Hello everyone, it's Aliasing here! Back with yet another AAR. This one I am determined to actually finish this time! With plenty of backup saves and harddrive back ups to keep me up and running, even if a zombie apocalypse delays an update by a few years.
This time I'll be playing as Utrecht, an Archbishopric right smack dab in the broken lands of the Netherlands.
And as you probably guessed by the title, the entire map of Europe has changed...
Decades of war and famine have left it in a completely different state than one we are used to. The year is 1450: and the borders of Europe are clean, and precise. All as a result of a strange catastrophe that shook the people of the continent to it's very core.
All around the land, strange clouds began to gather. Converging on every castle, keep, palace, and place a noble would be present. In an instance, the known world shook. What seemed to be the judgement of God had come upon them, to take unto them their rightful place in heaven. But in reality, the truth of the matter was much more sinister.
But for the people of Europe: It was their salvation.
One by one: the nobility and clergymen present all fell. As though a sword pierced straight through their skulls into their brains. They fell to the ground, cold and lifeless. But the peasantry: The dumb masses hid in their hovels, watching as the sky fell onto the homes they called theirs. But to their surprise, they were not "spirited away" as the pagans would call it. But were left to their farms, and to the lives they had the privilege to keep.
As they began to crawl out from the rocks that they hid under. The order of the land began to reset itself. Only in a different manner.
Humans never really change you see. They sought normality, so they moved to grasp it. The Magistrates and lesser nobility, those spared as lesser beings in the social Hierarchy of Europe. Would act as though their place was set, as rats.
Moving at the opportunity: The governments of old began to reset themselves.
Only the ruling class had changed, the sheep of the lower classes took hold. But not in the Ideas of Republics, only few had held that ideal at this time. The names of former rulers were held, several branches of the "Hohenzollern" branch were 'rediscovered' and 'retraced' back to whatever warlord felt like he needed land.
But eventually it calmed down, the people returned to their routines. Europe was destined to take the path it once had, and it was glad to do so.
However: Not only were those in Europe effected. To a minor part, those in Asia Minor and North Africa felt the same blow. Hundreds of thousands of Croatian refugees and pilgrims, all taking part in the latest 'Holy War'. Were suddenly stranded in the holy city of Jerusalem. Distraught and alone, they banded together. Reforming the ancient Kingdom Jerusalem, and spreading up the Syrian Coast. It was truly an age of Strong Men.
While in the Caucasus: Bolstered by Thracian and European refugees, the Kingdom of Georgia proved to be the top-dog of the Mountain Ranges. Using a heavy hand, the King of Georgia moved against the Tartars and Azerbaijanis. Securing the Entirety of the Caucasus to itself. But the Kingdom is weak, and surrounded by enemies. Who knows if they are to survive the coming storm.
So that my friends, is the Prologue. So far I shall be experimenting on various screenshot techniques, and writing styles. So for the prologue updates, expect brighter pictures than maybe what I have planned in the latter days.
I have spent almost two days spent editing the European Map by hand with the Clauswitz editor.
So.....
Hope you enjoy this: A Land Asunder
