Welcome. For you who have no idea wtf this is about, it's about a game, Civilizations 5, it's alternate history so don't be freaked out if Presia and sweden are allies. This is a story based roughly on a particular multiplayer game I had with a friend. I am trying out some new writing techniques, so is may seem a little strange to the people comming from DoN or Scoped.

I hope you enjoy this story, it's just somethin' I felt like writing after a very boring schoolday.

~Chapter 1~

January 14, Sigtuna

We have finally reached the front lines and believe me when I say the situation is dire. Our forces are outnumbered 3 to 1. The only thing that is keeping the enemy from advancing is the rough terrain.

We hold fortifications on strategic positions while catapults bombards the enemy from behind our lines.

I fear for the inhabitants of Sigtuna and if reinforcements from Stockholm and Persia don't come soon the city will surely fall

February 3, Sigtuna

We have been pushed back to the city. The walls are still standing strong and our archers fire at the enemy below while the swordsmen fight in the fields below.

After me and my company were lead into an ambush by a traitor, we are tasked to defend and patrol the city as I only have 38 men left, to small of a group to fight efficiently on the fields below.

It bothers me still, the lives that were lost under my command.

February 19, Sigtuna

We are restless. We have gotten word from Stockholm that the Persians have finally mobilised and are marching as I am writing this.

We have learned a lot of the Carthaginian forces; while they are numerous, they are poorly trained and probably just levees from the towns and cities.

We may still have a chance in this war

February 25, Sigtuna

Reinforcements have arrived! The Swedish army has come. They have driven the enemy back, forcing them to lift the siege. They are camped in the northern plains and we will join up once we have finished reinforcing my company.

When we join up with the main army, we will march on Saguntum. The Persian army will meet us there. Today was the day the scales tipped.

March 1, Great plains north of Sigtuna

We have broken camp and are now marching north. Some of the men have received crossbows, a new invention from Stockholm. It is a ballistae but so small you can hold it in your hands.

The catapults have also been replaced, they call them trebuchets. Giant wooden machines that can hurl rocks faster and further than our old catapults.

We have received better armour, some even plate! Most of us have been given chainmail, but that still is a large improvement from the studded leather we used to wear.

The cavalry has been going in raids, both to enemy villages and supply trains to cripple their economy and war machine.

I've also received word from my brother, he has signed up to the navy and serves on one of the new ships from Helsinki.

Soon we will bring the fight to Carthage.

April 3, Siege-camp around Saguntum

We have met up with the Persian army and are besieging Saguntum. Our trebuchets are breaking down their walls and soon we will be able to assault the city.

The jungle around here is full of mosquitos. I hope we won't be around her for long.

April 10, siege-camp

The walls are breached! We will assault the city on the morrow. I fear for the innocent people that are within the city, a soldier in a conquered city is a danger to all.

As Marcus Hallsman finished the last sentence, he closed his journal and walked out of his tent.

Everywhere men were readying themselves for the battle, men were praying to Guhst and Matana to keep them safe, Persians and a few converted Swedish soldiers were praying to Yiaj and some were cleaning their steel swords with a religious vigour, their shields painted with the sigil of their company, a white eagle on an orange background.

But one thing was common in all of their faces. Fear, anxiety, dread. He kept his face void of all emotion, but everyone knew that he felt it worse than any of them, for these 150 brave souls were under his command. Everyone in the company knew he took each loss of life under his command as if it was one of his family members.

That was what had made him so popular, he had been in the army since his twentieth birthday and had climbed the ranks fast. He had been in the army for seven years and had proven himself a good leader. He led his men in an barbarian ambush after their officers had been killed and prevailed in numerous skirmish.

Now it was time to speak to his men, the men that would live fight and die under his orders.

He looked at the 150 men in front of him. He saw the more battle hardened veterans throughout the group and looked all 38 men in the eyes. Each ne had a mix of glee and melancholy in them.

Then he looked at the new recruits, they were all young men that had joined their ranks after the victory at Sigtuna. He had lost so many there.

"Men of Sweden, today we will fight for our fatherland, the land these Carthaginian dogs thought they could simply take! We take revenge for those who have fallen in the ambush!" to that everyone, and the veterans loudest of all, cheered. "But," he put his hand up and the crowd became silent again. "there are women and children in that city. I will tell you the terms of serving under me; you will NOT rape the girls and women, you will NOT kill unarmed civilians and if an enemy is to surrender you will take him captive. You can plunder what you want, but be aware. If you break this rule, you are no longer part of this company and will be stripped of rank, title and will receive a beating from your fellow soldiers. Do I make myself clear?" the new recruits looked at their captain a bit stunned of the harsh punishment but nodded after a while.

"I said, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" the young captain continued his speech after al loud affirmative from all soldiers.

"This morning you will show your true bravery, your true fighting skills, today you will fight for Sweden, for the king, for your family!"

A loud cheering came from the 150 men in front of him once again.

Please tell me what you thought and what I can improve.

bye! or as they say in Sweden: ...Bye! -_-'