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Welf:
My Lord Chancellor,
As requested, I engaged Captain Foucher's army. Although of modest size, it was an elite formation.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
It has been eliminated but at a terrible the cost - I have lost a full half of my force.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I will provide a full report in due course.
I wish Count Ruppel every success in his forthcoming engagement.
Your servant
Welf
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1364c.zip
Taking the save for the sally out of Adana.
Hughes de Cervole :
Chancellier,
I would request authorization to leave Reims and go west. I suggest sending some militia from Metz to hold Reims.
(OOC : placed near south of the watchtower west of Paris with some movement left)
I would ask to retain at my disposal our agent Merowinger... I think we have a meeting of minds with the man...
A tough sally, the Greeks had a better class of men than the Turks even though it was a similar force.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
But they too have been eliminated, the few survivors will not trouble us again. The prisoners were executed, with an even better army on the way, I do not wish to face them twice, nor let stragglers through to Antioch.
Matthias
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1364d.zip
Edit: Ramses I didn't use the Tuetons as reinforcements since I didn't know where they'd deploy on the map. Could you move them into Adana before the end of the turn?
Taking save
Sir von Luxemburg rest assured if you bring home victory I will not count the cost. Staufen will continue to train at best speed. Submit requests for the troops you would like added to your force in the next season and I will meet them.
Well done Viceroy Matthias, the Teutons will be moved into Adana. With Andreas making ready to depart for Cyprus you will be warding the mainland alone for at least a season. With that in mind do you have any training requests of your own?
Sir de Cervole I will be in touch about your movements. I concur that you and agent Merowinger have done great things together. I won't be asking you to defend Rheims (OOC: I just hadn't reproduced the movements you made after the sack of Rheims yet :beam: ), at least not from within the walls.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
The French outside Dijon have been defeated, albeit at a rather steep cost. Fortunately, my physicians were able to aid the recovery of many hundred men, who have since moved to reinforce Welf von Luxemburg if he should be attacked.
Myself, I have hired some mercenaries to bolster the battered household armies, but was not able to rejoin with Welf until the next year. I have also sent my Feudal Knights towards Staufen for retraining and hope they will be returned to me shortly.
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1364e.zip
Count Ruppel I hope that you recalled the fact that Captains Gunther and Michel's armies were suffering from the plague and did not move their formations into Welf von Luxemburg's healthy men.
edit: Taking a closer look at the reports I see now what you mean. I will be sending both companies of fresh Imperial Knights from Staufen forward to your army Count Ruppel.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
These are the gentlemen I still need to hear from regarding their plans:
1. At Milan Count Erlach or Kaiser Peter are invited to deal with the last Byzantine army on the Italian peninsula. If neither of those nobles is available I may ask Duke Steffen if he feels he would be able to ride out to command this battle (Drawing in men from where ever you feel necessary) and then return to near enough Florence to command it's defense against the French. (OOC: You may not want to be inside Florence in the event of their laying siege anyway.).
2. At Madgeburg Duke Dieter or Count von Tyrolia should sally if at all possible. (OOC: Looking at the armies this appears to be another one that could be auto-calc'd with confidence, but I'd prefer it if you fought it EF.)
3. At Breslau Lord Becker has given me a time frame for his action. Thank you and God grant you victory!
4. Prinz Dieter's minor action against those rebels. It can wait for next season if he so prefers, otherwise he should draw on the garrison at Venice to aid him in battle.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
I am posting this immediately before leaving for my train. Considering that there are still issues to be resolved, and my action will likely be the last of the season, I have decided I will wait until I have arrived at my destination to take the save. This should cause only a small delay, rest assured I will fight my battle before I sleep tonight.
OOC: Understood Cecil. If no one sounds off about the fight against the Byzantines or at Madgeburg I'm closing the save first thing in the morning and moving forward. Madgeburg will be autocalc'd to avoid character death, even if it's a draw. If you have objections make them known EF.
:egypt:
Taking the save.
Gentlemen, I have met the enemy. We traded blows, each giving as good as he got, but I failed to coordinate effectively with the reinforcement I called up from Prague and neither side was able to gain an advantage. Thus I withdrew, as the time was not right to risk paving the Pole's road to Nuremburg and Prague. My infantry is in good order, but my cavalry has been virtually wiped out and my archers and artillery have been heavily depleted.
https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/...6014810op2.png
During the course of the battle I noticed that despite m inferior number of ranged units our crossbowmen and artillery did very well. If I receive heavy reinforcements in that area, perhaps two companies of crossbowmilitia and a bombard company from Prague, I should expect to resume offenses immediately with a good chance of victory.
