A Saschen-Vindow pair...

Duke Peter and the Court Fool. He is the advisor to Duke peter on all matters temporal and spiritual. The fool provides military and political advice whilst displaying his vast knowledge of philosophy and the arts of Mars. Duke Peter has him at his side upon the filed of war at all times.

Greetings...

Merry Christmas From Duke Peter,his Court and subjects to all good people of Europa and beyond. The Duchy looks forward to entertaining and enlightening you all in the months to come!

The Duchess greets all of you and promises some surprises in the months to come too...

On the painting table...

The jaeger company of Von Ekdahl assembled upon the painting table - well dining room table actually!

They are accompanied by Ingmar the bear,their mascot. The company consists of gamekeepers from the Saschen-Vindow Counties. A few finishing touches will see them ready for action soon...

The Fool on the hill...

Duke Peter spends some time in the company of his one true friend - the Ducal Fool . The Duke has maintained this tradition which originated in medieval times in Saschen-Vindow.

The Duke's fool maintains traditional costume and is a constant companion of Duke Peter's. The discuss the meaning of everything ,military strategy and theology over silver figures moving upon the floor of the Duke's Study. The Duke and Fool maintain an ambivalent relationship at times where the fool says those personal things to the Duke he will not tolerate from any other. The jokes and japes regarding the duchess are wearing rather thin however...

Stagonia

Her guests long gone, the Duchess wanders thru a palace illuminated by a thousand candles...

She is pleased with her work this night- she has secured the devotion and loyalty of men of substance in the Duchy.

She sends yet another letter to Ludwig du Vile the new King of Stagonia. In it she speaks of them as soul mates and kindred in deeds and political ambitions. She asks for his favour and deepest friendship in the days and months to come...

Charms...

The Duchess has lavished her hospitality upon her dinner guests. She has paid particular attention to the disgruntled general and made sure he has fallen completely under her spell . He assures her ( in return ) of his undying loyalty and devotion. When the Day comes he will be ready - as will be those under his command...

The Duchess...

Meanwhile, in a large rambling House across the Duchy, the Duchess of Saschen -Vindow receives visitors . It is many years since she became estranged from Duke Peter and now it has become evident ( to the great and not so great ) that she has surrounded herself with an alternative Ducal Court.She lives in luxury surrounded by those ever at her beck and call. Today she will receive the mother of the poor unfortunate broken upon the wheel, who was a loyal and trusted servant...

Dinner guests will include some militia captains and a rather disgruntled General. All will be captivated by her beauty,wit and rather less so by her thinly disguised utter ruthlessness...

Charge

I am working on the Saschen-Vindow 's army with a view to getting a Charge game on the table soon. These are members of the Militia .

I hope to start on a light infantry /dismounted jaeger company this week. Afterwards I will have a go at the plastic huzzars. I am still worried re flaking paint but I will have a go...

Pavilioned in Splendour....

The generals gathered , after vespers consisting of sausage and sauerkraut, round the map of the Duchy stretched out before them. They consulted the regimental returns and gleaned the state of the Army of Sashen-Vindow:

Infantry Regt XIV " Alte Bjork"

Infantry Regt XII

The Militia from the Seven Counties

Ducal Guard

Hussars de Architrave

Artillery train

Von Ekdahl's Jaeger Corps

Morale within the pavilion was almost as low as the temperature outside...

O Fortuna...

For many within the Duchy of Saschen-Vindow the wheel of Fortuna has turned...

That unfortunate young man of previous mention met his demise today in a packed City square in the Ducal Capital . With due ceremony ( with the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd ringing in his ears ) he was broken upon the wheel - a suitable punishment for perpetrators of Treason...

The Duke was able, aided by his manservant - Old Ulrich , to go to the Castle window and cast his recovering eye upon his army encamped below... His chest swelled with pride as he watched the men drill under the watchful eye ( and ever ready stick) of their officers until the sun set behind the hills and forests.

In the camp the generals talked of the coming war with Tradgardland . Of the readiness of regiments and sundry matters pertaining to supply and strategy. For Winter is the time to train,to fabricate muskets, to call forth the Militia and prepare for the new campaign season...