Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

**TinCow** · 12-23-2007, 18:16

Milan – 1340 AD

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“What do you mean they’re blocking the gate?!”

The scout swallowed and shifted about nervously. “It seems, milord, that we have both chosen the same means of entry into the city. The Byzantines are between us and the east gate.”

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The Duke drew his sword and touched it to the scout’s throat. A trickle of blood began running down his neck from simple contact with the deadly sharp blade. “We are a vastly inferior force, our best hope of defeating the Byzantines was to get inside the city before them and hold the streets with the square at our backs. How do you suggest we get inside the city now, when they are between us and the nearest gate? If I take the time to march all the way around to the north or south gates, the Byznatines will take the walls and reach the square before us anyway, and the entire army will be exhausted in the process. Your blunderings have endangered this entire city.”

Lothar turned to one of his retinue. “Put this man in the front ranks of the Forlorn Hope. If he survives the day, perhaps I will not hang him.”

****

Robert Haller and Joseph Breinlin looked at the gate with trepidation.

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“There’s a whole bloody mob of them out there, Joe.”

“I know, Bob.”

“Why are we standing here?”

“We’re the garrison of Milan. It’s our job.”

“But there’s a great bloody army out there!”

“I know, Bob.”

“Ah, hell.”

“I know, Bob.”

The two men passed a few moments in silence.

“Hey, Joe.”

“Yes, Bob?”

“Where’d you get that armor?”

****

“Form up! Form up!”

The men were rushing back into position, they had to get into a coherent line before the melee began, or they were doomed.

“Move your arses, you damned women!” shouted Duke Lothar. The day was not going well at all, which was better than he had expected.

The group of merchant volunteers who had ridden with the army had proven their worth. As soon as they had entered the field, the Duke had ordered them to stop the ram. They rode past the entire Byzantine column, losing a quarter of their number to archers along the way, but they managed to reach the peasants pushing the ram in the nick of time.

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Without support, the merchants who survived the charge routed quickly, but they had nowhere to go. Man and horseflesh began piling up quickly in front of the East Gate. There was no way for the ram to be pushed over the still writhing mass of corpses. It wasn’t what Duke Lothar had hoped for, but at least the gate would hold for a while longer.

The Duke himself had ridden behind the merchants, to ensure that the job got done, but he had been intercepted by twice his number of Byzantine Lancers. His hardened bodyguards cut through the men quickly, but by the time they were free once again, the contest at the gate was long over. Instead, he turned his men and charged into the nearby Byzantine general’s bodyguards.

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If the general could be killed quickly, then perhaps a rear assault in the Byzantine lines would throw the entire attack into chaos before the gates fell. Swords rang on armor and the veteran Bavarian knights began cutting through their opponents at a rate of three or four to one, but it was not fast enough. Hordes of spearmen were closing in from both sides, and Duke Lothar had to pull out before his small contingent was completely overwhelmed.

The Byzantines responded to the cavalry skirmish by turning the entire rear half of their column to attack the Bavarian army. Before Lothar could return to his lines, a group of heavily armored kataphractoi slammed into the dismounted knights on the right flank, inflicting horrendous casualties.

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Nearby spearmen swarmed to engulf the Byzantine horse, and they were quickly slaughtered, but the combat left the infantry line out of place and disorganized. When the Duke had arrived back at the army, he had immediately ordered the out of position infantry to pull back and reorganize for the rush of the Byzantine rearguard.

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The Bavarian infantry reformed just in time. As the heavily armored Byzantines closed on the front ranks, Duke Lothar and over a hundred Forlorn Hope charged into their right flank, while the dismounted knights did the same from the left.

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The thin Bavarian lines ruptured in several places, and the Byzantines began to pour through. Soon, the battle was nothing more than a chaotic melee of men engaged in individual combat.

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Lothar rode through the midst of the carnage, slashing as he went, determined to find and kill his counterpart.

****

“Joe?”

