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This poem doesn't really advance the story. However, it does reflect what happened in Chapter XXI. I debated the order of these items and decided readers were really clamoring to know more rather than less, so the chapter went first. However, I'm glad the poem still had some appeal, even as a short postscript.
As for the academic debate, I too wonder about the author of this latest poem. Þorolfr will have to replace his skald at some point, but he has other priorities at the moment. Though a friendly literary voice could be just what the King needs to counter the rumors and such going around. But who would the new skald even attack in that case? There's no concrete face to those other works, whereas Þorolfr and Queen Gerðr are public figures easy to mock.
Good analysis here. Yes, he needs a new skald but he has many other issues to prioritize. And how do you fight rumors when they are fueled by popular songs and poems? The king and queen are suffering because their private problems have become public. Going to take quite the campaign to turn those rumors around. However, we all know a baby could change everything.
I know you feel the poetry is getting old. But I enjoy it nonetheless. These smaller glimpses help flesh out the world, even if they don't move the plot along.
Oh, I would not put the poetry forward if I didn't enjoy it too. And frankly, there'd be fewer updates without it. Life outside the forum still isn't settled out. Glad you enjoy it and thanks for mentioning that.
As discussed before, it could just be the timing of these various poetic additions to the tale, but they haven't sparked the usual round of comments from readers. In reading the SolAARium lately, there does seem to be a debate or conversation there about cutting everything that doesn't advance the plot. However, I decided in this case, having some lore and atmosphere was just as important.
I do wonder what Tolkien or Martin might say about cutting songs and poems from their work even if they didn't advance the plot, but layered atmosphere over the worlds they were building instead?
And because we have moved beyond this AAR with some of that discussion, it's time to mention the 2024 Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds (the YAYAs). Ballots are available here and voting is already under way. Any AAR published from December of 2023 until the end of November 2024 is eligible. Certainly, honored if this one is included in your choices, but the more important cue here is to vote. Please vote for any AAR you thought was worthwhile. The author will thank you. Authors definitely appreciate votes and notice.
(I am still reading to better inform my voting and ballot. Readers have until Feb. 8, 2025 to cast their ballots.)
However, I decided in this case, having some lore and atmosphere was just as important.
I do wonder what Tolkien or Martin might say about cutting songs and poems from their work even if they didn't advance the plot, but layered atmosphere over the worlds they were building instead?
Sometimes you need to slow down and have those lore moments in order to make the actual plot moments more impactful. All plot all the time is too fast, all "filler" all the time tends to drag. There needs to be a balance, which I think you do very well.
(Legendary Norse warrior Hrafn Ytra as imagined by the DALL·E 3 image generator. This image was created with the assistance of Bing’s new Copilot AI, with some edits completed using Microsoft’s Designer digital editor, and others completed manually.)
They called this an ancient form of crowd sourcing literary works, and they added this is an accepted form of artistic creation in music and other fields.
Some even boldly noted it didn't matter if the poem originated in the 8th Century or the 18 Century if it was telling an important part of history in a creative way.
I would rather trust the legitimacy of a tale told in the 8th century over something that has been told and retold over the span of a thousand years.
Wouldn't Chief Tryggve have been mentoring an aspiring student to one day take over? It takes years to master all the nuances of skaldic poetry. Not exactly something you step into.
In reading the SolAARium lately, there does seem to be a debate or conversation there about cutting everything that doesn't advance the plot. However, I decided in this case, having some lore and atmosphere was just as important.
Thanks for reading and commenting @Lord Durham . You , @jak7139 & @StrategyGameEnthusiast are keeping this AAR afloat. I know others are quite busy at this time of year so we post and write with hopes they will return when possible.
Been many months since I played with this one to create some images for Hrafn Ytra. This actually took somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes, if I recall correctly. The Designer feature from Microsoft no longer has its eraser. The original image of course had a horned helmet. The horns were enormous. Plus one was pointed upwards and the other down. And erasers don't really erase on first pass often. It takes many passes. Impossible to fix such an output these days with Designer. Glad I believe in fixing immediately and didn't wait. Perhaps I will post about this in the thread about AI images at some point.
But truly the concept was that skalds (and bards and others) would carry these stories and hand them down, sometimes borrowing from others and reworking the tales. Seems even some of those who committed work to paper eventually were less interested in credit than saving the stories. This is why there's variance in some of the tales that we have now.
