Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. And likewise, all AARs must come to an end. It was a fitting time to bring it to a close, and I look forward to the sequel. Thank you.
The Rightful King [Book the First on the House of Wessex]
- Thread starter coz1
- Start date
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That was well done. The suggestion for seeing how the Dukes responded to the news may have been mine but it was well done - the whole post was well done. We discussed ending the work with power and grace, and I think you found that.
At least poor not-very-sinful Eadgar had some joy at the last, and now he has peace forever.
Well done!
At least poor not-very-sinful Eadgar had some joy at the last, and now he has peace forever.
Well done!
Fb-fb:
First of all, I wish to state one more time how much I appreciate all of you that have followed this work either from inception or when you discovered it. Your support has been THE thing that has kept me going for these many months. Look below for more, but I just want to say how much I thank you!!!
As for Uhtræd and Adela...see the sequel.
And I love your question. Who IS the Bold Prince? I am still considering that in my mind.
As for a chance to look at Eadgar's reign from the studied Professor Monmouth...I look forward to it. Though I will say that some of the decisions made during his reign may not be truly studied until many years have passed and many Kings (or Queens) have reigned after him.
I don't know if this is one of the "major works of these forums" but I certainly had a great deal of fun writing it and was more than pleased at how it has been received.
Kidding you, Porter.
To all reading - absolutely it was Director's idea to see how the various Lords responded to the news. I initially planned to include the actual letter from Eadward to each but it became repetitive so I canned that and went to their reaction straight up. Regardless of how it played out, it was the right decision, I think. And as mentioned above, Director is in many ways my consigliere in all things AAR writing and his advice has helped to avoid (or fix) potential mistakes. The double letter, again, was from his advice.
I am so pleased that you think it is well done, Director, as we both know how serious I have been about this work over the last many weeks. I wanted to end this story while continuing with the saga and that it works in your mind (knowing what you know) makes me know that I have done my job as a writAAR.
And yes...the good King Eadgar (and I do mean GOOD even with his crimes) has passed in the right way. Thank you!
I look forward to your further read.
To all - I am nearly certain that more will respond, but I did say that I would answer some feedback about the future when some comments starting rolling in. So here it is. You may all recall that some months back I was having some difficulty in that I did not know what the end was to be. Was I just going to keep writing this tale forever? How long would that be? I know full well after spending the last fifteen years on this forum that the longer a work, the harder it may be to bring in new readers. So I pondered...what was the story I was trying to tell?
Thankfully, I have two very trusted companions in life - @Director and @stnylan. I have known them both for far more than a decade and would trust them with my life, much less my story. They both gave me some great advice and thus this is where we are. I decided that this particular AAR would end with Eadgar's death. There is more story to tell and I will do so soon in the guise of The Bold Prince. I wanted this one to stand on its own and I hope the next does as well. However, @JabberJock14 makes a very good point - I am not going to say exactly who the Bold Prince is any time soon. I am leaving that up the air for you as the reader (and in some ways for myself as the writer.)
I have begun the new work already and will post it in a few days to get us started. And I will tell you all - I know that I have been absent from those AARs I was (and still am) following. I can only say that this is due to my complete focus on this work and the future of it when I had the free time to write and plan. I certainly apologize and I hope to get back to you soon, but I really wanted to end this one correctly and there has been a lot of planning that has gone to what the future may be.
I have said it already, but I must say again how much I appreciate those of you that have commented along the way. It begins with @TheButterflyComposer who has 191 posts in this AAR alone. I may not have always been able to do what you desired, but I tried my best to explain it. @stnylan, @Asantahene and @Specialist290 all have over 100 posts in this work and I must tell you all that I looked forward to each and every one after each post!
@JabberJock14 and @Nuada Airgetlám - You two kind of fall on both sides as Jabber came in late (and I loved it) and Nuada had some personal things to take care of (and I have missed you). In every way, your comments have helped sustain me over this time. @Director and @The Number 9 , as well as @volksmarschall have stayed true to the tale when they could, though I fear Number 9 still has not forgiven some of my character beats.
And to all others that have commented over the last nine months - @Idhrendur , @RhaegarTelcontarTargaryen , @Mr. Capiatlist , @Andrzej I , @Qorten , @Macke11 , @WolfgangMcghee , @Niethar , @DensleyBlair , @Iwantdumplings , @Elm0__ , @vyshan , @RedTemplar , @kaeim , @Fookison , @iain_a_wilson and @Shock360 ... the support of your words and your eyes has continued to keep me moving strong with this work. I thank you for that in every way.
Finally, I hope that @Stuyvesant finally has chance to catch up. I know that I have made it difficult with my posting habits in this work. I can only say that my desire for your words remains as steadfast as always and hopefully reading it in one big gulp helps see the themes that may not have been as readily apparent with small snippets every few days.
