Nope, not dead yet. ;3 Just a bit preoccupied with the familiar thread, seeing as it garners quite more attention to itself. And with only one new suggestion... eh, we'll manage.
Second Year - October - 8th year of Uzgath's ReignDeciding that all is well, you don't really give out much in the way of new orders - true enough, the matter with Rakver should wait till after the harvest, and else your people have plenty to do already.
The rest of the harvest brings in quite the boon from the native elves, partly due to them gathering the surrounding woods for fruits and nuts. Your own people don't do bad either, mirroring the natives in some parts. There is a strange cough gonig around the countryside, with the affected elves laying feverish in bed for multiple days - quite a lot of the smaller villages are hit hard by it. It also spreads to you - no wonder, being the capital city afterall, but orcs seem unaffected by it. Towards the end of the month most of those that got it have pulled through, but the damage to the harvest is done.
With the anniversary of your inking comes a small feast with your trusted circle of orcs. Alanor is not invited, because the others clearly did not want it that way, but luckily he doesn't seem to mind, with you pinning it as a cultural thing. You also spend 10 silver on a sacrifice for the true Ninkasi, hoping that it might appease Wuruzov for him in the afterlife.
It is also time to renew the contract with Surkoz, but as he has invested most of his own supplies to your cause, it strikes you as no wonder that he intends to stay - with the payment being the supplies needed for his men and wolves, nebst to 15% of any buisness you might strike up. He is a clear supporter of the coaling idea and wants a cut of the money this time - Seeing as he could have wanted worse, you see no reason to debate the matter.
Talking with the elven coaler, it becomes clear that he would not mind preferential treatment, but you want the matter to depend on the results that he achieves. Sparing some men he is to set up some coaling ovens near the border to Is'vell and in the course of the month you hear reports of him making good progress on the matter, setting up a number of them sure to accomendate your needs.
Scouting for the road went well, and most of the existing road leading to Is'vell can be left as it is, with only minor adjustments to some parts. There are also no swamps on the planned road through the other province, with the problem of crossing the river being the only point of concern left. Luckily there is a quite broad and shallow ford available, wich will be able to accomendate even wagons. As bridges are somewhat uncommon constructions for orcs, this is a good thing. Still, if you were to insist on it later on, you would be able to find someone capable of planning and building such in the homelands.
While only a handful of the local elves will be able to help with the road due to the region mainly sporting hunters, they will be able to house your workers. The promise of a road bringing the trade to them is the only incentive needed for this reasonable bunch, letting the orcs stay for free out of their own accord. Still, it is a days ride worth of road that needs clearing and minor construction - it will take the 10 men over 30 months of work - with the long winters around here a task of four years or more. The ancient woods that encompass these parts are pretty much untouched, and to tame this land will take its time. On that matter, Surkoz has asked if you would have any objections to him owning slaves - he thinks some "copper-elves" would soon enough work in their worth on that road. True enough, you should only await coal coming in from the east for now.
Construction on the granary is finished, and a good part of the irrigation has been dealt with - unless the frost next month hits hard, you will be able to finish it this year. Building the fortifications towards Gala'vo has it's problems thou - the elevation there makes workable trees somewhat rare, and in the mountains the frost has already begun to set in. They intend to build some makeshift barricades for now, with the occasional elven trader that passes through being the only mentionworthy report from them.
You also train quite a lot, albeit you are far from Rakvers idea of this matter. Soon after having started the first lessons in tactics, it shows that you are a quick learner. Surkoz also shows his worth, having ordered a few crude figurines from the carpenters, with wich he shows you battles he participated in, or the different tactics that he knows off. At the end of the month you already have a good view on the basics - the raider does imply that he can only teach you on his view, and since you have infantry this might not be the best thing in the long run. He does know advanced tactics of other troops, but is more proficient in thwarting them than furthering their effectiveness.
The Shamans arrive near the end of the month, and you are pleased to see that the elder leading it is accompanied by others that share the three differing views. You make sure to treat them with the deserving respect, and everything runs smoothly, they even compliment the matter mildly.
You set out for the tower, taking Murak with you - while your elven has improved, there could be quite difficult matters to discuss afterall. With four shamans and ten of Surkoz raiders you feel quite safe that you should be able to overwhelm the elven priests, should it come to tensions - or the shamans decree it a sinful place.
