Very well, Svarog it shall be. Honestly, Chernobog is ridiculously OP on purpose, limited only by infamy penalties, extreme intolerance to heretics and heathens and by a severe modifier if not at constant war.
A quite long update ahead, and this was much tougher than it looks like.
=================
Daringness forged in steel
Krzesimir Dębski - Atak Kmieci
Vitzlav V was about to sign a pact in blood, when wisdom spoke louder than temptation, and he managed to avoid the eternal damnation of his soul in time. A great, disappointed "NOOOOOOO!" echoed, grunts and guttural voices cajouling and shouting in his head, in an inhuman chorus:
"THE TEUTONIC ORDER WILL RAPE AND KILL YOU, YOUR DESCENDANTS AND YOUR COUNTRY, AND I WILL WATCH IT IN JOY, HAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MWAMWAMWAMWAMWA!", the chorus concluded, like a Stereotypical Villain.
The Prince was glad to have escaped from this obvious trap he almost fell into. Through the next years of his rule, the army of Pommerania would be expanded as far as possible, because sooner or later the crusaders would come again, and this time they might have to fight alone. Instead, he sought solace in the largest temple dedicated to Svarog, the great smith of the Slavic pantheon, forge sharp steel and guide him and his principality to victory against the Teutonic and Norse Orders once the time comes.
The infantry of Pommerania, like all potato infantry, is quite inferior to the infantry of the "west", which is more of a cultural than geographic meaning, considering Finland is "western" in spite of being more to the east.
In August of 1466, Vitzlav died as a man of honor, who was closely tempted by the black god but refused to succumb. His son Zemuzil II, an equally superb general and excellent administrator, was tasked to guide Pommerania through her still uncertain future. The Crusaders waged war on Nordland, but failed to achieve any victory at all, and shortly after Zemuzil II took the throne, Poland, the Teutonic and Norse Orders ended at war against Bohemia, Bavaria and Croatia. Their armies marched far away, leaving only token defenders in their lands, and Bohemia seemed to be gaining the upper hand. This couldn't be a better time, specially since they secured an important alliance with their former liege in the Kingdom of Lithuania.
Zemuzil II was a daring and bold prince, determined to lead Pommerania to a new age of glory and proeminence, or die trying. He knew much could go wrong, but he likewise knew that waiting in peace would be worse, specially if the zealots achieve great victories against the Hussites. The time has come to reclaim historical Pommeranian territories and crush the Teutonic Order, helped by the Svarog forges and by the enormous military prowess of his small but strong country. He who dares win, Dla Slava!
: x
As they marched into the city of Neumark, the Pommeranian forces were about to be attacked by a large Teutonic legion, but reinforcements were on the way. Led by Zemuzil II, this army fought the first major battle of independent Pommerania against the Teutonic Order.
The Teutonic knights were chopped off like a head of cabbage.
: x
After this great victory, the remaining knights were chased off like dogs and exterminated. No mercy will be given to those who genocided all Slavs in the region they dare to call "Brandenburg". However while victorious, and with the Lithuanian support, it seemed the fall of the Teutonic Order was only a matter of time, there was another problem: Bohemia was losing the war in the south, and sooner or later they would surrender.
The Polish army was legion, and could more than tip off the balance of this conflict from a possible victory to an inevitable defeat. They needed to learn that numbers alone will never win. Thus, the brave Zemuzil II leads an army into Silesia to crush an entire Polish force.
Note: I had the fortune of a cavalry sortie event before, that gives two extra cavalry brigades, which is why there is more cavalry than in the beginning.
The Polish forces were defeated, and better, they did not retreat towards safety deeper in Polish territory, but were so utterly crushed they fled anywhere, and were very vulnerable to be utterly defeated next.
Dla Slava!
: x
With that army crushed, all Pommeranian forces concentrated on conquering the Teutonic castles.
Potsdam was the first to fall. Yet, even with these victories, the situation of Pommerania was far from precarious, for Bohemia continued losing.
Then, in March of 1470, the zealots were finally able to focus all their efforts against Pommerania, as Bohemia rose the white flag, which was as natural for them as for 1940s Frnace. A massive Polish legion advance, and now the conflict would either turn to disaster or to a turning point. There was only one way Pommerania could stand a chance now.
