AAR: Me, Floris | Chapter 55 posted

[monnikje]

Thanks for the translation! And I indeed carried on .

[monnikje]

Chapter 29: Peacefull trading
20 March 1259

Dear Diary,

There has been a time of peace and prosperity in Holland. No war, no villages that have been looted, no fields that have been ruined. It all stopped the moment the Vaegirs had been eliminated as a faction. Wars between other factions of course raged on - there wouldn't be any real lasting peace as long as Calradia was divided - but I finally had the space and time to reorganise my kingdom. My first action was to bring all my elite forces to Bulugha Castle, which I hadn't assigned yet. As long as they were there, I wouldn't have to pay for their wages. I also started to recruit Khergit tribesmen, to station in the cities of Rivacheg and Khudan, and also in Bulugha castle. I'd do that before assigning these fiefs to anyone, because I knew from previous events around Sungethche castle that I couldn't trust my vassals to supply the places adequately with men. It would take a lot of time for me to fill it up, but well, I had the time as long as there was peace.

At all times I kept 25 Sarranid Mamlukes alongside me: together with my close companions they were enough to fence off most attackers. The road between Khudan and Rivacheg was invested with bandits and raiders. While I rode hence and forth with my men, I fought against many, trying to make my country a safer place. With my elite troops in the party, those common bandits didn't pose a great threat. It was also a great training ground for the less experienced men which I wanted to train to full-blown elite martial artists. While I was hunting raiders and bandits, and went out to the Khergit Khanate to recruit more men, I kept, besides the 25 mamlukes, also 25 men I wanted to train: When my party grew sufficient large enough, I brought the new elite troops to the castle and spread the khergit tribesmen out over the three different holdings.


There were quite a few bandits roaming between the cities of Rivacheg and Khudan. DPC now shows 'Pirates of the Vaegirs: curse of the Pearled One.'

On the 12th of February, I found tucked away in the royal hall of Bulughu castle a parchment with a trade route along most of the cities of Calradia, discovered by a merchant named Vantard and written down by his scribe Galdus. It started in the city of Wercheg, which was actually not too far from this castle, and rode along all the outer cities in a circle across the land. So I set out to ride this newly discovered trade route. It took me twelve days to visit every city on the route, and to buy and sell all the goods that were profitable. Not all went as planned: some of the named goods weren't available, or were overpriced, but still I managed to make a profit of 13,500 denars, which wasn't that bad at all. 1125 denars per day.


The trade route I found, going past most of the city, displayed on the original map of Calradia. Thanks to Vantard and Galdus.

After I was finished, I decided to make another trade run, but this time with some slight alterations. Let me give an overview of this new route:

