In the Shadow of Certain, Painful Doom: Abyssinia

[LordSeti]

Man this is by far my favorite AAR of all time. My only problem is how serious it has gotten. I feel the quirkiness of the first two (three?) rulers was what made this the best of all. It's been contained to slight quips in screenshots . The hilarious lines from the first rulers making me laugh for minutes at a time is what got me hooked. I don't want to see the comedy part of this AAR forgotten, because I feel it was the best part of it. Nonetheless I still enjoy this AAR, perhaps not at a degree as before, but it is still my favorite

I think a lot of the change in tone is intended to reflect the character of Dionysia. She is (how to put this nicely...) a bit of a nerdy bookworm, even if she is a murderous one. Her personality isn't nearly as quirky as, say, Count Tesfaye I (who is one of the best characters I think I have ever read anywhere)...and she hasn't had the same hilarious and endless avalanche of disasters he did.

[Tohopekaliga]

I just want to say that I have been following this AAR for quite a while now (since the days of Tesfaye I, I believe)...And it is definitely the best one I have ever read. Quite inspirational.



I also agree that the current tone is reflective of the current character's personality. I think it makes sense, and fits very well. It still has a quirky tone, though, I thought. It's just much more...subtle.

[CzokletMuss]

Very inspirational and very interesting - I've been following it almost since the beginning and it was one of the factors that convinced me to buy the game.
And now I started my own AAR (Necronomicon found in Byzantium by House Angelos - you can find a link in my signature).

So, thanks once again Philo32b for a good story and inspiration to write

[Leztoon]

I think the current tone suits the current ruler, as she's become more withdrawn its became more subtle. That's how role play works
For the first time I must confess that I see your birthright slipping away, I hope the next duke has a bit more fight in him as the duchess seems content to consolidate (understandable given the last few generations)

[Philo32b]

Finally! My Zagwe fix!
And don't feel too bad about forgetting the Rawaddids.
Who can keep track of all their neighbors anyway?
...or their only neighbor. Ah, whatever.

It is rather embarrassing. I was checking all these little Muslim kingdoms south of Byzantium, and I forget the big one riding its back.

So much fuss because of one county.

In hindsight it does seem a bit silly. I thought nabbing one county would make it easier. A quick in-and-out job. It is turning out to be a major pain, especially since we've used up all the treasury and this county won't be providing any revenue for many years. We should stick to expansions by assassinations. Less drama.

So much unexpected fun when you forget to account for a potential ally of your opponent. Hopefully they don't have too many forces to commit to the field, or you can quickly grab what you need before their might comes into play.

Four allies eventually show up to defend against our Holy War, but really 80% of the fighting is done by just one of them, and it is not the owner of the county. That kingdom has its capital under siege and has contributed 0% war score.

Damn, I missed that Georgia was completely overthrown by Infidels!

Those sneaky infidels!

They are all infidels and heretics, no more mesofyttians(spelling?) left

Some Monophysites remain, but their numbers are sadly diminishing. I am not prosecuting them at all, either.

Monophysites?

Exactly.

Man this is by far my favorite AAR of all time. My only problem is how serious it has gotten. I feel the quirkiness of the first two (three?) rulers was what made this the best of all. It's been contained to slight quips in screenshots . The hilarious lines from the first rulers making me laugh for minutes at a time is what got me hooked. I don't want to see the comedy part of this AAR forgotten, because I feel it was the best part of it. Nonetheless I still enjoy this AAR, perhaps not at a degree as before, but it is still my favorite

Thank you for your insight. I think what happened is that while we were stuck in little Sennar there was very little we could do in actual gameplay, so I had to focus on all the random stuff that the game throws at you that is really funny if you focus on it. There were much fewer actors, too, so you got to know them much better. But now we are growing into an uber-duchess, and things got all big and serious and stuff. I think also the personalities of the previous rulers were a little easier to work with in comedy. Also there is a tension in this AAR between working towards being successful in taking back Abyssinia from the infidels, on the one hand, and losing miserably as the perennially-failing Zagwes, on the other. I have not been able to negotiate that tension to my satisfaction yet.

