On the southern edge of Rostland (and thus Brevoy) is a modest trading post. The South Rostland Road has led the adventurers there after a few days of travel. The weather has not been the most comfortable, but it clears as you approach the trading post, leaving behind a wet and cool afternoon. A smaller road branches off of the South Rostland Road and leads up a small hill to the trading post.
Surrounding the post is a wooden palisade that stands 10-feet high. At each corner of the palisade are 20-foot-square watchtowers, each armed with a run-down catapult. There is one entrance through the palisade-- a 30-foot wide wooden gate. It's doors stand open for now, allowing entrance.
The young human, Colin, pulls his steel helmet from his head, long brown hair sticking damply to his scalp. As Joyous Storm, his grey mare with whorls of white, takes halting, dancing steps from side to side beneath him, chainmail barding jingling, he sits comfortably in the shifting saddle and sizes up the palisade and watchtowers.
He glances downward, nearby, to the bewitching young woman who has been walking at his side and attempts a reassuring smile. Then he turns backward towards an older man making his way behind them. "Mister Crumbs?" he asks, his voice still finding its way to adulthood. "This must be the Trading Post, right? It's more fort-y and less post-y than I was expecting."
Crumbs' methodical pace comes to a halt next to the others. He pulls a wine skin from a saddlebag adorning the donkey accompanying him, deftly avoiding a nip from his vicious looking teeth. "Out here, if a man has a thing, be assured that another is trying to take that thing from him," he says after a long drink of watered wine. "The two of you had best remember that and be thankful to have walls around you when you can." With a grunt, Crumbs replaces the wine skin and continues on. His mule, the Mayor of Braddock, follows closely behind, their measured steps taking them up the final hill of their journey.
Crytalis returns Colin’s reassuring smile with one of her own before lifting her gaze up the path to the fort. "People.." she breaths out happily toward the crook of her neck and the little bird sitting wrapped in her hair"...and where there are people there are inns and where there are inns there are beds." Her attention shifts back to Crumbs’ words, her small head bobbing along at his advice. She watches as the Mayor and he continue on before hefting off her pack and letting it drop, kneeling beside it. With quick hands she adjusts her various pouches, transforming most of her coins into a larger pouch that gets buried into the bottom of her pack. She stands, swinging the large pack back onto her shoulders. With a small groan she stumble-runs up the path to catch up with Crumbs.
Colin watches her go, smiling contentedly at her eagerness. He checks again that the lance is seated non-threateningly in its stirrup and clicks his tongue. Joyous Storm trots forward to the open gate, eager herself, perhaps, to rest from the long day's ride.
Colin hangs his helmet on the saddle horn and looks up at the catapult as he passes wondering what sorts of assailants would be affected by such large siege engines.
Inside the gate, the road comes to a market yard. To the left, there is a stable with the large entrance hanging slightly ajar. Directly across the market yard is a storage pen and next to that a wide single story building. A pair of wooden tables and their benches sit between the large wide building and a smaller, long building beside the front palisade.
Hammering sounds across the yard from the roof of the large wide building. A human man crouches on the top swinging a mallet at the wooden roof beams.
A human woman is tending to an array of trade goods displayed on one of the tables in the market yard, while the other table holds a set of plates, cups and utensils.
As the travelers enter the yard, the woman's head looks up from her work and her eyes widen with excitement. She is of fair complexion with mid length blonde hair tied up in a blue bandanna. She wears a simple orange shirt and a long, beige skirt. She waves as she approaches.
"Hail, travelers!" Her voice is assured, as if she is expecting you.
Colin waves and then dismounts. He whispers a quiet word to Joyous Storm who then dutifully follows behind him as he approaches the woman.
"Hail to you, good lady," he says with a smile. "We have come from Restov. My name is Colin. After today's cold and sleet, we look forward to warm beds, clean stalls, and hearty food. Any news from the Stolen Lands would be welcome as well as we plan to depart south in the morning."
