Stranded - A Nuova Italia AAR

[blklizard]

Revolution! Kill the traitors! Long live the Doge Republic!

Lol, no one betrayed Nuova Italia just yet.

I knew the assassination would fail. They should've used a nuke.

The attempt isn't over but, if it did, we cannot be certain if a nuke could do the job. Michelangelo might have the resilience of a cockroach.

I'm hoping that when they burst into the doge's quarters, Michelangelo isn't even there. He's probably recovering on some tropical island drinking martinis.

Or he could be hiding under his covers hoping it's a bad dream.

Chapter 425

The numbers for both sides were dropping steadily until there was only a handful of men for both sides. The grenades and element of surprise had given the mercenaries a significant edge over the Doge's personal guards but, as the battle dragged out, it was becoming obvious that the mercenaries were losing due to less skills in hand to hand combat. With four mercenaries facing seven personal guards, the battle had been decided. One of the personal guards suggested the mercenaries should surrender but the response he got was the mercenaries attacking them in desperation.

Once the last mercenary was cut down, the personal guards checked on their Doge who had remained in his quarters the entire time. They had expected Michelangelo to be terrified of this incident but the voice speaking to them suggested otherwise. The Doge stated that he thanked the efforts of his personal guards and promised a generous reward for the survivors of the incident along with the families of the fallen guards. Michelangelo said that he was tired and wished to rest. He would have the guards deal with the bodies and organize new guards to take the place of the deceased ones.

The remaining personal guards worked quickly to alert the guards in the lower levels to bolster their ranks and help them remove the bodies. The bodies of the mercenaries were carried off to the physicians who stayed in the palace. The corpses were cleaned and were identified to the best of the abilities of the specialists who were called in the next day. Unfortunately, these men were known to be mercenaries who accepted jobs if the price was right or the cause was, in their opinion, just. Apparently, the assassination of Michelangelo met the requirements of their just cause.

Because the mercenaries operated largely in the darkness, the Doge and his advisers were unable to find the employers of these men. There were suspicions that the Trade faction was involved but, without any evidence, pointing fingers could have catastrophic impacts. Those who were involved decided to lay low and let the incident pass. They couldn't believe the mercenaries failed and could only conclude that the Doge was paranoid enough to have an enormous bodyguard contingent outside his quarters. Some even questioned if the Doge was actually mentally ill as opposed to physically ill.

 

[Cityracer]

I hope the Doge is mentally and physically ill. Perhaps he's suffering from Bubonic plague and Dementia.

 

[blklizard]

I hope the Doge is mentally and physically ill. Perhaps he's suffering from Bubonic plague and Dementia.

A crazy, dying Doge who refused to go to his grave.

Chapter 426

While things were settling down regarding the recent assassination attempt on Michelangelo, a woman stepped off a ship and walked quietly back to her home. She had lost everything that mattered in the last few months and she was very grateful to still have a home to return to. The woman felt so empty with the death of her husband and nothing could numb the pain reminding her constantly that Sini was indeed gone. The love of her life was taken away from her and the culprit was the current Doge of Nuova Italia. At first, she only had suspicions that Michelangelo might be involved in all of this. Later, she found evidence in a report prepared by one of the mercenaries who was killed by the natives.

The discovery gave Camilia the burning desire of avenging her husband. As soon as she returned to the capital, Camilia heard about an assassination attempt. When she heard there was an assassination attempt on the Doge, she was torn about the outcome of the attempt. Part of her hoped the attempt succeeded with a new Doge taking power. She just couldn't see a man more evil than Michelangelo that could take over and rule over the Republic. The other part of her prayed for failure since she wished to be instrumental in the death of Michelangelo. There was nothing better than killing the man herself, whether directly or indirectly, in her desire for revenge.

Camilia's family was shocked to see her return. They were used to seeing her only a few times a year so they weren't expecting her back so early. When they heard about Sini's death, they quickly offered their condolences and tried to comfort Camilia. Yet, she only wanted to stay in her room where she could continue grieving over her deceased husband. Camilia only left her room for washroom breaks and meals which got her family very worried. As much as they worried about her, the family members just didn't know how to comfort her after losing someone so dear. They hoped to give her some space so she could slowly recover.

