[SS AAR] Vengeance And Glory - An Irish Struggle - Chapter 8 RELEASED! (October 16th)

[Nazgūl Killer]

Faction: Ireland
Rules: Cheating allowed, only to help the storyline, no money cheats/auto win cheats/add trait cheats and so on and so on.
Modification: Stainless Steel 6.1 - Early campaign.
THIS AAR DOES NOT ASPIRE TO BE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AND SEVERAL DETAILS OF THE GAME HAVE BEEN MODIFIED.
I AM NOT CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS.
I AM NOT RELIGIOUS.
This AAR has NO religious points, nor does it aspire to!

Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight


Chapter One: Old Timers, Old Demons and Old Rivalries...
"Come here, sit in my lap my child, come here and let me tell you of what went before my grandson, my favorite"
The King smiled and pat little three year old Art on his head.
"Let me tell you the tale of old, of before we held these halls" he said once more, gesturing with his large hand to the great halls around his throne, the halls in Dublin, the halls were decorated with golden torch-holders and dozens of torches all around the walls and pillars, mighty stone pillars held the large building, it was built almost like a church with the windows picturing the crucified Jesus and Virgin Marry, the halls in Dublin... The same Dublin we forced out of the English hands five years ago, earning us fifteen years of peace.
The same Dublin we have recently dictated our capital, the same Dublin which legends and songs are sung and told about... The same Dublin we always dreamed of...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"Those bastardy English held Dublin with an iron fist, putting us Irish to our knees! Those damned red flags! They took Dublin from us and bossed us around... We were too weak to resist... But I did not falter, I sent my spies, my best men to Dublin... I forced them out of there! I encouraged a rebellion! A few years later, here we are at these halls..."
Rambling on and on, the aging king kept telling his old tale, a tale I grew tired of. The old man did not understand that this young child was far too new to this grand world of politics to understand most of what he's saying... Even the guards to his sides rolled their eyes! My god, how many times must he tell this tale further?
I sighed as I sat by the lunch table, the king at his throne, and myself sitting next to my mother and my younger brother, Sean, I looked at him and he rolled his eyes, I nodded and got up from my chair.
"Father," I said, "I will be off to my chambers, I am sorry but my stomach is full and my eyes drowsy..." - Luckily for me, he did not notice the sarcasm and annoyance in my voice and he nodded and gestured with my hand for me to leave.

I walked away from the great hall, calming down slowly, my father's presence became more and more unbearable, I marched through the stone halls, my bodyguards with their traditional green following, I heard their greaves clacking against the stone floor behind me, but soon enough another pair of greaves joined them, in a far faster rhythm... It was Sean, he was catching up.
"Michael!" He said, and smacked me on the head, I stopped and looked at him, awed;
"What!?"
"Speaking to our father like that, are you insane? He will have you hanged!" He growled at me.
I nodded "I know, I know... I just couldn't take it anymore... It was jus-"
"Don't, do that again" He growled at me again, this time far calmer "You're his favorite, no matter what he said to little Arty, you are his favorite and you can stop him from committing his plans" He told me, looking at me with a very serious look, and I placed my hands up, surrendering, and we walked together in the hallway towards our chambers, as we reached said chambers we shook hands, as we always would when we parted, and I walked into my chambers, soon afterward, I called one of the guards, telling him to find Owen MacCanm, the priest, and get him here.

