Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
The Cumans lived for many years on the Eurasian steppes, and then received distressing news of the advancing Mongol horde as they subjugate whatever comes in their way. Under the leadership of Kotyan, they sought to escape this imminent threat as any attempt to hold them off got crushed, hoping that whatever new land they come to will be hospitable to them. The player is in control of the Cumans, the color being green. Scenarios
1. Raising the Banners
Genghis Khan and his Mongols rode in from the East, and at first the Cumans didn't seem to distinguish them from the standard raiders that are prevalent in Central Asia. It wasn't until reports came in that Mongols laid waste to the great Persian Empire that they recognize the threat, and already their Kipchak counterparts had fallen under the sword of Subotai. A khan of the small tribe, Kotyan, sought to unite the Cuman tribesmen against the impending threat, and was even willing to set aside his peoples' differences with the Russian princes. Said princes were highly suspicious from years of Cuman raids, and would need some persuading before it's too late.2. The Battle at the Kalka River
Kotyan managed to persuade a large force of Cumans and Russians to fight against the Mongols, only for the battle to end poorly. The Mongol army was highly ruthless, exploiting weaknesses through means of cavalry, archer fire and siege weapons. Many leaders perished in battle, and Cuman spirits were deeply crushed. Kotyan however survived, hoping to take what's left of his forces and flee westward. However, a group of Tatars had stealthily established a base on the other side of the Kalka River, in an effort to flank Kotyan and allow Subotai to crush whatever hopes remained with Chinese siege weapons.3. Saving the Huts
After long harrowing months on the run from Subotai's horde, most of the remaining free Cumans had given up hope, though Kotyan still didn't give up his resolve to bring his people to safety. Finally, some good news had arrived, and although they weren't expecting Hungary to be hospitable after years of Cuman raids, King Bela IV was willing to take the Cumans in. Before they could do this, Kotyan prioritized riding into Wallachia to reinforce Girgen Khan in an effort to liberate the free Cumans in Wallachia. He had to hurry, since Subotai was still in hot pursuit.4. Blood for Blood
The Cumans have settled in Hungary, their leaders being baptized as Christian as they were given a plot of land with which they shall protect Hungary's frontier from the combined Mongol-Tatar forces. And then the Cumans had caught word that Kotyan had been murdered by Hungarian and German nobles while at a feast. The Cuman chieftains were outraged, knowing that Hungary was no longer safe and vowing to pillage the countryside while preparing their people to evacuate southward to Bulgaria, where their leader was of Cuman descent and willing to take in the refugees.5. A New Home
Hungary was left defenseless and devastated, and couldn't rely on the Cumans as the Mongols rode into the country and razed it. King Bela fled to Austria after his kingdom fell, only to be taken advantage of by Duke Frederick, who saw this as an opportunity to extort the land and force him to swear fealty to the Holy Roman Empire. Bela sent a message to the Cumans asking to return to Hungary and deal with the very forces that wronged him. The new leader was at a crossroads, and many chieftains he consulted were still apprehensive and wishing to continue their plans to cross the Danube and reach Bulgaria to the south. It was not an easy decision, with both pathways having their share of adversity.This campaign contains examples of:
- Call-Back: Many events in the campaign mirror the corresponding events in the Genghis Khan campaign:
- The introductory cinematic had Subotai ride north and subjugate the Kipchak tribes as in "The Horde Rides West"note .
- "A New Home" is dealing with the aftermath of "Pax Mongolia", in turn based on the Battle of Mohi, after the Cumans laid waste to the countryside and abandoned Hungary to its fate.
- Cosmetic Award:
- "Yes we Khan!" for completing the campaign.
- There's also "Cuman Flush"note and "He Won't Be Back"note .
- Despair Event Horizon: The Cumans under Kotyan's command were left in a desperate state after being handed a nasty rout by the Mongols near the Kalka River, and even Kotyan could barely even sleep after what happened.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: The Mongols wreaked havoc on the region, and almost all free Cumans had to leave Cumania. They were pursued by Subotai, betrayed by the people Kotyan wanted to trust, and had to face further adversity on multiple fronts in Eastern Europe. By the end, the Cumans prevailed in Bulgaria and Hungary. Even the Cumans and Kipchaks sold to slavery in Egypt became the Mamluks that overthrew their Saracen masters
and repelled the very Mongols that conquered them. - Hope Bringer: While spirits remained crushed, Kotyan's leadership actually got them migrating westward, which led to their united vengeance when he got murdered.
- Hopeless Boss Fight: "The Battle at the Kalka River" involves a retreat from said conflict since it ended poorly. In that scenario and "Saving the Huts" Subotai will make an entrance after a certain amount of time, and his forces are too strong for what Kotyan could handle. As such, the latter must break through the Tatar defenses, then reach Hungary respectively.
- Hordes from the East: The campaign has Kotyan Khan rallying his fellow tribesmen to flee from the Mongols.
- Oh, Crap!:
- How the Cumans reacted hearing that the Mongols subdued Persia, then the Kipchaks. This drove them to band together and even enlist the assistance of Russian princes.
- Cuman tribesmen have this reaction when trying to hold off the Mongols' advance to the other side of the Kalka River, then hear that Subotai was bringing weapons from China.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: "The Battle at the Kalka River" starts off with the battle ending poorly, and what remained of the Kievan Rus evacuated northward, some cursing Kotyan's name for getting them involved in the first place. After you destroy one of the Tatar castles on the other side, a group of Cuman tribesmen will see this as an opportunity to leave so long as there's a hole in the Tatar defense.
- Stealth Pun: The achievement "He Won't Be Back" requires you to defeat an Austrian duke before 45 minutes have passed.Geddit?
- Timed Mission: The achievement "He Won't Be Back" requires you to assist King Bela and assasinate Duke Frederick in less than 45 minutes in "A New Home".
- Two Roads Before You: In "A New Home", the Cumans meet at the Danube River and must choose between heading south to Bulgaria or remaining in Hungary. To further enforce this, Cumans are not allowed to build docks, seeing as they're not known for their naval prowess even in-game. For either path:
- Staying would mean helping Béla's resistance, seeking to wrest control of Hungary back from the treacherous nobles and driving out the Austrians.
- Heading to Bulgaria would mean helping them reclaim Nesebar from the Latin Empirenote , while simultaneously fighting the Byzantines seeking to conquer it for themselves.
- Wham Episode: "Blood for Blood" has the cinematic where Kotyan was murdered at the feast, sending the Cumans into a rage. The mission started off with the Cumans helping out the Hungarians in the country side. Eventually, a rider comes in to break the bad news, turning them hostile against the Hungarians.
- You Can't Go Home Again: The campaign ends with the Cumans settling in Hungary, a long way from their ancestral home. The narrator remarks that he still has fond memories of his youth on the steppes, which he hasn't seen for many years, though he does not grieve.
