Times of Trouble

[Razgriz 2K9]

Elvire calmly made her way down the main roads, with several aides walking by her informing her of the status of her fief and also the situation in France, with Regency troops moving down Lorraine, most likely in an attempt to retake the lands of the old Burgundian Dukedom. If there was one thing Elvire knew well was in her history of the French nation. She knew very well that Eastern and Southern France will be caught in turmoil, while Paris and the rest of Ile-de-France was looking to be a Republican stronghold. As long as it was far away from Angoulmois it would not matter that much.

Elvire made her way to the cathedral. Pious as she was, she couldn’t help but turn to the church to pray for peace, to create a united France once more. But little would she know that she would see an unexpected guest come to meet her at such an unexpected moment.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

In the church, everything was silent. It was almost empty, a few candles flackering, altough their light was just to commemorate the fallen, as the light that fell through the windows lit the room enough to read the holy bible even. Silence had filled the high room and it was only the old door that made its characteristic sound when Elvire opened it. But the only other person in the room seemed not to mind and pious as they were, they kept praying to the Lord, though in silence, kneeling in the first row with eyes closed and hands folded. In these last days, it seemed so many had returned to France's ancient catholic faith, the faith that had contributed among others to the rise of the Franks and since survived the turbulences of the time. It had remained, even when there was no France, it would most likely even exist after France was gone.

[Razgriz 2K9]

As Elvire walked down the aisle in order to pray, she couldn’t help but notice another praying by the front. From the look of this person, it seems that it was someone of high rank, but she had never met the person before, and she was not informed of any nobles from other fiefdoms to come here. As the burnette walked closer to the front she felt more and more uneased.

Finally as soon as she saw the person in question, she said calmly, “Bonjour, I’m surprised there are others praying this early in the morning.”

[Subtleknifewielder]

[quote name='Evangeline Anovilis' timestamp='1336478684' post='2965091']
[b]Dijon, France[/b]

It was a good thing Général du Corps Fournier had recruited soldiers, because it was not a long time before the army arrived. However, not from the direction it should've come from. First only single escadrons of Dragons and Gendarmes, but they only were the Avant-Garde of what was meant to arrive. The Regency had ordered the attack on the revolting lands already some time ago and while most troops were stationed in the fortifications and towns along the German border, they had now gathered and were to complete the task given to them. To crush Commune and Dalian.

It was in the morning of the day after the letter was sent to Dalian that a Dragon arrived from the north, asking for a meeting with the Général du Corps. "The Blancs, the Blancs, they are marching on our town. I saw their army just today, on my reconnaissance patrol. The combined troops of Metz and Belfort are marching to retake Dijon." He was out of air and visibly exhausted, as he rode as fast as he could. Most likely the Horse looked just as bad.
[/quote]
The city was a hive of activity. The trenches were all but dug, and the dirt used to shore up the walls against cannon fire, and poles set out to discourage cavalry charges. Construction on the redoubts proceeded apace, and training of the recruits was going about as well as could be reasonably expected.

And of course, the officer in charge was busy overseeing it all, ensuring it all remained as efficient as humanly possible. One of the responsibilities, of course, included keeping tabs on reports by the ever vigilant scouts. This report was deemed urgent enough for the dragoon to be promptly escorted to Henri. "Take a deep breath, and calm down, man. Tell me, how far away are they? Do you have any sort of estimate on the numbers and composition of their forces, or how long it will take them to arrive?"

Regardless of the answer, the word would immediately be dispersed to the sub-commanders, the lesser officers under the Général du Corps, for them and the troops under their supervision, both old and new, to be alert and ready for action at a moment's notice, and pressure was applied to (hopefully) ensure the redoubts would be finished before the arrival of the enemy.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Angoulême, France[/b]

The woman did not move, she did not even open her eyes, she just kept her praying position, but what she did was answer. "Madame, I don't think anything speaks against praying to god in the morning, before the day begins. I thank the lord for protecting my sleep for another night and pray to him, to let me see yet another day, without hardship. And in times like these, France needs the Lords grace and guiding hand more than ever, don't you agree?" As she ended, she moved her right han first to the forehead, to the chest, to the left shoulder, then to the right and stood up. Softly wiping the dust from her white dress, she kindly looked upon the Duchesse, her green eyes shimmering, even though it was not the lightest place. "But I don't think I have to tell you. Else, I would have to ask for your own reason to seek the Lord."

