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unmerged(23127)

In the cooler - to stay...
Dec 5, 2003
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To get in the right mood, I recommend that you open this link and listen as you read chapter one.
Here!




Part 1
Chapter I. -All Things Must Have A Start

Denmark, Norway and Sweden were the Kingdoms, which dominated in the North, in the Middle Ages. Usually these three brother-nations were at war with each other. And if they weren’t, then they stood together facing an even larger enemy.
However in 1066 the news of William the Bastard’s success in England, were sending a shock throughout Europe. It became a time of mistrust and intrigue, where nobody dared to speak loudly. The three Kingdoms also lost their contact with each other, and instead focused on defending their lands with the help of their own citizens.

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In the province of Skåne, things were going as usually in a quiet tempo. The Danish King Svend I., had recently handed the government of Skåne to a local man, called Elias.
To get an idea how Skåne is, allow me to describe it…
On the coasts, it is windy and quiet. Only a few fishermen have their cottages there, and the water is as blue as a cloud-free Summerday.
When we get further into Skåne, fields cover much of the grasslands, which lie before the mighty forests of Skåne. Those forests are dark and cold, and you rarely see people travel inside them, as there is told mysterious stories of terrible things, about them. However, those who dared to cross the border into the forests would find plenty of wild animals. People in Skåne really idolized the hunters as was they great warriors returning from war.
There is only one Town in Skåne, which is called Lund. It lies in the middle of everything. Here, merchants meet from all places and trades their goods, which consists of fish, honey, timber and furs.

The rest of the small population in Skåne, lives on farms all around the province. Many of these people are not wealthy at all. The whole family works so that they can grow some crops, feed some animals, make some products and sell them in Lund, so that they can get new shoes and things like that. It’s a hard life, and therefore the whole family stick together.
Normally, the family take the name of the farm, which they live on. And usually the families lie in open conflicts with other families. This is a large problem, which the authorities rarely interfere with. But when they do, the case is brought to “Tinge”, which is where the elders gather and talk about the problem. These law-meetings take place in small villages, which consists of 4-15 minor farms.
These farmers are very poor and therefore need to stick together with other families in a kind of community.

A ”Stormand” governs every village. They live on larger and wealthier farms and owe more lands than others. It is also the Stormænd, who have the responsibility to arm their Liege’s armies with men, weapons and money.
King Svend I. had in many years tried to spread God’s word to his people. Though there were a couple of churches in Skåne, only half of the population was Christians.

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Now, lets look at Elias…
He came from Lund, and was the grandson of the first major of the Town. Therefore, he also carried the name Lund.
He had fought side-by-side King Svend I., against some rebellious islanders, some years ago. King Svend was amazed over this man’s power, intelligence and loyalty, so he had first promoted him to Stormand, and later to Count of Skåne.
Personally, Elias Lund was a bit sad about that. He had all his life, lived for the thrill in battle and the code of honour, and now had to govern Skåne behind a table, inside a defended estate.
But it was a gift, which he could not say no to. His loyalty made him swear the oath of a count, to his Liege King Svend I.

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Elias Lund loved to travel around in Skåne. Just him, all alone.
He liked the nature, the animals, and the wildness. Mostly the wildness.
On a spring day, where the sun was warmer than ever, and a fresh breeze swept through the lands, Elias sneaked out of his office room, and rode northwards. He didn’t use the few primitive roads, as he rather would ride alone, than having an army of curious followers after him. He rode an hour. Calm and happy. Sunset. Then he heard a scream from a nearby hill.
It was not human… Rather… Like a pig.
He wielded his fathers rusty blade, which he had attached to the saddle. He slowly climbed down his horse. Bowed down in his knees and walked with large steps closer to the hill.
A group of people were chanting, behind it.
He was not afraid. He climbed the last few metres up and talked with his deep voice.


“What is going on here?”


Five women stood in dark ropes and slaughtered an animal, while an old woman chanted on top of a rock. Everybody turned at Elias, but did not answer him. Instead a couple of them started to mumble and pointing. Then a beautiful young girl stepped forward. Her hands were filled with blood and her eyes were stormy grey. Elias had never seen anything more beautiful… Or wilder.


“My Lord… We are celebrating the birth of the moon. Tonight it is lighter than ever, and provides every woman with fertility. Just look at it!”


