 Hi there, and welcome to my first attempt at a Let's Play! Introduction: This will be me trying my hand at a Paradox mega-campaign. Stretching across almost 900 years, we'll be tracing the journey of a minor power in 1066 through to 1948, watching it transform as it goes through everything from the Enlightenment to the Age of Nationalism. To do this I'll be playing through 5 games - Crusader Kings 2, Europa Universalis 4, March of the Eagles, Victoria 2 and Hearts of Iron 4. I've already read a couple other Paradox LPs on here, so I know they're pretty popular, but I figure there's no harm in giving it a jab myself. For CK2, I'll be running on the latest version of CK2+, along with all the official expansions except Sunset Invasion, simply because... Who will we be playing as? The Sheikh of Cádiz, a single-county minor clinging onto the edges of the Iberian peninsula. Our first character will be Muhammad Jizrunid, a 63 year old Sunni zealot without any heirs whatsoever, making for a particularly challenging start. So what's different about your LP? I'll be frank, nothing much. I've completed a couple megacampaigns before, and they generally went pretty well, but they were usually with Catholic powerhouses. It'll be really cool to take a Muslim power through the ages, facing the constant threats and basking in the boons that come with our positioning, suffering through the inevitable setbacks and attempting to bounce back... it'll be a wild ride. What are your goals, then? Firstly, this won't be turning into blob simulator. I'm hoping to avoid ever getting too powerful, mostly by roleplaying my characters to the extreme. Hopefully I can still make updates fun by focusing more on the stories that CK2 crafts, rather than just shoving endless war into every chapter, so we'll see how that goes. With that, I'm going to see where the game takes me from there and work with what I'm given. I will obviously be expanding within de jure Andalusia, but I also want to eventually have a few scuffles in the Crusades and maybe, way down the line, test myself against the great powers of the world. All this assuming I don't gently caress up and manage to survive the first few years, of course. So, a bit more on Al-Andalus? Iberia has a long and interesting history, as many probably already know, one dating back thousands of years to where it was little more than a battlefield, bearing witness to the clash of the two superpowers that were Rome and Carthage. Lots happened, but to put it short, Rome won and went on to dominate the Mediterranean. All empires fall, however, and they too eventually collapsed. Just one of many causes attributed to the fall of the Roman Empire are the raids and migrations of Germanic peoples into Western Rome, from the Vandals to the Ostrogoths. Iberia in particular would largely come under the occupation of the Visigoths, who managed to establish dominance over the peninsula. All very nice, but the only history that we're really interested in begins a few centuries after all of this, around the early 710s AD, which was when the Arabs launched the first of many incursions into Visigothic Iberia. Divisions within the Visigothic Kingdom made it easy for a Berber-Arab force expand into southern Iberia, culminating in a decisive battle in which the Visigothic King Roderic was killed. Left leaderless, they crumbled before the oncoming Muslim armies, who overran much of the peninsula over the next eight years. Once the Visigoths were fully subjugated, the Umayyad Caliph promptly forgot about Iberia. It was, after all, nothing but the distant frontier of a vast and powerful empire.  That is, until they were overthrown. The Umayyads were the successors of Prophet Muhammad, seizing control of the Muslim Empire in the mid-600s and ruling as Caliphs up until the 750s. But their rule was not universally beloved, and the prestigious Abbasid family would eventually lead a revolution against the Umayyads, who eventually suffered many defeats on the battlefield. The now-entrenched Abbasids then led a mass slaughter of every Umayyad they could their hands on, desecrating their tombs and seizing control of the Muslim world for themselves. They couldn't track down every Umayyad, however, and Abd ar-Rahman I managed to escape and establish a new kingdom in Iberia. Abd ar-Rahman's descendants would go on to renew the Umayyad Caliphate, spurring what was the golden age of Andalusian civilisation as they ruled over a thriving ethnically and religiously diverse population.  This golden age would not last long, just a little over half a century, before giving way to a period of devastating civil war, also called the Taifa period. The chronic infighting quickly led to the demise of the Umayyad Caliphate and the collapse of Muslim hegemony on the peninsula. The Christian powers of the north took advantage of Andalusian disunity and rapidly expanded, with their raids quickly escalating into large-scale reconquest. A series of decisive Catholic victories has ensured that Islam is now on the retreat within the Iberian peninsula, and unless something is done to end the conflict of the Taifas and reunify Al-Andalus, there is a legitimate risk that the united Catholic powers may end up victorious. And it is into this dynamic and volatile setting that we come into play.  hashashash fucked around with this message at 13:17 on Jun 11, 2019 |
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Jan 4, 2017 00:41
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ground floor!
