Stroph, good work as usual. I can host a few screens for you for now, if you want. I have some space available, but not enough for the 'many' you described
PM me if you're interested.
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PM me if you're interested.
Screenies are on the way......
LD has graciously offered to host some screenies. I will get them up soon. Not sure if there will be an update today as it is my 1 year wedding anniversary. I would like to live to tomorrow....
LD has graciously offered to host some screenies. I will get them up soon. Not sure if there will be an update today as it is my 1 year wedding anniversary. I would like to live to tomorrow....
So... What kind of ring did you give your wife? Elvish? Dwarfish? Human?
Oh no..... Not that! Don't tell me she has the One Ring! The one that curses you with kids and big family cars!!!
Best of Luck man.
PS: If you manage to slip away tomorrow for a few minutes to have a beer, don't forget to post here while drinking. We all do that. :
Oh no..... Not that!
Don't tell me she has the One Ring! The one that curses you with kids and big family cars!!! Best of Luck man.PS: If you manage to slip away tomorrow for a few minutes to have a beer, don't forget to post here while drinking. We all do that. :
I survived!
LD had agreed to host a few pix for this AAR (thanks LD!). So, now the question is, what needs to be seen. We have gone pretty far so I am not sure what you want to see. What I plan to do is show 4 or so pix now and gradually phase them out with new pix as the story moves along. So, requests.....
LD had agreed to host a few pix for this AAR (thanks LD!). So, now the question is, what needs to be seen. We have gone pretty far so I am not sure what you want to see. What I plan to do is show 4 or so pix now and gradually phase them out with new pix as the story moves along. So, requests.....
You have been busy since I have been gone, Stroph. Good work. Oh, and good job surviving your anniversary.
Thank you SM.
Tonight (if wife and daughter give me time), the story progresses.....
Tonight (if wife and daughter give me time), the story progresses.....
I guess the obvious one to start with is a current one.
Then maybe space the others out going part way back through the story. Or do before and after shots of the wars.
OOC:
Dear Readers,
I appologize for the uncharacteristic slowness of this AAR of late. RL interferred big-time this week. I will get back on track this weekend!
Dear Readers,
I appologize for the uncharacteristic slowness of this AAR of late. RL interferred big-time this week. I will get back on track this weekend!
The One Ring, Part 4:
The Great War of Swedish Aggression had ended. Pskov had made huge strides towards establishing itself as THE regional power. Nations throughout the region feared the power and cruelty of the Patriarch's armies.
But still all was not right.
In March of 1541, people throughout the nation whispered excitedly to one another. The rumor mills were churning full speed.
The rumor was that the Patriarch had taken bribes from Ukraine! Stability plummeted. People from one end of Pskov to the other began to believe that the great Patriarch, the religious ICON that had led the nation to the brink of greatness, was weak, was mortal, was "human."
Luckily, within a few weeks, the truth of the matter emerged. A minor nobleman by the name of Josef Patrick of the Arch came forward. It seemed he had been the noble involved in the sordid affair with Ukraine. Josef was hung and relations with Ukraine dipped, but stability returned to the nation.
In 1542, a young Italian (Benito Allegroni) full of ideas came before the Patriarch. He had tried to sell his ideas to the French court and had been laughed out of Paris. In desperation, the man had spent his last sou to get to the great court of the Patriarch. Now he presented his ideas to the leader of Pskov. The Patriarch was impressed and agreed to finance the man and his ideas.
In December of that year, Allegroni came up with another idea. I called for all the great nobles who farmed together for a meeting. If they worked together they could multiply their profits! The idea was revolutionary. Vodka production spiked to a new high and the profits increased 60% in one year alone.
In 1543, the cities sent a petition to the Patriarch demanding a return of some of their ancient rights that had been temporarily ceded to the state during times of war.
The bodies of 46 nobles hung on the gates of the capital until the spring.
In 1544, another Italian, Doniteli Joskini, came before the Patriarch. He had a revolutionary new method of drill for the troops. It involved extreme physical activity. During the demonstration before the Patriarch, three of the soldiers collapsed from the drill and one died. The Patriarch was impressed and the drill instructor was hired, even though it necessitated a loan to pay him.
