User:LukaGaming/eventformattest

The North Afire

 * The North Afire - Preamble:
 * Introduction: Ever since the ascension of Fiete Kjær to the throne of  Vestkyst  in 1397, the reign of the Sólskjær dynasty has ushered in an era of relative peace and prosperity. While there have been several tempestous occasions during their quarter-millenium reign, the heartland of the predominant Northern European realm has been save from any real danger. However, even the most stable realms face a threatening calamity sooner or later. Even Nordicia, a precursor domain famed for being the "Kingdom that Stood the Test of Time", fell victim to a multitude of factors that contributed to its demise. Then, it happened. The rank and file, disillusioned from war against both Catholics and Protestants to the south, began to practice a religion resembling more of the faiths of old, distancing themselves from the Odinist syncretism. The realm, split into duchies and counties by the late old monarch to placate their sons and daughters, was more divided than ever. The archbishops of Nidaros, concerned with the spread of the "unorthodox" faiths, sought to create a power base for themselves in Trondheim as a means to safeguard Odinism from potential heresies. Lastly, a scandal in the court led to a schism within the royal family itself, with disgruntled would-have-been heirs plotting a conspiracy to make a power grab for the throne. And in the wake of the old monarch's passing, the turmoil in  Vestkyst  reached a breaking point. Factions took up arms, proclaiming themselves the rightful successor to the throne, while the world watched as paradise crumbled into pieces.
 * The Claimants:
 *  Anastasia, Duchess of Akershus: Descending from the original branch of the Kjær dynasty in Oslo and the designated principal heir for the crown of  Vestkyst ,  Anastasia  inherited the Duchy of Akershus from her mother. Her ascension to the throne was interrupted, however, by a private army in Bergen belonging to another claimant, who declared her an outlaw. Outraged, she returned to Oslo and with an alliance with the Count of Viken, prepared to mount a campaign to reclaim what is rightfully hers - the Sovereign Realm of Vestkyst-Danemark .
 *  Hilmar, Count of København: Born into the Danish cadet branch of the Sólskjær dynasty,  Hilmar  was never seriously considered for succession, instead was given the county of København. However, a growing crisis in Bergen and the backing of several prominent regional noble families fearing the increasingly erashed Danish identity, allowed him to stake a meaningful claim on the throne of  Vestkyst .
 *  Vedastus, Archbishop of Nidaros: The head of the Archdiocese of Nidaros, Archbishop  Vedastus  controls Trondheim, the holy city of Odinism - an amalgamation of old Norse and Protestantism. Increasingly concerned by the spread of beliefs that espouse the removal of the latter, he sought to control the monarch of  Vestkyst  to bring the realm's religious upheaval down and stamp out the thoughts he deemed "heretical". With a claimant to the throne under his thumb, the time had come for him to execute his plan.
 *  Gunnar, Duke of Vestland: Formerly second-in-line to the throne,  Gunnar  was unceremoniously removed from succession after an unknown scandal, which he took as an insult. Despite that, he remained allies with several noble families in Bergen, which allowed him to secretly build up a private army and unleashed it on his niece,  Anastasia , seizing the capital and declaring himself King of  Vestkyst . With Vestland secured, he looked to the rest of the fractured realm, looking to unite it under his banner - and in his view, the way it should be.
 * Paradise Lost (1659): To the average Vestkyster, things were getting stranger by the day. There was an untold yet tangible animosity in the air, whether it was Bergen, Oslo or København. Everyone knew something was happening, but no one knew what it was. Then, it happened all at once - days after news of the old monarch's death broke, the realm erupted into a squabble for power. The people found themselves under different authorities, some more benevolent than others, while the rank and file are split between the realm and their local claimant. Unless you were the Sámi living north of Trøndelag, your lives have irrevocably changed.
 * The North Afire - Crescendo:
 * Dauntless Spirits (1660): Despite being originally the designated heir to the throne and one of the claimants in this four way war,  Anastasia  had no qualms about going about things her own way, often risking her very life in the process. Growing up in the tutelage of a royal-friendly hunting party in the countryside near Drammen, she was proficient with a crossbow and grew to idolise Sigrid and Fiete Kjær, great warrior-queens of their times. It was also in this period that she befriended one  Eivind Ayling , a fellow hunter who supposedly descended from an Albionite. It was this friendship that would set in motion an unlikely escapade, the likes of it had never been thought of before.
 * Scania Campaign (1660): Securing the backing of several prominent nobles in Jylland,  Hilmar  planned to invade Scania to secure a position across the Øresund - just in case  Anastasia 's navy blockaded the strait. An army of 10 thousand crossed the strait and occupied Lund and Malmö, and within the year of 1660, Scania was under his control. This proximity, however, meant he was now under attack from the Count of Viken, an ally the Duchess of Akershus has recruited just before the entire charade began. With this, he moved his base of operations and his main troops to Lund, from which he would coordinate his plans directly.
 * Consolidation of Vestland (1660):  Gunnar 's seizure of Vestland, the principal duchy within  Vestkyst , has been divisive. His allies within Bergen welcomed the takeover while others, still aligning themselves with  Anastasia , protested his actions as he was after all, a disgraced and disqualified heir. With that, it was clear he would have to consolidate his holdings before proceeding to stamp out his own niece and the two new unexpected factions in this conflict. Under  Gunnar , Vestland became essentially a despotate - those not supportive of him were either expelled or had their estates confiscated to fuel the machines of war, and the commoners were doctrined to acknowledge him as the legitimate Duke of Vestland and King of  Vestkyst  or else face punishment. With an iron grip imposed on Bergen,  Gunnar  set his eyes east - towards Oslo.
 * The Holy Sanctuary (1660): The spread of Nynorrøn has been an ongoing concern for the bishops of Odinism, who feared its effects on their position and authority. As such, in the archdiocese of Nidaros, Archbishop  Vedastus  and his fellow bishops have secretly amassed a small but zealous army, willing to fight and die for their faith (and their pockets). With the civil war, he plucked an obscure relative of  Gunnar  out of nowhere and used them to press a claim on the throne to use the seat of power in order to stamp out Nynorrøn. With this, he set off with an army numbering 20 thousand towards Vestland, while in Trondheim, defenses continued to be built up with a view to build a true Odinist stronghold.
 * The Hunt is On (1661) [Companion Story: "Lionhearted"]: As the Duchess of Akershus,  Anastasia  exercised her power to forbid her close friend  Eivind  from serving in her army, in part for his own safety; a gesture  Eivind  himself did not take particularly well. Between the two, however, she struck a compromise: they were going to set off together, on their own, "just like old times", hunting down Vestlander outposts. Renewing their friendship, the two set off to Arendal, which would serve as their hideout from then on.  Anastasia  herself would often return to Oslo due to her responsibility as the Duchess, keeping these hunts with  Eivind  a secret from everyone else lest they forbid her from doing it
 * Battle of Helsingborg (1661): The constant harassment from Viken culminated in the Battle of Helsingborg, taking place in  Hilmar -controlled Scania. Approximately 15 to 20 thousand soldiers from both sides participated in the battle, including auxiliaries, and the conflict resulted in Viken's defeat, allowing  Hilmar  to push into the Båhuslen region, setting siege to the city of Gøteborg by winter of 1661.
