The tale of CanAARias

[kadvael56]

Alfred Packer: CK is a great game, the only thing that should be better is the sound. So when I play I listen to music and sometimes the events remind me of songs. It is not really easy for me to write in English so pictures and lyrics help me.

 

[Coinneach]

good expansion be careful not to go too far into Iberia though, you could end up with a crusade against you although I must admit, the idea of a pagan spain colonising the new world in EU3 is quite a good one

I've also taken to playing my own music in games, especially in games like CK where a while can pass with not much activity. Although when certain songs come on, I feel the urge to rape, loot and pillage some poor heathen nation

 

[Baktru]

Great idea to play the Canaries! Now let's hope the big volcano doesn't erupt in a Krakatau-like fashion in your alternate history...

I love the idea of including lyrics in the AAR. It reminds me of Tolkien somewhat

 

[Slinky]

Just read everything so this reaction might be a bit late, but this made me laugh:

Only a few suns were dead and reborn when one great warrior discovered that if they threw javelins on their enemies fewer would be able to reach them.

It always sucks when someone steals your siege, but you made him pay for it

 

[kadvael56]

Coinneach: When I play a poor county I have to take every good opportunity, I will be waiting patiently until I find some slightly defended land. Like Mariano I follow the philosophy Small + Undefended = War .
Are there events for crusades in Iberia? I only noticed crusades for Jerusalem, Antiocheia, Alexandria, Tunis, Byzantion and Roma.
Some might wonder what kind of music you are listening to .

Baktru: Welcome. May the gods of fire spare us all.

Slinky: Welcome, late is better than never. I am glad you liked it. To tell the truth I won the siege but it seems I was not the siege leader though I do not know why, I could only press my courtier's claim. And then I attacked him o. Maybe the gods of treason are smiling upon me .

 

[unmerged(109735)]

This is really a great story, and some very successful gameplay behind it. Taking Niebla, or anything at all for that matter, with the Canaries is no mean feat. And the songs lend just the right amount of weirdness to an already weird choice of country.

And there are crusade targets in Iberia. Burgos at any rate, and also Santiago, I believe.

 

[kadvael56]

The_Guiscard:Thank you for your comment.

Taking Niebla, or anything at all for that matter, with the Canaries is no mean feat.

I would rather have taken Algeciras or Malaga but as you say with the Canaries every other province is good.

And the songs lend just the right amount of weirdness to an already weird choice of country.

Bob Marley, Aerosmith and Alanis Morissette may sound weird for medieval times but the words seem to fit somehow.

And there are crusade targets in Iberia. Burgos at any rate, and also Santiago, I believe.

Years will pass before I am able to attack these counties.

I had time to play yesterday, I need more to write the next chapter but I hope it will be ready tomorrow or on tuesday.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Most interesting choice of nation. I'm glad to see that in this alternative history people of Canaries have been able to break their isolation and even conquer part of the European mainland.

 

[kadvael56]

Olaus Petrus: Welcome, it was good to have another county. I hope I do not spoil to much by telling that the next ones may not be on the European mainland.

I should be able to bring a new chapter to this story during the afternoon.

 

[kadvael56]

Chapter Five: When the cat is away the mice will play​

Everything was very quiet. The peace following the red sunset was still here now though the twilight darkness was swallowing the failing light and dusk was coming. Guanarigato was thinking again about the man who came in the morning, he called himself Ifni. He said he was a noble from this land. Guanarigato had noticed his cleverness when he introduced him to the other members of his council. His skills and his cunning would be useful therefore he became the new spy master. Ifni made arrangements for the annual sailings and as a result trade was enhanced and the tolls were also improved.

No one had yet replaced Hotha as marshal of the chiefdom. Guanarigato thought he had to find the right man for this task. A tourney would be the adequate means of detecting the best warrior. An old man coming from Massat seemed to have great martial skills. He had been the best during the joust, had only been defeated by treachery during the melee and had distinguished himself during the archery contest. Guanarigato rewarded him by appointing him as his marshal.

A red shooting star coming from the west was shining brightly. Dawn was coming and then a red sunrise. Fire and blood would follow. The Kingdom of Almoravids was at war with the Empire of Byzantium. Ifni told Guanarigato it was the right time to strike. No one would be able to defend the small sheikdom of Ifni. Guanarigato himself would lead the troops. His marshal asked him: “Please take me with you!” And then he burst into a song:

“The battle lies far to the east
… don't leave me alone
I want to ride out on your quest
I'm waiting, I'm waiting, to stand by your side
To fight with you over the sea
They're calling, they're calling, I have to be there”​

To this song Guanarigato replied with these words:

“Fight the good fight
Believe what is right
Fight the good fight
With all your might
We're marching, we're marching, to a land far from home
No one can say who'll return”​

For a few months the besieged men in Ifni tried to fight but thirst, hunger and exhaustion had weakened the defenders. Only a few starving men were left alive when the walls were broken and soon Guanarigato had the ownership of another province. The soldiers in Ifni had used pikes, the warriors in the islands would now have the same weapons. Then a man who was had the skill of poultry domestication settled in Erbania. From this day they would not have times without food when the hunters came back empty-handed.

