Murky Mists of Miscellaneous Malfeasance ...

Murky Mists of Miscellaneous Malfeasance ...

A couple of folks have said that they’ve lost track of the various alliances and plots and counter plots in Frankszonia ... but the situation has to be spicy so that the sausage keeps well and doesn’t get too greasy!

Anyway, the first and foremost consideration is the position of the Hurtshog Fahrtz and his court. Bluntly, they’re pro-Frankszonia. Since we’re occupied by the Gallians at the moment ... whose occupation force ranges from five to ten times the number of troops we can raise, we’re perforce Pro-Gallian. Just as in historical Frankfurt, the loyalty of Frankszonia to the Empress depends upon whom is speaking and the situation ....

However, since Frankszonia was originally established as a mini-Prussia copy cat, the story line factored in all those Old Germanian Connections once Bill and der Alte generously decided to admit my humorous side show long ago ... in the pre EvE blog days! So, after some hare raising coup attempts pestered the Gen. Chevert and later the poor Intendant. In addition to the aristocracy based anti-Gallian “resistance” (who are now trying to connect with other anti-Gallian forces such as Hesse-Seewald), one must also consider the republican tendencies of the Merchants Guilds. Even more than the poor Hurtshog, they’re interested in the main chance and the highest bidder.

Now in addition to these factions inside Frankszonia, my gaming had already created the “Cheezers” ... including Limburger, Muenster, etc. Their activities were co-ordinated by the rascally Marquis de Roquefort who seems to have access to some great treasury. At the moment, the Cheezers are definitely on the side of Hesse-Seewald. The original Frankfurter alliance, however, had included the Britischerwurst and Hungover forces. These left our alliance at the outbreak of the Gallian / Seewald war, though we retain friendly correspondence.

Similarly, Frankszonia in the purely small country world had held long friendships with Hesse-Fedora and some other groups which are very pro-Germanian, and equally deep antagonisms with Vile Stagonia and other pro-Gallian local potentates. (Hence the Offenbach and TippleBruder affairs).

So on the outside chance I ever can get to the big games (which this latest hospital episode has thrown into doubt), there’s a Frankszonian Ducal army which would fight stoutly (and has fought stoutly) on behalf of Gallia ... (unless it’s right beside some Vile Stagonian unit, in which case we’d probably concentrate on very cautious maintenance of our position).
There is also a very strong force of infantry and cavalry following several of the emigre officers in the Resistance who would cheerfully fight fanatically against the Gallian gall.... (including those lick spittle petty puppets of the Hurtshog’s court) ....

So, as you can see, it’s all really quite simple. Not at all like the religious currents flowing up and down the Main ....

:P
A

Gallian Reinforcements Depart Frankfurt Am Main

25 September 1758/2008. Atop the highest section of the city wall of Frankfurt Am Main, we see Gallian l'Intendant Bastille consulting his ordre de bataille. We know he is uneasy observing another brigade departing for the Main Army but the reality is, he still commands ten thousand infantry within the garrison. Perhaps the cloudy day reflects his demeanor or is it a metaphor for his thoughts instead? Off to the left and in temporary residence, we see Maréchal l'Duc de Broglie waiving his baton saluting and honoring the soldiers as they pass by. Alongside is Lt. Gen. Armentieres, their commander. In the extreme distance the Bercheney Hussars screen 2/La Sarre followed by two battalions of Régiment Auvergne with supporting battalion artillery. Where are they going? Their route points to Bergen but beyond that we can only make a poor guess. However, that is no concern of l'Intendant. He will soon turn his attention to greater security measures within the magazine and the confounding nature of Frankzonian politics. Quietly he wonders if the new jail should have been built to a greater capacity.
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Battalion artillery. What do the storm clouds portend? Photo taken by son Tyler.

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The head of the column. Frankfurt Am Main is in the distance.

Click on each photo to enlarge.
Votre Serviteur,
Bill

Another princeling declares his allegiance

As the Prince-Bishop regarded Feldzeugmeister von Dithmarschen, wondering what to do next, he became aware of the presence of another officer. Clothed in white with a striking red waistcoat, the general had approached but was waiting politely out of earshot.

“Yes, Graf von Fürstentahl? May I help you?” the Prince-Bishop asked of the newcomer.

“Your Eminence, I am aware of your distress. Since the need for troops loyal to yourself appears to be acute, I would like to make an offer: I pledge to raise a regiment for your Eminence’s service, to be ready for action in six weeks. I make no stipulation as to how you use the unit, but offer it as my pledge to you, the Kreis, and the Imperium.”

“That is very gracious of you, Graf. Your generous offer is most graciously accepted.”

1758/2008 Campaign Map

Plot the movements of Hesse-Seewald and Gallian forces here.

Kleine Krieg At Gruningen

Horvath Hussars in Gallian service retire honorably from the field of battle after ambushing the forward squadrons of Colonel Bauer's Germanian task force. Old Glory Austrian figures painted as a Russian hussar squadron (but acting as French hussars today).

Today the Gallian light cavalry patrols set up an ambush of the advance guard of the Germanian army near the town of Gruningen (northeast of Frankfurt Am Main and west of the Vogelsberg). The Germanian cavalry screen commanded by Colonel Bauer of the Black Hussars, had one squadron of hussars badly mauled by the Gallian ambush, but the weight of numbers prevailed and the Gallians were forced to retire back towards Frankfurt.

For more details and pictures, visit Der Alte Fritz's Journal by clicking on the link on the right hand side of this page.