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Jan 4, 2017 00:58
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A rather short first chapter, mostly because I'm still familiarising myself with this writing thing, but also because I started with an old ruler. Chapter 1 - The Short and Bitter Reign of Muhammad Jizrunid - 1066 to 1072 Our story begins in one of the far-flung corners of the world, in a small stretch of land bereft of riches or prestige, in the smoldering ruins of a once-great empire.  The Taifa of Qadis, but one of twelve different emirates and sheikhdoms to emerge from the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba, and perhaps the weakest of them. The small taifa was recently rocked when it’s old and venerable Sheikh passed away in his sleep, thrusting the future of his domain into doubt. Before getting drawn into the internal politics of Cádiz too much, however, it would be wise to take a step back and consider the Sheikhdom’s many neighbours.  Firstly, Europe itself is dominated by the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France, both of whom are in a state of uncertainty as mere teenagers ascend to the thrones. The yet-to-be crowned Heinrich IV has the potential to be a very capable monarch, easily settling into his roles and duties as Emperor. Philip, meanwhile, is still considered by many to be a child, and hasn’t been given any opportunity to prove himself just yet. That said, conflict between the Empire and France is inevitable, and it seems as though it will be these two youths who are to determine the future of Europe, at least for the next few decades. Further north, on the other hand, carnage has already manifested itself as battles rage up and down England. The aged King Harald II has been forced into two separate wars as he battles Duke William the Bastard and King Harald of Norway, both of whom lay claim to the shores and forests of England.    In the east, meanwhile, tension and hatred is simmering between three powerful rivals: the ancient and stuttering Byzantine Empire, the tolerant and determined Fatimid Caliphate, and the nascent but ambitious Seljuk Empire.  Two of these empires are already embroiled in war, with the vibrant and physically powerful Sultan Alp Arslan declaring war on the comparatively feeble Basileus Konstantinos X. The Shia Caliph al-Muntasir, on the other hand, is content to sit back and observe the struggle playing out just beyond his borders.    Next, posing the greatest danger to the Sheikhdom of Cádiz, we come to the North African powers. A wide array of emirs and sultans currently fight one another for dominance of the sands, but the most powerful of these contenders is obvious, with the Almoravid fanatics seizing power and quickly expanding in Morocco.  The ruling Sultan of the Almoravids, Abu Bakr, has vowed to spread their reborn faith and subjugate the squabbling emirs of Algeria under his rule. Spectators further north, however, worry that the Almoravids are aiming to cast their nets even further afield, with their eyes set on the rich Muslim cities dotting the Iberian coasts.  Finally, we come full circle and return to the Taifa of Qadis. Early in the year 1066, the elderly and widely-respected Sheikh Ahmed died, after a reign spanning almost two decades. Having come to his inheritance already an old man, however, Ahmed had been unable to produce any children at all, meaning the sheikhdom would then pass to his brother. And thus a new era in the Iberian peninsula has come to pass, though at the time, no one would’ve even blinked at the news that some isolated sheikh had died.  Muhammad, however, had lived his life assuming he wouldn’t be succeeding the sheikhdom his father had conquered. So he closeted himself away from the public and instead devoted his life to his religion, reading and reciting the Quran, attempting to perfect his prayer, and writing extensively on the Hadiths of the Prophet’s Companions. In a testament to his faith, Muhammad had gone so far as to memorise every verse of the Quran, elevating him in the eyes of his equals and peers alike.  He had even refused to marry, believing that the charms of women would only distract him from his true calling. Thus, when the viziers and councilors who’d served his brother called on him at his mosque to inform him of the news, Muhammad was so shocked that he almost collapsed right there. His new advisors managed to keep him steady, however, and escorted him to his new quarters at the Sheikh’s Palace - a small, poorly-furnished collection of stone towers dotting the bay. After making their introductions and assuring their new liege of their loyalties, the councillors retreated to give Muhammad some time to collect his wits.  After spending a few days getting his affairs in order, and contemplating the sudden turn of events, Muhammad came to the realisation that his life was about to change. Completely, irrevocably, and perhaps not for the better. There was nothing that could be done about it, however. There was quite literally no one left of his father’s family to inherit Cádiz, and Allah would surely not smile on him if Muhammad were to shirk his responsibilities, and squander his father’s hard-earned conquest. And indeed, Muhammad’s life quickly began to change once he officially accepted the Sheikhdom, as his Council wasted no time in informing him of the need to marry. The dynasty had to be secured, after all, and the only way to ensure a smooth succession was to have a son. So the new Sheikh took two courtiers as wives, in addition to the daughter of one of his vassals, to both produce an heir and tide over a particularly-unruly Wali. Unfortunately for him, Muhammad had spent his entire life without the touch of a woman, so the less that is said of his wedding nights, the better.  