Its just that I have DVIP on my other computer, and neither Loptharingia, Brittany and all the others are mentioned as creatable kingdoms.
At least not in the Hastings scenario. Thats the only one I play.
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Its just that I have DVIP on my other computer, and neither Loptharingia, Brittany and all the others are mentioned as creatable kingdoms.
At least not in the Hastings scenario. Thats the only one I play.
These kingdoms were part of the DVIP More Kingdoms mod, I think they are now in the add-on that you can download here.Johan11 said:
How have I missed this?!
Exactly the sort of thing I meant, the data is organised in the save so it's easy to read, and there are a few different file types that the family tree programs read, but their data files aren't that complex either.
Of course, I don't think the subterranean family-tree maker can automatically read stuff like diseases, education, etc., but being able to add those (and photos) is a feature of the program i'm using, and not supported by the genealogy file types I guess.
Edit: Tried out the Subterranean CK family-tree maker: it works fine, but besides of course not having photos and such, also exports the vanilla dynasty names, and Meriadoc just sounds lame now that i've gotten used to Morgan (this is easy to fix with find&replace all in notepad). Plus no surnames for some dynasties, like the Aberteifis and Llancarfans (major cadet branches in my dynasty, although Neiniad Aberteifi at least was probably just a random courtier, and the Llancarfan father and 2 sons were probably DVIP-Wales additions) as the significant examples. Of course, if and when I do another family tree in 50 or 100 or 300 years, the workload would just be huge if I had to type everything in by hand, so this should be extremely useful anyway.
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I can't believe how awesome Hovhannes Senek'erim is in your world! He only lasted for a single update in mine!
And it's amusing me greatly, the strange link between Nubia and Suenik that seems to spring up in multiple AARs
And it's amusing me greatly, the strange link between Nubia and Suenik that seems to spring up in multiple AARs
Chapter 19: The fires of war are lit once more
ZZZZZzzzzz.... Huh, what? Who are you? Oh, we were going to continue the story of my life, eh?
Well, it's been a while, and you'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit hazy on the details of what exactly had just happened as we left off, but I believe it was New Years Day,
in the year of our Lord 1100, and this was more or less my situation at the time:
Some money, a decent reputation, and recently-discovered claims on the counties of the Isle of Man and Lothian, currently held by a kinslayer and heretic respectively. I must liberate the good Celtic people in them from their cruel and blasphemous oppressors!
But first I find the Nubian princess someone to marry. She's not much to look at, but that just goes to show that Nubian princesses aren't what they used to be (including princesses).
I also marry my recently-of-age daughter Rhiannon to Llywarch the Last of the Llancarfans. The nannies botched her education, she really became too proud and selfish for a proper Christian. I'm hoping Llywarch will teach her some sense. His father, grandfather and uncle were all men of the cloth, after all, and he seems to have acquired a reputation as something of a zealot as well.
There's a perfectly good explanation for this. Well, sort of. I was aware that the kinslaying Count of the Isle of Man was a vassal of Leinster, but figured England would watch my back against the Irish (the fools). I completely did fail to notice Leinster was allied with Gwynedd. Oh well, I do have that one guy hanging around at my court with claims to all of Gwynedds and their vassals' lands...
Hm, the initial reports for this battle did not look promising.
My main army is sailing to Man, and Iestyn gets jumped by Gwynedd in Maelienydd.
It's not going to be the only thing in retreat soon.
At least Iestyn will have a tolerable-smelling place to retreat to.
As I predicted. The reports say that the battle was conceded with Iestyns command of "Thound the retreat!"
Meanwhile, Cai decides to try a little offence of his own.
...And once again proves just how overwhelming a genius he is tactically. With just a few hundred men, he runs circles around an army over 4 times the size of his own. Leinster hears about this, gets scared and tries to buy peace from me. I'm still on my way to Man, so I refuse for now.
While Cai managed to win the day, his losses were massive, only a contingent of 64 heavy infantry survived the day, out of an initial force of over 500 men.
Her and Llywarch really do complement each other, it seems.
It seems I may have overdone the expeditionary force to the Isle of Man soemwhat. At least this shouldn't take long.
It doesn't. My forces on the Welsh mainland are still trying to outmaneuver the Duke of Gwynedds armies and reach his demesne lands. This one is going to try an amphibious assault.
The terms of the peace are just, for a man such as he. I pass on the title to my second son, Fychan.
With the vile Giolla-Choluim dealt with, I tell my troops to pack their bags and go home however they want.
And instantly re-hire them back at home.
Just in time, Gwynedd has taken Maelienydd and is marching on Ystrad Tywi.
In other words, it's time to show them what's what, and who the real conquering heroes are in Wales.
I offer Leinster more or less the same peace terms he tried to offer me earlier, and he accepts.
I later hear that his forces were just about to take back Man for the Irish at the time.
I've advanced toward Gwynedd with no resistance so far, and finally found out the reason.
The treacherous Norman King has once again agreed on a peace deal on my behalf.
I give him my own daughters hand in marriage, and he off and leaves? Good riddance.
It seems the Land of Plenty company has decided to move their officed to Argyll. Prosperity there improves twice in less than two years.
In other news, remember Ulaid? Conquered by me, then claimed and farmed off by the Norman Kings? Nigel here, the idiot of a strategist that he is, has just decided to declare himself independent. Guess he drew some funny conclusions from all those other independent Irish lords surrounding him.
ZZZZZzzzzz.... Huh, what? Who are you? Oh, we were going to continue the story of my life, eh?
