Dreams Of One Land
hello so this will be my first aar it will take place in the Duchy of Lienster and will hopefully one day have control of Ireland. So please leave comments to give encouragement and I hope you enjoy.
I am playing difficult on normal and AI aggression on normal as well I wont cheat and will try to make this as interesting as possible. I play with no mods.
Last edited by RIP Young Wolf; 23-12-2011 at 09:50.
Chapter 1:War Diplomacy Death
Hello my name is Diarmiat of the noble dynasty of Ui Mordha so I really am a bad warrior but my skills at diplomacy and trade I am a crafty person and I can hold my own in intriuge around my court and also I know my way round the woman of this castles rooms. I am currently Duke of Leinster and hold my family ancestral home of Laigan now for you to meet my children.
This is my heir Muirchaid he hold Dublin and the Isle of man for me but he isn't very good at anything other than being kind and modest and mostly all round good acts and like his father ladies.
This is my other son Enna he is my Lord High Marshall which he is very good at as well and he is also quite good at most other kinds of state life so on the whole is better than his idiot brother obviously the fantastic monks I brought in to tutor him but for some reason he seems to hate me.
This little boy is my only grandson already at the age of one he seems to be quite a good boy he can beat boys twice his size charm the socks off you as well as play very funny practical jokes.
This is my very small court but I couldn't live with out them ll their advice is marvelous.
This is my province it may be poor but my family have held it for many generations I would never give it up.
My son Enna is still not married so in an attempt to ally my self with the deposed Saxon King I propose marriage to his ward Malcom of Scotland that my boy and the Aethling's sister get married I send one of my fastest messengers to take one of my fastest horses and then one of my fastest boats to brave the December seas to take this message.
I also send out slower messengers to get other unmarried members of my family doing their part in building our dynasty.The bells will ring out many times in Laigan next year. My council still needs a bishop to tell us the news from his Holy Father in Rome but there are none available so we will just wait for his Holy father to realise that he has no representive to me. I will also need an ally to help me in my noble conquest so after day of meetings we decided to try our luck with our Celtic brothers in Gwynedd.
Today a messenger dressed in the livery of Mide entered my council chambers with a message saying that the lowly Conchobar wanted an alliance ah pathetic he is even poorer than me and only a count what an insult. I would takevengance on this insult. Yet another messenger arrived today this time he wore the badge of Ruaidri count of Rir Connail he brsng a message saying his liege would like an alliance I was disgusted that man was a craven who had turne his lands into a desitute realm who didn't like our holy lord so I told my son to get men to chase him from my lands then told the man to get running the next night my son told me of how he had kept the man running all night and when ever he stopped his men's lances and pricked his back keeping him running. Today two men arrived in my council chambers both spoke in Welsh accents but one had the badge of Deheubrath and said his lord Maredudd wanted an alliance I graciously refused and gave him a ten man escort to the docks while the other laughed at him for failing this man bore the sign of Galmorgan a historic enemy of Deheubrathh this man said that his merciful lord would like a alliance I scoffed I shouted for my guards who ran over I ordered them to take this man to the same ship as the previous delagate and chain him up and tell the other delagate that he was there that would teach him and his lord not to be enemies with a man above their station.
As we neared mid Febuary and the first hints of spring were arriving ,a young boy wearing a doublet with the sign of my vassal Domnall of Osraige the boy also had a blade at his side the messenger claimed that he was Muirchertach heir to Osraige and was here as a fosterling and also to finish his training at arms here with my superior generals I accepted it was nice to have some young blood in my castle as the only other child was the baby heir to England Harold through the Godwineson line abandoned by his mother as she fled the bastards forces even his twin had left him but he would grow in my care to take back his throne also my spy master was still young only 17 still receiving training from my knights but was now considered an adult so he didn't really count. This also meant if my vassal rebelled his heir would die something all lords would hate. Today my steward Amalgein met his brife Fressnda a still relativly young girl of 25 but a bit too genourous unlucky for him and also a bit unpredictable which might make presents a bit hard to get for her. Also as we neared the end of Febuary my very old cousin Fáelán at 82 was lucky to marry the very young and well educated scholar Julienne from Essex and at 25 and being a person very well known already around these parts for being lustly she would make him have a nice end if I was her age me and her would have got along very nicely maybe we still can. Despite her education she was sceptical which upset me not a little but would be bad when a bishop would arrive. Also a french envoy arrived to say that our marriage proposal had been turned down well okay I wouldn't want someone sniffing around my garden stealing my snails to eat them they are on my land and even though they are pests my property and also part of my dream a Ireland where Irish people and things were the greatest and most respected people ( and things.) As March dawned and my wedding partys rolled into Spring partys a middle aged woman arrived she bore the sign of Edward the confessor on her cloak I rose and then fell to my knees as my respect for that dead man who I believed to be a saint came flooding back then she spoke " rise I am here to meet my husband not to relish in the past over that dead man who never once loved me " then I realised she was Edith Godwineson his wife my next stage in allying with the Saxon deposed royal familys "yes here is Maelmordha" I showed her to my bald great nephew before calling out " another wedding and another week of celebrations " and the crowd roared while I felt weaker for that little action my age was catching up on me maybe later on one of the wenches in this hall could make me feel younger.
As my knights and lords finnaly finished celebrating a young beautiful woman walked in she looked suspicous to me she ignored the long line of nobles waiting to offer one last time before they went " Princess Margaret here to marry Lord High Marshall Enna " she said as a group of servants ran in following her obviously her servants. " your lady what a pleasure to finnaly meet you " I said clasping her hand and kissing it " lords back to your tables we have another wedding and for my son two weeks of feasting " I said and as the men cheered I leaned in to her ear " my bedroom is always open to woman like you " I breathed and as I sat back I saw she was suprisied.
