Stories from across the globe - Hopefully a Spanish AAR

[Cow Pie]

My goal is to do a narrative AAR, for a couple reasons- my track record isn't so good and a narrative just needs an ending whereas a gameplay AAR can go on. That said, my goal is to provide some narrative for as long as I'm playing the game and have the creative spark to do so. That said (and since I wrote this on a library computer and the library is about to close down) I present a What will hopefully be an AAR for Spain. (P.S. I forgot how to take in game screenies)

The infant king trailed behind the coffin of his late mother who had been the de facto ruler of the state of Castile for years. The king would be able to come to his own in a few years and lead the kingdom for whatever good or ill he’d be capable of. In the meantime the ministers jockeyed for positions of power, as is the want of vultures, if you looked close enough you could see them even in the funeral procession. Those who had been a part of the Queen’s faction still had enough power to keep the boy encircled from the throng immediately behind him. Next to the king, keeping watch as a thoughtful brother would was the conino, Alvaro de Luna. The young man was respected for all of his talents, and had been used by the former queen as an example for Juan.

The chief conspirators against the king were the Aragonese princes, Enrique and John, who preferred their residences in Castile to the lands that their father had taken charge of. The two princes had not inconsiderable influence behind them, but for the moment the king’s inner circle was fortified and Alvaro was untouchable.

Alvaro was not a man who had achieved his position because he let things go unnoticed. Ferdinand of Aragon had been against him, and kept him from rising beyond the status of a mere servant. Alvaro knew that his sons shared the same distaste for him. At this juncture there were two obvious options for Castile: she could either join with Aragon and become embroiled in the affairs of Europe or join with Joao The Good of Portugal and assert her influence in a crusade against the Moors and the Berber pirates.

On the first of the year 1419 Alvaro travelled to Lisbon for a meeting with Joao. When they were finally in a private setting the older king questioned the young man.

“It must be dangerous for you to be here, Enrique of Aragon is not the type to miss an opportunity to exert his influence.”

“More dangerous for me to do nothing I think, those two children can only play at intrigue. There is no harm for me to let them play by themselves for a short time. If I was at the court of Ferdinand that would be the worst for me; I’d be lucky to leave with my life, much less my position.”

“You don’t think there will be any consequences for your actions today?”

“The only consequence will be the friendship between two great kings that will last beyond our lifetimes.”

Joao regarded the young man, “Pray tell me what I have to gain in helping counter the dogs of dissension that come from Aragon, could I not benefit more from the weakness of your king?”

“The boy is not weak, he is just that- a boy. He will learn with time.”

“Not if he continues to rely upon you. You do the job too well Alvaro.”

“I will not be around forever.”

“But your actions today certainly show that you’d like to be.” Joao smiled. “I jest, I’m sorry. Of course you are right to come to me. I would gain nothing but a larger enemy if Castile came under the influence of Aragon, and I would have to deal with the anarchy of nobles left unchecked raiding my border if the crown became too weak.”

“Then we’ll have a deal then?”

“I have my conditions Alvaro.”

So, the young favorite to the younger king forged the rules by which the king could count on the support of the king of Portugal in the storm that seemed imminent.

Castile had saved up a great deal of money which Alvaro sank into the hiring of tax collectors in an attempt to centralize the government. He reduced the size of the military from thirty to twenty thousand. Juan II assumed full power of the throne and ended the regency, but his courtiers began demanding that he create a council of nobles to advise him. This group was created while Alvaro was away tending to the reduction of the army. Satisfied that the group had little power, Alvaro took no action against the group even though it included both of the infante’s of Aragon. The two led the noble faction in discussion.

Enrique made a grand motion with his hands, “That Alvaro will be the end of us. It is our right to run our lands and people as we see fit, but if he has his way we will all end up dead in our sleep.”

John joined in, “In our sleep if we are lucky, hanged more likely.”

The other nobles start to join in:

“Burned at the stake.”

“Given to the Moors.”

“Sold to the Pirates”

Enrique motioned for silence, “All very likely scenarios. If we do nothing to save ourselves. There is rumor that Juan is considering Alvaro for the position of constable. From there we won’t be able to stop him and we may as well leave the country.”

“Do we kill him?” John asked eagerly?

“Absolutely not, that would bring the king down on us, we need to convince him that it was his idea to get rid of the pest.”

As they were speaking there came a loud shout from the street below the window. Portugal had attacked Morocco, the kingdom was mobilizing itself to join their allies.

