1517, A templars demand
- Location
- A pit
[colonization: Stewardship,69+15=84]
From what explorers and sailors have to say about the southlands of the continent are made up of an incredibly wide variety of terrain, from grasslands to mountains to desert and to forests, but what most interests you is the fertile grasslands surrounding an inlet in the land. Hopefully it will be good for settlement, though its far distance from civilization could be a problem. There is also the natives of this land to consider, a farming people from the reports of explorers, with large herds of some sort of strange sheep-deer. What tools and weapons they possess are simple things of bronze, so militarily they shouldn't be a threat, especially as there seems to be no unification of their villages. They also seem to have no appetite for human sacrifice compared to their northern cousins. Hopefully this colony will succeed and not face the issues of the others.
You will learn of the southland colonies fate next turn.
---
[Colonization: Stewardship, 9+15=24]
The company wasn't happy when you tried to fund another expedition onto the continents eastern coast. Two failed colonies already, rumors of the curse of the coast have spread amongst the company soldiers and sailors, and none wish to try their hand at it. But, coin is coin, and the company eventually relents, but only on the promise that if this fails it is to be the last attempt, as they have no wish to continue sending men to their deaths just so they may try and build a city upon their tombstones. A small detachment of soldiers is sent with this colony, along with a priest, to protect the bodies and souls of the men.
You will lean of the third coastal colonies fate next turn.
---
[Matchmaking: diplomacy, 34+20+16=70]
Ruxandras search for brides for your sons hits a few snags along the way, mainly that the majority of kings and counts these days are too young to have children of age for marriage. This leaves her to look amongst the families of those who, while not royalty, are still powerful in western Europe. First would be a somewhat local choice, Fiora de'Medici. Youngest daughter of Piero di Lorenzo De'Medici, and only a year older then Lupo, a marriage between your families could help to keep them loyal with their newly regained influence in Firenze. Another option would be to marry the daughter of your Forli neighbor Ottaviano Sforza-Riario. His daughter, Paola Sforza, is his only child with his wife, though he's likely to have a few bastards around Italy from his time as a Condotierri. Beyond bringing the small state more into the fold of Romagna it could make you an ally with a seasoned army. The last choice she can find for Lupo would be a contentious one, a marriage to Cassandra Artois, a French noblewoman. Her house, the Artois, is a weakened one as the male line died out, Leaving the family without lands to their name, though still with considerable wealth and influence. While the French may be an unfriendly people to Italy, having connections to the nation could be useful.
---
[Trade: Stewardship, 81+10=91]
Portugal is more then happy to start trading. Their merchants already do plenty of trade with other nations, and they're more then happy to find someone they can gain more trade and coin from. Their colonies far in the east have given them access to spices not seen before, nutmeg, mace, and cloves, and the rich and noble clamor for these new sweet substances. Therefore, high prices are charged upon those who would buy them, and no exception is made for Romagna.
+30fl/turn, access to rare spices.
---
[Roads: stewardship, 99+20=119]
Despite the murder that took place the rest of the construction of the road goes by incredibly smoothly. A comfortable road without twists or hikes is soon built between the two rivals, and a patrol is organized to ensure it isn't tampered with by either city. Given it was only a single road this time and not multiple connecting all the various lands of Romagna, it's no real surprise it wasn't a bigger mess then it was. All that's left is the road between Parma and Modena.
---
[Construction: Stewardship, 97+20+15=132]
With the on again off again construction of the theater it's taken too long to actually get it fully built, but now if you gaze across the city of Ravenna there is a large domed temple to the arts, if one that's not fully decorated yet. While the structure of the building is complete, its still in need of the fine touch of decoration, otherwise you have merely an imposing, austere structure more fit to be a place of war then a place of the arts. Silk banners and fine rugs are brought inside, along with many works of art from local artists that Django has befriended. And even now the stage still must be completed, while a plain marble floor may be enough for most work, something a little more presentable would be appreciated.
---
[STEAM!: Learning, 6+20+18=44]
This steam device may truly be more effort then its worth. Elena, when told to try her hand at it again, said shed see what she could do, but instead found herself using the copper and steel requested for designing it to instead work on a few designs she had in her head unrelated to the power of steam. After years of work still unfinished, and little love for the project to begin with, she tells you that when her thoughts drift towards the infernal device her mind goes blank from the boredom of it, unable to find herself able to focus on it and letting her mind drift, either to her work or her family. Needless to say, no progress was made upon the machine.
