[The original copy of something Col. Fischer wrote. there's extraneous information that just sort of slipped when written and wasn't included in the copies.]
"I figured I'd write an examination on enemy forces. Some are hardier than others, and in writing this I can pass along what I know Of our enemies." - Col. Fischer to Count Splint, whom she promptly forced to make several dozen copies.
Goblins - The green tide we all know too well. They're weak. Pitifully so in fact. A new scrub that only knows the basics is more than a match for them. They feel pain and fear and sickness, like us, but they are so much weaker. Weak parts: anywhere if they're rank and file. They'll turn tail and run after a severe injury, as any sane creature would. They have a tendency to fall like matchsticks in a stiff breeze if anything comes off and thier adrenaline isn't pumping. Thier own sergeants aren't much stronger, but far more skilled and actually worth the trouble to bring down if only for the prestiege of killing thier weaponmasters. Once these sergeants fall thier feeble conscripts tend to break and run.
Barbarians - Median threat. I don't know nearly as much of these strange fellows as I do The Great Enemy or the goblins. They stand a full head taller than Hans at thier shortest, and are easily identifiable by thier strangly colored eyes and black to light gray skin tones. What I know of them physically is they appear to be immune to pain, as I fought one of thier sergeants in The Walk and he didn't seem at all bothered by his broken arms. Didn't seem at all bothered after I took his head either. They're rather defiant even against certain death (the son of a bitch spat on my visor before I torn his head off.) They seem to only retreat if they know they can't win or thier force has been reduced past what they think they can take a settlement with, based on observations of the few attacks they've made. If nothing else they have some sense since they haven't tried to hurl themselves at us like the greenskins or Holistic Spawn in some time.
Holstic Spawn - I'd prefer I didn't know anything of these creatures. Sadly this isn't the case. They're unwieldly screeching brutes that can turn dwarves into more of thier own through some foul poison or magic transmitted by bite. Good armor though is thankfully enough to stop thier teeth, though the same can't be said for thier claws at times, as Hakah can tell you. These... Things, also seem to know how to control bears, though those are far less terrible when they're laying ina bleeding heap with thier rider thrown. Thier heart is thier weak point, though other means can be used to eliminate or reduce the threat.
- Decapitation. If it can't tell friend from foe, it's of no use to whatever controls them. They drop dead when liberated of it.
- Bisection. While not possible with a pike, our axelords can lop the things right in half with a well aimed strike.
- 'Martial Dentistry.' If it can't bite you it can't infect you. Knock its teeth out.
- Limb disablage. If it can't walk, claw, or bite, it cannot fight.
It should be noted and understood these things don't wear any sort of armor. My guess is it inhibits thier fighting ability being encumbered with metal and cloth. These things feel niether fear nor pain, and can't even be made to vomit, but general intimidation seems to work just fine (they flee when presented with greater strength, which is generally when there's only one or two still 'alive'.)
Humans - Preliminary observations in case they do come in force for all the caravans they lost here in the past. Imagine a less bizzar looking barbarian with enough sense to run when getting slaughtered. They also have enough common sense to use bows and crossbows.
Elves - Since our higher ups are trying to provoke a war (probably just to keep thier damned caravans away, since they offer nothing we can't produce ourselves anymore,) I figure what I know from watching them fight in the vampiric wars will be relevant as well.
Elves are flimsy, wirey little bastards but they make up for it by being fast than most dwarves, though well conditioned dwarves, be it from training or simply a life time of being a messenger or block shifter, can keep up with them. Thier assault troops are a total joke, clad in what to us may as well be wet paper and rags. Their true strength lies in thier rangers and beasts of war. However, up against a sturdy dwarven pike or axe, they fall like the trees they love so much. Be careful when they get sighted coming in force though, as they'll quickly slip into the brush and woods and wait to attck at the right time. If nothing else, I do commend them for thier ability to move large numbers of soldiers undetected.
It may not be much, but the more you know of your enemy the better. As the great tactician Monom Sodellogum said "Know your enemy, and know yourself, and you needn't fear the outcome of a hundred battles." Of course my paralell is "The more you know, the easier it is to kick thier collective asses."
Signed, Col. Fischer.
[Not great, but meh. Just shits and giggles. This would have been written during or after breakfast most likely.]