Early Saxon plans and concerns after the Fall of Rome:

By: King John, Saxon Lord

 

Saxon’s current position:

Our nation is not healthy with the departure of the Romans.  What military we have consumes nearly all of our Gold and Supplies.  It is only through frugal savings that we have any significant stores at all. Those that we do have could be easily used up in a month without some wise choices and careful planning.  I must be cautious in planning not just the next month but also the next several months to ensure that we have the Gold and Supplies necessary to reclaim the region of Belgica as ours again. 

That is not our only concern though.  The Fall of the Roman Empire has left large sections of Europe with little to no rules and ruthless barbarians unchecked to grow strong and strike out on the warpath again.  To my west lie the remains of the Celtic tribes in Armorica.  Just to the south of the Celts, but sharing a historic border along my southwest, is the re-emerging nation of the Franks.  Straight south of Belgica are the lands of Gaul and the surviving Alamanni, how many have survived and how strong they remain is of great concern as they share the largest border with our traditional homeland.  Lastly, to our east is the land of Germania and the fierce Teutons or at least those that survived the wars and occupation of the Roman Empire. Barely able to support anything beyond our own military we cannot afford or survive a war against multiple neighbors at once.  Diplomatic effort will start immediately with messengers sent to all but the Celts seeking peace, at least for a time.

 

Month one plans:

            I have tried and tried but even with the stockpile of Supplies and Gold that we managed to hide from the Romans I am not sure how we can assure growth over the next few months.  A lesser Noble with some common sense pointed out that although Supplies are important, it appears that our plans for the first few months do not require nearly as many Supplies as it will require Gold. An inside source of this same minor Noble also assured him that the exchange rate of supplies for food may never be this favorable again.  This news allowed me to issue the first and second of the 13 orders that I would be able to issue.  I ordered 26,000 Supplies to be traded for 26,000 Gold and for his valuable help I granted lands and titles as necessary to elevate Governor Hulderic to a Baron. Obvious necessary moves were to gain some additional resources as I already felt the pain of having the military consuming about 90% of our monthly budget.  With the barbarians around my borders I could not reduce our military, so more sources of income had to be claimed.  We already knew of 4 targets within Belgica, the neutral City of Reims, a neutral Town of Vetera and 2 neutral villages Seascape and Frosty Vale. 

Reims posed the greatest issue.  With the larger population and Gold production it was an obvious target.  However, its fame went well beyond our borders and might very well be inviting to one or more of my neighbors as a target.  Do I ignore it and hope my neighbors do too, at least until I gain control of the rest of the Belgica?  Do I send many of my nobles there to help ensure I grab the jewel of Belgica right off?  What if a barbaric neighbor of mine sends one of his own Nobles to block my attempt? That is a lot of wasted Gold if I am not able to claim the City.  Maybe have my military earn their pay and combine the Viper, Rattlesnake and Momba Legions at Reims, the can then take the City by force. 

In the end I decide to send Prince Germanus and Baron Maximus to Reims. Count Hulderic, father to the Governor that I was entitling, was entrusted with gaining the loyalty of the village of Frosty Vale.  I entrusted the Town of Vetera to the combined efforts of the Viper and Rattlesnake Legions and their 10,000 Soldiers. 

Agent Destiny promised me many great things if I would but invest in his training, this much I could do because I was greatly lacking in information. Priestess Seren offered to tell me information regarding a large portion of the rest of our old lands if I would but provide her with the items she needed for her mysterious art.  Although they came at a great price I hoped the information provided would be worthwhile. A few other Agents offered their services for reasonable prices and I had them gather information from around the realm, including a detailed look at the City of Reim where I was sending both Germanus and Maximus.  I was taking a risk by not further enamoring the people of Belgica or by expanding my own influence and thus the influence of the Nobles I sent out but I deemed this an acceptable risk compared to the exorbitant cost either of those actions would have entailed.