Well, it's been a while, and you'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit hazy on the details of what exactly had just happened as we left off, but I believe it was New Years Day,
in the year of our Lord 1100, and this was more or less my situation at the time:
Some money, a decent reputation, and recently-discovered claims on the counties of the Isle of Man and Lothian, currently held by a kinslayer and heretic respectively. I must liberate the good Celtic people in them from their cruel and blasphemous oppressors!
But first I find the Nubian princess someone to marry. She's not much to look at, but that just goes to show that Nubian princesses aren't what they used to be (including princesses).
I also marry my recently-of-age daughter Rhiannon to Llywarch the Last of the Llancarfans. The nannies botched her education, she really became too proud and selfish for a proper Christian. I'm hoping Llywarch will teach her some sense. His father, grandfather and uncle were all men of the cloth, after all, and he seems to have acquired a reputation as something of a zealot as well.
There's a perfectly good explanation for this. Well, sort of. I was aware that the kinslaying Count of the Isle of Man was a vassal of Leinster, but figured England would watch my back against the Irish (the fools). I completely did fail to notice Leinster was allied with Gwynedd. Oh well, I do have that one guy hanging around at my court with claims to all of Gwynedds and their vassals' lands...
Hm, the initial reports for this battle did not look promising.
My main army is sailing to Man, and Iestyn gets jumped by Gwynedd in Maelienydd.
It's not going to be the only thing in retreat soon.
At least Iestyn will have a tolerable-smelling place to retreat to.
As I predicted. The reports say that the battle was conceded with Iestyns command of "Thound the retreat!"
Meanwhile, Cai decides to try a little offence of his own.
...And once again proves just how overwhelming a genius he is tactically. With just a few hundred men, he runs circles around an army over 4 times the size of his own. Leinster hears about this, gets scared and tries to buy peace from me. I'm still on my way to Man, so I refuse for now.
While Cai managed to win the day, his losses were massive, only a contingent of 64 heavy infantry survived the day, out of an initial force of over 500 men.
Her and Llywarch really do complement each other, it seems.
It seems I may have overdone the expeditionary force to the Isle of Man soemwhat. At least this shouldn't take long.
It doesn't. My forces on the Welsh mainland are still trying to outmaneuver the Duke of Gwynedds armies and reach his demesne lands. This one is going to try an amphibious assault.
The terms of the peace are just, for a man such as he. I pass on the title to my second son, Fychan.
With the vile Giolla-Choluim dealt with, I tell my troops to pack their bags and go home however they want.
And instantly re-hire them back at home.
Just in time, Gwynedd has taken Maelienydd and is marching on Ystrad Tywi.
In other words, it's time to show them what's what, and who the real conquering heroes are in Wales.
I offer Leinster more or less the same peace terms he tried to offer me earlier, and he accepts.
I later hear that his forces were just about to take back Man for the Irish at the time.
I've advanced toward Gwynedd with no resistance so far, and finally found out the reason.
The treacherous Norman King has once again agreed on a peace deal on my behalf.
I give him my own daughters hand in marriage, and he off and leaves? Good riddance.
It seems the Land of Plenty company has decided to move their officed to Argyll. Prosperity there improves twice in less than two years.
In other news, remember Ulaid? Conquered by me, then claimed and farmed off by the Norman Kings? Nigel here, the idiot of a strategist that he is, has just decided to declare himself independent. Guess he drew some funny conclusions from all those other independent Irish lords surrounding him.
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Well, here we are, not dead, but instead with a new update! In retrospect, the triple special was a bit of an undertaking, but what really got me was the trip abroad causing a small break, then a flu, then some exams and otherwise a hectic couple of weeks...
I should be over the worst now, indeed, it's the midterm break, and I only have one exam and some errands for the whole next week (no lectures or classes), so we should be catching up on the rest of the reign of Cadwgan I soon enough. Got a bit carried away in the game the one session I did play, but it just was quite amazing. You'll see how soon enough.
P.S. I hereby confess that Vicky was able to grab my attention for a few days as well. I Can hardly wait for V2.
I should be over the worst now, indeed, it's the midterm break, and I only have one exam and some errands for the whole next week (no lectures or classes), so we should be catching up on the rest of the reign of Cadwgan I soon enough. Got a bit carried away in the game the one session I did play, but it just was quite amazing. You'll see how soon enough.
P.S. I hereby confess that Vicky was able to grab my attention for a few days as well. I Can hardly wait for V2.
Raised from the ashes...
Like a phoenix!
... and ready to rrrRRRumble!
Update coming up as soon as I write it (I usually first edit the pictures, then write the actual text here on the forums for the first time).
edit: #%#&#!%" ... And I'm truly sorry, pardon my French. It's just that, due to my method of writing as mentioned above, while I was checking on a certain familial relation in the family tree earlier in this AAR, I accidentally closed the whole browser, and at least so far haven't managed to (and likely won't) find a cache or anything that would have the mostly-finished (14/20 screenshots) text of the update still saved. I'll try again tomorrow.
edit2: No cache or anything (these text boxes probably don't even get saved anywhere anyway...), but I did rewrite the update into a txt-file (for now, and I think I might go back to this method, which I used initially as well, after this incident). So the pictures are ready and the update are ready, but you'll still have to wait until tomorrow, when i'll post and edit the text to the forum format. Although still a great man and able fighter, Cadwgan is starting to feel his age...
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Chapter 20: Trechedd yng Nghymru
All of you MUST have seen this coming. I send my Marshal to raise the Argyll regiment,
which hasn't seen action in a long time, and have them sail south to Ireland.
