The Tin Isles [IB2 Conqvuestvs Britanniae] "finished"

[waveman]

A side note:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I believe this was the first battle I've had this whole campaign in which it was not raining, snowing, or obscured by thick clouds or fog north of Hadrian's wall.

[waveman]

Chapter 6, Part 10 or so: two weeks later

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I ride through these lands that were once held by an enemy; now they are ruled by my brother by force of fire and steel. My force.


Though I ride cautiously, I feel relatively safe: I have over 100 of my horsemen with me, plus some Goddodins. I am riding into the area of Cwm Cawlwyd, south of Din Eidin. There is an uncertain peace at the moment. Neither Ebrauc nor Goddodin strays far from home without many shieldbrothers, but as of yet there have been no acts of violence.


There is an air of hope for we may finally have peace. Peace, after 3 long years of bloody conflict. It will not be a whole peace, if it even happens, for we are still at war with Ystrad Clythe. But we hope, nonetheless.

We ride to meet King Gwalchmai, King of the Goddodin. My elder brother Cynfyn is already there, and the word he has sent has been nothing but enouraging.
When we arrive at Eching, Gwalchmai himself is waiting at the gates to greet us. The fort is near empty. When I ask about this, Gwalchmai smiles, pushing back his long blond hair. His response is simple: "If I had soldiers, well, what is the point? If I denied you entrance you would by necessity leave. But you would be back in a month, or a year, it matters not how long, with thousands of spears at your back, and would force your way in. So this is a precaution. A way to reassure you."
The man does not seem bitter at all. I look to my men and let the new King walk ahead of us. "Perhaps", muses Fulvius, "he is simply glad his head still remains on his shoulders?"


We share a dark laugh at this, but then return to seriousness. "No, I do not think so. Elidir, you know the man, what do you think?"
His reply is slow and well thought-out. "I think that is it politics. Judging by his actions, and rumours--"


He is interrupted by Wiglaf. "You mean about him not fighting to support his father, the old king?"


"Ahem, yes. Those. Well, it would seem that he was not keen on the war anyways, and was somewhat estranged from his father. So he may be in favour of peace."




Three hours later.




"These are the terms. We have debated for hours. You WILL acknowledge Ebrauc as your overlords and supply a tribute, to be determined at a later date, valuing at least 1000 solidus per annum." Cynfyn and I are exasperated at this point. Although in favor of peace, Gwalchmai does not want to accept these terms.
"I cannot do that. It would undermine my position."


Finally, Fulvius makes a proposal. It would seem the unruly man was studying the map laid on the table, not just sleeping. "What if we add this: the Goddodin shall forfeit Manau, north of Din Eidin." Gwalchmai looks as if he is on the verge of protesting. "Ebrauc will, in return, give you Blain Lleuddiniaun to the South."
"What difference does it make! My kingdom will be nothing!" cries Gwalchmai.


"Not so, lord," counters Elidir, who has also been studying the map. "This trade will mean that the territories of Ban Carw, Cwn Cawlywd, and Blain Lleuddiniaun will stretch unbroken from the mountains to the coast."


"Whereas Manau is separated from Man Carw and Cwn Cawlwyd, a Goddodin island in the north amidst a sea of Ebrauc and Pictavia" adds Uchryd.
Gwalchmai thinks for a while. "Very well. I accept these terms."


And so it was that we established peace in the 459th winter after Christ's birth. We will hold the coastal fortress of Din Eidin to watch over the Goddodin as a subject kingdom. It is an uneasy peace, but peace nonetheless, and I doubt the war-weary Goddodins will break it any time soon.



Cwm Cawlwyd is the middle Goddodin region

I will leave these lands as soon as possible, either for more war to aid Picatavia or to return home to Cair Ebrauc.


In any case, Gwen has given birth to another son for my brother Mor. It is a time of celebration; we have conquered the Goddodin, Strath Clyde seems to have begged for peace, and we have another heir for Mor: a boy called Dyfnwal.


Things go well for our country and for my brother. With the north mostly pacified, Braith has decided to visit her family in eastern Pictcavia. Her travels brought her past Din Eidin. And past Aeronwy.



So things are not so easy for me.

