"Hmm, I wonder if the others are on their way back here now."
Verc mumbled to himself as he sat on his bed, petting Onyx on his lap.
He was thinking about Tatum and the others who infiltrated a human city. They’re set to start their journey back here today if everything went well on their side.
He trusted their judgment, but until he saw the dust of their carriages clearing the tree line of the village gates, a small part of him would remain slightly worried.
In a blink of an eye—two weeks had already passed.
Time seemed to move incredibly fast when there was a mountain of work to be done every single day. The initial phase of their plan was already nearing its completion, and the foundation of their new society was settling into place.
They have one and a half more month until they put their plan to conquer the whole [Cursed Forest] into action.
The deadline was approaching steadily, a silent clock ticking away in the back of Verc’s mind.
The preparation so far had been going smoothly.
Reports from the various leaders arrived to him every evening, and the lack of major setbacks was a testament to the absolute dedication of his followers.
Groo, Mamon, and the other orc family heads had been training well the warriors.
The training grounds were filled with the constant, heavy sounds of iron weapons clashing against wooden practice shields from dawn until dusk. The orcs were adapting surprisingly well to the structured formations and defensive tactics Pwyll had laid out for them before his departure.
They’re taking care of the hunting daily as well.
The hunting parties returned every afternoon with massive hauls of forest game, ensuring that the entire population stayed fully fed and energized. The abundance of meat also allowed the kitchens to start experimenting with the newly introduced preservation methods, building up a solid backlog of food.
Grainne and the agriculture team had been progressing well with the weaponization of mutated fruits.
The dark elves and the beastwomen had fully embraced the wild, unpredictable nature of the forest’s magical flora, turning what used to be a natural hazard into a highly efficient tactical resource for the upcoming conflict.
They even have a weird fruit now that explodes upon certain force of impact!
The plant looked like a regular, heavy melon on the vine, but the mana flowing through its thick skin was highly unstable, reacting violently to any sudden pressure or hard drop.
’That’s basically a bomb... What are they doing with the plants?’
Verc asked in his head, remembering that.
He shook his head slightly, a faint smirk appearing on his face as he imagined Grainne calmly tending to a garden full of organic explosives. The dark elves’ natural connection to the land had taken a very strange, militaristic turn under his rule, but he couldn’t deny the sheer utility of having a steady supply of natural explosives for their vanguard.
Kuma and Aodh had geared up a quarter of the warriors already, and by the pace they are going with weapon and armor making—they would be able to gear everyone up just in time for their plan to attack the wolf-kins from the west.
The dawrves and gnolls were working with incredible efficiency.
The gnolls had learned the basics of metallurgy under the strict guidance of the eight dwarves, and the assembly line they had set up inside the forge was churning out standardized sets of iron armor and sharpened spears every single day. At this rate, their army would be fully armored, a sight that was completely unheard of for common monster tribes in the woods.
The two kobolds, Scally and Skul, are also doing well with the information gathering.
The small creatures had proven themselves to be absolutely invaluable scouts, utilizing their low stature and natural stealth to navigate the dangerous territory without drawing any suspicion.
Skul stays there, and Scally goes back to the village from time to time to report to Verc and refill their food and supplies.
The arrangement worked perfectly, providing Verc with a continuous, reliable stream of intelligence regarding their primary target. Scally had just arrived back at the castle a few hours ago, completely exhausted but bearing detailed information on the wolf-kin tribe.
Based on the information they gathered—
Population, the wolf-kin tribe has an estimated population of around 200 individuals.
It was a substantial number, making them significantly larger than the initial groups of orcs or gnolls that Verc had first integrated into his village. A community of that size meant they had a sustainable society and a steady supply of new fighters.
Settlement Location, the wolf-kin settlement is located in a large clearing just like theirs.
The village itself was nestled in a natural basin, a wide open space that gave them plenty of room to move around.
The settlement is surrounded by dense forest. With more trees around them than here in their village. The surrounding brush was tightly packed, making a stealthy approach through the trees difficult for any large group of warriors.
Defenses, the wolf-kins apparently have no walls.
There were no stone barriers or wooden structures protecting the perimeter of their clearing.
They have no palisades.
Not even a basic fence of sharpened stakes had been erected to keep out wild monsters or other tribes.
They have no visible fortifications.
There were no watchtowers, trenches, or defensive pits along the edges of their territory.