A month later, she was opening up to her family but the grief was still obvious in her eyes. Camilia's sister suggested that she go meet some people to help her recover sooner. Meeting new people could do wonders to Camilia who had been more or less secluded on the seas. She only had a few friends and mostly spent her time with Sini on the ship. Camilia was reluctant at first but her sister's persistence eventually saw Camilia meeting some people in public places like taverns. One day, Camilia met a man who would change her life forever and bring her in contact with a person who would become her confidant.

 

[Michaelangelo]

No puny mercenaries can take down Michelangelo! He's invincible!

 

[Cityracer]

Camilia better be careful, Michelangelo has eyes everywhere.

It would funny if Camilia's confidant was nicknamed 'Black Lizard'

 

[blklizard]

No puny mercenaries can take down Michelangelo! He's invincible!

Maybe we'll need a mistletoe to do the job properly.

Camilia better be careful, Michelangelo has eyes everywhere.

It would funny if Camilia's confidant was nicknamed 'Black Lizard'

I won't be participating in any of these. Mike's participating since he has the ability to mod a few things.

Chapter 427

Camilia was merely drinking at a tavern with a few of her newly made friends. Her personality and looks made it easy for her to befriend people but, after losing Sini, she was careful as to who she befriended. Still grieving for the love of her life, Camilia didn't think she would fall in love again, let alone fall madly in love with a complete stranger. Yet, that was exactly what happened one ordinary day where she had a few drinks. A handsome looking man entered the tavern and spoke with the bartender regarding something. The two of them seemed to be best friends from their greetings.

Normally, Camilia didn't pay attention to those with good looks. Appearance alone didn't necessarily guarantee the person was reliable. While Sini wasn't exactly the most handsome man she ever met, his adventurous nature was what got her attention. Returning to the capital reminded Camilia how much she disliked the city. The capital was certainly an enormous metropolis that could match the other metropolises in Asia. Yet, everything seemed to mundane in the city and Camilia grew bored very quickly. Her wounds for grief were healing but the boredom was basically killing her slowly.

What caught her attention about the man was the aura surrounded him. There was a similar look about him that suggested he liked risk taking. He very much resembled Sini and that alone surprised her. Sini spoke of a brother who took over for the family business and, based on what she remembered, he was in another part of the city. To come to these parts was abnormal considering the traveling distance between the various sectors was relatively far. Along with many resemblances, Camilia could also tell a few very distinct characteristics differentiating him from Sini.

As if sensing someone studying him, the man turned to Camilia and offered a short greeting before returning his attention on the bartender. Minutes later, the man left the tavern and Camilia couldn't help with her curiosity. She went to the bartender to ask about the man but he warned her to stay away from the man. The bartender good-naturedly said that she would be wise to stay away from the man. Camilia tried to get the bartender to explain why but the man refused to elaborate. This bit of mysteriousness only made her more determined to learn about the man.

 

[zenphoenix]

He's probably a spy. Don't investigate, Camilia!

 

[Cityracer]

As Admiral Ackbar would say, "It's a trap!"

 

[blklizard]

He's probably a spy. Don't investigate, Camilia!

Maybe she's attracted to explorers and spies.

As Admiral Ackbar would say, "It's a trap!"

Don't know why they would want to trap her.

Chapter 428

Camilia paid for her drinks and left hastily. As she exited the tavern, she just caught sight of the man entering an alleyway. She felt she was familiar with these parts that she could both keep up without being discovered and not get lost in the process. Camilia had grew up in these parts and had been exploring every bit of this sector with her siblings. While she had left with Sini to discover the unknowns in foreign lands, she still felt she knew the sector like the back of her hand. She was determined to get answers if the bartender simply refused to share with her. Her curiosity demanded it.

Camilia recognized the alleyway to lead to multiple alleyways which made following someone quite difficult, especially if the person was unfamiliar with these parts. However, she and her siblings often played hide and seek in this location so she knew every little alleyway that could be a good hiding spot. She rushed to the alleyway and began following the man who apparently wasn't suspecting a thing. She kept quiet and left some distance between them. If he discovered her, she would have a difficult time explaining why she was in these parts of the sector.

