- Location
- USA
I'm just hoping for a daughter. Now that we have enough sons to and hear it everything with a spare, we need some daughters to make more alliances.
Blood of the Frontier (CK2) Completed.
- Thread starter Magoose
- Start date
- Original
A Hand Cannon?
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
A Hand Cannon?
(Alexander POV)
Leonardo da Vinci… Herr Gadsby's most promising apprentice if the rumors about him were to be believed. A gifted craftsman, with an eye for detail that was unparalleled to any of his peers. And in his off time when he was not working for Herr Gadsby, was a painter and an inventor, who was studying at the university in Berlin.
Herr Gadsby's words that he must urgently see him, did not surprise you as much as the urgent message about the cannons for the army reached your ears. But it was a welcome one to be sure.
Leonardo was clean shaven, with dust and ash covering his skin from work in the smithery, where he created the weapon that was in front of him.
The field of your palace was large enough to use as a firing range for a cannon…. And not be spotted by any onlookers that you couldn't assassinate because of politics. So you decided it might be better for it to be used closer to the palace, with targets set up and one of the palace walls as a backstop.
It was a long stick, not even the length of an average spear, with a large piece of wood that was far too large to handle like a spear. A small trigger was on the bottom with a large steel guard. Above it, there was a plate of steel on the side and a piece of rope above a small hole.
"Ah… My Emperor… Thank you for allowing an audience!" Leonardo said with a hurried tone, his words hard to understand from his Italian accent. "I'm sorry I am not more presentable, but you must see this."
You nodded. "Well, I'm waiting for Herr Da Vinci.May I see a demonstration?" You were quite curious about the weapon in front of you. A miniature cannon? After such little time, your cannons have been in production? If it failed, you would make sure he would never work for Herr Gadsby again. And you were sure it would fail.
"My Emperor." Herr Da Vinci said your title and snapped you back to attention, looking at the man. It had seemed you hand blanked out when you were thinking because it seemed that Herr Da Vinci was almost done loading it, the only thing he was doing was lighting the cord on fire. "Do you have a torch or candle I can borrow?"
You nodded and waved for a guard. "A candle please and be fast." You ordered not even looking at the man you called for.
"Tell me, Herr Da Vinci… did you have any problems making this…" You stared at the weapon on the table.
"Firearm sir," Leonardo said. "I thought the name firearm was appropriate considering what it does. Calling it a hand cannon just seems wrong considering it cannot be held in one hand."
"Did you have any problems making this firearm?" You asked.
Leonardo nodded, expecting you would ask something like that. "Yes. The steel was not strong enough in my first designs, and even now I still think it may explode if I put to much powder in it. And the powder itself is too explosive. If I put too much in, it will explode, if I put too little, it will not fire. But other then those little flaws, it will work."
"My emperor." The guard you dispatched had arrived, with a lit candle.
Leonardo took the candle and put it up against the rope before it lit on fire and cooled. "I must ask my emperor… Why are you watching this personally… How are you certain that I am to be trusted?"
You smiled as you gave him a stern gaze. "Because, if you were an assassin, you were stupid enough to only pack one shot with a weapon that might not even work." You replied.
Leonardo smiled. "I see… Forgive me for asking… The last time I tested a weapon for a lord, he slighted me and tried to kill me. So I killed him."
"Indeed." You nodded. You might get along with that man famously. "Well… On with it."
Leonardo was an excellent shot, hitting the target that was twenty feet away, the loud blast of the firearm filled you with the same sort of joy a cannon did. A joy for victory. A joy that your empire could rule the world.
And there was one man, in particular, that may want to hear about this. You would need his strategic and tactical expertise to develop that tactics needed for this weapon to reach his maximum effectiveness.
Reinhard was a good man and a good general, competent for the job he had but he was a traditionalist, an old guard, and a reactionary through and through. He was good for keeping a seat warm while you tried to find a replacement for him on your council. You needed new blood, young blood, men or women who were willing to be bold… who would question him and make sure he made the right decision.
It was time for Vasily Aristov to come to the capital again. Hopefully, if your prayers to god will be answered, he won't ignore your request like last time. But you would not mind if he did not come. News from the east was troublesome. The Mongols were almost finishing gathering forces. A horde of almost two hundred thousand riders, screaming for blood, going towards a target that only God and that blasted Great Khan knew.