As you may remember long ago of the insult done by the count of mide so today every libarian and scholar was sent to every castle to search for any thing I could use as a claim and after 5 days my own libarian came with the news 200 years ago the lord of Mide swore vassalage to my ancestor then broke it a week later by attacking one of my ancestors other vassals holdfasts and so they were still vassals of this realm as well as traitors I thanked him with a fast horse and 10 gold coins. At dinner the next day with the whole court I announced my plans for my heir to invade while I lead an army as well to attack and destroy and see my plan of a united Ireland come into reality bit by bit. So on March 22 1067 I started my unification campaign for a week before I had said my goodbyes especally to the maids , unfortunately Margaret still resisted my charms. The march was well supplied and my men marched hard and fast but with a 10 minute break every 2 hours keeping them fresh.
After 10 days my son arrived in Mide and engaged combat I was still a few days behind but was gaining quickly. My son's army was roughly the same size as the one from Mide and lead his horse from the front while a renowned knight known as Lorcán O'Brien a vassal family from his province, unfortunately my son was less renowned as a warrior then his opponent and had less expierience as a general but he had God's love on his side.
I sent a light horseman to go and gather Osraige for battle and when he returned two days later he said they had 371 soldiers marching a large number of horse and heavy warriors amongest them. My son was just entering the first skirmish 10 days after he had arrived when I arrived my forces charged the enemy wing and they lost a good number of their archers and now we had clear supremicy of missile troops. As the skirmishs raged on our men started to take the advantage. After 3 days of skirmishes Domnall of Osraige arrived now we had a clear numerical adantage and were prepared for a battle. Another 3 days and me and my son lead our full horse in a charge distracting the enemy while Domnall lead a flanking movement then struck their wing instantly they lost many men and were close to breaking. We only lost 113 men to the enemies 239 it was a clear victory and men were sent to nearby forests to start building siege weapons. At that moment I left leaving my force only 20 knights accompinied me as news had come of a potential rebellion and soon I was home and on my second night I held a party and at midnight when all of the others apart from me and Margaret were awake she walked up to me and whispered " I am finnaly ready " I stood up leading her to my chambers I got rid of my robes and lay on my bed while she started to get unchanged then she got on the bed and started kissing me and then she leaned into my ear " Goodnight foolish old man " My eyes had been closed and flung open she was tere with a pillow shuffing into my face I tried to fight but I couldn't I was old she was young soon I had almost lost all my air then she said " For Enna your true heir " then my eyes closed and my life flew from my body hopefully to heaven and she got dressed and ran from the room unseen by anyone.
Chapter 2 Treachery Vassals Peace
Margaret had told me her plan and I had agreed the old man needed death for Ireland it was my dream in the first place. She came to me and told me the deed was done and so smiling I fell asleep in the morning I woke waiting until breakfast for the next stage of the plan abd when he never showed up I went to his chambers with the rest of the council Loigsech was in on it he would be rewarded for his troubles which included getting the Duke to return sending a message that there were rumors of rebellion and also getting the heir gone too fital in the plan. I found the old man dead and the council ran from the room I sent Loigsech to check the body he said old age and then two guards on my payroll speccifically meant to guard the room this morning to carry the body to the chapel where i pretended to mourn with the others then the next dat now armoureded in poor armour 40 years old his now lay in my chambers and a old sword 100 years old his now hung from my belt unnoticed and so I gave him his place in our family crypt so no one could see any signs of a death other than old age then I read out the will Loigsech had forged and so it went.
I Diarmait Ui Mórdha hearby place my estates to my eldest Murchaid I give my Dukedom and also Dublin and all my claims he may also keep half of my stables half of every type of horse. To my second born Enna I grant Laigan our ancestrol home and the remainder of my stables. To my favourite from the rest of my family Loigsech I grant the Isle of Man.
I also acknowledge these men and order them to be knighted by my heir: then the list listed all the guards on my payroll. I finished reading " what a shame he died without giving us prior notice of all these changes so we need two new council members I had read this will on the day of his death and hear our my nominees to replace me Donnchad and our loyal spy master Muirchaid my loving wife secretly both were spies for me and on my orders would slay my brother and everything would fall to me.
That day the court packed up and left me with only a few woman but I rarely saw them I just did my work and at nights read books my father had written.
Hello I am Muirchaid currently away sieging this godforsaken castle my boy was at home Donnchad already he was better than me at most things he would be my one son my wife was too old now but I didnt really need to my brothers wife was young. Then a messenger ran into my tent " my liege your father is dead you must return home as soon as the siege is done to accept the vassals here is your fathers will. " the man then ran off I was now the duke as I read the will it looked all right to me no one would lie to me the new Duke of Leinster. I needed an ally and Mothers cousin was the Duke of Munster so I sent half a dozen men off to ask him to join me in a alliance. I fear my envoy was slain on his journey as he never returned
Conchobar arriced again today but with 800 extra men I was confident leading my 300 horse perssonally. The skirmishs lasted a few days but 14 of his men lay dead while all of mine were alive. On this day mother died I was weeping when a envoy from Mide entered my chambers in my rage I struck his head from his shoulders then went back to crying. Today Fáelán died we mourned him with a attack on the enemy castle he had left a pregnant wife I swore an oath there and then to protect her. Today a man who bore the red hand of Ulster on a white background he said his lord wanted an alliance I told him to go home and tell his lord yes my fathers old policy was no more I needed a ally in Ulster where my next conquest was going to be and anyway the man was richer than me and can support my armies if we need to retreat somewhere. Conchobar has arrived for what will proparly be our last battle I respected him now and if he was captured I would give him a quick death. He was defeated but the man and his main force ran. I celebrated Christmas in the trench lines preparing for our last push the men were in high spirits as we listened to festivities inside the hill fort I would win or die. It was over as my men overran the fort and in a moment of madness I allowed the men to loot the village out side and the lords chambers inside the castle. I sent 100 knights with an envoy to take a peace message: Conchobar would become my vassal and I would give up my claim for some gold. He came back to his lands to see me atop his throne he came to me signed the Treaty of Mide before taking my hand and kissing my ring then he stood at the same time as me then me and my men strode out.
