"Graf Franz has just received a mesage from Florien Hetzer the leader of the powerful Hetzer family (and Von Trinkenessen's nemesis). Together with the Italian Duke of Miragliano, they have defeated a cantonment of Von Trinkenessen's forces. The survivors are heading his way!
He is ordered to stop them and pursue them with the utmost vigor (think Towton) so that they cannot rally and regroup.
The Graf shook his head, with what am I supposed to stop them he had sent virtually all his troops to take part in the battle of the cantonment!
So cunning and guile will have to do for now. After he sent out riders to gather up all his remaining troops, he summoned Captain Artus and his chosen men with a mission to reach the outlying hamlet in the survivors direction of route. With orders to hold and pick off as many as possible whilst he assembled the remaining troops and made his way to reinforce them.
Having despatched his scouts on ahead, Captain Artus is concerned when his chief scout Casimir returns with the news that they have discovered the dead body of one of the garrison hidden in the bushes.
Captain Artus deploys his "spears" and they approach with caution.
As they approach the farm he recognises the leader of the brigands as Wolfram of Karstadt the notorious meroderbruder whose loyalty is only to himself.
Thus starts the game
i]