A quick reminder for those who haven't voted yet or haven't yet decided on their vote ( looking at you @stnylan 
) the poll ends in three days.
) the poll ends in three days.
Lords of the North, a Finnish AAR
- Thread starter Keizaal
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You are putting me on the spot aren't you.A quick reminder for those who haven't voted yet or haven't yet decided on their vote ( looking at you @stnylan
Ok.
3 .....
dammit the second choice is difficult.
Given the story so far I will go 3E.
The poll is now over.
Thank you to everyone who voted. Based on the results, Suomenusko will be reformed as Cosmopolitan, Ancestor Worshipping Survivors of Ukko with Autocephalous leadership.
I was pretty sure Ancestor Worship or Astrology would win the doctrine part but when it came to nature I wasn't sure which option would win. And Cosmopolitan is a choice I've rather rarely taken myself when reforming so we'll see how I'll do with it.
And sorry @stnylan for putting you on the spot, but I needed a vote from you 'cause it seemed you would be a tie breaker
Thank you to everyone who voted. Based on the results, Suomenusko will be reformed as Cosmopolitan, Ancestor Worshipping Survivors of Ukko with Autocephalous leadership.
I was pretty sure Ancestor Worship or Astrology would win the doctrine part but when it came to nature I wasn't sure which option would win. And Cosmopolitan is a choice I've rather rarely taken myself when reforming so we'll see how I'll do with it.
And sorry @stnylan for putting you on the spot, but I needed a vote from you 'cause it seemed you would be a tie breaker
Chapter 38
Armored Chariot, Coins and an Ambitious King
Susi is bidding farewell to the emissary of Chief Nuyat of Vishera. Susi has just finished arranging a betrothal between his son Jalo and Putyayka. She may only be a distant relative of the Chief, but what Susi has heard of her sounds promising. If she keeps those quick wits with her to her adulthood, she will make a fine queen for Jalo one day. And since they're both still young they can at least get to know one another over the years, however little that may be.
Susi returned inside quickly. Spring seems to be coming late this year, seeing how there's still snow almost to one's knees despite summer coming in less than couple months. As Susi returns to warm up in the great hall, he is greeted by Chief Ahvo, his spymaster. The man seems visibly shaken. Upon seeing Susi he shoots up from his chair and says he has urgent news.
"What is it Ahvo? You look like you just saw someone die."
"Well, I sort of almost did. Myself, that is."
"What? You mean someone tried to kill you? Who?"
"It was Chief Tuure of Käkisalmi and Sortavala. I managed to find out from one of his co-conspirators that he's plotting to kill Lemmikki, the wife of your chancellor, Chief Pyry of Satakunta."
"And he found out that you found out?"
"Apparently. On my way back from Käkisalmi some of his soldiers approached me and without saying a word attacked me. I barely managed to slip away." Ahvo let out a weary sigh. "I feel like I've aged a decade in just a few days."
"Well, don't worry. I'll handle Chief Tuure. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now rest up, you've earned it."
Susi left Ahvo in the great hall and headed for the barracks. "Too many spymasters have died under my father and I. It ends now. Everyone needs to learn that there's consequences for even trying to kill the Kings hand in the shadows," he mumbled to himself on his way there.
But when Susi's soldiers finally arrived in Käkisalmi they learned that Chief Tuure had escaped to the court of Chief Pekko of Chud. For this Susi named Tuure's eldest child, Kaarina, as the new Chieftess of Käkisalmi and Sortavala, as he had left the role of Chief absent.
It was finally spring after a winter of unusually heavy snowfall. Even the smallest of creeks was flooding out of its banks, and that's why marshal Kuuti was escorting Susi a bit further away where the fields hadn't flooded to see the invention of the engineer he had gotten funds for in early winter.
"You never really told me who this engineer is, did you?" Susi asked on their way there.
"I never did, did I? Well, long story short, his name is Haribert and he was working originally as an architect and engineer for King Dietwin 'the Holy' of East Francia. He finished his work after the Kings' death and the next King refused to pay the remainder of the Hariberts' pay. And when he tried to press the issue, well, let's just say Haribert had to hurriedly board the first ship he could get on board of and it happened to be a merchant vessel headed to Finland."
"An architect as well, huh? Maybe he could help us in making stone castle's like those in the lands he comes from?"
"Maybe. He told me he had had enough of architect's work for a while and wanted to focus on his inventions for now. But who knows, maybe in a few years."
Susi nodded understandingly. Someone who knows how to construct castles made of stone would be a great asset for Finland where castles or fortifications of any kind are made only partially of stone and mostly of wood.
Susi and Kuuti finally arrived to the demonstration field where some targets had been prepared, couple of them rather big too. Kuuti excused himself and headed to a barn nearby and soon afterwards something that Susi could describe only as an armored chariot pulled by at least a dozen men inside of it came out. It had some sort of arrow slits on its sides from where crossbows fixed in place could be fired by the men inside. And on the front was one bigger arrow slit from where the point of a ballista bolt was peering out. Every time the chariot went past a target dummy the crossbows inside fired at it. And once the chariot was in front of one of the bigger targets the ballista fired. After the first ballista shot marshal Kuuti peered out of a hatch made on top of the chariot.
"This is from where the commander of this armored chariot can help direct it. Of course there is also a slit next to the ballista from where to look if it's not safe for the commander to come out, but it's not nearly as good."
Susi was nodding and already thinking of possible ways to use this thing. It was a bit slow, but it could provide good cover for other soldiers if it went first through the gates.
"It is certainly impressive, but maybe a bit slow. Couldn't it be pulled by something stronger, like bulls or horses?"
