Crusader Kings II AAR: Barret's Privateers Sail Again!

[mythmonster2]

Hello! As one can see by looking at the first page of this forum, there are quite a few Crusader Kings 2 AAR/Let's Plays going on right now. However, why constrain ourselves to medieval Europe? Let's instead go into a brave new world, the world of the After The End mod. For those who don't know, After The End is a postapocalyptic mod set in North America, from Canada to Central America. This game initially started out as a single player one, but after two characters, I ended up in quite an interesting scenario. So, I decided to put this up as an AAR, and we will follow the tales of the Pirate Queens of Mi'kma'ki together.

Table of Contents:

Admiral Jaquotte "The Fat": January 25, 2712 - June 2, 2726.
Update 0: The Stage is Set (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19895256&postcount=2)
Update 1: First Blood (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19914354&postcount=5)
Update 2: The Curse of the Pirate Queens (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19983649&postcount=6)

Admiral Dorothy "The Just": June 2, 2726 - Present
Update 3: The Rise of Admiral Dorothy (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20112165&postcount=7)
Update 4: The Ursuline Crusade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20203802&postcount=12)
Intermission: A Look at the Brethren Religion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20237098&postcount=14)

[mythmonster2]

Update 0: The Stage is Set

This is the account of Ross Frenette, official historian in the employ of her Highness, Jacquotte of Meneir the Second, Admiral of Mi’kma’ki, also known as The Maritimes, and Captain of Anticosti. I have been put to the task of documenting the official history of this kingdom by her Highness.

I must admit, the task was quite unexpected for me, a simple cartographer who resided in Kentville, now the capital city of this kingdom. The fact that I am a follower of the High Church also apparently made no difference to her. However, Jacquotte has proven herself to be more than the simple pirate I had believed our conquerors to be. First her mother, and now her, have proven that they truly wish to establish a kingdom that will stand the test of time, not some pirate realm that will fade as soon as the loot is gone. Establishing a history of the kingdom is a small step towards that, but a step nonetheless. She has also made a somewhat unusual decree that these histories will not be released until at least 10 years after the death of the monarch they cover, to avoid any potential retribution. I will still be cautious with my writing, but it is more free than I expected.

http://i.imgur.com/sHilolh.png

I shall begin with the Admiral herself, who has put me to this task. She was raised as a shaman of the Brethren rituals, a strange religion which even now I have yet to truly understand. Frankly, it seems that the pirates prefer it that way, not often bothering with proselytizing. She was also raised in the ways of her mother and grandfather, part of the Mi’kmaq people, though she speaks the language of her new, largely Maritimer realm well.

In terms of personality, she almost seems contradictory. Like many pirates, she lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with a lust for gold as well as more physical urges. She also is overly fond of drinking, though many of these pirates simply say that we “landlovers” drink too little. However, she manages to hold back her lifestyle, considered temperate among pirates, at least. She has a considerable way with words, perhaps her best skill. Most of all, though, she is fueled by raw ambition, working tirelessly to fulfill it. Her mother and grandmother before her were quite naturally gifted, and perhaps she seeks to duplicate that through hard work alone. Though young, she has a fire in her eyes I have seen few match.

http://i.imgur.com/HDJxJvq.png

With the admiral covered, let us now look at the realm she rules over. First, as a note, the terms Mi’kma’ki and The Maritimes are essentially interchangeable. Mi’kma’ki is used on all formal legislation, but practically all people use The Maritimes in common dialogue. Even the admiral herself uses The Maritimes in public. The name Mi’kma’ki is mostly a point of pride for her, as she is quite proud of the culture she was raised in. For the purposes of this history, I will primarily be using the term The Maritimes. Another note is that the pirates have their own names for various feudal rankings. Never having had a realm this large or complex, they seemed content to rename the various ranks. Therefore, the following chart shows the various equivalencies. Again, due to their greater use, I will primarily be using the traditional terms, not the pirate ones.

Admiral->King/Queen. Admiralty->Kingdom
Commodore->Duke/Duchess. Flotilla-> Duchy
Captain-> Count/Countess. Captaincy->County.

With the technicalities out of the way, we can look at the kingdom. The kingdom consists of all of the Nova Scotia Peninsula, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands, Anticosti Island, and two exclaves in New Brunswick and the north of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Jacquotte II is, in addition to her position as Admiral, also Commodore of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, as well as Captain of Pisiguit, Usituken (both in the western Nova Scotia peninsula, and the former being the capital of the kingdom), Chignecto (on the isthmus of the peninsula), and Anticosti. There are no real powerful vassals in this kingdom.

http://i.imgur.com/CpVSzGI.png

Of course, context is everything, and this is a map of the East Coast as a whole. Hudsonia is the closest major power, and Maritime ships have often raided its coasts. The Holy Columbian Confederacy is by far the largest power in the South, as it has been for some time. Of note is Michigan, where the new Consumerist powers have risen up. The details on that will come later.

http://i.imgur.com/qJ8jG5y.png

Further from our interests, though fitting in an introduction to a history, is the western parts of America. Not much has changed here, though it is notable that the Californian Emperor is apparently tired of being a figurehead and has conquered a good bit of land in Arizona.

http://i.imgur.com/K1v8Qwa.png

Finally, in the south, there is also not much that has changed. The Caribbean Empire is starting to show cracks, as Puerto Rico and some other islands have broken free.

http://i.imgur.com/r0iEaUy.png
http://i.imgur.com/Qbv3KGp.png
http://i.imgur.com/CTKsSl4.png

Almost as important as the lords of the land are the lords of the soul. In terms of changes, this map has been more dramatic. As a quick overview, the Catholics and Ursulines have begun a new era of Crusades, the Catholics having already taken Louisiana. The Consumerists have risen in Michigan, united in fervor behind their Prophet. In Mexico, the Atomicists are striking southward.

NOTE: For people who are unfamiliar with the mod, here's a quick rundown of the major religions.

