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Yeah, in this case as a newbie and going tribal to feudal, I have to empower the Council to get there, it seems to be mildly useful and (mainly) I want to play with different aspects as we go, to learn them.
All: Next ep written and illustrated, will publish in a couple of hours.
Having thought about it a bit, the mechanic I said a fairly good one to have, it's just you never want to be in a situation where you could ever activate it. Useful for you though I think.
Ch 106 Q1: Plot Uncovered. It wasn’t necessarily obvious to me what the exposure of the plot practically does (either to the original plot or the one to kill Helgi). Any advice from experienced conspirators out there?
When a plot is uncovered from one of your vassals or court members, you can imprison them without penalty (they of course can try to fight or flee) or tell them to knock off their plotting first if you don't really want to try them in jail. They can refuse that too but usually won't, and then you can always imrpison them afterwards.
If you get caught in a plot, everyone in diplomatic range finds out and takes the appraise opinion penalties. Kindlayer is the worst one but several plot outcomes aren't great. Of course, if you're an absolute monarch it doesn't matter what your vassals think of you and you can be as tyrannical as you please without much fear of reprisal. You on the other hand have a much weaker grasp on power so do try not to get caught.
That was a nice vacation in Spain. The treasury should be filled enough for a moment, and give a chance to focus on something else. Edla's a good option, helping Helgi thanks to the raiding toggle is another good one. Bertil's prepared invasion is (like most of them) likely doomed to fail, though.
Styrbjörn may not be the greatest heir around, but the change to gavelkind should be worth it. And after all, Eilif isn't the brightest man around either .
Hakon - the man doesn't give up. This will have stopped his adventuring ambitions for good, and perhaps he'll settle down now, but I love what he's done. Having the Repulsive around permanently, as a vassal's vassal, shouldn't be to Eilif's taste, though.
Sadly, the time of the Kharijite Karlings comes to an end. It was good while it lasted.
The seer just escaped one of the most lucrative things to happen to a tribal ruler. This event isn't scaled, and so banishing the perpetrator (can happen to both the marshal and spiritual advisor) basically gives free 100 gold. Definitely worth it for a small count, Eilif can count on his raiders instead.
Ch 106 Q1: Plot Uncovered. It wasn’t necessarily obvious to me what the exposure of the plot practically does (either to the original plot or the one to kill Helgi). Any advice from experienced conspirators out there?
Ch 107 Q2: Teutonic Order. I suppose the Teutonic Order can ‘hire itself’ to defend itself? A quick look through the works of Wiki the Red (and of his son, Reddit) did not shed much light on where they must or can appear from. Having them appear from within a Garðarikian county was a bit of a surprise, though! Is Chernigov their designated place of appearance, or is this just some random foible of the game?
Yeah, as long as they aren't hired by anyone else they will defend themselves. If they do, they act like any other holy order, appearing at the capital (if it isn't under siege, then closeby). If you look at the Hochmeister, his capital isn't actually Turov. It's some barony. If Chernigov has been in a Catholic's hands for a while, then they might have founded a castle there. Which is probably not good news for Eilif, if the Teutons hold a castle within his own realm.
Ch 107 Q3: Rescuing Edla. First, a factual check to see if I’ve read the legal situation correctly: that joining her war would not trigger pact intervention. Otherwise, views for or against this course or advocating another are welcome. That is, helping Bertil in Flanders, Helgi in Ugra, waiting for someone with de jure Russian counties to split from the pact and ambushing them, or just letting Edla take her lumps, forgoing the chance of taking Turov, and perhaps going on a fresh raid with the troops already handily concentrated in Flanders.
That's right, as it is her war. Bertil's case is hopeless, he's facing too many Catholics for that to work and hasn't even got the initial advantage. Helgi could be helped by coincidentally looting Ugra's lands at the same time, turning their troops (but not any of his allies - save for if they are attached to the army, which is something I absolutely loathe happening) hostile for the duration.
But if you wish to save Edla's war, then you'd have to move quickly. The order has occupied most of her lands, and no matter if Eilif's in the war or not, as soon as her lands are fully occupied they have 100% warscore. If you think you can prevent them from occupying all of Edla's land, then you still shouldn't underestimate them. The holy order has good troops which are likely to tear through a tribal army as soon as the skirmish phase is over, so it wouldn't be an easy war.
It worth helping one of the two at the very least. With Helgi, you can't be sure to offer the right help, but it isn't very costly to try. In Edla's case, it would likely be costly, but Eilif can offer his full support. I'd personally back Edla and Helgi. Committing most soldiers to the fight against the order, and a smaller raiding force in Ugra.
Thank you, for paying Styrbjorn's room & board. Thank you! The unasked question, Helgi's first wife died. Tap the left arrow on the new wife's portrait to reveal old wife's why and how of death. Q1, I think this is just a flavoring event with no new plot reveal or added danger. Q3, help Edla if legally possible. I remember her as leading the rearguard action against Barsbek in the holy war.
As to death of seer/new baby, the worst thing was wife learning. For entertainment purposes, you go to the chamber 90% of the time. Exceptions are in love with spouse, the other party is liege's spouse, either party is married to a spymaster. In gavelkind, daughters are priceless but sons beyond two are useless. The seer was replaced on council by a slightly better, younger person. With her nearing the end of her fertile years and adequate council replacement, the seer's death is clearly outweighed by the birth. On bastard decision, take option 1 if baby is needed as heir or has a good genetic trait otherwise 2. Eilif may be safer on the battlefield than at home with an angry, high intrigue, lunatic wife.
Styrbjorn (total stat 20) scored big time with the Norse goddess Ulfhildr (63). A 16yo 63 with wrong religion/wrong culture would have been quite acceptable, but 16 yo 63 right religion/right culture is legendary. This is a man who drinks his mead in a sippee cup married to a member of the Swedish beach volleyball team. Make him a commander. He would not be any good (probably cut himself with a spoon) but he may die paving the way for a better heir. Bullfilter, who are the next 5 heirs with age and stats, if it would not be too much trouble?
Several questions for the Thing's educators and geneticists. 1) How badly was Styrbjorn's stats harmed by being in prison during part of his education? 2) How are the base values for the five stats derived? 3) What is the probability of a child receiving an inheritable (good or bad) trait if a) both parents with trait b) one parent with trait c) neither parent with trait? 4) What is highest age for male and female fertility.
Bullfilter: Thank you again for this wonderful historical novel. Best chapter yet! I love the faster pace, more wonderful prose, fewer screenshot style. I have finally caught up.
Several questions for the Thing's educators and geneticists. 1) How badly was Styrbjorn's stats harmed by being in prison during part of his education? 2) How are the base values for the five stats derived? 3) What is the probability of a child receiving an inheritable (good or bad) trait if a) both parents with trait b) one parent with trait c) neither parent with trait? 4) What is highest age for male and female fertility.
All answers as far as I know. I'm no expert, but this is one area I think I know good:
1) Only (mostly) the moment when Styrbjorn turned 16 matters. So he was ransomed with a very good timing. Of course there's some nuance to it, but that will be answered in 5.
2) Base stats are random, but traits are not. Some (genius, strong, quick, attractive and their negative counterparts, and congenital diseases like hunchback or harelip or dwarf or giant etc) are inherited with a chance factor, some semi randomly come from the 1st and 2nd level of training. Then there are more depending on the guardian which again is answered in 5.
3) The probability is different for each genetically inheritable trait, but it's between 1 in 5 to 1 in 10. If both parents have the trait, both have the probability to pass the trait on independently. If no parent has the trait, there's a freak 1 percent or less chance of a mutation.
