Britannia; a land of Emerald Isles, a land of kings, a land...of war.
...the Norwegians, warriors happy to pay the blood price for their ambitions.
_________________________________________________________
Prince Magnus sat upon his throne at Castle Town, located on a small island in the Irish Sea. As he came to a decision he called for a squire, a grim look upon his face.
"Give the order to load the ships, we're leaving this damned island. We've had nothing but trouble with the northern colonies ever since we established this as our capital. We're moving all our forces to Wick, so we may devout our full attention to Scotland. We can not afford a war with the Irish, English, Welsh, and Scottish at once."
"Are you sure my Prince? So many lives were lost establishing our hold here..." The squires voice trailed off, as he realized to whom he was speaking.
"I amquite sure. Inform Admiral Jens to get the Dragonboats prepared to sail for Wick. We leave in 2 weeks time." Prince Magnus said with confidence, although he did not like the idea of leaving a castle to rebel, especially Castle Town.
"Hold on. Tell the Masons to raze the city before we go. We can sell what we gain from supplies."
"Raze the city M'lord? But why?!" The squire asked, after all, he had lived in Castle Town for years.
"I will not leave this island to aid our enemies. Once we leave, theywill move in. I want this to be as barren as possible." Prince Magnus said as he turned on his heel and walked back to his quaters, painfully aware of the lives he would be ruining.
************************************************
Meanwhile in Wick, Knut Haackonsson was meeting with his Governance Advisors.
"I propose we send our merchants out immediatly. I understand there is a demand for fish, and we could probably find iron somewhere in the Scottish Territories. We can also raise the taxes on our other provinces substantially, although the people might grow somewhat restless." Said the Advisor for Finances.
"Aye. We'll do that. Send word to the merchants. Also, I have heard from our spy network that the Scottish have a medium sized army approaching our fort?" Knut turned to face the Master of Spys, a rather shadowy figure. "Is that correct?"
"Yes, your goveranace, it is. We infiltrated their camp, and report 6 batallions of what the Scottish call Highlanders, a batallion of Peastant Archers, and three groups of pathetic Highland Rabble. Nothing to be overly concerned about for Wick, however I suggest recalling our legion from the fort, as the Highlanders do pose a threat, if only through the fact they outnumber our forces in the fort 3:1." Replied the Master of Spys.
"Very well, issue a full recall. I want all legions in the area back into Wick. I have recieved word that we were sent a few Raiding Parties from Norway, and they are en route to our location. Also, Prince Magnus is recalling our Primary Legion to Wick and esatblishing a capital here. We'll soon have more than enough troops to crush those damned Scots."
________________________________________________________
6 Months later...
"Get him onboard! Get to it you lazy bastards!" Barked Admiral Jens, who was in command of over half the Norwegian Fleets.
The crew of the Dragonboat lowered small platforms, onto which several squires managed to pull a man wearing the attire of a Norwegian First Mate.
"Reel it in sire, we have him secure!" One of the squires called.
********
"Awake damn you! God save you if I find out your dead after commiting several of my crew to watch over you day and night for naught!" Admiral Jens shouted (in his usual eloquent tones) at the unconcious man for the umpteenth time, obviously unaware that it wasn't helping.
As the sailer slowly opened his eyes, he let out a shout, and immediatly ran to the window, attempting to throw himself out of the ship. Admiral Jens however, after years of expirience on the Dragonboats, was no pushover. He wrapped an arm around the sailer waiste, and threw him back into the bed, completely ignoring the fact that the man had been laying on a piece of driftwood in frigid waters for over a day, then had lain unconcious for days after that!
*******************************************
"M'lord Haackonsson, we are currently falling into debt. We owe 136 coins to the Duke of Mull already, and he requests that he needs the money immediatly, for riots are breaking out." Said the Advisor of Finances.
