The End of Chivalry

[dirtryhary 26]

 

1160 A.D

 

The Muslim, Christian, and Pagan realms of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East are about to plunge into a series of bloody conflicts. A grand story that will write history… in blood

 

=+= In The Near East

The position of Sunni Caliph is weakening in power, he lost control over the vast Abbasid Caliphate after it was shattered by decadence revolts following the formation of the crusader state of Jerusalem. Each Muslim (Sunni) is on high tensions, waiting for their chance to grab the title of Caliph and crown themselves leader of the Faith of Islam.

 

=+= The Byzantine Empire and Anatolia

The Greeks, or true Romans by their own account, have lost a large swath of land to the Seljuk Horde. Many of these conquering horselords have settled into the Sultanate of Rum, swearing allegiance to one ruler. Will the newly solidified nation turn its sights south to expansion into the Muslim World? Or will it attempt to forge a new Muslim Empire in the West and push forth against the Byzantines? Will the Greeks form an offensive to retake their lost lands? Or will they forge a steadfast defense in the east and turn their sights to their slavic neighbors?

 

=+= The Holy Roman Empire

Neither holy, nor roman, nor an empire, the Holy Roman Empire is made up of a loose confederation of feudal German and Italian lords. In the center of Germany, in the grand kingdom of Swabia, Fredrick Barbarossa holds the title of the Holy Roman Emperor. However his claim is weak and many lords reject his rule or have plots to claim the throne for themselves. All of Germany is balanced on a knife edge, it'll be a war of politics.

 

=+= The Lands of France

The western lords of France have been stolen by England, in an uneasy deal, the feudal lords of the West now owe their allegiance to the King of England. The French Monarchy has made a joke of itself in the past years, but will it be able to turn around its decline and reunify France?

 

=+= The Melting Pot of the Western World: Iberia

A bloody conflict has erupted as the Kingdom of Asturias shatters. Four Kings; Léon, Castille, Portugal, and Aragon will inevitably clash to unify the Christian states of Iberia. The large Almohad Sultanate shows no notion of northward advance, instead it is focused on the turmoil of the former Abbasid Caliphate. However, there is a state ready to enter the conflict. The Mardanisid Sheik looks to the feuding Christian states and sees opportunity. Will he rally his armies for a frontal assault? Perhaps he will use diplomacy and gain an ally with one of the kings and support their claim?

 

=+= The British Isles

Scotland has been freed from Nordic influence, but there are still outlying holdouts for the Kingdom of Norge's british invasion. While the Scottish finish throwing the Norse from their homeland, they also brew a jealousy for England's power and its interference with continental politics. In Ireland, four tribal kings fight for control of the hills, the high king of Tara claims High Kingship over all of Ireland... and this has caused some tension. England's native lords are becoming angry that their King is focusing much of their resources and soldiers on holding French lands, but the crown seems focused on expanding the nation's influence. Will the King of England be able to convince his lords to his nationalistic view? Will the four kings of Ireland topple this 5th 'High King' or will they try to grab the throne for themselves? Is Scotland finally at peace... or will it turn its sights to the rest of the Isles?

 

=+= The Republics

Three major Italian city states wage a war of gold and ships, trying to gain control of the waves. Genoa has founded a new trading port in Crimea, opening the Black Sea to their coffers. In the far north the Boyars of Novogrod have forged a republic, will they turn their own sights to the ocean and form a republic to rival the Italians? Though small, these Republics can rise to the top through wealth and diplomacy.

 

=+= Italian Peninsula

The northern Italian lords have sworn into the massive pact of the HRE, however to their south an ambitious Sicily has unified a piece of the peninsula. Will the northern lords turn their attention South? To swear under Sicily and make a unified Italy... or to forge their own alliance and defend against this new ambitious King.

 

=+= Scandinavia and the Baltic

The kingdoms of Sweden and Norge have become bitter rivals. Dispute over the lands of the mountain borders and over trade rights have caused the nations to close trade routes with each other. While the two superpowers fume, the Finnish and Norse tribes mobilize for war with each other. Kola and Kemi have entered an alliance known as the Fino-Pact, in defense from the merchants of Novgorod and the hostile norse tribes. Will the two Kingdoms of Sweden and Norge clash in a bloody conflict? Will the Finnish tribes hold off the pagan norse raiders?

