I'd suggests muskets and rajtars, because these guys are relatively numerous while being disciplined.
Si Deus Nobiscum: A Polish-Lithuanian Scion Quest
- Thread starter Rolman
- Start date
- Mature Historic
- Location
- United States
I've actually read a fair bit about nomadic armies, and from what I understand, there's no period where they're more vulnerable than this. A huge part of the strength of a nomadic force comes from their maneuverability and ability to choose terms of engagement. But when they're bagged down with loot trains and attacked, these strengths turn to weaknesses, and suddenly the nomads find themselves put on the backfoot.
An excellent example of this would be the second Mongol Invasion of Hungary, in which the force received an incredible route, but only after they'd ravaged much of Hungary and were trying to cross over the Carpathians with the loot.
On Tatar Tactics
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
Ok, Tatar tactics 101.
Their raids always followed a simple pattern: the army sets up camp (kosz), then splits into several smaller armies which go raid in different directions and they set up their own kosz's as well and so forth. These smaller units were called a czambuł. This method of raiding for slaves would prove effective, since if the enemy takes out one czambuł, there are always many more doing their job in different places, guaranteeing, that at least some will pick up prisoners and loot. After getting what they wanted, the Tatars would reverse the pattern and retreat to their kosz, then to the one from the unit above them and so forth, until the army is back in one piece, which proceeds to retreat back home in force.
The Tatars were the original masters of feigned retreat. They would never take on a stronger army head on, but kite it down, using their superior horsemanship, archers and hyena-like patience. Naturally, the Khans had a corps of Janissary infantry, based on the Turkish model, as their bodyguards, but in general the fighting was done by the traditional Mongol-style cavalry.
In battle, when they want to engage, they will use their infamous double envelopment maneuver called the Tatar Crescent. A very good example can be seen in the battle of Kerak from the movie Kingdom of Heaven, while constantly harrasing the enemy with arrows. The same tactic shall be also employed during a feigned retreat. Let the chasing party in between your forces, then swarm it from all sides after sufficiently weakening it from afar.
Some Polish commanders however, were more than a match: Bernard Pretwicz, Stefan Chmielecki or Jan Sobieski were masters of fighting the Tatars and would prove devastatingly effective against them. In general, their secret was pretty simple: don't fight the czambułs. Seek out their camps, take them out and wait for the raiding parties to come back into your waiting arms. That way you can defeat a whole kosz, since the Tatars would always return to their camp, then repeat the process. Sobieski, by using this method, managed to absolutely shatter a 20 thousand strong Tatar army with just 2-3 thousand cavalrymen of his own.
Ukraine in general was the reason, why the Commonwealth maintained it great cavalry traditions. Due to the vast distances and a very mobile opponent (Tatars), the response must be equally quick on its feet. It is the same reason why the Wild West was garrisoned by the US Cavalry. Hence having a a rapid reaction force is a big plus here. This is why I would go for the Lipkas and Rajtaria. Our own Tatars are the exact specialists we need, while the reiters provide a solid, hard hitting and disciplined backbone in addition to our own troop.
As to the problem at hand, attacking a czambuł with prisoners is a bad move. Tatars won't risk their slaves, they will simply kill them outright to stop us from saving them (and use'em as hostages to prevent the attack in the first place). We either attack right now or wait to consolidate.
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
I'm picking the attack option, because I like where this is going.
Their raids always followed a simple pattern: the army sets up camp (kosz), then splits into several smaller armies which go raid in different directions and they set up their own kosz's as well and so forth. These smaller units were called a czambuł. This method of raiding for slaves would prove effective, since if the enemy takes out one czambuł, there are always many more doing their job in different places, guaranteeing, that at least some will pick up prisoners and loot. After getting what they wanted, the Tatars would reverse the pattern and retreat to their kosz, then to the one from the unit above them and so forth, until the army is back in one piece, which proceeds to retreat back home in force.
