The Third Odyssey - An Elysian Tale [Redux]

[Crimson Lionheart]

Interlude II: Looking Back (1462)​

Konstantinos looked outwards into the Elysian Bay, leaning over on the balcony as he looked outward into what had been built in such little time. The wind was billowing and blowing across his greying hair, his eyes locking onto the people that were dotted around and about in the harbor and beyond in distant villages surrounding the water. The sun was barely in the sky as the sunrise peered over the horizon. Fishing boats roamed around and dotted the bat, its waters unusually still for such a windy day before his eyes would be focused upon something that he silently focused upon. Small silhouettes, children, coming to the encounter of a fisherman who had just returned to shore.

It was something that he could have never given his wife. His romantic life had already suffered through so much tragedy, that both of his former wives had died from complications involving their pregnancy. His life would change drastically when he encountered Aurelia back on the distant shores of Sicily, but the life of a family would elude the royal couple. Aurelia was unable to bear a child, and no matter what they did, the promise of an heir of their own would never come to be. It was the reason that Prince Theophilos was the heir to the throne. And that generations from now, Theophilos’s children would carry the legacy of the imperial family to the future in Elysium.

“Konstantinos, can you hear me?” Aurelia broke his silence, placing her right hand on the shoulder of the emperor. The Empress of the Romans looked at her husband with worry. It had been only a couple of weeks since the last embers of the Plethonist Revolts had come to an end within the Empire, but she had worried deeply about her husband. He had been sleeping less and less as fatigue wrecked havoc on his body, Konstantinos having suffered through sleepless nights and worrisome days.

The Emperor turned his sight and focused on his wife’s face, his heart calming down as he stared into her eyes. It had been years since the day they had met in Sicily and she had barely aged a day. Konstantinos lamented her beauty at her age, even while he himself was almost sixty. Aurelia had been a guiding light in his life that served as the perfect distraction from the burdens he had carried for so long already.

“It’s nothing. Woke up, and couldn’t go back to sleep.” Konstantinos spoke, turning towards the bay as the wooden floor creaked underneath him before placing a hand against the railing.

Aurelia looked over to her husband, a frown on her face as she studied her husband. She knew Konstantinos better than anyone else could. The silence had returned to the Elysium Fields through bloodshed and horror. Aurelia didn’t want to say anything to upset him, but she could understand that the blood of those who had been lost was entirely on his hands. He had made a promise to never allow the Romans to ever suffer from such vulnerability since the earliest days in the new world, and yet close to two decades later, the empire was once extinguished.

The Empress of the Romans moved next to her husband onto the balcony, holding his hand that rested on the railing with a gentle touch. Her hand, still warm, would be placed right over his. She looked at him as they both looked into the horizon together. “You have done well Konstantinos. More than well. Those kids are more than lucky then they would ever know.”

Konstantinos paused for a moment, not realizing that she had been looking at the children along the harbor. “How so?”

“I have heard about all the stories from how it was. You know, back in…” She paused, not completing the sentence and taking a moment to collect her own words. “You have given them a future. And to all of your people. I’m beyond proud of you”

Konstantinos listened to her compliments and remained silent for a long time, listening to the faint sound of crashing waves upon the shoreline before finally breaking his silence. “Did you know that I opposed my brother’s idea to leave the city?”

Aurelia was taken by surprise. It was a sore subject for her husband and something that was rarely ever brought up in conversation, let alone even in such company of husband and wife. Konstantinos’s own bravery during the flight from Europe was well known among the ships, as was his leadership during the conflicts against the Barbary pirates and during the Great Storm. Yet she had never known about what he had felt before everything had come into place.

“I had called him a coward. Delusional. Ioannes was so desperate that he was willing to bet the fate of the empire for some old god-forsaken books. Every time that I had remained in Konstantinopolis and he had made his travels through Europe, he would return home to bring nothing but heartache and discord. He was obsessed with finding a way. I wasn’t going to let my brother gamble away our Empire.” Konstantinos told her, turning to see his wife listening quietly with curiosity.

“I even agreed to sacrifice our church to the damned papacy if that meant we could find whatever we could to save our city. But abandoning it? I couldn’t allow it. It was too much back then. It still is now. I was ready to die for Constantinople and the Empire. Even if the people disagreed with me, they all see me as a hero that I don't deserve to be. They owe their lives to me, and the truth is, I never wanted to be here.”

Aurelia shook her head and sighed. Her eyes focused upon Konstantinos’s face as the silver strands of white would take over his greying hair. Time had passed for everything. First, it had been a few months, then it would become a few years within the blink of an eye. The Empress of the Romans looked before her husband and gripped his hand for a moment before turning to look at his eyes again. This was deeper than the many thoughts that Konstantinos had kept to himself. This was guilt that had been eating away at the Emperor for a long time.

“Everything that had been done was all Ioannes, and then Theophilos. The two of them made the plans, planning the ships, and dismantling the city that we had sworn our lives to defend. And I just let all of this happen. I stood there like an idiot, watching as we threw everything together for the most slim and impossible chances. This was all them.” Konstantinos kept speaking. His expression looked tired, yet it was difficult to tell if it was the lack of sleep that the Emperor had been suffering or if this was his guilt eating away at him. “Now I’m left forever wondering about what if we had stayed in Hellas.”

Aurelia contemplated saying something to reassure him. Anything that she felt like saying would be dismissed by the stoic husband who had tried to remain strong for such a long time, but now, the cracks had finally begun to show. Konstantinos had done everything that he could for his people, be they Greek or Latin, and had given the Empire the leadership that it had desperately needed for so very long. Even if the terrible cost had come with his own happiness, the Emperor was viewed as a hero. Aurelia turned around to look at him again, placing her hands on the side of her husband’s face and looking at him in the eyes.

“But you are here, Konstantinos. The children are with their families, and they are here. So are you people, who followed you across the ocean when everything seemed lost. For all these years, you have been here. Leading, fighting, and making sure that we have been given a second chance.” Aurelia told him. Konstantinos paused for a moment and looked away, almost out of shame, before Aurelia tilted his head to revert his gaze back before him. Both of their eyes would lock with each other. “Your brother might have been the beginning. But everything has been all yours. All of this. The people have given you a chance to begin again and have real lives once more for the first time in generations. They are no longer trapped inside the walls of a dead city. You are a hero, Konstantinos. And you are a hero that I have loved with all my heart ever since that day in Sicily.”

Aurelia leaned into her husband to kiss him on the cheek before smiling at him, not breaking any concentration. “So please, stop this. Accept what you are and have become, and not what you are not. Not the last emperor of a dead empire, but the hero of a new one.” She told him, letting the moment pass for a second before looking back down to the bay. “I would rather be at the beginning of this story than at the end”

Aurelia let her hand slip away from her husband and walked back into the meager palace that had been built ever since their arrival, leaving the Emperor alone on the balcony to watch the sunrise over his realm. Konstantinos watched as the boys would reunite with their father, a fisherman, back at the small harbor. From such a distance away, all four of the children would excitedly wrap their arms around their father in a close hug before he would lead them away.

He smiled and went back inside. It was time to get back to work.

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Plethonists didn't help their case there, although they were in a terrible position.

Is the wave of iconoclasm ever followed up? That seems like an interesting plotline, especially given the obvious idol-worshiping of the Plethonists...

Gameplay wise? No, but there's no reason why I can't have the Iconoclasts remain around for a while longer. Although they were decisively crushed before they became a real threat.

The Plethonists were just asking for it with how hostile they were

Although Elysium is practically free of external threats, they could not help but fight each other over which god from thousands of miles away is real. And whether or not you can draw pictures of Him. Well, hopefully there will be much calm and prosperity now.

One of the earliest major difficulties. With that past, hopefully Elysium will be more internally united and can focus on more productive struggles.

Let's hope that the peace remains!

 

[HistoryDude]

I liked this look into Konstantinos's mind. I find it believable, especially considering how he died in our world. Even so, Aurelia's right - there's no use dwelling on the past.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 8: The Savior (1462-1469)​

The Plethonist Revolts would become the first major struggle within the new world, where much of the Roman population would be devastated in some form or another from the resulting religious civil war that had taken place. Orthodoxy would emerge triumphant over the rebellious Plethonist movement, where its remaining followers would be hunted into extinction by a vengeful Inquisition and Imperial forces. Victory would be largely pyrrhic, as the loss of life had decimated as much as a quarter of the population and left much of the infrastructure that had been built in the settlements around the Elysian Bay into ruin.

With the memories that had been carried from the odyssey, a sizable portion of the men and women who had journeyed across the sea and braved the storm would lose their lives. The Empire would struggle to recover, but with every passing year and the severity of the revolt winding down, the emerging generation of Elysium-born Romans would help rebuild what had been so tragically lost. As the Plethonists and Iconoclasts had looked back into the ancient past, the Romans would only look towards the future once more. Faith was returning back onto the streets, and the misery of what had been lost was gradually fading away.

