Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
Jadwiga was ascended as queen of Poland as a child as chaos was consuming the region, derived from Teutonic forces to the west and the various Mongol-Turkic raids to the east. It was here that she was working alongside the neighboring Lithuania under the auspices of Jogaila and Vytautas, in hopes of preserving a united Poland-Lithuania commonwealth in the face of great adversity.The player is in control of the Poles and Lithuanians, the color being Red.
Scenarios
1. The Matter of the Crown
The young princess Jadwiga is ready for their arranged marriage, which she hopes will be with her beloved William of Hapsburg, so that Poland can finally be at peace once and for all. However, the local counts conspire against this marriage and must be pacified if the wedding is to succeed. Furthermore, young Jadwiga ignores that her spouse is not who she hopes for...2. Star of the Poles
Initially unhappy with the marriage to the Lithuanian Duke Jogalia, Jadwiga decided to put the interests of Poland above all, and soon learnt to appreciate and love Jogalia, who converted to Catholicism to appease his new polish subjects and greatly values her wife. Soon, their path leads them to Galicia, to convert the local pagans and take over the city of Halič.3. Duel of Dukes
Poland was successful in taking Halič, but the Lithuanians were unhappy with Jogalia's decisions and conversions, so they looked for a leader who would listen to them better, and Kestusis' son, Vytautas, steps forward to lead the Lithuanians against his cousin, in a battle to reclaim the crown of Duke for himself and avenge his father. Together with his faithful Jadwiga, Jogalia rides east to take over the cities of Lithuania and fight Vytautas' army.4. The Siege of Vilnius
Vytautas, pragmatic as expected, ultimately surrendered to Jogalia and allied with him, becoming Duke of Lithuania on the condition that he serves his cousin. However, his early promise to let the Teutonic Order have the region of Samogitia was forsaken, which lead to the enraged crusaders to launch a massive offensive, bolstered by fresh recruits. Jogalia and Vytautas run to Vilnius, to protect the capital of Lithuania from the massive Crusader army before it's taken.5. Vytautas' Crusade
While Jogalia and Jadwiga are occupied with their domains, Vytautas keeps carrying on his own agenda, as if disregarding his loyalty to Jogalia. Having encountered the fugitive Khan Tokhtamysh, Vytautas plans to ride south, towards the territories of Ruthenia and Crimea, to chase away the Tatars from the land so that Tokhtamysh may rule.6. The Fruits of her Labour
Much to Jogalia's grief, tragedy struck: Jadwiga's newborn daughter died four days from her birth, and Jadwiga herself followed her soon. To make sure that her work won't be in vain, Jogalia is determinated to lead the combined forces of Lithuanians and Poles against the last remaining obstacle: the domains of the Teutonic Order in Prussia. Leading a vast army towards the capital, the Poles and Lithuanians are ready to defeat this old opponent so that the two countries can finally stand together as one mighty nation.This Campaign contains examples of:
- Arranged Marriage: Jadwiga's first scenario has her married to Jogalia for political reasons. Unlike most takes on this trope, it works in the long run as Jadwiga comes to love her husband.
- Battle Couple: Jogalia and Jadwiga often fight together on the battlefield.
- Bittersweet Ending: The combined Polish-Lithuanian forces triumph in Prussia and secure a long era of prosperity for their country... still, Jogalia will never fully recover from Jadwiga's demise.
- Book Ends:
- During the opening narration of the first scenario, Jadwiga hears a Friar ringing a bell in a distant church, noting it's been a long time since she's been able to notice such small things, "the little things of beauty that season our days of war and toil". During the closing narration of the last scenario, her husband, Jogalia hears a similar bell, and makes the same observation while reminiscing of her, except this time the bells knoll in the evening.
- The second mission and the achievement for completing the campaign are called "Star of the Poles".
- The Cavalry:
- Villainous example in the first scenario, defeating one of the rebellious counts will result in him becoming an ally... but at the same time will cause the arrival of the Teutonic Order to help the remaining count against you.
- In "The Siege of Vilnius", Jogalia and Vytautas play this role to the besieged Vilnius.
- In "Vytautas' Crusade", building churches in the Ruthenian villages lacking them will reward you with a growing number of Obuch soldiers to use. Before the battle with the Golden Horde you will also receive conspicuous reinforcements from all your allies... and you will need them.
- Call-Back:
- Kestusis' son Vytautas comes to lead the Lithuanians against Jogalia as promised. Furthermore his troops bear the color green, previously used in the Lithuanian campaign by the player.
- Tokhtamysh Khan makes a surprise appearence in the fifth scenario, where Vytautas has to help him.
