Then crushing the eldritch natives it will be, but not without preparations to ensure it won't be a disastrous war.
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Advance onto the shadows
The National Anthem of Vinland (Except the lyrics would be in American Norse obviously)
The development of Vinland and their superiority in technology and honor began to slowly put an end to the tribes that were enemies of the Norsemen. The vile uncivilized brothers of the Dagonl'nu were finally utterly and completely vanquished from Smaragdur, yet worship of the Great Old Ones survive within cults made of Norskers who were seduced by their offers of wealth and power beyond measure.
The Althing of the mid 16th century delayed plans for an attack when they realized the advances in equipment and tactics of Narackamous minions, now clearly armed with "arquebuses", if those "firearms" can be called such, considering their nature:
The fates of those who truly irritate the gods the Dagonl'nu Nation worship are infinitely worse than death, for it is said that the arquebuses they began to employ shortly after similar firearms rose in Europe are anything but mere firearms. Malicious instruments of fleshly pink and bony white color wielded by soldiers who are more monster than human, their arquebuses breathe agonizingly in their seemingly everlasting torment and mockery of life, for they have no mouth but they must scream, indifferent to those who shall perish.
Note: The last paragraph is actually the unit description.
The national policies of Vinland during the later half of the 16th century were geared towards preparing the Republic for war, and towards the goal of eliminating all their shortcomings, which included the weaknesses of their naval expertise, for without crushing the Dagonl'nu Navy, a definite victory would never be possible no matter how many men were ready to fight, as their Navy could simply form an unbreakable wooden wall around their capital, which unnatural birth rates and blessings of immunity to most diseases gifted with a booming population in the hundreds of thousands, and their lands around the Devil's Bay far to the northwest of Vinland.
To ensure Vinland will be able to advance onto Epekwitik or whatever that island is called, when the time is right, naval academies are created all across the country to provide an excellent naval fighting instruction to the sailors, and give the yet to be constructed Navy of Vinland the necessary edge to achieve the final victory against the horrors within their main domain.
The Granadans have no honor. Although nowhere near the losses they caused with their indecent expulsion of the merchants of Vinland, some shady smuggling of brazilwood and other high value goods from America brought quite a loss for them, and some always useful funds now that the country balanced investments between colonization, restoring their merchantile power and the planned mass expansion of the army and of the navy that would still need many years. Likewise, it was deemed wise to improve border defenses first, which would not be cheap either.
Dozens of thousands of savages were put in their place as they rose against their deserved fate of subjugation for having once fought on the side of the Great Old Ones. Rebellions such as these cannot be tolerated, for they can tip the balance of entire wars and, considered such malcontents wanted to defect to Wyandot, even turn old allies into newfound enemies.
The "arquebuses" of the enemy may be horrifying, but Vinland will not make the same mistake of the last time they declared a war on the abominations without being truly ready for it. And finally, the growingly outdated medieval cavalry tactics and equipment were being replaced. With the old lance replaced by a pistol and part of the armor once worn sacrificed for mobility and speed, but still not fully conceived, the "gallop" cavalry which would soon be the mobile support to the infantrymen of Vinland was quite formidable, as Sweden, from where such tactics originated, would confirm. Their usual tactic would be to charge into the enemy in a similar way repeating crossbowmen charged, but with more *BLAM* and less rate of fire, breaking their ranks apart with a salvo of pistol fire and engaging them close by with their swords, then, after riding over the breach in their lines or disengaging, turning around for another similar charge with their pistols loaded again, rather than to mostly skirmish in caracole maneuvers.
Albamo, as the skraelingar called it, was another great source of the valuable cigar, and of manpower as well.
The natives at Odinhóll help with trade. Let them have their land, for they are mostly decent traders that bring valuable extra income to the capital.
Before the attack, the fortifications at the borders with the eldritch "Unspeakable" must be improved as much as possible, to ensure they will have a much more difficult time defeating the garrisons should the initial assault into Canada fail.
And in many ways, patience was paying off. The Dagonl'nu had an immense wealth gifted to them by their dark gods, a wealth they used to invest massively in their lands, both contested and not. An university and a naval equipment manufactory would make the conquest of such territories, once it becomes a real possibility, extremely positive to the progress of the Republic, after they have been purge of all that is unclean and inhuman, of course.
No expenses were spared to ensure the protection of Vinland against her greatest enemy. Hopefully all these precautions would prove themselves uneccessary, for a great buildup was at hand, with Vinland building up the largest military ever in the entire history of the country to ensure their victory against the horrors.