[Storey]

Originally Posted by Cow Pie

As they were speaking there came a loud shout from the street below the window. Portugal had attacked Morocco, the kingdom was mobilizing itself to join their allies.

Ah, the first war begins. Nice writing style. Don't get too caught up in detail or this AAR could be as long as a game one. Looking forward to more.

Joe

[coz1]

Ahh, Alvaro. Always a character.

Nice start. Looking forward to what you do with Spain...hopefully. Good luck!

[Cow Pie]

Originally Posted by Storey

Ah, the first war begins. Nice writing style. Don't get too caught up in detail or this AAR could be as long as a game one. Looking forward to more.

Joe

I think I've struck a balance of getting in the story that I want while moving along chronologically. Now, this may break down in future updates, but I'll burn that bridge when I get to it. Of course, if I get engrossed into a part of the story then I'll let that take over for awhile.

coz1: Ahh, Alvaro. Always a character.

Nice start. Looking forward to what you do with Spain...hopefully. Good luck!

Yeah, he is, something that I didn't really know or appreciate when I started the session for this game, that he is so intriguing becomes an unique problem later on.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for commenting guys.

Side note- where do I go to learn how to do screenies?

[Cow Pie]

The commander of the invasion force was Duke Lucera de Leon who had achieved his command after putting down some rebel factions in 1416. Lucera was a highly regarded friend of Alvaro De Luna, and the two and the king went riding through the ranks of the soldiers at Andalusia so that Juan could inspect the troops before they boarded.

"Does it bother you to fight Alvaro's war for him Lucera?" Juan asked smiling down and waving at the soldiers who were too honored eavesdrop on the conversation.

"If it is anyone's war it is Joao's, but we shall certainly do our best to make it ours."

"Will he be disappointed when he finds we have beaten him to Tangier, Alvaro?"

"He will not be happy, but he will not complain. Our immediate future should lead us into Africa and securing our shipping routes. Money is what we need."

Lucera had been riding in silence until he heard this, "So we must trade lives for ducats?"

Juan sighed, "That's the way of the world, my friends, but are you sure Alvaro that the dark continent will have the resources that we need? I spoke to Enrique just the other day and he assured me that the Mediterranean and Italy were ripe for the taking."

"A much smaller bounty, there are only enemies to be made with expansion in Europe. In time we will make enough enemies out of jealousy for our good fortune in Africa."

"How can you be so sure, Alvaro?" Lucera asked.

"Because I have faith."

They reached the end of line of soldiers, the king addressed those lined up as much as the two friends at his shoulders.

"This is the course of action we have decided, we will not shrink from it.. Good luck, my friends."

The troops gave a cheer, Alvaro looked across the king to Lucera who only looked ahead with a face that read only determination. He would find a very different country when he came back from the Crusade.



As Castilian and Portuguese soldiers poured into Tangiers the army of Morocco suffered humiliation at the hands of the Andalusian cavalry charges. The King of the pirates eventually moved his court, accompanied by the remains of his army into the desert to flee from Lucera. This news was sent back to the capital.

It was at this time that the Duke of Toledo began making trouble at the court. John of Aragon was one of the Duke's close confidants, but Enrique would have nothing to do with the plots of the Duke. Rumors flew through the court that a coup was in the works. in early January King Juan met with Alvaro de Luna over wine to discuss the growing rebellion.

Alvaro was not disturbed.

"The Duke of Toledo has no business troubling you. All he needs to do is look and he'll find that his own house is in need of reorganization."

The king poured himself a large cup of wine, "I thought that he just had a healthy son born to him not too long ago?"

The two were now deep into their cups and Alvaro had a rare lapse of judgment, "You know, the problem with newborns is that they are so susceptible to disease. They can take a turn," Alvaro used his hand to punctuate the gesture, "for the worse at a moment's notice."

Alvaro began to laugh to himself, an act the king joined with conviction.

"No matter about him," Alvaro took out a map, "see what Lucera has sent us? These maps show a way into the African interior..."

In the next few weeks the Duke of Toledo left the court to make arrangements for the funeral of his only son. The rebellion he had tried to ferment had been ruthlessly and quietly stopped by Alvaro de Luna; a fact nobody could prove but one that prince Enrique took for granted. Even though he was certainly grateful for the loyalty of his vassal the king could not help but wonder, deep in the night as he drank cups alone, what his favorite was truly capable of.

The thought chilled the king.