The Eastern Roman Empire following the Plethonist Revolts, c.1462​

With the brutal conflict coming to a close, much of the population and economy slowly began to rebound. As many Romans still had dreamed of their old homeland, many more would turn towards their new home and look outward. With peace returning, the silence that had blanketed the sounds of bustling markets and laughing children would be banished as the sounds of life would return. Imperial efforts to lead the reconstruction efforts of the Empire would quickly be taken, where the empire would establish humanitarian aid camps across the entire periphery of its territories. From the capital itself to Prosphorion and Neriton, camps that would be organized would distribute food and water, and provide medical aid and shelter to the homeless and orphaned from the conflict that had wrecked so much of the realm.

The Church would further conduct religious services to help aid the fractured morale and spiritual well-being of the populace, aided by volunteers who would provide whatever was needed to the much less fortunate or fractured. The volunteers would tirelessly labor to heal and rebuild the communities damaged by the war, openly forsaking and condemning the violence suffered by the Christian faithful and fully embracing the unity of the faith in every aspect. The frontier colonia had been largely untouched by the Plethonist Revolts, and with a rising population that had been steadily climbing since the arrival in the new world, the Empire was expected to return to its pre-revolt levels of prosperity within a few decades. The tragedy and misery of the revolts would remain for generations to come, but hope had once again returned and triumphed.

With the formal end of the religious strife within the nation, and with close integration to its subjects for many years, the Empire would begin to formally bring the Piscataway and Lenepe into the fold with their annexation. The Lenepe had been converted to Orthodoxy as the first tribe in Elysium to adopt the faith, while the Piscataway remained among their roots despite a heavily religious and economic presence within their tribal lands from Roman missionaries and merchants. With how ingrained the tribes had been, annexation was expected to be swift and effortless to the bureaucracy.

Much of Nea Konstantinopolis had been destroyed in riots and further violence by the Plethonist mobs, which had resulted in massive property damage and the desecration of churches and homes across the capital. The Cathedral of Saint Peter, the largest stone church in the Empire and the site of where Prince Theophilos would marry Aida Orsini, would be almost completely destroyed by vengeful Plethonists during their rampage. While lacking the scale of the cathedrals in the Old World, it was the largest that was built in the capital since the first landing in the New World.

The Cathedral would be in need of urgent repair, lest the foundation of the badly damaged structure collapse and destroy it. The Metropolitan of Elysium had expected the crown to finance the reconstruction of the church and a general redecoration of the renovated church, whereas Konstantinos XI would eagerly finance the renovation and further reconstruction for the Cathedral. Once more showing his devotion to his faith, Konstantinos XI would prove to be popular among the faithful populace for committing and further solidifying the church and its place within the new world, while the act of such an important house of worship would prove popular among the populace in general.

After almost a decade of construction around the perimeter of the capital’s limits, the Theophilian Walls would finally be completed in its entirety. Named after its architect, the ever-dutiful and diligent Prince Theophilios, the framework of the formidable structure would be completed despite the difficulties it would face under the constraints of limited resources and the Plethonist Revolt delaying its construction for several years. Stone would replace the wooden palisades that had once made up the barrier of the capital as the first few quarries would produce the stone needed for further construction.

Using the records and ancient texts, the original basis of the Theodosian Walls from the old city would serve as an example on a far more limited scale. Surrounding the city would be a triple defense system, including a moat, a tall formidable stone outer wall, and an enormous inner wall. Not built with the same methods and materials as its predecessor, the Theophilian Walls would make Nea Konstantinopolis virtually impenetrable to any native besieger. The designs were allocated to be flexible and maneuverable by Prince Theophilios, designed to work with the growth of the capital rather than constraining it within its formidable barriers. It would be expected by the prince that the defensive walls would serve to equal its ancient inspiration back in the old city and that many generations from now, it was expected to completely surpass it as the greatest fortification system in the world.

With the integration of its northern barbaroi subjects, attention would be focused southward towards the nearby Tuscarora people. Holding a relation to the Haudenosaunee peoples in the north, the tribes would migrate to the far south prior to the Roman landing in the new world. Sitting in an important position and remaining diplomatically isolated and weak, the imperial army was given orders to bring the Tuscarora into the fold.

Roman arms would meet with native forces at the Battle of Skarureh, where the Imperial Army would completely wipe out the entirety of the Tuscarora forces in a single decisive battle. Completely overpowering the barbaroi in single combat, Manuel Choumnos would further defeat the remainder of the forces in detail before destroying whatever few survivors remained after the battle. With no force left to oppose the advance, peace would quickly be made with the Tuscarora after a brief period of siege. The Tuscarora would be vassalized as the new subject of the Empire, replacing the void that had been left by the Lenape and the Piscataway had left.

With reconstruction and recovery of the economy underway, the damage that had been wrought would provide a unique opportunity to rebuild communities that had suffered so much. In the newly incorporated region of Pythagora, once the homeland of the Lenepe, an architect named Cyril Tzimiskes would lead a grand construction of a vast market hall. With a heavy Renaissance influence in its design and architecture, the building would quickly become well-known as a major symbol of the region as an important area for merchants to congregate and sell their wares.

The Susquehannock, a small tribe that would exist between the Romans and the Haudenosaunee, would become a valuable target for expansion as expansion became northward focused once more. Seeking to have a friendly subject beyond the Apalesians, Imperial Forces marched into native lands once more to bring the tribe under Roman influence.

Once more led by Manuel Choumnos, who had become known as its most capable general, Roman arms and leadership would once more see another native tribe completely obliterated on the battlefield at the Battle of Atrakwaye. Surrender of the tribe would soon follow and the Susquehannock would become vassalized as subjects of the Empire. In what would become imperial policy under such conflicts, imperial influence and diplomats would enter into the tribal lands to restore damaged relations and bridge the gap between the native society with that of the imperial one.

Expeditionary scouts that would venture outward in all directions in the search for Naphtha would report their success of locating a reliable and easily accessible source, discovering a source to the northeast of Nea Konstantinopolis, and charting the surrounding area in great detail. The scouting party would come into first contact with a tribe known as the Erie, who were close to the Haudenosaunee lands and near the vast Borealian Lakes. Fortunately for the Romans, the Erie were remarkably friendly and receptive to Roman diplomats and traders.

As reports and other discoveries would be reported back to the capital, another trade deal would be offered to the Erie with highly generous terms. Showering the tribes with wealth in the form of gold and silver, along with a multitude of steel weapons and armor, all the Empire would seek in return was to secure the naphtha reserves for themselves and the means to produce it.

Like the Powhatan before them, the Erie would accept the incredibly generous deal, and the Empire would secure a source of Naphtha for itself. The Erie would become fabulously wealthy among the Elysium barbaroi due to their valuable trade deal and relationship with Roman merchants, which would continue for as long as the tribe would remain friendly with the Empire, while the depleting reserves of naphtha would finally be replenished much to the relief of the Imperial Army.

Unlike the Powhatan, the natives would not migrate out from their homeland and instead remain firmly within the region but under imperial influence. In addition to the blossoming relationship, the Romans would go a step further and guarantee the independence of the Erie to deter potential barbaroi attackers and remain under Roman protection. The Erie, fascinated by the Romans and the European scouts and later traders, would become a keen friend to the Empire for generations to come.

The Lenepe and the Piscataway, after formally being annexed into the Empire, would see a distinct cultural shift as the tribes would see itself undergoing a period of cultural and religious evolution. With a spread of Roman influence and the Greek language into the regions, along with the tribes having largely adopted Orthodoxy over a generation ago, would passively see the tribes becoming thoroughly Romanized by the time of their annexation.

The cultural evolution and the process of tribal assimilation would carry both the best elements of Romization and Hellenization of antiquity, while at the same time, bringing out its worst tendencies. In what would become known as ‘Elysification’ in the coming generations, the term would carry on an entirely new meaning as the cultural process evolved in the coming generations.

As an aging Konstantinos XI would help guide his nation in expansion in almost all areas, a crucially weak area would exist within the small fleet of ships that formed a tiny backbone of an imperial navy. Lacking an experienced number of sailors due to the decimated population decrease that occurred during the Plethonist Revolt, along with a lack of focus upon naval matters as a whole, the imperial navy had quietly performed its mission for years. Before the end of the 1460’s, this would begin to change. Having been dedicated solely to protecting the Elysian Bay as a policing force, the Emperor would begin a wide naval reform that would transform the small fleet into a proper naval power.

With the reforms underway and with a vast expansion ongoing, the imperial navy would play a far greater role in the defense and survival of the state, maintaining its policing duties while having its operations expanded. Vinlandic raiders and traders, while far more experienced sailors than the Romans to their south, began to view the growing fleet with caution.

