Game 10

jamesbond007 wrote:If you did return I would be the first to welcome you and offer you a treaty. We could be friends and allies. That would surprise a few.

Might be difficult if I came back as Spain on the grounds that I don't recognise your character and therefore your ability to sign treaties. If I appeared as King Charles Hapsburg that would guarantee a lively start and at least half of Spain rallying to my cause.

In G7, Spain started off with 2 players, which ended up as 1 played very well by Stuart.  In G10 we seem to have started off with 1 player, which then became multiple claimants and who knows, multiple players?

At least Spain in G7 tried to stick to treaties he signed, whereas from what I remember about G10 the only point of signing a treaty is to go running to 'court Agema' to accuse the other parties of breaking them.  Sounds much easier not to sign treaties with those you don't trust.

You could not come back as a Spanish character and not as Spain. You could come back as Charles Hapsburg but your Father Emperor Leopold has recognised King Rodrigo as King Carlos III of Spain. Half of Spain would not follow you. King Rodrigo is accepted as undisputed King of Spain. The King of Spain is undisputed now.

G7 was an experiment with two Spanish players which I think Richard felt didn’t work well enough so he never started the other games like it. Stuart was lucky in g7. Spain starts with a very small army. If other players target Spain early they will gain parts of the Empire. Spain cannot defend its Empire for a couple of years. The poor Spanish player on g10 was targeted by a team of three players. He didn’t have a chance.

This is why future games of Lgdr will struggle. There are teams, groups of friends in the games now and sadly many players will target other players through past hostilities. A good example is you. You are threatening it now, against myself.

I signed a treaty with Austria in g10. Never played with the player before so I didn’t know, trust or not trust him. I have reported him for treaty breeches as he has reported me for treaty breeches.

jamesbond007 wrote:You could not come back as a Spanish character and not as Spain.

That decision is not yours.

I have already provided at least one example (Martel) where a character on Spain's lists became active.  Happened before and can happen again.

jamesbond007 wrote:
You could come back as Charles Hapsburg but your Father Emperor Leopold has recognised King Rodrigo as King Carlos III of Spain. Half of Spain would not follow you. King Rodrigo is accepted as undisputed King of Spain. The King of Spain is undisputed now.

G7 was an experiment with two Spanish players which I think Richard felt didn’t work well enough so he never started the other games like it. Stuart was lucky in g7. Spain starts with a very small army. If other players target Spain early they will gain parts of the Empire. Spain cannot defend its Empire for a couple of years. The poor Spanish player on g10 was targeted by a team of three players. He didn’t have a chance.

This is why future games of Lgdr will struggle. There are teams, groups of friends in the games now and sadly many players will target other players through past hostilities. A good example is you. You are threatening it now, against myself.

I signed a treaty with Austria in g10. Never played with the player before so I didn’t know, trust or not trust him. I have reported him for treaty breeches as he has reported me for treaty breeches.

Everything is reset when a new player comes along ... or at least that was how you interpreted things when you joined, much to the annoyance of several players.

Half of Spain would not follow me? Well, I suspect most new players would be quite pleased with the half of Spain that will follow me? It is certainly a solid starting point. Just remember, I am not threatening you with anything, merely pointing out that no game is static and new (or old) players may join at any time to disrupt what you consider is your position as 'undisputed' king of Spain.  Any position may be 'disputed' if players decide they want to do so.

There are always potential game lines that would be inconvenient for different players - an active King James in G10 would no doubt make things difficult for England - but if a player is looking to make gains at the expense of an unstable sprawling empire, then Spain would still appear to be the most vulnerable position in G10 to target and therefore more likely to attract a Martel-type player who wants to cause trouble.

I know you've missed me, but this discussion would seem to have run its course.  No doubt in future turns when something doesn't quite go your way, you will wonder if I am behind it.

I must say I have missed you in the game. No other player gets the wrong end of the stick half as often as you. Be good to see you back one day. Or perhaps I will join one of your games. That would be fun.

Thanks for the chat. Always a good laugh. Good evening to you.

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Marshal Bombast wrote:

Now we have the blame going on the Russian translation department!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the Tsar says it's the translation department then it's the translation department. Not sure about those that title themselves Czar though they could be wrong.

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Marshal Bombast wrote:
Marrying a Hapsburg in G9 or G10.

