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I'm up to 350k, but that's with a godlike king of old. As for the NAP, I am merely trying to keep Frosty on his toes, alert, and interested in the game. If not for countering my Byzantine intrigues, what would he have to do? Just sit about clicking the "I made a friend/rival/education" popups?
 
A bit more Out Of Character today. For your reading pleasure and my own reference, I am going to chronicle the current players hanging around in the Children of the Fatherland game and what relations I have managed to forge with them, if any.

As for last session, it was mostly memorable because of Epic Broken Save Rehost Issues (damn you Pskov, damn you!) and waging a war of desperation against AI Germany/Gothia/Rome2.0 with massive demense regiments for which it does not have to pay upkeep while the Andalusian treasury is significant only because of its cavernous emptiness. Yay, FUN.

I will now address my fellow players in my perceived order of powerfulness.

All the Russias, played by Von Rundstedt.
Widely acknowledged as the cloutiest kid on the block, Runny, also known as Von Slowstedt due to his tardiness when rehosting, much to everyone's chagrin, is very important to me because he is precisely on the other side of the map. Not having him on our doorstep is a continued source of pleasure in the court of Al-Andalus. Actual in-game dealings with him have been limited to my assassination of my wife's lover, who happened to be in the court of one of Runny's vassals, for which Runny, ever pleasant, saw fit to threaten me with discontinued existence. Additionally, he sponsored the Fiat, which has quite a lot to do with the fortunes of Al-Andalus, though I am unsure about his motives. In spite of his constant claims that 'Russia is complete', I do not think there is a single player, even at the extreme Western end of the map, who does not eye him with some measure of suspicion, possibly due to the fact that Runny as a player is not very talkative. Not that we would have much to discuss, obviously.

The Fatimid Caliphate / Egypt, played by FrozenWall.
My former liege in game terms, Frosty rules a sprawling empire from the Atlantic to Persia and Anatolia, taking up all of the North African Mediterranean coast. While King of Men tries to contest it, Frosty continues to be the main Mediterranean power. He also continues to be my patron. It is a mutually beneficient arrangement, though I retain the niggling feeling I am somehow getting too good a deal and I am wondering at which point it was that I sold my soul. More importantly, I am wondering whether that deal is worth it - so far it certainly seems to be true, and if anything, Frosty can count on a trusted friend to his Northwest. The Med suits us both just fine as a border; a delineation more naturally defined one is not likely to find.

Denmark, played by Michael.
As the mupdate shows, Denmark also rules most of the British Isles and Scandinavia. So far Michael seems to be a pretty low-key player; he is by no means vocal and seems to be reasonable in his inter-player dealings. It makes one wonder, though, where he got that big-ass empire of his, and I have suspicions about the way Britain ended up in his possession. Still, interaction with him has been even more sparse than with Runny, so there's really little to base any opinion on.

Bulgaria / Rome1.0, played by King of Men.
King of Men is better off doing his own propaganda. He is the secondary Mediterranean power, slowly shifting West from his former base of power in the Levant. He recently acquired the most contested tag in the game, BYZA, though the reason why this would be important is lost on me. I feel he would to better with less posturing toward Frosty, but as the runner-up in the theatre I suppose he feels has something to make up for. Unnecessary, in my view, as he seems to be doing quite well, with nicely spaced, slow expansion and a stable realm. One is unlikely to do better than that in Crusader Kings.

Germany / Gothia / Rome2.0, played by Jakalo, formerly by Fasquardon.
Al-Andalus has two human-played neighbours; one is looking to give me land and helps me, the other is a kaleidoscope of shifting power, alignment and stability. I am, of course, talking about Germany, the brown blob who is competing for the title 'land with the largest number of hostile neighbours,' in no way helped by the large number of players successively playing and subbing it. When Fasquardon last left it, Germany was possibly the second or third most powerful country, stretching from Iberia to Croatia, and having core lands in Germany and Italy. The times (and the Fiat) have not been very kind to Germany, and its power has waned somewhat. Germany is handicapped by its varying rulers, its large number of neighbours eyeing its wealthy provinces, and its reputation as a tottering superpower. It does, however, still control some of the richest provinces in the game, and certainly the richest concentration (in Southern France and Northern Italy).

