The Known World [IC|Closed]

[Alsirium]

The Pope arrives in Venice where he and his Cardinals dismount their horses, and the Knights remain mounted waiting for instructions from the Venetian Commanders on where they can stay, whilst Tyrol and the Cardinals walk towards the Palace

Western Pier,Venice
"Welcome Signori, to the Most Serene of all Cities,Welcome to Venice.
But where are my manners? I am Capitano Rossi, Guard Master of the West Port.I will show you the quarters we reserved for you.*start walking towards a direction*

Tyrol, leaving Cardinal San-Clair incharge once again, rides with a party of Cardinals and Knights, to Venice to attend the Coronation

Entrance to the Palace,Venice
As the pope comes to the palace, but still is out of hearing range.
*whispers*"Is that the pope?"
"Yes, tell the Duke."

Dukes office,Dukes Palace,Venice
A guard enters the room*"Signor, The Pope has arrived.and he is coming to the palace to see you."
"Bring him to my office.I will wait here."

Entrance to the Palace,Venice
The guard comes back to the Gate.
*looks at the Pope*"The duke is happy you came before the coronation and wants to talk with you.
I will show you the way."*opens the gate and makes a couple steps inside, waiting for the pope.*

OOC: @Alsirium.You know that the sanctions are the reason for me to now join the crusade.I was unsure, because I got nice deals with the ayyubids and I dont think the crusader coalition would grant me them too, thats why I invited to the conference.
If the sanctions stay, then bravo, you made what I assume is the opposite of your goal, you drove me to the crusaders, but should they be taken back I would need to get a better offer from them than from what I have now i the sultanate.

OOC: You really shouldn't assume. I have my own plan and you're apart of it. Maybe I wanted you to join the crusades, maybe I didn't, but it doesn't matter. Also if you manage to win the Crusades I have information that's worth more than some petty gold.

[Baydara]

A messenger comes and sits a letter on the Archduke's Desk. He picks it up and opens it. His eyes focus in on the text and then he drops the letter.
"So they come at last, damn them, damn them all to hell!!!" He gets up and walks towards the Window. "So the doom of our time shall be decided upon the walls of the Holy City. A shame really, Commander summon the army and fortify the city, and reinforce the defenses, collect the harvest and begin trading Iron to France for wheat, then make....."
"Sire plague has broken out in the east!!"
"What plague, double time soldier and put the city under lock down, first that monster and then the plague, Damn him, maybe this is the end."
Over the next week the Archduke would sit up Nice so the city could cut off all contact with the outside world but still survive. They closed the Main gates and the gates to the sea wall. Provence would be under curfew and a massive plague would break out over the region.

[The imperial canadian dutchy]

OOC god damn it frenchie get your history right its the Caliph of Abbasid Caliphate

OOC: The Abbasid player said his a sultanate, listen and read all if the IC and OOC before you comment.
IC: Following new legislation the Nobles of France are to pay 15 florins more to help pay for the crusade. Mean while the french crusader fleet passes Sicily and sails for Crete and then to Cyprus. While they are doing that 25,000 french crusaders are heading to Anatolia being in Nicaea.

But the word Abbasid is sacred to the caliphates as it was taken from the name of mohiommeds youngest nephew Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib so he must be a caliph

[Eastumbria]

OOC: The Abbasid player said his a sultanate, listen and read all if the IC and OOC before you comment.
IC: Following new legislation the Nobles of France are to pay 15 florins more to help pay for the crusade. Mean while the french crusader fleet passes Sicily and sails for Crete and then to Cyprus. While they are doing that 25,000 french crusaders are heading to Anatolia being in Nicaea.

But the word Abbasid is sacred to the caliphates as it was taken from the name of mohiommeds youngest nephew Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib so he must be a caliph

OOC: I'm a sultanate, get over it, I will remain a Sultanate, OK, I will not change the type of my kingdom. Abbasid will always be a sultanate, if you don't like it deal with it.

[Alleniana]

To the people of the Balearic Islands,
We have your Emir under lock and key. He is well and healthy, but if you do not pay 100,000 gold pieces, he will die. This must be paid within a month and sent on an unarmed ship to our port in Pisa. Afterwards, your Emir will return on the ship. It is the only chance you will ever have of seeing him again, as he will be butchered should any of you or your friends make an attempt on the city.

