Rise of the Illuminati - 1492-1792

[Morlac]

Originally posted by Dale
Website updated with the new parts of the story and some more screenshots.

http://www.crosswinds.net/~ctp2dale/eu/venice/venice.html

I thought I'd throw in a few cross-plots. What's people think of this style of writing? I've never written a story like this before. Is it all fitting in together?

Well, seeing as how it's very comparable in type and scope to my own efforts, I heartily approve! (Though in no way am I implying that your work is derivative--quite the contrary...)

I will warn you though that if you keep it up, the writing side can easily overshadow the game side of things--you can wind up spending far more time writing, researching, etc than actually playing the game.

My only suggestion would be that as time goes on, you might wish to add a list of Dramatis Personae to help the readers keep the characters straight in their minds. Not at all a problem yet, but after a hundred years or more, it might be.

Please keep it up!

 

[Dale]

Sorry I haven't updated for a while, but my copy of EU2 arrived in the mail last week.

Anyways, I will be spending time on this game, and will continue the AAR.

 

[Morlac]

Originally posted by Dale
Sorry I haven't updated for a while, but my copy of EU2 arrived in the mail last week.

Anyways, I will be spending time on this game, and will continue the AAR.

Noooooooo......

Resist the siren call of the sequel!

Seriously, I've had EU2 for about two months. Got it right before I started my EU1 AAR. Real life being what it is, I've had to postpone serious exploration of EU2 so that I can at least try to finish that EU1 game and its AAR. (Though admittedly, at my current rate of play and posting, I won't finish until sometime next year...)

Say it with me, Dale -- "Must finish AAR..."

 

[Dale]

Andre paced the floor of his office. It had been three months since Turkey/Algiers/Morocco had declared war on Mamelukes/Hedjaz. Andre had decided on a plan to bring Venice into the war against the Turk and regain some of their lost lands. Now all he needed was a good assassin.

His target would be extremely hard to get to. The son of the Doge was well guarded, but he was sure that Muhammad Ali would be able to fight off the guards and kill the son. But he was an innocent, and this played on Andre’s mind.

“He’s a casualty of war. It is for the greater good of Venice and the Illuminati. His death will be repaid ten-fold by the increase in revenues. It IS justifiable!”

“Muhammad Ali is here dear.”

“Thanks my love. By the way, don’t you think it’s time you left the mourning black gown in the wardrobe? Three months is honour enough to your father Fernando.”

“As you command,” his lovely wife bowed mockingly.

“Ahh…. Muhammad. You know the target?”

“Yes.”

“You can kill him?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

And so, in retaliation of the death of the Doge’s son, and in a fury that sent the Doge insane, Leonardo declared war on the entire Turkish alliance (Venice/Hungary/Moldavia vs. Turkey/Algiers/Morocco).

What follows is the War Diary of Venice:

Feb 06: Venice DOW Turkey. Venice/Hungary/Moldavia vs. Turkey/Algiers/Morocco
Mar 06: Venice sieges Albania
Mar 06: Hungary sieges Bulgaria
Mar 06: Judea & Samaria to Mameluks from Turkey
Jun 06: Venice captures Albania
Jun 06: Venice sieges Hellas
Jun 06: Algiers sieges Corfu
Jun 06: Poland-Lithuania & Russia make white peace
Jun 06: Turkey sieges Moldavia
Jul 06: Venice captures Hellas
Aug 06: Turkey sieges Cyprus
Aug 06: Venice sieges Macedonia
Oct 06: Venice captures Macedonia
Oct 06: Turkey captures Cyprus
Nov 06: Venice sieges Thrace
Feb 07: Algiers captures Corfu
Mar 07: Turkey sieges Crete
Apr 07: Hungary captures Bulgaria
May 07: Promoted to Marquis
May 07: Turkey captures Crete
Jul 07: Venice captures Thrace
Jan 08: Wessex & Calais to France from England
Mar 08: Venice sieges Cyprus
May 08: Moldavia annexed by Turkey
Aug 08: Bulgaria sieged by Turkey
Aug 08: Thrace sieged by Turkey
Sep 08: Venice regains Cyprus
Oct 08: Albania & Macedonia & 250 ducats (about 100 actually) to Venice from Turkey

At the end of it, though the Doge had won the war, the egg had been splattered over his face. Moldavia had been annexed by the Turks, Hungary though starting off well ended up facing annihilation before Venice’s armies were able to push the Turk back from her borders, and Venice proved it could not safely guarantee holding onto it’s island holdings. It was only the bravery of the navy, and the advancement of naval technology (naval 4 in May 1507) that allowed the Turkish navy to be defeated.

