Mercs:

The Baron | Greenblade | Bletcher | The Hoffmeister | Stiff | Smoke | Mental | The Guvnah | Vixen | Clamor | The Harvester | Randall | Lurin | Rilie | Ori | Mila | The Explorer | Twerk | Sharptooth | Hubert

The Baron

Name Unknown

Nickname The Baron

Race/Nationality Human/Durnish

Age 32

Daily Wage 11 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 4

Action Points 4

Hit Points 18

Core Stats

Might 7

Agility 13

Grit 7

Intellect 14

Skills

Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient), Swords (competent)

Equipment

Short sword (damage 2-12), Dagger (damage 3-12), Leather, Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception, Amulet of Disguise, Necklace of Agility (+2 to Agility)

Greenblade

Name Ashlyn Sawrey

Nickname Greenblade

Race/Nationality Human/Durnish

Age 22

Daily Wage 2 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 5

Action Points 6

Hit Points 27

Core Stats

Might 12

Agility 12

Grit 10

Intellect 9

Skills

Swords (master), Shields (proficient), Knives (competent) Spears (competent)

Equipment

Longsword (Greenblade, Monsters only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 5-40), Knife (damage 2-8), Shield (damage 3-9), Spear (damage 2-12) Armour of Resilience (+Shield)

Bletcher

Name ?

Nickname Bletcher

Race/Nationality Human/Hargon

Age 21

Daily Wage 1 shilling, 6 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 5

Action Points 4

Hit Points 17

Core Stats

Might 4

Agility 6

Grit 8

Intellect 7

Arcane Powers

Sanctity Exalted

Erudition Dolt

Skills

Staves (competent)

Equipment

Staff of Warning, Leather, Mask of Magical Warding

The Hoffmeister

Name Georg Hoffman

Nickname The Hoffmeister

Race/Nationality Human/Hargon

Age 23

Daily Wage 10 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 4

Action Points 6

Hit Points 26

Core Stats

Might 11

Agility 8

Grit 11

Intellect 7

Skills

Spears (expert), Shields (proficient), Hammers (competent)

Equipment

Pike (Spear of Riposte, damage 4-48, +4 on interruption), Shield (damage 3-9), Hammer (damage 2-12), Chain Mail (+Shield), Helmet

Stiff

Name Lothar Sauer

Nickname Stiff

Race/Nationality Human/Hargon

Age 51

Action Stats

EXP Level 7

Action Points 9

Hit Points 38

Core Stats

Might 14

Agility 10

Grit 17

Intellect 15

Skills

Swords (expert), Shields (master), Spears (proficient)

Equipment

Longsword (Slayer, To Hit +2, Damage +1, damage 5-33), Shield of Resistance (5-15) Chain mail (+Shield)

Smoke

Name Odafe Negedu

Nickname Smoke

Race/Nationality Human/Alinko

Age 28

Daily Wage 4 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 6

Action Points 7

Hit Points 32

Core Stats

Might 14

Agility 14

Grit 12

Intellect 10

Skills

Thievery, Knives (master), Shields (competent), Spears (proficient)

Equipment

Knives (damage 5-20), Shield (damage 2-6) Leather (+Shield), Lockpicking and other tools of the trade

Mental

Name Mary Jenkins

Nickname Mental

Race/Nationality Human/Durnish

Age 43

Daily Wage 1 shilling, 6 pence

Action Stats

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EXP Level 5

Action Points 7

Hit Points 32

Core Stats

Might 13

Agility 12

Grit 14

Intellect 7

Skills

Berserker, Axes (master), Knives (expert)

Equipment

Battle-axe (two hander, damage 5-50), Dagger (4-16) Chain Mail

The Guvnah

Name Alfie Goodfellow

Nickname The Guvnah

Race/Nationality Human/Durnish

Age 30

Daily Wage 11 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 8

Action Points 9

Hit Points 38

Core Stats

Might 17

Agility 16

Grit 13

Intellect 12

Skills

Swords (master), Shields (master), Knives (expert), Spears (expert), Axes (proficient), Maces (proficient)