You prayed that the empire was ready for this if he did come west. The empire, and her sole defender of the east, Vasily Aristov.
Reward: The empires jumping up the tech tree faster than a 6/6/6 ruler in EU4… Ehem Firearms have begun further research and will be entering production in 4 turns. New actions available.
AN: Sorry for this taking so long, but I still feel pretty fatigued in writing this story and will not be updating as frequently compared to the first ten turns.
But enjoy.
(Alexander POV)
Leonardo da Vinci… Herr Gadsby's most promising apprentice if the rumors about him were to be believed. A gifted craftsman, with an eye for detail that was unparalleled to any of his peers. And in his off time when he was not working for Herr Gadsby, was a painter and an inventor, who was studying at the university in Berlin.
Herr Gadsby's words that he must urgently see him, did not surprise you as much as the urgent message about the cannons for the army reached your ears. But it was a welcome one to be sure.
Leonardo was clean shaven, with dust and ash covering his skin from work in the smithery, where he created the weapon that was in front of him.
The field of your palace was large enough to use as a firing range for a cannon…. And not be spotted by any onlookers that you couldn't assassinate because of politics. So you decided it might be better for it to be used closer to the palace, with targets set up and one of the palace walls as a backstop.
It was a long stick, not even the length of an average spear, with a large piece of wood that was far too large to handle like a spear. A small trigger was on the bottom with a large steel guard. Above it, there was a plate of steel on the side and a piece of rope above a small hole.
"Ah… My Emperor… Thank you for allowing an audience!" Leonardo said with a hurried tone, his words hard to understand from his Italian accent. "I'm sorry I am not more presentable, but you must see this."
You nodded. "Well, I'm waiting for Herr Da Vinci.May I see a demonstration?" You were quite curious about the weapon in front of you. A miniature cannon? After such little time, your cannons have been in production? If it failed, you would make sure he would never work for Herr Gadsby again. And you were sure it would fail.
"My Emperor." Herr Da Vinci said your title and snapped you back to attention, looking at the man. It had seemed you hand blanked out when you were thinking because it seemed that Herr Da Vinci was almost done loading it, the only thing he was doing was lighting the cord on fire. "Do you have a torch or candle I can borrow?"
You nodded and waved for a guard. "A candle please and be fast." You ordered not even looking at the man you called for.
"Tell me, Herr Da Vinci… did you have any problems making this…" You stared at the weapon on the table.
"Firearm sir," Leonardo said. "I thought the name firearm was appropriate considering what it does. Calling it a hand cannon just seems wrong considering it cannot be held in one hand."
"Did you have any problems making this firearm?" You asked.
Leonardo nodded, expecting you would ask something like that. "Yes. The steel was not strong enough in my first designs, and even now I still think it may explode if I put to much powder in it. And the powder itself is too explosive. If I put too much in, it will explode, if I put too little, it will not fire. But other then those little flaws, it will work."
"My emperor." The guard you dispatched had arrived, with a lit candle.
Leonardo took the candle and put it up against the rope before it lit on fire and cooled. "I must ask my emperor… Why are you watching this personally… How are you certain that I am to be trusted?"
You smiled as you gave him a stern gaze. "Because, if you were an assassin, you were stupid enough to only pack one shot with a weapon that might not even work." You replied.
Leonardo smiled. "I see… Forgive me for asking… The last time I tested a weapon for a lord, he slighted me and tried to kill me. So I killed him."
"Indeed." You nodded. You might get along with that man famously. "Well… On with it."
Leonardo was an excellent shot, hitting the target that was twenty feet away, the loud blast of the firearm filled you with the same sort of joy a cannon did. A joy for victory. A joy that your empire could rule the world.
And there was one man, in particular, that may want to hear about this. You would need his strategic and tactical expertise to develop that tactics needed for this weapon to reach his maximum effectiveness.
Reinhard was a good man and a good general, competent for the job he had but he was a traditionalist, an old guard, and a reactionary through and through. He was good for keeping a seat warm while you tried to find a replacement for him on your council. You needed new blood, young blood, men or women who were willing to be bold… who would question him and make sure he made the right decision.
