View Full Version : The Unholy Symphony - a Russian AAR
The Unholy Symphony - a Russian AAR
Briefing:
After abandoning my Papal AAR, I decided to do another AAR, this one would be unlike my French AAR, I would start from scratch, and build up an empire, not just through war either. I am using the latest Holy Rome mod, and playing in the high era as Muscovy (because in Holy Rome, that's when Muscovy is weakest, to best stimulate the rise of Russia). I will be posting the first chapter very shortly, but there are some goals etc. that I want to set.
Goal 1:
Unite Russia using Muscovy, I will use machiavellian tactics, and not let anyone get in my way, trying to defeat as many of the Principalities as possible to achieve the goal.
Goal 2:
Proclaim Independance form the Golden Horde and kick them out of Europe, then achieve complete hegemony over western Russia by defeating Novgorod, Teutonic Order, Sweden, Denmark etc.
Goal 3:
Manipulate the rest of European politics, sending spies, using clerics and making myself invulnrable through alliances, vassals and royal marriages.
Guidelines:
(1) Try to lead [most] battles and sieges.
(2) Take many pictures.
(3) Try not to be at war all the time, focusing on religion (declaring Orthodox independant), espionage, relations, economy etc.
(4) Follow all the goals ruthlessly, but take my time doing it so it would be more realistic.
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/22726/2003206471616790139_rs.jpg
CHAPTER I
Rome was not built in a day
After the Mongol invasion and the division of the empire, the Principality of Muscovy, like the other Russian Principalities, was small in size. Consisting of only two provinces, being a vassal to the Golden Horde and at war with Volga Bulgaria. Muscovy will, later become the great empire of Russia, but it must first go through a struggle that would tear Russia apart.
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/21505/2004458649394604600_rs.jpg
The borders of Muscovy
As a vassal to the Golden Horde, Muscovy was expected to pay a large chunk of it's income directly to the Golden Horde, with a small population to tax, this was breaking Muscovy's economy, despite having a brilliant economist for it's leader.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/22515/2004497660737900282_rs.jpg
Muscovy's weak economy
The Prince, or Kniaz, was the leader of Muscovy. He was powerfull and controlled his lands easily, but future expansion meant that he would have trouble controlling his multi-ethnic state, despite being a skilled leader.
http://aycu02.webshots.com/image/23521/2004439061901204739_rs.jpg
Muscovy's current Kniaz, Aleksei, is not married and has no children, but is a skilled and young Prince
Muscovy is at war with two states, Denmark and Volga Bulgaria. Kniaz Aleksei should try to find peace with Denmark, and to conquer Volga Bulgaria as a whole.
http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/24419/2004475155591426136_rs.jpg
Kniaz Aleksei, ordered an Inn to be built in Moskva and a tax collector to be built in Polotsk, to increase the morale of the population and increase income. He also ordered six squads of peasants to be hired using most of Muscovy's gold reserves, and to attack the province of Vladmir in Volga Bulgaria.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/24472/2004499785366187736_rs.jpg
After the Inn was built, the morale of the population in Moskva was higher, lowering the chances for a rebellion, which was great, after all, who would want a group of crazy peasants wanting to murder you?
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/23182/2004401246523525819_rs.jpg
Perhaps Muscovy needed some assistance? Muscovy had good relations with Ryazan along with a trade agreement with them, perhaps they should start trading? Kniaz Aleksei also realised that the Principality of Suzdal was at war with Volga Bulgaria, a perfect chance for an alliance, but he had to improve relations with Suzdal first, attacking Volga Bulgaria is perfect for improving relations!
http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/22437/2004416988858754529_rs.jpg
Kniaz Aleksei decided to control a group of merchants to trade with Ryazan, boosting the income into +3, now Muscovy was ready to produce an army!
http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/24098/2004451234434308077_rs.jpg
Kniaz Aleksei made a wise decision trading with Ryazan, then he looked into the latest report on the mightiest nations in Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was the most powerfull state, which was not a surprise, but for now, this did not really matter, Kniaz Aleksei had a handfull of problems already!
http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/23108/2004417183914190049_rs.jpg
King Aleksei met with his marshal, the sixth squad was almost ready. There was no time or manpower to afford another squad, six should be a sizeable amount for an instant army, right? Well we could only hope so. Plundering in Vladmir could lower the morale of the people there, increase the morale for the peasent army and steal some gold as well, what more could we want? After some plundering, a siege would be perfect for capturing Vladmir, but a problem lurked that Kniaz Aleksei to face very shortly.
