[LTC AAR] Celtic Knights - Episode I
Celtic Knights
by Viking Prince
(A Lands to Conquer After Action Report)
Episode I: The Founding of a Royal House
Introduction
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
+ About this AAR
I have thought about writing an AAR for a bit of time. I even started a thread (How do you start your AAR?) in the hopes of helping me get started. To all who have posted in the thread and to Power Wizard for adjusting the forum so the thread had a home, I thank you all.
This is a tale of Scotland. The faction was chosen because we start with a chivalrous king with two sons by a second marriage. The eldest son is filled with dread and the younger is chivalrous. The local cardinal of the church is a righteous man who soon becomes known for corruption.
The Queen is Margaret. Historically, she is the sister of Edgar Atheling. Edgar would have become King of England, but the Normans invaded and the rest was history. The real Margaret bore Malcolm 6 sons, but we will only have 4 in this tale (Edward, Edmund, Alexander, David).
His first wife Ingebjørg also produced two sons, Duncan II (who became king after Malcolm) and Donald. She was the daughter of a Norwegian Earl and also related though her mother to Norwegian kings. Duncan was held hostage in Wessex (probably in London) by William I but eventually was Normanized and an ally of the English. He married the Earl of
Dunbar and Northumbria's daughter and eventually became the King of Scotland for a very brief period after Malcolm's death.
This is just too perfect for a tale. Shakespeare would be proud to take on the topic. Well he did. Macbeth killed Malcolm's father to take the throne and Malcolm killed Macbeth's son to take it back.
In this tale Duncan does not appear and Donald starts the campaign as an Admiral. There will be many hints at history, but many may be a work of my fiction. I reserve the right to claim any errors to be my fiction as an excuse for my limited knowledge of Scottish culture and history.
My approach will be to try and post an update each week as writing and life will allow. None will be too long, maybe 1,000 to 2,000 words. I have yet to actually play a turn and the writing may reflect this. I have a broad plan, but I want the twists and turns of the game to help drive the plot line.
Edward will begin as a bit of a Medieval Nazi. He begins as an aggressive and cruel noble, but unfortunately condemned to govern a settlement while his younger brother develops military command skills. Edmund is given the opportunity of command, but he has his flaws also. More information would spoil the story though. Remember, this is only a story. It did not happen and could never happen to use today.
One more little detail:
This is a famous Pict carving greatly predating the Scots of the period. Edward is convinced that he is a descendant of a powerful Pict King. His destiny is to rule as the greatest Pict of all time. In his mind the Scots are Picts and the Picts are Celts. Thus he is to rule over all of the Isles, France and beyond. This is his version of the rightful and historic domain of the ancient and powerful Celtic civilization. Is he mad. I do not know. I will let you decide as you read this tale.
+ Settings
- Campaign Difficulty: Very Hard
- Battle Difficulty: Very Hard
- Manage all Settlements: Off
- No time limit on Battles: Off
- Years per turn: One and then Two (1.5 on average)
+ A note
I dislike looking at the same thread repeatedly and having to reload the pics. I know they still need to load when in a spoiler, but the posts do not bounce around when paging down to the desired post. Each update will be in a spoiler. I am reserving a few posts up front so that new readers can read to catch up without the comments and discussions. The comments and discussions are desired, but if there is a cliff hanger or plot twist, I think the comments would be a bit like knowing the game score before watching the game.
Chapter 1 to follow shortly...
Chapter 1 The Voyage Begins
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I am the official biographer to King Edward. Much has passed over the years as the kingdom has grown. Children grow into men and women. Soldiers go off to battle. Some return covered with glory. Some are buried on foreign soil and are never again seen by family and friends. This is the story of a great king – a Great King of the Scots and Picts – a great king of all the Celts. This man is the slayer of King Macbeth. He is the father to the royal household of Canmore. This is the story of Malcolm, King of Scotland.
I have gathered from the many papers of the kingdom and from the stories of great men the tale that I present here. If any portion is in error, that is the error of the biographer and not of the great king, Malcolm or his family.
The military leadership of Scotland in 1080
Edinburgh, January 1080
Malcolm III
Coronation 1058
Current King of Scotland
Malcolm’s speech before the Council of Nobles:
I have discussed much over the past months with our grown children Edward and Edmund. It is time to fulfill the Scottish legacy of a Great King. I must restore Scotland to be the center and myself to be the historic leader of the Scots and Picts. The Norman Duke William sits in London and pretends to be English and to hold the rights of an English King. Scotland recognizes William’s rights to the crown, but we do not recognize his right to continue the false Saxon claims to Northumbria. York was the center of Danish interests in the Isles. My first wife, Ingebjørg – she is of the family that had controlled the regions for generations before rebellion and chaos descended upon the poor subjects. Duke William’s claim is a thinly veiled justification for greater conquest by the Norman invaders of these lands. Margaret’s family has a stronger claim to these lands. And I as the husband to Margaret have both the right to the Norweigan claim as well as the right to the traditional Scottish claims.
Time works against us. The language of the Picts is not even a memory. The language of the Scots is everyday becoming more English and French among the noble families. It is time to unite all of the great Celts into a strong kingdom; a kingdom strong enough to be seated as an equal among the great kingdoms of Christendom.
My son, Duncan, is still a guest of William in Wessex. My hands are tied to act directly against Norman forces in Northumbria. My hands are not tied to unite the Celtic peoples into a great kingdom though. I have instructed my son, Edmund, to lead an expedition into Ireland. The Celts of Ireland must be united with their close brothers in Scotland. My hopes are with Edmund in this journey. This will be a willing and peaceful union of close relatives.
