Fuck Islam - 1153 AD

[RK47]

XXVII - Venerate the Empire

Spoiler

Alas, some of these conquered lands are worth little and very few men are found worthy to serve in the guardsmen.
Rome however, is only too pleased to take over responsibility and pay an appropriate tithe to the Ravens.

Hence the Blood Ravens left the northern wastelands victorious, having tamed no less than five tribes within a year and carry with them the gratitude of Rome, their deeds shall be taught from one Pagan to another, in their tales of the mighty forces of the Christ.

For now, they've returned to their homes, not to seek respite, but demand what is rightfully theirs.

The Emperor sees no reason to respect the treaties of the weak.

The Seljuks capitulated and withdrew further into less prosperous lands, their dreams of grandeur fading fast.
The Blood Ravens will shed no tears.

For might makes right.

Year after year, truces were torn apart, and the Seljuks lost land after land...

Even the Fatimids sought to capitalize on their Muslim rivals misfortunes...

The Ravens acted accordingly.

As the Ravens battled fiercely in the bays of Damietta, tales of an incoming force, greater than ever before from the East spreads throughout the empire. The Empire yawned, perhaps hoping for a worthy challenger at last.

For these Fatimids too, have softened over the years.

We will grant them no respite.

Knowledge is power.

Guard it well.

 

[Brinko]

Well that's one way of solving the color problem. I approve.

 

[Stygian Lurker]

You should change the color of your empire, or at least the Seljuk. It's a total mess to tell apart.
Great LP, keept it coming

I don't know how to do that.

I believe that you can mod the colour in Crusader Kings II\common\landed_titles\landed_titles.txt file. But if you are playing ironman, then you probably can't do this.

 

[Fafnir]

. No modding the files for Iron Man

 

[RK47]

XXVIII - Pyrrhic Victory

The Persian Empire takes more land, cutting off the Fatimid Sultanate completely from the seas.

Spoiler

The Emperor, perhaps sensing that further gains would give negligible returns declares a halt to the the truce breaking.
The campaign has been an overwhelming success, a second Hashshashin stronghold was discovered, and like Reynad, his forefather, Gabriel ordered a complete annihilation of the hated order.

With the lack of prey available in the Holy Lands, the Guardsman board a fleet destined to Georgia.

There, they will campaign for the crowning of a new Duke of Alania.

The child will be educated personally by the Emperor and he will prove to be a faithful vassal in time.
The campaign proceed as expected... with the Alanian defenders overwhelmed by the guardsmen retinue, they are forced to cower in their walls as their fortifications crumble around them.

However - something stirs in the east...

Ten of thousands, if not hundred thousands of wild savages appears on the edges of Khivan territory, descending like a pack of hunglry beasts.

Led by a great Khagan from the East. The Emperor, exercising great caution, demanded more knowledge of the enemy to be gathered before taking any rash actions.

Much to many's surprise - the rumors were absolute truth. Like a swarm of locusts, the invaders numbered over a hundred thousands, pillaging and slaying the Seljuks with wild abandons. It is the death knell to the former Khivan territory. And once that region falls, every knew where the horde would invade next...

It is a time of crisis.

The Emperor quickly recalls his soldiers back to the Holy Lands and calls a council with his High Lords of Antioch.

After decades of golden age and unchallenged supremacy, the Empire of Persia is about to face the greatest threat to their very existence. Success is a must, failure is unthinkable.

 

[RK47]

XXIX - The Grand Scheme

While the Horde has not yet declared war with the Empire, the Emperor is not about to take any chances.
First, he must quell the revolts within his lands.

Spoiler

As the flames of the revolt dies, the Emperor will now focus his whole efforts in stopping the Horde.

The Seljuks buying the Ravens precious little time to regroup.

Thousands of the Templar chapter and Crusaders are brought to bear.
In Antioch, no less than three companies of mercenaries arrive.

Utilizing their great diplomatic relations with Rome, the Emperor draws more war funds from the Pope.

Finally, the Seljuks fall. And now it's Rome's turn to face down the full intensity of the Waaaaghh.

One unbreakable shield against the coming darkness

One last blade, forged in defiance of fate

They are my Space Marines and they shall know no fear.
The fates have aligned. The invasion of Papacy is no mere coincidence. It has been carefully planned by the previous Emperor of Blood Ravens. His fifth Primarch, merely carrying out his final message upon his dying breath.
He knew. All those years of scheming, growing and planning...

Gabriel must not fail.

