The True First Men

[Reykvolc]

Game Start:

Here I am Harlon of Thenn! I am Cruel, Proud, and Lustful, but also Zealous.

We are the most remote of all the peoples of the north, but sheltered in a mountain valley from the Lands of Always Winter. We should not be confused with the Free Folk living to our south. We are very different from those backward savages and far more cultured. We are the last of the First Men, speaking nearly pure Old Tongue. We have nobles and laws and fight with discipline. We are famed for our bronze metalworking. In addition to being Chief of Thenn, I am also the head of the Thenn religion. I plan to bring the other First Man peoples under their rightful lord.

I have heard of a great wall of ice far to the south, but no Thenn has ever ventured so far. Beyond that wall lies a rich land ruled by Cregan Stark ‘the Wolf of the South’, who back in my grandfather’s time crushed with extreme prejudice a Free Folk invasion. They have been heavily influenced by the Andals, a very rich people even further south, and speak their language.

My wife is fairly different personality-wise and reasonably competent. I have a brother, Ulf (age 17), similar in personality to me, but quite stupid. My sisters Haldos (15) and Arlna (10) are both Zealous and Cruel. I have two sons, Wayn (3) and Onem (2). My mother Jheka (36) is still alive.

P.S.
Never read ASOIAF or watched AGOT, but thought it would be fun to have a new map, so installed the mod! Did reference a wiki for context! My starting character I added Ambitious, Shrewd, and a Brilliant Strategist for the initial expansion. As usual I will be roleplaying across the generations.

This is a few years after an invasion of Dorne ended with Daeron ‘the Young Dragon’ Targaryen getting assassinated. Baelor ‘the Blessed’ now rules.

On another note, why did the mod give the tribes north of the wall so few men? 2X the men per holding and using the CKII tribal call to war vassals feature would seem to better reflect the actual strength, which seems to be able to reliably get past the Nights Watch when unified but just as reliably get stomped by the North (albeit with difficulty, two Stark kings died fighting them).

 

[Reykvolc]

1st Moon 8162-8th Moon 8167:

I marry Ulf to a courtier and betroth Arlna to Wayn. Haldos will remain unmarried as there is no one worthy of marrying into the semi-divine of Thenn family. I chose the ambition to Become a Higher Lord. I chose a War focus.

It is time to expand. I declare war on the Free Vale. I raise 870 men including 200 Free Folk mercenaries. In 2nd Moon we win a great victory at the Battle of Freegrove. We shift to sieging. Meanwhile I am thinking about what kind of warrior I am. I decide what matters is to be a Holy Warrior for the gods. In 5th Moon they fall. I sacrifice them all to the gods.

It makes sense to expand toward the sacred Weirwood at the Fist of the First Men. So next I declare war on The Haunted Forest. First I have to crush a revolt Free Vale had been suffering from and sacrifice their leader. I gain the trait Haemophiliac from my many sacrifices. In 11th Moon, I notice a courtier acting suspicious. I of course arrest her. I think you can guess her fate after that…

I defeat the enemy army, losing just 8 men. In 2nd Moon 8163 my nephew Halys is born! The Haunted Forest falls. The Giants Stairs was also trying to conquer, so I have to deal with them. In 3rd Moon, the Shivering Forest declares war on us. In 6th Moon, The Giant’s Stairs is overrun. I leave a toddler boy in control, force a few ‘women’ to marry my courtiers (incidentally, what’s the minimum marriage age? Seems to be 14 normally but one of them was 11), and keep his sisters in custody. Everyone else is sacrificed.

In 12th Moon, I am presented with a baby girl, named Pansy, who is clearly the result of some of my extracurricular activities. I adopt her into my household and betroth her to Halys. In 2nd Moon 8164, the Shivering Forest surrenders.

We declare war on Antler Vale for the Fist of the First Men. We hear rumors that an Andal has managed to tame a giant lizard. The Shivering Forest joins the war, apparently having most of your family sacrificed doesn’t intimidate everyone. In 10th Moon I hear Haldos is using Moon Tea. She’s apparently having an affair with my first raider. Meanwhile Mom has gained the nickname 'the Chaste'.

I start a plot to kill Haldos so she won’t bring shame on the family. In 2nd Moon 865, Antler Vale surrenders. I declare myself High Chief! I give the weirwood temple to my priest Torenir Blackgaze. Jagni gets Antler Vale. Bjorn gets the Haunted Forest. Ragnar gets Free Vale. My brother is unhappy he is not given the land.

I decide on a Struggle Focus for Wayn. I declare war on the Shivering Forest and hire more mercenaries. I am warned if I die now my realm will splinter. There is a Free Folk revolt in the Free Vale, which I crush. In 6th Moon, the Shivering Forest is reduced to a vassal. Meanwhile I am studying the campaigns of previous great military leaders.