To buy under X
To sell above X

1. Ruvar, a village near Wercheg: Buy: Salt 150
2. Wercheg: Buy: Salt 150, Hides 90 (although not too much of them)
3. Curaw: Buy: Iron 150, Tools 380, Sell: Salt 270
4. Ismarala, a village near Curaw: Buy: Iron 150
5. Fenada, a village near Sargoth: Buy: Flax 100
6. Sargoth: Sell: Salt 270
7. Tihr: Sell: Iron 300, Tools 450
8. Kwynn, a village near Sargoth: Buy: Flax 100
9. Sargoth: Buy: All of the Flax 100 and Linen 220, Wool 70
10. Uxkhal: Sell: Hides 100, Wool 120
11. Suno: Buy: Oil 320, Wine 200
12. Shariz: Buy: Date Fruits 70, Sell: Linen 350, Wine 300
13. Durquba: Sell: Flax 150
14. Ahmerrad: Buy: Iron 150, Wool 70, Sell: Wine 300
15. Bariyye: Buy: Date Fruit 70, Iron 150, Salt 150, Tools 380, Sell: Linen 350, Wine 300, Wool 120
16. Iqbal, a village near Bariyye: Buy: Salt 150, Date Fruit 70
17. Fishara, a village near Bariyye: Buy: Salt 150, Date Fruit 70
18. Uzgha, a village near Ahmerrad: Buy: Iron 150
19. Tulga: Buy: Spice 600, Salt 150, Sell: Iron 300, Date Fruits 120
20. Ahmerrad: Buy: Iron 150, Sell: Spice 800
21. Durquba: Sell: Spice 800
22. Jelkala: Buy: Velvet 700, Fish 30, Hides 90, Sell: Iron 300, Salt 270, Tools 450
23. Veluca: Buy: Grain 30, Hides 90, Sell: Fish 90, Velvet 950
24. Uxkhal: Sell: Grain 50, Hides 100, Salt 270
25. Suno: Buy: Oil 320, Wine 150, Sell: Grain 50, Hides 100, Salt 270
26. Praven: Buy: Wool 70, Sell: Oil 450, Salt 270
27. Yalen: Buy: Wine 200, Wool 70, Sell: Salt 270
28. Jelkala: Buy: Fish 30, Velvet
29. Shariz: Buy: Date Fruit 70, Sell: Fish 100, Wine 300
30. Dhirim: Buy: Iron 150, Sell: Velvet 1000
31. Tulga: Buy: Spice 600, Sell: Iron 300, Wool 120
32. Bariyye: Buy: Iron 150, Sell: Velvet 1000
33. Ahmerrad: Buy: Iron 150, Wool Cloth 200, Sell: Spice 800
34. Durquba: Sell: Spice 800
35. Halmar: Buy: Salt 150
36. Dhirim: Buy: Iron 150, Sell: Wool Cloth 270
37. Reyvadin: Sell: Iron 300
38. Khudan: Sell: Iron 300
39. Rivacheg: Sell: Iron 300

This new route is more complicated and longer, but despite that more profitable. It took me 22 days to finish the entire route, and made a profit of 45100 denars from it. That's 2050 denars per day!


A new and complicated route, with great profits.

While I rode along all these cities and villages, I started to improve the equipment of my companions. One time I bought stuff in this city, then I that:I visited them all, and was able to choose only the best of the best. I decided that all my companions should have equal equipment, except for Marnid and Borcha, who'd have a slight alteration. I'm still busy equipping them to the best I can, but these are the gear they should have in the end:

- Winged Great Helmet (+55 head armor)
- Plate Armor (+55 body armor, +17 leg armor)
- Plate boots or (+33 leg armor)
- Gauntlets (+6 body armor)
- A Warhorse (armor 58, speed 39, maneuver 44, charge 32, hit points 165)
- Two Steel Shields (Hit points 700, resistance 17, size 79, speed rating 61)
- Balanced Jousting Lance (Polearm, thrust 20b, speed rating 64, reach 240)
- Tempered Bastard Sword (One-/Two-Handed, swing 39c, thrust 30p, speed rating 98, weapon reach 101)

Marnid and Borcha have instead of one of the shields and the lance:
- Masterwork Light Crossbow (damage 49p, accuracy 99, speed rating 46: This crossbow can be used on horseback)
- Steel Bolts (+2 to damage)

Some of my companions still have some training ahead of them, like Nizar, who keeps on falling from the warhorses, but I'm sure they'll get there in the end. For myself I'll buy the same gear, but then the Lordly variant. It will take me many more months before we'll fully equipped, but then we'll be the hardest and best warband Calradia has ever seen: the Winged Warriors.


Here I present Firentis, the first of my companions to be fully equipped, both standing on his feet and sitting on his horse. My companions will be recognisable by the different cloths their warhorses carry.

The past two months have been very quiet, for which I am gratefull. It allowed me to start arming and preparing for the future. If the other factions can leave me alone for just a little longer, they won't know what will hit them.Their constant arguing isn't working: it's surprising that none of them has had the vision to raise one enormous army and conquer the entire empire. Well, then I'll just do it bit by bit.



*****
Gameplay notes
I'm using now the Reworked Armors Mini Mod, which gives better detailed armor.
Here is a picture of Floris' current stats:


During February, the Sarranid were doing pretty well. They were winning their war with the Khergit. But then, at the dawn of March, the Rhodoks decided to meddle in their business and declared war too. Fighting a two front war was too much for the Sarranid, and they were driven back. Now they made peace with the Khergit, and have only to fight the Rhodoks.

