>>5794828
>I will attempt to meet him
Let's find out if this guy is the real deal.

>>5794828
>>I will attempt to meet him

>>5794828
>>I will attempt to meet him
welcome back QM

>>5794828
>>I will attempt to meet him

File: Ehrenfried von Issenwald.png (77 KB, 353x500)

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>>5794837
>>5794839
>>5794856
>>5794858

You waited for the joust to be over. Afterwards, you observed as the host of the tournament did the official honouring of the victorious Issenwald.

You gained a glimpse of the man when opened his visor for the first time for you to be close enough to properly see him. He appears to be of a healthy hue of skin even with his sweat making him look slightly paler, you could see his easy going yet determined verdant eyes. You could sense a man of character from a mile away, and although he most certainly had the looks he also had something else on his face. An ever present mischievous and boyish smirk that could belong to a boy who plastered manure on the home of the village priest and got away with it. You get a feeling this man likes to break a few rules and conventions here and there.

He then promptly turned his head towards you and simply said: ‘’My liege’’

When you had found his tent you saw him giving his horse some oats. You called out to him to notify him of your presence and then you began talking to him.

‘’You know, sire. Normally it is us who would come towards you. And yet you are here now coming to me. I take it the boy-count gave you a bunch of mostly exaggerated stories of mine?’’

>Yes, he did
>I heard something about a 10-hour long duel, truthseeker that I am. I wish to hear it from the source.
>I heard some of your heroics, could you tell me more?

>>5794899
>I heard something about a 10-hour long duel, truthseeker that I am. I wish to hear it from the source.
>Write in: As you said mostly exaggerated stories, but even then there must happen something quite special to be worthy of exaggerating.

>>5794899
>I heard something about a 10-hour long duel, truthseeker that I am. I wish to hear it from the source.

>>5794899
>>I heard something about a 10-hour long duel, truthseeker that I am. I wish to hear it from the source.
A fine lad

>>5794913
>>5794984
>>5794995
‘’I heard something about a 10-hour long duel, truthseeker that I am. I wish to hear it from the source.’’

‘’Oh, that story. It is quite simple, it was not ten hours but two, and I spent eight hours playing cat-and-mouse with his men. You see, I was riding along the dirt paths through that land when I spotted a young man hiding around under a cart. I decided to help him to escape his serfdom, which would only last for ten more hours. I took his cloak, and I appeared and disappeared at random points in the fiefdom. Using my steed to outmanoeuvre and outrun his footmen, for that lord in particular reserved his mounts only for himself and his household. No wonder his serfs deserted him. At any rate after about eight hours our luck had run out and they found him. As such I challenged him to combat not to win, but to buy time. It worked and afterwards I managed to evacuate the lad to safety. They came for me instead. I did not sleep in a barn, I always sneeze far too much near hay. Instead, I slept in the wind lee of the barn, outside. They instead went into the barn, and I made my escape.’’
____________________
>So you travel around, freeing serfs?
>Did you do anything else?
>Write-in

>>5795138
>>Did you do anything else?

>>5795138
>So you travel around, freeing serfs?

>>5795138
>>So you travel around, freeing serfs?

>>5795138
>>So you travel around, freeing serfs?
Damn based
>Write-in
"I would be interested in doing a spar with you, Sir Ehrenfried we can organize the day. I am curious of your martial skill."

>>5795138
>>5795190
>>5795208
>>5795228
>>5795231
‘’So, you travel around, freeing serfs?’’ you asked

‘’Not quite, I only free serfs if their lord treats them unjustly. A serf works for his lord in exchange for protection, if the lord breaks this part of the contract they have every right to run off. If I can help, I shall help.’’ He paused, then took a breath of air and continued.


‘’I have travelled throughout the continent, from the verdant hills of Angenland, to the vineyards of Ellasa, to the dense forests of Tautenland. Throughout it all, I have learned that I can’t tolerate either injustice or unwarranted cruelty. I have made a lot of friends, and a lot of enemies. And I have been in trouble more than enough.’’

"I would be interested in doing a spar with you, Herr Ehrenfried, we can organise the day. I am curious about your martial skill." you asked him

‘’I would be honoured to spar with my liege, if I can make the time for it. Alas, my errantry obligates me so, yet time I shall make. It shan’t be today or tomorrow but I shall come to Rittersbach one day, I always was more of a man of the country than the city.
__________________
>You said you help serfs who are in trouble due to their lord's cruelty, but if a serf runs away on his own volition?
>You are a knight-errant? Those are rare in these parts.
>How far did you travel and how long?
>Write-in

>>5796244
>>How far did you travel and how long?

>>5796244
>>5796303
‘’I took off from home when I was 15 years old. I was eager to see the world and to do some good for the world.’’

‘’When I left home, my father was still more than capable of taking care of himself. As such I left home to wander and to errant, I did take a manservant with me at the insistence of my father but aside from that I kept to myself, I travel from here to Tautenland to see the great mountains that separate Tautenland from Castana. I earned money by participating in a tourney here and there and by helping people in need. Well, I only accepted food from those who have no money, and nothing from those who have naught but the rags they wear.’’

‘’I have done many a thing here and there to help people and communities.’’ He then pointed his finger to a man packing his belongings.

‘’See that man, I had to directly intervene to keep him from being unjustly killed, when I was in Angenland his lord had attempted to flog him for the flimsy crime of eating a hare. Despite the fact that he had a rabbit pen. Needless to say, I intervened and freed him. Though I am no longer welcome on the island kingdom.

_______________________________________
>Thou art a presona non grata on Angenland? Why?
>I heard that in some places of Castana there are no monarchs, is that true?
>Write-in

>>5796379
>>Thou art a presona non grata on Angenland? Why?

>>5796379
>>Thou art a presona non grata on Angenland? Why?

>>5796379
>>5796380
>>5796413
‘’Thou art a persona non grata on Angenland? Why?’’

At this question the knight bared his teeth and his smirk turned into a devious grin.

‘’As it turned out, I should have studied the local heraldry a bit better. I gave the man I duel a pretty vicious cut on his face. As it turned out he was the second son of the brother of the King of Angenland, who was away from court to visit his personal fiefs.’’

‘’Needless to say, the royal turd ran back to his uncle to have my head, but I was already near the coast when I found out, as I was effectively an outlaw already. I decided to deceive the royal ferry into giving me free passage to Aurilie, from where I went back home.’’

‘’I took the man with me as you can see because he would almost certainly swing if I left him behind, needless to say he effectively is my second manservant, though he can also do simple maintenance on my weapons and armour. It is more or less very obvious that I can never go to that island ever again, not that I would like too, it’s nobles you can find in Aurilie and the peasants there are mostly brutish louts who spend their free time getting drunk and brawling.

__________________
>You scarred a prince?
>You are brave, sir. To do such a thing even it came from your one ignorance on the ruling family of Angenland
>Write-in

>>5796547
>You are brave, sir. To do such a thing even it came from your one ignorance on the ruling family of Angenland

>>5796547
>>You are brave, sir. To do such a thing even it came from your one ignorance on the ruling family of Angenland

>>5796547
>Update
>>5796601
>>5796662
‘’You are brave, sir. To do such a thing even if it came from your own ignorance of the ruling family of Angenland’’ You told Ehrenfried.

To this remark he simply nonchalantly rolled his eyes and said: ‘’Oh, what can I say? A knight is sworn to valour, is he not? And what is more valourous than escaping an island determined to hunt you down… Without even an injury to show for it’’ He laughs.

‘’I lie of course, I got plenty of cuts and bruises while I stayed there.’’

He then looked over his shoulder and saw that the Angenlander had packed up the last of his belongings and had rolled up his tent.

‘’Well, I am afraid that’s my cue. I promised my father that I would return within the month to visit and I do not wish to disappoint him.’’

He then took the reigns of his horse that the servant had brought forth and climbed in the saddle
‘’Fare thee well, my liege’’

‘’Fare thee well, honoured knight’’ You said back.

You stood still while the knight and his entourage departed from the rich fields of colours that was the camp. And with that, you suppose, it was time to head home.

(1/2)

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>>5796734
As you returned home you began to settle back into your usual rhythm of holding court, hearing out nobles and important burghers and other such things.

As you went through the endless meetings, reading of documents and hearing of proposals you managed to identify three big issues that were plaguing the duchy

The inefficient and outdated levy system. Which relies on the use of so-called ‘’banneries’’ special military districts under the control of a local lord, who is given the informal position of bannerlord. It is their duty to gather the banners and then march to the location of the campaign. Unfortunately, this system has become plagued with problems, there are about forty eight bannerlords, where it used to be eight. A result of the partitioning that was popular before primogeniture became law. As a consequence of this levies are called in much more but also much smaller units which then have to march individually to the main army. A system that desperately needs revision.

Another concern that is kind of connected to the levy problem is the strength of the nobility that you rule over. Where once you had used the unruly lords of Greifswald to overthrow the order and you could keep them in line through popularity and comradery you were not certain of their sons, or what would happen once Albrecht would succeed you. The nobility here is powerful, and nearly any attempt to curb their power without concessions is impossible. These men are proud and shrewd and you would need every trick in the book to break them, or, to at least weaken them. For you envisioned that the building of a central authority would take generations.

Lastly, there is a problem of a more…supranatural kind. The deepwoods, the parts of the green forest where light barely gets through, you have had both positive and negative encounters with the strange creatures of this strange realm. Both in that strange music-making woodman and with those barbarian elves you were forced to contain last winter. This is a problem that would perhaps require a clear head and patience, a lot of it.

_________________________________
>Tell me more about the levies
>Provide me with knowledge of the nobles
>I wish to learn more about the deepwoods.

>>5796736
>>Provide me with knowledge of the nobles

>>5796736
>>Provide me with knowledge of the nobles

File: The estates.jpg (74 KB, 440x451)

74 KB JPG

>>5796736
>>5796753
>>5796821
The nobility, also called the second estate. From the ruling class of Greifswald outside of the ecclesiastical holdings of the church and the cities, who have their own systems of governance. The nobility in Greifswald is powerful, it yet still retains numerous rights and privileges that make them like little kings in their own rights.

Although your reforms in Grünwald have been effective in quelling the local minor lords there these men are of another calibre, they usually have vassals of their own, their own levies and they guard these things with watchful and jealous eyes. Thankfully, your authority is strong enough to keep them from waging private wars within your realm, which would be bad for the economy.

One must walk on eggs where they are concerned for they do not react well to having their privileges taken away. If you aren’t careful they will probably rebel if dissatisfied enough.

There are several things you could do to weaken them, some of them would be quick and fast in the effect. Others would take time, and would have to be played like an intricate game of chess. Long, pondering and with the greatest of care.

