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Marshal Ferry Crossing (Torrelsons Ford)
Fording: The actual fording at Torrelsons Ford is now (since CY 8923) the Marshal Ferry Crossing (owned and operated by the Marshal family) of the Murchart River east of the town a half mile, where the river is wide and slightly slower. There are 2 ferry lines, draglines for those falling overboard, and a safety line that is submerged from either side in case one side is cut or breaks (this is generally not known about). The ford handles most trade as the old road over the river in town meanders through constant washouts, quicksand, and saltwater marshes to get to the Black Shore. The rebuilt road at the ferry crossing is stable and safe.
History
The local Samar family got a charter for a temporary ferry after some disasters that caused road washouts and a bridge (the old crossing point east of the keep) to collapse. The bridge was rebuilt but rebuilt poorly (some say the crafters cheated the Baron, others say he paid for sub-standard materials) and collapsed after only 3 months. From there the family bought land on the south side of the river with the promise of setting up a permanent ferry crossing. The Maschal family were transplants from The Saelish to the east. The great grandfather Tiernan Maschal came down the river on a large canoe to the ferry crossing. It was larger, but cruder and less safe. After working for several years there, he married the ferryman’s daughter. He bought land on the far side and rights to operate the ferry crossing exclusively from the baron of Crestwold and helped to pay for the messenger station on the south side of the ferry. He changed his name to Marshal to fit in better with the locals – but mostly has passed down the traditions of the Bronzefolk within the family. He improved the ferry crossing and passed on the rights to his daughter, though she was not his first born. Carrying on the Saelish tradition of “best suited” it gets passed on to whatever child is both most capable and most inclined to want it. Currently, the heir apparent is Penny Marshal currently.
What was once an alternative to the bridge crossing. When the war came, the ferry was seen as a good defensive measure and the baron and Earl decided not to put more money into a new bridge. The crossing of the river could be more easily controlled. For a while during the disagreements with Umbak the Earl set up a small garrison on the north side of the ferry crossing and the baron on the south side. Regular patrols would go between the ferry crossing and Torrelson’s Ford until a permanent encampment was made at the ferry crossing. Now there is a small garrison of three to four watchmen plus the ferry men themselves.
CHRONICLE > Dunstrand Rising is a Living World campaign set in Grand Duchy of Dunstrand in the Steel Realms of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms Setting (planet of Helca).
When the war with Gwinn began over 2 decades ago, the head of the family was given a knightship by the Baron – though just a hedge (unlanded) knight. With the truce of the war with Gwinn in CY 9168, the garrisons have both been cleared out and the soldiers left. Other than the private watchman. The baron takes a small percentage of every toll that the ferry collects but the majority go to the family now. The family has a villa that they rent in a nicer part of town east of the keep, but they don’t own that land. They do own the land on both sides of the ferry crossing though, only for commercial perpetuity “to the betterment of the Barony”. They have ambitions to buy the manor house within a generation. They are siding with Josie and the Morben Brothers Casters and Haulers (the locals) in the trade disputes going on.
Recently at the ferry crossing was built a small traders post. It’s really a hitching post. It’s only a couple hours to Torrelsons Ford, but it’s a place for people to stop and rest if the sun is going down and they haven’t made Torrelson’s Ford. It’s really a stable with an outdoor kitchen and small staff room. There’s a large loft above the barn for a common area sleeping room. The old garrison is a crumbling stone edifice that doesn’t weather well. It was really built as a temporary structure only. It could be used as a fortified position to hold out, but it’s not made to withstand any sort of siege attack. Attack. It only holds about six tops.