Post by Corothius Encinosa on Nov 9, 2012 15:42:49 GMT -5
‡ From the Northern territories, where a large spanning of desert that took for some more than a week to cross from one side to the other came the fore tellings of death. Word was quick to reach outlying villages, villages who provided homes for women, children, elders and men still aging to youth who would be used either on fields, hunting, or to be taken by the Barbarian kings army itself to man his unquestionably growing army. These villages were not afraid of being pillaged or burned down by King Vitharr, they were already subjugated to his rule and learned the easy process of giving him whatever form of taxes he was in need for that season. Be it coin from their local trades, food from their local farming, or even sometimes their young women to satiate the appetite of his men in their camps and his castle alike. Servant girls were a necessary commodity as in their culture, though some would as well refer to them as slaves.
Slaves like the dwarves who were kept locked up on chain and shackle in mines that they were forced to mine to draw forth whatever metal and resource could be derived from the land. Though through the short few months that this had been continuing, little in the name of riches had come to King Vitharr and it was being seen moreso as a prison encampment for those dwarves who had gotten in the way of his southern invasion the prior few seasons when more land was explored and garnered. He had sent several dozen addition men to fill up a garrison that was built in that area. An outpost mind you built from the very stones that the dwarves were excavating. The dwarves in turn were used to build the establishment. Twenty to fourty feet high in some lengths the wall rose up depending on how and where within the hillside it was run along. Within it were the standard needs, a blacksmith, stables and the barracks for the men who were assigned to duty there. It was built around the opening of one of the mines that had the best outcome of resources and thus had been rendered the most valuable.
There were always two men who were keen riders that were always ready to leap upon already saddled steeds to ride through the gates to spread word to nearer outposts if this one was attacked. There was as well patrols from mounted men through the surrounding area where an eye was kept for uninvited guests. These patrols normally were sent out in squads of less than a dozen men. Men who were moreso adept in light armor and skirmishing equipment than castles of armor. These were moreso fresh recruits being led by more veteran ones. These parts being used to train the fresh men in the ways of combat and getting them out in the field since there was no combat just yet save the occasional banditry or looter be caught traversing the lands.
Yet, the southern mountains, a good months ride from the kings castle itself was not where all the telltale of oncoming battle and bloodletting was occuring. Such tales were being spread about the westerly region of the lands where there was grass and trees, and hills that led to the northern mountains that bordered the expanse of ocean further beyond. To the south was a vast expanse of swamplands. Even the city just northeast of these swamps had taken heed of these warnings and prepared their defenses, even though there was a known declaration of a truce between the city and the Kingdom to it's east. The city itself was not yet subjugated to Vitharrs rule, but there were particular means of intimidation that were used by some of his men who ensured that certain profits were sent his way. And that it's elders would not be allying with any other kingdom that would put such profits at risk of being lost.
But the city itself, saw with ease across the vast open plains that wove from mountains to swamplands the expanse of a good few hundred men. It was not the size of a legion that normally ran between 700 to over 1000 men. But moreso that of a brigade or smaller. It was composed of several hundred men on horseback..and from the distance, the only men who walked were near the wagons where teamsters were busy manning their wagons and tending to their work of hauling whatever provisions were necessary for the plight they were up to.
It was after leaving the farther reaches of this city that they would begin to tirade upon villages and smaller towns that were not even to be found on the large maps that were used by distant travellers and unknowing cartographers who dwelt in high towers in rich cities. These towns had yet to be touched by the Barbarian kings horde. The men were hungry for bloodshed, for the pillaging and taking of riches that were to be had when conquering. For the prizes of women and loot that would be taken away with them when the villages would be either left in decimating flames or merely partially ruined, depending on how the elders dealt with their arrival, and what agreements were to be made.
It would take some time for them to traverse the lands northwest of the swamplands. Refugees from villages that were burnt down or sacked completely would begin to make their way west as they'd flee, some even fleeing before the army would arrive as word reached them from other refugees and forthcomings. The rise of smoke from burning homes would begin to be a normal view upon the horizon in that region.
Slaves like the dwarves who were kept locked up on chain and shackle in mines that they were forced to mine to draw forth whatever metal and resource could be derived from the land. Though through the short few months that this had been continuing, little in the name of riches had come to King Vitharr and it was being seen moreso as a prison encampment for those dwarves who had gotten in the way of his southern invasion the prior few seasons when more land was explored and garnered. He had sent several dozen addition men to fill up a garrison that was built in that area. An outpost mind you built from the very stones that the dwarves were excavating. The dwarves in turn were used to build the establishment. Twenty to fourty feet high in some lengths the wall rose up depending on how and where within the hillside it was run along. Within it were the standard needs, a blacksmith, stables and the barracks for the men who were assigned to duty there. It was built around the opening of one of the mines that had the best outcome of resources and thus had been rendered the most valuable.
There were always two men who were keen riders that were always ready to leap upon already saddled steeds to ride through the gates to spread word to nearer outposts if this one was attacked. There was as well patrols from mounted men through the surrounding area where an eye was kept for uninvited guests. These patrols normally were sent out in squads of less than a dozen men. Men who were moreso adept in light armor and skirmishing equipment than castles of armor. These were moreso fresh recruits being led by more veteran ones. These parts being used to train the fresh men in the ways of combat and getting them out in the field since there was no combat just yet save the occasional banditry or looter be caught traversing the lands.
Yet, the southern mountains, a good months ride from the kings castle itself was not where all the telltale of oncoming battle and bloodletting was occuring. Such tales were being spread about the westerly region of the lands where there was grass and trees, and hills that led to the northern mountains that bordered the expanse of ocean further beyond. To the south was a vast expanse of swamplands. Even the city just northeast of these swamps had taken heed of these warnings and prepared their defenses, even though there was a known declaration of a truce between the city and the Kingdom to it's east. The city itself was not yet subjugated to Vitharrs rule, but there were particular means of intimidation that were used by some of his men who ensured that certain profits were sent his way. And that it's elders would not be allying with any other kingdom that would put such profits at risk of being lost.
But the city itself, saw with ease across the vast open plains that wove from mountains to swamplands the expanse of a good few hundred men. It was not the size of a legion that normally ran between 700 to over 1000 men. But moreso that of a brigade or smaller. It was composed of several hundred men on horseback..and from the distance, the only men who walked were near the wagons where teamsters were busy manning their wagons and tending to their work of hauling whatever provisions were necessary for the plight they were up to.
It was after leaving the farther reaches of this city that they would begin to tirade upon villages and smaller towns that were not even to be found on the large maps that were used by distant travellers and unknowing cartographers who dwelt in high towers in rich cities. These towns had yet to be touched by the Barbarian kings horde. The men were hungry for bloodshed, for the pillaging and taking of riches that were to be had when conquering. For the prizes of women and loot that would be taken away with them when the villages would be either left in decimating flames or merely partially ruined, depending on how the elders dealt with their arrival, and what agreements were to be made.
It would take some time for them to traverse the lands northwest of the swamplands. Refugees from villages that were burnt down or sacked completely would begin to make their way west as they'd flee, some even fleeing before the army would arrive as word reached them from other refugees and forthcomings. The rise of smoke from burning homes would begin to be a normal view upon the horizon in that region.