True. There's always going to be a game of telephone going on in this process, which to me means the nuances are often lost. The trouble we have is if Tryggve wrote something in the 8th Century (and we know he didn't write this part) it was still committed to memory and retold. That's why it's easy for fakes and hoaxes to sneak into what is shared.
Wouldn't Chief Tryggve have been mentoring an aspiring student to one day take over? It takes years to master all the nuances of skaldic poetry. Not exactly something you step into.
Tryggve should have done that. We know that his student was actually Hrafn's son! But there is no evidence so far that any of Tryggve's skaldic talents rubbed off on the young Ytra, who follows in his father's footsteps with having quite the mind for military affairs.
We also know (although the king and his crew don't) that Tryggve's son Ofeig helped spread some of the critical works that put the king in a bad light. I haven't explored enough yet to see if he was involved in this or other poetic tales. Ofeig may take some time before he is brave enough to fly his true colors in obvious ways.
Thanks so much regarding the vote of confidence for the poetry. One more experiment in poetry and alliterative verse coming soon, then we will head back into the plot.
The full "Lost Seasons of the Danes" Soundtrack can be heard here.
(Legendary Norse warrior Hrafn Ytra of Sygnafylki as imagined by the DALL·E 3 image generator. This image was created with the assistance of Bing’s new Copilot AI, with some edits completed using Microsoft’s Designer digital editor, and others completed manually.)
(Editor’s Note: This is yet another poem discovered in an Icelandic archive about the legendary warrior, Hrafn Ytra that we have decided to share to give further context about his legend, especially in Norway. However, experts have clearly identified this poem as being different from The Ytra Söguskrá that has sparked so much academic debate. Experts believe this poem was not a transcription from the oral tradition of the Norse but was likely written sometime between the 12th Century and 15th Century, at least 400 years after Hrafn Ytra’s time. The legend of this warrior has proved to be so important to some, especially in Norway, that it is likely the oral tradition influenced this poem, as the subject matter covers some of the same ground as the much longer Ytra Söguskrá. Experts believe it was written sometime beginning in the 12th Century because the poem does not follow the strict rules of skaldic poetry from earlier times. Examination of the poem shows it has a form similar to the málaháttr style with elements that are common to the dróttkvætt style. Such breaks in style indicate it may have been influenced by more modern forms. For those who are not experts, still there is hope you will enjoy this bit of alliterative verse.)
(The images included in this chapter are all from accounts linked to @Chac1 where he holds the copyright. They are primarily from Bing, including the Lost Seasons of the Danes logo.)
the poem does not follow the strict rules of skaldic poetry from earlier times. Examination of the poem shows it has a form similar to the málaháttr style with elements that are common to the dróttkvætt style.
If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, what are the rough differences between these three styles? When did the latter two kinds of poetry come about?
Perhaps it is just a consequence of this poem's style, but it feels incomplete. We know Hrafn found peace and solace, but nothing about afterward, if Hrafn had kids, fought in any wars in the name of his new liegelord, or how he died. I feel like those would've been recorded. Maybe this poem was recovered in a damaged state?
Two curiosities also: first, King Þorlfr isn't mentioned by name. Could this be an indicator that it was written well after his reign? Second, the chapter, unlike previous poetic installments, doesn't tell of any major academic disagreements.
The AI picture of Hrafn both for this update and last time were excellent. Great job on those!
Have been making progress recently through my reading backlog as I also try to get my AARs back in print as well. The house move has gone well but still a lot to do setting up, lots of sport being played in our southern summer and now the pre-Christmas festive season in full swing! But I got here:
As discussed before, it could just be the timing of these various poetic additions to the tale, but they haven't sparked the usual round of comments from readers.
Have enjoyed catching up again and the Hrafn story arc. Very skilfully done and I do like it when in game events are linked into a storyline. I think it is more a seasonal thing, had been experiencing the same kind of thing with my AARs where I hadn’t changed the format. I think too in other AARs I follow. Hoping it is seasonal and not a long term decline in overall forum readership/commenting.
