After forgetting about this thread for several months, I just decided to revisit it, and I am looking forward to your struggle to rebuild the empire. 
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Consecrated blood waters my fields: a Hvitserk megacampaign
- Thread starter Avindian
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Total failure is a bit of an overstatement. More like, penultimately total failure.
I completely missed the vote, but seeing as I would've voted B, my vote wouldn't have mattered anyway.
That's quite the curveball the game has thrown you. Look forward to the rationalization for this earth-shattering event.
It'll be a challenge to write up, but it will also be fun!
After forgetting about this thread for several months, I just decided to revisit it, and I am looking forward to your struggle to rebuild the empire.
Glad to have you back!
So, as of a few minutes ago, I'm finished with the game. I stopped at 2 January 1444 because I knew from my previous conversion that things would happen (in terms of consolidation) that would need "lead time" to explain, as it were. Export was successful, and now I can finally update CKII again.
My plan is to spend some time over the next few days analyzing my hundreds of screenshots and working out the frame of my narrative. Tomorrow is Labor Day and my wife's birthday, Tuesday is the day we're actually celebrating my wife's birthday (because most places are closed), so probably Wednesday or Thursday I'll start sorting. As I said before, these last two or three chapters will be a) very history book heavy, eschewing the first person narrative and b) cover big chunks of time. My general thought is one update for pre-catastrophe, one for the catastrophe, and one for the post-catastrophe. I'm eager to start the EUIV portion of the AAR, so I hope you'll forgive me for rushing through these last few updates.
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I'm looking forward to the update, but definitely enjoy your time with your wife before that.
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Thanks!
I'm glad you did too (most of the time...)Very kind of you! I'm thinking I might start working on the screenshots this weekend, so hopefully your wait won't be too much longer.
The screenshots are sorted; we'll have four chapters to end the AAR. I'm going to start editing and compiling screenshots over the course of the next few days.
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The history book treatment should provide a nice transition to the EUIV era, when you won't have as many characters to play with anyway. Looking forward to the last chapters!
Chapter 22: The calm before the storm
The sudden and dramatic collapse of the Empire of Britannia -- known to most people of the day as "Ragnarok" or "the Cataclysm" -- was preceded by the complete disappearance of the books known as the "Chronicles of the Kings." Why they disappeared remains a mystery to this day. Unlike some of the lost diaries recently discovered by Dr. Magnusson, there is no evidence they were ever written. The Emperors of the period were certainly literate, as evidenced by the dozens of government decrees that still remain and the diaries of those individuals who did keep them, but they either lacked the time or inclination to tell their own stories in their own words. Some particularly superstitious types have actually blamed the lack of diaries for the horrors that came in the fourteenth century. Regardless of why it happened, the first Emperor not to keep a journal (or to permit somebody to keep his journal for him) was Halfdan III, who began his reign in 1135.
The coronation portrait of Halfdan III; note the scar over the right eye. The Emperor insisted that the scar be included.
By all accounts, Halfdan III was a complex personality. He was a warrior-scholar, loving the battlefield and the library almost equally. Some of the all-time classic works on the military history of the early modern Norse were penned by Halfdan himself, making it even stranger that he never sat down to write a journal. He was brave, almost to a fault, fair, and hardworking. He loved to hunt. He thought the best of anyone, but once you crossed him, he was unforgiving. He had excellent advisors, one of them a blood relative: the King of Norway, Botulfr, was his Steward.
In 1155, Halfdan III had his second child, whom he named Halfdan in the grand ruling family tradition. His first son, Suni, was born while Halfdan III was heir to the throne. A display of Halfdan III's legendary temper came in reference to the newly born Halfdan, not long before the child's second birthday. Kol, the Jarl of Strangfjordr, intoxicated on mead, mocked the child's appearance and openly speculated that the Emperor was not the father. Enraged, the Fylkir and Emperor immediately challenged Kol to holmgang to defend the child's honor. Kol fled from the challenge. In retaliation, Halfdan III proclaimed the coward Kol the court jester. A few months later, a loyal subject killed Kol.
A series of tapestries depicting the Kol Affair.
