The Five Nations - A cycling AAR with a twist.

[Shackel]

This is an AAR that is going to focus on five nations, all of which I shall be the King's loyal(and even better, immortal) subject. I shall switch every 100 years(last nation will be an epilogue) to the second best nation.

The rules of the AAR:

- ALL allies must peace out before I take my piece of a nation. If they do not, then I will make a reasonable offer FOR them.

- How I treat my nation will be decided both by the ruler's stats, and dice rolls to decide slider AND tech preferences. Higher MIL = Higher chance of declaring war. Higher DIP = Higher chance of diplomacy. High ADM = More colonization and focus on the nation itself.

- Role-playing will overrule common sense. This may happen a lot, for better, or for worse.

The only change in rules is that Lucky Nations is OFF.

Due to the time of creation, the first pictures are rather, well, crappy.
----

Our first nation shall be Castille! The deadly, the fierce, and the great!

Our leader is the rich, and benevolent Enrique III. He wishes to see all men one day free from from the tyranny of massive blobs, and believes the past ruler didn't kill enough to spread freedom and love everywhere! Our great king is also quite fond of poor little Granada, being quite open minded to other cultures.

Unfortunately, to tell you about our great king, I was forced to miss a meeting in which it was decided that the king would revoke some of his powers. While I thought this was terrible news at first, my friend, the Governor of Castille La Vieja(or Goclv, as his friends call him), cheered me up by telling me that he was able to fix a few problems in his province, like the guinea pig infestation that didn't make any sense whatsoever, increasing its output.

Soon after Goclv told me this news, King Enrique III asked me to hire the greatest leaders in Production, Stability, and Trade. Finding this order to be sane, I complied without a single complaint.

King Enrique then guaranteed all of our neighbors. All was going well until I walked outside of the cramped box that I was in yet did not mention. A pillar of light was right in front of me, so, like any other person would, I pulled my sword out of it's sheath and madly slashed at it until a beam of light shot out of the sword and pointed down the road to a point in the mountains. So, like any other person would do during an important meeting with the king, I called my horse over and rode towards it.

After twelve hours, 16 massive stone beasts, 16 equally terrible tentacles of darkness, the horse I brought, one Spanish Inquisition, and one reincarnation, a booming voice told me to go destroy Granada. I kindly said no and flew back home on a magical blade of grass.

Turns out only a day passed. When I got back home, I was yelled at by a clergyman and was told that the pillar of light was, in fact, God. He then took my blade of grass and told me to go back.

Twelve MORE hours, 16 MORE massive stone beasts, and 16 MORE tentacles later, I crawled back to the pillar or light and was told to be good to Portugal. Seeing how that was what the king was going to do in the first place, I crawled back home, to once again see that only a single day passed.

I then cried myself to sleep, realizing exactly what I have gotten myself into.

Two months later, we completed the mission. I then built an airship, flew into a planet destroying beast that turned out to be my father, killed my father, killed a false god shaped like a hieroglyphic eye, found out I was made out of spirits, disappeared, reappeared, and found the next pillar of light, which then told me to kill Granada.

AGAIN.

Investigations by Gclov revealed that not only did Aragon have a larger army than us, but a certain mission to abolish someone's freedom!

Well the King is sorry to say it, Aragon, but no one vassalizes poor little Navarra!

We shall keep them under our care, for now...

The next few months passed by in a blur of paper work and ordering people around, until a very special day came.

July 18th, 1400, Fernando, heir to the throne was born!

He was actually one of two twins. The much better twin, so we so- I mean arranged to have the the other twin married to the oppressive Aragon, hoping to one day hold it under a Personal Union.

What I did not tell you was that I was actually awake for those months. I passed out at the royal feast that I had ordered for the royal family.
--

How do you like it so far? Anything I should do(that won't go against my freedom-loving, money-loving king, of course) next?

((I'll be sure to clean the images up next time.))

 

[Shackel]

((At this point, I'll have script for conversations between characters))

1401 - The Navarran Question

Many, MANY of our advisors were sent off to other nations, nearly double the amount of money we previously had. 'Twas a great day for the mighty nation of Castille.

However, we were lacking a sufficient navy.