The smallest and most long term plan would be to merge your individual titles (Grünwald,Lentenau etc.) into a new legal entity that would be under your direct control. This entity would consist of the land and territories of the former fiefdoms and would effectively deprive the titles of their territorial content. This would in turn create a legal precedent that a noble title does not per say come with land and wealth.

There are of course more radical options, ones that would most certainly antagonise the nobles.

The most blatant of these is to use old legal disputes and court cases to begin redrawing the boundaries of the fiefs and as such adding it to yours.

Other options include changing laws so that if say, a noble house dies out. Their land would simply revert to you, instead of you being obligated to find their legal successor. Other things are looking into depriving them of some of their privileges and rights thereby weakening their legal status

____________________________________________
What plan do you give your approval for?
>The plan to merge my personal estates into new core of the realm(No changes)
>The land seizure plan (Nobility influence:-20%, Nobility loyalty:-25%)
>The law changing (Nobility influence-5%:, Nobility loyalty:-5%)
>The deprivation of their rights (Nobility influence:-15%, Nobility loyalty:-18%)

>>5797457
>>The land seizure plan (Nobility influence:-20%, Nobility loyalty:-25%)

>>5796736
Really nice image!

>>5797457
>>The land seizure plan (Nobility influence:-20%, Nobility loyalty:-25%)
We can do it in current conditions

>>5797457
>>5797509
>>5797589
You start pondering. What are the good targets to take land from? If you wished to know, you would need to begin sending scribes into both the archives of Libau and Rittersbach to pry open the legal history of the men whose land you would seize.

The duchess-consort, upon hearing of your plans and after making sure her brother was not to be made target. Then suggested sending agents to screen potential targets for land grabs. They would not spy on them, instead they would make note of peculiar personality traits such as a quick temper, enfeeblement, weakwilledness and madness.

They came back with several potential lords for you to accuse, summon for a trial and then declare their titles forfeit. To aid you in this you conscripted the help of the burgrave of Tannburg, a man who unlike his peers has had a professional legal education.

Several landowners were eventually discovered who would make easy pickins.

One is Luibrand von Dessen, an senile old coot who already spends most of his time being locked up in his rooms, while his regents run the show. His actual children are already dead and his only grandchild liked the life of a hermit and ran off into the woods, never to be seen again. Quite tragic and many speculate that this all led to his madness. The actual legal substance for your claims would come from the fact that the regents had more or less given away most of the domain on paper to his neighbours. You would not directly arrest him, but merely his regents. You would then step in, put the madman in the monastery, title intact and you would take over direct control over the governance.

Another one is Siegfried von Köcheheim, around this one there are a lot of rumours. Mostly involving him murdering anyone who looks at him funny, he is renowned for his temper and allegedly killing his mounts if they don’t live up to standard. He is also a drunk, and apparently has to be locked up to prevent him from going on rampages through his own home. If summoned for a trail he would probably lose in the courtroom but he would simply demand trial by combat and walk off. He has already done this thrice, being acquitted afterwards. As the highest legal entity you could just say no and he would not have any other option but to submit.

Lastly there is Ulrich von Nielowitz, a man whose ancestry is… unclear at best. He seems to be descended from the family he has his name from but the strange thing is that according to some rumours he is no direct relation of the previous count. Instead of being a relative of his summoned at the late count Nielowitz’s deathbed to continue on with the dynasty. He is young, very much so and allegedly has a bit of an sutter, and has trouble asserting himself to others. He is likely to not form too much of an opposition to a sufficiently strong accusation of say, bastardry or impostership

_______________________________
So which one is it going to be?
>Dessen
>Köcheheim
>Nielowitz

>>5797704
>Dessen
A dying line is something that can be argued.

>>5797704
>>Dessen
Sad there's no one we can accuse of witchcraft

>>5797704
>>5797720
>>5797721
You sit down and grab your thirsty feather and pencil. To begin with you would write a formal summon to Dessel to get him here. You also demanded the presence of at least half of his regency council to act as his entourage and to answer for the accusations you have heard against them in the ducal court. Furthermore you insist that the man himself is brought before you so that you may ascertain his insanity.

You then sealed the message with the ducal seal and gave it to one of the servants to be brought to one of your couriers who would then deliver it to him. Hopefully they would come to Rittersbach quickly and without hassle, once here you would have Tannburg accuse the regents of corruption and abuse of power. Then you would send Dessel into a monastery to be cared for with the others in the madhouse section and you would gain custodial rule over his lands all according to plan.

At least, if it went according to plan.

You started waiting and waiting and after nearly a week and three days you were uncertain if your message had ever arrived.

Yet it was not your message that hasn't arrived but the count. He is dead, ambushed on his way to meet the ‘’Lord of the white ducks’’ as he called according to one survivor. According to the survivors, multiple cloaked figures had ambushed the party on an isolated part of the road and had then fired a fireball at the old man, killing him instantly. They were wearing black cloaks with red trimmings apparently. This is a grave matter, the land is as good as yours now anyways but having wizards running around killing lords is another matter. You must act and act now.
____________________________________
>Gather a retinue and make it to the ambush site
>Magic was involved you say?, time to consult the court mage
>A bunch of figures in black cloaks? Sounds like a cult. I should contact that new inquisition thingy through the church.
>Write-in.

>>5797877
>>Magic was involved you say?, time to consult the court mage

>>5797877
>>Magic was involved you say?, time to consult the court mage

>>5797877
>>5798008
>>5798028
You began walking down the corridor to the quarters of the court mage as to consult him about this murder of the count of Dessel.

‘’Aye, so I have heard. I think it is best if we make our way to the ambush site, I find it unusual that the assassins would use a fireball to murder someone. Especially in such a forested area.’’

‘’Why wouldn't you use a fireball to kill someone.’’ You asked

‘’It is not that you can’t effectively kill someone, it is more that there are more effective spells to kill someone. Fireballs are harder to aim in comparison to things like a lighting bolt or a poison cloud. Something tells me that whoever cast that spell must not have knowledge of such things.’’

He then stopped to think and to scratch his beard and then said: ‘’I will change into my travelling clothes for the journey I suppose that thou would do that as well.’’

‘’Yes, I will gather some rangers as well.’’ You spoke

When you dismounted at the ambush site only a few things still reminded of the murder that had taken place here. Wolfgerus, the wizard had begun to around on the ground for clues while the rest of the men did this as well.’’

‘’No,blood around here, I suppose they must have exclusively made use of magic instead of conventional means. The only real evidence is the ash marks on the round as well as that severely burned cart. But no clues as to where the culprit went, interesting.’’

Hmm, obviously the fireball must have been cast from somewhere after all, perhaps that could help. On the other hand perhaps there could be tracks in the woods nearby that could lead to clues.
_________________________________
>I will go into the shrubbery for clues
>I wonder where the fireball was cast from, perhaps a vantage point would help
>Write-in

>>5798611
>>I wonder where the fireball was cast from, perhaps a vantage point would help

>>5798611
>>I wonder where the fireball was cast from, perhaps a vantage point would help

>>5798611
>>5798695
>>5798720
There is a particular slope near the road like a small heap; perhaps, you could find something up there.

Indeed there is nothing really here. At least not directly next to the ambush. Perhaps if you walked a few metres forward you could find something. If you could find nothing there then you would walk back to the site and then to part of the slope that they already passed.

Although you at first did not find what you were looking for when you walked back and went back along the slope there you found it.

Imprinted on the ground there are multiple scorch marks and the smell of burnt vegetation had alerted you earlier.

‘’Yes look, we have a clear look over that bend in the road there. The culprit decided to hit them from behind before making his or her escape’’ The wizard

‘’Unfortunate then that the trail stops short just before the woods thanks to the harder ground there.’’ You said.

But there has to be something you thought. Perhaps someone else had seen the figure, maybe if you had brought Würst, your dog you would have had a scent or maybe….

‘’Sire!’’ One of you rangers shouted. ‘’We found something.’’

When you got closer you began to see exactly what it was. A piece of black cloth that had gotten stuck on a thorn bush

‘’’Hmmm, It feels like a textile of linen, dyed black. This our clues and track then’’ Wolfgerus said.

As a stroke of fate a few paces later the track picked up again. You decided to follow it to see where it would lead. And so after about three hours of walking through the underbrush while you send some men back to take the horses and other mounts with them you found a camping site, although it was already broken up you could see that someone had been here thanks to the arrangement of the stones in the middle of a clearance in the forest.

‘’Comb this place out, there has be something here.’’ You ordered.

This did not take long although now a new problem emerged. There are four trails, each leading in a different direction.

The one that goes north is through an narrow game trail, normally only used by hunters and woodsmen

The one that goes west leads onto a major road again which is relatively busy.

Another northwest bound one bluntly goes through the wild and completely unorthodox underbrush and mostly seems to lead through completely forested areas

The last one that leads to the east eventually breaks with the forest, instead going to the fields and pastures of the farms that stand there.
_________________________________________
What path would you like to follow?
>The northern gametrail
>The western road
>The northwestern wilderness
>The eastern route

>>5798790
>>The western road

>>5798790
>>The northern gametrail

>>5798790
>>The northern gametrail

>>5798790
>The western road

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5798897
>>5799151
>>5799180
>>5799793
An impasse? Time to roll.
1:the game trail
2:the road

>>5799891
It is obvious why the person who left the tracks behind would use this trail. This path is barely used by anyone and is often disrupted by the roots of trees. It is a rough route, unsuitable for horses and other animals of burden. Here you have to move in a single file. Clever, you suppose. Out here the authorities would not normally go somewhere like this, most patrols focus on the roads and villages, what is in the woods is normally not a concern to them. Only that they stay there, there is a reason after all why most outcasts normally stay in woods

‘’Does anyone know where we are?’’ One man in the queue asked.

‘’I think we are getting closer to the north, the trees are getting less varied. If I had to guess we are still in Dessel but closer to its northern border’’

The search dragged on for the rest of the day and when it was nearly six o’clock you stopped for a short rest. And to eat some provisions.

No luck catching the rogue mage, a murderer no less. You could only hope to catch up before the fall of the night.
When you went on the move again you came across a wood clearance and did you see from there but the smoke for a campfire. And the tracks went in that direction as well. This is it, now you will catch up.


(1/2)

File: The circle.png (3.5 MB, 9919x7016)

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>>5799959
It has already become evening when you got close enough to properly see the culprit, as a matter of fact you got in hearing range. And one of them began to speak.

