A Road of Life: A Road To Power: A Medieval Adventure of Rising to Power

Battle of Vikken
Battle of Vikken:

There was little the men could do, standing on the beach as the sun broke through the winter fog of the morning. The wind was biting cold, most men were lucky to have the furs around their armor, the heavy wool that kept them warm draping over them like shrouds for burial.

They could see the hundreds of ships sailing across the bay, towards their location, the waves sounding like a neverending crescendo of doom.

It was going to be a battle. A battle that all men wanted to win, but feared to lose. They had heard of the great Danish army that was upon them, how they would first kill them, take Vikken itself, and then… Rampage wasn't the most accurate word that any many would use.

Systematic destruction and enslavement was marginally better. They would breed the Norwegians out and then rule over a land they did not have any claim to, except by right of blood and steel.

They already were trying to do it to the Land of the Angles… who was going to care if they did it to the Norwegians?

Tor Erikson was a man who believed in the two men who were commanding him. One a friend, the other, a man of honor. He was… naive so to speak, not a man who wanted to see the world, yet talked into it by a lowly boy with a ship and a dream.

That boy, through honor and glory, and the treachery of his liege, found himself Jarl, giving himself a name that would be fitting and commanding men he did not know, yet trusted with his life. He showed that trust by merely speaking aloud, and kept himself open, and honest, both in the eyes of the gods and the law.

The North was tamed by him, and the Thanes, the cowards who wanted to try and destroy him, to maintain the independence that would not matter even if Einar never took power… well, he did not think about them. They were dead, having dishonored the gods with their actions, and were punished accordingly.

And now he was here… on a beach in Vikken, with an army of men from all over Norway, fighting off Danes. He did not know what to think of such a state of affairs, or even how it got to this point. What mattered was, he was here now, and his Jarl, his friend was counting on him.

He could only hope that his faith was rewarded… or failing that, that the gates of Valhalla would swing wide open for everyone who would die here.

Hopefully, he would not be among the souls the Valkyries would be leading.
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(POV Change)

Unther was not a man who liked being a subordinate, with one exception of course. His men were led by a Jarl who barely a year ago was threatening to do battle with his lord, and now Harald expected him to follow that man into battle for the fate of Norway.

Freya was a cruel and merciless mistress that he served, but even he did not see this coming when Harald defeated him in single combat and recruited him into his retinue as his Marshel. A cruel fate, but he served faithfully, for he knew glory and Valhalla awaited him, part of a saga to unify Norway, for the first time.

He believed in his lord… not this Einar who sits atop a horse to spy the enemy ships that were more likely than not going to head straight for them. The Troop transports were leading the charge and are flanked by the longships that were providing protection.

Harald would need to be fast to strike at the troop transports before they reach the beach.

And he would need to battle the Danish fleet off while he battled on land.

It was going to be hard… but that was going to be Haralds problem… not his own.

No, he had the easy part.

He had to kill men on the beach, while they kept coming.
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(POV Change)

Harald felt the wind in his hair and his beard. The sea was a mistress he longed want to sail, to reave and to make his fortune on, like so many before him. But he was here now on a mission, a mission he chose for himself, to save his home.

It pained him to work with the Wallbreaker, but he realized shortly after he met him that… well Einar was not a man to be trifled with so boldly. He had seen the man's eyes. He was driven by the same drive you had in unifying your people.

For Thor you worked hard to unify the realm… the same could be said for Odin and Einar.

Both of the men were of the same stock, who could not live in a world together when their objectives were precisely the same… yet bounded by fate to fight together anyway, for another, darker force wishes to impose their will upon them.

The Gods truly were fickle beings playing at drama, and weaving a saga for the future generations to sing about.

But Saga's were not what he needed to think about. He needed to be ready, to see whatever was to come.
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(POV Change)

Einar was feeling cold. He was cold, even though he had furs covering his body, three layers of finery that made him feel weighed down.

It wasn't like he wanted to have such coldness or chills, but they just came suddenly, like he was falling ill.

But he remained firm on top of his horse and looked out across the fog-covered sea, and the images of a dragon-headed longship cutting through the waves.

He sat and waited. Waiting for his destiny to arrive. And if Odin was with him or against him.