The Kol Affair cemented Halfdan III as the type of ruler that was utterly ruthless when honor was at stake, an attitude that many Norsemen respected, even admired. Nobody even questioned the Emperor's half-brother, Alfr, when he came of age and chose to become a priest, something that might have been ridiculed in years past. In 1161, Alfr became the Godi of Nantwich, a temple constructed by the Emperor to glorify the gods. Halfdan encouraged those individuals who wanted more to go and take it; at least one Hvitserk, Sigurdr, took the Emperor up on the offer and happily took an army to parts unknown. There were no reports of what happened during his life, which discouraged other family members from taking the same offer, but nonetheless the spirit of adventurism continued throughout the Empire, from Denmark to Irland, from Iceland to Brittany.
A portrait of Alfr on his sixteenth birthday, one of the few that does not include him with a scroll or a book
The last known portrait of Sigurdr, as he rode off to war
Halfdan devoted much of his reign to putting down the odd rebellion and strengthening the Empire's control over the periphery; Irland, always rebellious, was a particular focus of his efforts. He was even handed, competent at most aspects of ruling but never truly great at any of them, and above all else eager to spill his enemy's blood, no matter the cost. Unfortunately, he came to power too late, at the age of 34, and his health simply could not sustain him through the trials of being a ruler. A case of Great Pox was, over time, cured, but he was never well for long. Before he had even served as Fylkir for nine years, he died, leaving Suni I, a nine year old boy, to rule the Empire of Britannia.
Halfdan III on his deathbed, commissioned by the Regent of the Empire
Styrbjorn of Brugge, the realm's Chancellor for years, was a natural choice for the regency. Some people found him off-putting; he was extremely cynical, proud of his education to the point of arrogance, and terrified of any sort of confrontation. Yet the Chancellor also labored under a constant fear of failure. The Regency was a very delicate position and he had to answer to a Moot of the lords of the realm. In an attempt to keep his position, he even agreed to loosen some of the restrictions installed by the Hvitserks of the past. That move backfired, however. Halfdan, son of Halfdan, the Heir to the Throne, was given to the Grand Mayor of Gwynedd to learn the intricacies of administration as part of this strategy. Instead, the Grand Mayor raised a coalition to unseat the corrupt Chancellor (and the pre-teen Emperor) in favor of Alfr the Monk. Nobody had ever asked Alfr if he wanted to rule, but he was a convenient figurehead for the Grand Mayor and his friends, until they could shape Halfdan in their own image. It was a bold plan, to be sure, but while the Grand Mayor was wealthy, he could not compare with the warriors of the Empire, and soon the rebellion was crushed. At one point, Styrbjorn had over 20,000 troops in the field at one time. The stress of trying to undo the damage he caused ultimately killed him, and Thora of Gowrie, the Empire's Spymaster, replaced him as regent.
Portrait of Styrbjorn on the day he took the regency. Note he already looks harried and world weary.
One of the earliest recorded texts in Suni's own hand, here the Fylkir criticizes his Regent for undermining him.
A map of the Grand Mayor's strongholds, focused largely in Wales and southeastern England
Troop locations from an old military map -- note the main thrust is aimed in Wales, while a secondary effort is made on England's east coast
Thora was far more competent as a Regent than the former Chancellor had been. She was incredibly devious, so devious that she refused to have her portrait painted. In fact, only Suni and the other members of the Emperor's Council saw her on a regular basis. She showed an impressive combination of mercy and ruthlessness -- stripping the Grand Mayor of his prestigious title while releasing Alfr the Monk from prison with no penalty. Thora appointed Kettil of Boulogne the new Chancellor and entrusted him with Suni's education. Alfr was named the Empire's Seer and originally sent to Spain to convert the masses there to the Norse religion. Unfortunately, tragedy struck. In a horrific accident, the young Emperor charged his wooden horse at Thora while she took a rare break from her duties on the castle balcony. Suni was struck dumb after Thora didn't jump out of the way, but instead tumbled down the walls of Castle Jorvik. His courtiers quickly tried to shield him from the gory scene, but not quickly enough to prevent an indelible image from imprinting on the Emperor's brain. Some historians claim that the secret to Suni's greatness came from that tragic day.
A copy of young Suni's statement to the Imperial Housecarls
None other than Alfr the Monk became Suni's new Regent. Alfr delighted in sharing the fruits of his scholarly labor with his eager young charge, but was poorly suited for governing. The creation of the Kingdom of Brittany was a way for the Emperor to keep the powerful Jarl of Brittany, a Hvitserk cousin named Asbjorn, at bay; however, the seemingly crafty Monk was outsmarted, and Asbjorn ended up with the very title created to reduce his power and authority. When Suni took the throne on his sixteenth birthday, 16 March 1169, he briefly considered exiling both Asbjorn and Alfr before his Council argued against it.