Brethren: The collection of rituals and gods practiced by the pirates who now rule over the Maritimes.
Catholic: After losing contact with the Pope of Rome, Catholics of this land turned to a new Pope, based in St. Louis. They have begun an era of Crusades, already having taken Louisiana.
Ursuline: A continuation of old Quebecois Catholicism, who refuse to follow the Pope in St. Louis and instead have a woman-dominated clergy. They, too, have begun Crusades, though each has failed so far.
Evangelical: After the Cataclysm, Protestants of the south banded together, eventually establishing 5 patriarchs in an Evangelical Convention to provide guidance.
High Church (Considered a heresy of Evangelism): A branch of Protestantism that focuses so heavily on tradition and rituals that some consider it closer to Catholicism.
Anabaptists: The evolution of groups like the Amish. They are peaceful, which means they don't get Holy Wars, but they do get a large vassal relations bonus.
Americanists: Followers of the old gods of America, like Washington and Jefferson. They are led by a President, who is elected from those among their faith.
Occultists: Pagans who believe the world is a mystery, and who follow their own Old Gods.
Rust Cultists: Pagans who worship technology of the old world, like factories. They often seek to gather new pieces of old technology.
Norse: Pagans who believe the Christian god abandoned America in the Cataclysm and so have turned to the worship of the gods of their ancestors.
Consumerists: A new religion, based off of the worship of the Almighty Dollar. Their prophet is still alive and has carved out a realm for themselves in Michigan. They are led by the High Chairman.
Revelationist: Although they share superficial similarities with Christianity, these people have mixed it with ritual and mysticism to such an extent that it can only be considered paganry.
Neo-Gnostic (Considered a heresy of Catholicism): A mixture of Catholicism, the Ceticism of the West Coast, and Gnosticism, these people believe the material world is inherently sinful.
Nanisaanah: Based off of the old Ghost Dance, this religion is now more reformed and organized.
Gaian: A nature-based religion, revolving around nature spirits. Since they also believe men led the world to ruin, they tend to be woman-dominated.
Xhúuyee K'iigaang (Also known as Raven Tales): The religion of the Haida raiders of the Northwest. They worship several beings, but Raven is chief among them.
Mormon: Once, the Mormons were closer to the Christianity of the east, but time has caused these branches to split apart, and now they are irreconcilable (so, they don't count as Christian).
Cetic: A philosophical religion dominant in the West Coast, Cetics follow the teachings of great prophets like Jesus, Buddha, and the Emperor. They are led by the Emperor of California, who has in recent times become nothing more than a figurehead.
Atomicist: Like the Rust Cultists, Atomicists worship old technology, though of a different sort. They believe in an invisible world that can grant them power, and sometimes give their children the Blessing of the Atom through the powers of this world.
Sagrado Corazon: A faith with Catholic origins, the Sacred Heart now follows a pantheon of deities derived from Catholic Saints.
Mictlantec: Followers of the old Aztec religion, they are infamous for their sacrifices, which they believe keeps the world from destruction.
Rastafari: A religion based on the teachings of the Emperor Haile Selassie, also known as Ras Tafari. The dominant religion of the Caribbean Emprie.
Voodoo: Followers of the god Bondye, who is unreachable, so they pray to his servants, the Loa.
Santeria: A continuation of the old Yoruba religion of West Africa, mostly in the Caribbean.
Sol Invicta, Neomayan, Uahomche, Falling Star: Unfortunately, not much is known about these religions. They are mostly regional religions, with few followers beyond their respective regions.



http://i.imgur.com/iCN4ztF.png

Most importantly for this kingdom, however, is the fact that most of the population is not Brethren. Only the islands and Chignecto have had a majority population that follows the rituals of the pirates. All the lords have been replaced with Brethren, but the possibility of High Church followers more disgruntled than I revolting is a distinct possibility.

http://i.imgur.com/2s8Sz7o.png

Finally, let us explain to future observers how the pirates came to dominate such a large area in the first place. It begins with the grandmother and namesake of Jacquotte II, Commodore Jacquotte the Wolf. Initially a simple captain of the Magdalen Islands, she established an alliance through marriage with the captain of Anticosti. She was initially content with her islands, but in her old age, she began having desires. Others in this age may have desired wealth, love, or peace. Jacquotte I desired a kingdom. She began hiring adventurers, mercenaries, and, eventually, anyone who could hold a sword. The King of the Maritimes received word of this preparation when their boots were on the beaches. The kingdom fell swiftly, the pirates taking to this new style of warfare surprisingly well. Soon, Jacquotte the Wolf ruled over all of the land which now is Mi’kma’ki. Though her daughter did not bear her dynasty, she was happy enough to see that her conquests would pass to one of her own blood. She passed in her sleep in 2710.

http://i.imgur.com/NVcWc2G.png

Her daughter, Rachel, was just as gifted as her. It was she who firmly established the Admiralty of Mi’kma’ki. She also replaced the counts and dukes of the realm with Brethren, and those who she could not replace, she convinced to convert. She likely could have accomplished much, but a tragic dueling accident in a tournament she hosted cut her life short, after only two years of reigning. And so the crown passed to her daughter, Jacquotte II. We will see how her rule goes.

-------------------------------------------------
So, not much of a first update, but since this isn't a standard AAR, I figured it should be used to set the scene for those unfamiliar with the setting. I will, of course, be open to any suggestions people may have about the format of the update or what to do in-game. The only real question I have is whether people prefer having pictures before the relevant text or after. I've seen AARs do it both ways, and I'm frankly not sure which I prefer.

[IthilanorStPete]

I haven't played with the After the End mod at all; this looks like a fun way to learn about it! I tend to prefer having the images before the corresponding text, as long as there's only one or two images at a time.

[OrcusMcP]

I think it's time our Admiral cruised the seas for American gold!

