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Mecklenburg: A journey to warmer lands.


Jyllands ship was slowly nearing the Breton coast. He had his new French friends come pick him up with a warship. He wasn't planning on taking the risk of using a Mecklenburgian gally. He had heard that the newly conquered vassal was good for nothing, the amount of funds that came their way was even less than pocket money. No matter though, Armor was rumored to produce tons of cloth, that would offer a great trade opportunity.

Jylland was not in a good temper however, he had heared France was beautiful nation, it was part of the reason he decided to invade here. But what he saw here was almost no different from the weather at home. A thick fog was hanging over the coast, and not a nice sand coast, but rocks every where the eye could see. This was not what he had hoped and to make matters worse that idiot of a king had decided to join him on this journey. If he was to believe the king Armor would be the future royal residence. "Ah well if the king want's this misty piece of land he can have it. I'll search for sunnier locations."; Jylland thought. "Ill make sure my company has a solid base here and then I'll move out again. The king can stay here for all eternity for all I care."




Blois ,Captain Kessler and a small host of Bretons were already waiting for Jylland and the King at the harbor. While the king basked in the admiration of the Bretons, Jylland gathered Blois and Kessler.

"I must say this is quite a dissapointment Blois. Is all of your motherland as misty as this?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see as summier as ever. Well then Kessler did we suffer any great losses?"
Kessler looked happy and told Jylland that his planning had made sure that almost the entire army was still intact.
"I see. That's great. Get them ready to move out then. I'm taking care of bussiness here and then we're done here."
Kessler didn't look suprised and neither did Blois, they knew that although Armor had decent opportunities for production it was neither rich nor pleasant enough to please Jylland.

Jylland walk walking up and down in the building they had procured. He thought that his first conquest would please him, but this rainy piece of rock would not do. Yes he might make a ducat or two and the king was certainly pleased, but this was not the type of rich provinces he expected to conquer.
The door of his room opened and Blois appeared.
"I have news, sir."
"Yes what is it Blois, speak up man."
"War between Portugal and Morocco, sir."
"War between... What do I care? Do I look like a muslim to you?!"
"Gold, sir."
"Gold... Gold?"
"Gold, sir."
"What gold? What are you talking about? Do I have to pry every single word from you? Tell me more about this gold !"
"Gold in Sus, sir."
"Gold in Sus?" Jylland got the map he carried around in his backpocket ever since he departed from home. He opened it up and looked until he found Sus.
"There is gold there you say?"
"Yes, sire."
"Hmm, hmm. They are embroild in a War against Portugal and if I'm not mistaken also a war against Castille. It seems the reconquesta is never over. Hmm. Hmmmm. Get Kessler over here."
"Sir."

This might become a great chance, Rettin would be overjoyed when he had some muslims to convert. It would be a great chance to get that man out of his way. The king would also love a chance at conquering some muslim lands. They need not know about any gold that would be found. No, they definitely did not need to know. Blois would not tell anyone and he doubted anyone but Blois knew about the gold, the man was very very resourcefull. Perhaps they could even get a chance at the last stronghold of Granada while they were at it. It would offer his trading company more salt to trade.



"This is what I want you to do Kessler. Grab the fleet and move out to Ifni. Move half your army to Sus. We wouldnt want anyone else getting there first."
Kessler looked suprised: "But sir we would only conquer the riches of this world wouldn't we? There is nothing but sand there, sir!"
"You do not see the holy task we have? To conquer and convert the disbelievers?"
Kessler deeply doubted the sudden zeal of Jylland, but he didn't become a captain because of his independant thoughts.
"I'm sorry sir! I will do as you say immidatly!"
"Good get on your way then, I shall inform the king."

"Conquering the infidels? That sounds great doesn't it Rettin?": The king seemed overjoyed. His normal vague smile now seemed to divide his head in two.
"We can spread the word of the Lord everywhere, ow what great times we live in!"
Rettin looked at Jylland. He knew the man didn't care for religion. So why would he carry out the Lord's wishes so zealously? It was every man of the church's duty to convert the infidels and he would gladly take this task upon him, but what could that snivling snake gain from this? He would keep an eye out and his ears open.


"Yes your majesty, a great chance is given to us. I will make sure the infidels will only speak of our Lord the moment the Grand Merchant conquered their lands.": Rettin said.
"Then I will take my leave, Your majesty, Bishop."; Jylland turned around and walked out of the throne room.
"Just you wait Jylland, don't think I'm not on to you": Rettin thought and turned to his Majesty.
"Well my king what do you want to the rest of the day?"


