Orders and reports thread

[econ21]

Steward’s report for 1306

My Lords,

The Reich is holding its breath for the return of the Kaiser to speak to the Diet about his plans to gift Outremer to the Byzantine Empire and seal re-unification. Thanks to the loyal and dutiful House of Austria, the traitor Peter’s army looks sure to be intercepted near Sofia by the AHA1 lead by Count Becker. Duke Hans is racing with his knights to provide support. While the prospect of Germans spilling German blood is terrible, it looks like we will be able to avoid wider fratricide and an unauthorised war with our Eastern Roman brothers. The heretics led by Alexander Luther have laid low this turn, although rebellious crusaders did burn down the chapel in Aleppo.

The rest of the year’s events can be summarised as follows:

Swabia: SHA1 under Count Hummel broke a French siege of Paris, besieged Bruges and occupied it after repelling a relief army. Unfortunately, the Count is now afflicted by a terrible plague. It has not yet infected his army nor the citizens of Bruges. The ex-Duke of Swabia, Friedrich Scherer, died heroically relieving Caen. SHA2 under Count von Salza has taken a position north of Paris where he can cover Caen, Paris and Rheims.

Austria: AHA2 under Duke Arnold drove off an attempted siege of Krakow by the Poles. The departure of AHA1 under Count Becker has left Bucharest at risk of revolt.

Bavaria: Household Army Gerhard has eliminated a rebel band west of Milan. Household Army Otto is approaching Thessalonica by sea.

Franconia: Duke Ansehelm has destroyed the Russian army that besieged Thorn. The Poles now besiege Thorn. We will not attack, as that will bring excommunication. However, the Duke’s army is standing by to assist the garrison in the event that the Poles launch an assault. The Saxon army remains near Stettin.

Outremer: Army of Outremer North, under King Jan, is returning to Aleppo to refit. Army of Outremer South, under Count Bresch is restoring order in Damascus. I have marched the Prinz’s army out of Acre, but my aides report the citadel is uneasy and I fear my departure has been premature. Not for the first time, it seems I have over-estimated the degree of support I have behind me.

We now await the Kaiser Siegfried’s imminent return, which comes not a moment too soon.

Steward Elberhard