She leaned her head back and laughed.
Elias just stood and stared at the girl. Then he suddenly felt it to. The Moon was lighter tonight. And that girl…

He got up and coughed. Looked around, and saw that he was sitting in his own bed. Had it been a dream? He looked down next to him, but he was all alone in the room. He got out of his bed and took some woollen trousers on.
He walked out of the room and down into the courtyard, where he started to ask the stable boys, if they could remember when he returned home. However, nobody had neither seen him come home, or any woman, or anything…
He stepped over to his horse and left the boys with their work.
It was strange. He decided to take another trip to the hill. However, this time, he would not ride alone. Together with his two house-carls Magnus and Ole, they rode all the way back to the hill.
Elias wanted that woman. He was possessed by her eyes… her lips… everything.

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They only needed to ride half the way, as they found her walking northwards all alone.
Elias jumped down from his horse and took her in his arms. She did not fight back. Just stared at him, with her mysterious grey eyes.
Then they all rode home, to the estate where they would soon be celebrating marriage.
However, of different reasons…

The girl, who was called Gudrun, had poisoned Elias and rode home with him. He was so doped that he could not remember anything. On the same way Elias had sneaked out, they sneaked in. It did not take long before Elias was sleeping, and Gudrun had the time to rob him, which she also did. With her loot, she left the estate and walked home to her simple hut with it. Then, on her way to the holy hill, Elias found her.
She thought that he had discovered the theft and therefore she gave her away to him.
However, Elias was so possessed by her, that he had not discovered anything. He just thought she liked him and was as drafted to him, as he was to her.

A complicated story already, I know!
However all things must have a start…
 
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Nice start! I'm intrigued already....
 
Interesting. Nice music, good idea to combine it with the post. What is it, btw?
 
Thanks guys... Glad you like it so far.
I once read an AAR with music too, and it really gave the reading a little bit more! ;)
So, I had just found some music and experimented with adding it into the text. This piece of music was some old danish folk music, which I actually never had heard before... Probably from year 1500 - 1700... Called "Bladet", which means "The Leaf" (Leaf=leaves, the ones on trees you know!) :p
Well, next time I will try with some other music if I can find it, and try to add it and give it a describtion. Of course, if you rather want to read, listening to norwegian heavy metal or just without anything, its fine with me! :)
I just added the music for those who didnt had anything and perhaps were interested...

About the AAR, I will try to write like I did in my "The Hvide Family" where I write aspects as poetry, mythology and short stories. (You can give the AAR a look to see what I mean!)
However, this one, I will try write a little more simple, so its easier to follow... I will try to write better, and post back better, and of course add good pictures and the music I talked about before, and I hope I will end up, with a nice piece of writing which you will enjoy reading...

Its the hardest difficulties and I have some mods added to it.
I expect to post a new update sooner, perhaps already today.
 
This is music from Knights of Honor, and is called “Sword and Faith”. I again recommend listening as you read. After pressing, it will take between 30 sec. to 1 minute for the music to come. Here
Or if that doent work, try this link then. Here




Part 1
Chapter II. –Parenting Children and Stormænd

The next couple of years, Elias Lund sought to increase his incomes, on new ways.
He decided to turn at the dark forests. Remember, as mentioned before, Elias was not a frighten man, and he didn’t believe that there were any powers which people could not overcome.
So, he moved about 30 families to the borders of the forests, where he created some minor villages. From there, he planned that they would supply Skåne with timber in the future.

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The Danish King Svend I., was also productive.
He removed those Counts and Stormænd, which did not live up to his expectations. Elias Lund got a new superior, as King Svend I. granted his son Knud Svendson Knýtling the title of Duke over Skåne and the small island of Bornholm, where he built his estate on.
Elias Lund was also sent some officials, which should help him in the governing of Skåne. A naive chancellor, called Skuld. A skilled and snobbish steward, called Harald and an exaggerated spy master, called Maria.

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Elias Lund and Gudrun lived peacefully together, and were each other faithful.
In April 1068, Gudrun gave birth to a baby-girl, which they gave the name Svanløg. In May 1069, Elias and Gudrun got their second daughter Bodil.
But Elias Lund was busy and Gudrun had taken on a holy trip to Norway, where other heretics gathered in their worshipping of Thor and Odin. That left the two girls in the hands of their servants, who didn’t take their time to take care of two infants. All that resulted in that Svanløg became sick, and Bodil weakened. That, was some crappy parenting…
In December, Svanløg died…

The Stormænd in Skåne had in the meantime gotten upset of the insane taxes, which Duke Knud Svendson Knýtling forced them with. Many of them talked openly of rebellion and armed revolts.
Elias Lund got notice of this and hurried to gather them in his estate.
There he asked them to relax, and have patience with the sick and lazy Duke Knud. One of the Stormænd, called Herjolf got up and chanted…


“Brothers!
We have fought and died
We have laughed and cried
Built this life, this wealth and strenght

But when we stand here today
No feelings express our anger and hate
To a man, that came to late
To join us built these lands and lives

Is he better than us?
Dammed, he has taken our gold and pride
Lets now give him that ride
Back to his hole!!!”