[Liecthenbourg]

To the Vladmir Suzdal
Dear Christian brethern, I would like to ask you something, incase you have not heard, I have called a Crusade on Jerusalem, but it is also to push back the heretics from the land they have taken from the Christians, and I ask you to join us, not in the Crusade, but under God's will to reclaim these Holy Places
From Pope Tyrol the Zealous

[Black Marshes]

A letter arrives from the pope.
"What? Another Crusade? He just called off the last one!" The king was confused, but his confusion disappeared. "Send a letter to France, I want their confirmation that they will not attack us, and send a letter to the pope, we are joining the Crusade."

"France will sign no document, If you can't take are word then you shouldn't join the crusade.
Sincerely King Justin of France"

The King receives the letter from King Justin:
"Take his word?! The last time someone took his word they lost their bloody capital! Send a response to the French!"

King Justin of France,
You MUST sign the document, if you do not England will be unable to join the Crusade,
Do not make the wrong decision.
Sincerely,
King Julian I of England.

[Haloomi]

The Bulgarian troops swarm over the Serbian border, they will not stop till Serbia is under Bulgarian domain.

[Riserland]

Following the death of the current Norwegian ruler, a power struggle erupts between the rightful heir to the throne and several ambitious lords...following many public beheading and being brought to the brink of civil war, King Gunterson I rises to power and attempts to restore order in his dominion by drastically increasing the number of wheat farmers along Norway's southern shores to feed his armies that grow at a steady pace.

Overall population: 600,000

Norway's army pre-Gunterson: 5,000

Current army: 6,500

[Liecthenbourg]

Cardinal San Clair writes a letter to Norway
"Dear Norwegians, this is Standing in Head of the Chruch, Cardinal San-Clair
We are sure your people are very pious and are Catholic, if you require assistance do not fret to contact us here at the Papal States"

[Riserland]

Cardinal San Clair writes a letter to Norway
"Dear Norwegians, this is Standing in Head of the Chruch, Cardinal San-Clair
We are sure your people are very pious and are Catholic, if you require assistance do not fret to contact us here at the Papal States"

King Gunterson I receives this letter and a look of disgust comes over his bright red face. He promptly burns the letter and continues to rule in a fashion he sees fit. Gunterson abandons Catholicism and decrees that all in Norway shall revert back to their Paganistic roots. The people rejoice, many villages begin to construct long ships and explore near-by territories.

[Liberated Counties]

King Gunterson I receives this letter and a look of disgust comes over his bright red face. He promptly burns the letter and continues to rule in a fashion he sees fit. Gunterson abandons Catholicism and decrees that all in Norway shall revert back to their Paganistic roots. The people rejoice, many villages begin to construct long ships and explore near-by territories.

(Well that escalated quickly...)

A letter reaches the papal stages

"Sicily has begun preparations for another crusade, The demand that Sicily commands this crusade on behalf of the pope, still stands.
We make an offer, one we know will sweeten the deal. We will gift the entire island Malta to the
Templars and the Hospitalliers, in return that they allow King Giovanni XXIV to command them.

We await your reply,
King Giovanni XXIV
God Appointed Ruler of Sicily"

[Valentir]

"France will sign no document, If you can't take are word then you shouldn't join the crusade.
Sincerely King Justin of France"

The King receives the letter from King Justin:
"Take his word?! The last time someone took his word they lost their bloody capital! Send a response to the French!"

King Justin of France,
You MUST sign the document, if you do not England will be unable to join the Crusade,
Do not make the wrong decision.
Sincerely,
King Julian I of England.

"Dear King Julian, I guess you won't be joining then, France will not be held captive over signing a little document to ensure English safety. France will take more glory and we will be able to kill more heretics without English armies at our backs, Good Day Sir
Sincerely King Justin of France, Provence, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Burgundy, French Flanders, and French Toulouse."

[Liecthenbourg]

King Gunterson I receives this letter and a look of disgust comes over his bright red face. He promptly burns the letter and continues to rule in a fashion he sees fit. Gunterson abandons Catholicism and decrees that all in Norway shall revert back to their Paganistic roots. The people rejoice, many villages begin to construct long ships and explore near-by territories.

(Well that escalated quickly...)

A letter reaches the papal stages

"Sicily has begun preparations for another crusade, The demand that Sicily commands this crusade on behalf of the pope, still stands.
We make an offer, one we know will sweeten the deal. We will gift the entire island Malta to the
Templars and the Hospitalliers, in return that they allow King Giovanni XXIV to command them.

