Bastions: Tales of the Anglo-Prussians

[Issac Wolfe]

About time! Let's do this!

Do we have an ETA for the first story update?

[Qorten]

He's going to wait until you've updated your's!

[Eber]

Depends, how long will it take?

Well....hmmm....not too long now. Maybe if you didn't write so much, it wouldn't take so long. Geez.

And Qorten if you are referring to me, well....I'm working on it!

[Omen]

Awesome! I'm looking forward to the story starting anew.

[Mr. Capiatlist]

About time! Let's do this!

Do we have an ETA for the first story update?

Few days to a week... depends on how I feel.

He's going to wait until you've updated your's!

I agree... I might have too.

Well....hmmm....not too long now. Maybe if you didn't write so much, it wouldn't take so long. Geez.

And Qorten if you are referring to me, well....I'm working on it!

No, he's talking about Isaac's lack of updates... though your AAR is good too.

Awesome! I'm looking forward to the story starting anew.

I am as well. I love bringing the characters to life.

[Enewald]

15 pages and it may begin.
How many branches of the royal family rule big fiefs?

[Mr. Capiatlist]

15 pages and it may begin.
How many branches of the royal family rule big fiefs?

There are Saxons in charge of Prussia, Rome, Hungary, and Carpathia. But this won't last forever.

[tuore]

That's pretty much the longest prologue I've ever seen. It took you 8 months!



A question, you say in post 2 that you'll split this to two different AARs (first 1356-1545, the second the rest). Why exactly are you doing this?

[Mr. Capiatlist]

That's pretty much the longest prologue I've ever seen. It took you 8 months!

Thanks, and I know... I am not particularly happy with the length, and I shall have to find a more time-efficient means of prologue for Books 3 and 4.

A question, you say in post 2 that you'll split this to two different AARs (first 1356-1545, the second the rest). Why exactly are you doing this?

Length, mostly. Book 2 and Book 3 are of similar length to Homelands. Theme also plays an important role, Bastions deals mostly with Prussia clinging onto its position as leader of the Christians as well as the introduction to the hordes from the East. Oceans deals mostly with Prussia's return to the forefront via colonization.

[Mr. Capiatlist]

Bastions
Chapter Forty: A More Glorious Dawn
Part 1

Prelude:
Finally given the right to rule, Gunvald quickly put to work his plans for division and centralization. He was crowned as King Gunvald II in front of a large and jubilant crowd, the first King to be crowned publicly. For Gunvald and his son Doyvát, rebuilding Prussia and Poland after the civil war was of great importance. Many roads and inns were left abused from the war and it was important to both men that the infrastructure put in place by King Sviendorog not be left to waste away. But it was also important for them to normalize relations with their new neighbors. Prussia was surrounded by many new Kingdoms and Principalities, many which were hungry to guarantee their place in the sun. The Kingdoms of Denmark, Bohemia and Hungary were all looking to regain some standing amongst the other European nations, while Principalities like Brandenburg, Moldavia, Carpathia and Wallachia tried to go about their existences without being gobbled up by stronger neighbors. The Mordvin Kingdom was divided into four houses. All the while wars between Christians and Muslims showed no signs of stopping. In Anatolia the Romans and Armenians continued their centuries-old conflict for supremacy of the region. Farther east even greater threats were slowly stirring to life as the Yuan and Seljuk Empires crumbled. Europe was ripe for change, but no state seemed ready to provide. Instead they descended into petty politicking and even pettier wars.

Prussia and her direct vassals in 1357. The County of Tessin did not directly control the city of Tessin as part of an agreement with Brandenburg.

August 4th, 1357

Doyvát sat outside of his palace in Krakow enjoying the war air of summer. His maid shuffled in with a pitcher of amber juice, she carefully poured him some of the contents and the bowed as she left the patio. Doyvát hardly moved, his hand glided to the glass and brought it up to his lips. After a long sip, he replaced the glass where it had been and returned to his thoughts. So much had changed in the last year. Prussia and Poland were recovering from the war more slowly than predicted. It was taking time to convert old soldiers back into civilians, plus there were those who rejected the authority of King Gunvald II and the Lord-Protector. In the distance a bell rang and was followed by the fluttering of fabric in the wind. In front of the palace they raised the banner of the Lord-Protector to show that court was now in session. From behind Doyvát the light patter of footsteps approached, then in a calm and quiet voice one of his servants spoke up, "My lord, it is noon. Shall I escort your visitors to the patio or would you rather meet them in the main hall?"

Doyvát was very quiet as he wrapped up his thoughts and began to try to remember who was scheduled to appear today. "No," he said after a long pause. He picked up his glass and took another drink, "I shall meet them in the main hall." Finished with his glass he left in on the small table beside his lounge chair and stood up. He straightened his jacket and looked to his servant for approval. She nodded and he entered the palace making sure to keep his posture and form under control. Entering the throne room everyone was called to attention by one of the guards. The Lord-Protector settled himself in the throne and then looked around at all the different faces. "What is the first matter of business, my friends?"

"Sir, this is Count Johan von Luxembourg-Cottbus, Count of Cottbus and vassal of the King of Prussia," a squire said, turning and introducing his master. Johan was an older gentleman, a well groomed white bear hung about an inch or two from his face, but his head was completely bald. He seemed like he carried a heavy weight and moved slowly to the front of the group.

