Amidst the constants of creation, rarely do they surpass warfare; rarely are they such as warfare, rarely do they betide such as warfare. It is a disaster born not of the tides nor of the sun, but of the nature of men and beast, of crown and country, of the realities of the world as it was made. It is a sordid affair, all too rife with the death and destruction of good men, of the loss of what is built, of what has been developed; yet nonetheless, it cannot be stopped, for much as forests must burn to be reborn anew, so must men fight to retain their honor.

Not the honor of kings, of nobles and knights, whose valorous flights of combat do see them rise to the heights of their station, or sink into the depths of destruction, but the honor of civilization, of one's tribe and country, of one's hometown; for how may they survive, if those guards which keep them safe lay in waste? As the wicked fight their wars of tyranny, of barbarism and plundering, what can just men do but take the sword as their response, and vanquish them on the field?

But not all conflicts end in the field, though it is most favorable when they do so. If a king will not lead his men into the fight, if a nation will not come to terms of defeat after having seen their marching men cut down, then the fight must be taken to the home of men, to their villages and their towns, to their cities and their castles. And what pain does not arise from the fighting of such battles? As men raise walls to defend their homes, men make engines to tear them down; as the walls grow in their complexity, so do the engines, ever veering towards longer conflicts, bloodier and more brutal - years, decades may be wasted in the taking of a single city.

It is the year 1524 in the Age of Our Splendour, the 1,524th Year since the races of men were graced with the knowledge of our most good maker, since the wisest of prophets and holiest of men, graced with blessings from on high, founded the church upon with the Faith has been built. With the arrival of the age of gunpowder, the walls of men have risen higher than they ever have before, and sieges have grown to scales which had never before been seen. And soon, you shall be partaking in one of them.

Your name, of course, is Alessandro Galliota, the Viscount of Portblanc, that home of yours which now lays so distant. It had been almost four months now since you had been summoned from the wealthy tradehalls of your fief to wage a war under the command of your lord, Don Carles IV Brascarams, the Lord of Segoma and a Crown Prince of the Mirevalian Empire. Following his plans, you and your regiment disembarked in an foreign land, utterly alone, to fight your way through the countryside of Tilano (the region of Nera where you currently are) as they lay siege to Montechia, the largest city of the region and bastion fortress that holds the key to controlling it.

For two months, you waged your own campaign, advancing through the winding hills and rainy forests of the Tilanese Coast. You have defeated armies, taken cities and fought giants; and now, after all these efforts, you have finally reached the outskirts of Montechia, rejoining the forces of Prince Carles and entering what you hope to be the final path to victory in this war.

As you make your way down the hill, you stare out at the great valley that lies beneath you; in the bottom, a vast camp, fluttering tents of white fabric sprawling out across the plain. The smoke of countless campfires waft into the air, creating a column easily seen for miles; in the distance, over beyond the hill, another such similar sight remains. And the hills themselves, of course; or rather, the great hill that stands at the end of this valley, whereupon a great fortification sits, triangular bastions and towers sitting proudly besides the curtain walls. The intermittent sound of roaring cannons breaks the monotony of your ride towards the camp.

When you finally do reach that sea of white, it is a sight curious like none other. From behind wooden palisades, armed men watch as you pass the gatehouse through the makeshift road clearly dug in a hurry. From atop your horse, you travel amidst the length of the camp, resting soldiers going about their duties and rests around you; sutlers and merchants practice their trade, oxen and horse feed on their hastily built barnsheds. In the wind, the flags of Segoma's nobilities flutter in the wind. Yet oddly enough, no tent seems to stand out to you, none that hold the opulence you would expect one such as Don Carles, or even the other heads of the army, to use. Nevertheless, you are led into a particular tent by your guides, and after showing a seal confirming your identity, you were allowed inside.

"Don Alessandro. I see you have finally arrived. Greetings be to you."

Greeting you is a man who you can only describe as in the shape of a rat, thinner than a beggar and yet dressed in the field livery of a man of the robe. You know who he is: Octavi Colenáz, the Marquess of Castalla - standing right at the foot of the Ascarpian Mountains, the craftsmen of his fief were most likely responsible for the forging of a good deal of the weapons and powder your regiment first acquired. You also know him to be a man you would not trust if your life depended on it.

"Don Octavi. Greetings be to you as well - after waging my lone campaign throughout this region, I have finally arrived to join the siege. Where is His Highness? I must report to him of all that has occurred." you reply.

"Don Carles will be joining us shortly. His highness had been on the secondary camp, over beyond the hill, dealing with some matters with Don Salazar and Don Fadrique."

"I see..."

If that is the case, then you've no choice but to wait. In the meanwhile, however, perhaps you could talk with Don Octavi. Shifty as the man may be, he is a fellow nobleman still, and a military commander of this expedition in equal position to you.