As for my own relation with Germany, I have been troubled by its inconstant administration and our shared interests in Northern Spain. I have repeatedly stated that I have no ambitions outside Iberia. Germany, unfortunately, is the one power with interests which overlap with mine: it has designs on (and usually owns) Northeastern Iberia, as well as owning a number of King and Duke titles with land in Iberia.

Where in the past I had no choice but to abide the Fiats, I am slowly coming into my own power and with the decline of Germany comes my chance to contest his claims in Iberia. However, I feel a confrontational policy is not the way to go here. The Pyrenees seem a far more natural border between a realm of Germany's political nature than the muddle we are dealing with here. Eventually, a stable border is in both our interests - but only in mine as long as that border is the Pyrenees.
So far communications with Jakalo have not really taken off - it is time I did something about that.

Bavaria / Lotharingia, played by Fivoin.
Germany's decline has been Bavaria's ascent. Formerly a Northern German power only, Bavaria as expanded Southward, now approximating the geography of modern-day Germany, including the Lowlands (which he managed to Germanify, culturally speaking - it pains me to see my culture go, but good on Fivoin, one must admit). His base of power are the wealthy provinces in the Lowlands and the Rhineland. He does not seem to have any ambitions on the other side of the Channel - one supposes relations with Denmark are good.

My relation with Bavaria has been good to excellent, so far. Interests are shared, communication works, mutual support given - this could turn out to be very good to both our nations.

Persia, played by Foelsgard.
Foels seems a decent sort of chap, but Persia is so far away from me that I initially forgot to include him in this list. The fact that he appears to be on the wrong end of the guy who is my main benefactor makes me myopic when it comes to Foels' plight. Well, plight - he does play one of the more powerful countries on the map. He and Frosty should sort out their differences and go partition Russia already.

Loire / Normandy, played by Carillon.
Northern France, most of Ireland, and Cornwall - that is the Gallic realm of Loire. So far communication has been sadly sketchy, but Carillon seems to do well for himself as a medium power. Pretty much the same thing to which I aspire.

Croatia, played by OrangeYoshi.
Another medium power, the Kingdom of Hungary and Croatia is Austria-Hungary avant la lettre. OrangeYoshi is in an unenviable position: a middling power stuck between heavyweights Russia, Bulgaria and Germany. On the plus side, he stands to gain when one collapses. On the minus side, without intervention of the others, any one of them could quickly squash him.

His dynasty happens to be the first foreign dynasty in my line of inheritance. So far, this has not strained relations in any way: his monetary contribution in dealing with AI Germany is much appreciated and will not be forgotten.

Poland, played by Ike.
Pretty much the same story as Croatia: middling power, stuck between heavyweights. Scratch KoM and Germany and replace Denmark and Bavaria. Undoubtedly, their cavalry will be their saving grace.
So far Al-Andalus has had little to do with Poland. Perhaps that will see changes in the future.

Finland, played by Golle.
Once my brother in arms of sorts as Golle and I were the only players who were another player's vassal, Golle is now the only player who is someone else's vassal: Russia's, to be exact. Golle is more important through his (recently discontinued) assassination racket and vocal contributions to overall merriment than by any worldly force.

Which would, of course, completely change when he takes over all of Russia just before the port to EU3.


[AAR reward: upping my ruler's education one notch, to Grey Eminence (yay!).]
 
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A well written and intresting way of showing us lurkers how - at least one of the players - view the game and it's participants.
 
yay, Im the lead-singer!!! ;)

Fernando Allonzo is our lead singer? Great.


And what comes to the Al-Andalus getting in contact with Polarians, well inevitably you will contact with us when we merge your lands with ours trough series of political marriages. =P Also our cavalry is superior to anyone!
 
And what comes to the Al-Andalus getting in contact with Polarians, well inevitably you will contact with us when we merge your lands with ours trough series of political marriages. =P Also our cavalry is superior to anyone!

Assuming of course the Tiliuses don't die in a storm of blades from having stumbled into Cyprus line of succession. ;) But that will hopefully be dealt with peacefully.

Speaking of diplomatics, under heavy pressure from the cartographers lobby Persia and the Caliphate have agreed to a tidying up of their borders. Whereby the Caliphate exchanges its filthy rich Persian and Turkmen provinces for lots of desert. The exchange is equivalent in basetax terms.

25for25.jpg


Peace in our time, again!

