Edit: Comments, criticisms (please do, this is my first attempt), sudgestions, questions, any other posts please post here. Don't forget to speak up when I do ask for a decision though!
I am the leader of the nation of Sicily. My grand master plan was originally to conquer North Africa, and the remaining lands of the dying Byzantine Empire. However, plans always change.
I knew that the Pope will be a crucial tool if I were to eventually go to war against other Catholic nations. I could prevent my own excomunications, get others to be excomunicated, and even call crusades upon their lands.
I cleaned up the very first business, allying with my Northern Italian neighbors. Although I do not expect them to attack me, it does assure me to know that they cannot attack me.
If given 5 years, I could probably assemble an fleet and army, however...
... I was naive, too naive.
The treachorous nation of Venice has attacked the village one of my adopted sons has taken. I was to use that village as a foothold into Greece, in which to expand into Greece.
The Doge of Venice himself led the attack as I heard.
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My name is Ulberto de Vibona. I was the son of a noble family, however I was left abandoned when my father and mother died in an accident. During that time of need, I was adopted and taken in by the king himself, and was entrusted with the annexing of this small independent village of Greece.
Numerically outnumbered, and facing against the Doge of Venice himself, I knew that this would be a bloody battle... however, I cannot let that man down... I must fight to the death if I must, as without him, I wouldn't have even been standing here with a heart still beating with pride and honor.
I ordered my archers to cover me and my knights as we ran out.
The milita spearmen were already ahead ready to intercept the enemy and allow us horsemen to go to the open field. "To the left men!" I shouted.
While the spearmen kept the Doge's bodyguards and spears in place, the Doge managed to wheel another unit of spearmen towards the village square, only defended by a few peasents armed with bows. Meanwhile I ordered my mailed knights to assist the militiamen against the elite bodyguards of the Doge, while I ordered my agile Seargents to take care of the enemy's archers.
The battle was not going in my favor. The enemy had more infantry, spearmen, against me and my calvary, and the longer the fight continues, the more our numbers will dwindle.
Fortunately my light and agile seargents were done finishing off the enemy's archers, and were now in the prime position to launch an charge to the rear.
Amidst the chaos I heard a horrible whine, and saw a great large figure block out the sunlight, and then collapse. One of my men shouted "The Doge is dead!" In an instant a couple of the enemy's men began dropping their spears, while my own men only gripped theirs tighter.
The only ones left are a group of enemy spearmen, however, seeing the danger of fighting such a force with only calvary, I pulled back.
The enemy spearmen desperately rush to the townsquare, with no where else to run. I ordered my men to turn around and charge them, with me leading the force.
The enemy captain, orders his men to bravely turn around and brace for the charge. It is a shame to kill such soldiers who were led by an treacharous leader.
The only sound in the air was ragged breathing and the groans of the wounded. There were some tiny dots floating and swaying in the air... I don't know if it's dust or a vapor of sweat or blood...
Still holding my sword unsheathed, I finally looked up, and turned my head to the right towards the sun. It seemed brighter and hotter than ever. Seeing the few survivors of the enemy run, across the field far away, I couldn't help but smile, and managed to find the strength in me to raise my cold and unrefined metal, and shout a cheer full of pride.
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Unfortunately the sun began to set, news of the Doge's defeat and death spread, and an army of furious soldiers approached our meagre and small force.
Even if I wanted to run, I could not, not with the enemy this close, and with no where to run.
In the last battle, although I knew the odds were low, I believed there was a small chance, an opening, and threw my life trying to get through it.
Now... now, I've never felt like anything this fearful. I knew, felt, my death was coming. The large angry swarm marching towards this tiny settlement, left with only a few exausted, injured, crippled, and hopeless soldiers.
The only time I felt the same way was when I heard news of my father dying and what to do to live as a commoner...
And then I met my second father.
I gripped my reins tightly, and turned around to my men.
"MEN!" I shouted as loud as I could, as if to startle them out of their sleep. And indeed I saw the small crowd flinch.
"Life does not end with your flesh's death. You are only truly alive if you have a SOUL. And I am not trying to be some damn priest, about going to the glorious Kingdom of Heaven. About simply throwing away your lives for some foolish hope of existing forever. Existence alone is not living.
I am talking about TRUE salvation, our true EXISTENCE, our PRIDE, our LEGACY. Simply existing, without anything else is as good as being dead!"
The sounds of the enemy's footsteps grew not only louder, but could now be felt through ground. I couldn't understand or hear the words, but I could sense the disatisfaction in the air.
"... I have already died once, when my nobility was at stake and I was to become simply another fool who lived off my father's will and gold. Now, I am now standing here today, with my own army, charged by our great king to defend this settlement..."
I knew my men gave up. But I did not care anymore...
"I REFUSE TO DIE AGAIN! I refuse to run away, shaming and abandoning me and my family's name. I refuse to become nothing more than brigands! I refuse to give up my life as a warrior and to live as some aimless drifter! How can that be considered living? How can any of you desire that?!"