‘’Honoured members of the circle, our plot has succeeded. The old fool Dessel is no more, his line is dead. His land shall revert to the Duke in faroff Rittersbach and we shall be able to operate with more liberty than we could previously.’’ A deep, baritone voice said, his physical features having been obstructed by the darkness and his hood.

‘’But what if the Duke comes here? What does he find out? What will we do then? Murdering an important noble is one thing, we can’t possibly stand up to the weight of a nation.’’ A nasal tenor said.

‘’If it comes to that, we shall go to the cemetery of the village of Rosseln nearby. There we will escort ourselves to the border with an army of the dead.’’

The realisation had begun to creep in from the moment you heard the word cemetery, one that was only confirmed when you heard the words ‘’army of the dead’’ These men are necromancers! Or at the very least a magic circle that is willing to violate the sanctions of the magics, the law of the church that regulates the use of the arcane and has been copied by nearly every state that follows the faith. Raising the dead is punished with death, as not too many people are fond of seeing the corpse of their grandma walking about.

You lean back to converse with Wolfgerus and the ranger sergeant.

‘’We can form a half circle, draw our bows and then charge into melee to finish them off.’’ The sergeant said.

‘’That could work, yes, from what I sense only one member of the eight or ten people can truly use magic. The others are not capable of it; only three of them have the connection, and only one can actually use it. But, If we use the bows I am afraid that if we don’t kill the leader in the initial barrage that it will be a lot bloodier, I can instead attempt to *ahem* give their leader a little shock before we truly lose the element of surprise.’’

All good suggestions you suppose. A barrage of arrows would take out most of the enemies while Wolfgerus could kill the only real mage before he could retaliate.
________________________________
>From a semi-circle and prepare a cross-fire
>Send Wolfgerus ahead to kill their leader
>Write-in

>>5799962
>>From a semi-circle and prepare a cross-fire

>>5799962
>>From a semi-circle and prepare a cross-fire

>>5799962
>Write-in
Prepare anyone who we can spare to run in and knock any survivors unconscious for questions and in case the one left is the one capable of using magic.

>>5800050
On top of
>From a semi-circle and prepare a cross-fire

>>5799962
>Send Wolfgerus ahead to kill their leader

>>5799962
>>5799965
>>5799992
>>5800050
>>5800056
>>5800162
‘’Form into a semi-circle, and make ready to fire your bows. We will mow them down in the crossfire.’’

‘’Sir’’ The sergeant turned to his men and whispered: ‘’You heard the Duke, form into a half circle and draw ye bows, then we charge em. It should be easy, they is only wearing them robes it looks like.’’

Silent nodding came as an acknowledgement and they then quietly moved on their knees to their positions. Hopefully it will go according to plan.

*crack*

Shit. You cuss internally.

‘’Who goes there?’’ One of the voices called out and rang like a cold ril over your back.

‘’Oh never mind, it’s a hare’’ The same voice said

Phew

Half a minute later you hear the drawing of the bows near you. And then a curt shout of: LOOSE!

The shrill sound of arrows ringing through the air sounds like music to your ears. The group has barely the time to turn around before the whinnying sound of death catches them. Some fall on the ground, others catch arrows but stay up. Then your rangers charge, quickly throwing what little survivors still stand on the ground and putting the sword to the throat of those who had sought cover.

‘’Right, where is there leader?’’ You asked.

‘’Over there. He was caught in the hail of arrows I think.’’ A ranger said back

And indeed you found him with a look of confusion and anger on his face and an arrow in his neck. That must have explained why he did not attempt to use any magic you suppose.

‘’You y-you fool, *cough* you have n-no idea of what’s *cough* coming.’’ And then he fell still forevermore.

‘’What did he mean by that, ‘’what’s coming’’ ?’’ You asked Wolfgerus

‘’I don’t know and that’s what troubles me. Perhaps he had a vision of something. But the study of prophecy and vision are not often practised’’

Well, that was that, you’re men are still busy tying up the three survivor’s out of a circle of nine. You would rest first and set off in the morning after breakfast.

Is there anything you would like to do tomorrow before you leave?
_________________________________
>Search through their belongings
>Interrogate one of the prisoners
>Look for the signs of ritual markers
>Write-in

>>5800255
>>Look for the signs of ritual markers

>>5800255
>>Look for the signs of ritual markers

>>5800255
>>Look for the signs of ritual markers

>>5800255
>Look for the signs of ritual markers

File: The continent of Argalis.png (2.23 MB, 3633x3972)

2.23 MB PNG

>>5800255
>>5800260
>>5800296
>>5800399
>>5800646
The next morning, after you had woken up you were called over to look at something.

The mage Wolfgerus was already looking over it.

‘’These are magical runes, you carve them into something if you wish to enchant something, or if you wish to perform a ritual.’’

‘’’What kind of ritual?’’ You asked

‘’The runes for sight and far away are present, as well as the one for a bird. I think they were performing a ritual that lets you see from far away but only a mage would be able to see what. Those three’’’ he pointed at the three prisoners. ‘’Probably only helped with preparing the ground for the ritual. As to who or what he exactly wanted to see I don’t know. He probably took that knowledge to the grave. But considering his last words I think it was something ominous.’’

Yes, you suppose that would make sense. If only you knew what he knew.
Well, there is nothing left to do then but to return back home. The prisoners would be interrogated and then hung for participation in an illegal organisation.

Once you got home more news and rumours from the outside world. In Aurilie that Angenlander had landed on in the duchy of Menierange to divert the attention of the Aurilien armies present in the north. In other news a tragedy has struck the western coasts of Tautenland as a sudden flood caused by a storm has caused a great loss of life there. The local lords have already attempted to repair the damage there.

Another, far more concerning rumour comes from out southeast, beyond the lands of Vat on the steppes according to the merchants who sail the rivers through Vat down to the Ruthoslav princes there have been sightings from the steppes, not of the Kurtbini khanate that has made there home on the plains there put from something else, something that allegedly takes no prisoners.

Still, with the new decade ahead you still had to focus back on your children a bit more. This would be the decade where two of them would reach adulthood. Brünhilde would enter adulthood in 1251 and Albrecht’s formal higher education would start this year with his twelfth birthday.

This means you would have to begin searching for an suitable marriage candidate for Brünhilde within a reasonable amount of hurry

But where would you like to search?(Pick two)
_________________________________________
>In Tautenland
>In Mozolavia
>in Sparland
>In the northern kingdoms

>>5800994
>In Tautenland
>In Mozolavia

>>5800994
>In Tautenland
>In the northern kingdoms

>>5800994
>>In Mozolavia
>>in Sparland

>>5800994
>>5801014
>>5801098
>>5801246
To Mozolavia and Tautenland you sent your agents to survey for suitable candidates for a betrothal. And they returned with a variety of candidates, whom you whittled down to about four candidates.

Among the Mozolavians you first have the younger brother of the duke of Wielkopustynia. He is about your daughter’s age and the Duke of Wielkopustynia is a prominent member of the Szlachta or the Mozolavian nobility and is a second degree cousin to the King of Mozolavia, unfortunately what they bring in prestige they lack in riches and men as their holdings are sparsely populated.

You also have the second son of the Margrave of Zielonekałuże near the eastern border. Although the land itself is a march against any who would wish to invade the kingdom this was also an advantage, as they could bring in a lot of battle hardened and capable soldiers. Hardened by years of repelling raids. Of course an alliance with them could mean being sucked into a conflict you could ill afford. The boy himself is about a year younger than her and is apparently a wild one, stealing his father’s horse once

When it comes to the Tautens you can rely much more on your personal knowledge of the land.

The two most qualifying candidates would be the eldest son of the Landgrave of Goslaren and second son the Duke of Heinigen.

Heinigen consists of a strip of coast along the coast and lies just north of your old home of Fluddenmark. It is a duchy that primarily relies on trade and the tariffs that it collects on it. To that end the Duke maintains a fleet to keep the coast clear of pirates. Ironic, considering their alleged ancestor’s were pirates. The second son of the Duke is about four years Brünhilde’s junior and would not be eligible until then

Goslaren is flat in the east only to become more and more hilly and eventually mountainous the more you travel west. It for this reason also has a moderate population of Halflings and Dwarves who feel more at home there. If you recall the rumours surrounding the son of the Landgrave he is kind, if a bit plain looking. He is also about three years older than her.

___________________________________________
In the end you opened negotiations with
>Wielkopustynia
>Zielonekałuże
>Heinigen
>Goslaren

>>5801275
>>Wielkopustynia

>>5801275
>>Goslaren

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5801278
>>5801570
A tie, time to roll

1:Wielkopustynia
2:Goslaren

File: Goslaren.png (187 KB, 1229x1372)

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>>5801278
>>5801570
>>5802030
You send out the herald of the realm to negotiate for the possible alliance with the landgrave of Goslaren. You would hopefully be able to gain a capable ally within the empire that could serve as a link back to the Heimat that you had to say goodbye to.

The Landgraviate lies to the southwest of Fluddenmark and just like it is considered a part of the historic Ostmark (Eastern marches) and is considered the last line of defence in the east before you would enter the heartland of the empire. The landgrave is rich and can rely on both the wealth of his mines and his fields.

Another thing would be the negotiation of the bride price and the dowry. Although once these were exchanges of cattle,metal or coin between the father’s nowadays it is more like a gift to the groom and the bride to support them. With you giving gifts to a theoretical son-in-law and the potential father-in-law giving gifts to your daughter. It is also considered a good show to give them the rights to a few fields or mines or other such properties so that they may have something to support themselves with, though this is not mandatory as a sufficient amount of gifts can compensate for it.

What would you like to offer as a dowry? (pick 2)
__________________________________________
>Cold hard cash
>Give gifts in the form of rare materials and other such treasures
>Put in the rights to a few fields in Grünwald.
>Split of some of the stock in some of your business ventures as a gift

>>5802065
>Give gifts in the form of rare materials and other such treasures
>Split of some of the stock in some of your business ventures as a gift

>>5802377
Support
Good good

>>5802065
>>5802377
>>5802392
Writing out the lines of courtesy and pleasantries required to communicate the message from one noble to another was no small thing. Still, at least you did not have to write any poetry or other such rubbish. Just giving the good Landgrave a few rubs to his ego here and there and the promise and details of the dowry.

The response of the Landgrave was one of formal but cordial interest. He wrote back that the matter of marriage for his heir was already on his mind for a longer time and that at this time an ally from outside the empire would come in handy for his interests. Afterall, you were not subject to the gaze of the Kaiser. It is a near mirror of your own reason. You need allies in Tautenland to counter the potential gaze of Mozolavia.