"Well, we tried those too but that would require we make the chariot even bigger. And that adds more weight, requiring more power to pull it, requiring more space, adding weight yet again and I am sure understand by now my King. Maybe if we experiment more we could find a balance for fitting horses or bulls, but that would take time."
Susi nodded understandingly again.
"By the way, how accurate is that big thing on the front? Can it hit its target from far away too?"
"Oh, the ballista? It's definitely accurate. We can show you by hitting that other target from the other side of the river."
"Are you sure marshal? That bridge doesn't look particularly strong."
"Do not worry my King, we have crossed this bridge many times before to test this thing!"
"Yes, but the river wasn't flooding then!"
And just as Susi had finished saying that the bridge collapsed. Kuuti managed to get out before the chariot sank thanks to being halfway out of the hatch already. A couple more soldiers made it out too before the chariot sank to the bottom of the flooding river. Unfortunately Haribert, who was operating the ballista, and most the men inside weren't so lucky. And any hopes of salvaging something out of the chariot once the floods were over were dashed when few days later some fallen trees that the river was carrying crashed into the chariot, breaking it apart. The only thing that was worth something that was gotten from the chariot were the crossbows, which were noticeably better than the somewhat primitive ones that were mainly used for hunting.
The following summer Susi was walking through the markets with his son, Jalo. Susi had noticed over the years that Jalo was somewhat lacking in ambition. He would need ambition to make it as King after him. And he knows Jalo would succeed him in a young age, given that he was in his early fifties when Jalo was born.
"You know son, I've noticed you lack ambition. Why is that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Because I've noticed how you seem to be content the way things are. You have never spoken about how you would lead your armies to great victories as King, or conquer new lands. Do you wish to be an underachiever in the eyes of your ancestors?"
"And what's wrong with being content with what you have? I will become King after you, I have no brothers who I would have to split the lands with and Finland is prospering so why should I conquer more lands?"
"And for that our neighbors will think you weak. And they will pounce once the opportunity comes and take those prosperous lands from you. And it's not even guaranteed that all the vassals will be content with you and might declare you unfit to rule and strike it out on their own, or worse, claim they or one of your cousins would be a better King. You need to prove yourself as someone fit to be King once you succeed me."
Jalo was about to say something, but Susi continued.
"And considering what the Kings of Finland before you accomplished, I doubt you want to be remembered as someone who accomplished nothing. My grandfather Jalo, your namesake, may have been known only as High Chief but he still held all of Finland under his fist and created the foundations for my father, Ahma, to truly become the King of Finland. And he secured Finnish hegemony in the North by putting our neighbors under his foot. And I had to secure my rule as King by first fighting my brothers to make them acknowledge me as the true King, made the Sami to our North vassals instead of just paying whatever measly tribute, and for many years now I've been trying to reform the system that our communities are based on to be more directly under my rule and to make taxation more efficient too, to secure an income more stable than just raiding our neighbors. And believe me, my men have been doing that extensively too."
Susi paused for a moment, looked his son in the eyes and continued.
"And knowing all that those who came before you have accomplished, you still say you wish to accomplish NOTHING?"
Susi could see something was building up inside Jalo.
"You wish to see me become something greater than you or your father? You want me to accomplish greater heights than anyone before me? FINE! I'll show you, and everyone else, just how much greater I can become than anyone before me! I'll leave you and grandfather cowering in my shadow!" he shouted and stormed off, wiping tears of anger as he went.
"Well, it seems he has some ambitions now, at least," Susi thought to himself. "But did I overdo it though, I wonder." He let out a weary sigh, wishing he still had the same energy that Jalo seemed to have.
That fall Susi received news that his son-in-law, High Chief Syudbya of Mezen had died during a raid, making his son, and Susi's grandson, Yurak the new High Chief at the age of 17.
And the next spring Susi is given a chance to help further the Finnish economy even more when a merchant whose ship had wrecked the last fall and was unable to secure passage back home from other merchants offered his services to Susi. He said that he had worked as a minter back in his home country of Frisia, before becoming a merchant.
"And if I may ask, why would you decide to become a merchant if you already had employment as a minter?"
"My lord, it was because the mint I worked at was destroyed by vikings during one of their raids and the King built the new one further inland for safety. I took the opportunity to become a merchant, and was quite successful for a few years, before my ship wrecked last fall."
"Fair enough, but why wouldn't you just return home then? Surely there are many merchants here who would travel to Frisia from time to time, no?"
"You are right, my Lord. However, many refused probably because they saw me as a threat to their business. They have been trading with the Finns for many years and do not wish for more competitors like me here. I also had managed to salvage most of my goods from the wrecked ship, though the ship itself was a lost cause. And, quite frankly, I am now starting to run out of goods to sell and need to start thinking about the future because, uhm..." The merchant drifted at the end and even seemed a little embarrassed.
"Speak up, I couldn't hear you."
"Because I have met a woman and right now she is pregnant, so I need to find something that I'm better at than being a merchant to help raise my child."
Well, Susi wasn't too surprised at this, given how the man had already stayed in Finland for almost half a year, so it's not all that surprising that he might've met someone or just knocked up someone he had met one night and is now taking responsibility for it. He was from the South. A Christian. That's how they do things, he had heard. Susi was stroking his beard as he was thinking for a while and finally gave his answer.
"Alright, I'll see what you can do. My men have been raiding our neighbors a lot recently and we have some silver and gold in the treasury in the form of foreign coinage or jewelry. You can have some of them and mint coins of them. If I'm happy with the results, you'll get to make more."
The man thanked Susi profusely for the opportunity and promised that he will not be disappointed with the results.
