Avon Las Observes

[Midnite Duke]

Fare thee well, Saladin!

From a Polish crusader kingdom to a Cuman crusader khanate -- Egypt has had a very interesting history in this world so far.

Thank you for commenting. Egypt has been interesting. @Specialist290, the reason that you had the special relationship with Sultan Saladin was that you made the first comment after we first met Saladin in 1200. Sultan Saladin lived a great and interesting life.

 

[Midnite Duke]

19 April 1275 Egypt to 27 January 1280 France

@Zamarak500: Do you want to take a leap in the Quantum since Flamur is not feeling well?
@DensleyBlair: O.K.


In 1280, The Empire of Francia consists of 94 counties in 4 de jure kingdoms. (While kingdoms and duchies can shift after 100 years, counties will remain in the same duchy throughout the game.) Ten realms own the 94 counties:

27 Holy Roman Empire led by 41yo German Orthodox Kaiser Ciro d'Este.​

23 Kingdom of England led by 38yo English Catholic Queen Aveline Plantagenet.​

16 Kingdom of France leTd by 53yo French Catholic King Thibault de Blois.​

9 Kingdom of Breizh led by 28yo Breton Catholic King Ferant de Penthièvre.​

7 Kingdom of Aquitaine led by 25yo Occitan Catholic King Josselin de Lescar.​

5 Duchy of Toulouse led by 69yo French Catholic Duke Simon d'Albon.​

4 French Revolt led by 20yo French Catholic Duchess Ana de Blois of Paris.​

An Aragonian Revolt, the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Portugal each rules one county.​

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The de jure Kingdom of Aquitaine consists of 24 counties in six duchies:​

Queen Aveline rules the Duchies of Auvergne, Bourbon and Poitou and one county in Aquitaine totaling 11 counties.​

King Josselin rules the Duchies of Aquitaine (3 of 4) and Gascogne totaling 7 counties.​

Duke Simon rules the Duchy of Toulouse (4 of 6) totaling 4 counties.​

Toulouse's final two counties are split between the Aragonian Revolt Leader and the King of Aragon totaling one each.​

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The Kingdom of Arles title is currently vacant. De jure Arles consists of 21 counties in five duchies:​

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Kaiser Ciro rules the Duchies of Franche Comté, Provence, Savoy and Transjurania and one county in Dauphiné totaling 18 counties.​

The Duchy of Dauphiné title is currently vacant with the remaining three counties being split between King Thibault, Duke Simon and the King of Portugal totaling one each.​

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The Kingdom of Breizh consists of 9 counties in three duchies:​

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King Ferant rules the Duchies of Brittany, Penteur and Upper Britntany totaling 9 counties.​

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The Kingdom of France consists of 40 counties in nine duchies:​

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King Thibault rules the Duchies of Berry (2 of 3), Blois (2 of 3), Burgundy (4 of 6), Champagne (2 of 3) and Picardie and one county in Normandy totaling 15 counties.​

Queen Aveline rules the Duchies of Anjou and Normandy (5 of 6) and single counties in Berry and Blois totaling 12 counties.​

Kaiser Ciro rules the Duchy of Flanders, two counties in Burgundy and one county in Champagne totaling 9 counties.​

Duchess Ana rules the Duchy of Paris totaling 4 counties.​

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@Zamarak500: Do you want to take the helm and leap to Iberia?
@DensleyBlair: Sure, what can go wrong?


(I was curious because in 1250 the Kingdom of Castille was #7 but in 1275 the Kingdom of León was #8 and Castille was not in top 21. Did an Iberian wedding happen two centuries early? Short Answer: YES!)

2 October 1272 36yo King Munio is forced to abdicate and his 4yr son Salvador d'Ivrea is crowned King of León and Castille.​

13 March 1274 A faction forces 5yo King Salvador to abdicate the Castillian throne in favor of his 30yo uncle Guillermo d'Ivrea.​

27 January 1280 11yo King Salvador rules León (three living ex-kings). 36yo King Guillermo rules Castille from his capital in North Africa.​

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@DensleyBlair, I hope that you like this as your contest reward.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Fascinating! The Kingdom of France really is in a bad way. Not a good look holding fewer counties than England on your home turf!

