Chapter XLII: Escalation in Pomerania

June 1112 VTE

Krummenhennersdorf and the surrender of the entire army of Salzwedel to Quedlinburg marked a great escalation in the scale of the conflict in Pomerania as its consequences would shape the course of the war and Pomerania's future as well. Word of the surrender of Pomulius spread fast around the Kingdom, and as he had promised Pomerlane in April, the Count of Frickenberg would rise up in support of Pomerlane as would other uncommitted Northern lords. Except the Count of Wittenhagen, who remained loyal to the crown. But perhaps the oddest thing that would happen as a result of these events came from none other than Pomulius himself.

Pomulius, while he had some level of fear about Pomerlane, as noted was a secret admirer of the Prince of Greifswald and when the two began to talk after Krummenhennersdorf, the seeds of a new friendship were laid. Pomerlane and Salzwedel both were from similar and interests. Both were pious men who held the Pomeranian virtues high in their minds and had a love of their country that ran deep in their blood. They shared many scars and showed them to each other as a sign of pride and respect. But most of all, they both loved their own country and hated what it had become. Pomulius explained that his decision to go to war with him was to prevent the Pomurans, whom he despised, from growing too powerful on their own; and that if they were to gain rich lands, he would need to as well to ensure that "True Pomeranians" were represented. Pomulius wasn't being entirely truthful with Pomerlane as while this was true, part of it had to do with him personally seeking more power.

But now in defeat, Pomulius confessed he had always admired Pomerlane and sympathized with him, he expressed as much to him in private. He told Pomerlane that if he had won, he wanted to restore Pomerlane to his rightful throne in Greifswald out of honor. Pomerlane was flattered by this but wanted to test Pomulius' commitment to the future Kingdom as well.

After taking a drink of beer, he queried Pomulius "Pomulius... From what I understand you are no fan of the current system, correct?"
Leaning forward, Pomulius says with passion "Absolutely not! A leader must be pragmatic in his dealings with other vassals and the King, but I truly despise the Pomurans for their wickedness in their dealings and their heresy."
Pomerlane leans back with his hands folded "Then you must know what my true objective is for Pomerania is correct?"
"No, I do not Pomernius. Pray tell?"
"Simply, I want to destroy the corrupt dynasty that rules over this land and destroy the wicked blasphemers from Pomura that have, together with the greedy merchants and the debauched Royal House, made the Anti-Pomu not only accepted but encouraged in the Kingdom. Inapuff worshippers must be destroyed and their copulaters are well... Pomu herself told me this was my destiny 10 years ago when I was a mere mercenary... She came into my tent and revealed this in her divine form as hard as it is to believe."
Pomulius sits up and puts his hand on his chin to think "The Goddess herself came to you? The tales always say that Pomu does this to men destined for greatness like Pomeranius the Great... as hard as it would be for many to believe and many dismiss it in our times of growing indifference to the Goddess, I do remember well my father telling me this story as his father told him... Your deeds certainly align with one blessed with greatness from the Goddess herself... Hmm... and that mission is truly something Pomu would give during this time of great degeneracy."
Pomulius takes a drink of beer before continuing "A true Pomeranian does not mutiny against his King, but a true Pomeranian King is divinely appointed by Pomu to lead the Kingdom... My father always told me this divine right was something that was a two-way path. It is only their right to rule divinely should they obey the divines and obey virtues. Something they had long abandoned. He never did tell me what he personally thought, but he told me that this is how I should rule my own lands when he passed, and I took seriously."
Pomulius thinks for another minute as Pomerlane waits patiently before he looks Pomerlane in the eyes "Who would rule the Kingdom when you do win?"
Pomerlane with a bit of laxity in his tone "Though I long believed it would not be me, I have come to the realization that I am that man myself. I am a Prince of the Blood after all, and it has become clear that this is my destiny."
Pomulius replied swiftly "Your cause is righteous indeed, and aside from the many other things I have heard of you; I also know that you are a truly a good ruler of your people in Syrenia. I have heard as much from citizens from there myself who have nothing but good things to say about a man that massacred many of them. That was surprising to me, but given how principled you are, it makes more sense in retrospect. The Syrenians had long suffered from a corrupt republic that did not care for them, yet you came in and broke their chains. The brutality seems to not have been from bloodlust in that context but to cleanse the land of the wickedness that inhabited it. Is this why you have been so clemently with me and my men?
"Quite, I used brutality to cleanse the land of its corruption, though I regret it in some ways. Atalanta's destruction in particular I felt was too far."
"Nonsense! Atalanta was notorious as being the great whore of a city she is, that is why her name has become synonymous with decadence, degeneracy and corruption. It was the head and heart of the beast that tainted the land of Syrenia. I would hope you would do the same to the "Atalantas" of our realm too."
"I have no intention of destroying the holy cities of Pomeranius nor the Goddess, but the Pomurans wanted it to a degree... But I will never allow a city to be massacred like that again. It haunts my own dreams to remember the screams of the women and children being raped and murdered so brutally by my men. I cannot allow it to happen again to another city."
"I understand. But about the Kingdom, I must admit that after meeting you and realizing your destiny that I wish to be a part of it myself"
"Pardon? Can you clarify?" says Pomerlane with a bit of acuteness in his voice?
Pomulius stands up and bends over before Pomerlane offering his sword. "Future King of Pomerania, Pomernius, I, the Prince of Salzwedel-Stormfury ask humbly if I can fight alongside, you as your vassal and as a friend."
Pomerlane looks at him with a deep stare before taking his sword and giving it back. "I accept your offer, but I am not a King yet"
Pomulius stands back up "You may not be yet but will be soon friend. Consider this my entry alongside you in this great war for the fate of our country!"
Pomerlane smiles and hugs Pomulius "Our fates will be tied together, let us ride forth and see to it that this land we so love is purified"

