"We're On a Mission from God...Don't Tell the Pope."

[unmerged(48100)]

Incidentally, on the subject of Heinrich's "chastity," cf. his wife's recollection on that account...

Interesting, thanks for bringing it up. However, he could have been chaste with seventeen and just got "wilder". And something might be propaganda too, I don't know though.

It's things like this that make me glad the HRE has a tendency to break when I'm playing in Germany. Damn siege stealers

It's this reason I usually excommunicate the King as the first thing to do. It's also this reason I don't make war until I'm at least Duke. Court intrigue is fun too anyway.

 

[Actinguy]

Ha...thanks for all of the feedback, especially regarding the King's "chastity". That was a good read. Of course, they didn't marry in real life until years after this point in the game...and besides, I'm a product of the American school system. It's a damn wonder I can even find Germany on a map. :rofl: He's chaste in the game, so he's chaste in the AAR.

But thanks again for everyone's comments and feedback! Hope you're enjoying reading it as much as I'm enjoying writing it!

 

[Actinguy]

"Your Majesty!" Friedrich dropped to a knee on the battlefield, sure that this was not just a friendly visit, in the middle of a holy war he had not exactly run through the proper channels.

"Up, up, up. Count Goseck, there will be time for that later...and we will speak later...but first, get me up to date on the battle."

And so Friedrich and the King together battled the last of the Pomeranian tribe in Wolgast, seized the castle, and proceeded East, battling a series of armies all the way to Danzig, until the last of the Pomeranian soldiers were dead and the last of the castles were seiged. The war had been a terrible one. Two years had passed, and Friedrich's men had dropped from 2000 to barely 300. Still, it was over. Friedrich had seen to it that God's will was done, and now it was time to receive his reward.

Friedrich dropped on one knee...though he was now 66 and unsure that he would be able to stand back up...and addressed King von Franken.

"Your Majesty...there is something I wish to speak with you about."

"Go on, Count Goseck."

"As you know, I was approached by an angel three years ago. And she told me that it was God's will that I would lead an army to overtake the Pomeranian's and rule this land as an extension of Germany."

"This is not the vision you described to me previously, Friedrich."

"No, your Majesty...it is not. But combined with the vision of my Marshal, I believe this is God's will."

"But you did not lead an army to defeat the Pomeranians. As I recall, you weren't even able to get out of Wolgast without my assistance."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"This land will be ruled by one of my Duchesses for now. If it is in fact God's will that you rule this land, then let your angel address me directly. But until then, Count Goseck, return to your province of Anhalt, and be thankful that I have let you off this easy."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"And Count Goseck...you fought well. Know that."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Dismissed."

And so Friedrich rose, slowly urging his old bones into submission, and then turned to round up his troops for the march home.

"Oh, and Count Goseck?"

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"Don't go starting any more wars."

----------
Friedrich, Johann, and the 300 or so men left in their army began the trek home, feeling defeated. They had fought well alongside the King, and received nothing for their sacrifice for the past two years. Worse, for Friedrich and Johann, they felt they had not achieved God's vision.

In fact, every last one of them was so distracted by this symbolic defeat...and, to be fair, it had been two years since they'd first been on this path and it was foreign land...but they somehow missed the route to Brandenberg.

And ended up in the capital of Mecklenberg instead.

An error they did not realize...

Until they were suddenly surrounded by 10 thousand angry Pagans.

 

[unmerged(48100)]

Well, they weren't exactly going to start anymore wars as running into them.

And somehow it was clear to me this conquest would be a failure. It always is.

 

[Actinguy]

It was a slaughter...completely unprepared, in a foreign land, severely outnumbered, and without the King to back them up...it was simply a slaughter.

300 men stumbled into Mecklenberg.

Two men escaped, running for their lives.

Friedrich and Johann, both wounded, hid in an abandoned farmhouse on the border between Mecklenberg and Germany....watching the thousands of Pagans standing along the border, waiting for the two Germans to cross.

"Well, master tactician, what do we do now?"

"I don't know...why don't we ask your Angel?"

"I would...but she's probably still at the church. Because I trusted you when you said this was God's will!"

"I never said it was God's will. You did."

"You said it was a vision! And that we would be rewar..."

Friedrich was silenced as Johann placed his hand over the count's mouth. Friedrich glared, prepared to put this courtier in his place, until Johann motioned towards the window. A group of Pagan soldiers, six or more, were passing by.

Johann whispered, "Perhaps we could jump them. Steal their uniforms, and walk right across the border."

"Are you joking? I'm nearly 70 years old. You were shot with two arrows yesterday. We're not jumping six armed men who are looking for us."