Enrique: The bigger the navy, the more freedom we can spread!

Myself: ... Right. No matter how big we make our navy, we may not be able to take out Aragon's ally...

Enrique: England! My mortal enemy...

Myself: Yes, a oppressive cretin. Anyway, I believe we should take precautions with Aragon.

Enrique: Or ally with Portugal.

Myself: Why must you jinx us?

Soon after this, Enrique declared that Navarra shall never fall for as long as he lives. Carlos III was so touched by this odd response that he named his heir Enrique. Portugal backed down, and we allied with them immediately.

And with that, the Navarran Question was answered.

--1402 was uneventful--

1403 - The Beginning

-January 18-

Enrique: Such a shame to see such rich people attacking such independent countries...

Myself: Should we get involved?

Enrique: Ha! Are you kidding me? I may love freedom, but I'm not crazy!

Myself: Glad to hear that.

Naples showing its brilliance. We laughed and jested at this lovely accomplishment by the Bretons, but it as I and Goclv(Pronounced Go-clev) were walking to our quarters, we received a message from Carlos III.

We are at war. Enrique was pleased.

Enrique: Navarra, do not fear! The Liberator is here!

 

[JDMS]

Great work. The part of the first update where you first meet God was hilarious. Crush Aragon!

 

[Shackel]

While I shall not be able to update until Wednesday(I'm at a different house that has a computer that can't handle the game), I can tell you things have gone well in the most hilarious of ways.

Enrique, however, is learning exactly why the Reconquista happened.

And why it must continue.
-
'Tis only a matter of time, though, until Fernando comes to power. He's already looking better than his father when it comes to stats.

Also, that post was your 1,234th post. xD

 

[JDMS]

Also, that post was your 1,234th post. xD

Ha I just noticed that. And then I ruined it.

 

[Ashantai]

I like this AAR so far. Very amusing! Good to see role playing too.

 

[Shackel]

Thank you, Ashantai.

EDIT: Upon looking at your AAR, I have realized exactly how much the secondary premise(the random number for the kings) is like yours. D:

 

[Ashantai]

Haha, no probs. Plenty of room for both of us to use it. I'm sure I wasn't the first one to come up with it, so it's not like I'm going to cry. In fact, I'm pleased that someone else is doing the same sort of thing - reassures me that it's a good idea!

Best of luck!

 

[Shackel]

Now, before I talk about 1404-1406, I must say something that I have forgotten about. Enrique is VERY vengeful when someone betrays him, and by that, I mean he will not stop until they are destroyed, their family eliminated, and their homeland turned into flaming dust.
-

1404-1406 - The Castillian Intervention!

We sacrificed stability to bring Portugal into the war at first, but our artist had lost his canvas in a river.

At first, things were looking rather bad. The messenger who gave the message to Aragon was actually part of a cavalry unit... directly outside of the gates. We thought poor little Navarra was doomed.

Enrique: Men, I don't care if the horses are riding YOU, we need to get to Pamplona, NOW!

With that, he lifted his horse above his head and began dashing for the Castillian-Navarran border... But a spy rushed back from the borders to give us some good news!

Spy: Do you see that army, to the east?

Myself: Yes...

Spy: That's the Catalan army. RETREATING.

Enrique: Way to go, Navarra!

Spy: They didn't beat them, though... They just left.

Myself: This is how they give warnings?

Spy: I'm not sure... Oh! Glcov told me that we had some bad news...

Enrique: Are you kidding, there's no better news than knowing that our buddy is safe an-

Enrique: Very funny, Spy. But you are to provide false documents to our enemies, not us. We all know that the days of the Reconquista and hatred of our fellow brothers... *walks off*

Spy: He took that rathe-

Enrique: *from a distance* GET THESE HORSES READY TO GO! I gave those Moors a chance, and they declare war? The Reconquista is no longer a thing of the past! I want every mosque in Spain BURNING in ten years! BURNING!

Soldier: But sir, don't we ha-

Enrique: *boots Soldier* BURNING! GET MOVING! You're joining up with a mercenary force in Andalucia!

Spy: -r hard. Very hard indeed...

