April 14th, 1092
Now that I've finished raising my son and he's ready to make his own way in the world, it's time for me to look to his future when he inherits. To make your way in the world, you have to do some unsavory things, and I don't want William to have to deal with guilt he can't stomach.
For years, I've had my eye on the duchy of Gloucester. The Duke is an arbitrary and deceitful man--ungodly in the extreme. I've been attempting to convince the lords of the realm that I would serve better as its ruler, but my claims have had little luck.
So, I think it's time to get a bit... unconventional.
June 8th, 1092
It turns out that not much was needed to gather support for my cause. That secretive whoreson will be quaking in his boots!
Farewell, sweet duke!
July 4th, 1092
His forces were crushed in a decisive battle! A few short sieges and my "birthright" will be all mine.
May 24th, 1093
We had been laying siege to old Gloucester's cities when news arrived of His Holiness's intent of a holy war never before seen on the Earth. Should it be called, I will personally lead an army in God's name!
October 30th, 1093
A bastard of the Dane has sharked up a list of lawless resolutes, to an England-conquering enterprise that has stomach in it. I intend to stop at nothing to prevent Danes from ruling this land ever again, and will join my forces to King Robert's the moment I have defeated the cruel Duke.
November 8th, 1093
We shall toast to this glorious victory all night tonight! Let us both remember the fallen and look to the future, God be praised!
January 2nd, 1094
My liege has accepted my offer to personally assist him in the war against that Viking claimant. The Dane shall know our wrath!
Febrary 7th, 1094
The huscarls, soldiers-for-hire, and knight-errants recruited by this adventurer fell beneath King Robert's and my metaphorical hammer. We will follow them in their retreat and crush this fool's fantasy once and for all!
April 12th, 1094
As if a bastard could defeat a king.
December 1st, 1094
I've been quite stressed recently, with little time for anything but work.
But there is always time for the will of God. My ship sails in the morning!
May 11th, 1095
It has been a long journey, one I was forced to take a leave of absence from the council for, and one that has been sweltering and torturous. The coast swarms with the Saracens. But I know we shall be victorious, for we have God in our hearts!
Deus vult!
June 4th, 1095
I regret to say it, but we are going home right away. The Saracens' swords are sharp, their horses are fast, and their food gives me bowel problems.
But let no man say I am not a Crusader!
December 6th, 1095
William's wife has taken her last breath, producing me naught but a sickly granddaughter. I should have known better than to marry him to a commoner.
June 8th, 1096
Though all the local women his age were already married, I've managed to secure a deal with Robert after a council meeting. His daughter Valdrade is to wed my son Roger once she comes of age. Roger can wait nine years for the power and status that comes with marrying a princess, can't he?
July 13th, 1097
The Duke of Warwick, an Anglo-Saxon man, is one of my greatest enemies in the realm. He is the Marshal and the Master of the Hunt, yet still he hates His Majesty with a passion. I believe he shall be my next target. King Robert would lose a powerful enemy and gain a powerful friend in his place, so what's not to like?
September 4th, 1097
This so-called artifact could be... interesting. It would be quite prestiguous to have an item of legend in my possession...
December 23rd, 1097
That would explain this mess he called a "crusade"...
June 8th, 1098
News came that King Robert was killed in a hunting accident two months ago. However, I have many suspicions... His Majesty died in a hunting accident, they say, due to having drank too much. But Robert was never a drunkard, and his servants claimed he ate and drank almost nothing at his afternoon meal that day, eager to move on with the hunt. I was unable to reach his cupbearer for comment--even more suspicious. But perhaps most important--Robert supported my claim to the Duchy of Warwick, and the Duke of Warwick is... shall we say... the sort to kill a man he doesn't like.
Robert de Normandie didn't die in a hunting accident. He was murdered, almost certainly on Warwick orders!
July 3rd, 1098
Damn it! Damn it all!
October 30th, 1098
The new king, King Aubrey, is a fine man. However, he is under attack from the Duke of Northampton, who wishes to put a Godwin on the throne! I shall ride to the aid of my liege posthaste!
June 21st, 1099
A lie can hurt almost as well as the truth, if told in the right place at the right time. And this lie ought to help win others to my cause.
July 23rd, 1099
I... I don't know if the shame of Gunhild will ever leave me.
August 16th, 1099
So, as it turns out, my lie was not far from the truth. I doubt that King Aubrey will find the young man tied up in Warwick's dungeon free of tunic or hose amusing.
Is this how vengeance feels? It feels
delicious.December 21st, 1099
That usurper could have been bad, but thanks to my intervention, we have naught to fear.
January 28th, 1100
It seems that my plotting may have been somewhat for naught, for that kingslayer is an open rebel, as well.
Not for long.
February 2nd, 1100
Time to defeat this pretender... and get real vengeance for Robert.
May 1st, 1100
The Lombard sellswords I hired arrived too late. This may be difficult to bounce back from...
June 1st, 1101
The liberal application of mercenaries has allowed us to defeat Warwick's main forces. The Lombard Band has my sincerest thanks!
January 1st, 1105
After several long years of little but siege after siege, my forces combined with those of the king and his allies have won a decisive victory against Warwick. We believe that we should be able to defeat Warwick for good in time.
January 28th, 1105
The vile Duke has accepted a "white peace"--though he will not make full concessions, he has been imprisoned and branded a traitor of the realm. Hahaha! That kingslayer has met his comeuppance! Additionally, I've successfully garnered enough support to be declared the rightful Duke of Warwick--with any luck, I should be able to usurp the title, and if not I, then William may.
March 25th, 1105
My levies have recovered sufficiently to wage war. For Warwick!
June 28th, 1105
Today was a fine day! Not only did I win a decisive battle...
But William and Valdrade were married!
October 13th, 1105
I cannot express how disappointed I am in William, but I must confess to understand his urges.
Like father, like son...
June 18th, 1106
At last, William has fathered a trueborn and male child. I am not proud of his middle child, but the succession is at least safe.
January 19th, 1107
Although feet are certainly strange articles, they are holy and prestiguous nontheless.
June 16th, 1107
It seems that the foul Duke of Warwick has been succeeded by his craven son. As if that were any better.
February 10th, 1108
My brother, William, has joined his wife in death. They leave a niece, who, might I add, is the mother of my son William's bastard.
At the funeral, after all the other guests had left, I went to the tomb and begged for William's forgiveness. Now that he has passed, I wish that I had had time to tell him in life, and to make amends...
March 11th, 1109
My "right" is now truly mine. Though I do not have the vassalage of the counts of Warwick, I may gain them soon enough.
March 26th, 1109
Now a fellow of the Of Wessex family has refused the revocation of a county. I think they just like rebelling, traitorous bastards. The king should have their heads on pikes after all they've done against the realm.
June 17th, 1109
I don't feel quite right.
I hope that it's just "not feeling quite right".
August 7th, 1109
It wasn't just "not feeling quite right".
I'm going back to the Bible.
August 11th, 1109
I told my physician, Rayner, to do whatever was necessary.
August 14th, 1109
I feel quite weak. I fear that I may never rise from my bed again, so here I lay out for my son and wife my final words and will:
My son, William de Crepon, is to succeed to the duchies of Somerset, Gloucester, and Warwick. I leave no heir but him. I confess to my family my infidelity, and pray for their forgiveness; I am truly sorry. I pray that William shall be a loyal friend and a kind councillor to King Aubrey de Normandie. May William temper his valor with mercy and his courage with honor. And may Rioan
September 4th, 1109
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Topic: Crusader Kings II: The English Adventures of the de Crepon Dynasty (Read 3262 times)