Recap / Age of Empires II – Battles of the Forgotten

Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned

Battles of the Forgotten is a series of free, unrelated scenarios depicting various historical battles across the Middle Age with different conditions, players and objectives. In Definitive Edition, these scenarios and Battle of the Conquerors were gathered together in a single folder, named Historical Battles. Some scenarios were re-worked.

Scenarios (Chronological Order)

Bukhara (557)

For years, the Sassanid Empire has been subjected to the whims and humiliations of the powerful and cruel White Huns and their raids. However, Shah Khosrau had enough of this injustice, as he reaches a small village to make a powerful base from which to strike back at the obnoxious raiders once and for all and free Persia of their presence.

The player is in control of the Persians, the color being Yellow.

Dos Pilas (648)

Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil, Prince of Tikal, is sent by his father to take over and rule the small village of Dos Pilas and govern it in his father's stead. However, life is difficult in those lands infested by bandits and beasts, and when the forces of the Calakmul begins to encroach the village, what will B'alaj do? Stay loyal to his father to protect his kingdom or consider to side with his enemies?

The player is in control of the Maya, the color being Cyan.

York (865)

The Vikings are coming to England. King Ælla of Northumbria has done the unthinkable, killing the respected Ragnar Lodbrok. Furious at this turn of events, Rangar's sons set sail to England with a huge army: they will avenge their father and make sure that Northumbria pays for it.

The player is in control of the Vikings, the color being Red.

Honfoglalás (895)

The Magyars tribes have survived in the arid lands of Central Asia, but now, as food sources dwindle and the threat of other tribes increase, the Magyars must leave their lands and find a place to call home, form a powerful kingdom and later acquire a domain they can call their own in modern Hungary.

The player is in control of the Magyars, the color being Cyan ^note  Red in HD .

Langshan Jiang (919) (HD only)

The Chinese kingdoms are divided and fighting each other. In order to defeat the mighty Wu Navy, general Qian Guanyuan has a daring plan: not only will the Wuyue Navy engage the superior enemies in a naval battle, they'll also use the nearby base to create a massive monument to show their dominance over their opponents. If this monument is completed, then the enemy forces will be demoralized and then surrender.

The player is in control of the Chinese, the color being Blue.

Kurikara (1183)

The cruel Heishi have controlled the capital for long enough. The Minamoto clan is ready to strike. Having secured a base in the town of Kurikara, Minamoto no Yoshinaka musters his troop to fight and defeat the Taira army and slay the treacherous Taira-no-Kiyomori

The player is in control of the Japanese, the color being Blue.

Cyprus (1187)

The Third Crusade is at hand, and Richard the Lionhearted, alongside Philip of France, has reached Sicily to make preparations for the journey to the Holy Land. However, things become complicated when Richard's attrition with Tancreds leads to him submitting Messina by force, and later, after his forces are stranded in Cyprus, to fight Cyprus' king Isaac Comneus for kidnapping Richard's sister.

The player is in control of the Britons, the color being Red.

Bapheus (1302)

The powerful Osman Bey, loyal servant of the Rum Sultanate, has proven his worth, and is rewarded a fief in Turkey, in a former Byzantine colony. Surrounded by potentially hostile tribes and the mighty forces of Byzantium and even Spanish mercenaries, will Osman manage to prosper and build what will be remembered as the great Ottoman Empire?

The player is in control of the Turks, the color being Red ^note  Green in HD .

Lake Poyang (1363) (DE only)

As the Yuan Dynasty was on the decline, Han nobles were determined to launch a surprise attack on the Ming city of Nanchang. The Ming General Zhu Yuanzhang sails north in an effort to contain the Han threat, in a decisive battle that would determine the fate of all of China.

The player is in control of the Chinese, the color being Blue.