Thank you for the report, @Midnite Duke .

 

[Midnite Duke]

Fascinating! The Kingdom of France really is in a bad way. Not a good look holding fewer counties than England on your home turf!

Thank you for the report, @Midnite Duke .

France was bugging me. It usually is top five and was not even in top 21. It is almost at the 100 year mark and France could begin to lose de jure claim because of de jure shift. This could affect Normandy, Anjou and Flanders. León's having three living ex rulers scared me from doing a deep dive in the family tree. Good flying, Sir.

 

[Midnite Duke]

I know that we have two realms to visit and a wrap up for 1275. But it is time to think about 1300. The last quarter of the 13th century was a tumultuous time. We had three realms drop out of the top five.


22 August 1275

Dear @Zamarak500: It is my sad duty to inform you that my cousin, Bishop Flamur, went to his heavenly reward on the 17th (age 41, ill health). I wish to thank you for helping him when you and the AmazingAdventurousReaders visited. Doux Alex of Dyrrachion


27 July 1288

Dear @diskoerekto: I write to you on what would have been your dear friend and my beloved husband's 50th birthday. Doux Alek was ushered into heaven by Saint Peter on the 11th (age 49, bedridden and infirm). His last few months were a torture to watch. The only things that restored life to his eyes were visits from the children (8yo Shpresa, 4yo Konstantin and 2yo Boša) and viewing the painting of the two of you aboard the Purple Steward. That rag tag priest even said that Alek was so evil that he should not be buried. (Horrible death screen. a) Did the guy not meet Gjin? b) With crusader merit badge, Saint Peter should wave you in with no questions. c) With name Doux Alex 'the Crusader', he should get first day audience with Moses and Paul). That priest will never have his bones buried as I doubt anyone can collect enough dust to recreate a bone. I hope to see you in January 1300 and will you please tell the children about the great man that was their father. Princess Georgia of the Byzantine Empire

@Zamarak500 and @diskoerekto, thank you for you service to the AAReaders and Dyrrachion. Your comments have been wonderful. You do still have three episodes in your current roles.


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We need a new leader to work with Doux Konstantin (will turn 16 in April 1300). Hopefully you will be used in 1300, 1325 and possibly 1350. (I am the Clown Prince of Regencies. With Alek and Konstantin, this game has had two of three successions start as regencies. My previous game had five of twelve. My last two games have ended in regencies.) If no one volunteers, I will have to draft a volunteer.
The guide will be Princess Georgia. My original plan from her birth would be to use Shrpesa (Hope). But she turned out to be more hopeless than hope. She is dumb (1-7-2-6-6 indulgent wastrel on 16th birthday) and at 17, she tried to kill her 13yo brother to become duchess. She is currently residing in the dungeon and unable to travel. For those who believe in second chances, my reply is that Konstantin deserves a first chance at a full and wonderful life more than Shrpesa deserves a second chance to kill him. I will ask @DensleyBlair to work with Princess Georgia, if he does not mind. They spoke at the preview (it was a throwaway scene to welcome him not part of a grand plan).
I am always in need of ideas for things that you want to do and people that you want to meet. @Bullfilter, I am sure studying crickets is not the same as playing cricket.


CONTEST:

1-3) Name the 3 drop outs from the top five. (One drops completely out of top 21.)​

4-6) Name the 3 newcomers. (They are currently between 6-21.)​

7-8) Two of present top 5 will have a leader in 1300 with a different religion than present ruler. Name them.​

9) Current top five ruler that is alive in 1300.​

A realm/leader can be the answer to more than one question. I will post the information on the present leaders in the wrap up episode. For current 6-21, Hindu and Buddhist lists can be found in preview, Catholics in England, Sunnis will be in Rajasthan, and Orthodox in HRE.​

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The Prize will be additional research. This time we met Turkish leaders and geniuses for @diskoerekto and toured France with @DensleyBlair. (Hint, I like checking de jure empires and imbeciles and lunatics would be fun to check on. @diskoerekto, there will be a genius in 1300 top five and another will be slow.​

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Everyone, thank you for reading and I will see you when we visit Rajasthan.