[monnikje]

Chapter 30: Fiefs and lords
16 April 1259

Dear Diary,

Today I made an important decision. An act of aggressiveness, unheard of in the past. But it was necessary for the greater good of Calradia, and my ascention to emperor one day. It all began a month ago, when I started another trade round. The past time I had begun to equip my close companions, and myself, with the best armor I could find. This took some time, and costed quite a lot of money. There were some very profitable trade routes I exploited more than once. After the elimination of the Vaegir most other factions didn't dare to touch me, so I could ride and buy in peace. And so I did. I travelled through the lands of the Nord, visited Swadia and rode to Rhodoks' cities. But when I arrived in Yalen, I noticed that the war between Swadia and the Nords was going too well for the Nords. They had recently conquered the royal city of Praven, leaving Swadia with just Suno under their guidance, along with Kelredan castle and Telvarin castle. I had to do something, or else all of Swadia would fall into Nord hands.

So instead of continuing to make the full trade round I had started, I shortened it to get as quickly as possible back to my troops station in Bulugha castle. I brought all of my elite forces to my capital, Khudan, and then selected a few that would accompany me. Of course I kept my 25 loyal Sarranid mamlukes, but I also gathered 50 Swadian sharpshooters and 30 Swadian sergeants. With this siege army I went to Khudan, to let my wife sent my declaration of war to king Harlaus of Swadia. When I entered the great hall, I saw a crowd: a lot of people had heard of the wonder that is called 'Holland', and had decided that they wanted to join my side. I had to elbow my way through them all to find my wife, to conduct some state business.


A lot of people were drawn to Holland: around the corner even more men were standing around my wife. Go to DPC to see them.

when I finally reached my wife Nelda, she pointed out to me that lord Grainwad and lord Taisa had a major difference of opinion: that several of my lords were torn between choosing sides, and that their quarrel was hitting the stability of my country. That had to stop, but unfortunately Grainwad wasn't present in Khudan. Lord Taisa was, and I told him he needed to tone down on my good friend Grainwad. He would, but I would have to talk to him too. And so I would: this problem had to be resolved. But first I needed to do some state business.

Lords Plais, Stamar and Taisa all hadn't had any fiefs and my relation with them deteriorated fast. To put a stop to that, I decided to give them some responsibility. I assigned Rivacheg to Plais and the castle of Bulugha to Stamar, while giving the village of Udiniad to Taisa. Also I promised myself I wouldn't take in any more vassals without the means to reward them: else their relation would deteriorate endlessly. While I was at it, I assigned the villages of Shapeshte, Vezin and Fisdnar to myself. With my kingdom well divided among my vassals, and more waiting to be taken under my wings, it was time for action. It was time to gather forces and claim the last pieces of a dying kingdom: it was time to declare war on Swadia, to fight them instead of the other way around. And so I did today, the 16th of April.


I declared war on Swadia.

My declaration of war is my first real act of aggression, and quite a lot of my companions and vassals were surprised by it. But if I won't do it, the Nords will conquer Suno before me. Having Praven is a good step to launch a campaign against the Rhodoks, but with Suno it really can't be avoided. And once they conquer the Rhodoks, nothing can stop them. I have to halt their advancement now. Because. This. Is. Holland!



*****
Gameplay notes
Now I'm using the Historic Castles Project - the British Isles, in which six castles have been replaced by very good replicas of old British castles.
Here is a picture of Floris' current stats:


The fall of Praven has opened the southern lands to the Nords, something I can't allow to extend to Suno.

[Malik Faris]

King Harlaus: THIS IS MADNESS!
King Floris: THIS. IS. HOLLAND!
*King Floris kicks King Harlaus into the bottomless pit of death*

dude i love this, it totally makes me want to play M&B while i read this.

also, epic win:

From that moment on I started to have nightmares. In my dreams a dark voice came booming to me, saying incomprehensible words like 'Script error on opcode'. It drove me mad, and I was even hearing it while I was wide awake! Was it the stress of running a kingdom?

you roleplayed a game error flawlessly.

