It's not a project for quite yet, but as a defence for seabourne attack i was thinking we could build two small watchtowers at either end of the dock/ shipyard, or maybe at the points we have our ferry s set up. We could have an archer or two stationed at both, with a small fire. The fire would serve a few different purposes:
1: Tell ships where they are.
2. Keep archers warm.
3. As a method of dealing with attack from the river, the archer could have cloth wrapped arrows prepared to be set on fire and shot at enemy ships.
Edit: as a precaution there should be a basin and bucket of water in the watchtower at all times, as for the time being it would have to be made of wood.
This is unlikely to work. We're a fair distance upstream, so any seaborne attack would come in such strength that we can't repel it. Hence, watchtowers serve no purpose.
1. This a river, ship's don't travel at night.
2. And blinded of course.
3. Actually, ships don't burn that easily, and it's unlikely they'll be so nice as to come in range before deploying their troops.
The only harbour defense I can see working is a harbour chain, but I doubt we'll be able to build that one. Not only is it expensive, it also gives us way to much power.
You make some good points, but perhaps i can improve the viability of the idea. (Not that i will push it)
1. Yeah, that had occurred to me, it seems the least important anyway.
2. They could wear eyepatches over their good eye, that way if they take it off while they are looking out then the eye will be adjusted to the dark, this may have actually been why pirates stereo-typically have eye patches.
3. That's perfectly fine, if we can force them to land outside of our palisade then that is a win for us, as we are better prepared for such an attack. If we add a bell or convert the idea into a signal fire sort of deal then we would have warning in case of attack at the very least. If they *do* come into range then at the very least they have to deal with highly competent archer fire, and the fire has the potential if not the guarantee to cause trouble. Either way, we've harried them and alerted the town to attack.
The reason i bring this up is regardless of liklihood of attack we are completely vulnerable to it. This would at least provide some level of alertness and protection, even if minimal. As it stands right now it wouldn't be terribly hard for a raiding party to come upstream, sneak into town, kill a couple people, take a little stuff, and then quickly speed away downstream. Sun Tzu said "Rely not on the liklihood of your enemy not coming, but on your own readiness to receive them."
It's not a terribly big deal, but it couldn't hurt.
Rewards shall be kisses from the fairest maiden (unless she/the competitor disagree, of course.). Cost = none, incentive = high. So that means fairest maiden competition first, too.
...We vetoed this idea remember?
Also, I had an idea for the village(maybe not this moth); basically we see about building a small chapel and see if the Church can provide us with a priest. That should make the citizens happy, increase our reputation, and impress our fellows with our piety(and I don't mean false piety, we'll be attending Sunday Mass ourselves naturally)
I'm not terribly fond of the kisses idea, it has the potential to cause unwanted problems.
I'm not against the church idea, but currently it just doesn't seem worth the time and resources.