"Well, then what would you prefer, Count? Just wait here for them to find us, or make a mad dash through ten-thousand men and pray for more of your wonderful divine intervention?"

"Neither. We go deeper into Mecklenberg territory."

"What???"

"They're expecting us to go south...we'll go west. Until we arrive in Bremen. And then we can seek sanctuary with my brother until the King sorts this out."

 

[unmerged(58610)]

Not so much the noble 300 as the pounded into the ground and spat upon. Had they been Spartans, you would have waded through pagan blood with nary so much as a scratch.

God's will was indeed done. The Pomeranians are now learning what it is to be Christian and German, sadly, just not of the Anhalt variety.

I pray that the angel is going to get them safely through to Bremen.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

Actinguy: ..."Neither. We go deeper into Mecklenberg territory."

dangerous, but not without advantages...


excellent AAR ! !

 

[LlywelynII]

Not so much the noble 300 as the pounded into the ground and spat upon. Had they been Spartans, you would have waded through pagan blood with nary so much as a scratch.

No, as I recall, the Spartans were pounded into the ground and spat upon too. On the other hand, they are still admired for having the balls to go do that in the first place, which is a little different from if they'd just been on holiday at Thermopylae and just happened into the Persians, who promptly turned their skulls into canteens.

Good story, good writing!
j.

 

[unmerged(58610)]

No, as I recall, the Spartans were pounded into the ground and spat upon too. On the other hand, they are still admired for having the balls to go do that in the first place, which is a little different from if they'd just been on holiday at Thermopylae and just happened into the Persians, who promptly turned their skulls into canteens.

Good story, good writing!
j.

The accounts of the battle are very clear about its end; the Persians fired lots of arrows at the Spartans. Skulls don't make very good canteens. Leonidas' ended up on a pole.

Three days of battle may be prompt to a Persian, the Pagans have a better grasp of the concept.

 

[Actinguy]

Thanks for all the continued feedback guys! I'll probably put up another couple chapters tonight...in which we learn the true meaning of the Angel's warning.

Stay tuned!

 

[Actinguy]

"And you are absolutely sure? There can be no question?"

"Yes, your Excellency. He was heading here to meet with you when a group of bandits attacked. A terrible tragedy. I have already expressed our condolences through the usual channels."

Bishop Adalbert and his aide, Heinrich (not the King...believe me, had I known the King's name was Heinrich, I would have named the aide Bobby) had been up for the better part of the night, discussing the significant turn of events, and how they might effect the overall plan.

"And...of what comes next? Any word?"

"None yet, your Excellency."

"Then let us retire for the night. We have a very busy day ahead of us."

"Yes, your Excellency."

As Heinrich closed the door behind him, Bishop Adalbert prepared for bed, his mind racing with the possibilities.



Pope Hildebrand was dead.

 

[Actinguy]

Bishop Adalbert's sleep was interrupted by a pounding on the door.

Could it be happening so soon? Or...was it all over?

He covered himself with a robe and opened the door. A stranger stood before him.

"Who are you? Do you know what time it is? What is the meaning of this?"

"Your Excellency...I apologize for the late hour. My name is Johann von Wetterau. Your brother's Marshal. We met three years ago, when the Count and I were here to tell you about his vision."

"Of course. I understand your war against the Pagans went well?"

"...To a certain extent, your Excellency. But we wandered into enemy territory on our way home. We lost everyone. Every last man."

The Bishop's heart began to race.

"Everyone?"

"Well...almost everyone. Your brother and I were able to escape...but he is not well. I fear he may be dying...I had to carry him most of the way through Bremen to get here."

It was only then that the Bishop saw his brother's bloodied body laying at the Marshal's foot.

"My brother...help me."

"Of course. Come in. I'll fetch Heinrich."

 

[Actinguy]

Friedrich lay in Bishop Adalbert's bed, as Heinrich tended to his wounds.

"You will be pleased, perhaps, to hear some news...tragic, but possibly good news from your point of view."

"Of course...what is it?"

"Pope Hildebrand...he is dead. So whatever your Angel was warning you about...it is over."

Johann jumped up from his chair. "Dead! But how?

"I fear that I have a confession to make. When you were last here, I sent Heinrich to tell the Pope of your vision. I know it was against your wishes, but I was sure you had nothing to fear from the Pope, and he would have valuable insight on this whole matter. Of course, the Pope is a busy man and had only recently found time to see me about this matter. He was on his way here when a group of bandits attacked, and he was killed."

"Then...if we had never come here to tell you of his vision, he would still be alive?

"Yes, brother...it would appear that way."

"Then whatever else happens...I have seen God's will be done."

And with that, he closed his eyes for the last time.



Silence at first...complete dark...but then the Angel appear before him, once again.