We await your reply,
King Giovanni XXIV
God Appointed Ruler of Sicily"

OOC:I dont want to be mean so I'm telling you this, I already said the Knights Templar and Hospitallers can follow your command

[Liberated Counties]

(Well that escalated quickly...)

A letter reaches the papal stages

"Sicily has begun preparations for another crusade, The demand that Sicily commands this crusade on behalf of the pope, still stands.
We make an offer, one we know will sweeten the deal. We will gift the entire island Malta to the
Templars and the Hospitalliers, in return that they allow King Giovanni XXIV to command them.

We await your reply,
King Giovanni XXIV
God Appointed Ruler of Sicily"

OOC:I dont want to be mean so I'm telling you this, I already said the Knights Templar and Hospitallers can follow your command

OOC: You know the Hospitalliers eventually where given control of Malta, I wanted to keep to history (sort of)and give it to them a few centuries earlier, I thought you would've known, so just play along

[Liecthenbourg]

OOC:Oh I knew that, I just didnt want you to lose territory over nothing.

[Liberated Counties]

OOC:Oh I knew that, I just didnt want you to loose territory over nothing.

No, we just want the pope to love us since we Sicily is such a devout nation, so we give your elite soldiers a whole island to call home
Anyway we better stop OOCing Incase we annoy anyone

[Liecthenbourg]

King Gunterson I receives this letter and a look of disgust comes over his bright red face. He promptly burns the letter and continues to rule in a fashion he sees fit. Gunterson abandons Catholicism and decrees that all in Norway shall revert back to their Paganistic roots. The people rejoice, many villages begin to construct long ships and explore near-by territories.

(Well that escalated quickly...)

A letter reaches the papal stages

"Sicily has begun preparations for another crusade, The demand that Sicily commands this crusade on behalf of the pope, still stands.
We make an offer, one we know will sweeten the deal. We will gift the entire island Malta to the
Templars and the Hospitalliers, in return that they allow King Giovanni XXIV to command them.

We await your reply,
King Giovanni XXIV
God Appointed Ruler of Sicily"

"Dear King Giovanni XXIV
This is Cardinal San-Clair, and I inform you that the Knights Templar and Hospitaller except your deal, and will be making their way to Naples at this moment, from there they will transfer to your command"

[The Jonathanian States]

"Hello Grand Duke, have I arrived to early?" the Pope said whilst walking towards the Duke

Dukes Office,Dukes Palace,Venice,Serrnissima Granducato Venexia/Most Serene Grand Duchy of Venice
"Yes, your holyness, you are early.But that isnt necersarly bad.
I need to talk with all crusader about how they plan on the crusade going and on what the results and demands will be in case of an Victory.
And as declarer of the crusade you are of course the first person to talk to."

[Liecthenbourg]

"What did you have in mind, Duke" said Tyrol as he pulled up a chair to sit down on

[G-Tech Corporation]

Moscow, Muscovy Province, Great Russia

"...and the Khan has drawn up his regulars in the area surrounding Khosan province." The Marquis Yliznskov shook his head. "It seems we must be braced for war come summer." Yuri sat back in thought as the other Chambermen muttered amongst themselves. His tenor cut through the murmurs. "And can we repel him?" That was the question on the minds of all the Rus in the room. Eyes turned to the Marquis, whose face was downcast. Suddenly, he raised his head, his expression brightening. "We can hold them my liege; as I left the rains were starting, and the Khan's heavy cavalry cannot hope to operate during the Rasputinsa. We have until summer, at the least, to draw up our forces in the area." Yuri nodded, and spoke.

"Great Russia has had enough of war; the autumn and winter campaigning seasons cost us dearly, and we have only finished recouping those losses. But if war it must be, we are ready. Our armorers are busy, our breeders of horses have enough stock to furnish countless companies, and our coffers remain sufficient for the task, before the grace of Our Lord." He smiled grimly. "I knew when we detached Khosan from the Khan's mandate he would not take it lightly, but I thought our recent displays of arms would have given him pause. It seems he is even more of a fool than I anticipated. Great Russia shall again through the heathens the power of Cristos."

