Suboptimal and Alhambram explore the unknown lands with Norwegian Longships

[Alhambram]

Turn 26:

Asilah shall indeed fall next turn:
   
When Asilah falls, I shall purchase ram and two Berserkers there for Isbiliya. Attack on Xixon hasn't started yet, I wait till ram arrives from Scotland and Chevduke seem more interested in Lisabon anyways.

Around Aix-la-Chapelles I didn't attack city but instead killed units for GG points, we have now slight advantage in GG race for corps.
   
I didn't attack city yet. Chevduke has one 3 promoted Berserker, third promotion likely Urban Warfare: +10 attack on city.

Around Italy I pillaged two quarries which results in culture profit, shaving off research time for Mercenaries to merely two turns.
   
Finished Shipbuilding and started Machinery. Chevduke did finish Shipbuilding this turn too while Grotlizard did finish Hacksilver past turn.

Next turn two cities more: Asilah and Iceland. I shall buy builder in Iceland and two builders in Norway for improvements and lumbermills.

[Alhambram]

Turn 27:

A quite big turn I think, start with capturing Asilah.
   
Berserker moved, pillaged and attacked city, while injured Longship east of strait pillaged final farm tile for health boost and pillage points.
Then two other Longships attacked city and took it, I start repairing pillaged tiles with builders right away. Next turn buy battering ram and berserker here for Isbiliya.

Founded Skien at Iceland. Berserker shall deal with that barb camp and then go to Greenland for more barb camp farming.
   
Bought fish tiles and one tile NE for barb defogging. Also bought 5 charge builder here to improve whale, two fish tiles and two mines.

The above two new additional cities caused religious threshould go under 50% again, so I was able to pillage for 100 gold per pillaged tile again. I used it to full force at Italy:

Two quarries more pillaged resulted in instant completion of Mercenaries and overflow shortened Guilds research to 3 turns.
As very last one tile that I did pillage was a faith tile which gave me bit more faith and I got a idea: try to grab GG corps right now.

So around Aix-la-Chapelles I attacked units again instead city itself, the city almost lost walls but it got strong hp, I expect that Chevduke still is unable to take city next turn or I might be mistaken.
   
Situation is not good actually, my flank is exposed now. I expect one or two dead Berserkers next turn, hence I purchased two new in Utrecht.
And at Xixon (not pic taken) instead attacking city, Berserker attacked pikeman wandering next city, giving me more GG points and result:
   
Got GG!
He did spawn at Oslo, so he shall join forces at Utrecht after a while. Chevduke shall get GG which creates a catapult with 1 promotion as consolation prize.

I did policy swap: Strategos and serfdom out since I got GG and enough 5 charge builders. In: Trade Confederation (4+ gold for international trade routes) and Conscription to lower cost of maintaining army.
Raid stays, it did serve me very well and there is plently tiles left to be pillaged, after 3 turns review whether raid can stay or go out in favor of other policy. Naval infrastructure stays till end of the game.
Next turn deal with fallout of my GG push, couple dead berserkers possible and then we shall see what we can do.

[suboptimal]

That's a fantastic turn. I think the loss of one or two beserkers at Aix-la-Chappelle is a fair trade for what you accomplished this turn. If Chevduke attacks the city next turn and doesn't get it it will hopefully be ours for the taking. I'll have to look at the save later tonight.

[Alhambram]

Turn 28:

Upon opening save, no killed berserkers, nice! More importantly Aix-la-Chapelles was yellowlined by Chevduke. Chevduke did surrond 4 tiles of city and us just two, therefore merely 2 attacks with Berserkers possible.
I did estimate that attack from that two Berserkers wasn't enough to take the city, BUT I got two archers nearby and both shot at city, also one of Berserker pillaged farm to max health for little extra attacking strength. Dice roll ensures and fortune favors the bold!  
   
Note that completing Machinery did result in boost for one civic and thanks that all culture overflow for Guilds civic is gone.
Again check next turn where we stands and we might take shot at Paris. I did retreat Berserkers a bit to close the flanks, only one archer might be killed next turn.

A pic of Norwegian core:
   
With whale from Iceland and salt from Aix-la-Chapelles, no unhappiness in Norwegian lands resulting in faster pop growth.
Lumbermilling forests here, the builder who is lumbermilling Stavanger's forest shall go to Utrecht/Aix-la-Chapelles to improve tiles over there.

