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Chapter 6: Blood and Mithril
Journal of Thrakha'zaguul.
Granite, 252.
The new year dawns, and still only 15 orcs settle here. Only two which would have any chance against an elvish assassin. We need to construct some archer's nests along the wall for ranged troops to even the odds. The goblin Sawmill and the Mason shops are both orderered to make many blocks. The goblin Stonecrafter and a Boneyard workshop are ordered to construct some simple weapon traps: a back door corridor for emergencies.
The goblin Tinkerer can efficiently smelt some simple ores in large batches: saving some fuel. He also can extract a small amount of silver along with the copper from tetrahedrite ore. He smelts some sphalerite and tetrahedrite: copper for alloys, zinc for the other goblin Shanties to use in furniture; silver to the forge for heavy clubs.
Slate, 252
A huge group of migrants! We now need food and shelter for 41 in total. Among the travel-clan the chief is Dohon the Sword-Ronin. Like myself: an exiled son of a powerful family from the Old clan. Unlike myself: ronin have the strength of two orcs, are naturally skilled swordsorcs, and are large enough to wield mighty weapons with a shield. Among the travel-clan too are three others for the warband: a female Bow-Ronin, a veteran mace-orc, and a veteran orc with skill in both lash and crossbow. Firehawk chooses also two other halfway promising snaga to join the bow squad.
Dohon spars non stop against all takers. First he surprises Mavj with many furious onslaughts. Then he fights a savage duel with warchief Broken Mind featuring much grappling, and various degrees of biting and dirty fighting on both sides. Finally, he is taking on *both* of the other new recruits at the same time. Dohon quickly gains several levels in Fighting skill. Mavj and Broken Mind have gained weapon skills. The warband grows stronger.
We now have 12 useful orcs in the warband, but, a great shortage of gear. Crafter Demonbutter and the two new artisan migrants speak: take away our menial duties and allow some peasants to haul these rocks. The crafters make a macuahuitl sword for Dohan and several more composite bows. The crafters build a second Tribal Wargear shop and make a quantity of lamellar leather armor from langur-man. The crafters smelt the last of our stashed bronze for mail and axes.
A terrible were-creature has come: a snaga twisted into the monstrous form of an ass. To arms! for the Tiaga orcs have not yet learned to fear the night. But from our brook emerges a great water dragon, a limbless amphibian predator who rips the were-ass in half with a single bite. Fall back to the walls! for it is quite reasonable to fear a water dragon.
Felsite 252
With peasants to carry rocks I finally take a moment to meet the useless liason from the old clan. I say: bring us iron, steel, bloodsteel, seeds, or else bring nothing and we would not care. They ask for scepters, jewelry, and trinkets. The useless decadent fools: that is what we were going to send anyway.
We have an interesting decision. Our langur-man totem bounties at the Freelancer have earned 5000 coins. Do we spend the cash to buy a single scimitar or a couple cat-o-nine lashes? but no: I instead use the money to pay for a longboat raid on a the Dwarven settlement. The raid fails.
Hematite 252
We have a small surplus of food and drink so I reason: what good is living comfortably and safe now, if it limits our chance to kill elves in the future? We cash in blood-bounty and grog, and get just enough shillings to send our back-up longboat on a second raid.
Victory!
Malachite 252
Migrants, but the poor fools wander into an elf assassin Ambush! The first several travellers sprint for the main gate, which slams shut behind them. Our warband prepares for battle, but it would be madness to send them into open combat against mithril spears and superior numbers. From the walls I yell: foolish migrants, you are dead orcs! Still, we leave the west gate open for you. Organize yourselves as a militia squad and die with honor. Of course, several peasants are struck down where they stand, but others die more slowly and draw the enemy within arrow-shot of the walls. Firehawk and Gamerlord set up their squads and rain destruction from above. Two of the migrants have even rallied to subdue their opponent. They are suffering from wounds and soon to be overwhelmed: a dozen more elves close in but now their formation is disorganized. Do we lock the door and risk the loss of both the worthless bleeding migrants and the precious elven mithril? I give Broken Mind the signal to charge.