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/22686/2006385533023383440_rs.jpg
The six peasant squads were ready, time to attack!
http://aycu21.webshots.com/image/22980/2006391474920195653_rs.jpg
Right about the same time, the tax collector finally had an office! He should start collecting taxes from the villages in Polotsk. One problem with that, now everyone is more miserable, the peoples' morale is lower, time to try building an inn, when we could afford it...
http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/22536/2006348362174622115_rs.jpg
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/22745/2006384552288709592_rs.jpg
Do you remember that problem I was warning you about? Well now it's here. Emir Aalee of Volga Bulgaria is charging at our own marshal while looting a nearby village! With abour 320 peasants, armed and dangerous with a strong morale, this does not look too good.
http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/25237/2006307639487162625_rs.jpg
After the armies met, our marshal had to retreat to avoid losses. Luckily, Emir Aalee needed some fresh men, and he left. You might think this is much better than if he were to chase us? Well you are going to be surprised when he comes back. Just you wait!
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/22989/2006372594515808576_rs.jpg
Meanwhile, the Kniaz is checking relations with regional kings. The Teutonic Order doesn't like us, but Muscovy and the Teutonic Knights are not hateful in any way. But we are troubled with Denmark, they may not want any sort of peace as of yet, we would just have to wait before they finally accept peace. Meanwhile to the east, Ryazan is still friendly to us, but no changes with relations between Suzdal and Muscovy. Perhaps a siege in Vladmir would change their minds about us.
http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/24282/2006340284659852114_rs.jpg
There is more good news to be heard, celebrations were held as the Kniaz decided to marry a noblewoman right from Muscovy! Let us hope they have a son to inherite the lands of his father!
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/24206/2006357521019486401_rs.jpg
After more fresh men became available, they were hired as peasant warriors. Soon 6 new squads of peasants were at the service of the Kniaz, perfect! Now to besiege Vladmir. At around the afternoon, the city was besieged!
http://aycu25.webshots.com/image/24704/2006324573702683730_rs.jpg
We recieved good word from Suzdal, they are glad we are marching in Volga Bulgaria! Good news so far! If the siege is successful, we might have some new allies in our hands.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/23387/2006349425379607105_rs.jpg
FIRST SIEGE OF VLADMIR
The defenses were weaker than ours! This is excellent, just one big problem, Emir Aalee is coming as fast as he can to bully our poor marshal some more. If we could capture the town now, maybe we could have a small chance to pull off a successful defense! We had to act quick! All peasant squads went into tightened formation, that way they could defeat their opponents with melee tactics.
http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/25482/2006197582915557989_rs.jpg
The result was successful, the town gaurds were rounded up near a house to the north and to the south of the house the peasant defenders were rounded up there, they would soon be killed. But Emir Aalee is almost here! Quickly the marshal and his knights ran to defeat the defenders as quickly as possible! There was alot of pressure!
http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/22802/2006105631012690749_rs.jpg
After some time fighting, only 5 soldiers remained defending, bent on keeping Muscovy away! They bought Aalee more time! Precious time. But soon, he arrived, not just with peasant soldiers, no sir... those fresh men he wanted to get were powerfull warriors.
http://aycu21.webshots.com/image/23020/2006193791912364586_rs.jpg
Our marshal did not care wether they were mercenaries or soldiers given to Volga Bulgaria by the witch Baba Yaga, our marshal did one thing, run.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/25152/2006195934536195547_rs.jpg
Result:
Volga Bulgarian victory, Muscovy retreats
Estimated Losses: 35
Territorial changes: None
END OF THE FIRST SIEGE OF VLADMIR
Later, the ambassador from Volga Bulgaria asks if Muscovy would like a white peace? Kniaz Aleksei needs the strategic province of Vladmir, so he refused.
http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/22880/2006188206963199108_rs.jpg
This time, Aalee was not done. He wanted to ruthlessly destroy us. He chased our poor marshal to Moskva and besieged the town.
http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/24783/2006123728766314986_rs.jpg
The defense was weak, but we should give it a shot, perhaps a miracle will save us?
