AAR : Bjorn Redcliff. A Viking warrior.

First off, Welcome to my AAR!
This is inspired by two other AAR's here, one about a knight in training, and the other about Floris.

This will be bloody, and messy! 

Thanks goes to the writes of those two! With out you I would have never been inspired to write my own AAR.

Ok, my game has been slightly altered, property comes and goes faster. Everyone levels up faster, my self, my troops and my heroes.

Game is played with max settings, battles sizer was moved from 300 to 150. When I get my new PC built ill increase the battle size.

Auto block is on, A.I is set to "good"

Please note, I don't care if you like how my game is tweaked, or how I play. Some things are not implied (or even in the game!) in game, I am just RPing it up.

So here it is, the tale of Bjorn Redcliff, the viking raider.

                                    Chapter 1: Arrival in  Calradia.



**Wrote a few days ago**

*The paper you are reading has several blood stains on it*

I stepped off the boat onto dry land for the first time in three months, it was a long trip from my home land to this new land here.
My people have already built or taken many villages and castles from the people native here, they even have a few large towns!

It seems the people here are weak, the women and towns ripe for the taking.

I had a short walk to the town of Sargoth from the landing here, its midday, there is a nice breeze from the waters, helping offset the heat of the day.

As I approached the town I could see the main gates where open wide,  a few wagons came and went as well as many people before I reached the gate myself. I walked in the gate, I never even got so much as a second look from the guards. Why should I? I am dressed in rags and have nothing besides what I carry.
For good reason I have nothing that belonged to me when I left, I left in the night. I had spilled royal blood!
My blood boiled with too much mead and when the lord of the hall came to simply ask me to leave I, well I buried my dagger in his gut. He tired to speak, tried to ask me why but only managed some gurgling sounds before he fell to the floor and his life drained from him.

My father came in, his eyes grew wide with anger and fear, anger at me and fear for what would happen to our house if this deed came to light.
He quickly had me escorted to the shore, where I promptly boarded a boat headed for Calradia.

I shook my head, and banished these thoughts, I also noticed I was in a back ally.

As I walked along, I rounded a building looking for the tavern. That's when I heard a sound that would chill most men to the bone. The sound of steel sliding along steel, a sword coming from its scabbard, behind me.

My hand went for my sword, if you could call it that, and my sorry excuse for a shield. I spun on my heels, the man was no more than a few paces from me, closing quickly.

A armature, his sword raised high, and no shield to guard him. Clearly a petty bandit.
As he ran at me I raised my shield, he lowered his blade. Steel met wood, the force of the blow knocked my shield down, and it grazed my head.
I recoiled from the blow, my left arm sweeping up and out. the bandit was caught off guard, and off balance. My sword arm lashed out, I swung from left to right along the mans belly.

As I stepped back he looked me in the eyes, I could see the pain and sorrow as his guts spilled out on the ground. His hands trying to hold them in. I hate to see a man suffer, so in one swift movement I parted his head from his body.

Some fat man with a small beard ran up to me, he nearly lost his life as well. At fist I was unsure if he was a bandit or not.

He told me he was trying to warn me, and was sorry for the rude welcome. The man invited me to his house, apparently he is a merchant. That explains why he is fat.

He wanted me to save his bother, said that I looked fit enough to take on some bandits that had captured his brother.



What a great start, so far all I have seen is a lot of weak men, its a wonder my people have not already gained control of the whole area.

I borrowed this paper from the bandit, I don't think he will need it.

          Chapter 2. Fat men, weak men and money.

*This paper is clean and looks in good shape*


So, the merchant wants me to save his brother?
Normally I would have scoffed at the man, but I need the coin.

He tells me I need at least five other men to ensure I can deliver, he told me of a small village not far from here, Fenada.

Very well, I will go to this Fenda and see if any men there have the nerve and guts for battle. Clearly the last man in my way did not, and does not now.



I left for the village, I seemed to be a good walk, I have no horse and no desire for one. On the way I spotted a small group of men, not far away.
No reason to go around them, ill just go through them.



Nine.
Nine men stand in from of me, they block my path. most of them wear no armor, or even clothes. A few have fur coats on.



They charged at me, the area was hilly, and I used it to my advantage. They came at me not as a group, but as individuals. Clearly these men are nothing more than vultures, feeding on those weaker than them, looting the dead and dying.

I as they approached, I felt something strike my shield. A rock?
These man are so base as to throw rocks at me? Pathetic!

I cut them down, the first man ran wildly at me, I side stepped his charge and nearly cleaved his body in half. The next two men came at me at once, but they both made a fatal mistake. The first man was knocked out of the way by the second.
He swung high at my head, I ducked under the swing and thrust my sword into his chest. The wound made a sickly sucking sound as I pulled the blade out, the man fell back onto the other he had just knocked down.

