First Nordic Expedition of Wilhelm III

## Overview

### Troop Numbers (Side 1)

≈1,500 Total, made up of 750 Long Swordsmen, 500 Composite Bowmen, and 250 Fortgeschrittene

### Casualties (Side 1)

116-16 Killed

-100 Missing

### Casualties (Side 2)

20-10 Killed

-10 Wounded

### Casualties (Side 4)

143-33 Killed

-10 Wounded

-100 Missing

The First Nordic Expedition of Wilhelm III was an Imperial German military voyage into the lands of Iceland to explore and claim part of it as their own. This expedition was fueled by Wilhelm III's personal ambition of uniting Europe, hoping to subjugate the furthest reaches first to make later subjugations easier in terms of travel. These ambitions would, however, lead to this expedition being personally led by Wilhelm III. This move was very risky, as although Wilhelm III's presence would raise morale of the German Expeditionary Force, it placed the stability of the German nation at risk, as Wilhelm III did not have an heir at the time.

## Timeline

September 23rd, 1142, 10:20 AM PST - The German Expeditionary Force, along with Wilhelm III, board Landungsschiffe and begin to sail to the Faroe Islands from Wilhelmshaven, hoping to utilize the Faroe as a final pit stop to get supplies and figure out where exactly to land.

September 28th, 1142, 9:10 AM PST - The Expeditionaries make it to the Faroe Islands. The Imperials quickly divide Iceland into multiple regions and subregions, restocking the supplies on their ships, also drafting potential ways they could make the locals compliant to German rule. Wilhelm III also begins drafting a speech for his return to the German mainland.

September 29th, 1142, 11:44 AM PST - The Expeditionaries load up and begin to set sail for Iceland, hoping to reach the modern day Fjarðabyggð municipality.

October 4th, 1142, 9:04 AM PST - The Expeditionaries, forced to brave a large storm, which caused a ship to stray from the rest and get lost, finally land in Fjarðabyggð, more specifically the village of Mjóifjörður. Due to the population of Iceland at the time being about ten times smaller than the modern population, Mjóifjörður only had a single permanent resident. Of course, due to the sheer amount of Germans that landed, he was forced to submit to German rule as the first German-Icelandic citizen. This would place one of the six settlements of Fjarðabyggð under German control, with the Germans hoping to control the entire Eastern Region of Iceland by the end of the expedition.

   October 7th, 1142, 11:26 AM PST - After around three days of exploration and travel, the Expeditionaries made their way to the settlement of Stöðvarfjörður, populated by eighteen Icelanders. Around fifteen of the residents attempted to fight back against the Expeditionaries. Utilizing surprise and ruthlessness, they manage to kill sixteen Long Swordsmen and wound four, although eight residents would be killed directly and seven would be wounded, two gravely and three with lost limbs. The settlement would be under German occupation, leaving two settlements in Fjarðabyggð out of the six total under German control.

October 12th, 1142, 10:06 AM PST - The Expeditionaries finally arrive in Fáskrúðsfjörður, populated by sixty-six Icelanders. A more diplomatic approach was attempted this time around, attempting to show the natives the benefits of voluntarily joining the Germans, including technological improvements and the ability to openly trade with most of Europe, meaning better economic prosperity. Of course, none of the Germans spoke Icelandic, so the diplomatic approach went nowhere. Realizing this language barrier, the Expeditionaries sent around fifty Long Swordsmen and two Fortgeschrittene to travel back to Mjóifjörður and come back with its resident, who should be instructed in German speaking very swiftly while the rest of the Expeditionaries camp outside of Fáskrúðsfjörður.

October 18th, 1142, 9:25 AM PST - The fifty Long Swordsmen and two Fortgeschrittene arrived at the Expeditionary camp outside of Fáskrúðsfjörður along with the Mjóifjörðurite, who learned enough German to be listed as a modern A2 level on the CEFR scale. Conversely, some of the Long Swordsmen and one Fortgeschrittene have reached an A2 level with Icelandic. The Germans are forced to camp longer in order to efficiently use the languages for negotiations.

October 27th, 1142, 8:27 PM PST - The Expeditionaries, now with an average B1 CEFR level, decide to just use the Mjóifjörðurite as a translator for the negotiations. After some debates and clarifications, the settlement of Fáskrúðsfjörður agreed to join the Germans, leaving half of Fjarðabyggð's settlements under German control.

October 30th, 1142, 6:54 PM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Eskifjörður, populated by about 104 people. Similar negotiation tactics are used, with varying degrees of success amongst residents, and an overall success in the settlement. A small group attempt to convince the Germans that Iceland is worthless and not worth their time, but this fails, and one resident of Eskifjörður attacks a member of the group for insulting their homeland, with the two being separated soon after a few blows are exchanged. Four of six of Fjarðabyggð's settlements are under German control at this point.

