Orders and reports thread

[gibsonsg91921]

Keep Kaiser Peter a-coming down to the Legion der Krone. Then keep that a-coming down through to Rome.

[deguerra]

I'll just sit here behind my thick walls. Pikemen make poor salliers, especially against Scots guard.

[econ21]

Welf von Luxemburg

My Lord, Chancellor Arnold,

I would be honoured to rendezvous with the Teutonic knights and head towards Bruges.

I request that I be accompanied by the professional infantry that was pivotal in defeating the Poles and also by three regiments of the Nuremburg militia (those with leather armour and/or experience). Together with the Teutons, this would create a small army capable of giving battle to a half-sized enemy army.

Further, I believe my force could be made into a fully fledged army capable of taking on most comers with only a few additions. Specifically, it would require two additional missile regiments. Some dismounted foot knights would also be required if it is to be capable of standing up to proper French army - particularly in siege warfare. However, I am unsure whether we can safely recruit from pox ridden Staufen without spreading the infection. (OOC: I will investigate the game mechanics here). If we cannot, I suggest sending the crossbow militia from Frankfurt with the Teutons and perhaps hiring a regiment of mercenary pavise crossbowmen.

Swabia currently fields only one functional Household Army. While a second could be formed if I bring the Teutons to Bruges, I fear the French may drive east towards Frankfurt before I can effect a union with Count Ludwig's forces. For that reason, I recommend bolstering my force so that it is capable of independent action, covering the wide gap in our front line between Duke von Salza's army and the Bruges garrison.

Your humble servant,

Welf von Luxemburg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Move south.

Get to Innsbruck.

Pick up whatever needs to be picked up.

Continue moving South.

Rendezvous with Erlach as necessary.

[Zim]

A letter arrives from Outremer, bearing the seal of Andreas von Salzgitter.

Greetings Duke Arnold. I would like to set up a defensive position on the Iron Bridge and await reinforcements from Acre. I realize you are most likely weary of hearing this but as always I must request more men from Acre, preferably spearmen and cavalry now. Since the charter allows it I would like my army to become the Second Army of Outremer. Once things ease up here in the Levant I think Viceroy Matthias and I will plan an assault on Cyprus, as allowed by Edict. It's about time to start pushing those Greeks back again.

[Ramses II CP]

I would remind everyone who is plotting an offensive and requesting troops for such a thing that not only are several of our Duchies in dire straights, but that there is a plague striking most of the known world. Incomes are down, armies are infected and struggling, and even most of the nobles of the Reich are thought to be ill. Additionally reports have it that our enemies, by keeping their armies in the field, have avoided the worst effects of the plague.

Planning to attack a healthy army with pox ridden soldiers does not seem wise, gentlemen. Keep this and the ever developing economic difficulties in mind with your troop requests.

Fritz von Kastilien

[OverKnight]

Matthias Steffen:

I understand both Andreas's desire to push forward and Frtiz's caution in the face of the plague. We have plenty of time to seize Cyprus. The forces in Outremer could be used to serve as both armies in a pinch. However, I would request a few more additional missile and cavalry units. The only cavalry left to Outremer besides the Teutons, who at some point must be moved to Acre to reinforce, are mercenary and Crusaders units that have been worn down. Replacements will be needed for offensive action or an active defense. The experienced pavise crossbowmen must be reinforced, and one or two others added.

Eventually, as the Crusader units that answered my call during the Cataclysm are worn down, they will have to replaced with standard, and reinforceable, Imperial units. This, however, is of lower priority than cavalry and bowmen.

[Warmaster Horus]

I would rather stay in Duke Lothar Steffen's army.

[OverKnight]

I'm taking the save.

Here's the new one:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350-2.zip

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Chancellor,

I've stripped the Greeks of all their archers, both horse and foot. Their infantry and heavy cavalry have also taken losses. If they do not attack this year, I believe I will be able to run them off in a third sally in the next.

Matthias Steffen

[Mini Econ]

Chancellor,

I concur with your suggestion - I will march on Rome! The Neapolitan militia should be enough to secure city I am leaving.