Equipment

Longsword (Blueblade, Undead only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 5-40), Spear (4-24), Shield (5-15), Dagger (4-16) Piecemeal (+Shield), Helmet

Vixen

Name Chinara Makinde

Nickname Vixen

Race/Nationality Human/Alinko

Age 26

Daily Wage 4 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 6

Action Points 7

Hit Points 30

Core Stats

Might 13

Agility 15

Grit 11

Intellect 9

Skills

Sling (expert), Swords (competent), Knives (competent)

Equipment

Shortsword (2-12), Sling (4-16), Knife (2-8), Studded Leather

Clamor

Name Felix Rittel

Nickname Clamor

Race/Nationality Human/Hargon

Age 32

Daily Wage 11 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 8

Action Points 9

Hit Points 39

Core Stats

Might 16

Agility 17

Grit 15

Intellect 12

Skills

Scouting, Bows (master), Knives (master), Spears (expert), Shields (competent)

Equipment

Shortbow (damage 5-30), Knife (5-20), Short spear (4-24), Shield (2-6), Studded Leather (+Shield)

The Harvester

Name Vytenis Ringaudas Dravenis

Nickname The Harvester

Race/Nationality Human/Livanian

Age 38

Daily Wage 15 shillings

Action Stats

EXP Level 9

Action Points 10

Hit Points 45

Core Stats

Might 18

Agility 14

Grit 18

Intellect 14

Skills

Swords (master), Shields (proficient), Knives (master), Spears (proficient), Axes (proficient), Polearms (proficient)

Equipment

Beidhander (Deliverer, +3 to hit, 5-50), Knife (5-20), Plate, Helmet

Randall the Heavy-Handed

Name Randall

Nickname Heavy Hands

Race/Nationality Dwarf

Age 44

Daily Wage 7 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 3

Action Points 5

Hit Points 25

Core Stats

Might 10

Agility 8

Grit 12

Intellect 6

Skills

Axes (proficient), Shields (competent), Hammers (competent)

Equipment

Battle-axe (two hander, Splitter, To Hit +2 & Damage +2, 5-32), Hammer (2-12), Chain Mail

Lurin Veinfinder

Name Lurin

Nickname Veinfinder

Race/Nationality Dwarf

Age 54

Daily Wage 8 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 3

Action Points 5

Hit Points 23

Core Stats

Might 8

Agility 7

Grit 12

Intellect 6

Skills

Sapper, Axes (competent), Shields (competent)

Equipment

Pickaxe (2-12), Shield (2-6), Breastplate, Helmet, Sapper's Kit, Stone Speaker

Rumblewind

Name Rilie

Nickname Rumblewind

Race/Nationality Halfling

Age 31

Daily Wage 6 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 3

Action Points 4

Hit Points 17

Core Stats

Might 8

Agility 13

Grit 6

Intellect 4

Skills

Sling (proficient)

Equipment

Sling of Accuracy (+4 To Hit, 3-12), Studded Leather

Oripione

Name Oripione

Nickname Ori

Race/Nationality Tiefling

Age 26

Daily Wage 10 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 4

Action Points 6

Hit Points 28

Core Stats

Might 13

Agility 9

Grit 11

Intellect 7

Skills

Medic, Swords (expert), Knives (proficient), Shields (proficient), Spears (novice)

Equipment

Longsword (Goldblade, Elder races only To Hit +4 & Damage +8, regular damage 4-32), Dagger (3-12), Spear (1-6), Shield (3-9), Lamellar (+Shield)

Mila

Name Liudmila Stradenko

Nickname Mila

Race/Nationality Human/Livanian

Age 21

Daily Wage 7 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 3

Action Points 4

Hit Points 17

Core Stats

Might 5

Agility 11

Grit 9

Intellect 6

Skills

Thievery, Medic, Knives (proficient)

Equipment

Dagger (damage 3-12), Armour of Unyielding Silk, Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit

The Explorer

Name Jaelin Topolski

Nickname The Explorer

Race/Nationality Human/Livanian

Age 27

Daily Wage 11 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 4

Action Points 5

Hit Points 24

Core Stats

Might 9

Agility 12

Grit 11

Intellect 10

Skills

Scouting, Bows (expert), Knives (proficient), Spears (competent)

Equipment

Shortbow (damage 4-24), Knife (damage 3-12), Short spear (damage 2-12), Studded Leather, Rod of Light

Twerk

Name Wilson Turk

Nickname Twerk

Race/Nationality Gnome

Age 51

Daily Wage 11 pence

Action Stats

EXP Level 4

Action Points 6

Hit Points 26

Core Stats

Might 15

Agility 9

Grit 7

Intellect 10

Skills

Ambidextrous, axes (master)

Equipment

Hand axe (damage 5-30), Hand axe (damage 5-30), Breastplate, Helm of Fortitude (+2 Grit)

Sharptooth

Name Sharptooth

Nickname None

Race/Nationality Warg

Age 1

Daily Wage N/A

Action Stats

EXP Level 1

Action Points 5

Hit Points 29

Core Stats

Might 15

Agility 14

Grit 13

Intellect 1

Hubert

Name Hubert

Nickname None

Race/Nationality Brown Bear

Age 6

Daily Wage N/A

Action Stats

EXP Level 1

Action Points 7

Hit Points 42

Core Stats

Might 30

Agility 15

Grit 11

Intellect 1

Apple Infantry: 111

Lothar listened to his lieutenants as he studied the hastily drawn map of the northern sector of the city.

Jaelin told him what he'd seen at the supply camp in the Wildwood. Eva told him how supplies were good, except for ballista bolts. Georg gave a lengthy run down of the state of the infantry. Captain Guan summarised the layout north of the city, marking locations on the map. The Baron described the heavy defences of the enemy camp, close to the gate at the north wall.

Everyone said their piece. But it was Lothar who had to make the decisions.

He rubbed at the side of his head. He had a new lump there, yet another sign that he was getting old.

"This is one of those situations," he said, his decision all but made, "where not taking a risk is a risk. Playing to hold onto what we've got isn't going to work."

"So what's the plan?" Jaelin asked.

"The north gate will be open for the imperial reinforcements. One team will head there and get into the city. The rest will have to defend against the imperial incursion. If we can hold them off here, and take their base camp, we'll have them trapped between us."

He got some grudging nods at the plan.

"It's certainly a risk," Guan said. "If it goes wrong, they'll take everything."

"True. I need every soldier we can muster."

"You'll have me and my unit. What would you have us do?"

"You'll hold the lumber yard against them. We can't have them carving through there and coming at the central square from more than one direction."

"We'll hold it for you."

"The rest of us?" asked Georg. "Who attacks, and who defends?"

"Your infantry will defend. You'll need some additional help."

He ran through his roster of mercs in his mind, assessing whose skills would best fit where. He couldn't afford to leave either crew under strength, or the mission would fail, and the Apples would be obliterated.

***

The solitary individual approached the north gate where Runchu and a dozen comrades had been put on guard duty. He staggered under the weight of the sack he carried. For a moment, Runchu thought something interesting might happen to relieve the day's boredom, but then he recognised Enchen.

"Halt!" boomed Yuz. "State your business!"

"It's only Enchen!" Runchu exclaimed. Clearly, he wasn't the only one bored out of his mind. Though guard duty at the north gate was preferable to fighting rebels and their demonic foreign allies.

"Oh—I thought," muttered Yuz. "Never mind."

"Not seen you in days!" Runchu said, as Enchen released his sack and stretched out his back.

"I was sent to the forest camp to help them pack and make ready. Been hauling you name it here, there and everywhere for days."

"Ah. And what you got in there?"

"Here?" Enchen asked, untying the cloth sack. He pulled it open to reveal a tiny man with red hair.

"What the—?"

ACTION ROUND

The tiny man pulled a pair of not so tiny axes from his belt and launched an attack. Before Runchu or anyone else could comprehend what was happening, both axes were swinging into the guards. Twelve swings in one round, with eight hits. Eight hits left six dead or dying.

