[x] Plan: Reinforcements (Skirmishers)
-[x][Construction] A clay lined moat around the base with sections for bathing and swimming could add to the defensibility of the base while also improving morale. There's very little cost involved, but it will be an enormous amount of labor. (4 actions for defense bonus, gets morale bonus at 2 actions.) x2 78, 46
Construction of the moat went well this season, despite some fears that digging would prompt more invasion by the moles. A series of pools deeper than a man is tall are dug in an arc around two sides of the base. Then clay is collected from the myriad streams exiting the forest and applied to make the pools more water tight. Fires are built in them to dry the clay. Finally a channel is dug to redirect water into the pools and another to take it back to the existing outlet to the sea.
In short order you have a series of tiny ponds suitable for swimming, bathing, or laundry. While the clay basins are covered in algae in short order, there's little harm in that. Having something else to do in their free time noticeably improves morale. You can often find men playing in the water, though most have needed to learn to swim, it's not a particularly difficult skill to learn, especially as the moat is barely deeper than a man.
-[x][Personal] Recruit basic units. Specify what kind.
--[x] Replace losses, 90 denier
--[x] Skirmishers, 300 Denier
You managed to recruit your new unit in the capital just in time. There word had already leaked of raising the levies again this winter to prepare for battles next year. Prices on recruitment will likely be out of reach for a while until things settle down again.
-[x][Nerissa] Spend a personal teaching her. 73
--[x] Ask her if growing fruits doesn't bother her
--[x] Tell her that they sorted out the potential unwanted effects, and the fruit has become popular with our father, which he is willing to reward her for. She knows what money is at that point, right? Well, we can get her something nice from the human lands that she can't buy herself. (Offer her a stipend of 40 Denier which she can spend on books or whatever she likes for as long as the offer stands)
Given the trepidation you had about asking Nerissa for more of the mystical fruits she had produced, you decided you'd meet with her more this season.
She was quite chipper about you spending more time with her. So it was easy to find the right moment to ask after explaining a passage from a book about animal husbandry with her in your lap, despite her being a bit big for that to be comfortable now.
"So my father finished his research on your fruit, and found it quite good after dealing with the unwanted effects," you carefully phrased it so you weren't actually lying, something your childhood gave you a lot of practice at.
"Hmm, I did try to make it as tasty as I could, so once you get rid of the err…" she paused a bit embarrassed at the memories of the incident," unwanted effects," she continued, using your word choice, "I guess they would be delicious."
You merely nodded, willing to let her believe that.
"Eating really is a bit odd," she noted curiously.
"Well humans can't get everything they need from the soil and sun, we need you plants for that," you replied in a humorous lilt.
"Yup, just have to make allowances for you," she answered with a smile, reaching up to pat you on the head.
"Well actually I was thinking of giving you an allowance," at her curious look you explained, "a bit of money each season to spend however you like. In exchange for all the things you do for me." Well the word doesn't quite match in general use, but how could you ignore a hook like that.
She looked at you a bit curiously. "I'm doing it because I like you, you know?"
"Of course, but that just feels unfair for you to do things for me and me not to do anything for you." You could actually say that in full truth.
"Hmm, it would be interesting to try out money. I still don't really know how it exchanges for things though."
"Don't worry, I'll help you figure out what you can get," you said patting her on the head now.
You end up getting her a bunch of odds and ends this first season in addition to the usual books. Things like cutlery and plates, seashells, and just a handful of low denomination coins. She asked for another bit of fertilizer as well. Apparently the mix you came up with was a bit different from what Mina had brought her, but she was quick to say it was no less good, just different.
(Nerissa was perfectly fine producing a steady supply of Bewitching Fruits for you. No decrease in seasonal payment. +40 Nerissa upkeep).
-[x][Hunters1] Hunt for food, reduce upkeep by 50 (mauled unit, does not fight) 40+8+3-15-15
Your hunters spend much of their time along the bare edges of the forest or of Nerissa's grove in order to avoid getting trapped by the various dangerous wildlife. In particular the wolves seem to be hunting them as much as the hunters are hunting rabbits.
Spending so much time being careful or running away doesn't result in very successful hunting though. At least they were able to avoid further casualties.
(No casualties due to stance and orders, but only 20 upkeep reduction)
[x][Stance] Concentrated, fewer stronger patrols, raiding more prevalent, moderate casualties.
-[x][Hunters2] Scout to reduce chance of enemies slipping by. 20+8+3-15-5+10
--[x] Olivia helps 1d50 = 1
-[x][Levy] Guard 72+15+20-15
--[x] The base and sawmill
-[x][Footmen] Patrol, reduce chance of enemies slipping by. 51+10+10+10-15-5
-[x][Captain] Command troops, raising morale and effectiveness
The large squad of hunters reinforced with their lord's mistress moved quietly through the forest underbrush, keeping hidden within it as much as possible. The rustling of leaves in the wind and cries of animals provided more than enough sounds to mask their quiet movements.
