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Originally posted by MrT
Heagarty, you continue to outdo yourself!
BTW, this is the first time I've ever read a positive spin on a meteor sighting!
Was it Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar when just before a battle had something like a meteor sighting and one of the soldiers yelled that it was an evil omen? So Alex had him immediately executed and said he would be the one to determine its meaning. And of course it was a good omen.
Still greatly enjoying your story heagarty.Joe
Originally posted by Storey
Was it Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar when just before a battle had something like a meteor sighting and one of the soldiers yelled that it was an evil omen? So Alex had him immediately executed and said he would be the one to determine its meaning. And of course it was a good omen.
Joe
I think it was Alexander but I'd have to do some serious digging to find the reference...
You might also want to check this out...seems like they aren't all bad.
Greetings Lord Augustus IV, lord of the gluttonic knights and Sir Connery o'sean.
Damn this hadache is killing my.
We had a party last night and i think i drank to much.
But is everything ok backthere?
I hope so.
Could you send my some news about the dutch rebellion?
My brother is fighting there and im concerend.
Can you ask him to greet Carola, Martha, Michelle, Andrea, Joan for me thank you.
Duke JH of Houchenzaufen and Texel
Damn this hadache is killing my.
We had a party last night and i think i drank to much.
But is everything ok backthere?
I hope so.
Could you send my some news about the dutch rebellion?
My brother is fighting there and im concerend.
Can you ask him to greet Carola, Martha, Michelle, Andrea, Joan for me thank you.
Duke JH of Houchenzaufen and Texel
The Cake Colony?
1593 - Cape Colony
The Karoo Kourier carried the story, with all votes counted, the nobles of Bavaria’s frontier provinces narrowly rejected renaming the collective south African provinces “Cake Town” in honor of the exotic pastries made from the local produce.
Duke JH had been enjoying his time in Karoo, but he was restless to move on. His expedition had grown to 1 warship - an escort with the main purpose to ward off small pirate raids until the passengers ships could reach safety - and 10 transports, filled with colonists, sailors, and enterprising merchants.
His first few days had gone well. While Karoo had no provincial governor, a council of nobles enforced the will of the Bavarian king. On occasion, matters limited to local interest were decided by a democratic assembly of landowners. Following the “Cake Town” meeting, Duke LH had dined with the nobles and announced the settlement of a new trading post in Nampuia. He also reaffirmed King Wilhelm V’s commitment to the colonies and frontier provinces, and hinted about his plans of exploration. However, after being forced, by tradition, to offer the toast to open the dinner, the rich south African wine led young Duke LH down a seductive trail of bravado, bluster, and machismo. However, the hardy frontier nobles cheered him on and much of the rest of the night was lost from his memory.
The gaps in his recollection of the night were filled by the second headline of that day’s Karoo Kourier: “Young Dutchman Promises to Reach China by 1600!” and to a lesser degree in the sub-headline “Enthusiastic Nobles Overlook Duke’s Indiscretion with Countess & Serving Girl”.
Today he was setting sail for the unknown - heading first through uncharted waters to reach Niassa, then onward to Tanga. These friendly ports would allow him to reprovision his ships and send back new progress reports.
And off he sailed.
The wisdom of King Wilhelm V, to establish coastal colonies, benefited Duke LH by giving him maps of the seas along the eastern coast of Africa almost to the land of the Zanj. He discovered the Rufiji Delta and landed a party of settlers to establish a colony in Zambezia. He would later find the colonies abandoned with a mysterious message carved in an abandoned palisade - “Hungry - went home”.
Further north Duke JH sailed, mapping the Zanzibar Strait, the Coast of Pepper, the sea around the Horn of Africa, and some other new sea south of the Omani lands he demarked from. However the name of the new sea zone was lost when he forgot to enter its name into his journal until after the celebratory toast. It appeared to say “Babel Mandeal” but it was smeared and ran off the side of the page. It was also embellished by several doodles of buxom women surrounding a smiling man with wearing a captain’s hat and a list of women’s names under each curvy doodle.
In a later, apparently more sober entry, the Duke mapped the area around the isle of Socatra, but was not able to land to map the island.
He returned to one of many friendly Omani ports. Perhaps the leaders of Oman were not on friendly terms with Bavaria, but they were bound by their treaty of military access with the Germans. The people of Oman, however, were quite welcoming of the sailors, colonists, and merchants, and many goods changed hands in the port bazaars. In the rare instances of attempted theft, many hands changed for good as well.
1593 - Cape Colony
The Karoo Kourier carried the story, with all votes counted, the nobles of Bavaria’s frontier provinces narrowly rejected renaming the collective south African provinces “Cake Town” in honor of the exotic pastries made from the local produce.
Duke JH had been enjoying his time in Karoo, but he was restless to move on. His expedition had grown to 1 warship - an escort with the main purpose to ward off small pirate raids until the passengers ships could reach safety - and 10 transports, filled with colonists, sailors, and enterprising merchants.
His first few days had gone well. While Karoo had no provincial governor, a council of nobles enforced the will of the Bavarian king. On occasion, matters limited to local interest were decided by a democratic assembly of landowners. Following the “Cake Town” meeting, Duke LH had dined with the nobles and announced the settlement of a new trading post in Nampuia. He also reaffirmed King Wilhelm V’s commitment to the colonies and frontier provinces, and hinted about his plans of exploration. However, after being forced, by tradition, to offer the toast to open the dinner, the rich south African wine led young Duke LH down a seductive trail of bravado, bluster, and machismo. However, the hardy frontier nobles cheered him on and much of the rest of the night was lost from his memory.
The gaps in his recollection of the night were filled by the second headline of that day’s Karoo Kourier: “Young Dutchman Promises to Reach China by 1600!” and to a lesser degree in the sub-headline “Enthusiastic Nobles Overlook Duke’s Indiscretion with Countess & Serving Girl”.
Today he was setting sail for the unknown - heading first through uncharted waters to reach Niassa, then onward to Tanga. These friendly ports would allow him to reprovision his ships and send back new progress reports.
And off he sailed.
The wisdom of King Wilhelm V, to establish coastal colonies, benefited Duke LH by giving him maps of the seas along the eastern coast of Africa almost to the land of the Zanj. He discovered the Rufiji Delta and landed a party of settlers to establish a colony in Zambezia. He would later find the colonies abandoned with a mysterious message carved in an abandoned palisade - “Hungry - went home”.
Further north Duke JH sailed, mapping the Zanzibar Strait, the Coast of Pepper, the sea around the Horn of Africa, and some other new sea south of the Omani lands he demarked from. However the name of the new sea zone was lost when he forgot to enter its name into his journal until after the celebratory toast. It appeared to say “Babel Mandeal” but it was smeared and ran off the side of the page. It was also embellished by several doodles of buxom women surrounding a smiling man with wearing a captain’s hat and a list of women’s names under each curvy doodle.
In a later, apparently more sober entry, the Duke mapped the area around the isle of Socatra, but was not able to land to map the island.
