. While we lost some 250 troops, enemies lost 970 and most of their losses are unrecovable. We continue siege and upon checking plot tab I spot that wife of our kinsman who ruler high chiefdom of Mari is gathering conspiratons trying to kill Dobrinya. Won't allow for that, so they are asked to stop.
Year 907
======================
By February another war with Nenetsian king is done. Ten years of waiting to finish him stings, but in the meantime we still have another Nenetsian duchy to take over. I do as announced, spent some piety to appoint great Ecclesiarch for Syktyvar Bishopric. Not only has he 17 Learning but also is Renowned Physician. Maybe it will help his chief overlord live longer. But AI makes him Chancellor >.> (he has 6 diplomacy...). Goddammit AI. Seems like AI is feeling council positions from top to bottom, so next time I should wait a moment for him to complete everyone but Ecclesiarch.
Basically everything I wished for! King Dobrinya is well positioned for some serious prosperity gains now!
Somehow we end with really great traits all around. 18 Stewardship but only 11 Learning. Also only 2 traits toward trait limit. There are options! I instantly go for War focus - we have to start preparing for our great endeavour. Dobrinya equips all various artifacts that were not for children and with that I have 16 Martial and 22 Personal Combat Score. After that I sent petition to be allowed into Eagle Warriors warrior lodge. Meaning we will learn a thing of two from Tengri Warriors before defeating them. Our king easily defeats Pecheneg sparring partner during initiation duel, no wounds suffered. As easily as that we become part of their warrior lodge as Orthodox Finno-Ugric tribal.
As our northern retinues are mopping up Zavarot, I must mention that those Nenetsian tribe were pretty well build up. Most of them have way more infrastructure that our Komi vassal tribes. Not as much as our capital duchy but still. It should somehow counteract lack of bonuses from empty holding slots in those counties.
Sieges go on and in September Catholics seems to gain upper hand again. Month later we defeat local defenders and proceed to finish capture of last holding to end our Northern wars (mostly). Another investor passes away, which refunds us most of our recent costs. Thanks to better stats we are not above our demense limit, so we can keep one of those conquered nenetsian lands and plant both religion and culture ourself. Or we can finally start stockpiling event troops.
That's what I call a healthy financial balance
Late in november yet another investor dies at ripe old age of 72. With his money we finally break through 20.000 coins mark. Seems like mostly investors are lately our main income source, as without level 2 in warrior lodge pillaging abroad is more miss than hit. Makes me somewhat worried for future, as we are now onto that "Great Works grind" mindset. There is less than 200 years before it will be high time to feudalise and there is also objective of having one ruler high in Monastic order (probably soon). There is much to do and each option will be weighted carefully against others.
Soon we are done with all in-land Nenetsian chiefs. This largely concludes our northern expansion (still have to clean that one single tribe belonging to king of all Nenets). More importantly we increased our military strenght and are currently looking at around 15.000 tribal warriors that will answer call to war.
Recently acquired lands. Kingdom of Nenetsia is ours in practise if not in name. Time to reunite all eastern Finno-Ugric people under our Komi'mpany
Year 908
======================
It is too soon to stop our war path. As it happens, Khazars with their 7000 troops (1000 being mercenaries) are still tied down in Transoxiana against Pechenegs. They are winnning and were expected to win, but Transoxiana is like... Really far away from Finland. Which means I can repay them for previous intrusions and now strike they tributary - High Chiefdom of Veps. We can snatch 3 province high chiefdom in de jure Nenetsia from them, weakening them and thus weakening Khazar military alliance. Vepsians do have over 7000 troops, but this is golden opportunity to defeat them before their Khazar overlords show up. Even if we lose, we will have plenty of time to try again, probably getting stronger over time thanks to converting newly acquired lands. So Holy War it is!
Slowly we are taking whole right bank of Kama and Volga Rivers for ourselves. Empire is getting closer and closer.
As we marshall our troops - problem arrives. Huge one. Prepared Invasion against us was called. By none other that King Tommo of Suomi, who as you remembered has 22.000 event troops and was mentioned previously in this part. In two year time, we will have to deal with that or lose most of our realm >.>. Rapid expansion has biten me in the butt but given, how young that Finnish reformed Germanic king is there was no way of evading it. From what I remember they can grow up to four times our levies? Without counting vassal allies. So we are looking at up to 36.000 event troops that he can generate. Will be tough but we probably can deal with him, if we splurge on mercenaries. I also do hope that they will be suffering from attrition with those event troops, as they barely reached 1st level of Military Organisation and many of our lands are still Suomenusko. Currently they will have to travel through them (unless AI uses dreaded and discusses in the past route via Kama river straight into Perm - that said I doubt he will have enough ships to ferry most of his army at once, so maybe I want that to happen?).
Must admit - never did I ever have to contend with Prepared Invasion of rebel spawned character, who already had over 20.000 troops putting him into top 5 strongest military armies of the world.
Not gonna lie - didn't see that coming. Other ways of dealing with that are also out of question - getting non-aggresion pact or assasination. In the meantime we lose our steward so I have to replace him. One of our vassals will do currently.
By February 3500 Manarids show up, as we spot Vepsian defending force. Then spymaster dies and this time I'll search for new one. I do find 21 Intrigue jew candidate, which needs favour inviting. Decided on him, as he lacks "loyal servant modifier". Soon he joins without an issue. Seems I'm getting a hang of this.
With spring fires our first War focus event. We can choose among terrain specialisations. What a choice it is. We can rule out Mountain expert, cause there are no such in Perm. Winter soldier while nice, can be covered with Shield of Thundra and it would mostly be for +50% Winter Combat, not +4 Supplies. Rough Terrain would help defending in Perm itself, as we have few Forests and Hills. I will go with Flat Terrain Expert though, as I think about fighting Khazars on their home turf more.
While annoying I must admit the writing of that event made me chuckle! Probably will fix Arbitrary via christian feast decision.
By momentary lapse of judgement I moved my piety infantry retinues onto Manarids and they start losing so I order tactical withdrawal early. Ouch. While retreating, one of our vassals reignites the battle and increases thus our overall losses. We lose 1800 men :/. Dammit! Soon more bad news follows. Our Patriarch smashes one of our artifacts - Finger of Saint John, which was providing crucial +1 Learning. Dobrinya is not without options and decide to preserve it at the risk of arbitrary (30%) and of course we get arbitrary trait, which replaces Just and earns us -4 Stewardship and -1 Learning. Then at least county of Ural gets converted to christianity, which probably ends that tribe episode of huge pagan uprisings.
By July comes Perm serves Manarid justice. We ambush their 3500 warriors in Galich Mersky with our 8000 strong host. We beat them, while losing almost 600 men for their 870. More importantly it saved Galich Mersky tribe from looting (for Kostroma it was too late). Now we can move north to start squashing Veps forces. Luckily their overlords didn't join that war, so we are just fighting those Suomenusko forces. Soon we manage to catch majority of their forces in Hlynov. Huge battle commences.
Finally some bigger tribal enemies. They have to be somewhat formidable, as they carved quite a realm for themselves
Fight goes well with their center and right flank routing in skirmish at the same time, before their's last flank also succumbs to us (before melee). Thus we kill 1200 of them at the cost of 300 of our troops. That's went... far better that expected. I split our armies into two and wait to ambush 1500 warriors from allied King of Nenetsia in Kargopol, while other host moves onto Chud tribe. I have to keep going and finish it before bloody Finns arrive and Finnish me
. If you wondered they are up to 33.000 troops already.And in such way this part will end, while our warriors besiege both Chud and Kargopol tribes. With one year before Finno Germanic disaster arrives.
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