I'm not sure of the exact count, but "chapter 6" contains about 10 or so updates; it has expanded drastically since I originally wrote it. By like 5-6 times. I've also been updating a lot lately, mostly to make up for the rest of summer as I will be beginning classes again next week, which will of course significantly decrease me free time

[waveman]

Here's the family tree: Dunawt and Braith have two sons: Owain (3) and Gwrast (1)
Mor and Gwenhwyfar have two sons: Gwallawg (5) and Dynfwal (0), and a daughter Eigyr (2)
Gwrast and Atia had one son: Ednyfed (4)
Cuenu and Efeillan had one additonal daughter: Ceinwen (7)

[Alwyn]

An uneasy peace after a costly war. I find it helpful to see the map and the family tree. I wonder what will happen next - in your campaign, it looks like you are close to achieving your victory condition of 20 regions.

[waveman]

It is indeed an uneasy peace, made more uneasy by the Angles to the South - the dark grey. And MY victory conditions (or my characters'!) would be to have Romano-Britons in control of England.
I'm not sure how many regions there are actually in England in this mod, but the long campaign requires 50 regions for victory. In any case, Dunawt and Mor have a lot more work to do

[Nerva]

Nice writing! Greatly enjoyed it, I hope you keep on going.

[waveman]

Thank you, I certainly will, and hopefully we'll have an update in the next few days. I also forgot to mention that many of the regions that I do have are not very wealthy due to some of the mod'S characteristics. For example forts can't be converted to cities and only a select few settlements can grow to large cities

[waveman]

Braith

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The world was changing. Braith could feel it as she rode north with here children and some attendants. She wore the armor that had been made, half-jokingly, so long ago for her. Nonetheless, it impressed people.


NOw she was riding these lands, Goddodin lands, the lands of a people who had been enemies of the Pictavi for generations. Not wholly Roman and not wholly British, they had been left in a limbo when the eagles had departed, never to return again, and they had made war against their neighbors both to the south and to the north. So it was good to see them downtrodden, and to hear of their ally, Ystrad Clut's misfortunes.


She shivered in excitement as the hill-fortress of Din Eidin came into view. The walls were tall and strong, made of stout trunks, and stood behind a great ditch that could be transversed only at causeways infront of each of the four gates. And the gates flew the banners of Ebrauc.


"Are we there yet?" a small voice asked. She turned to see Owain leaning out of the carriage.


"Almost," she replied, smiling. She could not wait to see her husband. This man, her man, this enigmatic man who had risen from nothing to trample the hosts of the united Goddodin Tribes, who had killed a king, who was loved in two countries and feared in a third, and whose name could be heard in any corner of Britain. Dunawt.
And there he was, actually. Riding into the fort itself with some of his men. She recognized some of them, there was Elidir, but many were new to her. She laughed when she saw the warrior riding next to Dunawt: who would have hair that long if he expected to go into battle?


And then the man laughed at something Dunawt had said. An unbelievably high pitched laugh - something like that sould never be expected to come from a warior's mouth. Braith almost laughed as well at that. Almost.


Hating herself for the sinking feeling in her gut, she eased her horse forward, faster, through a small copse of trees. But as she drew nearer to the other party it was obvious that she was right. The rider was a woman. And she was rdiding far too close to Dunawt. Far too close.


Braith pulled her horse back to the trees.

She was shaking with fury.

[waveman]

Chapter 6, part 11ish: Braith

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Bastard. He was such a bastard. Irresponsible, thoughtless, reckless pig of a man with that tart, that slebog. Who did she think she was? If it wasn't for their children.... oh God. The children.


Barith had wanted to rage and shriek and vent her fury on him, but instead she had come out to the fields outside of Din Eiddin. She had approached him, threats and insults building and ready to burst from her. Oh when her father found out... she could immagine him now. High-King Drest, ruler of the fractous and disparate Pictavi tribes, his eyes glinting fiercely above his iron-grey beard. He would end the alliance and she could go home and she would bring the boys with her. They would grow to be true, honorable warriors, their spirits undiluted by Roman weakness.


Yes, her father, staring down at her despiccable husband. She was lost in this vision now. Drest with his proud old sword, spear-armed curaidha, champions, flanking him resplendent in rare coats of mail, and behind them the might of the tribes unleashed by one of the few men who would cow them.


An army.


An army with swords and spears and fire and horror and death and murder and misery.


