With Ahirom's words, a decision is reached.
"
You know me, brother, I am eager to strike back against the wretched invaders!" says Sarufin.
Belhem is less enthusiastic, but ultimately agrees they must be aggressive given their numbers disadvantage, "
I have little confidence in being able to persuade the cowardly Daagi, but I will do as I must. Give me time, however, to set things up for our success."
Belhem requests they wait two months so that he may personally infiltrate the Watergrass Expanse and extract willing guides from the territory.
Sarufin says that these two months would be well spent training Ahirom's flotilla. The metal equipment of the attackers has long been used by Sarufin's forces, but Ahirom's flotilla members have not been trained or equipped with it. Perhaps because it is better to be lightweight when on the open sea, but the Watergrass Expanse is far shallower (according to Belhem's testimony) than the Mangrove Mazes, let alone the Chromatic Reef. There is no risk of drowning after being weighed down by ones own armaments.
Regardless, these two months will also be spent salvaging and reorganizing. The attacks from the metal men have decreased (except for that one village which has held out alone this whole time) - but the majority of their people still live under direct subjugation.
---
Over the next two months, Belhem and his messengers are mostly absent. They are very busy to the east. Sarufin manages to recapture the isolated village, however over 20 lives are lost. The battle was incredibly fierce, and Sarufin was badly injured. He survived, but may be unable to join in combat for years to come.
Furthermore, the rescued village - Nefadh - is a very large one, with originally over 1400 members. However, their numbers have fallen to just 800 during the months of combat and being starved for supplies.
Many of the villagers are grateful, but a large portion of the population are angry that it has taken so long for them to be saved. For this reason, recruitments are less successful than one may have hoped. Still, their forces are almost doubled, with another hundred men joining their current hundred, in various capacities.
With these newly bolstered troops, the resistance manages to recapture two further villages - even without Sarufin's guidance in battle.
During this time, two Daagi men are smuggled in from the east. Time is spent to learn each other's tongues.
During these 2 months, what extra does Ahirom seek to accomplish before the big day, if anything?
---
After the two months pass, Belhem returns from the east, bringing with him four more guides.
Sadly, several of his skilled men perished in the attempts to stay undercover in enemy territory.
The six guides are prepared. It is less than one hoped for, but Belhem remarks on the extreme difficulty of finding Daagi men willing to fight back, not to mention the agonies associated with getting them out of the land without being noticed.
However, on his way back, Belhem intentionally alerted the enemy. They will likely attack shortly.
---
Belhem reports that the Watergrass Expanse is not densely packed with enemies, but they are still in practice overrun. Likely a thousand of them spread across the territory - not including the outpost.
Belhem admits he was not able to find an entrance into the outpost , but from his men's observations it is likely that about 100 men reside there at all times.
Belhem was also able to confirm that the metal men are coming from the north, perhaps beyond the Southern Wetlands in its entirety.
---
Things are organized to the best of the resistance's ability. Most of everyone is gathered together. About 150 of their 200 men.
The day comes, the cries of lookouts are sounded. A large-scale assault on the Chromatic Reef. About sixty men, split in two groups under two leaders.
Notably, the men are armed with bows and arrows. It seems that they have learned of the Tribes of Colors' weapons, just as they have had their weapons learned of.
However, the enemy is not simply going to ride the southward currents into enemy ambush. They have shielded rows of men carrying large boards, creating artificial ground for them to dock in emergencies.
Furthermore, they are being very cautious, ready to retreat - but also looking for a chance to enter the under-defended Mazes, perhaps to repeat their massacres or recapture more settlements.
Out of the two of the triumvirate participating in the battle, Ahirom is the one everyone is relying on to give commands. What are his commands?
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OOC: A quick markup of the battle, for reference.