This is why I try to avoid using ironman games for AARs - not that I always manage it of course.
Hope it gets resolved.
Hope it gets resolved.
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Yes, it was only after I started that I realised I shouldn't have. But, as a fall back, I've taken periodic copies of the ironman saves (renumbered) and kept one on a spare hard drive and another on a thumb drive. If things got desperate, I could (I think) use one of them as a 'scum save' (by deleting the ironman save and replacing it with a copied/archived one, with the correct filename) if it is something that has actually corrupted the current save file. I'd lose a bit of gameplay, but it would be recoverable. I think. I hope.
I ironman a lot which is problematic with game updates and new dlc...if abything bad happens Albion is lost forever.
I think its a file issue in the save games section but it could be a corruption in graphics, as otgers said, and night resolve itself if ran for a bit.
I think its a file issue in the save games section but it could be a corruption in graphics, as otgers said, and night resolve itself if ran for a bit.
Yep will see what I get back from the techs from my formal support request. I think it should be salvageable in some form: even without a fix for the current save game, it is still playable. For now.
Thanks for all who have responded with ideas or well-wishes, especially:
@Idhrendur you were right. I tried that on the dummy game and it worked (hadn't wanted to risk it on the Ironman Rurikid one sight unseen). Then did the same with my AAR game and it worked there too, one day ticked over and it seemed to be fine again, so I will resume and hope for the best! Will be a couple of days yet before the next Blood & Battle update is done, as I'm in the process of doing a Talking Turkey one - then Rurik will be next.
From what I know (and I might be completely wrong here) this is a known bug that derives from the game knowing the distance between all land provinces, but naval tiles confuse them for a moment and it goes 'WHAAAAA THAT'S NOT A PLACE HOW DID YOU GET THERE oh wait you can do that now' and the next day it remembers to show the proper time. Annoying, but not gamebreaking.
I really hope it gets resolved since I’ve just finished binge-reading this over a couple days and can’t wait for the next one.
Great to have you aboard @Jabby and many thanks for the compliment of the binge read!
Yes, happily, it’s kinda resolved: I’ve seen one or two others mention the same thing now and it only happens when you reload a saved game. It stops happening after you forward the game from there and doesn’t otherwise seem to affect it - fingers crossed.
Next session played, screenies all edited and part way through writing up. RL has been pleasantly busy the last week or so, which has slowed down publication a little, but hope to get the next ep up later today (my time).
Yep, that’s pretty much it, though I’m not sure it had anything to do with naval tiles.
I’m hoping it might be fixed again in a subsequent patch, but until then will trust it is nothing gamebreaking.
Chapter 50: Blood, Battle and Bereavement (18 May 886 – 16 April 887)
Chapter 50: Blood, Battle and Bereavement (18 May 886 – 16 April 887)
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … The latest Great Raid is almost ready to depart; Konugarðr is in trouble in their failed war on Mari and now has multiple claim wars on their border provinces, including Gradimir of Tver and a few Polish chiefs trying their luck in the west; and the Ostlander war with the Bjarmian Finns seems to be succeeded despite having an army routed in Kexholm.
[Welcome to Episode 50. Hurrah!]
May-June 886
One question posed at the last Þing concerned young Ferverdyn the Slow, long-term hostage from the raid on Cornwall 16 years before. The advice received varied from honouring him at the next Blot, to release, making him Court Jester, granting him a simple invitation to stay at the court as a free man or sending him to make his own way in the world. Which probably wouldn’t be very far. Any of these solutions could be argued as ‘Just’, depending on the perspective. Rurik was in no hurry to decide the issue, so kept the young man under his ‘house arrest’ for the moment, which really just limited him to the capital of Nygarðr and its immediate environs. Rurik would wait for some sign from the Gods to determine Ferverdyn’s fate.
Another question raised at the recent Þing concerned the current succession laws in the Jarldom of Yaroslavl, where Rurik’s new son-in-law was the eldest son of the current Jarl, but not his heir to the Jarldom title (Jarl Tyueykezhut’s brother Kezhevat was heir). Gumarich handed the king a report that had been prepared by the Chancellor. And of course, the Yaroslavan succession law was Agnatic Elective Gavelkind, so as things currently stood the second and third in line to the Jarldom title were Kezhevat’s two young sons – then Nishkepaz. Aside from the Jarldom title, Nishkepaz at least stood to inherit two chiefdoms: Pereyaslavl Zalessky and Radstofa. Interestingly, at the moment anyway, Kezhevat actually had a mildly positive opinion of Rurik – a little better even than Nishkepaz himself.