[b]Dijon, France[/b]

An army of 50,000, it was a sight to behold. Slowly they set up camp outside Dijon, in a secure distance to the towns cannons. Under Général du Corps Julius Martin Kleber, the Armée de Lorraine would take position to assault Dijon. The town had maybe less troops, but if the besiegers spread out, it was too easy to capitalise on that. Kleber had enough knowledge on such matters to know that. Thus, the encampment would be to the north, where the Blancs set up huge piles of wood, from nearby forests, to light the field in the night, while the rest of the army arrived. On the next day, the fight would begin. And Kleber was confident to win it, as he had not only more infantry, but also professional infantry, the artillery from the border armies and a good mixture of Gendarmes and Dragons to trample the enemy down.

[Razgriz 2K9]

“I understand that quite well, Madame” Elvire said calmly, returning the smile given to her earlier. “Most people just usually go on their merry way these days.” Elvire would then soften her smile however when she was reminded about the situation in France. She would sit on one of the bench on the opposite end of the aisle, her expression forelorn. “Nonetheless, I pray for our people, how they must suffer while others fight for personal gain. And yet as a noble, I bet I am no better as far as the people must think of me for.”

Getting down on her knees, she would clasp her hands and her eyes closed, “I just hope, for our future, that we can see peace, before there isn’t a France left to live in.”

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]OOC:[/b] In accordance to [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=110646&pid=2965920&st=20&#entry2965920"]that[/url].

[b]IC:[/b]

[b]Paris, France[/b]

If there was a culture of revolutionary action, it would have its cultural capital in Paris. Having seen so many revolutions before, since the French Revolution of 1789, the Parisiens were, apart from nobles and bourgeoisie quickly spreading the fire throughout the city, where barricades were errected, first brigades and councils created, made up of the most fierce Communards in their quartiers. Most of them had seen the Valentin regime, most had supported the early revolution, most despised what it had become, just like those who now had brought justice to her, those who had purged the revolution of the corruption to purify it. Overnight, Maxime had become a folk hero, the new center of the movement. And soon the red flag was raised high, after the "noble !@$§%& had made a run to Orléans or Fontainebleau." But now, Paris had to be defended, for the Regency council had mobilised its army from the Eastern border, while the Dalianists had made their first successes in the South.

The rather decentralised order of the revolution, if there was an order at all, however, caused first efforts on a common strategy or command to fail horribly, making Paris a revolutionary fortress, but neither did the commune capitalise on the fights between its foes, nor did it step far outside of its starting grounds. Most small councils had taken up arms and some were pillaging the houses of nobles and wealthier citizens, they tried to reorganise their labour and their society at times, where immediate action against Orléans would be far more necessary. And thus, it was no wonder that the capital found itself soon confronted by the army in the East.

A few souls, compared with the overall revolutionary mass, rather large, compared to other armies in the region had however a rather radical, if not daring plan, to demoralise the Kingdom. To ransack Fontainebleau, to decapitate the Royal Family, to free France of their shackles. About 20,000 marched with torches, muskets and improvised weaponry towards the royal residence, only guarded by the Maison militaire, a quarter their strength. It would be now the question wether the Maison would share the fate of its predecessors in the Tuilleries, or wether they would help crush the commune, like in 1871.

[hr]

[b]Angoulême, France[/b]

"Madame. Before the Lord, we are all the same. If God wishes for his children to live, I trust he will protect our nation." Lieselotte still smiled, walking slowly to the middle of the church. "Still, people will have to do their own part to allow for peace to exist. We cannot just leave all the work to the Lord."

Edited May 11, 2012 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Razgriz 2K9]

Elvire nodded on that arrangement. After all, God alone can't solve the problems of the people. As she stood up, she said, "It is indeed true that we cannot leave the work to the Lord. As long as the people are happy only can we live in a just and fair society." She smiled, "However, I do not know what I am to do on the matter. Our fief is small, our soldiers few, and our allies are none. What is to stop any of those who wish to force their beliefs on us to come and run us down?" She sat down on the bench, lamenting her current situation. "I feel like a helpless mouse, trapped between lions."

Edited May 14, 2012 by Razgriz 2K9

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Madame, the lions may be surrounding you, but at the same time, they are fighting each other. A mouse would be solely a distraction from the real fight. I would fear less, as long as the lions fight." She smiled a moment, as if to dismiss the fears, but then changed to a more serious expression. "Do you however know the tale of the Lion and the Mouse? It may help, in some way in the current situation." With that, the woman bowed before Elvire and took her leave.

Edited May 19, 2012 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Montluçon, France[/b]

It was rather calm in the rather small town in the heart of France, yet, there camped over 30,000 soldiers in the fields around it. It was the front of the Dalianists, the border between the Regency held territory and the Dalianist South.

