The Danes - My account

I have read several accounts of players experiences and thought I might give it a go.


In 1087, King Olaf decides that he will unite the Norse tribes under one house, The House of Erikson. He begins building his military arms to thwart any that might disagree with him. At that time King Olaf has two sons, Olaf II (b.1075) and Erik (b.1079) and two daughters Ingrid (b.1084) and Margrethe(b.1087).

In 1089 King Olaf army, be it small, is ready to march, totaling 20 Royal Knights, 60 Archers and 60 Vikings. He leaves behind a garrison of 100 Spearmen to guard his family, which now includes newly born Astrid (b.1089). The annexation of Sweden is uninhibited and no battle is fought. Many refugees leave Sweden for Norway with their fleeing army in tow. The people of Sweden prove to be more unruly than first thought. This slows the reunification plans as the people of Sweden will need to quelled before Norway can be brought under the Erikson house. During the ocupation Ingrid-Satu (b.1091) is born.

In 1093, the same year Knud (b.1093) was born, just a year after a fort is completed in Sweden to allow a campaign to be launched in to Norway, a peasant revolt breaks out. King Olaf leads an army of 20 Royal Knights, 180 Archers and 300 Vikings. His son, Olaf II the heir to the throne, is present to learn tactics from his father personally. Olaf II (2V/4S) is currently 17 and everyone says that he is a natural leaders but is very irritable. He commands his own person guard of 19 Royal Knights.

The battle commences in a driving rain storm. The rebel peasant leader fielding 300 Archers, 160 Hobilar and 500 peasants. King Olaf sits atop a small rise, barely able to be called a hill, with a small stand of pine. The enemy stops its advance just in range of King Olaf's archers. The archers of both side now volley and wait for the other side to commit. During the exchange, the enemy bring three hobilar units to the left for flanking. King Olaf orders his son, Olaf II, to take a unit of Vikings to create a left flank wall to deter the enemy from exploiting this situation. The Viking unit forms up to the left to form a box corner with the Prince on its left flank. It works and the enemy does not try to push this any further but does not withdrawl either. The fourth hobilar unit is flanking to the right. King Olaf himself creates a extended right flank to counter this move. The general of the hobilar unit decides foolishly to charge in to King Olaf's Royal Knights. The right extreme viking unit then right pin wheels into the flank of the attcking hobilar. The hobilar unit is destroyed and King Olaf suffers a loss three of his personal guards and a loss of five Vikings.

During the destraction encounter the other three hobilar units crashed in to the young prince and the left extreme Viking unit. King Olaf quickly takes note of the situation. The main bulk of the peasant army, quite less than the start of 500 man strong, is nearing assault on the archers, who were staked out in front of the last three remaining Viking units each 60 men strong. These Vikings will have to bare the brunt of the assault until the right extreme unit can form up to the rear and swing left in to the peasant assault. King Olaf, orders the archers to reform up behind the remaining vikings as not to be skimished the wrong direction, as he rides hard behind the lines to help hold up the left flank that is beginning to yield. By the time the King joins the prince in the fray, nearly 40 Vikings have been slain and the prince has lost over half his Royal Knights. The king takes position between the Prince on the left and the Viking unit on the right.

The rebel leader takes the initiative to pressure the King, with 99 peasants, pushes in to the Viking unit on the King's right flank, hoping to break through to the King. It works to route the remaining Vikings. Now the King and Prince fight to hold the left flank against impossible odds. The King frantically kills with recklessness. King Olaf and his Royal Knights finally route the rebel general but are now being pressed from the rear. Turning to meet this new threat, he sees his first born, fallen to the enemy. His rage consumes him as he personaly punishes anyone caught with in his range. Small skirmishing insue all over the field, as even the archers are pressed to hold the line in melee after using up their quivers. The remaining rebels were forced from the field and the battle won won but at great cost. King Olaf showed scant mercy by single handedly slaughtering 98 prisoners.

King Olaf showed extraordination valor on the battle field (+4V). Sweden remains under the house of Erikson. The army to subdue Norway but a remnant though, consisting of only 5 Royal knights, 70 Archers and 104 Vikings. Norway will have to wait.