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION (NO LIMIT, ASK AS MANY AS YOU WANT)
>Ask him about how the siege goes
>Ask him of what he has done in this siege himself
>Ask him about any news from the homeland
>Ask him something else (Specify what)
>Actually, I'd rather just wait

Thread I - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6153604/

Thread I (Conclusion) - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6189036/

Thread II - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6231466/

Field Handbook - https://rentry.org/TercioQuest (Updated!)


Welcome to the second (third?) thread of Fog of War, I hope you enjoy it.

>>6275848
>Ask him of what he has done in this siege himself

Seems to be the safest question for a man we cant trust.

Good to see you back with more Fog of War Tercio!

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
>>6275850
I think you might be already considering this, but a section describing the states/polities of the setting would be helpful in the future

Maps in the opening vote post, we are truly blessed!

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
+
>Ask him of what he has done in this siege himself

Seems most natural to ask how the siege is going generally, and if Don Octavi has managed to gain any glory, in the same question.

But if it isn't too greedy then we might be able to finish with a comment that we haven't received any news from the homeland during our march, has there been anything of import (but only if QM wants to hint at anything from back home, obviously we can just write letters to find out about our specific home city and family)

>>6275848
Nice to be back.
>Actually, I'd rather just wait
Better to just ask the prince.

>>6275859
Didn't we already get that in some updates before? From that "Mundi" book. I guess putting it all in one place *would* be nice.

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
+
>Ask him of what he has done in this siege himself

>>6275848

Aw yeah we back

>Ask him about how the siege goes

>Ask him of what he has done in this siege himself

I'd like both.

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
Just this one

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
Be polite. Best not give a man reason to squirm, especially if they're untrustworthy.

>>6275863
Yeah, I think QM could just update the handbook with the maps/info we uncover during the quest

>>6275848
>Ask him about how the siege goes
>Ask him about any news from the homeland
>Ask about the supply situation
>Ask whether they've encountered giants

>>6275853
Ask him about what he's done

>>6275859
>>6275953
>>6275964
Ask him about how the siege goes

>>6275861
>>6275927
>>6275937
Asking him about the siege and what he's done

Asking him about the siege and what he's done wins


Furthermore, I would also like to say, since a few anons were asking for a 'reference' about the nations of this world, I have created an addendum to the Handbook that shows you all that you have learned. Further choosing actions to read the book will unlock new entries.

https://rentry.org/MauvaMundi

>>6276242
I also forgot to add, since it took some time to set this up and I was a bit busy today, updates will be delayed for a few hours - so basically, tomorrow morning.

Worry not, however, as I will not be going back to my once-every-two-days schedule for the time being.

Missed the vote but welcome back OP. Thanks for the handbook update.

"How goes the siege, then?" you ask, hoping to gleam some information from the man.

"About as well as can be expected", he begins.

"Montechia, this city, is nothing short of a boulder in our path. I am certain that Segoma in its entirety is not as well fortified as this. It is as though we have taken to warring Camponia."

Camponia, you quickly remember, is one of the princely states, the largest amongst them, and the one that stands to your east. It is currently ruled by one of the other Imperial Crown Princes, one Don Fernando if you are correct. Not only are they the largest and most populous of the Appanages of Mirevale, their hold over the northernmost pass of the Ascarpians, the great mountain range that splits the continent of Mauva itself in two, has ensured that the crown has spent no small deal in their fortifications - several Imperial Armies of the Crown are stationed there. It is no wonder that such a fief is almost always given to the 'favored child' of the ruling Emperor.

"So nothing has been done?" you prod.

"There has been progress, of course! All thanks to the forces I had brought." he replies.

"Is that so?"

"Aside from you, Don Alessandro, I am the only one who had brought guns to batter down these walls. Though they have not done so entirely, we have already dealt some deal of damage to the curtain upon that hill. Of course, if I had been given more time by his highness, perhaps I might have been able to acquire more cannons from the Artillery Guilds."

Artillery Guilds, as capricious and powerful as they were wealthy. That an entire guild - the Mascaloman Guild - had agreed to limit their services entirely to the Mirevalian Empire was a feat few nations could replicate. You had heard, once, in a ball, of nations in the far west who had no need of such matters and knew the secrets of cannonforging themselves, but you've no idea of the truthfulness of such.

Before you are able to continue, however, you talk is interrupted by the opening of the tent flaps as a new man walks in - whose sight drives both you and Octavi to bow forward in respect. It is Don Carles, your prince and liege lord. Adorned in black and silver plate armor, a golden cloak around his back, he signals you both to rise.

"Don Alessandro. It is good to see you have arrived here safely...how hast thou fared in these paths months? Tell me of your march across Tilano."

And so, you do. You recount the story of your battle at Costat Hill, of the cities you had passed through both friendly and unfriendly, of the volunteers who had joined you and the giants you had fought. Hearing your story, the Prince continues to stare at you attentively.