I would say to all of you - your comments are THE best! I have said it before and I remain in my thinking...I have the very best readAARs in all of AARland. Thank you!
So...in many ways, we will soon begin anew. It is the same story, more or less, but I cannot deny that I hope some new readers jump on board. Those of you that have read this work will likely be more in the know than someone new, but I really want the next work to stand on its own. For the now, I will let this one stand while I await the inevitable. Back to page three with you!
I truly hope all of you will follow me to the next work and rest assured I will post a link in this thread as well as one in the new to link back to this for anyone curious (and with the time needed to read back through it.) As I have mentioned, the story is far from over. But Eadgar's tale was. He accomplished his goal in life. The question is...will his goal be accomplished in his death?
To use the term once more (after so many years)...to be continued.
First of all, I wish to state one more time how much I appreciate all of you that have followed this work either from inception or when you discovered it. Your support has been THE thing that has kept me going for these many months. Look below for more, but I just want to say how much I thank you!!!
There were many ways to go to place Eadgar's passing but I decided that a peaceful death in bed the most fitting. In game he died a natural death and so...I would give him that. It is (and was) sudden but that is the nature of the thing. The realm is certainly set for uncertainty and we will look at that when next we look at these characters. (See more below)
As for Uhtræd and Adela...see the sequel.
And I love your question. Who IS the Bold Prince? I am still considering that in my mind.
I admit that I struggled with the ending. I am still not certain that it is perfect. I like a nice tag line and don't know that I got it exactly. But this is how it needed to end. And it is a funny thing about the letter(s)...I originally wrote the one and then went to my trusty partner in crime (@Director) and he convinced me that that was not the letter to send. So I went back to the drawing board. He was right and so I wrote another. After this, I decided it would be best to include them both to give the reader an idea of where Eadward's head was in that moment. I hope it worked.
As for a chance to look at Eadgar's reign from the studied Professor Monmouth...I look forward to it. Though I will say that some of the decisions made during his reign may not be truly studied until many years have passed and many Kings (or Queens) have reigned after him.
Thank you so much, @Nikolai! You have been steadfast since the beginning and my own heartfelt thanks are to you for that! I will say that this one is over, but the story does continue. Look below for more on that.It's over? But, but we enjoyed it so much!
A heartfelt thanks for doing this story, @coz1 , it's been a pleasure to read! I look forward to the sequel, and hope you will post a link in here when the successor is started. As for this piece, it will surely stand as one of the major work of these forums.
I don't know if this is one of the "major works of these forums" but I certainly had a great deal of fun writing it and was more than pleased at how it has been received.
Thank you, sir, and while I might wish to have had your regular comments as you read, I know that you have followed from pretty much the beginning. I truly appreciate your support with either eyes or voice and I hope you will follow along to the next when it comes.
Ahhhh...sweet justice!
Kidding you, Porter. To all reading - absolutely it was Director's idea to see how the various Lords responded to the news. I initially planned to include the actual letter from Eadward to each but it became repetitive so I canned that and went to their reaction straight up. Regardless of how it played out, it was the right decision, I think. And as mentioned above, Director is in many ways my consigliere in all things AAR writing and his advice has helped to avoid (or fix) potential mistakes. The double letter, again, was from his advice.
I am so pleased that you think it is well done, Director, as we both know how serious I have been about this work over the last many weeks. I wanted to end this story while continuing with the saga and that it works in your mind (knowing what you know) makes me know that I have done my job as a writAAR.
And yes...the good King Eadgar (and I do mean GOOD even with his crimes) has passed in the right way. Thank you!
As I mentioned to you...bittersweet the scene between Eadgar and his wife. Mayhap his death a friend to the King but for all else...
I look forward to your further read.
To all - I am nearly certain that more will respond, but I did say that I would answer some feedback about the future when some comments starting rolling in. So here it is. You may all recall that some months back I was having some difficulty in that I did not know what the end was to be. Was I just going to keep writing this tale forever? How long would that be? I know full well after spending the last fifteen years on this forum that the longer a work, the harder it may be to bring in new readers. So I pondered...what was the story I was trying to tell?
Thankfully, I have two very trusted companions in life - @Director and @stnylan. I have known them both for far more than a decade and would trust them with my life, much less my story. They both gave me some great advice and thus this is where we are. I decided that this particular AAR would end with Eadgar's death. There is more story to tell and I will do so soon in the guise of The Bold Prince. I wanted this one to stand on its own and I hope the next does as well. However, @JabberJock14 makes a very good point - I am not going to say exactly who the Bold Prince is any time soon. I am leaving that up the air for you as the reader (and in some ways for myself as the writer.)