[Kensai Achilles]

well put tex, I should have written a short diary like this about my turkish campaigns but I suppose i've written a tad long enough there already.

I enjoy your writing, especially the descriptive emotional aspect of it



Quote[/b] ]
... Turning to meet this new threat, he sees his first born, fallen to the enemy. His rage consumes him as he personaly punishes anyone caught with in his range ...

[Exile]

A very enjoyable short story, well done. That was quite an army the rebels amassed for early in the game Sweden is probably the best prov in the north and worth the sacrifice of troops, even the prince - he was a bit grumpy anyway . http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Thanks for the praise. That account is only six turns in to a new game. This could turn into a triple trilogy. It took me twice as long to write that story than to play the six turns. I was tired last night and found many errors today. Maybe some more writing later tonight.

Cheers
Richard http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Second Chapter - Norway

Prince Valdemar (b,1096) was just two year old, when in 1098 King Olaf (reinforced to 4V/4S) with his second son Prince Erik, the current hier to the thone, enter Norway to complete his goal of uniting the Norse clans. They brought an army containing 40 Royal Knights, 240 Archers and 240 Vikings. Norway tribes are able to muster 360 Vikings to repell the invaders. Prine Erik (3V/4S) is currently 19 years of age. He took his older brothers death hard five years earlier and is now consoled by spirits. He drinks excessively some times and most of the time is partly inebriated.

The commencement of combat was held off a day while weather was not very archer friendly with high winds. The following day was bright, clear and calm. A perfect day for battle, King Olaf thought but that would change. The two armies met is a very hilly region. The enemy army sat waiting on a wooded tall hill. King Olaf's army must have been very imposing because the clans' army retreated to another hill further back, as the Danish army closed for archery range. Finally with their backs against the wall the enemy had two choices, to flee or fight. They choose to make a stand in the forrested hill, as a rain began to fall.

King Olaf ordered his units in to a formation with the archers ahead of the Viking units. The trees of the hill will provide some cover from the rain of arrows from King Olaf army but losses would be unbearable as they are alredy out numbered. The Norwegean general was forced to make a dicision and ordered a unit of 60 Vikings down the hill into the ranks of archers before they could get completely organized. The Vikings ran swiftly, to cross the open ground. They were now the primary target for archers. They only made if halfway across the field when they began to waver after loosing only 10 men. The leader of that unit would have faired better to continue the assault and rout the archers, for he lost another 20 men in the confusion of retreating back to the woods.

King Olaf ordered his lines forward to reengage the enemy. Just as the retreat Vikings reached the woods anothe Viking unit rallied them and they both turn down hill to fight. This turned out to a better idea as the archers were now forced to divide their vollies between to units. King Olaf order Prince Erik to the right flank to faint a charge to hold off the attackers. The two enemy Viking units forced the center and right side archer units to retreat back behind their Viking guardians stationed to their rear. As they realized that now they face battle hardened warriors the remaining enemy Viking turn tail and ran back up the hill to the safty of the trees.

As 67 enemy Viking lay in to field dead or dieing with no Danish losses, King Olaf again orders his army to push forward. Prince Erik now holds the right flak of the army, in position to crush the enemy's flank if they try to attack again. Another Viking unit commander sees that the Prince is quite far out to the right flank. He orders his unit to rush after the Prince. Prince Erik had actually set a trap for the Viking commander and rides off to the right away from the battle. He hopes they follow and will grow tired, then they will be prime targets. They take the bait, like fools and run after men on horses.

The Norwegean general orders the remaining Viking unit to charge down the hill in to King Olafs right side, while he serveys from the hill. The archers are busy falling the aproaching foe. The archers thought that the enemy would turn again but they were wrong. They got off a last volley as the enemy Vikings slam in to the two right archer unit's ranks. The Vikings steam rolled over the archers in a great charging attack. By the time King Olaf's own vikings reacted and could enter the fray the didn't have to worry about retreating archers getting in their way, because over 60 archers laid dead in less than a minute.