In 1545, word reached Pskov that the Moghul Empire was annexed by the religious fanatics in Uzbek. Religious extremism was not native to only Pskov!
Later that year, some very foolish nobles came before the Patriarch and demanded increased pensions. The Patriarch responded by serving them the hearts of their wives and then feeding them to the wolves. Stability dropped.
The Patriarch smiled.
He sent a note to the remaining nobles suggesting a nice gift to the state was in order for penance for the misdeeds of their comrades. A great weapons manufactory was donated by the good nobles of Tula.
The Patriarch smiled.
In March of 1548, the Patriarch reopened the War with Russia. His armies easily swept aside the Czar's frontier forces and began siege operations. A meteor blazed across the sky in August, but the Patriarch told his nation that was only a sign that they were blessed. The people doubted this when a few months later word came from the West of a great religious leader named Calvin. By 1553, war fatigue began to be felt across the land. The Patriarch preached to his nation to stay the course. No avail. In late 1553, the Russians signed a treaty with Pskov ending the war and ceding Pskov the province of Ufa. While not a great victory, the war did continue to weaken the Russians and build our power base.
The Great War of Swedish Aggression had ended. Pskov had made huge strides towards establishing itself as THE regional power. Nations throughout the region feared the power and cruelty of the Patriarch's armies.
But still all was not right.
In March of 1541, people throughout the nation whispered excitedly to one another. The rumor mills were churning full speed.
The rumor was that the Patriarch had taken bribes from Ukraine! Stability plummeted. People from one end of Pskov to the other began to believe that the great Patriarch, the religious ICON that had led the nation to the brink of greatness, was weak, was mortal, was "human."
Luckily, within a few weeks, the truth of the matter emerged. A minor nobleman by the name of Josef Patrick of the Arch came forward. It seemed he had been the noble involved in the sordid affair with Ukraine. Josef was hung and relations with Ukraine dipped, but stability returned to the nation.
In 1542, a young Italian (Benito Allegroni) full of ideas came before the Patriarch. He had tried to sell his ideas to the French court and had been laughed out of Paris. In desperation, the man had spent his last sou to get to the great court of the Patriarch. Now he presented his ideas to the leader of Pskov. The Patriarch was impressed and agreed to finance the man and his ideas.
In December of that year, Allegroni came up with another idea. I called for all the great nobles who farmed together for a meeting. If they worked together they could multiply their profits! The idea was revolutionary. Vodka production spiked to a new high and the profits increased 60% in one year alone.
In 1543, the cities sent a petition to the Patriarch demanding a return of some of their ancient rights that had been temporarily ceded to the state during times of war.
The bodies of 46 nobles hung on the gates of the capital until the spring.
In 1544, another Italian, Doniteli Joskini, came before the Patriarch. He had a revolutionary new method of drill for the troops. It involved extreme physical activity. During the demonstration before the Patriarch, three of the soldiers collapsed from the drill and one died. The Patriarch was impressed and the drill instructor was hired, even though it necessitated a loan to pay him.
In 1545, word reached Pskov that the Moghul Empire was annexed by the religious fanatics in Uzbek. Religious extremism was not native to only Pskov!
Later that year, some very foolish nobles came before the Patriarch and demanded increased pensions. The Patriarch responded by serving them the hearts of their wives and then feeding them to the wolves. Stability dropped.
The Patriarch smiled.
He sent a note to the remaining nobles suggesting a nice gift to the state was in order for penance for the misdeeds of their comrades. A great weapons manufactory was donated by the good nobles of Tula.
The Patriarch smiled.
In March of 1548, the Patriarch reopened the War with Russia. His armies easily swept aside the Czar's frontier forces and began siege operations. A meteor blazed across the sky in August, but the Patriarch told his nation that was only a sign that they were blessed. The people doubted this when a few months later word came from the West of a great religious leader named Calvin. By 1553, war fatigue began to be felt across the land. The Patriarch preached to his nation to stay the course. No avail. In late 1553, the Russians signed a treaty with Pskov ending the war and ceding Pskov the province of Ufa. While not a great victory, the war did continue to weaken the Russians and build our power base.