 * Into Agder (1661-62): The Agder fylke laid in the middle of Vestland and Akershus, making it a perfect target for  Gunnar  to expand his influence. Outposts were set up within the fylke to exert influence and establish a constant supply chain through Agder, as the locals have declared neutrality from the conflict but allowed passage. These camps do their work as intended, but they also serve as perfect target for a certain duo looking to strike from the shadows...
 * Siege of Ålesund (1662): The path to Vestland was surprisingly uneventful, possibly because  Gunnar  was busy dealing with  Anastasia , paying no attention to the threat from Trondheim, a situation advantageous for  Vedastus  as he took Romsdal without bloodshed. As he approached Ålesund, however, the city denied him passage towards Vestland, forcing him to dig into a siege to enforce movements. The siege was a time-consuming and costly ordeal, due in part due to small raiding parties but it was needed to advance to Bergen, and by Ålesund's surrender in December 1662,  Vedastus 's army was only around half the original size. With the winter coming, he settled in the city for resupplying as he waited for further reinforcements from Trøndelag.
 * Siege of Gøteborg (1661-63):  Hilmar 's army of twenty-five thousand stood unopposed as they made their way towards the city of Gøteborg, a major urban settlement under the authority of the Count of Viken. With the defeat at Halsingborg,  Anastasia  has routed part of Akershus's army to the defense of the besieged city, which arrived by the summer of 1662. Naval support was also dispatched to the city, as the Oslofjord area was the second largest naval base of  Vestkyst  and thus was home to a sizable, but still a minority of the realm's navy. As  Hilmar  expected, the Øresund was blockaded, preventing any additional support from Danemark to reach him in Scania. The siege lasted through 1662 and into 1663 before a confrontational battle between the two sides was forced after Akershus cavalry inflicted casualties on the besieging army.  Anastasia  and the Count of Viken emerged victorious from the battle, but without huge loss of life and the latter's death during a charge. With this, the Duchess of Akershus came to inherit the County of Viken and delegated the eastern theatre to her trusted lieutenants as she returned to Oslo, in part to overlook the western theatre, but also to return to her hunts with  Eivind .
 * The Hawks of Arendal (1663): Fast as they came, they went. It was silent, then a flash, and then nothing left. Thus was life for  Eivind  and  Anastasia  for the last two years as they shut down Vestlander outposts in Agder from the shadows. While numerous, these encampments were often spread out, meaning one cannot sufficiently support another should an attack happen - a setting that played in their favour. By late 1663, the duo had reportedly taken down approximately a hundred camps of the sort - all while  Anastasia  had to assume her duties as the Duchess of Akershus. The few who survived talked of vicious figures and their snow-white heads - those who attacked from the shadows. They were dubbed "the Hawks of Arendal" by the people of Agder - after a bird of prey and the city of which the two set up base in. Arendal, a small harbour town in eastern Agder, benefited greatly from the attention as many flocked to the town in hopes of seeing the Hawks in person, some even volunteering to join Akershus' army after the mentioning that they may be working for the Duchess - unknowing of her being a half of the duo, of course.
 * Battle of Førde (1663): While the situation in Agder was less than desirable due to the Hawks of Arendal's meddling,  Gunnar 's chief concern, at least for the time being, turned to Trondheim.  Vedastus 's army had taken Ålesund, and was now encroaching on his Vestland. Raising a levy of fifteen thousand from families too scared to fight back, he set off with those and part of his men-at-arms, totalling about 25 thousand, and marched north. In February 1663, he tried to force a confrontation with  Vedastus 's host at Østra, just outside of Ålesund, in hopes of pushing them out of Romsdal. The battle was a failure, in part due to the inexperienced levies, which allowed  Vedastus  to march further inward. On the first snow of winter, however,  Gunnar  came back, this time with more experienced soldiers, and attacked his enemies at Førde, a small town within Vestland. This time, he succeeded, forcing  Vedastus  to withdraw from Vestland. Another conflict just outside of Ålesund near the end of the year kicked him back further to Sólsund. With  Vedastus  temporarily taken care of, he once again turned his gaze towards Agder and his greatest source of agony yet - the Hawks.
 * Slaughter of Lund (1664): Beaten out of Båhuslen and his escape through the Øresund blocked,  Hilmar  prepared for a stand at Lund as the Akershus host edged closer and closer. Veterans and recruits alike, he managed to scrape together an army of thirteen thousand or so - a decent number, but no chance compared to the rumoured forty thousand coming at him. The army fought well, but they were no match and were overwhelmed within a day of battle, almost all of whom on  Hilmar 's army was slain just outside the town of Lund.  Hilmar  himself barely managed to escape to Karlskrona in neighbouring  Svearike , but a local, mistaking him for a thief, struck him with an ax, mortally wounding him. With the Count of Blekinge's permission, a small Akershus cavalry detachment was sent in to find  Hilmar , but found his dead body just outside of Karlskrona, part of which have reportedly been gnawed at by wild animals. At  Anastasia 's behest, his carcass was brought back to København for a formal burial, as she remarked that "he was royalty, after all."  Hilmar 's death ended the so-called "Danish faction"'s involvement in the war, as nobles who had vocally supported him earlier all went silent in fear of Akershus' retribution. With him out of the game,  Anastasia  was free to focus on the other two threats - her uncle,  Gunnar , and the ultra-conservative remnants of the Odinist church, led by  Vedastus .
 * Falling Prey (1664):  Eivind Ayling  has been captured. From the beginning, it seemed that this would just be another normal hunt. What neither of them expected was that  Gunnar  has been keeping tab on them for some time, and had decided to take to dealing with them. A decoy camp was set up, from which a small army would be hidden in the woodlands around it, waiting to ambush the duo as they went about their hunting. The plan went off without a hitch, as  Eivind  was captured trying to hold the ambush, but  Anastasia  barely managed to escape. During her flight, as she was running away not once did she not look back at her captured partner.   Eivind  was dragged to a major Vestlander camp near Stavanger where he would remain for the next few months.
 * Siege on Stavanger (1664): Though frightened,  Anastasia  made it out of the ambush unscathed, at the expense of  Eivind  who had willingly lagged behind to cover her escape. Almost immediately, she attempted to rally an army to attack Stavanger through neutral Agder, but  Vedastus ' harassments near the Akershus border made it an unrealistic prospect for some time. It wasn't until the fall when a small army, led by  Anastasia  herself, traversed through the ever so familiar landscape of Agdesiden and digging in for a siege of Stavanger just before winter came. While it incurred a massive loss of life, the capture of Stavanger in December provided a vital base to increase the Akershus numbers and, in part thanks to a conveniently timed prisoner revolt in the nearby Vestlander camp, managed to rescue  Eivind  as well. Leaving a garrison force behind to guard the city,  Anastasia  returns to Arendal by early January 1665, setting her eyes toward a constant eyesore -  Vedastus .
