Secondly, this newsfax is not what will be standard in the future. Only the two significantly confusing things to have occurred this turn are spelled out...well sort of. Otherwise, your nations completed the turns to the best of their abilities. The results of the Diplomatic actions are illustrated on the map by the coloring. All nations do not control the areas as there are several nations that are only Claimed. If you don't have any Royal Children, then results to marry were not successful. Those that have children, well, birds and bees had nothing to do with it.

Thirdly, all merc pools will be available on turn 3. They, on all map sections, will be 5I, 5 Lc and 5LWS. After that, there will be wild variance.

Turn 2 will be due before Christmas.... Remember, turn one is free. All payments to date that were adjusted in the software don't reflect the free turn.

The Courtship of Denmark

Sweden - C
Holland - C

Once upon a time, there was a peaceful and quaint pastoral land. All the people of the proud region were cheerful and dressed in bright pastels. The men wore comfortable shoes, and the women raised babies, did household chores communally, often stopping what they were doing to gaily hold each other's hands as they sing harmoniously all-the-while spinning in dizzying circles. It was remarked by traveling chroniclers, "...this would be a good place not to tell the wife about and develop, hopefully long-term, cart troubles."

Unfortunately, that land is not where this or any other story takes place...at least for now. Our story now revolves around the sullen and dreary land of Denmark and the petty bickering families of its landed gentry. Yeah, Denmark. For generations, the once mighty warlords of the Baltic controlled though might and guile the access from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Now, after what scientist would later determine to be "a degenerative gene pool," the ruling family, The Von Dumas (often referred to with the less than affectionate truncated Dumas...well kinda like that anyway,) had back-stabbed, plotted, and engaged in what siblings usually do. Trying to get kill each other and successfully running the nation into the ground.

One would expect that the strongest would survive. Only the most courageous, intrepid and ingenious people survive chaos. Right? After several male members of the family had misfortunate falls from what had previously been barred windows of towers, unexpected and later determined, uncommissioned sewer manholes appearing on the front step, several poisonings, a shaving incident where the victim accidentally feel onto his razor at least seventeen times and one heir inexplicably exploding (Later documentaries would attempt to establish the lineage of this poor soul to a famous heavy-metal band's drummer but would ultimately prove to be mere speculation).

Eventually, no one was left but Seigfred. Forced to take a wife as was custom, Seigfred married a young willful woman from the family of a wealthy merchant, who, coincidentally made the comfortable shoes that the other place previously mentioned, wore. Being an arranged marriage, the results were typical. However, to make things worse, the couple could not produce any heirs. No male children were left, and Denmark's ancient laws forbade land passing into a women's hands. With the people growing restless, what with all the bad omens and all, the estranged couple lapsed into a loveless marriage. Well, that's not accurate. They did love. They loved the idea of waking in the morning and hearing that the other died in their sleep from the staff. You see, perfectly normal for 3 years of marriage.

The story would have ended here if not for the quirk that give historians their one of few enjoyments in life. It would seem that both relatives developed the very same idea at the very same time. "Lets get some poor sod to marry into 'our' family and make 'our' problem, 'their' problem. Truly inspired thinking. So they looked for the two most gullible prats they could find, they sent out brochures and let nature take its course.

Enter, Holland and Sweden. As it turned out, the King's side of the family sent out an invitation to King, King of Holland. Achieving the level of competence that you would expect of several generations of limited breeding options, the messenger went instead to Halland....in Sweden. The Queen's side of the family's spy network reported this action and they too sent word, this time correctly, to the actual king of Holland, King I.

Looking ever outwards to expand each nation respectively, King Anders of Sweden and King King I of Holland, deemed it a reasonable venture and travel plans were made. By a queer turn of fate, the spring winds blow exceptionally hard to the East and travel from the Scandinavian Lands proved laboriously slow. Subsequently, the delegation from Holland arrived 1 month prior to that of the Swedes. However, not all was lost with the late showing. Being the first there meant only that King I was the first to display his shock upon seeing what was being offered. Lacking the diplomatic sophistication of Anders, King I made a crucial gaff by sotto voce comment to his aide something about an "ugly tree," "branches," and a "long fall." Undaunted with such errant remarks, each family courted the other Monarch and wedding plans were made by both Monarchs, or the suave aides, to a daughter from each family and after what is a customary, but quite lengthy engagement of 5 years, everything would be in place. These women had their standards after all.

One would have thought that with such a lengthy engagement period, this problem would have been resolved long since. So the story is yet to be complete....what will happen? Who knows, the victor show likely receive the spoils, or vice versa?

The Iberian (Valencia) Conflict

Adalusia -C
Navarre - C

In the fledgling relationships between two nations, there usually exists that awkward, first met stage. That however, didn't occur in Valencia. On request of the ruling family in Valencia, delegates were received from their southern neighbors, the Kingdom of Andalusia. Eager to feed their people, Valencia sought to join in trade talks about obtaining some of the abundant Andalusian grain from their last harvest. Not to miss an opportunity, the Hector the I sent the stately and renowned, Victor. Standing at 6'2", with shortly cropped brown, yet unruly hair and the shoulders of a lumberjack, Victor had an incredible presence. But his real gift was in speaking to all people.

