Day One, 3.35pm!

Hunchmausen's Headquarters: Day One, 3.30pm

The weather: he is fine.

At the baron's command, the Gelderland artillery conducts 15 minutes of heavy counter-battery fire. There is a weak cheer from the crews of the three-pounders that signals a couple of entertainingly messy hits. The enemy fire halts for ten minutes, before re-commencing its agonisingly slow expectoration of hot shot.

The defenders' counter-measures fail to mitigate damage from the enemy artillery fire when it re-commences: another house is reduced to matchwood. The existing fire spreads. The enemy bombardment, however, inflicts no casualties and no shock or disorder.

The burgomeister reports that the militia’s low state of morale seems to be due to the fact that they think that they have ‘done their bit’. After single-handedly fighting off the early enemy attack on Schrote, surely they should be allowed to leave the town with their families and possessions? Also, the bishop doesn’t seem to be terribly popular. Hunchmausen is unsympathetic and directs the Bürgermeister to point out to the militia that if they aren’t willing to fight for Schrote, then why should Gelderlanders? Why should we not leave them to the ravages of the Nabstrians?


Ziegler's Headquarters: Day One, 3.30pm

The enemy commences fifteen minutes of heavy counter-battery fire. Whether due to luck or … actually, let’s face it, it’s luck, they manage to place some of their balls in the right place. In addition to some shock and disorder, the crew of the 3pdr (six trained crew, six lumpen helpers) loses one trained crewman lightly wounded, one helper killed and one lightly wounded. The 6pdr (six trained crew and eight lumpen helpers) has one trained crewman heavily wounded, and one helper lightly wounded.

One round of cannon fire is lost whilst Kugel rallies the shock off, and infantrymen from the nearest regiment (Nabstrian) are drafted in to reconstitute the crews (1st musketeer company -5 men).

The Nabstrian bombardment, though interrupted, destroys another house, and the existing fire spreads to a nearby dwelling. In total, four of the ten houses on the hill are now untenable and the Nabstrians have ignited a really quite heart-warming conflagration.

Major Seewurd reports to Ziegler on the interrogation of the enemy prisoners. Their main topic of conversation was turnips. When threatened, they evinced a willingness to provide any evidence that Seewurd wanted on the topic of anything that the major cared to think of. It is possible that they are not entirely reliable sources of information.

Hunchmausen's Headquarters: 3.35pm

Herr Kraftstein arrives. His apron is also now covered with what could be black forest gateau. Possibly. He reports that the prisoner seems to be somewhat more alert now: possibly because the medication is wearing off; or possibly because of the application of Kraftstein’s patent plum-plucker. The peasant’s mumblings are rather cryptic, however. They seem to comprise of him pointing at his lower limbs and repeating the phrase: “One leg good; two legs better!” Could it be a clue? Or could it just be a sign that  everyone needs to get hold of some of what he’s been drinking.

Hunchmausen then summons Bishop Baldwin, who arrives under close supervision. The baron points out to the bishop that the net is closing on him, the people of Schrote are angry with him and that they would be happy to see him removed. Hunchmausen notes that, if the emperor is found without the bishop’s help, then this might result in a senseless waste of human life exit for him; and if the emperor is found having suffered ill-treatment then the bishop would no doubt enter the "messy and painful exit from this Vale of Tears” scenario. This 'advice' is accompanied by some detailed explanations of the unpleasant and vomit inducing intricacies of “The Vulgarian Wallet”. It is pointed out to Baldwin, however, that, if he co-operates fully, then his position remains safe and the prospect of a midnight flight from the cathedral spire recedes to the realms of the extremely unlikely. Kraftstein’s provides a brief explanation to the bishop of the nature of his handiwork, and his great love of his work, before posing the question “Would a search find the emperor at Flumpe’s Stump?”