More background info

Ruritania

The creation of Anthony Hope in his novel  “ The Prisoner of Zenda” which sparked a whole genre of adventure stories from the 1890s onwards. The following extract from Wikipeadia briefly outlines the plot

“On the eve of the coronation of King Rudolf of Ruritania, his brother, Prince Michael, has him drugged. In a desperate attempt not to give Michael the excuse to claim the throne, Captain Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim, attendants of the King, persuade his distant cousin Rudolf Rassendyll, an English visitor, to impersonate the King at the coronation.

The unconscious king is abducted and imprisoned in a castle in the small town of Zenda. There are complications, plots, and counter-plots, among them the schemes of Michael's mistress, Antoinette de Mauban, and those of his dashing but villainous henchman Count Rupert of Hentzau.

Rassendyll falls in love with Princess Flavia, the King's betrothed, but cannot tell her the truth. He determines to rescue the king and leads an attempt to enter the castle of Zenda. The King is rescued and is restored to his throne, but the lovers, in duty bound, must part.”

Taking this as my guideline I have taken a number of absolute liberties in creating my backstory. First Ruritania has moved from Bohemia to the Danube provinces of the North Balkans. Next both Rudolph and Flavia have reconsidered their “duty” in view of the petty and vindictive character of King Rudolf (not to mention his diverse sexual peccadilloes that are the scandal of the court).

 King Rudolf and friends!

In my Ruritania Colonel Sapt serves a King he despises, Fritz and Rudolph are loyal to Flavia, last of the Elfbergs and support her claim to the throne, Prince Michael, plots to replace his brother on the throne supported it is rumoured by a European power, while Rupert lurks in his stronghold of Hentzau engaged in plotting and mischief seemingly to prevent himself from becoming bored.

Politically the people though loyal to the throne resent the high taxes and scandalous behaviour of their monarch. Demonstrations led by left wing activists have been violently dispersed by troops and police, and isolated attacks on government officers have occurred especially in the Transylvanian provinces where a nationalist independence movement called the Dacians are gaining support. Transylvania is a wild mountainous region and the inhabitants are regarded with both fear and fascination by the city dwellers and farmers of the Danube valley. Rather like the Highland warriors of Scotland the Transylvanians are reknowned as fierce fighters, and redoubtable drinkers, but also as people beyond the norms of civilized society, their lives dominated by family feuds, folklore, and magic..... some even claim witchcraft and vampirism.

 Prince Micheal and Madam Du Mauban

Growing tension between the neighbouring Duchies of Maltova and Lovitzna is causing concern though the King seems to be unaware of the dangers of the situation. Riots have occurred in some border towns in support of one Duchy or the other. Hentzau has used his personal forces to suppress support for Maltova around Zenda, however Princess Flavia has openly supported the Maltovian cause. Rassendyll has invited a number of his friends and army comrades to join him, and help train the ill equipped and prepared Maltovian army. Finally in the south the minority but vocal Serbian community are demanding self governance and harsh restrictions to be imposed against the Muslim peoples of the region.

Trans Danube Forces.

Ruritanian Royal Guard – members of the Ruritanian Royal household and Royal Guard

Type	Pluck	SV	FV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Colonel Ernst Sapt	+3	+5	+3	-		Marksman, leadership +3, iron will	Revolver, Sword, lined coat
King Rudolf V	+6	-	+1	-		Erudite wit	Revolver, mail shirt
Hans Belbeck Graf von Hoffberg	+4	-	+2			Duelist, cavalryman	Sabre, lance, revolver, brigandine
Guardsmen	+4	+1	+2	-		Bayonet drill,	Military rifle, bayonet, revolver, lined coat
ADC	+4	+1	+1				Revolver, sword, lined coat

Ruritanian Jager – Ruritanian regular troops loyal to Flavia

Type	Pluck	SV	FV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Captain Heinrick von Talle	+3	+3	+3	+1		Leadership +2	Sword, revolver dagger, brigandine
Leutenant Hans Brecht	+4	+2	+2	+1		Medic	Sword revolver dagger, lined coat
Sergeant Weiss	+4	+5	+4	+2		Hunter, bayonet drill Leadership + 2, stealth	Hunting  rifle, bayonet, dagger, mail shirt
Jagers	+5	+3	+2	+1		Bayonet drill, stealth	Military rifle bayonet, lined coat
Rudolf Rassendyll	+2	+4	+4	+2		Marksman, Inspirational, fearless duellist, tough, iron will, swimming, Charm	Revolver, sword, lined coat
Fritz von Tarlenheim	+3	+2	+3	+1		Fearless, leadership +1, swimming	Revolver. Sword, lined coat
Princess Flavia von Graus	+3	+4	-	-		Medic, charm	Revolver. Dagger, lined coat

Ruprecht of Hentzau – Prince Michael is heir to the throne of Ruritania and Hentzau is his chief henchman though a totally amoral character.

Type	Pluck	SV	FV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Count Rupert von Hentzau	+4	+5	+4	+2		Marksman, Leadership +2, Fearless, Duellist, swimming, Charm	Sword, revolver, dagger, knife, mail shirt
Prince Michael von Heim	+4	+1	+2	0		Leadership +1	Sword, revolver, dagger, brigandine
Colonel Erich von Stalhein	+3	+2	+3	+1		Marksman, swimming, part of the crowd	Revolver, sword, dagger, lined coat
Antoinette de Mauban	+5	-	-	+1		Erudite wit, charm, medic	Revolver
Karl Grosscht	+4	+2	+2	-		Tough	Revolver sword
Hentzauers Regt	+5	+2	+2	-		Bayonet drill	Military rifle, bayonet
Oleg Parttov	+3	+3	+3	-		Tough, Markman	Sword, pistol, dagger, rifled musket, brigandine
Rickard Gartt	+4	+2	+2	+1		Tough, Fearless	Sword, pistol dagger, brigandine
Huntsmen	+5	+1	+1	+1		Stealthy	Rifled musket, dagger
Hired Cossacks *	+5	+1	+2	+1		cavalryman	Lance, sabre, pistol, rifled carbine. dagger

·         Cossacks  may have muzzle loading or breach loading firearms 

Maltovian  Grenzeschutz – The small Duchy of Maltovia borders Ruritania and is neutral.

Type	Pluck	SV	FV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Count Max Stanhausser	+3	+2	+1	+1			Revolver. Sword, mail shirt
Major Milan Kordovic	+4	+3	+3	+2		Leadership +2	Revolver, Sword
Lt Zandar Banatt	+4	+2	+2	+1		Duellist	Revolver sword
Sergeant Lodd	+3	+4	+3	+1		Tough, bayonet drill	Military rifle, bayonet, dagger, brigandine
Grenzer	+5	+2	+2	+1		Bayonet drill, stealth	Military rifle, bayonet, dagger

Lovitzna Pandours – Lovitzna is a small Duchy bordering Ruritania and Maltovia, and with designs on both. Receiving military support from Prussia.

Type	Pluck	SV	FV	Speed	Cost	Talents	Basic Equipment
Baron Thul von Zarovitch	+4	+3	+2	-		Duellist, leadership +1	Sword revolver dagger, mail shirt
Col Heinrich Bethstein	+3	+2	+2	-		Leadership +1	Sword revolver
Lt Manfreid von Ulberg	+4	+1	+2	+2		Medic	Sword revolver
Sergeant Petrovic	+3	+3	+3	+1		marksman	Military rifle bayonet dagger, brigandine
Pandours	+5	+2	+2	+1		Bayonet drill	Military rifle bayonet