In 7th Moon, my lawspeaker manages to do major damage to my reputation accidently. I conquer the Giants Stairs. In 10th Moon, I sacrifice a courtier to the ancestors. In 2nd Moon 8166 I subdue Frost Caves. I decide on a Duty focus for Onem.

I declare war on the High Chief of Lower Frostfangs. The Great Ice River and Winter Keep join in. Free Vale Free Folk revolt again in 6th Moon. I fight the Alliance in the Battle of Haunted Keep. Despite being outnumbered significantly, we win. I kill an enemy commander and become known as a Duelist.

Unfortunately our victory over the alliance is short-lived as we are defeated at the Battle of Fist of the First Men. We crush the revolt in 1st Moon 8167. In 6th Moon my sister Haldos is successfully disposed of. We clash once again with the Alliance in 8th Moon and seem on the verge of victory. But on the 26th day of the month, I am slain in an epic duel (my opponent is left wounded).

I died at the age of 25. I reigned for 5 years and in that time conquered half the Free Folk. My epitaph is “Harlon’s life was spent seeking and building power, his ambition may even challenge the reign of the gods.” My 8-year-old son Magnar inherits…

 

[Reykvolc]

8th Moon 8167-9th Moon 8178:

I am a Rowdy Idolizer. I am already a trained fighter despite being only 8. I have a Tyrannical Stain from my father’s actions, presumably from when he executed a courtier who was acting odd. I am betrothed to my Aunt Arlna. My guardian is my mother. My regent is Priest Torenir. He is a Kind, Shy bookworm, but also Ambitious and Zealous. My heir is my brother Onem who inherits the treasury. All our vassals gained independence and realm unrest is high. My father gets just a small private funeral.

The battle with the Alliance ends in defeat. Our mercenaries are abandoning us. In 11th Moon, we surrender and pay reparations. In 1st Moon 8168, Lower Frostfangs declares an invasion on me. They defeat us in 5th Moon.

I become friends in 10th Moon with my cousin Halys. We have a common interest in wreaking havoc. In 8th Moon I step in to stop some bullying. In 3rd Moon 8170 we hear that winter is coming.

In 7th Moon, me and Frostfangs manage to more or less simultaneously siege each other’s capitals down. I decide to treat it as a white peace with each side’s prisoners released (in game it would have allowed me to win, but that seemed wrong roleplaying). In 12th Moon, the Free Folk of the Fist of the First Men revolt.

Mom choses a martial education for me. I decide to hire a very good tutor. On 5th Moon we surrender to the revolt. We are now reduced to just our home county. This also means I need a new regent as Priest Torenir is now their vassal. Soren is not exactly the most driven person out there, being Humble, Patient, Shy, Craven, Content, and Depressed.

In 12th Moon, Idolizer becomes Erudite. I become Brave. Rowdy becomes Honest. Onem gets a diplomacy education. Uncle Ulf is plotting to kill me, but agrees to stop when I ask him to. In 6th Moon 8172 I gain Arbitrary. By 9th Moon, winter is letting up. In 1st Moon 8173 I finally marry Aunt Arlna.

I am starting to go through puberty. In 8th Moon I dream of Arlna kissing me. In 1st Moon 8175 I come of age… My levies need replenished and I am still in debt, so I decide on a hunting focus and the ambition to Have a Son. Incidentally the Thenn vassals my father set up are long-conquered except for Antler Vale, who has managed to convert the county to the Thenn culture and religion.

I invest in Pansy’s education in 3rd Moon. Mom gets food poisoning and my healer becomes a Renowned Physician while treating it. Onem comes of age and turns out pretty decent. I marry him to Priest Torenir’s daughter.

In 7th Moon 8176, Arlna tells me she is pregnant! She’s hoping for a girl though. For some reason she is plotting to kill Onem’s wife. I tell her to stop. Our daughter Jheka is born in 2nd Moon 8177. She sadly is Imbred. Pansy and Helys are married to each other.

I learn my first raider is corrupt. This is quite the financial windfall as I imprison and exile him! By 9th Moon 8178 I feel I am in a position to start expansion…

Since the Fist of the First Men broke free, they have expanded and conquered Frostfangs to become the largest Free Folk realm. Antler Vale was conquered by the Milkwater, but is now revolting.

 

[Reykvolc]

9th Moon 8178-8th Moon 8188:

I declare war on Free Vale. We siege them down on 1st Moon. I put the prisoners in house arrest. In 3rd Moon, Pansy comes of age. I declare war on Shivering Forest. My brother Onem tells me I am getting fat. I tell him it is none of his business. I gain Stressed. Meanwhile we suffer an embarrassing defeat against a revolt the Shivering Forest is suffering.

In 10th Moon, Arlna tells me she is pregnant! In 5th Moon 8180, Shivering Forest surrenders. Days later, my son and heir Isenbert is born!