He returned to one of many friendly Omani ports. Perhaps the leaders of Oman were not on friendly terms with Bavaria, but they were bound by their treaty of military access with the Germans. The people of Oman, however, were quite welcoming of the sailors, colonists, and merchants, and many goods changed hands in the port bazaars. In the rare instances of attempted theft, many hands changed for good as well.
Plucking a Leg of Turkey
1594 - Ottoman / Bavarian Border
“Onward Gluttonic Knights! Ride! Ride to glory!” Augustus IV ordered, rallying the Bavarian troops against the straggling Turkish defenders of Banat.
“Honestly, Augustus, don’t you think men of our age should be far removed from the battlefield?” asked Connery, shifting uncomfortably in his padded saddle.
“Men of our rage?” asked Augustus, “Sorry, I don’t follow you. My hearing is beginning to go out. Getting old, you know.”
The knights overhearing this exchange didn’t understand it. Sure, they had heard of the famous Lord Augustus IV and Sir Connery (whom some knew as “loyal sidekick” and others as “that Irish guy”) since the days of their childhood, but, if anything, the two appeared quite ageless - men in their prime leading them into battle. Sarcasm was lost on many of the knights.
Pest fell to the knights’ siege by mid 1594, and the knights rode on to Banat. Bavarian reinforcements arrived in Odenburg to ward off the constant, if ineffective, Turkish attacks from Krain. The Ottomans offered 152 ducats for peace, but the decision had been made by King Wilhelm, Augustus, and their advisors to liberate as many Christian lands from the Turks as possible, and to cripple the ability of the Sultan to make further war against Bavaria.
Banat fell to the Gluttonic Knights and they pushed onward into Serbia, driving out the majority of its defenders and entrenching themselves to starve out yet another beleaguered Muslim garrison.
The remainder of the Western Army of the Ottomans, reassembled in Krain, advanced on Odenburg for a last gasp effort to turn the tide of the war, which was, just in case you hadn’t noticed, favoring the Bavarians. Just as a lone child stands knee deep in the ocean trying to hold back the advancing waters from demolishing his afternoon’s toil, a beloved castle made of sand, so did the Ottomans’ efforts come to naught, and their assault was swept back leaving nothing but metaphoric seaweed and medical waste in its wake. Perhaps a clumsy metaphor, but remember, Bavarian literature had, for centuries, been forced to rely on second-hand descriptions and borrowed accounts for describing the ocean. See Professor Heindel’s authoritative reference “What the Hell is that Big Blue Thing?” for more details.
With the Western Army of the Ottomans decimated (or more accurately “pentimated”) and retreating the defenders of Odenburg rode forth like a great host of riders, since that’s what they were, and overran the Turks in Krain, scattering them to the hills.
Desperate Turkish counter-attacks were launched against the Bavarians in Serbia and Transylvania, but they were repelled by the superior military skill of the Gluttonic Knights. The attack against Serbia did inflict heavy casualties, however, and the decision was made to abandon the siege of the territory and send the Bavarian regiment deep into Ottoman territory, pillaging their way to the capital. And pillage they did - though civilians were allowed to flee east with their lives, their belongings, particularly the contents of their pantries and fields, were appropriated by the invading Bavarians until, ultimately, the knights reached Thrace, and outside of the city’s fortifications laid waste to the countryside.
A new peace offer was communicated from the Sultan, 182d in reparations to end the war and return to existing borders. This was flatly refused.
The Catholic bishops of Bavaria, in addition to the Protestant clerical leaders, demanded harsh treatment of captured Muslims, and demanded a commitment to aggressive missionary work among any Muslims incorporated into Bavaria as a result of the war. Yes, it was a narrow-minded policy, but Enigmus advised the king, in the presence of the assembled clergy that this was a wise concession. In private, Lady Emma confided that that the clergy had the young king’s crown jewels in their grip, figuratively, because religious instability at home would greatly hinder the war.
1595 began with the news the England had won another series of wars against the native Americans, and had claimed large swaths of territory deep into the continent, which was proving to be much more vast that originally thought.
The regiment of Gluttonic Knights pillaging Thrace beat back an army of equal size sent by the Turks to liberate their capital. They expected to be joined by the Bavarian troops from Transylvania, who marched toward the capital after capturing that land from the Ottomans. Something went horribly wrong, however, as the regiment from Transylvania was intercepted and apparently defeated by the retreating Ottomans from Thrace. This cannot be confirmed, however, as there were zero Bavarian survivors. The Bavarian army was reported, with numerous survivors, retreating back to Transylvania, but they never arrived. Locals credited the Lost King of Siebenburgen, rising up to drive all invaders from his land, but the Bavarians dismissed this as superstition.
The people of the western Ottoman provinces sensed that the reign of their Turkism masters was ending soon, and many revolts broke out in lands captured by the Bavarians. Rebels surfaced in Transylvania, hoping their deeds would prove worthy of the Lost King. Rebels in Krain threatened the Bavarian siege of the territory. King Wilhelm V offered the Sultan a way out, peace in exchange for Banat and Pest, but was refused. Thus, the war continued.
Krain soon fell and the Bavarian armies proceeded to Rumelia, continuing their territory-by-territory conquest of the Ottomans. Knowing that they were powerless to take back their lost lands, and fearful of the fall of Thrace, the Turks offered the Bavarians Pest and Krain, along with the Baltic Sea land of Dobrudja and the African colony of Guinea for peace. As 1595 ended, King Wilhelm agreed to the peace, and added the Christian lands of Pest and Krain to Greater Bavaria. Dobrudja had a large Orthodox and Muslim population, and it had not been a target of the Bavarian King or his advisors. Lord Augustus, in particular, had some suspicion about the province and, for unexplainable reasons, seemed to have dim memories of endless revolts in the province against Bavaria. But that was silly since Bavaria had never controlled Dobrudja, at least not in this reality.
1594 - Ottoman / Bavarian Border
“Onward Gluttonic Knights! Ride! Ride to glory!” Augustus IV ordered, rallying the Bavarian troops against the straggling Turkish defenders of Banat.
“Honestly, Augustus, don’t you think men of our age should be far removed from the battlefield?” asked Connery, shifting uncomfortably in his padded saddle.
“Men of our rage?” asked Augustus, “Sorry, I don’t follow you. My hearing is beginning to go out. Getting old, you know.”
The knights overhearing this exchange didn’t understand it. Sure, they had heard of the famous Lord Augustus IV and Sir Connery (whom some knew as “loyal sidekick” and others as “that Irish guy”) since the days of their childhood, but, if anything, the two appeared quite ageless - men in their prime leading them into battle. Sarcasm was lost on many of the knights.
Pest fell to the knights’ siege by mid 1594, and the knights rode on to Banat. Bavarian reinforcements arrived in Odenburg to ward off the constant, if ineffective, Turkish attacks from Krain. The Ottomans offered 152 ducats for peace, but the decision had been made by King Wilhelm, Augustus, and their advisors to liberate as many Christian lands from the Turks as possible, and to cripple the ability of the Sultan to make further war against Bavaria.
Banat fell to the Gluttonic Knights and they pushed onward into Serbia, driving out the majority of its defenders and entrenching themselves to starve out yet another beleaguered Muslim garrison.
