By Undercovergeek, 11 November 2012

A Crusader Kings II AAR, in many, many parts. We’re up to number 8. Where have you been?

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In Part 7 Count Oberto of Parma shuffled off his mortal coil and passed over the reins to his son….. Count Oberto. Having dearly departed with four provinces to his name, Parma, Genoa, Nice, and Corsica, senior Counsellors bound by the rules of the Count’s succession laws have split the land three ways between his remaining sons. The new Count Oberto receives Parma and Nice, his twin sons receive Corsica and Genoa. The tale now switches to the new Count and his plans to get his land back, to avenge his father’s death, and set plots in motion to declare independence and try for the title King of Sicily.

A grand feast – always a chance to get some prestige and win some friends, with the occasional chance to get drunk and annoy our Liege.

There goes Uncle Ghiberto, my Martial’s father and my father’s brother. He’ll be missed(!!) although he was the Steward and a poor substitute now takes his place. The splitting of the provinces has diluted the quality of the council after the twins took a few serving members with them.

We manage to fabricate claims on Capua, the first step on a lengthy ladder to shoot for the title of King of Sicily. It’s currently beset by rebels and I can’t declare war on the poor soul in charge as he’s fighting off the heathens. The Chancellor is sent next door to fabricate claims on Napoli and we wait in the shadows for the rebels to be defeated.

The marriage arranged for me by my father, Cecile of Provence and heiress to that Duchy. We take the Prestige as it’s needed for Oberto’s next plan………..

…….di Parma Civil War. Oberto inherited the claim on Genoa, and let’s face it, it was such a pain in the ass to get, sort out, and administer he’s not just going to let it go. We declare war on our baby brother. Hilariously his twin offers to help us out……. honourable stock, the di Parmas!

Here’s a problem….. Oberto’s father, actually Oberto’s grandfather, the old Martial, was sent to Genoa some time ago to train troops and improve the amount of levies that could be pulled from Genoa. Coupled with Nice not supplying any levies (having recently been conquered), my brother has a bigger army than we do! He gets to Parma before we get to Genoa and gives us a good kicking and starts a seige…… Like his father, Oberto gets the check book out and calls on the fey and mystical Bulgarian Band – moustachioed accordion players of the mountains.

The disbanded and refreshed Parma gang (I am not calling 210 men an army!!) are reformed in Parma and break the siege, my brother’s mob retreats. In Genoa the Bulgarians start knocking down the walls, it’s a delicate balancing act as we’re running out of money – once it’s gone and the mercenaries don’t receive their payment they’ll pack up and leave. Fortunately as each portion of Genoa is retaken you receive a small amount of plunder and this is just enough to keep them fighting.

Eastern European accordion music makes me horny.

It’s done, Oberto is on the rise.

As the generations move on we now get to benefit from bringing in ‘Ladies with Talent’©™, and they can start to tutor the di Parma dynasty in lying, stabbing, spying, and robbing – all fine medieval subjects. Conone here is sent to Brunhilde, a veritable Professor of Spying.

In Part 9, heirs, fairs, sieges, and planting seed in the enemy nest.

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