Next is Frostfangs which recently lost land to a revolt. They raise a considerable army, so I settle for getting 2 of their counties. In 3rd Moon 8181 I hear winter is coming. In 7th Moon I declare war on The Haunted Forest. I chose the ambition to Win the War. In 10th Moon we win a major victory.

Shortly after mercenary money runs out. Fortunately we wiped out some detachments first. We siege down the enemy capital and win a smaller-scale victory in 12th Moon. I stop by the view the Wall that separates us from the South. If anything it is *more* astonishing than I imagined. What sort of people must the Starks of old have been to build such a giant wall? In 7th Moon 882, I hear that Cregan’s son Jonnel ‘the Meek’ died after a 10-year reign and his grandson Artos rules now. Both Jonnel and Artos have married Andals.

Halys and Pansy have a stillbirth. I hear that the Andals have established an order of holy warriors. In 1nd Moon 8183 The Haunted Forest surrenders. Thanks to my declining forces I had to be content with occupying 2 counties to seize.

I give out land. My brother Omen gets Shivering Forest and Free Vale. Cousin Halys gets the Haunted Forest and Frost Cave. Spymaster Ornmir gets Forktop. First Trader Valorn get The Gorge. Frostfangs is my prisoner and still holds Antler Vale. I sacrifice him to the gods. I keep Fist of the First Men for myself and give the Weirwood to Arla.

I chose Have 5 Children as my next ambition. In 4th Moon Arlna tells me she is pregnant, but I doubt if it is mine. I declare war on Milkwater. Cousin Halys gives me a pet dog I name Twiggy. In 11th Moon, my son Heming is born.

We defeat a force of Andal outlaws and storm Milkwater. We then declare war on Hardhome. We win a battle. My priest raises some holy warriors. In 7th Moon 8184 I lose Stressed. In 1st Moon 8185 the Free Folk of Whitetree revolt. Hardhome surrenders in 2nd Moon. I gain Greedy.

Next I declare an invasion of Ice Rivers. In theory they could give a real challenge, but allow themselves to be defeated in detail again and again. Halys gifts me some money. My brother Onem dies in 10th Moon 8186. Ice Rivers starts to run out of mercenary money and they start defecting.

In 3rd Moon 8187, my daughter Jheka dies comatose in bed. I decide on a Struggle focus for Isenbert. In 12th Moon, I finally completely occupy Ice Rivers. Next I declare war on Ice Bay. They surrender in 7th Moon 8188. I declare myself King Beyond the Wall!

Isenbert becomes High Chief of Otherlands and Heming of Hardhome. Cousin Haggon gets Skirling Pass. I keep Whitetree for my demesne and give the rest to courtiers.

 

[dmurgell]

Nice to see your new AAR.
I am not a big fan of AGOT, but will keep an eye (or both) in your storyline.

 

[Reykvolc]

8th Moon 8188-5th Moon 8196:

Its time for some realm management. I abolish council authority and raise crown authority to medium. This allows me to command vassals to stop wars. I also invest in holding improvements using my prestige.

In 11th Moon, I go on a successful hunt. I command several Free Folk revolts against vassals to stop. However, one succeeds against Isenbert. I move to arrest him, he revolts, and Ice Bay Shore and Night Valleys join (they are the last non-Thenn vassals).

In 7th Moon the Revolt surrenders and I revoke their lands. Another Free Folk claimed Hardhome and I move on him. Meanwhile my Healer asks for another country, which I refuse. Hardhome is reclaimed in First Moon 8190. I have to kick out a bunch of courtiers from my court.

Cousin Halys helps me deal with a blackmail plot. In 6th Moon, I learn Antler Vale is slandering me. I move to arrest him and he revolts.

On the 5th day of 7th Moon, I run into an Ice Dragon. Unfortunately it manages to kill me... I died at the age of 31, having reigned for 23 years.

We are now 10-year-old Isenbert! I show promise of military talent. My regent and guardian Hranfast is incompetent. I marry him to a courtier. We hold a funeral for my father, but only invite the family.

The Kingdom collapsed of course. I control 4 counties. However, my family controls all the land outlined in green and all the other realms except The Milkwater have Thenn rulers.

In 10th Moon, my cousin Haggon is attacked by Forktop, so I come to his assistance. I siege down Forktop. In 7th Moon 8192, a new Lord Commander of the Nights Watch is chosen. Artos Stark is launching a war for independence against the Andals. Cousin Halys tried to conquer Antler Vale, but is ultimately captured and Aunt Pansy is killed.

In 9th Moon my Lawspeaker manages to tarnish my reputation accidentally. Winter is coming to an end. A war focus is chosen for me. I develop a rash, but it disappears after a while. My brother Heming has lost his lands and is living with Cousin Halys. I defeat a Free Folk revolt of Halys and then one of my own in 4th Moon 8194.