After the war, Venice started rebuilding it’s shattered army. Almost none remained after the island hopping operations in the Med, and the mainland army was similarly small. In total Venice had a remainder of about 15,000 troops spread over two islands and Macedonia. Venice had almost no artillery left after the Turks constant skirmishes had cut them down in the field. And worst of all for Venice, the Doge had gone completely mad during the war.

Leonardo at least heeded the advice of the Knights and decided against an immediate invasion of Austria. Such an act would have destroyed Venice. As for the Knights, their popularity had diminished severely. Many peasants of Venice had lost sons and husbands in the war. Venetian losses totalled approximately twice that of the Turks. And once again, the infidels had ravaged the island populations of Corfu, Crete and Cyprus.

Andre was a happy man come January 1510. He had done part of what he’d set out to do. He had regained most of Venice’s Med lands, destroyed the hold of the Knights over Venice, and rendered a Doge insane. Very soon, the Doge would need help, and he was sure that the Merchant Guild could provide all he needed and more……… for a price.

 

[Dale]

Website updated with story and new screenshot:

http://www.crosswinds.net/~ctp2dale/eu/venice/venice.html

 

[unmerged(9191)]

Im still confused about the knights.

Were they your allies or just someone who DoW'd Turkey the same time you did.

I like'd this update alot more, good story, but it never overshawdow'd the game itslelf.

 

[Dale]

IA:

Sorry, I probably should've made it a bit clearer game-wise about the Knights. In actuality, I'm only using them as a "baddy" in my game. As you'll see in the next installment (should be able to do that tonight OZ-time) the Illuminati get their revenge on the Knights.

The Knights are in their standard alliance of Knights/Italian minors.

I can't say too much without giving the story away, but when I post the next installment, you'll see that Venice changes tact and does something it shouldn't really do. I always had in mind to do it, and I needed to find a way to drag that scenario into the story. As it happened, I had the Knights who love crusades against the Turks, and just made them a baddy.

A bit obscure I know, but wait till the next update.

 

[Morlac]

Ah, an update! Glad to see we haven't lost you entirely to real life and EU2...

<chuckle> Muhammad Ali, huh? I'm surprised you didn't toss in a few of his colorful phrases...

I've never played far as Venice. I have often wondered whether it might not be a good strategy (though tricky to pull off) to intentionally lose the islands after gaining some territory on the continent (preferably something adjacent to your existing holdings). Protecting the islands is a monstrous pain, as it forces you to be a naval power, which in turn consumes a big chunk of your already limited resources.

 

[Dale]

Yes, it definitely is a MASSIVE pain in the rear to have to defend those islands, but they give a good jumping point to Africa.

 

[unmerged(9191)]

I've never got far with Venice either. I either get bored waiting for the turks to do something where I can capitalize. Go broke. Or get kicked around the block.

 

[Dale]

IA:

I hate to spoil the story, but I'm actually doing really well as Venice, well the best I've ever done with them anyways. In play, I'm at 1543 and I've just finished the first BB war (what I like to call the "warning" BB war where only the top two alliances DOW you) and was able to hold them off. Spain and I are continually swapping first place in the points. It's all going to plan as you'll see soon.

 

[Dale]

1509 – 1519: A decade of peace and prosperity

With the insanity of the Doge, Leonardo Loredano, and the ex-communication of the Knights from Venice, the day-to-day ruling fell to the Council. For almost a complete decade, the Council ruled with peace, prosperity and trade in mind. After nearly 15 years of war, Venice needed a breath of fresh air within. And Venice prospered.

Under the new mercantile oriented administration, the Illuminati also prospered. As most of the patrons were from the Merchants Guild, their personal wealth increased from the policies of the Council, subsequently allowing more funds to be available to the Illuminati. The order was able to establish and solidify chapters in every province of Venice. In this ten years alone, membership in the Illuminati increased 5-fold. Through Andre’s political alertness, and his superior intellect, he was able to influence the membership of the Council until the Illuminati had an 80% majority vote. He was able to accomplish this through simple economics. Many of Venice’s Council-members needed money to support their personal extravagances, and it was the Illuminati who provided those loans. When the Council-members couldn’t repay them, the members had to sign their seats over to Illuminati members. The Illuminati were now the single most powerful organisation in Venice, and maybe even south-eastern Europe.