Christian missionaries and Roman Colonia would contribute to the growth and spread of Orthodox Christianity beyond the Elysian Bay and into the frontier territories. Settlements would become established and later followed by missionaries and organized efforts to spread the gospel into the recently settled lands, while native lands would see a gradual adoption of Christianity at a gradual process. The Inquisition would focus its efforts on maintaining that the Orthodoxy of the realm remained and to prevent any resurgence of Plethonist dogma, while hunting its remaining followers down and arresting them.

Early 16th-century portrait of an older Emperor Theophilos II, the Third Master of the Odyssey. ​

Having served as the sovereign of an Empire that he had built from the ground up, Konstantinos XI’s health would begin to decline over the years passing as gradual illness and the stress of running the Empire during its most important years would wear him down physically. As his hair was transformed into a streak of silver, his resolve and spirit remained burning with life and remained adamant to finish what his brother had destined to build all of those years ago.
In the final weeks of his life, his health would rapidly decline and Konstantinos would remain largely bedridden, having grown weaker with every passing day. Much like his brother before him, Konstantinos would be surrounded by his immediate family. Prince Theophilos and Aida, together with their children, would remain alongside Konstantinos and grant him the comfort he needed in his final days before succession of the crown would ultimately be passed onto the Prince as his successor. Aurelia, Empress of the Romans, would remain with her husband until the very end.

On the late evening of January 31st 1469, Konstantinos XI would enter into a deep sleep that he would never wake up from. He would pass away at the age of sixty-four, having died in his sleep from congestive heart failure. His loss would leave an enormous void in the heart of the Empire, having been there from the beginning and guiding the Romans in their new homeland to the best of his worldly ability. A week of mourning would follow his death, while the newly crowned Theophilios II would succeed Konstantinos as Emperor of the Romans.

As another era would begin in Elysium, Theophilos had enormous shoes to fill. It would be his reign that would lay the modern foundation for the world that he would build.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Saint Konstantinos XI Palaiologos
Lived: February 8th 1405 - January 31st 1469
Despot of the Morea: 1428-1445
Emperor of the Romans: 1445 - 1469
The Second Master of the Odyssey

Konstantinos XI as depicted in 1584 by André Thevet.​

Konstantinos XI would become a pivotal figure within the history of the Elysians, working tirelessly upon his tragic ascension to the throne for the betterment of his subjects. Within the span of his reign, his leadership abilities in all aspects allowed for the rapid growth of what had once been a refugee camp into a thriving regional power in a quarter of a century. Continuing further upon his brother's work, Konstantinos XI would be recognized posthumously as one of the three Masters of the Odyssey, fighting against every odd and struggle that was thrown against him and giving them Elysium in return. Yet in this promised land, Konstantinos had never expected himself to actually rule, for he had never anticipated he would ever follow his brother and subjects to a new world.

Born in the old city, Konstantinos was the eighth of ten children to Manuel Palaiologos and Helena Dragas, becoming extremely fond of his mother growing up. Little would be known about his early life, but Konstantinos would be admired for many of his attributes, frequently being described for his courage and adventurous nature and was far more comfortable with military matters than with matters of state or diplomacy, though he would prove to be a competent administrator as an active regent for his brother Ioannes VIII on his journey’s away from Constantinople. In 1428, both Konstantinos and Ioannes fended off an attack on the Morea by Carlo I Tocco, ruler of Epirus, and Constantine was proclaimed the Despot of the Morea shortly after the attack. With his siblings Theodore and Thomas, Roman rule would be extended to cover almost the entire Peloponnese for the first time in over two hundred years.

Throughout his life, much like his brother, Konstantinos would marry three separate times. His first and second marriages would result in tragic deaths for both of his spouses, losing both of them following complications with pregnancy and miscarriage. His third marriage would be with Aurelia Orsini, whom he would meet on the journey away from Europe in the docks of Palmero, where the two would happily remain married for the years to come. Both would be a very suitable match for one another, often complimenting one another and having much in common. While a happy marriage would follow, it would be a lonely one, as Aurelia was unable to bear any children. As a result, Konstantinos would delegate his cousin Theophilos as his heir.

In the final months leading up to the Odyssey and the flight from Europe, Konstantinos XI would coordinate much of the men while his other relatives organized logistics. Having remained a skeptic for much of the planning, his leadership abilities would retain a great level of importance during the exodus itself. As Europe was left behind the Grand Fleet would cross into the unknown, and with the tragic loss of his brother Ioannes, Konstantinos would be thrust to carry the mantle of leadership into the fledging exiled state upon the landing in the new world.

Even with the abundance of resources and with much of the populace from the old city being taken upon the fleet, difficulties would immediately begin to place strain on the landing camp of Nea Konstantinopolis. An overburdened administration, the presence of the barbaroi, and an eager yet rapid expansion outward to encompass the Elysian Bay would prove to hamper much of the overextended government structure. Architecture and infrastructure of any kind were nonexistent, forcing the Empire to focus inward until a point of self-sufficiency was attained as buildings and roads were constructed from nothing. Once logistical issues and the direction of the masses were settled would the Romans truly begin to build a new home in the New World.

In the years to follow, under his leadership, Konstantinos would thrive as a competent yet stoic leader among his people. Greeks and Latins, once at each other's throats, began to cooperate and work with one another as animosity would give way to brotherhood. The Emperor would delegate the structure of the new dynatoi, merchants, and clergy of the Empire from practically nothing and would settle disputes between the small yet prospering state within the Elysian Bay.

Beyond its borders, Konstantinos would establish a relationship and trade network of convenience with the Vinlandic colonies in the far north, but the true friend to the Romans would come in the form of the native allies that would remain friendly to the Empire, establishing an entirely new class of Romans within society. The Haudenosaunee would also develop a close friendship with the Empire, especially with the Emperor, who remained open and friendly to their insight much to the annoyance of the Greek aristocrats.

Konstantinos’s greatest trials would come in the form of the short yet brutal Plethonist Revolt, where the pagans attempted to overthrow the Empire and would begin years of slaughter of many righteous Romans. The rebellions that it would cause would be put down at a heavy cost. Following the Plethonist Revolt and its aftermath, Konstantinos remained invested in building the future of his new homeland and invested heavily in safeguarding it for the future. The Emperor would invest heavily into forging unity in laws, customs, and justice while laying the building blocks for his nation, which an aging Emperor had deemed to be worth far more than any military victory.

In the latter half of the decade, Konstantinos’s health began to decline sharply while his resolve remained as strong as ever to finish what his brother had destined to build. On the late evening of January 31st 1469, Konstantinos died peacefully in his sleep from congestive heart failure at the age of sixty-four. The Empire would remain distraught at his loss and enter into a state of mourning for several days, before he would be buried in a private funeral in a small modest tomb on the edge of the recently constructed Imperial Palace. In the late 17th century, Konstantinos’s remains would be exhumed and reburied alongside Ioannes and Theophilos after the construction of the Hagia Theotoke in an elaborate ceremonial funeral, being reunited with his brother and cousin once more in eternal rest. His wife, Aurelia Orsini, would be buried nearby alongside her sister Aida.

Statues of Konstantinos XI would be constructed across all corners of Elysia by future generations, being remembered as a great statesman and soldier in modern times. ​

Konstantinos XI would be canonized as a Saint in 1528, where Konstantinos would be proclaimed as the patron saint of the new Rome that he guided to its home in Elysium, alongside his guidance and efforts to protect Christianity during the Plethonist Revolt. He would be the second and last Master of the Odyssey to be canonized as a saint. His canonization would hold weight under religious reform and the consolidation of Elysian Rites of the independent Elysian Orthodox Church as it drifted away from the ancient Eastern Orthodox church in the Old World.

 

[HistoryDude]

That naphtha trade deal should be useful.

It looks like the Church is consolidating power. I wonder how if the dynatoi might become resentful of this arrangement.

Congrats on expanding Elysia's territory.

When do you plan to make contact with the Old World again (I think I made contact around 1500, but I also think that was a decision)?

Also, that last sentence of the In Memoriam brings up another question... who was left behind to manage the old Church? The Patriarch was part of the Odyssey, right? How did the Orthodox adherents choose his replacement back in Europe?

 

[Fool Esquire]

There should really be some sort of malus on colonization in the early decades since you can't get new recruits from the metropole... you've expanded so much in one generation, that there must have been at least 8000 people on that fleet?

 

[Historywhiz]

There should really be some sort of malus on colonization in the early decades since you can't get new recruits from the metropole... you've expanded so much in one generation, that there must have been at least 8000 people on that fleet?

The population of Constantinople in 1453 was believed to be about 50,000, and it is mentioned that “most” of the city left with the fleet. Given that they picked up even more people from the Peloponnese and Sicily, it’s reasonable to assume that the initial population of Elysia is about 40,000-50,000. Couple this with the fact that historically, initial populations in the early Thirteen Colonies doubled roughly every 25-30 years from natural increase due to abundant land and less disease compared to Europe, and one can assume a population of nearly 100,000, minus however many died in the Religious Wars, by the time of Konstantinos’s death.