The wedding would be set to be half a year after Brünhilde would come of age and would be held as per tradition in the land of the bride. This would hopefully bring your daughter happiness and prestige and you a powerful ally. But you had no more time to dwell on that. As the next year 1251, would, besides your daughters' wedding also be the ten year anniversary of your ascension to Duke of Greifswald something, that should of course be celebrated. With that in mind you should perhaps consider making some perpartions.
The treasury contains at present 640 Greifs (Money)
_____________________________
>Pay for festivities in every city and town (220 Greifs)
>Arrange a feast for all the nobles and other prominent (80 Greifs)
>Pay some writer to bring out the official family history of the Aldershorst dynasty (40 Greifs)
>Hold an official tourney to celebrate (160 Greifs)

>>5802465
>>Pay for festivities in every city and town (220 Greifs)

>>5802465
>>Pay for festivities in every city and town (220 Greifs)

>>5802465
>>Pay for festivities in every city and town (220 Greifs)
>>Arrange a feast for all the nobles and other prominent (80 Greifs)

>>5802465
>Hold an official tourney to celebrate (160 Greifs)

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>>5802465
>>5802684
>>5802865
>>5802920
>>5802976
The rest of the year went by uneventfully. With you coordinating what and where in the cities would be celebrated. You bought in massive amounts of beer beforehand and placed massive orders with the butchers, bakers and cooks. Other things such as entertainers, decorations and safety would be accounted for as well.

The day of celebration would come before the wedding as you wanted to give your daughter one last great memory of her own Heimat before she would leave it.

Still, the only thing left to do now is to fill out the schedule of the Ducal family. What role would you and your family play on that day? Participating like a commoner in the games and drinking was of course out of the question, but there are still enough things that you could do.
______________________
>Ride a round through Rittersbach to greet the people
>Make a appearance on the palace balcony to wave and such
>Appear alongside the bishop of Rittersbach at the construction site of the cathedral
>Nah, I will take Albrecht hunting instead, the boy needs to learn such things

>>5803006
>>Make a appearance on the palace balcony to wave and such

>>5803006
>>Make a appearance on the palace balcony to wave and such

>>5803006
>Ride a round through Rittersbach to greet the people

>>5803006
>>Make a appearance on the palace balcony to wave and such

>>5803006
>>5803099
>>5803193
>>5803194
>>5803199
As the preparations went you could feel the excitement growing per day. In the streets, people were already talking about it. Peasants in the countryside are making their own festivals and nearly all the country is abuzz with the massive buildup of activities. Poles with party flags were erected on the market square in Rittersbach. The festivities were bringing people from all over the Duchy together to celebrate. And the day had not even come.

There was also less pleasant news from the east. Although at first the reports of a new nomad state invading was nothing new, these ones took it a step further. They have left the steppe and have begun to not merely raid but invade the land of Vat and the Ruthoslavs allegedly with great brutality. While concerning, this was nothing new your advisors told you. Usually some nomad kingdom would fall, some warlord would take over, sack a few cities and strongholds here and there and sod off back to the steppes with new tributaries.

On the day itself you ate your breakfast an hour later than usual this is Your day after all, so you allowed yourself to slack off. Besides the people would not really congregate in the early morning, they would probably trinkle in during the buildup to midday and would remain there until the late evening or when the alcohol runs dry….

When the church bells rang twelve o’clock it was time to appear on the balcony.

Already you heard chants of:

’’Hoch soll er leben.’’

’’Hoch soll er leben.’’

’’Dreimal hoch!’’

Giving you three hurrahs in essention, the servant then opened the door to the balcony for you to appear on the balcony.

Your appearance made the crowd gathered burst out in cheers and jubilation. You were after all the man who gave them free beer for the day, or well at least until the barrels you had bought were empty.

Your children and wife also appeared alongside you: Eleanora spent her time gracefully waving and having a stoic but pleasant smile.

(1/2)

>>5803306
Brünhilde mostly seemed to follow her mother’s example but with a grin on her face instead. Albrecht and Charlotte on the other hand seemed to be more impressed with how full the square is. With Albrecht looking with great interest at the crowd while leaning over the railing and Charlotte jumping to get a better view.

You did not hear all of what the crowd was saying mostly chants of:

’’Hoch lebe der Herzog!’’ And other such verbal declarations of support.

While you were overlooking the crowd and waving as well you began to think a bit, about of all of this the people clearly like this kind of thing
__________________________
>We should do this more often I think, perhaps with the 15 year anniversary next
>A day of national festivity would work well I think in creating a sense of unity among the people who still live alongside the old lines. But I need something that is a bit more permanent, what is something secular that you celebrate every year? Hmmm…
>Those reports from the east concern me. I must begin saving every Greif into a warchest to be certain

>>5803307
>>A day of national festivity would work well I think in creating a sense of unity among the people who still live alongside the old lines. But I need something that is a bit more permanent, what is something secular that you celebrate every year? Hmmm…
Yes we need it.

>>5803306
>A day of national festivity would work well I think in creating a sense of unity among the people who still live alongside the old lines. But I need something that is a bit more permanent, what is something secular that you celebrate every year? Hmmm…

>>5803307
>>A day of national festivity would work well I think in creating a sense of unity among the people who still live alongside the old lines. But I need something that is a bit more permanent, what is something secular that you celebrate every year? Hmmm…

>>5803307
>>5803428
>>5803777
>>5803928
For the rest of the day even as the ever increasing drunken songs carried themself through the walls you found your mind entrapped by this idea. A day for all, aside from the usual free days people got on the day of their patron saint’s settlement as well as the other religious holidays. Something along the lines of something that you could celebrate every year. Something that would be annual and something that concerned everyone or at least could be made to concern everyone.

Then it struck you. But of course! Your birthday! Something that everyone could celebrate. You could call it many things and it would be something that your heirs and his heirs could continue with, only changing the dates of the day. It would be a free day for all, much like the greater religious holidays, save for the professions who would need to continue every day like livestock rearers and other such jobs. You were thankfully born at the end of the spring and the beginning of the summer so people could use some time off in between the sowing and harvesting season.

As such, you wrote into law the official ’’Geburtstag des Herzogs’’ as an official holiday and it would have the same degree of exemption of work as the holy wintermass and the day of the solstice.

Due to the popularity of the festivals, the loyalty of the peasants and burghers has grown by 5%.

The effects of the holiday had barely worn off in the months or the next grand event had come. The big day, the day that you are far more nervous and somewhat saddened than the previous one. On this day your eldest daughter would be married in the new church, the cathedral would probably not be finished until the days of Albrecht’s children, but the bishop was already here, a stuffy old man by the name of Joachim from a family of affluent tailor’s in Rittersbach. He is pious, dutiful and so boring to be around. He is not like your great uncle, not in the slightest thing.

The landgrave of Goslaren and his son had arrived as your guest about three days before the wedding, the man himself had been escorted by his retinue of his own knights and a company of Halfing crossbowmen and Dwarven Axemen. It is kind of funny, the lack of any real hills or mountains in these parts, (Save for one actual mountain) kind of meant that there aren’t too many of these short peoples in Greifswald, which is more suited to the habitation of Elves and Men.

As the day draws close you could still talk to a few people before the wedding
__________________________________
>Talk with Brünhilde, before she is married.
>Talk with the Langrave, Karl Philip
>Talk with the groom, Ernst Ludwig
>Go to the bishop, Joachim

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Also here a picture if Dietrich in his armour in the colours of Greifswald (note: his house colours are different)

>>5804054
>>Talk with Brünhilde, before she is married.

>>5804054
>Talk with Brünhilde, before she is married

>>5804054
>>Talk with Brünhilde, before she is married.

>>5804056
Nice

>>5804091
>>5804093
>>5804120
You found your daughter sitting in the castle garden while you were out of Rittersbach in castle Albrechtsburg to accommodate the guests. You silently walked over to her and then sat down beside her on a stone bench.

She then looked at you and then acknowledged your presence. ‘’Father’’ She said with a faint smile.

‘’Are you pleased with your match? I know he not that not interesting to look at bu-’’ You asked

‘’No, Ernst Ludwig is nice enough. And it is not that he is ugly, he isn't. But there is something.’’

‘’What, what’s the matter?’’ You asked.

‘’From the moment I was old enough to understand that Albrecht would inherit, I knew I would be married off. I suppose Charlotte must also go through it. It is just that….. I'll miss this place. I know you weren’t born here but I wass, I will miss the verdant woods with its pleasant air, the rolling plains and the gentle blue sea.

Aw, she has not even left home and she already is longs back to the Heimat

What should you say?
_________________________
>Worry not, we shall always be with you in memory
>The woods of Greifswald will always be open to you.
>Though you may be separated by us through distance, know that I, your mother and your sibling will always love you.
>Write-in

>>5804339
>>Though you may be separated by us through distance, know that I, your mother and your sibling will always love you.

>>5804339
>Though you may be separated by us through distance, know that I, your mother and your sibling will always love you.

>>5804339
>>The woods of Greifswald will always be open to you.

>>5804339
>>Though you may be separated by us through distance, know that I, your mother and your sibling will always love you.

>>5804345
>>5804356
>>5804359
>>5804650
''Though you may be separated by us through distance, know that I, your mother and your siblings will always love you.''
She smiled more genuinely this time: ‘’I, I know. I suppose it must be the fear of leaving home.’’

‘’Do you miss your own home father?’’

‘’I suppose, Fluddenmark is not like either Greifswald or even Grünwald. Its woods are far more dour and dark. The ground there is unsuitable for agriculture, although the heath in the north is home to shepherds. My own father spent as much time away from our castle, the thing was never going to be a real home. We spent most of our time away from it if we could. There was nothing to do there. No visitors or excitement, the closest we got was when my brother and I saved the cook’s son from drowning in the swamp.

She giggled: ‘’I am sorry, but what was that about the swamp?’’

‘’Oh the cook’s son was rather fat and he was supposed to gather mushrooms in the swamp for his father’s stew and well, he tripped over a trunk and had to be pulled out by his feet.’’

You talked for a bit more and you told her more anecdotes from your youth. You then set off to see your other children who had just passed you behind the bench. As you walked back into the cool corridors of the castle you spotted Ernst Ludwig talking to Brünhilde, He is lanky and tall. Although his face is still boyish in its appearance with round cheeks and an underdeveloped jaw line. He took her hand and then kissed it. Before holding it in his hand and asking her something. She then put her arm around his and went for a walk.

You smiled in approval and in relief. It seems you have made a good match.

(1/2)

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>>5804956
The cathedral was not yet ready, yet that mattered little. They would be wedded in the new church by the bishop of Rittersbach. The new church did certainly live up to its name. The brick-red of its materials is still clean and the little grime on the building has been scrubbed off. The interior is no less Impressive neatly carved benches and pulpits and an altar which has a slab of marble to serve as a table top.

