In the Year of our Lord, 1645
JANUARY
Fortunately for many, though the winter is cold, the blizzards are few and short, nor does much snow fall otherwise, and though hungry it is possible to gather firewood most of the time. Even so it felt necessary by the Guard at the Southfort to clear many of the inhabitants of the cottages built about the edges of the new fields lest they be lost to a sudden worsening of the weather, in their isolated locations, and be unable to fulfil their duties in the fields next year. It would have been more convenient to bring them within the Southfort itself save for the fact that it is already fully occupied by the improvised Poorhouse the Guard has set up to deal with a number of wagon guards, overwintering at the Southfort, whose funds had run out, leading them to incur debt. One of the purposes of the Southfort being to reduce the need for such strangers to visit New Jerusalem itself, it is obvious that the Guard could hardly move them to the town Poorhouse.
MARCH
The thaw occurs late in February, and a windy start to March soon dries the land sufficiently for it to be worked and for travel. Lotte Luuk leads an early irregular patrol with such as Wolff, Zwitter, Retick (allowing his first batch `time to mature') and the incomprehensible Auslander Johan Marck Gregor one outlandish even by the standards of his fellows. Neither this nor early Blitzpatrols reveal any unexpected signs of diabolical machinations over the winter, which should perhaps given warning that some great scheme of the Enemy's was in motion to take all his attention from even the normal petty mischiefs to be discovered about this time.
APRIL
Early indications that this might be so could have been seen in the return of what has become something of a traditional venture against the servants of the pit, the inhabitants of the broken lands to the south, and their cattle, wherein the irregulars have these several years since sought to strike at the time the abominations can least afford to lose their beasts in the lean months after winter.
The leaders of this year's crop of raiders - Wolff, Retick, Zwitter - being predominantly horsemen they and their company rode forth, a new departure in this enterprise, upon Thursday, 30th March, with high hopes that their speed and mobility would reward them with a great success against the herds. Their return upon the following Sunday with far less than they had anticipated, no more than previous expeditions on foot had achieved, brought the news that far from the signal success they had anticipated the use of the horse had been all that had saved them from utter disaster, for as they swept down upon the herds they had come under fire from both musket and cannon concealed in the midst of the animals, such that save for their speedy withdrawal on horse they must surely have perished afoot. Even so they received many nicks and cuts from flying shot, and one Linne Jaeger her arm broken and she was only with difficulty brought forth from the ambuscade. After this episode the taste amongst those who, mostly at their own risk and motivation, battle with the darkness that surrounds us whenever favourable terms may be found, turns to investigations in other areas, it being apparent that the south is not currently an area in which sufficient profit to finance further ventures might be found.
This leads on the 19th to the return of a party lead by Lotte Luuk, from the East. Presumably she has had one of her periodic fallings out with her companions for she seems disturbed, distances herself from them and attends her church even more assiduously that usual - for though her behaviour may at times be unusual, that she has gained those earthly rewards that come to those favoured of the Lord cannot be doubted, and many sober minded persons deny ever having received confirmation of the rumours of her propensity to imbibe. Certainly she has not been seen amongst the customers of Emmanuel Retick's distillery (though that, some say, testifies more to her good taste than necessarily sobriety) despite that he accompanied her on this venture.
MAY
Gideon Wolff, Councillor Volger's Factor at the Southfort, and frequent leader of the irregular patrols sponsored by the Councillor to keep news of the great outdoors current from those areas that the Blitzpatrol do not yet reach, accompanied by his man-at-arms Malachi Stark, the stiller Emmanual Retick, dogs, mules and an auslander return from the far south, to lay before first Sergeant Grimmelshausen at the Southfort, then Captain Gerhardt certain information they have gathered from the things that haunt those parts. So far south had they penetrated, and alarming their news they discovered that daring not the road north, they came too late.
