This is a thread to resolve the PvP conflicts around Staufen in 1336. They will be umpired by econ21. Please do not post in this thread - comments and questions should be made in the out of character thread.
Background
In 1330, the bloody Battle for Bern reduced the Swabian Civil War from a three-way struggle to a two way one. The would-be usurper, Dietrich von Dassel (GeneralHankerchief), and his Lutheran Army of Light - in essence one Bavaria’s Household Armies of gifted by the Duke of Bavaria, Lothar Steffen (Tincow) - were trapped and destroyed in Bern. However, the loyalists paid a steep price, with the deaths of Duke Hans (Factionheir) and his ally Jan von Hamburg (Privateerkev). Although a full loyalist army remained in possession of Bern, some argued that the true victor of the battle was the third party in the Civil War - Wolfgang von Hummel (Ignoramus) and his rebel “Principality of Swabia”.
Hummel seemed to validate these claims in 1332 when he out maneouvred the new Duke of Swabia, Athalwolf von Salza (Warluster), and seized Staufen, capitol of Swabia and citadel of the loyalists in a bold coup de main. The defence of Staufen had been entrusted to Ehrhart Ruppel (Factionheir MkII), but Ruppel had left the Citadel undefended in order to collect the victorious loyalist army from Bern together with wealth Kaiser Elberhard (econ21) had remitted to aid his late brother, Duke Hans.
In 1334, Ruppel reacted swiftly to the fall of Staufen, returning to lay siege to the citadel with the loyalist army from Bern. Hummel calmly collected provisions and boldly prepared to resist the siege. His lieutenant, Ludwig von Bohmen (deguerra), managed to enter Staufen before it was completely locked down. Ludwig had brought some funds from Flanders and in addition, Duke Lothar had decided to play double or nothing in betting against the loyalists by sending financial support to Hummel. However, while undersiege in Staufen, Hummel would be unable to recruit more men and he had no immediate prospect of reinforcement. By contrast, Duke von Salza at Metz was in a position to reinforce Ruppel and assist in a siege assault of Staufen.
The main problem the loyalists faced was a lack of the heavy infantry that would be most useful in a siege assault. Some could be found in Bern, but Ruppel would have to travel to Bern to recruit them. If he left his army leaderless, there was a risk that Hummel would notice his absence and sally...
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