[monnikje]

Chapter 31: End of Swadia
19 May 1259

Dear Diary,

Last month I declared war on the kingdom of Swadia, in order to annex their last holdings, including the city of Suno. But in order to do that, I needed quite some forces. I rode around and managed to get lord Plais behind me. My first encounter with Swadian forces was actually pretty close to Rivacheg: I met count Mirchaud, who I charged. I defeated him stunningly, and managed to capture him. Of course I let him go: he became a true friend by doing this. Then I moved on to the city of Uxkhal, from which I would lead my campaign against Swadia. Just before I reached the place, I heard the kingdoms of Swadia and Nords made peace. Good: now there was no danger anymore of Nord nobles stealing Suno away from me.

At Uxkhal I met count Grainwad, whom I pledged my support in the dispute between him and Taisa. Of course my relation with Taisa was hurt really much by this, but Grainwad was following me more loyally than ever. I urged him then to sent word to all nobles to assemble at Uxkhal: my campaign needed to start from there, since it was my main base of operations against Swadia. Thus Grainwad and Delinard joined me in my quest for Suno.

On 21 April I arrived with quite an army at the gates of Suno, where king Harlaus himself had taken seat. I ordered Artimenner and his team of skillfull engineers to construct the siege ladders, and stormed the place after the four hours of construction. The fighting was fierce, especially around those ladders: bodies were spread all around. Many men died during the storming, many more got wounded. 322 defenders died, against 67 of my allies and 31 of my men. But in the end we overcame the walls, and breached the city. Just like with Rivacheg I met resistance in the cities, which Firentis and I quickly oppressed. But when we ran enthusiastic into the throne room, the men hiding behind the throne surprised us. Luckily my men were capable and together we quickly slayed them. Suno, and the two surrounding villages of Iyindah and Ruluns, was mine now.


A short extract from the show in DPC displaying the siege of Suno.

After the city had been captured, I ordered both Plais and Grainwad to stay behind while I rode back to Khudan. Not only to replenish my men, but also to assign my newly conquered fiefs to new vassals. Three fiefs, three new vassals. They were waiting for me in the hall of my capital. I assigned Suno to lord Doru, the person in my hall with the highest reputation, Ruluns to lord Naldera and Iyindah to lord Alagur. After this state business, I returned with a fresh army to the field: Kelredan castle awaited to be conquered by my troops.

On the road I met four lords, who joined me in my quest for this castle. Together we arrived at the place, where the Swadian lords were licking their wounds. Artimenner immediately started to work on a siege tower, and after 48 hours we finally stormed the place. It was a lot easier than the city of Suno, due to that tower. Together we ran up the walls, and took over the towers, from which we shot the defenders down on the square. The moment none of the enemy was standing anymore, I entered with the lords the great hall, where we were ambushed. Many sharpshooters were waiting us there, and before I was able to pull down my shield, they had taken me down. My companions dragged me away, and we had to start the siege all over again. The tower was taken down too and had to be build again. After 48 hours we stormed once again the walls. Using the same tactics, we overcame the few defenders left. This time there was no-one waiting for us in the throne room.


My men were ready to push the siege tower towards Kelredan castle. Courtesy of DPC and the PPP.

The only places left under Swadian control, were Tevarin castle and the neighbouring village of Balanli. Before I would exterminate Harlaus and his loyal subjects, I needed to replenish my men once again and recruit two more nobles for the recently conquered castle and village. So I rode hence and forth to Khudan, and returned to Suno with a fresh siege army. I gave Kelredan castle to lord Kumipa and the village of Chide to lord Urubay. After I returned to Suno, I rode immediately to the last Swadian outpost.

At Suno I had gathered my lords Grainwad, Montewar, Beranz and Delinard to accompany me towards that castle. When we approached the place, all Swadian lords fled in every direction, some even towards us, like count Ryis and Khavel. Of course I met them in the field, and crushed their small armies. I captured count Ryis, but let him go. Then I laid siege to Tevarin castle. In four hours the ladders were prepared, and we stormed the place. In hindsight we didn't need those ladders, since the gates were wide open. But still we had to climb countless stairs until we finally reached the enemy. In this old mote castle we fought and overwhelmed the defenders. The last Swadian outpost had fallen.


