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As word of the coalition's victory at Seawatch speads across the brick seas, it seems everyone is asking, "where is La Grande Armee?" It would seem that even the royal family has been asking this question. A week ago, a group of dour toughs, clad in black and carrying only the seal of the royal family, barged into the headquarters office for the army mustering at Lavalette and demanded an audience with the ranking officer. Major Cambois: "...but he asks the impossible. I need more men." The Stranger: "Tell me. What is the nature of this army's delay in sailing for New Haven and what happened to the general? Major Cambois: "Ah, you see, just as the army moved to the docks to embark, a crane line broke depositing hundreds of poisonous tree frogs of some type all across the harbor." The Stranger: "Sabotage?" Major Cambois: "We don't believe so. In any event, the ordeal took several weeks to rectify and cost us over a hundred casualties." The Stranger: "Your General was among them?" Major Cambois: "Well, no. See, after the battle there were ample slain frogs laying about and as no true blue Oleonese can throw away a perfectly good frog leg, a morale building feast was held." Major Cambois: "Sadly it turns out they were still quite poisonous and we lost the general, another hundred and fifty-two men, and a whole month." The Stranger: "Outrageous! If word of this ever reached the coalition!... We shall have to blame this whole incident on a Lotii spy within headquarters..." Major Cambois: "...megablock..." Thanks, ♧ OOC; I got a Bonsai Tree kit. If, like myself, you struggle with trees and/or floral bits, I can't recommend that kit enough. Plus it has a hundred frogs! Which should come in handy all the time.
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[OL-FB] Bells for the gods, cannons for the king
Keymonus posted a topic in Brethren of the Brick Seas
Somewhere in the bayou, Ile Dyonisus, November 622 Copper is not exactly what a miner hopes to find, when he first hits the rock with his pickaxe. However, it is what the prospectors found in the swamps of Ile Dyonisus: the weird minerals surfacing from the mud turned out to be azurite, a valuable copper ore. Despite the initial delusion of the prospectors, the city government was enthusiastic about the discovery. Copper doesn’t immediately fill your purse, this is true, but with copper you can make bronze, and with bronze you can make the cannons that your navy needs… or, if you feel particularly pious, the bells for the new temple. Digging tunnels in the soft ground of Ile Dyonisus was out of question. The slow flow of the water, however, had already made most of the job, century after century: in some areas the copper minerals were already exposed, and damming the river was sufficient to create a sort of open mine. The mud was removed, and the valuable minerals were shattered and brought away, piece after piece. When all the available ores will be collected, the dam will simply be moved of one hundred metres, and the hard work of the miners will start again. The environment of Ile Dyonisus is particularly harsh for the miners: humidity, mosquitoes and the ever-present mud are only the most immediate problems of the workers. Moreover, drinkable water has to be brought from a nearby river, as the swamp water would probably poison the miners. Then, obviously, there are the alligators: the dam and a fence of wooden spikes are usually enough to keep them out, but on Ile Dyonisus you can never really know… As a good precaution, a few armed men are always present: if an alligator could find his way into the governor’s house (some say with a little help), a fence is definitely not safe enough! Copper will soon leave the swamps of Ile Dyonisus and reach the whole Empire, as cannons, bells, statues, boilers to make sugar or whisky, or maybe the sheathing of a ship hull! To be licensed as a copper mine on Ile Dyonisus, the swamp island. Overall view: --------------- I didn't realize how long it had been since I last built something of this scale... but, as my brave prospectors explore the bayou of Ile Dyonisus, and my soldiers march on the hills of El Oleonda, real life tends to happen! I hope I'll be able to continue soon with my storylines! -
The Destrier Although the day of the war galley is long drowned, many still ply the seas. In Nouveau Oleandia, a Mokolei galley has been pressed into service by Provisional Command No.1. Due to the nature of galleys, they make for poor gunnery platforms but tend to compensate with high maneuverability and large compliments of men. These attributes are perfectly suited to armed, coastal patrol vessals. In the case of the Destrier, a revolving platoon of infantry from Nouveau Oleandia's 4e Regiment de Triallieur Dionysian, accompanies the vessal on its patrols. Thanks, ♧ OOC; Class 3 ship R:3,M:4,F:1,C:4,CG:0,H:3