Bought a Berserker at Asilah, next turn start attack on city if Grotlizard or Chevduke don't block sea access of Isbiliya (I didn't occupy sea tiles next Isbiliya which I should have done it...).
Also I did purchase batterin ram at Asilah previous turn already, I did it after take pics of previous turn and saving for Suboptimal but before sending save to Grotlizard due last minute decision to purchase battering ram. Hence rechecking save for Suboptimal didn't show purchased battering ram and I assumed that I have to buy it this turn which isn't needed to do now.

Chevduke did complete Mercenaries this turn and also did adopt Trade Confederation and Conscription. Grotlizard took Tmutarkan! (city at northern shore of Black sea), meaning that they might conquer Byzantines soon!

[suboptimal]

Nice! I'm surprised that Chevduke actually made that attack without knowing they couldn't get the city. That seems like it was an unforced error. Looks like it'll be a race to Paris next and our flanking troops are in a better position to get to the northern side of the city. We may just want to smother the eastern side, despite the Encampment, as that will set up the move to Portiers. There may not be that many French troops left on the map so resistance en route may be minimal. I also forget..what's to the south of Aix-la-Chapelle?

I didn't get a chance to look at the save -- are there any updates at Lisbon or are Chevduke attempting to get into the Med? Wonder if they were going to try for Asilah....that'll be an interesting read after this one's over.

[Alhambram]

Turn 29 (last turn?):

Seems that missing out Aix-la-Chapelles was final straw for TheArchduke, I can't really blame him. I did not move a finger a bit upon city and let TheArchduke do all dirty work till city health was low enough for me to take it.
In meanwhile instead attacking the city, I killed French units one after other with Berserkers which did give me GG corps.
And also again French units failed to kill single unit of mine, even a archer...
   
I rearranged units, archers to back, Berserkers to front, promote where it is possible. Next turn upgrade 2 archers into crossbowmen for boost of Castles tech.

Next turn start attack on Xixon seriously:
   
Chevduke is about to take Lisabon, likely next turn. At other hand I can take Isibilya at turn 31 I think.
   
Settler shall arrive at turn 38 at Sardinia. Meanwhile Longships continue pillaging around Italy, almost out of pillageable tiles.
   

[Alhambram]

Some pics in case that this game ends now:
   
   
   
   

[suboptimal]

Based on the tech thread comments it seems that Sweden was inadvertantly impeding Chevduke with a bunch of seaborne builders. The question is where are they all? Black sea, perhaps? I do think that our score is insurmountable thanks to the 1500 VP from the Great Admirals.

[Alhambram]

Turn 30:

Chevduke took Lisabon and we shall take two cities next turn. Though Chevduke might snipe with extra movement Berserkers from Lisabon, crossing fingers that it doesn't happen.
   
Around northern France I killed dozen French knights with Berserkers, basically wiping out French army and the road to Paris is free now.
   
Start siege of Paris next turn! And the scores at turn 30:
   
Our score is actually 5965 due score not updating, also Grotlizard has yet play their turn 30, so I say that without Vinland we are equal with Grotlizard while Chevduke do have a disadvantage.
My aim is maintain 1500 points lead till end, which mean more conquering and founding cities (Sardinia) to counter Swedish settler spam in empty Russia and their invasion of Byzantines.

[Alhambram]

Turn 31:

Chevduke didn't get near both Xixon and Isbiliya, enemy knights were in way of their berserkers, so I take both cities.
   
I bought new berserker at Xixon so I can move to Irunea as soon as possible.

Around Paris, French brought more units in and finally they managed to kill one of Berserkers I counterattack, wiping out all French units in sight except one knight in Paris.
   
I also killed some embarked units around Italian seas and got 3rd GA. Since Chevduke and Grotlizard already took GA of same era, there isn't any more GA left. So in total I nabbed three GA, Chevduke and Grotlizard both one.

The score did change significant:
   
Don't look at my total score since it isn't updated, instead count up all numbers and our total shall be 6910 points!
Which mean even without Vinland we did build up a quite margin upon Grotlizard now. Maybe when they open save and see the score, they may conclude that we with Vinland has gotten decisive lead here and concede.
So we shall see whether Grotlizard thinks that they still can win or not. In case that they still believe in themselves, that means the fun can continue!