A Night So Deep-(A Supernatural Alt-History Quest Set in the Balkans)
- Thread starter Dapperlad1
- Start date
- Mature
[X] Hold here, keep your territorial gains. (Start Turn barring sudden enemy assault)
Indeed, bestiest Crimbus gift!
Indeed, bestiest Crimbus gift!
- Location
- Albania
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Indeed, the moment their shock, well, everything. All of their units can give tremendous shock on the charge. But the moment they impact is typically where thousands die. Delaying or stopping that impact is a solid idea, suggestions from your generals include field fortifications as well, digging ditches is too time consuming with how fast monstrous armies move, but perhaps some other, more advanced method?
Turn 7
- Location
- Albania
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The army is given the order to hold, beginning the most basic of fortifications on the spot. Construction of such fortifications proceeds apace with palisades raised quickly by superhuman strength and intelligent construction.
The Emperor is sent back to Constantinople as Priscianus and Eutropius organize the defensive efforts. But that is a minor effort, desperately needing support to properly defend the new collected land.
Thankfully, no assault comes to your battered forces, allowing them to hold Bulgaria, for all that dead, rotten Bulgaria is worth. Drenched in blood and bereft of living, the land is unusable without colonists.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The West
The West holds the war, the Realm of Blood is pushed back generally on most of the front, but their fell presence is felt even in the retaken lands and especially the mountains that separate your two proper spheres of influence.
The men are worried that they will not be sufficient to stop any concerted assault, though the Athanatopouloi has acted as monster hunters against local creatures that test the barrier, attempting to probe for weakness.
The Albanians continue their march, intending to shatter another army before returning to their lands, but do not request support.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The East
The East is generally peaceful, trade blooming and wealth spreading all throughout it with the "Djinn" lands seemingly quiet on your side of them.
The Mameluke realm is stabilizing somewhat after a period of unrest within some part of their territory.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sea
Indeed, the shark has been sighted once more, though it has more similarities to a whale than any shark seen. Tearing through a fishing fleet just outside of Constantinople, it was warded away with the grand Projectors mounted on the walls themselves.
This is becoming a rapid issue, as fishermen are unwilling to tread the sea with it in water.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Heartland
With news of victory from the front, a great cheer goes through the populace as the air itself brightens. Gloom is pushed away with celebration as casualty counts are left unmentioned and only victory is spoken of.
Beyond that, the industry of the empire continues apace, roads being paved and truly roman forge works spreading, leaving behind simple one-man smithies for the glory of industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stavraton-6290
Manpower-25000
Skilled Manpower-200
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little slapdash and short, but it is all you really need.
The Emperor is sent back to Constantinople as Priscianus and Eutropius organize the defensive efforts. But that is a minor effort, desperately needing support to properly defend the new collected land.
Thankfully, no assault comes to your battered forces, allowing them to hold Bulgaria, for all that dead, rotten Bulgaria is worth. Drenched in blood and bereft of living, the land is unusable without colonists.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The West
The West holds the war, the Realm of Blood is pushed back generally on most of the front, but their fell presence is felt even in the retaken lands and especially the mountains that separate your two proper spheres of influence.
The men are worried that they will not be sufficient to stop any concerted assault, though the Athanatopouloi has acted as monster hunters against local creatures that test the barrier, attempting to probe for weakness.
The Albanians continue their march, intending to shatter another army before returning to their lands, but do not request support.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The East
The East is generally peaceful, trade blooming and wealth spreading all throughout it with the "Djinn" lands seemingly quiet on your side of them.
The Mameluke realm is stabilizing somewhat after a period of unrest within some part of their territory.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sea
Indeed, the shark has been sighted once more, though it has more similarities to a whale than any shark seen. Tearing through a fishing fleet just outside of Constantinople, it was warded away with the grand Projectors mounted on the walls themselves.
This is becoming a rapid issue, as fishermen are unwilling to tread the sea with it in water.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Heartland
With news of victory from the front, a great cheer goes through the populace as the air itself brightens. Gloom is pushed away with celebration as casualty counts are left unmentioned and only victory is spoken of.
Beyond that, the industry of the empire continues apace, roads being paved and truly roman forge works spreading, leaving behind simple one-man smithies for the glory of industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stavraton-6290
Manpower-25000
Skilled Manpower-200
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little slapdash and short, but it is all you really need.
God damn it another fucking sea monster. EUTROPIUS, GET THE STICK!