 * Stavanger Revolt (late 1664) [Companion Story: "Fresh Static Snow"]: The Vestlander camp in Jæren has been home to some of the most intense military activity outside of their own lands. The camp was effectively self-sufficient, with a foraging system utilising prisoners of war as slaves. The settlement essentially served as a way to keep neutral Stavanger in check and worked as a chokepoint to prevent any potential incursions by enemies into Vestland. That is, until a certain  Eivind Ayling  was taken there.  From what was told, he was treated especially harshly (even for Jæren standards) due to his connections with  Anastasia ; but on the flip side, his plight managed to win him a few allies, mostly fellow Akershus prisoners, but most strikingly a mole posing as a guard, who apparently trained him in using a wheellock pistol - in secret, of course. As time went on, he gradually convinced more prisoners to align with him, and in winter, decided it was the right time to break out.  Timing the revolt in the winter of that year was coincidentally a great move as  Anastasia  was besieging Stavanger at that very same time, and the intention was that the uprising would use the siege to their advantage and link up with the Akershus army. A small detachment led by the Duchess of Akershus detached from the siege as they scoured the area, before finding the Jæren camp and attacking it at the same time. Combined with the ongoing revolt, the camp was liberated swiftly, and  Eivind  rescued, albeit with serious injuries. Returning to Arendal in January, it would be another few months until he would re-enter the war. For a few months,  Anastasia  would remain by his side, nursing him to health before she had to depart once again in order to deal with  Vedastus. 
 * The North Afire - Coda:
 * Battle in Nidaros (spring 1665): With the army partially rebuilt,  Anastasia  marched upon  Vedastus ' stronghold in Nidaros - as for now, the garrison in Stavanger should be ample to hold their old and according to espionage,  Gunnar  is more concerned with consolidating Vestland and building up his forces after humiliating defeats in Agder. Setting off in April 1665 with an army of approximately 14 thousand men, both veteran and recruit. Reaching Nidaros in May, as they prepare to march to Trondheim itself, herald came that a large army, numbering some twenty thousand, were coming their way. Retreating isn't an option. The two armies meet some fifteen kilometers from Trondheim, and as the battle raged on, the Akershus host looked to be increasingly losing their ground.  Anastasia  might be a fearless spirit, but she was no military genius; and her advisors and generals could only do so much being outnumbered deep in enemy turf. Surely only a miracle can save them now?
 *  Eivind 's Host (May 1665): Intentionally left at Arendal for the purposes of recuperation, the sick bed could not keep  Eivind  confined for long. It wasn't that he completely healed, of course, but hearing of the Nidaros campaign and the plight of the Akershus army, he endured the pain, took up his crossbow again and took a horse riding up north, departing in the middle of the night. During his path, he would stop by towns in short notice, attempting to recruit retired veterans, mercenaries or willing recruits to join him as cavalry, of which numbered around a thousand or so during the entire period. This battalion, colloquially dubbed " Eivind 's Host", arrived at Nidaros a month into the still-ongoing battle and slammed right into  Vedastus 's army's rearguard, taking them by surprise and relieving the Akershus army. The effort was helped by the usage of certain psychological effects inspired by  Eivind 's experiences as a hunter, attempting to mimic pack animals hunting and making the host appear more numerous than they actually are. By the end of the battle, around four thousand Akershus soldier remained out of the original fourteen, including the new cavalry host. With their numbers low, recruitment some time away and neck deep in Nidaros,  Anastasia  looked to a more immediate solution to the problem:  Svearike .
 * A Favour to the Foxes (summer 1665): With  Eivind  in charge of the remainder of the Akershus army, which resorted to foraging the fringes of Nidaros-held territory for supplies,  Anastasia  departed for an audience with the royals of  Svearike  in Stockholm, aiming to gain support in pacifying Nidaros. She immediately took interest in Princess  Henrietta , a bright and intelligent girl who seemed to be somewhat underappreciated within the family, and from that point onwards the two would become acquaintances, often exchanging letters with one another. The negotiations weren't exactly smooth, as Crown Prince  Oskar  was against supporting  Anastasia  (partially also due to her affection with  Henrietta , who he did not exactly have the best relationship with), but an agreement with King Karl of  Svearike  was eventually reached, in which they would provide some 15 thousand men for the siege of Trondheim, but in return  Anastasia  would owe them a favour which the Sveans could call upon at any time. While being indebted to a foreign power was unfavourable, it had to do for now.  Anastasia  returned to Nidaros a week or so later at the head of a brand new army, regrouping with  Eivind 's remnants and together, the almost twenty thousand strong army dig in for a siege of Trondheim.
 * Fall of Trondheim (1666): The last Odinist stronghold has fallen. After months of grueling campaigning, a cruel winter siege and some skirmishes harassing the besieging army, the walls of Trondheim finally fell in 1666.  Vedastus  is said to have escaped the city days before the fall, but with Trøndelag swiftly falling to Akershus hands after Trondheim fell, he and his pupper claimant essentially lost all available support. The Svean army, being the majority of the besiegers, assume nominal control of Nidaros, though still under Vestkyster jurisdiction. A friendly army also allowed  Anastasia  to fall back to Oslo where she could freely bolster the Akershus numbers and resupply in anticipation of a total campaign on Vestland and her uncle  Gunnar  - who, at this point, is her only rival left for the throne. She could not afford to stop now.  That was until, out of nowhere, disaster struck.
 * Abduction (summer 1666):  Anastasia 's time in Nidaros has allowed  Gunnar  to gradually but surely reassert his control on Agder, starting with the siege of Stavanger in summer 1665, and slowly pouring all over Vest-Agder itself in the year following it. The Vestlander ruling cabal came to a daring plan: if they cannot defeat Akershus' ever expanding sphere of control, they would go straight for the jugular. With intel of  Anastasia  residing in Arendal with a small auxiliary force overlooking the region,  Gunnar  ordered a raid at night on the town with the intent to abduct her and putting a dent on Akershus morale - which impeccably succeeded, somehow. At the head of the auxiliaries himself,  Eivind  was also chased around with orders to kill, but he managed to escape the town on a rowboat, aiming to escape to the Netherlands. Not being particularly good at sea, disaster eventually caught up to him too. Stranded in the cold waters of the North Sea, all hope seemed lost.
