((I'll just continue as before. Between each update, my faction travelled the land and gave public speeches everywhere. So it is not directed against this war effort in special, it just gives some more spice to the latest speeches.
And while I will not answer Saint-Pierre again, the morale drop would result in the fresh recruits (rarely volunteers back then) even less willing to join the army. The speeches may be directed against the war, but not aimed at lowering the troops' morale in itself. Any accusations of sabotage - let them come.
Also, I've been keeping some kind of revolution clock that doesn't stop ticking up, but that does seem wrong. The people launches a revolution, not some politician. Perhaps we should modify the rules for the start of a revolution, especially as with the nobles we will never have 80% in favour of one. IMHO it would be best to keep track of the decisions as with a disaster and launch a revolution when the progress reaches 100%. Might be never, might be close.))
((I've purposely made revolutions difficult to occur because they aren't something that should happen easily at all. I also wouldn't want to let one happen when most of the players are against it, hence the high support requirement. I do see your point, however. Just like with the civil war, if I believe the situation has deteriorated enough that a revolution would seem possible or even likely, then I will override the coup system and allow the chance for one to be carried out. I won't be keeping a tally of events pushing towards one, but I will keep past events in mind as to what would potentially spur one on.))
* * * * *
((On another note, I've noticed a few posts about rallying support for a party or trying to weaken the support of another one. I suppose it is best I clarify what this will do. I did say that events in the iAAR will impact support for a party, and such posts fall under such a category. Players may make speeches or campaign to rally support. I will take these into consideration when an election occurs and adjust the modifiers to alter support accordingly. How much I alter the modifiers depends on the quality of the post. A simple post saying that you're sending people out to campaign or spending money to raise support won't win as much support as actually writing a speech for your IC, although it will still win some. I do take into account all IC, including those given in Parliament, so debating a bill or giving a speech to your fellow Parliamentarians will impact your support. Basically if you post something and it appeals to someone, you'll probably boost your support, unless of course someone weakens yours or dampens your own with their own boost in support.
While giving speeches and campaigning is all good and can win you support, there are other ways of achieving this that can prove much more successful but have serious risks. If players want, they can attempt to harass voters at the polls into voting for their party, or go the extra step and stuff the ballot boxes. Of course when going this route, there is a chance of it backfiring and losing you support instead. Basically anything underhanded can go badly but comes with greater rewards if successful.))
* * * * *
The Luccan Peace Settlement was finally concluded 1710. The Habsburgs had spent months refused to take two provinces and instead would not rest until they had received all three. In the end, however, they gave in to reason and accepted Mantua and Novara, two rich Italian provinces. It can be seen how this likely foreshadows the later Austrian betrayal of Hispania. Another traitor came into the light, as Pausanias Mandromenos was appointed Megas Domestikos around 1710. The next year the Basileus passed away, leaving a regency behind him. Twas nigh 1719 the Usurper and Philaretos Mandromenos vied for Marshal, but this was interrupted by the unfortunate appointment of Bartomeu de Trastamara to Prime Minister, who promptly ignored both and filled much of the Council with lesser qualified individuals. Details about this episode can be found in another work of the Archbishopric of Grenada. However, after Bartomeu’s appointments expired, the position of Marshal fell to the Usurper, coinciding too along with the declaration of Mare Nostrum. Forsooth, weeds grow in the richest soil.
((The mentioning of Bartomeu de Trastámara reminded me of a post I meant to make way back in 1761 but forgot about. I think it's time to reveal the truth behind the assassination attempt on Emperor Jaume IV.))
((Private - 1761))
Andreu de Trastámara lay in his bed, cover in sweat-soaked sheets but feeling so very cold. He knew the end was in sight, but he did not despair. Not many men had the privilege of living an entire century. He had witnessed so many events pivotal in Hispanian history, and even played his part as Chancellor for decades. It was time for him to depart this world. Yet he could not, for a heavy burden kept him grounded. He groaned, not from pain but from the inability to simply succumb to death so easily. When you reached such an advanced age, death seemed more a welcome friend than something to avoid. Somehow he knew that if he wanted to die in peace, he needed to release the burden he had held onto for decades.
As the Duke let out a strangled cough, his youngest son, Alexandre de Trastámara, entered the room. Andreu had many children, but Alexandre was the only son that still lived. He believed two of his daughters still lived, but he had not seen them in many years. He suspected they had long accepted that he would die one day and let him go early. At least Alexandre had remained by his side. The man was in his mid-fifties, yet looked to be in his thirties. It seemed his youngest son had received the gift of longevity that Andreu had received himself. He prayed his son would not make the same mistakes he had.
Alexandre knelt down beside the bed and gently took one of Andreu's hands. He did not say a word, letting his father choose the time to speak. He knew his place when with his father.
"I suspect I do not have long left," Andreu said. Alexandre gave him a glassy stare, but kept his grip on his hand. He had never been one to show emotions, something Andreu was grateful for. He did not need someone blubbering by his side during such a time.
"Is there anything I can do?" Alexandre asked.
Andreu let out a cough. "I have so much to say, and believe I cannot peacefully pass on until these words are said. Just listen, and know that what you are about to hear can never leave this room."
Alexandre raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you are finally willing to share your intrigues with me?"
Andreu let out a laugh that turned into a coughing fit. His son had always been a schemer and had taken great interest in Andreu's time as Chancellor. Such a position came with much political intrigue, secrets he was wise enough never to share. However, his greatest secret was much darker than anything he did as Chancellor.
