Lithuanian troops come to relieve the siege at Siauliai.
Assuming Direct Control. The Burgher Pikemen set up a spear wall with the infantry behind them, and the cavalry at the back.
Reinforcements are coming to surround us, but Maximillian knows his men are disciplined, and they will fight with the religious fervor that is required of them.
I couldn’t let my men get barraged by arrows, so the cavalry goes out to meet them as well as the rest of the main ‘army.’
They are easily slaughtered with a good few cavalry charges.
However, this may be a problem. Axemen especially.
The cavalry and Clergymen are sent to deal with this problem:
The rest of my forces are sent to deal with the axemen.
Battle is met, with the cavalry doing fairly well, while the other section of my troops seem to be struggling. Damn horse archers, and my Burghers can’t keep up with them. I hope for the cavalry to be able to relieve some pressure when they’re done.
My cavalry are victorious, so I send that portion of the army to link up with the other.
Things do not go as according to plan. Most of my force routs. Cowards!
Maximillian is slain in battle, pierced by a foul pagan blade after killing many with him. A worthy death if there ever was one.
The men I have left know victory is nigh impossible, but they hope to kill this Pagan dog and avenge Maximillian.
Regretfully, they are unable to. The coward rides off, taking much pride in nothing but a small victory. We will return. And we will win. In hindsight, splitting up the troops probably was not the wisest idea, but we will learn from our mistakes.
Poland offers us alliance, trade rights and map information. We counter offer with all of their original offers, minus alliance, and they must pay us tribute of 1000 florins. They accept.
Grim tidings. Our prisoners are executed. Although we can safely say we would have done the same to Lithuania, they shall still be mourned nonetheless. A bit of bright news, however, as we adopt Kurt von Bavaria. He is loyal enough, and he will learn the ways of leadership and chivalry in time.
We are able to lay siege to Palanga, where we hope we will have better luck.
Another adoption is done, and Novgorod and Lithuania enter an alliance. We should be wary of what they plan.
The assault on Palanga begins!
Our siege equipment marches and the ram makes it to the gates, and the two ladders to the walls.
Success. The men are ordered to charge in.
A hole is punched in their line, and the men pour into the streets.
Our men push to the city square through brute force and now own the entrance to the city.
The forces remaining in the square are a mélange of horse archers and peasants, who are easily crushed. A clear victory, but a great victory on the whole, due to the castles strategic position.
The priests and Clergymen go around the castle, rounding up all Pagans, and executing them in the city square. 1168 pagans were executed, and 427 florins were taken from their possessions and added to the treasury.
The Teutonic Order will not stop there. They will not stop at Lithuania. They will not stop until all of Eastern Europe is under their righteous rule.