Yeah, the dialog two years ago did suggest an "unfortunate accidents". I don't generally use assassins (20% chance of success and 50% of implicating me in exchange for a literal king's ransom in gold?) but they seem to be the only option other than surrender. I expected an army I could possibly defeat with mercenaries, and I expected to see it coming. Which I did not...
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=270283673They didn't land in Scotland, they landed on top of me on the day after they declared war (which was the first popup I got since the initial warning, though there was a warning icon at the top). I admit I was distracted, but look: They attacked my army passing through Jorvik the day after declaring war. They didn't have time to disembark, much less march from Skotland (which I assume would be their "base").
How could they possibly be attacking my army a day after declaring war, without even an amphibious assault malus? I don't see any way without them spawning on top. Surely Jorvik isn't his "base", either, because it's outside Scotland and isn't on his long list of claims... Oh, wait, his (NORSE/NORSE) wife has a weak claim on it. He married one of my cousin's daughters. How... how did he even, she's Norse and he's Catholic! And even so, why would he teleport to shore here??? HE ISN'T EVEN SCOTTISH HE'S IRISH AARRAGGAH
Okay that's enough ranting
What can I do? If I can form the kingdoms of Ireland and/or Wales, I assume forming them would allow me to keep them. If I make Ireland and declare it my primary title, do I get to keep everything but de-jure Scotland? Somehow I doubt that's even possible during wartime.
My best bet is probably to surrender now before my army is obliterated. I'll be a mere Jarl of Moray, and I'll probably lose my precious capital of Gowrie which I've been pouring raid-money into, but maybe my kingdom will be intact and I'll be a vassal with 4.5K retinues, biding my time until he squanders his 30K undead. Maybe if I move the capital to Galloway first, it'll stay the capital of Scotland and I'll get to keep Gowrie!
I'm worried that Wales and Ireland and various English counties will fracture off, but maybe not. I *think* everyone who owns land there also owns land in Scotland, so they should remain vassals of the new kingdom. Ah well... being a vassal could be fun.
(but this mechanic is still utterly broken and they did telefrag me, just saying.)