Winds of war blow over Germany. Nordland may have fallen, but Sweden and Lithuania are on a steady territorial expansion through this century, with Sweden not so distant from the dream of uniting Scandinavia under the gods again.
Beware, beware, lest white guilt and liberalization bring ruin for a past the Norskers of the 20th Century have no responsibility over . The natives on Grótti proved themselves dishonorable, attacking the cities on the island for no good reason, killing women and children without mercy. Thus the progress of the sugar plantations was not halted in their favor, for they don't deserve such special treatment.
Almost everything was ready for the war, but the final step to break all barriers between the New World and the Renaissance in the Old would cause some chaos and hardships from societal changes that would be better endured at peace. Thus, until the stability of the Republic was golden again, there would be no war.
During his second term, as he was re-elected for his competence and good work, Sigurd Sigurdsson unfortunately died, and in his place, Soren Bolt assumed as the new Consul. Soren Bolt was a great general, but barely average in everything else. Likewise, his greatest military field skills were in sieges rather than battles, but that could be very useful considering Vinland was resorting to more and more defensive tactics.
Having allies in Europe can be problematic if those allies think Vinland has any condition to send them significant support. Such alliances are merely to dissuade the Dagonl'nu of declaring war too soon. But, as Wien was surrounded with kebab, they didn't even argue when the Republic offered a white peace treaty to leave this war they had nothing to win from.
And speaking of kebab, Armenia is almost completely removed, while the Shells in the Night bring light to the otherwise dark streets of T'blisi. The Ottoman Empire was the undisputed great power of the New World, having almost transformed the Black Sea into their private sea already.
Soren Bolt was a men fit for war, yet he ruled the country in a time of peace. In his place came the superb administrator Bernt Larsson, whose skills will be useful both in war and peace.
In 1578 the last step of the defensive improvements, other than provincial militias and reinforced walls, came in the form of the creation of The March in Innu, to make such very important province extremely safe at the expense of reduced centralization and of a reduction in the almost insignificant tax income it provides, for gold and gold alone is its worth.
Now the only thing left was to create an army as large as possible before the attack.
An army that had as their backbone a new unit far more noticeable than the gallop cavalry, and which style of starting a an attack, to an extent, was similar to that of the cavarly. The Immortals of Vinland, equally able with repeating crossbow and greatsword, were truly impressive professional soldiers, combining the strengths of the berserkers and crossbowmen. Their weapons were already iconic enough separatedly, but when together, they truly made it clear those who wielded both with skill were not to be underestimated, or to be expected to flee at the sight of a "flesh-crafted" arquebus from the Dagonl'nu firing, or even of their far more infamous Bloodspitter Bombard:
The earliest form of artillery the Dagonl'nu used was heavy, slow, but terrifying in its operation. Rather than round stones or balls of lead, it was a terrible construct of fat, muscle and a barrel of bluish flesh like that from a vein, which fired balls of clotted blood from an unspeakable source, a volatile, explosive and cursed blood that caused immense harm over a wide blast radius upon impact, driving the few survivors to rout before their inevitable deaths by the poisonous blood.
Even that would not put such great men to a rout, from whom the great of the greatest undoubtly are the old Varangian Guard, the personal guard of the Consul, always trained to the latest tactics and fitted with the newest gear, now really standing out in their colorful uniforms, exotic crossbows and zweihanders.
Note: Again, the mid paragraph is the actual in-game description of the exclusive first artillery unit for the Dagonl'nu. And it is insanely superior compared to the regular artillery available at the same land tech level as it is for them.
Hymn of the Immortal Warriors
In the beginning of 1587, everything was ready. Over thirty thousand men marched to Canada, to start the conflict with a decisive and crushing victory.
The charges of the Immortals and of the Gallop Cavalry broke apart even such mutants with their macabre guns, in spite of the lack of competence of their commander in military tactics, a lack the same didn't have in his personal courage.
Immediately after such victory, before attrition could take a heavy toll, they assaulted the heavy fortifications of Canada, and rapidly conquered the region. Now it was time for the infantry to pursue the retreating foe and seize as many forts as possible. Once the casualties grow too high, the one thousand cannoneers operating the standardized and capable chambered demi cannons shall march to the enemy walls to speed up the sieges with their bombardment.
