Good grief JM , you're on a roll ! But finally that witch is dead . Here's hoping for a Jacobite restoration somewhere down the line !!!
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How did the Puritans tell if someone was everso slightly catholic in Canterbury? It's the seat of the Anglican Communion, so everything looks slightly Catholic.
Tyrconnel would have been better as King than James, Duke of Lothian. Still James will get used to being loathed.
A reign of great advance for the English. Will James be able to continue it throughout his reign? Elisabeth will be sorely missed.
Tyrconnel would have been better as King than James, Duke of Lothian. Still James will get used to being loathed.
A reign of great advance for the English. Will James be able to continue it throughout his reign? Elisabeth will be sorely missed.
Chief Ragusa said:
They probably killed everyone... Those crazy Puritans
Good to see another update! Admittedly, old Bess did quite well for herself, pity the throne had to pass to the Duke of Lothian, but ah well
English Patriot said:
Beizers revisited, perhaps...
Well, there Elizabeth goes... Let's see what little Jimmie manages to achieve...
Very nice AAR, I guess you been playing in..erhm whats the name of the game before EU II? o
o
canonized: Well, the Jacobites don't need any restoring, they're taking power now. What they do with it, on the other hand, is a major question.
Chief Ragusa: They couldn't properly tell, they just felt fanatical at the time. And yes, Tyrconnel would have been a good king if it was feasable; sadly, that's just not happening.
RGB: Yep, here they are. A new era, with its own challenges...
English Patriot: What's wrong with Lothian? He's a nice enough fellow.
Kurt_Steiner: Let God sort them out, eh? Not too far from what I had in mind, actually.
JimboIX: Yes, I figured the change in circumstances warranted that. After all, people referred to it as an Empire in Henry's reign historically, why shouldn't a more powerful land take the title officially?
Lord Skane: Crusader Kings. Yep, that's the cause of all the strange differences you'll come across. Well, not all of them, but most of them. Go ahead and read that section (there's a link in the first post of this AAR) if you haven't already.
Chief Ragusa: They couldn't properly tell, they just felt fanatical at the time. And yes, Tyrconnel would have been a good king if it was feasable; sadly, that's just not happening.
RGB: Yep, here they are. A new era, with its own challenges...
English Patriot: What's wrong with Lothian? He's a nice enough fellow.
Kurt_Steiner: Let God sort them out, eh? Not too far from what I had in mind, actually.
JimboIX: Yes, I figured the change in circumstances warranted that. After all, people referred to it as an Empire in Henry's reign historically, why shouldn't a more powerful land take the title officially?
Lord Skane: Crusader Kings. Yep, that's the cause of all the strange differences you'll come across. Well, not all of them, but most of them. Go ahead and read that section (there's a link in the first post of this AAR) if you haven't already.
JM , you're such a silly goose sometimes . You speak of your creation as if it was separate from you , which I think drives home your historical persona . It's really quite the positive trait and generates a more believable feel to the whole thing !
Judas Maccabeus said:
To be honest, I get the giggles at their family name. So they will always be my favourite dynasty, no matter how well they actually do.
canonized said:
But it is separate from me. One of the quirks I have while writing is to take a "hands-off" approach to many areas, letting them develop as they go rather than trying to plan them in advance. It makes things a bit scattershot at times, but also natural - things tend not to be planned in advance*, after all, and thus often end up a patchwork of several different inputs.
This is most pronounced in my narrative writings; for example, in "The Eternal City", I only had a vague idea of what Valentianus and Farus were supposed to be like. Basically, it began with a contrast between experience and inexperience; eventually, it semi-naturally evolved into several different areas (Valentianus as a paternal or priestly figure, Valentianus as the higher mind and Farus as the lower, complexities in political philosophy). I also had no set concept of the specific structure of Rome in the story; I developed it while writing Valentianus' backstory, changing things as historical events occured.
Here, one area where that is most notable is in my treatment of the evolution of this story's English language. I basically get to a point and let historical trends guide the changes. What was happening to English in 1066 that would have continued? How different would Breton influence be to Norman influence? What historical self-changes would have been different? It requires a bit of study of the more esoteric parts of historical linguistics, but it's worth it. In the end, it's already-set principles which do a lot of the changing for me.
The rather unique nature of this history's politics is another area. One way which I try to be historical is in being reactive to events. Thus, when something occurs in game, I decide what that would do to the English government. The absorption (and reabsorption) of Scotland is one area, and as you may note in the early posts of this AAR I have a series of practically independent kingdoms and duchies in personal union more than one unified country. It is only the strange events of the 15th and 16th centuries that lead to the creation of one Great Britain out of what had been three kingdoms. If the in-game events had occured differently, I might have had things going differently, say with weakening of central ties (as with Iceland and the Netherlands) or a bloody war of national unification.
So you can see how much I let this write itself. If I were trying to micromanage every single part of it, I'd've given up a long time ago.
__________
*With apologies to any Calvinists who may be reading.
So a long and mostly successful reign comes to an end. Hopefully James will be able to deal with the problems that Elizabeth left him.
Sorry for the long delay in updating, but there was a combination of a lot of schoolwork, and perhaps overdoing it with that posting spree for Lizzie. But now, I have a special update for all of you.
I'm sure most or all of you are familiar with canonized, the author of "Timelines: What if Spain Failed to Control the World?" It is one of the more famous AARs around, and quite deservedly so; it has won Favourite Overall and Favourite Narrative AAR for EU3 three quarters in a row. He is also a founder of the Tempus Society, and the chairman of SEELE, the central group within it. One of the notable features of "Timelines" is a semi-regular feature where he interviews one of his readers. I only felt it was fair to subject him to the same treatment, and so we will be interviewing him today.