The Tatars were the original masters of feigned retreat. They would never take on a stronger army head on, but kite it down, using their superior horsemanship, archers and hyena-like patience. Naturally, the Khans had a corps of Janissary infantry, based on the Turkish model, as their bodyguards, but in general the fighting was done by the traditional Mongol-style cavalry.
In battle, when they want to engage, they will use their infamous double envelopment maneuver called the Tatar Crescent. A very good example can be seen in the battle of Kerak from the movie Kingdom of Heaven, while constantly harrasing the enemy with arrows. The same tactic shall be also employed during a feigned retreat. Let the chasing party in between your forces, then swarm it from all sides after sufficiently weakening it from afar.
Some Polish commanders however, were more than a match: Bernard Pretwicz, Stefan Chmielecki or Jan Sobieski were masters of fighting the Tatars and would prove devastatingly effective against them. In general, their secret was pretty simple: don't fight the czambułs. Seek out their camps, take them out and wait for the raiding parties to come back into your waiting arms. That way you can defeat a whole kosz, since the Tatars would always return to their camp, then repeat the process. Sobieski, by using this method, managed to absolutely shatter a 20 thousand strong Tatar army with just 2-3 thousand cavalrymen of his own.
By the way the Wild Fields would start way down South, after passing the treacherous Dniepr Rapids (Porohy), where the Cossacks have their base (Sicz). They were called that for a reason, since almost nobody lived there, because this was by far the most dangerous and lawless region of Ukraine. No wonder the Cossacks, runaway serfs and other scoundrels loved the place, since they were untouchable there, besides the locals and raiding Tatars.
Ukraine in general was the reason, why the Commonwealth maintained it great cavalry traditions. Due to the vast distances and a very mobile opponent (Tatars), the response must be equally quick on its feet. It is the same reason why the Wild West was garrisoned by the US Cavalry. Hence having a a rapid reaction force is a big plus here. This is why I would go for the Lipkas and Rajtaria. Our own Tatars are the exact specialists we need, while the reiters provide a solid, hard hitting and disciplined backbone in addition to our own troop.
As to the problem at hand, attacking a czambuł with prisoners is a bad move. Tatars won't risk their slaves, they will simply kill them outright to stop us from saving them (and use'em as hostages to prevent the attack in the first place). We either attack right now or wait to consolidate.
Good old Chmiel later on agreed to let the Tatars plunder, loot and raid Ukraine to their heart's content in order to maintain the alliance, while after the battle of Batoh he actually paid them so that he could take their Polish prisoners and put them to the sword. Some survived only because their Tatar captors disguised them as one of their own in order to not give them up (they did so for the expected ransom of course for richer nobles, but still).
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
I'm picking the attack option, because I like where this is going.
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[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Just over five hundred infantry musketeers, of varying quality, origin, and motivation.
I think far more than raw numbers we need reasonable reliable troops. The type not to run wild against a feigned retreat.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
Asking a forced march of mercs is risky, as is advancing into the unknown but trying to force a pitched battle against tartars seems sisyphean. God willing the town is still holding- between a garrison and a relieving force they'll probably retreat. Getting us a cheap victory and a forward staging point. Not to mention good optics. War never stops politica.
[X] Just over five hundred infantry musketeers, of varying quality, origin, and motivation.
I think far more than raw numbers we need reasonable reliable troops. The type not to run wild against a feigned retreat.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
Asking a forced march of mercs is risky, as is advancing into the unknown but trying to force a pitched battle against tartars seems sisyphean. God willing the town is still holding- between a garrison and a relieving force they'll probably retreat. Getting us a cheap victory and a forward staging point. Not to mention good optics. War never stops politica.
Kir the Wizard
The Sun King
- Location
- Ukraine
I suppose he knew when and who to target for recruitment, because in some campaigns he recruited many prisoners, including not just turncoat soldiers, but some competent administrators like Vyhovsky and Niemirycz. There is a somewhat conspiracy-tier theory that Niemirycz was covertly the co-organizer of the whole Khmelnytsky war together with the Ottomans and was biding his time to see if the whole Cossack Ukraine project stabilizes enough to reveal his true allegiances and prepare it for his eventual goal of adding a third narod to the Rzeczpospolita.
