Steward’s Report for 1302

My Lords,

We have heard no news on the progress of the Kaiser's negotiations this turn. I infer that they are more difficult than we anticipated. However, the Kaiser's quest will no doubt have been eased by the announcement of religious re-unification, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches agreeing to merge into one single Church. Needless to say, this momentous news was greeted with a lot of cheering and rejoicing in the Diet, you miserable @#$%^&!!!ers.

I will briefly run down on other events:

Swabia: Our armies are engaged in a desperate duel of parry and strike with the French. Although Paris was besieged by only a handful of regiments, they were too powerful for the militia garrison to be able to sally against with any degree of success. Moreover, the siege was but a ruse to trap SHA1. Two powerful French armies were hidden together in the woods just outside Paris, ready to ambush an unwary SHA1 rushing to relieve Paris from Calais. Fortunately, our spies detected the trap. However, the two would-be ambushers still blocked the road for SHA1 and combined were too powerful to tackle head on. Paris, therefore, could expect no relief from SHA1.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



Yikes!!!! Clever computer - that’s one hell of an ambush.


To break the siege of Paris, Count Friedrich Scherer returned from his planned retirement and brought with him the Rheims garrison. He acquired a notorious berserker in his retinue after that victory. Possibly not the best sort to accompany you into retirement, but who am I to say? After that victory, SHA1 could enter the great city to protect Count Scherer’s militia force against interference from the powerful French forces lurking nearby.

The situation in northern France is too tense to justify returning SHA2 to Staufen for a refit. Consequently, Count von Salza detached only his most depleted regiments to the House capital, and turned about to take the place of the Rheims garrison. I hope the next year will give our Swabian armies an opportunity to strike more decisively.

Franconia: I am still vexed by the disappearance of the Prussian Household Army. The garrison at Prague reported losing several garrisons as a large German army passed by, heading south. Fortunately, the Russians did not press the siege of Thorn and Duke Ansehelm should be able to relieve it this year. I can only assume this is our lost Household Army. I have called on Duke Ansehelm to get a grip on his House, but his stance in the Diet vacillates between denial and endorsement of this apparent rebellion. My brother Hans has agreed to lead the Kaiser's army to intercept the wayward Franconian Household Army. We cannot have unauthorised armies marching across the Reich. If the Prussian Army's movements are in fact authorised, by its Duke, I am sure the entire Diet would be interested to learn of that.

Austria: the diversion of the Teutonic crusade to Thorn leaves AHA2 alone near Krakow facing three strong Polish armies. Duke Arnold's army advanced only a small distance this turn, opting to wait for young Lorenz Zirn and to replace the militia in his army with professionals. AHA1 has reached Budapest, but was not able to invest the settlement just yet.

Bavaria: Household Army Gerhard caught a band of rebels east of Marseilles. Fredericus Erlach had the honours. Household Army Otto headed towards Durazzo, although it has been decided that landing there would merely add time to the journey to Thessalonica and instead they will take the sea route around Greece.

Outremer: The Prinz’s army defeated the most formidable Egyptian army we have yet encountered. Army of Outremer North under King Jan showed that the troublesome Turks are no match for the army that slew the Horse Lords. Karl Zirn has arrived at Acre to make preparations to return to Austria.

At the year’s end, the enemy has reacted to some of our movements. A French army has moved to besige Caen, left lightly defended when SHA1 moved to Paris. I believe we will need both SHA1 and SHA2 in the area, if we are to make progress against Bruges. The stronger of the two French would-be ambush armies has broken the English siege of Bruges. The weaker one should be easy meat for SHA1.

My brother has adopted a young Swabian, Ehrhart Ruppel, into his family. I must say he seems a most promising fellow and his loyalty will make him a scarce commodity in this Diet.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


OOC: Since Swabia already has a spare avatar, I was going to turn down this adoption. But his stats/traits were just too nice.


Steward Elberhard