An enemy counterattack drove the armies of Vinland out of Canada, which they immediately besieged, but their victory was a pyrrhic victory. Their horrific muskets were better at demoralizing than killing, and soon they would be driven out. However, after more battles, once again the armies of Vinland retreated, and this time their forces advanced just behind them, confident they could drive the forces of the Republic to a degree of despair where they would end as helpless as headless chicken and be easily slaughtered by the thousands. At Smaragdur, ever decisive region for such conflicts, a decisive battle began.
After some annoying "ping-pong", the victors were clear. Dozens of thousands of horrors exterminated, and the Dagonl'nu undisputed supremacy was finally falling apart, as skalds remembered the Immortal Warriors for their bravery that overcame the horrors of bloodspitter cannons and other horrific instruments of war built of living matter rather than dead wood and metal. This glorious victory paved the way for more than just a victory, it made clear this time Vinland could achieve a truly crushing victory, retake the long lost Furðustrandir and even more.
Discipline and strong forts shall prevail over reckless and impatient offensives. Let cannons roar into walls, let all remember the sacrifice of dozens of thousands for victory, because their deaths in this coming turn of the century shall not be in vain!
The artillery moves to the enemy territory while, facing slightly superior numbers, the pistoliers of Vinland utterly crush the Dagonl'nu forces in Ur'Hyperborea, named after a mythical continent turned uninhospitable eons ago by changes of weather and geography. Their charge was so successful they routed the mutants and wiped them out with salvo after salvo of pistol fire.
The last major Dagonl'nu force is finished in Saguenay, and the daring and victorious immortals prepare to assault the walls, following the traditions of courage and fearlerness of their greatsword predecessors.
Valhalla awaits Bernt Larsson, who was not a good commander, but still brave. Aggravated by wounds he suffered in battle, his frail health finally bested him. He was the man that prepared Vinland for this war, that organized the economy to support the army that now brings victory after victory against the abominations. His deeds and courage won't be forgotten.
Njald Torgeirsson, his successor, is definitively set to become one of the greatest rulers in the history of Vinland and to finish what his predecessor started, for he is a legendarily good administrator, a great diplomat and a good general.
The Dagonl'nu will lose this war. And this time they will pay for all the horrors they caused. The soldiers of Vinland have grown accostumed to, like Conan, fight eldritch horrors without fear of death, for in enough shooting, ripping, tearing, crushing of enemies like skulls of pig and hearing of the lamentations of their women, even death may be killed.
Over thirty thousand hybrid chimeras have been cleansed from this world by the *BLAM* of the cavalry and artillery and by the storms of bolts of the infantry. The Dagonl'nu are utterly defeated, and now the war will merely involve the sieges, and eventually, as money is accumulated, the creation of a Navy large enough to defy their powerful naval forces and open the way right into their capital with a great victory over the seas, but that will likely be the most difficult part of this struggle, rather than the land battles. Not that the costs of the battles weren't high, but their navy was even more formidable than their army, and once it is time to defy it, it will be very difficult, even at numerical parity.
While the defeat of the Dagonl'nu proceeded, news arrived of how an island in the middle of the ocean the English called Bermuda was being settled. Yet, England lacked naval technology to truly move into the New World, and in that field, Britannia, supported by the wealth their conquest of the fallen pagan Nordland brought, was far ahead. The Gaelic peoples were fated to become the latest newcomers to the continent, eventually.
It was only after almost one century that slowly the savages began to realize the Iroquois would never rise again. The conquest of all continental territories of the Dagonl'nu not separated by an completely hostile region of ice and mountains was almost completed, with the former Vinland territory of Furðustrandir being the last.
A naval expansion program was also underway, which should take a few more years to reach its conclusion
Nox Arcana: Pirates
1595 was the year Vinland built such a Navy with disregard to the steep maintenance costs it demanded, a Navy composed of Naus, far more advanced Carracks pioneered by Portugal, and Barques as light ships complementing their old cogs and pinnaces, that would defy the might of the eldritch one. First, they annihilated isolated fleets blockading their ports, then they moved in to regroup in the Bay of Thor.
And after crushing the blockading fleets, naturally they docked in Odinhóll for repairs before their baptism of fire, a challenge that would either bring Leif Amudsson, the first significant Admiral in the history of Vinland, to his glory or to his death.
The natives around Odinhóll were mostly decent. Unlike those of Grótti, they were given a respite from overt agricultural expansionism encroaching their farm and hunting lands. Meanwhile, the Norsker Great Navy was almost fully repaired. Soon they would face the enemy navy in an enormous showdown.
