The Known World [IC|Closed]

[G-Tech Corporation]

Central Lithuania

The Duke Rostov watched solemnly as the Lithuanian capitol's flag, an odd red and white emblem to his eyes, was run down from the central tower of the large fortress. The Russia color, the Imperial eagle on a white field, replaced it swiftly, and together with his men the nobleman knelt for a brief prayer of thanks.

Lithuania had crumbled like a fresh pastry as the forces of Great Russia swarmed across it after the demise of its barbarian lords, and now all but the extreme west bowed to the Grand Prince's rule. Rostov smiled as he rose. His own lands had expanded in a most appreciable way as well.

[The imperial canadian dutchy]

Vitorio follows the guards with a polite Gratcia

[DrakoBlaria]

The guards finally arive at the palace.They enter the gates.Inside the palace there is a huge room full of Orthodox paintings.On the end of the room there is a chamber where the Emperor and his generals wait for the Florentian

[Liberated Counties]

King Giovanni's ship enters palermo, the port on edge from the recent 'italian' expansionism. as soon as he leaves the ship, a regiment of his royal gaurd quickly surrounded him, and a cart pulled up, and within minutes of arriving, the King escorted from the docks, and to the palace via the cart, travelling down the streets at full speed, as he reaches the palace he is whisked immediately inside.

"Why the Haste?" he asked, concerned at the tense atmosphere of the entire city
"We worry for your life, my Leige, threats against our kingdom, are usually aimed at you" His lead bodyguard said, holding him firmly by the arm and walking quite fast
"Very well" He said, entering the room with his tactical map of Sicily "This is indeed an issue, both the Byzantines and the Florentines want us dead, all attempts to diplomacy have failed, it appears our history, and the actions of my predecessors, haven't been forgotten"

He thought for a while, looking around his tactical map, he called his advisors into the room
"We have split our forces half half, 8500 here, 8500 on the crusades, pulling our men out in the midst of the crusade will be most difficult, worst of all, our warriors missing out on another fight" The king said
"They might refuse to depart" one of them said, shyly
"Exactly, we need to bring Sicily's defenses back up, have we gotten a reply from the English or French?" the king asked
"The French did offer an alliance, but we've got to discuss that further, than just right now, English haven't replied, i don't know what that means" replied another one of his advisors
Giovanni banged his fist on the table, he wasn't ready to see himself become the final King of Sicily.
"Damn it, Call a summit with the Florentines, we need to see if there is a diplomatic solution, in the meanwhile, send word, tell the Militias to start rearming themselves" the king barked, and his advisors fled to carry out the orders.

A letter is sent to the Florentines.

"Dear Brother of Christandom

We are disheartened, that the actions of the kings before me have impeded your judgement of me,
Sicily as a whole, does not wish for the mistakes of the kings before me, to ruin the peace.
however, we ask for a simple summit, to discuss this matter, and see if we can end this peacefully.

We hope you consider the peaceful solution

God Appointed Ruler of Sicily
King Giovanni XXIV"

[Valentir]

Seeing as a invasion of the HRE is all but impossible Justin and his troops Withdraw back to France. Justin is tired of being some small vassilized state. France was a Kingdom and it should be treated like a Kingdom. He then posts 10,000 men on the borders with the English French Province and then assembles the entire french fleet of 50 ships, He collects taxes and writes a letter to Sicily.

Dear King Giovanni, King Justin would like to visit Sicily and talk about further relations with you and how we can close the gaps that separate our people. He also has several Propositions for you and would like your approval to Visit. Sincerely King Justin of France

Then Justin moved 5000 men to the borders with Flanders and made an announce to Provence.

Dear Provence, I, King Justin of France, wrongfully vassilized you and your people. I was wrong to do that. Instead I call upon you that we may have friendship and peace. That we be allies and trade. And that France be your protector and friend, not your master and overlord. What say you Archduke Adamus Phillida. Sincerely King Justin of France

[Liecthenbourg]

Cardinal San-Clair recieved the letter from the French King, then began writing one in return

To King Justin
From SHC San-Clair
This is a marvelous idea, I agree that it should be done!

[G-Tech Corporation]

Volgograd, Vologda Province, Great Russia

The city was fallen. Her armies were slain, her citadel no more than rubble, and her enemies marched in her streets and bivouacked in her houses. Great Russia's mighty armies had won another victory- a costly victory, but an important victory. With the bastion of Kipchaki strength in the central Khagantes under the Grand Prince's firm hand, resisting the invasion of the Orthodox soldiers had just become far more difficult for the heathens. They had tried to relieve the city several times, tried, and failed. The defenders had tried to break out of their trap several times, tried, and failed. Now Rus held the city, and streamed forth from the fortified metropolis to placate the surrounding regions.