There was some additional information on Kezhevat and his sons. It seemed the second and third sons, Virdyan and Tunya, were favoured in the line of succession above the eldest, Chichayka. Virdyan was Kezhevat’s designated heir – for the Jarldom and the county of Moskva. The reasons for this were unclear.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
July 886
As the summer warmed, the small contingent of troops that would provide the ship guard for the raid arrived in Ingria. They and the main body, both having duly performed the required Toggling Ceremony, loaded aboard the ships and by 2 July they were on their way along the rivers of the interior, headed for the riches of the Mediterranean.
Rurik, remaining at court in Nygarðr, was made aware by the Court Tutor, Aslaug, that his grandson Rikulfr needed a childhood focus for his development. As the brother to the heir apparent (Buðli), Rurik thought it fitting to see him schooled in the ways of duty.
A few days later, Hrörekr reported that his general statecraft had further improved relations with Chief Svetozar, who for now anyway was positively friendly! Wonders will never cease, thought Rurik to himself. He realised this could prove important the next time the allied levies were requested: Svetozar’s troop would be far more likely to answer the call for the next few years.
The last, said with a slightly raised eyebrow, elicited a polite nod from the Seer, who promptly left to commence his work.
On 11 July, one of the Queen’s agents brought news of yet another Slovensky murder plot. Rurik merely nodded and gave a small almost-smile. Let them do their worst, he thought to himself. Slovenskys will be Slovenskys, after all.
Helgi entered his father's meeting hall a week or so later.
Towards the end of the month, peace was indeed made by Dyre with Saksa. There were no details forthcoming on the specific terms of the settlement, but Dyre did not lose any territory and the Maran occupation of his eastern provinces was lifted.
August-September 886
Helgi’s next report was on the Ostlander conquest war on Bjarmia. Things continued to go badly for High Chief Hasaba, who seemed destined to lose his home province unless his fortunes changed radically.
Mid-month, the Garðarikian raiding fleet was sailing downriver along the Dnieper in Könugarðr, past the lands beset by Dyre’s opportunistic Polish enemies. One of them, Chief Bronislav of Peremshyl, was doing particularly well. And as yet, Dyre had no vassal allies to help him following the conclusion the month before of his failed Holy War on Mari.
And to the north-east, Gradimir’s claim war still involved contingents following each other around, while Dyre’s main force (a shadow of its potential size) seemed to be heading west to deal with those troublesome Polish incursions. Gradimir’s luck was holding.
The Queen’s improved spy network [ie my selection of more neighbours as characters of interest and ensuring certain reports would appear] sent word that Dyre had issued a general call to arms to all his vassals to assist with his border claim wars. Most seemed to be agreeing to come to his aid by the end of August and beginning of September. The effect this would have on his ability to fend off the scavengers bloodying his flanks remained to be seen.
With his raiders off raiding and his neighbours fighting, Rurik returned to the hunt, which he found eased his personal torment. It was a particularly fine autumn day, so off he set into the nearby forests of Holmgarðr, a few retainers and his faithful dog Hunter by his side. What could possibly go wrong …?
By mid-September, the raiding fleet had passed through the river system, sailed along the Black Sea coast and passed by Constantinople, where the Queen passed on all the latest details she had been able to muster on the potential raiding targets in the Mediterranean. Hrolfr and Þorsteinn looked enviously at the riches of Constantinople – the greatest city in the world – but knew it was simply beyond their capacity to plunder. For now, anyway!
On 24 September, word came that Dvina (south of the county of Bjarmia, which was already under Ostlander occupation) had been taken by Rögnvaldr’s forces. There now seemed no alternative to surrender for High Chief Hasaba [99% warscore in favour of the attackers]. Sure enough, just two days later, the war was over: Ostlandet now had an outpost to Garðaríki’s north-east. How sustainable it would be and whether Rögnvaldr planned to expand from there in years to come was unknown – but would certainly bear watching.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
October-December 886
His call was met with a lusty cheer: Famagusta would feel the pent-up frustration of all those days travelling south. The ships arrived on 3 October: by 12 October the men (except for the ship guard) were all on land and ravaging the countryside.
