Post by jamiemacgregor on Jan 1, 2008 19:42:41 GMT -5
It was a truly glorious day. The soon to be Baron of Bengal had received Royal permission to make a pre investiture tour of his lands. Naturally, his beloved betrothed, Star was riding beside him. Two others shared this trip. Ari and her husband Aegis had also agreed to accompany them. Riding behind the four of them were the first of Jamie's recruited troops. Riding in fours they were all attired in similar chain mail over brown surcoats emblazoned with Jamie's family crest. They rode over the lush lands Jamie was to be granted. Some pastureland and even some farmland, but mostly heavily timbered acres upon acres. Jamie was already planning to cut down some of those trees to make way for crops. The wood could be easily used for the construction of of his great keep. His eyes saw many things; industrious harding working people, places for mills to be erected to handle the grain, even locations perfect for villages and towns. He lacked only the perfect location for their home to be. He would keep searching, perhaps somewhere near the coast even.
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Jamie MacGregor
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Re: The Inspection Tour
« Reply #1 on Oct 16, 2007, 7:15pm »
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Suddenly, up ahead of them as if from nowhere an incredible table of land rises majestically to become a large plateau. Jamie's mind took it in within an instant. "There will stand Castle MacGregor," he announces dramatically. There was even well watered ground all about the plateau. Cisterns would also be useful. One road could be cut into the almost vertical rock walls to give access from below and make it correspondingly difficult for any enemy to besiege. This would be the home he would make for himself and Star, and for the entire barony. For long moments, he just stared at the site, his brain already engaged on the first stages of planning. His fellow travelers smiled and knew enough not to interrupt his brain processes.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #2 on Oct 17, 2007, 6:48pm »
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Jamie, Star, Aegis, and Avri had decided to investigate the seacoat of the Barony. They expected to find fishing villages all up and down the coast, maybe even some traders. They did not find this scene at all. All up and down the coast were the burned out remains of what had been fishing villages. Several small trading vessels had also been destroyed in the same fashion, only parts of their skeletons half buried in the sand. It was Jamie's duty to protect these people; his people. Obviously they had received scant protection before. That would change now. Avri had ridden off a bit. Jamie knew enough to let her Ranger senses guide them all. "She can what she has to do better alone." An hour later he was proven correct. The Ranger commander returned with some miserably clad, half starved people who had been fisher folk. Their story did not improve Jamie's mood any. From across the seas the Friggeans came to raid and loot. All the fish they caught and salted as well as any trade good the people had amassed. If they fought back the village was burned to the ground. Worst of all were the kidnappings. Women especially seemed to be the targets. One man said he lost his wife and daughter the same night. They had continued to fish, but now the salted catches were keep deep in the forest. It was a ploy to deceive the Friggeans; who might well think that they had abandoned the coast. Perhaps they would be spared for a while. Jamie's face was set like granite and his eyes blazed with anger, while he said little, save a few questions which brought him little information except that the raids were usually of 3 to 6 warships and they should be starting again soon. At that Jamie smiled. A plan had already begun to form in his mind. "Star, Aegis, Avri; time to form a council of war to deal with this."
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stardancer
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« Reply #3 on Oct 19, 2007, 12:57pm »
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She had been riding with Jamie and was distraught to see the destroyed villages. She began to work with the people, building safe places to stay and helping build a healer center for Shuku to work. She organized the fishers and made sure they were protected while working. Once she had built the healer center, she was exhausted and went to get a bit of food and sleep to prepare for the next day.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #4 on Oct 19, 2007, 5:37pm »
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Jamie had worked all day with Star and Shuku. One fishing village was being rebuilt. More important, Shuku was getting a hospital built. More contingents of Jamie's soldiers had arrived; lancers, infantry, and archers. When the raiders came he would give them a surprise they would never expect. But that was only the first phase of his plans; the slaughtering of the raiders and the capture of their vessels. One day soon, he would bring the fight to Friggea across the water; a realm where the raiders were encouraged and protected by the King and the Royal Family. Some royals even took part in the raids as well. One day soon they would pay for these actions.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #5 on Oct 22, 2007, 6:51pm »
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It was a joy having Star, Shuku, and Silkie working with him in the barony. Star's magical living quarters were standing up well. The reconstruction of the first fishing village was also proceeding smoothly, the former residents returning, after they had been guaranteed protection by baronial forces. Jamie had been sending out many message pigeons to old friends and calling in old favors. In response more troops of all types poured into the barony. Jamie spent most of his days training them relentlessly. Soon lancers, infantry, and archers were working together like a well oiled machine. It had taken enough sweat to make it happen. Shuku's hospital had taken shapen and was ready. Of course she did insist on a garden. After a couple of her hugs, Jamie had given in.