"I see...it is good to know this." he says, after you finish your report. "You have arrived in timely manner, with more men than you had begun with, and most of all, you have ensured that there is little danger of a relief army from the west. I am pleased by your performance, Don Alessandro. You have done well."

"Thank you, your highness." you quickly reply. "Your words bring me honor."

"There is little time for pleasantries, however." he continues. "Allow me to tell you of the situation you have joined..."

"Montechia, as you will soon learn, is an impressive painting of modern defense. As we had first arrived, we were unable to land too closely to the city - the coasts around it are nothing but cliffs, impossible to climb. We were forced to land farther out to the northwest, which certainly gave them some time to prepare. The city itself is built in a coastal depression, a 'valley' of sorts, and they have used these features most splendidly."

"To their west, stands the hill you have already seen on your way down here. It is defended by a great wall, surrounded by moats and bastions. Though it does not possess any Ravelins or Glacis, its natural defenses more than make up for it. The only weakness it holds is the age of its walls. Their curtains are made in the old, obsolete style, which cannot much handle heavy cannonfire."

"To the south and east, on the other hand, are a far worse problem - fortresses, three of them, built in the style of the Trace Colibrenne. They have none but the most modern of defenses - earthworks, halfbastions, hornworks, ravelins...their curtains are sloped and short, making them highly durable to cannonfire. We have had no luck in breaching them with the guns that Don Octavi had brought."

"What of the coast?" you ask.

"Little better. Their coastal batteries would ensure any attempt at landing ended far before it even reached their beaches."

That is certainly not good to hear - it sounds as though this city is an impenetrable fortress!

"What has been done, then, your highness?"

"We have set up our forces across two camps, to ensure they were not able to concentrate their men entirely on a single side - and ever since then, we have begun sapping efforts. To our good fortune, several mercenary companies had agreed to join our efforts, rather than those of the Fortelli, after being offered a decent sum."

"That is good to hear, sire. Hopefully, the arrival of my forces shall aid this siege greatly."

"We shall see. Now, is there anything you've left to say or ask before we move onto deciding what shall be done with your forces?"

"Well..."

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION (NO LIMIT, ASK AS MANY AS YOU WANT)
>Ask him about the homeland
>Ask him about possible interference by the Sbravani
>Ask him about the war in the rest of Nera
>No, that is all.
>Write-in

"I see...it is good to know this." he says, after you finish your report. "You have arrived in timely manner, with more men than you had begun with, and most of all, you have ensured that there is little danger of a relief army from the west. I am pleased by your performance, Don Alessandro. You have done well."

"Thank you, your highness." you quickly reply. "Your words bring me honor."

"There is little time for pleasantries, however." he continues. "Allow me to tell you of the situation you have joined..."

"Montechia, as you will soon learn, is an impressive painting of modern defense. As we had first arrived, we were unable to land too closely to the city - the coasts around it are nothing but cliffs, impossible to climb. We were forced to land farther out to the northwest, which certainly gave them some time to prepare. The city itself is built in a coastal depression, a 'valley' of sorts, and they have used these features most splendidly."

"To their west, stands the hill you have already seen on your way down here. It is defended by a great wall, surrounded by moats and bastions. Though it does not possess any Ravelins or Glacis, its natural defenses more than make up for it. The only weakness it holds is the age of its walls. Their curtains are made in the old, obsolete style, which cannot much handle heavy cannonfire."

"To the south and east, on the other hand, are a far worse problem - fortresses, three of them, built in the style of the Trace Colibrenne. They have none but the most modern of defenses - earthworks, halfbastions, hornworks, ravelins...their curtains are sloped and short, making them highly durable to cannonfire. We have had no luck in breaching them with the guns that Don Octavi had brought."

"What of the coast?" you ask.

"Little better. Their coastal batteries would ensure any attempt at landing ended far before it even reached their beaches."

That is certainly not good to hear - it sounds as though this city is an impenetrable fortress!

"What has been done, then, your highness?"

"We have set up our forces across two camps, to ensure they were not able to concentrate their men entirely on a single side - and ever since then, we have begun sapping efforts. To our good fortune, several mercenary companies had agreed to join our efforts, rather than those of the Fortelli, after being offered a decent sum."

"That is good to hear, sire. Hopefully, the arrival of my forces shall aid this siege greatly."

"We shall see. Now, is there anything you've left to say or ask before we move onto deciding what shall be done with your forces?"

"Well..."

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION (NO LIMIT, ASK AS MANY AS YOU WANT)
>Ask him about the homeland
>Ask him about possible interference by the Sbravani
>Ask him about the war in the rest of Nera
>No, that is all.
>Write-in

>>6276545
>Ask about everything
>Also ask about the following:
How does the enemy get water to the moat on top of a hill? Can that machinery be a vulnerability?
How about think about employing a fake blockade runner ship or two full of our men? Our local recruits could easily pass for reinforcements
What is the supply situation? How long do we have before we'll be forced to break the siege?