4) Fertility does not have a cutoff age for males, but it decreases with age (and there are traits that either increase or decrease it). The situation is same for females, but around 40 there's a cutoff point.
5) This I added because there's a lot to unpack. There are a myriad of intermeshing events and factors about traits during childhood. There are also factors that determine the result of the final education which has a great deal of effect on stats. Some childhood traits turn into good adulthood traits (conscientious becomes either diligent or temperate), some turn into traits that can be good or bad depending on what you want to do with the character (affectionate can become content among other traits which is great for a future vassal but not so much for a future ruler), some turn into either objectively good or objectively bad events (playful can become gregarious, deceitful, or lunatic). Until this part all is random. Now, if one is a micromanager, for each childhood trait there's a matching adulthood trait that, if the educator of the child has, would turn the childhood trait into the trait the educator has instead of the usual options for that childhood trait. Also, among the usual options for a trait, it's more likely that the child develops the one his/her educator has.
Also, if the educator has a stat over 12, they have an option to grant the child a good trait about that stat but there's a cost involved (a slightly negative trait for the educator for example or getting stressed etc). If the educator has 2 stats over 12, they have an option to grant the child a very good trait (an overall good one like diligent or ambitious).
Now, the trait changing events and educator intervention events and the stat over 12 events that I just wrote can happen any time during training, and there's only a subset of them that can fire in a dungeon. Also, when one is imprisoned, the educator is the captor rather than whoever is the normal educator. So this is the nuance. The calculation for the final education trait although is only calculated at the moment of turning 16 so if the child is out of prison a day before, that is not affected.
Another thing to consider is that, it's better if the educator has a reason to help the child. For example if your concubine's genius son is being educated by your wife she has little reason to pay a price to give him a good trait. I mostly give my children to their mother's for education so they want the best for their kids.
Lastly about childhood focii: humility for future vassals, faith for future chaplains/doctors and current infidels, culture for whoever is both wrong culture/religion, struggle for future generals, duty for genius children and future rulers, and thrift for the rest (which would be the majority of the cases). The others should be avoided.
Thank you, Diskoerekto for the info. Would a good plan be for the player to control the education of the most important children (heirs) so that the best choice can be taken on decisions to get traits with possible switch to a 4star in the area that you want child to specialize in just before 16th birthday. I think the female hard fertility cap is 45. I have seen characters lose the have son/daughter ambition at 45. Trivia question, what is the oldest character that you have seen. Thanks
Thank you, Diskoerekto for the info. Would a good plan be for the player to control the education of the most important children (heirs) so that the best choice can be taken on decisions to get traits with possible switch to a 4star in the area that you want child to specialize in just before 16th birthday. I think the female hard fertility cap is 45. I have seen characters lose the have son/daughter ambition at 45. Trivia question, what is the oldest character that you have seen. Thanks
It depends on who the player is playing. I mean if the current ruler is with low stats (my line in the sand is either having 2 12+ stats or not) than it's better to give him to his mother to educate. That also makes the mother like you i.e. lower chance in scheming against you. Otherwise if the ruler has good stats it makes sense to educate the heirs oneself.
I haven't really thought about the oldest character I've seen (and immortality is a thing in this game) but the oldest ruler I played has seen over 80 and was a horselord.
It depends on who the player is playing. I mean if the current ruler is with low stats (my line in the sand is either having 2 12+ stats or not) than it's better to give him to his mother to educate. That also makes the mother like you i.e. lower chance in scheming against you. Otherwise if the ruler has good stats it makes sense to educate the heirs oneself.
I haven't really thought about the oldest character I've seen (and immortality is a thing in this game) but the oldest ruler I played has seen over 80 and was a horselord.
Depends also on how far you are willing to micromanage/role play your court. My rulers tend to be complete control freaks and force everyone to study stewardship or warfare, unless they are particlaurly good at something else. You are supposed to constantly be on the lookout for better stewards for your realm, and good potential vassals with high enough stewardship to pay their taxes. And naturally, you'll burn through commanders like hotcakes so churning out passable to alright to good kids who know how to fight is a good idea. And your ruler should always have two children bei taught by them, for the loyalty bonuses if nothing else. Especially your own children, but equally important are powerful vassal heirs.
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The Thirty-Fourth Þing of Eilif’s Reign – January 925 (a summary of advice from Chapter 107)
The Thirty-Fourth Þing of Eilif’s Reign – January 925 (a summary of advice from Chapter 107)
With the next session played and written up, here is comment feedback (for those not already replied to along the way) from the last chapter, which Eilif found most useful in his subsequent action.
It is in the game, anyway. Rurik was ‘insane’ for years after being castrated in Italy during that raid, but it didn’t seem to do him a great deal of harm.
I would've risked it on Eilif living long enough to claim the empire and kept having the bright nephew as heir, but that's a gamble and one which can have catastrophic consequences just for one good heir and a "burn the ships" mentality so I 100% understand this decision.
You can betroth her to your heir if you want the claims for your heir's heir for the next generation. Not always necessary, but sometimes can be useful depending on the situation
You ransomed him at a great time. On the day of coming of age, whoever is the guardian (it would've been his captor), his stats and approach to the kid determines how the education ends. So if you made the money a few months too late, he would've had much worse stats.
Having thought about it a bit, the mechanic I said a fairly good one to have, it's just you never want to be in a situation where you could ever activate it. Useful for you though I think.
That was a nice vacation in Spain. The treasury should be filled enough for a moment, and give a chance to focus on something else. Edla's a good option, helping Helgi thanks to the raiding toggle is another good one. Bertil's prepared invasion is (like most of them) likely doomed to fail, though.
It took a while, but really was necessary. And many of the lords stepped up to the plate with their own acquisition projects And I don’t show them, but quite a few were also off doing their own smaller raids. The Edla and Helgi projects will be considered more closely at the start of the next ep, so I won’t go into detail here (mainly to not spoil or repeat). As for Bertil – Eilif will deliver his verdict on that at the start of the next ep too, after having reviewed the position.
Styrbjörn may not be the greatest heir around, but the change to gavelkind should be worth it. And after all, Eilif isn't the brightest man around either .
I’m hoping that, as with Eilif, a smart wife and some self-improvement along the way will boost his underwhelming stats a bit and, plus good advisors and a hopefully still-powerful (and not too badly fragmented or fractious) realm, with some goodwill inherited from Eilif.
Hakon - the man doesn't give up. This will have stopped his adventuring ambitions for good, and perhaps he'll settle down now, but I love what he's done. Having the Repulsive around permanently, as a vassal's vassal, shouldn't be to Eilif's taste, though.
I love to hate him! So far, having not really done Eilif any harm, I’ve watched him but left him alone. There are some in the Þing who would definitely like to see his threat permanently terminated.
Louis III in Italy is still going though – his brother had seemed stronger, but died early and his father then came up against the Hungarians: the way of the world.
The seer just escaped one of the most lucrative things to happen to a tribal ruler. This event isn't scaled, and so banishing the perpetrator (can happen to both the marshal and spiritual advisor) basically gives free 100 gold. Definitely worth it for a small count, Eilif can count on his raiders instead.
Yes, 100 gold would be nice, especially if it was a poor Councillor, but Kolbjörn had only just been appointed and is pretty efficient. And a Rurikid – even if via Hakon <spit>.
Thank you, for paying Styrbjorn's room & board. Thank you! The unasked question, Helgi's first wife died. Tap the left arrow on the new wife's portrait to reveal old wife's why and how of death. Q1, I think this is just a flavoring event with no new plot reveal or added danger.