Nigel and his army is beaten quite quickly, but just as mine is about to do the same to his walls he does the smart thing,
saves everybody some trouble and just gives me what I want.
I guess a quite life in Normandy suddenly started to sound very appealing.
Since that was so easy, I claim the island of Ynys Môn as mine, and send an envoy,
accompanied by my Marshal and over seventeen hundred bodyguards
The previous peace was with Gwynedd, not its vassals, and was signed by the Norman Kings anyway.
Me and Cai march forth to Maelienydd in preparation of any aggression from Gwynedd.
I think this all this father-and-son time on campaign has really brought me and Cai closer together
and gotten him to understand the stresses a ruler and general is under more. There was a time when
it seemed we were bound to come to blows sooner or later, but I forgave him, and I now feel that
when the time comes, he will be more than able to follow in my footsteps.
On the other hand, I haven't been able to please everyone. Assassins these days though...
I'm 61, hopefully soon a great-grandfather, and I easily bested him and cut the fiends throat with his own dagger.
Over 30 years of warfare and court intrigue have been quite a learning experience.
Marshals these days...
The landing at Ynys Môn goes badly, and is beaten back by a defending force of less than 900 men.
Cai and I are also outnumbered at Powys by 4 to 5, but that shouldn't really be a problem
as Cai coordinates our maneuvers and I lead the charge. It's what we do best.
We win a decisive victory and take Gwynedd easily. As we are about to move on to Ynys Môn,
the islanders hear of our impending approach and decide to capitulate.
Once the aforementioned news arrives, we dictate the terms of his surrender to the captured Duke of Gwynedd.
Gryffyd ap Cynan will rule over the County of Gwynedd in my name, but he will be left with the dignity
of his ducal title for the remainder of his life, and his two sons, the counts of Perfeddwlad and Powys,
may remain as his vassals. After his death, the ducal title will pass to the House of Morgan.
Just as Wales is being united under one ruler for the first time in history, me and Iestyn received tragic news
within a week of each other. Both our eldest children have died. While Caradog wasted away of an
unknown illness, the physicians claim that Hawis' death was brought on by age, not disease. I was 62
at the time, and Iestyn was 59. We mourned them together.
Meanwhile, the nobles in part of our realm demanded more power, and we obliged.
Abroad on April 29, 1104, Hovhannes Senek'erim Gardhman-Abghania, Count of Suenik accepted peace
with Anushirvan the Sheik of Shirvan on terms that the heathen would rule over the arid plains of
Suenik from then on. With the Kingdom of Georgia also having fallen to pagans from the north,
the eastern heretics in Anatolia, Armenia and Georgia are now almost completely overrun by
the heathens. Only Chaldea and Karin remain.
Brittany was also undergoing something of a civil war, and on September 9, 1104, Alan 'Fergant'
King of Brittany accepted peace with his rival Charlz Porhoet, Duke of Brittany, with the king
yielding his claims on the titles of Duke of Brittany and Count of Vannes, effectively granting
the duke independence and denying the king a further casus belli against the duke, thus splitting
the young Kingdom in two.
Some imbecile mistook my sorrow for the death of my eldest daughter as a sign of weakness.
This time I beat the assailant unconscious, and arranged a public execution to discourage further foolishness.
My spirits finally lift when Cais eldest son Iestyn is married. He reminds me somewhat of myself in my youth.
Whereas I had ambitions, he worries whether he will live up to his predecessors, but look at that beard!
And this is his wife. A beatiful and accomplished Irish lass to be sure, although she may not have
been my first choice due to her personality. They seem content though, with a child already on the way.
Now that the day-to-day of child-raising is not my concern anymore, I'm eager to see my first
great-grandchildren in these halls...
Indeed, these halls. Wooden forts, manor-houses and lodges have been the way of my grandfathers
and their grandfathers before them, but I have received reports that on the continent, and in northern England
and the Marches, stone keeps are being built. It may still be a while before this new fortification technique
reaches Wales. I am beginning to feel the chill in the mornings...
Even my bones are warmed as I hear the rumour that Almodis and Aungers eldest son is identifying more
with the culture of the Anglo-Saxons in Hereford than the French or Norman cultures of his mother and father.
It is rewarding to see the Norman grasp on Britain slipping so soon, if only in such small ways...
More would follow, as Lancaster once again resisted the yoke of the King of England.
Drogo called on my troops for aid; I refused him as a matter of course.
He repeats the request several times over the next months, as he is in conflict not only with his subjects,
but also with the King of France. France has been weakened and splintered, and the Duke of Toulouse
even allied himself with the Normans, but they still pose a threat to their erstwhile Norman subjects.
In the beginning of AD 1107, Iestyn passes away, and I am left as the last of my generation.
While he may not have been the most capable of rulers or a competent general, I always enjoyed his company,
and used my influence to get his children in good marriages. As his eldest son Caradog is dead, his son Ffriog Morgan
(Iestyns senior grandson that is) has inherited the County of Brycheiniog.
Later in the spring, the Duke of Gwynedd, Maredudd ap Bleddyn Mathrafal (1047-1107) passes away,
leaving his 2nd surviving son Hywel as the Count of Powys and his oldest son Elis as the Count of Perfeddwlad.
The latter also claims the Ducal title of Gwynedd for himself by right of primogeniture but in violation
of the previous peace treaty, while the former refuses to aknowledge the supremacy of his older brother.
After declaring war and swiftly defeating his brothers forces, Elis Mathrafal claims the title of Duke of Gwynedd for himself.
This makes him, instead, my new foe, and I send a detachment to the Marches and then to Perfeddwlad,
to enforce my claim. At the signing of the peace, I learn that Elis has been severely wounded in battle.
