January 31st, 1665. Bickenstadt.
The Empress felt a buzzing in her inner breast pocket, the pocket with the stone formerly held by commander Hasselbach. She pulled it out and waited for the Baron to speak.
“...Samanta, may we speak?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Fine. What do you want? My head on a fucking pike?”
She heard a chuckle from the other side.
“...sorry about that, I got caught up in the heat of the moment. I would like to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?”
“...we have around seventy thousand men captured, and I would very much like to return them to their families.”
The Empress sighed.
“How much do you want for them?”
“...I would be willing to part with half of them for free if you pledge to stop burning down random towns and villages around Bickenstadt.”
The Empress scoffed.
“That’s all you want?”
“...yeah basically.”
“Well, you’ll simply have to make due with the ransoms.”
The stone was silent for a few seconds.
“...are you sure you want to do this? Half is a very large number.”
The Empress smiled.
“Very much so. I would rather pay you with all of the plunder gained from raiding your beloved province then stop showing your people the cost of rebellion.”
“...they aren’t the ones who rebelled, I am! There is no need to punish innocent people like this!”
“You are the one who has done this. You could have simply not raised the flag of rebellion.”
“...and you could have simply agreed to abolish elven slavery. I even offered to allow gradual emancipation!”
She scoffed.
“Elven slavery is endorsed by the gods, Alaric and Auftragter were very clear when they stated that those with pointed ears are to be our subordinates! And besides, why would I give freedom and citizenship to a bunch of degenerate subhumans? They can't possibly survive on their own, they would tear themselves apart through the violence, greed and stupidity endemic to their race. They need the guiding hand of the Empire to keep them from falling to their own degeneracy. Elven slavery will remain for as long as I draw breath, and so long as the Imperial Cult stands strong against you heathen Christians!”
The stone was silent for a few seconds before exploding in noise.
“...then I will take away your breath, and knock down the Great Pillars in which the Imperial gods dwell. It will be done, even if it’s the last fucking thing I do!”
“Don’t leave yet, we still must discuss the terms of ransom.”
The stone was, again, silent for a while, forcing her to wait nearly thirty seconds before a sigh eminated from the other side.
“...fine. I will be cordial. At least as cordial as I can be to a slaver.”
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February 3rd, 1665.
The Baron’s forces of the Bickenstadt Liberation Forces, alongside their Ottoman, Brayherd, and Tlanzoman allies, had finally arrived in Bickenstadt. They watched the Imperial light cavalry come and go, never getting close enough for the rifles to accurately tag them.
They had set up camp outside of Bickenstadt city, and the men were finally given time to rest. The Baron wanted to fight, but they had been marching nonstop for days after fighting an extremely grueling and bloody battle against an angry and motivated foe, the men were completely exhausted. Soldiers lay wherever they stopped in their columns, and others stumbled around the camp, trying to remain helpful even as their bodies shut down.
Ludwin nearly ran through the camp, looking around frantically. He saw a flash of green kilt and fully sprinted over, finding an Orknier with a full head of long, black hair. He sighed and tapped the man’s shoulder.
“Excuse me, have you seen Fergus Ulpaghain around here?”
“Ya, ‘es lookin’ ‘round for some man named Ludwin Albrecht. Ya wouldnae ‘appen to ‘ave seen ‘im, wouldja?”
Ludwin felt his heart flutter at the mention that Fergus was looking for him.
“I am Ludwin Albrecht, can you take me to him?”
The man smiled and blew a high pitched whistle, and a few seconds later a green blur flew into the area. It stopped a few feet away from Ludwin before barreling towards him. Ludwin held out his arms and was knocked flat on his back when the blur slammed into him.
Fergus threw his arms around Ludwin and squeezed him tight. Ludwin heard his armor creak as Fergus increased the pressure.
“Ludwin! I missed ya so much!”
Ludwin russled Fergus’s hair, trying to breath as he was slowly being crushed.
“I missed you too, Fergus! But could you stop crushing me-I can feel my armor creaking and it’s quite unpleasant.”
Fergus crushed him a little harder.
“Nah. I been workin' too hard to let go now.”
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The Baron and his former lieutenants, now officers, stood around a table with a map of the Empire on it.
“Alright men, we are moving on to the other half of our plan. We need to push the Empress to the other side of the river. To do that, we need to do quite a few things, but the highest on my list of priorities is to figure out what to do about the demigryph knights.”
