Uuuurgh, my kingdom is basically ruined. I've driven the heathen from Sicily in a ten year war that bankrupted my realm, finally made my money back, and become King of Sicily. I now have all of Sicily (sans Malta, getting to that) and I'm now Roger Borsa, son of the guy who I started as, whoever. Bohemond, my bastard brother, went rogue and took the heel of Italy as well as Palermo in Sicily with him but that's not a big deal because he's not doing much and as soon as he dies his son (Still a vassal) will inherit, bringing those lands back into my grasp.
The reason my kingdom is ruined is because Roger Borsa married a fat ugly harridan who was also his first cousin. Now I have a flock of fat ugly inbred daughters, and I'm just waiting to see how ugly Tancred, the heir apparent, is going to be. Compounding this is the fact that Tancred is pretty much my lifeline in the game. If he dies I won't have a male son and the line of inheritance is going to trace all the way to France for some reason, ending my dynasty and the game. Can't let you do that, Fox. So yeah, my kingdom is going to be the ugliest thing ever.
Also, damn I've been having Marshall trouble. My original Marshall, whose name I can't even remember, William I think, was pretty cool. I don't remember where I got him but he served well and died of old age. Next guy is the son of Vid Guthkeled, a hungarian bishop, still not sure where he came from, but damn his wife spits out babies like you wouldn't believe. They die almost faster than he can make new ones. He has eight kids and four of them are dead. Thankfully the wife is 45 now so the floodgates should be closing soon enough.
Aaaanyway, his son's name is Konrad, and he's my new Marshal. Week later, he rapes a merchant's daughter and I have him beheaded. Next in line is Zsigmond, his brother. Week later, kills himself. Jeez guys, what's the deal? I'm starting to know how Dumbledore must have felt with all those Defense against the dark arts teachers. For a while I didn't have a marshall at all but I've finally got a good one, a mysterious veteran from another land named Henry. He's wounded now though so he can't actually lead >:C
Oh, did I mention that when I finally had enough money to declare myself King of Sicily, my fat ugly wife tried to have me assassinated and then rebelled? Yeah. I can't wait until she dies. She no longer has any land or a job, and her title claims are expiring/being laughed away. Now all I need is for her to expire.
One last thing. I was really freaked out when I looked at Ireland. My first time playing was as an Irish Duke because the small area made it easier to get the hang of things. My son, Muirdertach, was really bizarre looking and he freaked me out. I looked at Ireland on this game and Muirdertach basically ruled all of Ireland and had a bunch of sons installed as vassals. Sons that all looked just like him. It was terrifying, man.