by Dean Henegar
“Runner!” I shouted, needing to get some orders out to the 14th Legion when it arrived.
“Sir, do you require a message drafted?” a voice softly said from behind, startling me for a moment.
“What the . . . Blevins? How did you get back there?” I asked, amazed that I hadn’t noticed the private relaxing in the back of the wagon. The smug man had a quill and paper ready to go, efficient despite being so annoying.
“I’ve been here all along, sir. What are your orders?” Blevins asked.
“Send a message to Captain Landry of the 14th Legion at the southern transition point. He is to bring his men to Holdfast at his best possible speed. I will leave further instructions for him there,” I ordered.
It seemed best to consolidate all the Imperium forces into one group. My allies, as well as Ignominia, were still scattered about, but once we knew where the enemy attack was heading, I would shift forces to where they were needed. My men would march through the night to make it to Holdfast as quickly as possible. Once there, I would be forced to rest them; I could already see a minor fatigue debuff from not stopping to rest at our normal time.
A gong sounded as a new notification hit me.
The eastern transition point has fallen. The invaders have unlocked garrison forces for this and any other location they come to control. The replacement rate for your forces has been adjusted down to 45%.
There it was; the enemy had made the logical choice and started their invasion with the eastern transition point. I knew that the garrison and defenses at the eastern transition point were strong but not nearly strong enough to hold out for long against an entire army.
“Blevins, send some more runners out. I need both Ignominia and the 14th to join the legion as quickly as possible. We’ll have the dwarven forces continue to cover the southern transition point for now, just in case the enemy tries to pull a fast one with a two-pronged invasion. If the dwarves don’t hear from me in the next five days, they are to operate independently as they see fit.”
I thought for a moment about what else I wanted to be done. “Order the Goreaxe to stay where they are and the Drebix to reinforce them if they haven’t already. Have Beremund send out his scouts. We need to know the enemy’s strength and which way they’re headed.”
I suspected that the enemy would march on Goreaxe Peak, but there was also the possibility they would bypass it and try to take Holdfast first. By the time we reached the town, I should have some reports on the enemy’s forces and where they were going to strike next. Whichever direction they decided to go, the legion would move to meet them. With the potential of a large, open field battle, it was time to fine-tune our formations. I would have a larger army than ever, and that meant I wanted to drill the men until I was satisfied that we could maneuver efficiently and effectively.
“Sergeant Brooks!” I shouted. The senior NCO heard me and double-timed it over to my wagon. “Sergeant, we’re likely going to be fighting the enemy in the open. We’ve practiced for this, but since there is a long march ahead of us, there’s no reason we can’t drill as we go. This stretch of road is wide enough for what we need. Form up the legion, triplex acies,” I ordered. The formation was one that had helped Roman legions win battles for centuries and only fell out of favor late in the empire’s history.
I had the men form up in three columns. Each of the columns comprised platoon-sized blocks, and each platoon formed up five men wide and ten men deep. I pulled one platoon out to cover the wagons and siege engines, though the scorpions themselves had a place in this drill. It took a bit of doing, but the men eventually got the hang of this formation. Since the AI considered my legion a veteran formation, all my men had a higher skill set than typical legionnaires, which helped them quickly learn new formations and tactics.
While this part of the road ran through open territory, the forests would thicken when we approached Holdfast. For the exercise, the sparse clumps of trees would represent enemy forces. The ground was a bit uneven, but not drastically so. Here and there, there were a few rises and depressions in the ground, along with a boulder or two scattered about. The moon was nearly full, and all of us had adjusted to the low lighting, so the darkness wouldn’t hamper the exercise too much. Besides, who was to say that our battles wouldn’t occur in the middle of the night.
“Sergeant Brooks, there is our foe. Form up the legion for battle,” I ordered, pointing at the trees representing the enemy army.
The sergeant marched the men toward the enemy until they were just inside the range of our scorpions. “On my mark, wheel right!” Sergeant Brooks shouted.
At his command, the lead platoons wheeled right and continued their march. Each of the following platoons wheeled at the same point, and our three columns were now marching perpendicular to the enemy. The distance between the platoons opened until there was a gap between each block of troops. Our entire force completed its turn and maintained its three-column formation.
“Halt! Left, face!” Brooks ordered, and the men snapped to the left, now facing the copse of trees that represented our enemy. Each of the platoons now presented a front ten men wide and five men deep, exactly how we normally fought. They were a bit ragged in their formations, and the gaps between platoons were off, but the effect was what I wanted. We had three columns of eight platoons, each arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The gaps in each column were covered by the platoons in the column to their rear, presenting a wide, flexible line.
We continued to practice as the army marched. Once the troops had mastered the required formations, we moved on to combined-arms tactics. I added the scouts as skirmishers in front of the first column and had the scorpion-equipped wagons form up behind the entire army, where their fire could soften up the enemy when we were attacking or provide cover when we were on the defensive. Sergeant Tavers’s cart invention was continuing to prove effective.