Due to increasing inflation and infrastructure costs, research into infrastructure dominated the decade, with increases in 1511 (infra 3) and 1515 (infra 4). It was also a decade of trade, with merchants being sent through Europe to establish a strong (level 3+) Venetian presence in all Mediterranean and almost all European centres of trade. With the new Council policy of not trying to maintain a monopoly in Venice (got fed up with the auto-send continually wasting merchants in Venice), trade actually increased dramatically even though we only had 5 merchants at home.

The world outside of Venice’s peaceful borders progressed as well. From the Foreign Department’s archives:

Jan 09: Kurland to Russia from Teutonic Order
Jun 09: rebels capture Odenburg
Jun 09: Venice sieges Odenburg
Aug 09: Venice captures Odenburg
May 10: Russia DOW Golden Horde. Russia/Crimea/Denmark/Ryazan vs. Golden Horde/Astrakhan
Nov 10: Astrakhan pays off Crimea
Apr 11: Saratow to Ryazan from Golden Horde
Jun 11: RM with Helvetia
Aug 11: Golden Horde pays off Crimea
Aug 11: Kujbyschew to Russia from Golden Horde
Apr 12: Poland-Lithuania DOW Crimea. Poland-Lithuania/Spain/Milan/Cologne/Hessen vs. Crimea/Russia
Jun 13: Astrakhan pays off Russia
Jan 15: Protestant reformation
Jul 17: RM with Hungary
Oct 17: Modena DOW Milan. Modena/Tuscany/Knights vs. Milan/Spain/Cologne/Hessen/Poland-Lithuania
May 18: Modena annexes Milan
Jun 18: Vorones to Russia from Poland-Lithuania
Oct 18: Renewed alliance with Hungary

With Milan annexed by Modena in 1517, it put the alliance partners of the Knights on our Mantuan border. Andre smiled as he looked at the current political map. He traced a route with his finger from Mantua through Milan, Modena, Luca and Tuscany.

“That would leave the Knights friendless, powerless, and also show them that Venice is not to be trifled with! I will avenge you Fernando!”

Fernando’s final wish was about to be full-filled………

 

[Morlac]

Hmm, the Knights are going to find out what payback tastes like, eh? Go Andre!

 

[unmerged(3464)]

GIVE ME MORE
I'm enjoying the AAR keep it up Dale.

 

[unmerged(9191)]

STOP TEASING US... MORE

 

[Dale]

Thanks Morlac, Robb and IA.

Here follows the next bit.............

 

[Dale]

Augustino’s revenge:

At the age of 34, anyone would call Andre mature. But you would never guess that, if you watched him playing with his daughter Andrea. At the age of 16 Andrea was already conversant in Italian, Austrian, Hungarian and Turkish. She could name the nations and leaders of every country in the known would, recite alliances and Royal ties of nations, and she could haggle like a fish-wife. Andre was proud of Andrea.

“Fernando, the daughter of your daughter will bring Venice to glory one day,” Andre prayed silently.

A messenger from the Council interrupted Andre’s musings. “Yes boy, are the votes in?”

“Aye, after the evidence presentation of Messer Barrichello, the vote was unanimous.”

“YES! So Barrichello showed the surgeon’s report showing that Augustino died of poisioning? And the confessional Fernando extracted from the Church archives?”

“Yes My Lord, though there was some question as to how the Honourable Fernando acquired such a confessional. But yes, all the evidence was presented and accepted as fact.”

“Did we receive word from the Hungarians?”

“Yes, they fully back us.”

“Excellent. So they issued the full proclamation that I drew up for them?”

“To the letter My Lord.”

“Good. Tell the Council that the Merchant Guild fully supports ‘Augustino’s Revenge’.”

“As you command.”

