The year is 1444. The last hope of the Romans has been crushed. The hated Turks of the House of...
Elysian Dream (Byzantium in the New World) (EU4 Quest)
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 340
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 49
-
Statistics (47 threadmarks, 66k words)
User Total Sayle 47 -
Loading…
Third Odyssey: Prologue
The year is 1444. The last hope of the Romans has been crushed. The hated Turks of the House of Osman have won a great victory at Varna over the combined Christian forces of Hungary and Wallachia. The King of Hungary is dead, and with that the main opposition to Ottoman expansion has been left to a four year-old child. The crowns of Hungary and Poland have once again been severed from each other with his demise - the hope of the Turks being pushed from the Balkans has come to naught. Their hungry eyes shall soon turn once again to the shattered remains of Byzantium.
What of that empire, that great state that once stretched from one end of the Mediterranean to the other? The disaster at Manzikert had begun her decline, but the deathblow of the treacherous crusaders in 1204 made current events all but certain. The loss of the Aegean islands, the fracturing of the Empire that only ended with the entry of Michael Palaiologos into the recaptured Constantinople in 1261 - these were blows which rendered Byzantium unable to resist the ascension of the Ottoman Turks. Now what remained? Lip service from the Morea and Athenians, who lack independence only because of their lack of interest. Thrace controlled by the Turks, their domain visible from the very walls of Constantinople! The great city herself, once envy of all the world, now plays host to vast fields within the curtain of the Theodosian fortifications. The Emperor of the Hellenes, once master of the world, now master of fewer souls than minor duchies in the West.
This and more weighs on your mind. You are Ioannes VIII Palaiologos, and you can feel in your bones that should you live another decade you will be called the Last Emperor of the Romans. You and your brother Konstantinos, who will God-willing be Emperor after you, have searched for some means by which to survive the coming storm. The present offers no hope of deliverance - the coffers of the Empire are nearly empty. You cannot raise mercenaries enough to defeat an assault on Constantinople, let alone drive the Turks from Hellas itself. The Imperial Library is ransacked on your order, ancient tomes opened and scrolls unwound from their cases. You seek the experience of ancient generals, the ingenuity of natural philosophers, the wisdom of past emperors. The last you find in the most unexpected place - a small hidden cache, containing among other things a slim book written in the hand of Alexios Komnenos himself. Nearly 400 years ago the Komnenian Restoration under his hand brought the Empire back from the brink of destruction. Yet here you find the strangest tale.
He speaks of a planned trading expedition past the Pillars of Heracles. In the dry ink you sense an echo of whimsy there, an audacious plot for when Manzikert was reversed in totality and the Imperial Eagle once more was in the ascendant. He speaks of legends passed to him by the Varangian Guard, those soldiers of yore from the far north, legends which tell of an ancient expedition into the far west. Untamed lands rich in milk and honey, wealthy in precious things. But there is more here. Schematics for ships that could make the journey across the forbidding ocean, laden with goods. At once it strikes you that here may be your deliverance from the Turk, not in battle but in survival.
The shipwrights of the Golden Horn are impressed, yet time has marched on. What Alexios dreamed of can be surpassed with modern techniques and construction. By Imperial Command you order that ships be refit to Alexios' specifications and improved where possible. It is madness. It is sublime, magnificent madness. But in the rays of the sun on your skin you can feel the approval of God Almighty, his blessing on this endeavour. Space and supplies are limited - you and Konstantinos will go, but your other brothers will remain behind, hoping against hope that Europe will come at the head of deliverance. But not you - you will flee west, a new odyssey. As Aeneas fled Troy in antiquity, so shall the Emperor of the Hellenes flee Constantinople.
It is not so simple a matter as loading people and provisions. The City of Constantine has wealth beyond her people, ancient secrets that are hers alone. It is not a simple decision - each ship that is loaded with treasure, each ship that puts aside space for other things - those are vessels that do not carry the population and supplies that a settlement needs to truly thrive. So many come to you with pleas to save this or that. Each is valuable in a way that causes pains at the idea of being abandoned. How much of the present are you willing to sacrifice for the legacy of the past?
First comes an excited scholar, granted admission to your chambers for his part in discovering the secret cache that was the seed of your plan. He has searched the Imperial Library for similar things and found a manuscript detailing how to create Greek Fire! The secret had been lost, yet there was once a time when the Eastern Roman Empire was feared at sea for these gouts of liquid flame. The power to create fire that leaps through the air, that water cannot quench, that burns hotter than any torch - this is a magnificent power. Yet the process to make it requires equipment and supplies, a load on the fleet that will displace other more basic needs. Other people that will not be able to join the Odyssey.
Second is the librarian. He begs that the knowledge of the Greeks back to antiquity should not be lost. So much knowledge is kept in the City, so much that should be saved for the future. Already these tomes and scrolls have brought the deliverance you have sought, and across centuries they have enlightened men who went on to do great things. Can it be abandoned to the Turk? So many books, so many scrolls. So much space aboard ship for paper and parchment.
Third is one of the few remaining producers of silk in the city. He speaks eloquently about the monopoly that Byzantium once had on silk, and how the secret has spread to Europe since the sack of the Fourth Crusade. If there are new lands across the sea, then once again the Hellenes may be the sole producers. Surely such a thing is worth preserving? The removal of the apparatus for creating the luxurious fabric would certainly spite the Turks, as well, should they take the city.
Yet as these requests pour in, you begin to realise the difficulty in moving an entire culture of people across thousands of leagues. If only you had more ships! Yet the only source of such a thing would be the powers in Europe, none of whom would be willing to hand over valuable vessels for the goodwill of a disintegrating state. You would have to give them something irresistible in exchange for that kind of aid. The devalued coinage of the Empire is worthless here - the gold hyperpyron hasn't been minted in nearly a century, and the debased silver will not do. Your advisors have several ideas.