I have begun the new work already and will post it in a few days to get us started. And I will tell you all - I know that I have been absent from those AARs I was (and still am) following. I can only say that this is due to my complete focus on this work and the future of it when I had the free time to write and plan. I certainly apologize and I hope to get back to you soon, but I really wanted to end this one correctly and there has been a lot of planning that has gone to what the future may be.
I have said it already, but I must say again how much I appreciate those of you that have commented along the way. It begins with @TheButterflyComposer who has 191 posts in this AAR alone. I may not have always been able to do what you desired, but I tried my best to explain it. @stnylan, @Asantahene and @Specialist290 all have over 100 posts in this work and I must tell you all that I looked forward to each and every one after each post!
@JabberJock14 and @Nuada Airgetlám - You two kind of fall on both sides as Jabber came in late (and I loved it) and Nuada had some personal things to take care of (and I have missed you). In every way, your comments have helped sustain me over this time. @Director and @The Number 9 , as well as @volksmarschall have stayed true to the tale when they could, though I fear Number 9 still has not forgiven some of my character beats.
And to all others that have commented over the last nine months - @Idhrendur , @RhaegarTelcontarTargaryen , @Mr. Capiatlist , @Andrzej I , @Qorten , @Macke11 , @WolfgangMcghee , @Niethar , @DensleyBlair , @Iwantdumplings , @Elm0__ , @vyshan , @RedTemplar , @kaeim , @Fookison , @iain_a_wilson and @Shock360 ... the support of your words and your eyes has continued to keep me moving strong with this work. I thank you for that in every way.
Finally, I hope that @Stuyvesant finally has chance to catch up. I know that I have made it difficult with my posting habits in this work. I can only say that my desire for your words remains as steadfast as always and hopefully reading it in one big gulp helps see the themes that may not have been as readily apparent with small snippets every few days.
I would say to all of you - your comments are THE best! I have said it before and I remain in my thinking...I have the very best readAARs in all of AARland. Thank you!
So...in many ways, we will soon begin anew. It is the same story, more or less, but I cannot deny that I hope some new readers jump on board. Those of you that have read this work will likely be more in the know than someone new, but I really want the next work to stand on its own. For the now, I will let this one stand while I await the inevitable. Back to page three with you!
I truly hope all of you will follow me to the next work and rest assured I will post a link in this thread as well as one in the new to link back to this for anyone curious (and with the time needed to read back through it.) As I have mentioned, the story is far from over. But Eadgar's tale was. He accomplished his goal in life. The question is...will his goal be accomplished in his death?
To use the term once more (after so many years)...to be continued.
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This is the end of a great journey. I'm a bit sad but knowing there will be a sequel makes me eager to read it too.
This last chapter was really wonderful, the two letters, the reaction of each dukes, ...
Your AAR was a masterpiece, and I am glad I did not miss the train. Thank you for all this story. And see you for the 2nd part.
I'm sorry I was not the most regular follower the last few weeks (months). "Busy day" is becoming far too much frequent nowadays.
Rest assured I read every chapters of your story, and count me in for the next one. Maybe not at the start though, I have the luck to go on vacation for a week next saturday, I will be far away from my computer (and my work ).
This last chapter was really wonderful, the two letters, the reaction of each dukes, ...
Your AAR was a masterpiece, and I am glad I did not miss the train. Thank you for all this story. And see you for the 2nd part.
though I fear Number 9 still has not forgiven some of my character beats.
I'm sorry I was not the most regular follower the last few weeks (months). "Busy day" is becoming far too much frequent nowadays.
Rest assured I read every chapters of your story, and count me in for the next one. Maybe not at the start though, I have the luck to go on vacation for a week next saturday, I will be far away from my computer (and my work
).
A quite fitting end for Eadgar and his reign -- and certainly one that sows the seeds of a new beginning.
@coz1, as a mark of my appreciation, I am going to do something I haven't done in a very long time:
In recognition and appreciation of your talent for writing, the complex and entertaining characters whom that talent has given life, your diligence in bringing this AAR to a successful and satisfying conclusion, and your years of standing as one of AARland's foremost authors, it is my pleasure to award you one of my signature Red Special Cookies ●. Should you wish to display this in your signature, you may use the following tag:
This will link directly to this post, which will serve as a "Proof of Authenticity" of the award.
@coz1, as a mark of my appreciation, I am going to do something I haven't done in a very long time:
In recognition and appreciation of your talent for writing, the complex and entertaining characters whom that talent has given life, your diligence in bringing this AAR to a successful and satisfying conclusion, and your years of standing as one of AARland's foremost authors, it is my pleasure to award you one of my signature Red Special Cookies ●. Should you wish to display this in your signature, you may use the following tag:
Code:
[url=https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-rightful-king.972413/page-61#post-23090044][size=2][b][color=red]●[/color][/b][/size][/url]This will link directly to this post, which will serve as a "Proof of Authenticity" of the award.
