[Duke Lothair POV]

Why? Why is this happening to my army? Why is this happening to me? I was just doing what I think is right in the eyes of god and the church!

My father joined the Saxon Rebellion against the ruling Salian Dynasty and died on 9 June 1075 in the Battle of Langensalza, fighting troops loyal to Emperor Henry IV. Shortly thereafter, I was born posthumously at Unterlub. In 1100 I married Richenza, daughter of Count Henry of Northeim and Gertrude of Brunswick, heiress of the Brunonids

After years of purchasing lands or gaining them via inheritance or marriage alliances throughout Saxony, I gained the domains of the House of Billung, the Counts of Northeim and the Brunonids, and became one of the dominant landowners in the North German duchy. I backed the emperor's son Henry V during the dis-empowerment of his father Henry IV and in turn was made Duke of Saxony upon the death of Magnus Of Billung in 1106. Because of the promotion and the ridiculous taxes that was given to us ducal lords I revolted against Emperor Henry's rule and denied his ability to rule Saxony during the Investiture Controversy. I acted autonomously, vesting Count Adolf of Schauenber with Holstein in 1110, was temporarily deposed in 1112 but reinstated after I tactically submitted myself to the rule of Henry V. In 1115 however, I joined the rebellious Saxon forces.

Its funny however that i followed the foot steps of my dead father. Rebelling to the emperor is maybe in our blood. Before the campaign began I was in high spirits. My men believed that god is in our side and that we will win in his name. With our morale on all time high I arranged my troops in a long line. My center having Light and Heavy infantries while the flanks has the mixed of heavy and light cavalries.

After we were done forming ourselves i ordered an all out charge. I though with our high morale and supreme command ability we can crush the enemy in one fell swoop. In which case I was wrong.

At first whilst my army was charging my center line was peppered by enemy crossbow bolts, the most who took the majority of the damage was the heavy infantry. Because of that i ordered a part of my cavalry in the flanks to charge at the enemy missile troops in the front line to prevent further damage.

After we made the enemy missile units retreat the usual battle began. Swords clashing, Shields Banging, Spears Stabbing the front line was a total mess. The most chaotic was on our right flank where the enemy placed majority of his light infantries. Over there many are dying brutally. So i ordered to concentrate our available troops on our right flank when suddenly the area was peppered down by the enemies crossbows leaving disaster at its wake.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Is the enemy commander crazy? Is he not afraid shooting his own troops to death? While I was thinking those things I suddenly noticed some thick smoke slowly emerging on our right flank.

Slowly my men are getting dizzy resulting to them getting killed? What in gods is this sorcery? Is the enemy really on the side of the devil?! Because of the smokes I ordered my men in the affected area to slowly fallback to avoid any more unnecessary casualties cause by the unknown smoke.

The battle continued to rage until afternoon. I finally saw the enemy slowly crumbling when suddenly I saw an enemy detachment piercing our line. They are coming to my location slowly though so I ordered my men to intercept them with shield wall but surprisingly the enemy destroyed the line.

I was starting to panic when suddenly a knight charged directly to the enemy leader and instantly chopped the enemy leaders head off. Just like that the threat to my life was snuffed out immediately, maybe after this battle I must know who that young man is and try to win him over.

But before i can even celebrate though I saw the enemy raised a huge red banner with black circle and a cross in the center after they raised it for a few moments they retreated. Hmmm what was that all about i thought. I never knew that i will know the answer immediately after that.

Hundreds of arrows came crashing down on my location many of my retainers are killed in the barrage that seems never ending and because of my panicking I urged my horse to get away as quickly as possible when suddenly my horse was pierced by 5 arrows.

I fell, I also felt a nasty pain on my shoulder and legs and when I checked what cause it i saw two arrows penetrating my body. My whole body was aching in pain. When some of my surviving retainers saw my state they immediately put me on a spare horse with 10 men assisting me and immediately led me away from the battlefield.

I wanted to tell them that i cannot retreat that i don't want to retreat but my voice wont come out...

When I was already far enough I saw hell exploding from the earth. Fire spread in my armies central line. And while my army was in confusion the enemies spare army charged at my left flank.

Why has god forsaken me? Is my cause not just? Slowly a lost my consciousness while thinking that this maybe is part of gods plan.

I promise that when i wake up I will get my revenge. I will make there enemy commander pay. While I was thinking about it I suddenly realized that i do not know who the enemy commander was. When I ask my informant and retainers they all answered 1 name and that was Alberto von Habsburg.

When I Heard his current age I was surprised at the same time afraid but for the deaths of my men and for god I will kill that man no matter what happens i cannot let him live a good life