"Ah, my prince!"
The hearty priest appeared at the door, as I was closing my eyes, to clear my mind, but no better sight to get up to, I smiled at him and gestured to the chair next to my bed;
"Come, my friend, sit"
He obliged.
"What is it that troubles you, my son?" He asked, truly worried.
"Well... We both know I am not the most pious, my friend, but it is my father... I think he is highly obsessed with this... Revenge of his"
"Oh, yes. Of course. His hatred for the English... We can both agree that there's not much that can be done about this, no?"
I shook my head - "I would wish you speak to the council in my name, my friend. Maintaining my anonymity, to preserve my life. I am no coward, my friend... I would just rather continue with my life, rather than die at the whim of a madman!"
He shook his head and sighed.
"I will do as you ask, my son, but call your father a madman again and I will have to smite you" He smiled, jokingly. "Whilst it may be true that your father is obsessed with vengeance, it is also true that, out of all people, he deserves your respect, a man who has given his entire life for his people? For his country? For his lord?"
I smiled; "You are biased, my friend"
"That I am, but that does not mean he does not deserve your respect, please do remember that he is a hero to your people, and he is also your father" He said, preaching. I nodded.
He got up to the door, departing, but I inquired:
"Where are you going, Owen? Can we not sit together and drink and feast in memory of old times?"
"I am sorry, prince Domnall, but not today. I have an important council to get to in a few days, and must depart now, after I speak with the Council of Nobles... Of course" He smiled and left hastily... He was not completely honest...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The anxious priest walked quickly, following the road from Dublin, passing by a village he was directed to the nearby church... The priest felt his heart miss a beat, he was hiding at the church? What foul demon is that?
The priest MacCann almost ran up the trail to the church and looked at the figure standing in front of a grave, gazing upon it.
"Servant of the lord... Have you come to denounce me?"
The figure spoke, without looking back at the priest standing behind him.
"Denounce you?"
"Yes, oh humble servant, have you come to proven me how mistaken my ways are, and make me see the higher truth or be rid of me?"
This time, the figure looked at MacCann, he was a bearded fellow, no older than 30, he was scarred in the cheek and the forehead, his nose was disfigured and his hands reached to his sides; "Than smite me now, with the divine powers of your lord" He smiled.
"Smite? Why would I smite a child of God?"
"Am I still a child of God if I have taken a different path?"
The figure looked to his right, revealing for a split second that his eyes were red as if he had not slept for days, MacCann narrowed his eyes as he grasped tightly on his staff.
"Follow me into the church, my son, I will tell you of a nice tale" Said MacCann, the heretic did not move.
"Please?" Said the priest with an added smile.
The heretic shook his head. Just as he did that, two guards walked up the road, in their traditional green and holding strong halberds.
"Your pawns?" Asked the heretic.
"What is your name, my son?"
"Names have power" He claimed.
"Indeed."
"Why should I surrender this power to you?"
"Tell me your name, I will tell you mine" Said MacCann.
"I already know your name... Sorrow... Misery... Power... Enlightenment" He said, narrowing his eyes.
"Those are not names"
"They hold no less power than your true name"
"In that case, I find myself at a disadvantage. Give me your name, so we may stand on even ground again" Smiled the priest.
"Even ground? We never stood on even ground" Proclaimed the now annoyed heretic.
They gazed upon each other and the heretic motioned to his robes, one of the guards quickly reacted and slammed his halberd's blunt side on the heretic's head, he fell unconscious.
MacCann shook his head; "Dispose of him... And make it public" He said, they nodded, and the priest moved on his way, returning to Dublin.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Seven Days Later...)

"Where is he?" The chairman asked the guard, and the guard shook his head while shrugging, the council was getting restless.
"This is an outrage! He disgraces us by this, he must be su--"
"Summoned?" Said the king, entering the hall, cutting off one of the members of the council.
"My king, thank you for finally deciding to join us" Said the chairman, sarcastically.
The king nodded "Happy to be of service. For what reason has this little council been called upon?" He said, smug.
In fact, the council was not little at all, all the members of the council were here, from Galway, Dublin and Cork, not to mention the villages surrounding these settlements, the council chambers was filled with around a hundred council members.
"Your recent actions, oh great king" The chairman said, once again sarcastically "Have brought a worry upon us... Your warmongering with the English has reached a disturbin--"
"Warmongering?" The king looked at the chairman, annoyed and appalled.
"Well, my-"
"Shut it" The king said, cutting off the chairman yet again.
This time, the king moved to the center of the "C" shaped council chamber, in the center there was a table with the map of Ireland and the British Isles, along with a peace agreement with both the Scots and the French.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"This is your proof? A peace agreement with our brothers the Scots and our fellow trading partners the French? This is your proof?"
"My king!" Said one of the nobles in the council: "These actions, with both sides which utterly hate the English, and your constant babble of your hatred and vengeance of the English, it cannot lead to good things, it can only lead to -"
"WAR! Yes! I know!" Boomed the king. "You nobles, so afraid to get off your chair and mount your horse, to war, so scared you might lose your place in the elite society, when last I called upon you to retake Dublin, where were you? WHERE? At your homes, HIDING!" He boomed again, the room almost shook.
"I would dare each and every one of you to do the things I did in my life time, I would dare each and every one of you to speak like I have, I would DARE each and every one of you fight like I did!" He yelled.
"We are not ready for war!" I claimed, I was sitting at the rightmost seat at the front row, looking at my father.
"We are not ready to fight... Our people are tired and we have no weapons, I would ride to war with you, father, but this is a war we simply cannot win!"
My father looked at me, and I know he listened to me, because if there is one thing he knew about me, is that I would never betray him.
He began his speech again; "Yes. We cannot win a war with the English. Yes, a war with the English is not wise. But another truth is that the Scots have been our allies for decades, we only broke this alliance a few years ago because they could not come to help us, and that was a foolish mistake... Done by YOU!" He boomed that last word again and pointed at the chairman.
"You, idiotic 'NOBLEMEN'" He yelled that word with extreme sarcasm; "Decided that the Scots did not WANT to come to our help, and we abandoned them! I have recently re-joined our alliance... Yes... A year ago!" He claimed again.
"You nobles are so narrow minded..." He said, speaking with his normal voice again, and he pulled out a scroll from his cape. "You... Nobles... Are so foolish. You actually thought that this peace with the English will last long? Remember one thing, I AM THE KING! AND NO OTHER!" He screamed that last sentence, and tossed the scroll at the chairman, storming out of the room.
The entire room buzzed and whispered, in awe, as they saw the scroll...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

War was upon us... Whether we wanted to... Or not...

