The Wild Edge (Fantasy Border Outpost)

[X] Plan Recon In Force
-[X][Construction] Your housing is overcrowded with your current population and so you'll need to build some more housing. Spent, action required to finish 56+5-20 = 41
-[X][Construction] Reinforce the newest section of wall (1 action) 79+5-20 = 64

To the relief of your men winter returns with the intense rains and partial flooding you had almost gotten used to from the Overgrowth. You've never been so grateful for wasted preparation before. The entire camp seems to have been holding their breath, and is somehow upbeat even through the otherwise dreary weather.

Granted the torrential downpour still makes construction rather difficult, but you weren't doing anything too challenging this season. Completing the new barracks is done fairly quickly with the framework already in place from last season, and your men are able to actually have the proper amount of space for the first time in a long time, at least for a little while.

The reinforcement of the last section of palisade into a proper earthwork is completed as well despite much of the earth being converted to mud.

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-[X][Personal] Research the Saint's Blood fruit, what will you have to do to utilize it 89 +5

Partly your research is bookwork. Your father sent along all the tomes he could dig up in a hurry on the subject as a matter of course. There isn't really that much though. Even copies of books that survived the fall of civilization are rare, even for nobles. There are a number of books written based upon them or from retold stories, but those are of course rife with inaccuracies. They at least provide you something to go off of though, and identify the effect it had.

You study the books in Nerissa's grove rather than your cabin. Partially this was hoping she might be able to corroborate part of what you were reading and clarify outright falsehoods, but also because you thought children her age appreciate people being around even if you weren't paying them attention specifically.

It's said these were one of the common ingredients in healing potions, but less clear why they weren't simply used directly. You had few of the fruits available with the grove still growing, and those you do have are over a season old. So reading up still at least let you focus your research a bit.

You'd left the samples in Nerissa's grove so they wouldn't lose magic over time simply from being outside the Overgrowth. When you took them for examination though you were surprised at how intact they were. They appeared to be just as fresh as before, and Nerissa said she had nothing to do with it beyond keeping them safe and dry.

When you brought one back to your room to study with your handful of instruments though you discovered that its magic had been severely depleted. It was rather disappointing. Still research wasn't about always getting the results you wanted.

A bit more investigation leads to you making an educated guess that the fruit's healing properties function on itself as well as others. So the fruit itself remains perfectly ripe and unsullied long after it should, but gradually depletes its magic doing so until it is worthless. It's not actually very tasty either. Though you had to test that on someone else this time, since Olivia caught you studying them.

While you could likely craft a container that would largely prevent decay, it's rendered somewhat irrelevant by the arrival of an expert potioneer to simply bypass that issue. You'd normally still have to come up with something to deal with magic bleed off, but you can push that off on him now.

-[X][Personal] Work on the laundry list of enchantments that Kaleb wants you to put on his equipment. (2 seasons work, or 3 half season actions. 50 denier per half season)

Speaking of gleaming Kaleb wanted you to make his armor literally shine, a sort of sparkling effect meant to make it more difficult for his enemies to focus on him. Ideally with static glow mode for when he wanted to inspire his troops instead. Lighting spells of various sorts are really quite simple, one of the few cantrips you can actually cast. But without a mage controlling it making a distracting effect is difficult. A sequence of brilliant flashes on demand seems the best you can come up with, projecting from his chestplate. Ultimately you can't come up with a way to make him glow in the sort of halo effect he wanted without blinding him though.

Reducing the weight of the heavier pieces of armor is complex work, but doesn't really require creativity by comparison considering it's just a static effect with no variability or contingent effect involved. Weaving this bit of magic does make you curious about the far more complex bit of magic working towards a similar purpose that you've seen in Olivia and the pegasus though. It has to be doing something extra. You think study of their ability might lend you to making an improved effect, but you're not sure the effort worth the payoff.

Combined with all the reinforcement work and invisibility stuff you did already, his armor seems done. Now you'll have to work on his weapons.

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-[X][Hunters] Scout the orc side of the border to see what forces and structures they have, maybe do some opportunistic raiding too. 7 +7 +5 -5 +10 +10= 34
--[X] Olivia supports 1d50 -10 = -6
-[X][Skirmishers] Scout the orc side of the border to see what forces and structures they have, maybe do some opportunistic raiding too. 3 +25 +5 -5 +10 = 38
-[X][Captain] Command troops, raising morale and effectiveness
-[X][Hunters] Scout to reduce chance of enemies slipping by. 87 +7 -6-5 = 83
-[X][Footmen] Patrol, reduce chance of enemies slipping by. 64 -5 +11 +10 +10 = 90
-[X][Footmen] Guard 63 +30 +20 -5 +10 = 118 (but again, guarding doesn't have high roll benefits)
--[X] The base and sawmill


You had Olivia and some of the light forces head out to see what the orcs were up to and if there was anything you could do to slow them down. Given the distance it's a rather nervous several days each time they head out before they return, though you have some confidence in their skills.

Olivia returns amidst a storm practically radiating irritation and her clothes stained with dirt and soaking wet and heads straight through the main room to her bedroom to clean off. She cut a rather fearful figure for how soft she tends to be. You decide discretion is the the better part of valor and let her handle that on her own.

