Trouble in Heel

In the mean time, in another part of the world...

'What do you mean they are claiming the Swersgesatt?'

A merchant whose brother had been in W.T.C. when King Wilhelm came home stepped forward.

'The locals have proclaimed the traitor Wilhelm Hauhkuno. My brother has seen it with his own eyes and wrote to me so I could warn you.'

Haimfaðs, in an odd moment of clarity, decided against a retaliatory strike and declaring war against his cousin. As he stood up from his seat and walked back and forth in th chambers for a moment, he began thinking of what this could mean. While there was a real possibility of the Tholes turning traitor so soon after their visit, it seemed decidedly out of character for them. Considering the issue further, could this be their attempting to claim equality? Having struck on that odd idea, he stopped pacing and came up with a plan.

'We will send a message to them asking what their intentions are. Should they seek to challenge for the throne, we will meet them with fire and thunder before they cross the mountains. If they are merely trying to imitate that which they know to be better than them, we will seek a more amicable arrangement with them, as they are our kin and kith. Send the Raikhsharjis to the Heelish frontier and have them prepare to cross it!'

As he thought more on this, he turned back to the merchant looked him straight in the eye.

'Is there anything else that you know?'

'Only that they intend to seize our former lands in Heel.'

'Hmm... Send the Flutt to the Dragkona then and have them seize the Heelish side by any means necessary, we must secure those waters.'

With this said, the Hauhkuno dismissed the merchant and began formulating a letter to his cousin. Close ties such as these made it easier to keep up appearances without seeming weak, so he counted that as one of his blessings.

---

To: King Wilhelm the First of West-Thosel-Cransconia

From: Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Haimfaths thata Mattman Robertsunus af hize Dalin en Gothijin


Dear cousin,

We hope this meets you well.

We will not mince words, what are your intentions? News has reached us that you have raised your armies and claim now to hold the title of Hauhkuno. Is this news false or have you broken faith with us? When you came, you said to us: 'To Vauhoks! Let us all meet an end such as his!' You left, sat vigil over his tomb.

You put down your fineries which were not good for the task and said: 'Do not leave anything behind for me other than the water skin in my pack'

What do you take us for that you treat us with such contempt now? How have you treated us for that toast we shared or that tribute we accepted from you? You have brought discord amongst our houses and wounded us so; it is now up to you to restore to us in full.

Mark that we will not accept any claim from you that is not of good basis. We shall muster and march forth to the frontiers, and we shall exercise against you our right of war because you have treated us with contempt. We, who had just so recently given you our solemn oath to follow you into battle and uphold that bond which is ours and ours alone.

We hope sincerely that all is not lost and that this is but a temporary madness or misunderstanding brought about by ill-winds. Should your men cross into Heel, we shall also.

Yours,

Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Haimfaths thata Mattman Robertsunus af hize Dalin en Gothijin

The rolling sounds of artillery could be heard for miles, as the Tholish advanced across the Heelish frontier. Further north and in the mountains, the Raikhsharjis listened intently and watch the unfolding invasion with no small amount of apprehension, as they saw their allies marching into a land that would make an idea staging ground for an invasion of the Raikh.

Having been given their orders in advance and hearing that the invasion was underway, they began their push south into Heel. Leading the first wave on their race to cut off the Tholish advance was the recently promoted Fruma Aþanaric. Leading from the centre, he had his men all mounted up on trucks. Thanks to the urgency of the situation, command had assigned the army all the spare vehicles and guns they could ever dream of, with replacements being as plentiful as grains of sand on a strand.

The artillery whizzed far overhead above them as they crossed the mountains through the valleys. Their advance was practically unopposed, as the Heelish had withdrawn their men to fight the invasion in the east. A few quick fights against border outposts and the army was descending the mountains and into the foothills. They came to a town which was in the process of being evacuated and they stopped there. His Kreggaistas could hear the sounds of combat approaching them, so did not bother with looting nor securing prisoners. They immediately started digging trenches to the east of the town and placing their field guns in covered positions.

Mines were hastily placed on the roads coming from the east, buildings were occupied by soldiers, sometimes forcibly throwing their inhabitants out, and the vehicles were positioned in rally points should there be a need for a retreat. The preparations took five hours and by the third, they had already had to stop and take in Heelish deserters or wounded in the act of retreat. Those that were fit enough and still had their weapons were forced to take up the outermost line of defence, while the invalids were simply given to the civilians to take care of.

Fruma Aþanaric knew that he had to hold this position, or else the rest of the army would find its advance to the south imperilled. He would see to the deaths of the traitors, hold the line, and then advance when the time came.

---

That is about 5.500 men holding a small town. They have forty-eight eighteen pounder guns and sixteen 5" guns for artillery. For now, we are not going to actively fight the Heelish forces, other than those near the strait.
 

To: The Mayor of Tvickerland, Jon Harvey

From: Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Haimfaths thata Mattman Robertsunus af hize Dalin en Gothijin


Dear Mayor,

We hope this finds you well.

As per our agreement with you and the Tholes, we will naturally accede to your demands. We hope to see this end in a manner which will restore balance to the forces at play and bring about a lasting peace.

We will set sail with your head of government.

Yours,

Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Haimfaths thata Mattman Robertsunus af hize Dalin en Gothijin

"Okay... Let me get straight to the point gentlemen." The mayor said in a blunt manner, "We all know why we are here, the fact of the matter is is that I know for a fact that the Hauhkuno here cares not for your invasion of the Republic of Heel, and you know that I don't give a damn either." Clearing his throat he continued, "Here is my offer, I believe it is agreeable that the Tholes shall be allowed to finish their invasion of Heel, while the Raikh is allowed to pay for a small region of the Republic of Heel, enough for a small military base, along the west coast of Heel. Finally the one I doubt my dear King Wilhem I will find disagreeable, you must agree to reliquish the title of Hauhkuno, a title not in any language in your kingdom, and use either a Tholish translation or use the title of Emperor, if you both agree to this, I shall share with you both some of the finest liquors of my cellar in my smoking room."

The Hauhkuno, not actually wanting a war, likewise assented.

'We will carry out a staged withdrawal to the east and north until we have come to our new defensive lines along our southern frontier and the land at the strait which we will be claiming.'