“Yes, Bob?”

“I think we’re in trouble.”

“I know, Bob.”

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****

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Foteinos Dekanos was eventually surrounded and killed by the dismounted knights on the right flank. His death had a massive impact on the rearguard Byzantine force. Soon, most of them were breaking and running, even those engaged with the Pavise Crossbowmen.

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Yet, despite their destruction, the Byzantine rearguard had done their job. The Eastern Gate had fallen and Bavarian army remained outside the city, too far away to reach the square first.

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In desperation, Duke Lothar ordered an all-out charge into the rear of the Byzantine column that was disappearing inside the city. His men inflicted heavy casualties, but they were depleted and exhausted their opponents were not. It did not take long for some of the spearmen to begin panicking, at which point most of the surviving infantry broke.

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Instead of retreating back up towards the safety of the line of Pavise Crossbowmen on the hill, the men all attempted to reach the safety of the walls. It was a suicidal move, and they were cut down or captured to the last man.

The only surviving infantrymen were a regiment of Forlorn hope and half a dozen spearmen. Duke Lothar ordered them back to the safety of the Pavise Crossbowmen. They arrived just in time to deal with some remnants of the rearguard who had reformed.

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As Duke Lothar surveyed the survivors from his army, he knew that the situation was hopeless. He remained in control of the field, and his Pavise Crossbowmen were largely intact and could see off anyone who approached their lines, but the Byzantines had no intention of contesting the field. They were inside the walls and held the Eastern Gate. The Bavarians would not have been able to enter that way even if they had wanted to. The Duke of Bavaria sat and looked at Milan, and he knew it was lost.

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Soon the screams of the women and children would begin, as yet another Bavarian city was put to the sword. Duke Lothar turned and left the field. There was nothing more he could do.

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****

Bob looked about himself in confusion. He wasn’t sure how he had managed to escape the Byzantines at the gatehouse, get a horse, and find better armor and a sword, but that could wait for later. At least he was alive. He scratched the horse’s neck.

“I think I’ll call you Joe.” The horse whinnied nervously and pawed the cobblestones.

“What is it, Joe?”

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“Ah, hell.”

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**OverKnight** · 12-24-2007, 08:14

Prelude

The Basileus was not pleased. His Court and Strategoi were before him, and he made no effort to hide his displeasure.

"So, the German 'Emperor' still lives, landing in Italy, and our drive up the peninsula has been blunted, Palermo has been lost to some beardless youth and Duke Lothar Steffen is rallying Bavaria for a counter-offensive."

The Basileus's words were dripping with venom.

"Even worse, the brigand and murderer Matthias Steffen, the so-called Viceroy of Outremer, has evaded our efforts to destroy him and his army, and we have failed to reclaim the last barbarian Citadel in the Levant. I ordered our best troops into a pursuit after Antioch was finally taken, Captain Modestos was even given my Varangian Guard to use in the matter, and all I hear from my Generals are excuses. What should have been a simple mopping up operation has descended into a bloody, futile mess."

No one in the Court had the courage to speak. The shuffling of feet and a dry cough or two were all that met the Basileus's wrath.

Standing, the Emperor waved his secretary to his side.

"This farce ends now! A bounty of 10,000 florins is placed on the head of the pretender Elberhard. The Strategos who defeats him will be granted the Exarchate of Ravenna. A bounty of 5,000 florins is placed on those troublesome Steffens. The death or capture of any other high noble of the Reich is worth 2,500.

"Strategos Foteinos Dekanos is instructed to take the nearly undefended city of Milan and destroy Duke Lothar if he interferes. If he fails in this, he will be blinded, his nostrils slit and he will be exiled from the Empire. The same fate will await Captain Draganos if he does not crush Elberhard and that Bavarian Count Karolinger. Captain Modestos will engage Matthias Steffen with the elite force I gave him and kill that pox-ridden Cyclops, or he will perish, either by my hand, or if he has any honor left, by his own.