No. She could not unleash that upon the world. Not after so many years of war had torn the land apart. Especially not after riding through the villages of Northern Ebrauc that were still being rebuilt, scrawny orphans struggling in the fields to carry out the tasks that rightfully belonged to their parents and her helping them and distributing coins to them. Not after passing through the more recently ravaged Goddodin countryside, plagued chaotically now by raids, hall burnings and petty skirmishes as they were, the dead lying exposed to beasts or the elements or in hastily dug unmarked graves.


So he denied her and he denied her revenge. She howled at the sky. How could life be so cruel? Then, collecting herself, she made her way toward the town.


Dunawt




I am distraught. I. It was madness. Folly. The whole thing. The campaign - who was I to invade a country with only a few thousand men - and this affair. We had all been caught in the madness: my friends, my soldiers, the pitiable Goddodins, and most of all myself. I was either invincible or destined to fall bloodily, and in that insanity I had been reckless, caught in abandon.


Aeronwy had tactfully dissaperaerd some time ago, but it is already too late. I saw Braith as she and her escort approached and prayed but of course that did not help, for as Brother Matui is fond of saying, to sin invites misery. No doubt he will be writing of this episode as a lesson to better men in the ages to come.


A somber-faced Elidir enters my chamber. It is large yet sparse for it was stripped bare to provide for my injured men and the suffering Goddodins. There is a hearth with a fire and a single wooden table with some stools and a bed, which seems to mock me, for though my wife approaches it will see no use.


Elidir looks at me with reproach in his eyes. Reproach and sympathy. Few know the struggles I have faced better than he. I nod; he leaves, and I sit and wait.


Finally she arrives.


Whereas when we married she was a summer field, now my wife moves with glacial cold. It is, perhaps, worse than I had anticipated. No screams or fists. Instead, she smiles at me.
"Another fine conquest, my lord. Tell me: how many is that for you now?"


"Only those that you have heard of," I answer. If her games allow me to speak the truth then so much the better.


She gasps in mock surprise. "Oh really?But after conquring the whole of the Goddodins surely even kings and noble lords and princesses would surrender themselves to the mighty Dunawt of Y Strafi!"


"But one of each, my lady."


Crack.


The slap stings, and I could have moved, but I did not. "Liar."


"A newly made king bowed to me alone. A second son threw his sword down before me. And A Pictavi princess was - "


I dodge this strike, though she still clips my nose. She is fast. "She's not even of royal blood! You.... You had a duty to your family!" she hisses, then, abruptly, walks briskly from the room.






It is several days before we cross paths again. During this interval I find time to spend with my boys, although Gwrast is really too small to do anything. Owain, however is as stupidly curious and brave as any child, and the sight of him blundering around the practice yard distracts everyone from their problems - my companions, even Elidir, my veterans, and even me - almost. His hair is lighter than mine, and slightly curled, and his chubby fingers clutch his sword fiercely as he duels some of the most deadly men that can be found on our fair island.
Eventually, I do run into Braith in one of the halls of the palace-fort. I have surprised her, but she draws herself up regally, nose in to the air. "I am leaving she says." I had expected as much. "I am going to Pictavia, for it has been years since I have seen my family." She emphasizes that last word.
I open my mouth, but she cuts me off. "I will not speak of - of this. You will not speak of it. No-one will. The alliance between out peoples is far more important than either of us. Or our happiness. I ask only that no matter what happens, you guarantee our sons' inheritance." And then she turns and leaves.


"Of course," I whisper as she walks, almost unsteadily, away.

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

Alwyn has commented on the peace between factions being uneasy, but now it seems the peace within Dunawt's own household is even more shaky. Not entirely surprisingly, in the circumstances - I found it very convincing that a woman in Braith's position, in that era, would fear for her sons' inheritance rather than demanding her warrior husband be faithful to her.

I really liked the battle (your June 19th post). The scale of it - the large numbers of men involved - comes through very well, but you still manage to keep the personal connection with the individual characters and what happens to and around them. (I did spot one or two typos in that post. I'm guessing you were enjoying writing it and weren't stopping to check the tiny details. Enjoying the writing that much is generally a good sign, I think. ) Your posts after that, with the viewpoints of different people, add enormously to the battle post itself, too. That was an excellent idea.