The war was over and I rode home a great prossescion for my return then I entered the church and my bishop proclaimed me Duke of Lienster and then all of my nobles renewed their vasallage then a week long party started. I welcomed the end of the week my castle was humble and modest once more. I noticed my Marshall and Spymaster kept on being visited by a woman clad all in black every month they would hold a long meeting then she would be gone oh well they wouldnt lie to me. I knighted every guard on my fathers list then gave out my knighthoods for service in Mide then there had to be a celebration and for two weeks I was shattered. As I was the largest lord in Ireland I sent out envoys with vassalage terms to all independent lords. Tir Eoghan was first to reply with a firm no then Tir Connail replied with a polite no and then Silgo came back with a insult that man would regret it I set my libarians onto finding a reason for war then Maelmordha was found dead old age but he was only 48 only 5 years older then me that week the court mourned him especially his wife Edith he had been the only man to love her.
Ulaid then returned with a message saying that the council had said no but the people wished it maybe a campaign to free them no claims could be found anywhere I told them to try harder. My son was now 3 years old and whenever he was in trouble for fighting it was becouse he had won easily he also was reasonable at persuading as well as being crafty and he had also got quite good at saving money he would be a good heir and id that failed I guess I had a nephew but he was a baby I had never met. Today Donnchad my Lord High Marshall said he should be rewarded extra that made me laugh and I told him that the money in the treasury was for the realm not him the next day he left not very bad he always seemed to be hiding something. Malachy was appointed as my Lord High Marshall as well as being raised up to become a Lord now he would serve me well. My boy now has a best friend Donal Malachy's boy brought because of his new appointment the two now went everywhere 3 year olds went together. I changed my taxes so I gained an extra gold piece every month how wonderful. It is soon to be a year from my victory so I order feasts all the way from Chirstmas to the new decade . Everyone had a great time. To celebrate March I commisioned a forestry to be built in my province it will take 11 months but will bring in almost 5% more money or so my Lord High Steward says. After repeated attempets finnaly Domnall arrived in Dublin unnaunounced and swore his fealty what a great day and that left Ulaid surrounded envoys were sent off and libarians sent to the records soon Ulster would be mine.
Ulaid had turned me down but my libarians still worked the envoy who returned had a mornings rest then he rode for Silgo. After 5 days he returned with more bad news another turning down I ave him a days rest then he left for Tir Connail. Today a man wearing robes of a bishop turned up in my castle saying our Lord on Earth had sent him to serve as my bishop I guess fathers wish was fufilled his quaters cost me 12 coins to clear but his Lord liked me even more. I only realised after 3 days he had been thrown from the Vatican he was a sceptic as he revealed to my private libarian and also he liked the genteler sex alot like me but he was meant to care for these people not use them unlike me at least he was Irish.
We celebrated for the first time with a bishop he blessed every one then the food and then pronounced the festivities to begin that was a good night and then only a few days later we celebrated the end of a decade and that morning I looked upon my fathers map and saw still many places left on my road to unification.
I ha decided my son had to learn about the rest of Ireland so on the first of Febuary my son and a bodyguard of 50 knights rode for Silgo he would arrive on the 6th March or so my scouts told me. I today opened my forestry in Dublin it would start being in use the next day. We lowered scutage today so that are armies would be stronger and maybe entice more vassals into my realm. Yet another year came and went life was kind of boring not much had happened since the war. My fosterling from Osraige left today he had beomce a indulgent knight many serving maids were sad to see him go but more for me anyway.
Good start ! I'll be following this
Raise High The Black Flag - A Prussian AAR
Winner of WritAAR of the Week (27/02/11)
For my other AARs, visit my Ink Well
Thanks I might be able to get in one more update in before i go on holiday and then when Crusader King 2 comes out I'll carry on but at a lesser rate.Originally Posted by Darknesskilla
Good start ! I'll be following this
Marriage Backstabbing Conquest
I sent 100 pounds off to the pope to recognize me as Duke of Meath and after a month a papal envoy arrived bearing a document proclaiming me Duke of Meath and also a note saying that a unified Ireland was wanted by the pope I would comply.
Now proclaimed my self as King of Eastern Ireland greeted by celebrations this also gave me a claim on Ulaid and so on October the 4 th the year of our lord 1071 I declared war on Ulaid raising up mine and my brothers levys to ride north. Also I raised Domnall in the north to make a quick attack.My forces arrived first and while we came from the south Domnall came from the west, we outbumbere them by almost 500 men and my brother was soon to arrive. My brothers forces arrived at the first skirmish as our archers were now 2 to one it was a massacre. Then me and the horse charged and the enemy disentergeated in front of my charge a great victory only 121 men lay dead for me but over 3 times that were slain on the other side. Once more it seemed I would spend christmas in a tent as I besieged an enemy.
I gave Domnall the honour of leading the siege while I lead patrols and my brother took comand of our skirmishes protecting the camp we were well organised and would soon take their castle. I gave away Ulaid to Domnall for loyal services and then the army left. Scutage was put back up to remove our debt but as soon as I was out of debt it would go back down.