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Varcosian Border, Spring 608 The Juniper war was raging on, far on the East. According to the latest news, the Empire of Light was winning: the troops of Corrington had been routed, and were retreating towards the chief town of the Juniper Province, but everyone knew that they couldn’t keep it for long. The war was almost over. There were little celebrations in the westernmost provinces, as people had more urgent issues. Varcosian brigands had plagued the area for centuries, in a deadly hide and seek game with the local lords and their soldiers. However, as the Juniper War called too many dragoon regiments back to the East, those rascals soon stopped being an annoyance and became a real problem: it was no longer matter of a few stolen cows, but of farms set on fire and border hamlets sacked. At the time, Tristan Rimbaud was a young lieutenant at his first command. He had received the task of repelling “Bogdan” (the Varcosian brigands) beyond the border, but he soon realised that the mission was completely pointless: Bogdan moved back and forth the border as he pleased, escaping capture every time. After the first skirmishes, therefore, Tristan gathered all the available men and attacked the brigands directly in their bases. The campaign was successful, and “Bogdan” remained out of the lands of Oleon for several years. Crossing the border, however, was not without consequences: after the protests of the Varcosian ambassador, Tristan was relieved of his duties and transferred to New Oleon… a punishment only on paper, since he received a medal an important command in the Marines. Apparently, bands of Salleeki pirates were creating troubles, but Oleander response was complicated by international borders… From left to right: -Front 1) Armoured guard: some rural areas of the Eranos province had remained behind in the military innovations. The guards of some noble lords, therefore, are equipped as they were 100 years before: swordsmen wearing morion and heavy armour are not an uncommon view. 2-4) Eranos chasseurs: regular line infantry is stationed in the large Western Forts along the Varcosian border. Most of the fights against brigands and overambitious Varcoast boyards, however, are fought in the woods by light infantry units. 3) Lieutenant Tristan Rimbaud: second son of an ancient but relatively irrelevant noble family of Western Oleon; he could either choose the clergy or the army, as his elder brother will inherit title and estates. He choose the latter and, after attending the military academy, he was assigned to the Varcosian Border, near to his native lands. 5) Arbalétrier: while antiquated and difficult to maintain, a crossbow can be as powerful as a musket. Almost disappeared from the regular army, this weapon is still used by militias in some rural areas. -Back 1) Chasseur à cheval: light cavalry, equipped with sabre and carabine. Chasseurs a cheval can fight both on horse or dismounted but, differently from dragoons, they are essentially cavalry soldiers. In the western provinces, where border skirmishes are more common than real battles, those soldiers are trained to fire from horseback, something quite unusual in the Madrician kingdoms. 2) Garde-chasse: the role of game wardens is usually non military, mainly patrolling public woods and noblemen’s hunting grounds against poachers and brigands. These men, however, are skilled horsemen and excellent marksmen, who know the Western Forests as their own pockets; therefore, during wartime, they are enlisted as scouts and explorers. From left to right: 1-2) Varcosian brigands: brigands wear traditional costumes, often including peculiar cloth hoods and long moustaches. While most of the loot consists of livestock, on lucky days they can steal a statuette or a golden goblet from a temple. 3) Brigand chief: each band gathers around a charismatic leader, sometimes a lesser nobleman, a village chief or even a priest. He usually wears more elegantly than his men, with colourful clothes, silver buckles and plumed hats. 4) Varcosian brigand: most bandits have antiquated firearms and little gunpowder to waste. Therefore, they always have a wide array of knives and axes. 5) Armed peasant: not all the bandits are full-time brigands. Many of them are simple peasant who join the brigands for a while, hoping to steal enough to repay a debt or to cope with a bad harvest season. 6) Bowman: a bow costs less than a musket, and can be built by any craftsman with minimal tools. Bows are therefore often seen along the Varcosian border, in the hands of both hunters, bandits and even irregular soldiers. ——————— As most of my bricks are still in the form of Breshaun port, I built a small figbarf and expanded a little bit the past of my main character. “Bogdan” for Varcoast brigands should be something like nickname “Charlie” for the Viet Cong or “Fritz” for German soldiers.