While she was preoccupied with the man, Camilia failed to notice the person tailing her. The person was an accomplice of the man and wouldn't hesitate to silence her permanently. As the person approached her, Camilia's sixth sense told her that someone was behind her and she reacted almost instantly. Exploring untamed wilderness had sharpened her sense which were only slightly dulled from her grief and living in the city. Yet, this woman still plenty of fight in her as she unsheathed her dagger and aimed to stab whoever dared to sneak up behind her.

The person barely reacted by dodging slightly to the right. The dagger grazed him but he was surprised to see the woman already positioning herself for a second attack. In these close quarters against an unsuspecting hunter, the agile Camilia had the upper hand and she could serious injure or killed the person had the man not interfere. The man took several large strides to close the distance between him and Camilia before easily disarming her. Suddenly, Camilia was defenseless and faced with two adversaries who had saw their fair shares of killing in their lives.

 

[zenphoenix]

So it is a trap! Run!

 

[Michaelangelo]

I won't be participating in any of these. Mike's participating since he has the ability to mod a few things.

Hey, I didn't mod in Michelangelo. We're playing an Italian nation and that's one of the Italian names the game uses. I merely get re-electing him as doge because he had that name.

Perhaps Michelangelo's former assassins have made an appearance?

 

[Cityracer]

Camilia can still win.

 

[blklizard]

So it is a trap! Run!

You're assuming she can run.

Hey, I didn't mod in Michelangelo. We're playing an Italian nation and that's one of the Italian names the game uses. I merely get re-electing him as doge because he had that name.

Perhaps Michelangelo's former assassins have made an appearance?

Maybe you added the name into the list. I still don't trust you.

Camilia can still win.

Faced against two armed men, I don't like her chances.

Chapter 429

Camilia braced herself for a dagger in her gut knowing there was little she could do. All her escapes were cut off and she knew these men could chase her down before she could make a few strides. To her surprise, the man she was following told her that they should go their separate ways. He ordered his partner to sheathe his weapon as they walked away. Camilia watched in shock and, once she recovered, she ran after them. She asked the man what his name was. The man turned and introduced himself as Manuele. The smile he offered Camilia nearly stopped her heart in its track.

While she was returning home, Camilia couldn't help but think about Manuele. This was the second man who she had fallen in love with and, yet, he was still so mysterious. There were so many questions she wanted to ask him but she didn't know where he normally hang out. She sort of regretted about not chasing after him and asking for more. The smile Manuele offered froze her in her tracks and they were long gone by the time she recovered. Deep in thought, Camilia headed straight for her room where she locked herself up again. For once in a long time, she wasn't thinking about Sini's death.

Few days later, Camilia revisited the same tavern where she first saw Manuel but he never showed up. She continued going there for a week but he was never there. The bartender still refused to share anything he knew about the man which frustrated her to no end. She wondered what secret the man had that would see him and bartender being so secretive. She wasn't about to give up as she continued going to the tavern everyday for the chance of meeting him again. She thought all her persistence would be in vain but she was finally rewarded a month later.

Manuele suddenly arrived at noon and, instead of walking towards the bartender, he walked over to where Camilia was sitting. Seeing him again made Camilia feel nervous but she didn't notice that the man himself wasn't quite comfortable either. The man sat down and admitted that, since seeing her, he couldn't forget about her. However, he was worried about dragging her into what he was fighting for. Camilia said she didn't care and, in a whisper, admitted that she was more than willing to join the resistance. The mention of the resistance threw Manuele off balance.

 

[zenphoenix]

This Manuele still sounds suspicious. After all, his name sounds very similar to "manure" in manure explosions...

 

[Cityracer]

Manuele cannot be trusted. Anyone with that name must be sleazy.

 

[blklizard]

This Manuele still sounds suspicious. After all, his name sounds very similar to "manure" in manure explosions...

Manuele cannot be trusted. Anyone with that name must be sleazy.

Doesn't seem like he is well accepted. Might just be the name I picked.

Our second special has begun and it will involve the history of Naples. We all know who wanted this special.