The Chambermen knew that was a dismissal, and one by one they bowed out of the room. As the final elderly gentlemen exited the chamber a messenger boy, no more than fifteen winters of age, entered. He handed the Grand Prince a letter, and bowed low before departing. A bushy eyebrow quirked up in Yuri's face; the missive bore the Papal seal, an inscription that had not been seen in the land of the Rus for many long years. With strong hands he removed the wax emblem, and unfolded the letter. Its contents... amused him. The Grand Prince composed a reply, then went to take noonmeal with his more loyal nobles.

Pope Tyrol,
Greetings. We are indeed aware of your Crusade, and your mission to purge the heathens from Christian lands. However you speak in riddles; if you desire not for us to assist you in your Crusade in the Holy Land- an effort we deem worthy- how then would your Eminence request the aid of Great Russia?
Grand Prince Yuri Dolgorky, of Great Russia, before the face of God

Frolovo, Khosan Province, Great Russia

As Irka closed the door Lietenaunt Ceorl sighed in relief. Their blockhouses- rude constructs of hew wood so fresh he could smell the sap- weren't the most comfortable of dwellings, but they assuredly beat being outside in this ghastly weather. Raindrops as large as thumbs beat a raucous rhythm on the roof of the barracks, and outside thunder rolled and crashed as if God was busy playing bowls. Ceorl smiled briefly at the whimsical thought, then mutter a prayer for forgiveness for such a frivolous picture of the Lord Almighty. Before him the aged sergeant stripped off his cloak, wringing water from it into a shallow trench near the door designed to stop water from entering the dwelling. "Quite a storm out there." remarked the fresh lietenaunt conversationally. Irka shrugged noncommitally. He'd assuredly seen worse in his twenty winters serving the Grand Prince. Why, he even remembered a time when the Grand Prince ruled only Vladimir-Sudzal, not Great Russia. It seemed like forever ago to the young man.

Suddenly, shouts disturbed his reverie. Martial shouts, and war cries. He took bow; the string would get wet, but there was no help for it, and slammed the door open. Pounding rain slashed his face, and he blinked the water away to see men running towards the wooden ramparts that protected the south wall of the camp. Ceorl hurried towards them, along with his men, but he didn't hear the sounds of battle; warcries came from beyond the pallisade, but no clash of steel or shouts of pain. He quickly mounted the steps, and then laughed out loud at what he saw.

A small Kipchuk war party, perhaps three hundreds strong, had riden their horses right into the slight earthen moat around the camp; however, in this driving rain, it was no more than a pit of gluey mud. They couldn't extricate their beasts, and even as they leapt down to try and free their steeds they too were sucked in by the morass. It was truly hilarious, worthy of any roaming bard's tale.

An arrow whizzed up from one of the Kipchuk's to take one of Ceorl's men in the arm. He clutched it, howling, and the lietenaunt set his face. His men quickly notched arrows and let the feathered death fly down to extinguish the unfortunate war party. The other men on the wall got the idea, and before long the struggles of horse and beast had ceased. The unlucky whoresons had paid with their lives for their ill-planned attack under cover of storm, but if not for the moat they would have been unseen, and fallen on the Great Russians at unawares.

"Well, I guess that means the Khan has decided to start a war." remarked one of his soldiers as they returned to the barracks. Ceorl and the sergeant only nodded grimly.

[Riserland]

Longships begin landing in northern France, eastern Britain, northern Germany/ Denmark (Both under the holy Roman Empire's jurisdiction if i'm not mistaken).

They are armed to the teeth with broadswords and battleaxes yet appear to be peaceful, merely looking around and occasionally slaying wild animals. They appear to be making maps.

[The Jonathanian States]

"What did you have in mind, Duke" said Tyrol as he pulled up a chair to sit down on

"Well i assume you know how expensive such a crusade is dont you?"

[Liecthenbourg]

Moscow, Muscovy Province, Great Russia

"...and the Khan has drawn up his regulars in the area surrounding Khosan province." The Marquis Yliznskov shook his head. "It seems we must be braced for war come summer." Yuri sat back in thought as the other Chambermen muttered amongst themselves. His tenor cut through the murmurs. "And can we repel him?" That was the question on the minds of all the Rus in the room. Eyes turned to the Marquis, whose face was downcast. Suddenly, he raised his head, his expression brightening. "We can hold them my liege; as I left the rains were starting, and the Khan's heavy cavalry cannot hope to operate during the Rasputinsa. We have until summer, at the least, to draw up our forces in the area." Yuri nodded, and spoke.