---
[Spying: Intrigue, 51+20=71]
Arnao may have finally gotten a lead on the shroud of Eden. Apparently a priest, only known as Jehannin, has been traveling the countryside and healing the serfs of all kinds of ailments. From infections to handicaps this man has healed, said to possess healing power granted unto him by god. This would be interesting on its own, but more importantly is how the church and assassins have reacted to him. The French church has claimed him to be a trickster, a charlatan, that his healing is merely deception to gain the admiration and charity of the commonfolk. The assassins, meanwhile, have sent one of their recruits to keep an eye on the man, stalking him as he travels. The only issue however is that every report of the priest fails to mention any sort of cloth the man carries other then the cloths on his person, but if its gotten the attention of the assassins it must be something at least.
---
[Training: Intrigue, 18+20=38]
Sophias training of the guardsmen continues, though it shows little progress. Its not the tactics for fighting an assassin that they fail at, but the all more important part of finding the assassins. They continually fail to check any possible hiding spot, from stacks of hay to closets. They fail to watch where they're walking, often coming close enough to a ledge to be attacked by them. And most importantly, they just won't look up no matter how many times its drilled into their heads. If Sophia had a few assassins of her own shed sic them on the guards for some more active training, but for now she does what she can.
---
[Treasure hunting: Learning, 93+20=113]
Belotti believes he's finally found a lead as to where this chamber could be. In a few records from the war of the four emperors a vault is mentioned, blessed by the gods and containing nothing but mysteries. None of these emperors wanted the others to gain a hold of it, believing it would give them the fortune of the gods. Belotti believes that the winner of this war, the Flavian emperor Vespasian, may have hidden the vault, built something to hide it from prying eyes. Of course that doesn't narrow it considerably, Vespacian had a great many things built, and not all were even finished in his lifetime, but it does give him a lead at the very least.
---
There is chaos in the colonies in the new world. A plague has swept in, taking the lives of many of the natives both subject and lord, Leaving them with fever and countless marks of pox. Whether this is the same small pox that plagues Europe or not is unknown. In the northern colonies, the Haudenosaunee confederacy has been struck by this plague, with many of its leaders that had helped the northern colony survive falling victim to it, leaving the confederacy without leadership, and the colony without aid.
In the Barbaras colony the recently acquired subjects of the native peoples have also fallen prey to the plague, and it hasn't stopped there. Its spread north into the lands of the Aztec, and south to the Siennese colony, which had far lesser relations with the natives. If that wasn't bad enough the Aztec lord Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, according to the translators, has declared this a curse brought on by the invaders, and can only be stopped by the sacrifice of these foreigners.
Its not merely the Italian colonies that are facing this either, as the French colony of Louisiana, named for the late king, as well as their colony on the lesser of the two major Caribbean islands, has also faced this plague. The subjects and slaves they've made of the local populations falling deathly ill to the plague, throwing the colonies and their plantations into chaos. The Island of cuba, however hasn't faced any of these deaths recently, though many of the natives died of disease during the conquest led by Cortez, though these were assumed to be the normal disease one would face in war. The colony of Brazil has also not faced this plague, though they interact with the natives as little as possible, forcing them out and away from the colonies so they can expand.
---
Speaking of Portuguese colonies, they have claimed that the treaty of Tordesillas is no longer a valid treaty, as the king and dynasty they made it with no longer rules Spain. They have started to colonize the lesser islands of the Caribbean, and has started to expand beyond their original border, expanding up the coast towards the sienna colony. Not only has this caused issues with Cuba, which has up to this point treated itself as the inheritor of the treaty, but also sienna for obvious reasons. A representative of the Auditores colonial charter has even approached the new world company, asking for aid should the Portuguese try anything.
---
And speaking of colonies in general, Cesare seems to have taken your advice, as a Spanish colony has been formed north of the Aztecs. The Cuban island has come to something of a soft agreement with Spain, that so long as Spain doesn't try to retake the colony they wont interfere with, and perhaps even may help with, new Spanish colonies. This colony, Nueva Madrid, has started off fairly well despite where they colonized, a hot and dry place that seems to burn the souls of man, and are quickly working to ensure the security of the southern border from the Aztec.
---
The peasant rebellions in the H.R.E. have finally been put down, the armies of the southern members bringing a swift end to them once they were finally taken seriously. Some remnants of this remain however, with many of the serfs remaining tensions left to simmer. Vandalism and arson still occurs somewhat irregularly, and the serfs often need to be reminded of their place. One apparently has even defaced a church in Wittenberg, hammering multiple papers into its door, as if the serfs knew how to read.