Feeding soldiers was expensive and the realm was in debt. However the lands were still prosperous. Anna had no choice but to levy extra taxes. War was still raging in the east. After the battle of Ifni, his marshal had asked that another vassal of the Almoravids should be attacked, the land where he came from. After several months Massat was conquered.

The Almoravids were splintered. A peace was made between Guanarigato and Abu Bakr though both of the leaders knew it was only a truce. Guanarigato and Anna could enjoy these peaceful times. Soon afterwards a fourth child was expected. Mennad was brought back and he would finish his education at the court. Lunja had been sent to the Maguadas but after a few months she asked the leave to stay at the court.

During these days many craftsmen were now refining salt bringing more wealth to the islands. Ifni and Guanarigato were friends, the spy master’s cunning was very helpful and Guanarigato had been able to lay claim to the title of Infa. The ruler of this province was still worshipping the old gods, in order to avoid being crushed by his neighbours he had pledged allegiance to the king of a tribe called Cumans that lived far in the east. Kocilla seeing the growing power of the Guanches thought that if his daughter was fostered in the Canary Islands he would have another friend who could help him.

But allies do not always bring you peace…

 

[Enewald]

Wow, amazing aar!!!

 

[Slinky]

A country that just laid claim to my lands wouldn't be my first choice to send my daughter to

 

[kadvael56]

Enewald: Welcome, and thank you for your comment.

Slinky: I was surprised when the offer came but Guanarigato is the only other pagan Berber ruler. Sekkura is Kocilla's eldest daughter and he only has 3 daughters, that is interesting .

 

[unmerged(109735)]

Things are really coming along nicely for Guanarigato - first Niebla, now Ifni. Great success for such a backwater pagan. Looks like it's a Pagan Canarian Empire in the making we are seeing here.

What a singularly strange thing.

 

[Saithis]

I will not be satisfied until I see Spain and North Africa ruled from the Canaries.

 

[kadvael56]

The_Guiscard: Things did not went too bad , now Guanarigato rules Canarias, Niebla, Ifni and Massat. Spain invaded by pagan Canarians could be called reverse history .

Saithis: Welcome Saithis, patience will be needed and I doubt I will be able to give you satisfaction. If the beginning was good, the debt is still great even after the extra taxes, the reputation is bad and worse the efficiency is low and it will be hard to have enough lands to become a high chief to improve it.

 

[Olaus Petrus]

Great victory against the Almoravids, you attacked on really good time when they were fighting elsewhere. Hopefully their war against the Byzantines wasn't a success, because strong Almoravids are really bad news for you.

 

[unmerged(81979)]

Very nice! I like it so far, and will be reading along!

 

[kadvael56]

Olaus Petrus:

Hopefully their war against the Byzantines wasn't a success, because strong Almoravids are really bad news for you.

Unfortunately they had some success . It will be a part of the next chapter that I hope to finish tomorrow or on friday.

demokratickid: Welcome demokratickid, I am glad you liked it so far.

 

[kadvael56]

Chapter Six: Victory and betrayal​

Before the war against Byzantium, the Almoravids had already taken the lands formerly belonging to the emir of Fes. After several battles, Corfu and Árta were now also ruled by the muslim tribe. When Abu Bakr's armies returned, the emir of Tangiers was crushed. Therefore Cebta and Tangiers became part of the growing kingdom. Aware of this threat, Guanarigato made a new alliance with the kingdom of Tlemcen. At this time the Aristotelian logic was introduced by sailors from Lisboa.

Abu Bakr was soon at war against many lords in Iberia. The peace was quickly broken again. The kings of Tlemcen and Almoravids were at war. Guanarigato honoured his promise and joined the battle. After a few months, his troops captured Marrakech, Abu Bakr’s capital city. Then he sent his army south and won another battle in Anti-Atlas. The siege was longer as his army was dwindling with every passing month. But Guanarigato managed to control this province.

News reached him that the sheik of Tharasset was trying to invade Ifni, this threat on his birth land made the good spymaster Ifni stressed, but after a short battle the enemy forces withdrew back and made the arrangements to hold their hill fort. The warriors learnt how they could make use of the terrain to improve their attacks. Guanarigato sent one of his soldiers back to Canarias so that he could teach this to others. At last, the war chief managed to overthrow the muslim lord.

Anna was going to give birth to her fourth child. She required her husband’s presence, he had always been there when her time came. Guanarigato could not come however and she was bitterly disappointed with her lord’s absence. But she could not stop loving him and she began to sing:

“In high seas or in low seas
I'm gonna be your friend,
I'm gonna be your friend.
In high tide or in low tide,
I'll be by your side,
I'll be by your side.”​

Anna gave birth to a small girl, she was given a name from her mother's country: Anastasia.

During this time, the king of Tlemcen did not stay idle, he had taken Fes first then Tangiers and he took control of Cebta just before the Almoravids troops could return. With his entire personal demesne controlled by his enemies, Abu Bakr had no choice but to accept surrendering Marrakech and Anti-Atlas to Guanarigato. The king of Tlemcen was given the lordships of Fes, Tangiers and Cebta and the title of King of Almoravids; Abu Bakr agreed to become a vassal of his enemy if he declared war against his former ally. Thus Guanarigato was betrayed. Worse, when one of the vassals of the king joined the war, the emir of Mallorca attacked to support his ally.