The plan was simple, the groom would arrive in the morning, the bride would come an hour after that and they would then be ridden back to the castle where they would feast. The streets of Ritterbach would be plastered with the banners of both houses to signify the alliance and a formal honour guard comprising both militaries would guard the way.

‘’Are you nervous?’’ You asked Brünhilde.

‘’As much as I can be.’’ She answered while the coach rattled over the cobbled streets.

‘’It will be fine. I will escort you to the altar. Your’’e mother, brother and sister will also be there.’’

And as you got out the crowd that had gathered behind the men-at-arms began to cheer once more. You then made your way up the stairs. And into the nave of the church. Trumpets were sounded and the doors were shut behind you. You then slowly made you way down the aisle.

‘’Carefull, there is a fold in the carpet. You told her.’’

You then halted at the altar and let her climb up to it. While you sat down on the church pew.

The bishop then began.

‘’Honoured members of the faith, we are gathered here today in union. The houses of Adlershorst and Goslaren shall today be fully allied through holy matrimony.’’

While this dragged on for a while you saw that Albrecht was barely constraining himself from staying still. He more or less was forced to keep himself distracted by putting his hand together and playing.

"Ernst Ludwig von Goslaren, does thou taketh Brünhilde von Adlershorst as thou lawful wife?’’

‘’I do’’

‘’Does thou swear to be loyal and true? In times of good and Ill?

‘’I shall’’

"Brünhilde von Adlershorst, does thou taketh Ernst Ludwig von Goslaren as thou lawful spouse?’’

‘’I do’’

‘’Does thou swear to be loyal and true? In times of good and Ill?

‘’I shall’’

Then, he paused for a bit. (you knew he found this part to be tacky) ‘’Thou may kiss thou bride.’’

He then gave her a small kiss, nothing too special. And just as the church erupted into cheers the trumpets on the roof rang and the bells began to toll.

The feat that followed went by in a blur and by the end of the week they had left and the halls began to fall empty once more. She has left, perhaps forever.

(2/3)

File: The continent of Argalis.png (1.45 MB, 3633x3972)

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>>5804957
Yet for you dwelling on it you only had a month to recover from it for a rider from the Mozolavian court had arrived. He brought with him a letter from King Casimir which contained a call to gather. The threat from the east had arrived after conquering all but a few Ruthoslav cities, and now lies on the doorstep of Mozolavia and Logegal. The Udirgol’s, they are called and allegedly they have been spotted down south in the land of Mizar and have already bought the celestial empire of Languan. And they were now on their way to the western coast. As such, King Casimir (Kazimierz) and King Charles (Karoly) hope to assemble a league of willing defenders to block their advance.

What should you do in such times?
_________________________________________
>I shall heed his call, this is to grave to ignore
>I will come, for a price.
>Let him sort out his own problem
>Write-in.

>>5804958
>>I will come, for a price.

>>5804958
>I will come, for a price

>>5804958
>I will come, for a price.

>>5804958
>>I shall heed his call, this is to grave to ignore

>>5804958
>>I will come, for a price.

>>5804987
>>5805016
>>5805256
>>5805295
>>5805598
You send word back to Casimir. If he wished for your assistance, he would have to pay for it. You had still remembered how he deprived you from completely conquering the order state of the Argent Stars and you have a long memory.

There would be a price for your help. The forests out east make it effectively unable for them to invade anyways. Which is probably why your other neighbour, Viskara has been content to remain within its borders.

Still, if you want to get something. You would have to negotiate for it.

Your diplomatic points. 12

Mozolavian patience 100

Explanation: to extract concessions from the Mozolavian you need to play the game of diplomacy, this a fickle game which needs to be handled with grace and care.

To demand something is to exhaust your opposite numbers' patience and if it reaches below 45 the other side will break off negotiations.

To demand something you will roll a 1d55 dice with added bonus depending on how outrageous your demands are, the result will bring down the paint number.

If you exhaust their patience too much you are allowed to spend diplomatic points to regain their patience.

Now then, what will you demand for concession?
_______________________________
>I want to fill up the treasury. (costs 4 diplo points, roll a 1d55)
>I desire an exemption of tariffs for all merchants and goods based and produced in Greifswald for the coming 25 years. (costs 6 diplo points, roll a 1d55+10)
>I need more territory i will the small border we have (costs 8 diplo points, roll a 1d55+15)
>I demand a carte blanche for a eventual second invasion of the knights (costs 10 diplo points, roll a 1d55+20)

>>5805857
>I want to fill up the treasury. (costs 4 diplo points, roll a 1d55)
>I need more territory i will the small border we have (costs 8 diplo points, roll a 1d55+15)

>>5805857
>>I want to fill up the treasury. (costs 4 diplo points, roll a 1d55)
>>I need more territory i will the small border we have (costs 8 diplo points, roll a 1d55+15)

>>5805912
>>5806306

Right, roll a 1d55 and a 1d55+15 to see you succes

Rolled 5 (1d55)

>>5806341

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>5806341
Roll

Rolled 7 + 15 (1d55 + 15)

>>5806341
Sy

Rolled 17 + 15 (1d55 + 15)

>>5805857
>I need more territory i will the small border we have (costs 8 diplo points, roll a 1d55+15)

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>>5805912
>>5806306
>>5806341
>>5806585
>>5806587
>>5806801
Although, the King of Mozolavia has expressed his disappointment of your willingness to ''Wriggle out concessions in a time of need.'' He has agreed to concede to some points of your demands.

Concerning the gold payments he is willing to hand you about 120 kilo's of gold (Worth about 600 Greifs) In exchange for you taken only a part of the Voivodeship of Północne Jezioro or Nordseewald in you language. It seems that he is unwilling to complety concede to your demands.

An alternative would be that you would only get about 36 kilo's of gold (or about 180 Greifs) In exchange you would get the entirety of the Voivodeship of Północne Jezioro. It is not worth all that much to Casimir it seems.

Of course you could just gamble on him caving and demand both the gold and the entire Voivodeship if you so wished. But perhaps the time to extort him has passed.

______________________________________________________________________
>Gold is worth more than land I will take option 1 on the map
>Land is always worth more than gold, I shall take option 2 on the map (Includes the land of option 1)
>If King Casimir thinks he is a negotiator, he ain't seen nothing yet. Break of negotiations. He'll come back crawling

>>5807102
>Gold is worth more than land I will take option 1 on the map
Although I don't think gold is worth more than land, I do think this is the best option at the moment.

>>5807102
>>Land is always worth more than gold, I shall take option 2 on the map (Includes the land of option 1)

Gotta think long term anons

>>5807102
>>Land is always worth more than gold, I shall take option 2 on the map (Includes the land of option 1)

>>5807174
>>5807286
>>5807297

Indeed the entire Voivodeship would best serve your interests. It is not very heavily populated but has a lot beautiful lakes and is covered in massive amounts of forest. Which makes for a beautiful sight in the bloom of the summer.

There is however one last thing you must handle before you set of the the town of Koblanky where the meeting of the coalition would be held.

The title of Voivode is not in actually a noble title in Mozolavia but more of an office to which one can be appointed. As the new proprietor of this land it is time decide what to do with your prize.
____________________________
>The title of Voivode sounds nice, i will use as another hereditary title
>I will split up the Voivoide into new counties for myself
>Such a big territory could be a excellent place to turn into a province ruled over by appointed officials instead of the local nobles.

I must keep it short, family dinner this evening.

>>5807400
>>I will split up the Voivoide into new counties for myself

>>5807400
>>I will split up the Voivoide into new counties for myself

>>5807400
>I will split up the Voivoide into new counties for myself

>>5807400
>>I will split up the Voivoide into new counties for myself

>>5807400
>>5807405
>>5807455
>>5807484
>>5807521

Indeed you would split the Voivodeship into about three new counties and Burgraveship, which would have you as their count and Burgrave. It would complete the integration of the new counties into Greifswald, rather than Mozolavia.

However, it was now time to set of for war. You gave the formal call to gather the banners and to converge near the border town of Eichenblatt. It would take some time for the levies and retinues to converge upon the mustering grounds there so you had some time to drill your own men some more.

Still, before you would set of completely you thought it would be a good idea to appoint a deputy to lead the army in case you yourself became sick, wounded or worse. Thankfully you have a few good commanders both within your household and in your vassal
________________________________________________________________
Select a deputy
>Phillipe de Thrahifrere
Qualities and flaws:
+Capable, experienced commander.
+Determined
-Foreigner
-Melancholic

>Reinhard von Füchsbau
Qualities and flaws:
+Politically reliable
+Clever
-Unproven on the field
-Overly cautious

>Ehrenfried von Issenwald
Qualities and flaws:
+Brave
+Inspiring leader
-Reckless
-More a fighter than a commander

>>5807869
>>Phillipe de Thrahifrere

>>5807869
>Ehrenfried von Issenwald

>>5807869
>>Phillipe de Thrahifrere

>>5807869
>>Phillipe de Thrahifrere

>>5807869
>Phillipe de Thrahifrere

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>>5807876
>>5807955
>>5808102
>>5808149
>>5808636
Indeed, with the levies gathered and the commanders informed of the marching order. You only had to tally the men before you left.

In total you have taken with you from your own men:
-1200 poleaxemen.
-600 rangers
-800 archers
-400 light horsemen
-60 knights (Yourself included)
From your vassals:
-3000 spearmen
-1400 archers
-200 rangers
-600 light horsemen
-130 knights.
The knight would form your bodyguard while on the march and would form into the tip of a cavalry charge when on the field of battle.

Phillipe has settled into his role well enough but has a bit of trouble expressing himself in a foreign language, which makes some of his orders sound a bit strange. Thankfully there are a few noblemen who speak Aurliean to clarify such matters.

It would of course still take time for you to actually get to the agreed meeting place. So you had enough time for more casual matters.
_______________________________
>Talk with Phillipe
>Talk with Ehrenfried
>Talk with Reinhard

>>5808729
>>Talk with Ehrenfried

>>5808729
>>Talk with Ehrenfried

We should attempt to temper his recklessness I would say.

>>5808729
>>Talk with Ehrenfried

>>5808729
>>Talk with Ehrenfried

>>5808729
>>Talk with Ehrenfried

>>5808729
>Talk with Ehrenfried

>>5808958
>>5809017
>>5809089
>>5809134
>>5809305
>>5809562
Finding Ehrenfried was rather easy, only a few would wear bright white cloth while on the march.