By the time dawn was breaking, the men were losing steam, and we were all experiencing a moderate exhaustion debuff. Still, the one constant in warfare was that battles didn’t happen when you were ready for them. Many a time in the real world, I was in the middle of a fight when I had to go to the bathroom, was hungry, hadn’t slept for days, and so on. We needed to be ready for anything because I didn’t have a clue about what we were facing yet.
The legion continued toward Holdfast, and I tested our formations and tactics along the way. I threw them some curveballs to see how the NCOs and men would react when I called out various challenges. Once, I had them simulate an enemy appearing behind us and charging the wagons. Other times, we practiced assaulting and then reacting to a powerful counterattack or flanking force. By the time the forest became too thick to maneuver, the men were working like a well-oiled machine.
It was nearly noon when the town came into view. A collective sigh of relief came from the men as we approached and they anticipated a well-earned rest. Traffic on the road into town was light; only a few farmers were hauling their crops to market, and no other travelers were seen. There was an air of fear and anticipation among the citizens; they had seen the ugliest side of war when they were attacked by the Gul Dorg.
A full squad of town guards waited at the gate leading into the city. The walls were now stone—a result of Delling’s upgrades—and sported towers at every corner and flanking each gate. The guards were well equipped with chainmail for armor, a round metal shield, and a spear. Each also carried a shortsword and dagger while a few carried bows instead of a spear and shield. I would have to get a count of the guards and see how we could coordinate a defense of the town. For now, the men had earned their rest.
“Sergeant Brooks, march the men over to the garrison and prepare the camp. I want regulation defenses in place before anyone rests. Once we’re all set, have the garrison pull guard for us and let everyone get a meal and some sleep,” I ordered. The men marched in the southern gate and through the town before exiting the northern gate, which faced the garrison fort. Normally I would have b
rought my army around the town to avoid congesting the streets, but seeing the extent of the forces that had been sent to protect them would be good for the citizens’ morale. It was also good for the men to be reminded of what they were fighting for.
Chapter 11
I lay on the cot in the quarters I had used before in the Holdfast garrison. It only took a moment to remove the fatigue debuffs. Thankfully, I didn’t have to spend several hours sleeping like the NPCs did. Once refreshed, I activated the command table, eager to get the mercenaries hired and on their way. There was also a new tab available along with the mercenary recruitment option; it appeared I could now review the forces of the town guard since I was in overall command of the zone’s defense. I pulled up the mercenary screen first, already knowing two of the units I wanted to select if they were available.
The Shield Brothers: Remnants of a civilization long ago conquered by the Imperium, the Shield Brothers fight in the time-honored phalanx formation. Heavily armored and shielded, these mercenaries use their 8-foot-long spears to hold any foe at bay.
Shield Brothers, Level 15 (200).
Aristides, Level 15 Elite Commander (1).
The Azure Blades: This recently formed mercenary band is earning a solid reputation among the caravan owners on the frontier. Known for their tenacity in a fight, the Blades are a good force to have at your back. The weapons and armor of this group vary among individuals, as their leader has allowed each mercenary to fight in his preferred style.
Warriors, Level 15 (200).
Bhurke, Level 15 Elite Commander (1).
The Shield Brothers had been one of the most impressive forces I had seen in-game and the only ones that had been able to fight my troops to a standstill. Their commander held no love for the Imperium, but he had pledged to let us hire him as part of his parole from the battle at the town of Stonetree. Bhurke and his band were probably not the optimal picks—the Blades were geared more to caravan security than open-field battle—but he was one of the first NPCs I had interacted with in-game, and it seemed fitting that I hire him for the fight to save the zone.
For my third choice, there were some of the usual suspects: different formations of swords or spears, various mages, and even a group that specialized in hunting monsters. One of the units on the list caught my eye and would fill a hole in my roster. My legion didn’t have a cavalry force, and none of my allies fielded them, either. I made my final selection.
The Devlin Horde: This centaur herd took its name from a particularly sharp-eyed scout who had once saved his people from destruction. The horde wears heavy armor, and its riders are experts with their powerful bows at long range, with their heavy lances in the charge, or with their oversized swords in melee. They can break an enemy line of battle, raid from afar, or provide scouting services as needed.
Heavy Cavalry, Level 15 (200).
Nergui, Level 15 Elite Commander (1).
Once I had confirmed my choices, the countdown timer started for their pending arrival. The centaurs would arrive the next day, but the others would be delayed for several days as they wrapped up existing contracts and made their way to Hayden’s Knoll. I sent orders for the Devlin Horde to join my army as quickly as possible; I had a feeling I could use some cavalry support in the coming fight.
“Sir, some messages have arrived for you,” a soldier announced from the doorway. With a huff, Blevins got up from his recliner chair and took the pair of envelopes from the soldier. Private Blevins told the soldier to wait and see if I needed to send a reply before shutting the door in his face. I was willing to bet Blevins was as unpopular with the other soldiers as he was with me.