The meeting with the Moonpriests was shacky, as they did not suspect you - but with the archbishop? being absent the remaining priest and his handfull of acolytes pose a lesser threat as well. Murak is hard as work, as the different faiths discuss their views - the shamans do think some of it is reasonable enough thou. The view on top of the tower gives them quite the reason for thought, and soon after that they retreat for discussion. When they return, the Elder concludes that it is indeed a place of power, but the elven ideas associated with it are wrong and they are to leave it to the orcs.
The faithful elves take the matter calmly, mentioning to Murak that they already feared for worse. It seems that they are content with the shamans agreeing it to be a sin to tread upon the twin-mountains and will clear the tower of their belongings before winter. While the shamans will return to the homelands to spread their views about the place, one of them remains to study it further. As they esteem it to be a place of ample power, they will establish a permanent hold here - clearly not a bad thing as far as you are concerned.
What are your plans for the next month?Characteristics:
Marauder-Tattoo
Impressive scar on the abdomen
Health: Good
Above average strength
Skills:
Competent Axewielder
Poor Blocker
Competent Brawler
Basic Elven
Novice Tactician
Efficient Two-Handed-Axe-wielder
Competent 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"
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. (Map in the first two posts).
"Fairspringwood"
Some Hovels - surrounded by ramshackle barricade
Few Farms
~215 Native Elves
20 Sworn Serf Elves
Up to 50 Orcs, mostly soldiers
15 Orc-Hunters settled in for the winter, about most of the other times
15 Orc-Farmers
5 Craftsmen - mostly leatherworkers, also carpenters
5 Fulltime Soliders
Noteworthy Constructions: Barracks, Pallisade, Grainary, Farmsteads - Irrigation in Progress, close to finished
"The Tower"
Impressive building with high religious worth for the elves. Taken over as a Coven of Wuruzov.
1 Shaman - Moved in for now, more to come later
2 Moonpriests, 5 Acolytes - Kicked out
"Bottleneck"
Near the border towards Gala'vo, natural formation, loosely fortified.
"End of the Road"
Some hovels lived in by elves, and your orcish workers.
Enourmous Road Construction - Starting
Coaling Ovens - Construction underway
Orcs:
30 Skilled Wolf-riders, moderate weapons and armour
25 Passable Milita, differing equipment, generaly low-tier
5 1-Handed troops, lowly equipment
Native Elves:
~50 Passable Bowmen, good bows, no armour
Up to 150 lowly Milita, Mostly Farming and Woodman Tools, no armour
Refugee Elves: -
Orcs:
Plenty food - Tributed, hunted and bought
No real monetary assets, 160 Silvers - found, traded, Many hides and pelts - hunted, Big staple of useable lumber - produced
Granary: Ample food - tributed
Good living conditons
Native Elves:
Good amount of food - Gathered, farmed and hunted
Low monetary assets, array of crafts and hides - produced and hunted
Slightly bad living conditions
Refugee Elves:
Some food - farmed and gathered
No monetary assets
Good living conditions
Ninkasi - Your deceased Cousin - Dead
Gózul - Long-Term Companion - Trusted Friend
Surkoz - Raider in your employment - Mostly respecting your intellect, Somewhat unsatisfied by your strength
The Elder - Native Elf in your "Service" - Passive Hostile
Murak - Translator - Enjoyable company
Alanor - Spokesperson of the Refugees - Thankfull but wary
Rakver - Neighbouring Warlord - Esteemed neighbour of yours
Argub - Semi-Neighbouring Warlord - Crafty-seeming fellow, shortly aquainted
Kashuk - Shaman that might settle in your province - Troubling fellow
Uzgath - Supreme Chieftain - Only the smallest of aquaintance
Citizens of your Province
Orcs: Contemptful towards the natives, Accepting of the Refugees. Generally obeying and respecting you.
Native Villagers: Hatefull towards the Orcs, Hostile towards the Refugees. They still do glare at you, but not as bad as before.
Refugee Elves: Thankfull to the Orcs, Spitefull towards the Natives. They currently consent to your rule without problems.
General Populace: Quite wary, but overall accepting your rule for lack of other options.