The army split up, the larger section going to Granada. However, the economy couldn't handle it, enraging Enrique, and forcing him to sign a white peace. The climactic battle against Aragon's army that sent the remnants right into Portugal's army in Barcelona. There were no survivors. Aragon was a turkey shoot, and they knew it.

But there would be no peace.

Aragon fell quickly.

Fernando, 6 years old at the time, suggested that they take Valencia, a major province on the border.

I suggested we take Alicante to make the borders look nice.

Enrique wanted to take Aragon to insult them, but found himself unable to, as they did not want to be known as an "evil" country. Such would only lead to trouble. However, Enrique looked troubled as he looked over the few scattered documents about the war. The economy was down, and he needed to talk about something else to his heir, but first, he made sure that he would know whenever something that could harm Navarra was growing.

To combat the growing economical problem, Enrique was planning on making Castille more like a mercantlistic country, but Gonzalo Fonseca, the National Treasurer said that it was better to leave things as they are. In fact, this was an idea that he had been building upon over time, and he eventually released a book, called "The Theory of Economics". This book would soon become a cornerstone of laissez-faire. This early theory was widely accepted by all, including Enrique first.

Later, Enrique and his six-year-old son, Fernando(who was starting to become just like his father in all but his economic polices) went out on a walk in the capital. Enrique had only said he wished to speak to him.

Enrique: You know, all of this will be yours one day, Fernando...

Fernando: Yes.

Enrique: You have heard of the decisive Battle of Cadiz, and the great Battle of Toledo, yes?

Fernando: *nods* They say they were the greatest battles Castille will see for the years! A tremendous victory! *jumps up with his arms held high to emphasize*

Enrique: *sighs* Come with me, I wish to show you something. *both walk to an ally mostly populated by the poorer men and women of the capital. Notably, the men are gone, leaving only crying women in their wake*

Fernando: *scared* Papa, why are we here? Why are these women crying?

Enrique: I wanted to show you that these battles were no victories at all, and why I try not to go to war unless necessary... Every man who dies leaves someone behind... In this case, it was over 6,000 men... Over 6,000 families left without a brother, a father, a son... Without someone...

Fernando: So these women are not just crying?

Enrique: No, son. They are weeping for their men...

--End of 1406--

 

[JDMS]

A touching moment, liable to shape Fernando's views when he later reigns as king. Great work.

 

[Shackel]

Indeed it shall, JDMS.

1407-


--1407: Year of the Catalans--

Two Catalan revolts and Savoy was, once again, excommunicated by France.

--1408--

Not much news in 1408, however, one day, a messenger told me that the Golden Horde had gone bankrupt. I decided to take a look at the newest map to see if it got swarmed by rebels.

Instead, I found this.

Poland is DESTROYING the Horde. I do hope I do not see a Russo-Polish(Haha, Prussian) superpower in the future.

Finding things like this interesting, I asked if my messenger could print out a yearly "Status of the World" paper for next year.

--1409: Battle of the Kings--

On March 9th, 1409, we gained a level in Production technology! However, this was overshadowed by a terrible event to the East.

The last trace of the Roman Empire is gone. Enrique, who was growing more hostile towards Muslims since Granada's betrayal, took this as a grave insult to all Christians(even though the Byzantines were "heretics") and believed there should be some revenge. If they wanted to wipe out the last remnant of the pride of Christians, then they were going to wipe out the remnant of Muslim pride!

Enrique: We are destroying Granada the minute that timer runs out!

As if on cue, the dreaded pillar of light shone down upon me, sending me off to a galaxy of tiny worlds where I was forced to collect stars and kill a mutant turtle to get my mission. I was told to destroy Granada, because, you know, we were TOTALLY not preparing for that already.

*sigh* Something tells me that Enrique is just shining a flashlight on me while speaking through some crazy contraption.

We then went on a trip to Granada. When I asked Enrique if we were going to send a horseman, he picked up a bow and fired an arrow clean across the border and into the palace window. Attached to it was a declaration of war. Before they finished reading it, we were already fighting their army. 11,000 vs 4,000. The Andalusians didn't stand a chance.

