Welcome to Italy, Captain. The richest lands in Central Europe, and birthplace of the renaissance.
Take on the mightiest armies of Europe, and live to stuff your stockings and boots full of the finest booty that Italy can offer, or be crushed under the heel of an empire!
Welcome to Italy, Captain. The richest lands in Central Europe, and birthplace of the renaissance.
Take on the mightiest armies of Europe, and live to stuff your stockings and boots full of the finest booty that Italy can offer, or be crushed under the heel of an empire!
Choices, big and small, made during the initial character creation will be Consequential™
Choose carefully.
28th of April, 1503 - Cerignola, Naples
"This is madness!"
"Madness? Captain, we're getting paid."
"You're getting paid. I'm leaving you to handle this suicidal nonsense on your own." You raise your voice as you finish, and turn to the rest of the company. "Anyone who wants no part of this, come with me. Duc de Nemours is dead, and I won't have my men meet the same inglorious end because some greedy upjumped fool of a captain thought he had the chance to earn some fame."
As you address the troops, d'Alègre, the moustache-twirling idiot, looks affronted at the mere suggestion that charging headfirst into an entrenched position, with the allied artillery still in transit, is a bad idea. Ignoring the twit, you turn to your second in command and grin.
"Congratulations, lieutenant. You've been promoted to Captain."
Your second in command is…
[X] Jean-Claude, a brave (sometimes overly so!) and gregarious cavalry lieutenant, known for his ability to make the mercenary life seem glamourous.
[X] Giulio, a jolly (sometimes at the expense of others) crossbow lieutenant whose generous build stems from his family background, one heavily invested in Italian cuisine.
[X] Johannes, a pike lieutenant whose impish youthfulness belies a keen tactical mind, despite his fascination with cities, particularly those on flat ground.
"As you say commander." He starts issuing orders to return to camp and start packing up.
Another two captains decide that sticking around with d'Alègre is hazardous to their health, and link up with you. One of them is a pike captain you've struck up a friendship with on the road, and the other is… (Pick 2, first one is the Pike Captain)
[X] A German Captain
[X] A French Captain
[X] A Swiss Captain
[X] An Italian Captain
The other captain's regiment is… (Pick 1)
[X] A Pike Regiment
[X] An Arquebus Regiment
[X] A Crossbow Regiment
The four of you make your way back to the camp, hearing the Swiss charge up the hill to the entrenched Spanish army. The poor sods are as good as dead, and their baggage train takes the hint as your company marches into the camp, linking up with your column as you make your way…
[X] Go North
-[X] to Ferarra, the tiny French ally
-[X] to Milan, the heart of Italian industry
-[X] to Venice, where money is no object
-[X] Write-in
[X] Stay in Naples Fuck No, you're out of here.
You are…
[X] a Skilled Skirmisher - Skirmishing Combat
[X] Eagle Eyed - Scouting
[X] a Nuanced Negotiator - Negotiating Contracts
[X] a Rampant Recruiter - Replenishing Units
[X] an Arms Acquirer - Arms Efficiency
[X] a Food Fixer - Food Efficiency
[X] a Support Supplier - Support Efficiency
and you now command a mercenary company named…
[X] Write-in Company Name
For your commander stats, choose in order which you prioritise these (Pick 2): [X] Personability: Your character interacts with other characters using this stat
[X] Stewardship: Your character interacts with money & supplies using this stat
[X] Tactics: Your character interacts with the battlefield using this stat, such as opposing rolls or fortifying.
Early September, 1503 - City of Milan, French-occupied Duchy of Milan
Italy, 1494
It's a hot summer morning when you arrive in Milan. You've been marching for French territory for a few days now, and the city of Milan itself looks like a bastion of civilization compared to the wagons and tents you've been sleeping in so far. One thing you do notice fairly quickly is that the French troops you spot in Milan are few and far between, and the ones you do see either look more like bandits than troops, half asleep, or worked to the bone.
More than that, the ones you spot are performing basic duties, but almost exclusively with skeleton crews. More than likely, the French are going to start to hire in Italian youngsters with a bare minimum education in how to keep order, unless they're reinforced from France. The topic of conversation, in more or less the entire duchy has been the recent death of Pope Alexander VI, and in the city the discussion is very much alive as well, and more heated than the one in the countryside. There's a fair bit of anger simmering under the surface at the perceived loss of influence over the Papal elections in Milan, as the French are uninterested in providing a Milanese candidate, but it's kept to mutters at best.
In the evening a harried-looking Italian, who introduces himself as Vincenzo, walks into the bar you've chosen and asks to set up a meeting with his employer, who is looking to employ a smaller band of Italian mercenaries in Florence. His employer wants…
A Commander that can siege, or at least cordon off, the city of Pisa more effectively than the loose collection of semi-professionals and smaller bands that's been assembled.