Yet even as he waited, he could see a sole raven fly overhead, towards the sea, and towards Fairhair.

He needed to get warm… and he needed the men ready.

He rode to the front of the line, the shields colored and painted, the axes, swords, spears… all manner of weapons were ready. Many were lightly armored, som only had their shield to protect them from the horrors and terror of combat.

Huscarls of Harald's retinue, those that stayed behind to form the veterans of the Heavy Infantry, stood calmly as they watched, and waited.

"Men of the North, of Vikken and all of Norway! Heed my words!" Einar shouted, raising your voice so that as many people could hear. "You can see through the fog, that Odin has granted us, has hidden us from our enemies the Danes! Do not think they are afraid of some fog, for we are not, as you stand before me! I see Valhalla awaiting all the heroes of Norway among me! Hel is the only thing that awaits our enemies!"

The men began to scream and cheer in revelry, seeing such confidence from you.

"Yet do not falter, they outnumber us, and we must kill three for every one that falls, and more of them will fall than us, that I guarantee!"


"YEAH!" They shouted.

"Now lets kill them for the gods, so that we may go home heroes, and saga's will be sung all of our days!"

"YEAH!"

Army Morale Roll:1D100 => 99
(Morale +10)
Morale 100/100 (Unshakable)
All Flanks Gain this effect for the rest of the battle: Unshakable: Your army will never yield to the enemy and it will never back down either. (+20 to all battle rolls. All allied battlefield duelers gain a +5 to their rolls. Morale lose will have a +3, meaning they will fight longer, even with horrific losses)
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(POV Change)

Harald Fairhair saw the raven that flew overhead. He knew the signs from years of seeing them as a boy.

And he spoke only a few words. "Prepare the attack." He ordered.

"PREPARE THE ATTACK!" the shouts carried through the entire fleet of ships. The die had been cast, and it was… far to late to turn back now. He had given his oath to his ally and his men. Now would be the time to keep it.
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The Fleet cut through the calm morning sea as if they were sailing on glass, the fog helping hide their ships, and also hide their prey.

Fleet Roll: 1D100 => 65+27=92 vs 1D100 => 9+20=29

(Harald made it through the Fleet, and has hit the Transport ships)

Enemy Casualties before Enemy warships intercept and stop them:1D20000 => 2174

Enemy Forces Remaining: 17826.

Enemy Morale unaffected.

His fleet found openings through the warship line surrounding the transports, gaps in the line that he was able to exploit through the fog.

The ships would clash, and they would sink to the bottom, their cargo, the dangerous army that was threatening his home, reduced in numbers.

But not, he had to deal with the fleet of longships all around him. And Harald Fairhair would begin his saga.
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(POV Change)

Einar heard the screams of drowning or dying men as the fog seemed to lift with the sun cracking through more brightly now, as the day continued on.

Sunshine showering the beach with rays of life-giving light, and that of sight to your enemy.

"Form your line, form your ranks!" He barked orders as he dismounted his horse, taking a shield in hand, with his ax in the other. "And stand and fight!"

And Einar Wallbreaker stood with his men, his soldiers, his people, standing side by side with farmers, carpenters, huscarls and tanners… and every thousand jobs that may exist in the nation of Norway.

They were his people, and the enemy would be destroyed if they threatened them.

And soon they would die.
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(POV Change)

Sigurd Ivarson was annoyed… nay, he was furious of the news that Fairhair, the bastard, had attacked his transports before engaging his ships.

But he was unaffected by the state of affairs, for almost his entire army had made it to the beaches unscathed. There were casualties of course, but he had expected such a defense. Now Halfdan needed to deal with Fairhair, while he dealt with the Wallbreaker.

There were no "walls" for him to destroy now…

He only had to face you.

The enemy suffers a -5 to attack rolls due to an amphibious landing penalty due to their commander having the Navel Leader Trait.
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The Two lines assembled, with the lines of the Danes assembling quicker than anyone anticipated, and Einar swore. He should have reacted quicker. "Come on men, hold your bloody ground, let them come!"

A Note on combat Rolls: Due to you defending: Enemy rolls will be placed first, and your rolls will be placed afterwords.

