"Humans have always relied on Dwarven technology, it’s been that way for many years; what the Dwarves produce is always the best."
In the spring of Count Glamorgan’s domain, Laine and Belgar walked one after the other along the field ridges, heading toward the Dwarven settlent.
Along the way, Belgar kept talking incessantly about sothing, while Laine mostly listened, occasionally responding with a word or two.
Neither Mogiana nor Ollica accompanied them, and following behind Laine was only his steward, Kasenberg. Seeing both Laine and Kasenberg listening attentively, Belgar opened up, starting from the glorious history of their Angland clan, describing how Eight Peaks Mountain used to be prosperous and powerful, how they managed to hold out against the encirclent by the Green Skins and Ratn for hundreds of years, but ultimately could not withstand the pressure and had to choose to withdraw from Eight Peaks, beginning their journey of exile.
"Since back then you had a population of a hundred thousand but couldn’t hold Eight Peaks Mountain against the Green Skins and Ratn, how can you be confident now, King Belgar, in assembling an expeditionary force to reclaim Eight Peaks?" asked the steward, Kasenberg, curiously.
"Neither the Green Skins’ nor the Ratn’s assaults are as formidable as they used to be. When we were guarding Eight Peaks, it was during the height of Green Skin power, during the assaults from the earthquakes, Ratn and the Green Skin frenzy, at least half of the Dwarf fortresses fell," Belgar spoke of this humiliating history with evident discontent, continuing, "But later, Charlemagne established the Empire and signed the ’Holy Alliance’ with the Dwarf Supre King, and together they established a massive allied force at Black Fire Pass against the largest Green Skin frenzy invasion in history. That war, which raged from dawn till dusk, saw the Human-Dwarven alliance thoroughly crush the Green Skin assault, inflicting such severe losses that the Green Skins took centuries to recover, and no Warlord was able to muster a Waaagh! of the scale of the first Black Fire Pass battle again. Hmm! If we had held on until the Black Fire Pass battle, Eight Peaks Mountain surely could have been defended."
Laine sowhat understood now, for while the Dwarves aren’t as they once were, neither are the Green Skins’ forces or battle capabilities as formidable as during their assault on Eight Peaks. In the first Black Fire Pass battle, the Green Skins were utterly routed and no longer united, reverting to the small tribal mode. Afterward, regardless of which Green Skin Warlord, whether the presumably deceased "Ironclaw" Gobad or "Big Belly King" Gululu, or living famous figures like Grimgrin-Ironplate, "Green Prophet" Urzago, or "Eight Peaks Mountain War General" Scasnik, they could command only a tribe.
"So you see, you humans have gained quite a bit from us Dwarves. When aiding Charlemagne’s unification of the Empire, how much did the Dwarves sacrifice? You’re right, this surely is sothing the Dwarves owe you, for if Charlemagne hadn’t saved our Dwarf Supre King back then, perhaps the bloodline of Karaz-a-Karak’s supre royal family would have long been extinct. But I hope you also know how to repay favors. If you want to help attack Black Stone Stronghold, no problem: when Belgar gives his word, he delivers." Belgar pounded his chest as he said this, keeping his eyes fixed on Laine.
The implication was clear: Rember the expedition to reclaim Eight Peaks. I’m helping you this ti; it’s your turn to help us next ti! No backing out.
Laine smiled and nodded repeatedly, recalling the events surrounding the empire’s founding. Indeed, without Dwarven help, Charlemagne might not have established the Empire.
It is well known Charlemagne united twelve human tribes to form the Empire, but during a series of wars, he encountered considerable resistance.
The most intense opposition ca from the Thuringian tribe, part of what’s now the Empire’s Middenheim territory. Back then, the King of the Thuringian tribe, known as "Mad King" Aochun, refused to surrender or bow after Charlemagne had unified or defeated most other human tribes, derisively mocking those tribes that bowed fawningly at Charlemagne’s feet. As a true man, he would only pledge his loyalty at the Main Temple of Yurik, offering it to the White Wolf Yurik.
To resolve opposition from the last unwilling human tribal force, Charlemagne united the tribes for a conquest war, while the Thuringian tribe amassed a great army to fight. But facing the Gallorin tribe’s forces, Mad King Aochun was dumbfounded.
With Dwarven assistance, the Gallorin tribe was fully equipped with chain armor and chest armor, wielding fine Dwarven standard equipnt. Leading them, Charlemagne wore Dwarf-enchanted teorite iron full plate armor, wielding the Divine Artifact Warhamr Gail-Malaz, poised for a final assault on the Thuringians.
Dwarf catapults, Dwarven crossbow cannons, Dwarf hard bows, and Dwarf war chariots were all lined up.
anwhile, the Thuringians still donned beast-hide leather armor, and many tribesn went bare-chested, cloaked in wolfskins. Their weapons, fashioned from simple stone-ground war axes and long spears, featured only scarce longswords.
This wasn’t even the sa era; how could they fight? How could the Thuringians possibly contend with Charlemagne’s Gallorin tribe? Moreover, Charlemagne had unified various human tribes and held a definitive advantage in numbers of both army and cavalry over the Thuringians.
Upon initial contact, even the stubborn Thuringians were compelled to retreat. But out of respect for fellow humans, Charlemagne refrained from a massacre, instead issuing the Thuringians an ultimatum for a champion duel.