It was time for Vasily Aristov to come to the capital again. Hopefully, if your prayers to god will be answered, he won't ignore your request like last time. But you would not mind if he did not come. News from the east was troublesome. The Mongols were almost finishing gathering forces. A horde of almost two hundred thousand riders, screaming for blood, going towards a target that only God and that blasted Great Khan knew.
You prayed that the empire was ready for this if he did come west. The empire, and her sole defender of the east, Vasily Aristov.
Reward: The empires jumping up the tech tree faster than a 6/6/6 ruler in EU4… Ehem Firearms have begun further research and will be entering production in 4 turns. New actions available.
AN: Sorry for this taking so long, but I still feel pretty fatigued in writing this story and will not be updating as frequently compared to the first ten turns.
But enjoy.
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Well. Shit. The enigmatic Renaissance inventor and artist is working for us.
Slight edit.
We may want to keep the dude out of the public eye.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
No, he's working for the emperor, big difference.
He's already been cleared of his crimes because of all the witnesses that saw the lord Leonardo was working for clearly attacking him, the man attacking him being a lord be dammed.
Last edited:
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
well...this is going to be fun...especially if we can get a shot or two off, maybe if Leonardo gets the powder charge JUST right and finds the correct balance, we could be finding ourselves with more advance fire-arms then what was used during the napoleon wars. Heck might even get Bayonets under the guns rather then plug ones.
(Bayonets are nasty suckers, for anyone who doesn't think so look them up online, any cut by them requires surgical stiches to heal...and you don't get those in the battlefield...)
(Bayonets are nasty suckers, for anyone who doesn't think so look them up online, any cut by them requires surgical stiches to heal...and you don't get those in the battlefield...)
- Location
- Reno Nv
Damn, we will need the square formation ASAP, those Mongolians won't know what hit them.
- Location
- United States
Unfortunately, something tells me that the Mongols aren't going to wait four turns to attack us (and if they do, we can kiss our vassal relationships goodbye).
- Location
- Reno Nv
This is true, but we can still make an artily strike. That and we need all the anti horse archers, lots and lots of anti horse archers. Those guys are op with even a mediocre commander in charge.
- Location
- United States
You know, I hadn't thought about that. Maybe we ought to send the children away to Poland for a little while after the war begins.
On the bright side, our new information regarding Stefan's whereabouts might be all we need to draw the rest of the Empire into the war with us.
- Location
- Mists of Albion
Nah, if Russia Falls Poland is next, especially as its going to be sending its troops to aid us.
We should suggest that our eldest son, Alexi, live with and get to know his future bride in the heartlands of Germany. At least until the first couple years are over and we know wether the war is winnable or not.
Last edited:
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
On the one hand, we've got pregnancy rolls going. As in, continuous.
On the other... Zima is going to follow us into battle. And lead our cavalry. So she may or may not die.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Goin on hiatus for a bit because there is this idea that has completely overtaken all my focus and my creativity. That and I really want to try writing in a different style of quest instead of Ck2 style.
I know it is a bit sudden but I will return to finish Vasily's tale eventually.
I know it is a bit sudden but I will return to finish Vasily's tale eventually.
Last edited:
Turn 10 Rumor Mill
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Turn 10 Rumor Mill
Reports from the Rus
The Disappearance of the Patriarch: The Russian Patriarch, Artyom the Good has vanished, and his noble followers are nowhere to be found. Many fear the worse has become of him, and he has met an untimely end at the hands of the Mongol Hordes.
Reward: Due to their beloved patriarch being kidnapped, all Russian Lord's will be expecting you to declare war next turn. Failing to do so will make all the lords of the Rus mad at you and they will start their own campaigns to find the Patriarch.
Reports from the Order of the Dragon:
Emperor Alexander offers his spies: Alexander knows that you declaring war is inevitable, so he has offered to loan you some of the imperial spies that will be useful for your campaign. He just says to please "Don't get them all killed trying to go for the Khan unless you have the opportunity."
Reward: Intrigue rolls next turn gain a +30.
Reports from within the Empire:
Tax Breaks Galore and Infrastructure Investment: The Emperor has decreed that the Empire gets a one Year Tax Break, citing the absolute enormous surplus from the previous year and that any investment for the betterment of the empire will be paid for by the empire.
Reward: All Stewardship actions next turn have no cost.