Have been making progress recently through my reading backlog as I also try to get my AARs back in print as well. The house move has gone well but still a lot to do setting up, lots of sport being played in our southern summer and now the pre-Christmas festive season in full swing! But I got here:
We have been living through similar circumstances (including an injury or two on my part). Makes me never want to move again, but I know at least one more move is ahead. Current apartment is only temporary.
Glad to hear you are recovered and playing despite all the distractions.
Thank you. I changed the original order so the Hrafn arc would play out more directly. Hrafn was a sidelight that grew into something more. Believe it or not, everything in the Hrafn story is in the game. His father acquired the sacred warhammer and it taken (stolen? liberated?) in a raid. All the details of House Ytra actually happened in the game, including Hrafn's son being held permanently by the Danes and Tryggve serving as his mentor. All it needed was to be stitched together.
I think it is more a seasonal thing, had been experiencing the same kind of thing with my AARs where I hadn’t changed the format. I think too in other AARs I follow. Hoping it is seasonal and not a long term decline in overall forum readership/commenting.
If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, what are the rough differences between these three styles? When did the latter two kinds of poetry come about?
Perhaps it is just a consequence of this poem's style, but it feels incomplete. We know Hrafn found peace and solace, but nothing about afterward, if Hrafn had kids, fought in any wars in the name of his new liegelord, or how he died. I feel like those would've been recorded. Maybe this poem was recovered in a damaged state?
Two curiosities also: first, King Þorlfr isn't mentioned by name. Could this be an indicator that it was written well after his reign? Second, the chapter, unlike previous poetic installments, doesn't tell of any major academic disagreements.
The AI picture of Hrafn both for this update and last time were excellent. Great job on those!
Dróttkvætt was the most popular form of alliterative verse called court meter and used by skalds generally between the 9th and 14th centuries, although sources vary on that point. This is likely the most detailed explanation, but this may be the easiest one to understand. The Skaldic Project has more on málaháttr here. This might be a slightly easier explanation. This style was considered less formal and generally was used as dróttkvætt started fading away.
This more modern merging of the two styles follows these rules:
Each verse should consist of four lines
Every line must have exactly six syllables
Odd lines must have one case of full-rhyme
Even lines must have one case of half-rhyme
Every pair of lines must have triple alliteration occurring twice in the odd line and once in the even line*
Interesting that this poem has inspired some debate about its contents. I agree that due to its length it leaves out a lot of the story. Just in looking at Norse poetry compared to Norse prose, I would say that the Sagas leave out a lot too (see The Lost Saga for more on that one) but generally tell the tale you are requesting. I think the poetry more often than not leaves out key details and must be interpreted. But I am no poetry expert or Norse historian. I do find that there are so many gaps in the Norse tales we have now because the prose and poetic record are incomplete. But you provide a better explanation: perhaps only a few stanzas were recovered. Perhaps there are more internal stanzas that give more. Perhaps not.
I will also note, King Þorlfr doesn’t come down to us in the historic record (except in this fiction), so you might argue this poem is much more realistic. There is a real gap in knowing who was the grandson who ruled Denmark after King Harald Wartooth. As this is an anonymous poem and doesn’t make grandiose claims in its footnotes about being told by Chief Tryggve or coming directly from the 9th Century I imagined less academic debate about it. However, it could certainly be used to bolster some of the key facts in The Ytra Söguskrá. Perhaps I should have had one of the scholars using it to bolster claims about that controversial series of poems as it does cover the same story albeit with a lot of gaps.
Thanks for the compliments on the images. Much appreciated. And thanks also for sparking the scholarly discussion and research that was missing from the last posting.
*In rechecking the original poem, I readjusted the closing line to fit these rules as somehow I had let that line go against the structure.
I know you've thanked me for my continued support for the AAR, but I feel that I need to apologise for not commenting more often (poetry is not my strong point or something I have a lot of interest in so I've avoided commenting on the poetic interludes), but the Editor's Notes are something that intrigues me a lot - after all, our AARs tell the history of an alternate reality, but how accurate are our reports within said reality? Obviously if the AAR was a strict retelling of only what happened in-game, it would be completely historically accurate, no questions asked, but if things that don't happen in-game are brought in, it could bring into question amongst historians of this reality whether or not it actually happened. So, in your alternate reality, there are questions over whether or not poetry dates to when it is claimed to have been written or if it was written centuries after the traditional claims place it. I'm going to leave it here because I feel I'm starting to ramble.
