Sons of Scotland (56k warning)

[Benandorf]

After much reading of various AARs throughout this site and others, I’ve come to the conclusion that I simply must make one of my own. And what better faction to use than Scotland, which remains my favorite faction in the game? So, if anyone cares for technical specifications, here’s what I’m doing:


I have it M/M because I don’t want to have either side with bonus stats on the battlefield, and I really don’t want to have everyone hating me for no reason. They’ll have reason enough without artificial boundaries. Also, this is using the Retrofit Mod 1.0 with the Kingdoms Units add-on for said mod.

I have a few ground rules that I am going to follow:
1. Do not reload, barring some extraordinary circumstances (I.E. I forget to move a large army).
2. Try to not be excommunicated, but this rule can be ignored until I take all of Britain.
3. Only assassinate the pope at MOST once every 5 turns. The game is simply too easy if I park 8 assassins around Rome and poke the pope every turn.

And now that you know the out-of-game circumstances I have chosen, as well as my three *cough* “unbreakable” rules, let’s get to it.



Many greetings, my lad. I am King Malcolm III of the House of Dunkeld, son of King Duncan of the House of Alpin. I have ruled over the moors of Scotland for many a year, 27 to be exact, but who’s counting? Time has not been kind to my lady Scotland, and she weeps under the burden of England’s military might. But the time has come for the sons of Scotland to rise once more. Our time is coming.


This is my son, the crowned Prince. His name is Edward, and God willing he will one day be King of Scotland. He is not a kind lad, but he is very smart, and will be a good King when I finally go to be with God.


This is my other son, Edmund. He is not very skillful, but there is a will in him. He may yet make a great general.


And this is our Cardinal, an almost direct link between my family and God. He has served Scotland well for much of his long life.

*sigh* And now, lad, fetch me some Ale. We have a long journey ahead of us...


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


So... Any thoughts? Good? Bad? Ugly? I'll have some more up tonight or, more likely, tomorrow night.

[Benandorf]

Summer, 1080:

Malcolm: I begin work in Edinburgh on a Port, to increase in the income of my budding empire. It will take a few years, but the prosperity it can bring Scotland is worth the wait. In the mean time, I send some of the meager garrison from the capital to assist Edmund as he moves north to Inverness, and to assist Edward as he moves towards York. I have given orders to both of them to attack as soon as possible. We need to expand quickly and crush these free-spirited rebels before the English have the chance to. Planning on replacing the sent away garrison, I begin levying some more militia in Edinburgh. Hopefully my sons will soon have captured some castles with facilities to recruit Highlanders, but for now this will have to do.


Edmund: Readying a battering ram and some ladders from nearby timber, and bolstered by the troops from Edinburgh, I have lay siege to Inverness. These rebel bastards can not hide behind their walls for long! And once I’ve lain waste to this petty settlement, I will surely raise in the eyes of my Father. I am the youngest child, but I refuse to be seen as the least!


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


Winter, 1082:

Malcolm: It’s been a quiet two years in the Kingdom of Scotland. A diplomat has been sent out to sea in an attempt to contact some other Kingdoms willing to join our cause, and the port is progressing nicely, but there has been no foul news. In fact, in a joyous occasion, my own son, Prince Edward, has taken a fancy to his sister, and they have been wed!



Edmund: Finally we have finished our preparations! The rebels are beginning to starve, but soon enough their empty stomachs will be the least of their problems. I have hired some Irish Kerns and Mercenary Crossbowmen from the countryside, and we are ready to strike.


We have the outnumbered, but not by much... This will be a bloody battle, but the axes of my highlander brothers will strike true, and I feel sure that God will give us the day.


Aye... It was a bloody day, but we won in the end. Still, we lost many good Scots today... At least my men got their payback by sacking the town. 350 civilians were killed, but after how many Scottish lives were given to beat these Rebels, I don’t feel it was unjust. On the other hand, I do feel like I’m starting to get the hang of this commanding thing... Perhaps next time I shall do better.