---
The time has finally come. your little knight, your son, has finally come of age and become a man. He's taken to his studies as a fish to water, learning more of battle and martial supremacy then you ever could have imagined, though this has now led to some new problems. "Father please, just let me lead a platoon of men, or a few ships, I want to show what I've learned and gain the soldiers respect." "Or you can go out there and be killed by the first wayward bolt or bullet to come your way. You're being a fool right now Lupo, you've already been taught by some of the best generals in Italy, what more would you gain from this?" "Glory! Honor! Actual experience in leading men in battle, not the basic wargames of the academy. And no soldier will respect me when I need them to if I have no experience. It doesn't need to be in some big war, it could just be leading men against bandits, or fighting against some pirates, anything would work."
He's been pestering you on this for the past week since he came of age. He's unwilling to let go of this foolish request, not willing to see the danger it would put him in. You have no wish to see him get himself hurt, or worse, but he's insistent. You want to refuse him, but he may resent the choice, or you could allow him to do something under some very strict guidelines and with an escort to protect him, but even than it may not be enough.
[] Refuse to allow him to foolishly endanger himself
[] Allow him to lead a small force on a small task so that he might lose this desire of his
-[] send him to find and battle some bandits on the Milanese border
-[] Tunisian pirates are always a problem, let him fight one of their ships
-[] write in
Lupo has gained skilled tactician, +6 martial
Lupo has gained apprentice warrior, +5 prowess +2 martial
Lupo has gained apprentice swordsman, +5 prowess with a sword
Lupo has gained ???, ???
---
Your third child's been born, a beautiful baby girl. Her cries have been keeping you up at night, but the sleep is only somewhat reluctantly sacrificed. Already you and Ruxandra are bickering over what name she should have, Ruxandra wanting a traditional Wallachian name, yourself wanting to give her something more Italian.
[] What will you name your daughter.
---
Sadly, with the birth of your daughter, Ruxandra now has to return to Wallachia and her rule. She does suggest that she take Apollonio with her, as he is in line to inherit her place of nobility in Wallachia, and he should learn of the land if he is to be one of its boyars or voivodes. She also wants to take your daughter with her as well, as it'd be safer from assassin attacks. She wont force it, but she is insistent about it.
[] Let her take Apollonio
[] Don't let her take Apollonio
[] Let her take you daughter
[] Don't let her take your daughter
---
Napoli is still in a state of leaderlessness. They've given up on forming a new royal house, as that would lead to too much infighting, leaving naught but the bastard and the count of Sardinia. An interesting development has come for the bastard, as king Francis has promised him that he would forfeit all claims to Napoli should he accept the French church as the legitimate one. While few have any love for this French church, fewer have a wish for further war with the French, leading to a slight edge for the bastard prince. Still, for now it is undecided who will take the crown.
---
You arrive at the castle one evening and quickly find yourself surprised to see Juan and Charles there. They hadn't sent a letter or any kind of message to tell you they would be there. "Brother, Charles, what brings the two of you here so late?" Juan is the first to speak of the two "It's something I would prefer to talk about inside, somewhere more private." From his tone you can tell your brothers serious. It's the same tone he would use when he was captain commander to address his soldiers, so hearing it used against yourself is unnerving. You lead the two of them into your study and lock to doors behind you.
Juan rubs the bridge of his nose as he seems to think over what he's going to say. "Val, I'll get straight to the point, and I ask you not to interrupt me until I've finished. You have done nothing to aid the roman rite. From day one when father appointed you as governor of Romagna you have done nothing to aid in our conflict with the assassins, only reacting when they've targeted you personally, when they kidnapped Ruxandra, and now with your search for the shroud, which you kept hidden for who knows how long, hoarding it for yourself from the templars when we could have kept it safe out of assassin hands. Your little peace with the Itallian brotherhood has done little to gain the approval of the others within our rite. They see you as little more then a leech upon the rite. I've tried to keep them from acting against you, but even I grow tired of your refusal to aid the order. You've not recruited a soul, not aided us against the assassins. Even now the only reason you act against the French is because they robbed you, and I imagine the moment you've gained whatever imagined revenge you have you'll once again become a hermit from our duty. If you continue on this way, you will be removed from the templar ranks, not having our protection nor our approval. If you 'collect' anymore pieces of Eden or hunt them anymore you will become yet another enemy of the order. As your brother and the grandmaster of the roman rite, I'm giving you this warning now so you might correct this behavior. Coin, supplies, knowledge, anything so long as you don't hoard it to yourself. I can't and won't hold your hand to lead you out of your failings, as grandmaster I must remain impartial. That's why Charles here has a tip on some things you can do to aid the rite. I obviously cannot be involved in this, so I'm going to leave for a moment. Once Charles is finished then you can say what you like." And with that he leaves the room, while Charles begins to pull out a few scraps of paper.