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1364f.zip
You will be reinforced as quickly as it can be arranged Lord Becker. With the new Teutonic Knights Guild in Nuremburg you can expect more heavy cavalry in short order.
There is no shame in withdrawing in the face of a superior opponent.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
OOC: My battle can be auto calced, I've got a history essay to write
The season is at a close, and I will be moving forward the defensive season very soon. I'm disappointed by the lack of activity in the Bavarian theatre, but I will do my best to position our men to defend Milan and Florence, though if the French are clever Bologna may stand somewhat exposed.
Fritz von Kastilien
(OOC: I'm also going back to the old naming convention again to avoid confusion.)
:egypt:
OOC: If there's still time, I can do the Byzantine battle.
(OOC: Sorry TC, too late.)
1364 Recruitment and Construction Report (End of Season report)
The final engagement of the season saw Duke Dieter sally again at Madgeburg.
http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R7b6.../s800/0028.jpg
As you may have come to expect, construction was limited this season to a single structure, a Tourney Field at Staufen. In part this was due to my desire to ensure that we had sufficient funds to pay potential ransoms during the defensive season. As it turned out that was unecessary, as there were no defensive engagements.
Staufen: Tournament Field
Recruitment was my priority, and it took place at almost every facility in the Reich. By region:
Franconia
Arhus: retrained 1 Spear milita, trained 2 Crossbow milita
Madgeburg: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbow, trained 2 Pavise Crossbow
Frankfurt: retrained 1 Crossbow and 1 Spear militia, trained Teutonic Knights
Hamburg: no training due to siege
Austria
Prague: trained 3 Crossbow militia
Vienna: trained 2 Serpentine, 1 Forlorn Hope, additionally Jan Zirn procured mercenaries from the east, but was forced to retreat in the face of a Hungarian advance
Ragusa: retrained 1 Peasant Archers and 1 Feudal Knights, trained 1 Sergeant Spearmen
Venice: retrained 1 Spear militia, trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Town militia
Bavaria
Nurmeburg: trained 1 Spear militia, 2 Teutonic Knights
Innsbruck: trained 3 Mounted Crossbowmen
Milan: trained 1 Crossbow milita, 2 Spear militia
Bologna: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, spy
Florence: retrained 1 Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, trained spy and assassin, Wenzel Steffen was also sent south to recruit mercenary knights
Rome: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Naples: retrained 1 Spear militia, 2 Crossbow militia
Palermo: retrained 2 Pavise Crossbow, trained 1 Pavise Crossbow
Swabia
Bern: retrained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, 1 Town militia, trained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia
Staufen: retrained 2 Pavise Crossbow, trained 1 Mounted Crossbowmen
Dijon: trained 2 Crossbow militia, 1 Forlorn Hope
Metz: retrained 1 Spear militia, trained 1 Town militia, spy
Rheims: trained 3 Crossbow militia
Antwerp: trained 3 Crossbow milita
Outremer
Acre: trained 3 Pavise Crossbow
Antioch: trained Merchant, 2 Crossbow militia
Adana: retrained Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbow, trained Imperial Knights
I must further offer my apologies to Viceroy Matthias. In a clerical error the Teutonic Knights aboard ship south of Adana were not sent to his Citadel, but moved to participate in Andreas' attack on Nicosia. I will return them to you at the first available chance Viceroy.
I am further displeased to have to report that our spies failed to make entry to the city of Genoa, costing two of them their lives. As expected Paris fell to the French and Durazzo was taken by the Venetians.
http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R7b6.../s800/0060.jpg
http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R7b6.../s800/0062.jpg
Florence was heavily reinforced but the French took it under siege nonetheless. God grant you victory Duke Steffen! If you require further resources make your requests and I will meet them. I expect they will assault at the close of this season.
To reiterate, no defensive engagements. Expect the Chancellor's Report soon!
Fritz von Kastilien
OCC: Haven't looked at the save yet. Do I have any chance of winning this battle?
Chancellor's Report, 1366.
In summary 1364 was a year of measured success. Costly victories were brought home in Swabia, while Bavaria braced for a French attack. Madgeburg sallied successfully, but Lord Becker suffered a reversal in the field. Viceroy Matthias crushed another Byzantine attack against Adana. Duke Arnold marched north to recapture Zagreb.
Diplomatic Report
The English rejected an attempt go exchange military access, and seem unlikely to entertain further offers without a substantial quantity of florins or territory on the table.
