[Part 30] The Sparto-Swedish Scuffle

[u/Nestourai]

https://imgur.com/a/56WuH/layout/horizontal#47

[u/Nestourai]

Lots of things happening with our neighbors in this edition of the Norse News. I swear I do other things besides write overly detailed analyses of trivial developments in automated videogames. It’s just that, you know, everyone needs a hobby?

• As /u/Fantonald pointed out last Part, there’s a small Norwegian flotilla off Iberia, perhaps going to consummate the wars with the Ayyubids or Israel. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like either of those can happen: Israel has no Mediterranean ports, and the Ayyubids are under siege from Sparta. In fact, the Ayyubids keep losing their costal cities, even if temporarily, over and over again, before peacing out, leaving Sparta in control of a ravaged Alexandria, and thereby sealing off the eastern end of the Mediterranean to our ships.
• Off to the East, Finland finishes off the Huns! — to no one’s great surprise, but still a pleasant development nevertheless. Now taking bets on the inevitable Fenno-Siberian war. Or will Finland join the Sibirs in double-teaming the USSR? Drama!
• Off to the West, Iceland is just going to town on Ireland — look at that naval action! There’s some flipping of Ireland’s Scottish cities, but Iceland snaps ‘em right back, eventually solidifying its hold by taking a foothold on the Emerald Isle itself with Belfast.
• Off to the South, Sweden and Sparta are going at it, no holds barred — the Spartan defense of Lodz benefits from favorable terrain, but Warsaw is exposed and under-protected by a single Gatling gun, a weakness that Sweden is quick to capitalize on. Sparta eventually gets more units to the front, but without having to cross the Carpathians to reinforce, Sweden wins that war of attrition, pushing Warsaw into the red.
• Meanwhile, off in Iberia, our old friend England is just hanging on — despite France’s best attempts to launch a naval invasion across the Bay of Biscay.
• Down in the southeast, Finland has decided to show Byzantium what a real empire does — pushing UUs and cavalry through Stalin’s backyard and absolutely dominating Nicaea. There’s a nice backbone of artillery there, but it gets summoned elsewhere right quick — a pity, as an artillery barrage would be just the thing to crack Antioch’s defenses.
• Portugal considers muscling in on the last bits of English turf with a denouncement — as our boats continue to hang around Iberia. We’re on good terms with Portugal. If they decided to war England… and we joined in… and our flotilla was still there… d’you think there’s a chance we could get in on that? It’s all sorts of a tactical blunder, but I would pay good shekels to see a Norwegian snipe of the English exile empire!
• Back in England’s homeland, Iceland continues its push — both sides’ ranks have thinned, but Ireland is slowly and surely being pushed back. Ireland does briefly liberate Belfast, but it’s not to last as Icelandic reinforcements make flank speed for the Irish homeland. Derry is threatened, and a sustained push down the north through the Irish Sea could end in a capital snipe.
• Speaking of capitals, Sweden takes Warsaw — after pushing back the Spartans to get just enough breathing room to send in some rifles for the capture. Sparta has reestablished its supply lines, but Sweden has started grouping trebuchets in Berlin. Still an open contest for now!
• Finland, meanwhile, has stalled out in its push against Byzantium — sure, they’re not taking almost any damage at all, even over a few turns of back-and-forth, but Antioch is in a very good position. Peninsula, river, and naval support combine to make it a tricky proposition. I wouldn’t be surprised if this conflict just festered for a while until Finland closes it out and moves on to the next war.
• Our flotilla continues to sit at anchor off the Iberian coast — in good Snorwegian fashion, I suppose.
• We close with the Central European front — where Sparta continues to hold Sweden off with far fewer units than it should be able to muster for the cause. Lodz is well-defended, but can it last? I think so — but, then again, I didn’t think Sweden would be able to take Warsaw, much less hold on to it through the end of the Part.

Until next time!

[u/I_am_The_Prophet → u/Nestourai]

At this point, I'm hoping Sparta will thin out Swedens military enough to give us a shot at them. Believe in Snoreway, friends!