"Your advisor, monsieur Guillaume, is already a member of our order, if from a more strange and cultish sect. He has reformed the public knightly order of the templars, but it is still largely in its infancy, not expanded beyond Ravenna and its original members. The order in its past was a great tool for expanding our influence and recruiting members, and it could be again. If you could fund the reformation of this order and its ties to the templars that would gain some relief for yourself.
You might also try to get your hands on a piece of Eden, and ensure it reaches templar hands this time. I do not have any leads on any more in Italy, but there must be something one could find if you look beyond our borders. An apple of Eden would be especially desired, as with it an Juans staff we would finally be able to open the vault in the Vatican, as was your fathers wish.
Lastly, there is the matter of the colonies. These new lands are ripe for templar influence to spread. If you could change this company of yours managing the colonies into something more templar affiliated that would gain more respect from your fellow templars than merely using it to expand and grow rich and fat. Recruit its leaders to the templars, or its governors, whoever would hold influence, just make sure they're actually willing to join. We wouldn't want one of them to betray our trust and expose our efforts. With that I believe I've covered everything, so we may allow Juan to return."
From there it's a rather tense conversation as Juan reemphasizes your need to affirm your loyalty to the templars. You awkwardly try to shift the conversation to something more relaxed, but the two templars have little time for pleasantries. Soon they make their leave for rooms they had rented in the local village, before returning to Verona and Savoy.
---
you have 2120 florins, 2 regular armys, 2 fleets, and enough ships for trade
You have six actions, use them as you will
You may take up to two extra actions but each will subtract 10 from your rolls as you stretch yourself
Please make your vote in plan format
You have the sixth sense bonus and may have an advisor aid you or do a task on their own
Martial
[] The simplest way to expand is to take the land by force, send an army to try and conquer somewhere
-[] Where?
-[] What is your Casus Belli?
[] Have one of your armies train and try to improve
-[] which one?
[] Perhaps you could give the legionary eagle to one of your armies, it could do great things for morale
[] Spend some time to form another fleet of ships and train a crew to man them to protect or attack any naval foes
[] As Romagna expands you may need another army to defend it, start building one.
[] Perhaps you should look into mercenaries you could hire
[] Hire one of the mercenary groups you know of (300fl)
-[]Which one
[] With your current independence you may want to improve your defenses, send some men out to improve the forts
-[] north or south?
[] Help establish the knights Templar in Romagna as its own entity
[] Write in
Stewardship
[] Give one of your stewards the funds to pursue their own projects
[]You can always make more trade deals(you will need more ships for oversea trade)
-[] Who?
[] The current iron mining operations are doing well, but perhaps they could expand? (50 fl)
[] Your brother found blacksmiths while you were away, perhaps they could forge you something?
-[] What?
[] The ruby mines could always be improved, try to do so (75 fl)
[] The woods are dense and large, perhaps you could expand the operations (50 fl)
[] you could encourage immigration somewhere
-[] where?
[] The docks are in good repair at least, perhaps you should purchase some ships to help with trade and defense (100 fl)
[] There's a whole new world out there, fund the company to form a new colony (may start a new colony or help expand existing ones, non American colonies are more difficult to start. 500 fl)
-[] Where?
[] Write in
Diplomacy
[] Add new laws for the N.W.C. to follow in their colonization efforts
[] Louis soon to come of age, perhaps you could arrange a marriage for him?
[] Maybe you could look for an alliance, without marriage?
-[] Where?
[] The templars need new blood, maybe there's someone you could recruit?
-[] who?
[] Perhaps you should go meet one of your neighbors directly?
-[] Which one?
[] You know where Ezio lives, perhaps you should send him a friendly letter
-[] About what?
[] Send a letter to a different Power, such as Venice, the Ottomans, etc
-[] Who?
[] Write in
Intrigue
[] You now have two assassins, give them a target(50fl-200fl depending on the danger/Importance of the target)
[] You now have your own groups of thieves and spies, now what to use them for?
-[] Write in
[] Start spying in foreign land, blackmail or opportunities won't find themselves
-[] Where?
[] write in
Learning
[] Give your engineer resources and let them design what they please, perhaps making something of use (50fl)
[] Continue experimenting with the volley cannon, perhaps some new inspiration will strike?
[] Start experimenting with the steam engine
[] try to find this prophecy chamber from Brutus journal
[] search for more pieces of Eden
[] Maybe you could make one of these hidden blades?
[] Try to track down this altair, he may have had a piece of eden
[] Investigate the ring of Solomon?
[] Investigate the writings of Solomon?
[] Write in
Personal
[] Try to befriend people in your court
-[] Who?
[] Send a letter to a family member
-[] To who, and what about?
[] You should learn how to use that dagger Cesare gave you
-[] Or maybe something else?
