1168 I tire of new years.
With each new year come new problems. I was almost denied access to the Christmas services last year… Between my reputation and standing with the church I might as well parade around claiming to be pagan!
I never expected to find myself in this situation when I was a young man… but now, as I age, I become more and more disillusioned. I try to do great things; but people only see the bad…
I am fully aware that many members of my own court, and family, are carefully watching my health… But I continue to disappoint them; I remain healthy and strong.
Milka, a Cherven girl, has completed her education.
A pity she was not a boy- she has a knack for the martial arts.
Dauid’s people have stirred again.
Reports indicate he is facing rebellious populations in both Olvia and Lower Dniepr.
I will be greatly disappointed if I need to bail that runt out again.
My…
investment in Smolensk has yet to mature…
The Countess Helene’s sister, Pelagia, remains without child. I was hoping that Nikephoros would have spawned a boy by now. Then I could have taken the current Countess out of the picture, and watched the child come into power… But, it seems I’ll have to wait longer- unless Pelagia is barren, that is. I can only pray not.
Asger, the Duke of Bosnia, is embroiled in a war.
I consider myself friends with the man- and his son, too.
We hunt together frequently along our shared border between Rama and Belgrade. A while back I actually offered him my protection as my vassal, for I know he was unhappy with his lot in the Kingdom of Croatia- but he declined. Now he is independent and on his own, but stuck in a war against a mighty foe:
The Principality of Polotsk. They are located to the north, holding a scattered demesne amongst vassals. I have holdings in the area as well: Smolensk and Rostov (and their respective provinces). Unfortunately the Countess of Smolensk and the Archbishop of Rostov are far from reliable… Their loyalties are best described as
shitty.
I have met with my court and decided to act. My men-at-arms are growing complacent and lazy, my vassals are content to just plot against me. A war will help stir things up- keep us sharp.
I have sent messengers to both Bosnia and Polotsk. I will be intervening in this conflict with the might of Serbia.
With a
real war to be considered I cannot have pesky pagan peasants producing problems in the realm. A few days back I asked Xenophon to raise his levies to relieve his lazy brother.
It took a while but today my son responded and agreed to take on the task. He raised over 3300 men, so I quickly dispatched a letter telling him it would be fine to disband some of his men and let his marshal handle the Olvia rebels alone.
So in the end Xenophon has committed just over 2000 men and his marshal Isaakios to the task of doing his brother’s job…
Word has it that Volodar is upset with me.
His day-to-day disposition towards me remains unchanged, so we can only assume he is unhappy about my war of intervention. Maybe he had hopes of assimilating Bosnia himself?
There are around 2000 men flying the Polotsk flag marching through Rama.
I will let them be for the time being… I am hoping to avoid any major expense, be it gold or blood, in this conflict. The goal is to scare Polotsk into peace with all parties involved.
But, with enemy troops near our borders it is important to be sure no enemy troops are secretly
within my realm…
Miloslav of Orsha, the new Archbishop of Rostov, has come into his position with all the vigor and loyalties capable of a 60 year old hag… But his ignorance of my reputation will not last; we can expect him to be taking the title Whore of Rostov soon enough.
Helene, Countess of Smolenst, is somewhat disloyal.
Her disposition towards me is continues its steady drop, but for the time being she should be reliable enough to not cause problems- at least during this short war.
Dauid, my own blood, is rather disloyal.
A quick fatherly gift of 100 gold will hopefully satiate his appetite for rabblerousing.
The
last thing I want is for my own son, close to home, to disrupt my ability to project power against Polotsk.
But even with bribes my son remains somewhat disloyal.
Xenophon’s soldiers have arrived in Olvia.
The regiment commander, Isaakios, has promised to stomp out all thoughts of rebellion swiftly.
It took isaakios only 11 days to squash the Olvia pagan rebellion.
Xenophon reports he lost 27 men. Rebel losses were reported to be around 150- a good number, for there were only 100 active rebels… Isaakios was wise to retaliate on the populace.
I have sent further instructions to Xenophon regarding his regiment:
I want Isaakios in Severin. The Principality of Polotsk has vacated Rama and has men marching east through my realm. With Xenophon’s Galaz regiment still active and jubilant following their pagan bashing in Olvia, they may prove to be the best suited fighters for any coming battles.
Scouts report a force of about 3500 men marching through Birlad toward Turnu; they fly the Polotsk flag.
Just over 2000 Polotsk men are heading east in the backcountry of Severin
It looks as though the enemy is attempting to form up in Turnu.
Isaaskios is still at sea preparing to disembark in Galaz. He has 2000 men, fewer than either of the Polotsk armies.
I do not want to see the enemy forces unite, so I must act now.
I am ordering my demesne regiments to mobilize.
My Turnu regiment, commanded by Nikephoros, and my Belgrade regiment commanded by yours truly, will unit in Severin to support Michael
Not that I think Michael will need much support; his single Severin regiment outnumbers the two enemy regiments by a safe margin.
Once we are all gathered in Severin, I will have to plan how to handle the Polotsk regiment currently in Birlad.
Nikephoros has arrived in Severin.
His men have augmented Michael’s force, which will bring the swift cessation of combat in the province.
I am still a day or two from Severin.
Great news, Michael has routed the Polotsk regiments in Severin already
Now we can focus on addressing the regiments nearing Turnu.