The Decree on Regency of Alfr the Monk, signed by the leaders of the Moot
Asbjorn, King of Brittany's new territory
The coronation portrait of Suni I
Suni I was among the most complex Emperors Britannia ever had. He was conceited, yet always giving to those in need. He gorged himself on the pleasures of the flesh, displaying tremendous brutality to his courtesans and enemies alike, but took his duties as Fylkir extremely seriously and lectured constantly on the evils of wantonness and the decline of the Norse morality. He had a silver tongue, but was an indifferent student with anything but the sword, and even there his skill came from his desire to inflict pain, not from careful practice. He was an absolutely hopeless administrator, which led to the selection of Alfrid of Fecamp, a Gydja, as his wife. She was temperate as her husband was ravenous, and her sense of justice made her popular among the people of the realm.
Alfrid on the day of her wedding, dressed in the ceremonial garbs of her office as Gydja of Fecamp
Suni inherited an Empire that was flourishing, at perhaps its greatest territorial extent. The name "Britannia" was treated with respect wherever a citizen went, villagers told story after story of the unbridled fury of an angry Hvitserk on raids, the fashionable ladies of the day took after whatever the Empress wore, and the world's great leaders listened when the Emperor spoke, no matter what he had to say. Suni, with all of his rhetorical gifts, was not well liked among the greatest Europeans. Some found him repulsive, others found him captivating, but none could look away. His wife was more popular, but less interesting; over time, she increasingly remained at home. When Suni's brother, Halfdan, came of age, he was Suni's constant companion: a bold warrior, ready to do anything for the Empire, but occasionally prone to fits of depression and even madness.
The Empire of Britannia, as inherited by Suni I
Halfdan, Prince of Britannia, on his sixteenth birthday; sometimes called "the Mad Warrior" later in life
Suni's favorite tool for a disobedient vassal, or one that stood in his way, was a knife wielded by another. As his reign progressed, he continued the centralizing efforts of his father, but in a heavy-handed way that bred resentment among his people. In 1174, he imprisoned Asbjorn, rectifying Alfr the Monk's mistake, and stripped him of his new title. Whenever a prisoner complained about mistreatment, he had them executed; in one case, he reenacted the horrible death of his beloved Regent Thora, only using an actual stallion. The following year, after a glorious hunt where he claimed a bear, a boar, and a stag, killing all of them himself, his first son was born, named Halfdan.
The birth announcement of the Heir to the Throne
Even his positive qualities started to lose their potency over time. He became more and more lazy, unwilling to work as hard or as long as he used to. He ordered any one he thought had even a chance of assassinating him tortured and executed. He spent almost 500 gold to kill an obscure Sheikh for no reason, just to hear reports of him screaming. The most beautiful women in his dungeons were brought to him as concubines; the majority of them found themselves returned to those same dungeons for some slight, real or imagined. Incompetents who told him what he wanted to hear were reward; any who dared tell the truth were arrested, killed, or worse. By the end of July 1179, Suni and Halfdan found themselves the targets of a number of different threats. One of the most popular causes was that of Alfr the Monk, who if somewhat inexperienced at government was at least a more pleasant person to deal with. It was a matter of when the realm was rise up against him, not if, and that rebellion began on 10 August 1179.
A report from the Chief of the Imperial Housecarls on seditious elements in the Empire
With brutality and ruthlessness, Halfdan the Mad Warrior charged into battle, slaying his sovereign's enemies, while Suni remained in Jorvik, infuriated. When the war ended, Suni personally sought out one of the leaders, Steinn af Pontefract, the son of Kol who had somehow risen to be King of Irland. He made an example of Steinn: he took his crown, released him, then ordered him put to death as he walked out of the dungeon. He then stripped the right to a Kingsmoot from Irland, making it the property of the Hvitserks for all time. More people were executed, while Suni gave birth to an illegitimate son, Gunnar, the offspring of a concubine. When peasants rose up and killed his unpopular spymaster, he ordered a dozen villages burnt. It, perhaps, comes as no surprise that eventually one of his victims would seek retribution. Asbjorn, still Jarl of Brittany, tried to assassinate Suni. He was caught, and when he rose up in rebellion, Asbjorn was arrested and lost the Jarldom of Brittany. Perhaps out of fear, or a misunderstanding, or maybe genuine respect, the Moot proclaimed Suni "Suni the Great" in late 1190.
