As soon as the situation in the Orc Empire stabilized, smoke from the fires of war was bound to rise in the Near East.
Without the need to deploy large armies for a decisive battle, repeated raids and sabotage could wear many Lords down.
Cities could protect the safety of domain people, but they could not shield the farmlands, pastures, bridges, reservoirs outside the walls...
Such harassment could be said to be almost endless. Even if defensive construction was completed, the Near East region would still be under threat from the Orcs.
There are two ways to cope with this: either cripple the Orc Empire until they dare not come causing trouble, or follow the model of the Northern provinces and build fortresses everywhere, making the city defenses as complex as a maze.
The intertwining lines of defense then become natural barriers, block a few crucial roads, and it becomes an instant encirclement.
Clearly, the two most effective measures are not so easy to accomplish.