And by the summer Susi was seeing the first results from the minter. Silver coins with the crowned, axe holding bear of Finland on one side and the side profile of him on the other. He was definitely happy with the results and gave the minter more raw material to work with.
That same fall Jalo finally came of age. It was apparent that he had learned much about warfare, but still had some to learn to become a master tactician. But he certainly had the ambition and courage for it. And he could also keep a conversation with almost anyone, which was made quite surprising to some due to his rather messy appearance. Susi decides to name his son a commander and to give him some practical experience sends him raiding some of their neighbors.
This went on for a couple years. Jalo leading the men in raids with some of the silver and gold from the plunder going to the mint to make more Finnish coins. Susi even had one batch of coins made with Jalo's side profile, since he was providing the materials for the coins and he was the future King. Then one day when Jalo was out raiding in Sviþjod he was approached by marshal Kuuti himself. He was there to bring Jalo home.
King Susi had died in his sleep a week prior, 12 January 962, thus making Jalo the new King of Finland at age 18.
Armored Chariot, Coins and an Ambitious King
Susi is bidding farewell to the emissary of Chief Nuyat of Vishera. Susi has just finished arranging a betrothal between his son Jalo and Putyayka. She may only be a distant relative of the Chief, but what Susi has heard of her sounds promising. If she keeps those quick wits with her to her adulthood, she will make a fine queen for Jalo one day. And since they're both still young they can at least get to know one another over the years, however little that may be.
Susi returned inside quickly. Spring seems to be coming late this year, seeing how there's still snow almost to one's knees despite summer coming in less than couple months. As Susi returns to warm up in the great hall, he is greeted by Chief Ahvo, his spymaster. The man seems visibly shaken. Upon seeing Susi he shoots up from his chair and says he has urgent news.
"What is it Ahvo? You look like you just saw someone die."
"Well, I sort of almost did. Myself, that is."
"What? You mean someone tried to kill you? Who?"
"It was Chief Tuure of Käkisalmi and Sortavala. I managed to find out from one of his co-conspirators that he's plotting to kill Lemmikki, the wife of your chancellor, Chief Pyry of Satakunta."
"And he found out that you found out?"
"Apparently. On my way back from Käkisalmi some of his soldiers approached me and without saying a word attacked me. I barely managed to slip away." Ahvo let out a weary sigh. "I feel like I've aged a decade in just a few days."
"Well, don't worry. I'll handle Chief Tuure. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now rest up, you've earned it."
Susi left Ahvo in the great hall and headed for the barracks. "Too many spymasters have died under my father and I. It ends now. Everyone needs to learn that there's consequences for even trying to kill the Kings hand in the shadows," he mumbled to himself on his way there.
But when Susi's soldiers finally arrived in Käkisalmi they learned that Chief Tuure had escaped to the court of Chief Pekko of Chud. For this Susi named Tuure's eldest child, Kaarina, as the new Chieftess of Käkisalmi and Sortavala, as he had left the role of Chief absent.
It was finally spring after a winter of unusually heavy snowfall. Even the smallest of creeks was flooding out of its banks, and that's why marshal Kuuti was escorting Susi a bit further away where the fields hadn't flooded to see the invention of the engineer he had gotten funds for in early winter.
"You never really told me who this engineer is, did you?" Susi asked on their way there.
"I never did, did I? Well, long story short, his name is Haribert and he was working originally as an architect and engineer for King Dietwin 'the Holy' of East Francia. He finished his work after the Kings' death and the next King refused to pay the remainder of the Hariberts' pay. And when he tried to press the issue, well, let's just say Haribert had to hurriedly board the first ship he could get on board of and it happened to be a merchant vessel headed to Finland."
"An architect as well, huh? Maybe he could help us in making stone castle's like those in the lands he comes from?"
"Maybe. He told me he had had enough of architect's work for a while and wanted to focus on his inventions for now. But who knows, maybe in a few years."
Susi nodded understandingly. Someone who knows how to construct castles made of stone would be a great asset for Finland where castles or fortifications of any kind are made only partially of stone and mostly of wood.
Susi and Kuuti finally arrived to the demonstration field where some targets had been prepared, couple of them rather big too. Kuuti excused himself and headed to a barn nearby and soon afterwards something that Susi could describe only as an armored chariot pulled by at least a dozen men inside of it came out. It had some sort of arrow slits on its sides from where crossbows fixed in place could be fired by the men inside. And on the front was one bigger arrow slit from where the point of a ballista bolt was peering out. Every time the chariot went past a target dummy the crossbows inside fired at it. And once the chariot was in front of one of the bigger targets the ballista fired. After the first ballista shot marshal Kuuti peered out of a hatch made on top of the chariot.
"This is from where the commander of this armored chariot can help direct it. Of course there is also a slit next to the ballista from where to look if it's not safe for the commander to come out, but it's not nearly as good."
Susi was nodding and already thinking of possible ways to use this thing. It was a bit slow, but it could provide good cover for other soldiers if it went first through the gates.
"It is certainly impressive, but maybe a bit slow. Couldn't it be pulled by something stronger, like bulls or horses?"
"Well, we tried those too but that would require we make the chariot even bigger. And that adds more weight, requiring more power to pull it, requiring more space, adding weight yet again and I am sure understand by now my King. Maybe if we experiment more we could find a balance for fitting horses or bulls, but that would take time."
Susi nodded understandingly again.
"By the way, how accurate is that big thing on the front? Can it hit its target from far away too?"
"Oh, the ballista? It's definitely accurate. We can show you by hitting that other target from the other side of the river."
"Are you sure marshal? That bridge doesn't look particularly strong."
"Do not worry my King, we have crossed this bridge many times before to test this thing!"
"Yes, but the river wasn't flooding then!"