A million different intrigues are birthed and killed behind closed doors and thick walls. For Enrique de Trastamara the plan that would accomplish his greatest goal- the fall from grace of Alvaro de Luna- came on the fields of Andalusia as the King and Alvaro rode at the head of an entourage of nobles that were inspecting the infantry of a second wave that was being sent into Africa to reinforce the Duke of Leon. At their head was some insignificant noble who would be forgotten in no time. Lucera had already taken Tangiers and sacked the Pirate capital; the glory would be his. This force was being sent with the intention of moving the war to a quick close that would gain Castile a very favorable ending.

Through the war Enrique had been moving closer and closer into the trust of the king, as much as any of the nobles could at least. The king needed to appoint a constable for the Kingdom, and years of speculation pointed that it would be Alvaro that took up the appointment. This Enrique could not abide, he had tried to tell King Juan that nobles would be in revolt if Alvaro was appointed.

"Then who is worthy of the honor?"

The fact that the king asked the question gave Enrique more hope for his plans than any other sign in the last few years.

When they had been dismissed from the field Enrique found John and took him aside.

"I know how we will get rid of the bastard."

[coz1]

Hmmm, Alvaro seems to have the ear of the King, if perhaps not the moral trust, however; it seems that others want to step in there and knock old De Luna de Loony from his perch.

Good to see the war in Morroco going well.

As for screenshots, check the fAARq in my signature. The 4th section has a lot of detail and one portion of that is dedicated to screenies. Good luck.

[Storey]

Ah, a paranoid king with nobles more than willing to whisper in his ear about the miss deeds of Alvaro de Luna. Alvaro doesn't stand a chance.

Joe

[Cow Pie]

Enrique and John de Trastamara were well known in the courts of Iberia because they were absolutely invaluable to each other. Without Enrique, John would spend have been hung for treason many times over, and without John then Enrique’s many schemes would have never gotten off the ground. Enrique had the talent for planning and John had the talent for acting. If King Ferdinand of Aragon could have combined his two sons into one separate king he would have had a successor that he could have been comfortable with, assuming that the ideal son didn’t use his many talents and dethrone him first. From the two separate sons Ferdinand had no real fears or challenges, at this stage the young men hadn’t had any great success beyond getting rid of peasants and lower level nobles.

Alvaro de Luna knew all of this, and had even let the two get rid of those lower level nobles to keep them happy – afraid that if they consistently failed then the brothers would not be interested in giving up their ways so much as aiming higher. Alvaro let their intrigues go on because he knew that he could handle them, and knew that anything they did they did only because he allowed them.

Enrique knew that this was the case. Just because he was a puppet didn’t mean he was stupid. This was the root of the great power struggle in the kingdom. Enrique wanted what Alvaro had. Not the friendship of the king, Enrique thought Juan was an uncouth boar who was more interested in hunting and drinking than running the kingdom. This created the vacuum of power that needed to be filled. Right now it was Alvaro that filled the gap, if he received promotion the influence he wielded behind the throne would be official, and he would be officially untouchable.

So when Enrique watched the send off of the 2nd African expedition, this force aimed at attacking the lands across from the Canary Islands, he thought how convenient it would be if he could have his rival sent with them. That was when he decided that he would have to try.

The first step was to bring his brother into the fold. John had no stake in the court intrigues; he just liked to be involved. John often went hunting with the king, which let him serve as his brother’s mouthpiece. Unfortunately, for the brothers, Alvaro was also a perfectly capable rider who always went with the king as well. The block was removed when Alvaro was sent to Morocco to negotiate peace with the Emir. The second force and the Portuguese forces had occupied most of the Emir’s lands, leaving him only his settlements in the desert. There he was living in exile until Alvaro sent him an offer of safe passage back to his capital so that the peace could be negotiated.
Enrique knew ahead of time that it would be a peace treaty that would crush Morocco and basically secure Alvaro’s position as the Constable of Castile. The first step was to get himself into the king’s hunting party, which wasn’t difficult as John only had to invite him. The problem was that Enrique had very little experience on a horse and was thrown off as soon as they got into the field.

“The horse is a wild one; nobody’s been able to ride it for very long.” The king grabbed the reigns of the horse and calmed it down.

Enrique wiped himself off, “Then maybe it should be killed.”

John and Juan gave each other horrified looks, “You won’t ever find another horse like this one, my brother. It’ll throw you off but if you can get it on your side you won’t need any other.

Juan gave the reigns back to Enrique, “Besides, trying to ride him is a right of passage for those who go hunting with us for the first time.”

