Winter 138. We're now eight years in. Time moves faster than I'd like. I wasn't exactly a young man when I decided to undertake the project of building this fortress, but now I'm clearly beggining to feel the effects of age. Some years ago, I was hoping this would be a small project. Just something to scare the elves of Wulema Apasi off our borders, allow Queen Usu to sign a lasting peace treaty and then go back to our villages. But with the war ever expending, I think I'll die on this swamp without seing the end of this chaos.
It can't be helped I guess. All things considered, even tho started out thinking this fort would be short lived, we eventually made it into a functionning society. We created a military institution without equal in the known world. So, in the end, living in this swamp is not that doom and gloom.
Winter is my favourite part of the year... mostly because the heat becomes bearable...altho it is usually around this time the goblin of Osme Stobûb launch their expeditions. A lot of things happened this winter, so I'll have to write it in parts.
First of all, great news ; Duslud, Zothoabo's elder daughter, has now reached adulthood. Like every children from now on, she will receive extensive training into our repurposed bow squad, which is now essencially a boot camp for non-fighting personel. Until further notice, Uquur's husband, Trathnu, will be commanding this squad.
To what we experienced so far, people with even a modicum of drilling have a much better survival rate while running to safety, or even fending off wildlife for the time the army deploys.
Duslud have been giving Thratnu some hard time tho. She's learning very slowly, and don't show a lot of interest into the bootcamp. And, most of all, she has been taking an unhealthy amount of weight. For her own good, I asked Thratnu to double down on her training - if we allow ourselves to be lenient in this current context, we'll won't survive very long.
Talking about surviving...there's a lot to be done in that area. Osme Stobûb attacked yet again.
Music!
Pabat, a farmer, was out to gather firewood when they came. The poor man didn't stand a chance- he was promptly lynched as the rest of the civilians gathered into the keep. He died at age 46, leaving eight children fatherless.
This is the 8th time Osme Stobûb attacks. We're now getting used to fight them, and know that what works best is a direct, frontal assault. The quicker we can reach them, the more effective the battle plan. So we left the bridge open, and we let them come into the city.
When they are suffisciently inside the wall, we jump out and ambush them. It's a proper slaughter and a good part of their forces is immediately anihilated. The presence of humans among them was deeply disturbing...but we gave quarter to no one.
However, instead of sticking to the plan and safely retreat to strike again at the next wave, two young men, Enasm and Destis, decided to pursue the enemy. I tried to shout at them to come back, but they weren't listening, so as a desperate move, I ran at their heels. The fight continued inside the barracks. The goblins inside were easily dispatched. Enasm and Destis continued forward and engaged the enemy on the bridge. I had no choice but to follow them.
In the meantime, to avoid an all out confrontation on the bridge, Imic led the remaining troops to the south where they could fight the enemy in better conditions. They engaged a small number of them, and during the fight, the young sword lady Ases killed her first officer.
Em Seducethunder was a goblin bard of Osme Stobûb before she was made into an officer. She authored a number of books, one of which was eventually taken by us from her cold, dead hands. She also appear to be the mother of Ngom Seducedog, which led the previous attack half a year ago.Altho they killed a number of enemies, Enasm and Destis were injured, and fell of the bridge where they drowned to their death.
Alone, full of shame and guilt, I dispatched the rest of the enemies on the bridge and ran to the bulk of their troops on the other side. I couldn't count the number of copper helms surrounding me, but at this point, I couldn't care less. I was decided to make up for my ineptitude, and by doing so, taking as many as I could with me.
I had also made a drawing of Dengusa, but I wasn't satisfied with the final result, so I decided to remake it. Here's a little WIP for your patience !
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Topic: Mong Kima - The Nation of Pearls (DF 0.47.05) (Read 254073 times)