The fleet of the Dagonl'nu was every horror story among sailors made real. Pushed by pitch black winds behind their decrepit and eldritch vessels from where haunting lights shone, crewed by mutated horrors who looked more like fishes, frogs and tentacled chimeras than humans and with cannons that were clearly, even from a distance, made of flesh, bone and sinew rather than copper or iron, they unleashed a barrage of helfire, literally.
The battle dragged on not for days, but for months. Deep Ones joined the boarding of the mutated abominations against whom the sailors and marines of Vinland fought valiantly, having only the advantage of their repeating crossbows against their horrific might. There was only one other advantage of Vinland that tipped the balance enough for them to have a chance of victory: they knew the secret of Greek Fire. Eventually all cogs sunk, then all old pinnaces, until the Barques were starting to go down as well, but not without equally severe sinkings for the foe.
For more than six months the battle endured as ships evaded and engaged. It was a bloody battle this Battle of the Bay of Odin, for many Valkyries will have to ask Njörðr a hand to bring forth all brave sailors who gave their lives to utterly annihilate the superior Dagonl'nu Navy, whose names, as typical for the methodical Vinland, won't ever be forgotten.
Only the three Naus didn't sink when this enormous battle was over, and they swiftly pursued and annihilated the last ship of the horrors. Let nobody decry this victory for its high cost. The enemy had a vastly superior Navy with nine state-of-art capital ships and eighteen light ships, while Vinland had three Naus, fifteen barques, three pinnaces and six cogs. It was thanks to the superb leadership of Admiral Leif Amundsson that , even if at the cost of all light and transport ships, this first and memorable victory of Vinland's Navy was achieved.
Immediately the armies marched forth into Epekwitik or whatever their capital is called.
While their first assault failed they delivered heavy losses before retreating, and into a second amphibious assault, the very capital of the Dagonl'nu now was soon to be in Vinland's hands, to truly make of this war a great victory!
A rally from the city walls that was completely unexpected brought an end to the siege, but that would be short lasted.
Vinland was perhaps too ahead of her time in the past, but now, at the dawn of the 16th Century, that is no longer the case, which also means colonial expansion shall be reinvigorated once this war is over and the impacts of war are forgotten.
And finally, in 13th of April of 1600, victory! Yet, there was much more. Even as they lied on the verge of total defeat, Narackamous arrogantly refused to cede all territories Vinland demanded. They needed another lesson. A lesson Vinland claims over their territories would teach in three years.
Because in 7th of February of 1603, after centuries under rule of the horrors since that day of infamy when the eldritch cults took over that region, Furðustrandir is once again back to their rightful claimant! And now, with the enemy utterly defeated, yet not sufficiently for total victory, it is time to make them pay.
At the dawn of 17th, Vinland crushed their old nemesis and forged their first real Navy capable of a fight from the greatest fire and sacrifice.
May all who gave their lives for this truly glorious accomplishment that will bring immense prosperity for the Republic, specially with the naval manufactory of Canada and university of Micmac in their hands. Let the heroes be hailed for their deeds, and the great leaders be remembered for their wisdom that finally brough vindications.
They may have lost the war to the Holy Roman Empire in Nordland, Finland may have lost Bjarmia to one of the worst turk idiots, but in this 17th Century, Lithuania steadily advances into becoming the undisputed masters of the the Baltic, Sweden is on the verge of uniting Scandinavia and Vinland has achieved her greatest victory ever.
The world is changing, once weak nations like Portugal now grow might and wealthy with Incan gold, as they await the best moment to defy the Granadans and try to conquer Brazil. Castille likewise, once on the verge of subjugation to the Caliphate, now is a solid major power through her colonies. Yet others have declined, such as Serbia, ultimately failing to stop the worst turk, and others having their precarious birth, such as the minuscle Ruthenia-Zaporozhie between Poland and the Golden Horde, which is a distant and unlikely promise of a White Ruthenian country for the White Ruthenians, while others had a birth with far more potential, such as the Dutch sodomites of Netherlands, unfortunately from the catholic Flanders rather than from the Norse Friesland or Holland, now subjugated by the Celts of Britannia.
Whatever it happens, Vinland shall have a glorious future ahead!
Maybe not a future the others agree with, however, because the legalization of piracy through letters of marque that will bring a new form of the old Viking raids, is becoming as inevitable as the sighting of comets and the extremely corny nature of Viking Pirates of the Caribbean.