Marriage and an Heir
The reign of kings has been around for centuries. Smaller states have risen and prospered only to be vassalized by a territory that is mightier than them. The land of Sieth has been one of the few to avoid this. Unfortunately, a powerful tribe with an army of thousands threatens Count Alastor Sieth. At the turn of the year, January 1st, 1082, he married one of his courtiers, Onega Hermigues. This had sparked debate among council members given Alastor should have married to create an alliance in case there was an invasion. Especially since the coffers were drained in establishing a central government between many small villages and the three largest towns – Dalova, the capital; Valay, a major trading port; and Lighton, the central religious town of Sieth.
Soon after their marriage, Onega became pregnant and gave birth to a son and heir – Sambor Sieth. Unfortunately, Onega wasn’t enough as Alastor lusted for other women as he frequented brothels and drained the treasury further to keep it a secret. One day, a spy had attempted to spill the beans until the Count’s Spymaster and friend, Antoni of Valay, brought it to the Count’s attention. Alastor sent the informant a prisoner’s head on a spike with a warning message. All small rumors went quiet and Alastor knew he had to focus on his family.
Family Bickering
The role of a Count is to be a leader of his people and to solve issues that are brought to his court. On February 7th, 1084, there was a feud between two families over possible thievery and murder. Alastor had invited the two families to a local inn hoping to reach some kind of agreement. He sat in the middle of the families as they had each chosen separate tables, armed with pitchforks, and greeted them with a warm smile.
“Many of you are angry, I know,” spoke Alastor. “You have every reason to be. Blood has spilled between your families and all of you seek vengeance against the other for what has been done. The time is now, and what is done is done. That time is in the past. The time you have to look forward to is the future.”
The families cried out in disagreement to the wisdom. “Blood for blood!” some screamed. The room thundered with the young and old of both families toward Alastor. The complaints he could make out were juvenile – calls for replacement of farm equipment, animals; fixing of ruined walls and houses. The people didn’t want revenge, they sought improvement in their lives. A helping hand.
He slammed his fist on the table and shouted above them, “What are you, children? We are all adults here! Men and women who have withstood life trials to get to where we are! For the sake of your children and your children’s children, you must halt your bloodthirsty actions! Is this what you would have wanted growing up? It may have happened to you, but would you want to repeat the same? My family has tried to keep the villages safe through peaceful means. Not to give into your anger, but to come to one’s senses and work together to achieve for the greater good!”
Members of the two families had begun crying during Alastor’s speech and nodded in agreement. Some other members stood silent, but possibly understood the message given a surge of applause afterwards. At least two marriages were agreed upon on the spot and talk of building a new granary had begun. A family member thanked Count before he headed back to the castle, believing in a bright future for his countrymen.
Avoiding the Crusades
The Crusade for Greece has been declared by His Holiness, Pope Marinus III. The news was moot to Count Alastor. He dismissed the message acknowledging that it would be good if the country would participate. There was a shortage of soldiers to defend the lone county. In addition, another son was born in the family – Nicholas Sieth. Defense was soon becoming of greater importance to hold off adjacent nations and raiders from overseas. An attack came in early 1086 that had raiders take important medicines that would have treated sickly infants such as Nicholas. Alas, the babe did not recover and Alastor had lost his second son that had just been born.
The loss was heavy on the family. It was clear that a larger army needed to be raised, but how? Alastor’s courtiers became restless and bombarded him with one cynical comment after another. He withdrew for a few months to go hunting in hopes to find an answer during that time. Coming back, he ordered the Marshal to increase the size of the army however possible. His son was also reaching the age where he would need to be educated. There was much to do to further the success of this dynasty that Alastor’s ancestors had founded and Alastor himself solidified with the creation of this small, independent nation.
Opportunity Strikes
June 1089, the chief of the hostile neighboring nation, Obotritia had died. A great amount of wealth and support caved as his only heir, a mere child of 12 had taken over. The infidel child opened an opportunity: receive religious backing from the Pope himself, take over the neighboring lands and secure land for the people of Sieth and the future of the dynasty. It was a huge risk given that to gain favor with the Pope, Sieth would have to participate in the Crusade for Greece. An alternative to gaining the Pope’s favor would be to build an alliance with someone from the Holy Roman Empire. The risk there is possibly being absorbed and losing independence by becoming a vassal to the Kaiser.
Alastor made the decision to find a way to have his son, Sambor, betrothed to a daughter of a ruler where an alliance can be made when the time comes to take over Obotritia. He began cajoling with local leaders throughout the Holy Roman Empire, but to no avail. He eventually gave up to return home as his wife had given birth to a third son, Cyrus in 1090. Soon afterwards, another son, Jarec, was born in 1091. The Count of Sieth knew he had to do better for his family. He began packing to meet with additional leaders until the Kaiser declared an Anti-Pope, Pope Victor III! With this news, the trip had to be canceled or face the possibility of being involved in a religious dispute that could only end badly.
With these events, the door for a possible kingdom to leave his legacy was closing fast! What will he do? His family needed him more than ever. His country was looking to him to improve their life further as his ancestors have done. Turmoil was beginning to spread across Europe via the Holy Roman Empire’s actions and the threat of the neighboring Obotritia’s invasion was a looming possibility. Find out next time!
Crusader Kings 2 Stories 