>>6276565
+1

>>6276565
+1

>>6276565
+1

>>6276545
>Ask him about possible interference by the Sbravani

>>6276545
really cool map!
>>6276565
+1

>>6276545
>Ask him about the war in the rest of Nera
Plus what that other guy said

>>6276545
>>Ask him about the war in the rest of Nera

And anon >>6276565

By the way QM, what happened to the giant we captured last thread?

>>6276565
>>6276586
>>6276587
>>6276599
Asking about everything and then some wins, writing.

Oh fuck i forgot to post the update, lmao

"How goes the homeland? I've not had any time to write letters in my march" you ask.

"If you've a desire to write letters, send them to the fishing village we've been using as a port. I've not heard anything out of the ordinary from Segoma, if that is what you wonder."

"I see...then, I must ask, what has the rest of Nera done, so far? Have they not sent an relief army to Montechia, nor attempted to break the blockade with a fleet?"

"That is a good question, Don Alessandro, and one better answered by looking at the greater picture. We are but one of the foes that the Fortelli fight. To their north, the Republic of Avonna has taken advantage of this 'civil war' to strike at Edroa. In the south, the Neterelli, the oldest patrician family in Nera, are consolidating their power in the south. And finally, Santula has also taken to striking at the island of Guiverni, which they once owned. To put their efforts against one would mean ignoring the others - and more than that, it would mean leaving Montellegaria itself unprotected. That is why they've no choice but to confide in the strength of this fortress - and why once it breaks, their spirits shall be in tatters."

It is certainly impressive, how much Don Carles seems to know of such things - the scale at which his plays are made is far greater than yours.

"I see...but then, what of the Sbravani? They've a long border with Nera, and if I am correct, had already invaded Straccia once."

"They've far greater foes than a single of the trade republics. Had they tried to invade it, almost every country they border would have responded in kind. Other than those Halfbreeds in Johannes, they've nothing but enemies surrounding them."

"I understand. I've no more questions." you finish.

"How goes the homeland? I've not had any time to write letters in my march" you ask.

"If you've a desire to write letters, send them to the fishing village we've been using as a port. I've not heard anything out of the ordinary from Segoma, if that is what you wonder."

"I see...then, I must ask, what has the rest of Nera done, so far? Have they not sent an relief army to Montechia, nor attempted to break the blockade with a fleet?"

"That is a good question, Don Alessandro, and one better answered by looking at the greater picture. We are but one of the foes that the Fortelli fight. To their north, the Republic of Avonna has taken advantage of this 'civil war' to strike at Edroa. In the south, the Neterelli, the oldest patrician family in Nera, are consolidating their power in the south. And finally, Santula has also taken to striking at the island of Guiverni, which they once owned. To put their efforts against one would mean ignoring the others - and more than that, it would mean leaving Montellegaria itself unprotected. That is why they've no choice but to confide in the strength of this fortress - and why once it breaks, their spirits shall be in tatters."

It is certainly impressive, how much Don Carles seems to know of such things - the scale at which his plays are made is far greater than yours.

"I see...but then, what of the Sbravani? They've a long border with Nera, and if I am correct, had already invaded Straccia once."

"They've far greater foes than a single of the trade republics. Had they tried to invade it, almost every country they border would have responded in kind. Other than those Halfbreeds in Johannes, they've nothing but enemies surrounding them."

"I understand. I've no more questions." you finish.

Your meeting, however, was yet to end, for there were the matters of what you would do. Don Carles was quick to tell you that your regiment, once it had arrived, would be staying with the western camp to be used alongside the armies of his highness and the Condottieri that he had hired.

"We shall assault the walls, then?" you ask.

"Not yet. The cannons have yet to make a considerable enough breach - and our sapping teams have not yet tunnelled far enough to do such, either. With their higher position, and the moats they have around the walls, assaulting them properly would be...very difficult."

"It is an impressive feat, I must add." adds Don Octavi. "From what the men in the naval blockade and the folk from the villages we've captured say, they had built a horsedriven wheel system to bring water to the hill."

"And speaking of the blockade..." you interject, "Have we any estimates of how much time it shall be until they are driven to starvation?"

"A year, at least." says Don Carles. "Though they were unable to gather much of the harvest - we had found the fields all but filled, after all - a city as wealthy as this one would not be without great storehouses. Had we informants in the city, perhaps we would be able to use the mortars to destroy their storage...if they have not already moved it somewhere safer, that is."

"Perhaps we could hide some of our men amidst a blockade runner."

"A tempting idea, but far too likely to fail. It is very much a raresight to see such daring attempts nowadays. The've no reason to expect one."

And as such, they would most certainly see it through. You do not need him to tell you such to know it. No, it seems as though you will be forced to sit through a long siege, unless you are able to make a decisive breach. With nothing else to do, Don Carles dismisses you, stating that he shall be returning to the secondary camp for the day.

"Ah, one more thing, your highness." you say as he is leaving, remembering one particular thing of note. "In my campaign, I had captured quite a few prisoners, and amidst them, a giant. It shall be necessary to hold them."