 

Results from the first month:

            Overall, the month was a great success.  Fortunately, no other nation sent a representative to the City of Reims.  Seren divined the location of 2 more neutral Towns – Lille and Bolougne plus another 2 neutral Villages – Hidden Harbor in Belgica and Volksburg in Germania.  Legion Rattlesnake also reported that something unusual was passed on a heavily treed foothill and marked down the location.  It looks like my entitlement of Hulderic was deserved.  The exchange rate is now 15 Supplies for 10 Gold.

            On the Diplomatic front, I had heard back from both the Teutons and Alamanni and peace was agreeable to both nations.  If I hear back from the Franks with a similar acceptance then my next several months look like they will be devoted to the removal of the Celtic Tribes from the lands of Armorica.

 

Plans for month two:

            Still having only 13 orders I set about making my plans.  Many of my orders are already dictated by my plans last month.  Legion Viper, now a full Division of 5 Brigades with the addition of Legion Rattlesnake, will attack Vetera and move to Town Lille where it will join with an addition Brigade and the leaders from Legion Momba.  Maximus will Stir Unrest in an attempt to help Germanus convince the people of Reims to join our nation.  Count Hulderic the Senior will attempt to sway the people of Frosty Vale.  I also choose to send the newly entitled junior Hulderic to the village of Seascape and Duke Widukind will be moving to Bolougne.  Seren is weary and I will not risk her health but Destiny and a few other Agents again offer to help me gain information about my realm. Agent Vision I choose to move closer to the Amorica border so that next month he can start gaining information within their borders.

 

Results from the second month:

            I am amazed and impressed with my Noble Court!  Belgica is ours.  The neutral Towns and Villages are now under Saxon control.  Four Villages and two Towns have declared their loyalty, all upon hearing of Saxon control of Belgica.  An increase in our Ruleship, Influence and our Regional Reaction within Belgica were also noticed as a result of gaining control of the Region.  Maximus and Germanus succeeded at Reims, Senior Hulderic succeeded at Frosty Vale and Legion Viper took Vetera without the loss of a full brigade, although 1600 of his troops did die during the battle. For valor in battle Hrothgar has been promoted to Tribune.  Hrothgar also informs me that the 2^nd, 3rd and 5^th Brigades are now fighting as experienced troops while the 1^st and 4^th Brigades are now considered Old Guard and are widely respected by the other Brigades.  Other plans went well also, Agent Destiny proved the worth of the training he received by providing a recon of 7 areas instead of the single area that he was previously able to scout.  The months rest restored Priestess Seren to full health. On the diplomatic front, the Franks agreed to our peaceful overtures so we now have a third border secured.

 

Plans for month three:

            Several Nobles needed to move close to Amorica in order to prepare for the invasion.  A couple of lesser Nobles would be of greater aid to the cause with a higher rank and greater influence.  Thus, Governor Murkdush will be promoted to the station of Baron and Ambassador Blackjaw will be known by the rank of Governor.  After the stellar performance of Agent Destiny, the Agents of my nation have proven their worth and promise even greater deeds yet.  So three agents are to be given training to improve their skill.  Finding the extra order that higher Rulership brings quite useful I decide to invest in gifts and bribes designed to raise Rulership even further.  Priestess Seren will aid the cause by divining additional Population Centers in the heart of Amorica in preparation for our invasion.  An increase in Supply production will aid our war effort, so the building of 2 storehouses has been ordered.  Some recruiting may also be needed and to help with this a Tavern has been ordered for the Town of Vetera.  Some troop reorganization and movement towards Amorica round out the rest of the orders.

 

Results from the third month:

            All went as planned with a minor exception.  The Celts have already moved into my Region with a Division having arrived at our village of Guilmere, our Duke is currently at Guilmere and his safety is of some concern.  It seems I was not the only one making plans for war.  Priestess Seren revealed 5 villages and a town within the newly claimed Celtic region of Amorica. 

            Nobles are in place.  Agents are learning their dark tradecraft.  Militaries are on the move.  Great works are being built at the Towns and Villages of the realm.  Our nation is at a height that has not been heard of in generations.  The preparations are in place and the enemy has been spotted.  What shall the future bring?  Where would you go from here if the choices were yours to make and the Kingdom was yours to rule?