Styrbjorn (total stat 20) scored big time with the Norse goddess Ulfhildr (63). A 16yo 63 with wrong religion/wrong culture would have been quite acceptable, but 16 yo 63 right religion/right culture is legendary. This is a man who drinks his mead in a sippee cup married to a member of the Swedish beach volleyball team. Make him a commander. He would not be any good (probably cut himself with a spoon) but he may die paving the way for a better heir. Bullfilter, who are the next 5 heirs with age and stats, if it would not be too much trouble?
Several questions for the Thing's educators and geneticists. 1) How badly was Styrbjorn's stats harmed by being in prison during part of his education? 2) How are the base values for the five stats derived? 3) What is the probability of a child receiving an inheritable (good or bad) trait if a) both parents with trait b) one parent with trait c) neither parent with trait? 4) What is highest age for male and female fertility.
Bullfilter: Thank you again for this wonderful historical novel. Best chapter yet! I love the faster pace, more wonderful prose, fewer screenshot style. I have finally caught up.
And thank you for your very active support! Ulfhidr was a good catch indeed and will hopefully have a good run as Queen in the future and help the mediocre Styrbjörn to be at least a competent ruler.
As to the genetics questions, @diskoerekto (whose really useful summary I thread-marked within the AAR for easy future reference), they were answered subsequently – and I know almost nothing about the subject – so I’ll let that conversation stand for itself.
Maybe I'll look at the next heirs after a subsequent update - this one was packed with info and then I've got the other AARs to do.
As to death of seer/new baby, the worst thing was wife learning. For entertainment purposes, you go to the chamber 90% of the time. Exceptions are in love with spouse, the other party is liege's spouse, either party is married to a spymaster. In gavelkind, daughters are priceless but sons beyond two are useless. The seer was replaced on council by a slightly better, younger person. With her nearing the end of her fertile years and adequate council replacement, the seer's death is clearly outweighed by the birth. On bastard decision, take option 1 if baby is needed as heir or has a good genetic trait otherwise 2. Eilif may be safer on the battlefield than at home with an angry, high intrigue, lunatic wife.
At least in this case she didn’t get too irate and he already has plenty of children and concubines.
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Ch 106 Q1: Plot Uncovered.It wasn’t necessarily obvious to me what the exposure of the plot practically does (either to the original plot or the one to kill Helgi). Any advice from experienced conspirators out there?
I am not sure if there are additional options (such as rightful imprisonment or revoking of titles) that arise as a result of exposure, but at least you hurt the opinion of the plotter in everybody else's (or maybe targets'?) eyes as far as I know.
When a plot is uncovered from one of your vassals or court members, you can imprison them without penalty (they of course can try to fight or flee) or tell them to knock off their plotting first if you don't really want to try them in jail. They can refuse that too but usually won't, and then you can always imrpison them afterwards.
If you get caught in a plot, everyone in diplomatic range finds out and takes the appraise opinion penalties. Kindlayer is the worst one but several plot outcomes aren't great. Of course, if you're an absolute monarch it doesn't matter what your vassals think of you and you can be as tyrannical as you please without much fear of reprisal. You on the other hand have a much weaker grasp on power so do try not to get caught.
Thanks also. Sounds like it was the best course to take then in these circumstances.
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Ch 107 Q2: Teutonic Order. I suppose the Teutonic Order can ‘hire itself’ to defend itself? A quick look through the works of Wiki the Red (and of his son, Reddit) did not shed much light on where they must or can appear from. Having them appear from within a Garðarikian county was a bit of a surprise, though! Is Chernigov their designated place of appearance, or is this just some random foible of the game?
I would've thought the army numbers of this order would appear in the screen that showed the strength of the ruler. Strange. Stranger indeed they appear inside Eilif's realm!
Yeah, as long as they aren't hired by anyone else they will defend themselves. If they do, they act like any other holy order, appearing at the capital (if it isn't under siege, then closeby). If you look at the Hochmeister, his capital isn't actually Turov. It's some barony. If Chernigov has been in a Catholic's hands for a while, then they might have founded a castle there. Which is probably not good news for Eilif, if the Teutons hold a castle within his own realm.
Right. Ill try to remember to have a closer look there at some point (didn't during the last session played through), but that sounds like what may have happened. Could be a pain in the future. I suppose once founded, these orders can't be destroyed?
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Ch 107 Q3: Rescuing Edla.First, a factual check to see if I’ve read the legal situation correctly: that joining her war would not trigger pact intervention. Otherwise, views for or against this course or advocating another are welcome. That is, helping Bertil in Flanders, Helgi in Ugra, waiting for someone with de jure Russian counties to split from the pact and ambushing them, or just letting Edla take her lumps, forgoing the chance of taking Turov, and perhaps going on a fresh raid with the troops already handily concentrated in Flanders.
This is even a better idea, first we'll help Edla by joining her war (I think that would not trigger intervention). Then, we can toggle the raiding trigger to raid Ugra so indirectly help Helgi? Bertil I'd put in 3rd place. Maybe attrition helps him? After we help Edla and Helgi, if nobody drops out of the pacts, we go on raiding.
That's right, as it is her war. Bertil's case is hopeless, he's facing too many Catholics for that to work and hasn't even got the initial advantage. Helgi could be helped by coincidentally looting Ugra's lands at the same time, turning their troops (but not any of his allies - save for if they are attached to the army, which is something I absolutely loathe happening) hostile for the duration.
But if you wish to save Edla's war, then you'd have to move quickly. The order has occupied most of her lands, and no matter if Eilif's in the war or not, as soon as her lands are fully occupied they have 100% warscore. If you think you can prevent them from occupying all of Edla's land, then you still shouldn't underestimate them. The holy order has good troops which are likely to tear through a tribal army as soon as the skirmish phase is over, so it wouldn't be an easy war.
It worth helping one of the two at the very least. With Helgi, you can't be sure to offer the right help, but it isn't very costly to try. In Edla's case, it would likely be costly, but Eilif can offer his full support. I'd personally back Edla and Helgi. Committing most soldiers to the fight against the order, and a smaller raiding force in Ugra.
Yes, she did do that (though it was actually in-game a bit of a pain, as she is low martial and supplanted a far more qualified royal commander). But you have seen Eilif has a soft spot for Edla. He usually tries to help her one way or another. Though he will do what he judges is best for the realm, as this was Edla's personal ploy, done without his approval (which is fine, but he generally believes the Jarls should 'catch and kill their own', in these cases). Though he will make exceptions when it stacks up.
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OK, next I will start to publish the next episode. Plenty happens and there are the inevitable twists the game always provides. But I've managed to squeeze the whole session into the one chapter. Thanks everyone for the advice, comments and support. It helps motivate me to keep up the stupidly gruelling AAR burden I've (willingly) placed on myself!
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Chapter 108: A Threatening Presence (15 January 925 – 1 August 926)
Chapter 108: A Threatening Presence (15 January 925 – 1 August 926)
Previously, on Blut und Schlacht … Fylkir Eilif the Just had sent out a great raid which had plundered the countryside of Briezh and then devastated two counties in the small Spanish Kingdom of Asturias, returning with a great haul of gold; while the raid went on, Eilif’s more powerful vassals embarked on a range of adventures to secure lands for themselves or supported claimants, some more successful than others; they generally were allowed free reign to sink or swim by their own efforts, but Eilif was contemplating whether to help one or more of them now his main Royal Army had reached port in Flanders. But foremost in his mind was the desire to secure the power of the dynasty and the succession by declaring an over-arching Empire to complement the Fylkirate he had founded – and keep the Kingdom of Sweden which he had conquered within the realm.