In the south-west a massive force, many Great Companies strong, cut their way through Kipchaki defenders along the line of the great lake in that direction. They had an agenda, but not one the Kipchaki could divine. Not until it was too late that is.

Azov, Kipchak Khagantes

Under the dead of night, beneath a moonless sky, the Russian fleet arrived. They managed to even dock with some of the piers before the Kipchaki sentries on duty noticed the swarms of soldiers marching towards them. At first all was salutes and smiles; Kipchaki uniforms, or the lack thereof, marked the first companies ashore of the Rus force, and native Kipchaki speakers headed each squad, drawn from Great Russia's province of Khosan.

Then the killing began. Sentries fell surprised with arrows through throats or headless, their staring faces separated from bodies by cruel axes. Into the town the Rus invaders raced, hobnailed boots clattering on cobblestones, their purpose in mind. Cries of alarm filled the street, and the men of the citadel of the city began to awake, but by then it was all but over. Through the gates of the fortress the Great Russian soldiers poured, their blood-curling chants of "Urra!" raising panic amongst their foes. Khaganate men grabbed weapons and rushed from barracks only to be slaughtered individually or in small groups, and by the time the sun came over the horizon the courtyard of the keep looked like some demented butcher had made it his slaughterhouse.

Azov was now in Rus hands, and the fleet sailed for Odessa.

[Liecthenbourg]

The Orders' trebuchets began firing onto Jerusalem, waiting for a breach in the wall, the infantry stood, on the hills to the west of the city

[The Holy Dominion of Inesea]

OOC: this sucks i know.

Melitpool

The city had fallen to the longshipman at almost no cost. The savage Cumani were not so brave as the Kievans beat down there doors in their sleep.

Dnipropetrovsk

The city had fallen. At a great cost. Prince Tolsti had fallen from an arrow to the knee. No longer would the great man adventure against the barbarians. He sadly resigned himself to leading the Municipal Guard in Kiev and warning future soldiers of the cost of combat.

Zaporizhzhya

Emmetovich watched as the city burned. And burned.

[The imperial canadian dutchy]

OOC: this sucks i know.

Melitpool

The city had fallen to the longshipman at almost no cost. The savage Cumani were not so brave as the Kievans beat down there doors in their sleep.

Dnipropetrovsk

The city had fallen. At a great cost. Prince Tolsti had fallen from an arrow to the knee. No longer would the great man adventure against the barbarians. He sadly resigned himself to leading the Municipal Guard in Kiev and warning future soldiers of the cost of combat.

Zaporizhzhya

Emmetovich watched as the city burned. And burned.

OO: you need to die now

[Alleniana]

Balearic Islands
The army faced off the militia, waiting for the signals. The poorly armed, exhausted group of militiamen numbered only a thousand strong, which was much more than they had expected to face. The army was nearly 5,000 strong, professional, well trained and tired from their campaigning, but flushed with victory and loot. It wouldn't even be a battle. A loud brass instrument sounded the advance, and the army moved forward step by step, spears and pikes bristling from behind their shield wall. Rocks and arrows began to fall on them, but arrows responded from their own arches behind them. The sounds of their marching continued for a while until another signal was sounded. The men started to jog, which was quite hard, considering their shields, weapons and armor. They were so close that they could see the faces of the militia now. They were all behind makeshift barricades erected at the town outskirts, ragged clothing their armor and sticks their weapons. They began to pelt the soldiers with projectiles until the third signal was sounded; charge. The spearmen pointed their weapons upwards and the swordsmen behind ran at the barricades with their swords held high. The militia, understandably, ran from the threat into the safety of the downtown area. The soldiers continued to charge, butchering people in the street be they man, woman or child. Oddly, there was few. They continued, and realizing that there was no resistance, didn't bother as much to clear out the houses. The bulk of them had entered the town when they came to another barricade, much higher and better built than the old one. It must have been their fallback wall as it seemed most of the defenders were now gathered behind it. The soldiers charged it with less gusto than their first attempt when suddenly, projectiles of all sorts rained down from the surrounding houses. Confusion reigned as men rushed about, trying to enter a house to clear out the dissidents. before long, the cobbles were soaked in blood, layered in bodies and peppered with fallen weapons & projectiles. More and more soldiers were poured in, and eventually, the people of the town were taken out. After most were slaughtered, the acting Emir was found quivering in a downtown mansion, and made to sign a resignation and a surrender. The Balearic islands were now Pisan.

[Liecthenbourg]

Montpellier and DeRichard walked into the French camp
"So General, when do we attack the city" commented DeRichard
"Are we waiting for the Venetians to arrive?" asked Montpellier

[Liecthenbourg]

Dear Pisians
This is your Holiness, DO NOT assist Florence in their conquest. It is a breach in the Catholic Code!