In 5th Moon I gain Brave! I betroth myself to Antler Vale’s eldest daughter. In 7th Moon, Timid becomes Humble. My Uncle Ulf dies. Mother’s weirwood was revoked, so she joins my court. My regent decides to make her guardian. Heming also joins my court.

By 6th Moon 8195 I am suspected of being a skinchanger as I am having dreams. In 8th Moon, there are signs Winter is coming. In 10th Moon a snowbear starts following me and I adopt him as a pet. The Starks have won their war for independence, but are now facing a tyranny revolt.

Heming is given a stewardship focus. I am friends with Hallgrim, brother of the Chief of West Shelf. On 5th Moon 896 I come of age…

 

[Reykvolc]

5th Moon 8196-12th Moon 8205:

It is time to reunify the realm again. I gain the nickname ‘the Bear’. I declare war on Cousin Halys. I hear Artos Stark has been forced to abdicate in favor of his son Jonnel. In 6th Moon 8196 I hear rumors that an Andal has tamed a dragon (he's just taming his grandfather's dragon, only one in the world). This seems hard to believe with how ferocious they are, after all my father was killed by an ice dragon. In 7th Moon I get a crush on a Free Folk girl named Yellow Bird.

I chose the ambition to Win the War. In 12th Moon, Cousin Halys surrenders and becomes my vassal. Next to be vassalized is Cousin Haggon. My new ambition is to Have a Son. In 8th Moon 1897, Yellow Bird comes of age. By this time my infatuation has turned to full-blown love. By 11th Moon, Winter is ending. I declared war on Antler Vale. In 3rd Moon 8198, I decide to specialize in being a Light Foot Leader. Antler Vale is subdued in 4th Moon.

Next up is an invasion of the Milkwater. There is no real battles, just a lot of sieging. In 3rd Moon 8200, Yellow Bird tells me she is pregnant. Milkwater finally surrenders. My brother Heming and friend Hallgrim are each given 2 counties. I give the Weirwood to Mom and keep Fist of the First Men for myself.

Next is Frostfangs. They have no army but the Night’s Watch is doing a Great Ranging against them and defeat one of my detachments. In 10th Moon, my daughter Trilia is born!

Frostfangs surrenders in 12th Moon, but this means I inherit the war with the Nights Watch. For a while there is just back and forth sieging as I mass all the forces I can, including hiring out all the mercenary armies. I raise over 4,000 men, the largest army raised north of the Wall in probably centuries. In 4th Moon 8202, we clash. Half my army is defeated by the Nights Watch, but it breaks their center. The two flanks are then defeated by the other half of the army.

In 7th Moon, I gain the military trait Unyielding. In 9th Moon I crush the Nights Watch again at Forkhold. I cross the wall and win a final victory in Brandon’s Gift, at which point the Nights Watch agrees to a white peace.

Next we move on The Great Ice River. My wife gains a handmaiden. My daughter gets the Flu. I win the war. I start studying the campaigns of Gendel and Gorne. After all, the Nights Watch will need dealt with at some point. Now I move on The Frozen Shore. In 1st Moon 8202, some outlaws declare war. In 3rd Moon I gain Uncouth. Frozen Shore collapses, ending that war. At some point, the Starks are revassalized by the Andals. I defeat the outlaws then work on rounding up Frozen Shore’s successors. By 12th Moon, this is finished and I declare myself King Beyond the Wall.

 

[Ernain1111]

Interesting, a story from beyond the wall. Sub.

 

[Reykvolc]

1st Moon 8205-12th Moon 8210:

It is time to work on removing that symbol of the Andal yoke, The Wall. Others may join them, so I decide I will start by ruthlessly raiding them to weaken them. I raise 4,000 raiders. In 5th Moon, several vassals persuade me to replace Mom as first raider with Cousin Halys. In 10th Moon, I upgrade from Incompetent Commander to Dutiful Commander. In 12th Moon, we capture a Night’s Watch commander and sacrifice him to the gods.

In 4th Moon 8206, Castle Black falls to my forces. I find a weird purple-sheened ax I add to my collection. I also find a pet cat, which I pet. I gain Kind.

The Chief of The Gorge is persuaded to revolt by false evidence I plan to move against him. The chiefs of the Frozen Shore and Ice River join him. Before they arrive, I defeat him and siege down his fort. He surrenders in 8th Moon. His fellow rebels agree to revocation of their lands without objection.

I decide on a Etiquette focus for my daughter Trila. In 5th Moon 8207, the Shadow Tower is looted. In 7th Moon, Yellow Bird tells me she is pregnant! Meanwhile Winter is getting so bad the peasants are starting to die, the worse in decades at least. In 2nd Moon 8208 my son and heir Wayn is born! My new ambition is to have Five Children.

