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Part 1 Escape Home (custom audio available)

After what transpired between Matthew and Lady Seren at the falls of everlasting life, The King and the Church of England have launched a crusade against Matthew! You must escape your humble fief in Norfolk towards the Kingdom of Scotland, where you may find refuge. Gather enough wood and provisions to make your escape before the full force of the crown arrives to crush you!

This mod contains custom audio files to enhance the user experience. These files and instructions on how to replace them can be found on dropbox via: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/mjuenut4fi7nsf89efjkr/ACbINk7a0e-IL37fHdRB024?rlkey=feydhlg9mdm53eyh4gf7u3eo7&st=ir81gjbl&dl=0

Also available on Nexus Mods: https://www.nexusmods.com/stronghold2/mods/13

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Narrative:

Short: After what transpired between Matthew and Lady Seren at the falls of everlasting life, The King and the Church of England have launched a crusade against Matthew! You must escape your humble fief in Norfolk towards the Kingdom of Scotland, where you may find refuge. Gather enough wood and provisions to make your escape before the full force of the crown arrives to crush you!

Fluff:
As Matthew and his men marched back from the falls of eternal life, he reflected on what had happened, what he had done. He could still hear the screams of those poor clergymen in his head. How could he have known that the realm's protector of the falls, Lady Seren, would, no, was capable of committing such atrocities. But the King's orders were simple: "Help Seren in any way you can to remove Devereux from our sacred waters!" When William moved against them and aided his brother, Matthew had no choice but to kill him, right? He was following the King's orders. In his heart, Matthew knew what he did was wrong. But it was more than blind obedience which compelled Matthew that day. When Seren asked for a thing, it felt like a command. Perhaps the rumors about her are true, Seren is a witch working for some pagan god. In fact, once they removed the Hawk from his perch, even Matthew himself was surprised he did not ask more questions. The Lady simply TOLD him to leave for home and he quickly obliged. It was only this morning that Matthew felt more like himself again. Post battle numbness was not uncommon for Matthew, but this felt different somehow, he was not in control...

Matthew did not grow-up a lord, he had to earn his estate. Matthew was still a knight in the King's service when he singlehandedly held up the Viking's force on a bridge before the first sacking of North Hampton. His bravery allowed hundreds to escape with their lives and livestock. He only survived the encounter due to being shoved off the bridge and washing ashore a couple miles down the bank. When he returned to the King 3 days later, the King had no choice but to offer him land as a reward. The land given to him was not very rich. It was really no more than a few hovels in the swamp. But the people there were honest folk. The estate did have some fantastic views though. To the east, the North Sea stretched endlessly on the horizon. To the northwest, one of the church's most fortunate provinces. The bishop there hosts countless tournaments and eats bread every day! On a clear windy day Matthew could smell the biscuits being made in the morning. Although in four years, not once has the bishop invited him to sit as his table. Clergy of the papal variety did not take kindly to landed men without noble blood, for they were not ordained by God to rule and were seen as illegitimate. Matthew preferred the view of the sea.

In the time that Matthew had ruled here in Norfolk, others had gained much richer rewards. Edwin was granted the King's second richest estate in Wessex! Although Matthew had not donated sizable sums of money to the King's coffers. Officially, Edwin makes his money from brewing and distributing mead. However, it is common knowledge that he has criminal ties to the North Sea slave trade. Unfair as it is, envy looks good on no one and is a sin regardless.

Matthew and his troops arrived at a small town named Babenshire to water the horses and rest a while before heading home the next day. Matthew had visited this town many times and had never seen it so busy and armed... What was going on? Matthew's scribe Peter grabbed his attention: "Listen to this!" A local clergyman was reading a proclamation to a group of peasants with pitchforks. "Sir Matthew Steele has committed heinous crimes against the church and man, He was found sodomizing men of the cloth!" the crowd responded: "ARRR!", "DEVIL!", "TRAITOR!". The clergyman continued: "The King and Bishop have declared him a heretic and thus have launched a crusade on him and those who follow him! Those of you who take up arms against this devil shall know eternal life in Heaven above. All your previous sins will be washed away if only you fight this monster now!" Matthew was stunned silent how could they not know that Seren had done that not him? Matthew's Marshal, Albert, spoke sternly and quietly: "Quick my lord, we are not safe here... I will reassemble the men, and we will ride hard to your estate."

As quickly as they arrived, Matthew and his men left Babenshire. On the road, Albert continued: " If what we heard is true, this whole country is not safe." Matthew responded, "I must tell the King about this! there has surely been a huge mistake!" "No use," said Albert " you will be riding into a noose." "A burning pyre more than likely!" interjected Peter. "We must prepare to escape to the sea once we arrive home." The company rod into the night approaching Matthew's 'castle'. "Look my lord! They have blocked off the route to Berry and fortified Blakeney forest." said Peter. Berry had always been open to trading with them for the produce they could grow there. And Blakeney forest was the only source of quality lumber in the area. The Crown was already one step ahead of Matthew. But a cornered lion does not run, he bites first! Matthew prepared to do the one thing he knew could do better than anyone, because he was not born into greatness, rather he found it with his sword. His words were simple, effective, but carried everything.

"To battle."


HINTS:
1. You will not be able to collect enough resources in just your home estate. Quickly capture the neighboring two estates and have them send you wood and food.

2. Preserve archers! part of the challenge is preserving your archers while clearing the two estates. You will need them later to mop up the peasants. The production of bows is very limited so you cannot ramp up archer production.

3. Use the siege equipment. You start with a ballista and catapult. They are very good for clearing the early defenses.

4. Take out the ballista which is in range of the apple farms. You cannot build apple farms in this mission, so it is critical that you keep the existing ones alive and producing to hit the deadline.

5. Keep apple consumption low. You can effect this by not raising consumption rates in the granary, keeping population low, and ensuring the peasants have other food sources like meat and cheese to eat.

6. You can build and buy pitch so have fun burning :)