[center][img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Montlu%C3%A7on_212.JPG/640px-Montlu%C3%A7on_212.JPG[/img][/center]

For weeks nothing really had happened, both sides had only a small part of their forces in the area, facing off here, with neither able to advance, in fear of defeat and subsequent loss of land. The commander of the forces even had taken a leave from the Dalianist army and the second in command just sat around and read the newspaper, when a courier arrived at the castle. Immediatly the people became active, Dalian had given orders for the Western army. After inspection by the guard, the man was let through to meet the commander.

"Monsieur, her Highness wishes for you to immediatly move out." The courier was still breathing heavily. He just rode at the best speed he and his horse could endure to this place.

"But, Monsieur, Madame Vertorre is not present. We cannot move out until her arrival."

"Well, then send a courier after her immediatly. Her Highness has sworn to end this war as soon as possible. An attack on Orléans itself is already underway. A force of 40,000 has left Lyon to take Orléans."

"And you expect us to help them in Orléans?"

"No. Your task is to cross the Loire at Blois, so that you can attack Orléans from the north and prevent their escape."

The Commandant thought for a moment. "Well, I guess that is quite important. Else it'll just drag itself out if Baume-Pluvinel escapes. Mon Dieu, someone send me another courier for Angoulême. And give this man a meal and a bed. He surely is exhausted."

"Thanks." The courier saluted and went off to enjoy the hospitality of Montluçon.

[Kankou]

After setting up defenses in the forests of Fontainebleau, famous for its large boulders which would provide barriers for the rabble, Emma was "politely" asked to leave by the more traditionalist Royal Regancy members. Perheps it was because she was not French. Whatever the reason, she pulled out with her units of the [i]Gardes de la Manche[/i] and, taking her nieces with her, headed back to where she came from.



[b]La Valliére[/b]

A man flicked the now used up cigarette on the ground, crushing it under his heel as he watched two girls hug and one of them left, the other looking long into the horizon. What an interesting situation. Perhaps he might entertain himself before proceeding with his particular plans.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Blois, France[/b]

It was a hot early summer day, when the town of Blois came into sight of the Armée grise. Through the fields south of the Loiré a broad front of soldiers with muskets, pikes and halberds, all clad in their grey uniforms marched, towing their artillery to cross the river. Most resistance was expected to concentrate in Orléans, so crossing the Loiré would not be too hard. Lieselotte and the around 30,000 troops at her command had marched for days already. She had been on her way back to Montluçon, when the courrier reached her. It had taken still one or two days for the army to even just be set in motion.

Their banners flew high and their drums firmly dictated the march on the town, while the commandant herself watched with her monocular. One could never be careful enough, always there could be some resistance. After all, most likely, at least some smaller garrison was in the town. Altough, there also was the possibility of all troops having marched to Orléans, to prevent the loss of the siege that was ongoing there. Lieselotte wondered. Maybe she could visit her sister after this. It was not too far, after all and this wouldn't need too long, if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Blois, France[/b]

Under the thunder of cannon from both sides of the Loiré the lines of grey advanced. The garrison of Blois had been greater than expected. They fiercely tried to hold the bridge and had reinforced their position, positioning multiple cannons facing the Dalianists, who naturally returned the favour with interest. The tricolores of both sides flew high on either side of the river, where the two opposing sides fired their muskets at each other, despite the rather stretched range that exceeded the effective maximum by a bit. However, Liselotte did not dare send in the troops over the bridge. At such a narrow point, they would be shot quite easily by the Blanches. And the army command knew very well, that even if morale was decent, the soldiers were still mostly drafted, not drilled like the professionals, who'd pursue their mission even after half of them died. But there were also other problems...

A few hundred meters away from the field of battle, the command had erected its tent, before which it oversaw the clashing forces. There was not much joy visible in the faces of the Général, nor her aide.

"Madame Vertorre, I think it won't be long till they run out of powder."

"I'd hope so, but I fear they'll bog us down for too long. Her Highness may be displeased."

"How so?", the aide wondered.

"We are running out of time to meet her."

"Well, if we win by nightfall, the army can make it still to Orléans in time."

"No no no, I did not mean that." Liselotte shook her head and sighed. "Madame Flobert, I have an appointment today. Could you lead the army to Orléwans in my absence?" Liselotte then walked into the tent. The Aide tried to follow, but stopped as he saw the Général undressing. After a 180° turn, she stuttered. "Madame, what are you doing?" Sometimes, the Général was a just uncomprehensible. Like now. Angelene was confused everytime again. "Madame Général, you cannot just leave the troops. What will we do about the ongoing battle?"