Appreciate the shout out coz! It was my pleasure to comment for the reasons I've stated before and it's always easy to engage with a well-written, in-depth story like this. And I understand your decision to continue in a new thread - 60+ pages is daunting for a new reader! I'm also glad that we will see the continuation up soon. After all, you did end the season on bit of a cliffhanger.
Magnificent, magisterial, masterful and monumental. I really have not read such an excellent AAR. It inspired me with many ideas for my own and the dialogue and exposition was truly exceptional.
I really thought you ended it in the best possible way too: the cinematic, episodic ending really evoked the various reactions to the sad passing of a singular king in a way that reminded me of the best films. I did wonder right until the end whether Eadward would make a play for the crown but (so far) he seems to be cleaving to loyalty. I wonder how long that may last as the memory of his dead father fades though (think Richard III whose loyalty to his deceased brother soon translated into a power grab and usurpation...)
Truly well done for this story-it stands as testament to the power of writing and the hatful of awards and the multitude of comments bears testament to that.
On to the next one!
I really thought you ended it in the best possible way too: the cinematic, episodic ending really evoked the various reactions to the sad passing of a singular king in a way that reminded me of the best films. I did wonder right until the end whether Eadward would make a play for the crown but (so far) he seems to be cleaving to loyalty. I wonder how long that may last as the memory of his dead father fades though (think Richard III whose loyalty to his deceased brother soon translated into a power grab and usurpation...)
Truly well done for this story-it stands as testament to the power of writing and the hatful of awards and the multitude of comments bears testament to that.
On to the next one!
As for a chance to look at Eadgar's reign from the studied Professor Monmouth...I look forward to it. Though I will say that some of the decisions made during his reign may not be truly studied until many years have passed and many Kings (or Queens) have reigned after him.
I can always make it up
I mean, therotically you could make it to HOI with this series if you wanted to but if there's going to be 25-50 pages on each ruler and all their families it might take a while...
Not saying there isn't a market for huge AAR projects that literally will take a lifetime to complete though.
Statistically speaking, they are correct. Especially as it's been put in the same ballpark as AARs five years old and three hundred pages long, and you finished yours.
On my way to 1000 already and it's mostly been on other people's stuff
Saying that I've learnt a lot about writing, coding, picture formatting and web design from this project as well as talked to a bunch of interesting people about various ridiculously specific historical questions. And I havent been quite as prevalent on the forums since I came back home from Amsterdam but some great pieces have come out of all this (Creative writing especially has taken a massive boost-that's probably why I'm acing English at the moment), some of them even mine. It's a good little-big thing we've got going on here.
Well coz, you prove yourself worthy of every award you win, and that hours spent reading this was not in vain. Though, between us, I wish the Bold Prince was named William.
Congratulations on finishing the AAR @coz1, and of course also for receiving a Red Special Cookie! I am still far from catching up, but I will try to read 'The Bold Prince' as it comes! Definitely looking forward to it!
I am still far from catching up, but I will try to read 'The Bold Prince' as it comes! Definitely looking forward to it!
Fb-fb:
Thank you for that Specialist and for being such a steadfast reader of this tale. Your comments have been some of my favorite moments while writing this. Always thought provoking and insightful! I am looking forward to the new beginning and I hope that you will follow along when the time comes.
Thanks again for your steady support and I remain honored that this tale was what drew you into the forum and got you to start your own admittedly incredible work. Every one should be reading it (including myself...still catching up, sir. Will be current soon, I hope.)
And you cannot know how much it pleases me to see you use "cinematic" to describe the final scene. It was my exact wish to see it read that way. I do tend to write in that fashion as a former actor and proud holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Georgia. (My thesis was on The Method.) That would explain why my work is so dialogue heavy.
Very interesting about your thoughts on Eadward. As I recall, you were one that was defending him early on when others were looking for his perfidy. If it is still up the air for the reader, then I am doing my work properly. He is a complex man and comparison to Richard III is probably not a bad one (though not the Shakespeare Richard...the real one.)
Thank you so much for your continued support and I really do apologize for staying away from your own awesome work for too long. Thankfully, I got back to it just in time.
We do have a good little-big thing here. It's kept me around since 2002. I started here in my 20's and I'm now 44.
I am more than honored to have gained your eyes, sir, and I do apologize for not getting over to your work(s) as much as I would like. I promise that I will endeavor to do so in the future. But you have been a long-time supporter of my work for years and I could never thank you enough. You may be the only one around here these days that even remembers and brings up Into the West and that means everything to me. Thank you again!