You pull up your horse to ride alongside him for a while and to kill some time

‘’Sire, you honour me with your presence.’’ He said half seriously

‘’You know, my invitation to you about a sparring match is still open.’’ You said

‘’I know, I merely far too busy attending other matters, as one might.’’

‘’What, did you save another runaway serf from the gallow?’’ You joked

‘’Ha, no. But I did save an unwilling bride from some old lecher.’’ He said back
_______________________________________________
>Aren’t you concerned that your a bit reckless
>What do you make of these Udirgal’s?
>Have you ever fought in a war,instead of only in tournaments?
>Write-in

>>5809612
>Aren’t you concerned that your a bit reckless

>>5809612
>>Have you ever fought in a war,instead of only in tournaments?

>>5809612
>>What do you make of these Udirgal’s?

>>5809612
>Aren’t you concerned that your a bit reckless

>>5809612
>>Aren’t you concerned that your a bit reckless

>>5809612
>Have you ever fought in a war,instead of only in tournaments?

>>5809612
>>What do you make of these Udirgal’s?

>>5809635
>>5809717
>>5809732
>>5809856
>>5809922
>>5810506
>>5810601
‘’Aren’t you concerned that your a bit reckless.’’ you said

‘’In what way? Are you concerned about my personal safety or the safety of my retinue?.’’

‘’If I must believe you, than I suppose that I must be concerned about the safety of your retinue.’’

‘’But you should not worry about that. I delegate actual command of the levy to my father’s captain. I can command some troops but herding about more than a hundred I could not handle.’’ He paused for a bit to think.

He continued: ‘’ I have a few elite men, the best of the best. Trained, armoured and saddled on the best. And they are more or less like me.

He leaned in. ‘’I do or die, that’s my style sir.’’
____________________________________
>Do you even fear death?
>How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?
>Write-in.

>>5810678
>>How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?

>>5810678
>>How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?

>>5810678
>>How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?

>>5810678
>How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?

>>5810802
>>5810839
>>5810963
>>5811025
‘’How in heaven did you find people that would be willing to do that?’’

He grins.

‘’When you travel, you on occasion need to do so in a group.’’

‘’They were once a broken band of adventurers I met in the west of Tautenland. They were out of money and supplies. Considering I had just made an enemy out of the local lord they came in handy. I still needed to cross his bridge but I didn’t want to be arrested or pay a toll.’’

‘’They followed me throughout Tautenland, they became my retainers in all but name. In my later travels they have proved their worth enough that my father keeps them around.
__________________________________
>Odd, adventures are normally not to keen on pledging their allegiance
>A toll bridge, is this another adventure of yours?
>So let me get this straight, you are charismatic enough to get a band of ruffians to loyally follow you, but you can’t lead an army.
>Write-in

>>5811413
>>So let me get this straight, you are charismatic enough to get a band of ruffians to loyally follow you, but you can’t lead an army.

>>5811413
>So let me get this straight, you are charismatic enough to get a band of ruffians to loyally follow you, but you can’t lead an army.

>>5811413
>>Odd, adventures are normally not to keen on pledging their allegiance

>>5811413
>>So let me get this straight, you are charismatic enough to get a band of ruffians to loyally follow you, but you can’t lead an army.
local lord reference

>>5811423
>>5811534
>>5811540
>>5811564
That was unintentional but still funny, I did put a sworn to valour reference in earlier.

‘’So let me get this straight, you are charismatic enough to get a band of ruffians to loyally follow you, but you can’t lead an army.’’

‘’I know most of these people by name and they can take care of themselves well enough. An army means dealing with logistics and subordinates. I can keep fifty of them in hand well enough, but I can’t deal with thousands of them. I am not a numbers guy. If you want a bookkeeper go and talk to my brother.’’ He said

‘’You have a brother?’’

‘’Three of them and a sister, the eldest, Wilfried is dry scholar-bookkeeper and bore, then you have Karl who likes the maids and alcohol a bit too much for his own good and then you also have Klaus who prefers writing bad poetry.’’ He said

‘’Oh I forgot Else, she mostly just gardens while father dear makes his hair fall out searching for a suitable marriage but he has no luck.
____________________________
>I can see why you left home
>Are you the youngest among your siblings?
>Write-in

>>5812193
>>Are you the youngest among your siblings?

>>5812193
>>I can see why you left home

>>5812193
>>Are you the youngest among your siblings?
Lol

>>5812193
>Are you the youngest among your siblings?

>>5812193
>Are you the youngest among your siblings?

>>5812259
>>5812309
>>5812538
>>5812660
>>5812986
‘’Are you the youngest among your siblings?’’

‘’’No, Else is the youngest of us and by that virtue is mother’s favourite, but I am the youngest of the boys, and well, Karl and Klaus are twins. But I am my father’s favourite, which is probably why I was able to leave to wander without too much problems, which was good to give my brother’s more attention from my father’’

‘’And how fares your father?’’ you asked

‘’Poorly, he has caught the gout during my wanderjahre and it has only become worse ever since. He already needs a cane to walk and he is not even fifty. Which is also why I am here alone instead of accompanying him.’’
__________________________
>Where do you live actually?
>Do you have any more interesting ancestors?
>Write-in

>>5814064
>>Do you have any more interesting ancestors?

>>5814064
>Do you have any more interesting ancestors?

>>5814064
>>Do you have any more interesting ancestors?

>>5814064
>>Where do you live actually?

>>5814130
>>5814135
>>5814360
>>5814416
‘’Do you have any more interesting ancestors?’’

‘’Don’t we all. I am apparently a descendant of some old hero of yore in Tautenland. But the actual claim runs dry about four generations in, aren’t you descendent of someone illustrious yourself?’’ he asked

‘’I have the same problem as you, the trail runs cold two generations before my grandfather I don’t know really where the Adlershorst name came from because I can trace the barony I was raised in back to about 120 years but the Adlershorst name can be traced back to about 200 years ago. It is nothing compared to the Uradel out west who rule over the kingdoms there.’’

‘’Aye, we can’t all come from the founders of kingdoms and empires, and thankfully there have been no claimants to divine heritage since the day of IsIdor’s wrath.’’
You remember something of the day of IsIdor’s wrath, or the dies irae Isidori from when you talked with your granduncle all those years ago. It was the first and last time the gods intervened in the world since the great war for the dawn. In the years after that the remains of the Isidorian empire had been left to govern to his half-elf children, who left the imperial throne empty as a show of respect to the dead father, who would become their effective god-emperor.

Instead, they reformed the empire into a magocratic state with them at the top, formally headed by the Senatus Sanguinis or Senate of the blood. After a few generations of this they become ever more crueller and corrupt with their antics growing ever bloodier, at which point. Isidor himself intervened and sunk the former capital and its surrounding land into the sea and, according to legend, turned their blood to acid as retribution for their cruelty upon their subjects.

Thanks to them, the church and the supreme magical covenant now hold a ban upon the practice of blood magic, the second type they banned after necromancy was used enmasse by Scilirion also called Skjolmar in the northern kingdom though he has a lot of names that vary. Though the two most used in Tauten are Der Schwarzherr and Der Hexenkönig he was defeated a long time ago.

______________________________________
>Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?
>Unfortunately, it seems we must both cope with a muddied ancestry
>Perhaps it is for the best, new things must arise and sometimes the old must be displaced
>Write-in

Author's note: The ancient Isidorian's were essentially 55% Roman, 45% Numenorian

>>5814677
>>Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?

>>5814677
>>Perhaps it is for the best, new things must arise and sometimes the old must be displaced

>>5814677
>>Perhaps it is for the best, new things must arise and sometimes the old must be displaced

>>5814677
>>Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?

>>5814677
>Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?

>>5814677
>Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?

>>5814729
>>5814743
>>5814777
>>5814862
>>5815281
>>5815476
‘’Do you think the Udirgols mean a second coming of the Schwarzherr?’’

‘’No, I don’t think so. When Skolling Der Schwarzherr came and revelaed himself they said that the temperature dropped dramatically and that he caused massive blizzards and colds to cause a mass migration of people to cause chaos. No such thing has happened. And besides that, you know that the scriptures tell us he can’t return.’’

Oh yes, he allegedly can't, the gods cast his soul into the deepest pits of the infernal planes where those who are judged stay to serve out their sentence. Accordingly, only a few truly evil souls are permanently condemned to stay there; he was the first. To be tormented by the denizens of those endless hellscapes forever. Still, there have on occasion been people who have been compared to his figure usually in how much of a threat they were though they would never be able to reach his heights.

‘’Yes, I believe the lord of these Udirgols is much like the other nomadic horse lords, only he has succeeded in uniting the hordes under his banner. They say that when you control the steppe you become the toll collector of the bridge between east and west. I believe that whoever is behind this empire is probably one of the greatest minds of our age.’’
_______________________________________

>I wonder how these Udirgols fight
>I can only hope that our forces will be enough to stop them.
>Write-in

>>5816387
>>I wonder how these Udirgols fight

>>5816387
>>I wonder how these Udirgols fight
Are there any survivors accounts? Knowing how they operate is a huge advantage. Have we read or heard records of the previous steppe people's stratagem. And above all don't fight the entirely mounted army in the open and don't try to chase after them on foot or leave the infantry behind. It's fighting horse army's 101.

>>5816387
>>I wonder how these Udirgols fight

>>5816387
>I wonder how these Udirgols fight

>>5816387
>I wonder how these Udirgols fight

>>5816443
>>5816461
>>5816675
>>5816681
>>5816760
‘’I wonder how these Udirgols fight’’

‘’Presumably like most of their kin, on horse with a bow practising hit-and-run tactics and only closing in when they have broken their enemies on the field.’’

‘’I don’t think that would be our only concern. The way they break into cities and the fact that they managed to come this far is far more concerning.’’

When you finally came to the town of Sokolnictwo where the other countries have already begun to set up camp in advance of the coming campaign, you see many a banner or coat of the great kingdoms or lords of the continent: The white-red stripes and Horse of Lolegel, the wolf of Mozolavia, the White star on a black field of the knights and now, the white griffon on the red field of Greifswald would join them.

The cast of men you would join with tonight would be some most important men of the day. King Casimir himself, together with his three eldest sons, about four Mozolavian Dukes, the Palatine of Lolegel, the highest office of said kingdom, as King Charles was a known cripple, the knight-marshall of the Argent Stars and so much more. Even an exiled Ruthoslaw nobleman or two who had fled from the destruction with their followers.

King Casimir then spoke in Isidorian: ‘’Gentlemen, my lords, honoured friends. Tonight we are here to convene and plan against an enemy the likes of which has not been seen for nearly two thousand years. It is up to us to halt them here, and not anywhere deeper. Even if the Kaiser could halt them I have no doubt that the wrath these vile savages will bring upon us would mean the end of our realms. It is now or never. Either we stand and maybe die or cower and certainly die.