Suni's one truly selfless deed was his exquisite care for Halfdan, his son. He had the best tutors, the best of everything. If Suni had loved his people as much as he loved his son, he probably would have been hailed as one of the most benevolent men in the history of the Empire. As a sixteenth birthday present, Halfdan became Thane of Cornwall and was named Chancellor. Halfdan was a truly great man, loved by everyone, with all of his father's best qualities and none of his weaknesses. Halfdan's only vice was a love for food and drink, but where in some men it was called gluttony, Halfdan was simply a gourmand.
Halfdan of Cornwall, Chancellor of the Empire of Britannia
However, the new Chancellor could not work miracles and repair his father's reputation overnight. An even larger rebellion, led by Thorbjorn of Gwent, saw much of Irland rise against the cruel tyrant Suni. The Emperor stayed in Jorvik, as before, cavorting with a prostitute he'd recently made his wife after Alfrid died, probably of natural causes. As was his way, the leaders of the rebellion had their titles stripped, while the most powerful were also executed. Knut II, King of Norway, was killed "trying to escape." Suni didn't even care when his agent blamed the Emperor; he simply had the agent killed too and reveled in the reputation. In 1195, Suni had his fourth son, who he also named Halfdan. Some of the more unkind individuals in the kingdom said that "Suni needs a spare for when he butchers the eldest."
One of the oddest turns in the life of Suni I was his love of gardening as he grew older. Some took it as a sign of mellowing, that he was growing kinder in his old age. Even his harshest critic could not imagine Suni got pleasure out of torturing plants. The Emperor, on his deathbed, finally admitted why he took up gardening: to grow natural poisons to kill his enemies. When Gunnar came of age in 1199, the King's second son had a magnificent city built for him. Gunnar was no great ruler, but he was decent with a sword and by all accounts a nice person, if lazy.
Gunnar, dressed in mail -- the back of the mail is completely undone, however, as he didn't feel like lacing it up
Suni's third son, Ottarr, received no special treatment. Suni had turned to a new obsession to occupy his time: absolute dominion over his Empire. Even the birth of twins, Guttorm and Suni, did not divert him from that cause. If he would go to incredible lengths to punish individuals for treason, Suni did everything, from bribes to poisoning, to get the Moot to agree to his changes. Halfdan of Cornwall traveled the Empire, trying to convince the Jarls and Thanes of his father's inherent goodness -- it is a testament to Halfdan that those vassals usually accepted him with open arms and heard him out. The walls of Jorvik got stronger and stronger, to keep out the Emperor's enemies. By January 1206, incredibly, the Moot agreed to the Emperor's demands.
The agreement signed by the Moot; curiously, many of the names are signed in an alarming reddish ink. The names all show the same handwriting too...
Samund, another one of Suni's many sons, was unceremoniously shipped off to Russia; he was a total incompetent and offered little except a nice personality. The second Prince Halfdan -- called Halfdan the Younger or Halfdan the Lesser -- was tutored by his eldest brother, and the influence showed. Apart from a dash of cynicism, Halfdan the Younger was every bit the man his brother was.
Halfdan the Younger, looking slightly confused
As Suni passed his fiftieth birthday, he began to grow ill from time to time. This only made him more irritable, not less. He usually recovered in a few days, but drew out his "disease" for much longer. Any doctor who did not give him the diagnosis he wanted was summarily arrested. He was less violent and bloodthirsty than before. but not because his character had improved: his multiple illnesses gave his son the chance to rule, and Halfdan of Cornwall used those periods to great effect. He awarded Halfdan the Younger with the Barony of Tickhill, despite Suni's objections. Halfdan of Cornwall ensured his sisters found good husbands. Most of the realm's leaders showered praise on Halfdan and privately (always privately) hoped that one of Suni's illnesses would carry him off. Instead, it was Halfdan of Cornwall that was struck dead at 38. Brynjolf of Bremen became Chancellor, and that was a good thing: the death of his most beloved child completely shattered Suni. He retreated into complete isolation. Suni of Cornwall, Halfdan's son and the Emperor's grandson, was the new heir to the throne. Suni was an angry man, more his grandfather's child than his father's. He refused to appear in public, wearing a cloak at all times, but ready to lash out at anybody who questioned his authority.
