Teela had spent her shift doing 4 things - keeping the fire, watching for threats, watching the horses, and fixing the holes in Quintessa's gown. Naturally, that comes with complaining about the gown being worn once and already being marked by stabs, cuts, blood stains, and burns.
She then goes to sleep, waking up the next shift. In the morning, she packs her stuff, puts some jerky in her mouth, and hops on Caramel's back, ready to ride.
As the group moves to the elevated building, she points the thing out. "No idea what that is, but we're already behind schedule. I suggest we move on, and come look at it later?"
Setting up for camp, Faen felt an overwhelming sense of deja-vu, having done so for so many years as her family followed the merchant roads through Brevoy.
She helped get the horses settled, taking the time to brush her own down, picking some nettles from his tail.
Later, sitting up with Graham, she leaned against one of the only trees nearby, looking up at the sky, a single tear welling up and falling to her cheek as she felt the loss of her parents all the more.
But, she was up with the sun in the morning, offering cheerful good mornings to everyone.
When the structures come into view, "Is this the Oleg's place we've been looking for?"
Alvis uses his survival and nature skills to prep camp and see to the horses needs. He then says, " All is set for now, I'll make sure all will rise to greet the new day, but if anyone wishes to join me a bit early for morning prayers to Abadar, I'll wake them early.
When the sky show the earlies signs of light Alvis being his quiet prayers, waking and guiding any that wish it. With Velas, after dawn, he starts water boiling and wakes everyone up. He helps anyone the needs it with there mounts and all tasks the need be done before they set out.
As the hilltop structure comes into sight, Alvis sighs, saying, "I don't think so, Faen. I don't remember anyone at our last point saying anything about a watchpost, which that has to be, is it still in service? Anyone heard something about this? I greatly doubt it's our destination, too large and not far enough, I think."
During their watch, Velas enjoys quiet conversation with Alvis, mainly discussing the party's coming together in Restov.
As the group discusses whether or not to investigate the building on a hill, Velas suggests venturing a bit closer. "The building isn't that far out of our way, so we won't lose too much daylight if it's not of interest. Plus, we may find something useful nearby. Better to rule it out now, than find ourselves having to backtrack."
Velas speaks with confidence in his reasoning, but makes it clear that he is only making a suggestion and will defer to the rest of the group.
The structure in question appears directly ahead along the road, about a mile off. Again, it is a higher than usual spot, but far from an insurmountable hill, just a little more elevated than the area nearby, and right between the roadway and the Shrike River. It appears the road bends at the building, heading off in a more northerly direction, while the Shrike River continues on its mostly westerly course. To the south, the hills which have been on the horizon seem a bit closer but still a day's ride off at least.
Hmm, Graham says. This seems much closer than Oleg's should be – I don't recall anyone saying it was along the Shrike either.
His eyes move to the hills beyond, then back to the building. Its strategic location would suggest a fortification of some kind. It looks abandoned, though. We should take a few minutes to check it out.
Velas rides his horse near Graham and stares towards the structure, hoping to see an indication of its purpose or movement within. "Yes, likely an abandoned stronghold of some kind. I'm surprised the townsfolks of Nivakta's Crossing didn't mention it. As I said before, better to investigate now while we are so close."
Alvis is bothered by the fact of this large Brevic structure, saying, "I'm not sure about this. We're still in Brevoy, there is little sure knowledge of the lands called stolen but here people should be more forthcoming about basic facts. This trading post we are heading toward should have merchants travelling to it now and then. I wonder if this err - Oleg is it? Did he ask people to keep quiet? Is so why? It is strange."
He follows, [b]"We should stop, I guess, because I, for one, am uncertain as to where the trading post is. Thhe road goes north here and the post I thought would be west or maybe a bit southwest. If there is anyone here that could tell us something actually useful, that would be good."
Teela looks at the sun high in the sky, she looks towards west, then to the hill with the building on it. She waves at the structure as if greeting it. "Curiosity..." and she gestures towards the rest of the riders. "...meet the cat."
"Can't believe it's me that has to say this." Teela sighs and pats her horse. "If you want to go sightseeing, I'm not stopping you. As a matter of fact, I will even go with you. I only hope that the particularly hard hit trading post is not a pile of cinders when we arrive." she makes a verbal jab without looking at anyone specifically.
I believe there to be a difference between sightseeing and investigation, Graham says lightly. Besides, if the bandits were going to just burn down Oleg's, they'd have done so already. And it wouldn't make much sense anyway, because trading posts give bandits a reason to, well, bandit.