Fifty thousand troops crossed their borders but displayed no hostility towards the Blood Ravens, for them, their only prey is the Papal states. A single minded desire to devour empires, one piece at a time. That, is their greatest weakness, Gabriel.

As the forces of Blood Ravens gather upon the pass, watching the advancing columns of battle-frenzied orks below.... the Emperor ordered them to stand still and watch.

"Do you see? The Doom and Destruction of our entire race? THIS PLAGUE UPON OUR VERY EXISTENCE?! Now do you understand what we've fought for and how much deaths and dishonor we must endure to seize victory at this very moment?! WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE EMPEROR! AND BY HIS WILL TODAY, WE SHALL PREVAIL!"

As the Ravens raised their bolters in the air Gabriel Angelos raised his Hammer, Godsplitter, into the air. And the Ravens waited.

They may be single minded, but they will not arrive as one.
They have not the patience nor cohesion that befits our Chapter.
Thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands may swallow us whole
But take them twenty thousand at a time, and you will prevail.
Break their backs, clip their wings, sever their heads, scatter their blood and bones to the sands.
None shall find you wanting.

"BROTHERS!" Angelos slams down the Godsplitter into the ground in one stroke, signalling the start of the battle.

"IT IS TIME!"

 

[Hoodoo]

 

[Hoodoo]

also I was channelling the dead ghost of an Aztec King from a timeline where they invaded Western Europe and among complaints about the lack of religious map-view he called you:
"a fagget"

 

[RK47]

XXX - Deny Fate , Forge Destiny

Spoiler

Dropping from their grounds above, nearly 40,000 Ravens descended upon the unsuspecting rear guards of the horde.

The Khagans no longer has free access within the Empire's borders.

Every single levy in the region converge upon the battlezone. A few thousand did not make it, but they've bought many more thousands time to arrive and reinforce the Ravens offense.

Their 18,000 strong rear guards took heavy casualties yet the riders refused to stop and pushed onwards into the Papal territories.

The Ravens did not lose heart and continue to give pursuit.

In the midst of the chaos a new Chaptermaster is called into action. Prince Rorgon, under the tutelage of the Legendary Warmaster Gaben has attained Astartes status.

He will lead the charge in honor of his uncle, Hyperweapon.

Elsewhere, the pursuing Ravens were driven back and took heavy casualty, yet reinforcements have arrived and not a moment too soon.

These losses were horrific.

The mercenaries begin to arrive, dogpiling a stray Horde reinforcements to the ground.

Their superior numbers proving to be the decider as the horde lost another 10,000 force.

Pure blood bath erupts in the Khivan sector between nearly 100,000 troops.

Defeat after defeat is inflicted to the great beast, yet they are never truly out of the fight.

However, the defeats are beginning to affect the Horde as their talented officers are slain or captured.

The captured ones were immediately executed.

Mercy is for the weak.

The end game approaches...

The intensity of the fight even struck fear into Gabriel's heart.

Yet his men did not falter. Victory is close at hand.

The Horde began to break away, wary of suffering more crippling losses to the ravenous Legion.
This good news however, is accompanied by yet another misfortune within the Empire.

Yet another uprising.

Dispatching one-fifth of his force to deal with the threat, the Emperor ordered the rest to advance as fresh levies are brought forward from across the empire.

Miraculously, the Horde did not take advantage of the Legion's over-zealousness in pursuit as yet another one of their rear guard is caught by a larger force.

The tide is beginning to turn.

One last push....

... to victory.

 

[Gondolin]

Massive incline!

 

[Fafnir]

 

[RK47]

ok i won time to retire

 

[RK47]

XXXI - Hate

Not even in their victory can the Blood Ravens afford to rest.

Spoiler

It is almost as if the Empire is always beset with forces which seek to undo their greatness.

This adventurer's host numbered nearly 30,000....

Yet this is nothing compared to the wrath of the Golden Horde we faced down in Khiva.

They shall all fall under the sword of the righteous.

Perish as you should.

Gold is seized and the Empire is safe once more...

The mercenaries were sent home, as well as the levies. Many did not return, but they shall forever live in legends as the Saviors of Europe.

More troublemakers.

The Templars and retinues move in quickly to crush them.

Elsewhere in Samarkand, the weakened Horde can no longer wage war. Even their recently conquered vassals have begun to revolt.

The Blood Ravens acted accordingly, descending upon the weakened territory in full force.

When the dust has settled, the Emperor orders the complete removal of the plague from the east.

An ignoble end to the once fearsome Golden Horde.

MORE? The flames of war continue to burn brightly, year after year.