Enchen turned on Yuz. Two stabs with a dagger left him bleeding out on the ground. Another action, and Enchen took 5 hit points from the next guard.

Two of Runchu's comrades attacked the little creature. Eight actions, only one hit, and a measly 3 damage.

Runchu had seen enough. He didn't understand what was happening. But it was obvious how it was going to end.

He turned and ran. It wasn't deserting his post. It was getting reinforcements, before the enemy got into the city.

Pain between the shoulder blades. So bad his whole body spasmed, and he crashed to the ground. So bad he couldn't breathe.

The blade was removed, and the worst of the pain went with it. That was something, even if he knew he was dying.

"Sorry, chommie." It was a foreigner's voice. "Nothing personal."

***

Even on the rooftop, overlooking the square, Chinara's nerves jangled.

She could hear the imperials approaching. Down below, the defenders had to be shaking in their boots. The Hoffmeister had them well organised, at least. Those who weren't manning one of the three ballistae were lined up in a long wall of spears and shields. Even Greenblade and Ori stood in that line, prepared to fight as spearwomen. Chinara admired them both. She doubted whether Wynter or Rake would have put themselves there.

The only one who stood apart was Randall, unwilling to swap axe for spear. He stood by the ballistae. They were mighty machines, but even they wouldn't stop the numbers the empire sent.

The bang of drums, the march of booted feet, and the first line of imperials entered the square. They didn't stand to attention or make demands. Instead, they picked up pace, aiming to break through the Apples' line.

Chinara and Rilie shared a look. Before them was a pile of bullets and stones. They each selected a missile, placing it in their sling pockets. They flicked their wrists, and the cords began to spin.

***

The Baron signalled them, and Lothar led his squad to the north gate. The guards were accounted for, but they had only a few precious moments to take advantage. He waved his mercs into the city—amongst them were a warg and a bear, and he asked himself when exactly his life had become so strange.

From the track that led into the Wildwood, The Explorer and Clamor came running.

"The next unit of imperials is arriving," Jaelin said breathlessly.

"Then we have no time to waste. Help me get this gate closed." They pushed at the gate, as the imperial column came into view. Hubert and The Harvester heaved the first drawbar into its slots.

Lothar pointed to the wooden stairs that wound up to the battlements. "Keep those imperials from breaking in," he instructed The Explorer and Clamor. "We'll do the rest."

With his archers deployed to defend the gate and the last locking bar lifted in place, he led the rest down North Street. Ahead of them, the imperials' base camp came into view. It was situated at a crossroads between two major thoroughfares. Three ballistae protected the position, and a defensive wall ran around it, nearly forming a complete circle.

Nearly. But as The Baron had explained, the gates on the northern side of the camp were open. The gap, as wide as the street they walked down, facilitated the transport of troops and supplies from the camp in the Wildwood. But it gave the Rotten Apples a point of entry.

They charged in. Sharptooth and Hubert were the quickest, savaging at the nearest defenders and causing panic. The rest weren't far behind. Mental screamed her challenges and Twerk wasn't much quieter. The Harvester and The Guvnah were silent but no less deadly.

Lothar saw the gnome surrounded and rushed over to help. Slayer helped him turn five hits to six. Five Kuthenians were taken out of the fight. Just as well, since Wilson took a good battering even without those five.

Mila was quickly on the scene to attend to him, while Lothar finished off the rest. He moved on. To his right, Smoke and The Baron had secured a ballista.

He made for the next, moving unimpeded to the wall where it still pointed south. Four soldiers were busy unanchoring it, in the mistaken hope it could be turned against Lothar's crew. He finished all four in one round and looked for the next targets.

The camp was all but taken, The Harvester and The Guvnah mopping up the last of the resistance—a group of archers on the battlements. To the south, the column of imperial reinforcements snaked south, towards the central square. Then it stopped, as those at the rear stared back towards the camp.

"We may have an issue here," he hollered.

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