KieranSoares
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
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After a long, persistent winter and late spring, the folk of the north were not only anxious to begin the growing season after food nearly ran short, but terrified of what the spring thaw meant to their safety. For just across the English Channel, an army was amassing from the Holy Roman Empire, ready to invade the isles. All winter, they had been lying in wait, chipping away at the North's defenses, especially the navies that held the straits and the North Sea. Knowing his men, even with vast numbers, couldn't stand up to a northern winter in their enemies' own lands, the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa sat in wait while casually issuing threats of his immense power, lest the isles surrender and their allies pull back. Even with a war on two fronts after abandoning a small Crusade effort appointed by the Catholic Church, Barbarossa managed to hold the battle lines against the Rus and on the northern European shore versus Scandinavia and the isles. Even when his grip began to loosen to the east, Barbarossa simply instituted a draft to swell his military numbers and far outdo what the North could muster.
And then as the thaw set in, Barbarossa's newest vassals and warriors began to take the field. Dragons were seen in the skies across Europe suddenly, heading for the Norman shores to help the push across the Channel and break England's navy. The terror of common folk was outweighed only by the terror of those who knew what to expect. Dragon fire in its many colors descended upon northern Norman forts and settlements still held by the English King Henry Beauclerc, and finally ripped away the last English hold on the mainland and forced gathering warriors of what had become known as the Northern Alliance to retreat to the very shoreline, losing high ground in spades.
Amid this chaotic forced retreat, the Imperial Riders' main enemy finally emerged as a unit. From their temporary base in Scotland around Clan Inverness, dragons and their wide variety of Riders came as a united force for the first time to support the Northern Alliance. Among them, the new King of Inverness, General Samuel Durban Ghis, and his new wife, Queen and Lady Dragon-Caller Fiona Blackstone.
On the sixth day of April, the Northern Riders landed on England's south cliffs near Dover, able to just see the shore near Calais on the other side, thus giving a view of the main naval battlefield and the massive gathering of northern ships ready to move soldiers and hold the line. That evening, the present leaders, Riders, and officers gathered in council to prepare. Reports had come in that the push across the Channel would come in the morning, when the Imperial land forces would decimate the last mainland line, the Imperial navy would punch through Northern ship lines, and then transports would bring in the soldiers under the cover of dragon fire and finally take hold of England's southern shore if all went well. So among Ireland, Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and some support from the Rus and many independent clans across the northern countries, and under the primary directions of the monarchs of Inverness, Sweden, Norway, and England, the Northern Alliance formed on the White Cliffs of Dover and prepared overnight to hold the shores.
Shortly after the council meeting, Samuel being the only monarch physically present alongside Fiona and thus considered the army's main general, all officers and leaders in attendance broke off to carry news and plans to their respective units and groups. King Henry was en route while the Scandinavian Triad monarchs were responsible for holding the North Sea, thus leaving Queen Sarah and plenty of clan kings of Ireland holding the western coasts of the isles in case of sneak attacks. Scottish clan kings had gathered on the Scottish-English border to await orders, and Russian navies would arrive sometime in the night to help hold the channel. All that could be ready, was ready. And this left many feeling anxious, terrified, and listless.
In the main planning tent of King Samuel Ghis, after most others had left to attend to their duties, this left Samuel himself, Fiona, and their council of Dragon Riders wrapping up their own plans. The Northern Riders' main objectives were focused around the Imperial Riders and, afterward, the Imperial navy. As the Riders began to disperse, Sam finally took a seat, having stood and paced even through most of the planning with the other officers and the Riders. Winter had been rough on everyone mentally with the constant press of war on the horizon. Now that it was here, he felt under-prepared and like he'd wasted time, though he had done everything he could.
With a long sigh, his head resting on one hand as he stared down at a pile of scout reports under the other hand, Sam murmured to Fiona, "We're no' ready fer this."
And then as the thaw set in, Barbarossa's newest vassals and warriors began to take the field. Dragons were seen in the skies across Europe suddenly, heading for the Norman shores to help the push across the Channel and break England's navy. The terror of common folk was outweighed only by the terror of those who knew what to expect. Dragon fire in its many colors descended upon northern Norman forts and settlements still held by the English King Henry Beauclerc, and finally ripped away the last English hold on the mainland and forced gathering warriors of what had become known as the Northern Alliance to retreat to the very shoreline, losing high ground in spades.
Amid this chaotic forced retreat, the Imperial Riders' main enemy finally emerged as a unit. From their temporary base in Scotland around Clan Inverness, dragons and their wide variety of Riders came as a united force for the first time to support the Northern Alliance. Among them, the new King of Inverness, General Samuel Durban Ghis, and his new wife, Queen and Lady Dragon-Caller Fiona Blackstone.
On the sixth day of April, the Northern Riders landed on England's south cliffs near Dover, able to just see the shore near Calais on the other side, thus giving a view of the main naval battlefield and the massive gathering of northern ships ready to move soldiers and hold the line. That evening, the present leaders, Riders, and officers gathered in council to prepare. Reports had come in that the push across the Channel would come in the morning, when the Imperial land forces would decimate the last mainland line, the Imperial navy would punch through Northern ship lines, and then transports would bring in the soldiers under the cover of dragon fire and finally take hold of England's southern shore if all went well. So among Ireland, Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and some support from the Rus and many independent clans across the northern countries, and under the primary directions of the monarchs of Inverness, Sweden, Norway, and England, the Northern Alliance formed on the White Cliffs of Dover and prepared overnight to hold the shores.
Shortly after the council meeting, Samuel being the only monarch physically present alongside Fiona and thus considered the army's main general, all officers and leaders in attendance broke off to carry news and plans to their respective units and groups. King Henry was en route while the Scandinavian Triad monarchs were responsible for holding the North Sea, thus leaving Queen Sarah and plenty of clan kings of Ireland holding the western coasts of the isles in case of sneak attacks. Scottish clan kings had gathered on the Scottish-English border to await orders, and Russian navies would arrive sometime in the night to help hold the channel. All that could be ready, was ready. And this left many feeling anxious, terrified, and listless.
In the main planning tent of King Samuel Ghis, after most others had left to attend to their duties, this left Samuel himself, Fiona, and their council of Dragon Riders wrapping up their own plans. The Northern Riders' main objectives were focused around the Imperial Riders and, afterward, the Imperial navy. As the Riders began to disperse, Sam finally took a seat, having stood and paced even through most of the planning with the other officers and the Riders. Winter had been rough on everyone mentally with the constant press of war on the horizon. Now that it was here, he felt under-prepared and like he'd wasted time, though he had done everything he could.
With a long sigh, his head resting on one hand as he stared down at a pile of scout reports under the other hand, Sam murmured to Fiona, "We're no' ready fer this."