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Previously: Where a goat can go, a man can go, and where a man can go, he can drag a cannon. Somewhere on the hills, El Oleonda, August 622 The siege of Seawatch had already lasted several months, but the defenders were carrying on, in one way or the other. A small group of agents of Le Service Secret, who had infiltrated the settlement a couple of weeks before the siege, was coordinating the defenders' efforts. The garrison was small, but well-trained, and could rely on a few batteries of powerful Essian howitzers to keep the Lotii artillery at bay. Moreover, while the siege was completed in the first weeks, the blockade was constantly defied by small sloops: brave captains used the cover of the storms to outmaneuver the large Lotii junks, delivering food and gunpowder to the defenders. Without external help, however, Seawatch was clearly doomed, and a final Lotii assault seemed only a matter of time... and, after Seawatch, Fort Arltrees was the next in the line. This seemed a good reason to drag those cannons under the tropical sun of El Oleonda. In preparation for a large-scale assault, a column of soldiers left Fort Arltrees for the interior: the plan is to open a road across the hills, so that the incoming attack could arrive from a completely unexpected direction. The Corrish attack to Aurelia had taught an important lesson to Oleander strategists, and now it was the turn of the Lotii to receive an unpleasant surprise! Even if the mission was mainly opening the way and establishing and advanced stronghold, the column is equipped with a few 6-pounder field cannons. The carriage was lightened as much as possible, but a cannon is not exactly a lightweight, especially on a mountain trail! The soldiers, volunteers drawn from various light infantry units, know that their efforts would be rewarded in case of unpleasant encounters with Lotii outposts: a cannon is always a strong argument in a skirmish! Now the soldiers of the Empire were marching up the hill, panting and cursing, but always going forward. They had no luggage carts or ammunition carriages: to move faster and remain unnoticed, every soldier carried some supplies, a bag of gunpowder or, for the most unfortunate, a few cannonballs. General Tristan Rimbaud, the commander of the detachment, looked proudly at his men. During his childhood, he had always read a lot about the soldiers of the ancient Empire, the legendary legionaries: according to the chronicles, they often won by marching for weeks with armour, supplies and even the poles to fortify the camps, attacking the enemies where nobody expected. But he didn’t need the soldiers from remote times, he had something better: chasseurs and marsouines, the elite of the Empire… or, at least, the best troops available! He didn’t trust at all, instead, the man at his side. He didn’t know his name or rank, but he was the liaison officer with the secret services. For what Tristan knew, he had sent without hesitation the group of agents in Seawatch to a certain death. The Services were known to have little scruples, and to sacrifice whatever they considered necessary for the Nation… and Tristan was not particularly willing to become a martyr of Empire! Additional pictures: Note: while EGS troops have not moved yet, this build should pave the ground for the offensive towards Seawatch. The design of the troupes de marine, the marsouines, was first introduced by @Khorne (as several other great units) during the Terraversa campaign.
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Previously; Satisfied with his new sword, the Lieutenant is off to see a man about a horse. Our..eh...'hero' makes his way from headquarters with the most strident of strides, coming across a...uh...'Company Excercise' along the road. Marine; "Sorry, sir. I tried to break it up. What would you have me do?" The Lieutenant; "Oh! Eeerrm? Place five on the convict." The Lieutenant; "Now be a good man and spot your Lieutenant's wager, would you? I have my hands full at the moment." OOC: Intended as a platoon raising in Nouveau Oleandia, bringing the compliment there up to a full company. I'm purchasing them privately as I don't know if there is still an open ticket on troop builds in the NHS and I want to send a limited expedition to scout the area around the town in an aMRCA soon. The Nouveau Oleandia provincial troops are listed in the Encyclopedia.
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Somewhere in the bayou, Ile Dyonisus, July 622 The outskirts of Nouveau Oleander, on Ile Dyonisus, don’t seem the best areas for mining activities… unless you want to start a mud mine, or unless you are convinced that crocodiles are actually mineral resources! However, now and then, weird shiny minerals surface out of the sludge, or are found on the banks of one of the countless ponds. Nobody really knows what those stones are, and they were considered simple curiosities… at least until the chaplain of a passing ship recalled to have seen something similar in the Mokolei Empire, near to some important mines. Unfortunately, he didn’t remember which type of mines, probably the most important point, so a proper geological survey was organised. Therefore, some of New Oleandia couriers du bois (the local hunters) left their beloved rifles and embraced some shovels. If they found something, governor would reward them well for the lost hunting days. Digging in the marshes is a boring job, especially if compared to crocodile hunting, but it has at least an advantage: a bag of mud doesn’t usually try to snap your arms off! One of the prospectors, in the meantime, was preparing the lunch: a thick soup of hardtack and canned horse stew (Explorer Special Recipe, WTC registered trade mark). That stuff is barely edible, but isn’t infested by maggots (the WTC “Can of Worms”, with extra maggots and crunchy weevils, surprisingly, never rose to international success) and is not crocodile, differently from most of the meat available on the island! Overall view: the MOC is quite simple, I played a little with the ground level but this is largely covered by the vegetation. I originally planned this prospect for Ile Sous le Vent, but then I decided that building a mine on a swamp island could be far more challenging… provided that I find something worth! @Ayrlego, I think this is up to you now… @Darnok, the WTC canned horse strikes back!