[mythmonster2]

Update 1: First Blood

Finally, with the introductions out of the way, we can begin our history. Jacquotte took a decidedly martial bent early on, eager for war and conquest. She soon set out on raiding parties, though their purpose was twofold. Yes, she would accumulate loot and money, but she also sought to prove herself to her vassals. Not only is she a woman, but a young one at that, and despite the exploits of her grandmother, her vassals still see weakness in a woman. Time will dull some of this, but for now, proving her worth with blood and battle is her favored tactic.

http://i.imgur.com/IPjWIMV.png
http://i.imgur.com/Iuh7772.png

As I said before, not all people are content with our new lords. Jacquotte’s first steward, a man named Télésphore, was killed while collecting taxes. In response, she only cracked down harder and sent a new steward to extract the money she is due. The greed of pirates knows no bounds…

http://i.imgur.com/kmbv0yN.png

Proof of vassals trying to take advantage of her youth was soon apparent. Her own commander, Captain Baptiste of Antigonish, was caught in a plot to take control of the Duchy of Cape Breton. Even more so, when she sent a messenger with proof of the plot and a demand to stop it, he refused! She eventually allowed him to continue his plot, seeing as he had very little chance of actually succeeding in it, but also because she couldn’t afford to anger the man. His skills were important, after all.

http://i.imgur.com/MKB0wXj.png

This may seem a bit of an unrelated tale, but I heard my own child swear for the first time not too long ago. Why is this important? He swore, not by Jesus or God, but by Blackbeard, one of the Brethren’s gods. Thinking about it now, their rituals are more and more commonplace here in Kentville, and one of the churches in town actually closed. Perhaps some are converting out of fear or opportunity, but either way, I cannot deny that the Brethren have a foothold here in this area now.

http://i.imgur.com/5CPzNVm.png

I had not mentioned the Admiral’s other family in my introduction, as I had not thought it important. However, perhaps now is a good time to do so. Her brother, Silas, is an intelligent man, but also arrogant, deceitful, and cruel. These are all especially relevant given that he has a claim to the throne, as Admiral Rachel’s second-born. Moreover, as a man, some of the lords secretly support him for the throne over Jacquotte. Their sister, Uhu, is not immediately important. She has seemed content to live the life of royalty with none of the duties, despite her claim on the Kingdom. Next, Jacquotte’s husband, Kopit, is a fairly unremarkable man, though with a martial bent. They married mostly because there were few opportunities among Brethren at the time. Finally, there is her daughter, Dorothy, who was only two years old as of this event.

Back to Silas, however, his arrogance reached new bounds. Despite the bad blood between him and his sister, he barged into court one day and demanded the position of Steward. Jacquotte answered immediately, ordering him to leave the court and to never bring the topic up again. Guards came to his side, and he was forced to live, humiliated in front of many lords. This earned her a fair bit of respect among the lords, but only widened the rift between her and Silas.

http://i.imgur.com/xXy2AzR.png

It was not until August of 2616 that much happened besides fairly standard raids. However, that month seemed to make up for the lack of excitement elsewhere. First, the Ursulines declared another Crusade, this time against the Rust Cultists of Talbot in Ontario. However, the Ursulines have lost all Crusades thus far, and the Oligarch of Talbot is quite powerful. It is likely that the Ursulines will just lose again. The Admiral also announced her second pregnancy.

http://i.imgur.com/715cOA0.png
http://i.imgur.com/NfFzxZh.png

Of much more interest were the ships that would arrive later that month. They were unlike anything that has been seen in America in centuries, with large, strange designs and unknown flags. They desired an audience, and though some were wary, Jacquotte allowed them one. They revealed themselves to be merchants and explorers from the Old World, seeking knowledge of the west and goods for their patron. The shamans, especially, warned against their offer, but Jacquotte was not one to say no to gold.

The final part of their offer was the most controversial. They asked for some of their crew to stay in the kingdom, to facilitate trade and the exchange of language and culture. At this, even Jacquotte had second thoughts. The potential for spying was obvious. However, for reasons only known to her, she allowed this. Three men, named Outgrabe, Peter, and Griflet stepped forward and were allowed into the court, though at an arm’s distance. The merchants seemed pleased, and the audience was over. They would remain in port for some time, repairing their ships and restocking from the long voyage, before departing once more.

The three crewmen were curiosities. Though their language and ours had once been the same, the distance and the time since the Cataclysm have caused them to diverge. Slow speaking and careful hearing can usually pick out the main idea of the sentence, and some of the scholars are making an effort to learn the language. From their attempts, their religion, which they call the Thelemic faith, has been understood. This is fairly easy, for their main law is apparently only “Do what thou wilt.” Understandably, some Brethren have expressed interest in their faith, though the warnings of the shamans have kept most away from it.

http://i.imgur.com/NlfLq2a.png
http://i.imgur.com/As1dlsv.png
http://i.imgur.com/vnyy7NK.png

The hubbub around the men soon died down, though, and they were quickly seen as just foreign envoys. The typical pace of raiding and looting returned. It was during one such raid in December, located in New Brunswick that the Admiral and her raiders were attacked. They managed to repel the attackers with ease. However, the panic that ensued in the settlement they were raiding was quite unlike what would usually happen. Upon interrogating one of the residents, Jacquotte learned that the attacking force had, in fact, been the entirety of the forces of New Brunswick!