All Rolls will give their benefits.

The Attack:
Combat Rolls: 1D100+27 => 89-5=84 vs 1D100+22 => 38+20=58

Allied Morale lost: 8

Allied Flank Morale Remaining: 92/100

Allied Troops lost: 1D500 => 353

Allied Troop Flank Remaining: 4449

Enemy Morale Lost: 0

Enemy Troops lost: 1D500 => 155

Enemy Flank Troops remaining: 4000?


The Right flank surged forward into Tor's lines, shields crashing into one another as the fierce fighting and the enemy's ferocity caught all off guard. They were furious, but Tor must have done something to keep order, as they did not give an inch of ground, even as men followed.

But the center and the left followed their attack following immediately after.
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Einar gritted his teeth as he saw the enemy forces run towards them, the shieldwalls they made mirroring your own. "Steady!" He shouted.

They inched closer. "Steady!" He ordered… no one would die here until he said so.

Than a man tripped in the sand, halting the line. "NOW!" Einar ordered.

Enemy Center Rolls: 1D100+24 => 29-5=24 vs 1D100+24 => 100+20=120

Allied Morale Lost: 0

Allied Troops lost: 1D1000 => 167

Allied Troops Remaining on the Flank: 6268

Enemy Morale Lost: 1D20 => 17

Enemy Morale Remaining: 83/100

Enemy Troop Lost:1D1000 => 948

Enemy Troops Remaining: 10000?

The Center was halted, stopping dead on the beach as they clustered close together, shield on shield, as men tried to hack away at each other, but any false move meant death, and Einar knew that.

And he believed in one thing. He was the Wall breaker… This wall would break before him if he had anything to do with.
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Unther had seen battles before. He had seen landings before… but all the gods and men has he ever seen a battle on a beach this size before.

Men were wading onto the shore, floating on their shields, there were so many of them.

But this line was unorginized, sloppy, and above all else… completely open to attack, as their commander was trying to bring order to his line.

And he chose to strike first, to not give them a chance to be able to fight.

Enemy Left Rolls: 1D100+18 => 58-5=53 vs 1D100+22 => 106+20=126

Allied Morale Lost: 0

Allied Troops lost: 1D1000 => 172

Allied Troops Remaining on the Flank: 4629

Enemy Morale Lost: 1D20 => 18

Enemy Morale Remaining: 82/100

Enemy Troop Lost:1D2000 => 1558

Enemy Troops Remaining: 5955

He was still outnumbered… but he was not outmanned. His men were rested, on more solid ground, and could get to the better ground if he needed to. They were wet, cold and frightened.

This would be a slaughter if he had anything to say about it.
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Tor wheeled his men back to a more solid sandbank and reforming his wall as the enemy commander continued marching forward, shields ready.

"Come on! We are one!" He shouted. He would not lose, not to these men!

Enemy right Rolls: 1D100+27 => 42 -5=37 vs 1D100+22 => 119+20=139

Allied Morale Lost: 1D20 => 5

Morale Remaining: 87/100

Allied Troops lost: 1D500 => 65

Allied Troops Remaining on the Flank: 4384

Enemy Morale Lost:1D40 => 30

Enemy Morale Remaining: 70/100

Enemy Troop Lost:1D1000 => 946

Enemy Troops Remaining: 2954

Shield splintered, arm tired, Tor could feel the pain and exhaustion coming towards his mind.

But he did not stop! He was going to be immortal in Valhalla!
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"Pull back! Pull back!" Einar shouted. The ground they were on was soon going to be overwhelmed.

But he didn't need to be reminded of that failure to keep command of his own position.


Enemy center Rolls: 1D100+24 => 113-5=108 vs 1D100+24 => 26+20=46

Allied Morale Lost: 1D50 => 36

Morale Remaining: 74/100

Allied Troops lost: 1D2000 => 699

Allied Troops Remaining on the Flank: 5569

Enemy Morale Lost: 4

Enemy Morale Remaining: 78/100

Enemy Troop Lost:1D1000 => 881

Enemy Troops Remaining: 10000?

He needed to move!

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Battlefield Duel interrupt! Einar is in Danger!