End of chapter one: Old Timers, Old Demons and Old Rivalries...

Next!
Chapter Two: The Glory of Our Times...

Stay tuned!

[Beer Money]

This should be epic!

Nice start. Really liked the priest heretic exchange. Good writing there.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Thanks mate.

[Pink Beard]

hah, like the old times

good Story Nazgul!

ps: This is not a rant, more like constructive critism, but maybe it's better if you put less " , " in your sentences and more " . "

look it, is really, irritating to read, like this, don't you agree? I know it can be hard sometimes but some of the sentences are just a tad bit too long

[Viking Prince]

A good start!

[Nazgūl Killer]

ps: This is not a rant, more like constructive critism, but maybe it's better if you put less " , " in your sentences and more " . "

look it, is really, irritating to read, like this, don't you agree? I know it can be hard sometimes but some of the sentences are just a tad bit too long

Really? Err, can you provide an example please? I'm not sure what you mean by what you said.

[SoulBlade]

I think he means punctuation.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Update might just come today, right now I don't have the time, but I will update it later on today I believe.
If not, possibly tomorrow.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter Two: The Glory of Our Times...

I ran out of the council chambers as quick as I can, following the sound of my father's steel greaves against the cold stone floor of the halls, I continued running in order to catch up with him, picking up pace, but the sound of the greaves disappeared.
I looked at where I was, and I was surprised I never saw this place in the past...
To my right there was a large archway, leading to the courtyard, the arch was decorated with stone Harps and Gryphons embedded in it, in the entrance, to both sides, were two large statues of Gryphons and a guard by each one, to my left was nothing, a simple wall, quite decorated, and straight ahead the hallway continued, probably heading to the main hall...
I decided to give up, and I retraced my steps, going back to the council chambers, and from it to my chambers.


Waking up the next morning; I approached the main hall and saw my father sitting at the throne and in front of him was a man holding a battered shield and a poorly made spear.
The king nodded as the two spoke, my mother sat next to him, on her on throne, I smiled at her as she smiled at me, a hearty old lady really.
Approaching the decorated throne, I heard the armed man speak:
"We swear allegiance to you, king Brian the Mauler" The armed man bowed.
"It shall not be forgotten, nor be failed to repay you in grace if you succeed. Gather your troops, good man, gather your troops and head for the Smithy, it shall get you armed and ready" Said the king, smiling.
The armed man nodded and bowed once more, leaving the great hall through the gigantic wooden doors far ahead, which were wide open.
"My king..." I uttered, wanting to apologize.
"Think of it no further, Domnall" He said, as if he know what I wanted to say.
Whilst the name most of the people called me was Michael, Domnall was my birth name, yet only my father and mother called me that.
"You did what you had to do, and I relish the fact that you take such interest in the court's politics, and in our wars." He smiled. "It will not be tolerated again." He added, this time with a glare.
I nodded and bowed.
"Father, who was that man?" I asked, truly intrigued.
"A farmer from a nearby village, leading a war band of over fifty men coming to seek fortune in war. We have four hundred men coming from Cork and seven hundred from Galway, in addition we have a hundred men coming with ships from the Scottish highlands" He nodded, happily.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"Gallogiach, sir?" I asked.
"Yes. The mightiest warriors we have ever seen" He said, almost laughing with joy.
I couldn't help but thinking, that my father had nothing if not an amazing influence over this land, a land so poor and so ill equipped, and he managed to raise an army of well over a thousand men in a matter of days?
Or... Was he mustering this army before?
He wasn't telling me the whole truth, but I had a feeling I did not want to know the whole truth...
"Domnall," My mother said, smiling. "Your wife summoned you... You should go to your chambers" She said once again, with a smile. I obliged.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Three days later, at noon, hundreds of armored soldiers marched through the streets of Dublin for the courtyard, my king's army was assembled, and at no better time. A Scottish messenger arrived at Dublin, facing myself and my king.
"Good king" He bowed, "Good prince." He bowed once more, to me. "I bring dire news. The English march on York" Said the troubled Scotsman.
The king frowned and gazed at the Scottish messenger; "We are not ready for war, brother. We don't have our entire army here yet." Claimed the king.
"I fear we have little time, good king, and we urge you to help us, as soon as possible" Said the troubled Scot. "We won't be able to hold York for long, the people at Edinburgh are troubled... They will be the next target if York falls." He claimed, urging the king to take action.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"Go back to your home, brother... Go to your home and take up arms. We will be there." Said the king, the two men embraced each other and shook hands, the messenger almost sprinted out of the halls.
I looked at my king, befuddled.
"Gather up the men, Domnall. Gather up the men and prepare for war. We set sail at dawn."
"Are we to sail to York? If what he says is true, it means the army of England protects York, meaning we have no chance of winning, we must pick a di--"
The king cut me off, speaking; "Yes, I know. Do not worry, my son. My spies tell me of a perfect beach head, not too far from here, a castle named Caernarvon, it would not be an easy battle, but it will be a battle we will have to face, one way or the other." Said the king, nodding.
"After taking over Caernarvon, we will attack Exeter, in hope of spreading the enemy army in two, taking the pressure off the Scots" He said, thoughtfully, obviously running the map through his mind and thinking of a battle plan.
Priest MacCann was right, the king did deserve my respect, a brilliant strategist and a charismatic leader, one man I will gladly follow to war.
"Yes my lord. At dawn" I nodded and bowed, rushing to the courtyard to make sure all the men are equipped for war.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"War? What is he thinking? We're not ready yet!" Sean urged at me.
"Yes, I know we're not ready yet, but do not worry, his plan is brilliant" I calmed my brother as we were walking ever so quickly past the halls, heading to the courtyard.
"Brilliant? What does he plan to do?"
"Let's just say that the English will never see us coming." I smiled. "Remember brother, they underestimate us, for all they know, we are dumb and drunken religious Irish, what they don't know, is that we're only drunken and religious!" I said, laughing, but my brother did not laugh, his mind was troubled.
"Do not worry my brother, I have a different assignment for you" I said, calming him.
"That's what I was afraid of... I want to fight!" He claimed. "I want to ride with you to war, brother, fighting side by side" He said, bringing us both to a halt. "I do not want to abandon you, brother. I feel ill now, I do not know what the outcome of this campaign will be but I feel ill, do not go! And if you do go, let me go with you!" He said, he probably thought of this speech for some time now.
I shook my head. "You must go to Cork. You will rule in our absence. The king and Prince go, the brother stays, it is the way the world goes" I shrugged.
"Go now, go my brother, may you rule ever so graciously if the campaign goes ill" I said, adding this little part, making him understand that this was the end of this discussion, he ran down to the streets and mounted his horse, riding with his bodyguard to the royal palace at Cork.
"Men! ARE YOU READY!?" I screamed to the men at the courtyard, they raised their spears, bows and swords up in the air, screaming our war cry. War was upon us...