"The time for excuses is over. The Germans are nearly defeated, we must deliver the killing blow swiftly and decisively. Failure will not be tolerated."

The Battle of Qurnat as Sawdā’

In the 7th Century, Christian refugees, fleeing the advancing Muslim horde, had taken refuge in the Lebanon Mountains. Now Matthias Steffen had retreated south further into the same mountain range. The similarity struck the Viceroy as a good sign. His army needed a refuge, a place of strength to rally at and to strike from at God's enemies. Here he had the best of both worlds, he could block any Greek drive on Acre, while still having the mountains at his back in case they attacked him .

And Matthias hoped they would attack. Repeat the same mistake they had made at Al Qubayyat, but this time he would finish that elite Greek infantry force. He had pinned back their ears back a bit when he had slaughtered their Bombard men in the last battle, but still he had to withdraw. He hungered to finish the job.

The Greeks, showing a new urgency, obliged Matthias and moved to the offensive.

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Matthias shook his head, the Devil himself must be behind the Greeks, for only that could explain why they would choose to attack up a mountain. They faced quite a climb before they met the waiting Imperials. The crossbowmen were deployed on a spur of rock that dominated the terrain. The infantry was in a double line, protecting the path to that spur. The cavalry was deployed off of their left flank in a line at almost a right angle to the rest of the force. The cannons were an afterthought, the artillerymen had told him the incline was too steep for effective fire.

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The Greeks struggled up the hill. They had come under arrow fire as soon as they started. The incline played havoc with their formation, and Captain Modestos was forced to leave his trebuchets behind.

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Matthias was content to let them struggle on and shower them with bolts. Let the Varangians, Latinkon and dismounted Lancers march up a steep rise in their armor. Modestos advanced his faster moving Guard Archers in front of the infantry.

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Matthias, who had placed his cavalry in anticipation of this, ordered them and his own bodyguard forward.

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The horsemen crashed into the archers. They bent, but they, being the elite, did not break. Matthias ordered his horsemen to withdraw before they became entangled in the archers and the advancing infantry. The Greeks formed up, leaving a trail of dead behind them, and made a valiant charge at the Imperial line.

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The lines met. But as soon as they did, the Imperial cavalry swooped back in as the unengaged infantry charged in as well. The Greek archers were run off with Captain Modestos killed as he tried to rally them, and their elite infantry, arrow bit and exhausted, were surrounded.

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The end came quickly for them.

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The pursuit of the archers and the orphaned crews of the trebuchets took a bit longer.

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But in the end, they were all taken. . .

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. . .and destroyed.

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After the battle, Matthias found the Imperial Proclamation on Captain Modestos's body that had spurred his rash attack. Turning to one of his bodyguard, Adalric, he spoke wryly.

"5,000 florins? Seems a bit cheap. I understand that the Kaiser would be worth more, but Lothar is worth the same as me? I'm insulted."

Matthias stood and surveyed the corpse strewn mountainside. His expression grew grimmer.

"They're getting desperate. God has blessed us today. We must prove ourselves worthy of his favor. I want a message sent to Andreas."

The Viceroy tore the blood stained proclamation into pieces and scattered them into the wind.

"Tell him that we're heading north, and he's to join. The Reconquest begins."

**TinCow** · 12-24-2007, 17:07

Milan - 1342 AD

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I have broken the encircling Byzantine armies with a night attack and destroyed several hundred heavy infantry in the process. I attempted to ransom back the survivors, but apparently the Eastern Emperor does not value men who surrender, and he has refused even though it would only have cost a measly 360 florins. In any case, my scouts report that even though I have broken the encirclement, I cannot leave the vicinity of Milan this year.