Excerpt from Kessler's journal

Day 7

The declaration of war preceded us with just a day. The generallisimo is great in planning stuff like this. There isn't even a single army in sight. We saw armies clash in other provinces as we sailed here, but noone actually seems to mind us jumping in! We made our landing in Ifni as planned. There is not much to conquer here, we secured some oasis to maintain a supply of water and I send half our army under Klutz to Sus. I wonder what the Generalissimo is thinking? What can we gain here?

Day 20

Finally a word from Klutz, it seems they didn't meet any resistance. They have secured the land without even seeing a city or town. What a desolate land this is! Perhaps the enemy wants us to have it, it's as useless as a sixth finger.

EU3_9.jpg


Day 27

In order to get a good peace treaty we received the order from the Generallismo to move up to Fez and conquer as we go. Thought there won't be much fightning. Blois (who came together with the order, I guess to help with the peace treaty.) told me that Morocco was left with not a single soldier. They must have received a beating from the Portugese and Castillians. I was also told to ship part of our army to Granada and leave mercenaries here to conquer the remaining empty provinces. I'm glad I can leave this god forsaken desert. I'll leave Blois here to oversee operations and get the Almohads to sigh the treaty. It's what he's best at.


Day 34

This is a lot better! What a beautifull city this is. And what a riches are hidden in every palace we come across. I think that the generallisimo will be very pleased! To bad we don't have Blois to sign a peace treaty. I'll just have to my best. I received a message from Klutz, it seems the mercenaries had an easy time. They conquered all that was requered to break the Almohads resistance.

EU3_10.jpg


Day 37

We rounded up the last pockets of resistance. There is not a single muzleman with a sword left in the entire city. The city is ours!

EU3_11.jpg
 
Mecklenburg in Africa, that's pretty odd, where's Rommel now?
 
An African foothold could be a useful forward base for other ventures in due course.
 
Mecklenburg: What can't be conquered, must be vassalised.

Jylland was walking down the streets of a liberated Granada. Everwhere around him he saw mosques being torn down and priests busy converting, where-ever they could.

The annexation went smooth. The emir had already fled when Blois was coming over to have him sign the treaty.

This was a city more suiting to Jyllands tastes. It was fully developed with plenty of opportunities to trade. No need to worry about the weather either, the sun was blazing almost every day of the year. He had commandered the Emir's palace as his own, he arranged for his Majesty to stay in Armor, claiming it would be too dangerous for him to walk around the infidels. A prophet should be kept save! Rettin wasn't fooled that easily however and insisted he came over here to oversee the converting of the populace.

The palace came in sight, a battalion of his most loyal troops was guarding the entrance vigoursly. Jylland was glad he paid them with the loot they gained from Armor. Loyal soldiers were something he needed most if he was to succeed. The African gold would come in handy, he had to make sure that noone else would now about that. It would be vital to the rest of him plans! He needed someone trustworthy to take care of the exploitation of the gold. He couldn't let Blois handle it, he would need him for further operations. Kessler was a good soldier and could be trusted, but was not capable enough to perform outside of the military. Jylland would have to keep an eye out for someone trustworthy and capable, those people were hard to find though.

The guards saluted him as he walked by. He was glad with their level of discipline, if only the rest of the army would be as good as they were.

Blois was waiting for him in the throne room. They finally had a throne room worthy of the name, too bad His Majesty would never set foot here if it was up to Jylland.

"Sir, we seized all the land you wanted."
"I knew I could trust in you, Blois. By the way noone knows about the gold, I trust?"
"Noone, sir."

EU3_12.jpg


"Good, very good. When do you expect we can start the exploitation?"
"When you find someone capable, sire."
"How true. With my luck we could be still waiting years for the gold to finally start coming my way. Nevermind we got more work to do, we can think about this later. Just make sure that our army is guarding those provinces with their lives."
"Kessler is on it, sir."
"Good. Now to safeguard our price. We can't allow the Almohads or any one else to take our gold. Both Marocco and Algiers pose a threat to us, we must make the North African nation our subjects, there is not point in taking their lands. It's just sand and more sand."
"As you say, sir."
"They are weakened with internal strife and the repeated wars with Portugal. I'll let you handle it Blois. I'll take care of the company and the treasury."
"Sir."

Blois made a bow and left the throne room. He signaled Michael the other original guard.