Michael and Nikephoros will proceed together to Turnu without me
When I arrive in Severin I will decide to join them or possibly work to intercept the Polotsk forces fleeing south towards Vidin.
My regiment arrived in Severin and we immediately redirected ourselves toward Vidin.
The Polotsk regiments broken by Michael are retreating to Vidin and I hope to catch and slaughter them like pigs.
The 3000+ strong force in Birlad has been held up by local rebels. It seems the peasants did not realize whose army they engaged!
We’ve arrived in Vidin.
My Belgrade regiment is forming up to take on the disorganized and scattered forces commanded by the chancellor of Polotsk.
A bloody waste of time.
The enemy did not put up a fight, rather they took to the hills and villages. We had to root them out one by one, a tedious task. We lost more men than we ultimately caught- all to ambush and trickery.
I will not let the enemy off that easily though
We will chase the retreating foe into Nikopolis.
New reports indicate an additional 4500 or so Polotsk men are marching south towards the Black Sea.
But that is not the least of it…
Some 4000 or so are already on ships passing by Crimea and a vanguard force of just under 2000 are nearing the coast of Serbia
This turn of events in a bit troubling… I did not expect Polotsk to commit to heartily to the conflict.
Michael and Nikephoros have engaged the enemy in Turnu.
I am hoping the fare well and have time to regroup before they need engage the approaching Polotsk fleet.
We’ve caught up with the fugitive Polotsk regiments in Nikopolis.
They are few and we are many- but they do not seem willing to put up a fight.
As expected, the Battle of Nikopolis was a dud.
The enemy took flight before we were even fully arrayed on the field before them.
Messengers from Turnu report a soon-to-be significant victory there
The Prince of Polotsk commands the enemy regiment personally… I wish I was there to witness his humiliation.
Victory in Turnu.
The fighting was bland with few casualties. But having defeated the Prince in battle, along with harrying some of his other regiments incessantly, I figure I can make do with an honorable peace.
I’ve sent an offer of white peace to the Prince of Polotsk.
The Prince of Polotsk, while fleeing my forces in Turnu, has responded to my offer of peace.
The fool declined my offer! I have effortlessly defeated him and his forces in battle but he still has the nerve to decline a fair peace!
I’ve taken a day to let my troops rest. This also gave me an opportunity to survey the condition of my realm- notably in Crimea
Dauid, my son, has granted to title Count of Lower Dniepr to his own son, Leon.
Leon is a simple boy. He is unmarried and still completing his education! He is rather loyal to me, since his father was unable to hold him as a vassal.
Unfortunately he takes after his father and holds a dislike of me personally.
Anaa Trpimirovic has finished her education.
She is Midas touched! I have decided to appoint her as my steward.
She is young, but capable.
The Polotsk regiments I was harassing in Vidin and Nikopolis are not through with being defeated
I was hoping to be done with these fools long ago; but I am stuck combating them instead of joining Michael and Nikephoros in Turnu.
We’ve scattered the enemy once again,
I am done camping out in Nikopolis and have ordered my regiment to march to Turnu.
The Countess of Smolensk is rather disloyal
Unfortunately I cannot afford to pay her off just yet. This extended conflict with Polotsk is wreaking havoc on my treasury. Now I must start worrying about the hidden enemies within my own realm…
I have once again dispatched an offer of white peace to the prince of Polotsk.
Surely my continued military victories are sign enough that I have won the war?
While awaiting reply from Polotsk regarding my peace offer, I have been collecting detailed reports on enemy movements.
Over 8000 Polotsk men are in Karvuna. Another fleet is delivering more to bolster their ranks soon.
Between Isaakios, Nikephoros, and Michael in Severin I have only 6693 men.
I am marching to reinforce them with my Belgrade regiment consisting of about 2700 men.
A vanguard force has arrived in Turnu.
1688 men, commanded by an insignificant captain, have engaged my waiting army. I hope that my men will turn the enemy quickly, before it is reinforced from Karvuna.
Two instances of bad news:
The Prince of Polotsk, the fool he is, has declined my fair peace. It also seems that Michael, my chancellor, has taken a wound to the face. Apparently he has had his teeth knocked out! What a fine toothless chancellor he will be…
The skirmishing in Turnu lasted only six days.
The enemy lost 43 men. My army took 16 casualties.
At a time when he should be garnering honor and fame, leading troops in battle, Nikephoros has only received scorn…
Anastaso’s bastard would have been a mighty man if he were legitimate.
All of this marching and playing war is taking a toll on me.
I can feel the virility flee my body with every passing day. The last few months have felt like years…
A main component of the Polotsk army arrived in Turnu today
For once the enemy may offer up a legitimate battle.
I am racing to Turnu as quickly as possible. Reports indicate an additional 3000+ enemy have arrived in Turnu.
My forces there are now outnumbered. I hope to add my regiment to the battle and force the battle to end to my favor.
Poor Michael just can’t get a break.
I have received word that he took a severe wound in Turnu. May God have mercy and bring him back to health.
The Kingdom of Serbia cannot be defeated!
In the face of superior numbers, my forces have defeated the enemy. Surely The Prince of Polotsk has learned his lesson by now.
I am dispatching yet another offer of a fair, white peace to the Prince.
Just when I though news of peace had arrived, I find that the current
urgent message to me was of little consequence:
The Pope died. Boo hoo.
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Topic: Let's Play Crusader Kings Deus Vult (Read 137856 times)