1066, House Crovan AAR

[Fou Lu]

1066, House Crovan AAR​

• I'm not a native speaker.
• It's been a while since I wrote stories, sooo Im a bit rusty, but I felt an AAR could be a good way to get back into it and also make my campaign more fun.
• So if you still feel brave enough, or extremely bored, you may continue. I hope you enjoy it.

Spoiler: Mod List

More Interacitve Vasalls
More Single Combats
Better Executions
Social Relations Expanded
Unfinished Buisness
Better Rebellions
Call for Trial
Full Screen Barbershop
Community Flavor Pack
Ethnicities & Portraits Expanded
CFP + EPE Compatibility Patch

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PROLOGUE
THE CROVANS OF THE SUÐREYJAR​

This story begins in the year 1066 with King Gudrød of the House Crovan,

a young ruler. He and his family reigned the Suðreyjar, but since they were Norwegians, the local vasalls and their people were suspicious of them. But King Gudrød did not seem to care. He would earn their loyalty, at least he thought so in his arrogance.
Since their position was not the best, Gudrød decided, despite his alliance with King Harald IV. of Norway through his wife Ragnhild, to marry off his siblings as soon as possible.
His brother Domnall married Denis the daughter of Prince Bleddyn, the ruler of Gwynedd. His sister Helga was given to Teitur, the son and heir of Jarl Isleifur of Ísland. With these allies they should be secured, for a while.

Queen Ragnhild, King Gudrod, Princess Helga and Prince Domnall.

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CHAPTER I
LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL​

In December of 1066, King Gudrød joined King Harald IV. of Norway in his Invasion of England. On May 1st in 1067, Gudrød's troops under the command of his marshal, Mormaer Comgal MacFionnghall, who was also a distant relative of Gudrød, split from King Harald's Army to lay siege to a distant castle. They were surprised by English forces and after a more than uneven battle in the hills of Appleby forced to retreat.

After this needless loss of soldier's life, King Gudrød ordered his marshal to stay with the troops of King Harald and forbade any further unauthorised actions.

While the war was raging on, Gudrød had a meeting with King Malcolm III. of Scotland, both seemed fond of each other and while feasting they became good friends.​

On the 16th of November in the year 1068, Gudrød's first son Ivar was born, whom he named after his grandfather.

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1069 on September 2nd, Gudrød's marshal, Mormaer Comgal MacFionnghall and his father Mormaer Fionnghall MacGofraid rebelled. They sent a letter demanding independence. Gudrød was not impressed, he had seen the betrayal coming for a long time, but he thought he had more time to prepare.

»What are they thinking! They are just worms«, yelled Domnall after he read the letter. He was very furious.​

Gudrød was just smiling, the tantrums of his little brother were always amusing to him.

»Calm yourselve, brother. We will put them in their place. Sent letters to your dear wife's father, he will aid us against these traitors.«​

He also appointed his brother as new marshal. Prince Bleddyn, Domnall's father in law, honored their alliance and soon they had a strong army. King Gudrød personally took command.

The traitors wasted no time and laid siege to his home Íl, where Gudrød's pregnant wife Ragnhild and their son and his heir Ivar were staying. Presumably the rebels hoped for a quick victory by taking them hostage.
King Gudrød and his army reached his home on the 10th of April in 1070. Together with Prince Bleddyn's troops they narrowly outnumbered their enemies. King Gudrød personally led his troops into battle.

Right at the beginning of the battle, Gudrød was hit by an arrow in the shoulder, but this did not stop him, if anything it spurred him on even more. Although he was never a great warrior (his fighting skills were rather average), he made up for his lack of skill with his tenacity and iron will.

Selyf ap Brochfael of the House of Gwerthrynion confronted the traitor Comgal. His enemy outclassed him, but Selyf did not retreat, his honor forbade it. It was probably just luck, but he managed to defeat Comgal after they duelled for while.

»You are my prisoner now, traitor. The king shall decide your fate!«​

Mormaer Comgal said nothing in return.

Meanwhile, Mormaer Fionnghall, Comgal's father, met Mayor Morfarch of Llandudno on the battlefield, after a brief fight he wounded Morfarch, but since he was too focused on his opponent, he did not notice what was happening around him.
King Gudrød won the battle, the Rebel Army was completely defeated. When he realised what had happened, Fionnghall surrenderd. The Rebellion was over.