He pulls the reins of Horse in the direction of the fort. Come now, let us see what there is to see.
Faen leans over the pommel of her saddle, looking at the fort and listening to the discussion.
She smiles, "I for one wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if we just passed on by..."
She nudges her horse to follow Graham...
Quintessa lets out a soft sigh, shaking her head with amusement at the lively discussion. She glances at the structure in the distance, weighing the pros and cons.
"Very well. If half of you are willing to lose sleep over not investigating, and the other half are already planning what poetic last words you'll have when this curiosity inevitably turns into a disaster, I suppose we have no choice but to take a look."
"We do this quickly and efficiently. No wandering off. No unnecessary risks. We assess the situation, determine if there’s anything of value and then we continue westward posthaste."
Teela slowly moves towards the hill, stopping next to Quintessa for a hot second. "If nothing else, maybe we'll be able to see the trading post from there. Maybe." she sighs and nudges Caramel to follow the rest.
The group rides closer towards the structure on the high ground near the river. As you get closer you can see the structure is actually a handful of buildings, surrounded by a wooden palisade wall. The gate, which faces the road, appears open. One watchtower stands above the height of the palisade wall, but the other buildings are just one story, and you can only see rooftops. There are no signs of activity or denizens even as you get closer.
Once you are within hailing distance of the gate, you see a flagpole, a parade ground, and four or five neatly laid out buildings, along with the watchtower on the northwest corner. The base of the watchtower is mortared stone, but the rest of the facility is constructed of timber, mostly in log cabin style. A corral, an empty garden plot, and a well with a tin bucket attached to a rope complete the interior of the palisade wall.
Entering the gate is not challenged in any way. This appears to have once been a military post, given the organized layout, the general orderliness of the grounds, and the structures inside. But, at present, is seems to be empty. No emblem or sigil is visible inside, except for a wood-worked sign carved above the doorway of one of the buildings which says, "Fort Serenko."
Teela gets off her mount and ties it to a pole. She pats the animal after securing the rope and looks around. Her gaze follows the tower all the way up.
"Right. I'll try to get up there and see what I can see. Anyone else coming?"
Without waiting, she starts moving to the building, looking for entry points.
Alvis gravely surveys the scene of abandonment of not just a fort but the responsibility of the rulers of Brevoy. "All abandoned it seems, a retreat in good order. So much left to whatever bandit chief or raider that comes along. No wonder that the tiny Nivkata's Crossing is so demoralized, a modest force could blockade them, and they could only pray for relief. Yes Teela, we should look out of the top of this fort, we are now beyond meaningful protection of Brevoy, this is the wild frontier. It won't take much time for bandits or others to take up residence in this place. Then we ride as fast as we can, the trading post is in more trouble than I had imagined."
Alvis follows suit, trying the horse next to Teela and following her to see if there is anyway up to see what may lie ahead.
Hey! Wait up! Graham says, dismounting uncomfortably and hurrying after Teela, somewhat annoyed that the most vocally against the decision is now the one taking the most direct approach to it.
Impetuousness, thy name is Teela.
Faen hitches her horse near the gate, and makes a circuit of the interior yard looking mainly at the ground, trying to determine if anyone's been there recently.
There is an iron-reinforced wooden door in the mortared stone base of the tower. When Teela tries it, it opens without issue on well-oiled hinges. There is a room at the bottom of the tower with empty weapon racks and stairs leading up. At the top of the stairs is guardroom and then access to the exterior which stands above the palisade wall. There are no signs of current habitation.
From the top of the tower, which rests atop a small bluff, you can see farther over the grassy plains. From here you can see the Rostland Road turns north while the Shrike River turns south to southwest. Looking at the river's course, you can see a series of waterfalls after its southerly bend. You can see way off in the distance, the flag atop the bridge tower at Nivkata's Crossing to the east. To the west, you simply see waving grass for as far as you can see.
As Faen works her way around the yard, you can definitely see the footprints of many boots and horseshoes. You cannot, however, tell how recent any of that activity is, at least it hasn't been washed away by rains. You do notice what appears to be the most recent boot marks on the entry step of the building with the sign carved above the door. In fact, that door appears to be not fully closed.
Graham will follow Teela up to the tower.
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Graham will follow Teela up to the tower.
"Well, I don't know about you guys," Teela thinks out loud as she looks towards the east. "but I don't see any trading post in that direction. I would -assume- there is at least some kind of road that would lead to a damn trading post, but apparently not. It's just grass all the way. Did we miss it or something?"