Yours

Dieter von Kassel

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Chancellor:

During my movements I want to skirt around Innsbruck and rendezvous with the men I am escorting to Italy south of the city. Obviously I would rather not risk a night in the place if it means dealing with that accursed Plague.

Thank you.

[econ21]

Welf von Luxemburg:

My Lord, Chancellor Arnold,

Physicians inform me that taking any men trained in pox ridden settlements into uninfected armies will merely pass the infection. In the light of this information, I request that any reinforcements for my force come from uninfected settlements or be hired as mercenaries.

Your servant

Welf von Luxemburg

OOC:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

To investigate the mechanics, I transferred one unit from Staufen to von Salza and one to Welf. I pressed end turn - von Salza was infected and Welf died.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Herrmann Steffen:

Oog...

If that's true, scratch everything and just send me to Italy without any "reinforcements" from Innsbruck.

Thanks there, Sir von Luxembourg. You may have just saved my butt.

[TinCow]

Given this new information, Duke Lothar requests that all poxy reinforcements from Innsbruck be directed towards the already plague-ridden BHA Gerhard. Count Erlach and BHA Otto will not take any reinforcements except local mercenaries and units from other 'clean' armies, unless the Count specifically gives permission for them to join him. In addition, my son, Herrmann, is specifically barred from joining BHA Gerhard. He will act as Count Erlach's second from now until this curse of disease has been lifted from our lands.

[RoadKill]

Lorenz Zirn will stay inside Prauge.

[FactionHeir]

Taking save

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350-3.rar

[AussieGiant]

The Chancellor

My Lords the offensive campaign season is over.

Except of course my Heroic victory against the merchant scum around Ragusa.

Taking the save.

[AussieGiant]

Welf von Luxemburg:

My Lord, Chancellor Arnold,

Physicians inform me that taking any men trained in pox ridden settlements into uninfected armies will merely pass the infection. In the light of this information, I request that any reinforcements for my force come from uninfected settlements or be hired as mercenaries.

Your servant

Welf von Luxemburg

OOC:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

To investigate the mechanics, I transferred one unit from Staufen to von Salza and one to Welf. I pressed end turn - von Salza was infected and Welf died.

So you can't have the bloody Teuton's can you Luxemburg!!

[FactionHeir]

I request that the Chancellor sends them to Dijon instead in that case.

[AussieGiant]

I request that the Chancellor sends them to Dijon instead in that case.

Ruppel, they are going to Franconia. Staufen has another three regiments for allocation. Where would you like those?

With von Salza or the 1st SHA just north of Bern?

[FactionHeir]

Last I heard, Emperor Peter who was Duke of Franconia at the time allocated all Teutons recruited at Frankfurt to Swabia. I was not aware of any changes to this order.

I am not sure which regiments are located at Staufen being cut off from most of the world. If they are cavalry, artillery or missiles, send them to Dijon with the other reinforcements. If they are not, leave them at Staufen as garrison until such time they can be sent to Duke von Salza without the risk of spread.

[AussieGiant]

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1350

The Office of the Exchequer

A diplomat is continuing his journey towards the Pope in Jerusalem.

Merchants are working at maximum output.

I now have some sway with mother Church and have reallocated some of our Priests and Bishops. It turns that that unwittingly they have provided me with reports of Russian troops east of Hamburg. I will continue to use the Church in this fashion until I am reprimanded.

In addition to that I have asked the Pope to include me in his activity reports. In a fit a co-operation he has agreed. At this time Hermann the Corrupt, a member of the Preferati now meets with me on a monthly basis to discuss religion and how it relates to our Reich. I wont explain his title but I do seem to get on well with the man.

To this end I can report that a priest has been sent to Palermo to spread the word of our Lord.

Some good news. It seem that even though the Russia's are poxed bastards and gave me the Black Death, they do seem to have a healthy respect for me. I managed to use the ruse of offering our Imperial Maps to extort approximately 4000 florins from the Russian Czar. It did come at the point of my sword but that is a normal part of diplomacy with the Russians. I learnt that when I was a child in Russia with my tutor, the Merchant of Venice.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The War Office:

The offensive season saw three engagements.

Firstly Lord Fritz, our most accomplished general made our merchant class happy by destroying a rebel force north of Frankfurt. This has freed up trade in the region by some degree.