In all honesty, I'm voting we focus on learning some defensive tactics now. Like, for instance, introducing trench warfare to europe a few centuries early. this habit of losing mass quantities of men isnt going to work, we need to make it absolute hell for anyone bringing an army against us. traps, spikes, trenches, walls, crude bunkers if we can make it, layering lines of defense, if we can get our hands on that lovely leonardo over in italy, we might even be able to swing tanks.
In all honesty, I'm voting we focus on learning some defensive tactics now. Like, for instance, introducing trench warfare to europe a few centuries early. this habit of losing mass quantities of men isnt going to work, we need to make it absolute hell for anyone bringing an army against us. traps, spikes, trenches, walls, crude bunkers if we can make it, layering lines of defense, if we can get our hands on that lovely leonardo over in italy, we might even be able to swing tanks.
Last edited:
If we have the money we should kick steam tech into development, got plenty of mines to put it into use for, and then we might open up further uses for it. Also anti-air systems, mix of fireworks (pyrophoric showers to break their morale and make them break off from their dive) and vertically set up grapeshot cannons (for killing) already prepared- the Manticores could be seen breaking off from the army before the dive bomb so it could either mean they don't have the endurance for doing that ahead of time or that the RoB's tactics using them will improve to set it up further ahead next time.
Steam engines is far beyond our abilities and not on the table on something we can do. Let's focus on continuing to push out better firearms and alchemical buffs.
"Steam engines is far beyond our abilities and not on the table on something we can do"
We have basically Adeptus Astartes, and you're telling me how the rules work?
@Dapperlad1 clarification please
We have basically Adeptus Astartes, and you're telling me how the rules work?
@Dapperlad1 clarification please
- Location
- Albania
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It may be possible to develop steam technology, your metallurgy is certainly advanced enough, you just need to figure out exactly how it would develop.
No one would be able to figure out how to make steam power from no base principles whatsoever.
Perhaps doing some research on the works of Hero of Alexandria would be a good start. Even if we don't get a steam engine, we likely could get something interesting out of it.
That was a kettle with two ends that spun in place. It's a novelty. The steam engines that fueled industry spawned from experiments with atmosphere difference 'engines' trying to gauged air pressure and experience with water wheel driven machinery. The first reliable steam engines were used to pump water out of mine shafts in place of water wheels, human or animal power. We have neither the former nor the latter as points of reference to develop a steam engine, much less utilize it.
That's why I feel it's well outside our realm of experience. We can make supersoldiers but that's using alchemy. There's nothing involved in there that relies on mechanical driven machinery to give us experience. Our metallurgy is good enough to produce steam engines but the idea won't happen overnight or without actual in character reason to do so.
I am actually well aware of the impracticality of the aeolipile in real life. The most it could probably do was turn a spit, something that animals did for a much lower cost.
However, in real life alchemical experiments in life extension only resulted in mercury poisoning. This quest does not take place in a universe with the exact same physical laws, or perhaps the laws are more like guidelines 😁.
All joking aside, I admit that we have a decent chance of not getting a steam engine out of this line of research, at least for a while. Still, this line of research shows promise IMO. Even if we don't get a steam engine, we have good odds of getting something useful. Personally, I'm hoping for magic-powered clockwork automatons down the line.