He would later pass away from infection and pneumonia a couple of years later, and the county would
pass on to his club-footed son Meurig.
With these claimants to Gwynedd defeated and Perfeddwlad now our vassal as well, my hegemony over Wales is complete in all but name.
All of you MUST have seen this coming. I send my Marshal to raise the Argyll regiment,
which hasn't seen action in a long time, and have them sail south to Ireland.
Nigel and his army is beaten quite quickly, but just as mine is about to do the same to his walls he does the smart thing,
saves everybody some trouble and just gives me what I want.
I guess a quite life in Normandy suddenly started to sound very appealing.
Since that was so easy, I claim the island of Ynys Môn as mine, and send an envoy,
accompanied by my Marshal and over seventeen hundred bodyguards
The previous peace was with Gwynedd, not its vassals, and was signed by the Norman Kings anyway.
Me and Cai march forth to Maelienydd in preparation of any aggression from Gwynedd.
I think this all this father-and-son time on campaign has really brought me and Cai closer together
and gotten him to understand the stresses a ruler and general is under more. There was a time when
it seemed we were bound to come to blows sooner or later, but I forgave him, and I now feel that
when the time comes, he will be more than able to follow in my footsteps.
On the other hand, I haven't been able to please everyone. Assassins these days though...
I'm 61, hopefully soon a great-grandfather, and I easily bested him and cut the fiends throat with his own dagger.
Over 30 years of warfare and court intrigue have been quite a learning experience.
Marshals these days...
The landing at Ynys Môn goes badly, and is beaten back by a defending force of less than 900 men.
Cai and I are also outnumbered at Powys by 4 to 5, but that shouldn't really be a problem
as Cai coordinates our maneuvers and I lead the charge. It's what we do best.
We win a decisive victory and take Gwynedd easily. As we are about to move on to Ynys Môn,
the islanders hear of our impending approach and decide to capitulate.
Once the aforementioned news arrives, we dictate the terms of his surrender to the captured Duke of Gwynedd.
Gryffyd ap Cynan will rule over the County of Gwynedd in my name, but he will be left with the dignity
of his ducal title for the remainder of his life, and his two sons, the counts of Perfeddwlad and Powys,
may remain as his vassals. After his death, the ducal title will pass to the House of Morgan.
Just as Wales is being united under one ruler for the first time in history, me and Iestyn received tragic news
within a week of each other. Both our eldest children have died. While Caradog wasted away of an
unknown illness, the physicians claim that Hawis' death was brought on by age, not disease. I was 62
at the time, and Iestyn was 59. We mourned them together.
Meanwhile, the nobles in part of our realm demanded more power, and we obliged.
Abroad on April 29, 1104, Hovhannes Senek'erim Gardhman-Abghania, Count of Suenik accepted peace
with Anushirvan the Sheik of Shirvan on terms that the heathen would rule over the arid plains of
Suenik from then on. With the Kingdom of Georgia also having fallen to pagans from the north,
the eastern heretics in Anatolia, Armenia and Georgia are now almost completely overrun by
the heathens. Only Chaldea and Karin remain.
Brittany was also undergoing something of a civil war, and on September 9, 1104, Alan 'Fergant'
King of Brittany accepted peace with his rival Charlz Porhoet, Duke of Brittany, with the king
yielding his claims on the titles of Duke of Brittany and Count of Vannes, effectively granting
the duke independence and denying the king a further casus belli against the duke, thus splitting
the young Kingdom in two.
Some imbecile mistook my sorrow for the death of my eldest daughter as a sign of weakness.
This time I beat the assailant unconscious, and arranged a public execution to discourage further foolishness.
My spirits finally lift when Cais eldest son Iestyn is married. He reminds me somewhat of myself in my youth.
Whereas I had ambitions, he worries whether he will live up to his predecessors, but look at that beard!
And this is his wife. A beatiful and accomplished Irish lass to be sure, although she may not have
been my first choice due to her personality. They seem content though, with a child already on the way.
Now that the day-to-day of child-raising is not my concern anymore, I'm eager to see my first
great-grandchildren in these halls...
Indeed, these halls. Wooden forts, manor-houses and lodges have been the way of my grandfathers
and their grandfathers before them, but I have received reports that on the continent, and in northern England
and the Marches, stone keeps are being built. It may still be a while before this new fortification technique
reaches Wales. I am beginning to feel the chill in the mornings...
Even my bones are warmed as I hear the rumour that Almodis and Aungers eldest son is identifying more
with the culture of the Anglo-Saxons in Hereford than the French or Norman cultures of his mother and father.
It is rewarding to see the Norman grasp on Britain slipping so soon, if only in such small ways...
More would follow, as Lancaster once again resisted the yoke of the King of England.
Drogo called on my troops for aid; I refused him as a matter of course.
He repeats the request several times over the next months, as he is in conflict not only with his subjects,
but also with the King of France. France has been weakened and splintered, and the Duke of Toulouse
even allied himself with the Normans, but they still pose a threat to their erstwhile Norman subjects.
In the beginning of AD 1107, Iestyn passes away, and I am left as the last of my generation.
While he may not have been the most capable of rulers or a competent general, I always enjoyed his company,
and used my influence to get his children in good marriages. As his eldest son Caradog is dead, his son Ffriog Morgan
(Iestyns senior grandson that is) has inherited the County of Brycheiniog.
Later in the spring, the Duke of Gwynedd, Maredudd ap Bleddyn Mathrafal (1047-1107) passes away,
leaving his 2nd surviving son Hywel as the Count of Powys and his oldest son Elis as the Count of Perfeddwlad.