 

Maps

 

Overall Political Map

* = Broad HRE

** = Petty Irish Kingdoms

*** = French Lords Under English Rule

 

Make up of the Holy Roman Empire

 

Merchant Republic Spheres of Influence

 

 

Rules

`No Powergaming.

`Research your choice of realm.

`Do not metagame spies or such, ask a mod.

`If you read the rules say you didn’t in the application.

`Ask a mod before making troop movements and other things for times. Use common sense.

`Contact a mod before advancing technology.

`Unlisted realms are playable, just research them and pick them off the map.

` For any action that needs a mod mark it in BOLD or put a (Mod Needed). Otherwise it will be ignored    

 

Mechanics

 

Armies; As it is Feudal times, every state will rely on the backbone of any Feudal army. The Levy. No nation will start out with a standing army, the only exceptions being the Merchant Republics. For a nation to raise an army, they must clearly state that is their intention. Instead of them deciding how many troops they can raise, it will be up to a moderator. Depending on several factors such as wealth, noble-king relations, peasant-king relations, justification for raising the levy, and so forth. A nation who manages their people well and keeps them happy can raise a substantially larger army then a nation wracked with trouble.

 

Holy Roman Empire; The Holy Roman Emperor is playable, and he is in direct control of Swabia only. After that players can chose any german state. It is recommended they become german states who have an electorship in the HRE. After that it is up to the players and events to see what will become of the HRE. It is a very loose confederation, one can break or try to support it.

 

Troop Travel/Muster Time; Do not expect things to roll at a fast pace. This is the feudal times, with very little infrastructure. It will take considerably longer to move an army from one point to another. If the army is large, they will move even slower. So do not expect for example to move an army across Iberia in a matter of days. In reality it will take much longer, which a mod will make clear. The same goes for putting together an army. It'll take time for your lords to show up with their levy, and to amass enough supplies.

 

War; It'll go as it usually does battle wise. The two players will square up, state their numbers and tactics, and leave it to the mods to decide the outcome. However besides basic battles a few new things will be incorporated. Sieges take time, and to storm it means to lose many men in the attack. Besiegers will need to have supply lines, or feed of the country side. On the other hand the defenders will have to last as long as their supplies, and keep morale up. As for an army being in enemy territory, they will have a few options. You can cart supplies in from your own land, live off the enemies land, or buy what you take.

 

News; Alongside troop travel time, news takes longer to spread. For example if France smashes an English army and sweeps in to retake their land, the English will not instantly be aware of it. What we're trying to say is be realistic in how fast news will travel, because you can't react instantly to things happening farther away then a close proximity.

 

Trade/Economy; For now there will be no economic system because people usually can't comprehend mathematics, and it ends up breaking down. For the sake of simplicity your economy will depend on a few things, how good your harvest was, how good your trade is, the size of your army/navy, and if you're at war or not. Trade will be down to just simple trade pacts, however trade routes may become a thing. Merchant Republics have a boost in this area, as they start out in control of trade spheres (as shown in the map).

 

Application: (Not always subject to first come first served)
Forum Name:
Skype Name:
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it):

Interesting Fact about your Realm:

Dynasty:

Did you read the rules:

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:

 

List of Taken Nations;

Jonificus- Kingdom of Norway

Bagley- Byzantines

TauFirewarrior- Venice

Pureimp- Jerusalem

Heff- Almohads

Dirtryhary- Kingdom 'O Leinster

Andrew- France

Hellfiaz- Swabia/Holy Roman Emperor

Phoenix- Scotland

Cracker- Abbasid Caliphate

Shackles- Sultanate 'O Rum

Hipster- Genoa

Stigwig- England

Craotor- Hungary

 

 

 

 

Mods; Dirtryhary, Heff, Andrewtech, Cracker

 

Map Team; Stafyr, Andrewtech, Heff

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2015 by dirtryhary

[Samson Option 9652]

((I really need to re-download Skype I guess))

[Jonificus 2763]

Forum Name: Jonificus
Skype Name: jonas,hansen
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): The Kingdom of Norway.

Interesting Fact about your Realm: During the battle of Stamford bridge, the feared warrior Tjodolv Sterke Enn (Tjodolv Strong-one) held off the entire English army, cutting down approximately 40 english soldiers before he was stabbed in the back by a spearman who had snuck under the bridge and slipped his spear through the cracks of the wooden bridge.

