The Shifted Throne (Overlord)

Chapter 13: Forging the Archers

With the warriors steadily advancing and the kingdom finding a semblance of stability, Edmund turned his focus to the archers. Recognizing the critical role they would play in both defense and offense, he decided to train them with the precision and mobility of the legendary Mongol archers. This style, known for its effectiveness in horseback archery, would transform the kingdom's archers into a deadly force.

Before initiating the training, Edmund carefully calculated the costs and resources needed.

'In this world, there are four types of currencies: copper coins, used mostly by the poor; silver coins, the standard for the middle class; gold coins, used by nobles and merchants; and platinum coins, reserved for large-scale transactions,' Edmund reflected.

The exchange rates were as follows:

1 gold coin = 100 silver coins = 1,300 copper coins = 0.1 platinum coins.

With the royal treasury currently holding 7,800 gold coins, this amounted to:

10,140,000 copper coins,

780,000 silver coins, or

780 platinum coins.

'The kingdom generates only 200 gold coins a year,' Edmund calculated grimly. 'It'll cost about 80 gold coins—equivalent to 8,000 silver coins—to properly train and equip the archers.'

He allocated 100 gold coins to fund the archers' equipment, including bows, arrows, and light armor. Edmund handed Cedric detailed blueprints:

1. Recurve Bows: Short and compact, crafted from layered wood, horn, and sinew. These bows were highly flexible, powerful, and capable of accurate shots up to 200–300 yards.

2. Arrows: Long, lightweight arrows with interchangeable tips, including broadheads and bodkin points.

3. Quivers: Designed to carry up to 40 arrows, ensuring quick access for rapid firing.

4. Armor and Clothing: Simple tunics and pants for mobility, paired with padded leather or lamellar armor for light protection.

5. Boots: Durable, comfortable footwear for riding and running.

The next morning, Edmund stood before the 500 archers. He divided them into two groups of 250—one group to train while the other remained on border patrol. Every few months, the groups would switch, ensuring all archers received equal training.

Stage 1: Riding Without Reins

Edmund emphasized the importance of controlling horses with subtle leg movements, leaving both hands free for archery. Though he lacked expertise in riding, Cedric oversaw this phase. The training was grueling, taking two months for the archers to develop a basic level of control.

Stage 2: Advanced Riding Skills

The next focus was on speed and maneuverability. The archers practiced fast galloping, quick starts and stops, and navigating obstacles. This phase took an additional month to master.

Stage 3: Riding in Formation

The archers learned to ride in cohesive formations—lines, wedges, and circles—maintaining unity and the ability to adjust positioning rapidly. This took another three months.

Stage 4: Instinctive Shooting

Edmund tasked the group leaders with training the archers to shoot instinctively, relying on muscle memory and intuition rather than sights. After two months, only 50 archers had achieved any proficiency in this demanding skill.

Stage 5: Shooting While Riding

Training progressed to shooting at both stationary and moving targets while riding at full gallop. This stage, requiring immense focus and coordination, would take five months to complete.

Stage 6: Twisting Shots

Archers learned to shoot over their shoulders while galloping or to fire behind them while retreating. This advanced technique also required five months.

Stage 7: Volley and Rapid Fire

Edmund emphasized techniques such as firing synchronized volleys for devastating impact and rapid-firing arrows in close-range combat. These methods took three months to refine.

Stage 8: Tactical Maneuvers

The final stages included:

Feigning Retreat: The archers practiced retreating, then turning suddenly to unleash a barrage of arrows at pursuing enemies (one month).

Circle Formation: They rode in circular patterns, maintaining constant movement while shooting in all directions (one month).

As the months passed, Edmund's archers transformed into a highly skilled unit. With the training of their Mongol-style mounted archery complete, they became a versatile force capable of precision strikes, rapid mobility, and devastating volleys.

Looking at his army of hybrid soldiers and archers, Edmund felt pride but knew this was only the beginning. The kingdom's military was evolving rapidly, yet challenges lay ahead that would test their mettle on the battlefield.

End of chap.