On the third day of the battle, Enrique himself led a cavalry charge into what he thought was a unit of peasant infantry, but he soon discovered that it was really the elite infantry, and the general's guard. The general was Yusef III, the Sultan of Granada. They may have been elite, but it was 3,000 cavalry against 1,000 infantry. It would have been an easy victory, but upon seeing Yusef III in the middle of the death and terror, Enrique made a surprising move that some would call respectable, others would call wanton and idiotic.

Enrique: *waves his sword in the air* Yusef the Third!

Yusef: *in combat* *looks over at Enrique* What do you want, scum!

Enrique: I do not wish to end your life in such a dishonorable fashion!

As they spoke, the slaughter slowed for a moment.

Yusef: *scoffs* What makes you so sure you can kill me?

Enrique: It's three to one, and your archers are unable to fire at such a close range, but no matter! I want to duel you myself!

At this point, all fighting between the units stopped.

Yusef: *pauses* What kind of trick is this?

Enrique: This is no trick! *his horse walks closer to Yusef, men on both sides stepping aside* *only speaks when he is just out of his weapon's reach* Would you rather die as someone just overrun by cavalry, or would you rather die heroically in battle with your enemy's king?

Yusef: ... So be it. Do not interfere with our battle! I do not want to be known as a coward! *his soldiers move back, knowing who he is speaking to*

Enrique: Castillans, I shall settle this on my own, if you interfere, you will face grave consequences! *dismounts his horse*

The battle was over in a few moments. For someone who did not wish to kill, he was quick to end Yusef's life. Yusef made a single strike, but left himself open. Enrique nearly took Yusef's hand off with one slash, disarming him in an instant. Enrique's next attack was directly to Yusef's heart. The sultan died before he hit the ground. The news quickly spread throughout the battle lines, causing total chaos. Eventually, the 3,500 remaining men put down their arms and gave up.

Only 592 men died in the battle. 92 of our own, 500 heathens. Feelings were mixed.

At the end of July, our navy ran into a fleet of Algerian Galleys. It was at that time did I notice that we were actually at war with Algeria, too. I must pay more attention.

The war was going to be an easy victory, and many knew it. However, it soon became a problem as to how they were going to stop the revolts and mayhem that would come from a differently cultured Muslim province. Francisco de Bazan, our Great Artist came up with an idea to help us out.

The temple.

At the same time, King Enrique was coming up with an interesting idea. He wanted to get a Bill of Rights passed, but Nuno de Alarcon, our National Alderman, said that it our economy simply couldn't handle such freedom at the moment. Goclv said that while his idea for freedom was good, it would strain the economy in the long run. They needed a way to stay afloat.

Our National Treasurer came up with the idea of a National Bank.

--1410: The Crusade--

The war eventually evolved into a crusade once Portugal, controller of the Pope.

Enrique: This is a problem... How will we accomplish God's mission if someone else takes Granada!

Myself: Let's guarantee them.

Enrique: What if we go to war?

Myself: I doubt that will happen...

Feb. 4th, 1410 - Gibraltar falls.

May 6th, 1410 - Innocentius VII becomes Pope.

July 10th, 1410 - The rest of Granada falls.

Our painter ran out of paint, so I'll have to end this by telling you that we took Almeria and Gibraltar. I suggested vassalization, but King Enrique said that he'd rather absorb the country outright than have it live with no freedom, heathen, or no heathen.

--End Mid-1410--

 

[JDMS]

Even with your guarantee, there's likely to be a country willing to attack Granada. Good work.

 

[unmerged(146885)]

I do hope I do not see a Russo-Polish(Haha, Prussian) superpower in the future.

I don't know if it sounded the same funny to you as to me, but I laughed very hard at this. You see, in my country we never learn anything about Prussia so when we look at a map that shows Prussia we think ''Hmm, Prussia is between Poland and Russia, it must be related to these countries.''

 

[Shackel]

@ JDMS

- Well, Castille can afford a larger army, but that's not good for Enrique D:

@ Zitanier

- I didn't even know what a "Prussia" was until I played Victoria... And I thought the same thing. xD

 

[Shackel]

Problem.