Now if anyone would like to explain to me how the ever-loving hell the Byzantines got almost 50,000 men, women, and children across the Atlantic Ocean in one go, when it took the Ottomans about 400 ships to land and supply a similar-sized army in their 1522 Siege of Rhodes despite being 30 miles from their territory I’d love to hear it…

 

[J_Master]

Now if anyone would like to explain to me how the ever-loving hell the Byzantines got almost 50,000 men, women, and children across the Atlantic Ocean in one go, when it took the Ottomans about 400 ships to land and supply a similar-sized army in their 1522 Siege of Rhodes despite being 30 miles from their territory I’d love to hear it…

Scrap Constantinople for every last bit of wood and use it to build a armada to sail into the nothing with nothing but faith that the Lord will protect you

 

[Historywhiz]

Scrap Constantinople for every last bit of wood and use it to build a armada to sail into the nothing with nothing but faith that the Lord will protect you

If they could find enough wood to build an ocean-going fleet big enough to transport 40,000-50,000 people, plus horses and livestock, plus enough food and water for a minimum of six weeks at sea (more likely eight to ten!), then we can deduce the following:

1. Constantinople must have been almost entirely taken up by a massive old-growth oak forest.
2. The inhabitants of Constantinople must have been among the greatest naval architects and carpenters in history to surpass the output of many years of work in shipyards like Portsmouth, Toulon, or Venice in a matter of months.
3. The angst over whether or not to take the library or Greek fire or silk is meaningless as all three could be crammed into like five or six ships out of the several hundred built.
4. The Odyssey was entirely unnecessary as such a fleet would have easily shattered the Ottoman navy, even without Greek fire, and made the city unable to be taken any other way besides a direct assault through the Theodisian Walls.

I’m not trying to mock or belittle you in any way, the comedy of the plot hole just amuses me to no end.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 9: Proof of Piety (1469-1475)​

The recent death of Konstantinos XI would leave a hole in the heart of the mourning Romans, having just lost the founding father of the Empire upon Elysium who had struggled and fought to build a better future for his people. A small private funeral would be held after his death in the gardens of the Imperial Palace, where the former Emperor would be laid to rest in a solemn ceremony. With a distraught populace in a period of mourning, the succession would pass over to his designated heir, a newly crowned Theophilios II, who would finally get the chance to build his wonders.

Theophilios II would be aided on the throne by his brilliant wife, Empress Aida, and much of Konstantinos’s former advisors and court. Years of recovery had already done much to mend the broken hearts and ruined homes that would span across the width of the Empire, building upon its success slowly as peace began to return as the order of the day. Theophilios would build upon what Konstantinos had left behind, having been blessed with a strong foundation to build upon. It would be from here that Theophilios would craft his wonders, and in the coming years, the Empire would be unrecognizable.

Theophilios II would be invited to the Cathedral of Saint Peter, the largest church in the capital and the seat of the Ecumenical patriarch. It was made out of both stone and wood, resembling more of a pale imitation of the old churches in old Anatolia and Greece, while its simplicity allowed it to be large enough to gather many of the faithful within. Theophilios remembered the Plethonists trying to siege the cathedral during the darkest days of the revolts, trying to break in while the church offered refuge to the dwindled clergy leaders and many pious Romans inside.

Once he was inside, the Emperor’s presence made itself known immediately, gaining the attention of two clergymen inside. A priest and a monk, both different in every single way, show their respect to him. An Orthodox priest stood before the Emperor in traditional garb, while the other was a Catholic monk who came from the small Latin minority within the capital. Even an entire ocean away from the old world, the schism was still causing trouble.

Theophilios II stopped to listen to the two clergymen about their points, listening to their theories and plans to discuss how to prove the empire’s piety in the eyes of the lord, especially after the devastating religious conflict that had plagued the country not so long ago. Theophilios wasn’t as pious as his cousins were, but he still listened to the clergymen, only out of a sense of dedication and not because he wanted to be there. The priest would claim, that in order to prove the Empire’s undying faith in Christ, the capital would have to possess a new church.

A new cathedral, the size of the fabled Hagia Sophia at the least, to bring the Empire closer to the old city. The monk, an old Latin veteran turned holy man, insisted that there were already enough churches across the Empire. He would argue for a monastery, a place of reflection and thought, to be a center of work for the Lord’s grace was nonexistent in Elysium. As the Catholic and Orthodox clergymen began to bicker and argue again, Theophilios was about to turn around and leave, having not even been given a chance to speak due to the argument. Theophilios had grown tired of the fight and was ready to leave, before both the priest and monk looked at each other and came to an agreement. A proposal for the throne, finally putting aside their differences as they worked together. A monastery at the top of a mountain, far away from the vice of the capital, a holy center and a great work of architecture. A new Mount Athos in the New World.

After much more deliberation and investigation with a newly energized clergy, and with the support of a small chapter of Latin monks, a new project was to be proclaimed to the Empire. On the top of Mount Aithaia, to atone for the sins of the empire, the first and greatest monastery in Elysium. Beyond the Apaleisians, the start of a new Mount Athos was about to begin.

Far to the south, oceanic explorers and adventurous pearl divers would discover clams on the shores and lagoons to the south, deep into the Kykladian Isles, and on the distant shores of the faraway lands of Anthiros. The area was far more suitable for the production of silk, already higher in quality than the Skoros silk that existed in the capital, with the production of ‘sea silk’ yielding quality more befitting of royalty. Any attempts to import the claims to the capital have failed due to the colder climate of the north killing off all of the claims that would be moved. Efforts would be made to chart the surrounding area with the intention of establishing an outpost in the region in the distant future.

After weeks of organization, the first wave of builders and clergymen would arrive near the mountains of Aithaia. With a small native presence, the region was largely made up of open wilderness in almost all directions surrounding the mountain. With the architecturally minded focus of Theophilios directing much of the energy of the empire towards the construction of a holy city, it would provide the Emperor a chance to allow his designs to flourish and thrive. A large work camp began to be settled in the surrounding region, laying the future site of a town at the bottom of the mountain as the Empire built its first settlement beyond the mountain.

Efforts for expansion would continue to be focused northward, as explorers and settlers ventured across and settled the surrounding frontier. Incentives would be given to establish colonia around the coastline, extending naval and merchant control further north along the Bay of Methenai. With much of the economy being directed to construction in Aithaia and maintaining a budget for Colonia, little priority was made for open expansion southward for the time being.

Copper would be struck in the area of Detis, close to the Apaleisians and energizing settlers in the region. While not as useful as iron and steel, and emerging from the mines of Detis in vast quantities, the area was prepared for long-term copper refining to ensure continued prosperity in the region.

In along with aiding her husband, Empress Aida possesses both a brilliant mind and an innate curiosity in regards to the way that she would view the world. Both Theophilios and Aida would be well-known for their intellectual brilliance, but Aida would often complement the ideas of her husband with her own theories. Aida would spend most of her life understanding what would make people tick, and how a system came together, studying the texts of scholars, and jotting down her own ideas for the future benefit of the men and women that would come after her.

Aida Orsini, Empress of the Romans and Mother of Elysium (1424-1491)​

Aida was nothing more than a commoner in her old homeland of Sicily, back working as an accountant as a young child in her father’s cloth shop. It was her numbers and calculations that prevented the shop from going afloat in the last couple of years since his premature passing. In Elysium, she was the Empress of Rome, taking the hand of the man she had loved with all of her heart. Now a deeply respected figure within imperial society, and a mother to the future of the imperial house, Aida continued to build a better world for her children and people.

Cultivating strong allies and spending wealth judiciously in order to safeguard the fragile amount of manpower that remained within the Empire, diplomatic efforts would be favored to further the cause of the empire rather than warfare. In the New World, much of the foreign policy that had been dictated by Konstantinos XI would be to court allies and vassals rather than the outright conquest of them, for the Empire was alone in a sea of rival tribes and kingdoms who would not hesitate to hurt the Romans back into the sea. Were it not for Roman Diplomacy and an innate skill at making allies out of foes, the Third Rome would have been far more in jeopardy. Theophilios II knew that fire and steel would only go so far, and wouldn’t forget the lessons he had learned in the new world.

Wine experts across the Empire would become ecstatic with the production of excellent vintage and the high production of wine-producing areas across the Empire, learning of the high satisfaction and superior quality being cultivated in the areas south of the capital. Bottles of Wine would be sold and journey to the distant shores of Vinland and travel along merchants to friendly tribes.

Tensions in the far north between the Markland and Helluland colonies would reach a breaking point, where worsening diplomatic ties among the Norsemen would emerge in a diplomatic incident that escalated into a brutal war over the title to be the true heir of Erikkson. Watching the escalating bloodshed between the two colonies, stories of atrocities on both sides would arrive on the shores of the Elysian Bay as Norse refugees began arriving in the distant towns.