In Könugarðr, Dyre’s position had worsened: now the Vilnians had partly occupied his capital. The Tverians had finally arrived at the actual target of their claim war: Mozhaysk. They seemed to be besieging it untroubled by any of Dyre’s forces.
As the quick raid on Famagusta began to near its end, the raiding fleet (with its guard aboard) began sailing to the Levantine Sea, so it would be ready for the next target: Iskandarun. It reached there on 16 November and by 29 November the raid was done and the troops heading back to the ships, which now carried almost 27 gold in treasure. A small Bardunid levy had mustered in Iskandarun but it would be too small to cause the raiders any problem in an opposed landing. Of some interest was the Orthodox revolt in the neighbouring county to the south, but the raid commanders judged they would be no significant threat for the time they would be raiding.
At home, a pack of local thugs and riff-raff set upon the venerable Steward Alfgeir as he tried to spread Norse culture in the home county – clearly a dangerous task!
Rurik visited his steward as he recovered.
The wounded steward would soon be back at his task of trying to settle more Norsemen in the home county and so bring it to majority Norse culture.
(11 sec)
She does looks a little like Alfgeir’s wife …
On completing their embarkation on 4 December, the raiders assessed the prospects of an opposed landing.
When it did, on 12 December, the enemy ran away almost immediately, though it did them no good. The battle reports were a little confused: all the enemy were slaughtered and [or so it said] only one raider was killed. However, by 20 December, another 100 men had disappeared without explanation. [Note: the same as happened on the previous raid, and attrition is showing zero, while all the commanders are tagged as characters of interest. This time it occurred immediately after the battle, on the same day as it ended. Looks like I’ll never find out exactly what is causing these miscellaneous losses].
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
January-March 887
In the depths of winter, another would-be commander arrived at the court in Nygarðr, a Norseman (Ivar Rakki) and his family. It looked like they may be refugees from the former Swedish lands in Frankia, given Ivar’s strong claim on Verdun and his membership of a pagan defensive pact against King Charles the Bold of West Frankia (as well as the general pagan pact against Hungary). He was cynical and paranoid (perhaps from his travails in the west) but also craven and not particularly devoted to his new king, so for now he will just fill the numbers out at court.
A week later, a letter arrived from his daughter Asa, now with her husband Nishkepaz at his father’s court in Yaroslavl. He had been appointed his father’s Diviner and was off hunting apostates of his heathen Finnish religion.
By 3 February the sacking of Iskandarun was done – with no more mysterious casualties suffered – and the raiders headed back to the ships and an increasing hoard of gold. They noticed the Emir had raised his levy in Famagusta: but too late to do any good.
Soon, they were off to Crete and their next target: Gortyn, part of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor would be displeased. Again.
Gradimir persisted with his campaign against King Dyre during the bitter winter: Mozhaysk had been occupied and he was now besieging Bryansk, no doubt to persuade the Apostate to agree to a humiliating concession. Dyre now had a large complement of vassal allies, but they had not been observed in action: perhaps they were fighting the Poles in the west. Gradimir would be hoping that would keep them occupied for long enough for him to prosecute his own claim.
A note arrived around a week later from the Chancellor: the truce with Varaka the Ill-Ruler had ended. But he was now the chief of a single county (though with a lot of claims) and a vassal of Saksa the Monster of Mari, so the expiry of the truce was of little practical importance or use.
On 23 February, the raiding fleet arrived in the Sea of Crete and began disembarking. They were all ashore by 3 March and scouring the countryside for valuables. Two weeks later, more ‘mystery disappearances’ occurred (no record has survived of what caused it) with around another 100 troops lost.
A Cretan levy was mustered nearby on 21 March, but it was too small to be of any concern – and the raiders had no intention of pillaging the neighbouring county in any case.
April 887
By 11 April, the raiders were finished in Gortyn and heading back to the ships without any further incident or loss.
The latest word was that a raid of Tunis would still be too risky to attempt: Sheikh Keraja still retained his large levy. Hrolfr knew he would have to look to the alternatives suggested by Helgi.
