fatal

Logistics
The method of supplying warriors with food
is known as logistics. Few armies have a system of
logistics. Without such a system, the warriors have
to live off the land. This, however, is not as easy as
it sounds.
Each human needs 3 pounds of food per
day, and 20 for each horse. If these requirements
are unmet, first hunger occurs, then dissertion or
they starve to death. The horses may be grazed,
but grazing does not leave much time for the army
to travel. Grazing requires 4-6 hours per day. During
this time, however, the warriors may forage the
countryside for food. The local peasants of enemy
territory consider the foraging of invading armies
to be pillaging. However it is termed, armies that
are foraging or pillaging move between 5-10 miles
per day. Armies may not forage more than 60 miles
from their line of march. Foraging or pillaging
armies strip the surrounding 10 miles clean of all
food, grass, and hay. Anyone entering that area in
the next few days finds only a wasteland. Local peasants
flee when an invading army is sighted.
If an army can support itself, then it may
move 20 or more miles per day. If close to a coast
or river, then vessels may carry their supplies.
Warriors can carry about a week of food
with them. In most armies, each warrior is expected
to tend to their own needs of supply. While warriors
might purchase food from the locals, warriors
on military campaign often take what they want by
force. This is especially true in enemy territory,
where the thefts are considered part of the damage
done to a foe.
Well organized armies set up regular foraging
parties for each major contingent, rather than
allowing warriors to wander freely. Foraging, however,
can be a risky means of logistics. For example,
sometimes local peasants become irate, arm themselves,
and murder the foragers.
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Pillage, Plunder, and Ransom
Pillage
The loyalty of warriors may be maintained
by occasional opportunities to pillage the countryside
and plunder particularly rich locales, such as
towns. The warriors know that rich opportunities
do not always present themselves during a military
campaign. But, a share of the plunder can make
even a common soldier rich beyond their wildest
dreams. As armies travel, the warriors live off of
unarmed locals, taking food and other valuables by
force or Intimidation. Pillage is usually discouraged
by military leaders while in friendly territory. Once
in enemy territory, however, pillage is encouraged.
After all, pillaging the enemy’s lands and characters
serves to demoralize their population, and at the
same time pillage makes warriors happy and allows
military leaders to skip a payday and get away with
it.
Plunder
Plunder, however, is quite different from
pillage. Plunder is organized pillage, and is only encouraged
when concentrated wealth is nearby.
Towns and castles are the most likely objects of plunder.
The loyalty of warriors is often maintained during
long sieges because they anticipate plunder.
Being unable to plunder a town is a big disappointment
to warriors. Maybe more than anything, warriors
look forward to raping the local women.
Ransom
A custom of warfare is to capture nobles
and knights alive, if possible. The family of a captured
noble or knight will pay ransom to get them
back. On the battlefield, the strategy is to knock
down the valued and armored man, pile on him,
and disarm him. At this point, surrender usually
comes quickly.
Chapter 18: Warfare