I am indeed curious as to where Alberic ends up - to be sure this will make Geoffrey the paramount Lord of the Realm.
But the family dynamics ... this could be poisonous.
But the family dynamics ... this could be poisonous.
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Well, the rivalry between Foulques and Geoffrey just got a lot more interesting now that Geoffrey is a Duke in his own right, and potentially the Chancellor of the realm soon with that Diplo score.
It might be time to start paying a little bit more attention to the goings on of his own court and make sure to not piss off too many people in the King's court, either. Geoffrey could get very dangerous, very fast, especially being your heir. People will naturally like him a great deal, and Foulques is not the most beloved Duke of the realm either. I hope the AI doesn't disappoint with all the different ways this could now go!
Grats to the family though, I've never seen that happen in one of my games, where a child of mine is installed upon a different throne (of any level) by rebels.
I'm sensing there is a lot more opportunity for the family now that Alberic has been knocked down a peg. Good luck managing the fallout!
The betrothal is a compromise that feels as if it will come back to haunt someone.
And what of Alberic?
Long live the young Duke!
Well well well, as said above this is a very rare happenstance and I wonder what effect it will have on the already strained relations between Foulques and his son. Aquitaine is a powerful Duchy-maybe more powerful than Anjou-I am not sure. It will be very interesting to see what happens
Now that Geoffrey is a Duke I wonder how that will change his relationship with Foulques and how Foulques will handle the change in status of his son. I have a bad feeling about the betrothal. These kind of things never seem to go Foulques' way.
I didn't get a chance to comment on the previous chapter so here it is.
I like how Foulques was able to keep the king from making a horrendous mistake. Could the king finally be learning to trust Foulques?
Ah Foulques, despite looking like a Medieval Darth Vader with that mask of his, at least he's trying to keep his king from tearing the realm asunder. The plot thickens! With Geoffrey as Duke it looks like things might get worse if both father and son do not reconcile.
That new bastard he's breeding might come back to bite him. The new duke is set to inherit his father's private kingdom and with it the assurance that the House and Dynasty will be stable and strong for another's generation. But the old duke's indiscretions are going to cause problems (already have, but others have commented on the betrothal) that political enemies are going to seize upon to try and break up Anjou. The king also now has a new and powerful duke to deal with and learn about, since they have not interacted much before. And his father is still a,I've as well. If they could unite or at least get on, they represent a powerful faction in France. However, I am sure they will be kept at odds by everyone else trying to stop that from happening.
What's the relationship score now between father and son? I know they're rivals, but with him ruling an area nearly as rich as his, I don't think there'll be too many assassination plots. Also, whenever Foulques passes on, Geoffrey will suddenly find himself in charge of over a quarter of France... and most likely will be serving a younger King than Phillippe for most of his lifetime.
I am indeed curious as to where Alberic ends up - to be sure this will make Geoffrey the paramount Lord of the Realm.
But the family dynamics ... this could be poisonous.
Have commenced the long haul to catch up - this AAR has been on my ‘must read list’ for a while!
More women stuff. A short rest, certainly. Foulques does deserve it. Now even more as his son's ambitions have begun to bear fruit. The future will be a true test. With his nephew on the council being bad enough, how would the old duke react if his son opposed him?
“Very careful,” Foulques said. “I shield you somewhat. But I will not be here forever.”
A strangely uncomfortable thought, Geoffrey said to himself. It was not what he expected.
A very touching set of scenes, both Foulques and Geoffrey revealed in their vulnerability and their strength. I must say in this update I am warming to Geoffrey a little more.
I wonder where Agnes will fall, as the family reforms. And it might not be long before Foulques' own passing.
In more ways than one does the father shield the son
Geoffrey had to endure a great deal of humbling in this chapter. He is also facing the great unknown with no one beside him. I can relate to his uncertainty and dare I say fear.
I also sense that Foulques knows what to make of the situation. On one hand he has his family pride on the other he does not want to be made the fool by any missteps by Geoffrey. I feel he thinks Geoffrey will make quite a few of them.
Looks like there is quite a ride coming up.
Well. Marguerite seems to have been quite busy entertaining herself while Geoffrey was busy with Aquitaine. I wonder if the younger Foulques is truly Geoffrey's or not. I suppose it does not matter in the long run though it's certainly depressing to know.
What a horribly flawed series of events with that family.
Still, they have nothing on the real Plantagenets yet. Their perversions, indiscretions and infighting caused an exceptionally costly civil war and the chance of England and France uniting together under one family.
An interesting dialogue there. Foulques seems proud of his son for seeing his ambitions through and fulfilling his mother's wishes, yet he's outraged over Geoffrey flouting his familial duty. Of course, with all his philandering Foulques himself isn't one to talk on that front -- but then, he at least has never openly abandoned his own blood; even his rivalry with the elder Geoffrey was (initially) pursued in the interests of keeping the family strong.
A magnificent chapter and all the more so for it's understated atmosphere. Touching and moving between brother and sister and also touching how Geoffrey is learning the art of diplomacy where his father is concerned. And who can blame him re his wife and son-I don't know whether that was an in-game factor (them staying in Anjou) but the way you wrote it really captured his humanity-well done for telling to from his perspective.
And so to chapters new for the young man and is it just me or does Foulques somehow seem more vigorous and full of life? I swear a few chapters ago I thought he was for his maker but now I am sensing a long life in the offing...how old is he?
Some great dialogue. I especially loved this bit, it really sums up the complicated and difficult relationship between father and son.
I suppose not knowing was rather the point, they would not stop fighting.
"...And, as he rode away, the inn exploded mere minutes later.