Special 2

Chapter 430

A young man was disgusted by the scene on the streets. He expected there to be fury but his countrymen seemed content to follow whatever master they got. He wondered if their weakness was why Naples was in such a pitiful state. The people were celebrating a special occasion known as the Iberian Wedding. The kingdoms of Castille and Aragon were forming a personal union which was major news in Europe. After all, this union would see a more unified Iberia making nations like France think twice before attempting to expand into the Iberian Peninsula.

This personal union did little to change the state of Naples which would merely change her master. Instead of the Aragonese calling the shots, a Castillian ruler would now be in power. In the end, Naples was still considered an underling which the young man found unacceptable. He wished to see a day when Naples gain her independence and begin a brighter future of her own. Being subjects of these foreign powers angered him, especially when the foreign powers weren't even in Italy. He firmly believed that, at the very least, the ruler of Naples should be a man of the Italian origin.

Sadly, the people didn't agree with him as they seemed content with the current state of affairs. The young man sometimes wondered if they had forgotten about the days when Naples was independent. Those were the days when the Kingdom of Naples also controlled Sicily. The kingdom looked destined to conquer all of the Italian Peninsula had foreign powers not interfered. With the island of Sicily lost and being a subject to Castille, there was great shame for a patriotic man like him. He only wished many of his countrymen felt the same.

Patriots in Naples were few in numbers at the time. Most of the people were happy to be obedient sheep eagerly obeying whatever they were told. The young man wanted to change all that. He had a vision of a glorious nation of Italy that would be a superpower in all of the known world. First, he needed some drastic measures to convince the people that the current state of affairs wasn't beneficial for them. As much as he hated to spill the blood of his countrymen, the young man knew that Naples' independence could only be accomplished through force and deceit.

 

[Cityracer]

Make Naples Great Again!

 

[Michaelangelo]

Naples shall be destined for glory, for its people have a empire growing across the seas they don't even know about.

 

[blklizard]

Make Naples Great Again!

Well, I'd prefer to have a unified Italy.

Naples shall be destined for glory, for its people have a empire growing across the seas they don't even know about.

Naples won't exist for too long since Italy is destined to rise in Europe and the world.

Special 2

Chapter 431

As the young man entered the tavern, he noticed the place was practically empty. It didn't surprise him that the people were too busy celebrating in the streets for this shameful event. They would eventually come to the tavern for a few drinks but, until then, he could enjoy the peace and quiet. The bartender was a good friend of his and was doing a little cleaning when he entered. They shared greetings and, in whispers, they exchanged whatever rumors they heard. Even in an empty tavern, they couldn't be certain if any spies might be within earshot of their conversation.

So far, the rumors hadn't been encouraging for either of them. The people of Naples were content with their lives and made no effort to break free. Even the Naples government, with its limited power, was more than willing to serve the Castillian ruler. Overall, the people had lost their sense of identity. As frustrating as it was, the young man wasn't intimidated by the daunting task at hand. He never expected the independence of Naples to come so easily and, given all the challenges that were facing him, accomplishing his dream or, at the very least, kicking off the independence movement before his death would see his name remembered by generations to come.

The young man never wanted to be a hero of his people but someone had to stand up for them. They were being oppressed and, sadly, most of them were even aware of it. The few that noticed the oppression dared not speak openly fearing persecution since they were in the minority. If the general populace could be rallied to the idea of independence, then the nation of Castille would struggle to keep Naples under their control. The young man asked his friend whether Castillian officials would be coming to Naples. After all, they needed to arrive as a formality to show that they acknowledged the transition of power.

Upon hearing the dates these officials would be at Naples, the young man knew his time to act had come. These officials weren't unlikely to be cautious as the general Naples populace was friendly towards the Castillian ruler. Their lack of security would allow the young man to trigger an incident causing tension between the two nations. He knew bloodshed would be involved but only such sacrifices can bring his people to their senses. Naples was a proud nation that deserved its own independence. The other nations had no rights enslaving and oppressing her.

 

[Cityracer]

I doubt Naples is actually being oppressed. This guy is just such a nationalist he convinced himself that was the case.