Word has reached your court of a terrifying new menace from the far West. With razor-sharp swords shaped from the blackest night they have cut a bloody path through the kingdoms of Western Europe, and in unholy displays of cruelty they have massacred hundreds upon thousands of defenceless captives and innocent civilians to their dark idols. Ireland, Brittany, and Portugal have already fallen to these Godless hordes, while Castile, Scotland, France, and Fez each look soon to join them.

With their large armies, huge reserves of gold, and penchant for ritually sacrificing those who oppose them, Christendom's chances look bleak against these new conquerors. However, Christendom has endured and defeated seemingly invincible odds before, outlasting the Attila the Hun in antiquity, repelling the Mongols in more recent centuries, surviving the Plague of Justinian, the Black Death, and numerous other pestilences. But there's a first time for everything, right?

• Option 1. These enemies may be numerous and terrifying, but they are mortal. With iron and blood they will be driven back to whence they came! [Invest any number of military units and players, and choose a battleground – the British Isles, France, Iberia, or North Africa – to send them to.]

• Option 2. Massacring unbaptized souls is not the way. It is our duty as Christians to evangelize to the heathens and teach them the Good News, so that they may be saved by Christ's sacrifice. [Invest any number of missionaries and players, and any amount of Faith.]

• Option 3. The states under invasion are already lost causes. We must refortify here, in the Empire of the Romans, and as the bulwark of Christendom we will defeat this nemesis if they dare approach us.

• Option 4. This is a scourge of our own doing! Our sinful ways, our pursuit of material wealth and power, our abandonment of charity, our lack of true faith in Christ, this is what our own deeds have wrought. We must atone!

• Option 5. No. It is too late for ordinary atonement. God's mercy is infinite, but we must make sacrifices to prove that we are truly worthy to receive it. [Invest any amount of gold and faith, and any number of players.]

• Option 6. Their might and cruelty are overwhelming! If we dare stand against them, we will be crushed underfoot. But if we provide them with tribute, surely they'll let us live. Surely they will, won't they? [Invest any amount of gold.]

• Option 7. Mere tribute in gold will not sate the Godless hunger of these bloodthirsty infidels. There is only one gift we can offer that will keep us safe. [Invest any amount of population and any number of players.]

• Option 8. Sacrificing our own Christian subjects to their dark idols is not the way! But neither can we hope to defeat this enemy in battle. Perhaps a dynastic alliance and oath of fealty will placate them. [Invest any unmarried character of your ruling dynasty.]

• Option 9. God is dead. Glory to Huixtocihuatl!