The council adjourns without giving their support to the project. They do not speak lest King Malcolm would interpret that as a sign of financial support for the campaign. The frugal council members see no personal reason to add cash to the effort.
Inverness, February 1080
Prince Edward calls his men together and speaks of Celtic unity.
The past kings of Scotland included many Great Kings. Kings of kings. The Great Kings of Scotland were kings of the Scots and the Picts. Malcolm is my father. He is also a Great King. He is not merely a Scottish King, he is a Celtish King.
Today, we see Norman knights and soldiers garrisoned in York. We see Norman soldiers hunting in the woods of Northumbria. Taking the deer. Taking the resources. The people are left impoverished. The Normans are fat and well clothed in their hunting expeditions out of York. Why is this so? Why are Normans well fed and well clothed, but the local Celts are malnourished and clothed in rags? It is because the Normans take. They take that which they can by force.
There is no honor in theft. The honor is to those who work the land and raise their families off of the fruits of their own hard labor. It is time the Celts restore the honor to the people of York. To the people of Northumbria.
(Paused for the men to cheer.)
But the Celts are a divided people. The Irish consider themselves Irish and not Celts. So do the Welsh. These are fine Celtic people. These people are our close relatives. We are a Celtic family.
Celts are good workers. We are hard working and productive. We tend to the farms and pastures in a harsh world. And we can be prosperous living in these Isles. The Normans do not work hard. They do not tend to the farms. They do not tend to the sheep. Yet the Normans are fat. And the Celts under Norman rule are skinny. Why is this so? What can we in Scotland do? I say that we can help our relatives. Good families help their cousins in times that are bad.
I am sending my men, loyal Scots one and all, to Edinburgh. King Malcolm is the Great King of the Celts. It is time we are united against the common foe – the Norman invaders. Those men, without honor, must not continue to dishonor the Celts of the Isles.
Upon finishing the speech, he bids his troops farewell. They are to march to Edinburgh to meet with the King and then on to Ireland to join Edmond’s army. The records show that Captain Roy led four units: veteran Spear Militia, Highlanders, Highland Archers, and Border Horse cavalry to Edinburgh – 240 men in all were sent by Prince Edward to free the Celts from Norman domination.
Without the military troops in Inverness, it was decided to replace the wooden castle with a wooden walled town. The locals could be organized into Town Militia and provide for the defense in the region. Inverness was no longer a castle, but a town in the realm of King Malcolm.
Prince Edward remained behind with his personal bodyguard of heavy cavalry to supervise the construction and to guide the good Scots in the great traditions of Celtic history.
Somewhere on the western shores of Scotland, March 1080
Edmund is settling into camp along the shore. Admiral Donald’s Cog fleet is anchored off shore. Campfires are seen between the tents. It is late afternoon. The sun would be low on the horizon on a clear day. Scotland does not often have clear days in March. Today is not exceptional. The cold March wind is blowing in from the sea. The air is damp, but it is not wet. The gray of the sea blends with the gray of the sky. There is no horizon, only gray.
The two brothers are of the same father, but differant mothers. Donald is froom Malcolm's first marriage and not favored by the current queen. Even though they are in some ways competitors, they are still brothers.
Edmund, “Soon we shall set sail on adventure crossing the seas to Ireland! I hope that our voyage will be both a safe one as well as pleasant.”
Donald, “The seas are rough at this time of year, but I can promise a safe voyage. When shall we begin boarding the men and provisions?”
Edmund, “The men are not all assembled. King Malcolm has ordered the garrison in Edinburgh to join us as well as the garrison in Inverness. You can begin loading the supplies in the morning. Tonight is perhaps the last night we shall spend in Scotland for a very long time. Let the men enjoy there last hours before we set off to other lands.”
A messenger arrives on horseback from along the road from Edinburgh. “Sire, King Malcolm’s men are down the road. We shall all be here in the morning. The Captain Aed has ordered the men to set camp. There is no urgent need for a night march at this time of year. Do you wish to respond, Sire?”
Edmund, “Tell the Captain, that I will welcome him and his men in the morning. Get an early start to the day. If the weather is still favorable, we shall be setting sail in the morning. No, stay the night with us. Get some food and settle in. You have had a full day’s march plus your ride to my camp. I shall send a fresh messenger to convey my greetings.”
Messenger, “That is not necessary Sire. All I require is a fresh horse and I will be able to rejoin my mates soon.”
Edmund, “Very well.”
Morning comes. This is a rare March day for Scotland. The sun is peaking through the broken clouds. The warmth is a welcome change from the gray of the seemingly endless winter days. Later in morning, the supplies are completely loaded and the men are boarding. The Edinburgh garrison arrives and also begins loading their provisions as well.
Captain Aed reports, “I bring you greetings from King Malcolm. He hopes you will find the support of the garrison from Edinburgh sufficient for your needs.”
Edmund reviews the documents. “There are only 240 men here. I was expecting over 500 additional men. I see only one unit of Border Horses, one unit of Highland Archers, and two units of very green Town Militia. Where are the men from Inverness and the veteran Spear Militia that were promised? “
Captain Aed, “Captain Roy was delayed from Inverness and the veteran men were retained as the garrison. The king should not need to rely upon his personal bodyguard to garrison Edinburgh, Sire.”
Edmund, “Very well. We shall make do with the resources the king has provided. We will set sail shortly. Return to your men and complete the boarding promptly.”
And so the voyage began. A bit over 600 men and the 2nd son of a Scottish king set sail from the rocky shores of Scotland to unite the Irish into a greater kingdom of Celts. The Cog Fleet under the command of Admiral Donald sails south along the Scottish coast.
(To be continued)
Originally Posted by Simon Cashmere
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