"Great Russia has had enough of war; the autumn and winter campaigning seasons cost us dearly, and we have only finished recouping those losses. But if war it must be, we are ready. Our armorers are busy, our breeders of horses have enough stock to furnish countless companies, and our coffers remain sufficient for the task, before the grace of Our Lord." He smiled grimly. "I knew when we detached Khosan from the Khan's mandate he would not take it lightly, but I thought our recent displays of arms would have given him pause. It seems he is even more of a fool than I anticipated. Great Russia shall again through the heathens the power of Cristos."

The Chambermen knew that was a dismissal, and one by one they bowed out of the room. As the final elderly gentlemen exited the chamber a messenger boy, no more than fifteen winters of age, entered. He handed the Grand Prince a letter, and bowed low before departing. A bushy eyebrow quirked up in Yuri's face; the missive bore the Papal seal, an inscription that had not been seen in the land of the Rus for many long years. With strong hands he removed the wax emblem, and unfolded the letter. Its contents... amused him. The Grand Prince composed a reply, then went to take noonmeal with his more loyal nobles.

Pope Tyrol,
Greetings. We are indeed aware of your Crusade, and your mission to purge the heathens from Christian lands. However you speak in riddles; if you desire not for us to assist you in your Crusade in the Holy Land- an effort we deem worthy- how then would your Eminence request the aid of Great Russia?
Grand Prince Yuri Dolgorky, of Great Russia, before the face of God

Frolovo, Khosan Province, Great Russia

As Irka closed the door Lietenaunt Ceorl sighed in relief. Their blockhouses- rude constructs of hew wood so fresh he could smell the sap- weren't the most comfortable of dwellings, but they assuredly beat being outside in this ghastly weather. Raindrops as large as thumbs beat a raucous rhythm on the roof of the barracks, and outside thunder rolled and crashed as if God was busy playing bowls. Ceorl smiled briefly at the whimsical thought, then mutter a prayer for forgiveness for such a frivolous picture of the Lord Almighty. Before him the aged sergeant stripped off his cloak, wringing water from it into a shallow trench near the door designed to stop water from entering the dwelling. "Quite a storm out there." remarked the fresh lietenaunt conversationally. Irka shrugged noncommitally. He'd assuredly seen worse in his twenty winters serving the Grand Prince. Why, he even remembered a time when the Grand Prince ruled only Vladimir-Sudzal, not Great Russia. It seemed like forever ago to the young man.

Suddenly, shouts disturbed his reverie. Martial shouts, and war cries. He took bow; the string would get wet, but there was no help for it, and slammed the door open. Pounding rain slashed his face, and he blinked the water away to see men running towards the wooden ramparts that protected the south wall of the camp. Ceorl hurried towards them, along with his men, but he didn't hear the sounds of battle; warcries came from beyond the pallisade, but no clash of steel or shouts of pain. He quickly mounted the steps, and then laughed out loud at what he saw.

A small Kipchuk war party, perhaps three hundreds strong, had riden their horses right into the slight earthen moat around the camp; however, in this driving rain, it was no more than a pit of gluey mud. They couldn't extricate their beasts, and even as they leapt down to try and free their steeds they too were sucked in by the morass. It was truly hilarious, worthy of any roaming bard's tale.

An arrow whizzed up from one of the Kipchuk's to take one of Ceorl's men in the arm. He clutched it, howling, and the lietenaunt set his face. His men quickly notched arrows and let the feathered death fly down to extinguish the unfortunate war party. The other men on the wall got the idea, and before long the struggles of horse and beast had ceased. The unlucky whoresons had paid with their lives for their ill-planned attack under cover of storm, but if not for the moat they would have been unseen, and fallen on the Great Russians at unawares.

"Well, I guess that means the Khan has decided to start a war." remarked one of his soldiers as they returned to the barracks. Ceorl and the sergeant only nodded grimly.

"I apologise for my riddling words, I ment that Great Russia, might not want to fly the banners of the Crusade, but I ment that you could still fight along side us, as brothers for the faith"

[Valentir]

"Sire"
"What, is something wrong?"
"Vikings!!!"
"Vikings, call out the guards and fortify the coast. And send over the Engineers to get defenses up"
"Yes Sire" Justin looked at his ma and then Louis walked in
"My lord his here"
"Good send him in".................