Good to know that you will look into the new one when it comes. Look for it in a few days.
To all - As I have been since the beginning, I am overwhelmed by the support this project has gained and I must say it again - thank you all so very much for that and your incredible comments along the way. This AAR would not have been possible without you.
Worry not about following regularly and congrats to you on a surely well earned vacation! I know well how real life can sap the time away and am more than happy that you were able to get to this tale when you had the chance, especially its ending. Thank you for your words and your support, even if Eadgar did a few things you did not like at all.This is the end of a great journey. I'm a bit sad but knowing there will be a sequel makes me eager to read it too.
This last chapter was really wonderful, the two letters, the reaction of each dukes, ...
Your AAR was a masterpiece, and I am glad I did not miss the train. Thank you for all this story. And see you for the 2nd part.
I'm sorry I was not the most regular follower the last few weeks (months). "Busy day" is becoming far too much frequent nowadays.
Rest assured I read every chapters of your story, and count me in for the next one. Maybe not at the start though, I have the luck to go on vacation for a week next saturday, I will be far away from my computer (and my work
Sweet victory!! A cookie is mine!
Thank you for that Specialist and for being such a steadfast reader of this tale. Your comments have been some of my favorite moments while writing this. Always thought provoking and insightful! I am looking forward to the new beginning and I hope that you will follow along when the time comes. Indeed, it is!That's quite some recognition there! Congrats @coz1 !
I must blame @Storey as always for the cliffhanger. Granted, I used the tagline "to be continued" for every post of my Into the West AAR written quite long ago but it was Joe Storey who elevated the cliffhanger into an art form. You may not be familiar with him but were you to seek out any one of his many tales written on this forum, I am certain that you will be more than pleased. I miss Joe and wish he were around these days because I think he would have enjoyed this tale and I would have very much enjoyed his always great comments.Appreciate the shout out coz! It was my pleasure to comment for the reasons I've stated before and it's always easy to engage with a well-written, in-depth story like this. And I understand your decision to continue in a new thread - 60+ pages is daunting for a new reader! I'm also glad that we will see the continuation up soon. After all, you did end the season on bit of a cliffhanger.
Thanks again for your steady support and I remain honored that this tale was what drew you into the forum and got you to start your own admittedly incredible work. Every one should be reading it (including myself...still catching up, sir. Will be current soon, I hope.)
You cause me to blush with your compliments, but it means quite a lot coming from you. Of all people, your comments (and even occasional picked nits) have likely been the most important to me for your knowledge of the period and people of England at this time is rivaled only by @stnylan and @TheButterflyComposer. That we had similar works going caused me to find inspiration with your own words and I think made my work all the better for it. I truly thank you!
And you cannot know how much it pleases me to see you use "cinematic" to describe the final scene. It was my exact wish to see it read that way. I do tend to write in that fashion as a former actor and proud holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Georgia. (My thesis was on The Method.
) That would explain why my work is so dialogue heavy.Very interesting about your thoughts on Eadward. As I recall, you were one that was defending him early on when others were looking for his perfidy. If it is still up the air for the reader, then I am doing my work properly. He is a complex man and comparison to Richard III is probably not a bad one (though not the Shakespeare Richard...the real one.)
Thank you so much for your continued support and I really do apologize for staying away from your own awesome work for too long. Thankfully, I got back to it just in time.
Market there may be, but you are absolutely right...that would indeed take a lifetime.I can always make it up
I mean, therotically you could make it to HOI with this series if you wanted to but if there's going to be 25-50 pages on each ruler and all their families it might take a while...
Not saying there isn't a market for huge AAR projects that literally will take a lifetime to complete though.
Not that these numbers really mean anything in the long reach of things, but this work is the third longest AAR in CKII history. View-wise, I am sitting on about page 4 or 5 all time for this subforum. This likely doesn't crack the top 100 in either category if we look to all of AARland. But...I did finish it and that is most important to me.
First of all, I promise to get back to Empire as soon as I can. I have a lot of catching up to do. Rest assured that I will because I enjoy it immensely. And keep plugging along with that post count. I am a few hundred from 12,000 myself and that is after 15 years. Commenting in other works is always the way to go and I agree with you entirely - it can teach you so much about all of the things that you mentioned (though I am still having some trouble understanding the coding of CKII. I had EUII down pat.)On my way to 1000 already and it's mostly been on other people's stuff
It's a good little-big thing we've got going on here.
We do have a good little-big thing here. It's kept me around since 2002. I started here in my 20's and I'm now 44.
