Post by StaolDerg on Mar 8, 2021 3:56:11 GMT -5
The small city of Yasval stood in the Stay winter air, chilly enough to be crisp and cool, but not quite enough for the snows that the southern parts of the country felt in this season. Forests buffered the eastern entrance to the city, leading to the smaller settlements nearby, the old stone-paved roads leading both south and farther east across the old stonework bridge that cut over the Usern River. Wide farmlands just north fed the city, their south held by a small hill and larger one its southwest, both of which only just peeked the ancient walls of the city itself. The bridge itself was especially important- just past its limits were the wide expanses of the older pine forests, where the smaller villages of Kasmerka, Alfos, and so many others supplied the city with raw resources. And as of late, the Royalist cell northeast of them had begun to eye the settlement for its most valuable claim- a small industry of three factories, seated just by the nicely-located hills to harvest their coal and ore veins.
Its garrison was larger than the village units of a single platoon or company- the entire Second Company of the 4th Light Battalion's Territorial Elenria held the settlement itself with the residency of the Battalion's own headquarters with sixty troops, plus HQ headquarters escort of forty troops, making use of the city walls for their old use. Just outside upon the smaller hill that overlooked the trees and road, the similar sixty-person 7th Company had been ordered by its commander to make their home, setting up their lines just within the tree lines for obscurity. All the while, a dozen-man patrol split from the Seventh Company held the bridge itself, setting up a few humble sandbag lines that faced into the road of the large forests beyond.
Despite having a quite large number for their local area, all of the Territorials solemnly reminded themselves that were low-priority light infantry- scoped bolt-action rifles at best, muskets at worst. Food remained an issue, not at all helped by the destruction of a food train by Royalists months ago, leaving many with hollow stomachs. Many regretted that they had not been detached to join the Reserve Army with their much newer equipment and training, ready to reinforce sectors from the divisional reserves. Nevertheless, they were nothing if not seasoned- they'd seen and repulsed Greatferns trying to take the city from the west years before, fighting to delay the insurrectionists as reinforcements were rushed in from the south. They knew the land well- many had formed friendships with their local kin, which itself was a boon of industry- instead of being low on modern ammunition, the soldiers found themselves plenty on rifle rounds accumulated over months of local production, even with demand from the other sectors.
And besides, they were Territorial Elenria, forward scouts, excellent shots! They'd been trained by the wilderness itself, shaped to fight and detract, and to save every bullet shot for the neck and head. Nothing for them could go to waste. So the troops drilled and cleaned their guns, waiting for action as carts pulled in and by over the bridge and from the south, the soldiers in their old, patched uniforms holding themselves proud even as they checked off papers and stood about like a few hundred dry scarecrows.
Total Forces
160 Light Infantry
Its garrison was larger than the village units of a single platoon or company- the entire Second Company of the 4th Light Battalion's Territorial Elenria held the settlement itself with the residency of the Battalion's own headquarters with sixty troops, plus HQ headquarters escort of forty troops, making use of the city walls for their old use. Just outside upon the smaller hill that overlooked the trees and road, the similar sixty-person 7th Company had been ordered by its commander to make their home, setting up their lines just within the tree lines for obscurity. All the while, a dozen-man patrol split from the Seventh Company held the bridge itself, setting up a few humble sandbag lines that faced into the road of the large forests beyond.
Despite having a quite large number for their local area, all of the Territorials solemnly reminded themselves that were low-priority light infantry- scoped bolt-action rifles at best, muskets at worst. Food remained an issue, not at all helped by the destruction of a food train by Royalists months ago, leaving many with hollow stomachs. Many regretted that they had not been detached to join the Reserve Army with their much newer equipment and training, ready to reinforce sectors from the divisional reserves. Nevertheless, they were nothing if not seasoned- they'd seen and repulsed Greatferns trying to take the city from the west years before, fighting to delay the insurrectionists as reinforcements were rushed in from the south. They knew the land well- many had formed friendships with their local kin, which itself was a boon of industry- instead of being low on modern ammunition, the soldiers found themselves plenty on rifle rounds accumulated over months of local production, even with demand from the other sectors.
And besides, they were Territorial Elenria, forward scouts, excellent shots! They'd been trained by the wilderness itself, shaped to fight and detract, and to save every bullet shot for the neck and head. Nothing for them could go to waste. So the troops drilled and cleaned their guns, waiting for action as carts pulled in and by over the bridge and from the south, the soldiers in their old, patched uniforms holding themselves proud even as they checked off papers and stood about like a few hundred dry scarecrows.
Total Forces
160 Light Infantry