With the bulk of the workers arriving beyond the Apaleisians early, the remainder would reach the site proposed by the clergy. The location would be promising, with abundant water and wood helping aid in the early stages of the project. The site, while not as isolated as Mount Athos was, held its own perks as a crossing point beyond the Apaleisians. Everything else needed to help with the project must be imported from the other side of the mountains.

The first generation of Roman Engineers born in Elysium are put to their first serious test, as the work camp they established at the bottom of the mountain began to evolve into a more permanent settlement with skilled workers to start any serious endeavors. Asking for the Emperor’s help, Theophilios would invest part of the treasury to incentivize people to cross the mountains and move independently under the promise of honest work and good pay.

Knowing that the project was expected to be a serious drain on finances, Theophilios II would lean into taking a loan from the bankers to help finance the construction. With the current growth of the economy, it was expected to take little time to repay the loan, but it would allow Theophilios to dip his toes into the deep waters of the merchant reserves.

In only a year and a half, the conflict between the Norse colonies would finish and result in a clear winner. Markland would triumph over Helluland in multiple decisive yet bloody battles and secure control of the north of the continent. Looking to continue their recovery and establish continuous trade between the Romans and Norsemen, the trade deal would continue to exist with several updated terms and conditions.

Further consolidating the unity of the colonies and integrating the conquered into their domain, the northerners have pressed their ancient right to reorganize and call their nation Vinland, their name for the continent, and have begun to claim the land surrounding them as their own. While trade continued to exist between the Romans and the recently unified Vinland, it would inspire concern among Roman diplomats and government officials, who would view the northern claim for expansion as encompassing and encroaching upon the whole continent.

Theophilios would be within the throne room speaking with an advisor discussing the construction of Mount Aithaia, as the future monastery was to be called, and the financial weight of the amount of resources being allocated to construct the distant holy site. Two envoys from the capital, representing the Patriarch of Nea Konstantinopolis would meet with the leader of the Latin Chapter, a familiar monk who had met with the Emperor once before, to discuss the future of the holy mountain. With the relationship between the Latins and the Church having improved slowly during the years, the rites between their churches would remain distinct, even within the new land where everyone and everything seemed to change. The Plethonists had hunted down Catholics and forced them into a corner, where they would work with the Orthodox faithful to keep the throne and the empire under the true faith. When threatened with paganism and annihilation, the differences between their faith seemed small when united under the devotion of the Lord.

It would be to the surprise of the Emperor that the Latin and Orthodox churches would willingly work together and form a new community in Aithalia. In this new Mount Athos, reflection and contemplation would work side by side with philosophy and faith in the new monastery. It was to be the first of many and a small step for a renewed faith that had been baptized by fire during the Plethonist Revolts.

The hopeful positivity of the eventful news would be interrupted as Theophilios would be sought after by the Patriarch himself, who had demanded an immediate audience with him within the Imperial Palace. While grateful for the heavy measures that the throne had taken to support the construction of Mount Aithaia, the Patriarch would say that it wasn't the church that needed to be pleased. It was for the Lord, for the sins and the weight of the Pletonist conflict was far too serious to be simply forgiven.

Before Theophilios could answer, the Patriarch spoke that the Empire as a whole must work together to prove their repentance. The Monastery of Mount Aithaia would need to be built soon or the Empire would suffer under the weight of its own sins. Theophilios II contemplated the Patriarch's deadline before pushing ahead with construction, receiving the full backing of both the Orthodox and Latin Church and their expectations that the monastery was to be finished within a generation. Many other projects would see their funding and construction delayed as much of the treasury was focused solely on what was to become a defining landmark within Elysium.

With the faithful expectations to see it through, Theophilos II would make a promise to himself and the church to do what he must for the Empire’s spiritual redemption for the sins it had committed. With the support it needed, Mount Aithaia remained the largest priority of any architectural and economic development within the Empire for the years to come.

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That naphtha trade deal should be useful.

It looks like the Church is consolidating power. I wonder how if the dynatoi might become resentful of this arrangement.

Congrats on expanding Elysia's territory.

When do you plan to make contact with the Old World again (I think I made contact around 1500, but I also think that was a decision)?

Also, that last sentence of the In Memoriam brings up another question... who was left behind to manage the old Church? The Patriarch was part of the Odyssey, right? How did the Orthodox adherents choose his replacement back in Europe?

Thanks! I think the Old World is going to be in for quite a shock. I believe the Orthodox adherents back in Europe would select a successor, or when it became apparent that the Byzantines weren't coming back from their 'expedition', the church would select a new Patriarch. The rediscovery of the Old World is set to occur within a couple of years' time. I think readers are going to be in for a surprise

There should really be some sort of malus on colonization in the early decades since you can't get new recruits from the metropole... you've expanded so much in one generation, that there must have been at least 8000 people on that fleet?

Scrap Constantinople for every last bit of wood and use it to build a armada to sail into the nothing with nothing but faith that the Lord will protect you

The population of Constantinople in 1453 was believed to be about 50,000, and it is mentioned that “most” of the city left with the fleet. Given that they picked up even more people from the Peloponnese and Sicily, it’s reasonable to assume that the initial population of Elysia is about 40,000-50,000. Couple this with the fact that historically, initial populations in the early Thirteen Colonies doubled roughly every 25-30 years from natural increase due to abundant land and less disease compared to Europe, and one can assume a population of nearly 100,000, minus however many died in the Religious Wars, by the time of Konstantinos’s death.

Now if anyone would like to explain to me how the ever-loving hell the Byzantines got almost 50,000 men, women, and children across the Atlantic Ocean in one go, when it took the Ottomans about 400 ships to land and supply a similar-sized army in their 1522 Siege of Rhodes despite being 30 miles from their territory I’d love to hear it…

Constantinople was deconstructed and most of the city was taken within the fleet. Only the sick, elderly, and stubborn would be left behind. Even then, not everyone would have been taken. It would be too difficult to make population estimates, so I'm not even gonna try. But there is enough for a stable population during the odyssey to survive in the New World. Given how abundant the land of the Americas was, and how the disease wasn't as big of a factor, the population of Elysium right now is probably close to if not around 30,000 by 1475. Most of which is in Nea Konstantinopolis, and with plenty of land already, there's always room for growth

Again, this is a Third Odyssey. So take what you can with a pinch of salt

 

[Historywhiz]

Before Theophilios could answer, the Patriarch spoke that the Empire as a whole must work together to prove their repentance. The Monastery of Mount Aithaia would need to be built soon or the Empire would suffer under the weight of its own sins. Theophilios II contemplated the Patriarch's deadline before pushing ahead with construction, receiving the full backing of both the Orthodox and Latin Church and their expectations that the monastery was to be finished within a generation. Many other projects would see their funding and construction delayed as much of the treasury was focused solely on what was to become a defining landmark within Elysium.

With the faithful expectations to see it through, Theophilos II would make a promise to himself and the church to do what he must for the Empire’s spiritual redemption for the sins it had committed. With the support it needed, Mount Aithaia remained the largest priority of any architectural and economic development within the Empire for the years to come.

Oh you’ve done it now. For those unfamiliar with this particular mod, the Mount Aithaia project not only costs quite a lot of money to build each stage, but because you have a time crunch, you need to expedite construction considerably, and as the costs to expedite the great work aren’t changed from vanilla and there’s no way you can get a 10k manpower pool easily right now, that’s another couple thousand ducats sunk into 250 ducat chunks for 730 days off.

It absolutely can be done by 1500; I did it and I hadn’t even taken the silk, but you’re going to need to pull every trick in the book from borrowing from the merchants and refinancing every so often as the size of the loans goes up, selling crown land, devaluing currency, milking the native tribes for their money, trading favors for gold from your allies, and even sacking base tax development to get the money needed.

To not spoil anything, I do think what you get at the end makes it worth it. It certainly played a big part in helping me avoid the bankruptcy almost caused by building it!

 

[Fool Esquire]

Patience is not a virtue here...

 

[HistoryDude]

It's nice to see the clergy working together with the Latins. Hopefully that's a sign that the distinctions of the Old World are dying.

I like the idea of Mount Aithaia.

 

[grievousrommel]

This was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon. One of my favorite AAR writers back from the dead with one of my favorite mods. Can't wait to see if the Empire makes God's deadline.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the lack of a post, but I have been busy working on this AAR! I've decided to play the remainder of my current game all the way to 1821, something that so far is taking a considerable amount of time due to the amount of detail and direction that I want to take the world that I'm currently constructing. Once I've gathered all of the screenshots, which so far currently number into the many thousands, I will continue working on the AAR with all the material that I will ever need. In addition, I wouldn't need to worry about any files corrupting or anything horrible that brings the AAR to a premature end, which has happened before unfortunately with prior stories.