The important thing, as Sheikh Muhammad would no doubt insist, is that he got the job done. Less than a year after his marriage ceremony, Muhammad had two babes scrambling about his floors, a boy and a girl.   Whilst Muhammad is busy impregnating his wives and getting to grips with what being a Sheikh entails, however, there were significant developments in the ongoing Muslim-Catholic conflict dominating much of Iberia. Firstly, after failing to quell the initial uprising, the Dhunnunid Emirate collapsed to Catholic rebels and lost much of its northern holdings, creating the newfound Duchy of Toledo. A blow to Muslims throughout the peninsula, no doubt, but the loss was quickly tided over by the success in the West. Abu Bakr, Emir of the Aftasid Taifa, had been waging war on the Kingdom of Leon for the past two years. The sickening torture he had inflicted on his Christian prisoners made him notoriously unpopular amongst the infidel, but he also proved himself a genius on the battlefield, routing several Crusader armies and seizing large tracts of land from them.  Sheikh Muhammad, unlike many of his neighbours, actually approved of Abu Bakr’s ‘firm methods’, believing them to be the only way to end the recent uptick in Christian victories. To that end, and at the encouragement of his viziers, Muhammad sent the Emir an offer of alliance. Though Abu Bakr was interested, he would never have the chance to reply, with a Christian fanatic assassinating him before the terms of alliance could be agreed upon. Abu Bakr’s son, luckily, was just as eager for friends as his father had been. He agreed to forge an alliance with Sheikh Muhammad, and the two rulers solidified their newfound bonds with a marriage contract between their children.   Further north, meanwhile, the crisis in England climaxed when King Harold was cut down by the Norwegian King in the Battle of Stamford Bridge. His army was quickly decimated upon the death of their king and commander, leaving the path to London wide open for King Harald.  Whilst the Anglo-Saxons were busy battling against the Norwegians, however, William the Bastard was able to defeat a small diversionary force, before leading his army into Westminster Abbey and crowning himself King of England.  Harald, understandably, was having none of it, especially since it had been him who had defeated the Anglo-Saxons. He pushed south on a forced march and decisively defeated the Bastard King's army in another decisive battle, before going on to burn and sack London itself. And with that, after almost two years of bloody war, Harald Hardrada emerged from the three-way conflict for England as the sole victor.  Back in Cádiz, Muhammad began experiencing the difficulties that came with age. Namely constant headaches, aching bones, and demon children.  The birth of Muhammad’s firstborn son, Az’ar, had initially been celebrated throughout the sheikhdom. It had been a reason for festivity, an excuse to drink and eat, a rare opportunity to cheer and laugh. But, as the infant gradually grew into a young boy, he began showing… odd tendencies, to say the least. For example, succession of his wet nurses had all died, apparently due to ‘heart attacks’, though many of them had been young. He also scared the other children, especially after one of the boys he'd gotten into a scuffle with was left crippled and blinded, though no one knew for sure that Az'ar had been behind it. Nonetheless, Muhammad was becoming increasingly worried, and eventually decided to take the problem to his old friend and confidant, at the mosque where he’d once lived and worked. All he needed was assurance. And that he did not get. His lifelong friend and now-Imam Sifal, after a lengthy period of prayer, informed the Sheikh that his son was marked by the Devil, as sure as the rising of the sun. Muhammad, who was practically at a loss for words, asked his friend to keep the matter quiet for a short while, so he could get his bearings straight, perhaps pray for guidance. Imam Sifal, however, told his Sheikh that it was his duty to Allah to begin a formal investigation into his son’s mental state. Muhammad, once again at a loss, was unable to think or speak for the space of a heartbeat, and reacted by instinct rather than reason.  Before he knew what was happening, Sheikh Muhammad’s guardsmen were pulling him off Sifal’s limp body, his hands aching as blood dripped onto the marble floors of the mosque. Understandably, after discovering that he had murdered one of his oldest friends in the heat of the moment, Muhammad was distraught and shocked. He retreated from public view and locked himself up in his palace, refusing to see either his viziers or his family.  Close associates of the Sheikh reported that, with the weeks of solitude quickly stretching into months, Muhammad’s health steadily declined as he refused to leave his quarters. His mood also darkened significantly, and scandals only became more and more common as rumours spread throughout the court that the Sheikh had screamed at his children, or beat his wife, or murdered one of his viziers…  In fact, after killing the Imam, Sheikh Muhammad seems to have discarded any decency or morality he had previously prized. It was as though the floodgates had been thrown opened, and the scandals that quickly wormed into every house and mosque in Cádiz not only involved violence and murder, but they even whispered of long nights with strange women, as Muhammad indulged in all the carnal sins he’d previously abhorred.  