On my 2nd time through, so learned a little. I'm at almost day 200 and haven't gotten that far yet, sounds like you're rushing thru the story line, I tried, didn't work. Used the 2 go to Ireland quests to go viking for a long time, fight some sea battles and eventually get more ships. Buff character and build army, Almost have to have merc's, still don't have a single top tier kingdom troop, get one, freeing prisoner, sure can't normal upgrade, and sure as the world gets killed next battle. Easier to be a bad guy, make lots more money selling to bandit dens than towns, and can then get some of the outlaws to join you. Seems almost have to raid villages and monastery after paid off monks enough. Trying as Christian, just don't like their mercs or bandits as much, who wants bunch of slavers in army? Can have 1 set of vikings, doesn't hurt morale to bad. Kept army small, built refuge, and just ran around fighting battles, building army, character and adding to refuge. My experience, just takes a long time. Wonder how you made it thru Ulfs farm and Odins Den if don't have buffed up character, I couldn't.