In addition al-Andalus has now calmed down enough for the final stage of handovers of Caliphate territory in the Peninsula. As for my logic of free territory giveaway; nations will tend towards natural borders. Spain has two; the Pyrenees and the sea. Meaning I would have had to retain oddman as a vassal who would inevitably have started chafing under my yoke. I could have suppressed him, sure, but a strong ally and a secured flank is better than a powder keg to my rear. Also there is the rp element, my nation would wish to spread shia Islam the same way Byzantion wishes to restore the Rome of old. It is their purpose. The shi'ite Calipha is essentially the Pope of that strain of muslemdom and cares more about the unified faith than territory. Should any player present or future subject himself to the true light of shi'ite Islam under the spiritual guidance of the Fatimid Caliphas I will consider them an ally to be protected and supported in the name of the faith (something that will undoubtedly be more interesting to future native unciv players in EUIII than present hotheads ;)). Thus al-Andalus is a part of the Caliphate the same way France is lorded over by the Pope. With the exception that when rulers ask how many divisions the Caliphate fields it is not with scorn, but a tremble in their voice.
 
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Session 18:
session18.jpg

Probably a few provs wrong here and there..

This map confuses me. What the hell is Denmark doing all over the map and why haven't Loire and Denmark exchanged land in the Isles so that Denmark has all of the primary British island and Loire has all of Ireland?

/me likes pretty borders.......
 
Fernando Allonzo is our lead singer? Great.

Its Alexander Nevsky!!
And what can I do when I have beutifull voice and everybody loves to listen it ;)
 
This map confuses me. What the hell is Denmark doing all over the map and why haven't Loire and Denmark exchanged land in the Isles so that Denmark has all of the primary British island and Loire has all of Ireland?

/me likes pretty borders.......

Germany was AIed and had the usual problems. I assume Denmark will give those territories back next session.


As for the Isles... well, I assume that 3 provinces in Ireland are not as good as 6(?) provinces in southern England. Besides, having a bridgehead on the isles could be very usefull for Loire later on.
 
Its Alexander Nevsky!!
And what can I do when I have beutifull voice and everybody loves to listen it ;)

No it is Nikolai Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky in the movie Alexander Nevsky by Sergei Eisenstein !
 
The Knautschlings - part 15
A pious lifestyle




In 1188 the British Isles are finally divided exactly as agreed upon in the by now already quite dusty
De Flandre - Knautschling agreement.

k1401.jpg


Apparently the king of Loire had to sort out some issues of his own first, because from Denmark´s
point of view the last couple of small border adjustments could have taken part twenty years earlier already.
On the bottom right of the map you also see some continental territories that were inherited by the count
of Lincoln and thus ended up Danish because that count is a vassal of Waldemar.
Waldemar meanwhile is busy sucking at chess

k1402.jpg


and visiting the marriage of his eldest daughter Richwara.

k1403.jpg


The ruler of Russia or Mordor how it is mostly called today insults Richwara, saying she is a bitch.
Relations between Denmark and Russia reach an all-time low.
Rumors at the Danish court have it that the king of Russia made that statement because he was confused
after hearing a description of Richwara and her new husband having sexual intercourse. A concept
obviously unknown to himself as everybody knows that in Russia children are not born by women,
but instead are grown in the earth like vegetables.

k1404.jpg


Waldemar couldn´t live there obviously. The woman that bears his bastard child is by the way
a Knautschling, too. Way to go Waldemar, incestual bastard childs of it´s king are obviously what Denmark needs.
The pope having heard of Waldemar´s lifestyle naturally enforces a stricter direct control over church matters.

k1405.jpg


k1406.jpg


Also Waldemar gives the church some of his own riches as well.

k1408.jpg


After all it is hard to maintain a pious fassade if you can not even leave your hands of your own steward.

k1407.jpg


Jeez Waldemar, that is not a part of her job description. Turn to your wife instead.
Or to this random wench.

k1409.jpg


Or to this one.

k1410.jpg


What a faithful husband he is, our Waldemar.

k1411.jpg


His high moral values lead to some a count pledging to Waldemar.

k1412.jpg


Though naturally pledging to a faraway kingdom like Denmark is obviously the logical thing to do for a count in Iberia.
No, really, it is.
Well at least they do not have to pay any scutage under Waldemar.

k1413.jpg


But their return to their original liege, the king of Germany, is already being negotiated.
Passau is exempt from this, being originally Bavarian.​
 
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His dynasty happens to be the first foreign dynasty in my line of inheritance. So far, this has not strained relations in any way

Mainly because I have no idea how it happened. I imagine it started from over a month ago, when you were away, when the Count of Leon pledged to me. Since then I've had various Jimenezes in my court and married to my courtiers.
 
