Orders and reports thread

[Cecil XIX]

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/KOTR1370-5.zip

It is done. Prague is back with the Reich. Unfortunately the Poles displayed their characteristic brutallity on my fair city; the population has been reduced by almost three quarters and every building inside the city has been destroyed or downgraded. I ask that the Chancellor allocate funds repairs and reconstruction. To that end I propoe the following build queue which, if implemented along with all due repairs, will cost the Reich approximately six thousand florins.

1370 - Armorer
1372 - " "
1374 - " "
1376 - " "
1378 - Council Chambers

I also request that equip the Nuremburg Militia with Light Mail from Prague, as well as train three additional companies of Spear Militia at Nuremburg and Breslau each. I predict that the remaining Polish army in the area will besiege Prague as soon as possible, and if I havethose reinforcements I am confident I can hold the city and crush them. It would also allow additional troops to be transfered to Prince Dieter's command, should such an action be warranted.

[Ramses II CP]

The armourer we can almost certainly afford this season, and Prague being such a heavy battle ground it is certainly warranted. Congratulations on your victory Lord Becker. I am anxious to hear of the fate of the Bohemian mercenary, and of the progress of the trial of Lothar Steffen.

Fritz von Kastilien

[Cecil XIX]

I apologize for the delay in those matters, I've been preoccupied with military matters. They will be dealt with soon.

Incidentally, Prague will only accept the Teutonic Knights for it's resident guild house.

[Ramses II CP]

I would still like to hear a plan of action from Duke Dieter regarding the siege of Madgeburg. If you would prefer to wait on the bridge and command a defense that can be arranged, but my preference would be for you to command a sally and get your army moving eastward. As it stands now I'd like Duke Dieter to head east against the Poles and Prinz Dieter will have the chance to at least see his County before marching to battle against the Russians.

Fritz von Kastilien

OOC: If EF doesn't speak up before ~ 12 hours from now I'm going to advance to the defensive season.

[AussieGiant]

Lord Chancellor:

Based on our discussion please have Hapsburg and the soon to mature Max Zirn head south, while Jan Zirn comes with me to the east.

I'll leave the exact marching orders to your office. Please have them contact me when you have them complete.

Duke Arnold

[Ramses II CP]

It will be done Duke Arnold, though I fear there is a Hungarian army in between the two forces at the moment. I will move you at best speed north to head them off, and bring Hapsburg and Zirn south to meet you with such men as Vienna can spare.

Fritz von Kastilien

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: Okay, if I don't hear that there's going to be a sally at Madgeburg in the next ten minutes or so I'm closing the save and advancing the season with Duke Dieter still pinned at the bridge by the Poles. At least he'll be able to command the defense I guess, but Breslau is probably going to fall again.

edit: The season is closed, moving forward with the defensive season now.

[Ramses II CP]

1372 Recruitment and Construction Report (End of Season Report)

The Reich's noble Crusaders, led by Sir Hugo de Cervole, Sir Welf von Luxemburg, and Count Erhart Ruppel have captured Anger, the target of the Crusade, and won the Papacy's greater favor for our nation! Additionally Sir de Cervole smashed aside all French resistance and captured Paris itself, then rode on to the great training facility at Caen, where the French King himself was brought to justice at the point of a sword. With the French at Bruges hunkering down in their city Count von Bohmen retired to Antwerp to contemplate an offensive. Word throughout the formerly French countryside is of peasants, merchants, and minor nobles alike casting off the hideous heresy that God has seen fit to punish with the hammer of the Reich's Swabian armies!

Engagements this season were entirely successful, with four French provinces, including two of their major training facilities, falling to our armies. In Bavaria the last of the mainland Italian cities was retaken, very nearly bringing Bavaria back to her pre-Cataclysm state. The appearance of four substantial Sicilian armies near Rome, however, has forced Hermann Steffen to hire on a local mercenary cog and set sail for Italy despite the presence of a large French army near Marsellies. Some rebels west of Zagreb were run down by the mounted crossbowmen nearby as they marched north towards Duke Arnold.



Regarding disbandments, the peasant archers of Captain Erhart north of Paris were dismissed from service due to their inability to keep a clean camp. The same fate awaits the Albanians of my service if they cannot correct their difficulties. Two of the ships near Cyprus were dismissed now that Count von Salzgitter is back on the mainland. One of the remaining ships will be sent west to blockade Iconium and keep watching against a Byzantine naval invasion, the other will remain near Nicosia just in case.

