La Nostra Terra
----Volume I----
Footsteps
Chapter 1: A New Age
Chapter 2: Easy As Can Be
Chapter 3: The Shy Bald Man
Chapter 4: Holy Blood
Chapter 5: Behind Schedule
Chapter 6: Papal Redemption
Chapter 7: Chained Hands & Raised Banners
Chapter 8: Mediterranean Gamble
Chapter 9: Atrocities Across The Sea
Chapter 10: In thy footsteps
Volume I Epilogue
----Volume II----
Chapter 11: Traitorous Acts
Chapter 12: Funerals A Plenty
Chapter 13: The Fall Of Genoa
Chapter 14: Rightfully Ours
Chapter 15: At Arm's Reach
Chapter 1: A new Age
Chapters
----Volume I----
Footsteps
Chapter 1: A New Age
Chapter 2: Easy As Can Be
Chapter 3: The Shy Bald Man
Chapter 4: Holy Blood
Chapter 5: Behind Schedule
Chapter 6: Papal Redemption
Chapter 7: Chained Hands & Raised Banners
Chapter 8: Mediterranean Gamble
Chapter 9: Atrocities Across The Sea
Chapter 10: In thy footsteps
Volume I Epilogue
----Volume II----
Chapter 11: Traitorous Acts
Chapter 12: Funerals A Plenty
Chapter 13: The Fall Of Genoa
Chapter 14: Rightfully Ours
Chapter 15: At Arm's Reach
Chapter 1: A new Age
The tavern had an warm feel, the glowing light from the center fire illuminated the room in a way that made the tavern feel like a second home. The bearded man was sitting by the fire, the one I had awaited the meet to hear the tales of your ancestors. "Buon pomeriggio, proprio in tempo prendete un seggio" he said with a warm smile. I take a seat right besides him. It was quiet, only a few regulars were sitting about, the tavern owner sat near the back playing a game of cards with his cousin. The bearded man offers you a glass of red wine as he immediately jumps into his tale. "September 15th, 1066. That's when the famous council meeting took place...
1066, September 15
Duchess Matilda of Tuscany open the door at exactly 9:00 am on September the 15th. She was only 20, and one of the very few female rulers in the region as well as the last living noble to have carry the name di Canossa. A very diplomatic women, she held a good amount of power holding the title of the largest Duchy in the Italian region. "It's time we start planning" she said "To unite Italy, by the people, for the people". There was no hiding her ambition to rule as the Queen of Italy. She has mentioned it many times before, but today was the first time it was brought up in the council meeting. "You know just as well as me that no other Duchy in the entire region is ready to merge, none want it." Responded Giolio, the chancellor of the Tuscan Duchy. Matilda just turned towards Lothar, the marshal and gently nodded her head. Everyone in the room knew what she meant by it. They stayed in the room for 5 hours that day examining their possible moves and repercussions from their actions. They narrowed their first move between 2 Duchies situated in northern Italy.
The first was Duke Alberto the second of Lombardy. An older man at the age 57, he met Matilda on various occasions concerning the Emperor, and they both shared the same zeal for the christian fate. It was undeniable that if Matilda would choose to attack Alberto, the fight would be really close and good amount of men would be killed on both sides of the battle. He rule over a total of 4 counts with no allies except a barony north of his duchy. The other option was the Duke Berthold, holder of the duchy of Verona and Carinthia. He ruled over 7 counts and had a total of 4 allies scattered across the Holy Roman Empire.
In the end she chose Duke Alberto to be the one where Giolio would be heading to fabricate the necessary papers and claims. Giolio left immediately as soon as the decision was made. Matilda would have loved to send Giolio to Verona instead. Alberto was a fellow Italian, however she knew that to many would die if she chose Berthold. Just as the council meeting was finishing up late in the evening, Bishop Vitale, the Court Chaplain suggested that Matilda should arrange a marriage for herself to secure a heir to the Duchy. She noted that and left into the streets of Firenza with a united Italy the only thing on her mind.
...the old man coughed, then reached into his coat and grabbed a stack of papers. Some seemed ancient, other newly made. "What are those?" I asked. "Maps, documents, all sorts of papers from our past. Some are important, other not" He said searching searching through the stack for a something specific. "Questa qui, here is the map of the Duchy of Verona and Lombardy. In purple, you have Lombardy, light blue Verona, and green the Duchy of Tuscany itself." I nodded silently.
The old man coughed a second time, "Mind getting me another of bottle of this wine per favore, we finished this one an hour ago. I will continue when you get back.
About the AAR
Hello
This is my first AAR that I ever attempted. The main AAR is being told to you by an unknown old man as it jumps from the present to the past. Some chapters will last 1 day (like this intro) Others may span years. I will not be reloading so if it end unexpectedly I apologies in advance. I would appreciate advice/criticism, as this is my first AAR. If there is something I should improve please let me know.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the journey to come.
Last edited: