North of Javiksholm/ Mistrock Island

Through the morning's mists a column of rangers made its way from the inland down to the coast. The green and white fleur-de-lys waved above their heads. They were headed towards a natural harbour where masts sticking out of the fog indicated the presence of several ships. When they arrived at the beach they were greeted by a short man with bow legs and an enormous red beard.

Ahoy! he boomed. Sir Aranor told us to wait for you here. We will take you to the ships. He pointed towards a number of rowing boats manned by seamen that were obviously not too happy about their new role in this civil war. Most of them looked like they had spent most of their lives on merchant ships. In fact the ships anchoring in the bay were cogs, sloops and flutes exclusively.

The ranger captain approached him. Excellent! I'm Jorn McLeod, Ranger-Captain of the Silvermist.

A Ravensternian, eh? replied the bowlegged man before introducing himself. Gunnar Oarbreaker, Boatswain of the Happy Cow. He pointed to the largest of the flutes anchoring in the bay. Don't let yourself be troubled by my last name. Until now only the oars of the Vanskerry trying to board our ship have been broken.

He laughed roaringly at what he deemed a joke, then told the rangers and their baggage horses to distribute among the boats and soon after the noise of oars beating into the waves was the only noise heard as the boats set off towards the ships.

Aboard the Happy Cow McLeod was talking to the captain as the ships left the bay.

We will need only your smaller and fast ships to patrol the coast, he said. The other ships can report back to Sir Aranor after we have dropped off a detachment on the nearest island.

Aye, said the captain. We will anchor at Mistrock Island north of here. It's got a natural harbour and you can use it as a base for the patrolling ships.

When they arrived there, the fastest of the sloops and their crews were ordered to stay at the island. Aboard the Happy Cow McLeod gave a final instruction to his men.

I want ten rangers on each of the four sloops. Have fire arrows prepared and ready. If you encounter warships from the Red Dawn engage them only if you're sure to win, otherwise report back here. The remaining ten men will set up a camp here for us and the ships' crews and fortify the coastline of the island with ballistae.

Half an hour later the larger ships left the island and the sloops set out to patrol the waters north of Javiksholm while the noises of sawing and hammering indicated that the men on the island were busy with their task to turn it into a proper sentry outpost.

The oars of the small cargo boat were beating the grey waters beneath as it made its way across Mistrock Sound. The sea fret had been thick when they had set off from the small fishing village but it was thinning now and the captain was thankful for that. Manoeuvering the rocks around the island was none of his favourite tasks, not even with clear skies. Leaving the rudder to his helmsman for the time being he went to have a look around again, hoping to see no dragon-headed bow on the horizon. Thallo Ver Shures knew he had enough trouble. Finding the horizon empty gave him a bit of relief, but he furrowed his brow again when he turned around and his gaze caught the two men in green traveller cloaks together with their dozen crates the content of which they adamantly refused to tell him. They had paid handsomely for the passage though, so he would be able to live with that.

Half an hour later the captain had just another proof of his own abilities as the boat safely reached the natural harbour of Mistrock Island. A number of men in green cloaks over silver armour awaited them in the mists to unload the boat he noticed to his surprise. He had expected that he and his crewmen would have to carry the crates off board and he had barely been able to spy the cliffs of the island in the mist, let alone possible sentries atop.

How did they know we would come? he asked one of his green passengers as he was being handed the second half of the fare. I could not even see the cliff top from the boat.

The man smiled. It is our job to see where others don't, he replied enigmatically.

Meanwhile the crates had been carried ashore, so the captain just shrugged, tucked the money away and bid his passengers farewell before giving the order to cast off again.

Any troubles, Hugh? asked the leader of the men in green cloaks, addressing one of the former passengers.

None for the moment, Captain, Hugh replied, but this messenger - he pointed to the other former passenger - has news that Vanskerry sea raids are increasing and people fear they might attack the coasts soon.

Captain Fitzmerwill seemed unimpressed. Let them come, he said, then turned to the other men. Get the crates up to the castle, but be careful with them. They must not be damaged or handled roughly in any way.

Back at the still wooden castle of Mistrock Keep the crates were opened to reveal their contents: Ballista bolts, but with a strange spherical bulge between tip and shaft.

Excellent, the captain said and then called for his second sergeant.

Zachariah, distribute these crates among the ballistae along the cliffs. I furthermore want any possible access to the island boarded up with stakes, chevaux-de-frise and wooden hedgehogs with sharpened ends below the waterline. Everyone on guard duty is to have their signal horns ready to call the men together when Vanskerry try to assault the island.
Hugh, after you have rested from your journey get some men, fortify the harbour with the same devices and order the workers to start with the construction of a wooden fortification around it.

The men saluted and got to the tasks set to them. 'They will not find us unprepared', Fitzmerwill thought.

Jorn McLeod and his men entered the wooden fort with axes in hand. He spied the ranger-captain in command and directed his steps towards him.

Fitzmerwill was talking to some other rangers, giving orders for the fortification around the natural harbour.

William? McLeod asked.

Fitzmerwill turned around. Even if he had not know his voice he would have known it was McLeod. Only another ranger captain would call him by his first name on duty. He looked at the axes smeared with resin and splinters of pinewood and smiled.

I take it you were successful?

Yes, but resinful would fit, too. The only trees to be found on this island are spruces and pines in the central part and they make cutting wood a sticky mess, but we managed to get a sufficient amount of wood and kindling and piled it up on the landward cliff top, then covered it with waxed cloth to shield it from rain and fog. Two men are already there with a brazier and an axe to get additional wood to keep it fed. When they hear the signal horns along the cliffs they will light the fire so the people across Mistrock sound can see it.

Excellent, Fitzmerwill replied. I will send word to Sir Aranor to get a watch post manned across the sound. If Vanskerries try to get past us to the mainland the people will at least be warned and have some time to prepare or flee.

You might want to clean that axe, he added with a grin before he went off to the wooden keep to write the letter to Sir Aranor.


[Summary: Measures taken:
Ballistae with special ammunition all around the island. Intended effect: Chance of sinking enemy ships before they can land.
Natural Harbour fortified by a stockade and proper harbour built within (incl. harbour watch galleys). Intended effects: Harbour gates prevent enemy ships from entering the natural harbour, forcing them to land elsewhere.
Wooden stakes (like chevaux-de-frise and wooden czech hedgehogs) on all possible landing sites (rather few due to the cliffs all around)and around the harbour to
a) rip the hulls of lighter ships (--> sink them)
b) impede the advance of landed troops (--> more damage rolls for the rangers before the militia engage in melee with th raiders)
Rangers will feather attackers with arrows, militia engage in melee should the attackers reach the clifftops (no rangers in melee unless all militia are killed)
Signal fire on the landward cliff. Intended effect: Increased security rating for Ironoak county]