Therefore, I have decided on a bold plan: I have besieged the city. The men inside vastly outnumber me, but they are not exceptionally highly trained, they have no competent leadership, and I have destroyed nearly all of their heavy infantry in the last two battles. I have fewer than fifty infantrymen myself, and thus cannot take the city in an assault, but perhaps I can coerce them into a sally that would be more to my advantage. In any case, by besieging the city I will prevent them from recruiting further defenders. Hopefully Kaiser Elberhard and Friedrich Karolinger will arrive to aid me before the situation moves from dire to hopeless.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1342-1.zip

**Ramses II CP** · 12-24-2007, 21:29

Hamburg, 1342

Fritz's head was pounding as the war horse beneath him thundered along the road. He had been unable to bring the Poles at Madgeburg to battle after weeks of maneuver because their captain had cleverly used his light cavalry to screen the movements of his slower infantry. At last, in a towering rage, Fritz withdrew into the forests to the west of the citadel, infuriated and humiliated. His Prinz, Duke, and most of all brother had been counting on him at Madgeburg, as had Dieter, his future Duke, and Tancred! And not only had he failed to inflict a single casualty on the enemy, he had been forced to withdraw or face the incessant slashing attacks of the Poles.

And all this in the year that he lost the Chancellorship election by an immense margin to that overdressed and undersensed Autrian, Duke Arnold! As ever the fates conspired to break Fritz, to drag him down to the level of his lessors, and only heroic efforts preserved his noble demeanor.

Now, however, he was back in the field. At last! Though there was an unfortunate swirling snow overhead and slippery ground underneath. And here was an enemy he knew would stand and face him head on, the Danes. Strangely, though, Fritz's mood was not much lifted. Peter had been distant since Fritz's failure, understandably so, and now he was being forced to trust Fritz with command of the Prinz's own vaunted Teutonic Knights.

Pushing away the burning pain in his head Fritz swore to himself that there would be no failure today, not if it cost the life of every man in his army.

As well it might. The men facing him were veterans of the Danes' recent campaigns, the honor guards of various nobles, and the most seasoned War Clerics in their entire realm. This was a top notch army comprised exclusively of the best of the best Danish companies. They lacked only one thing, surrendered only one advantage to Fritz; no experienced general commanded them.

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Motioning his captains to ride closer to him Fritz slowed his horse and went over the plan of battle again, 'Robert, you're to command the infantry and crossbowmen from behind your stake line. We've precious few infantrymen, I expect you'll keep them in good order and ready to hold the line! Every man's weapon may be needed at the front today, so be sure none of those crossbowmen have let their swords rust in their scabbards, eh?'

'Hans, your Teutons are on loan, but today they bear a heavy burden. If we're to win this day we'll need to do it by disorganizing the enemy and destroying his ability to act as an army. Our army is no match for theirs man for man, so we won't give them the pleasure of meeting us that way. Make certain your men hold on to their lances as long as possible, even if they splinter. Many good charges will be needed to break up their formation and keep it scattered, and I'm relying on you men to make it happen.'

'Good hunting and God Bless lads! It's not a good day to be a Dane, I promise you that!'

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Relations with France fell to abysmal on the victory, and Fritz got Field Tyrant and Legendary Commander.

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This is what the remaining army looks like (Peter has the artillery and a few other odds and ends):

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**econ21** · 12-25-2007, 02:00

The Death of a Doppleganger, 1242

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“This enemy general, Manouel of Zavarinikeia, I’ve met him before.” ventured Gustav Peters, the renowned explorer.

“No @#$%^&!!!ing way!” said Elberhard incredulously “What’s he like?”

“He’s very young - only 23.” Gustav paused and then rattled off a list of the Byzantine general’s traits: “Dauntless, a bastion of chivalry, respects the enemy, religious, a great speaker, a promising strategist, a confident attacker…”

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Elberhard shook his head.

“He’s you.” interrupted Linyeve.

“What?”

“I’m telling you - from that description, he’s you. Well, a younger you, without the effing and blinding you picked up from your youth at sea. And without the scars and the venom you’ve acquired from age. But, other than that, he’s you.”

