Live by the sword, die by thunder, day 5 Consequence and retribution

The ships bob up and down in the grey and raw cold winter weather, and there is a light breeze at our backs as we look on the shore and the small coastal village. The first rays of the rising sun just occasionally finds their way through the clouds behind us, but there is enough light to quite clearly see the village and area. The village appears to be around 40 houses, one of which is significantly larger and probably a feast hall, and on the outskirts, there is a more fortified large farm on a low hill surrounded by a palisade. Jarl Arkanes farm and 'fortress'. The description given by the prisoners and the captains fits very well with what we see. I guesstimate we are somewhere south of Midgård's Fredrikshamn, but it was difficult to interpret as we arrived in the dark, and I have never actually been there in Midgård. I have basically determined the position via the wooded hills I can see a kilometer or two further inland. I've taken photos and video, so going back I'll at least be able to mark where Arkanes actually are on my maps.

There are only two ships with warriors outside the harbour, and the ships are not even particularly full with warriors, and we don't look or behave threatening. It's not many Longships beaching and a huge force charging ashore, so some of the village people might think we're merchants or something. We have sent four volunteering men ashore to deliver the ultimatum to Jarl Arkanes, because they are being given a chance to surrender. They are to come out unarmed, wearing only basic clothes and shoes. The men shouted out who we are and why we are here to the villagers who approached, but the ships hardly look dangerous. Shouted that we are only here for specific people as revenge for an attack, and everyone else is safe and won't be harmed as long as they do not take up arms. We're not here to attack the village.

Many in the village should know that a raid force left a week ago, and rumours must have spread, even if they don't know specific details or the target. Now they are seeing the consequences. I look through my 8x Midgård binoculars and assume it is Jarl Arkanes standing up there on the wooden palisade around his fortified manor, talking to the men below. I can't see any details even through the good binoculars as the distance is at least 600 meters, and the swaying of the boat doesn't make it any easier, but that man has no spear or bow and seems to be wearing fur rather than armour, and giving orders. Jane takes lots of photos, especially with the zoom lens at maximum.

It doesn't take long before the men leave and head back.

Unsurprisingly, Jarl Arkanes is not afraid of our small force while standing behind his defences surrounded by his warriors, but they of course expect us to attack them in the traditional way. He also doesn't seem to know that we have four times more warriors surrounding the village, and this will hopefully be a completely different kind of battle than anyone have ever experienced. Perhaps Alfheimr's first battle with cannons and firearms? Talk about a historic moment!

There is a suitable small hill, perhaps 3-4 meters high and surrounded by fields, only 100 metres from a jetty at the outskirts of the village, and that hill should be an acceptable defensive position. A small ditch-creek and a few fences between that hill and the enemy fortress, are better than no ditch and open ground. So the ships dock and we unload our forces, but instead of preparing for an attack on the fortress, the warriors fortify the jetty and the hill, chasing away the animals from there. The iron cannon is lifted ashore and then the heavier bronze cannon parts with the crane, assemble them, and with a little help, the cannons are quickly rolled to the hill. Even most of the warriors on my side have no idea what this things are for, and the iron cannon has a piece of cloth over it to mask it. Just a weird wagon with a couple of large oblong lumps and wooden crates that they help to move. I have gone ashore and are supervising the work, because I of course need to show that I am brave and lead the force myself.

Once in place, we prepare. The iron cannon is loaded with cannister shot and roughly aimed at the most likely place for the enemy to attack us from. A fire has been lit in a small hollow to make fire quickly available. On the bronze cannon, we remove the front pair of wheels with extra ammunition, align the back part with cannon and make sure it is horizontal and level. The cannon is already loaded, but not cocked. I estimate the distance to Jarl Arkanes' fortress to be about 400 meters away through the telescopic sight, and Alith makes a similar estimate of 370 meters, so we take the average and use 385 meters. It's a little bit further than I'd like, but distance is to our advantage because we have weapons that can reach that far, and it feels good to be well out of range of a bow and arrow. Jarl Arkanes - if it is him - seems to be standing there on the palisade, with his armed and armoured men beside him. We set up our own line of defence 40 meters in front of the cannons, but on the flanks so that no one is standing in front of the cannons. A deeper and wider ditch in the direction of the fortress with a fence helps to make it more difficult for an attacker from the front, and along the beach or from the village isn't much better. Sure, the cannon has a front shield, and arrows are not something I am particularly worried about right now, but I would have liked the option of attaching a larger shield to the cannon, that also extends slightly backwards and upwards to provide better protection against a possible rain of arrows. It does not need to be particularly thick wood for that, and hardened leather on a simple wooden frame would probably have worked quite well.