The remainder of the Western Army of the Ottomans, reassembled in Krain, advanced on Odenburg for a last gasp effort to turn the tide of the war, which was, just in case you hadn’t noticed, favoring the Bavarians. Just as a lone child stands knee deep in the ocean trying to hold back the advancing waters from demolishing his afternoon’s toil, a beloved castle made of sand, so did the Ottomans’ efforts come to naught, and their assault was swept back leaving nothing but metaphoric seaweed and medical waste in its wake. Perhaps a clumsy metaphor, but remember, Bavarian literature had, for centuries, been forced to rely on second-hand descriptions and borrowed accounts for describing the ocean. See Professor Heindel’s authoritative reference “What the Hell is that Big Blue Thing?” for more details.
With the Western Army of the Ottomans decimated (or more accurately “pentimated”) and retreating the defenders of Odenburg rode forth like a great host of riders, since that’s what they were, and overran the Turks in Krain, scattering them to the hills.
Desperate Turkish counter-attacks were launched against the Bavarians in Serbia and Transylvania, but they were repelled by the superior military skill of the Gluttonic Knights. The attack against Serbia did inflict heavy casualties, however, and the decision was made to abandon the siege of the territory and send the Bavarian regiment deep into Ottoman territory, pillaging their way to the capital. And pillage they did - though civilians were allowed to flee east with their lives, their belongings, particularly the contents of their pantries and fields, were appropriated by the invading Bavarians until, ultimately, the knights reached Thrace, and outside of the city’s fortifications laid waste to the countryside.
A new peace offer was communicated from the Sultan, 182d in reparations to end the war and return to existing borders. This was flatly refused.
The Catholic bishops of Bavaria, in addition to the Protestant clerical leaders, demanded harsh treatment of captured Muslims, and demanded a commitment to aggressive missionary work among any Muslims incorporated into Bavaria as a result of the war. Yes, it was a narrow-minded policy, but Enigmus advised the king, in the presence of the assembled clergy that this was a wise concession. In private, Lady Emma confided that that the clergy had the young king’s crown jewels in their grip, figuratively, because religious instability at home would greatly hinder the war.
1595 began with the news the England had won another series of wars against the native Americans, and had claimed large swaths of territory deep into the continent, which was proving to be much more vast that originally thought.
The regiment of Gluttonic Knights pillaging Thrace beat back an army of equal size sent by the Turks to liberate their capital. They expected to be joined by the Bavarian troops from Transylvania, who marched toward the capital after capturing that land from the Ottomans. Something went horribly wrong, however, as the regiment from Transylvania was intercepted and apparently defeated by the retreating Ottomans from Thrace. This cannot be confirmed, however, as there were zero Bavarian survivors. The Bavarian army was reported, with numerous survivors, retreating back to Transylvania, but they never arrived. Locals credited the Lost King of Siebenburgen, rising up to drive all invaders from his land, but the Bavarians dismissed this as superstition.
The people of the western Ottoman provinces sensed that the reign of their Turkism masters was ending soon, and many revolts broke out in lands captured by the Bavarians. Rebels surfaced in Transylvania, hoping their deeds would prove worthy of the Lost King. Rebels in Krain threatened the Bavarian siege of the territory. King Wilhelm V offered the Sultan a way out, peace in exchange for Banat and Pest, but was refused. Thus, the war continued.
Krain soon fell and the Bavarian armies proceeded to Rumelia, continuing their territory-by-territory conquest of the Ottomans. Knowing that they were powerless to take back their lost lands, and fearful of the fall of Thrace, the Turks offered the Bavarians Pest and Krain, along with the Baltic Sea land of Dobrudja and the African colony of Guinea for peace. As 1595 ended, King Wilhelm agreed to the peace, and added the Christian lands of Pest and Krain to Greater Bavaria. Dobrudja had a large Orthodox and Muslim population, and it had not been a target of the Bavarian King or his advisors. Lord Augustus, in particular, had some suspicion about the province and, for unexplainable reasons, seemed to have dim memories of endless revolts in the province against Bavaria. But that was silly since Bavaria had never controlled Dobrudja, at least not in this reality.
The Journeys of Duke JH
1595 - Omani Colonies - Horn of Africa
The First Expedition of Duke JH of Houchenzaufen and Texel took him along the unknown coastlines of known lands, thereby providing the captain and his crew some sense of security. The Second Expedition would venture from the colonies of Oman past the edges of any Bavarian map.
Some men might be afraid, but the Duke was filled with confidence. Everything was right in his world. His native Netherlands had just enjoyed its 15th anniversary of independence and was rapidly becoming an economic powerhouse in Europe. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was a growing center of trade, and the lands of Holland, Geldre, and Friesen were ruled under the confederacy of the Dutch flag.
The Duke resisted the urge to drink at the festive launching of the second expedition, opting instead for the bitter Arabian coffee drank by the people of Oman. He hated the taste, but it certainly did heighten his alertness. In fact, it was not until the coastline had finally faded from view that the wide-eyed young man could be coaxed down from the crow’s nest where he had been barking orders, twitching from side to side. Perhaps next time he would dilute the coffee with some cream?
The Duke sailed into the Central Indian Ocean and past the Seychelles. He charted the waters of Diego Suarez Bay before exploring more of the Central Indian Ocean.
These were strange new waters and the journey went slow. Thus, while the total area covered by his expedition was not as great as he had hoped, it took quite a lot of time and he was forced to return to Oman for supplies.
The Third Expedition of Duke JH left Oman with much fanfare. He sailed into the Comores, mapped more of the Central Indian Ocean and charted the Western Oman Sea and the Coast of Muscate, north of Masirah. Docking in the Omani port city of Masirah, the Duke’s next plan was to follow the coast eastward, as far as he could go.
However, there was more to his duties than just sailing. He dispatched a team of settlers to Transkei, to expand that colony. He also dispatched a team of scouts, to recommend where in Masirah he should pitch his tent, figuratively speaking.
1595 - Omani Colonies - Horn of Africa
The First Expedition of Duke JH of Houchenzaufen and Texel took him along the unknown coastlines of known lands, thereby providing the captain and his crew some sense of security. The Second Expedition would venture from the colonies of Oman past the edges of any Bavarian map.
Some men might be afraid, but the Duke was filled with confidence. Everything was right in his world. His native Netherlands had just enjoyed its 15th anniversary of independence and was rapidly becoming an economic powerhouse in Europe. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange was a growing center of trade, and the lands of Holland, Geldre, and Friesen were ruled under the confederacy of the Dutch flag.
The Duke resisted the urge to drink at the festive launching of the second expedition, opting instead for the bitter Arabian coffee drank by the people of Oman. He hated the taste, but it certainly did heighten his alertness. In fact, it was not until the coastline had finally faded from view that the wide-eyed young man could be coaxed down from the crow’s nest where he had been barking orders, twitching from side to side. Perhaps next time he would dilute the coffee with some cream?