For the wagon train that had been due a week previously, and that had discovered the traces of before they left the road about that time, had not yet arrived. The exact date of arrival of any caravan being liable to variation by road conditions, and matters of trade at other points on the route, a week awry was not enough to cause apprehension amongst the responsible offices of the town. But taken with the intimations of trouble brought by Wolff (a member of the Volunteer Patrol), the Blitzpatrol was readied and also the request sent out for the gentlemen of the Volunteer Patrol to assemble. However, even as arrangements were completed and the Blitzpatrol rode forth from the town gates a runner arrived from the Southfort to announce the arrival of at least part of the convoy, apparently unharmed. It brought tidings, however, of a most unwelcome kind. For not five miles from the site of Oxen-Run they had found across their way a fortification newly erected against them, and several cannon emplaced. Halting at this sight they were approached before they could turn back by representatives of those who hold the way against them.
These, to the Merchants' surprise, all appeared to be men and they brought a proposal whereby those wagons that would pass on to New Jerusalem must pay a toll of ten percent by value of their goods and would be let by unharmed. Those that would not pay must wait or turn back for they would not be allowed through without running the t gauntlet of cannon fire which they could not counter, bearing on the wagons only light swivel-guns against the close approach of bandits and abominations.
Those that bring the news are those who had paid the `toll', though most unwillingly and only in order to pass and bring word to town. Of the remainder some had immediately turned back - mostly small traders with little specific business in New Jerusalem - while some had trusted in immediate relief from town and were prepared to wait, trusting to their own forces to give the bandit fort pause should they think to enforce their claim.
Once the tale is told and the council informed, the Blitzpatrol rides in full to determine the situation by Oxen-Run Ridge. Meanwhile the best way of countering this threat to the livelihood of the town is debated. It is obvious to all the councillors with interest in trade with the outside world that a surcharge in all goods to and from the west would render the town's chiefest export, grain, uncompetitive especially with the current shortage after the poor harvest. And there could be no guarantee that should ten percent be found to be tolerable that the next demand would not be for fifteen or twenty.
Further, it was pointed out by both Captain Gerhardt and Councillor Volger that given the location of the `toll gatherers' it must be supposed that their arch-enemy, Steelback, had a hand in it somewhere for in the incident of the cattle raid it was thought that the gunners had been the abominations colloquially known as Hobgoblins, of Steelback's kind and no doubt allegiance, also seen at the far side of the ridge in the aftermath of Axel Grossenmist's mishap a year ago.
Faced with the horrifying prospect of a resurgence of Steelback's power, dormant since the crushing defeat inflicted at Oxen-Run two years since in April of 1643 (though hinted at by recent events in that region), the council quickly votes the necessary funds to Captain Gerhardt to act against the fort and those behind it.
However the return of the Blitzpatrol brings the news that the fort was evacuated, secretly by night, and the remainder of the wagon train on its way into town. Little trace of the occupiers of the fort, save for a few tracks leading up the ridge as had been expected as it was known that some sort of presence was there. The `fort' itself on investigation had proved to comprise rough field emplacements that might have been thrown up in a few days, and directed mainly against traffic coming up the road from the south and west. It is decided to repeat the tactics of the victory at Oxen- Run, wagons with concealed troops and guns taking the part of a small convoy and preparations are made to this end.
JUNE
Upon the first of the month the special convoy of volunteered merchant wagons and guards, picked Town Guardsmen, the Blitz and Volunteer patrols, rolls out of town to disappear into the June haze, though not many hours pass before the least of the wagons returns bearing a casualty - Lotte Luuk, who had been found severely injured beside the road, watched over by Elijah Richter better known as a preacher these days but a hunter and exponent of the bow in days past as is Lotte herself still. It seems that these two had been commissioned to keep secret watch upon the road and environs, but Luuk had met with one of the common mishaps known to those spending their days in the open, though less so while under the protection of the town guns, assault by a fell thing of the air.
After Luuk has been brought to safety nothing more is heard for a week, when the convoy returns, unscathed for having well learned the lesson of Oxen-Run nothing had stirred nor dare venture against them. This is report is made to the Council, who are relieved that a permanent threat is not immediately present, but still concerned none the less that the Ridge shelters the enemies of man in some numbers ready at any time to make a new trial of the strength of Christian Men. Captain Gerhardt is instructed to seek further ways of negating this threat, such that do not involve excessive risk or expenditure on the part of the Town Guard. Over the next few days Captain Gerhardt seeks advice from various parties, though listens only and says nothing of whatever plans he may actually have, believing from the evidence of the men seen at the ridge fort that Steelback's spies may well be all about. A special council meeting upon Sunday the 11th listens in privacy to the Captain's outline plan, and give their assent.