Dear Florence
This is your Holiness, I command you to lift the sieges on these Italian towns!

Dear il Papa
From Principe Di Firenze et Forli
To your holiness we can not complie with your orders these towns have been sieged for more then a year we cannot have wasted all of this money plus the Florentines dead for nothing if you would give us lets say 5 months then you could have a another powerful Italian protector... along with a pretty...... "donation"

"DONATION!" The Pope yelled when he recieved the letter in the middle of the Venetian Hall

To Florence
From:Pope Tyrol the Zealous
If this is an intended bribe, I will have you know it will not work!, however....I am pleased to hear you left the cities.

[The Jonathanian States]

"My friend, calm down.He already sent me a letter that he accepts leaving the cities".

[Liecthenbourg]

"Sorry, Duke, it just angered me, that he believed he could send a "donation" replied the Pope

[The Jonathanian States]

"Sorry, Duke, it just angered me, that he believed he could send a "donation" replied the Pope

"I assume he thought of you, as was thought of the one before you."

[Liecthenbourg]

"Sorry, Duke, it just angered me, that he believed he could send a "donation" replied the Pope

"I assume he thought of you, as was thought of the one before you."

"Well, as I hope you are aware, I am nothing like my predecessor."

[The Jonathanian States]

"I assume he thought of you, as was thought of the one before you."

"Well, as I hope you are aware, I am nothing like my predecessor."

"Yes.I am."

[Liecthenbourg]

"I wonder how the Crusades are going Duke, I hope Jerusalem will be taken soon."

[The Jonathanian States]

"I wonder how the Crusades are going Duke, I hope Jerusalem will be taken soon."

"Yes.Last time my messengers reached me, the siege was still going, and neither the ayyubidy nor any other heathens attacked, or even sent forces.

[Liecthenbourg]

"I wonder how the Crusades are going Duke, I hope Jerusalem will be taken soon."

"Yes.Last time my messengers reached me, the siege was still going, and neither the ayyubidy nor any other heathens attacked, or even sent forces.

*Claps* Excellent, I also heard the French wish, the Papal States take control of the City. I find this acceptable.

[The Jonathanian States]

"Yes.Last time my messengers reached me, the siege was still going, and neither the ayyubidy nor any other heathens attacked, or even sent forces.

*Claps* Excellent, I also heard the French wish, the Papal States take control of the City. I find this acceptable.

"Yes.But I think it should be given the kingdom as a vassalotory act.
If he swears an oath to the papacy, to serve it as an vassal, in times of war and peace,then he would get Jerusalem as feudal holding.
By that way you would have some emergency troops for emergencies, can give jerusalem to locals, which would be less corrupt, please the Kingdom, gain honour in the eye of all catholic states, and raise the prestige of the papacy, as it then would de jure gain the title of the Kingdom of Jerusalem."

[Liecthenbourg]

*Claps* Excellent, I also heard the French wish, the Papal States take control of the City. I find this acceptable.

"Yes.But I think it should be given the kingdom as a vassalotory act.
If he swears an oath to the papacy, to serve it as an vassal, in times of war and peace,then he would get Jerusalem as feudal holding.
By that way you would have some emergency troops for emergencies, can give jerusalem to locals, which would be less corrupt, please the Kingdom, gain honour in the eye of all catholic states, and raise the prestige of the papacy, as it then would de jure gain the title of the Kingdom of Jerusalem."

"That is a good idea Duke, I will follow it, it is decided then.

[The Jonathanian States]

"Yes.But I think it should be given the kingdom as a vassalotory act.
If he swears an oath to the papacy, to serve it as an vassal, in times of war and peace,then he would get Jerusalem as feudal holding.
By that way you would have some emergency troops for emergencies, can give jerusalem to locals, which would be less corrupt, please the Kingdom, gain honour in the eye of all catholic states, and raise the prestige of the papacy, as it then would de jure gain the title of the Kingdom of Jerusalem."

"That is a good idea Duke, I will follow it, it is decided then.

"Good.That is the first step to joint lombardian glory.Tonight we dine in venice,thinking of Jerusalem, but tomorrow, we dine in jerusalem, remembering venice.
I recommend we leave for the holy land soon."

[Liecthenbourg]

"That is a good idea Duke, I will follow it, it is decided then.

"Good.That is the first step to joint lombardian glory.Tonight we dine in venice,thinking of Jerusalem, but tomorrow, we dine in jerusalem, remembering venice.
I recommend we leave for the holy land soon."

"Agreed, how about first thing tomorrow?"