Quintessa takes a slow, sweeping look at the abandoned fort. She dusts off her gloves as she walks toward the center of the grounds.
When Teel calls out, she calls back up to her "Not to worry, dear. It’s just another shining example of Brevoy’s meticulous planning. I'm sure they meant to mark the way to civilization."
"We try as our duty requires to guide the leaders to plan and fulfill their duty. But more often than not a plan, if any, is thrown together haphazardly. Which is how we got here in the first place. I hope we can find a trail of sorts to guide us. I suspect the post is supplied by pack mules more than wagons.", Alvis replies.
Alvis looks carefully to the west to see how one might move off the road and find a way through to somewhere. If he sees anything that's where he will start to track.
"Where the road bends north or thereabouts, I'll try to track to see where any supplies were carried. But then we will have a choice to make. But that's a bit later.", Alvis concludes.
Faen's brow furrows as she sees the foot prints and the door ajar. She winces a bit at Teela's loud statement from the tower, but approaches the door carefully, easing it open while standing against the nearby wall.
As Faen and Graham gain access to the watchtower and look for the trading post, Velas uses that time to look around in the other rooms for evidence of what this fort was used for and useful items.
"I'm going to look in these other buildings for documents about this place. Might find something left behind."
"Well, I don't know about you guys," Teela thinks out loud as she looks towards the east. "but I don't see any trading post in that direction. I would -assume- there is at least some kind of road that would lead to a damn trading post, but apparently not. It's just grass all the way. Did we miss it or something?"
Don't think so. We've not been a week's travel by foot yet, Graham replies, scanning the western horizon. Lady Jamandi said west, generally speaking, but wasn't more specific; and she certainly didn't mention this "Fort Serenko".
That said, there's clearly more west to travel, though I'm inclined to stick to the road here. The road looks like it leads north, but then not everything is as straightforward as it sometimes appears.
"Alright, well..." Teela shrugs. "I guess I'll wait in the yard if you want to look around? Guard the horses."
She starts walking down the stairs and moves to the horses to make sure they stay where they are.
At Teela's words Alvis looks north to see if there is any sign of it turning west or even northwest. "Maybe Teela, it would make more sense to keep to even a bad road, it's not much but wagons could traverse it. If it doesn't go too far north and turns west it could be the route. I was just under the impression that the trade post a bit outside the borders of Brevoy." Alvis, descends looking pensive, "But the point of us being here is that the border is collapsing from neglect, allowing all sorts of malefactors to run amok. I may have been led astray by the terribly misleading view of optimism. Thank you, Teela, your ability to find the shady side of any situation might just save us yet." Alvis finishes the last with a wry smile breaking out at Teela as he walks through the yard to the horses.
Alvis nods at Graham. "Yes that seems the better plan, it would also explain why no says anything but go west. I wish I had come out this far as a roadwarden."
As Alvis strains to follow the narrowing line of the road to the north, her perhaps sees the road curve to the northwest some, but he can't really be sure from this distance.
Velas looks in another building on the post, and finds a barracks or sleeping room of some kind. Wooden bed frames and empty foot lockers remain, but the rest of any furniture or gear has been removed, including any mattress or blankets. An abandoned mess is adjacent to the barracks, with an outdoor fireplace for cooking. No food or supplies are left here. The only other building inside the fort, is a stables, but there are no viable items left here either, only some hay bales and a pile of firewood.
Faen enters the building with the name of the fort stenciled above, taking extra care to be quiet. This building appears to be an office of some kind, perhaps the facility headquarters. There is an outer office and an inner one as well. There does not appear to be anyone inside, and all the things from inside are missing, except a desk and chair at each office. Inside the larger inner office, is a note lying on the desk, in neat crisp penmanship. It says: "I, Captain Dmitri Ivanov, following lawful orders from my commanding officer abandon this frontier post and remove my unit to the Issian border to protect against further rebellious activity. I hope to return my unit to this post once the issues around the kingship are resolved." The letter seems to be officially signed by this Captain Ivanov, and is dated roughly two months ago.
Worryingly, below the captain's signature, someone has scrawled a sigil showing the skull of a stag with complete antler rack, and the words, "GOOD RIDDANCE!" in what appears to be blood.
Faen grabs the letter, holding it up to the light coming through the window to read it. Frowning at the addendum, she brings it outside and shows it to the others, "Well, here's the reason no-one's here...but there was a visit...see here..." she says, pointing out the stag-skull symbol.