We should have prepared some semi-mobile protection. Something that can be quickly erected to provide some protection against arrows or other firearms, regardless of the terrain. Like a small, quick tent bunker with shooting slits, and preferably something camouflaged, although that wouldn't be much help here on this exposed hill with the open sky and sea behind our backs. Those shelters can also be used for hunting and will be weather protection while hunting, since the weather might be unpleasant. There are no suitable trees here to make improvised towers out of, by using a few shields and bound branches to sit on, and it would be unnecessary anyway, and we don't really have the time.

Alith and Gunhild have already tried to warn our close protection, and repeat that they should not panic or fear what is going to happen. Our close protection is surprised by the plan that we are not going to attack, but are preparing for a counterattack. The warriors in our close protection are mostly people that Gunhild and Hillevi know and trust, but most of them work for Asbjörn or his councillors. Both Kadlin and Nidbjorg are part of the close protection force because I want to keep an eye on them, and Alith and Ryla is also keeping an eye on them. I should have my own warrior force. At least big enough for close protection in larger combat.

We prepare to fire, aiming a little high and so that the cannon shot either hits the palisade or over and hits one of the buildings behind it. I have to compensate for the fact that it's a little higher over there too, maybe 10-15 meters or so, and better to hit somewhere we can see with the first shot because I expect to need to correct. This is actually the first cannon shot that is not for testing or ballistics. A historic event in many ways. There are a few glances at the earmuffs being put on. Everyone in my group has at least earplugs, but the bodyguards prefer earmuffs that they can quickly take off to regain full hearing, and Ciara likes her earmuffs with cat ears.

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Before we start shooting, we see the enemy reacting in the fortress and notice movement to the right among the trees on the other side of the small river, the village and the fields there. The flanking groups have arrived. We hear a couple of horn blasts from the hill behind the fortress, which are answered from the right, and a couple of horsemen appear as messengers. The flank attacks have gone well and are ready, mostly without incident, but we'll take care of that later. I ask them to return and remind the flank group leaders to hold their positions and prevent any escape from Arkanes fortress or the village. Check especially the hill with the forest on the other side of the fortress, as there may be an escape tunnel. Avoid killing if they can and wait for three horn signals before advancing and securing everything, including the wanted families living in the village, and try to extinguish any fires. I tell them to make sure that none of the flank forces are directly behind the fortress as seen from here. The horsemen confirm and race away.

To show my willingness to fight, and satisfy my curiosity and gain some personal satisfaction, I take my hunting rifle from Caecilia and aim at the group of people standing on the palisade and at the person I believe to be Jarl Arkanes. I adjust the sights and use the cannon for stability. There is only a slight breeze from behind, but I wait for the wind to die down a little and try to control my own breathing as I calmly squeeze the trigger. It should be more difficult to aim at a person and squeeze the trigger of a real weapon, because even though I've done it many many times while playing Airsoft, this time I don't expect them to just raise their hand and shout, "Hit!"

BANG!

Shocked exclamations here, but I see some commotion over there on the palisade. No idea if I hit anyone or who I hit, but I guess their morale just took a little 'hit'. I give the rifle to Ciara, who calmly and skilfully reloads, and she'll get to shoot at the enemies over there while we do with the cannon. No point in trying with a smoothbore at this range. But it's time to start firing the cannon, and those in our close protection who don't have earplugs or earmuffs are told to cover their ears.

BOOM!

The cannon shot hits low and a part of the palisade is shattered by the shot and hangs a little crooked. Comically, a man fell over the edge and we see him being hoisted up. The gate is probably blocked, so this was probably the easiest way to get him back in. Gunhild and Ciara help to methodically and calmly reload the cannon, but the smiles on their faces speak volumes. Caecilia takes notes on what I say about the approximate point of impact vs the point of aim, and Jane takes photos after she stopped recorded. The Mobius camera films constantly, but it is a wide angle. For better or worse, reloading gives the enemy time to realise what is happening and that we will not stop. They can only stand there and take it and maybe get killed, or leave their defence and counterattack, or give up.