"I must confess something of great import."
"Shall I fetch the priest," Alexandre said with a smirk. Both men knew a priest was not needed. Neither were very religious.
"That will not be necessary. I doubt even a priest could keep his silence with this."
Alexandre leaned closer, clearly intrigued. Good, he needed to hear this just as much as Andreu needed to speak it.
"I have never told a soul this, but I cannot take it with me to my grave. It was I that tried to remove the Emperor."
Silence permeated the room. Alexandre seemed more perplexed than shocked. He eyed his father and said, "Were you working with Montségur?"
Andreu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Not that emperor, you dolt. Jaume, Alfons's grandfather."
Alexandre's eyes widened as realization hit. "The assassination attempt on Emperor Jaume. That was you? But I thought Bartomeu was behind that, or at least suspected to be? They never did convict him."
"My attempts to frame him were not convincing enough, apparently. At least the idiot was foolish enough to rob the treasury while in office or he might have remained in power and shifted the focus back on me."
Alexandre shook his head vigorously, trying to take it all in. "But why? How? The assassination of an emperor is no small thing."
"I'm getting to that," Andreu said, his lips curling up in a snarl. His son backed off and the Duke continued. "It was a brilliant plan, if only it had worked. An inexperienced emperor, fresh to the throne, was too tempting to resist. He was vulnerable, unknowing of the dangers that faced such a young monarch. Better yet, there were undoubtedly many who could have been suspected of such a crime, perhaps why no one was ever convicted. His death would have led to a regency for his son, merely two at the time. Bartomeu would have been the logical choice as regent, what with being the Prime Minister, but he was also the obvious suspect. With enough evidence arrayed against him and he'd have fallen with ease. And from there, the next logical choice would be the second most important person in government, the Chancellor. Everyone would have been too fixated on the obvious suspect to consider me a threat. If everything had played out perfectly, I would have been regent. And a regent that serves for over a decade is in a good position to make themselves emperor in all but name. There is a reason Montségur tried to do the same as I did."
"But everything didn't go perfectly," Alexandre said. He didn't seem disturbed by his father admitting he had committed treason, as Andreu had suspected. The man was too ambitious to not understand why Andreu had done what he had done.
"No, it didn't. I made one fatal mistake and it cost me. I am just fortunate it did not cost me my life and I was able to continue on as Chancellor. Controlling the foreign affairs of Hispania was enough to sate my appetite, although the regency would have been that much sweeter."
"So what went wrong?"
Andreu let out a sigh, recalling the events of 1719 like they had happened the day before. "I trusted someone, and I let that trust get in the way of my plans. You must understand that I was not alone at court. My ally, Enric, who served as Steward at the time, backed me at court, although he did not know of my plans. While Bartomeu played his hand at nepotism and filled the Council with his sons, Enric was the only one I could trust not to follow Bartomeu's every whim. We worked together, finding what we could to use against Bartomeu, for we knew that he would not be content to let us be unless we did what he wanted. I let this fool me into thinking that relying upon him would be for the best. When the time came to commit the final act, I faltered and made a mistake. I thought that if I informed Enric of the assassination attempt right before it occurred, I could use him as an alibi to prove my innocence, a voice to say that I had tried to prevent it if the blame ever turned my way. I did not realize just how quickly Enric would react. He sent his son, Simeó, after the Emperor, and it was ultimately that boy who saved the Emperor's life. I thwarted myself and failed. If I had not spoken to Enric beforehand, Jaume would have died in 1719 and I would have been regent."
Alexandre eyed his father with unbridled admiration. "I never realized the extent of your ambition. It's a miracle you were never discovered."
"There were times when I felt the eyes turning my way and feared the truth would be revealed. Only my shrewd planning and Bartomeu's incompetence kept me from getting my head chopped off. I can recall a few times when I was nearly discovered. Villanova snooping around the La Mancha gold mines and walking right past where I hid the stolen gold used to pay the assassin. It was fortunate that was never found, seeing as the freshly minted gold used to pay the assassin made Bartomeu the obvious suspect due to his pilfering of the treasury. Leon snooping around the secret passages. I remember being asked about the secret passages and feigning ignorance, although if anyone had asked Enric and he had been forthcoming enough, they would have known I'd used the passages to spy on Bartomeu with Enric. Never good to be caught in a lie during an assassination investigation. And throughout it all, I tried my hardest to see Bartomeu condemned to death. If he had been convicted, I'd be a free man. No one would have bothered to look for the assassin after that. Instead I had to live on content with my lot in life, knowing that any big move was likely to draw unnecessary attention. I suppose my life was fulfilling enough without that plot succeeding."
"I must admit that your confession was unexpected," Alexandre said, licking his lips. "I certainly never suspected you of such a crime. And now what am I to do with this information?"
"Take it to your grave, if you wish, or use the example to avoid my past mistakes," Andreu said. "I do not care what you do with it. Just don't be foolish and make an attempt on the Emperor's life. Take it from me that such a scheme never works out."
"If that is what you wish, Father."
"Now leave me. I'm feeling tired and must rest," Andreu said, waving his hand dismissively at his son. Alexandre rose from the bedside and left the room. The Duke let out a content sigh, finally free of the burden he had held for decades. He nestled himself underneath the blankets and allowed himself to drift off to sleep, one from which he would never wake.