I know you've thanked me for my continued support for the AAR, but I feel that I need to apologise for not commenting more often (poetry is not my strong point or something I have a lot of interest in so I've avoided commenting on the poetic interludes), but the Editor's Notes are something that intrigues me a lot - after all, our AARs tell the history of an alternate reality, but how accurate are our reports within said reality? Obviously if the AAR was a strict retelling of only what happened in-game, it would be completely historically accurate, no questions asked, but if things that don't happen in-game are brought in, it could bring into question amongst historians of this reality whether or not it actually happened. So, in your alternate reality, there are questions over whether or not poetry dates to when it is claimed to have been written or if it was written centuries after the traditional claims place it. I'm going to leave it here because I feel I'm starting to ramble.
Oh, that's not a ramble @StrategyGameEnthusiast that's very succint, as you often tend to be.
Thanks for your reading, commenting and support too. No need to comment on everything especially if the poetry is not of interest. (And thank you for giving your opinion on that. Appreciated. Truly.)
Yes, I think @jak7139 brings up good points because in many previous posts the dates of creation and authenticity of the poetry were questioned. However, I think he honestly wondered why this latest poem was accepted without question. I do see I missed a chance here to expand the editor's notes to keep the controversy raging. My intention was to put this alliterative verse forward as an example of very different poetry (from the previous basic English rhyming structures we know) to further bolster the story of Hrafn and the lore surrounding him. I see now that the editor's notes may have been more interesting and important than the poetry to many readers.
I love the poetry and editor's notes both (and the more traditional chapters too). But the academic debate especially fascinates me. It gives a much wider perspective that most AARs don't go into. If it is written about in the AAR, then it must have happened. But what we get here is multiple different and conflicting POVs. And only us readers have the full picture. The academics don't know about Ofeig, the King doesn't know these rumors come, drunkenly, from his deceased skald, and so on. To us, these characters are "real" because we've spent so much time with them and we see everything that's happened. We have more info on them than in-universe historians. There's a disconnect between what we know and what the characters know that I have fun speculating about, even if I'm not super knowledgeable about poetry.
Thanks for reading and your comment @Lord Durham . Frankly, I am amazed at the talent of the skalds. They were known to create this poetry sometimes half-drunk in alehouses from scratch, sometimes in competitions. To figure out those internal rhymes on the fly would certainly take some training.
Face it: without a good skald your story doesn't get sung.
So it is certainly open for debate how good was Chief Tryggve? His most memorable creations don't exactly cast the king in the best light. (Although I haven't shared all of Tryggve's poetry. He does have some poetry that clearly casts the king as a hero. Best for us to let that rest because we know using that is somewhat controversial.)
But the academic debate especially fascinates me. It gives a much wider perspective that most AARs don't go into. If it is written about in the AAR, then it must have happened. But what we get here is multiple different and conflicting POVs. And only us readers have the full picture. The academics don't know about Ofeig, the King doesn't know these rumors come, drunkenly, from his deceased skald, and so on. To us, these characters are "real" because we've spent so much time with them and we see everything that's happened. We have more info on them than in-universe historians. There's a disconnect between what we know and what the characters know that I have fun speculating about, even if I'm not super knowledgeable about poetry.
Yes, at this point, the reader knows much more than anyone included in the story so far. I did want to create a reality where the historians are debating because the record of what is real is so thin and it is difficult to parse out what is real and what is mythical or just an academic hoax.
The full "Lost Seasons of the Danes" Soundtrack can be heard here.
(King Þorolfr of Denmark meets with Jarl Alfr “Irongrip” af Vendel of Svíþjóð in October of 790 C.E., as imagined by Playground AI and the Stable Diffusion XL image generator.)
The trip to Sjælland after the Ides of October was the first trip Jarl Alfr “Irongrip” af Vendel had made since he had returned from his voyage to the Umayyad Caliphate in June. On the return trip he had picked up a nagging cough. He was often hit by coughing fits that drained him of energy. He was feeling weak, tired, and frail. Many days, he could not even struggle out of bed, he felt so weak. The cough was still with him after many months, dragging him lower by the day. But feeling a certain responsibility to finally give the king important news, he dragged himself out of bed for the voyage to the capital.