After weeks of lobbying we finnaly allowed the peasents the right to use mills within their estate for free this tiny step for them had given them a small amount of power and also made them more loyal well i guess it wasn't all bad. I decided to give a new person the job of Lord High Marshall he defeated the very best knights in the field and had proven himself better at tatics then Malachy during the Ulaid campaign but he was slightly disloyal but in a position he would become more loyal. My bishop has been a bit poorly so I have to do confession with a village priest not as good but he will hopefully get better. It seems my Lord High Steward is a bit streessed so i had a look at the other members of court and it turned out that Fressenda was slightly better at rasing taxes as well as saving them for other stuff so I proclaimed her High Lady Steward soon Amalgein will get better. I lowed scutage by half so we were still geting a good amount of coin and keeping the vassals happy. A old man came in and ofered his services at healing and he went to Fland who gave him 10 coins and then the man stroked his temples and then left the next day Fland was better than before it was a miracle I sent men to find the old man so I could send him to see the Pope but he was never seen again. A man from Loigsech's court arrived with Loigsech's daughter asking if she could be fostered here I accepted gracioulsy the more the merrier. It seemed that one of the young boys in my court had contracted pneumonia and now his coughing was keeping me up all night so annoying but the boy was only 2 it was so sad. As I rode back from a hunt I was greeted by my council to tell me my wife had died I grieved for my wife but I didnt mean most of it she had only given me one son so now I could collect a large dowry of some rich daughter some where. Maria of Franken was a beautiful unmarried 31 year old but best of all she was rich my envoy left for Germany straight away. As I returned my eye to thhe unifying of Ireland I saw threachery Domnall was now King of Ulster he would pay for that therachery. Also the young boy with pneaumonia died finnaly a nice nights rest. Heinrich had said the marriage was fine and so we married on the fourth of may and I gained a dowry of 35 gold very nice.
Now for my revenge on Domnall I declared war and raised every levy in the kingdom. It wasn't neccesary but I wanted the world to know my strength. The enemy held the whole of Ulster but my soldiers were many more than theirs so we defeated them in many battles. Then Domnall insulted me saying I was a infertile fool who lay with pigs his mistake now I laid claim to Ulster I would slay him and his backstabning brood. During a small skirmish I charged but was cut off from my knights and pulled from my saddle by some heavy infantry I hope they pay my ransom. They paid almost 70 pounds for my return good to know I am that expensive but one of the enemy now had my sword and armour I swore in the next battle to slay him. In the skirmish I saw the soldier with my armour and I rode and fought like a demon and slew 10 men before stabbing my blade through my own chest piece it needed repairs anyway but to have my sword back was great.
Then my envoys were sent out that if i was given Ulaid and Ulster Domnall would be allowed to kepp his ancestrol home. And so one the 23 of Febuary I signed the treaty of Silgo on neautral ground I was given Ulaid and made King of Ulster and also given 6 gold pieces while Domnall kept Tir Eoghain. As a reward for many years noble service I made Fland bishop of Ulaid but now I have to confess to a village priest at least it will make me better like by the Pope. Now we made plans for a war against Munster it would take a while but I would build my claim on the Kingship of Munster. I appointed my wife as my steward giving her the title Steward High Queen. I sent a distant relative off as a fosterling to the Papacy hopefully he would get the Pope to love our family. Malachy came to me and said ever since he had stopped being Lord High Marshall he had nothing to live for but I convince him that his son was something to live for and never talk about this again.
1st Crusade and Lienster
Normal is for Muirchaid
Black is for Enna
Red is for Loigsech
Today my brother came to my court with Loigsech and they told their complete loyalty to me. I already knew that but it is always good to hear it.
I Enna Ui Mórdha have finnaly given up my once hate for my father doesn't live on in my brother and I have confirmed the plot over but you never know my brother does only have one heir.
My man in Osraige has said that Domnall is not very loyal and advises me to not go to war soon so that his trust comes back tome. Today my wife and Chancellor came to me and told me that if I changed the countries ruling style to a Feudal contract I could charge the lower classes more money and also would get more loyalty from my vassals as it gave them extra benifits. As a christmas present my ally in Silgo delivered a soldier bearing our new planned actions which read. " our treaty is now forfiet my humble apoligies " the soldier said that they had now sworn alliegnce to the lords of Connacht and were not permitted an alliance. I sent the soldier on his way and thought that now the allies Connacht and Munster completly controlled the east and south their combined armies would now be a force to rekon with. My Lord High Marshall stormed into my hall and demanding for money as his services were so good but I just calmly told him that his services were not required in peace and told him to leave which he did. Then Malachy was summoned and made Lord High Marshall. It was a sad day as as Edith died the last of Godwin's children to die she will surely be missed. My cousin Loigsech's daughter Dubchoblaig claims she is being bullied and so the bully was summoned to my chambers and then was caned five times. As I am King of Ulster I have demanded my clergymen to send out to every ruler in Ireland and tell them that Tir Eoghain is land that should be under my control.
On this day a crusade was called against Jerusalem and under the demand of the clergy I order my men to join it alongside me and so me and 1371 soldiers march to the docks to sail away to war. The enemy has 5,000 more soldiers than I am taking with me but we have God on our side and also the other crusaders will join as the Pope's messenger said. Domanall of Tir Eoghain despite me claiming his lands wants an alliance what a strange man he is a messenger went back to him saying " the Pope and God don't want you so why would I." My wife didn't like my crusade and now hates me for it but God loves me for it I know I want to love me more.
