Terrible Luck & Great Ambitions: The Doomed Dynasty of Flemens

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Terrible Luck & Great Ambitions: The Doomed Dynasty of Flamens

Well, this is my first AAR. I've been wanting to write one ever since I first read some of the personal player stories. They sounded so engaging and fun, it's the reason I bought CK2 and I wanted to do the same! So whenever I play I try to imagine what my characters are feeling and thinking, especially about their interpersonal relationships.

I didn't actually realise how much potential this playthrough had until I was about 65 years in, so the first few posts have relatively few screenshots and are mostly narrative to catch you up the first few decades. Hope that's ok!

Terrible Luck & Great Ambitions​

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - The legacy of Duke Bartolomeus
Chapter 2 - The Flamens Family Curse
Chapter 3 - The choice between Love and Duty

 

[tnick0225]

The game is definitely perfect for crafting stories. Always something interesting happening in the game whether its in your court or some distant Realm.

So welcome to the land of AARs, wish you the best of luck on yours, and look forward to hearing whats been going on in your game.

 

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Chapter 1​

“Barend... o-old friend," my lord gasped horribly for breath as he grasped my hand tightly.

"My lord," I returned his grip just as tightly and bent closely as to not miss a single word.

"L-look after... a-- my... girls," my lord gasped out as his dying breath rattled through his chest. He was choking on the fluid on his lungs as he struggled through the words. I clenched my teeth as I stared down upon his once proud visage.

I could only nod. And then it was done. Those were the last words my lord spoke to me. I could see the fear in his eyes that his children would end up alone, as he had during his youth.

The history of his family was well-known to all, and it was a tragic one.

My lord, may he rest in peace, Duke Bartolomeus was the youngest son of Duke Diederik from Gelre and survived both his siblings. Duke Diederik’s heir and only son (and Lord Bartolomeus’ eldest brother) Gozewijn passed away at age 17, just before he was to be wed to his wife. Once, my lord confided in me that his father never quite recovered from the burden of his son's death. It was said the young lord Gozewijn was away on a diplomatic mission and murdered by highway robbers. The mission a reluctant order from his indulgent father. I was told the duke was devastated when the news reached him. The other child, Lady Helena was wed to a Polish King and passed away when she was 37.

Yet the tragic history goes back even further and the castle is filled with dark whispers of a family curse. Even before the death of Bartolomeus' siblings, his grandfather Count Gerard lost his eldest son and heir at the age of 27, leaving two small boys behind, at the same time the old Count died. Suddenly Diederik found himself ruler to the County of Gelre.

Taking all this in account, it was no surprise to anyone that, all through his own marriage and rule, Lord Bartolomeus was obsessed with his children. He desperately wanted the best for them and was estatic when his first child, lady Helena was born. The little girl was a sweet one, if a bit too sweet and trusting. When his second girl, Lady Hedwig was born, Bartolomeus was just as overjoyed. I remember how he sat with each of them and held them closely. He spent every waking moment with them when his duties allowed it.

I wonder how much I must commit to paper about what the lord privately confided in me. I don’t mean to breach his trust, but keeping guard of he realm after he passed was difficult… I… I must think this over.

 

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The game is definitely perfect for crafting stories. Always something interesting happening in the game whether its in your court or some distant Realm.

So welcome to the land of AARs, wish you the best of luck on yours, and look forward to hearing whats been going on in your game.

You reply quickly!! Thanks for the encouragement! Hopefully I can tell a good story. <,<

 

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Chapter 2​

My lord died at the age of 51, having survived both his siblings as well as his eldest daughter, Lady Helena. I remember our shock and horror when the girls’ guardian ran screaming into the council room. Nor can I recall having seen my Lord’s face ever go so white. He was up at his feet and out of the room in seconds, as the sobbing woman told her tale to us. Lady Helena had been playing in the kitchens when a pan of scalding hot soup fell on her. An unfortunate accident, yet a painful one.

Her death had not been quiet. Nor easy. Our lord witnessed the last moments of that little girl and I fear it impacted him greatly. Not in his rule. No that, he would never allow, yet I could see the sorrow lingering in his face.

The stress of the death of Lady Helena caused our Lord’s second wife, Lady Fine nic Niall to go into early labour and she gave birth to young lady Cecily. Lady Cecily’s birth was eclipsed by the death of her elder sister, and I know it grieved Lord Bartolomeus to look upon her. Yet, eventually, as time passed he learned to smile when he interacted with that girl.

When he passed in 1126, young Lady Hedwig was 11 years old and Lady Cecily only 5. Much too young, yet still Lady Hedwig became our new liege even as I was entrusted with the rule of the Duchy of Gelre as Lady Hedwig's guardian and regent.

I felt honored to be entrusted with this great responsibility, yet even bigger was the burden of my lord's trust in the safety of his children. The look in his eyes when I swore I would care for them was filled with relief. I felt the burden fully, and struggled to look after the girls as well as manage the realm.

And of course the family curse struck, and I failed in a duty I should not have been allowed to fail...

 

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Chapter 3​

Lady Cecily had always been sickly. Falling ill for at least a few weeks every year ever since her birth. Yet she also always recovered, so while there was some fear every time she fell ill, there was also a sense of complacency. I wonder if I could have done anything else to prevent her passing.

So little time has passed, yet so much regrets…

Our Lord in Heaven must have a deep sense of irony. For Lady Cecily also passed of the lung disease. The poor little thing had such a fever, I don’t think she recognised anyone when she finally passed. Lady Fine hid herself away in her tower for weeks afterwards as I looked after Lady Hedwig and the realm.

Lady Hedwig has grown older and is nearly ready to assume the full responsiblities of the realm. It is up to me, as her chancellor and guardian to find her the proper marital match she deserves. I am conflicted, as what I personally wish for her is different from what I wish for the good of the realm. She must marry a strong man to support her reign or I fear she might not survive the game of politics our Emperor often loves to play. The world is cruel and while we are safe here - I know that in her heart, Lady Hedwig is not content to sit safely behind walls. She is truly her father's daughter, yet...

...yet is my choice what Lord Bartolomeus would have wanted? I… I am unsure. I must honor his memory, but what is honouring his memory? Is it to care for his child as if she were my own or is to rule the realm as honourably as he has?

I must act for the good of the realm.

 

[tnick0225]

You reply quickly!! Thanks for the encouragement! Hopefully I can tell a good story. <,<

Not a problem, and it does look like the Flemens have a deadly curse floating about them.

 

[mike the knight]

A family curse ! This is what I was looking for !

 

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A family curse ! This is what I was looking for !

Hopefully it won't mean a game over for me! With all those kids dying. Pfff.

 

[Dovahkiing]

This is looking cool.

 

[NewbieOne]

Wow, a Frisian AAR. Good luck! Good introduction.