Back in Garðaríki, Rurik’s son Eilif had come of age. He bore a remarkable physical resemblance to his father – but was very different in his characteristics. The most notable of which was his dullness of wit. He had tried to compensate for this with study and a patient approach, but this only had a limited effect. He was a tough soldier, but not a very good one. On reflection, Rurik – though he loved Eilif well enough – reflected in his journal that it was probably for the best that he was not heir to the Kingdom. He also decided to wait before finding him a marriage match, but this would have to be done in the near future.
And in the south, Gradimir’s claim war proceeded well: he had occupied one of Dyre’s holdings in Bryansk and remained unthreatened as yet by any of Dyre’s troops. Meanwhile, the Apostate’s situation continued to get worse, with even more of his territory occupied by the Polish invaders in his western marches.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
Questions
Anything raised in this update but not posed as a specific question is of course fair game for comment if you have information to add, as are any on the narrative, events and actions I should be thinking about.
Ch50 Q1: Kezhevat. I’ll let the arcane Elective Gavelkind peculiarities slide by for now. My main question is, should Kezhevat meet an unfortunate accident before he can inherit the Jarldom, would that mean his sons would be (either likely or certainly) removed from or downgraded in the line of succession for the Jarldom? Elevating Nishkepaz to the top of the queue? Not to say Rurik would necessarily do that, but it could be an option. Though Kezhevat seems reasonably well disposed for now.
Ch50 Q2: War Terms. So can I assume that Saksa may have extracted reparations and that Dyre would have incurred a significant prestige loss for losing a Holy War? And despite having all that land occupied by Saksa, because there was no claim from Mari I suppose that meant he couldn’t claim a province by way of reparations?
This latest translation of the Rurikid Chronicles finishes with the decision of Hrolfr, Þorsteinn and Sverker to head back to the old and familiar raiding sites of southern Italia, in search of more blood, battle and riches.
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … The latest Great Raid is almost ready to depart; Konugarðr is in trouble in their failed war on Mari and now has multiple claim wars on their border provinces, including Gradimir of Tver and a few Polish chiefs trying their luck in the west; and the Ostlander war with the Bjarmian Finns seems to be succeeded despite having an army routed in Kexholm.
[Welcome to Episode 50. Hurrah!
]ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
May-June 886
One question posed at the last Þing concerned young Ferverdyn the Slow, long-term hostage from the raid on Cornwall 16 years before. The advice received varied from honouring him at the next Blot, to release, making him Court Jester, granting him a simple invitation to stay at the court as a free man or sending him to make his own way in the world. Which probably wouldn’t be very far. Any of these solutions could be argued as ‘Just’, depending on the perspective. Rurik was in no hurry to decide the issue, so kept the young man under his ‘house arrest’ for the moment, which really just limited him to the capital of Nygarðr and its immediate environs. Rurik would wait for some sign from the Gods to determine Ferverdyn’s fate.
Another question raised at the recent Þing concerned the current succession laws in the Jarldom of Yaroslavl, where Rurik’s new son-in-law was the eldest son of the current Jarl, but not his heir to the Jarldom title (Jarl Tyueykezhut’s brother Kezhevat was heir). Gumarich handed the king a report that had been prepared by the Chancellor. And of course, the Yaroslavan succession law was Agnatic Elective Gavelkind, so as things currently stood the second and third in line to the Jarldom title were Kezhevat’s two young sons – then Nishkepaz. Aside from the Jarldom title, Nishkepaz at least stood to inherit two chiefdoms: Pereyaslavl Zalessky and Radstofa. Interestingly, at the moment anyway, Kezhevat actually had a mildly positive opinion of Rurik – a little better even than Nishkepaz himself.
Ch50 Q1: Kezhevat. I’ll let the arcane Elective Gavelkind peculiarities slide by for now. My main question is, should Kezhevat meet an unfortunate accident before he can inherit the Jarldom, would that mean his sons would be (either likely or certainly) removed from or downgraded in the line of succession for the Jarldom? Elevating Nishkepaz to the top of the queue? Not to say Rurik would necessarily do that, but it could be an option. Though Kezhevat seems reasonably well disposed for now.
“My Liege,” said Chancellor Hrörekr on a mid-June day as he made one of his regular reports on the political doings of the realm. “I have good news.”
“Say on, Hrörekr,” encouraged Rurik. He could not help but reflect they had grown old together in the governance of the realm. “I could do with some good news. I’m off to hunt some deer later this morning. This may send me off in a good mood.”
