HOLF Players' Guild Forum

The Doge looked around him, staring at the broken men and dead horses, the smell of burning grass and thick smoke burning his lungs and nose. He stood before the Austrian Emperor surrounded by the dead members of the elite Venetian 3rd Dragoons.

What few men remained of his army had quit the field hours ago, fleeing in all directions once his lines had been broken, the defeat left a bitter taste of revulsion in his mouth.

The Doge looking to the South East where the, almost whole, Naples army fought a rear guard action to escape the field of battle. It was quite possible that the Naplese would indeed quite the field. He couldn't help by feel anger and regret at the conduct of the Naples army.

Their General, newly raised to his position by the new Naples King had decided to suffer a bout of dysentary during the battle. The entire Naples army sitting and watching while the Austrians surrounded and methodically destroyed the Venetians, deaf to the screams and runners pleading for aid.

Swallowing his pride the Doge fell to his knees before the Austrian Emperor and bowed his head, if only to stop the Emperor from seeing the burning embers of revenge smoldering in his eyes.