The crowded Stormænd cheered loudly. They wanted to punish this rotten Duke.
But Elias Lund was quick and saw that this could end dramatically. He got up on a table and raised his arms for silence.


“Have you seen a wolf jump out of hide?
Never, I say
They wait for they are enough
Before they kill with their bite

For those of you who seek justice and blood
Take time, talk quiet
Don’t be fools
You’ll have your time to beat the sod

For those who have honour and real pride
Would be cut to blood by the thorns
Without whining or smiles
Remember too, the wolf loves its hide.”


There was no cheering. The Stormænd just looked at each other and seemed to be ashamed. They promised Elias that they would think one more time, before they did anything, and Elias was glad about that.
He was loyal, to whoever was his liege, but as well, also loyal to his people. He would not take any party in the case and was smart enough to quiet the rebellious mood down, in a neutral way.
Now that! That was parenting…
 
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Mmmm, not getting any music. Is that simpy because it's not up yet?
 
Hmm...
Doent there come some download-device thing? It does with me!
I have tried to make a new way into the music... Does that work for you?
 
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Working now. Fine track. Nice lines. So our Elias is a bit of a wily one. A snake almost, jsut waiting for the moment to strike I'll bet.
 
This is some music from one who is called Grey. Its called Prelude. Here



Part 1
Chapter III. –Aging Troubles

The good and legendary King Svend I. of Denmark had lived a tough life. Nevertheless, it still came as a shock, when Elias Lund and his little family heard about the Kings sudden death, a cold December morning.
It took a couple of days before the funeral was held. King Svend had had many children and it was still not quite certain who should inherit the Kingdom.
Many of his sons where very young, so only a handful could be old enough for the responsibility. Of the handful of men, only two were strong enough for the job. Duke Bjørn of Slesvig and Duke Knud of Skåne.
Duke Bjørn had been everybody’s favourite. A strong and quiet man, on only 19. But he was fine in Slesvig, and rejected to take up the crown. So, the sick and lazy Duke Knud could then call himself King of Denmark, on the age of 26.
That also meant, that Skåne would have a new Duke. It became King Knud’s younger brother Benedikt, who was a silent, yet pleasant man on 21.

Duke Benedikt was not afraid to help others, or teach them.
On his first visit to Elias’ estate, he took on a boar-hunt with the Count. Elias discovered that he used a small and flexible bow, which were better suited for the hunting. Benedikt noticed Elias’ fascination and gave him the bow, when he travelled back to Bornholm, as a gift for his hospitality.
Elias Lund gave orders to make many more of these lovely small-bows, so he could arm his soldiers with them as well.

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After making a business out of the forests, Elias Lund decided to improve the fishery. For this, he created villages on the shores of Skåne, just as he had done with the forests. There, a completely new kind of community was created, and suddenly the fishery was blooming again.
Boats sailed out in the morning and returned home in the evening, with cargoes full of fish, which later were transported to the markets of Lund and then out in all of Skåne.
People were glad for Elias’ progresses. He had done much for them already, and made their life both easier and better.

3 years passed on, in prosperity and happiness.
In January 1073, the Christians turned their eyes at Jerusalem.
Pope Anselm I, had called for a holy crusade to liberate the lands of the infidels.
Anyway, these things did not have any importance for Elias Lund and Skåne. He never had made sure with himself what religion that were the right one, and therefore just lived a life without any immortal and heavenly powers.
Later that same month, Gudrun gave birth to the couples first son. He got the name Hrane.

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In September, Elias Lund was out and inspect the construction of a sawmill, when Duke Benedikt and some knights, suddenly arrived.
Nobody had talked about their arrival. Elias showed Benedikt to a quieter place where they could talk undisturbed.
Duke Benedikt told Elias that he had end up in a war against a foreign tribe, and needed help to defeat them. He did not pack the request in, in any kind of camouflage. He simply asked Elias, if he could borrow his army.
Elias was not happy to send his men into war. Neither would he ever let his Liege down because of selfishness. Duke Benedikt leaved Skåne with over 600 fresh troops. Elias Lund could simply not let him down, in moments like these.
However… Elias never saw his troops again…

In February 1074, little Hrane suddenly stopped breathing. Nobody could help him and nobody knew what to do. Hrane died, only 13 months old.
That really broke Elias’ spirit and good mood. What now? He had no heirs, and time was ticking. He really wanted to have a boy who he could teach to fight. But Gudrun was also getting older, and it was far from certain, that he would ever get an heir.