“The, ah, difficult Chief of Tver would appear to have enough on his hands in his claim war on Dyre the Apostate to continue being a faction of one for independence. He has disbanded it by withdrawing himself.”
“Oh, that is excellent news, thank you Hrörekr! It will brighten my path on this lovely day. Are you sure you won’t come along for the ride today?”
“Thank you but no. My old body is not as hale and hearty as yours, Sire. I shall bid thee to fare well!”
“Of course, my old friend. I shall be off. Hunter!” He called out to his faithful dog, who had seen far more activity with his master of late. “Heel! We’re off, boy!”
“Say on, Hrörekr,” encouraged Rurik. He could not help but reflect they had grown old together in the governance of the realm. “I could do with some good news. I’m off to hunt some deer later this morning. This may send me off in a good mood.”
“The, ah, difficult Chief of Tver would appear to have enough on his hands in his claim war on Dyre the Apostate to continue being a faction of one for independence. He has disbanded it by withdrawing himself.”
“Oh, that is excellent news, thank you Hrörekr! It will brighten my path on this lovely day. Are you sure you won’t come along for the ride today?”
“Thank you but no. My old body is not as hale and hearty as yours, Sire. I shall bid thee to fare well!”
“Of course, my old friend. I shall be off. Hunter!” He called out to his faithful dog, who had seen far more activity with his master of late. “Heel! We’re off, boy!”
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
July 886
As the summer warmed, the small contingent of troops that would provide the ship guard for the raid arrived in Ingria. They and the main body, both having duly performed the required Toggling Ceremony, loaded aboard the ships and by 2 July they were on their way along the rivers of the interior, headed for the riches of the Mediterranean.
“Hrörekr, this is once again great work, but I think Svetozar is sufficiently persuaded for now. I would like you to specifically focus on Chief Ladimir in Belo Ozero for the next half year. I would like him better disposed towards us.”
“Of course, My Liege. I will prepare to leave immediately.”
“And Haukr, I’m not sure why you are back here in Holmgarðr hunting apostates. I don’t recall ordering that.”
“King Rurik, the Gods’ work is never done and I saw the opportunity to search for unbelievers and devotees of Hel. But what is your wish? I will of course obey.”
“I require you to get back to those Slavic heathens in Torzhok and continue the work of converting them to the True Germanic Faith.”
“As you command, King Rurik.”
“If you succeed there, I would like you to repair to the Jarl of Yaroslavl’s court next: if you could convert them to the faith – and a few of their lords along the way – the Gods would I’m sure be most pleased. I certainly would be.”
“Of course, My Liege. I will prepare to leave immediately.”
“And Haukr, I’m not sure why you are back here in Holmgarðr hunting apostates. I don’t recall ordering that.”
“King Rurik, the Gods’ work is never done and I saw the opportunity to search for unbelievers and devotees of Hel. But what is your wish? I will of course obey.”
“I require you to get back to those Slavic heathens in Torzhok and continue the work of converting them to the True Germanic Faith.”
“As you command, King Rurik.”
“If you succeed there, I would like you to repair to the Jarl of Yaroslavl’s court next: if you could convert them to the faith – and a few of their lords along the way – the Gods would I’m sure be most pleased. I certainly would be.”
The last, said with a slightly raised eyebrow, elicited a polite nod from the Seer, who promptly left to commence his work.
“Father, I bring news of the Unholy War of Dyre the Apostate on the equally heathen Saksa of Mari.”
“Yes, has he lost yet?”
“Very nearly. While he is fighting a battle at favourable odds against a smaller Maran army to the east, Saksa’s main force has reduced Bryansk and next moves to Mozhaysk. We believe Dyre will soon ask for terms – he is thoroughly bested.”
“So, his new God sees fit to piss on his bedclothes!” Rurik gave a grim laugh. “What of Gradimir’s claim war for Mozhaysk?”
"His force and a smaller Könugarðian detachment seem to be circling around each other for now.”
“We will let them have their fun, so long as no-one damages any of our own royal holdings.”
“Of course, father.”
“Yes, has he lost yet?”
“Very nearly. While he is fighting a battle at favourable odds against a smaller Maran army to the east, Saksa’s main force has reduced Bryansk and next moves to Mozhaysk. We believe Dyre will soon ask for terms – he is thoroughly bested.”