PART ONE: TIME AND TIME AGAIN
JUDAS: How did you find out about Paradox, and find your way to the forums?
CANONIZED: Well , the first place I found out about paradox was through a friend I used to play Starcraft with . Well . I guess you couldn't call him a friend . He was a bitter rival but he told me to play some EUII and so I picked it up at the store and tried it out . Fell in love , and then peeked around every now and again on the forums to check out some technical notes and advice . After a while I got used to it and picked up some of the other games and then when I got EUIII I decided to write an AAR for it and went on the paradox forums for more than just game notes on February 07 to start writing Timelines
JUDAS: What gave you the inspiration for the overarching story - that is, the fight for control of the Timepieces and their various accessories?
CANONIZED: Hmmm ... watching a lot of Alias did that to me . Although admittedly that was years before . But I also wanted to find a plotting device that could take me through the ages and would provide a backdrop and purpose for the whole thing . The idea of the Timepieces was something I used in previous stories of mine non-AAR related that I was writing about beforehand so I thought I'd input that as well . In the other stories , I wrote people about searching for the Timepiece as a figurement of the quest for Truth and Heaven ("The Eternal Now" of God) etc .
JUDAS: Mentioning God there points out another theme of your story, that is, Catholicism. What other personal things - that you're willing to talk about, of course - have found their way into your writing?
CANONIZED: Hmm , my personal ambition perhaps . Although my Catholicism itself takes center stage most of the time , to be sure , I think there's also an injection of some of the lesser desires in there . Global control and control in general is perhaps something I wanted to express because I feel strongly about the way things go on in the world . Another thing are that some characters are charicatures but are indeed alluding to people I know in real life . On a positive level , the Panzerkardinal , for example , is a real person in real life of whom I owe much to . In the same sense , the archvillian Marcus is a real person out there as well representing a portion of my life that is as terrifying still to me now as it was for Tom to meet Marcus again .
JUDAS: You make a large number of references in your writings, from a large number of areas, such as anime, movies, and others. What is your philosophy on how references should be used in writing?
CANONIZED: I think that references should be done deadpan as best as possible . I guess that's just another way of saying that it should be subtle , but I also believe that it's a way of showing how cunning you can be . Although it's like an Easter egg hunt for the readers , it's also like hide and go seek where you see how well you can hide something and who picks it up . I wanted to put a lot of references so that it's not just catered to those who like Starcraft or just for those who enjoy James Bond movies , but that someone can find something
JUDAS: You've been writing this story for quite some time, and it's gotten very long. How do you keep up your inspiration? I'm asking this as one who very often lacks inpsiration to write and has to move on to something else.
CANONIZED: Haha , lots of places . For a writer , as you know , anything can be inspiration . Not just the TV shows and the novels we read , but also the simple things such as watching the bathtub fill up (inspired the Renault scene underneath Mecca) or seeing an old chair in the room (inspired Isabella's meeting with the Japanese nobles) or a riverboat going by (inspired the House of the Rose) . I always try to think how when I see something it can be translated into something that is enjoyable to read and an adventure . I try to sature myself with things that could be used for the story that way I always have something to draw on for the next update .
JUDAS: One question I, as someone writing a historybook-style AAR, am most interested in, is what sort of inspiration you take from history, and how much that factors into your writing?
CANONIZED: I think the best inspiration I take from history are those things in history that are esoteric . For example , and this will come up sometime , but did you know that Ruy Lopez was the first Chess "World Champion" and he was a Spanish bishop who invented the Spanish Game opening ? He even used a bishop in the usual variation of the game . I plan on incorporating that . In a narrative heavy piece especially one that is driven by unseen and made up factors as in Timelines , it is sometimes hard to insert parts of history into it . This is also considering that I am by far not a historian who is as well read or researched as someone such as yourself . But I think it's those interesting tidbits that I find worthy because not only do I derive pleasure from knowing something I didn't before but I hope that the audience might see something there as well .
JUDAS: One notable feature of "Timelines" is the many mysteries involved. How important do you feel mystery is to your writing, and why is it that important?
CANONIZED: On a practical level , mystery keeps the interest of those reading . Being a fan of Alias , Lost , and Battlestar Galactica the idea of an overarching mystery strikes me as one of the greatest plot devices ever used . On a more thematic level , mystery is essential to the Catholic understanding of history and life . Mystery , however , is not the deprivation of truth as we mostly think about it , but in the Christian sense it means that there is an infinitude of knowledge and wisdom that it is thoroughly impossible to go through them all even though we are on our way . In the same sense , I wanted to portray that in allegory in Timelines . That is , that the mysteries continue to unfold steadily while there is still some unknown in the future that we continue to reach towards .
PART TWO: FROM HISPANIA TO BRITANNIA
JUDAS: Now, since you asked me about your AAR, I'll ask you about mine. What was your first impression upon reading my AAR?
CANONIZED: My first impressions are the same , really , as I have them now . That is to say that you have a grasp of history that I find absolutely dazzling . Your voice is what struck me the most . The way that you narrate reads like an 1880s history coming from Massachussetts in the good ole days of writing . You also had an amazing set of graphics that surprised me . I think that reading maps was something I always enjoyed when I learned history and especially the way you made battles . Battle tactics and all that were quite the rave and still are when I would be enthralled with histories and books so I think it was a great plunge .