The fool looked at me, started to speak and I smashed my boot into his face.
Three men down, six to go.

Ha, those fools! The next three men can at me at once. Careful not to get in each others way. the first man swung and missed, I stepped beside him and slammed my shield into his back. The next man came, he swing and hit the first, burred his axe clean into that mans back. He tried to wrench his blade out, but the axe was logged in bone and both men toppled to the ground. One left coming at me, a close call but I blocked his advance with my sword, kicked the man in the groin and slit his throat.

Only three left in the fight, and one left with no weapon.
The fools didn't even have weapons, just rocks. Not even worth telling about them.
I turned and went back to the man who lost his axe, my boots crunching on rock as I approached.

He was on his knees, tears in his eyes, and he choked as he spoke to me.
"please sir" he begged. "I have a ........gurgle"
I don't know what he had, nor do I care. I stuck my sword down his mouth before he finished.



I left and headed to the village. I didn't even bother to search the miserable bodies. 

                            Chapter 3: a few peasants, a rescue and a drunk man.

*editors note* *I removed my riding skill and placed the two points in shield for RP reasons*

I headed to the village, a few of the men there had the spine to join me, well after I offered some coin. 10 coins per man, twelve of them came along.

I Headed back to Sargoth with them in tow, nothing to write about, a short trip on foot. Once I got there, the fat merchant was glad to see me. He told me that a few men where seen outside the walls not long ago.

We left as quickly as we could, and found four of the "bandits" if that's what you call them. My new recruits where eager, I slayed one man, but the other three fell to my recruits.

One of the bandits still gasped for air, I told him I would ease his suffering if he told me where they held the hostage. What irony, its right outside the village my recruits come from.

I walked away from the man, he doesn't deserve a quick death, betraying his fellows in crime.

We headed to the hideout, a small hut in the forest. I told my men to wait, but thy are eager for blood and broke ranks and charged ahead. It turned out fine though. none of them fell and they managed to knock out or kill all the bandits. After the battle a slim and sickly looking man ran up to me, it was the merchants brother, the fool bandits had not even shacked him!



We headed back to the town, where I was promptly paid, and offered a new task, and money.



I thought this was some short of trick, as it was so easy. But his coin is good and he offered a 100 more for this final task.

It seems a guard here is crooked, and the merchant wants to "question" him. Fine, Ill do this for the coin.

The men with me did not even try to hide the weapons they carried, it was mad mob, and a good fight. Bones cracked, heads split and blood was spilled. After the battle I watched as the mob dragged the guard out of his house.
I heard his screams among the yelling of the crowd. I went to see the merchant. He paid me, and I headed to the tavern. He whines about having to leave or something. I ignored him.

Ah, a nice cozy tavern, with a good strong brew, its been a long day and my arms are tired.


As luck would have it, I didn't even get to finish my brew before a drunk man with a funny hat came up to me and insulted me, so I insulted him in kind.



He drew steel, but he was already drunk, he swung wildly. I turn his blade aside and removed his arm at the elbow. The man screamed, ran out side, tripped and drown in a pool of mud and his own blood.

The tavern keeper handed me the mans sword and tossed the arm out the door, a few dogs came by and ran off with it.

What a day. Oh yeah, I found all this paper and these quills in the guards hut, I don't think he will need them.

If no one wants to read any more, I can stop.

Advice, comments, suggestion?

Great story also people probably arent commenting just because its at the hour of night most have gone to bed

I like it, keep them coming!

I have went back and corrected some mistakes, I am sure I missed some, but it was late when I wrote that, and I am not the best when it comes to grammar.

I AM HOBO OF DOOM said:

Great story also people probably arent commenting just because its at the hour of night most have gone to bed

Click to expand...

Good point.
I forget that its more than a U.S forum, and it was quite late when I finished up.

: Captain_Octavius

Will do, Fridays are busy for me so I will not be able to post any more until tomorrow, its kind of hard to do it from work, and once I get off work I have to go to my other job.

I already have the fourth chapter lined out, as well as the fifth then Ill be  up to where I saved and quit last night.

I absolutely can not wait to get my new PC built, its going to run me $120 a month for a year but it should by all rights be amazing. The last time I built one it was half that cost and lasted two years. I would upgrade it but it a 939 socket and I can't get a larger CPU than what I have now.

ill be going from
AMD dual core 2.1ghz each (rated at 4.1 over all)
XFX ATI 4870
8 gigs ddr2 800hz

to 
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz
XFX HD-587X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5
8 gigis of DDR3 1066.

