Mount&Blade: Azgad daze, Swadian Knights

Mount&Blade is a sandbox game with no narrative but that’s not to say there are no stories to be told. You play a role of your choosing in a story of your imagining in this game. The stage is set and you are actor, director, writer. The only question is who will you be in the land of Calradia?

Will you be the hard mercenary captain whose only loyalty lies with the brothers and sisters of his company, faithful only to the terms of his short contract?

Will you be a faithful vassal, biting your lip as your king humiliates you by denying you what you have rightfully won with blood and valour?

Will you side with a claimant to a throne, part of a ragtag rebel force seeking to overthrow a mighty king?

A trader, perhaps, forsaking blades and bows for business and profit?

A paladin aiming to protect the innocent and the improve the lot of the poor or a dastardly thief waylaying the unwary caravan?

A little from column A, a little from column B?

Let me tell you of the days of high adventure

For my first Mount&Blade campaign, I started out playing a mercenary selectively picking and choosing opportunities for gain and glory. Opportunities for both were few for a scrappy band led by a no-name captain and we had to settle for harassing bandits and brigands roaming the lands. These minor skirmishes kept my men happy enough but I sought something more meaningful.

This led me to eventually accept a three-month contract from King Haurlaus of Swadia.

This may not have been the wisest choice to make as all was not going well for Swadia. The kingdom was beset by enemies on three sides and Swadia’s armies were vastly outnumbered. A more calculating mercenary captain would have chosen to side with a superior faction but, as they say, adversity is filled with opportunity for the ambitious.

Thinking it was time to pick a side and enamoured of the idea of commanding a cavalry of resplendent Swadian knights, I swore fealty to King Haurlaus. His highness, desperately eager to buy the loyalty of me and my men as he waged war on three fronts, immediately rewarded me with the village of Azgad.

The joy of gaining my own fief was shortlived as I discovered what a rathole it was. The villagers there dream of someday being merely dirt poor. My attempts to improve the villagers’ lot proved slow due to my lack of skills in dragging people out of nightsoil so I spent no more time than I needed there, visiting only to recruit youths of suitable potential for my growing company and collect what little tax I could from the peasants.

My constant absences resulted in the village falling prey to a Vaegir attack. What the raiders made off with I could not tell you. The only thing bountiful in that wretched place was dirt.

But I could hardly let it be known that a fief under my protection was fair game for all so I took my revenge on each and every invading Vaegir lord who crossed my path. My bloodlust not sated by this I took my company to the borders of Swadia and forcibly took compensation from Vaegir villages at every opportunity.

Impressed by my exploits, King Haurlaus gifted me Jeribe Castle after Swadia wrested it from the Vaegirs but that joy, too, proved shortlived. I confess it was my inexperience in castle management that resulted in the Vaegirs taking it back. With a sizable Vaegir army fast approaching the castle and little idea of how I was to defend it with a few dozen wounded and inexperienced men, I abandoned Jeribe. It was not my finest hour, I freely admit it.

Shamed by the loss of the castle, I set about growing my company and training my men. I was determined to punish the Vaegirs for their temerity and this I duly did. Three of their castles fell under assaults from my valiant company. What pride I took from this was diminished by my king’s reluctance to recognise my achievements. I sensed he still simmered over Jeribe’s loss. His highness paid me piddling sums as compensation and handed the castles I had won to his other vassals. I confess my faith in my king and my adopted kingdom was at its lowest ebb then. But I continued acting the faithful man and continued wreaking havoc upon the Vaegirs.

It goes well for Swadia now. We are at peace with three of our neighbours and only the Vaegirs hold out. This is not a bad thing. They have been much diminished as Swadia makes great inroads into their territory. As Swadia grows, the king grows more generous and looks more favourably upon me. His highness calls me his friend and proclaims me his champion now. I have been handed Tilbaut Castle and Mechin and this time I mean to keep the gift. I have garrisoned the castle with 188 of my best men and continue recruiting villagers and preparing them for my campaigns against the Vaegir. I know not what the future holds but it is my most fervent hope King Haurlaus does not make peace before I have had my fill of Vaegir blood. I am little suited to play a man of peace and the thought of returning to Azgad to govern it makes me ill.