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/25493/2006172510126273276_rs.jpg
Things went worse than we thought, the town was lost and the marshall killed! Emire Aalee now is marching straight for Polotsk. Meanwhile, Kniaz Aleksei is busy looking at the latest map his cartographers created for him, not knowing the news yet, he clearly was looking forward to annexing Volga Bulgaria then conquering the small state of Smolensk.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/22599/2006146268655645042_rs.jpg
After double-checking wether it had any allies or friends...
http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/22419/2006175436725094937_rs.jpg
It appears to be stranded, a perfect victim. But Aleksei soon learned of the loss of Moskva, he had to become the new marshal and raise an army as fast as possible!
If anyone has any problems viewing the images, or there are too many or too large, please tell me, I can start posting them smaller or post the links. Also post comments about the AAR itself please :)
simply excellent! :go:
great you post so many screenshots and they are loadable so from my POV it is perfect.
I wish you good luck because I'm afraid you desperately need it in this situation..
Wow, that's gonna be either the shortest AAR or a glorious turn-around! Really great start! :go:
Where are the Updates?
I can't update every other day, I don't have that kind of time. Although the next update should be tomorrow.
Argh!
I am really pissed off that this happened! I just wrote the whole update, which is long and exciting, when I pressed submit proudly, my stupid modem crashed the internet and the page could not be displayed, I pressed back and 60% of the update was deleted! Damn, all that hard work for nothing, I guess the update is delayed until tomorrow! :bash: :bash: :bash:
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/22726/2003206471616790139_rs.jpg
CHAPTER II
Stabbed in the Back
Some good news to start off with, a new child is born! Though it's a princess, we still await that prince, when will he come?
http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/24936/2001732598584576739_rs.jpg
Armed with only 4 peasant squads, Kniaz Aleksei decided to take back Muscovy while Emir Aalee is plundering in Polotsk. As Kniaz Aleksei reached near the town, some Muscovy loyalists were rumoured to be nearby, and our Prince took advantage of them.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/24415/2001792995880518493_rs.jpg
SECOND SIEGE OF MUSCOVY
Muscovy had walls, which made it all the more difficult to capture, calling the rebel leader he should be here soon, if he's loyal enough. The four peasant squads rushed to the gate...
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/22613/2001726876922134440_rs.jpg
...unfortunatly the town gaurds, now fighting for Volga Bulgaria, rushed out of the gate, a foolish move. The squads ganged up on the town gaurds there.
http://aycu10.webshots.com/image/24529/2001788710682492456_rs.jpg
Meanwhile, to the east, the rebels are fighting town gaurds there. That should keep half the gaurds busy while the gate to the west is knocked down.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/24771/2001723908910781118_rs.jpg
The rebels are quite clever, perhaps too clever. They broke the eastern gate and started to overwhelm defenses there, giving us the chance to hack down the western gate uninterfered.
http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/22492/2001768260325523746_rs.jpg
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/23523/2001751573177275001_rs.jpg
When the gate was destroyed, our peasants spotted a Volga Bulgarian squad of peasants near the castle, the brave peasants charged and, while in a closed formation, surrounded the poor peasants and slayed them. We almost felt sorry for them!
http://aycu39.webshots.com/image/25958/2001777490816190035_rs.jpg
Meanwhile, one town gaurd was facing some loyalist peasants, for hours they started at each other, wanting to kill each other, yet they aren't...
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/25975/2001723792248163127_rs.jpg
It wasn't until the last Volga Bulgarian peasants died that our warriors charged and slayed the last town gaurd while staring, Muscovy was re-united!