​

There were more good news that day. While the battles were raging outside, Queen Ragnhild gave birth to her second son, Samuel.​

This was a wonderful day for the House of Crovan.​

---

A few days passed and Gudrød decided to execute his treacherous vasalls, but his bishop stopped him.

»My king, you can't! They are of your blood, though very distant relatives. Great misfortune would come upon you.«​

»I always forget they are. Very well, I will mitigate the punishment«, Gudrød said. »But death might be more merciful.«​

Mormaer Comgal MacFionnghall was blinded as punishment. His father Fionnghall MacGofraid was stripped of his title and imprisoned for life.
This should set an example that nobody betrays the Crovans, not even relatives.

After some months, on 11th of September 1070, at the age of 21, Gudrød succumbed to his wound he received from the arrow, which had never healed properly.
His son Prince Ivar, just 1 year old, succeeded him on the throne.

​

 

[HistoryDude]

Are you playing as a Norse lord in Scotland? Do you want to make a Norse Scotland? Perhaps even a Norse Britain? Will you just let the game create scenarios for you without any plans?

 

[Fou Lu]

Are you playing as a Norse lord in Scotland? Do you want to make a Norse Scotland? Perhaps even a Norse Britain? Will you just let the game create scenarios for you without any plans?

Yes, I plan to stay Norwegian and try to conquer Scotland or Ireland. Maybe I have to swear fealty to Scotland. Because of Gudrods early death, things could get problematic.
I will mostly play along with what the game is throwing at me, I like the randomness. Well, Gudrods death wasn't exactly what I wanted, I was really a bit baffled when it happened, but it was not avoidable.
My current goal is keeping Ivar and his brother alive until they reach adulthood. After that, I will probably get rid of these untrustworthy local nobles first.

 

[Nikolai]

Will you be a Norse Christian or spread some kind of heretic belief all over Britannia?

 

[Fou Lu]

Will you be a Norse Christian or spread some kind of heretic belief all over Britannia?

I think I will stay Christian, but who knows, plans can change.^^

 

[Fou Lu]

CHAPTER II
THE YOUNG KING​

After the funreal of King Gudrød it did not took long before intrigues were spun at court again. Some vassals saw their chance to gain more power, others wanted to settle old scores.
The young King Ivar could only rely on his mother Ragnhild; even his uncle Domnall was not to be trusted. There were rumours that he would soon claim the throne himself.

On August 10th in 1072, Ivar's grandfather, Harald IV. of Norway succeeded with his Invasion of England, which had already lasted six

years.

Early in 1073, the Kingdom of Scotland conquered the Mormaerdom of Argyll. The Council was surpirsed and upset, since King Malcolm III. was a friend of Ivar's father King Gudrød. They oviously did not expect this to happen. The Council was in agreement, King Malcolm III. would not

stop until he controls Scotland completly. And so, on the 27 of May in 2073, King Ivar swore fealty to King Malcolm III.

In the year 2075, after his distant relative Earl Gofraith MacSihtric died without heirs, Duke Ivar inherited the Earldom of Mön. In September of the next year, he also inherited the Earldom of Carrick, when traitor Comgal MacFionnghall finally took his last breath at age 37.

On 26 January in 1077, King Harald IV. was decapitated, by a lower noble. Ivar's mother Ragnhild was deeply distressed, when she heard of her fathers death and she barely ate for a month.​

---

In August of the year 1081, Duke Ivar went missing.
A search was organized to find him. Fortunately Ivar found back home by himself. After questioning him he revealed his uncle Domnall lured him into the woods and left him there. This was clearly an attempt on the young Duke's life.

The Council acted immediately and ordered his arrest. Unfortunately, when the guards stormed his private chambers, he had already escaped.

It is assumed Domnall fled to Gowrie.
As Domnall was still a threat, the guards for Duke Ivar were increased.

After that, the years until his coming of age were mostly peaceful. Ivar grew closer with his brother Samuel. Whenever they were together they caused a lot of ruckus.

