The Steam-Assisted Rotary Crank Gun, also known as the Dwarf Gatling Gun, was a weapon powered by steam. Its ammunition was stored in the steam-powered backpack on Dugan Ironhammer's back, with a firing rate of approximately 300-400 rounds per minute, depending on the overload and tuning of the rotary barrels.
Currently, only four of these super weapons had been produced. Unfortunately, the manufacturing of these rotary cannons required a special metal known as "Gromril's Starfall Iron." This metal was only found in the Blackwater Lake beneath Karak Varn in the Old World, with the rest located in the Chaos Wastes or the distant Naggaroth. Dugan Ironhammer had only managed to obtain a small stockpile from the Dwarfs of Karak Kadrin, and it was nearly depleted.
Additionally, the Dwarf Gatling Gun had a critical issue: overheating. After firing continuously for two to three minutes, the weapon would quickly overheat, rendering it inoperable until it had cooled down.
The most frustrating part was that Dugan Ironhammer had tried many methods to improve heat dissipation, but none worked well. Ryan's suggestion of water cooling was completely ineffective, as the steam caused overloads and explosions.
Ultimately, it was the magic workshop of Saint Realm Sorceress and Head of Military Intelligence, Olica, that solved the problem. Olica, along with her apprentices in ice magic, created several bottles of "coolant." When the rotary crank gun overheated, pouring the secret coolant into the condenser tube would rapidly dissipate the heat.
Of course, the price wasn't cheap. Olica charged eighty gold crowns per bottle.
Moreover, the cost of firing the rotary crank gun was extremely high. This weapon couldn't use standard musket balls or lead bullets, nor could it use the explosive rounds from Veronica's magic workshop. It could only use copper bullets.
Copper bullets!
With each spin of the barrel, a fortune in gold was spent!
Dugan Ironhammer fired a few test shots, and hundreds of copper bullets were wasted in an instant.
Ryan's heart bled as he watched, his smile turning awkward.
Brother, please use them sparingly!
The Mousillon Armory had only produced around ten thousand copper bullets, and the cost was staggering.
"The firepower is incredibly strong, especially at medium or close range. If the beastmen try to overwhelm us with their numbers, this thing will teach them a lesson," Dugan Ironhammer demonstrated a few times, reducing several targets to shreds. The Dwarf master engineer only had one regret: "The only issue is that it can't fire for extended periods. Overheating easily causes jams or malfunctions, and Lady Olica's coolant is limited."
"How many bottles of coolant do you have?" Ryan asked.
"Ten bottles. Lady Olica is working at full capacity to produce more. She says making this coolant is very mana-intensive," Dugan Ironhammer pulled out a glass bottle containing about 400 milliliters of deep blue frost crystal liquid, shaking it gently. "One bottle of coolant allows the cannon to fire at full speed for five minutes."
"That's enough. We only have a little over ten thousand bullets," Ryan sighed after some thought. "Brother Dugan, remember to use them sparingly."
"Heh, that's what I was thinking too," the Dwarf master engineer nodded with a smile. "Alright! Are we ready, Your Majesty? When can we deploy? What about the pointy-ears?"
"The pointy-ears still need some time to assemble their forces and prepare their rituals," Ryan nodded. "For now, we'll wait and intensify our training. In a few days, once we receive word from the Wood Elves, we can enter Athel Loren and prepare our formations."
"Ah, finally, we get to see the pointy-ears' great forest!" Dugan Ironhammer was very interested. "We've always said that with so much high-quality hardwood in the forest, cutting down a little wouldn't hurt..."
"Hey, don't say that in front of the Wood Elves. It could start a war," Ryan said, raising an eyebrow.
"Pointy-ears are always so annoying," Dugan Ironhammer shrugged. "Your Majesty, the demonstration is over. I'll go back and continue tuning the weapon."
"Alright," Ryan nodded. Dugan Ironhammer quickly left with his son and two engineer apprentices. The four Dwarf Steam-Assisted Rotary Crank Guns would soon be deployed to the battlefield.
"King Ryan, my army and I also wish to join this war," at that moment, High King Bardyl Crimsonbeard of Norsca and his brother Tyr Crimsonbeard arrived with the Norscan Royal Hammerers of the Dragon's Hammer, a regiment of Ironbreakers, and a Norscan Mammoth Slayer regiment. Bardyl, still reeling from his father's decision, had directed all his hatred toward Chaos. "Please, let us Norscan Dwarfs who arrived first participate."
"Agreed!" Ryan didn't hesitate. "You will earn new glory."
The Karak Kadrin Dwarf Army joins the Knightly Army!
Before the words had fully settled, Duke Laon and Duke Bordeleaux arrived. Eight Bretonnian Grail Knights riding hippogryphs descended from the sky. The Marshal of the Northern Army and the Admiral of the Navy smiled as they approached Ryan. "Your Majesty, a new organization has been formed—the Brotherhood of the Sky's Eye Hippogryph Knights. We eight hippogryph knights are ready to follow your orders!"
"I grant you the royal title!" Ryan nodded repeatedly. Eight Royal Hippogryph Knights! A force capable of deciding the outcome of any battle at any moment!
Under the leadership of the veteran Grail Knight, Pierre the Saint, fifteen Grail Hermits appeared in the camp. None of them rode horses; they all arrived on foot. These Grail Hermits were mostly white-haired, with none younger than a hundred years old, and some even over two hundred. Each was a hero with their own epic and legendary journey.
After entering their twilight years or completing their missions, Grail Knights past their prime would settle near Grail Chapels or shrines to the Lady of the Lake, dedicating their remaining strength to protecting the goddess before quietly passing away.