Even in the North, the foolish Carpathians attempt to challenge Rome's authority once again.

As revolts are put down...

Wars are won.

The call for duty once again answered.

Let none find them wanting.

 

[Fafnir]

 

[RK47]

XXXII - Once more, Northbound

The Ravens tireless displays of valor and relentless vigilance is beginning to bear fruit.

Spoiler

As each battle is concluded the scholars of Adeptus Tactica has pieced together more and more efficient command structure within the army. Even in death, their brothers still serve.

The Emperor halts the training of any more Guardsman retinue and ordered a cadre of elite Knights, dubbed the Grey Knights to be formed as his own personal guard.

2,500 of them will be trained in Antioch by Warmaster Gaben himself.
Elsewhere, the 8,000 strong Templars made landfall on Carpathian coast.

From the eastern steppes, the Guardsman poured forth to rescue the Papacy.

Yet more corners of the empire came under threat....

There seem to be no end to these uprisings, despite the best attempt of the Chaplains in converting the populace to the true Cross.

No matter, these traitors shall be dealt with severely.
Elsewhere in Carpathia, the Templars blockade begun their blood hunt.

No Carpathian levies shall leave Hungary to reinforce their attack, allowing the Papal defenders to overcome them with sheer numbers alone.

Defeat is inevitable.
Elsewhere the rebels are being put to the sword.

Another 7800 souls consigned to death in the name of the Emperor.
In the north, more woes poured to the struggling Empire of Carpathia.

Their defeat is total.

A massive war compensation followed, their army morale plummeted as wages went unpaid.

Yet another victim of the Ravens' actions.

 

[RK47]

Also

 

[RK47]

XXXIII - Ravenous

The Blood Ravens marched northwards, fully intent in claiming several new recruiting worlds.

Spoiler

The pagans trembled, knowing that there is no escape from the Imperial Compliance campaign.
Elsewhere, the Fatimids seek to end the Golden Horde's presence once and for all...

This pleases the Emperor, for he does not wish to stain his hands with yet another broken treaty over a single county.

Such an ignoble end...
The Empire's agents have also managed to convince several foreign courtiers to join the Empire...

Once they've been given land, the Emperor shall press all claims on their behalf.
The northern lords, once thought they were safe as long as they followed the Cross... but no longer.
The Templars refused to partake in this conquest, yet the Guardsman relished to prove their worth without the help of their fanatical brethren.

Elsewhere, more misery piled on the Carpathian Empire.

Catastrophic collapse imminent.
While the Khagan of Golden Horde gave a parting gift to the Emperor...

No one knew what exactly happened during the final assault on Golden Horde - but the arrow of the Ilkhanate struck true and the Fatimid Caliph died, dissolving any effective truce for his successor's Kingdom.

The Emperor's reaction to this news is to command all his Templar chapters to activate their personal teleporters to Antioch.

Elsewhere, the Smolesk Campaign is achieved. A new Lord governor is elected.

More will join us.
But first... the new Egyptian Caliph will be given a warm introduction...

.......this jest is in poor taste, motherfucker.

Barges carrying the Holy Templars set sail from Antioch.

You do not deserve that name, infidel.

COME! SHOW ME WHAT PASSES FOR FURY AMONG YOUR MISBEGOTTEN KIND!

In the north, Guardsmen circle around the Carpathian borders, awaiting its imminent collapse.

The Khagan of Golden Horde withdraws from his campaign in disgrace, failing to capture a single territory and losing over 100,000 men. 90,000 of them inflicted solely by the Blood Ravens.

The Blood Ravens shall forever be an eternal stain to the Khagan's bloodlinen, but none shall prove larger than one man, Gabriel Angelos.

NONE SHALL SURVIVE OUR WRATH.

 

[Gondolin]

Wow. Such empire. Many army. Wow.

 

[RK47]

Wow. Such empire. Many army. Wow.

Wow. Many pagan.

So finnished.

 

[Gondolin]

:D

 

[Hoodoo]

 

[RK47]

XXXIV - Suffer not the Witch

Spoiler

Despite the repeated revolts breaking out in multiple sectors of the Empire, the Emperor remains steadfast in his rule.

Many rose and crushed almost immediately by the combined force of his personal levy and templars.

Many historians claimed such display of power strengthened his persona in the eyes of his vassals.
They all knew the fates that would befell them should they dare to cross the Emperor.

With the threats back home pacified, the Emperor can afford to send his mighty retinue in a massive Compliance Campaign to the north. For many of the northern states still refuse to bow to the Emperor's will or worship heretical beliefs.

