This is my first AAR, so bare with me. I run the game with all the expansions except the Aztec one and no mod. The choice of leader was done randomly.
The year was 867,
The north is broken among almost as many chiefs as there are counties to count. As the subjugation race, primarily led by the Petty Kingdoms of Ostlandet and Svipjod, House Vase strives to survive with nothing more than a single county to rule. To make things worse, this county, Vermaland, sits trapped between Ostlandet and Svipjod. It is inevitable, Vermaland will not stay independant for long, but Porfinn must gather as much power he can before he is forced to kneel down, so that one day he may claim independance once more.
Porfinn faces another problem that puts him at a major disadvantage compared to his fellow Norsemen. Vermaland, his single county, is landlocked. If he is to survive and not become the laughingstock of the north, he will need access to the sea soon.
To achieve this he makes his public his wish to become king of Svipjod. Its not a genuine hope, he knows very well it will not happen, but at least it gives him the legitimacy he requires to expand his borders before he is picked on. Helsinglad is the first to fall for him, while the king of Svipjod is busy subjugating the south. As soon as Helsinglad falls, Medelpad follows. The goal is not to survive a subjugation attempt when it comes, but to conquer as many counties weaker than him while he is still independant.
It doesn't take 10 years before his turn comes. While still at war with Medelpad, the king of Svipjod aims at Vermaland. Before he loses his meager 1000 troops to Svipjod's 5000, he burns his treasury of roughly 300 gold on two bands of mercenaries, sends them to Medelpad and forces a bloody siege. With this quick, but costly, victory, he realizes that he still has about 10 years of treasury to feed the mercenary bands he hired. Tossing a prayer at the gods, he throws all he got at Svipjod's forces and, against all odds, wins an outnumbered battle. Building on this momentum he eradicates his fleeing enemies and sieges enough holdings to force a white peace just in time for him to disband the mercenaries bands.
Unfortunately this victory doesn't last. Svipjod doesn't wait 6 months before breaking his truce and invade again. Without his mercenary forces nor the gold to hire them, Porfinn is forced to kneel. It doesn't stop him from expanding his power base. The weak laws of Svipjod's petty kingdom lets him subjugate Vesterbotn and Lappland for himself. The rich island of Gotland will be his last conquest, to which he will move his capital. Unfortunately the laws of succesion turns the birth of his second son into an hindrance, forcing him to quicken the pace toward independence before his realm gets shared upon his death.
Thus follows about 20 years of calm on the fighting front, only punctuated with the necessary raidings so that the gods may be pleased. Meanwhile he creates an Independence faction and with the help of his chancellor sows dissent all across Svipjod. After 20 years of diplomacy, the faction forces finally surpasses the crown's, as the king sets out to invade part of Frisia. With half his troops dead in Frisia, the ultimatum is sent. Independance or war.
The king in his hubris will choses war. In will last a little under 10 years, the upper hand being exchanged multiple times. The holdings of Helsinglad and Gastrikland will be put to the torch many times and both sides will eventually resort to hiring mercenaries. Desperate after a Svipjod's victory in Frisia, the king now able to turn his full attention toward home, Porfinn gambles all he's got. Spending mostly all the gold he has left on the best mercenary band he can afford, knowing he can't afford more than a few months, he throws them at Svipjod's capital in an attempt to prevent the king from fielding his troops.
Now past 60 years old, knowing his realm will shatter among his two sons without becoming high chief, independence being his only means to achieve that since the only title he could hold is being held by the king, Porfinn is unwilling to settle for a white peace. With his last gold piece spent and running the risk of having his mercenaries turn on him, he sends them on a final siege. The gamble will pay off, as the king, with half his castles burnt down, finally accepts the terms of surrender. Independence is achieved.
A few years later the Petty Kingdom of Norrland is founded, securing Porfinn's conquests and House Vase survival as an independent power. The Republic, turned Jarldom, of Gotland will follow soon after. The counties of Kemi and Kola will also be added to the kingdom. Meanwhile Eirikr of Svipjod made himself true King.
The year is now 901. 4 years are left to the Truce, unless Porfinn or Eirikr, both 61 years old, dies. With about half the army size of Eirikr, Porfinn will need to conquer more land. Luckily for him, his eastern border is covered in weak Finnic pagan chieftains ripe for conquest.
