Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[Ituralde]

1254, in the forests of Northern Germany

It was still dark as Siegfried von Kastillien surveyed his men. He was feeling out of breath already, his arm aching and his armour dented in several places. Not to mention the grizzly sights he had trouble putting out of his head. He surpressed a sudden urge to vomit, not that there was much left in his stomach. It had only just begun though. The recent encounter with the Danish army just to the North of them had just been a warm-up for the real fight. Mainly Militia it had been an easy victory.



Looking ahead he knew, that the upcoming battle would not be as easy. This time they faced battle-hardened War Clerics supported by highly trained Infantry Militia. Once again Emperor Jobst had decided to deploy Siegfried on the right of the Imperial line, leading the cavalry to make the decisive flanking attack, just like the one that had broken the Militia in the previous battle.



The Danish, although surprised and disrupted by the Imperial night attacks, had nevertheless managed to hole up in a dense forest. Siegfried cursed, this would negate much of their cavalry's effectiveness. Still, they had no other choice but to advance, and so they did. The Imperial line advancing slowly through a hail of Danish crossbow bolts.

The infantry charged forward, the Armoured Sergeants forming a solid line, while the Dismounted Feudal Knights were supposed to hold the left flank in the deepest part of the forest. For Siegfried it was simple to take his men around the right flank of the enemy and once the lines had engaged he ordered his men to charge!



The impact of the Imperial cavalry was brutal, but the War Clerics were abundant in numbers and had lined up behind their Infantry line, ready to countercharge the Imperial attackers. Siegfried lashed out to his left and right, but soon the battle lines had dissovled and turned into a confusing slugfest for both sides. Slowly the Imperials seemed to be gaining the upper hand though. Several times, fleeing Danish troops passed Siegfried and his short attempts of following them brought him further and further from the main battle.

Slowly the clamour of battle died down and it seemed as though Emperor Jobst had led his men to another victory, but above several cries of jubilation, Siegfried could still hear the sound of battle, this time coming from the other side of the battle line. There wasn't supposed to be anyone there expect for the Imperial Pavises who had covered their initial advance and suddenly Siegfried realized that the hail of their bolts had stopped about halfway through the battle.

Cursing loudly he spurred his horse onwards and ordered his men to follow. Sure enough several War Clerics had used the cover of the woods to attack the unprotected Imperial missiles. As Siegfried charged he saw Emperor Jobst accompanied by some Teutonic Knights leave the woods to his right and soon the remaining War Clerics had been dispersed. The Imperial Missiles had been severely crippled though.



Now that the battle was over, Siegfried could no longer hold back the images of hacked limbs and strewn bodies. Raising his helmet he relieves the meagre contents of his stomach onto the field. Recovering just in time to see Emperor Jobst approach his bodyguard. Hopefully he hadn't noticed Siegfrieds temporary weakness.

"You fought well tonight, Siegfried! There's only a small contigent left, if we hurry we can catch them before sunrise and then hurry north to lift the siege of Hamburg! Once we're through there is no doubt that you will be knighted for your bravery!"

Apparently, he hadn't.

________________________________________________________


Early Morning:



The last of the Danish that had surrounded them were composed of a mixture of troops and had brought several pieces of artillery with them. Lacking a sufficient number of Missile troops, Emperor Jobst had seen no other option but to charge the enemy, who had decided to make their last stand upon a small hill overlooking the approaching Imperial Army.



Once again Siegfried found himself on the right flank, leading the cavalry, this time accompanied a little closer by Emperor Jobst, who would be following his charge. The Imperials advanced slowly onto the Danish position, and it didn't take long before fiery balls were hurtled from the catapults brought to the field by the Danish.

Shortly before the Imperial lines closed in, Siegfried noticed how one of the fireballs hit the Emperor's bodyguard square on, the screams of horse and riders was terrible to behold, but already he had spurred his horse forward, which was carrying him into battle.

Once again the Danish were engaged head on by the Imperial infantry while the Teutonic Knights along with Siegfried and Jobst bodyguard made short process with the remaining Danish forces.

It was not until the battle was over that Siegfried noticed something was wrong. During the fight more and more cries of: "For the Emperor! For Jobst!" had been heard than in the more recent battles. The soldiers seemed to have been driven by some inner fury and the assault and been brutal and short. The joy over the victory seemed muted.

"Siegfried, Siegfried! Come at once!" It was Dieter, the trusted follower of Emperor Jobst who was now approaching him. "Come quick, it's the Emperor, he's dying!" Numbed by the shock of these news Siegfried quickly follows Dieter back to the place where the catapult shot has disrupted the Emperor's bodyguard. It was a grizzly sight that greeted him and it was all Siegfried could do not to avert his gaze or vomit once more.



Charred bodies were scattered and the stench of burning flesh hung in the air. Two bodyguards lay on the ground, their whole body covered in blackened flesh, their faces distorted in agony, their horses had fared little better, one had a large wound on his neck, where another man had put the horse out of misery. Amidst the carnage lay a barely recognizable figure. If Dieter hadn't told him so he would have never recognized him as Jobst.

Still numbed Siegfried kneels down by his Emperor. His lips are cracked from the heat and his face has been cleaned of the black ash, revealing the blisters of his burns. Only the eyes seem to be untouched by the horror visited upon his body as Jobst focuses on Siegfried. "Fought well... you did!" his voice was thin and he had to lean closer to hear the man in front of him.

"My heir... you! Long... live... ... Kaiser!" with that the last glow left in his eyes vanishes. Only now Siegfried takes in the men surrounding him. The Knight who had been holding Jobst upright and in whose arms the Emperor had died. Dieter who was standing behind him, looking at him approvingly and the rest of the Emperors bodyguard standing around him. Slowly the men kneeled before him to acknowledge their new Emperor.

Still numbed, Siegfrieds gaze returns to the charred Emperor, unable to tear his gaze away he fells the warm streaks, as tears run down his face and for once his desire to vomit is succumbed by the feelings of loss and confusion overwhelming him.



OOC: Pictures follow, as always!