For what ever reason, an armed escort of 200 regular foot and 500 men of the Royal Palace Guard.

Meanwhile.....

To the north....

The nestled a kingdom in the northern mountainous region, the King of Navarre stood upon the airy battlements and surveyed the lands. Motioning to a nearby advisor, King Sancho Gares III pointed out unto south and asked, "What is that over there?" A nervous aide replied, "Er, the Lands of Aragon, my lord." Sancho contemplated more deeply before asking again, "No my son, what is that, further to the south, over that way." Pointing leisurely in the direction that he looked. The aide swallowed hard. All he could see were the plains directly below in the lengthening shadows of the nearby mountains. However, as the aided had survived this long, he know that another answer was needed. He leaned forward and squinted in the direction of his King's attention. Simply to look like he was considering his King's request more intently, but really to stall for more time and attempt to continue to be the King's advisor for a little while longer. "Well my liege, your sight is truly terrific, I think that, er, you refer to the lands of Valencia....my Lord?" "Exactly!" said Sancho Gares III with a calmness that unsettled the aide. "Exactly. Please go and bring Lord Alfrado here to me now."

Lord Alfrado Gares, the King's brother and the antithesis of the smooth talking, big shoulder wearing Victor to the south, walked into the chambers shortly afterwards. Standing at only 5'5" and barely over 100 pounds, if you didn't count for the change in all his pockets, Alfrado Gares didn't inspire much in the way of fear, at least by only looking at him. his brother knew differently. He was not known for his diplomatic prowess, actually, more to the point, he was known for not having any diplomatic prowess what-so-ever. He was also known equally notoriously for his utter ruthlessness in combat. The sucker-punch had been invited long before Alfrado, but he perfected it.

"My brother, I think that the wonderful coast of Valencia should belong to our nation, please go and add it to our great kingdom." Alfrado squinted in the darkening sky to the south and then looked sideways at this brother and quietly answered, "as you wish my brother." Turning on one heel, Alfrado left the King, leaning on the stone railing, smiling a smile that no one else saw.

Ordering his well-trained force of 500 Light Foot, 500 Elite Light Foot, 500 Light Cav and 500 Heavy Cav he set out to complete his brother's wish.

{Back to the south}

Talks of trade and possible unification were going quite nicely, but had started slow with the presence of an armed guard initially when the reports from the border that a force of 2,000 soldiers were coming to discuss the unconditional surrender of Valencia. The head of a minor official near the border was sent for emphasis.

Hasty defenses were erected, and even with the spring rains in 1001 delaying the advance of Gares, and were only half completed when Alfrado Gares approached the joined delgation. Biding for time, Gares returned several bodies sans their head back as response, but taking no further action. Joining forces, the 500 Regular Foot on the native Valencians and the 700 man strong force attempted to stem the enivitable tide. Sending his Cavalry against the right flank of the Valencians, the force of Cavalry turned the flank and completely routed the surprisingly stiff resistance of the native Valencians. Nearly one half of the Cavalry did not return from the attack.

However, the Victor and the Andalusians, realizing that with the screening force of the Valencians gone, further battle would be heavily against them with out any screeening cavalry and effected a quick rear guard, losing 100 Regular Foot and 100 Elite Palace Guard before escaping Alfrado. The Story would have ended here, with the tremendous lose of life and Navarre controlling Valencia had it not been for Lord Poncho. Loses for Navarre were steep, but they were in control of the field of battle, and were victorious. All told, they lost 500 Cavalry and 300 Foot, even 100 of the best Light Foot troops, surely a bloody day.

Lord Poncho, a noble of the Andalusian court was tasked with a little state sponsored priacy and had started sail up the southern Iberian coast when he spotted a big fat baggage train in Northern Valencia, or if some propaganda is believed, southern Catalonia. Seeing an opportunity, Lord Poncho put ashore and began looting what later turned out to be the main supply line for the army of Alfrado Gares. Alfrado quickly realized that having his supply line cut was going to leave him, victory or not, in very bad straits. He ordered his men to all pack up, not having the resources left to properly garrison the newly conquered land and recovery his supply line. What he encountered in the early summer months of 1001, was a small force looting the wagons.

By now over estimating his military ability, Lord Poncho had made the fatal error of splitting his forces, leaving 200 men to handle the collection of the spoils and continued on up the coast. The forces, left leaderless quickly fell apart in the face an angry Alfrado. It was reported later that all of the enemy soldiers were beheaded, even after been killed in battle.

His force in near disarray, only his powerful will holding it together, Alfrado retired from Valencia and reported to his brother from Catalonia that he had wiped out the standing army of Valancia.

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