- Chekhov's Skill: In the fifth scenario, Vytautas barely escapes with his life ater being lured in an ambush by the Tatars. He learns his lessons and tries the same trick at the battle of Grunweld, leading the Teutonic Knights into a trap.
- Cosmetic Award:
- "Star of the Poles" for completing the campaign.
- There's also "Protector of the Realm"note , "No Baggage"note and "No Quarter"note .
- The Dog Bites Back: The final scenario has Jogalia fighting and defeating the Teutonic Order once and for all.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The Bohemian mercenaries in the last scenario are lead by Jan Zizka, the protagonist of his own campaign.
- End of an Age: When Jogalia is crowned king of the Poles, he converts and swears to do the same to the entire Lithuania, to finally detach from their past.
- Enemy Mine: Jogalia and Vytautas starts off as enemies, but after being bested in battle, the latter surrenders and, soon enough, they join forces against the crusaders.
- Formula-Breaking Episode: The fifth scenario features neither Jadwiga (who only appears in dialogue to supply reinforcements), Jogalia, or even their previous enemies such as the Teutonic Order. Instead it focuses on Vytautas' campaign against the Tatar hordes. You also play as the Lithuanians instead of the Poles.
- The Hero Dies: Tragically, Jadwiga dies alongside her newborn daughter, leaving a grieving Jogalia to narrate the prologue and epilogue of the final mission. The narration background, which depicts Jadwiga's room, also changes from a bright day to a cold night.
- Hired Guns: In the final scenario one sidequest involves gathering ten thousand gold units to hire one of the three mercenary armies on the map: you can choose between the Slavs (Boyars, halberdiers and heavy cavalry), Tatars (Keshik and horse archers) or Jan Zizka (halberdiers, handcannoneers and houfnices). The Teutons are also employing the Company of the Lizard, but since the company has polish origins you can persuade them to stay out of the fight.
- I Surrender, Suckers: The Khan of the Golden Horde in the fifth scenario will flee from his destroyed camp once you have dealt with all his three castles... only to set up an ambush, revealing a truly enormous force of keshiks and horse archers ready to mow down Vytautas' forces.
- I'm Standing Right Here: When an enthusiast Vytautas proudly boasts about his desire to send all Tatars running back to Asia, Tokhtamysh actually specifies that, technically, he's Mongol, not Tatar.
- Oh, Crap!: Vytautas (and likely the player)'s reaction upon seeing that the Golden Horde has an even bigger back up army ready to be deployed.
- Oh, My Gods!: Parodied in the fourth scenario when a citizen of Vilnius praises the gods... before quickly backspacing to "God", sheeplishly stating that's hard to get rid of the old habits.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: The Archbishop in the first mission is the one who has to break the news of William's arrest and reveal the identity of the groom to a young Jadwiga, though he clearly shows that it grieves him to do so.
- Run or Die: The final stretch of the fight against the Golden Horde has Vytautas running away from the gigantic enemy army and back to the other side of the river, where polish ships will destroy the bridge.
- Schmuck Bait: In the fifth scenario, the destruction of the three Golden Horde castle will cause their leader to flee beyond the river in panic... but is actually setting up an ambush.
- The Siege: The titular siege of Vilnius has you and Vytautas joining the forces of the besieged Vilnius to protect the city's three castles from the invading Teutonic Order. It also features the new night mechanic, a period of time in which the ambience actually darkens and the invaders call off their forces to rest. In order to break the siege you have to destroy enough supply carts before they reach the teutonic base and hold off the final wave of enemy soldiers.
- Tempting Fate: In the campaign, Jadwiga spends the epilogue of "Vytautas' Crusade" talking about the upcoming birth of her daughter, and how everything looks hopeful and promising. The intro to "The Fruits of Her Labor" confirms her daughter dies days after birth, and Jadwiga dies a few days after of grief.
- Ungrateful Bastard: The siege engines merchant in the first scenario is truly grateful that you saved him... but still makes you pay 1500 Gold units for four trebuchets, a truly otrageous price (four trebuchets are normally worth 800 Gold and Wood).
- The War Sequence: The very final battle is a massive all-out battle between the Teutonic Order and the forces of Jogalia and Vytautas. Depending on your actions, you can have the support of a Polish army, a mercenary army (choice between Bohemians, Tatars and Slavs) and can weaken the Teutons by ransacking their Prussian allies and persuading their mercenaries to leave before the battle starts.
- What the Hell, Hero?: If you convert enough Lithuanian villagers in the second scenario you will receive several bonuses and a relic, but they will become hostile, calling Jogalia out on his disrespect for his roots. By taking down their shrine they ultimately relent.