The second action was the seasonal sally by our Viceroy in Adana. Excerpts from his report to me indicate that he has stripped the Greeks of all their archers, both horse and foot and that if they do not attack this year he will run them off in a third sally next season.

The final action was for myself around Ragusa. Having gutted another force of merchants a second moved along the coast road and laid siege to Ragusa yet again. I came down behind then and trapped the force between myself and the sea. The result was the loss of another full division of their troops. The merchant officers are clearly degrading as I seemed to have killed most of their best generals.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The War Office has also provided me with a series of maneuvers around Bern and Dijon. Lord Ruppel is working closely with Duke von Salza to have the siege of Dijon relieved next season.

Our situation has meant the troop surge continues. Please note all six Citadel's have been hit by the plague. Those general's requesting clean troops will find their request hard to be accomplished by me and we simply do not have enough money to rely on mercenaries. I will only use mercenaries in exceptional circumstances.

Bare that in mind my Lords.

Having said that recruiting is as follows:

Mercenaries were hired for BHA Otto in order to keep them “clean” and to ensure that next season this army goes on the attack. I have noted some hesitancy in the command structure of this force. I will recommend a change if things do not improve quickly.

With the arrival of Hermann Steffen, two regiments of pavise crossbowmen and one regiment of armoured spearmen BHA Otto is now fully operational.

Frankfurt: 1 x Teuton's
Acre: 2 x Teuton's, 1 x pavise xbow
Antioch: Three holks.
Ragusa: 2 x DFK's, 1 x pavise xbow
Innsbruck: 1 x Tueton's, 1 x DFK, 1 x Pavise Xbow
Staufen: Retraining of 1 x Pavise Xbow and 1 x DFK and 1 new DFK
Palermo: 1 x Priest
Zagreb: 3 x militia

Regional Reports:

Swabia:

Von Luxemburg is heading west with elements of the Nuremberg garrison and some professional regiments. The intended three regiments of Teuton's were infected so they have moved to Franconia. He will be tasked with defending the gap between Bruges and Staufen.

As mentioned before Count Ruppel and Duke von Salza are maneuvering to prepare for the relief of Dijon. The 1st SHA is now fully operational and ready for offensive operations. The garrison of Bern is now also quite substantial.

Bruges is besieged again how von Bohmen, who essentially commands the 2nd SHA will certainly be able to hold for the foreseeable future.

Franconia:

Magdeburg has received three regiments of Teuton's which in conjunction with the local recruitment should rouse the nobles of Franconia into action next season.

Lord Fritz, the only uninfected noble in the region, is heading north to Arhus to defend it against the on coming Danes. Retraining, recruiting and reorganising of the Hamburg and Arhus garrison's will give him a serviceable force by the time the Danes arrive. It in fact might be pertinent to hold them on the beaches of the peninsula rather than let them gain a foot hold on the main land.

Austria:

As stated in the War report I have relieved Ragusa and have no built a small fort in the mountain pass above it. I am attempting to prevent the coastal and mount passes from being used simultaneously to attack Ragusa.

Prague is still under siege. Sir Lorenz Zirn is screening the city from further Polish reinforcements and will be on hand as reinforcements should they assault Becker inside the city.

To my own embarrassments my lord the tactical situation around Vienna is unchanged. I have sent my nephew Johann Zirn north to take command, lift the siege and hopefully get back to Zagreb in time to defend it. This is a tall order and I fully expect Zagreb to fall to the Hungarian's by this time. This will effectively split Austria in half. The northern sector will have to make do with militia and gunpowder units to conduct it's campaigning in the future.

Bavaria:

The Kaisers army under direct command of Sir de Cervole is in the mountain pass just outside Milan. The Kaiser should rendezvous with his Imperial Army next season.

BHA Otto is now located in the eastern bridge of the river Poe. Hermann Steffen and three regiments of mercenaries should now have bolstered the courage of its command to defend the bridge and attack next season. No forces were sent to HA Otto, it is clean but it will not be receiving mercenary reinforcements as often as other units.

The three regiments from Innsbruck are slightly east of BHA Gerhard which is now stationed at the east gate of the city in preparation for its defense.