- Location
- his hidden lair
Stavraton-6290
Manpower-25000
Skilled Manpower-200
[X]Training Montage
-22x Skoutatoi 500 Manpower, 50 Stavraton.Maintenance-15 Stavraton - 22 for the First Army
-1x Pyrovolo Toxotai 500 Manpower, 100 Stavraton.Maintenance-15 Stavraton - 1 for the First Army
-4x Koursores 500 Manpower, 150 Stavraton. Maintenance-45 Stavraton - 4 for the First Army
-2x Athanatopouloi 100 Manpower, 300 Stavraton. Maintenance-80 Stavraton -2 for the First Army
-9x Scorpions 25 Manpower, 30 Stavraton. Maintenance-10 Stavraton -9 for the First Army
--9x Greek Fire Bolts 10 Stavraton. Maintenance-5 Stavraton
-9x Catapult 30 Manpower, 30 Stavraton. Maintenance-10 Stavraton
-3x Cannons 10 Skilled Manpower, 40 Stavraton. Maintenance -15 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-3x Flame Cannons 10 Skilled Manpower, 50 Stavraton. Maintenance -20 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-3x Mortars 10 Skilled Manpower, 50 Stavraton. Maintenance -20 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-4x War Dromon 300 Manpower, 150 Stavraton. Maintenance-15 Stavraton. 2nd Navy
--2x Greek Fire Mine Upgrades, 10 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower. 2nd Navy
4,070 Stavraton. 15,395 Manpower. 100 Skilled Manpower. Maintenance 1,135
-In the wake of the brutal Battle for Bulgaria, where Imperial forces won a pyrrhic victory, new tactics and weapons of war are needed to give our proud soldiers better means of facing the fearsome forces of hell. The Pyroródi is a ceramic bomb loaded with black powder, iron shards, Fool's Salt, and should circumstance allow for it, Greek Fire. This bomb earns its name from the obvious similarities with the pomegranate and is intended to be thrown before receiving or giving a charge to disorder the foe. Staff slings specifically designed to launch these explosive fruits of our labors will specifically be issued to our Skoutatoi to give them increased range in unleashing a salvo of explosives. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Both the Skoutatoi and the Koursores fought with gallantry in the Battle for Bulgaria but suffered badly for all their efforts. The kontarion is a dangerous weapon, equally adept as a hedge of pikes or an onrushing tide of lances, no man can stand before the wall of steel. We face foes both more than men, and infinitely our lessers. The ékrixikontarion or blast lance, is designed to create a long spear capable of stopping a monster in its tracks. Bearing a cleverly designed steel tube at the tip of the shaft, an attacker would trigger an explosive channeled by the strong Imperial steel through the soft iron cap, creating a shower of fragments, Fool's Salt, and fire while leading the wielder unharmed. While not replacing the kontarion, it's hoped the ékrixikontarion can be integrated into Skoutatoi tagmata to stiffen them against the charge and enable Koursores to meet a monstrous charge with fire and steel rather than blood and gallantry. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Inspired by the success of the new flame cannons a new specialist pyrovolos for our Koursores, and should they deem it worthy, kataphracts is being designed. A broad but relatively short-barreled gun, rather than firing any solid shot it is intended to be loaded with ceramic shells filled with metal fragments, black powder, and if it should be doable- powdered Greek fire. On the brink of the charge our cavalrymen can unleash a wave of fire and steel just before the moment of impact. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-The bloody cost of our recent victory only reveals the need for innovation and adaptations to triumph over the forces of Hell to our North. New techniques of raising field fortifications, and the teaching of our soldiery to make these fortifications on the eve of battle are necessary to deprive the monstrous foe of their advantages over mortal men. It is time to bring back the legionaries' sudes, with all the modern innovations the Empire can include. Men must be ready to dig trenches and moats, erect breastworks and barbettes, place the archer's stakes the Turks have used against us (with Imperial improvements naturally), and we must reclaim the knowledge of castrametation the Romans of yore were famed for. Every tool and means for our soldiers to erect these defenses must be examined and explored, from black powder blasting charges- to mattocks, picks and shovels designed to leverage the strength of Polemistes imbued men. Fortification means to make strong, and it is every man's duty to make the Empire and its armies strong in these dark days. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Our Skoutatoi and Toxotai must be drilled even further. The survivors will pass on all their knowledge to the new recruits of our armies, and such transfer of expertise shall be institutionalized. They will be trained in combined arms, in numerous combinations so that pike and shot might always be brought to bear as favorably as possible. Any soldier's widow will receive a stipend of her husband's wages for a year so that every man knows the Empire honors those who fight for it in life and death. Likewise, the veterans of our battles will provide advice for any new equipment, tactics, or training they might require to better survive the crush of war. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-A delegation will be sent to the Golden Horde to secure peace with the Poles and Lithuanians with trade and treasure if need be, so that they might bring their arms to bear against the common foe of all Christians to their south. An attempt will be made to ensure the reopening of the Silk Road, and possibly the Byzantine occupation of the Italian colonies on the Sea of Azov. We will make discrete requests to the far roaming nomads that the Romans will pay well for samples of strange herbs from exotic lands, on the condition our scholars can prove the exoticness of the plants. The 1st Navy will escort the delegation, carrying the nucleus for a themata in the event the Golden Horde agrees to continue the Italian arrangement under new management 200 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-To Casimir IV, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the delegation will continue towards onwards from Crimea- avoiding the Realm of Blood as much as possible. Pay respect to his great deeds and ask how the Empire of the Romans can aid him in bringing his forces to bear against the wretched spawn of thrice damned Vlad. 100 Stavraton
