Game 279: Month 12

Hold the Course

Everyone in the capital was tense as the Celts once again faced diplomatic silence. Our non-aggression pact with Chodomar and the Alamanni was set to expire at the end of the month, and no word was received from our messengers in Gaul. Just east of Gaul, the region of Raetia threw off the yoke of the Thuringian. Rumor had it that the Alamanni was part of the liberation. Arthur wisely calmed the more aggressive nobles in his court. Ambassador Danu's interviews with the people of Armorica revealed they held no love for the people of Gaul. Chodomar was obviously busy with events on his eastern border; he will respond to our request for a continuation of the pact in due course.

In Germania, the war with the Teutons dragged through the winter months. Black smoke poured from every village in the region as Teuton and Celtic legions traded ground. The Saxons continued to make headway in Germania, capturing the town of Vindon. Unfortunately, our prized agent O'Rork Ledbelly was caught in the chaos of the assault, and died in a sea of whirling blades.

I spent several nights sitting by the roaring fire with Arthur as he deliberated his next moves. The war in Germania was taking much longer to resolve than he had hoped. Its citizens who were so receptive in the beginning became much more agitated as the seasons blurred together. After many hours he decided to hold the course – Germania would belong to the Celts.

Turn 12 Planning

Resolve will carry the day. Continue with the plan, and everything will fall into place.

Political Plans

• The Saxon is moving his nobility to Koln this turn, so we will enter a holding pattern there once again. Zed will guard Count Connact and Duke Mac Cekt.

• Relocate the capital to Cenabum – as a Citadel it is the most powerful defensive location we currently control. Should the Franks or Alamanni come calling, this will be the location to meet them from. This also frees up two governors that are guarding the citadel to relocate defensively or offensively. In addition, this will ensure our division of reinforcements that arrives this turn are further east – closer to the Germania border.

• Governors Cenabum and Odrus are being redeployed to fortress towns on the border between Armorica and Aquitania. Cenabum will be politically unassailable once the capital has been relocated, but these towns will need the governor's support, should the Franks or Alamanni decide to invade our realm

• Hire a new governor in Deep Haven – this will provide political defense should one of the Teuton nobility attempt to take it back – it will also be a good jump off to Scandia should we decide to invade – it is located at the most northeasterly point of Germania

• Ambassador Danu will poll the populance about the Franks once more to see if they have been attempting to improve their popularity within the region

Military Plans

• Teuton baron Gorgathal arrived in the village of Cristinhalm – Unicorn will pay him a visit – agent Zendafor the black will meet him there

• Titan and Minatour converge on the Town of Agrippa, recently recaptured by the Teuton. They are merging to become legion Pheonix

• Training season: Warlord Ross the Red trains Tribune Ganior, Marshal Eber Victor Don trains Tribune Kalanis, Commander Cormac trains Captain Zonaris. Our leaders will be prepared to meet the Teuton in battle.

• Minatour and Unicorn will threaten the villages where they are camped – both groups have received casualties and are beyond the range of priestess Rhiannon's healing. If we can avoid combat, we will.

Covert Plans

• Hush will cause a diversion in Koln, and Mouse will attempt to assassinate the Teuton prince.

• Dirk creates a diversion in the village of Prexi, hopefully to gain a level

• Kelvin Greentooth will recon Tricasses – need to see what the Alamanni is up to

Additional Plans

• Construct a watchtower in Brest on the southern border we share with the Franks – continue fortifying Armorica