I'm trying something completely different this time, since my all-narrative AAR didn't go over so well. I'm starting in 1066 as the Earl of Desmond, and I'll see how far it goes, be it five years or four hundred. And so we begin:
Something strange happened today...
Well now, isn't this interesting? A book that wants to be read? Well, who am I to question the will of a mysterious book?
Muiredach Mac Carthaigh of Desmond, that's who.
Well, let's get on with it then. No title on the outside. What about the inside?
Aha! The thing does have a title after all!
Now, this is a puzzle. 'Tis an awfully long book, this history of my family since 1066, being that this is nought but the year 1067 right now. So what tale does it tell?
Ah. Here's a familiar face:
Muiredach Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond is my name. Though outside of Ireland nobody will grant that I'm more than an Earl. As if their opinions matter!
What's this? This bloody book reads as though I'd written the thing myself! How can this be?
I have four sons. Not a one of them appears to have a mother. But then, I seem to lack one myself. Curious, that.
I have a half-brother also, for what he's worth.
This is my kingdom. It's small, as kingdoms go, but it's mine. And I have two hundred and thirty-six men who will follow me to the gates of Hell itself, if I lead them there.
And eight ships, ye daft imposter.
And eight ships to carry them across the seas to my enemies!
That's more like it.
This is my eldest son and heir, Tadg. He likes to dress up like a priest. Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged that by making him my court chaplain, but I did.
It's not like I had a lot of qualified candidates to choose from. The wonder of it is that I have some halfway decent councilors.
I also have someone who would love to be my liege:
Murchad Ua Briain, who fancies himself lord of all Munster. Have to keep an eye on that one. His coat of arms is suspiciously similar to my own. He just had his herald paint the crowns bigger. Sounds to me like he's compensating for something.
And if anyone points out that both of our arms look suspiciously Swedish, I shall ignore them.
Now, to business. I'm unmarried, and so is Tadg. Time to fix both of those problems. Fortunately, I subscribe to the Catalogue o' Brides. It's just a matter of finding a likely lass...
Lots of Navarran princesses there, but I like the looks of that Ermesinda. Yes, she'll do nicely.
For Tadg, a nice Saxon girl. I hear her father is a Duke. That could come in handy down the road - those German dukes have a habit of becoming emperors the minute you turn your back on them.
And because I'm in a generous mood, I order a Breton bride for my half-brother Donnchad.
Not to bore you with the details, but they all say yes, and the next thing I know, I have three young ladies speaking incomprehensible languages in my court. At least my ambition to get married has been fulfilled. So it's time for a new ambition:
"Become Exalted Among Men". I like the sound of that. I have no idea how I'm going to accomplish it, but a man needs something to strive towards.
I also tend to some housekeeping with my succession laws. Rather than split this already-small kingdom into four even smaller ones, I decide to change the law so that Tadg will inherit the lot.
My steward, Ainmere de Cloyne, warns me that this will somehow lessen the number of castles I am able to manage effectively from six to four. As I only have one at the moment, I decide it's not worth worrying about it.
The year 1066 comes to an end, and we greet 1067. And then, one day, something strange happens...
Hey, isn't this where I came in?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Something strange happened today...
Well now, isn't this interesting? A book that wants to be read? Well, who am I to question the will of a mysterious book?
Muiredach Mac Carthaigh of Desmond, that's who.
Well, let's get on with it then. No title on the outside. What about the inside?
Aha! The thing does have a title after all!
Now, this is a puzzle. 'Tis an awfully long book, this history of my family since 1066, being that this is nought but the year 1067 right now. So what tale does it tell?
Ah. Here's a familiar face:
Muiredach Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond is my name. Though outside of Ireland nobody will grant that I'm more than an Earl. As if their opinions matter!
What's this? This bloody book reads as though I'd written the thing myself! How can this be?
I have four sons. Not a one of them appears to have a mother. But then, I seem to lack one myself. Curious, that.
I have a half-brother also, for what he's worth.
This is my kingdom. It's small, as kingdoms go, but it's mine. And I have two hundred and thirty-six men who will follow me to the gates of Hell itself, if I lead them there.
And eight ships, ye daft imposter.
And eight ships to carry them across the seas to my enemies!
That's more like it.
This is my eldest son and heir, Tadg. He likes to dress up like a priest. Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged that by making him my court chaplain, but I did.
It's not like I had a lot of qualified candidates to choose from. The wonder of it is that I have some halfway decent councilors.
I also have someone who would love to be my liege:
Murchad Ua Briain, who fancies himself lord of all Munster. Have to keep an eye on that one. His coat of arms is suspiciously similar to my own. He just had his herald paint the crowns bigger. Sounds to me like he's compensating for something.
And if anyone points out that both of our arms look suspiciously Swedish, I shall ignore them.
Now, to business. I'm unmarried, and so is Tadg. Time to fix both of those problems. Fortunately, I subscribe to the Catalogue o' Brides. It's just a matter of finding a likely lass...
Lots of Navarran princesses there, but I like the looks of that Ermesinda. Yes, she'll do nicely.
For Tadg, a nice Saxon girl. I hear her father is a Duke. That could come in handy down the road - those German dukes have a habit of becoming emperors the minute you turn your back on them.
And because I'm in a generous mood, I order a Breton bride for my half-brother Donnchad.
Not to bore you with the details, but they all say yes, and the next thing I know, I have three young ladies speaking incomprehensible languages in my court. At least my ambition to get married has been fulfilled. So it's time for a new ambition:
"Become Exalted Among Men". I like the sound of that. I have no idea how I'm going to accomplish it, but a man needs something to strive towards.
I also tend to some housekeeping with my succession laws. Rather than split this already-small kingdom into four even smaller ones, I decide to change the law so that Tadg will inherit the lot.
My steward, Ainmere de Cloyne, warns me that this will somehow lessen the number of castles I am able to manage effectively from six to four. As I only have one at the moment, I decide it's not worth worrying about it.
The year 1066 comes to an end, and we greet 1067. And then, one day, something strange happens...
Hey, isn't this where I came in?