They all nodded their heads. Fergus spoke.
“I ‘eard their shrieks and it rooted me to the ground. I was quakin’ in me boots, never felt fear like that before. I saw them fight when we were pushed across the river, they’re basically invincible.”
The Baron nodded.
“That is what I have heard as well. The only thing that I can think to do is hit them with artillery, but that will be quite difficult. I hear they are very fast.”
Fergus nodded.
“I saw 'em fly, just a blur o’ feathers an’ glowin' armor.”
Udo spoke up.
“Well, you think we could just hit them with an explosion? Doubt they’ll be able to survive that, can only defend themselves so much from a shockwave.”
“Yes, the problem is actually hitting them with one. The easiest way would require men to sacrifice themselves, and I really don’t want to do that. It’s distasteful.”
Everyone around nodded their heads. Helmut spoke.
“However, it may end up being the only way. I know that there are men who are willing to die for the republic, there have to be some who are willing to commit that hard.”
“Yes, that’s true, but I feel like it’s a waste of good men. Men truly willing to die are too useful to simply blow up.”
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“Well, do you have any other ideas?”
The Baron bit his thumbnail in thought.
“...fuck. No, I can’t think of anything else.”
“Then I believe this is our best course of action.”
The Baron shook his head.
“No, I won’t accept that.”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Let’s focus on something else for now. We will come up with better ideas later. For now, let us focus on the big picture. We need to push the Empress across the river, first and foremost.”
They all nodded their heads and mumbled in agreement. Udo spoke.
“So how do you think we should do it?”
“Well, the answer is simple: We must win in the field. We have the men and the experience, it’s simply a matter of doing it, and getting them to engage with us. Hopefully the elven hussars will be able to bait them quite effectively. I imagine the prospect of killing elves will be far too tempting to pass up.”
Fergus shook his head.
“Not so sure ‘bout that. The elven hussars’ve been demolishing them as of late, I think they’re gettin’ scared of ‘em.”
The Baron chuckled.
“Aw, they’re scared of the degenerates? So much for the master race.”
Everyone around him chuckled. Ludwin smiled brightly.
“It must be quite embarrassing for them.”
The Baron nodded.
“Yes, and speaking of embarrassing, we need to transfer prisoners soon. The Empress has agreed to pay ransom, so I will be sending you to lead things. You’re the best negotiator we have, as well as the man with the most level head, well, besides Helmut.”
Ludwin saluted the Baron.
“Of course, sir, I’m more than happy to do my duty!”
The Baron laughed.
“Good man!”
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February 4th, 1665.
Ludwin walked out to the middle of an open field. He watched another figure coming to meet him halfway. Behind Ludwin was a massive force of Bickenstadt Liberation Forces making sure that no prisoners of war escape or do anything stupid. Behind the man approaching Ludwin were thousands of Grand Imperial Army soldiers, and hundreds of carts carrying supplies.
Ludwin and the man met in the middle and Ludwin couldn't help but scowl.
“Hans Volkner, in the flesh.”
Hans nodded politely, but displeasure was clearly written across his face.
“Ludwin.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
Hans nodded.
“Agreed. Payment is coming.”
He gestured to a line of carts riding over to them.
“When we have inspected everything, we will release everyone into your care.”
Hans nodded, face neutral.
“Sounds good.”
He turned and spoke under his breath.
“Traitor.”
Ludwin shook his head.
“Slaver.”
Ludwin oversaw the inspections, finding that all of the carts were filled with Reiksgeld or other things of value. They painstakingly counted every last coin and decided that the Imperials had kept their word.
Ludwin walked over to a soldier and gave his orders.
“Release the prisoners, we’re taking all of this stuff back to Bickenstadt."
The soldier saluted Ludwin and ran off to relay his orders. Ludwin sighed.
“Can’t believe they sent Hans. I haven’t seen him since he left.”
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February 12th, 1665. Weinstadt.
Gaius marched alongside his men. He had been sent to lead the Brayherd legions who were sent up north through Weinstadt to link up with Waffenstadt forces in Bvarian province. They were planning to fight through the Bvarian mountain range to take the capital city of Grindelburg. This would secure Waffenstadt’s northern border, and it would give the coalition another angle in which they could attack Grössenstadt.