Crytalis makes her way over to Colin’s side, setting one possessive hand on his arm. The smile she sends the woman is warm and genuine though. Her golden eyes wander past the woman to the table of trade goods and light in anticipation. She breaks away from his side finally and weaves around the woman and towards the tables.
"Well met, Colin. I am Svetlana. Svetlana Leveton. That determined man on the roof there is my husband Oleg. We have received word of your coming from Restov and have prepared for the occasion. We may not have the luxuries of Restov, but I assure you our beds are warm and you are welcome to them. I prepare food daily, which you may sup with us as well. The stalls over there may play host to your fine steed." She gestures to the stall, then turns towards the main building and tilts her head back. "OLEG! Come on down from there and see these horses to the stalls!"
"This roof isn't going to fix itself Lana!" Oleg's calls brusquely.
"Yes, but it can be set aside a moment for the sake of hospitality, can it not?" Svetlana says.
Oleg's response is a loud, annoyed grunt. He makes his way off the roof and approaches the adventurers, wiping sweat from his brow.
Oleg is a middle aged man with short brown hair, thick sideburns and a wide jaw. He's of heavy build with a simple off-white shirt, and brown trousers stuffed into worn leather boots. He walks directly to the horse and holds his hand out to take up the reigns to guide it. "I'll take it to the stall. Just this way."
"Oleg, don't be so gruff. This is Colin. They are adventurers from Restov. I suppose they are the ones we heard about. And what are the names of your companions?"
Colin politely attempts to decline the offer as he sees Oleg clambering from the roof. "Sir? Um... sir?"
He looks at the older man with remorse as he approaches. "I apologize, Oleg, for taking you from your work. But if it is all right with you, I prefer to care for Joyous Storm myself. I was at her foaling and broke her to riding myself. She has always bristled when someone else attempts to tend to her needs."
He smiles at Crytalis and Crumbs. "Will you excuse me, my friends? I will brush and rub down Joy and Mayor and see to their feed. I'll leave you to further introductions."
If he is not interrupted, Colin will brush a hand against Crytalis' shoulder and then make his way to the stable and call for Joyous Storm and Mayor of Braddock to follow him, no reins being necessary.
Crytalis stops in her pursuit of the table at the brush of Colin's hand and given him a benign smile before stepping back towards Svetlana. She thrusts out a hand. "Oh how rude of me, I am Crytalis an explorer." she bubbles out proudly. We have been traveling for ages and ages, and it rained the whole way. Except now, of course. Do you get many travelers? Do you own this place? Is there a place I can take a bath...though why I would want to get more wet I do not know?" Her rushed words finally stumble to a stop, and she stands there with a wide smile planted on her lips.
Svetlana reaches her hand out and shakes Crytalis'. "Nice to meet you Crytalis. To answer your questions: No, we don't get many travelers. Yes we own it. Oleg was chartered to rebuild this old border fort into a trading post about half a year ago. Truth be told I think part of the reason why Oleg was so eager to take up such a daunting task was to get away from the bustle of Restov." She gives Oleg a furrowed, but loving glance.
"I'll get back to it.' Oleg says and returns to a ladder he has propped against the house, climbing up and resuming his hammering.
Svetlana continues with a smile. "I'm afraid we don't have anything such as a bath tub. With provisions as they are, we simply wash up with a bucket and water brought up from the creek. Or just wash at the creek itself. Sorry we can't be more accomodating." She gives Crytalis and her gear a once over. "And this is the last stop south of anything like civilization, so if you're headed that way, you may have had your last proper bath in Restov."
She motions to the guest house. "You may put your things in there. The beds are ready made, and I'll see about serving lunch soon."
Colin contents himself rubbing flanks and brushing manes for the moment, humming off-key.
Crumbs grabs a few important items from the Mayor's back as Colin escorts the animals to the stalls.