In addition, I'm looking to expand upon this timeline with a couple of neat index posts. Simple worldbuilding stuff like other nations, cultures, etc. I will probably not be doing a majority of this stuff until I have reached 1821. That way, there is already an established world to build upon. So far, there have been plenty of surprises that I'm sure nobody could ever expect to happen! Bordergore, the rise of unlikely powers, and all sorts of wacky shenanigans! Work on the AAR will probably slow down as we approach Christmas time, but I will likely pick up once more coming into 2024!

Thanks for the delays! Hope you are enjoying the story so far!

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 10: The New Spartans (1475-1480)​

The beginnings of an eventful reign from Theophilios had already come to bear fruit, having already succeeded in carrying on the legacy of Konstantinos in securing his hold onto the realm he would inherit. Long having remained an important part of imperial society through his direct and indirect influence and contributions to the Empire, Theophilios’s ascension to the throne would carry a weight on his shoulders that he would be forced to carry. It would be through him that the character and destiny of the Romans upon Elysium would truly start to take shape both as a people and as an inheritor of a legacy that had existed for thousands of years.

The torch of Roman Civilization would be held in one hand, and in the other, Theophilios held a hammer. The Emperor and his wife would craft his wonders one step at a time with the backing of a reinvigorated government as the last remaining embers of the Plethonist Revolt would whither and fade away. It was a time to rebuild what was lost and to atone for the sins of its past life.

Pushing as many resources as possible towards the groundwork for the monastery, an area that had once been empty wilderness among the mountains would rapidly begin to take shape. The land would begin to change as the first major settlement beyond the Apaleisians would be constructed in the form of a work camp to house the rapidly increasing number of laborers at the bottom of the mountain. People and investments would flood into the province in search of opportunity, gold, and prestige for themselves under the promise of good work and honest pay.

As a path towards the peak of the summit would be mapped and constructed, followed by the raw resources and hard labor needed to move it towards the top of the mountain, the bottom of the mountain would have the work camp form the basis of a small but important village. Workers would bring their families across the Apaleisians to settle down along the frontier, constructing wooden homes and basic infrastructure for a small town. Theophilios II would repurpose much of the imperial economy solely towards the financing of the monastery, which was to be named after his relative St Ioannes. The economy would be directed towards establishing further colonia along the coastline and the monastery itself, all other matters would see its funding slashed in many aspects, causing worry among many for the ‘reckless’ spending of the imperial government's priority on the monastery.

With such an investment in the Monastery, the dynatoi would begin to raise their concerns to the Emperor over the exposure of the site itself. While the construction of the St Ioannes Monastery along the summit of Mount Aithaia would progress rapidly, the region itself had no defensive aspects to protect it from a potential barbaroi incursion into the site itself. With such an important amount of resources being directed onto its construction, and how the site would lie on the other side of the mountains with no means to protect it, a nobleman would suggest to the Emperor about repurposing some materials and workers to construct a local fort to provide security to the workers and the project’s progress.

The Emperor would take the suggestion with open enthusiasm. The Knights would raise similar concerns only several days earlier to the Emperor during a meeting with the order’s grandmaster. It would be decided that some resources would be redirected and repurposed to the construction of a formidable fort to protect the region and the monastery and that a detachment of Knights would establish a small garrison there. The Knights of Saint Ioannes, once known as the Knights Hospitaller, would send fifty of its faithful to protect the region from any harm. The Monastery and Mount Aithaia would be protected by warriors worthy of their holy duty. While slowing down construction due to resources being redirected away from the site, the future benefits would prove to be immeasurable.

With much of the framework organized for the monastery, a stroke of good fortune would be discovered after Roman engineers discovered advanced techniques of construction in the archives and treatises that had been taken from Old Konstantinopolis. Ancient knowledge of the techniques of their forefathers and lessons learned from antiquity would greatly benefit the engineers as the more complicated stages of the project would be reached. Only a severe lack of copies of such knowledge would limit its access without any other alternatives, leaving engineers inspired to pursue their interest in further study.

With the ancient knowledge of their forefathers and the local expertise of the Roman engineers, Mount Aithaia would come to serve as a beautiful product of where both the old and the new world would come together in harmony. Such a cultural rebirth upon Elysium would see the earliest fragmentation of the identity of the New World and the direction that the Romans would take.

Within Nea Konstantinopolis, the Emperor would come to speak before a distant cousin of the Imperial House who sought the attention of Theophilios personally. Belisarios Palaiologos, one of the oldest of the princes that would be born on Elysium, had recently come of age and had proved himself. Named after the ancient general, Belisarios had lived up to his namesake and had earned a reputation as a brilliant leader and a fierce tactician. Within the Imperial Palace, Belisarios was known as the best swordsman within its walls and often challenged far more experienced opponents and completely dominated them. Fascinated with the ancient history of Hellas, Belisarios would develop a fixation that would never leave him around the Spartans. In his mind, his heavy Laconophilia developed from a fascination into a deep idealization of the ancient culture as he grew older, believing in Sparta as the blueprint of an ideal state or example that should be followed by the wider Empire.

Rapidly building up his political influence despite his young age of a man in his early 20’s, Beliarios had recently spent much of his influence in the selective recruitment of men to serve in his large personal retinue. His minor status in court had kept the retinue from growing too large and preventing a potential threat to the throne from gaining strength. In recent months, Belisarios would train his personal retinue day and night in a brutal training regime with an emphasis on discipline and strength, into some of the most capable warriors on the entire continent.

Theophilios II would come with a meeting with his distant relative before the Imperial Court, where Beliarios would make his intentions clear. Coming before the council and the emperor directly, Prince Belisarios had come to seek support in an expedition to the lands beyond the Kykladies. Rumors among the Barbaroi along the south had spoken of rumors of cities made from solid gold ruled by malevolent gods. Ceaseless training and investment into his personal retinue would only further push Belisarios towards the Emperor, where even if not directly said, the Prince intended to leave wherever or not he receives imperial backing.

The Landing on the Yucatan. With thousands of followers, both native and Roman, Belisarios would declare the foundation of Lakonia. It would be here that his own identity, and that of the entire region, would be forever changed.

Theophilios would develop an interest in Belisarios’s expedition to the south, learning about the distant rumors of the far south from rumors and reports from vague exploration within the area depicting the natives of the region. A Roman presence within the region would prove to be of great benefit to the imperial government, where securing Belisarios’s loyalty would remain important should the expedition be successful. Theophilios II would send his distant relative some additional supplies, sending extra manpower and resources to the prince. Belisarios would remain in the Emperor’s debt and was extremely grateful for such generosity, solidifying his loyalty to the throne.

Belisarios’s expedition would prove to be extremely successful in the distant south, establishing a new settlement in the jungle of the area. Belisarios would quickly cement his position through the rapid conquest of the surrounding area of the city with his army, seizing the coast and building a new center. Shortly after his arrival, Belisarios would establish a ‘New Sparta’ after the ancient city of legend and pave the foundation of a new realm.

Belisarios would shed his remaining Roman ties and renamed himself Leonidas, seeking to mimic the hero of antiquity to conquer the Barbaroi there against all odds. Already an incredibly capable commander and with the strong support of his army, along with the few natives that remained in their custody, the newly rechristened Leonidas declared the foundation of Spartakon. His ambition for conquest against the brutal barbaroi would only be matched by his drive to establish his new homeland in what he would call Lakonia.

Leonidas I Spartakon (1453-1516). Perhaps the finest military genius of his age, his legendary conquest of Lakonia would be studied by future generations.​

Envisioning himself a new Lycurgus and Leonidas, Leonidas would symbolically cut direct ties to the Romans and would pursue independence. Hoping to strive to conquer the region alone, Theophilios would receive emissaries from the new kingdom in the far south, who would remain friendly to the Romans despite such vast distances. A treaty would be signed preventing the two nations from interfering in each other's politics for fifty years, along with a symbolic alliance between Nea Konstantinopolis and Lakonia. Theophilios would wish for the success of the distant kingdom and its friendship.

Long having been established on Elysium for several decades, the Orthodox Church remained prone to the bickering and corruption that had come to follow it from the old world. Isolated from the rest of Christendom, these problems would only magnify the issues within the church itself. Theophilios would begin to push through ecclesiarchial reforms to reform the church as a whole, slowly starting to reign in the more corrupt priests and restoring the people’s faith in the holy church as a whole.

With the start of the religious reforms, it would be the start of a transformation of the church in the New World. Religious authority would begin to change in the years following the Plethonist Revolts, and the nature of Orthodoxy and its position in the New World would begin debates among the bishops and priests. It would be the start of a unique reformation of orthodoxy in the New World, one that would last for many years, and further the cultural and religious divide between the Old World and the New World.