 * Rescue (1666): With Fortuna King 's rescue and later assistance,  Eivind  was able to assemble an ensemble and formulate a plan to rescue  Anastasia.  With the use of Fortuna's spy and transit, the team was able to infiltrate Bergen, and though encountering several obstacles, both internal and external, the rescue operation was, all in all, a resounding success. With how sudden it happened, the Vestlander elites were taken aback. The Duke of Vestland,  Gunnar , ordered a haste investigation as to how  Anastasia  was able to escape captivity, but after an exhaustive process, no credible leads turned up. As fast as they appeared, they were gone - like the Hawks of Arendal all along, which have already annoyed him greatly in the past. Meanwhile, reactions were completely opposite on the other side of Vestkyst .  Anastasia  's return could not have come at a better time, as her inner circle was struggling over who would take the reins of the duchy during her absence, and the rank and file were restless over rumours of their figurehead having been abducted. Her reappearance assuaged fractures within the Akershus camp, and with their leader back in power, morale was restored within those involved.
 * Terminus / March on Bergen (1667): With  Anastasia  's return and Vestland gradually sinking into turmoil as a result of  Gunnar' s failure to secure the Duchess of Akershus and his despot-like grip, the Akershus camp was emboldened for a potentially conclusive campaign - one that would end the civil war that has torn  Vestkyst  apart for the better part of the decade. Small-scale skirmishes took place along Romsdal and Agdesiden in early 1667, succeeding in weakening the meagre Vestlander presence there and preventing Akershus from being caught off guard. And summer that year, the main campaign would start - an army of thrity-five thousand, straight to the capital.  Anastasia  and  Eivind  personally led the vanguard of the force, and the excursion was, in general a success. In the eventual scuffle,  Gunnar  along with a few of his bodyguards were slain after an impressive solo effort from  Anastasia,  but one that left her fatally wounded.  Eivind,  clearing the way to allow such action to take place in the first place, was also inflicted heavy injuries, which could be life-threatening if not treated. But even with that, he refused treatment. With what little strength he had left, he was determined that his journey ended in Bergen, and stumbled towards the one he loved the most.
 * Swansong (1667) [Companion Story: "Divinity"]: "Have you ever regretted anything,  Eivind ?" "I would not have it any other way. And you?" Two souls, together, rested against a wall. Away from the smoke and flames of the lower levels, here, it was only them, in solace. Their bodies littered with spilt blood, scars, and wounds -  Anastasia 's white hair and alabaster skin tainted with gore and numerous cuts; while  Eivind  was hardly awake, having sustained injuries and blood loss as a result of the conflict. Before their eyes laid dead bodies, slain entirely by one of them. Side by side, they could clearly see the writing on the wall. The journey of the Hawks of Arendal would end there, in Bergen, at the very terminus. Ignoring the battle going underway right below them, they sat by one another, watching the afterglow and pouring their hearts out. It was here, in their last moments, that  Anastasia  decided she would let her deepest feelings be known to her companion. "You are a close friend to me, and without this escapade, I wouldn't have had a chance to be this close to you. But ever since then, I have been seeing you differently. Perhaps... I have developed feelings... for you."   Eivind  did not respond with words. Instead, to affirm his own feelings, he went in for a kiss, their first and perhaps last. For the both of them, it was perhaps liberating to finally be able to confess their deepest thoughts, no matter how late it was. Perhaps in another life, they would have made a great couple?  Enervated,  Anastasia  leant by her lover and fell into a slumber, but not before gracing him with a rare blooming smile.  Eivind , with his inamorata by the side, took a final look at the now-dark sky, letting out a beam of satisfaction before closing his eyes, allowing the collapsing floor to swallow them both into the abyss.
 * The Hawks' Rest (1667):  Anastasia  and  Eivind  were dead. The immediate mood within the Akershus camp was one of solemn weeping - they have won, but at what cost? As it stood,  Vestkyst  had no ruler - and de jure had been for years - and their leader was gone, but for now, something had to be done first: It was time to prepare for the couple a dignified send-off to Valhalla. The rank and file, on their own accord, went through the night tearing up wood and gathered together a funeral pyre on a patch of land by the coast. Laid atop the wooden pyre was a platform, on which the two were laid on top of, alongside their belongings, jewelry, an inordinate amount of arrows and bolts, and their crossbows, topped with a silver pair of rings and a crown, found next to  Gunnar 's dead body, presumably used as he styled himself king - said to have been the Akershus army's recognition of their late ruler as the rightful sovereign of  Vestkyst . While there was initially much debate within  Anastasia 's retinue over how  Eivind  should be treated considering his commoner background, it was eventually agreed that for his unwavering loyalty and companionship to the Duchess of Akershus in life, he would also be accompanying her into Valhalla.  As the pyre was lit up, a solemn and dampening mood clouded the host. Some openly and audibly wept, while others just stood in silence. The vicious flame burned through the night and continued on as dawn breaks, its smoke columns piercing the bounds of Midgard. When the last embers finally disappeared, and dawn broke, the ashes of the couple from the pyre were gathered and then transported elsewhere - Arendal.  The quaint port town had been the base of the Hawks of Arendal - a name bestowed upon the two - and it was only appropriate that they would be laid to rest there. Carried out by the leaders of the retinue and  Eivind  's sister Eira, the remains of the duo were buried near spruce saplings  Anastasia  had planted some time prior to the Bergen campaign, in hopes that their souls would remain ever present in Arendal. Additionally, standing stones were erected at the site, now dubbed "The Hawks' Rest", chronicling the history of the duo. Years later, it was said that at times, a pair of hawks can be sighted passing over the town and circling around the spruce trees, as if they were born for that place.  And with that,  Eivind  and  Anastasia  were put to rest, and their story came to a close.

Henrietta / Vesta Invicta

 * Vesta Invicta:
 * The Assembly / Sound The Bell (1668): Something has to run  Vestkyst . It was the first thought on the minds of the late Duchess of Akershus' former retinue. As it stood right then, the entirety of  Vestkyst  was ungoverned. Many ideas were brought up, but gaining much traction along them was the Storforsamling, an institution abolished by  Gunnar  during his time claiming himself as King. And then they re-established it. The new Great Assembly, consisting of nobles (mostly barons and petty counts, as most of the more prominent dukedoms and counts were abolished following their fleeing and/or dying in the war), burghers, prominent Nynorrøn figures and even a first for it, representatives of the common man, divided by their respective fylke. A constitution was drafted and codified within a week, which laid out how the state should be governed: the Assembly would be empowered - understandable considering the current situation - and would be able to propose and vote on laws, like a parliament, though the monarch would retain some of their power, including the right to veto any decision she did not agree to, along some other. In effect, at this point,  Vestkyst  has become a constitutional monarchy. Somewhat paradoxically, without a monarch, but that would come in due time.  Not long into their foundation, however, they were met with a rough situation:  Svearike  was calling in their previous favour. It was war, they say, and the newly-coronated King  Oskar  wanted to secure Vestkyster participation using the favour  Anastasia  has owed them.  There was only one problem:  Anastasia  was gone. And despite conflicts in background and viewpoints, one thing the Storforsamling could agree on was that yes,  Anastasia  might owe them a favour, but  Vestkyst  herself did not.  Enraged by the Assembly's refusal,  Oskar  declared war on  Vestkyst , breaking the tenuous peace that has lasted since Claes' ascension. The Svean army took control of Nidaros, booting Vestkyster presence out of the region, and within a few months occupied Scania, lifting the Øresund toll. Localised resistance meant that  Svearike  was halted from invading everything else, but two whole fylket had fallen. With the peril at hand, and no army to speak of, central control was of the utmost essence.  A monarch would have to wait. For now, the Storforsamling would run  Vestkyst .