One such belligerent lord is the Grand Prince of Novgorod.

It is a simple matter to invite a willing claimant, granting him land, and then taking Novgorod in the pretext of installing a more...'fitting' ruler.

Novgorod's absorption into the Persian Empire signals the beginning of the Northern Compliance Campaign.
It was decided that Sarkel is not far enough... they must reach the icy lands of the Finns and enact a righteous purge.
Tragedy struct back at home however, when Warmaster Gaben concludes his final training and succumbed to old age.

He died peacefully, never stepping out of Antioch even once, never partaking in a single battle. For his whole existence is devoted in training the levies of Antioch. Shaping their minds and physique, like a craftsman would to clay. Thousands of Antioch's finest owe their training to this man. Who would be better to succeed the Warmaster than his own son, Richard?
Cruel, envious, fanatical... Richard is an even more dangerous man than his father.

But the time for mourning is over, the Templars are in position, as well as the massive Retinue of Fury, ready to carry out the greatest Compliance Campaign ever undertaken in the history of the Imperium...

Death to the heretics!

Repent, heathens!

Where are your Gods now?!

Our faith shines true.

 

[RK47]

XXXV - F....K.......Kingdom of France!

Pskov, Tartu, Liiivimaa, all other names of counties too numerous to count fell in rapid succession of Holy Wars...

Spoiler

Until there was truly none left of the heretical rulers...

Quickly, the Emperor summoned a barge to transport his seasoned guardsman to western Europe, seeking new territories to conquer. England, is in turmoil, while France's king is under dire circumstance.

It's time to deliver stability to this bickering region...

The first step is to reclaim his Frankish ancestral homeland of Reims. Birthplace of the De Chatillon's Dynasty.

Elsewhere more misfortune befall the Islams of Egypt.

The Ravens respond appropriately.

With their forces occupied with extinguishing their own flames of revolt, the beleaguered Fatimids could not respond to our military actions in time. We lay siege to Cario as their army clash desperately with the rebels in Damman.

Elsewhere in France...

The French defenders lost and Fatimids surrendered without an open battle.

But Reims is merely a stepping stone. The next step is to bring stability to the entire kingdom of France itself. Through force alone.

The Imperial Guards poured forth and lay siege to multiple counties.

France already war-torn and ravaged by countless civil wars surrendered meekly.

As the dust settles, the Emperor sends a clear ultimatum to all the independent de-jure dukes of France.

A final call to return to the rule of the Empire or suffer the sword.

They complied within days.

The Empire grows once more.

 

[Azira]

The blob. It grows. It's a thing of beauty...

 

[RK47]

XXXVI - The Imperial Conquest

Spoiler

The Empire descends into mourning as the Empress, His ever faithful companion passes away.

Another wedding was held, for the Emperor cannot afford to stand alone in his reign.
The charisma of his life partner is vital in keeping the Empire together.

With the subjects of Empire hearts once more at ease, the Empire's expansion may resume.
For the Emperor never forgets his enemies...

Like the Witch of Ukko who discarded her Reindeer God for Jesus when defeat seems all too apparent.
Such self-serfing heresy cannot be forgiven.
The only forgiveness she can seek is from St. Peter himself in the gates of Heavan.

Elsewhere, another revolt breaks out...

Right on the fringes of the eastern Empire.
10,000 templars were recalled but still have to make the long trek to the hot zone.

Elsewhere in France, an errant Duchess finally surrendered to the Empire's Authority.

Why do they even defy His will in the first place?
Aquitane is next. Yet no claimant steps forth to lay claim to the entire Kingdom.

Then we'll just have to take the kingdom piece by piece.

Elsewhere the conquest of Finland is nearing its end.

It is amusing to see Sweden and Norway tolerate these savages for so long while we cleanse all within years.

Gabriel has achieved greatness.

As the flames of England has not subsided, the Emperor decides to interfere, starting with the conflict at Normandy.
A rebelling count of Evreux will provide a nice land to be gifted to the claimant of England.

Now, the conquest can begin.
Meanwhile the rebels are being put to the sword.

Once they've settled matters, the Templars were recalled back to Antioch, there they will be board a fleet bound to Carpathia...

For the truce has run its course, best to capitalize before the fool dies of old age.

Meanwhile, the battle of England did not even involve a coastal landing.

The whole Normandy capitulated.
And with no army to back him up, William V knew the end of the English is near.

Welcome, brothers of faith to the Imperium.