Very. The two bands (Abyssinian Band and Nubian Band) that are available in those parts are pretty poor, and expensive for what they are, but the sheer bulk they provide is a godsend against everyone in the neighbourhood except the Fatimids, especially early on. Building a reserve so one can hire both and keep them in a field for a year or two is a top priority.

Thank you, that is good to know. Thanks!

I think a lot of the change in tone is intended to reflect the character of Dionysia. She is (how to put this nicely...) a bit of a nerdy bookworm, even if she is a murderous one. Her personality isn't nearly as quirky as, say, Count Tesfaye I (who is one of the best characters I think I have ever read anywhere)...and she hasn't had the same hilarious and endless avalanche of disasters he did.

Put very well. Thank you!

I just want to say that I have been following this AAR for quite a while now (since the days of Tesfaye I, I believe)...And it is definitely the best one I have ever read. Quite inspirational.



I also agree that the current tone is reflective of the current character's personality. I think it makes sense, and fits very well. It still has a quirky tone, though, I thought. It's just much more...subtle.

Thanks! I'm glad you like it! You also raise another consideration, that of this character's quirky traits being judged relative to a previous one's. There are a lot of considerations going on here, which is probably not good because I'm not that smart.

Very inspirational and very interesting - I've been following it almost since the beginning and it was one of the factors that convinced me to buy the game.
And now I started my own AAR (Necronomicon found in Byzantium by House Angelos - you can find a link in my signature).

So, thanks once again Philo32b for a good story and inspiration to write

Thank you! I'm glad you bought the game and starting your own AAR. This is a great game, and doing an AAR really brings out details that you never noticed before.

I think the current tone suits the current ruler, as she's become more withdrawn its became more subtle. That's how role play works
For the first time I must confess that I see your birthright slipping away, I hope the next duke has a bit more fight in him as the duchess seems content to consolidate (understandable given the last few generations)

By birthright you mean Abyssinia, right? It's true that she hasn't focused on that in some time, but I think that will come back around in the not-too-distant future. Unless she dies of something unexpectedly. You will see in the next post that she got very old, like overnight.

[Philo32b]

The Zagwes Attempt to Attain Another Bold Victory,
or at Least Not Lose Too Badly