JUDAS: Which of the kings or queens are your favourite?
CANONIZED: Well , I think that on an objective level , I think I'd have to say your treatment of Elizabeth was my favourite one . For several reasons . One , is that obviously she's not your run of the mill character . Secondly , you approached her with a kind of detached feel that made it infuriating and lively . I think that takes a lot of work and internal professionalism to pull off for a historian and I think that's why I enjoyed your narrative about it , begrudgingly , the most . It was unsavory but at the same time it also hit the most where I understand about British history , at least , and allowed me to see the close yet still alternate aspects of the history .
JUDAS: Any others, maybe on a more subjective level?
CANONIZED: Hmm , I'd have to think on that one but I think I've enjoyed the others at the same level in my estimation . Since the Reformation has plagued so many of the monarchs so far , there hasn't been one that I can attach onto to with too much fervor except perhaps Mary , naturally , but she was so incompetent in her own way that it almost makes it a non-choice to root for her . On a subjective level I think you've presented each in the line rather equally in my estimation . I suppose it's due to my picky selection on the type of heroic virtue that I haven't attached myself to the other personalities as much as I would if there was something involved in the department of the religious outcome in the Isles .
JUDAS: Where do you think England will be going in the coming years?
CANONIZED: Knowing your near history style , I think that the civil wars which plagued this period of English history due to radical Protestantism will be a major feature in the future . Although I do hold out hope that the One True Faith returns to the Isles , I think it's definitely going to continue to spiral into religious upheaval . I perhaps hold out that the true reblossoming of the faith will occur in the Victoria arc with the Oxford movement etc , but at this point I can't tell . Either way , it seems like a lot more troubles ahead before we have the true Pax Brittania of the 18th century .
JUDAS: Of course, you being a Catholic, you must be disappointed with England choosing to go Protestant in this version as well.
CANONIZED: Disappointed , yes , but on a more objective level I read a plethora of different AARs and although I tend to stick away from blatantly anti-Christian works , there is a logic here that you present that is only natural . In a sense , one cannot be 'mad' at real history (although we can be very disappointed by it) . What I think you've done is present the religious problems of England in a very objective light and to that end it reads like a text book . Since there isn't a glorification of the Protestant cause , for me it just reads as a sad tale and every once in a while we need to be reminded of that . Plus , it also provides a very interesting counter-point with the relative affluence and Imperial Catholicism of Mr. Woodhouse's England and I've often compared both of your megacampaigns in my thoughts .
JUDAS: One certainly can't say I'm anti-Catholic, being a Catholic myself. Any recommendations for the immediately coming years, either for myself or the fictional people ruling England?
CANONIZED: Objectively speaking , I think my recommendations would be that your current style is working and that I'm holding out hope that this it will have an allegorical value that will validate the perserverence of Catholicism on the Isles . As far as in-game , I would say that this period is a terrible one and will require a definite investment in time and resources to internal cohesion and stability . Lastly , as far as those individuals running the country , I have no real advice . The beauty of your writing is that you give them a life of their own independent of even 'you' sometimes and I respect that greatly in your ability to tell their tale .
PART THREE: FROM BRITANNIA TO FORA
JUDAS: You are also one of the founders of the Tempus Society. What can you tell us about your role in its beginning?
CANONIZED: Well , the Tempus Society was something I envisioned as a help for new writers and to also bring a lot more cohesion to certain parts of the AAR community . I heard a lot of talk about the 'good ole days' of tight knitness amongst WritAARs and at the same time I took my cue from grayghost's Warlord Club . To that end , I came up with the idea of a community that can be readily accessable not just as a list for individuals who are in a certain genre but also to help intercommunication and fellowship . Plus , I've had lots of experience with leading clubs and I thought I'd try my hand at it again .
JUDAS: What is your opinion of the state of the AAR forums as a whole at this time?
CANONIZED: I think that right now there is a great upsurge in AARs and I think at the same time from what I've heard amongst those who I've met , the face of AARland is changing . There are young talents that now intermingle with the older 'tried and true' individuals . There is a new kind of readership due to the fact that there are so many AARs , it pushes readership to the brink at times . People catching up is a norm and readership shares is at a premium . However , to counter this , there are a lot more readers than before and with different personalities and fresh faces on AARland . I think we are on the brink of a dynamic future of mixing the old values of fellowship in AARland with the fundamental of a larger frame of individuals .
JUDAS: As one of the "young talents", how do you encourage others like yourself to work with the more established members, and vice versa?
CANONIZED: First is to not be afraid . Although I'd bury myself among the others of my generation such as grayghost , RGB , thrashing mad , and recently other Tempus members such as Atlantic Friend , Leon Trotsky , and English Patriot and call all of us talents , I'd also like to encourage everyone to make connections where possible and forge forward . Have respect for those who came before you , but also don't fall into the trap of thinking that your new arrival means you have to work your way upward . Your talent as a writer should be your guage and it is that time in AARland where such a thing is readily recognized both by old and new alike . When speaking with your senpais , while giving them respect also know that there is nothing that separates you from them except the time to put out great works . Lastly , don't be infatuated with the old since the new will also offer a new set of classics that you , in fact , might be creating at this time .
JUDAS: The most recent initiative you have been involved in is Instrumentality, the Tempus Society's contribution to The AARlander. What part did you have in bringing that about, and organizing it?
