Ultimatum

At the Flossian border between Mecklenheim and Rotsdorf

The Freelancers sent forward intercepted the Landwehr Brigade stationed near the town of Strutzenheim. They rode back on the main road to Mecklenheim, then sent a company through the woods to the Brigade and von Hohenspitz to let them know about the possible threat. 

The General was pondering if he could just rush on Mecklenheim without a warning or let them know the war is official. Finally he decided to send orders back to the Freelance Companies with another courier: in which they were ordered to block the road between Strutzenheim and Mecklenheim as they were, but bring word of ultimatum under a white flag to the Flossian force stationed westwards. 

The next day, von Hohenspitz would take Mecklenheim, a first battle in a long row for the Principality. He decided to pay the soldiers before battle, increasing morale further more.

At the Grühne Bridge north of Spülge

Dietrich von Spülge's mind, perhaps inspired by the fear of loss of his estate, produced a brilliant idea. He knew too well that the crossing army would be bottlenecked by the Flossian cavalry occupying the left shore of the river, so he ordered his pioneers to destroy the bridge and marched along the shore to the other bridge between Flögesholm and Willecheny. The work would make the Flossians believe it still was a full force stationed at the Spülge bridge, however, it would still take a full day to blow that one up, and the choice of crossing, being narrower, to let the whole brigade pass. This also gave the advantage to von Spülge to march on the enemy in battle order. 

Arrivals and departments

The messenger reached the Störkburg brigade in the morning. Von Hohenspitz read the Princeps' letter, then questioned the Lieutenant handling it to him. Without any explanation, he gave the marching order. 'Either tell them what's coming and make them upset, or don't tell them and make them upset', he muttered. 'At least I can spare myself some riding.' Von Hohenspitz was known to be lazy at the beginning of long marches. This would mean bad for the soldiers' feet ... and the Flossians.
The brigade departed at noon and marched until late evening where they bivouacked themselves and had something to eat. A messenger was sent forward to inform the Freelancers they were free to go. Before midnight, the companies rode into the woods to cross the border west of the Flossian fortifications blocking the entrance of the valley.

Dietrich von Spülge and the 2nd Brigade met each other the same day and preparations began to cross the Grühne bridge on the next.

Lady Ingetora left Böhnstadt towards the north, hoping to reach the Court of Varangia in two weeks.

Filler #1: Further plans in the Principality

Now you, dear readers, might or might not have been informed of my limited opportunities regards free-time activity over Random&Creative, but here is a little post to assure everyone, Schultze-Böhnstadt is not dead.

The current campaign is essentially a prelude to further ones as well as a hot spot through which I am going to fill the world with characters and nations and personalities. This blog is about to turn ineffectively spent time (playing computer games) to something more intelligent anyway. 

For example, we do not yet know anything about Varangia, Glambria and the Alliance of Quattri Formaggi. The last piece of the story (the Varangian ambassador being sent back to Gluteborg for orders) is the first in a long row to fix that. 

A very useful improvement would be to add more stats besides Edu and Temp to increase characters' depth and prove further back stories too. I am also thinking about inviting some players to have final decisions on certain aspects of the Imagi-Nations' histories. This adds a random factor -the humane factor - to the game. And I don't have to think for each nation myself.

And perhaps one day these countries will have their own miniature figures on my shelves. Strictly for fun.

The Secret Council assembles

The first thing was to take action with all they had; now Chancellor Südflosse sat in the High Chamber of the Palace of Böhnstadt and knew his master will take matters into his own hand.
There were three men and one woman around the table: Princeps Erhard Berthold, his Guard Captain, Ludwig von Merck, Erik von Südflosse himself and Lady Ingetora Orstsdottir, the Varangian ambassador to Schultze-Böhnstadt.
'We are to set up this Council', the Princeps started in a mild, but anxious tone. 'For, you see, things have gone wild and we are at war no doubt; and that war I wish to win before more defeats are suffered and more casualties are taken.
In times like this we must seek allies where we had not done before, and this is why you, mylady, are sitting at this table right now.'
'You ask me to engage in a war we do not have interest in', the ambassador replied. 'We take money not; we are proud to serve the right, but Gluteborg-Varangia is not home of ruthless mercenaries.'
'My father knew that too well', the Princeps said. 'But times are changing, and if we don't stop the Flossian deluge they'll soon reach your country too, and they will reach it un-prepared.'
'You will be paid for', thus spoke von Südflosse, 'all we need is a few regiments, may they be volunteers or veterans or whatever you like. Join the war or lend your troops and we will give them flags to fight for; you'll have well-trained men who've smelled the smoke of a thousand muskets' fire. Their commander will be granted some estate of Böhnstadter land near the border; we will arrange their quarters, supplies and will transport them if necessary.'
'And should you refuse, we will presume you already have a contract with the Union and deal with you so', von Merck finished the thoughts of the Chancellor.
'Waging war against us and the Union at the same time?' Lady Ingetora laughed.
'I have the orders to raise five more brigades here, ready to be signed. Two more will be enough to deal with von Presser's lot in the west' - the Princeps lowered his voice and his words had a threatening tone.
'That is all; what is your answer, mylady?', von Südflosse asked.
'We bow not to mere threats, sir', the ambassador exclaimed. 'And I have no power to decide this matter alone; I will travel to Gluteborg and see the King and his court to make decision.'