The latter also claims the Ducal title of Gwynedd for himself by right of primogeniture but in violation
of the previous peace treaty, while the former refuses to aknowledge the supremacy of his older brother.
After declaring war and swiftly defeating his brothers forces, Elis Mathrafal claims the title of Duke of Gwynedd for himself.
This makes him, instead, my new foe, and I send a detachment to the Marches and then to Perfeddwlad,
to enforce my claim. At the signing of the peace, I learn that Elis has been severely wounded in battle.
He would later pass away from infection and pneumonia a couple of years later, and the county would
pass on to his club-footed son Meurig.
With these claimants to Gwynedd defeated and Perfeddwlad now our vassal as well, my hegemony over Wales is complete in all but name.
P.S. The title should translate to Dominance (or Superiority) in Wales. Next update tomorrow at the latest, barring any mishaps.
Strange that you still exist in the game.
What do you need to become the King of Wales?
What do you need to become the King of Wales?
Chapter 21: Kings and Dukes
Here's Einion, Cai's second son, and his lovely Breton wife. She feels somewhat lazy and indifferent, but I have a feeling a lot of the time it's just a cover for what she's really thinking... and they don't seem to have any trouble producing issue, either.
I did mention last time that I already ruled Wales in all but name, didn't I? Well this is what I meant. I just need to save up some cold, hard cash to pay for the new crown jewels, the coronation ceremony, envoys to half of Europe, and so forth. It adds up to quite a tidy sum. I should have the money in a year or so.
Meanwhile, Drogo and the King of France are at it again. He's also trying get some crusading done, and is having to fight rebels once in a while as well. Talk about overextending yourself, even if he is doing quite well in France (that's just about half the King of France's demesne).
Growth! Prosperity! Jobs!
Crusades! This time to Antiocheia.
It seems not much is expected from me this time either.
Right. I hope the crazyness doesn't spread.
I know i've got a few stressed people around, and Domnall wasn't that old, not even 50 yet.
Sigh, Drogo really just doesn't realise that no means I'm not really inclined to ever give him troops, not just no to that one request. Also, the Sultanate of Qarakhnid and Kingdom of Assassin both just declared war on the County of Cornwall. I'm surprised they've even heard of the place. I certainly have no idea where this Kingdom of Assassin is located. Turns out they own one province in central Mesopotamia. Go figure.
Peace, jobs and good health! This is a trend I could live with, on the other hand.
Drogo asks for troops again, then the Duke of York decides to rebel against him. It's not that I'm not in near-open rebellion against the man, it's just that I don't really care about what the Normans squabble about, as long as they'd keep it between themselves. So I declare independence from England.
That crown in the picture sure looks spiffy though...
In April AD 1109, I have finally saved up the coin to declare myself King of Wales! The coronation is hold on the 4th day of the month.
Ooh, that really is a nice royal (dare I say imperial?) purple the cartographers have used for Wales.
Our reputation really isn't the best possible due to all those conquests, but it hasn't affected the
loyalty of my vassals too much, since most are quite close relatives, and I get along well with most people.
My second son Fychan (now the Count of the Isle of Man, if you've forgotten), is the most troublesome of the lot, to be honest.
Here's a little ranking of the great nations of the known world. Poland's been spreading east a bit,
Rostov is one of the big players in the Rus, and I think we've mentioned how Aquitania is independent
and has conquered most of Andalusia already. Toscana and Castille are also quite self-explanatory
(conquests in Iberia and North Africa respectively).
Behold Cadwgan I, King of Wales! I was 67 before achieving this, the goal that has driven me my whole life.
Despite my excommunication by that puppet Pope of William's, I've been a pious Catholic my whole life.
As I'm now King, I'd rather have Dukes than Counts as vassals, so I grant the two ducal titles I do have to Cai
(as my crown prince) and Gruffydd ap Cynan, who was an important factor in enabling me to defeat the Mathrafals
and claim Gwynedd for myself. Soon after, Cai revokes the County of Brycheiniog, now vassalised to him,
from Ffriog (ap Caradog ap Iestyn), presumably to give to his eldest son, Iestyn (ap Cai ap Cadwgan).
Or because it was richer than the County of Morgannwg, which he held already.
With good news, bad news didn't take long to follow. My dear wife has fallen seriously ill.
The doctors predict she won't have long to live.
Meanwhile, I've moved two of my Welsh regiments into position just south of Northumberland,
and sent orders to raise the Argyll regiment for a war against Lothian. I still have a claim to
the county from when it was held by that excommunicated heretic, and I expect the Duke to join in the fight, giving me an opportunity to bring him under my rule as well.
On the map you can see the simple, but elegant and efficient plan of attack.
It seems the heretic's father died, so he inherited, but is no longer a heretic or excommunicated.
Just schizophrenic. This should make my job easier.
The war goes on quite unremarkably, with Wales being victorious in every battle and seizing control of Northumberland quite fast. When I wonder aloud why it's taking so long so take hold of Strathclyde, I'm told that not only is the regiment there led by the crazy Domnall mac Aralt, apparently they haven't heard of any kind of siege equipment in Argyll.
On the other hand, once Strathclyde is taken, and Domnall marches to the County of Lothian to meet the count himself in battle, said count is convinced to just give up his lands without a fight. It seems being crazy is really working out for Domnall. This could set a dangerous precedent.
The war goes on, but Marshal Io really is having a bad week: first he contracts some illness (I guess he should be more picky about those camp followers), then he gets some teeth knocked out in battle. As I recall, his grandfather Iestyn also had a lisp...
