Man oh man, I just wanna say thank you to everyone who put time into this.
My most recent playthrough was with House Sarwyck (of the GOT RPG) starting with the Greyjoy Rebellion (so Alester would be a little older). Everything was rolling smoothly until the father Raynald died a year later. He started off stressed AND depressed... Yeah we all knew he was going to die. Now, I have a R'hlorr lord, and everyone hates him except Lothar the Lame, my brother-in-law due to matrilnearlly marrying Irinna to him, as well as non-claimant Sarwycks. My liege, Hendry Peckledon hated my guts. I immediately sent my wife the Mistress of Laws to try and appease him diplomatically, but within the month he decided to revoke my Lordship of Riverspring. If you're familiar with the GOT game, we know that bad things happen when you take a Lordship from a Sarwyck! Plus if I lose, game over.
I politely told High Lord Hendry Peckledon to shove it. Thus, the battle-lines were drawn. I was hopelessly outnumbered, merely having an army of 1200 men. High Lord Peckledon, leading a vanguard of 1600 men with more than 4000 more enroute, decides to attack me at Riverspring. While Alester is a skilled commander, Hendry is no slouch himself. Facing overwhelming odds, Alester was cut off from his forces when he caught sight of Hendry on the battlefield. I thought to myself, this is my one and only chance to preserve the House of Sarwyck. I charge. Our swords clash, locked in mortal battle. Hendry was brave, and certainly groomed at a young age for command. But Alester Sarwyck is a knight, and as skilled of a swordsman in the Westerlands as you will find. Fighting for not just the honor of Sarwyck but it's very existence, I lunged. Hendry falls to the ground, helpless. "I yield! I yield!" I grin, and accept. And with one duel, I secured our future, atleast for the moment. I forced Hendry to abdicate to his son, and he is now living his life unlanded somewhere in the Riverlands.
His son's first order of business was an immediate gift (never had an AI give a gift before), and make me the master-at-arms for the High Lordship of Peckledon. I graciously accepted, and all is well, at least for now. I still need a child, as my daughter died shortly after birth due to pneumonia. Personal tragedy aside, things are looking up for me and my house. Who knows what the horizon has planned. We all start small, but with enough ambition, anyone can play the Game of Thrones.
Again, thanks so much for all the effort, I'm having a blast!