Leo comes in shortly after shedding a dripping coat in the entryway. You wordlessly gesture for him to take a seat and set aside the breastplate you were fiddling with the strobe effects on.

"So it didn't go well I take it?" you begin with sardonically as he sat down heavily.

"They were already expecting more probing. Fresh forces were laid out in ambush waiting. I didn't expect they'd get more troops out this fast. I suspect they were reinforcements already on the way when your Lord brother attacked," Leo explained. "Makes a bit of sense now that I think of it, since their fort was designed to hold more men then were found in it."

"What about?" you say waving suggestively at the trail of muddy prints. You didn't quite want to say it aloud since she could probably hear you from the other room where you could make out sounds of her trying to clean herself.

"She really needs some training at being stealthy," Leo says, without any of your effort at concealment.

"She's plenty good at having next to no presence," you say thinking of how she's quite a good servant in that way.

"But she's practically a signal fire when it comes to drawing enemies it seems," he counters flatly with an exasperated arch to his back.

You adjust your tact, the details probably wouldn't be any better. "What did we find out?"

"Well they've put up sentry lines near the edge of the forest, but we were able to at least get some views of their new base. Same spot as the old one, but quite a bit smaller for now." He rubs his beard a little before continuing. "We haven't encountered any wolf riders yet so they probably haven't rebuilt stables yet at least. Them making a smaller base this time is interesting. The last base didn't have any internal divisions, so they built up the outer wall at that size all at once instead of piecemeal with each part defended like you have. Whereas this one they walled off a small bit immediately. So they're taking defense a bit more seriously this time, which will slow them down a bit."

"That's good right?" you say hopefully. Them having a base at all and being able to defend it didn't seem good news to you, but at least it would slow them down.

"Yes and no. It means they'll be a little slower than they would otherwise, but I didn't expect the window to kick them while they're down to close this fast. It means they're pouring more resources in than they were before."

"That's not really what I wanted to hear. Considering our patrols and guards haven't spotted anything beyond rather quiescent wildlife this season I'd been hoping the orcs had decided we were too tough and they'd leave us alone," you say wistfully.

Leo lets out a single sharp bark of a laugh. "That's a good one. They've just been rebuilding, attacking without a base of operations would be stupid. They aren't going to back off that easy, they'll have recognized Kaleb's men have gone by now."

"Do you think they'll try to attack us in force? I know we're due for another invasion soon enough," you ask a bit worriedly. You'd be straight in the path of attack this time instead of safely in the capital.

"Hard to say, depends a lot on how much forces have to get called away to the southern front," he says with a far off look. "If enough are drawn off the castles further east start to look more appealing targets."

Well isn't that just a bundle of conflicting desires.


(Hunters -5%, Skirmishers -5%, no other casualties, +15% hunters automatic replacement)

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[X][Request] An elite potioneer to help you refine the effect into a more stable form, a healer to determine what would work best on the front and two construction teams to speed infrastructure needed for the Saint's Blood.

The extra personnel you requested arrive in dribs and drabs throughout the season. They're mostly unremarkable.

Healers in general fall into a few groups: those in it for the money, those in it to help people, and women who needed a respectable female job for various reasons. The one you're sent is distinctly in the latter, but Julia Dumortier seems competent enough. Her being an unneeded daughter of one of the nearer barons isn't too big a deal, you hope. She's unusually petite, though not comically so. She puts some effort into her appearance, though in a practical enough way that it doesn't seem to inhibit her.

Meeting the potineer himself was...quite the experience.

"Florian is thankful for this opportunity to work with such a rare and valuable reagent for the good of Revaria," an average looking fellow said as you moved to greet him when he arrived by ship.

"Oh, well I'm glad to receive the assistance of such a capable potineer," you said, thinking the unassuming man some manner of assistant.

"Florian is pleased to have his body of work so recognized. Truly he will endeavor to match your expectations."

An awkward silence drags for a minute till you just decide to ask,"So how long until Florian is along?"

"You misunderstand, Florian is Florian," he replied.

"Is this some sort of riddle?" you scrunch your features. You've never quite had a an interest in puzzles and headgames. The latter was something Mina favored, though maybe that's quite why you didn't. "Are you referring to yourself in the third person?" You dreaded the answer.

"Possibly, but nonetheless Florian was sent to begin production of Saintsblood potions and ensure a steady supply to the front." You sighed.

"Well I've got one small grove of them planted as no doubt was described by the initial inspectors. We'll need a way to stabilize their magic for transport though, I was thinking of some sort of magic trapping container perhaps, but I'd need to make an awful lot of them." You'll just ignore the verbal tic and get to business.

"Yes Duke Revaria has informed Florian that given the amount of resources you desired he'll want at least double that production from you. As to stabilizing it, there has been lore passed down to Florian from his master about how to handle such things, it will be of little difficulty," he replied as you started to head back to the camp with porters carrying a vast array of bags and crates of various sizes.

"Oh good, there's many other projects you could help me with then," you open somewhat optimistically.

