Battle of White Mountain
The Protestant forces, disorganized and desperate, make a last stand against the advancing Catholic troops, who are executing their strategy with methodical precision.
Setting
White Mountain near Prague, a rolling battlefield with scattered farmsteads and sparse woodlands. The ground is a mix of frozen earth and patches of early snow, trampled by thousands of boots and hooves.
Characters
Frederick V of the Palatinate
primary
A young man in his mid-twenties, of medium height with a slight but noble build. His fair hair is disheveled from the battle, and his pale blue eyes are wide with a mix of determination and fear. His face is clean-shaven, and his features are delicate, reflecting his aristocratic lineage.
Protestant Captain
secondary
A grizzled veteran in his late forties, with a weather-beaten face and a thick, graying beard. His frame is muscular but worn, bearing the scars of numerous campaigns. His piercing blue eyes, though tired, burn with determination.
Mercenary
secondary
A rugged foreign soldier in his late 30s, with a weathered face marked by scars from past battles. His build is lean but muscular, a testament to years of hard campaigning. His dark, unkempt hair is partially hidden under a dented morion helmet, and his piercing blue eyes betray a mix of weariness and calculation.
Catholic Standard Bearer
background
A burly soldier in his late 30s, with a scarred face, sunken cheeks, and a thick, unkempt beard. His build is muscular yet slightly gaunt from years of campaigning. His piercing blue eyes contrast sharply with his weather-beaten skin.
Dialog
Frederick V of the Palatinate
Stand firm, men of Bohemia! For the cause of our faith and freedom, we must not yield this day!
Protestant Captain
God's teeth! Rally to the standard or die like dogs!
Frederick V of the Palatinate
Captain, if we can but hold until the Saxons arrive—
Protestant Captain
No reinforcements coming, sire. That's Imperial cavalry in the tree line.
Frederick V of the Palatinate
Then we shall make our stand here, as befits those defending the true faith.
Protestant Captain
Aye, but not here. That farmhouse—we can make them pay for every step.
Frederick V of the Palatinate
May God have mercy on us all.