-Secure and fortify Bulgaria, with a mind paid to extensive fortifications on the passes through the Balkan Mountains. Let no expense be spared in building the fortifications of our northern frontier. Our fortresses must be prepared for monstrous manticores descending from above, and skittering horrors ascending from below the earth. Watchtowers must span the range, so that no foe may approach unnoticed., with great signal fires ensuring that the message is carried faster than by the fleetest of horses. The reorganizing First Army shall garrison the province as defenses are erected and the Imperial forces reforged stronger than ever before. 200 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-Invest extensively in creating a sustainable way to grow the Golcondan herb and any other herbs that our alchemists might require that demand stringent environments- potentially even the Polemistes herbs. Use glass roofing to allow sunlight without exposure, create sealed environments with oil cloths and/or caulking, and manipulate heat and humidity through the use of plumbing and hypocausts as needed. Control every variable, and then manipulate to perfection. 150 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-Experiment with all the monstrous flesh acquired on the bloody fields of Bulgaria using the methods of Occultists pioneered earlier. Focus on distilling alchemical concoctions capable of hiding from mind reading, poisoning vampires, effectively heal our wounded on large scales, empowering our greatest warriors, or empowering and increasing the fertility and potency of our most exotic herbs. Baccus Attaliates shall take point on this program. 150 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower.
-Delve the most ancient of archives in search of the secret of liquid stone. Test different compositions, environmental exposure, alchemical treatments to stone. Leave no stone over turned in the quest of reclaiming the ancient material that helped forge Rome. 100 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-The Nicaean horses are some of the finest horseflesh men have ever raised, there is no mortal breed they cannot equal. But just as our men don't face fellow men in these dismal times, so too must our mounts contend with hell-bred abominations, manticores, and skittering horror. Just as mortal men are not enough in the face of hellish vigor, so too are mortal horses not enough. In light of this we must develop alchemical treatments to improve upon and fortify our steeds for the battles to come 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Devise new ways of countering flying enemies. Bolts carrying weighted and barbed chains to drag our flying foes to their deaths, means of traversing flame cannons to a higher angle so that any attacker from above may face the fires below. Any means our engineers can conceive of. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Hold a Triumph for Priscianus Sphrantzes, Eutropius, and the Emperor to honor not only their successes in Bulgaria but their valiant defeat of Octavian in defense of the Emperor himself. They shall ride behind and beside him in the very same chariot, and will at the climax of the Triumph be awarded a distilled and rarefied dose of Polemistes as they renew their loyalties to the Emperor. After the Triumph is resolved, Eutropius shall return to the First Army in case of enemy incursion, and Priscianus shall oversee the beginning construction of the greatest fortifications Rome has erected in nearly a thousand years in Bulgaria. 200 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-In order to assuage concerns over the loss of prestige and tradition rights of the natural philosophers and other learned men of the empire, all men of such wisdom will be guaranteed an imperial stipend and limited access to imperial resources on their private projects so long as any useful results to the security and prosperity of the Empire are brought to the Emperor's attention- with great rewards to those who do so. Likewise, these wise men will be given great authority and control over the operation and conduct the University of Constantinople so long as they can guarantee that more and more bright young minds of the empire can have their talents honed and expanded by their hardwon wisdom. Such, so called deans and the tentatively named tenure, will ensure that the enlightened minds of the Empire are not stifled and sidelined, but embraced so that they might further the collective wellbeing and knowledge of Rome with ever more joining their exalted personages. An Empire of Philosophers ruled by a great philosopher Emperor imbued with the holy wisdom for which the Hagia Sophia is named. 200 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-In light of the danger posed by the serpent that savaged the Imperial Navy, a school of thought has emerged from the various natural philosophers of the Empire that perhaps some of our strategies should not be of soldiers preparing to overpower a foeman- but of hunters taking down the most savage and fiercest of prey, would be predators of man. As a result of this emergent school of thought, the Occultists have been charged with devising an alchemical solution to lure various monstrosities so they may be fought on our terms. This solution must affect sea creatures, but would ideally be effective on the various feeble minded monsters that stalk the land. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Vitalius Rhagabe shall lead the 2nd Fleet against the fearsome Whale-Shark preying upon the good people of the Empire, and in doing so keep the vital links of trade open. 120 Stavraton. r
And here is the tentative plan lads. Let me know what you guys think, feel free to rip parts of it away for competing plans, or any concerns in general.
