James stepped off the ship onto the substantial wooden floating dock. Large rectangular sections of dock work were connected by heavy iron rings, and every 20 meters or so there were upright creosote covered wooden pilings, each contained within their own well. As the tide rose and fell the dock went with it, and the pilings kept everything in place.
Work was going on everywhere in the Brogdar harbour docks. Porters wheeled and loaded supplies. Hand operated steel cranes lifted bins of coal onto the decks of the ships. Ammunition for the cannons was carefully being loaded onto the boats, and packed into the magazines of the warships. By now it was nearly midnight and there was no sign of the end of the work day.
"Quite a sight, eh James," remarked Dalli. The dwarf had snuck up from behind James.
"Dalli! I didn't see you back there. "I figured that Erik would be slave driving you and your brother, as per usual."
"I asked 'im if I could have a look round the docks and he gave me an hour. These sorts of ships is my favourite things to look at, in the world. Most dwarfs turn their noses up at other races technologies but I loves them all. Look at this one here," suggested the dwarf as he pointed towards the single deck frigate tied to the dock, and encouraged James to walk towards the 160 foot two masted sailboat.
"The Prince Ludendorf! Fifty-six cannon she has! A crew of 400 men she has! The finest sailors in the Holy Prussian Empire's Navy! The guns are 16 pounders, able to fire a sixteen pound shot more than 1000 yards! Twenty eight guns on a broadside means this ship can deliver 450 pounds of lead into the enemy vessel. She can sail at 12 knots on a broad reach. The Ludendorf fought the Varangian longships in the Battle of Skagen Banks." The pair continued to walk along the docks towards the next boat in the line. Thar commander is the venerable Admiral Wagner. He also commands the Norgeland Sea Task Force.
"This one is the Ceremonis, pride of the Aquitanian navy! A two deck Dromon she can sail at 10 knots but row at 8 knots if the wind is against her! They carry a crew of 300 and can field seventy five rowers per side. The single mast can sport a large canvas mainsail. This craft dunna carry cannons but instead destroys the enemy with Greek Fire! See those projectors on the top deck. The range is short but the enemy will be roasted if they get in the way of that weapon. But, here is the real power of this ship," continued Dalli as he walked up towards the bow of the craft. "This here is a two ton battering ram! Full speed ahead and, WHAM! Right into the side of the enemy, tearing the guts out of the ship. You dunna want to get in the way of that Dromon!" Captain Fredrick Archambeau is their commander.
"This here is a rare vessel indeed!" instructed Dalli as he walked further along the naval dockyard. "The Quendya. Sailed all the way from Borealia, she did! A crew of 160 elvish sea guardsmen. A three masted schooner, she can sail at 18 knots or better. Instead of cannons she bears eleven elvish bolt throwers. It is said that included in her crew are powerful sea mages capable of increasing the sailing speed of the boat and casting weather changing spells! Their captain is Menthrial Hesto."
"The last member of the group is the Hammer of Theodor. This one is amazing! Two decks, and the heaviest ship of the lot! A crew of 400 souls man this ship, along with another 200 fanatical battle monks. Devoted worshippers of their Lord Theodor. The crew happily chain themselves to the oar banks to prove their devotion to the founder of the Holy Prussian Empire. Two banks of seventy-five oars per side. Three hundred rowers on a 225 foot bireme! This boat can power through any waves and reach 10 knots on a calm day. No sails necessary because the Theodor worshippers wouldn't think of asking their God to power the boat! They also have a ram," pointing to the lance shaped projection at the front of the boat. The massive lance had large barbed projections sticking out sideways from the metal point. "Once that lance hits your boat you're done for. Ya can't get away and Theodoran battle monks pour onto your ship and sweep the decks!" Arch Lector Simiens captain's the vessel.
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Dalli and James circled back towards the Thunderfist. Dalli's hour of freedom was just about up. As they returned James noticed that Erik Blarneysson was also making his way back to his family's battleship. He looked to have something serious weighing on his mind, when he noticed James and Dalli, "It's good that you boys are back. I've got somethin to tell the whole crew. Meet me up in the main deck."
Captain Blarneysson slapped the top of the railing, resulting in a quiet mess hall. Everyone had assembled to hear what Erik had to say. "We've been Shanghaied! Vice Admiral Millan has offered me a deal I kin not refuse! The coal we need is bein pervided fer no charge! Only one thing. We will be joinin the Armada which we'll be gepartin at first light. I tried refusin but than thars no coal fer us. None at all. So we'll be actin as the long range guns, an the scout of the Armada. Everyun better be ready fer this one."
"What are we goin against, uncle Blarneysson," asked Dalli.
"Hesto's eagles saw the Grimdark preparing to sortie," replied Erik Blarneysson. "Marchant ships across the Northern Sea are in danger. Tha Grimdark wul gobble tham all up if we don'not intervene. Wul be five versus one, so's we shud carry the day. All stations need to be manned at 5:00am. See you's then. Meantime you landlubbers shud gat some sleep," instructed Erik, waving his hands towards James, Elana, Saturin and Celeste. Then looking towards his dwarf crew he said, "As fer you boys, thar'll be no sleep fer yees."
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Far to the north in a deep dark fjord hidden amongst the wild lands of Norgeland, preparations of a different kind were underway. The massive Chaos doom creature Grimdark was being prepared for war. Petruchio Bones circled the black waters on his massive mount, Dreadcold, supervising the preparations. Below him a horrific scene played itself out.
Thousands upon thousands of Norgeland slave holders were herding their charges towards the slaughter pits. The spoils of countless raids onto the continent, these unfortunate souls had been captured as prisoners of war and brought to perform the labours required to support the Chaos warlords who ruled Norgeland. Now a gruesome tax was being levied to provide the dark essences required to feed the Grimdark Beast. Chaos practitioners of the dark arts were supervising the harvest of blood from thousands of these souls. Charnel pits carved into the sides of the fjord walls, collected the gore into channels which led down the steep slopes, joining one another and forming a single flow of suffering and death pouring directly into the gaping jaws of the mouth of the demonic creature warship. Hordes of Chaos priests and drummers pounded a common beat of dark rhythms which echoed back up and down the fjord.
At four hundred and sixty feet in length the Grimdark Beast was larger than any ship afloat on the seven seas. The Grimdark was a single gigantic demonic creature summoned into the world by four Chaos loving brothers from the wildlands of the north. Powered and armed with pure Chaos, she literally glowed with blue-white light and hummed with energy. The beast could reach speeds of 16 knots in any weather and was controlled by four demon worshipping Necromancers. The combined powers of Gravereaper, Koschev, Carrioncaller and Soulweaver were all required to manage the internal flames of Chaos energy and keep the demon in check. The Chaos Lords considered the Grimdark Beast invincible.
Petruchio Bones glided over the gruesome spectacle and was pleased. The Grimdark Beast would be ready to leave at first light the sanctuary of the Norgeland fjord. Tomorrow the Grimdark would enter into the shipping lanes to harvest more souls for his Demon Lord. He guided Dreadcold north through the mountain valleys so as to avoid detection from Elvish scouts in the morning light.
