Before I start this update, I have to say that I saw with regret that saves will no longer be compatible with versions 0.50 onward, making version 47.05 the final version of the world of Minbazkar. Part of me hoped that the world would still continue to evolve in parrallel with my art skill, my gaming experience and the game Dwarf Fortress, and today I see that will not be the case.
I remember when I started I'd always stick with this world, someone asked me what I would do when the compatibility break would eventually come. I say I'd just stop updating, and that is where I am, three-four years later.
I'm not even sure I'll ever play future versions at all.
Eh.
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Fall 156
Brawl on the bridgeTwo september fall had just started to fall over Kimaeslo Ori. Thanks to the expansion of the fields to produce some readily edible vegetable and fruits, the opening of new bread ovens and the slaughter of half a dozen heads of cattle, it was now certain the town would not suffer famine. Early harvest already started and oat bread was produced, once again, faster that it was consumed.
Not only that, but soon the dwarven merchants from Nishtiz would come trade with them was made to such a profit for them that the towns merchants were confident they could haggle years worth of food in addition to the usual cloth and bone jewlery for metal trade.
Things were not perfect yet, thought Mate as he crossed the bridge, a large basket full of the fruits of the early autumn harvest, to be stored in the new granary. Not perfect but improving. Those small shortages here and there, these moments of hardship and occasional trials these are the growing pains of the new capitale city.
The sun had set for a couple hours now Mate would go to sleep after that trip. Because of the night and his own state of tiredness, he did not see the large shadow advancing toward him at a decided pace. Unseen but not unfelt in a second, the vibes of the peaceful late autumn evening became heavy and oppressive.
The large shadow jumped on him like a hawk on its prey. Mate did not recognize his aggressor it was a vagrant by the name of Thakom, but it was the first time the two met. A large hand grabbed him by his collar and his basket of goods fell on the bridge.
Mate did not know either why he was assaulted the vagrant was probably after the food he was carrying. This, or it was simply dumb class-based violence. Mate, after all, was a high standing citizen.
Now Mate was not a soldier and had no military training at all. He was a cook and a bread baker by profession. He had, however, lived in Thomocemir for a long part of his life and violence was something he learnt to deal with.
He tried to calm his aggressor, he tried to wriggle out of the lead hand grapped around his hood cloth when nothing worked and the beating was imminant, he called for help.
Help did not come a second too soon. A group of soldiers, socializing in the bridge barracks, heard of the commotion and jumped out of the building, weapons in hand they were the volonteers of Bidkΰ, now all master-at-arms.
They took half a second to assess the situation a pearlite vagrant was on top of a baker from Thomocemir, beating him senselessly. The vagrant was armed, and they couldn't intervene without risks. Mate could survive the beating...But if he didn't, what would the soldiers say ? And besides, could they really just stand and watch ?
Bidkΰ took the initiative and ordered her men to just kill the vagrant. A brief silver tinkle in the moonlight, and the vagrant was on the ground with a skull half open death would come soon after.
Mate have been wounded in the fight, and it is in vain that he tried to stand up.
« The doctor will come for you » assured captain Bidkΰ, helping him to sit against the wall. « Don't move, and don't worry about what just happened. »
The corpse of the vagrant was thrown in the trash compactor, and a discrete stone was ciselled so an angry ghost would not come for a second brawl from the great beyond. Of course, nobody liked to see pearlites killing pearlites, and that issue with vagrants was the most regrettable of all hopefully, the coming harvest and the autumn's fair would calm the spirits and ease the tensions between communities.
Mate would spend the following days in a hospital bed and be taken care for by Ralin his wounds would eventually heal. He could has easily have been crippled, but at this rate he was not complaining.
Still, the bad omen the season started with was not lost on him.
AgitationIn the meantime, the military was growing restless. A long time has passed without any significant development in their campaign against Osme, one way or another. Large Osmite armies have been seen in the southern shores of the lake, in Stustonako, and there was little doubt the Empire did not lose its ability to wage an offensive war. Still, Kimaeslo Ori have been left untouched for a long time.
« We need to take the initiative ! » said captain Oko, the elder of the town's army, at the strategic meeting held 10th of September. « If Ossme doesn't advance its agenda, we need to advance ours. »
There was some truth to his words most of the conditions for a successful advance were here : they had a lot of men, excellent training, good equipment. They could awlays prepare better armors and forge better blades but there's a point where preparation turns into delaying.
« I want to see a great pearlite victory before I pass » the old man added. « My troops are ready, simply give the order. »
Totten and Histamine discussed among themselves. Two squads of volonteers were prepared to occupy osmite settlements Bidkΰ's and Oko's. Their troops were indeed ready not frontline ready, but still employable.
Histamine especially, thought about it for a moment. In the north, the villages of Ngomzogast and Bosastozu still needed to be taken Bosastozu especially, begged for an occupation.
« Alright, » she said after a long inner deliberation. « I have a plan. »
Probing attackThe 21th of September, a large force comprised of the squads of Captain Histamine, Captain Islas and Captain Sas, assisted by half a dozen wardogs, arrived in the hilly village of Ngomzogast.