That was when you saw him, Sigurd, the brother king of the Danes, wading through the front. He must have recognized you, for he growled: "YOU will die Wallbreaker!"

Sigurd Attack: 1D100 => 22+34-20=36 vs 1D100 => 82+46=128

He swung wildly at your shield being blocked by your fitness, and your footing. He was clearly not used to fighting on the sand… something you were not familiar with either.

But you still had a sure footing. And he overstepped himself.

And he fell to the ground.

Enemy Commander Wound Roll:1D100 => 99

Your ax found the opening, cutting off his arm with a single, swift cut.

Enemy Commander has been Maimed!

"Aghh!" Sigurd screamed as he dropped his shield to hold onto his now blood-soaked stump.

Enemy Commander Retreat roll:1D100 => 10 vs 1D100 => 29

He tried to crawl away, back to his men, but his men were dumbstruck, as your own came back to continue the fight.

You ran towards him and took him with both your hands, as he tried to move, but he was back behind your lines and the soldiers of the enemy.

Enemy Commander Captured!

Enemy Center Morale goes down by 50!

Enemy Center Morale: 28/100

Enemy Retreat Roll: 1D100 => 12

The Enemy Cannot Retreat.

They were trapped, without being able to reach their ships to retreat.

Enemy Surrender Roll: 1D100 => 86

The Enemy Center has surrendered.
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Does the enemy Left Continue the Fight!: 1D100 => 20

Tor saw the fighting stop, but he could not

Does the Enemy Right continue The Fight!:1D100 => 22

The Enemy Forces begin to retreat!

Pursuit Rolls:

Left Flank: 1D100 => 80

Unther was smiling. "Get them!"

And his men did.

Left Flank kills:1D5955 => 4632

The rest retreated.

A complete Decimation of the Enemy Left.

Center: 1D100 => 36

Centure Killed: 1D10000 => 3549

Centure Captured:1D10000 => 454

Remainder retreated.

The Majority of the center has escaped.

Right Flank: 1D100 => 2

Right Captured:1D2954 => 486

Right Captured: 1D2954 => 71

The Enemy right has been neutralized.
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Haralds Victory: 1D100 => 99

The enemy fleet has been nearly completely destroyed by a brilliant tactical and strategic victory at sea.

Many officers have been captured, including Halfdan.

Reward: Both kings are captured. Negotiations can begin, in your favorable terms.
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When Everything was finished, what do you do next?:

[]Negotiate the Surrender: You will Join Harald's negotiation to deal with the ransom, and the casualties.

[]Take stock of the Dead: You have no idea how many died, but you will see that they get buried properly.

[]Call a Moot: The Time has come… the moot will be called, it is time for Norway to have a king.

[]Spend Time with your Family: So much death, and destruction… you need to remind yourself that everything is going to be okay.

[]Celebrate with the men: You will drink with them, and revel in their victory, that they all deserved.

[]Sleep: You dream of a Raven, that is waiting for you at a broken tower, slowly being rebuilt.

An: Enjoy this long-ass update.

Edit: You missed an epic navel battle with Harald Fairhair, but I just could not get the energy to finish it and make it apart of the update.
 
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The Negotiation
The Negotiation:

You arrived late to the processions, but only because you had stripped yourself of your armor and into more fine clothing. You looked at the two brothers that were now you're prisoners. Sigurd was sullen, his bloody stump covered in multiple layers of bandages, stripped of his armor and put into plain clothes and leathers. But he was dignified, even in defeat.

His brother was… well, he looked hardly there. He was just starring out at the sea, to the water. As if he could see the longships cutting through the water… to late to do anything else.


"Ah, he's here." Kjotve said with a smile, as he offered a seat beside him. "We can now begin."

"There is nothing to begin." Sigurd said. "You defeated us."

"Aye." Harald stated. "But there is the talk of peace and terms."

Sigurd raised an eyebrow. "I would have thought you would kill us, for Odin's sake?" His gaze was placed squarely at you.

"No. You did battle honorably and with great tact. You lost with honor. I will not kill a man who has done that." You replied.

Sigurd nodded. "It seems so." He tapped his brothers shoulder, and his brother turned slowly.

"Yes?"