The first is an offer to Genoa. You will completely abolish the toll to pass through the Bosphoros, something that the Genoese merchants will greatly desire. Much of the wealth flowing into Constantinople rather than out of it is the result of the toll, and Genoa's trading colony in the Crimea would greatly benefit such a thing. You could make an agreement that would last the next fifty years, and all you would require was a few ships of theirs in exchange...
The second suggestion is one that causes instinctive revulsion. The Venetians are always interested in expanding their trading power in the Aegean Sea. The offer of the Peloponnese would be no great loss given they barely pay any taxes anyway. In exchange for a twenty-year lease (a lease you privately suspect they would renege on the return of, given the chance) all you would need was a portion of their navy and a one-time payment. The Doge would salivate at it. But territorial concessions to Venice? The hated architects of the Fourth Crusade, vultures that have fed on the misery and destitution of the Empire for two hundred years? There would be riots.
Each of these options you take will reduce your starting Development - a number which dictates your income from taxation and production, as well as available manpower.
[ ] Greek Fire.
[ ] Books of Knowledge.
[ ] The Silk of Constantinople
These Options will increase your starting Development - a number which dictates your income from taxation and production, as well as available manpower.
[ ] Abolish the sound toll on Genoese merchants.
[ ] Lease the Peloponnese to Venice.
Important Glossary
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. While internally split into taxation/production/manpower, as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in lower expenses.
The year is 1444. The last hope of the Romans has been crushed. The hated Turks of the House of Osman have won a great victory at Varna over the combined Christian forces of Hungary and Wallachia. The King of Hungary is dead, and with that the main opposition to Ottoman expansion has been left to a four year-old child. The crowns of Hungary and Poland have once again been severed from each other with his demise - the hope of the Turks being pushed from the Balkans has come to naught. Their hungry eyes shall soon turn once again to the shattered remains of Byzantium.
What of that empire, that great state that once stretched from one end of the Mediterranean to the other? The disaster at Manzikert had begun her decline, but the deathblow of the treacherous crusaders in 1204 made current events all but certain. The loss of the Aegean islands, the fracturing of the Empire that only ended with the entry of Michael Palaiologos into the recaptured Constantinople in 1261 - these were blows which rendered Byzantium unable to resist the ascension of the Ottoman Turks. Now what remained? Lip service from the Morea and Athenians, who lack independence only because of their lack of interest. Thrace controlled by the Turks, their domain visible from the very walls of Constantinople! The great city herself, once envy of all the world, now plays host to vast fields within the curtain of the Theodosian fortifications. The Emperor of the Hellenes, once master of the world, now master of fewer souls than minor duchies in the West.
This and more weighs on your mind. You are Ioannes VIII Palaiologos, and you can feel in your bones that should you live another decade you will be called the Last Emperor of the Romans. You and your brother Konstantinos, who will God-willing be Emperor after you, have searched for some means by which to survive the coming storm. The present offers no hope of deliverance - the coffers of the Empire are nearly empty. You cannot raise mercenaries enough to defeat an assault on Constantinople, let alone drive the Turks from Hellas itself. The Imperial Library is ransacked on your order, ancient tomes opened and scrolls unwound from their cases. You seek the experience of ancient generals, the ingenuity of natural philosophers, the wisdom of past emperors. The last you find in the most unexpected place - a small hidden cache, containing among other things a slim book written in the hand of Alexios Komnenos himself. Nearly 400 years ago the Komnenian Restoration under his hand brought the Empire back from the brink of destruction. Yet here you find the strangest tale.
He speaks of a planned trading expedition past the Pillars of Heracles. In the dry ink you sense an echo of whimsy there, an audacious plot for when Manzikert was reversed in totality and the Imperial Eagle once more was in the ascendant. He speaks of legends passed to him by the Varangian Guard, those soldiers of yore from the far north, legends which tell of an ancient expedition into the far west. Untamed lands rich in milk and honey, wealthy in precious things. But there is more here. Schematics for ships that could make the journey across the forbidding ocean, laden with goods. At once it strikes you that here may be your deliverance from the Turk, not in battle but in survival.
The shipwrights of the Golden Horn are impressed, yet time has marched on. What Alexios dreamed of can be surpassed with modern techniques and construction. By Imperial Command you order that ships be refit to Alexios' specifications and improved where possible. It is madness. It is sublime, magnificent madness. But in the rays of the sun on your skin you can feel the approval of God Almighty, his blessing on this endeavour. Space and supplies are limited - you and Konstantinos will go, but your other brothers will remain behind, hoping against hope that Europe will come at the head of deliverance. But not you - you will flee west, a new odyssey. As Aeneas fled Troy in antiquity, so shall the Emperor of the Hellenes flee Constantinople.
It is not so simple a matter as loading people and provisions. The City of Constantine has wealth beyond her people, ancient secrets that are hers alone. It is not a simple decision - each ship that is loaded with treasure, each ship that puts aside space for other things - those are vessels that do not carry the supplies that a settlement needs to truly thrive. So many come to you with pleas to save this or that. Each is valuable in a way that causes pains at the idea of being abandoned. How much of the present are you willing to sacrifice for the legacy of the past?
First comes an excited scholar, granted admission to your chambers for his part in discovering the secret cache that was the seed of your plan. He has searched the Imperial Library for similar things and found a manuscript detailing how to create Greek Fire! The secret had been lost, yet there was once a time when the Eastern Roman Empire was feared at sea for these gouts of liquid flame. The power to create fire that leaps through the air, that water cannot quench, that burns hotter than any torch - this is a magnificent power. Yet the process to make it requires equipment and supplies, a load on the fleet that will displace other more basic needs. Barrels of napatha instead of barrels of flour.