“So, his new God sees fit to piss on his bedclothes!” Rurik gave a grim laugh. “What of Gradimir’s claim war for Mozhaysk?”
"His force and a smaller Könugarðian detachment seem to be circling around each other for now.”
“We will let them have their fun, so long as no-one damages any of our own royal holdings.”
“Of course, father.”
Ch50 Q2: War Terms. So can I assume that Saksa may have extracted reparations and that Dyre would have incurred a significant prestige loss for losing a Holy War? And despite having all that land occupied by Saksa, because there was no claim from Mari I suppose that meant he couldn’t claim a province by way of reparations?
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
August-September 886
Helgi’s next report was on the Ostlander conquest war on Bjarmia. Things continued to go badly for High Chief Hasaba, who seemed destined to lose his home province unless his fortunes changed radically.
Hunter had dashed off into some undergrowth, perhaps scenting some prey for his master. After almost a minute had passed, Rurik became curious, then concerned. There had been no barking, no yelp of alarm, no panicked escape of some bird or animal from the brush.
Without thought for his personal safety and with worry for his old canine companion, Rurik dashed into the thick growth, axe drawn and eyes alert – a hint of his ever-lurking lunacy visible, had anyone been able to look into them at that moment.
What he saw was Hunter, relaxed and asleep on the ground. But no, not asleep, or at least not in that way. He had simply laid down and died peacefully, doing what he loved. But he was gone – never more would Rurik feel the comfort of his presence, the companionship he had come to rely on all these years, especially with his wife far away and his manhood lost in Italy all those years ago now.
His retainers helped him carry old Hunter back to the keep, where he was sent off with a quiet but heartfelt ceremony. A small boat was laden as a funeral byre, with a few precious mementos: a silver studded collar and his old blanket. It was launched into the river and an archer shot a fire arrow to set it alight, Viking style. Vale, Hunter!
But the fire was not enough to warm that small place in Rurik’s heart that had grown cold – never to be warmed again.
Without thought for his personal safety and with worry for his old canine companion, Rurik dashed into the thick growth, axe drawn and eyes alert – a hint of his ever-lurking lunacy visible, had anyone been able to look into them at that moment.
What he saw was Hunter, relaxed and asleep on the ground. But no, not asleep, or at least not in that way. He had simply laid down and died peacefully, doing what he loved. But he was gone – never more would Rurik feel the comfort of his presence, the companionship he had come to rely on all these years, especially with his wife far away and his manhood lost in Italy all those years ago now.
But the fire was not enough to warm that small place in Rurik’s heart that had grown cold – never to be warmed again.
By mid-September, the raiding fleet had passed through the river system, sailed along the Black Sea coast and passed by Constantinople, where the Queen passed on all the latest details she had been able to muster on the potential raiding targets in the Mediterranean. Hrolfr and Þorsteinn looked enviously at the riches of Constantinople – the greatest city in the world – but knew it was simply beyond their capacity to plunder. For now, anyway!
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
October-December 886
“Time to get ashore, boys!” Hrolfr yelled as they finally arrived off the island of Rhodes, almost exactly three months after they had set sail from Ingria.
His call was met with a lusty cheer: Famagusta would feel the pent-up frustration of all those days travelling south. The ships arrived on 3 October: by 12 October the men (except for the ship guard) were all on land and ravaging the countryside.
“The scoundrels! Here, in our home county! Alfgeir, you are made of stern stuff: you may be short and skinny, but you’re strong! Thank you for your dedication.”
“It will take more than that to lay me low, King Rurik,” answered a weary but defiant Alfgeir.
Alfgeir’s wife, Beata of Vologda – a lusty and stubborn stutterer – chimed in fiercely in support of her husband: “The f-first b-blade went in s-s-s-sideways … b-but he didn’t scream or n-n-n-n-nuthin’!”
“It will take more than that to lay me low, King Rurik,” answered a weary but defiant Alfgeir.
Alfgeir’s wife, Beata of Vologda – a lusty and stubborn stutterer – chimed in fiercely in support of her husband: “The f-first b-blade went in s-s-s-sideways … b-but he didn’t scream or n-n-n-n-nuthin’!”
The wounded steward would soon be back at his task of trying to settle more Norsemen in the home county and so bring it to majority Norse culture.