For 'Hapsburg' read the most intelligent, beautiful, witty and elegant woman in the world  

Marshal Bombast wrote:

For 'Hapsburg' read the most intelligent, beautiful, witty and elegant woman in the world  

For players interested in a Hapsburg Princess in G7......please note the above from a totally un-biased Czar/Tsar.

Currently in G7 the major concerns in order of the most Noble House of Austria (Austrian and Spanish branches) are:-

1) Finding suitable bridegrooms for x5 daughters who are starting to approach suitable age to need a husband. Only legitimate sons of Catholic and Noble families need apply. No Bourbons or Stuarts !!

2) If the Emperors favourite goat looking a bit peaky and off its food?

3) The French

4) The Ottomans

5) Possible crisis in Poland.........do we want to end up shareing a border with the Czar/Tsar? What happened to the loyal Imperial Elector who was King of Poland? And why were we not consulted before he was replaced? (Wonder were our dear old Dad put the note?)

6) Where has the Spanish Viceroy of Africa gone? And why has only about 10% of the budget allocated too be spent in Africa actually been spent in North Africa? What happened to the other 90%? (Even the tax farmers in charge of customs only shave off a third)

7) Jacobites/Pirates (same thing really) being a pain. Not sure what is worse Jacobite Pirates, Clearly lost probably mad and very elderly Jacobite bishops, or total haridan Jacobite spies with paint pots and rabid lawyers.

The turn arrived earlier today with no changes on the Honour table, though I still don’t know why the Elector of Saxony is on there twice. Not that I’m sure a turn’s order would be worth finding out.

1. Madrid saw alleged Italian assassins accused of plotting against His Holiness in Rome, attacked by a mob in the street. The men of the mob were quickly apprehended, though the woman seems to have escaped custody.

Spain committed to leaving the slave trade by end of 1706.

2. France thinks it’s no longer at war with anyone. Having said that French forces entered the Dutch? Town of Namur, with great pomp and ceremony.

France seems to have solved her timber crisis in case she needs more ships.

France appears to be making conciliatory overtures to Rome and promising recognition if Rome would be forgiving.

3. Austrian Hussars found millions of Spanish coins laying by the roadside and took the haul for themselves, before continuing into Bayonne and burning the port down.

Nearby rural French inhabitants no doubt heard about the treasure as they charged into the town to grab their share of the booty, just as other French militias were disbanding. The Hussars left, we assume with their treasure. Laden with their treasure I wonder what their land speed velocity is now?

4. The Duchy of Lorraine closed the Flanders Embassy because the ambassador was breaking with the rules of hospitality and casting repeated aspersions on a noted person who holds a lot of influence there apparently.

5. Various gifts, services, speeches and feasts were held across Europe. Most notable of which was the visit by The Lord God Dolphin to the Asante embassy where they all shared a pot of tea.

It would appear that the Tsar has been sleeping in Church too much, as he celebrated Christ’s birth a month early. Maybe he forgot to tell the Patriarch that Christmas should be celebrated when the rest of Europe does, or could it be the influence of his loving wife?

6. Sweden said she was resting her armies from the battles in France and would rejoin if France and The HRE couldn’t trust each other just enough to sign some sort of peace treaty. Sweden promised if they rejoined battle then they would perform significantly better than they had so far. I wonder if they’ve spent the contents of the French treasury they previously captured and are eager to claim this years?

7. The Hague saw another treaty published on behalf of France, though I thought that the presenting noble had been relieved of diplomatic duties at the peace talks or have I misremembered an earlier newspaper article. Maybe it’s the translation department again, or could it have been a dream one Sunday?

8. Antwerp saw Spain buy 3,000,000 shares of the HWIC compared to King William’s 3 nations who snapped up 150,000 shares and retained ownership of the company. This shows why the Dutch and English are the world’s leading traders and the Scots are known for their thrift.

9. Regensburg saw discussion around whether Spain could sell Brabant, Flanders and Luxembourg to France, as Spain was enfeoffed these lands from Austria. A vote was then tabled in 3 months time on whether the French representative could address the Reichstag again until Austria had signed a peace treaty with France which protected the Holy Roman Empire.

10. Savoy made it clear foreign troops are not welcome to cross her territory, while His Most Sacred Majesty made clear to the Venetian ambassador that many years ago the Doge gave permission for Austria to move troops across Venice.