Edward: Haha! So my fool of a brother had a hard battle. What a lass he’s turning out to be. My men and I are finally arriving at York, and are sure to have a much better time of it. Who likes climbing walls anyways?



These Yorkers fight like women! They parted upon my men’s axes like... well... women on axes. *sigh* Sometimes I feel my genius is wasted on such petty tasks...


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


That's all for now, I'll get some more up fairly soon (next few days). I didn't do an in-depth report on the battles because they were fairly small and not that important, and were quite linear. Also, it's late and I'm tired. Okay, mostly it's because I'm tired.

[Northnovas]

We have a long journey head..... it can be but it's all in good fun. Looks good so far, looking forward to the read. Good Luck!

[Benandorf]

Summer 1084:

Malcolm: The English finally acknowledged our existence, sending their Princess to speak with Edward. They asked for trade rights, as to increase their income, and after some bargaining, we accepted some money for the allowance. This, in addition to a large gift of florins from the Council and the completion of the Edinburgh port is sure to increase the local economy. The only other occurrence was the capture and execution of a loyal spy at the hands of Welsh rebels. But they will pay in due time...


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


Winter 1086:

Malcolm: Those meddling councilmen... They have ordered me to send men and take the Emerald Isle. However, since I was planning to send Edmund to take it anyways, and the Council has promised a large sum of money, I will bow to their wishes and liberate this territory. Word has reached me that the diplomat I sent to the mainland has arrived in French soil. With some luck, Scotland will soon have allies.


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


Summer 1088:

Malcolm: Another quiet two years have passed... Trade continues to florish, and another diplomat has been sent to the mainland, but not much else has happened. A small pirate fleet attacked a Scottish ship, but there were very few losses, with the brave captain getting away safely. The barracks in Inverness is almost completed now, soon there will be a great massing of Highlanders, and the invasion of England will begin.


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


Winter 1090:

Malcolm: Already the highlanders begin to mass in Inverness. The Garrison Quarters are completed! But the news is not all good; a small Welsh army has appeared near York. Edward has been sent to intercept and destroy them; all I can do now is pray they do not do too much damage before he can reach them...
The news is not all bad! One of the dispatched diplomats has sighted a French castle in the distance, and with some luck will soon be sending word of new trade rights, or perhaps even an Alliance.


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


Summer 1092:

Malcolm: Wonderful news! Trade rights have been established with the French! This could not have come at a better time, as funds have begun to run a little low here in Scotland. Edmund has been dispatched to take Dublin in Ireland, and Edward is engaging the Welsh Rebels. The promise of expansion is hanging close around my head, if only I can grasp it.


Edward: More rebel scum! These welsh speak so harshly, yet fall so easily.



Haha! How I love the thrill of battle! Nothing beats crushing the skull of an enemy beneath your sword. And many skulls were crushed today; not a single of these Welsh survived the day. I really feel appreciated by my father and my country after a battle like this. He wouldn’t give just anyone command of his armies; perhaps this is a good use of my intellect after all. And if not, at least I get to gut some swine.


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


Sorry if it seemed long and pictureless, there just wasn't anything really happening. The rebel battle was easy and straightforward, with the welsh starting on a hill that I moved up, and once my archers were in range they blasted them until they moved forward to attack, by which point they were weak enough that my numbers routed them quickly.

Next post will be taking Dublin and whatever that welsh castle is, so there will be some more pictures there, and then the real game begins, and I'll attack the English. So just bear with me through this boring part, and I'll try and make it exciting once it gets to the war with the English.

[YAKOBU]

Hi Benandorf

Just a little positive feedback:

Your AAR looks very promising. I like how you are telling it from the side of each family member. What are your plans for when your family tree grows?

Don't worry too much about the lack of pics. I tend to be more factual in my write-ups but make up for it with more pics. I'm not very talented in story telling.

I see you beat Captain Kirk in your last battle. Would that be the infamous James T Kirk?

Keep up the good work.

[Benandorf]

You know, I almost made a joke about captain kirk. But decided it was in the best interest of the story to not do so.