I Enna am effectively Lord while my brother is off campaining and a message asking for an alliance from Connacht reached my hall to which I graciously accepted brother would like that my dream oh so close but yet so far. We reached the Mediterranean earlier this week and the tempreture is a lot warmer than home some men are saying that it is to warm to fight in nonsense we will fight anyway. Here in Ireland it is a black day as Hildebrand passed away and a new German man has become Pope I wonder if brother and the fleet know.
Soon we land after almost a year at sea ahead of us is our first battle. The army landed at Ascalon and ahead of us lay it's lord and his army my first battle for a long time. Victory our army crushed through them scattering them next we were going south to Negev to destroy the army there.
It wasn't possible men from Osraige had come in the evening but I was asleep but there message was the worst I had ever heard. Heathens were in Ireland about 1000 by reports from Munster who's scouts arrived an hour after I heard the message. I sent riders to all over our lands demanding every male over the age of 12 to get to Dublin and protect the castle and the royal crown and the queen while my army and Osraige's delayed them.
My army encountered Zakariah of Negev in his home region and we charged we outnumbered them 7 to 1. Death to the heathens. We roared as we rode. They were destroyed but we had taken unnecessary casulaties during the charge but we have little time to celebrate as a man named Ramadan and his force have arrived and so I fight once more once more I cry as my cavalry thunder up a sand cloud.
We captured a scout patrol and took from them a lighter and smaller version of the crossbow and with two soldiers it was sent to Dublin so that the armory could get some ready for the siege.
More heathens have arrived late to the battle now we are outnumbered but my knights and God's love will deliver us through. The heathens have besieged Osraige and I and the garrison now march to send them from our lands once and for all. As I walk from the battlefield my horse gone all I can hear are the cries of my wounded and all I see are the dead the cream of Irish nobility lie slain alongside their clansmen only 286 of us remain but we will not stop our crusade. The battle was a massacare my blade and armour covered in blood like so many others. They even in defeat got off lightly only 300 heathens were sent to hell only because their lines were broken by their retreat did we breach their lines and slay enough for their full retreat. Now we started the long march to Jerusalem.
Osraige and Jerusalem signed a peace but it doesn't matter my forces had arrived to fight them I was outnumbered but soon Dublin's forces would arrive. We had more than 600 more men and soon their army would run for the hills. We encountered the men from Ascalon and my army got prepared for one more fight but it wasn't the same most men had lost a lot of friends and those who hadn't were rare and far between. The enemy were beaten in a close battle and the men from the Dublin army marched north in pursuit.
My force retreated the skirmish was small but even so our first defeat was crushing the skirmish had started as badly as it ended when only 6 knights and 5 other horsemen charged and were destroyed and then the army started to retreat while 16 clansmen led by a chieftain with a pike held the enemy back we never saw them again. We retreated to Moreal but then marched for Jerusalem once more. The entire enemy army stood in our path but we were no cowards we were no heathens we stayed we would not flee. For God. For your Family. FOR IRELAND. That was what I roared and what my army roared as we charged. But to no avail we were chrushed 262 men fell we had charged but were reppelled by their infantry then we retreated and formed a schiltron the clansmen and heavy infantry just behind the pikemen while all our horsemen held the center but to no avail as wave after wave of light cavalry slowly picked down our outer men but only two of them were cought on our pikes and then they breached and all of us apart from 66 men from the same clan 57 of those on horse back the horses had been left only 500 meters away so we used those to get more horses we will die for our god out here if we must and so I am going to retreat to Jaffa and make my defense.
Finally I have proved my self and I Loigsech once traitor now loyalist have led my men to a heroic victory with their dead being 2-1 more than ours only 50 out of my 1900 man army dead 106 heathens left for Irish crows and now we pursue them.
As we ride I have only just rembered that the baggage was left, now our small band has gotten even smaller so once more do I ride to Jerusalum only this time I ride with no knight the royal bodyguard slain just like ordinary peasents.
Again I have destroyed a heathen force and the captives we have taken are calling me Loigsech Holy Flame that was the name they pleaded to for mercy but none is given to heathens their force is getting significantly smaller every battle soon they will be gone and me and Fland the Bishop of Ulaid are going to go hold a huge celebration on the site of the last battle.
The pesants had ambushed us all the way on our journey and so I Muirchaid stand before an army of 3,500 heathens with just 16 pious riders our armour polished we look like angels of war and then we charged. For Ireland was my battle cry and every one of us roared it in a few seconds I could fall. As we charged we clashed their lines and all but me and another man remained on horseback and after two minutes of viscous fighting it was clear we would die there was just space for one man on a horse to get through and so when I was turned towards it the othe soldier hit my horse and it took off and then when I looked back all I saw was the last man on horseback pulled down then I galloped off not stopping until I reached Ascalon there my fleet was still anchored I got on my flagship and saw as the sailors of the entire fleet ran to see the rest of the army and then when they looked at me I broke down my army had been massacred and I had failed the crusade I had failed God the man all understood my pain but even still I was shamed an then the fleet turned my ship not sticking with the others and after a long journey I docked in Dublin the people greeted me warmly but some hurled abuse their brothers, sons, fathers and friends wouldn't come back but I did an so for God to forgive me I locked my self in my chapel and prayed and prayed until a knight came in and told me of my brother and Loigsech's victories and my heart lifted.
Loigsech defeated yet another muslim force and one captive was brought before me with a message. " Lord Muirchaid Holy Sword we ask you for peace both of us have suffered many losses and if our forces are allowed to leave Ireland we will never come back " I roared in happiness not just at the treaty but that my war hadn't been for nothing that the enemy had thought I was a great and pious warrior and so Ireland's crusade ended.