Later that year, King Knud I. died after only 5 years on the throne. His 3-year-old baby-boy Fredrik Knudson Knýtling inherited him.

In 1076, Gudrun was 30 years old.
Elias had tried not to notice it, but he was getting frustrated over the “heir-problem”, and now only had one option left. It was a tough thing to do, and he had no ideas what would come after that.
He loved Gudrun.
Her wildness had always made him think of the best things in the world. It… gave him new life, and now he stood and looked out of his gate to his estate with a terrible word on his lips.
Murder…
 
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This is again music from Knights of Honor, called “Bard’s Tale”. 2,21 MB, takes about 30 sec. to open.Here



Part 1
Chapter IV. –Things Can Always Get Better

In the 9 years, Gudrun and Elias had been married; they always had gotten along good with each other.
Gudrun had in the beginning been afraid to become Countess, but as the years passed by, she learned how to relax and don’t worry about the expectations, which weren’t that high after all.
She was still deep religious and still held sacrifices and festivals to honour the old Gods.
Then Elias had started acting strange. He tried to avoid her, and barely spoke to her. Gudrun was certain that this was because of their children Hrane and Svanløg’s deaths. But she didn’t understand why he blamed her. She had no chances to make any differences.

At the moment, Elias Lund was out in businesses.
The Kingdom of Sweden laid in war with both England and Norway, and looked like losing. A noble family from Kalmar Län had sought refugee in Skåne and Elias had granted the man Sigvard of Kalmar the title of Stormand. Now he, his wife and their five sons, lived in a new estate just outside Lund, where Elias was giving Sigvard the lead of his army.

In the meantime, Gudrun was bored back at her and Elias’ estate.
She didn’t do much. Bodil ran around on her own, Elias was not home and everything seemed so peacefully and boring. She started to drink. Not that she was going to wild parties or living a secret life. She just relaxed with some couples of glasses, sitting in a chair and enjoying the sunsets.
One day when she ordered a bottle of wine, she noticed that the servant, who served it, was not the regular one. She didn’t care.
She stepped out on the balcony and drank a glass.
The sky was orange as the sun disappeared behind some hills to the west. She felt a little colder and drank another glass. It was such a lovely night…

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The last impression…
Gudrun was found in the garden below the balcony, the next morning.
There were no signs of violence or poison. Had she… got drunk and felt out by an accident or…
The case was soon forgotten. Gudrun was dead and Elias seemed sad.
Perhaps it was just an accident…

A month later, Elias proclaimed his marriage with the dead King Svend I.’s youngest daughter Sigrid on only 16.

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He said he loved her, and that she was a good party and a good friend.
Anyway, Sigrid liked Elias. He seemed friendly and had a good reputation, which was very important in the middle ages.
If the man had done great things and was known for his valour, honour, strength, cunningness and lyrical skills, he was worth a marriage. And so was Elias Lund…
However, he did have trouble with being married a second time, so shortly after Gudrun’s death. In the meantime, he was busy together with Sigvard of Kalmar on making a better army. He had started the construction of a training-ground, which hopefully would evolve the soldiers’ skills.
All that work was hard for Elias to manage. He felt sick, tired and exhausted from power, as he all the time had things to do.
Only the birth of his son Sune, in the spring of 1077, made him happy.
He sent his daughter Bodil to a monastery as he thought it was time for the caring girl to learn something, useful or not.

Sigrid gave birth to a second son in May 1078. He got the name Toke.
Elias had in the meantime appointed many new Stormænd in Skåne. Strong families, which could prove useful in the future.

Steward Harald then died as an old man. His skills could not be replaced, but Sigvard’s wife Rikissa, took the responsibility anyway.
The trade was working perfect. Prosperity and wealth swept through Skåne, and made everybody richer. The treasuries in Elias’ estate were filled with gold and life was good. Could it be any better…?

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Now that isn't what I call very nice!
 
This is music from a man called Aaron Meyer. It is called ”O Come All Ye Faithful,The First Noel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
Here




Part 1
Chapter V. –Things Can Always Get Worse

From the spring of 1079, Count Elias Lund started to act really strange.
He believed that he was seeing his first wife Gudrun again, who accused him of her death. Elias started to lock himself into closets and hide underneath tables, screaming for help.
One day, he grabbed his young wife Sigrid by her arm and dragged her out behind a horse in the stable. She was becoming afraid of him and feared his mental health.
He whispered in her ears, that Gudrun, with the help of her evil Gods, would kill him by the end of the year. She was certain he had gone out of his mind and told him to take a rest from it all.
Only a month after, Elias became terrible sick.

