Orders and reports thread

[Ramses II CP]

Conditional upon Cecil posting that these changes are acceptable to him, I'm uploading the new save with solely the adjustments to the Prague sitaution present. I'm then heading out for a few hours. Please don't take the save until Cecil says he's okay with the changes.

If Cecil is okay with them this save will then be unfrozen for Hermann, Welf, or any other desired offensive action:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-5.zip

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: I apologize to anyone who wanted to take action tonight, but I think we have to wait for Cecil to take a look at the changes and make sure they're okay. I realize my first turn is probably going to be one of the slowest in history, but activity being what it is, and the dictates of strategy being what they are I cannot see any other solution.

If we don't have word in the next 12 hours or so I'll make the logical decision and we'll move forward, with apologies to Cecil.

[TinCow]

There's nothing for you to apologize for. It was my error. Any delay is my fault.

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Well, it's been some time, the message reciepts show that Cecil read the PMs and he didn't come charging forward with objections, so I'm tentatively declaring the matter decided and the save unfrozen. I'll be heading to bed and some action may come up before I'm up. This is the current save unless I hear some strong objections from Cecil:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-5.zip

In the interests of moving ahead let me recap again:

1. Dijon. I believe Tristan will be up and about in a few hours, and may be able to take this on. Just smash that little army in front of you, try not to exhaust your men's movement points, and Ruppel will be up. At any time after Tristan acts FH is eligible to position the diseased men of Captain Gunther and Captain Matthias (The two Teutonic Knights near Bern) to his satisfaction and to then attempt to lift the siege of Dijon. Hermann Steffen can also take this on at any time, but I believe we missed his window of availability.

2. Madgeburg. This is likely to be an auto-calc'd sally. There is no way to predict the results, but IMHO the AI is less likely to proceed with the siege and kill Dieter and Tancred if a sally is used to at least weaken their army. If DG or EF wants to play the sally, they're welcome to jump on it now. Tomorrow I'm going to roll the dice here.

3. Metz. I believe Welf is content to hold the bridge and risk a defensive battle, otherwise speak soon.

That should be everything and tomorrow things will move forward to the defensive season!

[_Tristan_]

Took the save and defeated the small french force (lost 19 men in the fight for only one French survivor)

Captain Gunther is now a bit nearer Dijon and Hugo is just north of the town...

Would it be possible to recruit the mercenary available in the area (One Knight, One Pavise Xbow and one militia ?

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1360-6.rar

[FactionHeir]

I recommend recruiting them at the start of the next turn so we don't pay the upkeep.

[Ramses II CP]

Thank you Sir Hugo, and congratulations!

Count Ruppel, are you able to sally soon?

Fritz von Kastilien

[Northnovas]

Johann Zirn and little Jan:

I am going for it and picking up the save. Will post soon.

[Northnovas]

Sorry for the double post.
Into the new turn having an issue with the uploader.

Save: Chancellor has save to be with new report.

Here are the results of the battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Only one victory in the battle with the artillery and then I was overrun.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor's Report, 1362.

As a summary, it was a season of mixed news. Bologna was retaken, but Bruges fell. The French ignored the relief force at Dijon, but the Hungarians suffered an unexpected stroke of intelligence and drove us back at Vienna. Lord Becker assailed the Polish, lifting the siege of Prague, but the city is now once again infected with the plague, though Lord Becker's camp appears clean. Madgeburg sallied... and has immediately been taken under siege again. Two of our revered Cardinals passed away peacefully. On to the detailed reports:

The Office of the Exchequer

The financial situation is recovering quite nicely.



Another merchant was trained and put into the field in the Antioch region, he immediately opened a profitable business. I was able to make my own contribution to our finances by conducting a rapid night raid on Oslo, sacking the place for nine thousand florins and then selling that citadel, plague and all, to the Russians for another four thousand florins.

This brings our total available operating capital for the season to thirty four thousand florins.

The Physician's Office

I have instituted measures to maintain exact tracking on cities and armies which have yet to shake the plague. With that in mind I am opening this office by reporting that plague has returned to Prague. It appears the illness was spread by the Poles during Lord Becker's sally against them. May God have mercy on the citizens of Prague.

Further, my own army, and the armies of both Captains under my command remain infected. Captains Eusebius and Ruprecht will be kept isolated until the disease can be brought under control. Also affected is the ship on which I sailed north, but I see little further use for them and likely will dismiss them from service.

In Swabia Captains Gunther and Matthias continue to be affected, and both will likely be needed for the relief of Dijon, risking the spread to that much abused city.