11. Milan saw French troops try to break down the door of a castle, which didn’t budge. Meanwhile Spain occupied Milanese defences and started building a citadel.

12. The Asante gave out food that arrived too late to defeat their famine, and tried to reach a diplomatic solution to a union of all Akan speakers to appease the gods who had sent the famine.

13. French Corsairs have taken the Hispaniola out of Spanish administration when their dragoons covered the whole island.

14. Moghul India has put the tax on her nobles up to tackle the national debt, while the Dutch were more interested in how much the Moghul Empire was going to invest in cotton.

15. Edo saw the return of our hero to meet with his uncle. After regaling his tale and the innocence of his beautiful new love Yoshimune was sent north to find another beauty who was causing trouble.

Other country folk volunteered to move to a nearby island in search of a better life, but this greatly displeased the nobility who were losing the volunteers from working the land they left.

Marshal Bombast wrote:

2. France thinks it’s no longer at war with anyone. Having said that French forces entered the Dutch? Town of Namur, with great pomp and ceremony.

France seems to have solved her timber crisis in case she needs more ships.  

France appears to be making conciliatory overtures to Rome and promising recognition if Rome would be forgiving.

Does this mean that Louis XIV has finally found his pen and signed the treaty signed by Sweden for the Imperial side and Flanders but stuck in his in tray for last six months at least?  Pity he did not find it earlier as it would have saved French fire insurers a fortune and diplomats at the Hague months and months of work try and come up with a solution to Franche Comte?  

Russian maps strike again!  Namur is a city in the French County of Flanders and city government is under but civil authority local to Louis XIV.  However it is also a Dutch barrier fortress one of many Louis agreed too when the Dutch, English & Scots agreed to this Grandson inheriting Flanders and the Kingdom of Naples.

So either Louis is now saying no Naples = No barrier fortresses?  Or French army is just pulling back into winter quarters behind Dutch defences so nasty Hussars can not raid them?  Or Louis has forgotton what he has signed/agreed due to turma of his Tulip gardens being burnt?  Or French troops sent to guard and escort tulip balb convoy as French roads clearly not safe due to all of these Hungarian bandit types?

PS Ref point 1 & 6 if Spain has promised Pope that it is doing away with slave trade why has it just invested £3m in a Slave trading company? If G7 Spain did that type of thing James Stuart would have a melt down.

The turn arrived last week with no changes to the honour table.

1. Gascony saw skirmishes between French dragoons and Austrian hussars. Later we saw skirmishes between Austrian hussars and Austrian Dragoons, the Austrian troops are most perplexed at this madness. Meanwhile in Franche-Comte French militia were seen joining Austrian hussars and dragoons in attacking French dragoons.

Strassburg saw a local truce between French and Swedish forces with both staying in the town by month end. Bavaria’s Minister of the army later questioned whether the Swedes had been bought off?

2. Paris saw His Most Christian Majesty restate he’d accepted the peace proposals from Sweden. A point reiterated by Flanders at the Hague.

The French Pope said he’d retire if the Roman Pope did and fresh elections were held. Rome’s view was the French Pope should step down.

The French invested more in the HWIC than Spain did but still have less control of the company than the maritime nations who apparently are a superior class. The St Malo Canal and Dredger Company paid out a first dividend since 1701.

3. Flanders is planning to improve her roads and canals. While also writing to His Most Christian Majesty about the Roller Spinning Machine to improve the army’s uniforms.

Flanders also placed Ypres, Bruges and Ghent under French rule as a further gift.

4. London saw Lord Melville launch the New Year celebrations in true style, probably in part as Scottish merchants were given 0% tax rate in England. Soon after King William left for Amsterdam but not before the Asante Gyamera Kwabena resented his credentials and gifts at the dock.

5. Clarification was requested in the Reichstag with respect to the ownership of various provinces.

6. Vienna saw the Ottoman ambassador complain that Austria had not lived up to her end of their treaty.

Emperor Leopold later spoke out against France saying one thing and doing another to gain advantage in the war and questioned why France was antagonising the Dutch.

7. Warsaw reduced its tithe payment to Rome from 20% to 10% saying it was damaging Poland’s economy.

Later a Saxon recruiting party was arrested there despite recruiting being legal.