Should cap out just about anything right now, and last me a good 2-3 years.

Nice new computer mine is 4 years old lol

Dogs running off with the man's arm makes for an interesting mental picture. lol

Titan357 said:

I have went back and corrected some mistakes, I am sure I missed some, but it was late when I wrote that, and I am not the best when it comes to grammar.

I AM HOBO OF DOOM said:

Great story also people probably arent commenting just because its at the hour of night most have gone to bed

Click to expand...

Good point.
I forget that its more than a U.S forum, and it was quite late when I finished up.

: Captain_Octavius

Will do, Fridays are busy for me so I will not be able to post any more until tomorrow, its kind of hard to do it from work, and once I get off work I have to go to my other job.

I already have the fourth chapter lined out, as well as the fifth then Ill be  up to where I saved and quit last night.

I absolutely can not wait to get my new PC built, its going to run me $120 a month for a year but it should by all rights be amazing. The last time I built one it was half that cost and lasted two years. I would upgrade it but it a 939 socket and I can't get a larger CPU than what I have now.

ill be going from
AMD dual core 2.1ghz each (rated at 4.1 over all)
XFX ATI 4870
8 gigs ddr2 800hz

to 
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz
XFX HD-587X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5
8 gigis of DDR3 1066.

Should cap out just about anything right now, and last me a good 2-3 years.

Click to expand...

You could probably upgrade the processor yourself to a Phenom II X4 or the like. I don't think you'll see THAT much of a difference, at least in M&B.

Bobsama said:

Titan357 said:

I have went back and corrected some mistakes, I am sure I missed some, but it was late when I wrote that, and I am not the best when it comes to grammar.

I AM HOBO OF DOOM said:

Great story also people probably arent commenting just because its at the hour of night most have gone to bed

Click to expand...

Good point.
I forget that its more than a U.S forum, and it was quite late when I finished up.

: Captain_Octavius

Will do, Fridays are busy for me so I will not be able to post any more until tomorrow, its kind of hard to do it from work, and once I get off work I have to go to my other job.

I already have the fourth chapter lined out, as well as the fifth then Ill be  up to where I saved and quit last night.

I absolutely can not wait to get my new PC built, its going to run me $120 a month for a year but it should by all rights be amazing. The last time I built one it was half that cost and lasted two years. I would upgrade it but it a 939 socket and I can't get a larger CPU than what I have now.

ill be going from
AMD dual core 2.1ghz each (rated at 4.1 over all)
XFX ATI 4870
8 gigs ddr2 800hz

to 
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz
XFX HD-587X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit DDR5
8 gigis of DDR3 1066.

Should cap out just about anything right now, and last me a good 2-3 years.

Click to expand...

You could probably upgrade the processor yourself to a Phenom II X4 or the like. I don't think you'll see THAT much of a difference, at least in M&B.

Click to expand...

my old MB wont support any more than what I have, thats why I am buying all new parts and building a new pc. From ground up, case and all.

Its not just for M&B, but SC2 and D3 as well. many other games too. I am waiting mainly on fallout new vegas

my old mb only supports 800hz ram and only two slots, the video card is nice, but the 5870 will be much faster, the cpu is high as i can go just about.
Not worth messing with it when I can build a new one and future proof it for the next few years.

Well then, feel free to send the 4870 over to me. My HD3850's on its last legs. (Pentium E6300, 6GB DDR2 800, and the HD3850)

Lol, he drowns in mud and blood. Try picturing the whole scene.

KillerDudeMan said:

Lol, he drowns in mud and blood. Try picturing the whole scene.

Click to expand...

Thats a deep pool of mud and blood....

I LOVE AAR's

Keep them coming.

Now you all got me wanting to skip out on my second job to play and write some more!

I would but I need the money, I work on the side Fri and Sat nights, I make a $100 (u.s) extra every weekend, and it really helps.

I AM HOBO OF DOOM said:

KillerDudeMan said:

Lol, he drowns in mud and blood. Try picturing the whole scene.

Click to expand...

Thats a deep pool of mud and blood....

Click to expand...

no, not really. It only takes enough water to fill your lungs, and thats not very much. Consider the man would have likely went into shock and passed out face down in the mud its not that hard to image. It was just a writing "flair" if you will. he was just as likely to have suffocated as drowned, but drwoing sounded better.

Very good so far, when he meets Ymira or someone, i expect that there will be a very interesting dialogue.

Just don't cut Ymira's arm off and we'll be fine. I like a character with a bit of an edge, a bit of latent hostility.