 

[DensleyBlair]

I am very happy to work with Princess Georgia

 

[Midnite Duke]

I am very happy to work with Princess Georgia

Thank you very much! Georgia is a 49yo Greek Orthodox. She is a zealous Mastermind Theologian. I will give complete stats and traits for Georgia and her son before we start 1300 tour. Her grandfather (at time of her birth) and father were both Basileus of the Byzantine Empire. Her father was murdered when she was a small child. I doubt that she has much sympathy for Shpresa for trying to kill her brother or Shpresa's dungeon mate who tried to kill Boša. In a irony while Georgia is a zealous Orthodox, her grandfather while a doux led the secret Catholics into the open. Since her grandfather, the Basileuses has alternated between Catholic and Orthodox with never more than two of the same religion consectutively.

 

[Bullfilter]

Which is all the more bizarre, because for several centuries, to be English was to be 'anti-Catholic'. Apparently, that does not mean 'not-Catholic' though.

I suppose at first, especially with Henry VIII, it was more anti-Papist and pro the King’s Supremacy than the evangelical (later Protestant) domination that came later. Especially after Cranmer was eclipsed by the religious conservatives and had to lay low in Henry’s last years. And yes, up until he was thwarted with the divorce of Catherine of Aragon he was a ‘Defender of the Faith’ and most Catholic.

Doux Alek was ushered into heaven by Saint Peter on the 11th (age 49, bedridden and infirm). His last few months were a torture to watch.

Sad and early end.

My original plan from her birth would be to use Shrpesa (Hope). But she turned out to be more hopeless than hope. She is dumb (1-7-2-6-6 indulgent wastrel on 16th birthday) and at 17, she tried to kill her 13yo brother to become duchess.

Hopeless indeed!

@Bullfilter, I am sure studying crickets is not the same as playing cricket.

It is - I have a game today, in fact. But short form, will only take a couple of hours to complete.

 

[Midnite Duke]

I suppose at first, especially with Henry VIII, it was more anti-Papist and pro the King’s Supremacy than the evangelical (later Protestant) domination that came later. Especially after Cranmer was eclipsed by the religious conservatives and had to lay low in Henry’s last years. And yes, up until he was thwarted with the divorce of Catherine of Aragon he was a ‘Defender of the Faith’ and most Catholic.

Sad and early end.

Hopeless indeed!

It is - I have a game today, in fact. But short form, will only take a couple of hours to complete.

Thank you very much for replying. Alek, while dying more than a decade younger than his grandfather and father, ruled longer than either. He had a lifetime of service to the empire. He was a general almost his entire adult life and served four emperors on their council, two as Magistros and two as Mystikosl Shpresa was also gay and when I took out to visit the Three Sisters, she picked out a 71yo von Hohenstaufen from . . . no, not HRE but rather a Welsh petty kingdom. Good luck in your game.

 

[Bullfilter]

Thank you very much for replying. Alek, while dying more than a decade younger than his grandfather and father, ruled longer than either. He had a lifetime of service to the empire. He was a general almost his entire adult life and served four emperors on their council, two as Magistros and two as Mystikosl Shpresa was also gay and when I took out to visit the Three Sisters, she picked out a 71yo von Hohenstaufen from . . . no, not HRE but rather a Welsh petty kingdom. Good luck in your game.

He ’had a good innings’, as the cricket-related expression goes: short but man’s runs scored. But I hope I can outscore his years today!

 

[Midnite Duke]

This song inspired one of the adventures in our future Rajasthan stop.

 

[diskoerekto]

Dear @diskoerekto: I write to you on what would have been your dear friend and my beloved husband's 50th birthday. Doux Alek was ushered into heaven by Saint Peter on the 11th (age 49, bedridden and infirm). His last few months were a torture to watch. The only things that restored life to his eyes were visits from the children (8yo Shpresa, 4yo Konstantin and 2yo Boša) and viewing the painting of the two of you aboard the Purple Steward. That rag tag priest even said that Alek was so evil that he should not be buried. (Horrible death screen. a) Did the guy not meet Gjin? b) With crusader merit badge, Saint Peter should wave you in with no questions. c) With name Doux Alex 'the Crusader', he should get first day audience with Moses and Paul). That priest will never have his bones buried as I doubt anyone can collect enough dust to recreate a bone. I hope to see you in January 1300 and will you please tell the children about the great man that was their father. Princess Georgia of the Byzantine Empire

:sad face with a teardrop:

7-8) Two of present top 5 will have a leader in 1300 with a different religion than present ruler. Name them.