8. Madrid saw the last free houses promised to Mexico City handed over, with 58 libraries and 111 cathedrals to be opened across Spain and her empire.

9. Genoa took a diplomatic tactful approach to Spanish overtures of protection while requesting Austria stop trying to take their troops.

10. Milan saw the French army take full control of Milan. Meanwhile Spain has had agreement from Tuscany that her forces can cross Tuscany en route to Milan.

11. The French Navy blockaded Messina while Spain declared the blockading of Hispaniola. Hispaniola meanwhile transferred itself to Dutch-HWIC control.

12. Kumasi saw the desire for the Greater Akan Union restated at great celebrations with the receiving of taxes and tributes.

Akwamufie saw a declaration of support only if the 1706 harvest was bad and therefore a sign of the gods that thus unity was divinely ordered. Otherwise, an alliance would be the order of the day.

13. Moghul India offered to sell the Dutch up to 30,000 recruits but was unable to supply grain to the English.

14. Kyoto saw the emperor express his sadness that the Shogun hadn’t visited him as promised. The Shogun may have been delayed due to the forbidden actions taking place in Edo.

Edo saw an attack by Oishi on Yoshinaka’s compound ending in the swift beheading of Yoshinaka as revenge for the murder of Oishi’s master.

Excellent report as usual. Thank you.

Point 10 is incorrect though. Spain controls Milan.

jamesbond007 wrote:Excellent report as usual. Thank you.

Point 10 is incorrect though.  Spain controls Milan.

Thank you and point taken.

I missed the fact that the self-appointed governor of Milan gave orders to French troops but has his own Spanish troops.

An excellent summary...

...though I would say it missed a critical issue...someone has really annoyed the Scots...

...the Clans are mustering and declaring their loyalty to King William...the Reivers are reforming...

...someone is about to find their military force-fed deep-fried haggis and irn-bru...

...the offenders should really just surrender now...

Quiet on this thread, hopefully Marshal is away enjoying his big birthday!

Hapsburg wrote:Quiet on this thread, hopefully Marshal is away enjoying his big birthday!

Cheers Hapsburg, we've been knocked for 6 by covid. I'm on call at the weekend so will sort my game turn and forum write up then.

Birthday celebrations were put on hold 'til we have our energy back

Stay safe all

Sorry, this write up was delayed by my catching covid.

1. Austria’s Orleans Hussar Regiment whose exploits in the war against France have graced many a page of the Mercurius Politicus was finally destroyed by French Dragoons and Church Militia. The militia subsequently ran off home with the regiment’s looted spoils of war. At least the French tithe collection should be healthier for a few years to come.

2. Dijon flooded again this year, Wijchen castle burnt to the ground and the Notre Dame Cathedral congregation prayed the Holy Roman Emperor would accept the peace deal previously offered.

The Archbishop of Paris also called on the Roman Curia to recognise the special case that is the French Church before both Pope’s should abdicate ready for fresh papal elections. Meanwhile Avignon started paying into the new papal treasury in Avignon.

3. Before leaving for Scotland Lord Melville held a banquet which had much claymore rattling towards the King’s enemies, to which Lord Godolphin excitedly joined in.

Over the Channel the Stadtholder held his own banquet at which he talked about the value of peace. By the end of it everyone present believed he was going to lead them to war against France.

4. Antwerp saw Spanish investors try to make a run on the value of the HWIC’s shares by selling everything, only to find that trading had been suspended and the value had dropped by 90%.

5. Brussels saw a new palace opened for the Estates-General right opposite the current one. It is not known whether the announcement of poor relief there was an attempt to divert attention from accusations of financial mismanagement.

6. The Duke of Wurtemburg suggested a resolution to the issue of treaty terms being stretched by Austria, by suggesting army camps there should only be owned and operated by the Duchy.

Vienna saw the announcement of Anatolian merchants being granted 0% tax rate to comply with another treaty.

For those interested in the work Richard puts in to alleged treaty infractions 2/3of a page of court rulings were published.

7. The Prussia Brandenburg Ambassador in Hanover suggested 30th June as the date for the next European societal wedding and awaits Hanoverian reply.

8. Genoa were asked by Austria whether recent transfers resolved their complaints, just in time to see a foreign spy sketching Genoa’s defences.