Elberhard stroked his chin - it was hard to deny. “Well, he does sound all right, I suppose. Maybe he is the one we have to thank for releasing most of Count Karolinger’s army when it was defeated a few seasons back? Send out an order - if he is cornered, I want him captured - not killed.”

“Does that mean, Sire, that you do not wish the cannon to start the battle by targeting him?” inquired Kachig, the mercenary captain.

“Don’t be @#$%^&!!!ing stupid!” admonished Elberhard. “Of course you try to shoot him. This is war, not some @#$%^&!!!ing love in.”

*****

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“They have taken up position in the woods.” reported Kachig.

“Woods? I @#$%^&!!!ing hate fighting in woods.” moaned Elberhard.

“What is the battle plan, Sire?” inquired Sir Charles de Villiers, the veteran warrior.

Elberhard scratched his head: “@#$%^&!!! it, there is no battle plan. We march right at ‘em. Crossbowmen in loose formation at the front, cavalry on the flanks but the infantry just march straight ahead.”

Sir Charles and Kachig exchanged a glance. After the slothful advance into North Italy ealier, was this crude approach to the battle another sign of the Kaiser losing his touch?

Elberhard caught the glance, but did not challenge his aides. “You two can command the foot. Captain Jan, take the Gothic knights and one regiment of Imperials - do what you can on the left. I’ll lead the cavalry on the right. We’ll try to use the cavalry to sweep away their missile screen - give our infantry room to do their stuff.”

And so the battle developed. On the flanks, the German cavalry had some success against the Byzantine archer screen.

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However, this concentration on the flanks left the centre exposed and the Byzantine cavalry erupted from the middle of the enemy lines and threatened to strike the Imperial infantry.

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Elberhard saw the threat and hastily ordered his escort to intercept that of his opposite number - the young Byzantine general, Manouel of Zavarinikeia.

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There then followed bitter and bloody combat between the two general’s retinues. During the course of the combat, the twenty-five Kataphractoi and their dauntless general struck down nineteen of Elberhard’s veteran knights. But gradually, the superior numbers and experience of the Kaiser’s retinue began to tell. As the numbers on both sides were thinned, Elberhard could make out his opposite number.

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Refusing to allow his men to kill the enemy general, Elberhard personally moved to parry the young man. He lifted up his visor and implored Manouel to submit.

”It’s over son,” shouted Elberhard. “Your retinue are all dead - surrender!”

But Manouel was a brave man and although he always respected those enemy soldiers who surrendered to him, for him to surrender to the enemy was unthinkable.

“I am sorry, your Excellency” Manouel replied, “but honour demands that one of us not leave the field alive.”

Elberhard shook his head, sadly, and then raised his sword in a defensive posture.

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After the battle, Elberhard listened to the report of the casualties with disinterest.

“Are you all right, Sire?” inquired Captain Jan, anxiously.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” Elberhard clapped the Teuton on the shoulder and said resignedly: “I need a drink. I think I just killed myself.”

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**econ21** · 12-25-2007, 03:35

Venice, 1242

“If we strike at night, we can quickly overwhelm the bridge before the garrison of Venice can intervene.” urged Kachig.

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Elberhard scratched his head. “Yeah, right. But where does that leave us? The garrison of Venice is over 1400 men strong. Quite frankly, I don’t fancy taking them on in a siege assault. I @#$%^&!!!ing hate siege assaults.”

In the past, the Kaiser had had some success storming cities in Outremer but they were lightly defended. What weighed on Elberhard’s mind was the report of the bloody slaughter than Dieter von Kassel had endured to take Palermo from a force only half as large as that garrisoning Venice.

“There’s no hurry.” said Elberhard. “Let’s advance on the bridge slowly - give the Byzantine picquets time to rouse the garrison. I aim to storm the bridge before reinforcements arrive and then wreck the garrison when it deploys in the field after we are across.”