"Abandoning a fort in a bandit-ridden south to defend a bandit-ridden north." Teela chuckles. "Couch strategists at their best."
She examines the symbol near the signature. "Isn't this Erastilian iconography? Did the lost brother convert bandits after all?"
Velas reports back to the group that the buildings he searched contain nothing of interest or value.
He looks over the letter that Faen found. "Two months ago? I'm surprised such recent troop movement wasn't mentioned in the Crossing. Maybe we didn't ask the right questions, or speak to the right people. This stag skull is strange, no?"
Alvis slowly shakes his head saying, "I only wish that was true, Teela. Unfortuatly bandits is not what this is about. Brevoy is slowly but all to strongly moving to civil war. He who sits on the Dragonscale Throne fears that some of the great houses will rebel and that will set Rostland ablaze as well. But her Ladyship would know more that I would."
He examines the signal and grunts, "It seems someone is making claims already, a mark of some bandit chief or local tribal lord. This implies that their is at least one somewhat organized group, with insignia. Our task already grows greater. The need for haste has grown even greater, as this group that leaves bloody prints is here then the trading post may already have fallen. If not then mostlike soon."
Alvis turns as Faen speaks, "A bit strange, a stag's head would ussually be associated with the Father of Forests, Erastil. But any such follower would not leave so brazen and bloody mark."
Velas has not heard of the officer who signed this letter, Captain Ivanov, but the story sounds at least plausible to him given the unrest in Brevoy related to the ongoing friction between Issia and Rostland.
Further, Velas has not seen this sigil before. He does recall that the stag or stag antlers are often symbols of Erastil, but that would not usually have skull iconography or blood writing along with it.
"Fair enough. I suppose I could have pad more attention to the happenings in Issia, but..." she shrugs. "A girl has her own problems to keep her distracted."
She pats Caramel's ribs gently. "Alright. Got what you need? I think some sense of urgency crept up on the local bandits situation." she points to the letter.
Quintessa studies the letter as Faen holds it up.
"Captain Dmitri Ivanov. Hmmm. I don’t know of him personally, but this... this is no surprise. I warned you all before we left that Lady Jamandi is playing a delicate game. She isn’t the only one. The Issian loyalists are fortifying their holdings, leaving the south to fend for itself. This was a calculated retreat, not mere negligence. Ivanov left because he was ordered to, but he left behind the foundation of something worse."
Her gaze shifts to the sigil, her lips pressing into a thin line. "And whoever left this mark intends to make sure this post never flies Brevic colors again. The fact that this wasn’t defaced but signed tells me they want their presence known."
Graham reads the note over again, studying the images at the bottom. Some self-important, wannabe king type, no doubt, he sniffs.
Turning back to the open entrance to the fort, he considers the geography. This fort is in a good location, well defensible and easy access to water, and far enough out to be a beacon of sorts. Curious to know how far this is from other parts of the Stolen Lands, particularly if this person – he gestures at the note – made it all the way here, on the frontier of Brevoy.
Velas nods along as the group shares their thoughts. "Border politics and more bandits. From what I'm hearing, I should expect more of both."
With a slight grunt, he mounts his horse and readies himself for continued travel in search of the trading post. "I'm glad we surveyed this fort. At least we know it's been abandoned. Perhaps it will serve a purpose for us in the future." Velas checks the position of the sun to gauge how much daylight is left. "Is anyone still searching the area? Probably best to start riding soon."
Alvis says, "Good points all. Graham, I fear you are right that this is a bid for true domination not just a raider. This sign may be mere bragging but also could be an indication that he is smart enough to not rob and/or murder everyone. Do that too much and all the prey dies or leaves but start to levy taxes and offer real protection and suddenly you are a warlord. But most often it ends in as much tragedy as it began."
Alvis heads to Parable as well, "Velas you are right, just knowing that this fort is here and abandoned is the most important fact we learned but it is not worth more than an hour or so delay. We must press on quickly."
Freeing the tie off and mounting up Alvis says, "As for Issia, if united the great houses have enough strength to hold Rostland to their will. If not, all hell breaks loose. Or so I understand it. Having taken a charter that refers to a Reagent not a King, you may not want to do or say anything unwise, but if you have knowledge or a feeling of how the houses will act, well I am curious as it could bear on us."
Alvis is clearly prepared to ride off following the road.
As the others discuss politics, Faen takes the opportunity to climb the tower and look West. Seeing the seemingly unending plains of tall grass, she's overcome with a feeling, not one she's had before. A feeling of yearning...to see what lays beyond all that grass, to explore, to discover.