Suddenly, Liselotte passed by her into the open again. Clothed in black and with her halberd, she turned around and stated simply. "Well, the battle has to be won then, before I leave."

"You cannot mean..." Angelene was shocked.

"Well, if the Général herself won't get in line, how can she expect her followers to? And if God wants me to survive, I will. All I need from you, is to lead the troops to Orléans afterwards."

Angelene gulped. She had spend her past days as a nun, before the Dalianists and the Church cooperated. She knew not how to reply, but to nod. "As you command." There were many arguments that could simply be rebuffed, but faith, it was faith after all that turned Angelene into a follower of this movement. Hopefully though, God would appreciate a new France.

The strategy was as simple as it could be effective. A few hallebardiers would have to form the forlorn hope and storm over the bridge, to then allow more hallebardiers and the army to follow, once the Blanches were occupied with reloading and fending off the heavy infantry. The hard part of it was just to find those that would not just flee, once the first hail of musket balls had taken its toll. In the formation of the Hallebardiers, there was the least enthusiasm of all troops, mostly owing to the fact that they knew they'd be probably used in such a suicidal manner. Most already sat down on the ground, prepared to just outright refuse any messenger with order to assault the enemy. Yet, a sound of surprise went through their rows, as the Général herself appeared. Some stood up, but most remained sitting. One man just looked up and asked. "So, is it time for us to go? Or why has the Général came by herself?"

"Indeed Monsieur, it is time. We now need the brute force of the halberds."

"And you expect us to run into our death? We decline."

"I expect you to do your duty as everyone does. 'Tis a civil war, my dear Monsieurs, I think death is pretty much of a possibility for all of us."

"Well, I hope you won't flog me for it, but why do we have to take up the heavy arms and soak in their lead?"

"This is indeed a good question." Liselotte marched on to the center of the formation. The Hallebardiers had watched the scene with curiosity. They wondered what would follow, most hoping they wouldn't be forced to fight. But the Général, once in the center, thrust her own halberd into the ground and raised her voice to let them all hear it over the cannon in the background.

"Monsieurs, I have heard you do not want to fight. You do not want to be slaughtered in the fire or die from a slug of lead thrown at you. You wonder why I came, and you fear the court-martial that may come. I tell you. I understand your fears. Noone would want that. But I tell you, who else should do it? Aren't we all soldiers in the Queens service, fighting for God, France and her Majesty? Aren't we all soldiers, that enlisted knowing it could mean our death? Aren't we all soldiers that are willing to put our lives at stake, not just for a measly pay, but because of our ideals? I, personally, shall assault this bridge. I'll bring victory, or be a sacrifice for our cause. I'll try to win here, so we can win at Orléans, so that we can win this war and make it short. And whoever wants to stay here, stay here, whoever wants to join me in my mission, can join me. All authority that is absolute is Gods and I will not court-martial you for not fighting, but I believe in our cause and that God believes in it. He shall let me succeed, or let me die." She then pulled the halberd out of the soil and marched off. The soldiers first wondered, but they felt, somehow, the Général was right. And altough first only a few, soon, there were many willing to assault the bridge, the number rising, till noone could refuse to fight. The morale was restored.

And at the 14[sup]th[/sup] hour of the day, the bloody work of the halberds began.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Blois, France[/b]

The lead hissed through the air, just as a wall of smoke and thunder appeared on the opposite riverside. Liselotte could hear the sound of the shot hitting the plates of armor of hallebardiers and the stones of the bridge. But altough casualties were assured, she did not hesitate, neither did the ones following her. "Montjoyer Saint-Denis! À l'attaque!" Tightening her grip on the hallberd, she prepared herself for the last few meters, which she sprinted, before jumping behind the enemy's barricades, right into the middle of the fray.

With one swift blow, a blanc fell, as the hallberd crushed through his head and torso, less cutting, than just brutally tearing. It was not meaned to cut, the hallberd was to slash and hack, to tear and spear, to pull and drag, it was a versatile, but nevertheless, if not because of that, brutal weapon. The others followed and soon the enemy began to rout, as the first Mousquetaires set over, as it became clear that the Grises were dominating the field and that the brute force of the melee had broken the Blanc grip on the Northern riverside. The battle had only really begun with the assault and also ended with it.