Dynasty: Fairhair

Did you read the rules: Nah

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:

King Sigurd shouts in anger after a messenger from the Orkneys had arrived in his great hall in Nidaros to bring his most unfortunate news "That damned fool Ketil! How dare he cast away his oath to me, his king! Send word to Jarl Olav Håkarlsson of Rygjafylke, I want sixty longships here before the next moon. Raise the levies, I'll pay whatever peasant who kills any of Jarl Ketil's relatives a hundred pennings!" And so, the King's men run off to prepare the annihilation of a rebel duke.

[Monomakhos 1849]

Forum Name: Bagley

Skype Name: bagley.prolol

Realm/Holding: Basileía Rhōmaíōn

Interesting Fact about your Realm: After crushing  a Bulgarian army in the battle of Kleidion, Basil II captured fifteen thousand enemy combatents and blinded ninety-nine out of every hundred, leaving the last with only a single eye to lead his brothers-in-arms home. This was one of the incidents that let to him earning the epithet Boulgaroktonos, or the Bulgar-slayer.

Dynasty: Komnenoi.

Did you read the rules: no...

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation: Amidst the central hall at the Palace of Blachernae, courtiers went to and fro with the light patter of their step as they meandered throughout the hall. John II Komnenos' brow furrowed deeply as he listened to the emissary before him prate on about the importance of maintaining strong ties between the Most Serene Republic and the Roman Empire. His many years reigning prior as co-emperor to his father had given him valuable insight on the mercantile state and her many scheming factions - intricacies that nigh mirrored the clandestine politics in the Imperium. He uttered a sigh, bringing a hand aloft in a wave of dismissal, "We shall reaffirm the treaties, Nobelissimos. Your trade rights stand as they have prior to now, so long as Venice upholds the security of her trade routes and Roman waters." He gestured to duo of Hetaireia which flanked his throne, and after a curt moment they ushered the Venetian from the hall. "Prōtospatharios!" The Basileus called out, duly rising from his throne. "Dispatch a messenger to Axouchos, have him mobilize the forces in Nicaea and ready them upon the border with the Toúrkoi. I fully intend on retaking Ikónion within the season." The Courtier offered but a curt nod, hurrying off to see his Basileus' will done.

Edited September 16, 2015 by Bagley

[Will (TauFirewarrior) 2466]

Forum Name: Look at my profile you derp
Skype Name: will.dorahy (you got me already)
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): Venice
Interesting Fact about your Realm: Its Capital is Venice, the great city!
Dynasty: Orsini 
Did you read the rules: No
Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation: Doge Orsino Orsini, the newly elected Doge from the Nobility of the Republic of Venice sits within the Doge's Palace in the City of Venice. He is passed on a missive from the Romans. He reads it and smiles, preparing his scribe to pen back a letter to the Emperor in the East ensuring that they will uphold the security of the sea territory and trade routes that Venice lay claim to. He stands with many of his courtiers and advisers following him to a map room showing the much of Europe, his eyes look with hunger to the Black Sea and he stares at it with hunger. Soon Genoa, Pisa and anyone else who wishes to challenge Venice's might in the Mediterranean Sea will meet the might of the Venatian Navy and fall before it. "Prepare our diplomats to head to Constantinople so we may secure and ensure this partnership will benefit us and the Romans in the East."

Edited September 16, 2015 by Bryce (TauFirewarrior)

[Pureimp10 5691]

Forum Name: Pureimp10

Skype Name: Pretty sure you have it from Nightfall

Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): Jerusalem!

Interesting Fact about your Realm: Unlike what the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" shows, Baldwin IV wasn't as peaceful of a King as he is made out to be. Baldwin actually had fought major battles with Saladin and other Muslim leaders before the events of the movie. It was this war that would end up destroying the Kingdom, and forcing the Crusaders to Cyprus.

Dynasty: Anjou

Did you read the rules: Nope.