Construction amounted to fully repairing all the damaged structures in the cities of the Reich with the exception of the minor buildings in Paris, which were deemed too expensive and of too little utility to warrant repair. This includes the walls at Genoa, Paris, Prague, and Vienna. The outdated Siege Works at Paris was also sold, and those funds were used to purchase an Armourer for Prague.

Outremer
Acre: retrained 1 Teutonic Knights
Nicosia: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, trained 1 Reiters
Antioch: trained 1 Spear militia
Adana: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Zweihanders
Caesarea saw no training

Austria
Ragusa: trained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Vienna: retrained 1 Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Forlorn Hope, 1 Spear militia
Zagreb: trained 1 Spear militia, 1 Town militia
Prague: retrained 3 Spear militia as requested
Breslau: trained 3 Spear militia as requested
Venice saw no training

Franconia
Frankfurt: trained 3 Crossbow militia
Hamburg: trained 2 Crossbow militia, 1 Spear militia
Arhus: trained 2 Pike militia, 1 Arquebusier
Madgeburg saw no training due to siege

Bavaria
Nuremburg: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Teutonic Knights
Innsbruck: retrained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Feudal Knights
Milan: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Bologna saw no training
Florence: retrained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, trained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, 1 Town militia
Genoa: retrained 1 Mercenary Longbowmen, 1 Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Crossbow militia
Rome: trained 2 Spear militia, 1 Crossbow militia
Naples: trained 3 Pike militia
Palermo: trained 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Marsellies: retrained 1 Merchant Cavalry militia, trained 2 Crossbow militia

Swabia
Caen: retrained 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights, 1 Pavise Crossbowmen, 1 Mounted Crossbowmen
Anger: retrained 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights, 1 Sergeant Spearmen, trained 1 Dismounted Feudal Knights
Staufen: trained 3 Teutonic Knights
Bern: retrained 1 Forlon Hope
Antwerp: retrained 1 Pike militia, trained 2 Spear militia
Rheims: trained 3 Spear militia
Paris: trained 3 Crossbow militia

The sole defensive engagement of the season (Unless something changes) sees the Poles attacking Madgeburg where Tancred von Tyrolia is defending and Duke Dieter is available outside the walls to aid him.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1370-6.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Chancellor, I wish to know why the Imperial knights under my banner were not retrained while the mounted crossbowmen were? It cannot have been a cost issue as you managed to train 3 regiments of crossbow militia at Paris against our previous suggestions.

[Ramses II CP]

I retrained the most cost effective companies throughout the Reich. I am always open to specfic requests from my commanders, but I had none for Caen or Anger, so I worked on the basis of cost effectiveness and utility. If you requested specific training for Paris your letter did not arrive on my desk, so instead I trained the cheapest quantity of men who would be of some use at the walls. In the future feel free to send me a private letter with your specific training requests and I will attempt to meet them.

If you're referring to your general request for lancers instead of mounted crossbowmen the top of that list was Teutons, and at immense cost three companies of them were trained at Staufen, the only facility in Swabia capable of training them, to my knowledge.

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Hmph, I had believed that the previous statement had been rather clear that Swabia does not wish for further training of missile troops other than pavise crossbowmen and all remaining funds be spent on spearmen, heavy infantry and heavy cavalry instead.

Will you please make a note of this for future reference?

[_Tristan_]

Hughes de Cervole :

Count Ruppel,

I understand perfectly the sacrifices that you have made for Swabia and the Reich but I think that such priorities in recruitment should be determined by our Duke or in their respective provinces.

Nevertheless, I am forced to admit that Swabia is indeed in sore need of the type of troops you specified.

I know the Chancellor will give us what we need to finish the French.

[Ramses II CP]

Except for the cheap soldiers intended to garrison Paris there were no crossbowmen of any kind trained in all of Swabia. If you wish also that no crossbowmen be retrained that can be accomodated, but I suspect your desires are specific enough that simply listing them on a seasonal basis would be simpler.

Is there some reason why you are reluctant to submit training requests in writing Count Ruppel?