He chuckles slightly and and says Svetlana, "The first time the Mayor bit me, it was one hour after I found him. He's damn near bit me every day since. That boy though, the Mayor never bit him once. He does seem to have a way with the animals, doesn't quite have the ladies figured out as well."
He hoists his pack onto his back and starts to make his way to the rooms.
"Maybe give the two of them the double bed if you catch my meaning, hey Old Mother?"
He doesn't wait for a reply.
"This is all of what is for sale." She gestures to the table with the trade goods. "As far as room and board goes, we can discuss the price of that later, maybe over lunch? Speaking of which, I should go bring that out. Have a seat at the table there if you're hungry." Svetlana leaves with a smile and heads inside the main house, leaving the yard empty save for Crytalis and the sound of Oleg's hammering echoing from the palisade.
After a few short moments, Svetlana emerges from the house with a large pot in her hands, a ladle dangling from the side. She sets it down on the table with the place settings and goes back into the house to fetch a loaf of bread, a knife and a full waterskin.
"LUNCH! Oleg, come on down now and eat." She shouts in a voice that is surprisingly loud, and then looks about for the guests.
Crytalis' mouth gaps open at Crumbs' retreating back, emitting a sound somewhere between a gasp and a laugh...or she is just choking. She does manage to composes herself enough to let the sudden blush fade from her skin and turn back to Svelena. “Thank you.” she murmurs, waiting for the woman to depart before continuing her quest for the table of trade goods. Her eyes and fingers wander over the items in search of anything remarkable, or magical, or map-like.
She contents herself with this until the woman returns with the food. Then shrugs the heavy pack from her shoulders and sets it next to a bench. She stares morosely at her dirty hands before wiping them on her dirty shirt. Finally making her way to the table she takes a plate, cup, and set of utensils. Then stands there, awkwardly trying to appear like a seasoned explorer.
Colin pokes his head out of the stable. "Lunch? Great! I'm starving and tired of jerky and hardtack."
He ambles over, shaking the water from the horse trough from his hands, his gauntlets tucked into his belt. He takes a moment to look at the bench next to Crytalis to make sure it will take the weight of his armor. Then he realizes he isn't so sure it will, so he starts unbuckling things.
When his host comes down, he adds, "Mr. Oleg, if you like I could give you a hand with that roof. Weather's been pretty wet and we won't be leaving until the morning."
The other wooden table is covered in adventuring supplies:
Two hand axes, five javelins, a longbow, two dozen arrows, two potions of a light blue hue, one potion of a silvery white, two vials of antitoxin, six torches, a number of animal furs, a dozen candles, three lamps, a hooded latern and a coil of rope. Three barrels are set to the side of the table, two with "water" marked in charcoal and the third with "oil" marked on it.
"There be more weapons and supplies in the stock and store rooms, too. Can't fit it all out on this table. If ye need somethin' in particular, just ask and we might have it back there." She begins serving the soup into metal bowls. "Reckon we'll get a proper trading stand one of these days. If I can talk Oleg into building one."
Oleg climbs down from the roof and turns to Colin. "Nay, thank you. It's nearly patched. And uh..." Oleg looks vulnerable for a moment, then he shakes it off. "Nevermind." When he comes over to the table to sit and eat, Svetlana is giving him a suspicious eye.
Ahem, She nudges Oleg with her elbow. "Just ask 'em, Oleg. They look like capable types. Maybe they'd help us."
"Whuhd yuh nee hehp wif?" Colin asks, mouth full of broth-soaked bread.
Oleg lets out a heavy sigh. "Are you sayin' that you don't know already what troubles us? I can see you aren't the muscle they promised to send from Restov, but... well, they did tell you, didn't they?" His voice sounds increasingly worried.
"Oleg dear, they clearly don't know. They would have said so." Svetlana's voice is a practiced tone of soothing of her husbands concern.
Oleg's tone is forcibly calmer. "I just want to hear it from them, Lana."
At the mention of food, Crumbs decides that stowing his gear can wait. As he passes the table of wares, his eyes linger for a moment upon the potions.