This period of depravity and tyranny lasted for another two years, with the Sheikh quickly abandoning any self-control he once had and engaging in every sin under the sun, from drinking to whoring to murdering. Muhammad refused to involve himself in either family life or his political duties, so the day-to-day running of the Sheikhdom passed to the Old Shura, with the viziers visibly struggling under the workload. The one good thing that came out of this was, what with all the time he spent with his harem, Muhammad was able to produce another son. He was thrust to wet nurses as soon as he was born, of course, Muhammad was no longer interested in raising his children or visiting his wives.  Needless to say, all the drinking and over-eating was not good for the health of an old man. In fact, it was remarkable that Muhammad lived for as long as he did, only dying at the ripe old age of 70. The court physician had proclaimed that the death had been a natural one, but he had worries, especially seeing as the 'demon child' had been sitting in the corner of his father's room when the Sheikh was first discovered to be dead. Anyhow, it would be foolish to deny that many in the Sheikhdom of Cádiz breathed a sigh of relief with the news. The broken Sheikh Muhammad, however, would become little more than a footnote in the long and glittering history of Al Andalus, with his only true achievement being the siring of his firstborn son and heir. Sheikh Az’ar. 
hashashash fucked around with this message at 12:47 on Oct 7, 2018 |
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Jan 4, 2017 01:35
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Well, this promises to the interesting. Can Shaitan unify Al-Andalus and push back the fanatics on both sides that might disapprove of the Devil's son?
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Jan 4, 2017 01:44
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Huh, that's a very quick time for that particular event chain to pop. I think it's also once per game, too...
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Jan 4, 2017 01:49
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NewMars posted:Huh, that's a very quick time for that particular event chain to pop. I think it's also once per game, too... Yep, a MTTH of 500 years, I was pretty surprised.
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Jan 4, 2017 02:11
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What mods are you using, just the modern version of CK2+? Also, there is a discord full of people who run/read Paradox LPs if you're interested. It can be useful for finding people to help with the conversion process, though that is a ways off.
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Jan 4, 2017 02:27
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WilliamAnderson posted:What mods are you using, just the modern version of CK2+? Yeah, that's the only actual mod, but I have played around with base CK2 a fair bit. I've just messed around with opinion modifiers and traits, but based on my experience, it makes it a bit harder for the AI to keep a massive realm together, which is the point. I might also write a few event chains later on, if I feel the narrative is lacking or the game gets a bit boring. That actually sounds pretty cool, but yeah, there's still quite a while before converting.
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Jan 4, 2017 02:46
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Nice to see that we're finally playing a Muslim power (apart from Wiz's Azerbaijan LP, I can't recall any other Islamic Paradox LPs), not so nice that our heir is apparently the Antichrist 
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Jan 4, 2017 02:48
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Ia Ia! Az'ar Ftaghn!
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Jan 4, 2017 03:37
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Hashim posted:Yeah, that's the only actual mod, but I have played around with base CK2 a fair bit. I've just messed around with opinion modifiers and traits, but based on my experience, it makes it a bit harder for the AI to keep a massive realm together, which is the point. I might also write a few event chains later on, if I feel the narrative is lacking or the game gets a bit boring. Have you checked out the Fitna Fracture mod? Ofaloaf started to use it later on in the Goth LP. Also, I PMed you a link for the discord server.
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Jan 4, 2017 03:49
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Aw yes I love when Antichrist immediately pops, and this is a great scenario for it.
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Jan 4, 2017 04:50
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I really wonder if it's more common for smaller/muslim realms sometimes, because the only other time I've gotten it legit is as the Ibadi dude in the viking age bookmark in Marrakesh Also dangit, I wish you'd have started earlier because there's a certain joy in fabricating claims in Ireland as a muslim; because of all the churches you can just ignore reforming it and gain a great powerbase early on with very little effort as you conquest through it. The fact you sometimes lose it again doesn't really matter; Sunni irishmen is a goal worthy in of itself and as you well know, green is the colour of islam so claiming the emerald isle is just good religion.
