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I think it was a great point of view. You shouldn't hesitate to write from new points of view. It can help jog your creativity sometimes, especially when you start to get sick of some of your other characters.

Great AAR so far, by the way.
 
I like Agathe already - she's not a stuck up, prissy Norman princess like I sort of expected her to be. You make her come across as sympathetic, a woman stranded in a strange land. Here's to Donnchad returning safely to her side, and hearing the good news that he's about to be a father!
 
east_emnet: Thanks. You're right, it will be good to switch things up with her character every once in awhile.

General_BT: My first inclination was indeed to make her just as stuck up as everyone would imagine. However, when I really thouight about it, I changed my mind. I realized that she was, as you said, a young woman who has been sent to live in a land and among a people that she knoes nothing about. In addition to that, the one person who she could look to for comfort is being kept away from her by circumstances beyond either of their control. The final image that I formed of her was that of a lonely and vulnerable young woman.

kadvael56: I'm hoping that I can pull off the "outsider looking in" thing properly.


The next update will post tomorrow.
 
I'm looking forward to the next update!

Hardraade, you never seem to disapoint with your AARs, even if they take some time to read and catch up on when you start late.
 
Enna
Ard Mhacha, Ireland
August, 1081



Enna Ui Mordha knelt in the darkness. All around him were the men of his host, each man keeping absolutely silent and staring toward the enemy encampment before them. Enna saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Trian approaching him, his features barely discernible in the moonlight. Trian was a Taoiseach* from the northern part of Enna's domain and was highly respected among the Manx. In recognition of that respect, Enna had named him as leader of the war council immediately upon his brother's call for a hosting.

Trian went to a knee beside him and said in a whisper, "I have scouted the enemy camp. Most seem to have bedded down for the night and there are only a few sentries posted. If we remove them silently, we should be able to assault the camp before the enemy can react."

Enna nodded slowly and looked over to where a few of his best bowmen were waiting. This attack would depend on precision and even one nervous mistake could well undo them all. He was heartened to see no signs of fear or nervousness on their faces, only the hardened resolve of men who had seen their fair share of fighting in the past. He began to raise a hand to signal the attack, but Trian grabbed his arm and said, "I feel that it is my duty to once again remind you that this attack goes against our orders."

He was referring to the orders that they had received from Donnchad upon their arrival in Dublin two weeks past. His nephew's plan was to take the main force into Mide while Enna led his own force north to harass the enemy force in Ulaid. The intention was to prevent the two enemy hosts from joining together so that they could be defeated separately. Enna had been strictly ordered not to engage in any full-scale battles. That all sounded well and good, but Enna had deduced the true purpose behind his nephew's war plan. Donnchad obviously just wanted him out of the way while he grabbed all the glory and honors for himself. Enna had no intention of letting that happen. If he could infiltrate the enemy camp and kill or capture Ulaid's Ri Tuath, Dun Sleibe Ua Flaithri, he could place himself on the throne of Ulaid and substantially increase his power base. It would admittedly be difficult as the enemy outnumbered his own force three-to-one, but Enna was confident that surprise as well as the darkness would bring success.

He jerked his arm free from Trian's grasp and leaned in close to whisper fiercely, "My brother's whelp isn't here and I am in command. You will obey my orders."

Trian gave a tight nod in response, his face giving away nothing of what he might be thinking. Enna signaled for the attack to commence, hearing no further objections as he did so, and he and his men began creeping toward the enemy.

As they reached the immediate outskirts of the camp, the silhouettes of three sentries could be seen. Enna's bowmen took careful aim and loosed arrows at them. All three fell without a sound and the advance continued. Enna silently trotted past both tents and men sleeping out in the open. Some of his men broke off and began slitting the throats of the sleeping men. It was done quickly and quietly with the sounds of any struggle kept carefully muffled.

Enna fixed his eyes on the large tent that contained his prey now only several dozen yards distant. He was weaving his way toward it when a man suddenly emerged from a tent a few feet in front of him. The two locked eyes and Enna said as quietly as he could, "Be silent or it's your life."

The man took a deep breath and Enna lunged toward him, his sword up and ready. Before he could reach him the man shouted, "To arms! To arms!" Enna drove his sword through the man's chest, but the damage had already been done. Cries of alarm were going up all over the camp and Enna began to run forward. He knew that he would not have much time now.