"After the meal, I'll have to ask if I can examine these unguents more closely, or perhaps even the wench already knows what they are,"
Crumbs thinks to himself in what he believes is his most quiet of voices. It isn't. When he hears the world trouble, he gets visibly excited.
"Trouble you say. What kind of trouble, I ask. Troubles of the Lycanthopic Variety? The wooooolves that walk on two legs? Something like this maybe?"
He pulls out a picture from his satchel and holds it up eagerly.
"Terror under the moonlight? Carnage and destruction? Arms and legs removed by gnashing teeth?"
Colin tunes out Crumbs' ramblings and holds a small piece of bread up for Pim to peck at. He leans closer to Crytalis to speak quietly in her ear.
"Cry? Do you think he means our charters? They do mention banditry but nothing specific."
He lingers a few seconds longer than necessary, reluctant to abandon the intimacy, but then he remembers the bowl of food in front of him and resumes eating.
Crytalis cranes her neck to stare wide-eyed at the image of people being gnawed upon, her mouth falls open only to close in a gulp. Blinks. “Perhaps, but surely bandits would be blocked off with gates and walls.” she murmurs to Colin, her hand flicking around to indicate the walls and whatnot.
Her eyes seek out Svelana and Oleg, both to gauge their reaction to Crumbs and to offer what she hopes is a reassuring smile. “We are chartered to explore the Greenbelt to the south of here, we were told of bandits and, of course, expect to encounter other foe...perhaps if you told us more of what troubles you we can better tell if we can be of aid to you.” Her voice gentles as she speaks, becoming as soothing as possible.
"Pharasma's fingers!" Oleg shouts and throws up his arms, nearly knocking away his bowl of soup.
"Now Oleg-" Svetlana tries to cut in, but it's too late.
"No, Lana! We're out here gettin' pushed around by some damned low-lifes and I send off to Restov for aid and what do they do? Tell me it'll be here eventually, but in the mean time they'll send some adventurers with hardly a clue of our plight. I swear they want us to suffer out here. Damned nobles couldn't care less! I..." Oleg looks about to burst, but then he looks at his wife and sighs. "I need to finnish that roof 'fore it rains again." He stands abruptly and storms off muttering.
"I'm sorry. Oleg means nothing against you all. He's grateful you're here, he just... he's frustrated this all isn't working out the way he's planned. And it hurts his pride to know he's relying on the same folk he tried to get away from." She watches after him with doting eyes.
Then she turns back to Crytalis, Colin and Crumbs. "It's not a wolf-man we've trouble with, but bandits like you guessed. They come every month on the second day and take what they want. There's nothin' we can do on account of they have us outnumbered and Oleg and I have never been much in the way of warriors."
Colin looks up and frowns at Oleg's departure.
"Svetlana, of course we'll help." He stands up from the table and steps around to bow to her. "I am a cavalier of the Order of the Shield. I am sworn to protect those who are suffering from injustice and cruelty."
He straightens up and adds, "So, do you think he's going to finish that?" He gestures to Oleg's soup.
Svetlana starts to beam when Colin responds. "Thank you, so much. I just had a feeling you would. You're welcome to all the soup you like. And you can stay the night for free as well, as tomorrow is 2 Rova and they will likely arrive around dawn."
Crytalis turns to blink at Colin, "We will? Erm, yes of course we will, apparently." she says, turning back to the beaming woman. "How many bandits would you say usually come? Do they just march through your gates and start taking stuff? Do you know where they live when not out doing banditry?"
Colin sprays forth a mouthful of Oleg's soup upon hearing Svetlana's words. "Tomorrow morning at dawn? Not only bandits but punctual and inconsiderate bandits!"
He takes another spoonful of soup and then, after hearing Crytalis' words, realizes he'd inadvertently just promised to put her in danger without asking her and spews that out as well. "Erastil forgive me!"
