Day One: 6.45pm!

Hunchmausen's Headquarters

At 6.10pm, there is a sudden commotion! Alarm! Alarm! Sentries report that bishop Baldwin and his two friars are missing! Whilst the baron's forces were focused on the threat from the west, it would seem that a small group of the enemy entered Schrote from the east. In the cathedral itself, both of Baldwin’s guards have been killed. There is also there the dead body of a comely milkmaid, armed with a bloodied stiletto knife and a shapely milk pail. The sentry at the northern door has been killed, as well as four others on the perimeter. Jagers have been searching, but in the dark there is no sign of the interlopers! The baron seeks individuals, local, or perhaps one of the jager, skilled in tracking. These he wishes to estimate the size of the enemy force and to prepare to give chase.

6.30pm: Finding jager with the requisite aptitudes, the application of lanterns and some diligent searching seems to demonstrate that the enemy force was a very small one – certainly less than a dozen. Following the likely trail indicated by the bodies of the sentries seems to show that the enemy force has returned back through the line of enemy outposts. With such a head start, it is sadly too late to pursue.

6.35pm: To the west, an enemy bugle can be heard. The enemy artillery ceases firing, and two bonfires are lit on high ground, probably behind the enemy positions. There is noise to the front of the Gelderland cannon: it seems that whatever enemy might be there are probably withdrawing. Hunchmausen orders some speculative fire - 10 rounds from each of the guns! Gott Straffe Bachscuttel!

Ziegler's Headquarters

The colonel and his small force return swiftly to headquarters. They are long gone before the sounds of drums and horns shows that the enemy has discovered that something is amiss!

Kugel is still firing, one round every three minutes per gun. The Bachscuttel battalion is also still out there somewhere in the dark! Ziegler orders the gunners to cease fire. He then orders the recall sounded for the Bachscuttel battalion and that bonfires be lit to guide them back.

The Bachscuttlers scuttle back, sadly rather too noisily! The enemy artillery open fire briefly, killing two men and wounding another ten. The enemy also administer a slow hand clap, which hurts quite a lot as well. The Bachscuttel battalion manages to return relatively swiftly thanks to the bonfires. They are in a wretched state of disorder. Colonel Ziegler then applies himself to the task of questioning the bishop and his two lackeys.
'Bishop. know you of the whereabouts of the emperor?'
'No - hence my missive that I don't know the whereabouts of the emperor and that you should therefore search every house, hut, barn and badger set in Schrote'.
'And you're sure that you don't know the whereabouts of the emperor?'
'Yes - hence my missive that I don't know the whereabouts of the emperor and that you should therefore search every house, hut, barn and badger set in Schrote'.
'And your two henchman - they don't know about of the whereabouts of the emperor?'
'No - hence my missive that we don't know the whereabouts of the emperor and that you should therefore search every house, hut, barn and badger set in Schrote'.
'And you're sure that you have no clue regarding the whereabouts of the emperor?'
'Yes - hence my missive that I don't know the whereabouts of the emperor and that you should therefore search every house, hut, barn and badger set in Schrote'.


There is an awkward silence.
'So', says the bishop, 'have you searched every house, hut, barn and badger set in Schrote?'
The colonel slumps. Ordering the bishop to be given quarters for the night, he then gives orders for his whole force to be ready to march by 0530 the next morning. He then dispatches a messenger to find Pfannensteil to inform him of his intention to march at first light! Perhaps the emperor can be found in a hut, barn, or badger set nearby.