Save Game File - Updated: Due to an error in the original save, please use kotr1338-2.
1338: The Imperial Restoration
The previous years events have seen the end of all rebellions in the Reich and the return of the Kaiser to his lands. The old feudal order appears to be reasserting itself and the rule of law appears ready to rise from the grave. It will be needed, as the Reich remains a besieged land.
In Outremer, the concentrated Byzantine armies assaulted Antioch, captured it, and exterminated the city. The city is now garrisoned and guarded by the army of Valsamon of Petrola. With the capture of the heart of Outremer, the Byzantines are now turning their attention towards Acre. A large siege army has begun to march south towards the last bastion of Imperial power in Outremer. It is being escorted by a massive column of cavalry. Matthias Steffen holds a chokepoint against them with a reinforced army, but an offensive act will be difficult. Over the past year, one of the Crusading knights has stood out amongst the pack. He is Andreas von Salzgitter, a loyal and chivalrous man who now commands the small garrison of Acre.
Franconia remains much as it was last year. Hamburg and Frankfurt are safe and profitable, but Magdeburg remains besieged by powerful Danish armies, with an equally strong Polish army nearby. Attrition is beginning to show amongst the garrison, and they will weaken every year until the siege is lifted. Neither Peter von Kastilien nor Fritz von Kastilien have a strong enough army to challenge the Danish by themselves. However, if they join forces, perhaps they will be able to rescue Magdeburg before further starvation occurs.
The Byzantine offensive against Bavaria has ceased, but that only means that the Duchy will cease to hemorrhage provinces. The Greeks have continued to pump wealth and manpower into Italy, and now it is concentrating on holding their gains. A wall of steel and flesh guards Venice, Bologna, and Florence. Regaining the lost provinces will not be easy, nor quick. The Bavarian defenders, Lothar Steffen, Fredericus Erlach, and Friedrich Karolinger pooled their resources to better equip an army to face this threat. That army now stands ready to engage the enemy, commanded by Friedrich Karolinger. Lothar Steffen commands a smaller force, positioned to defend Milan or Genoa, if it is necessary.
For the first time in over 20 years, there are no rebels in Swabia. Wolfgang Hummel, the self-proclaimed ‘Prinz of Swabia’ sallied forth from behind the besieged walls of Staufen and attacked Ehrhart Ruppel’s army while the loyalist was away recruiting heavy infantry for an assault. Nearly all of Ehrhart Ruppel’s army was destroyed in the vicious battle, but the rebel Wolfgang fell as well. With their leaders gone, the rebel survivors had nothing left to fight for. They threw down their arms and fled the field. Athalwolf von Salza was able to march into Staufen unopposed when he arrived with his army. Ehrhart Ruppel returned with his new recruits only to find the men left behind savaged and destroyed. The Duke and his loyal follower will have to pool their resources to counter the French armies that are marching on Metz and Bern. In the north, Ludwig von Bohmen has returned to Bruges, but he is in a precarious position. The army of the late Jan von der Pfalz is his to command, but it was vastly weakened by the assault on the city. The English army has left the area and a strong French force is approaching from the south. Finally, with the end of the Civil War, a new loyalist general has offered his services to Duke Athalwolf. He is Maximillian von Hapsburg and currently reside in Metz, but he will have to evacuate soon if the French are not stopped.
Austria remains balanced on a knife-edge. Prague, Zagreb, and Ragusa remain under siege, with only Vienna secure this year. Attrition is beginning to reduce the armies of all three cities and their ability to defend will get weaker each year unless the sieges are lifted. There is hope, however. Lorenz Zirn still commands a strong force of infantry, now supplemented by a pair of Serpentines. In addition, Kaiser Elberhard has returned to the Reich. He landed northeast of Venice and made an immediate call for all feudal knights to heed his authority and rally to him. Every last Imperial and Gothic Knight, mounted and dismounted, has left their former masters and marched to join him. These men are the Kaiser’s alone to command. For the rest of the cataclysm, no one will be able to recruit Imperial Knights, DIK, or Gothic Knights without the Kaiser’s permission. The Imperial Knights in the garrisons of Ragusa, Zagreb, Prague, and Magdeburg cannot break the siege to reach the Kaiser. As such, they remain with their besieged commanders. However, as soon as those sieges are broken they will immediately leave to join Elberhard, no matter what their various commanders do to stop them. The Kaiser has returned to the Reich, and amongst these men his word is law. In one final matter, Dieter von Kassel took the Kaiser’s regiments of Zweihanders and DFK, broke away from the Kaiser’s fleet, and sailed to Sicily. He intends to assault the citadel of Palermo, opening a new front against the Byzantines in Italy. It is a brave move, as the island is totally cut off from outside aid.