"My Lord, I would have brought this case to his majesty, but you are closer and I am technically under your authority as Lord-Protector of Poland. My neighbors in Brandenburg seem to be eyeing my city more and more enviously. It is not even a wealthy city, but it seems they wish to complete their lands."

Doyvát scratched his shaved chin and nodded, "Yes. I know well of the plans of the Luxembourg-Brandenburg family. Just last week I got similar complaints from your cousin, the Count of Tessin. Your succession is confirmed, right?"

"I do not have a son, but the Count of Tessin is a closer relative then my relatives in Brandenburg."

"Hmm..." Doyvát said aloud. He scratched the back of his head and thought, "Then I am sorry, there isn't much I can do but try to mediate the inheritance after your death and ensure that Tessin either gets Cottbus or is properly compensated for it."

Johan looked disappointed, "I thought that would be the case, thank you though, for your time."

"It is no problem of mine, Count. I am sorry I cannot do more." Doyvát watched as the man walked away, the next man dressed as a messenger from the capital. The Prince nodded and the man stepped forth to deliver what he brought with him.

"My lord I bring news from the capital."

"Yes what is it?"

"Your father has canceled the execution of your grandmother. It seems that she will be put in permanent house arrest until she dies from natural causes. He thought it was only fair as Vishly was allowed to live his life out, plus your grandmother does not appear to have much time left."

Doyvát shifted uneasily and gave a look of exacerbation, "He cannot be serious. That woman was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people and practically disowned him. She fought tooth and nail to keep him from the throne and would have rather watched this nation burn then see it under the rule of my father. How can he seriously think this is the right choice?"

The messenger shook his head and with a shrug said, "Prince, your father is a strange man. His heart might be too big for a King who took the throne during a civil war, and yours might be callused from years of war, but he is the King and his will is done."

"So be it, send word then that I shall not be making the venture up to Memelgrád next week. I have much to attend to and seeing as the festivities have been canceled I should see to it that they are done. Also, warn my father of increasing issues with Brandenburg and her neighbors."

"I will. Your father also wants to warn you of some issues with Brandenburg and Bohemia."

Doyvát leaned forward, "Curious, what is his warning?"

"Apparently Brandenburg has come to the King seeking support in a war against the Caliph. Specifically against the House of Zähringer-Holstein."

"And what did my father answer?"

"He says 'nay', the eastern marches shall have to fight for themselves. He stressed that the war was a lost cause, and that they should be content where they are. Of course they are not. He urges you especially to watch out for any sign of them using our lands or equipment."

"I understand: this could spark something much larger than those idiots see. Do they seriously not understand the repercussions of such a war? What goal are they trying to meet?"

"They believe that they will save Germany, but they head only toward oblivion, my lord."

"I agree. Dark times are ahead for us..." the Prince predicted. As the messenger walked away, he took a few minutes to think about everything. As the Lord-Protector of Poland it was his duty to watch the western border. But already it seemed that Prussia's smaller children sought their own deaths. Soon Poland would butt up against the Caliph as it once did during the reign of Vishly. What then? Will the border last?

[mayorqw]

So it begins!
Potential war with the Caliphate sounds even worse than the civil wars...
Also, Doyvát seems wiser... Just give him him some more beard to scratch

[Issac Wolfe]

Starting off strong, I see.

[Enewald]

Brandenburgs rise?
And march-lords aiming weswards?

[Mr. Capiatlist]

So it begins!
Potential war with the Caliphate sounds even worse than the civil wars...
Also, Doyvát seems wiser... Just give him him some more beard to scratch

Meinekinus and Kiten also didn't have beards, Sviendorog kept his rather small, like Vishly. Æthelweard, Eadbert, Gunvald I and Gunvald II all had larger beards. Beard doesn't make the man, that said I like my beard.

Prussia's relationship with the Caliphate is always changing, but in a few decades and major change within the Caliphate definitely makes everything worse.

Starting off strong, I see.

I wish there had been something more spectacular to start off with, so I do what I can.

Brandenburgs rise?
And march-lords aiming weswards?

I like the term "March-Lords"...

<___<

>___>

Might have to steal that.

[Eber]

War with the Caliph already? Bah. I also like how the Prince is butting heads with his father already.

Oh, and yes I finished all the reading.

[Enewald]

Márchherr?

[Mr. Capiatlist]

War with the Caliph already? Bah. I also like how the Prince is butting heads with his father already.

Oh, and yes I finished all the reading.

Very impressive. War with the Caliph is going to be discussed in the next update, Doyvát and his father get along rather well, especially for a Prussian King and his heir; I think that Gunvald had more time to contemplate the luckiness of being alive while Doyvát was busy fighting what had become a personal grudge. The philosopher and the general rarely see eye to eye.

Márchherr?

The word for "Lord" is "laof"; márchjálaof.

Close though.

[Keanon]

Prussian has a lot of já :b

[Mr. Capiatlist]

Prussian has a lot of já :b

It means "land of", "land", "country" or "state", since I talk mostly about countries you see it a lot. Kind of like "land" in German, or "ia" (which is the basis for "já") in latin: Croatia, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Albania...

[Issac Wolfe]

Oh you and your technicalities of a fancily invented language. JUST WRITE ALREADY. GOD.