The massive Polish legions were clearly intent on delivering a crushing blow against Pommerania, but they would pay a high price, no matter what.
Yet, their crushing defeat at Potsdam was key to ensure the tide of this war swept in Pommerania's favor, for was only thanks to that bold attack against Silesia and to the lost of more than five thousand Polish soldiers that Poland agreed to peace in exchange of a tribute. Now, with the Teutonic armies utternly crushed in Neumark, the "Tannenberg" of this space-time continuum, only the Norse Order could still pose a threat.
The Danish crusaders never sent any significant portion of their army against Pommerania. No longer fighting in multiple fronts, they would sooner or later send a far more threatening force.
Or maybe not.
A large force advanced against Arkona, but Lithuania sneaked a besieging army through Finland and Scandinavia to their north, making them stupidly head all the way back there instead.
Krzesimir Dębski - Szli my na Poznan
While the massive Danish legion was being fooled around by the cunning of the Lithuanian Hitmen, Poznan also fell, and the penultimate demise of the Teutonic Order was getting closer.
But eventually they realized the Hitmen tricks and, angry, marched right into Cape Arkona, the westernmost stronghold of the Slavic old gods. There was no choice but to resort to scorched earth to crush this massive army, and to hope the defenders of Fort Arkona will prevail. May Svarog reforge their hearts with infinite will and courage!
For almost an year they resisted, and so devastated by attrition the Danish forces were that a part of them retreat, leaving the rest vulnerable to an offensive. What would happen in the offensive to retake Cape Arkona was legendary:
When the reinforcements arrived, the besieging army was already running like the hedonistic Dane dogs they were, and perhaps with the blessings of the gods, seeing their fellow men running like cowards was enough to allow a tiny army to achieve the impossible, by scaring away a force that vastly outnumbered them into retreat.
: x
Naturally, once they realized how outnumbered the army they ran away for, with several of their commanding officers killed for dishonor and cowardice, the Danish legion advanced again into the scorched Arkona, and this time, the small force within took no chances.
Note: If a reinforcement arrives at the same day the defending army in a province was defeated, both retreat. At least, unlike stupid ping-pong, this is amusing.
Meanwhile, another step closer to total victory against the Teutons.
In Arkona, the defenders were not just brave, but heroic, delivering massive casualties to the legions besieging the province, they were resolute to fight to the last man, and their bravery could be the decisive act to turn this war into the conflict that will free all Pommeranians from foreign conquerors.
Again, it was retaken.
The foolish Norse Order lost almost ten thousand thanks to the courageous defense of Fort Arkona. Just a little more bravery, and Zemuzil II and his men will be forever remembered as the saviors and emancipators of Pommerania.
In the end, the Fort in Arkona fell, all its defenders fought to their last breath, but thanks to their unremitting courage and bravery, the Norse Order conquest of Cape Arkona was a completely pyrrhic victory. They advanced into Mecklenburg, as the worst krauts named it, and there they were crushed, retreating all the way up to Jylland:
: x
: x : x
In the end of 1747, the entire Norse Order was practically wiped out in Jylland, and from their crushing defeat, HERESY was slowly taking over the lands their fleet protected from invasion by the forces of Pommerania and Lithuania. From daringness forged by Svarog with the iron from an unbreakable will, from the willing sacrifice of two thousand men in Arkona, who fought to the death for their land and for the old Slavic gods, Pommerania has achieved a victory that will be remembered for a thousand years.
: x : x : x
And not so shortly after, all of the Teutonic Order fell. Their fate was now in heathen hands. However, a disappointing deed would prevent their total demise.
Not all was good. While victorious across land, Pommerania faced much hardship under the blockades of the Norse Order fleet, and the mints were almost always operating at full capacity. The economy of the country would need many decades to recover from the ravages of war once this is at last over.
A growing alliance, two countries united by the common purpose of defending an old way of life against the fanatical teachings of a Jew god being the one and only, Pommerania and Lithuania have finally avenged centuries of brutality and oppression in the name of a false god, nothing more than a tool for conquerors and oppressors.
