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Sep 22, 2014 01:06
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| # ? Apr 24, 2024 09:48 |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:08
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moderately horney ok got it, it's just like everyday life |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:10
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*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:11
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:18
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Meursault Horny |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:26
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alright ziggurat crew lets get to fashioning the remaining slabs into very mildly erotic statues |
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Sep 22, 2014 01:28
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Luckily for the yob, I'm something of an expert in mild to fair eroticism |
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Sep 22, 2014 02:03
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first rule is: the laws of germany second rule is: be nice to mommy third rule is: don't talk to commies fourth rule is: eat kosher salamis |
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Sep 22, 2014 02:31
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* lol |
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Sep 22, 2014 02:32
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* hahaha |
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Sep 22, 2014 02:41
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 05:00
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fox mccloud and wolf are at the beach, splashing each other flirtatiously. fox is wearing swim trunks, wolf is submerged from the waist down but from what you can see through the water there is a suggestion that he might be wearing a speedo |
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Sep 22, 2014 05:06
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Bayezid readies his armies once more with a goal of subduing the rest the Beyliks in Anatolia, and the increasingly annoying Qara Qoyunlu Turkmen, who had recently taken over Armenia and were encroaching on Ottoman territory. On the beginning of the campaign season, the Sultan’s armies were deployed. One by one the Anatolian principalities would fall. First Candar, and then Mentese, then Karaman, and Lesser Armenia. These campaigns rapidly expanded the borders of the Ottomans, pushing them past the Tarsus mountains and into Northern Syria. By 1406, the Ottomans were at the outskirts of the final defiant Beyliks: The Ramadanids and Dulkadirids. Situated at the border with Syria, these two powers (if one would be so generous as to call them that) were preserved only due to the weakness of other beyliks, Ottoman commitments in other places, and the backing of the Mamluks; whose interest in preserving the balance of power played a long way in starving off Ottoman advancement. And like so many times before, Ottoman commitments in Europe would see that the beys would remain free men for another day. For in 1406, the Christians would strike back. In the aftermath of Constantinople's conquest, Christendom was in shock. The Holy city had fallen to the infadels. Shock turned to anger, and anger turned to belligerence. Calls for crusade were rampant, and on 1405, yet another crusade was called upon and discussed. However, while there was great talk of launching a holy crusade, support for actually implementing it was… varied. While the Emperor in Germany, the new king in Hungary and the remnant Serbians, Albanians and Greeks were the most ardent supporters, the Italians and French were rather lukewarm to the idea of crusade, the merchant republics of Venice and Genoa notwithstanding. (France especially was ambivalent to sending men so far off as its war with England required full commitment). The Portuguese and English outright ignored requests for soldiers. But still, thanks to some good diplomacy and deals of land in the Post Ottoman war, the plans for Crusade were in motion. Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, Wallacia, Bulgaria and the Empire in Germany answered the call, providing the bulk of the manpower, along with Venice, Genoa and a host of various Serbian, Albanian and Greek principalities. Finally, in 1406, an invasion was launched from the starting point of Dalmatia, along with massive raids into Ottoman held Greece by the Venetians and Genoese, who were both wary about losing their access to the Black Sea trade and their colonies. This was followed by another advance via a joint Albanian-Greek army. While the Crusaders may have initially gained momentum, they eventually repeated the same mistakes of their predecessors in previous crusades. The Europeans were prone to infighting, often squabbling amongst themselves; their conduct was horrible (often looting the very towns they planned to liberate) and their discipline questionable. With these factors at hand, the Crusader advance stumbled, and the tide quickly turned. The more disciplined (and in many cases numerous and better armed, thanks to the superior Ottoman logistics) managed to puncture the Crusader’s forces, and inflict heavy casualties. Beginning in 1408, the Ottomans were launching counter invasions into Serbia and Athens. The naval front of the war was different, however. The vast Venetian and Genoese fleets, staffed with well trained and experienced men, were able to do significant damage to Ottoman shipping and conduct landings in Thrace and even Bithynia. In addition, they were able to cut down on resupply and hurt the logistics. The initial idea was not only to harm the logistics, but to effectively deny the ability to move troops by splitting the Ottomans in half, isolating its European holdings from Anatolia. However, as the war passed the bridge between the powers were closing. This strategy of isolation culminated in a brazen attack on Constantinople by a Venetian-Genoese fleet. While initially successful, the Venetians finally learned the difficulties in attacking the Queen of Cities, and the luck that aided them in the Fourth Crusade was no more. The battle