[] Write in
[] Try to train a stat
-[] Which one?
From what explorers and sailors have to say about the southlands of the continent are made up of an incredibly wide variety of terrain, from grasslands to mountains to desert and to forests, but what most interests you is the fertile grasslands surrounding an inlet in the land. Hopefully it will be good for settlement, though its far distance from civilization could be a problem. There is also the natives of this land to consider, a farming people from the reports of explorers, with large herds of some sort of strange sheep-deer. What tools and weapons they possess are simple things of bronze, so militarily they shouldn't be a threat, especially as there seems to be no unification of their villages. They also seem to have no appetite for human sacrifice compared to their northern cousins. Hopefully this colony will succeed and not face the issues of the others.
You will learn of the southland colonies fate next turn.
---
[Colonization: Stewardship, 9+15=24]
The company wasn't happy when you tried to fund another expedition onto the continents eastern coast. Two failed colonies already, rumors of the curse of the coast have spread amongst the company soldiers and sailors, and none wish to try their hand at it. But, coin is coin, and the company eventually relents, but only on the promise that if this fails it is to be the last attempt, as they have no wish to continue sending men to their deaths just so they may try and build a city upon their tombstones. A small detachment of soldiers is sent with this colony, along with a priest, to protect the bodies and souls of the men.
You will lean of the third coastal colonies fate next turn.
---
[Matchmaking: diplomacy, 34+20+16=70]
Ruxandras search for brides for your sons hits a few snags along the way, mainly that the majority of kings and counts these days are too young to have children of age for marriage. This leaves her to look amongst the families of those who, while not royalty, are still powerful in western Europe. First would be a somewhat local choice, Fiora de'Medici. Youngest daughter of Piero di Lorenzo De'Medici, and only a year older then Lupo, a marriage between your families could help to keep them loyal with their newly regained influence in Firenze. Another option would be to marry the daughter of your Forli neighbor Ottaviano Sforza-Riario. His daughter, Paola Sforza, is his only child with his wife, though he's likely to have a few bastards around Italy from his time as a Condotierri. Beyond bringing the small state more into the fold of Romagna it could make you an ally with a seasoned army. The last choice she can find for Lupo would be a contentious one, a marriage to Cassandra Artois, a French noblewoman. Her house, the Artois, is a weakened one as the male line died out, Leaving the family without lands to their name, though still with considerable wealth and influence. While the French may be an unfriendly people to Italy, having connections to the nation could be useful.
---
[Trade: Stewardship, 81+10=91]
Portugal is more then happy to start trading. Their merchants already do plenty of trade with other nations, and they're more then happy to find someone they can gain more trade and coin from. Their colonies far in the east have given them access to spices not seen before, nutmeg, mace, and cloves, and the rich and noble clamor for these new sweet substances. Therefore, high prices are charged upon those who would buy them, and no exception is made for Romagna.
+30fl/turn, access to rare spices.
---
[Roads: stewardship, 99+20=119]
Despite the murder that took place the rest of the construction of the road goes by incredibly smoothly. A comfortable road without twists or hikes is soon built between the two rivals, and a patrol is organized to ensure it isn't tampered with by either city. Given it was only a single road this time and not multiple connecting all the various lands of Romagna, it's no real surprise it wasn't a bigger mess then it was. All that's left is the road between Parma and Modena.
---
[Construction: Stewardship, 97+20+15=132]
With the on again off again construction of the theater it's taken too long to actually get it fully built, but now if you gaze across the city of Ravenna there is a large domed temple to the arts, if one that's not fully decorated yet. While the structure of the building is complete, its still in need of the fine touch of decoration, otherwise you have merely an imposing, austere structure more fit to be a place of war then a place of the arts. Silk banners and fine rugs are brought inside, along with many works of art from local artists that Django has befriended. And even now the stage still must be completed, while a plain marble floor may be enough for most work, something a little more presentable would be appreciated.
---
[STEAM!: Learning, 6+20+18=44]
This steam device may truly be more effort then its worth. Elena, when told to try her hand at it again, said shed see what she could do, but instead found herself using the copper and steel requested for designing it to instead work on a few designs she had in her head unrelated to the power of steam. After years of work still unfinished, and little love for the project to begin with, she tells you that when her thoughts drift towards the infernal device her mind goes blank from the boredom of it, unable to find herself able to focus on it and letting her mind drift, either to her work or her family. Needless to say, no progress was made upon the machine.