"Very well. I'll see to it that they are placed safely with the other prisoners. If any offers of ransom are sent, I will be sure to pass the money to you."

And so, you are now free. With your troops arriving to set up camp, it is unlikely there will be much action for the day in your side of the siege. You could aid them in the matter, of course, and perhaps ensure they do so efficiently, but you could always leave the matter to Provençal and Hugues, and do something else instead.

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION
>Oversee the campmaking efforts
>Explore the city outskirts personally
>Set up your own tent and get to reading your books
>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter
>Write-in

>>6277205
>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter
Tell mom and bro that we're alive, well and covered in glory

>>6277205
>Explore the city outskirts personally

>>6277205
>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter

>>6277205
>>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter
Got to keep the family abreast of the situation.

>>6277205
>Explore the city outskirts personally

>>6277205
>Explore the city outskirts personally
Nat 1 headshot lets go.

>>6277217
>>6277326
>>6277334
Write Letter

>>6277299
>>6277369
>>6277453
Explore the Outskirts

It seems we have a tie. I will wait a little more for a tiebreaker, and if there isn't any, I will flip a coin.

>>6277847
Almost forgot...also, my ID changed? Let's test something.

>>6277205

>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter

Read the whole thing in a day and caught up, good stuff QM !

>>6277847
>>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter
Also, spend time with Joan

>>6277847
>>Set up your own tent and get to writting a letter


First things first.

Writing a letter it is.

Though you first think about exploring the outskirts of this city, you decide it to be an ultimately poor idea - how laughable would it be if you were felled by a shot from an enterprising marksman, or fallen into some manner of hole or trap? You'd be better off getting to write to your family in Portblanc.

With your goal in mind, you go about setting up your tent inside the area where your own regiment's camp will be. It had been decided, you were told, that your regimental camp would be westwards of the current one, expanding upon it to ensure general safety - though part of you thought that it was so you would be the first ones hit if an relief army came barrelling from the westward hills.

With your lordly tent soon set, you began to write your letter, the sounds of carpenters and soldiers working on the background as you take your feathered quill to parchment.

To mine honoured brother,

I must entreat thy pardon for my long silence these past months. Though I did greatly desire to send thee some word, the nature of this campaign hath rendered such a thing most unfeasible. It hath now come to pass, however, that I am not likely to depart from my present station for many months hence, mayhap even years, though Splendour forbid it be so. If it be thy will, direct thy letters unto this place, and the bearer of this missive shall know well how to see them returned to me.

Much hath come to pass, I must say. I have felt myself the tremors of battle and seen with mine own eyes the great spillings of blood. It is not out of joy that I say this, but I myself have claimed the lifes of more than one foe. Say naught of this unto our mother, for the sake of her own health, but I have found that it to be entirely impossible, as a leader of men, to wholly shun myself of danger. But a week before I had written this, a band of Himmerians - yes, brother, giants - had seen it fit to attempt an ambush upon my person! Trouble not thyself either, brother, for by Splendour's grace, I reain unharmed, and the giants were slain.

This land is not as I had reckoned, dear brother. The heat is great, like the fiercest summers in Uharta, yet what surprised me most of all was the humidity - Though I had thought Portblanc, as a city by the sea, to be wet and oft rained upon, it is as naught but a desert compared to the unceasing showers of these hills i trod upon, and worst of all, it is not yet summer! I cannot fathom how those who dwell in the northern reaches of Straccia, where I am told it raineth more still—endure such a clime in any sensible fashion.

But I prattle too much of mine own affairs; tell me, what hath passed in Portblanc since my departure? How dost thou fare, Jonatan? I hope you are able to sate my thirst for news; Not since my days in Mascaloma have I been so long estranged from our home.

With mine enduring affection,
Don Alessandro Galliota, this 17th day of December, in the year of Our Splendour 1542

Your final words written, you slump in your chair, glad to be availed at last of such a duty. Though the writting of letters is as though the lifeblood of communication in far distances, to write such long swathes of text without too grave an error shall always be an tiresome task to you. You'll leave the parchment to dry for now - and tomorrow, you'll send it to the 'courier ships' that Don Carles had spoken of.

Yes, there will be much to do, tomorrow...

>NO VOTE FOR NOW
>NEXT UPDATE IN THE USUAL TIME

My apologies for taking so long and having no vote, I got a bit busy so I just threw out whatever I could do have an update today.

>>6277968
It happens, OP, trust me. Thanks for the update.

>>6277968
Yeah, it's fine. Thank you for running this fantastic quest

Testing
Testing

In the following morning, after handing over your letter to the courier, having sealed it with wax pressed upon by your signet ring, you return to your camp to meet with your officers. In the short day that you had spent writing your letter, a whole new camp was raised from the ground; but more than the village of tents that you had seen erected every single day upon the field, this one had purpose of length: wooden palisades sourced from some ways south, where you spotted a verdant forest, were raised along its border, such that a few men could patrol its edge for possible attacks. Dirt roads dug to more easily allow wagons to pass; small 'ranches' where horses and oxen could be kept when not grazing the fields of the valley.

