Yep, good points from both of you - as usual I guess ;3. Rolls were pretty interesting this time around, but see for yourself. Read through the Relations, things are getting out of hand here Pretty satisfied with the new Spoilers btw. Also, long post is long.
First year - December - 7th year of Uzgath's ReignWith the coming of December, the winter hits you full force. A dense blanket of clouds bars the sky at all times, with the temperatures getting disagreeably cold. You wait for Surkoz men to gather in force and execute your plan. When some of the men raise the question if the elves really don't care enough to save their kin without you intervening, they are curtly informed that the refugees have somehow maneuvered themselves into the deeper parts of the forest - if the other elves know about them is quite questionable. You take twenty of the wolf-riders, all the wolves and Murak with you - and enough provisions to last for double that number.
After a two days ride and a short time spent tracking them to their current position, you can see that the sad state of affairs portrayed by the scouts is quite true. The refugees even seem to have split up by now, because the group of twelve people that you advance upon is left with a pittance of supplies - their peers having traveled further without them, leaving them pretty much only some wood to keep the fire going that they huddle themselves around. You take the lethargic gathering by surprise, surrounding them in a wide circle. They are shortly struck with panic, but either know better than trying to outrun the wolves or not having the strength left to run anyways.
After a few moments of you not attacking they seem still hysterical, but negotiable - you and Murak slowly start to draw nearer by foot. Deeming subtlety unneded, you let him introduce you, and give them the choice of either being left alone, or becoming your serfs in exchange for food and shelter. (Murak being able to grasp and convey the difference between slaves and serfs in elven - the later word not existant in orcish.) The reply is as you would have suspected and the elves are promptly supplied with some of your rations, furs and a bigger fire - while short of for men that stay behind, you chase further for the rest of their group. They haven't gotten very far and soon enough you have pretty much repeated the beforehand scenario. While the wolves have no problem with hauling two elves at once, the later have so with staying on these unfamiliar mounts - it takes your group four days to arrive back at the village due to this.
Your return with the refugees obviously causes quite the stir amongst their elven brethren, with the elder remarking how you plan on feeding all these extra mouths, your seemingly good deed being very poorly recieved by the villagers. The refugees are seemingly very unwelcome and soon enough their representative Alanor comes looking for you to help, as "them elves sorting it out amongst themselves" fails - the natives not willing to put them up in their housing off their own accord.
The whole village seems like a pot short of boiling over, even conversing with the elder bearing no fruit. In the end you have no choice but to put them up into some of the hovels that are already occupied by your kin. There are open sparks of hostility that don't die down through all the rest of the month - after some discussions you arrive at the conclusion that anything might have set that off, it just happened to be this specific circumstance. Even the leatherworker is not welcome anymore, continuing his work elsewhere - he still manages to sew some simple furs for all of the orcs that previously weren't in possession of clothes fitting for winter. He gifts you his best work as tribute, a thankfull addition to your wardrobe.
There are also some positive points to your return, with Gózul having arrived with but a handfull of hunters. He says that not many were willing to trek here so close to winter and in hindsight you are
very grateful for this. There were however a good portion of woodworkers, farmers and some artisans that expressed interest, especially after he promised them low tributes for two years - an enticement you have agreed upon previous to his departure. Only the coming of spring will tell how many really will follow through, but judging by the vast number of people that were interested and offered these terms there are bound to come a few. He also tells you to have dropped some vague hints of elven labour being available and you internally applaud yourself for having such a shrewd friend at your disposal.
While the elven helpers stop doing so after the incident, there was also progress with your plans of fortification. The wood having stored the majority of it's sap in the roots at this point of the year, was easy to chop and work with. Coupled with the hides supplied by all that hunting they have built what will be the barracks - a stationary tent-construction. While a rushed job with some crude ends, they payed enough attention to the sewing of the hides - it will do for your now. Surkoz also did his part and stashed away a good portion of food in a partition of the barracks.
A couple of days after your return, the weather turns from bad to outright foul, with a blizzard that does not seem to calm down for two weeks. You spend the time with secretly learning elven and bonding with the men - especially those not from Surkoz pack. Bracing the storm you also check up on the refugees that by now have two hovels to themselves. Your visit is extremely well received, and they seem allright for the time being.
After the blizzard passes, it takes the heavy clouds with it. You use this respite for some hunting, and the men happen upon a sounder of boars - they initialy bag seven of them, leaving the carcasses behind to hound them, getting another five. You give the refugees a fair share of it, as they made true on their share of the deal, showing up for work without you even bothering them to do so.
What are your plans for the next month?
Any ideas to lower the tension?Health: Good
Characteristics:
Raider-Tattoo
Impressive scar on the abdomen
Skills:
Adequate Axewielder
Poor Blocker
Competent Brawler
Beginner Elven +
Amateur Wolf-Rider +
Personal Possessions:
Set of adorned hardened leather
Decent Furs for harsh weather (Tribute)
Decent battleaxe
Moderate stylized wodden buckler
Scourge, Marauder-Strap
Ninkasi's Ashes
Parchment "for the Elves"
2x Elven Silver (looted)
14x Orcen copper
The whole areal seems to be one big sea of trees, anchored at the foothills of a massive range - the later somehow holy to the elves. There are countless brooks and shallow rivers cutting through the woods, fed by springs from the mountains. While there are some hunting cabins and farmsteads doting the land, "Fairspringwood" seems to be the only village really worth mentioning. The populace is spread out by a fair amount - with hunting being a big support to their daily food an obvious outcome.
"Fairspringwood"
Some Hovels - surrounded by ramshackle barricade
Few Farms
~215 Native Elves
+ 20 Refugee Elves
Up to 40 Orcs, mostly soldiers
15 Orc-Hunters settled in for the winter +5, coming in with Gózul
Military Constructions underway: Barracks and moat finished
Orcs:
30 Skilled Wolf-riders, moderate weapons and armour
25 Passable Milita, differing equipment, generaly low-tier
Native Elves:
~50 Passable Bowmen, good bows, no armour
Up to 150 lowly Milita, Mostly Farming and Woodman Tools, no armour
Refugee Elves: -
Orcs:
Sufficient food - Tributed, hunted and seized
No real monetary assets
Bearable living conditons
Native Elves:
Sparse food? - Gathered, farmed and hunted
Low monetary assets
Slightly bad living conditions
Refugee Elves:
Sparse food - Gifted from the Orcs
No monetary assets
Tolerable living conditions overall
Ninkasi - Your shortly deceased Cousin - Dead
Gózul - Long-Term Companion - Trusted Friend
Surkoz - Raider in your employment - Seeminly respecting you
The Elder - Native Elf in your "Service" - Passive Hostile
Murak - Translator - Enjoyable company
Alanor - Spokesperson of the Refugees - Thankfull but wary
Uzgath - Supreme Chieftain - Only heard of
Citizens of your Province
Orcs: Contemptful towards the natives, Accepting of the Refugees. Generally obeying and respecting you.
Native Elves: Outraged and hatefull towards the Orcs, Hostile towards the Refugees. Definitely hostile, openly glaring at you.
Refugee Elves: Thankfull to the Orcs, Spitefull towards the Natives. While wary, they seem to consent to your rule.
Author
Topic: (TSG) Warlord (Read 8242 times)