Smelling blood in the water, she and her forces quickly got on their boats to return to the Maritimes. There, she called up all her levies and declared war on New Brunswick. Her ambitions were strangely small, only a single border county. Later conversation revealed that the shamans, angry at her for her defiance with regards to the British, had refused her request to make this a greater Holy War. Still, land was land, and the troops were soon sieging the castle of Moncton.

http://i.imgur.com/xDd83CE.png

In December, disturbing news reached Jacquotte. Silas had been stewing since his rejection, and now he sought to lash out in revenge. It would come in the form of a plot to kill Dorothy, Jacquotte’s daughter. This was the last straw for her. She personally left the siege and sailed back to Kentville. With a group of guards, she stormed to his small manor and set fire to it. He, his wife, and their sole child ran outside, directly into the waiting guards. Silas was captured and his wife and child thrown onto the streets. However, Jacquotte decided that a simple jail cell was too good for this attempted murder, and Silas was thrown into the Oubliette. He would likely not last long there.

http://i.imgur.com/CIeEyqY.png
http://i.imgur.com/E54jB2L.png

Fortunately, after that incident, things died down. Silas stubbornly clung to life, but could do nothing from that cage. In March, 2717, Jacquotte gave birth to her second daughter, Rachel, after her mother. At some point, in whispered voices around the court, Jacquotte earned the nickname, “The Fat”. Even though this history will only be revealed after her death, I will refrain from commenting any more on the situation. Perhaps because of that, I have noticed her temper has grown, and she lashes out at perceived threats and insults (even more) frequently than before. Curiously, I have also noticed her spending quite a bit of time around Peter, the British envoy. Again, I will refrain from commenting on this situation any more. On a personal note, she also gave me a good amount of pay for this history I am writing, for which I am very appreciative.

http://i.imgur.com/CbQYY8L.png
http://i.imgur.com/lrRMYYe.png
http://i.imgur.com/FABbpRl.png

In July of 2718, perhaps frustrated at how King Cork of New Brunswick stuck stubbornly against surrender, Jacquotte hosted a war game, to keep her and her commanders fresh. She and her husband were placed as a defensive team. Through clever maneuvering and teamwork, they were declared the victors by the judges. Perhaps with the lessons learned from that, they were finally able to deal King Cork a decisive blow the next month, and he surrendered the county. She granted the county to her husband, since his martial ability had been quite important to the siege. Some people, who shall remain unnamed, also noted that this meant she would be alone in her bedroom more often now. Peter has certainly seemed happier lately.

http://i.imgur.com/ib5AGn6.png
http://i.imgur.com/l5LMlI5.png


With all that talk besides, Jacquotte has indeed proven that she can hold a war. With the first few years of her reign behind her, most of her vassals have at least quieted their discontent against her. Her daughter, Dorothy, has gone to learn the ways of war with Jacquotte’s marshal. Silas is safely locked in the Oubliette. However, trouble is brewing. To the north and the west, the Occultist realm of Restigouche is growing in power, profiting off of New Brunswick’s defeat. They seem to be the natural next step, but they are powerful, and the Occultist lands are infamously hostile to foreign invaders. We will just have to see how Jacquotte handles this.

http://i.imgur.com/7DtxDWu.png

[mythmonster2]

Part 2: The Curse of the Pirate Queens

With her first victory under her belt, Admiral Jacquotte II seemed elated. Her vassals now had respect for her, despite her unfortunate nickname, and she seemed genuinely happy. However, the next two years were rather uneventful. Even her raiding and pillaging slowed down. It was a slow, gradual change, but it was soon obvious that, somewhat fittingly, she had become a bit too drunk on this small success. Her ambition was gone.

http://i.imgur.com/xu8ntPS.png

In August of 2720, we received news from the west. As predicted, the Ursuline Crusade had failed. Yet another loss for these nuns. Perhaps they should simply give it up and leave the crusading to the Catholics.

http://i.imgur.com/swQJsBE.png

November of the same year brought both joy and tragedy. Jacquotte was pregnant again. However, her husband, Kopit, passed in his sleep the same month. The Admiral didn’t seem to mind much, though she made a show of it in public. She and her husband had mostly married due to a lack of other options, and the rumors of her and the Englishman Peter were still rampant. Indeed, by the end of the month, she had found a courtier in one of her vassals’ courts that caught her eye, and she married Nimu soon after. He seems to be an exceptional steward, and frankly, it seems that was all that mattered to her.

http://i.imgur.com/iapzn6J.png
http://i.imgur.com/7bBANea.png
http://i.imgur.com/hIOlG2f.png

Perhaps because of her loss of ambition, these were quiet years in general. In June of 2721, Jacquotte gave birth to Kopit’s final child, another daughter, named Merida.

http://i.imgur.com/m11WtZQ.png

It was not until February of 2723 that more news broke out. The province of Gaspé had stood independent for some time, but until recently, its liege had a considerable army beyond his regular levies. With the succession of his daughter, that army dispersed. Jacquotte had not fallen so far as to ignore such a perfectly good opportunity, and so she declared war on the isolated county. Its fall was assured.

http://i.imgur.com/FKc5azB.png

The war was decided soon. The single county’s measly forces were destroyed in a single battle, and all that remained was the sieging of the capital. It was such a simple affair that Jacquotte even took up falconry in the meantime. The castle fell in June of 2724, and the province soon belonged to the Maritimes.

http://i.imgur.com/yNx3Kb0.png
http://i.imgur.com/ovLoYxY.png

Perhaps the success in this war brought back the old spark in the Admiral. The next year, in February, the truce with New Brunswick expired. The Occultist kingdom of Restigouche had left New Brunswick with but a single province, and so the Admiral declared war to claim it. Much like Gaspé, this would surely be a simple affair.

That is, was it not for the Quebecois. The people of Gaspé were apparently even more aghast at their new overlords than any others so far. They rose up in rebellion, rallying behind a young soldier. Most importantly, they raised over 7000 men, at a time where the entire kingdom could only raise 4500.

http://i.imgur.com/tpG9YbD.png

The news of the rebellion seemed to change the Admiral as soon as she heard it. She went into her own private vault and used the money there to hire mercenaries for the good of the kingdom. Two mercenary companies were hired, enough to equal the Quebecois forces.

http://i.imgur.com/XxOadPd.png

The war with New Brunswick was a mere afterthought at this point. With the aid of the mercenaries, the province fell within a year, and the once-proud kingdom was no more. The army of Mi’kma’ki, combined with the mercenaries, crossed Restigouche territory to retake Gaspé. While crossing this territory, the army was surprised to hear that the Restigouchans had, themselves, clashed with the rebellion. Apparently the rebels’ idea for a new Kingdom of Quebec was strictly Ursuline. They had clashed, and though the rebels had won, their numbers were severely depleted.

