Alternative History: The Rise of Brian Boru
I'd like to run this in a slightly unorthodox manner for an Alternative history, I'd like individuals to pick of roles of major supporting characters (at the moment Mael Muad and Ivar) and to make their decisions will the forum at large controls the actions of Brian (who is the main character and though whose eyes the story is told). If you'd like to take the roles of Ivar or Mael Muad just mention it and I'll PM you their set of options, once Ivar and Mael Muad have made thier decisions I will post Brian's options.
The year is 976 AD and you are Brian mac Cennetig, Curadh (champion) under your brother Mathgamain, Ruire (king) of Mumu (Munster). You are the bane of the Hiberno-Norse, descendents of Norse invaders, who dare to claim rule over the ancestral lands of your people. The guerilla campaigns of your youth against the Hiberno-Norse have become legendry and serve as a rallying cry for the men of Munster. Your brother, Mathgamain, inspired by your success against the Hiberno-Norse was finally convinced to see Ivar, the Hiberno-Norse King as an enemy rather than an ally, and together you had led your forces against his forces and those of his Irish allies lead by Mael Muad. In 968 you won a crushing victory over Ivar and Mael Muad at the battle Sulchoid and reduced them to little more than rebels, title-less brigands who refused to acknowledge your brother’s right to rule. Still, it seems as though your enemies learned well from your guerilla campaigns, and after nearly a decade of endemic skirmishes neither Ivar nor Mael Muad have been brought to heel. Yet they seem, finally, to have been worn down and have called your brother to meeting of reconciliation, declaring themselves willing to end the bloodshed and swear allegiance to your brother in exchange for minor titles. You have been left at Cashel with the army, charged with getting them battle ready, arming them with looted equipment from Limerick and from Ivar’s defeated Norse mercenaries as well as arms imported from Galway. While your brother parlays you have also been left to make use of the army in put downing bandits, many of whom are loyal to Ivar, and with sending gifts to the men of Cork in thanks for their help against your enemies.
You awake at daybreak and after prayers and a quick breakfast you leave your tent to see to morning drills. Looking out over the camp, you see the cooking fires of nearly a thousand men, vassals from Munster, Hiberno-Norse allies, and mercenaries hired from across Ireland. You are filled with a sense of pride at the army you and your brother have built, it is well trained and armed, and with the allegiance of most of the Ri (little kings) of Munster the number of men you can rely upon for support has grown to nearly five thousand. These proud musing are shattered by the appearance of a messenger; the hast of his approach and his frantic manner cause a sinking feeling in your stomach, he can only be bearing ill tidings.
Your brother, Mathgamain, Ruire of Mumu, is dead, slain under a banner of peace by his treacherous enemies. Perhaps Ivar and Mael Muad, seeing that force of arms would not be able to unseat your brother decided that foul treachery was their only option, no matter, they will soon come to regret it.
With your brother dead you are, as tanist, the legal successor of both chief of Dal Cais and Ruire of Mumu, but to claim your title as chief you must return to Tuadmumu, and to claim you title as Ruire you must crush Mael Muad, the only rival for the throne. Further, Many Ri have taken this chance to reaffirm their loyalty to Mael Maud, and many of those who had sworn allegiance to your brother will likely wavier in their loyalty towards you. Having sent the messenger away you retire to your tent and consider your options.
Here's a map of the situation:
and a bit more information about the forces:
The disloyal Ri would have at most 400-500 troops each. Defeating one may force the others into line, and bribing them with gold and promises of loot might bolster Brian's forces especially coupled with a show of force. Mael Muad would have in the realm of about 1000 allies from Leinster. Ivar would be best off, with a similar number of soldiers to Mael Muad, but better equipped. If left alone, the three groups will convene.
Brian's forces at Cashel are a mixed bag of Irish and Hiberno-Norse infantry, and all would be better armed and trained than any of the disloyal Ri, and better armed than Mael Muad's forces, but probably overmatched by Ivar's men.
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