---
[Spying: Intrigue, 51+20=71]
Arnao may have finally gotten a lead on the shroud of Eden. Apparently a priest, only known as Jehannin, has been traveling the countryside and healing the serfs of all kinds of ailments. From infections to handicaps this man has healed, said to possess healing power granted unto him by god. This would be interesting on its own, but more importantly is how the church and assassins have reacted to him. The French church has claimed him to be a trickster, a charlatan, that his healing is merely deception to gain the admiration and charity of the commonfolk. The assassins, meanwhile, have sent one of their recruits to keep an eye on the man, stalking him as he travels. The only issue however is that every report of the priest fails to mention any sort of cloth the man carries other then the cloths on his person, but if its gotten the attention of the assassins it must be something at least.
---
[Training: Intrigue, 18+20=38]
Sophias training of the guardsmen continues, though it shows little progress. Its not the tactics for fighting an assassin that they fail at, but the all more important part of finding the assassins. They continually fail to check any possible hiding spot, from stacks of hay to closets. They fail to watch where they're walking, often coming close enough to a ledge to be attacked by them. And most importantly, they just won't look up no matter how many times its drilled into their heads. If Sophia had a few assassins of her own shed sic them on the guards for some more active training, but for now she does what she can.
---
[Treasure hunting: Learning, 93+20=113]
Belotti believes he's finally found a lead as to where this chamber could be. In a few records from the war of the four emperors a vault is mentioned, blessed by the gods and containing nothing but mysteries. None of these emperors wanted the others to gain a hold of it, believing it would give them the fortune of the gods. Belotti believes that the winner of this war, the Flavian emperor Vespasian, may have hidden the vault, built something to hide it from prying eyes. Of course that doesn't narrow it considerably, Vespacian had a great many things built, and not all were even finished in his lifetime, but it does give him a lead at the very least.
---
There is chaos in the colonies in the new world. A plague has swept in, taking the lives of many of the natives both subject and lord, Leaving them with fever and countless marks of pox. Whether this is the same small pox that plagues Europe or not is unknown. In the northern colonies, the Haudenosaunee confederacy has been struck by this plague, with many of its leaders that had helped the northern colony survive falling victim to it, leaving the confederacy without leadership, and the colony without aid.
In the Barbaras colony the recently acquired subjects of the native peoples have also fallen prey to the plague, and it hasn't stopped there. Its spread north into the lands of the Aztec, and south to the Siennese colony, which had far lesser relations with the natives. If that wasn't bad enough the Aztec lord Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, according to the translators, has declared this a curse brought on by the invaders, and can only be stopped by the sacrifice of these foreigners.
Its not merely the Italian colonies that are facing this either, as the French colony of Louisiana, named for the late king, as well as their colony on the lesser of the two major Caribbean islands, has also faced this plague. The subjects and slaves they've made of the local populations falling deathly ill to the plague, throwing the colonies and their plantations into chaos. The Island of cuba, however hasn't faced any of these deaths recently, though many of the natives died of disease during the conquest led by Cortez, though these were assumed to be the normal disease one would face in war. The colony of Brazil has also not faced this plague, though they interact with the natives as little as possible, forcing them out and away from the colonies so they can expand.
---
Speaking of Portuguese colonies, they have claimed that the treaty of Tordesillas is no longer a valid treaty, as the king and dynasty they made it with no longer rules Spain. They have started to colonize the lesser islands of the Caribbean, and has started to expand beyond their original border, expanding up the coast towards the sienna colony. Not only has this caused issues with Cuba, which has up to this point treated itself as the inheritor of the treaty, but also sienna for obvious reasons. A representative of the Auditores colonial charter has even approached the new world company, asking for aid should the Portuguese try anything.
---
And speaking of colonies in general, Cesare seems to have taken your advice, as a Spanish colony has been formed north of the Aztecs. The Cuban island has come to something of a soft agreement with Spain, that so long as Spain doesn't try to retake the colony they wont interfere with, and perhaps even may help with, new Spanish colonies. This colony, Nueva Madrid, has started off fairly well despite where they colonized, a hot and dry place that seems to burn the souls of man, and are quickly working to ensure the security of the southern border from the Aztec.
---
The peasant rebellions in the H.R.E. have finally been put down, the armies of the southern members bringing a swift end to them once they were finally taken seriously. Some remnants of this remain however, with many of the serfs remaining tensions left to simmer. Vandalism and arson still occurs somewhat irregularly, and the serfs often need to be reminded of their place. One apparently has even defaced a church in Wittenberg, hammering multiple papers into its door, as if the serfs knew how to read.