It was impressive, the speed at which engineers and soldiers went through such a process - though perhaps not surprising: they must have done such things hundreds of times during their service.

Regardless of such, you make your way to the command tent, where Hugues, your second in command, and Provençal, your quartermaster, await you, already deep in conversation.

"How do things go?" you question, alerting them of your arrival.

"We have done as you asked, meu seynor. The camp has been all but set; our regiment is ready to aid in the siege efforts." begins Hugues.

"Good - then what are our orders? I had been told by Carles that they would be relayed to you."

"There are...none, sire, save for requesting usage of your artillery to continue battering the walls. Artillery Master Vettorio has already gone with his cannon to do so."

You can confirm that much; even from hear, you can hear the sounds of the cannnonade raining upon the city, and amidst them, the one that you had heard throughout your whole campaign.

"Is there no danger of counter-fire? Does the foe not possess cannons of their own?" you ask; if your army were to lose its guns, that would be very much bad for your goals.

"Nay," answers your sergeant-major. "From what I have been told, only the small Saker fieldguns brought by Don Octavi are outranged by the defenders; It would seem that they've none as far-ranged as a culverin.

"I understand, but...what doth you mean by no orders, Hugues? There is nothing or us to do?"

"Nothing we have been ordered to do, sire. The truth of sieges is that until there is a significant breakthrough in the defenses, all that can be done is wait. With that said, however...there are many matters that could be done in relation to the maintenance of our siege camp - we may send out troops to forage or scout, as we had done during our march, or perhaps instead to collect timber from the forests south to improve our fortifications or if just to use as firewood."

"I see..yet none of these things require mine own presence, do they not?"

"Indeed, sire; and as the colonel of our regiment and an honourable viscount, we must simply not endanger your lordship by making a waste of your time with such rudimentary tasks."

You had known sieges to be waiting games, but to this extent? By the splendour, if this turns into a matter of years, you shall surely not maintain your sanity. Still, you must do as is your duty...

Foreword

Before moving onto the ruleset, I would wish it to be said that you are not forced, as the player, to keep track of every moving piece. All statuses or numbers shall be kept track of by myself, and Alessandro shall be informed when any 'dangerous' or 'noteworthy' situations are afoot. Though strategizing is extremely welcomed, there is no need to feel overwhelmed by the system


RULES

You have now entered a Siege. In the age of gunpowder, advances in fortifications have led to the turning of sieges into lengthy, slow, and painful matters. Rather than weeks, events shall now be shown in a format of months It shall be your role, as Colonel, to lead your regiment through these months, ensuring they remain fed, paid, and protected from the elements. There is no timer; the siege shall continue indefinitely until a breakthrough is made, or changes occur such that the siege is called off.

Events
During each month, a number of events may occur. These range from positive to negative and anywhere inbetween. Your foraging parties may be attacked, or your scouts may find an enemy force marching on its way to attack you. Keep in mind, however, that not every event will have an immediately obviously outcome...

Regiments
They are your army; your soldiers. When not faced with the prospect of field battles, there is little importance in the divisions of an regiment save for that of their overall capabilities; as such, the soldier of not only your regiment but of every other under the Army of Segoma is divided by type. (For more specific organization, please refer to the Field Handbook)

Supplies
It has been said that an army marches on its stomach, and this is no less true here. Your supplies are what determines whether your army shall be fed, and starvation can be a far more fearsome foe than bullets or spears. Keep in mind these terms...

Local Availability represents the physical wealth of the region. It can range from Very Poor, Poor and Average to Rich and Very Rich. This value determines the ease with which your soldiers may forage and sack supplies from the countryside, and is heavily dependant on both your location and season of the year.

Supply represents any 'consistent' stream of supplies being received by your army; in this case, the supplies you receive by sea. There are various levels of supply. Insufficient means your supply is wholly unable to support your army; it shall only barely slow the decrease of your storage. Lacking means they are far more decent, yet still not enough; they will somewhat slowdown your supply consumption, taking two months to burn through a single month's worth of supplies. Sufficient means you have enough to feed your entire army and will suffer no supply loss whatsoever. Finally, Plentiful means you are receive all you require and then some; actively increasing your supply storage every month.

Status represents how well your army is doing at the moment; a well-supplied army is not only happier, but more capable as well. It is in your best interest to maintain this value as high as possible.

Stored represents how many weeks of supply you hold in your baggage train; It is what ensures you will continue to eat even if your foraging parties fail. Lose it, or let your supplies run dry, and your army will begin to starve. It should be kept in mind, however, that losing your stored supplies does not spell instant death; as long as your troops are capable of foraging from the land, you may continue to remain afloat.