He expects his employer to pay a Modest sum
If battle occurs, he will allow a Sizeable percentage of the plunder to go to your men.
Termination of contract occurs if Pisa falls, or the employer terminates the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 4 fortnights.
You thank the man for the offer, and inform him that you will consult your company, before going back to your drink. The men rejoice at once again being in a safe haven after marching through all of Italy at a fairly rapid pace, and are likewise getting drinks.
The next morning Captain Johannes knocks on the door of your room, and comes in after you acknowledge him.
"Sir, I wanted to let you know that a man from the French contingent asked me about the possibility of employing the Red Roosters."
"Oh, did he offer any details, or is that something we'll have to divine on our own?"
"Well, he looked a little priestly but I think the details he did give will tide us over."
The French would like...
I Galli Rossi sent to Ferrara, to fend off any Venetian or Papal incursions. There is a suggestion that additional duties, fairly recompensed, of course, may appear.
To pay a Fair fee.
If battle occurs, they want to give you a Fair percentage of the plunder.
Termination at end of negotiated period, or if the employer terminates the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 4 fortnights.
While you're considering your options, you are approached by other potential employers…
The city of Pisa has sent a representative, whose desired terms are…
I Galli Rossi is sent to Pisa, where they should break the cordon established around the city by Florentine forces.
They would pay a Fair fee.
If battle occurs, they want to offer a Decent percentage of the plunder.
The contract will end should the cordon be broken, with possible extensions should the situation develop, or if the employer terminates the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 4 fortnights.
The Republic of Venice has sent a representative whose desired terms are…
I Galli Rossi be sent to join the ongoing Venetian expansion in Romagna
They would pay a Fair fee
If battle occurs, they want to offer a Modest percentage of the plunder
The contract will end should the employer terminate the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 4 fortnights.
The final offer comes from a man representing Guidobaldo de Montefeltro, the Duke of Urbino, whose desired terms are that…
I Galli Rossi be sent to Urbino where the Duke will assume command, in order to re-establish his rule in the city which is currently ruled by Cesare Borgia.
They would pay a Fair fee.
If battle occurs, they want to offer a Modest percentage of the plunder
The contract will end should the city be retaken, the employer terminate the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 3 fortnights.
But before you embark on any of these contracts, you should take stock of your inventory…
You have 2 Swiss units of Pikemen, 1 Italian Crossbow and 3 Baggage Trains
Inventory
Arms
Food
Support
Coin
Upkeep
150
204
66
305
Reserves
164
213
82
3146
After Fortnight
14
9
16
2841
With this in mind, the contract that seems most suitable to enter further negotiations for is...
[X] The Florentine Contract
[X] The French Contract
[X] The Pisan Contract
[X] The Venetian Contract
[X] The Duke of Urbino's Contract
What would you like to prioritise negotiating for, during the second phase of the negotiations?
[X] 1) Duties (write-in specifics)
[X] 2a) Total Pay
[X] 2b) Upfront Pay
[X] 3) Fulfilment Pay/Plunder
[X] 4) Contract termination clauses (write-in specifics, or QM choice)
There will be a 2 hour Moratorium. We will have preferential voting for the contracts.
It occurred to me that you may be somewhat short on information about how your skills, and your commanders' skills relate to one another.
This is what your character, Iacopo of Rome, thinks of his commanders:
Commanders:
Iacopo of Rome: You consider your strongest skill to be stewardship and the maintenance of a purse, followed closely by your ability to command men on the field. You don't consider yourself unpersonable, but who does?
Skills: Nuanced Negotiator I, Skilled Skirmisher I, Superior Surgeon II
Johannes, is a pike captain whose impish youthfulness belies a keen tactical mind, despite his fascination with cities, particularly those on flat ground. He's also got a good eye for terrain, and a good grip on his purse.
Skills: Eagle-Eyed I
Louis, the other Swiss captain, is a quiet, careful man whose company is nonetheless enjoyable, a man who understands that sometimes saying less is more. His grasp of tactics is solid as a foundation but perhaps lacking in finesse. He's unafraid to spend money if he thinks it's worth it. Louis knows how to keep his men fed, though, something you can't fault.
Skills: Quality Quartermaster I
Giuseppe, the Italian crossbow captain, is an annoying man with a tendency to respond to just about everything with a comment he thinks is clever, meaning you've learned less than you would otherwise have liked about him. His primary experience is as a scout.
Skills: Eagle-Eyed I
Ludwig, the Swiss crossbow captain you recruited in Urbino. A careful man who previously served as a lieutenant in one of the companies hired by Cesare Borgia, his experience is a commander of skirmishing crossbow units. His emplyment under Borgia ended abruptly when his company's commander was strangled, at which point he took what men were loyal to him and marched off to find employment elsewhere.