A week later the Blitzpatrol leaves town in great haste and little warning, accompanying a mixed party of volunteers: a pair of minor preachers, Elijah Richter again and Johan Alteman `the preaching shepherd' who has also been known to take smite the ungodly with the Word or musket as appropriate in the past; a pair of common guardsmen; Linne Jaeger the hunter, recovered now from the musket ball through her arm; and one Sigmund Tobler, a Switzer auslander . This strange party arouses much speculation, heightened as the wagons are once more assembled and loaded not only with food and powder, as before, but quantities of wood, canvas and tools from hammers to shovels.
Upon Monday the 19th of June, one third part of the Town Guard, Patrols both Blitz and Volunteer, and sundry volunteers march south with one of the Southfort culverins. Captain Gerhardt is setting siege to the Oxen-Run Ridge.
The Town Guard disappear into the haze and dust of the summer in mid month to beard the Captain of Abominations in his lair 'neath the ridge of Oxen Run, where he was once before bested, though few believe it will be so easy this time, and last was a fierce and bloody battle. Some advantage though lies with Captain Gerhardt and his men for even as they are watched over by the Lord, whose Will they do, but also their comrades and some desperate fellows that had preceded them and established a watch upon the surrounds from a vantage point that no ambuscade, trap nor working might fall upon the Army of Siege. For it is on top of the Spire itself that they are encamped.
This had been rendered possible by the actions of irregulars, led by Volger's factor Gideon Wolff, who destroyed the abomination that had for many years laired there, a thing of the pit all scales, claws and feathers - some of which even now both Wolff and Stark affect to wear in the headgear. Upon that occasion the first ascent of the Spire was achieved with a view to ensuring that no further nest of abomination remained to trouble honest travellers, adventurers and merchants.
So fired with this knowledge the Captain's volunteers led the way to the top secretly and rapidly in advance of the main body of the Guard, lest Steelback should seize the advantage. Thus watched over the Army of Siege is unmolested as they set up fortification in accordance with the Manuals of Siegecraft somewhat modified by the fact that the ridge itself is some thirty miles long. It is fortunate therefore that the view afforded to the Spire watch confirms previous intelligences in locating the main gate of the subterranean fortification in a cave mouth within small-cannon shot of the Spire itself.
Once established, with the Southfort culverin well ranged upon the cave mouth the Guard proceeds to establish control across the whole of the plain between the ridge and the Jordan. The Patrols interrupt the scavenging of the enemy whereby they make their living when not plotting the downfall of Christian men. Several skirmishes and small battles also occur in the rocks about the base of the cliff that runs much of the length of the ridge - here the Guard is at some disadvantage, where the patrols' horses cannot penetrate while the hobgoblin horde has many years knowledge of the rock mazes, whereby guardsmen on foot are on some occasions lured to their doom.
JULY
In early July the passage of a merchant convoy affords the opportunity for the Captain to return those wagons lent by the merchant houses to carry the materials for the initial fortifications, supplemented now by material from the woods on the riverbank, supplies the like and those of the merchants' guards' that attend the vehicles and beasts. Most important it carries the news of the successful establishment of the Far South Fort and the good health of the majority of its inhabitants to cheer those waiting behind. What it cannot do is bring news of a resolution to the affair.
