Italian Quest: A Mercenary Boot
- Thread starter KlinkerKing
- Start date
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
[X] Plan: The Red Roosters
- Location
- the details
[X] Plan Logistics is King, but Money is Exalted (Alt. Title: Suave Spaniard Seeking Silver)
We are mercenaries, after all.
We are mercenaries, after all.
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
Vote Closing in 2 Hours
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
Voting Closed. Plan Red Roosters wins.
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
The winning plan takes you to Milan, chief.
- Location
- Kansas
Kind of hoping for some cavalry action tbh. Oh well, better finish my plan next time!
Hey @KlinkerKing is there any difference between the crossbows and arquebus besides cost? The info post has their stats the same except the arquebus is a bit more expensive which I expected given its difficulty to acquire, but I though the arquebus would be better offensively than the crossbow.
Or is there some bonus that the arquebus has and the crossbow doesn't?
Or is there some bonus that the arquebus has and the crossbow doesn't?
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
It scales better into the later years. Its introduction to the battlefield is recent and its slow rate of fire and reliability issues mean that effectively it is currently even with the crossbows. However, crossbows do not get better as the years go by, unlike the arquebus.
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
You arrive in Milan in September, so Alexander VI is dead as a door nail.
So he's dead by the time we reach Milan. We will probably hear about it on the road. His death will create a lot of opportunities.
On a totally different topic I would love to visit Urbino if we ever have the chance. Its always been a topic of interest for me and I hope we visit it before it declines completely.
On a totally different topic I would love to visit Urbino if we ever have the chance. Its always been a topic of interest for me and I hope we visit it before it declines completely.
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Early September, 1503 - City of Milan, French-occupied Duchy of Milan
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
Early September, 1503 - City of Milan, French-occupied Duchy of Milan
Italy, 1494
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.
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All I know is that [] The Duke of Urbino's Contract is the contract I want. A chance to visit Urbino and gain some favor with all the powers that dislike the Borgias is nice.
Its also worth mentioning that Guidobaldo de Montefeltro has some connections to the future Pope and his family and with other noble families of Italy.
If that doesn't win then I would go for either the Pisa or Florence job
Edit- I'm wondering @KlinkerKing what exactly is support? Food and arms are pretty self explanatory.
Its also worth mentioning that Guidobaldo de Montefeltro has some connections to the future Pope and his family and with other noble families of Italy.
If that doesn't win then I would go for either the Pisa or Florence job
Edit- I'm wondering @KlinkerKing what exactly is support? Food and arms are pretty self explanatory.
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KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
Generic stuff like wagon wheels, tools for digging trenches or erecting palisades, pots, pans and all that stuff.
- Location
- the details
I was about to say that we should head towards Urbino before I noticed that voting isn't open yet.
Its who we decide to ingratiate ourselves with. So we Pisa vs Florence taking one contract would pit us against the other. Then its France vs Venice where taking one or the other would put us at odds with the other side. And lastly my favorite the Urbino contract which leaves us neutral
Edit- I would be against the French contract for the simple reason that they just lost their war and wont be making many major moves in Italy and wont be in a hurry to provide much support to any allies/employees they have in Italy.
Fun fact we might meet Machiavelli if we choose the Pisa/Florence job as it was he who retook Pisa for Florence.
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- Location
- the details
The Duke of Urbino says our unit is bound for 3 fortnights without pay. Everyone else says 4 fortnights without pay. A fortnight is two weeks long.
The Duke of Urbino is saying we'll get payed on time. The others aren't.
@KlinkerKing I noticed all the contracts only ask for 1 unit. Will us or one of the captains be in charge of the unit? And if we aren't in charge and stay behind what could we do in the meantime?
Edit- Correction most of the contacts want 1 unit. One contract wants a commander.
Edit- Correction most of the contacts want 1 unit. One contract wants a commander.
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