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A report on war preparations in the Ivrean lands and those lands allied to Ivrea by the Treaty of New Ivrea Compiled by Harmony
Sweetsong
Most major inhabited areas have taken the same basic defensive steps. Elevated areas and false floor have been built to make teleportation harder. Some cities -- notably Rotan -- have elevated all guard posts as well. Evacuation plans have been put in place for important parts of each town or city. These plans are intended to lead invading trolls into areas trapped with pits and bolt holes. Most cities are keeping braziers filled with flaming pitch burning all day long along key streets and near major public areas. Surveillance
Food and Trade
Prices for metal goods remain extremely high (3-5 times standard prices), due to the loss of the Urgari mines to the dark-elves. Combined forces from Rotan and Nedgari are still fighting regular skirmishes against dark-elves, but for now seem to be retaining control of most of the mining sites beneath Mt. Naiva. Many trade groups (particularly in the Rotan-Pirs-Outreach triangle), have begun carrying fire-based weapons. The Rotan Merchant Guard is being supplied with flasks of alchemist's fire, a new type of igniting chemical produced by Artak's Apothecary. The RMG is also rumoured to be paying a premium to spellcasters-for-hire who have fire-based spells. Cities Simipia
Simipia's overall state of readiness is low. The city's resources are under severe strain from the thousands of dwarven refugees who have flooded into the area over the last six months. The collapse of many of the Merchant Houses has also left the city without clear leadership. Recently, grain in two of the city's largest silos was found to be spoilt -- foul play is suspected. Rotan
Rotan is well-prepared for any invaders. Warehouses are full, and the bulk of the city's inhabitants are trained for emergencies. Volunteer groups of halflings have been shoring up the city's perimeter defenses. Spellcasters have set up programmed illusions in key areas, intended to lure trolls into specially prepared kill zones. Many people have reported strange dreams lately, but Rotan's citizens have lived through great battles before and the overall morale in the city is high. Lerantu
Despite an influx of large numbers of dwarves, elves and halflings in recent months, preparations in Lerantu are still proceeding adequately. The death of Governor Orik three weeks ago was quite a blow to Lerantu's fledgling war plans, but defensive efforts seem to have been taken over by Jess Farstrider. A group of priests of Wiobra is assisting. Feroll
Feroll is the least prepared of all Ivrea's regions. Wracked by destruction, famine and then disease in just one year, the nation now looks set for a civil war. Forces massing under religous leader Jarron Tilessin looks set to clash with the Feroll City Militia. Efforts are underway to defuse the situation. Additional food supplies are urgently needed. Outreach
Outreach has been on alert since the first lizardfolk clashes three years ago. Despite crop losses during battles last spring, the city has collected ample supplies. The elite Dragonwatch Guard has developed a range of guerilla stike tactics to use against trollish troops. An "everburning fires" policy has been enacted in the city; all street corners have burning pyres. Reserve forces have been called into action to protect key sites in the city and the supply lines. Meldora
Preparations in Meldora are proceeding steadily, but a general slow-down in Meldora's economy has reduced the city's influence in the region. The economic problems have been linked to turmoils within the Church of Artafor -- the strongest influence on the Kingdom's government. Recent, unconfirmed news is that an immense treasure horde has been discovered deep beneath the surface of Lake Sanluri. Pirs
Pirs had poor crops this year, but still has reasonable quantities of food stockpiled. Pirs is benefiting from increased trade with Outreach, Rotan and New Ivrea. The Marine Traders' Consortium looks set to open up ocean-based supply routes to Feroll and Simipia. If the region weathers the coming conflict, Pirs looks set to prosper. Rumours abound of a rift in Pirs' increasingly influential College of Wizardry. Waterloaf
The population of Waterloaf has dropped drastically during the last year, which has proved a mixed blessing. Although food resources in Waterloaf are ample, residents are hard pressed to keep to the pace of activity demanded by the Waterloaf Council. Security levels are high; almost all of the adult population are carrying weapons. A platoon from Outreach is training small bands of soldiers in guerilla strike tactics. The elderly and the very young have been evacuated to more rural areas, and caches of food and weapons have been hoarded within a few miles of the city. New Ivrea
New Ivrea is an exciting place to be. There is an awareness in this fledgling city that the real fight against the trolls will be fought from here. Despite Ivrea's relative newness, it is one of the best prepared cities in the Ivrean region. Construction of grain silos (including gnomish lifting devices) is complete and magic wards have been placed around them to protect against vermin. As in Rotan, programmed illusion have been set up in key areas to lure trolls into traps. A few miles from the city, the 1000-strong Army of Ivrea continues its training. Harmony's recommendations
Some rather hard decisions are going to have to be made. Our rulers and leaders must brace themselves, for if the worst comes to the worst, the cities are going to have to be closed even to their own people. To prevent this drastic step, it is recommended that meeting points be set-up that are away from the cities (for instance, in the mountains). Messengers need to be dispatched to as many of the smaller towns and villages as possible to spread the word that these gathering points have been set-up. There is still a risk that these meeting points could become killing grounds for the trolls. Since indications are that the trollish assault will begin during the next two weeks, all non-vital residents should now be moved areas of safety (for example moving the elderly into rural areas). Officials must be prepared to place tight restrictions on trading activities once fighting starts, to prevent a run on prices. All communications systems need to be checked continuously. Cities must make sure that water supplies are plentiful near burning brazier or pyres -- a major fire now would be disastrous. Citizens should start boarding up windows. Supplies need to be double-checked and all entrances to cities (including unusual ones such as sewer inlets), should be secured. Simipia: Investigation is required into the spoilt food. I suspect that some merchant is planning to raise prices and hence is stock-piling food at the moment. Alternatively, the spoilage may be the work of spies, in which case, might this be a key area for a planned attack? Feroll: Urgent plans need to be put in place. Civil war has to be stopped NOW. Meldora: A delegation should
be sent to the Church to sort out the division. The city needs undivided
faith to survive the conflict. We should be wary of treasure hunters, as
they could upset the war preparations in Meldora. The treasure rumour needs
to be investigated, and, if necessary, quashed.
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