(Edit: obviously the Ottomans had different motives for supporting Chmiel)
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
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- Location
- Mists of Albion
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] a ragtag cavalry corps of lordlings, stray Zaporozhians, and ex-hussars, numbering just shy of a thousand.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
Historically cavalry was the best weapon against Tartars at this period. Speed is also of the essence, so, while I know many of you will be allergic to the word 'ragtag', the word 'Cavalry Corps' should more that make up for it. This would give us just around 1,700 all mounted cavalrymen, mostly light cavalry, which is perfect for this sort of fast campaign.
[X] a ragtag cavalry corps of lordlings, stray Zaporozhians, and ex-hussars, numbering just shy of a thousand.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
Historically cavalry was the best weapon against Tartars at this period. Speed is also of the essence, so, while I know many of you will be allergic to the word 'ragtag', the word 'Cavalry Corps' should more that make up for it. This would give us just around 1,700 all mounted cavalrymen, mostly light cavalry, which is perfect for this sort of fast campaign.
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
I absolutely agree, that he recruited many prisoners to his cause and not all of them were Ruthenians. Cossack lifestyle had a certain appeal and many nobles were happy to tag along. Unfortunately this changed in later years and both sides started to eliminate each other without bothering to look for turncoats.
I would agree, but the musketeers are explicitly called out as being 'of varying quality, origin, and motivation.' That to me means 'mercenaries loyal to themselves first.'
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
I'd prefer for our retinue to keep being a mobile cavalry force. Musketeer infantry and cannons would slow us down significantly.
When did horse drawn artillery start becoming popular in Europe? Can we put our falconet cannons on carriages and just point them at the enemy? Napoleon:Total War taught me of that incredibly effective strategy.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
(Rajtarzy (Reiters) - is this the inspiration behind the WH Fantasy imperial pistolliers?)
EDIT: Adding my vote for the other choices:
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] Give it a few days, and then head south to try and intercept them when they're weighed down by slaves and loot.
For the 2nd option, what's the actual difference between the Lipka Tatars and the mixed group made up of the hussars, zaporozhians, etc. Obviously the Lipka Tatars will be a more reliable fighting force due to the fact they've drilled and faught together beforehand.
Actually I'm curious now, how and when did these Lipka/Christianized Tatars happen, why and how did they join the PLC? Are they actually Tatars or they got named that way because they spoke a Turkic language and are actually Cuman/Pecheneg/Kipchak?
When did horse drawn artillery start becoming popular in Europe? Can we put our falconet cannons on carriages and just point them at the enemy? Napoleon:Total War taught me of that incredibly effective strategy.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
(Rajtarzy (Reiters) - is this the inspiration behind the WH Fantasy imperial pistolliers?)
EDIT: Adding my vote for the other choices:
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] Give it a few days, and then head south to try and intercept them when they're weighed down by slaves and loot.
For the 2nd option, what's the actual difference between the Lipka Tatars and the mixed group made up of the hussars, zaporozhians, etc. Obviously the Lipka Tatars will be a more reliable fighting force due to the fact they've drilled and faught together beforehand.
Actually I'm curious now, how and when did these Lipka/Christianized Tatars happen, why and how did they join the PLC? Are they actually Tatars or they got named that way because they spoke a Turkic language and are actually Cuman/Pecheneg/Kipchak?
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Varied some are and some aren't. I choose to believe it averages out
Sertorius stealing the words straight from my mouth.
We need a solid force of highly mobile cavalry if we're to compete with the Tatar Horsemen. Because of the flat plains and vast distances needed, an infantry army will be too sluggish and slow on the march to make a meaningful gain. At best, we'll be outridden and they flee, at worse we're harassed the entire time until another force either bails us out, or our Radziwill is the first casualty of this generation of the house.
In this regard. We have household hussars. I advocate the Lipka and Reiters. For a solid 1000 horsemen. Lipka know the enemy's tactics, because it's also their own. They can serve as wonderful scouts, harriers and skirmishers, supported by the solid backbone and hard-hitting hussars and Rajtaria.