A well written and intresting way of showing us lurkers how - at least one of the players - view the game and it's participants.

My pleasure. Thank you for your praise.

Fernando Allonzo is our lead singer? Great.


And what comes to the Al-Andalus getting in contact with Polarians, well inevitably you will contact with us when we merge your lands with ours trough series of political marriages. =P Also our cavalry is superior to anyone!

Totally able and willing to defer in the cavalry issue; not too keen on the political marriages. Besides, the niche of 'token Slav in the Arab line of succession' is already taken by the Croatians, and that arrangement is to our mutual benefit. Take it up with Yoshi.

Assuming of course the Tiliuses don't die in a storm of blades from having stumbled into Cyprus line of succession. ;) But that will hopefully be dealt with peacefully.

Speaking of diplomatics, under heavy pressure from the cartographers lobby Persia and the Caliphate have agreed to a tidying up of their borders. Whereby the Caliphate exchanges its filthy rich Persian and Turkmen provinces for lots of desert. The exchange is equivalent in basetax terms.

25for25.jpg


Peace in our time, again!
Good; I hope you and Foels continue to be on good terms.

In addition al-Andalus has now calmed down enough for the final stage of handovers of Caliphate territory in the Peninsula. As for my logic of free territory giveaway; nations will tend towards natural borders. Spain has two; the Pyrenees and the sea. Meaning I would have had to retain oddman as a vassal who would inevitably have started chafing under my yoke. I could have suppressed him, sure, but a strong ally and a secured flank is better than a powder keg to my rear. Also there is the rp element, my nation would wish to spread shia Islam the same way Byzantion wishes to restore the Rome of old. It is their purpose. The shi'ite Calipha is essentially the Pope of that strain of muslemdom and cares more about the unified faith than territory. Should any player present or future subject himself to the true light of shi'ite Islam under the spiritual guidance of the Fatimid Caliphas I will consider them an ally to be protected and supported in the name of the faith (something that will undoubtedly be more interesting to future native unciv players in EUIII than present hotheads ;)). Thus al-Andalus is a part of the Caliphate the same way France is lorded over by the Pope. With the exception that when rulers ask how many divisions the Caliphate fields it is not with scorn, but a tremble in their voice.
So here you have the Fatimid point of view.
Well, it works just fine for me - now, let's hope I can convince Germany, too.
 
My pleasure. Thank you for your praise.



Totally able and willing to defer in the cavalry issue; not too keen on the political marriages. Besides, the niche of 'token Slav in the Arab line of succession' is already taken by the Croatians, and that arrangement is to our mutual benefit. Take it up with Yoshi.

YOSHI! You stay out of my business in Cyprus! It is none of your business! So keep your filthy Croat fingers away from my son, his wife and possible childs or God be my witness, my wrath will be laid upon you and I will hunt you down and kill every last Croat that get in my way, as i have seen the end not even the chidlren are safe!

Let it be known that if any Polarian related to the Cyprus is being killed by assassins and the one responsible is caught it will be considered as an act of war against the peacefull Polarian Empire. And the Polarians will retaliate with full force.
 
In 1188 the British Isles are finally divided exactly as agreed upon in the by now already quite dusty
De Flandre - Knautschling agreement.

Apparently the king of Loire had to sort out some issues of his own first, because from Denmark´s
point of view the last couple of small border adjustments could have taken part twenty years earlier already.
On the bottom right of the map you also see some continental territories that were inherited by the count
of Lincoln and thus ended up Danish because that count is a vassal of Waldemar.
Waldemar meanwhile is busy sucking at chess

Well for a long time my king was in the negative prestige and I didn't have a claim to DoW . . .
 
YOSHI! You stay out of my business in Cyprus! It is none of your business! So keep your filthy Croat fingers away from my son, his wife and possible childs or God be my witness, my wrath will be laid upon you and I will hunt you down and kill every last Croat that get in my way, as i have seen the end not even the chidlren are safe!

Let it be known that if any Polarian related to the Cyprus is being killed by assassins and the one responsible is caught it will be considered as an act of war against the peacefull Polarian Empire. And the Polarians will retaliate with full force.

If the CNG sees it fit to act in the best interest of Croatia, there is nothing to be done to stop them.