Crusader Kings 2 AAR- Being a History of the Lords of Ulster

**johnhughthom** · 04-06-2012, 16:13

1072 & 1073

Steward Donnchad de Dunseverick, the year of the Lord 1074.

As Steward of the House of Sithrigi, Earls of Ulster, it is my duty to record the reign of Earl Cu Uladh.

The preceding two years have seen great changes in the governance of Ulster. Provoked by sermons from the Bishop of Connor, the Earl has become concerned with his legacy, and what he leaves behind for his heir. The yearly summer fair, autumn hunt and winter feast have been absent, the Earl saying such festivities need to be earned, he will no longer throw money around at will. The Bishop has become rather unpopular, all the more so as most people know the true meaning of these sermons was to ensure the Earl sired a male heir.

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Whether from priestly exhortations, or simply fortuitous timing, the Earl had a son, late in the year 1073. Whether from the Bishop's sermons, or a sense of his own mortality as he neared fifty years of age, the Earl arranged betrothals for his son and eldest daughter soon after Faelbe's birth. Taileflaith was betrothed to the heir to the Earldom of Tir Connail and Faelbe to the youngest daughter of the Duke of Munster. The birth of a son gave the peasants reason to celebrate, as the Earl announced he would pay for the first summer fair in three years. There was some grumbling from his vassals, however, who had expected a lavish feast at Castle Downpatrick in celebration.

Another consequence of the Earl's new found financial restraint is that I am only allowed to write bi-annual updates in my history. My "whimsical fancies", as the earl so eloquently put it, are clearly not an important part of his legacy...

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**johnhughthom** · 04-07-2012, 11:11

1074 & 1075

Steward Donnchad de Dunseverick, the year of the Lord 1076.

As Steward of the House of Sithrigi, Earls of Ulster, it is my duty to record the reign of Earl Cu Uladh.

The Earl's mood was much improved following the birth of his son, the summer fair of 1074 was a jolly affair, with Earl Cu Uladh involvong himself fully in the frivolity, even if his courtiers thought it inappropriate.

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He also started spending more time with Countess Fine, whether for matters of court, to discuss the children, or for other matters, I do not know. Nevertheless, the Countess was with child again shortly after the summer fair.

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Part of the reason for the Earl's reticence in spending money on festivities was shown this year. He employed a large number of local builders to build a stone wall around his castle at Downpatrick. Such a barrier had never been seen before in Ulster and attracted many gawkers during it's construction.

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Both years saw Typhoid fever sweep across Ulster. There had been an outbreak across the water in Scotland, and many wondered how the disease was spread. Some had suggested banning boats from Scotland to stop the spread, but the Bishop clamped down on such heresies, calling the disease a punishment from God, and the only defence was absence of sin. Some members of court caught the disease, but all recovered and no member of House Sithrigi was affected, the Bishop called their resistance a sign of the Earl's Godliness.

The Earl's third daughter was born, and named Lann. The Earl seemed delighted at another girl, some thought he would have wanted another boy, for the so called "heir and spare" other smiled and suggested he was pleased as it gave him reason to keep trying for another boy. Despite being past his fiftieth birthday, the Earl was still fit and healthy and there seemed no reason he wouldn't have more children in the years to come.

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**rickinator9** · 04-07-2012, 12:14

Nice update!
Why do your guys have white lines all over their faces?

Congratz, your daughter is a genius!

**johnhughthom** · 04-07-2012, 12:21

Originally Posted by rickinator9

Nice update!
Why do your guys have white lines all over their faces?

Congratz, your daughter is a genius!

Thanks.

The white lines seems to come from using the ingame screenshot capture, then converting to JPEGs before uploading to photobucket. I'll use FRAPS from now on, I did with the earlier shots and it didn't happen then.

Only just noticed the youngest daughter is a genius, might have to break that betrothal...

**johnhughthom** · 04-07-2012, 15:34

1076 & 1077

Steward Donnchad de Dunseverick, the year of the Lord 1078.

As Steward of the House of Sithrigi, Earls of Ulster, it is my duty to record the reign of Earl Cu Uladh.

A group of poachers were hunting in the Earls forests, Spymaster Donnchad used his contacts among the peasants and Marshall Domnall laid a trap for the thieves. Poaching gangs were caught on two occasions, and the men's fate left to his Council by the Earl.

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Countess Fine was with child for the fifth time, which may have been why the Earl left justice to his Council.

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The Earl's close friend, Bishop of Connor Mael-Patraic passed away, and was replaced by Carlus, who continued to pay the church taxes to the Earl, rather than the Pope.

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One of the new Bishop's first tasks was blessing the Earl's fifth child, as a fourth daughter, named Sisuile was born.

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The Earl continued his tradition of betrothing his children early in life, and his fourth daughter was married to the heir to an Earldom.

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Bishop Carlus approached the Earl for funds to patronise a local philosopher. Despite his misgivings as to the benefits of such an arrangement, the Earl did not wish to quarrel with his Bishop and agreed, on the condition this did not become a regular request.

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**johnhughthom** · 04-08-2012, 12:35

1078 & 1079

Steward Donnchad de Dunseverick, the year of the Lord 1080.

As Steward of the House of Sithrigi, Earls of Ulster, it is my duty to record the reign of Earl Cu Uladh.

The typhoid epidemic of a few years back had ravaged the peasants of Ulster, but the nobles had been fortunate. A measles epidemic was not quite as discerning in it's choice of victim, as the Earl's wife and son fell victim. Faelbe recovered, but was less robust than before. Countess Fine succumbed to the disease however, and passed away at the age of 28.

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The Countess' death had a strong effect on the Earl, and he was listless for the rest of the year and into the next year. He did make a decision which caused much debate and consternation amongst his subjects, changing the Earldom's succession law to Primogeniture. The Earl had been locked in discussions with his Bishop for weeks before making the change, knowing the church would disapprove. Bishop Carlus made no mention of it in his sermons, and continued to pay taxes to the Earl, rather than the Pope. Most courtiers believed the Earl had wished to make the change since the birth of Faelbe, but had not wished to risk upsetting the church. Bishop Carlus owed his position to the Earl, and was more likely to accept the change than the Mael-Patraic, the previous Bishop. Perhaps the death of the Countess had made the Earl more aware of his own mortality, and pushed him into making the change before it was too late.

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Map of Europe:

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**rickinator9** · 04-08-2012, 14:07

Norway got England? LoL

**Monk** · 04-13-2012, 13:21

Good stuff thus far john.

Norway in England is some ridiculous happenings to be sure.

The marriage situation is one i ran into a lot in my Irish play through. There were times when there simply wasn't a good match in ireland, so i'd bite the bullet and marry a courtier or something. If the lady protests too much, just tell her we all gotta do what we all gotta do