His wife, Saga, had lost their latest child before it was due, and she was not feeling up to making a trip to the capital. She again dispatched Alfr’s concubine Gyla Gautske to help him. Alfr’s assistant Halsten had finally recovered from the grievous wounds he had suffered at the blót, and he would accompany the jarl too. One or the both of them would be at the jarl’s side as he was moving very slowly even with his trusty walking stick.
Alfr felt a bit guilty that he had not attended the large funeral for Chief Tryggve “the Moaner” Flod earlier in the month. He was the only member of the high council to miss that sad affair on Burgundaholmr. But he felt he had needed to conserve his energy to make the October council meeting in the capital. He had set out early so he could meet with the king before that gathering of the council.
The king greeted his spymaster warmly when Alfr had shown up at the door of the king’s private meeting room. Alfr had left Gyla and Halsten waiting with the servants and guards in the large audience room of the king’s longhouse. The king gave the jarl a bear hug and he could tell Alfr had lost some weight since the last time he had hugged the man. He felt soft and light.
“May the Æsir bless you. May they dispatch Eir to relieve you of your illness.”
The king said this enthusiastically.
“Thank you for coming to see me despite how you are feeling.”
“I sent you a message during campaigning season,” Jarl Alfr said as he shuffled over to a chair in the cozy room.
He carefully leaned his walking stick against the wall, next to the stick once used by the king’s father. Then he lowered himself carefully into a chair. At that, he started coughing and was racked by a coughing fit for a moment.
The king looked on with concern as he seated himself.
“I did get the message, and thanks to you we were alerted at just the right time. But I have been anxiously awaiting your other important news.”
“Well, I won’t bandy words, as who knows when the cough will return, but we have tracked Irmgard, and we know where she is now.”
The king spat, using his favorite epithet for the former queen.
“Where is she hiding?”
“Well, she’s not hiding.”
Alfr relayed information he had received from his spy network in Saxony.
“She’s just over the frontier, staying in the holding of her son, Chief Theodwin Hessing of Thietmaresca. He has a holding near the mouth of the River Elbe. She’s there.”
(The former queen of Denmark, Chieftess Irmgard flees to her son’s holding in Saxony.)
“I’m sure I passed through that part of the world when visiting with my now departed friend Godi Sigbert.”
The king said this with a wistful tone.
“My best friends all seem to be gone now.”
“Yes, I was sorry I could not make Tryggve’s funeral.”
“It couldn’t be helped, I know.”
The king said this with a touch of deep sadness in his voice.
“That is why I am honored you are here giving me this news even though the subject is despicable.”
“The good news here is that my network tells me all the chatter about hiring killers to attack you has subsided. I’m not sure we need to keep all the same security measures we’ve had in place for the past year. If you are feeling as secure as you were during campaigning season when I saw you last, then perhaps it is time to lessen your guards.”
“I will consider it. We will discuss it with Jarl Sigurd at the council session perhaps.”
The king nodded.
“But what about the threats to Gyrið? Does Irmgard still intend to kill her? And if we know where Irmgard is, then why don’t we just capture her or kill her first?”
“All good questions.”
Alfr began his response, but then he was racked by a coughing fit.
“Would you like some wine? Would that make you feel any better?”
“Back to early day drinking?”
The jarl gave the king a disapproving look as he shook off the coughs and struggled a bit for breath.
“You’ve got to watch yourself.”
“I’ll pass on the wine, and I suggest you do the same until a bit later. But as to Irmgard, yes, I do believe there is a credible threat that remains to Gyrið’s life.”
The king said this with urgency.
“I knew you would say that, which is why I personally went to Saxony to scout out the situation.”
Alfr looked intently at the king to see if his liege detected his lie. Alfr’s face gave no indication of his deception.
“Oh, so this is where your secret trip took you? I thought that was a trip to figure out who killed my father?”
“That trip did give me some answers, and now I am prepared to lay them out for you. And in the end it all goes back to Irmgard.”
