Day One: 5.30pm!

By 5pm, darkness has fallen, a condition which improves considerably the look of Schrote. Fires, started by the enemy bombardment, illuminate portions of the town.

Conforming to usual Mittelheim military protocols relating to operational security, camouflage, and surprise, the cathedral is lit up like a Christmas tree. Not a very good tree, to be fair, but certainly one lit well enough to say to anyone within a considerable distance: 'Here, if you hadn't already seen it - is a Christmas tree: fire at will'.

Ziegler's Headquarters: Day One, 5pm

Toplitz-Hande’s troops have marched off into the gathering night. The enemy artillery opened fire for a while, and had the range until the darkness was too deep for them to see the target.

Under Kugel's artillery attack, the red houses on the hill are reduced to ruins, and the hill is now wreathed in fire, illuminating the area around it.

With his jager ready, Ziegler uses the darkness to begin his journey around to Colonel Goethe-Nockenshoppes’ positions, thence to swing around and cross the Hanau-Brancau road. He will be in position to move his force into the town, taking into account the darkness, by 5.30pm.

The elite strike force assembled for this evening's raid comprises

Zeigler himself, who is Lucky and a Flashing Blade – once per game, if he is technically killed, he may return to the table immediately within 6”; he adds an extra swordmanship die for the first two rounds of any duel.

Capt Hugo Von Stumpe (on attachment) – thanks to many days spent trying to avoid being collared for staff work, he is a Master of Disguise and has +2 for related reaction roles.

Sergeant Rabin Steiner: Marksman – uses the Marksman row on the firing table and doubles any shock that he inflicts.

Corporal Ulfric Sander: Silent and Deadly – Moves extra d6 inches. If he makes contact with a target he can attempt to knife or cosh them by rolling on the Sneaky Actions table.

Gefreiter Adelhard Schultz: Pick Pocket – when making contact with a target, can attempt to pick pocket with a roll on the Sneaky Actions table.

Gefreiter Poldi Gunther: Marksman

Gefreiter Berend Keller: Cracksman – Expert at breaking and entering, and opening things silently.

They are as desperate a group of men as were ever refused entry to a respectable line musketeer regiment, and as stealthy as weasels wearing carpet slippers.

In addition, there is Fraulein Karlotte Werner: She is Charming - +2 to character reactions. Even her milk bucket seems strangely alluring.

Seewurd has also arranged for six hussars to present themselves, with pistols, swords, and carbines, in case Ziegler wishes to use them as a supporting force.

Before they set off, Major Seewurd has one last conversation with the colonel.

'Colonel Ziegler, sir: are you sure of this operation? It's not clear that the bishop will have any useful information. Perhaps we should, you know, despatch troops to search the villages for the emperor ...'

Ziegler snorts and snaps his fingers dismissively.

'Major: I am an officer of jager. I came here to kick arse and chew bubblegum: and bubblegum hasn't yet been invented. So, we attack!'

Hunchmausen's Headquarters: 5.30pm

At about 5pm, the enemy’s furious barrage reduces again to a desultory bombardment directed, it would seem, at the general area of houses on the hill.

By 5.30pm it is clear that some kind of enemy force is out there in the dark, in front of the defending artillery. They are outside of canister range. Even if the defenders can’t see them, the attackers can probably see the defending forces, because of the fires burning behind the latter. Obviously, if the attacker's fire, they will give away their position. Having approached in the dark, the enemy forces must be in some considerable disorder. There is no immediate sign of an attack, however.