CANONIZED: Being the assistant editor for the AARlander , one could say I had a few behind the scenes insight on how it works and at the same time I had been thinking of doing a publication even before the AARlander was conceived . I had been talking with Eber about it (who is currently inactive) and we both struck out ideas . However , once the Tempus Society was formed , it struck me as an opportunity to bring our community together to do something that we could offer to AAR community as a whole and hence how INSTRUMENTALITY was formed . Being editor for it I usually just help writers find their assignments , assign deadlines , coordinate the editting/formatting , and negotiating with anonymous about space etc .
JUDAS: This being an interview, I figure it is only natural that I ask you about your own interviews. Why did you decide to do those?
CANONIZED: There were several reasons leading up to it . One was purely practical , it allowed for a great way for my guest and myself to tell our respective readerships about each other and about each other's AARs in a formal setting while giving them entertainment . It started because a friend of mine interviewed me for my former guildmates back when I used to play WoW some of whom still keep up with the story . However , it evolved into a nice way for me to meet new people and to help get their AAR information out there since a lot more people than I expected tune in every week for it . To that end , I'm very proud of it
JUDAS: Along with the interviews, you try to have your readers interact with the AAR in other ways. What are some ways you think other writers can engage their readers in the AAR on a more personal level?
CANONIZED: I personally think the best way is to get into real time contact with some of your readers . There's nothing like befriending someone and getting to know more about them to start exchanging interaction between your AARs . I've seen many people do the route of getting people to vote in various things to determine the path which their AAR will take . It's definitely a legitimate and time honoured tradition . The best part , I think , is allowing your AAR or your project to be open enough that other individuals will want to participate in their own way through their own volition . Lastly ; it is important to note that one must be realistic . Offering some kind of incentive , such as promotion etc is entirely legitimate and should be a great way to get cross-information on AARs while helping to motivate individuals to do cross-participation .
JUDAS: Alright. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
CANONIZED: No problem ! it was a great honour !
An Interview with canonized
I'm sure most or all of you are familiar with canonized, the author of "Timelines: What if Spain Failed to Control the World?" It is one of the more famous AARs around, and quite deservedly so; it has won Favourite Overall and Favourite Narrative AAR for EU3 three quarters in a row. He is also a founder of the Tempus Society, and the chairman of SEELE, the central group within it. One of the notable features of "Timelines" is a semi-regular feature where he interviews one of his readers. I only felt it was fair to subject him to the same treatment, and so we will be interviewing him today.
PART ONE: TIME AND TIME AGAIN
JUDAS: How did you find out about Paradox, and find your way to the forums?
CANONIZED: Well , the first place I found out about paradox was through a friend I used to play Starcraft with . Well . I guess you couldn't call him a friend . He was a bitter rival but he told me to play some EUII and so I picked it up at the store and tried it out . Fell in love , and then peeked around every now and again on the forums to check out some technical notes and advice . After a while I got used to it and picked up some of the other games and then when I got EUIII I decided to write an AAR for it and went on the paradox forums for more than just game notes on February 07 to start writing Timelines
JUDAS: What gave you the inspiration for the overarching story - that is, the fight for control of the Timepieces and their various accessories?
CANONIZED: Hmmm ... watching a lot of Alias did that to me . Although admittedly that was years before . But I also wanted to find a plotting device that could take me through the ages and would provide a backdrop and purpose for the whole thing . The idea of the Timepieces was something I used in previous stories of mine non-AAR related that I was writing about beforehand so I thought I'd input that as well . In the other stories , I wrote people about searching for the Timepiece as a figurement of the quest for Truth and Heaven ("The Eternal Now" of God) etc .
JUDAS: Mentioning God there points out another theme of your story, that is, Catholicism. What other personal things - that you're willing to talk about, of course - have found their way into your writing?
CANONIZED: Hmm , my personal ambition perhaps . Although my Catholicism itself takes center stage most of the time , to be sure , I think there's also an injection of some of the lesser desires in there . Global control and control in general is perhaps something I wanted to express because I feel strongly about the way things go on in the world . Another thing are that some characters are charicatures but are indeed alluding to people I know in real life . On a positive level , the Panzerkardinal , for example , is a real person in real life of whom I owe much to . In the same sense , the archvillian Marcus is a real person out there as well representing a portion of my life that is as terrifying still to me now as it was for Tom to meet Marcus again .
JUDAS: You make a large number of references in your writings, from a large number of areas, such as anime, movies, and others. What is your philosophy on how references should be used in writing?
CANONIZED: I think that references should be done deadpan as best as possible . I guess that's just another way of saying that it should be subtle , but I also believe that it's a way of showing how cunning you can be . Although it's like an Easter egg hunt for the readers , it's also like hide and go seek where you see how well you can hide something and who picks it up . I wanted to put a lot of references so that it's not just catered to those who like Starcraft or just for those who enjoy James Bond movies , but that someone can find something
JUDAS: You've been writing this story for quite some time, and it's gotten very long. How do you keep up your inspiration? I'm asking this as one who very often lacks inpsiration to write and has to move on to something else.
CANONIZED: Haha , lots of places . For a writer , as you know , anything can be inspiration . Not just the TV shows and the novels we read , but also the simple things such as watching the bathtub fill up (inspired the Renault scene underneath Mecca) or seeing an old chair in the room (inspired Isabella's meeting with the Japanese nobles) or a riverboat going by (inspired the House of the Rose) . I always try to think how when I see something it can be translated into something that is enjoyable to read and an adventure . I try to sature myself with things that could be used for the story that way I always have something to draw on for the next update .
JUDAS: One question I, as someone writing a historybook-style AAR, am most interested in, is what sort of inspiration you take from history, and how much that factors into your writing?