PS is anyone actually reading this
It's good to see a new CK AAR. Enjoying it so far. Keep it up!
The owl of Minerva takes its flight only when the shades of night are gathering.
Chapter 5 Tir Eoghain crusade to Death
As the heathens leave my old enemy Domnall the excommunicated count of Tir Eoghain sits with only 500 men to protect him and techinnacly as he is excommunicated it would still be crusade if I attack him so the noble army under Ruadiri of Tir Connail marches north to fight him. The break of our treaty is one thing that the nobles of Ireland hate and so their oppinion of me slides down.
I take the household guard and some peasents who had stayed behind while I was on crusade and take them north to assume command of the crusade. We passed through a small town where the populace all grimaced at me while a knight told me of how Ruadri had beaten back the enemy army killing almost 300 more then it all went sour as a knight promised 100 coins for my head and then a riot started as hundreds ran towards my household troops but the cavalry spurred down the street killing my foes while some pikemen pulled me into a tavern and blocked the windows and a pikewall formed behind the door. One knight who was in the tavern I ordered to get a horse from the stables and ride for Laigin and get my brother to ride north and garrison Dublin incase of any more riots. Slowly the battle grew louder and louder as I heard Sir Fintan my guard captain now after his brother died in the crusade roaring at the knights to charge and charge again. I looked out of an upstairs window and saw my brothers banner a gold harp in a triangle while mine is a gold harp on a rectangle then his knights charged and so out of the tavern we erupted slaying left right and center. The battle had been won and the rebels killed and their leader executed but 56 of my guard were slain there bodies were to be taken home to Dublin and returned to their families and so we rode on again.
In an attack on the camp I killed 10 soldiers singlehandedly before my guard arrived maybe I am not such a bad warrior. I was sat in my tent when a young man in a leather jerkin and chainmail walked then said " hello father " then I realised it was my son leaping up I embraced him " I havent seen you in so long thank God you have returned " I said
" God has nothing to do with me treking across a war torn landscape pursued by enemies " he replied fury entering his eyes. " Son don't get stressy with me " I replied calmly " now to find you a wife " I finished " yes father " he replied " now go and get some servants to put you up a tent then go and look at the walls and plan an attack " I said goin back to my work as he walked out. I sent a fast rider to traverse the war torn Germany to get to Passau in Austria and ask for a girl called Uta of Passau to marry my son. She agreed and has come to my court where I have just realised she isn't much of a looker but oh well it's all for the heirs. Then today the Duke of Munster betrayed me and when we took the castle he arranged a secret meeting with Domnall getting the castle this can't stand so my army in the dead of night attacked his forces in the castle killing them as they slept while a rider to Enna told him to ride into their heartland and kill and loot his lands and people. It was a massacare many of his men killed in the opening minutes before he was alerted and lept out of the hill fort and ran wearing nothing as men shouted run piggy then his household fought their way to the gate and broke out but most of his army were dead now we besiege a new holdfast that they occupy.
Munster my mew ally is marching from the south with 1500 men to take the south. Everyday they come and look at our lines but our shield thumping scares them back. Ruadri of Tir Connail had tried to reach our lines but a large party of enemies reppeled him and so he retreated and then went and joined Enna in the south and those cowards in Munster have betrayed us and signed a peace deal with the men of Connacht. A rider from my wife tells me of how the riot when I went campainging as started again the leader's son raising up the survivors and even more people and marching on Dublin castle only my wife's household guards holding them back. Also the bishop of Ulaid died in the night with a German priest taking over. After so many years of war Ruaidri and me met by ourselves in a field where he said that if he gave me the original reason for the war would I give him peace I looked at my men and then shook his hand before the army packed up and raced home for Dublin where levy's from Mide were fighting and Loigsech and Enna were also headed.
As we rode I realised my son was without Land and I had land that I didn't need to be part of my private estate and so I promised him after the battle at Dublin he would get Tir Eoghain as his own estate he seemed happy about that. As we rode up to my fort we could see the army of Enna and the southern army coming from west and in a joint attack we charged hitting the rebels in two places and tearing through them as the enemy ran away from horses and infantry until my entire army rode or marched into the town and all the nobles and as many soldiers as possible crammed into the church to witness me and the priest knight then proclaim my son heir before I granted him with a treaty proclaiming him as lord over Tir Eoghain and all inside its borders and that the only men he owed alliegence to where me as his king and God and also the Pope as God's representive on Earth. Yet again Dublin rioted but me and my knights just rode out and killed any rioters who didn't run those who did where caught and hung.
As a lasting memory of the riots thieves have banded together and now are picking from people's pockets more frequntly and now also have protection and every time my men attack one of their headquaters it turns out to be a harmless individual which then in turn makes more riots but as I have fought heroicly I have become a little bit more famous. Several of the children of my family returned from their foster placements and when a young girl arrived a man from Dehubrath asked me if she could marry his lord I just said yes then waved her off then started seaching for a bride for her uncle who was the same age as her. Recently I have had a very bad cough and the priest has advised me just to have a rest which I am doing lying in my bed while doing my work and organizing the attacks on my enemies at the theifs guild. Another riot and I watched from my tower as my knights went straight through the lines before going down some more streets to hit the rioters from down a side street making a mass rout where any captured were hung at the docks the supposed location of the thiefs. My priest has gone mad and says that angels say that God is happy with me but also that if I don't attack the rabbit empire he will get angry he is definatly mad. Urmumu has rebelled against my ally Munster so to support our alliance I have sent my brother Enna to fight them he is outnummbered but Munster's forces are moving in quickly. He fled at the sight of them how cowardly but then again Enna is a coward. In a valient effort to redeem himself he led his army in a charge and routed the enemy but at a heavy cost of 157 men to 161 but a victory is a victory. Finnaly I go and visit my son for the first time in years where he greets me with a son " why didn't you send a rider " I demanded.