What next? Will the war against Lothian be the cakewalk it's turning out to be? Will Wales continue to be prosperous, or will more and more nobility go crazy? How long will Cadwgan live, and how will Cai fare once he is on the throne? All this and more remains to be seen...
Here's Einion, Cai's second son, and his lovely Breton wife. She feels somewhat lazy and indifferent, but I have a feeling a lot of the time it's just a cover for what she's really thinking... and they don't seem to have any trouble producing issue, either.
I did mention last time that I already ruled Wales in all but name, didn't I? Well this is what I meant. I just need to save up some cold, hard cash to pay for the new crown jewels, the coronation ceremony, envoys to half of Europe, and so forth. It adds up to quite a tidy sum. I should have the money in a year or so.
Meanwhile, Drogo and the King of France are at it again. He's also trying get some crusading done, and is having to fight rebels once in a while as well. Talk about overextending yourself, even if he is doing quite well in France (that's just about half the King of France's demesne).
Growth! Prosperity! Jobs!
Crusades! This time to Antiocheia.
It seems not much is expected from me this time either.
Right. I hope the crazyness doesn't spread.
I know i've got a few stressed people around, and Domnall wasn't that old, not even 50 yet.
Sigh, Drogo really just doesn't realise that no means I'm not really inclined to ever give him troops, not just no to that one request. Also, the Sultanate of Qarakhnid and Kingdom of Assassin both just declared war on the County of Cornwall. I'm surprised they've even heard of the place. I certainly have no idea where this Kingdom of Assassin is located. Turns out they own one province in central Mesopotamia. Go figure.
Peace, jobs and good health! This is a trend I could live with, on the other hand.
Drogo asks for troops again, then the Duke of York decides to rebel against him. It's not that I'm not in near-open rebellion against the man, it's just that I don't really care about what the Normans squabble about, as long as they'd keep it between themselves. So I declare independence from England.
That crown in the picture sure looks spiffy though...
In April AD 1109, I have finally saved up the coin to declare myself King of Wales! The coronation is hold on the 4th day of the month.
Ooh, that really is a nice royal (dare I say imperial?) purple the cartographers have used for Wales.
Our reputation really isn't the best possible due to all those conquests, but it hasn't affected the
loyalty of my vassals too much, since most are quite close relatives, and I get along well with most people.
My second son Fychan (now the Count of the Isle of Man, if you've forgotten), is the most troublesome of the lot, to be honest.
Here's a little ranking of the great nations of the known world. Poland's been spreading east a bit,
Rostov is one of the big players in the Rus, and I think we've mentioned how Aquitania is independent
and has conquered most of Andalusia already. Toscana and Castille are also quite self-explanatory
(conquests in Iberia and North Africa respectively).
Behold Cadwgan I, King of Wales! I was 67 before achieving this, the goal that has driven me my whole life.
Despite my excommunication by that puppet Pope of William's, I've been a pious Catholic my whole life.
As I'm now King, I'd rather have Dukes than Counts as vassals, so I grant the two ducal titles I do have to Cai
(as my crown prince) and Gruffydd ap Cynan, who was an important factor in enabling me to defeat the Mathrafals
and claim Gwynedd for myself. Soon after, Cai revokes the County of Brycheiniog, now vassalised to him,
from Ffriog (ap Caradog ap Iestyn), presumably to give to his eldest son, Iestyn (ap Cai ap Cadwgan).
Or because it was richer than the County of Morgannwg, which he held already.
With good news, bad news didn't take long to follow. My dear wife has fallen seriously ill.
The doctors predict she won't have long to live.
Meanwhile, I've moved two of my Welsh regiments into position just south of Northumberland,
and sent orders to raise the Argyll regiment for a war against Lothian. I still have a claim to
the county from when it was held by that excommunicated heretic, and I expect the Duke to join in the fight, giving me an opportunity to bring him under my rule as well.
On the map you can see the simple, but elegant and efficient plan of attack.
It seems the heretic's father died, so he inherited, but is no longer a heretic or excommunicated.
Just schizophrenic. This should make my job easier.
The war goes on quite unremarkably, with Wales being victorious in every battle and seizing control of Northumberland quite fast. When I wonder aloud why it's taking so long so take hold of Strathclyde, I'm told that not only is the regiment there led by the crazy Domnall mac Aralt, apparently they haven't heard of any kind of siege equipment in Argyll.
On the other hand, once Strathclyde is taken, and Domnall marches to the County of Lothian to meet the count himself in battle, said count is convinced to just give up his lands without a fight. It seems being crazy is really working out for Domnall. This could set a dangerous precedent.
The war goes on, but Marshal Io really is having a bad week: first he contracts some illness (I guess he should be more picky about those camp followers), then he gets some teeth knocked out in battle. As I recall, his grandfather Iestyn also had a lisp...
What next? Will the war against Lothian be the cakewalk it's turning out to be? Will Wales continue to be prosperous, or will more and more nobility go crazy? How long will Cadwgan live, and how will Cai fare once he is on the throne? All this and more remains to be seen...
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There, finally got that update done that I promised for... wednesday? Sorry about that, real life got in the way. I was amazingly busy, considering I only had one exam and no classes the whole week.
The previous update was quite somber, yes, but that's how it seemed to write itself when Caradog and Hawis died within such a short time of each other. And I guess the long pause from writing updates had made me lose my rut for attempted comedy or something. This update is back into it a bit, and if I remember correctly, there might be some more crazies (and hence humour) down the road.