The room fell silent as the men considered what was involved in storming the bridge. Then after a while, Elberhard blurted out. “@#$%^&!!! it! I @#$%^&!!!ing hate bridge battles.”

*****

General Volkanos, survivor of a previous battle with the Kaiser, deployed wisely at the bridge. His two surviving regiments of mercenary crossbowmen stood at the exit of the bridge - ready to shoot down Germans attempting a crossing, backed by the few infantry and cavalry that had escaped the earlier battle.

Elberhard looked at the sound enemy deployment with dismay and then pronounced. “There’s nothing for it, lads. We have to get across. Send one regiment of Imperial knights on foot to leg it there. My escort will back them up.”

Kachig and Sir Charles de Villiers exchanged a sceptical glance.

“What?” demanded Elberhard: “You two got any better ideas?”

The two men looked down. “I @#$%^&!!!ing thought not! Now, let’s haul ass!”

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As Elberhard raced across the bridge, he saw the Byzantines start to cross from their end.

“All @#$%^&!!!ing right!” roared Elberhard to his escort. “They are coming to us. Let’s get this thing on!”

The fighting was brutal. Crossbowmen from both sides could fire into the melee on the bridge, but they risked hitting friend as much as foe. Worried about shooting down their own Kaiser, the pavise crossbowmen halted fire of their own volition.

“Keep firing, God damn it! Keep firing!” swore Kachig.

Neither side appeared to get an advantage in the fighting, with the troops being packed too thick for the superior fighting qualities of the Germans to tell

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The enemy fought much more doggedly and endured far longer than Elberhard expected and his eyes kept looking up to track the large garrison from Venice which was fast approaching the bridge. As the reinforcements came within range of the bridge, Elberhard realised that his plan to take the bridge by a coup de main hand failed. He now had to storm a bridge in the face of the opposition of nearly two thousand Byzantine soldiers.

“Sire, we should pull back now!” urged Maina, his shieldbearer.

Elberhard doggedly resisted the call to retreat. Strategos Volkanos had now led his escort into the fighting on the bridge and Elberhard was determined to stay to try to bring him down. This time, his attempt to slay the enemy general failed and the Kaiser was eventually forced to disengage - accompanied only by Maina and one other survivor of his retinue.

As they fled the bridge, the Kaiser hoped he could turn the tables by a feigned retreat. However, the Byzantines were too disciplined. With the Germans retreating across the bridge, the Byzantines retired to their side out of crossbow range. And they could not be lured back across the bridge - even when the Kaiser callously sent his regiment of spear militia to charge unsupported across the bridge. The Greeks wisely held position.

The battle began to turn into a stalemate, with a few pavise crossbowmen setting up on the bridge and entering into a long range duel with the Trebizond archers and mercenary crossbowmen of the enemy army.

As the Imperial army began to run low on ammunition, Elberhard knew he had to act or face an ignominious defeat.

“Send the infantry across.”

“Which regiments?” inquired Sir Charles de Villiers.

“All of them. It’s all or nothing. We fight our way across that bridge or we lose this battle. Do it!”

Sir Charles bowed his head: “Perhaps you should give a speech to the men - to urge them on.”

Elberhard looked at the Englishman with disdain for a moment, and then nodded with a resigned smile.

When the dismounted Imperial knights were formed, Elberhard spoke to them with a flat, solemn voice.

“Imperial Knights of Germany! You came to me of your own accord. I did not ask you to come. You came to me to fulfil an oath - to rescue the Reich from the cataclysm that has befallen it. And that oath does you honour.

You came to me and I have brought you to this bridge. This bridge is the gateway to Venice. Venice - a great city mercilessly exterminated by the Greeks. Just as they have mercilessly exterminated Milan, Antioch, Bologna and Rome.

You have just seen me try to take that bridge. And fail. I have failed to take the bridge by speed and surprise. I have failed to take it by guile and ruthlessness. There remains only blood and honour.