"Hmm. There could be a way to expand our hold in Britainand get out of debt... Lord Admiral! Order the Second Fleet of Norway to set sail for Inverness! General Haldor of Vikus, take 2 other generals of your choice and the Legions of Wick and seige Inverness! I want you to take as many men as the ships can hold, 20 legions!" Said Governor Knut Haacksonsson.
"Yes m'lord, immediatly. We'll be in the ships sir, but they need six months to resupply and be repaired. We'll help on that to get it done faster." Replied General Haldor.
And so the Norwegians set sail for Inverness, with 20 Legions of Mounted and Dismounted Huscarls, Viking Raiders, crossbowmen, some Highland Pikemen that were bought off from the Scottish, and a few Peasant Archers
***********************************************
"So, your telling me that theScots, who have possibly the WORSE navy in the world, managed to defeat a fleet of Norwegian Longboats?! What, was a wench trying to command your fleet?! This is an outrage!" Admiral Jens shouted.
"Yes Admiral, we were utterly crushed. They didn't even lose a single ship. I managed to get away however." The sailor replied.
"And where was this exactly?"
"Near Arron sir, we spotted a Scottish Army disembarking, and then we engaged their fleet, but were unsuccesful..." The sailor said, obviously embarassed.
"Well,we'll take care of those Scots. Set course for Arran." Admiral Jens ordered.
"Sir, we're not heading for the Isle of Islay like the Council asked of us?" The Navigator replied, obviously confused.
"No. We're going to go regain some Norwegian Honor." Admiral Jens said, a maniac glint in his eye.
"Belay that! Keep course for the Isle of Islay!" Shouted Prince Magnus.
"But sire, we must defend Arron from the bastard scots!"
"No, we will let them take it. We will recapture it later. For now, keep course. We shall strike the Isle of Islay, then move to the east, to Dunstaffnage." Ordered Prince Magnus.
***************************************
"M'lord, do you wish to directly assault the city with our catapults?" inquired an engineer.
"Yes, we must strike fast, and strike hard against these rebel Scots. Although we should thank them for rebelling in the first place!" Laughed Prince Magnus.
"Sir, catapults in position!"
"Fire away, the walls shall fall before us, akin to ancient Jericho!" Shouted Prince Magnus over the clamor of the catapults.
**********************
"Sir, enemy walls destroyed!"
"Quickly now, Huscarls go, kill them all!"
***********************
"Die Scottish scum!" Shouted a huscarl over the noise of battle, as seemingly infinite highlanders rushed down the street at the two batallions of Huscarls.
"Sire, they're being flanked! They won't last for long against 5 batallions! Huscarls are strong, but not invincible! Numbers will succumb even quality sir!" Shouted a scout as he ran back to Prince Magnus and his Bodyguards.
"Then I shall go myself, for my retinue is the only unit we have strong enough to aid them, and fast enough to reach them in time! Foward my friends, my loyal comrades, into the breach! For God and for country, kill them all! Charge!" Cried Prince Magnus.
With a powerful charge, maneuvered through the ranks of Huscarls. At the sight of such a cavalry unit (so well armoured that the Highlanders axe's barely scratched them) the Highlanders turned and ran, and were cut down!
"HOLD! Fall back and regroup!" Shouted Prince Magnus, above the chaos of battle, for he was a brave warrior, but he was not a reckless one. He knew what chances to take, and the sight of over a hundred Highland Archers armed with bows and axes were enough to break through his bloodlust and order a regroup of the Huscarls and his retinue.
"Casualty report!"
"Sire, we lost about 30 huscarls in the beginning assault." reported a captain.
"Damn, 30? We've lost more than we should already. From now on, allow me and my retinue to lead the way and draw their blows, for our armour is far superior to yours. Now, once again, make ready...CHARGE!" Yelled Prince Magnus, once again succumbing to the temptress that was the danger of battle.
"Ah ha ha! They route like the cowards they are sire!" reported the Captain of the Huscarls.