And just as Susi had finished saying that the bridge collapsed. Kuuti managed to get out before the chariot sank thanks to being halfway out of the hatch already. A couple more soldiers made it out too before the chariot sank to the bottom of the flooding river. Unfortunately Haribert, who was operating the ballista, and most the men inside weren't so lucky. And any hopes of salvaging something out of the chariot once the floods were over were dashed when few days later some fallen trees that the river was carrying crashed into the chariot, breaking it apart. The only thing that was worth something that was gotten from the chariot were the crossbows, which were noticeably better than the somewhat primitive ones that were mainly used for hunting.
The following summer Susi was walking through the markets with his son, Jalo. Susi had noticed over the years that Jalo was somewhat lacking in ambition. He would need ambition to make it as King after him. And he knows Jalo would succeed him in a young age, given that he was in his early fifties when Jalo was born.
"You know son, I've noticed you lack ambition. Why is that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Because I've noticed how you seem to be content the way things are. You have never spoken about how you would lead your armies to great victories as King, or conquer new lands. Do you wish to be an underachiever in the eyes of your ancestors?"
"And what's wrong with being content with what you have? I will become King after you, I have no brothers who I would have to split the lands with and Finland is prospering so why should I conquer more lands?"
"And for that our neighbors will think you weak. And they will pounce once the opportunity comes and take those prosperous lands from you. And it's not even guaranteed that all the vassals will be content with you and might declare you unfit to rule and strike it out on their own, or worse, claim they or one of your cousins would be a better King. You need to prove yourself as someone fit to be King once you succeed me."
Jalo was about to say something, but Susi continued.
"And considering what the Kings of Finland before you accomplished, I doubt you want to be remembered as someone who accomplished nothing. My grandfather Jalo, your namesake, may have been known only as High Chief but he still held all of Finland under his fist and created the foundations for my father, Ahma, to truly become the King of Finland. And he secured Finnish hegemony in the North by putting our neighbors under his foot. And I had to secure my rule as King by first fighting my brothers to make them acknowledge me as the true King, made the Sami to our North vassals instead of just paying whatever measly tribute, and for many years now I've been trying to reform the system that our communities are based on to be more directly under my rule and to make taxation more efficient too, to secure an income more stable than just raiding our neighbors. And believe me, my men have been doing that extensively too."
Susi paused for a moment, looked his son in the eyes and continued.
"And knowing all that those who came before you have accomplished, you still say you wish to accomplish NOTHING?"
Susi could see something was building up inside Jalo.
"You wish to see me become something greater than you or your father? You want me to accomplish greater heights than anyone before me? FINE! I'll show you, and everyone else, just how much greater I can become than anyone before me! I'll leave you and grandfather cowering in my shadow!" he shouted and stormed off, wiping tears of anger as he went.
"Well, it seems he has some ambitions now, at least," Susi thought to himself. "But did I overdo it though, I wonder." He let out a weary sigh, wishing he still had the same energy that Jalo seemed to have.
That fall Susi received news that his son-in-law, High Chief Syudbya of Mezen had died during a raid, making his son, and Susi's grandson, Yurak the new High Chief at the age of 17.
And the next spring Susi is given a chance to help further the Finnish economy even more when a merchant whose ship had wrecked the last fall and was unable to secure passage back home from other merchants offered his services to Susi. He said that he had worked as a minter back in his home country of Frisia, before becoming a merchant.
"And if I may ask, why would you decide to become a merchant if you already had employment as a minter?"
"My lord, it was because the mint I worked at was destroyed by vikings during one of their raids and the King built the new one further inland for safety. I took the opportunity to become a merchant, and was quite successful for a few years, before my ship wrecked last fall."
"Fair enough, but why wouldn't you just return home then? Surely there are many merchants here who would travel to Frisia from time to time, no?"
"You are right, my Lord. However, many refused probably because they saw me as a threat to their business. They have been trading with the Finns for many years and do not wish for more competitors like me here. I also had managed to salvage most of my goods from the wrecked ship, though the ship itself was a lost cause. And, quite frankly, I am now starting to run out of goods to sell and need to start thinking about the future because, uhm..." The merchant drifted at the end and even seemed a little embarrassed.
"Speak up, I couldn't hear you."
"Because I have met a woman and right now she is pregnant, so I need to find something that I'm better at than being a merchant to help raise my child."
Well, Susi wasn't too surprised at this, given how the man had already stayed in Finland for almost half a year, so it's not all that surprising that he might've met someone or just knocked up someone he had met one night and is now taking responsibility for it. He was from the South. A Christian. That's how they do things, he had heard. Susi was stroking his beard as he was thinking for a while and finally gave his answer.
"Alright, I'll see what you can do. My men have been raiding our neighbors a lot recently and we have some silver and gold in the treasury in the form of foreign coinage or jewelry. You can have some of them and mint coins of them. If I'm happy with the results, you'll get to make more."
The man thanked Susi profusely for the opportunity and promised that he will not be disappointed with the results.
And by the summer Susi was seeing the first results from the minter. Silver coins with the crowned, axe holding bear of Finland on one side and the side profile of him on the other. He was definitely happy with the results and gave the minter more raw material to work with.
That same fall Jalo finally came of age. It was apparent that he had learned much about warfare, but still had some to learn to become a master tactician. But he certainly had the ambition and courage for it. And he could also keep a conversation with almost anyone, which was made quite surprising to some due to his rather messy appearance. Susi decides to name his son a commander and to give him some practical experience sends him raiding some of their neighbors.
