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Brightening 8, Cycle 1, Month of Kalendryas, in the Season of Winter,
Era I of the Celestine Mandate,
Era XV Post Fractum
Chargul decided to tend to the defences of the ramparts. He knew that most orcs were easily within a few days march and they could be coming at any time. While building up sleeping and eating areas was important, nothing went above the importance of a good fortification. Thus, Chargul decided to take a ride around the ramparts, checking out how the fortifications were looking.
He noticed that, while having palisades, a ditch and a motte were all very useful in effectively slowing down enemies, it provided no defence against heavy artillery or archery barrage. There was also the issue of the terrain being too favourable for a charge up to the walls. That was unacceptable. Chargul didn't have any solutions regarding ranged attacks just yet, but he knew what he could do about melee attackers closing in too fast on the ramparts.
Beyond the ditch and out about fifty meters from it, Chargul would want the land plowed. He wanted it to be uneven and he was sure that he could get some farmers in Auster to help him, if he just paid them well enough. It was possible he could even get them to do it for free, but he didn't expect that. Then again, it was winter, they didn't have much to do and it was in their own interest. He'd have to check and would do so later that day.
After the plowed land, Chargul wanted a heavy mass of small holes, never more than a foot deep, to cover the land for at least fifty meters, if not a hundred. He realized that a hundred meters of small holes could be difficult to pull off, while everything else was being built, so priority was given to the first fifty meters. The holes were intended to be placed closely together, without being larger than what an orcish leg could fit through. The effect was meant to cause cavalry and infantry charges before that point to be ineffective, as horses, worgs, orcs and such would fall into the small holes, twist their ankles or even break their legs. At worst, it would slow down incoming troops and break formations. Chargul designed them so that the holes wouldn't crumble together under typical weather conditions and so that heavy rain or snow would only make the holes muddy and less visible, while equally deadly.
Chargul wanted at least a 100 from the 9th Regiment to be working on that. There was no point in having them all on patrols and this was an important facet of fortifying the area.
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