 *  Henrietta (1670): With the ascension of her brother (and rival)  Oskar  to the Svean throne two years earlier,  Henrietta  became even more irrelevant in Svean royal dealings than she already was. Her late father, the esteemed King Karl, has arranged for her to take over the island of Gotland just before his unfortunate passing in 1667 as a means to hone her statesmanship, but also giving her an excuse to avoid an increasingly hostile  Oskar . Indeed, in Visby, she was able to avoid the prying eyes of her brother while simultaneously becoming popular with the locals. The unfortunate demise of her acquaintance and pen pal  Anastasia  only pushed her to work harder, in hopes that one day, she would eclipse her brother. And one day in 1670, it might have looked as though the opportunity had come knocking.   Vestkyst  has been without a monarch for a decade ever since the civil war broke out, and for the last two years have been governed by the Storforsamling (Great Assembly), a half-parliament, half-advisory body consisting of people from all estates. Even with the war with  Svearike  raging, the search for a monarch must continue. After two years of fruitless endeavours, they have decided to once again turn to  Anastasia 's will and testament, to the candidate mentioned in it, which they have already brushed aside once.   Anastasia  has nominated  Henrietta  for the throne. This was controversial at first, given that this was a foreign princess - a Svean princess, no less - and the state of war between the two certainly did not help. However, with Albion deemed unsuitable for a successor because the prideful Assembly did not want to fall under Albionite influence and other countries did not have the same connection to  Vestkyst  to sufficiently justify a monarch, the leaders of the Assembly returned to  Henrietta . With her rivalry with her brother and King of  Svearike  known to the Vestkysters, perhaps it would be worth a try. If it didn't work out, they could always ship her back.  Envoys were dispatched to Visby on a Hanseatic-marked ship to formally invite  Henrietta  as Hersker (lit. ruler, sovereign or, in Vestkyst, queen) of Vestkyst after a contentious vote narrowly passed in the Assembly confirming the decision. Upon hearing of the offer,  Oskar  attempted to block it, but was rebuffed by his sister, proclaiming that it was directed to her and thus it was her choice alone. He tried to order the vessel containing them to be shot down, but the Svean navy refused to open fire on a merchant ship containing unarmed envoys, no less a princess of  Svearike .  The nineteen year old  Henrietta  was officially crowned as Hersker in Fredrikastad, and with that, for the first time in a decade,  Vestkyst  had an official, recognised monarch. This also has the knock-on effect that the island of Gotland, which  Henrietta  ruled prior to her ascension, also became part of  Vestkyst , something  Oskar  is definitely very, very unhappy about.
 * Swallowing Our Pride (1670): The first Storforsamling meeting with Hersker  Henrietta  at the helm was... a mess, to say the least. What happened, one might ask? To put it simply,  Henrietta  suggested acquiescing to Svean demands. That meant giving away Nidaros and Scania, two incredibly important fylket of  Vestkyst , as the former was a religious centre, and losing the latter meant the income from the Øresund toll would be lost. Her reasoning was that  Vestkyst  has just came out of a deadly four-way internal struggle and thus has no military to speak of, and thus mounting a counteroffensive is an impractical notion - which was true, but it by no means came across well to the Assembly. The proposal was met with... mixed reception. While there are consenting voices, others criticised the notion, ranging from the suggestion of surrender itself, to the fact that  Henrietta  was Svean and was thought to have been acting on Svean interests instead of  Vestkyst 's. The more extreme among them even suggested that she should be returned to Visby and the Assembly should continue on running  Vestkyst , as it has for two years.  It was here that Henrietta rose up, and gave an impassioned speech. While the full details have been lost over time, one specific excerpt survived in writing to the present day: "...ever since I accepted the invitation from the Assembly, Svearike has never been on my mind. I may have been born a Svean, but my heart beats Vestkyst 's blood. [...] for I am the Hersker of Vestkyst, I shall act in the best interests of Vestkyst and her peoples, and by Odin's grace, I vow to return her to her deserved triumph, however long and hard the path may be..."  Did the speech work? No one could say for certain, but if anything, the vote regarding an offering of peace was hosted later that day, and though much quarrel remained, including some still in doubt of  Henrietta 's integrity, the resolution narrowly passed. For the first time since Macbeth,  Vestkyst  would admit defeat in a conflict with a foreign power.  Travelling with a party of envoys to Stockholm,  Henrietta  would meet her brother  Oskar  once again, this time as the Hersker of Vestkyst. His smug demeanor still had not changed, and part of her was sure it was reserved for her alone. Amidst all the usual taunting, she maintained a degree of level-headedness as the peace offer was presented.  "I have said it before, and I will say it again.  Henrietta ," remarked  Oskar , "you will never eclipse me. Not as Princess of  Svearike , not as Queen of Vestkyst, not as anything. Mark my words."  "I will. And I will prove you wrong."  With a newfound resolve,  Henrietta  returned to Bergen. The Storforsamling,  Svearike ,  Oskar , those who have doubted her, she would change their minds, one by one, no matter how long it might take.