The Duke sailed into the Central Indian Ocean and past the Seychelles. He charted the waters of Diego Suarez Bay before exploring more of the Central Indian Ocean.
These were strange new waters and the journey went slow. Thus, while the total area covered by his expedition was not as great as he had hoped, it took quite a lot of time and he was forced to return to Oman for supplies.
The Third Expedition of Duke JH left Oman with much fanfare. He sailed into the Comores, mapped more of the Central Indian Ocean and charted the Western Oman Sea and the Coast of Muscate, north of Masirah. Docking in the Omani port city of Masirah, the Duke’s next plan was to follow the coast eastward, as far as he could go.
However, there was more to his duties than just sailing. He dispatched a team of settlers to Transkei, to expand that colony. He also dispatched a team of scouts, to recommend where in Masirah he should pitch his tent, figuratively speaking.
A Day in the Life
1596 - Bayern
King Wilhelm V gazed dreamily as Lady Emma, having discarded the bulky robes that often disguised her as “Enigmus, Monk of Mystery”, sifted through charts and work orders. New provincial judges were to be appointed by the king, and prospects had to be evaluated. Further, new offices for these chief judges had to be built. The king’s favorite advisor, forced to disguise herself as a man in public, had an intuitive gift for evaluating people and their abilities. While her evaluations could often be cruel and biting, they were also quite accurate. The king’s mind wondered what could possibly have been, had he been born someone else, or perhaps if he had remained a simple noble and not assumed the throne. He loved being king, and he loved his subjects, but it was a lonely life, being held higher than all those around you.
New messages from Duke JH arrived, which always excited the young king. The Duke called himself the “Sea Lord”, which Wilhelm thought was pretty cool.
It seemed though, that much of the kingdom was running itself without the help of the king.
Lord Augustus and the Gluttonic Knights were far from the capital, helping restore order in the rebellious new lands taken from the Ottomans. Lady Emma managed the program to establish the provincial judges, which took up most of the kingdom’s resources. Duke JH was managing colonial growth. Sir Connery had been charged by Augustus to rebuild the army, and he was in the field training recruits.
Wilhelm V left Lady Emma to her work and returned to the throne room, where a messenger was awaiting him. Actually two messengers were awaiting him and they fought to determine who would speak first. Not feeling up for watching a servant-boy slap-fight, he ordered them to “cease and desist”, which is what Augustus had yelled when Connery and Duncan Heinz had nearly come to blows. Thinking back on it now, the king wished he had let the Irishmen take the runty minister to the “pain-shed”. Regardless, there must be some business to attend to, he pointed his sword at the first messenger and commanded, “Speak.”
“Your highness, news from Iberia! A horrible plague has spread to epidemic proportions! Portugal and Spain are smitten! It is a horrible day for Spain! Truly they have offended the Lord our God!” claimed the first.
“Your highness,” began the second messenger, allowing little silence between the end of his predecessor’s message and his own, “News from Iberia! Spain has annexed the American nation of the Maya! Their New World empire grows! It is a great day for Spain! The pope declares this is a reward for their leadership in the Counter-Reformation!”
The king sighed. He dismissed them and returned to the library to talk to Lady Emma. It was an unorthodox proposal he was about to make, but the woman seemed not to shy away from the bold and daring.
1596 - Bayern
King Wilhelm V gazed dreamily as Lady Emma, having discarded the bulky robes that often disguised her as “Enigmus, Monk of Mystery”, sifted through charts and work orders. New provincial judges were to be appointed by the king, and prospects had to be evaluated. Further, new offices for these chief judges had to be built. The king’s favorite advisor, forced to disguise herself as a man in public, had an intuitive gift for evaluating people and their abilities. While her evaluations could often be cruel and biting, they were also quite accurate. The king’s mind wondered what could possibly have been, had he been born someone else, or perhaps if he had remained a simple noble and not assumed the throne. He loved being king, and he loved his subjects, but it was a lonely life, being held higher than all those around you.
New messages from Duke JH arrived, which always excited the young king. The Duke called himself the “Sea Lord”, which Wilhelm thought was pretty cool.
It seemed though, that much of the kingdom was running itself without the help of the king.
Lord Augustus and the Gluttonic Knights were far from the capital, helping restore order in the rebellious new lands taken from the Ottomans. Lady Emma managed the program to establish the provincial judges, which took up most of the kingdom’s resources. Duke JH was managing colonial growth. Sir Connery had been charged by Augustus to rebuild the army, and he was in the field training recruits.
Wilhelm V left Lady Emma to her work and returned to the throne room, where a messenger was awaiting him. Actually two messengers were awaiting him and they fought to determine who would speak first. Not feeling up for watching a servant-boy slap-fight, he ordered them to “cease and desist”, which is what Augustus had yelled when Connery and Duncan Heinz had nearly come to blows. Thinking back on it now, the king wished he had let the Irishmen take the runty minister to the “pain-shed”. Regardless, there must be some business to attend to, he pointed his sword at the first messenger and commanded, “Speak.”
“Your highness, news from Iberia! A horrible plague has spread to epidemic proportions! Portugal and Spain are smitten! It is a horrible day for Spain! Truly they have offended the Lord our God!” claimed the first.
“Your highness,” began the second messenger, allowing little silence between the end of his predecessor’s message and his own, “News from Iberia! Spain has annexed the American nation of the Maya! Their New World empire grows! It is a great day for Spain! The pope declares this is a reward for their leadership in the Counter-Reformation!”
The king sighed. He dismissed them and returned to the library to talk to Lady Emma. It was an unorthodox proposal he was about to make, but the woman seemed not to shy away from the bold and daring.
A Taste of India
1596 - Port City of Masirah, Oman
After ordering further expansion of the colony at Transkei, Duke JH embarked on his Fourth Expedition, which would prove to be very fruitful. He continued the tradition of beginning the journey with a strong cup of coffee, which seemed to chase away the demons of too much festivity the night before.
He sailed again along the Muscate Coast, heading east until he reached the Gulf of Indus. Following the coastline, he traveled south along the Coast of Gujarat before daring to land a party in BOMBAY.
So this was India. Bombay was a very large, very rich province, but the natives there were very hostile. No colonists could be coaxed into staying behind. Some merchants were tempted, and set out to establish a trading post.
The expedition continued south, to some more islands. Because he had toasted to the success of the departing merchants, his journal was again unclear, designating the area as the “Lacquedive Ile’nds” and, noted in the margin, that “Sea Lords Rule!”
The Duke reached the Coast of Malachi before heading back along the coast, back to Oman. Another Indian land, GOA, was discovered, and a team of merchants successfully established a trading post in the land. However, as the expedition passed Bombay, they were greeted by a ragged flotilla of boats, the surviving merchants fleeing their burning trading post. Pickled sausages were not received well in India.
The next time a landing party stepped ashore was in INDUS, which was a land controlled by the Mughal Empire. The Mughals hated the Bavarians, but let them leave in peace.
Duke JH returned to Oman to send news of the Indian trading post to the king and to plan his next expedition.
