This one is for all my Norwegian readers born in the twenty-first century. For those who are not so fortunate, here is the original.

We sailed from the Caribbean and anchored close to shore

we’ve heard an ancient rumour of an immense hoard

Captain Sabretooth, is a cruel man

when he smells gold, the longboats row a-land.

Heave-a-hoy, the loot we’ll soon have got

then we can take our leisure until our bodies rot!

We’ve sailed in every sea spreading terror by the ton

when you see the sable wolf’s-head gules it’s far too late to run

For gold through fire every man will row, in truth

but the first to arrive is Captain Sabretooth!

Heave-a-hoy, the loot we’ll soon have got

then we can take our leisure until our bodies rot!

We won’t be moving on ’till our treasure is on board

when we are out for plunder the rule is by the sword

Captain Sabretooth, is a cruel man

now he can smell red gold so we row towards the land!

Heave-a-hoy, the loot we’ll soon have got

then we can take our leisure until our bodies rot!

Heave-a-hoy, the loot we’ll soon have got

then we can take our leisure until our bodies rot!

— Children’s song of the Troll Republic, ca 1610.

1600 saw the opening of Mexico and a predictable land rush; Captain Sabretooth was not the only one to smell gold this session. Every Great Power with a naval base anywhere near the Gulf declared war within a few years of 1600, leading to some rapid negotiations of spheres of interest and reasonably nice borders; and presumably there was some fighting, but I didn’t see any, the natives having pretty thoroughly wasted their fighting men charging walls of musket and pike well before I got there. I was able to carve out a nice little empire for myself with essentially no effort or casualties; to win without fighting is, of course, the acme of skill.

Mexico, 1606; planned Yngling annexations outlined in red, from sea to shining sea, and more to the point, including several provinces with the shining gold! Note Carantanian white all over the northern parts, and Irish green spreading towards the Gulf coast.

In addition to kicking the hapless Mexicans, I took on a somewhat more dangerous enemy, the Arrakenes. I say ‘somewhat’ because, while Arrakis is roughly my size, I had arranged to have the Iberian navy join mine; a single naval battle off the Comoros settled the issue, and the Cape was mine.

South Africa, now a naval base for the North Sea Confederation’s eastwards expansion.

Sauron was not pleased, and declared me a rival; I expect we’ll clash again over the African coast. But for now, at least, the path to the Far East is clear. The Ynglings of this timeline have never recognised any peace on the high seas, and now that principle will extend east of Suez.

Four player wars this session:

Conquest of Washim Clonefusion : 1801.77 -> 1854.74 "The empire, long divided, must unite" Hagbard : 1951.54 -> 1980.22 (50%) Ranger : 1278.31 -> 1315.89 BCM : 1444.4 -> 1399.5 Khan : 1806.18 -> 1792.14 (25%) Yami : 1304.7 -> 1284.42 (50%) ELEMENT OF SURPRISE! Yami : 1284.42 -> 1260.03 "Veeeengeaaaance!" LaxSpartan : 1654.62 -> 1684.96 "Mark, please help me with this telegraphed attack by a smaller power" Mark : 1430.75 -> 1456.99 "Dragoon and KoM, please help me with this 2v1 against a second-rank power" Conquest of the Cape Colonial war, reduced win number King of Men : 1331.35 -> 1354.11 "Why should Sauron have nice things?" Tazzzo : 1509.65 -> 1535.47 Sauron : 1318.63 -> 1292.19 "Well, there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done" Conquest of Uruguay Colonial war, reduced win number Mark : 1456.99 -> 1497.64 "Ur gay" Sauron : 1292.19 -> 1258.55