Orders and reports thread

[Warmaster Horus]

Taking the save.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor:

Well £^%£ me Luxemburg!!

I'm not sure if you're being smarmy or not...I'll give you the benefit of the doubt after that result though young man!! Well done!!

The season is nearly over gentlemen!! Karolinger get your bloody arse into gear my friend, the Chancellor's Office is hounding me like a pack of mongrel's to let them start with the administration!! I've had to knock one poor sod unconscious after he got a little too pushy for my liking. They all seem to think I'm weak and defenseless after this plague business.

And one more thing...you're a blood thirsty bastard Viceroy...sallying out like that...Christ on the cross Matthias, I wouldn't want to be an Arab out there with you.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

von Hapsburg!!

Can you lift the siege of Vienna? von Essen is on reserve duty and I need that city.

Get back to me?

[Warmaster Horus]

Done. Attacked Captain Konstantinos (west of Bologna).
http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-6.zip
Result? Heroic victory! Although I fear the AI turn...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Mini Econ]

Dieter von Kassel:

My Lord Chancellor!

Hail from the city of Naples! My Lord, the peasants are revolting! They don't wash, they have bad teeth and they stink of garlic. But more importantly, public order in this place is at a lamentable low. I fear I am unable leave while until the stinky peasants have their annual bath and order is at a more acceptable level.

I request that you continue constructing churches and raising militia.

As for the citadel in Palermo, I fear that the Sicilians may one day return and seize it if it is left unguarded. Until I am free to maneouvre, it may be best to maintain a strong garrison. It is the most advanced castle in the Reich and I lost many men taking it. It would be a shame if it was lost carelessly.

Your faithful servant,

Dieter von Kassel

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

My lord Prinz,

Thank you for the information. You have given me more than enough to administer the region you are in this season. Thank you for the succinct and well thought out points.

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

That's it my Lords the offensive campaigning season is over.

I will now move onto the more mundane issues of state.

If you want to take a look at the last save frozen before the administration then here it is:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-6.zip

[Ramses II CP]

I would ask if our spy near Stockholm, Hermann von Franconia, might be used to shadow the Danish army under Prince Stenkil as it marches south as it is likely headed towards the crossing into our lands. Advance warning of their ill intent will allow me to prepare an appropriate response.

Fritz von Kastilien

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

Already done Fritz. There is certainly a full Danish army heading towards the peninsula. I've moved you to Hamburg for a lightning strike at the rebels next season and I will then ask you to head back to Arhus to defend it.

[Ignoramus]

Von Hapsburg

I am ready to relieve Vienna immediately. I await your command.

[Stuperman]

Fredericus Erlach

Chancellor Arnold, I would like HA Otto moved to Innsbruck, where my DKF's are to be combined and retrained, same with my armored Sergents and my Imperial Knights. Next season I would like my nephew, Herrman Steffen to Join me as we march south.

OOC: I can make the moves if they are confusing, and this will leave Innsbruck with no garrison next season as I left a unit from my levy there as a garrison to fight the Hungarians. I'm not sure if you want to hire some mercs, or just que up a peasant or 2 (it's a yellow face with no garrison)

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

Hapsburg, you're too late for this season!! Johann Zirn is heading back to Vienna to assist with the defense of Vienna.

Count Erlach you've already been moved south through the mountain pass with a 12 regiment force that is now BHA Otto. Hermann Steffen is about a season's march behind you. Innsbruck is recruiting as fast as is can.

You are coming south as fast as possible to relieve BHA Gerhard which is now no longer battle worthy.

[AussieGiant]

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1348

I write this to you all while taking my plague ridden army out to meet the Venetian's yet again in the mountain passes above Ragusa.

The Office of the Exchequer:

The financial situation has allowed for both recruiting and building at this stage.

Notable constructions include:

Church in Naples
Shipwright in Antwerp
Dockyard in Hamburg
City Hall in Zagreb

Militia units have been recruit Reich wide in an attempt to control our fractious population.

The plague is certainly taking its toll on us. Mortality rates are climbing and it's now starting to affect our military capabilities.

I would like to formally announce that Edict 14.2 has been completed

Due to our troop surge we are unfortunately expecting to have a usable income of around 18 000 florins next season.

The War Office:

The Reich:

Given the poor state of reporting I am experiencing from my General's I can now only give generalised accounts of what is going on. It seems that in my absence many General's are failing to even send me a date and location of their field actions.

Palermo, Staufen, Ragusa, Innsbruck and Acre are all producing at maximum capacity.

The Kaiser's army under Hugo de Cervole is heading west through the Alps. Kaiser Peter is heading to intercept as soon as possible.

Prinz Dieter is now stuck in southern Italy and will be delayed while he subdues the local populace.

Swabia:

The 1st SHA is now nearly fully constituted and is manning the bridge North of Staufen to best determine where to strike next season. It is hoped this will be Dijon and Count Ruppel who is patiently waiting out the siege.

Three regiments of Teutonic Knights are heading towards the 1st SHA from Frankfurt.