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Astrapi, Ile de Zeus, July 622 At the border between the Terraversa Sea and the Sea of Thieves, Ile the Zeus is one of the Jewels of Oleon Empire. Before the imperial adventure on Terraversa and the colonisation of Blueton, Astrapi was the first Oleander settlement beyond the Line, and the only one a ship could reach with a direct journey from Breshaun. Thanks to its geographic position and to the presence of strategic resources (wood, silver and gunpowder industry), the settlement of Astrapi has become a rich and important settlement. To defend Astrapi from the enemies of the Empire, and to protect the silver extracted in the inland, a new company of chasseurs was raised in the settlement. The Astrapi Wolves, formally the 2eme compagnie chasseurs coloniaux de Astrapi, are trained and equipped for the thick woods of Ile de Zeus. These soldiers wear a simple beret instead of the elegant but bulky shako hat, and are equipped with tomahawk and machetes: for sure they don’t look like the King’s Guards back in Granoleon, but they are what the Empire needs in this far corner of the map. Due to a weird combination of warm winds and cold currents, Ile the Zeus is often shrouded by a thick fog. Therefore, the chasseurs are often accompanied in their patrols by large hounds, particularly useful to track brigands or runaway criminals. This is more a little vignette with some story than a proper build. I will use it to raise a company of light infantry in Astrapi.
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"All Oleon forces in the Jiangkai Command are hereby ORDERED to Show Resolve. Tend the wounded, see to the damage of fortifications, actively recruit, etcetera." -El Oleonda Command, Fort Arltrees Intended as the mocced repairs to Jiangkai's fort. I don't have the parts for the unique units stationed there so I got as close as I could. Sorry for the last hour post.
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As Jiangkai grew and became a real city, a company of tirailleurs was recruited among the inhabitants to defend the settlement. The tirailleurs are units of light infantry -typical of the Oleon Royal Army- that fight with flexible tactics and open formations, taking advantage of the rough terrains. Differently from l’Armée de L’Orient, formed by soldiers of Lotii origin but fully integrated in the regular army, the Jiangkai tirailleurs are organised as an auxiliary light infantry unit. Quite unusually, the officers are drawn from La Royale (the Royal Navy), and usually have a past in the merchant fleet: this may be unorthodox, but they are probably the only officers who can fluently speak both Oleander and Lotii, at least until the first Jiangkai volunteers will graduate in Breshaun Royal Academy. While the tirailleurs were undoubtedly loyal to their new king and country, most of them were not enthusiastic about fighting against their former motherland, and they were considered a law enforcing unit more than a real fighting force. Things changed, however after the raid of May 622. The Lotii soldiers sacked Jiangkai even more brutally than they would have done with an enemy settlement, killing those who had remained behind and trying to set every building on fire: only the stubborn resistance and the sacrifice of the fort garrison spared most of the population from the massacre. As the tirailleurs organised the evacuation of the civilians from the city, they instead lived to fight another day. Now the citizens on Jiangkai know that they can’t expect no mercy from their former countrymen. The tirailleurs will fight for their honour and for revenge, on El Oleonda and beyond. The tirailleurs concept and design are heavily based on @Khorne’s early sketches of “Asian” troops, even before the Lotus Empire appeared in our world. With this build, a new platoon of soldiers is raised in Jiangkai. EDIT: As Jiangkai is still a town, only 10 (and not 30) men can be recruited in each turn
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Previously; After the inspection of the line, our self-described hero returns to provisional HQ to consult the armorer; ... ... ... ... Scratch another moc. The Sword of Dionysus is forged!
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At the budding earthworks, south of Neuvou Oleandia township, ... ... ... ... Thanks. Need to break down some mocs but decided to use them a bit more first.
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[OL - FB -Troop Raising] Guards to guard.
