Orders and reports thread

[Ramses II CP]

(OOC: Sorry TC, too late.)

1364 Recruitment and Construction Report (End of Season report)

The final engagement of the season saw Duke Dieter sally again at Madgeburg.



As you may have come to expect, construction was limited this season to a single structure, a Tourney Field at Staufen. In part this was due to my desire to ensure that we had sufficient funds to pay potential ransoms during the defensive season. As it turned out that was unecessary, as there were no defensive engagements.

Staufen: Tournament Field

Recruitment was my priority, and it took place at almost every facility in the Reich. By region:

Franconia
Arhus: retrained 1 Spear milita, trained 2 Crossbow milita
Madgeburg: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbow, trained 2 Pavise Crossbow
Frankfurt: retrained 1 Crossbow and 1 Spear militia, trained Teutonic Knights
Hamburg: no training due to siege

Austria
Prague: trained 3 Crossbow militia
Vienna: trained 2 Serpentine, 1 Forlorn Hope, additionally Jan Zirn procured mercenaries from the east, but was forced to retreat in the face of a Hungarian advance
Ragusa: retrained 1 Peasant Archers and 1 Feudal Knights, trained 1 Sergeant Spearmen
Venice: retrained 1 Spear militia, trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Town militia

Bavaria
Nurmeburg: trained 1 Spear militia, 2 Teutonic Knights
Innsbruck: trained 3 Mounted Crossbowmen
Milan: trained 1 Crossbow milita, 2 Spear militia
Bologna: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, spy
Florence: retrained 1 Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, trained spy and assassin, Wenzel Steffen was also sent south to recruit mercenary knights
Rome: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Naples: retrained 1 Spear militia, 2 Crossbow militia
Palermo: retrained 2 Pavise Crossbow, trained 1 Pavise Crossbow

Swabia
Bern: retrained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, 1 Town militia, trained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia
Staufen: retrained 2 Pavise Crossbow, trained 1 Mounted Crossbowmen
Dijon: trained 2 Crossbow militia, 1 Forlorn Hope
Metz: retrained 1 Spear militia, trained 1 Town militia, spy
Rheims: trained 3 Crossbow militia
Antwerp: trained 3 Crossbow milita

Outremer
Acre: trained 3 Pavise Crossbow
Antioch: trained Merchant, 2 Crossbow militia
Adana: retrained Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbow, trained Imperial Knights

I must further offer my apologies to Viceroy Matthias. In a clerical error the Teutonic Knights aboard ship south of Adana were not sent to his Citadel, but moved to participate in Andreas' attack on Nicosia. I will return them to you at the first available chance Viceroy.

I am further displeased to have to report that our spies failed to make entry to the city of Genoa, costing two of them their lives. As expected Paris fell to the French and Durazzo was taken by the Venetians.





Florence was heavily reinforced but the French took it under siege nonetheless. God grant you victory Duke Steffen! If you require further resources make your requests and I will meet them. I expect they will assault at the close of this season.

To reiterate, no defensive engagements. Expect the Chancellor's Report soon!

Fritz von Kastilien

[TinCow]

OCC: Haven't looked at the save yet. Do I have any chance of winning this battle?

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor's Report, 1366.

In summary 1364 was a year of measured success. Costly victories were brought home in Swabia, while Bavaria braced for a French attack. Madgeburg sallied successfully, but Lord Becker suffered a reversal in the field. Viceroy Matthias crushed another Byzantine attack against Adana. Duke Arnold marched north to recapture Zagreb.

Diplomatic Report

The English rejected an attempt go exchange military access, and seem unlikely to entertain further offers without a substantial quantity of florins or territory on the table.

The Office of the Exchequer

The financial situation was sufficient to allow for near universal recruitment, which is all a good soldier can ask of his merchants. Available currency for this season is just over twenty thousand florins. The Theives' Guild had the termerity to approach me about opening a Guild house at Arhus, and they were suitably rebuffed. I will not invite theives into one of our richest cities as I cannot see how it could be profitable in the long term.

The Physician's Office

I am very pleased to report that the army of Fredericus Erlach is now free of the plague. Following this season's engagements his more veteran companies will be rotated off the front and retrained as soon as possible.

Unfortunately the city of Prague and all of our armies under Captains which were previously infected, remain so, including the men Lord Becker brought out of Prague. Specifically:

Captain Ruprecht near Arhus. I dismissed many of his men last season in disgust and in the hope that a smaller camp would be cleaner, but I was mistaken.

Captains Dimarus and Michel near Welf von Luxemburg.

Captain Elberhard, encamped near Lord Becker.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The War Office

In Outremer the Byzantines have noted the absence of Count von Salzgitter and marched back to the Iron Bridge. The Byzantines also sent their army near Nicosia east to drive off the Tuetonic Knights who had landed as scouts (Had to put them ashore to observe KotR rules), but the men were able to retreat to the ships. With Adana not under siege I decided to send across as many men as I could under Count von Salzgitter, including the Basilisk, and lay siege to Nicosia. The remaining men near Antioch have moved back to the Iron Bridge, which should allow Viceroy Matthias to crush the Byzantines between his army and the men at the bridge. I have also moved a spy into the Byzantine citadel at Caesarea.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Bavaria sees Florence sieged, and an army assembling under Kaiser Peter facing the last Byzantine army in the region. Count Erlach should assist the Kaiser in destroying the last of the Byzantines. Prinz Dieter must now drive off those rebels near Venice and then march north towards his homelands in Franconia. In a dramatic move Hermann Steffen moved south to assail Marsellies, hiring mercenaries along the way, including a ribault to smash open the gates and allow him to assault immediately.

