Alternative History: The Rise of Brian Boru

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Whoever takes whom you should be driving the story. I know next to nothing on medieval Irish history for one.
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[QwertyMIDX]

Yeah of course, I'll just give people who pick characters a set of options, I'll still do the story.

[Big_John]

Ivar is here; I am Ivar.

[QwertyMIDX]

I've sent you your options.

[QwertyMIDX]

You awake after a fitful sleep, filled with disturbing visions of your brother’s last moments. Rising from your bedroll you groan feeling more exhausted than you had before retiring. Calling in your shield bearer you settle down for a breakfast of stew and bread which he has brought you; today will be a long day, and you will need your strength. You have decided to pursue the traitorous Mael Muad in attempt to take his head, and your rightful place as Ruire of Mumu. Once more summoning your shield bearer you instruct him to help you into your mail shirt and to buckle on your sturdy viking sword; if all goes as planned it will soon taste the blood of your enemies.

Once armed you are prepared for the day’s ride, and leave your tent to survey your troops. All across the camp the sounds of men readying for march and battle ring out, it is a song you know well. You walk quickly through the camp, stopping occasionally to give groups of men words of encouragement; they will need all the encouragement they can to get through the coming days of hard marching and bloody battle. As the men pack up the camp, you retire to your tent to consider how to prosecute the upcoming campaign against Mael Muad and his allies.

Core Options:
1) Assume Mael Muad will March south and attempt to link up with the Ri of the Deisi
a)Force march your army Northeast in an attempt to cut Mael Muad off before he reaches the Deisi.
b) March for Desi and met Mael Muad’s forces after they have joined with those of the Ri of the Deisi, the forces opposing may be stronger, but at least you won’t be encircled and unable to retreat if things go badly.
c) March north into the lands of Mael Maud’s Osraige allies, pillage and loot in an attempt to lure Mael Maud back and into a pitched battle or perhaps an ambush as he rushes back.
d) March to Desi, and attempt to overawe to Ri of the Deisi’s forces before Mael Muad arrives. Perhaps after a show of force the Ri of the Deisi will join you against Mael Maud and you can undermine the morale of his men by appearing on the battlefield alongside their erstwhile allies.

2) Assume Mael Muad will head northwest and attempt to link up with the Ri of the Eile.
a) Force march your army and attempt to get between Mael Maud and the lands of the Eile.
b) March for the lands of the Eile and met Mael Muad’s forces in battle after they have joined with the Ri of the Eile’s men.
c) March north into the lands of Mael Maud’s Osraige allies, pillage and loot in an attempt to lure Mael Maud back and into a pitched battle or perhaps an ambush as he rushes back.
d) Assume that Mael Muad is going to Eile as a trap; if you follow him there, you would be trapped between Ivar and Mael Muad, if Ivar moves to join up with him instead of staying at Limerick. Moving north in this case may sandwich you between the two, and any chance of an escape may be slim. Head south for the likely isolated Deisi instead.

3) Feel free to propose your own course of action, and to speculate on what Mael Muad and Ivar are likely to do. If you feel like you'll be unable to defeat them piecemeal with your current forces, remember that Brian's combined armies should be able to deal with the combined forces of Mael Muad, Ivar and the disloyal Ri unless they find outside help.


Ancillary Options:

1) Orders to your bands attempting to chase down bandits:
a) Move quickly to meet up with your main force, hopefully bolstering your army before you have to commit to battle.
b) Order them to try and slow down Ivar’s advance by harrying his forces and disrupting his supply lines.

2) Requests to the loyal Ri:
a) Raise their forces as quickly as possible and move to join up with your army.
b) Raise their forces as quickly as possible and move to intercept Ivar and delay him if he tries to join up with Mael Muad.
c) Gather their forces but keep them in the lands of the Ui Fidghenti in order to defend against the possibility of Ivar heading into their lands and attacking.

3) Diplomacy with the Flath (chieftain) of Cork:
a) Thank him for his previous support of your brother and send him the gifts owed to him.
b) Thank him for his previous support and request he come to your aid now; withhold the gifts owed to him until he agrees.
c) Thank him for his previous support, send not only the gifts already owed but many more and request he come to your aid again.

4) Diplomacy with the Flath of Waterford (forces numbering between 300-700 men, depending on how impressed he is with the gifts you send and thus how many troops he levies):
a) Ignore him
b) Send runners with gifts and offers of first choice of loot if he joins you against Mael Maud. While this is likely to bring him into your camp it will cost you valuable monies from your treasury that may be needed later, will drastically decrease the wealth you can gain from looting Mael Maud’s defeated forces and undefended lands, and may undermine your support amongst the loyal Ri, who would feel that in courting these new allies you are ignoring their right to loot.
c) Send runners offering gifts but not first choice of loot. It will still hurt your treasury but you should be able to recoup the loses through loot and it will be less alienating to your allies among the loyal Ri. Unfortunatly the Flath of Waterford is much less likely to risk supporting the losing side if you only offer him gifts.

5) Request to the Flath of Waterford if he sides with you:
a) If Mael Muad heads south, attempt to ambush Mael Maud before you arrive and soften up his forces, if he does not, move to join up with your army.
b) Move to join with your main body of men.
c) Move to attack the Ri of the Deisi before Mael Maud or your forces arrive.

6) Diplomacy with Connacht, numerous clans on the border suffered at the hands of Mael Muad's endless raids. While some had clan wars with the Dal Cais, they may overlook this for a chance to get back at their hated enemy Mael Muad.
a) Send runners to encourage them to attack Limerick. Mael Muad will be obliged to help his ally Ivar, so you'll know exactly where he's headed.
b) Send runners to encourage them to attack Mael Muad's allies among the Eile clan. If Mael Muad is there, Ivar will be obliged to help him, and the two will be caught up in battle there.
c) Send runners to encourage them to join up with your army, offering them some gifts, and the guarantee of their right to decide the fate of Mael Muad if he is captured alive.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Where?
Posted quicklier than I read.
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[Mouzafphaerre]

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[Ludens]

Sorry, but I am a bit unclear as to how this is going to work. Is this still an open Interactive History or is Mouzafphaerre the only one allowed to steer Brian Boru now?