Elberhard:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: None
Personal Wealth: 0 (0 carried over)
Special Ability: No one in the entire Reich can recruit Imperial Knights, Dismounted Imperial Knights, or Gothic Knights without your approval.
Units Available: Mercenary German Knights, Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen
You have returned to the Reich. Your authority amongst the Electors is truly pathetic, but at least the title Kaiser holds sway amongst the knightly ranks. Your army has swelled to capacity with Imperial and Gothic men who have flocked to your banner from all corners of the Reich. Those who were unable to reach you due to sieges will do so as soon as it is possible for them. You will need this strength, as it is your only real power to control the various Electors at the moment. With the Swabian Civil War at an end, you no longer need march directly there. Austria and Bavaria are both nearby and can use your aid, should you wish to give it.
*(A) March north to Nuremburg and prepare to convene the Diet.
(B) March east to aid Karl Zirn in the defense of Zagreb.
(C) March west to aid the Bavarians in their efforts against the Byzantines.
Athalwolf von Salza:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Staufen, Metz, Bern, Antwerp, Bruges
Personal Wealth: 30 (7 carried over, 1 base from Staufen, 1 bonus for starting in Staufen, 2 base from Bern, 3 base from Metz, 3 base from Antwerp, 2 base from Bruges, 11 captured from Wolfgang’s treasury)
Units Available: DFK, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen, Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen
With the death of Wolfgang Hummel and with Ludwig von Bohmen bending knee, the Swabian Civil War is over and the entire Duchy is once again united under your rule. The wealth has flowed in from all corners of the Duchy and, combined with the monies from Wolfgang’s treasury, it has made you the wealthiest man that the Reich has seen in the last 20 years. You will need that money, as the French have launched major attacks on Metz, Bern, and Bruges. You have four loyal followers now, but all of them need your aid. Who will you help and how?
Note: Given the obscene amount of wealth you have, I will not attempt to figure out what you want to recruit. You must give me specific orders about what units you want to hire and who you will send them to.
*(A) Remain in Staufen.
(B) Move south to Bern.
(C) Move west to Metz.
Ehrhart Ruppel:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Bern
Personal Wealth: 1 (0 carried over, 1 from Bern for loyal Count)
Units Available: DFK, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen, Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen
It will remain up to the historians to decide whether Staufen was a victory for you or not. Wolfgang Hummel is dead, thanks to the actions of your men, but your army was shattered. Only a handful of Spear Militia and Town Militia survived, along with Hans’ veteran Feudal Knights. A regiment of Imperial Knights survived as well, but they have left you to join Elberhard. You were able to scavenge up two regiments each of DFKs and Armored Sergeants while you were away, along with a regiment of Forlorn Hope. However, this cost you all your wealth. It is a good start to an army, but you will have to depend on Duke Athalwolf’s aid if you wish to confront the advancing French.
*(A) Remain at Staufen.
(B) Move to Metz
(C) Move to Bern
Ludwig von Bohmen:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Bruges
Personal Wealth: 2 (0 carried over, 1 from Bruges for loyal Count, 1 bonus for starting in Bruges)
Special Ability: When you are within the borders of the County of Bruges, you can recruit Mercenary Flemish Pikemen for 2 wealth per unit. When you are within the borders of the County of Antwerp, you can recruit Mercenary Flemish Pikemen for 2 wealth per unit and Hand Gunners and Arquebusiers for 3 wealth per unit. All other units normally available from Antwerp can be recruited once again, but they cannot be used to fight Danish armies. All units recruited from Antwerp, other than Hand Gunners, Arquebusiers, and Mercenary Flemish Pikemen, will disband if they are present in an army that attacks or is attacked by the Danes.
Units Available: Flemish Pikemen, Town Militia
You escaped from Staufen just in time. Wolfgang Hummel is now dead and his rebellion is over. You have bent knee to Duke Athalwolf, in return for his acceptance of your title of Count of Bruges. You hold the city with the remnants of Jan von der Pfalz’s army. The men are loyal followers and glad to see you, but they are heavily battered and not likely up to the task of defeating the advancing French army under Baldwin Robert. The only way you can possibly save Flanders is through the aid of Duke Athalwolf. If he does not send you aid, it may be a good idea to abandon the area and fleet while you still can.
