The Fall of Jamesrick Castle
REPORT FROM A BEERSTEINER BOWMAN, SAM WOOLKICKER
We and five fellow bowmen was positioned at the top of the tower all cosy-like. We watched the Bogavanian heretics comin' toward the capital. They couldn't get to us though coz we woz to high up and safe in our tower. We put a lot of arrows into them enemy archer 'till we finally filled their bums with arrows as they turned tail at the castle wall. We got a few of them plate armoured Fezians too. Oh yeah, and some of them hairy hill men that was in Bogavanian pay. The gunners in the small tower killed a sprinkling but they couldn't put out as many shots as us; This was all at the East wall.
Early in the battle our Hill Men axemen got restless, opened the gate and charged some enemy hill Men archers but what do ya know? that little enemy group stood its ground, put arrows into 'em and then beat 'em in hand ta hand. drivin' 'em back into the castle. Well the gate woz shut pretty quick then. Didn't 'elp though.
From our high vantage point we could see the siege towers coming towards the North wall. One was full of Bogavanian peasants. Aint even proper sojers but they came all the same and tokk casualties from our archers on the wall there but they kept comin'. The fire arrows nearly done in their tower but not quite and the peasants got on the wall and killed some of our archers and even one or two of our allied Hill Men.
They wasn't alone though 'coz the Bogavanian knights under their commander, brother of their king, climber the wall on a scaling ladder and they fought their way through our own Hill Men who were at the wall. All in gold armour he woz and with a crown - don't know what his brother thought of that, I men he aint king - just a prince but there you go- strange foreign ways I 'spose. Anyways he cuts down our allies and then our knights, till our commander comes out of the bottom of our tower with a heap of sargeants in chain mail and with one of our beat champions to help 'im.
At the other end of the castle there wasn't too many problems as our crusader knights fought off the enemy archers and other enemies that tried to scale the wall but things changed.
BELOW: On the North wall some peasants finally get at the archers and kill some.
Bogavanian allied Hill men take over a section of wall after using scaling ladders. They have kileed the Teutonic knights in that part of the wall and have also killed the Beersteiner allied Hill Men who were there. More of the Beersteiner friendly Hill Men climb up to face their countrymen.
Then something strange happened - the Hill Men on both sides stopped fighting each other and those apparent enemy Hill Men took positions on the wall to repel fresh Bogavanian forces! This seemed to spell the end of the Bogavanian effort to take our castle.
But then the Bogavanian commander slew our commander! He staggered and nearly fell himself but the cry that our commander, Conrad Von Frogfurter was dead stunned our men. What added to the confusion was that the Bogavanian prince's armour was almost identical to the gold armour once worn by our King Longshanks. I think this is why even the fanatic crusaders lay down their arms.
But even as the army began surrendering me and my archer mates and some of the men-at-arms in the tower had other ideas. We raced down the tower stairs and were joined by the handgunners as we headed for the secret passage to take us out of the castle. The door was behind a wall hangings. We had to bend our heads to stop hittin' the ceiling. It smelt of mould and bat poop but we kept going. Finally we came out in some bushes. We waz covered in dirt and cobs but we was alive and free so we headed towards our armies in Bogavanian territory. Seemed funny, that, heading to Bogavania but the Bogavanians had our Beersteiner capital.
On the Eastern wall the Bogavanians and dismounted Mongol allies attempt to get up the wall, without much success.
The small unit of Bogavanian allied Hill Men archers, diminished from melee and enemy archers finally flees.
Bogavanian archers flee but will return.
The Bogavanian prince descends to the courtyard. The Holy mushroom and the snookum bird heraldry of the royal house are clearly seen on his shield.
The crusaders await their adversaries.
Bogavanian prince faces off against the enemy champion and commander.
Fezian cavalry prepare to dismount to climb the Western wall.
Some peasants bring a ladder for the Fezians.
WILL BODGER, BOGAVANIAN PEASANT
King Mathew Maxfield has called on the peasants to aid the knights in the battle against the invader. Funny 'ow they used ta call us scum buckets but now we're 'those valiant fellows' when they need us'. But the Beersteiners are worse. We saw ow they burned people alive for following our king's church.
Anyway, we started with no training and just being there to distract the enemy but there was a lot of us. This time we piled into the siege tower and attacked the North wall. The Beersteiner archers were making a mess of us until we got to 'em and started bashin' 'em. Did alright too and even killed some Hill Men but then the Hill Men were able to get stuck into us 'cause the stinkin' ones supposed to be on our side changed sides. They'd got over the Eastern wall 'bout the same time as us on the Northern wall then after a bit of fighting they started jabbering in their lingo and some of them hugged each other - reckon they were long last brothers or somethin'. So much for relyin' on sell swords!