She does looks a little like Alfgeir’s wife …
On completing their embarkation on 4 December, the raiders assessed the prospects of an opposed landing.
“Our attack and defence will be hindered – but against only 57 defenders that will hardly matter. Let us pile ashore and slaughter them!” Þorsteinn’s fierce assessment was echoed by the others: Hrolfr ordered the attack, though it would take some days to commence.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
January-March 887
In the depths of winter, another would-be commander arrived at the court in Nygarðr, a Norseman (Ivar Rakki) and his family. It looked like they may be refugees from the former Swedish lands in Frankia, given Ivar’s strong claim on Verdun and his membership of a pagan defensive pact against King Charles the Bold of West Frankia (as well as the general pagan pact against Hungary). He was cynical and paranoid (perhaps from his travails in the west) but also craven and not particularly devoted to his new king, so for now he will just fill the numbers out at court.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
April 887
By 11 April, the raiders were finished in Gortyn and heading back to the ships without any further incident or loss.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
Questions
Anything raised in this update but not posed as a specific question is of course fair game for comment if you have information to add, as are any on the narrative, events and actions I should be thinking about.
Ch50 Q1: Kezhevat. I’ll let the arcane Elective Gavelkind peculiarities slide by for now. My main question is, should Kezhevat meet an unfortunate accident before he can inherit the Jarldom, would that mean his sons would be (either likely or certainly) removed from or downgraded in the line of succession for the Jarldom? Elevating Nishkepaz to the top of the queue? Not to say Rurik would necessarily do that, but it could be an option. Though Kezhevat seems reasonably well disposed for now.
Ch50 Q2: War Terms. So can I assume that Saksa may have extracted reparations and that Dyre would have incurred a significant prestige loss for losing a Holy War? And despite having all that land occupied by Saksa, because there was no claim from Mari I suppose that meant he couldn’t claim a province by way of reparations?
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
This latest translation of the Rurikid Chronicles finishes with the decision of Hrolfr, Þorsteinn and Sverker to head back to the old and familiar raiding sites of southern Italia, in search of more blood, battle and riches.
Elective Gavelkind was probably invented by a drunk Karling. But about the whole inheritance situation, it's a bit more complicated. Elective Gavelkind means that one elected son inherits the main title and the capital, while the others split the remains. What this means is that even if you kill the current successor, you can't be sure that the inheritance will switch to the desired target. The only way to guide Elective gavelkind from the outside is to litterally stab the successors until the one you want is picked.
No wait, if he won a holy war he must have gained land somewhere. Holy War is by far one of the most powerful casus belli, because if you win you get the entire Duchy, and you get rid of any vassal that isn't of your religion. So he must have gained some territory from this.
For the rest, it's even better than that from a pagan perspective: not only he personally lost prestige and piety, but his religion lost Moral Authority, which means that his faith is now somewhat weaker. Of course, a single Holy War defeat doesn't mean that much for a strong faith, but it always helps.
EDIT: I realize now that Saksa was the Defender. Which means that He did not obtain new land. Everything else I said, but no land.
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Not entirely true. You can run literally every election in your diplomatic range if you really want to. It requires some good assasins (spy network) and an ocean of money (which, as a pagan you could steal from these very targets) but it does mean that you can hand pick literally every ruler in the land who has this system, including the papacy. So look for the ones who love pagans and go after them.
RIP Hunter; such a faithful companion will be missed
I think that Gavelkind and Elective Gavelkind only consider children (except when no children remain alive, in which case it's split among the next highest available generation, whether that be grandchildren, siblings, cousins, etc.). I can't really speak with 100% certainty, though.
CK2's war settlement system is a good bit more rigid than those of most other Paradox games -- every war has a single objective, and in most cases the only real difference between a White Peace and Surrendering (on the aggressor's part) is how severe the consequences are for the loser. In this case, since Dyre was the aggressor, him losing means no territory changes hands -- he just loses prestige, and has to pay reparations to the victor as compensation.
Note, though, that truces are in most circumstances only one-way (again unlike other Paradox games), so it's possible in most circumstances to thrash someone in a defensive war, then launch your own punitive campaign against them immediately thereafter...
I think that Gavelkind and Elective Gavelkind only consider children (except when no children remain alive, in which case it's split among the next highest available generation, whether that be grandchildren, siblings, cousins, etc.). I can't really speak with 100% certainty, though.