*(A) Move to Antwerp
(B) Hold the walls of Bruges
(C) March towards Staufen. The route south is blocked by the French, forcing you to go west near Frankfurt. You will not be able to reach Staufen this year, due to the distance.
Maximillian von Hapsburg:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: None
Personal Wealth: 0
Units Available: Town Militia
With the end of the Swabian Civil War, you have decided to join Duke Athalwolf in the defense of Swabia. However, you have little more than your own abilities to offer at the moment. It will be up to Duke Athalwolf to determine what, if any, power you will wield.
*(A) Move to Staufen
(B) Stay in Metz
(C) Move to Bern
*(A) Stay in Acre
(C) Join Matthias Steffen in holding the northern pass.
Péter von Kastilien:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Frankfurt, Hamburg, Magdeburg (besieged)
Personal Wealth: 16 (9 carried over, 3 from Frankfurt, 1 bonus for starting in Frankfurt, 3 from Hamburg)
Units Available: Forlorn Hope, Crossbow Militia, Spear Militia, Town Militia, Teutonic Knights
There is only one crisis point in Franconia this year: Magdeburg. Your army is not strong enough to attack the Danes at this point, but you have wealth to spare. Your brother Fritz also has a moderate sized army with him. If the two of you work together, perhaps you could help lift the siege.
*(A) Remain in Frankfurt
(B) Move to Hamburg
(C) Attack the Danish armies outside Magdeburg. You cannot use a night attack.
Fritz von Kastilien:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces:
Personal Wealth: 6 (7 carried over, 1 plunder from battle, -2 for merc upkeep)
Special Ability: For the rest of the cataclysm, small groups of mercenaries will join your army for free at irregular intervals. In addition, you can hire any mercenary unit available in Europe, even if they are not available in your current territory. All mercenary recruitment costs are 1 less for the duration of the cataclysm, to a minimum of 1. However, the mercenaries require a large amount of wealth to sustain them. Beginning in 1330, you will have to pay 1 wealth per 3 mercenary units per turn (rounded up, to a maximum of 6) to keep them from deserting.
Units Available: Forlorn Hope, Crossbow Militia, Spear Militia, Town Militia, Merchant Cavalry Militia, Any European Mercenary
There is only one crisis point in Franconia this year: Magdeburg. Your army is not strong enough to attack the Danes at this point, but perhaps if you worked with your brother Peter, you could help lift the siege. You could also move north against the Danes, but rumors indicate that Arhus is held be a very strong garrison. An advance in that direction would likely be suicidal.
*(A) Remain in Hamburg
(B) Move to Frankfurt
(C) Attack the Danish armies outside Magdeburg. You cannot use a night attack.
Dieter Bresch:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Magdeburg (besieged with you inside)
Personal Wealth: 2 (0 carried over, 1 from Magdeburg for loyal Count, 1 from starting in Magdeburg)
Units Available: DFK, Armoured Sergeants, Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen, Bombards, Grand Bombards, Cannons, Serpentines
You remain besieged inside Magdeburg. You disbanded some heavily depleted regiments and hired a regiment of DFK and a regiment of Armoured Sergeants to replace them. The situation remains the same as last year, though your men are beginning to suffer the usual attrition that comes from a siege. If you do not think you can repel two armies at once, it would be wise to flee or request aid from your fellow Franconians.
*(A) Abandon your army and flee Magdeburg through a secret escape tunnel.
(B) Hold the walls against the Danes (You may not hire more than two units per turn while besieged and you must have slots open for them – Note that you have some heavily depleted units that you can disband to make way for fresh recruits)
(C) Sally forth against the Danes. This will be a difficult battle.
You remain besieged inside Magdeburg. The situation remains the same as last year, though your men are beginning to suffer the usual attrition that comes from a siege. If you do not think you can repel two armies at once, it would be wise to flee or request aid from your fellow Franconians.
*(A) Abandon your army and flee Magdeburg through a secret escape tunnel.
(B) Hold the walls against the Danes (You may not hire more than two units per turn while besieged and you must have slots open for them – Note that you have some heavily depleted units that you can disband to make way for fresh recruits)
(C) Sally forth against the Danes. This will be a difficult battle.
Arnold:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Ragusa (besieged with you inside), Zagreb (besieged), Vienna (trade route blocked), Prague (besieged)
Personal Wealth: 1 (0 carried over, 1 base from Ragusa, 1 bonus for starting in Ragusa, -1 from gambling)
Special Ability: Enjoys a Wager gives you a 50% chance of losing 1 wealth per turn and 50% chance of winning 1 wealth per turn.