Bur then our commander, Prince Rano,brother of our king killed their commander. You shoulda seen 'm with his double bladed axe swingin it through Beersteiners like they woz so much wheat! Then they all gave up. Some of them Hill Men who changed sides got their reward though!
ERICH HARDRICK, HILL MAN, FORMERLY IN BEERSTEINER SERVICE SERVICE
It was not new to us to fight our fellow countrymen. In Mikardia it is a common occurrence, driven by a shotage of land and local feuds. So we did not hesitate to fight the Bogavanian allied Hill Men who poured over our part of the Eastern wall. Then something remarkable happened, One of their Hill men recognised his brother, Harald Redaxe as his brother. I had been fighting alongside Harald when there was a shout from the enemy Hill Men. It was Harald's brother Sven. Next thing they were clasping each other and the fighting there halted. many of the former enemies were from a neighbouring village in Mikardia We mentioned that the Beersteiner treasury was sure to finanave a pay rise for us and that clinched it. To a man they took up positions by our sides, ready to repel some of those retched Fezian allies of Bogavania. Then, peering into the growing gloom of approaching night we could see, in the courtyard, an epic battle. The enemy prince, clad in gold armour swung a double headed axe. His strength and dexterity were obvious, even though he reeled from some enemy blows. Blood seeped from beneath his helmet from some concussion but still he kept fighting, his main opponents being our commander and a champion called Gallan. Finally he felled our lord and gradually the fighting stopped. Who were we to serve? The Beersteiner king was alive but he was hundreds of zounds away in the South. The Beersteiner archers lay down their bows and we soon learned that the crusader Teutonic knights also surrendered. That clinched it, although we heard a story that they mistook the enemy prince for their own king, due to his gold armour. We surrendered too.Then we witnessed a great horror.
All the once enemy Hill Men would not be accepted back into Bogavanian service. They were dragged to the middle of the courtyard, bound and one by one beheaded by their executioner. We, sensibly, had already pledged our service to our new master, as had the bowmen and many of the chainmail men. Harald bit his arm but held his silence as his brother was slaughtered. Fifteen of them met this fate before it was the crusaders' turn. Of course no one expected the ten to change sides. Their fanatic loyalty was well known as was their support for the Beersteiner inquisition. Soon the courtyard was ankle deep in gore as the bodies were also dismembered into various patterns.
LADY JOSEPHINE SPINRAD
CardinalAdolph Shloongunberg has taken a special interest in my moral upbringing, which is well because a maid of seventeen can go astray. I am still unmarried and must preserve my purity. Cardinal Shoongunberg is a very energetic man for such a small man and one of such advanced years or age forty four. He is only as high as my shoulder, although his high hat conceals this somewhat. He has taken care to point out to me, in great detail, all the wicked things that can occur between a man and a woman. it is important, he says to know what these things involve so as to recognise their evil. Although he is often jovial - strange for a churchman - he sometimes clasps me and becomes very serious as he points out a particular vice I must avoid. Poor man! he sweats and pants so at these moments that I think he is getting a fever.
The cardinal and I were placed in a tower where we had an ample view of the Southern part of the castle. We could see the Bogavanan army approaching and our knights preparing the defence.
Even so I felt very secure in Castle Jamesrick. My brother, Karl, commanded the Teutonic knights on the Eastern wall. I knew he was a God fearing and brave man and that the brothers were well versed in combat; rarely did they meet their equal. Our archers, who manned the towers were all splendid shots. Only the ruffian Hill Men caused me some concern but they were well paid from our national treasury and secure behind stout walls so unlikely to turn traitor. Commander Conrad von Frogfurter was a skilled fighter and a valiant man - we trusted in his leadership.
But then the news came - Bogavanian knights and Prince Maxfield had climbed the Northern wall supported by their wretched peasants. Things were happening on our Eastern wall too, rather confused with the Northern part as it was difficult to know which Hill men were good ones and which were theirs. (Later we learnt that theirs changed sides). A single Bogavanian knight, who we later learnt was Horatio Bigushrick, mounted the Southern section of Eastern wall and laid about him with a warhammer. I was sure that eventually our crusaders would have stopped him. I was wrong.