" we did but the rioters got him " he replied. " ohh well what's his name " I asked as we walked into his hall.
" Bressal " my son said before walking of to get a servant to arrange a feast.
When I got home a riot had started and one knight fought dozens of peasents waiting for reinforcments after the battle I invited him to my court and now he is Captain Domnall of my guard. As I sat in the council chambers suddenly I heard a cry and then we ran and found BenMide Enna's girl who was also pregnant and had come for a visit lying dead on the floor her throat slit I realised that Una her arch rival wasn't around and then her husband my distant cousin and spy master said that she had purchased a dagger only two days earlier and so we returned and Una was summouned there was not a speck of blood on her. " Una I hearby sent... cough cough ance you to death " I said my illness interupting me. " no she bears my child " Amlaib roared. " I don't care she killed my niece " I roared back then Domnall my captain puhed her to the floor then in one swing of his axe she was slain " send a rider to Munster asking for his daughter for Amlaib " I then said and a runner left " her head is to be placed over the gate and BenMide is to be taken down to Laigin to rest dismissed " I finished but the next day because of my treatment to a pregnant lady the riots started once more but Domnall rode into the town with my guard and slew nearly 300 rebels.
A week later my messenger and a woman returned and presented her to me as lady Bébinn of Munster and then I got my priest to hold a great wedding ceremony which he did and then the celebrations started. My cough worsened and then I started getting chest pains the priest procliamed in pneumonia and I would not be able to rule until it passed and so the regency council comprised of my court and headed by my bishop took control. I grew weaker and weaker and was near death and then in my final days a papal envoy arrived thinking I was already dead proclaimed to my court that I was to be beatified and also t be made years later into a saint and my bishop told me and then I told him my last words " return me to Laigin so I can rest with my father " and then I died and my bishop blessed me and woman all over Ireland and christendom grieved my passing and I knew that my sainthood was for my crusade and so many years later I would be known as Saint Muirchaid Holy Blade patron saint of the Ui Mórdha dynasty and also one of the patron saints of crusaders.
Last edited by RIP Young Wolf; 14-01-2012 at 18:02. Reason: main title was wrong
Chapter 6 Another crusade
Hello I am Donnchad Ui Mórdha the 23 year old new lord of Leinster and son of the beatified Murchaid but I don't believe that facade no Pope or other man can dictate my life only God can do that no man on Earth and this coranation has left me very stressed but I have always been a worrier.
My son Bressal is still young but when he ages I will leave him an even greater legacy then one part of this Ireland every man on it will swear him fealty.
And this is my lovely wife or so my father lead me to belive really she is an ugly slug but so far she has provided me an heir and she and I are still young.
These are my two daughters one my eldest Caitlin is away as a foster in Mide so she can learn how to be a good wife in my vassals court. My youngest Āine is still very young so I don't see her very much.
My men rode into Dublin my new banner flying high and when I entered the hall all the men bowed to me and then for the rest of the evening I accepted oaths and after all the other counts had gone only the bishop of Ulaid had not sworn alliegence and so I asked the next man where the bishop was he just looked astonished " have you not heard my lord " he asked genuinly astonished. " of what " I replied already stressed as I was very bored already. " His Lord Bishop was found dead on the journey here and I am the new bishop Emich " the man replied his german accent suddenly heavy enough to be recognized and then I took his oath. After several more hours the final man came he wore a cloak with three crowns on it the badge of Munster he offered me a chance to renew our families alliances I took it I was a distant relative of Muirdetach already so our alliance only becomes stronger. At least my good for nothing father left a large treasury to make upgrades and sustain my armies. Today my wife came to me with my son and told me he needed now to get a proper upbringing and looking at him I saw so much of my self in him and knew I couldn't allow him to not now his father like I did and so I promised to raise him myself. A month later my wife comes again with my daughter and the girl started crying when she came into my office where my boy was already playing I couldn't stand it " to the nuns " I said and so my daughter is now at the local nunnery.
As a speach to the public I promised to make sure no thieves guild stayed in my Dublin and their leaders took the bait and started a riot and so me and my boy are now watching as my marshall leads my men to battle. Oh what a great victory for every one royal man slain two peasents were killed and I think Bressal liked watching shiny knight stabby stabby dirty stinking peasent.
As I spend more time with Bressal I realise he doesn't talk much and so I have decided to talk to him a lot more to encourage him to speak more. With bad results the boy talks more but when put in with the other young children he can not lead them but his pranks on them are very funny. Me and the counil have started to build even more wharves to get fishing up and increase trade and take away men from the thieves guild. My quiet reign was suddenly blown apart when a knight arrived bearing a message from Tir Connail his copies of all the oaths he swore to my family and the knight ripped them up in my face now he rots in a dungeon and my own messengers ride for my northen estate and the bishop of Ulaid to raise Ulster and crush Tir Connail. I have always hated that fool since my days as lord of Tir Eoghain and now my chance to destroy him and his family.
As it was an affront to my family I sent a rider to Uncle Enna to raise his men and march north to help in the war. Riders from my Marshall how was in charge of my Ulster estates tell of how they have met the enemy in the field and need assistance and so the force moves on slowly. As my boy has to stay at home me and the men have made good progress but I do miss him. A rider arrived and told us that Marshal Ercc had beaten the enemy in a valiant display of skill but required more men as many of his had fallen in the battle.