---
The time has finally come. your little knight, your son, has finally come of age and become a man. He's taken to his studies as a fish to water, learning more of battle and martial supremacy then you ever could have imagined, though this has now led to some new problems. "Father please, just let me lead a platoon of men, or a few ships, I want to show what I've learned and gain the soldiers respect." "Or you can go out there and be killed by the first wayward bolt or bullet to come your way. You're being a fool right now Lupo, you've already been taught by some of the best generals in Italy, what more would you gain from this?" "Glory! Honor! Actual experience in leading men in battle, not the basic wargames of the academy. And no soldier will respect me when I need them to if I have no experience. It doesn't need to be in some big war, it could just be leading men against bandits, or fighting against some pirates, anything would work."
He's been pestering you on this for the past week since he came of age. He's unwilling to let go of this foolish request, not willing to see the danger it would put him in. You have no wish to see him get himself hurt, or worse, but he's insistent. You want to refuse him, but he may resent the choice, or you could allow him to do something under some very strict guidelines and with an escort to protect him, but even than it may not be enough.
[] Refuse to allow him to foolishly endanger himself
[] Allow him to lead a small force on a small task so that he might lose this desire of his
-[] send him to find and battle some bandits on the Milanese border
-[] Tunisian pirates are always a problem, let him fight one of their ships
-[] write in
Lupo has gained skilled tactician, +6 martial
Lupo has gained apprentice warrior, +5 prowess +2 martial
Lupo has gained apprentice swordsman, +5 prowess with a sword
Lupo has gained ???, ???
---
Your third child's been born, a beautiful baby girl. Her cries have been keeping you up at night, but the sleep is only somewhat reluctantly sacrificed. Already you and Ruxandra are bickering over what name she should have, Ruxandra wanting a traditional Wallachian name, yourself wanting to give her something more Italian.
[] What will you name your daughter.
---
Sadly, with the birth of your daughter, Ruxandra now has to return to Wallachia and her rule. She does suggest that she take Apollonio with her, as he is in line to inherit her place of nobility in Wallachia, and he should learn of the land if he is to be one of its boyars or voivodes. She also wants to take your daughter with her as well, as it'd be safer from assassin attacks. She wont force it, but she is insistent about it.
[] Let her take Apollonio
[] Don't let her take Apollonio
[] Let her take you daughter
[] Don't let her take your daughter
---
Napoli is still in a state of leaderlessness. They've given up on forming a new royal house, as that would lead to too much infighting, leaving naught but the bastard and the count of Sardinia. An interesting development has come for the bastard, as king Francis has promised him that he would forfeit all claims to Napoli should he accept the French church as the legitimate one. While few have any love for this French church, fewer have a wish for further war with the French, leading to a slight edge for the bastard prince. Still, for now it is undecided who will take the crown.
---
You arrive at the castle one evening and quickly find yourself surprised to see Juan and Charles there. They hadn't sent a letter or any kind of message to tell you they would be there. "Brother, Charles, what brings the two of you here so late?" Juan is the first to speak of the two "It's something I would prefer to talk about inside, somewhere more private." From his tone you can tell your brothers serious. It's the same tone he would use when he was captain commander to address his soldiers, so hearing it used against yourself is unnerving. You lead the two of them into your study and lock to doors behind you.
Juan rubs the bridge of his nose as he seems to think over what he's going to say. "Val, I'll get straight to the point, and I ask you not to interrupt me until I've finished. You have done nothing to aid the roman rite. From day one when father appointed you as governor of Romagna you have done nothing to aid in our conflict with the assassins, only reacting when they've targeted you personally, when they kidnapped Ruxandra, and now with your search for the shroud, which you kept hidden for who knows how long, hoarding it for yourself from the templars when we could have kept it safe out of assassin hands. Your little peace with the Itallian brotherhood has done little to gain the approval of the others within our rite. They see you as little more then a leech upon the rite. I've tried to keep them from acting against you, but even I grow tired of your refusal to aid the order. You've not recruited a soul, not aided us against the assassins. Even now the only reason you act against the French is because they robbed you, and I imagine the moment you've gained whatever imagined revenge you have you'll once again become a hermit from our duty. If you continue on this way, you will be removed from the templar ranks, not having our protection nor our approval. If you 'collect' anymore pieces of Eden or hunt them anymore you will become yet another enemy of the order. As your brother and the grandmaster of the roman rite, I'm giving you this warning now so you might correct this behavior. Coin, supplies, knowledge, anything so long as you don't hoard it to yourself. I can't and won't hold your hand to lead you out of your failings, as grandmaster I must remain impartial. That's why Charles here has a tip on some things you can do to aid the rite. I obviously cannot be involved in this, so I'm going to leave for a moment. Once Charles is finished then you can say what you like." And with that he leaves the room, while Charles begins to pull out a few scraps of paper.
