"Per Audaciam, Ad Victoriam" - The County of Frisia

[Jedi mindtrick]

Contrary to what appearances might imply, this AAR has not been on hiatus for two months. Everything is proceeding in an exact manner and according to a rigorous schedule.

We now return to the AAR. You will remember nothing.

[/Jedi mindtrick]

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Chapter 8

In which the count holds council, and must face harsh realities


[Braunschweig Manor, Council Room, March 5th, 1095]

"I really don't understand why we can't go to Jerusalem," the count said to his council.

Countess Giovanna, who was also steward of Frisia, closed her eyes for a moment. Her husband was thick-headed on the best of days, but ever since his spontaneous decision last year to "take the cross", as he called it, he had been having trouble understanding even the most simple reasonings. She sometimes wished Lady Ida was still with them.

"Husband. Taking back the Holy City from the heathens is a glorious goal indeed, but the problem with Jerusalem is that it is far away. Actually, it is very far away. Do you know how far away it is?"

"Not exactly. Somewhere across the ocean, I guess."

"Yes, and it is a very large ocean, and it will cost a lot of money to cross, money which we do not have. So I think it would be a good idea if we found somewhere a little closer."

"Such as?"

"Such as Denmark, for instance! Just think, husband, of all the poor Christian Danes that have been conquered by the Slavs and are forced to drag on their miserable existences in pagan darkness with no priests or lawful princes to guide them."

"The Danes are Christians?" Marshal Wenzel asked.

"So I hear," the count's youngest brother Otto replied.

"Then why are they still raiding our coasts?"

"Well, I guess it's rather a new thing for them..."

"Gentlemen," bishop Adolf interrupted. "Let us keep to the point. Our good lady countess makes an excellent point. The Danes are indeed Christians and presently under yoke of the filthy Slavic pagans, and it is the duty of any good Christian to deliver them from such persecution. A most noble and worthy goal indeed."

"I fully agree with the lord bishop," Estrid Knýtling - the count's chancellor and Otto's wife - said, glaring at the marshal and her husband. "My people have been in the Holy Church ever since the days of the Great King Knut, and they deserve better than this." Estrid was a granddaughter of the famous King Svend of Denmark, and was know to have quite a temper.


Estrid Knýtling, from the bloodline of the Viking Kings


"The only problem is it's so close that the Emperor and the other nobles will take everything for themselves again," the marshal reminded them.

"That is true," the count agreed. "I do not wish to be humiliated again like that time in Holstein. Surely there must be a place that is sufficiently far away from the Emperor, yet close enough to not be" - he looked at his wife - "uh, too economically intemperant?"

The council room fell silent for a moment.

"Well, last I heard, the King of France has been excommunicated...," Otto started to say.

The countess noticed with horror that her husband's eyes started to light up. "No! Absolutely not! We are not going to war with France," she made it clear. The room was quiet again for a moment.

"Might I make a suggestion?" Eberhardt, the count's second brother rarely said anything at council meetings - he wasn't the sharpest sword in the armoury, and he did seem to be farily well aware of that.

"Make it brief, brother," the count snapped.

"Yes. Um. As you know, my wife is from Castille. Down south. Where those saracens have some kingdoms. And she says that there's a place down there called Tangiers, and that it's a sheikdom, that's just like an independent county or something. I think it's much closer than Jerusalem, and they don't have as many troops and everything. Maybe it could be a place to start, and then go on to Jerusalem later?"

The council considered that for a moment.

"It's a possibility," the marshal said.

"Taking land from the Saracens is always a noble venture. It helps the greater effort," the bishop stated.

"It's still far away," the countess warned.

Count Ekbert rose. "I think it sounds like an interesting suggestion, Eberhardt. I think we should have someone travel down to this Tangia county to estimate their capabilities. Also, Lady Estrid and Marshal Wenzel will draw up plans for attacking the pagans in Denmark without the Emperor noticing. And meanwhile, we shall continue training soldiers and carrying out whatever other preparations are necessary. That will be all - go with God."

Then he left the room, trying very hard not to sulk. He'd still rather go to Jerusalem.



God wills it... but where does he want it?

coz1: Yes, good planning and swiftness of action will be essential here.

Specialist290: At least one must say that the count fully embodies the virtue of Christian poverty, so claiming royal titles probably won't happen any time soon, I'm afraid.

stnylan: Absolutely. He intends to heed it to the full extent of his capabilities.

Chapter 9

In which Anna goes about her duties


[Braunschweig Manor, June 19th, 1095]

It was early in the morning on a fine summer day when the count's brother Otto and his Iberian sister-in-law, Petronilla de Leon, entered the manor's great hall together. As it was about time for the singing of Prime, the only other person in the hall was Anna, one of the serving maids, who was cleaning out the fireplace. They paid her no attention.

"Have you had time to consider my suggestion, Sir Otto?"

"To some extent, yes. And I really must commend you, milady, on the extent of your Christian charity. That you even now find the time to think about the plight…"

"Save your breath," Petronilla cut him off. "What is your answer?"

Otto smiled slightly. "I must admit that at first, I had some doubts about your intentions, as well as your ability to carry out your claims. However…"

"However…?"

"However, assuming this thing is meant to lead to where I believe we both agree it should lead – then, yes. I am interested."

Petronilla's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Interested?"

"Well, yes. I can see definite benefits in what you suggest. Assuming you really can carry this through, I would definitely support you."

"That is not good enough. Are you ready to take oaths with me regarding this matter?"

Otto hesitated for a moment, turning to look out an arrow slit. "You ask a lot, Lady Petronilla."

"There is always Eberhardt."