Then confused reports came to us of our very own king being there come to punish our commander for some evil. Nearly all of our men put down their arms. yet it was a wretched ploy for it was the Bogavanian prince dressed in the same armour as our king. What followed was pure horror as mass executions occurred in the courtyard. I had to watch my own brother slaughtered before I was led away, by Horatio Bigushrick to a cell with cardinal Shoongunberg. My grief has not permitted me to eat or sleep for two days but I decided I must have a new purpose which is to get this message to our king so that he can avenge us.
PRINCE MAXFIELD
I can scarcely believe. brother, that we have taken their capital. It was a close fight but I was full of power from our church's special blessings and the knowledge that we must distract our foes from the occupation of Bogavania. So concerned have they been with the war in the South that they were unable to stop out attack on their capital.
I was able to climb their Northern wall with my knights and hack a path through their archers, knights and Hill Men to the castle courtyard. There I fought with their champion prince Garan and their commander, Von frogfurter. The first I fended off until he could be captured and the latter I killed, severing first his arm and then his head from his body.
I sware that what happened next was not a dishonourable act on my part. The enemy laid down their arms in the mistaken belief that I was their king! it was a mistake because of my preference for gold armour, which is shared with King Maxfield.
As for the slaughter of prisoners. Yes, I authorised the executions of the Hill Men traitors for what else is one to do but make an example of such turncoats? As for the crusaders, I did not give that order. I cannot say I shed any tears for them, given their war of terror against our people but I was unconscious from a head wound and it was then that the enemy knightly order were killed. Some of my men could not control their impulses for revenge. I have, however, ensured that the captured cardinal and noble woman be treated well.
What news of the war in the South? trust that you are winning against the invaders so that we may restore Bogavania to full independence? With the fall of the enemy capital it is hoped that Beerstein will surrender and even place itself under your wise rule.
KING MAZFIELD IN THE BOGAVANIAN CAPITAL
Dear brother,
We need your help as I have few men left and our scouts have detected a large army headed towards our Citadel. One of our castles has already fallen to the enemy and the war machines there have swelled the enemy's own.
Should ill befall me I beg that you carry on the fight for our blessed Bogavania and the safety of my loved ones
COMMANDER GOEBY HESsLER, COMMANDER OF THE BEERSTEIN RELIEF FORCE
We have crossed back into Beersteiner territory but have been delayed by two river crossings. Today we heard the awful news. With another day's journey remaining to get to our capital fleeing archers from their have told us of the catastrophe. It has fallen to the Bogavanians. All the crusaders were massacred and most of our men there has gone into Bogavanian service!
If that was not enough, the sel swords in our army vanished in the night. A rumour has it that these hill Men are seeking bogavanian service! A small unit of berserker Hill men and our great Swords have stayed loyal - so far! We still have a strong force but not in the strength it started out with..
We and five fellow bowmen was positioned at the top of the tower all cosy-like. We watched the Bogavanian heretics comin' toward the capital. They couldn't get to us though coz we woz to high up and safe in our tower. We put a lot of arrows into them enemy archer 'till we finally filled their bums with arrows as they turned tail at the castle wall. We got a few of them plate armoured Fezians too. Oh yeah, and some of them hairy hill men that was in Bogavanian pay. The gunners in the small tower killed a sprinkling but they couldn't put out as many shots as us; This was all at the East wall.
Early in the battle our Hill Men axemen got restless, opened the gate and charged some enemy hill Men archers but what do ya know? that little enemy group stood its ground, put arrows into 'em and then beat 'em in hand ta hand. drivin' 'em back into the castle. Well the gate woz shut pretty quick then. Didn't 'elp though.
From our high vantage point we could see the siege towers coming towards the North wall. One was full of Bogavanian peasants. Aint even proper sojers but they came all the same and tokk casualties from our archers on the wall there but they kept comin'. The fire arrows nearly done in their tower but not quite and the peasants got on the wall and killed some of our archers and even one or two of our allied Hill Men.
They wasn't alone though 'coz the Bogavanian knights under their commander, brother of their king, climber the wall on a scaling ladder and they fought their way through our own Hill Men who were at the wall. All in gold armour he woz and with a crown - don't know what his brother thought of that, I men he aint king - just a prince but there you go- strange foreign ways I 'spose. Anyways he cuts down our allies and then our knights, till our commander comes out of the bottom of our tower with a heap of sargeants in chain mail and with one of our beat champions to help 'im.
At the other end of the castle there wasn't too many problems as our crusader knights fought off the enemy archers and other enemies that tried to scale the wall but things changed.
