Skip to the bottom if you don't have time to read fluff. It got away from me slightly, I think. 
The new Jarl glanced through the report, stone-faced. "He didn't leave behind a single Huscarl or galley, Tywr damn him. I have to start from scratch." The princeling turned his attention to his councilmen, lined up in front of him, and regarded them without speaking, for a moment. Most of them had served his father, and he knew he needed their experience, though care had to be taken none of them grew too powerful for him to deal with. Danik turned to the most recently appointed councilman, his Hirðman [military advisor], captain, and currently only member of, his personal retinue.
"Hallbjörn, my friend. I trust you have already begun searching for men worthy of the Hirð? I have another task for you; round up any man interested in a raid. Our neighbours cannot be given opportunity to think us weak. The usual rights; loot, slaves, and wives. Might be a few of the boys for the latter might even be good enough for the former."
Hallbjörn had been appointed to his position by Danik himself; his father's Hirðman had gone with him on his fool's adventure, and not a man had been seen or heard of since. In truth, Harðhöm was not only weak, it was practically defenseless; never before had it lost its Jarl, his entire Hirð, and the fleet in one go. Even defeat in battle left survivors, and few could challenge the island-fortress of Harðhöm while the Harðhömer galleys patrolled its waters. But now the battlements went almost unmanned, and the waters were calm and still. Troubling.
Danik's other councilmen were mostly greybeards, either too old or too skittish to accompany his father. Danik wondered why they had been councilmembers at all. Disconcerting, but they were all he had.
"Ingi. My father believed your ability to conjure coin from nowhere was incredible. It's clear by now that he's not coming back; we've had no word, no news, nothing. A runestone will have to be raised for him and his fiercest thanes. Hire a master carver, spare no expense, the usual. I must honor my father's memory; it's expected of me. I have a few questions for you, later, about the city's finances. That report was too vague. For now, though, I'll leave you the task of rebuilding the dockyards. Make sure to give some of the hardest work to the drunken idiot that burned them down last week."
"Ari. My father placed foreign relations in your capable hands in the past. I trust that you will serve me just as loyally as you did him. I want a report on the wealth and military strength of our closest neighbours as soon as possible.
There's also the matter of trade. We have no treaties, at the moment, which means the merchants are mostly trading amongst themselves, or sitting idle. That won't do. Send some people to the settlements up and down the rivers. Not too far, but not too close, either. I want to leave raiding options open, for now. I'll point out which ones on a map afterwards."
"Loðvir, my father trusted you to be his eyes and ears at home; as will I. I'd like to know of any problems the commoners might be having, anything the minor nobility is doing that might interest me. Finding eyes and ears where they shouldn't be. Come talk to me whenever you find something. After this meeting, if you know anything right now."
"Well. That should be all. Unless you have something important to tell me, you're dismissed. Oh, the map. Yes, over here..."
Military advisor recruits volunteers for a raiding party and more general military service. Approximately 300-500 men preferable, assuming properly equipped soldiers can handle a slightly larger peasant army.
Begin vetting process for recruiting for the Jarl's personal retinue, as well. I don't expect much to come of this right away, especially if it would interfere with anything else going on. Backburner.Economic advisor to allocate funds for said raiding party recruitment, as well as building enough boats to transport the raiding party and a little extra space for captives, as well as the supplies necessary for a short (1-2 river tiles, at most) excursion.
[EDIT: Or not building boats because apparently the shipwrights refuse to work when there are soldiers training elsewhere in the province.]
I'm also going to spend a few gold on raising a runestone to my (presumably) deceased father. This is mostly fluff, though if it has any actual effect, it should net me some respect and prestige among the minor nobility, advisors, etc. If you've played Germanic pagans in Crusader Kings II, you'll know what this is. If not, it's basically a memorial. Like a tombstone, but larger, more expensive, etc. Generally only done for important people, by other important people.
Also, Building a Drydocks.Send people to the following players to propose trade: 30 (Deidei), 32 (Kashyyk), 37 (zomara0292), 38 (TamerVirus), 39 (apiks), 49 (hector13), 50 (Ghazkull). This is an implied offer of non-aggression.Spahs! Internally. If the peasants or the minor nobility are unhappy about something, but haven't brought it to my attention for some reason, I want to know about it. Also counter-spies. If I catch any, find out who sent them and why, then throw 'em into the dungeon and leave them to rot. This is a standing order for future turns, as well. If I have to specify how many counter-spies I'm paying for this turn, oh, 3? Preferably I can just tell him to use as many men as he needs, and I'll pay them latter. Surely a friend of my father wouldn't take the opportunity to squirrel away a few coins... 
Send scouts to the following provinces to gather information on approximate wealth and military strength, if any: 31, 32, 39, 40, 46, 50.[/b]
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Topic: The Art of War: Feudal Lord Simulator: IC Thread: A Game of Crusades (Read 8528 times)