Fritz von Kastilien

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[FactionHeir]

Except for the cheap soldiers intended to garrison Paris there were no crossbowmen of any kind trained in all of Swabia. If you wish also that no crossbowmen be retrained that can be accomodated, but I suspect your desires are specific enough that simply listing them on a seasonal basis would be simpler.

Is there some reason why you are reluctant to submit training requests in writing Count Ruppel?

Fritz von Kastilien

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Very well, here you have it in writing:

No man bearing missile weapons is to be recruited in and for Swabia until further notice with exception of pavise crossbowmen.
All funds are to be spent training heavy cavalry, heavy spearmen, and heavy infantry.
Cities shall not train missile militia, but solely of spear militia.
Retraining of mounted missiles and pavise crossbowmen are condoned, mercenary missiles may be retrained as well. Any other type of missile unit should not be retrained.
Priority in retraining must be given to non missile type units first, and pavise crossbowmen second, with mounted crossbows a distant third.

[Ferret]

taking the save

edit:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1370-7.rar

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: It's going to be about 6 hours before I can get to the report, so I'm going ahead and posting the save now for anyone who wants to have a look:

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372.zip

Short form: Dijon was exterminated, Hungarians are massing against Vienna (Max Zirn spawned at Nuremburg), and the Sicilians declined to siege Rome.

[Ferret]

and Prague and Breslau were besieged :D

[Ramses II CP]

OOC: We knew that was going to happen last season, in fact I think I warned that if Tancred didn't sally at Madgeburg that Breslau was going to fall.

[Ferret]

sorry :( I just saw them get besieged before the next battle came up.

[Ramses II CP]

Chancellor's Report, 1372.

In summary 1370 was a great year for the Reich, as Count Ruppel, Sir Welf von Luxemburg, and Sir Hugo de Cervole smashed aside all French resistance to claim Anger, the target of the Crusade, Caen, and Paris in a single season. The battles were on a somewhat smaller scale, and French resistance remains stiff, but most of the north of France is under control.

Unfortunately matters are not so pleasant in the south, as the French have put the city of Dijon to the sword. Thousands are feared dead, and the entire garrison has been lost. The news was equally bad in the east, as Lord Becker reclaimed Prague only to find that the Poles had exterminated his city, and killed three of every four citizens.

In Bavaria, however, Lothar Steffen took Genoa from the God cursed French and Hermann Steffen departed Marsellies, hiring a ship to carry him and some of his cavalry east towards the Sicilian invasion force near Rome. In the north Prince Stenkil has advanced again, slightly, and may be in position to come and die on my walls very soon. Madgeburg saw off yet another Polish siege army, and Duke Dieter is now in position to potentially strike back by marching east.

Austria saw Duke Arnold marching north and Count von Hapsburg marching south to meet him. A substantial Hungarian invasion force is aimed at Vienna, however, and Max Zirn held his coming of age party in Nuremburg, meaning he is in a difficult position to attempt to reach the city. In Outremer things were quiet. Viceroy Matthias holds the Iron Bridge, while Count von Salzgitter has moved into Adana.

Diplomatic Report

Relations with the Papacy are perfect, and Pope Pierus is extremely pleased with our handling of the French Crusade. I believe he is quite hopeful that our armies will go on to wipe them from the face of Europe.

Unfortunately our English allies decided that without an explicit crusade underway they did not wish to be at war with the French, and signed a ceasefire. I have lodged a protest with the English over this matter, but I have decided not to downgrade relations with our sole ally.

A fourth princess in the Bavarian region has fallen afoul of a terrible accident and lost her life. Serena the Snob of Sicily, who was suspected of sending information to aid the Sicilian invasion plans, was the wench's name. In Hungary one of our spies infiltrated the city of Budapest and aided another agent of the Reich in destroying the city hall there. The city is in a panic and the garrison may struggle to keep order there.

The Office of the Exchequer

Approximately thirty five thousand florins are available for recruitment and construction in the Reich this season. Additionally, as per orders, an offer from the Explorer's Guild was declined at Prague. Army upkeep saw an uptick with the end of the crusade, but our ongoing economic recovery also ticked upward, and on the whole the two are still well in balance. There should be ample funds for the hiring of any mercenaries in any theatre but Outremer this season.