The Office of the Exchequer
The financial situation was sufficient to allow for near universal recruitment, which is all a good soldier can ask of his merchants. Available currency for this season is just over twenty thousand florins. The Theives' Guild had the termerity to approach me about opening a Guild house at Arhus, and they were suitably rebuffed. I will not invite theives into one of our richest cities as I cannot see how it could be profitable in the long term.
The Physician's Office
I am very pleased to report that the army of Fredericus Erlach is now free of the plague. Following this season's engagements his more veteran companies will be rotated off the front and retrained as soon as possible.
Unfortunately the city of Prague and all of our armies under Captains which were previously infected, remain so, including the men Lord Becker brought out of Prague. Specifically:
Captain Ruprecht near Arhus. I dismissed many of his men last season in disgust and in the hope that a smaller camp would be cleaner, but I was mistaken.
Captains Dimarus and Michel near Welf von Luxemburg.
Captain Elberhard, encamped near Lord Becker.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The War Office
In Outremer the Byzantines have noted the absence of Count von Salzgitter and marched back to the Iron Bridge. The Byzantines also sent their army near Nicosia east to drive off the Tuetonic Knights who had landed as scouts (Had to put them ashore to observe KotR rules), but the men were able to retreat to the ships. With Adana not under siege I decided to send across as many men as I could under Count von Salzgitter, including the Basilisk, and lay siege to Nicosia. The remaining men near Antioch have moved back to the Iron Bridge, which should allow Viceroy Matthias to crush the Byzantines between his army and the men at the bridge. I have also moved a spy into the Byzantine citadel at Caesarea.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Bavaria sees Florence sieged, and an army assembling under Kaiser Peter facing the last Byzantine army in the region. Count Erlach should assist the Kaiser in destroying the last of the Byzantines. Prinz Dieter must now drive off those rebels near Venice and then march north towards his homelands in Franconia. In a dramatic move Hermann Steffen moved south to assail Marsellies, hiring mercenaries along the way, including a ribault to smash open the gates and allow him to assault immediately.
The Swabians have lost Paris, and I fear the approach to Caen is too well guarded for Hugo de Cervole to slip by, but news is otherwise positive. Rheims is free of siege, indeed the English have marched into the Rheims area, perhaps to offer their aid, and the bridge west of Antwerp is still in our hands. The French are mustering many armies to march east, including one which has come out of the west to potentially threaten Dijon, but I believe Swabia is in a good position to hold her ground this year and advance the next.
Franconia saw little action. A contingent of men from Madgeburg moved southeast to attempt to reinforce Lord Becker, but were cut off by the Polish and cannot proceed this year. I will relieve Hamburg later in the season (These reports take so bloody long I haven't had time to fight, plus I'd like to know if I'll have funds left for mercenaries, though they aren't essential). Duke Dieter had a fine suit of armor commissioned at Madgeburg in his spare time.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Austria saw more aimless shifting of Hungarian armies about. The noble who went west last season marched back east this season, and the captain who came back east marched back west. I am starting to believe the approach of Duke Arnold is driving them mad. Durazzo fell to the Venetians, so Duke Arnold may be forced to march back south in some haste. Near Vienna Jan Zirn was forced to withdraw with his fresh mercenary recruits, and now holds the bridge northwest of Vienna with his brother Johann Zirn and a sizeable army.
The offensive season is now open! Regional recommendations will follow soon.
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1366.zip
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
OOC: I reinforced Florence with everything I had for you TC as the French were being pretty obvious about their intent. If the AI can take Huge Walls from you with the men I've placed in the area, I'll be amazed. Also if you can spur Kaiser Peter or Count Erlach to finish off the **** Byzantines this year then all of their men will also be available.
Nobody dies on my shift! Well, not due to lack of men, that's for sure.
:egypt:
Regional recommendations:
Outremer:
Viceroy Matthias I advise you to march down to pincer the Byzantines between yourself and the captain at the Iron Bridge.
Count von Salzgitter I have shipped across all the men I could and you are in position to use your cannon to assault the lightly held citadel at Nicosia. I believe there are mercenaries available on the island, but I doubt you will need more men than you have, at least not until the Byzantines attempt to take the citadel back.
Bavaria:
Kaiser Peter or Count Erlach now is the time to strike the last Byzantine army in Italy. Make them pay. Afterward Duke Steffen may ask your aid at Florence.
Duke Steffen there may be profit in a limited sally, but I am not certain you could drive off the French. I do believe you have the tools necessary to hold the walls.
Hermann Steffen the Swabians seem to have their situation well under control, while the French attack at Florence has emptied their lands behind it, so you have been detatched to strike behind them and recapture Marsellies. Cut their enclave at Genoa off from the rest of their nation!
