|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 4, 2022 18:46:13 GMT
Going West to Go East Following their successful missions in catching Duomish refugees, making contact with the far off land of Grot Qin, making friends of the Jukhijin, and having found the waters truly safe, the Grot Westflutt was once more tasked with an important mission. The collapse of the realm of Duom had been so total and so complete, that the Raikh no longer knew what was what and who was where, and so the Flutt was now needed to go and see what there was to see. To add to this though, they had a secret mission. The Raikh had decided that the time had come for a great undertaking and had entered into talks with the Sheenish and the Jukhijin over creating great canals to cut through the great continent and unite the west with the east, through the Sal. In order to begin this work, the Flutt would need to secure land from the strange and barbaric land of Jollbastalic and to do that a war would be needed. To have this war be just, the Flutt had already taken some of the Duomish prisoners and had sacrificed them to the gods. The prisoners were strapped to stone tables with grooves in them for collecting the blood and slowly and painfully exsanguinated, before then having their organs removed and their still beating hearts cut out just before death took them. The officers drank from the blood, but the hearts, organs, and flesh were burnt and offered to the gods. Before burning the organs though, the haruspex sifted through them and declared that there would be a great victory ahead of the Flutt. With that done, the gods were pleased and the cause for war was all that was needed. The Flutt set sail with the morning tide and visited Jukh and then Grot Qin, picking up some diplomats to make their cover more real, before heading due south. It took them a few weeks, but they came to a land of odd men with odd speech near the south of the great continent. No gifts were given, but a salute was fired and the ships slowed, though they were shadowed leaving that land's waters. After coming past the tip of the continent a few days later, the Flutt turned west and then sailed north-north-west. After a week of travel, they came to the lands in which the Magdali had once fought, but they saw no remnants of the Duomish enemy. Instead, they found new flags flying there and were greeted by new strangers. Seeing the strange ships and the strange flags, an odd sense of unpreparedness gripped the heart of the recently promoted Saiwsfrauja Tusk. While they had gifts and they had diplomats aboard, they had not intended to truly make diplomatic contact. Acting on his training, he ordered the ships to flash out a message of peace to the foreigners and to ask to be led to port. If the Hauhkuno was with them, this would go well. |
|
|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 9, 2022 13:39:42 GMT
The Plot Against Jollbastalic After visiting the strange and foreign land of women, the Grot Westflutt set off for its true goal. After steaming leisurely up towards their target for a week, the fleet finally came in sight of their target. Firing off cannons in salute and approaching slowly towards the local patrol craft, the fleet explained their purpose as being that of a courtesy visit. They dropped anchor well outside of a local port and had smaller vessels laden with gifts sail in, with diplomats as well. After nightfall came, the plan went into motion: The skeleton crews brought out corpses dressed in uniforms and some in local dress and set timers on the explosives deep within the bowels of their boats; they then had all but a handful disembark for 'shore leave', so as to avoid being caught in the explosions; and finally, the volunteers starting sounding alarms and firing off blanks before running for their lives away from the boats. The explosions blossomed in the night and the entire port was shaken by the wave of concussive force coming from the boats. The next few hours were wild, the men who had 'luckily' gotten off of the boats before the attacks had finished told of how they had been boarded by men in uniforms trying to seize them and their treasure, who had inadvertently set off the fuel and ammunition stored aboard the boats. The local guards confirmed sounds of shouting and fighting, but denied seeing men in uniforms in the harbour. In response to this outrage, the Grot Westflutt went to condition one and began preparing to attack the port in response. The demands to the locals were simple: Let us land troops and hand over those responsible or we will invade and do so anyway. The request for fair justice was rejected quickly, as the locals knew that the demand was too much and that they had not been responsible for the attack. The counter-response was quick and simple: Hundreds of shells rained down upon the port-town, levelling buildings and starting fires. Nearby defensive positions and garrisons were prioritised to be destroyed and any guns that fired back were silenced. After three hours had passed and the locale had been thoroughly softened up, the ships approached and began disgorging their troops and marines into the ruined town. Though the bombardment made the town easy to take, it was only four hours before a counter-attack was mounted. The fighting was intense and the men were able to repel the locals, but the situation was obviously less than tenable. Rather than try and push out as was originally intended, the Raikh's men pushed a ways out of the town and began digging in with trenches. A great river marked the western terminus of the front line and the coast marked the south-eastern terminus. The army would need to dig in and wait until reinforcements from the Duomish tribes could be arranged. |
|
|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 14, 2022 12:53:20 GMT
To the Imperial Realm of Wakoku,
Greetings and well wishes.