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Jan 4, 2017 05:46
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Deceitful Penguin posted:I really wonder if it's more common for smaller/muslim realms sometimes, because the only other time I've gotten it legit is as the Ibadi dude in the viking age bookmark in Marrakesh Oh God, do this, if only so i could imagine the Surahs read in an Irish brogue. CommissarMega fucked around with this message at 06:33 on Jan 4, 2017 |
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Jan 4, 2017 06:29
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Well this looks to be an interesting start. Anyways, since you don't have a banner, I decided to make one for you.  Does that look good? If not, I can adjust the size or you could go into MS Paint and adjust the image yourself. The image link is http://i.imgur.com/OUA34p7.png
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Jan 4, 2017 07:26
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Deceitful Penguin posted:I really wonder if it's more common for smaller/muslim realms sometimes, because the only other time I've gotten it legit is as the Ibadi dude in the viking age bookmark in Marrakesh I had Sunni Irishmen liberating Ireland from the pesky English once. It was beautiful. drat I wish I still had that save file. Converting it would be sweet. Good luck on your LP Hashim.
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Jan 4, 2017 11:17
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This is definitely off to an interesting start.
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Jan 4, 2017 12:06
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CommissarMega posted:Oh God, do this, if only so i could imagine the Surahs read in an Irish brogue. There's also the fact that the main advantage is being able to use the tribal holdings way, way earlier than you should, due to simply ignoring them and just using the castles. Heck, if you have religious revocations, you get them without the recently conquered modified because you revoke them from the bishops themselves. (Back when I first did this, tribals didn't need that law, as they had it by default. Still, legalism 3 and two law changes isn't super hard, especially if you spam scholarship focus) He could still do it, but I'm sure he has plans of his own. And now that Norway has England, there's the start of a very big blob there that might take him out pretty easily. Hitlers Gay Secret posted:I had Sunni Irishmen liberating Ireland from the pesky English once. It was beautiful. drat I wish I still had that save file. Converting it would be sweet. IF only the revolt command was more reliable. 
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Jan 4, 2017 14:34
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Mr.Morgenstern posted:Well this looks to be an interesting start. That's actually great, thanks! WilliamAnderson posted:Have you checked out the Fitna Fracture mod? Ofaloaf started to use it later on in the Goth LP. Fitna Fracture looks pretty good, I was going to imitate something similar using events. I'll give it a try sometime this week and, assuming it's all good, implement it into the LP.
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Jan 4, 2017 14:43
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Hey, is the sunset invasion active?
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Jan 4, 2017 17:07
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Siegkrow posted:Hey, is the sunset invasion active? "For CK2, I'll be running on the latest version of CK2+, along with all the official expansions except Sunset Invasion, simply because..." Presumably he doesn't want the game to end early when the Aztecs come crashing into the Iberian peninsula at high speed.
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Jan 4, 2017 17:20
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I'll never be free of catching up on Paradox LPs. Good start so far.
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Jan 4, 2017 17:39
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Hashim posted:with his only true achievement being the siring of his firstborn son and heir. I'm pretty sure Muhammad wasn't the real dad, if you catch my drift.  So he didn't even get to achieve that.
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Jan 4, 2017 17:51
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Dammit I can't find any paradox Mega-LP with sunset invasion :[
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Jan 4, 2017 19:03
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Siegkrow posted:Dammit I can't find any paradox Mega-LP with sunset invasion :[ Gold Rules the World featured the Aztecs loving poo poo up.
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Jan 4, 2017 19:14
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Man, I didn't notice that. On one hand, I get why he wouldn't want it, on the other hand  funlovingThe game really needs an Arctive/Atlantian/African invasion really.
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Jan 4, 2017 19:51
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By a crazy coincidence the starring province in this LP is the only remaining province Castile controls in my current EU4 game. Hopefully there will be less Iberian "minors", like Aragon, putting France in a PU in this case. Deceitful Penguin posted:The game really needs an Arctive/Atlantian/African invasion really. 
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Jan 4, 2017 19:53
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I'll be honest, I considered activating it, just for the alt-history spin. But what with all the anti-blobbing measures I'll be using (and the fact that I'm not that good at the game), there's really no way I'll be able to beat more than a hundred thousand Aztecs, especially if they land somewhere around Morocco. Since this is supposed to be a Mega-LP, dying after a couple centuries wouldn't exactly be a good start :/ Edit: though it would make one hell of a story. hashashash fucked around with this message at 20:06 on Jan 4, 2017 |
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Jan 4, 2017 20:02
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The Atlanteans would be Hellenistic of course, in order to screw with the Norse if need be.Hashim posted:I'll be honest, I considered activating it, just for the alt-history spin. But what with all the anti-blobbing measures I'll be using (and the fact that I'm not that good at the game), there's really no way I'll be able to beat more than a hundred thousand Aztecs, especially if they land somewhere around Morocco. Since this is supposed to be a Mega-LP, dying after a couple centuries wouldn't exactly be a good start :/
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Jan 4, 2017 20:05
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Deceitful Penguin posted:The Atlanteans would be Hellenistic of course, in order to screw with the Norse if need be. They'll still be plenty of space for supernatural shenanigans throughout the LP, I imagine, though it's interesting that you bring up Hellenism in particular...