BELOW: On the North wall some peasants finally get at the archers and kill some.
Then something strange happened - the Hill Men on both sides stopped fighting each other and those apparent enemy Hill Men took positions on the wall to repel fresh Bogavanian forces! This seemed to spell the end of the Bogavanian effort to take our castle.
But then the Bogavanian commander slew our commander! He staggered and nearly fell himself but the cry that our commander, Conrad Von Frogfurter was dead stunned our men. What added to the confusion was that the Bogavanian prince's armour was almost identical to the gold armour once worn by our King Longshanks. I think this is why even the fanatic crusaders lay down their arms.
But even as the army began surrendering me and my archer mates and some of the men-at-arms in the tower had other ideas. We raced down the tower stairs and were joined by the handgunners as we headed for the secret passage to take us out of the castle. The door was behind a wall hangings. We had to bend our heads to stop hittin' the ceiling. It smelt of mould and bat poop but we kept going. Finally we came out in some bushes. We waz covered in dirt and cobs but we was alive and free so we headed towards our armies in Bogavanian territory. Seemed funny, that, heading to Bogavania but the Bogavanians had our Beersteiner capital.
King Mathew Maxfield has called on the peasants to aid the knights in the battle against the invader. Funny 'ow they used ta call us scum buckets but now we're 'those valiant fellows' when they need us'. But the Beersteiners are worse. We saw ow they burned people alive for following our king's church.
Anyway, we started with no training and just being there to distract the enemy but there was a lot of us. This time we piled into the siege tower and attacked the North wall. The Beersteiner archers were making a mess of us until we got to 'em and started bashin' 'em. Did alright too and even killed some Hill Men but then the Hill Men were able to get stuck into us 'cause the stinkin' ones supposed to be on our side changed sides. They'd got over the Eastern wall 'bout the same time as us on the Northern wall then after a bit of fighting they started jabbering in their lingo and some of them hugged each other - reckon they were long last brothers or somethin'. So much for relyin' on sell swords!
Bur then our commander, Prince Rano,brother of our king killed their commander. You shoulda seen 'm with his double bladed axe swingin it through Beersteiners like they woz so much wheat! Then they all gave up. Some of them Hill Men who changed sides got their reward though!
ERICH HARDRICK, HILL MAN, FORMERLY IN BEERSTEINER SERVICE SERVICE
It was not new to us to fight our fellow countrymen. In Mikardia it is a common occurrence, driven by a shotage of land and local feuds. So we did not hesitate to fight the Bogavanian allied Hill Men who poured over our part of the Eastern wall. Then something remarkable happened, One of their Hill men recognised his brother, Harald Redaxe as his brother. I had been fighting alongside Harald when there was a shout from the enemy Hill Men. It was Harald's brother Sven. Next thing they were clasping each other and the fighting there halted. many of the former enemies were from a neighbouring village in Mikardia We mentioned that the Beersteiner treasury was sure to finanave a pay rise for us and that clinched it. To a man they took up positions by our sides, ready to repel some of those retched Fezian allies of Bogavania. Then, peering into the growing gloom of approaching night we could see, in the courtyard, an epic battle. The enemy prince, clad in gold armour swung a double headed axe. His strength and dexterity were obvious, even though he reeled from some enemy blows. Blood seeped from beneath his helmet from some concussion but still he kept fighting, his main opponents being our commander and a champion called Gallan. Finally he felled our lord and gradually the fighting stopped. Who were we to serve? The Beersteiner king was alive but he was hundreds of zounds away in the South. The Beersteiner archers lay down their bows and we soon learned that the crusader Teutonic knights also surrendered. That clinched it, although we heard a story that they mistook the enemy prince for their own king, due to his gold armour. We surrendered too.Then we witnessed a great horror.
All the once enemy Hill Men would not be accepted back into Bogavanian service. They were dragged to the middle of the courtyard, bound and one by one beheaded by their executioner. We, sensibly, had already pledged our service to our new master, as had the bowmen and many of the chainmail men. Harald bit his arm but held his silence as his brother was slaughtered. Fifteen of them met this fate before it was the crusaders' turn. Of course no one expected the ten to change sides. Their fanatic loyalty was well known as was their support for the Beersteiner inquisition. Soon the courtyard was ankle deep in gore as the bodies were also dismembered into various patterns.
