This is part of the The Peacemakers of West River Run.
Hostage of Gwinn (Gillman Pass Raid); CREDITS > Dev: Kelly Berger; Test: First Play Test: 2009The warriors of the Brotherhood of Mizras will send word that they need help. They are not allowed to fight, they only teach and advise. One of their brothers went over Gillman Pass into Tarmysia to spread the word and was captured. They have tried to ransom him, but they overheard the messenger from Gwinn tell his servant that he was going to be sacrificed anyway. The locals won’t help. Could the PC’s rescue him from the Gwinnish forces in Gillman Pass? Right now, they said they were sending word to their order to get their money. They have little money, but the leader John ‘Steel Shins’ McMillan (Lt. Brother in the Brotherhood of Mizras, Broken Ridge sect will be willing to risk his reputation and teach one of the PC’s some of the inner circle teachings of the warrior brotherhood (up to level 3).
The Letter >
To: – This will either be to the PC’s (if they encountered them earlier and have friendly relations) or to the Earl
Sir, I know this shall find you puzzled, and i am not one for small talk so i shall get right to the point. You showed wisdom and good battle sense when you allowed for us to handle the issue of one of my men committing a horrible crime upon the White Sisters some time back. I come to you now, because i have need of such qualities. One of my member has been taken hostage as we sought to travel through Gillman Pass – under the protective pilgrim’s credentials of the brotherhood. The occupying Gwinnish forces took exception and we had to defend ourselves and retreat – but one of our brothers was left behind. Now they say they will kill him unless we pay a ransom. Our order is for teaching and advice only – we are forbidden to engage in combat except to save our lives – to keep our knowledge pure. All our money now goes to the White Sisters, and the Count of West River Run refuses to aid us. I implore you to assist me in retrieving my sworn brother back. In return, i will teach one of you in the hidden ways of our order – normally forbidden to outsiders. Come at once or send runner with your decision, my man’s life will soon be at an end if no action is taken.
Yours,
John ‘Steel Shins’ McMillan – Lt. Brother in the Brotherhood of Mizras, Broken Ridge sect.
18 soldiers of Gwinn – veterans, + 12 logistics at the forward base named “Storm Shield”. Its a rock cave fort carved out of the hill – crude but effective. About a dozen staff are under cover at any given time.
Remember, all here speak Yvaldese – the party probably won’t be able to understand anything being spoken.
Best option = small (1-2) force sneak in and free the captive.
> Pc’s can sneak in and sneak out after discovering his condition. He would need some sort of boost to offset the malaise (at least 7 point healing) temporarily to get him out.
At the top of the pass, a small rock wall fort has been erected. It stands just east of the top, with a commanding view of the trail east down into West River Run. Its located about 1km away from the double garrison of the forces of the Duke of Dusntrand and the count of West River Run. On the north side, a rock wall has been erected on top of a flat stone rise – which you have been told covers an entrance to a cave under it. A short tower also rises more than man-height into the air on the south side, part of the fort wall. A small garrison of troops can command the height of the pass against a large number of defenders… any charge or direct attacks would likely end in disaster.
> Inside the fort bustles. There is a small smithy station where repairs go on daily, the kitchen is constantly running, the guards are constantly rotated. Its obvious that the camp has a strong routine and that it is ready for any large force to try and come through the pass. All total there is likely over 30 persons manning the fort. Practice happens in the small yard daily – rain or shine.
Rooftop Lookout
The top of the rock ledge which covers the cave mouth has a rough low stone wall and a commanding view of the entire area. Only the stone tower has a better view. It seems it is manned by only a pair of guards.
Back Gate
@ night the gate closes
The gate is always open. Dry timber frames a stone wall, though the gate itself looks flimsy. Three men abreast could walk through it. Like all points, the tower has a direct line of fire into it.It is manned at all times by a pair of guards.
The Wall
The wall is about 3m tall roughly, and has a raised platform behind it which can be manned in time of attack. The wall itself is not manned normally, the overhang and tower providing reconnaissance and covering fire into the road into the pass.
Stables
The stables is an artificial compartment mostly under the overhang, out of the worst of the weather and walled off with a thick wall of loose stone. It could easily hold 2-4 horses.
Wood and Hay Shed:
Cave
The cave is the obvious barracks for the fort – out of the worst of the weather. One end has a heart of sorts – shared with the kitchen. Enough bunks for a couple dozen men can be found here, and about a dozen are sleeping at any given time.
> Lockers for over 30
Tower
The tower is really a stacking of stones. Loosely mortared together, it stands 8m tall, with a platform at the top and room for 4 men tightly packed with bows to rain down death on any spot in the camp or the road.
> Inside is narrow stair. It has a locked door at the basement, and a small mid-level for supplies, and a locked trap door to the top.
Wagon Tool Shed:
Coal Shed:
Kitchen
The kitchen always seems open. It is half in and half out from under the overhang, and a stone wall of loose stones separates it from the rest of the camp. It is its own fortified position, and there is a guard on it at all times – likely it where the rum ration is stored.
Smithy
The soft clink of metal on metal, or the pull of leather and snap of a rivet can be heard from this small stone building. During the day, many of the men enter and leave, bringing gear in and out. Many times the sound of a sharpening wheel can be heard.
Discipline Box> Next to the smithy is a prison of sorts – a stone shed used for disciplinary measures that is currently holding the captive. Careful observation will note that meals are dropped off to this location. It is next to the smithy and tower to provide it a measure of heat.
> captive: Brother Juniper Bledsoe He is suffering from malaise (7 pts) – incapacitation (-2 CS) and exhaustion (-3 AM); his movement is half and he won’t do well trying to move quietly. The best way is to sneak into the fort and free the captive.
Escaping The Pass
If the group decided to try and approach the pas from the east and flee over the roads through West River Run and back home, they catc either ditch their horses and most gear and take to the hills, or get caught by Baron Veff’s men.