Several years following the start of its construction, Mount Aithaia’s rapid transformation would become openly visible to the influx of workers and settlers that had crossed the Apaleisians. Once nothing more then a cabin, the new town of Aipeia at the bottom of the mountain was a bustling and unexpected hub of commerce. Materials and workers from every corner of the Empire would arrive in the region to begin anew, sending resources and construction upon the mountains. With much of the framework completed, the St Ioannes Monastery was largely completed. It would take several more years of heavy investment and construction to transform the monastery into the new Mount Athos that it was destined to be.

Between the bustling town of Aipeia and the construction of Mount Aithaia, a group of powerful merchants would arrive before the Emperor, claiming to represent a significant portion of the Arte dei Delfini and other mercantile groups within the Empire. The group would make a considerable splash upon their arrival in the Imperial Palace, coming to protect their interests across the trade routes. Theophilios II knew that the merchants wouldn’t have requested a meeting with him had it not been for a significant matter.

The merchants would speak to the Emperor about the role that the merchants had during the construction of Mount Aithaia, not seeking a simple regulation or extra tax that would only serve to boost their riches further. The three merchants controlled almost all of the caravans going through the Apaleisians, which had made their contribution vital to the whole process of construction. It wouldn’t prove to be enough for them. Forced to work under the constraints of imperial orders and tariffs, the conditions among the merchants worsened.

With such a heavy focus on the empire’s finances, the merchants would argue that Aipeia was the first settlement beyond the Apaleisians, and as such was an important center of commerce. With the constraints of imperial tariffs and constrained resources that were being allocated to too many aspects of the project, the merchants demanded to impose their prices and open participation to those outside of the throne’s court and proximity, allowing the mercantile guilds and the Arte dei Delfini access for contribution onto the project without any legal restrictions. Rejection would result in the merchants pulling their support for Mount Aithaia, throwing the progress of the project down the drain and setting its construction back several years.

Theophilios would remain worried about such a demand, knowing the outside interference would upset the church. Constrained resources would become a problem, and even with such an influx and demand of material and workers from every corner of the empire, its allocation and logistical issues would stretch the allocated resources to their limit. Begrudgingly, the Emperor would accept the offer for the empire’s merchants to become the resource providers in Mount Aithaia. The clergy would become upset at this decision, viewing Theophilios as abandoning the monastery to greed, but the merchant providers for the project would greatly help in aiding the project. Thrilled with this decision, the merchants would provide everything in abundance for the project while building upon the growing town of Aipeia.

With new policies to encourage exploration of the world around them, some explorers would report spotting a small island in the Great Sea in a seemingly futile quest eastwards towards the old world. Such news would encourage explorers and sailors to explore further east, to no avail, in a lonely ocean. One of these exploration vessels would return back to Nea Konstantinopolis with groundbreaking news of a discovery, rushing back to the imperial capital to eagerly report their findings.

The ship's captain would quickly get in contact with the Emperor and the Imperial Council with familiar-looking people on an island in the Atlantic. From distant surveillance, the familiar-looking people belonged to a great expedition and were stranded after a strong storm. With everyone in the Empire knowing the stories of their past, the discovery of the island would confirm the shocking discovery that the lost fleet were the same ships that had been a part of the Grand Fleet during the Odyssey. Excitement rapidly spread across every corner of the Empire and efforts to establish contact with them would begin almost immediately. Theophilios II would personally embark on the journey to meet with the shipwrecked survivors, taking a ship and leaving on a small journey across the ocean once more.

Within a short amount of time, several large ships would arrive on the island to establish contact with the people of Lanthanopolis, the inhabitants of the ‘Stranded City’, around the lagoons of the island. Theophilios II would be met with great joy, and some of the oldest inhabitants of the island would remember the prince fondly during the Odyssey and the struggles that came along with the exodus. Despite their joy, most of the populace appeared somewhat malnourished but remained in good spirits, and had done well for themselves to build a new life.

With a small economy based around whatever the island provided, Lanthanopolis had developed a strong maritime culture. Its people had come to invite the Emperor to join in a meager feast they had prepared. Theophilios II would bring food and supplies from the mainland to the island as a gift to help aid them, where the local populace rejoiced loudly. Pleasantries would be shared and the inhabitants of Lanthanopolis would become impressed at how the Empire had fared. Before the end of the night, its people would shout Theophilios’s name and want to reunite with their lost brothers and sisters.

Theophilios II would laugh and accept the lost people with open arms, embracing them once more in brotherhood and reuniting the legacy of the Grand Fleet once more. Lanthanopolis would unite with the Empire as a distant vassal state, where the island of Mikra Krete would happily embrace becoming a part of the Romans once more. Once the Emperor returned home, the island would see an abundance of supplies in the form of food and clothing, along with everything that the island lacked as the beginning of trade would be established. Forever earning their gratitude, Lanthanopolis would be welcomed home.

With the growing professionalism in the Imperial Army with an emphasis on expert training and discipline, the foundation for the future of the army would be codified into imperial law by militarists and the upper echelon of the government. With a blank slate to pursue reforms in the new world and seeking to aspire to the success of the Legions and Tagma of old, the Roman soldiers would receive training comparable to their forefathers. Along with an aristocratic center of noble generals, the small but elite standing army was slowly becoming the greatest fighting force in the entire new world.

In the latter half of the decade, Orhan Celebi passed away from an illness contracted in the field. The Prinkipes, the Roman Jannisaries of the New World, would mourn the loss of their founding father along with Theophilios. Theophilios II would mourn the loss of a close friend and ally of the imperial court, saying their final farewell to the commander that done much to ensure to the survival of the Empire.

Orhan would be buried in a small Islamic funeral, organized by the few surviving Muslim warriors that had accompanied him during the Odyssey. His grave would be pointed eastward towards the old world and the sands of Arabia, where his funeral would be attended by Theophillios II and many of the imperial generals out of a sign of respect. Loyal to the Romans to the very end, Orhan’s death would leave the tiny Islamic community within Elysium in a period of mourning for weeks. Many of Orhan’s loyal followers would form the basis of a unique Greco-Turkish subculture, where many of their descendants would play an important role in centuries to come.

Expansion outward would continue at an organized methodical pace, with colonia outward along the coastline remaining one of the few organized priorities of the imperial government’s efforts. With much of the treasury focused on the construction of Mount Aithaia and expansion, many architectural efforts and other economic matters would be slowed down. Despite the brief change of pace, the economy of the empire was thriving with a growing population that was recovering to pre-revolt levels and growing opportunities within the New World.

In 1477, Greek merchants established a trading post on the western shore of an island that the local Lenepe would name Manhattan. Settlers would begin arriving within the surrounding harbor shortly after, where the area quickly became a commercial center as trade goods such as fur and fish were set up as primary industries of the harbor.

Thirty years since the arrival of the Romans in the New World, what had once been native lands would see Greek become both the dominant cultural and demographic majority within the thriving lands of the Empire. Assimilated natives would gradually start losing their way to the process of Hellenisation within the region, which would remain remarkably successful, as both Christianity and the dominance of the language would spread outward from Elysian Bay. The Barbaroi Councils would come together to retain many methods and cultural means to preserve their heritage, ensuring that it would pass on to the next generation.

In spite of this, the European population of the Empire was increasing at a rapid rate. A nation that had been devastated by the Plethonist Revolts would slowly begin to recover, and by the late 1470’s had recovered to pre-revolt levels of prosperity. Most settlements would be created and settled by complete family groups, with several generations often being present and established within the town. Many of the families would own the land they would live and farm on, while the dynatoi would retain a monopoly on prime land for their estates and businesses. Greek would be a universal language within the colonies, while Latin merchants and settlers would speak some dialect of Greek within their communities.

Roman settlements would be made up of skilled craftsmen and tradesmen. Farmers would play an important role in small communities, while shipbuilding, commerce, and fisheries would play an enormous role in coastal towns. A healthy climate and an abundant food supply, along with the rapid growth of the frontier settlements, would see the birth rate of the colonies skyrocket. Nea Konstantinopolis and Prosphorion, the two largest cities in the Empire, would have a healthy population of over ten thousand by 1480.

With the construction of Mount Aithaia largely completed, the Empire would begin to wind back much of the economy back from the financial focus of the project and outward into the wider world once more. With the mercantile factions happy with providing resources for the project, and making a fortune from doing so, another one of the most important groups within the Empire would approach the Emperor to make a deal with the crown. The Dynatoi, the aristocratic elite of the nation, would make their move.

Some of it’s most influential and important members would approach the throne, making another similar deal to Theophilios II about their own contribution to the project. Even with such an investment from the width of the empire, specialized resources and building materials remained scarce. The dynatoi would make a deal before the empire that the project may be able to increase the supply of needed goods if they could relocate into the wider province itself, or ‘reinvest’ portions of their own fabulous wealth onto the newly claimed lands, estates and fiefs. The dynatoi would promise mood food for the workers, wood and minerals for the laborers, and gold for the crown to invest into the project and whatever future aspirations that lay before the Emperor. The only thing missing was how the dynatoi would promise this contribution or how they would even acquire it.