Units Available: Zweihanders, DFK, Armoured Sergeants, Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Teutonic Knights, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen
You recruited a regiment of Armoured Spearmen, but otherwise the situation remains the same as last year. Nearly all of Austria is under siege and you are trapped inside Ragusa. Your men are now beginning to suffer the usual attrition effects of a prolonged siege.
*(A) Abandon your army and flee Ragusa through a secret tunnel.
(B) Hold the walls. You may not recruit more than one unit while besieged.
(C) Sally forth.
Karl Zirn:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Zagreb (besieged with you inside)
Personal Wealth: 8 (4 carried over, 3 base from Zagreb for loyal Count since Arnold is cut off from income, 1 bonus for starting in Zagreb)
Units Available: Spear Militia, Town Militia, Merchant Cavalry Militia, Ballista
The situation remains the same as last year. Nearly all of Austria is under siege and you are trapped inside Ragusa. Your men are now beginning to suffer the usual attrition effects of a prolonged siege. However, Kaiser Elberhard has landed nearby and has a strong force of knights with him. If he came to your aid, perhaps you would have a chance of breaking the siege.
*(A) Abandon your army and flee Zagreb through a secret tunnel.
(B) Hold the walls.
(C) Sally forth (not advisable unless Elberhard is aiding you).
Edmund Becker:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Prague (besieged with you inside)
Personal Wealth: 7 (2 carried over, 3 base from Prague for loyal Count since Arnold is cut off from income, 1 bonus for starting in Prague, 1 for math error last turn)
Special Ability: Every year, you may ‘train’ one full-strength unit of Militia to a higher level for free. Crossbow Militia can be trained to Pavise Crossbowmen. Town Militia and Spear Militia can be trained to Armoured Sergeants. Units trained in this manner will retain an identical level of experience and armor.
Units Available: Crossbow Militia, Town Militia, Spear Militia
Your ‘rebellion’ has been resolved and Prague is once again part of Austria. You disbanded two depleted regiments, recruited a unit of Spear Militia and a unit of Town Militia, and upgraded a regiment of experienced Spear Militia to Armoured Sergeants. However, you remain besieged by the Poles, who have assembled a great deal of siege equipment. Another small Polish army has joined in the siege, but it is not likely to make much of a difference in the outcome. Your men are now beginning to suffer the usual attrition effects of a prolonged siege.
*(A) Abandon your army and flee Prague through a secret escape tunnel.
(B) Hold the walls.
(C) Sally forth.
Lorenz Zirn:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Vienna
Personal Wealth: 8 (3 carried over, 3 base from Vienna for loyal Count with Arnold cut off from trade, 2 bonus for starting in Vienna)
Special Ability: You are a Budding Bureaucrat and Good with Taxes. If you start your turn inside a province you control, you will gain +2 instead of the normal +1.
Units Available: Forlorn Hope, Town Militia, Merchant Cavalry Militia, Bombards, Grand Bombards, Cannons, Serpentines
You stayed in Vienna last year to protect it and hired some Serpentines. These will aid you greatly against enemy infantry. Your army is decently powerful and it could allow Karl Zirn to be victorious in a sally. Of course, it may not…
*(A) Remain in Vienna and hold the walls.
(B) Move south to Zagreb to aid Karl Zirn against the Hungarians.
Lothar Steffen:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Nuremburg, Innsbruck, Milan, Genoa
Personal Wealth: 10 (0 carried over, 3 base from Nuremburg, 3 base from Milan, 2 base from Genoa, 1 bonus for starting in Milan, 1 from Deep Pockets)
Special Ability: Deep Pockets means that you produce +1 wealth per turn, no matter where you are or what your circumstances.
Units Available: Forlorn Hope, Spear Militia, Town Militia, Crossbow Militia, Mercenary German Knights, Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen
Fredericus Erlach:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Genoa
Personal Wealth: 1 (0 carried over, 1 base from Milan for loyal Count)
Units Available: Zweihanders, DFK, Armoured Sergeants, Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Teutonic Knights, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen
Your wealth with Duke Steffen and Count Karolinger, allowing for the most optimal recruitment possibilities for the Bavarian armies. The total recruitment was two regiments of Zweihanders, two regiments of DFKs, and two regiments of Armoured Sergeants. The majority of these units went to the Bavarian offensive army, which you yielded command of, in favor of Friedrich Karolinger. You have taken up his place garrisoning Innsbruck. There is little to do in the citadel, but your role of defending it and providing recruits to all of Bavaria is an important, if boring, role.