The viking unit that was tailing Prince Erik turned to enter in to the folly as the remaining retreating archers fled out the right flank in to their wanting swords. Prince Erik having too much fun riding his horse or maybe it was the ale, didn't notice the pursueing enemy had broke off. He kept riding away from the battle for another couple of minutes. King Olaf ordered a unit of Vikings to envelope the enemy from the left side as he lead his units to support the right flank. Prince Erik seeing his error, finally turn about to ride back to the battle.

The Danish Viking unit finish the encircling movement and rammed in to the rear flanks of the enemy Vikings. The unit routed and two dozen men were easily cut down. Another Danish Viking unit finally arrives to support King Olaf's Knights as Prince Erik neared. Prince Erik stops short of the battle area though. Rumour has it, to muster some courage from a flask, but his Knights never comfirm this. The King and Vikings are winning easily when Prince Erik and his Knights plunge in to the enemy's rear. Many men are lanced like meat on a spit before the unit routs.

The Norwegean General gasps as he watches as most of his men are dead and the rest are running away. He makes a last ditch rush down the hill to rally his troops and save the battle. His Vikings run across the field in to a pen formed by three Viking units and Prince Erik's Knights. The enemy is quikly dispatched and flee from the field. Total losses amounted to 7 Royal Knights, 82 archers and 117 Vikings.

Prince Erik made a good showing on field of battle (+1v). King Olaf still wonders if Erik is becoming a skilled warrior or a drunken fool that was lucky. He knows that only time will tell. He wants not to lose his second son to a mug of brew. But he knows that his son must forge his own path if he is to become a great leader like his father. So he does not meddle and hopes that the taste for alcohol does not enslave his son.

[MacGregor]

I do this stuff all the time I have pages and pages from my campaigns, I tend to slack off after about 100 years though. Keep posting until you get bored it's interesting to read.

By the way, as of 1115 Anno Domini, King Olaf is 54 years old. He vigorously and potently virile. He has 14 children now. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif


Third Chapter - Western Baltic

In 1102 Princess Ingrid now 18 years of age is travelling to France. She leaves behind all she knows and dearly misses her two youngest sisters Kristina (b.1099) and Sofie (b.1101) who she helped raise being the oldest. She is to be arranged with a royal suitor if one can be found there. While travelling through Saxony she sends word back to her father of the status of the province. The Holy Roman Empire does not appear to military power house as rumor has let be know. They only garrison is 160 men of spearmen and peasants. Prince Erik with 19 Royal Knights, 60 archers and 60 veteran Vikings, is depatched by his father to take over Saxony. King Olaf saw years before that his son had the making of a good King but in the last couple years his drinking has gotten worse. Maybe he need things to take his mind off of drinking.

The Germans choose to flee to the safty of there fort. Country side was looted and 650 Florins were sent to Denmark. King Olaf knew that breaking our agreement with the Germans could have serious repercussion. Fortunately the Holy Roman Empire is not that well liked after all. As for all the allies the Danes had in common with the HRE only the Pope wished to maintain its alliance with the HRE. Novgorod, Aragon, Italians and England, broke their alliances with the HRE and stayed with the Danes.

In 1103 King Olaf left his new born princess, Thyra (b.1103) and brought his army to Saxony, to relieve Prince Erik of the siege. Prince Erik went on to Brandenburg with his army of 19 Royal Knights, 60 archers and 60 Vikings. The Germans had 60 archers but decided to flee to Franconia. The fort in Saxony fell while the defenders were waiting for help that never came.

Princess Ingrid causes a royal rivalry between Prince Louis and Prince Philippe. King of France forbid the marriage between her and Louis. Prince Philippe and Princess Ingrid married in 1106. King Olaf finds that his daughters can give such good information, sends Ingrid-Satu to Friesland for studies but also to collect infomation on the garrison there.

King Olaf sent his newly grown son, Prince Knud (3V/5S) to Brandenburg in 1109 to replace Prince Erik. Prince Knud appears to be a great warrior. Prince Erik was requested to go to Pomerania with his army. The province is being held by a bunch of pagans peasants. There are many souls to be won by taking Pomerania and maybe the Danes would gain favor with the Pope. The peasant army withdrew to Prussia without a battle.