Also while wandering with his mother Ragnhild they found a abandoned puppy, which Ivar kept. He named him Odin, after a god of his ancestors heretic beliefs.

---

Near the end of 1084 his uncle King Magnus II. of Norway declared war against Scotland for his claim on the Duchy of Northumbria. Since Norway could raise nearly twice as much troops than Scotland, there was no hope of winning. Regardless, Ivar sent his troops to support his king. The war lasted two years and King Malcolm III. was defeated and forced to surrender Northumbria to Norway.

One month after his coming of age Ivar married Octreda of House Dunbar, forming an allicance with her brother Duke Dolfin map Gospatric, ruler of the Duchy of Gododdin.

On 8th of November of 1085, their daughter Astrid saw the light of day.

One day, when Duke Ivar travelled to Gowrie to pay hommage, he was mocked by King Malcolm III. and got the inglorious title 'the Norwegian'. Although Ivar wore it with pride, the relationship with his king was strained from that day on.

 

[HistoryDude]

Norway controls England, and it looks like this is causing distrust in Scotland. I wonder if this mistrust will eventually lead to treason? Norway appears like it would be a better protector than Scotland for our Duke...

 

[Fou Lu]

Norway controls England, and it looks like this is causing distrust in Scotland. I wonder if this mistrust will eventually lead to treason? Norway appears like it would be a better protector than Scotland for our Duke...

Indeed, maybe we also see a Norwegian Brittania. Since Magnus is still young, if nothing unforeseen happens, he probably could rule 30+ years. Lots of time for an ambitious ruler to carve his name into history.

 

[Fou Lu]

CHAPTER III
SILENCE BEFORE THE STORM​

After the unpleasant visit of the kings court Duke Ivar had decided to largely withdraw from Scottish politics and make his own plans for his family's future until 23rd of July 1087, when King Malcolm III died. He was succeeded by his son King Duncan II. An angry man, like his father, but more rational.

Few month later, Ivar's second daughter Sara was born.
​

On August 28 of the same year, Duke Ivar was appointed as King Duncan's II. spymaster.
Ivar still had no great expectations of his new king and probably already made plans to join Norway, but fotunately at a feast in Íl the following year, where the king was also present, the two became friends.

On 21 of June in 1089, Ivar's first son Sigurd was born.

​

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In the following years, Duke Ivar tried to take revenge on his uncle Domnall for the attempted murder during his childhood. As already mentioned before, the craven escaped and hid in Gowrie, after that he somehow sneaked into the service of Mormaer Causantin MacDuib of Fife, an old childhood friend of Duke Ivar. There Domnall was serving as marshal.
Ivar's position as spymaster gave him lots of opportunities. But Domnall miraculously survived two attempts on his life.

Still, Ivar had no itention to give up.

Domnall was already badly marked by the previous poison attacks, when the third assassination attempt in 1091 was finally successful.
It soon became clear that Ivar was the murderer. However, our duke could finally sleep peacefully again.

The same year Octreda gave birth to healthy twins, Sofia and Inga.
​

On 5th of mai 1093, Duke Ivar and King Duncan II, betrothed their children, Sigurd and Flora to tie the houses Crovan and Dunkeld together.

»You Norwegians are a tough kind of breed, together we can get far«, King Duncan II. is reported to have said. »May our houses names be forever sealed in history!«​

1095 Ivar's second son came into this world. He was named Knut.​

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Few month later, the pope himself announced the need for a Crusade. Heathen in Pomerania! At this time most nobles did not know what a waste of time it would be. Pomerania was just small kingdom, barely a threat. Something an neigbouring christian ruler could have solved by himself.

On 19 July of 1096, a minor noble, the Earl of Ulster Coscrach mac Cu Uladh rebelled against the Crown, along with Ivar's brother in law Gospatric and other vasalls. Ivar's wife Octreda begged him to support her brother and the other traitors, but Ivar decided to back his friend King Duncan II. instead.

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The Crovans in 1096.
Left to right: Sara, Astrid, Duchess Octreda with Knut, the twins Sofia and Inga, Duke Ivar and Sigurd.

 

[HistoryDude]

Our loyalty remains with the Kings of Scotland, and it was sealed by a marriage alliance. I wonder if this will be used to claim a throne in the future?