Mid 1410-Mid 1412 was lost, so if the this post seems a bit... worse than the others, that's the problem.
--

--Mid 1410 - Berberians!--

We loaded a large amount of troops into our fleet, and landed in Oran. King Enrique thought about just assaulting the fortress, but he decided that it would kill too many, so he split the troops in half and sent the second half to Tlemcen. 5,000 in Oran, and 4,000 in Tlemcen. The Algierians had a 5,000 strong army, but we didn't mind. We were in the mountains and hills.

But they attacked anyway. They simply didn't stand a chance. In fact, it was as if they went there to kill as many as they could. Luckily, our troops hid in the mountains and ambushed them... But we still lost men.

Enrique, who resided over the siege of Oran, did not take the news well.

Enrique: This attack disgusts me! There king is no fool, they know that they stood no chance! They just wanted blood! They deserve no mercy for this! This... this deserves a new word!

Myself: Sir?

Enrique: They are... They are... BERBERIANS!

Myself: I'm going to leave the room now.

Enrique then cooled off by giving more power to governors. One was able to turn this into a brilliant idea by inspiring people to join the military. His name was appropriately named Leon, and he was Enrique's best friend.

Enrique: Ah, Leon, it is nice to see you! You have good news, yes?

Leon: Yes, my King. Your reforms have given me a chance to get more people to join our military. In fact, people are happy everywhere. We governors are doing great.

Enrique: Excellent...

Fernando: Papa, is that the friend you have spoken of?

Enrique: *nods* In fact, Leon, would you like to be Fernando's mentor? He is almost of age, and he needs to know what it is like to lead the people, one step at a time.

Leon: I would be glad to.

Myself: Enrique!

Fernando: *leaves with Leon*

You see, I did not want Leon teaching Fernando for a very good reason. Leon was Enrique's political opposite. While Enrique wanted more power to the people, Leon wanted total control in the hands of the monarchy. Where Enrique wanted the rich to rule, Leon wanted the old to rule. Enrique wanted freedom, yet Leon wanted serfdom, and on and on the list went. It was a miracle that they were even friends.

--1411: Success in Algiers--

Oman fell quickly, followed by Tlemcen, and then the capital itself. Many suicide attacks were done during this time, the largest being a strike by the full Berber army on the ill prepared troops in Tlemcen.

This battle was far more destructive. The surprise attack required the rest of the Castillian forces in the area to rush to their aid. A plan was soon made to remove the threat. The plan was to push the Berbers into the plains of Aures, where our men would rush down from the mountains and destroy them. In a battle outside the capital, Enrique was able to force them right where we wanted at the beginning of 1412.

--1412: The Chase--

Our army in Tlemcen was reinforced with 2,000 men, and was sent into the plains to strike the weakened forces in the plains of Aures while Enrique's 8,000 men were to travel through Kabylia, which was held by Portugal, into Constantine, a rather useless town being sieged by rebel peasants, most likely angry at their Sultan for dragging them into a war.

Unfortunately, halfway through Enrique's travels, Portugal split Algiers in half, and beat us to our target. Enrique returned to Al-Djazair disappointed, and at the same time, the troops in Aures were having problems as well. Over a thousand peasants were recruited into the army there.

Victory was won, but with a massive loss of life.

Yet, in a catastrophic failure of communication, the Berbers retreat through our own lines and up the mountains of Tlemcen, with our troops staying in Aures, knowing that the cowards would immediately scatter and wait in the mountains, and it could result in total destruction of both armies. We were to wait for Enrique to arrive.

Upon arrival, we rushed off to the mountains, 10,000 strong. Morale and humor was created from yet another conflict between Brittany and Naples.

To be honest, we were just waiting for a message that says Britanny has beaten France at that point.

The Third Battle of Tlemcen was won, but the cowards ran back to the plains, but on October 6, 1412, the five month chase ended.

Only a month later, the last province of Aures fell, and with that, Algiers was taken.

Then came the peace conferences.

--1413: Peace--

Poor Navarra didn't get anything. Their 2,000 soldiers died for nothing. They went for a White Peace on the 10th of January. Nine months later, Algiers left with the crushing knowledge of defeat from Portugal... But it wasn't over for them yet, as Enrique would not stand until Algiers could not kill anyone else. It took 2 months for the rest of Algiers to be reoccupied.