The army marches forward to take Tevarin castle, as is now shown in DPC.

The last free nobles of Swadia roamed the woods, hunted down by my forces. I didn't find them all, although some of them decided to go to my capital in order to join my faction. I did fight against Mirchaud, and helped Delinard out defeating count Klargus. The last stroke I made was against king Harlaus himself: hunted like an animal he fled through the woods, but I was able to catch up. All those nobles had fought bravely, but now it was time for them to move on. Back in Khudan I had expected more of them to see in my throne room than I did. I rewarded Tevarin castle to lord Grainwad, who had quite a lot of support among the nobles, and the village of Balanli to lord Vuldrat. After this I rode out and both recruited new men while trading some goods around the Khergit khanate and Sarranid sultanate, making a short round ending up once again in my capital Khudan.


The kingdom of Swadia has been eliminated.



*****
Gameplay notes
Here is a picture of Floris' current stats:


The kingdom of Swadia has been absorbed by the kingdom of Holland, but in the meantime the Khergit Khanate took over Dhirim and surrounding lands form the Nords, effectively connecting all their holdings.

[monnikje]

Malik Faris: Haha, I really should have taken some pictures of Floris and Harlaus meeting. And you're right: it's an epic quote. Even better than I realised!

On a sidenote: the AAR is now completely synchronized with my postings on the Paradox forum. The chapters will follow up a little more slow now.

[Zorr]

haha... great read.

Just looking at you latest maps it seems that the those Khergits who were so docile when you first founded Holland (or "New Holland" as I have taken to thinking of it) are now rampaging over the map.

You might have to do something about them very soon.

[monnikje]

Thanks!

Yes, the Khergit seem to have awaken. They're a big bad neighbour now. I'll see what I can do in the near future.

[monnikje]

Chapter 32: Bureaucratic revolution
10 June 1259

Dear Diary,

After my final war with Swadia, in which I took the last of their territories, I returned home to Khudan, back to my wife. It was peace again, but for how long? When I returned to the great hall, Nelda told me that it was becoming more difficult with each passing day to maintain not only my fiefs, but also the entire kingdom. She needed help. And so I searched for a few capable men to help us out. It didn't take long to find them: Khudan had become a beacon of light for not only the former Vaegir people, but now also for old Swadian citizens.

First of all I degreed that the primary culture of my kingdom should be Swadian. People at the court would have to dress to the latest Swadian fashion, talk in their manners and behave in the old Swadian ways. Those resemble most my manners at home, and if I want to unify all the distant parts of my kingdom, if I want to unity the old Empire, I'd need something in common for all the people. Everyone will eventually need to learn Dietsch, but that might go a little slower than Swadian, since I'm the only one here who has real skills in it.

Then I hired Aubrey de Vere, one of the most successful merchants of Khudan, to be my personal chamberlain. He's a financial wizard, which is a blessing with such outstretched lands which all need to be taxed. His first suggestion was to separate the royal treasury and my personal pouch. That way the costs to maintain the state wouldn't meddle with my personal spending freedom. I liked that idea, and donated 10,000 denars to this royal treasury. Then I decided to have a look at the tax level of all my fiefs. The villages of Tismirr, Vezin and Bhulaban seemed to flourish, just like my city of Khudan, so I raised their taxes to high. On the other hand, Shapeshte, Uslum and Shulus were poor, so I dropped theirs to low. Fizdnar was unremarkable, so I kept their taxes normal. With these changes and the financial injection my kingdom could survive for at least two weeks without any income.


Aubrey de Vere is my personal chamberlain, and takes care of most financial affairs in the kingdom.

The second person I hired, was Miles de Gloucester. He would act as constable to the royal army, keeping it fit for duty and ready for action. The first thing he did, was inventarising the status of the royal Hollandic army. In total there were 1413 men stationed in 4 cities and 5 castles, while there were also 1562 men in the field. That's an army of 2975 men protecting Holland against the other four kingdoms. He also suggested to sent someone out to get the men I wanted to train. I had been riding around for quite some time now and hadn't had the full army I demanded to guard Khudan. Sending out someone was a little more expensive than going out myself, but it would take me a lot less time, which I could spend on making more money form trading. I ordered him to send three men out to the field to gather 50 Swadian peasants each. Once they would arrive in Khudan, I'd take them with me and train them during my trade rounds.


