Regional Recommendations

Outremer:

Viceroy Matthias' army is holding the Iron Bridge while he recuperates and heals, and his position appears unthreatened.

Count von Salzgitter has returned to the mainland after securing Cyprus and will be moving north to Adana as soon as possible. This season he rests at Antioch. I will be training spies to send towards Baghdad in the hopes of locating and tracking this newest Mongol threat. Any input from my commanders on the ground is welcome.

Bavaria:

The Siclians have invaded Italy. Perhaps sensing the power gap left in the wake of Prinz Dieter and Duke Steffen's crushing destruction of the Byzantines the Sicilians have landed four well armed and experienced armies of men between Rome and Naples. I advise Duke Steffen to capture Genoa as quickly as he is able and then to march south, by ship if necessary, to attempt to organize a defense of our southern Italian holdings.

Count Erlach's planned attack on Ajaccio will have to wait (Until his player is more active at least) as his aid will undoubtedly be needed in Italy.

Kaiser Peter will trail Lothar Steffen and collect such men as I am able to send to him.

Hermann Steffen could scout the passes around the French army to his north to see if any of the terrain would offer him sufficient advantage to attempt an attack, or he could remain at Marsellies and hold the city. (I don't often fight in that region, but if you think you know a good spot, jump on it. Otherwise, hold tight)

Austria:

Lord Becker I believe you may have sufficient men, including the mercenaries I have added to your force, to attempt to reclaim Prague. Draw freely from the men at Breslau and do not be concerned if it should fall under siege again. Another Franconian, Prinz Dieter, is now in the north, and I shall be asking him to head east and take command of the advance against the Poles. Franconia's debt for your successes, such as they were, in the field will be paid in the form of Teutons from Frankfurt and men at arms from Madgeburg, as training permits. I am quite eager to hear of the fate of that doomed Bohemian mercenary.

Duke Arnold I believe you must head north. Select one of your remaining nobles from Vienna and task them to come back south. I would suggest Jan Zirn as von Hapsburg appears, to my distant eye, to be little more than a dissolute hanger on. You have my sympathies on the unexpected loss of the young Johann Zirn who had the potential to be a promising general.

Franconia:

Before my Chancellorship ends I will sail for Stockholm to crush that last Danish redoubt, no matter if Prince Stenkil finds his courage in the coming season or not.

Prinz Dieter I am training an army for you as fast as I am able, and will be drawing up men from every facility to provide you with the forces to advance in the east against the Poles. If you have specific requests make them known and I will meet them.

Duke Dieter I advise you to coordinate your attack with a sally from Tancred von Tyrolia to crush the Poles, after which I would like for you to march north to challenge the Russians and Poles situated around Stettin. Select good defensive ground and let them come at you as it will be easier than trying to chase down their horse archers.

Swabia:

The situation is complex, but I believe our best course of action is to have Sir de Cervole strike Caen as quickly as possible, and then march south to reinforce Welf von Luxemburg as he attacks the French noble outside the walls of Anger. Before Welf attacks the French outside Anger the spy from Caen should attempt an insertion at Anger and then Count Ruppel should set the siege of that citadel to prevent any of the Frenchmen from retreating within.

If all of those things can be coordinated and victory can be found against Lancelot de Bordeaux then Sir de Cervole's cannon and the two spies will offer an excellent chance for us to capture the crusade target this season. I have purchased all the regional mercenaries into Sir von Luxemburg's army, and, if the other crusaders are willing, I would authorize him to reinforce his army as he wishes from the forces of Count Ruppel and Sir de Cervole after the capture of Caen.

Of course if the three noblemen wish to sort out a different command structure among themselves this would be fine with me so long as the end result is the same, Anger taken. (Please hold off at Anger at least until Tristan can take Caen and reach the walls, then coordinate and communicate amongst yourselves)

Ludwig von Bohmen will continue to hold the bridge at Antwerp unless he has discovered a late desire to join the crusade.

May God grant you all victory! Remember Count Zirn this season men, and be careful.

Fritz von Kastilien