Steward Wingate nods, looking at Cáel's claws nervously. "Ah yes. Welcome. The letter we got mentioned your ... appearance. I doubt there are any undead around here, but I remember that my grandfather said there were once skeletons in the woods" the old man says.
"It is time for the oath. I hereby swear to obey the king's wardens in matters of defense of Absten as I would obey the Baron." "I so swear" repeat the three knights.
"It's been mostly peaceful for years around here, thank the gods. Historically the main purpose of Fort Pierre is to hold Absten against attacks from the northern kingdom of Kland, and from the local Red Tusk orcs who claim the Red Forest. This area we guard, near the coast, is the only north-south route which steers clear of the forest."
"I was recently attacked by orcs when I was riding in the forest" Dame Winter admits. "Luckily there were only three of them. They were near an old ruin."
"Yes. Usually the orcs are found in bands of at least a dozen. I think this was an isolated incident, and does not portend any wider conflict with the Red Tusks. We don't recognize their territorial claims, nor they ours, but it's been years since there was any major trouble.
Now as to the keep itself ... Let us take the tour and we will explain as we go ... and feel free to ask questions ..."
The soldiers and servants you meet on the tour greet you respectfully.
[sblock=Info dump]Fort Pierre is a two story structure. The keep itself is constructed from the same gray stone as the outer walls, although the floors possess a hardwood cover and the interior walls sport numerous banners, wall hangings, and curtains. Most of the larger rooms are lit with continual flame lanterns which can be shaded or uncovered. Much of the ground floor consists of barracks. The western end of the fort is the stable.
Stationed at the fort are
50 infantry (greatsword, longspear, chainmail). They also act as guards, and are somewhat interchangeable with the Town Guards of Specton; often men are reassigned from one unit to the other. Each man also has a club which can be used in a grapple or to deal nonlethal damage at an attack penalty.
40 archers (longbow, greatsword, scalemail). They staff the four towers around the fort. There are a total of 12 archers in any given shift, and 3 8-hour shifts per day.
If need be, up to 6 archers can fire from the same tower without penalty. The towers give the archers improved cover.
The archers even have some nonlethal capability: a few blunt arrows which they can fire at a penalty to deal nonlethal damage.
27 cavalry (lance, longsword, shield, chain shirt, light warhorse with leather barding) plus the 3 knights who are their leaders. The cavalry are most often used to patrol the lands nearby.
Various servants (stable hands, cooks, cleaners). There are both males and females among both the soldiers and the servants, but most soldiers are male and most servants female. All are human.
Steward Luke Wingate oversees most of the routine activity at the Fort, including financial matters.
There is enough food stored at the Fort to last about 3 weeks.
Part of the food comes from a secret item in the upstairs kitchen, which only a few servants and leaders know about: a cauldron of plenty, which magically produces enough food for 36 people per day. Once a week, it can produce a special feast for up to 12 people which fortifies the body and mind for half a day.
There is an underground stream which can be accessed through the cellar for fresh water and waste disposal.
The leaders eat upstairs, and mostly have large rooms up there. (Sam the Ram lives on the ground floor.)
Each Warden is assigned a large room upstairs, with a comfortable bed.
The room where the Baron himself lived is locked, and is the only large room left unused. Steward Wingate does not offer to show you inside it, but you can request to see it.
The library is also upstairs and looks to have an extensive collection of books and nonmagical scrolls.[/sblock]
"No doubt you'll want to freshen up now. By the way, there is a traveling entertainer who came here today. If you like, she can perform for us during tonight's dinner."
"It is time for the oath. I hereby swear to obey the king's wardens in matters of defense of Absten as I would obey the Baron." "I so swear" repeat the three knights.
"It's been mostly peaceful for years around here, thank the gods. Historically the main purpose of Fort Pierre is to hold Absten against attacks from the northern kingdom of Kland, and from the local Red Tusk orcs who claim the Red Forest. This area we guard, near the coast, is the only north-south route which steers clear of the forest."
"I was recently attacked by orcs when I was riding in the forest" Dame Winter admits. "Luckily there were only three of them. They were near an old ruin."
"Yes. Usually the orcs are found in bands of at least a dozen. I think this was an isolated incident, and does not portend any wider conflict with the Red Tusks. We don't recognize their territorial claims, nor they ours, but it's been years since there was any major trouble.
Now as to the keep itself ... Let us take the tour and we will explain as we go ... and feel free to ask questions ..."
The soldiers and servants you meet on the tour greet you respectfully.
[sblock=Info dump]Fort Pierre is a two story structure. The keep itself is constructed from the same gray stone as the outer walls, although the floors possess a hardwood cover and the interior walls sport numerous banners, wall hangings, and curtains. Most of the larger rooms are lit with continual flame lanterns which can be shaded or uncovered. Much of the ground floor consists of barracks. The western end of the fort is the stable.
Stationed at the fort are
50 infantry (greatsword, longspear, chainmail). They also act as guards, and are somewhat interchangeable with the Town Guards of Specton; often men are reassigned from one unit to the other. Each man also has a club which can be used in a grapple or to deal nonlethal damage at an attack penalty.
40 archers (longbow, greatsword, scalemail). They staff the four towers around the fort. There are a total of 12 archers in any given shift, and 3 8-hour shifts per day.
If need be, up to 6 archers can fire from the same tower without penalty. The towers give the archers improved cover.
The archers even have some nonlethal capability: a few blunt arrows which they can fire at a penalty to deal nonlethal damage.
27 cavalry (lance, longsword, shield, chain shirt, light warhorse with leather barding) plus the 3 knights who are their leaders. The cavalry are most often used to patrol the lands nearby.
Various servants (stable hands, cooks, cleaners). There are both males and females among both the soldiers and the servants, but most soldiers are male and most servants female. All are human.
Steward Luke Wingate oversees most of the routine activity at the Fort, including financial matters.
There is enough food stored at the Fort to last about 3 weeks.
Part of the food comes from a secret item in the upstairs kitchen, which only a few servants and leaders know about: a cauldron of plenty, which magically produces enough food for 36 people per day. Once a week, it can produce a special feast for up to 12 people which fortifies the body and mind for half a day.
There is an underground stream which can be accessed through the cellar for fresh water and waste disposal.
The leaders eat upstairs, and mostly have large rooms up there. (Sam the Ram lives on the ground floor.)
Each Warden is assigned a large room upstairs, with a comfortable bed.
The room where the Baron himself lived is locked, and is the only large room left unused. Steward Wingate does not offer to show you inside it, but you can request to see it.
The library is also upstairs and looks to have an extensive collection of books and nonmagical scrolls.[/sblock]
"No doubt you'll want to freshen up now. By the way, there is a traveling entertainer who came here today. If you like, she can perform for us during tonight's dinner."