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His daughter Bodil took time to visit him and treat him as well as she could. She was so young, and still showed so much responsibility.

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Elias could now see that she had her mothers grey eyes. He loved them both. Bodil and Gudrun. As he saw his daughter in the sun, he was certain that he had acted wrong and that the real God had punished him.
He wanted to tell Bodil about his thoughts but didn’t have the strength for it. He wanted to pray, but could not find words for his sorrow.
Elias Lund finally died on a quiet November-night in 1079, only 42 years old.

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His 2-year-old son Sune Eliasson Lund was officially granted Skåne. But the child had no chances to rule, so the government was temporary given to the Marshall and Stormand Sigvard of Kalmar.

Only a couple of months after Sune’s coronation, Toke Eliasson Lund was killed by a mad horse. Nobody knew how he ended in the courtyard all by himself, but now it was also to late.
It seemed that Sune would be the only hope for the family’s future…
 
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Serves Elias right if you ask me ;)
 
stnylan.
Ah, come on... He did what have to be done and was sorry afterwards. ;)

Fifty.
Thanks, well Im never lucky in my AAR's! :(
I dont really play to "conquer-the-whole-world". I more like, play for fun and realistic and to show these characters good and bad sides, so please dont expect I will be King within 5 years. :p

To All
I just wanna say thanks to those who read this and a very special thank, to those who comment. As I have said in other of my AAR's; Im not the greatest in English, so dont get upset if I dont "answer" your comments. It doesnt mean I dont like them, just that Im a fool to the languege! :D
 
Now this is music from Linda Waterfall, called “Firestick” Its takes 10-20 seconds to download. Here



Part 1
Chapter VI. –It’s All In The Genes

Time went on, and the people in Skåne lived richer than ever.
Sigvard of Kalmar managed the governing well, and created an “Alting”, which is a kind of supreme court, where the biggest cases is brought to judgement.
The army was also improved. Sigvard knew that it was important with good leaders, and made sure that the army was lead by people who could make a plan, and not just charge after the enemy.
Finally, he built a minor stone castle, called “Skånborg”, which should be useful in case of a siege.

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In the meantime, Sune was being educated to govern. Everything seemed fine, until he was about 11. Then, he started to act strange…
He often sat by himself and laughed without reason. And as he got older, he refused to leave Skånborg, as he was afraid that the sky would fall down if he got out.
He began to take the power from Sigvard, who was just ruling temporary. He liked to judge other people and decide their destiny. He was of course certain, that he was almighty and had a better opinion of things.

When Bodil returned home, she was accompanied by a priest, who had ran away from the church, as he had lost his faith. Instead he and Bodil had decided to marry.
Bodil first could not see anything wrong with Sune. But suddenly she noticed that his eyes showed madness. She tried to end the conversation and leave, but Sune was quicker. He ordered the escaped priest Angel Sigurdsen, to become his Bishop.
Sune would not listen to the complains, and didn’t seemed to understand that Angel didn’t want to become Bishop. He commanded that he should not marry anyone and that he instead should travel to a local church and settle there.
He then turned his back to the amazed couple, crossed his arms and walked slowly back to his chamber. He was only 13…

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Four of Sigvard of Kalmar’s sons also grew up.
His oldest son Gustav was a quiet and shy man, who always wanted to be alone.
His son Inge was a wild Christian, who used to beat people if they would not understand who the real God was. He mostly sad in jail and dishonoured his whole family.
Sigvard’s third son Magnus only lived to provoke the clergy, by asking them stupid questions non-stop, about why God didn’t interfered in anything.
The fourth son Gerbrand was a bad soldier who on his 18th birthday took his own life.

When Sune became 16, he ordered Magnus- and Inge Sigvardson to take on a journey northwards to find a good wife for him, which they just should kidnap if she refused. Sune himself didn’t dare to walk outside.
This ended in a big mess.
Magnus and Inge kept discussing if God existed or not. They even ended up fighting a couple of times.
Finally they saw a beautiful girl, which they quickly decided to take home with them. She of course refused, but the two young men, where both tired and exhausted after their many fights, and only wanted to end this mission.
When they returned home, they discovered that the girl was Duke Faste of Dal’s daughter Ingegerd.
This created a huge conflict, which Bodil Lund took care of. Duke Faste was paid with gold and instead Sune could keep Ingegerd with him.
And when she discovered that Sune had money, she quickly decided to stay.
She was a strange girl on 18, who used most of her time with her friends, by riding around and take peoples goods.
It was not good at all, but the people in Skåne accepted the couple, as the Stormænd supported them, and were too powerful to stand up against.
In February 1094, Ingegerd proclaimed she was pregnant…

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