The tale of CanAARias

[Baktru]

Sounds like the ride may get rough from here on out... That's quite a few of the muslims coming after you now...

 

[Slinky]

Looks like relations between Anna and Guanarigato will cool down a lot more the coming months.

 

[unmerged(109735)]

Nice, very much so. Guanarigato has had a fabulous row of successes, but now his realm is seriously threatened. Looks like some major setbacks for the Canaries are in order.

 

[kadvael56]

Thank you for reading this story and giving comments.

Baktru: I would rather have used "a lot" instead of "quite a few" . I like war when I declare it or when I am ready for it, an unexpected war is bad . But it is my fault, I should have made peace as soon as the last province in Abu Bakr's demesne was taken.

Slinky: Well after this event Anna and Guanarigato are still "friends" but in other games this event kept firing until the friendship was broken. I hope it will not happen again.

The_Guiscard: When Tharasset's siege ended, I had less than 1000 men left. I do not know how many men I will be able to gather after I disband and remobilise my troops. I still hope to survive as I think my enemies do not have a lot of claims on my lands.

 

[Enewald]

Why, why, why are the good ones always betrayed?

 

[Olaus Petrus]

That certainly was most foul betrayal, but brilliant move from the AI.

Hopefully you'll be able to defend your lands against them.

 

[unmerged(75409)]

Thank you for reading this story and giving comments.

Baktru: I would rather have used "a lot" instead of "quite a few" . I like war when I declare it or when I am ready for it, an unexpected war is bad . But it is my fault, I should have made peace as soon as the last province in Abu Bakr's demesne was taken.

Slinky: Well after this event Anna and Guanarigato are still "friends" but in other games this event kept firing until the friendship was broken. I hope it will not happen again.

The_Guiscard: When Tharasset's siege ended, I had less than 1000 men left. I do not know how many men I will be able to gather after I disband and remobilise my troops. I still hope to survive as I think my enemies do not have a lot of claims on my lands.

They will get a claim on every province where they win a siege, because you are pagan and they are muslim. o
So take care, and make peace QUICKLY!!

BTW if your troops are depleted because you fought a long war, odds are that there is already a lot of replenished manpower in your provinces which you can add to your regiments if you demobilize them and the remobilize. You need to have your troops in a province that is part of your realm when they demobilize, though, so that the manpower left in your standing regiments is put back into the home province. Otherwise it will largely vanish.

So if at all possible you should dismiss and remobilize all your troops and if it works then you will get a bigger army, allowing you to fend off the muslims or at least make a non-devastating peace.

 

[kadvael56]

I will give a few replies to the comments:

Enewald: Only the good ones can be betrayed because the bad ones betray the others first.

Olaus Petrus: The next chapter should be ready at some time during this week, I hope I do not spoil too much if I say there is both good and bad news...

Leviathan07: I know they can have claims after the sieges but they would need time and usually they stop fighting after a few months if they do not yet have a claim. The problem is that when I took Marrakech and Anti-Atlas, Abu Bakr was a vassal of the king of Tlemcen so he has claims on these two provinces. I already knew the demobilization/remobilization tip and I made a good use of it.

 

[kadvael56]

Chapter Seven: Survival is the game​

Fortunately, Abu Bakr had been at war with both Leon and Castille and his vassal in Almeria had joined him, now the sheik of Almeria was still at war with the Iberian lords and the king of Tlemcen had to protect his new vassal. The invasion of Cebta by the king of Leon’s troops was welcome, while the troops from Tlemcen were sent to Cebta and Almeria, Guanarigato gathered all his strength and attacked Figuig first and then Hanyan. After that his peace proposal was gladly accepted and Guanarigato had one less enemy though after what happened earlier he would not trust his neighbour's words anymore. A feast was held in Marrakech, and Guanarigato thought music would be a good way to make his wife’s waiting better. New instruments were brought and became used in the islands.