CANONIZED: I think the best inspiration I take from history are those things in history that are esoteric . For example , and this will come up sometime , but did you know that Ruy Lopez was the first Chess "World Champion" and he was a Spanish bishop who invented the Spanish Game opening ? He even used a bishop in the usual variation of the game . I plan on incorporating that . In a narrative heavy piece especially one that is driven by unseen and made up factors as in Timelines , it is sometimes hard to insert parts of history into it . This is also considering that I am by far not a historian who is as well read or researched as someone such as yourself . But I think it's those interesting tidbits that I find worthy because not only do I derive pleasure from knowing something I didn't before but I hope that the audience might see something there as well .
JUDAS: One notable feature of "Timelines" is the many mysteries involved. How important do you feel mystery is to your writing, and why is it that important?
CANONIZED: On a practical level , mystery keeps the interest of those reading . Being a fan of Alias , Lost , and Battlestar Galactica the idea of an overarching mystery strikes me as one of the greatest plot devices ever used . On a more thematic level , mystery is essential to the Catholic understanding of history and life . Mystery , however , is not the deprivation of truth as we mostly think about it , but in the Christian sense it means that there is an infinitude of knowledge and wisdom that it is thoroughly impossible to go through them all even though we are on our way . In the same sense , I wanted to portray that in allegory in Timelines . That is , that the mysteries continue to unfold steadily while there is still some unknown in the future that we continue to reach towards .
PART TWO: FROM HISPANIA TO BRITANNIA
JUDAS: Now, since you asked me about your AAR, I'll ask you about mine. What was your first impression upon reading my AAR?
CANONIZED: My first impressions are the same , really , as I have them now . That is to say that you have a grasp of history that I find absolutely dazzling . Your voice is what struck me the most . The way that you narrate reads like an 1880s history coming from Massachussetts in the good ole days of writing . You also had an amazing set of graphics that surprised me . I think that reading maps was something I always enjoyed when I learned history and especially the way you made battles . Battle tactics and all that were quite the rave and still are when I would be enthralled with histories and books so I think it was a great plunge .
JUDAS: Which of the kings or queens are your favourite?
CANONIZED: Well , I think that on an objective level , I think I'd have to say your treatment of Elizabeth was my favourite one . For several reasons . One , is that obviously she's not your run of the mill character . Secondly , you approached her with a kind of detached feel that made it infuriating and lively . I think that takes a lot of work and internal professionalism to pull off for a historian and I think that's why I enjoyed your narrative about it , begrudgingly , the most . It was unsavory but at the same time it also hit the most where I understand about British history , at least , and allowed me to see the close yet still alternate aspects of the history .
JUDAS: Any others, maybe on a more subjective level?
CANONIZED: Hmm , I'd have to think on that one but I think I've enjoyed the others at the same level in my estimation . Since the Reformation has plagued so many of the monarchs so far , there hasn't been one that I can attach onto to with too much fervor except perhaps Mary , naturally , but she was so incompetent in her own way that it almost makes it a non-choice to root for her . On a subjective level I think you've presented each in the line rather equally in my estimation . I suppose it's due to my picky selection on the type of heroic virtue that I haven't attached myself to the other personalities as much as I would if there was something involved in the department of the religious outcome in the Isles .
JUDAS: Where do you think England will be going in the coming years?
CANONIZED: Knowing your near history style , I think that the civil wars which plagued this period of English history due to radical Protestantism will be a major feature in the future . Although I do hold out hope that the One True Faith returns to the Isles , I think it's definitely going to continue to spiral into religious upheaval . I perhaps hold out that the true reblossoming of the faith will occur in the Victoria arc with the Oxford movement etc , but at this point I can't tell . Either way , it seems like a lot more troubles ahead before we have the true Pax Brittania of the 18th century .
JUDAS: Of course, you being a Catholic, you must be disappointed with England choosing to go Protestant in this version as well.
CANONIZED: Disappointed , yes , but on a more objective level I read a plethora of different AARs and although I tend to stick away from blatantly anti-Christian works , there is a logic here that you present that is only natural . In a sense , one cannot be 'mad' at real history (although we can be very disappointed by it) . What I think you've done is present the religious problems of England in a very objective light and to that end it reads like a text book . Since there isn't a glorification of the Protestant cause , for me it just reads as a sad tale and every once in a while we need to be reminded of that . Plus , it also provides a very interesting counter-point with the relative affluence and Imperial Catholicism of Mr. Woodhouse's England and I've often compared both of your megacampaigns in my thoughts .
JUDAS: One certainly can't say I'm anti-Catholic, being a Catholic myself.
Any recommendations for the immediately coming years, either for myself or the fictional people ruling England?CANONIZED: Objectively speaking , I think my recommendations would be that your current style is working and that I'm holding out hope that this it will have an allegorical value that will validate the perserverence of Catholicism on the Isles . As far as in-game , I would say that this period is a terrible one and will require a definite investment in time and resources to internal cohesion and stability . Lastly , as far as those individuals running the country , I have no real advice . The beauty of your writing is that you give them a life of their own independent of even 'you' sometimes and I respect that greatly in your ability to tell their tale .
PART THREE: FROM BRITANNIA TO FORA
JUDAS: You are also one of the founders of the Tempus Society. What can you tell us about your role in its beginning?