"We are moving out."
"Whereto Blois? What does the Grand Merchant want to conquer now? Ile de france? Tirol? London?"
"North Africa."
"What ? Has he gone bonkers? There is nothing to gain there. Just sand and more sand. And more sand."
"We'll only subjugate them.": Blois showed no sign of emotion. He knew Michael ever since they both fled Brittany at the age of 10. What ever Blois told him to do, Michael would do even though he would protest until the job was done.
"Subjugate them? It will take years to chase them all the way through the desert! What will Jylland be doing then? Sitting here, picking his nose?"
"He will do what he must."
"I bet he will. He's probably off now, thinking of more ways to grab even more coins. Sigh, why you follow that man, I really don't know."
"Silent now, start the assembly."
"Well sir yes sir, dont mind me, sir, your loyal subject will be right at it!"
Blois just shrugged, no matter what Michael would say, he would do his job properly. Without anyone saying so Blois had taken the role of Jyllands rught hand, getting his authority directly from his position near Jylland. People feared him and his only friend would be Micheal. Blois didn't mind, for a poor Breton that fled his homeland, he would not relinquesh the power he had now obtained.

Journal found in the imperial library in the year 1876, concerning the early steps of the Reich in subdueing northern Africa. Possible editing by the ministery of Proganda can not be denied.

Starting in the year 1410, marching under Reichs marschall Blois under direct order from Emperor Jylland the First the ever victorious armies of the Reich started their campaign in northern Africa. Their goals were to prevent the Mameluks, Almohads and Ottomans to ever get a foot hold in Northern Africa again.


EU3_14.jpg


Reichs Marschall Blois had to fight the armies of all the infidels in the world who united against him. His valiant efforts defeated all of their attempts to topple him, but the sheer size of the enemy's armies made the campaign a long one. With only 3 thousand men, Reichs Marschall Blois had to campaign from Alexandria to Ceuta, fightning off wave after wave of enemies.

The campaign took around 6 years and resulted in a crushing defeat for the enemies of the Reich. All the enemy empires were beaten and the remaining rulers were made vassals of the Kaiser.

In the year 1414 almost all of Northern Africa became an Emperial domain, ruled only in name by the local rulers!


EU3_15.jpg
 
Enjoyable read!

I'm playing a Mecklenburg myself right now. I did exactly as you have done now. I first took Morrocco's semi-rich coastal provinces and the gold province. I then vassalised most of the North African nations.

From trade I then had enough money to diplo-vassalise most of Lower Germany and the Low Countries. If you're not doing that I suggest you do because I managed to conquer France very early on without even using my own armies. I diplo-annexed a few of them in order to get the required provinces to form Germany. I removed the decentralisation hit from diplo-annexation though. The 10 year limit and -100 relations are bad enough on their own.
 
Thanks everyone for reading so far:

I will not go for the diplo vassal thing, first off the changes made are really off in my opinion, a cent hit when annexing a one province minor when your empire is spanning from the Northern Atlantic to the Black sea? Second, it's been made way too easy to get people to accept a vassalization offer. Third I just dislike it :) My way is the way of the sword and this AAR will be a lot more role playing than just the normal power playing.

I will try to go ahead with opportunities as they arise, I will incorporate them in the writing, that seems to be most fun thing to do :p
 
I doubt taking Granada as minor state was wise. Castille will attack you sooner or later since they have a core on it. France is also a dangerous neighbour. Can't wait to see where this story will go. :)
 
Ignatich said:
I doubt taking Granada as minor state was wise. Castille will attack you sooner or later since they have a core on it. France is also a dangerous neighbour. Can't wait to see where this story will go. :)

Don't worry Blois will take care of it :rofl:

I have decided to not abide to the in game time any more, it wouldn't make sense to the story. So don't fret if you see me talking about Jylland while the game is slowly approaching 1500, he aint immortal the screen clock is just off :p

Now for another update:

Mecklenburg: Enjoying the spoils of war.


Jylland was thoroughly enjoying himself. Blois was not here constantly reminding himself of his duties with his silent competence. Rettin was off to Ifni to try to convert some more heathens. His Majesty was still loitering in Armor. Life was good. If only the Emirs had stored some good wines, too bad they were either true to their faith of masters of hiding their vices, since Jylland had not discovered even one hidden stash with any wine in it.

He was drinking some wine that his French connections had send him. Not the best but certainly not the worst either. It was too bad he had to do some business today. Some rather nasty business. Bussiness that he would normally order Blois to take care of. The Emirs family was caught trying to flee to Marocco, it was obvious they had to be executed, but it was a job Jylland would have loved to not be involved with. It was one thing to order it, another to stand by and watch it being done.

He had no choice however, there was no else who would oversee it being done. Jylland stood up called over some of his private guards and made way to the courtyard.

Once he arrived at the court yard the sun had already reached it's pinnacle. It was truely blistering hot. Sweat gushed down Jyllands clother. He reminded himself to buy some new cloths, cloths that were made for this type of temperature instead of the weather back home.

The Emir's family was rounded up, surrounded by guards that seemed all to eager to immidiatly execute the lot of them. Jylland saw children, elderly and woman. This was not going to be a pleasant job. But the job wasn't going to become any easier if he just stood here sweating.