The year was 867,
The north is broken among almost as many chiefs as there are counties to count. As the subjugation race, primarily led by the Petty Kingdoms of Ostlandet and Svipjod, House Vase strives to survive with nothing more than a single county to rule. To make things worse, this county, Vermaland, sits trapped between Ostlandet and Svipjod. It is inevitable, Vermaland will not stay independant for long, but Porfinn must gather as much power he can before he is forced to kneel down, so that one day he may claim independance once more.
Porfinn faces another problem that puts him at a major disadvantage compared to his fellow Norsemen. Vermaland, his single county, is landlocked. If he is to survive and not become the laughingstock of the north, he will need access to the sea soon.
To achieve this he makes his public his wish to become king of Svipjod. Its not a genuine hope, he knows very well it will not happen, but at least it gives him the legitimacy he requires to expand his borders before he is picked on. Helsinglad is the first to fall for him, while the king of Svipjod is busy subjugating the south. As soon as Helsinglad falls, Medelpad follows. The goal is not to survive a subjugation attempt when it comes, but to conquer as many counties weaker than him while he is still independant.
It doesn't take 10 years before his turn comes. While still at war with Medelpad, the king of Svipjod aims at Vermaland. Before he loses his meager 1000 troops to Svipjod's 5000, he burns his treasury of roughly 300 gold on two bands of mercenaries, sends them to Medelpad and forces a bloody siege. With this quick, but costly, victory, he realizes that he still has about 10 years of treasury to feed the mercenary bands he hired. Tossing a prayer at the gods, he throws all he got at Svipjod's forces and, against all odds, wins an outnumbered battle. Building on this momentum he eradicates his fleeing enemies and sieges enough holdings to force a white peace just in time for him to disband the mercenaries bands.
Unfortunately this victory doesn't last. Svipjod doesn't wait 6 months before breaking his truce and invade again. Without his mercenary forces nor the gold to hire them, Porfinn is forced to kneel. It doesn't stop him from expanding his power base. The weak laws of Svipjod's petty kingdom lets him subjugate Vesterbotn and Lappland for himself. The rich island of Gotland will be his last conquest, to which he will move his capital. Unfortunately the laws of succesion turns the birth of his second son into an hindrance, forcing him to quicken the pace toward independence before his realm gets shared upon his death.
Thus follows about 20 years of calm on the fighting front, only punctuated with the necessary raidings so that the gods may be pleased. Meanwhile he creates an Independence faction and with the help of his chancellor sows dissent all across Svipjod. After 20 years of diplomacy, the faction forces finally surpasses the crown's, as the king sets out to invade part of Frisia. With half his troops dead in Frisia, the ultimatum is sent. Independance or war.
The king in his hubris will choses war. In will last a little under 10 years, the upper hand being exchanged multiple times. The holdings of Helsinglad and Gastrikland will be put to the torch many times and both sides will eventually resort to hiring mercenaries. Desperate after a Svipjod's victory in Frisia, the king now able to turn his full attention toward home, Porfinn gambles all he's got. Spending mostly all the gold he has left on the best mercenary band he can afford, knowing he can't afford more than a few months, he throws them at Svipjod's capital in an attempt to prevent the king from fielding his troops.
Now past 60 years old, knowing his realm will shatter among his two sons without becoming high chief, independence being his only means to achieve that since the only title he could hold is being held by the king, Porfinn is unwilling to settle for a white peace. With his last gold piece spent and running the risk of having his mercenaries turn on him, he sends them on a final siege. The gamble will pay off, as the king, with half his castles burnt down, finally accepts the terms of surrender. Independence is achieved.
A few years later the Petty Kingdom of Norrland is founded, securing Porfinn's conquests and House Vase survival as an independent power. The Republic, turned Jarldom, of Gotland will follow soon after. The counties of Kemi and Kola will also be added to the kingdom. Meanwhile Eirikr of Svipjod made himself true King.
The year is now 901. 4 years are left to the Truce, unless Porfinn or Eirikr, both 61 years old, dies. With about half the army size of Eirikr, Porfinn will need to conquer more land. Luckily for him, his eastern border is covered in weak Finnic pagan chieftains ripe for conquest.
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