Action at Razpotje (Prelude)

A few miles outside of Slobbgrad lies the town of Razpotje. The town lies along a small rise on the crossroads of the main road from the border town of Gublatz to the capital, and a smaller road leading to the north and south. A forest is located to the southeast, and open farmland leads away to the northeast to the edge of a forest, where the main road leads out to Gublatz Prince Sergei ordered his field commander to occupy the position with a small force, comprised of an engineer battalion, line battalion Hurlbut, Major Wan’s rocket troop and a troop of field guns, with the Bibermilch Grenadiers held in reserve. The main force was placed to defend the line of the crossroad; a hastily thrown-together citizen militia force occupied a farmhouse northeast of town. Reenforcements were promised to arrive during the day as they were released from completing fortifications at Slobbgrad. The order of the day was simple; hold the crossroads, all day if possible, to buy time for the entrenchments to be completed. It was obvious what the Lagerburg column was planning; overrun the defenders and scatter them, advance to catch the Slobbs before the entrenchments were complete, and storm Slobbgrad by main force before sunset. In the early morning quiet, the defenders could faintly hear Herzog Albrecht’s column, with fifes and drums playing, tramping of boots and jingling of harnesses, approaching the edge of the forest.

March on Slobbgrad

After the action at Gublatz, as expected by all, Hertzog Albrecht declared war against the Principality of Slobbovia. After a week of preparation, the Lagerburg forces began to march from Gublatz through the eastern Slobbivian forest along winding roads towards the enemy capital, Slobbgrad. The Herzog led the march himself, with most of the Duchy’s forces in column behind. Sheik Yerboudi, meanwhile, found a way to put the captured guns to good use, Each cannon, damaged or worn as it were, was good for at least one shot each, even if dangerous to the gunners as they were to the enemy.

Down each intersecting road along the Lagerburg line-of-march, a gun was placed camouflaged in enfilade position, each pre-loaded with double canister and manned by one gunner. The guns were long-fused to give the firer a moderate chance of moving away sufficiently to survive the likely explosion of the bursting gun. A small force of grenzers stationed on either side of the main road gave way before the advancing column, goading on the Lagerburg troops with harassing fire to encourage the pursuit. The plan worked as intended; casualties among the lead battalions were moderate enough to ensure that when the inevitable pitched battle finally occurred, the Lagerburg troops would be at a significantly lesser advantage. Also, as the delaying action played out, a defensive position was being feverishly prepared at the outskirts of the Slobbovian capital. At the trenches, a satisfied Yerboudi and a skeptical Prince observed the work nearing completion. “Do you actually think we can stop the Herzog here and save the capital?” the Cherkinov asked. Yerboudi mused, “Enough so that our negotiations will be more to our favor. Also, I don’t think he will expect that we could reenforce our position with the newly- hired mercenary troops, providing they get here in time.” “Where are you getting all the money to pay for those? Are you embezzling from me?!” “No, Sergei, you put me in charge of the Treasury, and we have been making enough for double the troops we hired so far, with plenty to spare.” “Then why not just hire enough troops to march into Felsenfall, depose the Herzog and take over the whole Duchy?” Sergei, I told you before, it is far better to have Lagerburg eventually an ally. We may later have bigger enemies to fight, and he has proved his abilities as a general. We will need those skills if we all are to survive, perhaps sooner that we think.” .