On 14 May 1468 afternoon, Doge Cristoforo Moro wasn't waiting for further correspondence while seated in his office near St. Mark's. After years and years of battles against the Turks, the sunset - with its awful count of the casualties - was the saddest moment of his day. The old heirless Doge felt to take his personal mourning for each Venetian youngman passed away on the shores of the Balkans, as if all those soldiers were his own sons. But one of them, in particular, was in his mind: another Cristoforo Moro, the only son of his young brother known as "Il Rosso" because of his Inquisitorial dress. Couragious and cunning, that boy - the only one capable of prolonging the dynasty - was heroically defending the honour of both Venice and the family. Thus, Cristoforo's heart rejoyed when his servant entered the room with a missive from the army's headquarters in Thessalonica.
Dear uncle Cristoforo,
I wish you were here to see the great advances we have achieved in these months. The Turks, inspired by their diabolic sultans and prophets, are showing a stiff resistance, but cannot resist us. Lots of youngmen had died, but now the Infidels are out of Europe, again on the mountains of Anatolia where they came from. It's like we are many Achilles and they Ettores...
But be aware, our forces are not infinite. Many soldiers, like the Greeks sieging Troy, don't understand where those on the lagoon want to arrive. People we've liberated in some regions have proven to be quite hostile, some of them have already converted to Sunni religion. But here it's another world. Greeks are very friendly. I would like them to join our Republica one day... Yesterday I was talking with Carlec about our next steps. We agreed over a waiting strategy. Our forces are too inferior in number to arrange a big landing in Anatolia, but few specific raids on their coasts should work very well. If such strategy is adopted, I could cross the Egean Sea and land in Smyrna. It's a valuable province, Greek resistance can help us. Another expedition could land in Trabzon, where the same conditions apply. Many Greek people see us as the legitimate successors of Byzanthium, and we should leverage on this in our fight against the Turks...
I'm very well. Here in Thessalonica I knew a wonderful girl, Yolanda. She is one of the descendants of the Palaeologi, one of the most glorious Byzantine families. She has corvin hair and blue eyes... I know, you're thinking about the fact I'm the only Moro who can bring on the line of the family, so ... we're going to marry when the war is over...
I salute you, dear uncle Cristoforo.
Dear uncle Cristoforo,
I wish you were here to see the great advances we have achieved in these months. The Turks, inspired by their diabolic sultans and prophets, are showing a stiff resistance, but cannot resist us. Lots of youngmen had died, but now the Infidels are out of Europe, again on the mountains of Anatolia where they came from. It's like we are many Achilles and they Ettores...
But be aware, our forces are not infinite. Many soldiers, like the Greeks sieging Troy, don't understand where those on the lagoon want to arrive. People we've liberated in some regions have proven to be quite hostile, some of them have already converted to Sunni religion. But here it's another world. Greeks are very friendly. I would like them to join our Republica one day... Yesterday I was talking with Carlec about our next steps. We agreed over a waiting strategy. Our forces are too inferior in number to arrange a big landing in Anatolia, but few specific raids on their coasts should work very well. If such strategy is adopted, I could cross the Egean Sea and land in Smyrna. It's a valuable province, Greek resistance can help us. Another expedition could land in Trabzon, where the same conditions apply. Many Greek people see us as the legitimate successors of Byzanthium, and we should leverage on this in our fight against the Turks...
I'm very well. Here in Thessalonica I knew a wonderful girl, Yolanda. She is one of the descendants of the Palaeologi, one of the most glorious Byzantine families. She has corvin hair and blue eyes... I know, you're thinking about the fact I'm the only Moro who can bring on the line of the family, so ... we're going to marry when the war is over...
I salute you, dear uncle Cristoforo.
Code:
Election 19 (Peace with Ottos)
1.B 2.C 3.B 4. Macedonia, Kosovo (if it's Albanian-cultured and
we get Albanian through Skandenberg event), Smyrna (if captured)
Election 20 (Albania)
1.B 2.B 3.A