Prinz Dieter put the rebels you're facing to the sword and march north at speed. You may draw on the garrison of Venice to aid you. (This battle may be auto-calc'd if it isn't fought. No big deal.)
Austria:
Lord Becker the Poles appear to have left Breslau virtually undefended. Perhaps they felt you would be too disheartened by your nominal defeat to proceed. There is a problem, however, in that one of the Polish armies which faced you has disappeared and a third Polish army seems to be marching out of the south east, possibly towards Prague. I have sent three more companies of Teutons into the area, but they were exhausted by their march. How to proceed is completely at your discretion.
Johann Zirn you are holding the bridge north of Vienna against an approaching force of Hungarians. If you believe you can find victory you are welcome to drive out and attack them, otherwise hold the bridge.
Duke Arnold Zagreb awaits you.
Franconia:
I will make the Russians pay at Hamburg and march back north to Arhus, where the Danes are still reluctant to advance (I was concerned that the captain on the western island was giving them pathing problems, so I removed him, but Stenkil is still stuck and the captain stack isn't moving behind him.)
Duke Dieter if you intend to depart Madgeburg, this is the season. Otherwise wait and I'm sure the Poles will lay siege again soon.
Swabia:
Count Ruppel, Welf von Luxemburg, I wish you two men to sort out between yourselves which companies of men you'd each like to take with you. Then I will ask Count Ruppel to march west to block the advance of the French towards Dijon, and Sir von Luxemburg to march north and prepare to aid the defenders of Rheims against a likely French assault. (OOC: If you want to swap men around to balance out your forces send me a list and I'll make it happen, then I'm moving Welf north and Ruppel west as I said)
Huge de Cervole I believe the French have learned to fear you, as Paris now hosts a massive garrison, and the road to Caen is lined with French armies. Perhaps this is a good time to march north to aid Count von Bohmen, but if you'd like I will try to find you a concealed region closer to Caen so you can try again next season.
I believe that is all gentlemen. I expect this will be another great season of success for the Reich!
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Considering that the SHA1 is still plagued, it will be difficult to divide, as they can only follow as a train behind the main force, if you can call it that. Once I have been able to survey the French advance, I will detail specifics.
Taking the save.
Chancellor,
The Greeks have been eliminated, despite an error in judgement on my part.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I chose a night attack, the troops at the bridge had no archers and would have been torn to pieces before I could aid them. I thought being on a hill side would compensate, I was almost wrong.
The prisoners were executed.
Despite the victory, the cannon and footmen won't be able to return to Adana this season. This is unfortunate as there is a Greek army, almost as nasty as this one, within striking distance of the Citadel.
There are two options, I can go back with the horsemen to lead the defense while the men here are assembled into a relief force. Or I can send horsemen ahead to hold the Citadel while I lead the relief force. The advantage of the former, is that I can fight from the walls on familiar ground when the relief force comes. The disadvantage is that the relief force, without a noble, has a small chance of rebelling.
The decision is yours Chancellor.
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1366-1.zip
Taking the save.
Chancellor,
Marseilles has been taken and occupied.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
We entered the city and shot the lone garrison unit to pieces. They tried a desperate, last-second charge that got some of our missile units, but it was too late and they were quickly overwhelmed.
I am unsure of whether a battle report is necessary. For now though, I am content to rest and begin organizing things inside the city.
Herrmann Steffen
http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1366-2.zip
Excellent victories gentlemen. I am very pleased to have Marsellies returned to the Reich and Antioch secure during Andreas' expedition. I will consider our options at Adana, and consult with you further at the close of the season, Viceroy Matthias.
OOC: Kaiser Peter is on reserve duty, so I'd very much like to hear from Fredericus Erlach about the Byzantine battle. Gibson suggested autocalcing it, but I think that's undesriable and risky given the quality of the troops involved, so it's much more likely I'll simply send as many men south for Florence as I can and wait for someone to step up to the bat.
I'll be going out of town tonight and probably not back until ~24 hours from now, so that will be close to the conclusion of the offensive season. I think I'll have my laptop with me, and I know I'll have 'net access, so I should be paying attention if anything critical comes up.
edit: One minor matter, I saw where the Poles near Cecil went into ambush, and though Becker might not know where they are lying in wait I think, considering that they marched right by him, it's only fair to mention that when you last had contact with them they were marching west, in the direction of Madgeburg.
Fritz von Kastilien
:egypt:
Taking the save.
Battle fought, battle report to follow.http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1366-3.zip