Something happened which seemed a natural point to stop at. Here is
Part I of the Tales of Alucard II, Duke of Capua!The young Duke of Capua is a popular fellow, and certainly the most powerful vassal in the realm (the fact he is essentially the only vassal of note in the realm doesn't matter).
His reputation, unfortunately, is in shambles.
This is not a state of affairs His Dukeness is willing to let stand. After weathering quite a few illnesses (the care of Bjorn the Wise, his one-eyed personal doctor, even the gravest illness is over in days) and writing some lovely poetry for the courts of Europe to enjoy, the good Duke sees what he has to do. Wars bring prestige, and he already has a target in mind. The Venetians are an ungodly race obsessed with money, so it seems only appropriate to subject them to the service of His Holiness through his ever-faithful subject, the Duke himself.
With the help of the Holy Roman Emperor and his armies, Venice is quickly crushed. Alucard II personally leads the Siege of Venice from an armoured gondola and finds this 'war' business quite satisfying.
With the Doge in his pocket, the Duke is free to embark on his other interests. Theology proves to be a surprisingly enjoyable pursuit for the young Duke, and he is soon praised for his piety and learning. His example soon inspires his infidel subjects, who convert en masse with minimal violence required.
The only affliction the great Physician Bjorn the Wise cannot seem to banish is the cancer that strikes the Duke's wife. It will drain her health more and more in the years to come, though the old woman is stubborn enough to live longer than most regardless.
The Duke's uncle, the Lord Mayor of Amalfi, has a claim on the county of Taranto in Apulia. In order to mend the rather rocky relationship between the two, Duke Alucard decides to press the man's claim and grow the realm in the process. The war is unremarkable and an eventual success, though it coincides with an explosion of wars in Hispania for the Duke's holdings in Murcia. The Pope himself beats back every one of these invading armies, which include four Muslim rulers and one very confused mercenary captain seeking to make himself King of Andalusia.
The war for Taranto goes without any particular issues and is finished by 1123.
In 1126, the Duke's son and heir, Alucard, comes of age. He proves to be a good, virtuous Christian and an excellent diplomat. His zeal and noble nature is noted far and wide.
He is promptly made the Count of Malta and is quite happy on his little island, though he is known to dream of sailing down south to kill some infidels for the Lord. He does his father proud.
A year later, Duke Alucard unveils an extensive series of documents and letters proving his claim to the Duchy of Duklja across the Adriatic. Many question his fervor to conquer a piece of land of little value to the Holiest of States, but the good Duke dismisses such complaints while muttering something about 'a gateway to our ancestral homelands', 'the secret to eternal life' and 'the thirst, the thirst'. His courtiers are unnerved enough not to question the man. Duklja falls some years later in a joint invasion with the Venetians.
Dreadful news arrive from the lands of the Muhammetians a while later. Their false leader has proclaimed a renewal of Jihad, and Christians everywhere fear the prospect of heathen warriors descending upon their homelands. The Pope shows particular concern, and begins planning a pre-emptive strike against the Muhammetian threat.
Another series of illnesses afflicts the Capuan court, but the attentions of Court Physician Bjorn prove their worth once more. For this, the Duke is proud to see his friend receive the recognition he deserves with scholars and physicians coming from wide and far to ask for his advice. The only thing he is unable to magic away is the Duchess' cancer, which finally takes her life in 1131.
1132 brings news of the Pope's triumphant plan to counter the heathen threat. A new Crusade is proclaimed for the Holy Land, and all of Christendom is inspired to take up arms. Among the first to join this mighty endeavour is the Duke himself, followed quickly by his son, Count Alucard of Malta. The young Count gains fame by being the very first Crusader to set foot in the Holy Land and leads the fight against the Muslim defenders with such zeal and determination that many support him as the future King of Jerusalem once the war is won.
It is a glorious war, and the Duke proves his valor and piety time and time again. Both father and son are soon acknowledged as some of Christendom's greatest heroes. The cities of the Holy Land fall to his forces again and again, and not even news of Muslim raiders ransacking his domains and capturing his new wife are enough to put a stop to the Duke's efforts. Many other heroes rise to the occassion also - the Queen of Mecklenburg, the Duke of Burgundy, the King of Croatia all fight alongside the good Duke and forge bonds that will last lifetimes.
And at last, when the enemy admits defeat, it comes time to determine who the spoils of the Crusade should fall to. The Duke speaks at length for the need to grant Jerusalem to someone pious; to someone posssessed of the best virtues of a Christian knight; someone known for their faith and dedication; someone famed for their kindness and giving of alms - and calls upon the gathered lords and crusaders to appoint one such great hero from their ranks.
What he does not expect is for these brave and bloodied warriors to choose himself as that great hero. And so, on 30 April 1136, Duke Alucard II 'the Great' becomes Protector of Jerusalem and Lord of the Holy Land in the name of the Throne of St. Peter and all of Christendom.
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I was afraid I'd become independent as King, but we're still the Pope's man. I'm going to give this land to other folks, unless anyone has any suggestions for what to do with it, so we may finally gain other powerful vassals in the realm.
I honestly didn't expect to win the Crusade. I'd been somewhere in the mid-ranks for most of it, just having fun and deusing my vults, and then we hit 100% and, well...
EDIT: I find it funny I did many things (Crusade, give Malta to my heir, write poetry) exactly like the old Duke. No doubt these'll become traditional acts.
Bonus: the successor to the Welsh Adventurer Doge of Ancona.
His successor is a different Indian culture. No, I don't know how this happened, but I love it.
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Topic: Crusader Kings II Dynasty Succession Game (Persus13) (Read 50036 times)