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Jan 4, 2017 20:11
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Deceitful Penguin posted:The Atlanteans would be Hellenistic of course, in order to screw with the Norse if need be.
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Jan 4, 2017 20:13
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I seem to remember some kook in the History Questions megathread in A/T being fixated on Atlantis being in Bolivia or something- maybe the Aztecs are fleeing from them 
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Jan 4, 2017 22:00
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Orv posted:I'll never be free of catching up on Paradox LPs. Good start so far. You say that like its a bad thing.
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Jan 4, 2017 22:03
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Hashim posted:They'll still be plenty of space for supernatural shenanigans throughout the LP, I imagine, though it's interesting that you bring up Hellenism in particular... Though even without your intervention, we already have some great scenarios; it would be rad if Norway can stick with England long enough, though I'm guessing Gavelkind is gonna gently caress that up sooner rather than later. How is West-Africa in this version? All muslim already? I sometimes like to reform the W-African Pagans and unify them a bit, but if you're aiming for that part of the map that might be lame; especially if you're taking the game further it could be fun if you're able to almost completely block off Christian colonization. Make America Ummah or something. Poil posted:Well yes, but then they'd come from a similar direction as the Aztecs and it would be a shame if they wasted time fighting each other. So I thought it better if they arrived from the north. South could be Mali/Ethiopia/Arabia. Chinese Invasion of India would be good too, as India can be dreadfully dull at times.
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Jan 4, 2017 22:52
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I hope you lose the game.
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Jan 4, 2017 23:17
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Well, that's why ya never run an LP in ironman. Though it would be neat to run the game a lil in observer mode, then play whoever ends up gettin' Cadiz after it's taken over
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Jan 5, 2017 03:52
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Poil posted:Well yes, but then they'd come from a similar direction as the Aztecs and it would be a shame if they wasted time fighting each other. So I thought it better if they arrived from the north. Hyperborian invasion. Conan comes in from the North Pole. Add in Aztecs and Mongols and weird alt-Carthage from the Chronicles of Ash books and you have one hell of a collision.
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Jan 5, 2017 04:05
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Chapter 2 - First Blood to the Jizrunids - 1072 to 1086 Late in the year 1073, one of the greatest conquerors in history died, and not under usual circumstances. Despite leading the Turks in countless victories and seizing large stretches of land from Baluchistan to Mesopotamia, Alp Arslan’s decisive defeat in the battle of Manzikert at the hand of the Byzantine Empire had struck him a blow from which he would never recover, his mental state gradually declining until he could take it no more. When the Sultan’s body was discovered, his eldest son and heir Malik was quickly crowned as his successor, and the young man has already vowed to avenge his father’s death by defeating the Basileus in open combat.   As two great empires struggle for dominance in an ancient land, a small and lacking sheikhdom on the other side of the world is still reeling from the second death of a ruler in less than a decade. Sheikh Muhammad, however, would not be sorely missed. In fact, the Shura or Council had already been dealing with the politics of the realm long before Muhammad’s death - enforcing law codes, imposing tithes, delivering justice - so the only real change was that they became the Regency Council rather than the Sheikh’s Council.  The matter of who would became Regent to the young Az’ar, on the other hand, was hotly contested. One of the local Wali, city governors, quickly took Az'ar into confinement and proclaimed himself regent. He would die under mysterious circumstances within two weeks, however, quickly followed by a council of imams seizing power instead. The authority of these imams would be just as short-lived, however, as in the end, Azar’s cunning mother was able to wrench the reigns of power in her own favour, convincing her young son to name her as his sole protector.  The fact that she was a woman made it very difficult for her to actually cement her position, and she was eventually reduced to bribing off her greedy enemies and threatening the jealous ones. Once she was officially confirmed as Regent, however, she proved herself worthy of the station. She actively participated in the day-to-day running of Cádiz, allocating vast sums of money to ambitious construction projects and the expansion of the army, something Sheikh Muhammad would never have done. Under the early days of her regency, local marketplaces were expanded, training grounds sprouted up, and the Sheikh's Palace was torn down, rebuilt and refurbished.   