We would like to inquire as to whether your government would be interest in participating in a joint international project for the bridging of east and west. Our goal is to breach the great continent and create a series of locks and canals to allow shipping to pass freely between the great oceans.
We are willing to offer your workers a wage of a year's worth of corn each.
We await your reply.
|
|
|
|
Post by House Randgriz on Apr 14, 2022 13:00:34 GMT
From, the country of Gallia;
We have received word that the Thata Raikh af hize Dalin were going to be conducting construction of an important canal that would allow safer and quicker passage throughout the Sal Lake, which would allow Gallia to profit immensely, as well as any allies of Gallia that may pass through it. We would like to aid in securing land for the canals south of the Sal Lake with the Thata Raikh af hize Dalin, if they would accept our declaration of allegiance, so that we may fight alongside one another to ensure stronger bonds between our nations. A battalion of 350,000 men and women shall arrive to aid you, should you agree to our declaration, in order to secure the territory, along with 5,000 tonnes of coal and 1,000 tonnes of chromium in good faith.
Signed,
The House of Randgriz
|
|
|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 14, 2022 13:31:23 GMT
From, the country of Gallia;
We have received word that the Thata Raikh af hize Dalin were going to be conducting construction of an important canal that would allow safer and quicker passage throughout the Sal Lake, which would allow Gallia to profit immensely, as well as any allies of Gallia that may pass through it. We would like to aid in securing land for the canals south of the Sal Lake with the Thata Raikh af hize Dalin, if they would accept our declaration of allegiance, so that we may fight alongside one another to ensure stronger bonds between our nations. A battalion of 350,000 men and women shall arrive to aid you, should you agree to our declaration, in order to secure the territory, along with 5,000 tonnes of coal and 1,000 tonnes of chromium in good faith.
Signed,
The House of Randgriz To the Honourable House of Randgriz, We are pleased to accept your assistance in this and will gladly provide your men with food whilst on deployment with us. The resources presented will naturally be accepted. Many thanks, Fluttfaðs Tusk, of His Holy Majesty's Great Western Fleet |
|
|
|
Post by Die Golisch Reykh on Apr 15, 2022 15:16:43 GMT
To the Imperial Realm of Wakoku, Greetings and well wishes. We would like to inquire as to whether your government would be interest in participating in a joint international project for the bridging of east and west. Our goal is to breach the great continent and create a series of locks and canals to allow shipping to pass freely between the great oceans. We are willing to offer your workers a wage of a year's worth of corn each. We await your reply. Wakoku has accepted the offer, and has posted flyers and posters around cities with left contact information and addresses to visit and follow if they have the right Requirements. |
|
|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 27, 2022 1:03:36 GMT
'Wheel about men, wheel about! Rifles, present! Fire!'
A skirmish was underway in one of the small towns. A company of foot had been passing through and procuring provisions, when they had been ambushed in the town's market. The locals had blocked the streets with carts and rubble to stop a quick retreat and so the men had formed lines to hold the square. Smaller squads had been ordered into the buildings to clear them out and occupy them. Now, a full battalion of regulars was bearing down on them.
'We've seen them off, sir. Not long now.'
'Only fools count victories whilst getting shot at. We're not yet relieved, even if the dragoons ought to be en-route to investigate.'
A whooping call went up in another part of the town, likely indicating yet another assault on their position was to begin.
'Right, have half the machine gunners switch to side-arms and distribute their bullets to the men. We can't be sure how long we'll be here for, but I'm not going to have us fight with nowt but bare fists and teeth.'
This time though, it was not a straight charge down a street. Seeming to have learnt their lesson from the last three attempts, the enemy soldiers had bound carpets into rolls and then attached them, boards of wood, and sheets of metal to some carts. Some men rode atop these carts fired shots at the snipers in buildings and the infantry behind their makeshift barricades, whilst the rest advanced behind the cover provided.
'Grenades, does anyone have grenades!'
'No sir, we've exhausted them.'
'Blast it all... Company, fix bayonets!'
Saying this, the Hebiðman drew his sword and his Stadhaldjen likewise followed suit. The rest of the Kregjen fired when they could see someone poking out, but otherwise conserved shot not wanting to waste it trying to blast through the siege wagons. Once within thirty yards though, the wagon men drew back their arms and began throwing their grenades. Twenty men died to this preparatory attack, while the rest scattered or threw back the sticks of death.
Shots rang out from behind the cover and the men in the windows were suppressed, then the enemy began to rush over their wagons and charge the slightly disorganised defenders. A few of them were caught by the return of their own bombs, but this did nothing but slightly slow the tide.