Otto spun around in surprise. "Eberhardt!? But he's… you…"

"Yes, I know," Petronilla smiled wickedly. "But I'm sure it would be possible to work something out."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Merely reminding you that you are not as essential as you seem to think."

Otto turned away from her again. "I… will need to think a little more about this."

Anna had finished with the fireplace. She collected the ashes and debris and walked towards the stairs. As she left the hall, she heard Lady Petronilla say: "Think quickly, then! We do not have long. We know that he is on his way back. You must…"


The courtyard was the usual busy and noisy collection of knights, soldiers and servants, going about their daily business in the manor. Anna dumped the sack of ashes on the dunghill, then started going back to the kitchen. On the way back, she noticed Spymaster Wulfthryth and Chancellor Estrid standing in a corner of the courtyard, speaking quietly together. She picked up a few scattered phrases as she passed by them.

"…know I can't get involved in…"

"…is important, Wulfthryth!"

"No doubt, to you. But what will…"

"So you won't…"

"…intend to wait and… the count… the matter."

Back in the kitchen, Anna was put to work on cleaning the fish for lunch. While working and chatting with the other servants, at one time she noticed Lady Petronilla and Marshal Wenzel passing by in the corridor outside the kitchen. Although with all the noise around her, she couldn't hear what they said, but it appeared like they were arguing about something. They quickly disappeared out of view.


In the afternoon, after lunch had been served, Anna went down to the manor's small garden to tend to the roses. The countess was very fond of roses and she had had some imported specially from her childhood home in Italia. It had turned out that Anna had some talent at keeping them alive even in the harsher Frisian climate, so she had been given the duty of looking after them from time to time. The diocese bishop, Adolf van Arkel was relaxing on a bench in the shade in the middle of the garden.

A short while later, the countess herself appeared up on the curtain wall and went down the stairs to the garden. She nodded absent-mindedly to the servant girl as she passed, then walked straight over to the bishop.

"Lord Bishop! I am pleased to find you here. Would you not walk with me for a moment?"

The bishop quickly rose. "As you wish, Lady Giovanna. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Merely a little something I was wondering about," the countess replied with a smile. They walked around in the far end of the garden for a while, but then approached the place where Anna was working.

"That is a very interesting question, Lady Countess," she heard the bishop say, "and also a quite complex one. I am afraid that I can't provide you with an answer right away – but might I ask you what made you think about this?"

"Yes, you see," the countess answered with a little laugh. "I was reading this most excellent collection of sermons by the Holy Anthony, and he did mention somewhere – unfortunately, I can't find it again – silly me – but he mentioned that…"

They walked away again. Anna cut her finger on a thorn. A few minutes later, they had completed another round and came back towards her.

"…although I have never actually heard of this idea before," the bishop finished a sentence.

"Oh. Is that so?" the countess asked with a pout. "What a shame."

"However," the bishop continued, "if you really did read this in the works of the Holy Anthony, then it is certainly very likely to be true. He is one of the great authorities on the subject, after all."

The countess clapped her hands together. "I am so happy that you think so, lord Bishop, because this really made me thinking: What would happen if…"

This time, they only made it halfway around the garden. The bishop suddenly stopped in surprise, and it seemed like he intently asked the countess several questions. Then he excused himself and hurriedly left the garden. The countess looked after him with a smile for a few moments, then went back inside.


In the evening, Anna got ready to do her last task of the day – putting fresh beddings and linens in the manors beds. On one of the upper floors, she passed by Lady Petronilla engaged in quietly but intently explaining something to her husband. It seemed like she had to repeat herself a few times. His brother Otto was standing off to the side, waiting impatiently.

Anna quickened her steps. There were ugly stories going around about Otto's cruelty against the servants, and she didn't much like the idea of being caught alone with him. She entered a bedroom and went about her work.

"I was told that you wished to see me." The words surprised her. She hadn't noticed the figure standing in the shadows in the back of the room. She quickly composed herself. "Yes – yes, that's right. Things are beginning to happen now, as you said."

The man stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself as Father Wilhelm, the prior of the nearby St. Boniface's Monastery. "What have you discovered, child?" he asked quietly.

"It is as you thought, Father," she replied. "Lady Petronilla is trying to get Otto's support, and seems to be succeeding. She has approached the marshal as well, but I don't think he was as agreeable. Lady Wulfthryth is still unwilling to throw in with the countess, but her working up on the bishop seems to have been successful. I think now would be a good time for you to contact him, Father."

The faint sound of singing drifted up from the manor chapel. "I am expected at Vespers," the prior said slowly, considering what she had told him. "You have done well. Keep vigilant, child, for we may have to make our move soon. God bless you." He threw her a small pouch and made the sign of the cross on his way out.

Anna opened the pouch and eagerly counted the money inside. If only all of her duties were this profitable…

Veldmaarschalk: Do you mean, would the count declare war against Tangier as an elaborate plot to draw away the armies of the Emperor, thus allowing him to in the meantime seize the real objective in Denmark, and possibly also hope to undermine the power of the Emperor through the inevitable conflicts that tend to break out between a liege lord and his vassals during a long campaign?

Nah, he wouldn't do that.

But Estrid Knýtling would.

Specialist290: Nice to be back.

stnylan: The count is of the same mind as you. However, it is too far to walk, and the peasants that own the ships do care about such petty things, alas.

east_emnet: My AAR will be the entry fee.

And with that said, I hope to see no further Phantom Menace quotes. I intend to have this AAR done with an air of class and good taste, thankyouverymuch.

CatKnight: I agree completely. The Fatimids are big and scary and eat small counties for breakfast.