Second is the librarian. He begs that the knowledge of the Greeks back to antiquity should not be lost. So much knowledge is kept in the City, so much that should be saved for the future. Already these tomes and scrolls have brought the deliverance you have sought, and across centuries they have enlightened men who went on to do great things. Can it be abandoned to the Turk? So many books, so many scrolls. So much space aboard ship for paper and parchment. It is the curse of knowledge that it fades if not preserved by men.
Third is one of the few remaining producers of silk in the city. He speaks eloquently about the monopoly that Byzantium once had on silk, and how the secret has spread to Europe since the sack of the Fourth Crusade. If there are new lands across the sea, then once again the Hellenes may be the sole producers. Surely such a thing is worth preserving? The removal of the apparatus for creating the luxurious fabric would certainly spite the Turks, as well, should they take the city. The silk quarter has been much diminished, but the silkworms, food, and the all-important equipment would displace supplies that may be needed in the days ahead.
Last is the surprise proposal from a pair of Venetian traders who have sold their trading ships to bolster the Exodus. They claim that to cross the ocean to the west of Hispania would be challenging, even for the modernised designs taken from the secret archives. They propose that money and supplies be set aside not just to buy Italian and Portugese vessels, but also the services of expert navigators and commanders from the current masters of the Mediterranean. As difficult as it is to hear it put so starkly, it has been a long time since the Roman navy has ventured beyond the relatively cluttered Aegean. Yet accounting of the plans reveal that it will reduce space rather than improve it, making the true question whether you want Venetian expertise and weaponry. The cannon and mercenary escorts would certainly make the fleet that much more secure as you traverse the Barbary Coast, and the Venetians themselves...well, they have talents that Constantinople cannot provide.
Yet as these requests pour in, you begin to realise the difficulty in moving an entire culture of people across thousands of leagues. If only you had more ships! Yet the only source of such a thing would be the powers in Europe, none of whom would be willing to hand over valuable vessels for the goodwill of a disintegrating state. You would have to give them something irresistible in exchange for that kind of aid. The devalued coinage of the Empire is worthless here - the gold hyperpyron hasn't been minted in nearly a century, and the debased silver will not do. Your advisors have several ideas.
As it happens, only one idea proves viable and causes instinctive revulsion. The Venetians are always interested in expanding their trading power in the Aegean Sea. The offer of the Peloponnese would be no great loss given they barely pay any taxes anyway, and the Doge would salivate at it. But territorial concessions to Venice? The hated architects of the Fourth Crusade, vultures that have fed on the misery and destitution of the Empire for two hundred years? There would be riots. The alternative, of course, is to formally sever the links between the Morea and Constantinople. Selling the local magnates their independence from an emperor to which they only pay lip-service would provide a much-needed injection of gold and silver to the treasury. You could even turn it into an affirmation of your rule, casting yourself as a principled leader who would rather let this child of the Empire go than sell their loyalty to greedy merchants. Stability and confidence may be just as valuable as ships in the days ahead.
Each of these options you take will reduce your starting Development - a number which dictates your income from taxation and production, but also your level of supply for the journey.
[ ] Greek Fire.
[ ] Books of Knowledge.
[ ] The Silk of Constantinople.
[ ] Venetian Captains and Cannon.
The Question of the Peloponnese
[ ] Sell the Morea to Venice.
[ ] Grant the Morea independence.
Important Glossary
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. While internally split into taxation and production as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in more successful taxation.
What of that empire, that great state that once stretched from one end of the Mediterranean to the other? The disaster at Manzikert had begun her decline, but the deathblow of the treacherous crusaders in 1204 made current events all but certain. The loss of the Aegean islands, the fracturing of the Empire that only ended with the entry of Michael Palaiologos into the recaptured Constantinople in 1261 - these were blows which rendered Byzantium unable to resist the ascension of the Ottoman Turks. Now what remained? Lip service from the Morea and Athenians, who lack independence only because of their lack of interest. Thrace controlled by the Turks, their domain visible from the very walls of Constantinople! The great city herself, once envy of all the world, now plays host to vast fields within the curtain of the Theodosian fortifications. The Emperor of the Hellenes, once master of the world, now master of fewer souls than minor duchies in the West.
This and more weighs on your mind. You are Ioannes VIII Palaiologos, and you can feel in your bones that should you live another decade you will be called the Last Emperor of the Romans. You and your brother Konstantinos, who will God-willing be Emperor after you, have searched for some means by which to survive the coming storm. The present offers no hope of deliverance - the coffers of the Empire are nearly empty. You cannot raise mercenaries enough to defeat an assault on Constantinople, let alone drive the Turks from Hellas itself. The Imperial Library is ransacked on your order, ancient tomes opened and scrolls unwound from their cases. You seek the experience of ancient generals, the ingenuity of natural philosophers, the wisdom of past emperors. The last you find in the most unexpected place - a small hidden cache, containing among other things a slim book written in the hand of Alexios Komnenos himself. Nearly 400 years ago the Komnenian Restoration under his hand brought the Empire back from the brink of destruction. Yet here you find the strangest tale.
He speaks of a planned trading expedition past the Pillars of Heracles. In the dry ink you sense an echo of whimsy there, an audacious plot for when Manzikert was reversed in totality and the Imperial Eagle once more was in the ascendant. He speaks of legends passed to him by the Varangian Guard, those soldiers of yore from the far north, legends which tell of an ancient expedition into the far west. Untamed lands rich in milk and honey, wealthy in precious things. But there is more here. Schematics for ships that could make the journey across the forbidding ocean, laden with goods. At once it strikes you that here may be your deliverance from the Turk, not in battle but in survival.