CANONIZED: Well , the Tempus Society was something I envisioned as a help for new writers and to also bring a lot more cohesion to certain parts of the AAR community . I heard a lot of talk about the 'good ole days' of tight knitness amongst WritAARs and at the same time I took my cue from grayghost's Warlord Club . To that end , I came up with the idea of a community that can be readily accessable not just as a list for individuals who are in a certain genre but also to help intercommunication and fellowship . Plus , I've had lots of experience with leading clubs and I thought I'd try my hand at it again .
JUDAS: What is your opinion of the state of the AAR forums as a whole at this time?
CANONIZED: I think that right now there is a great upsurge in AARs and I think at the same time from what I've heard amongst those who I've met , the face of AARland is changing . There are young talents that now intermingle with the older 'tried and true' individuals . There is a new kind of readership due to the fact that there are so many AARs , it pushes readership to the brink at times . People catching up is a norm and readership shares is at a premium . However , to counter this , there are a lot more readers than before and with different personalities and fresh faces on AARland . I think we are on the brink of a dynamic future of mixing the old values of fellowship in AARland with the fundamental of a larger frame of individuals .
JUDAS: As one of the "young talents", how do you encourage others like yourself to work with the more established members, and vice versa?
CANONIZED: First is to not be afraid . Although I'd bury myself among the others of my generation such as grayghost , RGB , thrashing mad , and recently other Tempus members such as Atlantic Friend , Leon Trotsky , and English Patriot and call all of us talents , I'd also like to encourage everyone to make connections where possible and forge forward . Have respect for those who came before you , but also don't fall into the trap of thinking that your new arrival means you have to work your way upward . Your talent as a writer should be your guage and it is that time in AARland where such a thing is readily recognized both by old and new alike . When speaking with your senpais , while giving them respect also know that there is nothing that separates you from them except the time to put out great works . Lastly , don't be infatuated with the old since the new will also offer a new set of classics that you , in fact , might be creating at this time .
JUDAS: The most recent initiative you have been involved in is Instrumentality, the Tempus Society's contribution to The AARlander. What part did you have in bringing that about, and organizing it?
CANONIZED: Being the assistant editor for the AARlander , one could say I had a few behind the scenes insight on how it works and at the same time I had been thinking of doing a publication even before the AARlander was conceived . I had been talking with Eber about it (who is currently inactive) and we both struck out ideas . However , once the Tempus Society was formed , it struck me as an opportunity to bring our community together to do something that we could offer to AAR community as a whole and hence how INSTRUMENTALITY was formed . Being editor for it I usually just help writers find their assignments , assign deadlines , coordinate the editting/formatting , and negotiating with anonymous about space etc .
JUDAS: This being an interview, I figure it is only natural that I ask you about your own interviews. Why did you decide to do those?
CANONIZED: There were several reasons leading up to it . One was purely practical , it allowed for a great way for my guest and myself to tell our respective readerships about each other and about each other's AARs in a formal setting while giving them entertainment . It started because a friend of mine interviewed me for my former guildmates back when I used to play WoW some of whom still keep up with the story . However , it evolved into a nice way for me to meet new people and to help get their AAR information out there since a lot more people than I expected tune in every week for it . To that end , I'm very proud of it
JUDAS: Along with the interviews, you try to have your readers interact with the AAR in other ways. What are some ways you think other writers can engage their readers in the AAR on a more personal level?
CANONIZED: I personally think the best way is to get into real time contact with some of your readers . There's nothing like befriending someone and getting to know more about them to start exchanging interaction between your AARs . I've seen many people do the route of getting people to vote in various things to determine the path which their AAR will take . It's definitely a legitimate and time honoured tradition . The best part , I think , is allowing your AAR or your project to be open enough that other individuals will want to participate in their own way through their own volition . Lastly ; it is important to note that one must be realistic . Offering some kind of incentive , such as promotion etc is entirely legitimate and should be a great way to get cross-information on AARs while helping to motivate individuals to do cross-participation .
JUDAS: Alright. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
CANONIZED: No problem ! it was a great honour !
Nice piece of drama at the end for Elizabeth. Now let's see how well her cousin will step in and guage the tension that's still high in his newly won Empire.
BTW, Nice interview with canonized. Good to see the tables turned on him for a change
BTW, Nice interview with canonized. Good to see the tables turned on him for a change
RGB: That's a rather odd reason to like a dynasty, but okay...
stnylan: Ah, well, he'll have his own problems, as you shall shortly see.
TeeWee: Again, you'll see...
English Patriot: Yep. I figured he deserved to have that done to him after all the times he's done it himself...
Kurt_Steiner: Nope. Just a one-time idea I had.
- - - - - - - -
Origins
The family line can be first traced to Borkalán Ete, a Hungarian lord from the early 11th century. He achieved little of note except to leave two sons: the elder, Antal, and the younger, Gergely. Both lines found their way into Poland; the elder remained and would later become the Dukes of Pomerelia, while the latter, in the form of Gergely's great-grandson Sobeslav, followed Osric II when he came to England. From there, they would constitute a major part of English history.
The most famous of the early Borcalans was Attila, named for the infamous Hunnish conqueror of the 5th century, and equally skilled on the field of battle. After Eanbert II's defeat at the battle of St. Hilarion, he called upon Attila, now in his prime, to lead the English armies at the battle of Gasny in February of 1216. There, he used the best of English defensive tactics to destroy a much larger French army. He left the battle a celebrated man, and although the next king, Oswine the Abolisher, was skilled enough himself, Attila did advise him at times.
He managed to make the battle of Stapleford a victory after the death of Harold II in battle there, and then became an unofficial regent for his infant son Osric III. He worked as well as he could to protect the king, but after his death in 1241 the kingdom imploded. However, he would remain in the minds of the English ever after, and his nickname - "The right arm of kings" - would be adopted (in an altered form) by the Borcalan family as their motto.