Jeff of Clubs posted a topic in Brethren of the Brick Seas
Fresh reinforcements have arrived for the township of Neuvou Oleandia. Alas, they are the type of guards that one would do well to keep under guard. Here they are seen being kept thoroughly occupied with the construction of a dummy redoubt at the southern edge of town. ... ... Provisional Shore Party No.2 Intended as an Oleon platoon founding in Neuvou Oleandia. Penal Legionaries based on Ross Fisher's from the encyclopedia. -
Following the disaster at Jiangkai, rapidly becoming known as the 'Night of Tears', Gran Oleon's El Oleondan HQ has dispatched a brace of staff officers to the Corrington Expeditionary Force's HQ in Ft. Arltrees. This mission is led by one Captain Toussaint, commander of Oleon's finest formal flourish in the entire New Haven Sea. The purpose of this mission is twofold, to beseech the Corries for any information they may have gleaned about the siege of Seawatch and the composition of Lotii forces there, as well as to determine the best use of allied assets on the island. This FB is just a simple, cropped copy of the CEF HQ in Ft. Arltrees that Brickwolf built a few weeks ago and is intended mostly for fluff. A day or so late. Sorry. Boring ol' work stuff
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Jiangkai, El Oleonda, May 622 Jiangkai is a unique settlement: a little city that thrives on the very corner of the maps, a Lotii settlement in the Empire of Oleon. Sacked by Corrington and destroyed by the Lotii after just a few years, Jiangkai should no longer exist… but still there it is, stubbornly clinging to the strip of plains between the southern coast and the unexplored hills of El Oleonda. Instead of dying, the city is growing larger and more prosperous, in spite of the brigands still infesting El Oleonda and of the renewed menace from the Lotii Empire. The most flourishing activity of Jiangkai is probably its the textile industry, that produces fine silk and cotton fabrics. Cloth is dyed in small brick tubs, combining the traditional techniques of Lotii artisans with the dyes typical of the New World, such as indigo or carmine. The hard work of stirring those -often awfully smelling- tubs is usually done outside the tiny stores, conveniently near to one of the many canals crossing the city. The dyers' district is, therefore, one of the most busy area of the city: almost everyone in the city, for a reason or the other, visits this lively area, may it be to work in the dyers' shops, or to pick up a roll of cloth for a tailor... ...but also to eat something in one of the tiny, cheap "taverns", usually small wooden platforms built directly on the sidewalks... ...or maybe to buy something from one of the many merchants and peddlers: dyes and clothes are obviously the main wares, but almost anything can be bought at the tiny stalls, from medicinal plants to curiosities and trinkets, from old maps to cooking utensils. A unit of the newly formed Jiangkai tirailleurs patrols the streets of the city. Differently from l'Armèe de L'Orient, formed by soldiers of Lotii origin, but fully integrated in the regular army, the tirailleurs are organised as an auxiliary light infantry unit, similarly to the colonial militia of the most peripheral settlements. The officers are not part of the Army, but are instead drawn from La Royale (the Royal Navy of Oleon), and usually have a past in the merchant fleet: this may be unhortodox, but they are probably the only officers who can fluently speak both Oleander and Lotii, at least until the first volunteers from Jiangkai will graduate at Breshaun Royal Academy. Some of the heterogeneous inhabitants of Jiangkai. From left to right: an old Lotii merchant, an Oleonese trader, soldiers of Jiangkai tirailleurs, a Monomonto ronin, and a member of the Blue Dragon Society (young nobles supporting "modernization" of the Lotii society). Several aspects of Jiangkai were heavily inspired by @Khorne‘s builds (including the design of the uniforms of the tirailleurs and the Blue Dragon Society, somehow similar to samurai during the Meiji modernization of real-world Japan). I will license it as Medium Artisan in Jiangkai.
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Outskirts of Fort Arltrees, El Oleonda, April 622 Hills and mountains have always represented a difficult obstacle for armies: roads are bad and too narrow for baggage trains, or they do not exist at all. Moreover, the difficult terrain tires the man quickly, and can easily injure the horses. For these reasons, generals avoid mountain ranges whenever possible. Sometimes, however, it is simply not possible: a mountain range crosses El Oleonda from East to West, and any alternative path from Fort Arltrees to Jiangkai would require weeks of difficult march across the jungle. In Fort Arltrees, a new company was specifically formed to move and fight on the difficult high grounds of El Oleonda interior. The unit is equipped with light cannons that can be disassembled and transported on mules, together with all the equipment required to set up a battery. Both the artillerymen and the chasseurs (the light infantry accompanying the cannons) were recruited among the colonists coming from mountain regions of Oleon, and also include a few Altonian immigrants. These men spent their whole life walking along the mountain trails, leading their cows on the high meadows or carrying goods from a tiny village to another one: thus, they are renowned for their endurance and for their autonomy. As in their daily life in the motherland, the bluecoats can rely on a robust breed of Oleander mules to carry weights up and down the mountains... in this case cannons and supplies, instead of wood or salt! Stronger and less delicate than horses, they can deal with mountain trails without problems. Some mules are also equipped with a saddle, and can be riddden by the soldiers in case of need: they may not be as elegant as thoroughbred Guelphian horses, but still mules represent invaluable companions for Oleander mountain infantry. The cannons can be quickly unloaded and assembled by the gun crew itself: even the barrel can be lifted by a few men with arm strength. Gunpowder and ammunition are kept in small hemp bags instead of the usual kegs and cases: when you have to carry everything for hours up a steep slope, reducing the weight and the size of the loads is paramount. In a quarter of an hour, a battery of 6-pounder cannons can be placed almost anywhere... in any skirmish with the Lotii, no matter where, Oleon can now rely on its cannons! Artillerymen with a disassembled cannon (loaded on mules), and chasseurs (right), one of the specialties of Oleander light infantry. The cannon after assembly, and the artillery crew. OOC, the cannon design is very simple. However, all the parts can effectively be loaded on the mules. Overall view: Troop raising build for Fort Arltrees (1 company of mountain artillery).