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The One Ring, Part 5:
After the latest victory over the fading Russians, the Patriarch called his advisors before him and spoke in a quiet, menacing voice:
"My Children, please explain to me how I have taken every piece of land held by the detested Russians save for their capital but still they continue to live and grow?"
"Oh Most Holy of Holies, the reason is not an easy once to discern, but as our most blessed and glorious armies have moved into Russian lands at your behest, the most evil and vile Russians have been expanding into lands held by the Golden Horde. They take from the horde and we liberate from them."
"In our next war, we will take all of Russia. If we fail, you, my most loyal advisors, will be fed to the maggots."
Thus the advisors went away. They instructed their troops that in the next contest, all must be taken. They sent spies into the land of the Horde to scout out the land and prepare the way for our legions when they moved in to liberate this land.
In 1554, the Nobles from former Lithuanian lands once again came before the Patriarch and demanded of him former rights they had ceded to the Patriarch in the past. Perhaps these nobles saw perceived some weakness in the Patriarch?
The response was as before and the former Lithuanian lands had new nobles to administer their lands.
The Patriarch smiled.
In 1557, the Patriarch demanded of his generals new advances in preparation for our next war with Russia. Land 6 was achieved on the last day of 1557.
The Patriarch smiled.
On March 4, 1558, the Patriarch reopened the war with Russia. His newly inspired legions swept into the lands of the Czar. Quickly, sieges were started in all Russian lands. This time, the generals sent two armies on into lands held by the Golden Horde that the Russians had taken.
This time there was no quarter.
This time there was no hesitation.
This time there was no doubt.
On August 7, 1559, peace was signed by the broken Czar. Pskov took the lands of Lugansk and Saratow. The mighty Russian state had been reduced to simply the lands around Moscow.
The Patriarch smiled.
After the latest victory over the fading Russians, the Patriarch called his advisors before him and spoke in a quiet, menacing voice:
"My Children, please explain to me how I have taken every piece of land held by the detested Russians save for their capital but still they continue to live and grow?"
"Oh Most Holy of Holies, the reason is not an easy once to discern, but as our most blessed and glorious armies have moved into Russian lands at your behest, the most evil and vile Russians have been expanding into lands held by the Golden Horde. They take from the horde and we liberate from them."
"In our next war, we will take all of Russia. If we fail, you, my most loyal advisors, will be fed to the maggots."
Thus the advisors went away. They instructed their troops that in the next contest, all must be taken. They sent spies into the land of the Horde to scout out the land and prepare the way for our legions when they moved in to liberate this land.
In 1554, the Nobles from former Lithuanian lands once again came before the Patriarch and demanded of him former rights they had ceded to the Patriarch in the past. Perhaps these nobles saw perceived some weakness in the Patriarch?
The response was as before and the former Lithuanian lands had new nobles to administer their lands.
The Patriarch smiled.
In 1557, the Patriarch demanded of his generals new advances in preparation for our next war with Russia. Land 6 was achieved on the last day of 1557.
The Patriarch smiled.
On March 4, 1558, the Patriarch reopened the war with Russia. His newly inspired legions swept into the lands of the Czar. Quickly, sieges were started in all Russian lands. This time, the generals sent two armies on into lands held by the Golden Horde that the Russians had taken.
This time there was no quarter.
This time there was no hesitation.
This time there was no doubt.
On August 7, 1559, peace was signed by the broken Czar. Pskov took the lands of Lugansk and Saratow. The mighty Russian state had been reduced to simply the lands around Moscow.
The Patriarch smiled.
Hmmm.... Something crossed my mind... Why don't the nobles rebel against the Patriarch? I mean, when rulers before him acted as cruel as he then they regularly died sooner or later. The advisors who were threatened to be killed if they don't take the Russians probably should turn against him once they don't succeed (and they didn't actually take the WHOLE of Russia - the capital is still left).
Or the Patriarch is just so evil that they don't dare?