You came to me when I did not ask. But now I have something to ask of you. I ask you take that bridge - to take back Venice.

Avenge the women and children who died screaming at the hands of the men that stand over that bridge! Strike the enemy down with a righteous fury!

For justice, for vengeance, for God and the Reich - attack!”

In a great undisciplined mass, the dismounted Imperial knights charged across the bridge. They were met at the exit by the Byzantine garrison of Venice, similarly crowded together.

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For a while, Elberhard feared that he may just have sent his infantry to its doom. Against superior numbers, the battle at the exit to the bridge resembled a grotesque sausage making machine, with men pushed through hacking blades at the exit to the bridge and left lying ruined on the ground.

But the dismounted Imperial knights gave at least as well as they received and the battle resolved into a morale contest. Choked with fury and with Elberhard on the bridge urging them forward, the German will proved the stronger. As the Byzantines began to waver, the Kaiser signalled for the cavalry to be brought onto the bridge. The mounted knights were thus able to erupt out of the bridge exit as the Byzantine infantry started to rout.

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*****

After the battle, the Kaiser occupied Venice and tried to ransom his prisoners, but the ransom was cruelly rejected.

As he lay with Linyeve that evening, Elberhard reflected on his reconquest:

“You would not believe it. Venice is an empty shell. It has nothing - almost no buildings. The walls are in disrepair, the market does not meet … even the @#$%^&!!!ing brothel is damaged.”

Linyeve’s ears perked up: “Oh, don’t worry about that last one. I have given orders that the brothel is to be torn down.”

“What?!!!”

“What yourself?! Do you think I would trust you in a city with a brothel. Besides which, I think Duke Arnold needs the money. And I heard he has some Russian floozy to occupy him with anyway.”

Elberhard sulked for a while. Then he piped up: “Do you know, some of the men are calling me Elberhard the Mighty? Like they used to call my dear brother Hans. They are saying I am a legendary commander!”

Linyeve cast him a withering glance: “I see - you are now almost as legendary a commander as Duke Arnold and Fritz von Kastilien then?”

Elberhard sulked again.

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**Northnovas** · 12-25-2007, 05:29

Zagreb Region 1342

The armies had divided and Johann was on his way to Vienna with some knight and archers. It wasn’t much but the whole army could not reach the city in time to meet the Hungarian army at the gates. Johann thought of how much his father loved his guns and knew they would slow the army down. He was ordered north much to his disappointment and his father would take on the the Hungarian force threaten Zagreb. Johann was feeling unappreciated in his current role.

Karl had located the enemy camp and was preparing for a night attack. It was a tactic from the Outremer that he had adapted to so well since returning to Europe. The Hungarians were well situated along the tree line. He had only guessed at their numbers and tried to leave an equal amount before sending the rest to north to Vienna.

Nightfall came and the troops were ordered into position.

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The Hungarians remained where they were last spotted and concealed amongst the trees.

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The hour had come and Karl ordered the guns to open fire on the centre formation.

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The roar of the guns went on for 45 minutes and Karl could feel the adrenalin beginning to flow. He loved those guns. It had been awhile but the old bones did not mind sitting on the horse and he could fell the vitality arising in his body. Just then a messenger arrived.
“My lord, the enemy Captain is down from our cannon fire”
“Excellent, Peter have the guns direct the fire towards the flanks, move them one at a time to keep fire upon them” Karl ordered. Peter was off with out a word. Karl was surprised that the Hungarians had remained in the position and were not wavering at the loss of their commander.

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Then the shout came the enemy was surging forward.

The Feudal Knight Captain was new and this was his first command. He was responsible for the left flank and he knew that the enemy had missile cavalry on both of its flanks and he was outnumbered 2 to 1. The guns roared and exploded on the enemy but he could not identify the Magyar Calvary.

