Boleslawiec

One of the larger towns in Southwest Poland, Boleslawiec was famous for its large scale ceramics factories, which now lie abandoned. The town remained loyal to the pro-Soviet government throughout the war, and despite several attacks by American and German troops, was swiftly reoccupied both times. More than half of its population survived, but the town refused assistance to the nearby countryside, which suffered greatly due to the ravages of criss-crossing NATO and Warsaw Pact armies. The town is home to a sizeable Polish regular garrison with a small group of Soviet advisors. The town's civilian government is theoretically still in place, but the real ruler is the Polish garrison commander, Major Abram.

The Siege of Boleslawiec:

In the last two months a group of local Marauders rallied the townsfolk of surrounding villages to lay siege to the city, claiming that the people were hoarding large amounts of food and fuel (both are true). Taking advantage of the local's fear of the encroaching winter and whipping up their resentment against the pro-Soviet authorities in the city, their hope is to take over the city before winter falls in order to take advantage of the shelter and the plentiful food that has been stored there. The besieging forces number about 2,000, most of whom are lightly armed peasants, although there are 400 well-armed Marauders with a pair of salvaged German Leopard tanks, and a small half-squad of five former East German special forces soldiers. The Marauders do not have a single leader but have organised an unwieldy twenty-person group who they call the "East Silesian Liberation Committee" including representatives of the various local villages. PCs arriving in the area will be pressured to join one faction or another. Both count as Friendly, but once the PCs actively participate in one side or another, the other faction will become Hostile. There are ample opportunities for the PCs to get involved in the siege or simply exploit it for their own gain.

Because of the siege, all weapons, food, water and medical supplies sell for double the usual cost.

If the PCs make friendly contact with the authorities of Boleslawiec, they may be given a mission to bring back the 16th Mechanised Battalion.