Longtime Dakkanaut
Painesville, Ohio, USA
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Krueger had always hoped that with the beginning of summer, the sweltering heat of the Old World would curb the wars, campaigns, battles, and border skirmishes that plagued the continent. The temperature made plants wilt, wax soften, and mud cake… maybe this year would be the year that the temperature would dampen even the most passionate of warmongers. But, as was tradition, the summer months brought a whole new harvest of heroes determined to put their names in the history books.
“Well,” whispered the old man to himself, “as least the Priestess came with me this time.”
It wasn’t often that clergymen called upon the Tilean-trained-Marienburg-born Engineer, but they have called upon him. Krueger never did like dealing with clergy-folk. Many of them were upset in his lack of faith, and his adherence to his religion of science and industry. Often times he often could hear the priests and clerics mumbling about him behind his back, once his work was done. Though, sometimes he wasn’t sure if it was because of his faith, or his birth. Still, Krueger was an Imperial. And someday he’d wear his city of birth as a token of pride, instead of as a black stain upon his name.
Worse, the Morrites didn’t care for the fact that Krueger felt when you died… you ended. There was no afterlife… no eternal existence in his mind. You did your life, and then that was it. It still surprised the old man that the High Priest of Morr would call upon his services.
Cathedrals to Morr were odd places at best. You’d expect the God of the Dead to have a morbid place of worship. Yet the grounds around the cathedral were kept meticulously green, and the entire place was flowering. Trees were full of ripe fruit, and small, vegetable gardens were everywhere around the church. Krueger and Paetricia sat on a bench in a gazebo waiting for the High Priest. The old man let the summer heat lull him off into a daydream of better places, where he wouldn’t have to work or worry about going to war. Battle and glory were a young man’s fancy. An old man just wanted to fish and maybe go horseback riding.
Paetricia Senatoriae gently tapped Krueger with her foot, bringing the old man out of his daydream, and back into focus at the task at hand. He looked over at the priestess and smiled nervously. Her effortless calm made the engineer nervous. Sigmar’s clergy were fire-and-brimstone pulpit-pounding crusader. Paetricia’s calm, almost meek and quiet demeanor was at great contrasts. He looked back, and saw the somber garbed High Priest sitting next to them in the shade of the gazebo.
Clearing his throat, and adjusting his glasses, the old man started, “Do forgive, your grace, I’m an old man, and my mind tends to wander.” Krueger paused for a moment to gauge the High Priest. Seeing no emotion he continued, “First, I would like to comment on your personal arms and armaments. I must start with your Chariot of Faith. I noticed that you have decided to wear armor made from comet-iron… and… it makes me wonder. With the protection from the Chariot, a simple suit of heavy armor and a shield would be more than adequate protection. You might be able to save some silver, and leave the comet-iron at home. Also, I notice you have a token from the mage von Horstmann… iffn I may be so bold, sir, your own martial prowess should suffice. The speculum is a bit wasted on you. Lastly, while I understand the hidden power of a Hammer of Judgement… I often equate it to a poor man’s Runefang. It is expensive, and, while my full understanding of the arcane isn’t as vast as the Lady von Hauptmann’s, not terribly powerful. I would suggest instead, to bring a simple hammer given an enchantment of might.”
Krueger stopped for a moment, and looked around. Standing up, he walked to a the small table in the center of the gazebo, and picked up a glass of water. The old man took a sip, and continued, “I would also like to quickly address your prodigal sorcerer. While I understand that he is moderately skilled in the arts of the Heavens… or was it in Shadow… ah, no worry, I still must advise you that you are only moderately protected from enemy magics. While you, your acolyte, and the wizard do have some ability to dispel the winds of magic, it has always been an opinion of mine that a pair of nul-scrolls are always useful. If I may be so bold, I would suggest you advise your mage to leave his mystic ring and staff at the Colleges of Magic, and to get a pair of nul-scrolls. If you lack the time to have the alchemists craft them for you, I do have a small batch of them that my own priestess, Paetricia Senatoriae, has written already.”
Rummaging in the pocket of his greatcoat, Krueger pulls out a rag, and wipes the beads of sweat of his face. Even in the cool shade of the gazebo, the humidity was nearly unbearable. “I only have a couple more thoughts on your lieutenants, your grace. First, I must advise you that your acolyte needs some armor. I saw him practicing his macecraft on the cathedral greens, and he informed me he uses neither shield nor armor, even though your Order has access to such protective equipment. I would highly suggest you get him to wear his armor and shield. A dead priest does you no good. Also… I never have been fond of dubious artifacts of religious nature. I am not saying your Grace has been duped, but… perhaps the small icon that the acolyte carries with him could be left in the Cathedral? Your knights, and your acolyte, are all competent, brave soldiers… and should be able to resist those monsters which can be terrifying to behold.