FIM, FIM, FIM, FIM. Incoming fire shouted one of the men. The Knights began falling off their horses some screaming others made no sound. FIM, FIM, FIM, more arrows coming in. The Captain froze he could not process what was happening. “Where is the enemy?” He could see the enemy foot soldiers hitting the centre line. The Knights remained the numbers dwindling. FIM, FIM, FIM
“CCHHArge!” the Captain tried to yell as the arrow smashed through his open visor and he fell to the ground. The remaining Knights surged forward into the darkness. FIM, FIM, FIM

Karl was assessing the surge forward and then he saw the enemy veering toward his right flank and the exposed gun crew. It had been awhile but the words came out and off he went “CHARGE!” his bodyguards following behind. Karl crashed into the Hungarian Dismounted Knights and Magyar Horsemen.

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The Austrian line held and the spearmen lunched forward the enemy began to flee. Karl momentarily stopped and assessed the field where are my Knights? Not knowing their fate Karl charged forward and pursued the fleeing enemy. He seemed to have gained his youth and felt exuberant at full gallop. He could not stop himself he would not have gone this far but he was enjoying himself chasing the stragglers down till they had all fled deep into the forest.

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The battle was over and a victory achieved.

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The prisoners were rounded up the exhaustion had returned. He felt older then he had ever felt. There was fine ransom to be paid for the prisoners but that was not in his character no matter how badly the florins were needed. They were set free.

The old man had gained another accolade from his men.

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It was time to head north and to Vienna.

**Northnovas** · 01-13-2008, 19:37

Vienna 1352

Johann Zirn arrived at the base camp outside of Vienna. The camp was in relative clean condition from what he had heard from his Knights about other camps. This army was clean but the men in the city were infected and it was unknown their condition with the siege conditions it could only make the living conditions beyond anything but hell.

Johann rode up to the command tent where von Hapsburg and von Essen were meeting. Johann did not express his uncle’s displeasure for the current command situation so he got right to the point. He had not fought with these men before and this was his first battle without his father standing by. He would only take one with him into battle the other must remain behind for a worse case scenario. His sister would not be pleased but he had chosen von Essen to follow him into battle feeling the security of a family member.

******

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It was a beautiful summer day and the Austrians set up later in the morning picking a hill for the artillery. The garrison would be coming from Vienna but would not be in the initial battle.

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Each general took a flank and the men were to hold the hill till the reinforcements arrived. Johann wanted the artillery to do its work.

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The enemy moved on the hill with great speed. The enemy commander did not want to try and fight to separate armies. The Austrians were quickly engaging the enemy.

“Fire those guns into the centre!” yelled Johann “Shot only no explosives!” A decision he feels he regretted later. The guns fired but the enemy was closing the gap.

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On the left flank von Essen was coming under fire from the enemy missiles cavalry and arrows were flying everywhere. To relieve the pressure von Essen charged his men at the enemy unit following them into the woods.

The garrison reinforcements arrived and the enemy Captain charged at the newly arrived units.

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They did not appear to be has sickly has reported and it was a costly mistake made by the enemy.

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The tide was turning for Johann but there was chaos everywhere. He lost track of units and the line was scattered from the Hungarian attack. He rode around attacking routing units and saw von Essen’s Unit that looked to be in good shape. His artillery crew was in poor shape has they ended up in a melee with the Croatian Axemen.

The afternoon was ending and the Siege of Vienna had been lifted.

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Captain Jacob approached him with the prisoner report. Johann was so impressed with his Captain a “veteran warrior” was promoted within Johann’s entourage. He will need more organization for the next battle.

“My lord, we have offered a ransom to the Hungarians.”

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Johann looked at his officer with a puzzled look. “Captain, I will follow my father’s rules of combat and release the prisoners unconditionally.”

There was a hesitation from the Captain. “Ah sire, Dieter von Essen is missing he was last seen charging into the woods. He may have become a prisoner.”

Johann was mortified he sat down and felt ill. “Very well make the ransom and exchange.” Johann felt sick to his stomach, praying that he would find Dieter.

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