1596 - Port City of Masirah, Oman
After ordering further expansion of the colony at Transkei, Duke JH embarked on his Fourth Expedition, which would prove to be very fruitful. He continued the tradition of beginning the journey with a strong cup of coffee, which seemed to chase away the demons of too much festivity the night before.
He sailed again along the Muscate Coast, heading east until he reached the Gulf of Indus. Following the coastline, he traveled south along the Coast of Gujarat before daring to land a party in BOMBAY.
So this was India. Bombay was a very large, very rich province, but the natives there were very hostile. No colonists could be coaxed into staying behind. Some merchants were tempted, and set out to establish a trading post.
The expedition continued south, to some more islands. Because he had toasted to the success of the departing merchants, his journal was again unclear, designating the area as the “Lacquedive Ile’nds” and, noted in the margin, that “Sea Lords Rule!”
The Duke reached the Coast of Malachi before heading back along the coast, back to Oman. Another Indian land, GOA, was discovered, and a team of merchants successfully established a trading post in the land. However, as the expedition passed Bombay, they were greeted by a ragged flotilla of boats, the surviving merchants fleeing their burning trading post. Pickled sausages were not received well in India.
The next time a landing party stepped ashore was in INDUS, which was a land controlled by the Mughal Empire. The Mughals hated the Bavarians, but let them leave in peace.
Duke JH returned to Oman to send news of the Indian trading post to the king and to plan his next expedition.
A New King
1597 - Bayern
Connery marched into the throne room, “Augustus, where is the king? I’ve got news that could bode ill, but may be a welcome change in the European balance of power. A new alliance has been formed by Scotland, Venice, Tuscany, and Savoy.”
Lord Augustus didn’t respond. He was sitting at the seat of the throne reading something.
Connery walked up beside him and attempted to read the letter upside down, looking at it from above. Lord Augustus folded the paper then looked off into the distance. There was silence for a number of minutes before he spoke.
“It appears that there will be a new king,” he said. Connery took the letter. King Wilhelm V announced that he was abdicating the throne, or rather, that he HAD abdicated, and that by the time this letter was read he would be long gone. He felt that the kingdom was in good hands, that it had recovered from the damage done by Albrecht V, and that he had little to contribute. Further, the young king wanted to make his own fortune, and his own life, but not necessarily to do it alone. He had taken along Lady Emma, whom he professed to love. Obviously the King of Bavaria could not take her for his wife, but now that he was no longer king he had high hopes for the future.
The letter also gushed with the king’s praise for his former advisor. He credited Lord Augustus for maintaining order and continuity in what could have been a chaotic transfer of power, and for years, however brief the king’s reign, of wise counsel. His wished him years of continued success, and continued immunity (or apparent immunity) to age.
He did, however, add one post-script, admitting that he had often been so impressed with the command of the Lord of the Gluttonic Knights, that he rarely questioned him or his abilities, but that this once, he did have to offer one bit of corrective action to Augustus, and that was, according to Lady Emma, the term “cease and desist” was quite redundant, and really shouldn’t be used.
By the first of October, a new king had been crowned. King Maximillian would lead Bavaria. He was an accomplished diplomat (5) and fair administrator (3). However his experience with warfare was quite limited (2). Luckily for the people of Bavaria, King Maximillian knew his limitations, and was happy to defer most military decisions. There would be some cronyism in the appointment of officers, and the Gluttonic Knights would suffer in their tactical abilities, but, God willing, there would be no repeat of the years of Albrecht V.
Maximillian I was a large man, in the mold of King Ernst, if not King Wilhelm the Immense. But he was also jovial and was successful in exciting his subjects with the prospects of a colonial empire. Shortly after his coronation, a great enthusiasm for the king and the army led to record levels of recruits joining the military in Podalia.
Lord Augustus IV and Sir Connery began their education of the king, explaining both the known history and the unknown history of the Gluttonic Knights and their quest to conquer Far Cathay.
The king absorbed all of this information and declared that they should continue their administration of the kingdom, maintaining the role they held under King Wilhelm V. Colonial expansion was to be a priority, and Maximillian salivated at the thought of the exotic dishes promised from India. He would do his best to avoid war, preferring, as a true bon vivant, a good beer and a fine meal to unpleasant fighting. It was good to be the king.
1597 - Bayern
Connery marched into the throne room, “Augustus, where is the king? I’ve got news that could bode ill, but may be a welcome change in the European balance of power. A new alliance has been formed by Scotland, Venice, Tuscany, and Savoy.”
Lord Augustus didn’t respond. He was sitting at the seat of the throne reading something.
Connery walked up beside him and attempted to read the letter upside down, looking at it from above. Lord Augustus folded the paper then looked off into the distance. There was silence for a number of minutes before he spoke.
“It appears that there will be a new king,” he said. Connery took the letter. King Wilhelm V announced that he was abdicating the throne, or rather, that he HAD abdicated, and that by the time this letter was read he would be long gone. He felt that the kingdom was in good hands, that it had recovered from the damage done by Albrecht V, and that he had little to contribute. Further, the young king wanted to make his own fortune, and his own life, but not necessarily to do it alone. He had taken along Lady Emma, whom he professed to love. Obviously the King of Bavaria could not take her for his wife, but now that he was no longer king he had high hopes for the future.
The letter also gushed with the king’s praise for his former advisor. He credited Lord Augustus for maintaining order and continuity in what could have been a chaotic transfer of power, and for years, however brief the king’s reign, of wise counsel. His wished him years of continued success, and continued immunity (or apparent immunity) to age.
He did, however, add one post-script, admitting that he had often been so impressed with the command of the Lord of the Gluttonic Knights, that he rarely questioned him or his abilities, but that this once, he did have to offer one bit of corrective action to Augustus, and that was, according to Lady Emma, the term “cease and desist” was quite redundant, and really shouldn’t be used.
By the first of October, a new king had been crowned. King Maximillian would lead Bavaria. He was an accomplished diplomat (5) and fair administrator (3). However his experience with warfare was quite limited (2). Luckily for the people of Bavaria, King Maximillian knew his limitations, and was happy to defer most military decisions. There would be some cronyism in the appointment of officers, and the Gluttonic Knights would suffer in their tactical abilities, but, God willing, there would be no repeat of the years of Albrecht V.
Maximillian I was a large man, in the mold of King Ernst, if not King Wilhelm the Immense. But he was also jovial and was successful in exciting his subjects with the prospects of a colonial empire. Shortly after his coronation, a great enthusiasm for the king and the army led to record levels of recruits joining the military in Podalia.
Lord Augustus IV and Sir Connery began their education of the king, explaining both the known history and the unknown history of the Gluttonic Knights and their quest to conquer Far Cathay.
The king absorbed all of this information and declared that they should continue their administration of the kingdom, maintaining the role they held under King Wilhelm V. Colonial expansion was to be a priority, and Maximillian salivated at the thought of the exotic dishes promised from India. He would do his best to avoid war, preferring, as a true bon vivant, a good beer and a fine meal to unpleasant fighting. It was good to be the king.
More Voyages of the Sea Lord
1597 - Back in Masirah, Oman
The Fifth Expedition of Duke JH took him back along the Indian coast, this time discovering another Mughal land, GUJARAT. Upon reaching Goa, colonists were sent to try to expand the trading post to safe anchorage for the expedition.