Suni of Cornwall, Heir to the Throne, who stabbed the artist to death for not making him angry enough in the portrait
The Emperor's twin sons Suni and Guttorm came of age late in the Emperor's reign. Guttorm, who was the elder by minutes, became Jarl of Lancaster. Suni, almost as talented, got nothing. The Emperor himself did not attend either of their parties. Suni I grew more and more ill in 1218. He was completely absent from everyday life. Only the Chancellor saw him, and then only for a few moments. One of the most important achievements of the Emperor was one of his very last -- the creation of the Kingdom of Denmark. Guttorm petitioned his father for this title, but had no better luck talking to his father than anyone else. Finally, mercifully, Suni I died on 27 March 1219 at 66 years old. As a grim and morbid reminder of how tyrannical and cruel Suni had been, yet also how vulnerable, when the door to the Emperor's chamber was opened, the skeletal remains of Halfdan of Cornwall were in the chamber, his father clutching them. Suni of Cornwall became Emperor Suni II. Halfdan the Younger became Halfdan II, King of Norway. Gunnar received the Kingdom of Castille. The people of Britannia watched in fear as Suni II prepared to take the throne: was he the son of Halfdan of Cornwall, or was he truly going to be Suni II?
The creation of the Kingdom of Denmark
A miniature of Guttorm, Jarl of Lancaster, and a full portrait of Suni
A portrait of Suni the Great, commissioned by his grandson on the former's deathbed; Suni II insisted that the skull be drawn under the portrait to emphasize that his grandfather was dead
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I might -- might -- get Chapter 22 out by the end of the month, but don't be surprised if I don't.
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A very good chapter, one minor thing though, you posted a shot of Halfdan, instead of Suni Of Cornwall.
Wait, you have land in Iberia? Why don't I remember this!
All the good heirs always die too young. Well tyrants are more fun to read about at least.
Oh wow, Suni II does indeed look incredibly serious. He looks quite intimidating in that last picture.
All the good heirs always die too young. Well tyrants are more fun to read about at least.
Oh wow, Suni II does indeed look incredibly serious. He looks quite intimidating in that last picture.
A tyrant indeed, with very particular reasons for gardening. Will the last emperors be a series of those? Might be a credible answer to why the empire fell into shatters: too much absolute power and tyranny from the Hvitserks!
Will the last emperors be a series of those? Might be a credible answer to why the empire fell into shatters: too much absolute power and tyranny from the Hvitserks!
Good catch! Fixed.
Wait, you have land in Iberia? Why don't I remember this!
All the good heirs always die too young. Well tyrants are more fun to read about at least.
Oh wow, Suni II does indeed look incredibly serious. He looks quite intimidating in that last picture.
When you get large enough in CKII, you tend to inherit land without even trying. I did conquer one of those provinces under the popular "pretty borders" CB, but I never actually tried for them.
A tyrant indeed, with very particular reasons for gardening.
I obviously can't answer your question.
How very chaos-loving of you (but not Chaos).
Absolute crown authority, coupled with angry rulers, does not sound like a great combination. I suspect the Hvitserks will bring this particular Ragnarok on themselves.
*Coughs, but says nothing*
So, I have somewhat bad news. I have to put this AAR on hiatus (as well as my HOI3 AAR, although the iAAR will continue to run) until early 2016. I have to get finished with this draft of my dissertation, so I'll be devoting as much time as possible to that while still maintaining minimum necessary levels of sanity. If the writing gods are kind, I should finish writing by the end of this year so that I can be in position to defend sometime in February or March of next year. I hope you all find some other wonderful AARs to read (or write your own!), but I also hope you come back when I do update.
Thank you for your patience!- 2
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*Coughs, but says nothing*
So, I have somewhat bad news. I have to put this AAR on hiatus (as well as my HOI3 AAR, although the iAAR will continue to run) until early 2016. I have to get finished with this draft of my dissertation, so I'll be devoting as much time as possible to that while still maintaining minimum necessary levels of sanity. If the writing gods are kind, I should finish writing by the end of this year so that I can be in position to defend sometime in February or March of next year. I hope you all find some other wonderful AARs to read (or write your own!), but I also hope you come back when I do update.
It's saddening, but real life needs have to take priority. Here's looking forward to a successful defense next year! We believe in you!
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Well good luck with your dissertation. You've been working on that thing for so long that it must be quite impressive by now.
I hope that 2016 will be filled with many Halfdans.
I hope that 2016 will be filled with many Halfdans.