"Let them go. They will tell the rest of the rebels what happened here. We will press foward shortly, make sure everyone is rested first." Ordered Prince Magnus.
***********
"Now friends, finish this pathetic fight. Let us take the fight to their town center! Go my friends, my Huscarl Elites, FOWARD!" And foward the Norwegians went, the Huscarls following close behind Magnus and his Retinue.
"Sire, we killed their general! The coward use trickery, faking a surrendur, and wounded a Huscarl! Needless to say, the 3 guards you put on him killed him quick enough, but not fast enough to save the Huscarl, for the rebel's armour was thick, and he was desperate." Reported the Captain of the Huscarls.
"Final reports?" Questioned Prince Magnus.
"Here they are sir"
"Not bad, but it certainly isn't what I was hoping for." Magnus said, frowning.
******************************
What to do with the settlement. That was the question that was troubling Prince Magnus. The arguments for simply occupying it were that it would grow faster and provide more income. However, the arguments for extirminating it were far greater.
Prince Magnus had combined the 2 weakened Huscarl Batallions, leaving one company with 4 men. He would have to leave them here to guard, and they would be by far sufficient if he extirminated it. Also, he didn't want to have to handle another uprising, like Mull...
"Execute them. Leave some though, I want people to fear us enough to not revolt." Prince Magnus ordered grimly.
************************************************
At Wick -
"Sir, we have just recieved a gift of 2500 coins from the Council of Nobles for conquering the Isle of Islay! We must send thanks to Prince Magnus, for this will surely help us rebuild!" exclaimed the Advisor of Finance.
************************************************
En Route to Inverness -
The First General Haldor Of Vikus for the Legion of Wick had ordered to camp a distance away from Inverness, until they managed to get a spy inside to attempt to open the gates.
"Any word on the spy yet?" Questioned General Haldor.
"None yet sire. No sign of him either. We think hes still to the Northeast, attempting to get by the Scottish army positioned there." answered a squire.
General Haldor sighed. Another day the damned Scots get to live.
****************************************
At Wick -
"Sire! I bring grave news! The Scots have seized Arron for themselves! Our warriors died valiantly though, for the enemy arrived with over 600 highlanders, but our 2 Huscarl Batallions there managed to kill over 500 of them before fighting to the death in defense of the town!" panted a squire, who had apparently just ran 'several hundred miles m'lord, I swear it!'...
*****************************************
]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Well, I'm off for the night.
RATINGS PLEASE
http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=17,7675,0,10
^39 Turn VH/H HRE Long Campain Victory
Norwegian AAR
http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=10,7690,0,10
...the Norwegians, warriors happy to pay the blood price for their ambitions.
_________________________________________________________
Prince Magnus sat upon his throne at Castle Town, located on a small island in the Irish Sea. As he came to a decision he called for a squire, a grim look upon his face.
"Give the order to load the ships, we're leaving this damned island. We've had nothing but trouble with the northern colonies ever since we established this as our capital. We're moving all our forces to Wick, so we may devout our full attention to Scotland. We can not afford a war with the Irish, English, Welsh, and Scottish at once."
"Are you sure my Prince? So many lives were lost establishing our hold here..." The squires voice trailed off, as he realized to whom he was speaking.
"I am
"Hold on. Tell the Masons to raze the city before we go. We can sell what we gain from supplies."
"Raze the city M'lord? But why?!" The squire asked, after all, he had lived in Castle Town for years.
"I will not leave this island to aid our enemies. Once we leave, they
************************************************
Meanwhile in Wick, Knut Haackonsson was meeting with his Governance Advisors.
"I propose we send our merchants out immediatly. I understand there is a demand for fish, and we could probably find iron somewhere in the Scottish Territories. We can also raise the taxes on our other provinces substantially, although the people might grow somewhat restless." Said the Advisor for Finances.
"Aye. We'll do that. Send word to the merchants. Also, I have heard from our spy network that the Scottish have a medium sized army approaching our fort?" Knut turned to face the Master of Spys, a rather shadowy figure. "Is that correct?"