This meant that in June, 2726, when the two armies met, the outcome was not really in doubt. It was still a pitched battle, the greatest Mi’kma’ki had fought yet. However, though the day was won, it carried a tragic price. Yet again, an Admiral fell before her time, a sword piercing straight through her gut.

http://i.imgur.com/jfk5Cxa.png
Though I am getting old in years, I have still, in my time, seen four Admirals rule over this realm. Some are beginning to get superstitious, calling this the Curse of the Pirate Queens. I have no time for such nonsense, myself.

Admiral Jacquotte II’s eldest child, the new Admiral Dorothy, was only 12 at the time of her rise to the throne. She is a charitable girl, but does it for her only own ego, and she uses it to mask a deep sense of envy. She is also prone to seemingly random decisions. Hopefully she may grow out of this as she learns to become a true ruler. For now, she is being tutored in the arts of war. A regency has been established, and one of her mother’s most loyal subjects has been chosen as regent. We can only hope that Admiral Dorothy will not fall prey to this so-called curse as well.

http://i.imgur.com/UQTWaot.png

-----------------------
Apologies for the long wait and relatively short update, college really decided to get tough. It seems to have let up a bit, though, so the next update might come a bit quicker.

[mythmonster2]

Update 3: The Rise of Admiral Dorothy

Admiral Dorothy’s ascension arrived with the rebels’ defeat. Mere days after she was crowned Admiral, the rebels were defeated and their leader executed.

http://i.imgur.com/g2xu9fX.png

Thus began the first regency of the Mi’kma’ki kingdom. The regent, a fat duke named Beausejour, was chosen mainly because of his harmlessness. Still, though, there are rumors that he is taking bits and pieces from the treasury where he can. Young Dorothy’s education in the art of war continues, and her tutor seems to be doing a fair job. A lying streak was quickly ended by a lesson in honesty.

http://i.imgur.com/oROJu0L.png
http://i.imgur.com/Entl3NH.png
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Finally, in September of 2729, Dorothy reached the age of 16. She is a skilled combatant and is able to deal with people both to their faces and behind their backs. Unfortunately, she holds an active disdain for learning and is abysmal with money. The steward has frequently come into my office to complain about her management of the kingdom. I was unaware that I had also apparently been given the position of court therapist in addition to historian.

http://i.imgur.com/9Zikl6c.png

She at least seems to recognize her lack of ability in regards to managing the kingdom, and studies hard with the steward to try to understand the ways of the economy. She also made a rather surprising announcement: the official name of the kingdom would now be what it had unofficially been for years: The Maritimes. She seemed sad to allow her mother’s culture pass like this, but saw it as one of the few ways she could ingratiate herself to her vassals. Finally, she was betrothed to a young son of one of the few independent Brethren captains on the north shore of the St Lawrence. It wasn’t much of an alliance, but something was better than nothing.

http://i.imgur.com/1X4y6yR.png
http://i.imgur.com/p3nv5LA.png

In the early days of 2730, a shocking event happened. A handmaiden heard a crash from within the Admiral’s bathroom. She investigated and saw the admiral naked, having slipped while getting ready for a bath. However, it was the admiral’s body that surprised the handmaiden. She was unmistakably pregnant. Evidently, Dorothy had been having an affair with a commander, and now bore his child out of wedlock. She had sought to hide it from the court as long as possible, but the news spread quickly. She was shamed and attracted the ire of the shamans. In October, the admiral gave birth to the bastard. She named her Aurora.

http://i.imgur.com/vrrc6OC.png
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It seemed she was changing her ways after this. Her habit of almost random decisions faded away as she focused on her rulership. However, come March of 2731, she was discovered as pregnant again. Even more, when Enos was born in October, it was obvious to all that the child had some sort of mental problem. He was slow to respond to calls, and constantly seemed unaware of his surroundings. His birth seemed to galvanize the admiral to finally end the affair, but her reputation was already damaged. It was not a good start for her rule.

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She spent the next months actively trying to repair her reputation. In March 2733, her sister Rachel came of age, and she was married to one of Commodore Beausejor’s sons, in order to further cement their alliance. She is a completely unremarkable girl, without any notable talents whatsoever. Dorothy’s own ambition grew, and she seems to be excelling in many areas now.

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Finally, in 2734, her betrothed came of age. Ufwan Forestville is an excellent steward and gladly took to helping manage the realm. He also gave The Maritimes its only alliance with another state. With the alliance cemented, and her ambition growing, Dorothy made her first move. The Occultist land of Restigouche had been growing in power to the north and the west under Duke Godefroi, whose superstitious followers have taken to calling “The Sword of the Spirits.” However, he was now distracted by a claimant war far to the south in Massachusetts. The shamans were still angry over her two bastards, and thus unwilling to allow a greater war. Dorothy instead chose to simply claim a neighboring county. This would be a much greater war than any fought so far.

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The early stages of the war went well, with Restigouchan forces being too far to immediately respond. The county was seized early on, and Maritime forces struck for the capital. Perhaps what happened next was an omen. Dorothy gave birth to her first legal child in July of 2735, a boy she named Dalach. As soon as he was born, he began choking, and only barely survived. As it turned out, the experience was a mere foreshadowing. His mind is even worse than Enos. He barely seems capable of anything but lying down and drooling. The admirals were heartbroken.

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The war continued on, with Ufwan’s father contributing forces. But in September 2736, disaster struck. Restigouchan forces had finally organized and now assembled to fight. The two forces were of considerable size, but the Maritime army held an advantage with their allies. That is, until those allies broke and fled in the middle of combat. Without their help, the Maritime army was hopelessly outnumbered and crushed. Admiral Dorothy was the only thing that prevented the army from being slaughtered to a man. She assembled a genius retreat, allowing a little over 1500 men to escape.

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The admiral refused to allow this to be the end. She regrouped the army in Maritime territory while the Restigouchans sought to recapture the contested land. She arranged for a loan from a banker, which allowed her to recruit a band of mercenaries. They struck back in March 2737 while the Restigouchan army was divided. Unfortunately for them, they had nobody on their side that could arrange a retreat like Dorothy, and were eliminated entirely.