In Bavaria Fredericus Erlach and his men also still appear to be affected. Additionally the French garrison of Genoa is clearly reeling under the effects of the disease, which is keeping them pinned in the city.

One last note of interest. Our spy in Krakow, Rainald von Bremen, sends word that he has somehow captured and bred rats which could be used to spread the plague within the Polish capital. I must confess even I am repelled by the thought, but there would be a certain justice in it, given their ill strike at Prague. Thoughts?



The War Office

The prior offensive season saw, in Bavaria the recapture of Bologna via a massive effort coordinated brilliantly by Duke Lothar himself, with the aid of Count Erlach and Prinz Dieter. Now the Byzantine Captain at Florence has seen fit to split his army, perhaps under pressure to produce some results, leaving Florence potentially exposed to a repeat of our treatment of Bologna. As before, every available resource will be put at the Duke's disposal should he wish to make a try for Florence. Prinz Dieter as soon as the operation in the Florence region is completed I will be asking you to march north to Franconia, which needs you desperately.

In Swabia Metz was taken under siege, and the French made no move to relieve it this year. Kaiser Peter or Welf von Luxemburg are authorized to capture that city at their discretion, using any nearby force they feel necessary.

It will be essential, I believe, to finally lift the siege of Dijon this season. Count Ruppel you have considerable resources at your disposal, though Captains Gunther and Matthias are still plagued. Hermann Steffen is also in the region, and could take on mercenaries and ride to your aid as well.

In a daring and brilliant move Huge de Cervole asked permission to coordinate an action with one of our spies in Swabia. As a result of his passionate desire to punish the French, we now have a man inside the lightly garrisoned city of Paris who can open the gates for Sir de Cervole at any time. Reportedly the city is held only by a single partial company of peasant crossbowmen, so I do not expect you will need any reinforcement or aid.

In Franconia the Poles were driven away from Frankfurt and Madgeburg, though they have returned to Madgeburg. Further north I conducted a night raid against Danish Oslo despite an incredible season of storms and wind, then sold that plague stricken citadel to the Russians, thus weakening our enemies and perhaps driving a wedge between them, as well as enriching ourselves.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In Austria Lord Becker struck a mighty blow against the Poles at Prague. I have sent two companies of Teutonic Knights and a cannon from Vienna north to aid his further offensives, and he has my permission to hire any mercenaries he may come across. I believe there are some in the Prague region and even more in the Breslau region. Spend as you need Lord Becker.

South of Vienna my poor advice on the positioning of his army saw Count Johann Zirn and his brother outmanuevered by a Hungarian army, though they slew the commander before departing the field. This army will be reconstituted as soon as possible and made ready for offensive action.

Further south Duke Arnold is marching north to retake Zagreb, and the Venetians are dithering over Durazzo with the Byzantines shadowing them.

In Outremer the Turks have made their presence felt by sieging Adana. Fortunately our enemies squabble amongst themselves, and another Turkish army was intercepted by a Byzantine one northeast of Adana. God grant that they destroy each other utterly while Viceroy Matthias crushes the fools that dared siege Adana. The Byzantines also marched an army down to face off with Count von Salzgitter, but refrained from attacking. I wonder if their nerve fails them when they approach the blood soaked ground of the Iron Bridge.

In other news, a small Byzantine fleet was defeated near Palermo.

Recruiting Report:

Recruiting continued apace at most facilities, though the hiring of mercenaries expended a considerable chunk of florins. My focus was on Mounted Crossbowmen, whose flexibility and durability are a boon to any army. All specific recruitment requests were met, though for Count von Salzgitter I trained Mounted Crossbowmen rather than hire Turkopoles. You'll find they are already positioned to reinforce the Iron Bridge Count von Salzgitter.

The save is here (Org uploader seems to be having trouble):

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-1.zip

And the season is now open! Any questions can be directed to the Chancellor personally or in open discussion. I would have it known that I expect there to be engagements on every front this season. The first year of my Chancellorship was a banner year for military excellence, and I desire that things move only ever upward from here. Fortune favor you in the fields my Lords!

Fritz von Kastilien

[_Tristan_]

Took the save for the capture of Paris...

A victory for the Reich... Paris is ours... None of our men were wounded nor killed...

All of the defenders died at our swords...

We looted 11908 florins from the town.

I have moved out with our spy and employed some of our loot money to hire a company of merc spearmen to garrison the town.

I will march on Reims next turn and try to pull the same trick if Reims is not reinforeced in the meantime..

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1362-2.rar

[OverKnight]

I am taking the save to sally at Adana.

[OverKnight]

Forgive the double post, but how does one upload a save to the alternate site? I can find the file listings at mizus, but where's the uploader?