It was a small goblin settlements of about a hundred souls as they saw the pearlite army, they tried to gather up a defensive force. But their efforts were disorganized and ineffective they lacked armors, they lacked weapons, manpower and will to fight. Their nobility could only line up fifteen souls to defend the village half as much as the pearlites, and a tenth as skilled.
It was supposed to be a probing attack it was a crushing victory : Histamine's plan allowed for a total surround of the village, and its makeshift military was anihilated in the first engagement. The village was pillaged and victorious pearlites would come back home by the 23th.
There was a few looted goods, of course, but they were mostly without value the attack had only one goal to pin the troops in Ngomzogast and to prevent them from intervening to prevent the real attack against the village of Bosastozu.
DesperationIn the spring, elves from Iferifiyopi had brought a female grizzly bear to the bridgetown. She was bought at great price, and immediately paired with the male they brought a few years ago. She then vanished a bit out of sight, as the life of a domestic bear may not be the most relevant to these reports but as it turns out, the two of them have been particularly busy.
Soon, the beast handlers reported that three cubs have been birthed one male and two females.
It would take a while for them to become the warbeast they are destined to be but they'll get there. Elven warbeasts, after all, defeated the elite garrison of Tetzobsha, and if they could be used for ill, surely they could be used for good.
Among the people who were not touched by the coming to life of those three fur monsters, Uzu still sinking deeper and deeper into depression as days shortened.
Islas had try everything to cheer up his companion. He spared with him, brought him to the tavern to drink, arranged his wedding, argued with Lady Desli so he could have vacations to wind down nothing worked.
« Totten ordered an attack on Bosastozu » he announced to his friend. « Do you want to come with us ? It'll be an adventure, like in the old days. »
It was desperation at this point.
Uzu did not really answer. He gave a blank, emotionless stare, and shrugged. He did eventually agree to lead the attack as he would outrank all other participating officer and so Uzu, Islas and their combined force of twenty souls departed for the village of Bosastozu.
For the brutal schooling it recieved in September, the village of Ngomzogast had a couple defensive advantages : it was located deep in the hills, had a rather sizable population and could, in a pinch, find a couple old swords and spears to arm its population.
Bosastozu had none of that. It was the home of twenty goblins, out of them only five had any kind of military experience. It was located in the valley, directly exposed to an attack from the south and was very hard to defend.
Even though it was Uzu's first try with tactics, he managed to surprize the enemy's garrison they were goblins peons really. The ridicule force they tried to oppose to the heroes of Mong Kima was crushed in a single charge.
Seven goblins were killed that doesn't seems much until you consider the total population of Bosastozu of twenty.
More trash was also seizedWhen they came back, Uzu fell into a catatonic state. His eyes were empty he stop responding to people around him, and walked aimlessly on the bridge. People of the town thought that it was it the young man finally lost his mind, broken by the war.
He made a recovery a week later but his state was so serious it could no longer delay an intervention : his whole squad was turned into a therapy squad, was denied training and forbid to work, ordered under severe penalty to take soe deserved rest, drink, and socialize for the rest of the season.
Editors note : At this point we're out of ideas for Uzu. That « vacation squad » seems to improve his mood but we can't tell if the improvement will be consistant or even positive overall.
Autumn fairDwarven merchants from Nishtiz arrived in mid-October in a rather joyful Kimaeslo-Ori.Their arrival was long awaited ; not only for the dwarven iron they brought every autumn and was crafted into humanity's deadliest weapons, but also because they brought along a collection of food barrels.
Histamine bought everything she could until food production was enough to generate a healthy surplus, having a large buffer would prevent tensions with the vagrants and among citizen ! from rising again uncontrolably.
This season especially, trade was productive. Food, metal, but also leather and cloth were bought in gigantic quantities. The craftmen of Kimaeslo Ori would not lack work for the coming year.
Bosastozu fallsAt this point, the nothern Osmite settlement has been adequately softened and it was decided they would not try to deny Mong Kima's progress before they could reconstitute some fighting force. It was time to exploit and consolidate, starting from Bosastozu.
Oko and Bidkΰ were sent with their squads to occupy the area only twelve goblins remained alive there, all civilians, and they surrendered as soon as they were given the chance. Oko took position as the village's administrator.
This move effectively cut Ngomzogast from reinforcements and will facilitate its subsequent capture.
The fall of Bosastozu is a step toward the goal of the northern campaign which was to eliminate Osmite presence on the northern shore of the salt lake the fall of Ngomzogast to follow is to be the first operational victory for Mong Kima since the beggining of the war.
State of the war at the end of fall 156This is about it for this report ! Maybe it is worth noting that the palace's architecture is almost done and just needs a bit of roofing to be complete. There will still be a need for a lot of furnitures and windows, but stonework will be available for other projects, such as developping the western bank, or building more housing to allow for population growth.
Oh, and Uzu acquired two dogs maybe animal company will do him good, and Islas was acquired by a cat. These things unfortunately happen.
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Topic: Mong Kima - The Nation of Pearls (DF 0.47.05) (Read 238383 times)