After the enemy armies were crushed, the usual scum rose as a new, if laughable threat.
Poland, opportunistic as ever, told the Teutons to fuck off and was ready to take over everything Lithuania and Pommerania would choose to not take after the humiliating peace treaty is signed.
Of all that existed subjugated by the Norse Order, Lübeck was without doubt the most valuable territory. Pommerania would have a major advantage in owning their own center of trade, even if such advantage would threaten both their presidency and membership within the Hansa.
Then, something special happened in 14th of May of 1477, that would shift the power of the Baltics in favor of the old gods. The Prince of Pommerania also became King of Lithuania...
FOR TWO FUCKING DAYS BEFORE STUPID GREEDY FUCKS AND BUTTHURT HITMEN RUINED SUCH A GLORIOUS STEP INTO THE FORMATION OF A MAJOR POWER!
Arkona was retaken, and the Cape within would be forever memorialized for the bravery of its defenders. Although the dick move of Lithuania was disappointing news, it wouldn't hinder the future of Pommerania. Let them sink under their pride and arrogance.
Stupid and ungrateful scum. They were just about to take back Gdúnsk thanks to Pommerania military prowess and now they continue doing more idiotic and butthurt deeds since breaking a personal union in disgrace and dishonor in a record time. If they ever dare to stab Pommerania in the back, they will pay!
26th of September of 1477 was the day all Pommeranian lands were freed of foreign conquerors. A day to be remembered. Yet the "ally" Pommerania had in this war has chosen to have no honor, and thus waiting out to occupy all of the Teutonic territories in once Wend clay was unwise, for they definitively would be retarded enough to sign a peace treaty that ends with them gaining no terroritories.
Thus, instead of having to occupy all those provinces to the east, Pommerania demanded harsh terms from the worst kraut, leaving their Brandenburg isolated, and also taking over Poznan. Now, all left was to take over the Pommeranian lands occupied by the Norse Order. And that would require long occupations, for they were refusing to cede.
The Wends that still lived south of Pommerania have been long Germanicized, their culture forgotten and erased from those lands save for a handful of minorities that struggle to survive. Nothing short of resettlement and payback for the German atrocities against the Wends could change that. For now, it was better to leave those lands as they are.
The Catholic churches from the conquered Teutonic territories were converted into Slavic temples, mostly dedicated to the smith god. The struggle against the rebel scum was difficult and frustrating, but Pommerania persevered. Except for one type of such scum, except they were not scum, only rough in how they expressed their discontent over a foolish decision of Zemuzil II about certain individuals in Poznan who can be blamed for all the hardships those who believe in the old gods have endured:
A mistake he was quick to rectify, regardless of prestige costs. As a plus, the move towards tradition rather than liberalization finally would bring some real proselytism to the dying Slavic old faith, even if major missionary efforts would proceed at a glacial pace.
It was chosen to let the Hussites take over Poznan. They are all the same for Pommerania.
In other news, Thuringia became a communist theocracy.
Wait a minute?
Less than two years after this, suddenly a plague appears out of nowhere?
...
Meanwhile, in the land of REMOVE KEBAB...
And finally, in 1484, all of the Norse Order in continental Europe was secured. Now it was a long wait ahead.
Considering the massive rebellion they would face otherwise, Zemuzil II enacted laws on tolerance, for now. The traitors and fanatics that still rose were all killed before they could seize any territories.
And at last, Mecklenburg was secured, and soon Lübeck and Holstein would be as well, concluding this long conflict with an astounding victory.
3rd of October of 1486 was the date when at last, the war for liberation of Pommerania was concluded. Zemuzil II rose to the status of a legendary hero, having led his once insignificant Pommerania to finally crush the crusaders that harmed and oppressed his people so long. Now they needed a long time of peace to recover from this conflict, and to teach to those whose grandfathers were forced to convert the ways of the old gods. The Teutonic Order will soon vanish, while the Norse Order has been greatly diminished in power. However, the economy of the Principality suffered, with inflation now close to ten percent due to the minting necessary to fund this long war. Nevertheless, it was worth, for now Pommerania has grown strong enough to no longer fear their neighbors.
DLA SLAVA!
: x