The table around which you were seated quickly began to talk among themselves to discuss things. You also spotted a very strange knight in a fire red surcoat that briefly came into the tent to briefly talk to King Casimir before leaving again.

Soon enough the conversation was quieting down enough to begin asking questions if you liked.
___________________________________________
>What do we know about our enemy?
>With how many are we?
>Are there any features in the landscape we can take advantage of?
>Write-in

>>5816818
>>Are there any features in the landscape we can take advantage of?

>>5816818
>>What do we know about our enemy?

Certainly they are a cut above of what is to be expected, we need to know what their advantages are.

>>5816818
>Are there any features in the landscape we can take

>>5816818
>Are there any features in the landscape we can take advantage of?

>>5816818
>What do we know about our enemy?

>>5816818
>>What do we know about our enemy?

>>5816864
>>5817091
>>5817161
>>5817164
>>5817258
>>5817362
‘’Are there any features in the landscape we can take advantage of?’’

‘’There is a hillslope a day's march away. The Udirgols were last spotted near a river to said hills east. We believe that the hill would be the best point to hold them of, as it is surrounded on both sides by som woodland which would prevent them from outflanking, hopefully.’’ One of the Mozolavian dukes said

‘’Alright, what else do we know about the enemy.’’’

One of the Ruthoslaw princes then spoke: ‘’They are ruthless, at first they send someone to demand your submission and then they start raiding and pillaging across the countryside. They do this with deliberate terror to scare the rural population into overcrowding the cities which they then besiege and then sack the city. There are no survivors from most sacks.’’

As for their actual preferred tactics on the field it mostly consists of attempting to harass the infantry and baiting the cavalry into separating itself from the main army. They then surround and destroy the cavalry before attempting to do the same to the rest of the army.’’

The mood around the table turned quiet, nobody had ever done battle against such a force aside from the two Ruthoslaw’s. A foe without footfolk, which relies on battles on annihilation and hit-and-run and surrounding instead of charging and breakthroughs. This would be a difficult campaign. Far more difficult.
___________________________________
>With how many are we?
>What is our army’s composition
>Do we have anything else that could help? Like perhaps magic.
>Write-in

>>5817861
>>What is our army’s composition

>>5817861
>>Do we have anything else that could help? Like perhaps magic.

>>5817861
>>With how many are we?
>>What is our army’s composition

>>5817861
>>What is our army’s composition

>>5817884
>>5817890
>>5817954
>>5819351
‘’What is our army’s composition?’’

‘’We stand at about 12,000 strong. You brought in 2,000 men, the Logegelian brought in 3,000 under Palatine Bela, the Mozolavians brought in another 5,000 and the Ruthoslaws and the Knights brought in 2,000 men.’’

‘’’Most of this force is infantry with a substantial force of cavalry, the Mozolavian and Lolegalian infantry are lightly armoured in comparison to the Order, you and the Ruthoslaw’s. So it is of utmost importance that the enemy does not break through.’’

‘’There is also a special matter, we have at our disposal something that may help if all else is lost.’’ The Mozolavian King then told someone to fetch someone

When he returned the knight in flame-red reappeared.
‘’This is Henryk of Blade Bagno, knight in my service and an experienced pyromancer.’’ the King said

‘’You actually got a mage to fight in a battle? Normally they would not dare come close to one.’’ Someone at the table said

Mages and magic users in general were by their very nature exempt from service, for they normally could not cast powerful enough spells to really be effective and they would usually be target number one for any enemy worth their weight.

And much like the crossbow when it was first introduced magic use on the battlefield was at times banned by the pontiff, though this has been weakened to a exemption for mages to prevent the ‘’needless loss of magical practitioners in pointless wars of Kings.’’ Instead, mages may only volunteer if they wish to.

Indeed the evening went on for a while before you withdrew to your tent to rest. Tomorrow you would confront the eastern savages and, perhaps, you would not merely save Sokolnictwo, not merely Mozolavia but all of Argalis. Either way you would come out of tomorrow either as a victorious defender of the faithful or one of the few who could see the threat from the east.

(1/2)

File: Thebattle.png (688 KB, 3633x3972)

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>>5820311
Upon arriving at the hill from which you could oversee the field of battle you could see the dust kicked up from the hooves from far away, the troops had already begun to take their positions at the bottom of the slope.

There is not much upon the hill, just an abandoned house and a sheep pen.

You did not have enough time for all of this and you soon joined the circle of horses upon which sat the commanders for the battle.

King Casimir, as the highest ranking noble would be in overall command, his son’s would command the smaller individual units of Mozolavians, the other troops would be under the command of their respective lords and masters, the Logegelians under Palatine Bela, the Ruthoslaw’s under their Prince Ivan, the knight’s of the argent star under Knight-Marshall Gerhard van Wüchshausen and the Greifswalders under you with the cavalry being commanded by Phillipe with Ehrenfried acting as his deputy.

You would be in command of the main compartment of footmen, archers and rangers.

Now where would you like to deploy?
_____________________________________
>Put the cavalry on the right flank and deploy the footmen in the right forest
>Put the cavalry on the left flank and deploy the footmen in the left forest
>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest
>Write-in

>>5820313
>>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest

>>5820313
>>Put the cavalry on the right flank and deploy the footmen in the right forest

>>5808729
>In total you have taken with you from your own men:
>-1200 poleaxemen.
>-600 rangers
>-800 archers
>-400 light horsemen
>-60 knights (Yourself included)
>From your vassals:
>-3000 spearmen
>-1400 archers
>-200 rangers
>-600 light horsemen
>-130 knights.

>>5820311
>You brought in 2,000 men

Huh?

>>5820313
>>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest

>>5820745
Short oversight sorry, had to catch sheep today over soggy ground

>>5820313
>>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest

>>5820313
>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest

>>5820313
>Put the cavalry in the reserved and put the footmen on the hill and the rangers in the forest

>>5820770
Sheep ay? For the sake of the sheep's chastity I hope yer not Welsh.

>>5821836
Dutch, in fact. I live on a farm

>>5820578
>>5820618
>>5820745
>>5820770
>>5820820
>>5821022
>>5821713
>>5821836
>>5821899

The placing of the infantry proved more annoying than previously thought. As the Slope was already occupied by the other army's you could only place your in formation behind them. Thankfully, you could put the archers higher upon the ridge so that they could should from a position of vantage.

The cavalry with Phillipe in command would be in reserve in case the enemy would outflank you while Ehrenfried would act as a liaison between you and Phillipe, Georg meanwhile, would do the same with the rangers who would be operating in the forest nearby.

The wind had suddenly picked up around nine o'clock in the morning while you were observing the movements from up the hill. The Harder winds had blown away the dust clouds kicked up by the nomadic warriors mounts and now their army lay in full display.

It was like nothing that you could imagine. An army that is entirely mounted, not upon the coursers or destiers that knights would do charges with. But upon horses bred for agility and endurance, horses that are made for the steppe.

(1/2)

File: Thebattle.png (882 KB, 3633x3972)

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>>5822143
''What an army, I can only imagine how much fodder it eats on a daily basis.'' You said

''It eats enough, they say that the steppe is a sea of grass,in which the horse is a ship. An endless landscape of rolling plains of grass from the river Uliga to the mountains of the Dragon leading into the Luangang. They can probably substitute with supplies taken from their tributaries.'' Ehrenfried said. He then continued.

''Phillipe wishes to report that the cavalry has been placed upon a position from which they can charge with great speed if need be and if you have anything else to order.''

''No, not yet.''

''Very well.'' Ehrenfried said and he took off on his white destrier

The Udirgol's are still advancing. That much is clear from upon the hill even through the masses of banners, standard, flags and polearms even then. You could see that the Mozolavian are beginning to close rank almost instinctively as if awaiting a charge. but then again the Udirgol's seem to focus on the left flank which means that the rangers aren't as effictive at that range. Yet you still hear the trampling of their hooves and the shrill cries of both the mount and the rider.

The continue on an then...

They begin to circle around unleashing perhaps the most infamous unit of the nomad: The horse-archer

The frontlines raises its shields but even then you could see that for some it is not enough. When your own archers begin to give counter-fire they rapidly pull back. Safely out of range.

Yet that does not mean that your own army is without tricks, already, the trumpets of the other cavalry are already honking with furore and a need for vengeance as for as they are concerned, it is time for a counter-charge.
___________________________________________
What will you do next?
>We should support this charge, tell Phillipe to join up with the other cavalry
>I am not so certain of victory: move the Infantry to the right, so that we may at least escape if it goes south
>Dammit! this not how you are supposed to fight nomads! I must see to it that the cavalry charges are Cancelled
>Write-in

>>5822149
>>Dammit! this not how you are supposed to fight nomads! I must see to it that the cavalry charges are Cancelled

>>5822149
>>We should support this charge, tell Phillipe to join up with the other cavalry

>>5822149
>We should support this charge, tell Phillipe to join up with the other cavalry
Victory or death. This can't go wrong.

>>5822149
>Dammit! this not how you are supposed to fight nomads! I must see to it that the cavalry charges are Cancelled
The cav is going to get massacered if we don't watch out.

Right I am going to bed, if any anon would be so kind as to break the tie you have my thanks in advance.

Also did you know that the English word ''knight'' is derived from the same root word as the German-Dutch word ''Knecht'' which means servant

By contrast the German and Dutch words for knight (ritter and ridder) are dirived from their respective word for rider
(Reiter and Ruiter)

>>5822149
>>We should support this charge, tell Phillipe to join up with the other cavalry

>>5822257
>>5822315
>>5822503

Anons, we were explicitly told that they try and lure cavalry out to destroy it. Further, we know that they are on light and agile horses compared to our war steeds. It is a bad idea.

>>Dammit! this not how you are supposed to fight nomads! I must see to it that the cavalry charges are Cancelled
this is bait by the horse nomads, dont take it

>>5822149
>Dammit! this not how you are supposed to fight nomads! I must see to it that the cavalry charges are Cancelled

We were told this is bait

>>5822218
>>5822257
>>5822315
>>5822342
>>5822496
>>5822503
>>5822604
>>5822830
>>5822949
This isn’t good. Not good at all.

If they charge then the Udirgols will simply retreat, regroup and massacre them in a crossfire of arrows. Then when they have finished off the mobile part of the army they will attempt to surround and massacre the footfolk as well.

For a moment you want to call out to Ehrenfried, but before you can you realise that he is still with Phillipe in the reserve. It is up to you then to save the cavalry from its own charge.

