After the battle, the situation at the end of 1619

     Having won the battle the Proper Meal faction was in position to drive their foes into submission. The Freedonian generals suggested that the Proper-Mealers should chase the Ferndalian and Hollandaise troops eastwards and the Freedonian troops would see to the Small-Platers from the south and west. The weary but stalwart Tercios followed the retiring Ferndalains with determination but weather and hunger prevented them from overtaking the fleeing enemy. Along the way they took the nearly defenseless town of Veloute. From there they learned that Nantua had been captured by Ferndalain troops that had marched along the seacoast from Roquefort. To the universal dismay of the Proper-Meal faction the Freedonian "pursuit" of their enemy was so dissolute that not only did the enemy manage to return to their hometowns but a wandering band of troops from Buerre Noir captured Rouille almost by mistake. Having lost their prey the Freedonians retired to Buerre Noir to "remain in supply from home" (and certainly not because of the famous cooking school located in that town!). The following maps show the state of developments

 

the retreat of the defeated armies 

the advance of the victors

 the troops in winter quarters

      The end of the year finds the interior of the country entirely in Proper-Meal hands (except for the central part of the capital) while the Small-Platers are confined to coastal enclaves and the one Ferndalian intrusion into Hollandaise. The armies have settled down into winter quarters but there will certainly be smaller actions fought out in the frozen landscape.

Battle of Hamburg 23DEC1619, The Small-Platers are rebuked

a Tercio Viejo prepares to express its intentions

       It was the shortest day of the year when the two great armies met just east of the tiny farming village of Hamburg. For many it would seem the longest day of their lives. For others it was the last day of their lives. It undoubtedly was the smashing of the Small-Plater ambitions to take the capital by storm and install their claimant to the throne by force majuer. By sundown their army had been shattered and their Ferndalian allies were in full retreat.

          Marching in the misty gloom of the later December night both armies ended up slightly out of their planned positions when the sun finally peeked over the hills. The initial moves were spent getting the forces aligned for battle and sorting out some deployment mistakes. As the sun came fully into view the cannon began to roar and the troops steeled themselves for the chaos of battle.

The greatest Battle of the Year on the shortest day of the year

      Impatient to see some results of his efforts Peter the Famished demanded of his generals (and his Small-Plater allies) another attempt to emplace Hanz on the Gluttonian Throne. No impromptu effort this time, his generals carefully coordinated the gathering of the armies to the south of the capital to effect a storming of the fortress and link up with the Small Plater faction holding the citadel. Marches were organized, garrisons called into action, the border with Boozonia was sealed off to prevent any untoward surprises. Everything was in order except for one small factor, a spy in the copy-room was passing the information to the Proper-Meal faction.

           This allowed the Proper-Mealers to organize a timely response; Freedonian forces moved eastward with sudden urgency and the armies gathered to block the advance of the Small-Platers. By happy circumstance the garrison of Bourguignonne showed up having deduced that the sudden absence of the Small-Plater forces in the area meant that they were moving against the capital. They had undertaken a forced march that only such highly trained troops could endure to appear just in the nick of time.

          The circumstances are now set for the largest battle in living memory with the throne of Gluttonia as the prize.

And in the East......Ferndalia moves as well

       Having reorganized his forces, and not content to wait until next campaigning season to begin his moves, Peter II of Ferndalia has pushed his troops westward. Heartened by these reinforcements the Small-Platers in  Hollandaise have bestirred themselves. Seeking to avoid an "invasion" from the north they have sent a blocking force to close the road from Hollandaise to Laphroaig. The balance of the combined army has moved to Veloute where it is equally well positioned to either strike at the capitol, Vienee, or at the stronghold of the Proper-Mealers in Bourguignonne. A victory in either direction would greatly advance the Small-Plater cause; the symbolic siezure of the seat of government, or the conquest of the home of the Gluttonian Infantry School (a truly formidable task as it is also the home of four Tercio Viejo). Peter II would certainly prefer to knock Bourguignonne out of the war and secure the entire Nantuan valley to his rear before embarking on a further advance into Gluttonia (he also covets the Nantuan valley for his own. It remains to be seen as to which ambition is satisfied.