                              Playing in first person is pretty neat. This is more of a in between chapter, just a quick rap up of what has happened in the small amount of time I have been playing. Chapter 5 should turn out much better.



        Chapter 4: Training, A woman named Katrin and Killing bandits.


Its been a almost a week since I have wrote of my journey. My men seem to find it amazing that I can write and read.

Anyway, the last week has been a good one, I left the coast to learn the lay of the land. On the way to a town called Suno, I came across a man who told me that he could train me in the ways of war and battle.

I suppose the man has never seen a true Viking warrior fight!
He started me fighting against rabble, men who barely knew what end of the wooden sword to hold.
I bested them easily, and three more of what he called "regular" fighters.
Finally I reached his "champion" fighters! This should prove a worthy challenge!

The first fight went badly for me, or for him depending on how you look at things. He managed to disarm me, but I still had my shield left.
After I lost my sword, I heard someone yell something, but I had already punched my challenger in the face and backhanded him with my shield before the training master stopped me.

I broke the mans nose and blooded his mouth. The trainer looked upset. I do not understand, I told him. Was this not a test to see who is the better fighter?

He explained to me there there are "rules" to this test, funny that. I never seemed to recall any rules during a real battle.

He sent that man away, and lined up three more, none of them looked to eager to fight me though, and I easily bested them. The first man as the most interesting. I think I broke a few ribs.

I was given a great wooden sword, the other man a staff.
As we approached each other circling the field, he lash out first, hoping to use his range advantage. I stepped inside his swing and shrugged of the blow, and use the pommel of my sword to smack his head and knocked him back, he was still standing when I swung level at his sides.
The man had raised his staff high, a over head strike, I contacted with his side, heard the air in his lungs escape his lips and he topped to the ground.

Likely why the other men did not seem eager to fight me. I was told I had much talent and was sent on my way.



I then Traveled to Suno, along the way I scouted a few bandits, and their makeshift hide out.

Once I arrived in Suno, I took part in a battle that was going on, in some sort of arena. I went down and joined the fight, both times I entered the cowardly men there attacked me in groups. They all ganged up on me instead of the free for all it was supposed to be. Twice I entered, and twice I was surrounded and knocked out from behind.

Cowards!

I headed to the Tavern, when I got there I noticed a shapely, if older woman. She promptly walked over to me and offered a drink.



She tells me she used to travel around with the local lords army, and had just decided to quit and sell off all her things. She wishes to travel with me, and seems eager to fight.
Surely she can make her self useful, having spoken of many battles she should be good with a blade!
This woman is past proper child bearing and marriage age anyway, maybe after raising two warrior sons and so much time with the army she just wants a glorious death in battle.

I told her she can come along, but that she best make her self useful. She seems to be good with managing supplies. Or maybe I can make her cook me a proper meal.

I stayed in the tavern that night, and luckily no drunken men with funny hats tried there luck with me.
This left me free to drink until I passed out in the floor. This took many rounds of the cheap ale here.

The next morning I set out to track down some of those bandits, and after running across a group of them, the leader had the gull to ask me to pay for "safe passage" I simply replied that I have plenty of cold steel to offer.



Besides getting a arrow logged in my shield, nothing of interest happened to me. The fool woman I hired last night, now that's a good tale!.

We closed with the bandits, and she broke ranks, eager to get her share of the glory. She didn't even get a single blow in. She tried to block a axe with her face.
I am not really sure if she made a mistake, or just wanted to die. Either way after the battle I relieved her of the 300 coins she asked to borrow this morning.

What a waste, she should have just stayed in the tavern. She made a fine bar maid last night!




My men and I went on to clear this forest of the bandits, and raid the place they had stored all there loot.
These must have been the worst bandits in the whole land, they fought like women! The cave they where using for a base, was stocked with little more than maggoty bread and old rags. Not even a proper axe among them!

I still wonder why we have yet to take over the entire land here.

                                              Chapter 5: New faces join, and I Travel the land.

I Traveled far and wide these past few days, and found me three good men to fight by my side, along with one fair maiden.

The First man I ran into was Borcha, he was in some sort of trouble when I seen him, the guards where around him and he was accused of stealing a horse.
As I walked up, he shouted at me! "there! That man" he said. "He will vouch for me!"
The guards turned to me, shocked to see such a large man standing behind them.
"This man, Borcha, stands accused of attempting to steal a horse!" the guard said to me.


What horse I asked the guard. "that one" he said pointing at a horse still in its stall.
I asked the guard how can he accuse of man of steeling a horse in its stall, he told me that Borcha was a know thief and had been lurking around that horse all day.

Borcha approached me and whispered in my ear "ill make it worth your while if you help me."
I told the guard the man was indeed with me, and we are just leaving town, I paid the guard 100 coins for the trouble and we left.