The changed ones changed back maybe?

 

[Midnite Duke]

:sad face with a teardrop:


The changed ones changed back maybe?

Be specific on changed ones.

 

[diskoerekto]

Be specific on changed ones.

Oh now on second thought I realized Rajasthan changed culture and not religion. Still I'll stick with what I said and predict HRE and Rajasthan as 2 realms that changed religions.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Oh now on second thought I realized Rajasthan changed culture and not religion. Still I'll stick with what I said and predict HRE and Rajasthan as 2 realms that changed religions.

Yes, HRE switched back to Catholicism. Rajasthan continues as Hindustani Sunni. You win a research request.

 

[Midnite Duke]

30 April 1275 Farafra Oasis, Egypt

Colonel @El Pip slowly leads his esteemed Kentish Knights forward. He is unhappy that his knights are on escort duty and that he would be meeting his rival Colonel @Bullfilter of the 2nd Punjabi Pachyderms to transfer the AmazingAdventurousReaders for their meeting with Samrat Ayeshah of the Rajasthan Empire. @El Pip has placed a company of longbowmen under the command of nobleman turned bandit turned crusader, Hoodley Robin on his right. The left is guarded by a company of crossbowmen commanded by noted architect turned crusading siege master, Sir Christopher Wren. Bishop Flamur and @Zamarak500 lead the AAReaders from the English lines watched by @El Pip aboard his trusty charger, Secretariat, to the Rajasthani lines where @Bullfilter aboard Jumbo awaits anxiously. @Bullfilter has dispatched a company under the command of country carpenter turned war hero BRob618 to guard the right flank. BRob618 is aboard his favorite elephant, Peanut. The left flank is anchored by a war elephant company commanded by child of the streets turned mercenary commander, jmerc13 riding his elephant Mouse.


The Empire of Rajasthan continues to be #2 gaining 33 holdings during the quarter century. Rajasthan has 286 holdings in 95 counties stretching west and northwestward from its jungle capital of Hastinapura in the Ganges River Valley to Persia and Central Asia. Rajasthan follows the Sunni Open Succession Law. Rajasthan's leadership timeline for the third quarter of the 13th century:

18 June 1246 12yo Bahman Ghurid inherits the Rajasthan Empire.​

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26 January 1255 20yo Shahanshah Bahman is murdered by 23 Kiliç Ertekin (son of the Chaghaniyan Thakur). Shahanshah Bahman's 16yo brother Ayeshah Ghurid inherits the Rajasthan Empire.​

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36yo Hindustani Sunni Samrat Ayeshah is a patient Elusive Shadow. Samrat Ayeshah prefers words and daggers to books (14-7-8-16-3). Samrat Ayeshah personally rules the empire, two duchies and five duchies. His vassals include three kings, five dukes, three counts and eight barons.

Samrat Ayeshah and his twenty thousand man army are currently helping Sultan Saladin defend Egypt from Pope Clemens III's Catholic Crusade.​

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Realms with a Sunni ruler that are among the world's twenty-one largest realms:

Empire of Rajasthan #2 286 holdings​

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Sultanate of Syria #4 216 holdings​

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Sultanate of Rum #5 208 holdings​

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Sultanate of Iraq #9 123 holdings​

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Kingdom of Punjab #10 112 holdings vassal of Rajasthan​

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Emirate of Sinai #15tie 82 holdings vassal of Syria​

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Emirate of Jibal #17 80 holdings vassal of Persia (Iraq)​

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Kingdom of Sindh #20tie 75 holdings vassal of Rajasthan​

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2 May 1275 Dogfight in the Desert