Ciara fires the hunting rifle and looks so pleased as she starts reloading. We adjust the cannon and fire the next shot to the side and a little higher. Very effective, and Gunhild is not alone in her cries of joy, even if she is the loudest. We reload. Adjust. Fire. On the third shot, several meters of the palisade finally fall outwards. It seems that the last shot destroyed some kind of support, and apparently the posts are not dug in deep enough. It's a shoddy construction. There are hardly any stones or rocks here, so how difficult would it be to dig down at least a meter? Or has the palisade just been standing there for too long and ground rot, wind and rain done the rest? The close protection people starts shouting happily along with my companions, and shout insults towards the enemy.

We see a few arrows that the defenders shoot in a high arc from the wooden tower over the gate, but the arrows only reach about halfway between us. It must suck to know that they are so very far from reaching us, but we can hurt and kill them. Ciara clearly hits someone there and makes satisfied noises. It's good if the gate tower is damaged when we finally attack, so I aim the cannon towards the tower. The cannon actually has a good firing angle from here, right at the side of the tower where many warriors are huddled together, taking cover behind the limited protection available behind those wooden walls. There are many 'innocent' warriors in the tower, and another shot from Ciara makes them really take cover, but unfortunately for them, thick planks are good against arrows, but offer little protection against the cannon. Or even well against the hunting rifles heavy supersonic bullet.

Oof! The cannonball strike with a really nice hit and we see pieces of planks and bodies flying. I am not proud, even though the warriors in the close protection are really cheering, but this is war. I knew that people would suffer and die when I made the decision that the guilty party must suffer. Unfortunately, it is the soldiers and warriors who suffer first and more than the leaders.

The enemy may be lucky and I may die here today, because all it takes is a lucky arrow, or just an injury and infection. I cannot assume victory, because in war, anything can happen, and no plan survives contact with the enemy. Who knows; maybe the cannon will explode? That is one reason why I and the others are wearing chain mail and some form of helmet, including Gisela, who is standing diagonally behind Iselin, staring at me and the cannon. There will be some form of mobile lightweight protection made. Iselin looks so proud and righteous as she looks at the fortress with a satisfied smile, and have joined Ciara in shooting with a hunting rifle.

We continue firing the cannon, and Ciara and Iselin with the hunting rifles, and since we already have a fairly wide path through the palisade, and the gate seems to be hanging crooked after the tower was hit, I aim at the buildings inside to terrify Arkanes and his men, and cause more chaos over there. The enemy will surely retreat into the buildings when we attack, so the buildings also need to be damaged. One shot goes low and wide and splinters a piece of the palisade in another section. Did the shot have a cavity in it or something?

At the seventh shot, we see people starting to come out of the fortress. It looks mostly like women and children running out. Their hands are free, but some throw away their weapons as they rush out and away from the fortress. Some animals run in panic out from the fortress through the hole in the palisade or the gate. Smoke indicates that there is a fire somewhere inside, but not much yet, and they seem to be trying to extinguish it. I can still see warriors inside, and hiding on the palisade. So we fire again.

We are reloading for the ninth shot when we see a real exodus from the fortress, some helping the wounded, some just running out and throwing things away, including clothes. Some are waving pieces of cloth. We shoot at the buildings anyway, where no one is waving pieces of cloth, and then I order Ryla to use the air horn and give three quick blasts. It too makes some people here jump. The flanking forces move forward.

Asta, the sailors, Hagan and an almost drooling Nidbjorg help us get the cannon into transport mode and both cannons back to the jetty. They treat the bronze cannon with much more respect, and the looks they give me are difficult to interpret. When I let Nidbjorg help and touch the cannon, she approach it cautiously, with a trembling hand outstretched and an entranced gaze. She gently and tenderly caress and pat the cannon barrel. Like a dangerous but fantastic animal. Nidbjorg thank the cannon for the fantastic experience and praise it for how many it had killed and injured, and asked what the cannon was called. Another 'psycho warning'. So I'm not surprised that Nidbjorg also gets looks, and some try to keep their distance from her, as several have recognised her. The rumour has spread, and everyone here has heard her reputation, which is unlikely to diminish by this. And now Gunhild, Ciara, Caecilia, Baugeid and Hagan have started to suggest names.

They are just about to lift the last parts on board when a rider arrives and announces that the village is secured, the fortress is secured. The fires extinguished. There is no longer any resistance. I send warriors to fetch the prisoners so we can bring them along to the village centre.

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