by Dean Henegar
Krebbs began calculating the cost for each item. “New standard boot upgrades are two gold. The new large shield upgrade is normally eighteen gold, but we can get some used surplus shields that should have a lot of life left in them for fourteen gold. Tools like shovels, picks, and axes would cost five gold to equip all your forces. Remember that these shouldn’t be used in battle and will crack if hitting armor or metal shields. The standard bronze tip wood javelins will set you back one silver each. I do have quite a few surplus bronze short swords I could let go for twelve gold fifty silver vs the twenty-five gold a new one costs. They’re not exactly pretty but should still be serviceable for quite a while.”
I pulled up the help tab on my interface and searched for information on the monetary system. It appeared that one hundred coppers equaled one silver, and one hundred silvers equaled one gold. After some rough calculations I came up what would give us the best bang for the buck.
“Private Krebbs, we’ll take the boots, the surplus short swords, the surplus shields, if you have that many, the tools, and two hundred javelins. That comes to thirty-five gold and fifty silver, if my math is right. For say forty total gold could you throw in a few medical aid kits and uniforms that are durable and won’t make everyone uncomfortable the whole day?”
I couldn’t wait to get rid of the itchy, standard uniform I was wearing now. Should I ever find the guy that designed the uniform…well, it wouldn’t be a good day for him. It appeared upgrades were expensive for my class but once purchased, I wouldn’t have to spend more when new soldiers were added to my unit. New units would be equipped to whatever standard level of gear I had. I also was torn on purchasing more javelins, but I felt two hundred would get us to where we were going before we ran out.
Krebbs thought for a few seconds. “Sure, I can make that happen, Lieutenant. I’ll get on that gear right away and have it sent right out to the marshalling field. Your gear should be waiting for you by the time you arrive with your soldiers. Anything else you needed?” I told Krebbs no, thanking him for his help. It was nice to see that some people in the army of the Imperium were competent in their work.
As we left the supply depot, a notification popped up.
New skill acquired: Negotiator
Your haggling with a supply clerk has unlocked the negotiation skill.
You will be able to acquire better prices at some vendors. This skill increases with use and may open up unique questlines.
Anything to save money was nice. I was down to sixty gold and would have to start paying for my soldier’s wages and supplies in sixty days. Speaking of that, I had better find out how much their pay would be. Pulling up the information tab in the menu, I did a search for wages and found the following:
Imperial wage scale:
Standard soldier: 10 silver per month
Advanced soldier: 25 silver per month
Elite soldier: 50 silver per month
As my forces grew, it would start to cost me an arm and a leg to keep them paid and fed. Hopefully, this game would start showing me ways to make money. Picking up coppers off goblins wasn’t going to cut it. Deciding to try and build some rapport with Sergeant Brooks, I started to ask a few questions.
“Sergeant Brooks do you have any family?” I asked.
“No sir. If the Imperial army wanted me to have a family, they would have assigned me one sir.”
The sergeant’s gruff response gave me the hint that he was not open for small talk. I took the hint and kept quiet as we walked down the packed dirt road. The barracks were a series of tents laid out in a grid pattern over an open field. Luckily, we didn’t have to go hunting for our troops through the maze of tents. They had received the order to form up outside the barracks area and were loafing around waiting for us to arrive. When they caught sight of an officer and sergeant approaching, they snapped to and began to try and arrange themselves in some semblance of a formation.
Sergeant Brooks charged toward the disorganized troops. “Fall in! How long have you been out of training privates? Did you forget how to form ranks already?” The sergeants haranguing made the soldiers even more flustered and it took several more moments for them to fall into formation. The two ten-man squads lined up one in front of the other. The sergeant turned around and it appeared he was waiting for me to address the troops.
This had been a while but here goes. “At ease!” I loudly ordered, and the men snapped to the correct position. “My name is Lieutenant Raytak and I have the privilege of leading you brave soldiers.” I had nearly said Colonel Raytak and caught myself at the last moment, forgetting the game had busted me down in rank from my real life military career.