The Physician's Office



Captain Erhart's few remaining peasant archers were dismissed from service, as was Captain Erhart himself, at the close of last season. This left only a single plagued formation in all the Reich, the Albanians of my levy. Those men have served me well in many campaigns, but their inability to keep a clean camp and their small remaining numbers made them a greater liability than asset, so they too have been dismissed from service after being unable to shake the plague. This means that all of the cities and armies of the Reich are officially free of the plague for the first time in many years!

The War Office

In Outremer the Byzantines are once again stirring themselves to march forth against Adana, having placed an army near enough to reach the citadel next season. Andreas von Salzgitter is in place to resist any potential attack with a mighty army. Near Antioch Viceroy Matthias stands firm on the Iron Bridge, and appears unopposed.

As expected our opponents put multiple new armies in the field last season, most especially in Bavaria where the Sicilian invasion has the horrific potential to reverse all of Prinz Dieter's gains in the theatre. May God grant Hermann Steffen arrives in time to preserve Rome and hold back the armies of Sicily. With Genoa reclaimed, and congratulations to Count Erlach on the recovery of his city, Lothar Steffen can also perhaps turn south, as the French have mysteriously retreated from Marsellies. A modest rebel army has taken up position north of that city, but I do not believe them to be a true threat, only a trade blocking nuisance.



Two of Swabia's great generals, Sirs de Cervole and von Luxemburg, are besieged in Anger while Count Ruppel has free action from Caen and Count von Bohmen is holding his ground at Antwerp. Soon I will be asking one of you gentlemen to clean the French out of Bruges and secure Swabia's backfield so a more general southerly advance can be made.



In Franconia Prince Stenkil is at long last in position to come and dash his army to pieces against the mighty walls of Arhus. I look forward to his utter destruction with great pleasure. Prinz Dieter has arrived in the north, and just in time too, as the Russians are pressing forward with a large scale invasion aimed at the Prinz' County seat, Hamburg. Duke Dieter may at last be in position to strike eastward and seek battle with the Poles.



Austria sees Prague under siege with Lord Becker within the walls, and his ward in Franconia's name, Breslau, also in a difficult situation. It appears unlikely that Breslau can be saved this season, though it is much to be hoped the Poles will treat citizens who were so recently their own subject more gently than they did ours at Prague. Vienna is the object of a major Hungarian push, with no less than three large armies bearing down on that city. Max Zirn is making best speed from his commencement party at Nuremburg to that city. One more army has marched south, clearly aimed at Zagreb. Duke Arnold must choose whether to turn back south and hope to save Zagreb, or to march on north and fight to hold Vienna.

The offensive season is now open!

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-1.zip

Fritz von Kastilien

[deguerra]

Chancellor,

I would be more than happy to cleanse my fair county of Bruges of French scum, but fear I am unable to do so with the strong, albeit militia army of Antwerpen alone.

Ludwig von Böhmen, Graf von Brugge

[Ramses II CP]

Count von Bohmen there are a few professional companies in the Rheims area who will be marching north to aid you, and there may be a company or two of mercenaries available for hire. With the absence of French training facilites in the north it may be profitable for you to lay siege with the intent of baiting the French into a sally and blooding their army. Even if you lose many militia soldiers it will be far easier for us to replace our men than for the French to replace theirs.

With three well equipped training facilities now in Swabian hands I expect no Swabian shall long lack for professional soldiers. Indeed, I forsee a possible expansion of Swabia's interest in Outremer once the heretical French are cleared away.

I am working through some regional recommendations now, but if anyone is in a hurry there's no reason to wait.

Fritz von Kastilien

[Ramses II CP]

Regional Recommendations

Outremer:

Viceroy Matthias given the clear confusion amongst the Byzantines at Edessa I do not believe it is necessary any longer for you to personally hold the Iron Bridge. I would recommend that you march north and prepare for a push against Iconium. The Turks make it necessary that one of the generals in Outremer hold Adana, and thus Antioch as well, but the other appears free for offensive operations in my mind.

Count von Salzgitter you are holding Adana this season, but next season, depending on the Viceroy's determination, you too could move out and make ready for an offensive in the direction of Iconium.