The expedition rounded the Comorin Cape and sailed along the Coast of Coromandel, or at least that’s what the Duke thought to call these. He had heard some names given to these areas by Portuguese and Dutch sailors he met in Masirah, but wasn’t sure if he recalled them all correctly.
He pushed onward, charting the Coast of Orissa and the Ganges Delta before reversing and heading back to Oman. Along the way, a Dutch trading post was discovered in PONDICHERRY.
When the expedition arrived in Goa, they found that not only had the colony failed, but that the trading post had also been destroyed. It was decided that, once and for all, no more attempts to market pork to the natives would be attempted. A new trading post was successfully built.
Before arriving in Oman, yet another Mughal province was successfully mapped, KALAT, which was quite impressive seeing as that the landing party had to sneak ashore by torchlight in the middle of the night to avoid any possible conflicts with the hostile Mughal people.
The Sixth Expedition of Duke JH was a little more daring, sailing out into the Eastern and Western Arabian Sea. Further attempts were made to chart the Indian coast, and another Dutch trading post was discovered, this one in the province of MADURAI. For such a new nation those little wooden-shoed people were quite aggressive in their mercantile efforts. While he would not have agreed with the “wooden-shoed” characterization held by some Bavarians, Duke JH was filled with pride by the success of his countrymen. Besides, it had been along time since he had seen a good Dutch woman. Perhaps a little visit to one of these trading posts might be in order?
Before taking time to play, however, the Sea Lord sailed even further into unknown waters, discovering the Bay of Bengal. Another Indian province, COCHIN, was discovered on the return trip to Oman, and a party of merchants was left behind to establish a trading post, but they disappeared, likely deciding to join the Dutch.
Upon returning to Oman, the Duke was surprised to hear the King Wilhelm V had abdicated. The Dutchman rather liked the young king, and was saddened that he had abandoned his birthright. However, Lord Augustus sent word that the new king, Maximillian, was quite supportive of the expedition and that funding would continue without delay.
Another letter to the Duke inquired whether the expedition would take on new sailors from the Cape Colony. While always appreciative of adventuresome spirit, the Duke had to reply that his fleet could not divert to the Colony for new sailors. However anyone who could reach Oman would be welcomed aboard, having proven their resourcefulness.
Having attended to business, the Duke decided it was time to play and headed out into the festive areas of Masirah, making sure he had plenty of coffee available for the next morning.
1597 - Back in Masirah, Oman
The Fifth Expedition of Duke JH took him back along the Indian coast, this time discovering another Mughal land, GUJARAT. Upon reaching Goa, colonists were sent to try to expand the trading post to safe anchorage for the expedition.
The expedition rounded the Comorin Cape and sailed along the Coast of Coromandel, or at least that’s what the Duke thought to call these. He had heard some names given to these areas by Portuguese and Dutch sailors he met in Masirah, but wasn’t sure if he recalled them all correctly.
He pushed onward, charting the Coast of Orissa and the Ganges Delta before reversing and heading back to Oman. Along the way, a Dutch trading post was discovered in PONDICHERRY.
When the expedition arrived in Goa, they found that not only had the colony failed, but that the trading post had also been destroyed. It was decided that, once and for all, no more attempts to market pork to the natives would be attempted. A new trading post was successfully built.
Before arriving in Oman, yet another Mughal province was successfully mapped, KALAT, which was quite impressive seeing as that the landing party had to sneak ashore by torchlight in the middle of the night to avoid any possible conflicts with the hostile Mughal people.
The Sixth Expedition of Duke JH was a little more daring, sailing out into the Eastern and Western Arabian Sea. Further attempts were made to chart the Indian coast, and another Dutch trading post was discovered, this one in the province of MADURAI. For such a new nation those little wooden-shoed people were quite aggressive in their mercantile efforts. While he would not have agreed with the “wooden-shoed” characterization held by some Bavarians, Duke JH was filled with pride by the success of his countrymen. Besides, it had been along time since he had seen a good Dutch woman. Perhaps a little visit to one of these trading posts might be in order?
Before taking time to play, however, the Sea Lord sailed even further into unknown waters, discovering the Bay of Bengal. Another Indian province, COCHIN, was discovered on the return trip to Oman, and a party of merchants was left behind to establish a trading post, but they disappeared, likely deciding to join the Dutch.
Upon returning to Oman, the Duke was surprised to hear the King Wilhelm V had abdicated. The Dutchman rather liked the young king, and was saddened that he had abandoned his birthright. However, Lord Augustus sent word that the new king, Maximillian, was quite supportive of the expedition and that funding would continue without delay.
Another letter to the Duke inquired whether the expedition would take on new sailors from the Cape Colony. While always appreciative of adventuresome spirit, the Duke had to reply that his fleet could not divert to the Colony for new sailors. However anyone who could reach Oman would be welcomed aboard, having proven their resourcefulness.
Having attended to business, the Duke decided it was time to play and headed out into the festive areas of Masirah, making sure he had plenty of coffee available for the next morning.
Hopefully Sir Connery's saddle-sores have subsided enough to let the story resume...
Currying Favor with the Indians
1597 - Masirah, Oman
Duke JH was inspecting the last of the supplies to be loaded upon his flagship when a young man came running toward him.
“Sir! Sir!” the young man panted as he reached the explorer, “I made it, all the way from Karoo. I’m reporting for duty.”
The Duke was puzzled, “Do I know you?”
“Well, yes sir, I mean no sir,” the young man struggled to explain, “My name’s Billy, I wrote you to enlist in your expedition. You replied that if I could reach Oman I would be welcomed aboard.”
Reminded of his earlier letter, the Duke nodded, “Yes, yes. Quite impressive. Well, what sort of skills do you have, Billy?”
“Honestly, sir, I’m not that experienced a sailor, but I’ve studied the East, and though I may not know the eastern languages, I am knowledgeable of their culture. I can be of assistance to you in your contact with new peoples,” offered the tall young man.
The Duke agreed, and welcomed him aboard. The Seventh Expedition would continue around the horn of India, seeking new lands for trading posts and possible colonies. Along the Coast of Malabar, just south of the trading post at Goa, the explorer put into harbor, and set ashore in the land of MANGALORE, a coastal province of the Indian nation Vijayanagar. Duke JH had never heard of these people, but his new mate Billy not only earned the Duke a warm welcome from the citizens of the province, but was able to get information about their capital BANGALORE to add to the Bavarian maps. The skill of the young man was also demonstrated when he successfully secured a treaty of military access with the people of Vijayanagar for the Duke, providing the eastern-most friendly port for Bavaria yet discovered.
A brief detour was made into the Indian Ocean, searching for islands that might serve as a stopping-off point for vessels traveling directly from the Cape Colonies to India, but though the Oman Sea was thoroughly mapped, no such islands were found.