Early September, 1503 Pt.2 - City of Milan, French-occupied Milan
Milanese coin depicting the Duke of Milan, Louis XII of France
Before the negotiations begin, you and Johannes sit down for a meal with the representative the Duke has sent, Giovanni is an amicable and stylishly dressed man. His permanent semi-scowl and straight-mouthed demeanour makes him seem somewhat intimidating. You can see how the contrast might throw some people off, but you find it more amusing than anything else.
The negotiations begin and his Sicilian accent makes him sound unreasonably smooth. He drives a hard bargain but you get the kind of deal you want out of it. The Duke is not an unreasonable man, and his offer seems to be more or less as advertised. Giovanni makes it clear that the Duke would look very poorly on any plunder in Urbino, but the Sicilian also agrees to raise your share of the plunder should Cesare Borgia's forces decide to engage you, as well as the severance pay at the end of the contract.
The Final Contract is…
1) Duties - The Duke will relieve you of foraging duties, giving you -30% food cost while in Urbino
2a) Upkeep Pay - 978 Coin per Fortnight (pay begins after the 4 fortnight march to Urbino)
2b) Upfront Pay - 6090 Coin
3) Fulfilment Pay/Plunder - 20% more shares of Plunder (in case of battle) and 2348 Coin
4) Contract termination: The contract will end should the city be held safely for 6 months (12 fortnights), the employer terminate the contract, or should the unit go without pay for 2 fortnights.
[X] Accept the Contract (Gain 6090 Coin)
[X] Decline the Contract, find something else (You will receive no pay this Fortnight)
Having finished the negotiations, you now need to prepare for the days to come…
Early November, 1503 - Ca Mazzasette, Borgia-occupied Duchy of Urbino
Italian Autumn
Your purchasing spree goes well, and you manage to haggle down the price of some of your supplies by a fairly significant amount. As the day ends, you order your men to stash the goods into the wagons and to prepare to get a move on during the next morning.
The march from Milan to Urbino is long and boring, but in this case boring is good. Nothing particularly exciting happens on the way. Italy is not that cold, but it's not exactly warm on the way down, as autumn winds and rain occasionally make life just a little chilly. The trees, whose greys and browns colour most of the way, have spread leaves in fine yellows and reds on the ground. Many of the birds are gone from the trees as well, and you spot large formations of cranes flying south a couple of times during the trip. On the road, you also hear news, first that the new Pope has been elected, then that the new Pope has died, and a new one has been elected again, but reports don't agree on whether Julius II or Pius III is the new Pontifex Maximus.
As you continue to close in on Urbino, Giovanni starts directing you towards Ca Mazzasette, where the Duke has asked that you join up with his army. It is a small village about a day or two from the city of Urbino itself, but otherwise unremarkable.
Meeting with the Duke is itself an affair. You end up spotting his army setting up camp as you arrive at Ca Mazzasette, and you order your men to get your own camp set up. He is a fairly ordinary looking man, in what appears to be understated but high-quality clothing, and he greets both you and Giovanni with a serious, low voice. Another man stands at the table, and his somewhat flamboyant outfit (including a big red hat with a blue feather plume, and black and red breeches) marks him as a fellow mercenary commander and with an arquebus and a sword at his side, it's not hard to figure out his speciality, either.
His greeting to you, a badly accented "Salve" marks him as a German, so you nod and respond with a short "Salve" in return. In staggering Italian, he introduces himself as Maximilian, the commander of the Weissenburger Company, consisting of about a thousand men in total. The Duke himself mentions that he has about fourteen hundred men of his own, including a regiment of cavalry, and that the Weissenburgers are there thanks to a generous sponsorship from some allies in Rome. He motions to a large tent, with well-armoured guards on either side of the entrance.
Inside the tent is a large table with a map, and the Duke starts to lay out his plans. The initial stage is a fairly simple one, where the idea is simply to march up to Urbino at first light and demand that the small garrison inside surrender the city peacefully. Da Montefeltro says that his contacts inform him that the garrison is tiny, numbering perhaps 150 men at most, and he expects that should the men be given free passage, they will surrender as such a small force is unlikely to fight when the city is still loyal to him.
Stage two is the harder part, where the city is to be held against any oncoming threat, the primary concern being the army of Cesare Borgia which has just begun its siege of San Marino, a small Italian city state to the north of Urbino.
You… [X] Have nothing to add to the Duke's plans
[X] Have something to add to the Duke's plans (write-in)
After the meeting, you find your troops settled in and you take stock of your supplies...