The shipwrights of the Golden Horn are impressed, yet time has marched on. What Alexios dreamed of can be surpassed with modern techniques and construction. By Imperial Command you order that ships be refit to Alexios' specifications and improved where possible. It is madness. It is sublime, magnificent madness. But in the rays of the sun on your skin you can feel the approval of God Almighty, his blessing on this endeavour. Space and supplies are limited - you and Konstantinos will go, but your other brothers will remain behind, hoping against hope that Europe will come at the head of deliverance. But not you - you will flee west, a new odyssey. As Aeneas fled Troy in antiquity, so shall the Emperor of the Hellenes flee Constantinople.
It is not so simple a matter as loading people and provisions. The City of Constantine has wealth beyond her people, ancient secrets that are hers alone. It is not a simple decision - each ship that is loaded with treasure, each ship that puts aside space for other things - those are vessels that do not carry the supplies that a settlement needs to truly thrive. So many come to you with pleas to save this or that. Each is valuable in a way that causes pains at the idea of being abandoned. How much of the present are you willing to sacrifice for the legacy of the past?
First comes an excited scholar, granted admission to your chambers for his part in discovering the secret cache that was the seed of your plan. He has searched the Imperial Library for similar things and found a manuscript detailing how to create Greek Fire! The secret had been lost, yet there was once a time when the Eastern Roman Empire was feared at sea for these gouts of liquid flame. The power to create fire that leaps through the air, that water cannot quench, that burns hotter than any torch - this is a magnificent power. Yet the process to make it requires equipment and supplies, a load on the fleet that will displace other more basic needs. Barrels of napatha instead of barrels of flour.
Second is the librarian. He begs that the knowledge of the Greeks back to antiquity should not be lost. So much knowledge is kept in the City, so much that should be saved for the future. Already these tomes and scrolls have brought the deliverance you have sought, and across centuries they have enlightened men who went on to do great things. Can it be abandoned to the Turk? So many books, so many scrolls. So much space aboard ship for paper and parchment. It is the curse of knowledge that it fades if not preserved by men.
Third is one of the few remaining producers of silk in the city. He speaks eloquently about the monopoly that Byzantium once had on silk, and how the secret has spread to Europe since the sack of the Fourth Crusade. If there are new lands across the sea, then once again the Hellenes may be the sole producers. Surely such a thing is worth preserving? The removal of the apparatus for creating the luxurious fabric would certainly spite the Turks, as well, should they take the city. The silk quarter has been much diminished, but the silkworms, food, and the all-important equipment would displace supplies that may be needed in the days ahead.
Last is the surprise proposal from a pair of Venetian traders who have sold their trading ships to bolster the Exodus. They claim that to cross the ocean to the west of Hispania would be challenging, even for the modernised designs taken from the secret archives. They propose that money and supplies be set aside not just to buy Italian and Portugese vessels, but also the services of expert navigators and commanders from the current masters of the Mediterranean. As difficult as it is to hear it put so starkly, it has been a long time since the Roman navy has ventured beyond the relatively cluttered Aegean. Yet accounting of the plans reveal that it will reduce space rather than improve it, making the true question whether you want Venetian expertise and weaponry. The cannon and mercenary escorts would certainly make the fleet that much more secure as you traverse the Barbary Coast, and the Venetians themselves...well, they have talents that Constantinople cannot provide.
Yet as these requests pour in, you begin to realise the difficulty in moving an entire culture of people across thousands of leagues. If only you had more ships! Yet the only source of such a thing would be the powers in Europe, none of whom would be willing to hand over valuable vessels for the goodwill of a disintegrating state. You would have to give them something irresistible in exchange for that kind of aid. The devalued coinage of the Empire is worthless here - the gold hyperpyron hasn't been minted in nearly a century, and the debased silver will not do. Your advisors have several ideas.
As it happens, only one idea proves viable and causes instinctive revulsion. The Venetians are always interested in expanding their trading power in the Aegean Sea. The offer of the Peloponnese would be no great loss given they barely pay any taxes anyway, and the Doge would salivate at it. But territorial concessions to Venice? The hated architects of the Fourth Crusade, vultures that have fed on the misery and destitution of the Empire for two hundred years? There would be riots. The alternative, of course, is to formally sever the links between the Morea and Constantinople. Selling the local magnates their independence from an emperor to which they only pay lip-service would provide a much-needed injection of gold and silver to the treasury. You could even turn it into an affirmation of your rule, casting yourself as a principled leader who would rather let this child of the Empire go than sell their loyalty to greedy merchants. Stability and confidence may be just as valuable as ships in the days ahead.
Each of these options you take will reduce your starting Development - a number which dictates your income from taxation and production, but also your level of supply for the journey.
[ ] Greek Fire.
[ ] Books of Knowledge.
[ ] The Silk of Constantinople.
[ ] Venetian Captains and Cannon.
The Question of the Peloponnese
[ ] Sell the Morea to Venice.
[ ] Grant the Morea independence.
Important Glossary
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. While internally split into taxation and production as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in more successful taxation.
Last edited:
Mechanics
As time passes, your ruler will accrue monarch points, the amount depending on their skill in each area. These skills range from 0-6. Projects will require a certain amount of points (representing the talent and influence of your ruler) to start, especially in these early days when material wealth is not your main bottleneck. Turns will (generally) occur in five year intervals.
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. While internally split into taxation/production/manpower, as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in lower expenses. Each point of stability provides a small 0.5 bonus to missionary strength, increases the head tax by 5%, and reduces unrest by -1. Each negative point of stability increases unrest by +2.