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
It's time for Stanislaw to be bold, and earn his spurs.
We need a solid force of highly mobile cavalry if we're to compete with the Tatar Horsemen. Because of the flat plains and vast distances needed, an infantry army will be too sluggish and slow on the march to make a meaningful gain. At best, we'll be outridden and they flee, at worse we're harassed the entire time until another force either bails us out, or our Radziwill is the first casualty of this generation of the house.
In this regard. We have household hussars. I advocate the Lipka and Reiters. For a solid 1000 horsemen. Lipka know the enemy's tactics, because it's also their own. They can serve as wonderful scouts, harriers and skirmishers, supported by the solid backbone and hard-hitting hussars and Rajtaria.
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
It's time for Stanislaw to be bold, and earn his spurs.
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
As mentioned before, they are descendants of Tatar exiles, POWs and expatriates, that were settled in the Commonwealth in the ages long past. Lithuania had many villages populated with such people and in exchange for the land given to them they had to fight for the Grand Dukes. Such hamlets also exist in other places, like Podolia. Most are still Muslim and speak Ruthenian or Polish as their native tongue (they would assimilate very quickly). Indeed, Lipkas were granted privileges and had the rights of... nobles. Yes, that's right. Poland and Lithuania were very generous to Muslim Tatars and such settlers could become nobles in exchange for loyalty. They didn't have political rights (so no offices, Sejmiks or Sejms for them), but would gain them the moment they convert to Christianity, yet most never did. They had their own aristocracy as well. Some bore the title of Mirza, Bey or Knyaz (due to being descended from Golden Horde aristocrats or even Genghis Khan himself).
The very name Lipka is a late addition and comes from the way the Crimean Khans addressed the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Lipka being a bad translation of Lithuania) as the Great Khans of Lipkas, styling them as another Tatar Khan (due to having them as their subjects). For all intents and purposes, the Lipkas are culturally almost the same as regular Ruthenians, which explains their lasting loyalty, yet they still practiced the skills of their ancestors. Since we are using this terminology consistently, I would leave it be, but the term Lipka would come into use in the XVII century. Before that, they would be simply called Lithuanian, Polish or Hospodar Tatars.
As for any other nationals, I can tell you, that the people of Caucasus that came to Poland/Lithuania also had their own units and traditions (so long as they had some separate cultural identity), that even had a lasting impact on the military of the PLC. The Lithuanian Petyhorcy (Five Mountain Men) medium cavalry started as a unit of Circassians and in time their battle kit would become a prestigious standard in the army, behind only the Winged Hussars.
Fun fact: Muslims in the PLC were forbidden from building minarets (towers, from which a man would call people to prayer), therefore there is a local tradition, that the muezzin does his job while simply walking through the streets.
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- Pronouns
- He
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
Very interesting, thank you for the comprehensive answer!
- Location
- United States
[X] Five hundred Lipka/Christianized Tatars.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
[X] A large company of German and Crownlander rajtaria – around three hundred men.
[X] Move at forced-march pace to try and find them at once.
XXV-II. July 26-29, 1575. Berdyczów, Kijów Voivodeship, Polish Crownlands.
- Location
- United States
Some of the men grumble about hiring Tatars to fight Tatars. Thankfully, you've hired their mirza Amurat before when you battled those Muscovite raiders a year ago – a rousing speech about an enemy of the land being an enemy of Allah (naturally delivered in completely unaccented Polish) puts the bigots to rest. Besides, these men fight more out of loyalty to Lithuania's premier house than they do for gold or glory, unlike the shaggy, morion-wearing rajtaria, with their cuirasses and braces of pistols. In short, you know where to rest your trust, infidels or not, and you're more than happy to enjoy listening to that beautiful, beautiful call to prayer, even if it's a song of the Devil. It feels easier to enjoy these days, like it's merely music rather than some cursed Mohammadan spell, even if that's what it is. You breathe and listen, five times a day.