Hmmm...which William, I wonder? Our current "bald" Prince, son of Charles? Or Earl William, brother to Robert of Normandy? Surely not the long dead Bastard?!Well coz, you prove yourself worthy of every award you win, and that hours spent reading this was not in vain. Though, between us, I wish the Bold Prince was named William.
I am more than honored to have gained your eyes, sir, and I do apologize for not getting over to your work(s) as much as I would like. I promise that I will endeavor to do so in the future. But you have been a long-time supporter of my work for years and I could never thank you enough. You may be the only one around here these days that even remembers and brings up Into the West and that means everything to me. Thank you again!
Thank you very much and good to hear you are still working to catch up. The good news, I suppose, is that you have a better chance now that I have ceased tacking on a new scene every couple of days.Congratulations on finishing the AAR @coz1, and of course also for receiving a Red Special Cookie!
Good to know that you will look into the new one when it comes. Look for it in a few days.To all - As I have been since the beginning, I am overwhelmed by the support this project has gained and I must say it again - thank you all so very much for that and your incredible comments along the way. This AAR would not have been possible without you.
I must apologize for not commenting more during the AAR. It certainly deserved the comments, but I simply struggled to come up with anything thoughtful to say. I guess that's a skill I should work on developing further.
You are most welcome sir! It really was an exceptional piece of writing-I, like many others of your legions of readers, are avidly awaiting the sequel. As for that last scene I was kind of minded of Game of Thrones the 1st 20 minutes of the last episode in the last series-it had that sort of episodic, dramatic feel to it. ExcellentYou cause me to blush with your compliments, but it means quite a lot coming from you. Of all people, your comments (and even occasional picked nits) have likely been the most important to me for your knowledge of the period and people of England at this time is rivaled only by @stnylan and @TheButterflyComposer. That we had similar works going caused me to find inspiration with your own words and I think made my work all the better for it. I truly thank you!
And you cannot know how much it pleases me to see you use "cinematic" to describe the final scene. It was my exact wish to see it read that way. I do tend to write in that fashion as a former actor and proud holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Georgia. (My thesis was on The Method.
Very interesting about your thoughts on Eadward. As I recall, you were one that was defending him early on when others were looking for his perfidy. If it is still up the air for the reader, then I am doing my work properly. He is a complex man and comparison to Richard III is probably not a bad one (though not the Shakespeare Richard...the real one.)
Thank you so much for your continued support and I really do apologize for staying away from your own awesome work for too long. Thankfully, I got back to it just in time.
And yes the real Richard III not the much maligned one of Shakespeare's imagination-I am a Ricardian so I am not a fan of the crookback version
And yes I am so glad you are back commenting on my tale of Wessex-your comments are always insightful and encourage me to continue writing.
20 years you've been on here writing-am looking forward to another 20 my friend
Well, it's hard to get Into the West, or Cthulu's Third French Empire, Director's Special Providence, Mettermrck's US: Advantages without Obligations, and Yogi's Empire of Fu Manchu out of my eyes whenever I'm on the forums, are reading something from them, or, at least as it stands of 7/19/17, your contemporary work, since those were among the AARs I "ghost read" as a non member more than a decade ago now when I stumbled into the forums looking for tips and other information for HoI 2 and was introduced to this novel and intriguing concept called the AAR, and found people writing, essentially, self-published novels and history books and thought to myself, well, I think I should just finally become a member.
So yes, it's safe to say one of your works has a very special place in my heart, and dear meaning to me, every time I'm on the forum. Great stories never die!
since those were among the AARs I "ghost read" as a non member more than a decade ago now when I stumbled into the forums looking for tips and other information for HoI 2 and was introduced to this novel and intriguing concept called the AAR, and found people writing, essentially, self-published novels and history books and thought to myself, well, I think I should just finally become a member.So yes, it's safe to say one of your works has a very special place in my heart, and dear meaning to me, every time I'm on the forum. Great stories never die!
A Brief Account of Eadger of House Wessex
by Snorri Thor Nylan
We know little about the early life of King Eadger. There are a number of fanciful stories, of course, but very little in verifiable detail. However, we can make some legitimate speculations.
As a scion of the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex in the turbulent 1060s his life cannot have been easy. The powerful Godwin family saw themselves as the rightful successors of Edward the Confessor, and ensured the young man was kept in obscurity. What no one could have foreseen was the sequence of events that occurred after the Confessor’s untimely death.
It is during the War of the Four Kings we have our first reliable information of the adult Eadger, where he seems to have attached himself to the fortunes of the House of Hwicce. He found favour in the service of Lord Morcar. Morcar of Hwicce is one of the most conflicted characters of this age – not even William of Normandy creates such disparate opinion. There are those who praise Morcar as a visionary and the true architect of Saxon freedom. Then there are those who name him the vilest blackguard, a usurper and murderer.