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These scenarios contain examples of:

• Adapted Out:
  • "Honfoglalás" was greatly simplified for Definitive Edition: Pechenegs, Khazar and Kabars are removed entirely, the Magyars can leave Nomadic life by building a Town Center and a new opponent, East Franconia (Teutons), is added to the roster.
  • "Cyprus": the entire first part of the mission where you have to ransack Messina is omitted, and the scenario starts with Richard's fleet reaching Cyprus.
• All for Nothing: The first two halves of the original "Honfoglalás" have the player forced to flee in a hurry despite all their efforts after a huge invasion of Pechenegs.
• Altar Diplomacy: In "Bapheus", Osman must choose a bride from one out of three rival Turkish factions in exchange for an alliance with said faction and a gift of resources. Of course, the other two will turn hostile.
• Artistic License – History: The outro of "Cyprus" would have you believe that Richard the Lionhearted had single-handedly curb-stomped Saladin until he finally took over Jerusalem, conquering it. In truth, he did win at Acre, but the following campaign against Saladin wasn't exactly successful: Saladin resorted to a war of attrition, the siege of Jerusalem failed and ultimately Richard fell ill and retired.
• Artistic License – Religion: One win condition in "York" is to destroy the Northumbrian palace and replace it with a temple of Odin, represented by a Wonder. The Viking Wonder is the Borgund Stave Church, a Christian church, originally part of the Catholic Church and later the Church of Norway, built in the 12th Century.
• Beast of Battle: Hunting Wolves, which are controllable in the first part of the "Honfoglalás" mission.
• Conflict Ball: Richard's on his way to the Holy Land. To fight the Saracens. When he finds out that Tancred has imprisoned his sister (apparently not because It Amused Me), he strong-armed him into releasing her. Then he attacked Messina when the Sicilians rose against the British soldier's presence. Finally, when he finds out that Isaac has kidnapped his sister, he proceed to conquer Cyprus. Only then he sets out for the Holy Land again.
• Cosmetic Award:
  • The HD Edition has "Battles of the Forgotten Campaign Completed":
    "Through your inquiry into the detail of some of the less-known but equally significant historical clashes of arms, you have shown that you are truly a master of the pen and the sword. Rule with the strength of the sons of Ragnar, the diplomatic aptitude of Khosrau Anushirvan, the steadfastness of Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the charisma of Osman Ghazi."
  • Since DE fused both "Battles of the Conquerors" with "Battles of the Forgotten", the respective achievements have been fused into "Battle Beast".
  • DE has a few more for these scenarios: "Lone Warrior"^note Win "Kurikara" without forming an alliance with the Hojo clan in single player, "Turkish Delight"^note Win "Bapheus" by defeating Turkish factions without allying with them in single player and "Smoke on the Water"^note Purchase 20 Dragon Ships in "Lake Poyang".
• Demoted to Extra: In DE Honfoglalás the Byzantine are reduced to a small camp of ambassadors who're willing to pay you a huge sum of money to destroy the Bulgarians' fortresses and keeps. Unlike HD, this time the Bulgarians are actually your allies, but if you're really in need for money you can always turn on them, with the juicy bonus in that they count towards the total of factions you have to eliminate and aren't as tough as Franconia.
• Developer's Foresight: In Honfoglalás, should you be able to, somehow, destroy the Pechenegs at any given time, you're automatically sent to the last section of the game.
• Duel Boss: Invoked near the end of Kurikara: Kyoto will turn into ally and the previously ally Taira no Kiyomori will become hostile. However, nothing stops you from slaying him with a shitload of troops rather than using Minamoto.
• Escort Mission: Langshan Jian has a series of four shipment spawning at set moments from specific points and go towards the Monument's site. If any shipment is destroyed, you lose. Lake Pojang keeps the same challenge.
• Evil All Along:
  • In "Bapheus", you need to visit five different tribes to recruit them for war. Three will gladly accept, but the other two will reveal themselves to be evil and attack you; killing their leader insures a Heel–Face Turn on their surviving troops.
  • The Gokturks will betray you in "Bukhara" and become the antagonist after the main enemy factions are defeated.
• Exact Words: When the Magyars send their best horse as a gift to King Svatopluk in exchange for land, pasture and water. He's so delighted he tells them to take as much as they want. And so they do take as much as they want. Namely, the entire Hungary.