Inventory
Arms
Food
Support
Coin
Capacity
Capacity
Upkeep
150
240
70
365
Taken
Remaining
Reserves
164
69
66
6174
299
2101
Would you like to purchase anything?
[X] Yes
-[X] Food (write-in amount) (-30% cost while in Urbino)
-[X] Support (write-in amount)
[X] No
Scheduled vote count started by KlinkerKing on May 8, 2021 at 5:32 PM, finished with 36 posts and 11 votes.
[X] Plan Proactive Defense -[X] Yes --[X] Food (960) (-30% cost while in Urbino) --[X] Support (140) -[X] Suggest to the Duke that we should send a handful of our best scouts to gather information on Cesare's army and seige progress.
[X] Plan Ambitious -[X] Have something to add to the Duke's plans (write-in) --[X] Suggest to the Duke that we should send a handful of our best scouts to gather information on Cesare's army numbers, composition and siege progress and confirmation of whether Cesare is unaware of us ---[X] If the scouts confirm the above then suggest the idea of ambushing Cesare. After we capture the city we can have an Urbino guard sent to San Marino and tell Cesare we have arrived at the city with a smaller army than we actually have. Should Cesare march south we can ambush him in favorable terrain of our choosing(A river crossing/hills) -[X] Yes --[X] Food (960) (-30% cost while in Urbino) --[X] Support (140)
Early November, 1503 Pt.2 - City of Urbino, Duchy of Urbino
City of Urbino
"I'd like to suggest that we send some of our men to scout the Borgia camp in San Marino before we make our way towards the city," You say, picking up a small piece and moving it across the map to indicate your scouts. The Duke looks unsurprised by your suggestion, and gives you the go-ahead immediately.
"Very well, Iacopo. I'll leave that particular bit of business to you."
"I'll see to it as soon as we finish up here, then."
"Excellent. Now, I believe the easiest route to the city is to avoid the hill by Castello di Cavallino, and to move on the eastern road…"
Eventually, the Duke's more detailed plan is made clear to you, and it is remarkable only in its simplicity. The fact that Guidobaldo knows the area like the back of his hand makes it a fairly short and uncontested planning session, where the man lays out the roads suitable for marching with wagons and you more or less acquiesce to his suggestions.
A couple of hours later the meeting is adjourned and you speak to Johannes, your foremost scout commander, delegating the details of the mission to scope out the positions that Cesare Borgia has taken up outside of San Marino to him. The Duke orders the march to begin early next morning, and the camp tucks in for an early night.
On the morning of the march, you wake up to the sound of an argument in the commander quarters. The source of it is the German Pike captain who is having a disagreement with a chaplain, the specifics being that the Pike captain is convinced that the crow seen flying overhead is a bad omen, while the chaplain disagrees, saying that the crow was flying towards the city, which implies it is a good omen.
You tell the two of them to kindly table the argument, since you do in fact need to get a move on towards Urbino. The two of them agree in short order, but both of the men look troubled as you break camp.
The eight hour march sees you arrive in Urbino just after noon and though the men are a little tired, they are in overall good spirits. Starting things out is the march of some 1500 pike and the Duke's cavalry, up to the city gates under a flag of truce.
"I am Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino and, as my father before me, the rightful ruler of this city. Open the gates!"
Negotiations are short thereafter, as the garrison is too small to really inconvenience the number of men you've brought along, and the white flag is raised as soon as the men are promised clemency. The surrender and opening of the gates goes by without much fanfare, but you hear the German Pike captain and the chaplain from before having another hushed argument over the crow they saw at the start of the march.
Their positions have seemingly reversed, with the Pike captain arguing that the crow was clearly a good omen, hence the surrender of the city. The chaplain has changed his mind, and says that the surrender has changed the circumstances. With no deaths in the city due to a siege, there must now be deaths to satisfy the omens, and those deaths could be us! Giuseppe rolls his eyes and comments that the two are talking like an old married couple.
A few days after the city has been taken, the scouts return. They estimate that Cesare Borgia has assembled between 4000 and 5000 troops, including a small number of heavy cavalry. The remainder of the army appears to be foot soldiers of all kinds, but the Borgia's lack of light cavalry and artillery is fairly apparent.
As the day comes to a close, you start preparing for the upcoming fortnight...
After your supply duties are firmly in hand, you receive word that the Duke has ordered a meeting early next week, where you can discuss the findings of the scouts. This is an opportunity to come with your own suggestions.
The Duke's current thoughts are conveyed to you via a small agenda:
Discuss the results of the scouting, and what the information means
Preparations required should Urbino come under siege
News from Pesaro, where the Duke's allies have triumphed
[X] Preparations for the Duke's meeting -[X] Digging, Earthworks or Trenches The ground is frozen...
-[X] Write-in
-[X] You have no input.