Not promising anything re updates anymore, just saying that there might be one tomorrow...
The previous update was quite somber, yes, but that's how it seemed to write itself when Caradog and Hawis died within such a short time of each other. And I guess the long pause from writing updates had made me lose my rut for attempted comedy or something. This update is back into it a bit, and if I remember correctly, there might be some more crazies (and hence humour) down the road.
Not promising anything re updates anymore, just saying that there might be one tomorrow...
Well, one definite reason can be seen in the 3rd screenshot: he had 0 gold, realm duress resulting in a total of 3 stewardship (12 total with the steward added, so not much help there either), and was at war with France and his own vassals (no muslims at the time actually though). So basically he couldn't afford it.
Anyway, I've found that it's relatively rare for an AI to create titles, or at least it takes them some time to do this. This as opposed to human players who tend to do it as soon as they have the money.
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Chapter 22: Wars, wounds, and crazy people
Yes, the schizophrenic duke has decided to go invade the little island,
rather than defending his own lands. With a meagre 600 men, nonetheless.
As I don't expect much more trouble in Lothian, and southern Scotland should be secure with that,
I turn my eye to northern Ireland. The title of Duke of Ulster is available to be created, and I
already own Ulaid. The county in the middle is a vassal of the Duke of Galloway and thus
a part of Scotland, but Tir Connail is nearly alone and outnumbered by my Ulaid regiment alone.
I order my spymaster to come up with a claim to said county.
Meanwhile in Lothian, the Argyll regiment is goint to break through the fortress in Strathclyde "soon",
according to Domnall. On the other hand, the southern holdings of the Duke of Lothian have already fallen.
Just after Christmas 1109, they finally seize Strathclyde, and thus the Duke of Lothian is vassalised to
the ascendant Kingdom of Wales, as well as being forced to yield his father's trumped-up claim to Gwent
and pay reparations. So now we're up to two mentally unstable people in the Kingdom.
For some reason it's mostly the nobles of Ynys Môn that request this...
Then again, it also seems to be Ynys Môn that's invaded the most out of my lands.
Another crazy. The bad news is that it's my oldest son's oldest son. The good news is I've declared
that the most able son will inherit, not the insane first-born. Oh, not to forget cruel, reckless, arbitrary,
deceitful and suspicious. As well as quite amazingly imcompetent. Not even 2nd cousin Iestyn was so
unskilled at statecraft.
This is starting to be riciculous. Jenovefa is Marshal Io's (ap Morgan ap Iestyn) wife, and related to
the Duke of Brittany (the sister of the current or previous duke, I forget who).
Well, it's a break from the crazy, but it's not particularly nice to hear that your reputation is that bad either.
Sure, my conquests are quite extensive, relatively speaking, but all my vassals still like me.
I offer her an improved allowance if she stays.
Hovhannes Senek'Erim Gardhman-Abghania, the former Count of Suenik died of war wounds in 1108. His relations and descendants have fled west, with several of them residing in the Principality of Turnovo. Ruben, the exception is Hovhannes' sole surviving brother, or a bastard half-brother actually. As for Hovhannes' sons, Senekerim is the eldest, and life really isn't treating him kindly either. Interesting that a fanatic diocese bishop is depressed and worm-ridden. Gurgen, or he who is named after a small and furry but vicious rodent, is the 2nd son of the lot, and quite unremarkable. Jirair is the 3rd or 4th son: most diplomats never learn the difference, they look and dress exactly the same. I'm told the most reliable way to recognise Jirair is by his mental instability.
Hopefully we can leave all the insanity behind, as the King of Norway proposes an
alliance with Wales. I accept, for while he does have some vassals in the far north of Scotland,
any maneuvers of conquest in that direction will likely be left to Cai. I declare myself the Duke of
Argyll soon after the alliance has been signed.
As AD 1110 draws to a close, I get the feeling that it's time to order the attack on Tir Connail.
Considering what to do after that, I consider the County of Dyfed, which ended up with the
Duchy of Munster mostly thanks to William the Bastard excommunicating the resident Bishop.
I decide that Dyfed needs to be reinstated as a bishopric, but that means taking it from Munster
first, and perhaps bringing them to heel in the process. I'm told I don't have quite enough reknown
to credibly lay claim to Dyfed despite being the King of Wales, but subduing one county in northern
Ireland should be enough to let me wage war on a duchy in southern Ireland.
Clearly this is the way to live for the Welsh. Sporadic, quick wars coupled with increasing the
wealth and fame of my realm have led it to be more and more prosperous and stable all round.
Ednowain here is Hawis' widower, and with her dead,
he wishes to seek employment elsewhere. I wish him good luck.
As predicted, Tir Connail is dealt with soon enough. I suppose I could have just vassalised them,
but my administration is hardly overtaxed since the boost in authority it gets from running the
Kingdom of Wales now, rather than just the Duchy of Morgannwg.
Meanwhile, England seems to be going through some interesting times.
As Sybille is mostly bed-ridden due to Pneumonia these days, she reconsiders how her life has been
in the eyes of God. She seems to be kinder to the servants these days.
Nearly as soon as I've declared war on Munster and some of my troops land in Ireland, I get this
peace offer. Since when have one-province Irish counts been this rich? It must be a veritable
land of milk and honey there. I accept and order permanent training grounds to be set up in several
of my demesne provinces.
Nnnnnnggg!
That really hurt. Losing the battle almost as much as the wound. 30 years ago I would've walked this off.
For the record, that was the second battle at Morgannwg in this war, we had already won the first one and
taken control of the province before reinforcements from Ireland arrived to defeat us here.