Chapter 95


Characters

Alexandra of Singidounon, Countess – Full-blooded sister of Duchess Dionysia. Alexandra is married matrilineally to Count Georgios Doukas, who had been Doux of Galilee before his vassal rebelled to put one of Georgios’ landless brothers into the ducal title. Apollonios of Saint Symeon – The now dead last of the conspirators that successfully plotted to murder Duchess Dionysia’s beloved father. Apollonios fled Dionysia's court to save his life, and his career subsequently took off until his humiliation at the hands of Princess Gyla. He died of grief. Arsenios Komnenos – Son of Duchess Dionysia Zagwe. He would have inherited her duchy on her death but for her changing of succession laws. He seems remarkably at peace with the change, however, and is his mother’s spymaster. He is betrothed to matrilineally marry the 10-year-old niece of Duchess Dionysia, Antipatra Zagwe, which would eventually funnel his father’s duchy to the Zagwe dynasty. Bartholomaios of Suenik, Count – A count vassal of Duchess Dionysia. He has always been smitten by his liege. A second-rate steward, he is kept on the job to keep him happy, as one of the few of her subjects who could in all reality rebel. Basileios Komnenos, Doux – Shy husband of Duchess Dionysia. His sad attempts to learn to duel put his own life and anyone nearby in peril. Inheriting his own duchy, he no longer needed to spend his nights in Duchess Dionysia’s spare library. He hates his wife for her twisting succession law of Armenia and moving the inheritance of the Duchy of Armenia from their children—not of the Zagwe line—to that of Dionysia’s half-brother Neophytos, a Zagwe. Dionysia Zagwe, Duchess – Daughter of the last Count Tesfaye (who was assassinated in his carriage in a plot that was started by his wife). Our current main character. Eudokia, Basilissa – Inherited the Byzantine throne after the death of Empress Maria Doukas by natural causes. Eudokia then allowed Duchess Ioanna “the Great” Doukas to die of starvation in prison to put an end to the raging civil war. Eugenia of Cyprus, Duchess – Wife by regular marriage of Duchess Dionysia’s half-brother Neophytos Zagwe. On her death Duchess Dionysia’s two duchies will pass to her children, heirs in the Zagwe line. Eugenia Spartanos – Duchess Dionysia’s half-sister from Count Tesfaye’s adultery. She died of pneumonia after some strange dying rites. She was obsessed with tales of Africa. She disappeared from Duchess Dionysia’s castle when it was under siege by rebels against Basilissa Ioanna. When she returned she was very mysterious and condescending. She claimed she had special powers revealed by a Secret Coptic Order in Sennar, but apparently they were not strong enough to not die from illness. Euphemios, Mayor – Mild-mannered city administrator during peace, but during war against the infidels he was transformed into a bloodthirsty general who did not hesitate to push his men into slaughter if it would result in a greater loss for the infidels. He died of natural causes, but then was apparently seen subsequently by Duchess Dionysia in Princess Gyla’s quarters, which must have been a mistake because that is absurd. Ganet Zagwe, “Aunt” – Strange woman who was responsible for several deaths before purportedly dying in an explosion in her quarters. (The body found in her quarters was burned beyond recognition, but of her general height and body type. Anyway, Ganet was never seen again, so it was probably her.) Gyla, Princess – Swedish widow of Spymaster Innokentios, she had been the unofficial marshal of Armenia and the official badass before becoming very reclusive to her quarters. Perhaps she is mourning the her late husband’s death by explosive flames. Ioanna “the Great”, Duchess – Daughter of The Impaler, granddaughter of The Drunkard, and great-granddaughter of The Lame—truly a line of great nobility. Reduced from Basilissa to Duchess at the conclusion of civil war. Died of starvation in a subsequent civil war when Basilissa Eudokia boarded up the prison tower. Ioannes II of Cibyrrhaeot, Doux – Instigated a revolt against his liege, Georgios Doukas, which resulted in Ioannes’ taking the duchy away from him. The direct heir for this duchy was to have been Tesfaye Zagwe, nephew to Duchess Dionysia. Ioannes appears to be blissfully ignorant of Dionysia’s plot to have him murdered to restore the Zagwe line to the proper order of succession. Innokentios Branas – Former spymaster for Duchess Dionysia, he was never really very good at his job, but survived in that role for some time by virtue of his not being on Dionysia's death list of revenge targets for her father’s murder. Married to the Swedish princess, Gyla. Died in some kind of flames or explosion in his and Princess Gyla’s quarters. Kvirike – Previously Count of Ani. His two strong claims on Duchess Dionysia’s counties ensure that he remains safely in her dungeons where it is very unlikely he will sire an inconvenient heir. He has been there for more than 30 years. Maria Doukas, Empress – Aunt of Basilissa Ioanna, her father died when she was very young while he enjoyed the hospitality of Basilissa Ioanna's grandfather in his prison. This did not endear the family relations with each other very well ever since. She reined as Basilissa for a short time, her rule marked by civil war and aggressive factions against her. Neophytos Zagwe, Duke – Half-brother to Duchess Dionysia Zagwe and heir (by elective succession law) to the Duchy of Armenia upon Dionysia’s death.

Last chapter: “Two Wars, One Wedding, and a Murderous Lunatic”

I tell Tesfaye that he is not getting land from me. Again, I don’t want him to take it away when he gets his own land back from duchy-thief Ioannes.





It is getting difficult to get any war done with all these marriages and fief requests and whatnot. I marry my daughter off to that ambitious mayor who is obsessed with me. Perhaps they will both be quiet long enough for me to attend to something else.




The infidel's capital in the south is under siege and they keep 2,400 soldiers holed up in some border county?

With our 7,700 troops ready, it is time to march on Nisibin. My husband’s army of 4,400 should join us in a couple of months, unless they get waylaid by the general craziness occurring everywhere.

My forces reach Nisibin shortly and begin to lay a siege. There are way too many defenders to just storm the castle.