“We have been ordered to the village of Hayden’s Knoll to help protect the settlement from any threats. I understand you are recently out of basic training, but between Sergeant Brooks and myself, we will whip you into fighting form. We will train hard while we’re on the road, as I firmly believe in the motto of sweat more now, bleed less later. Sergeant Brooks! Form up the men and move them to the marshalling area.”
Sergeant Brooks formed the men into column and began to call cadence as we marched to meet the caravan. Several players stopped to watch the strange spectacle of another player leading Imperial army troops. I even had a few /whispers asking if this was a quest or event. The regular caravans heading to the border would form up outside of town to reduce crowding in the streets as well as avoid the mess that the animals made. We soon made our way out of the city and, after showing a copy of our orders to the gate guards, were directed to a group of wagons assembling a few hundred yards away.
Chapter 8
Marching toward the caravan I counted that there were fifty wagons in total. People were hurrying to load the last of their items and the caravan drivers were hitching up large beasts to pull the wagons. Each wagon was to be pulled by what looked like a cross between a buffalo and a camel. The creatures were covered in thick, wooly, brown fur and had long necks with two, short horns on top. They were about fifty percent larger than a full-grown cow and only one was needed to pull a large wagon. Curious, I focused on the creature to reveal its information.
Mukok, Large Draft Beast, neutral: These large and hearty animals are the preferred draft beasts for pulling heavy loads over long distances. Slow, but with amazing stamina, the Mukok can work all day without rest. The flesh of the beasts is notoriously foul tasting to most creatures, save for Ogres who consider the pungent meat a delicacy. Strong as a Mukok is a common saying used to praise someone’s physical strength.
We found our assigned wagons off to the side of the rest of the caravan. A group of soldiers were loading our assigned wagons with boxes full of the supplies and the equipment that we had ordered. After quickly confirming these were ours, I had Sergeant Brooks get the troops to help load up the wagons for our trip. I also tasked the sergeant with getting the men equipped with their new gear while I sought out the caravan master. Walking toward the area of most activity, I was drawn toward loud voices. The sound of heated words being exchanged led me to find a large muscular man wearing extravagant robes topped with a purple turban, as well as an older, but still spry, man in rough spun work clothes loudly arguing with each other.
“Daegan, you’re getting exactly what you paid for. I have provided guards and even assigned one of my top commanders to lead them!” The large man forcefully yelled, his face inches from the smaller man. The small man, to his credit, didn’t back down an inch, giving a verbal assault right back.
“I paid for twenty-five guards, not fifteen! You know the roads are more dangerous lately and you’re just trying to extort more money from me minutes before we leave Kofi!” the smaller man, Daegan, said.
“Please Daegan, there is no need for us to raise voices at each other. It is obvious you have three choices, my dear friend,” Kofi said as he smirked, knowing he had the Daegan right where he wanted him.
“You can accept these fifteen fine warriors to guard your wagons, you c
an pay me the remaining fee to add another ten elite warriors to the mix, and finally, I will gladly allow you to exit the agreement with only a small cancellation fee. I anxiously await your reply my dear friend Daegan.” Kofi crossed his arms smiling while he waited for Daegan to decide.
“I have no choice but to take the full twenty-five guards, and this will likely bankrupt me. Understand that I keep my word and my commitment is to protect the caravan. The Daegan Trail Express has never left a caravan under protected and never will. I’ll pay the extra gold for the twenty-five-guard total, but don’t expect any further business from my caravan.” Daegan handed a purse of coins over to Kofi, who told the guards gathered behind him to join the caravan. Kofi gave a content chuckle, tossing the coin pouch in his hand to feel it’s heft as he made his way back toward town.