As he listens to her questions, he carefully selects a third swallow but when he looks up he meets Crytalis' glare and realizes he's gotten soup on her twice now, he spits again in surprise. "My gods, what have I done?"
Then he carefully slides the bowl away from him with a longing look.
Crytalis takes the first spraying of soup with good grace, bestowing a besotted – if slightly irritated look towards the distracted Colin before she addresses her questions at Svetlana. The second spray causes a little squeak of rage to spill forth, which in turn causes poor Pim to fly from her shoulder to safer ground. She turns to Colin, opening her mouth to most likely screech at him when the third spray makes a direct hit. She splutters and scoops up her chunk of bread, chucking it at his head.
Svetlana waits for the soup spitting episode to die down before beginning her story.
"Three months ago the bandits came for the first time. They came in through the gate and threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct me for 'their own amusements' if we did not agree to hand over all our furs and trade goods. That was everything we had accumulated over the previous month or so, our first month here. We were in no position to negotiate or defend our take- there was ten of them. They seemed to be led by a particularly sharp and observant woman with two hatchets at her belt. She issued orders through what seemed like a second ranking man, with a cloak and bow, but he seemed a bit foolish and very crude to boot. The woman had a cruel sense of humor, though. She nearly lopped off Oleg's hand with one of her hatchets, but planted her blade just short and laughed it off. Like she was mocking us, though truth be told I can't see the joke, even in dark humor. She took my wedding ring, too and gave it to one of her men. Said it was payment for not 'shortening Oleg's reach.'"
"They have returned twice since then, each time within an hour of sunrise on the second day of the month. We decided to get our things ready so that the interaction was as brief as possible. They were... unpleasant to say the least. They kept on with their harrasment of me. Said they might take me for amusements anyway, but they didn't, Torag fend us. One the second and third visits only the cloaked man came with. There was no sight of the cruel woman. Second time he was here with six men, while on the third he only came with four. I suspect they let their guard down on account of us being cowed. Hopefully they'll bring less tomorrow."
After that she goes quiet and looks down at her soup, eating it slowly.
"I'm afraid Oleg will do something foolish. He says he wants to hang their bodies up on the palisade, but..." She lowers her voice to almost a whisper and looks up again, leaning in close. "I know he can't do it by himself. He'll die and they'll hang him up. I hope you can do something before he does."
She resumes eating her soup with her eyes turned down.
"We brought plenty 'o rope and a fair bit of firepower. We're here to deal with bandits. You lot seem like a nice enough pair. A little hard on the eyes, but you make a mean broth and that goes a long way to make up for it.The bread could use some work."
At the mention of bread, Crumbs' eyes take on a wistful appearance. If one was looking just right, they might even catch a hint of moisture gathering there along the bottom lids.
"Well, if what you say is for true and for certain, these bandits are going to save us a whole mess of trouble of tracking them down. With them coming to us, all we need to do is grab one, skin him, hang him from the palisade while he's still alive and screaming. That should have the others greasing their britches and sweating through their jerkins. They'll be begging us to let them tell us where the rest of their people are. Oleg'll get his decorations and we'll get our information."
Crumbs takes a massive slurp of broth from his bowl shoves the remaining crust of bread in behind it.
"Ah that's the trick. Soak the bread in the broth and it goes down almost like regular bread."
Colin's eyes narrow when he hears Svetlana's tale. He takes a deep breath and gets lost in his own thoughts.
When Crumbs speaks, though, his jaw drops listening to the alchemist's gruesome description of torture. After a moment of watching the older man return to his meal, he speaks in a quiet but firm voice.
"Mr. Crumbs, these men and women have clearly done evil here. We should give them one chance to surrender and atone for their actions. It may be that some have been forced through some hardship to this life."
Colin looks to Crytalis to read her reaction and gauge her level of approval.
Then, he adds, grimly. "However, if they do not take that opportunity, then we will be forced to fight them and we have the authority to deliver the Regent's ultimate justice."