That’s my husband, exhibiting the benefits of a very low martial rating. Next time go around the large rebel force, please.

My silly husband gets his forces ensnared by a similarly-sized force of rebels.




Oh crap.

I forgot to post my spymaster to watch for incoming armies. There is a slightly bigger army heading towards our sieging force.





We have the benefit of defending in mountainous terrain. We will see if it is enough. At the last moment the generals consolidate the three columns into two, with one very deep. This proves vital in the following battle.





We chase the infidel army down in the county of Amida to the north and give them another beating. This time they retreat back to Nisibin, where they have 1,200 reinforcements waiting for them. We decide to link up with my husband’s army of 2,400 in Bira (finally here, and a bit bruised from wasting time with the rebels). After linking up in Bia, we reach Nisibin and another battle commences, the Battle of Savur.

Yes, my hushand’s troops employ the Bishop Komitas of Archelais as a commander, and he has exactly 0 military ability. He is blind. And an imbecile. And ugly. Although that last one doesn’t really affect the battle so much, I guess. I’m so glad that my husband put a blind man in charge of the horse archers, of all things.





Fortunately enough of the other troops can see, and we pull off another victory





Maximos of Sarafand has told everyone about my plot against the life of Doux Ioannes II of Cibyrrhaeot. It seemed like a good idea at the time to help my nephew Tesfaye get the duchy back for the Zagwes, but this is probably going to come back to bite me.





We have worn the castle’s defenders down to almost yielding, but we are also running out of money. I may have to let the mercenaries go soon and hope we remain with enough.





Eusebios Zagwe has come of age. He is a misguided warrior. But at least he is attractive.





Eusebios’ twin brother Tesfaye Zagwe (the son-of-Makarios-Phokas Tesfaye, not the other one that is my Marshal… this is going to get complicated) also comes of age, and he is a brilliant strategist. I will get him married to someone sensible and give him one of my extra counties.






There is a young courtier in Shahba, Aikaterine, that would make Tesfaye a good wife. She has a silver tongue, which perhaps she could grace on a tutee or two in my duchy. They are quickly married.




Don’t worry about all those wars. Just do what I saw and everything will be fine, more or less.

I give Karin County to Tesfaye, son of Makarios.





My current chancellor is mayor in Karin and goes over to Count Tesfaye’s new council. When I look at replacements I see that Euphemios Zagwe has an ambition to be chancellor and isn’t that much worse than the slightly better Makarios, who has an ambition to be a girl, so I give the job to Euphemios. (No, sorry, Makarios wants to *have* a girl.) Makarios should just be glad I gave his son a county.





We take the castle in Nisibin and turn to the city. Since we are running out of money anyway, we decide to take the chance of an assault. We really don’t have enough troops to do this, and so it is probably going to get ugly. What the hell, we might as well let the blind guy lead the assault.

[DC123456789]

Is a blind person even allowed to lead armies? One can never get bored of the AI's stupidity.

[CzokletMuss]

Wait - you are... winning? And Tesfaye Zagwe is a brilliant strategist? What? I mean WAT?

At least your plot was discovered, so there is a chance of revocation or dying from a bad case of dagger poisoning - this threat kinda brings a balance to the world. I mean if Zagwes are succesful, than nothing is certain.

[Aardvark Bellay]

Yes, nagging family, discovered plots and winnning battles by commanders who can't even hold a sword.
Enjoyed tremendously.

[Athalcor]

Oh, the Duchess is old!

[crimson_king]

You turn your back for a couple of seconds. Then the whole world turns upside down.

Good to see the Zagwes winning though.

[LordSeti]

psst...Dionysia! I don't think your husband is actually trying to help you!

[JoshtheHawk]

You've got to watch out for that Eusebios guy, he is wearing a fez!

[SirkTheMonkey]

Based on how unsettling the blinded portraits look, you probably could have sent the ugly blind guy at the enemies lines and watched them break in fear. I predict that this war will go horribly wrong when the Duchess goes broke without sacking the mercs so they'll turn on her for payment. It's the only thing I can imagine that would counter-balance all the good luck they've had lately.