"Your advisor, monsieur Guillaume, is already a member of our order, if from a more strange and cultish sect. He has reformed the public knightly order of the templars, but it is still largely in its infancy, not expanded beyond Ravenna and its original members. The order in its past was a great tool for expanding our influence and recruiting members, and it could be again. If you could fund the reformation of this order and its ties to the templars that would gain some relief for yourself.
You might also try to get your hands on a piece of Eden, and ensure it reaches templar hands this time. I do not have any leads on any more in Italy, but there must be something one could find if you look beyond our borders. An apple of Eden would be especially desired, as with it an Juans staff we would finally be able to open the vault in the Vatican, as was your fathers wish.
Lastly, there is the matter of the colonies. These new lands are ripe for templar influence to spread. If you could change this company of yours managing the colonies into something more templar affiliated that would gain more respect from your fellow templars than merely using it to expand and grow rich and fat. Recruit its leaders to the templars, or its governors, whoever would hold influence, just make sure they're actually willing to join. We wouldn't want one of them to betray our trust and expose our efforts. With that I believe I've covered everything, so we may allow Juan to return."
From there it's a rather tense conversation as Juan reemphasizes your need to affirm your loyalty to the templars. You awkwardly try to shift the conversation to something more relaxed, but the two templars have little time for pleasantries. Soon they make their leave for rooms they had rented in the local village, before returning to Verona and Savoy.
---
you have 2120 florins, 2 regular armys, 2 fleets, and enough ships for trade
You have six actions, use them as you will
You may take up to two extra actions but each will subtract 10 from your rolls as you stretch yourself
Please make your vote in plan format
You have the sixth sense bonus and may have an advisor aid you or do a task on their own
Martial
[] The simplest way to expand is to take the land by force, send an army to try and conquer somewhere
-[] Where?
-[] What is your Casus Belli?
[] Have one of your armies train and try to improve
-[] which one?
[] Perhaps you could give the legionary eagle to one of your armies, it could do great things for morale
[] Spend some time to form another fleet of ships and train a crew to man them to protect or attack any naval foes
[] As Romagna expands you may need another army to defend it, start building one.
[] Perhaps you should look into mercenaries you could hire
[] Hire one of the mercenary groups you know of (300fl)
-[]Which one
[] With your current independence you may want to improve your defenses, send some men out to improve the forts
-[] north or south?
[] Help establish the knights Templar in Romagna as its own entity
[] Write in
Stewardship
[] Give one of your stewards the funds to pursue their own projects
[]You can always make more trade deals(you will need more ships for oversea trade)
-[] Who?
[] The current iron mining operations are doing well, but perhaps they could expand? (50 fl)
[] Your brother found blacksmiths while you were away, perhaps they could forge you something?
-[] What?
[] The ruby mines could always be improved, try to do so (75 fl)
[] The woods are dense and large, perhaps you could expand the operations (50 fl)
[] you could encourage immigration somewhere
-[] where?
[] The docks are in good repair at least, perhaps you should purchase some ships to help with trade and defense (100 fl)
[] There's a whole new world out there, fund the company to form a new colony (may start a new colony or help expand existing ones, non American colonies are more difficult to start. 500 fl)
-[] Where?
[] Write in
Diplomacy
[] Add new laws for the N.W.C. to follow in their colonization efforts
[] Louis soon to come of age, perhaps you could arrange a marriage for him?
[] Maybe you could look for an alliance, without marriage?
-[] Where?
[] The templars need new blood, maybe there's someone you could recruit?
-[] who?
[] Perhaps you should go meet one of your neighbors directly?
-[] Which one?
[] You know where Ezio lives, perhaps you should send him a friendly letter
-[] About what?
[] Send a letter to a different Power, such as Venice, the Ottomans, etc
-[] Who?
[] Write in
Intrigue
[] You now have two assassins, give them a target(50fl-200fl depending on the danger/Importance of the target)
[] You now have your own groups of thieves and spies, now what to use them for?
-[] Write in
[] Start spying in foreign land, blackmail or opportunities won't find themselves
-[] Where?
[] write in
Learning
[] Give your engineer resources and let them design what they please, perhaps making something of use (50fl)
[] Continue experimenting with the volley cannon, perhaps some new inspiration will strike?
[] Start experimenting with the steam engine
[] try to find this prophecy chamber from Brutus journal
[] search for more pieces of Eden
[] Maybe you could make one of these hidden blades?
[] Try to track down this altair, he may have had a piece of eden
[] Investigate the ring of Solomon?
[] Investigate the writings of Solomon?
[] Write in
Personal
[] Try to befriend people in your court
-[] Who?
[] Send a letter to a family member
-[] To who, and what about?
[] You should learn how to use that dagger Cesare gave you
-[] Or maybe something else?
[] Write in
[] Try to train a stat
-[] Which one?
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