9. Spezia saw Spanish troops arrive and allocated space outside the gates to rest.

Florence saw a cultural icon from a family of good standing in the form of Apostolo Zeno receive the patronage of the Grand Duke.

10. Rome saw the Austrian Ambassador called to see the Papal Confessor, where it was admitted that Maria Anna of Austria had left the Catholic Church.

Talk then moved to Rome reminding Austria that under the Treaty of Roma 1705 Sicily and Naples belong to Spain and not the Papal States or Austria. In reply the Austrian Ambassador referred to the distinction between the temporal and the spiritual powers.

11. 3 battalions of Neopolitan troops arrived in Palermo and convinced the forces there to declare for Naples. 3 French military facilities were also taken over.

Genoese dragoons of the army of Genoa left Siracusa on Genoese merchant ships, we assume heading to Genoa.

12. Tortuga saw Spanish ships of the line destroy the fortifications being built there.

Further Spanish ships were effectively blockading Hispaniola, though with slow ships so blockade running is possible.

French Dragoons patrolling the coastline spotted Captain Kidd and when making their report in Santo Domingo found they were transferring to HWIC control.

13. Asante bards have sung ballads of praise for the Asanthene and of challenge to the Akwamuhene for his pride.

Akwamufie saw plenty of discussion about the Akwamuhene’s decision to wait for a clear sign before determining the nature of their joining of the Asante Union, even if it risked a second winter of suffering.

14. His Highness the King Phetracha of Siam graciously returned the men of the recruiting party to the care of the recently arrived Ambassador Fink, before then closing the embassy.

15. Kowloon saw Lord Fong celebrating the new Lunar year of the Dog with feasting, fireworks and prayer. The Celestial Emperor was also remembered with the giving of gifts in Peking.

Canton saw 2 Dutch Ships of the line arrive and hand over knowledge of improved naval signals.

Macao saw the transfer of Portugal’s rights there to the Dutch

16. Kyoto saw the Shogun arrive to meet with the Emperor who was glad his guest had arrived albeit late. Shogun Tsunayoshi gave a report on the state of Japan and the growing international interest there.

A brilliant summary as ever Marshal, many thanks (and hope you are fully recovered, known too many who didn't).

I should stress some have really hacked off the Scots to the extent that Lord Melville is seeing the English as brothers...we are now at the stage where in World Cup terms, Scots will be supporting England against the offending nations!

The offending nations have three choices
1) Realise the mess they have made, dig in and prepare to take on not only the English military but a host of Aberdonian pub-crawlers (for those of you not up on Scotland, "Scotty" in the original Star Trek is based on an Aberdonian...would you really want to take on 10,000 of him after a couple of large whiskies?)
2) Run for the hills, screaming like a bunch of milkmaids...or men from Yorkshire and Carlisle (but then being an honorary Scot now, I'd say, what's the difference )
3) Say you're very very sorry before you find a claymore stuck where the sun don't shine (which in Scotland is anywhere north of Dundee at this time of year)

Always appreciate the summary and glad you are feeling better! We must all have caught it by now, and just like flu wipes you out for a while.

Scotland must be mad if it world support England at the World Cup

So the game turn arrived as did the Doge of Genoa into 10th place, did the death of a prominent Austrian have anything to do with this?

1. London saw advance notice that a Dutch column was going to recover the barrier fortresses. Imagine the surprised look of the French officers in Namur when a braw Scottish force arrived on their doorstep. The Scottish brigade at least made it into the town of Ghent.

2. France restated her position regarding a peace deal and was appreciative of King William’s attempts to broker a peace deal and was asked to continue. Though next in the paper was a modified treaty put forward by the Dutch saying if rejected then the peace conference will be suspended.

3. Antwerp saw the Spanish shares in the HWIC bought for a fraction of their worth and new rules put in place to stop anyone other than the maritime powers from freely trading these shares.

4. Nieuport saw a grumbling Rear-Admiral Trouin realise that he is actually a credit to His Most Christian Majesty. Toulon saw another of the Forbin clan wishing for their next duties to be somewhere warm and no where near smelly Scots beer.

While in Paris Pope Leo XII stood down as Supreme Pontiff, but remains a cardinal in the Gallican Church.

5. La Rochelle saw an Austrian infantry regiment desert, while French troops arriving in Bordeaux were taken prisoner by Austrian forces there.