They were thankful for her company, and not for the reason men might normally enjoy a woman's presence, touching her like that would surely be death one way or another. It was strange at first to rely on a woman's strength, but when death lurked at every turn, they weren't so stupid as to turn down such raw power; the orcs were not the only danger in this forest.
The forward hunter spotted an orc infantry unit moving ahead of them and signaled with his hand for them all to stop. Most of them did. Olivia failed to notice in time and knocked over the person ahead of her sending them both tumbling to the ground and through a patch of brush. The entire unit cringed at the sudden sound, which seemed as loud as a shout.
The orc unit had halted immediately and readied themselves, though perhaps they weren't quite sure yet. It could have been a simple predator devouring its prey. The hunters motionlessly held their breaths. A low growling sound came from the forest in another direction. Chills went down their spines. The orc formation started moving slowly towards them. The hunters began nocking arrows.
It was impossible to know what order events followed in at that point. Olivia tried to move to a position she could rise from, while the hunter beneath her frantically indicated with his eyes to stay still, the orcs shouted in their guttural language clearly noticing the unit, and both sides spotted a giant boar crashing through the undergrowth indiscriminately charging them.
The hunters loosed the arrows they had ready. Quick fired shortbows against charging axe wielding orcs did little to stop them though. More missed their shots than hit. Wounds appeared here and there, and might slow them eventually, but not enough to turn aside the orcs' advance. The few arrows turned against the boar did even less, sticking out like a couple of toothpicks that it barely noticed.
Some of the hunters turned to run, while others drew holdout daggers in a probably futile show of defiance. The orcs split their forces to face the boar. Olivia sprung to her feet and adjusted her shield.
It was only the boar plowing through the orc formation that prevented the hunters being overrun instantly. The orc axes inflicted bloody welts upon the tusked behemoth's hide, but it smashed orcs into trees with bone crushing force and trampled them beneath its feet with weight that pulped their flesh.
The battlecries of men, beasts, and orcs echoed through the forest. Blood flowed on every side as those hunters brave enough to engage with daggers were cut down by orc axes.
An ursine roar came from behind as one of the hunters that had been trying to flee was thrown back through the killing grounds, bouncing as they hit the ground before tumbling to a stop clearly dead. A bear that even on all fours was as high as a man was cutting off their retreat, drawn by the sounds, and perhaps seeking a bit more food before the winter.
One of the men tried to escape around the beast and was impaled on its claw for his trouble. The man screamed as he flailed, even as his life blood poured out. The monster merely flicked its paw negligently, tossing him forward.
A spray of his blood bespeckled her face, and Olivia made a snap decision to try to engage the bear, even as other men were dying to the orcs. Raising her shield she charged it with all her considerable strength. The lumbering colossus raised a paw the size of her body to bat the foolish human away. The impact released a tremendous gonging sound and sent both reeling backwards, the rush of their passing blowing the leaves away.
The bear shook its forepaw, several bits hanging at odd angles, as Olivia pushed herself back to her feet, leaves and dirt stuck all along her body from the backwards slide. The two combatants closed against each other again, the shorter distance preventing a charge. Olivia deflected claws with the shield and tried to use her other hand to punch it, but the bear had better reach and was now very cautious of her strength. The two settled into a wary dance as neither was willing to take the risks needed for a firm strike.
The orc unit was steadily being decimated by the boar even as they inflicted casualties on the trapped hunters who were unwilling to retreat past the bear. A few hunters had climbed into the trees where they could more safely fire their bows, but a score of them were already slain from deep ax wounds. A couple of the orcs had been brought down by arrow wounds, even as they managed to gradually bleed the boar.
Howling of wolves only added more confusion and fear to the heavily engaged units. The cries of more orcs from the same direction gave their kin a much needed boost to their flagging morale. Their reinforcements arrived in the form of a unit of wolf riders, who proceeded to engage the boar in a game of high stakes tag, drawing it away from the embattered infantry unit, even as the bloodied hog began to slow from its wounds.
The few remaining hunters had all taken to the canopy for greater safety at this point, though that also hampered their ability to shoot down.
Human horns announced the impending arrival of a patrol of footmen. The orcs decided to cut their losses and staged a staggered withdraw under harassment by the boar. The bear seeing the arrival of more humans decided to pull back as well, and no one was eager to pursue it.
While that was the most significant battle of the season, there were several other minor and inconclusive skirmishes.
(-25% hunters casualties, -5% desertion, one of the orc infantry units significantly depleted for next turn, Olivia's bonus reduced on scouting though training can remove the malus.)
AN: Olivia's critical failure was reduced by the fact that no one rolled very well this turn on battle, including the wildlife, and by your more cautious Stance. On the other hand the scouts rolled badly and then Olivia crit failed, so this could have been way worse.
Was busy and so couldn't get this up in time. Still need to do the Kaleb bit but decided to push that into a second section so I could get this up sooner. Was tempted to do that with the battle actually, but managed to get on a roll writing it.