I watched the guards that Kofi had provided as they spread out around the caravan to begin their duties. I was not impressed with the quality of what poor Daegan must have spent a fortune to hire. They were a motley collection and most looked like street thugs at best, or random tavern refuse at worst. Their gear was mismatched and varied wildly based on the individual. There were spearmen, some equipped with bows, many wielding short swords or clubs paired with shields, and a couple of the larger warriors had greataxes. Their armor was a light, shabby leather emblazoned with a blue scimitar that I assumed was the mercenary company symbol. Sadly, even their mismatched gear was better than what my soldiers currently were equipped with. One of the guards wore slightly better gear than the rest, consisting of a chain shirt, small round wooden shield, and a curved scimitar. The better equipped guard noticed me appraising his forces. I pulled his info while he stalked toward me.
Bhurke, Mercenary Leader, Neutral
“Like seeing what real warriors look like soldier boy? They don’t march in formation real pretty, but they’ll wreck your green troops if I give the word. Keep to your own business and out of mine or we may have to have words.” The warrior rested his hand on the hilt of his scimitar in an unspoken threat.
“As long as that rabble you call guards stays away from my soldiers, there won’t be any problems. I wouldn’t want for us to have words.” I placed my hand on my short sword to let him know I wasn’t impressed. Bhurke hawked a ball of phlegm, spit it in my direction, turned, and walked back to his men cursing and shouting at them to get them where he wanted them.
Daegan watched the confrontation and then approached, still wearing a scowl on his face from the argument with Kofi.
“I suppose you’re the ones Colonel Jacobs added at the last minute. You better get your men and gear loaded. We’ll leave with or without you in five minutes.” Daegan was short with me, obviously still angry from the fleecing Kofi had just given him.
“Where do you want us in the order of march? I would request keeping our 3 wagons together since I’ll be conducting training as we travel,” I asked
“Last one here, last in line is my rule. The Imperium already paid for your trip, but they didn’t pay me to feed you, so your lot is on their own for meals. We start at dawn, stop for 30 minutes at noon to eat and rest the beasts, then travel the rest of the day until I say we stop. On the trail I am the boss. I know you Army types have trouble with that sometimes,” Daegan said, and scowled at me awaiting a reply. I was beginning to think that scowl was his default setting.
“Not a problem Daegan. I’m Lieutenant Raytak, by the way. Your caravan, your rules. My forces will do what you say as long as it does not endanger my men or my mission,” I replied while offering my hand.
Daegan’s expression softened a bit as he shook my hand. “Sorry if I was bit hard on you…” I cut him off telling him that no apology was necessary and that our group would be ready to roll on time.
Making my way back to the wagons, I noticed that Daegan had assigned one of his people as a driver to each wagon and that, thankfully, the driver would also be responsible for the care of the Mukok. I was worried we’d have to assign soldiers to that, taking away from their time for training. The loading was just about done, the last few supply boxes were being heaved onto the wagon by the dozen soldiers sent to deliver them. I had a devious idea and motioned the sergeant over. “Sergeant Brooks, what unit are these soldiers helping us load assigned to?”
Sergeant Brooks considered my question for a second and then got a mischievous gleam in his eye.
“Sir, I like the way you think. These troops are also new recruits like our men and haven’t been assigned to a unit yet. Shall I go ahead and give them an assignment sir?” sergeant Brooks asked.
“Sergeant by all means make sure that our new 3rd squad knows they have a home. I’ll write up a letter and send it back with the soldiers returning the wagons that brought the supplies. I’m sure if Colonel Jacobs misses these soldiers he’ll send out a messenger to find us. Otherwise, it looks like the caravan is moving out. Get us ready to roll.” A notification dinged as I scribbled a message to the Colonel explaining that I had taken the unassigned soldiers sent to bring the supplies as a new squad for my forces.
You have unlocked the ability Recruiter. You have discovered that the commander class allows you to recruit unassigned soldiers into your unit. This skill also allows you to recruit civilians into the military and add them to your forces as well.