In 1110 Princess Astrid ran off to Poland and is married to a member of the royal family of Poland. It is never known whom she married. Princess Ingrid-Satu, in 1111, was sent to Franconia to see Emperor Conrad II and to request a cease fire between the Danes and the HRE. This request was denied and she returned to Friesland. In 1112, reports were received that the King of England had been captured in battle and executed. The location was not given but it is believed to be Scottland. Princess Ulrikke (b.1112) is born also.

In 1114 King Olaf is suprised to learn, from a emmissary, that the Germans are massing troops in Franconia, to the order of over 1300 combined troops. He orders he recently grown son, Prince Valdemar (4V/5S) to march on Franconia with all the troops that can be spared from Saxony and Brandenburg. Prince Valdemar has killer instincts due to being often harrassed as an adolescence. At the age of 12 he killed one of his playmates, because he was calling him names. In later years, he spent most of his time studying tactics and practicing combat. His father wonders if he will ever marry, seeing that he never tries to charm the ladies.

King Olaf being 53 years of age desides battle is best for the young at heart. He recalls his dear beloved son, Prince Erik, from Pomerania to Saxony incase Prince Valdemar fails. King Olaf goes to Pomerania to tend to his newly born son, Price Christoffer (b.1114). Also, barracks as far from Norway to Saxony over to Pomerania were order to expedite training of more Viking troops and Archers.

Prince Valdemar entered Franconia with 19 Royal Knights, 240 Archers and 360 Vikings. Suprisingly at first, the Germans flee Franconia splitting the army up and send half to Swabia and half to Bavaria. A report later reach King Olaf that Emperor Conrad II had died. Another report came that more troops move in to Swabia from the south. A counter attack seemed eminent in Franconia.

In 1115 the same year Prince Sweyn (b. 1115) is born, King Olaf sent word to raze Franconia province and 850 Florins were sent to Denmark. Prince Valdemar was then sent to Friesland to harass Prince Rudolf of the HRE. He took 19 Royal Knights, 180 Archers and 240 Vikings. The remaining of his forces were to Saxony to shore up defense with Prince Erik. Unknowingly, Prince Rudolf of the HRE left Friesland unguarded and marched on Saxony. Prince Valdemar pillaged Friesland and sent home 1475 Florins. The Germans recaptured Franconia.

Prince Rudolf (1V/4S) of the HRE fielded 120 Urban Militia, 400 Spearmen and his 19 Royal Knights. Prince Erik(4V/4S) commanded his 15 Royal Knights, 180 Archers and 420 Vikings. The day started with light rain and cleared up later. The battle field is in rolling hills with very few trees. Prince Rudolf seemed like he was going to march his army off the field but he was flanking with his entire army to the Dane's right. Prince Erik repositioned his line to be a perpenticular mate on a crest of the hill that he had chosen, which cause Prince Rudolf to change direction and was now flanking his army to Prince Eriks Left. Prince Eric was errantly drinking while the enemy was swinging to his left. He finally commanded to reform to the left oblique. Once all the unit were in formation, with the Archers behind the Viking units, the archers began to unload on the enemy troops coming up the hill. Prince Erik sent a unit of Viking out the left side to set up for rear attack. Prince Rudolf send two units of Spearmen and one Viking unit in to Prince Erik's right side. Prince Erik headed for the right flank to try to out flank the enemy. Prince Rudolf decided that he might as well throw everything in to one grand melee. To which, Prince Erik anted up and send the rest of his Viking units in to the death maw. By the time Prince Erik raced around the enemy's left flank and in to the rear area, two enemy spear units started to rout. When Prince Erik hit the enemy's left side from the rear the entire enemy army broke and started to run. Prince Rudolf was never able to rally anyone, being the first to leave the battle field. The battle was a huge loss for the HRE with 276 casualties and 221 men captured while Prince Erik army only lost 41 men. The enemy was later ransomed for 415 Florins.