ended in disaster, with much of the Crusading fleet destroyed. The Italians quickly salvaged what they could to Dalmatia for repair, but the damage was done. Never again would Venice be able to reach Constantinople. Still, by 1410 the war was dying down. Ottoman troops had overrun what remained of Bulgaria, Athens and the Peloponnese. They had inflicted heavy losses on the main contingent of Crusader troops, pushing them back into Bosnia and Northern Serbia. The Ottoman vassals at The war had become a meat grinder for the crusaders, and bit by bit demoralization had kicked in. After it became apparent that the invasion would no longer have any chance of victory, Poland and Bohemia withdrew. Further losses prompted the Emperor in Germany to also withdraw. Seeing which way the wind was blowing the merchant republics of Italy made peace with the Ottomans and left. This left the fighting now to mostly Hungary, already weakened by its recent bout of civil war, Wallachia and the remaining Balkan states. None were able to resist the advance of the Osman’s heirs. It was only a matter of time until all fell to the Dar Al Islam. First was Greece, and then remnants of Serbia. Albania would last somewhat longer, with sporadic resistance continuing until late into the 1420s, but would bit by bit be pacified. Wallachia stubbornly refused to go down without fighting, and payed the price. It would be subdued, broken and visualized in the campaigns that would follow. Finally, Hungary was alone and outmatched. In 1412, they finally submitted, ceding their Bosniak and Dalmatian holdings in exchange for peace. At the same time of the Crusader war, the Qara Qoyunlu began a series of raids into the Ottoman East. While it did little to damage the Anatolian possessions, it became a serious annoyance. Ottoman troops were able to hold them off rather easily, but the flat lands of Eastern Anatolian Plateau are not as easy to defend as mountains. It was then decided a new border was needed, one far more defensible. After conducting the counsel of his advisors and Vizier, the mountains of Armenia was decided as the perfect place for the frontier. It had the advantage of being mountainous and defensible, had a largely Christian populace that could be subject to Jizya, and finally was a great way to punish the Qara Qoyunlu for their raids with a show a force. But first, Trebizond would need to be eliminated. As a terminus of Silk Road trade, this wealthy city could not be ignored. While being able to survive this long was impressive due to the empire’s masterful diplomacy, like the Romans before them, they had ran out of allies. With the acquisition of Trebizond the Ottomans had both an excellent port at their disposal but a waypoint into the Caucasus and Armenia. An army of 20,000 men was dispatched and the empire fell by 1410. And with war dying down in Europe, more troops could be shifted east to focus on the nomadic threat. What soon followed was various counter raids and expansion into Armenia proper. Nomadic horsemen had always been the bane of settled states, but the advent of firearms turned the tide. Being able to fortify themselves in the mountains, the Ottomans cemented their position and expelled the Black Sheep Turkmen into Azerbaijan. This show of weakness embolden the Timurid remnants to the south, who proceeded to expand north into Qoyunlu lands. This new, more defensible border would serve the Ottomans well. Its cemented their position in the east and freed up more men for future advances in the south and west. And it would be the last thing Bayezid would accomplish. For in late 1414, the sultan had passed on Bayezid I “the Thunderbolt”, as he was best known had managed to defeat the last great threat and solidify the Ottomans position in the Eastern Mediterranean, but it would be the last thing he did. With his death the Ottoman Empire sprawled from the Caucasus to Dalmatia, and like the Roman Empire at the death of the Great Basil II, was the most powerful state in the East. The throne was now in the hands in the son of Bayezid, Suleyman. Suleyman, a well educated man raised in Rumelia, gladly adopted the title of Kayser-i Rum and made it his own. And it is with this knowledge of the ancients that inspired Suleyman to cement his legacy amongst the Ottoman Empire. In 1415, upon musing the state of his empire, he is reported to have quoted the statement that would alter the fate of Europe forever. “If we have the Second Rome, why not the first?”... |
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Sep 22, 2014 05:07
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After the ascension of Suleyman, the constant campaigns that had characterized Bayezid’s rule had stopped. Aside from crushing any remaining opposition in the Balkans, all was quiet in the east. Instead Suleyman had devoted his time to planning and preparing, on improving the affairs of the state and integrating his new territories into the Ottoman system. Diplomatically, ties were forged with the Golden horde north and the vassalage of Wallachia was confirmed. It was this silence from the Ottomans that worried the west. Unlike his predecessor, Suleyman was a nobody. For good or for ill, no one knew how he would react, shall he turn his attention east to the Timurid remnants or the Mamluks? What about North? Hungary would most certainly be a target after their constant invasions over the last 30 years… It made perfect sense… Or… what about the west? No, the Ottomans would not be brazen enough to launch an attack the Holy land of Italia. Such an action would be suicidal!