News from Outside the Empire:
Korean Resistance still Strong in Korea: The Japanese occupation of Korea continues. The annexation of the former kingdom is slow, with the Korean people fighting by any means necessary to uproot their occupiers. The Emperor has sent Oda Hirotada to oversee Korea as The Korean Shogun.
AN: Blood of the Frontier! I Have RETURNED! To tell you that I will continue updating now, but at a much, much slower pace. I have another quest I am working on, and I want to work on that for a bit. but Turn 11 will be coming this week.
Reports from the Rus
The Disappearance of the Patriarch: The Russian Patriarch, Artyom the Good has vanished, and his noble followers are nowhere to be found. Many fear the worse has become of him, and he has met an untimely end at the hands of the Mongol Hordes.
Reward: Due to their beloved patriarch being kidnapped, all Russian Lord's will be expecting you to declare war next turn. Failing to do so will make all the lords of the Rus mad at you and they will start their own campaigns to find the Patriarch.
Reports from the Order of the Dragon:
Emperor Alexander offers his spies: Alexander knows that you declaring war is inevitable, so he has offered to loan you some of the imperial spies that will be useful for your campaign. He just says to please "Don't get them all killed trying to go for the Khan unless you have the opportunity."
Reward: Intrigue rolls next turn gain a +30.
Reports from within the Empire:
Tax Breaks Galore and Infrastructure Investment: The Emperor has decreed that the Empire gets a one Year Tax Break, citing the absolute enormous surplus from the previous year and that any investment for the betterment of the empire will be paid for by the empire.
Reward: All Stewardship actions next turn have no cost.
News from Outside the Empire:
Korean Resistance still Strong in Korea: The Japanese occupation of Korea continues. The annexation of the former kingdom is slow, with the Korean people fighting by any means necessary to uproot their occupiers. The Emperor has sent Oda Hirotada to oversee Korea as The Korean Shogun.
AN: Blood of the Frontier! I Have RETURNED! To tell you that I will continue updating now, but at a much, much slower pace. I have another quest I am working on, and I want to work on that for a bit. but Turn 11 will be coming this week.
URAAA! URAAA! URAAAAA!
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Whelp. It's time.
Roger, Roger, will immediately go for the decapitation blow.
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
well shit, time for decapitation blow if we can, otherwise FIND EVERYONE!!! both Stephan and the patriarch...if we find those two its gaurntee for the empire to follow us into Mongolia to break the back of the Mongols forever....plus muskets?!? HECK YES!
cannons+muskets= empire time!!! plus cannons on ships? also we might have to look into more different versions of castle/forts...because cannons are going to wreck face, but if we get star-forts up and running, maybe, just maybe we would have enough time to really upgrade the castle!
other then that, hopefully things turn out okay...
good luck!
cannons+muskets= empire time!!! plus cannons on ships? also we might have to look into more different versions of castle/forts...because cannons are going to wreck face, but if we get star-forts up and running, maybe, just maybe we would have enough time to really upgrade the castle!
other then that, hopefully things turn out okay...
good luck!
- Location
- United States
Why do I get a feeling that the Patriarch's disappearance has absolutely nothing to do with the Mongols?
Mind you, I'm all for using it as an excuse to smash some Mongol heads-whether they are the perpetrators or not-but maybe we should also spare an intrigue action to look into his disappearance, just to make sure that he didn't just run off somewhere remote without telling anyone.
Mind you, I'm all for using it as an excuse to smash some Mongol heads-whether they are the perpetrators or not-but maybe we should also spare an intrigue action to look into his disappearance, just to make sure that he didn't just run off somewhere remote without telling anyone.
Last edited:
From what we know of the events its honestly more likely to be the Muslims than the Mongols.
- Pronouns
- Male
Well let's smash some mongol heads and get more land for Russia
avatar11792
Et Sic Incipit
- Location
- Planet Earth, North America
Could also be the Pope in an intercontinental drive-by kidnapping/assassination, using the cover of two mortal enemies and a massive upcoming conflict between both of them, finally ensuring Catholic domination against all those damn heathens to the East, BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
...or it might not be the Pope. Just listing options.
- Location
- Ural, Russia, Earth
The Sultan of Rum: "The Mongols stole that Tepesh's boy and made everyone think that was us? These bastards! We should respond in kind. Let us steal Russian Patriarch and make everyone think it was the Mongols!"