Anyways, hiring Tatars to fight Tatars means fighting Tatars with Tatars, which you reckon is just what's needed to deal with the slippery bastards; they'll get them nice and tangled in a duel of archery, or the Lipkas can cut off their retreat. Then, the rajtaria can soften them up with pistol fire before joining your heavy hussars' charge. That's how it ought to go, that is, but you know better from your vicious brawls with bandits and Muscovites that plans made for, and perhaps on, the field of battle almost never come to proper fruition.
It should have come as no surprise that the chambul around Berdyczów melted at your approach, but the fact that all you can find are piles of ash and swarms of flies is enough to make the blood boil. Especially when you find grisly sights everywhere: pairs of hands scattered along roadsides missing owners, maidens stripped naked and missing heads, families heaped up on the thresholds of where their houses once stood, and hanging trees filled to the brim with children and old men. The signs of slaughter you found outside of Kijów were matter-of-fact in their way; those who couldn't keep up with the slave-trains were struck down and that was that. But here, seeing such torture… the images burn themselves behind your eyelids like the awful things you saw in France, and you distinctly feel that the Tatars must be punishing you. As if they're saying: you hunt us? Well, we'll butcher yours.
The mercenaries mainly seem bored, and are certainly bothered when you force them to head out as small, vulnerable reconnaissance squadrons — this was after much grumbling at the marching pace you asked of them. Your hussars, on the other hand, grow angrier with each new atrocity, swearing by God and their honor that, when the time comes, they'll kill ten Tatars for every dead child, and surely take no prisoners. And that may be just fine by you, however unsettled you always find yourself by such talk.
As for said reconnaissance, all they can dredge up is one thing: south. They haven't even laid eyes on a foeman yet and you wonder, as you stare into the scrub and rolling hills, if you're being watched. But, south. That's where the trails of dead captives and buried, illness-claimed Tatars go. You reckon they may be hiding in the slightly more forested southern part of the flatlands, or perhaps beyond that in Jedysan, or they're making a left turn at some point toward the Dniepr and their homeland. It's somewhat headache-inducing. But if they're leaving with their spoils, that makes them vulnerable.
The people of Berdyczów and the monks of its central monastery offer up a hero's welcome to your little army, cracking open kegs of beer, casks of imported wines, and flagons of the local, spiced variety of gorzała. One man loudly jokes that he never thought he'd be happy to see heathen Tatars for once. In the main square, they spread out a commoner's feast of liberally-buttered white bread, borscht, little pork dumplings, rolls stuffed with organ meat, and the Tyszkiewicz manor's stock of Italian cheese. As always, you find yourself charmed — if not a little jarred by the sudden jolly air — and even genuinely moved knowing that they're taking food out of their mouths in chaotic and lean times. You praise God that, despite making men murderers and slavers, He also made them generous and grateful, even in the face of famine and war, even when a little town finds its size doubled for a day or three by a passing army. The dirt roads of Berdyczów are indeed choked with dust of some thousand horses being led to water each and every day, and what a sight that is. You ensure that all the men are on their best behavior, especially the hardened rajtaria (the Lipkas are pious and modest folk, by your estimate, whether Muslim or Christian).
But, sadly, the locals can't offer up more than good food or drink: the Tyszkiewicz lords have fled to their strongholds to the west, and the townsfolk can only relate the gruesome and fearful stories you became accustomed to hearing from refugees in Kijów. They've got no clue about the chambul's bearing, disposition, or size, and Cross themselves at the presence of their protective stockade that spared them the fate of the surrounding villages. The abbot and town elders beg you to stay awhile, but you explain that you, sadly, cannot oblige.
You've lost a few precious days and, after all, you must try to…
[] link up with allied forces to the west.
Then, the hunt for the war-camp can begin in earnest.
[] pursue the chambul to the south.
They must be laden with loot and captives at this point; one need only to follow their trail of murder to find them. You're a little shocked at your bloodthirst, but avenging the things you've seen combined with the chance for glorious victory and valuable noble captives is too much to pass up.
