Mournfully into the Past-Austrian AAR

[Estonianzulu]

Mournfully into the Past

I awoke one morning to find myself lost. Lost in time and thought. I looked around and knew where I was, knew what was going to happen. I had seen it a hundred times, I knew what was coming. I was not upset or angered, but a little dazed. This was the day that was going to be it, but it was no different than any other day. I left my bed early in the morning, to make the most of the day. Whether it rained or shined (I already knew there would be a slight overcast.) I would go through the day outside.

I left my home, to the sounds of Church. It was Sunday. I stepped down the stairs and out onto the streets of Vienna, no one seemed to be about. Most were in prayer, as was required. Today would end that however. Today He would announce an end to the policy which had guided His life, and mine for the last 30 years. Revolution, bloodshed, violence, all of it would be put on hold. Years of peace had undermined years of war and conflict.

Into

Stephnsdom I went, He was making an announcement. It was over, all of It, the power was gone, the glory had faded, the wonderful bliss of empire had crumbled, sort of. He stood up, He spoke, and they began to crumble. We would not longer wage a war on the Protestants for the simple reason that they are Protestant. The Catholic League was no more, the rebellion was over… And another was about to begin. I now remembered where I was, when I was…

It was Vienna, 1649, and I was going to die. So it goes.


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Austria, 1618-1649 (the 30 years war). Ive started with the end, and I will begin jumping at random (I just finished reading Slaughterhouse 5 and Catch-22, I’m in that mood…) but there will be a cohesive story, and hopefully you will understand about how things go. Screenshots will be included to aid in figuring out where I am and what I am doing.

My basic objectives as Austria were as follows- Expand Catholicism. Do not neighbor any Protestant state, be on the top 5 at the end, do not annex anyone, keep a low BB rating.

 

[Lord Durham]

Never liked Slaughterhouse 5 - I always thought Vonnegut was an incredibly overrated author. However, Heller's Catch 22 is a true classic. I look forward to what you do with this concept.

 

[Chengar Qordath]

Yeah, I never understood why Slaughterhouse 5 is so popular. Catch 22 is a great book though, probably one of my favorites. Sounds like the beginings of a great AAR.

 

[Estonianzulu]

"What is it going to be then?"

I was sitting at a table, it was dark. It wasnt dark for any specific purpose, besides the lack of light. One could aruge that the lack of light is simply the existance of Dark. And that infact "Light" does not exist, and is only the abscence of dark, except for pockets of Light on the moon and the stars. Perhaps some natural or scientific magic keeps the dark hidden durning the day. But one could also be killed for questioning God's power in making it night. So one kept quite.

As I sat at the table I looked around the room. Where was I again? I couldnt remember yet. Someone was talking, but who I couldnt remember yet. Something about Prague, and a window... what was that, a defenestration. I didnt quite catch what the word meant, something to do with windows I presumed. Bishops, or priests, or mercenaries, or knights or kings, or something. Someone was thrown out a window, so it goes.

"What is it going to be then?"

It was a simple question, and it had a simple answer. What would my answer be? And why didnt I make it? Answers to questions, things that are done and made. Some questions are better left unanswered, this one however I didnt have the luxary of ignoring this one. At that moment a man came in, hurt. He sat next to the speaker, Him. Who was He? Why was He here?

He was the Emperor, thats right. The Emperor of Holy Rome, and all of Germany. What did he talk about? Oh that is right, blood.

"What is it going to be then?"

What was the question!

"Are you for us, or for them?" Karl Wilhelm said, pointing out the window, through the dark clouds, over the crowd, between the buildings and onto the gallows. It was a logical choice.

"Im with you, Emperor." I said, bowing my head. It was one day after the defenestration of Prague, and after the first rebellion was finally put down. Nearly 6 months after the Papal states abandoned the Counter-Protestant quest for neutrality and made an enemy of Spain. It was also months after the fall of Pfalz and Wurzburg to Luther.

It was also four months after the war on Wurzburg was declared. Why? Why were we at war? For simple reasons, money power wealth money faith and death. So that is why I was there. I was to command the invasion. No, I had commanded the invasion. I had won, or had I lost...

"Well?" He said...

"Well?"
The soldiers said. "Should we begin our attack?

 

[Estonianzulu]

"Well?" Asked the soldiers.
"Should we begin our attack?"
My answer was yes. It was June of 1618. Almost 5 months after the Window Incident. I was done with it. Done with war, done with murder, done with death. And I saw my neighbor leading the troops! Where were we, Prague I believe.

Yes, yes it was Prague. And these were not Catholics. Of course this gave us reason to brutally murder the whole lot of them. Or at least this is what He said. He thought we could just murder them all. He murdered people all the time. He thought it was ok. I didnt. But thats my job. Murdering people.

"Should we begin our attack!?" the Soldier demanded.

"Yes!, I said Yes!" I shouted. The soldier was taken aback. Shouting, he couldnt believe it. "No need to be angry, its just mass murder" He said calmly. "Its not like something we dont do all the time."

I took no notice of it. I lead the attack, I watched the smoke, I saw the blood. We won. Protestant rebels lie dead on the field... Bohemia was ours...

It was May of 1621. Bohemia was ours. The Protestant rebels who had murdered Catholic butchers who had murdered Protestant rebels. By october I would see the walls of Silesia under the Austrian banner once again. Victory, again and again.

He came to me.

"Ah, how wonderfull. We have defeated the Protestants in Wurzburg, taken back all the land these dirty rebels controlled, and mass murdered them while we were at it," he said calmly, "and you stopped those silly Northernmen from doing any real damage... but im a little upset about Hannover. Why didnt you defeat them?"

I stared blankly. "Umm..."
"Well?"
"I didnt command the Northern troops."
"What? Didnt I order you to mass murder the Protestants in Hannover?"
"No, those were the Swiss?"
"We were at war with the Swiss?" He asked, shocked.
"Umm yes, your Grace, your Father ordered the invasion of the mountains yourself..."
"No, no I didnt... or did we win that?"
"Errm im still fighting there."
"Oh... what about the North?"
"We ended the war with Brandenburg after your Grace defeated them in the Sudetenland."
"Oh yes! Well, keep up the good work, and mass murder those Protestants while your ahead!" He said calmly.

So in November, after months of harsh mountain winter, the city of Zurich fell to my troops. I got to see thousands murdered in the name of Catholicism. So it went. The banner of Catholicism once again flew above the Swiss Alps. And when He forgot to NOT murder the Swiss delegation that december people called it a scandal. How could they...