OK, although I know it's impossible for the Patriarch to get assassined (because of the way things are set in the EU), but there should be revolts against him. Or perhaps the "good countries" of Europe should take up arms against him...
Or the Patriarch is just so evil that they don't dare?
OK, although I know it's impossible for the Patriarch to get assassined (because of the way things are set in the EU), but there should be revolts against him. Or perhaps the "good countries" of Europe should take up arms against him...
Juszuf,
All will be answered soon. (Can't give away future plot elements -- spent too much writing setting them up!)
All will be answered soon. (Can't give away future plot elements -- spent too much writing setting them up!)
Dear readers,
Here are the first of several screenies. This is the situation just prior to the latest Russo-Pskovian war. Kazan to the East just achieved independence (again). Lots of pretty gray....
* picture used with permission of JS Studios
Here are the first of several screenies. This is the situation just prior to the latest Russo-Pskovian war. Kazan to the East just achieved independence (again). Lots of pretty gray....
* picture used with permission of JS Studios
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Nice! But what's that white spot in Ingermanland? Austria? Otherwise, you only need now to get rid of Muscovy and invade the Goledn Horde. Once you have access to the Siberian corridor, you'll have much to do....
The One ring, Part 6:
With Russia on the verge on becoming a footnote in history, the Patriarch paused to look around his world. His loyal vassal, the Teutonic Order, decided to morph into Courland. This concerned the Patriarch greatly until he determined that they remained loyal to their master.
In 1562, there was a boundary dispute with Lithuania. While the weakly held territories of the Lithuanians looked very tempting, the Patriarch remained committed to his goal of uniting Russians under his benevolent rule. He continued to ready his military for the Holy War.
In 1563, the unholy Persians attempted to buy influence in the political world of the Patriarch.
Bad Move.
The Patriarch eliminated all nobles implicated in the plot. He sent his army to ruthlessly put down the unrest that followed. The carnage resulted in the loss of thousands of Pskovians who had done nothing more then look crooked. The army fanned out and went door to door, arresting any it felt like. The population quaked under the heavy hand of the Patriarch but did nothing more.
The Patriarch smiled.
In 1566, these nobles who had survived the Great Purge of 63 tried to rise up in open revolt.
Again, the army was loyal to the Patriarch.
Again the opposition was crushed.
Again the Patriarch smiled.
These internal operations were good training for the army and Land 7 was reached in 1567. This was followed later that year with a bout of enthusiasm for the army by those elements most loyal to the Patriarch.
Around this time the Poles and the Lithuanians merged their two nations into one.
One enemy.
The Patriarch ordered the army reformed to counter the threat of the Poles and Land 8 was reached.
The Patriarch smiled.
On August 8, 1571, the armies of the Patriarch, fresh with new recruits eager to finish the Russians once and for all, poured over the borders. There was no Russian army and the operation became a march and a romp. On December 20, 1771, the capital of Russia surrendered. Five days later, the Patriarch ordered the Russian state annexed. Russia no longer existed. Pskov was triumphant.
The Patriarch smiled.
With Russia on the verge on becoming a footnote in history, the Patriarch paused to look around his world. His loyal vassal, the Teutonic Order, decided to morph into Courland. This concerned the Patriarch greatly until he determined that they remained loyal to their master.
In 1562, there was a boundary dispute with Lithuania. While the weakly held territories of the Lithuanians looked very tempting, the Patriarch remained committed to his goal of uniting Russians under his benevolent rule. He continued to ready his military for the Holy War.
In 1563, the unholy Persians attempted to buy influence in the political world of the Patriarch.
Bad Move.
The Patriarch eliminated all nobles implicated in the plot. He sent his army to ruthlessly put down the unrest that followed. The carnage resulted in the loss of thousands of Pskovians who had done nothing more then look crooked. The army fanned out and went door to door, arresting any it felt like. The population quaked under the heavy hand of the Patriarch but did nothing more.
The Patriarch smiled.
In 1566, these nobles who had survived the Great Purge of 63 tried to rise up in open revolt.