The Night’s Watch declares a Great Ranging against me, which just allows me to use mercenary forces to ravage them. In 7th Moon, Eastwatch falls to me. In 9th Moon, I declare an Invasion of the Wall. I raise no less than 7,000 men.

The Starks and Ironborn declare their support for the Night’s Watch. I seize the Shadow Tower. The Ironborn decide to land in the Frozen Shore and then march overland. 15k men start that march, only 6k of them make it past the Skirling Pass. The Starks aren’t faring much better, apparently an usually cold north-of-the-wall winter is too much even for them. In 8th Moon 8210 I defeat the Starks at Woodswatch-by-the-Pool.

In 10th Moon, I hear a great plague has broken out in the land of the Andals. In 12th Moon, we clash with the Starks again and seem on the verge of victory when the Ironborn take us in the rear. 4,000 of my men fall. There is nothing to do but surrender. I am forced to pay reparations. It is cold comfort the Ironborn and Starks have lost more than 20k men to battle and nature and the Night’s Watch can field just 158 men…

 

[Reykvolc]

State of Plantos 8211:

Baelor ‘the Blessed’ Targaryen inherited the Iron Throne in 8161. He would rule for 48 years. His strategy against Dorne was to slowly pick it apart. Wyl was conquered and added to the royal demesne in 8173 and Yornwood followed in 8194. The Yronwoods of Ghost Hills were made vassals in 8198. He faced a number of independence revolts by Lords Paramount. In 8209 he died after a nearly 50-year reign.

Baelor gave Dragonstone to his uncle Viserys. Viserys hatched the dragon Taeral, conquered Massay’s Hook in 8184, and gained independence from the Iron Throne. He launched an unsuccessful invasion of Pentos. His grandson Daeron ‘the Black’ inherited his lands and Taeral in 1194, then the Iron Throne in 1209. His son Maegor is heir. On the bright side Maegor is a genius and loves his wife. On the not-bright side he acts as if he is demon-possessed.

Jonothor Arryn of the Vale went insane and was overthrown in 8190 in favor of his son Donnel who is reasonably competent.

Kermit ‘the Old’ Tully ruled the Trident until 8182, then his son Edmure ‘the Unworthy’, and since 8196 Hosteen. He is betrothed to Donnel’s daughter. Kermit established a cadet branch in the Trident, and currently one member is heir to Hosteen and the other is married to his bastard half-brother.

Loreon ‘the Golden’ Lannister ruled the Westerlands for 65 years until 8194. His son Jonn ‘the Black Lion’ was frankly a psychopath. Year 1 of his reign was spent breaking free of the Iron Throne. Year 2 was spent being excommunicated and then murdered by his vassals. His son Damon inherited, rejoined the Seven Kingdoms, then died in Baelor’s 3rd Dornish Campaign. His son Loren II now rules and is a ruthless tyrant. He is friends with Leo of the Reach.

Leo ‘the Long-Thorn’ Tyrell has ruled the Reach since 8160. Literally every single vassal likes him and several are friends with him. He has just caught the Great Sickness. His only child, Olymer is reasonably competent.

Corwen Baratheon of the Stormlands died in 8177. His son Tancred ‘the Tormentor’ got himself excommunicated and was murdered by the Lord of Tarth in 8194. His son Ormund started his rule by beheading Tarth. He has the ambition to become an independent King and is trying to fabricate a claim on Tarth. He’s a jerk, but reasonably popular. He is 46 and his son/heir is a toddler so that’s a potential issue. He is currently attacking Dorne to seize the Princes Pass.

Marence ‘the Tenacious’ of Dorne saw the glory of the 2nd Dornish War quickly forgotten. Lys immediately attacked and the Dornish royal family was captured and suffered diverse horrible fates. However, his brother Rhodry turned the tide and killed the Magister of Lys. Marence had Rhodry assassinated shortly after peace returned. Rhodry’s bastard son Oberyn fled to Kings Landing and had a daughter named Halera. Marence was defeated by Baelor in 8173, which resulted in the Daynes overthrowing him in favor of the third brother Cadan. Marence fled to Kings Landing where the High Septon beheaded him. Cadan died fighting the Iron Throne in 8194 and his daughter Leyla ‘the Accursed’ now rules. She murdered her husband and lost a war to Baelor. She spent a while as a slave during the Lys fiasco. Her heir is her niece Gileta Santagar. She is fighting the Stormlands and an attempt by Halera to seize the throne.

Tyrosh has won several wars against Myr, taking the city of Myr itself in 8178. Currently Tirelna rules. She overthrew her predecessor in 8190. Baelor’s sister, Daena ‘the Defiant’ commands her armies. Lys has not had much success in foreign adventures. Dorellan died fighting Dorne. Moredo ‘the Bewitched’ was murdered. Denzo ‘the Upright’ fell fighting the Summer Islands. Releqor died fighting Tyrosh. They have resettled Sarhoy.