Liselotte could hardly keep an overview of the situation, as long as the fighting went on around her, but soon it moved to the various streets of northern Blois. Slowly Liselotte looked over the Loiré. Still troops crossed the river to enter the northern part, now even the first artillery. Corpses were lying to the left and right, some rather "orderly", some less so. It did, after all, make a difference how they were slain and one could tell what killed the man. Liselotte slowly walked past the fallen, slowly returning to her normal calm state again. She knew not, was it the heat of battle, or the heat of the day, given it was already early summer, that had tired her out already quite a bit, but she half leaned already on the halberd. Suddenly Angelene came running. "Général, Madame Général, it seems we won. are you alright?" Visibly worriedd, Angelene Flobert looked all over the bloodstained dress of her superior. Only now that she had come near could she see the dark red stains on the black dress. "Mon Dieu, you look terrible."

"It's nothing, Madame Flobert. It is not my blood. I think we should worry more about these here."

"Eh well, I let the medics and surgeons do their work immediately. But...are you well? I cannot believe the lord really blessed you to not get shot."

"Well, I'm rather we...gghh" Liselotte sat down. Slowly it seemed her senses returned, as she slowly began to feel a pain at her waist. "Must have crazed me. Ah well, make sure to..."

"Are you sure, Madame Général. If you unterestimate the severity of a wound, it is no good. It could get infected and then... Let me bring you to the field hospital."

"Meh... I bet you exaggerate. It isn't that bad." Liselotte smiled, but she did feel the pain grow.

Angelene wasn't really convinced and so, as they arrived in the provisory hospital in the middle of Blois, she immediatly urged the Général to let her take a look at the wounds. And altough they were not lethal, Angelene still was surprised on how her superior could still run around like nothing had happened. The blood-soaked clothing had blocked the bleeding a bit, but this was not just a light wound. The musket ball had hit her and had went straight into her belly. It was sheer luck the Général had survived and that no vital organ was torn. Liselotte did no longer smile, but she did also not make any sound, even when angelene proceeded to remove the stuck projectile. More than that, Angelene was surprised, if not outright shocked, when Liselotte asked. "Could you please bandage it, so I can move soon. As said, I'm running out of time." To Angelene, her superior really was incromprehensible.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

Placeholder for character RP.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Orléans[/b]

From afar, Angelene could already hear the roaring cannons of the assault on Orléans. It seemed the main army had already begun its work. As the mighty column marched towards the center of the Regency councils activities, angelene was worried though. Not so much about the battle at Orléans, but more about the fact that still, the général had not responded yet, altough she had promised to rejoin her forces before arrival at the main camp of the Grande Princesse. Yet, they could already hear the fighting going on around their goal and no sign of Liselotte was around. The aide however had no time to search for the Général, it was of utmost importance to enclose the besieged after all.

Slowly she caught up to the avant-garde, as she had to report to Dalian as first thing when she got to the camp, before the troops arrived. As she arrived at the head of the army, Orléans was already visible. The town lay before them, smoke rising up at some points within the rows of buildings and some visible damage to defensive structures, in the South the main army of the Action grise, keeping the walls under constant bombardement, while the garrison tried hard to keep up the defense. It would most probably not last long, once the western army intervened. With a small escort, Angelene went on her way to the main army.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[b]Orléans, France[/b]

The soldiers all looked up in the sky over the town as slowly the banner was lowered and, escorted by a few guards, Dalian awaited her guest. The town was surrounded and outnumbered heavily. The Regent had taken the only measure reasonable at such a time. Visibly resigned, Aymar Le Baume-Pluvinel walked into the camp of the victors, escorted by two soldiers of the Armée grise, armed with muskets and bayonets. Dalian smirked as she saw the man being brought before her. Sitting at a table that had been prepared in the midst of the encampment, she sat on her noble chair and poured in a cup of tea. "Bonjour Monsieur. How nice that you decided to visit us today."

"Spare me your comments, Madame de Vicidalia."

Slowly Dalian stirred her cup of tea after having added some sugar. "So, why did you come? May it be what I think it is?"

"Woman, nice to see you find it funny, but keep your words to yourself. You did enough damage to our country, but I cannot stop you from hurting France further. Now I can only pray for our Patrie that you won't destroy it. But I think, you did already enough to also ensure that."

"Well, if you came to insult me, it's a pity. I thought you'd know your place."

"I know it. Sadly it is not where I want it to be, but it seems I got no choice. I hereby surrender to your forces." Aymar bowed down, before being taken away by the guards. Dalian meanwhile sipped her tea calmly, before putting down the cup and giving her orders. "Général, I expect Orléans to be occupied by nightfall. Work has to begin immediatly to crush these Communards and win this war for the sake of our Reine."

"As you command" it came from the background, and Dalian once again began to focus on her tea. Once the war was over, she definetely needed to buy some cookies, she thought.