Again, the army was loyal to the Patriarch.
Again the opposition was crushed.
Again the Patriarch smiled.
These internal operations were good training for the army and Land 7 was reached in 1567. This was followed later that year with a bout of enthusiasm for the army by those elements most loyal to the Patriarch.
Around this time the Poles and the Lithuanians merged their two nations into one.
One enemy.
The Patriarch ordered the army reformed to counter the threat of the Poles and Land 8 was reached.
The Patriarch smiled.
On August 8, 1571, the armies of the Patriarch, fresh with new recruits eager to finish the Russians once and for all, poured over the borders. There was no Russian army and the operation became a march and a romp. On December 20, 1771, the capital of Russia surrendered. Five days later, the Patriarch ordered the Russian state annexed. Russia no longer existed. Pskov was triumphant.
The Patriarch smiled.
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Eochaid,
Did not mean to ignore your reply. You must have typed it in while I was working on my next entry!
The white spot in the sea of Gray is the reborn Novgorad that formed. I annexed Novgorad a while back. In one of the early Muscovy Wars, Ingermanland was cut off from the rest of Muscovy. It was in rebellion and I hoped it would join the good guys. But, alas, it choose to reform Novgorad. I made them my vassals and pretty much ignored them. The Swedes keep attacking them and it has been giving me opportunities when I defend my ally!
I agree that going East would be the logical thing to do. When I form Russia, I will spell out my new rules and what I will try to do next...
Did not mean to ignore your reply. You must have typed it in while I was working on my next entry!
The white spot in the sea of Gray is the reborn Novgorad that formed. I annexed Novgorad a while back. In one of the early Muscovy Wars, Ingermanland was cut off from the rest of Muscovy. It was in rebellion and I hoped it would join the good guys. But, alas, it choose to reform Novgorad. I made them my vassals and pretty much ignored them. The Swedes keep attacking them and it has been giving me opportunities when I defend my ally!
I agree that going East would be the logical thing to do. When I form Russia, I will spell out my new rules and what I will try to do next...
Well you should already have formed Russia... Back in 1520... Didn't you have the event? 'Coz it sure gives you a lot of CB shields.
Eochaid,
Actually, Muscovy formed Russia back in 1521 in the middle of one of Russo-Pskovian Wars. Never fear, I have a haunting suspicion that the title of Russia may soon open up....
I believe you must own Muscovy and be one of the Russian states after 1521 in order to have the option of forming Russia.
Actually, Muscovy formed Russia back in 1521 in the middle of one of Russo-Pskovian Wars. Never fear, I have a haunting suspicion that the title of Russia may soon open up....
I believe you must own Muscovy and be one of the Russian states after 1521 in order to have the option of forming Russia.
The One Ring, Part 7:
The Patriarch was triumphant. Pskov had conquered all. Russia aka Muscovy no longer existed.
The Patriarch smiled.
The Patriarch led the Pskovian armies into the Russian capital. He ordered the Czar brought before him. He forced the Czar to bend his news and swear servitude to the Patriarch. He forced him to swear before God above that only the Patriarch could command him. Only the Patriarch could order him.
The scene was one for the history books. The leader of the Orthodox Church was on one knee. Around the Patriarch were the nobles of Pskov. Behind them were the Russian nobles.
Near the end of the ceremony, the Patriarch demanded that all swear total allegiance to the Patriarch even above God on high.
At that moment, all hell broke loose....
The Patriarch was triumphant. Pskov had conquered all. Russia aka Muscovy no longer existed.
The Patriarch smiled.
The Patriarch led the Pskovian armies into the Russian capital. He ordered the Czar brought before him. He forced the Czar to bend his news and swear servitude to the Patriarch. He forced him to swear before God above that only the Patriarch could command him. Only the Patriarch could order him.
The scene was one for the history books. The leader of the Orthodox Church was on one knee. Around the Patriarch were the nobles of Pskov. Behind them were the Russian nobles.
Near the end of the ceremony, the Patriarch demanded that all swear total allegiance to the Patriarch even above God on high.
At that moment, all hell broke loose....