No small part of this poor reputation comes because Morcar is thought to have promised to support Eadger’s own dormant claim to the English throne, but when the time came he engineered his own candidacy. Other historians have pleaded Morcar’s case, some at great length, and I shall not repeat the majority of their arguments here. I will merely note that there must have been some real warmth between Morcar and the young Eadger to begin with. Perhaps it is this very warmth which made their later split so contentious.
After Morcar’s accession he sent Eadger off on the strange English expedition to Hungary. It is largely assumed he wanted Eadger out of the way, and if so this was effective enough as it allowed him to consolidate his early rule without another claimant hanging around. However, Morcar proved a better schemer than ruler, and his reign fell increasingly into discord.
On his death the throne arguably passed to his son, but it was not to be. William the Captive Conqueror was implicated in snuffing out the young man’s life. , thus throwing the question of succession wide open. At the time there were also plenty of rumours, recorded to us in chronicles, that Eadger may also have had something to do with this plot. The verdict of history though is different – that these were largely calumnies imputed to Eadger by his enemies. In this case we are left with the most unsatisfactory conclusion we will never know for sure.
Thus Eadger ascended – supported by the Kingmaker Lord Eadwin of Hwicce. Without the sterling support of that great lord there seems little doubt that Eadger would never have become King, or if he did his reign would have been a short failure.
In part this is because England had become dominated by the Great Lords of the day – not least Eadwin himself. The chaos since the Confessor’s death had reduced the fortunes of the crown to almost nothing. This made Eadger’s reign far from easy. For the entirety of his reign he looked to do two things: secure the succession of his son Uhtræd and expand the Crown’s powerbase.
These endeavours went hand in hand, but the former restricted the latter. Not wishing to trample on the goodwill of the Great Lords that he very much needed Eadger looked outside his own borders. As did some of the Great Lords. Whilst he did succeed in solidifying the foundation of royal authority, there proved ultimately to be limits as to what was possible in the years allotted to him.
The case for Uhtræd’s succession proved rather simpler, and by the end of his reign the Great Lords of the realm had all formally sworn to uphold Uhtræd’s succession.
As for Uhtræd he had found valiantly in the war that won Eadger the kingship, but after the death of his wife in childbirth he went to Meissen in the Empire. There are many – myself amongst them – who think this marriage venture was ill-advised. Eadger simply needed his son and heir by his side. We cannot be sure, but many assume that Uhtræd believed the rumours concerning his father’s role in the death of Morcar’s son – who was by all accounts an old playmate.
So how to look back on Eadger’s reign? Well, he restored stability to England when it was much needed – his years were the most peaceful since the time of the Confessor. A generation in England knew nothing but invasion and civil war, and that did change.
However, his authority always remained precarious. He was the Rightful King of England, and that legitimacy aided him much. He was capable, and made good use of the Lords and officials available to him. His skills in battle and war were undoubted, but his skills in peacetime are sometimes underappreciated.
In the final reckoning however Eadger remained somewhat weak, though no fault of his own. His reign was shored up by the loyal support of those Great Lords who, like him, had no wish to see a return of the chaos of earlier years. Lord Skuli served ably, but the true architect of the prosperity of Eadger’s reign was surely Lord Eadwin of Hwicce. Eadger never truly escaped his shadow.
by Snorri Thor Nylan
We know little about the early life of King Eadger. There are a number of fanciful stories, of course, but very little in verifiable detail. However, we can make some legitimate speculations.
As a scion of the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex in the turbulent 1060s his life cannot have been easy. The powerful Godwin family saw themselves as the rightful successors of Edward the Confessor, and ensured the young man was kept in obscurity. What no one could have foreseen was the sequence of events that occurred after the Confessor’s untimely death.
It is during the War of the Four Kings we have our first reliable information of the adult Eadger, where he seems to have attached himself to the fortunes of the House of Hwicce. He found favour in the service of Lord Morcar. Morcar of Hwicce is one of the most conflicted characters of this age – not even William of Normandy creates such disparate opinion. There are those who praise Morcar as a visionary and the true architect of Saxon freedom. Then there are those who name him the vilest blackguard, a usurper and murderer.
No small part of this poor reputation comes because Morcar is thought to have promised to support Eadger’s own dormant claim to the English throne, but when the time came he engineered his own candidacy. Other historians have pleaded Morcar’s case, some at great length, and I shall not repeat the majority of their arguments here. I will merely note that there must have been some real warmth between Morcar and the young Eadger to begin with. Perhaps it is this very warmth which made their later split so contentious.
After Morcar’s accession he sent Eadger off on the strange English expedition to Hungary. It is largely assumed he wanted Eadger out of the way, and if so this was effective enough as it allowed him to consolidate his early rule without another claimant hanging around. However, Morcar proved a better schemer than ruler, and his reign fell increasingly into discord.