My vision for the First Army is that it's artillery and infantry are divisble into 3 equal sized formations, to split into semi-independent formations to enfilade attackers and seize multiple positions as needed, or garrison multiple points. An army that is designed to be strong in a battle of maneuver where multiple formations of sizable strength are needed or in a set piece battle where coherence as a single force is paramount. The cavalry can be unified as one force to punch a bloody hole wherever need be, or split to cover both wings of the army. Every single formation has an elite unit of infantry or cavalry to serve as it's core, and screening forces to protect and cover it or serve as anvils upon which the elites can hammer down on. It may not numerically be much larger than the army that fought at Bulgaria, but it's going to be far more dangerous with better elite and artillery support and the capability to split forces to force the Vampires to cover more ground to engage our forces while still leaving lots of our ranged firepower unengaged.
My goal is to create multiple standardized field armies of this composition as circumstances allow.
Manpower-25000
Skilled Manpower-200
[X]Training Montage
-22x Skoutatoi 500 Manpower, 50 Stavraton.Maintenance-15 Stavraton - 22 for the First Army
-1x Pyrovolo Toxotai 500 Manpower, 100 Stavraton.Maintenance-15 Stavraton - 1 for the First Army
-4x Koursores 500 Manpower, 150 Stavraton. Maintenance-45 Stavraton - 4 for the First Army
-2x Athanatopouloi 100 Manpower, 300 Stavraton. Maintenance-80 Stavraton -2 for the First Army
-9x Scorpions 25 Manpower, 30 Stavraton. Maintenance-10 Stavraton -9 for the First Army
--9x Greek Fire Bolts 10 Stavraton. Maintenance-5 Stavraton
-9x Catapult 30 Manpower, 30 Stavraton. Maintenance-10 Stavraton
-3x Cannons 10 Skilled Manpower, 40 Stavraton. Maintenance -15 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-3x Flame Cannons 10 Skilled Manpower, 50 Stavraton. Maintenance -20 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-3x Mortars 10 Skilled Manpower, 50 Stavraton. Maintenance -20 Stavraton - 3 for the First Army
-4x War Dromon 300 Manpower, 150 Stavraton. Maintenance-15 Stavraton. 2nd Navy
--2x Greek Fire Mine Upgrades, 10 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower. 2nd Navy
4,070 Stavraton. 15,395 Manpower. 100 Skilled Manpower. Maintenance 1,135
-In the wake of the brutal Battle for Bulgaria, where Imperial forces won a pyrrhic victory, new tactics and weapons of war are needed to give our proud soldiers better means of facing the fearsome forces of hell. The Pyroródi is a ceramic bomb loaded with black powder, iron shards, Fool's Salt, and should circumstance allow for it, Greek Fire. This bomb earns its name from the obvious similarities with the pomegranate and is intended to be thrown before receiving or giving a charge to disorder the foe. Staff slings specifically designed to launch these explosive fruits of our labors will specifically be issued to our Skoutatoi to give them increased range in unleashing a salvo of explosives. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Both the Skoutatoi and the Koursores fought with gallantry in the Battle for Bulgaria but suffered badly for all their efforts. The kontarion is a dangerous weapon, equally adept as a hedge of pikes or an onrushing tide of lances, no man can stand before the wall of steel. We face foes both more than men, and infinitely our lessers. The ékrixikontarion or blast lance, is designed to create a long spear capable of stopping a monster in its tracks. Bearing a cleverly designed steel tube at the tip of the shaft, an attacker would trigger an explosive channeled by the strong Imperial steel through the soft iron cap, creating a shower of fragments, Fool's Salt, and fire while leading the wielder unharmed. While not replacing the kontarion, it's hoped the ékrixikontarion can be integrated into Skoutatoi tagmata to stiffen them against the charge and enable Koursores to meet a monstrous charge with fire and steel rather than blood and gallantry. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Inspired by the success of the new flame cannons a new specialist pyrovolos for our Koursores, and should they deem it worthy, kataphracts is being designed. A broad but relatively short-barreled gun, rather than firing any solid shot it is intended to be loaded with ceramic shells filled with metal fragments, black powder, and if it should be doable- powdered Greek fire. On the brink of the charge our cavalrymen can unleash a wave of fire and steel just before the moment of impact. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-The bloody cost of our recent victory only reveals the need for innovation and adaptations to triumph over the forces of Hell to our North. New techniques of raising field fortifications, and the teaching of our soldiery to make these fortifications on the eve of battle are necessary to deprive the monstrous foe of their advantages over mortal men. It is time to bring back the legionaries' sudes, with all the modern innovations the Empire can include. Men must be ready to dig trenches and moats, erect breastworks and barbettes, place the archer's stakes the Turks have used against us (with Imperial improvements naturally), and we must reclaim the knowledge of castrametation the Romans of yore were famed for. Every tool and means for our soldiers to erect these defenses must be examined and explored, from black powder blasting charges- to mattocks, picks and shovels designed to leverage the strength of Polemistes imbued men. Fortification means to make strong, and it is every man's duty to make the Empire and its armies strong in these dark days. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Our Skoutatoi and Toxotai must be drilled even further. The survivors will pass on all their knowledge to the new recruits of our armies, and such transfer of expertise shall be institutionalized. They will be trained in combined arms, in numerous combinations so that pike and shot might always be brought to bear as favorably as possible. Any soldier's widow will receive a stipend of her husband's wages for a year so that every man knows the Empire honors those who fight for it in life and death. Likewise, the veterans of our battles will provide advice for any new equipment, tactics, or training they might require to better survive the crush of war. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-A delegation will be sent to the Golden Horde to secure peace with the Poles and Lithuanians with trade and treasure if need be, so that they might bring their arms to bear against the common foe of all Christians to their south. An attempt will be made to ensure the reopening of the Silk Road, and possibly the Byzantine occupation of the Italian colonies on the Sea of Azov. We will make discrete requests to the far roaming nomads that the Romans will pay well for samples of strange herbs from exotic lands, on the condition our scholars can prove the exoticness of the plants. The 1st Navy will escort the delegation, carrying the nucleus for a themata in the event the Golden Horde agrees to continue the Italian arrangement under new management 200 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-To Casimir IV, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the delegation will continue towards onwards from Crimea- avoiding the Realm of Blood as much as possible. Pay respect to his great deeds and ask how the Empire of the Romans can aid him in bringing his forces to bear against the wretched spawn of thrice damned Vlad. 100 Stavraton
-Secure and fortify Bulgaria, with a mind paid to extensive fortifications on the passes through the Balkan Mountains. Let no expense be spared in building the fortifications of our northern frontier. Our fortresses must be prepared for monstrous manticores descending from above, and skittering horrors ascending from below the earth. Watchtowers must span the range, so that no foe may approach unnoticed., with great signal fires ensuring that the message is carried faster than by the fleetest of horses. The reorganizing First Army shall garrison the province as defenses are erected and the Imperial forces reforged stronger than ever before. 200 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-Invest extensively in creating a sustainable way to grow the Golcondan herb and any other herbs that our alchemists might require that demand stringent environments- potentially even the Polemistes herbs. Use glass roofing to allow sunlight without exposure, create sealed environments with oil cloths and/or caulking, and manipulate heat and humidity through the use of plumbing and hypocausts as needed. Control every variable, and then manipulate to perfection. 150 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-Experiment with all the monstrous flesh acquired on the bloody fields of Bulgaria using the methods of Occultists pioneered earlier. Focus on distilling alchemical concoctions capable of hiding from mind reading, poisoning vampires, effectively heal our wounded on large scales, empowering our greatest warriors, or empowering and increasing the fertility and potency of our most exotic herbs. Baccus Attaliates shall take point on this program. 150 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower.