Miles de Gloucester is constable and keeps my army in top condition.

Thirdly I hired Herfast as my chancellor. He had been viewing all the fights in the arena for the past year, visiting tournaments in all major cities. If there was one person at my court who knew the world and, more importantly, knew what lords wanted, it was him. I could let him arrange to send a message to any lord to follow me, although without any war that would be quite useless. Also I could let him send a gift to any lord: he suggested that if I would send something, I'd gather 150 Ale, Oil or Wine first. That's something to remember: I'd really needed to gather more resources for in my treasury. So I first send my wife out to buy some bread in town. 200 breads should be sufficient for now.


Chancellor Herfast will take care of my relation with my vassals.

After I had conducted this state business, I rode out to make another of those extensive trade routes. When I just left Khudan, a pleasant surprise awaited me: Ymira had returned, and wanted to join my group once again. She had travelled throughout all the kingdoms for personal matters, but was ready again to serve my needs. Of course I equipped her as well as the rest during the trade route. She will need to train hard, just like some of the other members, but she's smart enough to realise this.Also on the trip the strange dream about an error on opcode returned. Remembering my solution to let it go away last time, I ordered every vassal I encountered on my trip to go to Khudan. By the time I returned to my capital, I had spoken quite a few of my lords, although I still needed to find a few. Now I'm in my capital: all seems in order.



*****
Gameplay notes
I'm from now on using the mod Diplomacy 1.10beta, together with the rest of the mods I named earlier. This mod gives a lot more diplomatic possibilities, including more ways to regulate the taxes of your fiefs and negotiate alliances and truces. Check the link for a full overview of all the possibilities. And it's good to know I had no problem combining it with all the other mods I used so far. The only problem I encountered, was that some of the new warhorses I had bought were switched to other new horses.
Since Floris' stats haven't changed, I'll show you the financial report of 26 May 1259:


The main thing that has happened, is that the Sarranid has stricken back to the Rhodoks and retaken Shariz and surrounding villages. They're fighting over that city ever since I got there.

[Comrade Temuzu]

I just found this, I cant believe youre able to do this almost every day!

Great job lad!

[Seawied86]

the trading guide is very well done,

[BlahBlah]

Where did you get those guys from in your last chapter, the recruiter and others? I have been looking for a mod like that for days, and i can't find it

[ramonb]

Where did you get those guys from in your last chapter, the recruiter and others? I have been looking for a mod like that for days, and i can't find it

Check the Diplomacy Mod, it is and will become one of the best mods. It already contains the Recruiter Kit

[Dilios]

*Claps* Astounding work good sir.

[monnikje]

Thanks everyone for the support, and for reading .

Temuzu: I just have a lot of free time .
My initial rapid posting comes because I had already posted many chapters on the Paradox forum. I had to catch up, but didn't want to post everything at once (that would be spam, wouldn't it?). Now I'm caught up, and since the latest chapter I post on both fora at the same time.
Most of the pictures I can make pretty fast. I've made some standard files and I've done the process of turning a screenshot into a polaroid parchment or a screenshot from a movie quite a lot of times now.
Also I write during the game: as soon as I progressed a little, I note that part of the chapter down. Of course I edit it later on to make one whole of it, but most of the writing is done by the time I reach the point in the game that marks the end of the chapter.
It all helps me to write chapters quite fast .

Seawied86: Thanks! I hope it will be usefull. One small trade route that I hadn't noted down by that time: buy salt in Tulga and sell it in Ichamur.

BlahBlah: ramonb has already answered that question for me . I also note down the new mods I introduce that chapter at the bottom of that chapter, under 'Gameplay notes'. You can also find a list with all the mods I used in my AAR in the first post. There are quite a few, and more will follow.

ramonb: That recruiter kit is a very usefull feature I discovered with the Diplomacy mod: I use it now constantly .

Dilios: Thanks!

I'll be away most of this weekend, so less time to play and write . But don't worry, I'll be back.