'Fire freely! Drive them back!'
The company, now engaged on all sides, was effectively broken up into its constituent platoons. Each Kregbandin responding as it saw fit to the foe-men before them. Some of the men issued bellows and counter-charged, trying to over turn the siege wagons and engaging in brutal melee. Others with better positions and who had been less disturbed by the grenades, scythed down the flood of warriors with goodly fire and shot.
'Right, up, up! We charge, let none survive!'
The men under the Hebiðman raised up a war cry and counter-charged the now flagging enemy. The bodies of the dead and dying made an embankment against the wagons, allowing them to scamper over. On the other side, they met their query and gave a good thrashing to them there. Those with sense seized the cases of supplies and rearmed, whilst the younger and more blood thirsty engaged in wholesome slaughter.
It was then that a flair went up and bugles called.
'The dragoons, they arrive!'
The mounted infantry charged into the town and hammered the battalion against the company's anvil. Some alighted once in sight of friendly faces, but most went to the chase. The ambushers had become now entrapped, unable to safely extricate from the town and so were slaughtered nearly to a man. A few hours later, the Hebiðman rested on a couch in an occupied house and was met by his counterpart.
'Hebiðman Gregorio Wilks, Sixth Dragoons of the Second Battalion of the Rock City Guard.'
'Hebiðman Galrich Katsunus, Second Company of the Third Battalion of the Fholkþabadbað Territorials, well met.'
'Sorry about the late arrival, but we had to meet up with some local federates. It appears the realm of Gallia has thrown in with us and has sent an army to help with the war. They'll be arriving in a few hours to help occupy this region.'
'Well, that's a relief. We lost a fifth of our number to-day, even if we destroyed them. I'm not sure how long we'd last if we kept having to fight on our own here.'
'Indeed, sir. As I understand it, we shall be constricting the line in two days anyway. Are you well enough to march? If not, we could help carry your wounded back with us.'
'I do believe I am not, sir. We shall gladly take you up on that offer and thank you for accompanying us on the withdrawal.'
|
|
|
|
Post by Fleischmann on Apr 27, 2022 2:42:40 GMT
Transit Log
The Great Western Fleet/So Grot Westflutt (01-BKtS, 02-BKtS, 01-BKlS, 05-KSnS, 06-KSnS, 07-KSnS, 08-KSnS, 09-KSnS, 11-KStS, 12-KStS, 13-KStS, 14-KStS, 15-KStS, 16-KStS, 17-KStS, 18-KStS, 19-KStS, 1↊-KStS, 1↋-KStS, 06-KKtS, 0↋-KKtS, 12-KKtS, 15-KKtS, 16-KKtS, 17-KKtS, 18-KKtS, 19-KKtS)
Battleships: 2
Battlecruisers: 1
Armoured Cruisers: 5
Light Cruisers: 11
Destroyers: 8
Transiting between Jollbastalic and Hweituzdas via D.O.C. islands.
As the fleet entered the claimed Modereli waters they were approached by 1 Heavy Cruiser and 2 destroyers.
Grot Westflutt: 'Foreign vessels, steer clear. We are of His Holy Majesty's Fleet and are not to be approached.'
Moderali: 'You have entered the waters of the Realm of Moderal, we are ordered to either come along side or escort you to port where we shall have the fee for armed ships passing through these waters.'
G.W., Internally: 'Set condition one throughout the fleet, give a warning shot should they make to approach.'
G.W.: 'We see no lands here and are on the open sea, we do not recognise your claims. Should you attempt to approach, it will be seen as a hostile movement. You have been warned.'
The ships ceased approaching, sailing along with the fleet.
Moderali: 'We don't wish for an incident, however we must have that fee. You are sailing military ships through our waters.'
G.W.: 'Any attempt to claim such a fee will be seen as an act of piracy.'
G.W., Internally: 'Keep condition one for four hours, should they still be with us, go to condition three. I want some of the guns manned no matter the hour.'
Moderali: 'If you are unable to pay the fee, we can direct the fee to your nation. Or if you simply do not want to pay the fee you can leave the waters and go south, you have ports there.'
G.W.: 'No such fee will be paid and we shall not obey. These waters belong to the gods and to the sons of the sea.'
G.W., Internally: 'Continue course, slow to cruising speed. Have the gunners aim at them in case they try something.'
Moderali: 'Then you shall turn around. Or, find some way to disarm yourself.'
The Moderali ships continued to follow the fleet, but took no action. The Grot Westflutt was not taxed, but the government was informed of the matter.
|
|