 * The Long Game (1671-): The loss of Nidaros and Scania was no deterrent to  Henrietta 's resolve, as she looked to other pastures to pick up the pieces of a broken  Vestkyst . No time for mourning, for there is work to do. First was the economy. From the moment the treaty was signed, the Øresund toll was forcibly ended, cutting off a small but notable portion of  Vestkyst 's fortune. To this end, she looked to the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic and the flourishing fish industry in the region, which was both flanked by  Vestkyst -owned territory (Vinland and Iceland specifically). To this end, the Vestkysten Nordatlanteren Kompani (Vestkyster North Atlantic Company) was founded in late 1671, which, as the name implied, also took care of other businesses in the area. Fishing in the region was expedited by the VNK under the Hersker's order for social and economical reasons, and in the years following the war  Vestkyst  would become one of, if not the biggest exporters of fish in the world. Maritime trade routes were also re-established, as Lybæk and Hamborg, two principal Hanseatic cities, were relatively unscathed, and even with the Hansa faltering, the Vestkyster burghers class was able to build upon its foundation and set up an extensive network from Donostia to Riga, and in time, from Katonsja across the Atlantic to  Vestkyst  proper itself. Next was administration. For that,  Henrietta  along with a committee of civil servants, burghers and nobles drafted up a new arrangement of fylket (provinces) to be more suitable to the current situation. These new divisions would be used in administration, taxation, conscription, and most importantly, elections into the Storforsamling. What was formerly Danemark was split into three fylket and  Vestkyst  ten (including two autonomous Sámi regions of Nordkyst and Finnmark), with Vinland and Gotland being their own provinces, the latter governed by the Hersker herself. The two Imperial and Free Cities would remain separate from these fylket. These changes would also mean that there would be no more " Vestkyst-Danemark ", but just one single, unitary " Vestkyst. " A third, more personal problem was that of  Henrietta 's legitimacy itself. If anything, she was not particularly popular with the Great Assembly, and such an issue would be cause for concern as it meant she would not be able to secure certain votes that could help further her agenda. Perhaps by showing that she indeed meant it when claimed that her heart "beats  Vestkyst 's blood", it would go some way to change their opinion of her? It was said that she would often be away from the comfort in Bergen and went about inspecting the quality of life of the people in the fylket herself, including that of the Sámi and the Atlantic islanders, and showing great interest in learning about local industry and culture - a gesture that proved popular among the fylket representatives. Other times, she would attempt to establish relationships with the influential nobles of the Assembly, as their endorsement could go a long way to establishing her credibility and quiet any doubts of her integrity. Over time, opinion of her in the Storforsamling shifted, though gradually, as they came to accept her more and more. Though there were still outspoken critics, over the years  Henrietta  had accrued enough support in the Great Assembly to assuage any questions on her legitimacy and assembled a legislative body that would support her adequately. And lastly, the military. Those who lost their livelihoods in the civil war were pressed into the standing army, drilled by officials and Kjærsfekter members. Volunteers and conscription were also utilised to create a sort of reserve army, available to call upon in times of war. The remnants of the Akershus and Vestlander armies were also integrated into the Vestkyster army structure, using them to build a solid core. All of this allowed  Vestkyst  to rebuild a professional standing army, ready for war at any moment. The Kjærsfekter remained an important elite and veteran fighting force in  Henrietta 's reign, as it has been during  Anastasia 's and those before them. Regarding the navy, the thriving logging industry allowed a steady source of supplies to contribute to rapid construction of galleys and light ships, gradually bringing it back to pre-war figures. Foreign engineers were also brought in to improve shipbuilding designs to ensure the new Herskermarinen (Royal Navy) would be competitive with other powers in the region. While this was going on, she made sure not to neglect the situation of her neighbours, as an opportunity might come one day when she could finally regain their rightful lands. For all of her trials and tribulations,  Henrietta  has gained herself the love of the people, the respect of (most of) the nobility, the approval of the Assembly and a revitalised  Vestkyst , rising step by step from the ashes, despite its tattered wings. While the process has taken over a decade, it was no concern for her; for she was playing the long game, and she was confident of victory.
 * Løvenskiold Uprising (1689): Nidaros, the centre of formerly Norse, Odinist and currently Nynorrøn spiritual life, has experienced a great upheaval ever since its cessation to  Svearike  two decades ago. Its special status has allowed the region and its inhabitants to benefit from lower taxes, and some, such as Sámi converts, are effectively not levied at all. Under  Svearike  however, most of these benefits under  Vestkyst  were gone. Under harsher policies, Nidaros went from one of the most prosperous provinces in the entirety of Scandinavia to a bog standard one. While there have been localised revolts within the region over taxes, levies and anti-Svean grounds, none have been sufficiently potent to force a change. Enter Løvenskiold. Descending from an affluent merchant immigrating from Lybæk, the Løvenskiold were granted a barony and their current name for paying the monarch's partikulærkassen (private fund) during the late 16th and early 17th century. Ruling the barony of Stjørdal, a short distance away from Trondheim, they were in good position to exert influence over the entire Nidaros region. With the Svean takeover, they were allowed to keep their barony but taxes were levied particularly heavily on the merchant-turned-noble family, incurring great resentment within the house. Enough was enough, they said, as they began spreading all over the region, recruiting dissidents in the dark and silently building up an informal resistance, coupled with their personal levy in Stjørdal. Jakob Løvenskiold, the "army"'s de facto leader and the Baron of Stjørdal managed to secure military assitance from Hersker  Henrietta  of  Vestkyst  should a revolt break out. In other words, another Northern War. Though initially not fond of the idea, knowledge of problems elsewhere in  Svearike  (namely Scania, which was having a similar secessionist movement in the works), she agreed to back the Løvenskiold revolt. And in the summer of 1689, nearly two decades after the peace treaty, war broke out again. Under Løvenskiold's command, the rebel army erupted from Stjørdal and occupied Steinkjer and Trondheim.  Henrietta , upholding her agreement, had an army sent North and group up with Løvenskiold's host and rapidly taking control of all of Nidaros. Throughout the region, they were assisted by smaller pockets of dissidents, too insignificant by themselves but with a general revolt occuring could finally prove useful. Within a week, an army sent by King  Oskar  arrived in the region, and the two sides squared up for battle just outside of Stjørdal.