Von Bavaria has moved to take governorship of Genoa. It is hoped this city can now be administered more efficiently with his oversight.

Outremer:

Reinformcents from Acre are now just south of Antioch and are heading towards Sir von Salzgitter on the iron bridge.

Acre is continuing to produce missile and cavalry regiments as requested.

Antioch has begun contruction of three holks for better movement of troops up and down the coast between the northern provinces and Acre.

The Viceroy is still in Adana for the time being.

The Chancellors Notes:

My lords our economy is degrading rapidly. The next financial period indicates a working capital of around 7000 florins. The Black Death and continued troop surge are working in concert against us.

While we have degraded the Greeks, Venetian's and Danes for the time being, this has allowed France, Poland and now Hungary to surge against us.

Bavaria has the best chance of closing one of our fronts and it is my opinion to invest resources into this front so we can close it, return the Italian penisular and Rome to the fold and then refocus on the two adjacent fronts in Swabia and Austria. Franconia and Outremer will be conducting opportunistic actions and will certainly be given resources to defend what is our.

Long live the Reich!

The situation as it stands before the defensive campaigning season begins my lords.

-edit- Sorry the latest is 1350-5 I forgot to add the money.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350-5.zip

1350 Defensive Season

My Lords the defensive season is upon us.

Please take the save 1350-5 fight your battle AND Immediately press Esc and save for the next player.

1) Viceroy:

You are being assaulted at Adana.

OOC: Hi OK please let it go through the lifting of the siege of Bologna to Cecil's assault.

2) Lord Becker:

The Poles are taking the initiative and assaulting Prague. Lord Lorenz is able to assist you.

OOC: Cecil please send save right after you have finished.

[AussieGiant]

CHANCELLORS REPORT 1350 Continued:

The War Office

You will all be pleased to know that the late Kaiser's wife's countrymen are attacking the French on the Normandy coast. Multiple battles have taken place and another army has landed to replace the one that was just destroyed.

In response the French have lifted the siege of Bruges and are heading west to engage the new threat from England.

The Viceroy has reported a complete victory over the Greeks at Adana. This should allow some more offensive action to take place in Outremer next season.

In Prague the Poles decided to assault the city at their own peril. Lord Becker completely destroyed the Polish offensive but at great cost to the Austrian nobility. Lorenz Zirn was slain in battle. His death will be hard felt in the region and the House of Austria.

The Office of the Exchequer:

The French made a very poor diplomatic move towards us. von Bavaria was approached by one of the French princesses who asked him to see if I was willing to accept the Holy Roman Empire becoming a vassal of France. As the offer was made by one of ugliest woman I have ever seen, PLUS she is French, I refrained from removing her head from her shoulders. Instead I politely asked her for 1 000 000 florins, which she unfortunately didn't have at the time. I suggested she could possibly go to the local brothel and whip up the cash in about fifteen life times, then I accidentally called her and ugly fat cow. She told me I was a brute of a man and should mind my manners, to which I then suggested she should go and rodger one of the stallions outside as a potential counter offer.

Well, as you can imagine there was a bit of an uproar at this stage, but her chaperon and ladies-in-waiting managed to called the negotiations off for want of a better word. At least she didn't have the indecency of fainting in front of my presence. I just can't stand that.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[OverKnight]

Battle fought.

The poles are now assaulting Prague.

Godspeed Cecil

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1350-6.zip

[AussieGiant]

I'm being paranoid, but Cecil please save straight after and then post it back up so I can take it for the rest of the turn and see the start of the next.

[Cecil XIX]

Understood. I'll fight the battle after I've had breakfast and woken up a bit.

[Cecil XIX]

Battle fought and won. Announcement in the Diet to follow. http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1350-7.zip

[AussieGiant]

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1352

The Office of the Exchequer

World Events:

At a modest price I've agreed to have the Teutonic Order build a minor Chapter house in Magdeburg. This should certainly give the Franconian's excellent cavalry in the future.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The plague continues unabated. The next report will certainly shock most of you. The Exchequers Office has confirmed 23 000 thousand soul's died in the last season. On top of that another 6000 soldiers have also perished. (I added a zero for realism).