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With that battle, the war was as good as won. Another of Dorothy’s sisters, Merida, came of age later that year. If anything, she was even more unremarkable than Rachel. The admiral also bore another child, a girl named Ophelia. She seemed to be of full mental faculty, but was an ill child.

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But though the war was over, there were still troubles. The nobles were furious for the destruction of their levies in the war, all for a single province. The shamans, too, claimed to receive omens. They said that the Menier dynasty was growing too attached to the land and had forgotten their roots. A true leader of the Brethren should not be hereditary, they said. The leader should be elected, like a captain was elected by the crew- in this case, the nobles would take the place of the crew. The groups conspired and, while the army was far away sieging the Restigouchan capital, came to the admiral with a demand: institute a form of elections in the kingdom where the dukes could choose their admiral, or the dukes would rise up and force it.

Admiral Dorothy was furious at the nobles for challenging her power like this, but with the Restigouchans reassembling their forces, she could not afford a rebellion. Antagonizing the shamans even more was also not a wise course of action. Reluctantly, she relented. She also gave them directions: her first vote would be for her sister, Rachel. With both of the admirals’ eldest children proving unfit for the throne, she would have to support someone else. Fortunately, the dukes seemed to agree, and it seems that Rachel will be the designated heir for Dorothy. Hopefully we will not have to see that come into action anytime soon.

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Despite the ongoing war and the recent shift in government, there would be quiet times ahead. The Restigouchans refused to go down, despite their obvious defeat. In March of 2738, news came from the Catholic crusader kingdom of Louisiana. The Knights of Peter Claver, a holy order, pledged their swords to any Catholics who wished to wage a holy war. The Catholics had done well so far, but they were far from Maritimer interests… so far.

The queen would also give birth to two more children in that year and the next- Blair and Cathleen. They, too, seemed to avoid the first two children’s curse. Perhaps because of this, the queen seemed to abstain from drinking. Nobody seemed to object to this.

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At last, in January of 2740, the Restigouchans finally offered their surrender. The war lasted 6 years, and resulted in a change of government for The Maritimes. Despite this, it was only a small county. There would have to be a period of recovery, as levies and lands slowly rebuilt from the surprisingly tough war. Fortunately, the Restigouchans seemed to be hit hard from the war. Revolts sprang up, and even though Duke Godefroi appears to be winning, they are at least tying down his troops. Perhaps the next war may be even more successful. For now, Dorothy must keep her homelands safe and secure.

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-------------------------
My apologies for the long wait between updates. College is how college is, and I found it difficult to get into CKII when I had free time. Fortunately, it seems to have caught my eye again, so hopefully I can get the next update out faster! Feel free to suggest a course of action for our intrepid admiral! (Though looting and pillaging is basically constant. I'm honestly surprised at how much gold and prestige that gives.)

[Artanis]

Regarding pillaging, are you using the trick to load all of it into one boat to be shipped home while the rest of the fleet carries on with the looting? Because with that, the gains go from "surprisingly large" to "WTF" :smallwink:

[mythmonster2]

Regarding pillaging, are you using the trick to load all of it into one boat to be shipped home while the rest of the fleet carries on with the looting? Because with that, the gains go from "surprisingly large" to "WTF" :smallwink:

No, I've never actually head of that. How's it work?

[OrcusMcP]

I think it's time to go on a big raid into the Confederacy, or the Caribbean.

[Artanis]

No, I've never actually head of that. How's it work?

Take a fleet that has a bunch of loot in it, and hit the split in half button. One of the two new fleets will be empty while the other has all the loot in it regardless of capacity. Select the one with all the loot, and hit the split in half button again. Repeat the process until all the loot is on as few ships as possible, then send the loot-fleet home to drop it off while merging the rest back together to gather more loot.

[mythmonster2]

Update 4: The Ursuline Crusade

After the devastating war with Restigouche, the people of the Maritimes hoped for peace and time to rebuild. Unfortunately, almost immediately after the war, a shocking event occurred in the court. Admiral Dorothy’s husband, Ufwan Forestville, was found dead in his office. The court mourned his passing, as he was a brilliant man, and the admiral wept as she sent his body back to the county from which he came. She would eventually remarry, though her choice proved rather questionable. Francis was a baron, and a relative of the admiral, though distant enough not to raise any eyebrows. However, an investigation of his background revealed that he had been involved in his own brother’s death. The admiral has, refused to comment on the matter, which has sent many whispers through the court. One can only speculate what is in her mind.

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The next few years were quiet, for this kingdom, at least. Admiral Dorothy’s study in the art of stewardship had apparently paid off, and she now had a reputation as a just, honorable lord. She was even able to use her new knowledge to create a code of laws governing her vassals. For the first time, they were obligated to provide at least some troops when called upon. Any grumbling was largely placated through the use of diplomats and gold. More merchants arrived from the east, and like her mother before her, Dorothy allowed them in.
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To the west, in Michigan, however, there was more exciting news. The Consumerists had subdued most of the peninsula in the name of the Almighty Dollar years before. With their considerable military might, few dared challenge them. However, the Catholics, fresh off their victory in Louisiana, now felt up to the task. The Pope declared a Crusade for their western lands. Tales of the battles tell of fields permanently dyed red with blood, of churches and malls being burned down in the name of the two gods. In the end, however, the Catholics gave the Consumerists their first defeat, and the Knights of Peter Claver were granted all Consumerist land on the west side of Lake Michigan. Fortunately, we are still some distance from the Catholics’ interests.

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In 2744, the peace of the Maritimes was shattered. The Quebecois rose again, undeterred by their earlier defeat. They had a fearsome force, but they were also in land disconnected from the rest of the kingdom. The admiral chose a strategy which some called cowardly. For two years, the rebels were allowed to siege these disconnected territories, losing forces to the brutal winters of the north. Meanwhile, raiding and plundering filled the treasury with gold. That gold was then used to hire a few mercenary companies. Combined, the mercenaries and the kingdom’s armies were able to finally meet the rebels in the field of battle and crush them. Though the strategy worked, it still drew heavy criticism, especially from the dukes of the lands which were left open for the rebels to pillage.