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation: King Jean II sat in his palace, celebrating the formation of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. After countless year, our Lord's birthplace was finally under control of his pious followers. Jean would look about his court, eyeing his chancellor. He would speak up then, his voice resonating with power and strength. "Send a letter to his Holiness, the Pope. Invite him to our city to celebrate a mass to rejoice our victory over the infidel Sunnis!" The chancellor would bow, exiting the room immediately to do his King's bidding. Then, Jean would turn to the rest of his privy council. Addressing his Marshal, he'd speak, "Ensure that troops are stationed to the South and to the West. I want to know if a Sunni peasant does so much as defecates in the desert." Jean had just earned this kingdom. He would do whatever it took to keep it.

[Heff 2460]

Forum Name: Heff
Skype Name: You got it
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): The Almohads
Interesting Fact about your Realm: Within their realm, universities were ran which kept alive Roman and Greek learning and philosophy. 
Dynasty: Almohad
Did you read the rules: Nope, but I wrote them. 
Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation: The Sultan Muhammad flexed his wrists, before him was his massive city, sprawling out for great lengths. Students crossed the streets into universities while music and chatter drifted from the square. As the shouts of haggling merchants mingled with the sounds of prayer, Muhammad nodded to himself. "Yes, the time is almost upon us." He murmured to his advisors, "Our great Caliph is in poor health and without an heir. His dynasty was thrown back by the blade of the infidels and shattered upon the shield of his empire. It will be my, our, chance to bring this great realm to its peak. There are others who seek power however, the Fatimids are solidifying their Sultanate on the Nile and the Seljuks have settled in the lands of Anatolia. We will have to act quickly, for soon our Faith will fall to the bickering that is seen across the sea in the realms of the crucified god." His Court Imam nodded eagerly, "You are he who will restore our Faith to power and unite it against Christendom and the pagan hordes. You are the second Mahdi, the redeemer." All nodded in agreement, "Subhan Allah," he spoke. "Subhan Allah," they echoed.

 
 

[Heff 2460]

As a mod: All are accepted! Please wait for the RP thread to go up once we get more nations. A skype chat will also be created soon.

[dirtryhary 26]

Application:
Forum Name:
Skype Name:
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): Kingdom of Leinster

Interesting Fact about your Realm: Irish chiefs did not pass the title down hereditarily. Key family members had the power to elect a more contempt chief from the family if the heir proved inept.

Dynasty: Murchada

Did you read the rules: Um.....no :(

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation: Diarmait remained content in his wicker palace. Bedecked like any Irish nobleman, he wore a loose tunic and a shift. Preferring to leave his legs bare, this Irishman was burly, with a coarse black bear and a strong brow. To any European he would look no more noble then a peasant, but things in Ireland, well they were different. He was a noble and stately man, but not one without any worries. Sighing, he called his men in.....

[AndrewTech 3334]

Forum Name: AndrewTech
Skype Name: You've got it already
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): The Kingdom of France

Interesting Fact about your Realm: In France, during the later part of the 12th century, many of the local fiefs of France were controlled by a series of smaller lords rather than larger ones. Also, France contained a large diversity of climates, and therefore slightly different subcultures during the middle ages, as it stretched from the English Channel to the Medditerrainian.

Dynasty: The House of Capet

Did you read the rules: Yes.

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:

 

http://www.peterpopken.com/images/large_london.jpg

France had suffered a series of major defeats at the hands of the English. It was a disgrace. The monarchy had never looked so ridiculous, so disgraceful...

 

But Louis the VII, King of the Lands of France, as he watched the city of Reims from the top of the castle balcony, had silently repeated the vow that he gave to his now-dead wife, Constance of Castile, in his new seat of power that he would not let the English destroy France's might. No. The English could not possibly hold onto the lands that they had taken. Their forces had been stretched too thin, and it was all but certain that the lords in England would become unhappy very quickly.

 

Of course, Eleanor of Aquitaine had been the beginning of his troubles. Who would have known that their annulment would have lead to such a disaster? No matter. Henry the II and his harlot would soon pay...

 

For God was on his side, just as he had been during his crusade, and when God was on one's side? One could not lose.

 

Yes... France... France, would rise again.

