JOSEPH, Duke of Mormandy
Part I of The Morman Megacampaign
Duke Joseph, 1072
INDEX
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Part I of The Morman Megacampaign
Author’s Note
I’ll try to keep this brief…
So I’ve been lurking around AARland and occasionally posting on the forums for some time now, but I never got around to actually starting my own AAR. Perhaps it is foolish to try to start something as ambitious as a Megacampaign? No matter, I like challenges! I realize that this is a somewhat unorthodox (maybe even downright weird) basis for the campaign, nevertheless I think that dropping Mormonism into the Middle Ages will certainly make for an interesting story!
I haven’t actually done any game play yet other than modifying the save file, but I have written the prologue to gauge interest in this AAR. I plan on it being a mixture of narrative and history-book updates.
I must admit that I am not a member of any of the denominations of the Latter-Day Saint movement, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or mischaracterizations. If you are LDS, please feel free to point things out or advise me upon all things Mormon. While this scenario is by nature ahistorical, I would still like it to be as genuine as possible.
Also, PLEASE COMMENT! I am producing this AAR as much for your entertainment as for my own. Your posts motivate me to keep on going and producing quality updates on a regular basis.
And so, without further ado…It begins!
PROLOGUE
Carthage, Illinois
June 27, 1844
A shimmering sliver of moonlight shone through the window of Joseph’s second floor cell, its silver glow illuminating the haggard prophet’s head in the form of the faintest of halos. His clothing was wrinkled and askew, he was unshaven and his hair was uncharacteristically unkempt. His glazed eyeballs were shrunken into eye sacks now swollen with the despair of a dethroned king, and they lazily examined their owner’s surroundings. Contrary to his fears, the Carthage County jail was not a dungeon—indeed, the red-brick edifice would have made quite a lovely home. The wooden floors were polished and swept, and never had Joseph seen a single trace of vermin. Instead of an iron cage, he was in a room with a locked wooden door. There were no shackles on walls, or torture racks, or iron maidens… in fact, the cell even had bench to sit upon! His only complaint—other than being locked up, of course—was the crowding: he had to be locked up with 10 other men, among them his brother, Hyrum.
The others were equally dejected. They muttered to each other softly in hoarse, tired voices. Hyrum was sniffling to himself, and occasionally a fearful tear fell onto the edition of The Warsaw Signal in his hands. As he read from the editorial page, his hands began to tremble.
War and extermination is inevitable! Citizens ARISE, ONE and ALL!!!—Can you stand by, and suffer such INFERNAL DEVILS! To ROB men of their property and RIGHTS, without avenging them. We have no time for comment, every man will make his own. LET IT BE MADE WITH POWDER AND BALL!!!
"Do you see this, brother?" Hyrum whispered softly, not moving his eyes from the page, “We will surely be dead before the week is out, whether it is by the sheriff’s noose or the vigilante’s. We are surely forsaken by our Heavenly—“
“No.” Joseph spoke with a confidence that only a saint (or, perhaps, a master charlatan) could muster. He took a breath, clearly about to launch himself into a well-practiced oration, when he heard the jangle of heavy keys and the turning of a lock. The door opened, and in the hall was the squat jailer. Without pause, he addressed the group:
“There’s a whole mess of men comin’ over here… I reckon they’re about 100…200 strong. I’d bet my mother’s dentures that they’re here on your accounts… and I doubt that they’re bringin’ flowers.” Joseph was suddenly filled with an angelic serenity.
"Don't trouble yourself ... they've come to rescue me." He said. Flabbergasted, the jailer closed the door, locked it, and then abandoned his post.
The prophet’s prediction was soon proven wrong, however. Within minutes the lynch mob had reached the courthouse, and their angry cries and exuberant gunshots into the air betrayed their violent intentions. Joseph wondered why there were no signs of melee below…had all the guards been slain? Or worse, had they joined the mob? He nervously began to finger the trigger of an old pepperbox pistol a disciple had smuggled in for him. Joseph’s serenity was turning to panic, and this unease soon found company among the terror of his compatriots.
It happened in minutes. First, he heard a loud clamoring up the stairs of the jail. There was a booming and clattering behind the door. The mob was trying to get inside the cell! Hyrum rushed forward to brace the door. Suddenly several loud bangs---Bullets began flying through their door, and the sickening sound of cracking wood and crunching bone filled the air. Hyrum was riddled with bullets, and blood spurted from a facial wound as he tumbled to the floor, crying "I am a dead man!" Several of the others also received wounds, some fatal. At this point, Joseph didn’t care. In his panic, he discharged the entire round of his pistol toward the general direction of the door, then ran towards the window. As he was crawling out, he felt the excruciating pain of hot metal ramming itself into the flesh of his back, then his chest. He remained teetering on the window ledge for the briefest of moments, enough time for him to be pierced by several more shots from both inside and out of the courthouse. Then he fell… and everything was over.
Or was it?
Nice beginning! Should be interesting to see what the Mormons get up to in the Middle Ages.
Well, this certainly is an interesting idea! 
I always liked the Khazars in Ck Vanilla simply for being Jewish (sadly they can't be played). I hope that a new religion (even a rp'ed one) will add a lot of spice and storyfodder
I always liked the Khazars in Ck Vanilla simply for being Jewish (sadly they can't be played). I hope that a new religion (even a rp'ed one) will add a lot of spice and storyfodder
A most well-written prologue sir, and a both odd and interesting premise. Following!
I'll be following because I like the pun on Normandy. Interesting concept, good luck!
Oceanus Hopkins said:
IIRC, the time of day of the death of Joseph was about 4-5 PM. also, at the latitude of Carthage, nightfall would have been after 9 PM. please don't consider this a nitpick. i am just curious if you were aware of these facts?
Oceanus Hopkins: ...he had to be locked up with 10 other men, among them his brother, Hyrum.
IRL, at the time of death, there were three men locked up with Joseph. the others who were with Joseph were ordered home by Joseph on the morning of June 27, 1844. please let me know if you have made these changes (implying that there were more than four men in jail at the time of the martyrdom) for the AAR or if you did not realize these facts.
Oceanus Hopkins: ..."Do you see this, brother?" Hyrum whispered softly, not moving his eyes from the page, “...We are surely forsaken by our Heavenly—“ ... “No.” Joseph spoke...
IRL, Joseph stated as he left Nauvoo that he would be killed while at Carthage.
Oceanus Hopkins: ...Or was it?
awesome start ! !
you write it, we'll read it ! !
Dimmimar: Update, update, update, update, update.
what he said ! !
Snugglie: Hope this one ain't dead already, because it was a damned interesting idea.
what he said ! !
please read this as a request for an update ! !
what he said ! !
Snugglie: Hope this one ain't dead already, because it was a damned interesting idea.
what he said ! !
please read this as a request for an update ! !
It's rare for one-man megacampaigns to succeed; usually they end in WC by 1490 or so. But this seems unusually short.