Kreldon Family/Valos
(OOC: I'm new to the game, but i wanted to chronicle Valos' exploits in the game so that i'd remember where he's been as time goes on. Otherwise, just moving around and seeing battle reports might get rather tiresome. If for some reason anyone other than myself actually reads this, i hope you enjoy it! If you don't, well i don't care really hehe :) )
Valos' Diary
August 27th - No sooner than we arrived we've already been given orders to move out to Worav. There's apparently been fighting there and we're to assist in a possible push on retaking Ash'rily. While there i received word that my older brother Xanos has been there for some time. I had no idea he had even left the homestead, but here he is. Xanos never really was the fighting type, so i'm surprised he's here. He tells me he was setting out to try and make some money for the family by trading and was going to send it home to the family, but was sidetracked here due to the recent fighting. He doesn't plan to stay any longer than he has to, and i don't blame him.
August 26th - We were 3, and now we're 28. Only Jaren and another man named Kristoff survived our battles in Wayford and Chasnoff. Jaren somehow managed to escape the slaughter on the walls of Wayburg with only a slash across the chest. His leather armor protected him from most of it, but he still required stitches. He was up and about within a day though. Kristoff took a sword through the shoulder and kept fighting until he finally passed out from the loss of blood. Luckily someone got to him and patched him up enough after the fight to survive.
Since then we've managed to make it to Riverholm. Once i was there i cashed what bonds i had remaining and rebuilt our unit from the local barracks. 25 men of about as good a sword arms as who we left with, but much better armor. The people of Washford are courageous, but we don't have much for gold. Most simply cannot afford such luxuries as that kind of armor, but things are different here in the capital. We hope that it will lead to far less casualties in the future, as we're tired of seeing our own blood. Speaking of which, we finally managed to hire a healer to care for our wounded. A woman named Lladyn. Let us hope she keeps our men walking...or atleast dying with smiles on their faces.
We've also picked up two siege engines, similar to the design we saw crashing into the walls of Wayburg. We've adorned them with our banner and one of the new men climbed up on the outside of both and chiseled "Valiants" across the front of their wooden doors. The enemy will definately know who's coming for them.
August 22nd - Finally, the whole business at Wayford should be finally resolved. All the waiting and boredom in this place has come to an acceptable conclusion. As the sun rises and shimmers off the landscape, it reveals the ends of what could be the most epic battle I may ever be a part of. Thousands of troops flying three banners crashed head-on into our fortifications. Though they did outnumber us, you could call them crazy for doing so, as their numbers couldn't possibly be enough to make up for the advantages of our fortifications.
But they came anyways. We were positioned right in the middle of the front lines of infantry. The archers on the wall laid into the charging waves of bodies but could only thin them out so much before we were ordered to take up positions on the wall. We killed some simply by pushing away ladders or cutting their climbing ropes, but that all takes time and just gives their seige engines time to get into position. Massive towers of wood and iron, the seige engine's door blew open the moment it hit the wall. We met them there, attempting to keep them cornered inside, but they came out in all directions. I could not concentrate simply on that front, though, as ememies were still pouring over the walls on their own. One had managed to make his way over the wall when i turned around and all i saw was a mace coming right at me. I lurched backwards, and while it only grazed my armor, the momentum took me offbalance and threw me off of the wall onto the ground below. I was unable to make my way back up onto the fortifications, though i was trying my best to fight my way up there, but those walls became a sad scene of death for all involved.
When the smoke cleared, we had finally driven them away and were left with the bloody scene before us. Our portucullis had been raised and cavalry and enraged men had run out to cut down any that were too tired or slow to get away. I was far too bruised and battle weary to do so, and watched from the safety of the walls with a mild sense of satisfaction.
My men were everywhere, and, if any survived, they surely were not in great condition. I began looking for my battle standard, as that's where my men should lie. I found poor Laurence there, still clutching the shattered pieces of the banner in both hands even as he died. Apparently bleeding to death from a sword through the gut. It was a sad scene, men i had traveled with for nearly a month, cleaved and butchered on the stone, and nothing i could do for them. I got men from other nobles to volunteer to carry them down to the area that had been designated an infirmary area, but without a healer to care for them, i did not hold out much hope. I have counted my blessings for my own safety and theirs, and now retire for some much needed rest. Any that are able to march will come with me to Riverholm in the coming days, where we will be forced to replace our losses.