Patriarch Authority measures the strength of the church authorities. In many ways, a strong Patriarchate is extremely beneficial - religion is a great unifier of the people. With a supportive clergy men are more willing to enlist in the army to serve, convinced that their cause is just. With the strong hand of a priest on their shoulder, peasants are more likely to resolve their disputes or accept that their problems are simply a part of life. Missionaries can speak more fervently and more authoritatively when the realm of God on earth is intertwined with the state. These are not immaterial, but very real and exploitable advantages. The priesthood may also be willing to engage themselves in the affairs of state by helping the administration, reducing internal load and allowing the ruler to turn their attention elsewhere.
On the other hand, a strong Patriarchy can mean that the church is more willing to 'lean' on the state to get what it wants. Engaging in courses of action directly opposed to the church will result in diplomatic repercussions that will sap the ability of monarch to undertake diplomatic actions abroad with the situation unstable domestically. Especially powerful clergy may express a desire to administer canon law in an area where it is particularly powerful. As with all things, the Emperor always has the last say, but the consequences of opposing an entrenched church may be unpalatable.
Patriarch Authority is measured on a sliding scale from 0 to 100. Aside from the Missionary Strength bonus, it only has an effect on provinces that are the same religion.
0: No Effect
100: +33% Reserve Manpower, -3 Unrest (Revolt Chance), +2 Missionary Strength
Fortifications increase the resistance of a province to siege, but cost 60 Hyperpyra per turn to maintain.
Professionalism is a value that runs from 0 to 100. At 0, there are no bonuses. At 100, your armies deal +10% damage and are 20% more effective at prosecuting a siege.
Professionalism is increased by drilling, which over time increases the effectiveness of your peacetime armies. Once those soldiers begin dying, however, they are replaced by conscripts who lower the bonus. Armies gain approximately 50% drill per turn (10% per year) as the experience of your armies increases with training.
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. While internally split into taxation/production/manpower, as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in lower expenses. Each point of stability provides a small 0.5 bonus to missionary strength, increases the head tax by 5%, and reduces unrest by -1. Each negative point of stability increases unrest by +2.
Patriarch Authority measures the strength of the church authorities. In many ways, a strong Patriarchate is extremely beneficial - religion is a great unifier of the people. With a supportive clergy men are more willing to enlist in the army to serve, convinced that their cause is just. With the strong hand of a priest on their shoulder, peasants are more likely to resolve their disputes or accept that their problems are simply a part of life. Missionaries can speak more fervently and more authoritatively when the realm of God on earth is intertwined with the state. These are not immaterial, but very real and exploitable advantages. The priesthood may also be willing to engage themselves in the affairs of state by helping the administration, reducing internal load and allowing the ruler to turn their attention elsewhere.
On the other hand, a strong Patriarchy can mean that the church is more willing to 'lean' on the state to get what it wants. Engaging in courses of action directly opposed to the church will result in diplomatic repercussions that will sap the ability of monarch to undertake diplomatic actions abroad with the situation unstable domestically. Especially powerful clergy may express a desire to administer canon law in an area where it is particularly powerful. As with all things, the Emperor always has the last say, but the consequences of opposing an entrenched church may be unpalatable.
Patriarch Authority is measured on a sliding scale from 0 to 100. Aside from the Missionary Strength bonus, it only has an effect on provinces that are the same religion.
0: No Effect
100: +33% Reserve Manpower, -3 Unrest (Revolt Chance), +2 Missionary Strength
Fortifications increase the resistance of a province to siege, but cost 60 Hyperpyra per turn to maintain.
Professionalism is a value that runs from 0 to 100. At 0, there are no bonuses. At 100, your armies deal +10% damage and are 20% more effective at prosecuting a siege.
Professionalism is increased by drilling, which over time increases the effectiveness of your peacetime armies. Once those soldiers begin dying, however, they are replaced by conscripts who lower the bonus. Armies gain approximately 50% drill per turn (10% per year) as the experience of your armies increases with training.
As time passes, your ruler will accrue monarch points, the amount depending on their skill in each area. These skills range from 0-6. Projects will require a certain amount of points (representing the talent and influence of your ruler) to start, especially in these early days when material wealth is not your main bottleneck. Turns will (generally) occur in five year intervals. In addition to your monarch's personal ability, you recieve a base stipend of 3 monarch points per month, and the Imperial Court can also provide talented expertise - at a price.
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. Internally split into taxation/production, as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is. Taxation is not a measure of population, but instead a representation of 'taxable' activity. Businesses and farms are both sources of income, but the peasants themselves are not. You can spend administrative points to encourage the development of taxable economy. Production is both a measure of raw goods production and the tariffs you can apply to the supply chain. It is a happy ruler who can take a cut at each step from the trappers, the tanners, and the leatherworkers. Spending diplomatic points will incentivise an expansion in production. Even better is having foreigners pay coin for your goods, and having more raw production will certainly help there - but that is a tale for another time.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. Taxes fall as loose control and failing institutions struggle to collect. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in lower expenses. Each point of positive stability provides a small bonus to missionary strength (prosperity is an excellent indicator of God's favor), increases taxes by 5%, and reduces unrest. Each negative point of stability increases unrest by +2, as well as inflicting corresponding negative penalties.
Patriarch Authority measures the strength of the church authorities. In many ways, a strong Patriarchate is extremely beneficial - religion is a great unifier of the people. With a supportive clergy men are more willing to enlist in the army to serve, convinced that their cause is just. With the strong hand of a priest on their shoulder, peasants are more likely to resolve their disputes or accept that their problems are simply a part of life. Missionaries can speak more fervently and more authoritatively when the realm of God on earth is intertwined with the state. These are not immaterial, but very real and exploitable advantages. The priesthood may also be willing to engage themselves in the affairs of state by helping the administration, reducing internal load and allowing the ruler to turn their attention elsewhere.