Finances
The general who does not pay his soldiers will not remain a general for much longer. In this age of warfare, no soldiers holds loyalty greater than to that of cold, hard cash. It is what motivates them, and it is what keeps you in charge.

Warchest represents the wealth you have stored. It can increase or decrease as a result of events or purchases, but its main usage is to pay the wages of your soldiers at the start of each month.

Upkeep represents the total sum of the wages demanded by your army; this includes not only your recruited soldiers, but your mercenary companies and specialists as well. Failing to pay them in time will have grave consequences...

Months Until Bankruptcy reprents how many months worth of wages your warchest is capable of paying.

Tasks
In this period of early modern warfare, the 'Little War' is more important than ever. You may, at the start of a week, assign any number of your companies to carry out any 'task' you deem necessary. Although the choice remains in your hands, some are particularly important.

Scouting
Companies assigned to this task will dedicate their time to studying the land ahead of your army, looking out for villages, hostiles, or indeed anything of note. The only units capable of scouting are 'Mounted or 'Light Infantry'

Foraging
Companies assigned to this will dedicate their time to pillaging and harvesting the land, sacking villages and farm fields for supplies. It is a bloody, but ultimately necessary effort. Although any unit is capable of foraging, mounted and light foot units will have a far easier time of it.

Labor
Finally, you may dedicate your units to raw labour, using their manpower to work on projects for the war effort. Mercenaries and Mounted units are unable to be dedicated to this; their superior 'value' means they shall entirely refuse being put to work like peasants.

"Very well, then, let us decide what to do."

HOW WILL ALESSANDRO PASS HIS TIME? CHOOSE ONE.
>He shall remain in his tent and read his books
>He shall fraternize with one particular person (If so, who?)
>He shall petition Don Carles for better supplies
>Write-in

SHALL YOU ASSIGN UNITS TO A TASK?
>Yes (Specify which units, and which tasks)
>No

Field Handbook - https://rentry.org/TercioQuest

Almost forgot.

>>6278457
>He shall petition Don Carles for money
We have a month and a half of wages left, this is dangerous

>Assign all mounted units to foraging, and the rest to labor. The mercenaries can guard the camp.
>Use our local recruits' knowledge to find foraging targets. Maybe even search for less plundered regions farther than the immediate vicinity

>>6278457
QM, does anything like the Iliad exist in this universe?

>>6278491
+1

>>6278491
Supporting this, with the qualifier that asking Don Carles for money is just making sure we have it and our men are being paid, not, like, asking for more than our fair share

>>6278491
>>6278718
+1
>>6278533
the funny thing about the iliad is that the trojan horse episode doesnt happen in it
I don't think it'd work anyways, wile e coyote aah tactic

>>6278457
QM, how good is our shipborne artillery? Can we attempt a mass landing under its cover?

>>6278842
As previously mentioned, attempting to land would be a death sentence due to the coastal batteries of Montechia. As a whole, coastal batteries are nearly always more powerful than shipborne cannons, not being constrained by size nor weight.

>>6278491
Alright, this vote wins, writing

Though it is not a matter that many consider proper, you know above all of the importance of money; from the heaviest of gold bullion to the smallest copper coin, they are the very basis from whence civilized society is built, more fundamental even than the bonds of lord and vassal, and the blood which selects them for the right of rule. It is only through wealth that artisans are able to build, that farmers may cultivate crops to feed distant cities.

It follows, then, that having seen your own reserves to be running dangerously low, it falls on you to deal with an issue.

"Greetings be to you, your highness." you say, as you approach Don Carles on horseback. You both currently stand at the hills at the mouth of the valley, those hills where you had first gazed upon the siege that you now partake in. The finely-dressed prince seems rapt in thought, staring at all occurring bellow him.

"Greetings be to you as well, Don Alessandro. What is it that brings you to me?" he says, not for a moment breaking his study of the land.

"It is the matter of coin, my liege. Though I'd not wish to impress upon you, the warchest that I had brought through my lone campaign stands capable of paying my regiment for but a single month more." you reply, clearly stating your current case yet not directly asking your lordship for the funds he had promised: such was the way Etiquette demanded it.

"...I see." he answers, calm as always. "Very well, then. Send your list of payments to my quartermaster. I shall see to it that they are handled."

"My gratitude upon you, Don Carles."

And so, with but a single word from your liege, your monetary woes are solved; From now on, so long as you continue to be camped with the Army of Segoma, your upkeep will be immediately paid by Don Carles at the end of a month.

With such issues handled, you return to the normalcy of camp life, waiting to see how the other matters of the month will turn out...

>ROLL 1D100, THREE TIMES

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>6279011
Based Carles

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>6279011
Hard to beat that 91

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>6279019
Damn.
>>6279011

>>6279019
Oh here we go

>>6279019
heheheheheheh

>>6279016
>>6279019
>>6279022
Well, that's one way to start of the thread.

