Emperor Strasz Neski I
Special Mommy Issues Edition, Volume IV
With the outcry of the murder of my brother, I knew drastic action would be needed to preserve the stability of my Empire. Not only was my own clan chomping at the bit, but I still had treacherous Muslims and Christians to deal with as well. I needed a new way to rule, by way of law, not by arms. For if I strained myself fighting all of our internal enemies, how would I fight those of the Cross and Crescent? I spoke with a Seer, and she told me of the history of our Empire. Long ago, Trojden I had sought the same answer, only to be undone by his son, Trojden the Godslayer. But now, I had brought them back to life.
Almost immediately, we were beset upon by the Bulgarians. My armies were tired, and I led them to defeat, an arrow grazing my cheek.
I hired a great many mercenaries at the expense of the Empire’s coffers. They helped drive the Bulgarians from our lands, but between the Reformation and the invasion, it seems there was a new devotion to the faith. The Warriors of Perun they were called, and swore themselves to defend our Holy Empire. I immediately brought them into service while I marched to fight the Russian threat in the East.
While victorious in the South, I suffered a great irony and humiliation fighting the Russians. My charge was cut off and my guards slaughtered, making me their prisoner. I was forced to surrender, and my recent conquests were lost.
The reason for our recent weakness was that we had lost our alliance with the Hungarians. My father in law had passed, and their King was married, a development I had not cared to foresee. I had an unwed daughter that would make an excellent Queen though, once the current one had been...disposed of…
The Hungarian King was furious, but still accepted my peace offering. This surely will not come to haunt me. Mother tells me I am a good person….
But then, tragedy strikes. My heart breaks, and I sob uncontrollably….my son….my beautiful son….
Leszek had good reason to be called the ill ruler, and I was determined to make sure that the crown did not pass to such a lesser scion of our house. I would redouble my efforts to have a son. In the meantime though, one benefit of our newly reformed faith was that it gave me a much more prominent religious authority. One of my vassals, a Muslim, had long escaped my purges by not throwing himself in with rebellions, and I did not wish to risk direct confrontation. However, with our reformed faith, it seems at last a reconciliation can occur.
I have resurrected the Gods, and it seems they shall reward me. My wife is pregnant...please….a son
But then...tragedy…
FOUL TRICKERY! FOUL! I SHALL HAVE HER HEAD FOR THIS! The murder of my wife….of my unborn son….. The Gods I revived are surely too cruel….were my actions that terrible? It is a great relief then when the Franks come, into our lands. I will don my armor, and pray for death in battle. My son in law does not heed my call to war, but I expect no less. The Gods are ready for me to depart this world, all the better to do it in a blaze of glory and blood.
But in the end, their Holy War ends in failure, with the capture of the Frankish King.
I let him go in return for peace, but it seems that the war and prison shocked him too much. He died before his return to Paris, and his son blamed me for it. He declared war, and this time, all of Christendom intended to fight us.
But the Gods may grant us some boons. My son in law heeded this call, and I felt invigorated once more to fight this war.
By the end of this war, the Frankish King was dead, and his daughter took his place. She tried fighting against us further, but the war was over. I offered generous terms, and peace returned to the West.
These victories game me a new lease on my life, and I was determined to live on. I married the daughter of Leszek, the opposite of him in every way. She would give me a son, and hopefully Leszek would support the claim of his grandson against other pretenders. I would have a son….I must...
My son in law calls me to war against the Romans. He intends to conquer Bulgaria. I agree, though my men are already in campaign in Moravia. I send word that my troops will be there by winter.
I am at last vindicated, with my wife pregnant. Oh sweet woman, you have made me so happy. And with the Christians are beaten once more, I send my men south to fight the Romans.
A SON! A SON! AT LAST A SON! My wife asks to name him Trojden, in order to better relate him to previous Emperors. She is a crafty woman my wife, and I agree. I am so happy, I write to my Dobrogost. He has a brother at last!
This time, I do not campaign with my men in our many victories, but instead stay with my wife in Kiev. Though I am older than her own father, she is a woman of quick wit and kind demeanor. We get along very well. I name her regent for when my time in this world is over. I feel it fast approaching. Soon, I shall be with my mother and my son once more.
In the south, we are victorious. A buffer from the encroaching Romans was worth sacrificing my men for.
And with that final victory, I can sleep at last
Goodbye my son, and Good Luck! Long live Emperor Trojden IV!