Life in the realm
Town raids
Every few hours, when enough people are about, riders bring word that a war band marches on a town. The crier warns the whole realm ten minutes before they strike.
| Wave | Who | Head price |
|---|---|---|
| First | cutpurses and cutthroats, 3 or more | 25 groschen |
| Second | brigands with blades, 4 or more | 45 groschen |
| Last | deserters under their captain, 4 or more | 90, and 150 more for the captain |
- The warning
The realm is told which town and from which side, ten minutes before, again at five and at one. F2 > The realm > A town raided (or
/raid) marks where they come from; the live map shows it. - The waves
They come in from one side and make for the market square, falling on whoever stands within twenty-five paces. The next wave comes when the last is all but broken, or after four minutes whatever happens. Each wave brings one raider for every defender in and around the town (28 alive at most). The raiders spread out over the defenders - one on each while there are defenders enough, two at most - and keep a pace or two apart.
- The reward
When the raid ends, everyone who struck a blow shares the heads taken. Break all three waves and the bailiff adds a 150-groschen defenders' purse; each defender gains renown and wins their faction influence in the town.
- Too slow
A raid not broken within twenty minutes of the first wave plunders the town and melts away into the woods: the house that holds the town loses a fifth of its coffers (2,000 groschen at most). The heads already taken are still paid.