The Svealish Revolution(Vapor Only/IC/Semi-Closed)

[New Sapienta]

OOC: Do not post in OOC in this thread and only post once its been cleared in the main vapor thread.



Svealand, January 1st 1904

Svealand, the land of the Vikings, the land of primitivism.

Amold Frenzed had been educated in the West, having had his education bought by his richer parents. He remarked with disgust whenever he saw the current Svealish government, a loose confederation of tribes with no real central power.

Amold had always thought that if Svealand could modernize and centralize, they could be a real power. However, the current Confederation was backwards. There was no financial authority, so commerce was chaos. Tribes could even issue their own forms of currency! The tribes fought constant civil wars over petty issues, weakening the country by decreasing its manpower and unity over an insult directed at a chieftain’s wife. Worst of all, tactics remained the "old" way of doing things, in order to "honor" the Svealish ancestors.

Amold found this ridiculous, and worst of all Svealand was planning to invade Inoreth, when it should instead be focusing its resources on strengthening the economy and its infrastructure. Svealand had a huge potential for natural resource exploitation, and with improved education then the country could create its first well-educated generation.

Upon Amold's return for Svealand, he received sponsorship to publish his book, "En enhetlig Svealand", or a An Unified Svealand.


March 23rd, 1904

Amold's book had finally been published and distributed, and the country had changed. Several tribes had already placed a bounty upon Amold's head, however hundreds of thousands of Sveals had purchased the book, and several tribes had unified under one banner, and invited Amold to become the leader of their unified group.

Amold had decided a Democracy was the only way to establish a leader while outlawing the current royalty and not having constant civil wars fought between tribes. The tribal revolutionaries knew this, and invited him under the condition that they be rewarded with government positions at the end of the revolution. Amold swallowed had swallowed his pride and accepted this as otherwise a revolution was impossible.

Now, he was in the revolutionary stronghold of Svold, Western Svealand. With a port, Amold had realized foreign power could ship i supplies to the revolutionaries, and the port town was one of the largest revolutionary-supportive cities in Svealand. He had gone to his chambers in order to send a telegram to Inoreth, a nation to the Southwest that the previous royalist government had planned to invade. This was rather public knowledge at the time, so Amold had needed no special connections to become aware.

In order to increase his resources, he decided to make a plea to Inoreth.

Dear King Victor Emanuel Vinchero,

My name is Amold Frenzen, and as I am sure your spies have told you, the royalist government had been forming forces to assemble an invasion force to attack you. I have decided this money is better spent elsewhere, and I believe it is in both our interests that I establish a Democracy in Svealand under the conditions that I do not invade you after the revolution, and that you supply me with commerce and supplies in my revolution. To discuss this partnership further, I encourage you to send a diplomat to our main fort in Svold.

Sincerely,
General Amold Frenzen

[Inoroth]

AIS (Agenzia di Intelligenze Servizio) Headquarters
Director's Office - Floor 12, Room 1229
Roth, Inoroth
23rd of March, 1904
7:12 am

Director Franz Shultz took a moment to look up from the mound of folders and documents, most of which were labeled "Top Secret" or "King's Eyes Only" or something of that nature. What he noticed first was the unnecessary light the new windows let in.

Damn these renovations! The infernal windows are hurting my head!

He thought. There had been other, more useful renovations as well. A shaft or tunnel had been built in back of the fireplace. Were anything to... happen, the Director could slip out a matrix of tunnels to safety.

Though I hope to God I don't ever have cause to use it.

About the walls hung several tapestries, also a product of the renovations. They were rather large, gaudy things; embroidery depicting some of the greatest moments in Rothian History. And though an art lover might have been enamored, the practical Director was annoyed and thought them distracting "rubbish".