Almost giddy with her newfound purpose, she descends the tower, jumping down each flight of stairs, to come running out to the others.
Slightly out of breath, she declares, "Well , if you're all finished talking...let's go!"
Graham laughs aloud. You heard the lass! She's ready, so it's time to go! The remark is clearly made in jest, and even Alvis smiles at the joke.
The heroes leave the seemingly-abandoned post of Fort Serenko behind, following the Rostland Road as it leaves the place to the north. The Shrike River, which has been their companion since they left Restov, turns south near the fort, so the group rides away from the river, and into the grassy plains of the Hinterlands.
Eventually the road turns more northwest, then almost due west again, following a similar track as you perhaps intended, though a bit north of a due west course from the fort and thorp.
The sun westers, filling the sky with a vibrant mix of reds and purples as it begins to set among wispy clouds. From the north, a heavy wall of dark cloud seems to file slowly closer -- an ill omen of weather for the day ahead.
As dusk settles, you actually see a man on the road ahead. He seems to be pulling a small cart by hand, laboring along the road back towards Restov. As he sees you ahead, he stops, removing a fur cap, and hails you from a safe distance. "Hallo travelers! I am no threat! Just passing along the same road. Give berth, eh?" He waits and watches, hands visible, to see if you will let him pass safely or not.
Alvis departs with the others, taking the lead looking for any problems along the way but not letting anything slow them down.
As the man comes into sight and hails them, Alvis looks about to see of any trouble is in the area, as his roadwarden trainers advised. He the greets the man warmly. "Hail and well met, I'm Alvis, by grace of Abadar ordained into his service. All honest travelers are under his benevolent eye." Alvis rides a bit off the road to allow the man to pass giving some additional room. As he passes, Alvis intones, "May Abadar bless you and your business with safety and success."
Faen also give the man and his cart room to pass by, calling out "Well met, traveller! What news of the road ahead?"
Provided you all move to the side and don't take any overtly threatening action, the man pulls his cart abreast of where you sit. You can see his of nearly middle-age with dark hair and beard showing signs of greying. He wears warm leather gear with fur ruffs around the edges, but much more in a practical way than a fancy one. He has a large, thick pink scar running from above his right eye down to his right cheek, like a fleshy worm. He wears a bow, and carries a longish dagger with serrated blade, and a handaxe.
"Well met yourself. Not many on the road, especially not without ill intent. I am Gregori, at your service. Not much ahead on the road as far as I went, only grass and the wind. Where are you headed then?" By the time he finishes he has passed you but stopped his cart to chat. The cart seems heavyish on the wheels but is covered and strapped with a canvas tarp, so you cannot see what is in the load.
Teela directs Caramel to step aside and make space. She waves the at the man. "Good evening. You a traveling merchant or some such? We're looking for a trading post supposedly west of here. You wouldn't, by chance, know if this is the right path?"
"Not merchant. Hunter and trapper. Let me know if you want any fresh meats. It will take a load off." He makes a sweeping motion at the cart behind him. Then looks at you with a fixed expression. "You are heading to Oleg's? If so, you are on the right road. The trading post is just south of the road maybe two days farther on. Give my best to Oleg and especially to his lovely wife Svetlana. She is an angel walking the earth! And her radish soup! Like manna from heaven!"
He continues, "I was not as far west as Oleg this trip unfortunately. I had traps laid along the Shrike and then hunted the area west of the falls. Had a run-in with brigands and lost my mule, so now I push, as you see. Slower going, as I had hoped to make the Crossing by nightfall, but alas...here we are."
"What is your business with Oleg?"
Alvis nods commenting, "An honest trade difficult though in these lands."
As Gregori complete s his tale, Avlis has an answer and many questions. "You had an encounter with brigands? We are going to Oleg's because a message that he was having bandit troubles came to Restov. Sadly, regular forces are unavailable at the moment and our temple is small, they could only send me. But circumstances led me to some fine people that have little love for bandits running wild in the frontier, so we are going to put paid to these miscreants."
Alvis continues, "But, if you would Goodman Gregori, please detail your ordeal. How did you escape them while pushing a cart most bandits would pursue you and take everything, greedy as they are? And after that would you be so kind as to tell of anything else you know of banditry in South Brevoy and beyond into the wilderness? Oh, and you weren't hurt, were you? I don't do charity of course but amending the wounds of those accosted by the unlawful is part of my mandate."
Avlis waits with an earnest intensity. He is prepared though to tend to the man if he has any injuries.