Algiers was declared to be permanently under our control. They were now our vassal.

By the end of 1413, the troops were on ships heading back to Castille, a country that some men, including the king himself, had not seen in two in a half years.

 

[JDMS]

Hmm, beginning your North African empire earlier. Great job.

 

[Shackel]

Sadly, I am.

I wish that it was possible to ally with Muslim countries. xD

 

[Shackel]

--1414: Arrival--

After a trip that lasted only a week, we finally arrived at Alicante, and was greeted by no one other than Leon and Fernando.

Fernando: Father, you have returned! I thought you were killed by the heathens!

Enrique: *hugs Fernando* No, but we have made them our loyal vassal!

Fernando: Excellent! Leon has helped me with my diplomatic classes!

Leon: *nods* He made a few deals with Pommerania.

Enrique: He didn't make a faux pas?

Leon: Actually, he traded military access, sent a few gifts, and got a royal marriage. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that Pommerania has quite a few allies, we'd be allied with them already.

Enrique: *laughs* I guess you're quite the little prodigy, aren't you, Fernando!

Fernando: *smiles*

Things went well for 2 months, however, on the night of the 11th of March, our fleet was moving out to return more men to their homes when they noticed fires along the Morrocan-Algerian border. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the fires were none other than the Morrocan army. After they picked up the troops in Algiers, they traveled past the same section. The Morrocan army had passed the border!

Enrique: Can we PLEASE go two months without a battle?

The answer was no. One month later we won a battle in the mountains of Tlemcen. Two more months later, our two evenly matched armies battled there.

Enrique: I told them they'd die, but they didn't believe me! WHY didn't they believe me!

But we lost. We then gathered the entire army to retake those mountains, as they were of great strategic importance.

Damned rebels then used the information of the King's loss to fuel a minor rebellion in the province of Alicante. It was then decided that to keep the homeland safe, we needed troops, and we needed them fast. War taxes were needed.

In a near replay of the war against Algiers, the decisive battle took place Aures. Our Castillian cavalry outnumbered the Morrocan infantry, leaving their right flank wide open. Enrique himself led a raid directly behind the enemy's lines. The entire war was condemned by Enrique as being dishonorable, and that he would make sure that anyone leading the demons into their vassal's land would pay the consequences.

Who else would Enrique find in the commander's tent but the sultan himself, Abdalhaqq the Second. Enrique did not challenge the sultan to a battle.

Enrique: I wonder, could it be that it is not weakness in my own country, nor desperation that drives these suicidal, barbaric attacks on innocent lands... *drives his sword into the ground next to Abdarhaqq's head* But your entire religion... *walks out of the tent* Come, men, let us take their supplies. It will lower the amount of death caused by this battle...

It did indeed lower the death toll. Before the next week was over, they ran out of supplies and retreated. Not a single cavalry was lost in the raid.

Enrique: Chase them down!

--1415: Chasing!--

We bounced around from Atlas to Mellila twice until we finally finished them off.

In celebration of our victory, a jousting tournament was held, in which all of Hispania came to watch. Castille won, of course. The royal family and I simply enjoyed the day.

The (new) Annual Stats. Royal family and advisers on the top left, technology and economy on the top right, sliders at bottom left, and the status of the war at the bottom right.

--1416: Morroco Falls--

In February, we got some rather odd news. Before this date, Morroco begged for peace time and time again, but now, I suppose they only want us to get angry.

Enrique: We don't even trade there!

However, we received news of France declaring war on England. We wanted to help England by sending salt, but we sent too much, too fast.

As a result, there was less meat at the feast celebrating Fernando officially becoming the heir of Castille. Our painter, however, had died from the salt shortage.

 

[Shackel]

... Bad news. I kept my saves in a flash drive to allow me to play them at another house(family member getting sick, and is going to the hospital a lot).

My little brother was running around yesterday and hit the flash drive. I cannot recover my save games. The AAR is lost, and I can no longer continue it. D:

I guess I'll go on to my second idea.

 

[JDMS]

Well that's sad. But I'm looking forward to your next one.