Hello everyone! After watching and enjoying a great many timelines, I have decided to create my own, hopefully to follow in the footsteps of the many greats I have seen. Seeing as how this is my first, I am open to any suggestions, and if you have anything that would help, please pm me!
1170, Leinster, Ireland
Dairmait Mac Murchada looked upon the men with satisfaction as they marched into Connaught. These new knights had taken the throne of Leinster back for him, and with their help, he would have his revenge on that bastard O’Connor they called High King, the man that had exiled him, blinded one of his sons, and killed another that was hostage. A Stain on the Title if ever there was one, he thought bitterly. No matter. We meet him again and show who the true King should be. He will pay for what they did to my son.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an approaching rider behind him. Richard de Clare, leader of this band of Normans and husband to his daughter, reigned in beside him, along with his second in command Raymond Fitzgerald.
“The men are eager, lord. Only a few days’ march and we should be upon O’Connor’s forces,” de Clare reported.
“Aye. The boys are restless, they want a fight. This so-called King should be put in his place in no time. And the loot!…” Fitzgerald grinned at the prospect of defeated enemies and slit purses.
Mac Murrough’s thoughts turned to these new, savage, cunning men now in his employ. Vicious in battle, covered in iron and with massive horses… the Irish had yet to find a way to counter them. They were certainly useful, but he had a feeling they would be harder to manipulate as time went on…..
“Excellent. You will find all you desire when O’Connor is defeated. Just a few days, and you will be lords with lands granted by the new High King of Eire!” For a long moment, Mac Murrough thought only of his revenge on the men who had disgraced him….
Kingdom of Briefne, Ireland
Meanwhile, on a hill forty miles northwest of this meeting, Rory O’Connor stood outlined against a stormy sky as he prepared his army for the fight that lay ahead. Dermot Mac Murrough had returned with new soldiers from across the sea, ferocious, armored warriors that few could stand against. With these men Dublin had fallen, and he once again sat on the throne of Leinster. Mac Murrough wasn't content with regaining Leinster, however, and was determined to destroy those that had exiled him and claim High Kingship. It was a pity that we exiled the man, O’Connor thought. Better that we had slit his throat.
There was no point in pondering the mistakes of the past, he reminded himself. He would march against Mac Murrough, and slaughter his forces, new soldiers or not. Idle men did not have the title of High King bestowed on them.
O’Connor turned to Tigernan Mór mac Aeda, king of Briefne and leader of much of the army assembled. “Tell the men we march at dawn tomorrow. We will meet Mac Murrough and his band of foreigners and crush them!”
As the preparations were made and the warriors cheered upon hearing the news, the High King pondered just how dark this night may be before the dawn.
1170, Leinster, Ireland
Dairmait Mac Murchada looked upon the men with satisfaction as they marched into Connaught. These new knights had taken the throne of Leinster back for him, and with their help, he would have his revenge on that bastard O’Connor they called High King, the man that had exiled him, blinded one of his sons, and killed another that was hostage. A Stain on the Title if ever there was one, he thought bitterly. No matter. We meet him again and show who the true King should be. He will pay for what they did to my son.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an approaching rider behind him. Richard de Clare, leader of this band of Normans and husband to his daughter, reigned in beside him, along with his second in command Raymond Fitzgerald.
“The men are eager, lord. Only a few days’ march and we should be upon O’Connor’s forces,” de Clare reported.
“Aye. The boys are restless, they want a fight. This so-called King should be put in his place in no time. And the loot!…” Fitzgerald grinned at the prospect of defeated enemies and slit purses.
Mac Murrough’s thoughts turned to these new, savage, cunning men now in his employ. Vicious in battle, covered in iron and with massive horses… the Irish had yet to find a way to counter them. They were certainly useful, but he had a feeling they would be harder to manipulate as time went on…..
“Excellent. You will find all you desire when O’Connor is defeated. Just a few days, and you will be lords with lands granted by the new High King of Eire!” For a long moment, Mac Murrough thought only of his revenge on the men who had disgraced him….
Kingdom of Briefne, Ireland
Meanwhile, on a hill forty miles northwest of this meeting, Rory O’Connor stood outlined against a stormy sky as he prepared his army for the fight that lay ahead. Dermot Mac Murrough had returned with new soldiers from across the sea, ferocious, armored warriors that few could stand against. With these men Dublin had fallen, and he once again sat on the throne of Leinster. Mac Murrough wasn't content with regaining Leinster, however, and was determined to destroy those that had exiled him and claim High Kingship. It was a pity that we exiled the man, O’Connor thought. Better that we had slit his throat.
There was no point in pondering the mistakes of the past, he reminded himself. He would march against Mac Murrough, and slaughter his forces, new soldiers or not. Idle men did not have the title of High King bestowed on them.
O’Connor turned to Tigernan Mór mac Aeda, king of Briefne and leader of much of the army assembled. “Tell the men we march at dawn tomorrow. We will meet Mac Murrough and his band of foreigners and crush them!”
As the preparations were made and the warriors cheered upon hearing the news, the High King pondered just how dark this night may be before the dawn.