Still muttering about the unwanted changes, Director Shultz returned to the papers he still needed to sort through. One in particular caught his eye:

Dear King Victor Emanuel Vinchero,

My name is Amold Frenzen, and as I am sure your spies have told you, the royalist government had been forming forces to assemble an invasion force to attack you. I have decided this money is better spent elsewhere, and I believe it is in both our interests that I establish a Democracy in Svealand under the conditions that I do not invade you after the revolution, and that you supply me with commerce and supplies in my revolution. To discuss this partnership further, I encourage you to send a diplomat to our main fort in Svold.

Sincerely,
General Amold Frenzen

Well, here was a hassle he did not need! Now the telegram needed to be verified, marked, copied, prioritized, filed, and then, if needed, acted on!

Well, better get started.

"GIOVANNI, Bring in Forms I-5 and B-12, and get this down level 4 for processing!"

[New Sapienta]

The Svealish Tundra

The 23rd of March, 1:15

Captain Goron Alerstruz looked down the hill. A royalist convoy was making its way over, around 50 soldiers with 20 militia behind them, and in the middle between the two were three horse carriages with food, water, ammo, and medical supplies on board.

Goron led 62 men, one company, many of which were civilians who trained at a Svealish revolutionary camp. The majority of the population was in support of the revolution, meaning the royalists had to face guerilla warfare and a hostile populace most everywhere they went.

Watching the convoy, Goron waited for the soldiers to enter the middle of the road between the two hills. After that, he gave the signal to his snipers to take out the carriage drivers and the horses.

Once the sniper shots had fired, the machine guns removed their tundra camouflage and began pouring into the convoy. The soldiers were caught completely unaware, with half of them being mown down in the first ten seconds.

Quickly ducking for cover, the royalist militia had escaped the crossfire, with only two militiamen being taken out.

Around half of the royalist soldiers had been killed, the rest had taken cover, and began taking potshots up the hill, taking out a couple of Goron's men.

"Attach bayonets!" shouted Goron. Goron knew that a massive bayonet charge would break the wavering soldiers and militiamen.

To add more luck to the situation, the snipers had taken out the convoy commander, meaning the royalists were in complete disarray.

"CHARGE!" Goron shouted taking the Svealish revolutionary flag and charging down the hill. The infantry charged with him from both sides, with the first line of the charge taking many casualties.

Once the lines clashed the militiamen and soldiers were overwhelmed, and after a quick but bloody melee, the rest surrendered.

After the battle, Goron went to the carriages and took the supplies, giving each soldier something to carry. After assigning each soldier something to carry, he forced the prisoners to carry most of it under close watch.

With the ambush concluded, they began heading back to their Headquarters.

[Inoroth]

Palazza Regina Regala Babberini "Regal Babberini Royal Palace"
Main Ballroom, The Babberini Estate, Verona, Inoroth
25th of March, 1904
8:03 pm

The orchestra, positioned on their specially-designed stage, began yet another stirring waltz. By now, of course, most guests were already on the ballroom floor, it being late enough in the evening that the customary shyness and timidity had long ago worn off of nearly everyone. Still, there were some partiers clustered in groups, conversing; several stood laughing at what must have been an incredibly hilarious joke about the unusually large refreshments table; and then there where the inevitable few listlessly lined against the wall, eyes down and mouths shut, wishing to be anywhere but a social function.

The occasion? Why, it was the birthday of the Duke Babberini, his fiftieth, in fact, and this was promised to be one of the most splendid parties of the decade. Nearly everyone who was anyone had been invited, and while those more inclined to social amenities had no doubt been overjoyed beyond belief to have been invited, even the majority of the... "less celebratory" had arrived: there were few, apparently, who had felt it possible to decline the offer.

Vinchero fell into the latter category of people, normally having neither time nor patience for "the needless busyness inevitably ingrained into these sorts of gatherings" as he had put it to his wife, Queen Maria, when pressed why he did not wish to attend. This excuse, of course, had not affected the outcome of the argument in the slightest, for now they were both dancing along with the rest.

And, if the King was honest with himself, he did enjoy the dancing bit...