Everyone, whether Catholic or Sunni, gathered around the oasis to watch the world's most unusual game of chicken. In the middle of the oasis, Snoopy was paddling vigorously with Woodstock upon his back while Underdog was doing the same with Tweety as his jockey. There was a new aura of camaraderie among the viewers. The veteran commanders, @El Pip and @Bullfilter, were smiling and passing a canteen. The esteemed architect, Sir Christopher, and the young carpenter, BRob618 were drawing plans in the sand. The two rascals, Hoodley Robin and jmerc13, were busy handling bets. @Zamarak500 and Bishop Flamur were having a quiet conversation in the shade. @diskoerekto was asking prospective recruit @AlaroAshen "if he liked what he was seeing". The restful peace was broken when the birds spied a pair of cats chasing a mouse. When the dogs gave chase; the cats fled, Sylvester to a palm tree while Tom went to a roof top. Jerry led the birds and their dogs to a nearby hot spring for a planning session. Upon their return, the birds turned their Super Soakers on the cats. Seeing the cats on the run, Samrat Ayeshah was heard to exclaim "Nothing Runs like a Scalded Cat".


Sir Christopher Wren while he designed many English buildings probably did not help design the building that bears his name at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Wren Building, completed in 1700, is the oldest academic building in continuous use in the U.S. Take that, Harvard!

THANK YOUs: Jmerc13, for trying to teach me how to install the Snoopy link.

BRob618, for being my brother and best friend.​

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@AlaroAshen, for beginning your AAR 'The Blackdrake'. This is a CK2 Game of Thrones.​

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Snoopy, Woodstock, Underdog, Tweety, Sylvester, Tom and Jerry, for entertaining children of all ages for generations.​

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NEXT: We will journey north to visit the HRE, our final 1275 realm to meet. We are looking for someone to replace @diskoerekto as leader in 1300.

 

[diskoerekto]

You win a research request.

Yay I win! Who is/are the character/s with the "mystic" trait having the most extraordinary stats?

We are looking for someone to replace @diskoerekto as leader in 1300.

retirement age has arrived

The Empire of Rajasthan continues to be #2 gaining 33 holdings during the quarter century. Rajasthan has 286 holdings in 95 counties stretching west and northwestward from its jungle capital of Hastinapura in the Ganges River Valley to Persia and Central Asia.

They're still going strong! Maybe it's the edge having war elephants in the formations brought

 

[Midnite Duke]

Yay I win! Who is/are the character/s with the "mystic" trait having the most extraordinary stats?


retirement age has arrived


They're still going strong! Maybe it's the edge having war elephants in the formations brought

When I go in, I will look for mystics. The deeper that I dig, the more questions that I have. Like vassals in top 21, 4 Sunnis and 1 Christian; is there something in Sunni that allows better control of vassals so that vassals can be larger. And León with three living ex-kings, can you imagine how unstable they were? Thank you for replying.

 

[Midnite Duke]

22 May 1275 Rome

@Zamarak500 leads the AmazingAdventurousReaders on a tour of the Eternal City hoping for an audience with Pope Clemens III. Meanwhile, Bishop Flamur is meeting with an old friend, the smuggler known as The Bandit. The Bandit would like to use the AAReaders as a cover. He has a contract to provide @RedTemplar, HRE Chamberlain, with four beverages. Across town, Justice Buford of the Apennine Forest and Papal Inquisitor @TheButterflyComposer are making plans to capture The Bandit and seize all untaxed goods.

23 May 1275 Road from Rome to the Black Forest

The Bandit is busy setting false trails for Justice Buford to follow. Nun turned Scout, Gidget, is flying down paths planting Green Post-It Signs for Snowman and his 20 team Wagon Train to follow. The first wagon contains sacks of coffee beans that @ibicko has stolen from the warehouses of famed coffee growers, Ernest and Julio Valdez. The wagon, two behind, conceals chests of chocolate powder that @Kazanov has brought from the lands beyond the edge of the world. @ibicko and @Kazanov are discussing opening a group of taverns named SunMarks. Hidden beneath the feet of the AAReaders in the next wagon are jugs of Moonbeams, the high octane beverage brewed by master brewers Duke Jesse of Danger and @coz1. The next to last wagon has false floorboards hiding casks of the mix that it is used to make the Pope's prized Italian Icees. Snowman and his oxen wrangler @Bullfilter wish to open an inn where @Bullfilter's lovely wife, Matilda, can teach people to waltz. Snowman wishes to name the drink, Snowcone, but @Bullfilter suggests SlurpE.