The Swabians have lost Paris, and I fear the approach to Caen is too well guarded for Hugo de Cervole to slip by, but news is otherwise positive. Rheims is free of siege, indeed the English have marched into the Rheims area, perhaps to offer their aid, and the bridge west of Antwerp is still in our hands. The French are mustering many armies to march east, including one which has come out of the west to potentially threaten Dijon, but I believe Swabia is in a good position to hold her ground this year and advance the next.

Franconia saw little action. A contingent of men from Madgeburg moved southeast to attempt to reinforce Lord Becker, but were cut off by the Polish and cannot proceed this year. I will relieve Hamburg later in the season (These reports take so bloody long I haven't had time to fight, plus I'd like to know if I'll have funds left for mercenaries, though they aren't essential). Duke Dieter had a fine suit of armor commissioned at Madgeburg in his spare time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Austria saw more aimless shifting of Hungarian armies about. The noble who went west last season marched back east this season, and the captain who came back east marched back west. I am starting to believe the approach of Duke Arnold is driving them mad. Durazzo fell to the Venetians, so Duke Arnold may be forced to march back south in some haste. Near Vienna Jan Zirn was forced to withdraw with his fresh mercenary recruits, and now holds the bridge northwest of Vienna with his brother Johann Zirn and a sizeable army.

The offensive season is now open! Regional recommendations will follow soon.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/kotr1366.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: I reinforced Florence with everything I had for you TC as the French were being pretty obvious about their intent. If the AI can take Huge Walls from you with the men I've placed in the area, I'll be amazed. Also if you can spur Kaiser Peter or Count Erlach to finish off the **** Byzantines this year then all of their men will also be available.

Nobody dies on my shift! Well, not due to lack of men, that's for sure.

[Ramses II CP]

Regional recommendations:

Outremer:

Viceroy Matthias I advise you to march down to pincer the Byzantines between yourself and the captain at the Iron Bridge.

Count von Salzgitter I have shipped across all the men I could and you are in position to use your cannon to assault the lightly held citadel at Nicosia. I believe there are mercenaries available on the island, but I doubt you will need more men than you have, at least not until the Byzantines attempt to take the citadel back.

Bavaria:

Kaiser Peter or Count Erlach now is the time to strike the last Byzantine army in Italy. Make them pay. Afterward Duke Steffen may ask your aid at Florence.

Duke Steffen there may be profit in a limited sally, but I am not certain you could drive off the French. I do believe you have the tools necessary to hold the walls.

Hermann Steffen the Swabians seem to have their situation well under control, while the French attack at Florence has emptied their lands behind it, so you have been detatched to strike behind them and recapture Marsellies. Cut their enclave at Genoa off from the rest of their nation!

Prinz Dieter put the rebels you're facing to the sword and march north at speed. You may draw on the garrison of Venice to aid you. (This battle may be auto-calc'd if it isn't fought. No big deal.)

Austria:

Lord Becker the Poles appear to have left Breslau virtually undefended. Perhaps they felt you would be too disheartened by your nominal defeat to proceed. There is a problem, however, in that one of the Polish armies which faced you has disappeared and a third Polish army seems to be marching out of the south east, possibly towards Prague. I have sent three more companies of Teutons into the area, but they were exhausted by their march. How to proceed is completely at your discretion.

Johann Zirn you are holding the bridge north of Vienna against an approaching force of Hungarians. If you believe you can find victory you are welcome to drive out and attack them, otherwise hold the bridge.

Duke Arnold Zagreb awaits you.

Franconia:

I will make the Russians pay at Hamburg and march back north to Arhus, where the Danes are still reluctant to advance (I was concerned that the captain on the western island was giving them pathing problems, so I removed him, but Stenkil is still stuck and the captain stack isn't moving behind him.)

Duke Dieter if you intend to depart Madgeburg, this is the season. Otherwise wait and I'm sure the Poles will lay siege again soon.

Swabia:

Count Ruppel, Welf von Luxemburg, I wish you two men to sort out between yourselves which companies of men you'd each like to take with you. Then I will ask Count Ruppel to march west to block the advance of the French towards Dijon, and Sir von Luxemburg to march north and prepare to aid the defenders of Rheims against a likely French assault. (OOC: If you want to swap men around to balance out your forces send me a list and I'll make it happen, then I'm moving Welf north and Ruppel west as I said)

Huge de Cervole I believe the French have learned to fear you, as Paris now hosts a massive garrison, and the road to Caen is lined with French armies. Perhaps this is a good time to march north to aid Count von Bohmen, but if you'd like I will try to find you a concealed region closer to Caen so you can try again next season.

I believe that is all gentlemen. I expect this will be another great season of success for the Reich!

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Considering that the SHA1 is still plagued, it will be difficult to divide, as they can only follow as a train behind the main force, if you can call it that. Once I have been able to survey the French advance, I will detail specifics.

[OverKnight]

Taking the save.