CK2's war settlement system is a good bit more rigid than those of most other Paradox games -- every war has a single objective, and in most cases the only real difference between a White Peace and Surrendering (on the aggressor's part) is how severe the consequences are for the loser. In this case, since Dyre was the aggressor, him losing means no territory changes hands -- he just loses prestige, and has to pay reparations to the victor as compensation.
Note, though, that truces are in most circumstances only one-way (again unlike other Paradox games), so it's possible in most circumstances to thrash someone in a defensive war, then launch your own punitive campaign against them immediately thereafter...
Ch50 Q2: War Terms. So can I assume that Saksa may have extracted reparations and that Dyre would have incurred a significant prestige loss for losing a Holy War? And despite having all that land occupied by Saksa, because there was no claim from Mari I suppose that meant he couldn’t claim a province by way of reparations?
Since Dyre started the war, all he loses is gold, piety, prestige, and moral authority from his faith. In addition, his target could theoretically choose to start a fresh Holy War against him, before he has a chance to recover. Said target would of course have to deal with Dyre's liege, but there can certainly be circumstances where you have fresh gold, and your opponent has ravaged levies that would allow for a successful counter holy war.
A shame about Hunter. Hopefully Rurik can find something new, and not succumb to grief.
Since Dyre started the war, all he loses is gold, piety, prestige, and moral authority from his faith. In addition, his target could theoretically choose to start a fresh Holy War against him, before he has a chance to recover. Said target would of course have to deal with Dyre's liege, but there can certainly be circumstances where you have fresh gold, and your opponent has ravaged levies that would allow for a successful counter holy war.
A shame about Hunter. Hopefully Rurik can find something new, and not succumb to grief.
Wiki says:
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Like Tanistry, all significant title holders within the realm vote for candidates from among the ruling dynasty. If the chosen successor is not one of the ruler's sons, all of the ruler's sons will be considered junior heirs.So, if the electors choose somebody other than Nishkepaz and he has sons, they will be there (i.e. 1-chosen guy 2-3-4.. his sons). On the other hand, regarding it's only Kezhevat and his sons above Nishkepaz, I'd say with him removed it's going to be Nishkepaz at pole position.
I don't know what the voting is based on, and as I said before, if it is prestige based we can try to boost the prestige of Nishkepaz to boost his chances of being elected.
RIP , he will be greatly missedwhat a combination!
what is the number of unit types now? I'm just curious if it's from one type, proportional to the amount of defense points or just random. Also, can it be that a regiment has too low of something and just disappears/teleports back home?
this might be a good factor for his inheritence chances?
with that puny army his chances of having a warscore to push his claims is very thin unless the poles break the apostate in the west.
but it seems that's what's going to happen anyway
Others have answered your questions better than I have.
Also, I feel the need to go home and spend some time with my dog.
Also, I feel the need to go home and spend some time with my dog.
Mm...on the one hand I sympathise with the doggie death. On the other, I board and train guide dogs so I don't tend to attach to them as much as other people. Mind you, the one that we actually kept is a lovely boy indeed.
Today, a very special dog passed away and it's an interesting coincidence so figured I should write it here as well. Muko was a stray puppy in the district of Erenköy in İstanbul some incredible 20+ years ago. The father of a friend who owns a hardware store in the neighborhood started feeding her and letting her sleep in the store in the nights. She was of no special breed, just a street dog as we call them although she was one of the most clever dogs I've seen. I saw with my own 2 eyes she was using the public transport system. She just got on the train at one stop, waited until it was her stop, and got off in a cool manner.
She passed away today. We do not know how old was she because she was born on the street at some indeterminate time but my friends have been feeding her for over 21-22 years. As far as I know that's crazy long for a dog. Last time I saw her some months ago, she wasn't able to hear or see, and her knees seemed to hurt a lot when she was trying to get up or lie down. She had a good, peaceful and long life, and now her watch has ended.
She passed away today. We do not know how old was she because she was born on the street at some indeterminate time but my friends have been feeding her for over 21-22 years. As far as I know that's crazy long for a dog. Last time I saw her some months ago, she wasn't able to hear or see, and her knees seemed to hurt a lot when she was trying to get up or lie down. She had a good, peaceful and long life, and now her watch has ended.