“I understand that your Bannerman is to captain your swordsmen… I’d have to suggest, instead, he captain your second unit of your knights. Your knight troops are very small, and he would be a great boost to their combat prowess… however, I must wonder why he has chosen a banner that the Elector Count Sigismund once used. Your knights, and to a lesser extent your swordsmen, need to be charging and fighting with almost reckless abandon… not trying to bolster their courage in order to keep from withdrawing to regroup. I have brought with me a banner, enchanted by the Mages of Light that draws upon the very nature of Myrmiddia herself to grant a boon to war. This War Banner would be a much better device for your knights, or even your swordsmen, to charge and attack under.”
Stuffing the rag back into his pocket, the old man pulls several sheets of paper out, and lays them out on the table, holding them down with some tools and corked inkpots. “I see your pockets are as deep as ever, Master Krueger,” pleasantly jibbed the priestess.
“Do forgive our Engineer, your Grace. He has seen, firsthand, many of the horrors of war. And, what might seem like a lack of bravery, is more his wolves cunning. Should you wish to carry the Banner of Sigismund, your troops will stand like an iron wall under it. However, your enemy will not tremble or be concerned with it. It is why he always tries to offer our Myrmiddia enchanted Banner. While I do not believe in the Estalian Goddess myself, the banner does posses some sort of supernatural power that cannot be ignored. Such a banner, leading your knights, would make them into a hammer unit capable of smashing through the most dangerous of foes… Also, if you are worried that your rank-and-file infantry will not be as stalwart as your knights, your warrior-priest could lead them as well… though doing so will affect the combat ability of your other troop of knights.” Paetricia turned to face Krueger and asked, “Are you ready, Master Krueger?”
“Yes, sorry about the delay. I would like to take a quick detour and inquire about the troop of archers you have. I see they are not Huntsmen, but they follow the camp of your Zweihanders. I’ve also seen a small squad of them training with your company of swordsmen. The days of bow-and-arrow are long gone with the arrival of gunpowder… or even from the mechanical force of a crossbow. I would suggest, at least, getting your archers crossbows. If you need, I have several, designed by the Tilean Master Bowmaker Collazzo that I’d be happy to rent out to you. Better yet, handguns. I also have a stock of such arms, made by the Master Gunner von Kolt himself. Or, if you insist on keeping the bows, you should get at least one of your archer squads some hasty training in the arts of being Huntsmen. That way, they’ll be able to scout ahead of your main army, and disrupt enemy formations and plans by placing themselves in key locations.”
Again Krueger takes a drink of water, and continues, “I… hesitate to bring this up, but I must. I have to be complete. I understand that you have divided those… overly zealous flagellants into two bands, each led by a rabble rouser. However… two things. One… doing so dilutes what they can do. Flagellants often throw themselves into the heat of battle, whipping their brethren into an orgy of carnage. With such small bands of the fanatics they will quickly burn themselves out. If you insist on keeping them, I would regroup them into one, large, mob. Now, two, I honestly have never been impressed with the wackos. While I know that they can tie up enemy formations till they are all slaughtered… that’s all they really ever do. They lack the skill to use those flails, and are often physically exhausted before the fight is over. I would disperse them all together. With the silver you save, from not having to feed and clothe them, you can train-up and equip some proper, Imperial infantry… such as a second unit of swordsmen, or a company of spear. If you are worried that you lack the shields, armor, spears, and swords, I do have a number of those items that I have brought with me. Enough to equip almost two companies worth of soldiers. And my Lord has given me permission to rent out such fine arms and armament.”
Kruger thought for a moment, and then interjected, “Though… if you do want some stubborn, crazy troops, Long Drong and his dwarven slayer pirates are still berthed at Erengrad, and could be here in a matter of days. Those soldiers know what they’re doing… tough… skilled… crazed… and armed with modern pistols.”
“Thinking about knights,” the engineer said absentmindedly, “your squads of them are… small. I’d have to say almost minimal. Imperial knights are good, yes, but… not perfect. Another bonus of the silver you save from disbanding and dispersing the flagellants is that you’d have additional coil to donate to the Knights Templar, allowing you the service of a few more lances… as well as an additional command section. Even increasing your knights to ten… or even eight strong, would make them a much larger, more powerful force to reckon with.”
Looking at the High Priest of Morr, Krueger finished his thoughts, “Your brace of cannon, and zweihanders will serve you well. Your company of swordsmen also will be a solid anchor on your line. As such, I have no comment on them that you probably have not heard or experienced already. If you have no questions, your Grace, the priestess and I will be on our way.”
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