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In lieu of propper military forces in Nouveau Oleandia, a platoon of civilian and military seamen has been pressed into service as infantry. Used to thinly patrol the harbor and serve as crew for Float Battery No.1, they are to be billeted in the barracks ship anchored there. "Finally! If we are attacked we should have just enough men to fire the harbor..." -Lt. 'Gabi' Provisional Shore Party No.1 (+Platoon. N.O.) Corporal Suchet of the Compagnies Oleon de la Marine has brevet command. ... Humans require more supervision than the scarecrows under 'Gabi's command and to this effect, an abortive lighthouse construction has also been pressed onto service. Meant to function as the command post and armory for the fledgling defences of Nouveau Oleandia, this structure is connected to the mainland by a bridge and has an unimpeded view of both the barracks ship and the floating battery. From this tidal island the defenders transfer to and from their aforementioned positions, recieve orders, and groom their magnificent hairs... From here, the crews at the barracks ship and floating battery are synchronized with the harbor patrols. Varnum Point. Headquarters of Provisional Command No.1, Nouveau Oleandia. To be licensed as a troop build and small residence. Hence the moc size.
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White banner soldiers on Jinzi (El Oleonda) From Jameis Farstrider’s Guide to Halos: White, the Wind Dragon Banner - When called upon, the White Wind Banner levies its troops from the Empire easternmost province, straddling the border with the Bouton and Peri protectorates. As such, it is not uncommon to find mercenaries from those nations amongst its ranks. From left to right: 1) Banersbi warrior: Native of the southern archipelago of Banersbi, these warriors often fight as mercenaries in Lotii (but also Gerlo and Monomonto) armies. Accustomed to fighting in the jungles of their motherland, they will probably be particularly useful in the skirmishes on El Oleonda. Banersbi warriors usually fight using firearms and exotic-looking blades, called kriss and mandau. 2) Nakay tribe head hunter: With a custom considered barbarian by foreigners, the warriors of some Banersbi tribes keep the preserved heads of killed enemies as amulets. Here a Nakay warrior shows with pride a shrunken head, the result of a complex and highly ritualised procedure. 3-4) Lotii musketeers: While cavalry dominates the armies of some banners, the soldiers of the easternmost Lotii provinces and of the vassal kingdoms fight almost exclusively on foot. Lotii musketeers fight in close formations, very similar to Madrician line infantry. White Banner soldiers can usually rely on efficient flintlock weapons, far superior to the matchlocks of other units. 5) Wei Lang, high officer of the White Banner: Lotii commanders usually wear elegant civilian clothes and traditional hats instead of a real uniform. Generals often carry decorated fans or other symbols of power, and sometimes a dao or a similar sword. 6) Lotii swordsman: A musket is a powerful weapon but, when the gunpowder finishes or gets wet, it becomes nothing more than a club. A sword, instead, remains deadly also under tropical rain. Charging the enemy with a sword and a shield can seem antiquated, but can still be surprisingly effective 7-8) Bouton warriors: Warriors from the vassal state of Bouton wear bright, colourful clothes and sometimes bell-shaped bronze elms. Known as fierce fighters, Bouton warriors fight with spears and short swords. Some of them are also equipped with firearms, usually antiquated but robust matchlock muskets.