-Delve the most ancient of archives in search of the secret of liquid stone. Test different compositions, environmental exposure, alchemical treatments to stone. Leave no stone over turned in the quest of reclaiming the ancient material that helped forge Rome. 100 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-The Nicaean horses are some of the finest horseflesh men have ever raised, there is no mortal breed they cannot equal. But just as our men don't face fellow men in these dismal times, so too must our mounts contend with hell-bred abominations, manticores, and skittering horror. Just as mortal men are not enough in the face of hellish vigor, so too are mortal horses not enough. In light of this we must develop alchemical treatments to improve upon and fortify our steeds for the battles to come 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Devise new ways of countering flying enemies. Bolts carrying weighted and barbed chains to drag our flying foes to their deaths, means of traversing flame cannons to a higher angle so that any attacker from above may face the fires below. Any means our engineers can conceive of. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Hold a Triumph for Priscianus Sphrantzes, Eutropius, and the Emperor to honor not only their successes in Bulgaria but their valiant defeat of Octavian in defense of the Emperor himself. They shall ride behind and beside him in the very same chariot, and will at the climax of the Triumph be awarded a distilled and rarefied dose of Polemistes as they renew their loyalties to the Emperor. After the Triumph is resolved, Eutropius shall return to the First Army in case of enemy incursion, and Priscianus shall oversee the beginning construction of the greatest fortifications Rome has erected in nearly a thousand years in Bulgaria. 200 Stavraton, 10 Skilled Manpower
-In order to assuage concerns over the loss of prestige and tradition rights of the natural philosophers and other learned men of the empire, all men of such wisdom will be guaranteed an imperial stipend and limited access to imperial resources on their private projects so long as any useful results to the security and prosperity of the Empire are brought to the Emperor's attention- with great rewards to those who do so. Likewise, these wise men will be given great authority and control over the operation and conduct the University of Constantinople so long as they can guarantee that more and more bright young minds of the empire can have their talents honed and expanded by their hardwon wisdom. Such, so called deans and the tentatively named tenure, will ensure that the enlightened minds of the Empire are not stifled and sidelined, but embraced so that they might further the collective wellbeing and knowledge of Rome with ever more joining their exalted personages. An Empire of Philosophers ruled by a great philosopher Emperor imbued with the holy wisdom for which the Hagia Sophia is named. 200 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-In light of the danger posed by the serpent that savaged the Imperial Navy, a school of thought has emerged from the various natural philosophers of the Empire that perhaps some of our strategies should not be of soldiers preparing to overpower a foeman- but of hunters taking down the most savage and fiercest of prey, would be predators of man. As a result of this emergent school of thought, the Occultists have been charged with devising an alchemical solution to lure various monstrosities so they may be fought on our terms. This solution must affect sea creatures, but would ideally be effective on the various feeble minded monsters that stalk the land. 100 Stavraton, 5 Skilled Manpower
-Vitalius Rhagabe shall lead the 2nd Fleet against the fearsome Whale-Shark preying upon the good people of the Empire, and in doing so keep the vital links of trade open. 120 Stavraton. r
And here is the tentative plan lads. Let me know what you guys think, feel free to rip parts of it away for competing plans, or any concerns in general.
My vision for the First Army is that it's artillery and infantry are divisble into 3 equal sized formations, to split into semi-independent formations to enfilade attackers and seize multiple positions as needed, or garrison multiple points. An army that is designed to be strong in a battle of maneuver where multiple formations of sizable strength are needed or in a set piece battle where coherence as a single force is paramount. The cavalry can be unified as one force to punch a bloody hole wherever need be, or split to cover both wings of the army. Every single formation has an elite unit of infantry or cavalry to serve as it's core, and screening forces to protect and cover it or serve as anvils upon which the elites can hammer down on. It may not numerically be much larger than the army that fought at Bulgaria, but it's going to be far more dangerous with better elite and artillery support and the capability to split forces to force the Vampires to cover more ground to engage our forces while still leaving lots of our ranged firepower unengaged.
My goal is to create multiple standardized field armies of this composition as circumstances allow.
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- Location
- Albania
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This action here, you needn't expend resources on it, the natural processes of your Empire are handling it. You can move those resources to other actions.
- Location
- his hidden lair
I'll swap things around once I get back to a computer, thanks for the heads up.
Edit: And swapped it to giving horses performance enhancing drugs.
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[X]Training Montage
Stalin_McRally Map accurate as of Turn 9
- Location
- Albania
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Praise be to @Stalin_McRally for the production of a new, vastly superior map for this game. All lay down worship.
This is accurate as of Turn 9. A world map to the best of Roman Reckoning.
This is accurate as of Turn 9. A world map to the best of Roman Reckoning.
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If someone wonders what the hell is going on at the edge of the world, I just traced the Crusader Kings map.
I know Karagus' plan is putting our demon to work on something already, but maybe we can put some occult (skilled manpower) research on how to make a irresistible lure for a sea monster? make it chomp down on a sea mine.
I know Karagus' plan is putting our demon to work on something already, but maybe we can put some occult (skilled manpower) research on how to make a irresistible lure for a sea monster? make it chomp down on a sea mine.
- Location
- Brazil
- Pronouns
- He
I wonder how Poland and Lithuania are dealing with the monsters? winged hussars but mounted on pegasis etc
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