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January 925
As his raiders returned to Garðarikian soil in Flanders in mid-January 925 AD, Eilif first pondered Jarl Bertill II of Brabant’s ambitious attempt to conquer Irland. It had been tried by the Austergautland Jarls previously and failed. Now, Bertil’s army was in battle with King Sumarliði’s men (who boasted over 1,000 heavy cavalry under arms) in Hereford: and Eilif assessed he would not only lose that battle, but there was a large Papal army investing Brabant itself next door to Gent – too large for Eilif to tackle with the available troops.
A lost cause, thought Eilif to himself, agreeing with Seer Alscon and others at the recent Þing. Word had already been passed to Kinyak to stand down when he reached port. All the fleets were also stood down, except one that would take the Guard (now back to its full strength of 700) back to Garðariki proper.
The next question Eilif had was whether to support one or both of Jarl Helgi (Holy War for Ugra) or High Chieftess Edla (Conquest of Turov) either directly or indirectly. Hochmeister Argantbri was already winning the war against Edla [53% warscore] and his Teutonic Order was a powerful and well-equipped military force. If Edla lost, in would be pride and money, not territory. Another lost cause not worth the price of rescuing, Eilif thought dispassionately. Sadly, Edla would also be left to her own devices in this matter, to minimise the loss of any more Garðarikian lives.
Helgi’s cause looked a far better prospect; he may be losing a fairly evenly matched battle, but it was against Ugran tribesmen and Garðariki stood to gain three de jure Russian counties if it could be taken whole. Eilif’s central levy contingents were summoned and started marching to the north-east border, where – as suggested very helpfully in the last Þing – a ‘raid’ to complement Helgi’s failing war effort would get around the legal prohibition on Eilif joining his Holy War as a co-belligerent.
A marriage to an eligible courtier was arranged for Eilif’s Seer (and great-nephew) Kolbjörn Hakonsson Rurikid on the same day (15 January). It must have inspired the young man, as he announced he had succeeded in his mission to convert the ‘core county’ of Toropets to the Germanic faith just five days later. He was sent on to do the same for Eilif’s new (and powerful) demesne county of Moskva.
However, cultural change was a far slower process within Russia: Ladoga still had not settled a new Norse tribe.
Helgi lost his battle against the Ugrans in Syrj on 29 January. His army began routing to Chud, while the Ugrans made for Romny, no doubt hoping to attack Helgi’s own homeland.
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February-April 925
Then just a few days later, there was a major development: a number of countries had left the Pagan Pact against Eilif, including Bjarmia (county of Dvina) and Ugra itself (both realms de jure Russian territories). Old High Chief Syudbya of Bjarmia still had a vast amount of prestige and piety to draw on if he wished: although he would have liked to conquer the county, Eilif preferred to wait for the old man to die and perhaps tackle a weaker successor.
But Ugra was another matter. With Helgi’s Holy War failing and wanting to take the three counties while available, Eilif decided to poach on Helgi’s claim by declaring his own separate Holy War for Ugra. The levies were dismissed, the war declaration was easily endorsed by the Council, and then the levies were recalled yet again.
Eilif noted but disdained any threat of nearby Tengri rulers intervening.
“Let them if they dare!” was his curt rejoinder when advised of the possibility.
Eilif also called out selected vassals to support the war, hoping to wrap it up quickly and not minding if he shared the glory and prestige of victory among them. The main local Garðarikian lords were summoned, except for Helgi and Edla whom he deemed to be otherwise legitimately occupied. Their contingents were in the field and heading north before the end of the month.
23 February brought word that young Barsbek II, now 16 years old, had formed an ambition to become King of Khazaria. A grand objective indeed, given he had Marshal Frirek’s large conquering army (over 3,600 men) besieging his capital at the time!
With over 2,700 troops to hand and the enemy (around 1,900 men) now halted in Syrj, the new top field commander Hroðgar [Martial 27] aimed his army at Veliky Ustug. The rest of the levies and vassal regiments could close up in due course.
High Chief Rassate the Just was no coward: he marched his smaller force to defend Veliky Ustug and commanded the right wing of his army in the still snow-dusted woods of his Ugran homeland. Hroðgar attacked on 10 May and had broken the Rassate’s right flank within four days. By 24 May, only the strong enemy centre still stood, in melee with all three of the Garðarikian wings. They fought bravely, with Hroðgar’s own centre division breaking on 27 May. But they could not last against the other two wings and were themselves broken the next day.
The pursuit was over by 5 June, with a significant victory won for relatively light Garðarikian casualties despite the centre having broken during the fight. The army was split at that point, with Sverker brought in to supervise the siege of the county with around 850 men while Hroðgar pursued the enemy north to Syrj with the rest. And with reinforcements on the way further behind.
As the battle was being fought, word came to Nygarðr of a threat being posed by a Christian Danish adventurer lurking in Scania. This Leofric Henry was an Anglo-Saxon and a commander in Scania itself. He had no troops to his name yet, but Eilif was wary. The Royal Guard, which had landed in Ingria from Flanders was embarked on its small fleet and ordered across to Austergautland to provide a watchful presence and focal point for local Swedish vassal lords should they be needed. The Naumadal levy would be called up and join them.
By 20 June, Bertil was clearly losing his war with Irland. His main army was nowhere to be seen (it must have been heavily defeated in the past months) and as expected, Sumarliði [31% warscore] had ‘counter-invaded’ Flanders. Worse for Bertil, King Louis IV of West Francia – one of the largest and most powerful realms in the known world – had joined the Pope and the King of Scotland as his allies, with an army of almost 10,000 men heading to Gent. Eilif was was very happy he had not joined that fight.
Back at court, it seemed Eilif’s best Councillors could not resist the temptation of graft their positions offered. Marshal Frirek was the next to be discovered exploiting the peasants, in the home county of Holmgarðr itself!
But the peasants would remain irate and taxes lowered for three years whether Eilif sacked Frirek or not. And Eilif would lose prestige if he did so. He decided to ignore the graft, for which Frirek was grateful, but would be irate with his marshal for some time.
Ch 108 Q1: Corruption Event Effects.Game-wise, it seemed in Eilif’s interests to not lose Frirek’s services (or piss him off by sacking him from Council). Just to confirm though, is it just the short-term effects that apply per the tooltips? Or is there some additional penalty (ie to reputation, unrest, more corruption or related events etc) for ignoring it? Similar situation to Seer Kolbjörn last chapter, whose excusing created a bit of a narrative precedent.
Part of the reason Eilif was wary about alienating one of his most loyal Councillors became apparent just a week later, when Frirek (now known as ‘the Great’ for his feat of arms) won his conquest of Sarkel, formally eradicating Chernigov as an independent country. Its lands were added to his nearby second holding in Pereyaslavl and cruelly dashed young Barsbek’s lofty ambition. Another large slab of territory had been added to the realm by an adventurous vassal.
The same day, Eilif finally became a grandfather, with a daughter born to the Prince and Heir, Styrbjörn.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
1 July – 19 August 925
The good news stopped a few days later, when the habitually revolting peasants of Memel rose once again. Poor Edla would be in no position to deal with that threat; Eilif would eventually, but intended to wrap up the Holy War with Ugra first.
To that end, Hroðgar was in Syrj by 6 July and still chasing the enemy army further north to Ugra itself. Forces following would carry out any more sieges if necessary, but the great victory in Veliky Ustug [war score 69%] had already put Rassate close to despair anyway.