I always look forward to coming back and checking this thread, and so far I haven't been disappointed.

[waveman]

Thank you! I have internet again (I may elaborate on this later) so I'm hoping to be updating somewhat soon. And I was indeed both enjoying myself and rushing, because 2/3 of my last updates have been written around the skeleton story that I had originally developed. I've been writing this for several months now and haven't even touched that particular save game, which feels rather odd to me

[DeathtoEgo]

Totally captivating, I couldn't stop reading, I just read all the way through from the beginning. I may just have to give this mod a try, my cousin used to play it a lot, he wouldn't shut up about it. Looking forward to see what you got next for us.

[waveman]

Thank you DeathtoEgo, I would certainly suggest you try it - although the beginning economical situation is rather slow. I am working in an update, but while my characters may be rejoicing in their respite from war I am stuck trying to work out the angles I can approach peace from

Anyways, here's a short update at least

[waveman]

Chapter 7: Relative Peace
As winter begins, I sail home despite the weather. It matters not, for many of my men are good sailors who hail from the coastal regions of Ebrauc, and I have discovered a love for the sea. My men are content to be returning home and my only regret is that I was unable to bring all of my loyal veterans with me. Some were, by necessity, left with Elidir in Din Eidin to watch the North. While the summer was long and while dull, a man would be hard-pressed to find a man from Ebrauc or the Goddodins who would complain of this. Much time was spent settling disputes, including inheritance squabbles, and overseeing the rebuilding of these lands. Aneirin and Aeronwy have been of great service for they have constantly offered me advice about how the Goddodins traditionally settle such disputes.


We have also picked up Braith and my children. Braith and I share a cabin, and my soldiers are as amused as we are by the exploits of Gwrast and Owain on the ships. It would seem they were born to be sailors. Although I cannot fathom how these men can steer ship from looking at the stars, Owain seems to understand it naturally - as far as can be expected of a child - and I nearly died of shock to see Gwrast climbing the ship's rigging with his pudgy arms. It was unreal, terrifying, and yet I am proud.


My relationship with Braith is strained, though it was never the best in any case. We are reserved around each other and I do not go to her bed nearly as often as I had before - I am not usually welcome of course, and I feel wrong to insist upon it as her marital duties. Besides, I already have 2 strong sons. In any case, the separation during her journey to visit Pictavia seems to have somehow mellowed her, to have somehow assuaged some of her anger. I will admit I am confused. Perhaps being with the children helped.


And I enjoy my time with Aeronwy. She is not traveling on my ship, for that would strain the boundaries of decency to the breaking point, but she is traveling south with us. I have talked with her and asked what her plans are, but she smiles enigmatically and gives hollow answers: "I want to see the world," "I want to see the land that birthed such a man," and the like.
Were it not for out sons I do not know if Braith originally would tolerate my presence at all, and they seem to be the main point that brings us together. We can sit as long-lost acquaintances who no longer no each other as we watch them stumble around the ship. Now and then one of us will point our the actions of one of the boys to the other, but it has a forced air and is stiffly done.


I spend much of my time with my sons, for I have not seen them nearly enough, teaching my boys the names of birds and coastal landmarks, helped by the odd soldier and sailor. While these men, my veterans, no longer show me the deference most miles show their commander, they are wholeheartedly loyal to me and show me and my family a huge degree of affection. It as if my sons are surrounded by hundreds of proud uncles. I also take my turns at the ropes, the steerboard, even the oars. Fulvius laughed when he first saw me do this, but now he and the other nobles have joined me. Elidir would be horrified.


The sailors, too are quite friendly. I have found them different from men and women in most other walks of life. Perhaps being so long at sea has broken down the way they see social boundaries. To the captain it is as if we were almost equals. A prince of Northern Britain and a King of a wooden kingdom, his crew all lords. It is strange and yet invigorating.
I can see why this may be. I stand here with the deck surging beneath my feet, the oars and rigging staining as they pull her forward to the musical thrumming of the rigging and creaking of the hull. I can see why the poets call ships sea-steeds. And at times land is nearly completely unable to be seen. It is as if we are in a different world, far from the kings of the green hills and the lords of the fertile valleys, where shipmasters lay down local laws and each ship, every fleet is its own kingdom.