Anyways, hiring Tatars to fight Tatars means fighting Tatars with Tatars, which you reckon is just what's needed to deal with the slippery bastards; they'll get them nice and tangled in a duel of archery, or the Lipkas can cut off their retreat. Then, the rajtaria can soften them up with pistol fire before joining your heavy hussars' charge. That's how it ought to go, that is, but you know better from your vicious brawls with bandits and Muscovites that plans made for, and perhaps on, the field of battle almost never come to proper fruition.
It should have come as no surprise that the chambul around Berdyczów melted at your approach, but the fact that all you can find are piles of ash and swarms of flies is enough to make the blood boil. Especially when you find grisly sights everywhere: pairs of hands scattered along roadsides missing owners, maidens stripped naked and missing heads, families heaped up on the thresholds of where their houses once stood, and hanging trees filled to the brim with children and old men. The signs of slaughter you found outside of Kijów were matter-of-fact in their way; those who couldn't keep up with the slave-trains were struck down and that was that. But here, seeing such torture… the images burn themselves behind your eyelids like the awful things you saw in France, and you distinctly feel that the Tatars must be punishing you. As if they're saying: you hunt us? Well, we'll butcher yours.
The mercenaries mainly seem bored, and are certainly bothered when you force them to head out as small, vulnerable reconnaissance squadrons — this was after much grumbling at the marching pace you asked of them. Your hussars, on the other hand, grow angrier with each new atrocity, swearing by God and their honor that, when the time comes, they'll kill ten Tatars for every dead child, and surely take no prisoners. And that may be just fine by you, however unsettled you always find yourself by such talk.
As for said reconnaissance, all they can dredge up is one thing: south. They haven't even laid eyes on a foeman yet and you wonder, as you stare into the scrub and rolling hills, if you're being watched. But, south. That's where the trails of dead captives and buried, illness-claimed Tatars go. You reckon they may be hiding in the slightly more forested southern part of the flatlands, or perhaps beyond that in Jedysan, or they're making a left turn at some point toward the Dniepr and their homeland. It's somewhat headache-inducing. But if they're leaving with their spoils, that makes them vulnerable.
The people of Berdyczów and the monks of its central monastery offer up a hero's welcome to your little army, cracking open kegs of beer, casks of imported wines, and flagons of the local, spiced variety of gorzała. One man loudly jokes that he never thought he'd be happy to see heathen Tatars for once. In the main square, they spread out a commoner's feast of liberally-buttered white bread, borscht, little pork dumplings, rolls stuffed with organ meat, and the Tyszkiewicz manor's stock of Italian cheese. As always, you find yourself charmed — if not a little jarred by the sudden jolly air — and even genuinely moved knowing that they're taking food out of their mouths in chaotic and lean times. You praise God that, despite making men murderers and slavers, He also made them generous and grateful, even in the face of famine and war, even when a little town finds its size doubled for a day or three by a passing army. The dirt roads of Berdyczów are indeed choked with dust of some thousand horses being led to water each and every day, and what a sight that is. You ensure that all the men are on their best behavior, especially the hardened rajtaria (the Lipkas are pious and modest folk, by your estimate, whether Muslim or Christian).
But, sadly, the locals can't offer up more than good food or drink: the Tyszkiewicz lords have fled to their strongholds to the west, and the townsfolk can only relate the gruesome and fearful stories you became accustomed to hearing from refugees in Kijów. They've got no clue about the chambul's bearing, disposition, or size, and Cross themselves at the presence of their protective stockade that spared them the fate of the surrounding villages. The abbot and town elders beg you to stay awhile, but you explain that you, sadly, cannot oblige.
You've lost a few precious days and, after all, you must try to…
[] link up with allied forces to the west.
Then, the hunt for the war-camp can begin in earnest.
[] pursue the chambul to the south.
They must be laden with loot and captives at this point; one need only to follow their trail of murder to find them. You're a little shocked at your bloodthirst, but avenging the things you've seen combined with the chance for glorious victory and valuable noble captives is too much to pass up.
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