Eh, maybe I shouldn't post this yet since this is a community fort where I haven't yet posted the update. It's going to be a while before I can though, so... in the very unlikely chance it's spoilers, avert your eyes.
![Smiley :)](http://97.107.128.126/smf/Smileys/aaron/smiley.gif)
Duskfields is early into its second year, and as the end of the first season approached, I grew nervous. Thieves and ambushes were surely right around the corner.
I was right.
A thief came through the only ground opening to my settlement, where she was spotted by one of my veteran carpenters. The militia commander Flamberge Snuggledbees (scoff not!) immediately flew into action (literally) and set upon her. A leg and her head were later found atop the tavern.
Worried that an ambush would likely be not far behind, I stationed my four militia ponies at the entrance. I was rewarded with the announcement of an ambush only moments later.
Five marksponies and a spear pony, against my swordspony and two spear ponies. The spear ponies never even made it to the fight.
Flamberge surged forward and decapitated the spear pony with a single swing of his sword, throwing the marksponies into disarray. They shot and shot at him, but only a single bolt struck home, embedding itself in his leg. He didn't even slow down as he systematically removed legs, wings and heads with his sword. The two survivors fled with all the speed their wings could bring them.
I thought I'd dodged a bullet here, only to discover there was a second ambush!
Seven hammer ponies! Fortunately the spear ponies had arrived by this time, so I had three soldiers against seven. Still terrible odds, but Flamberge is a killing machine so I prayed for a second miracle and received it in spades.
His first swing again slew the leader, sending the survivors running for their lives as he and the spear ponies set into them. Flamberge himself was unharmed in the fight, claiming another 3 hammer ponies for himself while Captain Praetorian downed one. He was then nearly killed by a hammer strike to the head, which shattered his skull and bruised his brain (modded to give a chance at surviving this). His subordinate killed the one attacking him and got another for himself. The single markspony I had decided to arrive right about now. All told, ten discordant ponies lost their lives, and I nearly lost one.
Not a bad trade, considering these three soldiers were barely armored. I now have lots of iron, steel and bronze to melt down to make more for them. The expedition leader Temperance and I can only hope that their luck can hold out for the next ambush...