 

[Dale]

Andre’s Proclamation to the Knights of St John:

Insolent Knaves,

Let it be known, that as of this reading, a state of WAR exists between Venice and the Knights of St John alliance. Venice will strip the Knights of St John of every friend, of every honour, of every victory. What the Turks could not achieve, we will. Venice will leave the Knights of St John alone, poor and surrounded by hostility. To show the ultimate insult to the Knaves of St John, we wage this war not against the Knights, but against their puppets. Venice also wages this war not with the help of allies, but solely. The world will know of St John’s betrayal by the Knights. No Catholic nation will ever allow their strings to be pulled by the Knaves of St John.

Signed this 1st day of February in the Year of Our Lord, 1519.
The Venetian Council

What follows is General Florentine’s brief to the Venetian Council:

Feb 1519: Venice DOW Knights. Venice vs. Knights/Modena/Tuscany
Feb 19: Donetesk & Bessarabia to Poland-Lithuania from Crimea
Mar 19: Venice sieges Milan
Jul 19: France DOW Lorraine. France/Genoa vs. Lorraine
Aug 19: Venice captures Milan
Sep 19: Venice sieges Modena
Sep 19: France pays off Lorraine
Dec 19: Venice sieges Luca
Dec 19: Spain captures Modena
Dec 19: Milan to Venice, Modena to Spain from Modena
Jan 20: Venice pushed out of Luca
Feb 20: Venice sieges Florence
Aug 20: Turkey DOW Mameluks. Turkey/Aden/Nubia vs. Mameluks
Jan 21: Antonio Grimani reigns
Apr 21: Tuscany sieges Milan
Aug 21: Sweden DOW Teutonic Order. Sweden/Scotland/England/Denmark vs. Teutonic Order/Prussia
Nov 21: Tuscany captures Milan
Nov 21: Venice captures Florence
Dec 21: Venice sieges Luca
Dec 21: Tuscany sieges Mantua
Mar 22: Venice captures Luca
Apr 22: Modena & money to Tuscany from Spain
May 22: Venice sieges Modena
Jul 22: Spain DOW Aztec
Sep 22: Venice captures Modena
Oct 22: Modena & Luca to Venice from Tuscany

On the 13th January 1521, Andre received a summons from the palace. The Doge had requested his presence. When Andre arrived at the Doge’s palace, he was led to his bed. The Doge was very sick, obviously in his last moments. Leonardo slowly opened his eyes, looked up at Andre and took his hand. His voice was deathly quiet, and he was as pale as new-fallen snow.

“Good merchant Andre, I’m glad you came. My advisors tell me that there is but one person in all of Venice gifted with the grace of rulership. My Soothsayer foresees Venice’s glory in their eyes. That is why I’m going to ask this of you. Train your daughter Andrea in the art of international politics and rulership. She is to be the next Doge of Venice.”

“But My Lord…..”

“No Andre, my time on this earth is done, and now I must pay penance for my betrayal of Venice to the Knights of St John. My military advisor has fully briefed me in the Council’s war against their alliance, and though I still feel heartstrings being pulled in their sympathy, I can understand why it must be done. Venice MUST survive Andre, and only a pure heart and mind like your daughters can lead us through this dark time of Europe. We may have taught the Turks a lesson, but the rest of Europe looks hostilely at us for our domination of the southern trade routes.”

“My Lord, I would be honoured,” Andre kissed the Doge’s hand.

In Leonardo’s final moments, and completely over his insanity at last, the Doge handed Andre a sheet of parchment, “Here is my final wish and proclamation: Until such time that Andrea Algarve is fit to rule by right of age, my Chief Advisor Antonio Grimani will act as regent. This I proclaim as the rightful Doge of Venice, this 13th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1521.”

“My Lord, this is the most honourable act you have performed as Doge. For this one act do I atone you of your previous deeds,” Andre wept.

“Thankyou. Glory be to Venice………” and with that Leonardo closed his eyes and breathed for the final time.

“Glory be to Venice, Glory be to Leonardo Loredano, Doge of Venice.”

RIP:
Leonardo Loredano, Doge of Venice: died January 1521

 

[Dale]

Website has been redesigned to allow for more than one page. The address is still the same, just the layout is now spread across pages. If you're up-to-date with reading, the latest two posts are the start of page 2.

http://www.crosswinds.net/~ctp2dale/eu/venice/venice.html

 

[Morlac]

Nice work, as always.

Interesting to see Modena kicked around like a football like that!