Just as the war on the Welsh side of the sea has taken a decisive turn for the worse (the expeditionary
force to Munster proper has regrouped from an initial defeat and is now advancing steadily down the
west coast there), Munster offers to relinquish Dyfed. As it was my main aim, I don't look the gift horse in
the mouth, and accept the peace offer.
My injury causes Sybille to worry.
She's had pneumonia for just over two years now as well.
It seems like neither of us is long for this world.
Yes, the schizophrenic duke has decided to go invade the little island,
rather than defending his own lands. With a meagre 600 men, nonetheless.
As I don't expect much more trouble in Lothian, and southern Scotland should be secure with that,
I turn my eye to northern Ireland. The title of Duke of Ulster is available to be created, and I
already own Ulaid. The county in the middle is a vassal of the Duke of Galloway and thus
a part of Scotland, but Tir Connail is nearly alone and outnumbered by my Ulaid regiment alone.
I order my spymaster to come up with a claim to said county.
Meanwhile in Lothian, the Argyll regiment is goint to break through the fortress in Strathclyde "soon",
according to Domnall. On the other hand, the southern holdings of the Duke of Lothian have already fallen.
Just after Christmas 1109, they finally seize Strathclyde, and thus the Duke of Lothian is vassalised to
the ascendant Kingdom of Wales, as well as being forced to yield his father's trumped-up claim to Gwent
and pay reparations. So now we're up to two mentally unstable people in the Kingdom.
For some reason it's mostly the nobles of Ynys Môn that request this...
Then again, it also seems to be Ynys Môn that's invaded the most out of my lands.
Another crazy. The bad news is that it's my oldest son's oldest son. The good news is I've declared
that the most able son will inherit, not the insane first-born. Oh, not to forget cruel, reckless, arbitrary,
deceitful and suspicious. As well as quite amazingly imcompetent. Not even 2nd cousin Iestyn was so
unskilled at statecraft.
This is starting to be riciculous. Jenovefa is Marshal Io's (ap Morgan ap Iestyn) wife, and related to
the Duke of Brittany (the sister of the current or previous duke, I forget who).
Well, it's a break from the crazy, but it's not particularly nice to hear that your reputation is that bad either.
Sure, my conquests are quite extensive, relatively speaking, but all my vassals still like me.
I offer her an improved allowance if she stays.
Hovhannes Senek'Erim Gardhman-Abghania, the former Count of Suenik died of war wounds in 1108. His relations and descendants have fled west, with several of them residing in the Principality of Turnovo. Ruben, the exception is Hovhannes' sole surviving brother, or a bastard half-brother actually. As for Hovhannes' sons, Senekerim is the eldest, and life really isn't treating him kindly either. Interesting that a fanatic diocese bishop is depressed and worm-ridden. Gurgen, or he who is named after a small and furry but vicious rodent, is the 2nd son of the lot, and quite unremarkable. Jirair is the 3rd or 4th son: most diplomats never learn the difference, they look and dress exactly the same. I'm told the most reliable way to recognise Jirair is by his mental instability.
Hopefully we can leave all the insanity behind, as the King of Norway proposes an
alliance with Wales. I accept, for while he does have some vassals in the far north of Scotland,
any maneuvers of conquest in that direction will likely be left to Cai. I declare myself the Duke of
Argyll soon after the alliance has been signed.
As AD 1110 draws to a close, I get the feeling that it's time to order the attack on Tir Connail.
Considering what to do after that, I consider the County of Dyfed, which ended up with the
Duchy of Munster mostly thanks to William the Bastard excommunicating the resident Bishop.
I decide that Dyfed needs to be reinstated as a bishopric, but that means taking it from Munster
first, and perhaps bringing them to heel in the process. I'm told I don't have quite enough reknown
to credibly lay claim to Dyfed despite being the King of Wales, but subduing one county in northern
Ireland should be enough to let me wage war on a duchy in southern Ireland.
Clearly this is the way to live for the Welsh. Sporadic, quick wars coupled with increasing the
wealth and fame of my realm have led it to be more and more prosperous and stable all round.
Ednowain here is Hawis' widower, and with her dead,
he wishes to seek employment elsewhere. I wish him good luck.
As predicted, Tir Connail is dealt with soon enough. I suppose I could have just vassalised them,
but my administration is hardly overtaxed since the boost in authority it gets from running the
Kingdom of Wales now, rather than just the Duchy of Morgannwg.
Meanwhile, England seems to be going through some interesting times.
As Sybille is mostly bed-ridden due to Pneumonia these days, she reconsiders how her life has been
in the eyes of God. She seems to be kinder to the servants these days.
Nearly as soon as I've declared war on Munster and some of my troops land in Ireland, I get this
peace offer. Since when have one-province Irish counts been this rich? It must be a veritable
land of milk and honey there. I accept and order permanent training grounds to be set up in several
of my demesne provinces.
Nnnnnnggg!
That really hurt. Losing the battle almost as much as the wound. 30 years ago I would've walked this off.
For the record, that was the second battle at Morgannwg in this war, we had already won the first one and
taken control of the province before reinforcements from Ireland arrived to defeat us here.
Just as the war on the Welsh side of the sea has taken a decisive turn for the worse (the expeditionary
force to Munster proper has regrouped from an initial defeat and is now advancing steadily down the
west coast there), Munster offers to relinquish Dyfed. As it was my main aim, I don't look the gift horse in
the mouth, and accept the peace offer.
My injury causes Sybille to worry.
She's had pneumonia for just over two years now as well.
It seems like neither of us is long for this world.