Alfr then explained some of what he knew for the king, withholding key information about Astrid the Lawspeaker, as he had promised her. In the past several months, Alfr’s spies in Saxony had relayed important information to him, and he was now convinced a team of Saxon mercenaries had aided Irmgard in carrying out the assassination of King Hrœrekr II. Alfr’s theory of the crime was that the former queen was the mastermind who had used Field Marshal Froði Kráka to help find the right guard to bribe to help with the plot. In Alfr’s telling, although Froði was not part of Irmgard’s assassination plot, he certainly knew something was afoot. Also, he did nothing to warn the king, because he was interested in his own plans for Norwegian independence. With the traitorous guard’s help, Irmgard found a farm not far from one of her husband’s hiking routes, and then she bribed that farm family for their participation. Alfr’s spies had found that Norse family was now farming new land not far from Chief Theodwin’s holding in Saxony. The Saxon mercenaries were the final piece to the puzzle: enough manpower to overwhelm the king and his guards if necessary in case they didn’t fall into the trap that had been set for them. In Alfr’s telling of the crime, he included the information he had learned about Froði’s hired men in Slesvig, ready to spirit Prince Magni off to Noregr (Norway), as soon as there was word that Hrœrekr had died.
“So there were really two plots at work here at the same time,” Alfr concluded. “Froði’s plot was triggered by Irmgard’s success in killing your father, but he was preparing for Noregr’s independence months before that because your father was dying already due to the cancer.”
As if to punctuate the importance of that statement, the spymaster had another spate of coughing to conclude his story.
“Well, you and your spies have been very busy.”
The king nodded.
“It is satisfying to finally have the answers. I just wish they would have come sooner. Six years is a long time to wait.”
“Those were two complex plots that were bound up in Irmgard’s affair with Froði. And in my thinking, she had to definitely be screwing Froði before the assassination for this to work. It all really begins with their affair.”
“Another good reason to capture her so I can throw her in the pit.”
The king said this with an edge in his voice.
“And I know what you are going to say about vengeance. But capturing her is justice. Not just for my father, but for Gyrið too.”
“I’m sure my friend Sigurd would like another crack at her. But she is heavily guarded. And if we are caught trying to capture her, it is different than capturing her somewhere in Denmark. The Saxons will be outraged. Do you want a war on your safe southern frontier?”
“So then have her assassinated.”
The king said this with a casualness that belied the seriousness of that suggestion.
“She’s just across the frontier. You’ve got spies in Saxony already.”
“Remember, I scouted this out myself. It will not be easy. We will need to plan and prepare carefully. And again, if our killer is caught, you will have the Saxons to deal with.”
“I am not afraid of the Saxons.”
The king huffed.
“We are bigger and stronger. But yes, they maintain an important buffer between us and the Catholic lands. Keeping that a peaceful buffer has been our strategy since my grandfather took Slesvig. So yes, perhaps I need to think on this more. Justice is necessary, but our kingdom’s security comes first. Thank you for your advice, Alfr. Maybe we should either discuss this at the council session or just with Sigurd after that.”
“Agreed.”
Alfr croaked this out before he was wracked by another wave of hacking coughs.
“Perhaps we should conclude this now, as I see your stamina is flagging.”
The king said this with a concerned tone.
“I don’t like seeing the Hero of the Blót in such obvious pain. If you are not taking any wine or spirits to make you feel better, best if we leave the rest for the council session.”
Alr said this, waving one hand at the king.
“Best to keep the intelligence briefing between us. Not sure how much of any of this we should share.”
“Alright then, but I hope we can finish quickly so you can get some rest.”
“Your concerns are appreciated.”
Alfr nodded.
“Which brings me to the court physician. Old Knut has recanted his plot to lessen your powers. You are welcome to call him if needed.”
“Indeed, that is a welcome relief. What changed his mind?”
“Of that, I have no idea, but the nest of spies I set up in his holding in Noregr gave me the reports. I’m just glad I won’t be spending another winter in his icy, misbegotten holding in Rygjafylki.”
“Maybe you should call upon him? If you would like, I can have him come to the capital to examine you. You need something to get rid of that cough.”
“I doubt he could get here in a timely fashion. If he wants to see me, he’ll need to come to my holding in Svíþjóð.”
“I will make a note to send a messenger. Which reminds me to ask: how are the repairs coming to your holding in Vestmannaland?”
“Thank you for asking.”
Alfr said this quickly before the need to suppress yet another cough. He rasped a bit afterward.
“Repairs are almost complete for the winter, but don’t even edge up on asking me about the war in Skara. That will just make me feel worse.”
“Alright, that conflict is off the table.”