An exchange of information

Luckily, the dispatch sent by von Kahlen reached the dispatch sent by von Spülge from the other side of the river. They quickly turned back, and met von Spülge's escort which just crossed the Grühne bridge. Thus the General was timely informed of the mobilization of his brigade and could alter his plans to meet them at the Bridge that leads to his town of origin.

The other messenger, sent to Störkburg took off the road to cut the distance and was ready to enter the mountain range near the fort of Wraugspitze.

Grübsheim falls

'Today these walls won't hold us back', von Leuchtenberg exclaimed with confidence. He was determined to take the fort no matter how big the brigade's losses are.

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Running with time

Dietrich von Spülge and his escorting Mounted Jägers were still twenty miles far from the Grühne and about forty more to Dreichholm. Grübsheim has been under siege for two days now.
They rode until dusk, then Von Spülge sent forward a smaller detachment of troops with orders to the Brigade to make ready for march. This detachment rode through a small fortification guarding the southern end of the bridge on the Grühne, the commander of which deliberately offered to send his own Hussars even more forward.
It still takes at least two days for the Brigade to get the orders and mobilize. Meanwhile, the siege is on again.

Siege of Grübsheim, Day 1

The Flossian army had prepared to storm Grübsheim. They had a full brigade of foot with two artillery batteries and a pioneer battalion. Von Leuchtenberg studied the outlay of the defensive works:

Grübsheim is near a lake on the left bank of the River Grühne. The lake is connected to the walls with a canal and supplies the moat surrounding the fort with plenty of water. There's one crossing on the canal guarded by three towers. More guntowers are placed around the walls, marked as dark red dots on the sketch above.

The fort itself is a star-shaped one with an outer wall which ties the two ends of the moat together in the south. 'This is where we'll attack', announced von Leuchtenberg. 'After the outer wall is crushed, all we've got to do is take them out by force. Send the Pandurs over that crossing and see if they can pass,' he ordered Colonel von Werther. 'Take the pioneers if you'd want to, but make sure they pack up some siege weapons for the rest of the brigade.'

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Dreichholm Brigade to the rescue!

'How dare you!'
Dietrich von Spülge entered the corridor of the High Chancellery shouting all the way to von Südflosse's office, and when he finally arrived into the room, he showed no intention to stop. 'How dare you not warning me that my hometown has been fallen to Flossian hands, you ruffian, you, you... Son of a baker, darn clerk, you will pay for this!'
'Excuse me, Herr Generalleutnant, I am writing orders', Erik von Südflosse told him. Spülge's rage was gone in a second. 'What sort of orders?', he asked, hoping for the best.
Von Südflosse signed the papers and then sealed the envelope. 'Orders for the Dreichholm Brigade to march west and liberate Grübsdorf from the enemy siege. By chance, take back Spülge too. Look, I knew I couldn't stop you from attacking those wretched Flossians, let us make it legal once and for all. In the meantime, I'm sending orders to dear old Hohenspitz too: he will attack as soon as he can. This is a level of threat we did not expect: don't turn it into peril.'
'Sir', von Spülge bowed then left in a quick pace. He rode to Dreichholm immediately and started marching towards Grübsheim.

The fort of Grübsheim was held by 6 battalions of foot - a fusilier and a militia regiment -, plus a squadron of dragoons. They were facing the full force of the Union, but were keen to hold the walls. They knew help would come, but did not know when. Judging by the fate of Spülge, their only option was to hold.
The Flossian army - at least the foot as the cavalry brigade decided to spend a few days in Spülge, in the inhabitants' empty homes - slowly surrounded Grübsheim and made itself ready to storm the walls.

The first act of war

In the fog of dawn, the 5th Klaußstadt Cavalry Brigade, which left the town of Geistwold during the last, starless night, gathered and took up formations at the outskirts of Spülge, on the left (western) bank of the River Grühne, and at first sunlight the first squadrons descended on the town.

Rolled 1d10 to see how many miltia battalions are quartered in Spülge = resulted in 4. 
Rolled 1d20 for commander's Training, -1 Militia Officer, = resulted in 18-1, Seasoned.

Von Strutzenheim and the two heavy cavalry regiments arrived from the northern road leading to Geistwold. His plan was relatively simple, but he hoped the spies' informations were correct and there was an ignorable force stationed in Spülge. 'It will be an easy ride, my fellows', he said, then continued on to explain the plan.

The light cavalry regiments, the III. Carabiniers and the IV. Hussars will circle round the town and attack from the southern road as a first wave.

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