On his death the throne arguably passed to his son, but it was not to be. William the Captive Conqueror was implicated in snuffing out the young man’s life. , thus throwing the question of succession wide open. At the time there were also plenty of rumours, recorded to us in chronicles, that Eadger may also have had something to do with this plot. The verdict of history though is different – that these were largely calumnies imputed to Eadger by his enemies. In this case we are left with the most unsatisfactory conclusion we will never know for sure.
Thus Eadger ascended – supported by the Kingmaker Lord Eadwin of Hwicce. Without the sterling support of that great lord there seems little doubt that Eadger would never have become King, or if he did his reign would have been a short failure.
In part this is because England had become dominated by the Great Lords of the day – not least Eadwin himself. The chaos since the Confessor’s death had reduced the fortunes of the crown to almost nothing. This made Eadger’s reign far from easy. For the entirety of his reign he looked to do two things: secure the succession of his son Uhtræd and expand the Crown’s powerbase.
These endeavours went hand in hand, but the former restricted the latter. Not wishing to trample on the goodwill of the Great Lords that he very much needed Eadger looked outside his own borders. As did some of the Great Lords. Whilst he did succeed in solidifying the foundation of royal authority, there proved ultimately to be limits as to what was possible in the years allotted to him.
The case for Uhtræd’s succession proved rather simpler, and by the end of his reign the Great Lords of the realm had all formally sworn to uphold Uhtræd’s succession.
As for Uhtræd he had found valiantly in the war that won Eadger the kingship, but after the death of his wife in childbirth he went to Meissen in the Empire. There are many – myself amongst them – who think this marriage venture was ill-advised. Eadger simply needed his son and heir by his side. We cannot be sure, but many assume that Uhtræd believed the rumours concerning his father’s role in the death of Morcar’s son – who was by all accounts an old playmate.
So how to look back on Eadger’s reign? Well, he restored stability to England when it was much needed – his years were the most peaceful since the time of the Confessor. A generation in England knew nothing but invasion and civil war, and that did change.
However, his authority always remained precarious. He was the Rightful King of England, and that legitimacy aided him much. He was capable, and made good use of the Lords and officials available to him. His skills in battle and war were undoubted, but his skills in peacetime are sometimes underappreciated.
In the final reckoning however Eadger remained somewhat weak, though no fault of his own. His reign was shored up by the loyal support of those Great Lords who, like him, had no wish to see a return of the chaos of earlier years. Lord Skuli served ably, but the true architect of the prosperity of Eadger’s reign was surely Lord Eadwin of Hwicce. Eadger never truly escaped his shadow.
The secret I find to commentating is not to worry about necessarily being "thoughtful" - the writAAR will always like the comment.
Myself though if I am not otherwise inspired I take a hook from the update and mention that. Sometimes it is as simple as saying effectively "I liked this bit alot"
Morcar was indeed an interesting character, and that 'double-cross' made the story so much more interesting.
That was a fitting footnote, @stnylan - it brought back a lot of this fine AAR into focus.
Well, I could go on with the compliments (and people who know me are nodding ruefully and saying, "Golly, how he can go on," - and coz1 is saying, "Compliments! Go on!") but I will try to keep it short.
You can't write something like this without genuinely loving the characters. Anyone who has tried writing an AAR knows it is hard work, with the rewards (COMMENTS!) coming few and far between the brickbats of silence. Fitting the pieces together into a story is like fine carpentry - done well, the joins are invisible, the grain of the wood blends seamlessly from piece to piece and the overall proportions are harmonious to the eye.
Too bad you didn't... (*OW! ducks too late*)
What I meant to say, of course, is that this is - I think - your best piece of craftsmanship to date: a fine work of carpentry, indeed, to make us care about people who are not only centuries gone but fictional, to boot.
Congratulations!
Now get back to work, you!
Well, I could go on with the compliments (and people who know me are nodding ruefully and saying, "Golly, how he can go on," - and coz1 is saying, "Compliments! Go on!") but I will try to keep it short.
You can't write something like this without genuinely loving the characters. Anyone who has tried writing an AAR knows it is hard work, with the rewards (COMMENTS!) coming few and far between the brickbats of silence. Fitting the pieces together into a story is like fine carpentry - done well, the joins are invisible, the grain of the wood blends seamlessly from piece to piece and the overall proportions are harmonious to the eye.
Too bad you didn't... (*OW! ducks too late*)
What I meant to say, of course, is that this is - I think - your best piece of craftsmanship to date: a fine work of carpentry, indeed, to make us care about people who are not only centuries gone but fictional, to boot.
Congratulations!
Now get back to work, you!