I'm not too worried about having more family members, because I'll be telling the main story from the point of view of the King, while battles and major events will be told by those that are involved, unless they are killed durning the battle or event, in which case it will be just told by the King.

Thanks for the posative feed back, it's good to know someone's reading.

Next one should be up in the next few days.

[Anonymous II]

Ah... Scotland! I'll follow this AAR! Keep 'em screenies coming!
I currently have my first successful game in M2TW as Scotland.

[uruk-hai]

nice aar.keep up the good work.best part of this aar has to be telling the story from the side of each family member.

[Benandorf]

Winter 1094:

Malcolm: Edinburgh has indeed become a great city! The numbers have grown so large; the people want a Stone Wall to keep them and their families safe. Funds are low, so I will ignore their cries for now, but I fear it will become inevitable soon enough. Soon, Edmund will be at Dublin, and I pray that the Emerald Island will soon be ours. I also have received word that a Scottish diplomat has made contact with Denmark, and has signed an Alliance contract. Surely this will be useful when the time comes to destroy England!



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


Summer 1096:

Malcolm: Wonderful news! My son Edmund has chosen himself a bride from the local nobles! Surely this is a blessed day!

But not all is so cheery; Edmund himself is even now marching into Dublin with an attack force. We must pray he succeeds. The wish for a wall in Edinburgh has seemed to ignite a national wall fanaticism, because now the small village of York wants a wall of their own! And in foreign news, the Greek Empire has declared war on Venice. Hopefully the conflict will weaken them both.



Edmund: I am overjoyed by my new marriage, but I must not let this distract me. Even with the addition of some hired Irish Kerns from the countryside, the defenders of Dublin vastly outnumber my forces. I unfortunately must hold back and maintain a siege for now. Perhaps I can starve these Irishmen out.


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


Winter 1098:

Malcolm: These past couple years have been quite quiet. Our cardinal has rooted out some heresy that had taken root in Edinburgh, and the King of Denmark seems to be warming up to Scotland. Besides that, nothing else has happened.


Edmund: All is quiet in Ireland. These Irishmen sit within their walls, slowly starving, but have not... Wait! What was that? Ah! We are under attack!
TO ARMS, MEN!



They have caught us off guard, in a bad formation, which I must quickly readjust to fix. I will put my Highlanders and Highlander Archers in the front rank, because my archers are as good with an axe as any of my infantry, while the Crossbowmen stand behind. The Irish Kerns will flank, while I will send the Mailed Knights around to hit from behind. We are vastly outnumbered, but with God’s blessing we shall win the day.


The Irishmen rush forwards from their village towards my lines as they are peppered with arrows and bolts. Many fall, but many more remain.

The first miltia to hit my lines fled like little girls, but the axe-wielding lads behind them were not so easily turned. With a might cry battle was joined.


My men stand true and as my Mailed Knights begin to hit the enemy lines, the Irishmen quickly fall into disarray. Praising my luck, I command all units to rush into the fleeing mass, and cut them down before they can regroup!


Great tidings! In the melee that ensued with the routs, the enemy captain was killed! These Irish dogs will surely fear us now!


The enemy has regrouped at their town center, and is preparing to die for it. My men will eagerly grant their wish.

The battle is over! Not one of these Irish dogs remains, and Dublin is ours! Truly God himself was smiling down upon me as I lead today, for it was a great victory! After a victory like that, I even feel more confident in my command abilities. Perhaps I’m not so bad at this after all!



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


Not as much as I wanted to get done, but all those pictures took ages already, I didn't want to pile on too much. What did you guys think of the battle?

I'm coming to realize that my characters seem to sound exactly the same... I'll try to work on that, for the future. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy the read; next one will be out in another couple of days (probably Saturday or Sunday night).

[Benandorf]

Okay, sorry for the delay, had a very very busy week, but I'll have Sunday to myself, so *should* be able to get one out then.

[Ramses II CP]

Good stuff. My advice is don't try to stay on a schedule. You'll have more fun and be more likely to continue if you just push updates out when you've got the time.