The fort, recovering from the recent orc attack, found temporary respite with the assistance of Hetman Petrovich and his horsemen. Their valiant efforts kept the orcs at bay, allowing the builders to repair the damages inflicted during the battle. To help bolster the cavalry’s numbers, several rangers mounted what few ponies the expedition brought and became makeshift Drakoons. Other rangers volunteered to hitch rides with the hussars, dismounting when needed to provide fire support alongside the humans. This coordinated effort stabilized the situation and provided some much-needed breathing room.
As the fort gradually regained its footing, Garrok and Tink found themselves busier than ever. The word had spread among the human horsemen about Garrok's ingenious paper cartridges, and the demand for his ammunition skyrocketed. The gunsmith and his loyal assistant were inundated with orders, turning their craft into a lucrative venture. The humans were willing to pay out of their own pockets for these cartidges
With the orcs and goblins momentarily held at bay, the trade routes surrounding the fort became secure enough for more caravans to pass through. This development allowed Garrok to resupply his stocks of supplies and raw materials, ensuring he could meet the growing demand for his paper cartridges. Recently, he had acquired a few barrels of powder, a vital component for his ammunition production.
Just as Garrok finished procuring the barrels of powder, a lookout stationed atop the fort's walls shouted an urgent alert, catching everyone's attention. "INCOMING FLYERS FROM THE EAST!"
Garrok turned his gaze towards the eastern skies and, to his surprise, spotted several figures swiftly approaching the fort. "Looks to be Pegasi with riders!" exclaimed one of the lookouts peering through a telescopic spyglass. "I think it's the enchanters! We must inform the captain!"
Within minutes, the Pegasi gracefully landed in front of the citadel, they all wore elaborate robes of varying designs and colors. The only common items they wore were the goggles protecting their eyes and a tabard with the Crest of the Enchanter’s academy, a hand holding a glowing orb. The captain emerged to greet them, exchanging cordial greetings before directing the enchanters to a newly repaired barn. The enchanters carefully tended to their winged companions, removing saddlebags and supplies, giving them a thorough rub-down and brushing.
Meanwhile, the captain engaged in a serious discussion with the leader of the enchanters, a tall and slender elf with pale blonde hair named Erevan. Erevan possessed an aura of wisdom and power. He reports his orders to the captain—establishing a temporary portal to ferry reinforcements. However, due to the lack of sufficient leylines, their preparations would take several days, requiring the enchanters to personally channel their own magical energy to power the portal.
Back at the fort, the captain issued orders to consolidate the defenses. All rangers on foot patrol were recalled to man the walls, while the cavalry continued their raids to keep the enemy at bay. Messages were sent back and forth using the semaphore system, updating reports on the reinforcements being sent. A company of rangers was being dispatched to reinforce the fort, while several detachments of the Mountain Guard, the main army of the Dwarves, were being deployed to directly engage the enemy. Each detachment would be equipped with a battery of 12-pounder siege guns, a much-needed addition to their defenses.
Excitement buzzed through the fort at the prospect of receiving siege guns, although the reason behind their deployment tempered the enthusiasm. The Goblin merchant princes had sent word, via the cartels, that the corsair admiral planned to send more Janizary. The arrival of this news hinted at the complex and vicious nature of the Goblin courts, with various factions constantly vying for power and it seems that his enemies are attempting to undermine the admiral's efforts to secure the region.
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The Janizary would be further equipped with bronze "hafif top" and "şaka." The reports described the "hafif top" as 3-pounder light siege guns cast from bronze, while the "şaka" referred to handheld siege guns. The implications of these reinforcements underscored the seriousness of the situation, requiring the fort and its defenders to remain on high alert.
After hearing the news, Garrok and Tink decided to work on her new gun. Learning from her past experiences, Tink had been working on a new weapon with Garrok's assistance. The original incident involving her capture had been due to the slow loading time of her SPAL bow, prompting her to seek a faster reloading alternative. Salvaging parts from her SPAL bow and one of the goblin's guns, they dedicated less than a day to creating a working prototype.
The resulting weapon was a 42-inch gun with a peculiar club-shaped stock. Unlike traditional firearms, it lacked a lock mechanism, instead featuring a bolt-like protrusion on the side of the breech. A tubular magazine beneath the barrel held 15 reserve balls, with a salvaged spring used to push the balls into the breech. Inside the stock, a spring-powered piston, using the other salvaged spring, was utilized. Pulling the bolt charged the piston, while pulling the trigger engaged it, releasing pressurized air to launch the ball with remarkable force.
Eager to test the new invention, Garrok and Tink took her new "SPAG (Spring Pistoned Air Gun)" to the fort's training field. To their surprise, they encountered Sgt. Ironheart, who decided to tag along and observe, joined by a few curious onlookers. As they reached the training field, several hussars who were practicing drills noticed the small crowd and decided to see what the fuss was all about.
Garrok set up a target dummy adorned with one of the orcs' plated chainmail, while Tink began loading the air gun. The nearby onlookers were astonished as she loaded several balls into the new weapon, continuing until the magazine contained 15 rounds.
Once the dummy was in place, Garrok stood behind Tink, observing her preparations. Bracing the stock against her shoulder, she took aim. Pulling the bolt on the side until a distinct "click" sounded, she then pulled the trigger, launching a ball with an audible "Pfft!" that smashed through the dummy's face.
She repeated the process, pulling the bolt, firing the weapon, and launching another shot. "Click"..."Pfft!" Another shot soared through the air. "Click"..."Pfft!"..."Click"..."Pfft!" Tink continued to fire until all 15 rounds had been discharged.
Several astonished onlookers erupted in applause, showing their respect for Tink's skill and the remarkable weapon she had created. Tink shouldered her air gun and, accompanied by Garrok and the impressed onlookers, approached the dummy. Curiosity got the better of Garrok, who borrowed Tink's stiletto to inspect the damage.
They discovered that shots hitting the unarmored portions of the dummy went right through, while those striking the chainmail experienced some slowing but still penetrated. Shots that hit the plated sections were deflected, leaving slight dents as evidence of their impact.
"Impressive," Garrok declared, acknowledging Tink's accomplishment.
Tink sighed, a tinge of frustration in her voice. "I wish I had better parts, but you make do with what you can get your hands on."
Nearby, Sgt. Ironheart practically drooled at the prospect of wielding such an innovative weapon. However, before he could voice his request, someone beat him to the punch.
"Can I have one подруга?" one of the hussars asked, his curiosity piqued. "It could be most effective in our raids."
Tink sighed, her expression filled with regret. "Unfortunately, this is only a working prototype assembled using salvaged parts. It's too fragile to be used by anyone unless they know how to repair it properly."
Garrok placed his hand gently on Tink's shoulder, offering support. "When you have the opportunity to design a new version, know that my offer to assist still stands," he said, his voice warm and encouraging.
Tink touched the hand on her shoulder and smiled at him. "Thank you, big lug."
Lost in their own moment, they stared at each other with smiles until Sgt. Ironheart cleared his throat, teasing them, "Get a room, you two."