Your pikemen, on the other hand, are in no better a situation - for the moment their frontal wall of pike is breached, they've nothing but their pitiable knives to fight against the overwhelming power of the greatsword, and similarly little moving room. To add to this, even though the numbers of the enemy decrease, those that your men fight will not. Every dead infantrymen could quickly be replaced by the one behind him. They shall soon be faced not only by Doppelsoldners, but by Rodeleros as well, and even further then Halberdiers who advance over the corpses of their predecessors.

Your southern bank fairs much better; your muskets, not as hindered by smoke, are able to fire upon the enemy with great effect, or so you assume. From an upper ground and clear line as they have, and from the considerable strength of their Muskets, heavy guns that they are, their arms could have no better place. Your others muskets fare even better - after a rather painful volley eradicated what they claim to be almost half a company, you are told that some of the arquebusiers have begun retreating from the hill.

It does not please you that you are not able to see any of this. So thick has the miasma of powder smoke become that when your cannon fires, it is only by the sound that you are able to tell, and it is only when, after almost a minute, a messenger arrives that you know it was a near hit. The messenger, however, brings you another set of news.

"Two more shots?" you ask, indignant.

"Three at best, meu seynor. If the cannon were to fire further than that, the heat of the barrel would warp it and birth a great risk of accident. The cannoneers give us three more shots - after that, they must cease their action for the day..."

Just what you needed...your second cannon shall soon grow useless. You'd do good to use those remaining shots wisely.

Before you are able to decide on a target, however, you receive yet another message! Your cavalry on the northern border warns you - the Gigantes grow close! They advance towards our position with alarming speed...

You must decide of how to deal with these assailants. Certainly, you've no doubt that Himmerians would be able to trample most of your men as though they were children. And if Dessany's report is correct, they've of the armoured kind, too. You'll need a good plan for this one.