 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Louis_VII_of_France.jpg

[hellfiazz 879]

Forum Name: hellfiazz
Skype Name: hellfiazz
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it): The Duchy of Swabia
Interesting Fact about your Realm: Under the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, many German princes began to colonise Poland and duchies such as Pomerania, Bohemia, and Moravia were absorbed into the Empire, but he was killed during the Third Crusade. 
Dynasty: Hohenstaufen.
Did you read the rules: What kind of idiot reads rules, of course I didn't.
Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:

Frederick I "Barbarossa" Hohenstaufen sat upon his throne, a troubled look on his face. To rule any empire was a burden few could bear whilst retaining some semblance of order in their realm and their mind, but the Holy Roman Empire was one unlike any other. With over a thousandfold ambitious Princes, each seeking to advance themselves and their realms in the Empire, the job of Emperor was only enviable to those that did not fully know what it entailed.

Still, Frederick was a determined and strong-willed man. Many an Emperor had failed before him to hold their influence over the Princes and their power was slowly reduced over their lives. Frederick swore to himself and all he knew that he would not fail.

The Princes would be made to submit to his rule, and those foreigners without the Empire would learn to fear him.

[Endovelicus 614]

I'm here to quick English ass and go home.

Forum Name: ...
Skype Name:You have me
Realm/Holding (Please research your choice so that you actually know how to play it):Alba (Scotland)

Interesting Fact about your Realm:We wear skirts and aren't afraid to admit it. Another one is that Malcolm IV was known as the maiden, not because he was effeminate but because he was extremely pious.

Dynasty: Clan Dùn Chailleann

Did you read the rules: we have rules??? (That is a no)

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:
 

Malcolm looked upon a map of brittania, he sighed in relief as he heard the news of the norge expulsions. He then looked down, at England, he had heard whispers and rumors of disgruntled nobles, he smirked a Scottish smirk. He turned to his Privy Councilors and said.

 

"Today's a great day fo' our Scotsmen. Today is t'e day we bring glory to Alba...Now t'at t'e nords are out we march down, to t'e land auf t'e sasanns. Gat'er yer lads from yer clans and assemble t'em, t'ey'll see action soon nouff."

Malcolm would turn around leaving the council room into his private chambers.
 

[Cracker 4570]

Forum name: Cracker

Skype name: thecrackerjack1234

Realm: The Abbasid Caliphate

Interesting fact about your realm: Despite their long status under the yoke of the Seljuk Turks, the Abbasids retained their Mesopotamian holdings and the title of Sunni Caliph, leader of the faith.

Did you read the rules: No.

Dynasty: Abbasids

RP: The black flag of the Abbasid banner fluttered in the winds as it stood vigil over Baghdad. No city matched the wealth nor status of the Abbasid caliphate aside from Constantinople herself, yet the state which lorded over it could not boast the same. Time had eroded the glory of the Mesopotamian state as countless forgot the glories of Harun Al-Rashid and the Abbasid rulers. The dynasty had suffered Seljuk incursion, invasion, and toil under their Turkish rule, but just as the Turks rose, they collapsed with equal haste under the strain of countless revolt and resistance. With the Seljuk Sultanate fractured into various petty Sunni polities, perhaps it was time for the forty-year old Al-Mustanjid to prove his dynasties claim; the sons of Al-'Abbas, closest to the prophet by blood aside from the Shia pretenders, and rightful leaders of the ummah. 

[HappyShackles 886]

Forum Name: HappyShackles

Skype Name: happyshackles

Realm/Holding: The Sultanate of Rum

Interesting Fact about your Realm: The Sultanate had two legitimate capitals over time; first Iznik then Konya. Eventually Kayseri and Sivas were also used as temporary capitals, since the court was actually very mobile!

 

Dynasty: Seljik

 

Did you read the rules: Yes

 

Brief Rp paragraph to get a feel for how well you can rp said nation:

 

Giyath stands quietly, arms crossed as he observes the map that his generals had had forged for him; and it was a delectable site. The threat of the Byzantines was evident as ever, but they were not his primary concern, and any attempt by the Basileios to rob the Sultanate of it's holdings would result in a prolonged and disastrous conflict for both sides.

 

The Armenian states to the south, however, which blocked the Sultanate's way to the Mediterranean... These were ripe for the taking. Such ports would open a grandiose world of trade to the Sultanate, and undoubtedly the riches would fuel even further inevitable conquests.

 

The sultan traces his finger over the map to the small Armenian state that blocked his way to the newest site he had chosen for glorious conquest, and smiled.

 

 

[HappyShackles 886]

Holy **** it won't let me edit. No, I didn't read the rules.