(Geatish raiders from Västergötland burn down a village in Gästrikland during Jarl Alfr’s protracted war, to attempt to seize the province of Skara, as imagined by Playground AI and the Stable Diffusion XL image generator. This image was also manually edited.)
Despite the best efforts by Alfr’s generals, the Geatish army had eluded his forces all summer, and then staged a daring raid deep into Alfr’s territories, burning down a holding in Gästrikland.
“It seems to me, the only plotter that seems to be obstinately holding out is Chieftess Þordis.”
“Yes, it seems the gods have sent women here to vex me. Þordis and Irmgard. One or the both of them needs to be silenced in the coming year.”
“I will note it as a priority.”
Alfr said this weakly, and then he suffered another round of hacking with the cough.
The king noted this with concern.
“I think you have had enough for the day. Please consider taking a mid-day meal with me and we can just have casual talk instead of this business of mystery solving and assassinations. I can see this conversation has drained the life from you.”
“No, I’m not used to taking a heavy meal in the mid-day. Besides, I have guests with me to help me get along.”
“There is certainly room for them here.”
The king pointed to his serving table on the other side of the small room.
“There is always plenty of food.”
“No, I may need to rest in bed, I’m sorry to report, my liege. Best if I head out until the council meeting later in the week.”
“As you wish.”
The king nodded as Alfr got up slowly and grabbed his walking stick.
“Thank you, my liege.”
Alfr said this as he shuffled from the room.
Despite his weakened state, he felt like a large weight had lifted from his shoulders. He had mostly told the king the truth, omitting key sections that Alfr believed would just cause the king to strike out seeking vengeance needlessly. He was glad the king had not asked about Astrid. Perhaps, he ventured to himself, the king felt he had already exacted his revenge upon her, so he had forgotten her. Alfr felt he had finally assembled all the facts to solve the murder of King Hrœrekr II, and now that the blame was where it needed to be – with Irmgard, the former queen – he knew he would rest easier. Certainly, the king would trouble him, no doubt, to seek retribution, but Alfr felt punishing Irmgard would be justified. Although catching her or killing her would not be easy, even for an experienced spymaster like Alfr. Moving slowly down the corridor toward his entourage, he wondered if he and his network would be up to the task. For now though, internally, he was looking forward to a nap and celebrating a small victory, confident that the king would never discover some of the facts he had omitted or lies he had told him lately.
“How did it go with the king?” Gyla inquired as soon as the jarl was at her side, and she and Halsten were helping him navigate the way out of the king’s longhouse.
Alfr wheezed a bit.
“Now, I think a nap is in order. But Halsten, there’s someone else in the capital we need to meet up with. Find a secure location and get it set up for tonight. You know who I mean.”
“As you order it, my liege,” Halsten confirmed. “It will be done.”
(The images included in this chapter are all from accounts linked to @Chac1 where he holds the copyright. They are primarily from Playground AI, but some are from Bing, including the Lost Seasons of the Danes logo. The LunaPic image editor was used to alter some images.)
(Lost Seasons of the Danes will return in early 2025. Enjoy your Jul!)
Although catching her or killing her would not be easy, even for an experienced spymaster like Alfr. Moving slowly down the corridor toward his entourage, he wondered if he and his network would be up to the task. For now though, internally, he was looking forward to a nap and celebrating a small victory, confident that the king would never discover some of the facts he had omitted or lies he had told him lately.
Great chapter! I share the king’s sadness at seeing Alfr this way. He is probably my favourite character. The old plot seems to have been solved - largely. Out of interest, how much is based on ‘known game facts’ and how much is ingenious narrative sleuth work?
A merry Jól to you too. Though there where I am, it is a mid-summer festival!
The persistence of Alfr's cough is worrying. And his work won't let him rest, whether enacting retribution for the king or plotting towards his own ends (who are the Spymaster and Halsten meeting? Very curious to see what happens there).
But everything seems to have been wrapped up as nicely as a present, perhaps too nicely. Did Alfr really manage to deceive Thorlofr? is his cough really only temporary, or the start of a worse illness? Frodi is dead and Irmgard is exiled, yet part of me feels like our Danish protagonists are about to be duped in a very large way.
You continue to impress with the art and the soundtrack! They're always well done and thematic.