The only possible problem was the capital city of Weinstadt, Pfalzburg. While the garrison there was not strong enough to threaten the coalition, it was large enough to disrupt their supply lines if allowed to roam freely, something which the Brayherds could not allow. They required a lot of food to keep going, any momentary pause in their logistics would lead to angry Brayherds, and no one wanted to deal with angry Brayherds.
Gaius could see Pfalzburg off in the distance and he pointed his knotted stick in its direction.
“Towards Pfalzburg!”
They parked outside the city, and a guard nervously poked his head out of the gatehouse.
“W-what do you want?”
“I wish to speak to your governor!”
“Uh, wait right there!”
The guard disappeared back into the gatehouse and Gaius sat down, ordering his men to rest as well. After about ten minutes an older gentleman backed by ten knights emerged from the gate. He walked with the aid of a cane and slowly hobbled over to Gaius, who stood and moved to meet him halfway.
“I am Gaius Bestia Capra, leader of these legions and representative of the Baron von Bickenstadt!”
The old man bowed his head.
“I am the governor of Pfalzburg, Otto Johlbert.”
“Allow me to get right to it, give me your word that your garrison and any other soldiers within your walls will not touch our supply lines. Do this, and we will not lay a finger of Pfalzburg. No Brayherd will set a hoof down in your beautiful city, we simply wish to pass by unmolested.”
Johlbert scowled.
“So we are already considered conquered territory?”
Gaius waved his hand dismissively.
“No, nothing like that. You will stay Imperials for the time being, and you may continue operations mostly as normal.”
Johlbert squinted his eyes.
“Mostly?”
Gaius nodded.
“Sic, aside from refraining from attacking our supply lines, we will be confiscating your elves.”
“Out of the que-”
Gaius pointed back to his men and cut off the governor.
“We are not asking for you to give up your elves, we are telling you that we are taking them. If you do not comply, Pfalzburg will fall, and they will be freed through Imperial blood.”
The governor scowled.
“...fine. The nobles won’t take kindly to this-”
“The nobles are not a problem.”
“But Herr Gaius, they have their own private forces. They may resist, and they may go against our wishes.”
“As your Imperials say, we will cross that bridge when we get to it. Make it clear to them that anything rash done will be returned tenfold.”
Johlbert looked down at his feet briefly before speaking.
“Your terms are acceptable. I will spread the word, all I ask is that you do not have your men enter the city to take the elves, we will send them out.”
Gaius shook his head.
“Apologies, but that is not acceptable. We must make sure that all of the elves are free. I will have the few hundred Waffenstadters with us enter your city, they are at least fellow humans.”
Johlbert thought for a moment before solemnly shaking his head.
“Your terms are accepted. If any of your men act up, though, our deal is off.”
Gaius nodded appreciatively.
“Excellent. We will begin immediately.”
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After making sure that all of the elves were sent to Bickenstadt the Brayherds under Gaius continued marching north completely unopposed. Any town or village they saw they made sure to march through and make a show of not touching anything, which greatly concerned and confused the inhabitants.
In the distance, near the border between Weinstadt and Bvarian, Gaius could see the flags of Waffenstadt.
They entered the Waffenstadt camp and Gaius met with their commander, Johan von Puckelsmark.
“Ave amicus, I am Gaius Bestia Capra, leader of these fine men I have brought to you today!”
Von Puckelsmark nodded.
“I have met with your contemporary, Tiberius. working with him was smooth and painless. I hope that pattern repeats itself.”
Gaius smiled and nodded.
“Of course it will! Now, let us speak of strategy.”
Von Puckelsmark nodded and lead Gaius into a large tent. He had a small model of the Bvarian mountain range built on a table. It was a crisscrossing network of small ravines opening up into large valleys. Extremely rough terrain, with the only stretch of land traversable by large numbers of men being the roads built into the mountain, which would be heavily protected by Bvarian Jaegers.
“It looks to me like this is going to be a very bloody affair.”
Von Puckelsmark nodded.
“Yes, I’m afraid that is an accurate assessment. However, there is nothing we can do about this. My men know that many of them are not making it home, but they are motivated by glory and ideals. How are yours?”
Gaius smiled his caprine smile.
“Brayherds never back down from a fight, no matter the odds.”
Von Puckelsmark nodded appreciatively.
“Good to hear we are in good company, then.”