Meanwhile, even greater struggles for power were ongoing in the north. The successor of Emir Abu Bakr, Yahya, was just as ruthless and unforgiving as his father, and he was able to deal the Kingdom of León a fatal blow in the constant conflict between Muslim and Christian. King Alfonso of León was forced to escape his palaces under cover of darkness, slipping past Yahya's siege and fleeing to his last loyal strongholds, in the northern mountains. With the gold and prestige he’d earned in the war, Emir Yahya decided to proclaim himself Sultan, a threatening and presumptuous move to many on the peninsula.  Back in Cádiz, the Sheikh’s Council was worried that Aftasid ambitions would know no bounds, and that  Understanding the danger that the Sheikhdom was currently in, the regency council eventually decided to contribute some funds to the fortification of Cádiz, and with the help of builders and engineers recruited from surrounding cities, the crumbling walls encircling the city by land were gradually renovated.  As for the young sheikh himself, he was allowed to run wild throughout his youth, with his mother and councillors far too busy with affairs of state to actually make sure he was attending every lesson. So Az’ar was often able to escape his tutors, instead playing with the other children in the countryside, riding horses or getting into scuffles.  Some of these scuffles escalated into actual fistfights, and Az’ar would become famous for his short temper and heavy fist, blackening many an eye in his time.   Az’ar actually got into a particularly vicious fight with the son of a wazir, at the age of about 12, and left the boy unconscious. He was punished for this by his mother, of course, but the fight was also witnessed by the Marshal of Cádiz, Salah. Impressed by Azar’s fierceness, he offered to take the young prince under his wing.  After a short period of consideration, Azar’s mother agreed, and the next few years were made up chiefly of the young Sheikh swinging blades and riding horses. He quickly proved to have a remarkable affinity for battle strategy, to the point of obsession, and would devour any book about the exploits of past conquerors that he could get his hands on.   Not all of his youth was made up of ditching classes or fighting other children, however. There were also a few… darker stories, hushed rumours, and reluctant whispers that spread about the young sheikh. Azar’s childhood had been littered with scandal, not least of which included the deaths of his wetnurses, but as he aged into a young man, it seemed as though he was nothing but an average boy. In actuality, nothing could be further from the truth. Darkness still clung to Az’ar like a cloud, he had just gotten better at hiding his malicious thoughts and intentions. He would torture live animals and play cruel, often violent, tricks on the other children, all without anyone ever discovering or blaming him. Only his mother caught him in the midst of such acts, but in her fright, she turned a blind eye.  Thus, by the time Az’ar reached his majority and was confirmed as Sheikh, the lords of Cádiz were presented with a very unusual liege, of the like they’d never experienced before. Despite being rather lean in physique, Az’ar had a reputation for being very skilled with a blade, and he was eager to have his first taste of actual combat. The new Sheikh, however, was also very cunning, as anyone who kept lifelong secrets had to be. He had never excelled in his studies, but he still showed a degree of natural skill in many areas of rulership, earning him the support of many of his vassal imams, walis and wazirs.  Azar’s now-defunct Regency Council immediately advised their liege to embark on the Hajj, as was customary for sheikhs upon reaching adulthood, it would undoubtedly earn him the loyalty of the clergy. Az'ar, however, scoffed at these suggestions, he was not interested in the long and uncomfortable journey to Mecca. No, his eyes were set much closer to home.  Within a few weeks of becoming Sheikh, Az’ar commanded his vassals to prepare for a war, informing them that he would be marching into the Abbadid Taifa under arms before the month was out. This, obviously, was met with anger and shock. The Abbadid Emirate was a regional power in its own right, and would usually be able to field a far larger army then Cádiz, so Azar’s vassals were right to be surprised. The young Sheikh, however, had been closely observing the events playing out just beyond his border for some weeks now, where the Abbadid Emirate was embroiled in a disastrous war against the Emirate of Gharnatah. Believing this to the best opportunity he would ever get to expand, Az’ar once again commanded his vassals to raise their levies, or else face the cold, dark dungeons of the oubliette.  Without any choice in the matter, therefore, every man fit enough to walk and hold a sword was forced into Sheikh Azar’s new army, with the total number of troops amounting to just over 4500 men. Once the army had mustered near Cádiz, Az’ar pushed east on a forced march into Algeciras, hoping to pin down the local Abbasid force before it could escape. Many of the Cádizians were sure that they were marching straight into death, but the first enemy force they engaged was significantly smaller, and were quickly cut down in a decisive victory. First blood to Az'ar.  