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Clan Amagai samurai and ashigaru on Jinzi Island (El Oleonda) From left to right: 1) Ashigaru musketeer: in traditional Monomonto armies, the ashigaru (literally “light feet”) are basically all the soldiers not belonging to the samurai class, ranging from peasants with clubs and spears to heavily armoured warriors. The introduction of gunpowder turned ashigaru into a formidable fighting force: anybody can learn how to shoot in a few days, and bullets have little respect for courage or nobility. Although not as disciplined as Madrician line infantry, or as the “new-doctrine” soldiers deployed by other clans, the Amagai clan musketeers can be deadly, especially when fighting in tight formations. 2) Naginata samurai: somehow similar the the knights dominating the Madrician kingdoms after the Empire, the samurai are skilled warriors following a code of rules, the way of the sword. They live with honour and die with honour, following their lord to victory or death: surrendering or retreating is not an option, and they consider killing their enemies more merciful than taking them as captives. Even if samurai are mainly known for their swords, their main weapon is usually a spear (yari) or a sort of halberd (naginata). 3) Samurai wearing the Amagai sashimono: Monomonto warriors are extremely heterogeneous in clothing and equipment, even if when they belong to the same clan. Weapons are often taken from defeated enemies, and an armour can change owner several times. To recognise foes and friends, warriors and commanders have therefore to rely on the sashimono, a little flag worn on warriors’ back. 4) Amagai Ieyasu: daimyo (feudal lord) of the Amagai clan. Warrior from tip to toe, hard and inflexible as the steel of his sword, he is seen by many as a living incarnation of the way. He led his men into countless battles, often against stronger warlords, and he always won, becoming a sort of legend. Times are changing fast, however, and famous warriors have already fallen on the island, killed without honour by Carnite grunts. The old warrior is now in front of a difficult choice: embracing some of the foreign innovations, or leading once again the charge of his samurai towards the guns of the enemies, possibly to a glorious death. 5) Amagai Nanako: while almost all the samurai are men, nothing forbids women to follow the way of the sword. Second daughter of Amagai Ieyasu, Nanako is a skilled warrior and a respected leader. 6) Samurai swordsman: a samurai showing his famous swords, katana (the “true” sword) and wakizashi (the long knife); as sharp as razor blades, thes weapons can literally cut an enemy in half. Samurai spend their all life training with swords, and only a very few Madricians could defeat one of them in a duel. 7-8) Tamaco tribe ashigaru: with war raging on Jinzi Island, several of the tribes of New Haven Seas got involved in the conflict, either siding with one of the nations or attacking anyone entering their lands. Several warriors of the Tamaco tribe joined the Monomonto armies as auxiliaries: for them, this is just a different way to continue their ancestral war against the Tyree’De and other rival tribes. The Tamaco warriors can be easily recognised from their red war paint and their helms carved from shark skulls… some of them, however, gladly replaced their traditional equipments with the far more effective Monomonto steel!
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In Fort Arltrees, around a year ago, the fearfully idle mind of Gerard DuQuesne formulated a revolutionary new way of waging war upon Oleon's enemies... In practice however it had some issues... DuQuesne; "By the gods, man! I was wrong alright!?! Just reorganize them as infantry and get them far away from here. FAST!" After several shifting months of land and sea travel these weary troopers lurch into a barracks in Lavellete just as the army musters for war with the Lotii. Troop raising to be raised directly for the crown in Lavellete. Sorry for the last second post. Busy week.
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Seawatch, El Oleonda, February 622 After days of heavy tropical rain, the sun was finally high in the sky. With the warm weather, the luxuriant vegetation, and the parrots singing, the day seemed perfect for a picnic outside the town, apart from a little detail... the Lotii army besieging Seawatch! The enemies were less than a mile far, but everything was weirdly calm. The attack, however, could begin at any moment... in an hour or in a week, the enemy troops could have been right there, trying to storm the outer defenses of Seawatch. The defenders of Seawatch were ready to face them, musket in hand. They would have held that advanced position as long as they could, then they would have retreated to the second defensive line: those positions outside the city were precarious, but still allowed to keep the enemy cannons far enough from the city. Carnite soldiers and civilian volunteers were fortifying a small abandoned farm outside Seawatch: placing a few wooden spikes in a choke point required minutes, but could stop the charge of a whole cavalry company. Reinforcing the small garrison with conscripted civilians, however, had some downsides: some were undisciplined but brave, while others had clearly never held a musket before. A small group of Oleonese "merchants", coming from Fort Arltrees, had reached Seawatch right before the siege and was coordinating the defenders in the outer positions. Curiously, their leader seemed strangely expert about urban fights and irregular warfare. When asked, he always mumbled something about having fought in Charlatan Bay and quickly changed the topic. This was likely false, but the Carnite officers didn't actually care, since his suggestions were helping to keep the Lotii out of Seawatch. At that very moment, the "leader of the merchants" was discussing with a Carnite officer where to bury some gunpowder barrels to create a fougasse, using those very barrels as an improvised tactical table. His real name was Emmanuel Perrault, and he was an officer of the Oleonese military intelligence... but, there in Seawatch, he was Luc Delacroix, an Oleonese merchant trapped with his partners by the Lotii siege. He had had worse aliases, but it was still strange thinking that he would have received a medal -or he would have been buried- with a false name. He rolled the map and walked to another position, yelling orders to the militiamen... there was no time for sentimentalisms, as Emmanuel Perrault or as Luc Delacroix, he still had a siege to win! Overall view I hope you like my build! As a side note, I'm using it to introduce a secondary character, Emmanuel Perrault... I don't know when I'll use him again, but I wanted to have someone (more sacrificable than my main characters) in the besieged Carnite city. PS: After taking the photos and dismantling the build I realized that one of the muskets was chewed by one of my cats... nice!