 * Your Equal (1689): After an exhausting battle, and with many dead, Løvenskiold emerged victorious. Herald from Stjørdal delivered the news to Henrietta, who wrote a letter in congratulation. For the time being, Nidaros was secure, which was encouraging news to the Hersker, who was also planning her very own campaign. Though she was more an administrative personality than a militaristic one, Henrietta was determined to prove a point, and to that end, she would be at the head of an army, if necessary. Its destination? Stockholm. Its target? The King of Svearike itself, her brother and long-time rival Oskar . Her plan? Take the Sveans off guard, and go straight for the jugular. That's correct; Henrietta was planning to replicate Fiete Kjær's renowned lightning Svean Campaign. While Fiete Kjær had the ingenuity of Irene Solheim, arguably Vestkyst 's greatest tactician, to rely on, Henrietta had the element of surprise, as for all the Sveans knew, the revolt in Nidaros was entirely local, and though knowing of Vestkyster involvement in the uprising, they assumed that the conflict would be confined to Nidaros alone. Hence, the borders in Romerike fylke were particularly lightly guarded, and a particularly extensive espionage network has allowed the Hersker's military advisors to plot out a general course to strike into the Svean heartland at impressive speed. With a cohesive army, rebuilt ever since the Civil War,  Henrietta  was confident of its success.<p /> And it did. Spetacularly, somehow.<p /> Within less than a week in July, the Vestkyster army setting off from Hamar took over Sveg, Falun, Västerås, Uppsala and closed in on Stockholm. Løvenskiold in Nidaros and a newly-flared revolt in Scania proved to be the diversions  Henrietta  needed to execute this daring plan as they encountered relatively little Svean resistance, most of which were taken aback by the surprise incursion. Arriving at Stockholm, with an opposing army before them, they prepared for battle.<p /> That is, when  Henrietta  stepped forward, and set out a proposal.<p /> "I would like to invoke the right of single combat."<p /> At the head of the Svean army was, predictably,  Oskar , their king, and  Henrietta 's brother and rival.<p /> "You? Single combat?" he scoffed at the notion.<p /> "Are you perhaps too cowardly to face me in a duel then, Esteemed King of  Svearike ?"<p /> In order to save face,  Oskar  had no choice but to accept the invocation. She's no fighter, he thought, there's no way he could be defeated. In his mind,  Henrietta  was foolishly throwing it all away - victory was already within her hands, why risk it for a personal feud? The same thought was shared across both armies, with the Sveans sharing  Oskar 's conviction, and the Vestkyster army knowing her more of an administrator than a fighter, and convinced she would not make it. Only the Kjærsfekter remained indifferent, with their deputy leader only nodding gently. Unknowing to just about everyone else on the battlefield, as Grandmaster of the Kjærsfekter,  Henrietta  has been trained in hand-to-hand combat by the Knights, in accordance of their beliefs: "if a Grandmaster cannot hold their own, then what good are they?"; and while nowhere near as proficient as seasoned warriors, she could comfortably fight one-on-one if the situation demanded it. Hence, her confidence in offering the duel. The two armies backed down, allowing their respective monarchs to take the centre stage. Siblings, rivals, sovereigns, whatever they were, their differences would be settled on this battleground. The two brandished their blades, and the scuffle began.<p /> Steel clashed steel and armour clashed armour as the two continued to attempt to score a hit on one another. The tension was palpable, as both armies held their breath, giving witness to a grand duel that would define the battle. At last, after narrowly avoiding a dangerous swipe,  Henrietta  managed to elbow  Oskar  in the face and knocked him down. Her boot on his chest, her sword pointed at his throat - a clear symbol of triumph, she declared.<p /> "I am your equal."
 * Back Where They Belong (1689): The entire war lasted for two weeks. For  Henrietta , it might felt as though it had taken a lifetime, a culmination to two decades of rebuilding and persevering, all coming to a head with the duel in Stockholm. Thus began the Conference of Vänernstad. On one side was herself, the Hersker of Vestkyst, and Jakob Løvenskiold, Baron of Stjørdal and head of the Nidaros revolt; on the other,  Oskar, King of Svearike. Two entirely opposite moods occupied the atmosphere of the site: one of reserved joyousness, and one of humiliation.<p /> In theory, with  Oskar 's surrender,  Henrietta  could have demanded anything. Hell, she could have just slew her brother back in Stockholm and claim the Svean throne to herself. Ultimately, however, her goals were to make her brother gave her the respect she has been deprived from for years, and to normalise relations between the two Northern realms. To that end, an excessively greedy demand would go against both of them. Instead, what she wanted was simple.<p /> "That is all?"<p /> "That is all. After all, I desire nothing other than returning to Vesta her lost lands."<p /> That meant Nidaros and Scania. For  Henrietta , this was a reconquest - reacquiring their lost lands was more than adequate. She did not desire any Svean land, nor did she want to entertain the thought of war again.<p /> "And how can I be sure that you are genuine?"<p /> "Odin, Freya and Fiete be my witnesses."<p /><p /> Did  Oskar  truly have respect to  Henrietta  after the conference? According to those in his court, yes, apparently, but then again it is hard to say whether it was genuine or he was only putting up an act in public, as he undoubtedly would have been bitter over the loss, though it is worth mentioning that the rivalry was considered done at this point - if anything, the real bitterness was more among his retinue than within the King himself. As for  Henrietta  herself, it hardly mattered; she was out to make a point and prove her worth, and she succeeded. Returning from the war, she was celebrated throughout the entire realm, especially in the liberated Nidaros and Scania, which she made sure to grace with her appearance. A celebration was at hand, for  Vestkyst  was victorious, its glory shown on the world stage once again.<p /> Vesta invicta.

Miscellaneous Events (remove year when put in, separate from event chains above)

 * Mausoleum of Fiete Kjær (1690): Ever since the Great Fire of Oslo in the 1610s, Fiete Kjær's incorruptible body has been relocated to Astridstad, where it temporarily resided for decades. Although plans were made to construct a structure to house the remains, the civil war effectively shelved any discussion of such a proposal. It was not for another five years after Henrietta came into power for the question to be brought up again in the Storforsamling. Being one of the most celebrated figures in Vestkyst's history, the motion to construct a mausoleum dedicated to her passed easily, though some restrictions were put in place considering their situation, most importantly being that no taxes shall be levied on the people of  Vestkyst  in order to fund the project. Funded primarily by donations from the nobility and burghers and partially out of Henrietta's private estate from Visby, the project sourced white marble chiefly from the famed Carrara quarries in Tuscany, while precious stones were sourced from all over Europe, including some imported by colonial powers from other continents. The site for the project was to be on a section of Gamlebyen Oslo (the burnt down old town), replacing the old Oslo Cathedral and part of the Old Town. During the removal of the burnt structure, however, something was discovered within its confines.<p /> A funeral urn, buried in the ground, mere inches away from where Fiete's glass casket used to rest. And not just any urn either, it was Irene Solheim's - Fiete's strategist and lover - urn. Why was it left behind there, no one could be certain, but it was quickly decided: one again, the two of them would be reunited, this time in this new structure, whenever it was finished.<p /> For the next fifteen years, work on the project would take place in Gamle Oslo, with thousands of local artisans and builders being part of the work force. Coinciding with Henrietta's triumph over  Svearike , the Mausoleet av Fiete Kjær (colloquially called the Snøhviteulvspalasset [Snow White Wolf('s) Palace] or just Hvitepalasset [White Palace]) was finally finished. Accompanied by a large traditional garden and several smaller buildings serving other purposes (which were still under works by the time of opening), the entire complex spanned some eighteen hectares, making it one of the largest mausolea in the world. The mausoleum itself was a grand white marble structure, adorned with various precious stones originating from Agousta to Keisaria. The structure also doubled as a site to chronicle the history of  Vestkyst  from its inception a millenium or so ago, though focusing extensively on its namesake figure. Moved to a new glass casket, Fiete Kjær's body was transported from Astridstad to Gamlebyen Oslo, into the mausoleum in August of the same year along with Irene Solheim's burial urn; and later that month, the site, marked with a formal ceremony, was officially open.
 * Decline of the Hanseatic League (1660-65 turn): Decades of Vestkyster influence have made the Hanseatic League, in essence, part of the Northern institution. Many of its greatest member cities are part of  Vestkyst  or are deeply linked in some form. Hence, when the civil war in  Vestkyst  broke out and all trade halted, the Hansa faltered. It all happened so suddenly, but with most Vestkyster towns and cities closed off (save for Hamborg and Lybæk), trade income took a plunge. A general trend of self-interest among the cities also affected the League negatively, as some started to consider whether being part of the Hansa was worth it. Is this the beginning of the end?