"Florian has very clear orders from Duke Revaria, to ensure an adequate supply of Saintsblood potions first, and anything else second, and Florian will not risk disappointing him," he answers rather apologetically.

"If you'll excuse me I need to meet with the healer who recently arrived, it's very important you see." With your rising ire you had decided that perhaps you should consult your new healer about your blood pressure, and so you left Florian as quickly as you could.

You found Julia tending to some of the wounded from the latest skirmishes. The petite healer somewhat overshadowed by the rather tall soldier she was treating.

"Greetings Lord Tristan," she says as you approach, welcoming you but still tending to the man she was treating.

"Greetings Lady Dumortier," you say on rote. The response to such formal address pounded in to the point of being automatic, despite your usual desire for informality.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asks as she continues to inspect her patient, somehow managing to sound respectful despite multi-tasking.

"To be honest I just wanted an excuse to get away from the recently arrived potioneer, one 'Florian' if that even is his real name," you reply, without beating around the bush in a thousand tactful statements, as you take a seat.

"Ah yes, him," she says with a small grimace. "He's a character alright."

"He seems a fool," you say uncharitably.

"Well I can't say whether Florian is his real name, and I'll grant he can be… trying. I have some experience with him as he is quite the potions prodigy and far more competent than he seems. It's just he believes that all the best specialists must have an eccentricity. He hasn't yet found one that he likes, and thus he must keep trying different ones. Some of them are more trying than others," she says with what sounds like experience you fear you'll soon acquire.

You want to blame Elias or your father for this somehow, but you aren't quite sure how. "Well that will be.. interesting," you manage to grind out after some painful seconds of silence. Eager to change the subject you continue, "You manage to be skilled without any such issue though, and are much more pleasant company for it."

She gives you a pleased smile. "Thank you for the compliment, but I'm no great talent," she says brushing her long hair idly over her shoulder. "I would very much like a proper infirmary though. Treating patients in their barracks is far from ideal."

"An understandable request at least, I'll see what I can do."

---

War News

With the wetter and colder days, you have fewer ships passing through your little port to carry news to you. Nonetheless it seems there isn't much news to be had. Both sides pulled back and hunkered down for the season as even an average winter is cold enough and drops enough snow over the front to make campaigning risky.

There have been a few naval skirmishes with privateers, but the winter storms have largely suppressed those as well. Leo's opinion is that Revaria simply doesn't have the ships for any sort of offensive naval operation to be at all feasible, and the distance the Tedoran navy would have to sail to reach your coast makes them hesitant, especially as they'd have to circle around another nation to do it.


(Just a fun plan free character vote since those are liked by some.)
[][Florian] Try to avoid him
[][Florian] Actively suggest a new eccentricity to try for your own amusement
-[] What?

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Plans for Spring: (Base costs shown, decrease 5% for port)

You have 3 construction actions. (For clarity specifying number of structures inside wall now, you are at 12/12):

You can do 2x 1d100 or 1d100 +25, you likely want to get more Saints Blood planted
[][Personal] Work on the laundry list of enchantments that Kaleb wants you to put on his equipment. (1 season work, or 2 half season actions. 50 denier per half season)
[][Personal] You could produce some basic enchanted gear for one of your units. Sharper blades and harder armor are staples for a reason. (100 Denier in needed materials)
-[] Specify a unit.
[][Personal] Have Leo give you a bit of training. However much you hate it, being better at fighting will help a lot if something is trying to eat you. (Must be taken with appropriate Captain action)
[][Personal] Recruit one Specialist unit (Enchanter, Elite, Healer, Potioneer, Shipwright, Expert Horse Trainer) These units need special persuasion or negotiation so can't be hired in bulk. (Note this will involve traveling to them)
[][Personal] Investigate what's happened with your siblings.
[][Personal] Spend time with Nerissa
-[] Plant more Saints Blood? (Up to 3 more units, displacing things as you go, likely you won't have any issue from your father getting rid of enchanting fruit production for it)
-[] You wonder what other fruit she could produce
-[] Could she make a custom designed plant?
[][Personal] Spend time with someone in your camp
-[] Who?
[][Personal] Write-in



Optional:
[][Assistant] Recruitment? Specify what kind, full military units at 3x cost multiplier and possibly unavailable, peasant grade at 2x still
[][Assistant] Recruit Specialist: Specify what kind.
[][Purchase] Unit of bricks (250 denier)
[][Purchase] Fill warehouse with up to an extra season of supplies
-[] How much?
[][Contact] Anyone you know



159 starting -1257 upkeep this turn +0.95*(-50 enchanting) +600 season payment +400 sawmill +200 Wood Workshop +200 charcoal +400 herb sales = 654
Upkeep next turn: (1473-100 forge-50 rabbits)-5%: (100 you +100 leo +50 assistant +200 sawmills + 200 construction crews+200 footmen +95 skirmishers +98 hunters +50 herbalist +100 woodworkers+50 harvesters+100 charcoal burner +40 forge +40 Nerissa +50 docks)
Income next turn: 600 base stipend + 400 Sawmill profit +200 Wood Workshop +200 charcoal +400 herb sales

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AN: It's late, no real excuse.