The situation as of 10DEC1619 Freedonia gets it's way......

       Louis the Ravenous' bold move of using his fleet to turn the position at Cape Canape has paid off handsomely. The Freedonian army was freed to advance into the Soubise valley and then into a blocking position where the road from Soubise to Bordelaise crosses the mountains. The Soubise garrison, now free of threat from the Small-Platers in Bordelaise, has moved toward Ravigotte by way of Espagnole. Meanwhile in the north the Freedonian army has moved forward at a casual pace, gathering in the garrison of  Marinara before before moving to Beurre. Despite the late season Louis' troops do not seem to be in any haste to get to Vienee. Far to the south the much-traveled garrison on Nantua has finally found a friendly port at Poivrade where they provide some very welcome reinforcements.

A Letter to Louis the Ravenous

       My Most Righteous and Wise Majesty,

                It is with the deepest respect and humble joy that I report that your Majesty's brilliant decision to confront the Pirates has borne wonderful fruit. Having endured the severe lashings of a storm the night before we, your simple servants, have met the brigands at sea off Cape Canape and sent them flying after sinking several of their ships. Following a thorough bombardment the Marines of the Fleet stormed the Pirates positions at the narrows and the path is now clear for the advance of the army.
        It was my great honor to lead your stalwart and heroic sailors into action; they all performed with bravery and skill. However, I would be remiss if I did not single out the crew of your Highness' ship L'Entree. Due to vagaries of the wind she became separated from her sisters and was beset by the swarming hordes of the Pirate fleet. The fierce pride and icy nerve of your bold crews did not fail even when confronted with the boarding parties of four of the enemy vessels at the same time. At tremendous loss to themselves they saved your ship from the indignity of bearing the footfall of the Godless heathens who sought to capture her, slaying hundreds of them in process. It humbles me to be privileged to lead such men.
         I have designed and had produced, at my own expense, a golden goblet bearing the words "Rex Victor Armis in Servitutem" to be given to each crewman and would also recommend that the ship be awarded the Silver Platter Of Bravery. I await your Gracious Majesty's permission to bestow the honors earned by these bold men while in your service.

                     Your Most Humble and Faithful Servant,

                                            Guillame Brioche, Duc de Sarenzac, Admiral of the Middle Sea

Freedonia Rules the Waves (for the moment at least)

 

led by the L'Apertif the Freedonian squadron comes into view of Cape Canape

only to be confronted with a swarm of Pirate ships  

      
6DEC1619
        In the frigid waters off Cape Canape the Freedonian fleet met and crushed the Pirate fleet. In a hard-fought battle against the vicious Pirate fleet the Freedonian Admiral, Duc de Sarenzac, has proven once again that the navy of Louis the Ravenous is a factor to be carefully considered. Shaking off the effects of a powerful storm that had lasted the whole night before the Freedonian navy engaged the Pirate fleet just off the rugged coast of Cape Canape. The majestic power of the Proper-Mealers bore the chaotic assault of the Pirates with complete aplomb before scattering the enemy to the four winds.

Battle off Cape Canape

       Having spent the last week battling an unusual storm from the north-east the Freedonian navy has come in sight of Cape Canape. Intending to bombard the flank of the Pirate position at the Epicurean Thermopylae they will have to deal with inclement weather, a dangerous coastline and the evil intentions of the Pirate Fleet. To their advantage they have three great galleons; La Apertif, La Entree and La Digestif, two smaller galleons went missing in the storm but should be arriving shortly. The Pirate fleet cannot hope to match the Freedonians gun-for-gun but they are teeming with boarders and far more maneuverable, a couple of quick raking shots and a boarding action may be what is in order. To add to the issues, there is clearly a storm brewing and the winds have been gusty and variable all day.

 

the Freedonian fleet