This went on for a couple years. Jalo leading the men in raids with some of the silver and gold from the plunder going to the mint to make more Finnish coins. Susi even had one batch of coins made with Jalo's side profile, since he was providing the materials for the coins and he was the future King. Then one day when Jalo was out raiding in Sviþjod he was approached by marshal Kuuti himself. He was there to bring Jalo home.
King Susi had died in his sleep a week prior, 12 January 962, thus making Jalo the new King of Finland at age 18.
Hello everyone, haven't been here in a while. But decided to finally post chapter 38 after it's been sitting in my computer for a few weeks now at least. The truth is, my motivation for writing has just been gone lately. There's just been so much going on in my life recently that I haven't had the time or the energy to write stuff, and after I hadn't written for a while I just couldn't find the motivation to do it again. But, I'll try to pick up writing again at some point. I'll just have to sort some things out to get some time for it again.
In the meantime, enjoy chapter 38 of Lords of the North.
Oh, and thank you to @alscon for the Best Character Writer of the Week nomination even though I haven't been around much lately. It's nice to know that I've been able to bring these characters to life so well that people still remember them even though I haven't updated their stories for a while.
In the meantime, enjoy chapter 38 of Lords of the North.
Oh, and thank you to @alscon for the Best Character Writer of the Week nomination even though I haven't been around much lately. It's nice to know that I've been able to bring these characters to life so well that people still remember them even though I haven't updated their stories for a while.
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That was not an entirely harmonius conversation. Let us hope that Jalo is not known for bringing Finland to ruin in attempts to expand, because that would certainly be one way he would end up putting his ancestors to the shade.
RL always takes priority, and writer's block always finds its way. So take your time .
So the modernizing continued, even if the armoured chariot was... not a success. Shaken up a bit, one has to wonder if Jalo can keep his cool or if he's going to rush off into risky adventures to prove his ambition to his ancestors.
.So the modernizing continued, even if the armoured chariot was... not a success. Shaken up a bit, one has to wonder if Jalo can keep his cool or if he's going to rush off into risky adventures to prove his ambition to his ancestors.
Chapter 39
Long Live the (Ambitious) King!
The doors bang open as Jalo enters the meeting chamber. There waiting for him were High Chief Gáktu of Finnmark, who worked as an advisor in the council to represent the Sami people in King Susis' council and continues to do the same, and Chief Ahvo of Laatokka, Jalos' cousin and spymaster. Kolli, the bastard son of Urho and thus cousin of Jalo, followed him to the meeting chamber, having also continued in his position of steward. He was talking to Jalo about some sort of idea for a monument he had as they entered and Jalo had seemed interested in, though he said that they'll continue later.
As Jalo entered he noticed that Tietäjä Taisto and chancellor Pyry were missing. Ahvo informed Jalo that Taisto had left to travel the land in search of greater knowledge and as for Pyry, he had resigned from the position to attend to his own Chiefdom. Jalo let out a deep sigh.
"I had expected for Pyry to leave after my fathers' death but Taisto too? Fine, I'll have to think of someone. I had already planned for High Chief Lávrrohas of Kola to become my chancellor after I met him during my travels and raids. But as for a replacement for Taisto, do any of you have suggestions?"
All the councilors thought for a while, then Kolli spoke up.
"How about our aunt, Hellä?"
"Her?" Jalo responded slightly confused.
"Yes. While she may not be a priestess or a tietäjä, her knowledge rivals any who are."
Jalo pondered for a while but since none of the other councilors seemed to have any objections or better suggestions he decided to go with Kollis' suggestion. As for marshal, Kuuti continued in the position and had stayed behind to lead the troops on the raid while Jalo returned to Finland.
When Jalo left the meeting chamber Kolli was not far behind.
"About that monument, my King."
"Oh, right. You know what, I've made my decision. You shall have the funds for it."
"Great! But what shall this monument be dedicated to? Gods? Spirits? You?"
"Hmm.... I think I shall dedicate it for my ancestors."
"The ancestors?"
"Yes, so that people will remember my ancestors and what they accomplished even after I've outdone them all!"
During the spring Jalo holds a grand festival to celebrate his coronation and on the last day of the festivities the monument is finally revealed. It is not grandiose, since there was not much time to make it, but it is the first monument in Finland to be fully made of bronze, meant to last for possibly centuries. On a simple, unworked piece of granite as a pedestal stands a birch tree, the tree that their family is named after, made of bronze. Jalo was pleased with the result and praised Kolli for his idea later.
A couple of months later Jalo's betrothed, Putyayka, comes of age and the two are married with grand celebrations.
A year passed from the marrige and Jalo had gathered his council to inform them of his plans for that year.
"As you all probably know by now" he started, "our southern neighbors in Ilmenia aren't doing all that well in the war they themselves started a few years prior."
Jalo was referring to the war of subjugation that King Nishkepaz of Ilmenia had declared against Queen Sviatoslava of Kiev. The war had started well for Nishkepaz, but now the tides had turned and he was losing. And other various Chiefs around Ilmenia had smelled the blood and tried to take a pieces of the losing Kingdom for themselves. Jalo had smelled the blood too, but he had greater plans for the Kingdom.
"Yes, we're well aware how poorly the war is going for King Nishkepaz since last fall" chancellor Lávrrohas responded.
"Apparently some of his own peasantry is also getting quite dissatisfied with their King" spymaster Ahvo spoke. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of them rose up in rebellion if the war drags on for another year or so."
"Well that could also be attributed to the failures of the Kings court and vassals to keep the peasants in line while the King is away," steward Kolli added.
"I'm just surprised that your Highness hasn't capitalized on the situation sooner," marshal Kuuti piped up. "But better late than never. What lands have you planned on conquering my King?"
"All of it" was Jalo's response.
The council room grew silent as the councilors turned to look at their King in disbelief. After a brief moment advisor Gáktu was the first to break the silence.
"All of it? As in, the whole Kingdom?"
"Yes. The whole Kingdom of Ilmenia."
"But, my King, with what justification would you conquer Ilmenia and declare yourself their King?" Lávrrohas asked. "As far as I know you don't really have any claim by blood on the Kingdom of Ilmenia."
"It is true what you speak Lávrrohas" Jalo said, "but think of it this way: How many Kings has Ilmenia had by now? Half a dozen or more? And how many of those have taken the crown by sword? At least one or two, and many more have tried. And now think how many Kings has Finland had during its existence?" Jalo paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm the third King of Finland. And Finland as a Kingdom has existed for longer than Ilmenia." Jalo sat down on his chair at the end of the table before continuing. "So you could say I am just another one of those who come to take the crown of Ilmenia by sword, true, but I would also bring with me the power and stability of Finland. And with that power both Kingdoms could prosper together and maybe the now dissatisfied peasantry of Ilmenia could finally know peace, eh?"
Jalo gave a knowing look at his spymaster. Ahvo nodded, seeming to have understood what Jalo meant and took off to do his work.
And so, the Finnish war to subjugate Ilmenia began. Before departing though, Jalo was told by Putyayka that she was pregnant. Overjoyed, Jalo left instructions that during this year's harvest festival she is to play the role of Akka.
Having arrived where his troops were gathering in Käkisalmi, Jalos' commander informs him later that day that their army numbers some 7700 men strong, thus as far as they know outnumbering what remains of the Ilmenian army some two to one.
"Some seven thousand-seven hundred men, huh," Jalo thought to himself. "That is indeed a mighty army, but still a far cry from the over ten thousand men my grandfather once amassed. But for this, it'll do."
The first battle of the war took place in Kholm, where a group of 800 Ilmenian soldiers was gathering as reinforcements. During the battle Jalo led a charge to wipe out the remaining enemy forces when he was struck with a mace to his chest, cracking a rib. He recovered quickly though, for a month later he was once again leading his army, this time in Borovichi, where the main enemy army of some 3500 was gathering. Thanks to his superior numbers, Jalo was easily able to surround the enemy in a half circle and force their backs against a river by the banks of which they had set up their camp. After the battle, half of the Ilmenian army was either dead or captured whilst Finns lost less than 300 men.
After the battle Jalo and his men spend the winter in Borovichi. Over the winter Jalo receives news that Chief Jalo of Keitele had died of food poisoning and now his brother Onni was Chief. He also received news that Putyayka had given birth to a healthy baby girl who was named Helmi after Jalo's great-grandmother.
One day as Jalo was going over the inventory with his quartermaster he noticed something was off.
"Tell me, why do we have more food than we should by now? I mean, it's not all that much more, but still. By my estimations we shouldn't have this much left this far into winter."
"You see my King, some of the local peasants have been bringing food to our camp or given some to our foragers if they've come across them."
"What? The locals have been GIVING us food VOLUNTARILY?" Jalo asked with clear surprise in his voice.
"Yes. From what I've heard, apparently some think that you would make for a better King than the current one, and that you would bring peace and prosperity to the land or something."
"Alright then, carry on."
Jalo couldn't help but smile. His plan had worked even better than he had hoped. He had originally thought to just have Ahvo and his spies spread such rumors to help keep the peasants from rebelling during and maybe even after the war but he did not expect to receive help from them. At least not so openly.
"I should try to find out where the locals are the most amicable towards me and try to see if I can get something useful from them. Maybe even move my winter camp around such an area," he thought to himself as he returned to his tent for the night.
Once the winter was over Jalo continued his campaign all around Ilmenia. When he was sieging the settlement in Ingria, Putyayka came to visit him with Helmi, since they were so close to the borders of Finland for once. The results of those visits in the summer would be seen in the spring when their second daughter, Aamu, was born.
But before the spring would come, whilst Jalo and his army were camping their second winter on the field, he received news that King Nabtiko of Nenetsia had died, apparently from injuries received during a raid. His eldest son Kako became King and the younger son Tatva the High Chief of Bjarmia, refusing to acknowledge his brother as King and declaring independence.
Once spring arrived once again, Jalo kept marching his army around Ilmenia with little to no resistance. On one march one of his commanders said that he had been thinking of giving up soldiering after this war and asked Jalo what were his plans for the future. Jalo answered without hesitation: "I will continue to lead my army myself from the front. This just the first war of many."
Once the Finns arrive in Kashin, they find the biggest remaining enemy force left, some 1500 men strong. The battle was brutally one sided and the Ilmenians lost almost a thousand men while Finns lost barely 200. That summer King Nishkepaz finally admitted defeat and hands over his crown to Jalo, making him now the King of both Finland and Ilmenia.
But Jalo wouldn't rest on his laurels for long, as he saw an opportunity to conquer the neighboring Pskov, who had just come out of a defensive war against a claimant and were now weak. Thus Jalo decided to send his levies home and took only his personal guard to conquer Pskov. His personal guard had little over 2500 men left after the war, but Jalo figured it should be enough.
When on their way to Pskov from Ilmenia Jalo was talking with another one of his commanders and commented how they are moving as if connected by some unspoken bond or a higher power of some kind.
"God of War, Taara must've truly blessed us and our campaign!" Jalo exclaimed.
"Uhm, I'd say this actually all you, my King" one of the soldiers nearby responds a little awkwardly and with a hint of surprise on his face.
"He is right, your highness," commander Ahvo responds. "This is all you. You've made a tightly knit unit out your personal guard during the Ilmenian war and now it shows."