Sergeant Brooks had the last of our troops and supplies loaded on our wagons just as the caravan master ordered us all to roll out. It was a tight fit loading the thirty-two of us onto three wagons stacked high with supplies and equipment, but nobody said the Army life was a life of luxury. We all soon realized why Daegan punished the late arrivals with being last in the caravan line. A non-stop cloud of dust was soon kicked up by the wagons traveling the hard-packed dirt road in front of us, covering us all in a layer of filth. The smell of being behind that many Mukok made me feel like I was sitting in a stable full of cows with intestinal problems.
Sergeant Brooks divided our forces so that one squad was in each wagon. I had positioned myself on the first of our 3 wagons and had Sergeant Brooks take the last wagon. The squad in the middle had no babysitter, but me and the sergeant would rotate among all 3 wagons making sure that each had our personal attention during the trip. The wagons moved out at a pace equivalent to a fast walk. I suppose hyper-speed rail networks were not in the immediate future for the Limitless Lands. Though I’m sure some enterprising player will find a way to speed up travel if there was coin to be made in it.
After the first hour on the road, I heard a commotion behind me. Looking back, I saw that the sergeant had the soldiers in his wagon jump out with all their gear on and begin to trot alongside the wagon keeping pace with it. The sergeant then ran up and did the same with the squad in the second wagon. Taking the hint, I had the squad in my wagon grab their gear and jump out with me. The sergeant ran us hard up one side of the caravan at a double-time pace, then cross over and walk until the caravan slowly overtook us. We then crossed over and began the process once more, completing a giant circle around the wagons.
It was exhilarating to feel myself run once more. My age and injury-ravaged, real world body hadn’t so much as walked for the last 20 years or so. Despite my exhilaration, I soon remembered how much misery running in full gear could be. The armor chaffed in different areas, rubbing them raw until they bled. Blisters formed inside my boots and the hot dusty air burned my lungs as I gasped for air. A voice called from one of the wagons after my third trip around granting me a brief respite.
“Lieutenant Raytak, is that you?” Having been focused entirely on not dying from the exertion of running, I had neglected to check out the other wagons of the caravan in much detail. Looking down from the wagon next to me was none other than Barnaby, the logging team leader. Seated in the wagon amidst various bits of furniture and household possessions was a middle-aged woman and a small girl about 10 years of age.
“Mr. Barnaby Horn! It’s good to see you again! What brings you out on a wagon caravan to the border?” I
asked, while slowing my pace to fast walk and keeping pace next to the wagon as I waved the rest my squad to pass me and keep going.
“After what happened earlier, me and several of my neighbors,” Barnaby waved toward the wagons behind his, and I recognized several of the men as loggers from the attack earlier, “decided it was really time to make a move. I heard there was big demand for lumber at the new settlement in Hayden’s Knoll and we thought we’d try our luck there. No more city taxes for us!”
Gesturing to his wife and child, Barnaby introduced them. “This here is my beautiful wife, Claire and this little monkey is my daughter, Bella. Claire, this is the officer that commanded the unit that came to our rescue earlier.”
Claire moved her hand to her mouth in shock and I could see her eyes beginning to tear up. “Thank you, sir for saving Barnaby and his team. I don’t know what would have happened to me and Bella if you hadn’t arrived.” She leaned over the edge of the wagon and placed a kiss on the top of my sweaty head.
“No need for thanks ma’am. We were just doing our job. I’m just glad we happened to be at the right place at the right time.” I replied, blushing from the praise. “It does look like we’re going to be neighbors though. My unit has been assigned to the garrison at Hayden’s Knoll. I’m sorry to cut this short but I should get back to work. The sergeant will think I’m trying to stall so I don’t have to run anymore and if he thought that, he would probably be right. I’ll check in on you all once we camp for the night.” I waved to the family as I began the grueling run once more, amazed at the complexity of the game giving NPC’s a complete family background.