Skirmishes between the Guard and Abomination continue, with the weight of God's Wrath being ever more heavily visited upon the Adversary, 'til in desperation attempts are made upon the camp itself, by night, foiled by the watchfulness of the sentries and inevitably rewarded by charges of shot from culverin, swivel and wallgun. With command of the land established, certainly by day and a reasonable certainty that no major force might leave the ridge by night without running the gauntlet of the fort's cannon fire, the Captain gives leave for the Volunteer Patrol to return to New Jerusalem it being comprised of gentleman volunteers whose affairs might suffer from their prolonged absence. At the same time he starts to close the siege more tightly about the ridge, as the Blitzpatrol are sent expressly to deliver powder charges to known exits and demolish them so that even small numbers might not skulk out by day or night. This then brings response from the lurkers in the depths, for one night after several fine days a seasonal thunderstorm breaks reducing sight and hearing to that not more than an arms length before the face. Thus it is some while before it was realised that not all the thunderclaps and flashes were moving away on the main storm but that some were coming from the base of the cliff in the direction of the great cave mouth that led to the inner workings of the ridge, confirming suspicions that the foe might possess some poor, small pieces that had discouraged any attempt at an assault on the main gate as it were of the enemy citadel. As soon as this became apparent the fort's own gun, happily sheltered against just such weather that it might continue to be worked after the first discharge of the dry powder within the barrel. In consideration of the effect of the rain upon guardsmen's muskets and suspicion that the bombardment might presage an assault on the fort no force was sent forth to investigate but rather stood guard on the ramparts while the fire from the cliff was eventually silenced. Thus it was not until first light that it was realised that the devilish cunning of the foe had been employed in such a way as to render the advantage of the fort's cannon as nothing. For scars in the cliff face testified to how the facing of the piece had slowly been lured from the direct line of the opening in the cliff to an altogether barren rock face. Immediate reconnaissance showed a large force of foot and wheeled carts to have left for the south during the night once the stratagem had been accomplished - the Blitzpatrol rode in pursuit immediately while the guard proper made cautious approach to the inner areas not knowing whether to fear more that some trap was prepared for them, or that the enemy had in truth escaped.
In the event it turned out to be the latter of the possibilities - the Blitzpatrol finding some threescore abominations of the hobgoblin kind several hours south of the road, too strong a force for even a dozen stout hearted patrol men to attack especially given that some of the carts whose tracks had been marked bore the light cannon that had been so effectively deployed to deception earlier, but poor small pieces or not were still quite capable of hurling sufficient shot to disadvantage any attempt to close on the part of the patrol. Informed of both situations Captain Gerhardt gave the orders that the inner depths of the ridge be penetrated and after thorough searching the entrances be, as far as possible, destroyed, fortifications rendered useless while the patrol follow the fleeing group at a safe distance to observe their destination.
Within the ridge itself were discovered extensive ancient working of which only a small part had been lately occupied, and by God's Mercy, some guardsmen who had been taken prisoner in various skirmishes that their captors had not had time to slay on their flight. Once the damaging of the working's entrances had been completed attention was also turned on the fort itself that it might not be used by others upon it's abandonment. During this time the Patrol returned with the news that the trail had led to a dark wood deep to the south, already with a bad reputation amongst the adventuring group and irregular patrols that such new inhabitants would not improve. Realising that it was entirely possible that the whole of the Town Guard might march into such a place and never come out again the Captain gave orders for the march home, content with the knowledge that the Servants of Darkness had once more had it demonstrated that the Lord's Will and His servants had once more proven superior to their own dark master's schemes.
August
Not that that one did not exact revenge for his defeat. For once the victorious Guard returned the weather deteriorated until the end of August was marked by a continuous series of vicious thunderstorms, once more reduced the grain in the fields to a flat tangled mass that even when the sun once more broke through immediately succumbed to rot in the damp warmth so that the fields smelled more of the brewing than reaping at harvest time.
September
Seeing little value in remaining in town while this situation obtained several explorations set out in September were carried out in various directions to determine what other troubles might have been brewed while attention was focused upon the Ridge. To this end Elijah Richter the preacher, and Malachi Stark led a group east that included a noteworthy newcomer Ulric Goring of the town's cartwright family though many years since having gone to fight in the wars against diabolical popishness in the west, while a somewhat smaller party including Sergeant Grimmelshausen and Meinhoff the doctor disappeared to the southeast. Even Gustav Volger made one of his occasional forays mid-month with the now recovered Lotte Luuk, Wolff Volger's factor at the Southfort warehouse and the ex-stiller (having sold the business) Emmanuel Retick. This activity continued into October, in new directions - Grimmelshausen's group setting out once more to southwest, down the road; Stark and Goring heading north across the bridge then west to an area little probed which merits two visits though perhaps was less than hospitable for little profit was gained and something of a distance was observed between the leaders thereafter and indeed it was suspected that Goring had annoyed several of the established adventurers with his brash manner and confidence from the western wars, and his money, though much of that is spent on establishing a new yard for the family business in the Southfort rather than the present quarters in the Merchant's Quarter of New Jerusalem itself. So it is that Goring does not accompany either of the groups venturing out at end of month led by Conrad Steller and Johan Zwitter to southeast, Lotte Luuk and Malachi Stark to east.