“Hand those over, Private,” I ordered when it looked like Blevins was about to open the envelopes himself. One was from a scout stationed at the transition point, and the other was from Delling. I eagerly opened the report from the scout, glad he was able to get the information to us, despite the defeat.
Dear Raytak,
It was so nice of you to add a few of your soldiers outside the walls of the transition point. My minions had a wonderful time tracking them down. They provided not only entertainment for my forces but also some supplemental rations. Sorry if I deprived you of their information . . . Well, no, not really.
See ya soon, loser.
Zipzisilerpicazant, the soon-to-be master of Hayden’s Knoll
P.S. I think I’ll change the name of the place to Zippland once I take over. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
“Soldier, get in here!” I shouted, and the soldier who had delivered the message hustled in and stood at attention. “Where did you get these messages?”
“Sir, I was told the message from the scout was found on his body. A passing trader picked it up and handed it off to the garrison here. The other message from the governor came by courier just now,” the soldier replied.
The imp, Zipp, was up to his old tricks. I had hoped that the scouts outside the walls of the transition point would have been safely able to recon for me, but apparently Zipp and Narbos had been able to track them down. The message from Delling remained, and I opened it after dismissing the private.
Raytak,
It looks like everything’s started. I was able to place my town guards under your command for the duration of the war. Use them however you think is best. I’m no soldier, so I know you’ll get more mileage out of them than I will. You should also have unlocked the ability to call up the reserves to bolster the town guard. A word of warning: calling up the reserves will hamper our income levels. Let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help.
Matt Delling
Well, at least one of the messages wasn’t Zipp taunting me. It would be good to have command over the town guards, but I would most likely leave them where they were. Some extra swords in the coming fight would be welcome, but I didn’t want to leave the city open to attack. The reserves were an interesting touch, and I found the information on them under the town guard tab.
Town Guard: The town guard is placed under the command of Colonel Raytak. This force will obey your orders and will even attach to your army if you command it. The level of the town guard and any reserves you wish to activate will match your own for the duration of the war. When the reserves are called up, the town they come from will face a moderate income reduction until they are returned to civilian life. Reservists utilize equipment that was discarded after the town guard’s most recent upgrade. Reserves are required to drill for a few days once every month and therefore have a modest level of skill. Total available forces are as follows.
Hayden’s Knoll:
Town Guards: 600.
Available Reserves: 500. Most of the reservists live inside the town, and once they are activated, it will take 24 hours to assemble the entire force for duty.
Holdfast:
Town Guards: 300.
Available Reserves: 200.
The reservists in Holdfast come from not only the town itself but also from the surrounding farmland. It will take Holdfast up to 5 days to assemble its entire reserve force due to the distance some of its members will need to travel and the time it will take for word of the mobilization to reach them.
There was no immediate threat to the town of Hayden’s Knoll, and with their reasonably quick muster time, I felt comfortable not activating the reserves here just yet. Holdfast was another story. With it taking reserves up to five days to assemble, and the possibility of the enemy heading directly to the town, I ordered them to be activated.
I had a messenger send a reply to Delling, telling him what I had decided. He could likely see what I had done on his town interface, but I wanted to make an extra effort to keep him in the loop. Since Delling was involved in the war, I couldn’t send him instant messages through the system and had to rely on couriers. I figured that the same restriction would be placed on the other players once they accepted their invitations to participate in the war.
While I waited for the men to rest up enoug
h to remove their debuffs, other messages came in. Beremund confirmed that his forces—minus some that he had tasked with escorting his people to Hayden’s Knoll—had arrived at Goreaxe Peak to join the ogres. He was sending out scouts and a few raiding parties to keep tabs on and harass the invaders. Beremund would send a messenger with an estimate of the enemy’s strength as soon as he knew something. The dwarves confirmed they had received my message and would continue to guard the southern transition point. With their replies, I received updated orders of battle for each of my allied armies.
Stonefinder Clan:
Warriors, Level 15 (600/600).
Pathfinders, Level 15 (100/100).
Runesmiths, Level 15 (15/15).
Rollox, Elite Pathfinder, Level 15 (1/1).
Lhargen, Elite Clan Leader, Level 16 (1/1).
Drebix Tribes:
Skirmishers, Level 15 (200/200).
Raiders, Level 15 (500/500).
Berserkers, Level 15 (100/100).
Shaman’s, Level 15 (10/10).
Beremund, Elite Baresark, Level 16 (1/1).
Goreaxe Ogres:
Warriors, Elite Infantry, Level 16 (200/200).
Shaman, Elite Caster, Level 16 (1/1).
Stench, Clan Leader Mini-Boss, Level 17 (1/1).
My allies had a good mix of troops, and despite their limited numbers, the ogres looked like they would be a powerhouse with their elite status. I still had no information about the enemy’s strength, but at least I now knew what I had to work with. Once my men were rested, I intended to march them east. The Drebix should spot the enemy soon, and then I would know if we needed to face them on the road to Holdfast or if we would make our stand at Goreaxe Peak.