"Either way."
Crytalis retakes her seat, now that the soup is safely away from Colin. She sips at her soup as the conversation progresses around her. The mention of skinning people pauses her spoon, a little spark of interest flickering in her eyes. "We could take bones as well, perhaps boil off the flesh and make a lovely necklace from them." she smiles at Svetlana in that same reassuring manner. "Yes, it shall all work out wonderfully."
Another small sip of soup follows before Colin speaks, she sets the spoon back carefully in the bowl and turns to him, "Yes, love, we could do that. But, well, perhaps an ambush or such would serve us well. Perhaps we can agree that if they atone with their death we won't torture them, much." She bestows her most charming smile and flutters her lashes at him before pushing his rejected soup back to him. "Eat, I have a feeling you will need it."
Svetlana seems to be preoccupied as the others discuss their plan, looking down at her soup and more playing with it than eating it. Finally, she looks up with a confused expression at Crytalis' words, then shakes her head as if dismissing what she thought she heard. "Right, yes, please eat. I imagine you'll want to discuss if and how exactly you'll be involved. I have some things to tend to for now. We can talk more over supper? If I haven't said so already, please make yourselves at home."
Then she excuses herself and makes off with what empty dishes there are, leaving the rest on the table. "Let me know if you need anything!" She calls before going into the main building through the front door.
Oleg's hammering sounds out again in an irregular rhythm.
Colin stares at Crytalis for a moment, his eyes registering something like horror. Then he laughs and says, "Cry, you really had me going for a minute. You can be really scary when you talk like that!"
"But," he adds, "You may have a point. Maybe if you and Crumbs are up on one of the towers, you should be the one to try to intimidate them into surrendering peacefully with all that skinning and bone-boiling talk. Of course, they can't actually atone for their crimes by being dead."
"And also safe from harm if she's up on the tower," he thinks to himself.
"Then," he continues. "If they still refuse, Oleg can open the gate and Joyous Storm and I will charge out and engage them directly. Perhaps if I challenge their leader, the others will give up."
Crytalis forces out a brittle-bright laugh at his laughter, flicking her hand dismissively. "Oh yes, you know me...always playing around."
Her laughter falls off as Colin continues her face growing incredulous at his plan before warming, the besotted look returning. "You want to stick me in a tower while you go fight the bandits single-handed? her hand reaches out to smooth over his cheek. "So brave."
Her attention turns to Crumbs, "Do you know what those are?" she motions to the potions "Should we buy them and hide them before the bandits come?"
Joyous Storm eats some hay and poops on some other hay but has a hankering for a bandit ear for breakfast.
"I'll bet Svetlana knows what they are or she wouldn't be selling them!" exclaims Colin in a moment of inspiration.
"Excuse me, Miss Svetlana?" he calls, peering towards the main building.
"We should probably learn how those catapults work, too." he adds to Crumbs and Crytalis. "Though I'm not sure how well they'll work against a small group. We could practice this afternoon."
Crumbs looks to Crytalis and affects what he believes to be his most scholarly of looks. It looks more like the food he just ate is trying its best to violently force its way out of him.
If she'll let me taste 'em a little, I may be able to tell you what they are. But she probably would know." Crumbs says and then adds to himself,
"I'm not quite sure she does though, judging by the shape of that skull. It pains me to think about what kind of thoughts are being squeezed out of it."
"Old Mother! Tell us about your wares! Your tonics here. What are they?"
"And Colin, as much as I would like to get those catapults slinging firebombs and crushing destruction on these idiots when they show up tomorrow, I don't think any of us could do anything to help to repair them."
Svetlana's voice sounds from out through a window in the house. "The blue ones cure your wounds and the white one gives you a divine blessing that protects your body from attacks."
Then Oleg calls from the roof. "Those catapaults would need a few days worth of repair, I reckon. And then a small crew to operate."
"Miss Svetlana?" Colin asks, looking at his coin purse. "Do you think we might be able to buy those potions from you at a discount? We might need them in the morning to stay alive."