Earls and Dukes of Lothian
Edinburgh castle, by Alexander Nasmyth (1780).
Roger Borcalan
During the later part of Osric's reign, with the nobility of England forsaking their king, the Borcalans remained loyal. As a token of his appreciation, Osric appointed Roger, son of Attila's cousin, as the Thane of Lothian. With Alderic's proclamation of 1266 reducing the earldoms, Roger was brought up in the English peerage accordingly. With the more diplomatic nature of the reconquest of Scotland, the Borcalans themselves did little fighting; Earl Sigeric, Roger's grandson, did little of note during the campaigns of the 1330s. It is important that the Borcalans remained loyal during the crisis of King Renaud, making sure not to display a tendancy to any side; this only increased their reputation for being helpful to the monarchy.
The Borcalans did little of note for the rest of the 14th century, aside from being appointed Dukes of Lothian after the duke titles were detached from the monarchy in the 1380s. Their next event of note was a definitely negative one: in 1437, James, the first of that name (but by no means the last) of that name to hold the title of Duke, was murdered in a feud between his family and the Douglasses, another major Scottish noble clan. The Borcalans would come out of this much more powerful, however, as the 1450s would show.
With the beginning of the Wars of the Roses in 1455, the Douglasses and much of the Highland nobility put in their lot with the Welsh side. The Borcalans, however, supported the Cornwallists and aided them with putting down the Scottish rebellion. In response, the Borcalans were granted the Duchy of Moray, gaining them control over half of Scotland. From this point on, they were royal representatives in the region, but always kept under good royal control.
The next member of the family of note was Mary. Working closely with her namesake Queen of England, she was quite open in her Catholicism, sparking a spin-off of the Northumberland revolt of 1555. Although she was very young at the time, and thus not responsible for the slaughter of Protestants that followed, she would forever be connected with the event. At the time, this did not seem a problem; however, in 1558, Queen Mary died, and her Protestant sister Elisabeth succeeded her.
With this, Mary's world fell apart. Earlier that year, she had married Francois de Blois, heir to the French throne, cementing her connections with a major Catholic country and potential threat to England. Although said threat would not materialize at this time thanks to the French War of Religion, the fear was still there. Fortunately for Mary in a way, her husband died two years later, and Elisabeth procured a treaty ensuring the French would keep out of Scottish affairs.
Mary, for her part, had gone to France after her marriage and stayed there until 1561. When she did, she was wise enough to keep quiet about religion for a time, despite attacks from both sides for not denouncing the other. She invited Elisabeth to Edinburgh so Mary could display her loyalty, an offer that was refused; Elisabeth then offered to have her marry Sir Phillip Osbourne, an offer that itself fell through when Osbourne fell out of favour in 1566. Instead, she married her cousin, Henry, Earl of Mar.
Henry Borcalan, Earl of Mar and jure uxoris Duke of Lothian
The marriage was disastrous for two reasons. First, it had been done without Elisabeth's permission, despite the fact that it would strengthen Borcalan power in Scotland at the expense of the royal Duchy of Albany. Second, the marriage itself was an unhappy one. After the birth of a son, James, the two fell out, had an open and somewhat violent dispute, and then a mysterious explosion in 1567 resulted in Mar's death.
In April of that year, Mary was taken by rogue Protestant lords and forced to marry one of their number, James, Earl of Bothwell. Soon after, Elisabeth removed her from her title and granted it to her infant son. It was not until May of the next year that Elisabeth had her transferred into England, imprisioned in Carlisle. She would remain imprisoned for the rest of her earthly life.
She languished there for years. In 1570, the King of France tried to negotiate her release; Elisabeth offered terms, but they were far too much for the king to accept. The queen tried several times to be rid of the troublesome Mary, but it was not until 1587 that she finally had pretext. The Babington plot, as already mentioned, allowed Elisabeth to have Mary executed.
James would remain as Duke of Lothian and Moray. Given official control over his lands in June of 1583, he strictly encouraged Protestantism in his lands, gaining the trust of Elisabeth and the nobility of the Kingdoms (and later Empire). He wrote a treatise on royal government, the Treu Laue of Monarchies, stating the primacy of the king's rule; this would become important upon his accession to the British throne. Whatever the case, Elisabeth felt him the best choice of successor, and so, upon her death, he became Emperor of Great Britain.
stnylan: Ah, well, he'll have his own problems, as you shall shortly see.
TeeWee: Again, you'll see...
English Patriot: Yep. I figured he deserved to have that done to him after all the times he's done it himself...
Kurt_Steiner: Nope. Just a one-time idea I had.
- - - - - - - -
THE BORCALAN DYNASTY
Coat of arms: Argent a Castle triple-towered Sable, upon a rock proper issuant from the base, masoned Argent, windows, vanes and portcullis Gules; motto In dextera regum ("On the right hand of kings").
Coat of arms: Argent a Castle triple-towered Sable, upon a rock proper issuant from the base, masoned Argent, windows, vanes and portcullis Gules; motto In dextera regum ("On the right hand of kings").
Origins
The family line can be first traced to Borkalán Ete, a Hungarian lord from the early 11th century. He achieved little of note except to leave two sons: the elder, Antal, and the younger, Gergely. Both lines found their way into Poland; the elder remained and would later become the Dukes of Pomerelia, while the latter, in the form of Gergely's great-grandson Sobeslav, followed Osric II when he came to England. From there, they would constitute a major part of English history.