I suppose what I truly loathe about these functions is that I am a target for every guest, each wishing to at least get a moment of my time, and that most not contented with that. Inevitably, I become ensnared in an incredibly dull conversation with dignitaries I either don't know or don't wish to know. Our palaces each have a dancing room, most have several in fact, so I don't see why we might not simply stay home to dance... I wish Maria saw it that way.

The waltz concluded in conjunction with this train of thought, and Vinchero bowed to his Queen as the last strings were struck.

I will allow, however, that for all her arguing, I wouldn't have any other woman in all Atlia for Wife or Queen.

And a boyish grin spread across his face, the same one he had worn on their wedding night. Maria noticed as she rose back up, and took it's meaning. She formed a stern look that was clearly false, and put her hands to her hips.

"Something on your mind, Your Majesty"

She asked, annunciating the last word in a playfully sarcastic tone. "His Majesty" grinned sheepishly, and together, hand in hand, they walked towards the band-stage. Vinchero whispered something to the conductor, who nodded heartily, giving an exaggerated wink to the couple.

As they Royal Pair returned to the center of the floor, the first chilling strands of Tibere Azzure were strummed. This song was their single most cherished memory from their grand wedding reception, all those years ago. It was, to them, their song.

But, before they had time to properly embrace, a messenger, bearing the badge-like symbol of the AIS on his Bowler Hat, interrupted:

"My Lord King, a message from Director Shultz. He says it's urgent!"

Surely it can wait for another dance? This is our song, and nothing can be more important than that.

"Please, let us alone for one more, there's a good lad. I'm sure whatever it is can wait another five minutes."

The boy made to protest, but the King's brow contracted somewhat sternly, and that seemed to change his mind. Instead, he saluted, clicked heels, and about-faced. He stood right at the edge of the dance-floor until they had finished...

he is, no doubt, too young to understand the finer points of romance, and I don't hold that against him; but he nearly disobeyed a direct command, and that's... unacceptable.

Vinchero and Maria danced through to the end, but with impatient eyes watching their every move, they didn't derive the same enjoyment that they had anticipated. At the close, they bowed towards each other, Vichero mouthed and "I'm sorry", and he popped out, followed closely by the AIS agent. They were barely out of the corridor when Vincero turned about, rather upset.

"Well, what is the 'message' that was too urgent to wait, hmmm?"

The boy seemed repentant as he held up the manila envelope labeled "King's Eyes Only" in bold red letters.

"Humph!"

it escaped the King's mouth almost involuntarily... this was not the first time an enjoyable evening had been needlessly interrupted by Shultz, all on account of a "trivial matter" that he might very well have handled himself. However, this particular letter did need the king's action, and his alone.

Dear King Victor Emanuel Vinchero,

My name is Amold Frenzen, and as I am sure your spies have told you, the royalist government had been forming forces to assemble an invasion force to attack you. I have decided this money is better spent elsewhere, and I believe it is in both our interests that I establish a Democracy in Svealand under the conditions that I do not invade you after the revolution, and that you supply me with commerce and supplies in my revolution. To discuss this partnership further, I encourage you to send a diplomat to our main fort in Svold.

Sincerely,
General Amold Frenzen

Vinchero read the letter through carefully the second time, trying to pull out whatever information he could. He then called on one of the servants, requested a pen, paper, envelope, wax, and candle, and scribbled a rapid note. Once finished, he turned towards the messenger.

"You were right, this was indeed urgent. Now, here are five Roths, take the fastest train back to Roth and deliver this Shultz personally, no secretaries or additional messengers, telegrams, or anything of that nature. No one may know of the contents of this letter - no one. This order *hands him a note that he had scribbled which bore his seal* countermands any governmental order towards you until this message is delivered, or one full week, whichever occurs first. Now, go, and if the message is delivered in less than four days, I'll ensure you a handsome bonus - so be quick!"

Vinchero watched as the excited young man nodded and ran off, then returned to the ballroom... but for the rest of the evening, he thought about the council he had just ordered connived in two weeks here in Verona, and about whether it was wise to get involved in these affairs or not.

"Maria, let us have another dance."