Erik II “The Pugnacious” Bardsson Crovan
Emperor of the Crovan Empire, King of the East and West Vikings, Pontifix Maxmimus, Lord of the Skraelings, Scourge of the Rus
In Which Erik’s Murderous Designs Are Diverted
(15 June 1574 – 14 April 1575)
The Imperial Council was already in session. Erik’s face was calm, but it was that icy calm that sent shivers of fear down the backs of his councillers. “So, Aksel. Mecklenburg-in-Brittany has lost to the Bohemian Crown in grand style in a gigantic war. However, since we did not involve ourselves, the Jutland peninsula is still firmly in Mecklenburgian hands. Chancellor, how did you miss this?”
“Well, uh, homina homina homina.” Aksel’s bluster was gone, his face broke out in a cold sweat.
*** gags silently as he is hanged by an invisible rope ***
Dan shot an annoyed glance at the mime. This wasn’t going well.
“No good answer eh?” Erik rose to his feet.
“Wait! I got it!”
Erik turned, sword half drawn. “Got what Dan?”
“Uh, the reason Aksel didn’t join in the Mecklenburgian War.”
“Well this should be good.”
*** has difficulty walking against a very powerful invisible wind ***
“Uh. Russia! Yeah, Russia. You know how they seized the Athenian Empire and Bosnia’s coastline? Well, that gave them a lot of Mediterranean access. And, while we can trap them in the Baltic, we have no such mechanism to trap their Mediterranean Fleets from reaching the Atlantic!” Dan’s face was lighting up. What had started as a diversion was becoming an actual plan.
Erik stood still, considering, sword still half-drawn. “Okay, now that’s good…thinking ahead. Russia is our strongest enemy. How do we stop their Mediterranean access?”
“We dominate Hispania. Seize the straits of Gibralter. And so, we needed to save our manpower, rebuild our forces from your last war, and move on the Sultan of Spanish Riga.”
“Why Riga? Why not just overrun Granada?”
“Two reasons. First, Riga is the regional power. We need to maul them first. Plus, we can build a pair of useful alliances in the area, break lose some new nations in the area that will support us. Second, they are allied with the hated Brahe Clan, the Kings of England, so we will get to kill some of those bastards as well.”
The sword slid back into the scabbard with an audible click. “By God Aksel, that is brilliant! But man! Why didn’t you just say so yourself! Ha! I shall command the Army of Scotland personally and give King Arthur Brahe a drubbing he shant soon forget!” Erik slapped Aksel and Dan on the backs and strode eagerly from the room.
*** has difficulty juggling invisible balls ***
“Well, then Aksel, I will take leave as well. It seems I have a war to organize.”
Aksel did not answer. He was too busy crying.
And now we cut to the Forward base in captured Lisboa
Dan smiled broadly. “God, those Imperial Marines are astounding, from the storming of Lisboa’s beaches…”
“The storming of Lisboa, the storming of the Rigan Capital at Alenejo…”
“They are unstoppable war gods. It is because of them we have won this fine victory and liberated the long-suffering Portuguese from the confusing rule of the German Sunni Archbishops of Riga-in-Andelucia.”
“I have to say, My Prince, your conduct in this war has been exceptional. How did things go on your brother, our Beloved Emperor’s front?”
“He, uh, he had a few difficulties.”
”The Burning Of Glasgow” as seen in the beloved Children’s Classic
Chronicles of Crovania book 3 – Rufferto Saves the Emperor © 1844 Crovanian Imperial Press.
Today’s lesson? If no one will be your ally, go and make some! Find out who dies next on the next exciting episode of