On the other hand, a strong Patriarchy can mean that the church is more willing to 'lean' on the state to get what it wants. Engaging in courses of action directly opposed to the church will result in diplomatic repercussions that will sap the ability of monarch to undertake diplomatic actions abroad with the situation unstable domestically. Especially powerful clergy may express a desire to administer canon law in an area where it is particularly powerful. As with all things, the Emperor always has the last say, but the consequences of opposing an entrenched church may be unpalatable.
Patriarch Authority is measured on a sliding scale from 0 to 100.
The influence of the estates may not be of immediate impact to your decisions, but will shape what the fledgling nation of Elysia becomes. Estates must be dealt with through the twin lenses of loyalty and influence. If loyalty dips below 30%, they will cease to provide any benefit and may in fact actively work against your interests.
The first estate is the Presbyteroi, consisting of the churches, the clergy, and the monastic traditions. They are vital to the spiritual wellbeing of the country, and also play important roles in the intellectual and bureaucratic spheres. Having a cooperative clergy will improve the moral character of the people, and their talents are certainly helpful in administration - this is reflected by a 5% increase in taxation revenue. As the church becomes stronger, this bonus improves to up to 20%.
The second estate is the Dynatoi. These families have names stretching back through history - the Angeloi, the Doukas, the source of ancient emperors. They are still a force in their own right, and their influence and wealth directly correlates to the number of well-trained troops you can levy from their holdings. If you want more than an army of peasants, you need a strong Dynatoi.
The third estate is the Emporoi. The merchants, traders, and bankers are integral parts of the economy, no matter how some of the court and nobility turn up their noses at the reality. Having them on side may not be immediately vital, but once trade becomes a factor you will be very grateful for a robust and loyal merchant class.
Land is distributed between the crown and the estates. Each 2% of land will give an estate a 1% boost to their influence. The crown controls the rest of the land, and only recieves penalties if its control drops under 30%. At higher levels above 60% the crown benefits in the form of more efficient taxation, but this often fails to outweigh the benefits from a cooperative and diverse realm.
Population grows organically, although it will grow much more slowly in the arctic with freezing winters than it will in milder climes. Your main concern will be the split between citizens and barbaroi. Your citizens will keep the enlightened flame of Byzantium and Christian tradition alive, cultured and refined as their birth implies. But the barbaroi have lesser privileges and a baser origin, and having an overwhelming disparity between the two groups will likely lead to cultural infection or even uprisings against the natural order.
The Militia consists of around 10% your total population, but this should not be mistaken for a professional army. Instead it consists of literally every man who can be taken from other tasks and given a weapon. The mob of the peasantry should not be underestimated, but will be minimally effective against a professional army.
The Dynatoi are the only members of society who can afford both the time and expense to train for warfare as a way of life. They own equipment that makes them difficult to kill and have martial training that makes them effective combatants. But this is predicated on them having the wealth and holdings to do so, and a ruler wanting to exploit the 'free' services of the Dynatoi in war will also have to contend with them as a political force and their independent wealth.
Professional armies are the response of a ruler who wants an effective military force ready for war, but the sheer expense of a standing army has made these rare for a reason. The first hurdle is the cost of equipping these soldiers in the first place, and then the necessary stipend to allow them attendance at mandatory training sessions without compromising their livelihoods further strains the treasury. The ultimate professional soldier costs a great deal more than that, freeing them to take up the profession full-time.
Development: Development is the numerical value of a province. Higher is better. Internally split into taxation/production, as a round number it provides a good idea of how valuable an area is. Taxation is not a measure of population, but instead a representation of 'taxable' activity. Businesses and farms are both sources of income, but the peasants themselves are not. You can spend administrative points to encourage the development of taxable economy. Production is both a measure of raw goods production and the tariffs you can apply to the supply chain. It is a happy ruler who can take a cut at each step from the trappers, the tanners, and the leatherworkers. Spending diplomatic points will incentivise an expansion in production. Even better is having foreigners pay coin for your goods, and having more raw production will certainly help there - but that is a tale for another time.
Stability: Stability ranges from -3 and 3. At -3, the state is on the verge of collapse, and as a consequence it is that much more difficult and expensive to enact the ruler's will. Taxes fall as loose control and failing institutions struggle to collect. At high stability administration is easier, resulting in lower expenses. Each point of positive stability provides a small bonus to missionary strength (prosperity is an excellent indicator of God's favor), increases taxes by 5%, and reduces unrest. Each negative point of stability increases unrest by +2, as well as inflicting corresponding negative penalties.
Patriarch Authority measures the strength of the church authorities. In many ways, a strong Patriarchate is extremely beneficial - religion is a great unifier of the people. With a supportive clergy men are more willing to enlist in the army to serve, convinced that their cause is just. With the strong hand of a priest on their shoulder, peasants are more likely to resolve their disputes or accept that their problems are simply a part of life. Missionaries can speak more fervently and more authoritatively when the realm of God on earth is intertwined with the state. These are not immaterial, but very real and exploitable advantages. The priesthood may also be willing to engage themselves in the affairs of state by helping the administration, reducing internal load and allowing the ruler to turn their attention elsewhere.
On the other hand, a strong Patriarchy can mean that the church is more willing to 'lean' on the state to get what it wants. Engaging in courses of action directly opposed to the church will result in diplomatic repercussions that will sap the ability of monarch to undertake diplomatic actions abroad with the situation unstable domestically. Especially powerful clergy may express a desire to administer canon law in an area where it is particularly powerful. As with all things, the Emperor always has the last say, but the consequences of opposing an entrenched church may be unpalatable.