1 June 1275 Breisgau, Black Forest capital of the HRE

@RedTemplar pays The Bandit and leads the AAReaders to a reception with Kaiser Adolf. Once again, Justice Buford and @TheButterflyComposer are foiled.


The Holy Roman Empire is for the fourth consecutive check, #1 with a twenty-three holding gain. The Empire's 647 holdings stretch over 178 counties in Eastern France, Germany, Northern Italy, Northern Balkans with an exclave in Eastern Spain. Absent from the Empire is Germany's Baltic Coastline. The HRE uses Agnatic Princely Elective to choose Emperors. HRE's leadership timeline for the 13th century's third quarter:

26 March 1241 38yo Magnus von Hohenstaufen is elected HRE Emperor.​

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13 June 1269 67yo Kaiser Magnus dies from stress. 48yo Adolf von Zähringen is elected HRE Emperor.​

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53yo German Orthodox Kaiser Adolf, an Underhanded Rogue, specializes in diplomacy (22-3-5-4-5). Patriarch Kaiser Adolf uses his family focus (whether immediate family or the Empire's citizens who he considers to be his children) to highlight his patience, kindness, charity, and gregariousness. Kaiser Adolf personally rules the empire, two duchies and three counties. His vassals number three kings, thirty-five dukes, six counts and seven barons.

Kaiser Adolf and his thirty-thousand man army is currently attacking Serence Doge Tedice of Venice to add de jure Istria (northeast Adriatic, modern Croatia, Italy and Slovenia) to the Empire. Anne Howe has been too busy with the Catholic Crusade to give this war a score. Kaiser Adolf has two Bad Boy points (the only bad boy points among the Big Five).​

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Top Twenty-One Realms with an Orthodox Ruler:

Holy Roman Empire #1 647 holdings​

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Byzantine Empire #6 186 holdings​

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Mongol Empire #7 160 holdings​

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Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia #18tie 76 holdings ​

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Kingdom of Lotharingia #18tie 76 holdings HRE vassal​

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18 June 1275 Breisgau Castle

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Bishop Flamur and @Zamarak500 leads the AAReaders past workmen busily hanging a "1275 #1" banner from the rafters of Breisgau Castle. The banner will look at home next to the "1250 #1", "1225 #1" and "1200 #1" banners. Colonel @codie and the Empire's French Legion will escort a tired group of AAReaders from Breisgau Castle to home base Dyrrachion.


THANK YOUs to Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed for 'Smokey and the Bandit'.

@RedTemplar for 'Die Klingen des Himmels'. Currently in CK2 but will be a mega campaign.​

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@ibicko for 'A Tale as Old as Time'. Mega campaign currently in CK2.​

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@Kazanov for 'A Storm from the West'. Mega campaign currently in CK3 with book 4.​

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@coz1 for 'The War of the Roses'. EU4 narrative.​

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@Bullfilter for 'Talking Turkey'. HoI3 epic.​

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@DensleyBlair for agreeing to help Princess Georgia with the 1300 tour.​

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WANTED: Someone to command the WayBack Machine in 1300 and be a friend to 15yo Doux Konstantin. (I was hoping that this would be a multi parter with a 40yo in 1325 and possibly a 65yo in 1350, but RNG disagreed.)

Answers to eight remaining contest questions.​

Someone to talk me off Regency Ridge. This one is particularly painful.​

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NEXT: Mystics for @diskoerekto and the timeline that brought me to Regency Ridge.


EVERYONE, thank you very much for reading.

 

[Zamarak500]

@Zamarak500 leads the AmazingAdventurousReaders on a tour of the Eternal City hoping for an audience with Pope Clemens III.

Can't Bishop Flamur help me in? He seems like a helpful guy.