"What are your terms?" Sigurd asked

Harald smiled. "Recognize that Norway is a free and independent kingdom for starters."

"But what are your terms? For our release?"

What are the Terms for Release:

(You can choose multiple Terms. Due to The Crippling Battle Damage you inflicted onto the army and fleet, you start at the Dice Cost of -30, and the more choices you add, the more the DC goes up)

[]Tribute (Light): You demand tribute from the Danes., a thousand gold for five years. (+10 to DC)

[]Tribute (Medium): You demand tribute from the danes, Two ships for every years for the next twenty years (+20 DC)

[]Tribute (Heavy): You demand tribute from the danes, you want their children to be warded in your court. (+50 to DC)

[]Ransom (The Men): You want a ransom for all the men here, at 1000 silver a man. (+25 to DC)

[]Ransom (The Ships): You will have a king's ransom for their fleet to be returned. 10,000 per ship (+40 to DC) (You have taken 70 ships in battle)

[]Ransom (The Kings): The kings will pay a king's ransom to secure their release. 50,000 gold per man. (+35 to DC)

[]Accept Norway as a Free and sovereign state: You will make them accept the Kingdom of Norways right to exist. (+5 to DC)

[]Write in your own demands

AN: Enjoy. and vote in plan format please.
 
The King of Norway (Finale)
The King of Norway:

Negotiation Roll: 1D100 => 89 vs DC 30

The Terms you gave were simple. Those that were not as steep as those that may have been taken, but not as merciful as they might have expected.

A Balanced proposal, that matched humiliation, with honor. The Terms were indeed acceptable to the two kings of Denmark, as any and all could see, they had no real chance to force themselves out of an agreement, not for a very long time.

But something that needed to be cleaned up, was the Kingship of Norway. The title that you, and the man next to you, who had been your ally, had nearly gone to blows with, for the title and the crown.

Those men accepted that Norway was a kingdom… now all that needed to be decided, was who wore the crown.
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??? (The Truth in the Battle at sea): 1D100 => 94


You sat on the beach, watching the waves batter the coastline, as you saw Harald walk towards you, alone, without weapons, and only the furs to keep him warm.

There was a swagger in his step… but one that was filled with grief… and hesitation.

"I take it you want to talk?" You asked quietly as he handed over a wineskin.

"Aye." He replied quietly, slowly taking a sip out of his own. "During the battle, you may not have known this… but I was knocked overboard from my ship, and my armor dragged me down to the bottom of the seafloor."

You raised an eyebrow. "You survived didn't you?" Scoffing.

"I… did, but for a moment, in the deep water, I saw Odin. watching over me… it was not the Thunderer who was coming to me, in my most desperate hour of need… It was him." He sounded… broken saying those words. "I think he was telling me something."

"What would that be?" You asked.

"I would be dead if it wasn't for you… because Elric dove in after me and saved my life." He stated

"Elric?" Your brother was ordered to stay in Vikken. How had he-

"Yes… Your brother carried me to the surface and stripped me of my armor… and helped me lead the men to victory." He sighed. "I was in his debt."

"Was?" You asked. "What do you mean, what has my brother asked for."

"This." He stated as he knelt before you. "I will follow you, as my king, Einar."

You froze as you turned, to see three witnesses. Elric. Kjvote…

And a one-eyed raven that flew away, as it saw you star into its sole eye, and allowed itself to be recognized.

Elric and Kjovte did the same. "I would follow you as my king." They said at the same time.


Reward: Einar Danson, of house Veggbrotsjór, has become King of Norway.

Bloodline Founded: The Unifying Wall Breaker: This Bloodline has been founded by Einar The Wallbreaker, a legendary viking lord who unified Norway in the late 800's. He is known to be an expert siege leader, with many accounts claiming he broke down walls and fortifications all by himself.

Modifiers: +20 Opinion for all Norse(Cultured) characters.

-30 to DC cost for sieging and Assaulting castle fortifications

+10% more loot gained in raiding.

Fortifications can be built in one turn, instead of 2 in the field, and castle fortifications cost 50% less.


AN: Thank you all for reading and enjoying this quest.

A Sequal will come in a few months time when my life is less hectic, and more...

well, different.
 
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