*(A) Remain in Innsbruck
(B) Move south to Milan
(C) Move south to Genoa
Friedrich Karolinger:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Innsbruck
Personal Wealth: 1 (0 carried over, 1 from Innsbruck for loyal Count)
Units Available: Forlorn Hope, Spear Militia, Town Militia, Crossbow Militia, Mercenary German Knights, Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen
You command the Bavarian offensive army outside Milan. It is a powerful force, made up of the best units from the armies of Lothar Steffen and Fredericus Erlach, and reinforced with fresh recruits from Innsbruck. You lack much in the way of cavalry, but you have powerful ranged and infantry contingents. You can strike anywhere along the Byzantine defensive line, but you will have to fight no matter where you go.
*(A) Garrison Milan
(B) Attack Manouel of Zavarnikeia outside Venice.
(C) Attack Volkanos of Ierissos north of Bologna
(D) Attack Captain Draganos outside Bologna (you must defeat this army before attacking the city itself)
(E) Attack Foteinos Dekanos outside Florence (you must defeat this army before attacking the city itself)
Matthias Steffen:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: Acre
Personal Wealth: 2 (0 carried over, 1 base from Acre, 1 bonus for starting in Acre)
Special Ability: No matter where you are or what your circumstances, you can recruit two regiments of religious warriors per turn in any combination that you like. Religious Fanatics cost nothing. Crusader Sergeants cost 1 wealth. Grand Crosses cost 1 wealth. Unhorsed Knights cost 2 wealth. Crusader Knights cost 3 wealth.
Units Available: DFK, Armoured Sergeants, Sergeant Spearmen, Pavise Crossbowmen, Peasant Crossbowmen, Peasant Archers, Feudal Knights, Mailed Knights, Mounted Sergeants, Mounted Crossbowmen, Grand Bombards, Bombards, Trebuchets, Catapults, Ballista, Kwarizmian Cavalry, Turkopoles
You raised a unit of Religious Fanatics, a unit of Unhorsed Knights, and a unit of Pavise Crossbowmen. You then reorganized your army to bring it to maximum effectiveness. You also appealed to the Teutonic Knights in Acre. With the fall of the rest of Outremer to non-Imperial forces, the Guild House in Acre is their last remaining bastion in the East. They know as well as anyone that if Acre falls, the hope of Eastern Catholicism will be extinct. Therefore, the remaining Teutons in Acre have joined their brethren in your army. These ‘new’ men are in fact the oldest, wisest, and most experienced in the entire Teutonic Order. They will prove to be a powerful cavalry force. However, their choice to take up arms in your service means that there is now no one left to train new recruits. (Your gold chevron unit of Teutons has been retrained to full capacity and equipped with the finest in arms and armor. However, you may no longer recruit Teutonic Knights from Acre. In order to regain the ability to recruit them from Acre, you must disband the veteran unit of Teutonic Knights before their numbers dip below 30. If their numbers drop below 30, they will be too few to revive the Acre Chapter and it will cease to exist.)
You have taken up a position north of Acre, blocking the route to the citadel. The Byzantines will have to defeat you in order to besiege it. However, you are similarly hemmed in by their advancing forces. Two armies stand nearby, a powerful siege force and an escorting cavalry column. If you choose to take the offensive, you will have to fight them both.
*(A) Retreat to Acre
(B) Hold your position.
(C) Attack the advancing forces. Night attacks are not permitted.
Dieter von Kassel:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Controlled Provinces: None
Personal Wealth: 0 (0 carried over)
Units Available: Mercenary Pavise Crossbowmen, Mercenary Spearmen, Catalans
You have landed on Sicily in an attempt to open a second front against the Byzantine forces in Italy. It is a brave move, and Kaiser Elberhard gave you the remnants of his heavy infantry to aid you before the fleet split. You stand ready to march on Palermo and assault it. The citadel is not heavily garrisoned, but the army inside is moderately trained and competent. You have a large advantage in numbers and experience, but your heavy infantry is only moderate in size. This, combined with only one unit of artillery to breach three walls, will make an immediate assault difficult.
*(A) Get back on the boats and sail north to Genoa.
(B) Besiege Palermo and assault immediately.
(C) Besiege Palermo and begin constructing siege equipment to aid you.
Turn 10 - 1338 AD
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