Frostbite: The Vikings' tale

[ChrisiusMaximus]

SKILORD it was ambitious of you to start 2 stories, are you having trouble writing them?

Why not finish one first maybe you will find it easier.

[SKILORD]

I'm having trouble, you see there is no electricity but that pittiance we can eke from the generator here.

I'm trying.

[SKILORD]

Chapter 4: Moscow's Seige, Russia's Darkest Winter

The Norsemen had secured a hold on their former lands, their teeth once again threateningly close to the Russian throat. Winter came and went, it's successors found more and more Viking bellies full, people cheered as their brothers and sons marched bravely across the Russian praries to Catherine's greatest prize. Moscow was a dark castle of power, a focal point of the Russian hemogeny that had engulfed the world since the last war's fateful end. It was surrounded now, and the Russians were learning how to starve, learning from the masters.

-

A shot rang out, a cannon released it's firey cargo. Emaciated men died on the walls holding their guns. More took their place, brushing corpses aside for a chance to defend the homeland, to die a patriot, to reclaim a fading glory. Twenty brigades of Cavalry paraded around the walls, Two armies of mounted riflemen were their company, in addition to the regular Riflemen who defended the land around Moscow and the precious cannon that had been painstakingly dragged from home. The Norsemen watched callously as the walls finally fell before the cannon, biding their time for a better pinnacle to the assaualt on the starving rag of greatness.

-

It was New Years Eve. Ulrich's breath came out a frozen lump from his lungs. He watched as the fires of Moscow rose to the sky, Russian troops hurried to extinguish the blaze that cannonballs had set. The Cannon were not done though the Russians were unaware, and while they made feeble offerings of water to the inferno they were likely to meet a fate similar to the library's. Another shot came from the night outside the Russian capitail. Bloodaxe couldn't hold his men back any longer. Ulrich knew that Erik's pleas for his troops to keep their itchy fingers from scratching themselves on triggers had been at best halfhearted. The Brilliant general who had forced Russia from Stockholm was just as excited as his men. The Charge thus began. Riflemen fell, frightened before the blazing guns of riders with victory gleaming in their eyes. Moscow's defenders were put off gaurd, there was no hope in those eyes, only assurance. The second army crashed into the city from the east, and the defenders rushed, hiding behind the bodies of the fallen fellows, only to be used later likewise as a barricade. The Norse were unstoppable, blood flowed for instants in the streets of Moscow, before it froze there, embracing the city until eternity.

[gooberboob]

I love the use of Ulrich, first metallica reference here since metaliturtle's early stories

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Great stuff SKILORD I also want to say to you that I think your writing style has really improved in this story, your use of language especially. Keep up the good work.

[TheGuitarist]

I quite agree; you have an excellent writing style. Keep it up!

[SKILORD]

Chapter 5: The Sea. A New Dawn

Graceful wooden ships danced among the waves. Their mighty cannons were drawn in, no Russian ship was anticipated by the longboat scouts. The Sails were rolled out regally, the wind was at their back and a plesently warm breeze caressed the sailors. The Russian coast was in veiw, the sun whipped the land savagely, Odin, from his perch as the figurehead before the Frigate watched unmercifully. A cannon boomed, the sailors cheered, another road destroyed.
Russia had lost fully half her land size. The War had been decisive and only one thing was sure, there would be little mercy. In war there seldom was, and the nations of the world knew war better than they did their neighbors.

-

The Foreign minister had been bound and gagged when he had arrived at Trondheim. He sat in a silk chair and accepted the glares of the foreigners graciously, as a worthy price for a less limited freedom. Peter had always been fascinated by foreigners, against the Tsarina's will he had often escaped for years on end to foreign capitails, where he would live in cognito as a factory worker or dockworker. He found such work gratifying, and the knowledge it revealed infinitely more interesting than anything Catherine could offer him at a desk. She had literally thrown him from Kiev, where she huddled under the shade of her winter palace, her last words had made it clear that if he did not bring home a peace, he would be abandoned to 'his beloved foreigners'. His reception did not bode well for either outcome.
"The President will see you," a clerk said, looking down his nose at the poorly clad Russian. Peter gave his most charming smile before striding with all the bravado he could muster, to the immense wooden door.
"So you are the Russian envoy?" President Lobrok asked. Peter looked futilely at this massive imposing man. His nation's worst enemy, he thought, and I have to negotiate a peace with him. Peter puffed out his chest, he had nothing to loose.
"Indeed sir, and i am here to negotiate the terms of peace, but before we begin," Peters eyes softened,"Thank you for delivering me from your people. I have heard of men lost on missions to other states, but that was my first personal experience with it."
Ragnar nodded, guestering (NB: How in heaven do you spell that?) towards the window.
"Barbaric aren't they?"
Peter was shocked, the man who ruled these people called them barabarians, apparently his astonishment was visible, ragnar looked at him and amended.
"Why i don't merely include my own people in that list. I mean mankind, Peter. Mankind is a glorified animal." Ragnar shrugged, hopeless.
"Why sir i must disagree, mankind does have it's high spots. It's rather cruel to limit us to beasts."
"Oh I admit we are capable of more. Quite so. I can see it in some of them, somemen were meant to be more. I daresay all were. I do not limit them to beasts in my speech. Mankind has limited itself in it's actions."
"I... do not understand sir," In truth he halfway did,despite the confusion Peter could tell he liked this man. Maybe we have begun to come to our senses he wondered.
"Let me explain, Since the conception of time we have been engaged in countless wars. We fought the English, or so the archaeologists claim, you warred with the spanish. For the past Five hundred years, our peoples have been at war, on and off yes, but almost always at war. The time haas come for men of Culture to reign." Ragnar pushed a signed peace treaty across the table, "Come back to my palace as often as you wish Peter. You are always welcome."
Peter grinned madly, his lessons should have taught him better but the treaty held no stipulations, no reparations.
"You are welcome," The President replied to his unspoken thanks.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

[TheGuitarist]

Didn't expect that one. Deep.

(BTW, SKILORD, I believe it's "gesturing.")

[SKILORD]

thank you. i tried three times before giving up. couldn't make it look right.

[vovan]

Very nice. And I agree with the Guitarist and Chrisius here. It's getting better and better. Keep it up.

[SKILORD]

This story is rapidly becoming my perferred one of the duet.

[vovan]

Originally posted by SKILORD
This story is rapidly becoming my perferred one of the duet.

Are you still going to continue wrting both stories at the same time, though? Like I said before, I don't think a lot of people will mind if you finish one of them, and then get on with the other one. (As long as eventually you finish both, that is I find both of the stories very interesting to follow.)

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Here Here and well done so far SKILORD youre making the rest of us look lazy though.


EDIT had to do your name again duh I keep doing it in LOWER CASE i think i am losing my marbles.

[SKILORD]

My Power is back!

If you thought i was writing fast before look out. I'll have alot of free time too once exams are done.,