However during this time the emir of Mallorca had begun the siege of Niebla. And before Guanarigato’s soldiers could reach the besieged city it had already been taken by the muslim warriors. By the end of the day, the Rio Tinto flowed red and many soldiers from the Canaries laid dead or dying. After a few months Guanarigato had no choice but to accept surrendering Niebla to the emir of Mallorca. It was hard but such was the price for peace.

The war had not been really successful but the soldiers had improved their equipment. Now they used hand axes and wore chained leather to protect themselves. But such armours and weapons had a cost, and moneylenders settled in Marrakech. When he returned to his own house, Guanarigato learnt the bad news, his daughter Anastasia was dead, she had been ill while he was at war and her strength soon left her. His second son had grown and was a fierce boy, therefore his father decided that he could be a good warrior and his military training began. Lunja was happy, she was often with Sekkura and their friendship brought laughter in the chief’s house.

Guanarigato found that all these days away from home had put some distance between him and his wife but he was stubborn and this song came to his lips:

“Time, it needs time
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can bring back your love someday.
I will be there, I will be there.

Fight, babe, I'll fight
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can break down the walls someday.
I will be there, I will be there.

…

I'm still loving you.
I'm still loving you,
I need your love.
I'm still loving you.
Still loving you, baby...”​

Their friendship was still alive, nonetheless Anna seemed sad. When Guanarigato asked what was troubling her she said that despite all her efforts the chiefdom was in debt

, she had managed to enhance trade with the help of the priests and the new stone pit would bring wealth later but she had felt it was her duty to help the peasants in Massat and the income was low.

Guanarigato began a new song to soothe her:

“That I would be good even if I did nothing.
That I would be good even if I got the thumbs down.
That I would be good if I got and stayed sick.
That I would be good even if I gained ten pounds
That I would be fine even if I went bankrupt…”​

A few days later Guanarigato had to leave her, a rebellion had started in Marrakech. The muslim peasants had been used to their stringent religion and being ruled by someone who worshipped other gods was unbearable for them. Talking would be useless with this fanatical mob. Only the songs of the swords would make them shut up as dead men could no longer complain. Fighting peasants was not easy however, the soldiers did a lot of slaughter and the land was looted but at least now most of the inhabitants in this province were pagan.

 

[unmerged(81979)]

Well, damn the peasants, full steam ahead! Good work, sir!

 

[Slinky]

It is always good when you get a choice and both options say "That's nice"

It's weird reading about a province being converted to paganism, usually it's the other way around.

 

[kadvael56]

demokratickid: Thank you for your comment and curse those peasants .

Slinky:

It is always good when you get a choice and both options say "That's nice"

I had the choice between a small amount of gold and prestige or making my homeland prosperous, I chose the second, being pagan has its advantages .

 

[Enewald]

Debt, bah.
silly that ai does not get debt. o

 

[kadvael56]

Enewald:

silly that ai does not get debt. o

The world is unfair .

The next chapter should be ready soon.

 

[kadvael56]

Chapter Eight: Slowly but steadily recovering​

After a few months Marrakech was in a state nearly as good as it was when Guanarigato had conquered it. Therefore the income was greatly increased. Soon Anna was able to make extraordinary profits and nearly half the debt had disappeared. Later this year Tharasset became prosperous. The small folk believed their prosperity was a token of the gods’ blessing and many of them thought the ascetism that had become popular among them was a good way to win their favour.

A messenger came from Tlemcen bringing a strange offer, the king wanted to renew the alliance he had broken. Guanarigato wondered what was his purpose, but having been betrayed once, he would not let this unfaithful man become his ally again. Minor merchant houses became common in these days and the stability was improved again.

Things were going well until one day the stupid peasants in Anti-Atlas decided to start a rebellion. Either they had not heard what had befallen to their fellow muslims in Marrakech or they were too dumb to realise what was going to happen to them. Guanarigato had to leave again though his wife asked him to send his marshal in his stead. A few cut heads seemed to bring sense to the others and most of the inhabitants became pagan. However the rebels started a guerrilla and the province was looted.