“How fortunate for me.”

“Don’t worry dear prince, I said ‘trying’ to ride him, I don’t expect you to succeed.”

For the longest time the horse wouldn’t be controlled, it led Enrique back and forth across the field, throwing him off and letting him chase after him. Every little bit the horse would stop letting Enrique get close then start running again. Juan and John had lost most of their interest in the hunt and just watched the comedy going on before their eyes.

“Too bad Alvaro isn’t here to see this, Your Majesty, he’d have enjoyed it.”
Enrique managed to mount the horse and bring it over to the other two.

“I’m sure he’s here in spirit.” The king reached out to pat the horse under Enrique, “I think you have suffered enough, let’s head back to the castle.”

The three rode in silence for some time, afraid that any noise might spook the horse, but it remained calm. This gave courage to Enrique who set his plan into motion.

“I understand that you will be appointing a new Constable soon.”

“Yes, are you lobbying for the position?”

“Of course not, but I am wondering who you are considering.”

“I have been meeting with my advisors and have been narrowing down the choices.”

Indicating himself and his brother, “Aren’t we your advisors, and shouldn’t we, as loyal servants, be trusted to offer you council?”
Juan nodded slowly, “I suppose you’re right.”

“I fear that you’ve already made your decision, am I mistaken?”

“It is my right to have made up my own mind when I choose, I have not decided but I know who I would choose.”

“Of course it is Alvaro.”

The king looked at Enrique with malice, “But of course it is, there isn’t anyone who could do better.”

John cut in with his part of the play, “I’m sure that in doing the job Alvaro would be without equal, but I’m worried about the consequences of putting him in that position.”

“Why?” the king asked with suspicion.

“We all remember The Duke of Toledo’s son.”

“There was no link to Alvaro.”

Enrique jumped in, “Majesty, we would not accuse him of anything illegal, but there are still suspicions, and those are the most dangerous thing. If the crown backs someone who is under such a shade then the nobles will be against the crown, and certainly Alvaro could probably hold the kingdom together and reign in the nobles to win the Civil War- and there would most certainly be a Civil War- but wouldn’t it better for Castile to avoid such a thing altogether?”

“Undoubtedly, but after the execution of this war in Africa I can’t leave Alvaro in the cold.”

“For all he has done he did not win the war, he has only recently set foot in Africa. The reason we have sued for peace is because Lucera has said that he can’t pursue the war any further, and the Portuguese are threatening to pull out of the country. This was only a battle in the war against the pirates.”

“But it was a battle we won.”

“Lucera won the battle; Alvaro is just negotiating the peace, should Alvaro be allowed to reap the benefits of another’s work?”

“What should I do with him?”

“Let him stay in Africa. It was his idea to expand there, so surely he is the one who can handle the governing of it?”

The three rode on, “You may be right.” The king finally conceded.
Enrique hid his smile, “I’m sorry that I have ruined your decision on the Constable.”

The king clasped him on the shoulder, “Actually you’ve made my mind up.”
Enrique hid his even wider smile. In that unguarded moment the horse rose up again and threw Enrique off of his back and hard onto the ground.

***
Later that month Alvaro sent word that peace had been signed with Morocco giving up Tangiers, Saharra and Toubalk. This gave Castile control of one of Hercules’s pillars and a toe hold for expansion down the coast of Africa. When he arrived at Tangiers to return with the army back to Castile Alvaro was greeted by a ship full of treasure and the command making him the Governor of East Africa. Duke Lucera said goodbye to his friend and led his soldiers on.

In the privacy of his makeshift base on the Tangiers coast, Alvaro poured a cup of wine and spread out a map of Africa. He spent the night sipping, staring and plotting.

[Cow Pie]

Originally Posted by coz1

Hmmm, Alvaro seems to have the ear of the King, if perhaps not the moral trust, however; it seems that others want to step in there and knock old De Luna de Loony from his perch.

Good to see the war in Morroco going well.

As for screenshots, check the fAARq in my signature. The 4th section has a lot of detail and one portion of that is dedicated to screenies. Good luck.

Thanks much I checked it out, it was a very good read, unfortunately I've already played the session but as soon as I start a new game session I can get some some screenies included.

Ah, a paranoid king with nobles more than willing to whisper in his ear about the miss deeds of Alvaro de Luna. Alvaro doesn't stand a chance.

I would say Alvaro will be hard to break

Thanks for reading and commenting, sorry for the delay between posts, I had Thanksgiving break and no computer.