• Failure Is the Only Option: "Dos Pilas" has you defending the titular town from a superior force of Calakmul invaders. Your objectives then become "Your Town Center must survive" and "Advance to the Castle Age," and soon after you do the latter, a massive Calakmul army spawns and attacks. You're supposed to be overwhelmed so that Calakmul can demand your surrender, leading the player to choose between fleeing Dos Pilas and remaining loyal to Tikal, or taking the historical route and siding with Calakmul against Tikal... but it's fully possible to quickly build a castle, a strong garrison, and research enough techs to hold off against Calakmul indefinitely. The problem is, the Calakmul invaders will continue to be spawned by the game at regular intervals, and your objective will be stuck as "Your Town Center must survive," so there's no point in a heroic defense.
• Gameplay and Story Segregation: York is supposed to focus on the Norsemen's bloody vengeance against Northumbria. There's only one objective which forces you to attack Northumbria,all the other choices allows you to win without taking on York at all.
• Heel–Face Revolving Door:
  • Of the five tribes you must visit early in "Bapheus", two will attack you. The only way to insure their continued loyalty is to kill their leaders.
  • In "Bukhara", the Gokturks will turn on you after defeating the White Huns if you've triggered an alliance with them.
• Let's You and Him Fight: In part 2 of Honfonglalas, the Byzantines solve their problems with the Bulgarians and the nearby Magyars by hiring the latter to deal with the neighbouring Bulgars under the promise of land and riches. Unfortunately, by the time the Bulgarians are defeated, the Pechenegs have returned Diabolus ex Machina style. In DE, picking a fight with Bulgars is entirely optional.
• Magikarp Power: Especially true for the enemies in DE: Honfoglalás : Aside from East Franconia, Avars and Moravians are rather weak and their forces are scattered across the map, and since neither starts at Castle Age (and thus do not have Murder Holes), you can get rid of them easily soon enough. Waste too much time and you'll be forced to fight back two set of enemies who send out soldiers almost non-stop (and Franconia can produce Paladins). It sucks even more if you declared war to the Bulgarians.
• Marathon Level: Expect to take at least an hour and a half or more in each Battle of the Forgotten level, especially Honfoglalás.
• Non-Indicative Name: Out of the many scenarios, only Bukhara, Dos Pilas and Langshan Jiang feature "forgotten" and unused civilizations such as Persians, Chinese and Mayans. All the other civs have already been playable before.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: York has the Vikings invading England to avenge Ragnar Lodbrok. This can be accomplished by defeating enough opponents, gathering enough gold or relics or by destroying the royal palace of Northumbria and replace it with a "Temple of Odin" (which is the standard Viking Wonder).
• Sadistic Choice: In Dos Pilas, a scripted event will have a huge enemy army attack the village and offer you to join them: if you refuse, they'll capture the village and force you to rebuild your forces in another base, constantly attacked by two opponents. Accepting is the same, except that you stay in the same village.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Ruggero da Fiore in Bapheus will come to the aid of the Byzantine, but if you manage to route his forces he will claim to have been betrayed and leave the fight. As mentioned in the outro, while Ruggero and the Catalan Company did obtain many victories over the Turks, the Byzantine had him assassinated in fear that he'll turn against them.
• Side Quest: Like all the other Forgotten Campaigns, some of these scenarios will have bonus objectives that will reward you with resources, troops or advantages.
• Story Branching: In Dos Pilas, after advancing to the Castle Age, Calakmul will attack you with a very large army that is not meant to be defeated. When they approach your Town Center, they will stop and demand you choose between joining Calakmul or remaining loyal to Tikal:
  • If you remain loyal to Tikal, you'll have to flee to Uaxactun and make it your new base, while your old base at Dos Pilas becomes your enemy, and you're tasked with destroying Calakmul's Wonder.
  • If you side with Calakmul, they'll become your ally, Tikal and Uaxactun will become enemies, and the objective changes to destroying Tikal's Wonder. Regardless of your actual choice, the outro will always mention that Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil joined Calakmul, as it happened in history.
• Suspicious Videogame Generosity: In "Bapheus", your army is periodically reinforced by refugees and ghazis flocking to Osman's banner, which translates to free military or civilian units, even including Bombard Cannons or Monks carrying Relics. The whole scenario is a Mêlée à Trois where you're surrounded by rival Turkish factions and the Byzantines, all of whom will regularly attack your base with rams or trebuchets, or even attack your rear guard while you're busy conquering a rival city.

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