Almost all of the current regular commenting crew is present, so I will venture forth to answer some questions. Thanks @StrategyGameEnthusiast , @Bullfilter & @jak7139 for dropping in here. Glad you enjoyed this one.
Indeed, I wanted to tie up most of the major plot details before the end of the year. Some would likely argue it took too long to bring this all together, with several major character arcs completing along the way, not to mention the entire blót.
I can tell from the reactions perhaps folks feel it is tied up just like a horror story before the real final act. I promise no jump scares. However, the world turns and nothing is static. We will see Irmgard again in the future, and I hope the way she returns surprises folks. But the answers to the murder mystery I think are mostly laid to rest.
The persistence of Alfr's cough is worrying. And his work won't let him rest, whether enacting retribution for the king or plotting towards his own ends (who are the Spymaster and Halsten meeting? Very curious to see what happens there).
Alfr is one of my favorites too. So much so that I am plotting an entire AAR just for him as the main character. But of course, this AAR would have to pause for that one. And I may do that but I'm not sure I'm ready for all those adventures just yet. We will see. We will get answers to Jak's questions but it may take a few chapters.
Typical spymaster! Answers filled with vague notions and scant details. More to come, no doubt.
Did Alfr really manage to deceive Thorlofr? is his cough really only temporary, or the start of a worse illness? Frodi is dead and Irmgard is exiled, yet part of me feels like our Danish protagonists are about to be duped in a very large way.
I will say I have been planting the seeds of the next major plot points for the past six months or more. There will be new adventures and yes, some duping is definitely involved. As this AAR revolves more on the behind-the-scenes matters and less on the combat, you might expect as much. Most of Jak's good questions should be answered in the next three chapters or so. Of course, that means hanging on until well into the new year for answers. I do hope to keep posting weekly in the new year, but we shall see what is possible.
Oh, now the king has expectations too! Seems I am committed.
The old plot seems to have been solved - largely. Out of interest, how much is based on ‘known game facts’ and how much is ingenious narrative sleuth work?
I was amazed at how much the game provided an outline for all of this. However, I will say as the game player, I was oblivious. Completely caught by surprise when King Hrœrekr II was assassinated. Thought he would die of cancer. Took lots of investigating as I wrote this AAR to find out the facts. Froði Kráka, the field marshal, really was carrying on affairs with Queen Irmgard and Astrid, the king's mistress. Later, when it became clear Irmgard wanted to kill Gyrið, King Þorolfr's concubine, as the game player, I did send Jarl Sigurd to arrest Irmgard. However, she escaped and went into hiding with her son from her time as a concubine in Saxony. The game provided all those details. So it was up to me to put some meat on the bones provided by that outline. I added the farm family details although the king really is out hiking when he is killed at an inn during his hike. (This is all set before inns existed in Denmark.) I also added the mercenaries in both Slesvig and from Saxony as both the queen and Froði would need some muscle to carry off their plans.
Of note, Þorolfr, in game, really did collaborate with Gyrið, Froði's wife, to have him killed. She really did become the king's concubine. And Þorolfr purposely did not collaborate with his spymaster on that assassination. All that is rendered accurately in the AAR.
Enjoy your summer @Bullfilter. I hope everyone enjoys their Jul or whatever you may be celebrating at this time of year.
This thread will mostly be quiet (unless there are unexpected happenings) until the new year. The next chapter will occur the day after Jul ends in the new year, so it will be synced closely to dates in January.
And now the king will give his Jul blessing (which began today, for those who are counting)...
Alfr is one of my favorites too. So much so that I am plotting an entire AAR just for him as the main character. But of course, this AAR would have to pause for that one. And I may do that but I'm not sure I'm ready for all those adventures just yet.
That sounds fun! I'm guessing a prequel, since present-day Alfr is likely not long for this world. You also mentioned a spin-off for Astrid too. Certainly there's a lot you could do in this universe with these characters.
Maybe it is much too early for this question, I'm not sure how far ahead you've played, but will this AAR end once King Thorolfr dies? Will we see his successor (assuming he gets over his current marriage woes)?
Great post, @Chac1. I was wondering when the assassination plot would see some kind of resolution. Alfr's cough is troubling. There appears to be no blood, so it probably rules out TB. Pneumonia? I like the idea of spin-offs. You've created some likeable characters that deserve their own telling. And as always, the art and music is top notch.