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Perhaps the admiral had other things in mind. The man who was suspected of ordering the murder of Dorothy’s first husband died, choking on his wine. The criticism died down as time passed on. Dorothy’s first bastard child, Aurora, came of age. She had received no special education, and she showed it. Still, she was allowed to stay in court. The admiral still holds a great fondness for her. The admiral also saw some changes. Her attempts to improve her stewarding ability were a remarkable success, and now she sought to plunder new realms. That is, the realm of business. With as cutthroat and ruthless as that can be, perhaps it will be a natural fit for the Brethren.

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In the same year, more news arrived from the west. This, however, came from even farther than Michigan. In fact, it came all the way from California. Four large, black ships had approached San Jose, and, without warning, unleashed thousands of invaders from across the Pacific! They apparently come from Japan, and seek to subjugate the West Coast in the name of their Emperor. Though there was no chance they could reach this far east, the news still sparked discussion for days. The immediate topic was the British. If one set of invaders could cross an ocean, what was to stop another, especially if they already had spies in place? Despite the admiral’s best efforts, anti-British attacks became commonplace for several weeks. British sailors would have eggs, tomatoes, and thrown at them in the street, and that was when they weren’t physically assaulted. A doubling of guards and strict punishments eventually managed to calm the populace down, but all eagerly awaited more news from the west…

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In March of 2747, the admiral gave birth to another boy, Cavan. Her husband caused quite a stir when he declared that the child could not possibly be his, but he could find no evidence that this was so. Enos, the admiral’s second bastard, would come of age, and his growth was as slow as predicted. He was married to a minor courtier, and unlike Aurora, the admiral preferred to pretend that Enos didn’t exist. A minor scandal broke out when it was revealed that the admiral had been counterfeiting coins to make a quick profit. The news from that quickly died down when the admiral’s sister and designated heir suddenly died of an illness. With nobody else in the family being suitable, the admiral threw her support behind her daughter, Ophelia, who she had been tutoring personally. The nobles are too divided to support another candidate.

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With these quiet years, Dorothy had grown restless, and began planning another attack on Restigouche. Those plans were cut short by a declaration from the Ursuline Abbess-General. Another Ursuline Crusade was at hand, and the target was none other than the Maritimes!

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The Ursulines had not won a single Crusade yet, but the declaration galvanized the Brethren nonetheless. The nobles were all too happy to provide troops to fight off these invaders. The army organized and awaited the first sight of Ursuline troops. Soon, boats were spotted off the east coast of Cape Breton. The army followed the ships. When the first crusaders finally landed, they scarcely had a week to ready a siege before the Maritime forces met them in battle. They were small in number and easily crushed, with not a single survivor remaining.

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As it turned out, the Ursulines worked together extremely poorly. Individual lords, perhaps believing that pirates could offer no true resistance, came piecemeal, rather than banding together into a single army. Each opponent landed on the shores, and each opponent was slaughtered to a man. Even the Abbess-General’s own army was crushed. After two years of this, the nobles even tired of defeating the Ursulines on the beaches and marched on the seat of the Ursulines: Quebec. Dorothy herself led the siege, and she was there when the walls of the city fell. The greatest looting the Brethren had ever seen took place as the magnificent cathedrals of the city were torn apart. Everything, down to the nails on the pews, was taken away back to the Maritimes on longships. Citizens fled in terror as the city burned for a week. Despite a thorough search, it seemed the Abbess-General had also managed to flee the city before the Brethren captured it. A year later, after having swallowed their pride, the Ursulines surrendered and declared the Crusade an utter failure.

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For the first time, a pirate queen was celebrated by the Brethren shamans. Dorothy was hailed as the protector of all pirates and the lord of all the seas. News finally reached her of developments at home and elsewhere. She had her first grandchild, a son, from Enos. Her first legitimate son, Dalach, had also come of age. Even worse than Enos in mental capacity, he was quietly married off to a Baroness, where he could be away from the court. Finally, news had arrived from the west. The Japanese had been driven back into the sea by the combined efforts of the Californian kingdoms. Many feared their return, but for now, there were celebrations up and down the West Coast.

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Here, there is a sense of victory that I have never seen, even when the pirates first conquered this realm. They have proven they are the rightful lords of this land and that the East Coast will have to dread the black flag for many years to come.

[Artanis]

A good read :smallsmile:

It's making me want to try out this mod :smallwink:

[mythmonster2]

Intermission: A Look at the Brethren Religion

I write this as perhaps my last work for the court. In light of the recent victory of the Brethren against the Ursuline Crusade, I felt that it would be appropriate to detail what exactly the Brethren religion is. Of course, one major problem with this is that, unlike, say, Catholic Christianity, the Brethren are not a truly unified religion. The Brethren of the West Coast differ from the Brethren of Central America, and they differ from the Brethren here in the Maritimes. News from our British trading partners even shows there are Brethren (though they do not call themselves that) in Europe and Africa. However, there a few unifying factors that can create an umbrella of these beliefs systems.

First is the veneration of the sea. It is very rare to find Brethren more than 100 miles from a major body of water. Owing to its status as a pirate religion, this is not surprising. Second is the tendency for more lax moral standards than other religions, likely for the same reason. You will certainly find no scripture disapproving of a lust for gold in any Brethren teachings. Third is a generally polytheistic system, with some sort of sea god as the original creator, though what name that god holds depends on where you reside.

The religion itself is not organized. There are no church services or Sunday masses. The main practice of the religion is a short prayer offered to the appropriate god or goddess prior to engaging in some activity. One may pray to ABC to resolve a dispute in a friendship, or to Joyful Roger before beginning work on a house, for instance. A list of the most important gods and goddesses can be found at the end of this piece. In addition, each god usually has a holiday, with the more major ones being national events where merriment and carousing sweep the nation. These festivals are usually organized by the shamans. Beyond this, the priests’ only power is in giving advice to the lords and in reaching the hearts, minds, and souls of the people.