In theory, it would mean that more materials would be able to be used in contribution for Mount Aithaia. But in reality, the dynatoi were seeking to attain fewer taxes and more autonomy from the Emperor. Already stretched thin beyond the capital and other major cities, the respect for the rule of law was already on thin ice. Theophilios would grant the autonomy that the dynatoi sought, only in return for a direct contribution to the project instead of the empire’s treasury. Taxes would be lowered to increase the thrones budget for the project, while the dynatoi would push for rural governance of the region around the mountain.

Putting aside sacrifices for the betterment of the realm, Theophillios would worry that he had already given away far too much for the various elements within the nation, afraid that having granted too much autonomy and free onto the project would dilute the result and purpose of the monastery in the first place. With progression continuing at a steady pace, the Emperor turned away from the monastery and looked out into the open world around him. A fresh perspective or a new breath of air could be enough to allow him to focus on the wider picture.

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Oh you’ve done it now. For those unfamiliar with this particular mod, the Mount Aithaia project not only costs quite a lot of money to build each stage, but because you have a time crunch, you need to expedite construction considerably, and as the costs to expedite the great work aren’t changed from vanilla and there’s no way you can get a 10k manpower pool easily right now, that’s another couple thousand ducats sunk into 250 ducat chunks for 730 days off.

It absolutely can be done by 1500; I did it and I hadn’t even taken the silk, but you’re going to need to pull every trick in the book from borrowing from the merchants and refinancing every so often as the size of the loans goes up, selling crown land, devaluing currency, milking the native tribes for their money, trading favors for gold from your allies, and even sacking base tax development to get the money needed.

To not spoil anything, I do think what you get at the end makes it worth it. It certainly played a big part in helping me avoid the bankruptcy almost caused by building it!

Patience is not a virtue here...

If you throw enough money at something, results are sure to occur....right?

This was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon. One of my favorite AAR writers back from the dead with one of my favorite mods. Can't wait to see if the Empire makes God's deadline.

Thank you! Glad to see you along for the ride again!

 

[HistoryDude]

Mount Aithaia is doing very well, even if it isn't as... independent... as the priests would probably like. At least it's defended...

Congrats on gaining two vassals! Will New Sparta and Elysia retain their alliance after the fifty years are done?

Do the Aztecs exist, actually? A New Sparta-Aztec War could be good...

 

[TWR97]

As someone who had tuned in for the first Odyssey AAR that I think you wrote as well, it's great to see this up again, especially with how the mod's been fleshed out nowadays compared to the first AAR, I like the fact you took Orhan with you this time around too, makes it a different sort of Odyssey now. Spartakon certainly is going to be quite a neighbor if they can emulate the first AAR's Spartakon, hope they remain friendly in the next few decades.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Interlude III: The Last Plethonists (1479)​

It was a public ceremony, one that Lukas had been familiar with all too many times beforehand as he put on his priestly garb. Not an ounce of emotion was on his face as he adjusted his vestment and braced his nerves. Even after performing it so many times, public speaking on this scale was never much of a strength for the priest. Internally he felt that this responsibility could have befallen another one of the faithful priests within the church to conduct such a morbid ceremony, but it was his responsibility to see that the apostates received divine judgment for what they had done. Thousands of years of Roman civilization almost being erased from the world due to the ramblings of a mad preacher and his pagan followers.

Almost twenty years ago, the Plethonists were finally put down like the rabid dogs they were. It had also been since then that Lukas had found his calling to act in service of the holy father and his church, ever since his life had been saved from the Inquisition when he was a young boy during the height of the revolt. Ever since the Plethonists largely went into hiding since the end of the revolts, the Inquisition had done its divine duty to hunt them down. Lukas couldn’t find the bravery that the Inquisition had in their line of duty, he wasn’t a violent man, but he did find solace in his heart that he was the one that would condemn them to hell.

The crowd outside would begin chanting at the sinners on the stage, where imperial soldiers would barely hold back the righteous anger of the mob that screamed with their hearts and souls to the condemned pagans. Four men were sentenced to die today under his orders. The crowd almost seemed to encompass the width of the public square where the executions were taking place. Lukas would look at the faithful within the church in the distance, many of the men were high-ranking bishops or priests who looked at him as he walked to the center of the stage to speak. The crowd would begin to fall silent as Lukas readied himself to speak, his eyes observing the large crowd and reading their emotions.

“Romans, we have emerged victorious. Evil has once more been defeated. Before you are the remaining Plethonists still within Nea Konstantinopolis. With this act of purification, our city will finally be rid of the monsters that had sought to destroy us.” Lukas spoke loudly to the delight of the crowd, who would erupt into loud cheers at each word that he spoke. Several angry faces turned to look at the pagans on the stage, looking utterly defeated.

“These pagans, who had brought pain and suffering to our city and our empire, will be struck down. Christ has triumphed and delivered justice against these wicked souls.” Lukas continued to speak. The crowd would loudly jeer at the pagans, screaming for their cowardice and their death. “We must be ready to punish these Plethonist pigs wherever we find them. We will always be ready to defend our faith in the lord!”

The crowd would loudly begin to cheer once more. Lukas performed the sign of the cross, along with the other priests who would quickly follow suit. He turned around and went to sit down before listening to an inquisitor read the crimes of the sentenced to the crowd. Four different men would die, all of whom had committed various crimes, forever linked with one another for being Plethonists. Lukas would listen to the crimes and recoiled in his seat out of disgust. Two of them men had hidden their true faith as crypto-plethonists until ultimately being discovered.

The oldest of them, a grey-haired man, was discovered living in the wilderness and had been captured by natives. The youngest of the men, a malnourished young man who could have been no more than thirty, had burned down a church during the height of the revolts when he was just a ten-year-old boy, burning alive all of the frightened innocent worshippers inside. All four of them were to be burned at the stake. If they repented of their sins, they could have been granted the mercy of being strangled. Lukas knew that none of them would ever repent, and he wasn’t interested in granting them mercy. If the Plethonists were not going to grant the church and the Romans any mercy, why should the Empire act mercifully in kind?

Lukas would follow the condemned as they were escorted to their death from a distance, watching as the crowd threw rotten food, filth, and other things at them, spitting and throwing dirt at the Plethonists who were paraded through the streets. Some of them would get close and try and pull hair at them before being thrown back by an imperial soldier. The luckiest one would club one of the condemned with a rock against his skull, causing immense pain as the blood drained down his face and over his eyes before he would be thrown back.

The Priest watched from a balcony as the Plethonists were stripped half-naked and forced to walk upstairs as Inquisitors worked in tandem with executioners. One of the Plethonists tried to flee before being caught by the zealous mob and thrown back to the inquisitions, who restrained him and forced him to walk bare foot to the pole. One of the Plethonists would repent for his sins out of the corner of his eye and would be strangled, completely lifeless, to be put out of his misery before the flames overtook him. Bloodcurdling screams would only barely drown out the fury of the crowd who watched as the other two men would be burned alive, their skin glowing red as the flames crept beyond their stomachs and grew higher and higher.

Lukas kept his eyes on the young man, watching as the murderer who had once been a young boy look in horror at the torches being lit. He watched the terror in his eyes at seeing the other two Plethonists burn alive and writhe in agony, the grim reality settling in as executioners ignited the pyre beneath his feet. A smile of satisfaction crept onto his face as the flames quickly burned the soles of his feet and rapidly overwhelmed him. His agonized screams were a cacophony of hatred that fueled his resolve and that of the Inquisition.

The flames would burn the restraints away as the young plethonists tried to climb to the top of the pillar to escape the flames that only grew higher, his terrified face causing the crowd to mock and jeer at the pagan that had fruitlessly tried to escape punishment. It had proven fruitless as it had trapped him on the top of the pillar, where flames licked against his burning body and climbed rapidly to burn against his flesh. The plethonists hair would ignite and his face started to peel away, watching as the worst Plethonist was burned alive. It would all prove too much and the Plethonist would leap from the stake, falling to his death on the hard ground below and quickly dying from his wounds as his body was slowly and painfully incinerated from the intense heat.

Lukas would only smile and clutch a hand against his heart before leaving. He remembered the Plethonists who had murdered his family. Their souls had finally been put to rest as the last of them within the capital had finally been dealt with. The last vestiges of the dying cred were slowly being bled out from existence, either from its surviving heathens dying from old age or being hunted into extinction. Deep down he knew that the Plethonists wouldn’t ever truly go away, but in his heart, he was glad, for he knew as long as they existed in secret they served to give the Priest a purpose in life.

And he was happy.

​

 

[Apelstav]

So, first of all, really wanted to say this is quite excellent. I appreciate that you've taken your time with both odyssey and nation-building with Elysia and especially your more narrative interludes.

Secondly, due to those interludes I'm pushing it upon you to nominate next week's Best Character Writer of the Week, for you are chosen this week.