Bruges is still in danger but the sheer number of troops being commanded by Ludwig von Bohmen indicate it will be able to hold on for a very long time.

Freshly married, von Luxemburg managed to cast aside the warm glow of a young woman's bed to completely thrash a Polish force threatening our capital.

Franconia:

Magdeburg is becoming a disgrace in my opinion. The entire Duchy is being held back by a siege that seems to be taking longer than the parting of the Red sea itself. I urge anyone in Franconia noble with at least some set of "Arnold's" to find a solution immediately. I would accept suicide as a perfectly acceptable option at this point!!!!

Fritz is heading south to take on some rebels who are destroying the local economy but he will have to quickly head north again to defend an incoming Danish army towards Arhus.

Other than that it's been another dull and utterly pointless exercise in our northern command group.

Austria:

Not wanting to show any favoritism the general command ability in Austria is rather embarrassing to me also.

The situation in Austria is impacted by Franconia to large degree.

Lord Becker has requested that Breslau be attacked to try and prevent the three front war Austria is facing. Polish forces around Prague are of sufficient quality that I can't even break off Lorenz Zirn from the area for fear of being attack in an isolated position.

Meanwhile in Vienna a rash of reserve duty general's and one late comer in the form of von Hapsburg has meant the siege of Vienna continues even though there is more than enough of the 1st AHA in attendance to remove the Hungarian force. Johann Zirn is head back north to try and provide some “on the ground” command.

I personally have headed back into the mountain passes above Ragusa with the 2nd AHA to resume my destruction of the Empire of Merchant Scum.

Bavaria:

In the only other notable action this season, Count Karolinger with Duke Lothar in tow, headed north east and destroyed yet another Byzantine force threatening to cross the river Poe.

This has left Bavaria exposed to some degree however Count Erlach is heading south at great speed with the newly formed BHA Otto.

There are only three Byzantine Armies currently on the peninsula

Outremer:

As usual the command and control of Outremer is proceeding nicely. Both commanders sallied and bloodied their respective opposing forces. This I'm sure is annoying the Byzantines no end as they are the one's who are supposed to be whittling away at the garrison's strength.

The Defensive Season is now upon us and if I can get final sign off by the Exchequer's Office I will continue on as soon as possible.

Defensive season overview.

Austria:

As foreseen the Venetian scum attacked me in the mountain pass above Ragusa and saw one of their four major field armies find the same fate as all others. I believe I've now killed well over 15 000 of them in the past 15 to 20 years.

Prague has been besieged which should allow me to move Lorenz Zirn back down to Vienna...although there is now a second Polish stack around Prague and I'm not sure a two army assault on Prague can be repulsed.

Swabia:

The situation remain static however the 1st AHA is now in position to strike out in a number of directions.

Franconia:

Finally the near combined might of Franconian nobility replused and destroyed the Polish army besieging Magdeburg. This will free up the Franconian front and their troop making facilities to hopfully begin the campaign in earnest against the Polish around Breslau.

Bavaria:

Due to Count Karolinger's bold actions the previous season the Byzantine leadership tried as had as possible to kill or capture both him and the Bavarian Duke and the remnants of BHA Gerhard. All they succeeded in doing was losing more men and forcing the two nobles into Milan. However, what they failed to achieve by force of arms they my succeed with the plague. Milan is diseased and both men now stand a chance of contracting the horrible Black Death.

Outremer:

von Salzgitter bloodied the noses of yet another Byzantine force seiging Antioch. The siege has now been lifted.

[AussieGiant]

1348 Defensive Season battles:

I will post the save here right after I put the list out now in order. Please save straight after your fight and then upload it here in the Orders thread for the next person.

Arnold. Done

von Salzgitter in Antioch.

Karolinger and Lothar twice on a follow up with a Byzantine full stack. Auto resolve would be the recommendation.

Dieter Bresch in Magdeburg. Finally the siege will be lifted.

Lorenz Zirn he can retreat if he wants.

Settlements sieged: Prague, Bologna, Bruges and Ragusa.

Right chaps get to it.

Save is right after mine for Zim:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-10.zip

[Zim]

I'm out with my wife for the next few hours. Can I get to this when I get back?

I don't really know the time limit policy for battles during the AI turn.

[AussieGiant]

I'm out with my wife for the next few hours. Can I get to this when I get back?

I don't really know the time limit policy for battles during the AI turn.

You're cool Zim. You've acknowledged the situation, so get to it when you can.

Cheers
AG

[Zim]

Thanks AG. We're back from our trip so I'm taking the save right now.

[Zim]

Battle fought and won. Sorry about the wait from taking the save. Wireless is down so I had to upload it via dialup and it took a while. I should have a report for this battle and the sally I fought soon (after my wireless comes back up, so I can upload pics).

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-11.zip

[TinCow]

Battle fought. A short battle report will follow soon.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1348-12.zip

I think the guys in Magdeburg are up next.

[Ferret]

taking the save, hopefully will be done before tonight.

Edit: done, we are in 1350 and everyone in Magdeburg (Dieter, Tancred and Godwinson) have the plague!

