"Have a good time." Graeme said. He let himself through the trapdoor of the turret, and back into the castle. Baird had informed him that there were indeed Imperial legions mobilizing, as well as a sizeable contingent of Dejy levies. The Ogres were going to be in for a surprise when they were caught by the might of the empire.
Stupid, arrogant non-humans, Graeme thought, not seeing too much difference between elves and ogres for the moment. He made his way to the smithies on the ground floor of the keep.
"I need you to make spear heads of soft iron, or lead if you have it." he told the head smith.
"Tha'aint much lead her'bouts" the man said, "An'na soft 'ern is jes that, soft."
"That is the point, I want to make pilum spears, to disable shields." Graeme said. The smith pondered the matter for a moment, rubbing his grizzled chin.
"Ah thank'Ah can do it." He said.
"Good, as quickly as you can." Graeme said as he headed to the courtyard where most of the men were. It time to make an appearance. He strode across the square, nodding to the hardened men who knew unlike some commanders who rode in the rear of the army, he rode in the vanguard.
"Good to see the men in better spirits." Graeme said to the banner and undercaptains. "It is time to start a new set of drills, are any of you familiar with using the pilum?" It was some time before faux pilums were fashioned and the men began to practice the attacks and feints that would allow them to dissable the impressive defences of the ogres. The Crossbowmen lined up and performed their own drills, firing, reloading and such.
