Except for a couple recent pages, that was an enjoyable three days of reading.
First! Business. I vote use the rangers to scout and track as well. It'll give them some mantracking practice anyways. If these are military scouts, or worse, land surveyors trying to make documents that say your mines aren't actually in YOUR land, then you need to track them down. Judging by their equipment, should be able to have an idea of what kind of a threat they are. Then you can mark their location, and pay a visit with a suitable force and casually walk in with 50 of your country militia and ask what's up. After all, if they are the counts men, showing that you've got a militia ready should any "Bandits" be throwing threats around to people's homes may scare off the man for a bit longer.
Also, if you do go steel, why not do it right and get some
Wootz and get someone apprenticed to someone who's master's master was trained at
Damascus and make the best steel you can. I feel that may generate more of the quality you guys are dreaming of.
Also, shieldwalls were technically proven superior to "Modern" tactics during the norman invasion of england. The norman infantry, archers, and calvary were completely neutralized by the proper saxon shieldwall. The calvary themselves were about as useful as water balloons really. The reason the normans won that battle was because several of their troops began routing, and the....saxons broke ranks and gave a cry charging. And ended up in a scattered loose formation, while the Norman's had fully ready heavy calvary backed by light calvary sitting around wishing they were useful. If not for that break of discipline, good old William the Conquerer would have lost the key battle for england.
Also, even in dark ages, throwing weapons weren't specifically to kill an enemy formation. England during the 7th century, used the shieldwall. They skirmished with javelins and thrown weapons prior to battle-the innitial skirmishing was to break up an enemy formation prior to the charge. The things rarely did damage, but could cause disorder and panic which made them less resilient against the following charge.
I also apologize for my spelling, I'm half asleep and it's terrible tonight.
Alongside that, the francisca was used by the germanic tribes of the franks. It had two ways, one was a straight up throw at the dude. The other you threw it at the ground-it bounced, spinning randomly and coming down into the enemy formation. A dozen steel blades tumbling into your formation is hillarious bad for morale or panic levels as an opening move if your forces aren't vet. Don't forget, the majority of armies were levied farmers with minimal training and skills, and only used during the summer, between planting and harvest. The transition to professional armies was likely still not a full fledged thing.
Also, the francisca was used well into the colonial era by the franks(Or the french as they were known then). It was a very versatile weapon and too. When the french settled america, they didn't brutally conquest the natives, they had peaceful negotiations and trade far more often than other groups. Almost every frenchman who arrived had at least one francisca, and this also was a well traded item between them and the natives. The tomahawk was a reverse engineered francisca by the native americans, based on ones gotten from trade.
Also, if you want to start a library, find a monastery. Don't forget, during the dark ages, there were two places where books were protected throughout europe. The Vatican, and monasteries. If you want to get tons of books both pots and pre-roman collapse, they're your only hope.
Also, some people seem to forget that the halberd is a POLEARM. If they get in close, step back, switching stance on one foot, and sweep the polearm into their groin, when their bowling over, bring down the axe, or flip and skewer them. Just because it's made of hardened wood and not metal doesn't mean it's *not* a viable fighting part.
And lastly, just for giggles: The modern swiss guard is probably one of the worlds best special ops groups. They're all ex-swiss military, and only chose from the most skilled of them. They can use halberds and such quite well, but are also sniper level marksmen even with iron sites, and other fun. They're hilarious good
The other bits seems more like faction discussions between two groups debating historical info interpreted in opposing ways, so not getting involved in those >.>
Also, reading the last story arc made me think of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH8fyTxEVA4tl;dr I can't even summarize this, too many points and information.