The expedition discovered the Maldives, but these islands were not sufficient to support a colony, or even a dock (OOC: Since they don’t actually appear on the map as land!). More merchants were left in Cochin, and this time the trading post they built was a success. The Sea Lord, as the Duke was called by his younger sailors, and by himself on many occasions, pressed further eastward, discovering the Ceylon Sea, and reached the Coast of Trincomalee before returning to Mangalore.
Young Billy, the Duke decided, was a blessing, a good luck charm. In fact, everyone of the crew loved Billy, whom many nicknamed their “bud”.
1597 - Masirah, Oman
Duke JH was inspecting the last of the supplies to be loaded upon his flagship when a young man came running toward him.
“Sir! Sir!” the young man panted as he reached the explorer, “I made it, all the way from Karoo. I’m reporting for duty.”
The Duke was puzzled, “Do I know you?”
“Well, yes sir, I mean no sir,” the young man struggled to explain, “My name’s Billy, I wrote you to enlist in your expedition. You replied that if I could reach Oman I would be welcomed aboard.”
Reminded of his earlier letter, the Duke nodded, “Yes, yes. Quite impressive. Well, what sort of skills do you have, Billy?”
“Honestly, sir, I’m not that experienced a sailor, but I’ve studied the East, and though I may not know the eastern languages, I am knowledgeable of their culture. I can be of assistance to you in your contact with new peoples,” offered the tall young man.
The Duke agreed, and welcomed him aboard. The Seventh Expedition would continue around the horn of India, seeking new lands for trading posts and possible colonies. Along the Coast of Malabar, just south of the trading post at Goa, the explorer put into harbor, and set ashore in the land of MANGALORE, a coastal province of the Indian nation Vijayanagar. Duke JH had never heard of these people, but his new mate Billy not only earned the Duke a warm welcome from the citizens of the province, but was able to get information about their capital BANGALORE to add to the Bavarian maps. The skill of the young man was also demonstrated when he successfully secured a treaty of military access with the people of Vijayanagar for the Duke, providing the eastern-most friendly port for Bavaria yet discovered.
A brief detour was made into the Indian Ocean, searching for islands that might serve as a stopping-off point for vessels traveling directly from the Cape Colonies to India, but though the Oman Sea was thoroughly mapped, no such islands were found.
The expedition discovered the Maldives, but these islands were not sufficient to support a colony, or even a dock (OOC: Since they don’t actually appear on the map as land!). More merchants were left in Cochin, and this time the trading post they built was a success. The Sea Lord, as the Duke was called by his younger sailors, and by himself on many occasions, pressed further eastward, discovering the Ceylon Sea, and reached the Coast of Trincomalee before returning to Mangalore.
Young Billy, the Duke decided, was a blessing, a good luck charm. In fact, everyone of the crew loved Billy, whom many nicknamed their “bud”.
Obligatory Return to Bavaria
1598 - Bayern
King Maximillian had wasted no time rehiring a full staff of chefs, bakers, butchers, sausage-makers, and other assorted workers for the royal kitchens. He enjoyed the comforts of being king. To Lord Augustus and Sir Connery, it was back to business as usual. The new king was not the bright young leader that Wilhelm V had been, yet he was not the sociopath that Albrecht V was, either. In the high-stakes game the Gluttonic Knights played with the monarchs of Bavaria, they considered their new liege a “push”.
With the dismissal/desertion of Duncan Heinz and the disappearance of Enigmus/Lady Emma, the court of ministers was somewhat depleted/undermanned. Some tasks were attended to in a competent fashion. For instance, King Maximillian was very supportive of the now sacred mission of the Gluttonic Knights to reach Far Cathay and he sent diplomats and advisors eastward to bring back essential knowledge. He discovered that the Persians moved their capital to Isfahan and that they hired English advisors to help modernize their war-torn country. The king also made timely loan repayments, working to bring Bavaria out of debt and to eliminate the annoying interest payments to the Banco di Nova Medici.
An area where the new king failed was in monitoring the lower level bureaucrats, and significant corruption was discovered. However, without the resources to repay the lost fees and taxes that had been skimmed by greedy officials, Bavarian inflation continued to rise.
This was becoming a concern for Lord Augustus, the inflation rate now stood at 68%. However, the plan to establish local governors in each Bavarian province was developing steadily, and perhaps that would provide the oversight needed to stabilize the economy.
By 1599, international events began to draw greater attention from the new king. England continued to win incredible victories in the New World, conquering many of the native people and seizing their lands. Their alliance partner, Spain, took an extremely belligerent step, declaring a trade embargo against Bavaria. Granted, most Bavarian trade was taking place in the markets they either owned or influenced, not in the Spanish markets, but this was unsettling as far as diplomatic relations were concerned.
Sir Connery was sent to Saxony, and the Bavarian vassal was persuaded to join the Germanic alliance of Bavaria, Helvetia, Strassburg, and Mainz. Some suggested that this alliance wasn’t necessarily the purest “German”, but these critics were usually French, and thus had no credibility within Bavaria.
Gifts were given by Maximillian to all of the Bavarian vassal states, improving relations with them. But amends were still being made for the damaging reign of Albrecht V.
As 1599 was coming to an end the king granted another colonial charter, to address the regional population boom in Bayern. The people of Baden revolted and seized the land, and the Gluttonic Knights were ordered to head west to restore order. King Maximillian’s proposal for a royal marriage with the rulers of Nubia failed horribly, despite fair relations, when the Baltic bride became so sunburned during her visit with the Nubian royal family that she could not stand the slightest touch. This was obviously not an attractive trait one looks for in a mate, and she returned to Kurland, crimson, skin peeling, and spurned.
A new century was approaching. The king, an optimist, believed great things were on the horizon for Bavaria, and spent many winter evenings staring eastward into the darkness, wondering what might be found.
1598 - Bayern
King Maximillian had wasted no time rehiring a full staff of chefs, bakers, butchers, sausage-makers, and other assorted workers for the royal kitchens. He enjoyed the comforts of being king. To Lord Augustus and Sir Connery, it was back to business as usual. The new king was not the bright young leader that Wilhelm V had been, yet he was not the sociopath that Albrecht V was, either. In the high-stakes game the Gluttonic Knights played with the monarchs of Bavaria, they considered their new liege a “push”.
With the dismissal/desertion of Duncan Heinz and the disappearance of Enigmus/Lady Emma, the court of ministers was somewhat depleted/undermanned. Some tasks were attended to in a competent fashion. For instance, King Maximillian was very supportive of the now sacred mission of the Gluttonic Knights to reach Far Cathay and he sent diplomats and advisors eastward to bring back essential knowledge. He discovered that the Persians moved their capital to Isfahan and that they hired English advisors to help modernize their war-torn country. The king also made timely loan repayments, working to bring Bavaria out of debt and to eliminate the annoying interest payments to the Banco di Nova Medici.
An area where the new king failed was in monitoring the lower level bureaucrats, and significant corruption was discovered. However, without the resources to repay the lost fees and taxes that had been skimmed by greedy officials, Bavarian inflation continued to rise.
This was becoming a concern for Lord Augustus, the inflation rate now stood at 68%. However, the plan to establish local governors in each Bavarian province was developing steadily, and perhaps that would provide the oversight needed to stabilize the economy.