But when they appeared on the battlefield, all Bretonnians, even other Grail Knights, were deeply inspired by the presence of these living legends. Fighting alongside them made the blood in their veins boil with excitement.
The Bretonnian Epic Legendary Unit, the Grail Hermits (fifteen), joins the Knightly Army!
Next, the Lady of the Lake appeared. The goddess and her first chosen, Morgiana, had already issued divine decrees. Grail Knights from across Bretonnia began gathering in Parravon.
Sixty Grail Knights were drawn from various duchies, ready to join this great war.
The Bretonnian Epic Legendary Unit, the "Chosen of the Lady" Grail Knight Battalion (sixty), joins the Knightly Army!
This was the golden age of the Knightly Kingdom! Ryan had never felt as powerful as he did today, with a strong and numerous army. The quality and quantity of his forces had nearly reached the most glorious period in Bretonnia's history.
Ryan immediately decided to hold a grand military parade in Parravon!
Thus, on the last day of Imperial Year 2521, the Knightly Kingdom held its largest military parade in over a century in Parravon.
The military band played.
Amidst the deep, grand, and urgent music, one military formation after another passed in review before Sun King Ryan, Queen Sulia, the Lady of the Lake, and the Damsel of the Lake.
"Golden Kela~ give it to him~"
"Golden Kela~ give it to him~"
One army after another passed in review. Countless Bretonnians came to watch. As these battle-hardened troops marched in formation before the stage, a sense of national pride, honor, and strong identity seeped into the soul of every Bretonnian present.
Ryan felt as if his kingdom was at its zenith, bolstered by multiple buffs.
Destiny: 100!
- Army Morale +20%
- Navy Morale +10%
- All Point Costs -15%
- Maximum Authority +5
- National Unrest -5
- Stability Cost Modifier -10%
Sun King Ryan Malcador Traits:
- Diligent (Additional Trade Resource Output +15%)
- Alchemist (Kingdom Tax Modifier +10%)
- Incorruptible (Corruption Annual Change -0.1)
Alright, time to prepare for war!
Appendix: Bretonnian Forces Participating in the Battle of Ammil (Heroes marked with Saint Realm and above strength):
- Grey Knight Primarch, Sun King of Bretonnia, Ryan Malcador.
- Lady of the Lake, Goddess of the Moon, Mistress of the Mists, Lilith (not directly participating, guarding Ariel's ritual).
- Imperial Princess, Sun Queen Sulia Cumhail Antari.
- Damsel of the Lake, Morgiana Le Fay.
- Dawnfire Sorceress, Head of the Sorceress Council, Veronica Bernadotte.
- Ice Sorceress, Theresa Trolovic.
- First Marshal, Duke of Bastonne, Bohemond.
- Second Marshal, Duke of Quenelles, Francois.
- Third Marshal, Duke of Bordeleaux, Bordeleaux.
- Fourth Marshal, Duke of Couronne, Laon Riocour.
- Fifth Marshal, Duke of Galamont, Calard.
- Sixth Marshal, Marshal of the Royal Guard, Bertrand, Chosen of Taal.
- Dwarf Master Engineer, Dugan Ironhammer.
Participating Forces:
- The Old Guard (five battalions: Halberdiers, Greatswords, two Handgunner Grenadier battalions, and a Dragoon battalion).
- Epic Unit: Grail Hermits (fifteen).
- "Chosen of the Lady" Grail Knight Battalion (sixty).
- Brotherhood of the Sky's Eye Hippogryph Knights (eight).
- Dugan Ironhammer's "Dwarf Gatling" Rotary Cannon Squad.
- Red Dragon Knight Brotherhood Grail Knight Squad.
- Quenelles Champion Knights, Expedition Knights, and Grail Knights mixed squad.
- Lyonesse Lionheart Knight Brotherhood Kingdom Knight Squad.
- Parravon Royal Pegasus Knight Squad.
- Swift Sky Lance Pegasus Knight Squad.
- Dugan Ironhammer's Black Powder Brotherhood Thunderers Regiment.
- Rokossovsky's 1st Guards Lancer Regiment.
- Mousillon Coldstream Guards.
- Bastonne Red Dragon Guard Elite Infantry Regiment.
- Quenelles Unicorn Guard Elite Infantry Regiment.
- Bordeleaux Mannan Guard Elite Infantry Regiment.
- Berleon Foolhardy Rogues.
- Gisoreux Stag Guard.
- Two regiments of Battle Pilgrims.
- The entire Northern Army.
- The entire Continental Army.
- Three squads of Expedition Knights.
- Thirty-two squads of Kingdom Knights.
- Sixty-eight squads of Knights Errant.
- Eighteen regiments of Freeman Infantry.
- Twelve regiments of Peasant Infantry.
- Norscan Dwarf Army (one Royal Hammerers of the Dragon's Hammer regiment, one Ironbreaker regiment, and one Slayer regiment).
Total: Approximately 62,000 troops.
After all preparations were complete, a letter was sent from Parravon and quickly reached the Glade of the Ancients in Athel Loren, delivered to Araloth the Brave, Champion of Ariel and Lord of Talsyn, who had largely assembled his forces.
In the letter, Ryan boasted:
"Having recently received the Lady's command to punish the guilty, I have raised my banners to the north. Be'lakor has surrendered, and I have trampled Albion, forcing all spirits to bow. Now commanding a mighty army of a million, with a thousand Grail Knights, I wish to join you, Brave Araloth, in hunting the 'Shadowblight' Morghur at Ammil, to forge an eternal alliance. I hope you will march day and night and not miss this opportunity."
Araloth: "??????"
An army of a million? A thousand Grail Knights?
Who are you trying to fool?
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