The camp was a riot of confusion. Sounds of battle were coming from all sides as Enna pressed on. A man thrust at him with a spear. He sidestepped the attack and his men cut the spear carrier down. Another warrior confronted him with sword and shield raised. Enna dropped down and cut the man's leg off at the knee. The stricken man howled in pain and fell. Enna stabbed him in the heart and his cries of pain ceased.

Looking forward, Enna could see a line being hastily formed in front of Dun Sleibe's tent with what could only be the man himself standing just behind it. Enna and his men rushed forward and the two groups crashed together. The battle became a brutal mess as men hacked at shields and stabbed at any exposed flesh that presented itself. Enna was in the middle of the chaos stepping over the bodies of the fallen as he cut his way toward the enemy Ri Tuath. After what seemed like ages, the enemy line began falling back. Dun Sleibe had by that time formed another, stronger line and Enna roared in frustration as he cut down some of the enemy who had not fled quickly enough.

He looked around to gauge his the ability of his men to continue the attack and for the first time noticed that heavy fighting was going on to either side of him. Trian ran to him and shouted, "We must retreat!"

Enna shook his head. He pointed forward and said, "The enemy King is there before us. We have only to press a little further."

Trian made a negative gesture and replied, "The enemy are pressing against our flanks. If we don't go now our retreat will soon be cut off." Enna did not respond immediately and Trian pressed, "What good will killing him do if you fall right after?"

With every ounce of his being Enna wanted to press the attack, but he recognized the wisdom of Trian's words. He nodded his head in acquiescence. Trian gestured to some nearby soldiers who immediately surrounded Enna. He said, "These men will get you to safety. The rest of the men and myself will follow as best we can."

Enna nodded again and let himself be shepherded away. As he left the sound of battle behind him, his mind was already on the future. He had made a bid for power and glory and had failed miserably. He would have to prepare himself for the consequences of this night and do what he could to minimize the damage.


*Chieftain
 
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I do like that you show us something that was quite prevalent in ancient times but isn't covered sufficiently in AARs - plans going awry because of underlings having ideas of their own and carrying out uncalled-for attacks. With the glory-mad medieval noblity and especially the Irish, something like that happening is very appropriate. Me like. :)
 
The_Guiscard: Thanks. Enna certainly violated the trust that was put in him by Donnchad. That, of course, is something that can have effects that reach beyond just this campaign.

Enewald: No, Enna missed his chance. The question is: how badly has he damaged the war effort?

kadvael56: Indeed he may.
 
That didn't work, did it? Enna came across as a very capable warrior, with the battle seeming calm in his mind rather than frantic and desperate. I felt like I was inside his head, watching the gears turn slowly - like, he's so good, he moves in bullet time.

It's a double whammy for his efforts. He can ask for neither permission nor forgiveness now, since he failed.
 
That didn't work, did it? Enna came across as a very capable warrior, with the battle seeming calm in his mind rather than frantic and desperate. I felt like I was inside his head, watching the gears turn slowly - like, he's so good, he moves in bullet time.

It's a double whammy for his efforts. He can ask for neither permission nor forgiveness now, since he failed.

He's a decent fighter, but he really screwed the pooch there strategically. Forgiveness is indeed something he can't ask for and probably shouldn't expect anyway.
 
Enna's a good fighter, but he certainly screwed the pooch. Donnchad's not going to be happy...
 
I think you are doing a wonderful job writing this AAR, Hardraade. That’s why I have nominated you to be the next WritAAR of the Week. Congratulations! :)
 
General_BT: Indeed he will not be. The overall extent of his anger will depend on how badly Enna's actions affect the campaign.

The_Guiscard: Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it.

demokratickid: Thanks. Good to have you on board.
 
Enna wouldn't have failed if the Tiger hadn't... wait, that's another AAR.

I knew that Helmuth looked a bit odd, talking so Irish...:D
 
Brian
Dealbhna, Ireland
August, 1081



Brian was finding the life of a soldier to be most agreeable to him. As far as he was concerned, life in the monastery certainly could not compare. There were no cramped and dimly lit classrooms or tiny sleeping cells here- just the open sky and nature all around. He also had a degree of freedom here that was truly amazing to him. Before, every minute of his day had been strictly regimented. Here the only routine to follow was to break camp in the morning, go marching for awhile and then set up camp at night. Aside from that and standing the occasional watch- as he was doing now- he had the rest of the day to himself and no one really seemed to care what he did with his time.