LADY JOSEPHINE SPINRAD
CardinalAdolph Shloongunberg has taken a special interest in my moral upbringing, which is well because a maid of seventeen can go astray. I am still unmarried and must preserve my purity. Cardinal Shoongunberg is a very energetic man for such a small man and one of such advanced years or age forty four. He is only as high as my shoulder, although his high hat conceals this somewhat. He has taken care to point out to me, in great detail, all the wicked things that can occur between a man and a woman. it is important, he says to know what these things involve so as to recognise their evil. Although he is often jovial - strange for a churchman - he sometimes clasps me and becomes very serious as he points out a particular vice I must avoid. Poor man! he sweats and pants so at these moments that I think he is getting a fever.
The cardinal and I were placed in a tower where we had an ample view of the Southern part of the castle. We could see the Bogavanan army approaching and our knights preparing the defence.
Even so I felt very secure in Castle Jamesrick. My brother, Karl, commanded the Teutonic knights on the Eastern wall. I knew he was a God fearing and brave man and that the brothers were well versed in combat; rarely did they meet their equal. Our archers, who manned the towers were all splendid shots. Only the ruffian Hill Men caused me some concern but they were well paid from our national treasury and secure behind stout walls so unlikely to turn traitor. Commander Conrad von Frogfurter was a skilled fighter and a valiant man - we trusted in his leadership.
But then the news came - Bogavanian knights and Prince Maxfield had climbed the Northern wall supported by their wretched peasants. Things were happening on our Eastern wall too, rather confused with the Northern part as it was difficult to know which Hill men were good ones and which were theirs. (Later we learnt that theirs changed sides). A single Bogavanian knight, who we later learnt was Horatio Bigushrick, mounted the Southern section of Eastern wall and laid about him with a warhammer. I was sure that eventually our crusaders would have stopped him. I was wrong.
Then confused reports came to us of our very own king being there come to punish our commander for some evil. Nearly all of our men put down their arms. yet it was a wretched ploy for it was the Bogavanian prince dressed in the same armour as our king. What followed was pure horror as mass executions occurred in the courtyard. I had to watch my own brother slaughtered before I was led away, by Horatio Bigushrick to a cell with cardinal Shoongunberg. My grief has not permitted me to eat or sleep for two days but I decided I must have a new purpose which is to get this message to our king so that he can avenge us.
PRINCE MAXFIELD
I can scarcely believe. brother, that we have taken their capital. It was a close fight but I was full of power from our church's special blessings and the knowledge that we must distract our foes from the occupation of Bogavania. So concerned have they been with the war in the South that they were unable to stop out attack on their capital.
I was able to climb their Northern wall with my knights and hack a path through their archers, knights and Hill Men to the castle courtyard. There I fought with their champion prince Garan and their commander, Von frogfurter. The first I fended off until he could be captured and the latter I killed, severing first his arm and then his head from his body.
I sware that what happened next was not a dishonourable act on my part. The enemy laid down their arms in the mistaken belief that I was their king! it was a mistake because of my preference for gold armour, which is shared with King Maxfield.
As for the slaughter of prisoners. Yes, I authorised the executions of the Hill Men traitors for what else is one to do but make an example of such turncoats? As for the crusaders, I did not give that order. I cannot say I shed any tears for them, given their war of terror against our people but I was unconscious from a head wound and it was then that the enemy knightly order were killed. Some of my men could not control their impulses for revenge. I have, however, ensured that the captured cardinal and noble woman be treated well.
What news of the war in the South? trust that you are winning against the invaders so that we may restore Bogavania to full independence? With the fall of the enemy capital it is hoped that Beerstein will surrender and even place itself under your wise rule.
KING MAZFIELD IN THE BOGAVANIAN CAPITAL
Dear brother,
We need your help as I have few men left and our scouts have detected a large army headed towards our Citadel. One of our castles has already fallen to the enemy and the war machines there have swelled the enemy's own.
Should ill befall me I beg that you carry on the fight for our blessed Bogavania and the safety of my loved ones
COMMANDER GOEBY HESsLER, COMMANDER OF THE BEERSTEIN RELIEF FORCE
We have crossed back into Beersteiner territory but have been delayed by two river crossings. Today we heard the awful news. With another day's journey remaining to get to our capital fleeing archers from their have told us of the catastrophe. It has fallen to the Bogavanians. All the crusaders were massacred and most of our men there has gone into Bogavanian service!
If that was not enough, the sel swords in our army vanished in the night. A rumour has it that these hill Men are seeking bogavanian service! A small unit of berserker Hill men and our great Swords have stayed loyal - so far! We still have a strong force but not in the strength it started out with..
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