Give me a moment, I gotta think of a way to give you a critical that doesn't immediately skip through the entire siege.

>>6279433
Lmao, take your time.

Maybe that giant will come through for us...

For the following weeks, a 'peace' of sort seems to fall over your own livings. Although the siege continues on day and night, cannonshot fired at the walls and returned upon the ever-encroaching trenches in return. You spend your days all but idling, overseeing the management of your camp or talking with your fellow noble lords about plans and strategies. In the meanwhile, your soldiers continue on with their duties, nearly all of your army save that of your mercenaries sent away to scour the land for more supplies or ascertain the state of the region, looking out for relief armies that may come from the south or east.

And in that regard...they do wonderfully.

Your scouts, of course, report nothing of the sort. Indeed, it seems that after your campaign, nearly all of Tilano has been pacified. Whatever holdouts still remain loyal to the Fortelli family have learned well to remain within their walls and wait out to see the winner. Once this city falls, the region shall truly be yours, and with it, the road to Montellegaria, the capital of Nera, will be wide open.

Similarly, your foragers do well and above what you had expected; venturing a few days south, neath the coasts of the Carsa River that lays down southeast of Montechia, they found several villages, their storehouses ripe with harvest from the late spring. They took them without issue, cutting down the resistance in their path and bringing to your camp a considerable sum in supplies.

+ RESERVE MAINTAINED
+ RESERVE INCREASED

As the final days of December approach, bringing summer together with it, it had seemed to you that the rest of the year would be left in this stalemate, but yet...!

You are in your camp, during mid-day. Amidst a slowly crackling fire, you and other nobles from your army enjoy some pillaged wine, drinking it merrily as you dine upon salted venison. You reach for the bowl of white bread, reserved for your upper circle - and thunder permeates your very being.

A crack, an burst of sound so heavy you can feel it upon your bones, so surprising in its nature that you fall to the ground. Across the camp, horses scream in surprise, almost throwing some men from their saddles entirely. You turn your head to the source, to the mighty source of this shattering sound: and you see a cloud.

A black and white cloud, growing ever greater into the skies, far greater than any you had seen before, rising from amidst the hill. You waste not a single second before ordering that it be found immediately what had happened; though you've already an idea of what it might have been...

It takes only a few minutes to confirm your suspicions: in a stroke of what could be seen as unbelievable luck or grave misfortune, a great powder magazine hidden in one of the corner towers of the southernmost fortress was hit, sparking its contents and blowing the entire thing sky high. Indeed, so great is the cloud of dirt and smoke thrown from the explosion that smatterings of dirt, ash and pulverized stone rain upon the field like winter snow for several minutes - even now, the smoke has not dissipated.

Yet despite the utter destruction of the corner tower, of the gigantic breach delivered upon the walls of Montechia, there is no movement in your own part. No orders arrive for your forces to move out and assault the opening. You send for a messenger to ask your liege for orders, yet the answer is all the more puzzling: We are not to attack.

You cannot understand it: new as you may be to the art of warfare, you have read enough, seen enough to know that a breach of such scale would be of immeasurable value. So why does he not charge?

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION
>Attempt to convince your liege into launching an assault before the breach is patched up
>Have your culverin sent south to continue bombarding the area
>Trust Don Carles' planning
>Write-in

>>6279472
>Trust Don Carles' planning

>>6279472
>Attempt to convince your liege into launching an assault before the breach is patched up

>>6279472
>>Trust Don Carles' planning

Simply getting to the breach we would suffer atrocious casualties by the look of it, the loss of their magazine is quite fortunate though.

>>6279472
>Have your culverin sent south to continue bombarding the area

>>6279472
>WRITE IN: Attempt to convince your liege to allow your culverin sent south to continue bombarding the area

This feels like something we should ask for permission on, but keeping fire on the area might prevent them from rebuilding

>>6279472
>Trust Don Carles' planning

Carles hasnt proven himself a fool yet
We should follow his orders.

>>6279472
>Suggest to Don Carles that we send the culverin south, but go with his plan if his objections are reasonable

>>6279472

>>6279499
>>6279602
+1 to these

>>6279472
>>Trust Don Carles' planning
He hasn't steered us wrong yet, and he's also paying for our forces so it's the least we can do

>>6279472
>>Trust Don Carles' planning
He seems like a reasonable fellow, so he surely has some ace up his sleeve. Or whatever the equivalent is in this setting.

>>6279472
>>6279478
changing my vote for these
>>6279602
>>6279499
+1
>>6279731
>he surely has some ace up his sleeve. Or whatever the equivalent is in this setting
I guess something akin to the lansquenet card game would be fitting

>>6279476
>>6279479
>>6279499
>>6279558
>>6279602
>>6279668
>>6279817
It would seem that trusting Don Carles but suggesting that you send your culverin south to bombard the remnants and stop rebuilding wins.

No update today, I'm getting ready for a several hours trip. I'll get something up tomorrow, though.