Borcha thanked me after we had left. I grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him off the ground a full foot.
I told him how it was. " I gave the guard 100 coins and my word that you would cause no more trouble" Borcha struggled to talk, spittle running down his mouth into his beard. "you best make your self worth the trouble, I never even got to enter the town"

I threw him down, and he gasped for air.
"Sorry, ill make it" he wheezed. "Make it up to you, I swear on my life" 
I looked at him, "what can you offer me, for my trouble?"
Borcha looked at me.
"I am the best tracker and path finder in these lands" He said. "you will find no better than me"

"Make your self useful, Show me these lands"

We rode that day, away from the city and to the south.



He took me past many villages and castles, past a town, and into Tulga.
There I found a man who also joined me.

This Baheshtur looked like a sturdy warrior, he was on the run from his family, exiled for taking his revenge on a rival tribe. He asked if he may travel with me, said he was a good warrior. I paid him his fee, and we stayed at the Tavern for the night.

The three of us shared many drinks and tales, it seems each of us is running from something.



in the morning, Borcha showed me the people who live in a sea of sand. The days are hot, the nights cold. These are a sturdy people. Much like mine.
There we came across yet another man, his name Alayen.



It seems this man is a noble. He said he was entitled to vast lands, but was cheated of them. Thats all he wished to say, He asked to join me. But to be treated fair. I agreed and we left as it was a short ride back out of the sands to the net town.

As we reached the town of Halmlr it was geting dark. I left my army camped outside, and the four of us entered the tavern.
Borcha, Baheshtur, Alayen and my self took a table to our self's.

There are few people here, a half asleep bartender, four men over against the wall. The thing that caught both my eye and Alayen's eye was a fair looking maiden in the back, alone.
Alayen was attracted to her, she has fair skin and face. Why is such a lady here?

The four of us shared a few drinks, and tales. Alayen never really took his eyes (or mind) off the girl.
Later that night, the four men had been drinking, twice as much as us.
There was one man, clearly the leader, a head taller then the other three, almost as tall as me. Lacking the muscle though.

The largest of them got up and headed over to the lady, the other three followed behind. Alayen tensed.
The leader of them started pawing at her, we could hear her ask for them to leave her alone. The barkeep seems to not care.
Alayen Rose from his chair, as did I. Borcha and Baheshtur stayed, eating dried meat and bread.
Alayen reached them first. He placed a firm hand on the large mans shoulder. The man shrugged Alayen's hand off and told his boys to "handle it".

They drew daggers, I drew my sword and shield, as did Alayen.
Seeing me as the larger man, and threat two of them came at me, one at Alayen.
The men are shorter than me, I use my height and reach to thrust my shield edge into the throat of one man, staggering him

The other man , even though he was drunk provided a good challenge. well for a drunk man. He made several slashes, I jumped back and avoided them. He came at me again, this time I blocked his slashes with my shield. and knocked him out with my swords pommel.

The first man had recovered, and noticed Alayen had parted the other mans life from his body and that I had knocked the other out.
He ran for the door, I drew my dagger and flung it. It burred deep in his back. The man fell face first to the floor, dead.

The larger man, by this time has ripped half the ladies dress off, exposing her corset. Alayen charged the man, but was off balance. The man tripped him up and Alayen slid across the floor. The large man drew his axe.

I moved to help Alayen, but he waved me off, stood and composed his self.
The two stared at each other. Finally the large man spoke. "all this over that tavern wench?!" the girl slumped to the floor in tears.

Alayen replied to the man. "Ladies deserve respect, not a barbarian." This enraged the other man, he charged Alayen this time.
Alayen was like a skilled warrior fighting a novice. He deftly avoided, blocked or parried the mans attacks.

Finally the man rushed him one last time. Alayen tripped the man up, and sliced his back open. Likely severing his spine. the man slumped to the floor.

Alayen walked to the lady, offered his hand and covered her with a coat. "are you harmed" he asked her. The girl weakly shook her head no. Alayen wiped her tears away, and asked the bar keep for a room. Alayen paid him, and carried the girl up the stairs.

"I shall stand guard outside your room tonight my lady" he said. "What is your name?' Alayen asked.
"Ymira" she replied. Then she spoke. "stay in the room with me" she said, "I am afraid"
Alayen told her it was hardly proper. But all it took was a tearful "please" from her lips to melt the man like butter.

Go on, I told him. Ill stand guard here, and make the other two as well.

the rest of the night was peaceful, as the barkeep removed the dead men and cleaned the blood, I gave him 10 coins for his trouble. We shall set out in the morning.