I struggle to suppress a growing impatience as we sail past landmarks that are particularly familiar to me. The crumblings of an old Roman fort, the great hills around Y Strafi and even just visible, the one where my father Cuenu fought his first great battle. I have not seen these lands for far too long and I am sorely tempted to tell the ship master to leave me on these familiar shores. But, as ever, I have a duty to Ebrauc, the Romano-British kingdom north of the Humber.


****************




Well, that's the end of Dunawt's Northern adventures (at least for now, don't want to give anything away one way or another). I would like to have put up a longer and more cohesive update but figured I should at least do this since it's been a while. Hopefully I won't have another month-or-so-long break, but summer classes....
Ah well. At least I don't have hordes of tribesmen baying for my blood in one direction while the sea darkens with keels full of bloodthirsty pagans in the other.

*******
Also Callaigh I've noticed my duplicate paragraph so I'll take it out eventually, and its these Romano-British and Germanic names! There are so many red lines as I write! That and the fact that yeah, I am writing fast and yeah, I am enjoying myself

Final Edit: I just find this amusing, but I updated this on July 28th California time but on July 29th TWCenter time

[Alwyn]

Nicely done, a reflective chapter in which your character looks back on the events and changing relationships . I'm sorry to hear that this is the end of Dunawt's adventures (for now). I like the way that he was torn between the attraction of familiar shores and his duty to Ebrauc. I look forward to your return to writing.

[waveman]

Thank you Alwyn, although I would just like to clarify that Dunawt is simply done with the north. We needed a few months/turns to build up some infrastructure, manage public order and the like

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

I agree with Alwyn, that's a good place for a calm, contemplative chapter - and that's a well-written calm, contemplative chapter.

I'll look forward to Dunawt's continuing adventures when you have the time to write them. And to finding out what Aeronwy's plans really are!

[waveman]

I'm having troubles with this latest part, partly because nothing really happens, and partly because Dunawt is literally doing almost nothing. He's tired and just taking a breather, but I'll have an update like the previous one soon. This one will provide more information about the world outside of Ebrauc

[waveman]

Ch 7: Relative Peace: Pax Nostrum

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When I arrive back in December, it is to great celebration, but also to strange news. It would seem that the Ænglisc of Derenrice, the peninsula souteast of Caer Ebrauc, have abandoned the protectorship of the Kingdom of Greater Ænglalond, as some are now calling it. Truly it is a kingdom now, one of the most powerful on this fair island. There was apparentlhy some debate regarding the area's fate, whether they should be allowed to remain independent or not, but when Eiryf of Argoed, my one-time standard bearer, and his cousin Archanad Wledic suggested that these Ænglisc may well make a bid for power at our expense, they were quickly put in charge of an invasion force, with Merriadoc's endorsement. Eiryf was selected as the leader. I am sure he will perform admirably, for it was he who raised my banner at the Battle of the Northway. Merriadoc also speaks highly of him although I have no idea where they might have met. This will be his first action since recovering from his wounds suffered in the north.


And as for wounds, well, many of them have yet to heal. Cadgor is still quite weak from his injuries, but he is not even the worst off of my companions. Aella is still unconscious much of the time and when he is with us he can often be found staring listlessly into nothing. The only things that seem to bring him out of his mood are being around ships and watching his nephews' achievements. Cynfarch has lost the use of his left arm almost entirely, though it does not seem to phase him. If there is anything that can kill that tough old man I do not want to face it.





Geraint of Regnum Britonum has defeated the Seax lord Wiglaf, and in turn been defeated by King Aella.


In the north, King Loarn once again invaded Pictavia, once again defeated Caltram of Fotla, and once again was then defeated by Caltram, who somehow rallied his men to stand against the Dal Riatans.


Just before we made land and as the snows of winter melted, the Concillium besieged Iðanceaster, but were then defeated by Æthelwold of the Nordseax, backed by Æðelrǣd. Far away and across the sea, Hroðgar of the Iotingas has succeded in unifying Denmark. This could bode ill for us.

[Alwyn]

Good chapter! There is a lot going on in the lands around your powerful kingdom. I wonder if any of these events will create opportunities for expansion of your kingdom. Alternatively, perhaps your forces will have to work hard to hold your existing lands against communities like the people of Derenrice who want to break away, rival kingdoms - and, perhaps, invaders from Denmark? Either way, these are exciting times.