Frirek created the Jarldom of Sarkel for himself on 25 July: a new great lord and self-made man had risen from immigrant soldier to Jarl in Eilif’s service. This triggered an [obviously automatic] resignation from Council [I wonder why it does this?], but Eilif quickly reappointed him.
Hroðgar, with 1,836 troops, caught up with 1,239 Ugran warriors in Ugra on 14 August and attacked them, while other troops besieged Veliky Ustug and Syrj to the south. But the battle had only been going a few days when word came that Veliky Ustug had fallen to Sverker. Rassate, completely dispirited, agreed to terms on 19 August: Ugra was annexed in its entirety.
Of course, this rendered Helgi’s own casus belli redundant. What Eilif hadn’t anticipated was that it would also trigger Helgi’s resignation as a Councillor and commander. When Eilif approached the still well-disposed Helgi [+100 opinion despite this setback], he could not be persuaded to resume his position as Spymaster, even though he wanted a position on the Council! All he would accept was an appointment as a commander. Eilif waited until the next day in case Helgi might change his mind, but he did not.
The most outstanding candidate to replace him was even closer family: his own daughter Halla. She would be a loyalist on the Council and had the right attributes for the job (but none of the vices). It looked like she may have a new career which would preserve her from some tawdry dynastic marriage (of which Eilif was quite wary in case later claims arose and not being that interested in forging marriage alliances with external realms at present).
Ch 108 Q2: Helgi’s Resignation.Any light to be shed on Helgi's automatic resignation here (presumably something to do with the clashing war objectives) and more particularly on why I couldn’t rehire him? Is there a chance there might have been a ‘micro-war’ that was triggered if he had troops in place in Ugra when this happened that I missed? Or some automatic mechanic when you clash claims? I didn’t notice them being hostile – they still seem ‘blue allied’ coloured on the map. There’s a shot later of Helgi’s full opinion of Eilif and nothing specific in there that says ‘mowed my grass in Ugra’ .
Eilif’s son Tolir was the beneficiary of this conquest – not Helgi, who was now seemingly in a little bit of a huff and was powerful enough anyway. This linked up Tolir’s two previously separated counties of Pomorye and Saamod into a single demesne. Eilif hoped he might be able to hang onto them until adulthood.
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20 August - September 925
With Ugra taken and the Memelian revolt still in progress and no sign of an adventuring horde in Scania yet (where the Royal Guard kept a watchful eye), it was time to look for a new conquest to further the imperial claim. Edla was on the cusp of losing to the Teutonic Order [-99% warscore], so that was not an option.
But High Chief Venceslav of Turov (whose sole county was actually Pinsk, a de jure Russian territory), who already held a claim on Eilif for Minsk he had used before (and also used as a legal loophole to prevent a previous Garðarikian conquest) had unwisely left the Pagan Pact against Eilif. A fatal error – or so Eilif hoped.
After absorbing Ugra, Eilif only needed five more counties [80%, 53 (rounded up) out of 66] to make his imperial claim: and he now had the 300 gold required to make the proclamation and piety to burn. A simultaneous declaration on Bjarmia for Dvina was again considered and rejected, as old Syudbya was as renowned as ever and would no doubt summon a large tribal army if attacked.
The levies in Ugra were dismissed, while the vassal allies had all dispersed when the war was won. The loyalists on Council all supported Eilif’s call for a declaration of war to conquer Pinsk (glory-hound Marshal Frirek and pragmatist Seer Kolbjörn being the dissenters), which was duly sent. As was word to the royal levies and local vassal lords to once again march to war. The initial plan was to meet at Minsk.
The summoned vassals were called (against both Turov and the Memelian rebels) to rally on Hroðgar, who had taken command the closest levy regiment to the enemy (south of Minsk) and they began to deploy as August lengthened. At this point, Eilif’s contemporaries once again felt quite badly threatened by his renewed expansion in Ugra [back up to 61.9%], but it was not enough to discourage his latest escapade.
On 4 September, Edla formally concluded her losing war with the Teutonic Order. They would have to be dealt with some other day. The Turovian army, under its commander Stanislav, was sighted on 6 September – with a tribal force of 2,000 men attached. As they were marching on Minsk, the Garðarikian rendezvous was changed to Mstislavl instead.
The same day, Halla sought an audience with her father.
“I’m sorry to break the news to you, father, but I have firm evidence that Cousin Helgi is plotting to murder Tolir. He seems to have taken Tolir’s gift of the Ugran lands to heart. I also hear he was very angry at the change to gavelkind, which removed him as heir. And, though I know you sought to reappoint him to my current position, he believes he was ’forced’ to leave the Council after the ‘Ugra incident’ and has taken that badly too. He remains personally still very much your supporter – but it clearly doesn’t extend to my brother, in this case.”
“Damn it! Thank you for discovering this, Halla – very well done indeed. I will direct him to stop and hope this never goes any further.” While it was bad news, it was not an unheard of or particularly shocking revelation in the context of the Norse tribal society of the time. Or even to the Rurikid dynasty.
Helgi responded in good spirit and begging forgiveness a few weeks later. It was given, but Tolir’s life may be in danger in the future. Well, as a great lord of the realm, he would have to be able to look after himself, or fail.
While waiting for Helgi’s response, word was received that Bertil had apparently been captured in battle by the Chancellor of Irland in Wiltshire on 9 August. Four days later his doomed conquest attempt (now called an invasion of England, for some reason) had ended in failure.
Stanislav arrived in Minsk on 15 September and began a siege. No Garðarikian troops were near by that stage.
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October-December 925
October began badly, with the revolt in Memel increasing in size to 3,700 treacherous rabble on 1 October. The same day, Eilif’s Advisor and physician Jarl Rikulfr finally succumbed to his cancer – a cruel irony. His son was far less well disposed, though not quite hostile. It was his natural ambition and a specific one for the crown of Sviþjod that ate away at his regard for his King and Fylkir. And there was not a great deal Eilif could do to remedy those. He simply noted his namesake Jarl Eilif wasn’t very powerful – having lost one of his father’s titles on succession.
Given Rikulfr’s former offices, his passing prompted a more wide-ranging review of court appointments. And uncovered an intriguing and somewhat disturbing fact.
First, Chief Sverker who had inherited Angermanland from Rikulfr (thus briefly becoming a direct vassal of Fylkir Eilif) had his contract of vassalage transferred back to Jarl Eilif. He Was also made a hirdman, which together should mollify Jarl Eilif a little. And didn’t cost any gold.
Second, he looked for a new physician. The ‘retired’ commander (now Chief) Ingjald was actually a far better qualified scholar than he was a military leader: the best qualified in the realm, though (like Rikulfr) not actually a physician.
“But what is this: he has converted to Sunni Islam? A Valhalla-bound holy warrior? And you say I can’t call on him to convert back to the true faith until peace reigns again?”
“That’s right, My Fylkir,” said Seer Kolbjörn, while Chancellor Grimr nodded agreement.
“Then Halla, I want you to find out who the worm in the apple is. What has caused this good man to become an infidel?”
“Of course, father.”
“But Grimr, I need a physician and he remains loyal and is by far the best qualified in the realm. Appoint him and I’ll demand he return to Odin’s light after we win these wars.”
Third, Eilif appointed his son and heir Styrbjörn as his advisor, to ‘learn the ropes’ and be a loyal presence on the Council.