… right? While you, the reader, know the obvious answer to this, the nations of Christendom did not, and thus the tension was palpable. The only confirmed news the that the Sublime Porte had been purchasing massive amounts of lumber for some unknown purpose. Venetian traders had noticed the shipyards of Constantinople had been rather busy, and thus worked to anticipate what they believed to be inevitable: An invasion of Crete. The navy was drastically increased, and at double pace. Thanks to the nearly industrial level of activity of the Venetian arsenal, this was rapidly accomplished, albeit at the cost of straining the budget. Nonetheless, it was widely believed that this was worth it as if it would protect the Venetian holdings in Crete and Dalmatia. Venice was indeed correct; the Sublime Porte had been investing in a massive naval buildup, along with a general building up the already impressive armed forces of the Ottoman state. For Suleyman had his eyes on the ancestral homeland of his Empire: the Italian peninsula. However, the sultan was as practical as he was ambitious, and knew that any invasion without eliminating Venice would be foolhardy at best. In addition, he worked hard to secure the frontiers, especially in the east, taking lessons from history. The Ottoman state had often had problems of concentration, often being stuck on focusing on events east and west, leading to consolidation of gains being much harder as a result. Thus in the mind of Suleyman, the east is to be fully ignored until the west is dealt with. Therefore expansion in Asia was compromised. The mountainous borders of the Tarsus and Armenia were fortified, as was the plains of Mesopotamia. The latter especially was turned into a virtual fortress, with castles and patrols becoming as common as the shepherds and nomads. The interior as well as exterior were fortified. All dissent was crushed, and Suleyman worked hard to ensure his absolute power would not be threatened. The troops had their pay increased as a means to ensure loyalty, corruption was steadily eliminated and the feudal elements were replaced with a more centralized bureaucracy. [1] These reforms would serve the Sultan and his successors well. As Suleyman ensured the stability of his realm, the engorged navy was sent out to gain experience via protecting traders against piracy (especially Catalan pirates, who were a problem in western Mediterranean) and conducting privateer operations against Christian shipping when they could. In 1418, three years after the beginning of Suleyman’s reforms, the period of conquest finally began. But not on Crete. No, the navy, despite all its practice, was ready for that. Instead, easier targets would be targeted initially, before moving up the difficulty. And with that in mind, the Duchy of Naxos was now in the crosshairs. The invasion went spectacularly, with the hilariously unprepared Venetian vassal capitulating within weeks of the invasion at little cost to the invaders. This was followed up by an offense against the Knights of Rhodes, a thorn in the Ottoman side for too long, what with their frequent piracy against the empire’s shipping shipping. The Knights were a tougher nut to crack, but the doctrine of superior firepower ensured they surrendered as well. This was rather pyrrhic victory for the Ottomans, and so for the remainder of the year they simply were content to lick their wounds and rebuild their strength, but experience is the best teacher. The navy learned well from their mistakes, and reformed themselves into a more potent force from this war. Up next on the agenda was Cyprus. The Crusader kingdom was small, weak and divided in a class struggle between the French Aristocracy and the Greek commoners, making it a tempting target to invade. Over a series of months beginning in the spring of 1419, the navy managed to overwhelm and pacify the island. And on the beginning of 1420 AD, the navy eventually had its sights on Crete. The attack was of a rapid, forceful push, where a fleet of dozens of ships manned by the well trained crews launched a beachhead on the island. Despite the Most Serene Republic’s preparations and patrols it was simply too much. Compounded with the Greek population taking the distraction of the navy to revolt yet again, the Venetians were ultimately driven from the island. Unwilling to deal with another rowdy province that would require years of pacification, (an expense that would ruin the momentum of the campaign) the Sultanate offered to create a Kingdom in Crete with a Greek monarch at the helm in exchange for vassalage and a small yearly tribute. This apparently mollified the Cretans, who promptly accepted the deal and even offered to send troops against the Venetians. With the fall of Crete, the war widened into a general invasion of Venetian possessions. Corfu and the Ionian isles, alongside the Dalmatian holdings were invaded and conquered as time went on. And while the Venetians made the Ottomans bleed for every inch of land, the longer the war lasted, the more assets (and money) the Venetians lost, dragging them into a decisive disadvantage. Trade ground to a halt, prompting many unpaid sailors to leave or worse, defect to the Ottomans. The Venetians knew they needed a decisive victory to end the war, as this was quickly turning into a repeat of Chioggia 40 years earlier. Simultaneously, the Sultanate moved a vast army to Bosnia with a message to the kingdom of Hungary: Withdraw from Croatia and allow passage of Ottoman troops. Unwilling to let his lands be plundered, the Hungarian king attempted to intercept the Ottoman forces. A quick battle resulted off this, and when the news reached the Sultan, he was furious. His calculated gamble had failed, and Suleyman was forced to respond with a blow of force in order to restore face. The Sultan’s army was deployed and war broke out between Hungary and the Ottomans; the third in the century. And like the former two, it was short and decisive. 30,000 Ottoman troops, supplemented by elite Janissary forces swept through the land, carving up the Hungarian knights. Suleyman, in his wisdom, managed to effectively manage the two campaigns together and often in tandem, using the conquered Croatian lands to serve as waypoints for his navy, and the in turn the navy was used to reinforce his position in Croatia. By 1423, all land south of the Sava was under his control. This natural border worked perfectly for the Turks, allowing them to cement their position and launch strikes into the Venetian holdings in Dalmatia. This allowed for the final assault against Venice. 