October
That the end of the month of October is a time of ill-omen and deviltry is well known, with the `unholy day' of the witches' calendar - the Eve of All Hallows, an idolatrous festival in itself. Often manifestations of this dark feast are seen - a witch in flight against the moon, devilish apparitions and minor ill fortunes for which reason many choose to spend the night indoors with the fire banked high and prayer and bible readings, while the Guard seek out any sign of evil's work. This year was no exception, and in the Southfort Sergeant Grimmelshausen invites his friend his friend the preacher Elijah Richter to stand the night's watch with him and his men, to raise their spirits with prayer and preaching through the dark hours. So it is that at the dark of the night when a heaviness of spirit and premonition falls on the fort Richter leads all in prayer and the singing of psalms as a demon driven wind springs out of the calm night from the southwest plains, tearing roofs off building in the settlement and Fort, extinguishing fires before being repulsed by the godly garrison's prayers, then rushing up the road to the town itself where the palisade protecting the Outside district beyond the old walls is torn down, entering the town proper through the siege gap in the old walls doing much destruction to property and putting many good citizens in fear of their lives and souls before blowing itself out at the edge of the Mercantile and Wallside quarters. At first this was thought to be no more (or no less) than a manifestation of the night, though unusually severe and as the dawn broke the Guard though it wise to make enquiries lest some further evil was done and still to be discovered. In the growing light it became apparent that the path of destruction stopped surprisingly suddenly and questions were asked of those households about the immediate area - was anyone holding a particularly devout prayer meeting? any noted preachers in attendance? are all accounted for - none carried off nor unusual ill befallen? Which last question brought to their attention the disappearance of one Ulric Goring of the cartwrights in the hours following the wind, though he had been present in the immediate aftermath. Despite having been `ill' the previous evening he had that morning excused himself from the work of collecting the roof from the surrounding streets with news of an exploring expedition he was to join. Suspicions thoroughly roused by now the guardsmen started asking Questions. When did he go? With whom? Where? and elsewhere other questions were asked - had any of the known adventurers and irregulars left this morning? (with two groups some days gone...) Who would go with Goring - by no means the most popular man amongst that group... With other information from the Southfort it became necessary for Ulric Goring himself to answer some Questions. He had left town in the early morning, alone, by an unusual route.
By the evening the Blitzpatrol and dogs were on their way, unusually accompanied by Sgt Grimmelshausen who as one of the first to encounter the manifestations of Goring's dark doings was inclined to see the end of the matter too, a laudable dedication to duty and God's Work. And all that dedication both on the part of the sergeant, Captain van Rijn of the patrol and his men was needed. For no sooner had they passed beyond sight of the town than the Devil set his will against them to impede their hunt. The dogs turned on each other despite being well accustomed to such hunting together. Any horse left unattended for a moment strayed. Tempers frayed. Night watches were disturbed by alarms that proved false once all were woken. If proof were needed of Goring's guilt this harassment was surely sufficient. Despite all the resolution of the Patrol held and the fugitive tracked through the wilderness to the Stone Fields in the south eastern waste, where he might have been captured but escaped but minutes ahead of his pursuers, as they discovered from his tracks close by their camp next morning. After some searching through the rocks once more his trail was discovered and this time, all distractions set aside man, horse and dog set on with undivided attention, reaching the goblin hills of the south.
Here, in this fastness of darkness, the trail was lost when the dark guards of evil sought to impede the progress of Christian Men - the Patrol being set upon in a rocky valley in those parts by the guardians of those parts, and though the ambush was destroyed in short order by the heavy fire of the Patrol the scent of the trail was lost to the dogs, neither could any searching in that region find it again, though many false trails were investigated in the twisting and winding ways amongst the cliffs in the broken land until the Blitzpatrol found itself on the edge of the south waste, making their way back to the road at a point near the ridge of Oxen-Run before returning empty-handed.