Mighty as those warriors were, they stood no chance against this horde of humanoid vermin. An entire horde of vermin marched towards their next target. Their last siege saw more than half their strength diminished. A fortified town of humans, half-elves, and other mixed races held out for a week. That was nothing compared to a fort-city built along the thick river close to the Blackmell Mountains. To the south and north their allies were ransacking bigger game. Up ahead stood a small fort defending a village. One of their scouts reported seeing a garrison of sixty-one defenders. It was made up of Uxane warriors, two bowmen, a group of knights, a squad of soldiers, a small militia group, and three-night watchmen.
A small garrison that size was nothing compared to size of this horde. This horde was once over a hundred thousand strong. It numbers greatly dropped after three successful sieges. Whatever this horde called itself the force consisted of over 700 Goblins, 501 Gnolls, 220 Troglodytes (Lizardmen), 52 Uxane renegade warriors, 32 outlaw gunslingers, 11 brigands, 5 deserters, 8 Muskallan raiders, and a catapult crew of 11 men working 2 catapults. A force of over 1,500 that could still overrun a small settlements. However, this force needed to be careful after losing many. Most of their horde remained in the ransacked settlements and cities they've conquered for their own gains. One Goblin kept track of how large their numbers were, food, loot, supplies, and the dead. Those who were sick, wounded, or dying were either killed off or sent as the vanguard ahead of the army.
This army had five leaders who answered to another higher rank who advised caution going deeper into the area. To the dismay of orders they were given the Gnoll, Troglodyte, and Human leaders who insisted on pressing forward. In their eyes much looting, prizes, and glory was to be had in pushing forward with the main horde's advance. How many more cities, towns, or villages were they going to plunder, conquer, and enslave they did not know. Far behind them were the main horde reserves that were funded by a group of ministers, aristocrats, and nobility of a state that borders the mountains and the sea-channel. Since there were multiple leaders who controlled their own forces, they had to stop each day to plan the next move. As they marched closer to their target the horde was ordered to stop. Like a domino effect the horde began to stop. Once the whole force was stopped they gathered to make camp and set up the catapults in the center.
With the catapults in the center they found each one was within firing range of the target. Having the horde stop now may give them time to rest and recover their strength. Inside the main tent the leaders discussed how they would besiege this town and fort without losing very many fighters this time. Because the last two encounters saw nearly half their forces slaughtered, which were partially replenished with fresh recruits. Most of the artillery, and guns provided were destroyed, lost, or left with the main horde. Plenty of them had melee weapons, bows, arrows, crossbows, bolts, older rifles, and guns with some ammunition. For artillery all they had were just two catapults they needed to keep in good condition.
As a horde overseer track-keeper this goblin got to sit in on one of the leaders. Troglodyte, and Gnoll leaders saw an opportunity to attack the small fort. "It only has less than a hundred men defending it!" they both argued multiple times. That argument was slapped down repeatedly by the Muskallans, and the Goblin Leaders. Each other leader gave a different arguement against the Troglodyte, and Gnoll. One suggested to lay siege and starve out the defenders. Another argument involved waiting for the rest of the horde and scare the defenders out. In the corner of the command tent sat the Uxane leader who smoked his pipe in silence. For an hour into the night the leaders argued until they somehow came to an agreement. At dawn their forces were to dig in around the camp, send a rider to request reinforcements while the catapult fired on the defenders. Once the horde received rest they awoke to begin work on the fortifications and digging, an Uxane rider was sent out, and the pair of catapults began firing on the defenders.
A small garrison that size was nothing compared to size of this horde. This horde was once over a hundred thousand strong. It numbers greatly dropped after three successful sieges. Whatever this horde called itself the force consisted of over 700 Goblins, 501 Gnolls, 220 Troglodytes (Lizardmen), 52 Uxane renegade warriors, 32 outlaw gunslingers, 11 brigands, 5 deserters, 8 Muskallan raiders, and a catapult crew of 11 men working 2 catapults. A force of over 1,500 that could still overrun a small settlements. However, this force needed to be careful after losing many. Most of their horde remained in the ransacked settlements and cities they've conquered for their own gains. One Goblin kept track of how large their numbers were, food, loot, supplies, and the dead. Those who were sick, wounded, or dying were either killed off or sent as the vanguard ahead of the army.
This army had five leaders who answered to another higher rank who advised caution going deeper into the area. To the dismay of orders they were given the Gnoll, Troglodyte, and Human leaders who insisted on pressing forward. In their eyes much looting, prizes, and glory was to be had in pushing forward with the main horde's advance. How many more cities, towns, or villages were they going to plunder, conquer, and enslave they did not know. Far behind them were the main horde reserves that were funded by a group of ministers, aristocrats, and nobility of a state that borders the mountains and the sea-channel. Since there were multiple leaders who controlled their own forces, they had to stop each day to plan the next move. As they marched closer to their target the horde was ordered to stop. Like a domino effect the horde began to stop. Once the whole force was stopped they gathered to make camp and set up the catapults in the center.
With the catapults in the center they found each one was within firing range of the target. Having the horde stop now may give them time to rest and recover their strength. Inside the main tent the leaders discussed how they would besiege this town and fort without losing very many fighters this time. Because the last two encounters saw nearly half their forces slaughtered, which were partially replenished with fresh recruits. Most of the artillery, and guns provided were destroyed, lost, or left with the main horde. Plenty of them had melee weapons, bows, arrows, crossbows, bolts, older rifles, and guns with some ammunition. For artillery all they had were just two catapults they needed to keep in good condition.
As a horde overseer track-keeper this goblin got to sit in on one of the leaders. Troglodyte, and Gnoll leaders saw an opportunity to attack the small fort. "It only has less than a hundred men defending it!" they both argued multiple times. That argument was slapped down repeatedly by the Muskallans, and the Goblin Leaders. Each other leader gave a different arguement against the Troglodyte, and Gnoll. One suggested to lay siege and starve out the defenders. Another argument involved waiting for the rest of the horde and scare the defenders out. In the corner of the command tent sat the Uxane leader who smoked his pipe in silence. For an hour into the night the leaders argued until they somehow came to an agreement. At dawn their forces were to dig in around the camp, send a rider to request reinforcements while the catapult fired on the defenders. Once the horde received rest they awoke to begin work on the fortifications and digging, an Uxane rider was sent out, and the pair of catapults began firing on the defenders.
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