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"Jan 15th, 622AE; Our arrival at the bluecoat hub of Fort Arltrees recieved a warmer reception than any of our men dared hope for. During the journey, rumors abounded as to the loyalties of our hithertofore enemies within the enlisted ranks. Fears of marching out to do battle with the Lotii, only to find our traditional enemies in our rear, were serious concerns right up until the day we landed. As our battalion moved through the city to our bivouacs, we encounted one of the largest markets I have ever seen and a crowd of smiling locals filled the streets to greet us. Some even trying to foist bottles of wine and loaves of fresh bread upon us as we marched. The lieutenant politely declined these advances and became cross with a couple men who had accepted a kask of rum from a local suttler." "With only a few exceptions, our welcome to Fort Arltrees was a warm affair." "I must make a note to visit that market while we are still here. I have no doubt there could be something perfect for everyone in the family. Even grandpa!" -Excerpt from the journal of Willian 'Bill' Morley, Private, Corrington's 26th Regiment of Foot Thanks! As always, C and C welcome and if there is a lore issue, I'll edit accordingly. To be licensed as a small residence in Fort Arltrees. This is an attempt to duplicate some of the building styles I've seen in the lovely MOCs you all have posted lately. A special thanks to Ayrlego and Evancelt for their excellent tutorials on base building.
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Some quick moc-ups for some Oleon activity in the New Haven Sea. Preperations and the like. Fusiliers of the fabled Essener's Death's Heads, join in patrols and picket duties alongside our own infantry on the outskirts of Fort Arltrees. A company of these stout Carnite line-infantry have been garrisoned at Fort Arltrees since the previous Battle of El Oleonda. ... Meanwhile, in Nouveau Oleandia, a newly arrived "one-man-army" assumes picket duties around the settlement. Banging drums, firing off rigged muskets in volleys and brutalizing an old sheet of tin with his sword, the lout attempts to conflate the size of the garrison for any distant observers. Thanks! Just some scenes to convey activity in these settlements as the issue looms. Bit busy for a week or two but squeezed these in this week. Stumbled on @Khornes boys in the archives. I am hoping they are actually still in Ft Arltrees. If not, lemme know and I'll rework it.
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Name: Kojima Ownership: Crown Location: Ile sous le Vent Mayor: Vacant Trade Value: Unknown Who can own property in Kojima: Anyone Who can freebuild in Kojima: Anyone Map: Unavailable About the settlement of Kojima Kojima is located on the island of Ile sous le Vent, a remote place that no one wants to adventure there, it would remained in its natural, un-disturbed status, if there wasn't that un-solicitated visit from a certain trade company. Two medium properties exist on that island for the moment.
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December 621, El Oleonda, Somewhere near Fort Arltrees After weeks of digging, the new gold mine of Fort Arltrees was now operating at full regime. As he walked by dozens of miners busy with their hard job, Marcel Dubois couldn't help but notice how close the place resembled an anthill... an appropriate comparison, since at least as many miners were working right below his feet, digging narrow tunnels in the rocky ground of El Oleonda. At the last corner of the known world, at the very border of the map, citizens of Oleon were doing what they had always done: they were working hard and they were defending what they had earned, weapons in hand if necessary! The director of the mine was already waiting for him, a case of gold ingots at his side, an armed man behind him. Marcel could have easily guessed the point even without that staging: the mine was important for the wealth of the Empire, but the military instability of El Oleonda still dampened investments from the motherland, and productive activities had to hire armed guards for safety. He had heard the same complaint at least a dozen of time, since civilian merchants had appeared on the island. Marcel took a deep breath and greeted the director... in these moments he almost missed the first days of the settlement, when he only had to deal with undisciplined soldiers or drunk trappers! As the director complained about the situation, Marcel tried with all his forces not to punch his face... how the hell could he "grant peace and stability, so that Fort Arltrees could finally flourish", if the surrounding joungle literally crawled with military units, bandits, stragglers and deserters? ------------------------- A several metres below, a team of miners were struggling against the hard quartz of El Oleonda, advancing inch after inch into the rich gold vein. Meanwhile, other miners carried to the surface the rock fragments, a monotonous, exhausting job. Until carts and rails are built, this difficult task will be done by dint of arms! At ground level, the mineral is transported along wooden rails by heavy oxen carts... ...to a small furnace, where gold is smelted out the rock fragments. -------------- Overall view: ------------------- A gold mine for fort Arltrees, to complete the prospecting build I made months ago. I hope you like it!
