izigame.me

So I decided to start an ironman game as the Duke of Flanders under Charlemange with the Black Death set to "deadly" and minor epidemics set to "more". In order to keep the duchy under the complete control of one character, I changed the inheritance to elective.... A bad mistake as I'd soon learn, as the Duke of Flanders in this start, Roding, was well into his 30's-40's with no children or other family. Desperate, I quickly married in order to get at least one heir before I die. Uncertain of how far the minor outbreaks spread, I find myself monitoring them anxiously, knowing anything could bring my game to a swift end. I make sure to appoint a court physician just to be safe. However, fate seems to smile upon me, for at the age of 54, I have a daughter and can let out a sigh of relief. The gender law is agnatic-cognatic, so regardless of if I have a son, my dynasty is safe. Then, a year later Roding the Lionheart dies a natural death, leaving his infant daughter, Bertilla, as the Duchess of Flanders.
Within two years the poor girl comes down with cancer and the fears I felt as Roding come back full force. "Is she going to die?" I thought as I watched the court physician dutifully start her treatment, only to be relieved when his bizarre remedy works as a treatment. It doesn't cure her, but she'll be more likely to survive. An event comes up where she spends time talking to an elderly mayor and becomes good friends with him and befriends her regent/mother and I can't help but picture this frail girl wandering the castle inspiring and brightening the days of noble and commoner alike with her affectionate and cheerful attitude in spite of her condition, and I can't help but smile. The court physician, ever dedicated and loyal, continues to treat her with success. Eventually, however, the epidemics that had been lingering beyond the borders of West Francia rear their heads and punish me for ignoring them, as Consumption strikes in England and quickly crossing the Channel. Terrified for the life of the young duchess, who has neared adulthood, I have the gates closed, but it was already too late. Some members of the court already had Consumption and the physician did not live long after, forcing me to quickly start a search for a new one and I counted myself fortunate at the time: a renowned physician (a bit of a drunk, which I should have taken into account) was quickly found and I invited him to my court, where he treated the duchess with the same efficiency the one before him had.
She survived to adulthood and, much to my joy, recovered from her cancer: she would live after all! A few years later, however, Camp Fever hit Flanders and she contracted it. The court physician offered to treat her and, remembering his earlier success with the cancer, I quickly agreed. This turned out to be a mistake, as he wasn't as loyal or dedicated as the one before him: I watched in horror as he quickly drugged the young duchess and lopped her leg off as "treatment," leaving her even less likely to survive. In a fit of rage I'd never before felt playing this game, I had him imprisoned and promptly executed for his betrayal of the trust of the young duchess, who died from a combination of the disease and an infection from the "treatment" a few months later.
This is a DLC that will make you more emotionally invested in your character and their family than ever before. It will make you cry out in anguish when they get sick, you will be relieved when the physician succeeds in easing their suffering, mourn their deaths to the various diseases, and rejoice when they recover. I can't stress how amazing this DLC is.