Count Vladimir Boyarisov

The Count Vladimir Boyarisov had risen to lead the Hetman of Boyardvina in only five short years.

His combination of vision, energy and drive worked well with his natural charisma and charming outward dispositions.

He had made his friendship with Tzarina Elizabeth and her new Field Marshal, now they had made him principle leader of their south columns.

There was no delay in his preparations ... though in his haste he may have overlooked the character and nature of the leaders of the military formations...

Miecek Duda Located

One Time ADC Miecek Duda has been found in the service of the Duke of Tragardland as part of his Lifeguard of Horse.

Now the critical message must be got through to the Duke of Tragardland via Miecek Duda that Mieczyslaw is in need of assistance....

Cossacks in Bialystock

The local Hetman chose to stand with his farmers and militia rather than flee.

The great relics of their parish had been collected and other treasures secreted in a farm outside of the town.

While the main force of Cossacks did not face any resistance in Bialystock directly, this column to the south did.

The militia and defenders learned that the Cossacks were on their way with three troops, numbering more then their meager forces. There was no way that they could run away, so they set up to defend the farmhouses and the little bridge.

The waves of pony riders swarmed over the nearby hills and across the stream.

This caused the bridge to become a worthless defense.

Seeing that the fields would become the critical battleground the Hetman Viktor rode out to personally hold back a half a dozen riders and give time for his militia to form firing lines.

Even the evacuation of the bridge was not simple and a few militia managed to shoot a couple of Cossacks out of their saddles. Not enough to stop them from swarming half of the buildings of the farm. This half did not have the critical treasures that had now been dragged up into the attic of the other major building.

The fields were swarmed by the Cossacks ... some shot as they crossed the underbrush at the edge of the fields, others cut down by the heroic efforts of the Hetman Viktor!


Hetman Viktor was wounded first by the volleys of the militia as he fought bravely against four to one odds. The wound was not enough to throw him from the saddle, it was enough to slow him down. Thankfully he was only facing one more Cossack. Sadly he was not fast enough to parry this last Cossack that felled the Hetman.

The militia began to fall apart ... half of them fleeing in the face of the Cossacks, the other half halt, nervous, yet held. Enough to break the cossacks will to fight in the field.

Unfortunately for the defenders, more Cossacks had swarmed behind the critical building, they entered and a confused series of battles raged room to room.

Enough losses came to the Cossacks, they broke off their attack, literally just in time for the remaining militia for they were also close to fleeing. They had save the treasures, lost more than half their numbers to death, many others were wounded. There was just enough left to flee the town with the holy relics and some of the valuables.

Boyar's Support from the Tzarina

Count Vladimir Boyarisov bowed low as the procession of Tzarina Elizabeth and her consort Count Alexei Grigorievich Razumovsky, now newly made Field Marshal.

The deal he had struck earlier that same afternoon with Count Razumovsky left him free to annex and move on the Mieczyslaw lands of Flety. Vladimir knew that the Mieczylaw nobles in that region would support his move, the trouble would come from Mieczylaw itself and the likely response would be military in nature.

Count Boyarisov smirked to himself as the priests began their chants, this time the Mieczyslaw military force would not have a free hand, for Vladimir had seen the treaty of alliance that the Tzarina had signed with Wein and Paris. This time there would be a great powers war and he, Count Vladimir Boyarisov would have charge of the left wing of the Tzarina's forces, he would be free to annex and conquer Mieczyslaw while the poor nobles of that province would have to choose sides, either with the Empress in Wein, or the mad killer king of Altmorania. His spies in the Noble assembly in Mieczyslaw informed him that due to the current Duke having been supported in his place by the Duchy of the North and the known animosity between Norden and Altmorania it would be impossible for Mieczyslaw to stand alongside the butchers from Brandenburg. Meaning they would have to accept either rule by Wein or Moscou, either way Count Boyarisov became ruler and would enrich the Boyar fortune.

Boyar First Move

The Boyars have crossed the Nomad River and are now in the Province of Mieczyslaw.

They are clearly on the main road to Brandenburg, their primary target: Altmorania.

The only problem is that Mieczyslaw has not openly granted this army passage...

Empress Merrie Teaser

Scene: Imperial Palace in Wein.

Empress Merrie Teaser is preparing to enter the Grand Ballroom where a majority of the court awaits her arrival.



A page quickly steps forward with a note on a silver platter, the note is somewhat crumpled and dirty on the gleaming silver surface. The platter is offered to the Empress who glances at it then at the young aide de Camp of her Field Marshal Dawna, she nods to the young man to open the note.

He quickly takes the scrap of paper and only part way through digesting the information reports to the Empress,

"Field Marshal Dawna reports that his spies near the borders of Altmorania, Stagonia and Saxe-Bearstein have seen columns of troops both entering and assembling in Saxe-Bearstein and along the border regions. The Marshal writes that she fully expects Saxe-Bearstein to be invaded by the time your Majesty receives this note. Without a doubt King Freddy has initiated a war posture and means to invest our northern borders."

All assembled are silent, the Empress speaks quietly.

"Thank you M. aide de Camp." she adjusts her dress to smooth out the front.

"I shall compose an appropriate response after having entertained our ministers and court this evening." She looks about her in the small hallway at the entrance doors to the hall.

"None of you are to speak of this news." She lets out a calm breath and takes in another calm breath. "You may announce us now."

Empresses Make Moves

The Duchy of Mieczyslaw is in an impossible position.

Empress Merrie Teaser has concluded a pact with the Tsarina Elizabeth. Together they shall strike out at Altmorania Elector Freddy the Bill (his favorite execution method).

Unfortunately for The Duchy of Mieczyslaw the Boyardvinians are supported by the Tsarina. With this support they have volunteered to open a path for the main Russian armies into Altmoranian territory. Now The Duchy of Mieczyslaw must call a szlachta to summon the defenses of the realm ... or have there been other choices made by certain nobles?



Here we see the Boyar commander and his staff settling in for the night now across the Nomad River the natural boundary between Boyardvina and Mieczyslaw.

Cossacks led the way across the river earlier in the day, while the senior command looked on, pontoons were put across the river and artillery crossed along with some 11 Battalions of foot, 8 squadrons of Horse (including the two Cossack formations) and a train of 5 batteries of artillery.



Here is pictured the Grenadier Brigade crossing, led by its artillery batteries ... to the right is the Boyar Prince Danil Borislav.



Prince Borislav inspects the engineering works of the pontoons and congratulates his Engineering officer on a good first crossing. Many more will be needed.

Seen crossing here is a brigade of Allied troops from nearby Burtzenia sent by Empress Teaser to support the opening of a way through Mieczyslaw.

This force is more than the Mieczyslaw one and a critical choice must now be made as the dogs of war have been let loose!