In Saschen-Vindow...

The Von Trunk mounted Feikorps have apprehended a Tradgardland spy within the vicinity of where the Engines are undergoing fabrication.

Justice was swift and lacking even a shread of mercy...

The Duchy of Tradgardland will no doubt have its own views upon the barbarism shown by Von Trunk and his men!

If you go down to the woods today...

In the woods surrounding the castle a strange sight is taking shape. The model makers have moved onto the next stage - what will happen next?

A Model

Duke Peter admired the skill of the modelmakers who had come before him today. He looked at their arcane invention with interest. He pondered if these twins could really produce a full sized version in weeks. To the eye they looked like vagrants or even outlaws ,yet there was something about them . A spark of genius thought Duke Peter. He turned to them and told them to begin this very day. The castle forge and blacksmith was at their disposal...

From the Court Circular of Saschen-Vindow

Duke Peter is enjoying the fine weather currently making its presence known in Saschen-Vindow. It is hoped he will inspect some units of the army within the next few days. All is a flurry of pipe clay and drill as the aforementioned units become the very best they can be, with the application of officer's sticks and words in due season ...
The units concerned are : Infantry Regiment St Georg , The "Hungarian " company of the border town of Alt-Waldsee and the converged grenadier companies of the Duchy.

StarSingers...

High in the castle tower Duke Peter sits he has been up all night examining a list of his officers. He has marked those loyal to him - too few for comfort!He slumbers in his favourite chair until he is awoken by the sound of singing from the starsingers. They are late this year as all nocturnal activities were cancelled due to the current unrest within the Duchy. But here they are in broad daylight. They sing and chalk upon the castle gate 17+C+M+B+59 ,hopefully bringing good fortune to the Duchy for the coming year...

Night

Duke Peter is abroad this night too. He has gone to see the new moondial which was erected within the palace grounds. His thoughts are of the coming year and war with Tradgardland - the ancient and traditional enemy! Far ,far more disturbing are the rumours concerning his estranged wife...
Mad tales of Ludwig of Stagonia, of her love for him and her desire to place herself upon the throne of Stagonia and Ludwig as Duke of Saschen-Vindow.Joint rulers they would be here and abroad. He knows how he is unpopular unlike his beloved Duchess.He fears civil war within the Duchy and murmurs a prayer heavenwards...
In the silence an unthinkable idea comes to mind an option horrendous but preferable to the ravaging of the Duchy by civil war...

Night

The crowd has arrived .Men muffled in cloaks against the cold night air throng the illuminated great hall of the desolate country house. They represent the upper strata of Saschen -Vindow society - yet many are conspicuous by their absence. Those gathered have a unifying dislike,distrust or historic grudge against Duke Peter. They are not vast in number but their influence is immeasurable...

At last the waiting is over - a figure enters,black wig removed and the Duchess stands before them...

"Gentlemen thank you for coming to this place under the cover of the night. I bring you news for a new year. The future begins today! I offer you a new order in Saschen-Vindow . I offer you myself upon the Ducal throne with my Consort the new King of Stagonia at my side..."

The crowd remain silent and exchange embarrassed glances - this is not what they had hoped for. The Duchess continues working herself into a frenzy of hate aimed at Duke Peter. One by one those at the back of the crowd drift out into the night heads shaking and disappointed , worried about others knowing they were present this night. Eventually only a few remain too terrified to move...