The sheikh didn’t stop to celebrate, however, immediately pushing his forces forward and engaging another Abbadid army further east, and this time he displayed his strategic brilliance by crushing the enemy flanks and completely surrounding the bulk of their army within two hours of the battle beginning. The manoeuvre was perfectly executed, and when he finally ordered that the pocket of trapped, desperate men and horse be squashed, every single Abbadid soldier on the battlefield was cut down in brutal slaughter.  Before the victory could be celebrated, however, word reached Az’ar that the Abbadids had regrouped with their allies and launched a devastating attack on Cádiz. Az’ar was quick to march back the way he came, and with his emotions buoyed by his two recent victories, the headstrong Sheikh decided to directly engage the superior Abbadid army straight-on.  In the close battle that followed, Az’ar was able to imitate earlier successes by inflicting devastating damage to the enemy flanks, personally leading cavalry charges wherever the fighting was thickest. The Abbadid army was too large to defeat in a single engagement, however, and Sheikh Az’ar was eventually forced to make an organised retreat. The Abbadid Emir had sustained greater losses, but he had still forced Az’ar to fall back, so both sides considered the battle to be a stalemate.  Az’ar fell back into neutral territory with his army in disarray. He was a confident and ambitious young man, but even he knew that pushing his men too far could have disastrous consequences, so he decided to avoid any further engagements for a few months, allowing his troops to recover in both numbers and morale. Whilst resting alongside the Guadalquivir River, however, something… strange happened. Scouts reported that a large force was approaching their position, so the Sheikh commanded his generals to prepare for battle, assuming that the Abbadid Emir had decided to seek him out. The army nearing, however, had no intention of fighting Sheikh Az’ar.  Three women emerged from the ranks of warriors and walked straight into the Cádizian camps, simply stating that they had been ‘sent’ to speak with Sheikh Az’ar, who by now had earned a reputation for his decisiveness and ruthlessness on the battlefield. When questioned as to who sent them, however, the women refused to answer. This quickly led to an argument between the guardsmen and the three women just outside the Sheikh’s tent, which in turn escalated into a brawl, forcing Az’ar to exit and see what was causing all the commotion. One of the women, a tall blonde covered head-to-toe in strange tattoos, immediately leapt towards Az’ar, and for a moment everyone feared their Sheikh was about to be assassinated. Instead, the woman simply grasped Azar's shoulders, and whispered his ear. After considering for a moment, the Sheikh nodded solemnly, and invited the three women into his tent. No one truly knows what they spoke of, with many even claiming that this entire scene had never transpired, but rumours allude to everything from the forging of a new alliance to the forbidden worship of Iblis - a sin beyond reckoning. What we do know for fact is that this 1500-strong force led by women actually joined up with Sheikh Azar’s army, pledging their undying loyalty to him, in life and death. Why or how Az’ar had earned their respect, nobody knows.    With winter coming to a close, Az’ar ended this period of rejuvenation not long after the auspicious incident, and pushed his army south to engage the Abbadid Emir once again. The enemy was found still attempting to breach the newly-built fortifications surrounding Cádiz, so Az’ar was able to pin them between his own army and the city walls, leading his forces into another stunning, decisive victory.   The Abbadid army was routed and forced to retreat in a scramble, making for easy pickings when Az’ar pursued them. He then turned once more and led his force back to Algeciras, this time outright assaulting the fortress and forcing its capitulation within the month. With his army decimated and Algeciras lost, the Abbadid Emir was finally forced to the negotiation table, agreeing to cede Algeciras and send yearly tribute to Sheikh Az’ar in exchange for peace.   And with that, the Taifa of Cádiz has expanded for the first time since its initial conquest. Sheikh Az’ar returns to his capital to find a hero’s welcome waiting for him, with thousands of smallfolk cheering at the prestige and gold flowing into the city with their Sheikh, and the nobility politely congratulating the young Az’ar whilst fuming under their masks. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, everything is about to change in Cádiz. For Az’ar has brought the three women with him, beginning an era shrouded in mystery, rumour and speculation in history and legend alike.  A few interesting tidbits that didn’t make the chapter: - Marshal Salah was having an affair with Azar’s mother for a long while, until he got blinded in a botched treatment, and she seemed to leave him. - After defeating the Holy Roman Emperor in a war for Holland, King Philip of France tried to reconquer Normandy from the Norwegians, but failed to do so and thus lost all his claims to the region. - As it turns out, being demon spawn does wonders for your piety: 
hashashash fucked around with this message at 18:18 on Dec 17, 2018 |
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Jan 5, 2017 12:11
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a cruel twist of fate that you set "do not blob" as one of your RP commandments and then got a ruler who came of age possessed by Shaitan and wanting to conquer the world
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Jan 5, 2017 14:49
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