6. Regensburg saw a vote banning the French representative from addressing the Reichstag pending certain peace conditions being met. Followed by a speech that told outside operatives how to improve their forged letters of agitation.

7. Warsaw appears to have bribed Polish nobles with a year’s taxes in an attempt that they would stay loyal to the Regent of Poland. The Castellan of Danzig didn’t seem to agree with that.

8. Shock loss of a Russian warship in the Barents Sea.

9. Genoa saw the Doge say Austria’s honour was restored, right before the Austrian ambassador there dropped dead.

10. Spain’s forces look to be converging on Milan. French forces arrived outside Messina and after a debate think they’re still at war with Austria. Palermo saw the fortress gunners return to Neopolitan command, while light infantry arrived in Trieste.

11. Kumasi saw the Asante Court solemnly process to the Taa Shrine to offer prayers of forgiveness for the lack of faith shown by the Akwamuhene. An interesting letter preceding the article goes into more details about the prominent leaders and meanings of titles.

12. Dead Man’s Cove saw the rise in favour of a man called Black Caesar as a natural leader of men.

13. Santo Domingo saw a failed HWIC recruiting drive made by the civil governor there. “…it appears the Spanish as rulers are actually popular here!”

14. Kyoto saw the Shogun spend the month in meditation and reflection as previously suggested by the Emperor.

Matsumae saw the arrival of Yoshimune and his love Misako at the court of the 6th Great Lord. Our erstwhile hero decided to spend the month there gathering information and enjoying the cherry blossom before leaving for Hakodate.

Many thanks for the summary Marshal, I always enjoy them for their accuracy and impartiality...even when I disagree with them

Aye, Scots blood is up...the Clans are mustered and the Haggi of War are Unleashed! The question is will the French see sense now or will it take the Royal Brigade occupying Paris in June 1706 to achieve that?

And to add to the infamy, the Corsairs have insulted Scottish beer! I tell you, some things cannot be forgiven...

Jason2 wrote:Many thanks for the summary Marshal, I always enjoy them for their accuracy and impartiality...even when I disagree with them

Aye, Scots blood is up...the Clans are mustered and the Haggi of War are Unleashed!   The question is will the French see sense now or will it take the Royal Brigade occupying Paris in June 1706 to achieve that?

And to add to the infamy, the Corsairs have insulted Scottish beer!  I tell you, some things cannot be forgiven...

Think the more correct question's are:-

I) Has anyone got a copy of the agreement between France & King William which gave Naples and Flanders to the Duke of Anjou (France) as his share of the inheritence of Carlos II on the proviso that King William could put garrisons in various barrier Fortresses in Flanders? It would seem these Williamite Scots Garrison have finally showed up about 4 years late! But are the the agreed size and have they even gone to the correct fortresses or have King Williams men been mixing strong drink and Russian maps again? And I am damn sure Paris is not a Barrier fortress no matter what it shows on the under the counter knock off maps from Boris the Troll stroll in Fort William.

II) Other question is King Louis says he has signed the Treaty proposed as signed by the Swedish Peace Envoys appointed by the Emperor. So has the Emperor now repudiated thrown a treaty signed by his own envoys into the bin? Or are we now at peace and the Corsairs like Forbin etc offically finished, laid up and looking for a new job at some stage?

And Forbin did not insult Scots Beer...........he was just saying how much nicer it was hunting basically unguarded Papal and Austrian merchant ships in the Med, compared to hunting Scots Fishing Boats in the War of the League of Augsburg. Said fishing boats being smelly and the North Sea being cold and subject to Naval patrols.......Powder, shot and damaged paintwork all costs money you know and hurts the bottom line!

Stuart Bailey wrote:


And Forbin did not insult Scots Beer...........he was just saying how much nicer it was hunting basically unguarded Papal and Austrian merchant ships in the Med, compared to hunting Scots Fishing Boats in the War of the League of Augsburg.  Said fishing boats being smelly and the North Sea being cold and subject to Naval patrols.......Powder, shot and damaged paintwork all costs money you know and hurts the bottom line!

The scoundrel declared the beer was too warm...a terrible insult! I've seen full scale pub riots in Glasgow when some foreigner has made such claims!

And Scottish fishing boats are not smelly...they are simply bracing on the nose

Merry Christmas to all, enemies included!

