Ochio

Ochio is a small barony located where the Esteran Road passes near the Tibbs river. While the Tibbs can be forded in many places during the dry summer months, the spring or fall finds it too dangerous to cross. The baron holds a writ from the Earl of Palmaris that no bridge may be built over the Tibbs River. This has provided a valuable source of revenue for the baron in recent years as the merchant caravans heading south has increased. Likewise the Merchants' Guild has been pressing the earl to have this writ removed.

History

The Tibbs River provides a strong defense on the western flank of Palmaris. To further secure his flank from attack during the Second Pah War, the earl constructed a stout keep halfway between the mouth of the Tibbs and Palmaris. He sent Sir Ochio along with two companies of medium foot, a company of light cavalry, and a company of crossbowmen. Sir Ochio reinforced the keep and built a watchtower at the head of the Tibbs. He kept most of his men in the keep, but moved his cavalry and half of his crossbowmen to the other tower.

As the earl continued his string of victories over the Pah, Sir Ochio constructed a stone bridge over the Tibbs guarded by two strong towers. The land around the keep began to fill with families who provided services to the soldiers. With the earl's victory nearly complete, Sir Ochio sent half of his men south of the Tibbs under the command of Sergent Magnali to capture more territory. The attack was a disaster and less than a fortnight later twelve of his men, all wounded, retreated to the bridge tower with nearly a hundred Pah warriors chasing them. If the Pah crossed the Tibbs then the earl's entire attack would falter.

Sir Ochio rallied his remaining men, including a small auxilia he mustered from the village. Using small redoubts along the northern banks manned by his crossbowmen and auxilia he stopped the Pah from crossing the Tibbs, which forced them to try and take the bridge. With less than a company of foot to defend the tower bridge Sir Ochio had no reserve to plug any holes in his defense. Instead for three days his men stood fast against the attacking Pah until with only eight effective soldiers left he was forced from the south tower. Everyone would have been killed crossing the bridge except that six infantryman stayed behind to cover the retreat.

The morning of the fourth day was overcast and the defenders knew they could not stand for another day. As the Pah swarmed over the south tower and bridge the defenders' heart sank for nothing could save them now. With less than three men, including Sir Ochio, defending the north tower all seemed lost. It was the clarion call of the horn that raised the men's spirits. The cavalry stationed north had crossed the Tibbs and marched down to flank the attacking army, leaving only the crossbowmen to defend the keep.

The Pah were trapped between the banks of the river and the new attackers. In the end they were nearly cut down to the man and Sir Ochio was able to gain nearly 10 miles, but during the counter-attack he was struck a mortal blow. The earl arrived for the funeral and committed the funds of his purse to see that Sir Ochio was properly interred. The king named the new lands around the keep after the knight who fought for them, granting them to the earl of palmaris.

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Holdings

  • Don, Small hamlet of sheep herders