November 4th, 1142, 8:39 AM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Reyðarfjörður, populated by 135 people. Negotiations are tried again, but some resistance is met, so intimidation tactics are used. These tactics are barely successful, leaving Reyðarfjörður under German control, with only one settlement in Fjarðabyggð not under German control.

November 8th, 1142, 8:52 AM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Neskaupstaður, populated by around 143 people. This settlement is the largest in Fjarðabyggð, and the only one not under German control. As such, the Germans proceed to combine intimidation tactics with diplomacy, allowing them to send vague threats without expressly threatening residents. Neskaupstaður is left under German control, although not without some unrest among the populace, leaving the entirety of Fjarðabyggð under German control. As such, the Expeditionaries set their sights on Múlaþing, the largest of the municipalities, and the only one bordering Fjarðabyggð.

November 17th, 1142, 5:45 PM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Borgarfjarðarhreppur, populated by around 13 people. It's about the same negotiation tactics, with the same amount of success, leaving one out of four settlements in Múlaþing under German control.

November 24th, 1142, 11:00 PM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Djúpivogur, populated by around 45 people. The same tactics are used with the same efficiency, leaving half of the settlements in Múlaþing under German control.

November 28th, 1142, 8:38 AM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at and capture Seyðisfjörður, populated by 67 people. Negotiations were less useful here, with a situation similar to Eskifjörður arising. 5 villagers that went against the Germans were wounded.

December 5th, 1142, 9:14 AM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive at Fljótsdalshérað, supposed to be populated by 358 people. However, at the time of the Germans' arrival, the town is completely deserted. As investigations commenced, sounds of rattling and scraping could soon be heard from the nearby body of water, accompanied by a pungent stench. The Germans would turn their direction towards the sound and smell, seeing a group of seven Skeljaskrímsli. Not knowing what these creatures were like, one German soldier (who potentially knew not the difference between bravery and stupidity), approached one, and made direct eye contact. This aggravated the Skeljaskrímsli, causing it to promptly smack the soldier away with its tail. The soldier, in a fit of rage, would get up and attempt to stab the creature with his sword, although this would have no effect on the Skeljaskrímsli, who promptly knocked the soldier away again. A Fortgeschrittene would pull the soldier away and begin healing him before he could try anything else that would risk his life, and the Germans temporarily retreat until they figure out something that can be done about the seven Skeljaskrímsli.

December 12th, 1142, 8:45 AM PST - After around a week of experimentation, the Expeditionaries discover that the only things capable of piercing the shells of a Skeljaskrímsli are silver buttons, gray willow catkins, and lamb droppings, but they must be shot at sufficiently high speeds in order to actually wound the beast. As such, the Germans retreat from Fljótsdalshérað for the time being, deciding to move on to the municipality of Fljótsdalshreppur before attempting to slay the Skeljaskrímsli.

December 19th, 1142, 8:47 AM PST - The Expeditionaries arrive in the sparsely populated Fljótsdalshreppur, with only 6 people residing in the entire area. Due to the extremely low population density, subjugation of the area was rather easy. They immediately set out for Vopnafjörður, the final remaining area in the region. Subjugation of Vopnafjörður, along with the slaying of the Skeljaskrímsli, would mark the end of the First Nordic Expedition of Wilhelm III.

January 2nd, 1143, 1:51 PM PST - The Expeditionaries finally subjugate Vopnafjörður, leaving only the deaths of the Skeljaskrímsli until the Expedition is completed.

January 13th, 9:05 AM PST - A Composite Bowman would get a lucky shot off on one of the Skeljaskrímsli, managing to pierce a head plate in such a way that it went through one of the creature's eyes. This sent the afflicted Skeljaskrímsli on a rampage, causing it to rampage, flipping two Skeljaskrímsli over onto their backs long enough for the Expeditionaries to pierce the underside of their skull with several arrows, also piercing the Skeljaskrímsli's brains, killing the two beasts.

March 6th, 2:41 PM PST - Nearly two months of construction would result in the creation of a wheeled ballista built specifically for the extermination of Skeljaskrímsli. The ballista would be tested on the half-blind Skeljaskrímsli, with the bolt (whose head was covered in lamb droppings) essentially putting the Skeljaskrímsli on an oversized spit. The Expeditionaries, seeing this success, would then shoot the other Skeljaskrímsli with the weapon, killing them, and bringing an end to the First Nordic Expedition of Wilhelm III.