Seeking Uniform ideas

New post on the Ober-Schweinsberg blog soliciting uniform ideas.

New Additions to the Army

I've added some pictures of the newly commissioned units in the Markgraf of Carpania's army.

ColCampbell's Barracks

Jim

Gallian Lanciers de Saxe Find An Enemy Column

Capitaine Gardier (center left) and Supernumerary Monsieur Briege (center right) of the Lanciers de Saxe observe a column of Hesse-Seewald infantry upon their march within Germania approaching territory held by Marshall Broglie's Gallian Army.


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Let's take a closer look shall we - before we ride back to the next line of trees? In the foreground we see a detachment of "Doubleblues" thrown out in front of what apparently is IR#1 followed by the Protzdam Garde Grenadiers. Well, time to ride off and send a courier back to the Marshall. Something is afoot!


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Votre Serviteur,
Bill

More "EvE" Format Changes

My Fellow Rulers,

I have made a few more changes to our group blog format. The new format for listing our blogs has been so well received that I've eliminated the duplicate (i.e., original) listing.

Furthermore I have added a list of what I hope are useful links to websites (as opposed to blogs). If you have more to suggest (for I'm sure to have missed many), feel free to do so . . . although I won't guarantee to post all of them . . . I will have to assess their usefulness to all (or at least to me).

One thing that I've hoped for has already occurred . . . some who had not updated their personal blogs for some time have now done so . . . unfortunately that includes those vile Stagonians . . . but we must take some of the bad with the good.

I look forward to reading your posts, so please keep them coming.


-- Jeff the Blog Inhaber

Attention Ye Leaders of Europa

I have this day (with a tip of the tricorn to Steve-the-Wargamer who let me know how to do it) made changes in our list of Imagi-National blogs. You may now note that they are arranged in order of the most recent post . . . hopefully to aid you in learning the latest news.

I did not attempt to re-title any of our blogs . . . nor am I positive that I successfully transferred all of them. For that reason the old list is still on our EvE blog . . . you will find it in darker blue if you scroll down.

You should also find some links to other interesting blogs just below the listing of our Imagi-Nations.

By the way, if I overlooked anyone . . . or if you want me to re-title your blog . . . leave me a comment to that effect . . . or email me at bluebear@uniserve.com and I'll get to it as soon as I can.

In the meantime, may your little lead soldiers follow your orders with elan; and may your dice roll better than your foe's.


-- Jeff the Inhaber of Emperor vs Elector

Empress accepts Board of Inquiry Findings

The Imperial Sea Lord delivered the Board of Inquiry Findings in the case of Admiral Graf Rupert von Hopstadt to Empress Maria Theresa at Schonbrunn Palace. The Empress was greatly relieved to learn her Admiral was exonerated on all charges, but very distressed to hear Admiral Hopstadt had resigned his commission and retired to his estate in the Reich Duchy of Beerstein. The Empress instructed the Imperial Sea Lord to make a personal appeal to Admiral Hopstadt to return to court to receive his justly deserved Order of Maria Theresa. She also reminded the Imperial Sea Lord that no General Officer had ever suffered the indignity of a Board of Inquiry after being successful, and warned him of the long term affect on the navy’s morale because of this action.

Admiral Hopstadt Stands Alone

Admiral Hopstadt needed no counsel; he would face these jackals alone armed only with the truth. Imperial Sea Lord and Admirals I present myself to answer these slanderous charges; Count One: Hazarding Imperial Ships on the high seas, Count Two: Dereliction of Duty in regards to the dreaded Driss Khal-al-Waw Dey: Count Three: Failure to destroy the pirate’s sanctuary.

As Admiral, I alone decide which storms to sail into! Thirty two years of sea service qualifies me, not you, to ponder on the efficacy of such circumstances. As for the dreaded Driss Khal-al-Waw Dey, the man I hanged certainly looked like the portrait presented to me in the mission briefing. None of you landlocked geniuses even hinted there may be a twin brother. Furthermore, the scoundrel never denied his identity even as the noose lifted him from the deck of my flagship. As to Count Three a description of the battle should resolve that matter.

Two of the three 42-pounder emplacements in the Presidio were knocked out by our initial volley. The Presidio guns returned fire, but without the heavy batteries their efforts were futile. After 20 minutes, four of their six 32-pounder batteries were also out of action. A mishap or lucky hit from the bombardment resulted in a fire outside the main magazine which resulted secondary explosion that sealed the magazine and silenced all of their guns.Ordering the squadron to weigh anchor, we sailed close up to the chain blocking entry into the harbor and began firing on the city. The nearly two dozen shallow-drafting xebecs in harbor, passed over the chain and attempted to close and board our ships, but were driven off. Over half of these vessels were smashed into splinters by our heavy guns.The harbor gunboats and bomb ketches attempted to return fire, but were unable to do any damage, and were destroyed over the next hour. Our squadron bombarded the city proper for another two hours. Fires were seen along the waterfront which shrouded the entire city in a haze of gun smoke. As night fell, the glow of the fires in the Kasbah guided our fire on the towering minarets of the Ketchooup Mosque. A series of salvoes from all three ships brought down the minarets, and I ordered cease fire! All this was achieved without the loss of one man.

Instead of receiving the Order of Maria Theresa, I am brought here to defend my honor. Gentlemen, your deliberations are of no further interest to me. I refuse to serve such ingrates. The Admiral removed the medals and decorations from his uniform and placed them on the table along with his sacred sword, a gift from the Empress herself. The Admiralty Chamber was deadly quiet as Admiral Graf Rupert von Hopstadt departed.