The most famous of the early Borcalans was Attila, named for the infamous Hunnish conqueror of the 5th century, and equally skilled on the field of battle. After Eanbert II's defeat at the battle of St. Hilarion, he called upon Attila, now in his prime, to lead the English armies at the battle of Gasny in February of 1216. There, he used the best of English defensive tactics to destroy a much larger French army. He left the battle a celebrated man, and although the next king, Oswine the Abolisher, was skilled enough himself, Attila did advise him at times.
He managed to make the battle of Stapleford a victory after the death of Harold II in battle there, and then became an unofficial regent for his infant son Osric III. He worked as well as he could to protect the king, but after his death in 1241 the kingdom imploded. However, he would remain in the minds of the English ever after, and his nickname - "The right arm of kings" - would be adopted (in an altered form) by the Borcalan family as their motto.
Earls and Dukes of Lothian
Edinburgh castle, by Alexander Nasmyth (1780).
Roger Borcalan
During the later part of Osric's reign, with the nobility of England forsaking their king, the Borcalans remained loyal. As a token of his appreciation, Osric appointed Roger, son of Attila's cousin, as the Thane of Lothian. With Alderic's proclamation of 1266 reducing the earldoms, Roger was brought up in the English peerage accordingly. With the more diplomatic nature of the reconquest of Scotland, the Borcalans themselves did little fighting; Earl Sigeric, Roger's grandson, did little of note during the campaigns of the 1330s. It is important that the Borcalans remained loyal during the crisis of King Renaud, making sure not to display a tendancy to any side; this only increased their reputation for being helpful to the monarchy.
The Borcalans did little of note for the rest of the 14th century, aside from being appointed Dukes of Lothian after the duke titles were detached from the monarchy in the 1380s. Their next event of note was a definitely negative one: in 1437, James, the first of that name (but by no means the last) of that name to hold the title of Duke, was murdered in a feud between his family and the Douglasses, another major Scottish noble clan. The Borcalans would come out of this much more powerful, however, as the 1450s would show.
With the beginning of the Wars of the Roses in 1455, the Douglasses and much of the Highland nobility put in their lot with the Welsh side. The Borcalans, however, supported the Cornwallists and aided them with putting down the Scottish rebellion. In response, the Borcalans were granted the Duchy of Moray, gaining them control over half of Scotland. From this point on, they were royal representatives in the region, but always kept under good royal control.
The next member of the family of note was Mary. Working closely with her namesake Queen of England, she was quite open in her Catholicism, sparking a spin-off of the Northumberland revolt of 1555. Although she was very young at the time, and thus not responsible for the slaughter of Protestants that followed, she would forever be connected with the event. At the time, this did not seem a problem; however, in 1558, Queen Mary died, and her Protestant sister Elisabeth succeeded her.
With this, Mary's world fell apart. Earlier that year, she had married Francois de Blois, heir to the French throne, cementing her connections with a major Catholic country and potential threat to England. Although said threat would not materialize at this time thanks to the French War of Religion, the fear was still there. Fortunately for Mary in a way, her husband died two years later, and Elisabeth procured a treaty ensuring the French would keep out of Scottish affairs.
Mary, for her part, had gone to France after her marriage and stayed there until 1561. When she did, she was wise enough to keep quiet about religion for a time, despite attacks from both sides for not denouncing the other. She invited Elisabeth to Edinburgh so Mary could display her loyalty, an offer that was refused; Elisabeth then offered to have her marry Sir Phillip Osbourne, an offer that itself fell through when Osbourne fell out of favour in 1566. Instead, she married her cousin, Henry, Earl of Mar.
Henry Borcalan, Earl of Mar and jure uxoris Duke of Lothian
The marriage was disastrous for two reasons. First, it had been done without Elisabeth's permission, despite the fact that it would strengthen Borcalan power in Scotland at the expense of the royal Duchy of Albany. Second, the marriage itself was an unhappy one. After the birth of a son, James, the two fell out, had an open and somewhat violent dispute, and then a mysterious explosion in 1567 resulted in Mar's death.
In April of that year, Mary was taken by rogue Protestant lords and forced to marry one of their number, James, Earl of Bothwell. Soon after, Elisabeth removed her from her title and granted it to her infant son. It was not until May of the next year that Elisabeth had her transferred into England, imprisioned in Carlisle. She would remain imprisoned for the rest of her earthly life.
She languished there for years. In 1570, the King of France tried to negotiate her release; Elisabeth offered terms, but they were far too much for the king to accept. The queen tried several times to be rid of the troublesome Mary, but it was not until 1587 that she finally had pretext. The Babington plot, as already mentioned, allowed Elisabeth to have Mary executed.
James would remain as Duke of Lothian and Moray. Given official control over his lands in June of 1583, he strictly encouraged Protestantism in his lands, gaining the trust of Elisabeth and the nobility of the Kingdoms (and later Empire). He wrote a treatise on royal government, the Treu Laue of Monarchies, stating the primacy of the king's rule; this would become important upon his accession to the British throne. Whatever the case, Elisabeth felt him the best choice of successor, and so, upon her death, he became Emperor of Great Britain.
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And that is how the Scots came to rule England...
Good concise coverage of the Marian intrigues.
Good concise coverage of the Marian intrigues.
I'm actually going to be seeing "Mary Stuart" tomorrow . What a sad story . Actually , the programme even has a cool picture of intricate white and black chess queens facing off . An excellent chapter , JM !