Upon his arrival at Donnchad's army camp he had lived in perpetual fear that someone would recognize that he did not belong and he would be returned to the monastery. As it turned out, however, so many men were straggling in from distant farms and settlements that one more strange face raised no comment. When he had presented himself to the camp's weapons master he had been given a short spear and small shield and sent on his way without a word.

Another glaring difference between his new life and his old one was the simple joy of feeling a sense of camaraderie with his fellow man. Friendships were not easy to form in a place where speech was reserved only for times when it was directly needed. Here men conversed, laughed, and interacted with one another in a way that he only vaguely remembered from his days before being carted off to the monastery. He himself had fallen in with a group of interesting characters, the unofficial leader of which was his partner on the watch today, Breasal. He was a huge man, standing a full head taller than Brian himself, with massive arms and chest. That and the thick beard that covered his face and dropped down to his chest caused him to remind Brian somewhat of a bear. Breasal, however, did not generally live up to the imposing figure that he cut. His face was usually split with a wide grin and he was always quick to laugh or tell a joke. Now, though, there were no jokes or laughter. There were very few things that Breasal took seriously and standing watch was one of them. The two of them stood staring at the wide field that separated their post from a small stretch of woodland in silence.

Brian was just beginning to wonder when his turn at the watch would end when he heard someone approaching behind him. He turned to see two friends of his, Cian and Gobán, approaching and waved to them in greeting. Cian waved back and Brian asked, "You two here to relieve us?"

Cian nodded and replied, "We are at that. Unless, that is, you two are having such a good time you'd rather we came back a little later."

"The hell with that.", grumbled Breasal in his deep voice. "I've been more than..". He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the field in front of them. Brian followed his line of sight and saw a red deer buck bolting across the field. Several more soon followed in it's wake and Brian smiled to see the grace with which they moved. He turned back to Breasal and the look on the big man's face caused the smile to slip from his lips. Breasal turned to Gobán and instructed him in a low voice, "Get back to the camp and raise the alarm."

Gobán immediately turned and ran back the way he had come. Brian gave an incredulous laugh and asked, "Raise the alarm? What for?"

No sooner had the question been asked than Brian saw men burst forth from the trees. There were several dozen of them at least- all on foot- and were heading straight toward the small group of which he was a part. He dimly heard Breasal shout for him to pick up his spear as he stared open-mouthed at the warriors approaching him. He looked down and was surprised to see that he had dropped it in his shock.

He snatched it up and held it ready as the enemy force drew close. Behind him he could hear shouting and the sound of running feet, and he was relieved to see a small group of his comrades join him only a moment before the enemy reached his position. A small, dirty looking man came at him and Brian thrust his spear toward the man's chest. His clumsy thrust was easily side-stepped by the small man who followed up his dodge by darting forward and smashing his shield in Brian's face. Pain exploded in Brian's head and he staggered back, the spear slipping from his hand. He brought his own shield up in front of him and more by luck than intent blocked a slash from his opponent's sword.

The small man pressed his attack and drove Brian- who was unable to do anything other than raise his shied to defend himself- backward. Brian noted that the man's lips were parted in a confident smile that revealed yellow and broken teeth as he hacked away at Brian's shield. He had reason to be confident. Brian could not defend himself forever and they both knew it. The small man slashed at his head and Brian met the blow with his shield. His attacker then drove forward and struck him in the midsection with the rim of his shield. All the air went out of Brian and he sank down to his knees. He saw his enemy's sword coming down and raised his shield, but was too slow. The blade sank into his upper arm and pain shot through his body. His grip on his shield loosened and he let it drop to the ground.

The small man now towered over him. Brian looked up to see him raising his arm to deliver a killing blow and felt his bladder let go. Brian wanted to close his eyes, but some part of him wouldn't allow it. He looked up with a sort of morbid fascination as he waited for death. A shape loomed up behind his attacker and Brian heard a dull thud. The small man collapsed to his knees and Brian could see the shaft of an axe sticking out from his skull. Breasel put one hand on the man's shoulder and wrenched his axe free with the other. Brian saw him drive the axe into the man's skull several more times before passing out.
 
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Nice writing and a bloody update I may say. Ending is very good!

Keep up the amazing work!