When Guanarigato returned, his wife was no longer as friendly as she had always been, it seemed it was the fate of their love, and it was with sadness but no bitterness that Guanarigato sang these words:

“How many times I've told you I love you?
But now you want to say that we are through
What more can I do?
What more can I say to you?
Now you're gone…”

As time passed, Sekkura became a second daughter to Anna, she would spend the rest of her education years at the court. Guanarigato spent some weeks in Anti-Atlas to put an end to the rebellion, after that the scars of these battles slowly disappeared.

His good spymaster was smiling when he passed away, he would be laid down to rest in his own land. Guanarigato was thoughtful when the next council was gathered, among his councillors from the time when he became chief only Anna was still there. This day the main topic was the coronation that would soon be a great ceremony. Guanarigato was now High chief of Marrakech.

 

[Slinky]

All hail the High Chief!

Your lands have prospered, but your relationship has suffered.

 

[unmerged(81979)]

So the ebb and flow of life continues, eh? Nice work!

 

[Enewald]

We want more land!

 

[kadvael56]

Thank you all for your comments, I hope I will be able to finish the next chapter tomorrow or on wednesday.

Slinky: Being a high chief, Guanarigato has now less problems with efficiency. I did not show it but the event "Feelings towards your loved one have cooled down" fired twice for Anna before she finally left so I think it was their fate .

demokratickid: Thank you for your kind comment.

Enewald: We want more land and less badboy...

 

[kadvael56]

Chapter Nine: Strengthening of a realm and a family​

Since the only one he had ever loved was no longer friendly to him, Guanarigato found a celibate lifestyle appealing. He had always been devoted to the gods but now his fervour was stronger than before. Doubtlessly it had some influence over his son since Mennad seemed to hate every religious enemy. It also made Sekkura’s personality change, her faith was very strong, and maybe even too much but her religious belief also had some good parts.

Now that most of his lands were on the mainland, Guanarigato decided to move his capital to Marrakech, he also undertook the construction of a tile factory to decrease the time needed for future constructions. He would also be able to sell a part of the production thus increasing his income. Marrakech was now more prosper than ever and this year extra taxes were collected.

The king of Almoravids had been at war for years and he cared little for justice or safety. Guanarigato felt it was his duty to remove the criminals and restore peace and justice. Therefore courts of justice were built in the worst provinces: Anti-Atlas and Massat. As a result, thieves and smugglers were seldom seen though a lot remained with rope necklaces. With the end of the smugglers ring, regional trade was enhanced and the poverty in Anti-Atlas soon disappeared.

Mennad and Sekkura were often worshipping the gods together and as he spent more time with her he learnt the Infa etiquette. The good relations between his children and the fosterling girl helped in improving the relations between Guanarigato and Kocilla. Sekkura being on friendly terms with both Anna and Lunja was maybe involved in the improvement of Lunja’s relationship with her mother.

Merchants coming from Massat thought that Marrakech did not have enough local fairs and they started the organisation of these events, bringing more wealth to the crown.

The children were growing fast. There had been an agreement between Guanarigato and Kocilla that Sekkura should be fostered at the house of Canarias’ home until her education was finished and during this time Guanarigato could take every decision he felt would be good for her. Now that she was sixteen and Kocilla still had no heir, it would be good to see her married to his son. Guanarigato himself prepared this wedding and the Faykans and Maguadas gave their blessing to the new married couple.

During this evening, out of gladness Mennad started this song:

Oh my love for the first time in my life,
My eyes are wide open,
Oh my lover for the first time in my life,
My eyes can see,

I see the wind,
Oh I see the trees,
Everything is clear in my heart,
I see the clouds,
Oh I see the sky,
Everything is clear in our world,

Oh my love for the first time in my life,
My mind is wide open,
Oh my lover for the first time in my life,
My mind can feel,

I feel the sorrow,
Oh I feel dreams,
Everything is clear in my heart,
Everything is clear in our world,
I feel the life, Oh I feel love…​