Patriarch Authority is measured on a sliding scale from 0 to 100.
The influence of the estates may not be of immediate impact to your decisions, but will shape what the fledgling nation of Elysia becomes. Estates must be dealt with through the twin lenses of loyalty and influence. If loyalty dips below 30%, they will cease to provide any benefit and may in fact actively work against your interests.
The first estate is the Presbyteroi, consisting of the churches, the clergy, and the monastic traditions. They are vital to the spiritual wellbeing of the country, and also play important roles in the intellectual and bureaucratic spheres. Having a cooperative clergy will improve the moral character of the people, and their talents are certainly helpful in administration - this is reflected by a 5% increase in taxation revenue. As the church becomes stronger, this bonus improves to up to 20%.
The second estate is the Dynatoi. These families have names stretching back through history - the Angeloi, the Doukas, the source of ancient emperors. They are still a force in their own right, and their influence and wealth directly correlates to the number of well-trained troops you can levy from their holdings. If you want more than an army of peasants, you need a strong Dynatoi.
The third estate is the Emporoi. The merchants, traders, and bankers are integral parts of the economy, no matter how some of the court and nobility turn up their noses at the reality. Having them on side may not be immediately vital, but once trade becomes a factor you will be very grateful for a robust and loyal merchant class.
Land is distributed between the crown and the estates. Each 2% of land will give an estate a 1% boost to their influence. The crown controls the rest of the land, and only recieves penalties if its control drops under 30%. At higher levels above 60% the crown benefits in the form of more efficient taxation, but this often fails to outweigh the benefits from a cooperative and diverse realm.
Population grows organically, although it will grow much more slowly in the arctic with freezing winters than it will in milder climes. Your main concern will be the split between citizens and barbaroi. Your citizens will keep the enlightened flame of Byzantium and Christian tradition alive, cultured and refined as their birth implies. But the barbaroi have lesser privileges and a baser origin, and having an overwhelming disparity between the two groups will likely lead to cultural infection or even uprisings against the natural order.
The Militia consists of around 10% your total population, but this should not be mistaken for a professional army. Instead it consists of literally every man who can be taken from other tasks and given a weapon. The mob of the peasantry should not be underestimated, but will be minimally effective against a professional army.
The Dynatoi are the only members of society who can afford both the time and expense to train for warfare as a way of life. They own equipment that makes them difficult to kill and have martial training that makes them effective combatants. But this is predicated on them having the wealth and holdings to do so, and a ruler wanting to exploit the 'free' services of the Dynatoi in war will also have to contend with them as a political force and their independent wealth.
Professional armies are the response of a ruler who wants an effective military force ready for war, but the sheer expense of a standing army has made these rare for a reason. The first hurdle is the cost of equipping these soldiers in the first place, and then the necessary stipend to allow them attendance at mandatory training sessions without compromising their livelihoods further strains the treasury. The ultimate professional soldier costs a great deal more than that, freeing them to take up the profession full-time.
Last edited:
- Location
- Castle Drakenhof
[X] Plan All In
[X] Greek Fire.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
[X] The Silk of Constantinople
[X] Abolish the sound toll on Genoese merchants.
[X] Lease the Peloponnese to Venice.
Stability is easier to increase than population, and all of those items will be useful.
[X] Greek Fire.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
[X] The Silk of Constantinople
[X] Abolish the sound toll on Genoese merchants.
[X] Lease the Peloponnese to Venice.
Stability is easier to increase than population, and all of those items will be useful.
Last edited:
- Location
- Venezuela
Changing my vote (Just a little)
[X] Greek Fire.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
I'll admit, I'm not being impartial with this decision. The thought that so much knowledge is lost is simply painful to me.
[X] Abolish the sound toll on Genoese merchants.
I sincerely prefer the other option, but the riots and humiliation that goes with it is very high
[X] Greek Fire.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
I'll admit, I'm not being impartial with this decision. The thought that so much knowledge is lost is simply painful to me.
[X] Abolish the sound toll on Genoese merchants.
I sincerely prefer the other option, but the riots and humiliation that goes with it is very high
- Location
- Ural, Russia, Earth
Madness, sheer madness, this is for sure!
...But it's not like there is other way to save Byzantium.
[X] Greek Fire.
Powerful weapon against anybody who dares follow us.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
Proof that we're still heirs of ancient Hellenes and Romans, not filthy pretenders or desperate refugees. (even if we are filthy and desperate)
[X] Lease the Peloponnese to Venice.
Unlike the sound toll, the Peloponnese doesn't give Constantinople money. I don't want to not just leave the City, but deprive it of income in process.
...But it's not like there is other way to save Byzantium.
[X] Greek Fire.
Powerful weapon against anybody who dares follow us.
[X] Books of Knowledge.
Proof that we're still heirs of ancient Hellenes and Romans, not filthy pretenders or desperate refugees. (even if we are filthy and desperate)
[X] Lease the Peloponnese to Venice.
Unlike the sound toll, the Peloponnese doesn't give Constantinople money. I don't want to not just leave the City, but deprive it of income in process.
Last edited:
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan All In
- Location
- ?????????