Svetlana walks back out into the yard with a large pot in her hand. She sets it down by the campfire burning between the tables and begins scrubbing the inside of the pot.
"Tell you what, why don't you take the white potion. If you at least drive the bandits off, I'll give you the other two. All three of them for free." She grunts and scrubs harder at some stubborn crud in the bottom of the pot. "Forgive me for being conservative, but we've already given much of what we have to the bandits. But if you're willing to try and help us, the potions can be yours for that purpose."
Knowing that he has no money for purchases, Crumbs retires to his bunk after checking in on the Mayor and retrieving some extract components from his tackle. When alone in the bunkhouse, he unrolls a small cured deerskin mat that is covered in arcane symbols. The symbols seem to be stitched into the fabric with alternating patterns of copper and silver wire. Upon this he places a variety of glass bulbs and tubes and tiny flames and a few other esoteric devices from his alchemy kit. He kneels in front of it and settles into a trance-like state. His hands move on their own towards to appropriate ingredients. Oleg's unending hammer strikes fade away. The fearful waves of the looming bandit encounter slowly smooth and cease to exist.
Crumbs opens his eyes to find two items created. The first is a small disc of unleavened bread. In its center, a drop of moisture still glistens as it continues to absorb outwards to the edges, soaking it completely.
The other is a small vial that contains a small amount of liquid that seems to behave like molten fire, its ingredients never seem to settle. The tiny bottle even gives off a little glow like a flame but remains cool to the touch.
Satisfied with his work, Crumbs replaces all of the items in his kit.
"Thank you, Miss Svetlana. We won't let you down!" Colin replies.
He stands up and walks over to look at the gate, examining how it opens and closes and how wide each door is.
"Mr. Oleg?" he calls. "I think we should close up the gates tonight. Perhaps if you and Crytalis were on the wall above them, you could tell them to surrender or face punishment from Restov. Then, at least, they'll have an opportunity to atone for their ways. Crytalis can speak on our behalf."
He paces out into the middle of the courtyard. "I'll be mounted here and ready to charge them as soon as the gate opens. By the way, do they come on horses themselves?"
After Oleg finnishes with the roof he gets down and comes over to listen to Colin and to explain how the gate operates. The gate rests on hinges and swings inward to allow passage. The opening is about ten feet wide with no upper crossbeam, so two horses with riders could walk side by side through it. A large wooden beam can be laid across the back of the gate to lock it from the inside. A rope could be tied on one end to open the gate from a distance, if the locking beam was not in place.
"I don't mind telling them to surrender, but I'm not interested in playing host to men like that. And I wouldn't trust them near my wife even if they swore to Erastil himself to play community." He looks back over at Svetlana who is finishing cleaning up the yard. "I'd feel best if she stayed inside the house when they come."
"They come with a horse each and one or two spares," he adds.
Crytalis stays quiet through the discussion,listening . She calls Pim back over to her and contents herself with whispering sweet nothings to him and preening his feathers.
Colin purses his lips thinking about the horses. "Well, if they plan to take the fort by force, they'll dismount to go for the gate expecting it to be barred. Probably."
He looks over to the stable and back to the gates.
"Yes," he adds. "We'll keep you and Miss Svetlana out of harm's way. She'll stay in the house. Once you've said your peace, come down from the wall. After I've ridden out, close and bar it and go be with Svetlana. If we fail, perhaps you could convince them that we forced you to do as we wanted. But we won't have to count on you to open the gate."
He grins over at Crumbs. "I think we're missing one teammate from this planning discussion. Mayor!" he calls toward the stable. "Come! I want to test something."
Colin asks Crumbs if it is all right to rig up a rope to the top of the gate tied to Mayor's harness. If he just stands still and then obeys Colin's call to come, he should be able to pull the gate open so Colin can ride out.
Crumbs is fine with you using the Mayor in that fashion.