Volantis resettled Sar Mell. In 8211, their Essosi Valyrian rulers were overthrown by Esodo Orylion, a Volantene R’hllor worshiper.

Pentos repulsed Viserys. Lorath has lost Lorath Bay to a Dorthraki adventurer. The Ax has gained independence from Norvos. Otherwise they and Braavos have been focused on internal affairs.

Qohor worked on resettling the Rhoynar lands. This backfired on them when Dygos ‘the Munificent’ Somayne revolted and restored a Rhoynar state.

The Dothraki were largely united by Qozzo ‘the Brute’ Matto. On his death in 8210, his son was bypassed in favor of Marro Zirquo. Bollo survived by becoming a tributary under the craven Addro ‘the Mad’. The Lajo are a relatively recent Khaldom formed by gobbling up small neighbors. Their previous ruler Shaqo was tortured to death by Marro.

The zo Grazdan dynasty of New Ghis out-Byzantine the Byzantines. No less than 4 rulers have been murdered in the last 20 years. Astapor and Yunkai are not much better. Asapor is slowly expanding on the other side of Slavers Bay. Qarth has been focused on regaining ruins.

Yi Ti was perhaps the most glorious of all realms until Bao ‘the Accursed’ was murdered in 2194. His lunatic daughter Bu Da inherited. All the vassals took the opportunity to gain independence. Currently she is fighting LinQi.

The Jogos Nhai are more disunited than ever. However one of their adventurers conquered much of Asshai.

 

[Reykvolc]

12th Moon 8210-11th Moon 8220:

Cousin Halys dies and his lands are inherited by his son Gorm, who I betroth to Trila. My friend Hallgrim attacks Antler Vale and suffers a Free Folk revolt. He loses. I move to revoke the rebel’s land. He revolts and Shivering Forest joins him. In 7th Moon 8212 I hear there is a new King of the Andals who has managed to tame his father’s dragon.

My mother dies in 9th Moon. I decide to give my daughter Trila a quality education. Wayn is betrothed to his cousin Arlna, daughter of Heming. In 7th Moon, 8213 I defeat the rebels. Haly’s sons Hrut and Torfi get Night Valley and Shivering Forest. Hallgrim is compensated with the Great Ice River. A Free Folk revolt is crushed in 10th Moon. I decide on a diplomatic education for Trila. In 12th Moon 8213 the brutal long Winter finally ends.

In 1st Moon 8214 I save my lawspeaker while bear hunting. I chose a Struggle focus for Wayn. Trila and Gorm marry. I give her the Weirwood. Ulf is apparently not content with the land I gave him and wants to become a High Chief. I tell him greed does not become him. Cousin Haggon also asks for more land and is rejected.

I change the succession laws to Tanistry. This way we can hopefully avoid the realm disintegrating from underskilled heirs. I vote for Gorm.

In 4th Moon 8216, Jonnel Stark is murdered. His 2-year-old daughter Cylla inherits. They are facing a council authority revolt. I invest in building barracks across the realm. In 3rd Moon 8127, Yellow Bird tells me she is pregnant! In 4th Moon I hear the Andal King’s nephew has tamed his dragon’s hatchling. The Andals are currently in a civil war.

I learn Yellow Bird is trying to kill my niece Arlna. Apparently I can’t tell her to stop since I don’t know the plot exists. Despite her inviting me to join it. In 10th Moon Yellow Bird has a stillbirth. Hallgrim managed to lose all his lands again to Free Folk revolts. So I work on fixing that. At Nighthold I crush a force despite being outnumbered more than 3-to-1.

In 10th Moon 8128 I hear exciting news! A member of the Andal royal family is sent to the Night’s Watch, apparently because he tried to overthrow the King. By 1st Moon 8129 I have dealt with the Free Folk. A band of outlaws tries to attack, but are effortlessly crushed. My son Wayn gets the Bloody Flux, but recovers.

I give Wayn an education of the highest quality and decide on a Diplomatic education. In 5th Moon, Yellow Bird decides to be very annoying by forcing a vote on passing a law requiring me to consult with the council to engage in diplomacy and then calls favors to make council-members vote for it. In 11th Moon, I hear the Andal King died. His son inherits.

 

[dmurgell]

In 3rd Moon 8127, Yellow Bird tells me she is pregnant!

I learn Yellow Bird is trying to kill my niece Arlna.

Some women go through quite an unbalanced mood during pregnancy, but seems that Yellow Bird really takes that into unforeseen stages.

 

[Reykvolc]

11th Moon 8220-3rd Moon 8223:

Word spreads that the Andal King has learned to ride the dragon his father, grandfather, and great-great grandfather rode before him. Winter is starting to come. In 7th Moon 8221, I teach my friend Hallgrim how to use a sword.

