S&I Legion: Reorganization

A week after they were set out, the two teams sent to subjugate the Moorland riders and the Black tors both return. Davos and his team return with thirty prisoners, three large chest full of valuables, three carts of loots and several horses, all the while losing only a dozen men and several wounded.

Dorlock on the other hand had lost most of the troops that were given to him. Out of the three hundred men that were given to him, only a measly sixty-five return.

Davos was able to achieve victory because his opponents were low in number, around a hundred. It took a week because of the terrain of the tors.

Dorlock on the other hand was surprised. The Moorland riders was supposed to be only around fifty to seventy strong but when they found the enemy camp and attacked, they were in for a surprise.

There were more than three hundreds armed men. Many were infantry, which the Moorland riders shouldn't have. And more importantly...

"They had a mage," Said Dorlock,"He brought down a rain of fire and brimstone among our ranks wrecking havoc. He is the man reason we lost the fight."

"Was he from the Moorland riders?"Ask Kain.

"No, Chief," Said Dorlock,"He was the chief of the Notting hounds and was called Antruis the fire shaman."

Kain understood the reason behind Dorlock's failure. It was not due to his inaptitude. The southern moor and the Notting hill bandits had formed an alliance.

"Alright," Said Kain," Now go and take rest."

"Thank you, Chief," Said Dorlock,"I am sorry for my mistake."

"You should be," Said Kain,"and for that I am demoting you from a captain."

"As you command, Chief," Said Dorlock.

"On your way, Tell captain Edoras that I have summon him."

.

.

.

In a day, the Steel and Iron Legion had lost three hundred and fifty lives and sixty were wounded, putting their total fighting force to five hundred and ninety. The eighty were the surviving Shadow hands, whose main function was to gather information, so the total fighting force fell down to five hundreds.

But it also came at an advantage. All five hundreds had tasted the battlefield. They were more hardy now.

A hundred had joined the crew so the total number rose to six hundreds.

Fewer troops also required fewer number of arms to equipped them. Previously, the bandits were mostly armed with spears, rusty swords and axes and only few had shields. Except for the Calvary and the warrior corp, most didn't had proper armors.

The battle with the Alwen Khyne crew and the Black Tor crew had brought in many weapons and gears.

The crew had gathered two hundred spears, a hundred and fifty short swords, a hundred and fifty shields, twenty greatsword, twelve greataxe, five warhammers, a hundred bows, twelve crossbows, several hundred arrows, five glaives and halberds and several hundred daggers, knives and throwing axes. They also got two hundred leather padded armors, fifty cuirass, thirty chainmails and two plated armors.

The blacksmiths, carpenters and leather workers had also produced several hundred weapons and armors in two weeks. They had produced more than enough shields to equipped everyone, padded with leathers and reinforced with metal.

Kain reorganized the five hundreds into ten units. Eight infantry units, two Calvary units and two warrior units, each unit consisting of fifty men.

The Infantry units were given a shield, spear and their primary weapons, Axe, Swords and Bows. The Archer units of the infantry were given swords instead of spears as their secondary weapons.

The Infantry were given leather armors produced by the craftsmans and from the loots and helmets.

Each unit were put under a Vice-captain while two units were put incharge under a captain. Davos, who was made a lieutenant was made the command of the Infantry units.

The Calvary, which had been increased to a hundred were given a shield, longsword, halberds and battle-axes according to their fighting style with short swords equipped as their secondary weapons. They were armored in leather padded Armor with cuirass and helmets.

The calvary were put in charge of Surfi, who continued to be their commander.

The warrior units, who Strength had gone upto a hundred were the most heavily equipped. All of them were given half-plated and leather padded Armor with visored helmet produced by the blacksmiths. Each of them were armed with the big weapon a halberd, crossbows and short swords as their secondary weapons while their primary weapons were Battle-axes, Longswords or warhammers according to their fighting styles.

The Warriors were led personally by Kain and seconded by Robert.

Meanwhile, the injured bandits formed a new militia, the guards with fifty in their units. Their ranks were bolstered by a hundred men of the rescued villagers, both old and young.

The rescued villagers were stationed to stay in the hamlet until the hillfort was finished. Many had begun constructing their own homes. Around four hundred villagers were rescued. They found jobs in the hillfort constructions, as craftsmans and guards. Even the women were given jobs by the crew and were paid, though measly. Their daily needs for food and shelter were look for, so they were really grateful.

In the future, Kain wanted the hillfort to become a garrison town and these villagers will become the backbone of the food productions.

All that was left for Kain was to train his crew and wait for the news he was expecting. He was waiting for the shadow hands to return with the news.

Three days later the news arrived.

"Chief, four riders are coming from the south," Said a Shadow hand unit member,"They bear the Viscount banner. The Captain is trailing them and asked for your command for the next action."

*Bang*

Kain thump the table with a satisfied look. Tonmen and Jonmen had not disappointed him. They had followed his instructions well.

"Tell Captain Edoras to capture them,'' Said Kain,"and also not to use unnecessary force. Try to intimidate them and bring them here."

His next strategem was about to go through.