"Angel! I did it! I saw God's will be done. Just as you asked."

"Friedrich Goseck...Count of Anhalt...I have unfortunate news."

"What? What is it?"

"This was not God's will."

"What? But I defeated the Pagans! The land is now part of Germany. True, I didn't get to rule...but I assure you the King is a good Catholic. I am positive the pagans are being converted even now."

"God cares not about country boundaries...or even the Pagans. God's will...involves your sons."

"My sons? What about them?"

"Oh...and Friedrich?"

"Yes?"


"Wrong Pope."

 

[unmerged(48100)]

Now, is the angel intentionally funny or just the right man, as I doubt Friedrich would have survived his wife's wrath had it been a female angel he dreamt of, in the right place at the right time?

 

[unmerged(24320)]

Actinguy: ..."Wrong Pope."


why do i have the feeling that Bishop Adalbert is the next Pope ? ?

awesome updates ! !

 

[Actinguy]

Thanks, guys!

In my mind, the Angel is female...though it's certainly up to interpretation. As for Hedwig not being upset...well...it's not like he said he was visited by a hot Angel... :rofl:

It's pretty funny...I came up with the idea for this story after a specific event happened in my game (which will be coming up in the next post or two) that made me realize this would be a good game for a story. And then I tried to find a way to explain everything that had happened previously in the context of the upcoming event...and came up with the idea of being visited by an Angel.

I last saved a game in this timeline in 1083 (the story is now in 1072). So once I get caught up to 1083, I'll start updating as things happen "real time". But in the meantime, I've continued playing past 1083 just for fun...and just lost the game in 1100.

And the coolest part is that every single significant event, including losing the game, can be directly traced back to the upcoming event that sparked the idea for this story.

So...I hope I'm that lucky when I go back to load the 1083 game for this story.

 

[Actinguy]

And so Johann returned to Anhalt after three years of absence, to report the terrible news.

And "Freddy" Friedrich, just 7 years old, rose to power.

Of course his courtiers and his mother supported him fully, and he continued his studies at the monastary while ruling Anhalt.

But outside of Anhalt, Germany was experiencing a number of changes. King Heinrich declared war on the Mecklenberg tribe to avenge the death of Friedrich Sr. The war was a swift one, and the tribe's land quickly fell to Germany, predominately under the rule of Magnus Billung, Duke to of Saxony. But the Pagans were not easy to convert...rebel armies sprung up time and time again...every time Germany defeated one rebel army, another one would appear. Meanwhile, Anhalt's liege and Duke of Brandenberg Udo Staden passed away, handing over power to his 7-year-old son...Heinrich.

Oh, goodie. Another Heinrich.

But the biggest change for both Anhalt and the God-fearing world in general?



Freddy's uncle, Bishop Adalbert, became the next Pope.



And his first action when he ascended to the Papacy?



He excommunicated his nephew.

 

[Actinguy]

The Province of Anhalt was dumbfounded...how could the Pope excommunicate a 7-year-old boy...who was studying in a monastary...and who's father had just passed away bringing Catholicism to Pagans...and who was, all other things aside, the Pope's own nephew?

But the Pope merely said that it was God's will...an Angel had visited him, and told him to do it.

And nobody questions the Pope when it comes to God's will.

So two years passed, as two years are apt to do, but they were not a good two years for Marshal Johann. His wounds had become infected, and he was very ill. A miracle worker offered to heal him...but, sadly, the coffers were empty. In fact, the coffers themselves had been sold. The war against the Pagans had driven the Province into severe debt.

But a year later, Freddy received an unexpected message...from his uncle.

The Pope was calling for a crusade against Antiocheia. And he expected Anhalt's full support.

Hedwig, still Chancellor of Anhalt, waited for her 10-year-old son the Count to form a reply.



I can't repeat it here...but suffice it to say that the Count's mouth was washed out with soap that day.



Of course, after she set down the soap, Chancellor Hedwig delivered that exact message to the Pope.

After all, she might be his mother, but she still took her orders from the Count.



And, more importantly, she had never been prouder of her son.

 

[LlywelynII]

Me either.

Incidentally, your writing is very good, but I'm still currently in favor of telling the story of the losing game It'd just be so... appropriate.
j.

edit: And then maybe switch to another dynasty/family member in the same game?

 

[Actinguy]

Thanks! And not a bad idea...although I took no notes since I was just playing for fun. Incidentally, I played through again a second time just for fun, and it was just as interesting. Germany dissolved into about 40 or so provinces, and then reunified. But I lost the game simply due to the fact that the next heir was a different dynasty. Not as cool of an ending.

So, we will just have to wait and see whether God's will shall be done...and what will come of Friedrich's sons!