In 11th Moon, I have to tell Cousin Haggon to end his war against another cousin. I have a lavish wedding for Wayn and Arlna in 7th Moon 8222. In 9th Moon, Hallgrim dies and his niece inherits his lands. In 2nd Moon 8223, I manage to pass through the council a law restoring my power over foreign affairs. In 7th Moon, Arlna dies under suspicious circumstances. I of course suspect my wife, but there is no proof. All I can do is hold a funeral.

I betroth Wayn to the beautiful Edgarda of The Gorge. In 2nd Moon 8224, Wayn comes of age! He is great at diplomacy, decent at war, but not other stuff and a pretty nice guy, if not very ambitious. I change my nomination for heir to him.

I have chest pains for awhile, but they disappear in 7th Moon. In 11th Moon I get Yellow Bird a bracelet. Another Free Folk revolt overthrows Hallgrim’s niece. I revoke the titles, but she’s fled to the Andals, so I give the counties to Wayn.

My relationship with Yellow Bird is not what it used to be. In 1st Moon 8226 she asks me if a serving maid can be a handmaiden for her. I agree. My chest pains are back. In 7th Moon I buy food for peasants who are going hungry because of Winter. In 5th Moon 8227 spring comes. In 9th Moon I start building a temple in Thenn.

In 8th Moon 8228 I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me. My wife wants me to fire my First Raider, I refuse. The new temple finishes construction and I give it to my cousin Hilde. In 1st Moon 8231, my chest pains disappear. I work on improving my holdings. We are hearing periodic rumors of people swearing fealty to someone who claims to be the ruler of New Valyria.

 

[dmurgell]

Word spreads that the Andal King has learned to ride the dragon his father, grandfather, and great-great grandfather rode before him. Winter is starting to come. In 7th Moon 8221, I teach my friend Hallgrim how to use a sword.

Hallgrim maybe thinks he can protect himself from dragons and winter with a sword...

 

[Reykvolc]

11th Moon 8233-9th Moon 8241:

Attacking the Nights Watch will need to wait for a period of disunity. Cylla Stark currently rules. She is married to the Skagos branch of the family established by Cregan and they have an inbred son. I decide I’ll do more raiding on the Night’s Watch. Otherwise, not much happens. In 4th Moon 8234, my cousin Hrut seizes Hardhome from my nephew. In 6th Moon 8235 a cousin presents evidence Yellow Bird is slandering me. I decide not to act on that.

The Frozen Shore is converted to the Thenn faith! Unfortunately the Free Folk apparently consider the theology I have a divine right to rule them offensive. There is a series of revolts, most notably in First Forest.

I decide not to pursue the possibility of an affair with my wife’s handmaiden. Trila has a bad case of Gout. I gain Stressed. My priest is attacked by heathens. In 2nd Moon 8237, the revolt is crushed. Yellow Bird dies and we have a family funeral. A courtier uses the opportunity to accuse my cousin Torfi of murder. I imprison him.

My nephew is unhappy about being imprisoned by his cousin and asks me to be his champion. I agree, but am cut down after a brutal, dragged out duel on 16 8th Moon 8237 that leaves my opponent with multiple wounds. I ruled for 47 years, 33 of them as King Beyond the Wall. It is fair to say I was the one who truly consolidated the Kingdom. My epitaph is “A fine example of righteousness, Isenbert was known throughout the realm for his virtue and honor. A truly good man, he is with the gods now.”

We are now Wayn! I am great at diplomacy, a competent commander. I am Diligent, Charitable, and Gregarious. I am Content and Chaste. My wife Cortah is the daughter of Frost Caves. We have 3 kids, Grunnor, Isenbert, and Sveija.

I have a Rulership focus and my ambition is to Adopt a Lifestyle. I chose to nominate a competent unlanded cousin as heir. I assume guardianship over my oldest niece Hakye. I then hold a lavishly expensive funeral for my father, which I invite the entire realm to. I give my friend Lyting the Great Ice River.

There are some revolts for me to crush. My sister Trilia dies of Gout. Winter is coming in 1st Moon 8238. I get the nickname ‘Tall Talker’. I decide on a Duty focus for Grunnor. My former brother-in-law decides to attack the Nights Watch, which ends in the Starks beating him to pulp.

In 7th Moon 8239 I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me. In 3rd Moon 8240, Cortah helps me with a sticky diplomatic issue. I start getting fat, but then Cortah pushes me to diet.

Antler Vale’s soldiers accidently set a farmer’s field on fire. I personally compensate him. I decide on a Struggle focus for Isenbert and Etiquette for Sveija. In 2nd Moon 8241, Cortah tells me she is pregnant. I realize that I love her. In 9th Moon 8241 our son Eirik is born!