"Yes, your goveranace, it is. We infiltrated their camp, and report 6 batallions of what the Scottish call Highlanders, a batallion of Peastant Archers, and three groups of pathetic Highland Rabble. Nothing to be overly concerned about for Wick, however I suggest recalling our legion from the fort, as the Highlanders do pose a threat, if only through the fact they outnumber our forces in the fort 3:1." Replied the Master of Spys.
"Very well, issue a full recall. I want all legions in the area back into Wick. I have recieved word that we were sent a few Raiding Parties from Norway, and they are en route to our location. Also, Prince Magnus is recalling our Primary Legion to Wick and esatblishing a capital here. We'll soon have more than enough troops to crush those damned Scots."
________________________________________________________
6 Months later...
"Get him onboard! Get to it you lazy bastards!" Barked Admiral Jens, who was in command of over half the Norwegian Fleets.
The crew of the Dragonboat lowered small platforms, onto which several squires managed to pull a man wearing the attire of a Norwegian First Mate.
"Reel it in sire, we have him secure!" One of the squires called.
********
"Awake damn you! God save you if I find out your dead after commiting several of my crew to watch over you day and night for naught!" Admiral Jens shouted (in his usual eloquent tones) at the unconcious man for the umpteenth time, obviously unaware that it wasn't helping.
As the sailer slowly opened his eyes, he let out a shout, and immediatly ran to the window, attempting to throw himself out of the ship. Admiral Jens however, after years of expirience on the Dragonboats, was no pushover. He wrapped an arm around the sailer waiste, and threw him back into the bed, completely ignoring the fact that the man had been laying on a piece of driftwood in frigid waters for over a day, then had lain unconcious for days after that!
*******************************************
"M'lord Haackonsson, we are currently falling into debt. We owe 136 coins to the Duke of Mull already, and he requests that he needs the money immediatly, for riots are breaking out." Said the Advisor of Finances.
"Hmm. There could be a way to expand our hold in Britain
"Yes m'lord, immediatly. We'll be in the ships sir, but they need six months to resupply and be repaired. We'll help on that to get it done faster." Replied General Haldor.
***********************************************
"So, your telling me that the
"Yes Admiral, we were utterly crushed. They didn't even lose a single ship. I managed to get away however." The sailor replied.
"And where was this exactly?"
"Near Arron sir, we spotted a Scottish Army disembarking, and then we engaged their fleet, but were unsuccesful..." The sailor said, obviously embarassed.
"Well,
"Sir, we're not heading for the Isle of Islay like the Council asked of us?" The Navigator replied, obviously confused.
"No. We're going to go regain some Norwegian Honor." Admiral Jens said, a maniac glint in his eye.
"Belay that! Keep course for the Isle of Islay!" Shouted Prince Magnus.
"But sire, we must defend Arron from the bastard scots!"
"No, we will let them take it. We will recapture it later. For now, keep course. We shall strike the Isle of Islay, then move to the east, to Dunstaffnage." Ordered Prince Magnus.
***************************************
"M'lord, do you wish to directly assault the city with our catapults?" inquired an engineer.
"Yes, we must strike fast, and strike hard against these rebel Scots. Although we should thank them for rebelling in the first place!" Laughed Prince Magnus.
"Sir, catapults in position!"
"Fire away, the walls shall fall before us, akin to ancient Jericho!" Shouted Prince Magnus over the clamor of the catapults.
**********************
"Sir, enemy walls destroyed!"
"Quickly now, Huscarls go, kill them all!"
***********************
"Die Scottish scum!" Shouted a huscarl over the noise of battle, as seemingly infinite highlanders rushed down the street at the two batallions of Huscarls.
"Sire, they're being flanked! They won't last for long against 5 batallions! Huscarls are strong, but not invincible! Numbers will succumb even quality sir!" Shouted a scout as he ran back to Prince Magnus and his Bodyguards.