Finally, he noticed the position of Court Tutor was vacant [must have been a death and I wasn’t tracking the tutor]. He gave the position to his brilliant (if now a bit erratic) wife, Queen Ingrid. Not only should she be good at it, but it would perhaps help heal things a little between them.
The next day, news came from beyond distant Iceland: rumours of a new land far to the west. Eilif was briefly intrigued and wondered what might lay beyond, but shrugged it off for now.
Chap 108 Q3: New Discovery.This is more a statement and request; not being familiar with the event chain (and not having yet read about it in another AAR) I would ask people NOT say what this one might bring, if anything. I’d prefer to be surprised. It could be from the base game, or even the precursor to an Aztec Invasion (which is enabled for this ‘learning’ AAR). Let my interest remain piqued for now, I humbly request.
Halla reported back on Ingjald the next day. His wife had also converted to Sunni Islam and been branded an apostate for her actions. But she was not the worm i‘ the bud. It was no surprise that Ingjald’s own physician was the culprit: one of those itinerant renowned foreign physicians who invariably seemed to be zealous proselytisers of their heathen religions.
“And I can’t arrest him?” yelled Eilif in a fury.
“Well you can if you like, My Fylkir,” replied a nonchalant Grimr. “But if you do without just cause, the whole realm will consider you a tyrant.”
Apart from railing against the fact being an infidel foreign proselytiser wasn’t just cause, Eilif regretfully backed off.
“Well, it seems this Vahhab ‘burns with religious fervour and cannot tolerate heretics, infidels and heathens’. Let’s hope Ingjald cannot tolerate him and burns him at the stake when we convert him back to the True Faith.”
“A consummation devoutly to be wished, My Fylkir,” suggested Kolbjörn.
“To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream, for in that sleep of death what dreams may come,” added Grimr, somewhat more obscurely.
But Eilif, poet that he was these days, agreed, chiming in with: “Yes, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, it must give us pause, there's the respect, that makes calamity of so long life.”
All of the Council nodded sagely, even if most of them had no idea what anyone was talking about. Except that Vahhab’s fiery fate must wait, no matter how devoutly it may be wished for.
Rather more seriously, the rebels took Memel on 19 October and began marching east. Three days later Minsk fell and Stanislav started marching his army on Mstislavl with his 2,855 men on the 1,478 men (levies and vassal allies) then waiting. Across the Dnieper. With about another 1,500 reinforcements approaching from the east and south.
“Let the fools come,” was all Hroðgar had to say as he hoped they would keep coming.
They didn’t, switching for Lyubech instead on 1 November, which would place them on the same side of the river as Hroðgar – and hemmed in in a fork of the river.
“Almost as good,” noted Hroðgar calmly as he waited for more banners to arrive.
Stanislav’s Turovian army arrived in Lyubech on 25 March, by which time Hroðgar had over 5,700 men assembled. He march straight away, knowing Stanislav would not be able to get back across the river in time.
Battle was joined on 13 December in early winter, the numbers foraging from the countryside temporarily inflated by over 5,500 soldiers of the Teutonic knights passing through. But not quite enough to trigger attrition losses. By 21 December more Garðarikian reinforcements had arrived and the enemy centre had broken; but their large tribal army had been concentrated on the left flank. It wasn’t until 2 January that they too had broken, with the final victory declared a week later.
Of note, Edla, who had been called to arms previously, once more pulled rank to command a flank, displacing the ‘professional’ Kinyak, but on the ‘easy’ wing with no enemy right flank fielded. Still, she always showed willing and commanded respect for that.
As the pursuit for the battle in Lyubech was almost over, the rebels arrived in Orsha and began besieging it on 30 December. After their victory on 9 January, the whole Garðarikian main army headed across the Dnieper, chasing the Turovians back to Minsk.
ᚔ ᚱᚢᚱᛁᚲᛁᛞ ᚔ
January - August 926
As these actions played out in January, the diligent Kolbjörn reported yet another personal success in converting Moskva to the true faith on 20 January. He was sent next to the same in Belo Ozero.
3 February saw the army in Minsk and the Turovians continuing their rout back to Pinsk. With only 15 enemy soldiers in the city garrison, Hroðgar sent his army of nearly 8,500 to quickly assault and secure the city, fully accomplished by the next morning with no losses. The army was then split, with Sverker taking around 1,700 men south to invest Pinsk, while Hroðgar took the balance to attack the rebels in Orsha. He was unworried by attacking over a small river into hilly terrain.
“Snivelling rebel scum. May Loki consume their putrid hearts from the inside,” was his pithy assessment of the tactical situation.
But the Turovians rallied in Pinsk on 9 September with almost 2,000 men, so Sverker halted his crossing of the Pripyat River, heading instead to Turov (the county), from where he could make an unimpeded attack and allow more reinforcements to catch up, as a number of the nearby vassal regiments had been directed to join him instead. Nine days later, the Turovian army, now commanded by Yaropolk, abandoned their capital and started heading north-east to neutral Grodno. It looked like they would try taking the long way around. Sverker (who had 2,400 men by then) just shrugged, happy he would be able to besiege Pinsk without spilling the blood of good Garðarikian men first.
Then on 21 February, Hroðgar arrived in Orsha with almost 6,300 men.
His orders to his commanders, Barid and Kinyak, were simple. “Kill them. Leave their bodies as food for the crows. We charge as soon as you are back with your divisions.”
It took a little doing, but by 1 March Hroðgar had broken the enemy centre and was chasing them from the field. The enemy right followed soon after and, with over 6,100 men falling on the enemy’s left flank, the main fighting was done by 8 March as they too broke. 15 March brought final victory – and the defeat of the rebellion, without having to even retake Memel itself, such was the decisiveness of the slaughter.
The rebel leader Pukuveras was paraded in chains before Hroðgar.
“I will ask the Fylkir for your skull to make into a drinking vessel after you are strung up at the next blot, you Romuvan rebel scum! If you survive the dungeons long enough for that honour. Now get him out of my sight.”
As the battle was joined, Ingjald’s apostate wife died ‘attending to chamber business’.
“The Gods’ punishment,” noted Eilif to Grimr, though he made sure Ingjald did not hear of his opinion.
And the Turovians arrived in Grodno and continued towards Vilnius on 11 March.
“Let them waste their time there, for all I care. They are not worth the life of a single Garðarikian stable-hand,” was Hroðgar’s view of the Turovians’ indirect approach.
The same day, Sverker was in Turov and heading to Pinsk. With the victory in Orsha and the enemy’s wanderings to the north, Hroðgar marched the army to Minsk on 17 March, where they could keep an eye on them.
Sverker made it to Pinsk on 25 March, where even his small body of troops took attrition. He was advised to build a temporary fort to prevent this – but when he tried to, no site or materials could be found.
Ch 108 Q4: Siege Forts.OK, I moused over every screen and sub-screen I could find in the army or the county, looked at wikis, tried google … but nothing described or showed how to actually do this and I could find nothing. Is it not possible in some lands (though this was a tribal pagan county) or is there some other dark art I’m missing here? A screenshot plus description or specific short-cut to actually build such a fort would be greatly appreciated.
Bypassed by all these events, former Jarl Gandalfr – now just plain Gandalfr Ivarsson Borg – died largely forgotten in Eilif’s oubliette on 13 April, aged 53. A gifted diplomat [25], his un-recanted infidel Catholic beliefs and rebellion were too much for him to talk his way out of.
