THE GREAT NORTHERN WAR BEGINS
"Cannons thunder on the horizon of Giglegrad. The roads crumble and shake under the boots of the Comintern Army. Those, who would have our nation crawling on the floor like a beast are now getting their righteous punishment! You, the people of North Korea, WILL HAVE YOUR VENGEANCE!" cried Minister Tiberius of the Ministry of Enlightenment to the roaring crowds in Red Square, pointing his fist with a snap towards the West, to Eldinghold, the heart of the Northmen menace. "One month ago, the Northmen pierced into the Motherland, massacring unarmed civilians in the streets. One month ago, the cruel invaders occupied the city of Giglegrad, tearing it apart in the fighting. ONE MONTH AGO, despite all odds, despite the power of the ancient empires of the Northmen and the Dwarves, we cast out the invaders through our resolve and our dedication to the Supreme Leader. Fighting over the corpses of our fallen Comrades, we cut down the Northmen flag in the Motherland and raised the Red Banner of triumph over Giglegrad!" Snow swirled and turned in the air over the hushed crowd, collecting on the Minister's greycoat as he paced the floor, his head lowered but his eyes staring deep into those of every comrade, seeing in each eye the same burning Red fury that shone like embers in his own. The embers flared into an inferno as his fist slammed into the podium "COMRADES. OUT THERE, YOUR ENEMY AWAITS. Those same men who had laid us low, who would have wiped us from the Earth, now seek to threaten the Motherland again! Vengeance is yours: FOR THE SUPREME LEADER, FOR THE MOAT, AND FOR RED FURY, TAKE IT!"
The blood on the walls of Giglegrad have long since dried, but the memories of the brutal Northmen occupation remain. Despite the cruel bite of winter, North Korean laborers, builders, and factory workers have survived due to the flame of hate in their hearts. "Never forget" was the saying that kept them going in the midst of the snowstorm, as they tilled the frozen soil. "Vengeance is near" the chant that rung through the factory halls, as hammers beat on steel, through adamant resolve pounding them into swords and armor. A little less than a month ago, the North Korean-Northmen War came to an end, but the heat of Korean hatred burned like a beacon over the North Korean capital. All it took was a spark, and the burning embers flared into an inferno that engulfed the land, sweeping towards the Northmen's fortress and threatening to raze it to the ground.
That spark was flung today in light of the Northmen's fortification of the border, escalating tensions between the two countries after a minor incident regarding allegations of reforestation in Northmen territory. The situation deteriorated rapidly as Northmen constantly tested the border, sending patrols across the river despite Korean ultimatums that any trespassers would be shot. The first blow was struck by the Northmen, killing a North Korean citizen. With more Northmen arriving at their outpost at the DMZ, the Red Army briefly evacuated its positions at the river and occupied the fortifications around Giglegrad as it awaited reinforcements of its own. The war seemed poised to begin on North Korean soil, until at last our faithful allies, the Werenian Corps, composed of their 1st and 2nd Divisions. Suddenly outnumbered, the Norse Army turned tail and ran back to their positions at the river. But the time for diplomacy was over: they had gone too far, and the North Koreans thirst for revenge would not be denied. The combined Comintern Army advanced back to the river, and after deploying a drawbridge across the river onto the Northern fort, the die was cast. The Great Northern War had begun.
Panicked by the vast army surging towards them, the Northmen were routed from their positions. Two were cut down in the chaotic retreat, with the rest fleeing to their main fortress of Eldinghold, relying on their walls, not their skill at arms, to save them. Brief respite was given to the North as the Comintern army regrouped, before beginning the march through thick jungle to bring the war to Eldinghold. Soon, the Red Army was before Eldinghold, and was quickly joined by Latveria, joining the cause to bring down the Northmen tyranny. Their outer defenses were quickly secured, left abandoned by their defenders, and the Red Banner swiftly raised over the gates of Eldinghold. But the battle was just to begin. The combined Army met its first resistance in the courtyard, taking cover behind walls and terraces as arrows rained from the heights of the Jarl's Tower. Here, the rapid gains of Comintern would at last be stalled, as every advance was met by a maelstrom of arrowfire, but non-the-less casualties were light. An attempt to take the walls with ladders was repulsed, thus a siege tower was constructed. The slow advance was only ground to a halt as the Norse resorted to strategic bombing of their own capital.
The first day would end with a Norse counteroffensive on the regrouping Comintern army, halved in strength as many had retreated to the rear after being wounded in action. After a bloody battle, the Red Army and its allies were briefly evicted from its positions in Eldinghold, but its return is assured. This is but the first day of many to come, and the Comintern High Command has resolved to see this war until the bloody end. Vengeance shall be done at any cost.
Duty. Honor. Obedience. Death.