"Lieutenant, let's get this over with shall we?" : Jylland said.
The young lieutenant, who just came over from Lubeck saluted.
"Line them up, sergeant." he said.
The sergeant was an experienced man and knew how to handle dissidents. Before long the Emirs family was lined up.
"Now lead them to the gallows and hurry."; The other soldiers might not have mind, but the lieutenant was obviously not pleased by what he had to do.
Jylland just about had it with the sun and the job and was about to just leave it to the lieutenant, when his eye fell on something out of the ordinary. Most of the Emir's family members were crying and begging for their lives. But one of them, a young girl perhaps 16 years old, was neither crying nor begging. She stood there proud, arrogant even. She looked at everyone with the contempt only someone of royal blood could muster.

Jylland was immidiatly interested. He walked over to the lieutenant: "Lieutenant"

"Sir!"
"Who's that girl over there?"
"The Emir's daughter, sir!"
"I see, proud little thing isn't she. I think I want to get to know her a little better."
"Sir? She's a muslim sir!"
"Is she? I don't know lieutenant. I will ask her. Wait with executing the lot of them and bring her to my private rooms. Have two guards escort her, there is no telling what she might do."

Jylland hurried to his own room, happy he could escape the execution of more than 20 people and the heat of the sun. He prepared some more of his imported wine. He didn't think the girl would mind, she didn't seem like the normal docile woman he had come to expect to see in this city.

He heard the boots of the soldiers while they were walking up the stairs. Before they could knock he yelled at them that they could enter. It seemed that his normal composure was a little shaken.

The guards entered, with the girl tied up between them.
"Untie her and then you can leave. Stay at the door, I'll call for you if I need you."
The girl looked at him with nothing but contempt.
"What are you going to do with me? You will find that woman of royal blood as not as easy as northern sluts!"
If she would have a dagger, Jylland knew he would see it sticking out of his chest in a matter of seconds. What an angry little thing. Jylland never had any woman that interested him. Gold and power were the things he cared about. The church preached that woman should just follow their man, but it didn't seem like this one would ever do so. Very interesting indeed!

"I heard you were thaught economics and politics?"
"Yes we do not keep our woman stupid. We are civelized people!"
"Well, well now are you? I have a proposition for you then, little girl."
"Do not call me little kaffir! I am of royal blood, as peasant such as yourself should bow before me!"
"I might be a peasant, but I've conquered your fathers armies and taken his lands! Now shut up or I'll have you back at the gallows before you can even blink!" : Jylland shouted, it seemed his composure really wasn't as solid as usual, it must be the heat of the sun that slowly vaporised his patience.
"I will only give you this chance once, marry me and I will let your family and yourself live. Or you can deny me this and be one your way to Hell to join up with the rest of your family!"
"Like I would ever marry a kaffir! I would rather die than marry an old fat peasant."

Jylland actually expected this turn of events. He knew she would not be so easy to bait. But he didnt become what he was today without being able to judge human nature. He knew that although the girl had been thaught politics and economics, it was nothing more than the whim of a loving father. She would never be allowed to rule anything more than the inside of a palace room. She would agree to marry if he used the proper bait. Jylland had an idea about what he could use.

"I see. So you would rather die? And take you whole family with you? I see." :That put the first dent in her arrogance, she might not care about her own life, but that of the people that raised her?
"And I wanted to make you head of the Vault when we married. I was thinking that someone as educated as you should not wither away in a harem. Too bad, really too bad. Well then : Guards!"

Jylland might have had his faults, but he knew how to get people to do what he wanted. The girl had received a good education, but she knew that she would never be allowed to rule, nor to apply what she had learned. If this fat peasant could offer her the chance to finally do as she wanted, and to save her family from the gallows, shouldn't she take the chance? Neither her nor her family were true zealots, faith was nothing more than a tool to her father. It might be very unpleasant to share a bed with this old man, but he had power and if he thought that power remains with those that have it forever than he was sadly mistaken. Perhaps one day? Who knows?

"Wait!": She shouted. "Wait! I will do as you ask, if you keep true to your word."
"Don't worry girl, I will. What is your name?"
"My name is Semira ibn Nasr."
"Well then Semira, let's get married shall we?"
 
This could be a whole world of trouble.
 
Enewald said:
lawl, an odd chapter... :p
He needed a wife, you will soon find out why :p

This could be a whole world of trouble.

The only thing we can be certain of is that is a whole world of trouble brewing, I wish I could type as fast as I can make stuff up :rofl:

Keep the vassals coming!

I think you'll be pleased with the rest of the AAR ;)

Marriage is a funny thing. But marrying a strong willed girl can be dangerous

Time will tell ;)