Result:
Muscovy victory
Terriotrial changes: Muscovy reunited with the
rest of the Principality
Estimated losses: 53
Now Kniaz Aleksei was considered a brilliant leader. Since Emir Aalee was still pludering in Polotsk, perhaps Vladmir could be captured...
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/24474/2005992405605552664_rs.jpg
SECOND SIEGE OF VLADMIR
The Prince took all the peasants he had and marched straight to Vladmir. The town was quiet, it was ripe for siege!
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/24276/2005982904659167233_rs.jpg
The defenses were weak, though slightly stronger than the previous Assault. The same strategy used on the previous assault was utilized now, it was a sophisticated strategy, only Emir Aalee's vicious plot foiled the strategy! Now Emir Aalee is plundering far away, leaving Vladmir almost defensless.
Half the army would go south of the house, the other half north while recieaving assisstance from the knights. The plan was showing signs of success already!
http://aycu02.webshots.com/image/26441/2005953979478953850_rs.jpg
After the last peasant was trampled by the horses of our victorious knights, the town was captured!
Result:
Muscovy victory
Territorial changes: Vladmir to Muscovy
Estimated Losses: 25
The siege was successful, but there were many casualities, some new loyalist scum also rose against Aleksei's rule, imbeciles!
http://aycu22.webshots.com/image/23301/2005948283554406952_rs.jpg
While checking a new map, Kniaz Aleksei stumbled upon old tactic papers, after reading them he learned a few more strategies, he was now a good tactician!
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/25474/2005940522657790266_rs.jpg
Taking advantage of night, the high morale of his troops, and Emir Aalee's absence, Kniaz Aleksei captured 2 provinces from Volga Bulgaria! Only Kazan was left, perhaps he should use the night to surprise assault the town. Unfortunatly, the sun rose and the rebel scum was preoccupying our brave Prince. The assault on Kazan had to be delayed. Meanwhile, Kniaz Aleksei used his newly learned strategy of building forts, he build a fort infront of a local farm, that way the rebels would have to destroy the fort first. Unfortunatly this plan failed since the Prince's troops are far too exhausted to fight, even with a fort.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/26595/2005939590109845122_rs.jpg
Soon, Kniaz Alesei recieved some of the most shocking news ever...
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/24815/2005920583829682282_rs.jpg
WHAT?! THIS IS OUTRAGOUS!!! RYAZAN...Ryazan dares to challenge the might of Muscovy? Those fools! Those baffoons! How dare they betray us? No matter, They shall be annexed into the Principality. Although Muscovy needed a new trading partner quick!
http://aycu18.webshots.com/image/22937/2005962570511849407_rs.jpg
Thankfully Suzdal agreed to form a trade agreement, Unfortunatly one of Ryazan's army is marching into Vladmir.
http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/25948/2005920631134556360_rs.jpg
Dear God... the army was... it was powerfull! Fuedal knights, high quality soldiers, where are the neighbouring kingdoms getting all these powerfull soldiers? That was a mystery that cannot be solved at the moment, Kniaz Aleksei moved his army to Kazan, he abandoned Vladmir, but for a good purpose, there was no way it could be defended against an army like that!
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/24076/2005972941598664602_rs.jpg
Vladmir fell, but there's not much the Kniaz could do against such a strong army.
Aleksei decided to march right into Kazan, if he can capture it, he can take care of one enemy!
More bad news... Emir Aalee has just finished plundering everything! He was now resting his troops, he could easily capture all of Polotsk, then Ryazan and Volga Bulgaria would finish off Muscovy. If Aleksei did not act soon, Muscovy is going to be lunch for Volga Bulgaria and Ryazan.
http://aycu22.webshots.com/image/22701/2001825394175456681_rs.jpg
One final piece of bad news to top things off, the siege in Kazan was a disaster. The town's defenses were strong, very strong and wiped out the only army Muscovy has, what would the Kniaz do now?
Very interesting story there, matey, keep it going whenever you can!
P.S. You should consider making peace with Ryazan and then focusing on the atack of Volga Bulgaria. Or just find a powerful ally (considering the relations of Ryazan and Volga Bulgaria, wheather they will be negative or positive) and try to convince him in atacking either one of them.
Just an advice.