On 1 May, Jarl Bragi of Sviþjod reported his war for Nordgau on behalf of his sister Astrid was almost won [94% warscore], despite the Hochmeister of the Teutonic Order having joined in. Bragi had Jarls Þorfinn of Austergautland and Oddr II of Vestergautland as allies in his venture. As Pinsk was sieged down by Sverker (now with 3,100 troops under command), Hroðgar just continued to block the Turovian army from Minsk and Orsha, without offering battle. He had overwhelming numbers (7,600 including vassals against 2,000 Turovians), but had orders not to waste lives in a needless further battle.
June passed with little incident. There was interesting news from the north when High Chief Áilu ‘the Frog’ of Kola decided to challenge old High Chief Syudbya ‘the Hunter’ of Bjarmia for his lands. Áilu looked to be a thoroughly distasteful character, but was doing Eilif a useful service by forcing Syudbya to defend himself. It might make him (or a successor) easier to take down later.
A review of extant plots by Spymaster Halla at that time revealed one that Eilif was happy to let continue: the ever-murderous Chief Pentti had decided to try to kill Hakon the Repulsive [plot power 47.5%]. Eilif was tempted to join it, but did not. For now. [Any urgings to do so will get an attentive hearing!]The rest that could be were ordered to desist on general principles.
Bragi had his victory for now Chieftess Astrid on 31 July. Another outlying county added to the realm. The only issue Eilif had was that Astrid was yet to renounce the old heretical Germanic ways. He hoped her brother might talk her into converting, but that was Bragi’s problem.
The next day, Pinsk fell without loss and another de jure Russian county had been added to the realm. Edla’s persistence and bravery was rewarded with the award of the title. She was already thoroughly loyal: with any luck, it would build the much-harried Jarldom further so she could look after herself in a dangerous corner of the region.
With the peace, the first order of business was a formal demand for Ingjald to convert back to the True Faith from his apostate Sunni ways. He was very likely to agree. And hopefully get the wood, oil and flint ready for that infidel physician of his. If he didn’t in good time, it might be necessary to send someone to do it more ‘unofficially’.
Eilif then sat down with his Council to consider matters of state. The first, prompted by questions at the previous Þing, was a review of the inheritance laws of the Kingdom of Sviþjod and the Jarldom of Holmgarðr. Both were still agnatic elective gavelkind titles. There was an option for both to be changed to simple gavelkind, as Garðariki itself had been. And to agnatic-cognatic gender laws too, for that matter.
“Ask around at the coming for views on what would be best done here, would you, Grimr?”
Chap 108 Q5: Law Changes for Sweden and Holmgarðr.Just interested in what the implications would be or changing whether of these and whether it is worth doing, especially if Eilif can’t form the empire before he dies.
The dream of forming a great empire based on his Russian holdings was also discussed. With Pinsk taken, just another four counties were needed. The best pickings, Pacts notwithstanding, would be either Cumania or the south-west corner in Hungary and Poland.
At age 55, Fylkir Eilif was at the height of his power and to all appearances still fit and healthy. He had one of the largest (territorially) personal demesne in the known world, great prestige, piety, a decent if not huge treasury (though little tax revenue) and a large levy.
None of the remaining de jure Russian counties were owned by a country outside any of the three religious pacts against him and his threat level remained high, though these would change with time. The was a threatening presence - which he felt meant he was simply doing his job!
Norse culture had not yet spread in Russia outside three of the ‘core’ Holmgarðr counties (Ladoga still had not changed, despite many years of continuous effort by successive stewards), but the Reform of the Germanic faith had allowed it to rapidly expand in the last few years.
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The Chancellor and Seer presented reports pointing out that Garðariki now sat high in the known world in a range of key areas, in terms of religion (spread and moral authority, and Eilif’s own pious reputation), his demesne size (the equal second largest in the world) and the size of the realm as counted by holdings (eighth).
Questions
Ch 108 Q1: Corruption Event Effects. Game-wise, it seemed in Eilif’s interests to not lose Frirek’s services (or piss him off by sacking him from Council). Just to confirm though, is it just the short-term effects that apply per the tooltips? Or is there some additional penalty (ie to reputation, unrest, more corruption or related events etc) for ignoring it? Similar situation to Seer Kolbjörn last chapter, whose excusing created a bit of a narrative precedent.
Ch 108 Q2: Helgi’s Resignation. Any light to be shed on Helgi's automatic resignation here (presumably something to do with the clashing war objectives) and more particularly on why I couldn’t rehire him? Is there a chance there might have been a ‘micro-war’ that was triggered if he had troops in place in Ugra when this happened that I missed? Or some automatic mechanic when you clash claims? I didn’t notice them being hostile – they still seem ‘blue allied’ coloured on the map. There’s a shot later of Helgi’s full opinion of Eilif and nothing specific in there that says ‘mowed my grass in Ugra’ .
Chap 108 Q3: New Discovery. This is more a statement and request; not being familiar with the event chain (and not having yet read about it in another AAR) I would ask people NOT say what this one might bring, if anything. I’d prefer to be surprised. It could be from the base game, or even the precursor to an Aztec Invasion (which is enabled for this ‘learning’ AAR. Let my interest remain piqued for now, I humbly request.
Ch 108 Q4: Siege Forts. OK, I moused over every screen and sub-screen I could find in the army or the county, looked at wikis, tried google … but nothing described or showed how to actually do this and I could find nothing. Is it not possible in some lands (though this was a tribal pagan county) or is there some other dark art I’m missing here? A screenshot plus description or specific short-cut to actually build such a fort would be greatly appreciated.
Chap 108 Q5: Law Changes for Sweden and Holmgarðr. Just interested in what the implications would be or changing whether of these and whether it is worth doing, especially if Eilif can’t form the empire before he dies.
Ch 108 Q1: Corruption Event Effects. Game-wise, it seemed in Eilif’s interests to not lose Frirek’s services (or piss him off by sacking him from Council). Just to confirm though, is it just the short-term effects that apply per the tooltips? Or is there some additional penalty (ie to reputation, unrest, more corruption or related events etc) for ignoring it? Similar situation to Seer Kolbjörn last chapter, whose excusing created a bit of a narrative precedent.
There's the short term debuffs, then of course there are longer term issues (the most obvious being he's going to do it again at some point) and unsubstantiated rumours that it make sense the other councillors more liable to do the same thing. Naturally if you pardon all of them, peasants get antsy very quickly.
Ch 108 Q4: Siege Forts. OK, I moused over every screen and sub-screen I could find in the army or the county, looked at wikis, tried google … but nothing described or showed how to actually do this and I could find nothing. Is it not possible in some lands (though this was a tribal pagan county) or is there some other dark art I’m missing here? A screenshot plus description or specific short-cut to actually build such a fort would be greatly appreciated.
Forts are essentially a barrier for county sieges. Initially, not a very strong one. Even raiders will smash through your early forts and you'll have to fork out more money to rebuild them. When your tech and county fort level is sufficiently high, it makes that county immune to siege assaults (I.e. The army will have to sit there and run down the siege timer rather than smash through manually and move on). This makes the most very useful for protecting your own holdings and border in the late game. Oh, and they increase the infrastructure of that county, so it makes building anything there cheaper as well as safer. Generally speaking, forts are actually incredibly useful but underused because they are pathetically weak and expensive in the early game.
To build a fort, you must have complete control of that county and the gold to build it obviously, then you go to the county screen, click the tab on the right and open up a sub menus telling you the terrain type and modifiers, fort and hospital slots. Because of how county mecnhaics work, it's quite hard to build a fort in enemy's territory whilst at war with them because you have to have sieged out all developed county slots (so if a baron is independent of the war you can't build there) and it can't be under attack by the enemy.