In addition, approximately 60% of the Reich's nobility is now infected. What is most surprising is that to date none of us have died from the plague. I have asked the Imperial Surgeon to send his doctors to those of you who have taken ill with this Black Death. In doing this I hope that you are all able to continue with your respective responsibilities as I have.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Preferati have informed me that the Pope has excommunicated the Hungarian's, and upon closer examination of the records I have also noticed that France and Poland have also been cast out of our Mother Church. I wish we had the resources to take advantage of this.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

But alas our resources are dwindling as I reported to you all last season.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

By using some insane methodology the following report came across my desk.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

While these reports are usually accurate I find it hard to believe the £$%ing Greeks are in that position.

Lastly I have some good news.

Lorenz Zirn's death has been a severe blow to Austria but my sister and the late Karl Zirn have had the pleasure of admitting their second son into the ranks of nobility.

Jan Zirn has come of age and will proceed immediately to the Austria theater for instruction.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Here is the situation untouched at the beginning of 1352 my Lords. Begin your planning and I will come back to you all with my recommendations.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1352.zip

CHANCELLOR'S REPORT 1352 to be continued:

The War Office

[AussieGiant]

1352 Offensive Season recommendations from the Chancellor's office:

My Lords, 1352 presents another opportunity for us to reclaim and hold what is ours. While I was impressed with our results up until 1348, this was not the case in 1350. We will have progressively less and less troops to use as the plague destroys our economy. We must use this year to cripple those fronts that we can.

Therefore we must remove the Greeks from Italy as soon as possible. Franconia, Swabia and even now Austria must go on the defensive as best they can. Austria is being split in two by the Hungarian's and the fact that neither Hungarian force has laid siege to Zagreb worries me. Are they heading to northern Italy?

With this in mind I am proposing the following:

Franconia:

Bresch: Hammer the Poles outside Magdeburg and then get yourself out of that pox ridden Citadel and into the field.

Fritz: Head north to Arhus. Keep in mind both Hamburg and Arhus are afflicted with the plague. The choices are grim either way you slice it!!

Swabia:

The French have the most powerful military known to western Europe.

von Luxemburg: You should continue to the bridge west of Frankfurt and hold. Reinforcements would follow.

von Salza: I recommend occupying the bridge west of Staufen. It provides the best defensive options. Count Ruppel and you are working out how to relieve Dijon but if one of those armies gets across either bridge the entire interior and our capital will be at risk. I look forward to reading your plans gentlemen.

Bavaria:

As I've explained, it is here where we must be aggressive and decisive.

Kaiser: Join with Cervole and attack the French force west of Milan.

Lothar: Move south and hold the middle bridge across the Poe. Hopefully the Greeks will split and attack you.

Erlach: As much as it pains me to say this. Hold the bridge and pray they attack you.

Prinz Dieter: You are the key. Attack and take Rome without a siege, hold or move on if the populace is agreeable to our rule once more.

Austria:

Johann Zirn: The handling of Vienna has been a disgrace and that is why you are there. Lift the siege kill them all and then lets see what these Hungarian's near Zagreb are going to do.

Lord Becker: You are free of siege. Take what is left of Lorenz Zirn's force and move to block further attacks on you city by the Poles. In fact you might even attack Breslau.

I will now move to pin the last remaining Venetian stack against Daruzzo. My aim is to defeat it this year or the next and then attack and destroy Daruzzo.

Outremer:

Viceroy: It pains me to ask you to do this considering the reports on the approaching Greek force. We can't afford more protracted sieges anywhere. Move into the mountain pass, find the best ground you can and pray they attack and you are victorious.

von Salzgitter: Take the reinforcements. My recommendation is to head north east and block the way south of the mountain so that the Greeks forces near Edessa have to move through English territory. Hopefully this will open another front and lead them into attacking the English.

Keep in mind my Lords, another season of heavy recruitment this year will mean little or no funds for 1354!!! If you want to make a name for yourself this is the time to do it.

[TinCow]

While it is essential that Milan be relieved, it is also important to keep both the Kaiser's army and BHA Otto intact and capable of field battles. If Kaiser Peter cannot defeat the French without risking serious losses, I recommend that Count Erlach join him in the attack. Between the two of them, the French can surely be defeated without suffering as many casualties.