One final aspect of the religion, and one which is being forced to adapt as a result of the unusual circumstance of the Maritimes, is the generally anti-authoritarian attitude of the religion. Pirates loathe nothing more than the work of a tyrant. Every ship is required to elect their captain, and the crew can overthrow the captain (sometimes literally) if they deem him to be abusing his powers. It was this attitude that led the shamans to support the lesser nobles in their revolt against Admiral Dorothy. However, thus far, each Admiral has sought to curb this attitude and to make the shamans subject to the state. Naturally, the shamans object to this. The conflict has continued over two admirals so far and shows no signs of being resolved soon. Perhaps my son will be the one to witness the culmination of this, or perhaps it will simmer for yet longer. We will have to see.



Gods and Goddesses:

Note: This is only representative of the deities worshipped in the Maritimes. I am sure that the Western and Eastern Brethren have their own deities. Perhaps to the Europeans, Rosa is the central figure, while Blackbeard is merely the god of the Western Seas.

Poseidon / Neptune: The creator god. Long ago, the Earth was nothing more than a barren rock, where nothing moved or changed. Then, Poseidon appeared and gifted the Earth with water. From his crashing waves, the rest of the gods were born. Even later, life emerged from the sea, spreading across the Earth and enriching it. Poseidon was pleased with what he created and went to the bottom of the sea, to sleep a deep slumber. Poseidon is held in the highest position by the shamans, but is usually passed up in prayers for the more active gods.

Blackbeard: Along with his twin, The Teacher, the first god to emerge from the foam. He is everything a pirate could hope to be: brave, ruthless, glorious, and the strongest being to exist. He wields a great cutlass as long as a ship’s mast. All the salt water of the world is his domain, and every ship travels with his approval.

The Teacher: Along with his twin, Blackbeard, the first god to emerge from the foam. He embodies the more mental aspects of piracy: cunning, wisdom, and planning. Make no mistake, though: he is just as ruthless as his twin when pushed. He is the lord of fresh water, from the mightiest river to the stillest pond.

She: The principal goddess of the Pacific Ocean. Obviously, not worshipped often by Maritimers, but still one of the more powerful goddesses. It is said she is as wrathful as the ocean she presides over.

Rosa: The principal goddess of the European and African seas. As with She, not usually worshipped by Maritimers. One curious fact about her is that, despite definitely being a goddess, she is always depicted with a long, flowing red beard.

The Kidd (sic): The god of wealth and plunder. The Kidd (and I do not know the reason behind the spelling) is usually depicted in the form of a baby sitting in an open treasure chest, surrounded by gold and jewelry. Naturally, one of the more popular gods to worship and pray for before a raiding voyage.

Colorful Jack: If The Kidd is the god of wealth, Colorful Jack is the god of what that wealth is spent on. He is the patron of pleasure of all sorts: alcohol, sex, gambling, and a good night out. If it would make a Christian priest balk, Colorful Jack likely revels in it. Along with The Kidd, one of the most popular gods to worship. He is also a notorious shapeshifter, all the better to revel with.

Draco: The two-faced god of trickery and deception. His face is split down the middle: his left half being that of a handsome human and his right half being covered by a fearsome golden mask in the shape of a dragon. Tricksters and thieves across the seas pray to him before beginning their con. In one of the greatest differences between regions, Draco is held as an evil devil figure in Mexico and the lands south of it.

Joyful Roger: The god of ships and artisans. The title given to him is strictly ironic, as he has a reputation for being the most dour and grim members of the pantheon. Nevertheless, he is the greatest craftsman in the world, and Blackbeard sails his finest creation, the Flying Dutchman. Usually worshipped by those who worked with their hands.

The Black Man: The god of ambition and ruthlessness. The Black Man is the god most likely to intervene in human affairs. He smiles on ambition of any kind, and will gladly help a person who will do anything to achieve their goals. Consistently worshipped by few, but called on by many.

Old John: The god of death. Depicted as a man with an octopus for a head, Old John comes for all, inevitably. However, there are stories of those who manage to trick or outrun him. Against these people, he sends his companion, Kracker (sic). Kracker is an octopus so large that it could be mistaken for an island from a distance. When it comes for a ship, there is nothing the ship can do to save itself. Old John is usually not worshipped, but is quietly respected by all.

The Hangman: The only god to not be worshipped. Once, the Hangman acted in pursuit of justice, as Old John’s faithful partner. However, he seized power and became a god. Now, he is a tyrant, executing all those who oppose him. He sends his agents in the form of kings and emperors to do his bidding on the Earth. He also corrupted one of Old John’s beasts, the Leviathan. Now, it is the Redback, a great lobster-like beast that serves the Hangman utterly.

Anne-Bonnie-Clyde (usually abbreviated as ABC): The most complicated god, at least for outsiders, is saved for last. In appearance, ABC appears to be three people with their backs fused together. Anne is depicted with two cutlasses, and she is a fiery and emotional goddess. To her right is Clyde, who wields a rifle (an Old World firearm known for its great accuracy), and favors caution and planning. To his right, and Anne’s left, is Bonnie, who wields both a cutlass and a pistol (an Old World firearm wielded in one hand). She usually brings balance between the two, deciding when is the time to plan and when is the time to act. Together, they are the god of a concept unique to the Brethren. The closest phrase that I have been able to think of is a fire-forged friendship, where a bond deeper than any other is formed in times of great danger and crisis. The Brethren call this “a crew’s love”, and this is one fact on which they do not differ.

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Don't have a full update yet, but I've had this idea bouncing around in my head and figured I'd post it. Hopefully it's enjoyable to read, and not just write! You can probably easily tell I had fun with all the gods.

[OrcusMcP]

I may or may not be partial to alt-history religious history stuff. Awesome. I can assume we will see our various characters invoking certain deities?