Great to have the turn back before Christmas and thanks to Richard and Agema for running a superb game.

Best wishes.
Tudor

Just to give advance notice...2022/23 are being a bugger, so if you are waiting on letters from Scotland, apols in advance if they are late!

Game 10 arrived as did the King of France on the Honour table

1. Messina, despite being out numbered the Conde’s army occupied the town. Next stop the citadel!

2. After Dutch remonstrations the French garrison and governor in Ghent left for Brussels.

The situation at Namur wasn’t so easily resolved, perhaps due to the copious amounts of whisky drunk during talks! Might explain why some participants can’t remember a treaty covering the situation?

Whisky flowed freely in Edinburgh where Lord Melville offered the imprisoned King of France a Scottish rescue party if His Most Christian Majesty had lost control there.

3. Ostend Rear-Admiral Rene Trouin inspected the fastest ship in the French Navy.

4. The Asante delegation left their ambassador in London as the rest of them toured the south west accompanied by a skilled English linguist.

5. Following the Dutch introduction of universal education 28 libraries are to be opened.

In The Hague Count Ernst Rudiger von Starhemberg submitted a condensed version of the Dutch proposed peace treaty from last month. While in Antwerp confusion was cleared up over the status and future of VOC shares.

6. French traders in Paris angrily complained about the favouritism shown in help being given to Spanish traders who suffered in France due to the war with nothing for them.

Won’t help that bandits are taking French merchant caravans in Poitou either.

7. Emperor Leopold welcomed King’s Louis’ [previous?] unilateral peace declaration after inspecting Vienna. Probably hadn’t heard about the attack on Messina at that stage.

Still the Emperor was probably happy at being able to use an army camp in Stuttgart and that Austrian and Hungarian merchants would pay no taxes in Wurtemburg. Sweden promised the same tax breaks.

8. Hanover showed great concern that Princess Sophia Dorothea hadn’t left for her own wedding in Berlin yet. Ambassador Ludwig von Erlichshausen of Brandenburg should know it’s the bride’s prerogative to be fashionably late!

9. Konig und Kurfurst Friedrich Augustus, was invited to Courland to be received by the court as King of Poland.

10. Portugal have announced an increase in Far East trade investments given how the Chinese will protect Portuguese trade so far from home.

11. The Milan Column of the Spanish Army left Spezia for Milan.

12. Venice saw the election of Giovanni II Cornaro as the new doge. After some ceremony the new Doge called the Senate in session.

13. Cardinal Guiseppe of Ancona clarified the position of the Papal States with respect to various territories. He also pointed out the difference between the Papal States and the Papacy, being separate entities.

14. King Karl VI of Naples & Sicily and his courtiers seemed to be enjoying a stabilised peace in Naples, even commenting that they should help other nations like Genoa.

Palermo lowered the port’s boom to allow trade to restart, though many merchants were worried it would just allow more Spanish troops in.

Further worry amongst them is that once the Spanish treaty with Austria and Naples expires then Spain will try to take Sicily for her empire. Especially while Spanish troops are in the city. Rumours abound though that the Spanish forces there would like to leave Palermo, but can’t because no one will let them leave.

15. Fiume saw Austria’s privateer ‘fleet’ cease to exist as the letters of marque against France have not generated enough revenue for them to continue.

16. Kumasi saw the results of investigations on how to develop hardy food stocks. Despite a poor harvest the wine produced has been declared a vintage.

17. Following repeated Spanish generosity in Mexico the crown is now fairly well liked.

Quito in Peru however saw a pro slavery riot with skirmishes leaving the city in rebel hands. The rebel leader has declared allegiance to the Committee to save Spanish America.

18. Chinese troops on the island of Hainan found the remains of a prospecting party who had likely died in a mudslide.

19. After imparting wisdom over the cowardly anonymous letters against Japan the Shogun departed for Edo.

In Matsumae Misako announced she was carrying her beloved’s child. Yoshimune worried so and asked her to return to Edo rather than join him in defeating the demon they were hunting. Misako told her love exactly what she thought of that and they then left Matsumae together, with Yoshimune’s worries gnawing at his sanity.

7. Emperor Leopold welcomed King’s Louis’ [previous?] unilateral peace declaration after inspecting Vienna. Probably hadn’t heard about the attack on Messina at that stage.

The Emperor spoke too soon