August 19th - I have been unable to make entries recently due to being force to leave my log behind at the camp. I've been tasked with under cover work for the last several days, and reporting back any information on the uprising that i discover. The mood has changed quickly in just a few days, and it appears the resistance is about to break. This will be good news for my men, as they may be able to finally march towards combat instead of sitting in the mud wasting away. I hear that ASI is already in our territory to the north east of the capital, and others are on our doorstep as I write this. While death isn't desired, a break in the boredom would be greatly appreciated.
August 14th - Before the sun had even risen there was a duel of some importance in the clearing in front of the encampment. The importance of the duel was lost on me, but it was apparently one of great history and import to all involved. Lord Gabriel slew the man, named Shilock, without much trouble. I am told he was a traitor to the realm some time ago, but i must have been too young to keep up with such things when it occured.
The process of policing Wayburg and bringing it officially under out control has begun. I leave the intricacies of local government to those that care about such things. Myself, i'm just trying to do my part when asked and keep my people out of trouble while doing it. One of the good things about being a noble nobody has heard of is that nobody trusts you to do anything of importance.
As the sun was rising we did our drills. Laps around the encampment in our armor and practice 9 on 9s melees to keep us fresh. With nothing else to do but sit and eat, it's best to keep our mind from wondering.
It's mid-day now and there is word of peasants uprising and organising against us. With so many troops here they cannot possibly think they can run us out of here? It's surely the ravings of the insane!
Evening comes and our drills continue into the evening. Jaren is given a break to prepare a pig that he has somehow managed to 'acquisition'. How it escaped the starving peasants we do not know, but we assume it was left behind in the countryside when the peasants retreated behind the walls. While, i must admit that we have been well supplied, nothing beats fresh pork on a evening battlefield. The smell soon attracted soldiers from other nobles, and we gave out what we could and took less than we wanted for ourselves. It left the men slightly disappointed, but it was the right thing to do under the circumstances. A good night's sleep with a mostly full belly will make them forget about it by morning.
August 13th - We are now 19. Lionel died during the night despite our best efforts. There wasn't much we could do for him really, as his wounds were quite severe. Luckily, the arrow that got Brian's leg missed the main artery and he seemed to be in good spirits today. Others were carrying his gear while he limped along, but they didn't seem to mind. Morale is high, and it's sinking in that we survived our first fight. Wayburg is nothing but a siege camp at the moment. Unable to scale the walls, but there's nothing the defenders of Wayburg can do to hurt us either. The people must be starving as it appears there has been constant looting. My own men were allowed to loot what they wished, but could find little of value and just found fed up peasants for their troubles. It appears we're to stay here until we're told otherwise. I suppose it'll give us time to further train together.
August 12th - Hundreds of forces have been spotted crossing the border into Swanfolk from Wayburg. We prepare defenses and are luckily reinforced by other nobles loyal to Abington. Entirely comprised of archers, we were forced to charge headlong into a downpour of arrows so that we could slaughter our enemies. It was a bloodbath once we could get our hands on them, and they scattered and ran in every direction. Two of our own were hurt in the engagement. Brian took an arrow in the leg and got trampled on by other soldiers charging in. Lionel took two in the gut and chest. Both are alive, but we haven't been able to pick up any healers yet in our rushed travels and the soldiers are forced to doing what they can for them as we continue towards Wayburg. (+4H +2P)
August 11th - We have been training in our off time between marches and we have see notable improvements. The mishmash of young aspiring soldiers from Washford may yet become a decent fighting force. We have managed to pick up a banner and given it to a young man named Laurence to fly during our battles. We hope it strengthens his resolve, as his sword arm is not what we'd wish.
August 10th - We are met by a messenger as we pass the borders of Werdham. We are to set forth towards Chasnoff as there has been alot of fighting in this area of late. Now armed with a purpose, our men set forth.
August 9th - I, and my 19 other men, set out from our family estate in Washford. This is the first time I've left the estate on my own before, and feel confident that I will be safe. As there have been no other orders given to me, we set out for Riverholm.
Documented members of the unit - Jaren - soldier and 'acquisitions expert', Laurence - Banner holder (died on the castle walls in the Battle of Wayford), Brian - soldier (dead - Battle of Wayford), Lionel - soldier (died, Aug 12th in battle in Swanfolk)