Bavaria:

Hermann Steffen I advise you to enter the city of Rome and prepare her defenses as best you are able. If you have specific training requests I will meet them. If you would prefer to command a defense from a safer position outside the walls I can understand that caution.

Lother Steffen I believe Hermann Steffen will soon need the aid of your professional soldiers in the south. I believe you could detail a few of them under Count Erlach to march west and help hold Marsellies, but I recommend you take the remainder towards Florence.

Kaiser Peter your army is still being constructed, but I'm certain you wish to trail Lothar south.

Austria:

Lord Becker if you believe there is profit in a sally, then strike forth, otherwise wait patiently for the Polish assault and destroy it when it comes.

Max Zirn you are marching for Vienna at best speed. I am certain you wish to avenge the loss of your brother there.

Duke Arnold you must decide whether to march north to try to aid Vienna, or back south to protect Zagreb. I would advise you to clear your backfield first as there do not seem to be further reinforcements for that Hungarian attack. I can send some soldiers north from Ragusa to aid Zagreb, but not enough to allow for victory without an active commander. (Hapsburg and Jan Zirn don't actually have players as far as I can tell, and Max spawned at Nuremburg)

Franconia:

I will annihilate Prince Stenkil next season.

Prinz Dieter I believe you should make best speed for Hamburg, which seems very likely to fall under siege next season. If you have training requests make them known and I will attempt to meet them.

Duke Dieter I believe you should strike north east from Madgeburg at the army of Kazimierz Maziwiecki taking as many men from Madgeburg as you believe will be needed. I will continue to train at the citadel as long as it is not under siege. I do not see any way to save Breslau. Tancred von Tyrolia will remain in the citadel.

Swabia:

Hugo de Cervole and Welf von Luxemburg decide between each other if you wish to sally or await the French attack. There is a bombard nearby that I will be happy to move to the walls if you wish to await an attack.

Count Ruppel if you believe you can find victory against the captain led French garrison of Rennes that has marched into position nearby then hire the local mercenaries and attack. Otherwise leave enough men to hold Caen loyal and besiege Rennes.

Count von Bohmen my recommendation is that you sweep away that tiny French force facing you and besiege Bruges immediately. I will reinforce you with men from Rheims, but I still believe the French will sally. When they sally damage their army as badly as you can while attempting to preserve your force, and withdraw. Some foot knights will be in position to join you next season. If you would prefer to wait, I am comfortable with this, and it may then be possible to starve the French out.

Fritz von Kastilien

[deguerra]

I will await the foot knights. The Lord preaches caution over rash action, and the French aren't going anywhere.

[AussieGiant]

Arnold:

Lord Chancellor,

The pairings are Max Zirn (Northnovas) and Hapsburg heading south, while myself (aka me) and Jan Zirn heading east.

In the mean time clearing our interior is the priority. I will look at the field reports and get back to you tonight.

Duke Arnold

[Ramses II CP]

I understood this to be the case Duke Arnold, the only reason the movement are yet unable to reflect this is necessity. Hapsburg has camped with you momentarily for defense, while Max Zirn cannot march south without first coming by Vienna, where he may be of use in it's defense. Jan Zirn remained at Vienna because the city was under heavy threat. After your choices this season Hapsburg will move south at best speed, while Max Zirn must help deal with the situation around Vienna before joining him.

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Taking save

[AussieGiant]

Perfect Lord Chancellor.

Re-mobilising is not an instantaneous process.

Have you any word from Lord Becker regarding the mercenary witness? Lord Becker I'm sure would never let anything happen to someone so important to his trial.

[Ramses II CP]

I have had no communication with your subject on the matter Duke Arnold. I suspect he is awaiting orders on how to handle the situation. I am content to allow this little game to play out however it has been orchestrated, because in the end I am certain it will come to blood, and blood is what I know best.

If that Bohemian is dead, however, I will be claiming whatever of his corpse can be found for my inspection.

Fritz von Kastilien

[FactionHeir]

Save: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1372-2.zip

Ransom was refused.

Merged several units post-battle at Caen.
As a result of this, I like following training done there in this order (to prevent training bug):

1. Train Armored Sergeant
2. Retrain Imperial Knights
3. Retrain the triple gold 16 men mounted crossbowmen unit

Construction:
1. Jousting Lists

If you could move Edmund von Nassau back into range of Rennes, that would be perfect.