Jalo mulled on that for a while and then gave an answer. "You're right, thinking that everything is the work of gods or spirits doesn't lead anywhere. Sometimes it's just all about the men. Like now."
When the army reached Luki they found that the enemy forces had already set up camp in the region.
Commander Ahvo had lead the scouts and was reporting the results to Jalo.
"We found the Pskovian encampment on top of a hill not too far from here. They're protecting the best access way to the local settlement from there so we must face them in battle if we wish to take the region."
"I see. And how many of them were there?"
"It was hard to tell, but I'd daresay barely over a thousand, but definitely less than half our number."
"Good, good. And how big is the hill they've set up camp?"
"Not too big. Barely as tall as a full grown pine tree with quite a gentle slope. Wouldn't be impossible to charge it up, but wouldn't recommend it anyway."
"Alright, we'll have to think of a battle plan then. Call the commanders, I think I have an idea."
Long Live the (Ambitious) King!
The doors bang open as Jalo enters the meeting chamber. There waiting for him were High Chief Gáktu of Finnmark, who worked as an advisor in the council to represent the Sami people in King Susis' council and continues to do the same, and Chief Ahvo of Laatokka, Jalos' cousin and spymaster. Kolli, the bastard son of Urho and thus cousin of Jalo, followed him to the meeting chamber, having also continued in his position of steward. He was talking to Jalo about some sort of idea for a monument he had as they entered and Jalo had seemed interested in, though he said that they'll continue later.
As Jalo entered he noticed that Tietäjä Taisto and chancellor Pyry were missing. Ahvo informed Jalo that Taisto had left to travel the land in search of greater knowledge and as for Pyry, he had resigned from the position to attend to his own Chiefdom. Jalo let out a deep sigh.
"I had expected for Pyry to leave after my fathers' death but Taisto too? Fine, I'll have to think of someone. I had already planned for High Chief Lávrrohas of Kola to become my chancellor after I met him during my travels and raids. But as for a replacement for Taisto, do any of you have suggestions?"
All the councilors thought for a while, then Kolli spoke up.
"How about our aunt, Hellä?"
"Her?" Jalo responded slightly confused.
"Yes. While she may not be a priestess or a tietäjä, her knowledge rivals any who are."
Jalo pondered for a while but since none of the other councilors seemed to have any objections or better suggestions he decided to go with Kollis' suggestion. As for marshal, Kuuti continued in the position and had stayed behind to lead the troops on the raid while Jalo returned to Finland.
When Jalo left the meeting chamber Kolli was not far behind.
"About that monument, my King."
"Oh, right. You know what, I've made my decision. You shall have the funds for it."
"Great! But what shall this monument be dedicated to? Gods? Spirits? You?"
"Hmm.... I think I shall dedicate it for my ancestors."
"The ancestors?"
"Yes, so that people will remember my ancestors and what they accomplished even after I've outdone them all!"
During the spring Jalo holds a grand festival to celebrate his coronation and on the last day of the festivities the monument is finally revealed. It is not grandiose, since there was not much time to make it, but it is the first monument in Finland to be fully made of bronze, meant to last for possibly centuries. On a simple, unworked piece of granite as a pedestal stands a birch tree, the tree that their family is named after, made of bronze. Jalo was pleased with the result and praised Kolli for his idea later.
A couple of months later Jalo's betrothed, Putyayka, comes of age and the two are married with grand celebrations.
A year passed from the marrige and Jalo had gathered his council to inform them of his plans for that year.
"As you all probably know by now" he started, "our southern neighbors in Ilmenia aren't doing all that well in the war they themselves started a few years prior."
Jalo was referring to the war of subjugation that King Nishkepaz of Ilmenia had declared against Queen Sviatoslava of Kiev. The war had started well for Nishkepaz, but now the tides had turned and he was losing. And other various Chiefs around Ilmenia had smelled the blood and tried to take a pieces of the losing Kingdom for themselves. Jalo had smelled the blood too, but he had greater plans for the Kingdom.
"Yes, we're well aware how poorly the war is going for King Nishkepaz since last fall" chancellor Lávrrohas responded.
"Apparently some of his own peasantry is also getting quite dissatisfied with their King" spymaster Ahvo spoke. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of them rose up in rebellion if the war drags on for another year or so."
"Well that could also be attributed to the failures of the Kings court and vassals to keep the peasants in line while the King is away," steward Kolli added.
"I'm just surprised that your Highness hasn't capitalized on the situation sooner," marshal Kuuti piped up. "But better late than never. What lands have you planned on conquering my King?"
"All of it" was Jalo's response.
The council room grew silent as the councilors turned to look at their King in disbelief. After a brief moment advisor Gáktu was the first to break the silence.
"All of it? As in, the whole Kingdom?"
"Yes. The whole Kingdom of Ilmenia."
"But, my King, with what justification would you conquer Ilmenia and declare yourself their King?" Lávrrohas asked. "As far as I know you don't really have any claim by blood on the Kingdom of Ilmenia."
"It is true what you speak Lávrrohas" Jalo said, "but think of it this way: How many Kings has Ilmenia had by now? Half a dozen or more? And how many of those have taken the crown by sword? At least one or two, and many more have tried. And now think how many Kings has Finland had during its existence?" Jalo paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm the third King of Finland. And Finland as a Kingdom has existed for longer than Ilmenia." Jalo sat down on his chair at the end of the table before continuing. "So you could say I am just another one of those who come to take the crown of Ilmenia by sword, true, but I would also bring with me the power and stability of Finland. And with that power both Kingdoms could prosper together and maybe the now dissatisfied peasantry of Ilmenia could finally know peace, eh?"
Jalo gave a knowing look at his spymaster. Ahvo nodded, seeming to have understood what Jalo meant and took off to do his work.
And so, the Finnish war to subjugate Ilmenia began. Before departing though, Jalo was told by Putyayka that she was pregnant. Overjoyed, Jalo left instructions that during this year's harvest festival she is to play the role of Akka.
Having arrived where his troops were gathering in Käkisalmi, Jalos' commander informs him later that day that their army numbers some 7700 men strong, thus as far as they know outnumbering what remains of the Ilmenian army some two to one.
"Some seven thousand-seven hundred men, huh," Jalo thought to himself. "That is indeed a mighty army, but still a far cry from the over ten thousand men my grandfather once amassed. But for this, it'll do."
The first battle of the war took place in Kholm, where a group of 800 Ilmenian soldiers was gathering as reinforcements. During the battle Jalo led a charge to wipe out the remaining enemy forces when he was struck with a mace to his chest, cracking a rib. He recovered quickly though, for a month later he was once again leading his army, this time in Borovichi, where the main enemy army of some 3500 was gathering. Thanks to his superior numbers, Jalo was easily able to surround the enemy in a half circle and force their backs against a river by the banks of which they had set up their camp. After the battle, half of the Ilmenian army was either dead or captured whilst Finns lost less than 300 men.
After the battle Jalo and his men spend the winter in Borovichi. Over the winter Jalo receives news that Chief Jalo of Keitele had died of food poisoning and now his brother Onni was Chief. He also received news that Putyayka had given birth to a healthy baby girl who was named Helmi after Jalo's great-grandmother.
One day as Jalo was going over the inventory with his quartermaster he noticed something was off.
"Tell me, why do we have more food than we should by now? I mean, it's not all that much more, but still. By my estimations we shouldn't have this much left this far into winter."
"You see my King, some of the local peasants have been bringing food to our camp or given some to our foragers if they've come across them."
"What? The locals have been GIVING us food VOLUNTARILY?" Jalo asked with clear surprise in his voice.
"Yes. From what I've heard, apparently some think that you would make for a better King than the current one, and that you would bring peace and prosperity to the land or something."
"Alright then, carry on."
Jalo couldn't help but smile. His plan had worked even better than he had hoped. He had originally thought to just have Ahvo and his spies spread such rumors to help keep the peasants from rebelling during and maybe even after the war but he did not expect to receive help from them. At least not so openly.
"I should try to find out where the locals are the most amicable towards me and try to see if I can get something useful from them. Maybe even move my winter camp around such an area," he thought to himself as he returned to his tent for the night.
Once the winter was over Jalo continued his campaign all around Ilmenia. When he was sieging the settlement in Ingria, Putyayka came to visit him with Helmi, since they were so close to the borders of Finland for once. The results of those visits in the summer would be seen in the spring when their second daughter, Aamu, was born.
But before the spring would come, whilst Jalo and his army were camping their second winter on the field, he received news that King Nabtiko of Nenetsia had died, apparently from injuries received during a raid. His eldest son Kako became King and the younger son Tatva the High Chief of Bjarmia, refusing to acknowledge his brother as King and declaring independence.
Once spring arrived once again, Jalo kept marching his army around Ilmenia with little to no resistance. On one march one of his commanders said that he had been thinking of giving up soldiering after this war and asked Jalo what were his plans for the future. Jalo answered without hesitation: "I will continue to lead my army myself from the front. This just the first war of many."
Once the Finns arrive in Kashin, they find the biggest remaining enemy force left, some 1500 men strong. The battle was brutally one sided and the Ilmenians lost almost a thousand men while Finns lost barely 200. That summer King Nishkepaz finally admitted defeat and hands over his crown to Jalo, making him now the King of both Finland and Ilmenia.
But Jalo wouldn't rest on his laurels for long, as he saw an opportunity to conquer the neighboring Pskov, who had just come out of a defensive war against a claimant and were now weak. Thus Jalo decided to send his levies home and took only his personal guard to conquer Pskov. His personal guard had little over 2500 men left after the war, but Jalo figured it should be enough.
When on their way to Pskov from Ilmenia Jalo was talking with another one of his commanders and commented how they are moving as if connected by some unspoken bond or a higher power of some kind.
"God of War, Taara must've truly blessed us and our campaign!" Jalo exclaimed.
"Uhm, I'd say this actually all you, my King" one of the soldiers nearby responds a little awkwardly and with a hint of surprise on his face.
"He is right, your highness," commander Ahvo responds. "This is all you. You've made a tightly knit unit out your personal guard during the Ilmenian war and now it shows."
Jalo mulled on that for a while and then gave an answer. "You're right, thinking that everything is the work of gods or spirits doesn't lead anywhere. Sometimes it's just all about the men. Like now."
When the army reached Luki they found that the enemy forces had already set up camp in the region.
Commander Ahvo had lead the scouts and was reporting the results to Jalo.
"We found the Pskovian encampment on top of a hill not too far from here. They're protecting the best access way to the local settlement from there so we must face them in battle if we wish to take the region."
"I see. And how many of them were there?"
"It was hard to tell, but I'd daresay barely over a thousand, but definitely less than half our number."
"Good, good. And how big is the hill they've set up camp?"
"Not too big. Barely as tall as a full grown pine tree with quite a gentle slope. Wouldn't be impossible to charge it up, but wouldn't recommend it anyway."
"Alright, we'll have to think of a battle plan then. Call the commanders, I think I have an idea."
Grand plans for Jalo. It is hard to overshadow the founders of the kingdom so far that they are relegated to distant memory. People always think of the father of the kingdom...
So his aims should be greater than a war-torn Ilmenia, even if that's a very useful beginning. Here's to expecting a lot from the young king.