 

[Reykvolc]

9th Moon 8241-8th Moon 8249:

I have to deal with an alleged witch. I set her free, but that upsets the peasants. In 3rd Moon 8242 I learn the chieftainess of Haunted Forest is trying to murder my friend Lyting’s wife. She refuses to stop so I move to arrest her. She abandons her lands and flees the realm. In 9th Moon, I adopt a pet cat. I name her Queen. I become Patient dealing with her wrecking ways. She kills one of my sons pet rabbit, which I replace.

There is an outlaw invasion to deal with. In 9th Moon 8243 I catch my spymaster trying to slip in forged evidence of another vassal’s treason. I imprison him. In 1st Moon 8244 I learn an Ironborn woman is plotting to invade me. There is another outlaw invasion. They unfortunately sack Whitetree which I hold as my army is delayed by a revolt in Fist of the First Men. I decide on a diplomatic education of the highest quality for Grunnor. The invasion never happens, presumably the woman died.

In 1st Moon 8245 my niece Hakye asks me for a title but I use my diplomatic skill to evade her request. The Gorge is overthrown by a Free Folk revolt, so I revoke it and give it to my son Eirik. Similarly Isenbert is given the Frozen Shore. In 12th I see a beggar use his collection to get drunk. I stop being Charitable.

In 9th Moon 8246 Winter ends. I decide to give Sveija a Stewardship education. Isenbert gets a Diplomacy education. I decide to marry Grunnor to his cousin Sibbe.

Frost Caves attacks another vassal. He refuses to end it and I move to arrest him. He revolts and my distant cousin Helga joins him. In 8th Moon 8247, my priest converts Fist of the First Men to the Thenn religion. The revolt is crushed in 8th Moon 8248. I then move to deal with some other people I have cause to arrest. Cousin Hakye revolts. In 12th Moon 8248 I develop the Flu. I recover the following month.

Grunnor gets Upper Frostfangs. Eirik is promoted to High Chief of Lower Frostfangs. Isenbert is given the Frozen Shelf. Sveija is married to the chief of Haunted Forest. In 8th Moon 8249 I crush a peasant revolt, restoring realm peace.

 

[dmurgell]

Hey! I just nominated you for an AARland Choice Awards award for this last quarter. I hope that everyone who follows will participate by voting.
It’s also a great way to learn about other high quality AARs that you haven’t read. See here the details: Q2 2025 ACAs.

 

[Reykvolc]

8th Moon 8249-1st Moon 8258:

In 6th Moon 8250, Sveija marries the Chief of Haunted Forest. She is captured by Shivering Forest shortly thereafter. A traveling ‘lord’ visits my court in 12th Moon. In 10th Moon, Shivering Forest makes my daughter a human sacrifice. I move against him and he revolts along with Free Vale. My cat Queen dies. In 6th Moon 8252 we suffer a humiliating defeat against the revolt at the Battle of Haunted Keep.

I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me. Cortah has started to put on weight and ignores my remonstrations. Free Vale falls to a Free Folk revolt. In 10th Moon the 22-year-old female commander Thyri defeats us despite being horribly outnumbered at Antler’s Fork.

I do become friends with a cousin named Drald. Winter is coming again. In 1st Moon 8253 my Priest successfully converts Night Valleys to the Thenn faith. Which upsets non-Thenn.

In 5th Moon 8253 we siege down Shivering Forest. He is sacrificed to the gods. I generously give his sons his former counties. I start the process of colonizing the Island of Skane, an expensive undertaking. We move on Free Vale and suffer another embarrassing defeat. I invest in giving Eirik the best Diplomatic education. In 9th Moon Free Vale is sieged down and becomes a vassal. In 9th Moon I am overwhelmed by my work and become Stressed.

In 1st Moon 8255 we invest in dredging the harbor in Skane. My healer has put in good service, I owe her a favor. In 4th Moon I learn my friend Drald is a greenseer. My first trader has ideas to improve the economy. The Andal royal family is having a civil war. In 6th Moon I lose Stressed. In 7th Moon I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me. Colony development in Skane is going well. We invest in repairing the roads.

The Andal civil war ends with the rebel being fed to the King’s dragon. A female Targaryen tames one of Taerel’s descendants, the first woman since Taerel’s hatching restored dragons to the world.

In 9th Moon 8256, Hardhome is converted to the Thenn faith! There is an outlaw invasion, which is easily crushed. My son Grunnor ‘the Tall’ is having an affair with his sister-in-law/cousin Melkora, which has resulted in a bastard. He has a legitimate daughter named after Melkora. Isenbert has had two bastards with a courtier.

I inherit Free Vale and give it to my friend Lyting. I marry Eirik ‘the Handsome’ to my great-niece Thyre. Cylla ‘the Unready’ Stark drinks herself to death. Her 9-year-old daughter Sara inherits. In 1st Moon 8258 the first dragon duels since the legendary Dance of Dragons occurs. One brother kills the other before in turn being killed by his niece.

 

[dmurgell]

One brother kills the other before in turn being killed by his niece.

Modern family ...