 * To Better Pastures (1660-65 turn): With  Vestkyst  embroiled in internal strife, those who could afford to move away. Some were dissatisfied with  Gunnar 's dictatorial grip on Vestland and their loss of old personal freedoms, some tried to escape conscription into all factions in the mess of a civil war it was, and some just fearing for their livelihoods - whatever their reason, this period would mark the largest wave of Vestkyster emigration ever in history, with estimations ranging wildly from 10 thousand to 100 thousand people leaving, settling in places like Caledonia (part of Albion), the Netherlands and  Vestkyst 's overseas holdings in Vinland, Iceland and the North Sea Islands (though most modern research say the upper bound is an unrealistic approximation). The movement on such a scale led to, among other things, the creation of many Nynorrøn (or Ásatrú) communes and the flourishing of already established ones in more foreign destinations, most notably sizable Norse communities in the Caledonian cities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen and informal small Ásatrú districts in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands and Rouen in France. Some others even tried to press their fortunes in the New World, first from Vinland, then into other European colonies on the Arcadian East Coast, with varying results.
 * Colonisation of Greenland (1680-85 turn): The expedition of North Atlantic fishing have been a great source of income for  Vestkyst  as they conduct their fishing from Vinland to Iceland. A fishermen league made a request to be allowed to establish a small outpost in far-flung "Grønland" - said to have been the location of an ancient failed Vestkyster colony. Though knowing of the saying of harsh weathers in the land,  Henrietta  was enticed by the prospect of more fishing grounds, and a linking station between Vinland and Iceland could do good to benefit  Vestkyst . She eventually allowed the fishermen to establish a colony on said land and agreed to finance part of it from her personal estate, but with a catch: The government of  Vestkyst  would not be responsible for any deaths or disasters related to the establishment of the settlement. The settlement would be named Henriettasbyen, after the Queen, and its location, the southernmost tip of Grønland. Old documents also detailed natives on the land, which entailed some Nynorrøn (also known as Ásatrú - "Æsir belief" in Iceland) priests to also embark on the ordeal, with a view to converting the native peoples, and with them came "Håpets Koloni" - Hope Colony, a settlement some distance away from Henriettasbyen, on the western side of the landmass (reportedly due to bad weather messing up navigation). Both colonies were also supported in part by the Vestkysten Nordatlanteren Kompani (VNK), a Crown-owned enterprise established for the purposes of managing fishing and commerce in the North Atlantic. The two colonies would work in conjuction with one another, with Henriettasbyen being the breadwinner of the two (being a fishing outpost, if anything) while Håpets Koloni regulated Ásatrú practices between the colonies. The latter, whose population consisted mainly of Ásatrú priests, set out to conduct missionary work towards the native Inuit people, who were, thankfully, receptive of the faith, and this allowed the two colonies - and  Vestkyst  as a whole - to establish a cordial relationship with Grønland's inhabitants, who played a part in supporting them through the especially harsh winter seasons. This marked a revival of interest in Grønland in general by the Vestkyster crown, as they saw the potential in controlling such a location.
 * Svalbard and Whaling in Vestkyst (1675-1680 turn): Since the early 17th century, whaling has been an increasingly important part of  Vestkyst 's economy due to the acquisition of whale meat and blubber, the latter could be made into the ever valuable whale oil. While the civil war has put a halt in the action, the industry was revitalised by Hersker  Henrietta  via the Vestkysten Nordatlanteren Kompani (VNK) as part of her policies to rebuild  Vestkyst 's wealth. Whalers turned out in fleets, backed financially by the VNK, as they sought to capture the market for themselves. The island chain of Spitsbergen, discovered and mapped by Dutch explorers many years prior, became a popular stopping spot for whaler fleets, culminating in the foundation of Spekkeborg (blubber town), a whaling town complete with hunting huts and blubber ovens on a smaller island next to the north of the principal island, also called Spitsbergen (Vestkyster documents took to calling the entire island complex as "Svalbard" instead). In the coming years, the settlement would prosper as whaling in the waters of Svalbard grew in terms of yield, while other grounds were found eastwards of Vinland, north of Iceland and elsewhere in the middle of the North Atlantic. These developments, encouraged by the VNK's investments and a general interest in whaling after stories of riches allowed  Vestkyst  to become one of the biggest exporters of whale products in the world.
 * The August Departs (1705): Honourable and just Hersker  Henrietta  was, time caught up to her, as with everyone. While she has suffered from chronic colds for decades, it was only in the recent past that her symptoms seemed to have worsened, as she started experiencing constant coughs, fatigues and fevers, a severe occurence of which nearly took her life. However, whenever they happened, she would brush it off as nothing. Then, grave news arrived.  Henrietta  has been diagnosed with pneumonia. And quite a severe bout, at that. At the rate her health was deteriorating, court physicians estimated that she had about a month or two left. It looked as if it was time to settle whatever unfinished business she still had.<p /> That meant leaving her will and testament. And when that was done, there was one more thing on her mind. Out of the blue, she invited her brother, the aging King of  Svearike   Oskar , to an impromptu meeting. While his retinue did not clear him to go, he overpowered their decision anyway, setting off to Visby.<p /> It was only the two of them, enjoying tea and one another's company in  Henrietta 's Gotland estate as the siblings recounted their rivalry and reigns. It must have been liberating for the two to be able to interact like brother and sister and not as bitter rivals. Then, she revealed the extent of her illness to  Oskar , who, upon hearing the news, was distraught. The next few days were spent making up for lost time, and despite her pneumonia her brother did not care about the risks it posed to him. At the end of it,  Oskar  remarked that  Henrietta  "has truly eclipsed him", a comment she couldn't be happier to hear.<p /> Three weeks later, Hersker  Henrietta  succumbed to her illness.<p /> In the wake of the event, the Storforsamling declared a week of realm-wide mourning, effective immediately, and as a gesture of respect, posthumously bestowed her the name Augusta (meaning "great", "majestic" or "venerable). Crown Princess Iris, her executor and heir to the throne, was responsible for the fulfillment of her will. This saw  Henrietta 's personal wealth divided between her sole child, the Crown Princess (as the Consort Regent passed away early and the Hersker opted not to remarry), members of the Great Assembly, and the inhabitants of Gotland. Her estate in Visby was, as per her wish, converted to a public park and opened to the people and her remains, after a formal funeral, was transported to a small, circular structure within the estate, which would later be dubbed the Mausoleum of Henrietta  by later generations. Lastly, the Storforsamling affirmed Iris as the successor to the throne, and crowned her Hersker, marking the end to one of the most illustrious reigns in  Vestkyst 's history.<p /> And with that,  Henrietta Augusta 's story came to a close. Iris' reign would be the continuation of a prosperous era, made possible by the policies and edicts of her predecessor, but what entailed was a story for another time.