The newly invested baron had also given though to the future security of his seacoast. Special beacons were being prepared, but not posted along the shore. Instead they were built on carts and pulled by oxen. They cold be hidden in the forest and then brought out when enemy ships were sighted. His ships would then put to sea and come in behind the enemy vessels, while troops would confront the raiders on land. And troops would be stationed at strategic locations, not too far away from shore. Jamie was also organizing a post of mounted relay riders to speed news across the barony. Eventually the hub of this network would be Castle MacGregor. Several ships now appeared off the coast, flying Jamie's colors. Warships he had purchased and extra crews to man the ships to be captured. It was the genesis of a bronial navy and a way to strike back at the Friggeans.
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Jamie MacGregor
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Re: The Inspection Tour
« Reply #1 on Oct 16, 2007, 7:15pm »
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Suddenly, up ahead of them as if from nowhere an incredible table of land rises majestically to become a large plateau. Jamie's mind took it in within an instant. "There will stand Castle MacGregor," he announces dramatically. There was even well watered ground all about the plateau. Cisterns would also be useful. One road could be cut into the almost vertical rock walls to give access from below and make it correspondingly difficult for any enemy to besiege. This would be the home he would make for himself and Star, and for the entire barony. For long moments, he just stared at the site, his brain already engaged on the first stages of planning. His fellow travelers smiled and knew enough not to interrupt his brain processes.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #2 on Oct 17, 2007, 6:48pm »
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Jamie, Star, Aegis, and Avri had decided to investigate the seacoat of the Barony. They expected to find fishing villages all up and down the coast, maybe even some traders. They did not find this scene at all. All up and down the coast were the burned out remains of what had been fishing villages. Several small trading vessels had also been destroyed in the same fashion, only parts of their skeletons half buried in the sand. It was Jamie's duty to protect these people; his people. Obviously they had received scant protection before. That would change now. Avri had ridden off a bit. Jamie knew enough to let her Ranger senses guide them all. "She can what she has to do better alone." An hour later he was proven correct. The Ranger commander returned with some miserably clad, half starved people who had been fisher folk. Their story did not improve Jamie's mood any. From across the seas the Friggeans came to raid and loot. All the fish they caught and salted as well as any trade good the people had amassed. If they fought back the village was burned to the ground. Worst of all were the kidnappings. Women especially seemed to be the targets. One man said he lost his wife and daughter the same night. They had continued to fish, but now the salted catches were keep deep in the forest. It was a ploy to deceive the Friggeans; who might well think that they had abandoned the coast. Perhaps they would be spared for a while. Jamie's face was set like granite and his eyes blazed with anger, while he said little, save a few questions which brought him little information except that the raids were usually of 3 to 6 warships and they should be starting again soon. At that Jamie smiled. A plan had already begun to form in his mind. "Star, Aegis, Avri; time to form a council of war to deal with this."
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stardancer
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« Reply #3 on Oct 19, 2007, 12:57pm »
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She had been riding with Jamie and was distraught to see the destroyed villages. She began to work with the people, building safe places to stay and helping build a healer center for Shuku to work. She organized the fishers and made sure they were protected while working. Once she had built the healer center, she was exhausted and went to get a bit of food and sleep to prepare for the next day.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #4 on Oct 19, 2007, 5:37pm »
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Jamie had worked all day with Star and Shuku. One fishing village was being rebuilt. More important, Shuku was getting a hospital built. More contingents of Jamie's soldiers had arrived; lancers, infantry, and archers. When the raiders came he would give them a surprise they would never expect. But that was only the first phase of his plans; the slaughtering of the raiders and the capture of their vessels. One day soon, he would bring the fight to Friggea across the water; a realm where the raiders were encouraged and protected by the King and the Royal Family. Some royals even took part in the raids as well. One day soon they would pay for these actions.
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jamiemacgregor
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« Reply #5 on Oct 22, 2007, 6:51pm »
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It was a joy having Star, Shuku, and Silkie working with him in the barony. Star's magical living quarters were standing up well. The reconstruction of the first fishing village was also proceeding smoothly, the former residents returning, after they had been guaranteed protection by baronial forces. Jamie had been sending out many message pigeons to old friends and calling in old favors. In response more troops of all types poured into the barony. Jamie spent most of his days training them relentlessly. Soon lancers, infantry, and archers were working together like a well oiled machine. It had taken enough sweat to make it happen. Shuku's hospital had taken shapen and was ready. Of course she did insist on a garden. After a couple of her hugs, Jamie had given in.
The newly invested baron had also given though to the future security of his seacoast. Special beacons were being prepared, but not posted along the shore. Instead they were built on carts and pulled by oxen. They cold be hidden in the forest and then brought out when enemy ships were sighted. His ships would then put to sea and come in behind the enemy vessels, while troops would confront the raiders on land. And troops would be stationed at strategic locations, not too far away from shore. Jamie was also organizing a post of mounted relay riders to speed news across the barony. Eventually the hub of this network would be Castle MacGregor. Several ships now appeared off the coast, flying Jamie's colors. Warships he had purchased and extra crews to man the ships to be captured. It was the genesis of a bronial navy and a way to strike back at the Friggeans.
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