F O RT O N T H E B O R D E R L A N D 5. A small boy—dirty and thin—darts through the crowd.

He
clutches a scabbarded longsword to his chest. The
weapon appears nely made. If stopped, the boy—Arthal
One of the quintessential locales for adventurers to —explains he is delivering it to a customer of his father.
rest between adventures, a fort on the borderlands is 6. A shout of alarm from one of the fort’s tower has several
a safe haven offering many of civilisation’s beguiling men-at-arms rushing to investigate whatever their
comforts. Here adventurers can rest and recuperate between companion has spotted.
expeditions into the wilderness. 7. A ag ying from one of the fort’s towers breaks free and
drifts to the ground. It lands in a large patch of horse
B O R D E R L A N D F O RT D R E S S I N G S
manure. Is this an omen for the fort’s fortunes?
8. A young child of indeterminate age and sex chases a
1. A lewd picture daubed on a wall depicts a warrior mangy dog grasping a short length of rope in its mouth.
decapitating a goblin, orc or some other kind of evil Totally engrossed in their chase game, neither notice the
humanoid. The blood spurting from the humanoid’s approach of a heavily laden wagon.
neck is particularly overdone.
2. Recent rain has turned the churned earth of the
courtyard into a muddy morass, through which travellers
M E N - AT - A R M S WITH PERSONALITY
and men-at-arms struggle. A single boot juts forlornly
from a patch of particularly thick, cloying mud. 1. Aevar (LG male human ghter 1) Overly burly, and bald,
3. A section of scorched, soot-blackened stone wall along Aevar cuts a menacing image. His dangerous mien is
with a newly replaced section of roof bears mute further enhanced by a badly done tattoo of a skull
testimony to a re that almost got out of control. covering his entire head except for his face. For all that,
4. An empty gallows atop a ve-foot high wooden platform Aevar is loyal to his lord, if not a little bit too enthusiastic
stands in the middle of the courtyard. Two servants are in combat.
on their hands and knees scrubbing the platform clean. 2. Myev Widow-Maker (NG female half-orc ghter 2) A
A bored man-at-arms stands nearby looking on. terror on the battle eld, Myers has a way of looking at
5. A pile of barrels and crates stands against one wall. A people that suggests she is plotting their brutal and swift
large black and white cat lies curled atop one of the evisceration. She uses a large double-blade axe—her
barrels, seemingly snoozing in the sun. Nearby, a mangy “Widow-maker”—in lieu of any other weapon. For all that,
dog—practically on its belly—creeps toward its target. she is popular with her fellows who have got over her
6. A section of wall has been crudely whitewashed. Nails strange ways. She—in turn—is incredibly protective of
have been driven into the wall and from several utter them.
notices. Most are weathered stained and unreadable. 3. Aila Leino (NG female human ghter 3) Aila’s slender
7. A line of sparring dummies stands in the middle of the frame belies a strength far greater than most men.
courtyard. Nearby, a small group of trainee men-at-arms Friendly and gregarious, Aila is popular with her fellows,
cluster around a bin holding wooden practise swords. although secretly she hates their coarse, unsubtle
8. Extra guards are posted at the front gate. Visitors humour. She is a skilled warrior and braver than most
entering the fort are subjected to extensive searches and veterans. With dark grey eyes and short-cropped red
questioning before being granted admittance. No one hair, Aila stands out from her drab fellows. If she can
seems to know the cause for the increased vigilance. escape this backwater fort, a great destiny lies in her
future for Aila is not entirely human...
4. Gar Blood-Eye (CN male half-orc ghter 2) A renegade
SIGHTS & SOUNDS
from an orcish tribe lurking in the nearby wilderland, Gar
is not completely trusted by his fellows. Half of them see
1. The clamour of sword striking sword and the grunts of the tall and broad-shouldered green-skinned warrior as
warriors ghting foreshadows the sight of two ghters little more than a savage while most of the rest believe
practising their craft. him to be a spy. Consequently, Gar has few friends and
2. A particularly large raven squats on a tower’s has become used to expecting the worst from those he
battlements and watches folks’ coming and going with meets.
strange intensity. It ies off, if the PCs take particular note
of its presence.
3. Dark clouds scud across the sky, plunging the fort into
CREDIT
shadow.
This is a short system-neutral extract from 20 Things #20: Fort
4. Several travellers—the mud of the road fresh upon their
on the Borderland by Creighton Broadhurst.
boots—stagger passed the party in search of fresh ale,
warm food and a comfortable bed for the night.
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