[X] Plan All In
I'm all in
I'm all in
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
[X] Plan All In
Third Odyssey: Departure
The decision to lease the Peloponnese is not especially popular with your advisors - even the one who suggested it in the first place. But it does give you access to a substantial portion of the Venetian fleet by your standards, if not by theirs. More ships that can be altered for the journey, stocked with supplies and refugees. It will have to be worth it. Still, when the news breaks out the City erupts into discontent. The Patriarch delivers a sermon that condemns the short-sightedness of man. For some days the situation simmers on the edge of violence, at which point you are forced to open the Imperial Treasury to quell dissent. The people are pleased with your largess, and you head off one issue by sending a substantial sum to Athens in order to improve their situation. For all the local nobility are Catholic, they are just as unhappy at the prospect of the Most Serene Republic taking control of the Peloponnese.
Still, a holding action is just a holding action. This will not be soon forgotten, and may be a black stain on your legacy that even history can only soothe. But the deed is done, and you must move on. The days leading up to the departure of the Grand Fleet are hectic as you and your brother take a personal interest in the preparedness of each and every ship. You inspect the endless barrels of napatha and crates of equipment that constitute your reserves for the creation of Greek Fire, just as you examine the hoses and nozzles which have been mounted up and on deck for the treasure ships, those ships that have been selected to go into combat if it becomes necessary. You visit the meticulous operation of wrapping the contents of the Imperial Library in waterproofed skins, and the careful handling of the silkworms that will one day spin new silk.
Such a vast undertaking has not escaped notice. While the news of your foolhardy venture has yet to spread beyond the Balkans, you already have reports that the young Sultan is preparing to muster his armies. You know in your heart he intends to take Constantinople. Perhaps you will be fortunate and the Venetians and Turks will bleed each other for the city you have so carefully denuded of treasures. What the Crusaders did not take, you have. Better that they reside in the depths of the sea than in the hands of the enemies of Rome.
The departure of the Grand Fleet is mingled joy and melancholy. You have declared that God Almighty has prepared a place in the West for the Hellenes, that your expedition is fated to succeed and begin a new era of prosperity to the Heirs of Augustus, Constantine, and Justinian. Yet fewer have been able to depart with you as you had hoped. You can only hope that the sacrifices you have made will be looked upon favourability by the greatest Judge of all, that he will not declare you have unjustly valued things more than immortal souls.
The Mediterranean is calm, an auspicious omen. Yet a fleet of ships so sturdy and laden is slow going, and news of your coming races ahead of you. As the Pillars of Heracles approach, you worry at your closeness to the corsairs of the North African coast. The day before you expect to pass through the Pillars, a small fleet of nimble galleys moves to intercept the Grand Fleet - it is as you feared! The heraldry is that of Morocco and Tunis, who have joined forces to demand a toll to pass. You allow a representative to speak with you from a rowboat, and the sum demanded makes your blood boil. They have deduced that the great treasures of Constantinople are aboard, for why else would so large a fleet carrying the King of the Greeks abandon their home?
With a raised hand and a furious bellow, you order that your men give these pirates the tribute they deserve, in the name of Basileus Ioannes Palaiologos, Emperor of the Greeks by the Grace of Christ Almighty! The cry goes up, and for the first time in centuries Greek Fire erupts from the siphons with a roar like thunder. Screams erupt from the rowboat, yet they are silenced quickly by the heat of the flame. With such a potent weapon the fleet has little fear of the Mohammedan galleys, which are set afire the moment they approach. The combined fleet of Tunis and Morocco, the fear of the Barbary Coast, scatter before you. The Grand Fleet sails on, spirits heightened by this spectacular victory. Not a single ship is lost, and you continue on in good speed.
The open ocean looms before you. Yet all is not done in Europe, for a squadron of Portuguese ships intercepts your small armada not far out of the Pillars. You do not require fellow Christians to shout up to you from a little rowboat, regardless if they are followers of the Latin Rite. You receive the envoy with all dignity. He brings hasty word from the court of Infante Afonso V, By the Grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarve and Lord of Ceuta. Word the Byzantine flight has reached his Majesty, and they have deduced that it is your intention to sail down the coast of Africa. He offers the friendship of Portugal, and the commander of squadron offers the use of one of his supply ships under Byzantine command and crew - on the condition that all discoveries are shared with the Portuguese Crown.
It creates something of an opportunity you had not thought to look for. You withdraw for conference with your brother and advisors. It is inevitable that it will be discovered you did not sail down the coast of Africa as they believe you intend, but the provision of birds trained to allow communication with Lisboa give you the opportunity to send a message back. One message of course must be one of disaster, that the fleet has sailed into the West and found nothing but storms and endless ocean - that terrible things lurk there. You cannot bring your people to the Promised Land only for the wealthier and more equipped nations of Europe to usurp your place. But should Portugal receive the truth for this act of generosity?
[ ] No. They shall have the same message as the rest of the world, that the Byzantines have perished in this foolish voyage into the unknown and the grave dangers that lie there.
[ ] Yes. They have offered their hand in friendship, and should be rewarded with truth for it.
Last edited:
- Location
- ?????????
[X] No. They shall have the same message as the rest of the world, that the Byzantines have perished in this foolish voyage into the unknown and the grave dangers that lie there.
Pfft no. Fuck Portugal. The New World is ours.
Pfft no. Fuck Portugal. The New World is ours.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
[X] No. They shall have the same message as the rest of the world, that the Byzantines have perished in this foolish voyage into the unknown and the grave dangers that lie there.
Information Warfare at its finest, we shall reach america and we shall rule it without those pesky Iberian's getting in our way!
Information Warfare at its finest, we shall reach america and we shall rule it without those pesky Iberian's getting in our way!
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] No. They shall have the same message as the rest of the world, that the Byzantines have perished in this foolish voyage into the unknown and the grave dangers that lie there.
Let Colombus find Hispaniola an impenetrable citadel of Nova Rome.
Let Colombus find Hispaniola an impenetrable citadel of Nova Rome.