Mad King Aochun, reluctantly took up the challenge, and the greatest duel between two human warriors ensued, ascending a thousand-ter peak bare-handed to duel before the White Wolf Sacred Fire at the Main Temple of Yurik. Charlemagne withstood Mad King Aochun’s frenzied assault and defeated him before Yurik’s Holy Fire.
Facing the options of his tribe being annihilated or pledging allegiance, Mad King Aochun, through Yurik’s will, realized Charlemagne was indeed the Divine Chosen Champion of the White Wolf Yurik, binding him by honor as a true man to uphold the outco of the champion duel.
From that day, the mighty Thuringians surrendered, marking the first establishnt of the Empire’s territory.
After recalling the lengthy tale, Laine refocused on Belgar, asking, "King Belgar, how many of your clan have you brought this ti?"
"About three thousand, two thousand of whom are excellent warriors," Belgar nodded, his voice gruff, "After a long journey, everyone’s exhausted. Laine, you’ll need to properly arrange their accommodations."
"That’s no problem; if there’s anything, you can find Kasenberg." Laine passed the responsibility to Kasenberg, who could only smile wryly—Dwarf demands were always nurous and fussy, both laborious and unrewarding. Every ti Laine tasked him with handling Dwarf affairs, it gave him a headache.
Fortunately, the Dukes of Brittania were supportive of Laine and Francois’ plan to jointly attack Black Stone Stronghold, offering economic backing even if not providing troops. Laine’s father-in-law even opened his treasury, vowing to split Kemler’s remaining head into pieces.
His father-in-law was wealthy, and the Winford Duchy was rich, so Laine had no worries about military expenses.
"My army is fully assembled; adding more would be unsustainable for you and your territory." Belgar understood this point, knowing firsthand the difficulties of funding and paying troops in multiple attempts to reclaim Eight Peaks Mountain.
Lacking a base to repair equipnt and supply logistics, with nothing to offer as collateral, Belgar often had to pay much higher wages and maintenance fees than normal.
Upon reaching the Angland clan’s camp, a large number of Dwarfs were already set up and resting, with smoke wafting into the sky. Laine’s n were transporting carts of food, vegetables, at, ale, and essentials into the camp.
"My chief engineer Harharaver the Gold Digger and I will make use of your workshop to produce siege weapons, primarily cannons and organ cannons," Belgar Iron Hamr said to Laine. "We will ally with you in the assault on Black Stone Stronghold. Here is the complete military structure of our forces."
Belgar handed over a parchnt, detailing the Angland clan’s troop lineup for this military campaign.
Dwarf Legendary Lord, King of the Angland Clan, the undisputed King of Eight Peaks, rightful sovereign of Eight Peaks Mountain, last of the Rune King’s bloodline, Belgar Iron Hamr.
Angland’s Chief Engineer Harharaver the Gold Digger.
Clan Leader of the Angland Clan, Burick North Star.
Angland Oath Guard 1st Squad (mixed force of Iron Hamr Warriors and Iron-Breaker Warriors).
Three Squads of Dwarf Warriors.
One Squad of Dwarf Miners.
Three Squads of Dwarf Rangers.
One Squad of "Eight Peaks Crossbow" Dwarf Heavy Arrow Rangers (equipped with heavy weapons).
One Squad of "North Star Axe Corps" Dwarf Iron-Breaker Warriors.
One Squad of "Steel Brotherhood" Dwarf Iron Hamr Warriors.
One Squad of "Will of King Ruan" Dwarf Long-bearded Veterans.
This is a substantial list, at Laine’s request, Belgar wrote letters everywhere, summoning a large number of clan mbers to assist Brittania in the offensive on Black Stone Stronghold.
Laine nodded towards Kasenberg, who also took out a thick parchnt and handed it to King Belgar: "Here is our roster for participating in the attack on Black Stone Stronghold."
Lord, Brittania Sanctuary Grand Knight, Count Glamorgan, Baron Gene, Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy, Holy Grail Knight Commander Laine Macado.
Legendary Wizard of Fla and Light Elents, Veronica Bernadotte.
Legendary Female Mage of Ice and Mind Elents, Teresa Trovik.
Temple Knight Alfred.
One Squad of Kingdom Knights, led by the Standard Bearer, Holy Grail Knight Armand.
Three Squads of Ranger Knights, led respectively by Hex, Olivier, and Lops.
Two Companies of sword and shield infantry corps from Count Glamorgan’s domain.
Three Companies of long spear infantry corps from Count Glamorgan’s domain.
Two Companies of Peasant Crossbowman Corps.
"Hunters of Bastogne," one squad of peasant longbown led by Sergeant Deni.
"Count’s Long Halberd Legion," two companies of halberdiers.
"Erson’s Fury," two companies of Ugoer Bow Cavalry led by Terrible Ivan.
"Laine’s Hamr" artillery, one company of Dwarf Artillery Company composed of four cannons and one organ cannon.
"Erald Wind," one squad of Wood Elf Rangers led by half-elf Des and Estelle.
"Charon Forest Patrol Battalion," three companies of Mixed Battalion led by Sergeant Bertrand.
"Novigrad’s Iron-Breaker Warriors," one company of Iron-Breaker Warriors led by Dwarf Clan Leader Sven Novigrad.
"Dugen’s Black Powder Brotherhood," one squad of Dwarf Thunderous Musketeers led by Dwarf Engineer Dugen the Ironman.
This is currently all of Laine’s assets.
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