[sachmo]

Turn 16
Summer, Year 2

Theon walked out of his tent and stared to the northeast. The fortress at Pholothras would not stand much longer. The siege had to be lifted soon, or the entire province would fall. Rhyvinter was counting on him.
Damn, he thought, kicking a small pebble across the dusty ground. He turned around and sized up his forces. Fifty men, light infantry, were all that he had been able to recruit before word came that he was to move into Pholothras and life the siege. Fifty men, plus whatever the commanders inside the fortress had been able to scrape together.
He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair.
I can’t do this, he thought. We’re just not strong enough.

“A rider approaches!” cried the watchman. “From the east!”
Theon turned and looked down the road. At the crest of a hill, he could make out the shape of a man on horseback. Quickly he turned to his steward.
“My sword! Quickly!” he shouted, squinting to try and make out who the rider was. Coming from the east, he should be friendly, but one could never be too careful.
His steward was at his side in moments with his sword. He buckled it on as he ran to the edge of came, dodging a group of men who were milling about, trying to see what the commotion was.
“He bares the holy banner!” the watchman shouted.
Theon slowed down to a fast walk, and stopped suddenly. Behind the hill, he could see a huge cloud of dust being kicked up. That could only mean a large force, and it was headed this way. The fact that he had not been told of any reinforcements dispatched to his command made him fear the worst.
“Camp! To arms!” he shouted. “Set hasty defense to the east!”
The camp became a swirl of activity. Men grabbed their spears and armor, running to the edge of camp to form a wall of steel with which to meet whatever it was coming over the hill. The rider was still coming straight for the camp at a gallop. Theon stood with his hand on his sword, watching his men deploy with one eye, and the rider with the other.
In no time, his men were set. Two ranks of spears were set, ready to repel any attacker.
The rider was close enough to make out, now. He was in full armor and shield, with a lance and a silver-tipped spear. He looked quite formidable.
At the moment, the first of the unseen force crested the hill. It was a man, armed only with a bow almost as tall as himself and a full quiver of arrows. With him were ten more archers, all armed with the same huge bow.
Suddenly, more archers came over the hill, marching in two identical columns.
The rider was just coming to the edge of the came when he reined in his huge charger.
“Who is Theon?” he shouted to the men before him. He lifted his lance higher into the air, so that none could mistake the flag that flew from it. He was a friend, or at least not an enemy.
Theon stepped forward.
“I am Theon, commander of this troop. Who are you, sir?”
The knight nodded and stepped down from his horse. As Theon watched, he removed his mail gauntlet. Behind him, archers continued to stream over the hilltop. There were hundreds of them.
The knight came toward him with his hand outstretched. Theon moved to meet him. They shook hands.
“I am Arnaud, captain and leader of the Farstrikers!” the knight exclaimed. “Your ruler has seen fit to hire us on to help relieve the fortress at Pholothras.”
For the first time in quite a while, Theon smiled.

Treasury: 549
Income: 712
Provinces: 19
Gems: 1 Fire, 20 Water (+3), 11 Astral (+1) , 4 Death (+2), 30 Nature (+2)

Farbaute was wounded in a minor skirmish with Mictlan raiders. A stray arrow found it’s way deep into his chest, and though he would live, it was a wound that would bother him for the rest of his days.

Emug summoned more Vine Men in Pholothras, bolstering the defense of the province. The Mictlan siege forces continued to pound away at the walls of the fortress, threatening to breach them.

In Jotunheim, Jord summoned a host of longdead. They would join Nar the Mound King as he rode to help out in Pholothras.

Man sent a raiding force of Black Hawks into the Forest of Gila, but the local defense and a few militia withstood the attack. Twenty men were lost, but the attackers were driven off.

New mineral deposits were discovered in Jotunheim, increasing resources by 10.

Rhyvinter and his army rolled over the defenders in Ermithia, losing only a few undead troops in the process. There was now only one province between Rhyvinter and the capitol of Man.

Fjollvinter, the Jotun scout, single-handedly took on the defense forces in Man’s province of Sleepy Mountains. His fierce rage and utter disregard for his own safety routed the defenders, who fled the battlefield after he slew twenty of their number. His name would be sung in the halls of Jotunheim for years for his exploits.

Arnaud and Theon marched for Pholothras, while Messages were sent ahead to the fortress defenders to attempt to break the siege when they arrived.

Rhyvinter and his force moved on Fenica, reportedly defended by a small force of spearmen.

Nar the Mound King and Algot the Jotun Herse moved into Worshin to act as a reserve for the assault on Pholothras.

BUILDS:

The defense in Sleepy Mountains was raised to 11.
Two Heavy Infantry were recruited.

Godzilla Blitz began constructing a temple in Ireme.

Coffee Warlord recruited more Tribal Warriors in Lettia.

Farbaute recruited more light infantry in Inarime.

In Jotunheim, a Vaetti Hag and 5 Jotun Spearmen were recruited.