With Pomulius on his side, Pomerlane had effectively turned one of the more powerful rulers in all of Pomeranian into his ally. Though Salzwedel and its own allies were depleted, the addition of them was a major coup for Pomerlane's quest for Kingship because by having two of the most respected men in his service, Quidlinburg and Pomulius, his legitimacy increased tenfold. True Pomeranians would begin to see this as not a simple powerplay by an ambitious ruler, but as a fight between good and evil. By the first week of July, Pomerlane had nearly reorganized and redeployed his forces in the North for the coming campaign against the Royal Army and the other armies that had been raised to join the fight. His reorganization will be detailed in another piece.

Post-Kummenhennersdorf front lines in Pomerania

Meanwhile, on the Royalist side.

The King heard of the defeat of Salzwedel and the subsequent defection of him and other northern lords by Mid-June. He was growing increasingly worried as time went along and had raised two more armies to join him in the upcoming campaign. He furthermore ordered that more levies be raised and trained for action; and started to dip into the royal treasury to high mercenaries as well. He did not write letters to the new defectors, but rather publically stated that they too would be accountable for treason.

Fortunately for the King, Magnus had recalled the Count-Pal. Karl II Bergenstråhle, otherwise known as "Old Cranky" or the "Grand Old Count", for reassignment to Pomerania in mid-May. The King also could rely on a protege of Quedlinburg and a rising star in the Pomeranian Army, Count Karl-Anton-Pomu von Blankenburg as well.

Blankenburg, though only 37, had already become a Feldmarschall after he conducted a magnificent campaign against the Lucanians 3 years before. He had outmaneuvered and defeated a larger Lucanian force in detail and forced the Lucanians to sign a treaty binding them to the Kingdom as a vassal. Blankenburg was considered by many to be the natural successor to Quedlinburg, although both men were very different overall as people. Blankenburg was a notorious womanizer and adulterer, who loved to drink and to party when he wasn't on campaign while Quedlinburg was a stoic traditionalist. The two were on less that favorable terms due to their personalities, but both respected each other as commanders.

The King also had a the veteran Feldmarschall, Lothar-Pomu von Weilersbach at his disposed as well and numerous other commanders that were more than capable as leaders. The quality of his army was also undisputable, especially the Royal Army and the Army of Greater Pomerania that was held in reserve. The state that these soldiers and commanders may have been beyond corrupt, but the army was still second to none, other than perhaps Seleniums.

As the sides began to ready themselves for the upcoming campaign, an air of uncertainty came across the lands. Everyone on both sides seems to have grasped that Pomerania's fate was about to be decided, and the winner was far from apparent. But the fate of one of the most famous cities in all of Ninisani was about to shock the world to its core.