As to the genetics questions, @diskoerekto (whose really useful summary I thread-marked within the AAR for easy future reference), they were answered subsequently – and I know almost nothing about the subject – so I’ll let that conversation stand for itself.
Happy to have helped, as I said I think this is the facet of the game I know a lot about. A decade ago, a (much more detailed) post like that one by me was put in the FAQ of CK1. Back then Wiki the Red didn't exist
When you own the province you can expel them, but they migrate to another correct-religion province I guess? Although wiping the corresponding religion off the world would surely destroy them
Great episode! 4 provinces closer to the empire dream in a short amount of time, only 4 left! And when Cumania drops out of the pact, they have a 4 province duchy (Perm I guess?) bordering our northeasternmost exclave. In the meanwhile, I trust our industrious vassals to conquer a bit as well
Old High Chief Syudbya of Bjarmia still had a vast amount of prestige and piety to draw on if he wished: although he would have liked to conquer the county, Eilif preferred to wait for the old man to die and perhaps tackle a weaker successor.
But Ugra was another matter. With Helgi’s Holy War failing and wanting to take the three counties while available, Eilif decided to poach on Helgi’s claim by declaring his own separate Holy War for Ugra. The levies were dismissed, the war declaration was easily endorsed by the Council, and then the levies were recalled yet again.
Hmm. I think I'd still push a bit more for tipping the scales in Helgi's favor since if he won you'd still have the 3 provinces in the realm but none of the increase in threat level. Although, the war was not going well anyway so this more direct approach will be certain and quick.
As the battle was being fought, word came to Nygarðr of a threat being posed by a Christian Danish adventurer lurking in Scania. This Leofric Henry was an Anglo-Saxon and a commander in Scania itself. He had no troops to his name yet, but Eilif was wary. The Royal Guard, which had landed in Ingria from Flanders was embarked on its small fleet and ordered across to Austergautland to provide a watchful presence and focal point for local Swedish vassal lords should they be needed. The Naumadal levy would be called up and join them.
Ch 108 Q1: Corruption Event Effects.Game-wise, it seemed in Eilif’s interests to not lose Frirek’s services (or piss him off by sacking him from Council). Just to confirm though, is it just the short-term effects that apply per the tooltips? Or is there some additional penalty (ie to reputation, unrest, more corruption or related events etc) for ignoring it? Similar situation to Seer Kolbjörn last chapter, whose excusing created a bit of a narrative precedent.
I think these series of events are somewhat stupid, there's no better consequences to choose removing the councilor than turning a blind eye. You're right.
Hroðgar, with 1,836 troops, caught up with 1,239 Ugran warriors in Ugra on 14 August and attacked them, while other troops besieged Veliky Ustug and Syrj to the south. But the battle had only been going a few days when word came that Veliky Ustug had fallen to Sverker. Rassate, completely dispirited, agreed to terms on 19 August: Ugra was annexed in its entirety.
Ch 108 Q2: Helgi’s Resignation.Any light to be shed on Helgi's automatic resignation here (presumably something to do with the clashing war objectives) and more particularly on why I couldn’t rehire him? Is there a chance there might have been a ‘micro-war’ that was triggered if he had troops in place in Ugra when this happened that I missed? Or some automatic mechanic when you clash claims? I didn’t notice them being hostile – they still seem ‘blue allied’ coloured on the map. There’s a shot later of Helgi’s full opinion of Eilif and nothing specific in there that says ‘mowed my grass in Ugra’ .
With Ugra taken and the Memelian revolt still in progress and no sign of an adventuring horde in Scania next (where the Royal Guard kept a watchful eye), it was time to look for a new conquest to further the imperial claim. Edla was on the cusp of losing to the Teutonic Order [-99% warscore], so that was not an option.
Ch 108 Q4: Siege Forts.OK, I moused over every screen and sub-screen I could find in the army or the county, looked at wikis, tried google … but nothing described or showed how to actually do this and I could find nothing. Is it not possible in some lands (though this was a tribal pagan county) or is there some other dark art I’m missing here? A screenshot plus description or specific short-cut to actually build such a fort would be greatly appreciated.
My computer is turned off now so no screenshots but I'll describe to the best of my memory. The UI can sometimes drive me crazy. When you click the province and you see province details on the bottom left of the screen, there's a subtle triangle that points to the right and when you click that you see the special holdings (trade post, fort, hospital). There you will see an option to build one.
To build a fort, you must have complete control of that county and the gold to build it obviously, then you go to the county screen, click the tab on the right and open up a sub menus telling you the terrain type and modifiers, fort and hospital slots. Because of how county mecnhaics work, it's quite hard to build a fort in enemy's territory whilst at war with them because you have to have sieged out all developed county slots (so if a baron is independent of the war you can't build there) and it can't be under attack by the enemy.
To clarify, it is the mystical siege fort people keep telling me I should build in enemy territory when conducting a siege to prevent my besieging troops from getting attrition, rather than ordinary forts in my own counties, which I am familiar with from earlier in the game. This one is proving more opaque than the Sacred Raiding Toggle for me.
To clarify, it is the mystical siege fort people keep telling me I should build in enemy territory when conducting a siege to prevent my besieging troops from getting attrition, rather than ordinary forts in my own counties, which I am familiar with from earlier in the game. This one is proving more opaque than the Sacred Raiding Toggle for me.
You should just be able to build them. According to the Reddit gods and CKII wiki forts are actually slightly easier to build than I thought. So use the normal fort tab to build the,, which is again found on the right hand side of the county info screen.
You should just be able to build them. According to the Reddit gods and CKII wiki forts are actually slightly easier to build than I thought. So use the normal fort tab to build the,, which is again found on the right hand side of the county info screen.
So I thought, tried that at the time and nothing was possible, hence am wondering if I was looking in the right place. It wasn’t reliant on the patch that came out with Holy Fury, was it? Which I’m not playing with.
So I thought, tried that at the time and nothing was possible, hence am wondering if I was looking in the right place. It wasn’t reliant on the patch that came out with Holy Fury, was it? Which I’m not playing with.
My king, as a non voting member (late to show & CK newbie) of the Thing, I am sorry that I have more questions than answers.
Q3: Is this an unique Norse culture event?
Q5: The choices are only relevant if they fall from your control or they are your best title. Sweden could be spun off upon your death. The max chaos for AI would be a-c elective gavelkind. I would go a-c elective for Sweden and a-c gavelkind for the jarl. The a-c elective would be for practical purposes cognatic, placing both sexes on equal footing with the electors. A-c gavelkind gives you more options for you, as you would have had more control of daughters than brothers and nephews.
1) How did you get Halla? I thought that the only eligible female spymasters were mothers and wives.
2) Helgi: What is the cool down period before he can plot or join plots again?
3) Hakon should always be treated as a high level (rival, deceitful, title claimant) threat. Not all plots are displayed, only the ones that you know about. There are four possible outcomes:
a) Hakon lives, you are undetected: no effects
b) Hakon lives, you are detected: small relationship hit with Hakon (who cares) and his family (son on your council)
c) Hakon dies, you are undetected: removed major potential threat to you and your family with no downside
d) Hakon dies, you are detected: removed major potential threat but you receive murderer and kinslayer maluses. Note only the plotter and 1 sidekick receive maluses.
King Eilif, thank you for another wonderful look at your annals.
@diskoerekto, @TheButterflyComposer and anyone else: Here are the full screenshots I took at the time as evidence re the siege fort in enemy territory 'mystery', in case they might shed any light on it.