4 years of war had driven the city desperate and nearly bankrupt. Mass desertion was rampant, and parts of the city were under threat of starvation. The strikes against Venetian territory had turned into blockade, and blockade turned into siege. At the same time, the war in Croatia had effectively led to Ottoman conquest of the a wealthy region from the crown of Hungary. The siege of Venice was a brutal affair, with the Republic’s natural defenses turning it into a cage of its own making. The difficulties in invasion simply changed Ottoman strategy; if the city could not be taken by force, it would be starved until it bent the knee. The republic’s holdings on the Italian mainlands were cut off, and an ambitious Milan had began to expand at Venice’s expense, denying it of further assets and critical foodstuffs. Eventually the Republic reached a breaking point. Food riots against the government broke out, becoming increasingly violent. Each one would be met with savage repression, only for a bigger riot to break out as soon as that one was put down. Riots spiraled out into all out war, as the “Most Serene” republic savagely ripped itself apart from the inside. Ultimately, the urban mob would force a coup against the doge and a temporary council was installed. Messages were sent out to the Ottomans, signifying that Venice would submit to the Ottomans. |
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Sep 22, 2014 05:07
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Jett posted:fox mccloud and wolf are at the beach, splashing each other flirtatiously. fox is wearing swim trunks, wolf is submerged from the waist down but from what you can see through the water there is a suggestion that he might be wearing a speedo 
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Sep 22, 2014 05:09
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Sep 22, 2014 05:15
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 06:10
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| i'm unable to not make people extremely horny rip me i guess | |
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Sep 22, 2014 08:03
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 09:10
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* |
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Sep 22, 2014 11:42
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* haha |
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Sep 22, 2014 11:46
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I slowly begin to unzip my pants, as I stare passionately at your chin. Now fully unzipped, I drag my snake out of the pants, and it spits at your face. You lick it up. We both smile. You allow the snake to encroach into your mouth. |
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Sep 22, 2014 12:51
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My friends their is still time! I have devoured the gem stash of our overlord and his power wanes. It will nto wax again until the next coming of the quarter moon. Strike now for freedom! |
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Sep 22, 2014 12:58
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cute anime girl posted:I slowly begin to unzip my pants, as I stare passionately at your chin. Now fully unzipped, I drag my snake out of the pants, and it spits at your face. You lick it up. We both smile. You allow the snake to encroach into your mouth. is it an actual snake, though, or a penis? |
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Sep 22, 2014 15:06
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GODSPEED JOHN GLENN posted:is it an actual snake, though, or a penis? yes i need to know how aroused to get |
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Sep 22, 2014 15:11
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FluffieDuckie posted:yes i need to know how aroused to get both technically. It is a real snake complete with penis. |
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Sep 22, 2014 15:41
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Luvcow posted:*arrives out of breath and reads new rules, drops sack of gems dejectedly* im glad you post w/ us |
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Sep 22, 2014 15:51
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Vynar posted:both technically. It is a real snake complete with penis. Snakes don't have penises. Immersion ruined |
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Sep 22, 2014 16:46
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GODSPEED JOHN GLENN posted:Snakes don't have penises. Immersion ruined welp a careful internet search of snake penis has turned up, of all things, a penis snake. 
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Sep 22, 2014 16:52
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FluffieDuckie posted:welp a careful internet search of snake penis has turned up, of all things, a penis snake. |
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Sep 22, 2014 17:17
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FluffieDuckie posted:welp a careful internet search of snake penis has turned up, of all things, a penis snake. nbd, just a penis slithering down the side-walk |
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Sep 22, 2014 17:24
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It's not a penis, it's a dick lizard. Jesus christ, people. |
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Sep 22, 2014 18:04
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GODSPEED JOHN GLENN posted:Snakes don't have penises. Immersion ruined Goddamn it GSJG, you of all people should know first hand the horrific mutations which we have suffered at the hands of the basalt ziggurat. What with your 13 fancy dicks. |
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Sep 22, 2014 18:28
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Vynar posted:Goddamn it GSJG, you of all people should know first hand the horrific mutations which we have suffered at the hands of the basalt ziggurat. What with your 13 fancy dicks. 
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Sep 22, 2014 22:36
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| # ? Apr 24, 2024 09:48 |
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Vynar posted:Goddamn it GSJG, you of all people should know first hand the horrific mutations which we have suffered at the hands of the basalt ziggurat. What with your 13 fancy dicks. yeah you weren't so smart back when you only had 12 puny dicks like the rest of us |
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Sep 23, 2014 00:48
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