It was time to go, the enemy was upon us.
"Those who wants to throw away the very foundations of themselves. Strength, pride, indepence, bravery, and honour, throw down your weapons and soldierhood, and march to the enemy..."
I looked across my remaining men, who looked upon me unhappily. I'm sure all of them promised their wives some fateful day, to return home.
"And those who refuse to fade away to oblivion... ride with me."
There was no cheer. Who can chear at such an ridiculous declaration? Of course you die when you're cut down in battle. But I learned that this was the only purpose in life. This was the only thing that defined me. Without definition, one loses all form. If I did not fight. I cease to be myself anymore.
Silently holding their ground, the spearmen assembled into Shiltron formation. An position that was used when one expected to be surrounded.
I didn't look back. I did not know how many knights were behind me. I urged my horse to gallop, and felt the breeze hit against my worn face.
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"Sir, Venice has attacked and taken over one of our settlements! Should we mobilise our navy?"
"Did the Venecians offer any ransoms?" I asked in monotone.
"N, no sir... they said that the men there fought to the death".
"I see..."
"Sir, I know you're upset, but you must give us orders!..." the advisor stopped when he realized his rudeness and stepped back.
But I calmly replied "I understand, what is the news?"
"The Moors are sighted with an army heading towards your settlemetn in North Africa. We do not know what their motive is, so I advise you to simply send your fleet in to slow their progress..."
"How many men are garisoned there?" I interupt.
"Err... very few sir... that is why I sudgest we intercept their fleet with..."
"I want the closest fleet to engage their fleet"
"But sir! We're already at war with Venice! We cannot fight a two fronted wa-"
Without thinking I suddenly grab the advisor's head by the side, and slam it to the table covered with maps.
"I will not, tolerate any rudenss advisor... remember your place" I whisper into the man's trembling ear.
I realized what a ridiculous thing I've done and let go of the advisor, who quickly scurries out the door.
I must appologize later. But not for my assesment. Even if I do try to intercept with my navy, their boats can still maneuver around later, and could possibly land the troops, in which my navy is powerless, and the castle is defenseless, leading to another waste of my men's lives.
It was unfortunate that my alliance with France was shortlived, however, they are preoccupied with England, and I should not have to worry about a war with them...
Unfortunately the Sicilians saw the weakness of my North African province like the Moors and sent their own small army to lay siege with a scouting force on land, and the rest in their fleet. However, I will make them suffer for their insolence.
Having won and sinking their ships (and the men in them) I have delt a decisive blow against the Venecians.
Isolated on enemy territory, the forces disentegrate.
It was time to move against the Venecians. If I take their capital, they lose a significant ammount of their income, a symbol, and give me a base of operations.
However.
Although Venice doesn't have a favorable relationship with the Papacy, they still couldn't ignore a war between two Catholic nations.
I understand, but it is certainly frusturating. No matter, it would be better for me to build a larger force anyhow, especially in North Africa, as the the council of Nobles advised me.
My son and heir tells me that the Moors have landed another invading force again. This will truly be frusturating if I must fight 2 factions at once. However, one of their diplomats arrive.
Hearing of one of my son's death, the diplomat says the Sultan understands my loss, and offers a ceasefire to me. I gratefully accept, pleased that with this I can focus all my attention to Venice.
However, another diplomat arrives, and it is from Venice.
I did not even hear the rest of the diplomat's words. The guards quickly escorted the diplomat as I quietly told him to get out. The diplomat didn't know the danger he was in, and the guards, seeing the arrogant and smug face of the diplomat, knew he was risking himself not only to death, but to a long and painful experience of torture, where his body would be shaped into a unidentifiable piece of flesh only capable of experiencing and sending the sensation of pain to the soul.
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FLAG
Edit (Fucking not thinking right when you just work on a thread for 20 minutes+):
I ask you now advisor, I have two forces heading to Venice. One large one in Florence, and another oncoming to Florence. If I attack Venice with the force in Florence, I shall lose many favors with the Pope, due to both missing the Crusades, and by attacking another Catholic nation. This is will probably make the Pope order me to cease fire quicker, and may stop supporting me.
However, on the other hand, to take on the Crusades mean war with Egypt, an unknown and distant faction, and to isolate so many men into one settlement, both away from Venice, and to be surrounded by Muslims.
However, being on the Crusades allows me to free up my financial burden, as those men will fight for free during that time. I can also try to advance slowly in hopes that another Crusading faction will seize the land first, allowing my men to perhaps redirect their course to one of Venice's island nation or to Greece.
There is no clear answer.
So:
Choice a) Ignore the Crusade, take the reputation damage with the pope, and send my main force to Venice.
Choice b) Take on the Crusade and send my main force to Jerusalem, while I rebuild another main force to take on Venice.