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350.rar

[Ramses II CP]

Taking the save to smash those rebels north of Frankfurt.

[Ramses II CP]

Done:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350-1.zip

Cakewalk. I was disappointed that one of Fritz's guardsmen died before the armored sarges routed.

[Ramses II CP]

While I'm here, I'd like to request again that the town militia at Arhus be traded out for the crossbowmen at Hamburg. It's a straight trade I think, with no need for them to sit outside the city as they're in walking distance of each other. Probably three more turns until the Danes can cross, but I'd also like my bombard retrained before they attack.

Oh, and I noticed that the Teutonic Knights at Frankfurt are still there. I thought they were bound for Swabia.

[deguerra]

We could certainly bloody use them!

[Warluster]

Can't fight battle.

[Warluster]

Cancel again, but I would like to ask if you could recruit those Spearmen as mercaniares, I think that would be most useful . THe save is the old one. FH, (Seeing as you would be reinforcements) if you think you could beat them, please have a crack at it, otherwise I will attack next turn with more spearmen.

[FactionHeir]

What battle? I don't see a 1350 report.

[AussieGiant]

Gentlemen Please Hold on 1350.

While I have no problem with the 24 hour rule I'd like to start and stop it myself. There are a lot of inefficiencies occurring because their is little team work, so I would prefer to have the regional strategies and moves worked out BEFORE we attack the save piecemeal.

[AussieGiant]

Offensive Campaign Season 1350:

My Lords the offensive campaign season is upon in this year of our lord 1350. Having surveyed the reports and campaign maps here are my operational recommendations.

I am feeling poorly at the moment so please forgive my rather muted statements on our options this season gentlemen.

Franconia:

Magdeburg: Duke Bresch, some of the Franconian nobility could be reorganised for better administration and defense. I welcome any suggestions.

I have no other real suggestions at this time. Lord Fritz is heading back to Arhus and I will swap out more appropriate troops with Hamburg for the defense we are going to have to mount against he Danes. My only thought is to finally move part of the 1st FHA out towards Breslau.

Austria:

Lorenz Zirn: You can quite easily attack the Polish army north of Prague. Drive it off and move back to assist in the defense of Prague.

von Hapsburg/von Essen: Lift the siege of Vienna so part of your forces can head south to assist Johann Zirn in the defense of Zagreb.

Myself I will attack the besieging force of merchant scum around Ragusa yet again.

Bavaria:

Milan: Duke Lothar, some of the Bavarian nobility could be redistributed for better administration and defense. I welcome any suggestions.

Prinz Dieter: My recommendation is for you to head north towards Rome with as much of the army as you can afford without causing any rioting.

Count Erlach: Lift the siege of Bologna before it falls.

Hermann Steffen: Head as fast as possible into the theater to assist Count Erlach.

Sir Crevole: March south through to Alps to defend Milan from imminent siege.

Kaiser Peter: Continue south as fast as possible to take command of your army.

Swabia:

Duke von Salza: Remain on the bridge and defend Staufen or head towards Dijon and lift the siege there.

von Luxemburg: Head west with the remaining professional troops and join with the Teuton Knights from Frankfurt. Your destination is Bruges.

von Bohmen: Sally if you feel inclined.

Outremer

Viceroy: Sally as you have done before to bloody the Byzantine besiegers.

von Salzgitter: Head to the iron bridge and maintain a defensive position there. Reinforcements are coming from Acre. Or stay in Antioch.

--------------------------

The save is the 1350-1 that Ramses has posted above.

The 24 hours begin now. Good luck and let me know what your wishes are.

OOC: Only take the save to initiate battle. Otherwise I'll move everyone as best I can based on your information. I'd like to try it this way for this turn.

[TinCow]

I will leave the issue of the defense of Milan and Bologna to Count Erlach and Sir Crevole to decide between them. They can do what they think best with their armies, though I urge Count Erlach to try and keep his army intact if possible.

I also urge Count Karolinger and Elector von Bavaria to leave Milan at once. The city will come under siege very soon and though I expect it to be defended by the above armies, victory is not certain. Anyone who is trapped inside the city in the event of a defeat will surely perish. Genoa is in need of a governor at the moment, and since we are all plague-ridden, poxy bastards, it seems not to matter that we enter that disease-infested port at this time. Perhaps that would be a good destination for those men. For my part, I will absorb the entire garrison of Milan into BHA Gerhard, except one unit which will be left behind to bar the gates, and encamp with it outside the eastern walls of the city. In that way, I will be on hand and available to aid in the defense of the city, but I will not be caught inside. If either Count Karolinger or Elector von Bavaria wish to remain with me in the army, they may do so, though I urge at least one of them to ride to Genoa.

I urge the Chancellor to ensure that Count Erlach's BHA Otto is kept away from my plague-infested regiments and from the diseased cities in Italy. It is vital that his men remain healthy and do not suffer the attrition from disease that we are currently experiencing.

I also urge my son, Herrmann, to bring reinforcements with him from Innbruck as he marches south to join us. We need every man in Italy that we can possibly get.