You kick the spurs into your destrier and with a quick motion you are galloping down the hill. You can only hope that you can reach the cavalry in time.

The horse to its credit brings you close enough for you to make it in time. Yet all of a sudden you come to a sudden realisation as the world around seems to ground to halt. You must either attempt to convince the commanders of the Mozolavian-Order knights to halt before it is too late. Or you must go to King Casimir to have him stop the charge, if he is willing to listen. Almost frantically you search the field for the standards: You can see the royal banner to your right and to your left can clearly spot the one who is supposed to lead the charge. You must either risk time to get royal authority, or use your own persuasion skills to stop them.
___________________________________
What shall thou do? Brave sir knight?
>Veer off to the right, I can’t risk an argument right now.
>Ride on to the left, I must not waste time.
>Write-in

>>5823287
>Ride on to the left, I must not waste time.
>Write in: Shout "Stop the charge! anyone who can hear me, also shout this!"

>>5823287
>>Ride on to the left, I must not waste time.
>Write in: Shout "Stop the charge! anyone who can hear me, also shout this!"

>>5823287
>>Veer off to the right, I can’t risk an argument right now.

>>5823287
>>Veer off to the right, I can’t risk an argument right now.

I do not expect the order knights will listen to us.

Right, if someone could cast a tiebreaking vote please?

>>5823287
>>Veer off to the right, I can’t risk an argument right now.

File: Mozolavia.png (261 KB, 2480x1754)

261 KB PNG

>>5823371
>>5823411
>>5823420
>>5823451
>>5823611
>>5823672
But to the wind with conventions! This is a matter of utmost urgency!
___________________________________________
>Persuasion Roll
>Equal Social Standing 60DC
Because i’m a lazy git I will be ripping off Sworn to Valour for game systems.

0 = King Casimir thinks you are a coward and orders you to get out of his sight
1 = King Casimir sees some merit in your warning and explanation but is unwilling to simply halt the charge, instead, he’ll order a probing attack with half of the charging force
2 = King Casimir understands and is convinced by your arguments but is unwilling to expand political capital over halting the knights, leaving them to their fates
3 = King Casimir fully understands what is a stake here and will order all cavalry to halt, even the order knight

3 rolls of 1d100

Stand fast, ye faithful. For the scourge of the Gods does not take prisoners.[/i]

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>5823699

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5823699

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>5823699

>>5823699
Over/under? I'm assuming under like in the system is a "homage" to.

>2 degrees of success

Quickly you are let through to the heart of the Mozolavian command structure where you find King Casimir. He seems puzzled as to why you arrived in person.

‘’I beg your pardon, Duke. But should you not be organising and leading your compartment of the army?’’ the King said

‘’I have a favour to ask. One which is of utmost importance not only to me, but to all of us. You must stop the charge. If they are out there they'll be surrounded and massacred. Stop the charge, please.’’

The King briefly ponders your words before talking in his own language with one of his sons. Before turning back to you. Looking a bit annoyed.

‘’You are right, however, I am not going waste my time herding the others into stopping as well. Sound the recall!’’

With that someone blows two times on a horn. The recall, or the halt.

‘’I hope you have a better plan, duke. For we remain still here as sitting ducks we shall not win either.’’
________________________________________________
>Split the army in two, this time we’ll draw them in, surround them and destroy.
>Move the archers to the front, we’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.
>Ask that pyromancer of yours to set the fields they ride upon aflame.
>write-in

>>5824336
Yes, under

>>5824383
If roll under shouldn't it be 1 degree of success?

>>5824408
Yes, sorry (Phoneposting as I feeding the cows)

>>5824383
>>Move the archers to the front, we’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.
I HATE KERGHIT HORSE ARCHERS

>>5824383
>>Split the army in two, this time we’ll draw them in, surround them and destroy.

>>write-in

Perhaps not exactly in two, but some formations should withdraw into the woods, as though our army is falling apart, hopefully it will give off the appearance of squabbling commanders.

The canceled charge would add to that image.

>>5824463
Apologies, i was thinking we had the woods behind us, at the very least they can withdraw beyond the hill

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Finished this, it isn't really important (All of them are long dead) but they are important background characters

One of them is Ehrenfried's patron saint.[/i]

>>5824383
>Move the archers to the front, we’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.

>>5824594
Nice

>>5824383
>>Move the archers to the front, we’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.
Fire for a later surprise

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>>5824460
>>5824463
>>5824466
>>5824594
>>5824638
>>5824708
‘’Move the archers to the front, we’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.’’

At this one of his sons, the youngest one you guessed. Then gave you a sly grin.

‘’You're in luck where that is concerned. We have outfitted some of our archers in the Castanan style.’’

Ah yes, the Castanan style. In other words, while most of the nations still use normal bows and Angenlanders in particular use the longbow which not even the elves use (save for those from Auseley where the longbow the Anglanders use originated.) The Castanans use crossbows instead, although harder to reload and harder to fabricate it takes much less time to learn how to use it and the bolts are capable of piercing through armour with greater ease than the normal bow. Some of the more advanced types even have a mechanism to make reloading less of a hassle.

Still, the pondering on the weapon would have to wait. As you were sucked back into reality by the blowing of the trumpets and horns that signalled the halt of the charge.

The Mozolavian came to halt almost immediately, the Lolegelians never moved because they were on the other flank which only left the order to charge. Yet, as it becomes clear to them that their allies would not be joining them some begin to peel off back to the lines. Only a reckless few continue on, only to be killed or have their mounts killed under them, which makes them an even easier target.

You estimated that about sixty knights actually went through with the charge, only four came back.

Upon seeing that their initial tactic did bait enough of the cavalry. The Udirgols went forward again only this time they would be countered with mass counterfire from the crossbows, according to rumours, a properly trained crossbowmen can shoot about two bolts per minute and you then see it.

The nomads have lightly armoured horses and as they usually wear lamellar armour the effect the bolts have is devastating. Horse and archer soon begin to fall over and while they also take a few archers on your side with them because of their need to wheel around and allow the other to shoot, you see that massed volley fire has its effects. The Mozolavian sergeants in front of their formations and bark orders to ensure the optimal amount of fire is applied.

Indeed much like how pikes can ward off the feared cavalry charge, so mass volley fire can ward off the masters of the steppe.

Your’e not certain how they would react next. They can’t outflank you, they already failed to bait out the cavalry and you doubt they’ll come back for…. Oh, apparently they do, and with predictable results. Eventually they just stand there, unwilling to come into range of the bows and crossbows of the army on the hill.
________________________
>Have the line advance, we’ll drive them from the field
>Send the cavalry, especially the reserve into the woods to hit them from the rear.
>Write-in

>>5825601
>write in: Slow advance of the army to maintain cohesion. Fire a volley once in a while to keep the enemy on their toes.
Have the army slowy for an arch. The men in the forests are ordered to move higher on the map to be ready to cut of the enemy.

>>5825624
Support

We should do what we can to adopt crossbows ourselves

>>5825601
>Send the cavalry, especially the reserve into the woods to hit them from the rear.

>>5825624
i also support this action, its the best option here, the cav likely wont be able to catch them, so we either force to come at us or we come to them with the cav screening us , the urdigols either charge the infantry, or try and face the heavy cav, or flee the field

>>5825624
Sure support

>>5825624
>>5825670
>>5825774
>>5826247
>>5826322
‘’Have the army make a slow advance to maintain cohesion. Have them fire a volley once in a while to keep the enemy on their toes.’’

And so in slow pacing the glorious lines of shining metal and brightly coloured fabrics march forward a snail's pace. With a trusty volley every so now and then to keep the nomadic warriors at bay.

Progress is slow in that regard but you had also given order to the rangers in the woods to come out and give harassing fire from the right flank. You could of course hope that the rangers will come in time to cut off the line of retreat enough but moving out of the underbrush and onto the pains will cost time. And men on horses are always faster than those on foot
________________________________________
>Enemy on horses, mobile 65 DC

Time to roll.
0 = The rangers do make it in time, but either out of desperation or a need for vengeance the Udirgols slaughter their way through while moving back of the river
1 = The rangers are not in time to properly cut of the escape lines, instead they are only capable of firing more arrows
2 = The ranger are capable of pinning about twenty percent of the remaining Udirgol force, which thank to the help of the cavalry is surrounded.
3 = Somehow the cavalry and the rangers work in unison. With the rangers firing from one side, the regular army from the other and the knights and horsemen filling the gaps only a few nomad warrior can now espace from a certain encirclement

3 rolls of 1d100 please

Castle, crossbow and forest, these are the weapons against which no nomad has an answer. -Luigi di Gonnessi. Anno 1386 on the Udirgols wars

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>5826644
Death to the nomads !

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5826644

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>5826644

>>5826668
>>5826674
>>5826757
Congratulations, you just Agincourted the Mongols, you did better than in real life

>>5826770
Hell Yeah time to finish them off !
After that capture and looting, there might be more armies coming

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>>5826668
>>5826674
>>5826757
>>5826770
>>5826827
From under the leaves of the forest, the rangers begin marching out in rank and file. They do not move towards the Udirgols but instead march a metre ahead only to open fire upon the unfortunate nomads who seem to be panicking beyond compare.

And indeed both the knights and the regular horsemen quickly close the gaps between any routes of escape.

You see Phillipe chasing a few Udirgols who broke formation into the forest though one horse refuses to go into forest and is quickly cut down, another one has his horse trip on the underbrush, the horse gets up again, the rider does not.

Even now with them completely surrounded they seem determined to break in one way or another. Yet the volleys keep coming, the footmen keep closing in, and the knights quickly charge any who attempt to break out.

The gauntlet is closed, now it is time to squeeze. Although the enemy arrows still pepper the lines the ordinary footmen keep slowly making their way to them. More and more they fall and you have no doubt that it will be their last stand.

By about four o'clock after midday the battle is all but won. Nearly all their horses are lying dead upon either the grass or their riders. By this point the men were getting low on arrows so King Casimir had the cavalry trample the last few survivors.

The butcher’s bill on your side is heavy nonetheless. The Mozolavians are the most mauled, logical, for they brought the most men, followed by the Logegelians, your own men and the order. Thankfully, no one you knew personally had died on this day though there will probably be a few difficult conversations with the families once your soldiers return home.

But while you were overthinking such sombre things, Ehrenfried rode up beside you with a trophy he had.

‘’I took this sword off some high ranking Udirgol, there take look’’

‘’It reminds me of those sword they apparently have in the orient, look at it, it is curved instead of straight.’’

‘’Aye, this is a sword meant for slashing instead of thrusting. I guess that’s why they couldn't pierce our mail effectively, only their arrows could do that reliably.’’

(1/2)