The Seventh of the After Action Reports (AAR) following my direction of the Irish Empire, tracing the dynasty of the Briain dynasty through the Middle Ages. The previous AARs can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

High King Scellan, the grandson of the former High Queen Cellach ascends to the throne in troubling circumstances. Just before High Queen Cellach passed away, the next in line heir to the Irish throne was brutally murdered, throwing away decade of careful grooming and preparation by the former Queen.

High King Scellan takes the reigns of power, but will always be under a cloud of suspicion... was it he that authorised the murder of the true heir? or was he just the recipient of an unwelcome burden due to some dark enemy who still hides in the shadows? If it is the latter, was the enemy an enemy of the Irish state and the Briann dynasty, or just settling a past grievance against the former Queen?

High King Scellan inherits a nation that is deeply in debt after the preoccupation of the previous ruler with research and introspection left the kingdom's finances somewhat neglected. Thankfully, the new king is much more at ease with the mundane aspects of running a realm. A well developed knack for Administration and the Life Focus upon Wealth Creation will be useful skills to help lead the nation back into some semblance of wealth.

However, before the Irish state can embark upon the road to prosperity and riches, there is the unfortunate inheritance of a war with the Icelandic hordes supported by local usurpers. The far northern Scottish vassals have rebelled with the support of the Icelandic kings, and this is a situation that needs to be settled, hopefully without the succession of Scottish lands.

With the realms allies and loyal vassals keeping the rebels and Icelanders tied up in the Shetlands and the northern provinces of greater Ireland, the Irish main army strikes out to the far north to occupy directly the icy wastes of Iceland. In short order, the rebels and Iceland surrender and relinquish their claims to the Shetlands. The Irish realm is once again at peace and the path to restoring the treasury coffers is clear to embark upon.

A sign of how unprepared King Scellan was to take to the throne is the fact that he still held the Italian culture as part of his identity. As soon as the war in the north was concluded, the first action that the High King took was to adopt the Irish culture as his primary identity which would endear him better with the vassals and the countryfolk.

There was no need to convert to a new religion, as Scellan already followed the Cathar faith that was both the most dominant faith in the Irish empire and the state religion as well.

Another little matter would also need to be attended to, the High King was single and unmarried. This would need to be fixed, as the line of succession would need to be seeded with children. A careful selection of possible mates resulted in the selection of the High Queen Inga, to cement an alliance with the Cathar Scandinavians and to pass on the all important "Quick" trait to the children.

Like most marriages of noble office, the fact that the Queen disliked Scellan was a minor inconvenience. In time, they might come to enjoy each other's company...

Looking out to a strategic view of the European continent reveals that the Irish empire's main threats were from Denmark and the neighbouring Danelaw. Denmark would hopefully remain distracted by the Holy Roman Empire and more local concerns, whilst the Danelaw might be distracted by the fact that their lands were divided between their Scandinavian holdings and the main Britannia homeland.

Meanwhile, France and Francia remained fractured after the previous meddling from the Irish Empire, but the Holy Roman Empire remained a large threat. The best option for Ireland and High King Scellan over the coming decades would be to remain clear of wars and intrigue, to focus upon building the treasury and infrastructure of the Irish State.

... sadly, Luck and Fate would have different ideas. King Scellan was starting to descend into lunacy, would he be able to lead the Irish nation if he struggled to keep reality and imagination separate?

With possible attempts on his life, it was becoming harder to keep a hold on what was a real threat or imagined. At these times, perhaps it was best to treat every threat as real until proven otherwise... even if that meant off-siding and distancing vassals and close family members.

Meanwhile, the state has managed to stay out of wars... and the Queen and King start to come closer together... first with a touch of seduction...

... which leads to a real romance. Soon they would be soulmates forever, a fitting conclusion for two near strangers who had only married to cement an alliance just a short decade earlier. They would be able to spend their best years managing a thriving kingdom that was coming out of debt and stablised in peace, bringing up and educating their children in a peaceful land. Ireland was long overdue for a time of peace and prosperity, a new golden age led by the two lovers.

... but alas, it was not to be. The fairy-tale was cut brutally short by the Fates, and High King Scellan died of heart failure at the young age of 56 after a very brief 12 years at the head of the Irish empire. He succeeded in bringing the nation out of debt and led his people through a great decade of peace and wealth.... but just as he was on the brink of personal happiness, it was all over.

He is succeeded by his eldest daughter, Queen Fortunata who was previously married off to an Italian suitor of the Catholic faith. It will remain to be seen if the existing marriage will allow for the Briann succession to continue through the maternal side... or if some "solution" needs to be found that sidesteps the Catholic problem with divorce.

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