A long-awaited claim
October 14, 1076: The 10th year of Duke Murchad's reign comes to a jubilant end as a son named Fáelán is born to the duke's half-brother Conchobar, and his wife Ingebjørg.
It's about time! As you may remember from previous installments, CK2 makes you give a reason for declaring war. If you don't have a marital, blood, religious, or legal claim on the land you want to conquer, you need to send your chancellor to make something up. That's exactly what Old Man Toirrdelbach has been doing for the last several years. He delivered, though, so I'm not going to get on his case about the "albeit slowly" part.
March 12, 1077: King Svend replies that he unfortunately won't be able to join the war, but wishes the ua Brians his best.
May 21, 1077: Murchad's forces win the day against the Connachtians at the Battle of Waterford. 239 of the enemy are cut down, while the Munsterians lose a mere 73.
June 6, 1077: Murchad runs Earl Áed's forces down at Gowran, killing 47 more with no losses. They are left with less than 100 standing.
June 22, 1077: The Connachtians have fled east into the neutral county of Kildare, where the Munsterians find them and slay them to a man. Unopposed, the Munsterian army marches back for Roscommon, seat of Connacht, to put it to siege.
July 6, 1077: Énna mac Brian, Duke Murchad's second eldest grandson, grows old enough to be educated. He is sent off to Lord Mayor Skofte of Ormond, the finest warrior in the land who is not currently busy leading troops against Earl Áed.
July 26, 1077: Some men inside Roscommon Castle turn their cloaks for Murchad, leading a few men through a secret passage and advancing the siege.
This is one of the few randomly-generated events that can happen when besieging a castle. Some are good for the attackers, others are good for the defenders.
August 25, 1077: The defenders at Roscommon attempt to sally forth and break the Musnterian siege, but are stopped hardly beyond the walls. It seems they cannot hold for much longer.