While Uncle Enna arrived from the east Ruadri arrived from the south sending half my army to attack him under my marshall I make sure the garrisson can't escape the hill fort and assist in their relief. A great victory once more almost 3 were slain for every valiant royal soldier slain. My force stormed the castle and so on my orders the men went off looting while I rode to the hall and took my place on the throne as a messenger was sent for Ruaidri. When he arrived I was wearing his own clothes and rings and necklace and every symbol of power was arrayed at my feet or on me and I demanded he would make a oath to never again attack my lands but he would also give up his lands to me as his lord. He surrendered his land but every man in Ireland despised me for throwing a 70 year old man out of his home but I didn't mind I had more land men and when the people returned more wealth.
When I reached Dublin I was greeted by the sight of my new fishing wharfs which were making trade even higher and only the thieves were taking away my money but soon I would hang them. My fishery had made a great profit and sent me my fair share of that it wasn't much but every little helps. Máel-tuili has looked after my daughter well and even though he is a leper I regard him as a good friend. Once again the peasents have rebelled this time because I bought fish from a merchant who was docked in port instead of the fishery but I lead my men my self this time and for the first time I will kill a subject in anger. Within minutes the riot was seperated by my charge and the infantry started penning them into smaller groups and slaying them in small numbers but many fled through houses back to their own.
When I returned my bishop was torturing a serving girl who was known to sleep with many men and screaming she was a sinner and then he chucked her from the walls he had got even madder and was now a cruel unpredictable man and so I summouned the only other man taught by priests a french man who has fled from France and I named him my new bishop and then Donal was told to leave and then in retaliation of his crime the riots started again but once more my men destroyed their army.
My boy was now old enough to get training but I couldn't let him leave and so I decided to let me and my council to teach him all the arts of statecraft. My steward told me that if I give my money away as investments then the stabability of the realm would get better but I just laughed and told her my money was mine and not my subjects. The nuns were my daughter lives came to me to ask what her education should be like and I just said she is to be taught by them. As I sat on my balcony in the middle of the morning I saw a red streak consume the sky and something black shooted across the sky fire trailing it in minutes my council were arrayed in my chambers where I told them to tell the populace it was a good sign and nothing to fear while everywhere else belived me my fools in Dublin started a riot which I mercislly put down.
In the night my bishop was found dead in his sleep a bad day he was a good advisor even though he was a priest. My rival and distant relative Amlaib one day just wasn't in the council then when we searched for him it turned out he had fled to Silgo after planting a dead body of a criminal saying that it was an innocent man and then the riot started and on that day I lead my men in a crushing victory killing many more than our own dead.
I was happy now sitting in the castle most of the time but then a huge procession started in the docks I went out and checked oh no the Papal Envoy and he had a cross and many men rode with him I rushed to my hall my fathers banner on show above my head and servants went and got his sword and shield from my chambers both were relics as the old bishop had proclaimed. Then he strode through the door seing the relics of my father and was struck with awe then he gave me the papal bull I was to crusade or be proclaimed heretic and also excommunicated and my lands and wealth forfiet. My worst nightmare I signed then gathered a force from only my estates and the army of Dublin and Tir Eoghain it was more than my fathers and by estimates more than the enemies and so I marched to war. All of my forces gathered in Dublin as boats were mustered and then every man was blessed and that night the peasents of my army were boarded onto the boats and the next day in a huge procession the chiefs and knights as well as my guard boarded and then we set sail the largest force to go on the crusade yet the plan was to head to the muslim lands in Spain but I decided that my force would go alone to cover expenses.
We landed and in Labourd then marched into Navarra. When we arrived a man brought news that the crusade was over quickly I marched to the nearest port and commandereed as many boats as we needed then sailed home but it had already destroyed my treasury so no matter what the Pope had failed me and Ireland. The Crusade had made me so broke I had to sell my own forestry away to get just 75 measly coins this is all the Popes fault.
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If you are reading this please leave a comment as at the moment I am seriously thinking about just stopping cause there is no support.
Chapter 7 leap of faith
Life was quiet nothing ever happened just my men slowly taxing our way out of debt but then one day a moor came and asked if our two nations could stop being at war then I remebered the war with corodoba and said yes and so life went even more quiet.
My eldest child finnaly became of age today my Caitilín an so I sent an envoy to Sicily to ask if my daughter could marry the heir Louis de Nevers a young valorous prodigy. My daughter clever as she is came to me and told me that he would make a better chancellor which is not true so I said no I don't think so but then offered the role of Spy Master she liked that offer and took it. That offer didn't last long as two days later my envoy and a fleet arrived he said that King Roger accepts and then put a sack with 42 gold scilian coins in it inmy lap and said it was the bride price my face lit up and I sent my eldest daughter away to become the princess of Sicily and to one day be a queen.
My other daughter came on a trip from the nunnery and was sitting in on my council wheb she started pointing out tiny flaws in our plans and correcting our speech it seems she has become a very critical scholar how great. In a minor revolt in Tir Eoghain it seems the rebels have plundered and looted the county and taken the wealth it seems that the day when I get out of debt is a bit further off.
" All this debt is really annoying " I think to myself as I stand on the battlements above the city " it really is a long way down isn't it " I think " how can I live like this in debt for so long maybe I should just stop living yes good idea " I think as I turn to my son and bodyguard only 5 foot away " goodbye son rule well take my corpse to Laigan " I say then just step backwards and fall through the air as I think about my reign how little I have done my promise to my son was unfulfilled oh no I need to keep and so I claw back up at the battlements what have I done then I see my legs burst open and then all goes black.
Just post this up before weekend ends really unexpected and after only a few minutes gameplay so just uploaded it quickly
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