We rode to the ships, speeding to the coast of Dublin, my father and I riding together at the front of the column and the rest of the army at tow.
"My king! My kiiiiing!" Someone screamed, galloping in horse in almost divine speed, he stopped right in front of us, and we did too.
"Yes? What is it, boy?" Asked the king.
"A message for you, good king." The boy delivered the message and hurried to join the ranks of the cavalry.
"We must make haste... Our brothers are in need! DOUBLE THE PACE! Form up, MOVE OUT! Form up! Move out!" Screamed the king, we galloped to the ships, and to war.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

End of Chapter Two: The Glory of Our Times...

Next!
Chapter Three: Baptism of Fire...

Stay tuned!

[kasrkin]

Nazgul I believe Pink Beard was talking about the speech in the AAR, it is common when writing speech to put a comma, or a full stop or whatever before the close of the speech I think thats what he's referring to.

Anywhoo EXCELLENT AAR

[Irish King]

This is one of the best AAR's I've read recently. Keep up the good work!

[Nazgūl Killer]

Thanks guys, and thank you Kasrkin, that made things clearer.

[Snickster555]

This is getting good

[Nazgūl Killer]

Thank you, Snick.

If any of you see anything you don't like, or would like to comment or my style or anything like that, feel free, I always welcome constructive criticism.
Don't worry - I'm not easily offended and it is very unlikely that I will be offended.

[piojo]

Very nice read, with plenty of story and detail. Keep up the good work. I will follow this story.

[tuore]

Looking good, i found this now that i revived my old AAR (go read)

[Nazgūl Killer]

Looking good, i found this now that i revived my old AAR (go read)

Shamelessly advertising? SHAME ON YOU TUORE! SHAME!
I will go read it sooner or later though

[Jynx]

Nice, the writing daunted me in your previous AAR's but now i've read it, nice.

[Snickster555]

Thank you, Snick.

If any of you see anything you don't like, or would like to comment or my style or anything like that, feel free, I always welcome constructive criticism.
Don't worry - I'm not easily offended and it is very unlikely that I will be offended.

Your welcome. And what do u use to take pictures?

[Nazgūl Killer]

Your welcome. And what do u use to take pictures?

I use FRAPs, great software.
But I use Photobucket's editing options to crop and all that.