They appear highly confident in their own strength and do not expect attacks.
They relied entirely on their fearsome reputation and their formidable physical power to keep enemies at bay. To them, the idea of anyone daring to march an army into their heartland was completely unthinkable, leaving them entirely exposed to a calculated, strategic strike.
Food Supply, the whole tribe relies heavily on hunting wild monsters for food.
They did not practice any form of agriculture, preferring the traditional lifestyle of predators.
Hunting parties leave at dawn and return before nightfall just like in their village as well.
The daily routine was entirely predictable. The clearing would be significantly less defended during the middle of the day, as the majority of their able-bodied hunters would be scattered throughout the surrounding woods tracking game.
Military Strength, several wolf-kins are noticeably larger and stronger than the others.
These individuals possessed thick musculature and stood half a head taller than the rest of their kin, their bodies covered in scars from past battles.
These individuals are respected by the tribe.
They held positions of high authority, their commands obeyed without a single moment of hesitation by the common folk.
They are likely elite warriors, champions, or leaders.
They represented the true core of the tribe’s fighting power, formidable combatants who would likely fight to the absolute bitter end to protect their home.
Security, in this term, the tribe appears relatively relaxed, especially at night.
Because they felt completely secure within their territory, they did not maintain regular sentry rotations or establish active patrols around the perimeter after the sun went down.
Despite this, wolf-kins possess exceptionally sharp senses.
Their natural biology made up for their lack of discipline. Their ears could pick up the faint snap of a twig from hundreds of paces away, and their noses could track unfamiliar scents long before an intruder ever came into view.
Some wolf-kins seemed able to notice movement from considerable distances.
Even while resting inside their huts, their awareness remained incredibly high, making any standard nighttime ambush highly risky.
Terrain and Approaches, the southern approach offers the easiest route for moving.
The land was relatively flat, with fewer boulders and wider gaps between the tall trees, allowing large groups of armored orcs to march in formation without breaking their lines.
The western side contains dense vegetation and difficult terrain.
The ground was choked with thorny bushes and thick roots, a chaotic mess that would slow down their advance and leave their troops vulnerable to skirmish tactics.
The northern side is harder to traverse because of the river and surrounding terrain.
The steep banks of the water source and the muddy ground created a natural barrier that would make a full assault from that direction completely impractical.
Strategic Positions, a rocky hill east of the settlement overlooks much of the village.
The elevation rose sharply out of the forest floor, its stone summit rising high above the surrounding canopy, providing an absolute, unobstructed view of the entire wolf-kin clearing below.
The hill would be an excellent position for Archers and Scouts.
Controlling that specific piece of high ground would allow Verc’s forces to rain down projectiles and coordinate their movements with perfect clarity, effectively dominating the entire battlefield from the moment the fighting started.
General Assessment--
The wolf-kin tribe’s greatest weakness is their complete lack of defensive structures.
Once an invading force managed to clear the tree line, there was absolutely nothing stopping them from sweeping directly into the heart of the settlement.
While their greatest strength are powerful individual warriors.
Their raw physical capabilities and ferocity in close-quarters combat were legendary.
Excellent senses; hearing, smell, and awareness.
Surprising them on their own turf are close to impossible.
Confidence and morale stemming from their strength.
... ... ...
Based on these informations, Verc started forming a bunch of plans to conquer the wolf-kin tribe with as little damage on their sides as possible.
"They believed they were invincible, a mindset that made them incredibly dangerous when backed into a corner."
He stated to himslef. He wanted an absolute victory, one that would force the tribe to yield to his authority without decimating their population, as he needed their strength for his future plans too.
He even started thinking of doing it himself on his own.
The thought was highly tempting. With his current power, his mastery over [Mana Circulation], and the sharpness of the [Moon Blade], he could likely infiltrate the clearing under the cover of his own stealth abilities and challenge their leader directly.
Especially after knowing the wolf-kin had twice their current population.
Marching his entire armored force through the deep forest would take a massive amount of effort, and risking the lives of his newly trained orc and gnoll warriors against a population of two hundred apex predators was something he preferred to avoid if possible. If he could break their pride by defeating their champions alone, the rest of the tribe would have no choice but to bow down before him.
"Haaaa... What should I do?"
-Arf!
He leaned back against his pillow, Onyx letting out a bark as Verc continued to refine the strategy in his head.