By 1599, international events began to draw greater attention from the new king. England continued to win incredible victories in the New World, conquering many of the native people and seizing their lands. Their alliance partner, Spain, took an extremely belligerent step, declaring a trade embargo against Bavaria. Granted, most Bavarian trade was taking place in the markets they either owned or influenced, not in the Spanish markets, but this was unsettling as far as diplomatic relations were concerned.
Sir Connery was sent to Saxony, and the Bavarian vassal was persuaded to join the Germanic alliance of Bavaria, Helvetia, Strassburg, and Mainz. Some suggested that this alliance wasn’t necessarily the purest “German”, but these critics were usually French, and thus had no credibility within Bavaria.
Gifts were given by Maximillian to all of the Bavarian vassal states, improving relations with them. But amends were still being made for the damaging reign of Albrecht V.
As 1599 was coming to an end the king granted another colonial charter, to address the regional population boom in Bayern. The people of Baden revolted and seized the land, and the Gluttonic Knights were ordered to head west to restore order. King Maximillian’s proposal for a royal marriage with the rulers of Nubia failed horribly, despite fair relations, when the Baltic bride became so sunburned during her visit with the Nubian royal family that she could not stand the slightest touch. This was obviously not an attractive trait one looks for in a mate, and she returned to Kurland, crimson, skin peeling, and spurned.
A new century was approaching. The king, an optimist, believed great things were on the horizon for Bavaria, and spent many winter evenings staring eastward into the darkness, wondering what might be found.
TA-DAAAAAAAA!
1599 - Mangalore
The Eighth Expedition of Duke JH left the Indian port amid celebration and fanfare. Young Billy ran down the dock after the ship, which was just casting off its lines. He had searched the port city trying to find someone to carry a message to his new bride, still in the Cape Colony, about his travels. Leaping from the end of the dock, he caught a trailing line being hauled aboard the ship, and swung aboard to the delight of all the sailors. Their bud, Billy, was their good luck charm, and having him come aboard in such a dramatic fashion was surely an omen of incredible adventure and glory.
And Billy kept his part of the bargain. As the Duke sailed around the horn of India, venturing north, then eastward, he discovered the province of ODISA, which belonged to Orisa, and the ever diplomatic Billy secured a treaty of access, pushing Bavaria’s reach further eastward.
Leaving India, the expedition sailed southeast, charting the Irawady Delta. Then on December 12th of 1599, a small landing party set ashore along the coast of a province called IRAWADY. They were greeted by native fishermen, but told that they must immediately notify the proper officials. The timid fishermen fled as a patrol of Imperial Troops ran toward the sandy spit where the Bavarians had come ashore. They bore a royal crest unknown to any of the Bavarians, unknown to anyone by Billy. Irawady was part of the Empire of China.
It had taken 180 years, but the people of Bavaria finally reached Far Cathay. Duke JH had achieved what he had promised in the Cape Colony, to reach China before 1600.
The Chinese soldiers were somewhat hostile, but basic protocols were followed, and Wilhelm, known as Billy to his ship mates, began to pen a letter to Lord Augustus IV.
1599 - Mangalore
The Eighth Expedition of Duke JH left the Indian port amid celebration and fanfare. Young Billy ran down the dock after the ship, which was just casting off its lines. He had searched the port city trying to find someone to carry a message to his new bride, still in the Cape Colony, about his travels. Leaping from the end of the dock, he caught a trailing line being hauled aboard the ship, and swung aboard to the delight of all the sailors. Their bud, Billy, was their good luck charm, and having him come aboard in such a dramatic fashion was surely an omen of incredible adventure and glory.
And Billy kept his part of the bargain. As the Duke sailed around the horn of India, venturing north, then eastward, he discovered the province of ODISA, which belonged to Orisa, and the ever diplomatic Billy secured a treaty of access, pushing Bavaria’s reach further eastward.
Leaving India, the expedition sailed southeast, charting the Irawady Delta. Then on December 12th of 1599, a small landing party set ashore along the coast of a province called IRAWADY. They were greeted by native fishermen, but told that they must immediately notify the proper officials. The timid fishermen fled as a patrol of Imperial Troops ran toward the sandy spit where the Bavarians had come ashore. They bore a royal crest unknown to any of the Bavarians, unknown to anyone by Billy. Irawady was part of the Empire of China.
It had taken 180 years, but the people of Bavaria finally reached Far Cathay. Duke JH had achieved what he had promised in the Cape Colony, to reach China before 1600.
The Chinese soldiers were somewhat hostile, but basic protocols were followed, and Wilhelm, known as Billy to his ship mates, began to pen a letter to Lord Augustus IV.
CHINA! Woo Hoo!
Or is that Wu Hu?
In any case, here’s the scoop:
Two provinces known: Irawady and Hebei (Capital)
Land Tech: 14
Sea Tech: 2
Konfucian
#2 nation in terms of victory points - Bavaria is #1
Relations? Very, very poor.
Improving relations? Very, very expensive - Letter of intro = 103d, State gift = 1035d.
At this point, I am soliciting advice on the next step for the sea-strategy. I have 220 years to conquer as much of China as possible.
My initial thought is to continue exploration and colonization and to try to claim new lands to serve as way-points for my invading armies, but also as sources of fresh troops. Plenty of time to do it, though. And no telling what those crazy Hapsburgs will do in the meantime.
I will also now return to playing the land-strategy for a while to see what progress can be made there before 1600.
Or is that Wu Hu?
In any case, here’s the scoop:
Two provinces known: Irawady and Hebei (Capital)
Land Tech: 14
Sea Tech: 2
Konfucian
#2 nation in terms of victory points - Bavaria is #1
Relations? Very, very poor.
Improving relations? Very, very expensive - Letter of intro = 103d, State gift = 1035d.
At this point, I am soliciting advice on the next step for the sea-strategy. I have 220 years to conquer as much of China as possible.
My initial thought is to continue exploration and colonization and to try to claim new lands to serve as way-points for my invading armies, but also as sources of fresh troops. Plenty of time to do it, though. And no telling what those crazy Hapsburgs will do in the meantime.
I will also now return to playing the land-strategy for a while to see what progress can be made there before 1600.
Bah!
Geocities is down for maintenance!
Whenever they fix it, I'll have screen shots for ya.
Geocities is down for maintenance!
Whenever they fix it, I'll have screen shots for ya.
YEE-HAW! China!
I don't know if this would speed up the timetable too much, but if you can start invading China in the 1640s you should get lots of provinces when their government inevitably falls, over and over.
If that isn't feasible, try getting into the Indies if they haven't been heavily colonized. Luzon can recruit 8,000 men at a time IIRC.
Congratulations!!! The insane quest is paying off.
I don't know if this would speed up the timetable too much, but if you can start invading China in the 1640s you should get lots of provinces when their government inevitably falls, over and over.
If that isn't feasible, try getting into the Indies if they haven't been heavily colonized. Luzon can recruit 8,000 men at a time IIRC.
Congratulations!!! The insane quest is paying off.