Defenses

While Kalinstren prepares for war again, he is also seeing to the construction of defenses along the Flare Line between Morsten and Castle Ehlenestra (see the main map). Kalinstren considers fortifications to be bases for soldiers who will be trained for war, and Belvor and Jakartai consider that diverting Kalinstren's energies into overseeing this work helps keep him balanced. Also, Kalinstren must regularly communicate with Jakartai’s advisers since the Flare Line stretches across Crystalreach also, and work on it must be coordinated.

Along the line shown on the map, work is constantly in progress erecting earthwork defenses, including deep ditches, bunkers, and barriers. Every four miles or so, a fortified militia camp, garrisoned by 50 men, is being constructed. Each of these strong points will have a 30 foot flagpole which will be used in communications. Kalinstren has mages at work here, using dig spells to construct the defenses and variant, colored continual light spells to erect a system of signaling beacons (This idea has been taken from reports of the Selintan Beacons. See From The Ashes, Campaign Book).

Count Jakartai also helps by placing his dwarven engineer, Curtlem the Calloused, at the disposal of the engineers overseeing work here for one week each month. Each militia group has at least one elf or half-elf, mostly from the Vesve, so that infravision can be used for nighttime watch. In addition, each camp has 2d8 war dogs. The “Characters and Forces” section gives more details on the troops themselves.