"Then I shall go myself, for my retinue is the only unit we have strong enough to aid them, and fast enough to reach them in time! Foward my friends, my loyal comrades, into the breach! For God and for country, kill them all! Charge!" Cried Prince Magnus.
With a powerful charge, maneuvered through the ranks of Huscarls. At the sight of such a cavalry unit (so well armoured that the Highlanders axe's barely scratched them) the Highlanders turned and ran, and were cut down!
"HOLD! Fall back and regroup!" Shouted Prince Magnus, above the chaos of battle, for he was a brave warrior, but he was not a reckless one. He knew what chances to take, and the sight of over a hundred Highland Archers armed with bows and axes were enough to break through his bloodlust and order a regroup of the Huscarls and his retinue.
"Casualty report!"
"Sire, we lost about 30 huscarls in the beginning assault." reported a captain.
"Damn, 30? We've lost more than we should already. From now on, allow me and my retinue to lead the way and draw their blows, for our armour is far superior to yours. Now, once again, make ready...CHARGE!" Yelled Prince Magnus, once again succumbing to the temptress that was the danger of battle.
"Ah ha ha! They route like the cowards they are sire!" reported the Captain of the Huscarls.
"Let them go. They will tell the rest of the rebels what happened here. We will press foward shortly, make sure everyone is rested first." Ordered Prince Magnus.
***********
"Now friends, finish this pathetic fight. Let us take the fight to their town center! Go my friends, my Huscarl Elites, FOWARD!" And foward the Norwegians went, the Huscarls following close behind Magnus and his Retinue.
"Sire, we killed their general! The coward use trickery, faking a surrendur, and wounded a Huscarl! Needless to say, the 3 guards you put on him killed him quick enough, but not fast enough to save the Huscarl, for the rebel's armour was thick, and he was desperate." Reported the Captain of the Huscarls.
"Final reports?" Questioned Prince Magnus.
"Here they are sir"
"Not bad, but it certainly isn't what I was hoping for." Magnus said, frowning.
******************************
What to do with the settlement. That was the question that was troubling Prince Magnus. The arguments for simply occupying it were that it would grow faster and provide more income. However, the arguments for extirminating it were far greater.
Prince Magnus had combined the 2 weakened Huscarl Batallions, leaving one company with 4 men. He would have to leave them here to guard, and they would be by far sufficient if he extirminated it. Also, he didn't want to have to handle another uprising, like Mull...
"Execute them. Leave some though, I want people to fear us enough to not revolt." Prince Magnus ordered grimly.
************************************************
At Wick -
"Sir, we have just recieved a gift of 2500 coins from the Council of Nobles for conquering the Isle of Islay! We must send thanks to Prince Magnus, for this will surely help us rebuild!" exclaimed the Advisor of Finance.
************************************************
En Route to Inverness -
The First General Haldor Of Vikus for the Legion of Wick had ordered to camp a distance away from Inverness, until they managed to get a spy inside to attempt to open the gates.
"Any word on the spy yet?" Questioned General Haldor.
"None yet sire. No sign of him either. We think hes still to the Northeast, attempting to get by the Scottish army positioned there." answered a squire.
General Haldor sighed. Another day the damned Scots get to live.
****************************************
At Wick -
"Sire! I bring grave news! The Scots have seized Arron for themselves! Our warriors died valiantly though, for the enemy arrived with over 600 highlanders, but our 2 Huscarl Batallions there managed to kill over 500 of them before fighting to the death in defense of the town!" panted a squire, who had apparently just ran 'several hundred miles m'lord, I swear it!'...
*****************************************
]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Well, I'm off for the night.
RATINGS PLEASE
http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=17,7675,0,10
^39 Turn VH/H HRE Long Campain Victory
Norwegian AAR
http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=10,7690,0,10
[This message has been edited by HereticPope (edited 07-21-2008 @ 11:40 AM).]