Responses! Huzzah!
Time to answer them!
Oh, but before I respond to anyone, I'd like to thank Mr. Capiatlist and General_BT, who helped me formulate the graphics and format of the first part of the story of this AAR.
Mr_A: Aye, so do I. The underdog cultures are always fun to root for. Glad to see that you'll be following this.
Tommy4ever: Thanks, and yes, I'll be starting as mighty (not) Lubeck!
AlexanderPrimus: Good to know! I think it has good potential as well.
Mr. Capiatlist: Thank you for the help. And yes, GO WENDS GO!
RGB: Thanks, it was the only slavic bald man chieftain image I could find (since Krutoj is bald).
oddman: What reference? Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy this AAR!
JDMS: Good to know!
Lord Blekinge: Bah, Baltic Kingdoms. Give me a weak duchy that I can turn into a superpower anyday. Still, great to know that you'll be watching this!
And now, let me introduce you all to the first chapter of Heirs of the Baltic!
Heirs of the Baltic
Chapter 1: The Miracle of the Swiss
April 17th, 1079
Count Budijov Nakonid, self-proclaimed ruler of all the Wends, grumbled quietly as he rode through his small village of
Liubice (or as the Germans called it, Lubeck).
Count Budijov of the Wendish princely house of Nakonid, lord of Liubice.
"What troubles you, my lord?"
Budijov's trusted captain, the skilled warrior Waclaw of Gustrow rode alongside him. Brillant in war and loyal in spirit, Waclaw was Budijov's right hand amidst the troubled lands of the Wends.
Budijov growled only one word, for one word was all that was needed. "Krutoj." Indeed, Krutoj the pagan chieftan had been a constant rival towards Budijov for leadership of the Wendish tribes ever since he murdered Budijov's father years ago, in 1066.
Gottschalk, "official" founder of the Nakonid dynasty, according to a 15th-century interpenetration.
Budijov had fled to
Liubice after the death of his father. There, he had gathered his supporters, and established a small county, though his supporters were Christian and the peasants of the land were pagan. Budijov had shortly increased his hold on the small strip of territory he controlled around
Liubice, by kneeling to the King of Denmark, and accepting Danish aid.
And Budijov was forced to admit that the Danish King,
Sweyn II, had been kind to him, only requiring a small tribute. The king had even sent missionaries to convert the Wend peasantry to Christianity, though his own people were only a century away from paganism themselves. Budijov counted his blessings when Krutoj had not invaded when the often somewhat violent conversions were taking place.
But now, only a month before, that pagan fool had sent a messenger demanding that Budijov and his court convert back to the old gods, and kneel before the "majesty" of Krutoj. A blow to Budijov's pride like that could not stand. He sent the messenger back without a tongue.
Now, Budijov and loyal Waclaw rode through
Liubice to raise an army to stand against Krutoj and his hordes.
However, even the warlike Waclaw had his doubts. He clenched his fist in anger, and shook it towards the east, towards Krutoj, as he spoke his mind to his liege.
"Lord, we cannot win. Krutoj is too mighty a warrior, and his hordes too numerous. He drove Christianity once from these lands by the sword, and he will do it again. We will lose, and all the Wends will be pagan once more."
The count simply smiled, and grimly clapped his captain on the back.
"I understand fully, old friend. That is why we must make them die tenfold for each one of ours! If we are to die, then let us die standing!"
The two rode in silence along the village until they heard a shout from one of the houses, and swearing in a Germanic tongue, not one of the Wendish dialects. Intrigued, Budijov and Waclaw investigated.
They found a tall, well-built man, with a short brown beard (and well-taken care of leather armor) struggling with a portly Wendish villager. They were both holding onto parts of a skinned rabbit, but immediately stopped fighting over the rabbit when they heard Budijov dismount from his horse. Budijov yelled haltingly in German.
"Who trespasses on Wendish land and steals from my subjects?! I warn you, speak, or lose your head!"
The German's dark eyes widened in surprise, and he bowed in the Germanic fashion to the Count.
"I am Bertram of Zurich. I, and others, have fled the troubled lands of Germany to here, where no feuding imperial prince can reach me."
Bertram of Zurich, leader of the Swiss that had come to Liubice.
Budijov laughed, a grim and dark sound, then spoke in the German tongue to the newcomer.
"I had heard that Germany was in dire straights, but to flee all the way to a land full of Wends speaking strange tongues and practicing our odd traditions? Tell me more about the situation in the lands south of here."
Bertram took a deep breath, and sighed.
"Indeed, lord, we are in dark times. The Empire has fallen.
Kaisar Heinrich died in battle, and his incompetent cousin Leopold has lost all control on the Princes of Germany, who have begun to fall upon one another. Even my own liege, the Duke of Swabia, has become determined to lose his lands in futile battles against the other lords. And so, I and my fellows seek refuge in your lands. That is, if I have the good lord's permission."
Budijov rubbed his chin, as if scratching a missing beard, as an idea arose in his mind. He could possibly use the Germans to solve his most pressing problem..
"Tell me, Bertram of Zurich. How many of your Germans are there. Do you have any weapons?"
Bertram answered quickly, wanting to please the count of what he knew as
Lubeck.
"We number about a thousand, lord. All of us are landless soldiers, and take with us only the clothes on our back, our armor, and our spears, which we are trained with."
Waclaw, silent until now, caught on to his liege's line of thought, and spoke in basic German to Bertram.
"Fight for us, and you will have homes and coin. We are rich, if weak."
"Quite. I will be direct, Bertram of Zurich. We are having troubles ourselves with a fierce pagan Chieftain named Krutoj. He seeks to bring back the good Christian people of Liubice back to his dark, heathen rituals. More importantly, he has demanded that I kneel to him. I sent back his messenger without a tongue in answer. Thus, I am in need of veteran troops to stand before Krutoj. You and your thousand would make the battlefield into a fairer fight for us. So I ask of you; tell your fellows that they will become rich and safe if they fight for me in one campaign." Budijov added.
Bertram's eyes lit up in both piety and greed.
"Of course, my lord! I shall go now, to alert my men to our new task as mercenaries serving in the holy task of defending Christiandom from the heathen."
The German left quickly. As he did, Budijov turned to Waclaw, and after muttering a quick prayer of thanks, grinned broadly.
"You see, Waclaw? As I said before, we shall slay Krutoj's men
tenfold for each of ours that dies!"
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So, Budijov the Nakonid, once resigned to simply making the pagans bleed, now has a chance to stand against the powerful Krutoj and survive. How will the struggle between the two Wendish lords play out? What will be the consequences? Stay tuned for the answer to these questions (which you already know)
