Saturday, January 24, 2009

Frankfurters on the Boil, Again!

Frankfurters on the Boil Again!

After a muted celebration of the minor victory at Ginnheim, the Burger Masters are concerned with the closeness of the Hesse Seewald army. While Marshal Broglie’s forces are still extremely strong, there is no escaping the fact that the Seewald generals have had a string of successes. Given the strong anti-Gallian and anti-Imperial sentiments among parts of the population (especially the Anglericans), the situation is very unstable. The town leaders are grateful that the anti-Gallian resistance and the odiferous Cheezers are retreating!

An angry deputation, however, has come to the Intendant Bastille. They are supported by an irate crowd in the streets. Ragged refugees have arrived in Sachsenhausen across the bridge. Raiders from St. Maurice are ravaging farmsteads in the southern forests! The Frankszonian landholders demand Gallian action to control this insidious backstabbing which is so similar to the Stagonian vileness!

Once again, the Militia drums are beating and forces are being led south by the flamboyant Marquis d’ Hottatrot. The Hurtshog is racing back to the city with his Guard corps and some other troops.

While Col. Brattman is dispatched to the Kingdom of St. Maurice with an angry protest, l’Comte d’Beauphaup has all merchants from St. Maurice called into the palace. “Due to the current outrages, murders, and devastation occurring in the Teuische Heeren Waldt,” he announces, “all assets of subjects of the Kingdom of St. Maurice are being appropriated at this time.”
After the outraged protests of the merchants have been somewhat stilled by the cocking of the gendarmes’ carbines, he continues, “your property may be redeemed by ransom, and anything not dispersed during this emergency will be returned when proper reparations are obtained from your King. In the meantime, it is highly advised that you depart Frankszonian territory by nightfall.”

This brings more protests, as the roads south are now closed by Frankszonian troops. Beauphaup, however, points out that Offenbach is but a few hours ride away on the south bank of the Main and would be an excellent refuge. The skeptics in the group are also grimly aware that the Soweiter League and Frankszonia have become very friendly since the Tipple Bruder affair.

The farsighted in Frankfurter’s church steeples can discern plumes of smoke rising above the wooded hills a long way to the south .....

(Note: by and large, the place names used here are actual places near Frankfurt ... we’re hoping to generate a new proxy game ... arising from the fact that the zombie outbreak in St. Maurice is in an area close to the Frankszonian territory).

Ginnheim Fallout

After the engagement at Ginnheim, insignificant in itself, dramatic events developed in Frankszonia.

First of all, the Cheezer alliance foundered on the choice of withdrawel routes. The Limburger Brigade and Gen. Michel O’Maus chose to fall back towards Hesse Fedora. The Resistance and the local forces, however, retired toward their base at Rodelheim (formerly called Russelheim in my blog, as the name was unreadable on the earlier maps in my possesion). Not only had this been their primary base for two years, but also it had the advantage of a complete water defense plus its not quite so ancient fortifications.

The Hurtshog and his generals decided to let the Limburger brigade make its withdrawel undisturbed. Not only was its route into Hesse Fedora protected by diplomatic complications (while Hesse Fedora and Frankszonia are in opposing big power alliances, they have a long history of local cooperation), but also that route took the Limburgers into the operational zone of Gen. Broglie.
Meanwhile, Gen Phaulie with his force of Fusiliers, Freikorps, and Hebrew Nationals had been force marching to the south of Ginnheim in a wide turning movement. As a result, they were able to reach the Nidda River at Hausen and cut off the retreat of the Resistance forces. While this battle has not been resolved (see earlier post), the only real question is whether or not enough of the Resistance will escape to make the defense of Rodelheim feasible.

News has reached the Hurtshog, however, which has force him to greatly weaken the pursuit of the Resistance from Ginnheim. Raiders from the Kingdom of St. Maurice have been devastating isolated farmsteads in the Teuische Heeren Waldt (part of the Frankszonian Stadt Waldt)!
Leaving Von Ballpark’s Brigade, most of the Cuirassiers and the Porcelain Dragoons to continue the pursuit of the Resistance under the capable command Gen. Meyer, the Hurtshog hastens back to Frankfurter with the Guard Corps, the grenadiers, the Black Kilts, and a Hussar Brigade.
This is not so much to reinforce the city’s defenses against the looming forces of Hesse Seewald as provide an adequate stiffener to Hottatrot’s brigade and the militia forces in Frankfurt.
These are ordered to probe in advance of the Hurtshog towards the village of Neu Isenberg. If the raids continue, the Hurtshog will attempt a defensive stance until the situation at Hausen is resolved and then drive on Sprendlingen in the Kingdom of St. Maurice.

Meanwhile, l’Comte d’ Beauphaup has summoned the merchants from St. Maurice who happen to be in the City, and informed them that their assets are being seized until a settlement for reparations are made with the Kingdom of St. Maurice.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Recent Developments

Shortly afte my last post, I was hospitilized again ... a pesky and dangerous virus.
Fortunately, I acted in time and was home by Christmas. Recovery, however, has been slow and I haven't touched a paintbroush since! Alas!

Shortly before that incident, however, I did resolve the Battle of Ginnheim ... which, thanks to the initiative rules of Koenigs Krieg did NOT go the way I thought it would at all. I'd planned a big infantry collision with a Cheezer cavalry flank sweep. Unfortunately, the Cheezers were forced to reveal the cavalry concentration too early ... leading to a cavalry fight for the hill dominating the right of the Frankfurter line.
On turn three, an unbelievably effective cannon volley staggered the Cheezer cavalry brigades, which then were routed on the next turn by a throw away charge of also battered Frankszonian Hussars. Due to the flank threat, the Frankfurter line had not advanced, and the cheezers were able to make an orderly withdrawel ... Unfortunately, for once Edie's pictures didn't turn out good ... the lighting was inadequate and off color.

But now, they're headed right into Phaulie's Fusiliers and the Hebrew Nationals who were sent on a wide turning movement on the other flank! Assiming I continue to recover, this means another exciting collision in February ... Phaulie has to hold long enough to catch the Cheezers between him and the Hurtshog's pursuing forces!

On the Diplomatic front:

Diplomat from Cavenderia

“Lucio Bianco, is known for his pleasant demeanor and devotion to the Catholic Church, his family has been in this land pre-dating the Imperium. His even temper and ability to diffuse a situation have made him an ideal candidate for your diplomatic corp. Signori Bianco will be sent to Frankszonia.

We will of course welcom him with a grand Barbeque, a Te Deum Toast, and an Holy Mackerel Fish Fry!

:)
A