CHAPTER III: TRIPOLI
Part 1: My Muslim Brothers (1490-1495)
Looking Around
Alright, I know some of you are pretty down about Tripoli's chances. Granted we're not working with the Ottomans or any of the other big boys but, compared to Lan Xang, Tripoli is downright luxurious.
First, our leadership:
Again, not too bad and his heir is actually decent. My techs are 6/5/6 - much better than Lan Xang's 4/4/3. Our fleet's on the weak side however, and our army only has 3 regiments. Both need to strengthen if I'm going to do anything but cower.
Our big problems are Morocco and the Mamluks. Actually this reminds me a lot of Lofman's
Cyrenacia stuck between Carthage and Rome on the one hand, and Ptolemic Egypt on the other.
And it seems the Ottomans will be filling in for Lofman's Selucids as my long range supporter. Having the Ottos as an ally is a major boon, while Algiers and Yemen don't hurt. It looks like Yemen dragged me into a war on the Arabian peninsula. Yeah, let's not do that for awhile.
Neither Morocco nor the Mamluks hate me, which is good as I apparently have CBs on both of them. Sorry, unless one of them gets mauled in a war I'm setting my sights elsewhere...and what better place to start than my rivals?
Tunisia: Allied with Algiers, so not ideal. Then again, with a little player skill (hah!) I can keep ahead of both nations' armies. Problem: I don't have the cogs for a decent naval invasion, so hopefully Morocco will give me MA.
Cyprus: Allied with Mamluks. Oops.
Ragusa: A little larger than the others, and I would again have to deal with my lack of transports. Fought a war with Bosnia, and warned by the Ottos. Even if I won though, I'd have to convert their province. Hmm...
Oh! Tunis has a trade node? Sold!
I have a truce with Tunisia until December 1491, which gives me time to prepare. Morocco grants me MA pretty much instantly, and I take the mission to placate the Mamluks to keep them off my back. I then build 2 infantry to bring our army up to 5. The Tunisians have 1, Algiers 3.
In April we hit Admin-7, Noble Republics. This opens up a new idea slot, and like Lan Xang I take Offensive Ideas, because again I like the idea of +1 shock leaders. In fact, I activate the Bayonet Leaders idea (Offensive-1). One diplomat goes to Tunis to forge a claim, the other to the Mamluks to begin 'placating.'
September sees unruly mobs targetting unbelievers. In Mali I put a stop to that nonsense, but here I already have a +31 piety. Piety translates to army morale, and apparently stomping on unbelievers makes my army very happy. Go figure.
In February 1491, nobles warn me that my offensive ideas are offensive. I tell them not to be so defensive and lose a stability (at 0). For some reason this makes the Mamluks very happy, for they offer me an alliance. Yes, please!
I'm now allied with the two strongest Muslim powers on the board, completed my mission to placate said Mamluks, sign a royal marriage with them because they ask nicely, and take a new mission to get Morocco to like me more. We're already pretty cordial, but it doesn't hurt to try.
In May we forge our claim to Tunis. This is too much excitement for Sultan Muhammed, who dies leaving his somewhat more competent son in charge. I need to try to keep Thabit alive though, for his brother/son/cousin/other is a 4/0/1 waste of flesh. Thabit's first move is to sign off on Diplomacy-6, which means once I'm finished working off some aggression I can create an embassy.
Tunisia (Part 1)
On December 9, 1491, we declare war on Tunisia.
The Ottos, Mamluks and Yemen stays out of it. Algiers, on the other hand, sees which way the wind is blowing and joins our side. This means Tunisia stands alone. Their army marches into Algiers. After a short delay, because I didn't remember the AI likes to keep their armies at half maintenance, I attack Tunis and siege it in February.
There's really no surprise to it, no glory. 3 Algiers regiments join the siege in April just so they can share in the attrition, but with their port blockaded the Tunisians surrender by September. No half measures this time.
Algiers and Morocco aren't nearly as torqued off about this as you might expect. In fact, this is as close to bloodless as I've ever gotten. I don't have the Admin power to begin coring Tunis yet, but that's okay as they only have a 1% chance of revolting.
No, my new plan is to build two cogs. I've just noticed Cyprus has no allies anymore, so I'm going to go over and stomp on them. They have a Level 3 fort, so if I send 4 cogs over I should be able to land troops and (if needed) get out of the way of the Cypriot fleet.
Since I can't fabricate a claim though, I'll need to use 2 stability to start the war. This means I want 250 or so Admin to absorb the cost, as I really don't want to fall below 0 stab. Fortunately with Thabit around this is going to take just over a year, so I settle in and get comfortable through 1493.
January 1494 comes. I have the admin I wanted. Bring my fleets to Tunis, and....
...wait, what?
...How did I lose so many so...?
...
...
I'm okay. Just give me a minute.
...
...
THOSE F***ERS!
Tunisia (Part 2)
Sorry, no pictures. I think I was too stunned. Allow me to paint you a picture though. After 25 years of getting your butt handed to you in SE Asia, you're finally having a good run. One easy conquest - do I dare try for two in a five year span? Well, why not. I mean what can possibly go wrong
WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE PERCENT CHANCE OF A REVOLT AND A F***ING REVOLT SHOWS UP ANYWAY AND ROFLSTOMPS YOUR ENTIRE GOD DAMNED ARMY!
Get that valium away from me. I told you I'm fine.
So, 6K FRICKING Tunisian patriot rebels show up on my 5K army. By the time I hit pause they're down to 3K. I figure - OK, I'm going to lose, but I'll make them bleed first. Next thing I know my army is DESTROYED by these...
Storey, if you're out there, I found your Crimeans!
You know what? FINE. Cyprus gets a few years reprieve. I spend the next four months buying 5 mercenaries. Why mercs? Because I don't want to give these
CRIMEANS time to take my fricking city and start the Nationalism train of death! By May we're ready. March in. It's only now that I realize the Tunisians are being led by SHAKA F-ING ZULU'S ANCESTOR WHO HAS 6 SHOCK!
It used up my entire treasury to buy those 5 mercs who spend the rest of the year trying to find their stomped on, hollowed out ...PARTS... and I'm probably taking a metric s***load of loans next year to buy even more, because...
Johan's Dice:
Length of reign: 5 years
Roll to continue: 5
Continue? (Y/N): (Need 2+) Yes
THIS MEANS WAR!